Protest

Many locals in the Rayalaseema region feel that they have been ignored by successive state governments and claim that development has been lopsided.

Leaders in Andhra Pradesh's Rayalaseema region have undertaken a 100-km padayatra, demanding that politicians heed to their demand and provide the backward region in the state with drinking water and other such basic facilities. The Rayalaseema region consists of four districts; Kurnool, Kadapa, Anantapur and Chittoor. Many locals in the region feel that they have been ignored by successive state governments and claim that development has been lopsided. Speaking to TNM, Bojja Dasaratha Rami Reddy, President of the Rayalaseema Saguneeti Sadhana Samithi (RSSS), which has taken up the padayatra says, "We started on Tuesday morning from Nandyal town in Kurnool district and we plan to end the four-day padayatra on May 31 at Sangameshwaram.""Since bifurcation, our demand has been consistent. We have been denied our rightful share of water. This year, even though adequate water entered the Srisailam reservoir, forget water for irrigation, many don't even have drinking water. It is total injustice. We have created awareness among the people and they are ready to fight for the cause as well," he adds. Reddy argues that it is not for lack of trying and cites several irrigation projects through which water could be diverted to the Rayalaseema region. He also points out that several projects were conceived on paper decades ago, but were not implemented. "It is a very dire situation. That is what made us take up the issue and attempt to highlight it," he says. Citing the Dummugudem project that could bring over 150 thousand million cubic (TMC) of Godavari’s waters to Rayalaseema, Reddy said, "Naidu's government had ignored it. We are appealing to Jagan to fulfil the promises he made while campaigning and we are hopeful as it was his father who first took up work on the project. For the people of Rayalaseema, this project is almost as important if not more, than Special Category Status (SCS) for the state. Unless we have drinking water and some development in the region, Special Status is of no use for us." Ahead of the poll, the RSSS identified eight chronic issues in the region, from water to unemployment, and personally met several leaders and gave representations. When Andhra Pradesh was first reorganised from the Madras Province, Kurnool was made its capital and the High Court functioned from Guntur until 1956. However, both branches were soon shifted to Hyderabad, leaving Rayalaseema in neglect. When the state was bifurcated in 2014, leaders in the region saw yet another opportunity to develop it, but as Amaravati was announced as the capital, dissent surfaced yet again over the state government's focus on the Krishna and Godavari delta region.

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Controversy

Some members of the board are presently TDP appointees and as per the norm, fresh faces will be picked by the YSRCP after it forms its government.

TNM Staff

A meeting of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board witnessed an ugly scene on Tuesday as senior officials including Executive Officer (EO) Anil Kumar Singhal and Joint Executive Officer (JEO) Sreenivasa Raju stormed, even as Chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav, a leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), refused to voluntarily resign from his post. This was the first meeting of the TTD board after the victory of the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh. Some members of the board are presently TDP appointees and as per the norm, fresh faces will be picked by the YSRCP after it forms its government. “It seems that this was a well-planned act framed by the trustees to target the senior officials of the TTD. Board chairman Putta Sudhakar Yadav, who was supposed to control the board members and set things right, did not intervene (as chaos broke out)," a TTD official was quoted as saying. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Yadav said, "We don't know what instructions the officials received. We met with an agenda to sort out some things now that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) has been lifted. As soon as the prayer finished and the meeting was beginning, they stormed out. We waited for them, seeing if they will come back, but that didn't happen." Asked about his resignation, he said, "We were hired by the government and we have dutifully followed our roles in the board. We don't have the heart to send our own resignations, but if the government issues orders in this regard, we will see what further action to take." The TTD, which governs the Sri Venkateswara temple atop Tirumala, the richest Hindu temple in the world, consists of IAS officers, administrators and political appointees, who coordinate with the archakas (priests) and oversee the temple by functioning like a mini-government. Believed to have been constructed over a period starting 300 AD, the temple attracts 50,000 to one lakh pilgrims every day. The number on special occasions like the annual Brahmotsavam and festivals goes up to 4-5 lakh. During 2019-20, the TTD expects an overall revenue of about Rs 3,116 crore including Rs 1,231 crore from offerings and Rs 846 crore from interest on deposits in nationalized and private banks. According to sources, the temple has over Rs 12,000 crore in fixed deposits in various banks. It is also believed to be earning about 100 kg of gold as annual interest on gold deposits in the banks, as it has pure gold reserves of 9,000 kg. IANS inputs

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Policy

Speaking to TNM, the Jana Chaitanya Vedika’s president V Lakshmana Reddy said that the prohibition models implemented by Gujarat, Bihar and Mizoram are being studied.

