16 killed in Kashmir violence

Sixteen people were killed across the Kashmir Valley Monday during protests initially triggered by reports of the Quran being desecrated in the US on a day India’s top cabinet committee on security deferred a critical decision on the demand for withdrawing the special powers given to the armed forces.The three-hour-long meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and attended by his core team, decided to convene a meeting here of all political parties on Wednesday to “elicit their views on the way forward” in Kashmir, an official statement Monday evening said.The meeting was expected to have taken a decision on withdrawing the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of Jammu and Kashmir. Political parties and separatist groups in the state have demanded the repeal of the AFSPA and the freeing of political prisoners as a precursor to initiating a peace process in the state.The CCS meeting came in the backdrop of escalated violence Monday that left 16 people dead and some 70 injured two days after Eid. This has taken the death toll in the violence in the state since June 11 to 86.Monday’s violence flared up after Iranian TV channel Press TV reported late Sunday that copies of the Quran had been burnt in the US. A pastor in Florida, US, had threatened to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks but later called off the plan.The state government swung into action as protesters violated curfew — it was the second consecutive day of 24X7 curfew in towns in the Valley — in many parts of Srinagar.North Kashmir’s Tangmarg town witnessed the worst violence as mobs torched a Christian missionary school, the office of the social welfare department and a police vehicle.Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who rushed to Srinagar Monday from New Delhi, chaired a meeting of the cabinet and appealed for peace and harmony.State police chief Kuldeep Khoda told reporters in Srinagar that the police had evidence that Hurriyat leaders had incited Monday’s violence.The official statement issued in New Delhi Monday evening said:“The CCS has decided to convene a meeting of all political parties at New delhi on Wednesday and elicit their views on the way forward” in Kashmir.“The government hopes that following the all-party meeting, it will be able to engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir and take certain initiatives and measures that will build confidence among the people of the state,” the statement added.The statement was handed over to reporters by Home Secretary G.K. Pillai after the CCS meeting at the prime minister’s official residence.“The CCS is deeply distressed by the turn of events since Eid and specially the event that took place today following certain rumours. The CCS expresses its profound grief at the loss of life and offeres its sincere condolences to the brevered families.” the statement said.It said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government believed in dialogue.“The government has always held the belief that the diaogue and discussion is the only way forward to find and honourable and lasting solution.“In the past too, the UPA government had taken several initiaves to hold the dialogue with different political parties and groups, including the Hurriyat,” the statement said.“Those efforts did yield some results,” it added.“It has and remained the intention of the UPA government to restart the process of dialogue,” the statment said, adding: “The dialogue can embrace all issues that agitate the minds of people of J and K especially the youth.”“The dialogue can address issues such as the trust deficit and governance deficit,” the statement added.“Meanwhile, the ccs appeals to the people of J and K, especially the youth, to refrain from violent protests and maintain peace and order. Every life that is lost and every person that is injured, beside casuing immense grief, add to the complexity of the situation,” the statement said,Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna also attended the CCS meeting.Meanwhile, US Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer appealed for calm, saying he was “dismayed” to see reports of a church and school in Kashmir and Punjab being attacked and destroyed by rioters.“One misguided individual” had desecrated the Quran by tearing pages from it Saturday, Roemer said here, condemning such acts as “disrespectful, intolerant, divisive and un-representative of American values.”
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Government appeals for peace, to hold all-party meet Wednesday

The government Monday appealed to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth, to “refrain from violent protests and maintain peace and order” and said they are “re-starting the process of dialogue”.

The Cabinet Committee on Security, which is chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, hoped that dialogue would be able to “address issues such as the trust deficit and governance deficit”.“The CCS reiterates government intention to restart the process of dialogue with different sections of people of Jammu and Kashmir. Towards this end, the CCS has decided to convene an all-political party meet at New Delhi on Wednesday, September 15, and elicit their views on the way forward,” said a note issued after the three-hour meeting that met to review the situation in the state.“Government hopes following the all-party meeting, it will be able to engage the people of Jammu and Kashmir and also take certain initiatives and measures that will build confidence among the people of Jammu and Kashmir,” it said.The one-page note was handed out by Home Secretary G.K. Pillai after the three-hour- long meeting at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s 7 Race Course Road official residence.The meeting was held as the Kashmir Valley is on the boil again with 16 people killed in clashes with security forces Monday. With the latest deaths, 86 civilians, mostly teenagers and youth, have been killed in the cycle of violence of street protests and retaliatory firing by security forces since June 11.Noting that it was “deeply distressed by the turn of events since Eid and especially by the event that took place today following certain rumours”, the CCS “expressed its profound grief at the loss of life and offers its sincere condolences to the bereaved families.”“The government has always held the belief that the dialogue and discussion is the only way forward to find an honourable and lasting solution.“On the past too, the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government had taken several initiatives to hold the dialogue with different political parties and political groups including the Hurriyat those efforts did yield some results,” it added.“It was and remains the intention of the UPA government to restart the process of dialogue. The dialogue can embrace all issues that agitate the minds of people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth. The dialogue can address issues such as the trust deficit and governance deficit,” it added.“Meanwhile, the CCS appeals to the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially the youth to refrain from violent protests and maintain peace and order. Every life that is lost and every person that is injured, beside causing immense grief, add to the complexity of the situation.“Government sincerely hopes that the people of Jammu and Kashmir will heed this appeal and cooperate with the government in its efforts to ensure justice, dignity, honour and peace in Jammu and Kashmir,” it added.The meeting was attended by Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna.
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India too large a country for any alliance: PM

Backing the modernisation of defence forces, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday underlined his commitment to preserving India’s “strategic autonomy” and stressed that it is too large a country to be boxed into any alliance.“We have always prided ourselves on preserving our strategic autonomy, and this is an article of faith for us,” Manmohan Singh told the combined commanders’ conference in the capital.“India is too large a country to be boxed into any alliance or regional or sub-regional arrangements, whether trade, economic or political,” he said.Putting India’s economic transformation at the heart of the country’s foreign policy and strategic orientation, Manmohan Singh said in order to sustain 9 to 10 percent growth rate and to modernise its infrastructure, India needs to “maintain healthy relations with all major powers”.Commending the armed forces for their contribution to the country’s security, Manmohan Singh said: “Our Armed Forces deserve the best and I wish to assure you that the government will make every effort to ensure this. No country can make progress without ensuring its security and territorial integrity”.The prime minister also strongly endorsed the growing demand for much-needed modernisation of defence forces. “As our economy grows and our technological capabilities expand, we must set higher standards for the modernisation of our defence forces,” he said.“It is not enough for us to keep pace with change. When it comes to defence capability, we must be ahead of the technology curve,” he stressed.Defence modernisation, the prime minister said, must involve the full chain starting with updating war fighting doctrines to meet new threats to security, preparation of appropriate staff quality requirements and creating a broad-based production and delivery infrastructure on the ground.
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US condemns violence in Kashmir, Punjab

The United States Monday said it was “dismayed” by reports that a school and a church in Kashmir and Punjab had been attacked by rioters. It also condemned reports that a “misguided individual” in the US had desecrated the Quran, terming it “disrespectful, intolerant, divisive, and un-representative of American values”.

“The deliberate destruction of any holy book is an abhorrent act,” US Ambassador Timothy Roemer said in a statement here.An Iranian TV channel reported that the Quran had been desecrated in the US, triggering violent protests in the Kashmir Valley. Rumours that copies of the Quran had been desecrated in Michigan, US, had led to curfew in Punjab’s Malerkotla town.
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Heavy rains in Coastal Andhra Pradesh for next 48 hours

Hyderabad, Sept 14: Isolated heavy rain would occur over Rayalaseema and in the districts of East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore of Coastal Andhra Pradesh during next 48 hours, the Met officials said here today.

For subsequent two days no large change was expected. Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers would occur at many places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema. Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Telangana over the next two days.The sky condition for Hyderabad and neighbourhood over the next two days would be generally cloudy with onne or two spell of rain or thundershowers would occur in parts of city. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 32 and 23 degrees Celsius respectively.Observations recorded at 0830 hours today rain occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema.The following stations recorded heavy rainfall in cm Sullurpet (Nellore dist) 12 , Puttur (Chittoor dist) 11 , Ongole 10 , Miryalguda and Nagarjunasagar Dam (both Nalgonda dist) 9 each, Machilipatnam 8, Ramannapet (Nalgonda dist) 7. The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Macherla (Guntur dist), Palamaner (Chittoor dist), Tada (Nellore dist) 6 each, Tirupathi AP, Addanki and Darsi (both Prakasam dist), Alampur and Shadnagar (both Mahabubnagar dist), Pakala (Chittoor dist) 5 each, Bapatla, Devarakonda (Nalgonda dist), Kandukur and Podili (both Prakasam dist), Kunavaram (Khammam dist) 4 each, Nandyal, Rentachintala, Bhimavaram (West Godavari dist), Srungavarapukota and Terlam (both Vizianagaram dist), Yerragondapalem (Prakasam dist) 3 each.
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Rly Recruitment Board scam: CBI files charge sheet

Hyderabad, Sep 14 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has, in a record 89 days, filed a charge sheet against 14 people, including the then Mumbai Board Chairman N Sharma in the Railway Recruitmet Scam (RRS) a CBI statement said here today.

