Former minister JC Diwakar Reddy reiterated that the Congress leaders would accept the decision taken by the party High Command on the Telangana issue.
Talking to reporters here on Monday, Diwakar Reddy said that there was no need for further consultations on the issue with any leaders. Referring to Union Health Minister and Congress state-incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad's statement saying that another round of consultation would be required to resolve the issue, Diwakar Reddy said that the Centre and Congress High Command were fully aware of the facts and opinions from both the sides. Therefore, further consultation should be avoided and the Centre must announce its decision on the Telangana issue.
Diwakar Reddy praised Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana for having succesful delibrations with the RTC employees' union that subsequently led to the withdrawal of strike by the National Mazdoor Union. He also denied reports that the Chief Minister was rebuked by the High Command for alleged mishandling of the general strike situation. (INN)
2011/10/8 8:06:54 Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh state affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday stated that the Congress High Command has decided to complete the consultation process on Telangana soon.
Talking to media persons after conclusion of mini-core committee meeting, Ghulam Nabi Azad said that nine leaders including Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and five Union Ministers participated in the consultation process and shared their views on Telangana state. He said the leaders have discussed the latest situation in the region including the general strike of employees which entered 27th day on Saturday.
Stating that more consultations were needed to arrive at a consensus on the sensitive issue, Azad said the consultation process would be continued on Monday. He said that 'appropriate action would be taken on Telangana at an appropriate time' after completion of consultation process. He said that there was no exact time frame to find a solution to the statehood issue.
After the completion of consultations with party leaders, he said the core committee would begin the process with UPA allies and other national level leaders. He said the second phase of consultations would not take much time.
Earlier, Azad ruled out imposition of President’s Rule in the state. "There is no need to impose President's rule in the state," he clarified.
Meanwhile, as part of consultation process, the high command on Saturday invited Seemandhra leader and Eluru MP Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao to New Delhi. However, the High Command, so far, has not invited Seemandra Forum convenor S Sailajanath for the consultation process. (INN)
2011/9/28 8:45:45 Incharge of Andhra Pradesh Congress affairs and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday made it clear that no clear-cut deadline could be set to resolve the Telangana issue.
Talking to reporters after he had a meeting with the State Congress leaders in the national capital, Azad informed that he had prepared a report on Telangana after having consultations with the Telangana and Seemandhra leaders. However, he would submit the report to the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the next two days.
"We are conscious of what is happening in Telangana, particularly the inconvenience being caused to the general public due to employees' strike, closure of colleges and schools. We know the gravity of the situation and we would like to have an early resolution," Azad said. He also added that wider consultation would be needed to formulate a solution to the Telangana issue.
Azad also expressed regret over the statement made by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on December 9, 2009 announcing the formation of Telangana State. He said the statement was made without studying the depth of matter and that became the root cause of problems which have emerged now. However, this time the Centre would come out with a permanent solution on the Telangana statehood issue and that would be acceptable to all sections, he said.
Azad clarified that the consultation process with the Congress leaders on the statehood for Telangana region has completed. He said that the report that he has prepared, based on those consultations and other inputs that he got from the region, might be kept in public domain for suggestions and discussion. (INN)
2011/10/5 7:18:56 Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday stated that the consultation process was on with national level leaders to find a solution for Telangana issue.
Dashing a letter to Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat, the Prime Minister stated that some more time was needed to find a permanent solution to the issue of Telangana state. Responding to Karat's appeal to find an early solution, Dr Singh in his letter said that consensus on the issue was yet to be reached between the stake holders.
Meanwhile, Congress-in-charge of state affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday met congress president Sonia Gandhi and briefed her about the situation in Telangana. According to sources, Azad stressed the importance of making a statement on Telangana to ensure that the general strike, which entered 22nd day on Wednesday, is called off. He reportedly told Sonia Gandhi that the strike has paralysed the entire administration in the State. (INN)
2011/10/8 5:43:27 In-charge of Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday ruled out the possibility of imposition of President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh in the wake of volatile situation prevailing in the State.
Talking to media persons after emerging out of mini-Core Committee meeting, Azad said that there was no possibility of imposing President’s rule in the state. He denied the rumours that appeared in a section of media that the Centre has summoned Governor ESL Narasimhan to discuss the likely President’s Rule in the state.
Azad also denied reports that the High Command would announce its decision on Telangana in the next two-three days. He said that the consultations process was on to find an amicable solution over the statehood issue.