Charan Teja

Andhra Pradesh’s next Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to be sworn in on May 30 and with that, there will be a focus on one of Jagan’s big promises – phased prohibition of alcohol, which he aims to complete by the time his tenure ends. Jagan has also reiterated that he is firm on his promise and will seek votes only after confining the sale of alcohol to 5-star hotels in the state. Jana Chaitanya Vedika, a civil society group that works on different social problems, has been tasked with coming up with a report, based on which a policy can be framed. This is expected to be submitted next week. Speaking to TNM, the organisation’s president V Lakshmana Reddy said that the models implemented by the states of Gujarat, Bihar and Mizoram – all of whom have imposed prohibition – are being looked at. “Prohibition will be undertaken in three phases. In the first phase, there will be a complete ban on belt shops and shops that sell liquor near the state and national highways and near schools,” Lakshmana told TNM, “We will be setting up de-addiction centres as part of the campaign. In the second phase, we will be reducing the number of shops and will also continue the campaign about the shortcomings of alcoholism. By the third phase, only 5-star hotels will be allowed to sell alcohol.” Jana Chaitanya Vedika said that a coordinated prohibition drive carried out with the Prohibition and Excise Department, the police and Revenue Department, as well as the people, can yield results. According to Lakshman, 7% of the state’s five crore populace is addicted to some alcoholic beverage. Dismissing doubts over the policy’s implementation, he said, “Bihar, which is comparatively backward, is successfully enforcing this and is seeing positive results.” Lakshmana added that one of the suggestions that could be made is that the state-run AP Beverages Corporation take over retailing alcohol. According to Lakshman, alcohol should only be sold in particular quantities in select stores and such a step will reduce alcoholism and the manufacture of illicit liquor. “If the government starts alcohol selling the way Tamil Nadu, Delhi, and Kerala do, alcohol will not be loosely available, which in turn will reduce the making of illicit alcohol since the government itself manufactures the alcohol,” he said. “Shutting down of belt shops will also help reduce the manufacturing of illicit liquor,” he added. On the other hand, the policy’s viability is also under question. Post the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, the residual state, which now has a revenue deficit of over Rs 16,000 crore, may find it difficult to find sources of income. Lakshman, however, believes that phase-wise prohibition will not drastically affect the state’s revenue. “The amount of money which is being spent will lead to expenditure on productive things, which will also bring taxes. Besides, productivity will increase across sectors. The expenditure on the health sector will also decrease as many health issues arise because of alcoholism.” Lakshmana, a former Economics lecturer, said that prohibition requires rigorous mental preparation of the people, which can only be done through proper medical care and counselling through de-addiction centres. Dr Indla Ramasubba Reddy, one of the psychiatrists contributing to the report, said that he is looking at the psychological aspects of the policy and safe practices of de-addiction. “If there is no prior preparation and treatment at de-addiction centres, patients will experience withdrawal symptoms such as lack of coordination, delirium, and mental health issues,” he said. For this, the doctor suggested that the government set up regional and district-wise de-addiction centres. “Besides making sure private liquor shops are shut down phase-wise, the government must simultaneously set up de-addiction centres in each district or in each region, with adequate staff including a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, social worker and nursing set up. Otherwise, merely prohibiting alcohol without bothering about de-addiction would result in failure,” Dr Indla added.

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Lokesh claims that the channel broadcast false news on May 28, claiming that Lokesh blamed TDP workers for the party’s poor performance.

TNM Staff

Less than a week after the TDP government was toppled in Andhra and YS Jagan led his YSRCP to an impressive victory in the state Assembly elections, friction has arisen between the two parties. Andhra ex-CM Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh has claimed that Sakshi TV has been spreading fake news about him, and has demanded that Sakshi media group retract their “allegations.” Sakshi TV and newspaper are owned by Jagan. His wife YS Bharati Reddy is the chairperson of Sakshi Publications and Sakshi TV. On Tuesday, in a letter addressed to K Ramachandra Murthy, Editorial Director of Sakshi Media Group, Lokesh wrote that he strongly condemned the “fake news that Sakshi TV had spread against him.” “On May 28, Sakshi TV channel broadcasted breaking news quoting me as having said, “Party workers and leaders are responsible for the party’s defeat. When leaders like Galla (Jayadev) have won, why have the others lost? It’s the leaders who have betrayed Chandrababu. If EVMs have betrayed him 10%, party workers have betrayed him 90%.” Lokesh claims in the letter that he was in Mangalagiri TDP office, taking part in celebrations of NTR Jayanti, whereas Sakshi TV had broadcasted that Lokesh had made the above-mentioned statements in the presence of his father and ex-CM Naidu and other national level TDP leaders at the NTR Jayanti celebrations at the Guntur TDP office. The 96th birth anniversary of late Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao, founder of the Telugu Desam Party, was celebrated by TDP members across the state on Tuesday. “I deeply regret the broadcast which has used manufactured news to damage my reputation. I request that under your leadership, the channel must denounce the false news that has been broadcasted. If not, I will take legal recourse for the damage caused to my reputation,” Lokesh wrote in the letter. Lokesh also tweeted about the issue, saying, “It is unfortunate that even other media organisations are also following this toxic news spread by Sakshi. I have written a letter to the Sakshi media group Editorial Director, who is responsible for all of this, to denounce the broadcast of this fake news, to respond promptly on this issue and take action.” సాక్షి చేసిన ఈ విషప్రచారాన్ని మిగిలిన మీడియా సంస్థలు కూడా అనుసరించడం విచారకరం. ఈ అస‌త్య వార్త‌ల ప్ర‌సారాన్ని ఖండిస్తూ ఈ విషయంలో వెంటనే స్పందించి, చర్యలు తీసుకోవాల్సిందిగా దీనంతటికీ కారణమైన సాక్షి మీడియా గ్రూప్, ఎడిటోరియల్ డైరెక్టర్ ను కోరుతూ లేఖ రాసాను. pic.twitter.com/ytewi3doYD — Lokesh Nara (@naralokesh) May 28, 2019

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Crime

KA Paul allegedly took Rs 2 lakh from the woman and promised to get her a sponsorship letter for a US visa.

Balakrishna Ganeshan

After facing a thorough decimation in the recently-held General elections in Andhra Pradesh, evangelist-turned-politician, president of Praja Shanthi Party KA Paul has landed in fresh trouble. Paul has been booked for allegedly cheating a woman to the tune of Rs 2 lakh by promising her a sponsorship letter for a US visa using his influence. However, as Paul didn't get her the letter as agreed, the woman approached the Punjagutta police in Hyderabad on Tuesday. In her complaint, Satyavathi Katragadda, a resident of Ramachandrapuram, accused Paul and his two associates – Jyothi and Vijay – of cheating her. According to the victim, she met Jyothi and Vijay at Paul’s office in Punjagutta seeking their help in getting a visa. Paul, who has toured many countries including the USA, allegedly said that he could get her a sponsorship letter from the US embassy, for which he demanded Rs 15 lakh. However, as she negotiated, he agreed to get the letter for Rs 2 lakh. “As per his advice, I gave a cheque of Rs 2 lakh in the name of Jyothi on May 8. After handing over the cheque, there was no reply. When I contacted them, Vijay and Jyothi asked me to wait till the Parliamentary election results are announced. When I contacted them again on May 23, Paul demanded Rs 15 lakh additionally for arranging the papers,” Satyavathi stated in her complaint. Speaking to the media, Satyavathi said, “That’s when I understood that he wouldn’t give me the initial amount of Rs 2 lakh nor the Rs 15 lakh if I pay him. Before filing the complaint, I warned them about approaching police, but they failed to respond, so I went ahead.” Based on the complaint, the police have filed a case under IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust) and 420 (cheating). Speaking to TNM, Punjagutta Station House Officer, B Mohan Kumar said, “We have filed the case and the investigation is underway. We are verifying the allegations in the complaint.” Paul who had formed the Praja Shanthi Party in 2008, made his political entry in 2019 elections. He had contested in all 175 Assembly seats and even field MP candidates. He was accused of being TDP’s B-team, in fact the YSRCP filed a complaint against his party with the Election Commission for fielding candidates with names identical to the YSRCP candidates, similar vote symbol and similar party colour in a bid to confuse the voters. However, these tactics did not fetch a single seat for the party. In 2012, he was even arrested by the Ongole police for allegedly trying to hush up the murder of his brother, by bribing a police officer to kill the main accused in the case under the guise of an 'encounter'.

