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Akbaruddin in Hospital With Intestinal Pain

MIM floor leader and Chandrayangutta MLA Mr. Akbaruddin Owaisi, who was severly injured in a deadly attack in April, has been admitted in a private hospital after he complained of intestinal pain on Monday. Hospital sources said that the MLA developed complications to the intestine injury he suffered during the attack on him. Akbaruddin, who underwent thorough check up at the hospital has been advised to undergo a surgery in next 48 hours. The hospital authorities said that they will release health bulletins to keep inform people about the condition of Owaisi from Tuesday.  

Centre May Opt For Second SRC to Settle T Issue

The government at the centre too seems to be much annoyed by the persistent demand for separate Telangana state. Obviously it is in no mood to create a separate state immediately. At the same time it wants to diffuse the crisis created by resignation of 100 odd elected representatives from all parties, as amicably as possible. According to highly placed sources, it is learnt that the party leadership was likely to address the contentious issue a few days after the cabinet expansion on Tuesday. "There appears to be three options before the Congress - granting Telangana within a stipulated timeframe, giving special status to Hyderabad and dividing the state, and setting up a second SRC," say the sources. "Under the circumstances, Congress may choose procrastination as the best approach to the issue by settling up of a second SRC," sources reflecting the mood in the party on the issue said. Reinforcing the thinking of the central leadership on the issue, Congress MP Lagadapati Rajagopal told the media in Vijayawada on Monday that the party high command was all for setting up of a second SRC to look into the demand for Telangana. However, it is to be seen, how the seekers of separate state respond to the centre's move.  

Sathya Sai Trust Bares All Before Government

With reports emerging about financial irregularities against Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust which manages the affairs of late Sathya Sai Baba's spiritual empire, the AP government on 27 June asked the trust to submit a detailed report on its functioning as well as financial details. Responding to the government's notice, the trust submitted the report to endowments secretary K.V. Ramnachari. The report contains details of the trust's finances, its activities, revenues, institutions run by it, members of the trust, their addresses and their professions. The trust has also reportedly provided details of the trust's objectives, its day-to-day functioning, details of the officials who run the trust and various institutions, assets, income and expenditure. The report also contains details of the trust's bank accounts, the subsidies given by the central government, exemptions from income tax regulations and also the names and other details of its auditors. Officials said the government would evaluate the report before taking a decision on the demands from a section of devotees to take over the trust or at least set up a mechanism to monitor the trust. It is for the first time in nearly four decades that the government intervened in the affairs of the trust. The trustees were facing allegations of irregularities after Sathya Sai Baba's demise on April 24. Anantapur police had last month seized Rs.35 lakh from a car and arrested three people, who revealed that they were transporting the cash from Baba's ashram in Puttaparthi to Bangalore on the directions of two trust members. The police are still continuing with their probe into the allegations that huge cash and valuables were shifted out of the ashram.  

Telangana Congress Leaders Meet at Exhibition Grounds

After their bulk resignations in support of a separate state, Telangana Congress leaders will begin a two-day hunger strike tomorrow. "We have decided to observe a 48-hour fast on July 13 and 14 to draw the attention of the government," Congress MP K Keshav Rao told reporters after a meeting of the Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs who had recently quit their posts. All those who have resigned from their posts would take part in the fast, he said. Mr Rao dismissed reports that Telangana leaders from the Congress will leave the party over the Centre's lack of action on a new state. "Our loyalty to Congress and Sonia Gandhiji is unflinching. Our demand for Telangana is equally uncompromising," Mr Rao said. He said that the Telangana Congress leaders are ready to talk to their counterparts from non-Telangana regions about their objection to demand for a new state.                

PM Meets Sonia: Cabinet Reshuffle on Tuesday

Dr Manmohan Singh met with UPA President Sonia Gandhi this morning at his home. According to sources they have discussed the contours of a new Cabinet. The reshuffle of Union Cabinet has been slated to take place at 5 PM on Tuesday (12-07-11). According to reliable sources, at least 10 new ministers are going to be sworn-in tomorrow. Though it has not yet been confirmed, the railway ministry would be retained by Trinamul Congress, it is said. Yesterday Union Finance minister and senior leader of the Congress party, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee met the DMK chief M Karunanidhi at Chennai and had talks about the impending reshuffle. Sources inform that the DMK chief was not interested in replacing either A Raja or Dayanidhi Maran with other members in his party. It is not yet known what was the actual outcome of the FM and DMK chief's meeting, but one thing is certain that DMK is not pulling out from the UPA, said the sources. Indications are clearly visible that there won't be any new addition from AP, as far as tomorrow's reshuffle is concerned, say the political observers in the Capital.    

