Tollywood Celebrities !!

Hyderabad, April 29: Decks are now clear for Kavita, daughter of the TRS chief K Chandrasekhara Rao to contest to Lok Sabha from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency.

Kavita has been so far keeping off the TRS. She is heading the cultural wing Telangana Jagruti and confined herself to Bonalu and other activities. Now KCR reportedly cleared her entry into the party. 

Earlier reports said she was opting either Nizamabad Lok Sabha or Janagaon Assembly constituency. But it is now learnt that Kavita has decided to contest from the Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat. 

Though Kavita has been active in the Telangana movement, she never occupied a seat on the dais at TRS programmes. Kavita occupying a seat at the TRS formation day meeting has become a talking point. It also gave credence to reports about her political intentions.

Hyderabad, April 28: “Arrogance is like a political creature. It does not have senses. It has only a sharp tongue and the pointing finger.”

At the halfway mark in the ongoing cricketing tamasha called Indian Premier League cricketers of all hues and cries are engaged in intense cricketing battle.

While the cricketers are sweating it out and staking their pride and prestige, with elections appearing anytime, the political stadium in Andhra Pradesh is witnessing contests of entirely different nature. Here the politician involved in a game of political musical chairs making the game of politics too intense and hot.

While the contest among the cricketers is very fascinating, that of politicians is becoming more irritating and causing apprehensions. It is entirely different matter as Sports are always entertaining, politics is forever exasperating.

In a rapidly moving game of political one-upmanship among them, each party has embarked on taking up different programmes like conducting padayatras to holding Samarabheri public meetings.

Even as CBN held a massive public meeting to mark culmination of his Vasthunna Mee kosam padayatra at Vishakhapatnam, TRS organized an impressive show of strength at Armoor to mark its 12th formation day. While, KCR made an attempt to roar with rhetoric, CBN tried to convince the people that he is indeed a changed man for the good.

While what shape the antics of Chandrababu would take is a matter to be known in future, KCR’s impressive show at Armoor turned out be a show of pure rhetoric belying the expectations that the meeting would present an action plan to advance Telangana movement. Instead, the meeting controlled by KCR’s rhetoric focused entirely on Political future of the Party.

When a good number TRS honchos small and big, young and old with mini and mega mindsets or no mindsets assembled in the guise of observing the 12th Formation day to work out a new action plan to re-launch Telangana movement at Armoor, it didn’t turn out to be either a clash of the titans or intellectual gymnastics but an “exercise to enable politics and disable the movement”. The rendezvous was only a move to prove that the KCR Parivar was fully in control of both the movement and the party. KCR was full of confidence, and the consensus reached among the party men to his rhetoric symbolized the vital paradigm shift of the party towards more politics and less action plan to strengthen the movement.

Since its existence in the last twelve years, TRS remained hanger-on either to the Congress or to the TDP. At the same time it was no mean achievement to have sustained the politics around the Telangana movement in the face of myriad political scenarios in the long and chequered journey. Amid this roller coaster political journey, KCR led his party with an unmatched alacrity and unparalleled political dexterity. TRS grew into a force to reckon with, yet it hasn’t fortified its position from being a fledgling toddler to an enthusiastic teenager raring to go.

Now the congregation of ‘pink panthers’ is all set to behave like adolescents with its supremo making it clear that the party might be contesting alone in the elections so as to prove its strength among all the parts of Telangana.

Having gained little from the Centre even after intensifying the agitation, KCR is now focusing entirely on the political battle. The election provides him with a huge opportunity to improve the TRS’s political muscle.

The TRS by announcing it will fight the polls alone is also indicating its self-confidence. But it is not as if the drive is not going to be bumpy for KCR. The flip side is that there could be a few Mahbubnagars along the way (the BJP defeated the TRS in a by-poll in Mahbubnagar in 2012) but that is a risk the TRS seems to be willing to take. The pitch that is likely to be sold to the voters in the region is that unless they vote in big numbers for the TRS, there will be no Telangana.

