Brahmini will take charge of the TD if Lokesh is arrested:
“Wife Brahmini will assume leadership of the Telugu Desam party in the event of Nara Lokesh’s arrest,” stated former minister and TD politburo member Ayyanna Patrudu on Thursday.
During a protest program held by the TD in MVP Colony on Thursday, Patrudu mentioned reports suggesting that the YSRC government might arrest Lokesh when he arrives in Rajahmundry from New Delhi. He also noted that senior TD leaders in Delhi and Vijayawada were discussing this matter.
He added, “Chandrababu was incarcerated, and Lokesh is ready to endure imprisonment.” Many forces are attempting to dismantle the TD, but they will not succeed.”
Patrudu emphasized that if necessary, Lokesh’s wife Brahmini would take on a leadership role within the party. He reiterated that the Telugu Desam had no shortage of leaders.
Patrudu criticized the YSRC government for banning protests and rallies by opposition parties, contrasting it with the assistance provided by the Telugu Desam Party TDP government during Jagan Reddy’s pada yatra, including laying roads and providing ambulances.
He also claimed that the era of the YSRC was coming to an end and that the next government would be formed by the TD, pledging to restore order in the state.
Brahmini will take charge of the TDP
Patrudu accused top leaders of the ruling party of illegally acquiring land worth more than 75,000 crore in Visakhapatnam and allowing anti-social elements to harass landowners.
He criticized the government’s reversal of the liquor policy and its decision to borrow substantial sums at a 9.6% interest rate for 25 years, ostensibly based on liquor sales revenue. Additionally, he pointed out that the YSRC government had raised Fibernet service charges from Rs 149 to Rs 450 per month, contrasting it with TD’s lower rates.
Jail Authorities Refuse Air Conditioning for Naidu Citing Mosquito Bite Concerns:
Central jail authorities have declined to install an air conditioning unit in the block where former Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu is serving a two-week remand.
Reports suggest that Naidu is facing difficulties in jail due to mosquito bites. Three days ago, former finance minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, after meeting Naidu in prison, stated that the party leader was bothered by mosquitoes and called on the government and central prison authorities to provide air conditioning in Naidu’s cell.
The recent death of remand prisoner Ganjeti Satyanarayana (19) has raised concerns among Telugu Desam leaders. Satyanarayana, who was sent to the central prison on September 6 in a robbery case, contracted dengue and developed a fever, leading to his death on September 19 at the Government General Hospital in Kakinada.
Nara Lokesh, TD general secretary, expressed his worry about the mosquito problem in Naidu’s cell. He tweeted that mosquitoes were biting his father, and he accused Chief Minister Jagan Reddy of orchestrating a conspiracy and filing “illegal” cases to harass his father. Lokesh asserted that the CM should bear responsibility if anything unfortunate happened to Naidu.
Ravikiran, Prisons DIG, stated, “There are 2,064 prisoners in the central jail, including gardening and jail personnel. It is our responsibility to ensure their safety as per established guidelines.”
He mentioned that the district malaria officer inspected the central prison and evaluated the mosquito situation. The officer found no larvae or standing water in the central jail, and fumigation was conducted weekly.
“To the best of my knowledge, no prison can offer such a facility. However, if the courts allow it and we receive directives from higher authorities, the central jail authorities can take any necessary steps,” Ravikiran added.
Congress screening panel to go on North T’s Yatra:
During the ongoing Parliament session, the party screening committee, which consists mainly of MPs, including Chairman K. Muralidharan, convened an informal meeting in Delhi on Wednesday.
During the meeting, committee members decided to organize a bus yatra in the near future, covering northern Telangana. The yatra will feature prominent leaders such as the PCC president and CLP leader, aiming to promote the party’s declarations and guarantees.
Sources indicate that the committee will convene once more on Thursday. The Telangana members of the committee, including TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Komatireddy Venkatreddy, all hold positions as Members of Parliament.
Congress screening panel to go on north TS Yatra
Party President Mallikarjun Kharge also included Madhu Yaskhi, the campaign committee chairman, and Komatireddy Venkatreddy in the screening committee.