The CBI, Hyderabad filed the charge sheet on September 13 in the Court of Special Judge for CBI cases.The case was filed against AK Jagannadham (A-1), the then Chief Executive Officer, Hassan-Mangalore Rail Development Corporation, Bangalore, J Sahreen Kumar (A-2), private person P Srinivasa Rao (A-3), Fitter, Rayanapadu Wagon Work Shop, Vijayawada, P Ashok Kumar (A-4), private person, Kumaraswamy Jagannadham (A-5), Dy Statistical Officer, Municipal Corporation, Kurnool, Jagannadham Ramesh (A-6), private person, Jagannadham Tirupathaiah (A-7), private person, MRSN Murthy (A-8), private person, Vivek Bharadwaj (A-9), son of S M Sharma, Srujan Jagannadham (A-10), son of A K Jagannadham (A-1), Advocate, SM Sharma (A-11), the then Chairman, RRB, Mumbai, G Sethy (A-12), Sr Divisional Personnel Officer, O/o DRM, Raipur, Manish Patesaria (A-13), Railway Contractor, Mumbai, Ashim Roy (A-14), Railway Contractor and S Vijay Shankar (A-15), private person u/s 120-B, 409, 418, 420 and 201 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 7, 8 and 13 (2) r/w 13 (1) (c) and (d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The accused were charge sheeted for offences of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to person whose interest offender is bound to protect and causing disappearance of the evidence, receiving of illegal gratification and criminal misconduct. The CBI has filed a 182-page charge sheet and cited 310 witnesses and 384 documents. The entire documentation runs into 5,000 pages.
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Hyd safe for investment, full protection to Industry: Andhra Pradesh CM

Hyderabad, Sep 14 : Notwithstanding the Telangana issue spurring the political temperature, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today reassured the captains of industry of total protection saying Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh remained the ''safest place for investment'', Chief Minister K Rosaiah said.The government had taken steps to ensure that the current phase of agitation for separate Telangana would not impact industry, he said. The Telangana agitation was ''only a phase'' the Chief Minister Rosaiah told the meeting of the National Excutive Committee of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) not to any doubts as it the agitation, should not come in the way of the developmet of the state.Mr Rosaiah recalled that his government had, early this year, provided protection to the IT-ITES sector in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam when some of the companies wanted to re-locate their operations outside Andhra Pradesh because of the agitation.Responding to the apprehension expressed by a senior office bearer of FICCI, the Chief Minister said '' this type of agitation should not come in the way of development, let us think of development. Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh is safe place for investment.He remained the industrialists that the demand for separate Telangana is not new. This demand had came earlier also.
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Rosaiah assures protection to industry as Telengana hots up

Hyderabad, Sep 14 : With the Telangana issue hotting up again, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah Tuesday assured full protection to the industry.Addressing the captains of Indian industry, Rosaiah said Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh were safe places for investment. He said steps would be taken to ensure that the agitation for a separate Telengana state does not come in the way of development. "You need not entertain any sort of doubts. Government always prepared to extend all support to the industry. We stand by industry," he told the national executive committee meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Rosaiah was responding to the apprehension voiced by Harsh Mariwala, chairman and managing director of Marico Limited, in the background of statements by pro-Telangana groups that a massive movement would be launched after Dec 31. "This type of agitation should not come in the way of development. Let us think of development. Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh is safe place for investment," the chief minister said. He pointed out that his government provided protection to IT/ITES sector in Hyderabad and Visakhaptanam when some of the firms were planning to shift their operations out of the state due to the agitation early this year. Rosaiah said the government of India would take a decision in the larger interest of the country after receipt of the report of the Srikrishna Committee, which it constituted to study the problem and look into different angles. "The government of India after listing to various sections and after conducting a through study through Srikrishna Committee will take a decision. Everyone must respect the final decision of the government of India," he said. The five-member panel constituted by the government in February this year is expected to submit its report by Dec 31. Rosaiah told the industrialists that demand for separate Telangana state was not new. "Earlier also this demand came. There were agitations but ultimately the government of India announced a package and kept the state united," he said.
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Rahul’s Bengal visits to galvanise Congress for 2011 polls

Sep,13, Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will Tuesday begin his second visit to West Bengal in less than a fortnight, giving a clear signal that the party is going all-out in its preparations for next year’s assembly polls in the state.Gandhi, who set the pace for the party’s campaign by a no-holds barred attack on the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M)-led state government at a rally in Kolkata Sep 6, has a packed schedule during his three-day visit to the state.He is slated to address meetings and conventions of youth workers, tribals, Dalits and women across several districts of West Bengal.Congress president Sonia Gandhi is also expected to visit Kolkata later this month to address east zonal meeting of the All India Congress Committee.Congress sources said that visits of top leaders will help rejuvenate the party and allow it to hold seat-sharing talks with the Trinamool Congress from a position of strength. The party also wants to be prepared for the eventuality of having to go it alone in the polls, which are due by May next year.They said that Congress efforts to emerge stronger in the state are part of plans to gain strength in four states where it has been weak for years — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.The four states together have over 200 Lok Saha seats and the Congress is keen to regain its strength in these states to come to power on its own in the next Lok Sabha polls.Congress leaders said the party will seek its due share of seats from the Trinamool Congress in the West Bengal elections where the odds are heavily loaded against the ruling Left Front. The seat sharing talks, for which the two parties have not yet worked out a time frame, are expected to take place in Delhi.Congress MP and West Bengal in-charge K.Keshava Rao said that the party is keen on an alliance with the Trinamool Congress but not at the cost of its interests.“We are for an alliance with Trinamool Congress but not at the cost of our interests and self-respect,” Rao told,Though Rao did not specify the number of seats the Congress aims at contesting as part of alliance, he said the party will “ask for what it deserves”.He said Rahul Gandhi’s rally had infused new energy in the party and galvanised the youth.“The rally has given the party a new hope,” Rao said.The Congress and the Trinamool Congress fought the 2009 Lok Sabha polls together but could not reach an understanding for the municipal elections in the state held in May.In the last assembly polls, which the two parties contested separately, the Congress won 21 seats with 14.71 percent vote share while the Trinamool Congress won 30 seats with 26.47 percent votes. In the Lok Sabha polls, the Trinamool Congress won 19 of the 27 seats it contested while the Congress won six of the 14 it fought.The Trinamool Congress also emerged as the single largest party in the municipal elections held in May.With Trinamool chief and Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee keeping up momentum of her attack on the ruling Left Front through rallies, the Congress is also keen to get its electoral act together. The party is reaching out to the youth and weaker sections in an effort to expand its base.Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leaders said that Rahul Gandhi had raised broadly the same issues in his Kolkata rally which Banerjee has been raising over the years.Party leader Sudip Bandopadhyay said the issues of improper implementation of rural employment guarantee act and irregularities in lists of families below poverty line (BPL) had been raised by the party.“We have raised all these issues much ahead,” Bandopadhyay said.During his speech in Kolkata, Rahul Gandhi spoke of two West Bengals – “one of the CPI-M which has money” and the other “of the poor and backward”.A political observer said that attempts by the Congress to gain strength are likely to lead to some competition with the Trinamool Congress“Both the parties are competing to take a more strident anti-CPI-M line,” he said.
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Grievances of Kashmiri youth to be addressed: PM

Sep,13,Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday said his government was ready to talk to every person or group in Jammu and Kashmir if they abjured violence and assured that the grievances of the youth would be addressed.“We are willing to talk to every person or group which abjures violence, within the framework of our constitution,” Manmohan Singh said at the Combined Commanders’ Conference here.“The unrest in the state of Jammu and Kashmir over the last few weeks is a matter of concern. The youth of Kashmir are our citizens and their grievances have to be addressed,” the prime minister assured.“We have to ensure better delivery of services and generate avenues for economic advancement for the people of that state.”The prime minister’s remarks came a few hours before the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting here to review the situation in Kashmir and discuss a peace package for the Valley.The CCS will review whether the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives the army substantial immunity during operations, can be lifted in some parts of the state.Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister P. Chidambaram and discussed the situation in the state that suffered a fresh spell of violence over the weekend.
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Omar meets Chidambaram, Sonia

