Hyderabad: BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has accused chief minister A Revanth Reddy of installing a statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi near the state secretariat solely to be in good books with Congress leadership, particularly the Gandhi family.
He criticized this move as an insult to the people of Telangana, asserting that the statue was placed in lieu of a planned Telangana Thalli statue.
KTR announced that if the BRS returns to power, they would remove the Rajiv Gandhi statue and relocate it to Gandhi Bhavan.
He emphasized that it was not Rajiv Gandhi who introduced computers to India, but rather the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Automatic Calculator (TIFRAC), which began computer services in 1956. “Rajiv Gandhi was 12 years old then,” he remarked.
చిట్టినాయుడు సుభాషితాలు
✳️ రాజీవ్ గాంధీ కంప్యూటర్ కనిపెట్టిండు
❌ కంప్యూటర్ ను కనిపెట్టింది రాజీవ్ గాంధీ కాదు చార్లెస్ బాబేజీ
✳️ రాజీవ్ గాంధీ కంప్యూటర్ దేశానికి పరిచయం చేసిండు
❌ Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Automatic Calculator (TIFRAC) వారు 1956లో ఇండియాలో…
KTR expressed that the decision to install Rajiv Gandhi’s statue disrespects Telangana’s identity and urged immediate rectification from Revanth Reddy, warning that the people of Telangana would respond politically if their sentiments continued to be disregarded.
KTR criticised Revanth for engaging in “diversionary tactics” instead of fulfilling his promises.
He highlighted that the Congress had pledged Rs 15,000 per acre under the Rythu Bharosa scheme, a pension of Rs 4,000, and the filling of two lakh job vacancies.
KTR urged Revanth Reddy to concentrate on effective governance rather than distracting the public.
Additionally, KTR demanded the immediate release of BRS student leaders who were arrested during protests against the installation of Rajiv Gandhi’s statue.
He pointed out that the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research Automatic Calculator (TIFRAC) began computer services in India in 1956, well before Rajiv Gandhi’s political involvement, noting that at that time, Gandhi was only 12 years old
Hyderabad: The immersion of Lord Ganesh idols in water bodies, following the conclusion of nine-day Ganesh Chaturthi festivities, continued on Wednesday morning in Hyderabad.
The Ganesh idols in different forms and sizes were reaching the Hussain Sagar lake and other water bodies in the city as the immersion process spilled onto the second day.
It is expected to conclude by Wednesday afternoon.
According to official sources, 1,05,707 idols were immersed in lakes and different types of ponds, including those set up for immersion by authorities, in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits on Tuesday night.
The GHMC personnel carried out cleaning and other sanitation works as the ‘visarjan’ of Vinayaka idols was underway.
The Telangana capital was in the grip of a festive fervour as organisers of Ganesh pandals hit the streets since Tuesday morning for the immersion of the idols dancing to religious songs and drum beats.
The Hussain Sagar lake in the heart of the city witnessed thousands of footfalls as vehicles carrying the idols queued up for immersion.
The 70 ft-tall Ganesh idol of the famous pandal at Khairatabad here, a major attraction during the festival in the Telangana capital, was immersed in the Hussain Sagar on Tuesday afternoon after the giant reached the lake in a ‘Shobha Yatra’.
The auction of the laddus offered as ‘prasadam’ in the pandals was another attraction during the festivities. Procuring the laddu in the auction is believed to bring prosperity to the successful bidder.
About 20,000 police personnel were involved in bandobust duty in Hyderabad.
As many as 468 cranes were used for the immersion of the idols.
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) sweepers have been engaged in a difficult battle to win since Wednesday morning. The enemy is very light and difficult to manage. Just when the sweeper feels that she has controlled the enemy, a gust of wind sets the enemy free. Though ultimately the winner will be the worker, it comes at the cost of the worker’s health.
The use of coloured paper strips during the Ganesha procession has become a huge headache for the sweepers to clear. Though the GHMC is using suction machines to make it easy to clear these papers at the immersion site on Necklace Road, the routes leading to the immersion site across the city have been flooded with these paper strips which is very difficult to clear.
For a momentary feeling of excitement watching the strips flying in the air when they are blown high into the air, the health of GHMC sweepers is being compromised.
Will the Bhagyanagar Ganesh Utsav Samithi reward the GHMC sweepers and garbage collectors for this back-breaking exercise? Will these workers at least be felicitated? Is this wastage of paper eco-friendly? @TheSiasatDailypic.twitter.com/qn47DmZwZo
GHMC workers were seen handling this task since the wee hours, and this could continue well into the evening. Even as they have been sweeping and making heaps of these papers on the roadside to be put into their bags manually, the wind keeps tossing them into the air, and the cleaning process comes back to square one. Then, there is a repeat of the same task.
Like in the mythological story of Vikram-Betaal where King Vikramaditya keeps capturing Betaal (the ghost) again and again, but every time the latter escapes and climbs a tree, only to be arrested by the former again; the coloured paper strips are difficult to arrest.
Speaking with Siasat.com, a GHMC sweeper hoped for a good rain, which would make their task and life a little easier.
Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Tuesday, September 17, took a dig at the Congress government over Telangana’s “poor” performance in the agricultural sector.
The state now has the lowest sown area in the Kharif season in the last five years. “It takes a special talent to destroy something that is running so efficiently. The somersaults of the govt in releasing Raithu Runa Mafi, and no word on Raithu Bandhu resulted in this unfortunate situation,” said KTR.
The Sircilla MLA further asked when the farmers would receive the loan waiver and Raithu Bharosa funds.
According to reports, till the second week of September, sowing operations have been completed in only 1.23 crore acres, about 95 per cent of the normal cultivation area of 1.29 crore acres for the ongoing Kharif season.
This is a stark contrast to the corresponding period last year when sowing was completed in 1.28 crore acres. The cultivation of major crops like paddy, cotton, and pulses was severely affected.
This is being attributed to uncertainty over irrigation water supply and the absence of Rythu Bharosa investment support and limited crop loan disbursement.
