Addressing a meeting at Shantipuram in Kuppam constituency here as part of his “Samaikhya Sankharavam” yatra, Jagan said that the Centre could not decide to divide the State and make Telugus fight for resources like water. He said that the Telugus would decide their own fate and would rule the Delhi politics.

Jagan said that the people would vote for a Prime Ministerial candidate who opposes the division of Andhra Pradesh. He expressed fears that the division of State would lead to water wars and many areas would turn into deserts

The YSRCP chief also accused Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu of covertly supporting the Centre in the process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. He said Kiran Kumar Reddy played an active role in ending the strike by the employees while Naidu is suppressing other agitations.  INN

Two terrorists were later taken into custody after an 11-hour joint commando operation by the Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu police including the Octopus personnel. Acting on an intelligence input that some suspected terrorists were hiding in a residential area, the Tamil Nadu police launched search operations in Puttur, located nearly 30 km from the temple town of Tirupati. They reportedly came to the town to conduct recce and took the house on rent about a month ago.

According to reports, the militants initially showed resistance and open fired injuring two policemen. However, the police fired stun and smoke bombs to flush them out. One terrorist was also injured in the operation and was later taken to a hospital.

As many as six people including three children were taken into custody after the commando operation. Police also recovered one revolver and two bombs from a house. The terrorists are suspected to be Bilal and Munna of Al-Umar terror outfit, police sources said.

Sources say that the police got a tip off about the hideout during investigations into the murder of BJP leader V Ramesh in Salem and other leaders. The Tamil Nadu have also arrested Fakruddin, who was wanted in a case of planting “pipe bomb” in Madurai during BJP leader LK Advani’s tour. INN

The clash occurred when YSRCP MLA Amarnath Reddy was on a “Gadapa gadapaku YSR” programme touring the villages. There was heated argument between the two groups and when tempers ran high there was a clash.

Workers of both parties were injured in the clash. INN

The schemes like Amma Hastham and Bangaru Thalli are used more publicity. The cost of publicity is more than the actual cost of scheme, he said. Though Rs 700 crores were spend on publicity for the two schemes, the benefit is not being reached to the poorer sections, he said.

While tamarind in available for Rs 35 per kg at Punganuru, charging the same amount for half the quantity in Amma Hastham is ridiculous, he said. While the Amma Hasstham bag cost is Rs 4 it is being sold of Rs 11 and who is getting the kickbacks should be traced, he said. INN

Talking to reporters in his home district, the Chief Minister assured that the government would take measures to ensure that common people were not burdened further. He said that the proposal sent by the ERC was being studied and a final decision on the same would be taken by April 5.

The Chief Minister recalled that the government had reviewed the hike in power tariff last year by reimbursing the subsidy of Rs 545 crore. However, he claimed that the hike would not have a major impact on the common man as being projected by the media. INN

“It is but natural for legislators of the opposition parties to behave in such a manner,” he told reporters after having a darshan of Padmavathi at Tiruchanur near here on Thursday.

During the address to the joint houses of the legislature, opposition members torn his speech copies and threw at him to express their dissent. The centre is taking stern measures to ensure safety of women, he said. INN

Nara Lokesh, who is touring the district, said that there is no safety to the people as the government has failed on the law and order front. Addressing party cadre at V Kota in the district, he said, belt shops (country liquor outlets) are aplenty in the district and the cheap liquor is affecting the health of people.

He criticized the State government for imposing heavy power cuts and increasing the power tariff heavily. Once the state was the chosen destiny for industrialists and now the scene has reversed and industrialists are running away from the state, he said. INN