Sep,13,Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Monday met Home Minister P. Chidambaram and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi to apprise them of developments in the violence-hit valley.The meetings came hours before the crucial Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting on Kashmir situation Monday evening.“The chief minister is understood to have repeated the need for a political package and withdrawal of the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) at least from a few districts in the two meetings,” a senior National Conference leader said on condition of anonymity.The chief minister’s meeting with Chidambaram lasted for 40 minutes. He later met Sonia Gandhi, sources added.
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Chavan, Shiv Sena criticise Salman for 26/11 comments

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Sunday criticised Bollywood actor Salman Khan for his statement on the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, noting the rich were not the only victims.“Apart from the Taj and Oberoi hotels, the attacks also took place at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and other spots where the not so rich were also killed,” Chavan said.“I don’t know what Salman has said about the involvement of the Pakistani government, but (the sole surviving terrorist Mohammad Ajmal Amir) Kasab’s arrest and the court’s verdict have made it clear that the conspiracy was hatched in Pakistan. There is no room for his or anyone else’s opinion when the court’s verdict is out,” Chavan added.The opposition Shiv Sena also condemned the comments by the actor, saying they insulted all those who died in the attacks.“The attacks were not specific to any hotels of elite gatherings. The attack was on the sovereignty of India as a nation. Salman’s comments are an insult to our country and the martyrs,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said.The party has demanded an apology from the actor.Salman, who invited flak for his comments in an interview to a Pakistani channel that “too much hype” was created around the 26/11 attack as “elite people were targeted” and that the Pakistani government was not behind it, has since apologised for his remarks. He insisted that they were “twisted” and he did not mean to “hurt anybody’s sentiments”.“The interview has been twisted. I saw it myself, the way it is coming across on TV, it is sounding insensitive. I was just saying life is equal for both rich and poor, some attacks get more media coverage and some don’t. Why is that? Every human life is important,” Salman, 44, told Aaj Tak news channel.“I did not want to hurt anybody’s sentiments and if I have hurt anybody’s sentiments then I am really, really sorry,” he added.
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Telangana activists stone Naidu's convoy

Hyderabad,Sep 13 : Telangana activists Monday hurled stones at Telugu Desam Party (TDP) N. Chandrababu Naidu's convoy in the region's Ranga Reddy district, Andhra Pradesh police said.Four people, including a police constable, were injured in the violence at Pargi, about 70 km from here. Naidu escaped to safety as his driver sped the car away to evade stones. The leader of opposition was heading towards Mahbubnagar district to meet farmers who are facing problems due to alleged non-supply of fertilisers by authorities. The TDP chief faced protests at various places in Ranga Reddy district as pro-Telangana activists tried to block his way and shouted slogans of "Naidu go back". The former chief minister, who hails from Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, is facing the ire of Telangana supporters for opposing the demand for separate statehood to Telangana. Trouble broke out at Pargi when Naidu stopped at the house of party legislator Harishwar Reddy for breakfast. Activists of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gathered outside, raised slogans against him and tried to barge into the house. They clashed with TDP workers and the police. The protestors hurled stones at Naidu's convoy as it was leaving Reddy's house. According to eyewitnesses, Naidu's driver had a tough time in controlling the vehicle. Police used batons to control the crowd, injuring three people. A policeman also sustained injuries in the stone pelting. TRS activists had earlier tried to stop Naidu's convoy at Chevella and other places but were arrested.
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Withdraw cases against students: Telangana Congress leaders

Hydearbad,Sep 12 : Congress leaders from Telangana Sunday set Oct 2 as the deadline before the Andhra Pradesh government to withdraw police cases against students and youth who participated in the Telangana movement.The ruling party's MPs, legislators and other leaders met here to chalk out their future course of action. Senior leader K. Keshava Rao presided over the meet. Some of the participants suggested that a call for boycott of Andhra Pradesh formation day (Nov 1) should be given if the cases were not taken back. They said no action had been taken despite an announcement by union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in December last year. The students and youth were booked for participating in violent protests for separate statehood to Telangana last year. The leaders would meet again if the cases were not withdrawn by Oct 2. The elected representatives from the region also decided to donate a month's salary for the assistance of those who committed suicide for separate Telangana state since November last year. "A committee will be formed to provide the financial assistance to the families of the martyrs," MP K. Rajagopal Reddy told reporters after the meeting. The leaders will also collect donations from the rich for the assistance to such families. Legislator K. Lakshma Reddy announced Rs.1 million. The meeting also passed a resolution, urging the leadership to constitute a separate party unit for Telangana. The leaders vowed to continue their efforts to achieve a separate Telangana. They also demanded that Group I exam of Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission, which was held last week despite protests in Telangana, should be scrapped. In another resolution, the leaders asked the government to officially celebrate Telangana liberation day Sep 17. It was on Sep 17, 1948 that then Hyderabad State was merged with the Indian Union. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other pro-Telangana groups have been demanding the government to officially celebrate the day. The government has already turned down the demand.
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Sringent punishement to erring network hospitals: Rosaiah

Hyderabad, Sep 12 : Aimd allegation of misuse by the network hospitals under the Aarogyasri Scheme, a committee has been constituted to arrest the trend even as efforts were on to adopt a multi-pronged approach to enhance healthcare services to the poor and those below the poverty line in Andha Pradesh.Chief Minister K Rosaiah asked the Aarogyasri Trust to plug loopholes, if any, in the implementation of the scheme for the poor and low income group, an official release quoted him as saying.The Chief Minister expressed satisfaction over the multi-pronged approach by the Trust to enhance the quality of delivery of services in scheme. The Chief Minister was explained about the functioning of the scheme and the steps taken to make it absolutely transparent, by Aarogyasri Minister Pithani Satyanarayana and officials.Dr Rosaiah asked the Trust to introduce stringent measures to ensure the best quality medical care to the beneficiaries and avoid unethical practices by Network Hospitals.The officials explained a post of Chief Medical Auditor was created to continuously monitor the quality of medical care being provided. The Trust constituted an Empanelment and Disciplinary Committee (EDC) under the Chairmanship of Chief Medical Auditor to ensure the hospital had adequate infrastructure and manpower.The EDC will also look into all the complaints against the hospitals received from various sources and recommend follow-up action against network hospitals.
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Mumbai on tenterhooks as police hunt for two suspected terrorists

With the 10-day Ganesh festival starting Saturday, police have gone on high alert as two suspected terrorists have entered Mumbai with a view to creating disturbances during the festive season.Joint Police Commissioner Himanshu Roy told reporters that intelligence reports received by the police and state home department said the pair — said to be a Bangladeshi and a Pakistani — entered Mumbai sometime ago. They are Kalimuddin Khan Alias Rameshwar Pandit, 28, and Hafiz Sharif, 25.
Roy said the police and the crime branch have set up special teams and have sought the help of the public to nab the pair, whose sketches have also been released.He said they may create disruptions during the festive season in crowded places, especially at religious gatherings.Though he did not go into specifics, Roy was clearly hinting at the hundreds of Ganesh pandals which have been erected all over Mumbai and where millions of worshippers throng at all hours of the day.The Ganesh festival, preparations for which have begun in Mumbai and other parts Maharashtra on a grand scale, attracts hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists.He urged Mumbaikars to provide any information on the duo to the nearest police station, or the control room No. 100 or on special helpline numbers 022-22633333/022-22625020.Meanwhile, in view of the developments, police have heightened security checks all over Mumbai and surrounding districts of Thane and Raigad. Some roads have also been blocked.The development comes barely a couple of days after the Anti-Terrorist Squad nabbed two people in connection with the Feb 13 terror blast at Pune’s German Bakery on the eve of Valentines Day.
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Chiranjeevi is back

September 11, 2010 : The superstar of Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi, had taken a sabbatical from the big screen thanks to his political aspirations. However, there is some good news for all the Chiranjeevi fans out there, the superstar will be back in the big screen with his comeback movie in 2011.Right now, Chiranjeevi is Tirupati's MLA, so he has to look after his political responsibilities. Chiru told reporters that he will try to look for roles that deal with socially relevant topics and that will appeal to the common man. Chiranjeevi also maintained that he will try to give social message in an entertaining way. Chiru wants to be close to his fans, so he has decided to get back to his acting career.Talking about socially relevant movies, Chiranjeevi referred to some of his films like 'Tagore', 'Stalin', 'Shankar Dada MBBS' etc. Reliable sources have revealed that Chiru has already signed a couple of film projects for 2011. The new film will go on the floors by January 2011. The movie will be produced by Ram Charan under the banner of Mega Star.Ever since Chiranjeevi entered the political scene, fans have been waiting for the superstar to make a big comeback movie. Now it seems that their prayers will be answered by 2011, let's hope Chiru still remembers the ropes of the trade.
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Maoists free abducted Bihar policemen

