National
KCR vows to fight like a tiger for Telangana's rights till last breath
Nalgonda (Telangana), Feb 13 (IANS) Vowing to fight like a tiger for the rights of Telangana till his last breath, former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday exuded confidence that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) will come back to power in ‘double speed’.
Addressing his first public meeting after losing power to the Congress recently, the BRS chief declared that he will not allow injustice to be meted out to Telangana.
KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said the time has come for a decisive fight to get Telangana’s due share in the waters of Krishna River.
The BRS chief was addressing a public meeting organised by the party to protest against alleged handing over of the projects on Krishna River by the Congress government to the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB).
The BRS leader, who recently underwent hip replacement surgery following a fracture, said he came to the public meeting with a walking stick as the interests of Telangana are dearest to him.
He also made it clear that it is not a political meeting, saying: “This is a meeting for a movement, for a fight. Our rights in Krishna waters are a matter of life and death for us.”
KCR said this meeting is a warning for not just the state government and state leaders, but also the Brijesh Kumar tribunal, Central government, Union Water Resources Minister and those with vested interests who want to snatch away “our water”.
KCR said the issue of Krishna waters is a matter of life and death for the undivided districts of Khammam, Nalgonda, Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy and Hyderabad.
The former CM said that for the last 24 years, he has been going around Telangana to underline the need to protect the state’s due share in the waters of both Krishna and Godavari rivers.
“I fought for Telangana state, achieved it and ruled the state for 10 years. I have not belittled anybody during my rule,” he said, claiming that his government ensured uninterrupted power supply, drinking water tap to every house and a huge jump in agricultural production.
Recalling that the people of Nalgonda suffered a lot due to the fluorosis problem and the successive governments’ failed to solve it, he said it was the BRS government which made Telangana fluorosis-free.
KCR also recalled that at the time of creation of Telangana state, then Congress government at the Centre wanted the states to continue the existing water sharing arrangement for one year and assured to address the issue later.
“Since the Bill for the formation of Telangana state was to be passed in the Parliament, we agreed,” he said.
The BRS chief said after the Narendra Modi government came to power, it did nothing to determine the share of Telangana in Krishna waters though he wrote hundreds of letters.
“We went to the Supreme Court and later the Central government asked us to withdraw the case, promising to constitute a tribunal. They delayed the process of constituting the tribunal and only after a strong fight by the BRS, the tribunal was constituted a few months before the elections,” he said.
The BRS chief said the Congress government should approach the tribunal, present its case effectively and apprise it of the state’s requirements and rights. He, however, remarked that this task can be undertaken by someone with guts and someone who has love for the people and the state.
He also demanded that the government should take an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and urge him to do justice to Telangana.
Slamming the Congress government for agreeing to handover Krishna projects to KRMB within three months after coming to power, he said this was a direct attack on the state’s interests and the very existence of its people.
He claimed that it was only after the BRS announced the ‘Chalo Nalgonda’ programme that the government passed a resolution in the Assembly.
He, however, said even this resolution has not covered some key issues like electricity generation.
KCR also alleged that the Congress uttered lies to come to power, adding that power is not permanent and BRS will come back to power in double speed.
On the visit of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, ministers and legislators to the Medigadda barrage, he asked what have they done by visiting it. He also alleged that the Congress government was trying to defame the BRS.
KCR remarked that the present government has no understanding of the river water problem, adding that this will not end with the passing of a resolution in the Assembly.
The BRS chief reminded that Kaleshwaram is not just Medigadda barrage, but there are three barrages, 15 reservoirs, 19 substations, 21 pump houses, 203 km of tunnels and 1,531 km gravity canal.
“There are 250-300 piers of Medigadda barrage. Two to three piers have sunk. If there are problems, they should be fixed,” KCR said, as he asked if similar problems were not faced in Nagarjuna Sagar, Musi, Kadam and other projects.
Lashing out at the Congress, KCR said they are resorting to cheap politics.
“They are saying they will not allow KCR to roam around in Telangana. What will you do? Will you kill KCR? Can you sustain after killing KCR,” he asked.
The BRS chief also slammed Congress leaders for allegedly threatening to hit the farmers with footwear if they ask for Rythu Bandhu.
