With the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) creating shortage of farm labourers, Telangana on Friday urged the Centre to link the scheme to agriculture.
A resolution to this effect was passed at the plenary of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) at Kompally on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
Chief Minister and TRS President K. Chandrasekhar Rao moved the resolution during his inaugural address and it was passed unanimously.
He said he would raise the demand during a meeting of NITI Aayog in New Delhi on Sunday.
Rao said the MGNREGA was creating shortage of farm workers during the crop season, causing problems for farmers.
He said while the central scheme proved beneficial and many works were undertaken, it also led to problems for farmers as they were not getting workers to work in fields during the crop season.
If the MGNREGA was linked to agriculture, the labourers under the scheme can be used for farming.
A Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI)-KMPG report in 2015 said that schemes like MGNREGA have affected farm labour adversely in the country and can have a negative impact on productivity and prices.
According to the report, rural wages grew on average by 17 per cent since 2006-07 and outstripped urban wages while productivity has not increased.
It found that between 2004-05 and 2011-12, farm labour declined by around 30.57 million while the total size of the workforce kept rising.
The share of agri workforce during the same period declined from 56.7 per cent to 48.8 per cent.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was on Friday re-elected as the president of Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), the party he formed in 2001.
Telangana’s Home Minister and election officer Nayani Narasimha Reddy announced that Rao was unanimously elected as the party president, ahead of the party’s 16th plenary which began in Hyderabad on Friday.
The party leaders and workers, who were present at the press conference held by Reddy at Telangana Bhavan (TRS headquarters here), raised slogans and distributed sweets as Rao’s election was announced.
Rao, who was deputy speaker of the then undivided Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly when N Chandrababu Naidu was Chief Minister, quit the TDP and formed the TRS in Hyderabad in 2001 to fight for a separate Telangana state.
Riding on a wave of support in the 2014 Assembly elections, Rao became the first Chief Minister of Telangana on June 2, 2014, the day the state came into existence.
As per the election schedule, the process of filing the nominations for the party president’s post began on April 14 and continued till April 18.
The nominations were scrutinised on April 19 and yesterday was the day for withdrawl, he said.
The state Cabinet ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, zilla parishad chairpersons, chairmen of state-run corporations, heads of agriculture marketing committees and presidents of district party units submitted separate sets of nominations for the post of party president, Reddy said.
“Total 12 sets of nominations were received. There was only one name, of KCR, in all the 12 sets. Our leader KCR’s name was proposed unanimously. All filed nominations seeking leadership of KCR,” he said.
The TRS is holding its plenary on Friday and would organise a massive public meeting on April 27 in Warangal.
Telangana is witnessing different perspectives on the Muslim reservations bill. The International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination hosted by the United nations postulated (in Article 2.2) that affirmative action or reservations programs may be required of countries that ratified the convention, in order to rectify systematic discrimination.
Seven decades into independence instead of realizing Minorities as an integral part of the country they are still being considered as vote-bank. Congress and Communist parties managed to ensure to uplift minorities to a certain extent. BJP’s behavior in TS assembly during the passage of the Muslim reservation bill clearly displays the party’s future perspective. It is paving way for partisan politics. The saffron party called the move an attempt to pander to minorities. Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu said it would be akin to creating “another Pakistan”.
The general Muslim aversion to the BJP still runs deep, evident from the voting pattern. Muslim vote-bank across the country did not vote in favor of BJP in the 2014 elections. Likewise, TRS did not have any alliance with Muslim parties and it lost in the places where Muslim voters are in majority. In the GHMC elections, TRS swam alone and could make their candidate as mayor. Neither in GHMC elections nor in Assembly elections did the Muslim vote bank support TRS. Despite the aversion, KCR went ahead in implementing the promises made in his election manifesto. In all his 179 speeches during elections, KCR mentioned about the Muslim reservation and subsequently is implementing everything as promised. But BJP is tagging it with religion.
The beauty of democracy is that all the people need to be treated equally by the party that comes to power. The government is responsible for the welfare of all the communities. From the very first elections not even one party received 40 percent voters support except for once. Leaders are forming government with votes polled by merely one third of the voters. However, all the leaders have been delivering their responsibility to all voters including the two fractions which did not vote. India has never witnessed a party favoring only a segment of its voters. But now the saffron party paved way to work only for the people who voted for them. It would be mockery of democracy if only those who voted will be given preferential treatment.
Muslim progress is not considered by the ruling BJP, all they speak is about protecting them. Even the leaders of their party in respective states are displaying the same attitude. BJP could get seats without alliance at the center and recently in UP. But it is known for its Hindutva affiliations. From past three years, instead of trying to shed the image, it has taken the route of constantly propagating that the minorities are trusting them. It is now cleverly trying to make inroads into the Muslim community by virtually dividing it on the basis of gender. Injustice will stop only when they are allowed to progress by creating equal opportunities. The women whom Modi targeted need to be educated and this will come when they have reservations to grow with more opportunities and become self-reliant. Their representation in educational institutions and employment should be on par with their share in Indian population.
Chandrababu Naidu is an easy target especially when he speaks about bifurcation and expresses his anguish. Media and politicians of both the Telugu states target Naidu and accuse him of trying to create relationship crisis between two states. Even Pawan Kalyan speaks about bifurcation in ridiculous contexts. Is it only TDP leaders who talk about it? Are TRS leaders not using reorganisation sentiment?
