Hyderabad, June 4 The Government of Andhra Pradesh is seriously considering establishment of a Systematic Monitoring & Review System (SMRS) by utilising latest Information & Communication technologies to achieve the desired goals of public welfare schemes. This will in turn pave the way in ensuring that the fruits of development reach each & every beneficiary, Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary IYR Krishna Rao said.

“It is high time for the administrative machinery to take up path breaking initiatives to expedite implementation of welfare and developmental schemes for the benefit of the common man,” he said.

Krishna Rao told top officials that since power sector is the base for all-round progress of the State, we are also keen to implement the best practices available across the globe to enhance Energy Efficiency in the field of Generation, Transmission & Distribution. This will go a long way in improving the economy and providing satisfactory services to the people.

In view of the bifurcation of the state, the administration will face some major challenges in the form of development of new capital on par with global cities, industrial and infrastructure establishment, additional power generation, timely completion of major irrigation projects etc. Every department, including power sector, shall come up with clear cut Action Plan with feasible and practical solutions.

Since Chief Minister Designate Nara Chandrababu Naidu is very keen on achieving time-bound results, all the officials and employees should rise to the occasion and put relentless efforts with zeal & enthusiasm in making Andhra Pradesh a role model in the country.

“We the public servants have a huge potentiality to face any challenges at any moment and the focus should essentially be public welfare activities. For us there is no other business except for ensuring effective implementation of all schemes. Each and every rupee spent by the Govt. should reach the last mile for which an effective delivery mechanism is a must. There are of course some severe constraints, but they are not insurmountable,” he said.

The Chief Secretary further added that, “we shall venture ahead from the day one itself and take pledge to strive hard to make Seemandhra as Swarnandhra as desired by the Chief Minister.”  INN

Hyderabad, May 21 : Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president Dr N Raghuveera Reddy on Wednesday hoped that the Congress would make a comeback in Seemandhra region.

Speaking to media persons at Indira Bhavan here, Raghuveera admitted that the Congress has failed to save itself from the wrath of the Seemandhra people who voted against the party due to bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh. For the same reasons, the Congress could not win a single seat in the 175-member Assembly. However, he hoped that the Congress would make an early comeback in the residuary State of Andhra Pradesh.

Raghuveera also informed that former union minister K Chiranjeevi would spend more time in strengthening the party in Seemandhra region.

Earlier, Raghuveera paid floral tributes to the portrait of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his death anniversary.  INN

Hyderabad, Nov 3: Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana has called for a meeting of ministers and other party leaders to discuss the issue of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The meeting, to be held at party headquarters Gandhi Bhavan on Monday, will also be attended by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy. Interesting, the PCC president has convened separate meetings with the leaders from Telangana and Seemandhra regions. While the meeting with Telangana leaders would be convened at 11 AM, Botsa and CM would meet the Seemandhra leaders at 4.30 PM.

According to sources, the meetings have been convened to discuss the strategy to be adopted during the all-party meeting being convened by the Group of Ministers (GoM) on Telangana next week. The GoM had also sought the views of all political parties on its Terms of Reference and therefore, the State Congress leaders would finalise the views to be sent to the GoM.

Sources say that the State Congress, which is already a divided house, would sent a split opinion on the bifurcation issue to satisfy the stand of leaders from the both the regions.

- INN

New Delhi, Oct 24: Congress leaders from Seemandhra region will meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday evening seeking his intervention to stall the division of Andhra Pradesh.

Nearly 60 Congress leaders including ministers and other elected representatives are likely to meet the President at about 7 PM today. An hour later, they would also meet AICC General Secretary Digvijay Singh on the Telangana issue.

Talking to reporters, State Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao said that the bifurcation was not in the interest of Andhra Pradesh and it is being done in an undemocratic manner. He said that there was no precedent wherein a State was divided without passing a resolution in the Legislative Assembly of the concerned State. Therefore, he said that the President would be requested to ensure that the State Assembly be empowered to decide on bifurcation. Further, he said that the division should be stopped if the Telangana Resolution gets defeated in the State Legislative Assembly.

The visit of Seemandhra leaders to the national capital gains significance in view of reports that the Telangana Bill is likely to be sent to the State Assembly by November end.

- INN

Hyderabad, Oct 7: Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday described the decision on Telangana as a “national match-fixing”.

Talking to reporters after paying homage to TDP founder late NT Rama Rao at his Samadhi here, Naidu said that he was conducting a fast in the national capital to highlight the failure of Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre in dealing with the Telangana issue. He said that the Congress Government not only avoided the procedures in announcing Telangana, but also ignored the agitation going on in Seemandhra region for the last 70 days. Through his indefinite fast at Jantar Mantar, Naidu said he wants to draw country’s attention on the issue as Telangana had national implications as well.