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Politics

Political analysts say that if the BJP is able to attract the TDP’s second rung and leaders who are disillusioned with the leadership, then it can take on the YSRCP.

Charan Teja

File photo: PTI

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s landslide victory in Andhra Pradesh with a majority of 151 out of 175 Assembly seats and 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats has undoubtedly handed the TDP a drubbing that it has not witnessed in its more than three decades of history. While the TDP won a mere 23 Assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats, it has manged to capture 39.18% against the YSRCP’s 49.5% vote share. While the TDP’s debacle is seen as nothing less than a decimation, the two national parties, BJP and Congress, while failing to capture a single seat in both the Assembly and the Lok Sabha had a drought-like performance in vote share as well. While NOTA with a 1.5% vote share outnumbered the BJP, which got 0.95%, and the Congress, which got 1.29% for the Lok Sabha seats, both national parties performed equally badly in the Assembly as well, with the BJP getting a mere 0.84% vote share and Congress 1.17% while NOTA managing to get 1.28%. Political analysts feel that the YSRCP’s triumph has become an obvious threat to the existence of the TDP, while believing the same also provides certain political opportunities to the two national parties. Narendra Modi’s BJP, which had allied with the TDP in 2014, had bagged two MP seats and four MLA seats as part of the coalition. The BJP’s poor performance this time with its allies turning into rivals raises doubts if the party can survive in the Andhra political landscape without an ally. However, the BJP is confident and says that it is already in contact with second rung leaders of the TDP. Speaking to TNM, BJP spokesperson J Shyam Kishore says, “In AP, people voted with an ultimate aim of unseating the corrupt Chandrababu Naidu government. It is in that wave that even we didn’t get great numbers. However, we are hopeful of emerging as an alternative to the YSRCP.” “Several second rung leaders of the TDP at the ground level are welcoming us and showing interest to join us. We will soon chalk out a plan and strategy to go ahead,” he adds. Senior journalist Gali Nagaraja agrees. “If the BJP is able to attract the TDP second rung and leaders who are disillusioned with the leadership, then it can take on the YSRCP,” he says. Noting that the TDP could see the same downward trajectory which the Congress is seeing in Telangana, he added that the vacuum created by the TDP’s possible exodus will give space for the BJP to launch itself. Observers also say that though there is scope for the BJP in the state, they opine that there is no “specific communal focal point” as the state is known for caste-based polarisation over that based on religion. However, it’s also said that deploying tactics that the BJP did in Uttar Pradesh can help it to consolidate “ignored” and “aspiring” communities, and also tap into the sentiments of the Uttarandhra and Rayalaseema people who claim that they have been ignored for decades by successive state governments. Dr Jilukara Srinivas, author and Bahujan scholar, observed that the BJP needs a new enemy to position itself in the state, saying, “In the current scenario, there is no social and religious situation that can give the BJP an enemy. Another point is that there is no independent minority politics in Andhra.” While not granting Special Category Status (SCS) to Andhra Pradesh may have hurt the chances of the state unit of the BJP, the next five years and how the relationship between Jagan and Modi pans out will play a crucial role in the way the party is perceived. On the other hand, the Congress’s poor show is being attributed to the national phenomenon that the grand old party witnessed. “Congress saw the scene in the state which it saw across the country, but it failed to have proper alliances. At the national level Naidu was part of the Congress platform, but when it came to Andhra the Congress apparently could not convince him to have an alliance at the state level,” Nagaraja Gali says. Either way, all this is only in the long run. For now, many continue to discredit the chances of the revival of the BJP and the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, as the people of the state see both parties as “betrayers”.

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Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu was unanimously elected as the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Assembly on Wednesday.

TNM Staff

TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu was unanimously elected as the leader of the TDP Legislature Party (TDPLP) on Wednesday. Earlier, there had been speculations that Naidu might move to New Delhi even if the TDP lost the state elections, leaving his son Nara Lokesh in-charge of the party. But after their hopes of a non-BJP alliance coming to power at the Centre crashed, the TDPLP has elected Naidu as their leader. The party meeting was held at Naidu's residence in Undavalli, with newly elected TDP MLAs and MPs, as well as MLCs and other senior leaders in attendance. The TDP won only 23 out of 175 seats in the Andhra Assembly elections, with the YSRCP winning 151 seats. Naidu resigned from his post as CM on May 23, the day the results were announced. Naidu will be missing Jagan’s swearing-in ceremony, which is set to take place in Vijayawada on May 30. Jagan had invited Naidu to the ceremony over a phone call. Naidu is expected to send a team of TDP leaders in his place to the ceremony, which will also be attended by Telangana CM KCR and DMK President MK Stalin. Earlier, Naidu reportedly told TDP leaders at the meeting that the results had not turned out in the TDP’s favour in spite of the party’s development efforts. "The aspirations of people are different. Let us wait for some time and see what the new government will deliver. We will raise our voice only after keen observation on the performance of the government," Naidu said at the meeting. Naidu had also addressed party members on Tuesday while taking part in NTR Jayanthi celebrations at the party office in Guntur, asking them not to be demoralised. He also announced that he plans to visit the TDP office in Guntur every day and will be available to party leaders and workers for three hours.

