Manisharma Live – A Resounding success in NJ

EDISON, New Jersey - July 28th 2007: It was a truly spectacular sight at the Royal Albert’s Palace on the evening of 27th July. The occasion was the Maiden Live performance by the Top South Indian Music Director Mani Sharma and his incredibly talented troupe. The Hall was packed with a tremendously charged crowd of over 1500 people. Several people went back as the tickets were sold out in advance.

Manisharma started the proceedings with a beautifully melodious performance of one of his songs. It just set the mood for a music filled evening. But as he started picking the fast paced numbers from his repertoire, the excitement of the crowds knew no bounds. So much so that, for several foot tapping numbers even the more sober members among the audience just couldn’t contain them selves and started dancing at the back of the hall. It was truly mass hysteria.

And this only further prompted Manisharma to belt out one after the other of his adrenaline pumping hits and every time the cheering crowd would do an encore. People were so engrossed that NOT a single person left till the VERY end of the show. People really loved Mimicry by Harikishan. People lapped up the comedy by Shiva Reddy. They were in raptures when Shiva Reddy in his inimitable style imitated the crème de la crème among the Stars of Telugu Film Industry.

The audiences were very appreciative of the arrangements at the venue, the seating and the banquet style dinner. The sound system was excellent. Many members of the audience actually made it a point to meet the organizers after the show ended and congratulated them for holding the event with such high standards. Many said that this event in particular changed the perception people had about South Indian, especially Telugu Film/Music events organized in US till date. KAD Entertainment thanks Manisharma and his troupe consisting of singers Suneetha, Usha, Vijaya Laxmi, Vinodh Babu, Mallikarjun and his orchestra members of Mastanvalli Shaik, Sai Karthik Kothapalli, Sai Srinivas Ghantasala, Chiranjeevi Muthukuri, Vara Prasad Raghavendra, Ranjith Vasudevan, Sagar, mimicry artiste Harikishen, Fun Star Shiva Reddy and the troupe manager Ravishankar for making the event such an entertaining one.

Among the notable attendees were Dhulipala Narendra, Gone Prakash and Satish Vemana. The organizers KAD Entertainment & SSR wish to thank their sponsors Globe 7, American Info Serve, Synchron, Hyderabadi House, Cyber Resource Group, Dakshin, Axill, Saransh Technologies, and all the others who supported the event. KAD Entertainment also thanks SS, Laxmi and Nandu for being part of the event and make it a grand success.

Nandigram Vs Mudigonda: who is responsible?

The Communists are now demanding that Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy resign from his post owning moral responsibility for the police firing on people in Mudigonda village in Khammam district. Six people were killed in the police firing.

Are the Communists justified in their demand? If yes, then the same applies to the Communist government in West Bengal. The WB police resorted to firing on innocent people and left many agitators dead. The issue in both the cases was the same. Land. When the Communist chief minister of Bengal did not resign, why should the Congress chief minister of Andhra Pradesh submit his papers.

What is good for the geese is also good for the gander.

Behind The Scene: PJR complains against YSR!

Dissident Congress leader and Khairatabad legislator P Janardhan Reddy has finally got access to AICC chief Sonia Gandhi. PJR who waited in Delhi for Sonia's appointment had returned to Hyderabad without meeting her. But no sooner he landedin Hyderabad than he received a call from the party high command to rush back to Delhi.

PJR immediately boarded the next flight to Delhi with a list of complaints against Rajasekhar Reddy and his alleged authoritarian style of functioning.

Following assurance from Sonia Gandhi that everything would be taken care of, PJR decided to keep his mouth shut for the time being. He announced that as a disciplined Congress worker he would not take up any agitations.

A Day After Police Firing, Situation Tense In Khammam

The situation in Andhra Pradesh's Khammam district remained tense Sunday as activists of the left parties continued their protests, parading the bodies of six people who died in police firing a day earlier.

Wrapped in red flags of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the bodies of the six were kept outside the district collector's officer in Khammam town, about 15 km from Mudigonda, the scene of the police firing.

