Jagan pokes the Congress

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: Rebel leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy literally mocked at the Congress – the party he left early this month – by publicly parading at least 24 MLAs, four MLCs and an MP at his 48-hour hunger-strike camp on the banks of river Krishna in Vijayawada in the last two days. With this, Jagan sought to prove that it was indeed he who was in control of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh and threw a challenge at the party high command daring it to take action against its members who sided with him. Three MLAs from Praja Rajyam Party and an MLA suspended from the Telugu Desam also stood by Jagan at the so-called Lakshya Deeksha, hunger-strike for farmers. This brazen “show of strength” by Jagan has left his parent party totally shaken. Disarray will only be a mild word to describe the situation in the Congress circles in Hyderabad as the party MLAs so publicly sat with Jagan and spit venom at their own government. In fact, Congress leaders here did not even muster the courage to react to the situation as the number of legislators joining Jagan increased. “The party high command will look into it and take an appropriate decision,” was the only reaction by Pradesh Congress Committee spokesman N Tulasi Reddy. While state Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy termed the Congress MLAs’ participation in the former MP’s fast as “unethical,” former minister Gade Venkat Reddy did not see anything wrong in it. “Jagan was trying to highlight the plight of farmers to the government. The MLAs only extended their solidarity but never said they will leave Congress,” Venkat Reddy said. While the Vijayawada development will not in any way affect the TDP, the PRP is certain to be worried as a few more of its MLAs are tilting towards Jagan. Will the Congress high command display the gall and act against its unruly MLAs is a puzzle for now.

Kiran Kumar Reddy: Driver without the steering in hand

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy may have been seated in the driver’s (Chief Minister) seat but it is the Congress bosses in New Delhi who will actually hold all the controls of his vehicle (Andhra Pradesh government). A clear set of do’s and don’ts has been prescribed for Kiran Kumar to steer the government in a way to resurrect the Congress in the state through strict implementation of the schemes promised in the election manifesto. “It is only a move by the high command to resurrect Congress’ party in the state with trouble lurking in the form of Y S Jagan and Telangana. It is essentially to let Kiran Kumar focus primarily on governance and not let troubles, from any quarter, bog him down,” a top Congress leader and key government functionary maintained. Significantly, state Governor E S L Narasimhan is also being actively involved in the governance to lend stability to government. The Congress high command reportedly issued certain “guidelines” to the Chief Minister to be followed scrupulously. As per the guidelines, the Chief Minister will have to take any major policy decision only in consultation with the Pradesh Congress Committee president. The Chief Minister will have to tour at least two districts every week to improve mass contact and closely monitor implementation of the government programmes. While Kiran Kumar will have to submit a weekly performance report to state Governor Narasimhan and AICC president Sonia Gandhi, the Governor will in turn forward the report to the Union Home Secretary. State Chief Secretary S V Prasad and Director General of Police K Aravinda Rao have reportedly been directed to brief the Governor every week on the government’s performance in general and law and order in particular. Review of law and order by the Governor assumes significance as there is apprehension of trouble by separatist elements after the five-member Justice Srikrishna Committee submits its report to the Centre on the statehood issue. The Chief Minister has also been asked by the high command to have “constant and close co-ordination” with the party’s Manifesto Implementation Committee to ensure effective implementation of the flagship programmes. This makes Kiran Kumar’s task tough as the Congress government could not so far implement the three main promises it made in the 2009 election manifesto: extending free power supply to agriculture sector from seven to nine hours a day, enhancing the Rs 2-a-kg rice quota from 20 to 30 kilos a month to all below poverty line families and uninterrupted power supply to all sectors. While severe funds crunch did not allow the government to enhance the rice quota to 30 kilos a month, the acute power scarcity faced by the state forced it delay implementation of the other two promises. “We have sought Central assistance for the rice scheme but there has been no response from them yet. We could not generate additional electricity in tune with the growing demand because of which the promises related to power may not be kept in the immediate future,” a top government source pointed out. While these may be some worrying factors for the new Chief Minister, he can take comfort in the Congress high command’s assurance on party-related issues: “Look to us for any damage control.” In fact, the Congress high command appointed a six-member party sub-committee to exclusively handle AP affairs. That should make Kiran feel comfortable in the saddle for some time.

Tough times for new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: Barely five days into his office, cricketer-turned-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy finds himself on a sticky wicket.

The “doosra” bowled by rebel Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy today caught Kiran off-guard, though he hasn’t lost his wicket yet.

Kiran’s stay at the crease doesn’t appear to be an easy task, now that Jagan’s followers are ready to bowl more googlies and bouncers at him.

Congress sources indicated that at least 28 MLAs have solidly pledged their support to Jagan and offered to resign while another seven to eight are also keen to follow suit.

For the record, however, Jagan appealed to Congress MLAs not to quit their posts “for me.”

“Wherever you are, your love and affection are enough for me. Please do not resign from your posts for me,” Jagan appealed in the open letter he addressed to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

In reality, however, Jagan is all set to split the Congress and dislodge the Kiran Kumar Reddy government, his campers aver.

“Wait for two more days and see what happens,” said a first-time MLA and Jagan loyalist, who interestingly camped in New Delhi in the last three days lobbying for a Cabinet berth.

The Jagan camp claims at least four members of Lok Sabha, 36 MLAs and half-a-dozen members of Legislative Council are now behind Jagan. “Four to five MLAs from Praja Rajyam Party will also join hands with us soon,” the rebel leader’s campers claim.

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, upon his return from New Delhi, discussed the fallout of Jagan’s resignation with several former ministers and MLAs at the Lake View Guest House. Anxiety was writ large on the legislators’ face as they discussed Jagan’s resignation.

“If the Jagan group’s claim of having the support of 35-36 MLAs is true, Kiran’s government will certainly be in soup. The numbers will not add up even if the Praja Rajyam Party (18 MLAs) and the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (seven MLAs) support the government. In the event, the 11-member Telangana Rashtra Samiti’s support becomes inevitable,” a former minister and senior MLA analysed.

The TRS will support the Congress only if statehood is granted for Telangana. This is unlikely in the prevailing circumstances.

