YSRCP faults CAG report on land allotment

                                                                        

“Here the CAG has given a report on land allotments, besides other issues, for the past five years and the timing of its release are raising many questions,” she remarked.

She pointed out that during Chandrababu Naidu's regime, the CAG had passed many adverse and stinging remarks but he made light of them.

She said when the same CAG had passed some remarks on land allotments, which are being disputed in the court and the CBI was inquiring into the issue, Mr. Naidu suddenly realised that CAG was an authentic agency and wanted its report to be followed in the letter and spirit.

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Friday took strong objection to the way in which the CAG annual report for the year ending March 31 last year has included the land allotments during 2006-11, ahead of Central Bureau of Investigations filing a charge sheet in the controversial 26 Government Orders case.

At a press conference here, party spokesperson Vasireddy Padma said it was annual ritual for the CAG to submit its report, which is circulated on the last day of the budget session pin pointing lapses the State has committed during the year.

Meanwhile, Minister for School Education S. Sailajanath said if the allottees did not utilise the land allotted to them, the government would examine the issue and resume the same.

Former Minister Gade Venkat Reddy said the CAG had to explain why it had given the five year report on land allotments.

MLC Pulla Padmavati back in Congress

                                                        

Rebel MLC Pulla Padmavati has announced her return to the Congress fold.

Ms. Padmavati, a strong Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy supporter from Warangal district along with her husband Pulla Bhaskar, a Congress leader, said she had decided to come back to the Congress as it alone was concerned about the welfare of the dalits and weaker sections. She said the SC/ST Sub Plan committee announced by the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy had impressed her.

Grouse

She told reporters that she had joined the YSR Congress Party lamenting the neglect of the schemes launched by late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. But, now the government is showing concern for the weaker sections.

She refused to make any comment on Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

It may be mentioned here that Ms. Padmavati was among the four rebels, who are facing disqualification proceedings.

The couple was keeping a distance from the YSR Congress for the last few months.

Jagan slams Congress, TDP

                                                                      

YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy said that ever since the death of his father Rajasekhara Reddy the common man's life has become miserable in the State. Speaking during ‘Odarpu Yatra' at Ankireddipalem and Venkataramana Colony in the city later, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy said that the State was now witnessing politics of deceit, and efforts to malign YSR were on. The departed leader delivered the kind of people-oriented governance which no other Chief Minister in the country could do, he said.

YSRCP is a party committed to the ideals espoused by Mr. Rajasekhara Reddy. It would never indulge in petty politics unlike Congress and TDP, he said.

Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and M. Sucharita have quit their MLA posts for a cause and they deserved to be re-elected in the ensuing by-elections, he said. The YSRCP would not play tricks to garner votes. It believed in fairness in politics and hopes that people would reward the good work done by Mr. Rajasekhara Reddy, he said. The Congress and TDP were bound to bite the dust, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy asserted.

Land for Hyderabad metro rail project handed over to L&T

                                                                      

Hyderabad, March 31: The acquisition of 104 acres at Miyapur village near the IT hub to facilitate the development of a depot and terminal station for Hyderabad metro rail project has been completed.

After issuing a fresh notification during the second week of January, the land acquisition process initiated by the Ranga Reddy District Collectorate has been completed after tackling several litigations.

As assessed by the Land Acquisition Officer, Rs 193 crore has been paid by the Hyderabad metro rail authorities to the District Collector towards land value and possession taken over. The concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd has been handed over the land to start the ground work.

Describing the handing over of Miyapur land to the concessionaire as a major breakthrough, the Managing Director of Hyderabad metro rail, Mr N.V.S. Reddy, said: “With this, 243 acres of land out of the total requirement of 269 acres has so far been handed over to the concessionaire and that the project can now be speeded up.”

Recognising that the delay in acquisition and handing over of Miyapur land due to certain legal disputes to the developer, the State Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, entrusted the task of expeditious completion of this land acquisition to the Chief Secretary, Mr Pankaj Dwivedi.

The Chief Secretary facilitated necessary approvals and arranged the required funds. The State Finance Department released Rs 200 crore for the land acquisition.

Jairam Ramesh asks Akhilesh Akhilesh Yadav to send a strong message with CBI probe

                                                        
Renewing his demand for a CBI probe into implementation of MNREGA in UP, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh on Saturday asked Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to send a “strong message” that the new government would not tolerate corruption or scams.

I have requested Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to recommend CBI probe into the implementation of MNREGA scheme specially in these three districts (Gonda, Balrampur and Sonbhadra) where largescale misappropriation has come to light," the Union Minister for Rural Development told reporters here after meeting the chief minister.

The CAG audit is on in 12 states which would be completed in seven to eight months' time but it would be better not to wait till then and the chief minister has said that he would look into it soon, Ramesh said.

"Though it is difficult to find out how much of the Rs 6500 to Rs. 7000 crores spent in UP under the scheme has gone with whom, it should be accepted that scams have taken place," the minister said, adding that in a letter written earlier to the state government he had given examples of how funds have been misappropriated in various districts.

Promising full support to the state, he said that he told Yadav that though they are political rivals but on the issue of rural development, they would work together.

He, however, added that no political meaning should be derived from it as "this cooperation" was "just an indication that UPA government does not discriminate with non-Congress ruled states and charges to this effect are unfounded and false".

Though some good work has also been done under the MNREGA, he said, "in UP there is an atmosphere that there are scams all around and it has to be ensured that its funds are not misused by the sarpanchs in buying Boleros."

"A CBI probe will send a strong message that the new UP government would not tolerate corruption or scams," Ramesh said.

CBI files chargesheet against Jagan Reddy in illegal assets case

                                                                
The CBI today filed chargesheet against Kadapa MP and YSR Congress chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and 12 others in an alleged disproportionate assets case.
The Central agency filed its chargesheet against Jaganmohan Reddy, his financial advisor Vijay Sai Reddy and 11 others, including individuals and firms, in the special CBI court here.