Azad said that he had consultations with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and other leaders from the State as part of efforts to find a solution to the issue. He said that the Congress High Command was making all efforts to an early solution. (INN)
2011/7/11 9:10:46 Stating that the Centre was actively considering three options on the separate Telangana statehood demand, All India Congress Committee spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi on Monday. A statement on the issue will be possibly made after the Union Cabinet reshuffle, likely to take place on Tuesday.
Talking to media persons here, Mr Singhvi said that the Centre is looking at the options of whether to agree to a formation of the state in a time-bound manner, the second would be to agree to a separate Telangana state without Hyderabad or lastly, whether to constitute the Second States Reorganisation Committee to find a solution to the demand.
All the three options are under consideration, Mr Singhvi said, adding that the process of consultations would begin after the Union Cabinet reshuffle. The Centre will begin the process of consultations with people of all the three regions, he said.
Referring to the reports which have appeared in a section of the media that uncertain condition prevail in the state due to resignation of Telangana Legislators, the Congress spokesperson appealed to the leaders from the region not to resort to making provocative statements, disturbing the sentiments of people.
He expressed the hope that the Centre will find an `amicable formula after consulting the people of the state for solving the vexed bifurcation demand.(INN)
Kavuri urges Centre to draft policy on smaller states
2011/7/6 8:55:28 Eluru MP Kavuri Sambhasiva Rao on Wednesday urged the Centre to frame a policy on the formation of smaller states in the country, while hailing it for not taking a decision on the mass resignations of leaders from Telangana but instead stressing on the process of consultations.
Talking to media persons after participating in a programme organized at Visalandra Mahasabha, Mr Sambhasiva Rao opined that the Centre should draft a policy on formation of smaller states after consultations with both ruling and Opposition party leaders.
If such a policy is drafted, I will have no objection to the formation of even 500 states, the MP said.
Mr Sambhasiva Rao said that development of backward areas should be given top priority in such a National Policy for the formation of smaller states. He added that the agitations for separate statehood had cropped up in various parts of the country mainly due to lack of development in their respective regions.
He emphasized that he was against the formation of Telangana state and reminded that he had expressed the opinion of the people of his region in the recent meeting convened by the High Command.
Mr Sambhasiva Rao further urged the Telangana leaders to find a solution to the demand of bifurcation of the state through consultation process, as suggested by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.
He also appealed to the media not to see his statements critically but analyse them in a constructive manner, while advising the scribes to observe restraint and not provoke people by airing distorted statements.(INN)
Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh interacted with editors of newspapers and TV channels at his residence today.
Answering a question of the issue of separate Telangana, the PM said that the government was studying the report and will arrive at a decision after due consultations.
The PM in a way let the cat out of the bag when he said that separate Telangana was possible only through a consensus.
As consensus is near impossible, there is no chance of separate Telangana in the near future.
Shah Rukh Khan has taken Mithun Chakravarty's son Mimoh under his wing. He was very impressed by the young lad's dancing skills but felt that he needed to work on his body. The star has asked Mimoh to work out with him at his personal gym every day.
SRK recently worked with Mithunda on Om Shanti Om and that's where he met Mimoh. The two of them hit it off very well. SRK then watched the rushes of Mimoh's film and guided the youngster on various aspects of acting. Mithunda apparently showed Mimoh's video to SRK and Farah Khan. According to Mithunda, SRK was floored by Mimoh's dancing but felt he needed to work on his body. He said that SRK had also helped Mimoh with his contacts and stood by him in every possible way. Dost ho to SRK jaisa!
2011/10/11 6:44:46 A delegation of Telangana Congress MPs on Tuesday met Congress In-charge of State Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi and held consultations on the Telangana statehood issue.
According to sources, the MPs have lodged a complaint against Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for provoking the people of region and by making attempts to break unity among employees of Road Transport Corporation in order to dilute the agitation. The delegation also briefed Azad about the alleged provocative statements of the Chief Minister.
Instead of holding consultations with employees’ union leaders, they alleged that the Chief Minister was provoking them and vitiating atmosphere in the region. The MPs also informed Azad about the prevailing volatile situation in the region.
According to sources, Azad gave a patient hearing to their appeals during the meeting which lasted nearly one hour. Azad appealed to Congress leaders not to take any hasty decision and observe restraint as the High Command was looking into the issue seriously and would take a final decision soon.
When the reporters asked the Congress MPs about the outcome of meeting with Azad, they refused to comment saying that they would convene a press conference on Wednesday with complete details.