Another record of Revanth Reddy govt! Telangana records the lowest crop sown area in five years in Kharif season!
It takes a special talent to destroy something that is running so efficiently. The somersaults of the govt in releasing Raithu Runa Mafi, and no word on Raithu… pic.twitter.com/ecFgPoWMlJ
Adding to the woes, the recent heavy rains have fully or partially damaged crops in more than 20 lakh acres which is feared to have an adverse impact on the overall crop production.
Some of the adversely affected crops include sugarcane, paddy, major millet, and cotton. Paddy which is mostly sown in the last month of the season due to its short span of cultivation, witnessed a decline in cropping area from 62 lakh acres in the last Vanakalam season to 59 lakh acres during the current season.
Hyderabad: The residents of Hyderabad continue to face traffic woes as the immersion of Ganesh idols in water bodies persists on Wednesday.
Ganesh idols of various forms and sizes were making their way to Hussain Sagar Lake and other water bodies in the city as the immersion process extended into the second day.
Traffic due to returning vehicles after Ganesh immersions in Hyderabad
According to the Hyderabad Traffic Police, vehicle movement was slow in various areas of the city due to the return of heavy vehicles from the Ganesh procession after the immersions.
Date 18-09-2024 at 1010 hrs
Due to returning of heavy vehicles of Ganesh Procession, movement of vehicles is slow from PTI, Ayodhya Jn., Nirankari, Shadan College towards VV Statue. Saifabad Traffic Police are working to ensure the free flow of Traffic. pic.twitter.com/eKnBjJqZAU
In addition, today’s final procession for immersion also resulted in slow traffic from the North Zone, YMCA, SBI X Roads, and Paradise X Roads towards Rasoolpura, Gopalapuram, and Begumpet.
Date 18-09-2024 at 0945hrs Due to Ganesh Final Procession for immersion at Tank Bund, movement of vehicles is slow from North zone, YMCA, SBI X Roads towards Paradise X Roads towards Rasoolpura.Gopalapuram and Begumpet Traffic Police are working to ensure the free flow of Traffic pic.twitter.com/REaF8yJS0D
Due to the procession, vehicle movement was also slow from Basheer Bagh, Old CP Office, Cafe Bahar Hotel, and Old MLA Quarters towards King Koti.
Date: 18-09-24 at 0935 hrs Due to Ganesh Final Procession for Immersion at Tank bund, movement of vehicles is slow from Basheer Bagh, Old CP Office, Cafe Bahar Hotel, Old MLA Quarters towards King Koti. Informed to Narayana Guda Traffic Police to ensure the free flow of Traffic. pic.twitter.com/Ce3qGEyoaB
It is expected that the Ganesh immersions will conclude by Wednesday afternoon.
Over one lakh idols immersed
According to officials, 1,05,707 idols were immersed in lakes and various ponds, including those set up by authorities for immersion, within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits on Tuesday night.
The GHMC personnel carried out cleaning and other sanitation work as the ‘visarjan’ of Vinayaka idols continued.
Hussain Sagar Lake, in the heart of the city, witnessed thousands of visitors as vehicles carrying the idols queued up for immersion.
About 20,000 police personnel were deployed for bandobust duty in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad: The Kaleshwaram Commission enquiring into the alleged irregularities in the construction of three barrages of the Kaleshwaram project, will hold its next hearing from Thursday in Hyderabad.
Retired judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose, who is heading the Kaleshwaram Commission, is scheduled to arrive in Hyderabad on Wednesday evening.
He will conduct the hearing in the matters relating to the alleged irregularities in the construction of Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages by the former Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in the state.
The panel will continue recording the statements of witnesses and their cross-examination.
The panel, constituted by the Congress government after it came to power in Telangana, began its probe in April into the alleged irregularities in the construction of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme on the Godavari River.
The commission has been recording the statements of the officials and engineers of the state irrigation department on the damages caused to the Medigadda barrage on October 22 last year.
It is also looking into the technical problems in two other barrages – Annaram and Sundilla.
Justice Ghose has already visited the three barrages for an on-the-spot assessment.
The state’s Congress government in March this year ordered a judicial enquiry into the sinking of piers of Medigadda barrage and leakages in Sundilla and Annaram barrages.
It has also asked the panel to look into the financial aspect of the project and technical flaws, if any, like designs, planning and execution in the irrigation project built by the BRS government.
The Congress party has alleged large-scale irregularities in the construction of the irrigation project.
During the previous hearing of the commission in July, Advisor to the Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) Vedire Sriram had made a presentation and submitted information on various aspects pertaining to the project.
He had submitted detailed information on the location of head works (main barrage) of initially planned Pranahita-Chevella project at Tummidihatti; availability of water at 75 per cent dependability there; the reasons cited by the then state government for changing the location to Medigadda; what was the view of Central Water Commission and facts about the water availability.
The advisor told the panel that under the guise of non-availability of water by putting the onus wrongly on the Central Water Commission, the BRS government had re-engineered the project and moved it to a new location, only to serve some unknown interests, and in the process put the public interests at risk.
The commission was told that the shifting of location resulted in a huge jump in the project’s cost by Rs 80,000 crore, but the increase in the command area is less than 2 lakh acres.
While Pranahita-Chevella was designed to irrigate 16.4 lakh acres, Kaleshwaram, as per the detailed project report, will cater to 18.25 lakh acres.
Seven retired and serving officers, including former chief secretaries of irrigation and finance departments had also appeared before the commission in July.
They were all asked to file affidavits on the developments during their tenure in the irrigation and finance departments.
Hyderabad: The Telugu Film Chamber of Commerce (TFCC) has initiated an investigation into the recruitment of a minor dancer by choreographer Jani Master, who is accused of alleged sexual assault.
The Committee Against Sexual Harassment is investigating the matter. Jani was booked on September 15 after a 21-year-old woman choreographer accused him of sexually harassing her for five years, beginning when she was 16.
