Hyderabad to house international standard city police commissionerate

The posh building to come up on 7-acre land
The proposed twin glass towers will have 18 and 24 storey buildings
302 crore already sanctioned; another `700 crore to be released
10,000 CCTV cameras to be installed across the city

Hyderabad: Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday emphasised on the need for public participation to save Hyderabad from unsocial elements. Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 302 crore new City Police Commissionerate and Integrated Command and Control Centre (CCC) at Road Number 12 in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad on Sunday, he said, “Times have gone when people used to be scared at the very sight of police.

Now the police have to work by maintaining a harmony with the public. Maintenance of law and order is not only the duty of the police, but also the duty of public.” Neighbourhood policing concept which prevailed in countries like Singapore and China would be replicated in the State, the Chief Minister said.

The state-of-the-art complex proposed to be built on seven acres of land at plush Banjara Hills here will comprise of four blocks and will have twin glass towers (18 and 24 storey buildings) and will facilitate functional integration of all wings of the Hyderabad City Police under one roof and fusion of technologies relating to all functional wings.

The building is designed as an environment-friendly project with solar photovoltaic roof and building integrated photovoltaic in facade to produce clean and green electricity. It will also have a helipad at the top of the structure. “An amount of Rs 302 crore was sanctioned yesterday towards the cost of this modern building. An additional sum of Rs 700 crore will be made available in the next budget,” the Chief Minister said.

About 10,000 closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras would be installed across the city towards enhanced surveillance, he said. “Elected representatives should also contribute funds for installing CCTV system that will enhance public safety and CSR funds will also be utilised for the purpose,” Chandrashekar Rao added. Hyderabad Police M Mahender Reddy said the proposed building would be a technology driven operational hub for all wings of Hyderabad City Police and would make the government interaction with the police machinery smooth.
Surveillance cameras to be installed in the city and the police headquarters of all the districts would be synchronised with the Command Control Centre and it will also have a mega video wall. “It will be a unique tower with technology fusions in the country- a Hawk Eye - protecting the people of the city and enhancing safety and security standards,” he said.

HYDERABAD Skyways would be constructed like DALLAS's : KCR(Telangana)

Today on January 1st on the starting ceremony of NUMAISH( Telangana's industrial Expo) KCR stated that the skyways which are going to be constructed in the city are much alike to be as dallas's skyway roads.

He said that both cities are having similarities in population,area,traffic etc., That's why dallas kind of skyways models are most acceptable to Hyderabad roadways.

He also stated that Hyderabad roads are "Grid Locked" 15 years back, but previous govts have neglected this issue.And also said that The Govt is going to start the works as soon as possible.

New Scheme for unemployed youth in Telangana State

The GHMC has launched the second phase of ‘driver-cum-owner’ scheme where 300 unemployed youth are to be given brand new Maruti Dzire cars.

The first tranche of the scheme saw 105 vehicles handed over by Deputy CM Moahmood Ali four months ago.

Special Officer and Commissioner Somesh Kumar said that in the second phase, 90 per cent of the bank loan has been allotted to SC/ST category with 10 per cent beneficiary contribution and for others, it will be 80 per cent bank loan and 20 per cent beneficiary contribution.

All the first phase vehicles are being utilized by the municipal corporation for official use by paying a rent of Rs.25,000 per month.

The Maruti Suzuki firm itself is giving a special discount of Rs.76,000 and loan is by the State Bank of Hyderabad for a period of six years. A subsidy of 35 per cent is given to SC/ST beneficiaries under SCSP/TSP component of Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (IIPP) 2010-15.

SKY WAYS in HYDERABAD

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on friday said the Government is going to set up elevated sky ways, corridors and multi-level grade separators at these junctions.

The officials proposed the construction of skyways on major roads in the city.

Mr Rao said skyways should be constructed on highly congested roads while major junction should have multi level grade separators.

the pictorial illustrations that are going to be constructed are here....

