Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan’s fifth year in office commences with interactions with media at Raj Bhavan
Telangana Governor, Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, celebrated a significant milestone on Friday as she unveiled a coffee table book titled “Passions for People’s Progress – Planned Pursuits.” This book serves as a comprehensive showcase of the various initiatives undertaken during her fourth year as the Governor of Telangana State.
In recognition of outstanding achievements, awards were presented to the winners of a state-level essay writing competition on the topic of “Addressing Socio-Economic Disparities in Education: The Role of the National Education Policy, 2020,” conducted by Raj Bhavan.
During her address at the event, Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan stressed the vital importance of women’s empowerment and their overall progress. She reiterated her unwavering commitment to tirelessly work towards a brighter and more prosperous future for all the people of the state.
The program culminated with Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan engaging with representatives from both print and electronic media outlets as she embarked on her fifth year in office at the esteemed Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad.
In the company of fellow media professionals, Mohd Parvaiz, the Managing Director of ‘Bharat Samachar’ and Chief Editor of ‘Press Media,’ was presented with the Coffee Table Book-2023 by Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan at Raj Bhavan on Friday.
Use of ‘Bharat’ alongside ‘India’ in Official G-20 Documents !!
In a notable development at the G-20 Summit held in New Delhi on September 9, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was introduced as the leader representing ‘Bharat’ as he delivered his opening remarks during the two-day meeting.
The government’s decision to use ‘Bharat,’ a term found in the Constitution of India alongside ‘India,’ in various official G-20 documents has ignited a political debate. Official sources have confirmed that this choice was deliberate and carries significance.
The inclusion of ‘Bharat’ alongside ‘India’ has drawn mixed reactions from the public and political circles. Some argue that it is a meaningful acknowledgement of the country’s constitutional identity, while others view it as a needless controversy.
For decades, the name ‘India’ has been universally used to represent the nation on the international stage. This recent addition of ‘Bharat’ in official documents has raised questions about the government’s motivations and intentions.
On social media platforms like Twitter, several users have expressed their opinions on this development. Some users point out that ‘India’ has been the standard representation for over 70 years, and they question the necessity of introducing ‘Bharat’ at this juncture. They argue that if ‘India’ has been accepted globally, there should be no issue with its continued usage.
This move has sparked a broader conversation about the relationship between ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’ as names for the country. It also raises questions about the significance of this choice in diplomatic contexts and whether it signifies a shift in India’s international identity.
As discussions surrounding this issue continue, it remains to be seen how the use of ‘Bharat’ alongside ‘India’ will be perceived both domestically and internationally, and whether it will have any lasting implications on the country’s global interactions.
Rare 6.8 Magnitude Quake Strikes, Causing Widespread Devastation in Marrakech-Safi Region
In a devastating turn of events, a rare and powerful earthquake rocked Morocco late on Friday night, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake has claimed the lives of at least 820 people and left hundreds more injured. The hardest-hit areas are reported to be in remote regions south of Marrakech.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry provided initial casualty figures on Saturday morning, revealing that the majority of the fatalities occurred in Marrakech and the five provinces near the epicenter of the quake. With rescue operations still ongoing and search teams reaching remote areas, these numbers are expected to rise significantly.
Images broadcasted on Moroccan television depict the aftermath of the earthquake, with many individuals remaining outdoors due to fears of aftershocks. Anxious families gathered in the streets or sought refuge on pavements, some clutching their children and personal belongings.
Emergency responders, wearing reflective yellow vests, conducted search and rescue efforts amid the rubble of damaged buildings, with the nighttime landscape illuminated by their efforts. The earthquake caused substantial damage, including a home with a gaping hole and a car nearly buried beneath the debris of a collapsed building. Baskets, buckets, and clothing were visible amidst the scattered stones in the remains of one structure.
Reports indicate that the historic 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, one of the city’s iconic landmarks, suffered damage, although the extent is yet to be fully assessed. The mosque’s 69-meter (226-foot) minaret, known as the “roof of Marrakech,” holds great cultural significance.
Moroccan media also shared videos depicting damage to sections of the famous red walls that encircle the old city of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The head of a town near the epicenter revealed that several homes in neighboring towns had partially or completely collapsed, and some areas had experienced disruptions to electricity and road access. Authorities are working to clear roads in Al Haouz Province to facilitate the passage of ambulances and aid to affected populations. However, the vast distances between mountain villages are expected to prolong the assessment of the full extent of the damage.
Local media reported that roads leading to the mountainous region around the epicenter were congested with vehicles and blocked by fallen rocks, impeding rescue efforts. The Al Haouz Province is renowned for its picturesque High Atlas landscapes and Amazigh villages nestled into mountainsides.
