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Stab me, but don’t question my integrity: PC

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Stating that neither he or his family had any connection with Aircel or any other telecom company, an emotional home minister P. Chidambaram on Monday said: “Plunge a dagger in my heart rather than question my integrity.” He was giving a clarification in the Rajya Sabha on allegations that his son’s company was transferred money, before the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) cleared a proposal from Aircel pertaining to its telecom service venture in 2006.

Assets case: Plea seeking de-freezing of accounts rejected

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In a setback to Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy, a special CBI court on Monday dismissed petitions filed by media companies owned and run by the YSR Congress chief, seeking de-freezing of the company bank accounts.

Last week, the CBI froze bank accounts of three Jagan firms – Jagati Publication that runs Sakshi daily, Indira Television that operates Sakshi television and Janani Infrastructure, on the ground that the firms received amounts as quid-pro-quo for favours doled out during YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure.

Congress fate depends on T-decision, says Jana Reddy

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Telangana Congress Steering Committee co-chairman and Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy on Monday said the future of Congress in the State depends on its decision on the Telangana statehood issue.

Talking to media persons, Jana Reddy admitted that the Congress party was in a bad position in Telangana region due to inordinate delay in taking a decision on the statehood issue. However, said party’s position would improve if it take a decision in favour of Telangana State. He asked the Centre to announce its decision on the issue at the earliest.

Gracefully appear for DNA test: Delhi HC to Tiwari

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The Delhi High Court on Monday ordered senior politician and former Andhra Pradesh governor N D Tiwari to either “gracefully appear” for a DNA test or the Delhi police would forcibly conduct the paternity test in connection with a case filed by Rohit Shekhar (31), who claims to be Tiwari’s biological son.

TDP promises to introduce T-resolution in 2014

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Telugu Desam Telangana Forum convenor Errabelli Dayakar Rao on Monday said that the party would move a resolution on Telangana State formation in the State Legislative Assembly if it comes to power in the 2014 elections.

‘Jagan can’t claim credit for welfare programs’

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Dismissing the criticism of Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy that the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh is not effectively implementing the welfare schemes launched by his late father YS Rajasekhara Reddy, senior Congress leaders on Sunday asked how the YSR Congress president can claim credit for the welfare programmes.

Kiran will continue as CM till 2014, says Botsa

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Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Sunday dismissed the media reports that the Congress High Command would remove Kiran Kumar Reddy from the Chief Minister’s post after the by-elections.

Talking to reporters here before leaving for by-elections campaign in Emmiganuru constituency, Botsa said that such media reports were aimed to de-moralise the Congress party cadre. He said Kiran Kumar Reddy would remain the Chief Minister till 2014 elections.

Illegal Indians quitting recession-hit UK?

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Amidst a tougher immigration regime under the David Cameron government, dwindling job opportunities and double-dip recession, many Indian citizens who entered Britain illegally to chase their ‘London Dreams’ are returning home, official figures show.

As a newly-formed task force moves to clear ‘slums’ with illegal immigrants in Southall and elsewhere, the figures show an increase in the number of such Indians (who entered the country illegally) seeking official help to return to India.

CM asks Jagan to introspect his anti-Congress moves

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Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Sunday advised YSR Congress party president Jagan Mohan Reddy to introspect his approach towards the ruling party.

Addressing party workers meeting at Chitveli village, the Chief Minister said that former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy was a loyal Congress worker till his breath. He said YSR never spoke against the Congress party or the High Command. However, Jagan raised a banner of revolt immediately after his father’s death and his politics was centered around the ambition of becoming the Chief Minister.

Pilot Girl friend ride in CM helicopter

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The State Government on Sunday ordered a high level probe into the misuse of official helicopter by a pilot.

Reacting on reports in a section of media that a pilot Varun Gupta and technician Sagar have reported taken their girlfriends for a ride in the State helicopter – Augusta Westland, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has directed the Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi to order an immediate enquiry into the issue.

Sachin should not be honoured with Bharat Ratna: Justice Katju

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Cricketers like Sachin Tendulkar should not be honoured with the Bharat Ratna as the demand to give the award to filmstars and cricket players spoke of ‘the low cultural level’, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju said on Monday.

“Somebody says the award should go to Tendulkar or to Sourav Ganguly. I say it should be given to none of them,” Katju said.

“Sometimes demands are made to give Bharat Ratna to filmstars and cricketers. This shows the low cultural level in the country,” he told a function organised by the Kalidas-Ghalib Foundation run by him in Kolkata.

Lucknow Police files FIR against Nirmal Baba

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The Lucknow Police have registered an FIR against him self-styled godman Nirmal Baba. Nirmal Baba has been charged with cheating, fraud and impersonation under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The Police acted following a local court order based on a complaint filed by an 17-year-old. Tanya Thakur complained after watching the baba’s TV show Nirmal Darbar in which he offers solutions to people’s problems.

