Five decade old Telangana dream finally comes true

The decision to carve out a Telangana state out of Andhra Pradesh has fulfilled a five-decade-old dream of the people of the region, made up of 10 districts including Hyderabad.

The historic move has bifurcated Andhra Pradesh, which was formed Nov 1, 1956 by merging Telangana (which then existed as Hyderabad State) with Andhra State, which was carved of Madras State three years ago.

This alliance was never a smooth affair. The apprehensions expressed by the first state re-organisation commission came true with the people of Telangana alleging injustice by the rulers from Andhra.

Justice S. Fazal Ali, who was heading the panel, had termed the merger a marriage between an innocent girl called Telangana and a naughty boy called Andhra.

He was referring to the backwardness of Telangana and the prosperity in Andhra, thanks to fertile land and the entrepreneurship of its people. He also pointed out the cultural differences between the two regions.

Ignoring his reservations, then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru commented that the innocent girl can continue the marriage or get separated.

The cracks in the marriage began to appear in soon when Telangana leaders accused their counterparts from Andhra of going back on all assurances given to Telangana under a Gentleman's agreement signed at the time of the merger.

Under the pact, some safeguards were provided to Telangana to ensure its development and to address its concerns.

The people of Telangana felt cheated as all the assurances given to them were violated. They felt that the people of Andhra were not only grabbing the jobs but diverting Telangana resources, especially water, to Andhra.

The Telangana groups accused Andhra leaders and businessmen of occupying prime lands in and around Hyderabad. The allegations were denied.

A massive agitation for separate statehood for Telangana began in 1969. More than 300 people, mostly students, were killed in police firing.

The six-point formula of 1973 which guaranteed preference to local candidates in jobs besides accelerated development was never implemented sincerely, argue Telangana parties.

They kept raising the demand for a separate state from time to time. It was in 2001 that K. Chandrasekhara Rao revived the movement by floating the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).

Though TRS emerged as a key political force in 2004 by winning five Lok Sabha and 26 assembly seats and it made the UPA include Telangana in the common minimum programme, the UPA government did not take the initiative.

TRS fought the 2009 election in alliance with Telugu Desam Party but won only two Lok Sabha and 10 assembly seats. Congress retained power.

Just when it looked like the movement was dying, the death of then chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash gave a new life to TRS.

KCR, as TRS chief is popularly known, launched an indefinite fast. With students and others taking to the streets, the government had to bow before the popular demand.

With KCR's health deteriorating, the central government on Dec 9, 2009 announced that the process for formation of Telangana state would be initiated.

But protests in Rayalaseema and Andhra regions and the mass resignations of MPs and legislators there forced New Delhi to put the process on hold. It cited the need for evolving a consensus.

The central government set up the Srikrishna committee, which submitted a report in December 2010 suggesting six options.

With all major political parties divided along regional lines, a consensus could not be evolved.

The delay not only created frequent law and order problems but also impacted investment in Hyderabad. Telangana groups claim that 900 people, mostly youths, committed suicide since 2009.

Political observers say the fear of losing ground in Telangana before the 2014 election forced the Congress to act decisively.

It has acted cautiously to avoid the mistakes committed earlier when the announcement was made in a hurry.

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/telangana-dream-finally-comes-true/1/297138.html

Creation of Telangana: Details emerge, Hyderabad to be a Union territory

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad is likely to be a Union territory for five years and will act as joint capital of the two states to be created out of the bifurcation of the present Andhra Pradesh.

The Union territory will be administered by a lieutenant governor. The governor of the Telangana state will be the ex-officio lieutenant governor of Hyderabad in these five years. A proposal to this effect is going to be put up to the Union cabinet before August 5.

The cabinet will meet after the Congress working committee and the UPA steering group approves a proposal to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh. Highly placed sources privy to the proposals told TOI that the cabinet will also take a final call on whether to create Telangana or a Rayala-Telangana state. The former will consist of the ten districts of Telangana and the latter proposal envisages the addition of two Rayalaseema districts — Anantapur and Kurnool to the proposed Telangana state. Interestingly, the Andhra part of the bifurcated state will be called Andhra Pradesh.

Sources told TOI that Congress party bosses are hopeful of completing this process within a week because Parliament convenes for the monsoon session on August 6. A bill might be presented in this session itself. Meanwhile, with Kiran Kumar Reddy having already resigned, a new chief minister for integrated Andhra Pradesh to oversee the process of bifurcation will be appointed. In all likelihood the new incumbent will belong to Telangana. However with intelligence reports suggesting that there will be major trouble in the Seemandhra region in the wake of the announcement, it seems inevitable that President's rule will be clamped in the state till the process of bifurcation is complete. Much of the trouble is expected to be fomented by interested parties although spontaneous outpourings are not unexpected.

Highly placed sources told TOI that when Kiran Kumar Reddy called on Sonia Gandhi on Friday evening and told her that he could not preside over the process of bifurcation, the latter was very angry. She is believed to have asked him why he had kept quiet for such a long time giving the impression that he would go along with the high command. Kiran's resignation came at this meeting.

Sources told TOI that after meeting Sonia, Kiran flew back to Hyderabad and he has been 'extremely depressed' after that.

Seemandhra ministers including Union ministers who met Prime Minister on Saturday to convey their opposition to the bifurcation seemed crestfallen with Manmohan Singh hearing them out and promising nothing. However, the Seemandhra lobby has not lost heart because the last time round in 2009 it was Manmohan was instrumental in the government going back on its promise of creating a Telangana state after publically announcing the intent for doing so. They are expected to move the Prime Minister once again. The Seemandhra lobby is also hoping that with the Gorkhaland issue coming upfront some sections of UPA may help to stall the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

However, it seems doubtful if the upcoming session of Lok Sabha will be able to clear the Telangana bill. This is because the BJP which has already committed to Telangana may disrupt the proceedings of the house. One of the reasons is that the passage of the bill (which the BJP will be forced to support) will politically benefit the Congress.

