News

This has been an annual practice by the Andhra Chief Minister as this not the first time that he has made such a statement.

File photo: PTI

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday asked couples in the state to have more than two children. In line with this, he also offered an incentive to such couples, by removing the norm that barred candidates from contesting local body elections in the state, if they had more than two children. “It is high time to correct the trends indicating demographic imbalances, lest the state may turn senile in the next two decades, marked by more eating mouths and less working hands," the chief minister was quoted as saying. Naidu also said that there was a need to keep the state young, adding that those below 25 years of age present constituted roughly 50% of the population. This has been an annual practice by the Andhra Chief Minister as this not the first time that he has made such a statement. In September last year, Naidu had said, “I used to advocate family planning. But now I am asking people to have more kids, because we educated families are not interested in having many kids. They are looking at it like a big task, as it is tough to raise children. If our previous generations' had the same process, we wouldn't be here today. Balance is necessary. If there is imbalance and a lack of youngsters, as we are witnessing in countries like Japan, we have to employ robots instead of humans." In March 2016, he was quoted as saying, "The state’s population is witnessing a down fall. It is not good for any progressive country. Now China and Japan are facing problem from population downfall. Previously, China and Japan followed family planning due to high population. But now majority of their people are old and there is huge shortfall in the number of youngsters. They have realised the problem and are encouraging more child births.""Youngsters are not marrying early. Even if they do, they do not have children as they don't want responsibilities early...If this goes on, we may become like Japan where there are more old than young. That is why I am saying it may better if you have one or two children more instead of opting for family planning," Naidu had said in January, 2015.

Law

This comes after a protest by Andhra lawyers, who asked for time until March, so that certain facilities could be provided by the state government in Amaravati.

TNM Staff

File photo: PTI

With just days left for the newly-formed Andhra Pradesh High Court to begin functioning from the residual state's capital at Amaravati, a group of advocates approached the Supreme Court seeking more time for the bifurcation process of the Hyderabad High Court to take place. The Andhra Pradesh High Court Advocates Association, which moved a plea on Saturday, requested the SC to allow the Andhra HC to work from the premises of the Hyderabad HC, until a proper building is constructed in Amaravati. The Supreme Court has been on vacation since December 17 and the vacation officer reportedly assured members of the association that a decision on whether their case will be heard or not, will be taken on Sunday. The SC is scheduled to reopen in the first week of January 2019. Earlier this week, the Hyderabad High Court saw both celebration and protests, as lawyers from Telangana distributed sweets and those from Andhra Pradesh staged a 'dharna' on the road outside the premises after it was declared that Andhra would have its own High Court from January 1. The Union Law Ministry issued an order on Wednesday signed by President Ram Nath Kovind, which said that Andhra Pradesh will have its own High Court from January 1 next year at its capital Amaravati and the High Court at Hyderabad shall become the High Court for Telangana. The order also allocated judges to the two high courts. While lawyers from Telangana celebrated the order and said that after close to five years, justice had finally been served and district courts in all 31 districts in the state would also soon be functional, lawyers from Andhra Pradesh were not pleased. Speaking to reporters, the lawyers demanded that the Centre take back the gazette notification, and argued that three days were not enough to shift to Amaravati, when the construction of the temporary Andhra Pradesh High Court was yet to be completed. The lawyers asked for time until March, so that at least certain facilities like accommodation could be provided by the state government in Amaravati. Meanwhile, Justice Chagari Praveen Kumar was appointed as the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh with effect from January 1. He was selected from a pool of 16 judges who were shifted to the newly formed Andhra Pradesh High court. Justice Chagari Praveen Kumar is the senior-most Judge of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

News

Students were served chicken on Friday night which was followed by complaints of nausea, vomiting and stomach pain on Saturday.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Several girls at the Social Welfare girl’s hostel in Andhra Pradesh’s Thiruvuru town in Krishna District fell ill on Saturday, after eating a meal, in a suspected case of food poisoning. According to media reports, students on Friday night, were served chicken, following which several residents of the hostel complained of nausea, vomiting and stomach pain on Saturday. Four out of the twelve students who were rushed to the Area government hospital, were administered fluids. However, the authorities denied that it was a case of food poisoning and said it was ‘indigestion’. “The case is not food poisoning, it is just indigestion. At 5:30 pm on Friday, the children had Ragi malt and around 6:30 pm to 7 pm, they had meals with chicken curry. The children were all right all through the night. From 8 am onwards, they started developing stomach pain, motion and vomiting. As of now six students are in hospital and their condition is stable, while six others were sent back to hostel after some simple medication,” Tiruvuru MRO Bujji Babu was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, social welfare department joint director Prasad said that an inquiry had been initiated into the incident and a report on the matter would be submitted to the state government shortly. He also assured that strict action would be taken, if anyone was found guilty. Last month, 40 girls from the BC Ladies Hostel in Suryapet in Telangana were admitted to the local government hospital after presenting with symptoms of food poisoning. The girls had all eaten dal and rice for dinner at their hostel mess and within hours, all of them developed severe stomach pain and vomiting, and had to be taken to the Suryapet Government Hospital. Doctors at the hospital immediately began treatment for food poisoning, after which all 40 of them recovered and were discharged, according to officials from the Suryapet District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO) Dr Niranjan’s office. Read: 40 girls hospitalised in Telangana’s Suryapet for food poisoning from hostel dinner