“You should remember that footwear of farmers is harder than yours. If you are incompetent to give Rythu Bandhu assistance, you should tell the farmers,” KCR said
–IANS
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Hyderabad, July 11 (IANS) Former chief of Telangana’s Special Intelligence Branch (SIB), T Prabhakar Rao, the main accused in the phone tapping case, has denied the allegations against him.
The retired Inspector General of Police, who is in the US, has communicated to the Investigating Officer (IO) that multiple health problems have forced him to defer his return to India.
He assured that he will fully cooperate in the investigation and answer all queries in person as soon as his health improves and upon his return to India.
“I am prepared to assist in the investigation in any kind of questioning over video conferencing or teleconferencing till the time I return to India,” he said in the letter dated June 23 that surfaced on Thursday.
The retired IPS officer requested the IO to conduct a fair and unbiased investigation as per the provisions of law.
Prabhakar Rao denied the allegations made against him.
“I would once again want to reiterate what I conveyed to you via the Whatsapp call on March 22nd & 23rd, that I have not committed nor directed anyone to commit any illegal acts or omissions while discharging my duties as a police officer at any time including as Chief of SIB,” reads the letter.
The former SIB chief wrote that he had originally planned to return to India on June 26 but had to defer the same due to health issues.
He informed the IO that in addition to existing problem of malignant cancer, he developed high blood pressure due to stress, “I have been subjected to, after registration of the current case and by making wild and false allegations against me with constant deliberate leaks to media, thereby assassinating my character and reputation even prior to making me as an accused in the case.”
He stated that the false allegations were a great shock to him and his family which led to further deterioration of his physical and mental health.
Prabhakar Rao said he was now suffering from cardiac and renal problems for which he was seeking appointments of specialists in the US.
He further wrote that his consulting doctors advised him not to travel out of the US till his health completely stabilised.
“However, I am willing to fully cooperate with the investigation and provide any information which you think is in my exclusive knowledge and possession through email. I don’t think that my no-appearance before the IO at an earlier point of time will hamper the investigation in any way as it is already evident from the outcome of the investigation and filing of the chargesheet,” he added.
Three serving police officers and a former officer have so far been arrested in the phone tapping case which came to light after the BRS lost power to Congress and an official in SIB who was part of the operation was found destroying the collected data.
In March a case was registered with the Panjagutta police after a petition was filed by additional SP, SIB.
DSP Praneeth Rao was arrested after he allegedly destroyed hard disks and other data.
Later, the police arrested former additional SPs Bhujanga Rao and Tirupathanna and former Deputy Commissioner of Police, P Radha Kishan Rao.
–IANS
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National
Trinamool MP Saugata Roy threatened, asked to arrange for release of party strongman Jayant
Kolkata, July 11 (IANS) Senior Trinamool Congress leader and four-time Lok Sabha MP from Dum Dum constituency, Saugata Roy, claimed on Thursday that he had received threatening calls over strongman Jayant Singh’s arrest.
Saugata Roy said he had been threatened with dire consequences if he failed to arrange for the release of local Trinamool leader Jayant Singh.
Singh, a virtual terror in Ariadaha in North 24 Parganas District was arrested last week by police after a video went viral where he and his associates were seen involved in mob violence against an individual in a club.
“A call came from an unknown number to my mobile. The caller first used abusive language and then threatened to kill me unless I arranged for the release of Singh. I received the call twice,” Roy told a section of the media on Thursday morning.
He also confirmed that he has filed a complaint with Barrackpore Police Commissionerate and requested the police to identify the caller from the number that he has provided to them.
Roy is the second ruling party leader to receive life threats over the incarceration of Singh.
“I am scared that I can be shot anytime. I have been vocal against the police in the matter. It is possible that the police will tell the anti-social elements that they were forced to take action because of pressure from Madan Mitra. This is an old game,” Madan Mitra said on Wednesday evening.
The Opposition leaders said that the ruling party leaders are now facing the music for giving protection to these anti-social elements.
–IANS
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Patna, July 11 (IANS) Ten people lost their lives due to lightning strikes in the last 24 hours in Bihar, said officials on Thursday.
Three persons died in Rohtas, two in Siwan, and one each in Kaimur, West Champaran, Supaul, Munger and Banka districts.