Messages of solidarity and support have begun pouring in from around the world. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed condolences on X (formerly Twitter), while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hosting the Group of 20 summit, offered assistance to Morocco during this challenging time. A U.N. spokesperson affirmed the United Nations’ readiness to aid the Moroccan government in assisting affected populations.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 when it struck at 11:11 p.m. (2211 GMT), with shaking lasting several seconds. An aftershock with a magnitude of 4.9 followed 19 minutes later. The epicenter was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, approximately 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) south of Marrakech.
The shallow depth of the earthquake, with the epicenter situated between 7 to 11 miles below the Earth’s surface, contributed to its greater impact and potential for damage.
Earthquakes are infrequent in North Africa, making this event particularly exceptional. Lahcen Mhanni, Head of the Seismic Monitoring and Warning Department at the National Institute of Geophysics, noted that it was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the mountainous region.
In 1960, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Agadir, Morocco, resulted in thousands of casualties and prompted revisions to construction regulations in the country. However, many buildings, particularly rural homes, remain ill-equipped to withstand such seismic activity.
In 2004, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake near the Mediterranean coastal city of Al Hoceima claimed more than 600 lives.
The impact of Friday’s earthquake was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria, according to respective authorities. Portugal’s Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency reported its effects on their regions, underlining the extent of this seismic event.
TDP Leader Proclaims Readiness to Sacrifice for Telugu People as Supporters Stage Protest
In a dramatic turn of events, the Crime Investigation Department (CID) apprehended former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief, N Chandrababu Naidu, in the early hours of Saturday. He is accused of being the “principal conspirator” in a massive ₹371 crore skill development scam.
Naidu’s arrest unfolded amidst high drama and staunch resistance from TDP cadre members who voiced their support for their leader. Demonstrating his unwavering commitment to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Naidu stated that he was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect their interests, asserting that no force could deter him from this mission.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the former Andhra Pradesh CM declared, “For the past 45 years, I have selflessly served the Telugu people. I am prepared to sacrifice my life to safeguard the interests of the Telugu people. No force on earth can stop me from serving the Telugu people, my #AndhraPradesh, and my motherland.”
The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID), on September 9, identified Chandrababu Naidu as “accused no 1” and the primary instigator behind the alleged skill development scam. The agency alleged that government orders were issued under Naidu’s directives with the intent of causing financial loss to the public treasury while benefiting private individuals.
Naidu’s arrest took place around 6 a.m. at the RK Function Hall in Gnanapuram, Nandyala town, directly related to the skill development scam. According to the CID’s remand report, private entities funded six skill development clusters exclusively from funds provided by the Government of Andhra Pradesh and the AP Skill Development Center, amounting to ₹371 crore.
The CID further implicated Mr. Naidu and the Telugu Desam Party in the misappropriation of funds, portraying them as beneficiaries. Naidu is believed to be the mastermind behind the scheme, orchestrating the transfer of public funds to private entities through shell companies, resulting in a loss to the public treasury and private gains. The ultimate utilization of the misappropriated funds, including cash holdings with individuals such as Vikas Khanvilkar, remains subject to further investigation.
N Chandrababu Naidu, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), was apprehended by the Andhra Pradesh CID in relation to the Skilled Development #Scam.
He has been designated as the primary accused, and the notice specifies that this… pic.twitter.com/hmH2xU13pC
In the wake of Naidu’s arrest, passengers found themselves stranded at the Pandit Nehru Bus Station as APSRTC services to various destinations in Andhra Pradesh were canceled on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party leaders and activists staged a protest at the Annapurna Sarukulu center in Tirupati, vehemently opposing the arrest of their former Andhra Pradesh CM, N Chandrababu Naidu.
Adding to the unrest, Naidu’s son, Nara Lokesh, took to the streets in protest following his father’s arrest in connection with the corruption case. In response, Chandrababu Naidu maintained his innocence, stating, “I did not commit any malpractice or corruption. CID arrested me without any proper information, and I asked them to show the evidence, but they refused to show and attached my name to the FIR without my role.”
Kangana Ranaut took to her Instagram Stories on Thursday evening to share her admiration for Shah Rukh Khan’s latest film, Jawan. In a heartfelt note, she commended Shah Rukh’s remarkable journey from a beloved romantic hero of the nineties to his resilient efforts to reconnect with his audience over the past decade. She praised his resurgence as an iconic Indian mass superhero, even as he approaches the age of 60.
Kangana recalled the time when critics and naysayers had doubted Shah Rukh Khan’s choices and mocked him, but his unwavering dedication and ability to reinvent himself have set a masterful example for artists with enduring careers. Kangana expressed that SRK is not just the cinema’s heartthrob but a cinematic savior, alluding to his roles as well as his real-life endeavors.
Adding the hashtag #jawan, Kangana extended her congratulations to the entire team behind the film.
