Iconic Kotilingala Ghat loses its sheen

Iconic Kotilingala Ghat loses its sheen

•  B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 

  Kotilingala Ghat turning into a washing ghat in Rajamahendravaram.— PHOTO.S. RAMBABU
  Kotilingala Ghat, considered the longest ghat in the country, presents an unhygienic look as river Godavari started drying up owing to summer. The government constructed the 1.2 kms ghat during the Godavari Pushkarams by spending Rs. 15 crore.

  After the pushkarams, the Municipal Corporation of Rajamahendravaram (MCR) chalked out a scheme to protect the ghat . It came up with a novel idea of converting into an entertainment zone.

  Experiment fails

  MCR Commissioner V. Vijayarama Raju arranged a large screen and screened Telugu movies. But, this experiment evoked poor response and soon the ghat turned into a washing ghat.

  Pointing to the Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s announcement that the ghat along with the newly-constructed VIP ghat would be developed into a picnic spot under the Akhanda Godavari Project, he said, “We have done an experiment which was not an expensive one.”

  However, he is confident that the civic body will rope in philanthropists to develop parks, entertainment projects and food courts in PPP mode in consultation with the District Collector and the Tourism Department.

  Pollution

  “It is neither an irrigation structure nor free-flow water zone. Water will not flow regularly in that area as pollutants from paper mill, sewage, accumulation of plastic waste acting as main hurdles of the flow,” said S. Sugunakar Rao, Superintending Engineer of the Irrigation Department,.

  D.V.R. Suryarao, social worker, suggested handing over of the ghat to the public sector undertakings like ONGC, GAIL or corporate companies like International Paper and Reliance Industries, for proper maintenance.

  MCR Commissioner V. Vijayarama Raju says the civic body will rope in philanthropists to develop parks, entertainment projects and food courts

  in PPP mod

Manyam Jatara to showcase tourism potential of Agency area

Manyam Jatara to showcase tourism potential of Agency area:

The three-day jatara to begin today; to reflect the customs, traditions and culture of tribals

Arrangements being made for Manyam Jatara at Maredumilli in Rampachodavaram Agency, on Friday.— PHOTO: S. RAMBABU

As part of tourism promotion, the East Godavari district administration and Integrated Tribal Development Agency (ITDA) are jointly organising a three-day tourism festival ‘Manyam Jatara’ from Saturday.

Collector H. Arun Kumar and ITDA Project Officer K. Chakradhara Babu on Friday inspected the work being done at ‘Vana Vihari’ forest recreation centre where the jatara will begin on Saturday evening. They held a meeting with forest, tourism, roads and buildings, tribal welfare and other departments.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Arun Kumar said the jatara, being organised at ‘Vana Vihari’ Tourism Park in Maredumilli, was to develop the Agency as a tourism hub. He said that the meeting resolved to construct two view-points at Ghati village on the way to Chinturu and Bhadrachalam for tourists to take a break. He also said that the Forest Department would renovate, modernise and reconstruct forest cottages in Kolluru, Rampachodavaram and Maredumilli.

He asked the officials to lay roads to Rampa waterfalls at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh, which was sanctioned already. He said the Tourism Department would operate pedal boats in Bhupathipalem Reservoir to attract tourists, besides constructing a guesthouse.

Tribals from other ITDAs

ITDA Project Officer Mr. Chakradhara Babu said that jatara would reflect the customs, traditions and culture of tribals in seven mandals in Rampachodavaram revenue division and four mandals in the newly-formed Yetapaka Revenue Division, including Chintoor, Kunavaram, Burgumpadu, Veerulapadu, Kukkanur, Vara Ramachandrapuram (V.R. Puram) and Bhadrachalam, except the temple town. Mr. Babu also said that tribals from all the ITDAs were invited to participate and exhibit their culture. The jatara would comprise 60 per cent local tribes and 40 per cent people from other districts. He said food items, products of GCC and different varieties of bamboo products would be exhibited during the festival.

