MIM wants MLC posts for Mayor support

Hyderabad, Nov. 29: With just four days remaining for the Mayoral election, the Congress and the MIM are trying to get the best bargain before striking a deal.

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen has reportedly told the Congress to come for talks only if it is willing to give them two to three MLC seats. If the ruling party offers anything less than three MLCs, the MIM will take the Mayor’s seat for five years and give the Deputy Mayor’s post to the Congress. The standing committee chairperson post can be shared between the two parties.

The MIM made its intentions clear to the Congress that the Majlis will not hesitate to join the TD to win the Mayor’s seat. Such an alliance would also help the MIM to prevail upon the TD to keep the Left parties away from the constituencies in old city. Also, the TD which has replaced BJP as the main rival for the MIM in old city, will work to strengthen the MIM in its fiefdom.

The Congress, on the other hand, is also pressing for MIM support in the Rajya Sabha election scheduled next year. The party can win one more seat in the Upper House with the help of MIM and the Praja Rajyam.

The ruling party has also sent across a message to the MIM that the Mayor’s seat will not be given to it for the full term. This is the first election to the coveted post after formation of Greater Hyderabad and being the single largest party, the Congress will take the post for the maximum period of the term.

A senior Congress leader and former minister said the MIM would not have got so many seats in the elections had the Congress concentrated in old city. There is a friendly understanding between the Congress and the MIM, and that the latter should not take undue advantage of it, he said.

Senior leaders from both the parties are meeting on Monday to strike a deal.

 

Man burnt alive for alleged affair

A man was burnt to death in a Bihar village for having an alleged extra-marital affair with a neighbour's wife, police said on Monday.

Dilip Ram, in his 30s, was burnt alive late Sunday at Sumera village in Muzaffarpur district, about 70 km from here.

"Ram's neighbour allegedly caught Ram in a compromising position with his wife. This angered the neighbour so much that he along with others first beat Ram and then burnt him after pouring kerosene on him," a police officer said.

However, Ram's wife Janki Devi told police that her husband did not had an extra-marital affair and was burnt as part of a conspiracy.

MP Dalit boy set on fire: India stil to get Independence for Dalits

A 12-year-old Dalit boy was set on fire by four people in Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha district over reported family rivalry, police said on Monday. The child is said to be in a critical condition.

The incident took place Sunday evening in Madiyakala village in Vidisha when four people beat up the boy, Maharaj Singh, sprinkled kerosene on him and then set him on fire.

He was admitted to the district hospital where his condition is said to be critical.

The accused have been identified as Raju Khangar, Prakash Khangar, Pradeep Maina and Ramkaran Maina and they reportedly had a long-standing dispute with the victim's father Bharat Singh Ahirwar, said superintendent of police (Vidisha) I.S. Sansanwal.

The police have registered a case against the accused who are absconding.

"We have sent teams to different locations to arrest them," the police official said.

I had fun playing the bad girl: Vidya

She seduces with her gaze and then puts a gun to the head of her two lovers.

With 'Ishqiya' Vidya Balan breaks away from her squeaky-clean image and the actress says that she thoroughly enjoyed playing the "sexually aggressive" bad girl.

Balan debuted as the coy Bengali belle Lolita in 'Parineeta' and the image stuck to her, but the actress says that her turn as a conniving, foul-mouthed temptress in the film by debutante director Abhishek Choubey will be a shocker.

"I know it's going to shock people but I thoroughly enjoyed playing the bad girl in the film. It is the kind of role that I have wanted for a long time and the fact that I was the first choice for it was a surprise for me too. There is a underlined sexual aggressiveness about the character and she speaks her mind," said Balan.

The film, set in a small hamlet in UP, will see the actress romancing funnyman Arshad Warsi and veteran Naseeruddin Shah who play bandits on the run.

The 31-year-old actress said that much to her own surprise she slipped into the role quickly, despite the initial apprehensions.

"There is plenty of abusive language and innuendo in the film but I am an actor who spends a lot of time with the director before shooting begins. So the inhibitions were done away with during the early readings and when the camera rolls the 'sharam' goes out of the window," said the actress.

 

Shakira calls her parents 'incompetent'

Pop star Shakira termed her parents as 'the most incompetent business people in the world' as her father went bankrupt when she was young.

The 'Hips Don't Lie' hitmaker said she was upset and frightened when her father, a jeweller, went bankrupt and had to sell most of the family possessions when she was just eight-years-old, Contactmusic reported.

"I couldn't believe my parents! I thought they were the most incompetent business people in the world! And I was so upset," Shakira said.

The incident left a deep impact on the Colombian beauty regarding poverty. "My dad and my mom took me to the park that day, where all the kids who were orphans are sniffing glue to deal with the tragedy of their own lives and hunger and the solitude of their lives," Shakira said.

"Little kids, like my age, sniffing glue and barefoot. They just wanted to show me another reality that was much worse than mine. The image of those kids left a huge impression," she added.

The singer who is also a UNICEF Goodwill ambassador has established a charity foundation called 'Pies Descalzos Foundation', which sets up special schools for underprivileged children in her native country.

Koda arrested in Jharkhand

Jharkhand police arrested former state Chief Minister Madhu Koda in Chaibasa District on Monday.

Koda, who was facing charges of having disproportionate assets, was also charged for misutilisation of over Rupees 4,000 crore when he was chief minister.

Earlier, the Enforcement Department (ED) had asked Koda to appear before it for questioning, but he skipped all questioning.

Koda has claimed he is innocent and added that all charges of illegal investment in various companies, were baseless.

He also alleged that his adversaries were playing dirty tricks to tarnish his image before the assembly polls and warned that he would expose them at an appropriate time.

On October 9, the ED had charged Koda and his former Cabinet colleagues under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for allegedly amassing assets worth several hundred crores.

Koda, an independent member of the Lok Sabha and a UPA supporter, has been charged with having business interests of diverse kinds, including in cement, steel, auto, power, agro and tourism.

Professor for Hong Kong

C. Sasikala, a professor of the Department of Library and Information Science in Andhra University, will present a paper on ‘Knowledge management and collaboration in industry’ at the 6th international conference on Knowledge Management to be held at University of Hong Kong in Hong Kong from December 3 to 5. She will also visit select special libraries in China and Thailand on the occasion.