The Congress thinking is that the bifurcation will put it in a vantage position in Telangana that has 17 Lok Sabha seats. With the Telangana Rashtra Samiti's unofficial nominees not performing well in the ongoing party less panchayat polls and the Congress's unofficial candidates doing well, has given hopes to the party.

Meanwhile more details about the meeting that Kiran Kumar had on Friday with Digvijaya Singh and Ghulam Nabi Azad are emerging. Sources say that Kiran and Azad had a virtual slanging match with the former accusing Ghulam of coming up with the proposal of Rayala Telangana. Kiran found the proposal to be highly objectionable.

BJP Twist: Not to talk about Modi in US, says Rajnath Singh

New Delhi, July 29: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Rajnath Singh seems to have retracted from his previous statement on the controversy regarding Narendra Modi and his US visa. Now, the party president claimed that he would not plead US for Modi's visa. Rajnath, who earlier had informed that he would request the US government to allocate visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister, now claimed that he has not come to US to talk about Modi. During an interview with Times of India, Rajnath Singh said, "Well, we have not come here to plead or talk about Modi. It is for them to take a call on that and decide." The party president was taking questions regarding BJP's role in seeking US visa for Modi. Continuing his statement, Rajnath Singh also added, "...though I am sure they also feel that the US administration needs to take a harder look and do a rethink on this matter." According to media reports, US has been divided over the controversy. While Democrats were not in favour of allowing US visa to the CM, Republicans were broadly in favour of Modi. The US has been denying Modi a visa citing his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat progroms although other western countries have lifted the ban from over him. A group of Indian MPs also had sent letters to US President Barack Obama urging him not to give US visa to the Gujarat CM. A forensic report also confirmed the authenticity of the letters as many of the MPs had denied reports of signing the letters.

Telangana a matter of time? Sources: Hyd to be joint capital

 New Delhi, July 27: Has the Congress top leadership agreed to formation of the Telangana state? According to sources, it was just a matter of time before the formal announcement is made. It was also learnt that post bifurcation, both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana will have 21 Lok Sabha seats each (unified Andhra has 42 seats) while Hyderabad will continue to be the shared capital of both states for a period of five years. The Congress put the contentious Telangana issue on the fast track with all sources indicating that the top leadership prefers to create a separate state. The final decision is eagerly awaited. Not all in the Congress are convinced though. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and party leadersfrom coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema are against the division of the state. Digvijay Singh, the Congress general secretary in charge of Andhra Pradesh, said after a meeting of the party's core group on Friday that the consultation was over and it was time for the decision to be made. The final decision will be taken by the Congress Working Committee, the party's highest decision-making body. Though the date of the crucial meeting is yet to be finalised, it is most likely to be held before the monsoon session of the parliament, which is set to begin on August 5.

Telangana: Consultations over, time to take decision, Congress says

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: The process of consultation over the Telangana issue is over and the time has come for a decision, Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh said on Friday.

"We shall let you know the decision taken," he said in New Delhi amid hectic activity of the party leadership to take a final decision on the issue of separate statehood to Telangana.

Digvijaya Singh, in-charge of party affairs in Andhra Pradesh, was talking to reporters after holding separate meetings with chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, deputy chief minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana.

Digvijaya Singh's predecessor Ghulam Nabi Azad was also present at the meetings that assumed significance ahead of the Congress core group meeting on Friday evening.

The two central leaders held detailed discussions with the three state leaders who rushed to the national capital on summons from the party central leadership.

The core group meeting is likely to finalize the date for the meeting ofCongress Working Committee (CWC), expected to take a final decision.

The three state leaders, earlier this month, submitted their reports to the Congress core group. The leadership is believed to have summoned them again to get certain issues clarified.

Kiran Kumar Reddy and Botsa Satyanarayana, in their separate reports, are understood to have opposed any move to divide the state while Damodar Rajanarasimha, who is from Telangana, backed the statehood demand.

Earlier in the day, Congress leaders from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions) called on the chief minister and urged him to convey to the leadership their strong opposition to the state's division, party sources said.

Seemandhra leaders, who made a beeline to the national capital in a last-ditch attempt to stall a possible decision to carve out Telangana state, held a meeting to chalk out their strategy. The meeting was attended by state and central ministers and Congress MPs from Seemandhra.

S. Sailajanth, the state minister heading the group opposed to state's division, told reporters after the meeting that they were confident the state would remain united. He termed as speculations the talk of a likely decision to carve out Telangana state.

"We have decided to exhaust all options to ensure the state remains united," he said.

Hectic activity in Delhi has began amid the continuing resignations of Seemandhra leaders to mount pressure on the central government.

Two Congress legislators on Friday submitted their resignations to the assembly speaker. As many as 16 legislators of the YSR Congress party and one of Congress on Thursday announced their resignations.

Narendra Modi @ Zee Business India’s Best Market Analysts Award event

With the right decisions we can turnaround this lack of optimism and give hope to the Economy of our Nation: Narendra Modi @ Zee Business India’s Best Market Analysts Award event

Black Money has created a parallel economy making it difficult for the common man to invest in real estate: Shri Modi

The trend of increasing imports is worrying.

He said that that the market analysts and the common man must be thinking that we need to come out of the economic mess and added that the country’s economic situation is worrisome. He said that there seems to be a competition between the Central Government and the Rupee as to who will fall further. Shri Modi observed that every nation sees good times and bad times but it is unusual that the leadership of India seems to have lost the confidence to take decisions. He quipped that while there is frequent talk of early elections it is highly unlikely that those who had failed take any decisions for 9 years can be expected to take any decisions now.

