Chiranjeevi claims he is greater than NTR

BY J.R.PRASAD
Jan. 19: Drawing a parallel between the legendary Telugu film actor, N.T. Rama Rao and himself, the Praja Rajyam president Chiranjeevi on Monday claimed that he had more clout among the people than NTR.
Even though the PR failed to create departments in the party’s state committee due to non-availability of suitable leaders, Chiranjeevi claimed that he broke NTR’s record in constituting party committees.
“NTR set up party committees only after he came to power. We have done it before the elections. Leaders in our party are vying with each other for party posts as they are enthusiastic to serve the people. It indicates that the PR has more clout among the people,” Chiranjeevi said while addressing the PR district committees’ convention at the Shilpakala Vedika in Hyderabad on Monday. Chiranjeevi asked his cadre to constitute booth level committees and village level committees as it is crucial to transform public response into votes in the ensuing elections.
However, the PR chief failed to clarify queries posed by party leaders on how the PR will bring about change and how it will be different from other parties. He also did not clarify how the PR will uplfit the downtrodden.

TD, PR try hard to woo BSP

By J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad Jan. 11: Even before the election campaign has begun, the Telugu Desam and the Praja Rajyam have intensified their efforts to attract allies to their side. After the Left parties and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, the Bahujan Samaj Party is the most sought after party for the Telugu Desam and the PR to improve their prospects of winning the general elections. The PR chief, Chiranjeevi, on Sunday said his party was ready to ally with the BSP for the general elections. Interestingly, the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, had spoken to Mayawati on Sunday over phone. According to the PR leaders, after his unsuccessful attempts to persuade the TRS for a pre-poll alliance, the PR chief has intensified efforts to forge an alliance with the BSP which is identified with the dalits and downtrodden classes.

“If we can clinch an alliance with the BSP, our Backward Classes slogan would get a boost and the PR’s winning prospects will be enhanced further,” said a close aide of Chiranjeevi. However, party insiders doubted the possibility of an alliance with the BSP as Chiranjeevi already turned down a request from the BSP chief Mayawati much before the PR was launched. There are rumours that the PR top brass, which is apparently maintaining a secret alliance with the BJP is now trying to attract the BSP to its side to create a favourable ground for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance to come to power after the elections.

On the other hand, the TD is also trying to get the BSP to field its candidates in every Assembly constituency in the coming polls to eat into the traditional Congress vote bank. When reminded about Chiranjeevi’s intention to join hands with the BSP, the TD senior leader and the MLC, Mr D. Veerabhadra Rao took it lightly. “The PR leadership tried to forge an alliance with the Left parties and the TRS. That had failed. The TD succeeded in setting up a grand alliance with those parties. We are sure that the same will happen at the national level,” he said. He also disclosed that the TD president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu is in touch with the BSP chief over alliances. Meanwhile, the four-day tour of Chiranjeevi in Prakasam district concluded at Parchur.

Chiru doles out power incentive

BY J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s estate in Idupulapaya village will get 50 percent concession on domestic power tariff if the Praja Rajyam comes to power. Apart from that, the native homes of the Telugu Desam chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu at Naravaripalli, and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, at Chintamadaka will also get this benefit.

The PR chief Chiranjeevi on Tuesday announced that his party would supply domestic power at 50 per cent discount to all villagers including landlords across the state if the PR was voted to power. “The 50 per cent subsidy will be borne by the government,” he added. The PR chief also promised that apart from continuing the “free power” to farmers, the facility will be extended to powerlooms, salons and other shops being run by artisans like weavers, goldsmiths, carpenters and barbers across the state including those who live in urban areas.

When asked to clarify about his earlier resistance to populist schemes, Chiranjeevi replied: “People in the state are not in a position even to celebrate festivals because of rising prices. The government is not taking any measures so that essential commodities are affordable.” He said that his “50 per cent tariff” scheme would be beneficial to 1.75 crore households in the state. The PR chief did not clarify how he would offset the additional burden on the exchequer.

Chiru Rajyam needs chiefs

BY J.R.PRASAD

Hyderabad Jan. 17: The Praja Rajyam is desperately in search of leaders to fill key posts in the party’s state committee. The posts of vice-president and two general secretaries are lying vacant in the newly formed state committee. “We are scouting for suitable leaders to fill them,” said the Praja Rajyam spokesperson, Mr P. Mitra. “We will fill them soon.” Several other wings in the state committee were also not constituted despite the promise by the Praja Rajyam chief, Chiranjeevi, that the entire state committee would be unveiled on Saturday. Majority of the posts have been filled up with Chiranjeevi’s “yes-men”.

For instance, the general secretary of the committee for administration is Mr Allu Aravind, the producer brother-in-law of Chiranjeevi. Another general secretary is Mr Aravind’s family friend, Mr Parakala Prabhakar. The party’s treasurer is Mr C. Nagaraju, another aide of Mr Aravind who looks after his film production house, Geeta Arts. Mr K. Kannababu, former journalist, who is now looking after the day-to-day activities of Chiranjeevi, has been made the general secretary for coordination and public relations.
A realtor and family friend of Chiranjeevi, Mr Srinath, has been made the secretary of the party president and Mr T.Chandrasekhar, a former IAS officer and another close aide of Chiranjeevi, was appointed chairman of the infrastructure wing.

Mr M. Sattibabu and Mr Kumar Koneru, loyalists of Chiranjeevi, were also accommodated in this committee. Out of the nine persons in the committee, six persons are from the Kapu community, to which Chiranjeevi belongs. The Praja Rajyam chief’s oft repeated slogan of “social justice” has been ignored in the formation of the committee. Representation of women is also meagre. There is no woman leader in highest decision making body, the political affairs committee.

Dollar dreams turn sour for city students

Hyderabad, Jan. 2o: In a state like ours, where every family could boast of at least one member studying in the US, UK or Australia, recession has changed everything. The situation is grim for many city students who are pursuing their MS, MBA or PHD abroad and are finding it difficult to find work there. Their dollar dreams have turned sour with many even unable to bag odd jobs to pay off their tuition fees. Moreover, with no promise of a job back home in India, these students are feeling stranded.
Lured by the “one-year work permit,” many students started applying for overseas education. But for most who haven’t found a job, even with that one year coming to an end, the future looks bleak. K. Phaninder, a student studying his MS Biotechnology at New Mexico State University, says, “There are no jobs here. If we don’t manage to get placed within a year after graduation, we will be forced to come back to India. After spending a fortune and taking a loan to support my course fees, it hurts to come back. Even if I do get a job in India, it’ll take forever for me to repay the loan.”
Hyderabadi students in the UK too have the same sorry tale to tell with a new rule being introduced. Unlike before, where students could stay back for a year to find a job, students are now being asked to go back to their homeland, apply for a work visa from there. Only if they do manage to get a job, they are allowed to come back. This rule has made it all the more difficult for Indian students, who have to wait for months before they even hear a word from prospective employers.
“There is a shortage of jobs in the UK and most of my seniors are still unemployed,” exclaims Abhilash David, a student from the city pursuing his Masters in Cardiff University, UK. “Some are even forced to take up door to door marketing. Most students who have completed their MBA this year still don’t have permanent, professional jobs. They are surviving with jobs in restaurants or departmental stores,” he adds.
Australia, which emerged as the hottest educational destination, has gotten stricter than ever. With locals themselves struggling for jobs, the government has made it mandatory for overseas students to return to their home countries and apply for jobs. “It has been six months since I finished my course and I am still looking for a job. Students who will pass out this year will have to go back to India. Fortunately, the old rule applies for my batch,” says Sreelekha P., who finished her masters from NSWU, Sydney.
Consultancies in the city too have a word of caution for students who want to study abroad. Kaval Preet Singh, executive director of Vings Consultancy says, “We explain the situation in US and UK to the students clearly before they apply. We tell them not to have too many expectations in the current situation. Only after we have given them the necessary statutory warning and brief them about new rules, we continue with the application processes.”
Many consultancies are trying to stem down the tide of rising panic. “We tell students that this grim situation will not remain the same for long. As there aren’t many jobs here in India too, it makes sense for them to earn a masters degree which will make them more employable and come back,” says V. Balakrishna from Ace Consultancy.