It is still unclear if the four MPs, including Union Minister of State A Sai Pratap (Rajampet), Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (Nellore), Undavalli Arunkumar (Rajahmundry) and Sabbam Hari (Anakapalle), who are sworn loyalists of Jagan, too will step down in solidarity with him. Jagan campers maintain that there was “no need” for the MPs to resign.

Microfinance Institutions' dubious ploy!

DESARAJU SURYA

Hyderabad: Having been caught on the wrong side of the law for adopting “illegal and inhuman business practices” in Andhra Pradesh, the microfinance institutions (MFIs) are now trying to “legitimize” their activities by seeking to join hands with the state government “to provide sustainable financial services to poor women” even as the Union Finance Ministry is said to be keen on involving the money-lending agencies in the government’s anti-poverty programmes. Though the Government of India has not taken a formal decision in this regard yet, it has informally sounded the state governments much before the current controversy involving the MFIs broke out in Andhra Pradesh, highly-placed official sources said. “In fact, such a proposal first came from the external funding agencies like World Bank and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The World Bank and the IFAD recommended to the states, which have been borrowing money from them, to involve MFIs in poverty reduction programmes. The Government of India is probably trying to implement the World Bank agenda,” a top bureaucrat pointed out. But, IAS officer V P Jauhari, who retired as Special Chief Secretary to government and led an inquiry into the activities of MFIs in the state, cautioned in his report against involving MFIs in government programmes. In fact, he suggested that the state government alert the Government of India as well as the Reserve Bank of India about the “illegal and unethical practices” being adopted by the MFIs. “This will help other states learn from the sad experiences of AP,” he added. It was during former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure that the World Bank first came up with the proposal when the state government was desperately seeking funds from the Bank for the ambitious Jalayagnam (irrigation projects) programme. “Andhra Pradesh is one of the major borrowers from the World Bank. One of the recommendations, apart from a few pre-conditions of the World Bank, was enhancing the role of MFIs in rural credit distribution and their involvement in government programmes. Though the government did not concede the demand immediately for involving the MFIs in its programmes, it did help them expand their operations rapidly in the last few years,” the bureaucrat said. Micro Finance Institutions Network president Vijay Mahajan wrote a letter to the state Principal Secretary (Rural Development) R Subrahmanyam promising to “extend all cooperation to the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s efforts to provide credit to rural poor women.” One of the proposals mooted by the MFIN is the establishment of a state-wide health insurance programme in concert with the state government’s Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty. “This programme will be complementary to the Rajiv Aarogyasri health insurance scheme (of the state government),” Vijay Mahajan said in the letter. Official sources said the government has not yet taken a decision in this regard. “We are considering the proposals put forth by MFIN but our main focus now is on regulating the MFIs’ activities and rescuing the hapless borrowers,” a senior official of the Rural Development Department said.

Hyderabad Runners for Athens Marathon

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: “Hyderabad Runners” have headed for Athens, the ancient Greek city, to take part in the historic Athens Classic Marathon on October 31. The 2010 Athens Classic Marathon celebrates its 28 years, along with the celebration of the 2,500th anniversary of the Marathon Battle that marks the victory of the Greeks against the Persians during the Marathon Battle in 490 BC. The event is being held in the city of Marathonas to commemorate the historic occasion. More than 15,000 runners from across the globe have registered for the event this year, given the historic significance. Of the 34 runners registered from India, 18 are from Hyderabad alone. Individual runners from Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and New Delhi are also going to take part in the event. The Hyderabad Runners have left for Athens in the last two days to reach Athens in time for the event and also get acclimatised to the local conditions. The marathoners from the city, most of them amateurs, have formed into the “Hyderabad Runners” group that promotes running in an injury-free and safe environment. While the average age of those taking part in the Athens Classic Marathon from Hyderabad is 36, the oldest of them is 63-year-old Hariharan who works with Sriram Life Insurance, followed by 62-year-old retired chartered accountant Anand. Four women, including 48-year-old home-maker Rama Vijaya and 40-year-old fitness trainer Sunita Tummalapalli, are also among the group. All of them will run the full marathon of 42.19 km. “I have taken part earlier in the Puducherry marathon and the Athens one will be my first international event,” Sunita said in excitement. She, along with other members of the group, has practiced rigorously for over three months to get ready for the big event. Superintendent of Police M Ramesh, TransDyne chief executive officer Raghu Adusumilli and a senior executive Rajesh Vetcha are some of the other participants. “It’s a great feeling taking part in a historic international event. This will be my first marathon race,” Raghu said. In fact, Raghu and Rajesh encouraged many to take up running “which is a form of meditation.” “Next year, we are going to organise a half marathon (21-km run) in Hyderabad to encourage people to run,” Raghu said. Already the Hyderabad Runners group has about 70 people who did a full marathon. “We have started this informally mostly with amateurs. Now everyone is taking it seriously and more people are joining. Our endeavour is to create a safe and injury-free environment for all the runners,” Rajesh said.
ALL THE BEST, HYDERABAD RUNNERS.

Y S JAGAN "estranged"

