Mumbai on tenterhooks as police hunt for two suspected terrorists

With the 10-day Ganesh festival starting Saturday, police have gone on high alert as two suspected terrorists have entered Mumbai with a view to creating disturbances during the festive season.Joint Police Commissioner Himanshu Roy told reporters that intelligence reports received by the police and state home department said the pair — said to be a Bangladeshi and a Pakistani — entered Mumbai sometime ago. They are Kalimuddin Khan Alias Rameshwar Pandit, 28, and Hafiz Sharif, 25.
Roy said the police and the crime branch have set up special teams and have sought the help of the public to nab the pair, whose sketches have also been released.He said they may create disruptions during the festive season in crowded places, especially at religious gatherings.Though he did not go into specifics, Roy was clearly hinting at the hundreds of Ganesh pandals which have been erected all over Mumbai and where millions of worshippers throng at all hours of the day.The Ganesh festival, preparations for which have begun in Mumbai and other parts Maharashtra on a grand scale, attracts hundreds of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists.He urged Mumbaikars to provide any information on the duo to the nearest police station, or the control room No. 100 or on special helpline numbers 022-22633333/022-22625020.Meanwhile, in view of the developments, police have heightened security checks all over Mumbai and surrounding districts of Thane and Raigad. Some roads have also been blocked.The development comes barely a couple of days after the Anti-Terrorist Squad nabbed two people in connection with the Feb 13 terror blast at Pune’s German Bakery on the eve of Valentines Day.
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Chiranjeevi is back

September 11, 2010 : The superstar of Telugu cinema, Chiranjeevi, had taken a sabbatical from the big screen thanks to his political aspirations. However, there is some good news for all the Chiranjeevi fans out there, the superstar will be back in the big screen with his comeback movie in 2011.Right now, Chiranjeevi is Tirupati's MLA, so he has to look after his political responsibilities. Chiru told reporters that he will try to look for roles that deal with socially relevant topics and that will appeal to the common man. Chiranjeevi also maintained that he will try to give social message in an entertaining way. Chiru wants to be close to his fans, so he has decided to get back to his acting career.Talking about socially relevant movies, Chiranjeevi referred to some of his films like 'Tagore', 'Stalin', 'Shankar Dada MBBS' etc. Reliable sources have revealed that Chiru has already signed a couple of film projects for 2011. The new film will go on the floors by January 2011. The movie will be produced by Ram Charan under the banner of Mega Star.Ever since Chiranjeevi entered the political scene, fans have been waiting for the superstar to make a big comeback movie. Now it seems that their prayers will be answered by 2011, let's hope Chiru still remembers the ropes of the trade.
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Maoists free abducted Bihar policemen

Two days after Maoists killed policeman Lucas Tete, the ultra Leftwing rebels Sunday freed the three other policemen they had abducted a week ago, the local media reported. However, the police have declined to confirm the development.The three policemen – Abhay Prasad Yadav, Rupesh Kumar Sinha and Ehsan Khan – were reportedly released by their captors in a jungle area between Lakhisarai and Jamui districts, local journalists said.
Rajni Devi, wife of Abhay Kumar Yadav, told reporters at her residence in Begusarai district that a Maoist leader visited her house early Sunday and told her that her husband and his two colleagues had been let off.“I am very happy and hoping that my husband will come home soon,” Rajni Devi said.The release comes two days after the bullet-riddled body of Lucas Tete was found near a forest in Lakhisarai district. He had been killed by the Maoists.Family members of Rupesh in Bettiah district and Ehsan’s family in Ranchi in Jharkhand said are eagerly waiting for the men to return.“We are happy to hear that my son Ehsan and other policemen have been released by the Maoists. We are waiting to welcome him,” Ehsan’s aged father Mohiuddin Khan said over telephone.Director General of Police Neelmani, however, declined to confirm the development.“We are not in a position to say anything unless the three abducted men return to their homes,” he said here.Maoist spokesperson Avinash Saturday claimed the three policemen were safe.They were abducted by Maoists after a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai last Sunday.The gunbattle left seven policemen dead and 10 injured. The Maoists claimed the gunfight was in retaliation for the killing of their leader Cherukuri Rajkumar alias Azad and a journalist on the night of July 1-2 in Andhra Pradesh.Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar held an all-party meeting Saturday evening and said that the state government would hold talks with the Maoists on their demand for the release of eight jailed commanders in exchange for the three abducted policemen.All the political parties appealed to the Maoists to release the three policemen, he said.Nitish Kumar said the Maoists should come forward for face-to-face talk with the state government.
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Telangana students ransack exam centre at Osmania