M. Ravi Kumar, Conservator of Forest, Sub-Collector P. Ravi and others participated

All-time classics to liven up Godavari banks

All-time classics to liven up Godavari banks

• 
• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 
  
• 
  

• Huge screen to be put up on a boat anchored opposite Kotilingeswara Swami temple

  The Municipal Corporation of Rajahmundry (MCR) has come up with a novel idea to protect and publicise the importance of the Kotilingala Ghat, the longest (1.2 km) bathing ghat in the country built for the Godavari Pushkarams this year.
  MCR Commissioner Vijayarama Raju, who played a pivotal role in the construction of the ghat, has suggested that the place be cleaned up and converted into an entertainment zone. At a recent meeting with Police, MCR Sanitation and Irrigation officials and some film distributors, it was decided to screen classical all-time Telugu hit movies on a large screen on a ‘pantu’ (floating boat), which would be anchored opposite the historic Kotilingeswara Swami temple.
  “A facility to watch films like Gundamma Katha, Bhoo Kailas, Karunamayudu , and Pandava Vanavasam in the evening in the open-air, sitting on the banks of the Godavari could attract movie buffs and tourists during Christmas and Sankranti holidays,” Mr. Raju said.
  He said there were complaints of the ghat being misused post-Pushkaram. Pointing to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s announcement that the ghat, along with the newly-constructed VIP ghat, would be groomed into a picnic spot under the Akhanda Godavari Project, Mr. Raju said it was just a beginning. “This is a non-expensive experiment. If people start visiting the ghat, other positive activity could be taken up in the area. The MCR will rope in philanthropists to develop parks, entertainment projects and food courts in PPP mode in consultation with the District Collector and the Tourism Department,” he said.
  Feast for the eyes
  According to the schedule, Bhoo Kailas will be screened on December 24, Vijayachander’s classicKarunamayudu and Chikkadu-Dorakadu on December 26; while Thodikodalu and Pandava Vanvasamon December 28 and 27, respectively. Film shows will be on till January 15.
  The Commissioner said there would be no entry pass, and that police would keep a strict vigil on the banks of the Godavari, besides regulating traffic.

This housing project is a boon for all

This housing project is a boon for all

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• Known as cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh, Rajamahendravaram is going to be a model for other Assembly constituencies in the country in providing affordable housing to all urban people without any discrimination between beneficiaries. The Union government’s Housing For All (HFA) scheme is going to be a boon for the people including the elected representatives, officials and implementing authorities like AP Housing Corporation.
  The HFA, though is old wine in new bottle, is aimed at rehabilitation of slum-dwellers with the participation of private developers using land as a resource. “In accordance with the Union government’s guidelines, we have chalked out a detailed action plan to provide 4,200 houses which have already been sanctioned and another 2,500, which, the Union Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu promised to give in Rajamahendravaram in Phase One,” said MLA Akula Satyanarayana.
  The first-time MLA, who won on a BJP ticket, is an orthopaedician and wants all to have a decent house.
  “We have created a separate section in the Housing Department to sort out applications which are coming on the grievances day. As on today, we have received 40,000 applications. Out of these 10,000 were found to be not eligible and another 15,000 have been found to have either a house or a house site,” said Sub-Collector Vijaya Krishnan.
  When asked how all the remaining would be provided housing, the MLA said that the HFA scheme was totally different from other housing schemes. It was not just for the slum-dwellers, but for others who could afford to build a house. He said that he had done enough home work on this and made a note of all the available sites in the city including those that were allotted for housing long ago but were still vacant. “Group housing, apartments, and satellite cities are part of the project. If the beneficiary is having own plot, he could also affordable to construct his own house with the support of this scheme,” he explained

Mudragada to study how Jats benefit from OBC status

Mudragada to study how Jats benefit from OBC status:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 

  Mudragada Padmanabham
  Former MP and prominent Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham said he welcomed the Haryana government’s decision to bring a Bill in the Assembly on Jat reservations under Other Backward Classes (OBC) quota.

  “I want to see how the community would be benefited after the Assembly passes the bill,” he said here on Tuesday.

  “I am confident that the Kapu community will also benefit if the State government keeps its promises,” he added. Mr. Padmanabham and his wife went on an indefinite fast for four days and the emissaries from the government assured him that some of his demands would be fulfilled.

  “I still believe Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu will not ditch my community for the second time. With lot of hope and faith in the elected government, I withdrew my stir. I appealed to the State government to send Justice Manjunath Commission to tour East Godavari district to get factual details on the status of poor Kapu families.”

Science Express chugs into Rajamahendravaram

Science Express chugs into Rajamahendravaram

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

Children from various schools in and around Rajahmundry who were waiting to have a glimpse of the ‘Science Express on Climate Change’, the eighth edition of the Indian Railways, finally had a feel of it in Rajamahendravaram.

The train chugged on to Platform No: 2, and children made a beeline from morning 8.30 a.m., though the doors of the train were opened at 10 a.m.

