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)

మాయా బజారును తలపిస్తోంది: బొత్స, సిఎంపై టిడిపి

హైదరాబాద్: ముఖ్యమంత్రి కిరణ్ కుమార్ రెడ్డి, పిసిసి చీఫ్ బొత్స
సత్యనారాయణలపై తెలుగుదేశం పార్టీ గురువారం తీవ్రస్థాయిలో విరుచుకు
పడింది. బడ్జెట్ భారీగా ప్రకటించడం ఖర్చు తక్కువ చేయడం కాంగ్రెసుకు
అలవాటేనని విమర్శించారు. రాష్ట్రంలో పాలన మాయాబజారును తలపిస్తోందన్నారు.
వోక్స్ వ్యాగన్ కేసులో బొత్స సత్యనారాయణకు క్లీన్ చిట్ రాలేదని చెప్పారు.
కొద్ది రోజుల తర్వాత సోనియా గాంధీతో సహా కాంగ్రెసు పార్టీ నేతలంతా జైలుకు
వెళ్లే వారేనని అన్నారు.

కిరాయికి తెప్పించుకొని పొగిడించుకోవడం సిఎంకు అలవాటుగా మారిందని పార్టీ
నేత బుచ్చయ్య చౌదరి విమర్శించారు. సిఎంకు రైతు సమస్యల పైనే కాదు కనీసం
రాష్ట్ర సమస్యల పైన కూడా ఏమాత్రం అవగాహన లేదన్నారు. సిఎం శాడిస్టులా
వ్యవహరిస్తున్నారని బైరెడ్డి రాజశేఖర రెడ్డి ధ్వజమెత్తారు. రాష్ట్రంలో
అప్పులేని రైతును చూపించాలని ఆయన సవాల్ విసిరారు. రైతు కమిషన్ వేస్తానన్న
సిఎం మరో భేతాళ కథ చెబుతున్నారని ఎద్దేవా చేశారు. రాష్ట్రంలోని ఆదర్శ
రైతులందా రౌడీలు, కాంగ్రెసు కార్యకర్తలు, ఆటో డ్రైవర్లేనని విమర్శించారు.

జగన్‌కు యువజన అధ్యక్షుడు ఝలక్, పార్టీకి రాజీనామా!

రాజమండ్రి: కడప పార్లమెంటు సభ్యుడు వైయస్ జగన్మోహన్ రెడ్డికి తూర్పు
గోదావరి జిల్లాలో షాక్ తగిలింది. జిల్లా వైయస్సార్ కాంగ్రెసు పార్టీ
యువజన విభాగం అధ్యక్షుడు పరువుల రాజా పార్టీకి రాజీనామా చేసినట్లుగా
వార్తలు వస్తున్నాయి. ఆయన ముఖ్యమంత్రి కిరణ్ కుమార్ రెడ్డి సమక్షంలో
గురువారం కాంగ్రెసు పార్టీలో చేరారని సమాచారం. అసంతృప్తి కారణంగానే ఆయన
కాంగ్రెసు పార్టీలో చేరినట్లుగా తెలుస్తోంది. కాగా ఇటీవలి కాలంలో
వైయస్సార్ కాంగ్రెసు పార్టీలోనూ అసంతృప్తుల జాబితా పెరుగుతుండటం విశేషం.

జగన్ ఓదార్పు యాత్ర చేపడుతున్న గుంటూరు జిల్లాలోనూ ఇటీవల నేతల మధ్య
విభేదాలు పొడసూపిన విషయం తెలిసిందే. ఒక వర్గానికి చెందిన నేతకు జిల్లా
ఇంచార్జ్ పదవి అప్పగించడం, ఇరువర్గాలు పోటా పోటీగా సభలు ఏర్పాటు చేసి తమ
సభకే రావాలని జగన్‌ను పట్టుబట్టడం తెలిసిందే. అంతకుముందు మాకినేని పెద
రత్తయ్య కూడా గ్రూపు విభేదాల కారణంగా పార్టీ వీడటానికి దాదాపు
సిద్ధమైపోయారు.

