Live phone-in program of Mahender Reddy

Transport Minister P Mahender Reddy will address the people on the issues of transport problems in a live phone-in program on All India Radio, Hyderabad, including FM channel at 7.15 am to 7.50 am on January 30. The Minister will also participate in a similar live phone-in program on DD Yadagiri channel from 7 pm to 8 pm on January 30 on RTA issues.

Downfall in Swineflu cases: NIMS Director

Spread of Swineflu cases have come down in the state, according to NIMS Director, Dr Narendranath.
Addressing a press conference at Secretariat here he said that the hospitals are equipped well to tackle the cases. On Swineflu deaths he said that as on Wednesday 26 persons died. There was a shortfall in the calls at free number of 104, he said and asked the people to wash their hands often and live in clean environs to keep at bay the virus. Health Minister C Lakshma Reddy expressed content on the steps being taken against swineflu during a review meeting he said.

Delhi to have special hostels for northeast students

The central government Wednesday proposed to set up special hostels for students from the northeast region studying in Delhi.

Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jitendra Singh ordered a sub-committee be set up consisting of representatives from offices of resident commissioners of various states as well as representatives of the DoNER ministry to identify suitable location and land for construction of such hostels.

The minister was addressing a meeting here of resident commissioners of the northeastern states.

Nagam compares KCR to Tughlak

BJP senior leader Nagam Janardhan Reddy today strongly opposed the government’s proposal to shift Telangana Secretariat to the Chest hospital premises at Erragadda.

TS cabinet meet tomorrow

The Telangana State Cabinet meeting will be held on January 30 at 2 pm.

It may be mentioned here that this is the first cabinet meeting to be held after the recent changes in the cabinet. (NSS)

Construction of poor housing from April: KCR

To keep another poll promise of providing housing facility to poor from next financial year, ie., April first week onwards, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today directed the officials concerned to prepare modalities on massive construction of houses in all districts.

Hockey player Jaswant Singh Rajput is dead

Popular Indian Hockey player Jaswant Singh Rajput, who bagged gold medals twice in the Olympic Games, passed away this morning.
He was 86.

Disclosing this to the media, Bengal Hockey Association members said Jaswant Singh was ailing for some time. The last rites will be performed on Thursday. (NSS)

Congress suspends two Chhattisgarh legislators

The prolonged tussle within the Congress in Chhattisgarh took a fresh turn Wednesday as the party suspended two legislators — known to be die-hard supporters of former chief minister Ajit Jogi — for “anti-party activities”.

Jogi and state Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel are known to be bitter rivals. Both leaders have spoken out against each other in public in recent months.

Kenya lost over 100 rhinos in three years

Kenya lost over 100 rhinos to poachers in the last three years, raising fears that the country’s total number of 1,000 rhinos could be wiped out, a government official said Wednesday.

Environment Cabinet Secretary Judi Wakhungu said illegal wildlife trade presented a serious threat to the survival and conservation of many endangered species.

Wakhungu said that effective prosecution was hampered by lack of concrete expert evidence that could link a poacher to a confiscated wildlife product.

Over 96% candidates appear for “Ethics and Human Values” exam

As many as 96.61 per cent of intermediate first year students appeared for the Ethics and Human Values examination held across the Telangana State on Wednesday.

Of 470,028 candidates, 454,136 students appeared for the exams held at 2,394 centres across Telangana. The examination has been conducted peacefully, according to Telangana Board of Intermediate Education. (INN)

Unknown persons booked for stone pelting at NPA building

The Rajendra Nagar police on Wednesday registered a case against unidentified persons who allegedly pelted stones on the building of National Police Academy located at Shivarampally.

According to Sub-Inspector G Yadaiah Goud, the case was registered following a complaint received from CISF Deputy Commandant Abhijeet Kumar who alleged that some miscreants pelted stones on the Short Firing Ranga Complex of NPA building on 23rd and 25th January. Further investigations are on. (INN)

Woman among three killed in road accidents

A 43-year-old woman sustained grievous injuries when the motorcycle, on which she was a pillion rider, was hit by a bus belong to Ramoji Film City.

The accident occurred on Tuesday night on Amajor road in Hayathnagar police limits. The deceased, G Savithri, and her son, Mahesh, the rider, were immediately rushed to Osmania General Hospital where Savithri was declared brought dead. Mahesh is still undergoing treatment and is said be in a critical condition. They were residents of Saroornagar.

8-yr-old boy succumb to electrical burns

An eight-year-old boy died of electrical burns which he accidentally sustained while playing near an electric transformer.

According to Shah Inayatgunj police, the deceased, B Virender, was electrocuted while playing near his residence in Feelkhana in Begumbazar on January 21. He was admitted to the Osmania General Hospital where he died on Wednesday morning. (INN)

Girl student commits suicide in hostel room

A 19-year-old girl committed suicide by hanging to the ceiling in the room of the hostel where she was staying.