AP Speaker to Look Into Resignations Systematically

With over 100 MLAs from the Telangana region quitting over the contentious statehood issue, assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar said on Sunday that he would like to meet the legislators "personally" before taking a call on the resignations. According to sources, the process would take several weeks. Manohar, who is in New Delhi to take part in an international conference, said he would also consult constitutional and legal experts on how to deal with the resignations of the legislators who put in their papers last week. "I came from the United States only now. I am here to attend a SAARC conference. I have heard that some legislators have resigned. I will go into the issue after I reach Hyderabad," he told a press conference in the national capital. The speaker said no decision on the issue would be taken in a hurried manner. "I will seek the opinion of constitutional and legal experts. I would listen to their suggestions and will also consult experienced people in the state," he said.

Kalka Mail Accident: 63 Dead, 150 Injured So Far

The Kalka Mail Accident - The train, Kalka Mail, was on its way to New Delhi from Howrah, with 1,200 passengers on board when 15 bogies of the train derailed near Malwan station in Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur district on Sunday. As per the latest reports 63 passengers have died while as many 150 are seriously injured and many still feared trapped in the mangled debris. Nearly hundred Armymen have been pressed into service with medical supplies being rushed to the area. Colonel ADS Dhillion, who is supervising the operation, has said that many people are still trapped under the mangled coaches. He also said that the rescue teams hope to finish their work by late afternoon. Railway authorities said the train was travelling at a top speed of 108 kilometres per hour, when it derailed near Malwan railway station. HC Joshi, North Central Railway General Manager, said, "The exact cause of the derailment has not been ascertained as we are busy in rescue operations." He added a probe has been ordered into the accident. www.teluguone.com/news/galleries/Kalka-Mail-Acccident-Photos-10.07.2011-1184.html A Special train carrying 165 passengers of New Delhi-Howrah Kalka Mail reached Delhi this morning. The rescue train departed from Malwan Railway Station last evening to bring survivors to the capital. Meanwhile, a special train left Howrah station carrying relatives and friends of the Howrah-Kalka Mail mishap victims to the site. All the injured passengers were rushed to Kanpur hospital. Two relief trains, one from Kanpur and the other from Allahabad comprising of medical teams, cutting equipment, cranes, engineers have left for Malwan to assist in the rescue operations. Due to the derailment, 13 trains were cancelled and 25 others diverted along the Allahabad-Kanpur section. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expressed shock and instructed Minister of State (MoS), Railways, K H Munniyappa, to visit the accident site and provide all resources for the rescue operation. An inquiry by the Commissioner of Railway Safety has been ordered into the derailment. Union Minister for Railways, Mukul Roy announced that the families of the dead would be paid an ex-gratia of Rs. 5 lakh, the seriously injured would receive Rs. 1 lakh each. www.teluguone.com/news/galleries/Kalka-Mail-Acccident-Photos-10.07.2011-1184.html

Law Minister Prathap Reddy Comments on Jagan

Reacting to the tall promises made by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in the plenary sessions of YSR Congress Party at Idupulapaya, AP Law Minister E Prathap Reddy said that one has to make only those promises which the state can afford to fulfill. State budget is not enough to fulfill all his promises. He should tell, from where he will generate the required funds for keeping up his promises.            

Jagan Comments on Telangana Issue

YSR Congress president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy commented on the contentious Telangana issue. Speaking at the first plenary session of his YSR Congress party, he put the onus of giving separate Telangana state on the Congress party. He said "It is the Congress party that has to give a separate Telangana, It is not in my hands."            

Samaikyandhra Demand Takes up Momentum

Students in Andhra and Rayalaseema regions of Andhra Pradesh on Friday held rallies against bifurcation of the state. Students of Nagarjuna University and activists of various groups formed a human chain in Guntur town opposing the demand for a Telangana state. Leaders of the groups alleged that politicians for their vested interests were trying to instigate people of one region against the other. Students and activists of various groups opposing the demand for a Telangana state, formed a human chain in Guntur town. Leaders of the groups alleged that politicians for their vested interests were trying to instigate people of one region against the other. Rallies were also taken out in Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Kadapa and Anantapur. In Visakhapatnam, lawyers favouring "Samaikyandhra" or united Andhra boycotted courts and demanded that public representatives of Andhra and Rayalaseema regions resign to put pressure on the central government. State minister from Andhra region E. Pratap Reddy told reporters in Hyderabad that they would put forward before the Centre their demand to keep the state united. He, however, said he would abide by the Centre's decision and rejected the demand for his resignation.

