Judicial custody of Naidu, others extended

Nanded/Hyderabad, July 19 : A court in Maharashtra's Nanded district Monday extended the judicial custody of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu and 74 other party leaders.However, the duration of extension is still not known. The leaders again rejected the Dharmabad magistrate's suggestion to take bail and return to Andhra Pradesh. The magistrate called the leaders at Dharmabad ITI as their two-day judicial custody came to an end. All the leaders are likely to be shifted to Aurangabad Jail later. Naidu told the magistrate that they were illegally arrested by Maharashtra Police in Andhra Pradesh territory. According to TDP leaders, their party chief said they were not terrorists and had not committed any crime. He made it clear that they would not return without visiting the Babli project being built by Maharashtra across the Godavari River. Meanwhile, the condition of at least five TDP leaders deteriorated during the day-long hunger strike, demanding that the Maharashtra government allow them to visit the Babli dam. The condition of Abdul Gani, legislator from Hindupur, is stated to be serious and he had to administered saline. Naidu and his supporters, including MPs and legislators, were arrested Friday when they tried to proceed towards the dam. They alleged that Maharashtra is building the dam illegally and this would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its due share of Godavari waters. The magistrate Saturday sent the TDP leaders to judicial custody after they refused to seek bail. The leaders, who spent the third night in Dharmabad ITI, have vowed not to return without visiting the Babli project. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has rejected their demand, saying this would create law and order problems.
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TDP AP bandh sees mixed response

Hyderabad, July 19 : The Monday shutdown called by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh over the arrest of their chief N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 legislators saw mixed response with daily life in parts of the state coming to a standstill.Even though some areas, particularly the IT district of Cyberabad, saw usual traffic and a regular pace of life, many schools, colleges and businesses alike remained primarily closed across Hyderabad and other 22 districtsTransport services were reportedly hit as the State-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) suspended bus services partially due to sit-outs by TDP activists outside the depots in Hyderabad and other places.There have also been reports of TDP activists being arrested over forceful closure of shops and staging of road blockades in a number of districts.The strike was called as Naidu, among other politicians, was taken into preventive custody as they tried to visit the Babhali dam in Maharashtra that triggered a water row between the two states.The Andhra government has challenged the construction of the dam in the Supreme Court and says that the barrage in Maharashtra over Godavari river would affect water flow to their state and deprive irrigation to several districts in the Telangana area.Naidu, who's two-day judicial custody ends on Monday, said he went only to inspect the Babhali Barrage project and to fight for Andhra's fair share of water.
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TDP strike in Andhra Pradesh evokes partial response

Hyderabad, July 19 : Normal life was affected in parts of Andhra Pradesh Monday due to a shutdown called by the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) to protest the arrest of its chief N.Chandrababu Naidu in Maharashtra.The strike evoked mixed response in the state capital and 22 other districts. State-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) had to partially suspend bus services here and other towns following protests by TDP activists. Educational institutions, shops and business establishments were closed in parts of Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Tirupati and Guntur. Dozens of TDP activists were arrested for staging road blockades and for forcing closure of shops in different districts. TDP workers staged a sit-in outside the APSRTC depots in Hyderabad and elsewhere to stop buses from plying. The shutdown, however, had little impact in some areas as normal traffic was on the roads while markets also opened. The firms in IT district Cyberabad too were working as usual. Naidu and 74 other TDP leaders, who are in judicial custody in Dharmabad of Maharashtra's Nanded district, launched a day-long hunger strike, demanding that the Maharashtra government allow them to visit the Babli dam across Godavari River. Naidu and his supporters, including MPs and legislators, were arrested Friday when they tried to proceed towards the dam. They alleged that Maharashtra is building the dam illegally and this would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its due share of Godavari waters. A magistrate in Dharmabad Saturday sent the TDP leaders to judicial custody after they refused to seek bail. The leaders, who spent the third night in Dharmabad ITI, have vowed not to return without visiting the Babli project. Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has rejected their demand, saying this would create law and order problems. Tensions, meanwhile, continued to prevail along the Andhra-Maharashtra border. The TDP plans to take out a march from Adilabad district towards Dharmabad to protest the arrests and continued detention of its leaders.
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PIPED GAS SUPPLY PLAN FOR12 DISTRICTS SUBMITTED TO PNGRB

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service DSS)July,18, Piped gas supply plan for12 districts submitted to PNGRB CM wants plan to be speeded up, cover remaining dists too PNGRB thanked for introduction of regional tariffs on gas transportation HYDERABAD: The Chief Minister Dr.K.Rosaiah today asked the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) to speed up the process for piped cooking gas distribution in Andhra Pradesh. Dr Rosaiah said the State Government has already prepared its distribution plan for 12 districts and submitted the Expression of Interest (EoI) with the PNGRB. The Chief Minister said when the gas is abundantly available in the Krishna-Godavari basin; there should be no problem in supplying piped gas to the domestic and other consumers in Andhra Pradesh. The Chief Minister today reviewed the piped gas distribution position with the Chief Secretary, Mr.S.V.Prasad; Principal Secretary, Industries, Mr.B.Sambob and top officials of A.P.Gas Infrastructure Corporation. The Chief Minister thanked the PNGRB for according differential rates of tariff of gas transmission resulting in reduced tariff for Andhra Pradesh. "The Government of Andhra Pradesh thanks the PNGRB for considering the long pending demand of the State Government for reduction of gas transportation tariff. The reduced tariff will help increased use of gas in the State and establishment of more industries here", Dr. Rosaiah said. While appreciating the support of the PNGRB, which is the awarding and regulating gas transmission and distribution, the Chief Minister wanted to know the time schedules for various aspects of gas transmission and distribution in the State. He also requested the PNGRB to give details of the progress so far made in the laying of Pipe lines in the State. The State Government has massive plans for supply of gas in the State to all the sectors -- Domestic, Industrial, Transport, Commercial, Power Generation, Fertilizers etc. The State has already prepared its distribution plan for 12 districts and submitted Expression of Interest (EoI) with PNGRB. These 12 districts are covered with 7 proposals. These districts are Medak, Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, Khammam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, Karimnagar and Warangal. The State Government feels that the entire district areas be included as a single unit while fixing the boundaries of that unit. It is good to have the entire district as one unit for the sake of administrative convenience. The Chairman was requested to clear all the proposals and call for Expression of Interest immediately. The Chairman, PNGRB was requested to see that the gas distribution in Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, Vijayawada, Kakinada are completed on a war footing, so as to make piped gas supply in city areas at the earliest. Further, the Chairman was requested to see that all the main trunk lines are laid covering south coasts Andhra and Rayalaseema areas. The APGIC is also preparing proposal for the remaining 10 districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Mahabubnagar, Kurnool, Anantapur, Chittoor, Kadapa, Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur. If the agencies which are awarded the main trunk line are asked to execute the works, the APGIC will file the proposal with PNGRB immediately. Dr. Rosaiah said that this is the most important and priority item of the Government. As the gas is available closest to Andhra Pradesh, the expectation of people of the State may be kept in mind and top priority should be given to piped gas distribution in the State. The Chief Minister stressed that PNGRB should protect the interest of consumers by fostering fair trade and competition amongst the entities; register entities to market notified petroleum and petroleum products and, subject to the contractual obligations of the Central Government, natural gas; establish and operate liquefied natural gas terminals; establish storage facilities for petroleum, petroleum products or natural gas exceeding such capacity as may be specified by regulations. In respect of notified petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, the Board will ensure adequate availability; ensure display of information about the maximum retail prices fixed by the entity for consumers at retail outlets; monitor prices and take corrective measures to prevent restrictive trade practice by the entities; secure equitable distribution for petroleum and petroleum products; provide, by regulations, and enforce, retail service obligations for retail outlets and marketing service obligations for entities; monitor transportation rates and take corrective action to prevent restrictive trade practice by the entities; levy fees and other charges as determined by regulations; and maintain a data bank of information on the activities. The Chief Minister emphasized that the Board should also lay down the technical standards and specifications including safety standards in activities relating to petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas, including the construction and operation of pipeline and infrastructure projects related to downstream petroleum and natural gas sector and perform such other functions as may be entrusted to it by the Central Government to carry out the provisions of this Act. The officials informed the Chief Minister that the Board will have jurisdiction to adjudicate upon and decide any dispute on matters arising amongst entities or between an entity and any other person on issues relating to refining, processing, storage, transportation, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum, petroleum products and natural gas.

