Rosaiah recommends measures to renovate temples

Hyderabad, Sep 25 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today responded positively to the suggestions of the Technical Advisory Committee appointed by the State Government to assess the structural safety and soundness of major temple structures in the State and recommended remedial measures required to strengthen them.Dr Rosaiah held a meeting in this regard with the members of the Technical Committee and officials of the Endowments Department. He has approved in principle the renovation and reconstruction of 47 temples at a cost of about Rs 30 crore, which include Rajagopuarams.There are 37,000 temples in the State under the administrative control of the Endowments department. There are about 5,000 temples of historic nature constructed more than 100 years ago. The Technical Advisory Committee has inspected 47 major and important temples on priority basis. Thus the process of identifying old temples and assessing them will be a continuous process.
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Heavy rains in Rayalaseema, a few places in Coastal Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Sept 25 : Moderate to rather heavy rain or thundershowers may occur at many places over Rayalaseema and in the districts of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam and Nellore of Coastal Andhra Pradesh.Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Telangana and in the remaining districts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh, over next 48 hours.The sky would be generally cloudy over Hyderabad and neighbourhood. Rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of city next two days. Maximum and Minimum temperatures would be around 33 and 23 degrees Celsius respectively.Observations recorded till 830 hours said Southwest monsoon has been vigorous over Rayalaseema. Rain occurred at most places over Rayalaseema and at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.The stations recorded heavy rainfall in cm are Thambalapalle 11, Palasa 9, Kadiri, Piduguralla, Vinjamur 8 each, Tirupathi AP, Bheemgal, Hindupur, Srikalahasti 7 each.The other chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Pargi, Ramannapet 6 each, Atmakur and Pathikonda, Bhimadole, Kollapur, Pakala and Puttur, Penukonda 5 each, Chilamattur and Pamidi, Punganur and Venkatagiri Kota, Venkatagiri Town 4 each, Anantapur, Nalgonda, Armoor, Bhongir and Suryapet, Cumbum and Yerragondapalem, Gooty and Kalyandurg, Jangaon, Kalakada, Koilkuntla, Lakkireddipalli and Rayachoty, Nirmal, Veeraghattam 3 each, Arogyavaram, Chittoor, Medak, Atmakur, Dhone, Dubbak and Narayanakhed, Kamareddy and Navipet, Mandasa and Palakonda, Porumamilla 2 each.
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Volkswagen ex-official, five others charged with fraud

Hyderabad, Sep 25 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday formally filed charges against six people, including former Volkswagen executive Helmuth Schuster, in a case of defrauding the Andhra Pradesh government.The investigating agency, which took up the probe in 2005, filed the 150-page charge sheet in the CBI court here. It examined 59 witnesses. The name of state Panchayati Raj Minister B. Satyanarayana, however, did not figure in the charge sheet. He was then holding the industries portfolio and the opposition had alleged his involvement. The 56-year-old Schuster is on the run since the scam broke, and has been placed on the wanted list of the CBI. An Interpol notice was issued against him in 2005. The other accused include Volkswagen's former India representative Ashok Jain, businessmen Bhuwan Kumar Chaturvedi, Jagdish Alaga Raja and his sister Gayatri, who in collusion with Schuster had floated a fictitious firm to cheat the state government. The accused have been charged under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code, CBI official S. Venkatesh told reporters outside Nampally Criminal Court complex. The accused started Vashishta Wahan Private Ltd (the firm's initials are VW, the same as that of the German car maker) to receive Rs.11 crore from the state government for setting up its plant at Visakhaptanam. The scam hit the headlines in 2005 when Volkswagen sacked Schuster on charges of corruption in some other dealings. Schuster was negotiating on behalf of Volkswagen with the state government for setting up the car plant since early 2004 when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power. Later, the Congress government continued the talks. In January 2005, the state government received a letter from Schuster. Typed on Volkswagen letterhead, it confirmed that the company was going ahead with the project. For a joint venture with the government, Schuster sought transfer of 2 million Euros to Vashishta Wahan, which he claimed was the Indian arm of Volkswagen. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), a government organisation, made the payment. Volkswagen later denied that Vashishta Wahan was its Indian arm or it received the payment. Ashok Jain had registered Vashishta Wahan with the Registrar of Companies. He wrote to the ROC in January 2005 that he was stepping down as promoter and director. The company was later registered in the name of Bhuwan Kumar Chaturvedi of Gurgaon and Jagdish Alaga Raja of Chennai. After the scam broke out top officials of Volkswagen had visited Hyderabad to clarify that the company had nothing to do with Vashishta Wahan. They tendered a moral apology for the wrongdoings of Schuster and offered to return the money the government paid to Schuster. Then Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy had refused to accept the money and instead urged Volkswagen to set up its plant in Andhra Pradesh. The auto giant later dumped the southern state and choose Maharashtra for locating its unit. Meanwhile, Satyanarayana told reporters that he was relieved at getting a clean chit. He accused the opposition TDP of resorting to character assassination by making baseless allegations against him.
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Deferment will prolong Ayodhya issue: Owaisi

Sep,25, Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi Thursday apprehended that further deferment of the Ayodhya verdict’s pronouncement by the Allahabad High Court would unnecessarily prolong the issue.Ruling out any compromise on the matter, Owaisi said the people of the country have the right to know the truth.“Where is the question of compromise when both the parties have already ruled out the same,” asked Owaisi, reacting to thme Supree Court deferring the Ayodhya verdict till Sep 28.The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief told IANS that the deferment was unnecessary as it served no purpose and would, in fact, prolong the issue. “Our fear is that if Justice Dharam Veer Sharma (of the high court) retires before the verdict is pronounced, the issue will again get prolonged,” Owaisi said.Justice Sharma, one of the three judges of the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court that is to give its ruling on the Ayodhya verdict, is retiring on Oct 1. Legal experts say that if the verdict is not pronounced before his retirement, the hearing would have to take place all over again.“This issue is going on for 50 to 60 years. The people of this country have a right to know what is the truth,” Owaisi, a barrister, contended.He felt that the Supreme Court deferring the verdict was unnecessary, especially when the Muslim Personal Law Board and others have already stated that the verdict would be acceptable to them.Asked if Muslims would approach a larger bench of the Supreme Court against the deferment, Owaisi said it was for the Muslim Personal Law Board to take a decision. “But I think since there are only four days for the next hearing we should wait and see,” the MP added.
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Court dismisses pleas for postponing Satyam trial

