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Chiranjeevi's Emotional Speech in Araku

Megastar turned Legislator from Tirupathi Mr. Chiranjeevi, who is still considered to be a novice in politics, is participating in the first-time MLAs and MLCs' training camp being held in the Araku Valley. The Assembly Speaker Mr. Nadendla Manohar is leading the legislators as part of training session. The legislators today attended a conference on "Tribal Development and Government Programs" at Araku. Tirupati MLA Chiranjeevi has become a special attraction in the tour. People thronged to have a look at him. He told the media that he entered into politics only to serve the people and not for any political gains. He said that people would not tolerate those who entered politics for personal benefits. Speaking on the occasion, Chiranjeevi shared some of his bitter experiences he faced as a legislator. He lamented that even after three health ministers have changed, but conditions in the maternity ward of Tirupathi govt. hospital have not changed. He said that a massive change should be brought to the entire system, then only it will be possible for the legislators to do justice to their work.     

Hyderabad Literary Festival From 16 to 18 January

The second edition of Hyderabad Literary Festival will be held at Taramati Baradari Cultural Complex in Golconda Fort from 16 to 18 January this year, organisers of the festival informed at a press conference on Wednesday. The literary festival is being organized by the e-journal Muse India in association with APTourism and APTDC. The literary extravaganza will have more than 80 Indian authors representing English as well as other regional languages. Conversations with writers, reading sessions, panel discussions, and dialogues between authors will be part of the event. The festival will also include a workshop in creative writing for school children, and competitions in short film-making, street plays, photography and fusion music for college students, informed T.Vijay Kumar, Director of the OU Centre for International Programmes which is one of the partners for the festival. There is no entry fee for the festival. The list of literary persons to attend the festival includes Gulzar, Pavan K.Varma, Mark Tully, Meena Alexander, Rahul Pandita, G.Haragopal, Hemang Desai, Amish Tripathi, Jaishree Misra, Vallabh Vidyanagar and Indu Sundareesan among others.   The list of literary persons to attend the festival includes Gulzar, Pavan K.Varma, Mark Tully, Meena Alexander, Rahul Pandita, G.Haragopal, Hemang Desai, Amish Tripathi, Jaishree Misra, Vallabh Vidyanagar, and Indu Sundareesan among others. From Hyderabad, the writers to participate include Narendra Luther, Bilkeez Latif, Aminuddin Khan, N.Gopi, Abburi Chayadevi, C.Mrinalini, Jeelani Bano, Saleem, Narendra Rai, Rishabha Deo Sharma, Khalid Syed, Ashraf Rafi, Mushaf Iqbal Tausifi, and Tasneem Johar. Special focus will be on Telugu, Hindi, Urdu, German and French writings. There is no entry fee for the festival and all sessions will be open to all. However, certain privileges will be accorded to paid delegates, Prof.Vijay Kumar informed. Two national-level literary awards, the Young Writer Award and Translator Award, will be given away by Muse India as part of the festival, informed G.S.P. Rao, managing editor of the journal. A fusion music concert by Triotonos, a jazz group from Germany, will entertain participants on the first day, while cultural performances by eminent artistes such as Ananda Shankar Jayant and Vidya Rao will follow the next day. For more information, one may visit the website www.hyderabadliteraryfestival.com.    