Hyderabad, Sep 5 : Students protesting the conduct of the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) exam ransacked an exam centre at the Osmania University campus here Sunday, leaving three injured.Tension prevailed at the B.Ed college as protesters broke the security cordon and barged into the exam centre. Some students writing the test came out with question papers and answer sheets and tore and dumped them on the roads, police said. The students were injured in a scuffle with police, which used batons against the protesters and arrested many of them, a police official said. Although the police made elaborate security arrangements in view of the boycott call given by the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (OUJAC) and other pro-Telangana groups, the protesters outnumbered them. Activists of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and OUJAC uprooted the security barricades and broke into the college. The police failed to prevent them. Four MPs of the ruling Congress party and leaders of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) also joined the protesting students. Despite the boycott and Telangana shutdown called by student groups and pro-Telangana parties and leaders, the APPSC went ahead with the the Group I Prelim exam amid tight security. Police deployment was marked at 445 centres where the exam began at 10.30 a.m. Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different parts of Telangana as the shutdown evoked partial response. The strike affected services of the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corp (APSRTC) in Karimnagar and Warangal districts. The impact was partial in the remaining eight districts including Hyderabad. Legislators and leaders of the TRS and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were taken into custody in different parts of Telangana. The pro-Telangana groups were demanding that the exam be postponed till the share of the region in the Group I postings is made clear. They were demanding 42 percent share for the region. More than 1.6 lakh candidates are writing the exam for recruitment to 198 posts.
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Concession agreement signed for Hyderabad Metro

Hyderabad, Sep 4 : The concession agreement for the Rs.12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project was signed here Saturday.The Andhra Pradesh government signed the pact with Larsen and Toubro Hyderabad Metro Rail Pvt. Ltd for development of Hyderabad Metro Rail project in public-private partnership (PPP) mode. Leading construction group Larsen and Toubro, which bagged the project in July this year, has formed a special purpose vehicle for developing the project on design, build, finance, operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. As per the agreement, L and T has to submit bank guarantee for Rs.360 crore as performance security to government and achieve financial closure for the project within six months. The concession period is for 35 years including five years for construction, with a provision of extension for another 25 years. The concessionaire can undertake real estate development up to a maximum of 18.5 million square feet through utilisation of air space over the 269 acres of land earmarked for rail facilities. The agreement was signed by Urban Development Principal Secretary T.S. Appa Rao and the newly-formed L and T Hyderabad Metro Rail Pvt. Ltd's managing director V.B. Gadgil in the presence of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Rosaiah said that with 71 km metro rail lane taken up in one go, it was one of the world's largest metro rail projects and in fact the largest one in the PPP mode. Out of the total project cost of Rs.12,132 crore, L and T sought a grant of Rs.1,458 crore and this will be borne by the central government. The ground work on the project will begin in January next year. The project covers three high density traffic corridors - Miyapur-LB Nagar (28.87 km); JBS-Falaknuma (14.78 km) and Nagole-Shilparamam (27.51 km). The estimated traffic demand is 15 lakh passengers per day in 2014 and 22 lakh passengers per day in 2024. The fare structure consists of a minimum basic fare of Rs.8 and a maximum fare of Rs.19 in 2014.
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Telangana ministers demand postponement of state exam

