Disperse crowds in Kashmir but banish the bullet, say experts

Aug,03, Can Kashmir find its way out of the vicious cycle of protests and police firings that has seen 36 civilians being killed in six weeks? Yes, say outraged experts and rights activists who wonder why security forces haven’t used non-lethal methods like rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse protesters in the valley. A milder response by security forces and the use of internationally accepted ways of dispersing crowds would have reduced civilian killings and helped rein in tensions that have once again put Kashmir in the international spotlight is the widely held view.“I do not think at any occasion in recent times has firing by security forces been warranted,” said E.N.Rammohan, former Border Security Forces (BSF) chief and head of the commission that probed the Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada region in April.“Kashmir needs better policing not repeated firing. An effective lathi-charge, teargas shelling or the use of water cannons could have been better than the bullet firings.”Rammohan, who had worked in Kashmir during the peak of militancy in the mid 1990s, added: “If you abide by international practices, the administration is supposed to deploy baton squads with shields to tackle rioting mobs or stone-pelting protesters.“Firing is not permitted unless security forces are fired upon or their lives are endangered. Even if you fire, it should be at the legs, not above the chest.”Of the 36 people, most of them teenagers and youths, killed during protests since June 11, 29 died in police firing. Four of them Monday.“Police, paramilitary forces and the army have to evolve a new strategy to avoid excessses while dealing with protests,” said Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Saifuddin Soz. “The aim should be not to kill while controlling mob protests,” Soz said.Stressing the use of water cannons and bullets, he said security forces should be given refresher courses how to deal with street protests and stone-pelters.Human rights organisations have also criticised the “excess use of force” by security personnel in Kashmir.“It is clear security forces are not at all equipped to deal with crowd control. If law enforcement agencies start firing on the protesters, it will ignite more anger amongst the people. It will build a momentum for another round of protests and violence,” Suhas Chakma, director of the Asian Centre for Human Rights,Security agencies, he said, should use rubber bullets instead of live bullets. The criminal procedure code (CrPC) and the UN code of conduct prohibits security personnel from shooting any protester above the waist, Chakma pointed out.“People will protest in a democracy. These protests can take place in any other city of India. But that doesn’t mean that security forces should use live bullets to contain the crowd.”Adding to the chorus of protest, Gautam Kaul, former director general of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), said the formation of peace committees comprising prominent citizens, social activists and community leaders was the need of the hour.He was critical of the methodology of the police action in Kashmir. “I do not see any riot drill undertaken by the police. Instead, there is a formation of uniformed uniformed groups, engaged loosely,” Kaul, himself a Kashmiri, added.Forget about bullets, even rubber bullets should not be fired at close range, he said.Muhammed Yusuf Tarigami, legislator and state secretary of the Communist Party of India-Marxist, told “coordinated panels of the police and the security forces” should be formed at all levels so that the bloodshed is stopped.“They are not the traditional AK-47 wielding militants. But a new group of stone-pelting youngsters. With the media spreading its network, forces should know that the entire world is watching what they do,” Tarigami said.
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Bombay High Court postpones Kasab matter till Aug 12

Aug,03, The Bombay High Court Monday deferred till Aug 12 the proceedings related to confirming the death penalty awarded to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab by a trial court for the 2008 Mumbai attack.The death sentence was awarded to Kasab by a special court here May 6 after a marathon trial of nearly 11 months. A division bench comprising Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Vijaya Tahilramani adjourned the matter after public prosecutor Pandurang Pol informed the court that the state government would file its appeal within a week challenging the acquittal of Fahim Ansari and Sabahuddin Shaikh, co-accused in the terror attack case.The duo was acquitted after Special Judge M.L. Tahaliyani granted them benefit of doubt over their role as co-accused in the terror attack in November 2008 which left 166 dead and nearly 300 injured.The special court forwarded its verdict to the Bombay High Court for confirmation of the death penalty awarded to Kasab, who was not produced in high court Monday for security reasons.Eminent lawyer Ujjwal Nikam, who was the special public prosecutor in the trial Court, has been appointed a special counsel for appearing in the matter in high court.
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Andhra's interests not compromised on Babhali: Rosaiah