BRS Expresses Support for Women’s Reservation Bill:
During the debate on the Women’s Reservation Bill in Lok Sabha, Nama Nageshwar Rao, the BRS floor leader, expressed the party’s unwavering support for the bill. He urged the Centre to promptly implement the 33 percent women’s quota, preferably starting with the 2024 general elections.
Rao emphasized that the government should establish a clear deadline for implementation if immediate execution is not feasible. He also stressed the importance of not delaying the women’s quota under the pretext of conducting a Census and delimiting Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies.
BRS Expresses Support for Women’s Reservation Bill
Rao noted that previous Union governments led by H.D. Deve Gowda, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and Manmohan Singh had introduced similar bills, but they failed to materialize for various reasons. He highlighted the BRS government’s commitment to women’s representation in local bodies in Telangana, where a 50 percent quota is provided in mandal parishads, zilla parishads, gram panchayats, municipalities, and municipal corporations.
Additionally, he mentioned the implementation of reservations for women in market committee appointments.
Arvind Blames Congress Flip-Flops for Loss of Lives in Telangana:
Nizamabad MP D. Arvind has accused the Congress of causing the loss of numerous young lives by initially announcing the formation of Telangana state in 2009, only to later withdraw the decision. He criticized the ruling BRS party for its failure to provide essential services and employment opportunities to the youth of Telangana over the past nine years.
Arvind also highlighted the BJP’s success in creating three states—Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, and Jharkhand—without any loss of life, questioning why the BRS government couldn’t generate job opportunities for the youth in Telangana.
Regarding the formation of Telangana, he pointed out that the Congress had played a dual role by initially announcing the state’s creation on December 9, 2009, and then retracting it within 15 days under pressure from Andhra MPs. This inconsistency in Congress’s stance led to a surge in the movement and the unfortunate loss of many young lives. Notably, no member of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao’s family made such sacrifices.
Arvind Blames Congress Flip-Flops for Loss of Lives in Telangana
Arvind also mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s youth-oriented initiatives and the absence of scholarships for Telangana students, while alleging that the Chief Minister’s family had accumulated illicit wealth.
“Warner Bros. Discovery Inaugurates Its ‘Hyderabad Capability Centre’ with Honorable Presence”
During the official launch of the ‘Hyderabad Capability Centre’ by Warner Bros. Discovery, K.T. Rama Rao, Minister of IT and Industries, commended the company for its iconic brands in television, films, and streaming. He expressed pride in the company’s choice of city as the location for its development center.
Rama Rao highlighted the rapid establishment of the Hyderabad Capability Centre, which went from announcement to inauguration within just four months. He also referenced the prior declaration made by Warner Bros. Discovery’s Global Capability Centre in the State capital, which was made during a meeting with Alex Carter in New York in May of the same year. Additionally, Rama Rao emphasized the remarkable growth of IT employment in Telangana, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly a million jobs created in the sector.
The event witnessed the presence of several key figures, including Warner Bros.Discovery’s CFO, Gunnar Wiedenfels, Senior Vice President of Finance, Alexandra Carter, Leader of the Hyderabad Capability Centre, Jaideep Agarwal, US Consul General in capital city, Jennifer Larson, Investment Promotions Special Secretary, Dr. Vishnuvardhan Reddy, and Chief Relations Officer, Amarnath Reddy, were also present at the event.
TDP Legislators to Protest Naidu’s Arrest in Assembly:
Telugu Desam legislators have decided to participate in the upcoming Andhra Pradesh legislative session, starting Thursday, to voice their objections to what they perceive as the “unlawful” arrest of their party leader, Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
During a meeting held by the TD legislature party, chaired by the party’s state president K. Atchannaidu at their party headquarters in Mangalagiri on Wednesday, it was resolved that they would attend the legislative session.
Following the meeting, TDP leaders including Nimmala Ramanaidu, B.V. Swamy, and B.T. Naidu spoke with the media. They criticized the YSRC for allegedly undermining the legitimacy of the legislative sessions by rejecting TD-proposed resolutions and granting inadequate time for TD legislators to address various issues. They noted a significant disparity in the time allotted to ruling party legislators, who receive seven to eight hours, compared to just 10 minutes given to the opposition.
