Hyderabad put on high alert ahead of Ram Navami rallies

In the backdrop of Sangareddy riot and coming Ram Navami celebrations, Hyderabad has been put on high alert. Intelligence agencies have alerted the police of possible communal clashes in the city during Ram Navami rallies.

The communal environment is being heated up in the city from last few months after the Milad-un-Nabi celebrations. The rising religious events by different communities as ostentation of their strength have already given sleepless nights to the police.

Police arrests CPM state secretary Raghavulu

Police arrested CPM state Secretary BV Raghavulu for protesting against the power tariff hike here today. A larger number of workers led by Mr Rabhavulu observed rasta roko at RTC ‘X’ roads and also burnt the effigy of the state government. The party held a protest rally at various places in the city and also organised dharnas at various district headquarters in the state against the hike by the ruling Congress party. Party leaders and supporters carried kerosene lanterns to highlight the steep power crisis.

Aishwarya laughs at Salman

Industrialist Mukesh and and his wife Nita Ambani threw a lavish party for Sachin Tendulkar’s remarkable 100th century. All the Bollywood biggies graced the occasion. The party brought exes under the same roof. Aishwarya-Salman, Abhishek-Karisma, all gathered at Antilla to celebrate Sachin incredible achievement.

Constable accused of rape, suspended

A constable here was placed under suspension today after he was accused of raping a woman from Borana village, police said. Ajit, the accused constable posted at Chechat police station, had allegedly raped the woman on Thursday. “The victim said that she was on her way to Kota in a passenger jeep when Ajit met her near Modak when the jeep stopped at a stand,” Circle Officer Praveen Jain said.

AP govt provided loans to 1.2 crore farmers in FY12

Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Kanna Lakshiminarayana today said that the state government provided crop and other loans to 1.2 crore farmers in the current financial year compared to 50 lakh persons in Telugu Desam Party rule before 2004. Addressing Rayalaseema regional conference of agriculture officials here, the minister directed the officials to prepare comprehensive plans for distributing seeds and fertilizer to farmers in ensuing Kharif season.

Satya Sai Trust proposes to extend Anantpur water project

The Satya Sai Central Trust has proposed to extend its ‘Anantapur Water Project’ in a view to provide benefit to additional one lakh people from 118 habitations. The chief minister has expressed the government’s appreciation at the initiative taken by the Central Trust and promised to extend all support, a press release issued by the trust this evening at Prasanthi Nilayam said. A team of trustees comprising Sri S V Giri, V. Srinivasan, T.K.K. Bhagawat, S.S. Naganand and R.J. Rathnakar, along with R.Kondal Rao, retired engineer-in-chief and technical advisor to the state government, A.

First swine flu case of the year in Vizag district

First swine flu case has been detected in the district in a thirty-year-old man who is battling for life at a private hospital here, district authorities said today. The man whose identity has been withheld was admitted at a private hospital here following high fever and respiratory complications on March 28, district nodal officer for Swine flu L.B.S.H Devi said, adding this is the first case reported in the city this year.

Radha to join YSR Congress

Former PRP leader Vangaveeti Radha Krishna will be joining the YSR Congress Party. He has met Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is here on his Odarpu Yatra on Friday night and expressed his wish. He has got clearance from Jagan.

Radha was accompanied by former minister and East Godavari leader Jakkampudi Rama Mohan Rao’s son Jakkampudi Raja, brother Chinni, Sunkara Chinni and others. They had discussions with Jagan for over an hour in the residence of former MLA Mekathoti Sucharita.

Padmaraju condemns Jagan’s outbursts against Sonia

Taking serious exception to the outbursts of YSR Congress party Chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy against AICC Chief Sonia Gandhi, Government Whip in the Council Rudraraju Padmaraju has said there was no comparison between Sonia Gandhi and Jagan.

Speaking to the media at the CLP office on Saturday, Padmaraju said that the State government has nothing to do with the CBI probe into Jagan’s assets. He said that the people in the State would hail Jagan if he proved his sincerity by facing CBI inquiry.

Shankar asks Acharya to expose real culprits

Former minister Dr P Shanker Rao has served a notice to senior IAS officer BP Acharya to reveal names of the conspirators, who had escaped in Emaar case and roaming scot-free.

Addressing the media at CLP office here on Saturday, Dr Shanker Rao said that Acharya, as a senior bureaucrat, should reveal the names of the real culprits in the Emaar case instead of facing falsely implicated case.

