After back-to-back electoral losses, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in Telangana will face another test of its popularity with the Nagarjunasagar Assembly seat by-election, which is yet to be announced.

The bypoll will be of utmost importance to also gauge whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BHP) has fully replaced the Congress in the state, which is still fighting for its survival after recent poll debacles. 

The by-election is set to take place in what is considered to be a stronghold of the Congress. The TRS, which was riding on a high horse since it came to power in 2014, as cut to size recently after first losing the Dubbak bypoll to the BJP, and later by managing to win only 56 wards out of 150 in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. 

While the BJP has never made serious inroads in Telangana until now, it will be a tough fight even for the saffron party, given that it does not have credible leaders or faces across all 33 districts of Telangana. In fact, political buzz over the past few weeks has been that Congress leader and former state cabinet minister K. Jana Reddy is likely to jump ship and contest on a BJP ticket. 

“He (Jana Reddy) is saying that he will not go anywhere, but we don’t know. He has been in the Congress since 30 years. People are even talking about Uttam Kumar Reddy (current Congress chief in Telangana), that he may join the BJP given that Gudur Narayan Reddy (formerly with Congress), his close aide, did the same recently. We have to wait and see,” said a senior Congress leader, who did not want to be quoted.  

Jana Reddy, old Congress hand, had contested the seat in 2018 and lost to the TRS’s Nomula Narsimiaha, whose death has necessitated a bye-poll. The deceased MLA won by securing 83,655 votes, while Jana Reddy got 75,884 votes, and was not too far behind. The BJP’s candidate, K. Nivedita, came fourth with just 2,675 votes, clearly indicating that the saffron party has no sway in that area. 

“Jana Reddy will have to spend money to contest election, and he is not ready for that. He will go wherever he gets a good deal. However, it is a fact that for the TRS, this won’t be an easy bypoll, and even now in Telangana the Congress in rural areas is a formidable opponent. It managed to retain its vote share even in the Dubbak bypoll,” said a TRS functionary, who did not want to be quoted. 

Whatever be the case, things will get clearer once the by-election is announced by the Election Commission of India. What it will make clear with its results is whether the BJP has managed to usurp the Congress completely, or whether the grand old party still has some fight left in it, at least in the rural areas. 

In the 2018 state elections, the TRS swept the opposition away by winning 88 out of 119 seats, while the Congress, the principal opposition, managed to win in just 19 constituencies in spite of having an alliance with the TDP (won 2 seats), CPI and other smaller parties.

The BJP in 2018 in fact got weaker, as it won just one MLA seat (Goshamahal), four lesser than what it won in the 2014 state elections. However, the 2019 Lok Sabha polls saw the BJP (due to an apparent Modi wave) winning four parliamentary seats, with a 20% vote share. The Congress won three, and the TRS managed to win just nine (out of 17. The AIMIM retained the Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat).

After the 2018 state polls, due to defections from the Congress (12) and TDP, the TRS currently has about (or over) 105 MLAs out of 119 in the state assembly.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: The Telangana government will appoint Vice-Chancellors in state universities, wherever vacant, by the end of January 2021, Vice-Chairman, Telangana State Planning Board and the former MP from Karimanagar B. Vinod Kumar said on Wednesday.

Addressing at a seminar on ‘Higher Education-Post COVID-19 era’ organized by Hyderabad-based magazine Excel India in association with Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE), Vinod Kumar said the opinion on holding recruitment to teaching faculty posts in all universities in one stroke would be presented to the Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

He said the Chief Minister has permitted recruitment to nearly 1,061 posts in all universities. “Some States like Bihar have attempted to do comprehensive recruitment to teaching posts in all universities in one go and there was a need to ponder over this,” he said.

“Though the government orders were issued for recruitments in all universities, it could not progress due to various reasons. We will present the idea to the Chief Minister on bringing in legislation, if needed, for recruitment to teaching faculty posts in all universities at one stroke,” he added.