For more than a decade, KCR has been selling a dream to the people of Telangana. The sentiment is still strong in many parts of the region but it is also coupled with disenchantment not only with the Congress but also with the TRS. The party has used the emotion for statehood to gain politically, with KCR’s family now virtually in control of the TRS.

KCR, who asserted that the Telangana movement would continue until the separate state is achieved, has now set his eyes on winning 100 out of 119 assembly seats and 15 out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in the region. He tells the people that a resounding victory with these numbers would bestow a politically decisive position on the party.

Of course this target is like aiming for the sky. Would KCR’s party scale up to telephone wires is a conjecture of time.

The next election will be a make or a break for the TRS. If it wins anywhere close to one hundred seats in the assembly and 13-15 MPs, it will call the shots both in Hyderabad and in New Delhi. And KCR has a reputation of being a hard bargainer. But if it gets less than 60, it will be seen as empirical evidence that the Telangana sentiment is not widespread across the region as it is made out to be and will dilute the demand for statehood.

By seeking recourse for Parliamentary lobbying as the only way to achieve Telangana, KCR is all set to enable the politics and disable the Telangana and its movement which has always been an independent idea, a political aspiration, an emotional sentiment and a cultural curiosity.

The ball is now in the Telangana polling booths.

Visakhapatnam, April 27: Winding up his nearly seven-month long 'padyatra' (walkathon), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu Saturday promised to bring back Andhra Pradesh on the path of development and restore its glory.

Addressing a mammoth public meeting here Saturday night, Naidu made a slew of promises for all sections of people and assured that if voted to power in the next elections, he would fulfill all the promises.

The leader of opposition promised waiver of all loans of farmers to make agriculture profitable, protected drinking water to every village, jobs to all educated youth and monthly unemployment allowance in the event of an educated youth not getting employment.

Sharing his experiences of the padyatra, Naidu declared that the first file he would sign after swearing in as the chief minister would be to waive farm loans.

Describing electricity shortage as the biggest problem faced by the state, Naidu promised to put the sector back on rails. He pointed out how the sector was doing well and the state made all-round progress during his nine-year rule (1995-2004).

His other promises include a comprehensive insurance scheme for poor, improving the education sector, generation of jobs for youths, protection of women and girl child, closure of belt shops (unauthorized outlets of liquor shops), and waiver of interest on loans to women's self-help groups.

Naidu targeted Congress government for its inefficiency and YSR Congress party for the corruption. He blamed Congress party's misrule for the problems faced by people, while accusing late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy of looting public wealth while cheating people in the name of various welfare schemes.

He termed YSR party as a child of Congress, saying it was formed to protect the ill-gotten money. Naidu lamented that Hyderabad had become corruption capital of the country. He said ministers including the home minister were accused in YSR party leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's illegal assets case and Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was busy in shielding them.

Naidu ruled out any truck with communal parties and claimed that TDP was committed to protect secularism. He predicted that regional parties would sweep 2014 elections and that TDP would once again play a key role in national politics.

Thousands of people from various parts of the state turned up for what is being seen as the main opposition party's major show of strength ahead of the next year's elections to the state assembly and Lok Sabha.

Earlier, the former chief minister unveiled a 60-feet pylon to mark the culmination of 2,817 km long padyatra, the longest such padyatra undertaken by a politician in the state.

Naidu's wife Bhuvaneswari, son Lokesh, brother-in-law and popular Telugu actor N. Balakrishna and top leaders of the party were present on the occasion.

By undertaking the padyatra, the 64-year-old broke the record of his bitter rival Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, who had covered nearly 1,500 km in 64 days in 2003. That 'padyatra' helped Rajasekhara Reddy to bring Congress party to power in 2004, ending Naidu's nine-year-long rule.

Hoping to repeat history, Naidu launched his padyatra on Oct 2 last year at Hindupur in Anantapur district. He covered 16 districts, interacting with various sections of people to know their problems and making promises if TDP regains power in 2014 elections.

Hyderabad, April 23: In a startling finds one gets doubts whether Natasimha Balakrishna who is nurturing political ambitions is his father NTR's backstabber. His father NTR who is popular for having utmost self respect and who is credited with invoking telugu pride with his party Telugu Desam, vowed not to step into the village of Nimmakuru, Krishna dist, the moment his co brother's son Venkataratnam demolished the party flag post and the adjacent hospital building, the day before his arrival as CM.

