Andhra Pradesh

Hyderabad, December 08: FIFTY years of AP’s history shows that the economic development process has marginalized the Telangana region of the State. Before the merger with Andhra State, Telangana, which was part of the Hyderabad State, was doing well in terms of agricultural and industrial development.

But the process of development has been disrupted, ironically, by the policies pursued by the successive governments of Andhra Pradesh, formed with the merger of Telangana and Andhra State.

Hyderabad, December 08: With the State Government deciding against introducing a resolution in the ongoing winter session of the Assembly urging the Centre to take a favourable decision on statehood for Telangana, TRS members have decided to move a private resolution.

Hyderabad, December 08: A solemn function was organised, to observe the Armed Forces Flag day, by the Department of Sainik Welfare, Government of Andhra Pradesh at Raj Bhavan on Monday.

War widows, battle-disabled soldiers, distinguished award winners from the State were honoured on this occasion.

This day is observed across the country to express solidarity and gratitude to Armed Forces and ex-servicemen. Governor N D Tiwari in his address, recalled the sacrifices made by the defence personnel during various wars that the country fought.

New Delhi, December 08: After eight days of violent protests demanding a separate Telangana State disrupted life in the region, a worried leadership of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh is looking to the high command for an initiative to resolve the deadlock.

Vishakapatnam, December 07: There are several structural problems with the nature of higher education in the country. While the National Knowledge Commission (NKC) has stressed upon the need for improving the overall enrollment rate, concerns have also been expressed about the quality of education, limited access for disadvantaged sections and the ill-effects of increasing commercialisation of education, said Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan.

Bhadrachalam, December 07: Four people were killed and one person sustained injuries in a bomb blast triggered by Maoists at Ramavaram village under Sukumar police station limits in a dense forest area in Dantevada district of Chattisgarh on Sunday.

According to the police, the incident occurred around 3 p.m today at Ramavaram, 30 km away from Andhra Pradesh border.

The incident took place when five persons were travelling by an hired truck to Chhattisgarh from Bhadrachalam town in Khammam district.

Vijayawada, December 07: Sri Durga Malleswara Swamy Varla Devasthanam, Indrakeeladri, is all set for the conclusion of Bhavani Deekshalu-2009 to be held from December 8 to 12.

The temple authorities are making elaborate arrangements for the five-day event.

Temple Executive Officer N Vijay Kumar is supervising the arrangements to ensure that pilgrims did not face any inconvenience.

Bhimavaram, December 07: The tiny village of Natta Rameswaram, in Penumantra mandal of West Godavari district, is in the news nowadays, with a family there engaged in the making of “Telangana Talli’’ statues, among others.

On learning that one Kesava Rao Vadayar and his son, Arun Prasad, were involved in this pursuit, some members of Pratyekandhra went to the village and asked them to stop making the Talli statues.

Hyderabad, December 07: The Telangana Settlers Forum today extended support to the demand for statehood and to the 48-hour bandh.

In a press release here today, forum convener Katragadda Prasuna and co-convener Kanuri Jayasri said industries, educational institutions and business establishments set up by settlers would in fact help Telangana develop. “Let us all unite to achieve separate Telangana,’’ they appealed to the agitators.

The forum leaders said they identified with Telangana culture and were committed to the development of the region.

Hyderabad, December 07: Telangana appears to be spinning out of control with hundreds of Telangana Rashtriya Samiti activists Monday resorting to violence in Hyderabad and surrounding areas.

Hundreds of agitated TRS supporters resorted to stone pelting outside the Osmania University in Hyderabad while raising slogans for a separate Telangana state.

In a bid to control the agitated TRS supporters, police had to resort to mild lathicharge.

A group of violent TRS supporters also blocked the movement of trains in Karimnagar district.

Guntur: A protocol row was witnessed at a meeting of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) Vigilance and Monitoring Committee chaired by Union Minister of State for Textiles P Lakshmi here on Sunday.

Narasaraopet Telugu Desam Party MP M Venugopala Reddy protested against the absence of a seat for him on the dais as he is the co-chairperson of the Committee.

Regretting lapse, Lakshmi and Collector B S R Anjaneyulu repeately requested Reddy to come to the dais. But he declined to oblige them.

Hyderabad, December 06:The state government has decided to pass a resolution in the Assembly in the ensuing winter session urging the Centre to withdraw clause 14(F) from the Presidential Order that would end the controversy over Hyderabad Free Zone. It also decided to withdraw criminal cases filed against the TRS Chief, Mr K Chandrasekhara Rao (KCR) in connection with his fast-unto-death.

Kadapa, December 06: Y S Vijayalakshmi, widow of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was today elected unopposed to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly from Pulivendula constituency.

The bypoll was held to fill the vacancy caused by the death of her husband in an helicopter crash on September 2.