Almost three years into the formation Telangana state, never had the TRS leaders left a chance to taunt people of AP and remind the aggravations in united-state of AP. They have to constantly whip the of the people with the T-sentiment even though it is reality. Furthermore, the prominent TRS leaders are also using mocking references not just towards Andhra politicians but also people. For instance, today in Jagtial Pragathi Sabha, the response from audience was lull when the TRS Kalvakuntla Kavitha Rao said “Jai Telangana”. To which the Nizamabad MP scorned “looks like there are a lot of Andhra people here”. It is bizarre that the TRS leaders who gag about people of other region, promise to safeguard the same people in the new state.
Naidu instead of capitalizing on his good will, gets easily provoked by TRS statements. Due to the lack of noble governance in AP, TDP has become an easy target and gets attention for all wrong things. TRS got noticed for its peoples’ initiatives, but it is still raises the reorganization issue and continues to accuse the counterparts. When Naidu does it, it becomes a self-goal, but when it comes to TRS leaders it becomes sentiment.
Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement that more inclusiveness is needed for those who are backward among the Muslim community and hoped that this will pave the way for increasing the reservations for Muslims in the state.
“It augurs well,” said Rao about Modi’s remark which he made while intervening during a discussion on the Backward Commission at the BJP’s National Executive meeting at Bhubaneswar.
Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Council while introducing a bill to increase reservations for Muslims from four percent to 12 percent, KCR, as Rao is popularly known, referred to the PM’s statement while stressing the need to provide quota to socially and economically backward among Muslims.
The bill, which also increased the quota for the Scheduled Tribes from 6 percent to 10 percent, was earlier passed by by the Assembly.
“If this statement of the PM had come earlier, perhaps the BJP members would not have got suspended,” remarked KCR referring to suspension of all five Bharatiya Janata Party members from the Assembly for disrupting the proceedings to protest hike in quota for Muslims.
Pointing out that Muslim population in the state has crossed 14 percent, he told the House that only backward sections among the community will get the reservations, reiterating that the reservations are not based on religion.
As the overall reservations in Telangana will now go up to 62 percent, the state will be sending the legislation to the Union Government for President’s assent and request for including it in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution as was done in the case of Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister urged the Union Government to keep in mind the changes which had come over last seven decades and allow states to provide quota to different sections on the basis of their backwardness and in proportion to their population.
Referring to the growing demands from various sections of people for reservations, he cited the example of BJP-ruled Rajasthan which accepted the demands from Gujjars and Jats to provide them reservations and as the overall quota in that state increased to 68 percent, passed a legislation and sent it to the Centre for President’s assent.
The Telangana government on Saturday decided to hike the reservations for the socially and economically backward among Muslims to 12 per cent from the existing four per cent.
The decision was taken by the state cabinet at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.
The cabinet also decided to increase the quota for the Scheduled Tribes (STs) from the current seven per cent to 10 per cent, official sources said.
Both the Houses of the state legislature will be meeting on Sunday for a special session to pass a bill for increasing the quantum of reservation for Muslims and STs in education and jobs.
As this will take the overall reservations in the state beyond the prescribed limit of 50 per cent, the legislature will pass Telangana Reservation Bill and send it to the Centre with a request to include it in the 9th Schedule of the Constitution as was done in the case of Tamil Nadu.
Chandrasekhar Rao said Telangana was following the model of Tamil Nadu, where the overall quota for different groups is 69 per cent.
Telangana government this week, paid the fourth and final instalment of Rs 4000 crore as part of crop loan waiver to bankers this week. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today made a historic statement regarding freely supply of fertilizers to farmers. He said that farmers will indefinitely get fertilizers for free till the farmers themselves request the government to stop giving it for free. This is the first ever state government in India to offer free fertilizers.
Calling for a new revolution in Agriculture, the chief minister said that for every one acre, the farmer will get four thousand rupees support from the Government through Direct Benefit transfer every year in the month of May.
The Chief Minister held that from the next financial year, 26 million tons of fertilizers used by the 55lakh farmers would be delivered free of charge and the respective budget allocations will be done. He also said that after the ratification of the budget, the funds will be released to the agriculture sector first.
KCR requested the farmers to do two things to make the process seamless. He urged the farmers to form unions at village level. He requested the agriculture department to start Grama Raithu Sangham which would list all the farmers in the village. Secondly, he said that Telangana will be divided into crop colonies, to maintain demand for the crops. The division of crop colonies will be based on the farming conditions.
He even said that as long as Telangana exists, farmers would be given free fertilizers. He called on the farmers to form strengthen their unions. KCR said that TRS government like no other government is offering 80-90% subsidy in Drip Irrigation. In his call for new revolution, he requested farmers to adopt Farm mechanization techniques.
Being his father’s son is another thing. Catching up with many things and understanding the administrative, political and technological nuances of his typical job description has apparently come so naturally to him, that he seems to represent Gen Z.
This man is something. He holds forth the hopes and aspirations of people of Telangana, especially the younger generation.
KTR — Kalvakunta Taraka Rama Rao is omnipresent. He is ambidextrous — tweets, inspects roads, attends conferences and gives nice quotes on twitter, all at the same time. Of course, his main job which encompasses all the key portfolios – IT, NRI, Industries, Municipal Administration – in the newly formed State of Telangana surely keeps him on toes. Each of these is a full time job in itself. Above all, he is answerable to a very tough boss, the Chief Minister KCR, who doesn’t want to take chances with performance.
How is KTR managing all these things at the same time? As everyone else, we too wondered how he does all the things at the same time. Telugu360 team reached out to KTR and an affable person that he is, he gladly accepted to do ‘A Day with KTR’ allowing us to take a sneak peek into his typical day’s schedule and present it to our readers.