FBI to share details on Headley, Rana network: M.K. Narayanan

M.K. Narayanan
On Board PM’s Special Aircraft: United States President Barrack Obama is despatching a high-level Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team to India in a week to share “all details” of its probe into the plans and network of U.S. terror suspect David Coleman Headley and his Pakistani-Canadian associate Tahawwur Hussain Rana.
National Security Adviser (NSA) M.K. Narayanan on Sunday said Mr. Obama had told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he was seized of the case related to Headley and Rana, the two Lashkar-e- Taiba (LeT)operatives arrested by the FBI on the charges of plotting attacks in India at the behest of the Pakistan-based terror outfit.
Mr. Obama told Dr. Singh during their summit talks in Washington on Tuesday that he would be sending a high-level FBI team to India within a week with “all details,” Mr. Narayanan told journalists accompanying the Prime Minister on his return home from a two-nation tour of the U.S. and Trinidad and Tobago.
Exhaustive details likely The team is expected to give exhaustive details about the plans of Headley and Rana and their network in India.
“Let us see what information they share,” Mr. Narayanan said.
Headley, a Pakistani-born American, and Rana were arrested by the FBI in October on the charges of plotting attacks in India and Denmark.
Personal interest According to U.S. National Security Adviser James Jones, Mr. Obama has shown personal interest in the Headley-Rana case and the matter was discussed during his meeting with Singh.
Indian officials suspect that Headley and Rana could have been involved in the 26/11 attacks but there is no evidence in this regard so far.
The U.S. has told India that it has zeroed in on a Pakistani national who could have been a link between Headley and Rana and their Pakistan-based handlers.
Indian investigators wanted to interrogate Headley and Rana and a team from New Delhi had gone to the U.S. earlier this month. But the U.S. did not give access citing legal compulsions.
Obama’s promise However, sources downplayed this saying India understood the compulsions and “will work around that.” The sources also said Mr. Obama has promised to provide all details about Headley-Rana investigations to India.
According to Mr. Jones, “It (Headley-Rana case) is something that the President and the Prime Minister discussed and both of them were very satisfied with the outcome of those discussions.”
Mr. Jones told PTI in an interview in Washington that Obama had given instructions to U.S. authorities to share the information with India regarding the case, despite the limitation posed by the country’s legal system.
“At the President’s direction we have been very forthcoming with our Indian counterparts on sharing whatever information we have which might be of some assistance to [India],” Mr. Jones said, adding “as a result of the President’s guidance, we are doing as much as we can legally, without jeopardising the process of the case.”
He, however, said the U.S. was unable to allow Indian investigators access to the arrested LeT operatives because certain aspects of the legal system here protect the rights of the accused.
Concern over “new hubs” During his meeting with Mr. Obama, Dr. Singh had expressed concern over “new hubs” of terrorism coming up in India’s neighbourhood, the sources said. — PTI

War and Press: Biggest Media Mafia In India:http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080203/jsp/7days/story_8857170.jsp

War and Press Telegraph:News
In Andhra Pradesh, a newspaper group and the government are locked in fierce combat. Seetha tracks the bitter battles and their impact
Ramoji Rao, the 71-year-old feisty proprietor and editor of Eenadu, Andhra Pradesh’s largest circulated daily (over 11 lakh), and boss of television channel ETV, is a veteran of several battles against the Congress party. His newspapers have taken pot shots at more than one Congress politician. Rao was a supporter of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) when N.T. Rama Rao launched it in the early 1980s. But this time, the pugnacious media baron — who always dresses in white — is perhaps fighting the biggest battle of his life. The portly Rao has taken on the state’s Congress government, headed by chief minister Y.S. Rajashekhar (YSR) Reddy. A slew of news reports in Eenadu and programmes on ETV since 2005 have accused Congress ministers, politicians and senior government officials of corruption and hanky panky. One report, for instance, debunked the official claim that the number of suicides by farmers had dropped. Another attacked construction by Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, the chief minister’s brother, on disputed land. A third said that Eenadu had discovered, based on a survey, that voter lists for elections for local bodies had omitted the names of opposition party sympathisers. Andhra Pradesh’s 59-year-old chief minister is not one to take all this lying down. A medical doctor, YSR set up several commissions to look into the deeds of the previous N. Chandrababu Naidu government — and YSR had been friends with Naidu when they were both in the Congress in the 1970s. War pitch: Ramoji Rao (top) and Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy Not surprising, then, that the Andhra Pradesh government and the Congress party have hit back. Last week, it seemed that there was a question mark hanging over a crucial foreign investment proposal by the Blackstone Group for one of Rao’s main businesses. The global private equity firm has a proposal for a $150 million (Rs 590 crore) investment in Ushodaya Enterprises, which owns Eenadu and ETV. Recent unconfirmed media reports, however, suggest that Nimesh N. Kampani, chairman of JM Financial Ltd, the financial services group, has invested Rs 1,200 crore in Ushodaya. If that’s the case, Rao won’t need to depend on the Blackstone investment anymore. Rao declined to comment on the development. Meanwhile, in the fight of the stalwarts, Congress workers have been staging anti-Rao demonstrations and burned his effigies and copies of Eenadu. The state advocate general sent Eenadu a notice about a news report. The state government took back some land from Ramoji Film City and demolished buildings on it. Rao has also alleged that Eenadu was denied government advertisements on Andhra Pradesh Formation Day in November 2006. Certainly, the government changed its policy on advertisements — small and medium newspapers got preference. “The freedom of the press and the right to free speech enshrined in our Constitution are in grave danger in Andhra Pradesh today,” Rao declared in a letter to the Editors’ Guild last February. “The message is very clear — either the media should succumb and be subservient or else face unprecedented state-sanctioned harassment.” YSR declined to comment when contacted by The Telegraph, but has, in media interviews, denied any witch hunt against Rao. Sources close to him said that he was merely letting the law take its course without putting obstacles in its way. The state’s Congress party believes that Rao is targeting the ruling regime because of his sympathies for the TDP. But Rao, who declined to speak to The Telegraph citing his involvement in legal cases, pointed out to the Editors’ Guild that the Eenadu group “has been unsparing in its criticism, when the situation warranted” even against TDP governments. Two issues are at stake in this no-holds-barred war — the Fourth Estate’s right to criticise a government and its right to access foreign capital, if you view matters from Rao’s perspective. His critics, however, would argue that Rao is merely being brought to book for wrongdoing. Certainly, two matters have taken centre-stage in this fight: The proposed $150 million investment by Blackstone Group in Ushodaya. When the investment was first proposed, the sum involved was $275 million or Rs 1,080 crore — perhaps the biggest foreign investment in the media. The second matter is linked to the first and involves another Rao-owned entity, Margadarsi Financiers, which collects deposits from the public. Arunakumar Vundavalli, Congress Member of Parliament from Rajahmundry in Andhra, has accused Margadarsi Financiers of having raised money illegally. argadarsi Financiers is part of the Ramoji Rao Hindu Undivided Family (HUF, an entity that is assessed for tax purposes differently) and is a kind of holding entity for Ramoji Rao’s media, films, food processing, hotels and financial services businesses. Margadarsi Financiers owns a 95 per cent stake in Ushodaya and putting it in trouble would cut off a financial lifeline to Ushodaya and, therefore, to Eenadu. Vundavalli, who’s translated Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi’s public speeches into Telugu, has mounted a campaign with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the finance ministry against Margadarsi Financiers. He is not known to be particularly close to YSR but the latter seems to be backing him fully. The 53-year-old high court lawyer has brought out a booklet, Ramoji Rao Exposed. “I am convinced that Margadarsi Financiers has committed the biggest financial scam in post-independent India,” Vundavalli told The Telegraph. On January 18, Blackstone’s reduced investment proposal got the green signal from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB), the government arm that vets foreign investment proposals. However, it did not figure in the 41 proposals recommended by the FIPB that the finance minister cleared, deferred or rejected on January 30. “Whatever comes to me, I take a view and decide,” finance minister P. Chidambaram told The Telegraph. Asked why the Blackstone investment was left out of the list of proposals recommended to him by the FIPB, he said, “I don’t know.” In January 2007, plans for Blackstone to pick up a 26 per cent stake in Ushodaya for $275 million had been finalised. Ushodaya was to use this money to repay Margadarsi’s depositors. The FIPB had recommended this original proposal twice before — in July and November 2007. Formal approval by the finance minister and the cabinet committee on economic affairs (which has to clear all foreign investment proposals valued at above Rs 600 crore) never came. Blackstone then reduced the investment size to Rs 590 crore to speed things up. Clearly, that hasn’t helped. The investment always met all the FIPB rules, says an FIPB member who did not wish to be identified. “When a perfectly valid investment is being stymied by political lobbying, what is the guarantee that even the reduced investment will be cleared,” he asks. Blackstone declined to answer any questions but an informed source said it was aware of Margadarsi’s holdings in Ushodaya and its background and how the money it (Blackstone) was investing would be used. The battle, meanwhile, shifted to Delhi, with Vundavalli arguing that allowing the investment would be wrong since Margadarsi, which practically owns Ushodaya, was indulging in illegal activities by raising money from the public — only companies are allowed to do so, and Margadarsi is part of an HUF, not a company. “The government,” he asserts, “cannot give permission for funds to flow into companies which have been violating laws.” If the government is not supposed to verify the antecedents of the investor or the recipient of investment, why have a mechanism for government approval for foreign investment, he asks. Vundavalli’s missives appeared to have their desired effect. Even after the FIPB recommended the Blackstone investment (after clearance from the home, external affairs, corporate affairs and information and broadcasting ministries), the finance ministry questioned the use of funds to repay Margadarsi investors, though foreign investment policy doesn’t have any stipulations on this. Clearly, then, there is more to the delays in the Blackstone investment than meets the eye. Vundavalli denies being part of a larger Congress design against Rao. And sources close to YSR deny that he has been lobbying against the Blackstone-Ushodaya deal or taking undue interest in the affairs of Margadarsi. But it is also true that YSR’s son, Y.S. Jaganamohan Reddy, is launching a Telugu daily, Sakshi, which will hit the stands in late February. How the battle plays out will depend on the finance minister, who has to decide on the Blackstone deal, and the Supreme Court, where Rao and the Andhra government are battling it out on the Margadarsi matter.money illegally. Rao rumpusMargadarsi Financiers, part of the Ramoji Rao HUF, has been taking deposits from the public since 1972. In 1997, the RBI Act barred entities that were not companies from accepting deposits Margadarsi Financiers owns 95% of Ushodaya Enterprises LtdUshodaya Enterprises owns Eenadu and ETV.Blackstone plans to invest $150 million in Ushodaya Enterprises. But Rao may have raised money elsewhere http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080203/jsp/7days/story_8857170.jsp Additional reporting by G.S. Radhakrishna in Hyderabad