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Progress of “Tourist Visa on Arrival” (VoA) Scheme : January – June, 2010

(PIB NEWS) July,18, As a facilitative measure to attract more foreign tourists to India, Government has launched a Scheme of “Visa on Arrival” (VoA) from January 2010 for citizens of five countries, viz. Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore, visiting India for tourism purposes. During the period January - June, 2010, a total number of 3151 VoAs were issued under this Scheme. The number of visas issued under this scheme, during January-June 2010 for nationals of the five countries were Singapore (1040), Finland (802), New Zealand (768), Japan (521) and Luxembourg (20). Total number of VoAs issued during June, 2010 were 401 with countrywise breakup as Finland (66), Japan (68), New Zealand (108), Singapore (156) and Luxemburg (3). During the six month period of January–June, 2010, the maximum number of VoAs were issued at Delhi airport (1663), followed by Mumbai (689), Chennai (635) and Kolkata (164).
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Naidu, colleagues sent to judicial custody

july,18, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party colleagues were Saturday sent to judicial custody for two days by a magistrate in Dharmabad town of Nanded district in Maharashtra.The TDP leaders, who were arrested Friday for trying to enter the state despite ban orders, are likely to be kept at Dharmabad Industrial Training Institute (ITI) till July 19.Since the leaders, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers, have refused to be shifted to different jails, the authorities may allow them to stay at ITI.A Maharashtra official described the situation in Dharmabad as “peaceful and under control” with no untoward incidents of reported from anywhere. Protesting the arrests, TDP has called for state-wide protests Sunday and a shutdown Monday in Andhra Pradesh.A magistrate, who was called to ITI, sent the TDP leaders to judicial remand as they refused to take bail, saying they would not leave Maharashtra till they were allowed to inspect the Babli dam.The TDP leaders opposed the move to shift them to different jails and requested that they be lodged in one jail.Police have refused to allow Naidu and other leaders to visit the Babli dam being built by Maharashtra across Godavari River.Andhra’s main opposition party has alleged that the dam was being constructed illegally and it would deprive Andhra of its rightful share of waters.Earlier, tension prevailed at ITI as the Babli Samrakshana Samiti staged a protest demanding that Naidu and the 75 other TDP leaders go back.Police baton charged the protesters and arrested them as they tried to barge into the ITI premises raising slogans against the Andhra leaders.The arrested leaders spent Friday night at the ITI. The TDP leaders here said Naidu and others, including women, slept on mats.The arrested leaders have not been provided basic facilities but they are determined to continue their protest, the TDP leaders said.Naidu has also decided to lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the Maharashtra government.The TDP has complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kirankumar Reddy about the arrests of MPs and legislators by Maharashtra Police and sought their intervention for the early release of the elected representatives.The TDP leaders were arrested on the Andhra-Maharashtra border Friday afternoon when they tried to enter Maharashtra to inspect Babli. The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister argued that he had the democratic right to visit any place in the country.The TDP alleged that its leaders were arrested by police with deceit. They were taken in a police vehicle with the promise that they would be shown the project but the vehicle was diverted to the Dharmabad ITI.Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil Friday evening spoke to Naidu over phone and advised him to return to Andhra Pradesh but the latter refused to leave unless he and other leaders were allowed to visit Babli and other projects.Meanwhile, the TDP continued protests in different parts of Andhra Pradesh against Naidu’s arrest. Party activists staged protests outside the offices of district collectors Saturday.
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Jagan terms his aide’s suspension ‘painful’

july,18, Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan ReddySunday termed as “painful” thesuspension of his close aide AmbatiRambabu from the party.He told reporters during his ‘Odarpu yatra’ in East Godavari district that he would take up the issue with the party’s central leadership.Veerappa Moily, Congress general secretary in charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, announced Rambabu’s suspension Saturday night. Rambabu, general secretary of the party’s state unit, has been suspended for making certain remarks against Chief Minister K. Rosaiah.While criticising the chief minister for asking ministers and legislators not to join Jagan’s yatra, Rambabu had allegedly remarked that Rosaiah should be indebted to late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s family for becoming the chief minister.“The suspension of Mr.Rambabu has pained me,” said Jagan, who continued his yatra for the seventh day against the wishes of party president Sonia Gandhi.During the yatra, the Kadapa MP is consoling the families of those who died of shock following his father YSR’s death in a helicopter crash last year.“What mistake have I committed that they will give a warning to me?” quipped Jagan when a reporter asked if Rambabu’s suspension was a warning signal to those supporting him.“The blessings of God and my late father are with those who are with me,” he said and recalled that Rambabu had accompanied his father during his 1,500-km long ‘padyatra’ across the state in 2003.Meanwhile, Rambabu said in Hyderabad that he had not received any communication from party leadership about his suspension. He pointed out that the party allows two weeks time for replying to a show cause notice. The notice on Rambabu was served July 9.The Congress leadership in Delhi issued a statement Saturday night, announcing Rambabu’s suspension. Jagan loyalists ask how he could be suspended when he still had time to reply.Moily, who had visited Hyderabad Friday, had ruled out any disciplinary action against Jagan saying ‘Odarpu yatra’ was his personal move. =============================================

Ambati suspension disturbing: Jagan

Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, Jul 18 : Visibly perturbed over the sudden action of the Congress High Command suspending Ambati Rambabu, PCC general secretary and his staunch supporter, Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy today said it was agonising and painful.Talking to reporters at Hukumpet near Rajahmundry during his seventh day of Odarpu Yatra in East Godavari district, he said ''I am unhappy and disturbed over the action of the high command on Ambati Rambabu.'' '' He is a staunch supporter of my father late Dr Rajasekhara Reddy and accompanied him during the padayathra covering 1500 km. He contributed a lot to the Congress winning two elections,'' Mr Jagan said.Asked whether he would take up the matter with the party high command, Mr Jagan said he would do everything in support of Rambabu.Reacting to queries of mediapersons whether he would consider action against Rambabu as a warning to him from the high command, he said 'What wrong have I committed for giving a warning. God is there and above all my father's blessings are there.
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Tension on Andhra-Maharashtra border, Naidu remains in custody

Hyderabad/New Delhi, July 18: Tension prevailed on the Andhra Pradesh-Maharashtra border Sunday as the Maharashtra Police used force to disperse Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists protesting the arrest of party president N. Chandrababu Naidu and other leaders.Four people were injured when police baton charged a group of TDP workers at the border near Dharmabad in Naded district of Maharashtra. Raising slogans against the Maharashtra government, TDP activists tried to enter Maharashtra but were pushed back by the police into Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Some media persons also complained that the police beat them up. Naidu and other TDP leaders were arrested Friday when they entered Maharashtra despite ban orders and tried to head towards Babli dam being built across Godavari River. TDP alleged that Maharashtra was building the dam illegally and this would deprive Andhra Pradesh of its rightful share of waters. A large number of policemen were mobilised in Dharmabad as Babli Samrakshana Samiti workers took out a rally protesting against TDP leaders. Police used force to disperse as they tried to head towards Dharmabad ITI, where Naidu and 74 others remained in judicial custody. The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and others were remanded to judicial custody for two days by a magistrate in Dharmabad on Saturday as they refused to take bail. Maharashtra has refused to allow Naidu and other TDP leaders to visit Babli though they have vowed not to leave the state until they visit the dam. TDP leaders, who resisted attempt to shift them to different jails, remained at Dharmabad ITI for the second consecutive day. TDP has alleged that the leaders, including women, were sharing one room which has only one toilet attached to it. TDP has complained to Lok Sabha speaker and Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker of the "ill-treatment" meted out to MPs and state legislators. Meanwhile, TDP staged protests in different parts of Andhra Pradesh and has called for a state-wide shutdown Monday to protest the arrests. "We have given a call for hartal (strike). They (Maharshtra government) should allow us to visit Babli and 13 other projects along with the media," TDP MP Nama Nageswar Rao told IANS over telephone. He said the party leaders had entered Maharashtra after they were given an assurance by police that the senior party leaders will be taken to Babli project. "They told us that only leaders will be allowed," he said. Rao, who is leader of the Telugu Desam parliamentary party, said they wanted to see Babli project ahead of the July 23 meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concerning the controversial project. An all-party delegation from Andhra Pradesh is expected to meet the prime minister on the issue.
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Rosaiah asks Chavan to allow Naidu's visit to Babli dam

Hyderabad, July 18 : Andhra Pradesh chief minister K Rosaiah on Sunday stepped in support of Chandrababu Naidu and requested his Maharashtra counterpart to allow Naidu to visit the Babli dam, even as Naidu's TDP called for a statewide shutdown on Monday to protest against the arrest of their chief and 74 legislators by Maharashtra police.Rosaiah spoke to Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan and reportedly requested him to allow Naidu and his supporters to visit Babli dam with police escort. "I have told Ashok Chavan this is no way to treat friends from neighbouring states," Rosaiah said. Naidu and his colleagues were arrested from Nanded district of Maharashtra on Friday for violating prohibitory orders and trying to march to Babli dam. They had later refused bail and are currently lodged in judicial custody in the neighbouring state. Meanwhile, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has called an Andhra Pradesh shutdown on Monday to protest against the arrests.
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Jagan terms his aide's suspension 'painful'

Hyderabad,July 18:Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Sunday termed as "painful" the suspension of his close aide Ambati Rambabu from the party.

