BJP leaders arrested for staging ‘rasta roko’

Raising issues: BJP leader M. Venkaiah Naidu being taken away in a police van in Hyderabad on Friday.

HYDERABAD: Several senior leaders of the BJP, including M. Venkaiah Naidu and Bangaru Laxman, were arrested on Friday after they staged a ‘rasta roko’ at Khairatabad crossroads against the rising prices. Traffic came to a halt for some time.

Police resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse the large number of party activists. The arrested activists, who originally planned a ‘jail bharo’ programme, were taken to the Shivkumar Lal Stadium, Goshamahal, and released in the evening.

Among those arrested were N. Indrasena Reddy, national secretary, Bandaru Dattatreya, State president, Ch. Vidyasagar Rao, U.V. Krishnam Raju, former Union Ministers, G. Kishan Reddy, MLA, K. Laxman, general secretary, Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, president, Greater Hyderabad unit, which organised the protest.

Prior to their arrest, senior leaders addressed the gathering. They said the State executive meeting here on June 28 and 29 would finalise the agitation programme to protest shortage of fertilizers and seed and demanding increased minimum support price for paddy.

Dattatreya flags off rallies

Prelude to BJP leader L. K. Advani’s ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’

— Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

Mobilising support: BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya and others participating in a motorcycle rally on Sunday .

HYDERABAD: State BJP president B. Dattatreya on Sunday flagged off scooter rallies in Khairatabad and Jubilee Hills areas to campaign in connection with the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate L.K. Advani’s public meeting here as part of ‘Vijay Sankalp Yatra’.

Flagging off the rallies, he urged the cadres to visit every household and create awareness on the reasons for the economic situation, price rise and vote-bank politics. He told them to highlight problems like bad condition of city roads. Greater Hyderabad BJP unit president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy led the Khairatabad rally.

Speculations galore over GHMC polls

E ven as there is no sign of elections to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) at sight, political parties seem to be racking their brains over the poll prospects and whom to be fielded and where. However, none of the leaders are certain about the elections to the civic body.

Elections were supposed to be held before April 14, 2008 according to the 74th Constitu tional amendment, which specifies that polls should be conducted within a year of the formation of any new civic body. The GHMC came into existence by merging surrounding municipalities on April 14, 2007. Officials from the GHMC said it was just the political will that mattered in deciding the elections.

BJP city chief Chintala Ramachandra Reddy said this time they had a very good chance of winning several seats. When asked how it was possible when the party had just one MLA, Chintala said the party had very good base in the city.

Telugu Desam (TD) city chief Vijay Rama Rao was optimistic and said the wresting of Secunderabad seat from the TRS in the recent by-elections itself indicated that people were for the TD and they would get good results in the forthcoming polls to the GHMC. Majlis-Ittahadul-Muslimeen leader Akbaruddin Owaisi said they had all the advantage and they would get more segments this time. “We are going to win all seats that we contest,” he stated.

The Praja Rajyam Party and the Communists are yet to get ready for these elections while the Lok Satta is hopeful that they would make a mark this time. Lok Satta president Jayprakash Narayan said they were in the race and they proved it in the Khairatabad by-election. Telangana Rashtra Samiti leader Tarakara Rama Rao said in the recent by-polls the party suffered some setback, but now they were ready. Nava Telangana Praja Party leader Devendar Goud did not agree with the point that the Telangana votes would get divided. “Some strategy will be worked out to see that the Telangana votes are consolidated and the goal is achieved,” he said.

Blood donation camps to mark Vajpayee's birthday

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh BJP organised blood donation camps on the occasion of Former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee s 85th birthday today.

The state unit president and former union minister Bandaru Dattatreya inaugurated a blood donation camp at Barkatpura by donating blood in which BJP MLA G Kishan Reddy, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy and others participated.

On the occasion, the party workers organised various programmes including distribution of fruits to the patients, mass feeding in 150 municipal divisions under the limits of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.

Pen-down stir hits GHMC town planning wing

HYDERABAD: Work in the town planning wing of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) came to a standstill for the last four days with the staff resorting to a pen-down strike. The employees have been on strike demanding withdrawal of cases filed against their colleagues and arrest of MIM MLA Afsar Khan.

As the town planners stopped have been on strike since Monday in the head office and zonal offices, building permissions, road-widening works and clearance of layout regulation scheme applications have been affected. In the head office, the staff has even closed the doors of the wing. Chief city planner B Purushottam Reddy has been on leave for the past one week.

It may be recalled that the MIM legislator opened fire in the air when the town planning employees tried to demolish an unauthorised portion of a building at Chapel Road in Abids on July 25. Abids police have registered cases against the GHMC chief city planner and four other officials on the complaint of MIM MLAs, Moazam Khan and Afsar Khan. The legislators alleged that the town planning staff attempted to murder them.

