Telangana formation matter of politics: SC

New Delhi, Aug 21 : Saying Telangana state formation is a matter of politics rather than judiciary at this stage the Supreme Court has refused to entertain a petition seeking direction to the Centre to stop bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to create the new state.A bench headed by Chief Justice S H Kapadia yesterday told the petitioner, ''This is a political problem which calls for a political solution by the Government. At this stage this Court cannot interfare in the matter.'' The apex court, however, granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the Supreme Court once the new state is created. Only then this court can examine the validity of the government notification, the bench noted.A commission headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Justice B N Srikrishna is examining all possibilities to create the new state and is going to submit its report to the Central government, latest by December 31, 2010.
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Special Interest rates on housing loans

Hyderabad, Aug 21 : Recognising housing sector plays a very vital role in the development of nation,public sector Andhra Bank has introduced a special interest rate for Housing Loans in view of ensuing festival seasons.The Housing Loan compaign is effective from August 23 to January 15 nextxt year.The Bank is offering interest rate @ 8.50 per cent fixed for the first year during this period With no processing charges during the campaign period , the bank said take over accounts are also eligible for special offer during the campaign period.'' This offer is valid irrespective of the Housing Loan Limit'', the bank said in a release here today.
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Andhra gives Rs.1 lakh to Indian Idol Sreeram

Hyderabad, Aug 21 : The Andhra Pradesh government Saturday announced Rs.1 lakh prize money for local lad M. Sreeram Chandra for winning the Indian Idol 5 title. Sreeram, who returned to his hometown Friday night to a rousing reception by his fans, met Chief Minister K. Rosaiah at his office Saturday. The chief minister lauded Sreeram for bringing laurels to Andhra Pradesh and wished him success in his future endeavours. Later, addressing a press conference at Ravindra Bharati, the singing sensation from Bowenpally said he won the title because of the support and affection of his family, friends and admirers. He also said he would work hard to bring more glory for Telugus. Sreeram recalled that it was at Ravindra Bharati that he first sang Vande Mataram (the national song of India).
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Telangana political issue: Apex court

New Delhi, Aug 20 : The Supreme Court Friday declined to interfere with the Telangana imbroglio saying that it was a political issue and was better left to the political bosses.

"Why should this court entertain the PIL at this stage? It is a political question. No decision has been taken so far. Why should we pre-empt it," said Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia. The apex court bench of Chief Justice Kapadia and Justice K.S. Radhakrishnan said the court could step in only after the law carving out a separate state of Telangana was put in place and the same was challenged before it. The court said that when such a law was made it would be open to the petitioner to move the court. The court made these observations in the wake of the hearing of a PIL seeking to restrain the Justice Srikrishna Committee from going ahead with its task of examining the request for a separate state of Telangana. The petitioner Bondada Purushottam Yadav told the court that when the state of Telangana would be created it would violate the unity and integrity of Andhra Pradesh. The Srikrishna committee is engaged in seeking the opinions of political parties, organizations, individuals and groups on the demand for a separate state of Telangana. Disposing of the PIL, Chief Justice Kapadia said that the stage for the court to step in had not come. "We don't know what would be the recommendation of the Justice Srikrishna Committee and what would be its paradigms." Senior counsel Harish Salve who appeared for another petitioner Srinivas Reddy wondered on what "principles states are formed". "Should there not be some parameters. Can it be done on politicians' and public demand," he said. Salve said that when the Srikrishna committee was set up there were no proper terms of reference. The senior counsel asked how could the demand for Telangana be justified on "linguistic and administrative basis".
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New Vice-Chancellor of NTR University takes charge

Vijayawada, Aug 20 : Newly appointed Vice-chancellor Dr I V Rao here today assumed charge of NTR Health University from outgoing Vice-chancellor Krishnam Raju.Talking to reporters, Mr Rao said the staff in the NTR Health University was disproportionate to the work load and he would strive to augment the staff.He said 360 institutions are affiliated to the NTR University and the workload had increased considerably.The Vice-Chancellor said he would approach the government for permission to shift the Health University, at present located in the premises of the Goverment General Hospital and affiliated institutions to one campus. He said he would appeal the government to allot 25 acres of land for this purpose.
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12-yr-old girl set to enter Guinness Book

