Syed Amin Jafri, Hyderabad

Stories by Syed Amin Jafri, Hyderabad

Sonia blasts NDA for farmers' plight

Sonia blasts NDA for farmers' plight

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2008

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday lambasted BJP and TDP for doing nothing for the country's farmers during the six years of National Democratic Alliance rule. Addressing a massive farmers' rally at Jaggampeta town in Andhra Pradesh after dedicating the first phase of the Rs 600-crore Thota Venkatachalam Pushkara lift irrigation project, Sonia questioned BJP and TDP's credentials to champion the cause of the farmers when these parties were out of power.

Protests mar Sonia visit to Andhra

Protests mar Sonia visit to Andhra

Rediff.com   14 Mar 2008

The BJP's bandh call, separately endorsed by the Maoists, was meant to mark protest against the delay in the formation of separate Telangana state by the Congress-led UPA government. However, the bandh evoked mixed response though the BJP leaders and activists went around the towns and cities across Telangana to enforce the call.

TDP nominates NTR's son for Rajya Sabha

TDP nominates NTR's son for Rajya Sabha

Rediff.com   12 Mar 2008

According to sources, TDP president and former chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu has zeroed in on the name of his brother-in-law and actor Harikrishna for a Rajya Sabha seat that the party can win on the basis of its strength in the present legislative assembly, which constitutes the electoral college for the Rajya Sabha elections. He is expected to file his nomination papers on March 14.

AP speaker accepts resignations of 16 TRS MLAs

AP speaker accepts resignations of 16 TRS MLAs

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2008

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy accepted the resignations of 16 Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLAs, who had quit their seats to protest the failure of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government to create a separate Telangana state, in Hyderabad on Friday. On March 3, four TRS MPs, led by party president K Chandrasekhar Rao, had submitted their resignations to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee. The resignations were accepted.

Hyderabad: Screening of Islamic fim stopped

Hyderabad: Screening of Islamic fim stopped

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2008

Even as the Hindi film Jodhaa Akbar evoked some protests across the nation, an Urdu/Hindi movie on Islam -- Al Risalah -- has raised the hackles of Muslims in Hyderabad.

ISB launches new centre of excellence

ISB launches new centre of excellence

Rediff.com   22 Feb 2008

This is the fifth centre to be established at the ISB. The school has already set up four such centres in the areas of entrepreneurship, finance, logistics & manufacturing, and IT.

AP draws up special plan for backward areas

AP draws up special plan for backward areas

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2008

Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy said that the new body would be created as a statutory entity to decide the level of backwardness in each of the state's 23 districts and its three major regions -- Telangana, Rayalaseema and Coastal Andhra. Without directly referring to the demand for a separate Telangana state, Dr Reddy asserted that his government would set up the statutory board to recommend measures for accelerated development of the backward districts.

Al Qaeda unnecessarily targeting India: AP CM

Al Qaeda unnecessarily targeting India: AP CM

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2008

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks for the Governor's address in the state legislative assembly, Dr Reddy said, "The incidents of bomb blasts at Mecca Masjid, Lumbini Park and Gokul Chat Eatery in Hyderabad were related to cross-border terrorism. Many innocent lives were lost in these incidents." "Al Qaeda, by clubbing the United States, Israel and India together unnecessarily, is targeting our country without any rhyme or reason," he said.

AP: TDP MLA gets 6-month jail for defaming min

AP: TDP MLA gets 6-month jail for defaming min

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2008

Chinna Reddy had accused Janardhan Reddy of damaging his reputation during a general body meeting of the Mahbubnagar zilla parishad on February 17, 2002. Janardhan Reddy was a minister in the TDP government at that time while Chinna Reddy was an MLA from the Congress.

Tax breaks: Punjab comes under fire

Tax breaks: Punjab comes under fire

Rediff.com   20 Feb 2008

Punjab is opposing Centre's area-based tax exemption policy while the underdeveloped states are lauding it as a "well deserved" package.

AP: TRS MLAs suspended again

AP: TRS MLAs suspended again

Rediff.com   15 Feb 2008

Eleven Telangana Rashtra Samithi members were suspended from the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly for obstructing its proceedings on Friday morning. It is the second time in two days that the TRS members have been suspended.

Decision on Telangana will take time: AP CM

Decision on Telangana will take time: AP CM

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2008

Making a suo motu statement in the State legislative Assembly after Telangana Rashtra Samithi members were suspended for disrupting the proceedings, Reddy observed that the Telangana issue cannot be resolved overnight and appealed to the TRS and other parties to wait till a decision is taken in a democratic manner.

AP: Suspension of 13 TRS members revoked

AP: Suspension of 13 TRS members revoked

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2008

Demanding introduction of a resolution favouring creation of separate Telangana state, the TRS members stormed the podium and obstructed the business of the assembly.

Test flights make smooth landing at Hyd airport

Test flights make smooth landing at Hyd airport

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2008

Pilot DD Gandhi, who flew the Kingfisher aircraft from Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, circled thrice over the Shamshabad airport before touching the South Asia's longest runway (4,260 metres) amidst applause from the 50-odd passengers, mostly journalists besides guests and officials of the GMR group.

Site finalised for Vizag international airport

Site finalised for Vizag international airport

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2008

Governor ND Tiwari while addressing the joint session of the legislative Assembly, which commenced the 40-day annual budget sessions on Monday , said the Airports Authority of India had conducted a site location feasibility study for the international airport at Visakhapatnam and the site had been finalised near Rayavaram.

AP sanctions new IT university

AP sanctions new IT university

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2008

The Andhra Pradesh Government has approved a bill to establish the Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies. Read on to learn more.

Ten youth held on terror charges get bail

Ten youth held on terror charges get bail

Rediff.com   6 Feb 2008

The youth were arrested on charges of inciting people, waging war against the state and indulging in jihadi activities. They alleged that they were illegally detained and tortured by the police before being sent to judicial remand. They also contended that the police could not establish a case against them.

Aditya Birla Retail plans Rs 10,000 cr expansion

Aditya Birla Retail plans Rs 10,000 cr expansion

Rediff.com   4 Feb 2008

Aditya Birla Retail Limited (ABRL), the retail arm of the Aditya Birla Group, would be investing Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 crore (Rs 80-100 billion) in expanding its operations across the country over a period of five years.

AP: Top Maoist leader surrenders

AP: Top Maoist leader surrenders

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2008

Communist Party of India-Maoist Central Committee member and in-charge of Haryana, Lanka Venkata Papi Reddy alias Ranganna alias Latchanna, surrendered before Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy in Hyderabad on Saturday. Speaking to newsmen, Papi Reddy, 47, said that he decided to surrender and join the 'mainstream of public life' due to his failing health.

Singapore: Favoured travel destination for Indians

Singapore: Favoured travel destination for Indians

Rediff.com   1 Feb 2008

The report ranks cities based on the number of hotel room nights booked online on Travelocity India