Aiming at spreading awareness about the effects of climate change and to make the science behind it easier to understand, the Science Express, an innovative mobile science exhibition, has been revamped into a ‘Science Express Climate Action Special’ (SECAS) this year.

It is a unique collaborative initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Ministry of Railways. “The exhibition conveys a strong message about climate change and provides an opportunity to generate dialogue and discussions,” Additional Divisional Railway Manager Venugopal said while inaugurating the SECAS Express.

Rajamahendravaram Station Manager Subrahmanya Sastry, Chief Ticketing Inspector Kesavabhatla Srnivas and Health Superintendent SVS Kumari facilitated students and teachers on the occasion. The SECAS, in its current phase, is scheduled to travel across the country for seven months, halting at 64 locations in over 20 States covering 19,800 km.

“Climate change is the buzzword today, primarily due to the recent announcement of India’s stand on it and the high-profile COP 21 meet scheduled for December in Paris, where India is one of the stakeholders,” said Harshini, academic head of Future Kids’ School. Every coach has at least two exhibits in addition to LCD screens and informative banners and graphic.

SPB: do not remix Ghantasala songs

SPB: do not remix Ghantasala songs:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

Playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam garlanding the statue of Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao at ‘Ghantasala Swararchana’ in Rajamahendravaram on Saturday. —PHOTO: S. RAMBABU

Playback singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam has appealed to Telugu music industry, including music directors and singers, not to remix ‘Gana Gandharwa’ Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao’s albums.

He was inaugurating the ‘Ghantasala Aardhanotsavalu’, which was facilitated by the Department of Language and Culture at Sri Venkateswara Anam Kala Kendram in Rajamahendravaram on Saturday.

The 24-hour ‘Ghantasala Swararchana’ was organised by Kinnera Art Theatres, Hyderabad. Mr. Balasubrahmanyam said remixing of popular albums had become the order of the day in recent times. He also took strong exception to the ‘Gana Ghandharwa’ title tagged to his name, saying only two singers -Ghantasala in Telugu and Mohammad Rafi in Hindi - deserved it. He added that Ghantasala had laid stress on modulation and language in the 3,000-odd songs he had sung in various languages. Rajahmundry Rural MLA Gorantla Butchaiah Chowdary recalled that Ghantasala’s voice was suitable for legendary actors N.T. Ramarao and Akkineni Nageswara Rao.

Gritty GAIL back on track

Gritty GAIL back on track:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 

  The gas pipeline being laid by GAIL near Bodasakurru in Amalpuram division in East Godavari district.– Photo: B.V.S. BHASKAR
  Leaving behind the scars of the devastating gas pipeline blast at Nagaram in Mamidikuduru mandal, the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) has almost completed the laying of new pipelines. Only a gap of three-km out of 100-km of the pipeline network remains to be laid as on Saturday.

  All private power plants in East Godavari district were shut down and GVK Power has even entered into an agreement with the government to sell one of its plant at Jegurupadu near Rajamahendravaram in the aftermath of the blast that killed 19 and seriously injured 19 others on June 27, 2014.

  The plants that were idle due to non-availability of gas were GMR’s Vemagiri (850 MW), GVK’s Jegurupadu Extension (440 MW) and Gauthami (250 MW), Konaseema Gas Power (750 MW) Reliance (450 MW) and Spectrum (450 MW), Spectrum Power Generation Limited, Kakinada (1350 MW in three stages) Gauthami (464 MW), Konaseema Gas Power (445) and Lanco’s Kondapalli Stage-II (366 MW) and APGPCL 172 MWs after the blast.

  “Now, almost all plants are operational and we completed our task of laying pipeline and providing the connectivity. We informed all our stakeholders much in advance that they can start production any time,” said M.V. Iyer, General Manager (Operations and Maintenance), GAIL (Rajamahendravaram Region).

  According to him, except for Tatipaka and Endamuru, near Kakinada, the pipeline on the entire stretch has either been repaired or restored.

  Of the 870-km. pipeline in the entire KG Basin area, lines spanning over 640-km. have been put to service, resuming the gas supply to small and medium stakeholders, except Reliance Infra, which expressed its inability to take gas through GAIL pipeline as it will get only 0.3 MMSCMD on pro-rata distribution along with all other stake holders.

  The Maharatna company hitherto supplied 5.20 million metric standard cubic metres per day (MMSCMD) to its customers. It is now able to give 4.48 MMSCMD.

  “At present, we are supplying gas to all small units, including some power plants. NFCL at Kakinada needs higher pressure which we have started supplying too,” he said.