He told reporters during his 'Odarpu yatra' in East Godavari district that he would take up the issue with the party's central leadership. Veerappa Moily, Congress general secretary in charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, announced Rambabu's suspension Saturday night. Rambabu, general secretary of the party's state unit, has been suspended for making certain remarks against Chief Minister K.Rosaiah. While criticising the chief minister for asking ministers and legislators not to join Jagan's yatra, Rambabu had allegedly remarked that Rosaiah should be indebted to late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's family for becoming the chief minister. "The suspension of Mr.Rambabu has pained me," said Jagan, who continued his yatra for the seventh day against the wishes of party president Sonia Gandhi. During the yatra, the Kadapa MP is consoling the families of those who died of shock following his father YSR's death in a helicopter crash last year. "What mistake have I committed that they will give a warning to me?" quipped Jagan when a reporter asked if Rambabu's suspension was a warning signal to those supporting him. "The blessings of God and my late father are with those who are with me," he said and recalled that Rambabu had accompanied his father during his 1,500-km long 'padyatra' across the state in 2003. Meanwhile, Rambabu said in Hyderabad that he had not received any communication from party leadership about his suspension. He pointed out that the party allows two weeks time for replying to a show cause notice. The notice on Rambabu was served July 9. The Congress leadership in Delhi issued a statement Saturday night, announcing Rambabu's suspension. Jagan loyalists ask how he could be suspended when he still had time to reply. Moily, who had visited Hyderabad Friday, had ruled out any disciplinary action against Jagan saying 'Odarpu yatra' was his personal move.
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Andhra Pradesh shutdown to protest Naidu's arrest

Hyderabad July 18 : Telugu Desam Party called a Monday Andhra Pradesh shutdown to protest against the arrest of the party chief N Chandrababu Naidu and 74 legislators by Maharashtra police Saturday.Naidu, among other politicians, was taken into preventive custody as they tried to visit the Babhali dam in Maharashtra that triggered a water row between the two states.The Andhra government has challenged the construction of the dam in the Supreme Court and says that the barrage in Maharashtra over Godavari river would affect water flow to their state and deprive irrigation to several districts in the Telangana area."We want to protect the farmers of Andhra Pradesh. We are fighting for this issue for five years," Naidu said, while ruling Congress leaders of Maharashtra alleged Naidu is politicizing the issue for votes".Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil said Naidu and his supporters would be sent to various jails across the state if they do not comply with the court order and go back to their state, said a report in DNA.If the TDP leaders do not apply for bail on Monday they would be sent to further jail custody.Naidu and other party leaders were kept in Dharmabad after nearby jails refused to lodge so many VIPs, reports said.
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Naidu, colleagues refuse to take bail

Nanded/Hyderabad, July 17 : Tension prevailed in Dharmabad town of Nanded district in Maharashtra as a group staged a protest against Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party colleagues, who remained in police custody for the second day Saturday and refused to take bail.A large number of policemen were deployed at Dharmabad Industrial Training Institute (ITI) as the Babli Samrakshana Samiti staged a protest demanding that Naidu and the 75 other TDP leaders go back. Police baton charged the protesters and arrested them as they tried to barge into the ITI premises raising slogans against the Andhra leaders. Additional forces were mobilized at the ITI amid reports that police were planning to shift TDP leaders to Nanded jail. The TDP leaders, however, resisted the attempts to shift them. Police have refused to allow Naidu and other leaders to visit the Babli dam being built by Maharashtra across Godavari River. Andhra's main opposition party has alleged that the dam was being constructed illegally and it would deprive Andhra of its rightful share of waters. Naidu and others, who were arrested Friday for trying to enter Maharashtra despite ban orders, refused to take bail. The leaders, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers were produced before a magistrate who visited the ITI. They, however, refused to seek bail and made it clear that they would not leave Maharashtra till they were allowed to inspect the Babli dam. The arrested leaders spent Friday night at the ITI. The TDP leaders here said Naidu and others, including women, slept on mats. The arrested leaders have not been provided basic facilities but they are determined to continue their protest. Naidu has also decided to lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the Maharashtra government. The TDP leaders were arrested on the Andhra-Maharashtra border Friday afternoon when they tried to enter Maharashtra to inspect Babli. The former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister argued that he had the democratic right to visit any place in the country. The TDP alleged that its leaders were arrested by the Maharashtra Police with deceit. They were taken in a police vehicle with the promise that they would be shown the project but the vehicle was diverted to the Dharmabad ITI. Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil Friday evening spoke to Naidu over phone and advised him to return to Andhra Pradesh but the latter refused to leave unless he and other leaders were allowed to visit Babli and other projects. Meanwhile, the TDP continued protests in different parts of Andhra Pradesh against Naidu's arrest. The party activists staged protests outside the offices of district collectors Saturday.
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Lok Satta condemns arrests by Maharashtra police

Hyderabad, Jul 17 : The Lok Satta Party today termed as 'reprehensible' the arrests of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Lok Satta, and other party leaders by the Maharashtra Police during the 'Babli Yatra', conducted by the TDP.Lok Satta Party General Secretary G Raja Reddy and Nizamabad Lok Satta District unit president M Rami Reddy were among the arrested.In a statement, Lok Satta Party General Secretary Katari Srinivasa Rao said the arrest of leaders on a peaceful, fact-finding mission was ''unwarranted and unconstitutional''. It merely lends credence to the view that the Maharashtra Government would like to prevent its irregularities from coming to light, he claimed.The Lok Satta Party demanded that the Centre shed its complacency, intervene immediately and facilitate a political solution to inter-state water disputes, keeping national interests in mind.
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Shutdown in Maharashtra town against TDP agitation, Naidu may be released

Nanded (Maharashtra), July 17 : A shutdown was observed Saturday in Dharmabad town in Maharashtra' Nanded district to protest the agitation led by Telugu Desam Party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu against construction of the Babli Dam, which Andhra Pradesh fears will affect its water supply, an official said.Naidu and his supporters, who were arrested Friday, are likely to be released and escorted to the Maharashtra-Karnataka border Saturday. Naidu and his 75 supporters, including over three dozen legislators and parliamentarians were arrested after they violated prohibitory orders and entered the state to protest against the Babli Dam work on Godavari river in the district. They said that Maharashtra was grabbing more than its share of water. They spent the night in the government technical college. The official described the situation in Dharmabad as "peaceful and under control", with no report of any untoward incident. The small Babli Dam has been a bone of contention between the two states since five years when its construction began near Babli village on river Godavari. With a capacity of 2.75 thousand million cubic feet, there was an agitation in 2007 by some Andhra Pradesh politicians against the dam. Andhra Pradesh believes that the construction of Babli Dam would cut off water supply to the Pochampad Dam in Telangana region of the state, adding to the woes of the farmers and creating serious water problems.
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Pact to implement Services Project

Hyderabad, Jul 17 : An agreement has been signed between the government of Andhra Pradesh and the consortium led by Wipro-GE Healthcare Pvt Ltd consisting of Medall Healthcare Pvt Ltd for implementing the AP Advanced Radio-diagnostic Services project.The agreement was signed yesterday in the presence of Mr P Sudershan Reddy, Minister for Medical Education. Also present were Mr J Satyanarayana, Special Chief Secretary (HM and FW), Mr P V Ramesh, Secretary (Public Health), Mr LV Subrahmanyam, Principal Secretary (Finance), Dr Raviraj, Director of Medical Education and the Superintendents of the 4 General Hospitals participating in the project, besides the representatives of International Finance Corporation, the Lead Transection Advisor and Wipro-GE.The project envisages; Establishing state-of-the-art radio-diagnostic infrastructure, consisting of a 1.5 Tesla MRI, 16-slice CT Scan, Mammography and Colour Doppler at King Geroge Hospital, Vizag, and MGM Hospital, Warangal; 16-slice CT Scan, Mammography and Colour Doppler at Government General Hospital Kurnool and 1.5 Tesla MRI at Government General Hospital, Kakinada.They have been maintaining the infrastructure for a period of 7 years, supporting the respective hospitals in provision of the radio-diagnostic services to the patients and running para-medical courses in the area of radio-diagnostic services.The consortium led by Wipro-GE was selected by the Government after following an elaborate open competitive bidding process, in which 3 bidders participated actively. As a result of stiff competition, the prices quoted were significantly lower than the prevailing commercial market rates for similar services.The project will be sustained through service charges paid by the government to Wipro-GE on a per-transaction basis, an official release said here today.
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Naidu, TDP leaders remain in police custody