Suri Murder Case: Bhanu Suspected to be in Gurgaon

With the arrests of Tollywood producers Singanamala Ramesh and Chillara Kalyan, the police seems to have made a major breakthrough in Maddelacheruvu Suri murder that took place in January this year. After killing factionist boss Suri, his close aide Bhanu is said to have found a safe haven in Gurgaon on the outskirts of New Delhi. In his confession statement, Ramesh told the CID sleuths that Bhanu called him on January 2, a day before the murder of Suri, and asked for the exact location of a one-acre plot in Kondapur. Ramesh said that he was alerted about the murder of Suri by his manager, Ravi. "After I came to know about the murder, I have called Kalyan and Bujji, an associate of Suri to confirm the news," said Ramesh in his statement. The producer told the cops that he first met Suri while he was admitted in Nims in 2009. He agreed the fact that using Suri and Bhanu's name, he was able to settle several cheque bounce and money lending cases. In February 2009, the producer called the people who lodged cheque bounce cases against him to hotel Zaika in Banjara Hills and made them meet Bhanu. "Bhanu threatened the complainants and asked them to forget about the money which they had given to Ramesh," a CID official said. Ramesh also confessed to threatening Tollywood financier Vaijayanti Reddy and other movie audio video disc makers from the city. According to police, Ramesh maintained a close contact with Bhanu and Suri during 2009-10. Ramesh even let Suri stay in his flat in Alekhya apartments, Madhapur, and allowed him to use his Innova (AP 09 BK 2629). Ramesh also confessed that during the shooting of the movie Komarampuli in Mumbai in June 2010, Suri, Bhanu and their associates, Vasu and Madhu, had visited him. Police claimed to have seized only three SIM cards used by Ramesh, including phone numbers 941119138/9094755085/9094552601. "We are analysing call details and bank transactions of the producers to locate Bhanu. Following the arrests of the producers, we suspect that he has completely cut off all connections with the old contacts," said a CID official.  

TJAC Reschedules Telangana Stir

Telangana Joint Action Committee led by its chairman M Kodandaram has decided to intensify the ongoing agitations by rescheduling all the agitational programmes from July 12 in the Telangana region. The TJAC has decided to observe Vanta Varpu on July 12 across the region and organise rail roko on July 14. Meanwhile TJAC chairman M Kodandaram met senior Congress leader K Keshava Rao at his residence and urged him to convince his party members for having a 'united fight' on the issue. In reply, Keshava Rao told them that their proposal would be discussed at Saturday's meeting by the Telangana Congress public representatives at Nampally exhibition grounds. However, MLA R Damodar Reddy and MLC P Sudhakar Reddy made it clear that they would go it alone without teaming up with any other party or the TJAC in their fight for separate state. Several Telangana ministers including K Jana Reddy, R Venkat Reddy met chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and urged him to hold talks with the party high command and convince the Seemandhra leaders.  

30 Crore State Budget For Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Complying with the Supreme Court orders in letter and spirit, the expert-committee making an inventory of the assets of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple met and decided to defer opening of the secret vault A till further orders. After the meeting, retired high court judge Justice M N Krishnan who heads the committee, said the Supreme Court's order regarding the temple will be complied with in its letter and spirit. Meanwhile, Kerala government is planning a Rs 30-crore security plan for the shrine, the first installment of which was earmarked in the state budget presented in the assembly on Friday. The new measures would replace the temporary arrangements which have been put in place for now. Currently, about 200 personnel from the local police, over a dozen cops from the Quick Reaction Team and 48 police commandoes are guarding the temple where stock taking has revealed wealth estimated at over Rs 1 lakh crore. The estimates are merely based on the bullion prices and have not taken into account the antique value of the riches. The director general of police has recommended that the home department declare the area within 500 metres of the temple a special security zone. If this materialises, constructions in the zone would require the consent of the police and district collector. A special police control room has already begun to function outside the Western Gate of the shrine. Five vaults in the temple including one which had not been opened after 1872 were unsealed last week by the SC-appointed panel.  

