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PRP MLA Katasani Deserts Jagan Party

PRP MLA from Banaganapalle, Katasani Rami Reddy deserted Jagan's party and has come back to PRP again. Andhra Pradesh Assembly Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar issued a show-cause notice on April 29 to K Rami Reddy and that has made Katasani to announce that he would continue in his parent party by deserting the Y S R Congress Party President Jagan Mohan Reddy's camp. PRP whip Vanga Geetha and senior leader K Subbarayudu submitted a petition to the Dy. Speaker Nadendla Manohar and sought Katasani's disqualification for indulging in anti-party activities. The MLA had earlier pledged his support to YSR Congress party and had been actively taking part in the programmes of Mr Jagan. After meeting PRP president K Chiranjeevi, Katasani told the media "I was perturbed by the alleged activities of YSR Congress party which had hurled eggs on the convoy of Mr Chiranjeevi when he came for campaigning for the Congress party candidates for the by-elections. I never quit PRP though I moved along with Jagan for some time." He accused Mr Jagan of adopting a dictatorial attitude as there was no democracy in the YSR Congress party.    

Osama Bin Laden Killing: Zawahiri Paved Way

A Saudi news paper Al-Watan reported that US troops were led to Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden by his own deputy, Ayman Al Zawahiri, because of a simmering internal power struggle. Quoting an unnamed 'regional source', the newspaper said the top two al Qaeda men had differences and that a courier who led US forces to bin Laden was working for Zawahiri. The courier was a Pakistan national and not a Kuwaiti as the US suspected, Al-Watan said. The man knew he was being followed by the US military but disguised the fact. According to the paper, "The Egyptian faction of al Qaeda is defacto running the organisation now and since Laden was taken ill in 2004 they have been trying to take full control." It said Zawahiri's faction had persuaded bin Laden to leave tribal areas along the Afghan-Pakistan border and take shelter instead in Abbottabad near Islamabad where he was finally killed by US commandos on Monday. With the return of an Egyptian figure in al Qaeda, Saif al-Adel, last autumn from Iran, the Egyptian faction had hatched a plan to dispose of Saudi-born bin Laden, according to Al-Watan.  

Why Osama Bin Laden Was Buried at Sea?

Al Quaeda chief Osama Bin Laden was buried at sea: Did U.S. policy makers commit a mistake by burying his dead body in northern Arabian Sea? This awkward question has arisen amid the justified celebrations over the killing of Osama bin Laden. Several Muslim authorities said that the sea burial in fact violated Muslim tradition and warned that it could help trigger calls for revenge from militant Muslims. The sea burial "runs contrary to the principles of Islamic laws, religious values and humanitarian customs," Sheik Ahmed al Tayeb, the grand Imam of Cairo's Al Azhar mosque, said. There are several different versions of Muslim clerics about Osama's burial at sea. While Mohammed al Qubaisi, Dubai's grand mufti is of the view, "If the family does not want him, it's really simple in Islam, You dig up a grave anywhere, even on a remote island, you say the prayers and that's it." He added, "Sea burials are permissible for Muslims in extraordinary circumstances and this is not one of them." And Abdul-Sattar al-Janabi, who preaches at Baghdad's Abu Hanifa mosque declared, "It is not acceptable, and it is almost a crime to throw the body of a Muslim man into the sea," adding that the action "might provoke some Muslims." On the contrary, Imam Shamsi Ali, of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York, said that in emergency circumstances, any Islamic law can be overlooked. "For example, you're not allowed to eat pork," he said, but added that if you were starving to death, it would be considered acceptable. Whereas the Pentagon says the body was treated in accordance with traditional Islamic procedures including washing the corpse before it was placed in the waters of the northern Arabian Sea. U.S. officials have said they wanted to avoid the Al Qaeda leader's grave site becoming a shrine for his followers. They've also said it would have been difficult to find a foreign country willing to accept Osama Bin Laden's remains, especially in so short a time, as Islamic tradition and practice call for the body of the deceased to be buried within 24 hours of death. Keeping Islamic practices aside, the decision is already triggering conspiracy theories that cast doubt on whether Osama Bin Laden is truly dead, even though DNA testing is said to have confirmed with virtual certainty that the Al Qaeda leader was indeed killed. Reluctance on part of Obama administration to release photographs of Osama's body is also paving way for increase of skepticism in some quarters.  

