Over 3,000 craftsmen are working tirelessly, carving icons and statues with 5000 tons of Italian Carrara Marble.

Abu Dhabi: UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi will, for construction of Hindu temple will use first fly ash concrete rather than steel or ferrous materials. The temple will be built adopting the traditional temple architecture in India, temple committee officials have said.

Swaminarayan temple

Two years after the groundbreaking ceremony, the Swaminarayan temple of the Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sansth (BAPS) witnessed a major construction milestone as first fly ash concrete pouring for its raft foundation took place on Thursday.

A large number of expatriates from the Indian diaspora gathered at the site of the temple to witness the major construction milestone.

Steel, iron won’t be used

Describing the ceremony as UAE’s largest single pouring of fly ash concrete in 3000 cubic meters, Ashok Kotecha, spokesperson of the temple committee, told Gulf News: “Usually, (building) foundations have a mix of concrete and steel. However, as per traditional temple architecture in India, no steel or iron reinforcements will be used.

Fly Ash

“Fly ash will be used to reinforce the concrete in the foundation. Throughout the (whole structure of the) temple, the architecture is like several pieces of jigsaw put together without any steel or ferrous materials.”

Fly ash is used as a reinforcement in concrete. In some cases, fly ash can add to the concrete’s final strength and increase its chemical resistance and durability. Fly ash can significantly improve the workability of concrete.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for BAPS temple in the capital of the UAE, home to over three million people of Indian origin, in 2018 via video conferencing from the Dubai Opera House.

Over 3,000 craftsmen are working tirelessly in India, carving icons and statues with 5000 tons of Italian Carrara Marble and the exteriors will be made of 12,250 tons of pink sandstone.

India’s ambassador to UAE Pavan Kapoor, and Indian Consul General in Dubai Vipul were present along with several prominent members of the Indian business community and members of the Community Development Authority (CDA), Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Gulf News reported.

Addressing the audience, Kapoor thanked the UAE government and said: “it was a great privilege and honour to visit the temple site for the first time.”

Omar Al Muthanna, chief executive officer, CDA, Dubai, the religious observer from the government, said: “Religion is a key factor to feel at home. The UAE is not a passing home. We want you to feel completely at home and this is our commitment to you.”

The ceremony was conducted by Brahmavihari Das, the senior most saint of the BAPS Swaminarayan Temple group. Special prayers for the project and the UAE were said.

Addressing the gathering, the priest said: “This temple transcends the borders that divide us. It’s destined to be a place beyond the limits that split us. (It’s) something we have experienced within the depth of our souls in the UAE.”

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The victim is currently undergoing treatment at the Meerut Medical College.

Meerut: Hundreds of students came out in protest outside office premises of the Inspector General of Police Praveen Kumar today after one of the female students alleged abduction and gang rape in Syana area on Thursday.

According to reports, students of Chaudhary Charan Singh University gathered outside the office IG office while some other students staged set on a dharna outside the university gate.

The victim was on her way returning home after attending her classes when she was abducted and assaulted by a group on Thursday.

The victim belongs to Hapur district’s Garhmukteswar region. She is a university student in the Syana area of district Bulandshshar.

The victim is currently undergoing treatment at Meerut Medical College.

Enraged over the sexual assault on the varsity student, furious students gathered sloganeering for justice and while condemning the police for its inaction.

The furious students demanded the accused rapists be arrested and shot like the four accused in the Disha rape and murder case.

The four accused were killed in an encounter in December last year after they allegedly attacked the cops and tried to escape from the crime spot where they had been take to recreate the offence.

Students sloganeered “Hyderabad once more” and “Hyderabad Part 2” demanding justice for the  victim.

Things turned ugly after the  Meerut’s top cop ruled out rape.

“During investigation it was found that the girl went with her classmate on her own, both are adults. She got injured after falling from a bike. Rape has not been confirmed in medical report. This is not a case of kidnapping or gang-rape,” Praveen Kumar had stated on Saturday.

Earlier, the Meerut Police confirmed they rescued the victim from Siyana in Bulandshahr and have registered a case. A probe is underway stated the police.

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Agartala: As part of the country-wide exercise, the BJP-ruled Tripura is getting ready to collect the necessary data to prepare the National Population Register (NPR), officials said on Saturday.