Hyderabad, Aug 3: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K.Rosaiah Tuesday denied that he compromised the interests of the state on the Babhali barrage dispute during a meeting with his Maharashtra counterpart in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.Addressing a news conference here Tuesday evening, he said Andhra Pradesh would continue to pursue the contempt of court case filed in the Supreme Court against Maharashtra for not abiding by its interim order. "At the same time the two states will continue their efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution to the problem," Rosaiah said. The chief minister said it was the opinion of the central government that both the states should abide by the Supreme Court order on the dispute. He said the central government had also directed the Maharashtra government to clarify Andhra Pradesh's doubts on 13 other projects being built by it across Godavari river. Rosaiah denied the allegation by Leader of Opposition N. Chandrababu Naidu that he compromised the state's interests during the meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and the prime minister in New Delhi Monday. He, however, declined to reveal details of the meeting, saying it was not proper to do so. Rosaiah said the prime minister directed Union Minister for Water Resources Pawan Kumar Bansal to hold a meeting with ministers and officials of the two states to follow-up on the meeting held Monday. Earlier, Naidu told reporters that Rosaiah compromised the state's interests during the meeting to save his "chair". He pointed out that Maharashtra had already violated the Supreme Court's interim order in the case by going ahead with the Babhali barrage across the Godavari. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, who along with other party leaders was arrested by Maharashtra police recently for marching towards Babhali, wanted Rosaiah to reveal the details of the meeting. "Will Maharashtra stop the construction of 13 other illegal projects being built by it. Has Mr.Rosaiah raised this issue in the meeting and what was the response of Maharashtra and the prime minister?" asked Naidu. Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) chief K.Chiranjeevi also said the meeting was not satisfactory. He too urged Rosaiah to call an all-party meeting and reveal the details of his discussions in Delhi. Andhra Pradesh argues that Babhali dam will deprive the state of its rightful share of Godavari waters.
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Paper leak: Bail plea of railway official rejected

Hyderabad, Aug 3 : A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here Tuesday dismissed the bail petition of suspended chairman of railway recruitment board (RRB), Mumbai, M. Sharma in the examination paper leak case.This is the second time that Sharma's bail petition has been dismissed by the court since his arrest in the case in June. The CBI opposed Sharma's bail plea on the ground that this would hamper the investigations into the case. Sharma, his son Vivek Bharadwaj and senior railway officials A.K. Jagannathan and G. Sethi, are lodged at Chanchalguda central jail here. The court June 24 sent Sharma and Sethi, senior divisional personnel officer, Raipur, to judicial custody. The other accused include Jagannathan,a former additional divisional railways manager, Raipur, and his son Srujan. The federal investigating agency had unearthed the racket, involving railway officials and agents. They allegedly charged nearly Rs.3.5 lakh from each candidate for recruitment tests for the posts of assistant locomotive pilots and assistant station masters held early June. Investigations have revealed that at least 444 candidates were supplied question papers. Sharma, Bhardwaj and their accomplices are believed to have pocketed over Rs.15.5 crore through these deals.
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CPI(M) Central Committee meeting from Aug 7

Vijayawada, Aug 2 : The four-day extended Central Committee meeting of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) will be held here from August 7, its Politburo Member B V Raghavulu said today.Addressing a press conference here, he said party National General Secretary Prakash Karat would inaugurate the conference to be held at Tummalapallivari Kshetraya Kalashektram.He said 376 delegates including Chief Ministers of CPI(M) ruled states--West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, 15 politburo members and national and state leaders would take part in the meeting. Mr Raghavulu said the meeting was being held ahead of the party's National 'Mahasabha' to be convened next year. However, the 'Mahasabha', to be held every three years, was postponed due to Assembly elections in West Bengal, Kerala and Assam likely to be held in September 2011, he added.He said on the last day of the meeting there would be a huge public meeting at PWD grounds in which all the left-ruled Chief Ministers, Mr Karat and other leaders would address the gathering.Mr Raghavulu, who is also party's Andhra Pradesh unit Secretary, said the deliberations included reviewing of economic and political situation in the country.Political resolutions would be adopted in the conference so that all could work towards it, he added.
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Newly-elected TRS legislators take oath