Politics

Chandrababu Naidu had said that the HC bifurcation will hit the hearing in Jagan's corruption case, as the judge would also be transferred.

TNM Staff

The YSRCP on Saturday lashed out at Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu for his remarks on the bifurcation of the Hyderabad High Court and how it might affect the corruption case against YSRCP President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. Stating that the remarks were “derogatory and attracted the provisions of insulting the judiciary”, the YSRCP claimed that it was a serious offence. Speaking to reporters on Friday, Naidu had said that the division of the court between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana had come at a time when the case against Jaganmohan Reddy was coming to the trial stage, and it might go back to square one. "Now with the division of the court between two states, the judge will be also transferred and the case will have to restart," said Naidu while indirectly hinting at a conspiracy by the Central government to save the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. Speaking to reporters in Hyderabad on Saturday, YSRCP spokesperson C Ramachandraiah said that the remarks attract legal action for ‘insulting the courts’. “The division of High Court has been approved by the President, and the TDP leader speaking in such a derogatory way is a fit case for the judiciary to take suo moto action and prosecute him. The institution does not work for individuals and everyone has to function within the framework of the constitution,” he said. “If people like Naidu think he is above the law, it is a display of sheer arrogance, which cannot be tolerated in a civil society,” Ramachandraiah added. He also pointed out that the state government had earlier promised to finish the construction of the High Court by December 15, but had since changed its stand on the issue. Jagan, as the YSR Congress chief, is the prime accused in the cases relating to alleged investments made by various private firms and individuals in his businesses as a quid pro quo for various favours bestowed on them by the government of his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy in undivided Andhra Pradesh between 2004 and 2009. The Centre, earlier in the week, had issued a notification that said that Andhra Pradesh will have its own High Court from January 1 at its capital Amaravati, while the existing High Court in Hyderabad will become the High Court of Telangana. Naidu had also found fault with the Central government for not giving time for the court employees to move from Hyderabad to Amaravati and said that the High Court would function from the old building of the Chief Minister's Camp Office till the new building at Amaravati was ready.

Crime

As the family of the boy was unable to find accommodation, they slept at the APSRTC bus station.

TNM Staff

An 18-month-old boy was rescued by the Andhra Pradesh police on Sunday, 48 hours after he was abducted from the temple town of Tirumala on Friday morning. The kidnapper was reportedly nabbed near Nanded in Maharashtra. Veeresh, the child, and his parents had arrived in Tirupati from Ausa in Maharashtra’s Latur district on Thursday. As the family was unable to find accommodation, they slept at the APSRTC bus station. When they woke up in the morning, the boy was found to be missing. The parents suspected that the boy was kidnapped between 7 am and 7.30 am in the morning, following which a complaint was filed by 8.30 am. "As soon as we received a complaint from the parents, we alerted our officers and asked them to look out at all bus stands and railway stations in the region," an investigating officer told reporters. The CCTV footage released by the police clearly shows a man walking away with the boy. The accused was seen covering half his face with a balaclava and carrying a bag. As part of the investigation to nab Veeresh’s kidnapper, teams were sent to all neighbouring states, including Maharashtra, as CCTV footage showed the accused wandering at the Tirupati Railway Station. According to media reports, the kidnapper had purchased a train ticket to Guntakal at Tirupati. However, by the time the police were alerted about the same, the accused would have alighted the train. The police also suspected that he got down at one of the smaller stations after boarding a train, in order to avoid detection. A sketch of the kidnapper was also released by the police on Saturday evening, which was circulated to all police stations in the neighbouring states, including the Maharashtra police. The police then identified the accused and rescued the child with the help of the local police. The Andhra police will now bring the infant back and reunite him with his parents.

Politics

Earlier this week, KCR had called Naidu ‘the dirtiest politician’ in India and a liar, and accusing him of corruption.