Hyderabad,July 17: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and his party colleagues, who were arrested for trying to enter Maharashtra to visit the disputed Babli project, continued to remain in police custody Saturday in Nanded district.The police will produce them before a magistrate but the leaders have decided not to seek bail. Seventy-five TDP leaders, including MPs, state legislators and former ministers, spent Friday night at the Dharmabad Industrial Training Institute (ITI) and refused to leave Maharashtra till they were allowed to inspect the Babli dam on the Godavari river. They alleged that Maharashtra was building the project ignoring the directions of the Supreme Court and the Central Water Commission. TDP leaders here said Naidu and others, including women, slept on mats in the ITI. The arrested leaders have not been provided basic facilities but they are determined to continue their protest. Naidu has also decided to lodge a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission against the Maharashtra government. The TDP leaders were arrested on Andhra-Maharashtra border Friday afternoon when they tried to enter Maharashtra to inspect Babli. The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister argued that he had the democratic right to visit any place in the country. Maharashtra had mobilised police force and imposed prohibitory orders around Babli to foil the march by the TDP leaders. The opposition party alleged that their leaders were arrested by the Maharashtra Police with deceit. They were taken in a police vehicle with the promise that they would be shown the project but the vehicle was diverted to the Dharmabad ITI. Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil Friday evening spoke to Naidu over phone and advised him to return to Andhra Pradesh but the latter refused to leave unless he and other leaders were allowed to visit Babli and other projects. Meanwhile, TDP continued protests in different parts of the state against Naidu's arrest. The party has called for staging protests outside the offices of district collectors Saturday.
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Committee Representing a Broad Range of Community, Professional, and Academic Institutions to Oversee a New Mosque Study

USA,(Deccan Samachar Service DSS) July 15,2010) ISNA announces a new study of U.S. mosques. The "U.S. Mosque Study 2010" will be led by Dr. Ihsan Bagby, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Kentucky, and sponsored by ISNA and CAIR. Co-sponsors for the Study include: International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT), Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA), The Mosque Cares (Ministry of W. Deen Mohammed), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Alliance of North America (MANA), and Muslim Guide. The Study will be conducted in cooperation with Hartford Seminary, the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies (ASARB), and Faith Communities Today (FACT).A Research Committee conducting the Study includes includes in alphabetical order: Nihad Awad (CAIR), Ihsan Bagby (University of Kentucky), Zahid Bukhari (ICNA), Rich Houseal (ASARB), David Roozen (Hartford Seminary and FACT), Iqbal Unus (IIIT), and Safaa Zarzour (ISNA). "The Mosque Study will provide useful information and insights for community leaders and organizations as well as the academic community to assist them in both scholarly research as well as community development," states ISNA Secretary General Safaa Zarzour. Information included in the U.S. Mosque Study 2010 will be collected from online surveys and phone or in-person interviews. The survey will be available online and will address a range of issues, including: quality of mosque programs, mission and identity of the mosque, diversity and needs of mosque participants, leadership and organizational dynamics and history of the organization.A random sample of mosque leaders from around the country will be selected to participate in interviews to discover the perceptions of Muslim religious leaders on a variety of substantive issues, including: Muslim involvement in American civic life, involvement of women and young adults in mosques, concerns about radicalization in the community and evaluations of mosque staffing.Zarzour states, "This collaboration of academic, professional, and community institutions is unprecedented and reflects the desire of all sponsors to produce credible, valid, useful results from this study for the benefit of everyone." ISNA urges all mosque leaders to participate in the survey, which is scheduled to launch this July and run through September.For more information about the "U.S. Mosque Study 2010", please contact Ihsan Bagby, Iabagb2@uky.edu, 859 494-3743.==========================================

Chandrababu Naidu arrested in Nanded

Nanded (Maharashtra), July 16 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was arrested here today by Maharashtra police for violating prohibitory orders Naidu was taken into preventive custody with 70 other politicians as they tried to visit the Babhali dam in Maharashtra to find out whether Maharashtra is grabbing more than its share of water from the River Godavari. Earlier in the day, Naidu launched a "bus yatra" from Andhra Pradesh border to enter Maharashtra following which the district administration went into a high alert.Bus, train and auto services have been badly hit in the state. The protesters reportedly vandalised some buses in Andhra Pradesh. ============================================

Naidu begins 'bus yatra' as Maharashtra sounds alert

Hyderabad, July 16 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N.Chandrababu Naidu and legislators Friday launched a 'bus yatra' to Babli near the Andhra Pradesh border to start a 'national debate' on the controversial dam across the Godavari being built by Maharashtra.The Maharashtra government stepped up security along the border to stop them as four buses carrying Naidu, other TDP legislators and leaders of Lok Satta left for Babli, near the border with Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister K.Rosaiah spoke to Naidu over phone Thursday night, advising him to call off his 'bus yatra' that he said would heighten tensions between the two states. Naidu, however, ignored Rosaiah's appeal as well as the decision of the Maharashtra government not to allow him to enter the state. Naidu had invited Rosaiah and leaders of all parties, including the ruling Congress, to join the 'yatra'. But only leaders of the Lok Satta joined him. The TDP chief and former chief minister told reporters that it was a fact-finding mission aimed to start a national debate on Babli and 13 other illegal projects across Godavari. He alleged that Maharashtra was going ahead with the works on Babli in violation of Supreme Court orders. He said the Andhra Pradesh government was doing nothing to stop the projects, which would prove disastrous for the state and turn Telangana into a desert. Maharashtra has sounded an alert along its border with Andhra Pradesh to stop the 'yatra'. Police have erected barricades and formed check posts to check every vehicle entering the state. The authorities in Nanded district of Maharashtra have imposed prohibitory orders around the project site as leaders of various parties of the neighbouring state have also reached there to protest the visit by TDP leaders. In 2007, the Maharashtra Police used force to stop TDP leaders led by legislator N.Janardhan Reddy from heading towards the Babli dam. The opposition party has alleged that the Congress government was not showing seriousness to stop the illegal projects in Maharashtra which would take away the state's rightful share of Godavari waters. Rosaiah plans to take an all-party delegation to Delhi later this month to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to urge him to ask Maharashtra to stop construction of illegal projects.
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LeT operative sent to 14 days remand

Hyderabad, July 15 : LeT operative Viquaruddin Ahmed alias Vicaruddin, wanted for the murder of a policeman and a home guard, was today sent to Cherlapalli jail on 14 days remand.Vicar and five of his associates were arrested from Parsigutta in Secunderabad yesterday. Vicar was produced before the Nampally magistrate in connection with the murder of the special branch constable Ramesh at Shalibanda area in the old city in May this year and shooting at a special branch person in Sultan Bazar in May last.Police sources, however, said they would seek Vicar custody for the killing of home guard Bala Raju in the police outpost Falaknuma in December 2008 along with shooting special branch policeman at Medhipatnam in 2007.Vicar on whom Rs.5 lakhs bounty was announced by the Andhra Pradesh police was also wanted in case at Ahmedabad in Gurajat.
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AP CM meets legal expert to present state water dispute case

Hyderabad, Jul 15 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K.Rosaiah today reiterated that the interest of Andhra Pradesh 'should and would be protected under any circumstances' in the inter state irrigation project including Almatti on river Krishna and Babli on river Godavari and met legal luminary here to forcefully represent the state case on the disputes tribunal. The Chief Minister held a special meeting with Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mr Dipankar P Gupta, Major Irrigation Minister and other officials on the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal at Secretariat. The Chief Minister discussed the working of legal and technical teams of Andhra Pradesh on Krishna Tribunal headed by Justice Brijesh Kumar. Mr Gupta, who was also former Solicitor General of India, specially flew from Delhi for this meeting and apprised the Chief Minister regarding the arguments and stand taken by Andhra Pradesh before the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal. He also gave a brief over view of the likely scenario emerging in the report of the Tribunal. Senior Counsel Dipankar P Gupta was confident that Andhra Pradesh had argued their case before the tribunal in a very forceful and effective manner and expected a positive outcome.The Chief Minister reiterated that the interest of Andhra Pradesh should be and would be protected under any circumstances. He told the senior advocate and other top officials that the State's case should be presented in the most effective manner and we should see that our interests are protected.The Chief Minister directed the legal and technical teams to take all possible measures and ensure that no stone remains unturned for vindicating the case of Andhra Pradesh in all respects in the Tribunal.The Chief Minister also will lead an all-party delegation to the Prime Minister to represent the case of Andhra Pradesh on the Babli issue. The Chief Minister who met the Prime Minister yesterday already briefed on the subject. Dr Rosaiah was confident of strongly presenting the issue before the Prime Minister during the meeting. He reiterated that the interest of the State in this case is upper most in his mind and will pursue the case strongly in all platforms.Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Ponnala Lakshmiah, Principal Secretary, Irrigation, S K Joshi, Irrigation Advisers, offiicials and engineers were among attended the meeting, according to a release from Chief Minister's office here.
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Salman Khurshid launches investor education website in Telugu