Sep,25, A special court hearing the multi-crore Satyam fraud case Friday dismissed the petitions of three accused for postponing the trial against them.The XXI Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court dismissed the petitions of former Satyam chief financial officer Vadlamani Srinivas, and two other employees of the company on the ground that they were devoid of merit.Srinivas, D. Venkatapathi Raju and Ch. Srisailam sought postponement of the hearing on framing of charges till the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) files the fourth chargesheet in the case.They moved the petitions as the court, which has already heard CBI’s arguments on framing of charges, was to hear the arguments from all 10 accused.CBI’s Special Public Prosecutor K. Surender opposed the pleas on the ground that the investigating agency never said that it would file a fourth chargesheet.He told the court that investigations were on and if the CBI finds evidence it would file another chargesheet. He also pointed out that the court had already rejected a similar petition by another accused.Magistrate B.V.L.N. Chakravarti ruled that the petitions were devoid of merit and not tenable under law.Founder and chairman of Satyam Computer Services B. Ramalinga Raju, the prime accused in the Rs.14,000-crore accounting fraud, has also filed a similar petition seeking postponement of trial till the CBI completes its investigation.The CBI has already opposed the petition, saying it was yet another attempt by the accused to delay the trial. The final arguments on the petition are likely on Sep 29.Ramalinga Raju had shocked corporate India by confessing massive accounting fraud in the IT bellwether.All 10 accused in the case have already been granted bail by the court.
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Volkswagen ex-official, five others charged with fraud

Hyderabad, Sep 25 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Saturday formally filed charges against six people, including former Volkswagen executive Helmuth Schuster, in a case of defrauding the Andhra Pradesh government.The investigating agency, which took up the probe in 2005, filed the 150-page charge sheet in the CBI court here. It examined 59 witnesses. The name of state Panchayati Raj Minister B. Satyanarayana, however, did not figure in the charge sheet. He was then holding the industries portfolio and the opposition had alleged his involvement. The 56-year-old Schuster is on the run since the scam broke, and has been placed on the wanted list of the CBI. An Interpol notice was issued against him in 2005. The other accused include Volkswagen's former India representative Ashok Jain, businessmen Bhuwan Kumar Chaturvedi, Jagdish Alaga Raja and his sister Gayatri, who in collusion with Schuster had floated a fictitious firm to cheat the state government. The accused have been charged under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of Indian Penal Code, CBI official S. Venkatesh told reporters outside Nampally Criminal Court complex. The accused started Vashishta Wahan Private Ltd (the firm's initials are VW, the same as that of the German car maker) to receive Rs.11 crore from the state government for setting up its plant at Visakhaptanam. The scam hit the headlines in 2005 when Volkswagen sacked Schuster on charges of corruption in some other dealings. Schuster was negotiating on behalf of Volkswagen with the state government for setting up the car plant since early 2004 when the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was in power. Later, the Congress government continued the talks. In January 2005, the state government received a letter from Schuster. Typed on Volkswagen letterhead, it confirmed that the company was going ahead with the project. For a joint venture with the government, Schuster sought transfer of 2 million Euros to Vashishta Wahan, which he claimed was the Indian arm of Volkswagen. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), a government organisation, made the payment. Volkswagen later denied that Vashishta Wahan was its Indian arm or it received the payment. Ashok Jain had registered Vashishta Wahan with the Registrar of Companies. He wrote to the ROC in January 2005 that he was stepping down as promoter and director. The company was later registered in the name of Bhuwan Kumar Chaturvedi of Gurgaon and Jagdish Alaga Raja of Chennai. After the scam broke out top officials of Volkswagen had visited Hyderabad to clarify that the company had nothing to do with Vashishta Wahan. They tendered a moral apology for the wrongdoings of Schuster and offered to return the money the government paid to Schuster. Then Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had refused to accept the money and instead urged Volkswagen to set up its plant in Andhra Pradesh. The auto giant later dumped the southern state and choose Maharashtra for locating its unit. Meanwhile, Satyanarayana told reporters that he was relieved at getting a clean chit. He accused the opposition TDP of resorting to character assassination by making baseless allegations against him.
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Two-year-old crushed under school bus

Hyderabad, Sep 25 : A two-year-old girl playing outside her house was crushed under a school bus here Saturday, police said.The girl was playing in front of her residence in Attapur neighbourhood when she came under the rear wheels of the mini bus that was reversing. Eye witnesses said the bus driver failed to spot the little girl. She sustained serious injuries and succumbed before she could be shifted to hospital. The child's parents were inconsolable. The accident sent shock waves in the residential locality. The bus driver fled soon after the accident. Police said they have registered a case. Residents said there was nobody on the bus to help the driver and the negligence of the school authorities led to the accident. In a similar incident, a school child came under the wheels of his school bus while alighting from the vehicle near his house.
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Man held for killing former girlfriend

Hyderabad, Sep 25 : Police have arrested one Shekhar for allegedly murdering his junior Divya in his apartment at Hill colony in Vanasthalipuram.Shekhar, an engineer, was arrested along with his parents three days back from the city, Police Commissioner S Prabhakar Reddy told reporters at a conference here yesterday. Divya and Shekhar were close friends for the past three years but the two were not on good terms for the past six months after Divya befriended another student who was her former schoolmate.Shekhar, who had completed his B Tech last year, could not ''digest'' that Divya was seeing someone else, following which he bore a grudge and planned to murder her.On September 19, he invited her on the pretext of sorting out differences. He smashed her head with a baseball bat, clubbed her to death and fled the scene, the police said. Shekhar has reportedly confessed to the crime and said she had betrayed him. ''I returned the love letters that Divya wrote to me, but she did not return the letters which I wrote to her,'' police quoted Shekhar as saying.''She used to taunt me as drugaddict and a mad fellow ever since she started seeing Pradeep. So, I killed her,'' police quoted Shekhar as saying.
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Andhra parties, Muslim groups appeal for peace

Hyderabad, Sep 23 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, leaders cutting across party lines and Muslim groups have appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony after Friday's court verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi dispute.Rosaiah has asked police to be vigilant and take all precautionary measures to deal with the situation after the Allahabad High Court gives its judgment. He appealed to the public, political leaders and elders of all communities to ensure that harmony prevails, said a statement from the chief minister's office. He said the court verdict on the issue should be accepted by all and no one should react in a manner that hurts the religious sentiments of other communities. Rosaiah Thursday held a meeting with Director General of Police Aravinda Rao, Police Commissioner A.K. Khan and other top officials to review security arrangements across the state. President of the state unit of the ruling Congress party D. Srinivas, opposition leader N. Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president K. Chiranjeevi and Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi have also appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony. The All India Muslim Personal Law Board has also issued an appeal to Muslims to maintain peace no matter in whose favour the judgment goes. Board general secretary Moulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani urged the community not to show any reaction to the verdict. Leaders of the Jamaat-e-Islami, Movement for Peace and Justice, Majlis Tameer-e-Millat, Majlis Bachaco Tehreek and other Muslim organisations have also appealed for maintaining peace. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said security measures taken for Ganesh idol immersions Wednesday would continue till Friday. More than 35,000 policemen were deployed for the procession. Fifteen people who were sending provocative SMSes ahead of the court verdict have been identified and will be arrested, police say. The cyber crime wing of city police is investigating the case. Khan told reporters that police were in touch with mobile phone service providers and would keep a close watch on those sending SMSes to several numbers simultaneously. Appealing to people to maintain peace, Khan said the verdict should not be construed as the victory of one community over another. "Whatever be the verdict, it will not be a final one as one or both the parties will have the option of approaching the Supreme Court," he said.
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Berths Available in South Central Railway Special Trains in September

