Paritala Ravindra Pics

Johar Ravanna.... Johar Johar Ravanna........

ఉప సమరంలో జగన్ వర్గ ఎమ్మెల్యేలంతా గెలుపొందేనా?

రాష్ట్రంలో త్వరలో ఉప ఎన్నికలు జరిగే అవకాశాలు మెండుగా కనిపిస్తున్నాయి. ప్రధాన ప్రతిపక్షమైన తెలుగుదేశం పార్టీ ముఖ్యమంత్రి కిరణ్ కుమార్ రెడ్డి ప్రభుత్వానికి వ్యతిరేకంగా కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీకి చెందిన వైఎస్.జగన్మోహన్ రెడ్డి వర్గం ఎమ్మెల్యేలు ఓటు వేశారు. అలాగే, ప్రజారాజ్యం పార్టీకి చెందిన ఒక శాసనసభ సభ్యురాలు కూడా ఇదే విధంగా విప్‌ను ధిక్కరించారు. వీరిపై అనర్హత వేటు వేసే సూచనలు స్పష్టంగా కనిపిస్తున్నాయి. 

ఆ ప్రకారంగా విప్‌ను ధిక్కరించిన ఓటు వేసిన 16 కాంగ్రెస్ ఎమ్మెల్యేలపై అనర్హత వేటు వేస్తే మరో ఆరు నెలల్లో ఉప ఎన్నికలు నిర్వహించాల్సి ఉంటుంది. ఈ ఉప ఎన్నికల్లో తిరిగి వారంతా గెలుపొందుతారా లేదా అన్నది ఇపుడు సర్వత్రా చర్చనీయాంశంగా మారింది. పార్టీల విప్‌ను ధిక్కరించిన 16 మంది కాంగ్రెస్ శాససభ్యులు, ఒక ప్రజారాజ్యం పార్టీ శాసనసభ్యురాలు, పార్టీ వ్యతిరేక కార్యకలాపాలకు పాల్పడినట్లు ఆరోపణలు ఎదుర్కొంటున్న తెలుగుదేశం శాసనసభ్యుడు అనర్హతకు గురయ్యే అవకాశాలు మెండుగా కనిపిస్తున్నాయి. 

ఇప్పటికే జగన్ వర్గానికి చెందిన తెలుగుదేశం శాసనసభ్యుడు నల్లపురెడ్డి ప్రసన్నకుమార్ రెడ్డి రాజీనామాను స్పీకర్ ఆమోదించారు. తెలంగాణ ప్రాంత శాసనసభ్యుల రాజీనామా వల్ల, ఓ సభ్యుడి మృతి వల్ల ఆరు స్థానాలు ఇప్పటికే ఖాళీ అయ్యాయి. మొత్తం ఒకేసారి రాష్ట్రంలో 24 స్థానాలకు ఉప ఎన్నికలు జరిగే అవకాశాలు ఉన్నాయి. 

వీటిలో సీమాంధ్ర ప్రాంతంలోనే అత్యధిక స్థానాలకు ఉప ఎన్నికలు జరుగుతాయి. ఏడు స్థానాలు తెలంగాణకు సంబంధించినవి. తెలంగాణను వదిలేస్తే సీమాంధ్రలో జరిగే ఉప ఎన్నికల్లో వైఎస్సార్ కాంగ్రెస్ అభ్యర్థులుగా అనర్హత వేటుకు గురయ్యే శాసనసభ్యులే మళ్లీ బరిలో నిలిచే అవకాశాలు మెండుగా ఉన్నాయి. ఈ ఉప ఎన్నికల్లో కడప, పులివెందుల ఫలితాలనే పునరావృత్తం చేస్తామని వారు ధీమా వ్యక్తం చేస్తున్నారు. పైపెచ్చు.. మెజారిటీ స్థానాలను వైఎస్సార్ కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ గెలుచుకుంటుందని రాజకీయ విశ్లేషకులు సైతం చెపుతున్నారు. 

ఆ నమ్మకంతోనే జగన్మోహన్ రెడ్డి కూడా ఉన్నారు. అంతేకాకుండా తన కోసం తమ పదవులను తృణప్రాయంగా త్యజించిన వారిని తిరిగి సభకు పంపాలని ఆయన కంకణం కట్టుకున్నారు. అలాగే, తెలంగాణలో జరిగే ఉప ఎన్నికల్లో తెలంగాణ రాష్ట్ర సమితి సత్తా చాటుతుందని అంటున్నారు. వైఎస్ జగన్ మాత్రం కాంగ్రెస్, తెలుగుదేశం పార్టీలను మట్టి కరిపించాలనే కసితో ఉన్నారు. అయితే, జగన్ పార్టీ తరపున బరిలోకి దిగే కాంగ్రెస్ మాజీ సభ్యులు తిరిగి గెలుపొందుతారా లేదా అన్నదే ఇపుడు ప్రధాన చర్చగా ఉంది.

రెండ్రోజుల్లో ఢిల్లీకి కేసీఆర్... ఢిల్లీలో కేకేఆర్.. తెలంగాణ కొలిక్కి

కాంగ్రెస్ అధిష్టానం తెలంగాణ సమస్యను తేల్చేందుకు తీవ్ర కసరత్తు చేస్తున్నట్లు తెలుస్తోంది. పార్లమెంటు సమావేశాల సమయంలో కాంగ్రెస్ హైకమాండ్ తెరాస చీఫ్ కేసీఆర్‌తో తెలంగాణపై చర్చించినట్లు సమాచారం. కేసీఆర్ ముందు పలు ఆఫ్షన్లు కూడా పెట్టినట్లు భోగట్టా. 

ఈ ప్రత్యామ్నాయాలతో హైదరాబాద్ వచ్చిన కేసీఆర్ నేరుగా తన ఫామ్‌హౌస్‌కి వెళ్లి గత మూడు రోజులుగా అజ్ఞాతంలో గడిపారు. ఈ సమయంలో కీలక నేతలతో తెలంగాణ పరిష్కారంపై అక్కడి నుంచే మంతనాలు జరిపినట్లు సమాచారం. కాంగ్రెస్ కోర్ కమిటీలో కీలక సభ్యుడు అహ్మద్ పటేల్ సైతం కేసీఆర్‌తో మంతనాలు జరిపినట్లు తెలుస్తోంది. 