TSCHE chairman Prof T Papi Reddy, Commissioner of Technical and Collegiate Education Navin Mittal, TSCHE vice-chairman-I Prof R Limbadri, TSCHE vice-chairman-II Prof. V Venkat Ramana among other officials took part in the event.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Yadamma has been sweeping near the premises of Charminar for 14 months now. Titled ‘sanitation worker’, her job is to clean the entire stretch from Gulzar Houz until Charminar. “Even during the lockdown, we kept the Charminar clear,” she beams. For her, the only satisfaction is that people visiting the historic site return with a smile.

Yadamma is one of the hundreds of the workers who are responsible to keep the Charminar premises clean. Ixora FM group, a city-based startup, in collaboration with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has taken up mission ‘Hamara Charminar – Swachh Charminar’ to keep the area of the historic structure neat and clean.

Each night, the workers appointed under this initiative, clean Charminar, Makkah Masjid, Chowmahala Palace road, Salar Jung museum road, Laad Bazar road, Nayapul road, and Gulzar Houz and areas alike. Their job entails sweeping trash and empty recycle bins and continues even in chilly nights during winters.

They have also been honored and felicitated by the startup for their tireless efforts to keep Charminar clean amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mohammed Omer, a sanitation supervisor of Ixora FM, said, “I had lost my job due to lockdown but luckily I had experience in hotel management, I came across this startup and applied for the job.” Omer supervises the cleaning works of the granite cobble (tiles) which were laid around the monument as part of the Charminar Pedestrian Project (CPP).

“Thousands of people daily visit Charminar and tonnes of trash piles up here but we come at work around 12:00 am every day, ensure that the visitors who come the next day can see the clean and green Charminar,” Omer added.

Manish Singh, another supervisor, feels that citizens must take the responsibility to keep the ‘Purana Shehar’ (Old City) clean, at least the historic places. “We had been working at the Charminar for over three years. After finishing the cleaning work, we try to create awareness with the shops in the precinct to keep the city clean. Some shop owners came forward appreciated our cleaning work with felicitation, and also contributed by not littering the place with plastic cover or other trash,” he said.

Krishna Chaitanya one of the directors of Ixora FM told “We use high-end sweepers and scrubbers to clean the flooring and single desk machines are used with high-quality chemicals to ensure the granite can shine.”

He further told that the idea is to offer employment to the youth and women in a variety of cleaning drives at multiple places across the old city. “We train the sanitation workers to use the machines and to perform the quality cleaning works at the Charminar,” he added. 

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

New Delhi: Hyderabad cyclist, Anand Goud, covered 1,550 km on his bicycle in an attempt to enter the Asia Book of Records and India Book of Records.

Goud reached the national capital on Wednesday after starting from Hyderabad on December 17. This is not the first-time that Goud has tried his luck to etch his name in the record books. Earlier, he slow jogged more than 600 kms from Hyderabad to Tirupati to register his name in the Wonder Book of Records.

“I completed this journey in 7 days. Before this, I slow jogged 650km from Hyderabad to Tirupati to enter Wonder Book of Records — India,” Goud told ANI.

“I was practicing for six months. I’m doing this because we are young persons and we have to show our talents. I’m targetting 18-20 km in one hour and I’m trying to complete 200 km daily. I have given application for the Asian Book of Records and India Book of Records,” he added.

Goud will be now targetting to feature in the illustrious Guinness Book of Records. 

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Khammam: Director-General of Police (DGP) M Mahender Reddy has asked the district police officials get ready to train the youth for the police recruitment drive which was announced by the state Government.

While speaking after inaugurating a Battle Obstacle Assault Course (BOAC), firing range and parade grounds at the district police headquarters he said officials have to make efforts to prepare the youth to join the police force by providing them proper training to appear for written and physical fitness tests.

Mahender Reddy said that the priority would be given to the local youth in respective districts in the recruitment.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

A 21-year-old was arrested by Rachakonda police for hacking people’s social media accounts and blackmailing them. The accused, Aresani Bharath Kumar from Ghatkesar, a town in Medchal-Malkajgiri district was arrested on Wednesday.

He collected some random phone numbers of the victims from a popular classifieds website and used those numbers to log in their social media accounts and hacked them. He then collected personal data like photos of the victims and blackmailed them.

“After gaining access, he downloaded personal photographs of people and blackmailed them to pay him,” Cybercrime police said.

One of the victims filed a complaint with the police after receiving a blackmail phone call. The victim told the police that Kumar allegedly demanded Rs 10,000 from him.