Greatness is earned

Following is the prepared text of President-elect Barack Obama’s Inaugu-ral Address, as provided by the Presidential Inaugural Committee:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms. At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebearers, and true to our founding documents.
So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.
That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.
These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.
Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.
On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.
On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.
For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of a new life.
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and ploughed the hard earth.
For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.
Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jos, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.
Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.
What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programmes will end. And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.
As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.
Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.
We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.
For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.
To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.
As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honour them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.
Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.
This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.
This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.
So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America’s birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:
“Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it].”
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

KCR ducks Mahakutami

Hyderabad, Jan. 20: The “Mahakutami” (Grand Alliance), led by the Telugu Desam has hit a road block just ahead of its formation with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti demanding its share of seats to the Assembly and Lok Sabha.
The Grand Alliance was supposed to have been announced on Wednesday during the Vishwa Shanti Yagam organised by the TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao at the Telangana Bhavan.
There was no word from either the TRS office or the Telugu Desam office on the formation of the Grand Alliance.
Sources in the TRS and the TD said the parties were caught in a deadlock on the issue of seat sharing.
“It’s a fact that the seat sharing issue has become a tricky affair. But, there is still the night and the morning to decide. Maybe the issue can be settled and announced on Wednesday,” the TRS spokesman, Mr Jagdish Reddy, told this newspaper late on Tuesday.
The TRS president reportedly sought seats in tune with his lucky number six. He sought 51 Assembly and 9 Lok Sabha seats. The numbers add up to 60 and conforms to his lucky number six.
However, the Telugu Desam has reportedly offered 45 Assembly and 8 Lok Sabha seats.
“The discussion is still going on. Several alternatives are being proposed. At one stage, the TD offered 50:50 seats out of the seats which were remaining after allotting seats for the Left parties which have around 20 Assembly and one LS seat each,” sources in the Telugu Desam told this newspaper.
“The TRS began with 52 Assembly and 10 Lok Sabha seats.” he added.
A TRS spokesman, who initially said that the TD president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, CPI(M) general secretary, Mr B.V. Raghavulu, and the CPI general secretary, Mr K. Narayana, would attend the formal announcement of the alliance, later backtracked saying the programme was yet to be finalised. There was no word even after 10 pm on the issue.

Azharuddin to bat for Congress

Hyderabad, Jan. 20: Mohammad Azharuddin, the former Indian cr-icket team captain, will join the Congress and contest from a “prestigious” Lok Sabha seat either in Maha-rashtra or Uttar Pradesh.
Azharuddin met the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, last week and conveyed his willingness to contest on a Congress ticket.
The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, said Azharuddin had a close rapport with the Congress and confirmed that he would join the party. “He is friend of our chief whip, Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy,” Dr Reddy said.
“Both of them played some cricket matches also. We welcome Azharuddin.”
Azharuddin may not be able to contest from the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat, which is the fortress of the Congress ally MIM. Azharuddin opted for a seat outside AP.
Azharuddin had denied earlier reports that he might either join or campaign for the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), and contest as the mayoral candidate for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation.
This time, however, Azharuddin did not deny asking for a Congress ticket, saying merely that he had “nothing to say at the moment.”
Azharuddin runs an event management firm and a health club. He has largely kept a low profile since his exit from cricket.
Sources in the Congress said the party general secretary and AP-incharge, Mr Veerappa Moily, was in touch with Azharuddin and “talks are on to take him into the party and use his services in a nationwide campaign.”
The MIM responded cautiously to the development. “The beauty of democracy is that any Indian citizen can contest from any constituency,” said Mr Asaduddin Owaisi, MIM president and Hyderabad MP.
“People know the work done by me in Hyderabad constituency. Anybody is free to contest from any seat. I can’t pick and choose the candidates to contest against me,” Mr Owaisi told this correspondent.

CM, DS disagree on MLCs

By Our Correspondent
Hyderabad, Jan. 20: The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and the PCC chief, Dr Srinivas, are not in agreement on the MLCs who should be re-nominated to the Legislative Council in the ensuing elections to fill up 11 vacancies.
Earlier, Dr Reddy and Mr Srinivas had also spoken in different voices on the issue of separate Telangana.
Filing of nominations for the council polls began on Tuesday and would come to an end on January 27. All the 11 seats falling vacant are being held by the Congress.
Dr Reddy has decided to draw up the final list of candidates by sitting along with Mr Veerappa Moily, who is in charge of AP Congress affairs, and the PCC chief.
Both Dr Reddy and Mr Srinivas have decided to follow the AICC’s principle of renominating those retiring from Rajya Sabha in the council polls too.
However, they would have to make some hard choices as the Congress would only be able to return eight members. The Opposition combine of Telugu Desam, TRS, CPI and CPI(M) can win two seats comfortably. There will be a keen fight to win the remaining seat.
Also, the Cabinet has decided to send the senior minister, Mr K. Rosaiah to the Council this time. This means that the party will have to deny re-nomination to four of its retiring MLCs. Initially, Dr Reddy, thinking of making some of the retiring MLCs candidates in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls.
Mr Kanumuri Bapi Raju’s name was being proposed for Narsapur Lok Sabha segment and Mr Tippeswamy was being touted as the candidate for Hindupur Assembly segment.
However, MLCs from Telangana are interested in going back to the council.
“I met the Chief Minister seeking re-nomination and he promised to consider my case,” said Mr Palvai Govardhana Reddy.
Party sources said the Chief Minister’s camp was not happy with Mr K.R. Amos and Mr K. Yadava Reddy but their re-nomination is supported by PCC chief.

IT firms make empty promises

BY J.R.PRASAD
Hyderabad, Jan. 20: IT companies are yet to provide jobs to thousands of people in exchange for land allotted to them by the state government.
The government had allotted 2,000 acres to 62 IT companies between 2004 and 2008 on the promise that they would generate jobs for 3 lakh software professionals.
Every company should have constructed its buildings within 18 months from the day of allotment of land and provide agreed employment within three years, according to the memorandum of understanding reached between the government and the firms.
Only Microsoft has kept its word by setting up its office on the allotted land in Manikonda village and creating employment for 1,500 professionals.
The government had allotted 5.5 acres in 2005 and 7.05 acres in 2006 to MS.
Around 25 companies have not even laid foundation stones and 28 companies are still constructing their offices.
None of the 11 IT companies which were allotted land in Kokapet village in Ranga Reddy district have made any headway. Intelligroup Asia Pvt. Ltd (4 acres, 3,000 jobs), Patni Computer Systems Ltd. (24.4 acres, 9,900 jobs), Cognizant Technologies Solutions Pvt. Ltd (9.05 acres, 3,663 jobs) are still constructing their offices though all of them got their land in January 2006. The rest of the firms have done nothing including IT majors like Google and Genpact.
Google got 20 acres land to create 4,000 jobs in May 2007 and Genpact was allotted 50 acres of land to create 5,000 jobs in June 2007.
Twenty IT companies were allotted land in Hyderabad. But only L&T Infocity kept its word. It employed 3,576 people instead of 3,171 as it had promised.
Computer Associates (30.5 acres), Kanbay Software (15 acres), Sierra Atlantic Software (7.2 acres), Honeywell (10 acres) have completed the first phase of their projects. But eight companies including Wipro Technologies, Brahmani Infratech Private Ltd, Indu Techzone Private Ltd and Stargaze Properties Pvt. Ltd have not done anything substantial. They are only in the process of constructing their offices. Wipro was alloted 101.03 acres in October 2005 with an obligation to employ 10,000 people. Brahmani Infratech Private Ltd, Indu Techzone Private Ltd and Stargaze Properties Pvt. Ltd were given 250 acres each on their promise that they would hire 45,000 professionals each.
The situation is the same in Visakhapatnam and Warangal where 27 IT companies were allotted land. Asked about this, the minister for information technology and communications, Mr R. Damodar Reddy, said, “Some firms have sought more time to complete their projects in the wake of global meltdown.” He added that violators of rules will be dealt with firmly.

