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Jaganmohan Reddy Continues His Odarpu Yatra

Ignoring the developments at the CBI office in Hyderabad or the FIR filed against him in the assets case, YSR Congress Party president Jaganmohan Reddy continued with his Odarpu yatra in Krishna district on the third day on Wednesday.   Jagan looked unruffled as he stepped up his offensive against the government in his public addresses. Enthused by the good turnout of crowds in the villages, Jagan reiterated that he had decided to face the troubles only for the sake of keeping his promise of visiting all those families who lost their kin after the sudden death of his father Y S Rajasekhara Reddy. "My father had taught me a lesson that we should not go back on our promises despite personal problems. I have the confidence of overcoming all the travails with the support of millions of my father's admirers," said Jagan amidst thunderous claps from the crowds and his supporters. Squarely blaming the state government for failing to infuse confidence among the farmers, Jagan said the ryots' crop holiday has brought shame to the state. "The absence of YSR is being felt by the farmers as he would not have allowed such a crisis to happen," he said amidst slogan-shouting by the villagers. He covered only three villages in Vatsavai mandal till the evening, due to heavy congregation of the masses.

CBI Begins Raids in Jagan Mohan Reddy's Companies

The Central Bureau of Investigation, which has reportedly issued FIRs against the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, his investors and former top bureaucrats involved in the case and the Emaar scam, started investigations in earnest on Wednesday.The CBI joint director, Mr V. Lakshminarayana, spent more than two hours in the courts with a judge and indications are that an FIR has been issued against Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy and others for misappropriation and criminal conspiracy under the Money Laundering Act and the Prevention of Corruption Act.   The YSR Congress chief’s houses in the city and in Bengaluru and the offices of Jagati Publications Limited including Sakshi media offices, and offices of other companies owned by him as well as that of Mr Nimmagadda Prasad and of around 30 companies are likely to be searched, said sources.The CBI has received permission to search 91 places for both cases involving Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s illegal assets and the Emaar scam.In Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s case, 52 accused have been named while 17 accused have been named in the Emaar case. Emaar MGF, Emaar Properties Limited PJSC, Emaar Hills Township Private Limited, Stylish Homes Private Limited have also been named in the case. Meanwhile, teams including officials from Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru congregated at the Dilkhusha Guest House in the city on Wednesday and were briefed by the CBI top cops regarding their part in the probe.Sources said that the blistering pace of the CBI probe indicated that the key accused in the Emaar and Jagan cases might be arrested as soon as material evidence was found against them. An FIR has also reportedly been issued in the Emaar case against former APIIC officials and Emaar authorities and beneficiaries.“When it happens we will let you know through a press release,” said a tight-lipped Mr Lakshminarayana. CBI also did not officially confirm the searches. It is not known whether YSR has been named an accused or not. Sources, however, pointed out that a case could be made out only if he was named an accused.Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy has already moved the Supreme Court for a stay order in the probe.             CBI Begins Raids in Jagan Mohan Reddy's Companies                   CBI Begins Raids in Jagan Mohan Reddy's Companies   

HC Sets GO 177 Operational

The Andhra Pradesh High Court asked the state government on Tuesday its reasons for not invoking the National Security Act against political parties responsible for calling frequent bandhs and strikes, which were causing tremendous hardships to the public in general and students in particular. The court suspended the operation of a Government Order which had kept GO 177 (that provides for stringent action against striking employees) in abeyance. This means, GO 177 becomes operational with immediate effect. A division Bench comprising Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru and Justice Vilas V. Afzulpurkar was dealing with six separate petitions challenging the inaction of the government in preventing the frequent agitations and for paying salaries to employees of the Telangana region who had participated in the non-cooperation movement. The Bench was also dealing with petitions challenging the state's inaction in recovering damages caused to public properties during bandhs and agitations from the political parties. On April 13, the government had issued GO 177 to initiate action on employees who had taken part in the pen-down strike and the non-cooperation movement in February this year. However, five days later, it had issued another GO keeping the earlier one in abeyance following protests from Telangana agitators. The Bench granted five weeks to the state to respond on the issues and also to file counter arguments regarding not taking action against the employees who participated in the non–cooperation motion.

