Month: January 2010

Advani expresses concern over ‘judicial corruption’

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Bhopal, January 31: “Around 20-25 years back one began hearing about bureaucratic corruption, then it was of political corruption, but now there is also talk of judicial corruption,” this was how veteran BJP leader L K Advani today expressed his anguish on the reported incidents of graft in the legal circle.

“I am sad that these days we even hear talk of corruption in judicial quarters,” he said at a conference of newly-elected BJP corporators of local bodies at the Chief Minister’s residence.

PCB will appoint a younger captain: Ejaz Butt

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Karachi, January 31: Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Ejaz Butt today ruled out a complete overhaul of the team after their disastrous tour of Australia but said a younger skipper will replace Mohammad Yousuf.

“Ideally, a younger player could have been chosen to lead Pakistan, but Australia is not the place to experiment. So, the choice fell on the senior-most player Mohammad Yousuf. Now we would like to hand over the reins to a younger captain who can lead the side for a longer period,” Butt told a television channel.

RSS concern for Hindi-speakers not sincere, says Congress

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New Delhi, January 31: The Congress Sunday accused the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of “double-speak” on preventing spread of linguistic chauvinism in Maharashtra.

Congress spokesman Shakeel Ahmed said that if the RSS was genuinely concerned in protecting the Hindi-speaking people in Maharashtra, it should ask the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to snap ties with the Shiv Sena.

Nitish watches 3-Idiots along with old associates

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Patna, January 31: Unruffled by his old friend and state JD(U) president Rajiv Ranjan alias Lallan Singh launching a tirade against him, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today watched the movie ‘3 Idiots’ with four of his old associates.

Emerging out of the cinema hall, Kumar, when asked by the media about the prevailing situation in the party and Lallan raising the banner of revolt against him, quoted the song from the film, “all is well … that is what I want to say”, adding Aamir Khan and others deserve kudos for making such an absorbing film.

Government taking steps to check food prices: Pranab

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Barala (West Bengal), January 31: The government is trying to manage the “supply side” and “demand side” in a bid to contain rising food prices, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced Sunday.

“The government is taking necessary steps to contain the food price inflation. There are two ways to manage inflation – supply-side management and demand-side management.

Power is not the mission of BJP, says Advani

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Bhopal, January 31: Insisting that attaining power is not the mission of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), senior party leader L K Advani Sunday called upon BJP workers to root out corruption and work for the welfare of the people.

Addressing a convention of newly-elected office bearers of civic bodies in Madhya Pradesh here, the former Deputy Prime Minister said that power is not the mission of the BJP, which has always stood for the welfare of the people.

Advani said that he was happy to see that the BJP governments in states were working for the uplift of the poor.

Ashok Leyland posts Rs.104 crore profit

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Chennai, January 31: Commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland has closed its third quarter ended Dec 31 with a net profit of Rs.104.63 crore on a turnover of Rs.1,815.53 crore as against Rs.18.86 crore profit and Rs.1,004.49 crore turnover posted during the corresponding period the previous year.

According to a company statement Sunday, sales volume for the quarter showed an increase of 101 percent at 16,129 units (8,011 units) and parts sales rose by 91 percent.

Afridi banned for two T20 matches: reports

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Karachi, January 31: International Cricket Council (ICC) Sunday banned Pakistan’s skipper Shahid Afridi for two Twenty20 matches, Geo TV reported.

Afridi, who was leading the side in the final One-day International (ODI) against Australia in the absence of an injured Mohammad Yousuf, was caught by TV cameras appearing to chew on one side of the white ball, shortly before the umpires changed it at the end of the 45th over.

Afridi admitted the charge, after which the match referee slapped the ban, the Karachi- based television channel reported.

Over 60 lakh worship at Medaram jatara

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Warrangal, January 31: Over 60 lakh pilgrims worshipped deities Sammakka and Saralamma at Medaram till the third day of the Jatara today.

While 5 lakh pilgrims travelled by RTC buses to the Jatara, the others came by private vehicles. The Jatara will conclude on Saturday with the tribal priests taking back Sammakka to the forest. District Collector N Sridhar has directed the officials to camp at Medaram till the festival concluded.

The Collector and Superintendent of Police Shahnawaz Qasim were personally monitoring the arrangements.

‘My priority is to protect interests of State’

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Hyderabad, January 31: In the backdrop of enmasse resignations by the MLAs representing various political parties on the bifurcation issue, Assembly Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy Saturday said had he accepted the resignations immediately the State would have witnessed another election resulting in an additional expenditure of about Rs.100 crore by the Government.

Government assures support for IPL match in city

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Hyderabad, January 31: Sports Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy today invited the organisers of Indian Premier League-3 tournament to conduct the inaugural match at Hyderabad on March 12. He assured that the State Government will provide all necessary support to conduct the matches without any hassles.

Assembly session from Feb 15

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Hyderabad, January 31: Budget session of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly will commence from February 15 and the Government will present the State budget (for 2010-11 financial year) on Feb 20.

At the State cabinet meeting Chief Minister K Rosaiah reportedly told his Cabinet colleagues that he will discuss about the budget preparations at the next Cabinet meet.