Hyderabad, Sept 22 : South Central Railway(SCR) is running several special trains to various destinations to cope up with extra rush of Passengers.The vacant berths availability at the earliest dates are Tr. No.0995 Secunderabad-Jaipur weekly special train on September 27, Tr. No.0866 Nizamabad-Visakhapatnam weekly special train on September 29, Tr. No.0719 Secunderbad-Bikaner weekly special train on September 29, Tr. No. 0727 Narsapur-Nagarsol weekly special train on September 29, Tr. No. 0714A Secunderabad-Guntur weekly special train on September 24, Tr. No. 0701 Secunderabad-Kakinada special train on September 25, Tr. No. 0701A Secunderabad-Kakinada special train on September 26, Tr. No. 0748A Hyderabad-Visakhapatnam weekly special train on September 25, Tr. No.0703 Kacheguda-Bangalore weekly special train on September26, and Tr. No. 0723 Secunderabad-Tirupati weekly special train on September 27, a SCR release said here today.
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Ganesh procession passes off peacefully in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : The mammoth Ganesh procession passed off peacefully here Wednesday amid unprecedented security.The main procession, comprising hundreds of big idols, passed through the communally sensitive Old City ahead of the immersion of idols in Hussain Sagar Lake. Officials said over 1,000 idols were immersed in the lake since early morning and the process was expected to continue till early Thursday. Heavy rains which lashed the city disrupted the immersion procession for a couple of hours on Wednesday evening. The downpour accompanied by strong winds also hampered immersion. The tallest idol this year was at Khairatabad. Heavy cranes were deployed to lift the 50-feet idol and put it on a truck ahead of immersion. Police said though the main procession had passed off peacefully, they would continue the vigil. Thousands of idols from all parts of state capital Hyderabad and its outskirts were brought to Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city for immersion. More than a million people took part in the festivities. About 35,000 policemen were deployed as part of the massive security while the army was kept on stand-by. Earlier, the afternoon and evening prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid also passed off peacefully. The main procession was stopped some distance away to allow smooth conduct of prayers at the mosque near the historic Charminar. The procession resumed through the communally sensitive area after the prayers. Police Commissioner A.K. Khan was supervising the security arrangements in the area where communal clashes took place in the past. With the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court is set to deliver its verdict in the Ayodhya title suit Sep 24, police have made additional security arrangements in the city. State Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy addressed the gathering from the welcome stage set up by Ganesh procession organisers at Charminar. She stressed the need to maintain peace and communal harmony. State ministers D. Nagender, Mukesh Goud, Hyderabad Mayor Kartika Reddy, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president G. Kishan Reddy and others addressed the devotees. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and other ministers earlier offered prayers to the Ganesh idol at Khairatabad - the tallest idol in the state. This year the idol was 50-foot-tall and had five-heads with a 500-kg laddu in its palm. Meanwhile, two people sustained minor injuries at Moazzamjahi Market when a huge idol fell on the road. A crane was arranged to remove the idol. There was a festive mood in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with slogan-shouting youth wearing saffron scarves marching towards the lake with the Ganesh idols for immersion. From a cycle to a long truck, the devotees used every possible mode of transport to carry the idols for immersion. More than 50 cranes have been installed at the lake for the immersion of big idols. The main procession with huge idols in different sizes began from Balapur in the Old City in the morning. It covered a distance of 20 km to reach the lake. The procession began after the auction of the traditional 'laddu' at Balapur. Businessman A.G. Sridharbabu bought it for Rs.5.35 lakh. However, the auction was marred by controversy as a woman devotee Sarita accused the organisers of cheating her. Sarita, who had bought the laddu for Rs.5.10 lakh last year, claimed that it was given to another man even though she had offered a price of Rs.5.50 lakh. Meanwhile, the chief minister congratulated the police for peaceful and smooth conduct of the 11-day Ganesh festival and the immersion procession.
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Blast at Andhra hospital, none hurt

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : A blast took place in a hospital owned by an environmental activist at Sompeta in Andhra Pradesh's Srikakulam district. No one was injured but a portion of the hospital was damaged, police said.The blast occurred on the third floor of Mahalakshmi Nursing Home. There was still no word from the police about the nature of explosives used and who could be behind the attack. Y.Krishna Murthy is the convenor of environment protection committee, which is fighting against the proposal to set up a thermal power plant at Sompeta, 600 km from here. His supporters allege that the blast was to threaten him to silence. The committee took out a peace rally after the blast, demanding action against the guilty. The environment protection committee along with other NGOs have been opposing the proposed thermal power project by Nagarjuna Construction Company (NCC). It was on their petition that National Environmental Appellate Authority (NEAA) in July overruled the environmental clearance given for the 2,640 MW project coming up at a cost of Rs.12,000 crore. Earlier on July 14, two people were killed and over 100 injured in police firing on protesters. The groups had been protesting against the project on the ground that it would destroy the ecology and endanger their livelihood.
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TRS allays industry apprehensions over Telangana

