HYD TO HAVE INTERNATIONAL STANDARD SURVEILLANCE

About 10,000 closed-circuit television cameras would be installed across Hyderabad as part of an effort to put an international-standard surveillance system in place, first Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrasekhar Rao announced here today. "Hyderabad city has got international recognition. We will make it a world-class city with law and order as top priority," KCR said, addressing the Telangana formation day parade here this afternoon. The government would be very firm in matters of law and order and would spare none, particularly in cases of atrocities against women, he asserted. "We will install 6,000 to 10,000 CCTV cameras in every corner of the city to maintain security. We will have an international-standard surveillance system in place," KCR added. He also announced that the various wings of the police like civil, armed reserve, special protection force, special police, etc would soon be brought under one umbrella. "We will study this possibility and bring all units under one umbrella for better functioning," the Chief Minister said. The police communications set up would also be strengthened. "There are certain anomalies in the police set up. We need to set them right. We will ensure monthly payment of stationery expenses to all police stations. We will also grant special medical allowance for traffic police personnel every month," the Chief Minister said. Telangana Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma, Director General of Police Anurag Sharma, ministers and top officials attended the ceremonial parade.

TELANGANA FIRST CM KCR

For TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, the metamorphosis from being the leader of separate statehood agitation by starting of with only a handful of supporters in 2001 to security majority on his own and occupying the Chief Minister's chair in Telangana today is complete. The 60-year-old KCR, as he is popularly known, is now set to guide the destiny of over four crore Telangana people in his capacity as the first Chief Minister of India's 29th state, carved out of Andhra Pradesh. Rao is now hailed as the tallest leader in Telangana and credited with achieving the separate state despite being the only MP for his party in the previous Lok Sabha (his MP colleague Vijayashanti turned a rebel following differences with him and joined the Congress days before the elections). KCR was a TDP leader and a former minister, when he quit the N Chandrababu Naidu-led party in 2001 and formed the outfit to fight for separate Telangana. The separate Telangana issue was not an innovative idea, though it never lost the undercurrent of support among people, as veteran leaders like M Chenna Reddy had fought for the cause albeit unsuccessfully. Not many expected KCR to make it big as seasoned politicians like Naidu, who was Chief Minister, and late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy were around. However, KCR built the agitation all over again though his party could not spread it to the entire region not long ago. The party, however, made inroads in several areas where it did not have much of a presence. 
What aided Rao, a shrewd political strategist, in strengthening the statehood agitation was his fiery oratory delivered in typical Telangana lingo, though his detractors accuse him of being a rabble-rouser. He had criticised leaders from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema (together known as Seemandhra), highlighting alleged injustice meted out to the Telangana region in an "integrated Andhra Pradesh", striking a chord with masses of the region which consists of 10 districts. His remarks like "Telangana waley jaago, Andhra waley bhago" (Telangana people arise, Andhra people run away), warnings of a "civil war" and "bloodbath" made him controversial. Often, he unsparingly criticised even Congress President Sonia Gandhi and then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. After a poor performance in the 2009 elections, KCR suffered a setback with several leaders deserting his party and getting closer to the then Chief Minister Rajasekhara Reddy. However, he bounced back after Reddy passed away in a chopper crash and soon began a fast unto death. In the wake of the fast, the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram announced on December 9, 2009 that steps would be taken for formation of separate Telangana. Following opposition in Seemandhra to the "unilateral announcement", the then UPA government felt that more consultations were needed on the demand for separate state. However, there is no looking back for Rao with the UPA-II accepting the demand last year. He sprang a surprise by refusing to merge his party with the Congress and even having an electoral tie-up with the national party, in what's now seen as a "political master stroke". As the process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh got underway, Rao highlighted that "reconstruction" of Telangana would only be possible with TRS and not with Congress, TDP or BJP. With people adequately reposing faith in his leadership, TRS has secured majority by winning 63 of the 119 assembly seats in the region.

 

CHANDRABABU INVITE KCR TO SWEARING IN CEREMONY

Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu rang up Telangana Rashtra Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), who took over as Telangana's first Chief Minister today and invited the latter to his swearing-in ceremony as Andhra Pradesh CM on June 8. Though KCR did not extend a similar courtesy to him, Chandrababu chose not be discourteous towards his erstwhile colleague, TDP sources said. "Besides congratulating KCR for taking over as Telangana CM, Chandrababu invited him to his oath-taking ceremony on June 8," sources said. Chandrababu is scheduled to take oath at 7.27 PM on June 8 as Chief Minister of (new) residual Andhra Pradesh at Nagarjuna Nagar, between Vijayawada and Guntur. The new capital of Andhra Pradesh is also expected to come up between Vijayawada and Guntur, since it is centrally located and has good road and rail connectivity from different parts of the state. Chandrababu has already invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally for his swearing-in ceremony. He also wrote letters to all Union Ministers and Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Odisha, Punjab and Nagaland inviting them for his swearing-in, TDP sources said.