The committee has asked the film federation not to allow Jani to perform any duties in the Telugu Film and TV Dancers and Dance Directors Association (TFTDDA), where he serves as president. The committee has also ensured that no one from Jani’s team or family will approach the complainant during the probe.
On September 15, a zero FIR was registered against the choreographer whose actual name is Shaik Jani Basha. The Raidurgam police booked him for alleged rape, criminal intimidation, and causing hurt to a person.
The case was registered based on a complaint lodged by a 21-year-old choreographer woman who had previously worked with Shaik Jani Basha, since 2017. According to the complaint, the accused choreographer has been sexually assaulting the victim since 2019, including forcefully coercing the victim into sex and threatening her not to tell anyone while she was travelling for work with the accused and her parents away from her.
The complaint accuses Jani Master of multiple instances of sexual assault, public harassment, coercion to marry and convert, career threats, property damage, and criminal intimidation. The accused choreographer’s wife was also named in the complaint, accusing her of attacking the victim.
Hyderabad: The Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT) has urged Union Minister of Labour Mansukh Mandaviya to ensure workers’ union representatives in the inter-ministerial working group to conduct policy making exercises over the social security and welfare of the country’s gig and platform workers.
In a statement IFAT expressed that it is disheartened over their representation being overlooked in the working group tasked for preparing policy for the social security of gig-workers in India.
IFAT, in its statement said that the organisation’s participation has been pivotal in the formation of policies and legislation regarding gig-economy and its workers in the states of Rajasthan, Karnataka, Telangana, Jharkhand, and Haryana.
Referring to the report on the issues faced by gig workers in India titled ‘Prisoners on Wheels’, written by professor Biju Mathew of University of Pennsylvania, IFAT highlighted their involvement in conducting the biggest ever evidence-based survey of platform workers. The study involved more than 10,000 individuals working as platform based drivers and delivery riders across eight states in the country.
The study highlights the socio-economic challenges faced by the workers, who mostly have work for more than 12 hours a day, and still struggle to make around Rs 500 after all the deductions and platform commissions. IFAT demanded their inclusion to the policy making group to ensure the workers’ concerns are addressed and their rights are ensured.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand has given an update on the ongoing Ganesh immersions in the city.
At around 1 p.m., he said that the immersions will continue for the next 5-6 hours.
Ganesh immersions will no longer hinder traffic in Hyderabad
The commissioner further stated that the ongoing immersions will not hinder traffic in the city any further.
Regarding traffic updates, he mentioned that by 6 a.m., important traffic junctions were opened to general traffic, and by 10 a.m., the last junctions, Ambedkar and Telugu Talli Secretariat junctions, were also opened.
On the Ganesh immersions in Hyderabad, he said, “1,000 idols on trucks were stacked up on Necklace Road, and over the next 5-6 hours, the immersions will be completed without any hindrance to normal traffic and daily life.”
గడిచిన 11 రోజులు, ఆఖరి 40 గంటల శ్రమకి ముగింపు వచ్చింది. సౌత్ జోన్ ప్రజలు ఎంతో సహకారం అందించి వారి విగ్రహాలు త్వరగా బయలుదేరేలా చేసారు. SZ నుండి ఆఖరి విగ్రహం నిన్న రాత్రి 10:30pm కు నయాపూల్ దాటింది.
According to official sources, over one lakh idols were immersed in lakes and various types of ponds, including those set up by authorities for immersion, within the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) limits on Tuesday night.
The GHMC personnel carried out cleaning and other sanitation tasks as the visarjan of Vinayaka idols was underway.
The 70-foot-tall Ganesh idol from the famous pandal at Khairatabad, a major attraction during the festival in Hyderabad, was immersed in Hussain Sagar on Tuesday afternoon after the giant reached the lake in a Shobha Yatra.
About 20,000 police personnel were involved in bandobast duty in Hyderabad.
Hyderabad: While most people find it challenging to deal with family members having special needs such as Autism, a young entrepreneur from Hyderabad viewed it as an opportunity to serve the people.
Mohammed Ibrahim Raza, a fresh Computer Science graduate has created a website for early detection of Autism. Ibrahim aims to help people with Autism across Telangana. Speaking of the inspiration behind the initiative, he said, “I developed the app after seeing my sister going through pain due to Autism. We faced a lot of challenges since her condition was not detected early.”
Initially, Ibrahim was reluctant towards the issue however, one day when six-year-old Aleeza began running back and forth with excruciating pain, the entrepreneur realised that his sister was suffering from a major health issue.
The entrepreneur gradually began researching Autism, and based on the data he collected Ibrahim outlined the app and pitched the idea to Edventure Park, a Hyderabad-based business incubator, where he was onboarded. “Detecting Autism and accepting the fact is the initial hurdle that families face. Even if the ailment is detected, it is a major challenge to go for therapy; since it is costly and a handful of people have access to it,” he toldSiasat.com.
Based on the research, Ibrahim built the Leeza.app named after his sister Aleeza. “I named the app Leeza so that I am constantly reminded of the purpose for which it has been created,” he explained.
Another inspiration to create the app was the entrepreneur’s visit to the Parents Association for Welfare of Mentally Handicapped Persons (PAWMENCAP) School, Hyderabad, where he interacted with differently-abled students.
Website reduces cost of early detection, treatment of Autism
The treatment or therapy for Autism is not affordable to all, additionally, people don’t find proper therapy centres. There are three to four types of therapies available for Autism, however, since it is a long-term process, therapies may extend up to three years at a minimum cost of Rs 30,000 per month.
Ibrahim revealed that the therapy centre where Aleeza was being treated was experimenting with extra therapies for the child to make more money.
“In India, those who can barely afford the therapy must have a minimum annual package of Rs 8 lakh. According to a 2011 census, in India, 10 million children suffer from Autism within these only 3 million have access to Autism services. Among the remaining 7 million, 4 million children have no access to these services,” Ibrahim said.
Ibrahim also claimed that the entire cost of early Autism detection would be significantly reduced. The cost of early tests and procedures, which would approximately be Rs 3,000-12,000 is done for free with the help of an assessment test.