Hyderabad,Aug 2: Eleven legislators of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), who were elected in the by-polls last week, Monday took oath as members of the Andhra Pradesh assembly.Assembly Speaker N.Kirankumar Reddy administered them the oath in the assembly premises. Earlier, the legislators paid tributes to 'martyrs' of Telangana at Gun Park in front of the assembly building. E.Rajender, who was re-elected as the party's floor leader in the assembly, his deputy T.Harish Rao and others raised slogans of "Jai Telangana" before entering the assembly. Rajender told reporters that their massive win has proved beyond doubt that the goal of achieving a separate Telangana state is not far away. All the legislators had quit in February this year demanding separate statehood to Telangana. All 10 legislators of TRS and one each of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) had resigned to protest what they called the central government going back on its Dec 9 statement to initiate the process for formation of Telangana state. All the legislators, who had quit, were re-elected with huge majority. Ch. Ramesh, who quit TDP after he resigned from the assembly, was re-elected on the TRS ticket.
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Mathew championed highest traditions of Indian journalism: PM

Aug,02, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday condoled the death of Malayala Manorama chief editor K.M. Mathew, saying that the country had “lost a true champion of the highest traditions of Indian journalism”.

In a message to his son Mammen Mathew, the prime minister spoke of K.M. Mathew’s commitment to the cause of excellence in journalism and his contributions to promoting the freedom of the press.“I was deeply grieved to learn of the sad demise of your father Shri Kandathil Mammen Mathew. Shri K.M. Mathew was a leading light of the Indian press fraternity and played a key role in making Malayala Manorama one of the major dailies in the country after he became its Chief Editor in 1973,” he said in his message.He noted that Mathew was was honoured with the Padma Bhushan for his commitment to the cause of excellence in journalism and his contributions to promoting the freedom of the press. ““He had distinguished tenures as chairman of the Press Trust of India, president of the Newspaper Society of India (Indian Newspaper Society), and as member of the Press Council of India. In his death the country, particularly the state of Kerala, has lost a true champion of the highest traditions of Indian journalism.”
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Curfew continues in Srinagar after violence

Aug,01,Curfew continued in summer capital Sunday after two days of violence in which six people were killed in firing by security forces. Separatists have called for a shutdown across the Kashmir Valley to protest the killings, prolonging the “difficult times” for residents.Police vehicles fitted with loudspeakers made repeated announcements in both the Old City and uptown areas, urging people to remain indoors as curfew was imposed in the city for the second consecutive day.“Police vehicles made curfew announcements outside my home and said nobody must venture outside as an indefinite curfew was in place.“Restrictions and curfew have become a daily routine here. And on days when there are no restrictions, the separatists call shutdowns,” said a resident of Old City area who did not want to be named.“My daughter is doing her MBBS in the local medical college and her exam has again been postponed now. These are very difficult times,” he added. Authorities here say curfew is a preventive measure resorted to under extreme conditions given the overall law and order situation.“Nobody would like to inconvenience the common man unless it becomes unavoidable. The separatists call for protests, marches and shutdowns and their basic aim is to incite youth to violence even when they say the protests would be peaceful.“We are yet to see the so-called peaceful separatist protests,” a senior police officer said here.Reports here said the Jammu-Srinagar highway was blocked by unruly mobs at various places in south Kashmir by felling trees and laying them across the highway.Times have really become very difficult for the common Kashmiri as normal life has been thrown completely out of gear for the last 55 days. Reports from other towns of the Valley said curfew was being imposed there as well. Separatists have called for a Valley-wide shutdown against the recent killings of civilians in firing by security forces.Six protesters were killed in the last two days in different violent protests across Kashmir. Over 80 people, including protesters and security personnel, have been injured in the violence. Eight of them are said to be battling for life.Hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani, who was released here Saturday, told the authorities that he would not obey the release orders as he was being released on parole, sources said.“Geelani Sahib told officials that if they wanted to release him they must revoke the Public Safety Act (PSA) order against him,” a source close to the separatist leader said here.The valley has been virtually paralysed due to violent protests against civilians being killed in firing by security forces since June 11.
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Deadline for minority scholarship application extended

Hyderabad, Jul 31 : The Andhra Pradesh State Minorities Finance Corporation Ltd (APSMFCL) today announced the extension of last date for online submission of Government of India Scholarship applications till August ten.In a statement, the APSMFCL Vice-Chairman and Managing Director said Minorities Welfare Minister Mohd Ahmadulla considered to extend the deadline after receiving representation from parents of Minority students.Minority students who have already registered their applications online are requested to submit the applications to the office of the Executive Director, APSMFC, of the district concerned on or before August 6, 2010 without fail.Those who have not registered online so far are requested to register their application and submit applications to the office of the Executive Director on or before August 10, 2010.
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ISNA Welcomes Statement from the National Association of Evangelicals Against Qur'an Burning