ఈ చర్చల అనంతరమే కాంగ్రెస్ హైకమాండ్ కిరణ్ కుమార్ రెడ్డికి ఢిల్లీకి రమ్మంటూ కబురు పంపినట్లు చెపుతున్నారు. ఢిల్లీకి వెళ్లిన కేకేఆర్ రాష్ట్ర కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ వ్యవహారాల ఇన్‌ఛార్జి గులాంనబీ ఆజాద్‌తో సుదీర్ఘంగా చర్చలు సాగించారు. ఈ చర్చలో తెలంగాణ, జగన్ వర్గం ఎమ్మెల్యేలపై వేటు అంశాలు చర్చకు వచ్చినట్లు తెలుస్తోంది. 

మరోవైపు కేసీఆర్‌తో మంత్రాంగ చేసిన పిమ్మట కాంగ్రెస్ హైకమాండ్ కేకేఆర్‌తో పాటు పీసీసి చీఫ్ బొత్సను కూడా ఢిల్లీకి రావాల్సిందిగా కబురు పంపినట్లు సమాచారం. రేపు లేదా ఎల్లుండి ఢిల్లీకి రావలసిందిగా కేసీఆర్‌కు కాంగ్రెస్ హైకమాండ్ కబురు చేసినట్లు సంబంధిత వర్గాల కథనం. మొత్తమ్మీద తెలంగాణ సమస్య పరిష్కార మార్గంపై కేసీఆర్‌ను దగ్గర కూచోబెట్టుకుని తేల్చేయాలని కాంగ్రెస్ ఆలోచన చేస్తున్నట్లు అర్థమవుతోంది.

జగన్‌ వర్గంతో కాంగ్రెస్‌ జగడం

* 16 మందిపై వేటుకు రంగం సిద్ధం
* ఎమ్మెల్యేలపై స్పీకర్‌కు కంప్లైంట్‌
* వేటుపై వీడని సస్పెన్స్‌!
* ఈనెలాఖరులో ఉంటుందని ప్రచారం
* పూతలపట్టు రవిపై కనికరం!
* సోమారపు పిటిషన్‌పై డైలామా!

ఊహించినట్లే జగన్‌ వర్గంపై వేటు వేసేందుకు కాంగ్రెస్‌ డిసైడ్‌అయింది. ఈ మేరకు స్పీకర్‌కు ఫిర్యాదు చేయడంతో సస్పెన్స్‌ వీడింది. నయానో... భయానో బుజ్జగించేందుకు ఏడాది కాలంగా చేసిన ప్రయత్నం అసెంబ్లీ సాక్షిగా బెడిసి కొట్టడంతో వారిని వదిలించుకునేందుకే మొగ్గు చూపింది. హైకమాండ్‌ కూడా గ్రీన్‌ సిగ్నల్‌ ఇచ్చేయడంతో క్షణం ఆలస్యం చేయకుండా వేటుపై కంప్లైంట్‌ ఇచ్చింది.

గత ఏడాది కాలంగా కాంగ్రెస్‌కు కంట్లో నలుసులా మారిన 16 మంది సొంత పార్టీ MLAలపై యాక్షన్‌ మొదలు పెట్టింది హైకమాండ్‌. TDP ప్రవేశ పెట్టిన అవిశ్వాస తీర్మానానికి అనుకూలంగా ఓటేయడాన్ని తీవ్రంగా పరిగణించింది. జగన్‌కు జై కొట్టిన 16 మంది MLaలపై అనర్హత పిటిషన్‌తో వేటు వేయాలని స్పీకర్‌ నాదెండ్ల మనోహర్‌కు కంప్లైంట్‌ చేశారు విప్‌ కొండ్రు మురళి. 

అవిశ్వాస తీర్మానంపై ఓటింగ్‌ జరిగినప్పటి నుంచి వీరి వేటుపై తర్జన భర్జనలు పడ్డ కాంగ్రెస్‌ నేతలందరి మధ్యా వేటు వేయాలన్న ఏకాభిప్రాయం కుదరడంతో హైకమాండ్‌ తక్షణమే గ్రీన్‌ సిగ్నల్‌ ఇచ్చేసింది. దీంతో నిన్న ఉదయం నుంచి సాయంత్రం వరకు తీవ్ర కసరత్తు చేసిన అధికార పార్టీ రాత్రి విప్‌ కొండ్రు మురళీతో అనర్హత పిటిషన్‌ దాఖలు చేయించింది. 

పిల్లి సుభాష్‌ చంద్రబోష్‌, మేకపాటి చంద్రశేఖర్‌రెడ్డి, బాలినేని శ్రీనివాసరెడ్డి, మేకతోటి సుచరిత, గొల్ల బాబూరావు, అమర్‌నాథ్‌రెడ్డి, కాపు రామచంద్రారెడ్డి, చెన్నకేశవరెడ్డి, టి.బాలరాజు, ఎం.ప్రసాదరాజు, శ్రీనివాసులు, కొండా సురేఖ, పిన్నెల్లి రామకృష్ణారెడ్డి, ధర్మాన కృష్ణదాసు, శ్రీకాంత్‌రెడ్డి, గుర్నాధరెడ్డిలపై వేటు వేయాలని విజ్ఞప్తి చేస్తూ విడివిడిగా లేఖలందించారు. 

చిత్తూరు జిల్లా పూతలపట్టు MLA డాక్టర్‌ రవి అనారోగ్య కారణాల వల్లే అవిశ్వాసం సందర్భంగా ఓటింగ్‌కి దూరంగా ఉన్నట్లు వివరణ ఇవ్వడంతో సాటిస్‌ ఫై అయిన హైకమాండ్‌ ఆయనను కనికరించింది. అయితే కరీంనగర్ జిల్లా రామగుండం MLA సోమారపు సత్యనారాయణ ఇండిపెండెంట్‌గా విజయం సాధించినప్పటికీ... కాంగ్రెస్‌కు అనుబంధ సభ్యుడిగా వ్యవహరిస్తున్నారు. 