Tripura Census Department Director Pradip Kumar Chakraborty said that to collect the NPR data in Tripura from May 16 to June 29, training of around 11,000 enumerators would start soon.

“Tripura Chief Secretary Manoj Kumar held a meeting with all concerned on Thursday to finalise the plan to collect information for the NPR. The exercise would be done with the involvement of the district administrations,” Chakraborty told IANS.

Many non-BJP ruled states, including Kerala, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have opposed the NPR expressing apprehensions about the exercise. These states, which apprehend that the NPR is a part of the controversial NRC, however, said they would cooperate with the Census operations but not the NPR.

According to Chakraborty, the purpose of the NPR is to build a complete identity database of every common resident in the country and the database would contain demographic as well as biometric particulars.The Union cabinet had approved Rs 3,941.35 crore for the NPR exercise. The official said that the NPR is a regular exercise which was earlier done in 2010-11 and was updated in 2015.

“This data would be further updated through the 45-day long (May 16 to June 29) exercise this year. No mystification should be on the NPR exercise,” Chakraborty said and appealed to all to cooperate when the enumerators would in the door to door visit.

Opposition Communist Party of India-Marxist and the Congress, however, are separately agitating against the NPR, National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

The CPI-M central committee member Gautam Das said that as part of their country-wide stirs, they have already undertaken a 48-day long door-to-door campaign from February 4 against the NPR, the NRC and the CAA.

Das, also Tripura state secretary of the CPI-M, said that the 48-day long door-to-door campaign against the NPR, NRC and CAA would culminate on March 23, when three heroes of India — Bhagat Singh, Shivaram Rajguru, Sukhdev Thapar — were hanged to death by the British.

Senior Congress leader Gopal Roy said that as part of the AICC’s programme the party is also regularly holding agitations and campaign against the NPR, NRC and CAA. The NPR is a register of the usual residents of the country.

The NPR is being prepared at the local (village/sub-town), sub-district, district, state and national levels under the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

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Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot in a surprise visit to a protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA in Jaipur demanded that the centre withdraw the amended citizenship law to maintain peace and harmony in the country.

“The NDA government should reconsider the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which is against the spirit of the Constitution, and should come forward to withdraw it so that peace and harmony can be maintained,” Mr Gehlot said at a protest against the CAA and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Jaipur.

Congress’s support with protesters

Mr Gehlot said the Congress and the state government were with them and if needed, he would be the first to go to a detention centre. The Chief Minister said information on birthplace of parents was being sought for the National Population Register (NPR).

“If I am not able to furnish the details, I too would be asked to live in a detention centre. I am not aware of the birthplace of my parents. You stay assured, if such situation comes then I would be the first to go there,” Mr Gehlot said, following which the crowd clapped in appreciation.

The Chief Minister said the BJP government in Assam has refused to implement the NRC.

“It is the right of a government to make a law but a government should rule as per the sentiments of the people. Like Delhi’s Shaheen Bagh, protests are being held at many places across the country, including Rajasthan. The government should understand public sentiments,” he said.

Mr Gehlot said several chief ministers were against the CAA. “We want the centre to reconsider its decision,” he added.

Home Minister Amit Shah has said there is no discussion on a nationwide NRC right now. He made the comment in December after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appeared to contradict him on the controversial subject at the core of protests across the nation.

“There is no need to debate this (pan-India NRC) as there is no discussion on it right now, PM Modi was right, there is no discussion on it yet either in the Cabinet or Parliament,” Mr Shah had said.

The Home Minister’s clarification came after days of protests across the country against the CAA and the NRC. The NRC, meant to target illegal migrants, was carried out in Assam earlier this year and left out 19 lakh people. Many of them are now in detention centres. The opposition alleges that along with the new citizenship law, NRC can be used to target Muslims.

Before the Delhi election, PM Modi had said at a rally that there was no talk of a nationwide rollout of the NRC. “I want to tell the 130 crore citizens of India that since my government has come to power, since 2014, there has been no discussion on NRC anywhere. Only after the Supreme Court’s order, this exercise was done for Assam,” said the PM.

