Congress no to demand for SIT probe into Batla House encounter

Congress on Friday dismissed a demand for an SIT probe into the Batla House encounter, a day after a party MLA from Delhi raised the matter.

“The stand of Congress and government on the Batla House encounter remains same for last many years. There is not even an inch of change in it. There is no change like weather,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

He said two persons had been convicted. Besides, the Delhi High Court had ordered NHRC Chairman to investigate the matter and the NHRC report said the encounter was genuine.

Gadkari slaps defamation notice on Kejriwal

Former BJP President Nitin Gadkari today slapped a legal notice on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for making allegations against him and including him in his list of “India’s most corrupt”.

The notice served through Gadkari’s lawyer has asked Kejriwal to withdraw his statements within three days, failing which legal action will taken against him.

Bappi Lahiri joins BJP

Popular Hindi film music director Bappi Lahiri was among the others from the world of film and television who joined the BJP on Friday.

Mr. Lahiri, known for his flamboyant dressing and penchant for gold jewellery, said there is a wave in the country favouring the party and its PM nominee Narendra Modi.

Party president Rajnath Singh welcomed Lahiri’s decision of joining BJP while expressing his happiness, Singh tweeted, “Welcomed Shri Bappi Lahiri and several others from the television and cinema industry into the party fold after they joined the BJP today.”

Govt. makes it mandatory for civil servants to spend 2 years at a posting

The Union Government on Friday announced new rules to ensure that a civil servant spends a minimum of two years at each posting. The new rules also aims at checking political interference, any premature transfers or new appointments will only be done by a civil services board. “It has been decided by the Congress-led UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government to have a two-year minimum tenure for all civil servants.

Kejriwal should present evidence or apologise to leaders he named in corruption list: BJP

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday criticized Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, over his list of ‘India’s most corrupt’ leaders which includes high profile politicians from the Congress, the BJP and their allies, saying that the Delhi CM should present evidence or apologize to the leaders he has named. “Kejriwal should either give evidence against the names he has taken or apologize. He cannot defame leaders like this,” BJP leader Sudhanshu Trivedi told media here today “Kejriwal and the AAP should know the difference between their changing roles.

Ishrat case: Law Ministry refuses to give legal opinion on sanction

Citing insufficient documents, the Law Ministry has refused to give legal opinion to the CBI on whether sanction is needed to prosecute Intelligence Bureau officers in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case.

The government’s legal arm has told CBI to bring sufficient documents before a legal opinion can be provided on whether prior sanction is required to prosecute Special Director Rajinder Kumar (now retired), and three other officers — P Mittal, M K Sinha and Rajiv Wankhede.

Lok satta organizing satyagraha by women victims of liquor

The Lok Satta Party is organizing a satyagraha by women victims of the liquor menace from 10 am to 2 pm on Saturday, February 1 at Picket Grounds beside Jubilee Bus Stand in Secunderabad. Lok Satta Party leaders including its national President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan and State President Katari Srinivasa Rao will take part in the protest action.
This was announced at a media conference here today by Katari Srinivasa Rao.

BPCL presents RS 50L Cheque to CM

A delegation, led by Keshav V. Shenoy, Executive Director, Southern Head, Bharat Petroleum Corporation, called on Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy at the Chief Minister’s Camp Office today and presented a cheque for Rs 50 lakh towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF).

GOM to review royalty in state set up

The State Government on Friday constituted a Group of Ministers to review and rationalize the existing rates of Royalty, Seignorage Fee, Dead Rent in respect of Minor Minerals in the State.
According to GO No. 406, the Cabinet sub-committee was constituted with Minister for Finance Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Minister for Mines and Geology Galla Aruna Kumari and Minister for Law and Courts Erasu Prathap Reddy. Secretary of Industries and Commerce Department is the Convener of the Group of Ministers. (NSS)

Gods can’t stop T bill in Parliament before feb 10

Former PCC Chief, D Srinivas today said that Telangana Bill will be introduced in Parliament before February 10. Talking to reporters here he said that not just human beings, but even “Gods cannot stop Telangana from achieving the statehood”.

TPJAC demands 80% HMR jobs to locals

Telangana Political Joint Action Committee (TJAC) Chairman Prof. Kodandaram has demanded that the Hyderabad Metro Rail authorities earmark 80% of jobs in the HMR for the displaced persons in the city.
Prof. Kodandaram participated in the dharna organized by the Telangana Rashtra Samithi at Uppal Crossroads demanding job quota to the locals in the HMR. He reminded that no IT company ever implemented the mandate of “jobs to sons of soil” in the companies. He said the locals, who lost their lands to the HMR works should be provided jobs in the HMR projects.