Al Zawahiri is Al Quaeda Next Chief

Al Zawahiri, considered more dangerous than Bin Laden, will be the next chief of Al Quaeda. Osama Bin Laden, who was killed by US forces in Pakistan on Sunday, was said to be Al Quaeda's inspiration. His deputy Al Zawahiri is seen as more dangerous than Bin Laden. He was the real brains that steered operations, including the September 11 attacks, and that has earned him a $US25 million bounty on his head. The FBI's list of most wanted terrorists states that he was also Osama's personal doctor. As bin Laden withdrew from the public eye after 2004, it was often up to al Zawahiri to motivate the group's followers and to shoot out statements at the world through video tapes. Al Zawahiri hails from a wealthy Egyptian family. His father was a reputed physician and one of his grandfathers a prayer leader at Cairo's Al-Azhar institute, the highest authority for Sunni Muslims. Al Zawahiri met bin Laden when thousands of Islamist fighters from around the world flooded into Afghanistan during the their 1980s jihad, or holy war, against Soviet forces. He became involved with Egypt's radical Muslim community at a young age and was reportedly arrested when he was as young as 15 for being a member of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, the Arab world's oldest fundamentalist group. Al-Zawahiri was jailed for three years in Egypt for militancy and was implicated in the 1981 assassination of president Anwar Sadat and the massacre of foreign tourists at the city of Luxor in 1997. For several years, US and Pakistani forces both hunted for Al-Zawahiri and bin Laden in their presumed hiding place along the barren mountains dividing Pakistan and Afghanistan. In January 2006, Al Zawahiri escaped a US missile raid on a village in Pakistan's remote tribal areas. Up to 18 others died, including four Al Qaeda operatives and several civilians. Curretly, Al Zawahiri is said to have surfaced at Peshawar in Pakisrtan.    

Osama Bin Laden: A Biographical Account

World's most dreaded terrorist Osama bin Laden, known as the mastermind behind the worst-ever terror attack on US soil, has been killed in an operation in Pakistan. Here's a biographical account of Osama's life. Following is a chronology of Osama's life and his terror operations: 1957: Bin Laden was born in Saudi Arabia. He was the 17th of 52 children of construction magnate Muhammad Awad bin Laden, an immigrant from neighboring Yemen, who runs a construction company, the Saudi bin Laden Group. 1979: The young bin Laden goes to Afghanistan to help Afghan resistance fighters, known as the mujahedeen, repel the Soviet invasion of the country. Bin Laden becomes the chief financier of an organisation, which evolves into a group known as al-Qaeda (the base). 1989: After the Soviets pull out of Afghanistan, bin Laden returns to Saudi Arabia to work for the family construction firm. There he uses his network to raise funds for veterans of the Afghan war. 1991: He is expelled from Saudi Arabia due to his anti-government activities. Eventually, Saudi Arabia revokes his citizenship, and his family disowns him as well. He takes refuge in Sudan. 1993: A bomb at the World Trade Center kills six and wounds hundreds. Six Muslim radicals, who the US officials suspect have links to bin Laden, are eventually convicted for the bombing. 1995: A pair of truck bombs explodes outside the US embassies in Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, killing 224 people. 1996: Under pressure from the US and Saudi Arabia, the Sudanese expels bin Laden from the country. Bin Laden moves with his 10 children and three wives (he is rumored to have since added a fourth) to Afghanistan and declares a jihad, or holy war, against US forces. November 1998: US court indicts bin Laden for role in embassy bombings, with $5 million bounty offered for his his capture. 1999: The US Federal Bureau of Investigation places bin Laden on its "10 most wanted" list. October 12, 2000: Suicide bombing of USS Cole in Yemen kills 17 US sailors. 2001: Four of bin Laden's alleged supporters are convicted May 29 of the 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Africa. 2001: Al-Qaeda masterminds September 11 attacks on the twin towers of World Trade Centre and Pentagon, killing more than 3,000 people. September 13: Following the September 11 terrorism attacks in the United States, the US government names bin Laden as a prime suspect. September 23: Washington offers a $25 million reward for any information leading to the arrest of bin Laden. November 13: Afghan opposition forces enter the capital Kabul, marking the beginning of the end for the Taliban regime that sheltered bin Laden. December 7: US forces fail to kill bin Laden hiding in Tora Bora mountains in Afghanistan. Bin Laden and his forces reportedly escape by mules to Pakistan. 2002: The US-led military operation progresses as the Taliban falls. The allied forces increase ground troops flanked by air support in an effort to rout out hold-out al-Qaeda forces. March: the battle intensifies in the mountainous terrain of eastern Afghanistan, where reports say bin Laden is located and, according to some, directing troops. Bin Laden maintains a low profile, but makes headlines again in the fall when al-Jazeera broadcasts two audio tapes featuring what US intelligence officials say are most likely authentic recordings of his voice. 2003: The then Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf says bin Laden is probably alive and hiding in Afghanistan, but claims al-Qaeda is no longer an effective terrorist organisation. 2003: As bin Laden calls Muslims across the world to set aside their differences and join in the "blessed and thankful jihad." 2004: On January 4, al-Jazeera again broadcasts audiotape that CIA officials say is likely a recent recording of bin Laden. On the tape, bin Laden says the US occupation of Iraq is the beginning of an occupation of Persian Gulf states to control their oil reserves. In March, US defence officials say their forces in Afghanistan will intensify search operations near the Pakistan border, preparing for a broader offensive to hunt down al-Qaeda fugitives, including Osama bin Laden. 2009: US secretary of defence Robert Gates says officials had no reliable information on Bin Laden's whereabouts for "years". May 2, 2011: President Barack Obama says US forces killed bin Laden in a special operation outside the Pakistani city of Abbottabad. A US official says an adult son of the al-Qaeda chief was also killed in the operation, which lasted less than 40 minutes. Source: dnaindia.com