మొన్న విప్‌ ఉల్లంఘించడంతో ఆయనపై అనర్హత పిటిషన్‌పై మరింత ఆలోచించి నిర్ణయం తీసుకోనున్నారు. ఇక పార్టీలోనే కొనసాగుతానని ప్రకటించిన కడప జిల్లా జమ్మలమడుగు ఆదినారాయణ రెడ్డిపై గతంలో ఇచ్చిన అనర్హత పిటిషన్‌ ఉపసంహరించుకుంటామని విప్‌ కొండ్రు మురళి వెల్లడించారు. 

కీలకమలుపు తిరిగిన బాబు ఆస్తుల కేసు

* సీబీఐ విచారణ తాత్కాలికంగా నిలిపివేయాలన్న హైకోర్టు

* ఈడీ, సిఐడీ సహా అన్ని దర్యాప్తులకు తాత్కాలిక బ్రేక్‌
* మధ్యంతర ఉత్తర్వులు జారీ చేసిన న్యాయస్థానం
* కోర్టులో వాడివేడిగా వాదనలు
* కేసు విచారణ రేపటికి వాయిదా
రేపు వాదనలు వినిపించనున్న విజయమ్మ న్యాయవాదులు

బాబు ఆస్తుల కేసు కీలక మలుపు తిరిగింది. సీబీఐ ప్రాధమిక విచారణ తాత్కాలికంగా ఆపాలంటూ హైకోర్టు మధ్యంతర ఉత్తర్వులు ఇచ్చింది. గత కొన్ని రోజులుగా ఈ కేసులో విచారణలు వాడివేడిగా సాగుతున్నాయి. ఈ నేపథ్యంలోనే సీబీఐ సహా సీఐడీ, ఈడీ అన్ని విచారణలూ నిలుపుదల చేయాలంటూ హైకోర్టు ఆదేశించింది. ఈ కేసులో ఇంకా విజయమ్మ తరపు లాయర్‌ వాదన వినిపించాల్సి ఉంది. 

రేపు ఆ వాదనలు కూడా పూర్తయ్యాక కోర్టు తుది నిర్ణయం ప్రకటించే అవకాశం ఉంది. అటు, బాబు కేసును హైకోర్టులో కాకుండా వేరే చోటుకు మార్చాలంటూ సుప్రీంకోర్టులో విజయమ్మ వేసిన పిటిషన్‌ రేపు విచారణకు రానుంది. ఇంతలో.. హైకోర్టు మధ్యంతర ఉత్తర్వులు రావడంతో పరిణామాలు ఆసక్తికరంగా మారుతున్నాయి.

Shankar Rao denies writing to Sonia

HYDERABAD: Stoutly denying that he had written a letter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi recently on the state of things in the state Congress, handlooms, textiles and small-scale industries minister P Shankar Rao has demanded that the government order a probe against TV channels which made the claims creating a flutter in the Congress.

A section of the electronic media beamed `breaking news' on Monday that Shankar Rao dashed off a letter to Sonia on her birthday on December 9, making charges of corruption against chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and several ministers including P Sabita Indra Reddy, N Raghuveera Reddy and Ponnala Laxmaiah.

The reports suggested that Rao told Gandhi that PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana engaged in a battle for power with the chief minister, and urged the AICC president to remove Kiran Kumar Reddy as chief minister.

Shankar Rao told reporters at the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) office here on Monday that the TV reports were "manipulated, forged and orchestrated".� Rao said he would decide whether to file criminal and civil cases against the TV channels. He� said the letter story was nothing but aimed at damaging his image and urged the chief minister to order a high-level inquiry to bring out the truth.

He alleged that some unknown persons had stolen his letterheads from his office, forged his signature and fabricated the 'news'. He recalled he had lodged a complaint with the chief secretary in the past that his letterheads were missing.

He said he met Sonia Gandhi on December 9 along with three other leaders but did not submit any letter as reported by the electronic media. A thorough probe would reveal the truth, he said and added that he was ready for any inquiry.

Rao said that he was fighting against corruption and because of his efforts the CBI took up probe into a few cases.

AP: Congress cracks whip on 16 Jagan camp MLAs

HYDERABAD: The Congress party cracked the whip on 16 MLAs who jumped the fence and voted in favour of the recent no-trust motion in the Assembly, on behalf of YSR Congress. This was the first time that such a large number of MLAs were facing disqualification in the state.

Government whips Kondru Murali and S Sailajanath met Speaker Nadendla Manohar at the Assembly on Monday night and submitted 16 separate letters against the MLAs. They urged the Speaker to disqualify the MLAs as they defied the party whip and resorted to anti-party activity. However, the party did not take any decision on Putalapattu Ravi, who abstained from voting, and associate MLA Somarapu Satyanarayana.

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy discussed the matter with party high command in New Delhi recently and the Congress Legislature Party decided to crack the whip on rebel MLAs. On Monday, Murali discussed the issue with Kiran Kumar Reddy and later held discussions with legal experts. As per their advice, Murali prepared 16 separate letters and submitted the petitions to the Speaker under 10th Schedule of the Constitution.

Speaking to reporters later, Murali said the party had been persuading all the 16 MLAs for the last one year.

"The party reminded them that they were elected on Congress ticket and should work for the party. But, they voted against the party," Murali said. He also differed with the argument of 16 Congress MLAs that they voted in favour of the no-trust motion as Kiran Reddy government was anti-farmer. "People know the argument of the 16 MLAs is wrong," Murali added.

He said Kiran Reddy government extended loans to the tune of `48,000 crore to farmers."Loans to women are offered at zero interst. Rs 5,000 crore were paid to students under fee reimbursement.

The government is filling 1.16 lakh jobs in government and another 15 lakh under Rajiv Yuva Kiranalu," Murali recalled and wondered whether all these programmes were anti-people."People understand the truth. They would not pardon Jagan and YSRC," Murali said.

On Putalapattu Ravi case, Murali said that the MLA abstained from voting and sent a letter to the party stating that he was absent due to ill health. "Ravi's letter is under examination of the party.Let us wait what decision the party will take," Murali said.He said that sunmitting a disqualification petition against associate member Somarapu Satyanarayana was under examination.To a query, Murali said the party would withdraw the disqualification petition submitted earlier against Adinarayana Reddy (Jammalamadugu).Reddy assured that he would for the party, he said.