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Exactly a year after his father and former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s death, Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy is facing a political dilemma as he is left “estranged” from ministers and MLAs in Andhra Pradesh.
He has no real supporters, except two, in the Andhra Pradesh Council of Ministers while not more than 20 MLAs are publicly backing him.
The Cabinet Ministers who vowed to forego their posts if Jagan was not made the Chief Minister, immediately after Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a helicopter crash on September 2 last year, have now virtually deserted him.
“I will not only quit my Cabinet post but also split the Congress party in the state if Jagan is not made the Chief Minister,” Forest Minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy thundered as he entered the Samatha block in the Secretariat for an extraordinary Cabinet meeting on September 3 last year.
Home Minister P Sabita Reddy, Information Technology Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy, Health Minister Danam Nagender, Secondary Education Minister Dokka Manikya Vara Prasada Rao, Rural Water Supply Minister P Viswaroop and many other ministers spoke in a similar tone.
In fact, Vara Prasada Rao announced that he made it to the state Legislative Assembly only due to Jagan and, as such, would not continue in the Cabinet without the latter heading it.
Only Konda Surekha, who held the Women Development and Child Welfare portfolio in the Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet, stuck to her word and quit her post as the Congress high command firmly backed K Rosaiah for the Chief Minister’s job.
One year down the line, the ministers fell silent and have distanced themselves from the Kadapa MP who has been constantly defying the party high command. Now, the ministers are not even raising the demand for Jagan’s appointment as the Chief Minister as they are more worried about securing their jobs.
Only Social Welfare Minister Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and Mines Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy have affirmed their loyalty to Jagan and continued to sail with him.
For a couple of months after Rajasekhara Reddy’s death, almost every minister, barring the likes of Botsa Satyanarayana, used to call on Jagan everyday whenever he was in the state capital. They even skipped their official duties and jumped over each other to keep Jagan in good humour.
Gradually the ministers stopped meeting the rebellious MP and even started talking against his defiant postures. “The Congress high command is the supreme. Everyone has to strictly respect it,” has been the ministers’ refrain even as they advised Jagan to fall in line, following the controversy over the Odarpu Yatra.
Sticking to the party line, ministers stayed away from the MP’s condolence tour in their respective districts. Only Subhash Chandra Bose accompanied Jagan on the tour in East Godavari district while Srinivasa Reddy vowed to do so in Prakasam district.
Interestingly, in his own Kadapa district, local minister Md Ahmadullah stayed away when Jagan went on the condolence tour for two days in Pulivendula constituency late last month.
On September 3 last year, when Rajasekhara Reddy’s death was officially announced, government Chief Whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka led a campaign and collected signatures of more than 150 out of the 157 Congress MLAs demanding that Jagan be immediately appointed YSR’s successor.
As things stand, not more than 20 MLAs are on Jagan’s side.
What fate befalls the 37-year-old industrialist-turned-politician is curiously awaited as he embarks on the next leg of his controversial Odarpu Yatra in Prakasam district from tomorrow, overlooking the high command’s counsel.

Great Maths brains assemble in Hyderabad

DESARAJU SURYA
HYDERABAD: Wizards of mathematics from the across the globe congregated at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre for the nine-day International Congress of Mathematics (ICM) that the President of India Pratibha Patil inaugurated with a call for promotion of mathematics studies among the young generation.
This is the first time that the ICM, organized every four years by the International Mathematical Union (IMU), is being held in India. More than 3,000 delegates from over 80 countries are taking part in the ICM.
The President gave away the prestigious Fields Medals, also called the Maths Nobel, to four eminent mathematicians in recognition of their contribution to the field. The four Fields Medals were presented to Elon Lindenstrauss (Israel), Ngo Bao Chau (Vietnam), Stanislav Smirnov (Russia) and Cedric Villani (France). The Rolf Nevanlinna Prize was presented to Daniel Spielman of Yale University while the Gauss Prize was given away to Yves Meyer of France.
The newly-instituted Chern Prize for lifelong achievements in mathematics was presented to Canadian Louis Nirenberg of New York University.
Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, Chief Minister K Rosaiah, International Mathematical Union president L Lovasz, organizing committee chairman M S Raghunathan, secretary Rajat Tandon and others were present on the occasion.
In her inaugural address, the President noted that mathematics inculcated the habit of rational thought and promoted scientific temper. She stressed on the need for promotion of mathematics studies among the young generation.
The President said the need for understanding mathematics was necessary in all walks of life, be it engineers, scientists or those working in the industry, finance or social sciences.
Since Independence, India recognized the importance of science as a vehicle for human progress, the President said. “Mathematics, the language of science and its advancement, is an integral part of India’s science policy,” she added.
“Economics and social sciences, once impervious to mathematics, are coming increasingly under its influence. There is an aesthetic component to its pursuit and it inculcates the habit of rational thought. Its role in other human endeavours apart, we also recognize the profound cultural dimension that the study of mathematics has,” Pratibha Patil said.
Noting that India’s engagement with mathematics dated back to some three thousand years, the President said the country had a rich mathematical heritage and has been accorded a primary position among intellectual pursuits.
“Like the crest of the peacock and the jewel of the serpent, Mathematics stands at the helm of all sciences,” Pratibha said, quoting a Sanskrit verse.
She recalled the contributions of Aryabhatta and Brahmagupta to the development of Algebra and Astronomy and also that of Bhaskaracharya. “However, until the last Century, the West seems to have been unaware of Madhava, a mathematician of the 15th Century who anticipated the essentials of Calculus. It is only in recent years that the work of ‘Kerala School’ has attracted considerable attention from historians of mathematics,” Pratibha Patil pointed out.
Revival of mathematical activity in India was triggered by the advent of the extraordinary figure of Srinivasa Ramanujan in the 20th Century, she said, adding that Ramanujan’s achievements were a source of inspiration for succeeding generations.
She wished success for the initiatives of the International Mathematical Union aimed at promotion of mathematics in developing countries.
The ICM assumes significance for India as it is being held coinciding with the Centenary of the founding of Indian Mathematical Society and the Silver Jubilee year of Ramanujan Mathematical Society.
World Chess champion Viswanathan Anand will test his skills by playing chess simultaneously against 40 mathematicians on the sidelines of the mega event, Prof Govindan Rangarajan of the ICM organizing committee said.
The award winners presented their works to the delegates during the technical sessions that followed the inauguration ceremony.
Panel discussions on interesting topics like “Mathematics Education and Popularization of Mathematics” and “Mathematics in Science and Technology” will begin tomorrow. A panel discussion on how to take mathematics to high schools has also been scheduled during the event. The London Mathematical Society is organizing a discussion on August 25 on ‘Mechanisms for strengthening mathematics in developing countries’ as part of the ICM.