The comment by PM Modi was instantly compared with Mr Shah’s multiple assertions in parliament and outside about NRC being applied to the “whole country”. Even on November 20 last year, Mr Shah had said in parliament: “NRC will happen in the entire country and at that time this will be implemented in Assam as well. And I once again want to make it clear that people of any religion do not need to be scared.”

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Hyderabad: NPR will also be conducted along with the census in Telangana. It has been made clear in the letter issued by the Director of Census Operations, Telangana Mr K Ilambarithi to all the Principal Census Officers.

Letter dated February 13 stated that the House Listing and Housing Census (HLO) and updation of the National Population Register (NPR) are to be carried out in 45 days between the period of 01 April 2020 and 30 September 2020 in the state.

It added that the government of Telangana vide GO MS No.235, dated 09-11-2019 vide reference cited appointed the officers as Census Officers with Designation to carry out the Census activities in their respective Jurisdictions. The officers thus designated are the given the primary responsibility for conducting the Census/NPR under the guidance of the Principals Census officers.

The letter proposed organizing of 2-day training at the Distinct Headquarters for all Census functionaries during the last week of February and first week of March.

It must be mentioned here that the orders issued by Chief Secretary of TS, Mr. Somesh Kumar dated 11-02-2020, for conducting household surveys in connection with Census 2021 had no mention of NPR and it only had 31 questions pertaining to the Census. However, the letter issued by the Directorate of Census Operations Telangana dated 13-02-2020 clearly mentions NPR.

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Dubai: We all know how tech-savvy Dubai is besides being an attractive tourist spot but little do we know about its Police patrolling.

Well, this gulf nation is all set to provide its Police patrols with the latest technology to help them secure the emirate.

This is Dubai’s first 5G-enabled patrol in the MENA region which is in cooperation with Etisalat, officially unveiled the first 5G-enabled smart patrol in the Middle East and North Africa region.

This smart patrol is well equipped with high-tech cameras besides AI technology that are directly connected to the Control and Command room via a 5G network.

“Implementing 5G-enabled services is one of the many steps taken by Dubai Police to achieve this goal.”

“The 5G-enabled patrol aims at reducing response times, faster data transfers in the security sector, connecting patrol cameras with the highest resolution to the Command and Control room, as well as facial recognition technology,” said Abdulla Ibrahim Al Ahmed, Senior Vice President for Government Institution Sales at Etisalat.

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Earlier, United States Trade Representative (USTR) removed India from the list of developing countries.

New Delhi: The Shiv Sena has said that the United States Trade Representative (USTR) removing India from developing countries list ahead of Trump’s visit on 24 and 25 February, has landed India into a crisis.

The office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) had issued a notice earlier this week removing India and 24 other nations, including China, from the list of developing countries and listing it as a developed economy, making it ineligible for benefits given by Washington to developing countries.

“While India is preparing itself for welcoming Trump, America has removed India from the list of developing countries. This is a big blow to our economy. With India on the list of developing countries, there used to be subsidiaries and tax benefits, now there will be nothing,” the party said in its editorial.

“The Trump administration has thrown a ‘googly’. India is now no more a developing country. This is a big crisis for India. India is miles away from the status of developed countries on parameters like education, health, employment, cleanliness and poverty alleviation,” the party said.

The US move on Monday will also reduce the threshold for triggering an investigation into whether nations are harming American industries with unfairly subsidised exports, according to the USTR notice.

“India is not a developed country and now it will no more avail the benefits that a developing nation gets. However, our Prime Minister will find a way out and will convert the bitter gourd sent by Trump into a sweet,” the editorial said.

Sena pointed out that India was far from the status of a developed country on parameters like health, education, employment, cleanliness and poverty alleviation and will not be able to avail subsidies and US tax benefits owing to its new position.

“This bitter gourd adversely affecting India’s global trade prospects came at a time when the central government and Gujarat administration are making arrangements for Donald Trump’s visit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is himself monitoring it,” it added.

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Damascus: A Syrian Assad Regime helicopter was shot down over the last major rebel bastion in northwest Syria on Friday, the second such incident in a week of high tensions with Turkey.

The attack in a region where Turkish troops and Russian-backed government forces have engaged in multiple clashes came as Washington urged Ankara to look to its Western allies in light of Moscow’s actions.

Syrian and Russian forces have pressed a deadly offensive against the shrinking pocket in the country’s northwest since December, claiming the lives of nine civilians on Friday.

