Andhra Pradesh

Vijayawada, December 19: The PRP chief, Mr K. Chiranjeevi, has termed the indefinite fast of TDP chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, on farmers’ problems as politically motivated.

Warangal, December 17: Within the massed ranks of the Mahagarjana, developments on the Jagan Mohan Reddy front, important though they may be for AP, appeared to hold no interest for the assembled throng. The man who carried a Samaikya Andhra placard into Parliament last year and thus became a red rag for Telangana separatists today raises no more than a quizzical eyebrow.

Hyderabad, December 17: In Hyderabad for a farewell visit before submitting their much-awaited report on the future of Andhra Pradesh, members of the Srikrishna Committee today said they will not deliver a commentary on the state of affairs in AP but render constructive suggestions on its development.

Member-secretary V K Duggal said the report would be objective and its recommendations in the best interests of the people, and will be delivered in time. “The state is bigger than political parties and the nation bigger than any state,” he said.

Hyderabad, December 17: It seems people in the city are in a mad rush to drive four-wheelers.

With the number of waiting days for the driving test at Nagole centre increasing, Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials have been forced to come up with one more test track from Saturday. Officials have also sent a proposal to the government to provide land so that four more driving tracks can be set up.

RTA officials said as of now there were five dedicated tracks for four-wheelers, four for two-wheelers and one track for heavy vehicles in Nagole.

Warangal, December 17: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao addressed a mammoth public meeting here Thursday and warned the central government not to test the patience of people of Telangana any further and implement the process for formation of a separate state.

Urging the government to abide by its Dec 9, 2009 statement on Telangana, he demanded that a bill for formation of Telangana be tabled and passed in the budget session of parliament in February.

Hyderabad, December 17: The CPI has welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to monitor the ongoing CBI probe into the 2G spectrum scam but insisted that it couldn’t be a substitute for a joint parliamentary committee.

Hyderabad, December 17: A division bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday vacated a stay on investigation into the alleged illegal mining in Obulapuram, paving the way for a CBI probe into it.

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Nissar Ahmed Kakru and Justice Vilas Afzalpurkar, allowed appeals filed by the CBI and the State government against interim orders restraining the investigating agency from going ahead with its probe.

Hyderabad, December 17: The Opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) demanded that the recent flood ravage should be declared a national calamity and the Centre should release funds liberally.

During a short discussion on farmers’ problems in the state Assembly today, Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu demanded that the state government should prevail upon the Centre to see that the flood damage is declared a national calamity. “The sops announced by chief minister are insufficient to farmers. The input subsidy should be at least Rs 10,000 per acre,” he demanded.

Hyderabad, December 17: In what could be a body-blow to erring Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs), the state government is proposing to cap their “interest rate spread” at 8 per cent. In its 38- page report submitted to the RBI-constituted Y H Malegam Committee, the government on Thursday, recommended that the state be allowed to regulate interest rates and also prevent MFIs from raising funds from stock markets and private equity investors with a profit-motive.

Warangal, December 17: In circles of the clever, K Chandrasekhar Rao suffers from a credibility gap. But here among the believers, he is unquestioned. Though there are differing perceptions about his machiavellian tactics, most of the assemblage think he is the best bet to achieve their dream state.

Listen to R Shankar, a teacher from Warangal: “See the crowd for yourself. He gave a call and people are here in lakhs. That is what a leader is all about.” He himself has no doubts about KCR’s intentions.

Guntur: The number of leaders switching allegiance to the Jagan camp is increasing with each passing day. It is now the turn of key Telugu Desam Party leader from Guntur district, Makineni Peda Rathaiah.

Peda Rathaiah met Y V Subba Reddy, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s uncle, here and they travelled together from Guntur to Mangalagiri where the TDP leader got down from Subba Reddy’s car.

Peda Rathaiah’s decision is a big blow to the TDP as he is a popular leader representing a community that traditionally supports the TDP.

Hyderabad, December 17: The Andhra Pradesh High Court allowed the CBI to probe the alleged iron ore mining irregularities in the state and in neighbouring Karnataka.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru and Justice Vilas V Afzalpurkar, while vacating an earlier stay, gave the green signal to the Central agency to go ahead with the investigation.

Guntur, December 17: Ambati Rambabu , a staunch loyalist of YS Jaganmohan Reddy, has lambasted the Congress high command for instigating income tax and enforcement directorate raids on Jagan’s industries and establishments like Jagathi Publications, the publishers of Sakshi Telugu daily, and on the companies of others who invested in Jagan’s industries.

