US warns of terror attacks in Delhi markets,

The US embassy Wednesday warned of possible terror attacks in popular Delhi markets like Chandni Chowk and Connaught Place and asked its citizens to “maintain high level of vigilance”.

“There are increased indications that terrorists are planning attacks in New Delhi,” the embassy said in an security alert. “Terrorists have targeted places in the past where US citizens or Westerners are known to congregate or visit.“Markets such as those located in Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Greater Kailash, Karol Bagh, Mehrauli and Sarojini Nagar can be especially attractive targets for terrorist groups,” it said.“If you are in an area where unattended packages are spotted, you should immediately exit the area and report the packages to authorities,” it added.“Americans travelling or residing in India are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, remain aware of their surroundings, monitor local news reports, and take appropriate steps to bolster their personal security,” the advisory said.
======================================================

Action assured against Modi musclemen for attacking media men

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Wednesday said his government will take strict action and file cases against the security personnel of Indian Premier League (IPL) chief Lalit Modi for attacking media persons here.He was replying to an issue raised in the state assembly by Leader of Opposition Eknath Khadse who pointed out that media persons who had gone to cover Modi’s arrival from Dubai were beaten up by his security personnel.“Attacks on the media are becoming a routine matter. Despite assurances by the government in the past that such offences would be made non-bailable, nothing has been done so far,” Khadse said.Assuring action, Chavan said he also spoke to Home Minister R.R. Patil about the issue.Around half a dozen media persons sustained injuries while TV cameraman Santosh Nandi was admitted to Sion Hospital with serious injuries after a couple of private bodyguards from Modi’s entourage prevented the media from speaking to him and attacked them.
The Sahar police station has registered cases against at least two of Modi’s security personnel, but details are not yet available.

======================================================

Heat wave conditions in Telangana, rainfall at other places

Hyderabad, Apr 22: Heat wave conditions prevailed over the districts of Adilabad, Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar and Warangal of Telangana even as rain occurred at a few places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema and Telangana.At Machilipatnam and Kaikalur rainfall measuring 5 cm each was recorded while it was 4 cm at Rajampet. Bhadrachalam, Koyyalagudem, Polavaram, Tanuku, Madhira, Rapur and Vinjamur recorded 3 cm each, while at Nandigama, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Anakapalle, Bhimadole and Koderu, Mangalagiri, Srungavarapukota, Puttur, and Udayagiri it was recorded at 2 cm each, Met department said today. Khammam, Narsapur, Rentchintala, Bhimavarami, Chintalapudi, Tadepalligudem, Pamidi, Piduguralla, Salur, Seetharamapuram and Yemmiganur recroded one cm each.The maximum temperatures fell at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema and changed little over Telangana.They were significantly above normal at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, at one or two places over the remaining districts of Telangana and above normal over Rayalaseema. The highest maximum temperature of 45 degrees Celsius was recorded at Adilabad.Isolated rain/thundershowers may occur over Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Rayalaseema. Heatwave conditions may prevail over the districts of Adilabad, Hyderabad, Karimnagar, Mahabubnagar, Nizamabad and Warangal of Telangana during the next two days.Thunder clouds may develop during evening/night in the city, while maximum and minimum temperatures would be around 42 and 27 degrees respectively, it added.
======================================================

TDP demands Govt. to take steps to curb contaminated diseases

Hyderabad, Apr 22: Criticising the Andhra Pradesh government for its alleged ''failure to provide quality medicare to the people'', Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N.Chandrababu Naidu today demanded the government to take immediate steps to curb the contaminated diseases.In an interaction here with the party workers from Anantapur, Chittoor, Ranga Reddy and Guntur districts, he alleged that people were suffering due to lack of medicines and staff in government hospitals in the districts.He said the TDP, whether in power or not, had been striving hard to solve the problems of the people and work with commitment.He alleged that due to the unhygienic conditions in slum areas, people were prone to various diseases due to mosquito menace and the government was not taking any remedial steps. This was the reason for spread of malaria and other seasonal diseases.Mr Naidu said the TDP workers of Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad districts told him that even minimum basic facilities were not available in government hospitals in the districts.He alleged that the Congress government in the state had neglected the health sector, mainly Primary Health Centres (PHC) in villages by giving more prominence to 'Arogyasri' health insurance scheme.The TDP President also alleged that the state government had failed to provide sufficient funds for government hospitals in the state. It was diverting huge funds to corporate hospitals for the government-sponsored 'Arogyasri'.Though the TDP was not against the implementation of the ''Arogyasri'' health insurance scheme to the people, it demanded concerned the government to take measures to stop irregularities in the implementation of the scheme, he added.
======================================================