The moment he was informed, he was pained at the way his relatives started behaving, though he did lot of developments projects for the place he loves. Even Nimmakuru villagers remember NTR and rever him a lot. However now they are surprised that his son Balakrishna dined with the enemies of his father, by visiting Venkataratnam's son's house not once but thrice and even staying there. To the top of it he insulted his father, without garlanding his statue only because Jr.NTR unvieled his grand father NTR and grand mother Basavatarakam statue during his visit.

Many feel Harikrishna is furious over this and even Nimmakuru villagers who are surprised wrote letters to TDP office. It has to be seen what CBN and Balayya says about this.

Hyderabad, Jan 16: State Ministers Danam Nagender and Mukhesh Goud today said the Congress High Command should also consult them before taking a decision on the State division. 

Speaking to media persons, they said there were people from all the States living in Greater Hyderabad. They said they would demand for protection of their rights. They said Hyderabad should be made a separate state. They said they already putforth their demand before the Congress high command.  

Referring to the charge that Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was behind the stand they had taken, the duo said it was a meaningless charge. Stating that along with the Chief Minister they were also elected MLAs for four terms, they asserted that there was no need for any one to teach them politics.

Hyderabad, Dec 5: Panchayatraj Minister K Jana Reddy has expressed happiness over the Centre announcing a date for the all-party meeting on Telangana issue. 

Speaking to the media at Secretariat here on Wednesday, Jana Reddy thanked the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and party high command leaders. He also hailed the Telangana Congress MPs for putting their efforts for the all-party meeting on December 28. 

Jana Reddy urged all the political parties of the State to express a favorable stand on Telangana issue. He requested all the political parties to behave in a manner to eradicate the differences among the Telugu speaking people of both the regions and see that they lived amicably.

He exuded confidence that the all-party meeting will take a decision which will help the Telangana people to live happily in the year 2013. He urged the Telangana leaders to meet the Congress party high command to convince it to take a decision in favor of creation of separate Telangana State. He said that the Telangana public representatives have to properly explain to Sonia Gandhi and the Core Committee members so that they could understand the problem of the Telangana and the feelings of the Telangana people once again.

He warned that serious consequences will follow if the all-party meeting failed to take a favorable decision on Telangana issue. He said that the Telangana Congress leaders have cancelled the decision of announcing of a key decision on December 9 as the Centre announced all-party meeting on December 28.

Oslo, Dec 4: Indian couple Vallabhaneni Chandrasekhar and Anupama were sentenced by the district court here for roughing up their son. While Chandrasekhar was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment, his wife Anupama was sentenced to 15 months. 

The court has permitted the couple to appeal against the judgment in the high court. 

Chandrasekhar, an employee of Tata Consultancy Services has gone on deputation to Norway along with his wife and two sons. 

They have admitted the children in a local school as the deputation was for 18 months. Elder son Sai Sri Ram (7) is mischievous and used to cause trouble to the parents. They reportedly chided the boy for wetting his pants. They even threatened to send him back to India. The boy has complained about his parents to his teachers who in turn complained to the child welfare department. Authorities of the department have taken the boy away and conducted various tests on him to know the intensity of the ill-treatment his parents have meted out to him. After a month, the boy was sent back to the parents after due counseling. 

The authorities have apparently booked a case then and the couple was not however informed about it then. The couple came back to India with their children. Chandrasekhar was asked to go back to Oslo on another assignment recently. Unaware that a case was already registered against them, Chandrasekhar went there again along with his wife, leaving the children behind. Police have arrested both on December 23, for harassment of their son. Prosecutors have even recommended the punishment. On a request from the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, the union minister Vayilar Ravi has contacted the Indian Embassy in Oslo and enquired the possibility of getting the couple released. However after being told that the India could not interfere in the laws of Norway, the central government has expressed its inability to intervene.

Parents shocked 

Back in Hyderabad, The parents of V. Chandrasekhar and his wife Anupama, broke down on hearing the news of their conviction. A family member said they were shocked.