Laughter is the best Medicine

Researchers have found that laughter improves your mood, reduces anxiety, eases stress and adds years to your life. The best things in life may not be free, but there is one thing which can do wonders, and it costs nothing — laughter. The adage "laughter is the best medicine" holds very much true even today. Researchers have found that laughter improves your mood, reduces anxiety, eases stress, and is associated with creativity and emotional stability. Laughter helps lower blood pressure, adds years to your life and also helps one de-stress. So why not laugh all your worries away. A new study from the University of Maryland Medical Centre has shown that laughter, along with a healthy sense of humour is good for your heart. Researchers found that people with heart disease were 40 per cent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease. The study compared the humour responses of 300 people, 150 who had a history of heart disease either a heart attack or who had gone through a coronary artery bypass surgery. The other 150 participants were all healthy, age-matched adults who were free of heart disease. The participants in the study completed two questionnaires. The first measured the participants humour response in different situations. The second questionnaire had true/false questions that measure anger and hostility. The results of the study showed that people with heart disease are less likely to laugh in uncomfortable situations and were overall less likely to recognise humour. The participants with heart disease laughed less than the healthy participants, even in positive situations. "We don’t know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack," says Dr Michael Miller, MD, FACC, director of the Centre for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Centre. Says Dr Sunil Wadhwa, consultant physician and cardiologist, "During laughter, hormones are released in the body which relax the mind and body. There is decrease in hormones which produce stress hormones adrenaline and steroids. There is also release of hormones dopamine and serotonin, which provides us with a feeling of well-being." Dr Wadhwa adds, "There are several laughter clubs in India, even though it may be mechanical laughter, they help people distress and relax. Once there is decrease in stress hormones, there is reduction in diseases like heart problems, blood pressure and diabetes."

Beat hangover by drinking water

Q I am not a regular drinker, but if I have had a few large and strong drinks on one day, what is the best hangover remedy the next morning? A) Once alcohol is ingested you just have to give it time to let it clear from the blood. Therefore “time” along with “rest” and increased fluid intake is the best remedy according to me. But with mild intoxication drinking extra coffee and consuming spicy food like chilli sauce with a toast can increase alertness. If alcohol intake has been more and you want to prevent a hangover the next morning try drinking three glasses of water along with vitamin C 500mg, B12 1000mcg, one B vitamin with Zinc before going to bed. Repeat same procedure on waking up the next morning along with some strong black coffee. It may help you feel better, but as a rule avoid over drinking and don’t let alcohol turn into an addiction. Q My husband was a heavy drinker, but now he has given up drinking. However, he feels very weak and depressed all day. Is there any special food or supplements that I should be giving to help him recover quickly? A) Firstly, focus on fluids and alkaline foods. Liquids help to rehydrate the body and clear alcohol quickly. As nutrient deficiencies are found in heavy drinkers it is important to take multi-vitamin capsules with additional antioxidants like vitamin A, C, E and beta-cartone. Chromium helps in reducing sugar and alcohol cravings. Minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium should be taken to replenish the deficiency caused during the abuse and regain lost energy. Vitamin C is particularly helpful during the withdrawal phase. A minimum of 500-1000 mg of vitamin C should be taken 2-3 times a day. Liver tonics should be taken which helps protect and heal the liver. Essential fatty acids like gamma-linoleic acid found in evening primrose oil helps reduce discomfort during the withdrawal phase. About 30ml aloe-vera juice can be taken daily to soothe the digestive tract. Chamomile tea also helps to improve digestion and soothe frayed nerves. Drink fruit juices and vegetable juices to recover during the withdrawal phase. Avoid sweetened foods and junk foods to reduce load on digestion. With a balanced and nutritious diet, most individuals regain lost health. You’ll feel much better after detoxification, but do remember that though this reduces the toxic effects of alcohol abuse, it cannot eliminate it altogether.

Living through your children

When parents nurture leftover ambitions, they foist them on their children, causing them untold trauma and stress. In the process they end up ruining their lives, damaging their relationships and sometimes losing them forever. What’s most disturbing is that these children pay a heavy price for not having had the maturity or the courage (at a later stage) to firmly refuse their parents’ demands. “Had they insisted that the path chosen for them by their parents was certainly not the one they fancied, these children would have been saved the agony of feeling out of place all through their adult lives. Many parents push their hidden agendas through their children because they believe that it’s good for them. Parents often say ‘it’s for your good,’ which often isn’t,” says psychologist Dr Anjali Chabria. Narrating an incident Dr Chabria says, “A patient’s mother once came to me saying that her daughter has stopped reacting to anything and that she has gone into severe depression. When the mother narrated a story I understood that it was a typical case of mothers forcing their ambitions on their kids, which they were unable to fulfill. The patient’s mother was a junior artiste who had actually entered the film industry hoping to be a star. While it looked like she had resigned herself to her less fortunate fate, the fact was she had held on her dreams all along. When her daughter turned nine she got her a few bit roles. As she turned 14, the mother insisted that she wear make-up, high heels and padded bras, and visit producers’ offices. Her daughter got the first break through the ‘casting couch’. With the ruthless mother driving her daughter all through and making all decisions, she unknowingly made her daughter’s life miserable. A mother’s blind ambition led to her daughter’s miserable state.” A lot of young adults with psychological problems confess to being exploited by their over-ambitious parents. Many among them suffer from anxiety disorders with panic attacks, neurotic guilt and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Sujatha Menon, a teacher and a counselor from Vizag says, “I remember how my student Krishna Kumar was battling both obesity and depression. During counseling he talked about how he enjoyed swimming as a child. He shared that his troubles began the day when his father decided that Krishna had the ability to become a champion. That was the end of his joy of swimming. The early morning fitness regime and being timed while he did his laps became a nightmare as his father pushed him to try harder and harder.” Every medal he won only added to his woes. Angry and depressed, he resorted to comfort eating and had put on a lot of weight. His self-defeating lifestyle was a sort of revenge on his father. After a lot of counseling he recovered, but that was for his pleasure: but many are not so lucky. If parents were fully aware that their own desires and ambitions had the potential to push the children they claim to love in to such a crisis, what choices would they make? Would they hold back their desires and put their children’s desires ahead? Actor Mahima Choudhury says, “We parents are simply trustees of God’s children. We are supposed to nurture and unconditionally love them without dictating their lives. Every children have their special abilities which when actualised, will fulfill purpose of their life and give them satisfaction. Gifted children can excel when their talents are polished a bit.” Children need to be themselves to be able to live meaningful lives. Loving your children unconditionally means setting them free. Fashionista, Queeny Dhody says, “The trouble starts when parents try to push a moderately talented child into becoming a superstar. This leads to anger.”

A dictionary for women

Humour

Argument (ar*gyou*ment) n. — A discussion that occurs when you’re right, but he just hasn’t realized it yet. Airhead (er*hed) n. — What a woman intentionally becomes when pulled over by a policeman. Bar-be-que (bar*bi*q) n. — You bought the groceries, washed the lettuce, chopped the tomatoes, diced the onions, marinated the meat, and cleaned everything up, but he “made the dinner”. Childbirth (child*brth) n. — You get to go through 36 hours of contractions; he gets to hold your hand and say “focus...breathe....push....” Eternity (e*ter*ni*tee) n. — The last two minutes of a football game. Exercise (ex*er*siz) v. — To walk up and down a mall, occasionally resting to make a purchase. Grocery list (grow*ser*ee list) n. — What you spend half an hour writing, then forget to take with you to the store. Hair Dresser (hare dres*er) n. — Someone who is able to create a style you will never be able to duplicate again. See “Magician”. Lipstick (lip*stik) n. — On your lips, coloring to enhance the beauty of your mouth. On his collar, coloring only a tramp would wear...! Park (park) v./n. — Before children, a verb meaning “to go somewhere and neck.” After children, a noun meaning a place with a swing set and slide. Valentine’s Day (val*en*tinez dae) n. — A day when you have dreams of a candlelight dinner, but consider yourself lucky to get a card. Waterproof Mascara (wah*tr*pruf mas*kar*ah) n. — Comes off if you cry, shower, or swim.