Ram Pravesh Singh, a 55-year-old farmer from Bihar, died instantly after being struck by lightning while seeking shelter under a blackberry tree in Rohtas’s Nokha block on Wednesday evening.
A young woman in Karaundi village, Natwar block, also lost her life due to lightning.
In Sanjhauli Mathia village, Karakat block, a farmer succumbed to a lightning strike.
A five-year-old girl died while collecting mangoes during a storm in Odakpur village in Siwan district.
A labourer, who hailed from West Bengal’s Malda district, was planting paddy in Nikhati Kala village in Siwan when he was struck by lightning and died.
Another individual died due to lightning in the Mohaniya subdivision in Kaimur.
A farmer, Suresh Yadav was killed, and another person, Suman Ram, was severely injured while ploughing in Phulwaria village under the Lauriya police station area in West Champaran district. The injured person was receiving treatment at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Bettiah.
A farmer lost his life due to lightning in Dharmapatti village in the Raghopur police station area in Supaul district.
A woman died from a lightning strike in Lagma village, Asarganj police station area in Munger.
A person named Janardan Mandal of Salempur Puranchak village under Amarpur police station in Banka district also died due to lightning.
Authorities are taking necessary actions, including post-mortem examinations and providing medical treatment to the injured. As per the norms, the state government will give a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of the deceased.
–IANS
ajk/dpb
Prayagraj, July 11 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government will deploy Jal Police personnel, armed with modern gadgets to offer help to pilgrims arriving at the banks of the Ganga to take a holy dip in the Kumbh Mela 2025.
The Kumbh Mela police authorities have drafted a plan to ensure the safety and security of each and every pilgrim while taking a holy dip during the mega religious fair.
The Jal Police personnel will be equipped with underwater cameras and drones, rescue boats, scooter boats, ambulance boats, big boats, speed boats, training equipment, life-saving equipment lifebuoys, floating jetties and dragon lights.
Interestingly, the Mela police will be armed with underwater cameras and drones that can help cops track missing bodies in the rivers and other local water bodies.
Additional DG (Prayagraj zone) Bhanu Bhaskar said, “Jal police to be armed with advanced safety gadgets during Maha Kumbh, will be deployed on the banks of Ganga and Sangam to ensure the safety of devotees and to check cases of drowning”.
Besides, the duties of skilled jawans of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC – flood control) and Jal Police, companies of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) will also be assigned to prevent any drowning incidents.
The Jal Police will be setting up a floating control room at Sangam while additional teams will be deputed to control the strength of pilgrims on the river banks.
The ADG said, “Wearing a life jacket will be mandatory for all pilgrims taking seats on boats. Moreover, personnel of Jal Police and PAC (flood control) will also be equipped with lifesaving equipment. They will be given life-saving jackets, guards, nets, boats and other apparatus.”
Besides, quick reaction teams (QRTs) will be deputed to the floating control room. These QRTs will also be equipped with safety gadgets, binoculars and other apparatus. Jal Police personnel would also patrol on boats at every ghat to check cases of drowning.
They would be apprising pilgrims about the depth of the water and restricting them from entering the deep side.
Jal Police authorities will also be engaging trained swimmers to ensure the safety of each devotee taking a holy dip.
–IANS
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Jammu, July 11 (IANS) In a shocking case, the throat-slit bodies of newborn twins were recovered in Jammu & Kashmir’s Poonch district, said officials on Thursday, adding that their father has been arrested.
The bodies of the two female babies were found in their home in the Chaijjla Kayani village of the Mendhar sub-division of the district.
The father of the babies was initially detained for questioning and later was arrested, said officials.
Authorities said immediately after receiving information about the bodies of two female babies lying in the house of Mohd Khursheed of Chajjla Keyani village, a team was rushed to the village.
The bodies have been sent for post-mortem. A board of doctors has been constituted to carry out the post-mortem and furnish a detailed report.
Doctors said that after completion of medico-legal formalities, the bodies would be handed over to police.
The incident has sent shock waves throughout the district as it involves the fate of girl children at a time when the country is celebrating the birth, education and contribution of women to the development of the country and its democratic institutions.
–IANS
sq/dpb
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