Upon the advise of the minister, we descended on the hotel in Hyderabad to record his day’s significant itinerary.
9:30 AM – Grand Kakatiya, Hyderabad — Board Room
Early morning, right on time. We don’t see this with politicians much often. But, KTR was there right on dot. After a quick round of handshakes and introductions, he got on to business. The Confederation of Indian Industry was organizing a conference on manufacturing excellence — MAN’EXE to which KTR is the chief guest.
9:30 – 10:30 AM — Board room meeting with CII executives.
KTR and a senior bureaucrat from Telangana State government, Arvind Kumar, who is the principal secretary of Industries, represented the government.
As CII representatives have explained about different initiatives the CII can take up in Telangana, KTR has begun his probing questions. When a discussion on manufacturing has come up, KTR immediately routes it to his recent visit to Sri Lanka. He has asked the CII delegates, if they can be the interface between Telangana and Sri Lanka governments on textile manufacturing. He has recalled his discussion with Union Minister of State for Commerce Nirmala Seetaraman regarding the trade barriers with Sri Lanka and sought the help of the CII. The minister is clear on what he wants.
This is where KTR has shown the difference. He doesn’tconfine his thoughts and ideas just to Telangana. He advised the CII to present the case of South India, including the strengths and advantages of Andhra Pradesh, as a package to investors.
Widening the horizons, the Minister has asked the CII to enlist the strengths of Andhra Pradesh in food processing, prawn-culture and other industrial opportunities; and Tamil Nadu’s potential in Automobile manufacturing. He, however, laid emphasis on textile manufacturing in Telangana.
While Information Technology and automation are slowing down, the minister has asked the CII to explore opportunities and growth areas in IoT (Internet of Things) and other modern realms.
KTR has disclosed that Telangana Government is proposing to organize a mega investment summit next year and sought to know if CII can work with FICCI ( FICCI and CII represent two different industry bodies which usually do not get along very well). When a CII office-bearer expressed apprehensions, KTR has quipped: “When Telangana and Andhra Pradesh can work together, why can’t FICCI and CII? ” This has sent everyone around into peals of laughter.
What’s conspicuous there was a complete departure of the lackadaisical and protocol-prone style of government which was replaced by corporate ambience and culture. The MoM (minutes of meeting) were circulated in a jiffy – hardly less than 10 minutes – by Arvind Kumar, taking the CII delegates by surprise. The actionable points listed and the next course set for their journey ahead.
10:30 – 11:30 AM — Addressing public gathering for CII
KTR addressed a larger forum of CII audience where he has dwelt at length on the various initiatives the State Government is muling to rope in more industries to set up shop. He spoke at length on the TS-iPass, its initiatives where industries would get clearances in 15 business days, else they are deemed to have been approved. He has averred the specifics on how more than 2,000 companies have received approvals in this process. He made his point sans any confusion.
11:30AM – 12:30 PM – Board Room
While the minister is passing through the pre-arranged grind of back-to-back meetings, those who wanted to see him have been waiting for his audience. And, their number only has swollen. Soon, enough the minister got on to keep the appointments and converted the Board Room in Grand Kakatiya into his temporary office.
His core team of trusted lieutenants — Tirupati, Dileep and Mahesh — make sure all the appointments are kept and nothing goes awry. This helped KTR finish a quick meet with aeronautical manufacturers and other local business leaders. “We can’t waste the Minister’s time in traveling between different meeting venues. So we plan his schedule in such a way that he can do it at the same place where the longer meetings are also conducted,” says Dileep, Digital director for Telangana IT Ministry.
12:30 – 1 PM ( lunch)
It was the time to grab a quick grub to catch up with other schedules. KTR quickly checked with the Hotel executives if they are ok with organizing a working lunch in the board room. However, factoring in the grind involved in making arrangement and the time it consumes, he has headed to the restaurant. And, we have accompanied him.
There is no constraint for selfies with this young minister of Telangana, who is the style statement of the State. Selfies is his signature style to leave an indelible impression among those who desire to take a pic with him. He is ready to pose. Parting shot at any meet is usually a photo shoot, rather selfie shoot for KTR. It’s for you to ask, he would never disappoint you, however tight a schedule he has. He knows how much connect those few seconds establish with his subjects.
It’s like the pumping of blood by the heart. The functioning is perennial and constant. KTR isn’t a man who loses a minute or two on trivia. He used the lunch time to prepare for his next meeting with Malaysian delegation. He gets briefing from Sujai on the same.
Now a bit about lunch. The delectable delicacies and mouthwatering fish, succulent chicken have indeed tickled the taste buds of the young man. But then, he was in a tearing hurry referring to his human notebook, Sujai.
Yet, he did not lose sight on what to eat. He wasn’t on to rice and a grand narrative of the smorgasbord, for it was a day typified with all trappings of his official rigmarole.
It seemed the minister is masticating the information about the impending meeting and swallowing the food.
Sujai has explained about Penang model and how manufacturing excellence achieved there in 1980s can be replicated and implemented in Telangana now. KTR has that quintessential quizzical streak in him. As the briefing moved ahead in harmonic progression, salvos have begun pouring out like bullets in geometric progression.
Sujai fielded with dexterity queries on whether Penang model is still relevant and why can’t the Japan/Chinese models such as JIT (Just in Time) be adopted. As his PA told that Malaysian delegation has arrived, KTR has rushed out, just after tasting the dessert. He was actually half done with lunch. Most days, it is like that or he skips lunch, at times.