The Central agency filed its chargesheet against Jagan Mohan Reddy, his financial advisor Vijay Sai Reddy and 11 others, including individuals and firms, in the special CBI court in Hyderabad.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been charged with offences under different provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act. There is no allegation under IPC sections, defence council Ashok Reddy said.
"CBI has charged him with aiding his father," he claimed. In its 68-page chargesheet, the CBI has cited 263 documents and 66 witnesses.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has been named as the prime accused, followed by Vijay Sai Reddy and suspended IAS officer B P Acharya and Jagati Publications, which runs Sakshi newspaper, as the co-accused.
Vijay Sai Reddy has been charged with offences of criminal conspiracy, cheating and under other provisions of IPC.
In August 2011, the CBI, in its FIR against Jagan Mohan Reddy and 73 others including Vijay Sai Reddy, had alleged that various investors, who are beneficiaries of public properties, licenses among others invested in the companies promoted by Jagan at very high premiums as a quid-pro-quo to the favours doled out by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister late Y S Rajasekhar Reddy under his son's influence.
Out of the 13 accused, only Vijay Sai Reddy has been arrested so far and is currently under judicial custody.
The agency had filed a case in 2011 on the directives by the High Court. Jagan's assets last year totalled Rs 365 crores.

YSR memorial near crash site nearing completion

                                                                      

Dr. YSR Smruthi Vanam Project near Nallakalva village, Atmakur mandal of Kurnool district, the only memorial shrine of the former Chief Minister coming up from among the proposed three, is fast nearing completion. It will be done before the third death anniversary of the former Chief Minister on September 2.

A majestic memorial park with a 20 ft statue of YSR made by sculptor Shivaprasad with his trademark raised hand waving to people with landscaping forms the main component of the Rs.13 crore project on a 22.20 acre site acquired outside the forest and on the Nandyal-Atmakur road.

Theme gardens like neem – a personal favourite of YSR, fragrance garden, ‘pavitra vanam' of 108 sacred plants, butterfly shaped garden with 150 species of carefully chosen plants to attract butterflies, fragrance garden, cafeteria, etc., are in the final stages at the site, a four-hour drive from here (300 kilometres).

YSR statue is positioned aesthetically behind a water curtain. From a 60 ft viewing tower under construction a clear view of the helicopter crash site on the hillock is visible with help of ‘spotting scopes' (bigger version of binoculars) is a highlight. Save for a cross where his body was found, there is nothing else at the crash site located amidst thick hillock vegetation.

An interpretation hall to showcase forest flora and fauna, theatre hall for eco education are among the facilities in the memorial with an imposing entrance. “More than 100 people worked almost round-the-clock since June 2010, 90 per cent of the project has been completed. We will be ready by June,” avers Project Director N. Chandramohan Reddy.

Lot of care was taken to plan and execute the work especially the memorial designed by Mumbai-based architect Kishore Pradhan. A special power line was drawn across 10 km to the site and a golf course like drain facility to empty excess water was built.

Adjacent to the memorial, 3,500 acres of Velugodu reserve forest was notified for the ‘Smruthi Vanam'. Besides, measures to protect the grassland ecosystem from cattle, fire and humans, it will have a 100 acre bio-diversity park as 210 diverse plants species were identified.

With no work at other two memorials, near Prasads Imax and Idupulapaya, YSR ‘Smruthi Vanam' progress makes it quite remarkable during these political times.

Comptroller and Auditor General exposes YSR nepotism

                                                           
VIJAYAWADA: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG)'s report contains a damning observation on undue favours shown by the Vijayawada-Guntur-Tenali-Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority ( VGTM-UDA) to a firm owned by CC Reddy, a close relative of late CM YSR. Incidentally, CC Reddy was agricultural advisor to the YSR government enjoying cabinet rank.

The CAG pointed out that private firm Arihant Indo-African Infra Developer and Builders was handed over nearly 22 acres of land near Vijayawada despite it having failed to implement the project which was originally proposed by the urban development authority.

While the 22-acre plot was given away in exchange of Rs 41.80 crore, the actual market value of the property was much above the amount paid by CC Reddy's firm.

Curiously, land rates were calculated based on 2007 prices while the transfer was effected in 2010, by which time land prices had gone up several times. According to the going rates for 2010, each acre of land in the area cost around Rs 4-6 crore. Giving away 22 acres of land for Rs 42 crore thus resulted in a loss of not less than Rs 80 crore to the exchequer.

According to the CAG report, which was tabled in the Assembly on Thursday, UDA invited bids for development of a township called Singapore Township on 53 acres of land near Mangalagiri. Arihant developers won the contract after quoting Rs 97.52 crore. Land was handed over to the contractor in 2007 and it was then CM YSR who laid the foundation stone for the project. As per the tender agreement, the project is to be completed in three years. However, after paying Rs 42 crore in two instalments towards minimum guarantee sums (MGS), the company withdrew from the project citing the global economic downturn.

"The company did not even launch the work till expiry of the term. In such a scenario, UDA should have terminated the contract by forfeiting the amounts deposited by the company," the CAG observed.

Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav cuts down 32 cars in his fleet

                                                               
Akhilesh Yadav has issued orders to cut down the cars in his fleet from 40 to just eight and also ordered the specialised hospital operating in his official residence to shut down.
Thirty-two cars have been ordered to be taken away from the chief minister's fleet and repatriated to the Rajya Sampatti Vibhag (state property wing), a senior official with the chief minister's security said.
"The only cars that would now be accompanying the motorcade of the chief minister would be a fleet of ambassadors and an SUV fitted with jammers," the official said.
The Chief Minister has also ordered the highly specialised hospital within his official residence to be shut down immediately and said that doctors on duty be sent to hospitals where they are needed more, officials said.
This hospital was formed in 2008 on orders of Mayawati and cost the state exchequer Rs. 75 lakh per annum had a medical superintendent, 22 pharmacists, a dozen nurses, four hi-tech ambulances and specialist doctors on 24x7 duty.
The latest move of the 38-year-old chief minister, who has also opened the doors of sprawling official residence for common people, is in stark departure from his predecessor Mayawati who moved around the city in hooter fitted cars and a fleet of 40-plus cars. These included three jammer fitted cars, an ambulance and a fleet of cars of city police and traffic cops.
Akhilesh Yadav has also done away with other security regulations such as stopping of traffic when the chief minister's convoy passes and the use of hooters whenever he moves.
"This is the real face of Samajwad (socialism) where everyone, even the chief minister is treated alike," said Rajendra Chowdhary, spokesperson of the Samajwadi Party and a close aide of the chief minister.
Also, in a state where government officials and employees are used to a five-day week, Akhilesh Yadav threw in a surprise when he turned up at his annexe office on a Saturday, quietly and unnoticed without the usual horn honking and siren blaring entourage following him.

