Maoist terror resurfaces in Telangana

WARANGAL/HYDERABAD: Police chief Aravinda Rao's apprehensions about regrouping of Maoists in north Telangana came true on Thursday when the ultras killed two persons, including a small-time TDP leader, and set ablaze a road transport corporation (RTC) bus. The rebels also took away three villagers from Eturunagaram Agency and another from Karimnagar district, branding them as 'police informers.' Till last reports came in, there was no word on their whereabouts.

That the Maoists, who have spread a terror network in the Andhra-Orissa border (AOB), struck in the Karimnagar-Khammam-Warangal region after several years has left the cops in a state of shock. Though top police brass claimed that the incident was an isolated one carried out by Maoists taking advantage of political chaos in the state capital that kept police personnel busy, experts said the Thursday incidents were an ominous indication of more violence.

"The Maoists have infiltrated from Chhattisgarh by crossing the Godavari river at Eturunagaram border. Police cannot remain silent as the chances of more such strikes cannot be ruled out," a Naxal expert said. The Maoists have returned to this area after four years, the last recorded incident being in 2006. Read more

104 services hit by HMRI staff stir

HYDERABAD: Around 5,000 employees of the Health Management Research Institute (HMRI) '104' service took out a 'Chalo Hyderabad' rally from Sundaraiah Vignana Kendrum to Indira Park on Wednesday demanding that the state government take over the rural health scheme. The staffers from all over the state have been boycotting their duties for the last 22 days and are firm in their demand that the government take complete control over the scheme. They even want that the name of the organisation 'HMRI' be knocked out and the health scheme be known as a state-run '104' service.

Apart from ante-natal check-ups for pregnant women, free medicines for people suffering from blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy and pulmonary disorders are being supplied through the 475 mobile health vans operated through this scheme on a monthly basis. Advice for HIV patients is also being dispensed and each van provides service on a fixed day covering 20 villages in a month. But due to this strike, healthcare services have been paralysed in the rural areas for a month. more

Congress in no mood to act against Jagan

With his television channel showing no signs of relenting on sniping at Congress leadership, criticism mounted against rebel Andhra Pradesh MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy but the party appears to be in no hurry to take any action.

The new Andhra chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy was in the capital today for discussions with the high command on constituting his new cabinet and the issue of Jagan's revolt came up in the meetings.

Senior party leader from Andhra Pradesh and union minister S Jaipal Reddy today said Jagan was violating party discipline but added it was for the high command to decide any action against him. more

Kiran Kumar Reddy - New CM for AP

Kiran Kumar Reddy will be sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh today after K Rosaiah resigned on Wednesday citing health reasons.

The two big challenges for the Congress in Andhra Pradesh, a rebellious Jagan Mohan Reddy and the Telangana issue, will now be tackled by the new Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy whose name was announced late on Wednesday night as K Rosaiah's replacement.

The change of guard took most by surprise including the new Chief Minister himself. A four-time MLA from Rayalseema region and a YSR loyalist, Kiran Kumar Reddy will be sworn in today. The swearing in ceremony will take place at 12:15 pm. After this, Kiran Kumar Reddy is likely to go to Delhi this evening or tomorrow morning.

K Rosaiah stepped down on Wednesday afternoon citing personal reasons. Senior Congress leaders from Delhi, including Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Law Minister Veerappa Moily, who is also the General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, met with Congress MLAs in Hyderabad. A resolution was passed asking Sonia Gandhi to select the new leader.

"There are a lot of challenges ahead of me. I think with the cooperation of all the legislators and my party and the officers of the state I think, we can overcome all the problems," said Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Reddy is the speaker of the current assembly, and was the chief whip of the Congress in the previous government of YS Rajashekhar Reddy.

Rosaiah Resign

As senior Congress leaders headed to Andhra Pradesh, Chief Minister K Rosaiah has announced his resignation.

The party in Andhra Pradesh has faced a public and massive attack from one of its own against the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi.

On Friday, Sakshi TV, owned by Jagan Mohan Reddy, broadcast a program that was scathing in its assessment of both leaders. The channel's management said Jagan Mohan was not aware of the show's contents. Re-runs of the same show did not carry the controversial parts.

Rosaiah has seen massive resistance within his party from supporters of Jagan, whose father, the immensely-popular YSR, died in a helicopter crash last September. Rosaiah was picked to replace him as chief minister - Jagan and his camp have challenged this decision through campaigns like the Odarpu Yatra which saw Jagan touring the state in a show of strength, in open defiance of the party which had ordered him to cut short the road show.

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