After Anna attack, Pawar quits GoM on corruption

“I will be happy if you relieve me from all GoMs, including that GoM (on corruption),” Pawar had remarked earlier while replying to a query from reporters whether he was disturbed by Hazare’s comments that the minister should not be part of the GoM on Corruption.

Veteran Indian social activist, Anna Hazare sits during his ‘fast unto death’ against corruption in New Delhi – AFP

Under attack from social activist and anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare, Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on Wednesday quit the Group of Ministers(GoM) on corruption, saying he does not want to be “associated” with the panel anymore.

Pawar, the NCP supremo, said that he has written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh informing him that he does not want to be remain with the Ministerial panel. The panel is headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

“I have told Prime Minister in writing about quitting the GoM on corruption. I have informed him that I don’t want to remain anymore with the panel. I don’t want to be associated with it. The chapter is closed from my side”, Pawar told PTI tonight,

His action came hours after he said that he would be happy to be relieved from all ministerial panels, including that on corruption.

“I will be happy if you relieve me from all GoMs, including that GoM (on corruption),” Pawar had remarked earlier while replying to a query from reporters whether he was disturbed by Hazare’s comments that the minister should not be part of the GoM on Corruption.

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Hazare(72) had said on Monday, “A minister like Sharad Pawar, who is known for possessing large amounts of land in Maharashtra, is heading a committee that will draft the (Lok Pal) Bill!”

On an indefinite fast here since yesterday, Hazare is pressing for enactment of the Lok Pal Bill with stringent measures against corruption.

The social activist, supported by eminent persons, including Kiran Bedi, has been demanding that the drafting committee for the Lok Pal Bill to tackle corruption should include members of civil society.

The ministerial panel on corruption is headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and also comprises Home Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister A K Antony, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M K Alagiri and Telecommunications Minister Kapil Sibal.

Baba responding well, stable: Doctors

According to the evening medical bulletin issued by the Director of Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, spiritual leader Satya Sai Baba’s condition is stable, though he continues to be on a ventilator.

The bulletin added that though the Godman was suffering from multi-organ dysfunction, he was responding well to the treatment given to him.

The bulletin added that the spiritual leader was still on CRRT (Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy) to help his kidney function. Wednesday evening was the first time that the doctors released precise details about the Sathya Sai Baba’s health condition and the treatment being administered to him.

SSSIHMS Director AN Safaya however said that while the godman was showing signs of improvement, it was not possible to say how long he will have to stay in the Intensive Care Unit.

‘We are carrying out all necessary tests on him and he is being provided the best available treatment. We are keeping a close watch on his health round-the-clock. We are doing whatever is humanly possible,’ Dr Safaya said.

Another doctor, Ravi Raj said while the spiritual leader’s heartbeat and blood pressure were normal, the infection in his lungs and the accumulation of water was a matter of concern. ‘We are continuing CRRT to help his kidney function properly,’ the doctor said. Satya Sai Baba was admitted to the hospital on March 28.

Dr Safaya also stated that the SSSIHMS cannot allowed pictures or video footage of the Baba inside the ICU as this would be tantamount to abuse of human rights.

Mysoora to take on Jagan in Kadapa

Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday announced his party candidates for Kadapa parliamentary and Pulivendula Assembly constituencies, for which the by-elections are scheduled to be held on May 8.

Talking to media persons at his residence before leaving for election campaign to Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on behalf of AIADMK, Mr Naidu stated that the party has decided to field Rajya Sabha member and senior leader MV Mysoora Reddy from Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency and Ravindranath Reddy (popularly known as B Tech Ravi) from Pulivendula Assembly constituencies.

The TDP president stated that the party candidates were chosen after taking the opinion of the party leaders from the district leaders and also taking into account the candidate’s chances of winning the two seats.

Mr Naidu appealed to party cadre of the Kadapa district to work hard and ensure that the party candidates win the by-election. He called to all the party workers to sink any difference among themselves and work towards the party’s objectives.

Stating that the party was strong in Kadapa district, the TDP president stated the party would highlight corruption in the by-elections. ‘It is a fight between corruption and honesty, violence and peace,’ Mr Naidu stated. He also expressed confidence that the TDP candidates’ would win the by-elections with thumping majority.