1 – 2:30 PM — Grand Kakatiya Banquet hall
Typical of a workaholic that he is, KTR has begun discussions with Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, an island state in Malaysia. It’s as if the duo have been engaged in the dialogue for a long time. KTR has explained how Telangana and Penang can collaborate on textile manufacturing, and hi-tech solar panels manufacturing.
Though KTR stays focused on hi-tech, his concern remains on leveraging its advantage for the benefit of rural economy and rural empowerment. Hence, the effort to get textiles and solar.
2:30 – 3 PM — On the way to HITEX
As soon as he’s done with the Malaysian delegation, we headed to HITEX for a Cablenet conference. KTR stands out in more than one way. He doesn’t have a convoy and his vehicle stops at every signal and waits for its turn, in a country where even a small time police officer manages to throw the rules to the wind and pave way for himself. He never has more than one extra car in his entourage.
KTR gets a briefing from Sujai Karampuri, Director ITE&C, Telangana Govt on the talk points for the next meeting in the car. He never las behind while staying current with things happening around. KTR quickly checks his mobile phone to know what is happening in social media and tweets about CII conference.
3 – 5 PM — Cablenet conference at HITEX
It’s an absolute chaos and lusty cheers as KTR steps in, as if some pompous Bollywood star has descended on the place. People began jostling and falling around and all over him to draw his attention and catch a glimpse of the minister. With a view to preventing this, the cablenet team has employed bouncers. “KTR hates using bouncers, but I don’t have any option. KTR might be unhappy with me for this, but I don’t have any other way to protect him in this crowd,” admits candidly one of the main organizers of Cablenet.
KTR at CableNet
The jostling and milling crowd was such that Sujai, advisor to KTR for this conference, wasn’t able to go near the minister as a security blanket cordoned off the minister. Sujai was indeed supposed to walk the minister through all the stalls.
As KTR addressed the multi-system operators (MSOs) and switches gear seamlessly into Telugu. A gift of the gab he inherited from his dad and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the minister demonstrated his loquacious competency in his mother tongue, Telugu, while explaining about how government will help MSOs and not choke them.
“KTR exactly drove home the point. A very few people can do that so effectively. He makes my job easier and now I don’t have to field all the questions from MSOs as it came directly from horse’s mouth,” says an elated Sujai. As it is becoming chaotic, KTR’s security has escorted him out of the venue.
As the official programs concluded, the Telugu360 team took leave of the minister, who moved on to his personal appointments. A busy day, indeed.
Some observations:
KTR has the best team to ideate and implement policies and programs. Senior bureaucrats like Arvind Kumar and Jayesh Ranjanare heart and soul of the minister. They make functioning of the minister hassle-free with breakneck speed. This naturally eases his stress in handling multiple portfolios.
A big shout-out to Tirupati (PA to KTR). Based on our conversation with people, we understand Tirupati is the eyes and ears of the minister. He seems to know what KTR likes and what he dislikes and takes complete care of him.
Dileep Konatham, an alumnus of Google, is the Director of Digital Media, Telangana State Government’s IT department. He takes care of the Minister’s and the Government’s Digital Media platforms. He also facilitates the Minister’s coordination with various Telangana Government, Non-Government and corporate institutions within and outside the State.
Mahesh is the media face of KTR. He makes sure all events of KTR are covered and with necessary pep and accurate information.
Though names of retired employees and police officials, who had connection with gangster Nayeem, came to light so far in the case, the SIT officials are yet to divulge any details of politicians who had alleged connections with the gangster.
Ibrahimpatnam MLA Manchireddy Kishan Reddy and former MLA from Malakpet Malreddy Rangareddy constituency are engaged in war of words accusing each other of having alleged connections with the gangster. Manchireddy on Monday staged a sit-in protest along with his followers challenging Malreddy to prove allegations made against him.
Malreddy has been accusing Manchireddy of having links with Nayeem and took part in various illegal activities. Speaking to media persons, Malreddy alleged that Machireddy, who was TDP legislator later joined in the TRS, has links with Nayeem’s close aide Srihari.
He questioned alleged land settlements carried out by Manchireddy’s son and Srihari. Malreddy further said that he had met SIT chief Nagireddy and submit the proofs. When Nayeem’s confidant Srihari was arrested by the police, what is the reason behind leaving Manchireddy, he questioned.
Malreddy further admitted that he is committed to the accusations made against the Ibrahimpatnam MLA and prove with every evidence he has with him. He accused the MLA of earning wealth to the tune of Rs 300 crore by joining hands with Nayeem’s associate.
American Telugu Association (ATA), the 25-year old organization of Telugu people in North America is gearing up for conference to mark the celebrations of its silver jubilee.The forum intends to showcase Telugu culture and organizers are planning it on a grand scale at Donald E. Stephens convention center (Rosemont) in Chicago.
A host of guests are expected to attend this meeting.It has been widely advertised that the Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandra Sekhara Rao is the chief guest of the event. But, as per our sources in Telanagana CMO,Mr. Rao’s trip has not been confirmed yet and he is not attending the ATA 2016 conference. “It is true that ATA team has personally invited KCR. He didn’t deny that request, but said “chooddhamu”. As of now, we do not have any instructions from Chief Minister to make arrangements for the trip” told a source from CMO. Meanwhile, KCR’s daughter,Nizamabad MP Kalvakuntla Kavitha , will be attending the event with her family.