On further investigation, the police found out that the accused was using an application to hide his real phone number and contacted the victims using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) number. VoIP is a method that allows individuals to use the internet instead of a regular phone line. It conceals the actual phone number from the receiver. 

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Two women made history by becoming the first linewomen of Telangana state by climbing an eight-meter pole within a minute during the final round of selection at a training ground on Wednesday. This is a great win for women as this post is usually taken up by men.

The women who broke stereotypes are Babburi Shirisha, a 20-year-old, and V Bharathi, 32-years-old, a mother of two. They now hold a certificate in electrical an ITI.

The two budding electricians are now excited to work on the field.

“We worked hard to get here. We will ensure we are referred to as linewomen,” Shirisha told the Times of India.

The women faced many obstacles from power companies for a year as the latter did not want women working in this field. Initially, they were stopped from writing the exam, which is round one. The power companies then delayed the process for the second round, the final round, which is climbing a pole. This round is necessary to be cleared for the job.

The companys’ reason for stopping the women from attending the examinations was “women can’t climb poles”.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: The state president of BJP Bandi Sanjay Kumar today heaped praises on state police and added that the police would scan the entire old city within 15 minutes and find out Rohingyas and Pakistanis . He dared the state government to give 15 minutes time to the police if it had guts.

He made these remarks while addressing a gathering of party workers in the Khammam town. Several joined the BJP in the presence of the state president. Speaking on the occasion he claimed that several leaders from Siddipet, Khammam and Warangal We’re ready to join their party.

He said that the arrogance of CM KCR had not come down even after defeats in Dubbak and GHMC elections.

He asked the state government as to Why it was not taking up the election of GHMC mayor. He alleged that the ruling TRS party leaders were offering Rs.5 crore to their party corporators if they joined the Ruling party.

Sanjay also reacted sharply to an incident involving a head master abusing five minor Girls in Laxmidevipally mandal of Bhadadri Kothagudem district . He alleged that the ruling Party leaders were trying to hide the incident.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: An NGO has claimed that it has rescued about 70,000 animals so far.

Pradeep Nair, founder and president of Animal Warriors Conservation Society told ANI, “Brought up as an animal lover I was always serving them since childhood. Whenever I see an injured animal I bring them home, treat and release them back.”

Nair said that as he came to Hyderabad after B Tech for a job in IT company as software developer, he simultaneously joined a local NGOs and took part actively in saving animals from distress.

“With years of experience, I trained young volunteers to become animal activists. I found there was no focused group to save animals which are stuck in situations like falling into well or borewells or even trapped between walls. These rescues are termed as tactical rescues. I had rescued more than 70,000 animals so far. They are mostly during floods and other natural disasters,” Nair said.

“With like-minded people, we started Animal Warriors Conservation Society in 2019. With an agenda to rescue animals in distress, nature conservation and spreading awareness about nature and animals we actively undertook activities like lake cleanups etc to provide safe habitat for wildlife. We saved many animals from floods and other natural disasters. We collaborate with forest department in saving wildlife that are injured or has entered into human habitats. Currently, we are working in Asifabad District where a tiger killed two villagers.”

“Our team is spreading awareness among villagers to avoid another conflict. We distributed facemasks and whistles to safeguard villagers. With a goal to build an army of animal rescuers our team is working hard towards the cause. We aimed to achieve our planet safer for humans and animals to coexist,” he said.

A volunteer Anurudh Mohan Sahadeva said, “I have been associated with Animal Warriors conservation society for the past two years. It all started from a flood rescue in 2018 in Kerala. I reached out to a lot of NGO regarding the flood rescues. That’s when I got connected to Animal Warriors Conservation Society and rescued a lot of animals.”

“It is always a happy moment when we save an animal from distress. Most of the people are not aware of their lifestyle which will impact the life surrounding them. We try to bring that awareness in people about the nature around them. We also do a lot of conservation events such as plantation drives, restoring habitats,” Sachdeva said.

Santhoshi, a volunteer at Animal Warriors Conservation Society said, “For 4 years, I use to volunteer with Blue Cross of Hyderabad to rescue injured animals. Later I joined Animal Warriors where I am rescuing animals which are stuck in remote places like well, borewell and birds stuck in Manja (thread).”

