Kamal Haasan's 'Viswaroopam' Screening Stopped in Hyderabad

EFT Report, Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh government stopped the release of Kamal Haasan's film "Viswaroopam" in Hyderabad on Jan. 25, 2013 after some Muslims organizations complained that the movie had hurt religious sentiments of the community.

Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy directed police to stop the screening till Jan. 28 after some Muslim leaders called on her and demanded a ban on it.

Following this, Hyderabad police commissioner asked cinema distributors not to screen the movie at theatres in the city.

Kamal Haasan's 'Viswaroopam' 

Cyberabad police commissioner, covering areas around Hyderabad, also directed theatres not to show the movie.

Officials said the orders were issued in view of the demands by Muslim organizations. Also, there were fears of law and order problems on the occasion of Milad-un-Nabi being celebrated Friday (Jan. 25).

It was not immediately clear if the movie would be released in the rest of the state.

A day earlier, the Madras High Court declined to stay Tamil Nadu government's order suspending the release of the film.

The court asked the filmmaker to postpone the release till Jan. 28 so that it could view the same on Jan. 26.

The movie in Tamil and Telugu was scheduled for release Friday; the Hindi version, titled "Vishwaroop," is set to hit the screens on Feb. 1.

"Vishwaroopam" is produced and directed by Kamal Haasan, who has also acted in it.

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Hyderabad Shuts Down After Owaisi's Arrest

EFT Report, Hyderabad: A shutdown is being observed in Hyderabad and in some other parts of Andhra Pradesh on Jan. 22, 2013 to protest Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's arrest in a seven-year-old case.

Shops, business establishments and educational institutions remained closed in the old city and other Muslim-majority areas in Hyderabad.

State-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) suspended majority of its bus services while auto-rickshaws were also off the roads.

MIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi

The usually busy markets around historic Charminar wore a deserted look.

Police and paramilitary forces were deployed in the communally sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incident.

Parts of Hyderabad and several towns in Telangana had also observed a shutdown on Jan. 21 after Asad Owaisi was sent to jail for 14 days by a court in Sangareddy town of Medak district.

He and other MIM leaders were booked in 2005 for preventing officials from demolishing a place of worship for road expansion. A non-bailable warrant was pending against the MP.

A shutdown is being observed in Sangareddy and other towns of Medak district, Karimnagar, Adilabad and other districts in Telangana and also in Anantapur in Rayalaseema region.

Sporadic incidents of violence were reported from different parts of Hyderabad on Jan. 21.

Some unidentified persons attacked a RTC bus in Bahadurpura in the old city Monday night and tried to set it afire. The bus driver was injured in the incident.

As a precautionary measure, police imposed prohibitory orders in old Hyderabad, Sangareddy and other towns, banning assembly of five or more people.

MIM general secretary Ahmed Pasha Khadri said the party has not called for shutdown but it was people in districts and towns who were voluntarily keeping their shops and business establishments closed to show solidarity with Owaisi.

Police also tightened security in Nirmal town of Adilabad district, where Asad Owaisi's younger brother Akbaruddin Owaisi will be produced before the court in hate speech case. As his 14-day judicial custody is ending Tuesday, the police would produce him before the magistrate.

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President Inaugurates 28th Ophthalmology Congress in Hyderabad

EFT Bureau, Hyderabad: The President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee inaugurated the 28th Congress of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology in Hyderabad on January 17, 2013.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said as stated in the Vision 2020 document of WHO, the problem of blindness can only be combated through increased political commitment, professional commitment, provision of high quality eye care, increasing public awareness and support of non-governmental organizations and private sector. Private sector companies and government institutions should join hands to fight blindness and visual impairment. The private sector companies should not consider this a burden but as a way of discharging their social obligations. If the local medical associations like the Indian Medical

President at 28th Congress of the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology

Association can take this initiative in collaboration with the non-governmental organizations in towns and districts, it would make a distinct difference.