Sections under which Nirmal Baba has been charged

– Nirmal Baba has been charged with cheating under Sec 417 of the IPC

Mamata says will be happy to see UPA last full term

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Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, a key ally of the ruling UPA, on Saturday said she would be happy to see UPA-II last its full term. “Let me clear. The half truth was being reported. I would be happy to see UPA-two lasts its full term,” Trinamool Congress spokesperson and MP Lok Sabha poll may be advanced, claims Mamata
Cong says no mid-term polls, BJP endorses Mamata claim.

Her statement came a day after claimed she had information that a political party in Delhi had held a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha poll to 2013 and asked her party men to be ready for it.

Stop Haj subsidy forthwith, 10-yrs long time: RSS

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RSS has welcomed the Supreme Court ruling asking the government to phase out Haj subsidy to Muslim pilgrims and maintained that such “competitive political stunts” should be stopped immediately as it goes against the secular tenets of the country.

“To begin with, it was an unwise decision to bestow favours on one community in a nation that is pledged to treating all religions equal,” RSS mouthpiece Organiser said in the editorial of its latest edition.

Parakal seat: TRS not ready to announce candidate

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The Telangana Rashtra Samiti is being wary in choosing its candidate for the June 12 by-poll to Parakal Assembly seat in Warangal district after its shocking defeat at the hands of BJP in the by-election to Mahbubnagar Assembly seat in March last.

“We have taken the views of party cadres on the choice of candidate. The election committee will meet again tomorrow and list out the prospective candidates who stand a good chance of winning and the names will be submitted to party president K Chandrasekhar Rao”, TRS election committee chairman Nayani Narasimha Reddy said.

TRS accuses BJP of trying to split pro-Telangana votes

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Telangana Rashtra Samithi Medak MP Vijayashanti on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of trying to split the pro-Telangana votes by fielding its candidate from Parakala assembly constituency.

Talking to media persons, Vijayashanti said that the conditions prevailing in Parakala constituency were different compared to Mahbubnagar constituency where the BJP candidate won the recent by-elections. She appealed to the BJP to drop its candidates and support the TRS in the by-elections.

TP-JAC appeals for consensus over Parakala seat

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Telangana Political Joint Action Committee Chairman Prof M Kodandaram on Saturday stated that either the Telangana Rashtra Samithi or the Bharatiya Janata Party would contest from the Parakala Assembly constituency in the ensuing by-elections.

Chiranjeevi slams media for linking him with IT raids

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Rajya Sabha member K Chiranjeevi on Saturday came down heavily on media for linking IT raids at her daughter Sushmita’s in-law house in Chennai with him.

Talking to media persons at his residence, Chiranjeevi alleged that a section of media has launched malicious campaign against him to tarnish his political image. He also ruled out rumours that he stored the money at his daughter’s house to influencing the voters in the election campaign.

Aishwarya is ideal celebrity mom: survey

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Bachchan ‘bahu’ Aishwarya Rai tops the list of the ideal celebrity mothers in Bollywood, a status she shares with her Hollywood counterpart Angelina Jolie, according to a survey.

Altogether 54 per cent of the respondents voted for the former Miss World followed by Karisma Kapoor who got 27 per cent votes as the ideal mother.

Married to Abhishek Bachchan, 38-year-old Aishwarya gave birth to a girl in November last year.

Mamata Banerjee hints at possibility of Lok Sabha polls in 2013

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Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Friday claimed she has information that a political party in Delhi had held a meeting to advance the Lok Sabha poll to 2013 and asked her partymen to be ready for it.
“Anyday, we can face election. We have to remain ready,” she said.

“One party has held a meeting to hold the election in advance, though my information may not be correct,” Banerjee told a meeting of Trinamool Congress without naming the party.

PTI Photo

Step up vigil after hooch tragedy, Excise Dept told

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday directed officials of the Prohibition and Excise Department to step up vigil and check illicit liquor trade in the state.

The Chief Minister’s directive came after four persons died after consuming illicit liquor in Vijayawada this morning.

Reddy has expressed grief over the incident and directed Excise Commissioner Sameer Sharma and Krishna District Collector Syed Ali Murtaza Rizvi to conduct an inquiry and submit a report, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) said in a release here.

HC allows dropping of MCOCA against Abu Salem

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The Delhi High Court on Friday allowed police to drop stringent MCOCA charges from an extortion case against gangster Abu Salem, the order for whose extradition to India has been quashed by the Portuguese Supreme Court allegedly owing to non-observance of extradition terms here.

“The petition of Delhi Police is allowed. The order dated August 28, 2009 passed by the designated lower court is set aside. The state is permitted to withdraw the charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA),” Justice VK Shali said.

CLP justifies restrictions against Shankar Rao

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Congress Legislature Party executive member K Laxma Reddy on Friday justified the restriction for leaders to address press conferences from the CLP office.

Talking to media persons at the CLP office, Laxma Reddy said that the CLP’s executive committee took a unanimous decision over the conduct of press briefings at CLP and it has been made compulsory for all the leaders to take prior permission to hold a presser. He said that some leaders were using the CLP premises to damage the party’s image and targeting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.