GoM finalises Telangana draft Bill, Hyderabad still a sticking point

After four long hours of meeting on Wednesday, the Group of Ministers finalised their report on Telangana. But sources say that Hyderabad still remains a sticking point with Telangana leaders making it clear that a union territory status for Hyderabad is unacceptable.

Sources say that the GoM has authorised the Home Ministry to present the draft bill before the next Cabinet meet. Sources also say that the Home Ministry will try and iron out the problem areas in the coming days before the draft is presented to the Cabinet for approval.

After a four-hour marathon meeting, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, who heads the GoM, said they have discussed various issues concerning the bifurcation and distribution of assets between the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. "Some discussions are still left. I cannot say when the GoM will submit the report to Cabinet," he told reporters.


Telangana leaders have made it clear that a union territory status for Hyderabad is unacceptable.

On Tuesday, Shinde had said the the ministerial panel was trying to find ways to not to hurt any region of the state while creating Telangana. The GoM had held a series of meetings with leaders of eight political parties, Union ministers from Andhra Pradesh and Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and officials in the past one month and they gave their opinion on distribution of assets and other issues between the new state and the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh.

Shinde had already said that the Telangana Bill would be tabled in the Winter Session of Parliament. Sources said following an instruction from Congress high command, the GoM has speeded up the whole process.

Once the Cabinet clears the proposal, it will go to the President who in turn will refer it to Andhra Pradesh Assembly for approval. However, the Assembly resolution is not binding under the Constitution.

The Union Cabinet then can consider the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill and with Union Cabinet's approval, it will send it to the President before being tabled in Parliament.

The Winter Session of Parliament commences on December 5 and will conclude on December 20.

More: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/gom-finalises-telangana-draft-bill-hyderabad-still-a-sticking-point/436551-37-64.html

International Children's Film Fest opens up in Hyd tomorrow

Promising to be a rich ensemble of films from across the globe, the 18th International Children's Film Festival of India (ICFFI) would get underway here tomorrow. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy would inaugurate the week-long event in the presence of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari, veteran lyricist Gulzar and Bollywood actor Ranbir Kapoor. 

State Information and Cinematography Minister D K Aruna said the government had made elaborate arrangements for the jamboree. About 200 films from 48 countries would be screened in 12 theatres across the city during the festival and an estimated 1,50,000 children are expected to turn up. The minister said 3-D movies would be shown for the first time, along with 20 best films sourced from Cannes, Berlin and Toronto international festivals. Czech films will be the "Country Focus" in the festival, which would showcase a diligently curated package of children's films from the Czech Republic, right from 1950s to some of their recent productions. 

Debates and open forums would also be conducted on topics like film-making, animation, script-writing and child rights as part of the festival. "The Children's Film Society of India has selected 'Gopi Gawaiya Bagha Bajaiya' for screening at the inaugural of the Children's film festival of India," said an official release. The 78-minute animation film, directed by Shilpa Ranade, is the fabulous story of Gopi and Bagha, a pair of musicians gifted with magical powers by the King of Ghosts, which has been a stellar success, it said. The film is the Hindi version of the iconic film-maker Satyajit Ray's popular Bengali film 'Gupi Gayen Bagha Bayen'. The special film will be the main attraction at the inaugural event at Lalit Kala Thoranam tomorrow, the release added.

Read more at: http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/world-news/international-childrens-film-fest-opens-uphyd-tomorrow_989459.html?utm_source=ref_article

Hyderabad under New Delhi's control after Andhra bifurcation raises hackles of TRS

A home ministry task force wants New Delhi to have control over law & order in Hyderabad for a decade afterAndhra Pradesh is divided, raising the hackles of the main separatist Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

The recommendation, justified on the ground of "fear psychosis" among professionals from Seemandhra (the coastal and southern parts of Andhra Pradesh from which Telangana is sought to be separated) comes amid a frenzy of activity which could determine the fate of the bifurcation of India's fourth-largest state.

The task force headed by K Vijaya Kumar, a former director general of the Central Reserve Police Force and senior security advisor to the home ministry, visited Hyderabad last week before making its recommendations to a ministerial panel that will decide on the issues relating to bifurcation.

"There is fear psychosis in Seemandhra professionals in Hyderabad that they will be driven out and forced to sell their concerns under distress after division of the state. Pertinently, most of the private educational institutions and hospitality sector in and around Hyderabad are owned by people of Seemandhra origin," according to the task force's report seen by ET.

Panel to meet this week

"As concerns of people of Seemandhra region are primarily Hyderabad-centric, GoM (the group of ministers) may think in terms of keeping safety, security, law & order and protection of properties pertaining to Hyderabad under the control of a central authority, who may be governor of the state," according to the task force's report.

