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Hyderabad student stabbed in London

Praveen Reddy, a 28-year-old student from Hyderabad has been stabbed in London. He stays in an apartment in London's New Hampshire area. He was admitted to hospital with stab wounds on Friday and is in a critical state. Police believe Praveen sustained his injuries at an address on Kent Street. Eleven people have been arrested. Four remain in custody. Praveen Reddy is an MBA student in London School of Business Management and hails from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh. Praveen's father is a real estate businessman in Hyderabad. He has appealed to the Indian government for an urgent visa to travel to London.   Video Source: tv9      

Jagan Still Enjoys a Mammoth Public Support

Notwithstanding the CBI cases and regular attacks by Congress leaders over his money laundering, Kadapa MP and YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy still enjoys a mammoth public following. This was evident in his recent visit to Nellore, considered to be a bastion of Anam brothers of the Congress party. Jagan Mohan Reddy received a rousing reception when he came here to attend the marriage of the daughter of party district convener and former ZP chairman Kakani Govardhan Reddy on Friday. The public response was like his last trip to Nellore about 16 months ago when he came to console the families of victims who had committed suicide after Dr YSR’s death. Incidentally he was in the Congress when he extensively toured the district then. Nearly a 2,000-strong crowd turned up at the railway station when he arrived by Narayanadri Express from Guntur during the early hours of Friday at around 3 am. They mobbed him when he came to the venue and his bodyguards had a tough time in making way for him. The situation was no different at the Mekapati brothers’ guest house where Jagan stayed. Partymen from all parts of the district as well as locals gathered before the guest house in large numbers to have a glimpse of Jagan. After a brief interaction with party leaders, he formally inaugurated a hospital named after his father by party leader Dr Ch. Balachannaiah on Podalakur Road. People were seen waiting to see him in every village all along the route where he went to unveil statues of his father at Epinapi and Siddavaram in Rapur mandal. Before leaving for Kadapa district, he addressed a gathering at Siddavaram. He came down heavily on state government for their failure on various fronts. He blamed government for not finding a solution for the ongoing strike of junior doctors. He alleged that state government was planning to discontinue welfare schemes introduced by his father, referring to 104 and 108 services. Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, his son Goutham Reddy, Udayagiri legislator Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, former Kovur legislator Nallapareddy Prasannakumar Reddy, party leaders Anam Venkataramana Reddy, Anilkumar Yadav and Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy were present among others.

Excise Minister Mopidevi Faces Yet Another Setback

AP Prohibition and Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana faces yet another setback with the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy staying the transfers of excise officials cleared by the minister. Kiran Kumar Reddy has reportedly directed excise commissioner Sameer Sharma against relieving senior officials who were recently transferred by the excise minister. Sources said that the CM took the decision following inputs from the intelligence wing that huge sums of money had changed hands over these transfers. The CM acted after learning about the ACB's move to include Mopidevi's name in the remand report following the revelation by a liquor merchant that he had paid Rs 10 lakh to the minister. The issue of controversial transfers effected by Mopidevi came to light only after ACB named the minister in last week's remand report. Six excise superintendents and three assistant commissioners earned transfers between January 9 and 12 through two different GOs. Of the six excise superintendents who were transferred, two were placed in Guntur. While SVVN Babji Rao of Palasa in Srikakulam has been transferred to Guntur (headquarters), Amalapuram excise superintendent David Ravikanth was m moved to Tenali. KAB Sastry was transferred from Tirupati to Eluru while K Hemanth Nagaraj has been shifted from Rajahmundry to Gajuwaka. G Anjan Rao of Mahbubnagar was transferred to Saroornagar from where Harikishan was moved to Sangareddy.  