Alleging that the Congress had hatched conspiracy to lure TDP members, the Kandula brothers; Rajamohan Reddy, Sivanada Reddy and Ramasubba Reddy, Mr Naidu stated the Congress party unable to find a candidate who could win against the former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy. This is the reason that the Congress is trying to lure the Kandula brothers, the former chief minister stated.

According to reports, Kandula Sivananda Reddy has demanded that Mr Naidu name him for the Pulivendula Assembly and his brother Rajamohan Reddy for Kadapa Parliamentary constituency. The brothers also said that they would be willing to risk a loss provided Mr Naidu agrees to nominate one of the brothers’ names as a Rajya Sabha candidate when the time comes, in the event they lost to Mr Jaganmohan Reddy or to former Pulivendula MLA YS Vijayalakshmi.

However, reports further say that Mr Naidu was not keen to bow down to the brothers’ pressure tactics and rejected their proposal. According to sources, the Kandula brothers are making efforts to join Congress party if it opts to name one of them as its candidate for the by-elections. Sources further say that senior PRP leader C Ramachandraiah has been deputed to persuade the Kandula brothers to Congress party.

Meanwhile, Mr Naidu also expressed solidarity to social activists Anna Hazare, whose hunger fast against corruption entered its second day in New Delhi. Anna Hazare is demanding introduction of Lok Pal to check corruption at high levels. TDP leader in the Lok Sabha Nama Nageswara Rao and Rajya Sabha member Y Sujana Choudhary are accompanying Mr Naidu to Coimbatore for the election campaign.

CM to review land deal with Brahmani

For the third day consecutive day, the Andhra Pradesh state Assembly witnessed noisy scenes and vociferous arguments over the alleged twisted land deals and was adjourned again on Friday without transacting any scheduled business. The entire opposition unanimously demanded ordering of Joint Legislature Committee to probe the alleged land deals. The Chair could not control the enraged opposition particularly Leader of the Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu whose outburst reverberated in the House. Bowing to the escalated pressure mounted by the Members of the entire opposition, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy informed that he would make an announcement on the particulars related to the controversial land allocations. He also categorically stated that he would certainly take the opposition leaders’ advices which would serve the public interests. The Chief Minister stated that he would review Brahmani Infrateck land allotments. He however clarified that he would review only on the system of land allotment and not on the land allocations as alleged.
This sparked off a furore in the House with Mr Chandrababu Naidu taking the Treasury Benches to task over its negligence to concede to their demand for ordering a Joint Legislature Committee to probe into the unlawful allocation of lands in Hyderabad to the business partners of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s son and former MP from Kadapa YS Jaganmohan Reddy.
The House was a witness to the heated arguments between the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Minister over the burning issue. Mr Naidu alleged that kick-backs were being received by the vested interests in the unlawful allocations of the prime land in the city and told the House that pressure would be mounted on the government until a Joint House Committee was ordered to check the said allotments.
He pointed out that there was a big hand behind all the ‘land allotments’ in which there were lot of irregularities resulting in the misuse of thousands of crores of public money. ‘This is money laundering,’ Mr Naidu charged. Insisting on tabling the particulars of the said land allocations, Mr Naidu pointed out that currently discussions on ‘corruption’ and scams were a hot subject for debate in all Legislatures in the country and stressed the urgency to inform all these particulars to the people.
Reacting to these allegations, Deputy Speaker Nadendla Manohar said that despite government’s assurance to the effect that a review would be held in the said issue, it was not proper to stall the House. Finding that the opposition unrelenting in their protest, Mr Manohar adjourned the House for a short break. As soon as the house reassembled after the short break, the issue occupied centre-stage again.
Major Industries Minister J Geetha Reddy informed that the Chief Minister would make an announcement on the contentious issue. Dissatisfied with her reply, CPM MLA Julakanti Rangareddy said that the government should testify its honesty by ordering the appointment of a JLC immediately.
Lok Satta MLA Jayaprakash Narayan also demanded that JLC be ordered into the whole land issue. Stating that it was not proper to place the public resources into the hands of a few self-centred land sharks that too when the prime land was scarce, he deplored that the natural resources turned into corrupt centres. On the same lines, BJP MLA G Kishen Reddy too demanded a JLC probe into the land scam. He suggested that the lands given away for a throwaway price earlier should be taken back by the government.
Stating that mere ‘review’ of the land deals was scant, Mr Kishen Reddy also demanded that there should be a change in the industrialization system itself which was affecting the agriculture as green and fertile lands were being taken away by industrialists. Earlier, the TDP Members trooped into the Well of the House and surrounded the Speaker’s podium.
Holding placards, they raised their voice in favour of a JLC in the alleged land scam. Both the CPI and CPM members also supported the main opposition. Mr Manohar’s plea for their cooperation fell on the deaf ears. Minister for Legislative Affairs Duddilla Sridhar Babu also intervened and told them that the Chief Minister would make an announcement on the subject but opposition members did not give in, leading to the House being adjourned for the day, without transacting any business.