There are many other political,cinema and business celebrities attending this event, for additional details visit http://www.ataconference.org/
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao‘s prestigious Ayutha Chandi Yagam has commenced exactly at 10.55 am at his equally prestigious farmhouse in Erravelli village, Jagadevpur mandal, Medak district in an unprecedented festive atmosphere.
Before commencement of Chandi Yagam, the KCR couple have performed special pujas to village goddesses-Pochamma and Mysamma. KCR wife Shobha and daughter Kavita distributed sarees to the women.
The five-day yagam, which is said to have been planned for universal well-being, is first of its kind vedic ritual in the recent history of India. Neither an individual nor any Dharmik institution performed any yagam on this scale at least in the past 200 years.
Chief Minister Rao and his wife Shobha commenced the Maha Yagam by circumambulating around the sacred fire pits along with the ritviks amid amid chanting of vedic hymns. Governor E S L Narsimhan, chief justice of Hyderabad High Court Dilip Babasaheb Bhosale, Eenadu chief Ramoji Rao and Art of Living guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar attended the Chandi Yagam on the first day.
In the queue are union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu, Bandaru Dattatreya (December 24), Maharashtra Governor, Ch Vidyasagar Rao (Dec 25), Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah (Deceber 26). Arrangements have been made to serve food for 50,000 visitors a day. 300 hundred bio-toilets had been installed at the venue. Sringeri Sankaracharya, Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamy has sent a special benedictory message to chief minister Rao.
The ritual began with Guru Prarthana. Along with Sahasra Chandi recital, Maharudra Punascharana Chaturveda Yagam, Mahasauram, Ukta Devata Prayers have been performed.
[intro] A small villages is in the making in an area of 40 acres at Erravalli, a sleepy village near the farm house of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao in Medak district, for a four day ‘Ayutha Maha Chandi Yagam’, scheduled from December 23 to 27. Five separate helipads for landing of VVIPs and VIPS, separate enclosures and seating arrangements for VVIPs, VIPSs, officials, peoples representatives, and general public have been made. A parking lot for 15,000 vehicles, huge television screens are to be put up to watch the Yagam at the venue and the entire area will be kept under security surveillance installing CCTVs.[/intro]
Hyderabad: A four-day ‘Ayutha Maha Chandi Yagam’ going to be performed by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao is turning into a mega event of the sorts, that hasn’t happened any time in the recent past in the State. Hundreds of works are toiling in making unprecedented arrangements to spruce up the venue with extensive planning went into it.
On Thursday, KCR along with his Endowment Minister Indrakaran Reddy, Deputy Speaker Padma Devender Reddy and others inspected the Yaga Village shaping up, and gave suggestions to make some changes in the arrangements. The Yagam is going to be held from December 23 to 27, every day in the morning from 7 AM to 12 noon, and again from 3.45 PM to 7 PM. For this, 101 Yagnya Kundas (A hollow dug into the ground according to specific measurements, with a three stepped pyramid structure of bricks) in which the sacred fire of Yagnya is lit, to perform Yagam. Four independent Yaga Salas (temporary rooms where the Yaga is performed) were planned, representing the four Vedas. Separate spaces are earmarked to conduct ‘Raja Syamala Yagam’, ‘Maha Rudra Yagam’ and ‘Ayutha Maha Chandi Yagam’. The roof tops of the Yaga Salas have been water proofed, so that, there will not be any obstacle, to the conduct of rituals, even if it rains.
Six Principal Rithwiks (Experts in procedures of performing Vedic rituals during Yaga) from Sringeri Sarad Pitam will be overseeing the conduct of the Chandi Yagam. And, 2000-Rithwiks from across the country are expected to come to perform the Yagam, for four days. Separate stay and dining spaces are arranged for the Rithwiks at the venue. Apart from these, five separate helipads were constructed for the VVIPs and VIPs to directly land near the venue, and temporarily, three VVIP and two VIP cottages were also constructed. Besides, separate enclosures were demarcated, with seating arrangements for them, to observe the proceedings of the Yagam. Similarly, separate arrangements were made for officials, peoples representatives and other prominent persons, expected to arrive to watch the rituals.
A media point, retiring facilities were arranged for media, in addition to the arrangements made, for the print and electronic media scribes, to send news from the venue. A spacious dining facility for VIPS, peoples representatives, officials and media men is constructed at the venue.
The venue will also have temporary kitchen, to prepare food for about 50,000 people expected to visit every day, to watch the proceedings of the Yagam. A parking lot for 15,000 vehicles too was earmarked near the venue, and huge TV screens were put up, at several places in the temporary village taking shape, for the people to watch the ritual proceedings all the day. Visitors will also provided space to listen to evening religious discourses at the venue.
As several VVIPs, VIPs are expected to attend, the entire area is put under CCTV camera surveillance round the clock, to maintain security at the venue. And, good number of sanitation works would be deployed to maintain the cleanliness, and arrangements were also made to supply potable drinking water to the people visiting the place during the four days of the Yagam.
President Pranab Mukherjee, Governor of Tamil Nadu K Rosaiah, Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justice of State High Court at Hyderabad, and several other dignitaries are expected to attend to watch the Yagam.
Nara Lokesh, TDP’s second in command, appears to be shouldering too big a responsibility for his age. With all familiar faces gone from the party in Hyderabad, TDP Supremo Chandrababu Naidu must have thought it is the right opportunity for his son Lokesh to prove his management skill learnt and sharpened in Stanford Business School, US in setting the T-TDP house in order. Lokesh is made in-charge of the party in GHMC elections. As national president of the party, Naidu might have thought, campaigning in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections is too local an affair for him. To promote somebody else, there is no one around. So, faced with Hobson’s choice Naidu entrusted the job of leading the party in ensuing GHMC elections with his son Lokesh Naidu.
