Congress, MIM, TDP win MLC elections

Hyderabad, May 10 : Congress candidate M S Prabhakar Rao, and candidates of All India Majlis Ittehadul-E-Mulsimeen (AIMIM) S Aminul Hasan Jaffri and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) M Narender Reddy, were elected to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council from the Loal authorities constituencies of Hyderabad and adjoining Ranga Reddy districts respectively.In a triangular contest for the two seats in Hyderabad district, Congress candidate Prabhakar Rao polled 69 votes, MIM candidate Jaffri secured 59 votes, while TDP candidate Y Mallesam got only one vote. Two votes were rejected out of the total of 127 votes polled.In a straight contest in Ranga Reddy district, Telugu Desam Party candidate M Narender Reddy won the seat by 342 votes against his rival and Congress candidate Kasani Gyaneswar, who got 294 votes. Eight votes were rejected out of total 644 in the elections, which were held on May seven.
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Congress, MIM, TDP win seat each in legislative council

Hyderabad, May 10 : Andhra Pradesh's ruling Congress, its ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Monday won a seat each in the 90-member legislative council.

Congress and MIM candidates were elected in the state capital while TDP bagged the lone seat in neighbouring Ranga Reddy district. The result of the council polls for three seats were announced within couple of hours after the counting began Monday morning. The elections to three seats from Local Authorities Constituencies (LACs) were held on Friday. Congress' M.S. Prabhakar and MIM's Syed Aminul Hasan Jafri were elected in Hyderabad while Narendra Reddy of the TDP emerged victorious in Ranga Reddy district. The result in Hyderabad was a foregone conclusion given the majority Congress and MIM enjoyed in the local body and the poll boycott by the TDP. However, the result in Ranga Reddy came as a jolt to the Congress party as it had gone all out to woo voters, comprising members of zilla parishad and mandal parishad territorial committee members, corporators and councillors. TDP's Narendra Reddy was elected with a margin of 48 votes. TDP bagged 342 votes while Congress polled 294 votes. Eight votes were declared invalid. Out of 653 voters in Ranga Reddy, 644 had cast their votes. In Hyderabad, Congress polled 69 seats and MIM 55. Two votes were declared invalid. Out of the total 157 voters, 126 had exercised their franchise. In a last minute-decision, the TDP had boycotted the polls in Hyderabad making it almost an unopposed election of the Congress and MIM candidates. The TDP's was voicing its protest against election officials not allowing its corporator Raja Singh to cast his vote through postal ballot. Raja Singh, an accused in the recent communal riots in the city, is lodged in Chanchalguda jail. Soon after his victory, MIM candidate and senior journalist Jafri told reporters that he would do his best to solve the problems faced by the people of Hyderabad and its twin city Secunderabad.
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Alert sounded in Andhra coastal region

Hyderabad, May 9: The Andhra Pradesh government Sunday sounded an alert in the entire coastal region following a massive earthquake in Indonesia.People in areas along the coast were asked to vacate while fishermen were warned against venturing into the sea. The sea appeared rough in some areas with high waves and water coming in up to 100 metres in a few places. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who is on a visit to Guntur district, asked the collectors of all nine districts to alert the people. Chief Secretary S.V. Prasad informed the chief minister that there was no threat of a tsunami in the Bay of Bengal. After a review of the situation, the chief minister advised collectors to keep people alert without creating a scare. Officials said two to three metre-high tidal waves were likely along the shore. The sea appeared rough in the coastal regions of Visakhapatnam, West Godavari, Krishna, Nellore and Prakasam districts. In the port city of Visakhapatnam, civil and police authorities closed down the shops near the coast and advised tourists to stay away. Fishermen, who were already in the sea, have been asked to return home while others on the coast warned against venturing in, officials said. Control rooms have been opened in the offices of district collectors to monitor the situation. In Sriharikota in Nellore district, which houses the Indian Space Research Organisation's (ISRO) space research centre, Coast Guards were alerted. At least 13 mandals or blocks in Nellore district have been put on alert. At Narsapuram and Perupalem in West Godavari district, sea water was seen pouring in over 100 meter area, creating a tsunami scare among people. The situation was similar in some places in Prakasam district. Andhra Pradesh has a nearly 1,000 km-long coastline. The tsunami which struck the region in 2004 following a massive earthquake in Indonesia and other countries had claimed 100 lives and rendered hundreds homeless
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Telugu actor Navdeep arrested for drunken driving

