Home  
Top News

Kadapa Bypolls Scenario: Jagan's Soaring Image

Keeping aside who will win in Kadapa bypolls, it's the soaring image of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy that is more baffling to his rivals. Thanks to much touted electioneering by the ruling and opposition parties, which is aiding Jagan Mohan Reddy to emerge as a true successor to YSR brand of politics. The question now is not who will win, but with how much majority Y S Jaganmohan Reddy will sweep the bypolls that are to take place on 8 May. More or less, the bypolls in Kadapa and Pulivendula are becoming one-sided elections with Jagan holding all the aces with him. Congress nominee D L Ravindra Reddy and TDP candidate M V Mysoora Reddy are slugging it out for the second and third positions. While Jagan camp is looking at three lakh plus majority, TDP is banking on the split in the traditional Congress vote-bank. On the other hand, the odds are heavily stacked against health minister DLR. In all over 13.28 lakh voters will exercise their franchise in the high-profile election on May 8. The atmosphere in Pulivendula, Jammalamadugu, Proddatur, Mydukur, Kamalapuram, Badvel and Kadapa, all the seven Assembly segments in Kadapa parliamentary constituency, are equally surcharged. Missing in the campaign are public issues. Here, the campaign centres around the late YSR, as leaders of both the parties fight to own him up. The TDP on the other hand is directing its attack on the alleged 'corrupt practices' of the late leader YSR and his son Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy. While Congress and TDP's campaign against a 'corrupt' Jagan is not striking a chord with the electorate, most voters cast aside the issue of corruption in this high-profile elections. On the other hand, anger against Sonia Gandhi's treatment of YSR family is strong among the people, especially women. The fact that Jagan is being seen as a great hope by women and a great section of youth is perhaps a reflection of the unassailable grip the YSR Congress party has established in the district over other parties. In fact, Jagan is being projected by the rank and file as the leader of the future (future CM) though curiously Jagan is contesting for the MP seat. In a sense, Jagan is carefully cultivating an image that he is the 'development man' of Kadapa and both Congress and TDP couldn't stop him from doing so.        

Contestants in Kadapa Ignore EC Notices

Be it the ruling Congress Party, main opposition TDP or the newly formed YSR Congress party, do not hesitate to flout rules when it comes to electioneering. The Election Commission has issued several notices to the candidates of different parties contesting Kadapa by elections for breaking rules, but none of them have responded except YSR Congress candidate Jagan Mohan Reddy. While none of the two ministers Mr D.L. Ravindra Reddy, the Congress nominee for Kadapa Lok Sabha, and Mr Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, the party nominee for Pulivendula Assembly nor Dr M.V. Mysoora Reddy, the TD candidate for Kadapa LS, replied to a single notice. However, the YSR Congress candidate Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was served 39 notices, replied to nine notices. According to chief election officer, Mr Ravindra Reddy was served three, Mr Vivekananda Reddy two and Mr Mysoora Reddy four notices. The CEO also told the media persons that two independent candidates were dummies of the Congress nominee Mr Ravindra Reddy while three others were campaigning for Mr Jagan. There are 11 candidates identified so far as dummies, he said adding that the EC would include the expenditure of these candidates in the account of the respective mainstream candidates.

GMR Intends to Buy Lands From Farmers

One of the premier infrastructure companies in the country, GMR Group has proposed to buy lands from the farmers directly for its proposed SEZ near Kakinada. GMR Group has asked the government to expedite allotment of 2,000 acres of government land for its proposed Special Economic Zone near Kakinada coast. This is, apart from the 7,000 acres the firm is already acquiring from individual farmers. The company also wanted part of 2,000 acres that the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation wanted to allot to other industries as well as the Petro Corridor. Sources said that the company recently wrote to the government to withdraw the proposed acquisition by the APIIC enabling it to buy the same land directly from the farmers. The GMR Group gave a detailed presentation to the government on the use of land in the Kakinada SEZ, which will be set up on about 10,000 acres. The firm intends to build a captive port, mega power plant, oil refinery and petro chemical complex. The industries department is said to have sought remarks from the East Godavari district administration on withdrawal of the notification. The APIIC and industries department will have to decide on withdrawing the proposed acquisition to let GMR buy land from the farmers, it is said.  