Talk of the town

The Nizam jinx comes true again? Everyone felt 2008 was a bad year, little did they know 2009 will start on an even more dreadful note. The Satyam scam has not finished just the Rajus but many others who invested in their company. Rumour is a politician too has invested a lot of money in this fraud company. Ironically, when analysts say “only hardcore gamblers could have done what the Rajus did,” perhaps they do not know that the Raju brothers are “great gamblers.” While Ramalinga Raju quit playing cards, publically atleast, his younger brother Rama Raju still plays with a close set of friends. And their stakes are mind boggling. Venkatesh Roddam, Malli Raju and others who quit Satyam few months ago must be thanking their stars now. The Satyam Rajus and NCC Rajus paid a bomb for a property around KBR Park. They wanted to start a star hotel there. Now of course it doesn’t seem a possibility but the superstition “that anyone who dealt with the Nizam’s property has been wiped out” has come true in this case too. The NCC Rajus must seek divine help to remain untouched. All the Rajus seem to have incredible highs and lows. The first Raju family to make it really big was the Raasi cements promoter BVG Raju. Suddenly he sold his company, divided the property between himself and the three daughters. Then came the Nagarjuna Fertilisers Raju. His rise was mindboggling. Today he’s facing a jail sentence. The Siris Rajus too were very happening at one time. Not anymore.

Who, What, When, Where, and why

Who did Malini Alexander bring home recently? Turtle, a puppy dog. What were people dying to see at Tanya-Zubin’s engagement party? Tanya’s diamond ring. When Rama Raju and wife Sandhya walked into a party, everyone looked up to them in awe. Wonder whether it will be the same now? Cos when Global Trust Bank was doing well, Ramesh Gelli and his sons were quite sought after. Today, they look lost. Where was A photographed kissing a girl’s derriere recently? Some guys are seen behaving rather vulgarly at parties. They must learn from the T’wood brigade. They are equally game for a bit of fun, but never caught in photographs. Why is Raju Naik moving around with a bodyguard?

Don’t get disheartened

Grandma's advice

QMy parents don’t approve of my marriage with my girlfriend. I am 34 and run a successful business. I have been pressing for my marriage for the past two years and my parents don’t seem to take any interest. My two sisters are already married and I am the eldest in the family. When I told my parents that I love a girl who is employed and earning a good salary, they did not approve of it. The girl hails from our own community and there is no ground for my parents to disapprove this relationship. Under the circumstances, I got married in the registrar’s office about a fortnight back. Even at that time, I invited my parents to come and bless us. They did not turn up. I seek your advice. Dear man, You did the right thing by going ahead and marrying the girl of your choice. But you must realise that since your decision was not approved by your parents, they will obviously need time to accept your marriage. While it does appear very strange as to why your parents seemed so reluctant to get you married, it could be that they didn’t really approve of the girl but didn’t want to admit it. Or it could be their ego coming in their way of accepting the fact that you have found your own life partner. However, since you and your wife are mature adults and are financially independent, you must get on with your lives. Be patient and continue to win your parents over. You could also get your sisters to convince your parents into accepting your marriage. Don’t get disheartened, I’m pretty sure this problem will be resolved soon. Having problems with your marriage? Want to talk about it? Write to Grandma and take her advice. Letters must be addressed to: Grandma’s advice Lifestyle, 58,5th floor, H.M.Towers, Brigade Road, Bengaluru or email it to grandma@deccanmail.com

Bachchans-SRK cold war

The New Year could have brought about a thaw in the Bachchan-SRK relationship, well almost. Apparently, one of the biggest international luxury brand wanted to launch in India, and who better to promote their goodies than the King Khan and the perennial Queen of Bollywood, Ash. But given the frosty relationship between the two, the ad guys headed to Mannat to see if it was okay with the Badshaah to shoot this campaign with Ash. To everyone’s surprise SRK nodded in agreement. But only when technicalities were being sorted out, Ash figured that she was going to be paid almost half the price SRK was commanding. It didn’t take long for Ash to thumb down the offer, and the saga continues. In fact, if anything, things are expected to turn for the worse with SRK’s Billoo Barber and Abhishek’s Dilli 6 releasing on the same day at the box-office. With SRK movies already fixing up their release dates months in advance, it was up to Dilli 6 director Rakeysh Mehra to work out his release date accordingly. But Mehra refused to do so. SRK is said to be setting his machinery in full swing and his production company is ready to swamp the multiplexes with the prints of his film. And though Billoo Barber is a SRK production, it’s a know fact that he only has a cameo in the film. So Shah Rukh, the smart businessman that he is, has reduced his price for the project to make it more appealing to the distributors. Besides that, there are efforts already in motion from the SRK’s coterie of people to run down Abhishek’s film. The Bachchans are biding their time, watching SRK’s next move.

Rahman mania grips youngsters

Chennai It’s raining celebrations in the country, as maestro A.R. Rahman became India’s first recipient of the highly coveted Golden Globe award for best musical score for the film Slumdog Millionaire. And people of all ages, spanning all segments across the city are joining in the revelries of the win, which was cemented by three more awards for best director (Danny Boyle), best screenplay (Simon Beaufoy) and best drama. As Slumdog mania sweeps everyone off their feet, campuses seem to be the places where all the action is centred. Sofie Ashraf, a student of a popular girls college in the city says, “My entire class has been raving about Rahman’s win since we heard the news in the morning. The signature songs of the film O Saya and Jai Ho are being played on everyone’s cellphones, iPods and laptops. Anyone who hasn’t seen the film so far is rushing to his or her friend’s PC to get the movie and the soundtrack now.” And it’s quite confusing, as almost everyone in class has set the same songs as their ringtones. Ali Ahmed, a vendor at a grey market says, “I had opened my shop almost two hours in advance as we were bracing ourselves for an onslaught of Slumdog fans to throng the bazaar early on Monday morning. True to expectations, we sold all our copies by 11 am and we’re expecting more stocks in a day. It’s a joyous mood for everyone here as a musician from our country has won an honour of this magnitude.” Ramji M, a finance professional and an ardent fan of A.R.Rahman says that he’s waiting to catch the movie in theatres when it releases on January 23. “I haven’t yet heard the soundtrack but after seeing him win the Golden Globe, I’m really looking forward to hearing it,” he says. But if you thought all the action was restricted to the offline universe, you would be mistaken. On Monday morning, 50,000 users collectively shared the movie and music on Piratebay.org.

Like father, unlike son

It is natural for a youngster to follow his father’s footsteps, but the inspiration ends at the cricket field for Asaduddin, son of former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin. Once in it, the 18-year-old is contrastingly different from his dad — while Azhar relied on his silken strokes to win India many a battle, Asad is beginning to make a statement on the domestic arena by whacking the ball out of sight. His plan is clear, hammer on until you break into the slam-bang world of Indian Premier League, the second edition of which will begins on April 10. As an attempt at this, Asad has had a stint at the selection camp-I of Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens last week. He was part of the 45-odd talent pool that would be groomed for the future by the Kolkata franchise. In the couple of practice matches played, Asad was unfortunate to be run out once but made amends in the next to send the ball flying around much to the pleasure of the KKR team management, which included former Australian coach John Buchanan and ex-India captain Sourav Ganguly. Azhar wants to give his son some more time though. “He is a big hitter with a lot of power and talent but he needs to transform that into consistent performance… let’s wait and see,” he says. “He times the ball sweetly and can play any type of cricket though his strength and ability to play the big shots make him cut out for Twenty20 matches,” Azhar, who has been carefully fine-tuning his son’s skills, adds. Asad’s coaches at St John’s Cricket Academy, where he trains, see him going a long way, at least in the shortest version. “He’s a superb striker of the ball, makes good impact when he connects, is loaded with aggression and a fast learner. That should make him a very good prospect,” feels former Indian cricketer M.V. Narasimha Rao, an international coach who has managed the Ireland team as well. John Manoj, head coach of the Academy, observes: “He is nice and tall and positively aggressive. The free-flowing batting style makes him a delight to watch.” Asad is yet to play higher-grade cricket but has done well in the local ‘A’ Division league. The left-handed opener has hit four half-centuries in six innings so far this season for the East Marredpally Cricket Club. That’s a statistic that would motivate him to power on.