  Post the devastating gas pipeline explosion, only 3 km out of the 100 km of new pipeline network remains to be laid

Officials design strategy to rid Rajahmundry of illicit liquor

Officials design strategy to rid Rajahmundry of illicit liquor

• B.V.S. BHASKAR

Sub-Collector Vijaya Krishnan and a team of young officers have embarked on an ambitious mission to rid Rajamahendravaram of illicit liquor menace in the next one month.

“Women are the worst sufferers of this menace. We will take habitual offenders to task if counselling doesn’t help them,” Ms. Krishnan said, presiding over a brain-storming session along with Excise Superintendent N. Surjeeth Singh.

The officials have worked out a three-pronged strategy to keep illicit liquor away from as many as 163 villages identified as hubs of illicit brewing.

Legal action, rehabilitation and reformation are the three factors that will come into play while dealing with offenders.

Ms. Krishnan said gram sabhas would be conducted in all the 163 villages by division or mandal-level officials of Excise, Police and Revenue departments to enlighten villagers on the possible legal action they may invite.

Training

“As part of rehabilitation, we will send them [both men and women] to the Residential Skill Development and Training College in Anantapur district,” Ms. Krishnan said.

“The objective is to organise bank loans for youth through the ‘Mudra’ scheme of the Central government and making sure that no one goes back to brewing again,” she added.

We will take habitual offenders to task if counselling doesn’t prove effective

Vijaya Krishnan,

Sub-Collector

‘Mudragada, Pawan & Chiranjeevi failed to stand up for Kapus’

‘Mudragada, Pawan & Chiranjeevi failed to stand up for Kapus’:

• SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
• Mala Mahanadu national president Karem Shivaji has said that Kapu leader and former Minister Mudragada Padmanabham, film stars Pawan Kalyan and his brother and former Union Minister Chiranjeevi who belong to the same community have failed in achieving the demands of Kapu community, which has been fighting for their inclusion in the Backward classes list.
  Addressing the media on Tuesday here, Mr. Shivaji said while agitating on an issue, the leader should think and re-think on the demands that he is putting before the government and the possibilities of its implementation. “I have great regard for Mr. Padmanabham for his sincerity, honesty and commitment, as he is fighting for his community for the last four decades. But, this time, he failed to achieve any of his demands,” Mr. Shivaji said.
  He also lashed out at Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan and Congress leader Chiranjeevi. “The duo failed to do justice to their community from the beginning and posed as they will not champion the cause of any particular community and fight for ‘social Justice’, which is only on twitters and the electronic media,” he said.
  The Mala Mahanadu president also targeted Chief Minister Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu and recalled that though he (the Chief Minister) knew that categorization of SCs was not possible, he had promised it in the TDP’s manifesto, which created a rift between Mala and Madiga communities in the State.
  “The CM is trying to do the same on the Kapu issue and creating differences among backward classes. Now, the ball is in the Chief Minister’s court”.
  He saluted the entire police machinery for their commendable job during the Tuni violence on January 31.
  “They have maintained maximum restraint by not using lathi or guns though the Ratnachal Express was gutted, their (police) vehicles were burnt, police stations attacked and they were beaten up. So, I salute all policemen,” Mr. Shivaji adde

Naidu pulls it off with ease

THIS POLITICAL ANALYSIS  GOT TREMENDOUS RESPONSE FROM ALL COMMUNITIES, ELITE INCLUDING TOP OFFICIALS, WELL-WISHERS AND SR. JOURNALISTS AND I PERSONALLY GOT PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION.

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Naidu pulls it off with ease:

RAJAMAHENDRAVARAM, February 9, 2016

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, who has been firm from the beginning over inclusion of the Kapu community in the Backward Classes, has shown that no ground is lost in getting former Minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham to give up his fast.
  Mr. Padmanabham, known to be unpredictable in State politics, has managed to merely cause a few political tremors for the government in the four days after Kapu Ikya Garjana (public meeting of his community) at Velama Kothuru village on January 31.
  The burning of 23 bogies of Ratnachal Express, damaging several police vehicles, attack on police and media persons by mobs were all attributed by the Chief Minister and his cabinet colleagues to the actions of Opposition parties or anti-social elements.
  In view of these events, the government started taking decision very fast and the Chief Minister is said to have instructed his Ministers, party leaders, and also all the top police officers to act judiciously on Mr. Padmanabham’s fast unto death agitation from February 1.
  The district, which is politically active and dominated by caste politics, responded to Mr. Padmanabham’s agitation from day one. Supporters of the Kapu leader thronged Kirlampudi in a big way and slowly the police mounted pressure on villagers and outsiders, including political leaders.
  Kapu leaders from Konaseema, who were with Mudragada since 25 years, however, feel that the community had not gained anything despite the efforts.
  “None of his (Mr. Mudragada) important demands like sanctioning of Rs.1,900 crore immediately, CBCID inquiry into Tuni incidents, the inclusion of a Kapu leader in Justice Manjunatha Commission and lifting all the cases on Kapus who were implicated in Tuni incident have been met,” they felt.
  There are no tangible gains, say Kapu leaders from the Konaseema region