Shri Modi said that when we got independence,1 rupee was equal to 1 dollar. When Atalji became PM,1 dollar was equal to 42 rupees and when he left, 1 dollar was equal to 44 rupees. He reminded that when we got independence after 1200 years, we had an outstanding amount worth millions to be taken from Britain. He said that it was in the tenure of Pandit Nehru, that India took loan for the first time and that started the fall of the rupee. At that time two conditions were laid down for the loan. Firstly, the money from the loan were to be spent on educating Indian scholars in USA. Secondly, the Indian rupee had to be depreciated.

Shri Modi said that the trend of increasing imports is worrying. With increasing imports, our exports are decreasing, leading to increasing Current Account Deficit. Shri Modi elaborated on the Policy Paralysis affecting the Nation by observing that the absence of a single window of clearance means foreign Investors will continue be shy of India. Shri Modi also pointed out that even Small Investors were moving away from the markets as price rise was eating into their savings and they have turned shy of investing. Shri Modi pointed out that Black Money has created a parallel economy making it difficult for the common man to invest in real estate. He said that while Chidambaram ji advises not to invest in Gold, people are forced to invest in Gold because they have lost confidence in stocks. Shri Modi said that while today the nation is in darkness and under a huge economic crisis, looking at economic figures during Atal ji’s tenure makes one proud.

Will consider Modi's visa application if he applies: USA

Washington, July 25: The US on Wednesday said that if Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi applies for a visa his application will be considered in accordance with the American immigration law and policy."If (the Gujarat) Chief Minister Modi applies for a visa, his application will be considered to determine whether he qualifies for a visa, in accordance with US immigration law and policy," State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, told reporters at her daily news conference."Our policy on this has not changed," Psaki said when asked about the Modi's US visa application."I think I just said we will consider his application if he applies, and I'm not going to get ahead of where we are at this time," she reiterated, when asked for the second time during the news conference."But as you know, we don't talk about the specifics of that process or individual cases, but he would, of course, be considered if he were to apply," Psaki said.The State Department's remarks came as the visiting BJP president Rajnath Singh was winding up his three-day hectic visit to Washington, during which he met a host of US lawmakers, think tanks and academicians.Singh, told the Indian-American media here, that he did not raise the issue of Modi's visa with the US.He said that this is an issue for the US Government to take a call on."This is not our issue. This is an issue for US Administration," he said.Responding to a question, Singh said Modi is a "very very" popular leader of the country.

 

Narendra Modi slams UPA over economic slowdown

Ahmedabad, July 25: Attacking the UPA government for the economic slowdown, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday alleged lack of leadership and policy paralysis are responsible for the state of the economy.Speaking at an awards function here, he charged the Manmohan Singh government is to be blamed for the middle class losing confidence in the stock market, lack of impetus to the manufacturing sector, Rupee woes, low savings, price rise and the huge current account deficit.The Gujarat chief minister said it is ironical that though the country has good coal reserves and there are power plants there is no electricity production."The power plants are shut down as there is no leadership and there is policy paralysis. The farmers are not getting power," he said.He targeted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his comments last year that money does not grow on trees. "In Gujarat, we believe that money grows in the fields, in factories, that money is made by the sweat of labourers. What is needed is the right leadership," he said.Modi did not spare Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram either and countered his suggestion that people should not invest in gold.He alleged the stock market is no longer a safe investment option for the middle Class and so it invests in gold. "But with hardly any savings due to price rise, this section is now finding it difficult to even buy gold or invest in real estate anymore".

 

In Gujarat Narendra Modi: 2002 Riots Court punished 25 Congress leaders for riots - Did media tell you this ?

In times now debate Meenakshi Lekhi ripping the congress party claim of Narendra Modi role in so called Anti Muslim riots. Meenakshi lekhi says that we don't need your (congress/NCP) permission to declare our PM candidate. She says that your claim on secularism is laughable because congress party was involved in all the riots which has happened in Gujarat prior to 2002 and even in Godhara 2002 riots 25 congress leaders are punished by the court. In Gujarat 1169 people died in the riots and out of that 30% were Hindus but you forget to talk about those and brand it as Anti Muslim riots. You has put bull in your eyes but rest of the Nation has not. — with Sushant Kshirsagar.

Power-starved Pak looks to Narendra Modi for assistance

Mumbai, July 24: Are the Pakistani authorities ready to work with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi? The country's envoy, Salman Khurshid, reportedly told Times Now news channel about this just ahead of the visit of top officials from the Nawaz Sharif government to India. According to the channel report, the Pakistani government has taken a pragmatic approach to buy power from Gujarat to deal with the severe electricity crisis. Bashir said technical officials from Pakistan visited two power plants in Gujarat regarding this. Bashir, however, said that the prevailing obstacles in the bilateral relations between the two neighbours need to be sorted out for a power project to move ahead. He said the dialogue process must move forward. The matter may witness further development during the Pakistani delegates' visit to India next month. Will Gujarat play a central role in a crucial energy cooperation between the two neighbours who don't share the best of relations?

Mumbai lashed by heavy rains, municipal body issues stay at home alert

Mumbai, July 24 (ANI): Normal life in Mumbai was crippled Wednesday by heavy rains, forcing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to issue an alert to the city's residents to move out of their homes only if necessary.

Several schools also asked their students to stay home because of the heavy showers.

According to television channel reports, Mumbai's Colaba area has so far recorded 158.6 millimeters of rain in the last 20 hours, while Santa Cruz has recorded 168.6 millimeters of rainfall since Tuesday.

The temperature in Mumbai has dipped to a minimum of 22 degree Celsius due to the continuous rainfall.