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

By Zaheer Nawaz

Hyderabad: After the action by the Income Tax (IT) Department against Yashoda Hospital, it is being alleged that the BJP has started targeting industrialists and traders closer to the Government of Telangana.

In the operation carried out against the hospital, 20 teams of the IT Department have jointly started the process of identifying tax evasion and financial fraud and the operation has been going on for the last three days.

According to the sources, the IT Department has found unaccounted assets in the form of cash, gold, jewelry and property papers during the raid and the raids are still going on. It is being rumored in the political circles that the IT Department and ED are being used by the BJP to target those who support the State Government or institutions officials closer to the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and in the coming days more ED, DRI and IT raids could be made in the State of Telangana. 

On the other hand, BJP sources rejected the allegations and said that the party has nothing to do with it.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: A case has been booked against two police personnel on Thursday for allegedly entering the University of Hyderabad campus in civil dress and misbehaving with two female students.

Following a complaint from the Security Officer of the university G Jalandhar Reddy, the Gachibowli police registered a case of trespassing and misbehavior under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). 

As per the complaint, the two police personnel–Suresh and Gopi entered the campus from the Gopanpally gate at around 6 pm. After reaching the south campus junction, they misbehaved and harassed university girl students. At that time, they were under the influence of liquor. Both the apprehended police personnel were brought to the police station by the students.

Gachibowli inspector Srinivas said, “They belong to TSSP eighth battalion. There is a piece of police land behind the UoH campus, which is guarded by the battalion police. We do not know why they entered the campus in a civil dress. In the complaint, the students alleged that the cops misbehaved with female students. A case was registered under the charge of trespass and misbehavior.”

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Due to the threat of second wave of coronavirus, uncertainty prevails over the New Year parties in Hyderabad.

Health authorities on Thursday also expressed views against organizing such events and said that they were writing to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), police, and excise against the parties.

Health authorities worried over New Year parties in Hyderabad

Urging the people to stay at home on New Year’s eve, Director of Public Health Dr. G. Srinivasa Rao said health authorities are worried as every year all sections of the society attend parties and events on the occasion.

He further said that such parties will nullify the efforts taken by the health and other departments to control the pandemic for the past 10-11 months.

Meanwhile, Telangana reported 574 new Covid-19 cases on Thursday, taking the state’s tally to 2,83,556. Two more persons succumbed to the virus, pushing the death toll to 1,524.

Area under GHMC limits reported 109 new cases. Rangareddy district saw the second highest number of new cases at 48 followed by Medchal Malkajgiri (42), Warangal Urban (34), Karimnagar (30), Khammam (25), Nalgonda (22) and Bhadradri Kothagudem (22).

The state also saw 384 recoveries taking the cumulative numbers to 2,75,217.

Although the number of new COVID cases in Telangana is decreasing slowly, there is an apprehension that if New Year parties are organized in Hyderabad or other districts of the States, it may increase in the coming days.

Threat of new strain

Due to the new strain of the virus that was found in the United Kingdom, health authorities are stressing the importance of not organizing parties in the State.

It may be mentioned that every year, Hyderabad hosts around 1500 New Year parties. However, this year, the concerned authorities have not issued permissions to event organizers, pubs, and hotels for holding any event on the occasion.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Superstar Rajnikanth has been admitted to Apollo hospital in Hyderabad on Friday. He has complained of ‘Severe Fluctuation’ in his blood pressure, a press release by the hospital said.

The official press release issued by Apollo hospital also that he is hemodynamically stable now.

A statement issued by Apollo Hospital read, “Mr. Rajnikanth has been admitted in the hospital today in the morning. He was shooting for a movie in Hyderabad since the last 10 days. A couple of people on the sets tested positive for Covid-19. Mr. Rajnikanth was tested on December 22 for Covid-19 and he was negative. Since then, he isolated himself and was monitored closely. Though he did not have any symptoms of Covid-19, his Blood Pressure showed severe fluctuations and needed further evaluation for which he has been admitted to the hospital. He will be investigated and monitored closely in the hospital till his blood pressure settles down before being discharged. Apart from fluctuating blood pressure and exhaustion he does not have any other symptoms and is hemodynamically stable.”