Why Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance rejected the UID Bill

New Delhi: The much hyped Unique Identification (UID) project led by Nandan Nilekani has run into trouble after the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance rejecting the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010 in its present form.

The committee headed by Yashwant Sinha pointed out several anomalies in the existing bill and urged the government to "reconsider and review the UID scheme as also the proposals contained in the Bill in all its ramifications and bring forth a fresh legislation before Parliament." The committee also suggested that the data already collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) could be transferred to the National Population Register.

The committee was of the stand that when the legislative process was already underway to shape the bill, the executive action of going ahead with its implementation was "unethical and violative of Parliament's prerogatives"

The provision of illegal immigrants being entitled for an Aadhaar number also met with strong objections. The committee could not also comprehend the rationale of expanding the scheme to persons who are not citizens.

Members were of the opinion that the UID scheme was conceptualised with "no clarity of purpose and leaving many things to be sorted out during the course of its implementation; and is being implemented in a directionless way with a lot of confusion."

Many existing laws including Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003, would need to be amended for the UID to achieve some of its goals. This process would need to be examined in detail by the Parliament.

As other forms of identity documents will continue to be accepted even after issue of aadhaar number renders meaningless the claim that aadhaar number will be used a general proof of identity and proof of address.

The committee raised concerns about privacy, identity theft, misuse, security of data and duplication during the implementation of the UID scheme and also noted the serious difference of opinion within the government. Global examples of rejection of similar schemes were also highlighted.

The Committee strongly disapproved of the hasty manner in which the UID scheme was approved and also raised fears that the inclusion of non-citizens can have far-reaching consequences for national security.

Rupee hits new record low; declines to 53.22 against dollar

MUMBAI: The Rupee touched a record low for the second day in a row on Tuesday as both foreign and domestic investors snapped up dollars to reduce exposure to India's cooling economy. 

A firmer stock market provided a bit of comfort, but traders said the rupee looks to be headed lower still as worries about the euro crisis add to anxiety about slowing foreign capital inflows into emerging market economies such as India. 

A growing trade deficit and the low probability of strong intervention from the Reserve Bank of India, given the limited firepower in its currency reserves, is likely to keep the rupee under pressure, traders said. 

The partially convertible rupee ended at 53.22/23 to the dollar, down 0.7 percent from Monday's close of 52.84/85, after touching a record low of 53.52 during the day. 

The currency has lost 4.8 percent of its value against the dollar in the last four weeks and 16 percent so far this year. 

Investors took fright on Monday when government data showed India's industrial production fell 5.1 percent in October, the first monthly fall in more two years and far more than expected. 

"The (industrial output) data has given a bad impression about India's growth outlook," said Uday Bhatt, senior manager of dealing at UCO Bank. "The current account and fiscal deficit are adding to the negative view," said Bhatt, who expects the rupee to fall to 54.50 in coming sessions. 

Some traders believe the currency soon could weaken to 55 to the dollar within days. 

"Any intervention from the RBI is likely to be token," said a foreign exchange dealer with a private-sector bank. "The one factor that could help rupee to some extent is growth-supporting steps from the RBI, like a cut in the cash reserve ratio." 

The central bank is widely expected to keep rates on hold at its review on Friday, but economists in a Reuters poll expect it to accelerate monetary easing in 2012 as economic conditions worsen in Asia's third-largest economy. (For details of the poll, click on ). 

One-month offshore non-deliverable forward contracts were quoted at 53.68, lower than the onshore spot rate indicating a bearish outlook. 

The one-month onshore forward dollar premium was at 33.50 points, up from 33.25 on Monday. The three-month was at 79.50, up from 75 and the one-year premium was at 225.75, up from 216.50. 

In the currency futures market, the most traded near-month dollar-rupee contracts on the National Stock Exchange, the MCX-SX, and the United Stock Exchange ended at 53.4250, 53.4200 and 53.4150, respectively. Total volume was $6.12 billion.

Hyderabad no more a favoured destination for big realtors

NEW DELHI: The unlimited Floor Space Index (FSI) model in Hyderabad could be touted as the best in the country with developers across metros pushing for a similar law in their respective cities to not just increase vertical growth but also expand 'lung' spaces. But despite its merits, the builder-friendly policy seems to be doing little to attract investors to the city- currently caught in the midst of a serious political turmoil.

In fact, speaking to TOI on the sidelines of a national conclave organised by the Confederation of Real Estate Developers Association of India (CREDAI) in New Delhi, recently, high-profile developers from Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore said that Hyderabad was completely off their radar at present. Taking its place, they said, were cities such as Pune and Ahmedabad, which at one time were way behind the Andhra Pradesh capital in the realty race.

"There was a time when any developer from Mumbai or Delhi, planning to expand outside the city, was looking at Hyderabad to start shop. That's not the case any longer. More people are today going to Gujarat instead," said Darshan Hiranandani, MD of the Mumbai-based major real estate player, Hiranandani Group of Companies that had, about two years ago, come to the city with plans of setting up an upscale SEZ on the outskirts. The project, however, failed to take off after the land was found embroiled in litigations.

"This is one huge drawback that Hyderabad suffers from. If land bought through government auctions do not have a clear title (the Hiranandani group had bought it through an auction) then what is the guarantee that land bought from private parties will have one," said Sunil Mantri, chairman, Sunil Mantri Realty Ltd that has operations across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune and so on.

In Hyderabad too the firm has three huge tracts of land, bought when real estate was at its peak here about three-four years ago. The recession and Telangana turmoil erupted thereafter, and the plots have been lying idle since then. "Litigations apart, the market in Hyderabad now is not too conducive for new developments. So we are just sitting on our properties at the moment. There is no plan to start work at any of the sites- Sainikpuri, Miyapur and Hi-Tec City- anytime soon," Mantri said.

Industries seek Naidus help on power cuts

HYDERABAD: A delegation of industrialists from the Jeedimetla industrial area here called on leader of the opposition and Telugu Desam chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday and urged him to bring pressure on the state government for reducing the power cuts to� industries in the state.

They wanted the government to come out with a power policy for the period 2012-17 to enable industries to assess the situation and encourage them to establish units in the state.