Bad blood between AP ministers

DESARAJU SURYA
HYDERABAD: The bad blood flowing for some time now between ministers of the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet hailing from Telangana and Andhra-Rayalaseema regions spilled in the meeting of the state Council of Ministers with the two “rival factions” seeking to cross swords.
But senior minister Gade Venkata Reddy, through his wise counsel, ensured that the acrimony did not spread.
Ironically, it was Gade who has been the main target of attack by leaders of Telangana region for submitting a report on behalf of ministers for Andhra-Rayalaseema region to the five-member Srikrishna Committee allegedly dubbing those seeking a separate state as “traitors.”
Information Technology Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy reportedly raised the issue at the Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister K Rosaiah, and pointed out that the Andhra-Rayalaseema ministers’ claim before the Srikrishna Committee had deeply hurt the people of Telangana.
Gade immediately intervened to assert that they had never made any such claim. “There is nothing secret about our representation to the Srikrishna Committee. Everything is in black and white. Don’t go by media reports,” Gade told Venkat Reddy and other ministers from Telangana.
The senior minister, who holds the Endowments portfolio, also noted that they were all “ministers of Andhra Pradesh” and not ministers of any particular region.
“The state is still united and as per Constitution we are ministers of Andhra Pradesh. Let us not divide ourselves even before the Centre-appointed committee submitted its report,” Gade said.
“Gade’s ‘elderly’ talk pleased everyone and there was no further discussion on the subject,” one Cabinet minister later said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Rosaiah reportedly conveyed to his Cabinet colleagues that they all should abide by all directives of the Congress high command. This was seen as an oblique reference to the third-leg of Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s “Odarpu Yatra” slated to begin in Prakasam district on September 3. Mines Minister and Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s close relative Balineni Srinivasa Reddy announced that he would take part in Jagan’s yatra even as reports from New Delhi suggested that the Congress high command once again issued a directive asking elected representatives to keep away from the MP’s tour.
“Shall we pass a resolution in this regard,” Health Minister Danam Nagender sarcastically questioned Rosaiah when the latter referred about the high command’s directive.
“This is only an informal issue and not on the official agenda. How can we pass a resolution,” the Chief Minister reportedly retorted.
On the growing allegations of irregularities in the land deals by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation since 2004, the Cabinet felt that any further action into the issue could be decided based on the internal enquiry report of the APIIC. The APIIC appointed a three-member internal committee to look into the issue of Emaar Properties’ land deal in which the government is said to be losing thousands of crores of rupees.
Sources said a decision on the APIIC issue could be taken at the next meeting of the Cabinet.

The real test for TRS

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The by-elections in ten Assembly constituencies, slated for July 27, in the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh will be a real test for the separatist Telangana Rashtra Samiti.
In actual terms, the ruling Congress and the principal opposition Telugu Desam Party have nothing to lose and victory in even a couple of seats will only be a gain for these parties. Of the ten constituencies facing by-elections, nine were won by the TRS and one by the Bharatiya Janata Party in the 2009 general elections. These legislators resigned from their posts in February this year demanding immediate grant of statehood for Telangana even as the Government of India constituted a five-member committee, headed by former Supreme Court judge B Srikrishna, to study the situation in the state.In all 12 MLAs – ten of TRS and one each of TDP and BJP – quit their posts but by-polls are not being held for Vemulawada and Sircilla seats in Karimnagar district because of legal hurdles. TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K T Rama Rao won the Sircilla seat by a margin of just 171 votes following which his election was challenged in High Court. Chennamaneni Ramesh won the Vemulawada seat on TDP ticket last time but his election too was contested on the ground that he was a “foreign” citizen. Ramesh quit the TDP after his resignation from the Assembly and joined the TRS.In 2009, the TRS enjoyed the support of TDP as well as CPI and CPM and hence managed to win ten seats in all. This time, however, it is fighting the by-elections on its own banking solely on the so-called “Telangana sentiment.” Interestingly, the Congress and the TDP too will be playing the Telangana card, thereby depriving the TRS of its USP. The entry into fray of Congress and TDP has left the TRS jittery as it hoped to get its candidates re-elected without any contest on the ground that they “sacrificed” their posts for the cause of a separate state. The TRS used every gambit to prevent the Congress and the TDP from contesting the by-elections but failed. The ruling party is jumping into the fray with the slogan that it is the Congress alone that could ultimately deliver Telangana. Of course, it will also use the “development” plank to win over the electorate. The TDP would like to expose how both the Congress and the TRS had been deceiving the people of Telangana over the separate statehood issue. Besides, it will take up the people’s problems and the state government’s failure in preventing the construction of Babli irrigation project on river Godavari by the Maharashtra government. While all the TRS MLAs who quit their posts will be fielded again in the by-elections, the TDP finalized the name of seven candidates so far and will formally announce its full list probably on June 30. Telugu Desam sources say the party might strategically field the kin of persons, who committed suicide for the cause of Telangana state, in at least a couple of constituencies like Siddipet essentially to put the TRS in a bind. Siddipet is considered the TRS’ bastion from where party chief K Chandrasekhar Rao’s nephew T Harish Rao won with a thumping majority of 64,014 votes in 2009. The TRS, through the now non-existent Telangana Political Joint Action Committee, mooted the idea of fielding the kin of the so-called “Telangana martyrs” in at least some constituencies in the by-elections to showcase their commitment to the statehood cause. Now, the TDP is planning to beat the TRS in its game by fielding such persons particularly in constituencies like Siddipet, according to party sources. The BJP will re-nominate Lakshminarayana for the Nizamabad (Urban) seat and will not contest other seats. Lakshminarayana was one of the two BJP MLAs elected in 2009 but quit over the statehood issue. He will be facing PCC chief D Srinivas again in Nizamabad while the TDP is nominating a Muslim candidate Aleem. The Praja Rajyam Party has decided not to contest the by-polls. The PRP has been reduced to nothing by changing its stand in favour of a unified Andhra Pradesh. Even when it supported the cause of “Social Telangana” in 2009, it could win only two seats in the region and both the MLAs are now out of the party. Given the strong antagonism it faces in the region, the PRP decided to stay away from the fight. The real fight begins once the poll notification is issued on July 2.