Mudragada breaks fast after CM’s assurance

Mudragada breaks fast after CM’s assurance:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• • 
    Happy ending:TDP leaders K. Venkatrao and K. Atchannaidu offering lemon juice to Mudragada Padmanabham at his house in Kirlampudi on Monday. (Right) Supporters break into a celebration at the house. —PHOTO: S. RAMBABU
  • 

  ‘Chief Minister committed to fulfilling promises made to the Kapu community’

  Former Minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham on Monday declared that he and his wife Padmavathi ended the hunger strike following an assurance from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

  Mr. Naidu’s emissaries, Labour and Sports Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and TDP A.P. State unit president and MLA Kimidi Kala Venkatrao, conveyed the message to the Kapu leader who was on a fast seeking inclusion of Kapus in the Backward Classes list. “In view of the larger interests of my community, I was forced to take to the streets. Maybe with a few exceptions and compromises, I am breaking my fast and appealing to all my supporters to follow suit,” Mr. Padmanabham said at a press conference on Monday afternoon. The two-member team had a one-and-half-hour meeting with Mr. Padmanabham from 11.45 p.m. and the outcome was announced to waiting mediapersons at around 1.40 p.m.

  Mr. Kala Venkatrao told the media, “Our discussions have ended fruitfully as Mr. Padmanabham, who is a good old friend of ours, with a kind heart cooperated and agreed to withdraw his ‘deeksha’ on mutually agreed issues.”

  He said that the Chief Minister was committed to implementing the assurances given to the Kapu community in the party manifesto.

  “I will take the responsibility of conveying the feelings of the community and Mr. Padmanabham in my party meetings,” he added.

  Both Mr. Atchannaidu and Mr. Venkatrao emphasised that the government would not do injustice to the Backward Classes and appealed them not to be instigated by “some people with ulterior motives.” Mr. Atchannaidu said, “In the guise of Kapu quota, some people from outside indulged in large-scale violence. Mr. Padmanabham had taken up many agitations in the past on the same issue. But they were incident-free.”

  The government emissaries told Mr. Padmanabham that the police would not implicate any innocent person in the Tuni incident (in which large-scale arson had taken place and Ratnachal Express was burnt), but a thorough investigation would be done and stringent action taken against those responsible. Mr. Venkatrao said that the demand for inclusion of a Kapu leader in the Justice Manjunatha Commission would be conveyed to the Chief Minister. The Chief Minister had already issued orders to officials to clear all applications for financial assistance without any limit, he said.

  Meanwhile, former Union Minister and actor Chiranjeevi and PCC president N. Raghuveera Reddy, who arrived from Hyderabad to meet Mr. Padmanabham, were not allowed to leave the Rajahmundry airport in the afternoon. Former Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao too was not allowed to come out of the hotel in the early hours at Rajamahendravaram. There was heavy police deployment at the hotel and all roads leading to it were blocked.

Mudragada calls off fast

Mudragada calls off fast:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 
  

Kapu leader and former Minister Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife Padmavathi on Monday ended their hunger strike following an assurance from Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Mr. Naidu’s emissaries, Labour and Sports Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu and TDP A.P. State unit president and MLA Kimidi Kala Venkatrao, conveyed the message to the Kapu leader who was on a fast seeking inclusion of Kapus in the Backward Classes list.

The two-member team had a one-and-half-hour meeting with Mr. Padmanabham from 11.45 p.m. and the outcome was announced to waiting mediapersons at around 1.40 p.m. Mr. Kala Venkatrao said that the Chief Minister was committed to implementing the assurances given to the Kapu community in the party manifesto. The government emissaries also told Mr. Padmanabham that police would not implicate any innocent person in the Tuni incident, where large-scale violence was witnessed.