Hyderabad, July 15 : Minister of Corporate Affairs Salman Khurshid today launched the Telugu version of the Investor Education and Protection Fund Website here.also released Beginner's Guide to the Capital Market in Telugu language at a function organized by the Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FAPCCI) in partnership with the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) as part of India Investor Week (IIW) 2010. With this launch in Telugu, the common man now can access the Investor Education and Protection Fund Website in five Indian languages: Assamese, Bangla, Hindi, Marathi and Telugu. India Investor Week is a part of the year long programme of the Ministry to mainstream investor awareness in partnership with SEBI, RBI, ICAI, ICSI, ICWAI, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM, UTI-MF, BSE, NSE, MCS-SX, IMC,IAIA and PHD Chamber.During the IIW, Khurshid has been outlining the need to reach out to the common man to not only make him aware but also encourage and hand hold him so that he can gainfully channelize his savings into the corporate economy through informed investment decisions. He has stated that the investors' programmes are an effort to bring the aam admi into the mainstream of economic growth. During the year the Ministry of Corporate Affairs will be organizing 3,000 programmes throughout the country. The India Investor Week is being organized for the first time by the Ministry to bring a national focus on the subject of investor awareness.
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Opposition demands probe into firing on Srikakulam Thermal Power Project protestors

Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh), July 15 : Opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam District have demanded a judicial probe into an incident of police firing on protestors, who refused to vacate their lands for a proposed 2,000 MW Srikakulam Thermal Power Project.The opposition Telugu Desam, Praja Rajyam, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) demanded a judicial probe into the incident of police firing, in which two fishermen were killed and over a 100 people injured."All the men from the village went for a meeting at the power office. There the policemen fired at them," said Subbamh, a villager.The opposition also called for the suspension of police officials and cancellation of license for the 2,000 MW thermal power project.Apart from the locals of over 30 villages, a forum of environmentalists, academicians and other experts opposed the Srikakulam Power Project, saying it could create a critical imbalance in the ecologically sensitive zone.The demonstrators staged a peaceful sit-in protest on Wednesday and chanted anti-government slogans.The deployment of security personnel to quell the crowds, however, led to a violent backlash by the people."For thermal power plant, they don''t have any permission. The Supreme Court also did not give its judgment over the issue, the judgment was reserved for the environmental system," said K. Narayana, State Secretary, Communist Party of India."So without giving any permission how the state government gave permission to this Nagarjuna Construction Company to construct the project," he added.
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Legislators protest over police firing in Andhra, suspended

Hyderabad,July 15: The police firing on villagers protesting a thermal power plant in Srikakulam district rocked the Andhra Pradesh assembly Thursday with the speaker suspending opposition legislators for stalling the house.For the second consecutive day, Speaker Kiran Kumar Reddy suspended 55 legislators of main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the lone member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) when they stalled proceedings demanding the resignation of Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao. The speaker announced the suspension of the legislators from the house for one day after Endowments Minister Gade Venkat Reddy moved a resolution. As the suspended legislators refused to leave the house, the speaker called in marshals to physically lift them out. The legislators resisted the marshals, leading to scuffles. Angry opposition members uprooted the mikes before being carried out by the marshals. They later staged protest outside the chambers of Chief Minister K.Rosaiah in the lobby and urged him to sack the revenue minister. Earlier, the house had to be adjourned twice as TDP members stalled the proceedings and protest near the speaker's podium, demanding the revenue minister's resignation for allegedly supporting police action. Two people were killed when the police opened fire on fishermen and farmers protesting against a proposed thermal power station at Sompeta in Srikakulam district. They alleged that the project would destroy ecology and jeopardise their livelihood. Earlier, making a statement in the assembly, Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy defended the police firing, saying the police had to fire as a "last resort" and in self defence as the protesters had attacked them with stones. She said two people were killed in the firing and 145 people, including 37 policemen and six mediapersons, were injured in the violence. "As the protesters attacked the police with stones and all the attempts to disperse them proved futile, the police had to open fire in self-defence as a last resort. The police used short weapons like 9 mm pistols and revolvers and did not use rifles or other weapons," Sabita Indra Reddy said. TDP legislator M. Narasimhulu lashed out at the revenue minister and demanded his resignation for stating that nobody can stop the power project. He also demanded a judicial probe into the police firing, action against the police officers responsible for firing and compensation of Rs.10 lakh each to the families of the deceased. "Has the government declared a war on the people by mobilising 3,000 policemen in Sompeta," Narasimhulu asked. He alleged that the government colluded with Nagarjuna Construction Company to build the project at the cost of the livelihood of local people.
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BJP demands judicial inquiry into Sompet firing

Vijayawada, Jul 15 : The Bharatiya Janata Party today demanded judicial inquiry by a High Court judge and resignation of Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and Srikakulam district in-charge Minister D Prasada Rao over the police firing in Sompet in which two persons were killed and more than 100 injured.Addressing a press conference here, BJP official spokesman, Srinivasa Raju and party state secretary L Vengala Rao Yadav said apart from judicial inquiry into the firing incident yesterday, police officials concerned also should be immediately suspended.Vehemently condemning the firing, Mr Raju demanded the resgination of Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy and District in-charge Minister D Prasada Rao for the police firing.Demanding that the state government announce an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh to each family of the deceased and Rs 3 lakh to the injured, the BJP leader alleged that District in-charge Minister Prasada Rao had been provocating the people by his statements over the construction of thermal power station at Sompet.Stating that the area where the government intended to establish the power project was farm land as paddy was cultivated in 52,000 acres, he said the farmers of the area were apprehensive that if the project was constructed it would not only spoil the farm land but also lead to drinking water scarcity.Making it clear that the BJP was not against establishment of projects, he said the projects should be constructed in the barren lands without affecting the environment and topography of the area.The BJP will extend full solidarity to the agitating people, he said.Mr Vengala Rao Yadav alleged that the Sri Krishna Committee, constituted by the Centre to examine the demand for separate Telangana was only dragging the issue. Reiterating that the BJP did not recognize the Sri Krishna Committee, he accused the TDP and Congress leaders of opposing the creation of separate Telangana, only to protect their properties which were centralized in Hyderabad.The BJP in Coastal Andhra Pradesh will launch a massive 'Jai Andhra' agitation shortly in favour of bifurcation of the state, he said.
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Andhra district still tense after police firing

Hyderabad, July 15 : The situation in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district continued to be tense Thursday, a day after police firing on villagers protesting against a thermal power project killed two and the ensuing violence left about 150 injured.People in Sompeta area and surrounding villages of Srikakulam district, around 600 km from here, lived in fear as police forces continued raids to arrest those who were behind the violence. Hundreds of armed policemen were deployed in about a dozen villages and orders banning assembly of five or more persons were imposed to quell fresh protests against a proposed mega thermal power project. "A curfew-like situation is prevailing as security personnel are not allowing us to move out of our homes. There are policemen in every nook and corner, we are living in fear. Anything can happen any time," said a villager. Two fishermen were killed and dozens were wounded as police opened fire on protesters trying to obstruct construction work on the project, saying that it will harm the ecology and destroy their livelihood. Unconfirmed reports have put the death toll at four. About 150 people were injured in the clashes between stone-pelting protesters and police which used baton charge. The injured include 45 policemen. Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC) is building the 2,640 MW electricity project at a cost of Rs.1,200 crore (USD 250 million). Farmers and fishermen of the region have been protesting against the project as it is coming up on 1,890 acre on a wetland and is close to the sea coast. They fear the project will destroy the ecology and will take away their livelihood.
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Election Commission censures Andhra Congress chief

New Delhi, July 14 : The Election Commission has warned D.Srinivas, the Congress president in Andhra Pradesh, to be more cautious and not violate the model code of conduct in the July 27 by-election in Telangana region. Srinivas is the Congress candidate from the Nizamabad Urban assembly constituency. "Violating the provisions of model code of conduct for guidance of political parties and candidates by making an appeal to the voters of a particular community to vote for him on the ground that he also belongs to that community...the commission has decided to censure Sh D. Srinivas, of Indian National Congress and decided to warn him to be more cautious and observe the model code of conduct in letter and spirit," the order issued Tuesday night said. The commission acted upon the complaint lodged by K. Kavita, daughter of Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao and president of Telangana Jagruti Samiti. It said Srinivas had violated the model code of conduct by making a provocative speech against certain communities in the last general elections to Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly last year.
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Andhra Pradesh CM Rosaiah New charge as Vice Chairman of SZC