The task force also wants students to be treated as locals in Hyderabad and Telangana for 10 years. Moreover, it said government employees must be allowed to continue serving in Telangana if they want to. The panel of ministers is due to meet again this week and is scheduled to make its views known before the winter session of Parliament begins.

Hyderabad, which Congress has said will remain the joint capital for 10 years, is the biggest bone of contention. Home to MNCs such as Microsoft and Google, it is also the base for some of India's top pharmaceutical companies, among them Dr Reddy's Laboratories. Migrants from Seemandhra account for a significant part of the city's entrepreneurship as well as its professional workforce.

B Vinod Kumar, a politburo member of Telangana Rashtra Samithi, said, "The apprehensions of the settlers are unfounded and the recommendations of the task force on vesting law & order powers with the Centre are biased and objectionable." On the other hand, the task force cited examples of extortion in the name of raising money for pro-Telangana agitations.

It also referred to "inflammatory statements" by some Telangana protagonists and pointed to slogans such as 'Telangana jago aur Andhrawala bhago' (Wake up Telangana, pack up people of Seemandhra) and 'Hyderabad sirf hamara' (Hyderabad belongs only to us).

But Kumar said the fight for nearly six decades has been for a "comprehensive" Telangana state with Hyderabad as its capital. "If needed, we will resume our movement for a comprehensive Telangana state without any strings attached."

More: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/hyderabad-under-new-delhis-control-after-andhra-bifurcation-raises-hackles-of-trs/articleshow/25569684.cms

Hyderabad: Jagan set to change Andhra Politics with Narendra Modi?

YSR Congress chief YS Jaganmohan Reddy, who is well-known as Jagan, is back. The young leader, who enjoys massive support in Andhra Pradesh, seems to be ready to change political scenario in the state. With this aim of bringing a change, Jagan first targeted Narendra Modi, the BJP PM candidate and one of the most popular figures in national politics. 

Addressing the first ever press conference after his bail, Jagan on Monday, Sept 30 praised the Gujarat Chief Minister saying that he respects Modi as an administrator. However, the YSR Congress President also urged the Gujarat CM not to create insecurity in the minds of people just because they belong to another religion.

 Jagan, who recently has been released from jail, was quoted as saying, "Since I appreciate Modi as an administrator, I want him to change this entire system and bring every party on to the secular platform in the interest of this country." "Otherwise we will be creating insecurity in the minds and hearts of these people so much that we will be creating internal terrorism within the country, forget about fighting the enemies outside the borders," he added. Experts believe that Jagan has kept a door open for BJP for a future tie up. 

BJP is a fringe player in the Southern state but it has reportedly aimed to woo another crucial leader from Andhra -- TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu. Jagan has kept a door open for BJP for a future tie up It was reported that Naidu hinted that his party may go for an alliance with BJP in order to defeat Congress and YSR Congress in the state. Attending a press meet, Naidu recently was quoted as saying, "Congress wants to win Telangana on a positive plank. In Seemandhra, it wants Jagan to win the negative votes against the Congress and then the two will join hands post-poll." Naidu also accused Jagan of match fixing with the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh.

 Soon after CBI court's verdict of granting bail to Jagan, Naidu had said, "The way bail was granted to him and the manner in which the charge sheet against him was diluted only show that there is a clear understanding between YSR Congress and Congress." Continuing his statement, Naidu added, "This only shows that Congress is trying to influence parties in Andhra Pradesh. On one hand they are delaying a decision on the future of Andhra Pradesh for the past four years, and on the other they are trying to influence parties."

 According to experts, Congress has aimed to strengthen its power in Seemandhra after making an alliance with YSR Congress. The party, with an alliance with TRS, hopes to win in Telangana.It is believed that Jagan's party may emerge as the winner in Seemandhra and Congress will be able to control the entire Andhra Pradesh if they tie up with Jagan's party. Currently, YSR Congress is maintaining that it will have no truck with Congress. However, experts believe that political compulsions and multiple CBI cases pending against Jagan may compel the party to come to terms with Congress. 

However, Jagan's recent remark on Modi made it clear that it will not be an easy task for Congress to convince the YSR Congress president. Jagan also asserted that he will not allow any party to divide Andhra Pradesh into two different states. With a clear stand in support of 'samaikyandhra', or united Andhra, the young leader is likely to seize the initiative and emerge as a frontrunner in Seemandhra, as Rayalaseema and coastal Andhra regions are together known. Hence, Jagan may make an ally with BJP to oppose Congress' decision of forming Telangana.

Read more at: http://news.oneindia.in/hyderabad/narendra-modi-praised-is-jagan-set-to-change-andhra-pradesh-politics-1316134.html