Talking with reporters here today, Rambabu said Jagan was not afraid of such acts of intimidation and blackmail.

Hyderabad, December 17: Christian Network International (CNI) in association with Subhavaartha Television will present a unique maiden Christmas cruise on the Hussain Sagar on December 17 between 4 and 8 p.m. This is for the first time in the city that a floating Christmas celebration would be held.

On the occasion, the popular boat, Bhagirathi will be decorated with Christmas trees and Santa Claus. It will also host a sound and light show, ghazals and cutting of the Christmas cake.

Warangal, December 17: Mahagarjana today was a gathering of diehards. While there was much anticipation about the contents of the Srikrishna Committee report — due on Dec. 31 — the youthful crowd at the pink festival here today was vocal in what they expect from the panel: T and nothing else. A development package, perhaps? Not enough.

Hyderabad, December 17: In a major relief to distressed farmers, the State government on Thursday waived interest on crop loans borrowed this year and enhanced input subsidy to all major crops. This is the first time that it has announced interest waiver on its own.

Hike in input subsidy means farmers will now get Rs 6,000 per hectare instead of the Rs 4,000 being given by the Centre. The additional Rs 2,000 will be contributed by the State government.

Vijayawada, December 17: A former MLA from Vijayawada city, Jaleel Khan on Thursday said that most of the Muslims in the state are supporters of former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

Talking to media persons, the former MLA said that the Muslim community has confidence in Mr Jaganmohan Reddy as he would also look after their welfare if he comes to power.

Warangal, December 17: On a day when the Srikrishna Committee was in Hyderabad for a farewell round of calls, the TRS Mahagarjana in Hanmakonda worked up a roar loud enough to be heard in the capital.

Attended by several lakhs of people from all over the region, the public meeting served an ultimatum to the Centre to deliver the promise it made on Dec. 9 last year and introduce a bill on separate Telangana in the budget session of Parliament by February of the new year.

Else, the people would launch a satyagraha ruled by uncontrollable passions.

Hyderabad, December 17: Demanding that the Centre introduce a bill in the budget session of Parliament for formation of a separate Telangana state, TRS and various people’s organisations today warned that they will start a non -cooperation agitation if the demand was not accepted.

Warangal, December 17: Telangana Rashtriya Samithi urged the government to present formation of separate Telangana state bill during the budget session of the parliament. TRS will continue peaceful protest along with other parties and organizations. However if this bill is not produced in the budget session of the parliament then Telangana movement could take a violent turn and government would be responsible for this.

TRS also announced that non cooperation movement would be started if the bill is not produced before the parliament.

Hyderabad, December 15: Congress MLA from Jubilee Hills Assembly constituency, P Vishnuvardhan Reddy, allegedly abused Ramesh Babu, an assistant city planner (ACP) of Circle X, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

In protest against the incident, all the town planning staff and officials of all the 18 circles in GHMC have decided to go a mass casual leave from tomorrow. They will not attend duties until action is initiated against the MLA.

Hyderabad, December 16: Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu today demanded that the central government declare the heavy rains and floods in Andhra Pradesh during the year as a national calamity.

Initiating the debate on ‘Problems faced by farmers due to recent floods and heavy rains’ under the Short Discussion in the Assembly, Naidu demanded `10,000 per acre as compensation to each paddy farmer and `5,000 each to those who had sold their crop.

Hyderabad, December 15: CPI general secretary AB Bardhan today said a nationwide campaign against corruption was high on his party’s agenda in the wake of the mindboggling 2G spectrum scam that has rocked the nation.

The CPI, along with other left and non-NDA parties, would organise public meetings in all state capitals to ‘expose the UPA’s corruption’, he said.

Hyderabad, December 16: The state government will come out with a package for the benefit of farmers affected by the recent rains. The size of the package would be about Rs.600 crore. Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will make an announcement in the Assembly on the package on December 16, the last day of the winter session of the Assembly.

Kurnool, December 16: The former Mayor of Kurnool and senior TDP leader, Mr Bangi Ananthaiah, who is known for staging novel protests, has done it again.

This time, Mr Ananthaiah expressed his protest against the steep hike in petrol and diesel prices that come into effect from Wednesday, peddled a cycle-rickshaw. He also hit himself with his own slipper saying that it was time to dislodge the Congress government at the Centre from power.