Telangana issue rocks LS for fifth day

Telangana issue rocked the Lok Sabha for the fifth day paralysing proceedings on the last day of the first part of the Budget Session on Friday.
The House was adjourned for the day soon after it reassembled at noon as placard-carrying TRS and TDP members stormed the Well and Congress members from the region shouted slogans standing in the aisles.
Speaker Meira Kumar ordered tabling of papers and took up Zero Hour amidst the uproar over the demand for creation of separate Telangana.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi was present in the House and was having discussions with Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is incharge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh.
As the din continued, Kumar adjourned the House till April 24, when the second part of the Budget session resumes.
Earlier when the House assembled for the day and took up Question Hour, Congress members from Telangana and those from TDP and TRS rushed to the Well holding posters saying "honour the commitment for Telangana" and "jan bhavna ka samman karo" (respect public sentiments).
Amid intense slogan-shouting, some Opposition members termed the disruption as a "conspiracy" by the government so that the proceedings do not take place. The Speaker then adjourned the House till noon.

I can't respect Parliament, it has criminal MPs'

                                            
Striking a defiant note, Arvind Kejriwal on Friday replied to the privilege notices served on him for "insulting" Parliament, saying how can he respect the institution which has MPs with "criminal background".

The Team Anna member alleged that all the parties are responsible for bringing Parliament to disrepute as 162 MPs with criminal background have managed to get into it.
"There was a Parliament in which Lal Bahadur Shastri resigned (from the post of railway minister) following a train accident. I would like to sacrifice anything for such a Parliament but how will I respect Parliament of present days," Kejriwal said in the letter.
He also alleged that industrialists, who were not known for any public service, have managed to get into Parliament with the help of various parties.
"They enter Parliament to further their business interest. If this is not misuse of Parliament, if this is not insult to Parliament then what is it?," he asked.
Besides Congress MP Sajjan Singh Verma, RJD MPs Rajniti Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav had served a privilege notice against Kejriwal for calling MPs "rapists, murderers and looters" during an election campaign rally last month.
The Lok Sabha Secretariat has sought reply from Kejriwal following the receipt of the notices. "Received privilege notices from Rajniti Prasad and Ram Kripal Yadav also...Rajniti Prasad is the same MP who tore the Lokpal Bil in Parliament. Did he insult Parliament or did I insult Parliament?" Kejriwal had tweeted after he got the notices.
Earlier in September last year, Kejriwal was served a notice for making "derogatory" remarks against parliamentarians during Hazare's agitation in Ramlila Maidan.
"In this Parliament, 163 members have cases of heinous offences against them. In this Parliament, rapists are sitting, murderers and looters are sitting. How can you expect Jan Lokpal Bill to be passed by Parliament? How can you expect that you can get reprieve from poverty and corruption," Kejriwal had said on February 25.
Talking to reporters today, Kejriwal also said that Team Anna will soon write to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh providing evidence against 14 Union Cabinet ministers whom he had named as "corrupt".
Hazare had set a deadline of August to register FIR against these ministers and warned the government that they will launch 'jail bharo' agitation, if it is not done.

DC has a few stars, but no chargers

                                                                       
HYDERABAD: With England’s flamboyant batsman Kevin Pietersen opting for the Delhi Daredevils, pace bowler Ishant Sharma ruled out because of ankle injury and left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha moving over to the Mumbai Indians, the first big show of the Deccan Chargers for the IPL-5 was off colour.

With other top players like skipper Kumar Sangakkara, who was busy in the home Test series against England, Dale Steyn and JP Duminy, both of South Africa, yet to return from the New Zealand series, the Deccan Chargers could only bring players like Parthiv Patel, former Australian T20 captain Cameron White and leg spinner Amit Mishra for their press conference here on Wednesday, ahead of their first match against the Mumbai Indians in Visakhapatnam on April 7.


Coach Darren Lehmann put up a brave face and said they had a young team this season.

“We have a younger side than in the past.

So we have to give opportunity to some younger guys which is good.

They will get the opportunities,’’ he said.

He was happy with local talent like DB Ravi Teja, Akshath Reddy and Ashish Reddy.

E Venkat Reddy, COO, took pains to dismiss rumours that the franchise was up for sale and that they were also looking for a partner.

“Deccan Chargers never put up such a thing..it was totally a unit of Deccan Chronicle Holdings and will be with the Deccan Chronicle only,” he clarified.

The Chargers also signed international airline Emirates as team sponsors for the next three IPL seasons.

starting with the soon-to-start fifth edition.

“We are proud to have a leading global brand like Emirates as our Team Sponsor for the next three seasons of the IPL,” Gayatri Reddy, co-owner of the Deccan Chargers, said.

Deccan Chargers will be playing their first four matches outside Hyderabad, two in Visakhapatnam and two in Cuttack before playing the next four in the city.

The team had their first serious net session at the Gymkhana grounds in the afternoon

Congress to take on Jagan loyalists on development plank in AP

                                                                 
Hyderabad, Mar 29  The ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh would fight the ensuing bypolls to 17 Assembly constituencies, which were represented by loyalists to Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, on the plank of development and welfare schemes launched by the state government. "Development and welfare will be our plank. We are confident of winning over people's confidence," state unit Congress president Botsa Satyanarayana told reporters here today. The bypolls for 16 out of the 17 seats are necessitated as the sitting Congress MLAs were disqualified by the Assembly Speaker for switching their allegiance to Jagan by violating the party whip, while the sitting member of another segment quit in support of the Kadapa MP which caused the byelection. The legislators were disqualified on March 2 and the bypolls are supposed to be held in six months. Though the schedule for the byelections is not yet announced, Congress, Telugu Desam and other major parties have begun their preparations in the right earnest. Both TDP and Congress have informally finalised candidates for some of the constituencies, while the YSR Congress of Jagan is expected to field those who were disqualified. Asked whether the allegations of corruption against Jagan would be an issue in the elections, the PCC president said the Congress would definitely inform people about it. He said the party would conduct a mass-contact programme at the grass roots level to raise people's awareness on the state government's decision to constitute a Cabinet sub-committee to oversee the implementation of SC and ST sub-plans.