The shoot of actor Rajinikanth’s upcoming Tamil film Annaatthe, which has been taking place in Hyderabad over the last few weeks, had to be halted all of a sudden after eight crew members have tested positive for the coronavirus a couple of days ago.

However, the actor was tested negative. In the movie, Rajinikanth will be seen playing a caring brother and Keerthy Suresh will be seen as his sister.

Recently, Rajnikanth also announced that he will soon launch his own party and take the full-length plunge into politics.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: The sleuths of Commissioner’s task force on Friday arrested Manthri Shankar a notorious and habitual offender. Three of his associates have also been held and property worth twelve lakhs have been recovered.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said that Manthri Shankar is dossier criminal of Hyderabad and he has been involved in as many as 250 house burglaries and theft Cases in three Commissionerate, earlier he was convicted in 209cases.

He was sent jail on more than 21 occasions. Earlier four times detained under stringent PD Act two times by OU PS, Saidabad PS, and fromKarkhana PS. After completion of detention period he was released from jail on December 4.

After releasing from jail he, formed a gang with three associates Abdul Latif Khan of Falaknuma, Mohd Majeed of Bhavani Nagar and Mohd Imtiyaz Ahmed of Vidya Nagar, Nallakunta and involved in house burglary offences.

After series of offences in Hyderabad, to detect the theft cases of Begumpet police station, the Task Force, North Zone team verified the CCTV footages at all possible places, got identified the footage of accused persons.

During the interrogation of the accused, the police have recovered stolen property worth 12 lakhs and the arrested have been produced before the court.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Sleuths of Cyber Crime Police, Cyberabad busted a instant loan app racket and arrested four members including a Chinese national.

According to police Commissioner Cyberabad VC Sajjanar, the police have raided “Cubevo Technology Private Limited” (Skyline) located in the city headed by a Chinese National .

Its head office is located in Delhi named “Skyline Innovations Technologies India Private Limited” which is registered in ROC, Gurgaon and its Directors are Zixia Zhang (Chinese National) & Umapati aka Ajay and they developed 11 Instant Loan applications which offer loans to individuals and collect huge repayments (including interest, processing charges, GST, Default charges and once loan period is over they charge 1% penalty) and also resort to systematic abusing, harassing, threatening of the defaulters through call centers run by them.

They even blackmail the borrowers by sending fake legal notices to their relatives and family members. Recently Cyber Crime Police Station, Cyberabad have registered 8 cases against these loan applications and investigated into the cases.

Yi Bai aka Dennis, a Chinese National, resident of Delhi, Jiangxi, Shanghai, South West China, SatyaPal Khyalia, of Delhi and native of Sikhar District , Rajasthan , Aniriddh Malhotra, of Rajasthan and Murathoti Richie.

The prime accused Zixia Zhang with the help of a his Singapore based company developed 11 instant loan applications offering loans to the individuals aged between 20- 40 years with high interest rates.

Then in the month of Dec 2019, Zixia Zhang along with Umapati established a company called DIGIPEERGO TECH PVT LTD initially and then established SKY LINE INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED and offered loans through the above mentioned applications. To get the repayments from the loan borrowers they have set up four more call centers in various parts of the country.

During the operation the police have seized Laptops , 2
Cell Phones and1 Bank A/c – 2 Crores.

List of Instant Loan Applications:

1) Loan Gram 2) Cash Train 3) Cash Bus 4) AAA Cash 5) Super Cash 6) Mint Cash 7) Happy Cash 8) Loan Card 9) Repay One 10) Money Box 11) Monkey box

Police Advisory on loan apps

Don’t download any Insta Loan Apps from Play store or other source which are not having proper licences from Government authorities.

Don’t give your personnel and bank credentials to anyone.

Please go through the terms and conditions and verify the licences of the companies whoever offering loans, whether they obtained from the concerned authorities like RBI, Dist Collector.

Don’t download any App who asks to give access to the contacts, files, Gallery.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Acting on a credible tip-off, the Special Operation Team (SOT) of Cyberabad police on Thursday arrested two undergraduate students and one jobless youth while they were allegedly transporting 8 kg of dry ganja and 900 grams of liquid ganja in Samathanagar.