Vijayawada, Aug 20 : Twelve-year-old M Saichandrika is all set to enter the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest solo performance of 'Kuchipudi' dance at the Rotary Club Auditorium here today.One of the organisers and Nataraj Samskrutika Kalapeetham Founder M Surya Prakash told UNI here the Guinness Management had already been informed about the performance.Saichandrika started dancing at 0900 hrs this morning and wound up after performing non-stop for three hours, six minutes and 43 seconds, claimed to be a record for a solo performance.Senior Journalist Turlapati Kutumba Rao, who holds the Guinness record for delivering the most number of public speeches (number over 10,000) witnessed the entire fete of the lass.Andhra Pradesh Animal Husbandry Minister P Parthasarathi, Vijayawada (C) MLA Malladi Vishnu and City Congress President P Sominaidu were present.Congratulating the girl, the Minister said, ''even after dancing for over three hours, the little girl did not appear tired and seemed raring to go for another three hours.'' The Minister hoped that Saichandrika would find an entry into the coveted Guinness Book of World Record.The organisers said they would be sending the video clippings and other material to the Guinness Management.
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Telugu actor's kin held for buying drugs

Hyderabad, Aug 20 : A day after two brothers of Telugu film actor Ravi Teja were arrested while buying drugs from a Nigerian national, Hyderabad police were Friday keeping an eye on at least 60 other suspects, including people from the film industry, politics and the high society.The police Thursday night arrested two brothers of actor Ravi Teja and their associate Naresh in the posh Banjara Hills neighbourhood when they were allegedly buying cocaine from a Nigerian national, Cheema Claymen. Police seized 51 grams of cocaine from the foreigner and eight grams from the actor's brothers and their associate. A car and an electronic weighing machine were also seized. Teja's brothers, B. Raghunath Raju alias Raghu Babu and Bharat Raju, and the two other accused were brought before the media Friday. The four were slapped with cases under the Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and will be presented before a magistrate's court later. Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters that the police would set up an anti-drug cell and deal firmly with the menace. The names of some actresses had also cropped up during the questioning and investigations were on, he said. "We will not only deal firmly with people who are selling drugs but also those who are consuming it," Khan said. The police are keeping an eye on about 60 people from rich and famous families, he added. The police commissioner said at least four gangs were operating in the city and were smuggling drugs through Mumbai. He has already written to his Mumbai counterpart seeking cooperation to nab the peddlers. Khan said the pub culture was promoting the use of drugs. "People in pubs may also consume drugs without even knowing it," he said, and appealed to parents to control their daughters and sons from falling prey to the drug menace. Since a large number of foreigners are staying in Hyderabad, the police have decided to keep a close watch on their activities. The Nigerian who was arrested for selling drugs was overstaying in the counrty, he said. The police have also asked universities to provide details of foreign students on their campuses. Police were keeping an eye on the actor's brothers ever since the arrest of a Nigerian early this month when he was found selling drugs. The foreigner had given the names of some of his customers coming from the elite sections of society.
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Monsoon boosts groundnut, crop cultivation area expands: Collector

Tirupati, Chittoor, Aug 20 : In view of good monsoons this season, groundnut crop cultivation increased to 1.47 hectares as against 1.40 last year, District Collector V Seshadri said.Addressing a meet-the-press programme here yesterday, he said 66 mandals in the district were badly affected due to drought last year, but rainfall was above normal this year.For the first time, Rs 831 crore crop loans were disbursed to 35,498 farmers in the district against a target of Rs 793 crore, he stated.Out of 760 joint liability groups of tenant farmers, crop loans were provided to 175 groups.Referring to dairy, 16.2 lakh litre per day of milk was produced by 11.15 lakh cattle in the district, while three lakh litre was procured by 54 bulk milk procuring centers, he said.Mr Seshadri added to overcome the fodder scarcity, innovative methods in preserving of fodder were developed with the help of agriculture research experts.
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Tributes paid to Rajiv Gandhi on 66th birth anniversary