“The formal diagnosis done by healthcare professionals post detection is also done for free. Market cost of one therapy is Rs 30,000 which is being done at Rs 3,000 by our consultants,” he added.
Leeza.app collabrates with Hyderabad NGO to assist children with autism
As Autism is a long-term issue, the parents need to be trained in understanding the requirements of the children. The entrepreneur has been working in collaboration with Hyderabad-based NGO, Bharatiya Vidyalaya to provide services to autistic children.
Director of Bharatiya Vidyalaya, Ayesha Rubina, said, “Ibrahim reached out to us a few months ago. I felt that his idea is in line with our vision of assisting children with special needs and hence we forged a collaboration.”
Rubina added that the app has helped her NGO enhance its reach to people who need such services. The NGO is providing three-month certificate courses to parents, especially mothers, on how to manage their children. Leeza.app is preparing modules for these courses through its Learning Management System.
Ignorance, denial causes delays in Autism detection, says Hyderabad doctor
Consultant physician and director, of Caspian Healthcare, Dr Khizer Hussain Junaidi highlighted the ignorance and denial among parents of young childrne that causes significant delay in recieveing treatmetn. “Autism is not a particular disease. It is a spectrum of symptoms with variable intensities. The intensity varies from mild, moderate to severe, and the symptoms and severity will be in variable combinations,” said Dr Khizer.
Some children may have sensory hypersensitivity and some else might suffer from some other type of issue. Such a vast spectrum makes it challenging to diagnose Autism, especially when parents are ignorant and there are in a state of denial.
Sharing an example of a child, Khizer said, “Most of the time, I stay at the clinic for an extra hour where a few parents come with their children with special needs. One day a lady came to me with her 3-year-old kid. The baby wasn’t having social interaction. I inquired about the child’s age and language development. However, the speech did not develop according to age.”
He further stated that is essential for the parents to understand autistic children; if the children are not understood they start throwing tantrums. “2-5 years is the toddler age when children have tantrums, whereas repetitive behaviour is a feature of Autism. These children have sharp hearing sense since they have a hypersensitivity to sound.”
At times, even the doctors may not be able to diagnose that the child suffers from Autism or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
Children with ADHD have a short span of attention; the app is helping assess children through ‘Autism Quotient’ a questionnaire designed by the National Health Services of the UK. There are four types of tests; occupational therapy, speech therapy, behavioural therapy and fine motor skills.
The doctor further said, “There are a lot of factors that have to be assessed to conclude that the child suffers from Autism. While the doctors won’t be able to spend time with a questionnaire for each patient, that’s exactly what the Hyderabad enterprenuer’s Leeza.app is trying to do.”
Here’s how the Leeza.app helps
Initially, the user can choose whether they fill out the questionnaire for themselves or the child. After the questionnaire is filled, the user is supposed to book a slot with one of the counsellors. These counsellors can help people understand the issue at hand and suggest doctors and therapies accordingly.
Early detection and intervention are essential to improving outcomes for children with Autism. Hyderabad entreprenuer Mohammed Ibrahim Raza’s story reminds of how personal experiences can drive innovation and change, ultimately fostering a more inclusive society for individuals with special needs.
By using technology to help early detection and reduce the costs of diagnosis and treatment, the Hyderabad entrepreneur is not providing a valuable resource for families and is also raising awareness over the importance of understanding and accepting Autism.
Education of parents, alongside affordable instruments will help bridge the gap in Autism services and will ensuring that children receive the support they need.
Hyderabad: AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi has strongly opposed the ‘one nation, one election’ proposal cleared by the Union Cabinet on Thursday, September 18, saying it destroys federalism and compromises democracy.
Reacting to the decision of the Union Cabinet, the Hyderabad MP said he consistently opposed ‘one nation, one election’ because it’s a solution in search of a problem.
“It destroys federalism and compromises democracy, which are part of the basic structure of the Constitution,” Asaduddin Owaisi posted on X.
“Multiple elections are not a problem for anyone except Modi and Shah. Just because they have a compulsive need to campaign in even municipal and local body elections does not mean that we need simultaneous polls,” he added further.
I have consistently opposed #OneNationOneElections because it is a solution in search of a problem. It destroys federalism and compromises democracy, which are part of the basic structure of the constitution.
Multiple elections aren’t a problem for anyone except Modi & Shah.…
Asaduddin Owaisi believes that frequent and periodic elections improve democratic accountability.
Earlier, The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the proposal to hold simultaneous elections in the country, as recommended by a high-level committee headed by former President Ram Nath Kovind. Asaduddin Owaisi believes that frequent and periodic elections improve democratic accountability.
The committee had recommended that the government take a one-time transitory measure, which would require the Union government to identify an appointed date immediately after a Lok Sabha election.
The Bill is likely to be introduced in the parliament in the upcoming winter session. ‘One nation, one election’ was one of the key promises made by the BJP in its manifesto for the Lok Sabha elections.
After the government had constituted the committee in September last year, Asaduddin Owaisi warned that ‘one nation, one election’ would be a disaster for multiparty parliamentary democracy and federalism.
“It is clear this is just a formality, and the government has already decided to go ahead with it. ‘One nation, one election’ will be a disaster for multiparty parliamentary democracy and federalism,” he had then said.
Asaduddin Owaisi termed the concept of ‘one nation, one election’ unconstitutional.
One of the core memories every Saudi-born kid can confirm is the joy of entering a baqala. Be it to curb after-school hunger, fulfill midnight cravings, or fuel up for a road trip, the baqala has always been a cultural staple in Saudi Arabia.
These small but well-stocked shops offered childhood nostalgia packed in Rani juice, Batook chewing gum, Halawa Bagara, Smarties glasses, Flamin Hot Cheetos, Jazz Ice Cream, Pik One, and many more.
Iconic Baqala items (Image Source: House of Happiiness)
In recent years, many Saudi Arabian expatriates have packed up this cherished memory and moved back to their homeland, ultimately only left with a yearning for their favorite treats.