The protestors have been staging a sit-in with the bodies since Saturday evening. They are demanding that murder cases be booked against the policemen involved in the 'unprovoked' firing.

The six CPI-M activists were killed and eight others were injured when police opened fired at protestors at Mudigonda, about 200 km from here, during the Left parties' statewide agitation seeking land for the poor. Initial reports had put the death toll at eight.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) and CPI-M had given call for a shutdown in Andhra Pradesh Saturday against the use of force by police against their activists at different places Thursday when the firing took place.

On Sunday, the two parties called for shutdown in Khammam district. For the second consecutive day, life came to a standstill in Khammam, considered one of the strongholds of the Left parties.

Shops and business establishments remained closed while the state-owned road transport corporation suspended its bus services.

The two parties and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) are staging protests across the state to condemn the police firing. CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechuri and other leaders of the party and TDP president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu have left for Khammam.

Talking to newsmen here before leaving for Khammam, Naidu demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. He alleged that policemen used AK-47 rifles and Self Loading Rifles (SLRs) to fire at protestors.

'Never before in the history of the state have such sophisticated weapons been used against political activists,' he said.

The Congress government has blamed the presence of two Maoist leaders in the protest at Mudigonda for the violence.

However, acting swiftly, the chief minister ordered a judicial probe in the police firing, transferred the district superintendent of police and suspended the additional superintendent of police.

For nearly three months, the communist parties have been holding 'bhooporatam' or land agitation in the state, demanding housing sites and land for poor.

Some Left activists encroached government and private lands at various places in the state, leading to clashes with the police.

Last week, they intensified the protests when top leaders of the parties launched an indefinite strike in Hyderabad. Late Friday, the police shifted the fasting leaders to a hospital.

The Congress government maintains that the protest by the Left parties is 'unnecessary' as it has taken up a massive programme for construction of houses and distribution of surplus land among poor.

'There is no need for any opposition party to agitate as we remain committed to providing a house to every houseless family and land to every landless,' said Rajasekhara Reddy.

However, Saturday's incidents have embarrassed the ruling party.

The central leadership of the party has reportedly sought a report from Reddy on the incident as the Left parties, who are supporting Congress-led UPA government at the centre, have threatened that the incident could have its repercussions.

The CPI-M and CPI had fought the 2004 elections in the state in alliance with Congress. However, the CPI-M later distanced itself on the ground that the Congress government was resorting to 'anti-people measures'. The Left parties, especially CPI-M, later moved closer to the TDP.

Left women hitting police below the belt

New tactics adopted by the fiery women activists of the Left parties have left the police reeling in painful surprise. They have been literally hitting police personnel "below the belt" during clashes that erupt when they take out rallies.

In several recent marches, which ended in stone-pelting and caning, women activists swung the iron-bottomed sticks they were carrying at the groins of police personnel. Policemen at the frontline during agitations are now using protective gear, like cricketers, to escape such attacks.

The women activists, who are being used as shields during marches and demonstrations, are also armed with chilli powder. "They throw it into the eyes of the police personnel and later attack them with pins and blades," said a senior police officer.

He added that the women also shower abuse at the police personnel during marches and demonstrations. "The worst is the use of sticks," he said.

This upsurge of "woman power" has even forced some police personnel to opt out of duty during demonstrations and marches.

It has been almost three months since the Left parties took up the Bhoo Poratam agitation and women have taken active part in it.

Many marches and demonstrations ended in street clashes where too women too took the lead in attacking the police using "innovative techniques".

Top police officers are worried about how to tackle this. "We are observing restraint despite women adopting such techniques," said ACP N.V. Surendra Babu. "Several policemen have suffered injuries in such incidents." He said the women are sometimes accompanied by their children and this prevents police personnel from taking effective action.

City buzz: 500 Hyderabad lakes to get life

Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy has finally turned attention on the need to restore the once picturesques lakes of Hyderabad. In all he has selected 500 lakes for development.