The TDLP has pledged to raise concerns about the alleged unjust arrest of their party chief and bring to light what they believe is a “conspiracy” behind his detention during the legislative session. They aim to inform the public about the treatment Naidu has received. The TD leaders assert that the charges against Naidu are politically motivated. Additionally, they plan to highlight the YSRC government’s alleged involvement in illegal sand mining, liquor-related issues, land scandals, and attacks on various marginalized groups.
TDP Legislators to Protest Naidu’s Arrest in Assembly
Their agenda for the five-day legislative session is primarily centered on demanding the withdrawal of all alleged illegitimate charges against Chandrababu Naidu.
Rahul, Wearing a Red Shirt, Attempts to Address Coolies’ Complaints:
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took on the role of a railway porter at Delhi’s Anand Vihar railway station this morning. A video capturing this moment, where the Jana Nayak (People’s Leader) was seen at the railway station, has rapidly gained popularity on the internet, with many social media users applauding Gandhi for his actions.
Dressed in the traditional red shirt and displaying the porter’s badge on his left arm, Gandhi engaged with the railway porters at the station. He inquired about their concerns and made an effort to comprehend the challenges they face.
Rahul, Wearing a Red Shirt, Attempts to Address Coolies’ Complaints
Notably, the railway porters at the station had expressed their desire to meet the Jana Nayak, and the video of their appeal had also gone viral. Responding to their request, Rahul visited the railway station and sat among the porters to learn about their issues and take steps to address them as needed.
The ruling Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is gearing up for a strong response to the six guarantees put forth by the Congress leadership during the Vijayabheri meeting in Tukkuguda for the people of Telangana, according to insider sources.
In an assertive campaign, the BRS plans to refrain from making counter-promises but will instead emphasize that the Congress guarantees are unsubstantiated and impractical due to financial limitations. Having announced candidates for 115 Assembly constituencies nearly a month ago, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao will guide party leaders in reaching out to voters to counter the Congress’s six guarantees. According to estimates from the BRS think-tank, the implementation of Congress’s six guarantees would result in an annual expenditure of Rs 2.90 lakh crore, surpassing the state’s annual budget.
The budget for Telangana for the fiscal year 2023-24 is set at Rs 2.77 lakh crore, with the Congress guarantees exceeding this figure. Furthermore, the Party is still evaluating the financial burden on the state treasury to fulfill Congress’s promises, such as providing domestic LPG cylinders for Rs 500 and free travel for women on RTC buses.
As Congress leaders and activists are already distributing “guarantee cards” to constituents and seeking votes, the ruling party intends to engage with voters and raise awareness about the impracticality of implementing these promises by any government.
BRS’ Response to Congress on Six Poll Promises
During the 2018 Assembly polls, the BRS had pledged a crop loan waiver of up to Rs 1 lakh for farmers, whereas the Congress promised up to Rs 2 lakh. However, the BRS emerged victorious with a significant majority, indicating that farmers were skeptical of the Congress’s Rs 2 lakh waiver due to doubts about its feasibility.
The BRS leadership is optimistic that a similar scenario will unfold in the upcoming Assembly polls this year if their party leaders and workers effectively engage with voters and highlight these concerns.
CM Jagan Considering a Move to Vizag for Dasara Celebration:
Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has revealed to the Cabinet that the state government will commence its operations in Visakhapatnam during the upcoming Dasara festival. Furthermore, the government intends to establish a committee responsible for overseeing the relocation of government offices to Visakhapatnam.
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet meeting, presided over by the Chief Minister, took place at the Velagapudi Secretariat. During the meeting, the Chief Minister discussed the relocation plan and the implications of the arrest of Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu, and other relevant matters with his ministers.
CM Jagan advised his ministers to provide the public with factual explanations regarding Naidu’s arrest. He emphasized the need to elucidate the corruption that occurred during the rule of the Telugu Desam party. He emphasized that actions against Naidu were taken solely in response to mistakes he made.
The Chief Minister underscored that the government should focus on its development agenda and connect with the public, dismissing the need to pay excessive attention to the Telugu Desam’s protests over the arrest. He also urged ministers and MLAs to remain prepared for elections, as the timing of future polls remains uncertain, depending on the decision of the central government. He mentioned plans to allocate house plots to MLAs in Visakhapatnam and expressed the intention to move to the capital city soon.