Evolve strategies to combat terrorist, cyber crimes:Governor

Hyderabad, Apr 22: Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan today called upon officers of armed forces to be aware of their responsibilities in the wake of complexities and unpredictability of the issues confronting the country that has changed the security paradigm. Delivering the valedictory address of the Higher Defence Management Course-05 at the College of Defence Management (CDM) here, the Governor, expressing concern over the growing external threats, said the situation had become more difficult with factors like globalisation, convergence, networking and technological advancements, cyber crimes, state and non-state actors, criminals and terrorist linkages.He called for better understanding of the convergence of interest among state and non-state players, facilitators and criminal elements, all of whom operate with the sole aim of destabilising India. He said security agencies should build up a core team of specialists to evolve strategies to combat such problems effectively. Asserting that India needed to build up capacity to anticipate events and should be more reactive than proactive in meeting the threats, he underlined the need for drawing up strategies. On the issue of technology, he acknowledged its use by the armed forces as a force multiplier. What needed was to take it further ahead and use it to forecast threats, he added. Cautioning cyber terrorism as the major threat of the next decade, the Governor outlined the need to take such threats more seriously.He said ''preventing cyber crimes was highly questionable as we have done a little to combat this threat and in spite of general awareness, it was persisting to be a weakness in our system.'' Most of the security systems like radars and communication equipments were prone to sabotage by inimical elements, he added.
======================================================

Case registered against Shoaib, 13 others

Hyderabad, Apr 22 : Authorities of the Banjara Hills Police Station today booked a case against Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Malik, his wife and Indian tennis star Sania Mirza and 12 others as per the direction of the City Court for allegedly 'hurting religious feelings.' A case was registered under Section 295A of IPC and investigation into the matter was being carried out as per the court direction, police said.On a petition filed by one MD Moulim Mohsin Bin Hussain-Al Kaseri, the III Additional Metropolitican Magistrate yesterday, directed the City Police to conduct investigation for allegedly ''hurting religious feelings.' The petitioner complained that the celebrity cricketer, tennis star and their family members as also family members of Ayesha Siddiqui, his first wife, were punishable under section 295A of IPC for alleged 'deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.'
======================================================

Kidney transplantation under Arogyasri restarts in SVIMS

Tirupati, Apr 22 : It is good news for the poor people of Andhra Pradesh that Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam's run super specialty hospital of Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciencies (SVIMS) in the temple town has actively taken up the kidney transplantation programme which would essentially benefit the most vulnerable sections of the society with very limited access to modern super specialty treatment.The Department of Urology and Nephrology comprising Dr Govndarajulu, Dr V Siva Kumar, Dr K V Dakshinamurhty, Dr A Rambabu, Dr Anil , Dr V Sai Naresh, Dr Y Manjusha and Anesthesiology headed by Dr M Hanumantha Rao of SVIMS have successfully carried out the kidney transplantation surgery on a 22-year-old P Malathi, under the Arogyasri health scheme, SVIMs Medical Superintendent Dr T Srinivasa Rao said in a release here Yesterday.Her mother donated her kidney to her.The patient was being discharged after making recovery. SVIMS was taking up another case from Chittoor district for kidney transplantation surgery shortly and intends to continue the same on a regular basis henceforth under the state sponsored scheme with the assistance of TTD, he added.
======================================================

Railways Extend Train Fare Concession to Dependent Children & Companion of Accredited Press Correspondents,