USA(Deccan Samachar Service DSS) July 29, 2010) ISNA applauds statements released by the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) that denounces the planned burning of Qur'ans on September 11th by a Floridian group. ISNA President, Dr. Ingrid Mattson states, "We live in a time when all people of faiths must be committed to mutual understanding and reconciliation, for there is no doubt that some people from each of our traditions are using the power of religion to foster hatred and discord. I applaud the ethical leadership of the NAE in issuing this statement. We should never blame all Christians, evangelical or otherwise, for the actions of an individual pastor and his congregation." According to the press release, the National Association of Evangelicals states that it encourages increased understanding and reconciliation between those of different faiths and backgrounds, and it laments efforts that work against a just and peaceful society. "The plans recently announced by a Florida group to burn copies of the Qu'ran on September 11 show disrespect for our Muslim neighbors and would exacerbate tensions between Christians and Muslims throughout the world. The NAE urges the cancellation of the burning." NAE President Leith Anderson said, "The most powerful statement by the organizers of the planned September 11th bonfire would be to call it off in the name and love of Jesus Christ."In 1996 the NAE addressed religious persecution saying that "If people are to fulfill the obligations of conscience, history teaches the urgent need to foster respect and protection for the right of all persons to practice their faith." [1] In the same resolution, the NAE pledged to "address religious persecution carried out by our Christian brothers and sisters whenever this occurs around the world." The NAE calls on its members to cultivate relationships of trust and respect with our neighbors of other faiths. God created human beings in his image, and therefore all should be treated with dignity and respect. The proposed burning of Qu'rans, it said, would be profoundly offensive to Muslims worldwide, just as Christians would be insulted by the burning of Bibles. Such an act would escalate tensions between members of the two faiths in the United States and around the world. "We have to recognize that fighting fire with fire only builds a bigger fire," said Joel Hunter, Senior Pastor of Northland, A Church Distributed, in Orlando, Fla., and member of the NAE Board of Directors. "Love is the water that will eventually quench the destruction."[1] National Association of Evangelicals, Worldwide Religious Persecution 1996. See http://www.nae.net/government-affairs/policy-resolutions/413-worldwide-religious-persecution-1996
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TRS chief demands separate statehood after massive poll win

Hyderabad, July 31 : Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao has said the party's victory in by-elections in the Telangana region nothing less than a referendum for the creation of a separate state, and asked the Centre to take immediate steps in this regard,"I humbly appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi that please deliver Telangana state without any further loss of time. The time has come; the time has ripened. This verdict is nothing less than a referendum," he told reporters here on Friday.He also urged the Justice B N Srikrishna Committee, constituted by the Central Government to go into the Telangana statehood issue and submit its report quickly."In the meantime, the Congress should prepare for delivering Telangana after December 31. They should come forward. They should ask the Justice Srikrishna (Commission) to expedite, expedite proceeding and submit the report immediately in the view of bye election results," he said.The TRS won eleven seats while its new political ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won one seat.The polls to the 12 seats were held in the wake of resignations of provincial lawmakers over the issue.Pro-Telangana activists have been agitating since December 23 after the Central Government deferred its promise to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.The agitations have resulted in series of violent incidents in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, as well as some other parts of the state.
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HMDA makes new zonal office for building layout approvals

Hyderabad, Jul 31 : The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has established a zonal office at Medchal to provide better public facilities regarding building layout approvals of people covering nine revenue mandals.According to a release here yesterday, these revenue mandals are Medchal, Shameerpet, Quthbullapur of R R Dist and Jinnaram, Narsapur, Toopran, Shivampet, Mulugu and Wargal of Medak Dist.HMDA has also held a first co-ordination meeting in connection with layout approvals of buildings with the officials of Gram Panchayats falling under Medchal Mandal on July 30, the release said.In the meeting, officials explained the role of Gram Panchayats in respect to giving permission of building construction as well as enforcement action against the unauthorised constructions. With regard to approval of non-residential buildings, HMDA will technically approve the building plans and forward the same to local body for final release. The applications of said category and residential buildings above ground plus two upper floors shall be directly submitted to zonal office HMDA for necessary approval, the release added.
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Student commits suicide for Telangana, Osmania University tense

