AP Chief Minister slams TRS for opposing

AP Chief Minister slams TRS for opposing mass-contact plan

Reddy said political parties should refrain from politicising a "noble programme" like Rachabanda. It was launched for the common people, especially the poor, women and downtrodden to ensure that the fruits of welfare schemes launched by the State Government reach them, he said. "We have launched the programme to help the poor, the weaker sections, women and the common people who could not get the benefits of many welfare programmes." The CM said his Government, under the programme, was spending Rs 2,500 crore to benefit 1.25 crore people and it was receiving "tremendous" response from the people. The Rachabanda programme was held at 1,470 places throughout the state today - the 15th day: Andhra-602 places, Rayalaseema-271 and Telangana-597. There were reports of minor disruptions at 96 places in Telangana. Rachabanda programme has already covered 21,114 villages/gram panchayats in the state. Till today the Rachabanda programme had been held in 22,584 places. The Chief Minister will participate in Rachabanda in Karimnagar and Warangal districts tomorrow, an official release said.

Two arrested for chain snatching, motor vehicle theft

New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) Two youths were arrested in the national capital for their alleged involvement in over 20 cases of motor vehicle theft and chain snatching, police said today.Paramjeet (31) and Fayem (23) were apprehended from Peetampura yesterday when they were about to commit a chain snatching."Paramjeet turned a chain snatcher after failing to make a living doing odd jobs. He did not have a motorcycle and he joined an autolifters' gang. He spent the money on his three girlfriends," a senior police official said.He was working in companies. Sadik, another associate of Paramjeet, is still absconding.

Junaid is a good prospect and bowls with pace

Junaid is a good prospect and bowls with pace: Alam

Karachi, Feb 9 (PTI) Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam today rued the absence of Sohail Tanvir in the World Cup squad but felt the left-arm pacer's replacement, Junaid Khan, could be used as a surprise package on the sub-continental wickets. "It is a blow to lose an experienced bowler so close to the World Cup but Junaid is a good prospect and bowls with pace. He could be useful on the tracks in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh," Alam said. "One could not rule out the surprise element that Junaid would bring to the World Cup squad," he said. Alam also pointed out that the 21-year-old pacer is no stranger to international cricket, having played for Pakistan 'A' and under-19 teams. Junaid hails from Matra in the Khyber Pakhtunkhawa province, and has taken 167 wickets from 35 first class matches for Abbotabad. The Pakistan team management was forced to review its World Cup plans after Tanvir was dropped from the squad due to fitness issues. "We don't want half-fit players in the side and Tanvir has struggled with his knee problem even in New Zealand," Alam told reporters in Lahore. He said that the team management had asked the medical panel of the board to look at Tanvir's fitness, and the panel felt he was not 100 per cent fit for the World Cup. Junaid, meanwhile, said he was ecstatic to get a chance to play for Pakistan in a big event like World Cup. "Imran Khan has always been my inspiration and idol and if I get a chance to play a match, I will try to impress everyone and work hard," Junaid said. The PCB had earlier said in a statement that Junaid will replace Tanvir who was yet to recover from a knee injury. "The medical panel opined that though the recovery from a knee operation was good, during the (New Zealand) tour it was observed that quick movements and pickup with weight particularly on the operated knee is hindering his mobility and requires him to take a few extra steps to balance himself before throwing," the PCB statement read. In the absence of Tanvir, Pakistan's pace attack would now comprise of Shoaib Akhtar, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan and all-rounder Abdul Razzaq.

Delhi govt considering NSIT plea for university

Delhi govt considering NSIT plea for university status

New Delhi, Feb 9 (PTI) Delhi government's Education Department is "actively considering" a proposal by a technological institution of Delhi University to accord it a full-fledged university status.The Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology (NSIT) is reputed in the field of technology and its proposal has come as a process is already underway to upgrade another varsity institute Delhi Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research (DIPSAR) into a separate University.While the process in this regard for DIPSAR has been initiated quite a long time back, the proposal from NSIT is a new one.The NSIT had approached the Delhi government recently with a proposal seeking a 'state-University status' for it, and the government is actively considering it."The process to study the proposal is under way in connection with the other proposals. In fact, in case of DIPSAR, we are already in the process of finishing the statute," an official with Delhi government's education department said.The Delhi Assembly had passed a bill to accord university status to DIPSAR in December 2008 and the Lieutenant Governor later issued a gazette notification in this regard and the university is waiting for more progress in this direction, DIPSAR Director B Srinivasan said.A Delhi government official said the process was delayed after some concerned parties protested during a similar upgradation of Delhi College of Engineering (DCE) to Delhi Technical University (DTU)."In the light of the opposition witnessed during a similar exercise with the DTU, we are considering the proposal in a detailed and patient way," the official said.

Committee to probe fire at CM residence

Kohima, Feb 9 (PTI) An emergency meeting of Nagaland cabinet today decided to set up an inquiry committee to find out the cause of fire in chief minister Neiphiu Rio's official residence last evening and to fix responsibilities. Chief Secretary Lalthara in a release said the Cabinet meeting expressed sympathy as well as solidarity with the chief minister and members of his family in this hour of our collective loss and decided to set up an inquiry committee to find out the cause of fire, to fix responsibilities and to suggest ways and means to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future. The meeting also expressed gratitude to the Almighty God for saving the lives of the chief minister and his family, and to the fire service department volunteers who had fought the raging fire and ultimately brought it under control, thereby saving the office complex having all the governments documents inside. The chief secretary said since the office portion of the building was not affected the chief minister would continue to function from the same premises as usual. Press secretary to chief minister Abu Metha said Rio and wife and son shifted to their private residence at Kohima village last night and would stay there till alternative arrangement was made. Earlier, the chief minister told newsmen that the fire originated from the ceiling of his living room due to short circuit and immediately engulfed the residential portion of the building. Although fire tenders arrived on time, the whole incident was very unfortunate, he regretted. Rio said that most the residences of ministers and secretaries in the town were quite old and beyond repairing, insisting that all those required reconstruction and modernisation, but the state government did have resources to do so. The chief minister thanked all the people concerned, especially the fire-brigade, for their supervision and timely help.

Advocate complaints against Modi, three others

Purnia (Bihar), Feb 9 (PTI) An advocate today filed a complaint against Bihar Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi and three others accusing them of sexual exploitation and conspiring against Rupam Pathak, accused of killing Purnia BJP MLA Raj Kishore Keshari last month. Hemant Kumar, an advocate in the civil court, registered the case in the court of chief judicial magistrate D L Prasad. He has also filed a complaint against former Purnia district BJP president Vinod Anand Singh, Bipin Rai, a close aide of slain MLA, and Keshari's nephew Sudeep Keshari. Rupam's mother Kumud Mishra, however, distanced herself from the advocate's complaint. "We have nothing to do with the advocate's complaint," Mishra said. The ruling BJP MLA was stabbed to death by Rupam in full public view in Purnia on January 4.