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar gave appointment to Telangana Congress MPs on Wednesday at 5 pm apparently to discuss about the resignations that they submitted in July demanding separate Telangana. (INN)
Mumbai, Feb 28 (IANS) After "Viraasat", it took 15 years for Anil Kapoor to say yes to Priyadarshan's film "Tezz". It is unlikely that they will ever work together again as they do not approve of each other's working methods.
Priyadarshan likes to work without a script, while Anil does projects only when he is given a hard-bound script.
"To put it bluntly, Priyan and Anil do not see eye to eye. Anil is a studied actor who likes to come fully prepared to the sets. For this, he needs the script beforehand. Priyan, on the other hand, seldom, if ever, prepares a full script. Most of the time he likes to improvise and work out his scenes on the spot. This is not how Anil likes to work. He turned down every single offer from Priyan until 'Tezz'," said a close friend of Anil.
For "Tezz" apparently, Priyadarshan had no choice but to write out a full screenplay before shooting.
"Priyan needed to shoot in various parts of England, including Glasgow on subway and railway stations where permission had to be taken from various authorities. Priyan needed to submit a screenplay to the British authorities for each location that he needed to shoot on. That's how Anil was given a script this time by Priyan," said a source.
Priyan constantly improvised and altered scenes at the last minute, thereby throwing the pre-prepared Anil Kapoor off guard. Reportedly there were constant arguments between the actor and director caused by their antithentical modes of working.
Consequently, Anil is unlikely to return to Priyadarshan's cinema after "Tezz".
2012/4/30 3:59:35 Hyderabad, April 30 (INN): Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha on Monday admitted that the State Government has diverted Rs 1400-1500 crore meant for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Briefing the media about the discussions that took place in the meeting of Cabinet Sub-Committee on SC, ST sub-plan at his chambers in the State Secretariat, the Deputy Chief Minister said that Rs 1400-1500 crore were diverted for other purposed in the last three years. However, he assured that the gap would be filled soon.
Raja Narasimha said that the Cabinet Sub-Committee has also decided to hold wide spread consultations with various stake holders on the SC, ST sub-plan. The meetings with various departments would be held every Monday to elicit their opinion on the issue. Further, consultations would also be held with recognised groups of SCs and STs and the NGOs. Workshops on SC, ST sub-plan will also be conducted in all the districts. However, he said workshops in election-bound districts would be held after getting approval from the Election Commission.
The Deputy Chief Minister said the Cabinet Sub-Committee would also convene an all-party meeting to get their opinion and suggestions on the subject.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee would conduct meetings with the officials of SC and ST welfare departments to study the pattern of utilisation of welfare funds. He said preference would be given to spending in Education Department while giving priority to SC, ST schools, hostels and other infrastructure.
Raja Narasimha said that the Cabinet Sub-Committee would submit its report to the State Government in the next 45-55 days.
The meeting was attended by Ministers - Anam Ramnarayan Reddy (Finance), P Satyanarayana (Social Welfare), K Sailajanath (Primary Education), Erasu Pratap Reddy (Law), D Manikya Varaprasad (Rural Development) , Dr J Geetha Reddy (Major Industries), Basvaraj Saraiah (BC Weflare) and P Balraj (ST Welfare).
2011/10/23 3:14:08 Congress in-charge of state affairs and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday appealed to striking employees from the Telangana region to immediately call off their strike in the wake of upcoming festivals - Deepawali and Bakrid.
Talking to media persons after emerging out of discussions with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana, Azad said that the Centre would take a decision on Telangana once the consultations process with all stake holders is over. He appealed to striking employees to withdraw their agitation as the 40 days stir has caused lot of inconvenience apart from causing huge losses to State's exchequer.
Due to the general strike, he said that the development of state has been affected in all the sectors. “I am making this appeal to striking employees on behalf of Centre and Congress party to withdraw their strike immediately, especially in view of upcoming festivals, people’s inconvenience and development of the State,” he stated. He also advised the agitating staff to settle their salary issue for strike period with the state government. The agitating employees should not obstruct the progress of the State and the implementation of government schemes, he said.
Stating that the consultations with all three regions in the state have been completed, Azad said that the dialogue with national level parties is yet to begin. He said that the Centre and Congress high command were committed to resolve the Telangana issue on priority basis by taking into consideration the interests and sentiments of people in all the regions.
