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Tsunami Virtually Ruled Out: Sasidhar Reddy

"No waves noticed so far in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, tsunami is virtually ruled out," says National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) vice-president Sasidhar Reddy. But just in case, six teams of 40 people each from the National Disaster Relief Force are positioned at Hindon near Delhi and at Chennai, in case they need to be rushed to the Andamans. According to Home Secretary, Govt. of India, "As of now there are no signs of Tsunami, The Centre is in constant touch with Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu & Odisha. No cause for panic along India's coastline. Government is ready to deal with any eventuality." "However, some people have been evacuated from south Andaman as a precautionary measure," he added. The tsunami warning has officially been downgraded for other parts of India. By 5.30 pm, an all-clear is likely to be formally announced, say sources. Earlier, following the 8.9 magnitude Indonasian earthquake, tremors were felt in Vizag, Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and several other cities across south India. Several coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands being put on tsunami alert. There were no immediate reports of damage to property or loss of lives.  

Earthquake Hits Indonasia: Tremors Felt in Indian East Coast Towns

Earthquake of 8.7 richter scale hit Aceh, Indonesia and tsunami warning has been issued in 28 countries. Tremors felt in Kolkata, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore, Patna. Coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman islands also put on alert following Sumatra quake. Mild tremors were felt along the entire east coast of India a while ago 1.30 noon today, Wednesday 11 April 2012. The tremors were felt in Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Nellore and other places off the east coast. Tremors were also felt in Chennai, Ooty, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata and Assom. India has issued tsunami alert for Andaman Nicobar islands and it is expected that the tsunami may hit the islands any moment from now.

Tara Chowdary Speaks Out: Exclusive Interview Video

For the first time after her arrest, Tara Chowdary opened mouth in an exclusive interview to a private TV channel. She told that she getting threatening calls and faces threat to her life from 3 MLAs and 2 MPs from the state. She said that if the government and the DGP assure to protect her life, she would disclose many secrets about the VVIPs from whom she is facing the life threat. She said that she didn't indulge in any sort of blackmailing or forced anyone into prostitution. The police bear grudge against her ever since film writer Chinni Krishna case and are fabricating false charges against her. Meanwhile, the Banjara Hills police took her to Osmania General Hospital for medical tests at midnight on Tuesday. Police also made searches at her house last night and seized number of CDs, both audio and video along with some incriminating documents. According to sources, the police has already prepared a list of VVIPs involved in the case with the help of the audio, video CDs seized from Tara's house and are planning to question them.          

Tara Chowdary Case: Startling Facts Are Coming Out

Startling facts are coming out one by one with Tara Chowdary's arrest on the charges of forced prostitution and blackmail. The Banjara Hills police, that took her into 4-day custody, is making progress with the interrogation. Going by her reputation for fixing up policemen earlier, she is being questioned only by the women police officers. It is said that Tara was being treated as a VVIP in the past. She used to go to various places, where top officials and VIPs used to make arrangements for her stay. Guest houses were booked for her and if it is a pilgrimage place, special darshans were arranged on priority. Most frequently she used to go to Atchamamba temple in Ongole district, where local DSP arranged for special darshans. On one occasion, a Trustee of Atchamamba temple, Narasimhulu didn't allow Tara for VIP darshan. Enraged Tara called the DSP to her home and filed a police case against Narasimhulu. She asked DSP to arrest Narasimhulu, but the DSP said that it was not possible to arrest him in the case. This again angered Tara and she threatened to make DSP's sleaze videos public. It is said, the DSP somehow got out of her clutches by shelling out few lakhs of rupees. Tara didn't leave the matter at that. She is said to have even planned to kill Narasimhulu. She negotiated with a killer gang in Hyderabad for Rs. 1 lakh to murder Narasimhulu, but it didn't materialise. Interestingly, Tara too was a target for one of her VVIP victims. The victim was so vexed with Tara that he hatched a plan to eliminate her. Everything was arranged, but in the meantime, Tara was arrested and the plan failed. It was her luck that she has been arrested at the nick of the moment, otherwise the case would have been something else, say the media reports.      