Her election was a milestone as it was the first time that a person was elected to AP Assembly without a contest from Rayalaseema region of the state.

Tirupati, December 06: On the lines of two-wheelers, the State government is planning to impose life tax on the Autos, State Transport Minister Sathrucherla Vijayaramaraju said here today.

While conducting a regional sadassu on transport with the officials of Road Transport belongs to five districts here, the Minister said that its department has put its revenue target of Rs 2,200 crores in the financial year and transport is playing a key role in development of the country.

Karimnagar, December 05: Students demanding separate Telangana attempted attack on the house of a Congress leader besides organising protests and hunger strike in various parts of the district today. Some unknown miscreants set afire the office of divisional engineer of Sriram Sagar Project in Odela, 40 kms from here, sources said.

Nalgonda, December 05: The body of TRS activist Kasoju Srikanth Chary, who succumbed to burns last night at the Apollo Hospitals at DMRL in Hyderabad, was cremated at his native place Podichedu in Mothkur mandal late this evening.

TRS leaders Etela Rajender, party official spokesperson G Jagadeeswar Reddy participated in funeral ceremony performed in the village. Speaking to mediapersons, the party leaders said ten persons died for the cause of Telangana during the last five days.

Vishakapatnam, December 05: The Ramakrishna beach here reflected a war zone as well as a tourist spot, what with hundreds of people lining up the beach to watch the annual operational display of the Eastern Naval Command’s might.

Vishakapatnam, December 05: All arrangements have been made for the 76th convocation of Andhra University to be held at the CR Reddy convocation hall at 6 pm tomorrow.

Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan will deliver the convocation address.

University Chancellor and Governor ND Tiwari will preside over the programme.

The university will confer LLD (Doctor of Law) on C h i e f Ju s t i c e KG Balakrishnan; D.Litt (Doctor of Letters) on Lt Governor of Puducherry Iqbal Singh and GMR Group chairman Grandhi Mallikarjuna Rao; and Kalaprapurna on playback singer SP Balasubrahmanyam.

Hyderabad, December 05: Venkatachary appears shattered. ‘‘I cannot believe it,’’ he says, disbelief writ large on his face, as he waits for his son’s body at the Osmania Hospital mortuary.

Kurnool, December 05: Eight pilgrims, including five women, were killed and three others seriously injured when a jeep rammed into a lorry near Panyam in Kurnool district in the early hours of Friday.

The accident occurred when the speeding jeep rammed into an oncoming lorry. Under the impact of the collision, the pilgrims were thrown out of the jeep and their bodies lay scattered on the road before an 108 ambulance arrived to shift the injured to the nearby area hospital. Two children survived the mishap. Police said the jeep was heading towards Hyderabad from Tirupati.

Hyderabad, December 04: If S Amruthaiah was clever enough to change his mobile number to ensure that the investigators did not track him down through cell phone tower location, the sleuths of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) proved they were more smart.

As Amruthaiah had changed his mobile number, the sleuths managed to lay their hands on the number belonging to one of his close relative which eventualy led to Amruthaiah’s arrest.

Kadapa. December 03: YS Vijayalakshmi is the new MLA of Pulivendula, albeit unofficially, with no other person filing nomination Wednesday, which happens to be the last day for filing papers for Pulivendula Assembly constituency byelection.

With the untimely demise of YS Rajasekhara Reddy in a chopper crash in Nallamalla forests, the byelections for Pulivendula became imminent.

On the directions of AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Vijayalakshmi, wife of the departed leader, filed her nominations on Tuesday as the Congress Party nominee.

New Delhi, December 03: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday asked Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa to drop Gali Janardhan Reddy brothers from the ministry for illegal mining activities by the company owned by them.

Accusing owners of the Obulapuram Mining Company Gali Janardhan Reddy brothers of indulging in illegal mining activities in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka and dictating terms in both the states with the ill-gotten money, Chandrababu said that Karnataka Chief Minister has totally surrendered before the mining mafia.

Khammam. December 03: At last the officials succeeded in administering saline to TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao forcibly in the Government Hospital in the wee hours of Wednesday. Rao was administered saline by the doctors as per the directives of the Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission.

The doctors said Chandrasekar Rao’s health condition was deteriorating as he was not taking food since Sunday night.

District Collector V Usha Rani discussed with the doctors and requested Rao to let doctors administer saline and medicines.

Hyderabad, December 03: A five-member delegation of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) led by former MP B. Vinod Kumar left from New Delhi on Wednesday night to mobilise support of other political parties on the statehood cause.

Comprising R.Vidyasagar Rao, A.Chandulal, C. Satyanarayana Reddy and MLA E. Ravinder Reddy, the delegation plans to meet leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that had earlier supported the cause of separate Telangana.