Mudragada — a fighter to the core

Mudragada — a fighter to the core:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• A defiant Kapu leader, Mudragada Padmanabham, the four-time MLA and one-time MP, holds the record of holding ministerial berths in both the TDP and Congress governments headed by N.T. Rama Rao and M. Chenna Reddy.
  He started his political career as Janata Party MLA in 1978, switched over to the TDP in 1982 and won both the 1983 and 1985 elections from Prattipadu Assembly constituency in East Godavari.
  He took up fast-unto-death three times and indefinite hunger strike for another three times, and this is his 7th deeksha.
  Mr. Padmanabham, though looks genteel, is a fighter and has a 40-year-long political history supported by his wife Padmavathi for the last 22 years.
  He shot into limelight after the murder of Kapu leader Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga Rao in Vijayawada on December 26, 1988.
  Large-scale violence had taken place in East Godavari, where people are still identified as peace-loving and calm-going.
  “About 100 RTC buses, magistrate courts, government buildings, and other public property were damaged during the riots and arson during that time,” said a senior advocate from Amalapuram.
  A seven-day fast-unto-death in 1989 was taken up by Mr. Mudragada when police booked cases against him and farmers of Uttara Kanchi village in Pithapuram mandal, which gave him a good break in politics.
  Ms. Padmavathi also fasted in her Kirlampudi residence in support of her husband.
  He resigned his ministerial berth in NTR cabinet and started Praja Rakshana Samiti and later his own Telugu Nadu Party with K.E. Krishna Murty and K. Jana Reddy, who are now with the TDP and Congress respectively.
  Later, he hosted a great reception to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi at Prattipadu in 1988 and was elected MLA and held a ministerial berth. He took up BC quota for Kapu community demand in 1993. The Mudragada couple staged indefinite fast in Lampakalova village of Prattipadu mandal.
  After the 1994 defeat in the race for MLA post, he vowed not to contest from the Prathipadu constituency. He launched Kapu Nadu in the same year and then joined the BJP and played a key role in the election of U.V. Krishnam Raju from Kakinada.
  He attended the RSS sakhas during this period. Later in 1999, he represented the TDP in the Lok Sabha from the same seat and lost in the 2004 election. Later, he joined the Congress and lost the election in 2009 from Pithapuram. He then shifted his loyalties to the YSR Congress and even participated in Jaganmohan Reddy’s ‘Odarpu yatras’.
  After keeping away from active politics, it is said that the veteran leader is persuaded to join the TDP again by some local leaders and his loyalists during 2014 elections.
• 
  

Mudragada, wife begin fast

Mudragada, wife begin fast:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 

  Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and family members banging on empty eating plates with spoons to mark their protest.- PHOTO: S. RAMBABU
  The sleepy village of Karlampudi leapt into action on Friday, with Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife, Padmavathi, launching an indefinite fast, demanding that the State government include Kapus in the BC list.

  His family members — daughter Satyavathi; sons Balu and Giri; daughter-in-law Siri and granddaughter Bhagyasri — also took part in the fast. Hundreds of supporters visited the fasting couple.

  Responding to Mr. Padmanabham’s call, Kapu youth launched indefinite fast at Amalapuram, Ambajipeta, Tuni, Jaggampeta, Prattipadu, Kattipudi, Sankhavaram, and Pithapuram. People banged steel plates with spoons as a gesture to register their protest around noon. There was heavy police presence at Kirlampudi. Police checked vehicles heading towards Prattipadu and Kirlampudi mandals. Several check-posts were set up on the National Highway both from Visakhapatnam and Rajamahendravaram.

  Tension prevailed at Kirlampudi for some time when Mr. Padmanabham’s supporters entered into an argument with police after the former were barred from entering his house. Only mediapersons and doctors team were allowed inside. The police later allowed them visit the leader in a queue. Anxious moments were witnessed for a brief period when the police prevented entry of Congress Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumantha Rao into Mr. Padmanabham’s residence. Mr. Rao staged a dharna by squatting on the road for about 20 minutes. OSD K. Fakeerappa rushed to the spot and allowed the MP to go inside. Anakapalle MP Avanthi Srinivas, former Minister Vatti Vasanta Kumar, former MLA Pantam Gandhimohan, Kapu leader from Pithapuram K. Mohana Rao met Mr. Padmanabham. Speaking to the media, Mr. Padmanabham said people had come to his village in large numbers despite an appeal not to visit Kirlampudi. Doctors from the Kirlampudi PHC are monitoring the health of the couple.