The President urged delegates present there not to count their success in terms of the economic prosperity, but by the number of people who they can help prevent from becoming blind or by giving sight to those who live without it.

The President said he is confident that the Congress would find solutions for providing greater medical access to the needy. He also hoped that the technical sessions would provide the necessary platform for knowledge sharing and information dissemination.

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Over 1-Crore People in Andhra Sign up to Support Jagan Reddy

Report by Santanu Ganguly: ‘Jagan Kosam Janam Santhakam’ (people’s signature for Jagan), the massive signature campaign launched by the YSR Congress Party on Dec. 22, 2012 to collect one crore signatures highlighting the CBI’s victimization of its president Mr. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has elicited tremendous response from the people.

The campaign kick started and progressed under the personal supervision of Party’s Honorary President Mrs. Vijayamma has been a huge success, primarily because the people of the State fully empathized with the cause. Leaders and activists ranging from the Party’s Political Affairs Committee to the grass root level workers at the villages were committed to reaching the target number of signatures as quickly as possible. The signature campaign, which is still under way at a brisk pace will continue till Jan. 10.

Special camps organized for the campaign - The signatures have been collected at the YSR Congress party headquarters and its offices in the districts and mandals as well. Party leaders also organized special camps in various villages and towns for the purpose.

At many a camp people formed long queues to sign the appeal. Significantly, women, old people and students form major chunk of the signatories. The party cadres have been relentlessly carrying out this campaign with people turning out voluntarily to affix their signatures on the appeal.

Signature Campaign in AP for Jagan Reddy

Given the overwhelming response by the public, the Party has been able to surpass the target within 17 days collecting 1,24, 36,000 individual signatures of people across the State of Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere in the country and even abroad. The figure includes the signatures received through online forms.

These signatures will be appended to an appeal that will be handed over to the President of India, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, according to the Party’s Political Affairs Committee Member Bajireddy Govardhan.

“Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been jailed for more than seven months for the simple reason of his coming out the Congress and launching his own political party. Working under political pressure, the CBI has been going overboard to project him as the culprit in a case foisted on him as part of political vendetta. With biased investigation, the probing officials have been resorting to misusing of their official position and destroying the propriety of the investigating agency. We appeal to you to intervene and stop this political vendetta and victimization of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy,” says the Party’s appeal to Shri Pranab Mukherjee.

The appeal points out that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy was singled out for victimization by the CBI while the agency has been applying a different yardstick in cases related to Mulayam Singh Yadav and Mayawati in UP and Chandrababu Naidu in AP.

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Rashtrapati Nilayam to Open for Public Viewing From Jan. 6–12

The Garden at Rashtrapati Nilayam, Bolarum, Secunderabad will be opened for public viewing for seven days from January 6 to January 12, 2013, each day from 10 am to 5 pm.

The Rashtrapati Nilayam premises comprises landscaped garden, different seasonal flowering plants and display of potted plants around the main building, natural cascading water falls and seven different types of Nutrition Gardens of Mango, Sapota, Pomegranate, Guava, Amla, Coconut and Cheeku.

A herbal Garden in the premises of the Rashtrapati Nilayam has 116 species of medicinal and aromatic plants like Sarpgandha, Kalabandha, Citronella, Lemon grass, Khus, Geranium, Coriander, Sandalwood, Tuber rose, Jasmine, Kalmegh, Tulsi, etc. The Garden is located in an area of about 7000 sq. mtrs. Several measures have been taken for conservation of rain water in Rashtrapati Nilayam to improve ground water sustainability.

Rashtrapati Nilayam Garden

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Dr Reddy’s to Acquire Dutch Firm ‘OctoPlus’ for Rs 193 Crore

Hyderabad-based pharma major, Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd together with its subsidiaries announced its intent to buy OctoPlus, Amsterdam for an offer price of €27.39 million (about Rs 193 crore).