Two days after Maoists killed policeman Lucas Tete, the ultra Leftwing rebels Sunday freed the three other policemen they had abducted a week ago, the local media reported. However, the police have declined to confirm the development.The three policemen – Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehsan Khan – were reportedly released by their captors in a jungle area between Lakhisarai and Jamui districts, local journalists said.
Rajni Devi, wife of Abhay Kumar Yadav, told reporters at her residence in Begusarai district that a Maoist leader visited her house early Sunday and told her that her husband and his two colleagues had been let off.“I am very happy and hoping that my husband will come home soon,” Rajni Devi said.The release comes two days after the bullet-riddled body of Lucas Tete was found near a forest in Lakhisarai district. He had been killed by the Maoists.Family members of Rupesh in Bettiah district and Ehsan’s family in Ranchi in Jharkhand said are eagerly waiting for the men to return.“We are happy to hear that my son Ehsan and other policemen have been released by the Maoists. We are waiting to welcome him,” Ehsan’s aged father Mohiuddin Khan said over telephone.Director General of Police Neelmani, however, declined to confirm the development.“We are not in a position to say anything unless the three abducted men return to their homes,” he said here.Maoist spokesperson Avinash Saturday claimed the three policemen were safe.They were abducted by Maoists after a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai last Sunday.The gunbattle left seven policemen dead and 10 injured. The Maoists claimed the gunfight was in retaliation for the killing of their leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and a journalist on the night of July 1-2 in Andhra Pradesh.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held an all-party meeting Saturday evening and said that the state government would hold talks with the Maoists on their demand for the release of eight jailed commanders in exchange for the three abducted policemen.All the political parties appealed to the Maoists to release the three policemen, he said.Nitish Kumar said the Maoists should come forward for face-to-face talk with the state government.
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Telangana students ransack exam centre at Osmania

Hyderabad, Sep 5 : Students protesting the conduct of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam ransacked an exam centre at the Osmania University campus here Sunday, leaving three injured.Tension prevailed at the B.Ed college as protesters broke the security cordon and barged into the exam centre. Some students writing the test came out with question papers and answer sheets and tore and dumped them on the roads, police said. The students were injured in a scuffle with police, which used batons against the protesters and arrested many of them, a police official said. Although the police made elaborate security arrangements in view of the boycott call given by the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) and other pro-Telangana groups, the protesters outnumbered them. Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and OUJAC uprooted the security barricades and broke into the college. The police failed to prevent them. Four MPs of the ruling Congress party and leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) also joined the protesting students. Despite the boycott and Telangana shutdown called by student groups and pro-Telangana parties and leaders, the APPSC went ahead with the the Group I Prelim exam amid tight security. Police deployment was marked at 445 centres where the exam began at 10.30 a.m. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different parts of Telangana as the shutdown evoked partial response. The strike affected services of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corp (APSRTC) in Karimnagar and Warangal districts. The impact was partial in the remaining eight districts including Hyderabad. Legislators and leaders of the TRS and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were taken into custody in different parts of Telangana. The pro-Telangana groups were demanding that the exam be postponed till the share of the region in the Group I postings is made clear. They were demanding 42 percent share for the region. More than 1.6 lakh candidates are writing the exam for recruitment to 198 posts.
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Concession agreement signed for Hyderabad Metro

Hyderabad, Sep 4 : The concession agreement for the Rs.12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project was signed here Saturday.The Andhra Pradesh government signed the pact with Larsen and Toubro Hyderabad Metro Rail Pvt. Ltd for development of Hyderabad Metro Rail project in public-private partnership (PPP) mode. Leading construction group Larsen and Toubro, which bagged the project in July this year, has formed a special purpose vehicle for developing the project on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. As per the agreement, L and T has to submit bank guarantee for Rs.360 crore as performance security to government and achieve financial closure for the project within six months. The concession period is for 35 years including five years for construction, with a provision of extension for another 25 years. The concessionaire can undertake real estate development up to a maximum of 18.5 million square feet through utilisation of air space over the 269 acres of land earmarked for rail facilities. The agreement was signed by Urban Development Principal Secretary T.S. Appa Rao and the newly-formed L and T Hyderabad Metro Rail Pvt. Ltd's managing director V.B. Gadgil in the presence of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Rosaiah said that with 71 km metro rail lane taken up in one go, it was one of the world's largest metro rail projects and in fact the largest one in the PPP mode. Out of the total project cost of Rs.12,132 crore, L and T sought a grant of Rs.1,458 crore and this will be borne by the central government. The ground work on the project will begin in January next year. The project covers three high density traffic corridors - Miyapur-LB Nagar (28.87 km); JBS-Falaknuma (14.78 km) and Nagole-Shilparamam (27.51 km). The estimated traffic demand is 15 lakh passengers per day in 2014 and 22 lakh passengers per day in 2024. The fare structure consists of a minimum basic fare of Rs.8 and a maximum fare of Rs.19 in 2014.
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Telangana ministers demand postponement of state exam

Hyderabad, Sep 4 : A group of ministers from Telangana region Saturday urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to postpone the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) selection test as a showdown looks inevitable with students from the region intensifying their protest and calling for a shutdown Sunday.Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, K. Venkat Reddy, D.K. Aruna and Sunita Lakshma Reddy sought Rosaiah's intervention to postpone the Sep 5 exam, which has divided students and even the political parties along regional lines. The APPSC, however, was going ahead with the exam as scheduled on Sunday at 445 centres across the state for recruitment to 198 posts. More than 1.6 lakh candidates are expected to appear in the exam. Police were making massive security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the exam and prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more people have been imposed around all exam centres. Congress MP from Nizamabad Madhu Yashki Goud told reporters in New Delhi that he would join Telangana students to protest the conduct of the exam. He warned that the conduct of the exam despite protests would have serious consequences. Four students of the Osmania University here Saturday launched a fast for indefinite period, demanding that the APPSC preliminary exam be postponed until 42 percent of the jobs at stake are reserved for the Telangana region. Protests broke out on the university campus as the four students locked themselves in the Art College Building and began the fast on the roof to prevent police from foiling their protest. Students in other parts of Telangana took to the streets demanding postponement of the exam. In Mahabubnagar, students set afire their hall tickets for APPSC Group I preliminary exam. Students of Kakatiya University in Warangal also launched a fast. The Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) has called for a boycott of the exam and a shutdown in the region Sunday. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other groups fighting for a separate Telangana state have also supported the shutdown call. A delegation of JAC leaders met Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy to demand that the government immediately put off the exam. They have also sought intervention of Governor E.S.L.Narasimhan and the State Human Rights Commission. Alleging injustice to Telangana, leaders of both the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the region also have demanded that the state public service exam be deferred until the share of Telangana in Group I postings is made clear. The ministers from Telangana have voiced their apprehension that the boycott and shutdown call given by students and supported by the opposition could create law and order problems. Meanwhile, Director General of Police K. Aravinda Rao has asked all district superintendents of police to provide a three-layer security cover to the centres to prevent any untoward incident. All the candidates have been asked to reach the centres well in advance. Meanwhile, educational institutions in Andhra and Rayalseema regions remained closed Saturday in response to the shutdown call given by some groups in support of the exam. Telangana groups said they see a conspiracy behind the sudden decision of the APPSC to conduct the exam, which were postponed for two years. They alleged that the exam was being conducted to recruit candidates from other regions without specifying the share of Telangana at time when formation of a separate Telangana had become almost certain. They even warned the government of a bloodbath if it goes ahead with the exam. TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao has demanded the arrest and prosecution of APPSC chairman Venkatarami Reddy for doing injustice to Telangana in previous recruitments. He alleged that Telangana students who scored well in the written test were deliberately given fewer marks in oral tests to disqualify them from appointments. The row has erupted close on the heels of an attack on lecturers of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions by Telangana students at Osmania University here. The students were protesting the evaluation of B.Ed papers by teachers from other regions.
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Maoists kill one of four abducted policemen

Sep,02, Maoists Thursday killed Abhay Kumar Yadav, one of the four Bihar policemen they abducted four days ago, following a decision by a ‘jan adalat’ or kangaroo court The Leftwing rebels killed Yadav six hours after their second deadline – at 10 a.m. -expired.After killing Yadav, a sub-inspector, the Maoists said the fate of the remaining three policemen would be decided by 10 a.m. Friday if the state government failed to initiate a dialogue or negotiate with them.Avinash, a self-proclaimed Maoist spokesman, told a local TV news channels that Yadav was killed after a decision was taken in a ‘jan adalat’. “The Bihar government compelled us to kill Yadav as the second deadline expired,” he said.Avinash said that Yadav’s body will be handed over by Thursday night.Yadav’s wife Rajni was staging a sit-in outside Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence.The other three policemen are Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Lukas Gete and Ehsan Khan.The Maoists have said the policemen would be killed unless eight jailed Maoist leaders were released.The families of the policemen have been desperately pleading with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for help.Avinash said that after the deadline to release their jailed leaders expired at 10 a.m. Thursday, top leaders of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) had been informed about the decision to hold a jan adalat.The guerrillas had earlier set a deadline of 4 p.m. Wednesday. Avinash later told local Hindi news channels they had decided to extend it till Thursday in view of appeals by the family members of the abducted policemen.The rebels had abducted the policemen in a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai district Sunday. The gunbattle left seven policemen dead and 10 injured. Maoists claimed the gunfight was in retaliation for the killing of their leader Azad and a journalist.The Maoists have also warned the Bihar government of more violent attacks if the operations against Maoists were not immediately stopped.
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Youth kills self as father refuses money

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : A 23-year-old youth committed suicide under Medpalli police station limits after his father refused him money to entertain his friends.