He has entrusted the conservation, protection, beautification and maintenance of these lakes in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area to Hyderabad Urban Development Authority.

He said conservation of these all important water bodies are very important and they are vulnerable to encroachment by vested interests and land grabbers. Hence the HUDA should immediately swing into action and protect all the identified lakes in the GHMC areas by constructing lake buds and fencing.

He told the HUDA officials to take this up as a crash programme. The Chief Minister wanted HUDA to involve the nearby residents and form Lake Protection Committee. Dr Reddy also asked the HUDA to recruit sufficient staff by outsourcing, particularly in the Enforcement Division. This Division which now has only a strength of 8 staff will be increased to 80.

He said every lake has to be protected including the major ones like Himayatsagar and Osmansagar. All these lakes are to be taken up for purification and beautification later. No unauthorised construction should be allowed to come anywhere on the FTL or catchment areas of these tanks including the major ones like Himayatsagar, Osmansagar, Miralam Tank etc.

The Chief Minister also asked HUDA to speed up the Hussainsagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement Project within a strict time-frame. He was informed by the officials that Master Plan preparation and detailed design for shoreline improvement, contractors selection works are in full swing.

The complete work on this project is expected to be over in the next two years. The Chief Minister was informed that 87 urban lakes were identified for improvement and conservation under Green Hyderabad Environment Programme (GHEP) scheme with an outlay of Rs.106 crore of grant from Netherlands government.

These lakes were classified into Category I and II as highly polluted and moderately polluted. However the Netherlands Government has withdrawn financial support from March, 2004 due to Government of India policy.

Now conservation of works of 12 lakes are completed in these two categories. Steps are also being taken to clean the Noor Mohammed Kunta Lake on NH 7 under Shivarampally village. HUDA officials agreed to take up the conservation works of all the lakes in the GHMC area on war footing.

City buzz: 500 Hyderabad lakes to get life

Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy has finally turned attention on the need to restore the once picturesques lakes of Hyderabad. In all he has selected 500 lakes for development.

He has entrusted the conservation, protection, beautification and maintenance of these lakes in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation area to Hyderabad Urban Development Authority.

He said conservation of these all important water bodies are very important and they are vulnerable to encroachment by vested interests and land grabbers. Hence the HUDA should immediately swing into action and protect all the identified lakes in the GHMC areas by constructing lake buds and fencing.

He told the HUDA officials to take this up as a crash programme. The Chief Minister wanted HUDA to involve the nearby residents and form Lake Protection Committee. Dr Reddy also asked the HUDA to recruit sufficient staff by outsourcing, particularly in the Enforcement Division. This Division which now has only a strength of 8 staff will be increased to 80.

He said every lake has to be protected including the major ones like Himayatsagar and Osmansagar. All these lakes are to be taken up for purification and beautification later. No unauthorised construction should be allowed to come anywhere on the FTL or catchment areas of these tanks including the major ones like Himayatsagar, Osmansagar, Miralam Tank etc.

The Chief Minister also asked HUDA to speed up the Hussainsagar Lake and Catchment Area Improvement Project within a strict time-frame. He was informed by the officials that Master Plan preparation and detailed design for shoreline improvement, contractors selection works are in full swing.

The complete work on this project is expected to be over in the next two years. The Chief Minister was informed that 87 urban lakes were identified for improvement and conservation under Green Hyderabad Environment Programme (GHEP) scheme with an outlay of Rs.106 crore of grant from Netherlands government.

These lakes were classified into Category I and II as highly polluted and moderately polluted. However the Netherlands Government has withdrawn financial support from March, 2004 due to Government of India policy.

Now conservation of works of 12 lakes are completed in these two categories. Steps are also being taken to clean the Noor Mohammed Kunta Lake on NH 7 under Shivarampally village. HUDA officials agreed to take up the conservation works of all the lakes in the GHMC area on war footing.

DGP : Extremists instigated agitators at Khammam

The Director General of Police Mr. M.A. Basith today told that extremist elements have infiltrated into the agitation at Mudigonda Mandal in Khammam and instigated the agitators that lead to the opening of the police firing on the day of Bandh call given by left parties.