Curfew in Hyderabad to Continue 2 More Days

The curfew imposed in the old city of Hyderabad is likely to continue for 2 more days. On Tuesday, the consecutive third day of the curfew, the situation still remains tense, but is under control. People in curfew bound areas under Madannapet and Saeedabad police station limits are reeling under the shortage of essential commodities. Daily wage earners are the worst hit. Though police Monday night announced that there would be relaxation in curfew between 12 noon and 2 p.m. Tuesday, the same was withdrawn. However, Police Commissioner A.K. Khan has announced that prohibitory orders, banning the assembly of four or more people, would continue till April 14 in the city. Pillion riding on motorbike has also been banned during night hours. The indefinite curfew was imposed Sunday after communal clashes broke out following the desecration of a place of worship at Madannapet. Police remained on high alert following the desecration of three more places of worship at Narayanguda and Kachiguda, both outside curfew-bound areas. A tense situation prevails across the old city due to sporadic incidents of violence. An uneasy calm prevails in the densely populated neighbourhoods around the historic Charminar and Mecca Masjid as a sense of fear grips people. Business in the centuries-old markets in the old city has been badly hit.  

Firebrand Renuka Elevation Baffles Kavuri, Rayapati

The recent emergence of Renuka Choudhary as Rajya Sabha member has baffled some senior congressmen from andhra region. These seniors from andhra didn't oppose when she was nominated for RS. The heartburn started with the talk that Renuka is trying for cabinet berth at the Centre under Telangana quota. Already Jaipal Reddy is continuing as central minister from Telangana. According to reliable sources, senior leaders from coastal andhra like Kavuri Sambasiva Rao and Rayapati Sambasiva Rao are apprehensive that Renuka may clinch the chance because of her closeness to party president Sonia Gandhi. If this happens, both Kavuri nad Rayapati would be the losers, since they are the ones who clinged sincerely to the party so long with the hope that they will get cabinet posts someday. Firebrand Renuka Chowdhary recently came down heavily on YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy who has been predicting collapse of the Congress government. "How many days can Jagan stay out of jail, can he predict that," said Renuka. When media quizzed her whether Jagan would be arrested, she replied, "How would I know, law is equal for all." Renuka Chowdhary poked fun at Jagan's statement that he would give clean governance if he comes to power. "Jagan - clean governance? What a joke? There is still time for April 1st. What is today's date? How could Jagan make jokes when there is still time for April 1st? Does he know the spelling of Clean Governance?, she asked. On responding to KCR's demand that Center should pass the Telangana bill soon, "Telangana is not the patent of KCR. We too are Telanganaites. There is no rule that we should pay attention to whatever he says. Party will take decision at the appropriate time." A graduate in B.A. Industrial Psychology from bangalore University, firebrand Renuka Chowdhary entered politics in 1984 as a member of the Telugu Desam Party. She was memmber of the Rajya Sabha for two consecutive terms from 1986 to 1998. During that time she was the chief whip of TD Parliamentary party. In 1998, she left TDP to join the Congress party and continues to be one. In 1999 and 2004, she was elected to the 13th and 14th Lok Sabha from Khammam Parliamentary constituency. She was also union minister of state for Health & Family Welfare from 1997 to 1998 in the cabinet of HD Deve Gowda. The other important positions she held include memberships of the committee on Finance (1999-2000) and the committee on Empowermwnt of Women (2000-2001). In the Manmohan Singh led UPA government, she became minister of state for Tourism in May 2004. In May 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Renuka lost from Khammam by close to 1.5 lakh votes. Controversy: She appeared on NDTV on September 7, 2011 after the Delhi Court bomb blast and justified Government's stand on the issue. However, she was criticised for justifying government's inability to handle large number of terrorist attacks in recent times and put the ownership of security on common people. She also gave example of how Anna Hazare had threatened national security and how Delhi police took proactive meassures by arresting him on August 16, 2011. She compared Anna Hazare's movement against corruption to an Indian drama movie 'Peepli Live' on an Indian news channel. This happened on August 16, 2011 with Arnab Goswamy of Times Now. After losing the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, she has still not vacated her government bungalow. On 20 January 1993, Assistant Sub-inspector Suraj Mal, of the Delhi police posted on the route at Kautilya Marg near Teen Murti, Central Delhi, on which the Prime Minister was to pass, stopped cars (including Renuka Chowdhary's car) to allow an uninterrupted passage to the PM's entourage. Chowdhary then got down from the car, quarreled with Head Constable Janki Ram, also on duty, and abused him besides giving him fist blows and kicks. She was then charged under sections 332 and 353 of IPC (Indian Penal Code). She was later discharged in the assaultcase by Additrional Sessions Judge DS Paweria in April 2005, as he seet aside the Metropolitam Megistrate Siddharth Sharma's 9 February order to frame charges against the minister. In 2000, Hasan Ali Khan, now being tried by CBI for money laundering and smuggling, has gifted a Rs. 1.2 crore worth diamond to Renuka Chowdhary.   