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) President K. Chandrasekhar Rao Wednesday assured top honchos of the Indian industry that his party would ensure that the movement for separate Telangana does not affect the ongoing business ventures in the region.Allaying apprehensions of industrialists regarding investment climate in view of the ongoing agitation, Rao said TRS was for a peaceful movement for a separate Telangana, bifurcating the Andhra Pradesh state. The industry leaders voiced their concern that the Telangana movement could again affect the industry and business like it did late last year and early this year. They raised questions on chances of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and if it happens, its implications for industry and governance. Rao exuded confidence that a separate Telangana state would soon be a reality with Hyderabad as its capital. The process for state formation would be initiated soon after Srikrishna committee submits its report to the central government by Dec 31. Rao was addressing a CEOs forum organised by the International Market Assessment (IMA). About 150 business leaders including those from leading companies like DuPont, Bank of America, GVK Bio, Matrix laboratories, SabMiller, Apollo Hospitals and Gati attended the closed-door session. "We will also develop Hyderabad as international business hub and in and around the city satellite townships will be created. To create industrialisation throughout the state, we will revitalize district industries centres," said K. Taraka Rama Rao, Rao's son and a legislator. Rama Rao pointed out Hyderabad already has a dominant position in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry producing about 33 percent (worth USD 1.6 billion) bulk drugs of the country. "We will also develop places like Sircilla, Gadwal, Pochampally, Dubbaka which are strong in weaving and handicraft. Telangana will compete with industrially progressed states like Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka and try to surpass them in terms of growth and progress," he told the industrialists. He said more districts would be created in Telangana state to provide responsive and accountable governance. The meeting of TRS and industry leaders was significant in view of the recent remarks made by Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at national executive committee meeting of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Rosaiah had said that movements like the one for separate Telangana affected investments in the state.
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Army on standby for Ganesh procession in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Sep 22 : The mammoth Ganesh procession began here Wednesday amid unprecedented security with the army on standby in case of an emergency, officials said.Thousands of idols from different parts of the state capital and its outskirts headed towards Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city. There was a festive mood in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with slogan shouting youth, wearing saffron scarves, marching towards the lake with the idols. From a cycle to a long truck, the devotees used every mode of transport to carry the idols for immersion. More than 50 cranes have been installed at the lake for the immersion of big idols. The main procession with huge idols in different sizes and shapes began from Balapur in the old city. It will reach the lake late in the evening after covering 20 km and passing through several communally sensitive localities. The procession began after the auction of the traditional 'laddu' at Balapur. A.G. Sridharbabu bought it for Rs.5.35 lakh. However, the auction was marred by controversy with a woman devotee Sarita accusing the organisers of cheating her. Sarita, who had bought the laddu for Rs.5.10 lakh last year, claimed that it was given to another man though she had offered a price of Rs.5.50 lakh. Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the annual procession, which is attended by over a million people. About 35,000 policemen and personnel of the paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed. Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K.Khan hoped that the procession would pass off peacefully with the cooperation of all sections of people. He said tight vigil was being maintained at the places of worship to prevent any untoward incident. He said the army was being asked to standby to meet any eventuality. "If necessary we will also use the anti-terrorist force Octopus," he said. With the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court set to deliver the verdict in the Ayodhya title suit on Sep 24, police have made additional security arrangements. Security was also on high alert at the historic Mecca Masjid in the old city, where communal clashes broke out in the past. The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti has set up welcome stages at the Charminar and Moazzamjahi Market to welcome the idols. Labour Minister Mukesh Goud and other political leaders offered prayers to Ganesh idol at Khairatabad. The tallest idol in the state attracts large number of devotees. This year it is a 50-ft, five-headed idol with 500-kg laddu in its palm.
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Army on standby for Ganesh procession in Hyderabad

Sep,22, The mammoth Ganesh procession began here Wednesday amid unprecedented security with the army on standby in case of an emergency, officials said.Thousands of idols from different parts of the state capital and its outskirts headed towards Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city.There was a festive mood in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad with slogan shouting youth, wearing saffron scarves, marching towards the lake with the idols.From a cycle to a long truck, the devotees used every mode of transport to carry the idols for immersion. More than 50 cranes have been installed at the lake for the immersion of big idols.The main procession with huge idols in different sizes and shapes began from Balapur in the old city. It will reach the lake late in the evening after covering 20 km and passing through several communally sensitive localities.The procession began after the auction of the traditional ‘laddu’ at Balapur. A.G. Sridharbabu bought it for Rs.5.35 lakh. However, the auction was marred by controversy with a woman devotee Sarita accusing the organisers of cheating her.Sarita, who had bought the laddu for Rs.5.10 lakh last year, claimed that it was given to another man though she had offered a price of Rs.5.50 lakh.Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the annual procession, which is attended by over a million people. About 35,000 policemen and personnel of the paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed.Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K. Khan hoped that the procession would pass off peacefully with the cooperation of all sections of people. He said tight vigil was being maintained at the places of worship to prevent any untoward incident.He said the army was being asked to standby to meet any eventuality. “If necessary we will also use the anti-terrorist force Octopus,” he said. With the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court set to deliver the verdict in the Ayodhya title suit on Sep 24, police have made additional security arrangements.Security was also on high alert at the historic Mecca Masjid in the old city, where communal clashes broke out in the past.The Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti has set up welcome stages at the Charminar and Moazzamjahi Market to welcome the idols.Labour Minister Mukesh Goud and other political leaders offered prayers to Ganesh idol at Khairatabad. The tallest idol in the state attracts large number of devotees. This year it is a 50-ft, five-headed idol with 500-kg laddu in its palm.
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Women empowerment important for a powerful nation: Patil

Sep,22, President Pratibha Patil Wednesday said women empowerment is very important for developing India into a powerful nation.“Women empowerment is very important for the development of the nation. If women become powerful, the nation will also become powerful along with them,” Patil said while addressing the platinum jubilee celebration of the All India Marwari Federation here.She said just like a car cannot move without wheels, a nation cannot also progress without its two wheels — men and women.Talking about the business sector, the president said it plays an important role in the prosperity of the country, but it is even more important to maintain ethics in business.“…In an era where newer technological innovation is the need of the hour, it is even more important to maintain ethics at workplace,” she said.Patil said the characteristic of “unity in diversity” in India has made it unique in the world. “In our country we have people of various religions, castes, languages. This uniqueness sets India apart from all other countries,” she said.
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Central government not providing adequate forces: Mayawati

Sep,21, Ahead of the judgment in the Ayodhya case due Sep 24, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati Monday criticised the central government for its “apathy” in providing the state the security forces needed in case of any trouble after the verdict.While reviewing the law and order situation in the state here, she told the high level meeting held at her official residencehow she had been repeatedly seeking assistance of the central government ever since the high court declared its decision to deliver the much awaited verdict some two months back.
“Since then the state government was making special efforts to maintain law and order besides taking all possible measures to ensure that the communal forces would not be able to disturb the law and order. We also made it a point to keep the centre duly posted of the prevailing situation in the state,” she said.Mayawati lamented the fact that as against the state’s demand and requirement of 642 companies (one company comprising about 80 men) of para-military forces, the central government had agreed to eventually provide just 52 companies, which she described as “grossly inadequate.”“While the initial demand on Aug 6 was made for 458 companies, the demand for an additional 143 companies was made on Sep 1 last to specifically protect the disputed site at Ayodhya. Besides, 29 companies were sought to ensure fool-proof security high court premises, both in Lucknow and in Allahabad, followed by yet another letter dated Sep 6 for 12 companies of the Rapid Action Force (RAF),” she said.According to an official spokesman, the chief minister stressed the need to take a tough stand against mischief-mongers. Directing officials to remain on a round-the-clock alert, she also made it a point to highlight the need for keeping a tab on rumour-mongering, which was “equally dangerous”.Mayawati also reviewed the security of important religious, social and historical places, that were already on a high alert.She also appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace and cautioned them to watch out for mischievous elements.
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Mumbai attack: Hearing on confirmation of Kasab’s death sentence from Oct 18