(PIB NEWS)  The Rail Travel Concession to dependent children and companion of accredited press correspondents who do not have a spouse has become effective from April 20, 2010.As announced by the Minister of Railways, Kumari Mamata Banerjee in her speech while presenting the Railway Budget 2010-11 in Parliament, the Ministry of Railways has decided to extend the Rail Fare Concession to companion of those accredited press correspondents who do not have a spouse and to dependent children up to 18 years of age of accredited press correspondents. Now accredited press correspondents can avail train fare concession for companion/children by giving an undertaking to the Chief Reservation Supervisor/Station Manager/Booking Supervisor in a revised Performa at the time of booking of ticket. The concession for companion will be extended in case of only those correspondents who do not have a spouse. This concession for the companion or dependent children is admissible only when they are traveling with the accredited press correspondent. It may be ensured that the concession to spouse/companion/children is availed only once in a financial year by the concerned press correspondent. All other terms and conditions including 50 per cent concession admissible in all classes in basic fares of Mail/Express trains and in fares of Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi trains to accredited Press Correspondents for unlimited travel on bonafide press work will remain same. The concession is also admissible to spouse of the correspondent while traveling with him/her once in a financial year. An official circular in this regard is available on Indian Railways website i.e. www.indianrailways.gov.in ( > Railway Board Directorates > Traffic Commercial > Commercial Circulars > 2010 > Circular No. CC-17)
======================================================

PM Gives Away Awards for Excellence in Public Administration,

(PIB NEWS) Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh  inaugurated the Civil Services Day, 2010 here today. Awards for Excellence in Public Administration were also presented to the winners. In his remarks, Dr. Manmohan Singh said the civil services have a major role to play in helping government fashion a suitable and adequate response to various issues that face the country. The civil servant of today should not only be alive and sensitive to the problems at hand but should also be well equipped to tackle them. He further said that Civil servants have a pivotal role in ensuring that the benefits of our programmes percolate to the farthest and remotest villages of our country. It is a daunting task that will test the endurance and mettle of our civil servants, especially that of the All-India Services. The Prime Minister urged the bureaucracy to devise innovative ways and means to harness the tools of information technology and to involve the intended beneficiaries in implementation so that complaints of leakages, complaints of corruption and complaints of lack of transparency get addressed. He said that Civil Services Day gives a unique opportunity to officers belonging to various services, and to various states, to come together to share experience and exchange views on important issues of national concern. It would not be an exaggeration to say that our civil services have lived up to this expectation, he said. ======================================================

Government Sanctions More Than 1.52 Million Houses Against the Mission Goal of Construction of 15 Lakh Houses

The Minister for Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation Kumari Selja has said that her Ministry is trying to address the issues of the urban poor, especially slum-dwellers in a comprehensive way by addressing the issues of policy, planning and programmes. Speaking at a function to give Awards for Innovations for the Urban Poor here today she said, the Government has announced Rajiv Awas Yojana with the vision of Slum-free India and the resolve to significantly improve the living conditions of the slum-dwellers. Recently, she said, the Ministry has launched the scheme of Slum-free City Planning for Rajiv Awas Yojana. This scheme is focused on Slum Survey, Development of Slum, MIS, GIS Mapping of Slums, integration of Slum MIS and GIS and preparation of Slum-free City Plans.Referring to the progress of BSUP and IHSDP components of JNNURM till March 31st this year, Kumari Selja said, the Government has sanctioned more than 1.52 million houses against the mission goal of construction of 15 lakh houses. 1422 projects of housing and basic amenities to the urban poor with an outlay of more than Rs 36,073 crores have been approved. Additional Central Assistance (Grant) of Rs. 19,920 crores are so far committed indicating more than 85% of the Mission period allocation. Cumulative release of Additional Central Assistance by the end of the financial year 2009-2010 is Rs.8,450 crores. About 2.33 lakh houses have been completed and 4.98 lakh houses are in progress as against the mid-term target of 5 lakhs units for completion or in progress. She said, while the progress of JNNURM so far is satisfactory, it is observed that there are tremendous discrepancies between States and cities. A key issue hindering the implementation of JNNURM in some States is acute capacity constraint. She said, while the challenges of urbanization are enormous, the constraint of capacity is leading to the failure of city authorities to effectively provide basic infrastructure and services to their rapidly growing urban population, especially the Aam Aadmi. Bulk of these services are lifeline services and include basic needs such as safe drinking water, sanitation, solid waste management, affordable shelter and public transportation. The Minister said, there is a dire need to address the lack of institutional and managerial capacities at city level and issues such as precarious municipal finances. There is also an issue of mindset; widespread apathy in civic officials results in deficiency in services to the urban poor. Thus, the problems of service delivery to the Aam Aadmi in urban areas have to be tackled in conjunction with reforms in municipal finances, institutional and HR capacity building and change management. Effective management of urbanization is a critical need of the hour. Kumari Selja said, urbanisation accompanies economic development. Cities in India contribute as high as 60% of the GDP. The benefits of urbanization need to be tapped to promote urban development and justice to the Aam Aadmi. In this regard, there is need to discover best practices and initiatives and promote them for wider replication. She said, on the part of her Ministry, they will strengthen their system of giving awards by Prime Minister for best-performance in the implementation of JNNURM.
======================================================