Attack on Akbaruddin Owaisi Was Pre-planned

With five relatives of Mohammad Pahalwan surrendering to the police, it has been well established that the attack on MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi was pre-planned. It was a pre-meditated conspiracy to eliminate Akbaruddin and the plotter Mohammad Pahalwan monitored its operation through his mobile phone. Five relatives of Mohammad Pahelwan, including Esa Yafai, Yaheya Yafai, Saif Yafai and Haneef Yafai surrendered before Task Force sleuths. So far 11 of the suspects are in police custody and the roles of three more persons are being looked into. The police said that they would be apprehended over the next couple of days. Central Crime Station investigators who are questioning Pahelwan, the main suspect in the attack, said that he had been in touch with the attackers on phone before and after the attack. The police had seized the mobile phones of the accused, whose call details confirmed that Pahelwan was the key conspirator who gave directions to his men. Investigators said that the accused had planned to eliminate Mr Owaisi whenever he visited Barkas. The attackers had used licensed weapons to fire at Mr Owaisi. The recent health bulletin issued stated that Akbaruddin Owaisi is showing slight signs of improvement. His vital parameters including BP, pulse rate, urine output are stated as stable.  

Arunachal CM Dorjee Khandu Still Missing

It's more than 72 hrs. and still the helicopter in which Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and four others were travelling hasn't been found. Search operations are still going on for the missing chopper. Yesterday search teams reached the area where Arunachal chief minister Dorjee Khandu's chopper is suspected to have gone missing along the Indo-Bhutan border. Two Mi-17 choppers took off from Tawang at around 6:05 on Tuesday morning to search around the Sela Pass, the third highest pass in the world but bad weather hampered the search operations. The helicopter carrying Khandu, his security officer Yeshi Choddak, Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup and pilots Captain J S Babbar and Captain T S Mamik went missing 20 minutes after they took off from Tawang to Itanagar on Saturday morning. As the Pawan Hans helicopter remained untraced triggering concerns over the fate of the passengers, Sources in New Delhi said an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite has taken pictures of several metallic objects spread over a 66 sq km area in West Kameng district. With this the search operations will be limited to 66 sq. kms area, which the ISRO pictures show. Eastern Air Command Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Air Marshal K K Nohwar said in Shillong that infrared images taken by two Sukhoi-30 planes detected 'an aircraft-like something' in an area in Bhutan on which the aerial search was focussing.    

Attack on Akbaruddin Owaisi: What Lies Behind

For the world, the attack on Akbaruddin Owaisi that took place on Saturday, might have come as a rude shock, but for the people who knew the persisting feud between Akbaruddin and Mohammad Pahalwan, was an anticipated outcome. It is debatable whether the story that has been told to media is complete or there still lies something else, which is yet to be disclosed. Mohammad Pahalwan, who is alleged to the mastermind behind the attack on MIM MLA and floor leader in the Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi, has given a different version of te attack while speaking to a private channel on Saturday. Mohammed Pahalwan alias Mohammed Bin Omar Al-Yafayee is around 65 years and is a former wrestler, who have made it very big in the real estate business. He is the second last among six brothers and a sister. He goes by his popular name Mohammed Pahelwan and still lives in a joint family on Balapur Road in Barkas, abundant with Yemeni Arabs living in the area since the Nizam era. In 1979, Mohammad Pahalwan's elder brother Maqbool was the one who paved way for opening of MIM office in Barkas area. Mohammad Amanullah Khan, a close confidant of then MIM president Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi, was entrusted with grooming of Chandrayanagutta constituency. Even after breaking ties with Salahuddin Owaisi over Babri Masjid issue, Amanullah khan maintained friendship with Maqbool. Though both of them have died, the friendship between the two families is still continuing. After the death of Maqbool, Mohammed became the unofficial caretaker of the family because of his resourcefulness and business acumen. His proximity with the sons of Amanullah Khan did not go well with Akbaruddin who had won the Chandrayanagutta segment. Another irritant between Akbaruddin and Mohammad's relations was the lands that the latter had acquired and was selling away without getting them cleared first by Akbaruddin. Their rivalries first came to fore in 2007. The elders from the Arab community approached Akbaruddin for patch up with Mohammed, which he reportedly rejected. After winning the elections, Akbaruddin reportedly launched a drive to dislodge Mohammed and his family members from their properties claiming that they were either government or Wakf lands. He also used his clout with the local police to open a rowdy-sheet against Mohammed. Sources said that it was this harassment which made Mohammad and his family to decide taking Akbaruddin head-on. It is said, in Saturday's attack, Mohammed's brother Younu's son Ibrahim was killed in the fire reportedly opened by the gunman of Ahmed Balala, Malakpet MLA, and two other sons Awad and Abdullah were injured. Awad is said to be in a critical condition. The senior Arabs in Barkas are of the opinion that, the feud will not end here, going by the reputation of Akbaruddin and Mohammad Pahalwan, it's just the beginning only.   