The Meteorological Department has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in the next 48 hours. It has also predicted heavy rainfall along the Konkan coast in the next 60 hours. A high tide is also expected on Wednesday afternoon. The fishermen have been asked not to venture in the sea.

Trains are running close to half an hour late in Mumbai. Traffic is also reported to be moving at a snail's pace on the Western and Eastern Expressway.

There are also reports of waterlogging at Hindmata, Grant Road, Napean Sea Road and Lokhandwala Complex. A further update is awaited.

Fresh flood threat looms large over AP

A fresh threat of floods looms large over Andhra Pradesh as rains revived over Coastal Andhra and North Telangana due to a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal that intensified into a well-marked system on Monday.

The monsoon remained active, causing moderate to heavy rains at most places in two regions where people already affected by earlier floods, were battling to cope with the situation.

India Meteorological Department forecast that there was every possibility of torrential rains over 10 districts for two more days-- Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, West Godavari, Adilabad, Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Warangal and Khammam. On its part, the government kept these districts on high alert again, asking the Collectors to take all precautions.

Life remained paralysed in the Konaseema estuary of the Godavari as the water that encircled hundreds of islands habitations did not recede even on the third day as a result of a high outflow of 18 lakh cusecs into the sea from Dowleswaram anicut--a quantity adequate to fill four reservoirs of Nagarajunasagar size.

Normal life was also affected in the two regions due to intermittent rains.

The scene was no different even at Hyderabad where it rained heavily with occasional breaks, causing traffic snarls and inundation of low-lying residential localities and roads.

Stretches of the roads turned into cesspools here too. Elsewhere in the State, authorities opened 19 out of the 62 crest-gates of Jurala project to send 1.5 lakh cusecs of water to Srisailam, following moderate floods in the Krishna.

As heavy releases were being made from Almatti, both Jurala and Srisailam were poised to get copious inflows in the next three four days, C. Muralidhar, engineer-in-chief, Irrigation said.

Srisailam would get extra inflows from Tungabhadra river because the flood-gates of TB dam at Hospet were also opened.

As the Godavari fell below 50 ft at Bhadrachalam, flood water in marooned villages in Khammam, Warangal and Karimnagar districts began to recede.

After the day’s review of the situation, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy ordered immediate payment of ex-gratia against casualties, and distribution of 20 kg and five litres of kerosene to each of the families leaving the relief camps.

Kate Middleton and Prince William Welcome Royal Baby ... It's a Boy!

(Samir Hussein/WireImage)It's a prince! On Monday, the world welcomed the newest addition to the royal family and the future heir to England's throne. Palace officials confirmed the arrival of His Royal Highness the Prince of Cambridge, born at St. Mary's Hospital at 4:24 p.m. BST, and weighing 8 lbs. 6 oz..

"We could not be happier," said Prince William in a statement released by the palace shortly after the birth of his son. He was at his wife's side during her delivery, unlike past royals. Both mother and child are doing fine, the palace confirmed, and are expected to leave the hospital on Tuesday evening (not before 6 pm BST) or Wednesday morning.

"Mother, son and father are all doing well this morning" palace officials stated in a press release on Tuesday. The name of the future monarch will be released "in due course." 
"We would like to thank the staff at the Lindo Wing and the whole hospital for the tremendous care the three of us have received," said the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in a statement released by the palace on Tuesday morning. "We know it has been a very busy period for the hospital and we would like to thank everyone — staff, patients and visitors — for their understanding during this time."

The newborn is officially called the Prince of Cambridge. He is the first royal to use that title in 100 years.

"The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news," according to the brief statement emailed to members of the press, many of whom have been camped outside of St. Mary's Hospital for days.

Prince Charles elaborated in a statement released through Clarence House. He said he is "enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time."

"Both my wife and I are overjoyed at the arrival of my first grandchild," he said. "It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy." The Duchess of Cornwall added: "It's wonderful for the grandfather. He's brilliant with children so he'll have a wonderful time."

Even President Barack Obama weighed in on the birth. "Michelle and I are so pleased to congratulate The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the joyous occasion of the birth of their first child," he said in a statement released through the White House. "We wish them all the happiness and blessings parenthood brings. The child enters the world at a time of promise and opportunity for our two nations. Given the special relationship between us, the American people are pleased to join with the people of the United Kingdom as they celebrate the birth of the young prince."

The birth marks a new era for not only the first-time parents but also the extended royal family. As third in line to succeed to the throne after his grandfather Prince Charles and his father, Prince William, he's the first baby born under new succession laws.

The modernized bill amends a centuries-old policy, allowing the royal couple's first-born child the right to inherit the throne regardless of gender.

"Historically, this is huge," Victoria Arbiter, CNN's royal expert, told Yahoo! Shine. "In 60 or 70 years, this baby will be a monarch. It's also the first time since Queen Victoria that four generations of monarchs will be alive together."

It's been a long and sometimes rocky journey to the historic due date. Anticipation about the heir to the throne began well before the frenzy over rumored due dates and even before St. James's Palace officially announced the Duchess of Cambridge's pregnancy in December. From the first day of their marriage over two years ago, Prince William and Kate Middleton have had an audience of clock-watchers.

More on Yahoo! Shine: Kate Middleton's maternity fashions

But they have never let public expectations determine their personal timing. After their 10-year courtship, the couple put off parenthood to enjoy their first year as a married couple. In that time, Middleton flexed her philanthropic muscles and stepped into her late mother-in-law's shoes as an international fashion arbiter. She also weathered a paparazzi scandal, prompting the palace to tighten its reins on the press.

When it came to the big announcement about the couple's first child, there was only so much the royal family could control. (To quote the duchess herself, "Babies have their own agenda.") Before the official news broke, Middleton suffered acute morning sickness early in her first trimester. During her treatment at a central London hospital, pregnancy rumors reached a boiling point and the palace was forced to confirm what the public had long hoped.