Hyderabad Metro Rail Works Pick-up Momentum

In spite of protests from the affected traders, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is going ahead with its own plans to implement Hyderabad Metro Rail works. At a review meeting with Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration, B Sam Bob, GHMC Commissioner MT Krishna Babu said road widening had almost been completed on the MJ Market-Putlibowli stretch of corridor-I and that the GHMC would now focus on Putlibowli-Ranga Mahal stretch. The Putlibowli-Ranga Mahal stretch has a number of kirana shops, bakeries and textiles and all of them are set to be removed or at least a part of them. The GHMC Commissioner said road widening from Musheerabad to RTC X roads was also picking up speed and that land acquisition notices will soon be issued to the affected properties on the Ameerpet-Yousufguda-Madhura Nagar-Krishna Nagar-Road No 5 of Jubilee Hills stretch of corridor-III. Regarding payment of compensation to the displaced, he said funds were being regularly released by the government to the GHMC. He also mentioned that all the advertisement boards in the central median will be removed in Nagole-Mettuguda and Miyapur-Ameerpet stretches. He indicated that the newly-erected poles will be charged in the next few days and central lighting poles will be removed so as to let L&T barricade eight meters of central median portion of the road for laying foundation and constructing metro rail piers. Sam Bob advised the GHMC Commissioner to expedite road widening as per the priorities indicated by the HMR and also advised Hyderabad District Collector N Gulzar to speed up acquisition of properties for which compensation amount was deposited in the City Civil Court.  HMR Managing Director NVS Reddy briefed him on the progress of works on priority stretches between Nagole-Mettuguda (8 km) of corridor-III and Miyapur-Ameerpet stretch (12 km) of corridor-I. He informed that the GHMC has erected side street light poles between Nagole and Mettuguda. For the power requirement of Uppal metro rail depot, a new 220 kv sub-station will have to be set up by APTransco. A 5-acre plot at Uppal depot was handed over to the APTransco free of cost for this purpose. Sam Bob advised the APCPDCL authorities to expedite replacement of three 11 kv and five 33 kv overhead electrical lines with underground cabling in Nagole-Mettuguda and Miyapur-Punjagutta stretches. Sam Bob also directed the Metro Water Board to expeditiously re-route the water supply line which is going through Uppal metro rail depot land to the new road being laid by HMR along the Hyderabad nala to facilitate the metro rail depot works.  

AP Bypoll Survey: Jagan's Popularity on Slide-down

In view of the possibility of bypolls that may take place in 24 assembly constituencies of AP, a survey has been conducted by both private and Intelligence agencies. While the survey report indicates mixed fortunes for CM Kiran Kumar Reddy, it shows a slide-down in the popularity of YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy. According to the survey report, people expect the Chief Minister to improve performance, he largely succeeded in popularising all his new initiatives like '1kg rice scheme and Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, an employment generation scheme, besides interest free loans to women and farmers, to some extent. More than 90 percent were aware of the rice scheme, 50 percent about the Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu, 30-40 percent about the interest free loans. The percentage of people rating the Chief Minister's performance as good is around 30 percent.     The Chief Minister introduced the schemes to leave his imprint on the administration and erase the memories of YSR on whose popularity his son Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is heavily banking on. An important factor that raises hopes for the Congress is a negative shift of vote for Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy's party. In places like Allagadda, where B. Sobha Nagireddy will seek reelection, a negative shift of 6.2 percent was noticed. It is as high as 15 percent in Rayadurgam, 22 percent in Kovur and 26 percent in Udaigiri. Sources told that contrary to the claims of a clean sweep by YSR Congress in all 17 segments where the MLAs loyal to Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy voted against the government braving disqualification, the party has a clear edge only in eight segments. The TRS is all set to sweep five segments in Telangana region leaving one each to the Congress (Mahbubnagar) and rebel TD leader Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy (Nagarkurnool).    

Two of Chiru MLAs to Join Kiran Cabinet on 19 Jan

Finally decks have been cleared for induction of two Praja Rajyam legislators in to the State Cabinet on 19 January. With this, MLC C Ramachandraiah and MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao would become part of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's 13-month-old Cabinet. Earlier PRP chief Chiranjeevi had conveyed to both AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and the CM that his men would join the Cabinet on an auspicious day after Sankranti. 19 January happens to be Bahula Ekadasi in Uttarayana Punyakalam and is considered an auspicious day for beginning of new ventures.     Despite objections from senior Congress leaders, Mr Chiranjeevi managed to clear PR MLC Ramachandraiah for one of the berths. The latter is a former Telugu Desam MLA and MP and was also a minister in the NTR Cabinet. Anakapalle PR MLA Ganta Srinivasa Rao, meanwhile, will be inducted into the Cabinet for the first time. He, too, is an ex TD man and had represented the Anakapalle Lok Sabha constituency before joining the PR