Artificial Rainfall

(PIB NEWS) A number of cloud seeding programmes have been carried out by commercial firms working under contract with a variety of sponsors both from the Government covering large areas as well as by Private Trusts at a local scale. The States of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh have undertaken cloud seeding operations till last year by hiring private firms and these operations were funded by the respective State Governments. Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) Pune, is conducting a National multi-year program viz. “Cloud Aerosol Interaction and Precipitation Enhancement Experiment (CAIPEEX)” during 2008-2012. It is proposed to carry out cloud seeding experiment for producing artificial rainfall during July-August 2010 in the research mode over the rain-shadow regions of peninsular India, consisting the parts of the States of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. However, there are no plans under this programme for conducting this over Mumbai area. This was stated by Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State (I/C) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences in the Lok Sabha today.
======================================================

Use new technologies to fight corruption: PM to civil servants

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday asked civil servants to use information technology (IT) to fight corruption and ensure that the poor get equitable benefits of the government’s developmental schemes.“It is incumbent upon us to ensure that no area of our country is denied the benefits of our ambitious developmental programmes,” Manmohan Singh said, addressing a function here on the occasion of Civil Services Day.He asked civil servants to use technology tools to address the complaints of corruption and lack of transparency.“It is up to you to devise innovative ways and means, to harness the tools of IT and to involve the intended beneficiaries in implementation so that complaints of corruption and complaints of lack of transparency get addressed.“Every effort must be made to make full use of the potentialities of the Panchayati Raj System for effective decentralized and socially just development,” the prime minister said.India, according to global corruption watchdog Transparency International’s latest survey, is perceived as a highly corrupt nation in the world ranked 84 among 180 countries on the integrity score. The ranking means that 83 other countries are less corrupt than India.

======================================================

Need to monitor welfare schemes: Khurshid

Government-sponsored welfare schemes need to be monitored so that the benefits reach the targeted sections effectively, Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said Tuesday. “Wherever there are schemes for the welfare of people, especially for the poorer sections of the society, their implementation needs to be monitored so as to ensure that the benefits actually reach the people in an effective way,” Khurshid said.He was inaugurating an orientation-cum-training programme organised for monitoring of the implementation of various schemes of the minority affairs ministry and its allied organizations.The programme was held for National Level Monitors (NLMs) appointed by the ministry. Khurshid said the role of NLMs becomes more important as “they will have to monitor not only the quantity, but also the quality of the schemes ”.Secretary Vivek Mehrotra said the minority affairs ministry was one of the very few to have independent monitoring of its programmes.The reports of NLMs would provide information and data enabling mid-course corrective measures to ensure effective implementation of the schemes, he said.In order to implement the mechanism of appointing NLMs effectively, the ministry signed an agreement with National Productivity Council of India, a society under the aegis of the commerce and industry ministry, in December last year.The tasks of advertising, selection, training and deployment of NLMs and making analyzed presentations on their findings to the ministry are being carried out by the NPC.The NPC will engage 223 NLMs for the purpose.
======================================================

‘Over 2,400 corruption cases against officials since 2007′

Over 2,400 corruption cases have been registered against public servants since 2007, parliament was informed Wednesday.“The CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) has registered 2,439 cases under the PC Act (Prevention of Corruption Act) against public servants, including senior officers, during the last three years – 2007,2008, 2009 and the current year (up to March 2010),” Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Prithviraj Chavan told the Lok Sabha Wednesday.Chavan was responding to a query by Pratap Narayanrao Sonawane on wheteher the government was aware of public servants and senior officers indulging in corrupt practices and the action taken against erring officials.“Whether a person is guilty or otherwise can only be decided by court after trial. However, in CBI cases under PC Act,732 cases have ended in conviction during the last three years and the current year,” Chavan said.“The government is fully committed to implement its policy of zero tolerance against corruption and is moving progressively to eradicate corruption from all spheres of life by improving transparency and accountability,” Chavan  said.   ======================================================