Osama bin laden Killed: High Alert Issued

Osama bin laden Killed: Osama bin laden along with one of his sons was killed in an US operation carried out by four Helicopters. On credible information a team of US forces comprising four helicopters carried out the operation efficiently and Osama Bin Laden was killed in the ensuing fire fight. Osama was all the time hiding in Pakistan since Al-Qaida's 9/11 attack on World Trade Centre. The US forces attacked the huge mansion in a well populated area of Abbotabad 120 kms. Pakistan's capital Islamabad, in which Osama was hiding. High alert has been issued across India after the death of Osama Bin Laden. The US alos issued a worlwide travel alert in view of the Osama death. The US administration believes that along with Osama, one of his sons also got killed in the firefight. In all, apart from Osama, three men and a woman were killed, who have been used as human shield to the world's most wanted terrorist Osama Bin Laden. The mansion was situated in a compound surrounded by 18 feet high walls and was well secured from on all fronts. The mansion in Abbotabad in which Osama bin laden was hiding is situated in a very thickly populated with high ranked Pakistani military officials residing in the area. As per president Obama, the attack was carried out with the co-ordination of the Pakistan government. So far no confirmation or denial of the news has come from the Pakistan government or the Taliban. However, Pakistan's former ISI chief Hamid Gul said in an interview to a channel that it was too premature at this time to say that the Pakistan od the ISI was harboring Osama Bin Laden. As president Obama has been saying that the operation was carried out with the co-ordination of Pakistan government, then where is the question of harboring Osama by it arises?, asked Hamid Gul. He added, Osama Bin Laden might have come to Abbotabad for treatment and was staying in the mansion since some time and it doesn't mean that all the time he was hiding in Pakistan or Pakistan was harboring him. (Imagae: Courtasy CNN-IBN)    

Osama bin laden is dead: President Barack Obama

Osama bin laden dead? Was Osama bin laden killed? Wel,l, sources say Osama bin laden died in an attack carried out by the US forces. Osama bin laden death news was confirmed by US President Barack Obama. The world's most wanted man Osama bin laden had been killed in a Pakistani compound in an operation on Sunday, which had been carried after cooperation from Islamabad, the US leader said. Obama said in the historic address from the White House that he had directed the US armed forces to launch an attack against a compound in Pakistan on Sunday acting on a lead that first emerged last August.   "A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties." A jubilant crowd gathered outside the White House as word spread of Osama bin Laden's death after a global manhunt that lasted nearly a decade. "Justice has been done," the President Barack Obama said.   The development comes just months before the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Centers and Pentagon, orchestrated by terrorist Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaida organization, that killed more than 3,000 people. The attacks set off a chain of events that led the United States into wars in Afghanistan, and then Iraq, and America's entire intelligence apparatus was overhauled to counter the threat of more terror attacks at home.   Al-Qaida organization was also blamed for the 1998 bombings of two US embassies in Africa that killed 231 people and the 2000 attack on the USS Cole that killed 17 American sailors in Yemen, as well as countless other plots, some successful and some foiled.    