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The 15-year-old from Andhra who has completed Class 10 from the same school is being denied the application form for Class 11.

Jahnavi Reddy

Image for representation

Fifteen-year-old Yerikala Supriya from Gooty town in Anantapur district would like to go to college to study Political Science. But she is allegedly being denied the application form for seeking admission to Class 11 in Kendriya Vidyalaya, ASC Centre in Bengaluru, where she recently completed Class 10. Supriya, who belongs to the Yerukula community, a Scheduled Tribe, had studied from Class 1 to 9 in Kendriya Vidyalaya Gooty. Her father Sudhakar felt that since Supriya is a sharp and articulate child, she must be able to access better educational opportunities and exposure than those available in her hometown. “She can speak English and Hindi quite well. She is a very bright child. She is good at sports too. In Class 7, she was in a team that came third in the KV Regional Sports Meet. I thought she could have a great future if she could go to a school in a city. Bengaluru was close by, so I came multiple times and tried for admission into KV ASC Centre since they have hostel facility. I tried from the time she was in Class 8. Finally, she was given admission in Class 10,” Sudhakar said. Sudhakar, who rears cattle for a living, occasionally also does painting jobs for additional income. On average, he earns Rs 300 a day. “I have a BPL (Below Poverty Line) card. Based on that, the school said that we would not have to pay tuition fees, but a hostel fee of around Rs 6,000 per month would be charged,” said Sudhakar. Supriya joined the school on June 23 last year. Her father paid the monthly hostel fees for the first few months, but since September 2018, he was unable to bear the expense any longer. Since then, Supriya and her father have been issued notices from the school management to pay the fees, but Sudhakar was unable to raise the required amount. The hostel eventually became an unpleasant and hostile environment for the young girl. Although Supriya was allowed to stay in the hostel and complete her academic year, when her father went to take her home after her Class 10 board exams ended, the hostel authorities were allegedly hostile to them, asking them to vacate the hostel completely, saying that’s the norm for Class 10 students, who will have to seek admission again for Class 11. When asked why only Supriya was being told to do so, while the other students of her class were allowed to leave some of their belongings in the hostel, the hostel authorities allegedly made harsh comments, saying it was doubtful that Supriya would pass Class 10, so they should leave without leaving a single object behind. With the school announcing that Class 11 admission forms would be available for KV students from May 15 to May 30, Supriya and her father arrived at the school. Although Supriya had passed Class 10 with 60.6%, the school authorities allegedly told her and her father that they had been instructed by the school principal to not issue the admission form for Supriya. On questioning further, they were told to talk to the principal directly, who is currently on leave and will return to work only after June 6. With the school’s notice saying that May 30 would be the last date for issuing admission forms for KV students, Supriya and her father are anxious about her future. Her father says that he cannot afford the fees for a private college, and KV Gooty does not offer the humanities stream for Class 11. Authorities from the KV Regional Office in Bengaluru, as well as KV ASC Centre, have claimed that the school principal is the final authority to be contacted over the issue. The principal, who is on leave, has not responded to calls and messages. Although Kendriya Vidyalaya schools primarily cater to “educational needs of children of transferable Central Government employees … by providing a common programme of education”, their objectives also include providing education for “floating populations and others including those living in remote and undeveloped locations of the country.” The schools provide tuition fee exemption for SC/ST students, and also have 15% seats reserved for Scheduled Castes and 7.5% reserved for Scheduled Tribes. Because of a failure to pay an outstanding hostel fee amount of Rs 38,000, Supriya is in danger of losing out on an aspirational opportunity and her family’s hopes of social and economic mobility for their child.

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Politics

Rammohan Naidu will be the leader of TDP in the Lok Sabha and while Sujana Chowdary will lead the party in the Rajya Sabha.

TNM Staff

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday nominated Galla Jayadev as the leader of the TDP parliamentary party. Naidu took the decision after a meeting of newly elected MLAs and MPs of the party. Rammohan Naidu will be the leader of TDP in the Lok Sabha and while Sujana Chowdary will lead the party in the Rajya Sabha. The TDP won just three seats in the Lok Sabha elections while the YSR Congress Party bagged 22 seats. The TDP, which had won 15 seats in 2014, retained three seats with narrow margins. Industrialist-politician Jayadev retained Guntur seat, defeating YSRCP's M. Venugopal Reddy by 4,216 votes Rammohan Naidu, son of former Union Minister K. Yerran Naidu, retained Srikakulam seat, defeating D. Srinivas of YSRCP by 6,653 votes. TDP's Kesineni Srinivas retained Vijayawada seat also by a narrow margin. Meanwhile, Chandrababu Naidu was unanimously elected as the leader of the TDP Legislature Party (TDPLP) on Wednesday. Earlier, there had been speculations that Naidu might move to New Delhi even if the TDP lost the state elections, leaving his son Nara Lokesh in-charge of the party. But after their hopes of a non-BJP alliance coming to power at the Centre crashed, the TDPLP has elected Naidu as their leader. This means that Naidu will now play the role of the Leader of Opposition in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. The party meeting was held at Naidu's residence in Undavalli, with newly elected TDP MLAs and MPs, as well as MLCs and other senior leaders in attendance. Naidu will be missing Jagan’s swearing-in ceremony, which is set to take place in Vijayawada on May 30. Jagan had invited Naidu to the ceremony over a phone call. IANS inputs

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Politics

Former CM Chandrababu Naidu and JSP chief Pawan Kalyan will, however, skip Jagan’s swearing-in ceremony at the Indira Gandhi Municipal stadium.