ramoji rao is blogs: what is true

. Ramoji Rao is a first generation entrepreneur. His interest includes Media, Press, Hotels, Finance, food processing and many more. He aims to be No.1 in what ever business venture he starts. Eenadu, Margadarsi, Priya and ETV are some of the well recognised brands in AP with a reputation. But ETV and Ramoji Film city have proved to be his biggest failures financially.

2. Until 1980's Congress was a monopoly in Andhra Politics. It was a general feeling with average Telugu / Andhraite at the time, that Congress politicians have mortgaged Andhra pride / Self respect (Atmagowravam), in Delhi for their mean goals. During those volatile times, NT RamaRao the star matinee Idol started Telugu Desam Party with "self respect" slogan

3. Ramoji Rao is a staunch supporter of NTR and may be ideologist of Telugu Desam Party. His Eenadu is a catalyst for NTR's stunning victory. Though NTR himself may not be directly responsible, his arrival in politicsl scene split the already ultra-sensitive Andhra Pradesh society on caste basis. The equations are so strong that the Telugu associations in US and else where in world have split on those lines. It is an unwritten fact that today, individuals /families in Andhra Pradesh align with Congress and TDP on caste lines.

4. From 1983 till 2003, TDP ruled the state expect for few years. During this period, when Chandrababu Naidu (CBN) politically stabbed NTR (his father in law), Ramoji Rao signalled his support to CBN

5. NTR though treated as an icon and legend today by both CBN and Ramoji Rao, died a lonely man. Subsequent to NTR's death, as CBN's power reached pinnacle Ramoji Rao's empire also expanded unabated without any checks. Under the "Hitech" umbrella, CBN with less than couple of acres inherited property, amassed crores in lands and wealth. Ramoji Rao and his media provided the much need sugar coating under the "development". It is a known fact that in 9 year CBN rule, not a single scam is reported in Eenadu. As a result, over a period Ramoji Rao, due to his passive bias, developed enemies in Congress and with the castes associated with Congress

6. When TDP lost power, Ramoji Rao suddenly realised the vacuum. He could not digest a Congress rule in AP. Soon after Congress Govt formed, Eenadu started attack on the Govt and YSR in specific. This tested YSR's patience and wisdom for a long time. In the end, head on battle was inevitable, for which Ramoji Rao is solely responsible.

7. After waiting for year and half, Y S Rajasekhar Reddy and his Congress started a counter attack. Undavalli Arunkumar, considered to be an intelligent but low profile YSR confident made public allegations that Margadarsi, Ramoji's finance company violated laws and collected crores of rupees in deposits from public. When Margadarsi was formed, Rao did not violate any law. However, Rao did not adhere to new laws enacted in 1997. These laws have been enacted by Federal Govt, specifically to protect the individuals from exactly the type of company, Rao is running shadily. Being ignorant of bigger plot, Ramoji Rao at first dismissed the allegations (out of arrogance) and later denied any wrong doing (as cover up). The more Rao resisted, Arunkumar attacked with additional facts.