Akbaruddin Owaisi Attacked: 144 Section in Old City

Attack on Akbaruddin Owaisi has resulted in 144 Section in Old City. The Chandrayangutta Legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi's condition is critical after unidentified gunmen attacked on him in Chandrayangutta shotwhile back. Police said two other persons were also injured in this attack on Akbaruddin Owaisi and added that the attack is said to have been master-minded by his rivals. Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi is the leader of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen in the Assembly.   The reason for the attack on Akbaruddin Owaisi is believed to be a land dispute. Mr Akbaruddin Owaisi reportedly sustained bullet and stab injuries on the abdomen and in the hand. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has cancelled all his appointments and is rushing to visit Akbaruddin Owaisi. 144 Section has been imposed in the old city areas and the police commissioner, Mr A.K. Khan, called on 20000 police as security to guard the old city.  

Election for Sathya Sai Trust Chairman

Puttaparthi Sathya Sai Trust Chairman elections: Seeking to put up a united front, trustees of the Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust on Thursday asserted there is no difference of opinion among them and said the new chairman of the trust would be elected very soon. Election of chairman may happen next week when the trustees and council of management will meet.   There is no will of the Baba as far as we know nor did he have his successor in mind, the trustees said at their maiden press conference at the Sathya Sai Indoor Stadium on Thursday afternoon. "We have no individual vested interests. But, there are certain vested interests that are tring to defame the fair name of the Trust, its functionaries and the Trustees," the Trustees said. "We don't want to name anybody but there are efforts to defame us," said Trustee Venu Srinivasan, a former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), at the crowded press conference in the company of his other Trust colleagues."The Trust properties are for a specific purpose.     Every single piece of land owned by the Trust is for charitable purposes and the properties are not available for sale or commercial exploitation," he said.The Trust, henceforth, would be transparent and maintain the same values established by the Baba, he added.It was probably for the first time ever that Trustees of the Satya Sai Trust addressed a formal press conference."When Baba was alive, we never had an occasion to interact with the media," Srinivasan said.   Refuting reports that none of the Baba's family members was allowed into the ICU when he in the hospital, Ratnakar, a Trustee and Baba's nephew said: "All 27 days I was with him in ICU on behalf of the family. All members of the family could go once in a while and darshan of the Baba in ICU.On allegations against Baba's "caretaker" Satyajit, the Trustees said he was an ex-student of the Satya Sai Institute and the Baba chose him for some personal work, nothing more than that.Satyajit was with the Baba for 20 years as the latter chose him. But Baba never took a decision to induct Satyajit into the Trust."He is just an employee of the Trust," the Trustees pointed out.   Asked about the "differences" between him and Satyajit, Ratnakar said he had a "reasonable good relationship" with Satyajit. "There are no differences between us." Trust secretary and Baba's trusted aide K Chakravarthi said he quit Indian Administrative Service in 1981 and joined the Satya Sai Institute of Higher Learning as Registrar.Later he oversaw the implementation of the drinking water supply projects launched by the Trust."Subsequently, Baba wanted me to be the Secretary of the Trust.I am not a Trustee and only a secretary of the Trust. I am only a facilitator," Chakravarthi said.

Sathya Sai Will Return on 14 May

A woman from Bhimavaram in West Godavari created a stir at Puttaparthi yesterday claiming that Sri Sathya Sai Baba will return on May 14 to live till the age of 96. She asked the trustees to stop preparations for Baba's funeral on Wednesday. The lady, Ms Surya Matha, lamented "Baba regularly interacts with me. He told me that he would return on May 14. He has asked devotees to protect his body. I told Swami, I can't help since no one is taking heed of my words." Ms Matha, along with one Ms Laxmi Swami from Visakhapatnam, launched hunger strike at the samadhi of Eswaramma, Satya Sai Baba's mother, demanding that the Sri Satya Sai Central Trust and the government stop funeral preparations. "I have been a devotee for the last 20 years. I speak to Baba in meditation. People know this in my village and they address me as Swami Talli (mother)," she said trying to attract the attention of passersby. Ms Laxmi said that because of Sai Baba she had got a house and her daughter, who is studying here, has been provided with medicare. "I will sit on hunger strike along with her. It's a fact that Baba is not dead. He will be reborn," Ms Laxmi claimed.