Govt focused on internal problems- Babu

Extending solidarity to Communist Party of India (Marxist) state secretary BV Raghavulu, whose indefinite hunger fast entered the second day on Friday, Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu stated the people of the state would give a fitting lesson to the indifferent government in next elections for its failure to address their problems.
Talking to media persons after visiting the Indira Park to express solidarity to Mr Raghavulu who has launched his fast to press the government to act and solve people’s problems, Mr Naidu lashed out that the state government has been ignoring burning issues facing the people. ‘The government is more focused on solving the internal squabbles in the ruling party and protecting the Chief Minister’s chair,’ the TDP chief stated.
Mr Naidu said the people of the state are eagerly waiting for some steps from the government to address their problems. ‘However, the government is unconcerned about the people and more interested in tackling dissensions in the party,’ the former chief minister stated.
He rued that the attempts by his party to highlight the issues facing the people in the Assembly, the August body, were met with failure since the Members chose to boycott sessions on Telangana and some other issues. Mr Naidu warned that ‘if the government fails to respond to people’s problems, the people of state would teach a lesson to it in the next elections.’
Earlier, a team of doctors sent by the government had visited the Indira Park to conduct checks on the fasting Left leader and his supporters. However, the Left leaders refused to undergo medical checks.
The CPM leader has launched the hunger fast to press the government to appoint chairpersons and members to SC/ST and Women’s Commission, identity cards for tenant farmers, enhancement of wages of over five lakh workers employed on contract and contingency basis and review of lands allotments to multinational companies.

KCR sold away himself to Congress: Krishna Madiga

Madiga Reservation Porata Samithi leader Manda Krishna Madiga on Friday alleged that Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao was sold himself to the Congress party. Talking to media persons here, Mr Krishna Madiga stated that this was clearly evident during the Legislative Council elections as three MLAs, believed to be from the TRS, resorted to cross voting, cheating the Telangana people.  Mr Krishna Madiga further said that the cross voting has led to doubts springing into the minds of the people of Telangana. He wondered how the TRS president could control the four crore people of Telangana when he could not even control his 11 MLAs. The MRPS leader alleged that KCR was the ‘main hurdle’ in the formation of Telangana state and demanded that TRS chief resign to from the party presidency. Mr Krishna Madiga further said that the TRS leaders can opt for party Floor Leader in the Assembly Etela Rajender as party president.  Continuing his tirade against KCR, Mr Krishna Madiga stated the TRS leader has lost the confidence of Telangana people as he mortgaged the aspirations and interests of Telangana region people. ‘If Telangana people believe the words of KCR and his family, their dream of separate statehood will never be materialized,’ he stated.
He also suspected that KCR clinched a `secret pact’ with the Congress and tried to postpone the Million March and delay the non-cooperation agitation of Telangana employees till May. Condemning the destroying of statues of Telugu luminaries during the Million March on Tank Bund on March 10, the MRPS leader described it as heinous act and it would hurt the sentiments of all Telugu people.

DS suspends 13 EG members for dissension

Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas on Friday suspended 13 members from East Godavari district for working against party candidates during the recent MLC elections.  In a press statement, the PCC stated that suspension orders have been issued against the members after confirming that they worked against the officially announced candidates in the elections. The suspended members include former MLA Kudipudi Chittabai, who contested against officially announced candidate, former minister Jakkampudi Rammohan Rao, Jakkampudi Vijaya Lakshmi, former MPs Mudragada Padmanabham, Thota Gopalakrishna, Bucchi Maheswara Rao, former MLA Varapula Subba Rao, Chirla Jagga Reddy, District Mahila Congress Wing president Kolli Nirmalakumari, District Libraries Association chairman Byeraju Padmaraju, DCMN president Reddy Prasad, PCC Joint secretary Reddy Radha Krishna and PCC member Katika Reddy Raju.