Katari rebuts KCR’s charge

Accusing Lok Satta Party national President and Kukatpally legislator Dr.
Jayaprakash Narayan, who unveiled a comprehensive and amicable solution to the State’s bifurcation, of being anti Telangana is nothing but playing vote bank politics, said State Lok Satta Party President Katari Srinivasa Rao here today.

Addressing a media conference, Mr. Srinivasa Rao pointed out that Dr. JP had even proposed a resolution in the Assembly incorporating the suggestions for addressing the concerns of Seemandhra people even as he underlined that formation of Telangana is necessary.

Iranian cultural exhibition at Salar jung Museum

On the occasion of 35th anniversary of Victory of Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Consulate General of Islamic Republic of Iran at Hyderabad is organizing “Iranian Cultural and Photo Exhibition Week” at Salar Jung Museum from February 1 to 5.

Chandana Khan, special chief secretary, Tourism and chairman of APTDC will inaugural the exhibition on Saturday at 11 am. Hyderabad Mayor Mohammed Majid Hussain will be the guest of honour, according to a pressnote issued by Senior Consul Ali Paryad. (NSS)

AAP to field candidates against Sonia, Modi, Rahul

Targeting Sonia Gandhi, Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi besides UPA ministers and leaders of other parties, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today announced that Aam Aadmi Party will field candidates against them on various counts including corruption, criminalisation of politics and dynastic politics.

Training his guns at Rahul Gandhi, Kejriwal accused him of being corrupt. He drew up a list of “corrupt” politicians that included SP supremo Mulayam Singh, BSP chief Mayawati, Union Ministers P Chidambaram and Sushilkumar Shinde and former BJP president Nitin Gadkari, among others.

Three ‘Psychos’ trying to divide AP: YSRCP

YSR Congress Party leader Srikanth Reddy here on Friday alleged that AICC president Sonia Gandhi, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu were behaving like psychopaths for the bifurcation of the State.

CM’s Resolution useless, Says KTR

TRS leader and Sircilla MLA K Taraka Ramarao here on Friday observed that the resolution tabled by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy against the AP Reorganisation Bill 2013 in the Assembly on Thursday and passed by Seemandhra leaders by voice vote was not even useful to clean tongue.

T state in Feb: Jaipal reddy

Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy today flayed Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Seemandhra leaders for passing the resolution to reject the Telangana Draft Bill in Assembly and Council. Addressing a press conference the Union Minister maintained that “as far as my knowledge is concerned” T state will be formed in February third week itself.

VRO, VRA Exams to be transparent: Raghuveera

Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy today said that elaborate arrangements have been made for smooth and transparent conduct of VRO and VRA exams on February 2. Addressing a media conference at Secretariat here he said that about 14 lakh candidates have applied for the posts. Candidates can carry a copy of OMR sheet written and verify with the primary key to be released on February 4 followed by final key on 10, he said.

CM’s claim on T bill is meaningless: DK Aruna

Minister for Information and Public Relations D K Aruna has said the claim of the Chief Minister and Seemandhra leaders that the AP Reorganization Bill was rejected in the Assembly was meaningless.

Speaking to the media here on Friday, D K Aruna clarified that while referring the Bill to the State, President Pranab Mukharjee only sought the views of the State Legislature, but not any voting on it. Instead of misguiding the people, the Seemandhra leaders should fight for protection of the interests of people of their regions, she added.

Pawar, Digvijaya Singh among 37 elected unopposed to Rajya Sabha

Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Congress’ Digvijaya Singh and former union ministers Kumari Selja and Murli Deora were among 37 candidates elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha Friday after the deadline for withdrawing nominations in the biennial elections to the upper house ended.

Polling will be held Feb 7, as scheduled, for the remaining 18 seats across four states – Andhra Pradesh, Assam, West Bengal and Odisha.

7 in Fray in RS polls with adala, Chaitanya Raju pulls out

Despite continuous confabulations by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC Chief Botcha Satyanarayana, ‘rebel’ Congress leader Adala Prabhakar Reddy refused to withdraw, while Chaitanya Raju had to bow to the pressure. With this, there are seven members contesting for six RS seats in the February 7 poll.

Seemandhras will realize Kiran is a traitor: Jeevan

Former minister Jeevan Reddy on Friday said the Seemandhra people would soon realize that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy was a ‘traitor’.
Speaking to the media here, Jeevan Reddy said it was unfortunate that a resolution was passed in the Assembly returning the A P Reorganization Bill-2013. As per Article 3, the debate on the Bill was completed in the Assembly, he added. He opined that returning the bill does not mean defeat of the bill. Kiran Kumar Reddy was deceiving the ministers and Telangana people by saying that the Bill was rejected by the Assembly.