Vijayawada Aug 20 : Floral tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 66th birth anniversary, here today.Several Congress leaders garlanded his portrait at the Congress office and recalled their intimacy with him.Andhra Pradesh Animal Husbandry Minister P Parthasarathi, participating in a programme held at Gandhi Nagar, recalled Rajiv Gandhi's efforts in curbing terrorism. He said Rajiv Gandhi sacrificed his life in battling against terrorism.He praised him for his foresight in developing the country technologically and attributed the development of the country to the vision of the former Prime Minister. Mr Parthasarathi exhorted people to strive to make the dreams of Rajiv Gandhi true.The Minister, on the occasion, inaugurated blood donation programme. Later, he distributed sarees to poor women.Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee Secretary Kolanukonda Shivaje, Vijayawada (C) Malladi Vishnu, City Congress President Pyla Sominaidu also took part in the programme.
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President Pratibha Patil reaches Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 18 : President Pratibha Patil arrived here tonight by a Special Indian Air Craft for a 24-hour stay in the city.Governor ESL Narasimham, Chief Mininster K Rosaiah, Cabinet Ministers, Civil police and Army officials were at the Begumpet Airport to receive the President.Ms Patil will inaugurate the 4th International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM), the largest congregation of mathematicians from across the globe, for the first time in India, tomorrow.After overnight stay at Rajbhavan, she will return to New Delhi tomorrow evening.
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Bomb threat in Andhra Pradesh secretariat turns 'hoax'

Hyderabad, Aug 18 : Security in and around Andhra Pradesh Secretariat was beefed up after five anonymous calls threatened a bomb blast inside the building on Wednesday, said reports.Share This Article:However, the threat was declared as 'hoax' after security personnel and bomb disposal squad concluded a thorough search in and around the entire secretariat that houses Chief Minister's Office (CMO).According to reports, the calls were made to the CMO between 11.30am and 12.32pm.high security, Chief Minister K Rosaiah arrived in his office at around 12.40 pm.This is the first time the AP secretariat received a bomb threat
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Former Satyam chief Raju gets bail

Hyderabad, Aug 18 : Andhra Pradesh High Court Wednesday granted bail to B. Ramalinga Raju, the prime accused in the multi-crore Satyam fraud case.Share This Article:Justice Raja Elango, who had reserved the orders Monday after hearing the arguments from Raju's counsel and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), pronounced the same Wednesday. Raju's lawyer Bharat Kumar said the court had granted conditional bail, asking Raju to make himself available to CBI for any investigations. The 56-year-old Raju has been in jail since January last year when he admitted to a Rs.7,800 crore accounting fraud in Satyam Computer Services Limited, which he had founded. Raju has been undergoing treatment for Hepatitis C in the government-run Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) here for the last nine months. With Raju getting the bail, all 10 accused in the case are now out of jail. The court asked Raju not to leave the country and to cooperate with the investigations and trial. "The court has directed Mr. Raju to appear before the investigating agency after his discharge from the hospital," Bharat Kumar told reporters. The disgraced former chairman of Satyam has also been asked to deposit two sureties of Rs.20 lakh each. It was immediately not clear on what grounds the court granted Raju bail but during the hearing Monday, the judge had made it clear that the accused would not get bail on health grounds. Long period of incarceration, delay in trial and parity with other accused were the other grounds on which Raju's lawyers had sought the bail. Terming Raju an "economic terrorist", the CBI had opposed the bail saying the accused might destroy evidence, especially with regard to the money he diverted to other countries. Additional Solicitor General H.P. Rawal had blamed Raju for delaying the trial by avoiding the trial court on the pretext of his illness. He had also raised doubts about the report submitted by NIMS doctors about his health condition. The prosecution had also told the court that the trial could be completed in six months but the judge did not agree with him. Raju had shocked the corporate India in January last year admitting to a Rs.7,800 crore accounting fraud in the IT major. The CBI, however, told the court in November last year that the scam is of over Rs.14,000 crore. The Andhra Pradesh High Court July 20 had granted bail to five accused including Raju's brother and former managing director of Satyam, B. Rama Raju and former chief financial officer Vadlamani Srinivas. The courts had earlier granted bail to three accused while Raju's another brother B. Surayanarayana Raju had obtained anticipatory bail last year. All the accused are facing charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, cheating, forgery and falsification of accounts.
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Committee formed for violation of programme code