Hyderabad, May 9: In true filmi style, young Telugu film actor P. Navdeep was early Sunday arrested for drunken and rash driving after a hot chase, police said.In a reversal of roles, the hero turned villain when he tried to give the slip to the police after spotting a police team checking vehicles for drunken driving in the posh Banjara Hills area in the early hours of the morning. The incident took place near the Indo-American Cancer Hospital when the actor, who was coming out from a club along with his friend, saw policemen checking vehicles and tried to speed away by driving on the wrong side. The policemen chased the vehicle and tracked it down some distance away. They arrested the actor and made him sit in an auto-rickshaw. As some cameramen tried to capture the scene, the actor behaved rudely with the police and the auto-driver, asking them to move fast. Navdeep had covered his face with the cap of a policeman. Navdeep was taken to the Banjara Hills police station where a case was filed against him for drunken and rash driving. A medical test was conducted on the actor at Gandhi Hospital and he would be produced before a magistrate. Talking to reporters Sunday morning, the actor admitted that he was drunk but claimed that the level of alcohol was within the permissible limits. "Driving on the wrong side is a small thing but it became a big issue due to the presence of the deputy commissioner of police," he said. Deputy Commissioner of Police Stephen Ravindra was leading the police team that was checking the vehicles.
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Purandeswari to launch project to supply eggs to anganwadis

Visakhapatnam, May 8 : Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development Daggubati Purandeswari will today inaugurate a project under the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) to distribute eggs to anganwadi centres in North coastal Andhra districts.

Visakhapatnam Layer Farmers Welfare Association(VLFW) has come forward to implement this scheme of providing the nutritious food to children and poor people who are members of anganwadi centres, National Egg Co-ordination Committee (NECC) Zonal Chairman K Vaharala Raju said in a press conference here yesterday.The Centre has decided to provide eight eggs per month to children between the age group of six months to six years and pregnant and lactating women, and Severely malnourished children.Mr Raju said the state government has given the opportunity to district level farmers' body to supply eggs to 3,394 anganwadi centres in the state, thereby generating employment for the people directly or indirectly in the scheme. He appealed to the state government to add boiled eggs to the menu in the Mid-day meal Scheme for school going children as it is a complete nutritious food which helps in their growth. Neighbouring states Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have successfully implemented this Scheme in the Mid-Day meals and getting excellent results, he added.
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Reliance gas row: AP's stand vindicated says CM

Hyderabad May 8 : Welcoming the Supreme Court verdict on the natural gas dispute between the Ambani brothers, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today urged the Centre to allocate a bigger share to the state while allocating gas from the Krishna-Godavari basin.He told reporters here that Andhra Pradesh's stand had been vindicated with the apex court ruling that the Union Government was the owner of natural gas till it reached consumers and the government was competent to fix the price of natural gas.The State had been asserting that it was the Centre which should have a say in allocation of natural gas and fixing of the price of natural gas, he said, adding no explorer could be allowed to take away gas indiscriminately. He expressed confidence that the Centre, while regulating supply and distribution of gas, would give more share to the State.
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Australian delegation assures CM of students safety

Hyderabad, May 7: Australian Trade Minister Simon Crean today assured Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah of the safety and security of Indian students, particularly those from the State.Mr Crean and his team had a meeting with the Chief Minister at Secretariat, an official release here tonight said. The Chief Minister, while discussing trade relations with the Australian Minister, expressed concern about the attack on Indian students in Australia. ''We do understand the anxiety of your government and the anguish of the parents of Indian students here. We underscore the safety of the Indian students. We will take all steps needed in this regard.Students exchange is also important,'' the Australian minister said.The Minister said police presence where the Indian students stay and study would be increased and the Australian Government would see that such incidents did not take place. The delegation also visited the ICRISAT, L V Prasad Eye Institute, Infotech and had meetings with CII in Hyderabad.The Australian Minister said Memorandum of Understanding between Australia and Andhra Pradesh could be signed in the areas of Agriculture, Water Management, Manufacturing and Service Industry, Educational Sector, Coal-based projects and IT among othes. Mr Crean opined Hyderabad was a dynamic city and had a 'wonderful modern' airport at Shamshabad and also Andhra Pradesh was a fast expanding State. The Chief Minister said Andhra Pradesh could take advantage of learning from Australian technologies like massive recycling of water, tapping of solar energy, coal plants. The delegation also included Mr Peter Varghese, Australian High Commissioner, Mr Deborah Stokes, First Asst Secretary, Mr Clinton Porteous, Senior Media Adviser and Ms Gitanjanli Nandan, First Secretary.
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Railways’ Tatkal Reservation Scheme