“At approximately 13:40 (1140 GMT), one of our military helicopters was hit by a hostile missile in the western countryside of Aleppo,” Syrian state news agency SANA said.

“This led the helicopter to crash, killing all crew on board.”

SANA said the aircraft was downed near the town of Urum al-Kubra, where Turkey-backed rebels operate, but did not say who fired the missile. 

The Turkey-backed National Liberation Front rebel group claimed responsibility in a statement posted on the Telegram app.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the helicopter’s two pilots were killed.

An AFP correspondent saw the chopper’s mangled remains and the blood-stained fatigues of one of the pilots.

Three days earlier, another Syrian military helicopter was downed over Idlib province, killing at least three crew members.

Turkish media blamed that attack on rebels but the Observatory said Ankara’s troops had fired rockets at the aircraft over the village of Qaminas, southeast of Idlib city. 

Turkey did not claim responsibility.

Turkey tensions

Since December, Syrian government forces have pressed a blistering assault on the last major rebel pocket in the northwestern Idlib region and parts of neighbouring Aleppo and Latakia provinces.

Eight civilians including three children were killed in bombardment Friday, the Observatory said, adding that five died in Russian raids near the almost deserted city of Atareb.

Government forces are within five kilometres (three miles) of the city, the monitor said.

The assault has sparked the largest wave of displacement in the nine-year conflict, with 800,000 people fleeing since December, according to the United Nations. 

Among them, some 82,000 people are sleeping rough in sub-zero temperatures.

European members of the UN Security Council called Friday for an immediate end to the Idlib offensive to save lives.

“We demand that the parties, especially the Syrian regime and its allies, immediately end their military offensive, establish a genuine and lasting ceasefire,” said permanent member France and non-permanent members Belgium, Estonia and Germany.

“There can be no sustainable military solution to the Syrian conflict,” they said in a joint statement.

The unprecedented exodus of civilians has triggered alarm in Turkey, which fears an influx across its border. 

Turkey first sent troops to Syria in 2016 and has sent reinforcements to the northwest in recent weeks to contain the assault.

That has led to a series of confrontations, including deadly clashes this week that saw government shelling kill five Turkish troops.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has threatened the Syrian government in recent days, saying the offensive violates a 2018 deal with Russia meant to prevent a broad military operation.

The advance has also escalated tensions between Ankara and Moscow, which have worked closely together despite backing opposing sides in Syria. 

Erdogan on Wednesday accused Russia of committing “massacres” in Idlib.

Russian ‘destructive role’

A senior US State Department official said Friday that tensions between Turkey and Russia over Syria should prompt Ankara to move closer to the West, especially Washington.

“Certainly we would like to see Turkey more directly and clearly aligned with NATO, the United States, the West, in recognition of the very destructive role that the Russians are playing regionally, including right now in Syria,” the official said.

On Friday, pro-government forces pushed west of the key M5 motorway, which connects Syria’s four largest cities and is economically vital for the government, the Observatory said.

Syrian forces seized the last segment of the highway still out of their control earlier this week. SANA said Friday that the areas flanking it had been swept and the road fully secured.

To consolidate a “security belt” around the road, the regime seized a key base on Friday that it had lost to rebels in 2012, the Observatory said.

In “violent fighting” to retake Orum al-Kobra west of Aleppo on Friday, 14 Syrian soldiers were killed while 19 rebels died, it added.

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Jeddah: A Tunisian female, Sara Haba recently set a record as she cycled from her home country Tunisia to Saudi Arabia.

Sara Haba became the first woman to reach the holy city, Makkah on a bicycle.

Sara Haba completed her journey in 53 days and documented it as well. She shared her journey on her social media handle under the hashtag #cyclingtomakkah.

She opted for the desserts of Sudan and Egypt as her travel route.

Speaking to a source Haba said, she was concerned that she would not be allowed to enter the holy city but she did not let the fear stop her.

Sara reached Makkah and received immense prayer and blessings. She was still travelling when her story went viral. Thousands of people followed her journey online, and wrote supportive messages on her Instagram.

“I didn’t expect anything of what all happened. I kept making dua’s for all of you. Hope that life will give me the opportunity to give this back to the universe”, said Haba.