Sep,21, The Bombay High Court Monday fixed Oct 18 for starting daily hearings to confirm the death sentence awarded to Mumbai attack convict and Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab.A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Ranjit More also declined to entertain Kasab’s application seeking physical presence and ruled that he would remain present through video-conferencing, his lawyer Farhana Shah said.“As per the court’s directions, I met Kasab and discussed the issue. He wanted to remain personally present in the high court during the hearing,” Shah said.The prosecution, led by Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam, expressed apprehensions about brining Kasab to the Bombay High Court on a daily basis from the Arthur Road Central Jail and said it may pose a threat to him.Shah said in view of these developments, Kasab was unlikely to be brought to the court and would appear before it through video-conferencing as he did Monday.She said she planned to file her appeal against the death sentence by Sep 27.On May 6, Kasab was awarded the death sentence by Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani after finding him guilty of 86 different offences.Kasab’s two co-accused – Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Ahmed – charged with conspiracy in the terror attack, were acquitted on the grounds that the prosecution evidence against them was doubtful.Kasab is lodged in the Arthur Road Central Jail, where the trial was conducted.
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NDA won’t win in Bihar: Lalu Prasad

SEP,21, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad asserted Monday that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will fail to lead the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to power in Bihar.“It is certain that the JD-U-BJP (Janata Dal-United and Bharatiya Janata Party) government of Nitish Kumar will not win the (October-November) assembly elections,” Lalu Prasad told a press conference here.The former railway minister launched a scathing attack on Nitish Kumar, alleging that rampant corruption had caused agony in the last five years.He also alleged growing differences between the JD-U and BJP.Lalu Prasad said his RJD and Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Janshaktri Party had decided to contest from 168 and 75 seats respectively.
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Cannot trust BJP, VHP, RSS on Ayodhya: Digvijay

Sep,21, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh Monday said he cannot trust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on the Ayodhya dispute as “they could do anything”.He said the Congress made a mistake in 1992 by believing the affidavits filed by Sangh parivar organisations. The Babri mosque was demolished Dec 6, 1992 by Hindu mobs who had gathered at the spot.“I cannot trust BJP, RSS, VHP. In 1992, we made a mistake by believing their affidavit,” said Singh, who is Congress general secretary in charge of Uttar Pradesh.The Congress leader said he had information that Sangh parivar organisations were making some plans. The Lucknow bench of Allahbad High Court is expected to give its verdict in the title suits relating to the Ayodhya dispute on Sep 24.He said the party has asked its MPs and legislators in Uttar Pradesh to remain in their constituencies on Sep 24 and work for communal harmony.Singh alleged that posters had been put up by Hindu fundamentalist organisations in Bhopal and Indore to recruit people.He said he had told Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during a telephonic conversation that the state government should control “overzealous” workers in the current scenario.
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Chiranjeevi's fans in Telangana vow to protect his interests

Hyderabad, Sep 21 : With the films of actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi and his family members facing a boycott from Telangana activists, his die-hard fans in the region Tuesday formed a group to protect his interests.The fans of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) president met in Hyderabad and formed a "Chiru Force" to counter pro-Telangana groups who have been disrupting the screening of films of Chiranjeevi, his son Ramcharan Teja and brother Pavan Kalyan for their opposition to the demand for a separate state of Telangana. The presidents of Chiranjeevi Fans' Association from all 10 districts of Telangana made it clear that they would not tolerate any disruption of the screening of his films. The members of the "Chiru Force" said since Chiranjeevi entered politics on their demand and had been raising the issues of people, it was their responsibility to protect him and his family members. They also pointed out that people of Telangana were the biggest beneficiaries of the Chiranjeevi Blood Bank. The group said it was ready even for a confrontation on the issue. Osmania University students' joint action committee (JAC) was quick to hit back. The JAC leaders said they would disrupt the screening of Chiranjeevi's movies at any cost. They warned that the "Chiru Force" would be responsible for the consequences. The superstar is facing the ire of Telangana groups since early this year for taking a U-turn on Telangana statehood issue. Both legislators of his party in Telangana quit the party in protest. Chiranjeevi has not visited Telangana since then. The Telangana statehood supporters have decided to stop him from visiting the region. The superstar, however, recently said he would soon undertake a visit to Telangana.
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Hyderabad tightens security for Ganesh immersions

Hyderabad,Sep 21: Over 30,000 policemen were deployed and the military asked to stand by as massive security arrangements have been made for Ganesh idols immersion processions here Wednesday.A thick security blanket has thrown around the route of the mammoth procession, which passes through the communally-sensitive old city before culminating at Hussain Sagar Lake in the heart of the city. Unprecedented security has been made in view of the communal riots that broke out in the city in March this year and the verdict of Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court in Babri Masjid title suit scheduled for Sep 24. According to Hyderabad Police Commissioner A.K.Khan, military will be on stand-by to meet any contingency. "If necessary, the services of anti-terror force Octopus and armed forces will be utilised," he told reporters. Four companies of paramilitary Rapid Action Force (RAF) will be deployed in addition to the police forces. While the entire 10,000- strong city police force will be deployed, another 15,000 to 20,000 constables from other parts of the state will also be drafted for security. Over 40 officers of the rank of superintendent of police and above will be on duty. Over one million people are expected to attend the annual procession, which starts from Balapur in old city. Nearly 13,000 big idols from Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Cyberabad and surrounding districts will be immersed in the Hussain Sagar. Authorities have installed 50 heavy cranes for immersion of the idols. Hundreds of idols were immersed during last two days. Police have already imposed restrictions under section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code banning assembly of four or more people barring those in the Ganesh processions. The orders will be in force till Sep 28. Thirty bomb disposal squads will search vulnerable places along the 20-km long procession route. An equal number of anti-sabotage teams will use 30 sniffer dogs to identify suspicious objects. Massive security will be in place at the historic Mecca Masjid and Charminar in the old city. In the past, communal clashes broke out during the procession in the sensitive areas in the old city. The procession, organised by Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samiti since early 1980s, brings the city to a grinding halt. The main procession route and roads taken by nearly two dozen tributary processions will be closed for traffic.Like in the past, the state government has declared a general holiday in the state capital and the neighbouring Ranga Reddy district fo Anantchaturdashi that marks the close of the 10-day Ganesh festival.
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Murder accused stabbed to death in Andhra court

Hyderabad, Sep 21 : A man accused in a murder case was stabbed to death in a court premises in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday.Kondaiah, who was brought by police to the court for the murder case hearing, was stabbed and killed in full public view in the court complex in Miryalguda town of Nalgonda district, about 150 km from here. Police said the attacker fled after killing the youth. The incident sent panic among litigants and lawyers at the court. According to Kondaiah's relatives, the attacker, Khaja, picked up an argument with him and stabbed him to death as others watched in horror. The motive is still not clear. Police suspect the attack was carried out to settle old scores, and have now launched an investigation. Kondaiah allegedly had extramarital relations with a woman and her relative Khaja stabbed him to take revenge. Kondaiah, hailing from Nagarjunasagar, was allegedly involved in a murder and was brought by police to the court for hearing.
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NFAI organises 'cine course' for journalists from Oct 11

Hyderabad, Sep 21 : With a view to provide systematic inputs on Indian cinema to the working Journalists, National Film Archive of India (NFAI), Pune, is organising a 'cine correspondents' courses' in association with the Film and Television Institute of India.The curriculum includes theoretical study of the art and history of cinema, development of cinema as a medium of art and communication.The course is scheduled from October 11 to 22. The course fee would be Rs 5000 per participant. Working journalists with minimum experience of three years in news organisations in the age group of 25 to 50 years can participate, a release issued here yesterday by the NFAI said.
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Jama Masjid buzzes back to life day after shooting

Jama Masjid and its surrounding areas in Delhi’s old quarters was back to its bustling self Monday, a day after gunmen opened fire outside the 16th century mosque, injuring two Taiwanese. While tourists came in large numbers, it was business as usual for the numerous shops in the area.