Sathya Sai Baba Last Rites Puttaparthi - Live

The last rites of 85 year old spiritual leader Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba began with full state honors at Prashanti Nilayam this morning amid the chanting of Vedic hymns. The ceremonies began at 9 am in Sai Kulwant Hall, where the Baba used to give 'darshan' to devotees and deliver discourses. As the rituals began inside, policemen outside Prashanti Nilayam gave a gun salute. Only selected people, including family members of Baba, members and officials of Sathya Sai Central Trust, his close disciples and VIPs, were attending the last rites. Baba's nephew R J Ratnakar performed rituals like sprinkling of holy water on the mortal remains before the burial. Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader L K Advani, Punjab Governor Shirvraj Patil, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and several ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka paid their last respects.     Sathya Sai Baba's funeral to be a private affair   Sathya Sai Baba death Thousands throng Prashanthi Nilayam   Thousands throng Puttaparthi - 01   Thousands throng Puttaparthi - 02

Shirdi Like Temple For Sathya Sai Baba?

News is that the Sathya Sai Central Trust is contemplating to build a temple like one at Shirdi for Sathya sai Baba in Puttaparthi. The Sathya Sai Central Trust is likely to decide on this on Wednesday after Sathya Sai's last rites are held. The trust has already conveyed to the state government its idea of building the temple. Baba’s mortal remains will be buried at Kulwant Hall of Prasanthi Nilayam where he used to give darshan and address his devotees. The decision to bury the mortal remains of Sai Baba in Sai Kulawant Hall by the trust members is an indication that the hall is being readied to be converted in to a temple, as was done for Shirdi Sai Baba at Shirdi. The government is also concurring with the decision of the Sathya Sai Central Trust. Ananthapur District Collector B Janardhan Reddy says that the styate government has no objection to the trust building a temple for Sri Sathya sai Baba. "The decision has been taken by the trust, we have no role in it," says the Collector. Sate Revenue Minister Raghuveera Reddy, who hails from Ananthapur, welcomed the trust's decision and said "From now on, Puttaparthi will be an international spiritual centre."

Sathya Sai Baba Silver Box: A Mystery

The Sathya Sai Baba silver box, about which the solicitor general of India Subramaniam claims to have dreamed, was not found in Sathya Sai Baba's bedroom. As per Mr. Subramaniam, on Sunday night, Sathya Sai Baba appeared in his dream and told him to search in his bedroom in the residential Yajur Mandir complex. Subramaniam claims, Baba told him in the dream - "There is a silver box. Open it and you will find detailed instructions on how to run the Sai Central Trust."  When Subramaniam told about his dream to the central trust members, cops were summoned to open the residential complex which had been sealed since last week. A team led by DIG Charu Sinha entered the Sathya Sai Baba's bedroom but found nothing. "There was a bed, a chair and a medicine chest. But there was no silver box or any documents or will of the Baba," say the cops. Currently the situation in Puttaparthi is all confusing. Seems, the Sathya Sai Central Trust is groping in dark about the possible existence of a successor to the trust. There are different versions making rounds about Sathya Sai Baba leaving a will behind. Some people say that no such will exists, while others vehemently support its existence. It could not be confirmed whether the solicitor general had hallucinations about the 'silver box' or it really existed, or the cops are denying finding of the silver box, for reasons better known to them!  

Sathya Sai Lies in Sai Kulawant Hall

Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai is lying in Sai Kulawant Hall to bless the devotees with his last darshan. Top political leaders, Bollywood personalities, sportsmen and lakhs of devotees are rushing to Puttaparthi to pay homage to Sathya Sai Baba. Top politicians including BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, Karnataka chief minister B Yeddyurappa, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and Prajarajyam chief Chiranjeevi. Sunil Gavaskar was there to pay his respects as well. Sathya Sai's body was wrapped in a saffron-coloured cloth and kept in a glass casket in the ashram's central hall. Prominent VIPs seated close to the casket were Andhra Pradesh health minister J Geetha Reddy, Ratnakar, Baba's nephew and son of his younger brother Janakiramaiah and Baba's personal caregiver Satyajit. While thousands of devotees stood in serpentine queues through the night and early Monday outside Prashanti Nilayam for a glimpse of their 'god' Sathya Sai Baba lying in an air-conditioned glass casket, scores of VIPs, including politicians, celebrities, stars and top officials had the privilege to enter Kulwant Hall through the back door to see his frail body.  