Hyderabad, Aug 18 : A district-level monitoring committee headed by Hyderabad Commissioner of Police, has been constituted to look into the violation of programme code of Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act, 1955 in the city.The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered that a committee be constituted as per the guidelines of Union Information and Broadcasting Ministry, an official statement said here yesterday.''All the citizens of Hyderabad and Secunderabad are requested to inform the Committee about any violation of programme code of Cable TV Network (Regulation) Act 1995 in the form of a complaint,'' the statement added.
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PM's statement to Media at Leh

(PIB NEWS) Aug,17, Following is the text of the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh’s statement to the Media at Leh today: “I was shocked to hear about the tragic loss of lives and extensive damage to property caused by the sudden cloudburst on the night of August 5-6, 2010. My heart goes out to all those who have lost their loved ones. I pray to God to give them strength in their hour of bereavement. I also wish the injured persons speedy recovery. I wanted to come earlier. But, I felt that my visit earlier could have hampered the rescue and relief executions. My Cabinet colleagues Dr. Abdullah, Shri G. N. Azad and Prithviraj Chavan, have already visited Leh, supervised the rescue operations and briefed me. I gather that 179 persons including 6 foreign nationals have lost their lives and approximately 400 persons have been injured. Reports indicate that a number of people including foreign nationals are also missing. There has also been extensive damage to the civil hospital, airport, telecom, drinking water supply works, National Highways connecting Leh-Manali, Leh-Kargil and also to private properties. I congratulate the brave personnel of the Army, the Air Force, BRO, ITBP and the NDRF on their courage, tireless efforts and deep concern for their fellow citizens in distress. The State and the Central Government worked hand in hand and ensured that emergency supplies like tents, blankets, turpentine, food and water urgently dispatched and distributed. The doctors and nurses have also done a very good job. I must congratulate the Leh Council, the Deputy Commissioner and his team and the senior officers of the State Government, for their prompt response. All together, it has been a fine example of prompt and coordinated action in the face of nature's fury. The focus should now shift to restoration of public services and rehabilitation. I would like to assure you that no efforts would be spared by the Central Government in this regard. I urge the Chief Minister to quickly send the memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs so that a Central team is sent at the earliest. I had already announced ex-gratia assistance of Rs 1,00,000/- each to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000/- per head for seriously injured persons. I have made a public appeal requesting people to donate generously to the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund to help those affected in Leh. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources is sending 1000 number of solar lanterns for the affected houses in Leh. These lanterns will provide light in the night and can be charged during the day with solar energy. We will fund a special package amounting to a sum of around Rs 125 crore for the Ladkah region from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF). This will cover the restoration of drinking water supply, renovation of the power supply system including DG sets, repairs to the SNM Hospital and replacement of the C.T. Scan machine, in Leh. It will also cover the restoration of the water supply system and the supply of DG set(s) of appropriate capacity to Kargil. In addition, untied grant of Rs 5 crore each will be provided to the Leh & Kargil Autonomous Hill Development Councils under the Special PMNRF package, to meet emergent requirements. Keeping the special locational disadvantages of the Ladakh area, enhanced assistance will also provided for housing. The State Government will set up a Project Monitoring and Implementation Unit under the Chief Secretary to ensure time bound implementation of the relief and rehabilitation projects. My office will render all possible assistance. Additional financial assistance for the restoration of infrastructure and other items, will be provided on the basis of the memorandum of the State Government and the recommendations of the Central team.”
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PM-assures to take necessary actions,