"As the pregnancy is in its very early stages, Her Royal Highness is expected to stay in hospital for several days and will require a period of rest thereafter," read the official statement from St. James's Palace.

The news rippled immediately through the retail industry. Collectibles marking the anticipated firstborn's arrival began rolling out by early 2013, as maternity designers elbowed each other for the chance to dress the mom-to-be. All told, the Centre for Retail Research predicts the royal birth could boost the British economy by nearly $400 million. 

More on Yahoo!: Royal Baby's first song

Tragedy overshadowed the worldwide excitement when two Australian radio hosts pranked Middleton's hospital and the nurse who took the hoax call later committed suicide.

It was a sobering reminder of the impact of royal coverage on human lives. For the future monarch, it's an unfortunate part of the inheritance and of an unfathomable burden of power.

Perhaps no one better understands this than the new dad, Prince William.

"Royal firstborns may get all the glory, but secondborns enjoy more freedom," Diana, Princess of Wales, said after giving birth to her second son, Harry. "My second child will never have quite the same sort of pressure that poor William must face all his life."

That firstborn pressure includes carrying the HRH title and the legacy that goes with it. In the distant future, the newborn is poised to be the supreme governor of the Church of England, head of the U.K. armed forces, and the head of state in 16 countries.

"One day, this baby will be an influence across the globe, a leader, and someone millions of people will look up to," said Arbiter. For now, however, he has two main responsibilities: eating and sleeping, just like any other baby.

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At Queen Elizabeth's birthday parade on June 15. For her last public appearance before her due date, Middleton wore custom Alexander McQueen as she stood in the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the... more 

At Queen Elizabeth's birthday parade on June 15. For her last public appearance before her due date, Middleton wore custom Alexander McQueen as she stood in the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony. The light wool crepe coat features flattering side darts, three-quarter sleeves, an oversized collar, and big pearl buttons. Her coordinating hat is by Jane Corbett, and she wore it once before at the queen's Buckingham Palace garden party in 2012. She accessorized with a small gray clutch, pretty pearl earrings, and, best of all, an ear-to-ear grin.           

Uttarakhand hid info on Modi kits ?

Gujarat Chief Minister and BJP election campaign committee chairman Narendra Modi, who had made a two-day tour of disaster-affected areas in Uttarakhand after the cloudburst on June 16-17, has sent around 1,200 tonnes of relief material, sending the Congress-led State Government in a tizzy.


Each box, also known as ‘Modi kit’, has 43 items, enough for a family for seven days. Sources said that by sending relief material, Modi has sent message across the State that Gujarat is always present for the help of distressed people and the State Government has no option except to receive the material.

Sources said that Congress leaders were saying the donation should be kept secret, but Modi has been sending huge quantity of relief material and taking publicity for it as well. They have been making all efforts to counter it.

On Friday, Dehradun district administration received 29 bogies — two from Surat, three from Ahmedabad and 24 from Gandhinagar — carrying 14,150 kits sent by Gujarat Government, at Harrawala station.

Each kit weighs 40 kg and has 43 items, including flour, rice, pulse, sugar, tea, spice, soap, toothpaste, brush, oil, comb, candle, match box and utensil etc.

Interestingly, officials have been told not to disclose to the media about the relief material. Due to this, they have been asked to unload such kits at the Harrawala station and sent immediately the material to the destination with the help of 80 trucks.

This figure is enough to explain how much the quantity of relief material from Gujarat is. Sources said that the State Government has received around 40,000 such packets so far. More or less, everyday they have been receiving two bogies of relief material from Gujarat.

Talking to The Pioneer, Uttarakhand BJP in-charge Radha Mohan Singh said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi sends relief material to all disaster-affected areas.

For instance, when Bihar got affected due to floods, he had sent relief packets, also known as ‘Modi kit’.

He alleged that the Congress-led Uttarakhand Government is making politics over it. When they send All India Congress Committee (AICC) relief material, they have been sticking AICC president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi pamphlets, but they have been removing the Gujarat Government stickers from the packets.

“It shows they don’t want to provide relief to the affected people which were sent from Gujarat.” Interestingly, Congress leaders and workers have been making all efforts to dump such kits at their houses or their relative’s houses. “It has ascertained our claim that the State Government is doing politics on the issue.”

Sources said that getting upset with the unending help from the Gujarat Government side, the Congress high command has been consistently sending their representatives in the State. On Sunday, Rajiv Shukla reached the State and will convene a meeting at the Secretariat on Monday.

Despicable Me 2 review

While Gru, the ex-supervillain is adjusting to family life and an attempted honest living in the jam business, a secret Arctic laboratory is stolen. The Anti-Villain League decides it needs an insider's help and recruits Gru in the investigation. Together with the eccentric AVL agent, Lucy Wilde, Gru concludes that his prime suspect is the presumed dead supervillain, El Macho, whose his teenage son is also making the moves on his eldest daughter, Margo. Seemingly blinded by his overprotectiveness of his children and his growing mutual attraction to Lucy, Gru seems on the wrong track even as his minions are being quietly kidnapped en masse for some malevolent purpose. 

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Narendra Modi's answers to congress alligations on gujarath riots

When we say Gujarat's agriculture growth is 10-11% since whole last decade
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When we say he made the Asia's biggest solar plant,
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When we say Gujarat is d only state in the whole of india to provide 24*7 and 365 days electricity to almost all of its 18,000 villages,
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When we recall to them World Bank's statement of 2011 in which they said, Gujarat roads are equivalent to international standards,
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When we say Gujarat is the first state in country to have "high speed wireless Broadband service in its all 18,000 villages,
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When in 2010 Forbes Magazine rated Ahmedabad the fastest growing city in the India and 3rd in world,
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When we tell them Gujarat Tourism is growing faster than ever before,
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When we tell them according to central Govt's labour bureau's report, Gujarat has the lowest unemployment rate in country,
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When Modi is being chosen as d best current Indian leader in almost all of those surveys & polls again n again
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When entire world talked the growth model of Modi and
he got listed in World's Top TIME magazine for his work.
THEY SAY 2002 Riots!