Notably, the plans to relocate the executive capital to Visakhapatnam have faced legal and technical challenges. However, with elections approaching and limited time remaining, the Chief Minister decided to shift the administration from Tadepalli in Amaravati to Visakhapatnam on the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dasami (Dasara).
Jagan Mohan Reddy initially announced the Three Capitals plan on December 17, 2019, aiming to decentralize development in Andhra Pradesh. According to this plan, Amaravati would serve as the Legislative Capital, Visakhapatnam as the Executive Capital, and Kurnool as the Judiciary Capital. However, several petitions were filed in the AP High Court and the Supreme Court opposing the capital relocation decision.
While the AP High Court issued a verdict halting the government’s capital shift to Visakhapatnam, the approaching election season has compelled the YSRC to revive the discussion on decentralized development. Consequently, the Chief Minister has now decided to transfer the administration to Visakhapatnam.
CM Jagan Considering a Move to Vizag for Dasara Celebration
Following the Cabinet meeting, Industries Minister Gudivada Amarnath confirmed that the CM’s administration would begin functioning from Visakhapatnam on Dasara day. He also stated that the CM had emphasized this point during the Cabinet meeting. Additionally, the Chief Minister has initiated the formation of a committee comprising officials responsible for coordinating the transfer of government offices to Visakhapatnam, emphasizing that there are no restrictions preventing the CM from governing from Visakhapatnam.
BRS working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao (KTR)expressed his approval on Wednesday for the passage of the women’s quota Bill, considering it a step in the right direction towards involving women in policymaking.
During the launch event for the redeveloped International Tech Park Hyderabad (ITPH) by CapitaLand Investment Limited (CLI), K.Rama Rao (KTR) welcomed Singapore Parliament Deputy Speaker Jessica Tan.
CLI, a prominent global real estate investment manager, initiated operations at the newly revamped International Tech Park Hyderabad (ITPH) as part of its first phase. The Block-A office building within the business park has secured 100 percent lease commitments from major global corporations. Additionally, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the commencement of a 40-megawatt (MW) data center development within ITPH.
CapitaLand India Trust (CLINT) is set to invest in the comprehensive redevelopment of ITPH, to be executed in phases over the next seven to ten years. Once completed, ITPH will offer 4.9 million square feet of Grade A+ office space, accommodating more than 50,000 IT/IT-enabled Services (ITeS) professionals.
Thus far, over $1.5 billion (equivalent to more than Rs 12,000 crore) has been invested in Hyderabad, with an additional $600 million earmarked for future investments, as announced by the company.
K. Rama Rao (KTR) emphasized CLI’s commitment to establishing top-notch business parks and data centers in Hyderabad, aligning with the city’s burgeoning IT sector. Given Hyderabad’s growing appeal to global corporations, he expressed dedication to providing the necessary infrastructure and support for these companies to thrive. He also encouraged the company to consider investing in sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, life sciences, and warehousing, making Hyderabad a comprehensive hub.
Sanjeev Dasgupta, CEO of CLI India and CEO of CLINT, stated that Hyderabad is among the fastest-growing markets for CLI in India, with nearly three decades of experience. CLI currently operates 12 business parks across six Indian cities, three of which are in Hyderabad. These parks have consistently achieved a strong average occupancy rate of nearly 90 percent, accommodating over 150,000 professionals from both multinational and local companies.
KTR Extends a Warm Welcome to Women’s Bill
As part of Phase-1 operations, the 1.4 million square feet Block-A office building has secured lease commitments from global corporations, including Bristol Myers Squibb, Ernst & Young, Tata Consultancy Services, VXI Global, US Technology, Warner Bros. Discovery, ANSR Global Corporation, Cloud4C Services.
The ITPH data center, spanning 3 lakh square feet in built-up area, will feature advanced technology specifications to serve international hyper-scalers and large enterprises.
Karnataka MPs Pledge to Address Cauvery Issue Together in Parliament:
Karnataka MPs, primarily from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), have pledged their support to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s stance on the Cauvery River water dispute with Tamil Nadu. They assured him that they would raise the issue in Parliament.
Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar held a meeting with the state’s MPs in New Delhi to seek their support on this matter. After the meeting, Shivakumar explained that they had met with Union Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs Prahalad Joshi, a fellow Karnataka native, to discuss the state’s situation due to this season’s deficit rainfall.