They termed the verdict "one-sided" as the court did not take into account the issues raised by the couple, including the report sent by a psychiatrist from here. 

"There was no response to our concerns. We came to know that the court did not take into account the points raised by our lawyer. This is not a digestible situation," Chandrasekhar's nephew V. Sailendra told reporters at their residence in Miyapur here.

"We have the option of appealing in a higher court and we will exercise that option," he added. The couple's children -- seven-year-old Sai Sriram and his two-year-old younger brother -- are living with their grandparents at Miyapur.

"Our biggest worry is how to handle the children because they are inquiring about their parents. They want to know because newspapers and television channels are carrying their pictures," said another family member.

Sailendra said both the children were depressed and they were sending regular reports to the Oslo police about their health condition.

"What kind of justice is this? This verdict has separated the children from their parents. The children can't live without them. The two-year-old is very attached to them and he needs their care," he said.

The family alleged that the authorities in Norway have blown the issue out of proportion when Sriram had told his school teacher that the parents chided him for bed-wetting.

Psychiatrist Kalyan Chakravarthi, in his report sent to Oslo court, said he had several sessions of counseling with the boy. 

According to him, Sriram is 'mild to moderate' case of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (APHD) and was showing positive signs till the situation turned awry with the arrest of his parents.

The family members are also unhappy with the Indian government for not doing anything to help the couple. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid ruled out any intervention, saying the issue relates to a private citizen and to the local law of that country.

The couple was arrested by police in Oslo last week on charges of "gross or repeated maltreatment" of their child.

Justifying their arrest, the Oslo police have termed the case as "very serious". A police officer has been quoted as saying that the boy bore burn marks and scars on his body and that he was beaten with belt.

The couple's lawyer denied that they hurt the boy but said they had some difficulties in handling him. The family members said the boy had sustained some accidental injuries while playing.

The arrest was made nine months after Sriram complained to his school teachers that his parents were threatening to send him back to India for wetting his pants.

Originally hailing from Krishna district in coastal Andhra, Chandrasekhar with his family returned home in July this year. Chandrasekhar again left for Norway on Nov 23 for work. This time he went only with his wife leaving behind both his sons.

The family members said the couple had gone to Norway in response to the summons issued by the Oslo court. "They wanted to close the case and clear their name before returning to India. They did not expect things to take this ugly turn," said a family member.

Hyderabad, Nov 27: CBI has taken into custody Gangadhar Reddy, producer of the film ‘Nandeeswarudu’, in connection with the Chandigarh medical scam that has recently caused ripples in academic circles. 

CBI found that it was according to a plan hatched by Gangadhara Reddy that mass copying using hi-tech methods was executed in the medical post graduation examinations in Chandigarh. 

Gangadhar Reddy a medical post graduate of Gandhi Medical College, hails from Sri Kalahasti in Chittoor district. CBI suspects that he started film production under his banner ‘Kota Film Corporation’ only with the scam money. Reddy’s involvement is suspected even in the Eamcet scam.

Hyderabad, Nov 26: Jitta Bala Krishna Reddy, former TRS youth wing leader who has recently joined the YSR Congress has warned that they would not keep quite if the TRS tried to defame the YSR family.

Speaking to the media here on Monday, he said the Suryapet meeting was only for saving the existence of TRS and not for Telangana. He said it was heinous that KCR was trying to gain from the martyrdom of innocent Telangana students and youth. He said even if Telangana was conceded, YSRCP would rule in both the states. He said KCR was frightened at the increasing influence of his party in the Telangana region and was struggling for his own existence. He said this was the reason why he was talking as he liked.

Reminding that TRS ministers were in the cabinet when Pulichintala decision was taken, Jitta has questioned why they had not opened their mouths then. He has also told that it was due to YSR that NIMS was started in Bibinagar and added that it would have become operational by now, if only YSR was alive.

Jitta has questioned KCR why he was not talking about Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi and their Congress party. He has also questioned what happned to KCR's fight on Wakf land allotments. Reminding that it was already 3 years since YSR died, Jitta questioned who was stopping Telangana now.