ACB Srinivasa Reddy Relieved Finally

The three-day ongoing drama has finally ended with ACB additional director Srinivasa Reddy relieved by the ACB director general Bhoopathi Babu. Though Srinivasa Reddy was transferred abruptly three days ago, the DG was not relieving him from duties saying that his services are required till the liquor scam report is submitted to the High Court. In a sudden development, ACB DG called for a meeting of all SIT members at the headquarters. It is reported that after half an hour's meeting, the ACB DG has finally agreed to relieve Srinivasa Reddy. Meeting is still going on and Srinivasa Reddy was not available for comments immediately.      

ACB Srinivasa Reddy Transfer Turns Into Controversy

The midnight transfer of ACB Additional Director Srinivasa Reddy has turned in to a controversy. The transfer has been vehemently opposed by all opposition parties. They opined that Srinivasa Reddy was very sincerely and efficiently dealing the case. Representatives from all opposition parties met the chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy this afternoon at the camp office and expressed their feelings about the transfer. They demanded the government to recall the transfer immediately. According to sources, the chief minister told them that the officer was transferred on promotion and he sees no reason to cancel it. He made it very clear to the representatives that the government in no way recall the transfer. Meanwhile, the issue got even more controversial with ACB Director General Bhoopathi Babu refusing to relieve Srinivasa Reddy till the case report is submitted to the High Court on 16th of this month. Interestingly, it was Srinivasa Reddy who was heading the ACB task force that conducted raides on liquor syndicates in the state. The details unearthed by the task force are startling and had many top officials of the excise and police departments as well as some ministers, listed in the scam. Several top politicians in the state are under scrutiny for their involvement in the liquor racket. Recently the Andhra Pradesh High Court has sent notices in liquor scam to the chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana, excise minister Mopidevi Venkatramana and leader of Opposition Chandrababu Naidu.    

It is All Media Imagination Says Botsa From Delhi

It is wellknown that there had been some difference of opinions going on between the chief minister, deputy chief minister and the PCC president for quite some time and the trio was called to Delhi by the party high command to iron out the differences. The trio - Kiran Kumar Reddy, Botsa Satyanarayana and Damodar Rajanarasimha had a lengthy meeting yesterday in delhi with state party affairs incharge Gulam Nabi Azad. The trio is expected to meet the Congress chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi this evening. APCC chief Botsa Satyanarayan held a press meet today morning and briefed about the their meeting with Gulam Nabi Azad. Botsa said that there are no differences whatever among himself, chief minister and the deputy chief minister. It is all imagination of the media and nothing else. He told that they discussed in the meeting about the current party situation in the state and evolved a strategy for the upcoming bypolls. Many other issues were also discussed including Telangana. Since it is a sensitive issue, we pressed upon the need to resolve it as amicably and as early as possible. Answering a question about ACB Dy. DG Srinivasa Reddy's transfer, he said that he doesn't know who is Srnivasa Reddy, he never met him. Botsa said that he has nothing to do with the officer's transfer or the on going ACB raids in the state.      