According to a press release, Jeedimetla Industries Association's representatives Prasad, Siraj, Adinarayana and Vishnu explained to the TDP president that several industries and their employees were suffering severe losses due to continuous power cuts being imposed by the government. They said the government imposed 61 per cent power cuts in September, October and November, and 45 per cent in December, and apprehended the situation during the summer when more power cuts are anticipated.

"Because of the power cuts, industries are unable to deliver goods in time and, as such, customers are hesitating to give orders to Hyderabad-based companies,'' they said. Naidu promised to take up the issue with the government.

Congress to axe 16 Jagan camp MLAs

HYDERABAD: The Congress high command has taken a crucial decision of disqualification of its 16 MLAs who supported the no-trust motion moved by TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in the state Assembly on December 5. After meeting AICC president Sonia Gandhi and party AP affairs incharge Ghulam Nabi Azad in Delhi on Saturday, the chief minister said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would petition the Assembly speaker under the 10th Schedule 2, 1B of the Disqualification Act seeking action against the MLAs who defied the whip.���������

The CLP will meet soon in this regard and is likely to file the disqualification petition against the Jagan camp MLAs on Tuesday.

The chief minister is understood to have explained to the party high command the opinion of senior members of his cabinet that the disqualification of Jagan camp MLAs should be done at one go as they felt that any delay would only give an opportunity to the YSR Congress party chief to campaign that the ruling party was afraid of losing byelections.

The chief minister is also said to have explained to the party leadership the advantages and disadvantages of disqualification of Jagan loyalists.

After protracted deliberations, it was decided to axe the MLAs regardless of how the Congress would fare in the byelections and even if the action� indirectly helps Jagan to increase his party's strength in the Assembly from the present one.

The PRP has already filed a disqualification petition against Allagadda MLA B Shobha Nagireddy for violating the party whip and siding with Jagan during the no-confidence motion.� But Shobha says she is not bound by the PRP whip as the party does not exist after its merger with the Congress. She says since she had already petitioned the speaker and the Election Commission to recognise her as either a PRP MLA or an Independent since she opposed the PRP's merger with the Congress and she cannot be disqualified now.

Asked how many seats the Congress would win in the bypolls, Kiran Kumar Redy did not hazard a guess. "I do not indulge in guessing like you (media) do. Let there be elections first. Results will come only later, right," he asked and made light of the allegation of Jagan that the Congress leaders tried to induce his loyalist MLAs.

"If the Congress has to lure the MLAs, then it is the most unfortunate situation and it will never come to the party. Let them (J camp) disclose what they had offered to the Congress MLAs to switch sides," Kiran Kumar Reddy said.

At the time when the Jagan camp dared Kiran Kumar Reddy to disqualify the 16 MLAs, it appeared to be under the impression that he might not go for disqualification because of fear of losing the byelections. The chief minister's announcement has made them pull up their socks and prepare for the byelections.

Jagan who sounded the bypoll bugle the very next day of the no-confidence motion while touring Prathipadu constituency in Guntur represented by his supporter Sucharita who voted against the government, said he was sure that the people would elect her hands down.

Farmers’ interests ought to be protected, says Chandrababu Naidu

Hyderabad, Dec 7 (ANI): Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader N. Chandrababu Naidu has asserted that the interests of farmers needed to be protected by the Central and State governments.

"Morally, we are very strong. We had moved no confidence (vote) because farmers are being affected very badly. After economic reforms, farmers are suffering. Added to that, today all input costs are increasing in agriculture. At the end of the day, (the price of) agricultural produce is controlled by the Government of India; through MSME (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises), and also, exports and imports, all these things are happening," Naidu told media here.

"So, we wanted to highlight farmers' issues. We wanted to put pressure, both on the centre and the state. Ultimately, farmers should be protected," he added.

He also said that it was essential for agriculture to be reckoned as a profitable and lucrative occupation.

"Agriculture should be a profitable venture. For this, the Swaminathan Committee report has to be accepted. In the report, the increase in agricultural inputs has to be taken into consideration, plus 50 per cent profit has to be given for agricultural produce. Then only agriculture will survive. Every farmer is doing agriculture. There are floods or droughts; all these things are coming. So whenever we lose some money, investment in agriculture, that investment has to be protected by the government," he added.

Monday's vote of no confidence saw the majority of 160 votes out of 283 polled in the 295-member Assembly rest with the Kiran Kumar Reddy-led government, after Naidu initiated it, seeking the Congress government's ouster over farmers' woes.

Legislators of the Congress party belonging to the contentious Telangana region of the state played a decisive role in salvaging the government. (ANI)

Plea against CM withdrawn in SC

A petition challenging the continuation of N. Kiran Kumar Reddy as Chief Minister has been withdrawn from the Supreme Court by MLA S. Venugopala Chary after the former won a no-trust motion last week. A bench of justices Dalveer Bhandari and Dipak Mishra permitted counsel Sateesh Galla to withdraw the petition as "it had become infructous" in view of Mr Reddy's victory in the motion moved by Opposition Leader N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Mr Chary had earlier moved the apex court questioning Reddy's propriety and legal validity of continuing as CM on the ground that the Congress had "lost" majority in the House after 79 party legislators resigned on the twin issue of Telangana and support to YSR Congress. The SLP, filed by S. Venugopala Chary, a Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) MLA from Adilabad, challenged the AP High Court's November 14 order dismissing his petition on the issue. The petition had urged the apex court to issue a writ of quo warranto to the Chief Minister who, according to the petition, has lost majority in the Assembly.

Will better Vaastu bring better days for Naidu?

HYDERABAD: Vaastu changes to NTR Bhavan, the Telugu Desam's headquarters here, have almost been completed nearly three months after they were initiated. The irresistible question now being asked by political watchers is whether the 'better Vaastu' will bail out TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu from the CBI probe and help him regain power in 2014.

Party founder NT Ramarao's son and cine actor N Balakrishna was the one who suggested to Naidu that some changes to the building were imperative if Lady Luck was to smile on the party and its chief. His advice came at a time the party was smarting under a series of defeats in the general elections and by-elections. He even brought some Vaastu experts in September this year and had the necessary changes made to the party office.