Pratyusha Case: Siddhartha Reddy Gets 2 Years Jail, Surrenders

Siddhartha Reddy, who was accused of abetting budding Telugu cine actress Pratyusha in 2002, on Wednesday surrendered before the Nampally criminal court. He was then sent to the Chanchalguda jail. The high court awarded two years imprisonment to Mr Siddhartha reddy on Dec 29 and asked him to surrender to the Nampally Court in 15 days and also to pay a fine of Rs. 50,000/-. Earlier, Siddhartha was sentenced for six years imprisonment by the Nampally Criminal Court, which Siddhartha challenged in the High Court. After a prolonged hearing of the case, the high court reduced his sentence to 2 years and imposed a fine of Rs.50,000. It may be recalled that the actress Pratyusha and his alleged lover Siddhartha Reddy, son of a highly influential contractor of Hyderabad, were admitted to the Care Hospital in an unconscious state on February 23, 2002. It was alleged they consumed poison-mixed cool drinks after family elders refused to okay their marriage proposal. Pratyusha died on 24th and Siddhartha survived.     Video Source: tv9      

Nayeemuddin Wanted by CBI in Sohrabuddin Encounter Case

Renegade Moist Nayeemuddin is a much wanted person by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in solving Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, where Nayeem is said to have played a crucial role. The CBI is pestering the AP police to nab him at the earliest. There seems to be a deeper mission in CBI wanting custody of Nayeem, as it could also provide leads to the killing of former Gujarat home minister Haren Pandya, say the sources. Though it is not clearly known why the CBI is looking out for Nayeem, sources in Ahmedabad said this could be a move by the investigating agency to uncover the Haren Pandya murder in March 2003, in which 12 persons, including Asghar Ali from AP, were acquitted on August 29, 2011. The CBI investigations into the fake encounters as well as the Pandya murder have given some leads into the killing of the former minister, a bitter critic of chief minister Narendra Modi, in what was widely seen as a riot reprisal, even though Pandya's family has consistently suspected a political conspiracy. Nayeem is a fugitive since long and CBI's request to the AP police comes with the belief that the former ultra enjoyed the protection of some senior state police officers. After a recent Supreme Court observation, the CBI is under pressure to investigate the AP angle to the case. Nayeem's name popped up last fortnight following the murder of gangster Patolla Goverdhan Reddy in the heart of the city. After arresting five persons in Patolla murder case, Hyderabad police commissioner A K Khan said that Nayeem was behind the murder. Director General of Police (DGP) Dinesh Reddy also publicly announced two weeks ago that sleuths of Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), an elite anti-Naxal intelligence wing of the state police, have been asked to form a special team to nab Nayeem, who is wanted in several cases across the country. Neither the DGP nor the City police commissioner are very sure about the whereabouts of Nayeem. In fact, after his 'escape' from the city criminal courts in 2007, Nayeem has never been seen. This 'escape', claim knowledgeable sources, was facilitated by his friends in high places.  

Bramhaputra Mail Collides: Five Killed

Five persons were killed and four others injured in a collision between the New Delhi-bound Bramhaputra Mail and a goods train at Karonpuroto. The accident occurred at 5.50 AM when the train was on its way to New Delhi from Dibrugarh. Railway PRO Anil Saxena said five persons were killed in the mishap. Giving details of the mishap, he said the Brahmaputra Mail was passing through Karonpuroto when a stationary goods train parked on the main line started rolling back. So while it was rolling back, it hit the Brahmaputra Mail. As a result of this side collision, five persons were killed, he said. However, Superintendent of Police (Rail) Praveen Srivastav said, "A bogie of 14055 Bramhaputra Mail derailed and dashed against a stationary goods train". The impact of the collision caused the guard-cabin of the goods train, which was on the loop line, to mount the S-9 coach of the train, a railway official said. Condoling the loss of lives in the mishap, Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each for those killed and Rs 50,000 for those seriously injured. Passengers, who have received simple injuries, will get a compensation of Rs 10,000.     Video Source: newsxlive      