Kiran, Botsa, Rajanarasimha Bhai Bhai After Meeting Azad

The warring trio chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and Dy.CM Damodar Rajanarasimha are 'Bhai Bhai' again after holding a meeting with Gulam Nabi Azad at Delhi on Wednesday. According to reports, AICC General Secretary and state party affairs in charge Ghulam Nabi Azad has advised both the Chief Minister and the PCC Chief to stop their fight for supremacy and concentrate on strengthening the party and winning elections.   Azad held three-and-a-half hours meeting with Botsa, Kiran and Damodar Rajanarasimha to iron out the differences between them. He is said to have asked both of them to bury their differences and work together for the party. He told them to concentrate on the ensuing by-elections and ensure victory to the party. After the meeting all the three hopped into the same car, as if to show unity. While Botsa and Damodara have come to Azad’s residence together in one car, Kiran has come separately.   As Kiran Kumar Reddy arrived first, Azad held discussions with him alone. After a while, Botsa and Rajanarasimha came in one car together. Then Azad held talks with the three of them. It may be mentioned that while Botsa and Rajanarasimha arrived at Delhi together in one flight, the Chief Minister has arrived separately, in a different flight. Even before leaving for Delhi, Rajanarasimha who is also unhappy with Kiran, held discussions with Botsa.     

AP Liquor Syndicate Don Balraj Goud Arrested

In a major breakthrough, the state ACB arrested the most wanted liquor syndicate don Balraj Goud at Renigunta near Tirupathi. Balraj has been eluding arrest for the past two months. With the capture of Balraj, the ACB is very confident of extracting crucial information about the involvement of excise officials, political leaders and police in the liquor mafia. Balraj Goud has been operating over 100 liquor shops in Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medak and Mahboobnagar districts. He is alleged to have very close relations with a state minister from Hyderabad, several MLAs and officials from excise and pollice departments. During the raids on liquor syndicate offices the ACB has found a diary purported to be of Balraj Goud, in which he kept a detailed account of bribes paid to the political leaders, excise and police officials. It is also said that during TDP regime, then home minister Devender Goud had protected the liquor don in several cases. Now that Balraj has been captured, ACB is trying to elicit more information from him.      

Will CBI Second Chargesheet Pave Way For Jagan Arrest?

The Central Bureau of Investigating (CBI) probing the disproportionate assets case against Kadapa MP and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is expected to file a second chargesheet in the case to further tighten the noose. There is speculation that Jagan may be arrested after filing of this chargesheet. Meanwhile, Jagan continues to tour the West Godavari district ahead of assembly by-elections - 17 of the 18 assembly by-elections that Jagan is campaigning for will be in an area that has been loyal to his father YSR Reddy and the bypolls were necessitated because they openly supported Jagan. Elections here are likely to be held before the end of May. Today, he will tour Narsapuram. He is traveling with a ring of supporters constantly around him, seemingly ready to pre-empt and hype any attempt to arrest their leader. The gist of the charges the CBI has made so far is that businessmen and others were encouraged to invest in Jagan Mohan's vast business empire, following which they would receive licences or other favours from the government, which was headed by his father, late YS Rajasekhar Reddy. The chargesheet refers to YSR stating that had he been alive, he would have been tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act for accepting bribes and misusing his office. This is hugely embarrassing for the Congress because YSR was celebrated by the party. Jagan has not been arrested so far. Sources in the government say they're concerned over whether his arrest could provoke law and order problems, as well as turn public sympathy in his favour. While this is the government's present position, everyone's attention is now centered on the second chargesheet that CBI is expected to file today. Whether to arrest Jagan or not at this juncture, depends on the contents of the second chargesheet, say the political observers.  