Assembly election results: 'Aam Aadmi' celebrates historic debut in Delhi

New Delhi: Dr Harkirat Singh Kapoor, a pediatric doctor from East of Kailash, can barely hold back tears as he hugs those who have gathered outside the Aam Aadmi Party headquarters in New Delhi.

For two months, Dr Kapoor locked his clinic in Amar Colony and spent hours going door-to-door canvassing for Saurabh Bhardwaj, a 34-year-old engineer and the AAP candidate from Greater Kailash, against Ajay Malhotra, son of veteran BJP leader Vijay Kumar Malhotra.

He suddenly breaks into Bhangra as the loudspeaker at the AAP office declares that Mr Bhardwaj is consolidating his lead. Salim Khan, a union leader from Kota in Rajasthan, joins in the impromptu dance. (Kejriwal sweeps Sheila right out of her constituency)

"I have been working for AAP for months and have waited for today when it will be our moment," says Khan. "I will now work to raise the AAP in Rajasthan," he says.

Since morning today, drums have not stopped for a moment at the AAP headquarters. With each passing moment, more people pour in the narrow lane; some wearing the white cap, others with brooms in their hands. (Bewaqoof hain na, says upset Sheila Dikshit)

Perched on a gate nearby are three women who haven't stopped dancing and waving the party flag: a white cloth with pictures of Arvind Kejriwal and a big broom on it.

"Our candidate from Sadar has won," shouts out Pushpa, a homemaker from Sadar Bazar area. Her friends can barely hold on to her to make sure they don't fall off the wall.

With results still coming in, I ask Mrs Bhatnagar, a homemaker and tutor, on how she would feel if AAP is not able to form the government in Delhi. "The BJP has been winning from Janakpuri and I wanted to try someone new. So I voted for AAP. Even if it can't form the government, it will ensure that the BJP will be on its toes with AAP in the opposition."

"Whether we make the government or not we have already won," adds retired colonel Anil Malhotra, "AAPs victory is a wake-up call to leaders across India to deliver on promises as the party will now take them on across the country."

That could be the heady feeling of success talking, but then again, both the BJP and the Congress had written off AAP and even questioned if it was a party. Most exit polls also seemed to have grossly undervalued the party and the mood in the nation's capital.

Whether it forms the government or sits in the opposition, AAP, born out of a massive anti-corruption movement, has its work cut out. There are big expectations. Today, however, the 'Aam Aadmi' is celebrating on the streets, aware that they have just made history.

Centre to stick with 10 district Telangana, junks 12 district Rayala Telangana proposal

The Cabinet has finally approved a Parliamentary Bill for the creation of a separate state of Telangana with 10 districts on Thursday night, despite the GoM's recommendation of Rayala Telangana with 12 districts. The Cabinet also approved Hyderabad as the common capital of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for a period not exceeding a decade, said Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.


According to latest reports coming in, the Centre has decided to stick to a 10-district Telangana rather than the Rayala Telangana state with 12 districts.

Even though the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana has expressed its preference for Rayala Telangana in its report, sources say the Cabinet may still go with what the CWC cleared, which is Telangana with 10 districts. This is also the first sign that the Congress is feeling the heat after exit polls on Wednesday predicted a rout for the party on Dec 8 when results come in for the four states that went to polls recently.

Paul Walker's autopsy completed

Late actor Paul Walker's autopsy has reportedly been completed by the coroner and the results will be announced soon.

The "Fast & Furious" actor and his friend Roger Rodas died Saturday in a fiery car crash in Santa Clarita, California.

Tmz.com reports that the coroner said the autopsies on both bodies are now complete, but they're still waiting to find out the exact cause of death. The findings could be announced later Wednesday.

The autopsy was delayed because the bodies were not identifiable and the coroner had demanded the dental records of both of them.