(PIB NEWS) Tatkal Scheme was initially introduced in December 1997 on a few trains by attaching additional coach and the same was defined in computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) as separate train by suffixing word “T” to the train number. The Tatkal Scheme was comprehensively reviewed in 2004 and revised Tatkal Scheme was introduced extending the same to Sleeper, Air-Conditioned Chair Car, AC-3 tier, AC-2 tier classes in all Mail/Express trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi Express trains by earmarking the following accommodation as Tatkal :AC-2 tier -4 berths per coach,AC-3 tier-6 berths per coach, AC Chair Car-6 seats per coach, Sleeper Class - 10 per cent of the accommodation or one coach whichever is less. The Tatkal coaches running in the trains were, however, included in the train service composition. Since the revised Tatkal Scheme was extended to all Mail/Express trains including Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Jan Shatabdi Express trains and in various classes, the availability of general accommodation got reduced to that extent. However, the Tatkal quota so earmarked was also available for the general passenger with the only difference of comparatively reduced Advance Reservation Period. Based on the demand pattern, the berths/seats under Tatkal Scheme were increased in phases on certain trains during the period from 2004-05 to 2008-09 resulting in increased percentage. Simultaneously, general reservation quota also increased during this period on account of introduction of new trains, increasing the frequency and augmenting the load of existing trains etc., which required investment in production of additional coaches. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways, Shri E. Ahamed in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.
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Political parties welcome death sentence to Kasab

Political leaders cutting across party lines Thursday welcomed the death penalty given to terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab for the 26/11 attack and said the Pakistani gunmen must be hanged as soon as possible.Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan welcomed the verdict and said: “I am thankful to the court for taking such a fast decision and that too in a transparent way. Thanks to (Special Prosecutor) Ujjwal Nikam, (police officer) Rakesh Maria, Deven Bharti and the entire team of Mumbai Police.”“Kasab must be hanged as soon as possible,” Chavan added.Deputy Chief Minister Chagan Bhujbal said Kasab’s “heinous crime warranted stricter punishment than capital punishment”.“But he has got what he deserved,” added Bhujbal.“The way Indian law and judicial system conducted this case was simply outstanding. The decision will be welcomed by all Indians and is a warning to India’s enemies,” said Bhujbal.
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Hang Kasab, Afzal Guru together: Togadia

Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Amir Kasab as well as Afzal Guru, a Kashmiri sentenced to death for the 2001 terrorist attack on the Indian parliament, should both be hanged, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Pravin Togadia said Thursday.Welcoming the death sentence given to Kasab by a court in Mumbai, Togadia said: “This is a welcome first step towards bringing Bharat’s culprits to proper justice.”He added: “So also, Afzal Guru has been playing with Indian democracy for long now. Mercy to such people is an insult to Indian democracy. Therefore both Kasab and Afzal Guru must be hanged together and immediately.”Afzal Guru has sought clemency after his death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court.Togadia also urged the Indian government to cut off diplomatic relations with Pakistan for its involvement in terrorist activities in India.
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Hang Kasab as soon as possible – is the popular sentiment

Now that Ajmal Amir Kasab has been awarded the death penalty he should be hanged soon, was the unanimous sentiment of people everywhere, especially in Mumbai where the 26/11 carnage took place, after the death sentence to the Pakistani terrorist was given Thursday.

In Mumbai, there were celebrations on the streets as people burst firecrackers and distributed sweets to express their joy on Kasab getting the death sentence, while in the national capital most people said the terrorist should be hanged without any delay.As soon as the judgement was given by the Special Court in Mumbai, people began distributing sweets, burst firecrackers and shouted in joy. Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive during the Mumbai terror attack, along with nine other terrorists held the country’s commercial capital to siege in November 2008, killing 166 people and injuring 244.Celebrations were also held outside Special Public Prosecutor Ujjawal’s Nikam hotel in the CST where firecrackers were burst along with the beating of drums. People gathered outside his hotel with garlands and bouquets to felicitate him for his feat.At the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, where Kasab and his associate Abu Ismail massacred over 50 people, many commuters lit a lamp in front of a memorial to the victims.“We are glad Kasab has been awarded the death sentence. It comes as a tribute to all those who lost their lives in the terror attacks at the CST,” said Anil Parmar, a daily commuter.Party workers of the Shiv Sena also burst firecrackers at various places to welcome the death penalty.Members of the National Institute of Jihad Against Atrocities and Terrorism (NIJAAT) distributed sweets to passers by near the Maratha Mandir in Mumbai Central, south Mumbai. “We are glad he has been sentenced to death,” said NIJAAT convenor Haji Hyder Azam.In Mumbai and in New Delhi most people sought immediate execution of the death sentence, with some even saying he should be shot by a firing squad in public.In the western suburbs of Mumbai, people celebrated by distributing sweets to passers by. “This is our way to welcome Kasab’s death sentence. We just hope his execution also takes place soon,” said Ameya S. from suburban Goregaon.Fauzan Umar, 23, a resident of Darya Ganj in the old quarters of Delhi, said that Kasab should have been hanged 17 months ago. “Why have we waited for so long,” said the student who is pursuing software engineering.Speaking in the same vein, Umar added the judgement showed that “justice has been done to those people who had died in the Mumbai massacre. This shows our judicial system is still effective and credible.”Simmy Hasija, 21, demanded that both Kasab and Afzal Guru, sentenced to death in the December 2001 attack on the Indian Parliament, be hanged together as “both are cold blooded murderers”.“He (Kasab) should be hanged immediately. No punishment can ever suffice his actions. Even after killing so many people he used to shamelessly smile in the court. Moreover, crores of taxpayers money has been spent on his security. It’s high time that we should put an end to this nonsense,” Hasija said.Kriti Mehra, a HR trainee with a private company, said she hoped that Kasab’s appeals in various courts should not become a way to give him more time to live.“He may appeal in a higher court which will again take many more years. People of India will be satisfied the day he is hanged,” he added.