Upon her arrival in Makkah, Sara met her brother, who came from France and performed the Umrah.

Intern Anhaar Majid

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Nizamabad: In a shocking incident a bridegroom who had just got married collapsed to death during his wedding procession in Telangana state’s Nizamabad district yesterday.

According to reports, the groom identified as M Ganesh had become uncomfortable with the high decibel noise from the DJ sound system and even before he could complain, he suffered a major cardiac arrest that led to his death.

The groom M Ganesh’s marriage was performed on Friday morning at Bodhan town in Nizamabad.

It was later in the evening, the family had taken out a baraat with the couple when this unfortunate incident occurred.

The high decibel noise from the DJ system started troubling Ganesh who was sitting in the car next to his wife. At first he thought he was feeling uneasy and stayed inside and went on to join the dancing baraatis.

But in no time, he became more uncomfortable and collapsed during the procession.

He was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead.

Doctors stated he could have died of a cardiac arrest.

It may be noted, there is a ban on using DJ sound system in functions and processions.

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Ankara: Turkey’s vice-president on Saturday hit back at Russian accusations of failing to honour a 2018 deal by insisting it carried out its responsibilities in Syria’s Idlib.

“Observation posts were set up and the regime had to stay outside of this area. Russia and Iran were to ensure the regime stayed outside, Turkey had responsibilities too, Turkey fulfilled these,” Vice-President Fuat Oktay told NTV broadcaster.

Turkey has 12 observation posts in the northwestern province of Idlib after the 2018 agreement between Russia and Turkey in Sochi to prevent a Damascus-led offensive.

Up to four of Turkey’s posts are in Syrian regime-controlled territory, Turkish officials say.

Turkey and Russia have been embroiled in a war of words over Idlib as the Syrian regime backed by Moscow has intensified an assault, killing hundreds of civilians.

The Russian defence ministry said earlier this week Turkey did not separate “fighters from the moderate opposition from terrorists.”

Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar then said on Thursday force would be used against anyone who did not adhere to the ceasefire, including “radicals”.

Idlib is held by an array of rebels dominated by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) jihadist group, which is led by members of the country’s former Al-Qaeda franchise.

The tensions began after 14 Turks were killed this month by regime shelling in Idlib.

Despite being on opposing sides, rebel supporter Turkey and Moscow ally Russia have worked closely on Syria.

Turkey says it wants to stop the Damascus regime’s “aggression” in a bid to stop the deaths of civilians and to prevent a wave of refugees fleeing to Turkey.

Turkey is already home to more than 3.6 million Syrian refugees. “Turkey cannot withstand another migration wave,” Oktay said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned the regime to withdraw from Turkish-manned posts by the end of February, otherwise Ankara will “take matters into its own hands.”

In recent days, Turkey has sent multiple military reinforcements to Idlib, and Hurriyet daily on Saturday reported that a 60-vehicle convoy carrying commandoes and armoured carriers was sent to beef up the Turkish posts.

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Jinka Nagaraju

Hyderabad: Is Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy going to be the first beneficiary of the Post-Delhi debacle politics of Modi and Shah?

In the midst of an unprecedented assault launched on Telugu Desam Supremo Chandrababu Naidu by the rank and file of YSR Congress, Chief Minister Y S  Jaganmohan Reddy emerged from a 45-minute long meeting on Friday night with Amit Shah. They were locked up for about 45 minutes.

The meeting is preceded by some significant developments. First, the Income Tax department delivered much-wanted ammunition to the YSRC to attack Jagan’s bete noire, Chandrababu Naidu. The IT sleuths revealed in a ‘press note’ that it had conducted search-and- seize operations on close associates of a prominent person which included is ex-personal secretary. Armed with this tell-tale indication, YSRC launched an all-round attack on Naidu and his son Lokesh and demanded their arrest and also a CBI inquiry.

On the legal side, the CBI court granted an exemption to Jagan from attending the Hyderabad CBI court every Friday. The judge gave oral instruction granting the exemption. It is a great relief to Jagan even though a request for exemption in ED cases is still pending.

Thirdly, it is the statement of minister Botsa Satyanarayana. Botsa said the party would go to any extent, including joining the NDA government at the center, if it benefits the state.

