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Seven charred to death as Volvo Bus caught fire

  Even before the fire accident of Volvo bus that took the lives 49 passengers went down the tragic memories, one more similar accident happened in the early hours (2.30 AM) of Thursday near Kanuma Halli, Haveri in Karnataka.   This time 7 passengers were charred to death but, luckily around 25 passengers have managed to escape death narrowly. The reason for accident is quite similar to earlier one- Over speed and dashing the road divider.   The bus that belongs to National Travels has started from Bangalore yesterday night at 8PM bound to Mumbai. At the time of accident, the bus is running at a speed between 140-150 km per hour, said one of the survived passengers. According preliminary reports, after hitting the road-divider one of the tyres of the vehicle busted and caught fire and in no time the flames engulfed the bus.   However, as many as 25 passengers were able to escape death narrowly by jumping out of the windows after breaking the glass panes. According to reports there are 45 passengers in the bus at the time of accident and all belong to Karnataka state.   Rescue and Police teams from Haveri jumps into action and shifted the survivors to near by hospital.

UP came to halt with 12 lakh employees strike

  India’s biggest state Uttar Pradesh has virtually come to a standstill with its 12 lakh state government employees of 130 departments going on indefinite strike demanding wage revision in par with Central government employees and also with several other demands. The first round of talks held between them and the state government fails and the strike continues for the third days today.   It appears Akhilesh Yadav government has been put several acid tests these days one-after- the- other. A couple of months ago, his government was corned by its own mistake of suspending a sincere IAS officer Durga Shakthi Nagpal for taking upon sand mafia that has backing of some leaders in the ruling government.   After resolving the problem, there were communal riots in Muzafar Nagar, where 45 innocent people were killed. Now, the employees are giving another test to it, at a time when elections are round the corner.   If, Akhilesh agrees he has to dig for funds to meet the situation. If can’t will have to lose in the elections. Either way his condition is miserable.   This is a fine example to know what happens if people elect an inexperienced person as their CM!! He may be son of an experienced politician like Mulayam Singh, but it doesn't mean he has all those qualities of his father.

Chandrababu shoots letter to President Pranab

  While, TDP boycotts the all-party meeting held by GoM, shooting letters to Prime Minister and President appealing them to ensure constitutional procedures are strictly followed in the bifurcation process. Chandrababu wrote a letter to President Pranab Mukharji on Tuesday. He complained the Centre is not considering the apprehensions of employees, students and farmers. Hence, it should summon the JACs representing these groups from both regions and take their suggestions and views on its decision, before proceeding any further. He reminds the President that the previous NDA government has created new states strictly following the constitutional procedures. He appealed the President to ask the Centre to follow the same practice in case of Andhra Pradesh division.

No blind support to T-Bill: Rajnath Singh

  While Seemandhra Union Ministers and MPs are busy convincing their high command and GoM to get best package for Andhra Pradesh state, leaders of AP NGOs are leaving no stone left unturned to keep the state Unite, even at this moment when the Centre is gearing-up for introducing the T-bill in Parliament in the winter sessions.   APNGOs, who met BJP President Rajnath Singh on Monday appears to be changed his mind on supporting the T-bill in Parliament. He asserted them that his party will not blindly support the bill if it doesn’t justify both regions.   “Parliament has to honor the opinion of the State Assembly. During NDA regime, while forming new states, Government valued the opinions of the state Assemblies. So, the same practice is to be adopted even now separating Andhra Pradesh state,” said Rajnath Singh.

Bhongir YCP in-charge jumps into BJP

  Captain Karunakar Reddy, in-charge of Bhongir unit of YSR Congress party bid good bye to party and joins BJP in the presence of its state President Kishan Reddy on Monday. He said he is leaving YCP because it is opposing Telangana state formation. He said many more leaders and party workers in YCP in Telangana region may quit the party for the same reasons.

Can BJP ignore TDP because Kishan Reddy dislikes it?