So far so good. But Lokesh should conduct himself in such a way that his presence should instill confidence among the leaders and party workers. One should not forget the ground realities and make tall claims that do not suit his age and experience. Lokesh is said to have held his second round meeting with GHMC leaders to evolve the strategy for the GHMC elections. In the meeting, he told the local satraps of GHMC area that Telugu Desam party is going to bag 100 divisions out of 150 division in the GHMC area. If the BJP’s tally is added it would cross 115 to 120. This means, TRS and MIM joint tally would not be more than 30. Given the party’s predicament in Hyderabad, where barring one or two, all its MLAs had switched over to TRS, such claims look ludicrous. Because, the party lost the GHMC more than 12 years ago. Between then and now many tumultuous events like the division of Andhra Pradesh took place. In the aftermath, even his father could not muster courage to stay put in Hyderabad for the ten-year period of joint capital backed by AP Reorganization Act-2014
Even to generate hope among the TDP cadre, the figure is too big to be talked about.
Before launching the campaign to win 100 seats, Lokesh should first reveal his poll plank for GHMC elections. Can he talk of TRS government’s failure and ask the Seemandhra people to defeat TRS in Hyderabad in the backdrop of flourishing bonhomie between his father and T-chief minister KCR. Unless a villain is made out of KCR and his government, Lokesh is unlikely to draw voter’s attention in Hyderabad now.
Once known for pungent tweets against KCR and KTR, Lokesh is a mellowed man now. He stopped his sarcastic tweets on TRS leaders. Interestingly this coincides with Naidu extending invite to KCR to attend the Amaravati foundation laying ceremony as a special guest. The plaque at Amarvati bears testimony to this change in Naidu-KCR relations. GHMC is going to be a real test for the political acumen of rising son of ‘sun rise state’.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao, his son, and minister K Taraka Rama Rao at the receiving end following Election Commission slapped notices against each other for violation of model code of conduct.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao and his son, and Panchayat Raj and Information Technology Minister K T Rama Rao are at the receiving end on Thursday.
This is following Election Commission slapping notices against each of them for violating model code of conduct that is in force for the Biennial Election to the TS Legislative Council. Giving a twenty four hours time, the EC has asked both of them to respond to the notices with their explanation by Friday.
The EC found fault with the Chief Minister for his alleged announcement in a section of the press that he would develop Khammam on par with Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh.
In regard to KTR, the Election Commission sought an explanation finding fault following welcoming several members of Mandala Praja Parishad Territorial Constituency, and Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies from Ranga Reddy and Mahabubnagar districts at the state secretariat. The EC has set a deadline of 48 hours to give their reply, and the notices have been served both of them, the father and son duo have time till Friday evening to tender their explanation to the commission. The commission has reportedly found fault with the chief minister announcing development of Khammam would tantamount to the ruling party using its official position to carry campaign while the model code of conduct is in force. KCR had reportedly made this while admitting several Congress leaders into the party fold on November 28th, at his camp office. Similarly, KTR had admitted people from Congress into party at the state secretariat which is the official seat of a minister.
On the Hyderabad political scene only one prominent leader is conspicuous by his absence. Every senior leader is busy meeting local leaders, organizing meetings, opposing elimination of voters or at least meeting the chief electoral officer (CEO) Bhanwar Lal or B Janardhan Reddy , GHMC commissioner and returning officer to make their existent felt in the twin cities. However, this leader alone is not to be seen anywhere- in his constituency or at his party office or at any of his addas in Hyderabad. Guess who is he? He could be none other than once strongman of Khairtabad, Hyderabad- Danam Nagender. When Congress is breaking its head to formulate a strategy for GHMC where its writ ran large for two terms, in association with MIM though, Danam is to be seen nowhere around. Danam, as he is popular in the whole city, lost the election in 2014 and along with it his face in his constituency. There has been talk that TRS supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao is wooing Danam into TRS in view of GHMC elections. Handling Danam would help the party in a big way in Khiratabab and Jubilee Hills Assembly segments. Danam with his army of followers can take care of certain areas even outside his fiefdom -Khairatabad and Jubilee. The only occasion he was seen was at his daughter’s marriage ceremony. And later he disappeared from the radar triggering intense political speculation about his moves in the Hyderabad. Every senior leader of the party-including S Jaipal Reddy, had participated in the Warangal byelection. But Danam did not show up.
Why? Is he jumping the wall? Sometime back Danam himself clarified that he was not switching sides and would continue in the Congress party. Danam is not an ordinary former MLA. He holds very important position in the party. He is not only the president of Greater Hyderabad Congress committee but also in-charge of Khairatabad assembly segment party affairs. This is exactly the reason for Congress’ worry. What is he up to? Last week he made lightning appearance to pay tributes to Jyothiba Phule on the occasion of birth anniversary of the great social reformer and from the very next moment he turned incommunicado. Gandhi Bhavan sources told telugu360.com that some senior Congress leaders had frantically tried to establish contact with him but in vain. Danam’s non-cooperation, the party leaders feel, will seriously cripple the party’s efforts to regain the GHMC in the ensuing polls.