DMK cautions UPA against weak response on Ram Sethu

                                                      

DMK MPs, belonging to Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, led by its Parliamentary Party leader T R Baalu met UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and impressed upon her the need to quicken the legal process over the Sethusamudram Shipping Canal Project, which is essential for the economic development of the state.
The DMK's move comes a day after its bitter rival Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, asking the Centre to declare Ram Sethu as a 'National Monument' without further delay.
"As a member of the UPA, it is our bounden duty to bring to the Government's attention that any weakened response of this government to such a crucial issue will only expose the betrayal of hope and promise given to Tamil Nadu...," a memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister said.
The memorandum was given to Minister of State in the PMO V Narayanaswamy.
Noting that completion of this project would go a long way in furthering the economic development of the southern peninsular region, it said "any stand taken by the Government of India in abandoning the Sethusamudram ship canal project will run against the wishes of people of Tamil Nadu".
Recalling that Singh had inaugurated the project on July 2005 in the presence UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and DMK Leader M Karunanidhi, the memorandum said Gandhi had "expressed her desire in the presence of thousands of people that work should be completed within the stipulated time frame of three years".
It said after major portions of the work were completed and only 22 km of dredging work left, "some vested interests" approached the Supreme Court and obtained a stay.
Keeping in mind the huge investment in the project, DMK said it would urge the Centre "not to hamper the progress of the project" and take all necessary steps to expedite the judicial process and honour its commitment made to the people.

Team Anna and their seditious speeches

                                                         

The Parliament has mildly reprimanded Team Anna with Speaker Meira Kumar reading out a statement saying any comment that lowered the dignity of Parliament was "unwarranted and unacceptable". If India were an authoritarian state, it would have indubitably charged Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal with sedition. The Indian Penal Code defines sedition as under:

"Whoever by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards, the Government established by law in India, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine."

There can be no mistake in that confronting Parliament and using derogatory language to describe it is, in essence, challenging all the laws made by Parliament. It is a mockery of the Indian people since Parliament represents us all. It is trite to say that all the 125 crore Indians cannot agitate on issues peacefully. Thus our representatives are sent to represent all of us in the Indian Parliament. However, the charge of sedition for an offender in a nation which holds its democratic principles far too close to its heart may not fit for the present given our high tolerance levels. The Constitution enables freedom of speech, but that freedom is qualified in the words of the celebrated Judge Oliver Wendell Holmes: "The most stringent protection of free speech would not protect a man in falsely shouting fire in a theatre, and causing a panic. It does not even protect a man from an injunction against uttering words that may have all the effect of force."

It was not even that those making the speeches were established statesmen of stature. Anna Hazare is a country bumpkin with little education and has even less understanding of the Constitution and separation of powers. Arvind Kejriwal is an IIT Graduate, but the IIT does not provide lessons on civics, nor even does it provide education on civility. Consequently, the only thing that Kejriwal has in plenty is ambition. But with no perspective to go alongwith it, his ideas for the nation find appreciation with the mediocre rabble-rousers and anarchists. The Bhushans are experts in 'shock and awe' - their law practice has its foundation in this form. When a regular practitioner in the Supreme Court makes an outrageous claim that half of the Chief Justices in the last few years have been corrupt - like the Bhushans did - any appearance before any Court in the Country ought to yield favourable judicial orders, since no judge would wish to fall foul of the Bhushans. Kiran Bedi is a scorned and disgruntled person. She has even vented her frustration over being denied the Police Commissioner of Delhi's job on foreign shores recently.

The Arab Spring began on Facebook and Twitter. The revolutionary wave of demonstrations and protests occurring in the Arab world began on 18 December, 2010. Regime changes were witnessed on account of the Spring in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, and Yemen. Civil uprisings erupted in Bahrain and Syria. Major protests broke out in Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, and Oman and minor protests in Lebanon, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Western Sahara. Clashes at the borders of Israel in May 2011 as well as protests by Arab minority in Iranian Khuzestan have also been inspired by the regional Arab Spring.

The protests are typically civil resistance in sustained campaigns involving strikes, demonstrations, marches, rallies, as well as the use of social media to organize, communicate, and raise awareness in the face of state attempts at repression and internet censorship. Many demonstrations have met violent responses from authorities as well as from pro-government militias and counter-demonstrators. These attacks have been answered with violence from protesters in some cases. A major slogan of the demonstrators in the Arab World is said to be "the people want to bring down the regime." While the revolution seems purposeful, it is heady and full of adventure. The Spring in all these nations aspired to achieve a vibrant democracy like we have in India.

Chiru offers to troubleshoot for Congress

                                                                            

As the infighting in the Congress continued to bog down the leadership, newly-elected Rajya Sabha member K. Chiranjeevi has come forward to set the party's house in order by taking the initiative to end differences among the warring groups.

Mr. Chiranjeevi, who received the certificate of election to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, called on Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy at his camp office and is said to have expressed anguish over the growing infighting and open war of words between the anti and pro-Kiran groups.

The erstwhile Praja Rajyam chief, who is also the APCC Coordination Committee member, is understood to have expressed his willingness to work for bringing unity among the leaders.

Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy is said to have welcomed his decision to bring an end to the differences among the leaders ahead of the by-elections to 18 Assembly seats, including Tirupati, which he is likely to vacate consequent to his election to the Rajya Sabha.

Mr. Chiranjeevi's initiative assumes significance after the open revolt by a section of the leadership in the wake of the dismal performance in the recent by-elections to seven Assembly constituencies. Minister D. L. Ravindra Reddy, former Ministers P.Shankar Rao and Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy besides the Telangana Congress MPs and leaders from the region have declared an open war against the Chief Minister going to the extent of seeking his ouster.

Concerned over the growing number of the Chief Minis ter's detractors, Mr. Chiranjeevi is understood to have told Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy that he would be willing to take the responsibility and see that the differences are sorted out to a large extent.

Brahmos cruise missile test fired in successfully

                                                                           
JAISALMER: The Army today successfully test fired the 290-Km range BrahMos supersonic cruise missile at the Pokharan range here to operationalise the second regiment of the weapon system in service.
"In conformity and pursuit of operational and strategic surface to surface missile capability development, the second BrahMos unit of Indian Army has been operationalised. The Indian Army unit successfully launched BrahMos missile and destroyed the preselected target in the field firing ranges in Rajasthan," an Army spokesperson said here.

The test was witnessed by senior Army officials including Vice Chief Lt Gen Shri Krishna Singh and Director General Military Operations (DGMO) Lt Gen A K Chaudhary.
The Army has so far placed orders for three regiments of the supersonic cruise missile and with today's test firing, two of them have been inducted operationally.
The Defence Ministry has also given a go ahead to the Army to induct a third regiment for being deployed in Arunachal Pradesh along the China border.
One regiment of the 290-km range BrahMos consists around 65 missiles, five mobile autonomous launchers on Tatra vehicles and two mobile command posts, among other equipment.
BrahMos Aerospace, an Indo-Russian Joint venture company headed by A Sivathanu Pillai, is also working to develop the submarine launched, air launched and a hyper-sonic version of the missile in the near future.
It has already been inducted into the Navy and is deployed on almost all the front line surface warships of the maritime force.