The coroner also hopes to make positive ID on both bodies. The result are expected to be released any time now, reports tmz.com.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

Cabinet clears Telangana, Hyderabad to be joint capital for 10 years

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Thursday took the first significant step towards creation of a separate Telangana state from out of Andhra Pradesh and decided that Hyderabad will be the joint capital of the two states for 10 years.

Over two months after the Congress Working Committee put its seal of approval, the Union Cabinet approved the proposal of the home ministry for creation of the 29th state and decided to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to work out modalities.

"The Cabinet has given its approval for the creation of a new state of Telangana," home ministerSushilkumar Shinde told reporters after the meeting that lasted more than two hours.

He said it was decided that Hyderabad will be the common capital of the two bifurcated states for 10 years.

After the creation of the new state, the security and guarantees including fundamental rights of the people of coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana will be ensured, he said.

The Cabinet approved a GoM that will go into the issue of a special financial disbursement that may be required from the central government for the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh, for building its capital and to cater to special needs of the backward regions.

The new state will have a geographical area of 10 of the 23 districts of undivided Andhra Pradesh. Today's decision brings to fruition the announcement made by the then home minister P Chidambaram on December 9, 2009 for creation of Telangana.

Telanagana sayudha sangham army before merging with Andhra

Osmania Hospital before merging with Andhra

Tom Clancy, US thriller author, dead

NEW YORK: Tom Clancy, whose high-tech, Cold War thrillers such as "The Hunt for Red October" and "Patriot Games" made him the most widely read and influential military novelist of his time, has died. He was 66.

Penguin Group (USA) said Wednesday that Clancy died Tuesday in Baltimore. The publisher did not disclose a cause of death.
Clancy arrived on best-seller lists in 1984 with "The Hunt for Red October." He sold the manuscript to the first publisher he tried, the Naval Institute Press, which had never bought original fiction.
A string of other best-sellers soon followed, including "Red Storm Rising," "Patriot Games," "The Cardinal of the Kremlin," "Clear and Present Danger," "The Sum of All Fears," and "Without Remorse."
Clancy had said his dream had been simply to publish a book, hopefully a good one, so that he would be in the Library of Congress catalog. Several of his books were later made into movies, with the latest, based on desk-jockey CIA hero "Jack Ryan," set for release later this year.
His 17th novel, "Command Authority," is due out that same month from G P Putnam's Sons.
Born in Baltimore on April 12, 1947 to a mailman and his wife, Clancy entered Loyola College as a physics major, but switched to English as a sophomore, saying later that he wasn't smart enough for the rigors of science.
Ironically, his novels carried stiff doses of scientific data and military detail.

After graduation in 1969, he married his wife Wanda and joined her family's insurance business, all the while scribbling down ideas for a novel.

In 1979, Clancy began "Patriot Games," in which he invented his hero, CIA agent Jack Ryan. In 1982, he put it aside and started "The Hunt For Red October," basing it on a real incident in November 1979, in which a Soviet missile frigate called the Storozhevoy attempted to defect.

In real life, the ship didn't make it, but in Clancy's book, the defection is a success.
By a stroke of luck, President Reagan got "Red October" as a Christmas gift and quipped at a dinner that he was losing sleep because he couldn't put the book down, a statement Clancy later said helped put him on the New York Times best-seller list.
It led to a string of hits, both on the page and in Hollywood blockbusters. He even ventured into video games with the best-selling "Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier," "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction" and "Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent."

"He was a consummate author, creating the modern-day thriller, and was one of the most visionary storytellers of our time," Penguin Group (USA)'s executive David Shanks said in a statement Wednesday.

Clancy continued to play off, and sometimes almost anticipate, world events, as in the pre-9/11 paranoid thriller "Debt of Honor," in which a jumbo jet destroys the US Capitol during a joint meeting of Congress.



The latest Jack Ryan movie, directed by Kenneth Branagh and starring Chris Pine, is set for release in the US on Christmas Day. Keira Knightly plays Jack Ryan's wife and Kevin Costner plays his mentor at the CIA.