TNM Staff

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday hit back at his Telangana counterpart K Chandrasekhar Rao for using 'filthy language' against him and said that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President would definitely receive an answer from voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President was speaking to reporters in Amaravati. "Politicians should maintain dignity and decorum in their words too. The language KCR used was filthy. Civic society won't accept it. This is not a good way. Everybody has a mouth. Everybody can speak. Persons in power should be much more dignified. Where did KCR come from? Is it not the TDP that gave you political life? Did you not work as a minister in my Cabinet? After launching Telangana movement, did you not join hands with the Congress and contest elections? In 2009, did you not ally with the TDP despite my opposing you? Then, you pleaded for the alliance," Naidu was quoted as saying. On Saturday, KCR launched a tirade against Naidu at his camp office, Pragathi Bhavan, calling the Andhra CM ‘the dirtiest politician’ in India and a liar, and accusing him of corruption. He also called him a “rakshasa”, a demon. "Without any doubt, he is the dirtiest politician in the country. He is a liar and rakshasa (demon) doing dirty politics. He should feel ashamed,” said the TRS party chief. “Naidu is a political manager,” alleged KCR, accusing Naidu of using NTR’s granddaughter as political fodder for recent state elections. Nandamuri Suhasini had contested from the Kukatpally assembly constituency. “Now that the lady has lost the elections. I am sure that Naidu will ignore her. Her purpose is over,” said KCR. The comments did not go down well with the TDP and Naidu, who retaliated on Sunday, telling reporters that KCR was acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as part of a 'conspiracy' to overthrow the ruling government in Andhra Pradesh. “I will not object if KCR comes to Andhra Pradesh for election campaigning and the BJP, the TRS and the YSRCP form an alliance in the state. People will deliver their verdict,” Naidu said.

Crime

About 20 gamblers attacked a police team with sticks and stones even as the policemen tried to show their identity cards in Tadipatri town.

TNM Staff

Four policemen, including a Circle Inspector, were injured in an attack by gamblers in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district on Sunday. The attackers reportedly chased the police personnel and also set afire a police vehicle. The incident occurred in Tadipatri town when the police personnel had raided a house on a tip-off about gambling. Circle Inspector Hamid Khan and three constables from the Kadapa police station were clad in civil address when they reached the gambling den. As they entered the house, about 20 gamblers attacked them with sticks and stones even as the policemen tried to show their identity cards. The attackers set the police vehicle on fire and escaped as additional police force from the district rushed to the scene. The injured police personnel were shifted to Anantapur Government Hospital for treatment and a fire tender was dispatched to douse the flames. However, the vehicle was already damaged by then. The incident also triggered tension in the town. According to media reports, Circle Inspector Hamid Khan suffered a head injury in the attack and a case was registered against the accused, identified as Rashid, and his accomplices, for attacking the policemen. Further details are awaited and the police are on the lookout for the accused who are absconding. This is the latest attack in a spate of incidents this year, where policemen in Andhra Pradesh were attacked while discharging their duty. In August this year, a sub inspector and a constable belonging to the state police were beaten up inside their own police station in Nellore district, after a large group of people barged inside. The mob was irked at the move of the SI, to call in one person for questioning at the Rapuru police station and allegedly beat him. The incident had come days after a group of policemen were allegedly assaulted by drunk men in Nellore district itself, after the police tried to stop a dance performance. A sub-inspector, two constables and two home guards managed to escape from the crowd but were injured. In May, anger spilled over to the streets of Andhra Pradesh’s Guntur district, as news of an alleged attempt to sexually assault a 10-year-old spread. Residents blocked a road near the police station and pelted stones, demanding that the accused - in police custody - be handed over to them.

New Year

VIPs and VVIPs will be allowed darshan from 2 am to 4:30 am, before the regular devotees are allowed.

TNM Staff

File photo: PTI

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) which manages affairs at the Lord Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala, will restrict the 'darshan' of VIPs on January 1 as it expects a large influx of devotees who will visit the temple on the first day of 2019. Keeping this in mind, the TTD has decided to open the queue for darshan from 4:30 am on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Tirumala in-charge joint executive officer Pola Bhaskar said VIPs and VVIPs will be allowed darshan from 2 am to 4:30 am, before the regular devotees are allowed, following which all such special privileges will be suspended. The TTD also cancelled special darshans for the aged and people with physical disabilities. “We want to give top priority to common devotees, and for that we have planned to commence the sarvadarshan line from 4.30 am itself on January 1,” he was quoted as saying. A review meeting was held in Sunday with all departments of the TTD to ensure that the temple was ready to handle the crowd on January 1. Security has been beefed up and the TTD has also deployed more sevaks and guides to ensure that no untoward incident takes place. One of the richest Hindu temples in the world, the temple town of Tirumala receives 60,000-80,000 people every day, and is managed by hundreds of officials and priests.The figure even crosses a lakh during holidays and on special occasions. 2.68 crore devotees visited the shrine during the financial year 2016-17. The TTD had approved an annual budget of Rs 2,858 crore for 2017-18 and have stated that the temple's earnings during 2018-19 are expected to be around Rs 2,894 crore, of which the offerings in the temple's 'hundi' alone are estimated to amount to Rs 1,156 crore.