The next day, the Abids police registered a case against Afsar Khan for opening fire in the air.

The town planning staff got anticipatory bail a couple of days ago.

The joint action committee of town planning employees said they would continue the strike until the police arrested the MIM MLA and withdraw the case against their colleagues .

Meanwhile, BJP city president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy along with others met GHMC commissioner C V S K Sarma on Friday and picked up argument with him for not taking up the case of his own staff.

Dattatreya challenges State on price rise

State BJP chief addresses a human chain

ON THE WARPATH: State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya at a protest meet in Hyderabad on Tuesday. — PHOTO: G. KRISHNASWAMY

HYDERABAD: State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya has challenged the Government to come forward for an open discussion on the rising prices of essential commodities instead of making false claims.

Mr. Dattatreya, who was addressing a human chain formed at Liberty Circle as a part of the Jan Jagaran agitation of the party on Tuesday, said the Government was least bothered about the price rise and no essential commodity was available at an affordable price even after Ministers issued statements of controlling the price rise.

Black marketers

Onions are selling at Rs. 16 per kg despite the Government promising to supply at Rs. 6.50 per kg.

Black marketers have stored more than two lakh tonnes of pulses leading to price rise but the Government has so far not raided a single dealer.

He reminded that Congress president Sonia Gandhi had warned all the Congress Chief Ministers to control prices at a special meeting held last year, but the prices have only spiralled.

He said Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has proudly claimed that ration cards have been increased from two crores to four crores but there is nothing in the ration shops to supply.

10 litres

Earlier, white ration cardholders used to draw 18 litres of kerosene, but now that is reduced to 10 litres only.

He said the "Jan Jagaran" agitation would continue till February 15 all over the State.

Later, he released a list of comparative prices of essential commodities during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Governments (see graphics).

BJP protest blocks traffic

Kishen Reddy, Prem Singh Rathore among those arrested

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Malls held responsible for the steep rise in prices

State accused of failing to rein in hoarders

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Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

For a cause: BJP leaders, led by party’s State president Bandaru Dattatreya, trying to enter the civil supplies office in Hyderabad on Friday. —

HYDERABAD: Traffic was disrupted on the busy Somajiguda – Punjagutta stretch on Friday following a demonstration organised by the city unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in front of the Civil Supplies Bhavan to protest against rising prices of essential commodities.

The party activists squatted on the main road and raised slogans against the Central and State governments for failing to control the prices of essential commodities.

This caused a hindrance to the traffic flow and serpentine queue of vehicles extended up to the Punjagutta junction.

Addressing the gathering, the BJP Greater Hyderabad president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy held the government responsible for the rising prices that had hit the lower and middle class families.

He alleged that malls in the city were indulging in hoarding of essential commodities, which is leading to steep rise in the prices of essential commodities.

He charged the government of having failed to take action against such hoarders.

Rice scheme flayed

BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya accused the State and Central governments of failing to control the increasing prices of essential commodities. The government had introduced Rs. 2-a-kg rice scheme only to woo voters for the forthcoming elections.

Later, party activists tried to enter the Civil Supplies Bhavan, but the police prevented them from entering the premises and took the leaders, including G. Kishen Reddy and BJP State Secretary Prem Singh Rathore into custody.

It took more than an hour for traffic police to regulate the movement of vehicular traffic on the stretch.

Source : The Hindu.

Govt. should hold GHMC elections: BJP

Hyderabad, May 3:- The State Government and the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is not making any preparations to hold the Corporation Elections, though the election should held before August 8, 2009 as per the High court orders, said the Greater Hyderabad Bharatiya Janatha Party President Mr. Chintala Ramachandra Reddy at a Press meet here today.

He wanted the Government to call an all-party meeting to discuss about the elections, and take the consensus of all parties. This time, the Government has to implement the reservations in the elections, and work hard to complete the elections on time. Mr. Reddy asserted.

He said as for as BJP was concerned, ‘we are dissolving all the municipal divisional committees, and instead we are working to form a 11 member ad-hoc committee comprising of senior leaders of the party from the city’. ‘The committee will make all the preparations relating to the elections’ Mr. Reddy claimed. He also demanded the government to change the Mayor election to direct election. ‘The indirect election would lead to buying of the Corporators’ he cautioned. The Greater Hyderabad BJP General secretary Mr. B. Venkat Reddy also spoke.

Khairatabad: still retaining its charm

HYDERABAD: An interesting contest appears to be on the cards from Khairatabad Assembly constituency which goes to polls in a much slimmer and trimmer version following delimitation. The contest here gains importance as local chiefs of three major parties are likely to join the fray to test their political fortunes.If Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already fielded its Greater Hyderabad unit president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy, D .Nagender and K. Vijayarama Rao, respective heads of Congress and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) local units are likely to be fielded from here.