CBI Chargesheet Against Jagan: TDP finds Faults

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) senior leader Talasani Srinivas Yadav pointed out certain faults in the chargesheet filed on Saturday by CBI in YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's disproportionate assets case. He also alleged that several crores of rupees have changed hands in preparing the chargesheet. Talasani pointed out, "Why names of the six ministers who have been served notice by the Supreme Court, are not included in the chargesheet. Why Vanpic's name is not mentioned in the CS, when thousands of acres of land has been allotted to it?" He said that they are contemplating to approach the High Court against the ommission of certain names from the CBI chargesheet.

Jagan Arrest: Congress Dilemma

With the CBI naming YS Jagan Mohan Reddy as the prime accused in the chargesheet filed in his disproportionate assets case, it is being speculated whether he would be arrested or not. The ruling party in the state and at the centre is in a dilemma whether to arrest Jagan Mohan Reddy at this juncture or not. Congress is fearing that, if he is arrested now, before the upcoming by-elections in 18 AP Assembly constituencies, it is very likely that he will get public sympathy and may win all the 18 seats. On the other hand, if he is not arrested, people may think that false charges have been levelled against him, just in order to harass him. That way also, people's sympathy will be with Jagan Mohan Reddy. Congress is now caught between this dilemma and in all probabilities, may wait for more opportune time to arrest him, say the political observers.    

Illegal Assets Case: Jagan Decries Dirty Politics

With the Central Bureau of Investigation filing a chargesheet in his illegal assets case on Saturday, the Kadapa MP and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy decried that it is all 'dirty politics' and he is being made a scapegoat. He also asked why no Congress leader has been named in the chargesheet. The CBI has filed the chargesheet against him and 12 others accused Jagan Reddy of getting investments of several crores from firms into his own business as part of quid-pro-quo when his father was the chief minister. Jagan hit back at the CBI saying that he is being made a scapegoat of the dirty politics and regretted that attempts are being made to malign his father and late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy who was killed in a helicopter crash. The CBI had filed its chargesheet against Jagan, his financial advisor Vijay Sai Reddy and 11 others, including individuals and firms, in the special CBI court in Hyderabad. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been charged with offences under different provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. Jagan has been named as the prime accused, followed by Vijay Sai Reddy and suspended IAS officer BP Acharya and Jagati Publications, which runs Sakshi newspaper, as the co-accused. Vijay Sai Reddy has been charged with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and under other provisions of IPC.  

CBI Filed Chargesheet Against Jagan Mohan Reddy

Finally the CBI on Saturday filed chargesheet against the Kadapa MP and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in his illegal assets case. The 68-page chargesheet names Jagan as the prime accused and names 12 others including top IAS officers and politicians. The CBI had filed a case in 2011 against the former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy's son on the charges amassing wealth disproportionate to his known source of income following a directive by the High Court. The court's directives came after State Handlooms and Textile Minister P Shankar Rao, three members of main opposition TDP, and a Kadapa-based lawyer had filed a petition in the court seeking a CBI inquiry into the companies that had invested in Jagan's businesses to allegedly win favours in the form of land allotments and mining leases from the then government led by Jagan's father.    