Speaking to the Media persons at a press conference at state police headquarters the DGP further told that one extremist couple Bandi Ramesh and his wife Bandi Padma have played a key role in instigating the agitators at Mundigonda.

The police have to resort for using the force after the agitators belonging left parties turned violent and pelted stones on police and even burnt the jeep of the Additional Superintendent of Police Khammam the DG told.

He also informed that the Additional DG Lokendra Sharma has been appointed as the Inquiry officer into the Khammam police-firing incident.

Action would be taken against those police officers that are found to be responsible in failing to control the situation at Mudigonda. Initially it was found that the Additional SP Ramesh Babu failed to control the situation and for this he has been suspended the DG informed the Media persons.

Sonia Seeks Report On Andhra Police Firing

Congress president Sonia Gandhi expressed concern over the violent turn taken by two Left parties' protests in Andhra Pradesh Saturday, with at least eight people being killed in police firing, and sought a report from Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Gandhi appealed to all to shun violence and bring about peace, a party spokesperson said after a two-hour meeting of the Congress Working Committee here.

The Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India-Marxist, which support the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government from outside, have been agitating for the distribution of government land and housing sites among the poor in Andhra Pradesh.

A shutdown called by them in Khammam district saw violence as police resorted to caning and firing, allegedly after being stoned by Left activists.

Rajasekhara Reddy of the Congress soon ordered a judicial inquiry in the matter even as the two parties demanded strict action against the police officers responsible for the deaths.

Police get the whip for Khammam firing

The Chief Minister today announced suspension of the Additional Superintendent of Police, Khammam and transfer of the Superintendent of Police, Khammam, following the death of 8 persons in police firing in Mudigonda, Khammam District. The Chief Minister also ordered a judicial enquiry into the firing incident.

Reacting to the police firing in Mudigonda in Khammam District at his Camp Office today, the Chief Minister said the incident was quite unfortunate. He said he was asking the police to keep cool in spite of all provocations and agitation since the last 2 months by the two Communist Parties.

Police were keeping restraint till now. But, however today when the police were attacked with the stones and one Circle Inspector and one Sub Inspector were seriously injured and the vehicles of ACP and Addl.SP were attacked, the police reported to have opened fire. The Chief Minister said, whatever may be the reasons that led to the police firing, The judicial enquiry he ordered will look in to all the aspects in death and submit the report immediately.

The Chief Minister said following the bandth, the government also ordered APSRTC to withdraw majority of the buses from the road and only skeleton services were being run. In spite of bandth turning violent and many provocative incidents during the day the police remained calm and many places and only at Mudigonda the police open firing and causes which will be enquired in depth. The Chief Minister said he has been appealing to the CPM, CPI parties to spare the life of innocent people and not to involve them in violent provocative agitations.

The Chief Minster appealed to all political parties to help maintain peace and law and order. He reiterated that the government will provide houses to all the landless in the State and there is no need for such agitation. He once again appealed to the political parties to call off the agitation. The Chief Minister lamented that innocent lives have been lost in the firing. "Every life is very dear and precious. Their lives could have been spared. I am pained very much that some innocent people lost their lives.

Regarding ex-gratia, we will take a decision after a preliminary enquiry", he said.

No parallel between Basheerbagh and Khammam?

Eight people including a woman and a boy were killed in police firing on a group of agitators in Mudigonda village of Khammam district on Saturday. The Congress wants to draw a parallel between the Khammam firing and the one that took place at Basheerbagh in Hyderabad when the Telugu Desam was in police. Then two persons died in the firing.

The Telugu Desam does not want to draw any parallel. It says the Basheerbagh firing was under compulsion and the Khammam firing was without provocation.

Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu says the Khammam firing was a sequel to the dictatorial attitude of Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy.

The Congress built a memorial at the Basheerbagh site. It is to be seen whether the Telugu Desam will cash on the firing and convince the Left in building a similar memorial there.

Fact Sheet: Babu fishes in troubled waters!