The accused were identified as K. Jaya Krishna Reddy (24), a resident of KPHB colony; Janavath Balaram Naik (23), a resident of Western Hills and Segu Venkata Srikaar (23) who was looking for a job resident of KPHB colony. They are all natives of Andhra Pradesh.

According to police officials, the prime accused Krishna Reddy had allegedly brought the dry ganja from Vishakapatnam of Andhra Pradesh. He, along with his friends, tried to sell ganja in Hyderabad to earn money in an easy manner.

After receiving credible information, the SOT team three persons with bags procured 8 kg dry ganja and 900 grams of liquid ganja.

Later the apprehended respondents along with the seized property were handed over to KPHB police.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) issued a death certificate for a man named, Karwan, who is currently residing in Dubai. The issuance of this death certificate shows the negligence by the GHMC.

The issuance of a birth certificate or death certificate has a long and tiring process. It also requires repeated follow-up until the certificate is issued. However, with the help of a little bribe of Rs 1000 to Rs 3000, one can obtain any of the above certificates easily. 

It has been noticed that in comparison, a birth certificate is much easier to procure than a death certificate.

Corruption in GHMC

The authorities are employing temporary agents to carry out the publishing of fake certificates. To what appears to be true, the procedure to obtain these certificates as per the rules is online. Nonetheless, bribe practices are taking place regardless. 

Around 3500 applications were received by the GHMC from the Charminar Zone for the certificates, which seem to be in process for the last six months. Yet these certificates haven’t been delivered to complete their aim, which stands as proof of misconduct by the officials in charge.

This incident is a clear explainer of the current situation. It shows how agents are used for consuming bribes for these certificates.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Bharat Biotech Chairman and Managing Director Dr Krishna Ella and Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella called on Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu at his residence on Friday in Hyderabad.

They discussed the status of the indigenous vaccine, being developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute of Virology, and the plans to make it available in India and the rest of the world. This indigenous, inactivated vaccine is being developed and manufactured in Bharat Biotech’s Bio-safety Level 3 bio-containment facility.

During the interaction, the Vice-President lauded the collaboration between the ICMR and Bharat Biotech and stressed the importance of public-private partnership in bringing out the indigenous “world-class product”.
Recently, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited Bharat Biotech and reviewed the status of the vaccine candidate, Covaxin. It was followed by a visit from 70 ambassadors and high commissioners from several nations at Genome Valley Bharat Biotech facility in Hyderabad.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Hyderabad: Amid scare of newly traced COVID-19 strain, the Cyberabad Police have prohibited parties on New Year eve on December 31 this year.

Police Commissioner Cyberabad, VC Sajjanar said that the police has not accorded permission for events and new year parties.

Adressing a press conference Sajjanar said “ We have prohibited all the gatherings in gated communities, hotels, resorts, farm houses, play grounds, stadiums or anywhere on December 31.

Only the regular activity at the restaurants, hotels, pubs will be allowed under covid protocol norms. Cases would be booked and legal action initiated if anyone was found organising any event on December 31.

The Commissioner also said that the Cyberabad Police will be conducting special drunk and driving checks and book cases during the December 31 night.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.

Mumbai: By the time this article is published, Hyderabad’s many cathedrals and churches will have completed their Christmas day services. After attending congregations either in person or via streaming, the faithful will ready themselves for resplendent feasts. Most likely roast beef and chicken fry will be prominent on the menu. Christian households in Hyderabad also prepare chicken biryani. In tune with the spirit of celebration, mulled wine will be today’s preferred beverage. And the thought of the delicious desserts: plum cake, rose cookies, and marzipans makes one’s mouth water. The raging pandemic limited Christmas Eve Masses this year. Nonetheless, those emboldened by their faith hauled themselves to their nearest places of worship and sang carols through their green and red masks. The appeal of Christmas is universal; it transcends all boundaries. Legend had it that His Exalted Highness, the Nizam of Hyderabad, attended Christmas Eve Mass at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Gunfoundry every year during the 1950s. While speaking to some members of the church, I learned some interesting anecdotes about the Nizam’s fondness for Christmas. The Nizam and his family members occupied the pews towards the right of the altar. The beautiful painting by a Spanish painter Murillo is the Nizam’s gift to the cathedral in 1953. Sadly, the cathedral’s original chandeliers and furniture, also a gift of the Nizam, are no longer there.