Hyderabad, July 31 : Osmania University here was tense Saturday as yet another student committed suicide in the campus, demanding the formation of separate Telangana state.The charred body of Ishan Reddy, an engineering student, was found near the university library. In his hand-written suicide note found near the body, the student said he was fulfilling his "wish" as all 12 legislators, who had resigned for the cause of Telangana, were re-elected. "I wished before Maisamma (deity) that I will sacrifice my life if D. Srinivas and other Congress candidates are defeated in the elections and now that they are defeated I am fulfilling my wish," he said. Andhra Pradesh state Congress chief D. Srinivas and other Congress candidates were defeated in the by-elections in the region. Ishan congratulated the people of Telangana and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao for ensuring the re-election of 12 legislators. Ishan, who hailed from Medak district, also wanted that Congress and TDP leaders like D. Srinivas, Jana Reddy, Damodar Reddy, Sridhar Babu, K. Venkat Reddy, Kadiam Srihari, E. Dayakar Rao and N. Janardhan Reddy be declared "traitors" of Telangana and hanged publicly. Tension prevailed on the campus as the students were resisting police attempts to shift the body to the mortuary. Ishan Reddy, in his suicide note, expressed his wish that autopsy should not be conducted on his body. He also wanted his body to be taken in a procession from the university to Telangana martyrs' memorial near the assembly. Ishan Reddy completed his B Tech from St. Ann's Institute of Technology and was undergoing coaching for GRE TOEFL exams. He is the fourth student to commit suicide on the Osmania University campus this year. In March, Sai Kumar, a second year B Tech student of Osmania University, had ended his life by hanging in his hostel room as he was upset over the delay in formation of a separate state. On Feb 20, a Class 12 student had immolated himself at the main entrance of Osmania University in full public view during a protest by university students. In January, a MCA student had self-immolated on the campus. Parties fighting for a separate Telangana claim that over 300 students and youth have committed suicide in the region since protests began in November last year.
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TRS scores historic victory in Telangana by-polls

Hyderabad, July 31 : The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), which won all 11 seats it contested in the Telangana by-elections, made history with its massive victory margins.Riding on the popular Telangana sentiment, the party not only retained all 10 seats it won in the 2009 elections but also wrested one from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). TRS had not fielded its candidate in Nizamabad Urban where BJP's A. Lakshminarayana once again defeated state Congress chief D.Srinivas. Its candidates, who won last elections with a few hundreds votes, retained the seats by a bumper majority. The victory margin in most of the constituencies was anywhere between 60,000 to 95,000. Political pundits say a candidate polling 70 to 85 percent of votes in assembly elections is unprecedented. The TRS performance reminds one of the massive victory of the Telangana Praja Samiti (TPS) in the 1971 Lok Sabha elections. Fighting on the similar slogan, TPS had bagged 10 out of 14 seats it contested in Telangana. But even the TPS had polled 50 to 65 percent of votes. The performance of TRS this time has been so strong that the ruling Congress finished a poor second while TDP candidates lost security deposit as they failed to get the minimum of one-sixth of the total votes polled in their respective constituencies. TRS leader T. Harish Rao registered a record victory with a margin of 95,858 votes in Siddipet, polling 82 percent of votes. His nearest rival of the Congress could get only 12,921. Both Congress and TDP forfeited their deposits. The second highest margin of victory for TRS was in Huzurabad where its former leader in assembly E. Rajender retained the seat with a majority of 79,227 votes. The margin was 78,047 in Manchiryal constituency. ballot papers were used for Tuesday's polling in five constituencies, the results were announced after Friday midnight. TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao's son K.Tarakarama Rao, who won last election with a margin of 171 in Sircilla, this time defeated his rival by 67,997 votes. In Warangal West, D. Vinaybhaskar was re-elected with a majority of 67,809 votes. Former minister and Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir was defeated in Yellareddy by TRS candidate A. Ravinder Reddy by 37,535 votes. TRS also retained Korutla seat with a victory margin of 56,525 votes. The Congress could put up some face-saving performance only in Nizamabad where the BJP candidate's victory margin was only 11,981 votes. It also gave a good fight to TRS in Sirpur. In its worst ever performance, TDP lost security deposits in all constituencies. The by-elections were necessitated by the resignation of all 10 legislators of the TRS and one each of the BJP and the TDP on the issue of a separate Telangana state in February.
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Trains partially cancelled/diverted due to breaches