8. As things started to unfold, RBI and Federal Finance ministry have confirmed the violation of laws. They have reminded Govt of AP of it's powers to take action on Margadarsi. AP Govt moved in a calculated way to close on Margadarsi.

9. For CBN it is time to pay back his gratitude to his mentor. For opposition, it is a good political opportunity. Though it is a open secret that the motive of YSR Govt is to shut Eeenadu mouth, YSR did a good homework, until a stupid GO 938 issued (limiting the press freedom) and withdrawn quickly. Meanwhile Rao's options are running out. He got a huge financial hole in company books (as confirmed by Rangachari commission). He had no option but to sell a part of his group's equity to Blackstone. Though Rao says Blackstone invested in his company, it is fact that Rao had sold part of his stake to survive

10. This issue is now getting out of proposition. Ramoji Rao is running out of options. To protect his crumbling empire, Rao is trying to hide under his Editor umbrella. He wanted to make general public to believe that this issue is nothing but, direct attack on press. Though he could bring people like N Ram and Kuldeep Nayyar on his side to justify his argument, it made little difference. Though it is difficult to understand what is the benefit for them, rest of the political parties are trying their best to gain political mileage. Supreme Court ruled out that there is no link between investigation and perceived attack on Eeendu.

Update since 2008:

11. Since Undavalli Arun Kumar allegations, the Government of Andhra Pradesh started an official enquiry. After some court battles - finally the Supreme Court given permission to launch formal charges.

12. Meanwhile, YS Jaganmohan Reddy son of YS Rajasekhar Reddy started a Telugu daily news paper "Sakshi". Sakshi emerged as a counter force to take on primarily Eenadu (and Ramoji Rao's empire) and also other telegu news paper "Andhra Jyothy". Both these news papers are perceived as anti-government in their approach.

13. A war started in mid-April between all these news papers primarily to expose the dark side of the owners.

14. War has started... in AP media. What ever may be the end result - it looks possible that the reader have the benefit of knowing the other side of the gentlemen who have been ruling them saintly for decades.

Chits of Unaccounted : Margadarshi chits

s per some news sources RBI has found Margadarsi operations to be illegal after 30 years of its existence. So in these enitire 30 years of existence of Margadarsi in almost entire south India with its incessant advertisements in TV, Radio and Newsprint has RBI could not find anything wrong until NOW.

This is a systemic failure on behalf of RBI that it allowed a scam of this proportion for 30 years doing nothing. RBI present governer should resign for his criminal negligence in the last two years and all living RBI governers of past should be prosecuted for allowing this. Finance ministers in the last 30 years should also be prosecuted for allowing this activity

his an interesting observation. In matters of chit funds, RBI is no doubt is equipped with many regulations to serve notices to the erring, but I think they need some one to make a case of it to act. But the general adminstration and control of these chit companies is with State Govt. More than RBI, it is the State Administration which should be held accountable. What is interesting is the whole thing surfaced due to political rivalries that brought out this issue. What happened with Kolleru scam, where every politician or respected person of society was involved in land grab. Are these people behind bars? Public forgot about it over period. Same thing would happen soon with Margadarsi and the likes. What happened with Karvy on IPO scam. Karvy must have paid huge bribes to SEBI and are getting over it slowly. But in all these we need some public interest litigations filed to seek better justice. Where to find such one man heroes or syndicates outside movie screens? One man commission which is constituted to look into the matters of Margadarsi scam will come out with some middle of path solutions, which would be mild or moderate on Ramoji, due involvement of large number of small time investors. Ramoji is well aware of such cover (public interest), and he will survive, and perhaps would find another name to do same or similar business with another front, as there is a lot of black money in economy which needs some kind of existance and prospect to multiply too. Remember Ramoji is into film making. Afterall politicians are not cannibals. They only grab food (black money) from each other, not eat each other, unless the other is found to be life threatening.

Back to top

.

Undavalli Vs.Ramojii rao

Undavalli Arunkumar’s dirty demeanor

Published by rakshit 

Undavalli Arunkumar is known more as a ‘foul mouthed’ creature than as a member of the parliament. He is the one who kindled the Eenadu-Government fight and made a big issue out of nothing. Around two years back, he started this huge fuss about the financial collapse and the risk of investments in the Margadarsi bank, which is a part of the Eenadu group of companies. At that time, the state government which was waiting for a chance to take a revenge on the Eenadu newspaper which exposed many government scams started encouraging Undavalli and this guy had successfully tarnished the image of Ramoji Rao, at least to some extent. However, he could never prove a single case against Ramoji Rao nor that Margadarsi did not pay back a single investor.

Now that the Satyam Software is exposed, people were expecting Undavalli to expect similarly as this scam was exactly what Undavalli had been talking for years and hoping to see in Margadarsi. Alas! Undavalli started supporting ‘Satyam Software’ and said that he did not want to make any comments about ‘Satyam fraud’ as this will create panic among the employees of Satyam and he also added that, though Satyam is financially exposed, it has many ‘land assets’ and the company can be easily saved using these assets.

So, the obvious questions for Undavalli are the following -

- Did you think that there are no employees in Margadarsi who will be panic struck by your baseless arguments?

- Don’t you know that Eenadu group, that backs Margadarsi Chit Funds has 2000 acres of land in Hyderabad?

The reason why Undavalli is supporting Satyam Software is more than obvious. His party men have investments in the company and are also remotely and indirectly related to this scam. So, Undavalli finds everything fair in this ‘already exposed scam’. But he wouldn’t admit that Margadarsi, in which he couldn’t find a single fault for the last two years,  is following good corporate governance.

This is the best example of the dirty demeanor exhibited by Undavalli Arunkumar  in many instances. Hope that he will not be elected back as an MP in the next general elections and save the state from this watch dog (he described himself as a ‘watch dog’!).