According to police, the victim has been identified as K Naresh (23), son of Anjaneyulu, and a resident of Uppal. Naresh, who was unemployed, got married a few weeks ago.According to sources, Naresh had asked his father for some money to give a wedding party to his friends after his marriage. However, his father refused to give money due to financial problems.Naresh, who was mentally disturbed, taken the extreme step by hanging from a ceiling fan.Police registered a case.
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CM pays tributes to YSR at his residence

Hyderabad, Sept 2 : Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday paid rich tributes to his predecessor late YS Rajasekhara Reddy on the occasion of his first death anniversary.

According to a statement released by the government, Mr Rosaiah was unable to fly to Nallakaluva at Pavuralagutta to participate in the official programme related to 'YSR Smrutivanam'. Mr Rosaiah deputed School Education Minister Manikya Varaprasada Rao to read his message at the programme. The Chief Minister is believed to have spent time recalling his long association with the former chief minister at his residence. Mr Rosaiah garlanded a portrait of his friend and predecessor and reminisced about his time with Cabinet colleagues, friends and officials present there. Mr Rosaiah said, "I admire him for unusual straights in his personality, and can never forget him. He always kept me in high esteem in spite of differences of opinion between us on any issue. I enjoyed his love and affection. Secondly on a number of occasions he exhibited extraordinary courage and perseverance to achieve what he aimed at, in the interest of the State. In his view obstacles can be surmounted if our vision is on the target." The Chief Minister also apologised to the people of the state for his inability to participate in the first death anniversary programme of the departed leader. Mr Rosaiah recalled how the four officers, Principal Secretary to the then CM P Subramanyam, Security Officer Mr Wesley and Pilots Bhatia and MS Reddy unfortunately met with premature death along with Dr Rajasekhara Reddy. He personally wrote letters to widows of all these officers expressing sorry for the grief and agony caused to their families. Recalling the services of those officers, the Chief Minister prayed the Almighty to bless their families with peace and bliss.
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OUSJAC calls for bandh on Sept 5 over G1 quota

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : The Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee on Thursday gave a call for Telangana 'bandh' on September 5 to press for its demand that the government issue clarification on providing quota in recruitments of successful APPSC Group-1 candidates from Telangana.Talking to media persons, student leader P Ravi stated that the OUSJAC was demanding that the government guarantee that 42 per cent candidates from Telangana region, who have cleared the Group-1 examinations conducted by the APPSC be recruited.Ravi also revealed that the OUSJAC has decided that it would not rest till the government orders the immediate suspension of APPSC Chairman Venkata Rami Reddy who has been facing allegations of irregularities. An inquiry is currently underway into the allegations. The OUSJAC leader also revealed that a candlelit vigil would be conducted to pay tributes to the people who had fought against the Mulki rules on September 3.Ravi said that students across the region would boycott their classes and take their part in an agitation if state government takes the warning seriously and does not clarify its stand on issuing clarifications on the quota for APPSC G1 recruitments on September 4. The OUSJAC leader also warned the government that if the APPSC goes ahead with conducting the APPSC G1 preliminary examinations under police protection, then the government should be ready to take responsibility for any untoward incident in the state.The OUSJAC also appealed to candidates who are appearing for the G1 preliminary examinations to boycott the tests. The OUSJAC said that the students should tear the question papers in the examination halls.The student leader also called on the main opposition Telugu Desam Party to realise the gravity of the situation and join students of Telangana region in their fight for justice. Meanwhile, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Bharatiya Janata Party and New Democracy have announced their support to the OUSJAC band call.
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CM cancels all official engagements

Hyderabad, Sept 2 : Following doctors' advice, Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday cancelled all his official engagements.According to Chief Minister's Office sources, Mr Rosaiah underwent a series of medical tests on Thursday morning. The sources say that the doctors from the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences attending on the Chief Minister advised him complete bed rest for two days. Meanwhile, the doctors said that Mr Rosaiah was responding to treatment rather well for his viral fever and his condition is stable."There is no cause of worry and his temperature is normal. He needs complete rest for two days," they said.According to sources, Mr Rosaiah may participate in the programmes scheduled to be conducted in the city
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Postage stamp on YSR released

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : A commemorative postage stamp on Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the late Andhra Pradesh chief minister, was Thursday released on the occasion of his first death anniversary.Visakhapatnam region post master general Sharada Sampat released the Rs.5 stamp carrying the portrait of YSR, as he was popularly known by his initials, at a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam. Officials said it normally takes 18 months to prepare and release a stamp but they had come out with this commemorative stamp within a year. Visakhapatnam-based philatelist G. Durga Prasad had sent the stamp proposal in October last year and the same was accepted by the Department of Posts. YSR died along with four others in a helicopter crash on Sep 2 last year.
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Homage paid to ex-Andhra CM YSR Reddy on first death anniversary

Kadapa (AP), Sep 2 : Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his family members on Thursday paid homage to former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y. S. R. Reddy on his first death anniversary.Jagan and a large number of family members took part in special prayers conducted at a church inside the family estate at Idupulapaya.Congress Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, Congress MLA Konda Surekha and her husband Konda Murali were among the Congress leaders who offered tribute to the late chief minister.The YSR family has made arrangements to feed about a lakh people wanting inside the estate.Special buses have been arranged for the convenience of the people wanting to reach Idupulapaya.Earlier, the Congress Party had announced distribution of Rs. one lakh to the relatives of each of the workers who had committed suicide in shock following Reddy''s death.At least 600 people are said to have died after Reddy''s death.Sonia Gandhi had earlier instructed the AICC to extend necessary relief to family members of those persons who had committed suicide after Reddy death.Reddy and four others died after their Bell 430 chopper crash landed about 40 nautical miles east of the Kurnool mountains on September last year.
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Year after YSR's death, Andhra pays rich tributes

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : Andhra Pradesh Thursday remembered one of its greatest leaders, late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who had died in a helicopter crash a year ago, leaving the state in shock.Rich tributes were paid to YSR - as he was popularly called - and, at various programmes held across the state, he was recalled as a man especially concerned about the welfare of the poor. YSR died when the government helicopter carrying him from Hyderabad to Chittoor district crashed amid bad weather in Kurnool district Sep 2. Four others, including two pilots, also died with him. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who is suffering from fever, had to cancel his visit to Nallakalva in Kurnool district where he was to unveil a statue of YSR. He could not attend a function in the state capital either. "I am sad over not being able to attend the programmes to pay tribute to the great leader due to ill health," Rosaiah said in a message. He recalled his close association with YSR. "He was a great leader who always used to think of the welfare of people," Rosaiah said. YSR's widow Vijayalakshmi, son and Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, daughter Sharmila and other family members came to pay their respects at his grave in Idupulapaya family estate in Kadapa district. Vijayalakshmi, who is also a state legislator, broke down while praying at the grave. Other family members, his long-time friend and Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramchandra Rao, film actor Vishnu, former minister Konda Surekha and Congress leaders were among those who paid tributes. Assembly speaker N. Kirankumar Reddy and several leaders of the ruling party paid floral tributes in the lobbies of the assembly. Chief Minister Rosaiah deputed a couple of senior ministers to Nallakalva near the crash site to unveil the statue. The government is developing YSR Smruthi Vanam, a memorial, over 22 acres of land. An all-religion prayer, video film display and special photo exhibition on YSR were held during one of the main programmes in the state capital.
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600 YSR's statues to come up in Andhra