All three developments unfolded in quick succession following the crucial 100 minute-long meeting the Jagan had with  Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Some analysts believe that it is the inevitable fallout of BJP’s defeat in Delhi elections. 

According to some analysts the recent developments in Delhi may have forced Modi and Shah to think of repositioning the party to suit the emerging challenges in some states.

Since it cannot remain as a “stateless national party, the BJP has to cultivate ‘friends’ as it did in the case of Nitish Kumar in Bihar. 

The analysts believe that many developments, traumatic for Chandrababu Naidu, may take place in the near future.

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Kashyap went on to say that the resistance which started in Jamia further inspired JNU and subsequently the rest of the nation.

NEW DELHI: Expressing solidarity with the students of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) and Shaheen Bagh who are protesting against CAA and NRC, film director Anurag Kashyap on Friday said the crowd gives him strength and the ongoing struggle has made everyone realise “that we are empowered and not just a herd of sheep.”

He said, “Main Jamia main pehli baar aaya hoon. Kahin lag raha tha hum mar gaye hain, par yahan aa kar laga ki hum zinda hain.” 

“The crowd gives me strength. The ongoing struggle has made everyone realise that we are empowered and not just a herd of sheep,” said Kashyap to the cheers of the gathering protesting against the Centre’s Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Kashyap went on to say that the resistance which started in Jamia further inspired JNU and subsequently the rest of the nation.

“Now, there is a pressing need for more people to come together to safeguard the nation and the Constitution,” he said.

He urged the protesters to raise their voice without partaking in violence even when provoked, and hold their ground until all their questions are answered satisfactorily.

He said, “Home minister ka kaam hota hai humari security. Woh dissent dabane ka kaam karte hain.” 

Kashyap, a fierce critic of the BJP government, also met the Dabbang Dadis at Shaheen Bagh and relished the most talked about Biryani at the protest site.

Kashyap concluded by exhorting the protesters to not budge from their stand even in the face of adversity. He emphasised that the fight cannot be won with force but peace and patience.

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Hyderabad: Sleuths of Central Crime Station (CCS) on Saturday arrested a self styled personal assistant (PA) of Kalvakuntla Tarakarama Rao (KTR), Minister of IT, Telangana.

The alleged cheater is identified as Nagaraju Budumuru who has been duping gullible public by posing himself as PA to the IT minister.
A CMD of a company had been cheated to the tune of Rs.3, 30,400/-. by one person who introduced himself as Tirupati, PA of KTR, Minister of IT, Telangana.

CCS sleuths informed that, conman had called the CMD and informed that Nagaraju Budumuru is a cricket player from Andhra Pradesh and he is selected for Under 25 World Cup to be held at England and also selected for 20:20 Sunrisers team.

He claimed that the selected candidate hails from poor family and he is in need of sponsorship for his cricket kit and for his tour. The logo of the company will be displayed on the cricket kit and will be handed over to Nagaraju through the IT Minister in his office.

Believing the version of the cheater, the CMD of the private firm transferred the amount to the bank account in the name of Nagaraju which was furnished by the caller.

Modus Operandi

The accused used to calls business houses and talks to the company MDs introducing himself as different Minister’s PA and ask for sponsoring of cricket kits to poor Andhra Ranji cricketer Nagaraju and cheated money from different companies. The accused was previously involved in many cases of AP and telangana. He previously played cricket in the Ranji trophies under 23 for Andhra Pradesh.

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Telangana Forest Department forms anti-poaching team to curb illegal hunting

Nalgonda: The District Forest Officers (DFO) on Friday caught three-person while selling ducks and other water birds at Srichaitanya Mils Center in Ramathnagar of Nalgonda. The officers have rescued 6 ducks and 8 Sandpipers.  

While many people regard ducks as food the accused persons were selling these water birds for the purpose of slaughtering which is the subject of animal cruelty, the suspect has been identified as Singam Seenaiah (55), Saidamma (51), Saidulu (45) all belong to one family and a resident of Gajalapuram.    

According to the forest department official, the birds were from the Peddadevulapally reservoir of Miryalaguda Range, birds are protected under Schedule –IV of Wildlife Protection Act 1972, therefore a case was registered against them.