–Agencies

Second phase of pulse polio on Feb 7

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Hyderabad, January 31: As part of the National Immunisation Programme, as many as 6,01,358 children below five years will be administered polio drops here during the second phase of pulse polio immunisation programme to be held on Feb 7.

A total of 3,200 polio booths will be set up to administer polio drops to children aged between 0-5 years in the twin cities. In addition, 385 mobile teams are being pressed into service to cover children of migrated families, temples, gurudwaras, churches, mosques, marriage halls, construction sites, public parks, temporary settlements and markets.

Speaker rejects MLAs’ Resignations

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Hyderabad, January 31: Putting to rest speculations of a possible Constitutional crisis in the State, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly N Kirankumar Reddy Saturday rejected, barring one, all the resignations letters submitted by the legislators on technical grounds.

Holy dip turns ride to heaven

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Narsapur, January 31: An early morning boat journey by villagers going for a holy dip in the Godavari turned tragic after the boat capsized drowning 12 persons at Biyyaputippa village of Narsapur mandal in West Godavari district Saturday.

Schoolgirl kidnapped in filmi style

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Vijayawada, January 31: Posing a challenge to Vijayawada city police, three miscreants kidnapped a schoolgirl in a filmi style by killing car driver Lakshmana Rao in broad daylight here Saturday.

The incident occurred on the new BRTS road at Satyanarayanapuram railway quarters around 8.15 a.m.

Governor releases CD of Annamayya Keertans

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Tirumala, January 31: Annamayya Swara Latarchana audio CD was released by Governor ESL Narasimhan here Saturday. The first CD of Annamacharya Sankeertans rendered by singing legend Bharat Ratna Lata Mangeshkar was presented to Chief Minister K Rosaiah. Later, Annamayya Swara Latarchana CDs were presented to Madhya Pradesh Governor Rameshwar Thakur, Lata and TTD Chairman DK Audikesavulu Naidu.

TD-Seemandhra leaders vow to intensify stir

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Hyderabad, January 31: Opposing the bifurcation of the State, Seemandhra leaders of the TDP have decided to meet at NTR Bhavan, once the proposed Central committee on Telangana was announced officially. Andhra and Rayalaseema MLAs of the party met here Saturday and decided to intensify the agitation for united State.

However, they said that they would meet again once the Centre announces the committee on Telangana.

“We will chalk out future course of action after the proposed T committee is out,’’ a TDP MLA said.

Five held for indulging in piracy of books

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Hyderabad, January 31: Five persons who were indulging in piracy of books were nabbed by the sleuths of the Central Crime Station (CCS) and pirated books worth several lakhs of rupees were seized at their instance.

Elchuri Venkat Rao, a prominent health evangelist, who runs the health magazine `Andariki Ayurvedam’ recently lodged a complaint with the CCS stating that some of the officials working under him have been illegally publishing three different periodical magazines penned by him.

Veil of Maya still mesmerises

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Hyderabad, January 31: Nearly 53 years after its release, it still holds viewers in captivity.

The colour version of the Telugu film classic, Mayabazaar, hit the screens today in packed cinemas. And tickets have been booked solid for the next couple of weeks.

Those who saw the black and white blockbuster as children or young adults showed up with GenX and for a couple of hours the generation gap was bridged. Teenager or octogenarian, the response was ecstatic.

The oldies, however, sounded one note of disappointment — two songs from the B/W version were missing.

Teachers hail Government decision

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Hyderabad, January 31: The Affiliated College Teachers Association, Andhra Pradesh, thanked Chief Minister K Rosaiah for implementing the revised UGC scales in the State. In a press release, association general secretary G Mallikarjuna Rao said the decision would benefit around 10,000 teachers in the State.

A paradise for sure

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Hyderabad, January 31: I’ve been wanting to go there for years now, finally with the political turmoil stabilising, I got my chance.

The visa officials in Lanka actually smile at you and are friendly just like all the other people in the airport and the country itself.

I head straight to Kandy from the Colombo airport. The road to Kandy reminds me a lot of Ooty.

Centre delaying T process: CPM

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Hyderabad, January 31: CPM State secretary BV Raghavulu said that by merely appointing a committee will not be sufficient for carving out Telangana, but the Centre should fix a time-frame for the committee.

Gambhir predicts tough series against South Africa

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Chennai, January 31: Indian opener Gautam Gambhir predicted a tough series against visiting South Africa next month and even more so in the absence of Rahul Dravid who is out of action with a fractured jaw he suffered during the recently concluded series in Bangladesh.

Gambhir, signed up by MRF last year, was here Sunday to flag-off the Formula 1600 race in the MRF Challenge series and during his interaction with the Media. He hoped that India, having begun the year well, would carry the momentum against South Africa.

Naqvi courts arrest over price rise

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Rampur (UP), January 31: Protesting against the Centre over spiralling price rise, Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi along with hundreds of party activists formed human chain and jammed highway before courting arrest here today.

Addressing a gathering, the BJP vice-president demanded formation of a Parliamentary committee to investigate the issue.

Naqvi alleged that there was a scam involved in the export and import of food grains and BJP would soon launch a movement to expose it.
–PTI