TJAC to launch Sakala Janula Samme Today

The Telangana political Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising TRS, BJP and various pro-Telangana organisations would launch a strike from today in support of the separate statehood demand. The Telangana supporters would hold a rally from the Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram to Indira Park in Hyderabad and hold a dharna there, JAC Convener M Kodandaram told reporters on Tuesday evening. The strike by all sections of people envisages government employees striking work (from September 5) while others taking up different forms of protests, JAC leaders said. The Telangana supporters would hold a rally from the Sundaraiah Vignana Kendram to Indira Park in Hyderabad. The JAC leaders would undertake district, mandal and village level meetings from Thursday to gear up the people for the strike.    

TRS Over-drama Marred Independence Day Celebrations

TRS activists seem to have overdone their drama on the eve of Independence day trying to disrupt the Official celebration. Our politico's seem to have forgotten that national importance attached to this day in the history of our freedom struggle. Police arrested leaders and activists of TRS in Warangal as they were reportedly planning to disrupt the Independence day celebrations. Another rebel TDP legislator Jogu Ramanna was arrested by the police when he tried to disrupt the main official function being attended by state Minister Basvaraj Saraiah in Adilabad town. Telangana had its echo in the Independence Day celebrations in Andhra Pradesh, with groups fighting for a separate Telangana state hoisting Telangana flags along with the national flag. At some places, they also tried to disrupt the official functions. The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) had asked the ministers of the Congress party not to boycott the official functions. Congress MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati. Rajagopal said hoisting of another flag with the national flag was unconstitutional and amounted to insulting the tricolour."There is only one flag for the entire country. No state has a flag of its own," the MP from Vijayawada said. He alleged that TRS was trying to stoke separatist feelings among the people of Telangana Rebel legislator of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Nagam Janardhan Reddy created a flutter at the state assembly when he raised slogan of "Jai Telangana" as assembly Speaker N. Manohar was hoisting the national flag.  

Furore Over 14F in Seemandhra Region

The controversial Clause F of Para 14 from 1975 Presidential Order has been deleted. A notification to this effect has been released by the Rashtrapathi Bhavan yesterday. With this Hyderabad ceases to be a free zone for recruitment of Sub-inspectors of Police and the lower ranks. Now only people belonging to XI Zone can apply for posts of sub-inspectors of police and below ranks. While some political leaders from the ruling party welcomed the move, others remained tightlipped. At many places in Seemandhra region, people took to protests condemning removal of clause 14f. They termed it unconstitutional and vowed to fight it out tooth and nail till the notification is repealed.      

Leaders' Response to Deletion of 14F Clause

The Presidential Notification released a day before declaring removal of clause F of para 14 from the 1975 Presidential Order has received a mixed response from the leaders of various regions and political parties. With this Hyderabad ceases to be a free zone for recruitment of Sub-inspectors of Police and the lower ranks. While political leaders welcomed it, protests have started at many places in the Seemandhra region.                    

Delhi Police Quizzed TRS Leaders

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders T Harish Rao, K Tarakarama Rao, E Rajender and B Vinod Kumar presented themselves before the Delhi Police on Friday in response to the summons served on them after being accused of assaulting an employee of Andhra Pradesh Bhavan. The Delhi Police had served individual summons on these leaders on August 2 asking them to appear before them within five days on various charges, including under the SC/ ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Sources said each of the leaders was questioned separately and the leaders spent close to three hours at the Tilak Marg police station giving clarifications as sought by the investigation officer. These leaders were asked whether the attack was "premeditated" or "spontaneous". They were asked to come down in the future as and when the need arose for further clarifications related to the case. "We have given written statements on the sequence of events that unfolded on that day," Rajender said.  