According to Pet Basheerabad police, the deceased, Ch Vasundhara, resorted to the extreme step in her room in Sri Sai Durga Hostel on Tuesday night. She was a native of Karimnagar district and was studying B Tech in an engineering college in city. The reasons that drove her to the extreme step are yet to be ascertained. Further investigations are on. (INN)

Mukesh Goud may contest Sanathnagar by-polls as TDP nominees

Congress senior leader and former minister M Mukesh Goud may soon join the Telugu Desam Party.

According to sources, Mukesh Goud has been pursued by TDP’s Rajya Sabha MP T Devender Goud to join the TDP and contest the Sanathnagar by-elections against Commercial Taxes Minister T Srinivas Yadav. Mukesh Goud has reportedly met Devender Goud twice during the last three days. However, he is yet to meet Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP President N Chandrababu Naidu.

TS Cabinet may discuss probe against Rajaiah

The Telangana State Cabinet is likely to take a decision on ordering a probe against dismissed Deputy Chief Minister Dr T Rajaiah for alleged irregularities in the Medical and Health Department.

The cabinet meeting, to be chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, will be held on January 30 at 2 PM. The cabinet is likely to discuss the circumstances that led to the dismissal of Rajaiah and the future course of action to be adopted. After the cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister is likely to brief the media on the allegations that forced him to sack his deputy. (INN)

RPO promises to help Haj applicants

The Regional Passport Officer, Hyderabad has accepted proposals of the Telangana State Haj Committee for providing relief to the Haj Applicants in the matter of their International Passports.

Kadiam is not a Dalit, alleges Motkupalli

TDP senior leader Motkupally Narasimhulu on Wednesday said that Kadiam Srihari, who replaced Dr T Rajaiah as the Deputy Chief Minister, was not a Dalit.

Speaking to media persons here, Motkupalli said Kadiam Srihari was a “SC Padma” and not a Dalit as being projected by Chief Minister K Chandrahshekar Rao. He accused KCR of insulting all Dalits by dismissing Rajaiah from his cabinet in the most unceremonious way. By sacking Rajaiah, without even giving him an opportunity to give an explanation, KCR has shown the Dalits their importance in the TRS, he alleged.

Dalit IAS officer explores law to preach Christianity

Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer C. Umashankar is looking at legal options to challenge a government directive forbidding him from preaching Christianity.

“I am looking at legal options. I have to discuss with my lawyers first,” Umashankar told IANS Wednesday.

According to him, the government’s directive suppresses his constitutional right to speech and freedom to practice and preach religion.

Cabinet approves Rs.3,705 crore per MHz reserve price for 3G

The Cabinet Wednesday approved a reserve price of Rs.3,705 crore per megahertz (MHz) for third generation (3G) spectrum auction due March 4 next, Communications and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

“In 2010 3G auction, the government fixed Rs.700 crore per MHz reserve price and in the auction the then government earned Rs.3,350 crore per MHz, almost 8 times of the reserve price,” he told reporters after a meeting here of the union cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Staff and students condemn interference in MANUU affairs

In a rare show of solidarity, the staff and students of Maulana Azad National Urdu University on Wednesday condemned the “malicious” campaign being run against University and its authorities and said that they would resist “outside” interference in affairs of MANUU.

Two dead, seven injured in Delhi road accident

Two people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding car hit a van and it collided with another car on the opposite side of the road early Wednesday, police said.

The accident took place at Nishadraj Marg in north Delhi’s Kotwali area around 1.30 a.m. when the Ford Figo car going towards the Red Fort hit a Maruti van which collided with a Swift Dzire car.

Manoj, 25, and Pradeep, 26, succumbed to their injuries at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital, while the other seven injured were recuperating.

Police said four of the seven injured were in critical condition.

Government clears HDFC Bank’s move to raise Rs.10,000 crore

The government Wednesday approved HDFC Bank’s proposal to raise Rs.10,000 crore from foreign investors.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its approval to the bank’s proposal at its meeting held here.

“The CCEA gave its approval to the proposal of HDFC Bank for issuance of equity shares aggregating to an amount of Rs.10,000 crore to NRIs/FIIs/FPIs (non-resident Indians, foreign institutional investors or foreign portfolio investors),” the CCEA said in a statement.

Govt in J & K will be in place soon: Rajnath

BJP, which is in talks with PDP for government-formation in Jammu and Kashmir, today said a “democratic government” will be in place in the state soon as broad contours for having an alliance was being finalised.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, without disclosing the details about the parleys, said “we are in talks” and refused to divulge the party with which BJP was holding a dialogue on government-formation saying “yeh andar ki baat hai (it’s secret)”.

He assured that a “democratic government” will be in place soon.

BJP will blame Kiran Bedi for defeat in Delhi polls claims Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is conspiring against its chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi and added that the saffron party will eventually put the blame on her for their defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections.

“Even surveys are saying that the AAP is going to form a government in Delhi. The BJP is afraid, they are fighting within themselves. Some BJP leaders had called me, they told me not to worry because they will make sure that Kiran Bedi loses,” said Kejriwal at an election rally here.