OctoPlus is a service based specialty pharmaceutical company. Dr Reddy's offer price of €27.39 million (cum-dividend) in cash, represents 100 per cent of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares. The offer price represents a premium of 30 per cent over the closing price of OctoPlus as of October 19.

This deal will help expand the expertise and scientific capabilities of Dr Reddy's.

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Kamla Landmarc Buys IPL Team Deccan Chargers

A Mumbai-based real estate company, Kamla Landmarc has bought the cash-strapped Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise "Deccan Chargers" for an undisclosed sum.

Deccan Chronicle Holdings, who paid $107 million for the franchise in 2008, informed the Indian stock exchanges of their decision to sell the team to Kamla Landmarc.

Last month, the owners had invited bids for the franchise after being granted approval by the Indian cricket board (BCCI) but rejected the sole offer of nine billion rupees ($162.4 million) for the 2009 IPL champions.

The BCCI later terminated the franchise for various defaults, including failure to pay overdue player fees, but the owners immediately issued a legal challenge against the expulsion, a case which is still ongoing.

Last year, the BCCI terminated the contract of the Kochi franchise for defaulting on payments while DLF, India's largest real estate firm, terminated the title sponsorship of the league in August ending a five-year association.

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Hyderabad to Host ‘Arogya Health Fair’ From Oct. 12–15

Union Health Ministry and the Andhra Pradesh government in collaboration with FICCI will organize a four-day ‘Arogya’ health fair in Hyderabad.

The ‘Arogya 2012’ health fair, scheduled from October 12 to 15, 2012 will provide a platform for showcasing strength and potential of traditional medicine systems, exhibit R&D efforts in AYUSH sector, interact with practitioners, consumers and other stakeholders, project future trends and requirements of the sector.

It will also help create awareness among individuals and professionals about Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy.

The fair will help attract stakeholders in AYUSH sector like manufacturers, retailers, consumer healthcare product manufacturers, health food producers and processors, medical practitioners and publishers.

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Special Science Express Train to Arrive in Hyderabad on Oct. 9

Marking the International Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Hyderabad, a special Science Express train would be arriving at Secunderabad Railway Station on October 9, 2012.

The train, Science Express—Biodiversity Special (SEBS), is being jointly run by the Department of Science and Technology and Union Ministry of Environment and Forests. Flagged off on June 5, 2012, on the World Environment Day from Delhi Safdarjung, the train had already registered 12 lakh visitors as it chugs along the length and breadth of the country.

The train would help showcase India’s rich biodiversity to thousands of school children and also to hundreds of delegates to the convention from over 180 countries.

The 16-coach train would give a bird’s eye view of bio-geographical zones of India, including trans-Himalaya, the Himalayas, the Gangetic plain, the North-east and Coastal areas.

It would also cover myriad facets of marine, forest, microbial, agro biodiversity and their linkage with livelihoods, besides challenges of conservation.

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Dr Reddy's Generic Asthma, Allergy Drug Launched in US

Hyderabad-based pharmaceutical major, Dr Reddy's Laboratories Limited, has launched Montelukast sodium oral granules, a generic drug used for the treatment of asthma, allergy and bronchospasm, in the US market.

Dr Reddy's Montelukast sodium oral granules, the bioequivalent generic version of Merck Co’s Singulair oral granules, are available in unit dosage package of 30.

The Singulair oral granules' brand had US sales of approximately $61 million for the most-recent 12 months ending July 2012, according to IMS Health.

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Hyundai Rotem Bags Rs 1800-cr Hyderabad Metro Rail Order

Korea’s Hyundai Rotem Company has clinched L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd order for the supply of rolling stocks. The order worth Rs 1,800 crore is for the supply of 171 cars (57 trains).

The letter of award was signed and exchanged by VB Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad), and Hyung-Wook Kim, Director-Rail Business, Asia, Hyundai Rotem Company.

Hyundai Rotem Company is a proven rolling stock supplier and has prior experience of supplying to Indian metros and has globally supplied to projects in Japan, Greece, Hong Kong, Philippines, Taiwan, Turkey and Korea.