Sathya Sai Trust to Name New Chairman After 6 May

With the demise of Sathya Sai Trust's founder-chairman Sri Sathya Sai Baba, the members of Sathya Sai Central Trust met to appoint a new chairman and chalk out plans to continue the legacy of the trust. But the trustees of the Satya Sai Central Trust who met on Sunday at Prashanti Nilayam in Puttaparthi failed to agree on the appointment of a chairman to head the trust. Another meeting will be held next week, it is said. Mr K. Chakravarthi, a member of the trust's management council, and the trustees, Mr R.J. Ratnakar, (Baba's nephew), Mr V. Srinivas and Mr S.V. Giri, discussed about the trust's future for three hours. The trustees have decided to hold a commemorative meeting for Baba on May 4, the tenth day after his death, and on the birth anniversary of his mother Eshwaramma on May 6. Mr Ratnakar said several notable persons would deliver addresses on May 6. He said salaries would be paid on time to employees of the Satya Sai University and Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences. Mr Ratnakar said he hoped the trustees would take a decision on the appointment of a trust chairman after May 6.

Akbaruddin Owaisi Case Handed To CCS

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad police commissioner A K Khan on Sunday transferred Chandrayangutta inspector P Venkatgiri for not acting in time to prevent the attack on MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi. He also handed over the case to the Central Crime Station (CCS) for swift and proper investigation. According to the first information report (FIR) in crime No 132/2011 issued by the Chandrayangutta police station while Akbaruddin was seated on the front seat of his Gypsy vehicle, Abdullah Bin Younus fired at him twice. Another person, Mohammed Bin Salem Wahlan, also fired at the legislator. Ibrahim Bin Younus allegedly stabbed Akbaruddin in his ribs. He was later shot dead by Malakpet legislator Ahmed Balala's personal security officer.     The FIR said that it was Hasan Bin Omer Al-Yafayee, the younger brother of Mohammed Bin Omer Al-Yafayee alias Mohammed Pahelwan, the alleged brain behind the attack, who started the assault with a meat cleaver on Akbaruddin. The FIR further said that at least two revolvers were used in the attack. Police found a .32 revolver at the scene of offence on Saturday.   They discovered that was a licensed weapon belonging to Mohammed Bin Salem Wahlan. The bullets recovered from Akbaruddin's body and the shells found of the .32 revolver are being sent to the AP Forensic Laboratory for verification. According to police officials, an argument had taken place 10 days back between Younus and Akabaruddin at Gurramguda lake near Bandlaguda, when the latter went to one of the cattle sheds along with revenue officials to show them encroached land there. "Younus and Akbaruddin had a heated argument.   This incident might have led to Saturday's attack as he felt that there would be no let-up to Akbaruddin's campaign against land sharks," an investigating official said. According to the sources, the special branch of the city police had reported about a possible violent clash between between Mohammed Pahelwan and Barkas corporator of MIM, Mansoor Bin Mohammed Awalgi over land settlement disputes.