TNM Staff

Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao, Governor ESL Narasimhan and DMK President MK Stalin will be partaking in the swearing-in ceremony of Andhra CM-elect YS Jagan Mohan Reddy scheduled at 12.23 pm on Thursday at the Indira Gandhi Municipal stadium in Vijayawada. While outgoing Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan have also been invited for the ceremony, both of them are unlikely to attend the event. Jagan had telephoned Naidu to personally invite him. According to TDP leaders, they are likely to send a delegation of three TDP leaders--Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Atcham Naidu and Payyavula Keshav. These leaders will meet Jagan at the camp office and congratulate him before attending the ceremony. Jagan had also personally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the swearing-in. However, as the event coincides with the PM’s oath ceremony, he will skip Jagan’s event. Congress MP K V P Ramachandra Rao, who was close to Jagan’s father YS Rajasekhara Reddy, was also invited. According to media reports, an invite was also extended to Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. CPI and CPM national general secretaries Suravaram Sudhakar and Sitaram Yechury were also invited. Meanwhile, the police have erected LED screens at 14 places around the stadium to live-stream the ceremony. According to police, at least 30,000 people are expected to witness the swearing-in ceremony at the stadium. As per protocol, Jagan will take a lap around the stadium in an open top ceremonial jeep to greet the spectators. Before leaving for the venue, the guests, Governor and KCR would visit Kanaka Durga temple in Indrakeeladri. Police have issued traffic advisory and would be diverting traffic until the event concludes. All heavy vehicles would be diverted from 12 am at Thursday until 4pm, police said. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSRCP had won with a landslide majority of 151 out of the 171 Assembly seats in the recently-held elections. He will be the second Chief Minister of Andhra, post bifurcation, succeeding Chandrababu Naidu.

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Politics

Observers say that Lokesh, the son of outgoing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, could not 'sell' the Amaravati dream effectively.

Charan Teja

Failures in politics are bitter, but some are costlier than they appear to be. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which was politically decimated by a wave in favour of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSRCP in the recent elections, saw its worst ever defeat in history. What perhaps hit the party closest to home, is that the TDP failed to gain even one out of the three Assembly seats where the state's capital is coming up, under the jurisdiction of the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). Amaravati region has three Assembly constituencies. While Mangalagiri and Tadikonda constitute the core of the capital region, parts of Pedakurapadu constituency also come under the jurisdiction of the CRDA. TDP General Secretary and former state Minister Nara Lokesh, who made his electoral debut from Mangalagiri, faced a debacle as he lost by over 5,000 votes to YSRCP sitting candidate Alla Ramakrishna Reddy. Observers say that Lokesh, the son of outgoing Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, could not 'sell' the Amaravati dream effectively enough. It was also a litmus test as to whether the people on the ground had accepted the dream city that the TDP was promising to them. TDP was unable to regain Tadikonda and Pedakurapadu seats either. In Tadikonda constituency, Undavalli Sreedevi won with over 4,000 votes against Tenali Shravan Kumar, and Pedakurapadu was won by Namburu Shankar Rao with over 14.000 votes against Kommalapati Sreedhar. The Krishna and Guntur districts are known to be bastions of the TDP until recently, as the party was always assured of a win here. However, the results have turned the scene upside down. It is also in these two districts that capital development works are taking place. In both districts TDP has now been confined to four seats with two seats in each district. Several observers say that the result is a backslash from the dwellers of the capital region who mostly comprise farmers and labourers. Reports suggest that several TDP leaders came under fire from the leadership as the party performed poorly even in Undavalli, where Chandrababu Naidu was residing with his family. Speaking to reporters in Vijayawada this week, YSRCP spokesperson and Penamaluru MLA Kolusu Partha Sarathy quipped that the TDP's claims of 'development' were refused with a 'fitting reply' in Amaravati itself. He said, "People have taught you befitting lesson in a place (Mangalagiri) where you talked about world class capital in Amaravati and claimed there were Singapore companies by showing graphics." Kolusu said that Chandrababu Naidu was earlier shunted out by people in Hyderabad for claiming that he had developed the city and Lokesh and Naidu were also given a 'slap' for forceful acquisition of land from farmers in Amaravati now.

Body 2:

Politics

46-year-old Jagan, who led his YSRCP to power with a landslide victory, took his oath alone and is expected to constitute the cabinet on June 7.

TNM Staff

File photo: PTI

After a heated political campaign and a sweeping victory, Jagan Mohan Reddy took charge as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday as Governor ESL Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the YSRCP chief at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada, amid huge cheers from the thousands of people who had gathered to witness the event. 46-year-old Jagan, who led his YSRCP to power with a landslide victory, took his oath alone and is expected to constitute the cabinet on June 7. Soon after he took oath, Jagan received blessings from religious leaders of Christian, Muslim and Hindu communities, who chanted prayers and sang hymns on stage. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, DMK leader M K Stalin and leaders of various political parties participated in the swearing-in ceremony along with his family members, including his mother YS Vijayamma, sister YS Sharmila and wife Bharathi. Congress MP KVP Ramachandra Rao, who was a close aide of Jagan's father and former Andhra CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy, also attended the event on the YSRCP chief's invite. Others like director Ram Gopal Varma were also present. Read: From YSR’s shadow to seizing Amaravati, the euphoric rise of Jagan Mohan Reddy Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu had turned down Jagan's invite. However, he decided to send a delegation of party leaders, along with a congratulatory message."Congratulations to the new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. I request you to strive for the state's wholesome development, resolving the problems of the people, the welfare of the poor. As a responsible Leader of Opposition we would give constructive cooperation in the implementation of welfare schemes. On this occasion on behalf of TDP, I congratulate you," Naidu said in a statement. On Thursday morning, all roads in the city led to the stadium as hordes of people found their way to there, forcing the police to block off several routes. There was a sense of jubilation among YSRCP supporters, who travelled from across the state to witness the ceremony. "We are hopeful of Jagan's good governance. We didn't get any assistance from the earlier government and we have to migrate for a livelihood. Now that Jagan's government is taking charge, we hope that it will work for the betterment of farmers and unemployed youth like us," said J Murali, who travelled from Madakasira in Anantapur district along with a group of friends. Shankaraiah, a young farmer from Kurnool said, "This should be a new beginning. We hope the neglected areas will be accorded development projects." However, visitors also expressed dissatisfaction over the arrangements and said that adequate measures were not taken to accommodate all the people who showed up. Narasimhan, who is the Governor of both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, reached Vijayawada on Wednesday. Jagan Reddy called on him at a hotel and informed him of the arrangements made for the swearing-in. Earlier, Vijayawada Police Commissioner Dwarka Tirumala Rao and senior officials reviewed the security arrangements. On the eve of taking oath as the second Chief Minister of the new state of Andhra Pradesh, Jagan on Wednesday visited various places of worship and also visited the grave of his father and late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. The YSRCP chief offered prayers at Tirupati temple. He later visited Amin Peer dargah in Kadapa district and offered a 'chadar'. Jagan also paid obeisance at the grave of his father in home town of Idupulapaya in Kadapa disrtrict. He along with family members participated in prayers at the CSI church. On his return to Vijayawada, Jagan offered prayers at famous Indrakeeladri temple. The YSRCP stormed to power in the state last Thursday, bagging 151 seats in 175-member Assembly. They also swept the Lok Sabha polls, winning 22 out of the 25 MP seats in the state. Also read: The men and women behind Jagan Mohan Reddy's long road to victory The loyalists and senior leaders who might make it to Jagan's cabinet in Andhra