New Year's Eve

With plenty of options for those looking to party on December 31, Vijayawada police have issued an advisory for party goers and event organisers to ensure things go smoothly and safely on the celebratory night.

TNM Staff

Image: VJA City Police

Vijayawada is all set to end 2018 on a high note on Monday night. Several areas in the city are wearing a festive look as revelers get ready to welcome the new year. Places of worships like temples, churches too are getting decked up to usher in 2019. New Year’s Eve is going to witness several events in and around Vijayawada. There are plenty of New Year’s Eve parties in pubs and star hotels in the city as well. With plenty of options for those looking to party on December 31, the Vijayawada police have issued an advisory for party goers as well as event organisers so that things go smoothly and safely on the celebratory night. Vijayawada CP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao said in a statement said that all the precautionary measures were taken to prevent untoward incidents in celebrations. Police said that there will be checkpoints and road blocks in certain areas of the city like BRTS road, MG Road, Eluru Road, Prakasam Barrage Inner Ring Road which will have road blocks every 250 metres. Police also said that the CVR road, Outer Ring Road and PCR Fly over routes will be closed in night. The CP also stated, "The city will have 12 check posts. Till 4 am in the morning, there will be breath analyser tests for drink and drive cases, the inspections will be recorded in body worn cameras.” Police advised the party goers to not to indulge in drinking and driving and try taking along a driver who will not drink. Further, parents would be held liable and booked under relevant sections of the Motor Vehicles Act if their minor children were found driving when intoxicated. Meanwhile party and event organisers have been advised to use the sound systems within the permitted 80 decibel limit, and they will have to shut shop by 12.30 am.

Politics

Bhuma Akhila Priya has accused leaders within her own party of working to ensure her downfall ahead of their defections to the YSRCP.

TNM Staff

Dissent is brewing within the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in Andhra Pradesh's Allagadda constituency as sitting legislator and state Tourism Minister Bhuma Akhila Priya has accused leaders within the party of working to ensure her downfall. Speaking at a public event in the constituency earlier this week, Akhila pointed out that several TDP leaders in Kurnool district were defecting to the YSRCP, and made promises that they would defeat her in the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. “Everyone is uniting to defeat me here in Allagadda, including those who lost in Nandyal. I am telling them to do good work and defeat me because if I get re-elected, I'm not going to spare anyone,” Akhila said, amid cheers from the crowd. “It is not that I'm going to foist false cases as you all did. We will work hard and make people forget you and the work you did," she added. Akhila’s comments come just days after former TDP’s in-charge of Allagadda constituency, Erigela Rampulla Reddy, quit the ruling party and speculation is rife that he may defect to the YSRCP. “The party in Allagadda has become an empire of corruption. The TDP, started by former Chief Minister N T Rama Rao, used to work for the weaker sections of society, but now that party has been killed. I'm not able to work under the corrupt (Bhuma) family. If we work with such corrupt Ministers, there is no scope of getting respect from the people in villages,” Erigela Rampulla Reddy told reporters when he quit the party. No stranger to controversy This is not the first time that 31-year-old Bhuma Akhila is in the news for spats with senior leaders in the party. Akhila, the daughter of late Nandyal MLA Bhuma Nagi Reddy, is also the youngest member in Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu’s cabinet. The Bhuma family wields a lot of influence in Kurnool district – especially in the Assembly constituencies of Allagadda and Nandyal. In April this year, Akhila was embroiled in a bitter fight with AV Subba Reddy — a leader who was considered her father’s right-hand man — after distancing herself from him and allegedly focusing on ensuring that her family continues to hold powerful positions in Kurnool district. She also reportedly snubbed Subba Reddy by not inviting him to her father’s death anniversary in March. Akhila entered politics and became the Allagadda MLA following the sudden demise of her mother, Shoba Nagi Reddy, in a road accident in 2015. The family was with the YSRCP at that point. But in 2016, both Bhuma Nagi Reddy and Akhila switched loyalties and moved to the TDP. In March 2017, Bhuma Nagi Reddy died because of a massive heart attack. In the Nandyal bye-elections that followed, Akhila campaigned extensively and ensured that the seat went to her cousin Bhuma Brahmananda Reddy, who got the TDP ticket. With the state gearing up for simultaneous elections for Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, Akhila is expected to play a key role in rallying up the voters in Kurnool district and especially in her bastions of Allagadda and Nandyal.