CS, DGP OF TELANGANA, AP APPOINTED

A day ahead of the separate Telangana state coming into existence, Chief Secretaries and DGPs have been appointed for Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh today. Chief Secretary P K Mohanty issued separate government orders here today appointing senior IAS officers Krishna Rao and Rajiv Sharma as chief secretaries of (new) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana respectively. With Mohanty taking voluntary retirement from today, Krishna Rao has been given full charge as Chief Secretary to the Government of Andhra Pradesh. Tomorrow (June 2) happens to be the "appointed day" when Telangana would come into existence as the 29th state of India. Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao would also assume the office of Chief Minister of Telangana tomorrow. Meanwhile, senior IPS officers J V Ramudu and Anurag Sharma have been made DGPs of (new) Andhra Pradesh and Telangana respectively. Anurag Sharma shall officiate as in-charge Director General of Police for Telangana until the DGP is appointed through the Union Public Service Commission process, a government order said. Ramudu shall officiate as in-charge Director General of Police for the residual state of Andhra Pradesh until a DGP is appointed through the UPSC process, another government order said. Separate government orders were also issued today for provisional allotment of staff to Telangana and the residual state Andhra Pradesh. The government order stated that all employees of local, district, zonal and multi-zonal cadres in Telangana and residual Andhra Pradesh would be allotted to their respective states.

KARUNANIDHI CALLS FOR SELF INTROSPECT

Seeking to enthuse party cadres after the rout in the Lok Sabha polls, DMK chief M Karunanidhi today urged them to "self-introspect" and ensure their words and deeds are in consonance with DMK's ideals.
"Good or bad does not come from others," he said, quoting a popular verse to indicate that blame for defeat should collectively lie within the party.
In a message to cadres ahead of his 91st birthday on June 3, Karunanidhi also said "no one can destroy you...except by yourself," quoting party founder C N Annadurai.
"Party workers should use the poll results to sharpen and equip themselves better by self-introspection. See where you are, what you are doing and [understand] its consequences, realise that words and deeds should be in consonance with the party ideals," Karunanidhi said.
Stating that several reasons were being put forth by many for the poll debacle, the DMK chief, without naming any leader said, "It is being stated that some party workers shunned poll work or their activities had brought bitterness and regret among the electorate."
The DMK chief pointed out that the party had made dramatic comeback in the past after electoral routs. "Whether it is victory or defeat, I continue to move on in the path of the ideal without losing heart," he said.
Ahead of the LS polls, DMK had suspended the party's southern strongman and elder son of Karunanidhi, M K Alagiri on January 24 and expelled him on March 25 for "anti-party" activities. Many of Alagiri's supporters were also expelled.
Since then, Alagiri had been voicing his protest in several forms and had even rightly predicted that the party would be defeated badly in polls.
Karunanidhi's message assumes significance as it comes a day ahead of DMK's high-level committee meeting here tomorrow to take stock of the party's drubbing in the polls.
K Anbazhagan, M K Stalin, Arcot N Veerasamy, Duraimurugan and Kanimozhi are among the leaders who are expected to participate in the meeting.
DMK failed to win a single seat in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Its allies also drew a blank.