Body 2:

Politics

In the first speech as Andhra Chief Minister, Jagan promises corruption-free government.

TNM Staff

Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, who took oath as the Chief Minister on Andhra Pradesh on Thursday, said that the YSRCP government would fulfil every single promise made by the party in its election manifesto. Cheered on by thousands of supporters, Jagan said, "I accept the people's judgement and take charge as the Chief Minister." Governor E S L Narasimhan administered him the oath of office and secrecy at a public ceremony held at the Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada. In his first speech as the Chief Minister, Jagan focused on two main aspects; making the government corruption-free and providing jobs to the unemployed youth in the state. His focus was also on the Navaratnalu (Nine Gems) welfare schemes that he had promised during his campaign. Signing his first document as Chief Minister, Jagan said that he was increasing the monthly old age pension up to Rs 2,250, which will take effect from June. "Soon, we will increase it to 2,500 and then to 2,750 and then to Rs 3,000 per head, just like we promised," he said. Jagan took a leaf out of his father's book, as YSR had also signed his first file on stage during his swearing-in ceremony, giving free power supply to farmers."Every person in the state should get every benefit of the schemes, irrespective of caste, religion, politics or party. This would mean big changes in the government. By August 15, I promise you that 4 lakh jobs will be created," Jagan said, roared on by the crowd. Speaking about corruption in the state and promising transparency, he said, "We will join hands with educated youth in villages who want to serve the state, and make them volunteers to develop the state. We will pay them Rs 5,000 as an unemployment allowance till they get jobs. This will help in making the state free of corruption and rid it of the practice of taking and giving bribes." Promising the creation of another one lakh jobs by October 2, Jagan said, "We will start a toll-free number which will connect you directly to the Chief Minister's office. If any of the government's schemes have not reached you or if anyone demands a bribe, you can call us directly." Jagan also spoke about his Praja Sankalpa Yatra, his 3,648 km-long ‘padayatra’ or walkathon, which is widely believed to have played a major role in his landslide victory. "Travelling across the state, I heard and saw everyone's troubles. I am promising everyone that I am there for you," he said. Alleging massive discrepancies in the contracts awarded by his predecessor for construction projects in the state, Jagan said, "We will request the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to form a judicial commission with a sitting HC judge to look into tenders and only then will we award contracts." Jagan Reddy, who led the YSRCP to a landslide victory in Assembly elections, took oath in Telugu at the ceremony, which was also attended by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, DMK leader M.K. Stalin and thousands of party workers. Thanking both of them, Jagan also said that he wished to see Stalin as the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Body 2:

Controversy

KCR's office said that his flight would not get permission to land between 4 to 7 pm.

Nitin B.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and Andhra Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy will not be attending Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi on Thursday evening. The confirmation came just over an hour after KCR was seen attending the oath taking ceremony of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. Both the leaders were expected to fly out of Vijayawada by 2pm. However, KCR and DMK leader MK Stalin were guests at a lunch hosted by Jagan Mohan Reddy at his residence in Tadepalli in Amaravati. Two sources close to KCR claimed that the Telangana Chief Minister's flight were not getting clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to land in New Delhi between 4 pm and 7 pm. "The CMO had expected that the swearing-in ceremony will end earlier than what it did today. Due to the delay, we won't get sanction to land the flight in Delhi. There are lot of restrictions and lot of people flying in," a source said. Instead of flying to New Delhi, KCR left to Hyderabad from Vijayawada. Another source in KCR's office told TNM that the CM had no plans to go and it was only media that had claimed so. "It is state formation day on Saturday (June 2) and he has a lot of work. His speech too needs to be prepared," one source said. On Thursday, Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath as thousands of his supporters lustily cheered him. Governor E S L Narasimhan administered him the oath of office and secrecy at a public ceremony held at Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium in Vijayawada. Jagan had visited Narendra Modi in New Delhi. On Thursday, Modi had tweeted congratulations to Jagan for having been sworn in as the Chief Minister. While KCR had called for a non-Congress, non-BJP Federal Front; a consortium of regional parties, ahead of the elections, his dream fell flat as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) managed to sweep the polls with 303 seats – 31 seats more than the halfway mark of 272. Jagan was one of the first prominent politicians who backed KCR's plan. KCR in his speech, congratulated Jagan and the people of Andhra Pradesh for the landslide victory of YSRCP. He said the two Telugu states would work together for their mutual well-being. He called for cordial relations between the two states to address all issues and ensure utilisation of Godavari and Krishna river waters. Meanwhile, the stage is set for Modi's swearing-in, and a possible list with the names of Union Ministers who will be inducted into his cabinet, has also begun doing the rounds. For the event, the Centre has invited leaders of Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) member states for the swearing-in ceremony. Besides Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth have also confirmed their presence. IANS inputs

Body 2:

Swearing-in

Many travelled from various parts of the state, to Vijayawada, to attend the event.