On Sunday, Balakrishna, accompanied by party leader Sujana Chowdary, Vaastu expert and chief executive officer of NTR Memorial Trust M Venkat, inspected the changes and expressed satisfaction over the changes, sources said.
As per the suggestions of the Vaastu expert, the party demolished the existing security guard room and constructed a new one at the main entrance of NTR Bhavan. The old entrance was closed and a new one was constructed a few feet away from the old one.

Ironically, it was after the Vaastu changes were initiated in September, Naidu's rival and YSR Congress honorary president YS Vijayalakshmi filed a petition in the High Court which ordered a CBI probe into the assets of Naidu and his family members.

It was not the first time for Naidu to make Vaastu changes to NTR Bhavan. He made several changes to it after the 2009 elections.

UP: Rahul visits Islamic clerics, discusses RTE

Lucknow: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Sunday visited Nadva, a renowned centre of Islamic learning, and met its rector Maulana Rabe Hasni Nadvi.

Rahul had one-to-one meeting with the rector for over an hour, Congress sources said.

The issue of Right to Education and reported confusion among Muslims over it was discussed, they said adding Rahul assured him that this would be removed.

Congress sources said Rahul discussed the reported confusion among Muslims with regard to RTE.

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When asked to give his blessings to Rahul, the rector cited his relations with the Nehru-Gandhi family and said he always had good wishes for them, the sources said.

Team Anna selectively targeting Congress: Digvijaya

NEW DELHI: Lashing out at Team Anna for targeting Rahul Gandhi, Digvijaya Singh on Monday alleged that its intent was political and it was out to create an environment against the Congress.

"The intent of all Anna team, Baba Ramdev and Sri Sri Ravishankar is political. Corruption is not the issue, their issue is how to create an environment against the Congress party," he said, while asserting there was no question of going back on the issue of strong Lokpal.

Hinting that Team Anna is acting at the behest of BJP, Singh said, "BJP's gameplan has been to divert the attention from Sangh members involved in terror activities."

Recalling a statement made by Rahul Gandhi in Parliament on Lokpal, he said the opposition party made fun of it when he suggested that Lokpal should be given a constitutional status.

"Now Anna Team has accepted the fact that Lokpal should be given a constitutional status," Singh said, asking why Gandhi is bring targeted when he has not made any other statement on the issue.

Reiterating his claim that Team Anna's movement is backed by political considerations, he said, "Charge of my party and myself has always been that the whole exercise is entirely political."

Claiming that Team Anna is selectively targeting the Congress party, Singh said, "They don't see corruption in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. Only Congress ruled states and the UPA government in Delhi is their target."

Underlining that the Congress party stands committed to bring a strong Lokpal bill, Singh said, "There is no question of going back on this."

2G case: CBI files chargesheet against Essar, Loop telecom

Essar Group promoters Anshuman and Ravi Ruia were among five persons chargesheeted Monday by the CBI in a Delhi court in connection with the 2G Spectrum allocation scam.

Besides Ruias, the CBI also charged Essar Group director (Strategy and Planning) Vikas Saraf, Loop Telecom  promoters Kiran Khaitan and her husband IP Khaitan.

The agency also named three companies-- Loop Telecom Pvt Ltd, Loop Mobile India Ltd and Essar Tele Holding as accused in the case. 

All of them have been chargesheeted under section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC. 

Essar group in a statement denied all allegations against its officials and the company. 

The 105-page charge sheet containing 398 documents was brought in five trunks before Special Judge OP Saini who will take cognizance of the charge sheet on December 17.

The charge sheet named 100 prosecution witnesses. This is the third charge sheet filed by the CBI in the case.

What is wrong with ordering CBI probe: HC

Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur of the AP High Court on Wednesday asked what is wrong in the court ordering the CBI to conduct a preliminary probe into allegations against former Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and his alleged conduits. The CJ also sought to know the way forward, without the preliminary probe to find out whether there is any truth in the allegation by Y.S. Vijayalakshmi, wife of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy against Mr Naidu and others.

The CJ was hearing arguments along with Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar on pleas by Mr Naidu, media baron Ramoji Rao and others seeking vacation of interim orders granted against them. Mr. Anil Divan, senior Supreme Court advocate, appearing for Mr Ramoji Rao, said that the court cannot order a probe based on pleadings. "The court has to hear both sides and then come to a conclusion in such matters," he said. He said the court erred in ordering a CBI inquiry without even being convinced of the charges and pointed that the petitioner sought an interim order of preliminary probe by the CBI, but the court ordered the enforcement directorate, the state government and the state police to conduct an independent probe and urged the court to vacate the interim order.

Mr. Divan complained to the court that the CBI is hounding his clients by slapping notice on them to furnish audit reports, financial statements and bank statements from 2007 onwards. He submitted a copy of the notice. Meanwhile, Ushodaya Enterprises Pvt Ld owner Ramoji Rao submitted an affidavit that the CBI has issued notice to it to furnish the annual repots containing balance sheet, profit and loss accounts, auditor reports and statement of bank accounts of the company from 2007 onwards.

RIL moves court on CBI probe
The Reliance Industries Ltd on Wednesday moved the AP High Court seeking a direction to implead it as one of the parties in the petition by Y.S. Vija-yalakshmi, wife of former chief minister Y.S. Rajase-khar Reddy against TD president N. Chandrababu Naidu and others. Vice-president of the company P.B.M. Rao filed the application contending that the petitioner leveled wild allegations the company and deliberately omitted to make it as one of the respondents in the plea.

Refuting Ms Vijayala-kshmi's allegations that Mr Naidu extended undue favour to the RIL in bagging KG Basin Exploration contract, he said that the company has won the oil exploration block in the basin in a competitive bid as per the New Exploration and Licensing Policy, 1999. He urged the court to suspend the interim order of conducting the CBI probe and grant order to implead the company as a respondent in the plea.

Karunanidhi case quashed
The AP High Court quashed criminal proceedings pending in a lower court at Adoni in Kurnool district against former Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi. Justice R. Subhash Reddy, allowing a plea by Mr Karunanidhi, challenging the criminal proceedings pending against him in the lower court, ruled that there are no ingredients to maintain the complaint under Section 298 (uttering words with deliberate intention to wound religious feelings) of the IPC.