Chaos in Andhra Pradesh Congress

DESARAJU SURYA
HYDERABAD: Chaos is ruling the roost in the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh these days – for the first time in six years.
Members of Parliament are attacking state Ministers, junior MLAs are trying to take on their seniors while the latter are hitting back with equal vigour. Legislators eyeing a berth in the state Cabinet are sulking as Chief Minister K Rosaiah appears in no hurry to take up the expansion exercise in the immediate future.
The only ones who are left exuberant right now are the state ministers who have fallen in line and are singing paeans of the Chief Minister, what with the Cabinet expansion\reshuffle put on the backburner giving them “job security.”
Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy may have put off his planned “Odarpu Yatra” in Warangal district from May 28 to console over 70 families whose members allegedly died either due to heartbreak or committed suicide following the death of his father and late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in September last.
But it has left the Congress bruised as the not only the party’s state leadership but also the “high command” were left totally embarrassed because of the violence it caused when an adamant Jagan sought to defy the party directive and go ahead with the tour.
Though the Congress high command is now talking tough over the issue, it is not in a position to take any action against the first-time MP.
The current mess in the AP Congress started with Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao petitioning AICC chief Sonia Gandhi early this month against “corrupt ministers” in Rosaiah’s Cabinet and seeking their immediate expulsion. His prime target was state Major Industries Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, his bête noire in the district, and this led to a war of words and challenges and counter-challenges between the two.
Following in Rayapati’s footsteps, Kurnool MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy targeted his district minister C Silpa Mohan Reddy alleging that the latter was working hand-in-glove with the opposition Telugu Desam Party, thereby weakening the Congress in the district. Kotla also levelled allegations of corruption against Silpa Mohan.
Even before these two episodes ended, senior MLAs J C Diwakar Reddy, D L Ravindra Reddy and P Shanker Rao – all eyeing berths in the Cabinet – openly demanded that the Chief Minister “review” the so-called welfare schemes launched by his predecessor YSR in view of the precarious financial health of the state.
Three MLAs from Kadapa, owing allegiance to Y S Jagan, warned of consequences if the welfare schemes were withdrawn or watered down on the pretext of financial crunch. They even went to the extent of threatening to take on even the Prime Minister and the AICC president if they committed any mistake.
This left not only the senior leaders red-faced but also the Chief Minister and the Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas, who rushed to the party high command with “proof” of the Jagan camp’s loud-mouthed outbursts.
The senior legislators and many other party leaders demanded that the three MLAs be expelled from the party forthwith for having the temerity to speak against Sonia Gandhi.
Interestingly, neither the Chief Minister nor the PCC president reacted openly when the Kadapa MP himself issued flagrant warnings against moves to withdraw any of the welfare schemes initiated by his father when he was Chief Minister.
PCC chief D Srinivas' silence on anti-party activities by senior Congressmen and his eagerness to enter the Rajya Sabha have emboldened many a Congress leader in the state to take a dig either at his rival within the party or criticise the Rosaiah government only to keep their ilk in the party happy.
All said and done, the Congress party in the state is passing through a serious phase of gross indiscipline because the high command is not in a position either to displease the Jagan camp or the anti-Jagan camp.
Now, everyone is looking towards New Delhi for the AICC to “first react and then act” to set the party house in order in Andhra Pradesh.

National Institute of Urban Management to come up in Hyderabad

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Hyderabad will soon be home for yet another prestigious national institute, the National Institute of Urban Management (NIUM).
NIUM will be developed as a world-class institute jointly by the Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh on a 20-acre site at Khanamet village in Ranga Reddy district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.
“NIUM will be a premier institute for training urban managers in tune with the growing challenges of urbanization,” state Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy said.
The key objective of the institute will be to provide policy prescriptions, innovations for better urban governance, information and training inputs to all those concerned with improving living conditions and quality of life for urban citizens.
While the GoI would contribute Rs 50 crore, the state government would spend Rs 15 crore for building the NIUM and setting up the training facilities in the first year. “The World Bank will contribute another Rs 20 crore for the project,” the Minister added.
The state Cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister K Rosaiah, approved a proposal to allocate 20 acres of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority land at Khanamet free-of-cost for the NIUM.
World-class infrastructure for training urban managers, hostels, modern computer labs, library and other infrastructure would be developed on the campus.
Currently, the National Institute of Urban Affairs is being run as an autonomous institution in New Delhi with the support of the Union Ministry of Urban Development. It is a premier institute for urban policy research, training and information dissemination in urban development and management.
“NIUM is the first national-level institute being set up by government to train urban managers from across the country,” Ramanarayana Reddy said.
The state government will communicate the land allocation particulars to the Union Ministry of Urban Development after which the latter will start building the facility.

Repositioning Hyderabad on the IT map

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Hyderabad is trying to “reposition” itself as a preferred destination for investments in Information Technology as the sector is showing signs of gradual recovery after a gap of over two years.
The Information and Communication Technology Department of Andhra Pradesh has sought to forge a partnership with the sector’s apex body Nasscom to help Hyderabad, and also the state, in the repositioning effort.
Members of Nasscom’s executive council, led by its (past) president Som Mittal, held a meeting with state IT Principal Secretary K Ratna Prabha here the other day and discussed the initiatives aimed at repositioning Hyderabad as a preferred destination for IT investments.
“First it was the global economic meltdown that cast a spell on the IT sector in Hyderabad. Next, the political turmoil in the state over the demand for and against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh caused a severe dent to Hyderabad’s image, thereby adversely affecting the IT sector’s growth. Hence the need for repositioning Hyderabad on the world IT map,” a senior official in the ICT Department said after the meeting.
While the ICT Department is about to announce the state’s new IT Policy for 2010-15, Nasscom has been requested to prepare a road map for promoting animation industry as well as engineering services as a new vertical in the IT sector.
The state government and Nasscom will work on policy measures for attracting engineering services companies in Andhra Pradesh with special incentives package. The policy measures will also include creation of Product Testing Laboratories for mission-critical operations.
Given the huge potential for graphics and special effects particularly in the Telugu film industry, the state government intends to work closely with Nasscom for promoting animation industry in Andhra Pradesh. “We want Hyderabad to emerge as a Centre of Excellence in the field of animation on par with Mumbai,” the IT official said.
Mittal, while promising full support to the state government’s initiatives, said the IT sector would continue to grow in the state, the current political turmoil notwithstanding.
The Nasscom chief also appreciated bringing the IT industry under the purview of Essential Services Maintenance Act and said it would provide the needed safety cover and enable 24x7 seamless operations in the state.