Mr. Reddy has already taken a lead in the campaign with sustained outreach programmes and even used the party’s ‘Sankalp Yatra’ for the purpose. For Mr. Nagender and Mr.Vijayarama Rao, the contest could be crucial as both have tasted defeat when they went to election the last time. On being denied the Asifnagar constituency in last elections, Mr. Nagender switched his allegiance to TDP and won. However, he resigned, joined Congress and lost the seat to Majlis in the subsequent bye-election. The TDP leader K. Vijayarama Rao, who conceded defeat to Congress leader P. Janardhan Reddy then, is also likely to join the fray from the constituency.

Delimitation has made Khairatabad, once the biggest Assembly constituency in the State, shed its bulge without losing any charm. Though split and four new constituencies Jubilee Hills, Kukatpally, Serilingampally and Qutbullapur formed out of it, the constituency has not lost the niche it carved for itself in the political arena. When it went to elections five years back, the electorate here was 7,51,715 but now the trimmer version has 2,17,085 voters.

The mention of the constituency revives the memories of P. Janardhan Reddy who held such sway that it turned into an impregnable fortress.

Former CBI chief Mr. Vijayarama Rao on taking plunge into the politics did breach it in the year 1999 but PJR regained control of the constituency in the last election serving him a defeat with a margin of 39,099 votes. On his death, PJR’s son P.Vishnuvardhan Reddy was fielded by the Congress and he registered victory with a massive margin of around 1,92,000 votes in the bye-election in which the TDP did not field a candidate.

Covering a mix of residential and commercial, the constituency has in its fold areas such as the posh Jubilee Hills, a conservative Anandnagar and Band Lines slum. Banjara Hills, Kamalapuri colony, Green Lands, Somajiguda, M.S.Makhta, Chintal Basthi apart, other areas include parts of Himayathnagar, Narayanguda and Vittalwadi.

BJP State executive meet in Nizamabad on July 5, 6

HYDERABAD: The BJP would soon prepare an action plan to revive the party’s fortunes in the State where it won just two seats in the recent Assembly elections.

The plan would be finalised during the party’s State executive committee meeting to be held at Nizamabad on July 5 and 6, BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya said here today.

When the BJP senior leaders were expressing different opinions on Hindutva and Telangana, the State committee seems to continue with both the issues in the coming elections also. They chose Nizamabad city to carry forward their slogans further, as party candidates received good response in the just concluded elections on both the issues.

It may be recalled that BJP candidate Y Laxminarayana was elected from Nizamabad Assembly constituency by defeating PCC president D Srinivas.

BJP State party would review the outcome of the elections and would take a final decision on draft proposal to rebuild the party in the State to achieve its vision in 2014 general elections. A report on the AP election results would be submitted at the BJP national executive meeting to be held in Delhi on June 20 and 21.

The party has appointed its floor leader in the Assembly G Kishan Reddy as incharge for the coming Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections.

BJP has already undertaken district-wise and constituency- wise analysis of the election results, Dattatreya told newsmen and added that the ongoing review meetings would be completed by June 20. BJP performed well in the elections despite it going alone in the elections, he opined.

Political situation in the State and organisational issues would be discussed in the State executive meetings and several key decisions would also be taken.MLA G Kishan Reddy and BJP city president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy were present at the press conference.

BJP not very enthusiastic

With no tall leaders, the party is not battle ready

Party literally searching for candidates

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HYDERABAD: The BJP is in a state of confusion with no tall leaders in the party ready to jump into the electoral fray. The party that once had a very strong presence in the twin cities and the potential to grow further is now literally searching for candidates for the three Assembly constituencies in the city.

“The mood is not so enthusiastic. Neither the leaders nor the cadre are ready to face the polls,” admitted a senior party leader.

But Greater Hyderabad BJP president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy exuded confidence that the party has its strengths in every constituency. “Our stand on Telangana and the issues of common man we take up regularly are our strengths,” he said. Regarding fielding the candidates, he said the party has to take a decision but the city unit is all geared up to face the elections.

With the exception of K. Lakshman, who represented the Musheerabad constituency from 1999 to 2004 there is hardly any leader in other constituencies who can match up to the candidates from other major parties.

Dr. Lakshman is certain to contest from Musheerabad and he too has made his intentions clear to the party leadership. In fact, he lost by a very narrow margin of 240 votes despite the wave of Congress-TRS combine. With TRS and Congress now bound to contest separately, the party can nurse some hopes in this constituency.

Senior party leaders admit that they don’t have strong candidates for Khairatabad and Secunderabad constituencies. Moreover, none of the leaders want to take the risk of contesting this time and those eyeing on these constituencies want to save money for the general elections. But if the party takes a decision to field candidates senior leaders like Venkatramani, Ramchander Rao and Venu Yadav might be asked to contest from Secunderabad constituency and Bheem Rao from Khairatabad.