Hyderabad, Jul 30 : The South Central Railway (SCR) today partially cancelled/diverted some trains due to breaches on track caused by rain water between Kinwat-Ambari-Kosai Stations on Mudkhed-Adilabad section of Nanded Division.According to a press release here, Train No 7406 Adilabad - Tirupati Express, scheduled to leave today, has been partially cancelled between Adilabad and Nizamabad. Train No 7405 Tirupati-Adilabad Express, which left Tirupati today, will be terminated at Nizamabad and the same train will run as Train No 7406A to Tirupati leaving Nizamabad at 0215 hrs tomorrow.Train No 551 Purna-Adilabad Passenger, scheduled to leave Purna at 1745 hrs today, will be terminated at Kinwat and will be partially cancelled between Kinwat and Adilabad and will return as Train No 554/A from Kinwat to Parli tomorrow. Train No 7610 Purna-Patna Express, scheduled to leave Purna today, has been diverted to run via Akola and Bhusaval. Train No 1045 Chathrapathi Sivaji Maharaj (Terminus) Kolhapur - Dhanbad Express, which is on run, has been diverted to run via Manmad, Bhusaval, Nagpur to Dhanbad.
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Statehood wind blows through Telangana, TRS sweeps bypolls

Hyderabad, Jul 30: Sailing on the separate Telangana sentiment blowing across the region, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was poised tonight to make a clean sweep of all the 11 Andhra Pradesh Assembly seats it contested in the July 27 by-elections while its ally, the BJP, had won the lone seat it had vacated along with the TRS candidates.TRS-BJP combine had swept all the seven seats for which results have been declared so far and is leading in five constituencies for which counting of ballot votes was in progress.Hopes of Pradesh Congress President D Srinivas to make a comeback to the State Assembly were dashed when he was defeated by BJP candidate Lakshminarayana from the Nizamabad Urban Seat.This is Mr Lakshminarayana's second victory over the PCC President within 14 months. The results leave Mr Srinivas, who had hoped to become the Deputy CM if he won, in political wilderness once again.Mr Lakshminarayana led Mr Srinivas by about 20,000 votes at the end of 11th round of counting.The first result to be declared in the morning was that of the Siddipet Constituency which TRS Candidate Harish Rao won with a record majority of 95,858 votes. The result left his opponents -- Congress, TDP and Independents, --forfeiting their security deposits.TRS Candidates Gaddam Aravind Reddy won from Mancherial, Kaveti Sammaiah from Sirpur, Harish Rao from Siddipet, Koppula Eshwar from Dharmapuri, Nallala Odelu from Chennur and Chennamaneni Ramesh from Vemulawada, while the BJP's Lakshminarayana retained his seat from Nizamabad Urban Constituency.TRS retained all the seats it had vacated to press for the formation of separate Telangana State.Mr Harish Rao, a former AP Minister, entered the record books by capturing the Siddipet Assembly Constituency by a margin of 95,858 votes, the highest in an election to the state Assembly.
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TRS win 11 seats in Andhra by-polls

Hyderabad, July 30 : The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) on Friday won eleven seats in the Telangana by-elections, while its new political ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won one seat.Both the Congress and the Telegu Desam Party (TDP) drew a blank in the by-elections to 12 assembly seats caused by the resignations over the Telangana issue.The entire counting process was being videographed and a media and data centre were set up at every counting center for quick information.State Congress president D Srinivas and TRS president K.Chandrasekhar Rao's son K T Rama Rao were among the prominent candidates in the fray.
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Delete 'newly added facts' in paternity suit: Tiwari

July 30 : Former Andhra Pradesh governor N.D. Tiwari Friday asked the Delhi High Court to direct the person claiming to be his biological son delete the newly added facts in the paternity suit.

Tiwari, represented by his counsel Chetan Sharma, raised objections to the additional facts incorporated by Rohit Shekhar in his fresh paternity suit. He said that Rohit should have sought the court's permission to amend the suit with the new fact that he had tried to meet Tiwari at an airport in 2005.
"The court did not grant permission to him to file a fresh petition after incorporating the new facts into the suit," Tiwari's counsel said referring to the March 2008 order of the court. Rohit, in the fresh lawsuit, alleged his request to meet Tiwari was deliberately turned down. Meanwhile, he also moved an application to direct Tiwari for a DNA test to determine the parentage. The court fixed Aug 13 for the next hearing of the case. The apex court had on May 10 dismissed the appeal filed by Tiwari challenging the high court's decision to adjudicate the paternity suit. Rohit claimed he was born out of a relationship between his mother Ujjwala Sharma and Tiwari, a charge denied by the 84-year-old Congress leader. Tiwari had earlier refused to undergo DNA test and denied ever having any physical relationship with Rohit's mother. The Congress leader had to resign as governor after he was purportedly shown in a sting operation to be in a compromising position with three women. Earlier, the high court had dismissed the plea by Tiwari who sought dismissal of the petition on the ground that it was filed 31 years after the petitioner was born in order to malign his character.
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Telangana by-poll results trigger rumblings in Congress, TDP