Biometric attendance for AP students

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Students in Andhra Pradesh pursuing professional and non-professional education will soon have to mark their attendance in their respective institutions in the biometric mode.
The State Department of Higher Education (DHE) has prepared a plan to introduce the biometric attendance system in all professional and non-professional educational institutions from the next academic year with a view to “improve the performance of students.”
Also, the state government wants to ensure that the total fee reimbursement scheme, which it has been implementing for the past two years, becomes foolproof with the introduction of biometric attendance system, according to state Minister for Higher Education D Sridhar Babu.
“Biometric attendance is a unique system being introduced for the first time anywhere in the country. This will ensure regular attendance of students to colleges and improve their academic performance,” Sridhar Babu said.
Biometric attendance was part of the “reform measures and policy initiatives” introduced by his department to shape-up higher education in Andhra Pradesh, the Minister added.
The state government has earmarked a sum of Rs 2278 crore in the 2010-11 budget towards post-matric scholarships and tuition fee to “all eligible students of SC, ST, BC, Economically-Backward Class, Minorities and also disabled” whose family income is less than Rs one lakh per annum.
There were allegations in the last two years that the fee reimbursement benefit was not actually reaching all eligible students with some college managements siphoning off funds using fictitious names.
In fact, the Chief Minister’s Office received many such complaints against non-reimbursement of tuition fee, particularly for some eligible engineering students.
The government then thought of introducing the biometric attendance system as a foolproof measure to check such misappropriation of funds and also ensure prompt attendance of students, official sources said.
The DHE has already introduced a “students’ attendance monitoring system” at the Plus-2 (Intermediate) level in the state to “strengthen and improve academic standards” and also streamline the functioning of public-funded institutions, Sridhar Babu said.
“We have abolished the shift system in junior colleges which has resulted in increase of teaching hours and working days while we are also conducting daily study hours to improve the education standards,” the Minister added.
From the 2010-11 academic year, a common academic calendar is also being brought into force for all universities and colleges in the state.
“The objective of our reforms programme is to produce quality human resources to the society,” Sridhar Babu noted.

Sania Mirza: Shoaib Malik's Wife-2

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: It's official now: Indian tennis star Sania Mirza will only be the "second wife" of Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik. As per the Hanafi school of Islamic tradition, Sania becomes the second wife of Malik as he has divorced his “first wife” Ayesha Siddiqui. “Irrespective of whether they were married or not, Ayesha naturally became Malik’s first wife now that he had divorced her. This makes Sania Malik’s second wife as per Hanafi tradition,” Major G M Qadri, who was one of the mediators in the Ayesha-Malik divorce deal, pointed out. Both the Siddiquis and the Maliks follow the Hanafi tradition. Meanwhile, there is intense speculation that a “huge sum” was offered by Malik to Ayesha to end their marriage in a “cordial” manner. “The official (maintenance) amount is just Rs 15,000 but you should suffix many more zeros to it to count the actual ‘settlement’ sum,” a ‘family friend’ of Siddiquis claimed. Rumours that did the rounds at Congress leader Abid Rasool Khan’s residence, where the divorce was officially announced to media, indicated that Ayesha was offered a staggering Rs 15 crore to “settle” the case.

Software exports from Hyderabad take a big plunge

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: After witnessing quantum jumps year-over-year, software exports from Andhra Pradesh nosedived drastically in the financial year 2009-10, registering a sharp 40 per cent drop as compared to the previous year.
As per the figures presented to the state Legislative Assembly in the just-concluded Budget session, software exports turnover stood at Rs 22,000 crore in 2009-10 as against Rs 32,509 crore in 2008-09.
Significantly, a whopping 25,000 new jobs were created in the Information Technology sector in the state in 2009-10 compared to just 12,786 the previous year.
“While the IT sector as a whole looked robust, exports seemed to have tumbled because of various factors like the Satyam fiasco, global economic recession and of course the political turmoil in the state in the last few months. The impact of Satyam saga on the IT sector in Andhra Pradesh in particular could not be undermined,” a top official of the state Information and Communications Technology Department pointed out.
The Information Technology and Services Industry Association of AP (formerly Hyderabad Software Exporters’ Association), however, is not ready to take the government claims on face value and at the same time is also not willing speak anything on record.
A senior office-bearer of ITsAP said software export revenues were expected to remain “flat” in 2009-10 and touch the same figure as in 2008-09.
“The software export revenues were expected to remain flat because of the economic slowdown but we don’t expect them to fall so drastically,” he added.
In fact, ITsAP initially projected a growth in software exports from AP by 10 to 12 per cent in 2009-10 going by the Rs 12,000 crore business achieved at the end of the second quarter of the fiscal. That projection now turned out to be a far-fetched optimism.
AP’s software growth story had actually been remarkable. From just Rs 284 crore in 1997-98, software exports touched Rs 32,509 crore in 2008-09, peaking from Rs 3,668 crore (in 2002-03), Rs 5,025 crore (2003-04), Rs 8,270 crore (2004-05), Rs 12,521 crore (2005-06), Rs 18,582 crore (2006-07) and Rs 26,122 crore (2007-08).
The IT sector also grew exponentially over the years starting with 8,700 employees in 1997-98 to 2,51,786 in 2008-09.
Andhra Pradesh also has the highest number (57) of IT Special Economic Zones approved in the country of which 43 have already been notified.
“By February, 2010, 15 notified SEZs have become operational creating employment for 24,030 IT professionals. With the IT sector expanding to Tier-II cities like Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada, we expect software exports to pick up once again in 2010-11,” a top official of ICT Department said.
Both the government and the ITsAP now project software exports to touch Rs 50,000 crore over the next two years.