Joshi criticized the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s decision to ask Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu during a drought and called it unscientific. Shivakumar stated that Karnataka would appeal this decision in the Supreme Court and appreciated the support of the state’s MPs in this matter.
Sonia Gandhi, Chief of the Congress parliamentary party, expressed her party’s support for the women’s reservation bill and called for its immediate implementation. She also demanded provisions for the reservation of OBC women.
During the Lok Sabha debate, Gandhi stressed that delaying the implementation of the reservation would be a grave injustice to Indian women. She urged the government to act swiftly and make provisions for the reservation of SC, ST, and OBC women after conducting a caste census. DMK leader M. Kanimozhi called for the removal of the “after delimitation” clause in the bill to avoid unnecessary delays in its implementation.
She emphasized that the bill aims to eliminate bias and injustice, not just provide reservation. NCP leader Supriya Sule criticized the bill as a “post-dated cheque” and questioned the government’s decision to hold a special session to approve it when census and delimitation dates are still uncertain.
She called for a clear timeline for implementation. JD(U) leader Rajiv Ranjan Singh accused the Modi government of using the bill as a political maneuver to win the 2024 elections. While he supported the bill’s objective, he called it a “jumla” or empty promise. Samajwadi Party member Dimple Yadav called for the reservation of women from backward classes, SC/STs, and minority communities in the bill.
Opposition Backs Women’s Bill with OBC Quota
Trinamool Congress member Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar criticized the government for linking the bill’s implementation to population census and delimitation, calling it a “sinister” move. BSP chief Mayawati urged the government to separate the bill from census and delimitation processes to ensure its immediate implementation. She accused both the BJP and Congress of using the bill for political gain and stated that certain provisions would delay its benefits for years.
Bandi Sanjay Criticizes KCR’s Free Power Supply Plan for Muslim Dhobis:
BJP National General Secretary and MP, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, criticized Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, accusing him of practicing appeasement politics. Kumar condemned the government’s decision to provide 250 units of free power to Muslim dhobi ghats and laundry shops in the state, expressing concern that this move would lead to unemployment among the Rajak community.
Kumar argued that numerous laundry shops serve various sections of the population and that providing free power to Muslim Dhobi ghats and shops would negatively impact the livelihoods of the Rajak community. He suggested that this decision was made to appease the MIM party and its leader, Asaduddin Owaisi.
According to Kumar, the Chief Minister’s actions reflect a form of religious favoritism, and he accused KCR of prioritizing vote banks over the financial well-being of BCs (Backward Classes) who engage in caste-based professions. Kumar emphasized that KCR’s decision would have a detrimental effect on BC communities, as their businesses had already been affected by others.
Bandi Sanjay Criticizes KCR’s Free Power Supply Plan for Muslim Dhobis
Kumar concluded that the Chief Minister’s move appeared to be driven by a desire to secure vote banks for upcoming elections, causing significant distress among BC communities due to the economic challenges they would face as a result.
Telugu Desam (TD) MPs and former MPs, along with Nara Lokesh, staged a silent protest at Rajghat in Delhi on Tuesday wearing black badges against the arrest of Nara Chandrababu Naidu.
The TD MPs Kesineni Srinivas alias Nani, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Galla Jayadev, and Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar alleged that the state government is in jitters as people across the globe have taken up various protest programs against the illegal arrest of the former chief minister and TD supremo, Chandrababu Naidu.
They said that on the first day of the Parliament session, they raised the issue of the illegal arrest of Naidu by the YSRC government led by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The MPs claimed that there was no involvement of Naidu in the AP Skill Development scam and that it was a false case fabricated by the Jagan government under political vengeance. They expressed hope for justice in the court proceedings.
TDP MPs and Lokesh’s Protest at Rajghat
They stated that Naidu was falsely accused and illegally arrested, emphasizing his belief in justice and righteousness.
CM Jagan to Offer Silk Robes to Goddess Durga on October 20 in Vijayawada:
“The Schedule for Dasara Sarannavarathri Utsavalu at Indrakeeladri Durga Temple Announced” The festivities will take place from October 15 to 23, with various attires for Goddess Durga. The nine-day celebrations on Indrakeeladri hill will feature the presiding deity, Goddess Sri Kanaka Durga, appearing as ‘Sri Maha Chandi Devi Alankaram’ on October 19.
Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to present silk robes to the goddess on October 20, when the presiding deity will appear as Sri Saraswathi Devi Alankaram.
The Sri Kanaka Durga temple trust board chairman, Karnati Rambabu, and EO Bhramaramba announced that the CM will offer silk robes at 3 pm on the auspicious Moola Nakshatra day, with over 3,400 police personnel ensuring law and order during the Dasara festivities.
The temple authorities are seeking coordination from all departments to ensure the success of the festivities, given incidents in the past.
During the nine-day Dasara celebrations, the goddess’s darshan timings will be from 3 am to 11 pm, except for the first day, when devotees will be allowed in after 8 am due to special poojas, Snapanabhishekarm, and other rituals.
On the auspicious occasion of Moola Nakshatra on October 20, devotees can have a darshan of the goddess from 2 a.m. to 11 p.m., and the CM Jagan Mohan Reddy will present silk robes to Goddess Durga.
As is tradition, neither devotees nor VIPs will be allowed the Anthralaya Darshan during the nine-day Dasara festivities. To accommodate devotees, the temple will make available 20 lakh laddu prasadams in advance.
CM Jagan to Offer Silk Robes to Goddess Durga on October 20 in Vijayawada
This year, the temple is allocating around Rs. 7 crore for the arrangements, with Rs. 2.50 crore spent on engineering works.
Queue line works have already commenced, and devotees will be offered Annaprasadams during the festival, with Annadanam taking place at the Mahamandampam. Additionally, 600 barbers will be deployed for the convenience of devotees, and over 800 showers will be installed for bathing.
AP CM Jagan Provides Financial Aid to Ill Individuals:
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy exhibited his compassionate side on Tuesday as he met individuals grappling with various illnesses and provided them with substantial financial aid.
After returning from the inauguration of a lift irrigation project in Krishnagiri Mandal, Reddy sanctioned a total of Rs. 4 lahks in financial assistance, with each of the four beneficiaries receiving Rs. 1 lakh. Additionally, he assured them of improved medical support.
AP CM Jagan Provides Financial Aid to Ill Individuals
The district collector presented checks to the family members of the four individuals at her office on Tuesday. Beneficiaries of the financial assistance included Nivansh, Usharani and the 7-month-old son of S. Venkateswara Goud and from Narasimha Reddy Nagar in Kurnool town; B. Ram Prasad and from Potugallu village in Krishnagiri mandal T. Venkata Ramudu, and from Chennampalli village in Thuggali Mandal, O. Venkateswara Reddy’s family.
AP CID Seeks Production Warrant for Naidu in Rs 114 Crores AP Fibrenet Scam Case:
Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the leader of the Telugu Desam Party, is confronted with fresh challenges as the AP-CID submits a request for a prisoner transit warrant in the ACB court. The warrant is sought to facilitate his custody for interrogation in relation to the AP Fibrenet Phase-I project scam, which resulted in a loss of Rs 114 crore to the state treasury.
The AP-CID has accused the primary suspect, Naidu, and his associates of funneling “the embezzled funds” through a network of companies owned by their associates, employing counterfeit invoices. In a memo submitted to the court on Tuesday, the AP-CID included Naidu as Accused 25 in the case, in addition to filing the petition for a PT warrant. Currently, Naidu is in judicial remand at the central prison in Rajahmundry due to his involvement in the AP Skill Development Scam, which amounts to Rs 371 crore.
According to the CID memorandum, Naidu should be considered the primary accused because he served as the chief minister and held the position of the energy, infrastructure, and investment department when the scam occurred.
The AP-CID highlighted that Naidu personally endorsed the execution of the AP Fibernet project through the energy, infrastructure, and investment department, rather than the IT department. Additionally, he played a direct role in the appointment of Vemuri Harikrishna as a member of the governing council-governance authority, despite Harikrishna having a criminal background.
Furthermore, Naidu approved the project estimates for the Fibrenet project without taking into account that no market survey had been conducted regarding the procurement of items or the standards to be followed.