Secunderabad's sorry traffic story

HYDERABAD: The Rathifile-Monda Market stretch is habitually clogged with citizens forced to walk on the road as footpaths are either non-existent or encroached upon.

According to a traffic study, the Monda Market road records, on an average, a footfall of 6,016 per hour while Rathfile junction in Secunderabad logs an hourly 3,700 pedestrians.

Other important roads like RP Road, PG Road and SD Road are prey to the same problems. Moreover, for commuters in Secunderabad, inadequate parking facilities only add to their woes. Although over one lakh people pass daily through the Secunderabad area, it is a nightmare for both pedestrians and motorists to move in this zone.

LEA Associates Ltd has recently conducted a field survey in Secunderabad as part of the Comprehensive Transportation Study for Hyderabad Metropolitan Region. The field survey report (stage I) has been provided to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to aid planning.

The study revealed that the 'U' turn for RTC buses near Secunderabad railway station, Rathifile and Gurudwara junction was creating congestion and obstructing free flow of traffic. The one-way road from Keyes High School to the railway station through Regimental Bazaar is of little use and people use it to move both up and down, defeating thus the purpose behind the traffic regulation.

There is heavy pedestrian traffic near Secunderabad railway station as people walk on the carriageway to gain the various bus stops or reach the railway station complex.

Roads like SP Road, RP Road, Rail Nilayam, Regimental Bazar and Minister Road have been identified as primary corridors, bringing traffic into Secunderbad area. The intersections of these roads form important junctions such as Paradise, Patny, Clock Tower, YMCA, Sangeet, Rasoolpura and Chilkalguda.

The study found that apart from encroachment of footpath, on both sides by vendors on roads like RP Road, SD Road, Prederghast Road,

it is street parking that adds to the congestion during peak and non-peak hours. "There is a heavy demand for parking near Paradise junction, RP Road, SD Road, MG Road and Park Lane," the study said. The study observed traffic congestion on MG Road up to Ranigunj rail over bridge.

GHMC town planning officials said that although the width of the road is about 100 feet on RP Road, MG Road and SD Road, unauthorised parking and encroachments have been causing congestion. Further, road widening cannot be taken up as hundreds of properties have to be demolished.

"Solutions will be worked out with traffic police to prevent traffic congestion in the Secunderabad area," GHMC North zone city planner S Chakrapani said.

Jagan launches campaign for loyal Cong MLAs

GUNTUR: It seems YSRC president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched an election campaign for his loyal and rebel Congress MLAs, who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion as the Kadapa MP resumed his Odarpu Yatra in Guntur on Wednesday. Jagan kickstarted the third phase of his Odarpu yatra at Bodipalam village under Prattipadu Assembly constituency in Guntur district.

Addressing the gathering at the village, he appealed masses to give their mandate to the sitting Congress MLA, Mekathoti Sucharitha as the chances of bypolls gathering momentum following the disqualification of the rebel Congress MLA. It may be noted that Sucharitha voted in favour of noconfidence motion, defying the party whip following the YSRC chief asked his loyalists to vote against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.

In his address at a meeting in Bodipalam village, Jagan called upon people to be prepared to face the bypolls, exuding confidence that Suchritha will secure 50,000 votes more than her opponents in the byelections.

Highlighting the farmers' plight in the state, he alleged that the Cogress government had not initiated any relief drive for the droughthit ryots. Farmers have been the worst victim of the adverse policies, since Kiran Kumar Reddy government sworn in. He said that the government was still sporting a negligent attitude towards farmers, even after facing the notrust move.

Saying that it hardly matters who introduced the noconfidence motion in the Assembly, Jagan averred that his party was committed for the ryots' welfare. "We are contemplating several plans to press the farmers' demands upon the state government," he said.

MLAs Mekathoti Sucharitha, Pinelli Ramakrishna Reddy, YSR party district convener Marri Rajashekhar, party governing committee member Janga Krishnamurthy, Guntur Urban committee convener Lella Appi Reddy, party leaders Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, Ambati Rambabu accompanied the Kadapa MP in his Odarpu Yatra.