With the Komatireddy brothers – Bhongir MP K Rajagopal Reddy and Nalgonda MLA K Venkat Reddy, more or less disclosing their mind to quit the Congress and jump into the YSR Congress, they have started receiving brickbats from their detractors.
Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Palwai Goverdhan Reddy described the Komatireddy brothers as betrayers of Telangana.
“Late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was dead against Telangana state. And his son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy also displayed his anti-Telangana stand. How can Komatireddy brothers who claim to be championing the Telangana cause join the YSR Congress?” he asked.
Palwai alleged that the Komatireddy brothers had amassed huge wealth with the patronage of YSR.
“Komatireddy brothers were interested only in money making and contracts, rather than Telangana. I have been predicting for a long time that they would leave the Congress party to join the Jagan camp,” he pointed out.

For the first time, a state minister has dubbed for a role in a Tollywood movie and colleagues are going all out to portray Kiran Kumar as a hero of the people.
Supporters of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy are trying their best to ensure that their `propaganda' film ‘Operation Duryodhan 2’ becomes a hit.
Apart from recovering their Rs 5-crore investment, they want the maximum number of people to see the film, which showcases the capabilities of their leader. The aim is to expose his detractors within and outside the party.
Apparently for the first time, a state minister, E. Pratap Reddy, has dubbed for his role. “Pratap Reddy likes to complete any given task with perfection; so to give a realistic touch to his character, he preferred to dub for himself,” says producer Surender Reddy.
The minister is actually portraying the character of Kiran Kumar Reddy and the political thriller will be showcasing the various schemes initiat ed by the CM and his “zero tolerance” towards corruption. In the film the CM appoints his friend and fire-brand CBI officer (Jagapathi Babu) who busts various scams and sends the culprits to jail.
For the last few months, the CM has been keeping track of the film and had even made enquiries with his party leaders.
“Some Congress leaders have funded this project to show Kiran Kumar Reddy in a good light and highlight his determination to eradicate corruption,” says a source.
Some of the characters of the film reportedly remind one of leaders like APCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
“The film also shows the recent plans to unseat the CM,“ the source adds.
No Cabinet has shown so much interest in a Telugu potboiler and Kiran Kumar and his colleagues will apparently be watching the film soon.
‘Cameraman Ganga Tho Rambabu’ was supposed to be a veiled promotion of the late YSR as an able leader.
Krishna Vamsi’s ‘Paisa’ is expected to showcase the rise of Jagan Mohan Reddy as a politician and a businessman. The film ends with him becoming the Chief Minister.
Vishnu Manchu’s film ‘Assembly Rowdy’ has been “designed” to glorify Jagan Mohan Reddy who will be shown coming out of jail and ruling the roost in the Assembly.

The death of dentist Savita Halappanavar due to the refusal of doctors at the Galway University Hospital to terminate her pregnancy and save her life has angered the Indian community in Ireland.
Savita’s family, inclu­ding her husband, Pravin Halappanavar are heading for Ireland to join the agitation to be launched by the Indian community there on Friday, demanding action against the do­­­tors responsible for her death.
“It is unfortunate that no government official from either India or Ireland has contacted Savita’s husband or any of us after her death. While political outfits and the Indian community across Ireland are protesting the doctors’ negligence, neither the Karnataka government nor the Centre have bothered to contact us. We want both the state and Union governments to take up this issue very seriously and give us justice,’’ said Savita’s father, Andanappa Yalgi, in Belgaum.
“The authorities in Ireland should realise that abortion may be illegal for Catholics in Ireland but not for Indians staying there. The doctors did not act professionally when it came to saving the life of a healthy woman. Due to their own set of rules, both the mother and her unborn child died miserably,’’ Mr Yalgi added angrily.
Both the Halappanavar and Yalgi families have been flooded with sympathetic messages and visits by well wishers shocked by the manner of Savita’s death in Ireland. While her husband, who had brought her body to India for cremation, had planned to stay for a while more, the Indian community in Ireland is insisting that he rush back to help them intensify their agitation.
Savita’s family is waiting for the results of the investigation into her death bef­ore taking legal action against the doctors.
Protests were held in London outside the Irish embassy and in Cork too.
Independent expert to probe Savita’s death
The Opposition parties in Ireland, Labour and Socialist parties, have called for another protest outside the Irish Parliament and outside Irish embassies across the world on Saturday to force the government led by Prime Minister Enda Kenny to introduce proper legislation on the issue.
The Opposition members also forced the Irish government to hold a debate on Savita’s death in the Dail, the Parliament.
Irish health minister James Reilly told Parliament that two investigations arey underway and a coroner’s inquest will also take place.
“Savita’s death has highlighted the need to deal with the legacy of the X case. I have never received so many letters, emails and phone calls,” Labour MP Gerald Nash said