Interestingly, his own party men are disappointed with the barking of this watch dog and have suggested him to stop attacking Ramoji Rao and his group of companies. The parties seniors feel that Undavalli is the reason for teh strong retaliation their party faces from the Eenadu newsgroup. They believe that Eenadu would not have gone completely against them, if Undavalli did not irk its authorities.

http://andhrapolitics.today.com/2009/01/12/undavalli-arunkumars-dirty-demeanor/

OMC row: TD, Left leaders meet Rosaiah

A delegation of leaders of Telugu Desam, CPI and CPI (M) called on Chief Minister K. Rosaiah here on Sunday and submitted a memorandum seeking further action in the iron ore mining issue. The parties accused Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) of looting the State’s wealth by resorting to large scale irregularities in mining in Anantapur district.
The delegation comprising N. Janardhan Reddy, Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Ravula Chandrasekhar Reddy, K. Pratibha Bharati, M. Narasimhulu, Revanth Reddy and Zahed Ali Khan of TD, K. Ramakrishna and Ramnarendar Rao of CPI and Y.V. Rao and Ch. Seetaramulu of CPI (M) told the Chief Minister that the delay in initiating further (criminal) proceedings against those responsible for irregularities was sending wrong signals to the people. and giving rise to suspicion over the government’s sincerity in dealing with the matter adeptly.
Further, the delegation criticised the Advocate General for what they described his inability to clarify queries of the A.P. High Court in the OMC’s petition questioning the suspension of mining activity.
The Chief Minister told the delegation that the State government was preparing to present its case before the Supreme Court in compliance with the CEC’s recommendations. He assured that the government would take all measures to protect the interests of the State
TDP an others also should take initiative of Ramoji and others in the un accounted money depoits of Margadarshi with the same spirit.

Dubai debt crisis may not cause huge job losses: Ravi

The government said on Sunday that it was closely tracking the fallout of the current financial crisis in Dubai and directed its missions in the region to provide all necessary help to the vulnerable sections of the Indian workforce in the Gulf.
Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, however, said the government was not anticipating a surge of returnees to India from the region. It was confident that the current crisis would blow over, because it was much less in magnitude compared to the worst period of the global financial meltdown. “There is no need for undue panic. We are closely monitoring the situation. The crisis had actually started one year back,” Mr. Ravi told PTI.
He said preliminary reports suggested that although the huge debt of a State-owned investment holding firm impacted markets the world over, it may not result in huge job losses.
Global financial markets plunged on Thursday after Dubai World, the government investment firm burdened with $59 billion in liabilities, requested deferment of the debt. Stock markets in India too were affected.
Asian markets were battered badly by the crisis with the shares of financial institutions and the real estate sector tanking the most.
Mr. Ravi dismissed fears of the debt crisis impacting remittances, saying remittances by expatriates had only increased during the worst period of the economic recession. “Against all the odds, the remittances actually increased last year. I do not think remittances will be affected because of the debt repayment crisis.”
Indians living in the Gulf remitted $27 billion in 2007 to make India the top receiver of migrant remittances. The United Arab Emirates, of which Dubai is one of the seven emirates, has nearly two million Indian population and is the country’s largest export destination with shipments of about $24 billion in fiscal 2008-09.
According to estimates, nearly 65 per cent of the Indians residing in the country are blue-collar workers.
Secretary in the Overseas Indian Ministry K. Mohandas also felt that there would not be a major impact on the job market in the region. “It is not that they are going to close down everything as result of the crisis. We are studying the impact of the crisis and have asked all our Missions to provide necessary help to Indians in distress.”
However, Mr. Mohandas admitted that there may be some kind of impact on Indians working in the real estate sector as it was hit hard by the crisis. “It will take time to get the real impact of the crisis.”
Indians constitute as high as 42.3 per cent of the population of Dubai. An estimated five million workers stayed in the Gulf region.
The Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry plans to announce a comprehensive package to rehabilitate Indian workers who have returned to the country following job losses due to the economic downturn. Mr. Ravi said the government was in the final stage of establishing a ‘Return and Resettlement Fund’ that would provide a “reasonable level of financial security” to the overseas returnees. “It will take some more time to operationalise the fund.”

Obama sending FBI team

n Board PM’s Special Aircraft: U.S. President Barrack Obama is sending a high-level Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) team to India in a week to share “all details” of its probe into the plans and network of U.S. terror suspect David Headley and his Pakistani-Canadian associate Tahawwur Rana.
National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan on Sunday said Mr. Obama told Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he was seized of the case related to Headley and Rana, Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives arrested on the charge of plotting attacks in India.
Mr. Obama told Dr. Singh during their summit talks in Washington on Tuesday that he would send an FBI team to India within a week with “all details,” Mr. Narayanan told journalists.

CAT cancelled at 2 AP centres

he online common admission test (CAT) for entry in to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) had to be cancelled at two centres in the state on Sunday due to technical glitches.

About 2,000 aspirants in the state, who were appearing for the exam at the Siddhartha Institute of Engineering at Vinobha Nagar in Ibrahimpatnam and Vidya Vikas Institute of Technology at Chevella, could not appear for the test on Sunday because the computers in the 24 exam centres across the country were infected by virus. There are 104 CAT centres across the country.

Candidates who could not appear for the test have been notified and their tests are currently being rescheduled within the testing period, said Prometric, the American firm entrusted with the task of conducting the tests for around 2.41 lakh candidates.

Prometric said it has generated new appointments for aspirants who could not take the test and they are being contacted through SMS and e-mail. It said technicians have been sent to sort out the computer problems.

Even on Saturday, though the exam went of smoothly in the Andhra Pradesh, some centres in other states experience problems and had to be cancelled.

“Exhaustive plans were developed and put in place well in advance of the start of the testing window. Unfortunately, the particular viruses and malware (malicious software) that attacked the test delivery system were not detected by the anti-virus software at the testing centres,” said Mr Ramesh Nava, the vice-president and general manager, Asia Pacific, Japan and Africa, Prometric.

CAT, being conducted through computers for a period of 10 days from November 28 to December 7, got off on Saturday to a troubled start. Though students in AP had a problem-free first day, aspirants at the exam centres in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Bhopal faced problems on Saturday.

“We understand how stressful it is for the candidates to adapt to this new computer-based format. We truly regret the additional stress that candidates were subjected to over the first weekend of the CAT 2009, and are doing everything we can to make the rest of the testing experience as smooth as possible,” said Mr Soumitra Roy, MD, India, Prometric.

 

Maytas to seek new CDR deal

IL&FS Infrastru-cture, the new promoter of Maytas Infra, has chalked out a comprehensive plan to revive the Hyderabad-based infrastructure company, which plunged into crisis in the aftermath of the fraud.

The intervention plan includes cost cutting, new orders, diversification of order book and renegotiation of the CDR package. In the long term, IL&FS is planning to boost Maytas’ market capitalisation to Rs 5,000 crore from the current Rs 800 crore.

“IL&FS is contemplating to give a big push to Maytas Infra’s order book by outsourcing its contracts to the Hyderabad-based infra firm. Recently, IL&FS has awarded Rs 800 crore order to Maytas Infra and plans to outsource Rs 2,000 crore worth of projects in two to three months,” sources told this correspondent quoting the chairman, Mr Ravi Parthasarathy.