After BJP Porn Row, Bihar MLA in Bar Girls Controversy

After the BJP porn row in Karnataka about 3 of its ministers watching porn clips in Assembly, the ruling JD(U) MLA in Bihar ended up in a fresh controversy involving bar girls. The Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's ruling JD(U), MLA Shyambahadur Singh from Badharia Assembly in Bihar's Siwan district, was seen dancing with girls at a cultural programme in a marriage ceremony. Interestingly, this happened in quick succession to JD(U) Bihar ally BJP being embroiled in a pornography watching row in the middle of the Assembly in Karnatak. MLA Shyambahadur Singh had gone to the house of a brick-kiln owner Ajay Singh at Jafra in Gopalganj district from where they proceeded to Katalpur village in the same district to attend a marriage function. He was shown dancing during the cultural programme on the night of February 8, 2012. When contacted, Singh confirmed having gone to attend the marriage but claimed not having danced with bar girls but with the 'artists' present. "I have not committed any mistake as people and elders usually dance on such occasions to demonstrate their joy over the marriage of their loved ones," he said. Incidentally, this is not the first time for the MLA to kick of controversies involving girls. The ruling JD(U) had in 2010 issued a show-cause notice to Shyambahadur Singh when TV channels purportedly showed him dancing with girls at a programme in Patna.     Video Source:news20four      

UP Polls Second Phase Begins as Scheduled

The second phase of polling, out of the seven-phase polls in Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections for 59 seats in 10 districts. Today's poll will decide the fate of two state presidents, 31 MLAs and 24 former ministers. More than 1.92 crore voters are expected to cast their votes to seal the fate of 1,098 candidates. The second phase of polling to be held today in Sant Kabir Nagar, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia and Ghazipur, Chief Electoral Officer Umesh Sinha said in Lucknow. Stakes are high for ruling BSP, Congress, SP and the BJP in the no-holds-barred fight for the 403 Assembly seats. The voters will exercise their franchise at 20,425 polling booths at 12,995 polling centres. While 3,265 polling booths have been identified as sensitive and 9,971 as hyper sensitive for which adequate force has been deployed, he said. A total of 1098 candidates are in the fray, including 1,021 men and 76 women. Today's poll will decide the fate of many senior leaders, including Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar, Revenue Minister Phagu Chauhan, state presidents of BSP and BJP, deputy leader of SP Ambika Chaudhary, 31 MLAs and 24 former ministers. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rajbhar is in fray as BSP candidate from newly-created Deedarganj seat in Azamgarh district, whereas deputy leader of SP in Assembly Ambika Chaudhary is seeking re-run from Phephna in Ballia. The prestige of state presidents of BSP and BJP is also at stake in this phase. While BSP state president and Cabinet Minister Swami Prasad Maurya is contesting from Padrauna seat in Kushinagar, BJP state president Surya Pratap Shahi is trying his luck from newly-created Pathardeva seat in Deoria district.

Telangana Employees to go on Strike Again: Serve Notice

Telangana employees have decided to go on strike again. The Telangana Employees Joint Action Committee on Friday served notice to the State Government threatening to go an indefinite strike. The JAC leaders including TNGOs president Swamy Goud, TGO president Srinivas Goud and others served the notice to Chief Secretary Pankaj Dwivedi at latter's chambers in the State Secretariat. Later, talking to media persons Swamy Goud said that the State Government did not honour the promises that it made with the employees at the time of ending the 42-day long Sakala Janula Samme. He alleged that the employees who participated in the Telangana agitation were being subjected to discrimination and harassment. He said several promotions and retirement of employees have been stalled by the government. Several outsourcing employees, who joined the general strike are being removed, he alleged. The TNGOs president said that the Telangana employees would not remain silent to injustices and would go on another indefinite strike. He also announced a fresh agitation schedule. On March 3, the TE-JAC would stage dharna before the Districts' Collectorates in Telangana region. A Maha Dharna will be organised on March 5. On March 20, a massive 'Udyoga March' will be organised. He said the employees would go an indefinite strike if the government fails to honour its promises.     Video Source:tv9      

Has Kiran Rubbed the MLAs on The Wrong Side?

Wittingly or unwittingly, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has undoubtedly rubbed several MLAs on the wrong side through the ACB raids on liqour syndicates for the past 50 days. According to sources more than 80 Congress MPs, MLAs and ministers from the state are engaged in liquor trade. They are all now sore that the CM was striking at their very financial roots. According to information of the 80, 9 are MPs while there are 3 MLCs. As per the sources, all these leaders are up in arms against the Chief Minister and are said to be after his blood. Minister DL Ravindra Reddy has already given a caste twist to this affair. He has alleged that though the ACB has mentioned about the name of a Reddy minister from Telangana in its remand diary along with the name of the Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana who is a BC, the CM got the name of his Reddy colleague removed and allowed the name of Mopidevi to be made public. A group of this liquor-lobby public representatives met the PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and have expressed resentment towards chief minister's action. Senior political observers are of the opinion that the CM's move to put a check on some of his compititors, is grossly ill-timed. The dissent of 80 public representatives may well prove to be costly for him in the upcoming by-elections. "He should have waited for a couple months, till the bypolls completed. Certainly, he has rubbed on the wrong side at a wrong time," they say.