News

About 900 employees left for Amaravati in special buses as their Telangana counterparts saw them off. Some employees turned emotional on leaving Hyderabad.

IANS

File photo: PTI

With the decks cleared for functioning of separate high courts of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana from New Year, employees and lawyers of Andhra Pradesh at the High Court of Judicature in Hyderabad left for Andhra Pradesh’s capital Amaravati on Monday. About 900 employees left for Amaravati in special buses as their Telangana counterparts saw them off. Some employees turned emotional on leaving Hyderabad. The Hyderabad High Court has been serving as the common High Court for both the Telugu states since June 2014 when Andhra Pradesh was bifurcated to carve out Telangana state. Earlier, the Supreme Court refused to take up for immediate hearing a petition filed by Andhra Pradesh Lawyers Association for postponing shifting of High Court to Amaravati till the construction of High Court building was completed there. The Supreme Court will take up the petition for hearing on Wednesday. The petitioners say that completion of High Court building could take about 10 months. The Centre had last week issued a notification for bifurcation of the High Court between the two states. The gazette notification said January 1 would be the appointed day for the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which will start functioning from Amaravati, while the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad will become the High Court for Telangana. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had criticised the Centre for not giving sufficient time to make preparations for shifting of the High Court. He said 15 days to a month should have been given so that employees prepare themselves mentally for shifting to Amaravati. Naidu said as the completion of building for High Court could take some time, it would start functioning from the building which earlier housed Chief Minister's official residence. He had said on Friday that efforts were being made to provide suitable accommodation to judges and other court officials.

Accident

Such was the impact of the collision that the car hit a truck from the rear and the heavy vehicle also overturned.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Four students on their way to take part in New Year celebrations were killed and three others injured when a car in which they were travelling hit the road divider and rammed into a truck in Andhra Pradesh's Guntur district on Monday, police said. The incident occurred on the Guntur-Chilkaluripeta highway when they were on their way to Vijayawada. The victims were reported to be second year engineering students at R V R and J C Engineering College. According to the police, the car which was being driven at very high speed hit the divider and then hit the truck from the rear. Such was the impact of the collision that the truck also overturned. The truck driver and cleaner were injured. The car was badly mangled. The deceased and injured students were all aged under 20 years. Locals rushed all the five occupants of the car to a nearby hospital, but they were all declared brought dead by the doctors. The injured were shifted to the government hospital in Guntur. A case has been registered by the police and the bodies of the students were sent for an post mortem before being handed over to their family members for conducting last rites. With plenty of options for those looking to party on December 31, the Vijayawada police had issued an advisory for party goers as well as event organisers so that things go smoothly and safely on the celebratory night. Vijayawada CP Dwaraka Tirumala Rao had said in a statement that all precautionary measures were taken to prevent untoward incidents during celebrations. Police said that there will be checkpoints and road blocks in certain areas of the city like BRTS road, MG Road, Eluru Road, Prakasam Barrage Inner Ring Road which will have road blocks every 250 metres. Police also said that the CVR road, Outer Ring Road and PCR Fly over routes would be closed in night. IANS inputs

Aviation

The airport is being developed over 1,000 acres with an initial investment of Rs 100 crore.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

In a major development, Kurnool city in Andhra Pradesh entered the aviation map with the trial run of the Orvakal Greenfield airport being conducted successfully on Monday morning. As part of the trial run, an aircraft flew from Hyderabad and landed at the airport, carrying the state's Principal Secretary (Energy) Ajay Jain. The Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Ltd. (APADCL) was in charge of developing the airport. According to media reports, the airport is being developed over 1,000 acres with an initial investment of Rs 100 crore and is expected to be formally inaugurated by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on January 8. The airport will help many cities and towns in the state's Rayalaseema region get air connectivity. It was in February last year that the Andhra Pradesh government gave its nod to the Revenue Department to allocate roughly 639 acres of land across several villages in Kurnool, for building a greenfield airport at Orvakal. This came a few months after the Civil Aviation Ministry recommended an 'in principle' approval to three new greenfield projects in the state. The Steering Committee on Greenfield Airports, headed by Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey, considered the proposals for four new airport projects in the state. "The committee recommended 'in principle' approval to three projects in Andhra Pradesh viz., Bhogapuram, Dagadarthi (Nellore) and Orvakal (Kurnool). The committee also recommended for 'site clearance' to the project of Kothagudem in Telangana," the Ministry had said in a statement at the time. "These clearances are expected to enhance the aviation infrastructure facilities in newly created states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and will also boost the regional connectivity scheme announced recently by the Government of India," the statement had said. Just last month, the Vijayawada airport in Andhra Pradesh officially turned ‘international’ as Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the first international flight from the city to Singapore and laid the foundation stone for the integrated passenger terminal building at the airport.