The Mumbai-based Mayt-as promoter is currently executing projects totalling around Rs 10,000 crore across India.

New contracts could probably be in the power sector as the promoter wants Maytas to diversify its order book, which currently consists of predominantly irrigation projects awarded by the Andhra Pradesh government. “Maytas will also focus its attention on getting orders from the private sector,” the source said, adding that IL&FS plans to increase Maytas’ market capitalisation to Rs 5,000 crore from the current Rs 882 crore.

Earlier under the management of the Ramalinga Ra-ju family, Maytas Infra us-ed to attract criticism from analysts due to its excessive dependence on government projects, which they felt could land the company in trouble, if the government delays its payments.

On the finance front, Maytas will have to cut down its overheads and improve its costing. The new Maytas management, the source said, will renegotiate the Corporate Debt Restructuring, which imposed stringent conditions on the company, including a clause that requires the Maytas management to seek permission from lenders for every important decision.

Under the current CDR, a consortium of lenders incl-uding ICICI Bank, SBI and IDBI released Rs 100 crore working capital, Rs 200 crore loan guarantees and a three year moratorium on the Rs 1,600 crore debt.

Maytas promoter’s prescription
w IL&FS plans to give Rs 2,000 crore worth projects to Maytas in two to three months.

* Diversification of Maytas order by focusing on power projects.

* The market capitalisation will be boosted to Rs 5,000 crore in the long run.

* Renegotiation of Rs 1,600 crore CDR package to give more freedom to the management to run the company.

 

Telangana varsities turn battle zone

University campuses in the Telangana region saw student unrest following the arrest of the TRS chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, on Sunday. Observers said the student violence at the Osmania University campus was the worst in four decades.

Trouble started when students gathered outside Krishnaveni Hostel on the OU campus at 10 am to take out a rally protesting against the arrest of Mr Rao. They burnt chairs and tables near the hostel, which is 150 yards from the Osmania University police station.

The students also ignored a request to not take out a procession, and police began a lathicharge to disperse them. Some personnel entered the hostel and beat the students. This triggered an angry response from the students from other hostels who joined the protests. Soon, about 2,000 hostellers gathered at the spot.

But the police caned them too near the NCC office on the campus and again entered the hostels. Police sealed off the campus by closing the points at Tarnaka and Nallakunta.

There were at least five incidents of stone pelting which triggered retaliation from the police. The two fought a pitched battle for nearly five hours. About 20 students were injured the lathicharge and taken to Gandhi Hospital. Two student leaders were examined for internal injuries at Osmania General Hospital. Six physically handicapped students who were caught in the melee were lathicharged.

The students ransacked the quarters of Mr Christopher, secretary of AP State Higher Education Council. Mr Christopher and his family were not at home at that time.

All student unions joined hands to protest the police action and called for ‘OU bandh’ on Monday and gheraoed the OU Arts College principal, Mr Sudharshan Rao.

“Police is not supposed to enter the hostel blocks without the permission of the vice-chancellor,” said Mr J. Kalyan, ABVP leader. OU Teachers Association also joined the protests.

The principal agreed that police should not enter the hostels without permission, but added, “if the situation goes out of control, they can take action. We are not sure whose fault was it. We will look into the matter.”

OU officials later declared a holiday to all campus colleges except the College of Engineering till December 3. Even as this was on, 500 candidates took an entrance exam for jobs as engineers in BHEL.

Geeta may be House leader

he Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has decided to hold the winter session of the Assembly from December 7.
The state Cabinet is expected to take a final decision at its meeting on Monday. The session will have 13 working days in order to meet the 52 day schedule in the year.

Sources close to the Chief Minister said that the minister for information and culture, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, will be made Leader of the House in the Assembly.

Sources said the Chief Minister will write to the Speaker, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, informing him of this decision.
Dr Geeta Reddy is the senior-most minister from Telangana in the present Cabinet and is from the SC community.

 

osaiah defends KCR arrest

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Sunday night justified the arrest of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, ahead of his fast-unto-death demanding separate Telangana, saying it is the responsibility of the state government to maintain law and order.

"His (Chandrasekhar Rao) speeches and the language he is using over the last one week are not correct. We have the responsibility to maintain law and order. We waited patiently. We had to take this action only to ensure that the situation does not go out of control. In a way, this is like a preventive arrest," Mr Rosaiah said.

The way the TRS chief prepared for the fast and the tense atmosphere that built up warranted the arrest, he said.

Maintaining that Congress is not opposed to the formation of separate Telangana, he said the TRS should wait for the Congress high command to take a decision.

"Before 2004 elections, Congress and TRS had reached an understanding and entrusted the responsibility of solving the issue with Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Rao agreed for that. Congress high command is thinking on the matter. They have appointed a committee and trying for consensus. While that process is on, it is not fair to resort to extreme action.

"It is not easy for the Centre to take quick decisions on division of a state. They have to take into consideration various issues. So we cannot find fault with anyone over the delay in taking a decision at the Central level. The process of consultation is on," he said.

TRS shutdown paralyses life

Normal life was thrown out of gear at several places across Andhra Pradesh on Monday due to the shutdown called by Telangana Rashtra Samithi to protest the arrest of their leader, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who continued his fast in prison.

Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport cancelled its bus services in Hyderabad and other Telangana districts like Medak, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Warangal, leaving many commuters stranded.

Many educational institutions and business establishments remained closed in the city due to the bandh. TRS leaders and activists squatted in front of bus stations in various districts in Telangana region resulting in severe disruption of services.

"We are expressing our protest by sitting in front of bus stations. People of Telangana are moved by the arrest of Chandrasekhara Rao. TV footage of lathicharge on students and TRS workers is disturbing. We are getting voluntary support from employees, teachers, students, businessmen and all sections of the society," senior TRS legislator T. Harish Rao claimed at Siddipet.

Chandrasekara Rao, meanwhile, continued his fast in prison at Khammam for a separate Telangana. "His (Chandrasekhara Rao's) health is being monitored round-the-clock by a team of doctors from Khammam Government Hospital as well as specialists from Warangal. His blood pressure is under control," Parimala Nutan, Additional Superintendent of Police of Khammam district said.

Harish Rao appealed to party men and supporters to observe restrain and not to resort to violence. However, there were reports of bandh supporters damaging buses in Hyderabad, Nalgonda, Karimnagar and other places in the region.

Private buses coming from coastal districts bore the burnt of the bandh supporters at few places. A report from Karimnagar said TRS leaders blocked roads and staged demonstrations in front of the bus stations there. Road transport corporation employees have expressed their support to the dharna staged by the TRS leaders. BJP is also planning a peace rally in the town.