Bringing a Taste of Home
In response to these nostalgic cravings, Hyderabad is witnessing a surge in stores specializing in imported Gulf products.
“Being Saudi return myself, I would often crave chocolates like Flakes and Kinder Beuno. So when I started to search for them in Hyderabad, I found that there were hardly any stores selling imported products and even if they did, they were highly priced,” said Ansar Khan.
In July 2020, Ansar decided to take matters into his own hands and set on a journey to bring a taste of the beloved baqala to Hyderabad through Chocolates and More, located in Vijaynagar Colony.
Chocolates n More Store
Ameen Mirza shares a similar story, “After finishing my 12th grade in Jeddah, I came to Hyderabad for my higher studies like any expatriate in Saudi Arabia. It didn’t take long for me to notice that most shops selling imported goods in the city were exploiting the absence of MRP on Saudi products, leading to inflated prices.”
During the first lockdown, Ameen researched, directly contacted importers, and opened the House of Happiiness at Vijaynagar Colony. The store quickly became a go-to spot for those seeking a taste of Saudi Arabia in Hyderabad.
House of Happiiness store
Love Language of Gifting
Another motivation behind opening these stores was to ease the burden for Saudi expatriates traveling back to Hyderabad. Traditionally, returning expatriates would pack their luggage with chocolates to gift their relatives, which would lead to struggling with weight limits. Both Ansar and Ameen recognized this issue and saw their shops as a solution.
“Funnily, some people pretend they brought products from Saudi for their relatives. In reality, they contact me a day before landing and place an order for the same imported goods. It’s a win-win- it lightens their luggage and impresses relatives,” Ameen tells Siasat.com.
In addition to offering a variety of imported products, these stores are also tapping into the tradition of gift-giving that is prevalent in Saudi Arabia. To replicate this custom, they now sell curated gift hampers filled with popular Gulf treats and products. These hampers not only provide a touch of Saudi culture but also offer a convenient and thoughtful option for those looking to share a piece of their heritage with friends and family in Hyderabad.
Gift Hamper by House of Happiiness
Gift Hamper by Chocolates n More
Just for Returnees or Locals as well?
“Our regular customer base mostly consists of Gulf returnees. While, we do have some local customers frequently shopping brands like Almarai, Lotus, and Lindt, it will still take time for international FMCG brands to set up shop in India. I believe, India has more 5 or 10 years to go before it booms here,” said Ansar.
Famous imported Gulf products (Image Source: House of Happiiness)
Ameen has a different opinion, “We started as a niche shop catering only to Gulf returnees, and over the years, we have won the hearts of locals as well. I think this change in the preferences of locals can be credited to their lifestyle. Nowadays, Hyderabadis are willing to spend on quality and that is the reason why bigger brands like Lulu have opened shop in the city. We are only going to grow more from here.”
As the trend of imported products grows, the future of retail in Hyderabad looks bright.
Hyderabad: Land prices in Hyderabad have surged up to 59 percent over the past three years, driven by a growing preference for purchasing land over renting.
In HITECH City, capital values surged by 59 percent, while rental values grew by 46 percent from the end of 2021 to the first half of 2024. Gachibowli has seen even more significant growth, with capital values climbing by 70 percent with rental values increasing by 50 percent, according to data from ANAROCK Research.
In Hyderabad’s real estate market, HITECH City has seen a sharp increase in average monthly rents, rising from Rs 23,000 in 2021 to Rs 33,500 in 2024. Capital values have surged from Rs 5,800 per sq ft to Rs 9,200. Similarly, in Gachibowli, average rents have climbed from Rs 22,000 to Rs 33,000, while property prices have jumped from Rs 5,010 per sq ft to Rs 8,500. This significant growth underscores the growing demand and investment in these key areas.
In contrast to Hyderabad, cities like Bengaluru’s Sarjapur Road have seen a 67 percent rise in rental values and a 54 percent increase in land prices. Similarly, Pune’s Hinjewadi has witnessed a 52 percent jump in rental values, but capital values have only risen by 31 percent.
Regional director and head of research, ANAROCK Group, Dr Prashant Thakur stated, “Analysis of key micro-markets across the top 7 cities shows that in Bengaluru, Pune, Kolkata, and Chennai, average residential rental values increased more than capital values between the end of 2021 and H1 2024. However, in regions like NCR, MMR, and Hyderabad, the trend was reversed, with capital values appreciating more than rental values.”
Hyderabad: Students at Nizam College have raised concerns over the non-payment of scholarship amounts which have been pending for over two years. Several students also fear they will have to bear the expenses out of their pocket, despite securing admission via scholarship. Alongside this, the college is also plagued with sanitation and administrative issues.
Most students seem to be concerned about their academic progress which is hindered by the non-availability of permanent faculty.
Addressing the issues Sahiti, a BA 2nd year student said, “There are major issues with the administration here. Even though I and many other students have secured admission via government scholarships, we are yet to receive the amount.”
As per the government rules, students in the general category are eligible for a scholarship worth Rs 5,000. Similarly, students from the Backward Classes, Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribe are eligible for Rs 7,500 and Rs 10,000 respectively. However, the non-disbursement of these funds has placed several students of Nizam College in a tough position.
Shyam, a 2nd year BCom student expressed dismay over the non-availability of teachers. “Most teachers here have been appointed on ad-hoc bases. They visit the campus, sign the attendance register and leave. Our syllabus remains incomplete which ultimately impacts our scores,” he told Siasat.com. A few other students said that the teachers send PDFs of their respective subjects one night before the exam.
Another 2nd year BCom student pointed out deficiencies in the college library. “The library here has not been updated for quite some time; students struggle to find books relevant to their projects. This is coupled with certain untoward incidents which are left unaddressed.”
Another student Nitin raised concerns over Nizam College’s infrastructure. “There is a major issue with the infrastructure in the classrooms and labs where the fans don’t function properly and the seats are in a dilapidated state. Most students residing in the hostel also face these challenges due to poor infrastructure.”