Hyderabad, Sep 4 : A group of ministers from Telangana region Saturday urged Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah to postpone the Andhra Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) selection test as a showdown looks inevitable with students from the region intensifying their protest and calling for a shutdown Sunday.Ministers D. Sridhar Babu, K. Venkat Reddy, D.K. Aruna and Sunita Lakshma Reddy sought Rosaiah's intervention to postpone the Sep 5 exam, which has divided students and even the political parties along regional lines. The APPSC, however, was going ahead with the exam as scheduled on Sunday at 445 centres across the state for recruitment to 198 posts. More than 1.6 lakh candidates are expected to appear in the exam. Police were making massive security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the exam and prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more people have been imposed around all exam centres. Congress MP from Nizamabad Madhu Yashki Goud told reporters in New Delhi that he would join Telangana students to protest the conduct of the exam. He warned that the conduct of the exam despite protests would have serious consequences. Four students of the Osmania University here Saturday launched a fast for indefinite period, demanding that the APPSC preliminary exam be postponed until 42 percent of the jobs at stake are reserved for the Telangana region. Protests broke out on the university campus as the four students locked themselves in the Art College Building and began the fast on the roof to prevent police from foiling their protest. Students in other parts of Telangana took to the streets demanding postponement of the exam. In Mahabubnagar, students set afire their hall tickets for APPSC Group I preliminary exam. Students of Kakatiya University in Warangal also launched a fast. The Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) has called for a boycott of the exam and a shutdown in the region Sunday. The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and other groups fighting for a separate Telangana state have also supported the shutdown call. A delegation of JAC leaders met Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy to demand that the government immediately put off the exam. They have also sought intervention of Governor E.S.L.Narasimhan and the State Human Rights Commission. Alleging injustice to Telangana, leaders of both the ruling Congress and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the region also have demanded that the state public service exam be deferred until the share of Telangana in Group I postings is made clear. The ministers from Telangana have voiced their apprehension that the boycott and shutdown call given by students and supported by the opposition could create law and order problems. Meanwhile, Director General of Police K. Aravinda Rao has asked all district superintendents of police to provide a three-layer security cover to the centres to prevent any untoward incident. All the candidates have been asked to reach the centres well in advance. Meanwhile, educational institutions in Andhra and Rayalseema regions remained closed Saturday in response to the shutdown call given by some groups in support of the exam. Telangana groups said they see a conspiracy behind the sudden decision of the APPSC to conduct the exam, which were postponed for two years. They alleged that the exam was being conducted to recruit candidates from other regions without specifying the share of Telangana at time when formation of a separate Telangana had become almost certain. They even warned the government of a bloodbath if it goes ahead with the exam. TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao has demanded the arrest and prosecution of APPSC chairman Venkatarami Reddy for doing injustice to Telangana in previous recruitments. He alleged that Telangana students who scored well in the written test were deliberately given fewer marks in oral tests to disqualify them from appointments. The row has erupted close on the heels of an attack on lecturers of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions by Telangana students at Osmania University here. The students were protesting the evaluation of B.Ed papers by teachers from other regions.
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Maoists kill one of four abducted policemen

Sep,02, Maoists Thursday killed Abhay Kumar Yadav, one of the four Bihar policemen they abducted four days ago, following a decision by a ‘jan adalat’ or kangaroo court The Leftwing rebels killed Yadav six hours after their second deadline – at 10 a.m. -expired.After killing Yadav, a sub-inspector, the Maoists said the fate of the remaining three policemen would be decided by 10 a.m. Friday if the state government failed to initiate a dialogue or negotiate with them.Avinash, a self-proclaimed Maoist spokesman, told a local TV news channels that Yadav was killed after a decision was taken in a ‘jan adalat’. “The Bihar government compelled us to kill Yadav as the second deadline expired,” he said.Avinash said that Yadav’s body will be handed over by Thursday night.Yadav’s wife Rajni was staging a sit-in outside Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence.The other three policemen are Rupesh Kumar Sinha, Lukas Gete and Ehsan Khan.The Maoists have said the policemen would be killed unless eight jailed Maoist leaders were released.The families of the policemen have been desperately pleading with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for help.Avinash said that after the deadline to release their jailed leaders expired at 10 a.m. Thursday, top leaders of the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) had been informed about the decision to hold a jan adalat.The guerrillas had earlier set a deadline of 4 p.m. Wednesday. Avinash later told local Hindi news channels they had decided to extend it till Thursday in view of appeals by the family members of the abducted policemen.The rebels had abducted the policemen in a six-hour gunfight in Lakhisarai district Sunday. The gunbattle left seven policemen dead and 10 injured. Maoists claimed the gunfight was in retaliation for the killing of their leader Azad and a journalist.The Maoists have also warned the Bihar government of more violent attacks if the operations against Maoists were not immediately stopped.
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Youth kills self as father refuses money

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : A 23-year-old youth committed suicide under Medpalli police station limits after his father refused him money to entertain his friends.

According to police, the victim has been identified as K Naresh (23), son of Anjaneyulu, and a resident of Uppal. Naresh, who was unemployed, got married a few weeks ago.According to sources, Naresh had asked his father for some money to give a wedding party to his friends after his marriage. However, his father refused to give money due to financial problems.Naresh, who was mentally disturbed, taken the extreme step by hanging from a ceiling fan.Police registered a case.
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CM pays tributes to YSR at his residence

Hyderabad, Sept 2 : Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday paid rich tributes to his predecessor late YS Rajasekhara Reddy on the occasion of his first death anniversary.