Sankranti is family time for celebs

From flying kites to enjoying a traditional family meal, Sankranti is all about the simple joys of life. Sindura Gadde, actor and ex-Miss India I was planning to go ahead with my shooting, but my mother insisted I come back home. And I’m glad she did. I have come to my native place, Vijaywada. My extended family is also present and Sankranti celebrations will bring all of us together. I am also participating in the pujas and I’m definitely going to gorge on the traditional sweets. For me, New Year is for partying with friends but Sankranti calls for a family celebration. Kamal Kamaraju, actor Kites, colours and food — this harvest festival brings in a fresh lease of life, making us forget economic recession and terrorism for a while. Childhood memories of flying kites with friends and making rangoli during Sankranti makes me nostalgic. I’ll celebrate at home with my family. Relatives and well-wishers keep dropping in with greetings and dishes. Moreover, what’s Sankranti without my mom’s yummy pongal, payasam, kubani ka meetha and lemon rice? Yamini Reddy, danseuse Since the last two years, I had fun spending Sankranti with my in-laws and extended family in Andhra Pradesh. This year, I am celebrating it with my parents in Delhi. In the evening, I will have to leave for a concert in Rajasthan. I plan to make the most of the time I get during the day by bonding with my family. I will wear new clothes, perform pujas, take part in rangoli making and decorate the house with flowers. We will eat a traditional lunch and jaggery stuffed sweet rotis is a must in the Sankranti menu. Ravi Teja, cricketer This evening, I will be leaving for Goa because I have a match to play there. However, I will fly kites in Goa, as I feel it is the best part of Sankranti. In the morning, I will be with my family, participate in the pujas, have a traditional lunch and I’ll observe the rituals associated with Sankranti.

Ballerinas to enthrall city

Think of an art that is subtle and delicate yet, powerful enough to captivate people’s senses and ballet is the first art form that comes to one’s mind. The world famous Bolshoi Ballet from the erstwhile Soviet city of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, would soon be enthralling the Hyderabadi crowd. The grand and opulently mounted production consists of about 110 artistes including ballerinas and live musicians. The group has already taken Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai by storm. Lead ballerina Ellen Desharre feels that people in India have a connoisseurs’ eye. “As an artiste, it gives us immense pleasure to perform before audiences who have a refined taste and knowledge. During our performance in Mumbai, we never expected that the auditorium would be packed. Besides, people were so excited after the performance that many came backstage to meet us,” she says. For another ballerina Nadira Khamarva, her baby steps were more of ballet steps. “I started training when I was five years old. Today, I am proud to be a ballerina because not everyone can learn this exquisite art.” Talking about the current production, she says, “The excitement, colour and wit of Cervantes’ masterpiece gets perfectly conveyed in Don Quixote. The plot unfolds as the love between Kitri and Basil is challenged by the fruitless attempts of Kitri’s father to engineer his unwilling daughter into a more lucrative match.” Satonina feels that the India they are experiencing is different from the one they imagined. “We were under the impression that India is extremely hot but after reaching Hyderabad, we were surprised by the pleasant weather. People here are friendly and often want to talk to us. But since we aren’t familiar with the language, we end up reading each other’s facial expressions,” she adds. The Russian ballet group also seems to be awestruck by the Hyderabad airport. “When we landed, we thought we were in Paris or Heathrow,” exclaims Shripkina.

Tears of joy at ARR home

Even as she saw her son standing tall among all the foreigners, my mother broke down,” recalled A.R. Rehana, music director and Rahman’s sister. The whole family had gathered to watch the live broadcast of the Golden Globe awards and even as he received the award for the best original music for Slumdog Millionaire, Kareema Begum could not contain her tears. “I tried to console her saying what difference if the people are black or white? My brother has won the award and made all Indians proud.” Rehana recalled her conversation with ARR on the night he was leaving for the award ceremony. “I kept on telling him that he would win the Golden Globe. But he said ‘we never know’. I also told him that my gut feeling was that he would win an Oscar, but he just smiled and pointed above saying ‘we will leave it to God’. His nephew G.V.Prakash, also an acclaimed music director said that his only inspiration has been his uncle. He added that it was always Rahman’s dream to get recognition for his international projects and now the dream has been realised. “When I realised that he is the first Indian to win this prestigious award, it made me even more proud of being an Indian. I am really happy,” said GV Prakash. This sentiment was clearly echoed by Rahman himself. On the stage, after receiving the coveted Golden Globe Award, the maestro first thank God, then everyone connected with the movie including its director Danny Boyle, and finally, softly added, “I am grateful to the billions of Indians who made this possible.”

Gripped by mental recession

Just when they thought the economic crunch in the country couldn’t get any worse, the bleak future that lies ahead of them have reduced young IT professionals in the city to a bundle of nerves. Due to recession, global meltdown, unemployment and the recent IT fiasco, corporates are now living in a state of constant fear. ‘Mental recession’ is the term being used to describe this psychological phenomenon marked by high levels of stress and anxiety. Be it the uncertainty of the month’s salary or even the possibility of investments backfiring or lack of job openings and placements on campus, everyone has been clouded by ambiguity. Ravi Kiran, a final year student of SNIST who was hired by Infotech in July 2008, was informed that the company withdrew the offer letters this month. “I also missed out on the other campus placements at college as I thought that with Infotech’s job offer, I have a secure and lucrative package. Now I’m left without a job and there are hardly any campus placements left. I am disturbed as I have no alternate option,” he laments. Mental recession has left even the brightest of IT professionals in a state of self-doubt. Anjali Patodia, an employee of Genpact says, “My friend lost her plum Satyam job a few months ago. She was a topper in Bits Pilani and had the brightest prospect in our whole group. She lost a job overnight and has changed as a person. Apart from being depressed, she thinks there’s no way out and that her career has come to an end. For a 24-year-old bright youngster to start thinking this way is dismal. Now her parents are sending her to counselors for therapy.” Some like Radha Reddy, an employee of Wipro, who lost her job a week ago, has nightmares. “This situation has affected me deeply. It’s difficult to see light at the end of the tunnel when there is no bright side. As an only child, I want to support my parents but the fact that I might not be able to, kills me.” Dinah Bela, a clinical psychologist explains, “The fear out there is palpable. The economy is affecting everyone. Many people are making decisions out of panic. The biggest challenge for those suffering from mental recession is to reduce their stress levels before they do something uncalled for and cause themselves harm.” “Focussing on these fears only reinforces them. Chalking out a solid plan on what your strong points are and what could be the next logical course of action can be of help,” she adds. The constant enquiry and probing on the employment status of these youngsters by relatives, neighbours and friends is also adding to mental recession. Psychologists say in hard times like these, family and friends of the suffering corporates should ensure that they keep up the positive energy. “Do not ask them about their job status as they end up brooding about it, adding to the depression. Help them indulge in extra curricular activities as creative inclinations can help calm them,” says P. Jyothi Raja, of Sri Deepti Counselling Centre.