Kiran blames Jagan loyalists for cross-voting

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday said some Congress legislators loyal to former MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy indulged in cross-voting to defeat the party candidate in the elections to legislative council. He told reporters that he would complain to the central leadership about the legislators who did not vote according to the directions given to them. The party, however, would not initiate disqualification proceedings against them, he said.
Many of the 22 Congress legislators loyal to Jagan, as the son of the late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy is popularly called, are believed to have indulged in cross-voting, making things difficult for the party’s candidate Mohammed Jani. The Congress had asked them to cast their first preference vote to Jani but most of them voted for Altaf Hyder Razvi, the candidate of the party’s ally Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM).
Jani, however, scraped through by a narrow margin over opposition Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) candidate Pratibha Bharati in the elimination round. All seven candidates of the Congress and its allies were elected to the upper house. Two candidates of the TDP and one of its ally Communist Party of India (CPI) were also elected. The elections to the 10 council seats were held Thursday and the results were announced in the night.
The chief minister suggested to the Election Commission that the ballot system for council elections should be made similar to the one followed for Rajya Sabha elections. He said cross-voting can be checked by making it compulsory for every voter to show his vote to party agent before casting it.
Kiran Kumar Reddy also announced that Jani would be the Congress’ coordinator for coming by-elections to the Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula assembly seats. By picking up Jani, the Congress plans to target Jagan in Kadapa constituency which has a sizeable chunk of Muslim voters.
Jagan and his mother Vijayalaxmi quit the Congress and also Lok Sabha and assembly seats respectively in November last year. ‘The high command is looking into the issue of some MLAs meeting Jagan who belongs to another party,’ Kiran Kumar Reddy said. Jagan last week floated the YSR Congress party.

No T Bill in Budget session – Bansal

The Centre on Friday hinted that a Bill on separate Telangana may not be introduced in the Budget Session of Parliament. Speaking to media persons here, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said that, ‘thus far, the Bill on Telangana does not figure in the list of Bills to be introduced during the Budget Session.’ Mr Bansal added that the list is ‘tentative’ and such a Bill could be added to it if the Union Home Ministry proposes.

Mr Bansal’s words come even as Congress MLAs, who had reached the National Capital in a bid to ‘influence’ the party High Command on February 14, returned back to Hyderabad, empty handed. The ‘revelation’ is expected to give a further impetus to the pro-Telangana parties, particularly the Telangana Rashtra Samithi, to target the Centre and accuse it of trying to dillydallying taking a decision on the issue.

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Manmohan Sing had stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest by saying that a consensus should be first reached before a firm decision is taken on the separate statehood demand. The demand of the introduction of a separate Telangana Bill had intensified after the Justice BN Srikrishna Committee had filed its Reports on the future of Andhra Pradesh on December 30, 2010.

The intensified demands had also seen chaos in the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Thursday, with the TDP and TRS MLAs trying to obstruct Governor ESL Narasimhan from delivering his address to a Joint Sitting of the Legislature.

Jagan’s deeksha on fee arrears begins

Demanding that the government ‘immediately’ reimburse the professional colleges to ensure that they continue to function, former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Friday began his week-long ‘Deeksha’ at the ‘Varalakshmi Pranganam’ at Indira Park.

The site of the camp where the Deeksha is being held has been renamed the ‘Varalakshmi Pranganam’ by Mr Jaganmohan Reddy as homage to the B Tech student who allegedly committed suicide after being harassed by her college for being unable to pay her fees.

The Deeksha began with Mr Jaganmohan Reddy garlanding the statue of his father at the Punjagutta Cross roads, besides the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at Tank Bund, at 11:30 AM. As many as 19 Legislators and other leaders were present at the Deeksha camp, besides students and parents. During the day, Varalakshmi’s parents too made their way to the Deeksha site. The weeping parents urged Mr Jaganmohan Reddy to ensure that other students in the state do not take the extreme step which their daughter was forced to take.

Konda Surekha, Konda Murali, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, Amarnath Reddy, Kapu Ramachandra Reddy, Babu Rao, Ashok Babu, Ravi, Gurnath Reddy, Siva Prasad Reddy, Srikanth Reddy, Srinivasulu, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, Jayasudha Kapoor, Adinarayana Reddy, Shoba Nagi Reddy and Katasani Ramireddy, besides Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy and Balanagi Reddy from the TDP were among the leaders who were seen at the Deeksha camp.