Hyderabad, Jul 13 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Dr K Rosaiah has been nominated as the Vice Chairman of the Southern Zonal Council (SZC) by the Government of India.Dr Rosaiah who, assumed charge as Vice Chairman, thanked the Centre for the gesture. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Nadu.M Karunanidhi was holding the post of Vice Chairman till now, according to a release from the Chief Minister's office here today. The Southern Zonal Council comprises of the States of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Puducherry.The Union Home Minister is the Chairman of each of these Councils.The Chief Ministers of the States included in each zone act as Vice-Chairman of the Zonal Council for that zone.The Zonal Councils provide an excellent forum where irritants between Centre and States and amongst states can be resolved through free and frank discussions and mutual consultations. The main objectives of setting up of Zonal Councils are (a) Brining out national integration; (b) Arresting the growth of acute State consciousness, regionalism, linguism and particularistic tendencies; (c) Enabling the Centre and the States to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences; (d) Establishing a climate of co-operation amongst the States for successful speedy execution of development projects.The idea of creation of Zonal Councils was mooted by the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1956.
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Rosaiah turn tables on TDP on river projects

Hyderabad, July 13 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today lashed out and ridiculed Opposition Leader N Chandrababu Naidu for demanding his resignation in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today.Mr Rosaiah lambasted Mr Naidu for bringing Andhra Pradesh to this stage as all the illegal constructions on the River Krishna and River Godavari by the Karnataka and Maharashtra Governments were done during tenure of TDP Government.''Is it fair on your part to demand my resignation for all that the TDP Government did?'' he asked. ''Were you sleeping when the Karnataka government raised the height of the Almatti and the Maharashtra took up construction of Babli?'' the Chief Minister asked as Mr Naidu raised the temperature in the House forcing Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy to chide him for not controlling his temper.
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Names of ministers, ex-ministers and MPs to monitor AP bypoll

Hyderabad, Jul 13 : The AICC Secretary and Incharge of the Andhra Pradesh state affairs M Veerappa Moily today attached responsibilities of by-elections to the party leaders.Mr Moily wrote letters to the party leaders asking them to work for the party's victory. He named the incharges of each of the 12 Assembly segments where by-elections are being held now. The Sirpur segment is attached to the Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, followed by Chennuru for Mukhesh Gowd, Manchiryala for Danam Nagender, Yellareddy for Sudarshan Reddy, Warangal West for Ponnala Lakshmaiah, Siddhipet for Geetha Reddy and Sarve Satyanarayana, Korutla for T Jeevan Reddy and R Venkata Reddy, Huzurabad for Ponnam Prabhakar, Dharmapuri for Jupalli Krishna Rao, Sirisilla for D Sridhar Babu, Sabita Indra Reddy and Damodara Raja Narasimha, Vemulavada for D K Aruna and Sunitha Lakshma Reddy and Nizamabad for Madhu Yashki. Mr Moily wanted them to stay in the respective constituency and work for the success of the party candidates. He wanted these leaders to take up the responsibility immediately and monitor the campaign, according a release from APCC here today. In addition to these leaders, Moily also named the campaign committees for each of the Assembly segments.
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Opposition's allegation on land allotment to poor

Hyderabad, Jul 13 : Amid noise in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly today, State Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao rejected the Opposition's allegation on injustice to the poor asserting that only solid work for landless poor was done over the last six years of the Congress regime.The House witnessed sharp exchanges over the regularisation of the habitations of the poor both in the rural and urban areas with the Oppositon parties allegeing the government discriminting against the poor and favouring ''big people.'' Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy who found Opposition members a bit uncontrollable on the issue, adjourned the House briefly then again for about 30 minutes later and called for a meeting of all the Floor Leaders in his chambers to enable completion of business in the House as its current session would end tomorrow with still ''a lot of business remaining''.However, when the House reassembled, J Ranga Reddy (CPI(M), Narsimlu (TDP) and G Kishen Reddy (BJP) alleged the government was deliberately showing bias towards the big and influential and was treating the poor with contempt rejecting their plea for regularisation of the land on which they have been living for a number of years.Majlis Members Rasool Khan and his party colleague alleged the minorities were being discriminated in the allocation of free sites for poor contending that not even three per cent of the allottees were from the minorities. They also cautioned the governemnt against giving wakf properties to the influential at the cost of the minorities.Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, however, rejected the Opposition's contention, claiming that possibly for the first time in Andhra Pradesh the Rajasekhara Reddy Government brought two orders which were the most liberal and biased deliberately towards the poor.
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Jagan's tour evokes good response

, Andhra Pradesh, Jul 13 : The tour of Kadapa MP Jaganmohan Reddy has evoked good response today compared to yesterday with people gathering in good numbers at all the places he visited in Tuni, Kotanandur and Routhulapudi Mandals.Party workers, especially the youth, enthusiastically greeted Jagan throughout the tour by shaking hands. Party sources said Bhooma Nagireddy, former MP of Nandyal and PRP Leader, called on Mr Jagan during his second day of the tour of East Godavari and greeted him at Annavaram.He told the mediapersons that being a family friend and relative, he came all the way to greet Jagan.` `The response to Jagan's tour is very good, Mr Nagireddy said. 'The criticism against Jagan by his adversaries and the strong rebuttals from his supporters is purely the internal affair of Congress. ''I don't want to comment', he said while replying to their queries. Addressing a meeting at Kotanandur, Jagan said whether any one followed him or not , his belief was that people were behind him. ''I owe a lot to Tuni MLA Raja Ashok Babu for sincerely following me in the tour,'' he added. Contrary to yesterday, Mr Dwarampudi Chandrasekhara Reddy, Kakinada MLA, a die hard supporter of Jagan, was the only person seen moving busily all along the tour supervising the arrangements. Notable among the leaders accompanying Jagan during the second day include Former MLAs Mudragada Padmanabham and Varupula Subbarao-both Kapu leaders. Jagan started his second day tour two hours behind schedule and was able to cover Tuni and Kotanandur Mandals in full and Routhulapudi Mandal partly till evening. He unveiled former Chief Minister YSR's statues at 14 places and consoled four bereaved families.
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Rosaiah appointed Southern Zonal Council's vice chief

Hyderabad, July 13 : The central government has nominated Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah as the vice chairman of the Southern Zonal Council, which comprises Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry.Rosaiah, who succeeds Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, thanked the central government for the gesture, said a statement from the chief minister's office here Tuesday. The zonal councils were set up to bring out national integration, arrest the growth of acute state consciousness, regionalism, linguism and particularistic tendencies and enable the centre and the states to co-operate and exchange ideas and experiences.
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Cong showcauses Jagan for yatra

Hyderabad,July 12: The Congress High Command on Monday reportedly issued a showcasue notice to party MP Jaganmohan Reddy for resuming his controversial 'Odarpu Yatra' in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh defying the party's directive.According to reports, Jaganmohan was slapped a showcase notice a day after he defended Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah's statement that his yatra is aimed to secure the chief ministerial post."I heard Rosaiah telling the media that I started this yatra because I am in a hurry to become the chief minister. But I am here to console the people, not asking for their votes. If we start worrying about the chief minister's chair like this, we should be ashamed of this politics," Jaganmohan said on Sunday.Rosaiah had told a news channel that Jaganmohan needs 'proper advice'."He (Jaganmohan) can dream, aspire and try for the CM's post but there is a method to try and get it," Rosaiah had said.Jaganmohan, son of former state chief minister late YS Rajashekhar Reddy, had embarked on the Yatra (rally) to console the bereaved families of those persons who died of shock on hearing the news of the sudden death of his father in a helicopter crash last year.As Jagammohan started his three-day campaign in Itchapuram town, thousands lined up on both sides of the streets and stood on rooftops to welcome him.He also unveiled a statue of his late father on his birth anniversary and paid floral tributes to him at the site where YSR ended his 68-day 'padyatra' in 2003. "I am not alone. My father has left behind such a huge family," Jaganmohan said, addressing the crowd.He, however, made no reference to the Congress leadership, which has cautioned of disciplinary action against him.Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi had on Tuesday hinted that the party could act tough against Jaganmohan if he went ahead with his Yatra."All true committed and loyal Congressmen must necessarily observe both the party dharma (party rules) and laxman rekha (limits)... "Failure to do so would perforce lead to a chain of consequences, which are best avoidable. We hope and trust that compliance will take the place of defiance," Singhvi had said.K.Roasaiah, who had assumed office as the chief minister following YSR's death, had on Wednesday asked his Cabinet colleagues and party legislators to stay away from the Yatra.He had, however, tried not to antagonise Jaganmohan, while at the same time keeping the Congress central leadership happy."The yatra should be one of condolence and not like a victory march," Rosaiah had said, adding that he was not against the Yatra, but the manner in which it was being conducted.Earlier, Jaganmohan had announced of resuming the Yatra, which he had to abandon midway in May after it led to violent clashes and he was taken into preventive custody.Congress chief Sonia Gandhi had also reportedly asked Jaganmohan to abandon the Yatra when he had called on her, but the young MP has remained adamant.
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SW Monsoon active over Telangana

