2010
By Syed Akbar
Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who completes one year in office later this week, has a major task ahead. Further improving the State's revenue, enlarging the power generation for
higher industrial output, attracting more investment inflows, apart from tackling the political turmoil in the State the Srikrishna committee report would throw.
Rosaiah took over the reins of the State on September 3 last year following the death of YS Rajasekhar Reddy in a helicopter crash over the Nallamalas. The last one year has been quite a "tight rope walk," as Rosaiah himself admits. Nevertheless, the chief minister gives a full
score to his rule, saying "I have tried my best and I am satisfied".
Addressing select mediapersons here on Monday, Rosaiah dwelt at length the things he did in the past 12 months and the circumstances under which he took the charge, and the future development and welfare agenda he holds on hand to "strenghten" the Congress in the
State.
With State's revenue showing an upward trend post global meltdown and the nature being friendly with its copious rains, the first major task now Rosaiah will face in the year ahead will be the political outcome of the Srikrishna committee report on the division or otherwise of the State.
Keeping this in view, Rosaiah has made it clear that he would abide by whatever decision the Central government takes on Srikrishna committee report.
"Yes, There's an issue. There's the demand. We cannot say there's no demand. But we cannot solve it at our level," he said adding that the Central government's decision is final and he will abide by it.
Rosaiah said he would expect all to follow the Central government's decision. "Now as the chief minister, and earlier as a minister, and common citizen this has been my view. The Centre's decision should be followed by one and all. Then only people of all regions will stand to benefit and the State will prosper".
He said the recent pro-Telangana and pro-united Andhra agitations had cost the State exchequer dear. "The government had lost Rs 100 crore per day for two months during the agitations," he said.
Stating that the agitations had affected industrial investments in the State, he said the formation of the Srikrishna panel reversed the trend. "After Srikrishna committee, investment flow started. IT sector too recorded improved growth. Any agitation will have a say definitely on the flow of investments".
Asked if the State government was prepared to meet the crisis the Srikrishna panel report would create, a confident Rosaiah said "as and when the report comes, we will chalk out a strategy to tackle the law and order situation".
When his attention was drawn to the remarks of Telangana Rashtra Samithi president K Chandrasekhar Rao's remarks that there will be a civil war if the report was against Telangana, he said "in a democracy such situations are not good".
The State, Rosaiah said, had recovered from financial crunch caused by recession and its revenues are improving. The revenue in the first four months of this financial year are nearer to the government's expectations. The task now is to meet the fresh budgetary provisions
for 2010-2011 and clear the arrears from earlier financial years.
"The financial crunch is not as bad as it was when I took the charge. Things have bettered now. In any welfare government, financial issues are bound to exist," he pointed out.
Taking a strong dig at agitations against power plants in the State, Rosaiah said "we need power. We should not create trouble for MNCs, people and environment. There should be balance."
But people must understand and cooperate with the government. Without power the State will not progress. There's scope for more power plants in the State coastline.
Commenting on his performance in the last one year, Rosaiah said he had performed his duties to his satisfaction. "One year is not a big period. I took charge in a peculiar and pathetic situation. Both nature and people have been cooperative. I do not think I have solved the
problems. Circumstances and time was on my side. I performed my duties to my satisfaction with the support of people and the party high command."
On the financial front, he said it was difficult to maintain a balance between income and expenditure. The government has been having a good fiscal management since 2005 and this helped it to manage the financial crisis caused by global meltdown. It was indeed a tight rope
walk.
He said it was a big task for him as the chief minister. "I am in advanced age. I never expected or anticipated that I will discharge this duty. I do not compare myself with anyone and feel that I am greater than others. I have tried to do my best in the given circumstances. I can say I am satisfied, but I can't say whether others too are satisfied with
my governance".
About Cabinet expansion, Rosaiah said it would be taken up at an appropriate time. He denied that the party high command had turned down his proposal on Cabinet expansion earlier. "The Cabinet will be reshuffled when the need arises. The criteria for inclusion or deletion
will be effective running of the government and further strengthening of the Congress in the State".
2010
By Syed Akbar
Hibiscus is a common garden plant with a variety of flowers sure to attract everyone’s
attention. Apart from providing beauty and elegance to gardens and backyards of houses,
hibiscus has several medicinal properties. It is a handy medicinal recipe for home
remedies for problems like dandruff, hair fall, premature greying of hair, high blood
pressure, upper respiratory tract infections and indigestion.
Hibiscus is generally consumed as hibiscus tea, available in the market. Or one can
prepare hibiscus tea at home. It is quite simple to prepare a cup of fresh hibiscus tea,
which can be consumed as a general health tonic to keep the physiological functions of
the body in perfect condition.
Take fresh flowers from a hibiscus plant and dry them under sun. Make them into powder
and keep it in a clean and dry bottle. Whenever you feel like taking hibiscus tea, take a
teaspoon full of powder and add it to a cup of water. Boil the mixture, filter it and
allow the hibiscus tea to cool. You may add honey or lemon or a little bit of sugar to
add taste.
Ayurveda and Unani doctors recommend use of hibiscus tea early in the morning for a
day-long feeling of good health.
Home remedies
Hibiscus tea is often suggested as the best home and quick remedy for high blood
pressure. Regular consumption of hibiscus tea will keep the blood pressure under check,
preventing major health complications.