TDP Telangana Forum Leaders Meet The President

Leaders of TDP Telangana Forum met the President Smt. Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapathi Bhavan today. The leaders met the President to press upon for a speedy decision on Telangana issue. Speaking to media after meeting the President, TDP senior leader Nama Nageswara Rao told the media that they have mainly stressed upon two issues related to Telangana. "We have explained in detail about the necessity of deleting 14F clause and requested the President to delete it immediately to end the prevailing statlemate in the state. The President responded positively and assured she will see that the clause is removed today itself. The second thing we requested her was about presenting the T bill in Parliament during the ongoing session, for which also, the President gave us assurance that she will look into the matter," he said.      

14F Clause Deleted: Presidential Notification Released

The controversial Para 14, Clause F of 1975 Presidential Order has been deleted. A notification to this effect has been released by the Rashtrapathi Bhavan today. The Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs along with AP party affairs incharge Gulam Nabi Azad held a meeting at the Prime Minister's residence a couple of days ago to decide about the contentious 14f issue. In the meeting it was decided to do away with the clause and the same was recommended for Presidential approval. Basing on the CCPA recommendation and demands from the people of Telangana, the President has approved deletion of 14f clause from the 1975 Presidential Order. With this, the way has been cleared for the AP government to conduct SIs' selection test as scheduled on 13 August. From now onwards Hyderabad ceases to be a free zone for recruitment of Sub-inspectors and the lower ranks.    

TJAC Meets to Decide About General Strike

The Telangana Political Joint Action Committee under the chairmanship of M Kodandaram met at Harihara Kala Bhavan today to decide about the General Strike to be started from 17 August. In the meeting, the committee discussed whether to postpone the agitation in view of the Ramzan month and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's health condition or to go ahead as announced earlier. Finally it was decided to go ahead as per earlier schedule on a low key and intensify the protests from 6 September.      

T-issue: Seemandhra Leaders Meet Gulam Nabi Azad

A 23-member team of MPs, MLAs and MLCs from Seemandhra region met the AICC general secretary Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday and pleaded with him to keep the state united. The leaders told Azad that the creation of the separate state of Telangana would lead to demands for a separate Rayalaseema and North Andhra states as well. The Seemandhra delegation consisted of seven ministers S Sailajanath, E Pratap Reddy, G Aruna, T G Venkatesh, A Ahmadullah, P Bala Raju and K Parthasarathi. Gulam Nabi Azad gave a patient hearing to the delegation and assured thaem that this was only a preliminary meeting and he would be holding three more such meetings. Sources said that as the meeting saw discussion mainly on the unity of the Telugu people, the AICC general secretary asked the leaders to come prepared on the status of Hyderabad and water related issues, the next time. "Next time I will ask questions and you have to give convincing answers," Azad told the meeting, according to a minister in the delegation. In an interesting turn of events, the 23-member delegation reportedly backed the state government's decision on the need to repeal the 14F Clause from the Presidential Order of 1975. In the three-hour long meeting, the leaders tried to debunk the theories of injustice done to Telangana by presenting historical and statistical documents in support of the contrary. Senior MP Kavuri Sambasiva Rao explained how the arguments being put forth to buttress the demand for a separate Telangana were wrong. Law Minister E Prathap Reddy, who represents Srisailam constituency said "We have explained how the nation is being misguided by Telangana leaders, who are saying that Telangana was colonized by the rich from Seemandhra." Stating that in recent times nearly 52 lac people had migrated to Hyderabad and its surrounding areas, Pratap Reddy said you could brand all these people migrated to Hyderabad for livelihood as capitalists. The result of the migration is that Telangana gained 12 assembly seats and we lost. It was Telangana which was the principal beneficiary of the state policies on irrigation. "Since 1956, the irrigation in Telangana has increased by 420 per cent, as compared to the increase in Rayalaseema which is just 50 per cent," he said, adding that Rayalaseema should get a financial package first if centre is keen to mitigate backward areas. Another minister Shailajanath said that the delegation had thoroughly disproved the arguements in favour of a separate Telangana state and impressed upon Mr. Azad the the division of state would hurt all three regions. Azad asked the Rayalaseema leaders to meet him separately with their requests and arguments in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh. Some Rayalaseema leaders reportedly also presented Azad with a Rayalaseema map to examine the feasibility of carving out another separate state. Sources said that two representations, one for Rayalaseema and the other for the coastal regions had been presented to Azad.  