Policeman identified in Jarawa video suspended

A policeman, identified in the video footage depicting members of Jarawa tribe of Andaman and Nicobar Islands dancing semi-naked, has been suspended. A departmental enquiry has also been initiated against him, police said. Superintendent of Police South Andaman, SBS Tyagi said "The policeman identified as PC Claton was sitting on the road while Jarawa women were made to dance on the road for an unknown videographer. He was suspended on Wednesday for dereliction of duty as he made no attempt to prevent the recording." Tyagi told that the Police are in search of the Jarawa women who were made to dance for foreign tourists in return for food, to book the person who filmed them.  

Hyderabad Mayor Ends Special Council Meeting Abruptly

Hyderabad Mayor Majid Hussain kicked off a fresh controversy by ending Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's Special Council meeting on Thursday. High drama was witnessed at the meeting, as Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members protested against his decision to conclude and adjourn the special council meeting with TDP corporators even going on a two-hour long dharna. The mayor also suspended the lone MBT corporator for disrupting the meeting. While the special meeting was underway, MBT corporator Amjadullah Khan demanded that he be given a chance to present his views on the budget. However, the mayor told Khan that he could have his say only after the floor leaders of recognised parties had spoken since he was the lone representative from MBT, which was not a recognised party. However, the MBT corporator insisted that he be heard immediately upon which the mayor suspended him and directed marshals to evict the corporator as he was disturbing the meeting. Later, the corporator sat on a dharna alleging that he had received injuries from the marshals who had misbehaved with him and lodged a complaint at Saifabad police station. The TDP corporators staged their dharna in front of the mayor's chamber after he brought the special meeting to an abrupt end even as their floor leader, Singireddy Srinivas Reddy, was making a point on the water problem in the surrounding municipal circles. The corporators criticised the mayor for his autocratic behaviour and, along with an apology from Majid Hussain, demanded a special budget for the water and sewerage network in surrounding circles. The mayor subsequently invited the agitating corporators into his chambers and explained to them the circumstances that had led to him ending the meeting. He assured them that he would visit the surrounding areas and resolve water and sewerage infrastructure problems there. The mayor also drew flak for adjourning the meeting abruptly for 10 minutes when BJP's floor leader Bangari Prakash was making suggestions on the budget. The BJP leaders protested against the mayor's attitude and the disrespect shown a floor leader as soon as the meeting resumed after the break. That led the mayor to give another opportunity to the BJP floor leader to complete his speech. Prakash demanded a Crime Investigation Department (CID) probe into the irregularities in land compensation for road widening work as part of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project. He said that a probe should be ordered into properties acquired over the last 10 years. However at the end, as if to please the members, the mayor announced Rs 1 crore per corporator for the corporators' budget, which was presented to the council for its approval. Upon the request of MIM floor leader Nazeeruddin, Majid Hussain announced that the budget scheme would be extended to the five co-opted members of the corporation.

Liquor Syndicate Mamools to Excise, Police: Fresh List

The AP Anti-corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted series of raids on wine shops in Vijayawada, Guntur and Prakasam districts and took several liquor dealers in to custody. During interrogation, the dealers disclosed the amount of bribes they have been paying to the excise and police department officials. Here's the video report of mamools received by police and excise officials in Vijayawada, Guntur and Prakasam districts.       Video Source:tv9      