Furthermore, Naidu exerted pressure on senior government officials to include Vemuri Harikrishna Prasad in various tender evaluation committees. He also pushed for the revocation of the government’s blacklisting of M/s Terasoftware, which was in effect at the time. Naidu actively advocated for awarding the tender to M/s Terasoftware, effectively silencing protests from other bidders such as M/s Pace Power. Additionally, he orchestrated the transfer of officers who were seeking a fair tender process and replaced them with more compliant officials.
The other individuals implicated in the scam include Vemuri Harikrishna Prasad, who served as the managing director of NET India and was a member of the governing council of the e-Governance authority. Koganti Sambasiva Rao, formerly the Vice-Chancellor and Managing Director of INCAP and the Managing Director of APSFL, currently holds the position of Chief Commercial Manager at SCR, among others.
AP CID Seeks Production Warrant for Naidu in Rs 114 Crores AP Fibrenet Scam Case
Regarding the extent of financial loss and the misuse of government funds, the AP-CID uncovered evidence of manipulation in the tender process. This manipulation resulted in the allocation of the work order for phase-I of the AP Fibernet project, valued at Rs 330 crore, to a favored company. This was achieved by disregarding established norms and manipulating the tender process.
Furthermore, a series of irregularities occurred from the initial tender allocation to the completion of the entire project, leading to significant financial losses for the state treasury, as outlined in the CID memorandum.
It was observed that the project suffered due to the use of substandard materials, violations of specified conditions, and a failure to adhere to the specifications outlined in the Request for Proposal (RFP). These deviations resulted in approximately 80 percent of the Optic Fiber Cable’s capacity becoming unusable. Consequently, this deviation caused a financial loss of about Rs 114 crore, in addition to further losses incurred due to costly operation and maintenance work, as well as revenue loss stemming from the use of unsafe optic fiber.
Telangana High Court: Special Reservations to Be Considered Horizontally:
The Telangana High Court criticized the state government and the residential educational institution’s recruitment board for categorizing special reservations as vertical reservations rather than horizontal ones when hiring teaching positions at residential educational institutions.
These special reservations encompass categories such as women, physically challenged individuals, ex-service personnel, and sportspersons, among others.
Justice P. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court issued interim instructions to the authorities, instructing them to adhere to the horizontal reservation system, as stipulated by the Supreme Court in the case of Rajesh Kumar Daria vs. Rajasthan Public Service Commission.
The court also reprimanded state authorities for allocating roster points for special reservations in the recruitment process. The judge handled a petition from unemployed youth who had applied for teaching staff, librarian, and physical director positions at degree and Intermediate residential educational institutions operated by the state government. They alleged that authorities were using special reservations as a pretext to allocate 100 roster points and, based on these points, were implementing vertical reservations instead of horizontal reservations.
Following a review of the case, the judge issued an interim order to adopt horizontal reservations and instructed the government and recruitment board to provide their responses.
Telangana High Court: Special Reservations to Be Considered Horizontally
Vertical reservation pertains to social reservations in favor of SC, ST, and OBCs, whereas special reservations benefit physically handicapped individuals, women, etc., under Articles 16(1) and 15(3). When a vertical reservation is established for a particular group, candidates from that group can compete for non-reserved positions based on merit. If they are appointed to non-reserved positions based on their qualifications, their numbers are not counted against the quota for horizontal reservations.
Jagan Mohan Reddy Inaugurates Lift Irrigation Project in Krishnagiri:
Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy officially opened a lift irrigation project in Krishnagiri Mandal, which is designed to provide both drinking and irrigation water to 77 tanks.
The project’s initial budget was Rs 253.72 crore, and the state government has invested Rs 207 crore to date. To inaugurate the project, the Chief Minister arrived at Orvakal airport via a special flight and then reached the Lakkasagaram pump house by helicopter.
The project includes a pumping station at Alamkonda as its starting point, distributing water to various areas through a network of pipelines, ultimately benefiting around 10,300 acres in Kurnool and Nandyal districts.
Jagan Mohan Reddy Inaugurates Lift Irrigation Project in Krishnagiri
Several dignitaries attended the inauguration event, including Water Resources Minister Ambati Rambabu, Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath Reddy, Labor Minister G. Jayaram, and various legislators and officials.