  It is not necessary to say that the state BJP president Kishan Reddy is for Telangana and he opposes whichever party opposes it. Hence, it is quite natural for him to oppose any alliance with TDP and YSR Congress parties. Kishan Reddy alleges TDP is spreading rumors that it is going to have alliance with BJP. He said BJP has no such plans as it wants to contest the elections alone.   However, the way he ignores his party in Seemandhra region, the same way his high command also may ignore his objections, while thinking about having alliance or taking support from TDP and YSR Congress parties in the forthcoming elections. BJP Prime Minister Candidate Modi himself revealed interest in having alliance with TDP. None from the BJP high command has rejected the ‘friendship-band’ sent by Jagan Mohan Reddy.   BJP, which is desperate to form the government at Centre after 2014 General elections, may not be afford to ignore TDP and YSR Congress parties, because its state president Kishan Reddy dislikes them. Kishan Reddy being an experienced politician can’t be assumed ignorant of this fact. So, he might be trying to fool the people by condemning alliance proposals

BJP, MIM and CPI attended all-party meeting

  BJP, MIM and CPI just came-out of the one-to-one all-party meeting with GoM. When, the GoM asked BJP what suggestions it would like to give for bifurcation, it demands the GoM to reveal its plans first, instead of asking others for suggestions and opinions. However, BJP represented by its state President Kishan Reddy said that his party is demanding Telangana with 10 districts. He told the GoM that he doesn’t have any information or suggestions for bifurcation.   MIM bluntly said it is opposing division of the state. However, MIM represented by Asadudden Owaisi said his party is agreeing for bifurcation as it become inevitable in the prevailing situation. He asked the GoM not to declare Hyderabad as Union Territory. He opposed the proposal of keeping the law and order of the city under Centre control.   Narayana, who represents CPI party, has asked to carve Telangana with 10 districts. He also opposes making Hyderabad as UT. He suggested separate development boards for Rayalaseema and North Costal Andhra are to be constituted.

Kiran Slowly Removes the Samaikya Mask!

      ....Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar     The inevitable has happened! Congress CMs cannot defy their Delhi High Command for long. Kiran after the Yatra to the Capital and post his meeting his with different Congress leaders is now in High Command’s track of aiding for bifurcation!! Nothing more can explain the report of the State Government to the Central Government on the possible provisions that are needed for Andhra State!     A report from the State government sent to center obviously will not go without the concurrence of the Chief Minister!! The contents of it are not new, though seems to be much more than what the Seemandhra Ministers are asking. A Lakh of acres for the capital and 5 lakh crores for the construction of the new capital, HMDA purview as the Common Capital area, Bhadrachalam issue, Jalayagna, water issues, the list is almost the same as various sections of the Andhra side are talking about. Its’ not the question of content nor language that is important at this juncture, it’s the issue that Kiran has sent a list of demands to be resolved for Andhra State to Central government in case the state is bifurcated! Now, politically talking, the so called Chief Minister who was showing rigidity in accepting the dikat of central government has become mellowed, or made to be mellowed by the High command. The Seemandhra Ministers have long back agreed for the bifurcation with the tone of various Ministers and MPs changing from the Samaikya Andhra to the justified package. Now the Chief Minsiter who was showing himself as the last thorn, was also removed. Now it is almost certain that the Congress will go all out for the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh as the anti voices within the Congress party have largely been sanitized. 

The Curious case of Jaipal Reddy becoming active in T Politics!!

    ..... Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar     For a discerning observer of Andhra Pradesh politics over the years, the more than necessary participation of Jaipal Reddy in the Andhra Pradesh politics for the past fortnight is raising curious issues. Jaipal Reddy, the no nonsense Telangana leader, honestly never fancied himself as the State leader who was representing the State at the Center as a Cabinet Minister. He always tried to show himself a notch above the State leaders and was much happy to be graded as part of the Party’s intelligentsia rather than a AP State leader in the Central Cabinet.     Even in hey days of Telanagana agitation, Jaipal Reddy was never a great participant, albeit a curious onlooker. Though one cannot doubt his affection or resolve for Telangana or its issues, it is a fact that he has not got an outward or a public role in the actual agitation for Telanagana over the years. But now he is adopting a role in which he is criticizing the Andhra people, batting for the perceived backwardness of his own land etc. All this not in his trade mark oxford English punched with at times inexplicable vocabulary, but in chaste Telugu filled with jocular anecdotes. Is he trying to woo the masses, is the immediate doubt that one gets when Jaipal reddy talk in his new language leaving off his posh bookish language either in Telugu or in English!   This brings us to his new role perceived and being implemented by himself as an active participant in the post Telanagana as a State! Is he eyeing the coveted Chief Ministers position? This is the doubt as on now that is lingering in the minds of T congress leaders. Though there are enough of people vying for the CMs position in Telanagana itself, Jaipal Reddy, undoubtedly has an edge over others not only by being a close confidante of high command over the years but also a person perceived by the people with great knowledge and expertise. And he laso has the tag of a Reddy which in all respects will be an additional advantage. Given the complex caste factors in the present T area, it is not easy to pick a person. However, Jaipal Reddy with his renewed enthusiasm that he is exhibiting these days in trying to portray him as the top leader, there is every reason to sense the feeling of Jaipal Reddy trying for the coveted post of the CM of Telanagana.