Politics

Modi remarked that the Grand Alliance had failed and that Chandrababu Naidu was venting his ire being defeated in the recent Assembly elections in Telangana.

TNM Staff

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a debate on the latter's achievements during the last four-and-half years. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President asked Modi if the country benefited in any manner from his rule. Addressing the media at Amaravati, Naidu told reporters that Modi should spell out what was the growth rate achieved by the country under his rule and what the country gained from steps such as demonetisation and Goods and Services Tax (GST). "It may not have been good under the UPA, but it is no better even in the government. What economic growth did the GST and demonetisation result in?" said Naidu. Incidentally, this is the CM's third consecutive remark against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Last week, Naidu made scathing remarks against Modi, calling him a "hollow man" and a "blackmailer" at two separate occasions in one week. Grand Alliance did not fail: CM In the recent interview, Modi said that the Grand Alliance had failed and that Naidu was venting his ire over his crushing defeat in the recent Assembly elections in Telangana. Last week, Naidu had made scathing remarks against Modi, calling him a "hollow man" and a "blackmailer" at two separate occasions in one week. The TDP chief, however, did not agree that the Grand Alliance had failed and remarked that the NDA government and Modi had failed in fact. The Andhra CM claimed that Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were promoting Federal Front mooted by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao to divide the opposition. Naidu said though the Trinamool Congress and the Biju Janta Dal did not say that they were joining Federal Front, Jaitley tried to mislead people. He also asked why Modi was happy over the victory of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Telangana. He said the PM, BJP President Amit Shah, 13 Central ministers and three chief ministers campaigned for BJP in Telangana but it got only one seat. Recalling that the TRS chief had called Modi a "fascist", Naidu said the Prime Minister's silence over this was a proof that they have a secret understanding. Stating that there is no Federal Front in the country, Naidu reiterated that the country has only two fronts -- the NDA led by BJP and other parties supporting it, as well as the Congress and other parties opposed to the BJP. Naidu also alleged that the country's economy collapsed due to the steps taken by Modi, who created fear among people and misused the institutions to target his political rivals. (With inputs from IANS)

Crime

The move comes after the recent abduction of a 18-month-old infant from Tirupati.

Balakrishna Ganeshan

File photo/PTI

In a bid to prevent child abductions in Tirupati Tirumala Devasthanam, police have introduced ‘child tags’ in the premises of the famous temple. The temple, which is visited by lakhs of devotees every day, has seen a rise in abductions in recent times. Last week, an 18-month old infant was abducted and later rescued by the police. According to police, every child who enters the temple will be tagged with details of his/her parent or guardian, who is accompanying the child. A similar identity card will be given to the adult as well. As people are exiting the temple, the cards will be checked by the police to verify if the adult accompanying the child is indeed the one who came in with them. This new initiative has been implemented since Tuesday evening, confirmed Tirupati Superintendent of Police, Anburajan to TNM. “The process has already started. Before leaving the temple premises, the police security would cross check the identity to confirm if the child is along with their parent indeed or their guardian. If there is a mismatch, they would be caught.” Detailing the process, he said, “At the entry point of the gate, the cards would be issued. The same needs to be deposited before they leave. No one can leave the exit without showing their card.” Presently, these identity cards are handwritten. Police are contemplating making it foolproof by making the process digital. "We are thinking of introducing digital unique cards with magnetic code etc. with the help of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam, but we need to discuss with the stakeholders before taking such a step," the SP said. Besides this new initiative, police teams would be keep a vigil across the temple to avert any attempts to abduct children. The temple also has around 600 CCTVs for surveillance. On Friday, 18 month-old Veeresh Dalimbe was abducted by a man named Vishwambhar from Tirumala. As Veeresh’s parents, who came from Maharashtra on a pilgrimage, could not get an accomodation, they slept at the mandapam near the APSRTC bus stop. However, as their child was missing in the morning they alerted the authorities. After receiving a complaint, police immediately circulated photos of the kidnapper caught on CCTV and tracked him. Two teams of police were sent to Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh. However, after residents of Mahoor in Maharashtra’s Nanded alerted the police about Vishwambhar along with a kid, as described by them, police nabbed him on Sunday and safely rescued Veeresh.