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : To commemorate the first death anniversary of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, his supporters are planning to build nearly 600 statues all over the state."He is such a great leader that he will stay in our hearts forever. He is an ideal for the coming generation and we have to take forward his wishes,'' said his son Jagan Mohan, who has defied his party, the Congress', orders repeatedly on his "odarpu yatra." The Congress wanted Jagan to call of his tour, but YSR Junior said that he will still go on the yatra in Prakasam district from September 3.Jagan Mohan will meet the families who claim that in the weeks after YSR's death, their relatives died from shock and grief. There are some 600 such families in the entire state. However, with over one lakh rupees spent on each statue, some voters express their dissent. "The money spent on the statues could have been used for improving the hygiene of Hyderabad and the rest of Andhra Pradesh,'' said a Congress follower."There is nothing wrong in erecting a statue but there should be some limit to this madness. YSR supporters and loyalists in the Congress can plant saplings and ensure that these become trees. So, even if you plant one lakh or one crore trees, it will be an eco-friendly way to remember YS Rajashekara Reddy's legacy,'' commented political analyst K Nageshwar.
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Manmohan Singh offers prayers at Tirupati temple

Hyderabad, Sep 1: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday offered prayers at the famous Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.On a visit to the temple town to lay the foundation stone for two projects, he visited the temple atop Tirumala Hills. Priests and officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the affairs of the country's richest temple, accorded traditional reception to Singh at Ranganayaka Mandapam. The priests blessed him amid chanting of vedic hymns. Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister G. Venkat Reddy offered "prasadam", a sacred silk cloth and holy water to the prime minister. Accompanied by priests, Singh later went into the sanctum sanctorum and offered prayers to the Lord's idol. This was Singh's second visit to the ancient temple as prime minister. He had earlier offered prayers in September 2005.
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PM lays foundation stone for Tirupati international airport

Hyderabad, Sep 1 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Tirupati international airport to provide direct connectivity from various international destinations to the temple town in Andhra Pradesh."After international operations commence at Tirupati airport, pilgrims from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka would find it easier to come to Tirupati in large numbers, contributing to its development into a major religious-cum-tourist hub," he said. The prime minister noted that the entire investment for the new integrated terminal is being met through the budgetary resources of the government. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost Rs.174 crore. The state government has already handed over 293 acres of land out of the 718 acres committed for modernization and development of the airport. Singh said once the new integrated terminal becomes operational, the Tirupati airport will have the capacity to handle 500 domestic and 200 international passengers during peak hours. The new terminal building will be equipped to provide modern state of the art amenities to passengers. He said the civil aviation sector is a key contributor to the Indian economy. "With our fast economic development, air traffic in India has witnessed unprecedented growth in the recent past. During the last seven years, domestic air traffic has tripled and international traffic more than doubled. Our government has continuously been making efforts to meet the growing demand for air services in the country." Singh said the new integrated terminal complex was a part of the efforts to continuously modernize and develop infrastructure facilities at airports all over the country, keeping in view the existing and potential traffic in a particular region. The government has taken the route of public private partnerships to restructure and modernize the airports at Delhi and Mumbai. The recently inaugurated terminal at the Delhi Airport is truly a world class facility which the nation can be proud of, he said.
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PM visits Lord Balaji temple

Tirupati, Sept 1 : Priests at the Lord Balaji temple in Tirumala accorded the traditional welcome to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he visited the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara to offer prayers.The temple priests, chanting vedic hymns, escorted the Prime Minister to the sanctum sanctorum where he had darshan of the Lord. Dr Manmohan Singh prayed before the idol for about 10 minutes before leaving the temple. The Prime Minister also made an offering at the temple hundi. Dr Manmohan Singh was presented with the traditional silk cloth, the famed Tirupati laddu Prasad and holy water by state Endowments Minister Gade Venkata Reddy. Earlier, the Prime Minister's visit was marred by an attempt by Activists of Madiga ReservationPorata Samithi (MRPS) to block his convoy.The MRPS activists raised slogans demanding that the Centre categorise the Scheduled Castes in the state. The protest was dispersed by the police. The incident took place just as the Prime Minister was due to leave for the temple from the Padmavathi Guest House after his arrival in the temple town by a special IAF aircraft.
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Jagan an 'ant' before High Command: Shankar Rao

Hyderabad, Sept 1 : Secunderabad Cantonment MLA P Shankara Rao on Wednesday described the Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as an 'ant' before the High Command.Talking to media persons at the Media Point on the Assembly premises, Mr Shankar Rao alleged that Kadapa MP, in the name of consoling families and providing them financial support through is Odarpu Yatra, is attempting to showcase his popularity by mobilizing people in the Yatra.The MLA wondered, "What he has achieved in the name of Odarpu yatra? Instead of consoling the families of those who died of shock following the death of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, he is simply greeting them and seeking their blessings," he said.Mr Shankar Rao said that YSR established his presence in the Congress party by obeying the High Command orders. He regretted that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy is not following the High Command orders. "What is Jagan's age? What political experience has he got that he can defy the High Command? The MLA questioned.The MLA reminded Mr Jaganmohan Reddy that the government has renamed Kadapa district as YSR district as recognition of the former chief minister's services to the people. Mr Shankar Rao opined that now it the time for Mr Jaganmohan Reddy to call of the Odarpu Yatra since the AICC has promised to sanction Rs 1 lakh as ex-gratia for the kin of those who died following YSR's death. The Cantonment MLA also praised Chief Minister K Rosaiah for providing efficient administration without giving room for any corruption.He also lauded Mr Rosaiah for taking stringent action against corrupt officials—Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce B P Acharya and special officer TTD Dharma Reddy.Mr Shankar Rao also urged Mr Rosaiah to appoint a Telangana candidate as chairman for TTD Board as no one from Telangana region had been appointed to the post yet.
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Peri Reddy named interim SHRC chairman

Hyderabad, Sept 1: The state government on Wednesday appointed K Peda Peri Reddy as the interim chairman of Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission.The appointment of Justice Peri Reddy follows the retirement of former chairman Justice Subhashan Reddy. The post is lying vacant since Justice Subhashan Reddy retired on August 12.Justice Peri Reddy, presently member of the Human Rights Commission, will officiate as its chairman till the decision is made on the next chairman by the government.
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CM health stable: Danam

Hyderabad, Sept 1 : Health Minister Danam Nagender on Wednesday described the health condition of Chief Minister K Rosaiah as 'stable'.Talking to media persons after enquiring about the health of Chief Minister K Rosaiah at his residence from the doctors concerned, Mr Nagender said there is no cause of worry.According to sources, the Chief Minister is suffering from fever and was forced to cancel his visit to Tirupati at the last minute. As per the schedule, the Chief Minister was to participate in the foundation laying ceremony of BHEL-NTPC power equipment manufacturing joint venture project at Mannavaram in Srikalahasthi.Mr Nagendar said that heart specialist Dr Shubhakar was personally attending on the CM and there was no cause to worry. He said the CM will unveil the statue of the former chief minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at Pavuralagutta on Thursday and there is no change in the programme.Dr Shubhakar said the CM is suffering from fever and body pains. "We have conducted all tests on him by bringing equipment from NIMS. We will give complete details of his health after getting medical reports at 5 pm," he said.Minister for Arogyasri and Health Insurance Pithani Satyanarayana, Chief Secretaries C V K Sharma and Dinesh Kumar visited Mr Rosaiah's residence and enquired about his health from the doctors.
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PM lays foundation stone for Mannavaram project

Tirupati, Sept 1 : Laying the foundation stone for much awaited Rs 6,000 crore power equipment manufacturing plant project, a joint venture between the BHEL-NTPC at Mannavaram near Tirupati in Chittoor district on Wednesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh lauded the services of former chief minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to the state.Talking to reporters, he said "I am happy to lay foundation stone for the project a day before the first death anniversary of YSR who played key role bringing the project to the State." The Prime Minister said the project would provide direct employment to 6,000 and indirect employment to 30,000 people by the time of its completion in 2014-15. The project would also help in the development of this backward region of the state, he stated.He said the BHEL-NTPC joint venture would produce equipment required for power generation of 5000 MW annually. Stressing the importance of power, Dr Manmohan Singh said the government had drawn up ambitious plans to ramp up power generation in the country during the 11th and 12th plan.Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that, "the project would focus on 'balance of power plant' equipment in the first phase which would be completed in 2012, before graduating to the production of turbines and boilers by 2014-15."Mr Shinde said that the project would not only reduce the demand and supply gap for power generation equipment and enable us to export the much-needed equipment to other countries.Stating that new power generation capacity in the country had already surpassed the 10th plan target of 21,000 MW and would reach three times of the targeted capacity by end of the plan period, the Power Minister said that the Government had also put in place an ambitious target of 60,000 MW for the next plan.However, Chief Minister K Rosaiah could not participate in the ceremony due to ill health. Instead, Major Industries Minister Kanna Laxminarayana read out his speech at the meeting.NBPPL Chairman and Managing Director CP Singh, Governor E S L Narasimhan, Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Union Ministers of State Arun Yadav, Bharat Singh Solanki attended the function. The Prime Minister also offered prayers at Tirupati, the abode of Lord Sri Venkateswara at Tirumala.