ISRO overcomes trouble in Mars Mission

  Yesterday, there was a snag in Mars Mission Orbiter after the fuel supply to main engines choked while raising the vehicle to 1,00,000 km height during the fourth phase of operation in Mangalyan Mars Mission. However, scientists at ISRO have overcome the problem and successfully raised the Orbiter to a height 118,642 km from present 78, 246 KM to on 05:03:50 on Tuesday. They are also able to increase the velocity of the vehicle from present 30 meters per second to 124.9 meters per second, which actual should be 130 meters per second. They express full confidence of successfully completing the Mars Mission.

Bifurcation case adjourned by HC

  The state high court has adjourned the case related to bifurcation of the state. Lawyer JP Rao has filed public interest litigation (PIL) in high court complaining that the Centre is not following the constitutional procedures in bifurcation process and hence appealed the court to order the Centre to stop the process immediately. However, the court bench comprising Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Kalyan Jyothy Sen Gupta has adjourned the case.. Supreme Court also adjourned similar petitions filed by Payyavula Keshav and some others to 18th of this month, stating it need in-depth study before taking-up the case.

Did Phailin cyclone also effects Centre- State relations?

  The recent Phailin cyclone that left a devastating effect on Odisha seems also adversely impacts the relations between Naveen Patnaik and UPA government’s relations. Odisha has appealed the Centre to grant Rs.6000 crore as special assistance but got only Rs.1000 crore for both Odisha and Andhra Pradesh states.   CM Naveen Patnaik said “This is a fine example to say that the Congress led UPA is showing indifference towards non-congress governments. It jumped at once to help its governments in Uttarakhand and Assam, but not even bothers to visit Odisha even after one month. The assistance it granted is too little to do anything and we were told to share it with Andhra Pradesh. One can understand how little is the assistance, if sees the incurred losses that is approximately Rs.21000 crore, which is equivalent to the annual budget of the state.”   He said “However, we are successful in minimizing loss of life in this Phailin Cyclone with the preventive measures taken by our government. People of the state are also aware of our hard efforts and appreciating us.”   "We are maintaining equal distance from BJP and Congress parties. People in non-congress-ruling governments strongly believe that they are being neglected by the UPA government. So, I guess that regional parties are going to play key role in 2014 general elections and in Odisha our party is going to keep the Congress party at bay. I am sure that our party is going to win good number of Assembly and Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming elections,” said CM Naveen Patnaik.

67 per cent polling in Chattisgarh elections

  As against speculations, there was a good turn-out for the first phase of polling in Chattisgarh Assembly elections. According to EC there was 67 per cent voters turned-up for casting their votes, despite threats from Maoists, who gave a call for boycotting the polling in Bastar district.   It is to be attributed to heavy policing and enough security measures taken by the state government and EC. Polling in 12 constituencies in Bastar, which is ear marked as Maoist hub and 6 in Rajnandgaon went peacefully without facing any untoward incidents. However, a CRPF head constable BD Joseph, was killed in an ambush in Dantewada during this phase. He hails from Kanyakumari in Tamilnadu.   During the last elections held in 2008, Forty one people were killed in various incidents. So, the state government and EC had a sigh of relief as the first phase went off peacefully.They are now gearing-up to fave the 2nd phase of polling scheduled for 19th of this month.

Aam Admi welcomes probe

  The favorable survey reports indicating a clean sweep by Aam Admi Party in Delhi state Assembly elections made the Congress party press panic button.   As it is always used to twist the hands of its rival parties using its agencies, Home Minister Shinde orders an inquiry into funding of Aam Admi party from foreign sources based on a complaint by the CM of Delhi Shiela Dikshit, who alleges AAP collects Rs.19 crore from foreign sources violating the FERA norms.   However, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal welcomed the probe and appealed the Home Minister to apply the same rule all other parties in the country, including Congress party. He said “We have nothing to hide. We have kept all our records open and available for public. While we are preaching for clean politics, we can’t indulge in odd practices like that. The records are there and up to date for Home Ministry to verify. But, at the same time, it should apply the same yard stick to Congress and other parties also to gauge the funding practices.”