Politics

After floating his party in 2014, Pawan teamed up with TDP-BJP alliance, shared stages with Narendra Modi and Chandrababu Naidu.

TNM Staff

File image of Pawan and Naidu meet in May 2014

A recent event in Amaravathi become a venue for interesting political development in Andhra Pradesh. At the event, the state Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu dropped hints about a 'possible re-alliance' with Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena Party. This comes midst his series of scathing remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of the country not benefiting from his policies. He also continued to corner Telangana CM K Chandrashekar Rao and his opposition leader Jaganmohan Reddy, by calling them 'Middle Modi' and Junior Modi' respectively. While releasing as many as 10 white papers on Tuesday, when he explained the development of the state in different sectors, Chandrababu Naidu accused Narendra Modi-led BJP government of allegedly creating hindrances against state growth. On the occasion, when the media asked his responses to Jagan's remarks, stating that Naidu and Pawan are allies. To this, Naidu said, “What is his (Jagan) problem if Pawan has an alliance with us? He should first tell if he is colluding with BJP and where he stands in the national scenario. I have been seeing that he (Jagan) is attacking Pawan to make sure he would not come to us. I told Pawan Kalyan to come out and fight against BJP and protect the rights of Andhra Pradesh.” After floating his party in 2014, Pawan teamed up with TDP-BJP alliance, shared stages with Narendra Modi and Chandrababu Naidu. However, the rift between TDP and JSP began in early 2018, when Pawan Kalyan, withdrew his support to TDP, calling Chandrababu's regime corrupt and his Amaravati capital project as a non-inclusive one. When further asked if he will join Pawan if he comes back, the CM said, “I will not comment on such hypothetical questions now; it's not correct.” Meanwhile, Jana Sena cadres are yet to respond to the “invitation” from the CM.

Crime

Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Laddha said that the accused, Janipalli Srinivas had planned the attack on October 18 itself but could not execute the plan as the opposition leader had left for Hyderabad a day earlier.

IANS

Janipalli Srinivas (L) with Jaganmohan (R)

The knife attack on YSR Congress Party President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam Airport on October 25 last year was pre-planned, police said on Wednesday. Visakhapatnam Police Commissioner Mahesh Chandra Laddha told reporters that the accused, Janipalli Srinivas had planned the attack on October 18 but he could not execute the plan as the opposition leader had left for Hyderabad a day earlier. Jagan, as the YSRCP leader is popularly knows, was injured when Srinivas, a worker at the airport canteen, attacked him with a cockfight knife as the leader of opposition was waiting to board a flight to Hyderabad. Jagan, who sustained a bleeding cut on his left upper arm, continued his journey and got admitted to a hospital in Hyderabad. Revealing the details of the investigation, the Police Commission said on the day of the attack Srinivas had left home at 4.55 a.m. after sterilising the knife. Around 8 am he rang up his friends Hemalatha and Sheikh Ammaji to tell them “you will see me on television today”. He again sterilised the knife in the canteen before proceeding to the VIP lounge to attack Jagan. Police said Srinivas, who had prepared a flexi of Jagan in January 2017, carried out the attack to get publicity. Immediately after the attack, leaders of ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) had termed it as an internal ploy of YSRCP to gain public sympathy. Jagan had refused to record his statement before Andhra Pradesh Police saying he had no trust in agencies controlled by the state government. YSRCP leader Y S Subba Reddy had filed a petition in Hyderabad High Court seeking directions to the Centre to hand over the case to either the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The High Court on December 22 gave two weeks time to the Andhra Pradesh government and the Centre to act according to Section 6 of the NIA Act. A division bench said that till then the investigations by Visakhapatnam police can continue but they can't file the chargesheet. It adjourned the hearing till January 4.

Politics

"Those in power in Andhra Pradesh have not remained committed to their ideology. Can we expect them to be committed to people?" Modi asked.