TELANGANA...THE 29th STATE OF INDIA

Telangana would come into existence as the 29th state of India tomorrow, capping the decades-old struggle in the region for carving out a separate state from Andhra Pradesh. President's rule imposed in united Andhra Pradesh would be revoked partially tomorrow to facilitate the swearing-in of a government in the newly-created Telangana headed by TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao. A notification is expected to be issued tomorrow morning in this regard. The Central rule would, however, continue in the residual AP until TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu takes charge as Chief Minister, which is likely on June 8. Chandrasekhar Rao is scheduled to be sworn in as Chief Minister at 8.15 am at the Raj Bhavan here tomorrow by Governor ESL Narasimhan, who will be the Governor for both Telangana and the residual Andhra Pradesh. After taking oath as first Chief Minister of separate Telangana, Chandrasekhar Rao would attend the official celebration of 'Telangana Formation Day' at the sprawling Parade Grounds here. The ruling TRS, other political parties and Telangana supporters have lined up a number of events in Hyderabad and elsewhere to celebrate the realisation of the decades-long dream. TRS activists and supporters have already painted Hyderabad pink, the colour of TRS flag, by installing huge cut-outs, banners, festoons and balloons hailing their leader. According to TRS sources, cultural programmes would be organised from 9 pm to 11.59 pm tonight and a dazzling display of fireworks would be held from mid-night at People's Plaza and Tank Bund at the picturesque Hussain Sagar lake to celebrate the occasion. Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter and MP Kavitha would attend the celebrations at Telangana Bhavan, the TRS headquarters here. The journey towards achieving the goal of separate Telangana has been momentous and there have been a number of milestones in the saga.
In 1956, Andhra and the then Hyderabad state were merged to form Andhra Pradesh, the first state to be formed on linguistic basis in the country. In 1969, an agitation for formation of separate Telangana began and about 300 people were reportedly killed in the agitation. In a big fillip to the separate Telangana agitation, BJP came out in support of separate statehood demand and it promised "one vote, two states" in the 1998 elections. A group of Congress MLAs from Telangana submitted a memorandum to party president Sonia Gandhi in 2000 demanding separate statehood to the region. The separate Telangana agitation got a huge boost in 2001 when the then TDP leader K Chandrasekhar Rao quit the party and launched the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) to fight for separate state. TDP announced support for separate Telangana demand in 2008 and it joined hands with TRS for the 2009 Lok Sabha and Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections. The Telangana agitation grew subsequently after Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy died in a chopper crash in September 2009 as he was seen as a formidable opponent of separate Telangana. The TRS president began a fast-unto-death towards the end of 2009 and the then Union Home Minister P Chidambaram announced on December 9, 2009, that steps would be taken for formation of separate Telangana. In the wake of strong protests in Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, the Centre set up a commission, headed by retired Supreme Court judge B N Srikrishna, for more consultations on the issue. The Commission presented six options to the Centre. On July 30, 2013, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) favoured formation of separate Telangana. The Union Cabinet approved the proposal to divide Andhra Pradesh in October 2013. After the Union Cabinet approved the bifurcation, a Group of Ministers (GoM) was appointed to go into the issue of AP's division.  
The Union Cabinet approved the draft AP Reorganisation Bill on December 5, 2013, based on the recommendations of the GoM. President Pranab Mukherjee referred the Bill to the AP Legislative Assembly for its views. The Bill was, however, rejected by the Assembly on January 30 this year amid din. The Bill was tabled in Parliament for passage and the Lok Sabha witnessed unprecedented scenes with a group of Congress MPs moving a no-confidence motion against the UPA government. Uproarious scenes were witnessed in Lok Sabha with Seemandhra MP L Rajagopal using pepper-spray, though the Bill was passed in Parliament with the support of BJP. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who raised a banner of revolt against the decision to divide AP, resigned from his post when the Lok Sabha passed the Telangana Bill in February this year. The process of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh began following the passage of the Bill in Parliament and June 2 was declared as the 'Appointed Day' when Telangana would come into existence as the 29th state of India. In the Lok Sabha and Assembly elections held last month, the ruling Congress suffered a humiliating defeat both in Seemandhra and also Telangana. With 63 of 119 Assembly seats, TRS bagged majority in Telangana paving way for the party's president K Chandrasekhar Rao to be sworn in as the first Chief Minister of the new state tomorrow.  

CONGRESS LEADER SUSPENDED FOR CRITICISING RAHUL

In an action against a second Congress leader this week for criticising Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan MLA Bhanwar Lal Sharma was today suspended from the party, a day after he dubbed him 'MD of a team of jokers'. "Sharma has been suspended by the PCC chief on a direction by the AICC General Secretary in-charge Gurudas Kamat," PCC spokesperson Archna Sharma said. T H Mustafa, a Congress leader from Kerala, was suspended on Thursday. Sharma had yesterday attacked the leadership of Rahul, saying he was directionless and surrounded by advisers who lack political understanding. Calling Rahul an 'MD of the Congressi Circus', Sharma had said party President Sonia Gandhi should shift her focus towards strengthening and restructuring the party in a democratic manner instead of showing affection for Rahul.
"The people who are around him (Rahul) are jokers. He is the MD of a team of jokers," Sharma told reporters.
"Rahul Gandhi is directionless and has no policy. He and his advisors are responsible for the party's embarrassment and defeat in elections as there is no huge mass support for him," Sharma had told PTI. When contacted, Sharma today said that he was not aware whether he was suspended but said he did not care about the action. "I am not bothered about the action. I was right in saying that Rahul is surrounded by such advisors who have no ground, no support and they all were responsible for the party defeat. The way the party is functioning now is very unfortunate," he said. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Rameshwar Lal Dudi did not respond to calls despite repeated attempts. A six-time MLA, Sharma represents Sardarshahar constituency in the Rajasthan assembly, in which Congress has 21 MLAs, including him. In 2013 Assembly elections, BJP stormed to power with winning 163 out of 200 seats.
In Kerala, Mustafa was suspended for his remark that Rahul depended on a coterie close to him during the Lok Sabha campaign and that "acting like a joker" would not help in elections.
Mustafa, a five-time Congress MLA and former minister for civil supplies, also called for the removal of Rahul from all party posts and demanded his sister Priyanka Gandhi be made the new leader.