The talk in the party circles is that Danam is held ‘political prisoner’ by chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. For some inexplicable reason Danam is in the grip of TRS. Some suspect an agreement between KCR and Danam. KCR is said to have invited Danam to TRS and work for the party in GHMC polls like Talasani Krishna Yadav of TDP. But, sources said Danam is not interested to switch over. Consequently KCR has reportedly asked him to maintain low key at least during GHMC elections or go on some foreign tour with one pretext or the other.
Warangal is all set to get a reward for sending TRS candidate Pasunuri Dayakar to Lok Sabha with a huge and rare majority. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will soon lay foundation stone for a Sainik School in Warangal. The state government has finally decided to clear the file, which has been pending for quite some time. This was revealed by deputy chief minister Kadiyam Srihari. He said the process to set up the Sainik School would begin soon. ” People of Warangal have helped TRS candidate win with stunning majority. This shows the confidence they reposed in the TRS government. Our government will take all steps necessary for the speedy development of Warangal. The chief minister wants Warangal to be developed as the second important hub after Hyderabad and plans are being afoot for its overall development,” he said adding that Sainik School would be the first in a series of steps.
Sources said the establishment of Sainik School in Telangana was the commitment made in Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Act-2104. The centre, which got the nod from ministry of defense, reportedly wrote to the state government that the school would be set up once the land is identified for the purpose. Now, following the resounding victory in Warangal byelection, the chief minister is said to have instructed the officials to put up the file related to the allocation of land. Most likely, the sources said, CM will lay the foundation stone for the Sainik School as new year gift to the people of Warangal. Among other things the government proposed to take up are an Outer Ring Road in Warangal and a Textile Park.
K Chandrasekhara Rao, during his loquacious best, wittingly or unwittingly, blurted out a story as part of a public meeting in Warangal Lok Sabha electioneering on Tuesday that actually turned the wheel of his political fortunes and that changed the direction of the fate of united Andhra Pradesh. If all of us were under the impression that the 1969 agitation was the inspiration for a separate Telangana agitation, we are indeed thoroughly mistaken. It is Leader of the Opposition in Telangana Assembly K Jana Reddy who actually had triggered the whole thing, according to the Chief Minister.
Jana Reddy, who owns the record of being the longest-serving minister in united Andhra Pradesh in the Governments headed by several Chief Ministers, sulked on being denied a Cabinet berth by Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy during his second stint as the Chief Minister in 1992. Angered by the denial, the Nalgonda strongman had stoked rebellion by espousing the cause of a separate Telangana and launched Telangana Forum. Sensing trouble looming large, Vijayabhaskara Reddy immediately accommodated Jana Reddy in his Cabinet and endowed him with the portfolio of Agriculture, within 20 days of the latter making noise of a separate State.
Having achieved his goal, Jana Reddy simply dropped the slogan of a separate Telangana and the forum like a hot potato. The purported proposal of a movement had gone haywire. “I was an MLA in the Telugu Desam Party at that time. Jana Reddy had actually invited me for the Forum meeting. I refused to go saying that he had set up the forum for his ministerial berth. And, I proved right,” quipped KCR, who made a point.
But, what KCR did not say, but what crossed the minds of analysts, was that if KCR’s agitation was an action reconstruction? History repeated itself, but with a difference. Chandrababu Naidu also “could not accommodate” KCR in his Cabinet in 1999 owing to “caste equations”. But where he had gone wrong was when he “ill-treated” a senior leader of KCR’s stature by having him elected to the post of Deputy Speaker of the Assembly. Had he been made the Speaker, at least, things could have been different.
KCR, a natural leader, could not take the humiliation lying down. He used the power tariff hike as a ploy to spit fire on Naidu and walked out of the TDP. He launched Telangana Rashtra Samithi in March 2001 and the rest is history. KCR proudly claims that whether this ‘bakkodu’ (man with lean physique) can pull the agitation through was a doubt that haunted many a people. “But, the agitation took a proper shape and was taken to its logical end.”
So, the bottomline of the story is that KCR had taken cue from Jana Reddy and floated the TRS. Had Chandrababu Naidu emulated Vijayabhaskara Reddy and granted the wish of KCR by inducting the latter into the Cabinet, he would not have taken the agitation forward. Chandrababu Naidu misread the strengths of KCR or was over-confident following his triumph in the elections, in association with the BJP, that nobody could touch him even with a bargepole.
Had Naidu budged, things would have been completely different. What would have happened? I leave it to the imagination of the readers.
Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir dared Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao if he was ready to take by-elections for Warangal Lok Sabha seat as a referendum and step down if TRS candidate P. Dayakar loses the election.
Shabbir Ali was reacting to the challenge made by Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao wherein he asked whether TPCC President N. Uttam Kumar Reddy would quit from his post if Congress candidate Sarve Satyanarayana losses the election. Addressing a press conference at Warangal DCC office here, Shabbir Ali said Harish Rao was too small to challenge the TPCC chief. He said if KCR makes a similar challenge and agrees to accept Warangal by-polls as referendum, then the Congress party might consider making Uttam Kumar Reddy accept the challenge.
He said that Harish Rao has been targeting the Congress party out of frustration. “Harish apparently feels that he did not get due recognition in the party. Despite actively participating in Telangana movement, KCR is promoting his son K. Tarakarama Rao and projecting him as apparent political heir. This has turned Harish Rao crazy and he has been making wild statements against Congress. He is repeatedly asking whether Uttam Kumar would quit the post as if he himself was an aspirant for the same,” he said.