Hyderabad, Nov 16: TRS Chief K Chandrasekhara Rao has announced that former president of TNGOs’ Union Swamy Goud as the candidate for North Telangana MLC.

After giving party membership to Swamy Goud at Telangana Bhavan here on Friday, KCR said that the party would not limit the services of Swamy Goud by giving MLC seat, but also it would utilize his services by giving him Employees’ Welfare Ministry in separate Telangana State. KCR also said that he has inducted Swamy Goud into TRS Politburo as a member. He said Swamy Goud extended moral support to him during his hunger strike in 2009 for Telangana. KCR admitted Swamy Goud in TRS by offering party ‘kanduva’. 

Speaking on the occasion, Swamy Goud said that he took decisions on his own till yesterday but today onwards he would implement decisions of KCR. He said that he would spare no efforts for achievement of Telangana State continuing in the TRS. He also made it clear that he joined the TRS as it was fighting for separate State sincerely.

Hyderabad, Nov 16: Activists of Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti and Madiga Students Federation have tried to raid the house of the Telangana Political JAC chief Prof. Kodandaram in Tarnaka on Friday, protesting against his reported remarks against Minister Dr. J Geeta Reddy. They have demanded that a case under SC, ST Atrocities Act should be registered against him. Police stopped the activists when they tried to barge into Kodandaram's house and arrested them. A heavy police posse was posted at the place to prevent further escalation of tension. 

It was reported that Kodandaram has said he did not understand how Geeta Reddy was born to Eswari Bai who was a great fighter for Telangana state. Kodandaram has however denied having said it and alleged that media had misquoted him. Still, he has offered apologies. But the controversy is continuing. In Medak a case under the SC, ST act has been registered.

Hyderabad, Nov 16: Violence broke out once again near Charminar in the old city of Hyderabad Friday over a temple row. At least seven people were injured in stone pelting by an unruly mob, and baton charge by police.  Teargas shells were also fired by the police to disperse the mob, which set afire four vehicles and damaged several other vehicles, witnesses said. Trouble broke out soon after Friday prayers at the historic Mecca Masjid when a large number of people coming out of the mosque tried to proceed towards Charminar to offer 'salam' at a religious symbol abutting the monument.  Policemen and paramilitary personnel, however, stopped them by setting up barricades. Raising slogans against the police and demanding that restrictions be lifted, the protestors started pelting stones at policemen and attacking vehicles and shops. The police resorted to baton charge and fired several teargas shells to disperse the mob, which was pelting stones from three sides of the Charminar. Police said the situation has since been brought under control.  Additional reinforcements were rushed to sensitive areas around Charminar. Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy reviewed the situation with top police officials. She appealed to people to cooperate in maintaining peace. The communally sensitive old city had been witnessing sporadic incidents of violence for the last two weeks following a row over the Bhagylakshmi Temple abutting Charminar, which symbolizes the historic city. Muslim groups have been opposing attempts to expand the temple on the ground that it was illegal and had marred the beauty of the 400-year-old monument.  The Andhra Pradesh High Court Nov 5 had ordered status quo as on Oct 30. However, the erection of a canopy over the temple structure, in alleged violation of the court orders last Sunday, triggered violent protests.  The government claimed that it was allowed only to implement court orders. Accusing the Congress government of colluding with communal elements, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) withdrew support to the government.