KV Kamanth Is Inyfosys new CEO

Kamath Inyfosys new CEO: Signifying the end of an era, Infosys on Saturday decided to appoint KV Kamath as the successor to its current Chairman NR Narayana Murthy. Thirty years from its inception, founder and chief mentor Murthy will step down as Chairman in August 2011 to give way to Kamath, the current non-executive Chairman of ICICI Bank.Kamath has been an independent director on the Infosys board since May 2009.     The other contender for the post was Kris Gopalakrishnan, the current CEO of Infosys, who is both a co- founder and the man responsible for making Infosys one of the top three IT firms in the country. Kris has been elevated as the executive co-chairman. "He would continue to work on customer-employee-investor connect," outgoing chief Murthy told reporters. With this, SD Shibulal, the current chief operating officer, has taken over as the chief executive officer and managing director of Infosys.   Having known Kamath for 41 years, Murthy appeared pleased with all three appointments. "Kamath has been an extraordinary leader at ICICI. The nominations panel has been looking for new chairman for over a year and the unanimous opinion of the panel was to strengthen customer-employee-investor connect."

Attack On Akbaruddin Owaisi Videos: Live News

Hyderabad Latest News:                      

MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi Is Out Of Danger

The Chandrayangutta Legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi's condition is critical after unidentified gunmen attacked on him in Chandrayangutta shotwhile back. Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy visited Akbaruddin Owaisi and said that MIM MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi out of danger. It is said that four bullets were removed from the body of Akbaruddin.  

Arunachal Pradesh CM Chopper Found

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu chopper, which went missing since morning, was traced. Reports say that Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu plane landed safely and everyone on the plane are safe. The Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu plane made pricoshnary landing in Eastin Bhutan for a brief time and Dorjee Khandu would be boarding another chopper to comeback to capital city Itanagar.     Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu helicopter also has four others, including two crew members took-off on Saturday morning. Mr. Khandu, accompanied by two of his personal aides, had taken off from Tawang at 9:56 am and was to land at Itanagar at 11:30 am. It was last sighted at Sela Pass, 20 minutes after taking off from Tawang, defence sources in Shillong said. The air force has pressed into service two helicopters in search operations to locate the missing chopper. This is the third helicopter to get into trouble in the Northeast in the last fortnight.

Murder Attempt On MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi

Firing on Akbaruddin Owaisi: Akbaruddin Owaisi, the MIM MLA, was attacked in Chandrayangutta, Hyderabad a little while ago. He was reportedly on a padayatra in the area, when his rival Mohammed Pahelwan attacked him with a dagger and later shot four rounds of bullets at him. The MLA is critically injured and has been shifted to Santoshnagar’s Owaisi Hospital. The doctors have said that his condition is quite critical.      This incident has rocked the old city where MIM holds his prominence. AK Khan, the commissioner isn’t taking any chances and several police forces have been deployed across Charminar area to ensure that the law and order situation remains under control. No one is being allowed near the spot where Akbaruddin was attacked. Meanwhile, four people have been arrested in this case. Initial reports suggest that the attack was carefully planned and it’s being seen as a murder attempt.

Rajinikanth Discharged from Hospital

Rajinikanth discharged from hospital: Superstar Rajinikanth, who was hospitalized yesterday, was discharged and advised to take rest for few days by the doctors. Rajinikanth was admitted in hospital in Mylapore, Chennai on Friday due to problems of dehydration and stomach infection, fatigue and vomiting. However, dosctors discharged the Tamil super star and advised him some rest and asa result, Rajinikanth is expected to take short break and then would resume Rana shooting.      Rajinkanth and his wife Latha earlier had taken some solid food in the morning and since then he was not feeling wel. When Rajinikanth started shooting for Rana movie, the superstar started to vomiting and his personal physician, Dr M Balasubramaniam asked him to visit hospital where he was treated in the ICU of St Isabel's Hospital. In fact, Dr M Balasubramaniam insisted that he sent him to the hospital for "fluid replacement and rest", after he complained of breathing difficulty in the morning. Rajinikanth will be heading home at Poes Garden and has been advised complete rest for a week. Earlier his son-in-law Dhanush tweeted: "For all Rajini fans , he is perfectly ok. Just dehydration, nothing to worry at all