Further, an official told that as the suspect is poor fisherfolk and was not aware of the Act, the DFO of Nalgonda has decided to impose a compounded fine and levy a penalty of Rs 50,000 in the three of them.

The Telangana Forest Department informs that hunting of aquatic birds is not permitted in the forest area. It is a crime under the Forest and Wildlife Protection Acts. One who does will suffer from seven years of imprisonment and fine can be applicable for an offence under the Act.

Moreover, the special anti-poaching team have formed by the forest department headed by Deputy Range Officer and Forest Section Officer to curb the illegal hunting of activities in all the range of forest areas.

SIASAT NEWS

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Hyderabad: The Congress party on Saturday expressed its resolve to protect the ongoing 4% Muslim reservation in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by putting up a strong legal fight in the Supreme Court.

Addressing the prize distribution ceremony of competitions held on the topic of “15 Years of 4% Muslim Reservation” on the occasion of 64th birthday of former Minister and ex-Leader of Opposition Mohammed Ali Shabbir at Prakasham Hall in Gandhi Bhavan premises on Saturday, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Capt. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the Congress party would continue to fight the legal battle in Supreme Court to protect the 4% Muslim reservation.

He praised the role played by Shabbir Ali and the then Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajashekhara Reddy in giving 4% reservation to backward groups among Muslims in 2004. He said that the previous Congress regime implemented 4% Muslim reservation in jobs, education and also in local bodies which led to socio-economic, educational and political empowerment of poor Muslims.

Uttam Kumar Reddy accused Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao of cheating the Muslims on the promise of 12% reservation. He said KCR had promised to implement 12% Muslim quota within four months after coming to power in 2014.

However, he said the promise remained unfulfilled even after six years and today KCR is not even speaking about it. Calling TRS an ally of BJP, he cited various instances when KCR supported the BJP and Modi Government.

Shabbir Ali, in his speech, gave an overview of the impact of 4% Muslim reservation. He claimed that nearly 20 lakh poor Muslims in combined Andhra Pradesh benefitted from 4% reservation and Fee Reimbursement policies in the last 15 years. He pointed out that the percentage of Muslims among all students of Telangana is higher than the national average.

“According to the All India Survey of Higher Education 2018-19, as many as 130,282 Muslims students were enrolled in Telangana State while it was 58,779 in Andhra Pradesh. Put together, a total of 1,89,061 Muslim students were enrolled in both the Telugu States where the four per cent reservation is being implemented,” he said.

“The share of Muslims in government jobs increased significantly after they started getting 4% quota since 2004. Poor and backward Muslims under BC-E were also made eligible to contest in local body elections from all seats reserved for Backward Classes.

This led to political empowerment of Muslims with more than 40% of total elected representatives like Sarpanches, Councillors and Corporators from the community getting elected from BC reserved seats. Congress party ensured real empowerment of poor, socially and economically backward Muslims and introduced a policy (4% reservation) which is continuing even after it lost power,” he said.

Shabbir Ali informed that the Supreme Court has resumed hearing on 4% Muslim quota case this month and all efforts were being made to win the legal battle in favour of Muslim reservation.

“Despite the improvement in literacy levels and a few economic factors, the majority of Muslims are still poor and backward and therefore, there is a strong need to continue the ongoing 4% quota. Muslims have been cheated by KCR on the promise of 12% reservation and we want to ensure that at least ongoing 4% reservation continue in future,” he said.

He also informed that awareness would be created among Muslims on the importance of ongoing 4% Muslim reservation, especially among the young generation, and therefore, the National Solidarity Committee, headed by TPCC General Secretary S.K. Afzaluddin has organised various competitions like elocution, essay writing and quiz on the subject of Muslim reservation.

More than 1200 school students participated in the competitions held on 11th and 12th February. The winners of those competitions were given prizes on Saturday. He announced that State and district level competitions on the importance of Muslim reservation would be held at a massive scale to create awareness among the children and their families.

Sultan-ul-Uloom Educational Society Secretary Zafar Javeed, Youth Congress president Anil Kumar Yadav and other senior leaders also participated. A documentary on struggle for 4% Muslim reservation was also screened on the occasion.