Clancy resided in rural Maryland, and in 1993 he joined a group of investors led by Baltimore attorney Peter Angelos who bought baseball's Baltimore Orioles from businessman Eli Jacobs.

Meet BlackBerry buyer, India-born Prem Watsa

 TORONTO: As soon as Prem Watsa stepped down from Blackberry's board in August, speculation that he would launch a bid for the troubled smartphone maker started to swirl. Six weeks later, the man some call Canada's Warren Buffett has delivered, beginning a rescue project he once said could take four or five years.

Just over a year ago, Watsa said BlackBerry was a "Canadian success story," a good buy and a likely turnaround story even though its market share was tumbling.

BlackBerry's fortunes have only deteriorated since then, with the latest blow coming on Friday, when Blackberry said it would cut more than a third of its workforce as it retreats from the consumer market in favor of its traditional strength serving businesses and governments.

But Watsa, chief executive of Fairfax Financial Holding, which is the top BlackBerry shareholder, is an old hand at looking wrong today and right tomorrow.

On Monday, BlackBerry said it agreed to be acquired by a consortium led by Fairfax for $4.7 billion, a move observers said could allow the company to put its house back in order out of the public eye.

Fairfax, both an insurance holding company and Watsa's investment vehicle, was on the losing end of bets against the market in the mid 2000s as Watsa waited for the US mortgage industry to collapse.

The company's stock fell by 50% between mid-2003 and mid-2006 as Watsa's purchases of credit default swaps flattened profits, while rivals feasted on a housing-fed bull market.

But when the market began to weaken in 2007, Fairfax began notching up investment gains, pulling in billion-dollar profits in 2007 and 2008. Then with markets still reeling and other investors licking their wounds, Watsa started to plow money back into equities, bringing another strong year in 2009.

Since their 2006 low of C$100, Fairfax's shares have more than quadrupled.

Indeed, Watsa had already shown his investment chops by selling stock ahead of the 1987 stock market crash and buying Japanese puts - or rights to sell stocks at guaranteed prices - ahead of the Tokyo market's collapse in 1990.
Low profile
Watsa, born in 1950 in Hyderabad, India, and trained as a chemical engineer, has a public profile that has at times bordered on the reclusive since he took over Fairfax in 1985. For his first 15 years at the company, he barely spoke to a reporter, and he only started holding investor conference calls in 2001.

Fairfax has generally not been known as an activist investor, but Watsa has not shied away from a fight, launching a $6 billion lawsuit against a group of hedge funds in 2006, accusing them of conspiring to the drive the company's shares down so they could be shorted.

A short position enables an investor to profit when a stock drops.

To be sure, not all Watsa's moves have been golden. Fairfax had to write off most of its investment in Winnipeg-based media company Canwest in 2009 as the company filed for bankruptcy protection. It also wrote down a significant investment in publisher Torstar in 2008-09.

Speaking last year, Watsa suggested investors looking for a short-term rebound in BlackBerry might be disappointed.

"Is it going to turn around in three months, six months, nine months? No," he told reporters. "But if you're looking four, five years ... We make investments over four or five years."
Canada's Buffett?
Like billionaire Warren Buffett, an investor Watsa says he admires, Watsa preaches a long view that suggests it may be too early to assess his decision to buy into BlackBerry.

As it sits now, BlackBerry has not been a turnaround story under Watsa's watch. Since January 2012, a period when Fairfax has raised its stake in the company from a little more than 2% to just under 10%, BlackBerry's share price has slumped.

"Prem invests for the long term," Paul Holden, an analyst at CIBC World Markets who follows Fairfax, said earlier this year. "He's held his major stake now for what I would say is a fairly short period of time relative to his investment horizon, so I would say it's probably too early to put any score on that investment."

Watsa stepped down from the BlackBerry board of directors in August, citing a potential conflict of interest, as the company said it was exploring the sale of itself and other options.

No going back on Telangana: Congress

Union information and broadcasting minister Manish Tewari made this clear while responding to queries from the media on the draft cabinet note on Telangana after the meeting of the Union cabinet here on Friday.