According to a statement released by the government, Mr Rosaiah was unable to fly to Nallakaluva at Pavuralagutta to participate in the official programme related to 'YSR Smrutivanam'. Mr Rosaiah deputed School Education Minister Manikya Varaprasada Rao to read his message at the programme. The Chief Minister is believed to have spent time recalling his long association with the former chief minister at his residence. Mr Rosaiah garlanded a portrait of his friend and predecessor and reminisced about his time with Cabinet colleagues, friends and officials present there. Mr Rosaiah said, "I admire him for unusual straights in his personality, and can never forget him. He always kept me in high esteem in spite of differences of opinion between us on any issue. I enjoyed his love and affection. Secondly on a number of occasions he exhibited extraordinary courage and perseverance to achieve what he aimed at, in the interest of the State. In his view obstacles can be surmounted if our vision is on the target." The Chief Minister also apologised to the people of the state for his inability to participate in the first death anniversary programme of the departed leader. Mr Rosaiah recalled how the four officers, Principal Secretary to the then CM P Subramanyam, Security Officer Mr Wesley and Pilots Bhatia and MS Reddy unfortunately met with premature death along with Dr Rajasekhara Reddy. He personally wrote letters to widows of all these officers expressing sorry for the grief and agony caused to their families. Recalling the services of those officers, the Chief Minister prayed the Almighty to bless their families with peace and bliss.
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OUSJAC calls for bandh on Sept 5 over G1 quota

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : The Osmania University Students Joint Action Committee on Thursday gave a call for Telangana 'bandh' on September 5 to press for its demand that the government issue clarification on providing quota in recruitments of successful APPSC Group-1 candidates from Telangana.Talking to media persons, student leader P Ravi stated that the OUSJAC was demanding that the government guarantee that 42 per cent candidates from Telangana region, who have cleared the Group-1 examinations conducted by the APPSC be recruited.Ravi also revealed that the OUSJAC has decided that it would not rest till the government orders the immediate suspension of APPSC Chairman Venkata Rami Reddy who has been facing allegations of irregularities. An inquiry is currently underway into the allegations. The OUSJAC leader also revealed that a candlelit vigil would be conducted to pay tributes to the people who had fought against the Mulki rules on September 3.Ravi said that students across the region would boycott their classes and take their part in an agitation if state government takes the warning seriously and does not clarify its stand on issuing clarifications on the quota for APPSC G1 recruitments on September 4. The OUSJAC leader also warned the government that if the APPSC goes ahead with conducting the APPSC G1 preliminary examinations under police protection, then the government should be ready to take responsibility for any untoward incident in the state.The OUSJAC also appealed to candidates who are appearing for the G1 preliminary examinations to boycott the tests. The OUSJAC said that the students should tear the question papers in the examination halls.The student leader also called on the main opposition Telugu Desam Party to realise the gravity of the situation and join students of Telangana region in their fight for justice. Meanwhile, Telangana Rashtra Samithi, the Bharatiya Janata Party and New Democracy have announced their support to the OUSJAC band call.
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CM cancels all official engagements

Hyderabad, Sept 2 : Following doctors' advice, Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday cancelled all his official engagements.According to Chief Minister's Office sources, Mr Rosaiah underwent a series of medical tests on Thursday morning. The sources say that the doctors from the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences attending on the Chief Minister advised him complete bed rest for two days. Meanwhile, the doctors said that Mr Rosaiah was responding to treatment rather well for his viral fever and his condition is stable."There is no cause of worry and his temperature is normal. He needs complete rest for two days," they said.According to sources, Mr Rosaiah may participate in the programmes scheduled to be conducted in the city
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Postage stamp on YSR released

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : A commemorative postage stamp on Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, the late Andhra Pradesh chief minister, was Thursday released on the occasion of his first death anniversary.Visakhapatnam region post master general Sharada Sampat released the Rs.5 stamp carrying the portrait of YSR, as he was popularly known by his initials, at a ceremony held in Visakhapatnam. Officials said it normally takes 18 months to prepare and release a stamp but they had come out with this commemorative stamp within a year. Visakhapatnam-based philatelist G. Durga Prasad had sent the stamp proposal in October last year and the same was accepted by the Department of Posts. YSR died along with four others in a helicopter crash on Sep 2 last year.
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Homage paid to ex-Andhra CM YSR Reddy on first death anniversary