Telangana Bandh - 10-08-2011 - Videos

TRS and OU Students JAC has given a bandh call on 10-08-11 demanding removal of clause 14F from the 1975 Presidential Order. Though the union cabinet has announced its decision to delete the clause, the TRS party and OUJAC are going ahead with the bandh as called for earlier. The T-protagonists say that they would continue with agitations till the central government gets the President's approval for deletion of 14F clause. The bandh has been peaceful all over the region and no untoward incidents have been reported so far. While the bandh effect was partial in the capital, it was almost near to total in the Telangana districts.                                        

Telangana Jagruthi Changes Quit India to Quit Telangana

Quit India Resolution was passed at the historic session of the All India Congress Committee which began on the 7th August 1942 and concluded after midnight of 8th/9th August 1942 at Gowalia Tank Maidan, Mumbai. In commemoration of the historic event, a 'National Day of Action' is observed nationwide on 8 & 9 August. The commemoration of the Quit India movement on Tuesday provided a new flash point to Telangana protagonists. Telangana Congress leaders, while staging a sit-in near the Bapu Samadhi, warned the high command that party workers would quit the Congress if the latter continued to dither on the separate issue. Other groups championing the separate state cause like Telangana Jagruti gave a 'Quit Telangana' call to Seemandhra leaders who are opposing the T demand. Telangana Jagruti, a youth organization headed by K Kavitha, daughter of TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, said that the movement was being launched with the spirit of the Quit India movement. Releasing the poster of the Quit Telangana movement at the Telangana martyrs' memorial, Kavitha said that all those opposing the Telangana movement have no place in the region. Andhraites and their properties will not be attacked. We will follow the Gandhian dictum. Quit Telangana is a non-violent movement. Leaders like K Sambasiva Rao are spoiling the Telangana movement. His questioning of the honesty of Yadireddy, who recently committed suicide in New Delhi, is the height of Andhra arrogance and cultural domination. The Quit Telangana programme will be launched in Hyderabad first till August 15 and later taken up across the region. "As part of the movement, Telangana Jagruti workers would stage dharnas in front of the residences of Andhra leaders who were actively involved in the denigration of the Telangana movement and the people", Kavitha said.

Centre Approves Deletion of 14F Clause

The Union Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs (CCPA) is understood to have recommended deletion of the controversial Clause 14F of the Presidential Order, 1975, which makes the people of all the three regions in the state eligible for police jobs in Hyderabad. Political parties of all hues, including the ruling Congress, TDP and BJP in Andhra Pradesh today welcomed the Centre's decision to repeal the clause for the benefit of Telangana. However, the TRS and student groups said they would continue their campaign till the orders are issued officially. "This decision is, in fact, delayed. It will not impact the separate statehood demand in a big way. However, we thank the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhiji and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for this decision. We will decide our future course of (action) tomorrow," Congress MP G Sukhender Reddy said. Telangana supporters have been agitating for long for repealing the clause. The state assembly had earlier passed a resolution seeking its deletion. Welcoming the Centre's decision, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu said in Delhi the government should get the President's consent without delay. TRS MLA and party president K Chandrasekhar Rao's son K T Rama Rao said that the party would continue its struggle for repeal of the clause until the orders are issued after President's assent.

CM Requested PM to Delete 14F Clause

AP chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy spoke to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh over phone today and requested him to get the controversial 14F clause in the Presidential Order deleted at the earliest. Kiran Kumar Reddy told the prime minister that since state assembly's earlier resolution to this effect is already in existance, there is no necessity of a new resolution, which the Home Minister P Chidambaram has asked for.      