Shabbir Ali listed out the failures of TRS Government during the last 530 days in power. He said KCR was simply not willing to answer basic questions being raised by the people. He said KCR has turned so arrogant that he is not giving respect even to the courts and constitution. He said now the High Court has sent a notice to Talasani Srinivas Yadav for being a minister in TRS cabinet despite continuing as TDP MLA.
He also announced that the Congress party would lodge a police complaint against Panchayat Raj Minister K. Tarakarama Rao for his remarks wherein he compared Sarve Satyanarayana to an old one-rupee currency note and tore it by calling it a “chellani rupayee” (fake/obsolete note). He said tearing off a currency note is an offence and KTR committed it in full public view. He pointed out that despite being the then Union Minister Sarve Satyanarayana spoke on Telangana issue in the Lok Sabha for a record 28 minutes. Shabbir Ali also stated that nearly 10 lakh poor Muslims benefitted from 4% Muslim reservation policy of previous Congress regime. He said that the TRS Government was not serious on giving 12% reservation for Muslims in jobs and education.
Later, accompanied with former Union Minister S. Jaipal Reddy, Shabbir Ali visited the family of Shruti, the girl who was killed in an alleged encounter with the police. He assured Shruti’s mother that Congress party would fight against the State Government until it orders a CBI probe and takes action against the guilty policemen. He said Shruti’s death was not an encounter, but a cold-blooded murder.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao urged union defense minister Manohar Parrikar to issue suitable instructions to the concerned Army Authorities in Secunderabad cantonment to postpone the proposed closure of GOUGH road till alternative road is made. Rao today wrote a letter to the defense minister. The CM mentioned in the letter that severe hardships being faced by a large number of civilian population residing in many colonies and areas like thickly populated Sainikpuri, A.S. Rao Nagar, ECIL etc., surrounding the Secunderabad Cantonment Area either due to closure of roads or imposition of restrictions by AOC authorities on usage of roads in the Cantonment Area.
CM reminded the Defense Minister about the meeting of a delegation of people’s representatives comprising both Parliament and State Legislature led by the Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana on 15th June, 2015 and submitting a memorandum highlighting the difficulties faced by the commuters from these colonies due to closure of roads and seeking his intervention in the matter.
CM said despite the matter being taken up at the level of local AOC authorities and Union Ministry, apart from existing road closures and restrictions, a decision has been taken by AOC authorities for closure of GOUGH road causing severe hardship to the above residents. An analysis of traffic and impact of closure of roads passing through Cantonment Area revealed extreme pressure on many traffic junctions abutting the Cantonment Area.
CM further wrote that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is ready to construct the new alternate roads provided that the AOC centre authorities cooperate in honoring the proposals put forth by the GHMC authorities for early completion to mitigate the hardship faced by the commuters.
For the first time, former union minister and Congress veteran S Jaipal Reddy today came out strongly against Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and accused the latter of resorting to political gambling. Jaipal, who used to describe state politics as too local for his stature, this time round, used choicest abuses against KCR. But, his language was too elitist and not easily understandable for the vernacular voter of Warangal Lok Sabha constituency. Jaipal, winner of the best parliamentarian award instituted by Parliament of India, excoriated the politics of KCR and TRS as surfeit of arrogance. ” There is one word in English which suits correctly to the politics of KCR- He is running Casino Politics- the politics of gambling. Casino politics involve high stakes. He wants to transform India and its democracy into Los Vegas. In this casino politics, you claim everything your own simply because you are the winner of stake,” he said.
Though Jaipal used an elitist language, the criticism is too serious. He was referring to Casino Capitalism, which was first used by Maynard Keynes, to convey immoral and insidious influence of an economic policies freed from restraint. ” KCR is applying casino politics to democracy. Since he won the election and formed the government, he thinks, he was at liberty to do whatever he likes,” Jaipal elaborated.
Jaipal Reddy addressed media at Gandhi Bhavan in connection with the Warangal by-election flanked by Congress leaders Narsimha Reddy, Mallu Ravi, Shravan Dasoju, Ponnam Prabhakar, Bikshmaiah Goud.
Referring to the claim of KCR that he had fulfilled 99 per cent of the poll promises, Jaipal said, ” KCR is the only chief minister in the Independent India who made most impracticable poll promises and broke them all.
Describing the KCR as arrogant politician and the Warangal by-election was the result of his arrogance, he averred and added that there was need to teach him a lesson. “You removed deputy chief minister T Rajaiah accusing him of corruption. But you had never revealed what Rajaiah’s corruption was, nor did you take any action against Rajaiah. It is incumbent on the government to tell the people about the corrupt practices of a minister if he was removed. Otherwise, people are forced to take this as your act of arrogance,” he remarked.
He said KCR had broken all his poll promises which include 3 acres of land for each dalit family, two-bed room house, loan waiver, KG to PG free education etc. He urged Warangal voters to defeat KCR. ” A defeat for KCR was necessary for the state, even though it won’t bring down the TRS government. But, it is needed because it demolishes the arrogance of KCR,” he said.
Stating that Warangal election was a straight fight between Congress and TRS, the former union minister said the defeat of TRS would be a referendum on his government and his programs.
KTR and a senior bureaucrat from Telangana State government, Arvind Kumar, who is the principal secretary of Industries, represented the government.
Typical of a workaholic that he is, KTR has begun discussions with Deputy Chief Minister of Penang, an island state in Malaysia. It’s as if the duo have been engaged in the dialogue for a long time. KTR has explained how Telangana and Penang can collaborate on textile manufacturing, and hi-tech solar panels manufacturing.