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Prime Minister lays foundation of NTPC-BHEL power equipment plant

Hyderabad, Sep 1 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the NTPC-BHEL joint venture power equipment manufacturing plant at Mannavaram village near Srikalahasthi in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. Addressing a gathering on the occasion, the prime minister said the project with an investment of Rs.6,000 crore would provide direct employment to about 6,000 men and women and indirect employment to 25,000 persons. NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Private Limited (NBPPL) is a joint venture between National Themal Power Corporation and Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to manufacture power plant equipment. Singh said the availability of electricity was critical to the nation's development and hoped that the project would go a long way in improving the economic conditions of people of the backward region. The prime minister said bridging the gap between the demand and supply of power was necessary to meet the aspirations of the people. "It is for this that we have drawn up a very ambitious programme for addition of power generation capacity in the 11th and 12th five year plans," he said. "This large addition in power generation capacity will mean a much larger demand for power equipment. I am very happy that our public sector has come forward to take a lead in manufacturing power equipment in our country to help us achieve our targets in the power sector," Singh said. He noted that the two Navaratna companies, NTPC and BHEL, have joined hands to form a new company, thus bringing together their experience and expertise. The plant will be able to produce power equipment required for additional capacity of 5000 MW per annum by 2014-15. "It is a moment of pride but it is also an occasion to pay homage to a tall leader, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. Tomorrow (Thursday) is his first death anniversary. It was his untiring efforts that brought this project to this backward area of Chittoor district," Singh said. Heavy Industries Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said the project would be completed in five years. Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Major Industries Kanna Lakshmi Narayana said the state government has allotted 783 acres for the project.
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Year after YSR, political vacuum continues in Andhra

It has been a year of unprecedented crises in Andhra Pradesh that remembers one of its tallest leaders Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on his first death anniversary Sep 2.During the last one year, political instability, violent protests over a separate Telangana state, natural calamities and a financial crunch have battered the state like never before.The political vacuum, which the state plunged into after YSR’s tragic death, still remains with the ruling Congress finding no real alternative to the mass leader, say political observers.YSR, his secretary, chief security officer and the two pilots were killed when the helicopter carrying them from Hyderabad to Chittoor district crashed in bad weather over Nallamalla forests in Kurnool district.The death of YSR plunged the state into gloom and a political crisis. He was the first chief minister of the state to die in office and it came barely four months after he led Congress party to second successive win in the elections.“The state is still unable to come to terms with the passing away of a tall leader. A good section of masses still regard him as a leader who provided them whatever is needed,” said Rama Brahmam, head of the department of political sciences at the University of Hyderabad.“When a strong leader suddenly disappears from a political theatre, people perceive it as a major vacuum politically. They will be worried as to what will happen now. Such responses were only natural,” he said, referring to the shock deaths and suicides by people in the immediate aftermath.The vacuum remains as K. Rosaiah, who took over as the chief minister Sep 3, is still unacceptable to YSR’s son and MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who kept defying the central leadership by taking out ‘yatras’ to console families of those who died for his late father.The threat for Rosaiah still exists as Jagan continues his efforts to mobilise support and wean away a section of party legislators to pose a real challenge.For the first time since YSR brought the Congress party to power in 2004, it appears to be in total disarray with serious accusations between loyalists of Jagan and his opponents being order of the day.YSR’s adversaries, who never dared to openly criticise him when he was alive, are now targeting the late leader and his family members accusing them of corruption.If Rosaiah has survived as chief minister it is because of his cabinet colleagues who were staunch loyalists of YSR but dumped Jagan when the high command preferred the 78-year-old leader to the 39-year-old MP.“The Congress high command is in a political fix. The alternative leader (Jagan) is too young and the stakes are too high for it,” said Brahmam It is not just the political crisis but a series of governance problems faced by Rosaiah.With YSR, a strong votary of united Andhra Pradesh no longer around, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) took it as the right opportunity to revive Telangana movement.The central government’s Dec 9 announcement to initiate the process for formation of a separate Telangana state following an 11-day hunger strike by TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao triggered a crisis with mass resignations, street protests and violent demonstrations in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions.The state economy, already reeling under the impact of global slowdown, was hit hard by Rs.100 crore loss every day due to the Telangana agitation. The issue is likely to return to Rosaiah in December when the Srikrishna committee is scheduled to submit its report to the central government.The financial crunch began to show its impact on numerous welfare schemes launched and implemented by YSR since 2004. They include fee reimbursement and scholarships for students, free electricity to farmers, Rs.2-a-kg rice and health insurance for poor.“Despite repeated assertions that none of YSR’s schemes will be scrapped, people want frequent reiterations,” said a political observer.While Rosaiah completed one year in office despite all the problems, the veteran leader knows his path is still full of thorns.
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India monitoring China’s intentions in Indian Ocean: Krishna

Amid growing concerns about Beijing’s attempts to entrench its influence in India’s neighbourhood, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday said China has been showing “more than the normal interest” in Indian Ocean affairs and its “intentions” are being closely monitored.“The government of India has come to realise that China has been showing more than the normal interest in the Indian Ocean. So we are closely monitoring the Chinese intentions,” Krishna said in the Lok Sabha.“We are closely monitoring the developments in the Indian Ocean,” he said, adding that “appropriate action and measures” would be taken to safeguard India’s territorial integrity and the welfare of its fishermen.Krishna’s statement about Chinese intentions comes amid reports of Beijing’s plan to build additional infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir and the deployment of its troops in Gilgit-Baltistan region of PoK, an area India regards as an integral part of Jammu and Kashmir.There have also been concerns here over what is seen as an attempt by China to enhance influence in India’s neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and the Maldives.Krishna was responding to a Calling Attention Motion on recent attacks on Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, moved by T.R. Baalu of DMK.Airing concerns over the plight of Indian fishermen, Baalu said that when an Indo-Sri Lanka agreement was inked in 1974 on the Katchatheevu Islands, which falls in the Palk Strait and falls in Sri Lankan territory, the then external affairs minister Swaran Singh had said the rights of fishing and navigation have been safeguarded.Under the agreement, Indian fishermen can rest and dry their nets during fishing in international waters.Baalu claimed that in 1976 the Indian fishermen’s rights were affected when secretaries of India and Sri Lanka exchanged two sets of letters. “The letters became part and parcel of the agreement without taking parliament and the state government into confidence… it is a blow to the fishermen,” he said.The Katchatheevu island, which originally belonged to India, fell within Sri Lankan territorial waters when the maritime boundary was redrawn in 1974 following an agreement between the then prime ministers of the two countries.The DMK leader asked the government to revisit the agreement on Katchatheevu and step up patrolling in the waters to protect Indian fishermen from attacks by the Sri Lankan Navy.Krishna ruled out revisiting of the pact, saying “we cannot go back on the solemn agreement between two governments”. Krishna said Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is currently in Colombo and the issues relating to fishermen will be discussed.“Sri Lanka is a friendly country, an aspect that is needed to be kept in mind,” he said, adding he was planning to travel to the island nation in October when issues related to fishermen would be discussed.
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ACB raids Revenue Inspector, DA over Rs 3 cr unearthed

Hyderabad, Aug 31 : Anti Corruption Bureau sleuths on Monday conducted raids on the residences of the Hyderabad Estate Office Special Revenue Inspector and unearthed assets worth over Rs 3 crore from the official.According to reports, the ACB sleuths conducted simultaneous raids on the Estate Officer Akbar Ali Khan's residence in Red Hills,Nampally and also at his office in Khairtabad.These raids were conducted simultaneously, officials recovered illegal property worth more than Rs 3 corer in their raids.A Disproportionate Assets case has been registered against the tainted official, according to ACB sources. The immovable assets include three flats, besides payments of Rs 23 lakh advance for a flat and also Rs 5 lakh advance for open plot. The basic value of these immovable properties is about Rs 85.59 lakh. The searches also unearthed cash of Rs 3.39 lakh, three cars, four motorcycles apart from gold ornaments weighing 259 grams, bank balances of Rs 26 lakh and other house hold articles worth about Rs 12 lakh. The market value of the ill-gotten gains is estimated to be much over Rs 3 crore. Searches were continuing, ACB officials said.
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Andhra CM cancels visit to New Delhi