When we say 2003-2013 is the only 10 straight years ever in Gujarat history which are complete Riot-free,
THEY STILL SAY 2002 Riots!

But when we remind them, 26/11 riots in Mumbai 2009, Assam Riots in 2012, 1984 anti-Sikh riots, 1947 Bengal riots, 1969 Gujarat riots,1980 Moradabad riots, 1983 Nellie Assam riots, 1989 Bhagalpur riots and more than 18 riots, all of which occurred during the CONgress rule,

THEY CHANGE THE TOPIC Altogether and say Narendra Modi is communal.

This time Indians are not interested in 2002, We are interested in "2014: The rise of INDIA"

WE THE PEOPLE OF INDIA SUPPORT Narendra Modi For PM

Narendra Modi:

Secular nationalism prevails over communal secularism




By Rama Jois

21st July 2013 07:14 AM


It is amazing that political parties, who in their word and deed, be it in election or selection, think of caste and religion—so communal in their outlook—certify themselves as ‘secular’ and brand others, particularly the BJP, as communal. The reason is that such divisive politics gives them electoral dividends. In this distorted state of discourse, I place before the nation certain constitutional principles of what secularism means.

Without doubt, secularism and equality are the two pillars of our Constitution, incorporated in Articles 14, 15 and 44. Art. 14 declares that the state shall give equal protection of law to all persons. The general mandate of Art. 14 is made more specific by Art. 15 which reads “(l) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.” Art. 44 directs the state to enact Uniform Civil Code (UCC) to constitute the foundation of secularism. Mahatma Gandhi, in his book My Picture of Free India, wrote that in an India well governed by the Constitution, there is no scope for classifying citizens as minority as all of us are the children of the same Mother India. This view is manifest in Art. 44.

The Supreme Court, sitting as a Constitutional bench in the Shah Bano case, declared that so long as Art. 44 is not implemented, the Constitution would remain a dead letter. It said so because the Muslim Personal Law flagrantly discriminates against women on the basis of sex because it enables a Muslim male to marry four wives and divorce at will. Yet, those who oppose enacting UCC brand themselves as secular and those who cite the constitutional mandate as communal. Despite the mandate of Art. 15, those who enact laws for separate universities for Muslims claim to be secular and those who oppose it are branded as communal. The Congress, in its manifesto, promises a separate budget for Muslims in matters relating to education, scholarships and banking—in direct contempt of Articles 14 and 15. A party like BJP that cites constitutional provisions for equality is dubbed communal. A Congressman, who on the day he was sworn in as Union minister for minorities, declared that there would be five universities for Muslims, is celebrated as secular. Being constitutionally impermissible, this idea was rejected by the Thorat Committee.

Secularism in Bharat, in the sense of equal treatment for all, was part of Rajadharma, our ancient constitutional law. Just two verses would establish this. “Just as the mother earth gives equal support to all living beings, a king (State) should give support to all without any discrimination.” (Manu Smriti X–311). “The king (State) should afford protection to compacts of associations of believers of Veda (Naigamas) as also of disbelievers in Veda (Pashandis) and of others in the same manner in which he is under an obligation to protect his fort and territory.” (Narada Smriti vide Dharmakosha P-870). In this land, where the Vedas were ever regarded as supreme, the ancient constitution mandated kings to respect and protect disbelievers in the Vedas. But, now, those who stand by the idea of dharma are berated as communal. Agonised at the BJP being branded anti-secular, Bharat Ratna C Subramanyam, a Congressman, condemned it as practising political untouchability and fundamentalism. (C.S. Speaks P. 334-335).

Just as Rule of Law and arbitrariness are regarded sworn enemies, Rajadharma and theocracy were sworn enemies. Just as darkness can’t exist where light exists, fundamentalism can’t exist where dharma exists. That is why our Constitution confers the fundamental right to practice any religion under Article 25. In essence, dharma is the soul of Indian nationalism. Vote-bank politics is communal secularism. Secular nationalism should prevail over it.

Jois is former Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court

D-Day: Movie Review

The story goes in this way- One powerful gangster, a few undercover agents and their only mission is to nab the former or kill him in encounter. Over the years, several filmmakers have churned out flicks based on the same concept. But, Nikhil Advani's latest release D-Day is unique and very well-crafted in it's own way. Not to ignore, D-Day repeats the old 'Dawood' formula, yet in such a new and creative manner. Featuring Arjun Rampal, Irfan Khan, Rishi Kapoor and Huma Qureshi in the leads, D-Day is based on the country's intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) and its operations to bring back the most wanted man in India. Story: D-Day's story is based on the life of a few RAW agents, who are sent on a mission by the Indian Government. Wali Khan (Irrfan Khan), Rudra Pratap Singh (Arjun Rampal), Zoya Rehman (Huma Qureshi) and Aslam (Akash Dhaiya) gets recruited by RAW, infiltrated Pakistan to nab the dreaded criminal Iqbal Seth (Rishi Kapoor). D Day Story Cast & Crew Fanspeak Videos Photos View All Everything was going according to the plan till that fateful day. The team carried out the most daring operation and almost got away with it. But, things go haywire and their missions fails. Now the question lies- Will Iqbal ever get nabbed? D-Day boasts of a decent plot, overpowering performances and some soothing music. From storyline to plot execution, Advani does total justice to each sphere. What makes the movie more believable are the minute detailings and the emotional sufferings of a RAW agent, when he leaves his family in jeopardy for a mission. Performances: Over the years, Arjun Rampal has evolved as a great actor and his improved acting skills are visible in D-Day. Irrfan Khan needs no introduction when it comes to his amazing acting skills. Being such a good actress, Huma Qureshi's role somewhere seems a bit half-baked and incomplete. Shruti Hassan is expressionless and fails to do any justice to her role. Verdict: On the whole, D-Day is a well-made thriller, with some outstanding performances. The film excels in portraying the dark reality of the underworld, with an impressive end.