The Judicial First Class Magistrate of Adoni town had issued summons to Mr Karunanidhi to app-ear before the court after a practicing advocate of the town, V. Mallikarjun, had filed a complaint against the former Chief Minister over his alleged remarks against Lord Rama in the wake of controversy surrounding Ra-masethu project in 2008. Mr Karunanidhi had approached the High Court challenging the lower court's decision and also seeking a direction to dispense with his presence before the lower court.

The High Court had granted interim relief by granting dispensation of his appearance. Justice Subhash Reddy heard the arguments on Wednesday and ruled that there were no ingredients to maintain the complaint. The judge also pointed out that there was no prior sanction either from the Centre or the state government to prosecute Mr Karunanidhi, who was in public office at the time of filing the complaint.

Sentence against Babu stayed
A division bench of Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the High Court on Wednesday stayed the operation of punishment imposed on an assistant commissioner of endowments, Medak district for violating the orders of a single judge in administering oath of board trustees of a temple of the district despite court orders. The officer had earlier been sentenced to undergo imprisonment of one month.

Chidambaram must quit: Opposition in Parliament

Two days after a compromise on the FDI in retail, the UPA government was once again driven to the wall in the parliament on the opposition demand for resignation of the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram for his alleged role in the 2G scam.

 

Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned repeatedly today as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) stalled proceedings demanding the resignation of Home Minister P. Chidambaram for his alleged role in the 2G scam.

 

A dismissive government says there is no question of a resignation.

 

The Houses were initially adjourned till 12 pm and then till 2 pm. They re-convened at 2 pm to begin a crucial discussion on price rise, the NDA is allowing the House to function for the debate but has made it clear that it's only so that the House can discuss food inflation.

 

As part of her speech on price rise, the BJP's Sushma Swaraj maintained that Chidambaram is as guilty as Raja in the 2G case. So we want the PM to accept his resignation as well. The PM did not do so. Today Pranabda called me in the afternoon and I assured him that our opposition would continue, but we will talk about this issue." 

 

Before the Winter Session began, the NDA had announced that it would boycott Mr Chidambaram in Parliament over his alleged role in the 2008 2G scam during his tenure as Finance Minister. Today, they picked as context a Delhi court order of this morning that allowed Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy to testify and present his case against the Home Minister in the 2G scam case. 

 

But the government is clear that Mr Chidambaram will not resign. Till now the Parliament has seen just one day of business being transacted, yesterday, in this Winter Session, which has all of 10 working days left. The first two weeks were lost to the Opposition demanding adjournment motions and vote first on price rise and black money, and then stalling Parliament all of last week over the government's decision to allow foreign direct investment in retail. That logjam ended with the government agreeing to suspend its reforms move. 

CJ recuses self in Naidu case

HYDERABAD: In an unexpected turn of events, Chief Justice Madan B Lokur of the AP High Court on Thursday recused himself from hearing the case pertaining to the alleged illegal assets of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and his associates, transferring the hearing to another division bench. Entry of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in the case was cited as the reason behind the recusal as the jurist said he owned shares in the Mukesh Ambani-owned company.

Later in the day it was decided to list the case before a bench headed by Justice V Eswaraiah who will hear the matter on Friday.

RIL had filed a petition on Wednesday urging the court to implead it as a party to the case as certain allegations had been leveled against the company by petitioner YS Vijayamma. In her petition, the widow of late CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy and the Pulivendula YSR Congress MLA said she had sought a thorough probe into the alleged 'omissions and commissions' that took place during the Naidu regime.

She also alleged that RIL was unduly allowed to access gas in the Krishna-Godavari basin by the Naidu regime and that the company, in a quid pro quo deal, had made investments to the tune of Rs 2,600 crore in Ushodaya Enterprises. Ushodaya Enterprises is the group that publishes Eenadu newspaper. Claiming that the newspaper group's owner Ch Ramoji Rao was a close friend of Naidu's, Vijayamma made the media baron and Eenadu respondents in the assets case. Naidu and his associates have challenged the preliminary probe ordered by HC.

Although the petitioner did not make RIL a party to her petition, the bench had indeed made a prior observation as to why the company had not been included in the litigation when serious allegations about proxy investments in Eenadu newspaper had been leveled against it. In response, RIL impleaded itself in the case on Wednesday.

During Thursday's hearing, Naidu's counsel urged the CJ to stay the ongoing CBI probe till a new bench was constituted. But the CJ assured him that he would entrust the matter to a new bench immediately and ensure the resumption of the hearing by Friday, thus declining to pass any interim order as sought by the counsel.

సోనియా గాంధీపై మళ్లీ వైయస్ జగన్ కామెంట్

గుంటూరు: గత కొంత కాలంగా కాంగ్రెసు అధ్యక్షురాలు సోనియా గాంధీపై
వ్యాఖ్యలు చేయడం మానేసిన వైయస్సార్ కాంగ్రెసు పార్టీ అధ్యక్షుడు వైయస్
జగన్ రూటు మార్చారు. ఆమెకు వ్యతిరేకంగా వ్యాఖ్యలు చేయడాన్ని మళ్లీ
ప్రారంభించినట్లే ఉన్నారు. తాజాగా గుంటూరు జిల్లా ఓదార్పు యాత్రలో
గురువారం ఆయన సోనియాపై వ్యాఖ్య చేశారు. వైయస్ రాజశేఖర రెడ్డి రెక్కల
కష్టంతోనే కేంద్రంలో సోనియా గాంధీ రాజ్యమేలుతున్నారని ఆయన అన్నారు.
మరణంచిన నేత వైయస్సార్‌ను ప్రజలు ఎప్పుడూ గుండెల్లో పెట్టుకుంటారని ఆయన
అన్నారు.

తెలుగుదేశం పార్టీ అధ్యక్షుడు నారా చంద్రబాబు నాయుడు కాంగ్రెసుతో
కుమ్మక్కయి రాజకీయ విలువలను నాశనం చేశారని ఆయన విమర్శించారు. వైయస్
రాజశేఖర రెడ్డి జీవించి ఉంటే తమకు కష్టాలు ఉండేవి కావని ప్రజలు
తలుచుకుంటున్నారని ఆయన అన్నారు. పొన్నూరు ఐలాండ్ సెంటర్ నుంచి ఆయన
గురువారం ఓదార్పు యాత్రను ప్రారంభించారు. గుంటూరు జిల్లాలో ఆయన ఓదార్పు
యాత్ర గురువారంనాడు 36వ రోజుకు చేరుకుంది.