Mudragada to go ahead with fast

Mudragada to go ahead with fast:

•  B.V.S. BHASKAR
• The issue of reservation for the Kapu community is brewing into an uncomfortable issue for the government, which is hosting the International Fleet Review in Visakhapatnam.
  The countdown for former minister and Kapu community leader Mudragada Padmanabham and his wife Padmavathi’s fast-unto-death began after efforts by TDP MLAs Thota Trimurthulu, Bonda Umamaheswara Rao and MLC Boddu Bhaskara Rama Rao to persuade him failed. The couple is likely to launch its protest at 9 a.m. on Friday.
  Mr. Padmanabham, emerging from a 90-minute-long meeting with the TDP legislators, made it clear that he would go ahead with his plans. “ I am not putting up any fresh demands and my main demand is not unreasonable,” he said. Hundreds of supporters, mostly youth from different parts of Andhra Pradesh and neighbouring States, met Mr. Padmanabham and his wife on Thursday.
  “Supporters from far-off places like Gooty, Uravakonda in Anantapur district and Palakonda in Srikakularm are joining him,” said Sai Chilakamarthi, a close associate of the Kapu leader.
  According to a senior police officer, the couple may be taken into custody after the fleet review at Visakhapatnam ends on February 7.
  Mr. Padmanabham had set a deadline for the State government to include his community in the Backward Classes list and release Rs. 1,900 crore immediately. He threatened to sit on a fast if the government failed to do so.
  Police took it as a challenge and deployed more than 5,000 special personnel in Prattipadu (of which Kirlampudi is a part), Jaggampeta and Tuni constituencies to ensure that no untoward incident took place.
  Of the five companies of special police, two have been deployed in Prattipadu and about 1,000 armed police were seen in riot gear.
  Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday asked the State BC Commission Chairman Justice K.L. Manjunath to submit the report on reservation for the Kapu community at the earliest. Mr. Manjunath met Mr. Naidu and said the report could be submitted within the stipulated time. The Congress demanded that Mr. Naidu call an all-party meet to resolve the issue.
  The party opined that statements made by the Chief Minister are only aggravating the problem and polarising communities in the State.

Mudragada couple gears up for fast

Mudragada couple gears up for fast:

•  B.V.S. BHASKAR

Declines police protection; urges his supporters not to visit Kirlampudi

Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham with his wife Padmavati in Kirlampudi on Thursday. —PHOTO: BY ARRANGEMENT

Former Minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham has declined to accept police protection even as he and his wife are gearing up for indefinite fast from Friday morning seeking inclusion of Kapus in the BC list.

Addressing the media on Thursday, he stated that he was ready for talks with government emissaries on his demands.

Stating that a few police officials approached him with a request to accept protection, Mr. Padmanabham said he declined the offer saying that he was friendly with every one.

“There is no other agenda for the police in meeting me separately. I request all my brethren not to come to Kirlampudi from tomorrow,” he added.

He appealed to all his supporters in Kirlampudi, Prattipadu, Tuni, and surrounding areas to go on fast at their respective residences and bang the dining plates at lunch hour to express their protest.

Police presence

Meanwhile, East Godavari SP M. Ravi Prakash advised Mr. Padmanabham’s supporters to stay away from Kirlampudi.

Large contingent of police forces were deployed in the district to avoid any untoward incident, he told the media.

Mr. Ravi Prakash said prohibitory orders had been imposed under Section 30 of the Police Act and Section 144 of the CrPC.

He said that prior permission was mandatory for organising any meeting in the district till withdrawal of the orders.

Mr. Ravi Prakash said that 27 persons figured in the FIR released on Wednesday. They had been booked for violating Section 188 and 32 (conducting meeting without police permission and attending the same meeting).

He made it clear that they would not book cases against innocent people in connection with the violence that was witnessed at V. Kotturu during the Kapu Aikya Garjana on Sunday last.

The SP said that public properties, including Ratnachal Express, hundreds of police vehicles, records, furniture, and other assets worth Rs.100 crore were damaged in the violence.

He said personnel from the CRPF, ITBP, RAC, Armed Reserve, Central Reserve, and AP police were drawn for security in view of hunger strike by Mr. Padmanabham and his wife.

Replying to a question, he said that these forces would be under the control of Inspector-General of Police (coastal region) Kumar Viswajit and Eluru Range Deputy Inspector-General P. Harikumar.