SIASAT NEWS

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Hyderabad: A police officers team of Madhapur police station on Saturday apprehended five Bajrang Dal activists who resorted to vandalism and created havoc in a mall located at Gachibowli and in other areas of IT corridor under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate on the eve of Valentine’s Day, Friday.    

According To Venkateswar Rao, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Madhapur Zone, Bajrang Dal activists were booked under section 147, 448, 427, r/w 149 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) of Section of PDPP Act at Madhapur police station and case under section 448, 427, 506 r/w 34 of IPC at Gachibowli police station.

The accused has been identified as Nangoth Ajay Singh (26), Vadthya Arjun (23), Korra Santosh (20), Gudupu Pavan Kumar (24), Polari Tirupathi (22) all of them are the residents of Kukatpally.

Over, 10 to 15 Bajrang Gal activists moved in a group on two-wheelers from KPHB Colony towards Hitec City and were vandalizing the places like ice-cream stores and other stores.

They were moving by holding flags raising slogans against the celebrations of Valentine’s Day and created havoc in the malls such as ABN Sharat Mall, Bikanerwala, in orbit mall and other public places.

Upon receiving information by the time police reached to in orbit mall on Friday activists escaped from the spot. Later, complaints were lodged by the store owners and police took up the investigation, with the help of CCTV footages five accused were identified and arrested by police. The accused will soon be produced before the court for judicial remand.

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Hyderabad: TS EAMCET 2020 which will be conducted by Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University – Hyderabad is scheduled to be held from 4^th to 11^th May 2020 for Engineering courses whereas for medical courses, they will be held on 9th and 11th May.

Notification for EAMCET will be released on 19th February. The last date of registration is 30th March, with a late fee of Rs. 500, it is 13th April, with Rs. 1000 late fee, it is 16th April, with late fee of Rs. 5000, it is 20th April and with Rs. 10000 late fee, it is 27th April 2020.

Schedule, test zones, etc. for the Telangana State Engineering Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test – 2020 (TS EAMCET-2020) was finalized during the meeting of the CET Committee.

The fee for the candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and PH is Rs. 400 whereas, for other candidates, it is Rs. 800.

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New Delhi: Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju said that the officials from Sports Authority of India (SAI) have contacted Srinivasa Gowda, a Kambala jockey, and Gowda will reach at the SAI centre on Monday.

“Yes @PMuralidharRao ji. Officials from SAI have contacted him. His rail ticket is done and he will reach SAI centre on monday. I will ensure top national coaches to conduct his trials properly. We are team @narendramodi ji and will do everything to identify sporting talents!,” Rijiju tweeted on Saturday.

Fastest runner in the history

Gowda set the new record as the fastest runner in the history of the traditional sport as he covered 145 meters in 13.62 seconds at the Kambala competition.

He became overnight sensation and netizens compared him to the fastest sprinter in the world — Usain Bolt and urged sporting bodies to take note of the jockey. Bolt holds the world 100m record of 9.58 seconds while Gowda covered the same distance in just 9.55 seconds during a Kambala competition.

Shashi Tharoor had earlier tweeted: “Faster Than Usain Bolt? Karnataka Man Running With Buffaloes Covers 100 Metres in Just 9.55 Seconds. I urge the Athletics Association of India to take this man under their wing & make an Olympic champion of him. Wonder how many hidden talents we have!”

Kambala

Kambala is an ancient, traditional buffalo race in muddy or slushy paddy fields of coastal regions of Karnataka.

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Riyadh: Saudi Arabia is experiencing its coldest weather since 2016, meteorologists said Thursday, with overnight temperatures dropping below zero in the country’s north over the past two days.

Temperature hits minus 5 degrees Celsius

In Tarif, on the border with Jordan, the temperature hit minus 5 degrees Celsius (23 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the weather services. It dropped to minus three in Hail further southeast, and minus 2 in Arar on the border with Iraq.

In the capital Riyadh, the temperature dipped close to zero and the streets were deserted Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

The desert kingdom is known for its extreme heat, particularly during summer.

Intense cold

“The country is experiencing its most intense cold snap since 2016,” Hassan Abdallah from the Wasm meteorological centre, told AFP Thursday.

In neighbouring Iraq, where summers are also scorching, Baghdad residents woke up Tuesday to find the city carpeted in white from only its second snowfall in a century.

The last recorded snowfall in the city was in 2008.

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