A few students also raised concerns over administrative failure in curbing the influx of outsiders on the campus. Some claimed that people from outside come and occupy the college grounds, causing issues for students who want to utilise the facility.
Kaveri, a final-year BCom student, criticized the lack of cleanliness on the premises of the Nizam College. “There is not a single dustbin placed on the premises. This generates a lot of waste, which generally lies in heaps and remains unattended to for a long time,” she told Siasat.com.
A final-year BA student said, “There are only two washrooms in the boys’ hostel owing to inadequate sanitation issues.” He also noted that water leaks through the roof of the college canteen, making it difficult for students to have food.
Students allege that the negligence is persistent since the administration has autonomy over the undergraduate sections of the college. The collective concerns reflect a pressing need for reform within Nizam College’s administration to ensure that students receive both their entitled financial support and a conducive learning environment.
Hyderabad: War, merger, liberation, annexation, take over etc are a bunch of words that different people with differing views on the subject of Operation Polo or Police Action use. The term is denotes the military action that annexed the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad to India on September 17, 1948.
The date is also very important for Telangana, which today is a separate state, but was historically part of the Hyderabad state even well after independence (in 1947) until 1956.
Today, Operation Polo or Police Action has become heavily politicised thanks to a growing right-wing narrative that eventually has led to the Centre observing it as ‘Hyderabad Liberation Day’ – as in liberation from the Muslim ruler – last Nizam of Hyderabad – who the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and right-wing narratives like to call ‘tyrannical’ for various reasons.
However, even the ruling Congress in Telangana and the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) have today taken a similar tone by calling the Nizam’s monarchy as ‘autocratic’. What is pertinent to note is that prior to independence, all princely states were run by monarchs, and were autocratic and non-democratic by default. Whether the last Nizam of Hyderabad – Osman Ali Khan – was good or bad, or if he took bad decisions, is a different matter.
Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam with Jawaharlal Nehru.
However, beyond political rhetoric, it is very important to take a look and understand the sequence of events that unfolded and eventually led to Operation Polo or the annexation of Hyderabad in 1948. It was anything but an amicable event between the Indian union, then led by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and the last Nizam of Hyderabad thanks to various factors.
Background of Operation Polo and the Hyderabad state
Run by its last Nizam, the Hyderabad state was the largest one in India. It ran over 82,698 square miles, which included all of Telangana, five districts of Maharashtra and three of Karnataka. It had a population of about 1.6 crore, of which 85% were Hindus and a little over 10% were Muslims (about 43 percent of people lived in the Telangana region).
After months of deliberations and talks with Mir Osman Ali Khan failed, the Indian government finally decided to send its army to annexe (or merge, as some call it) the erstwhile princely state of Hyderabad to India with force. Operation Polo formally began on on September 13, 1948 and concluded in about five days on September 17. The Indian union had begun stationing troops well in advance anticipating a fight.
Operation Polo was led by India’s Maj. Gen. JN Chaudhuri. Called Police Action in local parlance, it has left deep scars on the psyche of Muslims even decades later, as thousands had lost their lives in the aftermath. Moreover, another major reason for sending in the army was the Communist Party of India (CPI)-led Telangana Armed Struggle (1946-51).
The Hyderabad state
It was essentially a peasant uprising against feudal Jagdirdars (landlords) in the Hyderabad state. It had begun much earlier in 1946. Wary of a communist takeover, the Indian government also wanted to crush the communist movement, which continued till 1951. The CPI called it off on October 21, 1951 and joined the Indian democratic system.
In 1946, a parallel political power vis-a-vis the Nizam emerged in the Hyderabad state, in the form of Syed Qasim Razvi, a lawyer from Latur (Marathwada region in Maharashtra), who took over the reigns of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (started in 1927) in 1946 after the death of its former president Bahadur Yar Jung in 1944.
Jung was one the MIM’s most powerful leaders and was a respected figure. It is hard to say what would have happened had he not died under suspicious circumstances (suspected poisoning).
Kasim Rizvi
One of the major reasons behind Police Action is believed to be the fanatical Qasim Razvi, who started the Razakar (volunteers) militia, and indulged in atrocities. The issue with Razvi was his violence. The late author Omar Khalidi in his seminal book ‘Hyderabad: After The Fall’ notes that, “Under Razavi’s charge the organisation (MIM) fairly quickly became a militant and somewhat frenzied party, accused, not without cause, of being fascist in both spirit and structure.”
The thing on which the Nizam held onto was the lapse of paramountcy, that the agreements princely states had was with the British. Like Osman Ali Khan and Hyderabad, a handful of other states also insisted that they could choose to be independent, and that they were not bound by rules of the Indian union.
However, one can very easily argue that the princely state of Hyderabad was functioning under the aegis of British India, and that it was never fully independent. The Nizam was supreme in his state, but even he was under and bound to bow down in front of the British monarchy. One can only wonder what the Hyderabad’s Nizam was thinking vis-a-vis Operation Polo, but we will never know because all we have is a curated version of his speech after Operation Polo and the state’s annexation.
(From left to right): Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, and Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri after Hyderabad’s accession to the Dominion of India.
Even before India became independent, Osman Ali Khan via a Farman (order) on June 26, 1947, announced his intention to not join India or Pakistan. He also tried to get British Commonwealth status for the Hyderabad state but that was not something Britain was going to entertain. More importantly, the post, telegraph, telephone, railways and other departments that were under the British Indian government in Hyderabad were not in limbo without any clear legal basis, except long established usage.
Moreover, the Indian troops in the Hyderabad state were in a similar position, and the union government was worried about the equipment that was left behind. “Matters regarding currency and trade passports and dealings with foreign powers had to be provided with some new legal basis after the lapse of paramountcy,” writes SN Joshi in The Police Action Against Hyderabad.
The book, written from the Indian union and army’s perspective, also states that matters regarding currency and trade passports and dealings with foreign powers had to be provided with some new legal basis after the British left.