Kadapa (AP), Sep 2 : Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his family members on Thursday paid homage to former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y. S. R. Reddy on his first death anniversary.Jagan and a large number of family members took part in special prayers conducted at a church inside the family estate at Idupulapaya.Congress Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, Congress MLA Konda Surekha and her husband Konda Murali were among the Congress leaders who offered tribute to the late chief minister.The YSR family has made arrangements to feed about a lakh people wanting inside the estate.Special buses have been arranged for the convenience of the people wanting to reach Idupulapaya.Earlier, the Congress Party had announced distribution of Rs. one lakh to the relatives of each of the workers who had committed suicide in shock following Reddy''s death.At least 600 people are said to have died after Reddy''s death.Sonia Gandhi had earlier instructed the AICC to extend necessary relief to family members of those persons who had committed suicide after Reddy death.Reddy and four others died after their Bell 430 chopper crash landed about 40 nautical miles east of the Kurnool mountains on September last year.
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Year after YSR's death, Andhra pays rich tributes

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : Andhra Pradesh Thursday remembered one of its greatest leaders, late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who had died in a helicopter crash a year ago, leaving the state in shock.Rich tributes were paid to YSR - as he was popularly called - and, at various programmes held across the state, he was recalled as a man especially concerned about the welfare of the poor. YSR died when the government helicopter carrying him from Hyderabad to Chittoor district crashed amid bad weather in Kurnool district Sep 2. Four others, including two pilots, also died with him. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who is suffering from fever, had to cancel his visit to Nallakalva in Kurnool district where he was to unveil a statue of YSR. He could not attend a function in the state capital either. "I am sad over not being able to attend the programmes to pay tribute to the great leader due to ill health," Rosaiah said in a message. He recalled his close association with YSR. "He was a great leader who always used to think of the welfare of people," Rosaiah said. YSR's widow Vijayalakshmi, son and Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, daughter Sharmila and other family members came to pay their respects at his grave in Idupulapaya family estate in Kadapa district. Vijayalakshmi, who is also a state legislator, broke down while praying at the grave. Other family members, his long-time friend and Rajya Sabha member K.V.P. Ramchandra Rao, film actor Vishnu, former minister Konda Surekha and Congress leaders were among those who paid tributes. Assembly speaker N. Kirankumar Reddy and several leaders of the ruling party paid floral tributes in the lobbies of the assembly. Chief Minister Rosaiah deputed a couple of senior ministers to Nallakalva near the crash site to unveil the statue. The government is developing YSR Smruthi Vanam, a memorial, over 22 acres of land. An all-religion prayer, video film display and special photo exhibition on YSR were held during one of the main programmes in the state capital.
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600 YSR's statues to come up in Andhra

Hyderabad, Sep 2 : To commemorate the first death anniversary of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, his supporters are planning to build nearly 600 statues all over the state."He is such a great leader that he will stay in our hearts forever. He is an ideal for the coming generation and we have to take forward his wishes,'' said his son Jagan Mohan, who has defied his party, the Congress', orders repeatedly on his "odarpu yatra." The Congress wanted Jagan to call of his tour, but YSR Junior said that he will still go on the yatra in Prakasam district from September 3.Jagan Mohan will meet the families who claim that in the weeks after YSR's death, their relatives died from shock and grief. There are some 600 such families in the entire state. However, with over one lakh rupees spent on each statue, some voters express their dissent. "The money spent on the statues could have been used for improving the hygiene of Hyderabad and the rest of Andhra Pradesh,'' said a Congress follower."There is nothing wrong in erecting a statue but there should be some limit to this madness. YSR supporters and loyalists in the Congress can plant saplings and ensure that these become trees. So, even if you plant one lakh or one crore trees, it will be an eco-friendly way to remember YS Rajashekara Reddy's legacy,'' commented political analyst K Nageshwar.
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Manmohan Singh offers prayers at Tirupati temple

Hyderabad, Sep 1: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday offered prayers at the famous Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh.On a visit to the temple town to lay the foundation stone for two projects, he visited the temple atop Tirumala Hills. Priests and officials of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which manages the affairs of the country's richest temple, accorded traditional reception to Singh at Ranganayaka Mandapam. The priests blessed him amid chanting of vedic hymns. Andhra Pradesh Endowments Minister G. Venkat Reddy offered "prasadam", a sacred silk cloth and holy water to the prime minister. Accompanied by priests, Singh later went into the sanctum sanctorum and offered prayers to the Lord's idol. This was Singh's second visit to the ancient temple as prime minister. He had earlier offered prayers in September 2005.
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PM lays foundation stone for Tirupati international airport