Communal Riot Erupts in Sangareddy Town

All of a sudden, communal riot erupted in normally peaceful Sangareddy town in close proximity to Hyderabad city on the intervening night of Thursday-Friday. Two groups of rioters pelted stones at each other and torched shops and houses, causing extensive damage. Twenty persons including some policemen were injured in the violence but there were no deaths. Property worth about Rs 1.3 crore is said to have been destroyed in the rioting. The violence broke out all of a sudden around midnight Thursday and went on till the wee hours of Friday. It all began around 11 pm Thursday night after a local BJP leader Pawan Kumar posted some mischievous remarks about the Prophet on Facebook on Thursday. Word spread and some members of a minority community staged a dharna in the town, They demanded the arrest of Kumar. While they were being pacified, another group gathered at the old bus stand in Sangareddy and began pelting stones at shops and vehicles. They tore flexi banners and attacked the vehicle of a former MLA. This incited rioting by people of another community near the old bus stand. Security has been beefed up across the state. Section 144 has been imposed in the town after a spell of curfew. Police are in a high state of alert with only two days to go to Sri Rama Navami festival. Medak Collector S Suresh Kumar along with IGP (west) Rajiv Ratan, DIG N Sanjay and SP P J Victor visited the riot-hit areas. Learning of their visit, a group of rioters rained stones on their convoy near the Government Girls High School, forcing the police to use tear gas and batons again. A case has been registered against the Facebook account holder under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code. He has not been arrested so far. Later Friday, deputy chief minister C Damodara Rajanarasimha, home minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy and major industries minister J Geeta Reddy visited the spot and promised action against the police officials who had failed to act. They promised to extend necessary help to the victims. The home minister said he suspected that the rioting was deliberately incited.      

30 Glorious Years of Telugu Desam Party

The State Telugu Desam Party today celebrates completion of 30 years in state politics. On this same day N.T. Rama Rao has founded the party in the year 1982 to counter Congress party both at the state and center. He is the first person in the country to bring various political parties on one platform to bring non congress party to power at the Cener. That was Nandamuri Taraka. Rama Rao, the hero of the masses in his reel life, who later became their hero in real life by unseating the nearly century old and well-entrenched Congress, and forming the first ever non-Congress Government in the State. NTR, as he was fondly called, launched the Telugu Desam Party in March 1982, and within a year - on January 5, 1983, to be precise - the fledgling party dealt a crushing blow to the Congress. He was successful in weaning the Telugus from their unflinching loyalty to Indira Gandhi. The wayward functioning of the Congress in the State and the Andhras' anger over the way the Chief Minister, T. Anjaiah, was insulted in public by Rajiv Gandhi, who was then only the AICC secretary-general, at the Hyderabad airport changed the mood of the public which started looking for an alternative to the Congress. NTR fulfilled that need by espousing the cause of 'aarukotla Andhrula atma gauravam' (self-respect of six-crore Andhras). Soon after taking over as Chief Minister, NTR kept many of his election promises, which many had then dismissed as populist and earned a place for himself in the heart of Telugus. After his advent, the Telugus elsewhere got their exclusive identity, breaking away from the original tag of  'Madrasis'. While emphasising the importance of Telugu, he, however, held out the assurance that the TDP would also encourage and protect the languages and culture of people from other States. Apart from introducing the cheap rice scheme of selling the grain at Rs.2 a kilogram for poor people with a monthly income of Rs.500 or less, he fought with the Centre to amend the Hindu Succession Act to ensure equal property rights to women. He introduced educational reforms and laid the foundation for the Telugu Ganga project to provide drinking water to Madras city apart from irrigating the dry lands of Rayalaseema. Much water has flown under the bridge in these 30 years, political equations within the state and at the center have changed. Now the party under the able guidance of Nara Chandrababu Naidu is trying to uphold the principles and glory of the party. Let's wish, the party which was launched to protect the 'Atma Gouravam' of Telugu people, flourishes further and succeeds in doing so in future also.            

Telangana Uproar: Assembly Adjourned For Thursday

As usual the separate Telangana uproar was witnessed in the ongoing Andhra Pradesh Assembly Budget Session on Wednesday. Legislators from Telangana region surrounded the Speaker's podium and raised slogans in protest against state and central governments' indifference towards solving the separate issue. The Speaker Nadendla Manohar tried his best to convince the protesting members and sought their co-operation, but it was of no use. The din continued in the house and finally he had to announce adjournment of the house to Thursday. However, speaker could manage to get some bills passed through voice vote, in spite of the deafening din created by the pro-Telangana members.