MPLADS: Squandering of public money

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The Comptroller and Auditor General has detected large scale irregularities in the utilization of funds under the MP’s Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) in Andhra Pradesh.
“The monetary value of various irregularities\deficiencies in the implementation of MPLADS worked out to Rs 70.29 crore between 2003-04 and 2008-09 financial years. The irregularities include non-completion of works, diversion of funds, irregular payments, etc.,” the CAG said in its report (civil) for the year ended March 31, 2009, tabled in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly.
While works taken up under MPLADS have to be completed within one year, as many as 2,657 works taken up between 2003-04 and 2006-07 still remain incomplete. A sum of Rs 9.07 crore was already spent on these unfinished works.
Similarly, 1360 works sanctioned during the same period at a cost of Rs 23.37 crore were not even started, resulting in locking up of funds, the CAG report pointed out.
In respect of Lok Sabha members, a sum of Rs 1.90 crore was not passed on to the successor MPs in Vizianagaram and West Godavari districts and it thus remained unspent as of January 2009. In case of Rajya Sabha members from the state, the amount was Rs 75 lakh.
In Machilipatnam Lok Sabha constituency, 14 works worth Rs 33 lakh were sanctioned by the district Collector in 2006-07 on the recommendation of an officer in charge though the MP concerned did not recommend them. Utilisation certificates were not submitted in respect of works worth Rs 3.85 crore in Vizianagaram, Guntur and Prakasam districts, the report said.
The report also noted that monitoring of the MPLADS works by the Chief Planning Officers was poor while there was also no proper accounting and monitoring system for effective implementation of the scheme.

How YSR favoured "Satyam" Raju: The CAG view

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: The Congress government in Andhra Pradesh, headed by the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, doled out “undue benefit” to the tune of Rs 165.75 crore to erstwhile Satyam Computers Limited by allotting 50 acres of prime land at a throwaway price.
The Comptroller and Auditor General, in its latest report submitted to the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, while castigating the Congress government on this land deal, observed: “This transaction was violative of the constitutional provisions of equality of opportunity and did not meet the requirement of transparency.”
The state government allotted 50 acres of land to Satyam Computers near Visakhapatnam in December 2008 at a concessional rate of Rs 10 lakh per acre. Satyam was actually entitled to get only 7.5 acres at concessional rate and the rest at market value (Rs 4 crore to 4.55 crore an acre).
“As against Rs 170 crore payable, Satyam paid a meager amount of Rs 4.25 crore. The allotment of land in excess of the limits prescribed in the Information and Communications Technology Policy resulted in an undue benefit of at least Rs 165.75 crore to the company,” the CAG said in the report.
The CAG also found fault with the Rajasekhara Reddy administration over awarding the work related to development of Machilipatnam Port to Maytas-led consortium, which caused a financial liability of Rs 335 crore on the government.
The port was originally proposed to be developed at Gogileru but later the location was shifted to Gilakaladinne. “The government failed to insist on financial bids for both the locations. The additional cost of Rs 335 crore claimed by the consortium suffers from a major deficiency of vitiating the tender process in that the port was to be developed on a revenue-sharing basis with zero investment by the government. Acceptance of the bid from the firm was objectionable as it did not submit any bid originally for Gilakaladinne,” the CAG noted.
But the government not only agreed to the payment of Rs 335 crore in January 2008 but also handed over 412.57 acres of land to the consortium in September 2008, the CAG added.

Rosaiah: Ill-at-ease but peaceful

Hyderabad: In the last five and a half months since he has become Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Konijeti Rosaiah has been ill-at-ease managing one crisis after the other.
Despite being a senior political leader, and one who had been a minister for many years in different governments, Rosaiah somehow has been appearing “helpless” ever since the turmoil over the state bifurcation issue broke out in December last.
“None may believe, but really I am peaceful,” Rosaiah remarked in an informal chat with newsmen.
On the suggestion that he was sounding alike his predecessor Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who too took things lightly, Rosaiah observed: “I am unlike him. He was young and had a different style of functioning.”
Referring to the ongoing crisis over the separate Telangana statehood demand, the Chief Minister said: “It is an issue that is not in my hands. So, I am not unduly perturbed.”
Rosaiah said there were a lot of issues where “we have to apply our mind.”
“Our main concern is the implementation of various welfare schemes. Besides, there are other issues like power supply which we should take care of,” he added.
Rosaiah, however, expressed concern over the way the state Legislature was functioning. “Over 50 per cent of the MLAs, from all parties, are youngsters. They are feeling irksome over the conduct of the House,” he pointed out.
The Chief Minister denied he was repeatedly “warning” his Cabinet colleagues about the threat of President’s rule being imposed in the state and also about the “collective responsibility.”
“You people write anything in the media. Two days ago one television channel ran a story that I had submitted my resignation. Yesterday someone else published a story that I sent a letter to Sonia Gandhi saying I can’t run the government anymore. Today someone wrote that the Legislative Council will be abolished,” Rosaiah pointed out and only laughed at such reports.
The Chief Minister hoped there would be no problem in getting state Budget for the year 2010-11 passed in the Legislature.

AP's Fab City is gone

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh’s dream project, the Fab City is gone. The state government issued orders for resumption of 78 acres of land allotted to SemIndia Fab Pvt Ltd as it “failed to fulfill any of the obligations in bringing investment and creating employment” at the proposed Fab City near Hyderabad. Andhra Pradesh wanted to emerge as the largest cluster of semiconductor manufacturing and entered into a memorandum of understanding with SemIndia Fab Pvt Ltd as the anchor industry. It was allotted 100 acres of land in 2007 as an investment of 75 million USD was promised in the first phase for an assembling, testing, marketing and packing plant (ATMP) with an employment potential of 2,000 within 18 months. In the second phase, an investment of 750 million USD was promised for setting up semiconductor chip manufacturing facilities with an employment potential of 1,000. The third phase plan was for an investment of 2.25 billion USD for an advanced semiconductor plant with employment potential of 5,000.
State Industries Principal Secretary B Sam Bob noted that SemIndia Fab failed to implement the project within the timelines as stipulated in the MoU. Sem India, in reply to a notice issued by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, the nodal agency for implementing the Fab City project, stated that it spent only about 55 crore on the project so far, including construction of a building. “Thus, admittedly, there is violation of terms and conditions of the orders issued by the government and it was not rectified in spite of intimations from the APIIC /Fab City SPV (India) Ltd,” Sam Bob pointed out. SemIndia Fab Pvt Ltd informed APIIC, in reply to a show-cause notice, that the recent financial crisis has impacted all major companies globally, including the Semiconductor and Electronics Systems-related companies, and it would be rather difficult for new green filed projects like theirs to implement projects as per the planned schedule. Accordingly, the Board of Fab City SPV (India) Limited decided to resume 78 acres of land from SemIndia Fab and also fix December 2010 as the deadline for implementation of the project in the reduced extent of 22 acres. The state government today granted permission to APIIC to resume the land. With the Fab project gone, four clean technology companies -- Solar Semiconductor, KSK Energy Venture Limited, XL Telecom and Energy Limited and Surana Ventures Limited – are currently setting up solar cells and photovoltaic modules manufacturing facilities.