The TDP chief said accused the Congress of resorting to “opportunistic politics” on Telangana issue while trying to take political advantage. He said he would write to the leaders of all political parties seeking their intervention and support. He said that the Centre should have convened an all-party meeting to discuss solution for the ongoing agitation in Seemandhra region. However, he said that the Congress Government completely avoided the path of negotiations to resolve the crisis.

Later, Naidu left for Delhi along with other leaders. Several TDP MPs and MLAs have already assembled in the national capital for Naidu’s Deeksha which he would begin after paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.

- INN

New Delhi, Oct 7: AICC General Secretary and Incharge of Andhra Pradesh Congress Affairs Digvijay Singh promised a package for the development of Seemandhra region.

“Assure all Seemandhra people of their genuine concern of Security in H’bad Education, Health Employment and package for Development,” Digvijay Singh tweeted on Monday. He also appealed to the Seemandhra employees to suspend their strike and resume their duties. “They are losing their salaries and causing hardship to people,” he tweeted.

Speaking to media persons later, Digvijay Singh said that the Congress party took its decision on Telangana only after holding consultation processes. “Telangana issue is not new. The demand was raised several times and the Centre had reacted to them. Even the first State Reorganisation Commission recommended Telangana,” he said.

Digvijay Singh said that when Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy was the Leader of the Opposition, a group of Congress legislators made representation to the then President of India on Telangana issue. Subsequently, Telangana was mentioned in the 2004 Congress manifesto and also in Presidential Address of 2004. The Pranab Mukherjee Committee and Union Home Ministers held consultations with all the stake holders, he said.

“The Congress party took the decision only after all parties gave in writing their support for Telangana. They can change their stand, but we cannot,” he said.

Digvijay Singh said that special focus would be given to the backward areas of Seemandhra region. Further, the Centre would address the concerns of those living in Hyderabad, their security, education, rights and the employees’ welfare. He said that the AK Antony Committee was in receipt of representations by different groups and the same would be submitted to the Group of Ministers through Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Further, the Centre will consider giving tax concessions for the region.

He appealed to the Seemandhra employees to end their strike in the interest of public. They are losing their salaries while people are being put to hardship. There is no power in several areas of Seemandhra region. The power is being generated, but it could not be distributed due to the strike.

He also condemned the violence in Seemandhra region, especially in Vizianagaram. He said he had spoken to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy about the latest situation and asked him to provide security all sections of the people. When asked about the criticism of TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu faulting the process of announcing Telangana, he asked Naidu to explain what should have been the process.

- INN

Hyderabad, August 17: Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday asked the people from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions not to fear anyone and comfortably live in Hyderabad.

Addressing a massive public meeting at Khilwat Grounds here on Saturday night, Asaduddin Owaisi said that the city of Hyderabad belongs to everyone and they should live here peacefully, without any fear. “If you consumed Gandipet water, then you are a Hyderabadi. Even if you have eaten Haleem, then you are a Hyderabadi,” he said to counter the word settlers which is commonly being used by a few parties to refer to people from Seemandhra region.

“Write MIM on your wall, if anyone harasses you,” Asaduddin Owaisi said to assure that his party would provide complete protection to people from different regions and other States.

Stating that the MIM opposed to giving Union Territory status to Hyderabad, the MIM chief said that his party was also against making Hyderabad the permanent capital of two States of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. He said that Hyderabad should remain the capital of Telangana and there should be no change in its status. Describing union minister K Chiranjeevi as an amateur in politics, he slammed him for making the suggestion to Centre.

The MIM chief also asked the party cadre to gear up for the next polls and ensure that percentage of polling increases this time. He expressed confidence that besides winning the existing seven Assembly and one Parliament seat, the MIM would focus its attention on Rajendranagar, Jubilee Hills, Adoni, and other seats in the State.

Without taking the name of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in his speech, he said that while the Congress Government was trying to suppress the activities, it failed to take action against Modi who referred to Muslims as puppies. He also advised Telugu Desam Party to stay away from the trap laid by Modi who praised NTR while addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad last week.

MIM leaders Akbaruddin Owaisi and other legislators also addressed the public meeting which was organised to mark the fifth death anniversary of late Salar-e-Millat Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi.

Hyderabad, Aug 4: Continuing the spate of resignations in protest against Congress High Command’s decision to favour formation of Telangana, Social Welfare Minister Pithani Satyanarayana resigned from his post on Sunday morning.

According to sources, Pithani has sent his resignation letter to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Speaker Nandendla Manohar.

It may be mentioned that originally Pithani was against giving resignation. However, following pressure from his followers, he decided to quit from his post. So far, as many as 10 ministers from Seemandhra region have resigned from the cabinet in protest against Telangana decision.

- INN