About Jawan Shah Rukh Khan’s Jawan, released on September 7 in Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu languages, has garnered an impressive ₹51.17 crore worldwide in its opening days, according to advance day booking figures. The film boasts a star-studded cast including Nayanthara, Vijay Sethupathi, Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Sunil Grover, Yogi Babu, and Ridhi Dogra, among others. Directed by Atlee and produced by Red Chillies Entertainment, Jawan has received positive reviews, with The Hindustan Times praising SRK’s dual role, action sequences, and Atlee’s direction, calling it a mass entertainer that keeps the audience engaged.
Telangana’s Industries Minister, KTR, announced that the state is on track to become the first in the country to establish a medical college in every district. He issued a directive to both the Minister and MLAs, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the successful launch of all nine medical colleges.
KT Rama Rao, has announced that Telangana will be the first state to establish one medical college in each district. He directed ministers and MLAs to ensure that the launch of nine medical colleges on September 15 becomes a grand celebration.
During a teleconference with ministers and MLAs from the nine districts, the Minister shared his vision for the state. The Telangana government is set to inaugurate nine medical colleges in Jangaon, Nirmal, Kamareddy, Rajanna Sircilla, Asifabad, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Vikarabad, and Khammam.
Rama Rao emphasized that this historic moment should be marked with huge rallies, each district hosting events with the participation of 15,000 to 20,000 people. He even mentioned the possibility of Chief Minister participation in one of the medical college inaugurations, with Health Minister T Harish Rao attending the ceremony at Kamareddy.
The establishment of one medical college in each district is expected to benefit people across all assembly constituencies. Ministers and MLAs from respective districts have been urged to ensure the successful conduct of these programs.
Rama Rao also stressed the importance of inviting youth and students to these events, aiming to raise awareness about the benefits of having a medical college in every district. He called for explaining the failures of both the BJP and Congress in establishing medical colleges in Telangana.
Health Minister Harish Rao, speaking to the ministers, highlighted Telangana’s remarkable progress in the field of medical education. He pointed out that the state had the highest number of MBBS seats and for every 1 lakh individuals, there were 22 MBBS seats in Telangana, an achievement unparalleled in the country. Furthermore, he noted that 43 percent of the total increase in MBBS seats across India came from Telangana.
Harish Rao also mentioned that despite the Central Government’s announcement of 157 medical colleges across the country, not a single college was granted to Telangana. He highlighted that only two medical colleges were established in Telangana during the 50-year tenure of the Congress party.
In conclusion, the Health Minister praised the efforts of the Chief Minister, stating that Telangana’s students no longer had to go abroad or to other states to pursue medical studies. The establishment of these medical colleges was a significant step towards making medical education more accessible within the state.
Concerns are mounting as cases of viral fevers and dengue continue to surge in both the city and neighboring districts. Alongside the viral fevers, physicians are noting a noticeable uptick in bacterial infections, a recurrent occurrence during the August-September period.**
The prevailing inclement weather conditions are expected to further exacerbate the prevalence of seasonal illnesses. Medical professionals are strongly advising parents to vigilantly monitor their children’s health and take prompt action if any symptoms of dengue, malaria, typhoid, or other such ailments manifest.
Public health authorities are, however, urging the public not to succumb to panic. In comparison to previous years, reported cases of viral fevers, dengue, and influenza remain relatively low. Nevertheless, they stress the importance of remaining cautious, practicing essential preventive measures, and seeking medical attention when necessary.
Most of the reported viral fevers are characterized by symptoms such as fever, severe body aches, vomiting, persistent cold, and stubborn cough. Parents should be particularly vigilant for signs of dengue, which may include frequent vomiting, nosebleeds, skin rashes, rapid pulse, intense body pain, and, at times, even breathing difficulties.
Given the heightened risk of infections, both the health department and seasonal disease experts are emphasizing the importance of adhering to preventive measures, which can significantly reduce the incidence of morbidity.
For senior citizens, this is an opportune moment to receive a seasonal influenza vaccine. Additionally, doctors recommend that children who may have missed their annual flu shots should promptly schedule them to bolster their immunity.
Hyderabad: The Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) has made public a list of qualification and service weightage marks for candidates who participated in the computer-based recruitment test for the position of physiotherapist within the Telangana Vaidya Vidhana Parishad. The information is available on TSPSC’s official website at https://tspsc.gov.in/.
Candidates are urged to submit any objections concerning the weightage marks, supported by valid evidence, alongside their service and qualification certificates, to the TSPSC office. The submission period is scheduled from September 11 to 13, between 11 am and 5 pm. Please note that objections received after the specified deadline will not be entertained.
Additionally, the TSPSC emphasizes that candidates who have not previously uploaded their service and qualification certificates will not be allowed to make fresh submissions.
For further details and updates, candidates are encouraged to visit the official TSPSC website.