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Family of Indian student killed in US car crash shocked

Hyderabad, May 7: A pall of gloom has descended on the residence of Praneetha Devi Kasani, an MS student who was killed in a car accident in West Virginia in the US.The family of the 22-year-old student is in a state of shock after learning that she died while driving back home to Ohio from West Virginia. Five others accompanying her were also injured in the crash that occurred Thursday morning. Puneeth Reddy Amarella, who was driving, reportedly lost control of his car and crashed it into another vehicle. Praneetha's father Ramarao Kasani, who works as a circle inspector of police in Falaknuma traffic police station here, was inconsolable. He could not believe that his daughter, who had gone to the US only six months ago, was no more. Dozens of relatives and family friends reached his house in Karman Ghat neighbourhood to console Praneetha's parents and her sister. Family members said Praneetha had gone to the US in December last year after completing her B.Tech here. She had enrolled for MS Electrical Engineering at Wright State University, Ohio. Family members of Praneetha said they hoped that the body would be flown home by next Tuesday.
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AP govt withhelds retirement benefits of corrupt official

Hyderabad, May 7 : The Andhra Pradesh government has withheld pension and gratuity in full of a Mandal Education Officer in Athmakur in Nalgonda district and dismissed from service a Mandal Revenue Inspector following conviction in graft cases.The Mandal Education officer, Mohamed Shamshad Ali, was sentenced to one year rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,500 and in default six months simple imprisonment each by the Additional Special Judge for SPE and ACB cases here. The officer was trapped by the officials of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on April 18, 2002 when he demanded and accepted a bribe of Rs 3,000 from the complainant, for doing an official favour in signing on the Group Insurance Claim file of the father of the complainant who retired as Primary School Head Master from Chada. In another case, A Kasiram, Additional Mandal Revenue Inspector, formerly of Hayatnagar Mandal, Ranga Reddy District was dismissed from service following his conviction in ACB trap case, a release said here.
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Mass marriage for poor Sikh youths

Hyderabad, May 7 : The Prabhandak Committee of Gurudwara Saheb Barambala will perform 'Samuhik Vivaha' (Mass marriages), free of cost for economically poor Sikh youths on May 8 and 9.''Sagai'' for brides and bridegrooms will be performed on May 8, at 1100 hrs and 1900 hrs, followed by ''Lawan Phere'' (solemnising of marriage) at 1130 hrs on May 9, at Gurudwara Saheb Barambala, Sikh Chawniat, Maharaja Ranjeet Singh Nagar, Kishanbagh here, a Prabhandak Committee release said here today.Committee President S Harbans Singh said only Gurmukh and Amrit Dhari Sikhs would be allowed for marriages.
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BJP wants separation of NPR from census

Hyderabad, May 7 : Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and MP M.Venkaiah Naidu today urged the Centre to seperate of the ongoing census survey from the process of collecting information for compiling National Population Register to 'prevent infiltrators from across the border getting into NPR and claim citizenship later.' Addressing a press conference here, he said 'there is every scope for individuals from other countries entering the NPR by declaring themselves as Indian national.' 'The provision for self-declaration is very dangerous,' he said.It was unfortunate that the Centre had put the onus on a complainant to prove that a particular person is not an Indian national, he said and feared that indigenous people would become minority in their own country if this was allowed.He contended that infiltrators from across the border in a systematic manner first get their names enrolled in ration cards and voters list in the country before getting citizenship.The then Home Minister Inderjit Gupta had told Parliament that there were one crore infilitrators living in the country, he said, adding their number would have now increased several folds.
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Ensure speedy execution of Kasab, Venkaiah urges Centre