No takers for the American dream

Recession may be a serious matter for many, but at times it shows up in occasions that leave one amused. The Rottela Panduga held annually in Nellore usually has people praying for jobs in the US, besides reverent petitions for marriages and children. This year brought a clear indication of the times, in that no one wants US rotis. The Gulf, yes, Europe/ Australia yes, but the US finds no takers. This three-day festival, or urs, of the Bara Shaheed Dargah in the month of Muharram, has become famous by the name of Rottela Panduga, or ‘festival of the roti’. The rotis are each named after specific desires, such as vivaha (marriage), dhana (money), sowbhagya (prosperity), santanam (children) rotis, and others for jobs, education and overseas sojourns. People wade into the water tank nearby and look for someone to give the roti of their desire. Once their wish gets fulfilled, they are required to visit the dargah during the next urs and repeat the procedure, this time giving their bread to someone who is seeking wish fulfillment. Says Venkatesulu of Rajampeta in Cuddappah district, “I’ve been standing here for the last two hours and have seen people yelling and offering ‘US roti’ or ‘Saudi roti’. People are rushing to anyone who offers the ticket to the Gulf, but nobody wants the US roti.” Venkatesulu himself has come to offer a Dubai roti, as he found a job there after last year’s prayers. A group of youngsters from the Narayana Engineering College in Gudur are no longer enamoured of the American dream either. “We all prefer Australia or the UK. The US is no longer on the agenda. After the Satyam debacle, we are also looking for secure government jobs,” says 21-year-old Ganesh. Not only has the American fantasy turned sour, the prospect of unemployment also looms large in the minds. Razia Begum, a 20-year-old teacher trainee says, “I have been looking for someone to give me a job roti since morning. There is no one to give one. Everyone is looking for rotis to take.” The dargah committee vice president BSK Rafi also observes an increased demand for jobs or business rotis. “Bad times in the last year has meant that more people are turning up for prayers, usually for seeking secure jobs. The festival has run for the last 300 years, but it is only now that we see such huge crowds (10 lakh this year as compared to seven lakh last year),” he says.

TD for probe on CM

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Tuesday demanded the Central government to order a probe against the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, for his role in the Satyam episode. “I don’t know why the Chief Minister is showing keen interest in Maytas affairs. The Congress-led UPA government should decide quickly on whether to continue with Dr Reddy as the Chief Minister. His role must be probed,” he demanded. Mr Naidu denied any role in influencing the Income Tax department investigation against Satyam Computers during the NDA rule. He was speaking to the media on Satyam’s affairs at his Jubilee Hills residence. The TD president, who initially avoided media in view of his close friendship with the former Satyam chairman, B. Ramalinga Raju, during his rule, launched a scathing attack on the Chief Minister. Mr Naidu alleged that immediately after the abortive Satyam-Maytas deal, Dr Rajasekhar Reddy spoke to GMR and Gammon India representatives which indicated his business interests in the two companies. “Maytas properties and infra companies which have little experience in executing major projects, were awarded contracts worth Rs 38,000 crore in the last four years. For his selfish interests, Dr Reddy damaged the reputation of the state and the country,” the TD president alleged.

Chiru doles out power incentive

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s estate in Idupulapaya village will get 50 percent concession on domestic power tariff if the Praja Rajyam comes to power. Apart from that, the native homes of the Telugu Desam chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu at Naravaripalli, and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, at Chintamadaka will also get this benefit. The PR chief Chiranjeevi on Tuesday announced that his party would supply domestic power at 50 per cent discount to all villagers including landlords across the state if the PR was voted to power. “The 50 per cent subsidy will be borne by the government,” he added. The PR chief also promised that apart from continuing the “free power” to farmers, the facility will be extended to powerlooms, salons and other shops being run by artisans like weavers, goldsmiths, carpenters and barbers across the state including those who live in urban areas. When asked to clarify about his earlier resistance to populist schemes, Chiranjeevi replied: “People in the state are not in a position even to celebrate festivals because of rising prices. The government is not taking any measures so that essential commodities are affordable.” He said that his “50 per cent tariff” scheme would be beneficial to 1.75 crore households in the state. The PR chief did not clarify how he would offset the additional burden on the exchequer.

Water board to lease land

Hyderabad Jan. 13: Faced with the task of executing multi-crore projects like the Godavari drinking water supply among others, the cash-starved Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board has decided to test its “fortunes” by marketing its open lands located in prime areas in and around the city. The water board plans to provide its lands in prime areas for development to private parties and share the revenues in return. It also plans to raise money by giving the lands on lease or on monthly rentals. The board earns a revenue of Rs 25 crore per month from water bills and other sources against an expenditure of nearly Rs 30 crore. Moreover, this expenditure is only increasing. Recently, the board got a survey conducted by a private agency which identified lands at 171 locations within the Greater Hyderabad limits. Of these, lands at 19 locations like the water filling station in Banjara Hills and Airport Road were listed as the ones with “potential” to raise revenues worth crores of rupees for the board. In Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts alone, the board has nearly 500 acres of land. The survey, which also included the “business offers to be made,” stated that if lands at 19 locations could be marketed, the water board can earn Rs 30 crore per annum towards revenue sharing, lease and rents. Encouraged by the report, the water board officials have sent the proposal to the state government for a final approval. Though the real estate market has taken a beating in the last two years, officials are hopeful of success, as its lands are located in prime areas in the core city. When contacted, the water board managing director, Mr G. Asok Kumar said that the survey has been completed and the Board was waiting for government’s approval. Sources said, the government is likely to give a “go ahead” after the elections to the state Assembly.

Woman gives birth on road due to traffic jam

Hyderabad Jan. 13: A pregnant woman, who was on her way to hospital, delivered a baby on the road at Langer Houz after her vehicle was stuck in the traffic jam. Shobha, a resident of Chevalla, was on her way to Puranapul Government Maternity Hospital. She experienced labour pains and delivered the baby on roadside with the help of local residents from nearby slums, according to the Langer Houz SI, Mr Santosh Kumar. Mr Kumar said Shobha was later rushed to the hospital in 108 service ambulance. Vehicular traffic came to a standstill around 6.30 pm on the Langer Houz main road after a pipeline of the water board at Moghal Ka Nala burst open. “The pipeline burst was due to the power cut imposed at the pumping station of a water board at Sahebnagar. When the power supply is cut, the water flow gushes back towards the pumping station and the sudden surge of water in reverse direction resulted in pipeline burst,” said the water board director (projects), Mr Gautam Reddy. According to the police, motorists had a harrowing time as there was knee-deep water on the main road for more than an hour. Even after the water board officials took up pipeline restoration works, traffic congestion continued beyond 10 pm.

Erratic rates for medical papers

Hyderabad Jan. 13: Government and private hospitals in the state are charging erratic rates for issuing medical fitness certificates for new recruits in government jobs. This is happening because of the state government’s tardiness in revising and rationalising the rates. As per rules, which have been prevalent for the last three decades, a candidate has to pay only Rs 16 to get a medical certificate. Of this, Rs 4 goes to the hospital development committee. Medical authorities, who felt the rates were unfeasible, had petitioned the government to increase it to Rs 400 or Rs 600 for each candidate. But the proposal is yet to get the nod from the government. Thanks to this, the hospital authorities have taken to charging whatever rates they deem fit. The amount to be paid to get a medical certificate ranges between Rs 300 and Rs 800 now. As many as 300 police recruits examined by the medical board at the Gandhi Hospital were charged Rs 500 each for a medical fitness certificate. Other government hospitals in the city are charging Rs 800 per person. Candidates who obtained medical fitness certificates at Gandhi Hospital also got receipts. However, other government hospitals failed to issue even a receipt after taking Rs 800. Fund allotted for obtaining medical certificates also vary from department to department. While recruits in the police department are entitled to get Rs 800 to obtain a medical fitness certificate from a government hospital, the forest department allots only Rs 300. At the same time, those seeking jobs in private firms don’t get any compensation from their employer and have to pay from their own pocket. “There should be some uniformity of rates to get medical fitness certificates,” said the Gandhi Hospital superintendent, Dr B. Balraj. He added that rates would be higher if special tests had to be done for certain candidates to clear doubts raised during the general check-up. Authorities of government hospitals say that even if they charge Rs 800 for a medical certificate, around Rs 500 goes to the HDC and is used for bettering the amenities in the institution.