Despite advisories from the governments of Australia and Britain urging their nationals to refrain from visiting sensitive locations, around 35 foreigners were seen near the historic mosque Monday morning while many more visited the majestic Red Fort nearby.“Yes, there were some concerns but the mood at our camp is upbeat. There is no scare… neither are we planning to cut short our vacation here in India,” British tourist Steve Coll said as he came out of Jama Masjid.Two Taiwanese tourists – Ko Chang and Ku Ze Wei – were wounded when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened random fire at a bus from which a group of tourists was alighting near the Jama Masjid Sunday morning.The attack, just after 11 a.m., took place near Gate No.3 of the mammoth, red sandstone mosque.Though the police presence increased by the hour Monday, shops near Jama Masjid opened at their usual time and rikshaw-pullers eagerly awaited customers.“We’re not afraid. The event occurred, and we’re over it. But we wish that the criminals are arrested soon, or we’ll be affected adversely if tourists get scared,” aid Monu, a rickshaw puller.Ganga Singh, who works in ‘Delhi’s Ivory Palace’, a shop opposite Jama Masjid’s Gate No.3, seemed unfazed by Sunday’s shooting incident. He opened the shutters of the shop at around 9 a.am., like he does on a normal working day.“What have we to fear? Police is carrying on their investigations…the results will come out and we’ll carry out our business as usual,” Singh said.Sanjay Chauhan, who works in a garage a liitle away from Singh’s shop, told IANS that no one in the neighbourhood was scared and that they would assisst the police in every way possible.“All shops will open in due time…nobody’s scared of those attackers. Work will go on as usual and we’ll assist the police to the best we can,” Chauhan said.Mohammed Amin, another rickshaw puller, said: “It is important that those criminals are caught and their identity revealed. These terrorists want nothing but disturbances in the city. We all will help the police in any way we can.”A policeman, who arrived at the site at 7.30 a.am., was alert but calm and said that everybody in the area was at peace. “People aren’t panicky or in a state of shock. There is not much to worry about but we’re watchful nevertheless,” he said.“We are watchful for any new faces and for suspicious elements,” he said.Visitors in tourist buses and hired taxis were seen near the mosque and many parents were also seen escorting their young ones inside the complex.In other parts of the city, tourist hotspots like Connaught Place, Gole Market and areas around Commonwealth Games venues were heavily barricaded. Traffic restrictions were imposed at around 470 landmarks and prime locations, including Qutub Minar, Lotus Temple and major markets.Several motorists said they could not park their vehicles because of the restrictions.Police said pillion riders have been disallowed near these sites and motorists will have to park their vehicles at least 100 metres away from these places. CCTVs are also being installed at these locations, police said.
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Murdered girl student's friends being questioned

Hyderabad, Sep 20 : A day after the gruesome murder of a girl student by her senior, Hyderabad police Monday were questioning two of their friends.

Shekhar Goud, who killed engineering final year student Divya by smashing her head with a baseball bat, is still at large and police have formed special teams to arrest him. Police suspect it to be a case of sexual jealousy as Divya had been avoiding him of late and had befriended another boy, Pradeep. The body of 20-year-old Divya, student of Vignan Engineering College on the city outskirts, was handed over to her relatives after an autopsy at Osmania Hospital. Shekhar had invited Divya to his flat at Hill Colony in Vanasthalipuram Sunday evening for talks to sort out some differences which had of late cropped up between them. After killing Divya, Shekhar sent an SMS to Pradeep saying he had eliminated her and wanted to end his life. Alerted by Pradeep, police found the body of the girl in his flat. Police were questioning Pradeep and another friend of Vidya. Meanwhile, women and students' groups staged a protest at Vanasthalipuram police station demanding capital punishment to Shekhar. They alleged that the government had failed to act though such incidents were taking place regularly. Divya's father Madhusudhan Rao, who works with Mahindra and Mahindra in Kolkata, returned along with his wife Susheela. The girl was staying with her relatives in Habsiguda area. Shekhar, who completed his engineering last year, is a native of Nalgonda district but his father Venkatesham Goud works in Mumbai
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16 drowned in Ganesh immersions across Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, Sep 20 : As many as 16 people lost their lives during the Ganesh idol immersions in different parts of Andhra Pradesh Monday, police said.

Tragedy struck Ganesh festivities in Krishna district when six people were drowned while immersing an idol in a lake. According to police, the incident took place at Gollanapalle village of Gannavaram mandal. Local fishermen fished out the bodies of the six youths, all hailing from Gannavaram. Three people died in a similar incident in Kadapa district and two persons were washed away in Godavari River when they were immersing an idol at Bhadrachalam in Khammam district. Two youngsters met a watery grave in a lake at Mandamarri in Adilabad district and two people in East Godavari district. One death has been reported from Nizamabad district. The Ganesh immersion is taking place in different parts of the state for the last two days. The festivities will continue over the next two days. The mammoth Ganesh procession will be taken out in Hyderabad Wednesday. Over 13,000 idols will be immersed in Hussainsagar Lake in the heart of the city.
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New Delhi shooting won’t stop Taiwanese from visiting India