Role of ministers should be probed: DL

Dissident minister D L Ravindra Reddy has said that there was need for investigation into the role of ministers in the issuance of 26 controversial GOs during the rule of Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
It may be mentioned here that acting on a Public Interest Litigation by a Nellore lawyer, the Supreme Court issued notices to six ministers and eight IAS officers in connection with the issuance of 26 GOs being investigated by the CBI as having favored Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Govt constrained to okay power tariff hike: Thulasi

Though the State government was not in favor of power tariff hike, it was constrained to approve the proposal of Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) to increase power charges, said 20-Points Program Chairman Dr N Thulsasi Reddy here on Saturday.

Suravaram elected CPI general secretary

Senior CPI leader Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy has been elected party general secretary in place of A B Bardhan at the party national convention held in Patna, capital of Bihar.

It may be mentioned here that after 25 years, a Telugu leader has got the opportunity to steer the national party. Earlier, veteran party leader Chandra Rajeshwara Rao had worked as general secretary.

The national convention, which concluded on Saturday, elected Suravaram Sudhakara Reddy as general secretary unanimously. Reddy was elected to the Lok Sabha twice from Nalgonda district.

Uttarakhand CM Vijay bahuguna calls on Sonia Gandhi

Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna on Saturday had a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi to discuss portfolio allocation for ministers of the newly-sworn in government in Uttarakhand where the party had faced a revolt by Union Minister Harish Rawat’s loyalists.

The leadership is likely to placate all the sections in the faction-ridden state unit and the exercise of portfolio allocation is set to be a tricky affair, sources said.

Gujarat moving ahead despite all odds: Narendra Modi

Launching a veiled attack at Centre, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said that despite “hurdles” his government was moving ahead with its comprehensive single-point agenda of development.

Hailing women for their participation in development of the state, Modi said, “Gujarat is blessed by ‘Matra Shakti’, which serves as a shield for fast pace development of the state, despite all odds”.

He was addressing a state-level convention for women.

Divorce given after husband refuses sex over job ‘lie’

Delhi high court in a unique divorce ruling has allowed a woman to end her marriage because her husband refused to have physical relations on the ground that she did not have a job as mentioned in her biodata before they tied the knot.
The court maintained that the “denial of sexual relationship to a spouse amounts to cruelty” and accused the husband of being “insensitive and harsh”. The couple had spent only a month together after their wedding.

Rocket attack on US base leaves several injured

Several people including two US-led soldiers with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) have been injured in a rocket attack in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Laghman.

The incident occurred at a US-run base in Mehtar Lam, the provincial capital, on Friday. Four Afghans including three translators were also wounded in the attack.

According to the local officials, 12 people have been arrested in connection with the attack.

The incident is the latest in a series of deadly attacks on US-led troops in the troubled region.

Govt appoints Ramana Chary as Adviser

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday approved the appointment of former senior IAS officer K V Ramanachary as Adviser, Cultural Affairs, Government of Andhra Pradesh.

Ramanachary recently took voluntary retirement when he was Principal Secretary, Endowments. Ramanachary also served as the Executive Officer of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam and Commissioner for Information and Public Relations. He was connected with many cultural organisations in the State.

Vacant posts in libraries to be filled

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday gave nod to fill 50 per cent of vacant posts of all categories in the libraries of the State. The posts include Librarians and Assistant Librarians.

The CMO release said that the demand to fill these posts was pending for a long time. (INN)

Govt increases its share for employees’ bus passes

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday approved the proposal to enhance the share of the government on the Bus Passes to the employees of State Government working in twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada and Warangal, due to recent revision of tariff by APSRTC.

This move would benefit about 43,386 NGOs. However, this would put an additional financial implication on the government’s exchequer by Rs 1.82 crore per annum.

CM to tour Tirupati, Nagari, Alipiri on April 2

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will visit Tirupati, Nagari and Alipiri on April 2.

As per the schedule released by the Chief Minister’s Office, the Chief Minister will leave Hyderabad for Tirupati by regular flight at 6.35 am on 2-4-2012 and reach Renigunta airport at 8.00 am and after meeting officials and non-officials, he will leave for Padmavathi Guest House. Later he will arrive at Tarakarama Stadium, Tirupati and leave for Nagari by helicopter.

Survaram replaces Bardhan as CPI General Secretray

The 21st National Council meeting of Communist Party of India being held at Patna on Saturday unanimously elected Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy of Andhra Pradesh as party General Secretary replacing present incumbent A B Bardhan.

Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy become the first leader from the State to have been elected to top post at the national level after a gap of 24 years. Suravaram Sudhakar would continue in the post for four years.