Hyderabad, Aug 31 : Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Tuesday cancelled his visit to New Delhi.According to CM office sources, the Chief Minister was to visit the National Capital to participate in the process of filing of nominations for the elections of All India Congress Committee president. However, the Chief Minister cancelled his visit last minute as Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is visiting state on September 1 to lay foundation stone for BHEL-NTPC joint venture project at Mannavaram in Srikalahasti in Chittoor district.Meanwhile Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas left for New Delhi to participate in the nomination of AICC president post.Mr Rosaiah had already submitted the name of his nominee for the AICC president's post. Not surprisingly, the name is Sonia Gandhi.
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Gandhigiri at its best: Jagan thanks AICC for Odarpu

Hyderabad, Aug 31 : Hailing the decision of All India Congress Committee decision to console the families of those who died of shock or committed suicide following YSR's death on September 2 last year by paying them Rs 1 lakh ex-gratia as laudable, Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy on Tuesday thanked the Congress president Sonia Gandhi for her gesture.Talking to media persons after releasing a letter to Sonia Gandhi, Mr Jaganmohan Reddy urged the AICC to offer solace to the families of victims by permitting all MPs, MLAs and leaders without restrictions The Kadapa MP also urged the High Command to extend the package to those families who were not covered earlier.The 'Odarpu yatra' means not only extending financial support to the victims' families, it should also extend moral support to their families. Then only the purpose of the Odarpu yatra will be fulfilled," Mr Jaganmohan Reddy stated in his letter."I took up Odarpu yatra as my primary responsibility after the sudden death of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy without any political intention," the Kadapa MP said in his letter.
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K Rosaiah puts Collectors on alert over floods

Hyderabad, Aug 31 : Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Tuesday alerted the Collectors of East and West Godavari districts to monitor the floods situation and take all precautionary measures to prevent any loss of life or property and damage to crops.

He also asked them to take care of tank and road breaches and take necessary steps. Mr Rosaiah who reviewed the latest situation in the districts following heavy rains for the last few days with top officials over phone directed them to be in constant touch with the district Collectors and Commissioner, Disaster Management regarding the measures to be initiated. Season's Total Rainfall was recorded as on Tuesday was 621.1 mm as against the normal rainfall of 481.5 mm with a deviation of (+) 29 per cent in the State. Rayalaseema region recorded 421.5 mm as against the normal rainfall of 281.8 mm with a deviation of (+) 50 per cent. Coastal Andhra region recorded 657.7 mm as against the normal rainfall of 454.4 mm, with a deviation of (+) 45 per cent. Telangana region recorded 687.8 mm as against the normal rainfall of 585.8 mm with a deviation of (+) 17 per cent. District-wise rainfall is as follows: Prakasam recorded 87.3 per cent excess rainfall, Nellore (82.5 per cent), Guntur (74.0 per cent), Hyderabad (55.5 per cent), Kurnool (53.6 per cent), Anantapur (52.1 per cent), Kadapa (50.5 per cent), Mahabubnagar (47.1 per cent),Chhittoor (46.2 per cent), Krishna (45.2 per cent), Ranga Reddy (44.1 per cent), East Godavari (42.7 per cent), Vizianagaram (36.2 per cent), Visakhapatnam (31.7 per cent), Khammam (29.1 per cent), West Godavari (29.0 per cent), Srikakulam (25.6 per cent) and Warangal (25.2 per cent). Karimagar (9.5 per cent), Adilabad (7.5 per cent), Nalgonda (7.3 per cent) and Medak (6.4 per cent).
While 768 mandals received excess rainfall, 315 mandals received normal or more than normal rainfall as on Tuesday. In Bejjur Mandal, 125.2 mm rainfall was recorded. Heavy rains lashed West Godavari District on Monday. The Chief Minister was informed by the officials that in view of the floods occurred to Tammileru, Yerra Kalava, Kovvada Kalava, Jalleru rivers, there was an unexpected inflow of around 40,000 cusecs to Tammileru river by midnight of 30-8-2010 and the maximum capacity of the river is only about 30,000 cusecs. In view of the above, 4,839 people were evacuated from the Mandals of Eluru (4,600 persons), Pedavegi (45 persons), Jangareddigudem (52 persons) and Tallapudi (142 persons), organised relief camps for the evacuated persons. One helicopter was requisitioned and kept ready for rescue operations but by Tuesday morning, the water in Tammileru river was receded and there was no further evacuation and the district administration is closely monitoring the situation. Officials explained to the Chief Minister that Irrigation officials are closely monitoring the flood situation and sufficient stock of sand bags were kept ready for strengthening the bunds wherever it is weak and also to close the breaches occurred. Revenue officials were instructed to evacuate the people from the low lying areas and organize relief camps. Necessary arrangements were made for providing food and drinking water for evacuated people. Medical camps are being organized at relief camps. Generators are made available at relief camps for lighting. Two mechanized boats are kept ready for evacuation of the people from low lying areas. Police department is requested to co-operate with Revenue officials in evacuating the people from low lying areas to safer places and to keep police men at all causeways and vulnerable points to see that nobody will cross the river. Fire Services Department was already requested to keep ready the men along with the material of ropes etc. to save the people in rescue operations. Damages so far reported include 2385 houses inundated, 51 houses damaged and 2,000 hectares of crops damaged. East Godavari District: Two Mandals were severally affected and two people died and 683 houses marooned. Officers of Revenue, Police, Irrigation and Fire departments were alerted. Medical teams are being sent to the spot. All precautionary measures are being taken to handle the situation. Guntur District: One person washed away in Kuppaganji Vagu on 30-8-2010 while washing his cycle at a culvert. An extent of 6,806 hactares of crops (Paddy - 3286 ha and Cotton - 3520 ha) were damaged due to inundation during the recent rains from 25-8-2010 to 30-8-2010 in 9 mandals of the district. Visakhapatnam: One person died due to thunderbolt on 28.8.2010 at Donkada Village of Nakkapalli Mandal. Due to heavy rains from 26th to 28th this month nearly 48 houses of Harijana Jaggayyapeta and Tungalam village of Gajuwaka Mandal were inundated and all the families were shifted to safer places. One orphanage home situated at Thungalam village was also inundated and all the 124 orphans staying in the home were shifted to one BHPV Kalyana Mandapam and food and water provided to them. The situation is under close watch and there are no casualty or damages to the public properties in the district. Due to heavy rains in the last few days, agricultural operations and transplantation of paddy in Godavari delta are in slow progress. Sowing of rain-fed crops are almost completed. The sowings under Black soils may continue till September. Early sown rain-fed crops are at vegetative to flowering Stage. Maize is at tasseling stage. Early sown Groundnut, Seasamum and bajra are at vegetative to flowering stage. Late sown Groundnut is at flowering to pod formation stage. Sugarcane is at grand growth and 2nd wrapping stage. Harvesting of early Kharif paddy is under progress in Nellore and Chittoor districts. Cotton plants are dying due to excess moisture was observed in some pockets in Khammam district. The intercultural operations and application of fertilizers are in progress under rain-fed crops where rains are not received. Anantapur district is poised to reap a bumper crop of groundnut due to good monsoon this year. Rainfall received during last fortnight softened the soil so that already sown or transplanted crops are in good condition and the early sown crops are at early vegetative to flowering stage. The recent rains are very much congenial to the standing crops. Overall the crops growth is satisfactory. The pests and diseases on crops have also been reported as low level, the officials said
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Andhra gets new police chief

Hyderabad, Aug 31 : Senior police officer K. Aravind Rao, considered an expert in tackling Maoists, Tuesday assumed office as the Andhra Pradesh police chief.

He succeeded R.R. Girish Kumar, who retired Tuesday on attaining the age of superannuation. Rao, who was the Director General of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), took charge from Girish Kumar as the Director General of Police (DGP) at the state police headquarters here. An an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of 1977 batch, Rao has earlier served as the chief of intelligence and anti-Maoist elite force Greyhounds. As the Inspector General of Greyhounds in the 1990s, he played a key role in curbing Maoist activities. He has taken over as the DGP at a time when there are reports of the guerrillas planning to revive their activity in their former stronghold. Talking to reporters after taking charge, Rao said he would continue the present policy to deal with the Maoist problem. "The Maoist problem can't be solved in a day," he said. Hailing from Anantapur district of Rayalaseema region, Rao has earlier served as the superintendent of police in Medak, Warangal and Kadapa districts, deputy commissioner of police in Hyderabad and commissioner of police in Vijayawada. Rao will retire in June next year on reaching superannuation.
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