Media mafia: Media war in Andhra pradesh

In the name of Journalism, Media has become Mafia endangering the existance of Democaracy..

In the Veil of Eenadu minted money through.. various business like wise Sakshi.. andhr Jyothi....

its time to get the True news rather than their openion in the name of Breaking stories.. PTI, ANI, GOvt. of  India authorities shall look into this mater

 

Parents push kids to become prodigies

In an ill-advised bid to create a record, parents of an eight-year-old in Chennai insisted the child drive a car at 125 kms an hour. An extreme case yes, but it is indicative of an alarming nascent trend with parents — prodding progeny to turn prodigy. An academic topper is so last generation — now parents want (their kids) to have it all.
Sports, tuitions, computer classes, dance, martial arts, mental math competitions — parents pile on the extra-curricular activities with a ‘what does not break you will only make you stronger’ attitude. “There are more opportunities available today. Earlier parents would dissuade their kids from extra curricular activities. But times have changed and kids are expected to do it all,” observes Dr Hyma Moorty, a teacher at Gitanjali Senior School.
In doing it all though, the kids’ are being spread thin. “Attending several tutorials and also juggling other activities puts too much pressure on them,” says Phani Kumar, a geography teacher, adding, “Besides tuitions can reduce concentration at school.”
Youngsters feel the brunt of parental pressure. “I often hear my parents praising a friend’s child, who is good at a lot of things. Thankfully they don’t force me to take up things of their choice as I won’t be able to give it my 100 per cent,” says Neelasha Nemani, a class XI student.
Though they’re not ecstatic about being moulded into ‘all-rounders’ they’re matter-of-fact about the training needed to face a competitive world. “With the stiff competition that we have to face, parents are concerned that we may be left behind in the rat race. So they want us to take up as many courses as possible. This also means we need to manage our time better,” reasons Sahari Cherukuri, a high school student.
Murtaza Chass, a 15-year-old, agrees that being forced into something can put undue pressure, “It is tough paying attention to your needs and your parents’ too. We have to live up to their expectations.”
While encouragement can yield results, too much can be detrimental. Dr Kalyan Chakravarty, child psychiatrist at Rainbow Hospital cites a recent case, “A six-year-old was being taught horse riding at his school when he fell and hurt his head. Though the child is still on medication, his parents are concerned that a break from the activity would mean he might discontinue it for good. So, they insist he continues.” The fall out, says Dr Chakravarty, is that the child might only do things half-heartedly. “Either that or, kids won’t be able to excel in anything, which defeats the purpose. Excessive pressure can also depress them.”

 

Rosaiah to be elected CLP chief

The much-awaited Congress Legislature Party meeting to elect a new leader will be held on Friday.
It is no secret that the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, will be elected as CLP leader, but in the time-honoured tradition, the CLP will pass a single-line resolution authorising the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, to name the successor to the late Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
The Congress high command decided to hold the CLP meeting even as
the results of the GHMC polls came in and also deputed the Union finance minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, and the Union law minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, to attend it.
As is the Congress routine, the observers will inform the Congress president on the single-line resolution and then return to the meeting to disclose her choice.
The decision to hold the CLP meeting on Friday came as a surprise to the state leaders as the PCC president, Mr D. Srinivas, had said the other day that it would be held only after elections to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor of Hyderabad on December 4.
Mr Rosaiah’s position would be strengthened once he is elected as CLP leader. He is expected to name one minister from his Cabinet as leader of the Assembly.
Mrs Gandhi has already started addressing the vexed succession issue in the state by choosing Ms Vijayalakshmi, wife of late YSR, as candidate for the Pulivendula bypoll.
She also reportedly told YSR’s son, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, that he has to wait for the Chief Minister’s post and allow Mr Rosaiah to continue for a reasonable length of time.
In fact, Mr Jagan is also expected to attend the CLP meeting and is likely to propose the name of Mr Rosaiah.

TD punctures Congress progress

Nov. 26: The Congress secured a so-so win in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls by wresting just 52 of the total 150 wards it contested, while the main Opposition Telugu Desam bounced back by winning 45 municipal wards, setting of alarm in the ruling party.

This was the first election for the Congress after the death of its charismatic leader, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, and the poor show in the civic polls will give the party much food for thought. Though the Congress did emerge as the single largest party in the polls, there is not much joy in its camp.

The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) retained its hold in the old city and also made inroads into the new city and has 43 seats in its kitty. With this, the MIM can play kingmaker or bag the post of mayor with the support of the Congress or the TD.

The BJP managed to win only five wards this time and Chiranjeevi’s Praja Rajyam won one. While four Independents secured victories, the Lok Satta drew a blank.

Even as trends started pouring in, the Greater Hyderabad Congress president, Mr Danam Nagender, admitted that YSR’s death had affected the party’s fortunes. The Congress has 14 MLAs and three Lok Sabha MPs in Greater Hyderabad, which has 24 Assembly segments. The TD has only one MLA. But the Opposition turned the tables with its performance.

The TD attributed its victory to the development works it took up during its nine-year rule, and the failure of the Congress in improving civic amenities and controlling rising prices of essential commodities.

The Congress had fielded 150 candidates, TD 141, BJP 137, Lok Satta 126, MIM 70, PR 64, CPM 35 and CPI 13. The TRS,
however, did not contest the election. Senior Congress leaders admitted that infighting in the party and failure on its part to convince the settlers that the party will stand by them in case of the Telangana factor also cost it dearly in GHMC polls. Protests by candidates who were denied tickets and allegations of tickets being sold did not go well with the voters. The media’s coverage of protest demonstrations by the candidates gave bad publicity to the Congress, the leaders said.

Rosaiah defeats Naidu in pre-poll battle

he Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, on Sunday offered to quit his post if the Telugu Desam won a single seat more than the Congress in Monday’s GHMC polls.

“I challenge Mr Naidu, the next minute after counting I will submit my papers to the party high command and the Governor if we get fewer seats than the TD,” Mr Rosaiah said at a press conference here, sounding supremely confident after facing a barrage of Opposition fire over the past two days. “You (Mr Naidu) take time to decide your course of action in the event of TD losing respond to my challenge.”

The Telugu Desam refused to pick up the gauntlet. Its party president, Mr Chandrababu Naidu said Mr Rosaiah’s challenge was irrelevant since it was made on an electoral issue, and not on the Obulapuram irregularities which the Opposition has been hyping. “We are ready to accept your challenge but we believe that counter-attack strategy cannot be used where issues of public interest are involved,” Mr Naidu said.