Emaar Case: Court Extends Vijay Sai's Custody by a Week

The CBI on Tuesday told a Nampally court that V. Vijay Sai Reddy, accused number 2 in the Jagan Mohan Reddy’s assets case, revealed some incriminating facts in custody. Though the officials didn't elaborate in the submission, they sought seven more days of police custody of the accused.   Special Judge for Economic Offences and Eighth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge, Justice R. Sudhakar Naidu who heard the matter, as CBI judge was on leave, granted the police custody. The CBI submitted that they could not complete the interrogation because the accused did not cooperate during the first three days and revealed some incriminating facts only during last two days of custody. Vijay Sai Reddy was produced before the court on Tuesday morning after the five day police custody was over and moved a petition seeking extension of the same by seven more days

Naidu Succeeded in Diverting Media Attention From Jagan

Indisputable master planner Chandrababu Naidu, very skillfully on Tuesday managed to divert the attention of the media away from YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's Rythu Deeksha to his protest against the proposed power tariff hike by the government. Mr Naidu and his team were helped by the police, who stopped the padayatra and took the TD chief and others into preventive custody, lodged them at the Banjara Hills police station for two hours before letting them go.     By the time Mr Naidu was released, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy's trip to Armoor was well underway and the TD chief's twin objectives, the declared one of protesting against the proposal to hike power tariff and the unstated one of diverting media attention from the Kadapa MP, were successfully met. Meanwhile, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy's sojourn into Telangana was, however, not without incident as women Telangana activists threw eggs at his convoy in Nizamabad town. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy himself narrowly escaped the missiles as he had hastily rolled up the windows of his vehicle. Amid widespread protest from Telangana activists in the area, the YSR chief started his 48-hour Rythu Deeksha at Perkit village of Armoor mandal on Tuesday night. A huge convoy of YSR Congress leaders and activists reached Armoor through Kamareddy and Nizamabad towns. On the way, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy interacted with turmeric farmers at Munipally and Ankapur on the Nizamabad, Armoor National Highway. He assured the farmers that he would fight for compensation for them for crop damages.  

Michelle Obama Random Dance

The First Lady of United States of America, Michelle Obama took part in a random dance on stage. Ms. Obama was participating in a program conducted by an American social organization to entertain and encourage families of the US armed forces.   Mrs. Obama also danced along with two others on the stage to much the delight of the audience. Speaking on the occasion, she said that she is feeling very happy to participate in the program which has been organized in honour of the Service personnel. She said that she like very much to participate in this kind of programs.   Video Source: TV 9

Chandrababu Arrested: TDP 'Kandil' Rally Disrupted

TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu planned a 'Kandil' rally on Tuesday at Hyderabad in protest of deteriorating Power position in the State. The rally started towards Vidyut Soudha through Banjara Hills Road No. 2 & 3. When the rally reached Nagarjuna Circle in Punjagutta, police obstructed the rally and arrested Chandrababu Naidu and several TDP leaders accompanying him. They were taken to Banjara Hills police station. The TDP leaders condemned obstructing their protest rally midway before reaching the Vidyut Soudha. Meanwhile, Telangana Employees JAC members staged a dharna in front of Vidyut Soudha protesting against Chandrababu's rally.     Video Source: tv9      

