Speaking to media persons in the State Secretariat here, Danam said that some leaders from Seemandhra region have been demanding Union Territory status for Hyderabad. Describing such proposals and demands are irrelevant and baseless, Danam claimed that there was no proposal with the Centre to make the State capital a UT. However, he said any such move would be strongly opposed.

Danam further claimed that such demands were being raised by the Seemandhra leaders to mislead the Centre and also to divert the attention of people in their region. He said that Telangana with Hyderabad as its capital would be acceptable to the people of this region.

- INN

Replying to a question raised by MLA A Rajender during Question Hour in the State Legislative Assembly on Friday, the Labour Minister said the RSBY was introduced for the protection of health of the workers in the unorganised sector. He said that the RSBY, a Central Government scheme, covers Health Insurance for an amount of Rs 30,000 per annum for family consisting of five members on floater basis. Under the scheme, more than 1,000 medical procedures are covered and each family shall be issued smart card, through which cashless transactions take place.

Under the scheme, the Central Government contributes 75 per cent of the premium not exceeding Rs 750 and the State Government contributes 25 per cent of the premium. At present, the RSBY scheme was not being implemented in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area, Nagender said. INN

Talking to reporters here, Labour Minister Danam Nagender said that the proposal to conduct the local bodies elections was being studied and a decision would be taken soon after consulting the experts.

Nagender believes that the Congress party would have a major advantage if the elections were held on party lines. He said that the results of cooperative elections were a clear indication that people were inclined towards the ruling party and it would repeat the results in local bodies polls.

Meanwhile, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu too demanded that the local body elections should be held on party symbols. He also suggested that reservations of seats should be done in proportion to the population. He also demanded 50 per cent reservation for women from Panchayat Wards to Mayor level. INN

Talking to reporters here, Nagender said that the Centre might take a decision in favour of formation of Telangana State. However, he said that the Centre might propose Hyderabad as the common capital for two States for 10 years. However, Nagender also ruled out the possibility of Hyderabad being given the status of a Union Territory. He said that the city might remain the common capital for both the States till alternate arrangements were made.

Requesting all concerned to accept the idea when proposed by the Centre, Nagender refused to divulge more information stating that it might lead to unnecessary controversy.

When asked about the reported plans of the opposition parties to move a No Confidence Motion against the Kiran Kumar Reddy Government, he said that the Congress party has defeated one such motion in the past and it enjoys sufficient strength in the Assembly to defeat another move.