Jaipal Reddy Meets PM Manmohan Singh

Union Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy met the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh this afternoon to discuss important matters related to  petroleum ministry and the contentious Telangana issue. The union minister is said to have urged the Prime Minister to sanction a Telangana state. After the 40 minute meeting with prime minister, Jaipal Reddy spoke to the media but refused to divulge what he advised the PM. "This is between me and my PM," he said. "I think everyone is worried...I merely conveyed my assessment of the situation."      

Samaikyandhra Agitation on The Raise

After Telangana legislators tendered their resignations demanding a separate state, there is a low but firm response from students and political parties in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions. TDP legislators led by D Umamaheswara Rao staged protests at Nandigama in Krishna district and stalled vehicular traffic on NH9 demanding the central government not to heed to the demands of separatist parties. Meanwhile, students of Acharya Nagarjuna University formed human-chain to protest against any move to devide the State and announced they would continue agitation by organising dharnas and rallies over the next two days in Guntur. They demanded that legislators from Seemandhra region should be prepared to tender their resignations if the need arises and the Centre agrees for bifurcation.    

T-consultations Not Yet Initiated: Gulam Nabi Azad

Speaking to the media, the AICC general secretary and AP party affairs incharge, Mr. Gulam Nabi azad said that the Congress central leadership has not yet initiated any dialogue or consultation process over the Telangana statehood issue. Talking to newsmen in New Delhi Mr Azad said, "We cannot announce everything to the media including the road map of consultations. We have not started anything yet, but we are in the process of doing that." He said the party leadership will talk to leaders belonging to different regions in the state including to those leaders who have resigned. "We are on the process, but I cannot disclose everything to the media," Mr Azad said.    

T Congress Leaders Mull Over What to do Next

With the Congress high command having disapproved of their toeing the line of the TRS and the Telangana Political JAC, the Congress leaders are in dilemma with regard to their future course of action. They cannot take back their resignations in the wake of no assurance from the high command. In such circumstances, they are hoping that the Lok Sabha speaker delays taking a decision on their resignations as much as possible. However, the leaders insisted that they could not go back on their resignations. Rajya Sabha MP K Keshava Rao said: "there will be no rethinking on the resignations. The resignations by more than 100 elected representatives for a cause is unparalleled in history. Nowhere in the world has such a step been taken." He said the unity of the Telangana leaders on the issue of separate state was unprecedented and unbreakable. In the meantime, the Telangana Congress MLAs too maintained a low profile on Thursday. Apart from meeing the Congress MPs, Jana Reddy also had a meeting with Telangana Political JAC convenor M Kodandaram. None of the Telangana ministers who resigned attended office on Thursday while most of the Seema-Andhra ministers too, except for Botsa Satyanarayana, Vatti Vasant Kumar, Kanna Lakshminarayana and Anam ramnarayan Reddy, preferred to stay away.    

2G scam: Dayanidhi Maran resigns from Union cabinet

Dayanidhi Maran Resigns: Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran has submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, informed sources said Thursday, a day after the CBI alleged that he forced telecom promoter C. Sivasankaran to sell his Aircel stake to the Maxis group considered close to his family. The meeting between Maran and Singh at the Prime Minister's 7 Race Course Road residence in New Delhi, which was the second one on Thursday, lasted for five minutes after which he resigned. He also met Congress President Sonia Gandh     The Prime Minister also discussed the Maran's alleged role in the Aircel-Maxis deal with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Home Minister P Chidambaram, Law Minister M Veerappa Moily, HRD and Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati separately. However, there is no official confirmation of Maran's resignation from the Union Cabinet. Maran is the second Union Minister and DMK leader to step down from the Cabinet following allegations of involvement in the 2G spectrum scam after former telecom minister A Raja. Raja and DMK MP and Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi have already been arrested in the 2G scam and are presently lodged in New Delhi's Tihar Jail.

2G Scam: Dayanidhi Maran Under Scanner

The CBI in its status report told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that Union textile minister Dayanidhi Maran has come under the scanner in the 2G scam probe.   The CBI has accused Maran, a former telecom minister, of forcing the promoter of Chennai-based telecom company Aircel to sell his firm to Malaysian firm Maxis in 2006. The CBI told a bench of Justice GS Singhvi and Justice AK Ganguly that it needed more time to complete its investigation in the 2G scam. The CBI said probe into all irregularities in spectrum allocation during 2001-08 will be completed within 3 months.   Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu chief minister and AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa has demanded Maran's resignation. Jayalalithaa said if the DMK leader does not quit on his own then the prime minister should ask him to step down.                      chief minister Jayalalitha has demanded Maran's resignation