Tuni violence: police file FIR against 27

Tuni violence: police file FIR against 27:

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 
  
• • 
    M.M. Pallam Raju
  • 
    Botcha Satyanarayana
  • 
    Kanna Lakshiminarayana

  Mudragada Padmanabham, Pallam Raju, Botcha Satyanarayana, Kanna Lakshminarayana figure in it

  The Tuni police on Wednesday booked cases against former Minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham, former Union Minister M.M. Pallam Raju, Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumnatha Rao (Congress), former Ministers Botcha Satyanarayana (YSR Congress), Vatti Vasanta Kumar (Congress), Kanna Lakshminarayana (BJP), B.V.Ch. Mohan Rao, and 20 others.

  According to Inspector of Police Appa Rao, FIR was filed against 27 persons who were associated with the Kapu Garjana meeting in Velama Kothuru of Tuni mandal and the subsequent arson and assault.

  The police collected evidence such as video footage, eyewitnesses, and other vital clues before filing FIR, he said.

  Unfortunate: DGP

  Director-General of Police J.V. Ramudu, meanwhile, said that the indent was unfortunate. “We are trying to ascertain the facts and will take action against those involved in the arson and assault.”

  When asked what preventive steps the police would take in view of Thursday evening deadline set by Mr. Padmanabam for his proposed fast along with his wife in Kirlampudi from Friday morning, the DGP said: “We are taking all precautions to see that the police should not be blamed again.”

  He said he did not have specific statistics on deployment of forces in the wake of the proposed fast.

  Earlier, Mr. Ramudu, on the sidelines of a meeting that lasted for over five hours, viewed video clippings of the entire public meeting, destruction of bogies of Ratnachal Express, attack on police stations, and subsequent arson and assault on police.

  Towards the end of the meeting, he called the police personnel who were injured in the incident and spoke to them in an attempt to ascertain the facts. He assured them of putting all the facts before the Chief Minister and see that they were adequately compensated.

  After the press meet, he left for Tuni to take stock of the situation. He was also expected to visit Kirlampudi in the night.

  The DGP is learnt to have discussed the strategy with his immediate subordinates and the local police officials, including East Godavari SP Ravi Prakash, Rajamahendravaram SP S. Harikrishna, and others on the deadline set by Mr. Padmanabham and the possible outcome of FIR.

• I have surrendered my weapon: Mudragada

• B.V.S. BHASKAR
• 
  
• • 
    Mudragada Padmanabham denies having instigated people or planned to torch train or attack police stations.
  • 
  “I am branded as an impulsive man. In the wake of rumours that I may use my licensed revolver to shoot myself, I decided to surrender the weapon in the local police station,” says former Minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham.

  Speaking to The Hindu on Wednesday over phone from Kirlampudi, he said: “I have a fighting spirit and I want justice for people of my community. Both me and my wife are ready to sacrifice our lives for the benefit of lakhs of underprivileged people, who have been starving for years,” he said.

  Mr. Padmanabham has set Thursday evening as deadline for the State Government to release G.O. including Kapus in the list of Backward Castes and another G.O. releasing of Rs.1,900 crore for the newly-established Kapu Welfare Corporation.

  Mr. Mudragada said he would not apply for bail and his supporters also would follow suit.

  He alleged that when the meeting was in progress on Sunday, a few anti-social elements barged in after breaking the doors of a make-shift guesthouse where his wife was staying and tried to assault her.

  When his attention was drawn to the injuries sustained by a few media persons in his public meeting and damages caused to their cameras, Mr. Padmanabham offered his apologies. He said neither he nor any of his community leaders had instigated people or planned to torch the train or attack police stations.

  “It’s a plot by some people in the ruling TDP government. I had never spoken to YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy about Kapu Ikya Garjana meeting,” he reiterated.

Rajamahendravaram set to join big league

•  B.V.S. BHASKAR

Regional offices of three national institutes under Minister of Commerce to come up soon

The city will soon house three regional offices of different national institutes under the Ministry of Commerce. A team led by Ojha, Joint secretary, Commerce, along with Director of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade Ravi Sankar (New Delhi) and Mumbai-based N.C. Saha of the Indian Institute of Packing Technology, visited Rajamahendravaram Revenue Division on Monday and Tuesday to locate suitable places for commerce and industrial promotion.

Sub-Collector Vijaya Krishnan took the team first to Nidigatla village of Korukonda mandal and then to Diwancheruvu under Rajanagaram mandal.

Mr. Ojha and other two officials also visited Jeugurpadu village in Kadiyam mandal. The government land is available in all three places to establish the regional offices of the central institutes.

“They are looking for a 100 acres of land to run an academy to promote and support the needs of commerce and industry by starting diploma and MBA courses in different subjects. It will be one of the premier institutes with 100 per cent placement in all industries,” added Ms. Krishnan.