Akhilesh promises free medical treatment to poor

                                                                         
LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today promised that his government would provide free medical treatment of serious ailments to poor.

The chief minister who flagged off an awareness rally on the World Kidney Day here this afternoon said that in the days to come, the state government would arrange the infrastructure for providing free treatment of serious ailments to the poor.

Yadav stressed that as the poor people cannot arrange finances, they are more affected in case of serious illness.

Recalling the works of the earlier SP-led government, he said that it took steps for providing better and free treatment for the poor which were discontinued by the previous government.

In this direction, some medical colleges were set up while others were still to come into being, Yadav said referring to the UP Rural Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Etawah in which he said that good treatment was being provided to not just the locals but also to those coming from far off places at Rs 35 only.

"Our party has often been criticised for setting up this institute", he said adding that his government would make efforts to provide good treatment at reasonable rates for serious ailments.

On the occasion, he also stressed on creating awareness about problems like those related to kidney do that people can take precautions.

BRICS Summit in Delhi: Why it's important

New Delhi:  The BRICS group of emerging world powerhouses - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - is expected to launch plans this week for a joint development bank and measures to bring their stock exchanges closer together.

Officials say the initiatives will take time as they need to sort out details. But they herald a new level of ambition for a bloc that brings together about half the world's people. The Middle East and energy security will also be discussed, officials say.

The BRIC acronym was coined in 2001 by Goldman Sachs economist Jim O'Neill, who was searching for a catchy way to encapsulate the broader shift in global economic growth towards emerging markets. South Africa joined the grouping in 2010 so that it became BRICS.

The countries held their first summit in 2009 and have been criticised since as nothing more than an empty acronym as they struggle to find common cause from four different continents with radically different economies, systems of government and competing priorities.

The most relevant announcement from this week's meeting in India of the countries' leaders is likely to be plans for a joint development bank in the mold of the World Bank.

The initiative would allow the countries to pool resources for infrastructure improvements, and could also be used in the longer term as a vehicle for lending during global financial crises such as the one in Europe, officials say.

Brazilian Trade Minister Fernando Pimentel told reporters in Brasilia last week that the countries would sign a deal at the summit to study the creation of the bank.

Sudhir Vyas, a senior Indian foreign ministry official, told reporters on Monday that the BRICS would have to determine how the bank would be structured and capitalised. Such an ambitious project would take time, he said.

"We don't set up a bank every ordinary day," he said.

A benchmark equity index derivative shared by the stock exchanges of the five BRICS nations will be launched on Friday, the exchanges involved said earlier this month. They would be cross-listed, so can be bought in local currencies.

The leaders are also expected to sign agreements allowing their individual development banks to extend credit to other members in local currency, a step towards replacing the dollar as the main unit of trade between them.

A senior Indian government source said the Middle East and energy security will be high on the agenda, including Iran. The Russian ambassador in New Delhi said this week that a discussion on Syria would be among his country's top priorities.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/brics-summit-in-delhi-why-it-s-important-191111&cp

MPs vs Team Anna: Sharad Yadav moves censure motion against Team Anna in Lok Sabha

                                                                                    
Moving a censure motion against Team Anna in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday evening, JD(U) president Sharad Yadav launched a scathing attack on the Team for their derogatory language against the members of Parliament.
Sharad Yadav criticised the anti-corruption activist for selectively targetting the parliamentarians. He said that Parliament has the strength to check the corrupt MPs.
The Lok Sabha Speaker had earlier in the day deferred the motion against the Team Anna as the ruling and the opposition members appeared divided over the resolution.
Congress MP Jagdambika Pal also moved a privilege motion against Team Anna.
Sources within the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) had indicated that after taking the lead against the Team Anna on Monday, the BJP seems to have developed a cold feet.
MPs closed ranks against anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare's associates over their controversial remarks at the recently held daylong fast in the national capital.
The man in the eye of the storm, Arvind Kejriwal, however, remained defiant. He appealed to MPs with clean record to back him through a tweet.
Team Anna had returned in full force to Jantar Mantar on Sunday, setting an August deadline for the government to file cases against its 14 "corrupt" Cabinet ministers. It also demanded investigation and trial against over 1,300 MPs and MLAs, who were facing criminal charges, to be completed within the next six

Naxals kill 11 CRPF men in Maharashtra

                                                                            
Eleven CRPF personnel were killed on Tuesday in a landmine blast triggered by suspected Naxalites in the Pushtola district of Maharashtra.
The troops were reportedly travelling in a bus and were going from Pushtola to Gatta when the blast took place, CRPF officials said. They were killed on the spot.
CRPF Chief K Vijay Kumar is on a tour of Maharashtra and was in Gadchiroli after he started from Nagpur this morning, they said, adding he was now on his way to the attack spot.
The CRPF officials said the casualty and injured figures could rise as a reinforcement team has been rushed to the area.
The troops belonging to the 192nd battalion of the force were deployed there.
According to the police in Nagpur, several others were injured when the Naxalites blew up the bus carrying them.
Preliminary reports received in the office of IG (Operations) Sunil Ramanand said the incident occurred near Pustola village on Karwafa-Fulbodi Gutta road, about 4 kms from Gadchiroli, around noon.
Combing of the area has already begun, they said.
In Mumbai, where the state Legislature is in session, Home Minister R R Patil is expected to make a statement in the Assembly on the attack.
“I am gathering information and will make a statement in the House,” Patil said.

SBH offers Rs. 1 cr. to CM's Relief Fund

HYDERABAD:The SBH has donated Rs. One crore to A.P. Chief Minister's Relief Fund as part of the bank's community services activities to help farmers in the drought-affected areas. A cheque in this connection was handed over to Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy by SBH Managing Director M. Bhagavantha Rao and Chief General Manager Sudhir Garg.

Kiran, Naidu not respondents in liquor case

                                                                 
A Division Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Madan B.Lokur and Justice P V Sanjay Kumar on Monday made it clear that the notices in the writ petition filed seeking CBI investigation into the liquor scam were confined to the government.
The bench was passing this order clarifying the issue on Monday morning. The bench had ordered notices to respondents on Thursday. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was respondent no. 20 and TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu was another respondent. Sections of the media reported that both of them were also arrayed as respondents.
The bench said ‘notice' on Thursday, but it was not clear whether all the respondents are to receive these notices and to respond to the issues raised in the writ petition. It made it clear in Monday that the government alone will be issued notices and the counter affidavit filed by it.