AI Strike Enters 4th Day

Air India today further reduced its operations to 39 domestic flights out of its regular 320 as the strike by its pilots entered the fourth day inconveniencing passengers."We have curtailed more than 52 per cent of our domestic flights and operating on only trunk routes that is too metro cities," an AI spokesperson said. "Under the contingency plan, we have reduced the number of flights as we don not have any pilots," he said. Sources sad the AI will be operating the Delhi-Patna-Varanasi flight AI 409 and Delhi-Mumbai-Delhi AI 805 on an aircraft which has been taken on wet lease to operate the two flights.     Under a wet lease, an aircraft comes along with crew members.AI has withdrawn or cancelled 120 domestic flights. Nearly 850 AI pilots are continuing their strike ignoring stern warning of sacking by the management and the Delhi High Court's decision to initiate contempt proceedings against them.Striking Air India pilots yesterday said they were willing to go to jail and refused to call off their agitation.   The Delhi High Court yesterday initiated contempt of court proceedings against the pilots for their 'utter defiance' of its order on Wednesday to call off the agitation calling it as 'brazen and smacking of sheer arrogance'.The lockout of the airline and invoking of Essential Services Maintenance Act(ESMA) were also being mulled to crack down on the pilots. The AI management ordered the pilots to report for duty failing which it said the airline 'is at liberty to take any action as deemed fit including termination of services'.   The management sacked two more pilots yesterday taking to nine the number of pilots terminated. Six pilots have been already suspended. Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), which is spearheading the stir, is demanding a higher fixed component in the salary package, a CBI probe into alleged mismanagement which has led to losses of over Rs 16,000 crore and removal of Air India CMD Arvind Jadhav holding him responsible for the 'financial mess'.

Prince William Kate Middleton Wedding Highlights

prince william kate middleton marriage highlights: Here Are 20 Of The Top Moments From The Royal Marriage Prince William and Kate Middleton have been named husband and wife by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Westminster Abbey.     • Clarence House announced Prince William and his bride would leave Westminster Abbey in the same open topped horse-drawn carriage used by the Prince and Princess of Wales on their wedding day in 1981 – meaning that come rain or shine, crowds would be able to clearly see the married couple.   • The Queen gave the Royal couple the titles of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, also naming her grandson Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus.   • As crowds gathered in Westminster, the crew of the International Space Station broadcast pre-recorded greetings to the Royal couple from hundreds of miles above the surface of the Earth.   • The Archbishop of Canterbury promised the ceremony would be "very special" to the bride and groom, adding that they seemed to him a "deeply sensible" and "realistic" couple.   • Crowds went into a frenzy as celebrity guests including Victoria Beckham – who wore one of her own dresses – her husband David (who wore his OBE medal on the wrong lapel) and Elton John arrived at the abbey.   • Villagers from Kate Middleton's home in Bucklebury held a fete to celebrate the most momentous occasion in their small community's history.   • Boris Johnson confirmed he would bestow a tandem Boris Bike on the couple as a wedding gift – cue a video of what that might look like.   • David Cameron arrived at Westminster Abbey wearing tails, after confusion earlier this week about whether the Prime Minister would dress down for the occasion due to fears over his image.   • The PM disclosed how he camped out on the streets to celebrate Prince Charles and Diana Spencer's wedding in 1981.   • Prince William and his best man Prince Harry left Clarence House to a raucous reception from the public. The groom was resplendent in the full dress of the Irish Guards with RAF wings on his sash, while his brother wore black.   • Police sealed off an area around a suspicious car near the Goring hotel, where the bride's family was staying, but the situation was resolved shortly afterwards. • After Princes William and Harry arrived at the abbey, so did the Queen, wearing a yellow Angela Kelly-designed single crepe wool primrose dress.   • As Kate Middleton's car pulled away from the Goring Hotel it was confirmed that she was, as suspected, wearing Sarah Burton, artistic director of Alexander McQueen, with a v-neck and lace long sleeves.   • The bride also wore a diamond tiara previously worn by Queen Mary, the Queen Mother, the Queen and the Princess Royal.   • As she arrived next to him on the aisle, Prince William could be seen remarking to Kate: "You look stunning, babe", and joking to his father-in-law: "Just a small family affair!"   • During a service conducted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Prince William said "I will" clearly and firmly, while his bride spoke more quietly, apparently slightly overcome with emotion as the couple were married.   • Rousing choruses of Jerusalem and the National Anthem inside the abbey are echoed by crowds enjoying a brief period of sunshine in the streets outside.   • The couple left the abbey hand in hand and rode in the sunshine past cheering crowds to Buckingham Palace, where crowds converged to watch their first kiss as a married couple.   • As mounted guards accompanied the couple's open-topped carriage, one rider lost control and fell from his saddle, while the horse bolted up Whitehall and past Downing Street.   • Anarchists' plans to tarnish the wedding with a demonstration at Soho Square failed to spoil the day, with only 10 or so gathering for their so-called "zombie wedding" protest.