Puttaparthi Satya Sai Baba Passed Away

Satya Sai Baba Dead - Satya Sai Baba Died: Putaaparthi Satya Sai Baba died today morning after battling for life for 28 days. Sri Satya Sai Baba died at the super specialty hospital in Puttaparthi funded by his Satya Sai Trust in his home town of in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday. He was 86.   Satya Sai Baba's death news sent millions of his devotees into shock and depression and they are unable to digest the fact that Sai Sai Baba is dead and they are unable to believe this. Satya Sai Baba's health condition and his response to medical treatment for the past few days had been pretty slow. And specialist doctors treating Satya Sai Baba said on Sunday and he breathed his last at 7:30 am on Sunday. An official announcement on Satya Sai Baba death news is expected to be shortly made. After fighting for life for more around 4 weeks, Stya Sai Baba was dead today morning. Satya Sai Baba was on intermittent hemodialysis and on assisted respiration until Saturday evening at the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medial Sciences at Puttaparthi.       Sri Satya Sai Baba is one of India's most influential leaders was admitted to super-speciality hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and lungs. Doctors treating Satya Sai Baba said he was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction and chances of his recovery are grim. However, Satya Sai Baba devotees were confident that Satya Sai Baba would recover and come back to normalcy but all their hopes dashed today morning when doctors told that Satya Sai Baba is dead and Satya Sai Baba death news came in as a shock to millions of his devotees.   Thousands of Satya Sai Baba devotees from across the globe are expected to throng Puttaparthi and see Satya Sai Baba. The devotees believe Satya Sai Bab to be an incarnation of God in human form. TeluguOne.com expresses its condolences and pray God for strength to the bereaved family and devotees at this grief hour. May his soul rest in peace!   1.Chandrababu mourns Sathya Sai Baba's death 2.Tears,   tributes as devotees mourn Sathya Sai in Puttaparthi - 01 3.Tears,   tributes as devotees mourn Sathya Sai in Puttaparthi - 02

Untimely Rains Create Havoc in AP

Untimely heavy rains in several districts across the state created havaoc by causing extensive damage to crops over the last two days. The meteorological department forecasted widespread rain or thundershowers due to an upper air cyclonic circulation over the Bay of Bengal in the next 24 hours in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. Loss assessment by the government is still going on. Standing paddy crop suffered extensive damage in East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna and Guntur districts while harvested chilli that was ready for sale got damaged in Khammam district. In Krishna district, chilli, maize and mango suffered damage while in districts like Nalgonda, Mahbubnagar, Karimnagar, Warangal and Anantapur, standing Rabi crops were hit. Coal production in the opencast mines in the Kothagudem area of Khammam district was also hampered because of rain. Low lying areas in several districts were flooded, affecting traffic and power supply. The port town of Kakinada has been receiving a heavy downpour since morning. Heavy rain was also reported from Nellore. According to preliminary estimates in Khammam district,  about 10,000 acres of paddy crop was damaged, chilli damaged in an extent of more than 12,000 acres and maize in an extent of 4,000 acres. Power supply had also been disrupted for more than 12 hours across the district due to heavy winds. In Krishna district, unprecedented rains damaged paddy, mango, maize, chillies and tobacco crops causing heavy loss to the farmers. Paddy is cultivated in nearly 1 lakh acres during this rabi season. The crop is in the harvesting stage while the next two weeks are very crucial. The farmers are worried that the paddy quality will deteriorate drastically with the soaking of harvested crop. In East Godavari district, nearly 30 per cent of paddy crop (around 5.50 lakh acres) was damaged due to the rains over the past two days. According to the Cyclone Warning Centre at Visakhapatnam, an upper air trough lies over north coastal Andhra Pradesh and neighbourhood. Under its influence rains or thundershowers may occur at many places over coastal AP in the next 24 hours.   