After oath, House stalled

                                                                  
Telangana emotions ran high in the Assembly on Monday when newly elected TRS MLAs Gampa Govardhan, T. Rajaiah, Jogu Ramanna, Jupally Krishna Rao, BJP MLA Y. Srinivas Reddy and independent MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy took oath. However, YSR Congress MLA N. Prasanna Kumar Reddy did not take the oath as he was absent.
Later, TRS and TD Telangana MLAs tried to outdo each other in stalling proceedings, demanding a resolution on Telangana. Except for administering oath to the six newly elected MLAs, the House was adjourned for the day without transacting any business. The House reverberated with “Jai Telangana” slogans and display of placards and banners in support of Telangana by TRS and TD members. The TRS MLAs, brought a banner of Bojya Naik, a Warangal student who committed suicide for Telangana to the Well of the House. Despite repeated reminders that any display of banners or placards in the House is not allowed, the MLAs continued to hold the banner aloft, even blocking the Speaker’s view. The protesters stayed put at the podium and continued with their sloganeering, forcing adjournment for the day.

Naidu dares Jagan to declare assets

                                                                              

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday dared YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to follow his example and declare his assets explaining the source instead of making wild allegations.

For a person who misused his father's position to make money, it was indeed laughable to claim that he would provide a corruption- free administration, Mr. Naidu said referring to Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy's comment.

He recalled that the Heritage Group owned by his family for 20 years, ran stores from rented premises while Mr. Reddy ran his newspaper from own buildings everywhere. “How did he get so much of money?”

Ridiculing Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy's charge of an understanding between the TDP and Congress, he reminded him that the former had almost a three-decade record of fighting the latter and bringing together all non-Congress parties to form government at the Centre. In fact, it was Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy who had an understanding with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, he alleged.

The TDP president reiterated his appeal to students of Telangana not to resort to extreme steps. he said his party had made its stand clear and it was for the Congress to take the final call.

Addressing a press conference, Mr. Naidu said Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy owed an explanation to people how he managed to make thousands of crores of assets in a short span of five years when his father and former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy had put up his house on sale in 2004. Everyone was aware of Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy's grandfather's record of starting off as a clerk in a barytes unit and then owning it using devious means, he said.

TDP, Congress forging ‘tactical' alliance: Jagan

                                                       

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has called upon the people to vote for M. Sucharita in the ensuing by-election. She deserved re-election as she sacrificed the MLA post for the welfare of farmers and poor people, he saod.

Addressing a meeting during ‘Odarpu Yatra' in Prathipadu constituency on Monday, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy wanted Ms. Sucharita to be re-elected with a huge majority as she quit the post for a cause.

The two main parties would not miss the slightest of opportunity to misuse the official machinery and resort to other tricks to secure victory for their candidates, he alleged.

They were not averse to playing petty politics, which they had been doing for the last couple of years.

In contrast, the YSRCP focused on people's issues and has been fighting for their welfare, he said.

He hoped that the electorate would teach a befitting lesson to parties which have thrown ethics to the winds for selfish motives.

“Congress and TDP are trying to forge a tactical alliance for the by-elections as they don't have the courage to take on YSRCP which has been fighting for the well-being of farmers and downtrodden sections'', Mr. Reddy said.

Jayaprakash Reddy plans yatra for project

                                                                    

SANGAREDDY- Government Whip T. Jayaprakash Reddy is planning to organise a massive yatra to New Delhi to bring pressure on Pranahita-Chevella. The programme, scheduled for next month, was aimed at achieving two targets.

The first and foremost is to steal the proposed show on Pranahita- Chevella project from Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The second one is projecting himself as one of the few leaders, who are trying to get some work done related to the project.

After a shocking defeat at the Mahaboobnagar Assembly constituency by-elections held recently, the TRS has reportedly planned a 'pada yatra' on Pranahita project to garner support from the people again in the name of separate State.

Mr. Jayaprakash Reddy, who had already joined issues with the TRS many a time in the past, has decided to take a delegation of more than 5,000 farmers from the district to New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi and present a memorandum in this regard. This would put him in the limelight for sometime ahead of the TRS yatra.

"More than 80,000 acres under Sangareddy Assembly constituency will get irrigation once the project is completed and Medak is one of the few districts that will benefit hugely. That is why we are planning a yatra to Delhi to request the Prime Minister to announce the project as a national one," Mr. Jayaprakash Reddy said.

He is even planning to book a special train for this purpose. He feels that the requests being made by Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy are not sufficient enough to get the attention of the Union government and there is a need to build a public pressure in this regard.

Though it was not new for Mr.Jayaprakash Reddy to announce programmes, it was yet to be seen whether he actually implements Delhi yatra programme.

Army chief explains why he didn't file case after offer of 14-crore bribe

                                                                   
Army chief explains why he didn’t file case after offer of 14-crore bribe New Delhi:  The Army Chief has accepted that when a bribe was offered to him for 14 crores, he should have done more than just informing the Defence Minister. General V K Singh has said that he was offered the kickback in 2010 by a retired defence officer if he cleared a sub-standard consignment of trucks. “I think it would have been better had I complained against him. The way it was said, I could not understand what he was saying,” said General Singh, who claims the retired officer told him, “Everyone takes it, what is your problem?” General Singh has not named who offered him the money. In an interview to The Hindu newspaper, the General said that the offer was made to him six months after he took over as the Army chief.

Current Parliament has serious problem of credibility: Arvind Kejriwal

                                                     
As leaders cutting across party lines objected to Team Anna's language against MPs, activist Arvind Kejriwal today claimed that the current Parliament has a "serious problem of credibility" as there are 162 lawmakers having criminal records.
He said punishing Team Anna for "flagging" certain issues will not help solve the problem, and the activists were ready to be punished if the MPs feel that the honour of Parliament will grow by punishing the activists.
Reacting to the sharp criticism faced by Team Anna in Lok Sabha for its language, he said, "Parliament should recognise the problem. If people are losing faith in Parliament, then it is a serious problem of credibility. They should do introspection."
He said he was also worried about the state of affairs in Parliament and noted that with 162 members with criminal records, no one can expect that Parliament would pass a strong Lokpal as it would end in jailing these MPs.
He said he was not painting all the MPs with a single brush and that he had clearly talked about 162 MPs who were facing criminal cases. "There are good MPs but their voices are feeble."
Asked whether he was ready to face another privilege notice, Kejriwal answered in the affirmative and said that this will not help the case.