Hyderabad, Jul 12 : The Southwest Monsoon has been active over Telangana with rain occurring at many places over Telangana and at a few places over coastal Andhra Pradesh while isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema.The stations that recorded heavy rainfall in cm are Madhira 8, Jagitiyal, Kaleswaram and Metpalli 7 each, the Met Department today said.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Atmakur, Palasa and Venkatapuram 6 each, Araku Valley, Mahabubabad, Manthani and Sultanabad, Rajahmundry and Yellandu 5 each, Bhadrachalam, Ramagundam, Bobbili, Salur, Chinnoor, Koida, Narsipatnam, Paleru Bridge and Puttur 4 each. Moderate to rather heavy rain/thundershowers could occur at many places over Telangana and in the districts of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari and West Godavari of coastal Andhra Pradesh.Light to moderate rain/thundershowers would occur at a few places over Rayalaseema and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh. A spell of rain/thundershowers may occur in parts of the city.Maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 30 and 22 Degree Celsius respectively, the Met office said.
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Cracks in Andhra Congress widen as Jagan steps up attack

Hyderabad,July 12: The war within Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress is turning bitter by the day with MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, directly targeting Chief Minister K.Rosaiah.

The young MP wondered why Rosaiah was afraid of losing his chair because of his 'odarpu yatra'. After making indirect attacks on the leadership for preventing ministers and legislators from accompanying him, Jagan, as he is popularly known, launched a direct attack on the veteran leader. Stating that he was not after the chief minister's post, Jagan wanted to know why Rosaiah was afraid of him. "Am I here for the odarpu yatra or for the chief minister's post," the young leader asked the crowd at Ranasthalam in Srikakulam district Sunday night. "I fail to understand why the chief minister will loose his chair because of the yatra. I also fail to understand why they are politicising it," he said. Defying the central leadership, Jagan continued his campaign for the fifth day Monday. After covering Srikakulam district, he entered East Godavari district Monday to console the families of those who died of shock following the death of his father and then chief minister in a helicopter crash in September last year. No minister or legislator joined in in Srikakulam but at least two ministers and six legislators have announced that they would join Jagan in East Godavari district. Jagan had already hit out at the leadership for not allowing ministers and legislators to join his yatra and pointed out that their family members had come out in his support. With the Kadapa MP finally getting some open support from ministers and legislators, alarm bells have started ringing in the ruling party. Ministers, legislators and party leaders loyal to Rosaiah have hit back at Jagan saying nobody was being prevented from joining his campaign. Some senior leaders have accused him of damaging the party through his yatra. Worried over the impact the open wrangling is having on the government, some senior cabinet ministers, who were loyal to late chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy, began efforts for a truce between Jagan and Rosaiah.
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Andhra Pradesh role model in development of remote, interior areas: CM

Hyderabad, Jul 11 : Ahead of the internal security meet called by the Centre at New Delhi on July 14 as apart of its multi prong strategy to tackle the Maoist and insurgency problems in the country, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today asserted the State was a ''role model'' for the development of remote and interior areas, having allocated nearly Rs 15,000 crore for rural areas development this year.He said Andhra Pradesh topped the country in engaging the rural poor, women and youth in gainful economic activity through various popular schemes like MGNREGA, 'Pavala Vaddi', and Self Help Groups (SHG) and achieved large scale employment generation and food security in rural areas. He said a huge sum of Rs 3842 crore has been earmarked for rural development in the state during the current year to promote roads, drinking water, housing, employment generation and comprehensive development of lands of rural poor. An amount of Rs 8,892 crore was being spent on NREGP, to provide employment to 2.75 crore labourers in rural areas, particularly in remote and tribal areas.The Chief Minister said the state government was also set up a Remote Area Development Board (RADB) with a corpus of Rs 538 crore. ''Under the scheme, it was proposed to extentd Rs 5000 to each Tribal farmer family to develop his lands. The state government distributed the funds so that the land could be brought under cultivation and become his livelihood source''. Dr Rosaiah said the centre considers Andhra Pradesh a role model in promotion of welfare and development activities in tribal and remote areas and has successfully brought the rural youth on to the main stream of nation building activities.
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Fish festival abuzz with visitors in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, July 11: The Indian fish festival, INFISH 2010, is being organized in Hyderabad, which is showcasing exotic and colorful varieties of fishes.Organized by the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), INFISH 2010 is aimed to promote sales of ornamental fishes and showcase the state-of-the-art production and processing techniques in use in the country."Basically people come here to understand what fisheries are. Secondly, they are very fascinated looking at the ornamental fishes, and those who wish to keep an aquarium athome, it is a great opportunity," said Vasu Devappa, Senior Executive Director of the NFBD."The third and the most attractive thing is the fish food court, where people want to taste different kinds of fish, and there are fish preparations which are from different ethnic groups," he added. Other than ornamental fishes, edible fisheries have also emerged as a major crowd-puller, with people buying their favourite marine delicacies with gusto.The pavilion comprises hundreds of chefs from reputed hotels across the country with their versions of different fish recipes. The show further aims to create awareness among the consumers of fish as a healthy food."People would generally not have been interested in simple fishes. People would want to go to an aquarium to get a reaction. I feel that getting to see these things here generates more interest," said Nikhit Pillai, a visitor at the event. The event began on Friday, and will conclude on Monday (July 12).
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Defiant Jagan continues yatra

Hyderabad, July 11 : Continuing his defiance of the party leadership, Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Sunday went on with his "Odarpu yatra" in Andhra Pradesh to console all the families of those who had died pf shock following his father and late chief minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy's death last year.A worried Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Sunday met some of his cabinet colleagues, including Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasad Rao, amid reports that two ministers and some legislators were keen to join Jagan's yatra. Addressing road shows in Srikakulam district, Jagan lamented the decline of moral values in politics. Without naming Rosaiah or any other leader, he called upon his rivals to stop playing politics over dead bodies. Though the yatra was scheduled to conclude in Srikakulam Saturday, he extended it by another day. His supporters said this was done as the yatra was running eight hours behind schedule. Enthused by huge crowds welcoming him in every town and village he is visiting, the young leader decided to cover more areas on the request of local party leaders. During the yatra, taken out in defiance of the Congress leadership, Jagan is consoling family members of those who died of shock following the death of his father in a helicopter crash last year. "I am asking you, were they not workers of Congress party? Has anybody consoled their families?" asked Jagan while trying to justify his yatra. Jagan Saturday hit out at the party leadership alleging that it was preventing ministers and legislators from joining the yatra. Several senior Congress leaders Sunday hit back at Jagan saying he was damaging the party through his remarks. "When Jagan himself said his yatra is not political, then why is he keen to have ministers and legislators with him?" asked state Congress spokesman Tulsi Reddy. Senior leader P. Goverdhan Reddy alleged that Jagan was trying to destroy the party through his yatra. He said people were being paid money for attending the road shows. Another senior leader and Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao said he was receiving threatening calls for opposing Jagan's yatra. "I will not be cowed down by such threats," he said.
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Train robbers strike again in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, July 11 : Train robberies are continuing unabated in Andhra Pradesh with robbers targeting passengers of another train late Saturday night and snatching gold ornaments, with the railway police failing to act quickly.Police said robbers looted about 80 grams of gold ornaments from passengers on the Chennai-Kakinada Circar Express near Ulavapadu in Prakasam district around midnight. Passengers complained that robbers snatched gold ornaments in darkness and got down after pulling the alarm chain near Ulavapadu railway station. Miscreants targeted women passengers of S4, S5 and S6 coaches. The victims lodged a complaint with the railway police in Nellore town. They complained that the security personnel on the train failed to react quickly. Robbers also made a vain attempt to target passengers of the Indore-Trivandrum Ahilyanagari Express in the same region Saturday night. They escaped after passengers raised an alarm. Miscreants had looted gold ornaments worth Rs.1 lakh from passengers of the Secunderabad-Tirupati Padmavathi Express near Appikatla railway station in Guntur district early Saturday. They targeted passengers in four sleeper coaches. Railway passengers are worried over the increasing train robberies on the Guntur-Gudur-Nadikudi section in south coastal Andhra. The latest incidents took place despite the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the Government Railway Police (GRP) and the Guntur district police stepping up vigil and coordinating their efforts. A series of train robberies was reported last month. Women passengers travelling on the Secunderabad-Tirupati Narayanadri Express were deprived of their ornaments near Sattenapalli railway station in Guntur district June 11. A day later, dacoits snatched gold ornaments from women passengers of Secunderabad-Gudur Simhapuri Express between Khammam and Madhira railway stations. On June 16, an armed gang looted 40 tolas of gold from passengers Chennai-Hyderabad Chennai Express between Nadikudi and Pandugula stations in Guntur district.
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Danam flagging off rally,