Given that the Nizam of Hyderabad was unwilling to immediately accede to India in 1947, the Indian government, in spite of being averse to it, signed a standstill agreement without full accession as a special case on November 29, 1947. More importantly, this was preceded the Nawab of Chattari, an ex-Prime Minister Hyderabad, getting hounded by Razakars on October 27, 1947, when he tried to reason with the Nizam on the matter.
This, along with the Hyderabad state appointed Laiq Ali as the PM, and a new cabinet on the lines of what MIM chief Qasim Razvi wanted, only made matters worse. Moreover, the Indian government’s agent-general to Hyderabad, KM Munshi, who was sent to liaison with the state, made matters worse as he and Laiq Ali barely agreed on anything when it came to decision making.
While all of this was happening, the Razvi-led Razakaars undoubtedly unleashed violence on the local populace, especially Hindus. This is one aspect that for some reason was largely not spoken of and has been swept under the carpet. While it is equally important to poignantly remember the massacre of Muslims, one cannot also disregard that the people of Telangana in some parts also faced severe Razakar violence.
Former Communist Party of India leader and Urdu revolutionary poet Makhdoom Mohiuddin
However, Telangana was better off thanks to the CPI, which began organising peasants and guerilla squads to take violently take back and redistribute lands among farmers. We get an idea of how strong the CPI-led Telangana Armed Struggle was in Edroos’s own book. He writes that the rural areas of Telangana under left-control had a stronger intelligence and that law and order even was in check thanks to them.
Many often forget that the Indian army was stationed in Telangana (Hyderabad state) until 1951 to try and quell the peasant rebellion. The CPI was also fighting with the Razakars until 1948. One of the worst atrocities that many remember is the Bairanpally massacre in which close to 100 people were reportedly murdered.
The Telangana Armed Struggle was however called-off on October 21 by the CPI after which the party took the democratic route and contested elections (through the People’s Democratic Front) in the first elections of 1951-52.
Final days in Hyderabad before Operation Polo
One of the reasons that many believe that set forth Operation Polo was the suspicion that the Nizam was directly or indirectly helping the Razakars. However, this blame perhaps can be put on Laiq Ali, who was more or less doing that. These developments convinced the Indian government that the Nizam was either in league with Qasim Qazvi or was powerless before them.
It was a matter of time before Operation Polo would commence. A militia, and a very legitimate concern that communists would take over the state (they had control of the rural areas) gripped the Indian government. Interestingly, the Nizam sent a secret letter to the Governor general Lord Mountbatten, stating that he would not accede to Pakistan, but also stipulated that he would remain neutral in case of a war between India and Pakistan.
Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last Nizam of Hyderabad, meets former Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru
Not clamping down on the Razakars, and a murder on the night of August 22-23, 1948, perhaps changed everything. Burgula Narsing Rao, who was born in 1932, was also the first president of the All Hyderabad Students Union while he was a student at the Nizam College in 1948. A nephew of Burgula Ramakrishna Rao, the first Congress chief minister of the erstwhile Hyderabad State, he was the witness to the murder of a journalist in Hyderabad.
Burgula Narsing Rao, a former CPI member who was a student leader in 1948.
Shoaibullah Khan, a city-based journalist who ran the newspaper Imroze, was shot dead by the Razakars, the intervening night of 22-23 August. Imroze (which was pro Congress then) was run from Rao’s home at Kachiguda. Narsing Rao was also a contemporary of CPI leaders and some of the best statesmen Hyderabad has ever seen like Makhdoom Mohiuddin, Raj Bahadur Gaur, Ravi Narayan Reddy, Arutla Kamala Devi, who all participated in the Telangana Armed Struggle.
While the Hyderabad state tried to tell the Indian government that it was managing fine and that things were under control, the union government however began stationing troops on the borders in early September itself. Laiq Ali and Razvi perhaps assumed that the Indian Army would be busy on the borders with Pakistan and that it would not have much time to spare in Hyderabad.
Sept 13, Operation Polo begins – march to Hyderabad
On September 13, after not willing to wait anymore, the Indian government ordered the army to march in. Hyderabad was no match, this was pretty evident from what Syed Ahmed El-Edroos wrote in his memoirs.
According to Hyderabad of the Seven Loaves by El-Edroos, a Company of Pathan soldiers were the first to receive “the blow” at Naldurg as it did not withdraw in time once the Indian army began marching in to the Hyderabad state. After that another infantry company at Tuljapur in the same area also suffered casualties and that was pretty much the total fight put up by the Hyderabad state army.
(Left to Right) General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri, Syed Ahmed El Edroos, Qasim Razvi
The Indian army entered Hyderabad from the Bombay-Hyderabad main road, finally ending Operation Polo. “I realised the hopeless situation which we were in and any clash by our troops with the advancing Indian army would have only led to guilt feelings and probably harder terms of surrender,” wrote Edroos, who was eventually jailed by the Indian government for a few months until an inquiry cleared his name.
According to Edroos, the Razakars had suffered heavy casualties at Bidar where they tried to take on the Indian army. Many fellow men of Qasim Razi reportedly fled and threw away their uniforms in local lakes along with their weapons. The Hyderabad state barely had anyone to fight for it in reality. As many as 3364 Razakaars were captured and 102 were killed.
In the aftermath of Operation Polo, Lt. Col. J. N. Chaudhuri, who led Operation Polo, took over as military governor for 18 months of Hyderabad, after which a provincial government under M. K. Vellodi existed till the first general elections. It may be noted that the last Nizam was made the Rajpramukh in 1950, while Razvi had been arrested and sent to jail for nearly a decade, after which he was allowed to leave for Pakistan.
The Sunderlal committee report formed in the aftermath of Operation Polo states that 26,000 to 40,000 Muslims were killed in communal violence, mainly in the districts of Maharashtra and Karnataka. As far as casualties are concerned with regard to armies of both sides, the Indian Army lost 42 soldiers, while 97 were wounded and 24 missing. For the Hyderabad state army, 490 were killed and 122 were wounded.