"Can you expect that this Parliament with as many MPs with cases will allow the passage of a strong Lokpal?" he asked.
"When Rajneeti Prasad tore the Lokpal bill, no one objects. When Women's Bill was torn, no one objected. Chairs are hurled and mikes are thrown in Parliament but no one objects. MPs are bought and is it not denigrating Parliament?
"...I haven't said anything wrong. I am worried about Parliament," he claimed, adding that 1,176 MLAs were also have cases registered against them.
He said that the parties which nominated these lawmakers have actually insulted Parliament and not Team Anna. Kejriwal said MPs should introspect why people were losing faith in Parliament.
Claiming that it was unfortunate that leaders were speaking against Team Anna and it will not solve the problem, he said they leaders cannot stop people's anger.
When asked about losing support of political parties by attacking them, he said it is the duty of Parliament to pass laws.

He also supported Army Chief VK Singh who has claimed that a lobbyist had offered him a bribe of Rs14 crore, saying that Gen Singh was targeted because he fought against corruption.

Another man dies for Telangana, TRS calls for shutdown

                                                                   
One more person died on Monday and another was battling burn injuries after he attempted to immolate himself for separate statehood to Telangana, prompting the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to call for a shutdown in the region to demand immediate action from the central government.

Two days after an MBA student committed suicide in Warangal, an autorickshaw driver immolated himself in Hanamkonda town in the same district. Rajmouli, who doused himself with kerosene in a public park and immolated himself, left behind a suicide note saying he was taking his life due to the delay in formation of a separate Telangana state.

In another incident, a youth tried to immolate himself at Wanaparthy town in Mahabubnagar district on Monday. BR Goud torched himself at a busy cross-road in the town and was shifted to hospital.

TRS, which stalled the state assembly and also raised the issue in parliament, has called for a shutdown on Tuesday.

It has exempted state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) buses and ongoing examinations from the shutdown in the region, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders from Telangana, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Osmania University Joint Action Committee (JAC) have supported the shutdown call.

Telangana groups claim that over 600 people, mostly students, have committed suicide for the cause of Telangana during last two years.

With the shutdown call, the region may witness another round of protests for a separate state. Frequent shutdowns, rail and road blockades and 42-day-long strike by government employees, coal and transport workers had crippled the administration in the region and caused huge losses to the business and industry during August-September last year.

The suicides come close on the heels of by-election results in Telangana, which demonstrated that the sentiment for a separate state is still strong. Of six assembly seats, TRS bagged four seats and BJP one. An independent fighting for the separate state was also elected.

MBA student Bhojya Naik had committed suicide in Warangal town on Saturday. A shutdown was observed in Warangal district on Sunday.

AP: YSR Congress elated over first win outside Kadapa

                                                                         
Hyderabad, March 21 (IANS) The YSR Congress is elated over its victory in Kovur assembly constituency in Andhra Pradesh's Nellore district, its first win outside Kadapa district.
Announcing its arrival on the electoral platform of the state, the party bagged the Kovur seat, wresting it from main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
By winning the only seat it contested in the by-elections, YSR Congress has sent a warning to both the ruling Congress and the TDP.
N. Prasanna Kumar Reddy, who had won the seat on a TDP ticket in 2009, retained it as a candidate of the YSR Congress party.
The mood was upbeat in the party camp as its leaders and workers celebrated the win with distribution of sweets and bursting of crackers at the party office in Jubilee Hills here.
Prasanna Kumar Reddy defeated S. Chandramohan Reddy of TDP by a margin of 23,496 votes. The Congress finished third.
The result is expected to boost the morale of the fledgling party ahead of another round of by-elections to 18 assembly seats. The by-elections, likely to be held in couple of months, are caused by disqualification of 16 Congress rebels who switched loyalties to YSR Congress.
One legislator of Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) also joined YSR Congress and quit the assembly seat. Tirupati seat will fall vacant as Congress has nominated actor-turned-politician K. Chiranjeevi to Rajya Sabha.
Last year, YSR party honorary president Y.S. Vijayamma, widow of late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, had won Pulivendula assembly seat while their son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy was elected from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat in the by-elections. But their victory was in the family stronghold of Kadapa district.
Both the mother and the son had quit Congress party and their assembly and parliament seats in 2010 to protest the party leadership's attempts to create a rift in the family. Last year, they floated the YSR Congress party.

Both the mother and the son had quit Congress party and their assembly and parliament seats in 2010 to protest the party leadership's attempts to create a rift in the family. Last year, they floated the YSR Congress party.

Jagan, as the young leader is popularly known, had staged a revolt against the Congress leadership after it ignored his claim to the chief minister's post following the death of his father in a helicopter crash in 2009.

Andhra Pradesh bypoll: TRS bags 4 seats; YSR Congress one

Hyderabad, March 21: In a setback to Andhra Pradesh’s ruling Congress, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) bagged four assembly seats while the YSR Congress and an independent won one seat each. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had a narrow lead on a seventh seat.

TRS nominees won in Adilabad, Kamareddy, Kollapur and Station Ghanpur while BJP nominee bagged the Mahaboobnagar seat.

Independent candidate and former minister Nagam Janardhan Reddy, who was supported by the TRS secured victory in Nagarkurnool.

In Kovvur in Coastal Andhra, YSR Congress candidate N Prasanna Kumar Reddy was ahead of his TDP rival and the result is yet to be declared, Chief Electroal Officer Banwar Lal told reporters. 

‘Rajiv Yuvakiranalu' has no takers

                                                                  

The Kiran Kumar government's showpiece welfare scheme for youth – ‘Rajiv Yuvakiranalu' -- does not seem to have any takers in the city, at least for the programme taken up by the GHMC under the scheme.

A recent review of the programme taken up by the Urban Community Department (UCD) by Mayor Majid Hussain has revealed that there were zero placements in 15 of the 18 circles. The scene is not much different for other welfare schemes too.

He, however, had words of appreciation for the officials of circles 11 and 12 – Serlingampally for achieving bank loan linkages to the self-help groups. Similarly, circles of Kapra, Uppal, L.B.Nagar, Malkajgiri, Secunderabad and parts of the old city have done well in formation of self-help groups.

The Mayor called for zonal-level job melas beginning May and widespread publicity for the same. Additional Commissioner (UCD) C.N. Raghuprasad promised to utilise the budgetary allocation of Rs.100 crore of the Rs.167 crore by the month-end.

There are no applications, at least in two circles under the urban self-employment programme, and again no applications with regard to formation of the slum-level federation under the Indira Kranthi Patham in two circles. Mr. Hussain, shocked at the poor response to the welfare schemes in the capital, has demanded explanations from the deputy project officers concerned to give explanations within a week or face disciplinary action.