Hyderabad, Sep 1 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Tirupati international airport to provide direct connectivity from various international destinations to the temple town in Andhra Pradesh."After international operations commence at Tirupati airport, pilgrims from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka would find it easier to come to Tirupati in large numbers, contributing to its development into a major religious-cum-tourist hub," he said. The prime minister noted that the entire investment for the new integrated terminal is being met through the budgetary resources of the government. The first phase of the project is estimated to cost Rs.174 crore. The state government has already handed over 293 acres of land out of the 718 acres committed for modernization and development of the airport. Singh said once the new integrated terminal becomes operational, the Tirupati airport will have the capacity to handle 500 domestic and 200 international passengers during peak hours. The new terminal building will be equipped to provide modern state of the art amenities to passengers. He said the civil aviation sector is a key contributor to the Indian economy. "With our fast economic development, air traffic in India has witnessed unprecedented growth in the recent past. During the last seven years, domestic air traffic has tripled and international traffic more than doubled. Our government has continuously been making efforts to meet the growing demand for air services in the country." Singh said the new integrated terminal complex was a part of the efforts to continuously modernize and develop infrastructure facilities at airports all over the country, keeping in view the existing and potential traffic in a particular region. The government has taken the route of public private partnerships to restructure and modernize the airports at Delhi and Mumbai. The recently inaugurated terminal at the Delhi Airport is truly a world class facility which the nation can be proud of, he said.
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PM visits Lord Balaji temple

Tirupati, Sept 1 : Priests at the Lord Balaji temple in Tirumala accorded the traditional welcome to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as he visited the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara to offer prayers.The temple priests, chanting vedic hymns, escorted the Prime Minister to the sanctum sanctorum where he had darshan of the Lord. Dr Manmohan Singh prayed before the idol for about 10 minutes before leaving the temple. The Prime Minister also made an offering at the temple hundi. Dr Manmohan Singh was presented with the traditional silk cloth, the famed Tirupati laddu Prasad and holy water by state Endowments Minister Gade Venkata Reddy. Earlier, the Prime Minister's visit was marred by an attempt by Activists of Madiga ReservationPorata Samithi (MRPS) to block his convoy.The MRPS activists raised slogans demanding that the Centre categorise the Scheduled Castes in the state. The protest was dispersed by the police. The incident took place just as the Prime Minister was due to leave for the temple from the Padmavathi Guest House after his arrival in the temple town by a special IAF aircraft.
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Jagan an 'ant' before High Command: Shankar Rao

Hyderabad, Sept 1 : Secunderabad Cantonment MLA P Shankara Rao on Wednesday described the Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as an 'ant' before the High Command.Talking to media persons at the Media Point on the Assembly premises, Mr Shankar Rao alleged that Kadapa MP, in the name of consoling families and providing them financial support through is Odarpu Yatra, is attempting to showcase his popularity by mobilizing people in the Yatra.The MLA wondered, "What he has achieved in the name of Odarpu yatra? Instead of consoling the families of those who died of shock following the death of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, he is simply greeting them and seeking their blessings," he said.Mr Shankar Rao said that YSR established his presence in the Congress party by obeying the High Command orders. He regretted that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy is not following the High Command orders. "What is Jagan's age? What political experience has he got that he can defy the High Command? The MLA questioned.The MLA reminded Mr Jaganmohan Reddy that the government has renamed Kadapa district as YSR district as recognition of the former chief minister's services to the people. Mr Shankar Rao opined that now it the time for Mr Jaganmohan Reddy to call of the Odarpu Yatra since the AICC has promised to sanction Rs 1 lakh as ex-gratia for the kin of those who died following YSR's death. The Cantonment MLA also praised Chief Minister K Rosaiah for providing efficient administration without giving room for any corruption.He also lauded Mr Rosaiah for taking stringent action against corrupt officials—Principal Secretary, Industries and Commerce B P Acharya and special officer TTD Dharma Reddy.Mr Shankar Rao also urged Mr Rosaiah to appoint a Telangana candidate as chairman for TTD Board as no one from Telangana region had been appointed to the post yet.
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Peri Reddy named interim SHRC chairman

Hyderabad, Sept 1: The state government on Wednesday appointed K Peda Peri Reddy as the interim chairman of Andhra Pradesh Human Rights Commission.The appointment of Justice Peri Reddy follows the retirement of former chairman Justice Subhashan Reddy. The post is lying vacant since Justice Subhashan Reddy retired on August 12.Justice Peri Reddy, presently member of the Human Rights Commission, will officiate as its chairman till the decision is made on the next chairman by the government.
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