AP Liquor Syndicate: List of Bribes Paid to Political Leaders

In a sensational revelation, liquor trader and a key liquor syndicate man in Khammam and Warangal districts, Nunna Venkata Ramana told the ACB sleuths how much bribes were paid and to whom. Here's the list of bribes paid to political leaders: 1 . State Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkataramana - 10 lakh 2 . Puvvada Nageswara Rao of CPI - 3 lakh 3 . TDP's Sathupalli MLA Venkata Veeraiah - 3 lakh 4 . M Kavitha, MLA of Mahabubabad of Warangal district - 5 lakh 5 . CPM district secretary of Khammam Sudarshan - 3 lakh 6 . TRS district secretary Rajendar - Rs. 60,000 only (Grave injustice, indeed!!!) 7 . TRS leader Vijaysarathi - Rs. 40,000 only!! 8 . New Democracy leader Potu Nageshwar - 4.5 lakh 9 . CPM leader Srinivas - Rs. 40,0000/ 10. Unnamed BJP leader - Rs. 25000/ The ACB report says Ramana greased the palms of mediapersons as well: an Andhra Jyothy reporter (Rs.80,000), Eenadu and Vaartha reporters (Rs.50,000 each) and Sakshi reporters (Rs.40,000 each). This is apart from the regular "fixed monthly bribes" paid to several officials of the excise and police departments. However, Nunna Venkata Ramana didn't tell the ACB how much he paid to the TDP leaders while they were in power and in the present times as well.  

Rail Passengers Must Carry ID Proof From 15 February

The passengers will now have to carry a proof of identity while travelling in trains from next week. At present, only passengers travelling on a tatkal or an eticket carry an identity proof while undertaking a train journey. But from February 15, passengers booked on the tickets issued from computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) and internet (i-ticket), undertaking journey in AC-3 tier, AC-2 tier, 1st AC, AC chair car and executive classes will have to carry a proof of identity. The passengers can carry any of the nine ID proofs, in original, while undertaking a train journey -- Voter ID Card, Passport, PAN card, DL, Photo identity card having serial number issued by central/state government, student identity card with photograph issued by recognized school/college for their students, aadhar card, nationalised bank passbook with photograph and credit cards issued by banks with laminated photograph. The passengers failing to produce the original identity proof, as and when asked for, will be treated as 'Without Ticket' and charged accordingly. The rule will apply for all sorts of tickets issued by the railways. To create awareness among passengers, regarding the move, railways will soon start printing the message on the tickets issued computerised reservation system and internet.  

Odisha Hooch Tragedy: Death Toll Rises to 30

The death toll in the Odisha hooch tragedy has gone up to 30 while 12 others continue to be in a critical state. As many as 67 people had fallen sick after consumption of a dubious medicinal concoction in Cuttack, which police claim was high in alcohol content and cheaply available at chemist stores. The pharmaceutical laboratory that supplied the medicines has been sealed. Meanwhile, several other victims are battling for survival in the SCB Medical College and Hospital. According to sources, the victims consumed liquor from a joint in Mahidharpada area of Cuttack on Monday evening. District collector Girish SN refused to term it a case of hooch tragedy saying the people died after consuming spurious medicines and not liquor and many cough syrup bottles were seized from the liquor joint. However, dismissing collector's views Drug Controller AP Das said, "No human being will die if he or she drinks concentrated Sinaman Water-BP, which is sold under different brands." The authorities are yet to confirm whether it was hooch or cough syrup that killed 30. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and a retired judge of the high court would conduct the probe, Chief Secretary BK Patnaik said. The chief minister said those affected by the hooch disaster would be provided free treatment.

Sai Baba Temple Gets 20 Percent More Donations in 2011

The famous Shirdi Sai Baba temple got 20 percent more donations the year 2011, when compared to 2010. The temple has received 36 kg of gold and Rs 401 crore in cash towards donations in year 2011, a top official said on Wednesday. The offerings are at least 20 per cent higher compared to year 2010, he said. "The Trust received 36 kg of gold which is almost fifteen percent more than 31 kg it had received in 2010. Similarly, 440 kg of silver was offered to the shrine in the year gone by compared to 320 kg of silver in 2010," Shirdi Sai Baba Trust Executive Officer Kishore More said. The cash registers of the shrine, which is termed as the second richest in terms of income, are ringing with receipt of Rs 401 crore towards donation in year 2011, which is 20 percent more compared to Rs 322 crore it had received in 2010, he said. Even the donations in terms of foreign currency have also risen to Rs 6.28 crore as against Rs 5.43 crore in 2010, More added.  