Trouble in Mars Mission

  According to latest reports, the prestigious Mars Mission conducted by ISRO is having some trouble with its PSLV engines. The flow of fuel to main engine is stopped, while the scientists at ISRO have tried to increase the speed of the vehicle on Monday. Hence, they have fired back-up thruster engines to attain necessary speed and height.   Actually, the vehicle is supposed to be at 1,00,000 km heaight from earth and is to attain a speed of 130 meters per second. But, it is currentl at 78,000 KM height and with 30 meters per second speed. Hence, the scientists have altered the mission plan to attain the correct height and incremental velocity of 130 meters per second.    The reason for failure of flow of fuel to main engine is blockage in the pipelines due to simultaneous operation by two coils. When, the scientists have turned on both the coils to increase the speed of the vehicle it led to blockage of fuel. However, an insider of ISRO tells that it doesn’t affect the mission at all, since the vehicle is designed to meet such intolerances and having sufficient back-ups.   If, everything goes smooth, the vehicle will be directed towards Mars in a sling shot action at the end of this month. After travelling 10months continuously, the satellite will be placed into Mars orbit on September 24th next year. If, India could achieve these rare feet and then it would be one among those pride nations, which successfully placed their satellites in Mars orbit.

Several options on Hyderabad: Shinde

  Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde held press-meet a short while ago at his office and answered many questions related to bifurcation of the state.   He said GoM will submit its report to Union Cabinet and it will be sent to state Assembly very soon. He said UPA will complete the process before its present term. He said there are several proposals came before GoM over Hyderabad issue. GoM is carefully studying all the options before taking a final decision. He acknowledges of receiving reports from Union Ministries that are connected with bifurcation process of the state.   Answering to question about how the Centre will get the approval of the state Assembly for T-Bill when CM Kiran Kumar Reddy is reluctant to obey the party decision, he said “I am not aware of his disagreement.”   Shinde also skips answering an embarrassing question about Rahul Gandhi statement of ISI sleuths contacting some Muslim youth in Muzafar Nagar after riots. He replied “No comments. I need not to talk about a matter that was closed long time ago."

Parliament sessions from 5th

  The dates for winter Parliament sessions were announced by the Centre a short while ago. The sessions will begin from 5th December and continues till 20th. Since, GoM is table its report soon and the date for sending the T-bill is finalized for last week of this month, if everything goes UPA government may bring the Telangana bill into Parliament in these winter sessions itself and get it approved before 9th December to commemorate Sonia Gandhi’s birthday.

War like situation in Chattisgarh Polls

  The Maoist dominated Chattisgarh state is going for the first phase of Assembly polls on Monday amid very high security. The situation looks much like a war situation between the security forces and Maoists than a democratic process, due to the intensity of Maoists factor in the state. Maoists have called for boycott of the elections in one of their strong hold area-Bastar district and they even made a blast to underline their intentions if polling is conducted.   Therefore, around one lakh paramilitary forces in addition to state police force has been deployed in sensitive areas in the state. Search operations for bombs are being conducted at regular intervals by the experts in a massive scale.   Twelve IAF Choppers were kept on watch-dog duty over the areas of polling. One ambulance helicopter is also kept ready at Raipur airport for providing emergency medical aid and for shifting of victims, in case any untoward incident takes place anywhere.   One can have a clear idea on how the prevailing situation is if sees BSNL erecting cell towers on special vehicles to ensure no disruptions in communication between the polling stations and the state head -quarters.   Around 30 lakh voters in 18 constituencies will cast their votes during this first phase of elections. However, the government is expecting between 53-60 percent turn-out only. Another interesting thing is for the first time CPI is also contesting in the elections, whereas Maoists have gave a call for boycott of these elections.   CM of the state Raman Singh contested from Rajnandgaon constituency. His fate will be sealed in EVMs during this first phase of elections along with others.

Ministers to meet PM tomorrow

  Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh has granted appointment to Seemandhra Union Ministers at 11.50 am. They will submit a memorandum to him with their demands for Seemandhra region. Recently, they start stressing for declaring Hyderabad as Union Territory and merge Bhadrachalam division, which is now in Telangana into Andhra Pradesh state. However, the T-Congress leaders and TRS leaders are also firmly opposing such proposals.   Even though, Prime Minister grants the Seemandhra Ministers appointment, he may not give any assurance in any regard because the matter is being handled by GoM. Tomorrow GoM is also holding a crucial meeting with Secretaries of different union ministries, which are related to bifurcation process. GoM may take necessary feedback and suggestions from them before going for all party meeting on 12th November.