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Behind China’s Hindu temples, a forgotten history

In and around Quanzhou, a bustling industrial city, there are shrines that historians believe may have been part of a network of more than a dozen Hindu temples and shrines

For the residents of Chedian, a few thousand-year-old village of muddy by-lanes and old stone courtyard houses, she is just another form of Guanyin, the female Bodhisattva who is venerated in many parts of China.




But the goddess that the residents of this village pray to every morning, as they light incense sticks and chant prayers, is quite unlike any deity one might find elsewhere in China. Sitting cross-legged, the four-armed goddess smiles benignly, flanked by two attendants, with an apparently vanquished demon lying at her feet.



Local scholars are still unsure about her identity, but what they do know is that this shrine’s unique roots lie not in China, but in far away south India. The deity, they say, was either brought to Quanzhou — a thriving port city that was at the centre of the region’s maritime commerce a few centuries ago — by Tamil traders who worked here some 800 years ago, or perhaps more likely, crafted by local sculptors at their behest.

“This is possibly the only temple in China where we are still praying to a Hindu God,” says Li San Long, a Chedian resident, with a smile.

“Even though most of the villagers still think she is Guanyin!” Mr. Li said the village temple collapsed some 500 years ago, but villagers dug through the rubble, saved the deity and rebuilt the temple, believing that the goddess brought them good fortune — a belief that some, at least, still adhere to.

The Chedian shrine is just one of what historians believe may have been a network of more than a dozen Hindu temples or shrines, including two grand big temples, built in Quanzhou and surrounding villages by a community of Tamil traders who lived here during the Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1279-1368) dynasties.

At the time, this port city was among the busiest in the world and was a thriving centre of regional maritime commerce.

The history of Quanzhou’s temples and Tamil links was largely forgotten until the 1930s, when dozens of stones showing perfectly rendered images of the god Narasimha — the man-lion avatar of Vishnu — were unearthed by a Quanzhou archaeologist called Wu Wenliang. Elephant statues and images narrating mythological stories related to Vishnu and Shiva were also found, bearing a style and pattern that was almost identical to what was evident in the temples of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh from a similar period.

Wu’s discoveries received little attention at the time as his country was slowly emerging from the turmoil of the Japanese occupation, the Second World War and the civil war. It took more than a decade after the Communists came to power in 1949 for the stones and statues to even be placed in a museum, known today as the Quanzhou Maritime Museum.

“It is difficult to say how many temples there were, and how many were destroyed or fell to ruin,” the museum’s vice curator Wang Liming told The Hindu. “But we have found them spread across so many different sites that we are very possibly talking about many temples that were built across Quanzhou.”



Today, most of the sculptures and statues are on display in the museum, which also showcases a map that leaves little doubt about the remarkable spread of the discoveries. The sites stretch across more than a dozen locations located all over the city and in the surrounding county. The most recent discoveries were made in the 1980s, and it is possible, says Ms. Wang, that there are old sites yet to be discovered.

The Maritime Museum has now opened a special exhibit showcasing Quanzhou’s south Indian links. Ms. Wang says there is a renewed interest — and financial backing — from the local government to do more to showcase what she describes as the city’s “1000-year-old history with south India,” which has been largely forgotten, not only in China but also in India.

“There is still a lot we don't know about this period,” she says, “so if we can get any help from Indian scholars, we would really welcome it as this is something we need to study together. Most of the stones come from the 13th century Yuan Dynasty, which developed close trade links with the kingdoms of southern India. We believe that the designs were brought by the traders, but the work was probably done by Chinese workers.”

Ms. Wang says the earliest record of an Indian residing in Quanzhou dates back to the 6th century. An inscription found on the Yanfu temple from the Song Dynasty describes how the monk Gunaratna, known in China as Liang Putong, translated sutras from Sanskrit. Trade particularly flourished in the 13th century Yuan Dynasty. In 1271, a visiting Italian merchant recorded that the Indian traders “were recognised easily.”



“These rich Indian men and women mainly live on vegetables, milk and rice,” he wrote, unlike the Chinese “who eat meat and fish.” The most striking legacy of this period of history is still on public display in a hidden corner of the 7th century Kaiyuan Buddhist Temple, which is today Quanzhou’s biggest temple and is located in the centre of the old town. A popular attraction for Chinese Buddhists, the temple receives a few thousand visitors every day. In a corner behind the temple, there are at least half a dozen pillars displaying an extraordinary variety of inscriptions from Hindu mythology. A panel of inscriptions depicting the god Narasimha also adorns the steps leading up to the main shrine, which houses a Buddha statue. Huang Yishan, a temple caretaker whose family has, for generations, owned the land on which the temple was built, says the inscriptions are perhaps the most unique part of the temple, although he laments that most of his compatriots are unaware of this chapter of history. On a recent afternoon, as a stream of visitors walked up the steps to offer incense sticks as they prayed to Buddha, none spared a glance at the panel of inscriptions. Other indicators from Quanzhou’s rich but forgotten past lie scattered through what is now a modern and bustling industrial city, albeit a town that today lies in the shadow of the provincial capital Xiamen and the more prosperous port city of Guangzhou to the far south.