NEW DELHI: The Congress made it clear on Friday that there was no going back on the process of creating Telangana and that theassembly elections in five states will not come in the way of the bifurcation process.

Union information and broadcasting ministerManish Tewari made this clear while responding to queries from the media on the draft cabinet note on Telangana after the meeting of the Union cabinet here on Friday. Although Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde had indicated on Thursday that the draft note was ready, it did not figure in the cabinet agenda on Friday. The cabinet note will be presented before the Union cabinet after getting the political clearance (from Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh), Tewari said.

"On the question of Telangana, there have been sensitivities. It's a process that has been under consideration for a fairly long period of time and after very detailed deliberations, after perusing the report of a commission appointed by the Government of India, a certain decision has been taken. Those decisions obviously continue to hold," he said.

"With regards to fleshing them out in terms of implementation, if I correctly recall, the Home minister had made it clear that the process is underway," Tewari said. He also replied in the negative when asked as to whether the announcement of assembly elections in five states and thereby model code of conduct coming into force could further delay the decision on Telangana. "These are two separate issues. Despite the election, the T-process will go on," he said.

Apart from the draft note on Telangana, the Union cabinet will also consider the recommendations of the A K Antony committee that is looking into the apprehensions of the Seemandhra Congress leaders over the bifurcation. The Cabinet, after giving its approval to the creation of a separate Telangana state, is expected to set up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to go threadbare into the issues arising out of the bifurcation. That is likely to be followed by a resolution sent to the AP assembly regarding the formation of the new state, sources said.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh made it clear to Seemandhra Congress Union ministers and MPs who threatened to resign if the party goes ahead with the bifurcation that they can go ahead with their plan. He also added that there was no question of going back on the bifurcation of the state.

Digvijay Singh told the Seemandhra delegation who called on him on Thursday night that there was no meaning in keeping on opposing the Telangana decision. "What is the meaning in repeating your opposition to the Telangana decision every day? Let us discuss the concrete issues that would emanate from the division of the state," was what Digvijay impatiently told them.

According to the MPs, who revealed to the media on Friday as to what transpired in the meeting, the Congress high command was not at all serious about the ongoing agitation in Seemandhra against the division of the state. When the MPs told him that the Seemandhra agitation had been going on for 50 days, Digvijay reportedly brushed it aside by stating that it was a routine thing. "We have seen so many movements in the past," was the comment from the AICC functionary.

When the ministers and MPs, Kavuri Samabasiva Rao, JD Seelam, D Purandeswari, Killi Kruparani, (all ministers), Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy, KVP Ramachandra Rao, K Bapiraju, Vundavalli Arun Kumar, A Sai Pratap, A Venkatrami Reddy and G V Harsha Kumar (MPs) drew his attention to the fact the people would not vote for the Congress in the next elections, Digvijay told them: "You are still in the Congress. It is the party's responsibility to ensure your re-election. However, if you insist on resigning, you are free to go ahead."

According to the sources, Digvijay also expressed his displeasure over Kiran Kumar Reddy's Seemandhra activism. "Kiran was behaving as if he was Seemandhra chief minister," is said to be Digvijay's caustic observation. Referring to Hyderabad, the AICC general secretary said the party would entertain only fresh suggestions on the status of the city.

Taken aback by the developments of the day, the Seemandhra ministers and MPs met in Parliament central hall on Friday to discuss their next course of action. "The Centre appears to be firm on dividing the state unmindful of the consequences. This is a disturbing trend. We will meet again on Monday in Delhi to take a collective view on resignations. We have asked all the MPs to be available in Delhi on Monday," Rajampet MP Sai Pratap told TOI.

Yasin Bhatkal trapped in Nepal, handed over at border in big IB operation

Indian Mujahideen lynchpin Yasin Bhatkal, one of the country’s most wanted men, was trapped in a house in Pokhara in Nepal by local cops and whisked away into the waiting arms of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Bihar Police in the early hours of Thursday.


