TDP demands arrest of KCR—provocative remarks

Hyderabad, November 11:The TDP MLC, Mrs Nannapaneni Rajakumari on Wednesday demanded for immediate arrest of the TRS Chief, Mr K Chandrasekhara Rao for provocation of disparities and promoting enmity between the people of Telangana and Andhra regions.

Speaking to the media persons before meeting the Chief Minister, Mr K Rosaiah in the Secretariat here, Mrs Rajakumari stated that she would ask the Chief Minister to take a tough stand against the politicians who were provoking the regional feelings. Such persons should be arrested, if needed, she added.

Heavy rain likely in southern districts

Nellore, November 10: The State Government Monday directed the district collectors to be on constant vigil as both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka continue to receive heavy rainfall. Officials have been asked to take all precautionary measures to prevent further damage in case of heavy rains.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah ordered plugging of breaches to minor irrigation tanks and canals immediately to prevent further flood damage to crops. He also wanted repairs to damaged roads and culverts to restore normalcy in areas affected by heavy downpour in the last four days.

KCR meets President, seeks formation of T state

New Delhi, November 10: Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has intensified lobbying in the national capital for Telangana state.

A TRS delegation led by party president K Chandrasekhara Rao met President Pratibha Patil at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here today in this regard and urged her to direct Central Government to announce formation of Telangana state, a long-pending demand of the people of the region.

The TRS leadership submitted a memorandum to president and explained the T-issue. TRS leadership categorically stated that the Central government did not fulfil

Family clueless about kidnapped engineer

Gannavaram, November 10: A disquieting hush hangs over the home here of Polagani Krishna Rao, the engineer kidnapped by Bodo militants in Assam 23 days ago.

The frightened family, clueless as to his whereabouts, are wary of speaking to the media, but 80-year-old Saraswathamma pricks up her ears whenenver anyone visits, hoping to hear news of the safety of her son. Krishna Rao’s wife, Rajeswari, is afraid that media reports might only harden the stance of the abductors.

When this Express reporter visited the house in the evening, she was polite but extremely reticent.

E Godavari dist, Govt spending Rs 1, 750 cr, hostel students

Rajahmundry, November 09: Andhra Pradesh Social Welfare Minister P Subash Chandra Bose on Monday said the Government is spending Rs 1,750 crore for fee reimbursement and post-matric stipend to the students staying at various welfare hostels in East Godavari District.

At a meeting here, he asked the officials concerned to take steps to improve facilities in the hostels.

“There was no dearth of funds. Huge amounts are being spent for the welfare of the minority and weaker sections of the society,” he said.

Flood alert in Prakasam

Oongole, November 09: Prakasam District Collector, Kantilal Dande, today alerted the low-lying villages of Allaboinapadu, Ankireddypalem, Sitarampur, Kaluvakonda, Naidupuram and Rallapadu villages under Rallapadu project as the Rallapadu project has been receiving heavy inflows due to incessant rain in the neighbouring Nellore district.

The officials said the Rallapadu project has received 1,000 cusecs and the water level stood at 19 feet.

CM’s meet on drought serves no purpose, says TDP

Tirupati, November 09: District Telugu Desam leaders today alleged that no concrete decision was taken at the review meeting held by Chief Minister K Rosaiah to tackle the drought in Chittoor.

Talking to newsmen here, TDP MLAs Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu, B Gopalakrishna Reddy, Hemalatha and N Amarnatha Reddy and MP N Sivaprasad said everyone expected that the Chief Minister would announce a relief package for the district. But the review meeting on drought proved to be a routine affair, they said.

KCR decries ‘false’ propaganda on temple

Karimnagar, November 09: Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao today asked Andhra land lords and those who occupied lands here illegally to leave Telangana voluntarily.

He, along with his wife, visited Sri Rajarajeshwara Swamy temple, Vemulawada today and performed ‘abhishekam’ and special poojas. Speaking to reporters here, he decried that some Andhra rulers were creating false propaganda over the temple sending wrong message to people.

Stone laid for medical college

Tirupati, November 09: Chief Minister K Rosaiah has said the credit of establishing three IIITs and 16 universities, including a horticultural varsity, in a record time goes to Andhra Pradesh in the country.

Ferro-alloys manufacturing unit at Bobbili soon

Hyderabad, November 09: Chief Minister K Rosaiah will lay the foundation stone soon for construction of a ferro alloys unit at Bobbili in Vizianagaram district soon.

The project, with an initial capital of Rs 200 crore, will be set up by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Visakhapatnam in association with Manganese Ore India Limited, Nagpur.

According to an official press release here today, Union Minister for Steel A Sai Pratap has made request to the chief minister to lay the foundation and the latter gave his consent.

Mopidevi escapes unhurt in mishap

Viajayawada, November 09: Minister for Ports and Infrastructure, Mopedevi Venkataramana escaped unhurt in an a c c i d e n t here today.

The Minister was proceeding to Vijayawada from Pamarru when an RTC bus heading for Machilipatnam from Vijayawada hit his car. Locals said the Minister’s car was going on the wrong route.

Meanwhile, the police said Venkataramana was not in the care when the incident took place. They said that no case was filed.

–Agencies

1,000 Yeddyurappa loyalists held at Zaheerabad

Sangareddy, November 09: Tension prevailed on the outskirts of Zaheerabad when over 1,000 supporters of Karnataka Chief Minister Yeddyurappa proceeding towards Hyderabad where rebel BJP MLAs were camping were detained by the police. The dissidence has thrown Karnataka government into crisis.