If you are obese and want to reduce your weight, hibiscus tea is the best bet. Research
studies have shown that hibiscus tea reduces the blood cholesterol levels in arteries and
ensures that the blood flows through them without any interruption. Blockade of arteries
is serious problem which may even lead to death in coronary arteries are involved.
If it is a hot and sultry day and you feel exhausted, then go in for a cup of cool
hibiscus tea.
Body inflammation and swelling can be reduced through hibiscus tea, as it is believed to
be a good diuretic.
Paste prepared from fresh leaves and flowers of Hibiscus can be applied on the scalp for
treatment of dandruff. It is good for hair growth too. Hibiscus shampoo prevents hair
fall.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Aug 24: It takes a lot of patience to excel in the game of chess and Viswanathan Anand has wellmastered the art of patience.
The smile on Anand's face told it all. He was unfazed over the controversy the Union HRD Ministry created over his citizenship. Anand was quite cool and relaxed while expert mathematicians from around the world expressed unhappiness and shock over the way the grand master's citizenship was questioned by the Indian government.
According to the organisers of international congress of mathematicians, where Anand played chess with 40 mathematical geniuses, the grand master did not exhibit any anxiety. "Anand is a thorough gentleman and sportsperson. He took the entire episode rather in a sportive spirit," said Dr Rajat Tandon, head of the department of mathematics, University of Hyderabad.
Anand was more concerned about the chess event, and he did not want mediapersons to detract his attention from chess to the controversial issue of his citizenship. The grand master requested the organisers not to let the mediaperson in. Once the chess competition was over, which Anand won, mediapersons were allowed to witness the question and answer session.
That Anand does not want the controversy to be blown over was clear from the fact that he
advised organisers to ensure that no question relating to the HRD Ministry or the honorary PhD degree was put to him.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Aug 24: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand was forced to submit a copy of his Indian passport to the Union HRD Ministry two months ago to prove that he is an Indian.
Anand's wife Aruna, who lives in Spain, had faxed the copy of the passport of the grand master after the Union HRD Ministry raised doubts about his Indian citizenship.
Aruna took the initiative and had sent a strongly worded letter to the ministry when things became clear that the chess whiz kid's file relating to the award of doctor of philosophy (honoris causa) by the University of Hyderabad was kept in abeyance on grounds of his "citizenship".
The University of Hyderabad, which is also the local organiser of the international mathematical congress where it wanted to honour Anand along with Harvard university professor David Mumford, too sent a number of clarification to the Union HRD ministry stating that Anand is an Indian holding an Indian passport though he stays in Spain.
The university first sensed the problem in July. Since then it has been sending clarificatory notes to the HRD ministry, which however remained unconvinced till the grand master refused to accept the honour. Anand's refusal forced Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal to personally intervene and clear the file.
According to Dr Rajat Tandon, head of the department of mathematics, HCU, "we learnt
somewhere in July this year that the HRD Ministry is suspecting Anand's nationality. We sent several clarifications to them but still they have not cleared the file related to the award of honorary doctorate."
The university too obtained a copy of Anand's passport and sent it to the ministry along
with the clarificatory notes.
Dr Rajat admitted, "there had been a lot of correspondence between the University and the
Ministry on the issue. In fact, Anand's wife Aruna herself faxed the copy of Anand's passport to the ministry".
President Pratibha Patil is the visitor of the University of Hyderabad and in that capacity she has to clear the proposal forwarded by the ministry. The file was kept in abeyance and not forwarded to the President for her assent.
By Syed Akbar
Hyderabad, Aug 24: The Union HRD Ministry's questioning of world chess champion Viswanathan Anand's citizenship is a deliberate attempt to deny the doctor of philosophy degree (honoris causa) by the
University of Hyderabad to the Indian grand master.
There's no rule that only Indian nationals should be awarded honorary doctorates by Indian universities. The University of Hyderabad has sent Anand's name along with that of Prof David Mumford of Harvard University for the honorary degree. While Prof David's name was cleared without raising an eyebrow, the file relating to Anand was held up on the suspicion whether he is an Indian citizen.
Viswanathan Anand continues to be an Indian citizen even though he has been living in Spain for about six years. He holds the Indian passport and at best can be described as a non-resident Indian (NRI). But questioning his nationality is not only an insult but also can be construed to be a clever ploy by some officials to deny him the coveted award.
"Even if Anand is a foreign national he is eligible for the doctorate degree. The same HRD ministry has cleared the name of David Mumford of Harvard University for the award. Prof David is an American citizen. When Prof David is eligible why Anand's file should be kept pending. This clearly shows that it was a deliberate act on the part of some officials in the ministry," said senior scientist and researcher Dr MN Khaja.
The HRD ministry had enough time to verify the citizenship details of Anand. The University sent the file to the ministry earlier this year. It has also followed up the issue several times, the last being on August 18, a day before the International Congress of Mathematicians bagan in Hyderabad. The University of Hyderabad, which is the local organiser of the mathematical event, proposed to award the doctorates to Anand and Prof David during the event, which is scheduled to conclude on August 29.
BJP State president G Kishan Reddy demanded an inquiry into the serious bureaucratic lapse and penal action against the officials involved. "The Prime Minister should intervene and clear the mess that the HRD Ministry is in now. The Centre should apologise to Anand," he said.
Incidentally, in 2003 Anand has been conferred the Jameo de Oro, Spain's highest civilian award given to a foreigner. While Spain recognised the Indian grand master's contribution to chess, the Indian government is embroilled in a controversy whether he is a citizen of India.