Hyderabad: Six people including two women were injured in an explosion at a house at Asad Baba Nagar of Kishanbagh in the Old City on Wednesday, September 18. The explosion is believed to have been caused due to firecrackers.
The incident took place at about 4 pm when the family was sitting inside the house. Local people told the police that the family members who were injured are engaged in making firecrackers and stocking low quality explosives in their house.
After the explosion, residents of Kishanbagh rushed to rescue the injured persons. The Bahadurpura police reached the spot and began its investigation. The bomb disposal and detection squad reached the spot to analyse the scene.
The condition of two women who suffered severe injuries is stated to be critical. The house was completely damaged in the explosion and household articles were broken and pieces scattered around.
Hyderabad: The Indian School of Business (ISB) has introduced the PGP YL, a 20-month postgraduate program in management for young leaders. This full-time, MBA-equivalent residential program is designed for high-potential individuals with up to two years of work experience.
Beginning in mid-2025, the PGP YL will feature a curriculum that combines foundational business principles with advanced technology, data analytics, and global perspectives. The program aims to develop students into innovative problem solvers, addressing the evolving business landscape and technological advancements.
Applicants must submit valid GMAT, GRE, or CAT scores, along with details of their educational background and work experience.
The fee for the 2025-27 academic year is Rs 21,65,000 plus GST, with an additional accommodation fee of Rs. 3,95,000. Scholarships, including merit-based awards covering up to 100 percent of tuition, will be available to 40-50 percent of the class.
Hyderabad: BJP state mahila morcha chief Shilpa Reddy on Wednesday, September 18, accused Tollywood choreographer Shaik Jani Basha, known as Jani ‘Master,’ of “love jihad” after he allegedly entrapped a 21-year-old woman and subjected her to five years of torture.
Reddy called for severe consequences, citing Jani Master’s criminal past, including a 2019 court sentence for assaulting a woman in 2015.
The BJP leader criticized the state government for allegedly delaying the investigation and shielding the accused, who is reportedly in Nellore. Reddy also suggested that influential figures in the film industry and the ruling party might be involved in protecting Jani Master.
She criticized chief minister A Revanth Reddy for explaining the lack of progress in the case and urged him to consider it as a “love jihad” incident. She also accused Revanth Reddy of overseeing an increase in rape cases under his leadership.
Earlier, a case was registered based on a complaint lodged by a 21-year-old woman who had previously worked with Shaik Jani Basha. According to the complaint, the accused choreographer had been sexually assaulting the victim since 2019, including forcefully coercing the victim into sex and threatening her not to tell anyone, while she was travelling for work with the accused and her parents away from her.
The complaint accused Jani Master of multiple instances of sexual assault, public harassment, coercion to marry and convert, career threats, property damage, and criminal intimidation. The accused was also named the choreographer’s wife in the complaint, accusing her of physically attacking the victim.
Love jihad is a conspiracy theory that accuses Muslim men of intentionally and strategically alluring and entrapping non-Muslim women with the intent to “convert them” to Islam and marry them as part of an “Islamisation project”.
Hyderabad: A 35-year-old housewife was killed in Nacharam on Wednesday, September 18, after being run over by a truck carrying LPG cylinders.
The victim has been identified as Neeta, a resident of Amberpet
According to reports, the victim went to Nacharam to drop her son at school. While returning on her scooter, a truck reportedly collided with the vehicle, causing her to fall. She died on the spot from her injuries.
A case has been registered against the driver, and attempts are being made to identify the accused through nearby CCTV footage.
Hyderabad: In connection with the Milad-un-Nabi Peace Procession on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad on Thursday, traffic restrictions have been imposed on the routes where the peace processions will be held.
The Muslim community will be taking out processions in Hyderabad on September 19 from 8 am to 8 pm.
The main processions which will be taken out from Falaknuma to Volta Hotel; Yahiya Pasha Dargah to Volta Hotel; Mecca Masjid to Haj House, Nampally; Mecca Masjid to Volta Hotel; Pattarghatti to Alijah Kotla.
There will be several other smaller processions and from other Commissionerates which will be joining the main procession.
The traffic will be either stopped or diverted in Hyderabad at the following places/routes on need basis on September 19 from 8 am to 8 pm.
The main procession will start from Syed Quadri Chaman, Gulam Murtuza colony, Falaknuma and proceed through Falaknuma X Roads, Aliabad X Roads, Lal Darwaza X Roads, Charminar, Gulzar House, Madina, Nayapool Bridge, Salarjung Museum, Salajung Rotary, Purani Haveli, Etebar Chowk and ends at Volta Hotel Bibi Bazar.
According to a traffic advisory issued by P Viswa Prasad, additional commissioner of police, traffic, Hyderabad, the traffic will be diverted during the procession at:
MBNR X Road towards Kandikalgate, Phisalbanda and Old Kurnool Road
Engine Bowli towards Goshala as well as Syed Quadri Chaman road,
Shamsheergunj towards Kalapather ‘Y’ Junction towards Ali Nagar Jahanuma,
Nagulchintha towards Lal Darwaza Temple Chatrinaka and Sudha Talkies, Deccan Hotel,
Rajesh Medical Hall towards Khilwat and Akkanna Madanna Temple, Moghalpura
Hari Bowli towards Ashoka Pillar, Mohammed Shukur Mosque via Sudha Library,
Volga Hotel towards Fathedarwaza and Khilwat,
Armaan Hotel towards Etebar Chowk,
Sheer Bhatil Kaman toward Mitti ka Sher and Ghansi Mandi,
Madina towards City College, Afzalgunj Bridge, Shivaji Bridge,
SBH lane towards HUDA office,
Etebar Chowk towards Yakuthpura and KaliKaman, Hafeez Danka Mosque, Bhavani Nagar and Talabkatta areas. The Citizens are being requested to take alternative routes to reach their destinations and avoid the above routes during the above specified timings and cooperate with the traffic police. In case of any inconvenience in commuting, please contact the Hyderabad Traffic Police Helpline number- 9010203626.