Schools in Hyderabad Say no to General Strike

Different types of associations are mushrooming up as Telangana agitation has gained momentum since the T-region leaders submitted their en masse resignations. Every association and even individuals are trying to hog limelight by making announcements on their own. There seems to be a lack of co-ordination between the agitating groups. The Telangana Recognised Private Schools Managements' Association (TRPSMA) in Warangal made an announcement on Sunday about the indefinite closure of schools from August 17. This has come as a shock to the managements of private schools in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. Even parents and students in the city were shocked to hear about the move. Surprisingly, the school managements are not aware of the existence of any association called TRPSMA. With the media prominently highlighting the TRPSMA's decision, hundreds of parents and students approached the schools to check whether the decision is applicable for schools in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts. Concerned representatives of various schools in the city held consultations in the city and then clarified that they were not a part of any such association nor were they ever consulted on the issue. They said schools in the city would run as usual and they would declare a holiday only if there was a law and order problem on account of bandhs. While about 5,000 private schools in the city are part of Hyderabad Recognised Private Schools Managements’ Association (HRPSMA) and AP Recognised Private Schools Managements’ Association (APRPSMA), about 300 CBSE and ICSE schools in the city have separate bodies representing them. A large number of schools run by prominent corporate groups and international schools are not a part of any association. Even as the schools stated that they have not taken any decision on the closure of schools, they refused to comment on record, anticipating trouble from Telangana agitators.  

T-bandh: HC Notice to KCR, Kodandaram

While ordering notices in yet another petition on bandhs and strikes to TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao and Telangana political JAC convenor M Kondandaram, the AP High Court on Monday refused to ban the proposed bandh on Wednesday. The Bench gave the government and the other respondents two weeks time to respond. The Bench ordered the notices while responding to a writ petition filed by Narayana, a resident of Anantapur district. The petitioner contended that no political party could deprive the citizens of their fundamental rights. He said that the central government had been indifferent on the clause 14(f) controversy but the political parties were not entitled to cause inconvenience to the public under the said pretext. PV Krishniah, counsel for the petitioner, insisted on an interim order so that the strike called on Wednesday could be averted. The Bench, however, did not pass any orders on the appeal.  

Police Tightens Dragnet Around Million March Vandals

The City Police's Special Investigation Team probing into the incidents of violence during the Million March has prepared a charge sheet against the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, the Telangana Joint Action Committee convener, Prof. Kodandaram, the TRS MLAs, Mr Harish Rao and Mr K.T. Rama Rao, and other accused for provoking the crowds on that fateful day. According to the CCS police, the chargesheet against the Telangana leaders and other participants has been sent to the public prosecutor for examination before it is filed in court at Nampally. The SIT is probing around 32 cases related to violence during the Million March where statues of prominent personalities were vandalised. Sources said that the Telangana leaders have been named in three major cases of conspiracy and it has been alleged in the chargesheet that four of them had provoked the crowds and had conspired to commit the offences at Tank Bund and assaulting police officers. Photographic and video evidence has been collected against the accused. Around 54 people had been arrested on March 10 by the Gandhinagar police and the case had been transferred to the CCS. The four leaders had been named as accused in a case booked by the Narayanguda police and the chargesheet relates to that case. The accused, however, were not arrested in the case and the police had decided to instead try them in court. A senior city police official said, “Though the case was booked under stringent provisions of Prevention of Public Property Damage Act, Criminal Law Amendment Act, unlawful assembly, rioting and criminal conspiracy, only charges of conspiracy and unlawful assembly will be levelled against them.” In the chargesheet filed by the SIT against Telangana leaders regarding violent incidents during the Million March, it has been mentioned that 12 statues were completely damaged and five statues and their pedestals were partially damaged at the instigation of the JAC leaders. During the Million March, the Congress MPs, Mr Madhu Yashki Gowd, and Mr K. Kesava Rao, were beaten by slippers and water bottles. A slogan-shouting mob had also chased them when they had arrived at Tank Bund to take part in the March. Apart from the statues being damaged, police and media vehicles were burnt, lensmen were attacked and stones were pelted on the police by agitators who had sneaked into the area despite heavy police deployment and restrictions. Acts of violence had taken place in the presence of Mr Chandrasekhar Rao and other Telangana leaders. The agitators had set alight a jeep of the Gandhinagar police station and an outdoor broadcasting van of a TV channel. They had also attacked installations and private properties at the Lower Tank Bund including burning an Andhra Bank ATM on Tank Bund.