T he police swung into action on information that Yeddyurappa loyalists from Bidar and Gulbarga districts were on their way to Hyderabad reportedly to vent their anger against 52 dissident MLAs of the party camping there for over 10 days.

Heavy rains in Andhra ruin crops

Hyderabad, NOvember 09: Heavy rains in five districts over the last three days have left a trail of destruction in Andhra Pradesh, having damaged crops causing losses to local farmers.

Rains have destroyed crops in over 600 hectares, according to preliminary estimates but no human loss has been reported in any of the districts.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah reviewed the situation at a high-level meeting here today and directed the authorities concerned to be on alert despite the low-pressure area moving away towards Lakshadweep.

SC acquits 19 who lynched 5 ‘sorcerers’

New Delhi, November 08: The Supreme Court today acquitted all the 19 persons who were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for killing five persons whom the accused suspected of practising black magic at Thimmapur village in Warangal district.

The apex court said that though the victims were burnt to death in a gory manner, there was not much evidence to establish the guilt of the accused and the High Court had erroneously convicted them.

Special Grade Deputy Collector attempts suicide

Rajahmundry, November 08: A Special Grade Deputy Collector P Chiranjeevi (54), working in the Office of Special Collector (land acquisition) of Indira Sagar Project (ISP) attempted suicide by consuming pesticide here today.
Chiranjeevi came to the office located at Tilak Road here around 9 am and came out vomiting around 11.30 am.

The office staff noticed it and alerted Special Collector Markendeyulu.
Chiranjeevi was immediately shifted to the ICU of the ‘Abhaya’ Hospital. The cause behind the official’s extreme step was yet to be ascertained.

Bardhan for probe against all corrupt ministers

Hyderabad, November 08: CPI general secretary AB Bardhan has demanded that the Centre order an inquiry into the corruption charges made against chief ministers, ministers and other public representatives across the country.
The CPI leader made this demand in the backdrop of former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda’s episode.

‘The main purpose of my visit is to thank Sonia’

Hyderabad, November 08: Chief Minister K Rosaiah’s main objective of visiting the national capital is to thank UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for choosing him as chief minister of the State.

This was disclosed by Rosaiah himself while talking to the media here today for the first time after becoming chief minister.
Though he, as chief minister, had met Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when they visited the State to survey the flood havoc and thanked them for his appointment, he said, he thought it fit for him to go to Delhi and convey his gratitude.

Kanchi Seer’s call to promote Hindu Dharma

Tirupati, November 07: Kanchi Kamakoti Peethadhipati Sri Jayendra Saraswati Swamy today called upon people to strive to uphold Hindu Dharma.

Speaking after releasing a book on Hindu temples in Cambodia written by former MLA and BJP leader NP Venkateswara Choudary, the Kanchi seer said Hinduism was a universal religion.

Promoting the essence of Hinduism all over the globe is the bounden responsibility of every Hindu as it is the only faith that emphasises tolerance and respect to other religions, he said.

Wake up and smell the artistic coffee

Hyderabad, November 07: Swirls of paint, marry on canvas to form myriad colours and tell a story that lies in the eyes of the beholder. The abstract art themed ‘Coffee and Colours’, on display at the Cyber Tower, wowed visitors and art enthusiasts, with its colourful compositions. The combined show was an effort by two city-based painters, Saira Hakim and Niveditha S, and showcased the use of materials like acrylic, oil and even coffee on canvas.

Children find glory in road less travelled

Hyderabad, November 07: Two teenagers from Andhra Pradesh have brought acclaim to the State with their unparallel talent and achievements.

14-year-old Rishi Tej, an artist and 13-yearold Vennam Jyothi Surekha a professional archer have represented India on various international platforms and won laurels for the country.

Rishi Tej, who is from Hyderabad has won awards in the International Child Art Exhibition, Child Art Centre at Skopjee and 6th International Competition in Moscow.

Cockroach in prasadam at Kanipakam temple!

Chittoor, November 07: A Devotee, who visited the Varasiddhivinayaka temple at Kanipakam, near here, for darshan today was surprised to find a dead cockroach in the laddu prasadam.

The devotee, M Ramamurthy, from Goolingspet here, went to the temple along with his wife and children. After darshan they purchased six laddus. He found the cockroach in the laddu which he distributed among his children.

He reported the incident to temple supervisor Ramamurthy, who promised to take the matter to the notice of higher officials for conducting an inquiry.

Fatwa against singing of national song condemned

Adilabad, november 07: The BJYM and the BJP on Friday demanded banning of Jamate Ulema-e-Hind for issuing a fatwa against singing of Vande Mataram by Muslims, the national song.

Leaders of BJYM and BJP also demanded booking of cases for treason against the clerics of a UP Deoband who issued the fatwa in question.

At a press conference, here BJP district general secretary Praful Vaze, BJYM district president N. Nagesh, senior leader Dinesh Matolia and others urged political parties not to give the issue communal overtones.

–Agencies

Dissidents insist on Yeddyurappa’s removal

Bangalore/New Delhi, November 07:Karnataka Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy, who leads the campaign for the removal of Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Saturday rubbished reports of a compromise between the warring groups and said there was no change in his stand on the leadership issue.

“From the beginning I am saying that in the interest of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Karnataka, there should be a better leadership. I stand by it,” he told a crowded press meet here after talks with his elder brother and Revenue Minister G. Karunakara Reddy and Health Minister B. Sriramalu.

Power with social responsibility

Karimnagar, November 06: The National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) in Ramagundam, known generally as a power generating corporation, is also a socially responsible organisation.

The 2600-MW capacity Corporation not only distributes power to the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa and Pondicherry but also organises community development (CD) programmes .