TNM Staff

In his first direct attack on Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said those in power in the state were indulging in scams. Without naming the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president, Modi said they were busy outside the state for forging an alliance as they knew that the ground in Andhra Pradesh had shifted and they were going to be defeated in coming elections. During a video-conference with booth-level workers of BJP from four Lok Sabha constituencies in Andhra Pradesh, Modi said the state was looking for a change as the people were deeply angry with the present political leadership. Stating that people have not forgotten the manner in which Congress divided Andhra Pradesh, Modi said by joining hands with Congress, those in power in the state have rubbed salt into the wounds of the people."What happened to this grand alliance in Telangana? They were totally rejected by the people and same is going to happen in Andhra Pradesh," said Modi referring to the defeat of Congress-led alliance in the last month's Assembly elections in Telangana."Those in power in Andhra Pradesh have not remained committed to their ideology. Can we expect them to be committed to people," he asked and pointed out that N T Rama Rao had founded TDP to protect the interests of Telugu people and to safeguard the Telugu pride. This was the first time that Modi launched a direct attack on the TDP chief since the latter pulled out of his government at the Centre in March last year, accusing it of not fulfilling the promise to accord special category status to the state. The BJP leader trained the guns on Naidu even as the latter continues his tirade against him. Claiming that the Centre remained fully committed for the welfare of people of Andhra Pradesh, Modi said those sitting in the government in the state will have to account for every single paisa. He asked BJP workers to counter the false propaganda being spread by the state government about the Centre by communicating truth to the people. Stating that close to Rs 20,000 crore was released to the state as resource gap and revenue deficit funding, Modi asked where the money meant for the welfare of the people had gone. He said Rs 1,000 crore was released for backward districts but the state government was not able to provide timely utilization certificate."Polavaram irrigation project was declared as national project. We have so far released around Rs 7,000 crore. The state government was keen to be the executor of the work. We also accepted that. If CAG reports are to be believed they also turned out to be inefficient in executing the work. Why are they unable to execute the project properly," he asked. Modi said the Centre sanctioned and started 10 educational institutions of national importance including AIIMS, IIT, IIM, NIT, IIIT and Indian Institute of Petroleum and Energy in the state.

Politics

In a video, the actor-politician requested everyone not to get swayed by the different statements being made by politicians in the state.

TNM Staff

Days after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu dropped hints about a ‘possible re-alliance’ with Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, the latter has denied that talks were taking place. After floating his party in 2014, Pawan had teamed up with the TDP-BJP alliance and even shared stage with Narendra Modi and Naidu. However, the two parties have since had a fallout. “The Jana Sena party is contesting in all the 175 seats in Andhra Pradesh. We will not ally with anyone except the Left parties. We will give women and young people more opportunities. Please do not believe the words of the ruling party and the opposition in the state. We condemn these comments,” the party said in a tweet. Later, the party also released a video of Pawan Kalyan in which he said that the Jana Sena was working for the betterment of people, taking their aspirations into account. “In 2014, we supported certain parties. We felt that it was the need of the hour under the circumstances. There are various reports doing the rounds that we are supporting the ruling party or others, that the opposition party in the state has given us some seats. It is being done with the intent of confusing our supporters and hurting their morale. I want to tell everyone clearly, we will contest all 175 seats. I request everyone not to get swayed by the statements being made by politicians in the state,” the actor-politician said. Earlier this week, responding to questions about YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy’s remarks that Naidu and Pawan were allies, the Andhra CM said, “What is his (Jagan’s) problem if Pawan has an alliance with us? He should first say if he is colluding with the BJP and where he stands in the national scenario. I have been seeing that he (Jagan) is attacking Pawan to make sure he would not come to us. I told Pawan Kalyan to come out and fight against the BJP and protect the rights of Andhra Pradesh.” When asked again if he would tie up with Pawan for the 2019 elections, Naidu had said, “I will not comment on such hypothetical questions now; it’s not correct.”

Crime

Shaikh, who was earlier arrested by Hyderabad and Mumbai Police for allegedly duping the investors, was recently released on bail in Mumbai.

IANS

Andhra Pradesh Police on Thursday arrested Nowhera Shaikh, the Managing Director of the Hyderabad-based Heera Gold group, in a ponzi scheme case. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) took the entrepreneur-politician into its custody in Chittoor district. Shaikh, who was earlier arrested by Hyderabad and Mumbai Police for allegedly duping the investors, hails from Chittoor district. She was recently released on bail in Mumbai. She is facing allegations of duping investors in various parts of the country by promising high returns. According to police, Shaikh floated 20 subsidiary companies and collected hundreds of crores from investors by promising returns of over 36 per cent. Police reportedly found that the turnover of her business increased from Rs 27 lakh in 2010-11 to Rs 800 crore in 2017-18. Authorities in various states were investigating the allegations that Shaikh violated various laws while expanding her business to different parts of the country and even abroad. Hyderabad police had arrested her in October for cheating, criminal breach of trust and criminal intimidation. She was also booked under Telangana Deposits of Financial Establishment Act 1999 and The Prize Chits and Money Circulation Schemes (Banning) Act, 1978. After her release on bail in Hyderabad, she was arrested by Mumbai Police on similar charges. She came into the limelight in 2018 after she floated All India Mahila Empowerment Party. The party contested Assembly elections in Karnataka but drew a blank.

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