The Telangana people and leaders should understand the Centre’s efforts and help it to resolve the issue, he stated. However, he said there was no exact time frame to resolve the sensitive statehood issue. (INN)
2011/7/6 3:05:34 Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday categorically stated that there are no plans of imposing Presidents rule in Andhra Pradesh in view of the Constitutional crisis created by the resignations of Legislators from Telangana.
Talking to media persons here, Mr Chidambaram said, "There is no move to impose President's Rule," when asked to respond to widespread speculation that Central rule can be imposed in the state.
The Union Home Minister added that the process of consultations is still on and a final decision on the contentious issue on the separate Telangana statehood demand is still to be taken.
Congress In-Charge of Andhra Pradesh Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad is holding discussions with Telangana leaders to find a solution to the issue, Mr Chidambaram stated, when sought a response to the situation in the region where the 48-hour bandh call paralysed life for the second day on Wednesday.
The Bandh was called by the Telangana Political Joint Action Committee to further build pressure on the Centre to take a decision on the Telangana statehood demand after the resignations of Legislators from almost all parties of the region.
Mr Chidambaram said that the Centre was unhappy over the resignations and hinted that the High Command is trying to get the Legislators to rethink on their action.
We will engage the Legislators in consultations. We are unhappy that many Members of Parliament resigned, the Union Home Minister said.
He also expressed the hope that there will not be any breakdown in Law and Order in the region due to the various pro-Telangana parties announcing dharnas, bandhs and rail rokos.
We understand the provocation for the agitation," Mr Chidambaram said, adding that Central paramilitary forces have been deployed in the state to prevent any untoward incidents.
He also appealed to all party leaders not to disturb Law and Order situation.
The Union Home Minister also evaded giving a reply when asked if the Centre was contemplating implementing the recommendations given by the Justice Srikrishna Committee in its report, particularly the controversial eighth chapter.(INN)
2011/12/14 17:31:05 Consensus on some key provisions of the Lokpal bill eluded an all-party meet that debated the contentious issue for three hours Wednesday evening.
The all-party meet on Lokpal bill called by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh concluded after 10 p.m. amid indications that there was no consensus on issues like bringing the CBI under the Lokpal.
According to sources, the government has told the leaders of the political parties that it will revert to them in a few days afer internal consultations.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, senior BJP leader L.K. Advani and leaders of other parties attended the meeting.(IANS)
Katrina flies to London to find cure for her broken heart
2011/4/8 2:24:45
Bollywood bombshell Katrina Kaif took off to London recently for a short while. Her friends insist it was due to work she was travelling to London. However, buzz is she went to London to spend time with her family as she really needed a change of mind to uplift her spirits and feel better after her break off with Ranbir Kapoor.
A friend of the actress said to a daily, She is heartbroken. She needed time to recover from the depression. Her family`s concern was obvious and they ordered her home. Even before she left, she remained confined to her house. The fact that both her relationships with prolific stars haven`t worked out is hurting her to no end, says the friend.
Katrina was in a relationship with Bollywoods dabangg star Salman Khan for a long time until she broke off with him and started dating the Casanova of B-town Ranbir Kapoor.
But their love did not last long as junior Kapoor is a compulsive flirt, who does not want to be leashed by any woman just yet in his life. This sure has left Katrina heartbroken. And in times like this, family is the best one looks up to.
However Katrina maintains, I was in London for an event of an airline I endorse. The actress returned on Tuesday and is shooting in Agra for Yash Raj`s Mere Brother Ki Dulhan.
(IANS) A 67-year-old man and his disabled wife in Britain gassed themselves in their Rolls-Royce since the husband felt he was unable to take care of his wife anymore, an inquest heard in Britain.
Bill Warburton, a retired company director, was found dead at the wheel of the car while his 66-year-old wife Mary was sitting close by in her wheelchair with her hand on the car's bonnet, the Daily Mail reported.
The couple, who were described as pillars of the local community, had planned their suicide pact after Warburton began to struggle as full-time carer to his wife, who could barely walk and suffered from spells of confusion. Richard, the couple's son, found their bodies several days after they were last seen by family and a neighbour, the hearing was told.
The father had been feeling a bit low since his wife returned home following a hospital stay, Richard Warburton told the inquest. He said his mother had been in hospital for three or four months and his father was "quite happy she was getting the care that she needed".
"He could go and see her."
"When she came home, she needed 24-hour care and he found it very difficult," the son said.
"But he (the father) was of the generation that thought you did not take help and if offered you say no - you can deal with it," Richard added.