Sources said that in his interrogation by the NIA at Motihari, Bhatkal admitted his part in explosions in Pune in 2010 and 2012 and the Mumbai triple blasts ofHis arrest culminated a nerve-wracking Intelligence Bureau-led operation that had gathered steam over the past week. Bhatkal, named for the coastal Karnataka town where he was born, had risen over a decade to become the IM’s executioner-in-chief, playing a key role in blasts across India that killed scores.

2011 but denied any hand in the Bodh Gaya attacks this year.

He was to be flown to Delhi on Friday, likely by special plane. Interrogators will be keen to establish any link with Pakistan, widely thought to provide logistic and financial support to the IM.

“A reliable informer gave us information on Bhatkal’s whereabouts and a phone number for him,’’ a senior home ministry official told HT on the condition of anonymity. Bhatkal’s phone was tapped for a few weeks, and the IB passed information to the Nepal police, who tracked him to the Pokhara house.

Bhatkal’s right-hand man Asadullah Akhtar, also known as Haddi, was also nabbed in the same house, and was described as a “bonus catch” by a security official.

He is thought to have planted the explosive devices in Mumbai and Pune, among other attacks, and was identified only when the duo were handed over to the Indians at Raxaul on the Nepal-Bihar border at 3am.

Two laptops were recovered from the men.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was briefed about the arrest in the morning by IB chief Syed Asif Ibrahim who was personally monitoring the operation.

In March, NIA had declared a reward of Rs. 10 lakh for information leading to the arrest of the two men and secured a non-bailable warrant.



The 750-km-long porous border of Bihar with Nepal offered Bhatkal the opportunity to use the country as a transit base en route to Saudi Arabia to meet his handlers, thought to be Pakistani. He and Akthar had also travelled to Bangladesh and Dubai.

Decision on Telangana today, BJP to oppose Hyderabad as joint capital

All eyes are on two crucial meetings in Delhi scheduled Tuesday evening, which are likely to decide the future of Andhra Pradesh.

United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coordination panel will be meeting at 4 p.m. and this will be followed by the meeting of Congress Working Committee (CWC) at 5.30 p.m. amid strong indications that the Congress has made up its mind to carve out Telangana state.

A formal announcement to meet nearly six-decade-old demand for Telangana state is likely to be announced after the two meetings, Congress sources said.

If the party leaders from Telangana are to be believed, their region is all set to become 29th state of the country. They believe it will be the same state, which existed as Hyderabad State before its merger with then Andhra State in 1956.

"Everything will be settled today (Tuesday). We are 100 percent positive. Telangana is going to be a reality with Hyderabad as its capital," Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha told reporters before leaving for Delhi Tuesday morning.

Telangana state will comprise 10 districts with Hyderabad as its capital, said D.K. Aruna, a minister from Telangana.

The Congress leadership has reportedly dropped the proposal for Rayala-Telangana, comprising Rayalaseema and Telangana in view of strong opposition from leaders of both the regions. It is also understood to have given up the idea of union territory status to Hyderabad due to reservations by Telangana leaders.

The other state comprising Rayalaseema and Andhra regions is likely to retain the name Andhra Pradesh. Hyderabad is likely to be made joint capital of both the states for some years till Andhra Pradesh develops its own capital.

According to reports, the BJP will oppose if government decides to make Hyderabad the joint capital.

Coastal Andhra has nine districts and Rayalaseema region four districts. The Congress leadership has directed Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, his deputy Rajanarasimha and state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana to be available in the national capital for consultations before CWC meeting.

The Congress party is likely to inform UPA coordination panel of its decision to carve out Telangana. The CWC will then meet to take a final decision.

The Union Cabinet, which is likely to meet August 1, will decide on tabling a bill in parliament for formation of new state. The bill may be tabled in the monsoon session of the parliament beginning August 5.

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.

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".