Shanthi Bhushan CD Controversy Takes Murkier Turn

Following the CFSL's findings, the Bhushan tape controversy has taken a murkier turn. The Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory report claimed that the "recorded conversation is in continuity... no abrupt changes in speech signal detected". Earlier, forensic tests carried out by the Bhushans through two private laboratories - one in Hyderabad and the other in the United States, had determined that the tape's contents had been spliced. Questions had also been raised by detractors of Mr Shanti Bhushan, co-chairperson of the joint drafting committee on the Lokpal Bill, over his alleged reference to an amount of 4 crores in the recorded conversation. The CD case has now been transferred to the special cell of the Delhi police for further investigation. It is learnt that the Bhushans might be called in for questioning. In the meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh state administration issued a notice to Mr Shanti Bhushan and his three children for allegedly evading stamp duty to the tune of 1.3 crore on purchase of property in a prime locality in the state, has, sent a reminder to the family on the issue. Referring to CFSL report, former Samajwadi leader, Mr Amar Singh said, "That the voice was his... has even been admitted by Shanti Bhushan. In what context was he talking about that amount? This particular remark is lethal and dangerous." The CD and its transcripts were earlier shown to Mr Shanti Bhushan. The police said That it was sealed before him and his signature was also taken. The police is also looking out for the original CD in order to compare it with the copies. Reacting to the CFSL report Mr. Prashanth Bhushan, the lawyer son of Shanthi Bhushan said "Nobody appears to have seen the report yet, if the CFSL has indeed given such a report, it would be obvious that the government is involved in this smear campaign. All of Mulayam Singh's voice in this CD has been lifted from Amar Singh's conversation with Mulayam Singh Yadav, which had been filed by me in the Supreme Court in 2006." Distancing himself with the whole issue, anti-corruption crusader said "the controversy has nothing to do with me."  

Eagle Permits Celestial Marriage of Rama And Seetha

Like in the past 225 years, the eagle has kept its date with Raghunayaka temple at Chadalavada near here. It flew round the temple at 11.02 a.m. on Tuesday as thousands of devotees went into a frenzy watching the spectacle. The bird has been visiting the temple during kalyanotsavam celebrated on "chaitra bahula vidiya" (eight days after Sri Rama Navami) every year for the last 225 years as per records available in the temple. The temple priests claim that every year for the last two centuries the eagle has been circling the temple before the marriage of the deity. This year the marriage was performed at 11.25 am by head priest Sripathi Gopala Krishnamacharyulu amid chanting of "Govinda, Govinda" by devotees, who had come here from across the state to take part in the 226th Kalyanotsavam. Chadalavada is a small sleepy village on the banks of the Gundlakamma on the Ongole-Chirala Road. Many legends surround the village. The temple has a recorded history for the last 1,000 years. According to stone inscriptions found in the temple, it was once called Chaturvatika as Lord Rama had divided the Vanara sena into four parts and directed them to go in four directions searching for Sita. Significantly, the Lord appears in the temple facing the South. He has Sita on his right side and Lakshmana on his left side in the temple. Archakas used to bring water in a vessel from Gundlakamma every day for abhishekam in the temple. Even though the river changed its course and moved away from the temple, archakas still bring water in a vessel every day from a well making the temple unique for its "binde theertham"  told Chandrasekhara Avadhani, Vedic scholar at the temple. Here Garuda Seva is celebrated on 'chaitra pournami' and Seetharamula Kalyanam on 'chaitra bahula vidiya' between 9.30 a.m. and noon when the eagle visits the temple. The event attracts huge crowds all over the state and the neighborhood.  

Telangana Stir Turns to Reddy vs Velama Bout

Curiously Telangana stir is slowly turning in to a Reddy vs Velama community bout to preserve their own domination on the region. Reddys, the predominant community in Telangana is worried that it would be marginalized in the Telangana region if TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family continue to call the shots in the separate state movement. To counter this, several leaders from this forward community cutting across party lines are rallying together to dilute KCR's hold on the T movement. The Reddys are closing ranks by spreading across the message within the community that it is only the KCR family (including son K T Ramarao and daughter K Kavita) and the Velama community, who would stand to substantially gain as the Telangana movement gathers strength.  In terms of numbers, the Velamas constitute a minor section of the Telangana population while the Reddys are dominant both in numbers and in clout. In order to break KCR's hold on the separate state movement, the strategy is to strengthen the agitation under the political joint action committee (JAC) headed by M Kodandaram. According to sources, when TRS distanced itself from the million march held on March 10, Jaipal Reddy and Sabita Indra Reddy have prevailed upon Kodandaram (a Reddy himself) to ensure that the event was a success. Attempting to use Kodandaram as the front man, Jaipal Reddy is said to be playing a key role in getting together the leaders of his community in the region. That is the reason why the TRS is targeting these two leaders in particular. And Sunday's incident in Ranga Reddy district in which TRS activists hurled eggs at the convoys of Union petroleum minister Jaipal Reddy and home minister Sabita Indra Reddy is said to be an offshoot of this clandestine war going on between the Reddys and the Velama communities to which KCR belongs.