Hyderabad, July 30: The crushing defeat of the ruling Congress party and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the Telangana by-elections has triggered rumblings within the two parties over the Telangana statehood issue.

Leaders of the Congress from Telangana blamed their counterparts in other regions of Andhra Pradesh for the loss, while TDP leaders from Telangana advised those opposing separate statehood to reconsider their stand. Both Congress and TDP drew a blank in the by-elections to 12 assembly seats caused by the resignations over the Telangana issue. TDP lost the lone seat it was holding while Congress candidates, including party's state unit chief D. Srinivas had to bite the dust. Chief Minister K.Rosaiah, who is from outside Telangana, said he respects the people's verdict. Party general secretary and state incharge M. Veerappa Moily said in New Delhi that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) won due to "local factors". Congress leaders from Telangana lashed out at party leaders belonging to Andhra and Rayalaseema regions for opposing the demand for a separate Telangana state. Senior Congress leader from Telangana and former minister G. Venkatswamy blamed leaders from Andhra for the party's defeat. Another leader from the region T.Jeevan Reddy termed the poll results an "eye opener" for those opposing the separate Telangana demand. Congress legislator Shankar Rao said he was happy over the election results as people, through their verdict, paid tributes to 600 "martyrs" of the Telangana movement. He said the results had increased the responsibility of the Congress party to carve out a separate Telangana. TDP's senior leader in Telangana N. Janardhan Reddy wanted his party leaders from other regions to reconsider their opposition to a separate state. It may be recalled that strong protests by Congress and TDP leaders from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions had forced the central government to go back on its announcement last year to start the process for formation of Telangana state.
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TRS sweeps Telangana by-elections, Congress chief loses

Hyderabad, July 30 : Riding on the Telangana sentiment, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) swept the assembly by-elections in the Andhra Pradesh region, winning six seats and was leading in six other constituencies Friday.Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained one seat with its candidate Lakshminarayana defeating state Congress chief D. Srinivas in Nizamabad Urban segment. It was big blow for Srinivas who was aiming to join the state cabinet and even emerge as successor to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Proving that the Telangana sentiment is still strong, TRS retained Siddipet, Sirpur, Manchiryal, Dharmapuri and Chennur seats with huge majority and wrested Vemulawada seat from Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Its leader T. Harish Rao set a record by retaining Siddipet with a margin of 95,858 votes, breaking the record of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who was re-elected from Pulivendula constituency in Kadapa district last year with a margin of 68,681. The ruling Congress party and main opposition TDP were virtually wiped out in the by-elections, necessitated by the resignation of all 10 legislators of the TRS and one each of the BJP and the TDP on the issue of a separate Telangana state in February. In a majority of the constituencies, Congress and TDP candidates lost their security deposits. Among other prominent losers were former ministers G.Vinod (Congress) and Babu Mohan (TDP). Another former minister and Congress leader Mohammed Ali Shabbir was trailing in Yellareddy constituency. The verdict has come as a morale booster for the TRS, which has long been fighting for a separate Telangana state. Celebrations broke out in TRS camp, which termed the results as a victory of Telangana's "four crore" people and a defeat of "anti-Telangana forces". During the poll campaign, TRS had targeted both Congress and TDP for betraying the cause of Telangana. "This victory will give us new strength and vigour to fight for a separate Telangana state," said TRS leader K. Tarakarama Rao, who is leading in the Sircilla assembly constituency. Tarakarama Rao, who is also son of TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao, is confident that a separate Telangana state will become a reality in December this year when the Justice Srikrishna committee is scheduled to submit its report.
The committee, constituted by the centre in February to look into demands for and against Telangana state, is currently holding public consultations on the issue. TRS nominees not only retained their respective seats but significantly improved their victory margins. The Election Commission said 66.67 percent of 23.60 lakh voters in the 12 constituencies spread over five districts cast their votes in the elections held Tuesday.
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