Swami Nityananda arrested from Himachal village

Swami Nityananda, who faces charges of rape, criminal intimidation and cheating and has been on the run for over a month, was Wednesday arrested along with four others from a Himachal Pradesh village, police said.The Karnataka-based Nityananda has been on the run since March 23 when the Karnataka High Court rejected his plea for anticipatory bail and quashing of criminal cases against him.He was nabbed from a village near Arki town in Solan district, about 50 km from here.“Swami Nityananda was arrested by a joint team of the Himachal Pradesh and Bangalore police from a village near Arki in Solan district. He was staying in a house for the past few days,” Additional Director General of Police I.D. Bhandari told Two of the arrested people belong to Delhi.“Himachal police got a fax from the Karnataka police April 17 that they had information that Nityananda was hiding in Himachal Pradesh. Subsequently two deputy superintendents of police reached Shimla for investigation,” Bhandari said.“The Karnataka police came to know about Nityananda’s whereabouts through a mobile call he had made,” he added.“The accused might be taken back to Karnataka Thursday morning,” Bhandari added.More than five mobile phones were recovered from the possession of the five arrested people.Video footage telecast in early March showed Nityananda in bed with two women. He denied any wrongdoing and has not been seen in public since then.After the Karnataka High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, Nityananda had quit as head of his ashram, Dhyanapeetam, located about 35 km from Bangalore.In a related development, the Karnataka Crime Investigation Department (CID) has sought information from all those affected by Nityananda’s actions.
======================================================

Heatwave conditions prevail in Andhra Pradesh,

Hyderabad, Apr 21: Heatwave conditions prevailed over Adilabad and Mahabubnagar Districts of Telangana, with the highest maximum temperature of 44 degrees Celsius being recorded at Adilabad.The maximum temperatures rose at a few places over Rayalaseema, at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and changed little over Telangana. They were significantly above normal at a few places over remaining districts of Telangana and at one or two places over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema, the Met department said today. Isolated rain/thundershowers may occur over Rayalaseema while mainly dry weather would prevail over Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Maximum and Minimum temperatures in and around Hyderabad would be 42 and 28 Degrees Celsius respectively.
======================================================

Three govt officials convicted in ACB cases

Hyderabad, Apr 21: Special Judge for ACB Cases,Visakhapatnam, has sentenced Senior Assistant in the office of Vizianagaram District Educational Officer Manem Ramam to one-year rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rupees 1,000 for the offences under section 13(2) r/w 13(1)(d) of the P.C. Act, 1988.In case of default in payment of fine, the accused would have to undergo simple imprisonment for four months. The judge also ordered a six-month rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 500 and in default of payment of fine to suffer simple imprisonment for 2 months under section 7 of The P.C.Act, 1988. Both the sentences were ordered to run concurrently, a press release here said. Earlier, the accused was trapped by ACB officials on December 3, 2004 when he accepted bribe of Rs 8,000 from a Secondary Grade Teacher of Purryavalasa Village, Cheepurupalli Mandal,Vizianagaram District for regularization of the suspension period of the complainant. Meanwhile, the Special Judge for SPE and ACB Cases at Vijayawada sentenced Former Gorantla Village Panchayat Secretary K Subba Reddy and Village Sarpanch B.China Sivaiah to undergo simple imprisonment for one year and fine of Rs 2,000/- each u/s 13(1) r/w 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The judge also ordered simple imprisonment for six months and to pay a fine of Rs. 1,000/- each under section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Earlier, they were trapped by ACB officials on February 26, 2005 when they accepted bribe of Rs 7,000 from the complainant.
======================================================