Former chief minister and Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu has finally got a real political issue to fight with the Congress government.
The unprovoked police firing on Communsts in Mudigonda village in Khammam district which left eight people dead has come handy for Chandrababu Naidu to settle political scores with Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy.
Chandrababu Naidu has given a call for State-wide protests on Sunday and has decided to visit the village to console the family members of the victims. He also claims that the Pedala Shankaravam, which the TD had taken up, had led the Communists to take up the ongoing land agitation.He in a way suggested that the TD has inspired the Left to take up fight for land distribution among the poor.
Chandrababu Naidu was busy all through the day holding meeting with senior TD leaders and at the end of the session held a press conference. He said he was withholding the demands and would come out with demands only after he visits the village.
This is a clear cut case of fishing in troubled waters.

Guru Purnimi Celebrations in Shri Sai Baba Temple

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Los Angeles, CA
144 S. 4th St. Montebello, CA – 90640 Ph: (323) 721-1772

Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu hu, Guru Devo Maheshwara ha
Guru Saakshat Para Brahma Tasmai Sree Guruve Nama ha!!

Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, Los Angeles cordially invites all the Sai devotees with family and friends to join the celebrations of “Guru Purnima” on Sunday, July 29th 2007 at Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple in Montebello, CA.

The Special Special whole day events start at 7.30 AM with Kakad Aarti and end with Shej Aarti at 8.15 PM. The events include Shri SatyaNarayana Vratam, Rudraabhishekam, Sai Naam Japam, Vishnu Sahasranama Paarayanam, Madhyan Aarti, Dhoop Aarti, Procession and Bhajans. Please visit the temple on this auspicious occasion and get the blessings of Shri Shirdi Sai Baba.

For Services pre-registration please contact temple priest @ (323) 721-1772 or send email to ram@shirdisaila.org or inquiries@shirdisaila.org

Volunteers and Maha Prasad sponsors are welcome – For details please contact amar@shirdisaila.org

Priests Information:
Srinivasamurthy Kambhampati
Madamudre Murthy

For More Information: Please visit us on the web at www.shirdisaila.org or email us at inquiries@shirdisaila.org

In Sai Seva,
Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Sansthan, LA

Health Talk : Smoking could ruin your sex life

New York: Smoking could ruin your sex life as it can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction among men, says a new study.
And the more cigarettes smoked, the greater the risk, found the research that studied 7,684 men between the ages of 35-74.
The researchers led by Jiang He, professor of epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in New Orleans, examined the association between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction.
They used questionnaires to assess the participants - none of whom had vascular disease.
The study found that there was a significant statistical link between the number of cigarettes that men smoked and the likelihood of them experiencing erectile dysfunction, reported science portal EurekAlert.
The link between smoking and erectile dysfunction was even stronger in participants with diabetes.
Although erectile dysfunction is not a life-threatening condition, it compromises well-being and quality of life.
The Tulane study results suggest that smoking prevention should be an important approach for reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction.
Smoking is already known for causing 87 percent of lung cancer deaths. It is also responsible for many other cancers and health problems.

TD raises environ issue on Obulapuram

Seeking to counter the statement of Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy that the Obulapuram Mining Company has renewed license upto 2017, the TDP has submitted a letter to the Union minister of state for environment and forests Reghupathi on Friday.

The Telugu Desam party has alleged that while sending its proposal for approval to iron ore mining in Obulapuram village of Bellary reserve forest area, the Andhra Pradesh government has failed to give the "true picture" to the environment ministry. "About the various cases pending before the courts, which runs contrary to the guidelines issued by the Government of India, for obtaining approvals under section 2 of the Forest Conservation Act, 1980."

TDPP leader K Yerran Naidu and former MP Kambhampati Rammohna Rao met Mr Reghupati and handed over the letter. "Added to this, the mining department of Government of Andhra Pradesh granted mining licenses and extended lease without prior sanction of the Union of India under the FCA act," Naidu said in the letter.