NRI children row: Indian officials to leave for Norway

                                                       
Amid fresh complications in the custody row involving two children of NRI parents in Norway, two senior Indian diplomats are expected to travel to the Scandinavian country to attend the custody hearing on March 23.
The external affairs ministry has deputed Banashri Bose Harrison, joint secretary in charge of central Europe, and a diplomat dealing with legal affairs to go to Norway.
The duo will also hold talks with senior Norwegian officials.

The ministry was reconsidering the visit of the Indian diplomats, but in view of new developments and the growing public attention to the issue it was decided to send the diplomats to speed up the reunion of children with their family.

Abhigyan, 3, and Aishwarya, 1, children of Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharya, an NRI couple living in Norway's Stavanger, were taken under protective care by Barnevarne (Norwegian Child Welfare Services) last May on the ground that they were not looked after properly by their parents

Over a month ago, India and Norway struck an agreement under which the parents named Anurup's brother Arunabhash Bhattacharya as the primary caretaker of the two children. Arunabhash Bhattacharya is currently in Norway.

Amid public outrage and protests by opposition parties, India last month had sent special envoy Madhusudhan Ganapathi, secretary (West) in the external affairs ministry to Norway, to urge Norwegian authorities to find a solution for enabling an early return of the children to India.

“Yes, Anurup is mulling legal separation from his wife as she suffers from acute schizophrenia. Last night (Monday) Sagarika attacked my son and badly injured him. Since then, he has fled from her and is living elsewhere. She has been attacking him for long,” Anurup's father Ajay Bhattacharya told IANS in Kolkata

Mangoes may cost a bomb

                                                                    
NUZVID/HYDERABAD: Mango, the king of fruits, could become dearer this summer. With the crop in about 40% of the nurseries in Nuzvid region having suffered damage due to adverse weather, the price of the fruit is likely to go through the roof. Consumers may be forced to shell out as much as Rs 200-250 to buy one kg of mango. The crop in Ranga Reddy and Medak districts is also hit because of late flowering.

Farmers had been spending sleepless nights in the last three months to save the crop. The Nuzvid region supplies a major chunk of mango to the state. The 'Banginapalle' mango from Nuzvid is the most sought after in the local and international markets. According to the latest predictions, the crop yield would come down by at least 40%. While mango is being grown in 64.58 thousand hectares in Krishna district, the yield is expected to be around seven tonnes per hectare against last year's 8-10 tonnes.

"The heavy rains in January had severely damaged the crop. We could protect the flower in about 60% of the total area," a senior official of the horticulture department said. Farmers had to struggle to see that the flower survived the adverse weather. But despite their efforts, the flower was frail.

"The delayed flowering is worrisome. The only hope is that farmers could get a good price since the yield is expected to be very low," said horticulture officer S Ahmed. He said the yields are expected to be in two-three spells instead of one in normal conditions.

Normally, the flowering stage ends by the second week of December and the fruit begins to grow by January. After most of the flowers were damaged in the January rains, it took time for second flowering. Janakiramaiah, owner of a mango nursery at Tiruvur, explained that extremely low temperatures during the nights in the winter had also caused irrecoverable loss.

In RR district, mangoes usually hit the market in mid-February itself. But the harvest has already been delayed by one month. However, as a result of drought, dip in ground water and high labour costs, the stocks have not arrived in the market yet. Horticulture officials said the crop loss would definitely lead to a major jump in the fruit rates.

C M Ramesh hid criminal case in RS affidavit: Ex-aide

                                                                      
HYDERABAD: In a development that may threaten to come in the way of TDP candidate C M Ramesh's election to the Rajya Sabha, a former business partner of his has alleged that a criminal case is pending against Ramesh in the Amberpet police station and that he has 'wilfully' not declared it in his election affidavit.

P Seshaiah Nayudu, the former business partner of Ramesh, submitted a memorandum to this effect to chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal here on Tuesday. "Ramesh misrepresented himself as a franchise representing Engineering Projects (India) Ltd, a Government of India enterprise, with no legitimate authority. It is also a fact that Ramesh has taken away Rs 4.7 crore as mobilization advance on account of a contract relating to package No 33 of Handri Niva Sujala project without performing 'nil' obligation while we did perform the project work in the status of sub-contractor. This act is worse than swindling/pocketing public money," the memorandum said.

The court in turn directed the Amberpet police station to investigate and report the charges and submit a report by January 31, 2012. The Amberpet cops registered an FIR on December 23, 2011, and booked cases against S P S Bakshi, a businessman, Dilip Reddy, chief manager of SBI, Tany Kumar, DGM of SBI, CM Ramesh, director of Rithwik Projects Ltd, Yadava Reddy, managing partner, Ravinder Rao, businessman, and M Srilatha, wife of Ravinder Rao. They were booked under IPC sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 341 (wrongful restraint), 403 (dishonest misappropriation of property), 409 (criminal breach of trust), 418 (cheating a person whose interests the offender was bound to protect), 447 (criminal trespass), and Cr PC's 156 (3) (police officer's power to investigate a cognizable case). According to police sources, the Amberpet cops could not submit their report to the court by the given deadline of January 31 and sought some more time to complete their investigations.In his nomination papers and affidavit filed before the Assembly secretary, CM Ramesh said he is not facing any criminal cases nor he has any criminal record in the past. When contacted, Ramesh told TOI: "I am not aware of the case. How can I be responsible for a case for which I did not receive any notices." But legal experts say any candidate who hides facts about his assets, liabilities and pending criminal cases can face action from the EC.

By-election results today

                                                                  
HYDERABAD: Chief electoral officer Bhanwarlal said elaborate arrangements have been made for counting of votes in all the seven assembly segments where the by-elections were held on March 18. The first results are expected to be out by 10.30-11 am.

The counting will start at 8 am and is set to be completed by noon. Even before counting, some of the candidates started celebrations in Telangana region. For the first time, the election authorities are using 3G services to upload the counting process on to internet. The entire process would be recorded with web cameras which are connected to internet through 3G services enabling the Election Commission authorities to watch the process.

Counting in Kamareddy would be held at Jeevadhan High School, for Adilabad at APTWRS Junior College. In Kovur, counting would be taken up the government polytechnic school and for three constituencies in Mahbubnagar, Jayaprakash Narayana Engineering college has been selected. The electronic voting machines ( EVMs) have been stored in strong rooms in the designated counting halls after completion of polling on Sunday.