Officials can’t withhold info on private property

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The Andhra Pradesh High Court held that a public authority cannot deny information to an individual about a private body, if it has access to that information. Dealing with a writ appeal filed by the chief commissioner of land administration against the orders of the chief information commissioner of AP, Justice V.V.S. Rao directed that the CCLA provide a copy of Muntakhab to one Ms Gousinnisa Begum. Muntakhib (in Arabic), is an abstract of the revenue records. The court ruled that a third party, who has no direct interest in Muntakhab, who might have bought property from heirs/successors of original grantee, is also entitled to seek a certified copy. Ms Gousinnisa Begum filed an application under the RTI Act, to the public information officer of the CCLA to provide a copy of the Muntakhib. The authority refused on the ground that her name does not figure in Muntakhib nor did she produce a legal heir certificate issued by a competent civil court establishing her succession. The judge observed that “even if a Muntakhib is considered as a privileged document, a public authority cannot refuse.”

Fight for MLC seats intensifies

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The fight for seats to the Legislative Council has intensified as many sitting legislators whose terms were curtailed to two years are seeking a re-entry. The Congress lost a majority of the seats in the two-year term. Eight Congress members elected from local body constituencies, 11 elected by the MLAs and four nominated by the Governor are retiring under the two-year term clause. The Congress is set to win only eight seats out of the 11 seats which will be vacated, while the TD is set to win two seats on its own. A tough fight is imminent for the 11th seat as no party has a clear majority. Film actors who joined the Congress recently are also demanding seats this time. The former film development corporation chairman and film actor Krishna’s brother G. Adiseshagirir Rao, film actor Jayasuda are in the race for Legislative Council tickets. Former APIIC chairman Ambati Rambabu, former TD minister K. Pushpaleela are also presenting their case before the Chief Minister. Sources close to Dr Reddy said that the final list would be out only after Sankranthi.

AP plans to sell disputed land

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The state government is trying to sell 880 acres of land near the International Airport at Shamshabad but cases regarding the ownership of this land worth Rs 900 crore are still pending in the High Court and the Ranga Reddy district civil court. However, the Ranga Reddy district collector has cleared the land sale, informing the Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) that “no court cases and litigations are pending over land in Mamidipalli village, Saroornagar mandal, with survey number 99/1” in a letter numbered LC2/3467/07. Based on this letter, the CCLA has recommended to the government to mark the land to the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation which can sell it for resource mobilisation. The CCLA assesed the value of the land to be Rs 1 crore per acre. Some part of the land is owned by private parties too though the major chunk is owned by APIIC. Despite this, the CCLA proposed formally to the government to mark the entire land for sale. Sources said the empowered committee recommended allotment of land to APIIC “subject to receipt of Ranga Reddy district collector’s report regarding pending court cases and other litigations” in a meeting held on December 18, 2008. The collector sent his report on December 31, 2008. It seems the government has learned nothing from the problems which occurred in the past auctions of lands at Kokapet and Raidurg. Three years ago, the state sold land to various developers and hoteliers ignoring litigation. When the buyers knew the truth after paying the initial amounts, they refused to pay up the subsequent instalments. The state is yet to get Rs 500 crore from the deals. People who have been fighting cases in Ranga Reddy civil court over the land had made the Ranga Reddy revenue authorities the respondents. In cases before the High Court, the Principal secretary Revenue, APIIC and the Ranga Reddy district collector are respondents. The next hearing of the case in HC is scheduled on January 19. A senior APIIC official admitted that there are cases pending on the land in question. But he added that the government got the land from the Nizam through a Supreme Court order in 1962. APIIC was given the land in 2005. “The government has a strong case,” he added.

EMRI to be independent

Hyderabad Jan. 13: An independent agency will look into the financial and operational aspects of the Emergency Management Research Institute (EMRI) which was supported by Satyam Computers. The present board of directors in the EMRI were in favour of a takeover by the government if it was willing. “We have resolved to go for an inquiry by an independent agency. A decision on this will be taken in the next board meeting,” EMRI lead partner, Mr Srivatsan Raghavan, said. Former president Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and other directors had resigned from the EMRI after the Satyam fraud was exposed. The present board of members, Mr K. Krishna Raju, of Suchitra group, Prof. Raj Reddy of Carnegie Mellon University and Dr Jayaprakash Narayan have decided to continue. “There are unfortunate developments in Satyam Computers. Under the circumstances the easiest course of action for the remaining board members is to quit as directors and let the event take its own course. We are doing this service voluntarily. The remaining members on the Board have decided to continue. If the Centre or the state feel that emergency relief can be best provided by taking over the EMRI, we will do that,” they said.

Power utilities in jitters

Hyderabad Jan. 13: With winter coming to an end, power companies are making moves to purchase electricity to feed the expected demand from the agriculture sector. It is believed that the demand for power from farmers will scale new heights this time and the companies are wary of the prospect. The state energy coordination committee on Monday floated tenders to buy 3 lakh Mega Watt power in five months starting from January 20. This means that the companies will be buying around 2,500 MW of power every day. While January is projected to have a demand-supply gap of 2,058 MW every day, February and March will witness an unprecedented gap of 2,625 MW and 2,695 MW daily. “The power demand would reach an all-time high this year,” said a senior energy official. “It may even cross 218 million units, which would create problems for the entire system.” Taking this into account, the energy coordination committee asked the AP Transco to purchase power from all sources even at a rate of Rs 10 per unit and above. But this is not an easy task for APTransco and the four Discoms that are yet to be paid the subsidy amount by the state government.

Raju resists probe

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The ex-chairman of Satyam, Mr B. Ramalinga Raju, is resisting CID investigations and has decided to file a counter petition for keeping him in police custody. The defence counsel of the Rajus has sought time from the sixth additional chief metropolitan magistrate court to file a counter petition against the police custody and Sebi interrogations. Sebi in it’s petition in the court had stated, “Mr Ramalinga Raju and his brother Mr Rama Raju, are accused of jointly committing gross financial irregularities such as fraudulent, unfair trade practice, inside trading and substantial acquisition of shares.” Criminal Investigation Department officials and legal experts have alleged that Mr Raju is trying to avoid grilling by the CID and Sebi by protesting against the petitions of investigators. Senior criminal advocate Mr C. Mallesh Rao said, “By issuing a letter he admitted that he has committed fraud and cheated people. He came forward and informed that he is ready to go by the law. Based on solely documentary evidence, his cooperation is a must. Mr Raju has to tell investigators how he manipulated the balance sheets. But In order to escape interrogation, he is resisting all attempts.” The defence counsel, Mr Bharat Kumar, when asked about the counter petitions said, “Anything can be done in a voluntary atmosphere. In police custody, how can something be voluntary? There will be no legal assistance. There will be no access to legal books. Therefore, we are resisting the Sebi and CID petitions,” he added.

Chiru doles out power incentive

BY J.R.PRASAD Hyderabad Jan. 13: The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s estate in Idupulapaya village will get 50 percent concession on domestic power tariff if the Praja Rajyam comes to power. Apart from that, the native homes of the Telugu Desam chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu at Naravaripalli, and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief, Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao, at Chintamadaka will also get this benefit. The PR chief Chiranjeevi on Tuesday announced that his party would supply domestic power at 50 per cent discount to all villagers including landlords across the state if the PR was voted to power. “The 50 per cent subsidy will be borne by the government,” he added. The PR chief also promised that apart from continuing the “free power” to farmers, the facility will be extended to powerlooms, salons and other shops being run by artisans like weavers, goldsmiths, carpenters and barbers across the state including those who live in urban areas. When asked to clarify about his earlier resistance to populist schemes, Chiranjeevi replied: “People in the state are not in a position even to celebrate festivals because of rising prices. The government is not taking any measures so that essential commodities are affordable.” He said that his “50 per cent tariff” scheme would be beneficial to 1.75 crore households in the state. The PR chief did not clarify how he would offset the additional burden on the exchequer.