Hyderabad: Ravinder, a home guard who set himself on fire in protest against the government’s failure to recognize them as government employees, has tragically passed away after three days of intensive treatment. His deteriorating health condition led to his demise on Friday morning while he was undergoing treatment at DRDO Apollo Hospital.
Three days ago, Ravinder resorted to self-immolation using petrol to urge the government to grant home guards permanent status. Suffering severe injuries, he was immediately rushed to the hospital for emergency medical attention. Sadly, doctors later confirmed his demise, and his body was shifted to Osmania Hospital, creating a tense atmosphere in the surrounding area.
Ravinder had been serving as a home guard in the local traffic PS and decided to take this extreme step due to not receiving his salary for the past two months and facing financial hardships.
Ravinder’s suicide attempt has triggered a movement among Telangana home guards who are demanding permanent employment status and equal treatment to that of the police force. The Home Guard Association Joint Action Committee (JAC) has initiated protest actions in response to Ravinder’s tragic incident, including a boycott of duties until September 16.
Several political parties have expressed their support for the home guards’ demand to attain permanent status. Telangana BJP President and Union Minister Kishan Reddy visited Ravinder during his hospitalization on Thursday, expressing his disappointment with Chief Minister KCR for not fulfilling promises made to home guards and highlighting the increasing exploitation of labor.
Kishan Reddy extended his condolences over Ravinder’s death, emphasizing that problems should be addressed through collective action rather than resorting to suicide. He strongly condemned the government’s handling of the situation, characterizing it as a grave injustice against the state’s employees.
In most democratic countries, special parliamentary sessions are only called in times of crisis and are preceded by a vigorous national debate. In India, they are called for no previously declared reasons and are preceded by a vigorous national guessing game.
One of the most notable features of the Narendra Modi regime is how secretive it can be. Nobody—outside of a small, tight circle around the Prime Minister—knows what is happening at the highest levels of government or what is being planned. It is okay to keep the press guessing but the unique feature of this government is that even most ministers have no clue of what to expect.
So the call for a special parliamentary session has left so-called BJP insiders as puzzled as the rest of us. Political reporters who have never got a single thing about the Modi government right—not the timing of reshuffles, not demonetisation; not the selection of Presidential candidates—engage in feverish, if ignorant, speculation while the rest of us wait to see what is coming.
At present, the speculation is that the session will be used to pass bills calling for simultaneous elections at the Centre and the states, or for Women’s Reservation. Or even that a Uniform Civil Code will be introduced. Any of those things may still happen. But the latest bout of speculation now says that the government may use the session to change the name of India. India vs Bharat not new I am not sure how this would work. The Constitution provides for the use of both Bharat and India. So what can Parliament do? Ban the use of India? That would require a two-thirds majority in both houses and ratification by states. This is not easy to do.
And besides, would you need a special session if all you wanted was to declare that you preferred Bharat to India when the Constitution lets you use both?
The speculation has been fuelled by official invitations that refer to the ‘President of Bharat’ rather than the ‘President of India’ as is the normal practice. Similarly, some documents now refer to the ‘Prime Minister of Bharat’ rather than ‘Prime Minister of India’. Little things like this provoke a Pavlovian response from BJP leaders who rush to hail the switch to Bharat, though, given past precedent, it is not clear whether they have been asked to start tweeting this or whether they are merely anticipating what might happen.
The Bharat vs. India discussion is not new. Till recently it has always been the BJP that celebrates the use of India over Bharat. Atal Bihari Vajpayee lost his party a General Election by telling us that India was shining. Narendra Modi launched Make in India and a host of other programmes that used India rather than Bharat.
It is the Congress regime that started public sector corporations with Bharat in their names: BHEL, BEML, BPCL, BDL etc. When Rajiv Gandhi launched his predecessor to Vajpayee’s ill-starred India Shining, he called it Mera Bharat Mahaan. And more recently, Rahul Gandhi went on a Bharat Jodo Yatra.
Watch // We have been India since the time of Alexander, there is no need to drag the British into it: Vir Sanghvi
And yet, social media is full of halfwits telling us Bharat is the real name of our country and that India was a name given to us by the British.
Of course, this is nonsense. The name India goes back to the times when the British were still living in the trees. It dates back thousands of years when the people of India were known as the people who lived near the Indus river, which was called Sindhu, leading to our people being called Hindus. The same root gave us India. Thousands of years ago, Ptolemy’s map referred to our country as India and Alexander the Great had no doubt he was headed for India.
So, why drag the British into it? If the RSS wants freedom from the legacy of Alexander the Great and wants to end the pernicious influence of such Greek gods as Zeus, Apollo and Aphrodite over us then yes, the demand for Bharat may make a certain amount of sense. But otherwise, the name India is no affront to Hindu pride.