Taiwan media gave wide coverage Monday to the incident in New Delhi in which two members of a Taiwanese film crew were shot, but some people said the incident would not stop them from visiting India.The United Daily News carried seven related stories, one analysing terrorist attacks in India and another warning that the two Taiwanese victims might be infected with the superbug in Indian hospitals.But some travel agents and Taiwanese are not overly concerned.“This is an isolated incident. It will not affect Taiwan people’s interest in visiting India,” Yeh Ting-lin, chairman of the Shih Chun Travel, said.“Terrorist attacks usually target Americans and Europeans. Generally speaking, Taiwan tourists are safe,” he added.Chou Mei-li, head of the Friends of Tibet, said the shooting will not scare Taiwanese who travel to India to visit Buddhist temples or to see the Dalai Lama.“I also think this is an isolated incident, and the target of the shooting was not Taiwanese,” she added.The Foreign Ministry urged Taiwanese to mind travelers’ personal safety when in India, but did not issue a travel alert.India is a favourite travel destination for Taiwanese. Nearly 30,000 Taiwanese visit India each year for sightseeing or business.Some of the tourists are “religious tourists”, like Buddhist pilgrims, disciples of the Dalai Lama or disciples of late spiritual leader Osho.According to the Dalai Lama’s representative office in Taipei, there are half a million students of Tibetan Buddhism in Taiwan, and the number is increasing.“Every year, some 1,000 Taiwanese travel as a group to Dharamsala to attend Buddhist lectures given by the Dalai Lama,” said Sonam Dorji, secretary-general of the representative office.The shooting occurred Sunday morning outside the Jama Masjid in New Delhi.A Taiwan TV crew had just stepped out of a coach when two masked men arrived on a motorbike, fired on the mosque and at the coach before speeding off.One cameraman was hit in the abdomen, while the other was grazed in the back by a bullet. The condition of both men was stable.A few hours after the shooting, an Islamic militant group issued a statement and threatened to attack the Commonwealth Games scheduled to begin in New Delhi October 3-14, with 7,000 athletes and 100,000 tourists.
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Advani speaks to Chidambaram on Delhi shooting, Uttarakhand landslide

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Sunday telephoned Home Minister P. Chidambaram and discussed security measures in the wake of the shooting near Jama Masjid that wounded two Taiwanese tourists and the landslides in Uttarakhand which killed over 40 people in the BJP-ruled state.

Advani said that he spoke to Chidambaram and discussed the heightened terror threat perception ahead of the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games in the light of Sunday’s shooting near Jama Masjid.The issue also figured in their talks briefly when Advani and Chidambaram met at India Islamic Cultural Centre which had organised an Eid get-together.Advani added that he also discussed the devastating landslides and heavy rains in Uttarakhand that have killed over 40 people and left many homeless. Uttarakhand has recorded over 300 mm of rainfall since Saturday.Two Taiwanese tourists were wounded when two gunmen on a motorcycle opened random fire near the Jama Masjid here Sunday morning, creating a scare ahead of the Commonwealth Games.Ko Chang and Ku Ze Wei, both in their 20s, were shot in the head and stomach respectively when the gunmen fired at a bus from which a group of tourists was alighting, police and eyewitnesses said.The attack came despite a high level of security here in the run up to the Commonwealth Games that will draw 7,000 athletes and officials from 71 countries and territories.
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Mumbai police on high alert after Delhi shooting

Mumbai police Sunday went on high alert in the wake of the shooting near New Delhi’s Jama Masjid as well as the ongoing 11-day Ganeshotsava festival in the city, officials said.Besides increasing vigilance and security checks at all the Ganesh mandals across the city, police have also turned their attention to the 200-plus mosques and mausoleums, including Haji Ali dargah and Mahim dargah, and others dotting the metropolis.While the Ganesh ‘visarjan’ is scheduled to take place all over the city and elsewhere in the state Sep 22, the Ayodhya judgement is expected Sep 24 – both of which have necessitated the heightened security measures in Mumbai.The curtains will come down Wednesday on the state’s biggest public festival Ganeshotsav when around 150,000 big and small idols of the elephant-headed god will be taken for immersion at all the beaches, creeks, rivers, lakes, ponds and other artificial water bodies created for the purpose around the city. Around six million people are expected to participate.
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Jama Masjid shooting: Red alert in Delhi

A red alert has been sounded in the capital following a shooting incident at the capital’s Jama Masjid in which two Taiwanese were wounded.“A red alert has been sounded and we are conducting checks at various points,” Delhi Police Joint Commissioner Karnail Singh told reporters. He said the police were confident of nabbing the culprits soon.
According to Delhi Police, security has been increased in sensitive areas and suspicious vehicles are being checked.“There is a high alert, we are checking all suspicious vehicles, especially motorcycles matching the description of the one used in the shooting,” a Delhi Police official said.Checking has also been increased at all entry points to the capital from neighbouring areas.Two gunmen on a motorcycle opened random fire at one of the entrances to the Jama Masjid here Sunday, leaving two Taiwanese tourists wounded and sparking panic.The attackers fired at least 10 rounds at a group of tourists alighting from a bus outside the 16th-century red sandstone mosque in the old quarters of the city.According to police, the attackers were were fair complexioned and tall youth and were not wearing any masks on their face.
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Rosaiah launches Ayurvedic hospital in AP

Hyderabad, Sep 20 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has inaugurated Earth Hospital, a chain of multi-speciality Ayurvedic hospitals in the Hyderabad city.

Speaking on the occasion yesterday, Dr Rosaiah said Ayurveda is a treatment which has been invented and practised by the ancestors for ages and is as relevant today.
Especially it can provide complete treatment and can erase the disease from its roots, unlike allopathy, which provides relief but can't stop recurrence of the disease, he added. The Chief Minister said traditional Ayurveda patients rely just on it for all their ailments and wouldn't look at other options. ''Even today, there are several families who only avail ayurvedic treatment, that is the confidence they have in the treatment and its all due to the cure they have seen that ayurveda provides.'' He said ayurvedic practitioners are available even in the remotest villages, however due to lack of awareness people don't seek their advice. This hospital and doctors need to be appreciated for being courageous to launch Ayurvedic hospital as they have come forward to provide treatment to people and not to mint money, which they could have easily done by starting an allopathic hospital, he added. Dr Rosaiah said Ayurveda is extremely popular in the 100 per cent literate state of Kerala, who realise its importance.The hospital is the first foray of the Earth Hospital group in the state.
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26,000 policemen deployed for Ganesh immersion

Hyderabad, Sep 19 : About 26,000 policemen will oversee the final Ganesh idols immersion ritual in Hussain Sagar lake here on September 22 amid tight security.