Probe panel finds evidence

Hyderabad Jan. 13: The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has affirmed that the Satyam management led by Mr B. Ramalinga Raju was involved in conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, forgery, cheating and violations of the Companies Act and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) rules. Officials of the SFIO, which comes under the ministry of corporate affa-irs, found prima facie evidence of mammoth fraud during the inspections they carried out in Satyam offices on Tuesday. The SFIO, set up in 2003, is a multi-disciplinary agency having experts from financial sector, capital market, accountancy, forensic audit, taxation, law, IT and investigation. An SFIO team led by Mr Puneet Rastogi has been in the city from January 8. Sources said nearly half of the SFIO staff, including top experts, is part of the team. The SFIO additional director, Mr K.V.S. Singh and joint director (banking), Mr Sudhir D. Sam-ant, also arrived in the city for the probe. Meanwhile, the ministry issued a formal order under Section 235 and 237 of Companies Act to investigate the Satyam fraud case based on the preliminary report of the Registrar of Companies. The corporate affairs minister, Mr Prem Chand Gupta, said in Delhi the SFIO had been asked to submit its probe report in three months. A senior official said it was clear that the Raju brothers and promoters forged documents and cheated the investors who lost Rs 10,000 crore in the market. “They will be probed under Section 628 of Companies Act for falsification of balance sheet and under Sebi Act for fraudulent practices and insider trading,” he added. “All of them — the brothers, CFO and regular directors—will face prosecution.” However, the 20-member SFIO team in the city will not look into the assets and liabilities of Satyam and its promoters. It will be focused on the account books. An official said that SFIO will not make any arrests in the case. “The CID will continue its probe and the court may merge both the cases when the charge-sheet is filed,” he added. This is the first time the SFIO is taking up a case of this magnitude. It usually takes up cases of closed down companies.

Satyam may get Rs 2,000cr

New Delhi Jan. 13: The corporate affa-irs minister, Mr Prem Chand Gupta, in a high level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, Dr Manmo-han Singh, informed that Satyam may need Rs 500 crore immediately to meet salary and other working liabilities of the company, said sources. Further, over a period of four months it may need an assistance of Rs 2,000 crore from the government. During the meet at the Prime Minister’s residence, among the options, apart from government funding, the leaders also deliberated over the possibility of selling Satyam’s assets to raise funds, sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said adding that Dr Singh was closely monitoring the Satyam developments. Among the leaders who attended the meeting were the external affairs minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, the home minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, the commerce and industry minister, Mr Kamal Nath, the corporate affairs minister, Mr P.C. Gupta and the deputy chairman of planning commission, Mr Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

PC: India can snap Pak ties

London Jan. 13: The Union home minister, Mr P. Chidam-baram, has said that India would break off business, transport and tourist links with Pakistan and isolate it from the rest of the world if it fails to help to investigate the 26/11 terrorist attacks, according to a report here. Accusing Pakistan of doing nothing to assist India in the investigation into the Mumbai terrorist attacks, Mr Chidambaram told London’s Times in an interview that Islamabad had done nothing to help. “Zero. What have they provided? Nothing,” he said. Indicating the line of act-ion India would take against Pakistan, Mr Chidambaram, who took over as the home minister after 26/11 attacks, said: “There are many, many links between India and Pakistan, and if Pakistan does not cooperate and does not help to bring the perpetrators to heel, those ties will become weaker and weaker and one day snap.” “Why would we entertain Pakistani business people? Why would we entertain tourists in India? Why would we send tourists there?” he said. However, Mr Chidamb-aram did not reveal when India might introduce these measures against Pakistan. He only said: “We need cooperation soon.” The newspaper also quoted an unnamed senior government source in India as denying any link between Kashmir and the Mumbai terror attacks.

Police in fix as ex-CEO flees to US

Hyderabad Jan. 13: Police wants to question Mr Ram Mynampati, “the interim CEO” of Satyam, to ascertain certain aspects of the fraud but has no idea where he is at present. Meanwhile, the Crime Investigation Department arrested Satyam’s former chief financial officer, Mr Srinivas Vadlamani, after questioning him for five hours. Sleuths got interested in interrogating Mr Mynampati after learning that he had reportedly offloaded over 92,000 shares of Satyam in the stock market in September 2008. Though Mr Mynampati ceased to be the CEO of Satyam Computers after the new board took over, company officials claim he is in the United States talking to “clients”. Police, however, thinks he is in India. CID officers denied reports that he was arrested on Tuesday. Mr Mynampati is now president of Satyam’s commercial healthcare and banking division. He is also head of Citysoft, a subsidiary firm that Satyam took over in 2005. “He left for the US on Sunday and we have no idea when he is coming back to India,” said a Satyam spokesperson. The CID inspector-general, Mr V.S.K. Koumudi, said Mr Mynampati has not been questioned so far. “He has not communicated with us,” he said. Police sources believe that Mr Mynampati must be seeking legal opinion and would surface soon. Mr Koumudi denied reports of CID questioning former ISB dean, Mr Rammohan Rao, and ex-Cabinet secretary, Mr T.R. Prasad. However, he did not rule out the possibility of sleuths questioning them. Meanwhile, the CID conducted raids on the offices of Satyam’s auditing firm, PricewaterhouseCooper, and seized records.

Lanka vows to flush out LTTE

COLOMBO Jan. 13: There is no going back on the military offensive against the LTTE, Sri Lankan minister and government spokesman for defence and national security, Dr Keheliya Rambukwella said, dismissing calls by ethnic Tamil political parties here and politicians from Tamil Nadu for cessation of hostilities. He also said that a friendship network on social utility site such as Facebook would be a useful tool for building trust and confidence between the Tamil minority and Sinhalas. In an interview to this newspaper here, Dr Rambukwella said the Sri Lankan troops would press on with military operations against the LTTE. “We have restricted them to a 30 sq km area and we are very confident that we will flush them out,” he said. He thought the only sliver of hope left for LTTE chief Prabhakaran was to lay down arms. “If the LTTE lays down arms totally and physically, not symbolically, and we are satisfied, then we could (consider talks),” he said when asked whether doors were still open for negotiations. Invoking the reformation of bandit Angulimal after an encounter with Lord Buddha, Dr Rambukwella said Buddhism preaches tolerance and Prabhakaran could still attain “Nirvana” if he laid down arms. He dismissed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi’s calls for a ceasefire as his “political compulsion”. “We have excellent relations with India, which has come to realise that terrorism at any cost has to be stopped. We cannot give into it whether it is Mumbai or Gaza or Colombo or Jaffna,” he asserted.

Priyanka may enter poll fray

New Delhi Jan. 13: The Congress, in an attempt to reach out to the 55 per cent of India’s population which is under 25, on Tuesday described both AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka as the country’s “youth icons”. The AICC media department head, Mr M. Veerappa Moily, told reporters: “Both Rahul and Priyanka are youth icons. Young people in the country want to see young leaders.” While senior party leaders, including the external affairs minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, and the AICC general secretary, Mr Digv-ijay Singh, have openly endorsed the Amethi MP’s name as a potential Prime Minister, the Congress brought up the name of his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with just a few months to go before the next general elections. Mr Moily said there was a “spontaneous” demand from people and party units across the country to bring Ms Priyanka Vadra into active politics, but then went on to add that it was of course for her (Priyanka) and for the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, “to take a final call on the matter.” The Congress spokesperson, Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, while not confirming if there was any move to field Ms Priyanka in the Lok Sabha elections from Mo-radabad in Uttar Pradesh, had told reporters here on Monday that Ms Priyanka’s entry into the fray would be “beneficial” to the party.

Fuel price cut likely tomorrow

New Delhi, Jan. 13: The government may on Thurs-day cut petrol, diesel and domestic LPG prices, a petroleum ministry official said on Tuesday. The Cabinet, scheduled to meet on Thursday, may reduce petrol price by Rs 5 a litre, diesel by Rs 2 per litre and domestic LPG by Rs 25 per cylinder, the official said. State-run oil companies are currently making Rs 9.70 a litre profit on sale of petrol, Rs 3.70 a litre on diesel, but are losing Rs 31.70 per LPG cylinder and Rs 11.69 on every litre of kerosene. “There is also a proposal for freeing the retail fuel prices from administrative control after a mechanism to compensate for the losses on LPG and kerosene is devised,” he said.