The rolling stock will be delivered nine months prior to the commissioning of each stage of construction of the elevated metro rail project. The project seeks to develop a 72-km rail network along three dense corridors in Hyderabad.

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IndiGo Starts Daily Dubai-Hyderabad Flight

IndiGo Airlines launched its new daily Dubai-Hyderabad flight with an Airbus-320 aircraft on Aug. 7, 2012.

The first flight landed at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) from Dubai at 11.05 am and received a traditional water canon salute welcome at the airport in the presence of RGIA and IndiGo Airlines officials.

The new Dubai-Hyderabad flight will be IndiGo Airlines' first international service to Hyderabad, and its first service from Dubai to south India.

The flight, 6E-25 will depart Dubai at 5.35 am (local time) and arrive at Hyderabad at 11.05 am. In the return direction, 6E-26 will depart Hyderabad at 1.20 pm, and arrive at Dubai at 3.45 pm (local time), said a release from GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL).

With the introduction of this new Hyderabad-Dubai service, IndiGo will operate four daily flights on India-Dubai routes including two daily flights on Delhi-Dubai-Delhi and a flight on Mumbai-Dubai-Mumbai sector.

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Saina Nehwal Wins Bronze; India’s Third Medal at London Olympic

Indian ace shuttler Saina Nehwal won the bronze medal in the Olympic women's badminton singles event on Saturday after China's Wang Xin retired hurt with a knee injury. Chinese Wang was leading 21-18 1-0 when she conceded the match.

With this win, Saina becomes the second Indian woman to win an Olympic medal, after Karnam Malleswari's weightlifting bronze in 2000 Sydney Olympics.

This is India's third medal at the ongoing London Olympic, with pistol shooter Vijay Kumar (silver) and seasoned marksman Gagan Narang (bronze) being the other medal winners.

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NCL to Invest Rs 150-Crore at Andhra’s Captive Power Plant

Hyderabad’s largest cement manufacturer, NCL Industries Ltd is planning to set up a 30-MW captive power plant with Rs 150-crore investment.

“We are working on achieving financial closure for the proposed plant in next four/five months,’’ Mr K Ravi, Managing Director, NCL Industries said.

The plant would be set up at its Mattapalli cement manufacturing unit in Nalgonda district of Andhra Pradesh.

“The objective behind planning our own power plant is to ensure a regular power supply for cement manufacturing activity as power supply had become very uncertain in the State,’’ Mr Ravi said.

In addition, the Hyderabad-based company hopes to sell the surplus power that will add to its revenue. Its total power-requirement is around 23 MW.

About Rs 100 crore would be mobilised through debt and balance from internal accruals, Mr Ravi said.

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Tiger Airways to Start Hyderabad-Singapore Flights From Sept. 28

Singapore based low-cost carrier, Tiger Airways will start a five times a week service between Hyderabad and Singapore from September 28, 2012.

This is the sixth new destination for Tiger Airways. It already flies to Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchi.

The Hyderabad-Singapore flight (TR 2625) will be on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Departing from Hyderabad at 1.40 am, the flight arrives in Singapore at 8.50 am. The Singapore-Hyderabad flight, on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will depart at 10.30 pm and arrive at 12.40 am.

As a promotional, the airline is offering fares from $165 one-way (Hyderabad-Singapore) all inclusive and $ Singapore 190 one way, all inclusive. The Hyderabad-Singapore fare is in US dollars and return in Singapore dollars. They will be available for sale till July 13 for travel between September 28 and October 31.

Mr Steward Adams, Managing Director, Tiger Airways Singapore, said the airline would offer value fares, with friendly, on-time service.

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Andhra Cancels Land Allotted to DLF Firm

The Andhra Pradesh Government has canceled the allotment of 24 acres to real estate major DLF Building India by the Hyderabad Municipal Development Authority.