A few kilometres from the Kaiyuan temple stands a striking several metre-high Shiva lingam in the centre of the popular Bamboo Stone Park. To the city’s residents, however, the lingam is merely known as a rather unusually shaped “bamboo stone,” another symbol of history that still stays hidden in plain sight.

American Football: Hyderabad’s Skykings won against Bangalore Warhawks

A decent boisterous crowd welcomed American football to the twin cities at the Begumpet Police Hockey Stadium on Saturday night. Skykings (Hyderabad) came back roaring from 13-20 deficit to score a surprising 26-20 win over the Warhawks (Bangalore) in an exhibition match organised under the aegis of Elite Football League of India.

Makeshift floodlights made for a pleasant ambience at the venue. Incidentally, this was the first-ever American Football match in the country where players from both outfits were dressed in typical AFL attires.

For those who follow the sport regularly on television, there was a yawning chasm between the quality of game played here on Saturday and the ones in the US. But the enterprise and the occasional dash on the field, especially by speedy quarter-back Ronnit Banda — who arrived in the city on Friday after a month of intensive training in Canada — was enough to draw cheers from the crowd.

Film stars Sumanth and Manchu Manoj were also around to support the game.

And it was not a game where a winner or loser mattered.

“This is just the beginning and we want to promote the sport big time,” says Venkatesh Movva, owner of Skykings, pleased with the response.

There were also sparks of brilliance from the likes of Ronnit, a student of Arora Engineering College, the live-wire in the home team’s win. S. Raj Kumar was another player who made an impact.

Mr. Movva is also planning to lay artificial grass, more suited for this sport, at Gachibowli for the EFL later this year, if the State government permits.

Hyderabad Metro Rail's first train will be run in 2015

HYDERABAD: L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad, the concessionaire that builds the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project, on Friday announced that the First Metro Train to run on March 23, 2015.

 

 

“So far, citizens have been witnessing pier construction and laying of viaduct, but soon we will be taking the work to a new level, which involves laying of tracks, signalling and telecommunications work. We are planning to run the first train on March 23, 2015,” said L&TMRH Managing Director and CEO V.B. Gadgil.

Speaking to reporters, he said the rails would be welded together and fixed to the concrete beam without using the traditional ballast so that comfort for the traveller would be more. “We are trying to complete the civil work first before taking the next step in a coordinated manner. About 10 launch girders to form the viaduct are ready in different locations,” he said.

Parapet walls are also being built alongside the twin tracks on the viaduct, but the train will be visible from the window level while in motion. Several special features form part of the track work, and they include putting up ‘check rails’, which will help to minimise wear and tear of the main rail, besides preventing derailment on sharp curves.

 

Another feature is the use of computer-based track master (introduced by L&T for the Chennai Metro). This is for checking rail parameters to enhance the quality of track installation. A simulation study-based track design, being done for the first time, also helps to design tracks for a particular speed on a specific stretch, Mr. Gadgil explained.

 

“We are committed to the project and are leaving no stone unturned to make the most valuable Metro in the world,” he affirmed. L&TMRH has spent Rs. 750 crore till date and has been holding talks with an infrastructure firm, IIFCL, to borrow Rs. 1,000 crore, he added.

 

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Sahasam movie review

Sahasam is an action adventure drama movie in which, Goutham (Gopichand) is a security guard whose ambition is to become very rich in short-cut way. So he tries his luck with lottery tickets and even consults babas for some short-cut routes, but nothing works. At this juncture, Goutham finds a will written by his grandfather Varma (Suman), a wealthy man running diamond business in Peshawar, before the partition.

Goutham sets out to Pakistan in search of his grandfather's treasure hidden in the legendary Hinglaj Devi temple. He seeks the help of an advocate of Hindu religion, Sreenidhi (Tapsee). Meanwhile, Pakistani terrorists group, headed by Sultan (Shakti Kapoor) is also on hunt for the same treasure. The film takes an interesting twist here. 

What is that twist? Will Goutham claim his grandfather's treasure? The rest of the film will answer these questions in the climax, which should be watched on screen.

Incessant rains lash Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: One person was killed and three injured in a house collapse as incessant rains lashing the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad inundated several low-lying areas and disrupted life, officials said on Friday.

A woman was killed and three people got injured when a house collapsed in Mangalhat area in Hyderabad early Friday, a government official said.

The rains, continuing since Wednesday night, flooded the streets, caused traffic jams and disrupted electricity supply in some parts of Hyderabad.

 

 

The city received intermittent downpour throughout Thursday, and the showers were heavy in the evening. Those returning home had a harrowing time as several roads were inundated leading to a traffic gridlock. The downpour continued throughout Thursday night.


According to the met department, the city received 10 cm rainfall from 8 a.m. Thursday to 8 a.m. Friday.

Low-lying localities in Bahadurpura, Kishan Bagh, Kalapathar, Uppuguda, Ganga Nagar and other areas in the old parts of Hyderabad were inundated. Water entered into houses in some areas. Several vehicles were caught in swirling waters due to an overflowing drain in Bahadurpura.


Reports of water-logging were also received from Rajendernagar, Upparpally, Attapur, Hyderguda, Tarnaka and others areas of the city.

Authorities went on alert as the Met department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in the city and neighbouring Ranga Reddy district over the next two days.

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has also sounded an alert. Its emergency teams were pressed into service to pump out water from low-lying areas. The emergency cell of the GHMC was flooded with complaints of water-stagnation.

A control room has been set up in Hyderabad collectorate to help people. Those in need of help from officials may contact 040-2320281.

Several areas plunged into darkness on Thursday night as power supply was disrupted. The electricity supply was disrupted in Humayun Nagar, Addagutta, Jyothi Nagar, Banjara Hills, Maredpally, R.P. Road and other areas.

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