The last few months have been traumatic for the gorgeous Bipasha Basu. No sooner had the dust settled on the break-up of her relationship with long-time beau John Abraham, than she was embroiled in a series of rumours linking her up with Hollywood hottie Josh Hartnett, co-star Rana Daggubati and even politico Amar Singh! Bips seemed to be handling it all with equanimity, even admitting in an interview that she was enjoying being single. She has since jetted off for a much-needed vacation.
However, it so happens that Bips family hasnt taken the media storm around her quite so well. And the latest rumours connecting her to Shahid Kapur have made them believe that targeting Bips is soon becoming a free for all where the media is concerned. In fact, so worried were they, that they asked the Bong beauty to cut short her vacation and immediately fly down to Kolkata, her hometown.
The Basu family is really worried about everything thats been happening to Bipasha, says a friend of the actress. A link-up rumour once in a while is something every actress family gets used to. But with Bips, its taken on manic proportions. Thats why they asked her to fly back home, to check if Bips really is okay with all that has happened. No one from her family is willing to make an official comment. One of Bipashas family members is unwell. That is why she was needed back home, the actress spokesperson said. But is it her family that is worrying Bips, or is it Bips situation thats worrying the family?
2010/9/27 16:35:50 It seems this is the session for second marriages and divorces in the Telugu Film Industry. Many others in the industry seems to be inspired by Prakash Raj, Prabhudeva etc and follows their path leaving their life partners to settle with some others. This time its Chitram Sreenu who ignores his first wife Uma Maheswari and settled with another girl in the industry. Despite, several consultations through elders of her family, Sreenu didnt turns up. Hence, his wife Uma Maheswari has filed a case in the Mehboobnagar court against her husband seeking maintenance from him. The court has ordered him to pay Rs.10, 000 per month as maintenance to her.
2011/12/28 2:44:00 Minister for Primary Education S Sailajanath on Tuesday described TRS president, K Chandrasekhar Rao’s proposal to intensify Telangana agitation as a political gimmick which lacks conviction.
“The motive behind renewing the agitation is to come to hog limelight and further his own and his family interests besides cheating people,” he told reporters here. This time around, people of the region are not in a position to believe KCR and they will teach him a fitting lesson, he said.
“It is unfortunate for KCR to renew agitation at a time when the Centre began consultations process with all stakeholders concerned,” he said.
Through the agitation, he wants to whip up regional feelings and disturb law and order situation, he added. (INN)
No space in Mumbai to shoot Shahid-Priyanka qawwali!
2011/12/7 9:44:49
Mumbai: Director Kunal Kohli needed ample space to put up a set for the next schedule of his film, but he couldn`t find it here so had to scurry to Madh Island to build his set.
"I needed to create pre-partition Punjab in 1910 and couldn`t shoot in actual Punjab because the topography has changed completely. So we decided to put up a vast set. But none of the studios in Mumbai had space! So my art director Munish Sappal, who is a Punjab expert after ‘Pinjar’ and ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’, finally built it on Madh Island," said Kohli, who had earlier directed ‘Hum Tum’ and ‘Fanaa’.
On the set, choreographer Chinni Prakash is set to shoot a qawwali where Shahid Kapoor and Priyanaka Chopra will battle it out over that thing called love.
"The qawwali, written by Prasoon Joshi and composed by Sajid-Wajid, is a hell-raiser. Both Shahid and Priyanka, though thorough professionals, are apparently bracing themselves for doing an `Aashiqana qawwali` in full public view, replete with references to boys with roving eyes and girls making eyes…."
In the film, Shahid plays a Muslim boy, while Priyanka essays a Sikh girl.
Shahid-Priyanka had rocked the Box Office with their superb chemistry in the 2009 hit ‘Kaminey’.(IANS)
Former minister JC Diwakar Reddy reiterated that the Congress leaders would accept the decision taken by the party High Command on the Telangana issue.
Congress in-charge of Andhra Pradesh state affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday stated that the Congress High Command has decided to complete the consultation process on Telangana soon.
Incharge of Andhra Pradesh Congress affairs and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Wednesday made it clear that no clear-cut deadline could be set to resolve the Telangana issue.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Wednesday stated that the consultation process was on with national level leaders to find a solution for Telangana issue.
Minister for Primary Education S Sailajanath on Tuesday described TRS president, K Chandrasekhar Rao’s proposal to intensify Telangana agitation as a political gimmick which lacks conviction.