(PIB NEWS) Aug,17, The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh assures to take necessary actions to expedite relief operations to rehabilitate the flash flood victim at the relief camp, in Choglamsar, Leh, Jammu & Kashmir on August 17, 2010.The Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Dr. Farooq Abdullah, the Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Ghulam Nabi Azad and the Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah are also seen. (Photo by PIB No.CNR-32909)
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journalism students meets the speaker lok sabha,

(PIB NEWS) Aug,17, A Group of Students from the Department of Journalism of Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi meets the Speaker, Lok Sabha, Smt. Meira Kumar, in New Delhi on August 17, 2010. (Photo by PIB No.CNR-32919)
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Sonia expected to be re-elected Congress chief

Aug,17, Congress president Sonia Gandhi is Sep 21 expected to be formally elected for another term in office.The Congress Working Committee (CWC) met Monday and decided the election schedule for the election of the Congress chief and the state party chiefs.Congress general secretary Janardhan Dwivedi said after the meeting that according to the election schedule, the election would be notified Aug 27 and the last date of filing nominations is Sep 2.The date of polling, if necessary, is Sep 17 and the counting of votes and declaration of results will take place Sep 21.Sonia Gandhi first became the Congress president in 1998.
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Big B spins charkha at Sabarmati Ashram

Aug,17, Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan walked barefoot and spun the charkha (spinning wheel) at Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Ahmedabad where he is shooting for the second phase of advertisements for Gujarat Tourism.The 67-year-old megastar felt that “serenity and peace descended” upon him and his team as they entered the Ashram where Mahatma Gandhi lived and “from where was born the idea of his struggle for the freedom of our country – of sacrifice, non violence and resolve”.A few scenes for the advertisement for Gujarat Tourism required him to walk around the region in a contemplative mood and he duly did so by removing his shoes.“I removed my shoes by the road and walked about barefoot, even though all others do not. It is not required that they do so but I could not somehow make myself to not go barefoot. The sanctity and the purity of the premises just prompted me to do it,” Bachchan posted on his blog.He even spun the charkha.“I sat with the lone figure of an inmate of the trust that runs the ashram as he spun the ‘charkha’ and produced the fibre for khadi. I tried my hand at it. It is a simple yet intricate procedure of weaving the thread and the extreme joy of having been so close to that most identifiable element of the Mahatma, overpowered all other thoughts,” added Big B, who is the brand ambassador for Gujarat.
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Infant stolen from government hospital in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Aug 17 : In yet another incident of its kind in Andhra Pradesh, a month-old infant boy has been stolen from the state-run Niloufer Hospital here. The government has formed five special teams to track the baby.Share This Article:The parents, who belong to Godavarikhani in Karimnagar district, had admitted their infant son to the hospital for treatment of an ailment 12 days ago. The mother told police that she was sleeping Tuesday morning and found the baby missing when she woke up after some time. In January, a three-day-old girl was kidnapped from the same hospital by a woman who had befriended the baby's mother. In May, a new-born was stolen from a government-run hospital in Kakinada town in East Godavari district. However, the woman was identified with the help of the closed circuit television cameras in the hospital and the infant boy was rescued a few days later. A 20-day-old girl went missing from the neo-natal ward of the Niloufer Hospital in 2006. The health authorities are planning to install CCTVs in all government-run hospitals to check such incidents.
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Criminal shot dead in court premises

Hyderabad, Aug 17 : Unidentified attackers opened fire and shot dead a criminal in the premises of a court in Eluru town of West Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.Share This Article:Police said P.Ravi, a rowdy, was killed when two motor-cycle borne assailants fired at him in the district court premises. The assailants fled after throwing away the revolver on the ground. Later, police said one of the suepcets has been taken into custody. Ravi had come to the court in his car when the assailants fired at him in public view. The rowdy was involved in 32 cases, including 11 of murder. Police suspect that Ravi's rivals may have eliminated him to take revenge.
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