Rajnikanth Admited In Hospital

Rajinikanth hospitalised: Superstar Rajinikanth was reportedly not feeling well at the pooja held today at AVM studios for his upcoming Rana directed by K S Ravikumar. By afternoon Rajinikanth was taken ent at Isabella hospital in Mylapore following some blood pressure problems, sources said on Friday.   Rajinikanth actor was however said to be out of danger. Meanwhile, the doctors have asked Rajinikanth to take complete rest for a few days. He is likely to be discharged by Saturday, sources said.

Govt Cancels Land To Moser Baer

The state government has decided to cancel the land allotted to Moser Baer Infrastructure Developers Ltd, New Delhi to set up solid state memory devices like USB drives, at Fab City in Hyderabad as the company failed to pay the lease premium despite several notices issued to it by the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC). The company was allotted 100 acres of land in Fab City at a lease rental of Rs 15 lakh per acre per annum for a period of 66 years along with infrastructure support like water and electricity. When it failed to pay up the premium as per the MoU entered into on April 16, 2008, the APIIC issued several notices to the company. However, the company did not reply one and half years and later it sent a letter saying that due to economic recession, the photovoltaic industry was hit hard, and requested extension of time by two years.   Meanwhile, the APIIC recommended to the government to withdraw the MoU and cancel the allotment of land. The state government then issued a show cause notice to the company in April 2010. The company, in its reply, reiterated that it was reeling under economic recession and sought time till 2012 to pay the due amount. But since there was no firm commitment from them on any specific business plans and as they had not paid even the initial lease premium as per the terms and conditions of the MoU, the government on Thursday decided to withdraw the MoU and cancel the land allotted to it.

Sai Trust Set To Pick Its New Boss

The Trustees on Thursday tried to present a united front saying that a new chairman would be elected soon as Sathya Sai Baba had neither left a will nor named any successor. Two Trust members would also be given the power to sign cheques in place of the 'godman'. Addressing their maiden press conference in 20 years at the Sathya Sai Indoor Stadium here, the trustees also played down reports about Baba's ill-health saying there was nothing to suggest that anything was "extraordinarily wrong" prior to March 28 and that he was in his full senses till admission to the superspeciality hospital. They also sought to bury the casket controversy with Trust member Venu Srinivasan asserting: "The casket arrived only after the Baba had passed away. We never ordered any casket in the first place. "Last year, the Baba himself expanded the trust by appointing five trustees and four members of the council of management. The trustees will take care of the Trust activities as enshrined in the Trust deed," Naganand said.     Refuting reports that none of Baba's family members was allowed into the ICU, Rathnakar said he was with him during all the 27 days. "Several members of the family had darshan in the ICU," he said. Asked as to who had decided to remove the ventilator, he said it was never removed. While Srinivasan said: "In the hospital, he was treated by doctors like any other patient. They did not treat him as God." He agreed that Baba's frame was slender but refused to comment on reports that his weight had dropped to 35 kgs before hospitalisation.   On allegations against Satyajit, Srinivasan said: "He was with the Baba for 20 years. If he wasn't taking care of the Baba, he would have been sent away immediately." While Rathnakar dismissed reports of differences with Satyajit and said that he shared a "good relationship" with him. Senior trustees — former justice P N Bhagwati, Indulal Shah and S V Giri — along with member of council of management T K K Bhagvat were also present at the presser. "When Baba was alive we never had an occasion to interact with the media," Srinivasan said.