Hyderabad,(Deccan Samachar Service)july,11, HEALTH MINISTER D.NAGEDER FLAGGING OFF RALLY ORGANISED ONTHE EVE OF WORLD POPULATION DAY AT BUDDHA BHAVAN ON 11.07.2010 INCHARGE COLLECTOR SMITHA SABERWAL & DMHO DR,JAYA KUMARI ARE ALSO SEEN (Photo by i&pr no.CNR-1)
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Jagan recieves huge response during Odarpu Yatra

Jul 10 : Encouraged by the overwhelming response from the locals for the past two days, Congress MP from Kadappa Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today continued his 'Odarpu Yatra.' Huge crowds converged at the roadside even at late hours of the night.The response was overwhelming at Srikakulam with thousands of people waving and raising slogans in support of Jagan. The third day's yatra was terminated at Palakonda, where he would take rest at the residence of the Zilla Parishad Chairman, Palavalasa Rajasekhar.Earlier, he unveiled the statue of his father and former Chief Minister YSR at Goidi village of Seethampeta mandal and later addressed a public meeting at Seethampeta.Jagan visited the families of Sravankimar of Veeraghattam and addressed the people. Several MLAs of the Rayalasema are participating in the yatra. The yatra, extended by one more day will pass through Palakonda, Goidi, Seethampeta, Kambra,Veeraghattam, Nivagam and other towns.
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Cong group politics affecting state development: TDP

Tirupati, July 10 : Telugu Desam President and Leader of the Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly N Chandrababu Naidu today alleged that group politics in Congress, was badly affecting the development activites in the state.

Addressing in a press conference here, he said the internal fighting and group rivalry in Congress party had led to curtailing of people development activity in the state.Referring to Jagan's Odarpu yatra, Mr.Naidu described the yatra as 'corrupt money yatra'. YSR's son Mr Jagan should explain to the people of the state where the money came from to spend for the yatra.Mr Naidu said UPA chairperson Sonia should intervene in the Babhali project and settle the dispute between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.Later, Mr Naidu proceeded to Venkagiri in Nellore district, where he consoled the family members of former MLA VVRK Yachendra, who recently passed away.
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No direction from Central committee on July 27 bypoll: Yechuri

Hyderabad, Jul 10 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member Sitaram Yechuri today washed his hands of the July 27 bypoll in Andhra Pradesh, saying the state committee will decide on the possible direction for voting by its party cadres in Telangana region.''The Central Committee of the party has not given any direction (to its party cadre in Andhra Pradesh) on voting for the byelections in 12 assembly constituencies later this month,'' Mr Yechuri, who was to attend the state committee of the party, told media here.The CPI(M) was not contesting in the July 27 elections, he said, admitting that it did not have strength in the 12 assembly constituencies where elections were being held.The CPI(M) was the only party in Andhra Pradesh which was openly opposed to the formation of Telangana, he said, maintaining it was for the unified Andhra Pradesh. However, in the last elections, the CPI(M) was a part of the TDP-led 'Mahakutami,' the grand alliance of the non-Congress parties in which Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party, with a single point programme of creation of separate state, was a partner.
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YSR's son attacks Congress leadership

Hyderabad, July 10 : Hitting out at the Congress leadership, party MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Saturday alleged that Andhra Pradesh's ministers and legislators were being prevented from joining his yatra.In the first open attack on the leadership since resuming his yatra Thursday, the young MP claimed that ministers and legislators wanted to accompany him but were being prevented from doing so. "What crime I have committed? I am asking you if it is justified to ask ministers and legislators not to accompany me," said Jagan, without naming Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who asked his cabinet colleagues and legislators not to join the yatra. The Kadapa MP was addressing a road show at Veerghattam in Srikakulam district as part of his yatra which he resumed Thursday in open defiance of the party leadership. The remarks came as none of the 17 party legislators who were likely to join his yatra Saturday turned up. Jagan is on a three-day tour to console families of those who died of shock following the death of his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) in a helicopter crash last year. "Were they (those who died for YSR) not Congress workers? Has anybody (from Congress party) consoled their families? Their only crime was that they loved Rajasekhara Reddy," said Jagan to loud cheers from the crowd. Jagan alleged that no legislator was allowed to visit his constituency on the birth anniversary of his father Thursday. He was apparently referring to the government turning down his demand for not holding a legislature session on the birth anniversary to enable legislators to participate in celebrations. Enthused by massive turnout at his road shows and cashing in on the huge public sympathy, Jagan has started targeting the leadership and appeared set for a showdown. The young MP said Friday that within few months after his father's death, the state politics had hit rock-bottom. But he refrained from criticising Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had advised him not to undertake the yatra. The central leadership, which had threatened disciplinary action against him, maintained its silence.
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Jagan can aspire, dream and try to be CM: Rosaiah

July 10: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Saturday said Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy can dream and aspire for the chief minister's post and that there is a method to it."Jagan is a young boy with a future. He needs proper advice. He can dream, aspire and try for the CM's post but there is a method to get it," Rosaiah said in an interview to NDTV. "He could've waited for sometime and staked his claim," he added. Son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S.Rajashekhara Reddy, Jaganmohan is continuing his controversial 'odarpu yatra' (condolence march) defying reservations expressed by the Congress leadership. However, Rosaiah, who was opposed to the march, said he does not see Jaganmohan's 'condolence march' as a serious matter. "I don't think it is a serious matter for the Congress to see it as a defiance," he said. "Family members of legislators are not barred (from participating). Jagan is not an enemy, he is a member of the Congress. He is an MP," he added, saying he stands by his decision to ask his cabinet colleagues and party legislators to keep away from the march. Jaganmohan Thursday began his 'odarpu yatra' in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district, attracting huge crowds. Thousands lined up both sides of the streets and stood on rooftops to welcome him at the start of his three-day campaign in Itchapuram town. The Kadapa MP unveiled a statue of his father on his birth anniversary and paid floral tributes to him at the site where YSR ended his 68-day 'padyatra' in 2003.
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APCC asks rebels to withdraw from fray or face action

Hyderabad, Jul 10 : The Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee today threatened to take disciplinary action against rebel candidates, if they did not withdraw from the fray for the bypolls slated for July 27.The rebel canditates have filed nominations in Dharmapuri, Vemulavada, Sircilla, Huzurabad and Korutla Assembly constituencies of Karimnagar district.The APCC asked them to withdraw their nominations on or before July 12 in the interest of the party and its official candidates and work for the success of the party, a press release here said.
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Isolated rain in Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Jul 10 : Isolated rain occurred over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema regions of the state today.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm were Koida six, Perur and Puttur four each, Medak and Nizamsagar three each, Hindupur and Kodangal (Mahabubnagar district) two each and Arogyavaram, Chittoor, Kakinada, Machilipatnam, Banswada, Kaleswaram and Metpalli, Kuppam and Satyavedu, Narsipatnam and Paderu, Palakonda, Paleru Bridge, Parkal, Prathipadu, Sullurpet and Tada one each, Met Department said.Isolated rain/thundershowers would occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema. A spell of rain/thundershowers could occur in some parts of the city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 33 and 24 degrees Celsius respectively, the Met Department added.
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Congress serves notice on Jaganmohan loyalist

Hyderabad, July 9: Cracking the whip, the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh Friday served showcause notice to a leader loyal to party MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.The disciplinary committee of the party served the notice on general secretary Ambati Rambabu for making certain remarks against Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Rambabu was issued notice even as Jagan continued his 'Odarpu yatra' in Srikakulam district in defiance of party's central leadership. The former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's son is visiting the families of those who died of shock or committed suicide following the death of his father in a helicopter crash Sep 2 last year. For the second day the central leadership took no action against Jagan though it had warned him not to violate discipline by resuming the yatra. Rambabu told reporters that he would send a reply to the notice. "I have not breached the discipline. Since this is an internal matter of the party, I will send a reply," he said. The party general secretary had hit out at Rosaiah Wednesday after the latter asked party legislators to stay away from Jagan's yatra. He had remarked that Rosaiah should be indebted to YSR's family for becoming the chief minister. He also stated that Rosaiah became the chief minister by accident due to the sudden death of YSR.
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