YSR succumbs to Andhra lobby on GO 610

Andhra and Rayalaseema MPs and MLAs urged the Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy not to repatriate government employees who are on the verge of retirement under GO 610 rule.

The MLAs met under the leadership of senior Congress leader and MP Harirama Jogaiah in the assembly premises on Friday and decided to oppose repatriation of such employees.

After an internal meeting, a delegation met Chief Minister and submitted a memorandum requesting him to create supernumerary posts for such employees and retain them in their respective places in Hyderabad city. Chief Minister promised to consider their plea.

Mr Harirama Jogaiah later told media persons that they were not opposed to implementation of GO 610 but the Government should also look into the problems of senior employees who are on the verge of retirement. "Repatriating the employees at the fag end of their career will disturb their families. On humanitarian grounds, the Government should retain them in their respective places by creating supernumerary posts," Mr Jogaiah said.

Behind The Scene: Diggy finds fault with YSR!

The Congress high command is apparently not happy with Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy's foul mouthing of Opposition Leader N Chandrababu Naidu, which the national media projected in big way showing the Congress party in bad light.

This was evident from the words of AICC general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs Digvijay Singh. Diggy found fault with YSR saying it was not proper on the part of the Chief Minister to utter those words and then apologise. He sounded that AICC president Sonia Gandhi was not happy with the aggressive behaviour of YSR.

The AICC president is also not happy with the handling of Left parties' land struggle issue by the YSR government. She tried to influence CPI-M national secretary Prakash Karat, but the situation has already gone out of hands, as the YSR government tried to suppress the agitation using force.

Another issue that displeased Sonia was the PJR issue. Though he is cooled down a bit, thanks to the intervention of V Hanumantha Rao and Iqbal Singh, there is evey possibility that he might lead the anti-YSR gang within the Congrss. PJR is meeting Diggy on Saturday and hopefully, he migh get an appointment with Sonia, too, sources say.

Andhra Congress leaders rake up GO 610 issue!

Looks like the woes are not over for Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy on the controversial GO 610. Several governments have kept the GO in cold storage and YSR government took interest in implementing it. But the government is facing trouble for taking up the long lost issue.

Even as the Telangana Congress leaders are bringing pressure on Rajasekhar Reddy, now two senior Congress MPs from coastal Andhra have called on him with the demand that the GO 610 be implemented in the larger context of the Presidential Order. The coastal Andhra leaders feel that there will be no problem in the Presidential Order was implemented.

They have raked up the demand that super numerary posts should be created in Telangana region and stop the repatriation of employees from coastal Andhra.

Why did Leftists carry chilli powder?

The Communist parties have been claiming all these days that they have been going absolutely peacefully in their agitation for lands and land sites. But going by the turn of events that happened on Thursday, it appeared that they were prepared for a violent agitation.

The activists of Communist parties, who were participating in the agitation, came well prepared with packets of chilli powder, so that they would attack the police when the latter tried to arrest them. So, definitely they expected that the agitation would turn violent, if the police atack them.

And that exactly what had happened. When the police resorted to lathicharge, the activists attacked them with chilli powder. According to an estimate, 26 Left activists were injured while, 46 policemen were also hurt. So, no hypocricy!!

Written by Rao

PJR to set up new political party?

Khairatabad legislator and former CLP leader P Janardhan Reddy is reportedly planning to set up his own political party. Though the legislator has not opened up his mouth to make any announcement on this, sources close to him point out that he is giving a deep thought to the idea.

Sources point out that he is weighing all pros and cons of having a own political party and the benefits and demerits, if any, of continuing in the Congress.

Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy, a bete noire of Janardhan Reddy, has firmly established his roots in the AICC. The AICC leadership is in no mood to listen to anything against Rajasekhar Reddy. This leave Janardhan Reddy without a god father at the Delhi level. Janardhan Reddy will study the political situation before taking any final decision.

Earlier, several Congress leaders formed political parties but had to return to the Congress fold finally. But in the process they have gained a lot in the Congress. The best example was that of former chief minister M Chenna Reddy.