Maldives President Was Forced at Gunpoint to Resign

Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, who resigned yesterday, has said that he was forced to resign "at gunpoint" by police and army officers in a coup. He said the move was planned with the knowledge of vice president Mohammed Waheed Hassan who has replaced him. Mr Nasheed resigned after some security officials joined opposition protests over the removal of a top judge. Mr Hassan denies a coup took place or that there was a pre-arranged plan for him to stage a takeover. Hundreds of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) supporters, led by Mr Nasheed, have marched through the streets of Male in protest at his ousting. It is reported, there were angry scuffles with the police, but for the most part the security forces were conspicuous by their absence.  

Medaram Jatara: 8-2-12 Live Video Updates

Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, which is considered to be 'Kumbh Mela of Southern India'. Medaram Jatara is celebrated once in two years in Tadwai mandal of Warangal district, Andhra Pradesh. The main event of the jatara today is bringing Sammakka deity to the 'Gadde' at the jatara venue. Reportedly, over 20 lakh pilgrims have visited Medaram so far and several lakhs are on way to the jatara. In 2010, nearly 1 crore 50 lakhs people have come for the jatara and this year too it the number of pilgrims is likely to touch that figure. The government has made elaborate arrangements to meet the requirements of the pilgrims. Thousands of RTC buses have been pressed in to service. Security arrangements in the jatara are also made on a high scale by deploying 8000 policemen. Here's the live video update of the jatara:     Video Source:tv9      

It 'Hurted' me, But Won't Quit: DL Ravindra Reddy

AP Health Minister Dr. DL Ravindra Reddy denied reports in a section of media that he is going to quit. However, he said that the manner in which his ministry has been stripped of certain departments, has 'hurted' a lot, but it is not true that he is resigning. Asserting that he was always a loyal worker of the Congress, he said that he would continue to be one in future also. Speaking to the media, DR. Ravindra Reddy said the reports that he is unhappy over the curtailing of his portfolios are not true. Earlier, Dr. Reddy had a two hour meeting with PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana and spoke over phone to  Union Minister and in-charge of AP congress affairs Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad. He explained at length, how he started in politics, how he strived hard to do justice to the portfolios he has been entrusted with in the past. "Party is more important to me than portfolios and there is no question of quitting. I will continue to serve the party as a loyal worker," Ravindra Reddy told.     Video Source: tv9      

AP Liquor Mafia Allegations: Minister Mopidevi Clarifications

Andhra Pradesh Prohibition and Excise Minister Mopidevi on Wednesday refuted charges against him levelled by a liquor mafia don. Ramana, an organiser of a liquor syndicate in Khammam, had earlier claimed to have paid the minister`10 lakh and varying amounts to others to ‘buy’ protection for his illegal business. Refuting the charges, minister Mopidevi said that the person Ramana, who is making baseless and false allegations against him, has a criminal background. Ramana was involved in many cases of ganja smuggling and liquor sale offenses. I'm not able to understand, how the investigating agencies have believed his utterings and mentioned in their report that I was paid Rs. 10 lakhs through my friend Raja. "I would ask the chief minister to order a thorough probe in to the incident how the investigating agencies have mentioned my name in the report without having any proper evidence. I will also demand for a strict action against the person who is making false accusations.     Video Source:tv9            

Pune Bus Driver Santosh Mane Mentally Normal

Pune bus driver, Santosh Mane, who went on a rampage mowing down 8 people and injuring many on 25 January, found to be mentally normal by a team of doctors of Yerawada mental hospital. He has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody. Mane had on Monday claimed innocence in a Pune court even as he was sent to the jail. A report filed by the mental hospital in the court stated that there were no sufficient findings to diagnose major psychiatric illness in Mane. "We undertook two to three mental status examinations of Santosh Mane in a day. During these tests, we observed his orientation, appearance, thought disorders, perceptual disturbance, memory problems and judgment capacity. During his observation period at the mental hospital, we found nothing abnormal with Santosh Mane," the report said. On 25 January, Santosh Mane began his carnage after hijacking a bus during the morning rush hour in Pune. Driving on the wrong side of the road, he allegedly smashed all vehicles coming in the way. The 30-year-old driver was arrested after an hour-long chase by the city police.