Andhra Pradesh HC sets aside detention of TRS leader

Hyderabad, Dec 8 (PTI) The Andhra Pradesh High Court today set aside
the detention of Telangana Rastha Samithi (TRS) leader Cheraku
Sudhakar. A Division Bench comprising Justices A Gopal Reddy and R
Kanta Rao allowed a writ petition challenging the detention of the
50-year-old TRS politburo member under a stringent Act. The Bench
observed that the cases pending against Sudhakar are petty in nature
and they do not call for his arrest under the National Security Act
(NSA). Sudhakar, a medical practitioner, was detained last month on
orders from the Collector on the ground that he was causing serious
law and order problems and spoiling the peace in Nalgonda district.
The State Government on Tuesday last confirmed his detention for one
year under the NSA. The Nalgonda Collector had taken the action
because of Sudhakar's "repeated involvement in acts affecting peace
and tranquility and acts prejudicial to maintenance of services
essential to the community in contravention to the provisions of the
said Act". The move had sparked protests in Telangana. PTI COR RAO RSY

Case filed against three ex-CMs for facilitating illegal mining

External Affairs Minister SM Krishna and two other former Karnataka
chief ministers, HD Kumaraswamy and Dharam Singh, are in trouble as
the Lok Ayukta police on Thursday filed an FIR against the trio on a
complaint accusing them of facilitating illegal mining during their
tenure in the state.

Apart from the three political leaders, the Lok Ayukta police have
also named 11 senior government officials in the FIR filed under
various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, Forest
Conservation Act, the Forest Act and the Minerals and Metals
Regulation and Development Act (MMRDA) and the Indian Penal Code.

The accused officials include IAS and IPS officials who served as
managing directors of state owned Mysore Minerals Ltd (MML) — Mahendra
Jain, Jija Madhavan Hari Singh (IPS), DS Aswath, KS Manjunath, IR
Perumal,V Umesh and Basappa Reddy, the then director of mines and
geology department.

The complaint was filed by TJ Abraham on December 3. Lok Ayukta court
judge NK Sudhindra Rao then directed the police to investigate and
submit the report by January 6.

The complainant has alleged that Krishna, who was chief minister from
October 1999 to May 2004, and Dharam Singh and Kumaraswamy permitted
illegal mining for pecuniary gains.

Abraham, a Bangalore-based social activist and a businessman,
submitted that his complaint was based on the report on illegal mining
presented to the government by the then Lok Ayukta, Santosh Hegde, in
August 2011.

The complainant has further alleged that Krishna illegally amassed
wealth in the name of his family members, including his children and
in-laws, as also in the names of his erstwhile close cabinet
colleagues.

Kumaraswamy has been accused of recommending grant of mining licence
for Jantakal Mining Company with intentions of seeking pecuniary
benefits. As for the case against Dharam Singh, the then governor
Rameshwar Thakur had dropped action against him when the state was
under the President's rule in 2007.

Reacting to the developments, former chief minister and JD(S) leader
HD Kumaraswamy expressed confidence that he would come clean from the
case. "I have been waging a war against corruption. This is a
conspiracy to stop me from continuing this battle against corruption,"
he said.

Former chief minister Dharam Singh said he was ready to submit an
explanation to Congress high command if he was asked to explain.

Sehwag, the gladiator

He was expected to be the first man to breach the 200-run barrier in
the ODIs. However, Sachin Tendulkar beat him to the mark last year.

Not to be left behind, Virender Sehwag overtook his idol's perfect 200
with a 219, which is now the highest individual score in the ODIs,
against West Indies on Thursday. Little wonder that India won the
match by 153 runs.

The first double hundred took more than three decades to happen, the
second took less than two years.

After Tendulkar's masterpiece in Gwalior last year, Sehwag sprinkled
the achievement with a dash of coincidence by scoring it in the same
state — Madhya Pradesh — both venues within 500kms of each other.

Off the third ball of the 44th over, Sehwag, batting on 197, cut Andre
Russel through the point. While turning to take a second run, the
batsman saw the ball cross the rope and celebrated by punching the
air.

A spectator ran down the pitch to present a bouquet to Sehwag, who
politely refused to take it. However, he graciously accepted the
standing ovation by about 30,000 strong crowd present at the Holkar
Stadium and raised his bat to show his gratitude and share his joy
that the second man in the exclusive 200-run club is also an Indian.

Though Sehwag made the whole innings look effortless, it was hardly
so. He had come into this game under severe criticism for his recent
poor run. His last century was the 175 — in the World Cup opener
against Bangladesh in February. Since then, the Sehwag brand of
batting had seen a slump.

However, on Thursday, when he took the guard, he was his usual self —
seemingly casual, carefree and classy. He had promoted his pal Gautam
Gambhir to open the batting with him.

While not many would have imagined of a double hundred, most wanted at
least a half-century to get his magical touch back before the
Australia tour. The openers enjoyed a 176-run stand and rubbished all
the criticisms.

Sehwag was simply murderous and unapologetic towards his opponents.
Whatever opportunity he got was either caressed through the covers or
hammered over the long on for sixes. He cut, drove and pulled with
sheer elegance. He bludgeoned 25 boundaries and seven sixes.

Luck seemed to have deserted Sehwag off late as most of his favourite
shots like the square cuts and lofts landed straight into fielders'
hands, however, on Thursday, the Delhi Dasher saw his shots sail over
long on boundary three times and one over the third man fence.

He even got his big slice of good luck when Darren Sammy dropped a
sitter at extra cover of Rampaul in the 38th over over. If the rival
captain had held on to the catch, Sehwag would have walked back with
his score at 170.

Having got a life, Sehwag made it count and went on plundering runs
before he miscued one to the long on. However, by then he had provided
the best possible entertainment.

Though Sehwag appeared tired in the latter stages of his knock, he was
as agile and fit as he was on the first ball he faced.

With this knock, Sehwag has lived up to his billing as the most
dangerous batsman and demolished criticism about his batting in the
ODIs. All the doubting Thomases cantake a walk!