BJP to field Muslim candidate for Hyderabad LS seat?

Bandaru Dattatreya

G. Kishan Reddy

N. Indrasena Reddy

HYDERABAD: For the first time, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is likely to field a Muslim candidate from Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency to take on Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) in its own bastion. The BJP Minority Morcha leader, Laiq Ali is under consideration as a likely candidate for the election to be held on April 16.

The constituency has been a traditional stronghold of the MIM and sent Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi six times to the Lok Sabha and his son Asaduddin Owaisi, the last time.

The BJP has been making vain efforts to dislodge the MIM but even in the 2004 elections, its candidate Subash Chanderji failed in the effort, conceding defeat by more than one lakh votes.

The party’s probable Mr. Laiq Ali hails from Sanjiva Reddy Nagar and has been in the BJP for a long time.

“The idea has been floated and different equations are being worked out in its wake for taking a final decision,” says the BJP Greater Hyderabad unit president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy. Mr Chanderji’s name too figured in the list of probables, but the former deputy mayor is more interested in contesting the Malakpet Assembly segment, rather than fighting the electoral battle in a Lok Sabha constituency.

Sources also indicate that Mr. Ali could be fielded in Jubilee Hills assembly segment, if his name is not cleared for Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat.

While former Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, who in last contest, lost to Anjan Kumar Yadav from Secunderabad will be in the fray from the same constituency, N. Indrasena Reddy emerged as the party choice for the newly created Malkajgiri Lok Sabha constituency.

The party has worked out the list of the contestants for most of the Assembly constituencies and they include Mr. Ramachandra Reddy being fielded from Khairatabad seat.

Prem Singh Rathore, who lost to M. Mukesh of Congress, in the 2004 elections from Maharajgunj will be fielded from the newly created Goshamahal constituency while Kishan Reddy who won from Himayatnagar last time will also be contesting from a newly carved constituency - Amberpet.

The others being finalised by the BJP include Bhim Rao from Lingampally, S.Malla Reddy from Qutbullahpur, N.V.S.S. Prabhakar from Uppal and Satyanarayana Rao from Patancheru.

Source : The Hindu.

BJP stages protest at HMWSSB

‘Take up the third phase of Krishna drinking water project as per the master plan’

- PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

End water woes: BJP State president Bandaru Dattatreya at the dharna outside HMWSSB office at Ameerpet on Monday.

HYDERABAD: Police took into custody scores of BJP workers and their leaders on Monday after they tried to gatecrash into the office of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) demanding that the government take up the third phase of Krishna drinking water project as per the master plan.

The arrested included State BJP president Bandaru Dattatreya, Himayatnagar MLA G. Kishen Reddy and BJP Greater Hyderabad unit president Chintala Ramachandra Reddy.

Police presence at the Board office in Ameerpet was heavy and the demonstration had a telling impact on the movement of the vehicular traffic on the busy arterial road. The BJP workers raised slogans and jostled with police while trying to prevent the arrests.

Inadequate supply

“While the city’s requirement is 500 mgd water, only 305mgd is supplied from various sources like Osman Sagar, Himayath Sagar, Manjeera, Singuru and Krishna phase-I and II,” Mr. Dattatreya told newspersons.

The combined consumption of domestic, commercial and industrial sectors stood at 180-280 litres per head a day, which totals to 500mgd, he explained.

The BJP leaders also criticized the State government for going ahead with Godavari water project while abandoning the third phase of Krishna water project.

“The government has gone ahead with Godavari water project costing Rs. 3,375 crore for just 10 tmcft while ditching third phase of Krishna water project that would have cost just Rs.800 crore for 5.5tmcft,” Mr. Ramachandra Reddy said.

He added that the city also needed Godavari water and said the government should immediately implement Krishna third phase while at the same time expedite works on Godavari water diversion projects.

The BJP leaders also said infrastructure for water distribution for Krishna Phase II was not in place.

Although the main pipeline was built, interior pipelines for distribution, tanks, sumps were not yet constructed.

Although Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy promised daily water supply to all areas in old municipal corporation limits, many areas are still not getting the same, said Mr. Ramachandra Reddy.

He also highlighted how drinking water was supplied to certain areas at unearthly hours - midnight and early hours – inconveniencing housewives, office-goers and the middle class.

The BJP leaders also demanded that water requirements of all areas coming under Greater Hyderabad region including Cantonment be undertaken by HMWSSB. These areas should also be supplied daily water, they urged.

Among their other demands were bill collection of apartment residents according to meter tariffs and complete reduction of reliance on groundwater supply.

Source : The Hindu.