Information Technology Investment Region in Andhra Pradesh

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh, which is already a leading state in Information Technology and Information Technology-Enabled Services sectors, will develop an Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) over 50,000 acres of land around Hyderabad.
The massive 25-year plan is aimed at attracting an investment of Rs 2.19 lakh crore in the IT\ITES sectors and create direct employment for 15 lakh youths.
Besides, it also holds promise for an indirect employment for 53 lakh persons.
State Chief Minister K Rosaiah recently approved the ITIR plan and it has been sent to the Government of India for sanctioning. AP will be the first state in the country to have an ITIR.
The ITIR would come up around Gachibowli, Mamidipalli and Maheshwaram areas in an extent of 50,000 acres spread over 200 sq km.
“The ITIR will enable us to step up our IT exports to Rs 2.35 lakh crore in the next 25 years,” according to the state IT Minister.
The state government would also like to develop a similar ITIR at Visakhapatnam. “We will plan it after the Hyderabad ITIR gets sanctioned by the Center,” the minister said.
There was some setback to the state government efforts to develop IT industry in Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns and cities like Warangal and Tirupati because of the global recession. “The recession has blocked some companies from coming to the state to set up shop here. But now things are looking up and we will go ahead with our plans,” he added.
“We already have many major IT companies with their Indian headquarters in Hyderabad. The US-based United Health Group has also started its Indian headquarters in Hyderabad recently,” the minister pointed out.
The state will also have a new Information Technology Policy in place. The existing policy, which came into force in 2005, would end in March 2010.

P V Narasimha Rao's plan on Ram Temple at Ayodhya

DESARAJU SURYA
Hyderabad: Former Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao had done a lot of ground work for constructing the Ram temple at Ayodhya but he could not carry his mission forward as he lost power in the 1996 general elections.
For two years, Narasimha Rao – with the help of his close aides – meticulously planned to cobble together an apolitical ‘trust’ to take up the task of Ram temple construction at Ayodhya but political demands ahead of the impending general elections did not let him realize his goal, retired IAS officer and PV’s confidant P V R K Prasad revealed in a Telugu book “Asalu Emi Jarigindante” (What Actually Happened) that was released last week.
Prasad, an IAS officer of 1966 batch, was an additional secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office and Information Adviser to P V Narasimha Rao. He had a long-standing association with Narasimha Rao ever since the latter’s stint as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 1971.
The former Prime Minister, according to Prasad, felt the Ram temple could be constructed only after the case in the (Supreme) court got resolved or if Hindus and Muslims sat and discussed together and arrived at an amicable decision.
Forming the apolitical Ram Temple Trust – comprising heads of various Hindu mutts and religious bodies from across the country – was one of the hardest political gambles that Narasimha Rao, known as the apara Chanakya, had to play to checkmate the Congress’ biggest political rival Bharatiya Janata Party on the Ayodhya issue.
“They (BJP) say they will build the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Is Lord Rama their own,” PV questioned, even as he was immersed in deep thoughts over the temple issue, Prasad recollects in his book.
To counter the BJP on the temple issue, PV came up with an “amazingly new strategy,” Prasad points out, saying the then Prime Minister wanted the Ram temple constructed through an apolitical trust, excluding the Viswa Hindu Parishad, with full support of the Government of India.
“There is only one solution…. we have to form a totally representative apolitical committee with heads of various Hindu mutts and religious bodies and entrust the temple construction task to it,” Prasad quoted PV as saying.
The main intention behind this was to counter the BJP’s “Ram temple construction agenda” ahead of the polls to four northern states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan) and gain political mileage.
“Rama is Hindus’ most revered God. Is he BJP’s own? What’s their campaign? We can compete with the BJP but how can we do so with Rama,” were the questions that bothered PV, Prasad recalls.
“He (PV) knew that the BJP and the VHP would oppose the formation of any trust without their involvement and they would bring pressure on the mutt heads not to join that. Hence he wanted to make it look like the mutt heads themselves were taking the initiative,” Prasad noted.
“PV wanted me to convey to the mutt heads and religious leaders that the government would support them fully and not others (read VHP). The VHP is not a totally representative committee and has been branded as anti-Muslim. It was thus impending constructive efforts to take up the temple construction. Hence the apolitical trust,” Prasad explained.
Besides, P V R K Prasad, former Union Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra and an IPS officer Kunal Kishore from Bihar were part of the team that did the work from behind the scenes to bring the Hindu mutt heads together and join the trust. The then Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Digvijay Singh too played his part while at one stage they also had to take the help of controversial ‘godman’ Chandraswamy to prevail upon some Ayodhya-based religious leaders to join the trust.
Once the trust took shape and was registered after two years of hectic efforts, PV expressed confidence that the Ram temple would be constructed without any objections and criticism.
But somehow, the first meeting of the trust towards the end of 1995 did not happen “because of some problem,” Prasad says.
By then it was early 1996 and the country was gripped by election fever. “As Prime Minister and All India Congress Committee president, PV became busy drafting political strategies and counter-strategies. One day, I mustered courage and raised the Ayodhya temple issue with him. He told me that any move during the election time will lead to adverse implications,” Prasad says.
“Wait till the elections are over. We shall come back to power and we shall start the temple work then,” Prasad quoted PV as remarking.
“That’s it. Our hard toil and hectic efforts for two years in persuading the Hindu mutt heads and religious leaders…. (went in vain),” Prasad laments.