Prohibitory orders have been clamped in the city for that day, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner A K Khan told mediapersons here today.The Ganesh festival which began on Septemer 11 will conclude with a final immersion procession on September 22.About 13,000 idols were expected to be immersed and about 10 to 12 lakh people are expected to participate in the final procession. Along with four companies of RAF, about 625 officers and men had been deployed in Hyderabad city since September 6 as a part of arragements for Ramzan and Ganesh festivals. 272 hyper sensitive and 543 sensitive places were identified and pickets were posted there. 475 mobile parties will be moving in the area for smooth conduct of both the immersion.The City Security Wing of Hyderabad City Police will also deploy 30 Bomb Disposal Teams and 02 Access Control Teams each at Khairatabad Ganesh Pandal and Ganesh Temple, Secunderabad. The would be equipped with DFMDs, HFMDs, Prodder, Deep Search mine detector, under carriage mirror and explosive detectors. The Anti-Sabotage Teams will also use the services of 30 sniffer dogs. The City Security Wing of Hyderabad City Police will also utilize the services of 80 Special Police Officers (Ex. Army Men) in their anti-sabotage checks. Other anti-sabotage measures will include vehicle checking and frisking at entry points to the city, at important junctions and crowded places like railway station, bus Stations, shopping malls, cinema Halls, hotels and restaurants.
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Final year B Tech student killed by classmate

Hyderabad, Sep 19 : A final year B Tech student of a private Engineering college in Nalgonda district on the outskirte of the city was fatally bludgeoned by her classmate at his house in Vanasthalipuram in the city tonigth.The girl identified as Divya was from Kolkata.The Boy Sekhar Reddy reportedly from Nelgonda district was staying along with his relatives. His parents stayed in Mumbai.Police said the girl was killed after being hit on her head with a Base ball-Hockey stick.The body has been sent for postmortem.Initial report suggested that the girl was raped before being killed. The boy was absconding after reportedly sending an SMS to his parents that he would ''end his life'' because of the incident.
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Rain in Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema for next 48 hours

Hyderabad, Sept 19 : Light to moderate rain or thundershowers would occur at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema over the next 48 hours.For subsequent two days no change was expected.The sky would be generally cloudy for Hyderabad and neighbourhood. Rain or thundershowers may occur in parts of city during the next two days. Tje Maximum and Minimum temperatures would bearound 33 and 22 degree celsius.Observations recorded till 0830 hours this morning: occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.Isolated rain occurred over Rayalaseema.The chief amounts of rainfall recorded in cm are Ramagundam, Chinnoor (Adilabad dist) 6 each, Manthani (Karimnagar dist) 5, Bhimadole (West Godavari dist), Kalwakurthy (Mahabubnagar dist), Nuzvid (Krishna dist) 4 each, Mahabubnagar, Dowlaiswaram (East Godavari dist), Eturnagaram and Narsampet (both Warangal dist), Mancherial (Adilabad dist), Palakonda (Srikakulam dist), Parvathipuram (Vizianagaram dist), Suryapet (Nalgonda dist), Yemmiganur (Kurnool dist) 3 each, Nandigama, Nagarjunasagar Dam and Ramannapet (both Nalgonda dist), Patapatnam (Srikakulam dist), Sultanabad (Karimnagar dist) 2 each and Bhadrachalam, Guntur, Kakinada, Khammam, Machilipatnam, Narsapur, Asifabad and Luxettipet (both Adilabad dist), Dummagudem (Khammam dist), Eluru and Tadepalligudem (both West Godavari dist), Gudivada, Paleru Bridge and Tiruvuru (all Krishna dist), Huzurabad, Jagitiyal and Kaleswaram (all Karimnagar dist), Kodangal and Nagarkurnool (both Mahabubnagar dist), Koilkuntla (Kurnool dist), Mahabubabad (Warangal dist), Palasa (Srikakulam dist), Tandur and Vikarabad (both Rangareddy dist) one each, the bulletin said.
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Student group calls for anti-Telangana protests

Hyderabad, Sep 19 : Andhra Pradesh is again witnessing protests and counter-protests over the demand for separate statehood to Telangana with a students' body calling for demonstrations in universities in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions from Sep 21.

The Samaikhya Andhra students' Joint Action Committee (JAC), which is opposed to the demand for bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, has called for protests to counter "increasing attacks by Telangana activists". The call comes on the heels of attacks on lecturers from the two regions at Osmania University here, the stone pelting on convoys of ministers and a massive protest by Telangana lawyers paralysing work at the high court. JAC convenor Krishna Yadav told reporters at Nellore Sunday that Samaikhya Andhra or united Andhra flags would be hoisted in the universities Sep 22. His announcement came a day after Congress legislators from Andhra and Rayalaseema called on Director General of Police Aravinda Rao seeking protection for people from the two regions settled in Hyderabad. The legislators led by government whip Shailajanath voiced concern over the increasing violent acts by supporters of a separate Telangana against people from other regions. The legislators have also urged Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to take steps to protect people of Andhra and Rayalaseema. They referred to the incidents at the high court where Telangana lawyers, demanding 42 percent share in the posts of judicial officers, attacked court hall Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy. The JAC leader said it was a matter of concern that Telangana students too were carrying out attacks. They chased and manhandled teachers from the two regions at Osmania University here Aug 28, demanding that their examination papers be valuated by teachers from Telangana. The Telangana activists were also accused of resorting to violence while protesting against the conduct of Group I examination of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission Sep 5. They disrupted the exam at a few centres, demanding the commission to reserve 42 percent posts for Telangana. The pro-Telangana groups are also disrupting the visits of ministers and other political leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema. The convoys of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu and at least two ministers were stoned by the activists in Telangana during the last few days. Political analysts say the Telangana groups want to keep the pot boiling till the Srikrishna Committee submits its report to the central government by Dec 31. The committee was constituted by the central government in February to study the issue after violent protests for and against a separate Telangana rocked the state for nearly three months.
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Rashtriya Swamyamsewak sangh chief slams Chidambaram’s ’saffron terror’ remark

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Rao Bhagwat Tuesday slammed Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s “saffron terror” comment, saying it sends out “wrong message” to the world about India.

“The word saffron terror doesn’t exist for me. The Home Minister’s comment on saffron terror is sending out a wrong message to the world like Pakistan being called a rogue state. Do you want India also to be called so,” Bhagwat told reporters at the Indian Women’s Press Corps here.On Aug 25, Chidamabram, while addressing a conference in Delhi of police chiefs from different states, said: “There is this recently uncovered phenomena of saffron terrorism that has been implicated in many bomb blasts of the past.”
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Rahul Gandhi says he gets 5,000 letters a day

Officially just a Lok Sabha member and Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi gets 5,000 letters a day from people on varied issues.The young leader, who admits it is not possible to go through all the letters, said at an interaction here Tuesday that he was open to guiding those who write to him, suggesting solutions, projects and programmes for various problems.
Gandhi’s comments came during a lively 75-minute question-answer session with the students of Visva-Bharati University here. The media was barred from the session.Responding to posers from some research scholars of the university about how they should seek redressal for their problems like delays or stopping of grants when their petitions to the higher authorities do not yield any fruits, Gandhi said he got 5,000 letters a day and it was not possible for him to go through all of them.According to a source present at the interaction, Gandhi said he could not say anything about people writing to the “prime minister, chief minister or others”. That, he told the gathering, was “up to you”.“But if you feel that you have programmes, projects and solutions, then inform me. I will be with you. I will help you,” Gandhi was quoted as saying.The Congress leader Monday began a three-day visit to West Bengal to mobilise workers ahead of the assembly elections next year. This is his second visit to the state in less than a fortnight.
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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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