In a humble black frame mounted on the wall of Charminar’s Aza Khana-e-Zahra lies a quatrain penned by the Nizam on Jesus. It reads: What was Jesus’ mission O Osman? Ask them whom he came to guide. Gave his life for their redemption. For his flock he gladly died. 

The Nizam was not alone in his reverence for Jesus. After all, over a third of humanity claim him as their messiah. The Holy Quran mentions him by name 25 times. Muslims regard him along with Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Mohammed, (peace be upon them) as one of the five most important prophets. While facing trials and tribulations, Prophet Mohammed drew inspiration from Jesus’ life. Both men endured persecution for their beliefs during their lifetime. Jesus’ mention was clear: Verily, Allah is your lord and my lord, so worship him: that is the straight path: Al Quran 3.51

Archangel Gabriel (PBUH) breathed his spirit into baby Jesus, thus bestowing upon him the ability to perform miracles. These miracles include healing the sick, bringing the dead back to life and breathing life into a dead bird. Lest we forget the baby Jesus also spoke in the cradle. The circumstances of Jesus’ immaculate birth are well known, but this special baby also had a special mother.

Mary or Maryam, daughter of Imran and Anne, descended from a long line of priests. The Holy Quran mentions her name 34 times and dedicates an entire surah to her. Renowned Islamic scholars are of the opinion that she was a prophet herself. She is said to have a personal correspondence with the angels themselves. An exemplar of faith and virtue, Mary like her son also had a remarkable birth.

Her mother Anne yearned for a child. One day she saw a mother bird drop food into the beak of her newborn chick. She returned home and prayed to Allah for a baby of her own. Allah granted her wish and Anne became pregnant. Overjoyed, Anne vowed to dedicate her child to the service of God and prayed God granted her infant refuge from Satan. The reason newborns cry at birth is that Satan pokes them on their side. Mary, like Jesus, was born serene; Satan’s mischief couldn’t touch the holy mother and child. Anne faced a conundrum only males could serve in the Temple of Aqsa. She needn’t have worried; scribes of the Torah soon recognized that Mary was no ordinary child. They quarreled over her tutelage and cast lots over it by throwing their quills into the River Jordan. But Allah deemed that none but a prophet himself should tutor Mary. Finally, Zachariah, father of John the Baptist, took Mary as his apprentice and oversaw her education. 

The elderly Zachariah soon found he had much to learn from Mary. No one but Zachariah had the keys to Mary’s quarters. To his bafflement, summer fruits appeared Mary’s room during the winter and winter fruits appeared during the summer. When he asked her where they came from, she would reply that they were all from God. 

When Mary found herself with child, she secluded to a remote place. Wracked with labour pains, alone and desolate, she cried out aloud and even begged for death. But as soon as she gave birth to Jesus, he cried out to her from his swaddle, a halo encircling his head, to shake a palm tree and eat its fallen dates and drink from a near stream. 

Now left with no choice but to return to her kinsmen, Mary became subject to much conjecture. But the holy infant spoke from his cradle and ended all speculation with his words.  ‘I am the servant of God. He has given him the scripture and made me a prophet. He has made me blessed and has enjoined me to commit to prayer and charity.’

The world into which Jesus Christ was born was in much chaos, not unlike our world today. He was born to deliver mankind of evil and taught us that the kingdom of heaven exists within us all. In times past, church bells used to ring throughout the day. Special bells rang out to announce weddings, funerals, or impending storms. Despite this year’s altered circumstances, churches throughout the world rang bells at the stroke of midnight to herald the birth of Jesus, the messiah. I would like to thank Dennis Powell, Malcolm Taylor, Alponsus David, and Michael Monterio for assisting me with writing this article. I’ll end by leaving you with this marvellous video.

Merry Christmas, peace to all.

Zeenath Khan is based in Mumbai. She writes columns and blogs and is in the process of writing a book on Hyderabad.

Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS.