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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