Reacting to Mr Naidu’s allegation that he was on the payroll of the Obulapuram Mining Company of Mr Gali Janardhan Reddy, the Chief Minister said the TD had been repeating these allegations despite the confidence reposed in the Congress by the people in the 2009 elections. Realising that his party is again way behind the Congress in the GHMC also, Mr Naidu is upset, he said.

“Only people who are mentally deranged will talk like this,” the Chief Minister said, and advised the TD leader to hold his tongue.

Mr Rosaiah said his ordering a CBI probe into the Obulapuram mining speaks volumes about his sincerity and unbiased approach. He referred to the BJP, Left and a section of the media carrying reports about the corrupt practices of Mr Naidu and ridiculed the latter for not coming forward to prove his sincerity.

Mr Naidu had shot off a letter to the Chief Minister on Sunday night demanding an end to illegal mining in the state.

Mr Naidu has also enclosed a copy of the report of the Central Empowered Committee which was appointed by the Supreme Court regarding illegal mining.

“You have remarked that you will obtain a copy of the report for your perusal if necessary. I am herewith enclosing the same copy with the hope that its contents will convince you about my argument on the urgency of action against illegal mining,” he further added.

Making light of the challenge, senior TD leader, Mr Nagam Janardhan Reddy, said, “We don’t mind whether Mr Rosaiah remains as CM or quits.”

Another senior party leader Mr Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu found no meaning to the Chief Minister’s challenge as winning more number of seats would not be an achievement in view of the number of MLAs and MPs from the Congress being more in the GHMC area.

The TD also found the challenge in violation of the the model code of conduct. Mr Janardhan Reddy and Mr Srihari said that Mr Rosaiah violated the poll code by making political statements from the Secretariat.

Jagan hits poll trail, flays Babu

Hyderabad, Nov. 20: The Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Friday hit the campaign trail for the GHMC polls and addressed over 30 well-attended meetings in Rangareddy and Hyderabad districts.

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy emulated most gestures of his late father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, during his campaign speeches, evoking enthusiastic response from the audience.

When Congress workers asked him at several places when he was going to become Chief Minister, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “With god’s grace I will become Chief Minister one day and your wish will be fulfilled.”

Like YSR, he waved his hands to the crowds, stretched out words while speaking, criticised the Telugu Desam chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu in choicest terms, and punctuated his speeches with anecdotes.

The young MP took the blessings of his mother, Ms Vijayalaxmi, before boarding the specially made Ratham from his Begumpet residence at around 9.30 am.

However, his meetings were delayed by more than three hours in all the venues because of lack of coordination and planning.

Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy garlanded status and offered rituals at temples and dargahs like his father used to do.

At one meeting, he also imitated the sound of a 108 ambulance which was passing by to regale the audience.

The only difference was that the Kadapa MP, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy chose to start off from Maheswaram instead of Chevella, which was YSR’s favourite spot.

True to his father’s style, he also lashed out at the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, and said he never kept his promises to implement total prohibition or subsidised rice scheme.

“He was never a match for my father in any respect,” said the Kadapa MP.

At another meeting, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy said that during Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s regime, only “yellow shirts” (Telugu Desam workers) got all benefits but

YSR had addressed to all needs of all sections of society.

He appealed to the people to vote for Congress to give a befitting reply to Mr Chandrababu Naidu, who was thinking of staging a comeback to the post of the Chief Minister.

YSR’s wife to be fielded for Pulivendula bypoll

Hyderabad, Nov. 25: The Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, has decided to field Mrs Vijayalakshmi, wife of the late Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, as the party’s candidate in the Pulivendula Assembly bypoll scheduled for December 19.

However, YSR’s wife, who is in Bengaluru, did not show much inclination to contest when Mrs Gandhi spoke to her on Wednesday.

Following this, the Congress president met her son and the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was in Delhi, and asked him to go to Bengaluru and convince his mother to contest.

Later in the day, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy left for Bengaluru.

By choosing Mrs Vijayalakshmi, Mrs Gandhi has turned down the plea of the YSR family to allow Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy to enter state politics through the bypoll.

It is evident that Mrs Gandhi wants Mr K. Rosaiah to continue as Chief Minister for a reasonable period and Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy to bide his time.

During an earlier meeting with Mrs Gandhi, the Kadapa MP had expressed his wish to contest from Pulivendula, which his father represented six times.

Mrs Gandhi also asked the Rajya Sabha member and longtime associate of YSR, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, to convince Mrs Vijayalakshmi to contest. Sources told this correspondent that YSR’s wife would be persuaded to file the nomination papers in the next two days.

Earlier, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy told mediapersons in Parliament that the Congress president wanted his mother to contest from Pulivendula and it was his duty to abide by whatever she decides.

When mediapersons asked what would happen in case Mr Vijayalakshmi refused, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy said that some other person from the family would be chosen. But he expressed the hope that his mother would contest.

Meanwhile, there is speculation that Mrs Vijayalakshmi might be inducted into state cabinet in the next reshuffle proposed by Mr Rosaiah.

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah lays foundation

Chief Minister K. Rosaiah lays foundation stone for the indoor auditorium on the Andhra University Campus, in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday.

Gali says will continue AP mining

The Karnataka tourism minister, Mr Gali Janardhan Reddy, said on Wednesday that mining activity at the Obulapuram Mining Company which he runs in Andhra Pradesh would not be suspended at any cost.

He added that he had received no official communication from the Andhra Pradesh government ordering the closure of OMC which is facing allegations of illegal mining activity.

Mr Janardhan Reddy’s comments came even as the AP government issued orders suspending mining activity in the Obulapuram mines and transportation of the already mined ore.

When mediapersons asked him whether he would stop mining operations if he got the show cause notice, Mr Janardhan Reddy replied emphatically: “No.”

He criticised the central empowered committee of the Supreme Court for making recommendations on the mining activity without any orders.

“The Supreme Court has not asked CEC to make any recommendations,” he said. “It has submitted this report without even visiting the site. OMC is making large profits, and this is the reason I am being targeted.”

He said the four mining companies he ran in AP were vital, as the entire raw material was meant for the Rs 25,000-crore Brahmani steel plant in Kadapa.

 

One Family

President Barack Obama (right) and first lady Michelle Obama (second from left) stand with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (centre) and his wife Gursharan Kaur (left) at the White House in Washington on Tuesday after they arrived to attend a State Dinner in their honor

President Barack Obama makes a toast

President Barack Obama makes a toast with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a State Dinner on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Tuesday.

Prathiba on Sukhoi-30MKI

President Pratibha Patil waves after flying on a Sukhoi-30MKI of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at the Lohegaon Air Force base in Pune on Wednesday. President Pratibha Patil created history by becoming the first woman president to fly in a fighter jet.