Anna Hazare, Jan Lokpal Bill top FB status updates in 2011

NEW DELHI: Social activist Anna Hazare created a movement not only in the country but on Facebook also, as people discussed and debated the Jan Lokpal bill, making him the most talked about topic in 2011 on the social networking site.

The Facebook Memology 2011, which captured the top ten Facebook status trends during the year, ranked Anna Hazare and the Jan Lokpal Bill at the top as most mentioned in status updates.

"This year in India, Anna Hazare and Jan Lokpal bill was the most talked about topic which triggered a wide roar amongst all Indians against corruption. His fast led to a nationwide protests in India," Facebook said in a statement.

Social networking sites were used as an organising tool for protests during the Anna Hazare fast earlier this year.

Shahrukh Khan's much hyped film Ra.One followed Hazare in popularity, as people talked about the movie and the song Chammak Challo, sung by R&B superstar Akon.

Status updates about deaths and condolences for terrorist Osama bin Laden, ghazal singer Jagjit Singh and Steve Jobs were the next most common updates.

Facebook has more than 25 million users in India and 800 million users globally.

Other most discussed topics include cricketers Yuvraj Singh and M S Dhoni, Ranbir Kapoor-starrer Rockstar, the Indian National Congress as well as earthquakes in Sikkim (2011) and Gujarat (2001).

Globally, death of Laden was the most talked about status update, followed by Packers winning the Super Bowl, Casey Anthony found not guilty, actor Charlie Sheen, death of Steve Jobs, the Royal Wedding, the death of singer Amy Winehouse, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 video game, military operations begin in Libya and Hurricane Irene.

FDI in retail suspended to avoid mid-term polls: Pranab Mukherjee

NEW DELHI: Strongly defending its decision to allow FDI in retail, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today told Congress MPs that the government was "compelled" to suspend the move to avoid "pre-mature elections".

Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party, Mukherjee also apologised to members who had supported the government in allowing FDI in retail but said going ahead with the decision could have created a "crisis" for the government.

"I am sorry to those members who had supported FDI in retail and might be feeling let down. But if we had gone ahead it could have created a crisis for the government," he said.

A member quoted Mukherjee as saying that had the government gone ahead, it could have led to mid-term polls.

It was the responsibility of the Congress to take allies on board, he said in an apparent reference to Trinamool Congress which had opposed the decision.

Trinamool Congress, a UPA constituent and partner in the government, had said it would vote in favour of an Adjournment Motion against FDI in retail.

This stand had created a piquant situation for the government, Mukherjee said pointing out that an Adjournment Motion was similar to a no-confidence motion and never before has any party in the government voted in favour of such a motion.

"This compelled us to put the brake on FDI decision," he said.

Making it clear that suspension of the FDI decision did not amount to roll-back, Mukherjee said that the government would strive to develop a consensus on the issue.

Sehwag crossed double ton, 219,Ind vs WI: Sehwag scores highest individual score in ODIs

ndia's Virender Sehwag has created history with a score of 219 not out in just 149 balls. He beats Sachin Tendulkar's record of 200 not out. 

Team India is on a brilliant start with 18 for the loss of five wickets in 50 overs. Openers Virender Sehwag and Guatam Gambhir gave the 

home side a push in the fourth ODI versus West Indies.

Sehwag has put up a stunning performance, enthralling fans gathered at the Holkar stadium in Indore. With a score of 201, not out, breaking his ODI high score record of 175.

At the crease with Sehwag is Rohit Sharma.

Suresh Raina, 55 scored his first ODI fifty versus West Indies just before getting run out to Russell.

Earlier in the day, India won the toss in Indore on Thursday, and opted to bat this time against the West Indies in the fourth ODI cricket match in the series in Indore.

One change in the Indian team is Rahul Sharma, a debutant legspinner, replaces Umesh Yadav in the playing eleven. The inclusion of Rahul Sharma will mean that all Irfan Pathan fans will not get to see him play at Indore.

On Monday, West Indies won the third ODI, proving that they are good enough to beat the world champions.
 
India will be looking to wrap up the series, which they lead by a 2-1 score, with a win on Thursday. India, will also be hoping that the top order batsmen, especially V Sehwag and G Gambhir, who have failed with the bat in the series, get to fire big scores.