Hyderabad, May 7 : Criticising the Centre for the 'prolonged' delay in execution of death sentence awarded to Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Senior BJP leader and MP M Venkaiah Naidu today urged the Centre to ensure speedy execution of Pakistani gunman Ajmal Kasab sentenced to death by a special court in Mumbai.Expressing happiness over the judiciary awarding punishment to Kasab quickly and in a transparent manner yesterday, he told a press conference here that ''Kasab deserves no mercy. Political leadership should not come in the way of hanging Kasab.'' In the case of Afzal Guru, more than six years has lapsed, he noted.President Pratibha Patel was bound by advice of the Union Cabinet and it should expedite execution of the death sentence, he said, adding that it was unfortunate that religious colour was being given even to terrorist strikes.
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Biennial Election to the Council of States from the State of Andhra Pradesh

(PIB NEWS) The term of office of 6 (six) members of the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) elected from the State of Andhra Pradesh, is due to expire on their retirement as detailed below :-Name of Member,Date of retirement,and Party affiliation ,

1)Shri Girish Sangi, 21.06.2010 INC
2)Shri Jesudasu Seelam, 21.06.2010- INC
3)Shri Jairam Ramesh, 21.06.2010- INC
4)Shri Penumalli Madhu, 21.06.2010 -CPI(M)
5)Dr. N.Janardhana Reddy, 21.06.2010- INC
6)Shri V.Hanumanta Rao, 21.06.2010 -INC
2. The Commission has decided to hold the biennial election to the Council of States from the State of Andhra Pradesh in accordance with the following programme:-.
Issue of Notifications 28th May, 2010 (Friday) Last date of making nominations 04th June. 2010 (Friday) Scrutiny of nominations 05th June, 2010 (Saturday) Last date for withdrawal of candidatures 07th June, 2010 (Monday) Date of poll 14th June, 2010 (Monday) Hours of poll 9.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M Counting of Votes14th June, 2010 (Monday) at 5.00 PM Date before which election shall be completed.17th June, 2010 (Thursday)
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Smt. Ambika Soni Condles Death of TV Reporter Ajay Tiwari

(PIB NEWS) The Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Smt. Ambika Soni has condoled the tragic demise of Shri Ajay Tiwari who died while covering a major fire in the capital yesterday.In her message Smt. Soni said that in Shri Tiwari’s death Indian journalism has lost promising talent. Shri Tiwari died in the line of his duty maintaining the highest tradition of television journalism, the Minister added.
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Political pressure will not work on me, says Srikrishna

Hyderabad, May 6 : Justice B.N. Srikrishna, who heads a five-member panel formed by the central government to look into the demand for a Telangana state, Thursday said political pressure will not work on him.The former Supreme Court judge, who was here along with other members the panel for consultations with various socio-cultural groups, said this when a reporter asked him if he was under any political pressure. "In all my life nobody including my parents, let alone politicians, dared to pressure me," Srikrishna said. His remarks assume significance in the context of the civil war threat by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and comments by some political leaders that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government would force the committee to give a report of its liking. TRS has warned that there would be civil war if a Telangana state was not carved out after the Srikrishna committee submits its report. The retired judge said the panel would hear the views of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) and Muslim League May 10, 11 and 12. The committee, which has heard the views of TRS, two Left parties and Praja Rajyam Party will hold consultations with the ruling Congress party May 17 and 18. He said Congress leaders from both Andhra and Telangana regions would appear before the committee to submit their arguments. The committee Thursday heard the views of socio-cultural organisations from both Andhra and Telangana regions. On the first day of their two-day visit, the committee heard the arguments by Andhra Intellectuals Forum against state's bifurcation. It also met representatives of Telangana Jagruti and Telangana Writers Association demanding a separate state.
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Child born with heart outside body dies

Hyderabad, May 6 : A child born with his heart outside his body in Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district died at a hospital here Thursday, less than 24 hours after birth.The baby boy whose heart was atop his chest died a few hours after he was shifted to Care Hospital here for corrective surgery. Doctors said the child born with Ectopia Cordis, a condition where the heart develops outside the body. A team of doctors was preparing for the corrective surgery when he succumbed to his rare condition. The doctors said the child was brought in a critical condition from Kadapa district, about 400 km from here. He was born Wednesday and was examined at Proddatur Government Hospital before being shifted to Hyderabad. According to doctors one in 200,000 children are born with Ectopia Cordis due to genetic disorders but the diagnosis during pregnancy can help in treatment.
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