Balakrishna Upsurge: Chandrababu Game Plan

In the game of survival at the top of the party hierarchy, there are few who are as crafty as Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu. The TD chief, after toppling his father-in-law from the helm, is now propping brother-in-law Nandamuri Balakrishna to checkmate the temperamental Nandamuri Harikrishna and the young Jr NTR, thereby retaining his hold on the party affairs. If TD circles are to be believed, Balakrishna's sudden upsurge in party affairs may have taken everyone by surprise but only senior leaders are able to see through the game plan. "We feel Balakrishna is being propped up to check Jr NTR, who is of late playing hide and seek with Mr Naidu. After the Studio N episode, in which Jr NTR shunted out Lokesh and took charge of the TV channel, the relationship has soured further," a senior TD leader told this correspondent.   He added, "Balakrishna is a safe bet for Mr Naidu and he can control him compared to Jr NTR. Balakrishna can never be a threat to Mr Naidu's legacy or a hindrance to Lokesh taking over the reins of the party in future. Besides, Mr Naidu can boast that a top member of the NTR clan is on his side, till he decides to hand over the mantle to his chosen one." Balakrishna created quite a 'hulchal' in Krishna district during the unveiling of NTR's statue and has been regularly attending to other TD programmes of late. The bond between Mr Naidu and Balakrishna had strengthened after the TD chief's son Lokesh married Balakrishna's daughter Brahmani. The TD chief is also the brother-in-law of Balakrishna, having married his sister. Though some party leaders feel that Balakrishna should take over reins of party before the next polls since the party lost two elections under Mr Naidu and cannot risk losing the third in 2014, the TD chief is in no mood to give up. Other leaders however see nothing out of the ordinary. "Balakrishna is an active member of the TD. There is no need to be surprised about his statement," a senior leader said.

Emaar Case: Payyavula Hits Back at Ambati

The Telugu Desam hit back at former APIIC chairman and YSR Congress leader, Mr Ambati Rambabu, saying that he was deeply involved in the Emaar scam along with Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. The TD politburo member, Mr P. Keshav, said that the role of Mr Ambati Rambabu will be exposed if the Bhomiteja Enterprises scam is thoroughly probed. Speaking to reporters at NTR Bhavan, the TD leader said that the former APIIC chairman was misleading the people by showing them GO 359 issued during the TD regime; the aforementioned GO was, in fact, cancelled by the YSR government.     "It’s ironical that all the accused being investigated by the CBI are now issuing guidelines to the agency regarding its functions and how they should investigate the case," he remarked. Mr Keshav said, "While the CBI has grilled all the accused, the latter are trying to put up a brave front and claim that they had sought a thorough inquiry against Mr Chandrababu Naidu." "First, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy made such a claim followed by Mr Vijay Sai Reddy, and now Mr Ambati Rambabu. The fact is that Jagan was brought face-to-face with Konda Reddy, Vijay Sai Reddy with Prasad, and Rambabu with whom? We don’t know," he remarked.   The TD is ready for a public debate on the Emaar scam in which the Congress handed over prime land to private dealers literally on a platter in exchange for huge bribes. "YSR and Ambati are birds of a feather. Ambati is trying to blame Mr Naidu. However, it was the Congress that reduced the government stakes from 49 per cent to 26 per cent, then finally to 6.5 per cent. Why did they do it?" he asked.

Balakrishna is a Kid: Chiranjeevi

Mega star Chrianjeevi reacted on Namdamuri Balakrishna’s comments, which the latter made couple of days back. The two actors are now looking to compete politically after their filmy careers and this has become the hot topic in the state. Reacting to Balayya’s remarks, Chiranjeevi said Balakrishna, “Balakrishna is my good friend. He is like a kid and there’ll not be any meaning to what kids talk and so I’ll not answer such rubbish”, said Chiranjeevi. Recently, Balakrishna went to Ghantasala (Krishna dt) to unveil Sr. NTR’s statue. During his campaign, Balayya commented on Chiranjeevi’s Samajika Nyayam and his failure to implement that policy.     Video Source: TV 9      