Charan Teja

Thousands of YSRCP followers marched to Vijayawada Indira Gandhi Municipal Stadium on Thursday to witness Jagan Mohan Reddy taking oath as the new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. On the ground, many who witnessed the event said they were hopeful that the promises made to them would be fulfilled and wished for the betterment of their lives. Many young men wished that Jagan would fulfil the job vacancies and address the unemployment issue in the state. Many also said that Jagan's Praja Sankalpa Yatra, his 3,648 km-long ‘padayatra’ or walkathon, played a major role in his sweeping win. One youngster, who donned a YSRCP cap, said, "We wish the state will see industrial development which will provide employment opportunities. There should be employment hubs in the state which can accommodate graduates soon after they finish their education. He made the promises during his yatra and we believe him." Many also came from faraway places to Vijayawada, just to attend the event. Daveedu J, a daily wage labourer who came from Guntur's Prathipadu, said that he was exasperated with the earlier government as he couldn't get the bills for the construction of his 'pakka' house, even though he did many rounds of government offices."I applied for bills under the government scheme but I was shown empty hands. Only some who belong to a specific group got the benefits of the scheme. That is why I decided to vote for Jagan this time," Daveed says, hoping that he will be able to get the house of his dreams. A middle-aged man told this reporter that Jagan's thumping victory was due to the 'credibility and trust' that people placed in him. Many also thronged from the state's Rayalaseema region; where Jagan hails from. Many had come from parts of Prakasam district, which is known for its acute drinking and irrigation water crisis and said that Jagan had guaranteed them "a better tomorrow". Several mandals in Prakasam are also known to have a fluoride problem. At least 40 farmers came in a vehicle from Yerragondapalem village in the same district."We have trouble even for drinking water. If we don't get a tanker for a single day, we will have to suffer. Our local MLA candidate promised us that he will ensure speedy completion of pending projects and also start work on new projects," says J Lakshmi Narayana, one of the farmers. The presence of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and DMK leader M K Stalin also became talking points among many people in the crowd. When a Muslim cleric who was saying a prayer for Jagan after his swearing-in, wished for Stalin to become the next Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, people cheered loudly. Many people, especially from the districts of Nellore and Chittoor, which border Tamil Nadu, adore him.There were even louder cheers as KCR began speaking. KCR, in his speech, congratulated Jagan and the people of Andhra Pradesh for the landslide victory of YSRCP. He said the two Telugu states would work together for their mutual well-being. The YSRCP stormed to power in the state last week, bagging 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly. They also swept the Lok Sabha polls, winning 22 out of the 25 seats in the state.

Body 2:

Politics

Many officials hired by Jagan's predecessor, Chandrababu Naidu, were also shunted out from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO).

TNM Staff

Former Vijayawada Police Commissioner Gautam Sawang, who had been serving as Director General (Vigilance and Enforcement), was appointed as the state's Director General of Police (DGP), hours after Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath. Many officials hired by Jagan's predecessor, Chandrababu Naidu, were also shunted out from the Chief Minister's Office (CMO). R P Thakur, who was serving as the DGP, was given the post of Commissioner of Printing, Stationary and Store Purchase. Chief Secretary L V Subrahmanyam also issued orders to ACB Director General A B Venkateswara Rao to be moved to the General Administration Department (GAD) for further posting, while Kumar Vishwajeet was given full additional charge of the post. In the run-up to the election, amidst a bitter spat between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Election Commission, the poll panel appointed Kumar Vishwajeet as the Additional Director General (ADG) of Intelligence, Andhra Pradesh, to replace outgoing senior officer A B Venkateswara Rao The state government had also challenged the transfer of police officials but the Andhra Pradesh High Court refused to intervene in the EC order and ruled that the Intelligence chief must be transferred. Following this, Rao, who was considered close to Naidu, was given the post of ACB DG. It was not only IPS officers who were shifted. Subrahmanyam also issued orders transferring Satish Chandra, Special Chief Secretary to former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Principal Secretary G Sai Prasad, and Secretaries M Girija Shankar and A V Rajamouli, from the CMO. While Special Grade Deputy Collector (retired) P. Krishna Mohan Reddy was appointed as the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister, 2006-batch IAS officer K Dhanunjaya Reddy, who was heading the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation, was appointed as Additional Secretary with immediate effect. Meanwhile, senior bureaucrat Anil Chandra Punetha, who was the Chief Secretary under Naidu before being shifted by the EC, was relieved of his duties as Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Mineral Development Corporation Limited as of May 31, on attaining the age of superannuation. Principal Secretary Shamsher Singh Rawat who was handling the Social Welfare Department was posted as the Principal Finance Secretary, while IAS officer Solomon Raj was appointed as a Secretary to the Chief Minister. Earlier this week, it was reported that Jagan was likely to pick Stephen Ravindra, a 1999-batch IPS officer presently working in Telangana, to be the state's Intelligence Chief. Stephen also served as the Chief Security Officer (CSO) for Jagan's father and former AP CM YS Rajasekhar Reddy. While Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao agreed to the proposal, the Centre will now need to clear the inter-state deputation.

Body 2:

Politics

Stalin had attended the swearing-in of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy in Vijayawada on Thursday.

TNM Staff

Even as YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister on Thursday, he said that DMK chief and Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu MK Stalin would hopefully be sworn in as Chief Minister in the neighbouring state. Stalin had attended the oath-taking ceremony in Vijayawada, even as both leaders gave PM Modi’s swearing-in a miss. According to one report in the Times of India, Jagan said, “With God’s blessing and my prayers, he (Stalin) will be sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu." Stalin, who was seated on stage with other leaders, including Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, reportedly smiled back. The YSRCP chief had swept to power in Andhra Pradesh last week, winning 151 seats in the 175-member Legislative Assembly, in addition to 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats. Earlier on Thursday, Stalin had tweeted saying he was delighted to be at the event. "On behalf of the Tamil people and DMK, I wish him a successful tenure as Andhra Chief Minister filled with pro-poor and pro-farmer schemes in the footsteps of his father and former Chief Minister YSR." he wrote. Delighted to attend the swearing-in ceremony of @ysjagan at Vijayawada. On behalf of the Tamil people and DMK, I wish him a successful tenure as Andhra Chief Minister filled with pro-poor and pro-farmer schemes in the footsteps of his father and former Chief Minister YSR. pic.twitter.com/VWkqoiXwBq — M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) May 30, 2019 Despite emerging the third largest party in the Lok Sabha polls winning 37 of 38 seats in the state, it was reported that the DMK chief was not invited to the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. Speaking to The Hindu, one senior DMK leader said, “We were not expecting an invitation from them and neither were we dying to attend it anyway. All parliamentarians as a norm are called for the events. Our invitation cards were dumped at the Tamil Nadu house and not sent individually to any of us.” Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami and actor Rajinikanth were present to witness the oath-taking at the Rashtrapati Bhavan

Body 2:

Crime

The accused tried to cover up the crime and make it seem like a suicide.