Why is BJP silent on Reddy brothers, asks Congress

Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) a day after Shashi Tharoor resigned from the government over the IPL row, the Congress Monday quesioned the “eloquent silence” of the opposition party on the allegations of corruption against the Reddy brothers, mining barons who are ministers in the BJP government in Karnataka.“The cabinet ministers in the BJP-led government in Karnataka are creating headlines for the wrong reasons and continuing corrupt practices in the Bellary issue. News reports based on facts, figures and investigations say it is day-light robbery,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said here.He said BJP president Nitin Gadkari and senior leader L.K. Advani were maintaining “golden, eloquent silence” on the allegations against the Reddy brothers.Seeking to take a moral high ground on Tharoor’s resignation as minister of state for external affairs over allegations of corruption in allocation of sweat equity to his friend Sunanda Pushkar in the IPL Kochi franchise, Singhvi said the party had made no attempt to “avoid the issue or brush it under the carpet”.“There was no knee-jerk reaction. It was a considered and reasoned process… the Congress has not taken refuge in the adjudicatory judicial process,” he said.Asked if Tharoor’s resignation meant he was guilty, Singhvi said the decision to ask him to step down was taken based on prima facie view. He said the party had taken a larger view of the matter, and lauded the minister for submitting his resignation.Tharoor resigned Sunday after the Congress core group decided that he should not continue in office over allegations that he misused office to favour Pushkar.
=======================================================

Chief Minister orders reduction of power cut to small and medium industries

Hyderabad, Apr 20 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today directed the Energy Department and Power Utilities to immediately reduce the power cut for small and medium scale industries, including rice mills, keeping in view the marginal reduction in power demand in agriculture sector.

While reviewing the power supply position, in particular the gap between demand and supply with officials concerned, the Chief Minister emphasised the need to prevent hardships for the lakhs of industrial labour, particularly in small and medium scale industries.Recently as per the direction of the Chief Minister, the power utilities had reduced the power cuts from two to one-and-a half days to facilitate the industries.Mr Rosaiah had ordered further reduction of power cut from the present one-and-a half days to small and medium scale industries.Principal Secretary, Energy Department, Suthirtha Bhattacharya assured the Chief Minister that the direction would be implemented from today itself.The officials informed the Chief Minister that as far as Hyderabad Metropolitan city was concerned, the present peak demand of Greater Hyderabad was about 1,500 MW. As per the preliminary estimates, the planned demand of 5,000 MW upto 2019-20 in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority area includes industries loads projected by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation for their industrial clusters at Hardware park, Mamidipally and IT Special Economic Zones at Manikonda and Rayadurg.The Chief Minister directed the Energy department and AP Power Utilities to come out with future demand for power well in advance even for industrial sector.He also reviewed power supply position for the domestic sector, reiterated that special efforts should continue to ensure that there were no interruptions, whatsoever, from 1800 hours to 0600 hours for domestic category consumers so as to help the students who were still writing examinations.
======================================================

Chandrababu Naidu turns 60,

Hyderabad, April 20: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) activists Tuesday organised blood donation camps and fed the poor in several places across Andhra Pradesh to mark the 60th birthday of party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu.Apart from these programmes, Naidu spent some time at Krushi Street children's home in Medchal block of Ranga Reddy district near here. The former chief minister inquired about the facilities available to the street children and deposited Rs.10,000 for each of the orphans. Speaking on the occasion, Naidu said he wished to see in his lifetime a society free of poverty. Mild tension prevailed during Naidu's visit to Medchal as some pro-Telangana activists tried to stop his convoy, demanding that he take a clear stand on the Telangana issue. Naidu, who comes from Chittoor district in Rayalaseema region, has not taken a clear stand either in support of or against separate statehood to Telangana region but has allowed party leaders from the region to air their views in favour of a separate state. A large number of party leaders and activists, meanwhile, reached his residence in Jubilee Hills here to greet Naidu. He cut a cake to celebrate the occasion with his followers and well-wishers. Naidu's brother-in-law N. Harikrishna, N. Balakrishna and other members of TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao's family greeted him. Naidu, who served as the chief minister for nearly a decade (1995-2004), began his political career in the Congress party and served as a minister in early 1980s and married thespian N.T. Rama Rao's daughter. He later joined the TDP floated by his legendary father-in-law in 1982. Unhappy with the interference of NTR's second wife Lakshmi Parvathi in party and government affairs, Naidu unseated him from power in August 1995 and became the chief minister. NTR, who had accused Naidu of back-stabbing him, died in January 1996. Naidu later firmed up his position, and came to be known as the CEO of Andhra Pradesh for introducing reforms in administration and for his pro-industry image.
======================================================