The State Department of Municipal Administration and Urban Development canceled the lease agreement entered into by DLF Buildings India Pvt Ltd and the Hyderabad Municipal Development Authority by issuing a Government Order on June 30, 2012.

The 24-acre site was allocated to DLF located at Moosapet village in the busy Kukatpally area abutting the Hyderabad-Mumbai Highway.

The Government justified the cancellation as the company failed to develop the integrated agricultural hub and also for failure to pay the market rent as per the agreement. Though DLF was granted the lease, DLF SBPL Developers Ltd had entered into the agreement citing that they represented DLF.

The Government, through the urban development authority, had taken possession of the land and recommended that the lease pact be canceled.

In regard to the same project, DLF had filed a complaint against a local real estate developer for wrongfully claiming to be their representative and entering into an agreement with the State. A separate investigation is now under way in the case.

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Hyderabadi Boy Vikas Khoker Wins MTV Roadies 9

Vikas Khoker of Hyderabad won season 9 of youth reality show "MTV Roadies" on Saturday, June 30, 2012.

Khoker defeated 13 contestants including seven women and six men and took away a cheque of Rs 61,700.

Abhishek Shetty, Himani Sharma, Vinay Abhishek, Anirudha Sharma, Arsh Shearif, Taranjeet Kaur, Manali, Diyali Chauhan, Pratima Dagar, Vikas Thokar, Kanak Raju, Khusbhu Patel and Dimpy Yadav were the other contestants of season nine.

The finale began with the ex Roadies entering the location where they meet the final four including Himani Sharma, Kanak Raju and Vinay Abhishek. Rajiv along with his twin brother Raghu Ram judged the show this season.

Season 9 kick started from Jaipur and then moved to Delhi enroute to the US. "Roadies 9" is the first Indian reality show that has been shot in the US.

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DJ Lucky Lou to Perform in Delhi, Pune, Hyderabad in July

After David Guetta, Pitbull and Katy Perry, the Indian international stage will once again open for ace hip-hop artiste DJ Lucky Lou.

In his maiden tour to India, the hip-hop DJ will perform at the fifth edition of ‘Tuborg Zero Vh1 Hip Hop Hustle.’ The live concerts will commence on July 4 in Hyderabad, followed by Delhi on July 6 and Pune on July 7, 2012.

Speaking on his first visit to the country, DJ Lucky Lou said, "Yeah baby babies this is DJ LUCKY LOU & it's my first visit to India! I'm looking forward to RAGING with all my sexy Indians out there as I play the best in hip-hop, electro and of course party rock/LMFAO music! So Delhi, Pune and Hyderabad "Get Crazy" "Get Shufflin" as we shut the dance floor Down!" Let The Party Rock!!!”

DJ Lucky Lou has collaborated with music industry’s heavyweights including Jay-Z, P Diddy, TI, The Black Eyed Peas and LMFAO. The artiste has churned some popular chartbusters like ‘I’m Sexy and I know it,’ ‘Party Rock Anthem’ and has performed at renowned events held in Hollywood, Las Vegas, New York, Miami, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.

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IndiGO to Start 5 Daily Flights to Dubai, Bangkok From August

Expanding its international operations, India’s low cost carrier IndiGo announced the launch of five new daily direct flights connecting Dubai and Bangkok with Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Delhi from August.

The airline will launch three new flights to Dubai from Hyderabad, Chennai and Kochi while one additional daily direct from Delhi. It will also begin a new flight on Delhi-Bangkok sector.

The introductory return fare for all these new flights is Rs 11,200.

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Three-Day Hyderabad Jewellery Fair From June 22

The fifth edition of Hyderabad Jewellery, Pearl and Gem Fair will be held at the HITEX exhibition centre in Madhapur, Hyderabad from June 22-24, 2012.

The three-day event will feature over 125 exhibitors from India and abroad showcasing a range of products such as gems, studded jewellery, machinery and lab companies, pearls, diamond jewellery and traditional told jewellery.

About 4,000 visitors are expected to visit the fair.

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