Balakrishna Ganeshan

Tension prevailed in Singampalli village of Rangampeta mandal in East Godavari district, after a Dalit man belonging to SC Mala caste was killed on suspicion of allegedly stealing mangoes. After killing him, the accused tried to cover up the crime and make it appear like suicide by hanging him to a fan in the Panchayat office. The incident took place on May 29, but it came to light on Wednesday. Police have arrested 10 persons including the staff of the Panchayat office for abetting the crime. Human rights activist Rajesh Yedida, who works for the organisation Human Rights Forum, visited the village as part of a fact-finding team. According to him, on May 29 morning, the victim, Bikki Srinivas, a resident of Gollala Mamidada which falls under Pedapudi mandal, went to drop his wife and children to Vadlamuru village--the native village of his wife. While returning, he stopped by an orchard in Singampalli village to take some rest. “He picked up some mangoes which had fallen due to heavy winds. On noticing this, the guard posted there accused him of stealing and detained him,” said Rajesh. Srinivas was taken to the Panchayat office and brutally assaulted. “When the accused realised that Srinivas had died due to the injuries inflicted on him, they attempted to make it appear like a suicide. So they hung him using a blanket to the ceiling fan,” Rajesh said. However, by then, villagers of Gollala Mamidada came to know about the murder and they started gathering near the panchayat office demanding justice. Subsequently, two of the accused surrendered before the police over fears of being lynched by the mob. The crowd refused to leave Singampalli until police arrested all the accused including the panchayat office staff. Speaking to TNM, Pedappuram ACP Rama Rao said, “The orchard was taken on lease by Kadiyala Nageswara Rao. We have arrested him along with seven other Panchayat staff based on a complaint from the victim’s wife.” Police have arrested the accused under three sections of IPC — 302 (murder), 342 (wrongful confinement) and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. “A total of 10 persons were involved in the crime,” the DSP added. Meanwhile, the Revenue Department has given a compensation of Rs 4.25 lakh.

Body 2:

Environment

This year, around 80,000 turtle eggs were collected from the city’s beaches and housed in hatcheries made especially for these eggs.

Gautam Bharadwaj

Image for representation

69,874 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings were released into the sea from beaches in Visakhapatnam as part of the Ridley Sea Turtle Conservation project by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department (APFD). This year, around 80,000 turtle eggs were collected from the city’s beaches and housed in hatcheries made especially for these eggs. APFD Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Visakhapatnam, CP Vinodkumar said, “These hatcheries are established every December, when the turtles come and lay their eggs, and they are run till May, when they all hatch and are sent into the sea.” The APFD’s initiative was started in 2015 and is funded by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Simhadri, a Public Sector Undertaking, as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility. The APFD is also partnered with the Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA), an NGO. Pradeep Nath of the VSPCA said, “There is a 20% increase this year in the number of turtles compared to last year.” However he also mentioned that there was a 20% decrease in the number of turtles in the beaches of Visakhapatnam, and this needs to be addressed. This could be attributed to the increasing tourism in the city and pollution of the beaches, he said. These turtles migrate in massive numbers to the Bay of Bengal every December and throng several beaches along the east coast. Odisha’s coastline is visited by several hundred thousand turtles every year, which is the highest among all other states. The DFO also said, “Our conservation efforts are not only in Vizag, but also in the beaches of East and West Godavari, Nellore, Ongole, Prakasam.” The turtles lay their eggs in sand pits on these beaches and go back to the sea after which volunteers of this conservation project track the eggs, following the footprints of the turtles. The volunteers then house the eggs in artificial sand pits in the hatcheries, and release the turtles into the sea around 100 days after they hatch. The conservation of these species is of special importance because they are classified as vulnerable in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) list of threatened species. This classification implies that these turtles are at high risk of extinction because of humans and require human intervention to survive.

Body 2:

Protest

The government reportedly owes the Corporation Rs 600 crore due to the losses suffered by the latter.

TNM Staff

YouTube screenshot

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) workers have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from June 13, if the government doesn't roll back its decision of downsizing the staff and if it fails to clear all the pending dues. The government reportedly owes the Corporation Rs 600 crore due to the losses suffered by the latter. They also demanded that the government should merge the Corporation with the state government — one of their long-standing demands. APSRTC convenor, Damodar Rao, on Friday told media that the bus services would stop from June 12 evening, and all the employees would boycott their duties. He said that on June 13, the first day of the strike, they would stop long service buses. The convenor asked the new Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to respond on the issue and concede to their long pending demands. Besides, he asked Jagan to fulfil his promise of merging the APSRTC with the government."The Chief Minister should take initiative and merge the APSRTC with the state government. This was promised by Jagan Mohan Reddy while he was on the padayatra." Damodar said, according to The Hans India. He demanded that the state government should take measures to help the APSRTC recover from the losses. Reportedly, the government is yet to clear arrears pending from 2013. The previous TDP-led government had plans to remove 4,000 employees from service, which the APSRTC has been strongly opposing. The other demand of the APSRTC is to withdraw their decision of hiking the bus fares. The APSRTC has a charter of 13-demands, which they want the government to fulfil. Meanwhile, the cabinet of the YSRCP-led government is likely to be formed on June 8, according to reports. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy took oath as the CM of Andhra Pradesh on May 30.

Body 2:

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Tension in AP village after Dalit man killed for allegedly stealing mangoes

As Olive Ridley nesting season ends, nearly 70,000 turtles released from Vizag coast

APSRTC staff threaten to go on indefinite strike from June 13 if demands not met