Jagan Deeksha, Naidu Rally May Turn Violent

The police is worried that the two major political events slated for Tuesday in Telangana may turn violent YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy's Rythu Deeksha in Armoor, Nizamabad, and Telugu Desam chief N. Chandra-babu Naidu's protest rally at Khairatabad in the city. The YSR Congress chief's 48-hour Deeksha is being strongly opposed by Telangana activists and his yatra might turn violent, on the lines of Mr Naidu's exercise on Friday last. Several organisations have given a local bandh call and planned protests, demanding that Mr Jagan make a favourable statement on Telangana. The Nizamabad police has made tight security arrangements for Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy. A police official said, "Though there will not be 5,000 policemen like for Mr Naidu's visit, we have made enough security arrangements."   Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy will be travelling by road to Armoor from Hyderabad. Mr Naidu meanwhile will be protesting on the arterial Khairatabad road in the city against the proposed power tariff hike. He and other TD leaders will be staging a protest at Vidyut Soudha in Khairatabad.  A rally will be taken out from NTR Bhavan to Vidyut Soudha at 10 am and the dharna will start at 11 am. Police is likely to arrest Mr Naidu and other TD leaders before they reach Vidyut Soudha as traffic on the Khairatabad could be paralysed. This will trigger massive jams on adjoining roads, all of which will be choc-a-bloc with vehicles at that hour. The police has asked people to stay away from Banjara Hills Road No. 2, KCP Junction, Panjagutta and Somajiguda and Khairatabad from 10 am to noon. "There is a likelihood of traffic jams in these areas due to the TD rally and dharna. People should take alternative routes depending on the situation," said a traffic official.    

Emaar-APIIC Case: SC Notice to Chandrababu Naidu

The Supreme Court today issued notice to former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu in Emaar-APIIC land scam case. The court asked Naidu to show reasons on why he should not be investigated in the scam. Taking up for hearing a petition filed by one Mr Bheemreddy Yella Reddy seeking a direction to the CBI to investigate the role of Chandrababu Naidu in the scam, the apex court also issued notices to the CBI and the state and central governments. Incidentally, on Sunday, YSR congress party leader Ambati Rambabu said he had requested the CBI to investigate the role of Naidu in the Emaar scam. The CBI had recorded his statement on Sunday on the Emaar scam that took place during his regime as the APIIC chairman. It may be recalled that YSR Congress party leaders have been regularly alleging that seeds were sown in the regime of Chandrababu Naidu for the APIIC-Emaar land scam and demanding Naidu’s role also must be investigated.     Video Source: tv9      

Vijay Sai Reddy Five Day Police Custody Ends

The five-day remand granted by the CBI Special Court of Jagathi Publications Vicechairman Vijay Sai Reddy has ended on Monday. He has been interrogated by the CBI in Dilkusha Guest House morning till evening all these five days. The CBI sources said that crucial information has been elicited from Vijay Sai Reddy during interrogation. He will be produced in the court tomorrow again. It is very like that the CBI may further seek his custody, as the investigating agency expects to extract more information from him.     Video Source: tv9      

Balakrishna Comments on PRP in Krishna District Tour

Popular cine hero and son of TDP founder, former chief minister N T Ramarao, Nandamuri Balakrishna's whirlwind tour of Krishna district while electrified the TDP cadre, it surprised the party senior leaders. Throughout the tour, Balayya tried to project himself as the sole hero of TDP. Balakrishna also took potshots on megastar turned politician Mr. Chiranjeevi. Addressing the public, Balakrishna referred to the 'Social Justice' plank of PRP and said "Late NTR never treated the concept of social justice as a vote-bank or a political issue. He practised it only as his social responsibility towards the people of the State." Balakrishna said that the 1983 like situation is prevalent in state now and that has prompted him to enter active politics. He announced that apart from campaigning for the party, he would also contest in 2014 elections.