watch Arun Jaitley passes away : Amit Shah, other BJP leaders pay tribute
Viral Video: Jagan’s Humble Act
Jagan’s detractors and critics may deny and argue about Jagan’s humble nature. But here is the sample of his humility and modesty that were demonstrated at an official event of the state government on the eve of Independence Day. CM Jagan Mohan Reddy was honouring the forces and when one of the badges of a police personnel fell on ground without the notice of the personnel, it was CM Jagan who quickly reacted and picked up the badge from the ground and handed over to the officials next to him.
Even before officials responded, Chief Minister himself has responded and bent down to take the fallen badge. Officials present over there were quite shocked and stunned by the act of Jagan. The whole episode has two take-away points. One is the humble act of Chief Minister and how much he respects the Honorary Badge. Second point is how quick and sharp a Chief Minister is than the set of officials. As a leader, Jagan has set an example with his act. He has proved to his officials that how humble a public servant should act.
The video has come into the light little late and this video is going viral. Jagan’s fans and followers are widely sharing it online and interestingly, this video has turned several people into Jagan’s fans. Even the people from other states are praising Jagan’s act and hoping that they should also get a CM like this.
Meanwhile, it can also be recalled that former CM Chandrababu Naidu too had done such humble acts when he was in power. When Naidu had met Nitin Gadkari during TDP’s good relation days with BJP and Gadkari was honouring Naidu with shawl, the paper in which Shawl was covered had fallen down. Naidu was quick to respond as he had picked up the waste paper from ground and had thrown it into a nearby dustbin. This act of Naidu had shocked several BJP leaders too. Naidu was quite senior to all the leaders who were present there, but he did so by setting a new precedent.
The leaders of AP are setting these precedents by displaying their humbleness at public events. Young and dynamic CM YS Jagan has joined this. But the moot question is that whether Jagan would show similar humbleness with his governance, administration too or not. Let’s wait and watch.
Anushka is playing that role, Megastar Chiru confirms
In the upcoming magnum opus Sye Raa, there is a stellar star cast including that of Megastar Chiru, Amitabh Bachhan, Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi and Nayantara, Tamanna on the ladies front. But the unrevealed star so far is ‘Baahubali’ Devasena Anushka Shetty.
Like we revealed it already, Anushka is playing the role of Rani Jhansi Lakshmibai and the story of Sye Raa will be narrated through her. As she wants to motivate her armies to take on the tyrannous Britishers, she tells the story of Telugu hero Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy. There is just 15 years difference between Jhansi’s rebellion to Uyyalwada’s, and this episode might sound quite legitimate.
Speaking to Bollywood media, Megastar Chiranjeevi has confirmed that Anushka is playing Lakshmi Bai’s role and added that she has done the role to perfection. The Megastar added that her role will be giving a new dimension to the film and they want that to be kept as a secret until the release.
In fact, she will be telling the story of Uyyalawada from a battlefield, yelling ‘Sye Raa’, like a war cry she got inspired by the Telugu rebel.
Sujana and Nani’s Open challenge to Vijayasai Reddy
YSRCP’s Rajya Sabha MP Vijayasai Reddy is not slowing down in criticizing Chandrababu and TDP leaders on any issue. Now Amaravati is a hot topic and TDP leaders are alleging that YSRCP government is planning to shit the capital while the government has clarified its stand.
On the capital, Vijayasai Reddy lashed at Chandrababu and tried to expose why TDP is crying foul over it. Vijayasai alleged that Chandrababu, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Nani, BJP MPs Sujana Chowdary, CM Ramesh, Nara Lokesh and Devineni uma have hundreds of acres in the capital region in the name of benamis and with real estate being sloppy, they are worried about the business.
First it was Kesineni Nani who reacted on Vijayasai Reddy’s tweet. The Vijayawada MP challenged Vijayasai to prove the allegations. If proved Nani said that he will handover the land to government and if not proved what would Vijayasai do?
Then BJP leader Sujana Chowdary took on the YSRCP leader. ‘I never thought I would respond such cheap remarks. I own assets that were acquired by my family from 1910 to 2010. I don’t have at least cent of land in Amaravati. Will react when the allegations were proved,’ tweeted Sujana. He also advised Vijayasai Reddy not to make baseless allegations and lose his stature.
Senior Producer Blasts Two TV Channels
Producer KS Ramarao is the man behind several classic movies in Tollywood. Started his production banner Creative Commercials, Ramarao had produced films that are both creative as well as commercially successful. Chanti, Mathru Devo Bhava and Chiranjeevi’s Abhilasha, Challenge and Rakshasudu, Marana Mrudagam were all bankrolled by KS Ramarao himself. He also produced films like Vasu, Malli Malli Idi Rani Roju.
Despite having such rich history of filmography and vast experience, KS Ramarao is of the opinion that a section of media is unfair and rude to him.
Admittedly, Ramarao is quite unhappy with two prominent TV channels for their treatment to his latest film Kousalya Krishnamurthy. The film’s pre-release function was grandly held at a popular convention center and the chief guests were Vijay Deverakonda and Raashi Khanna.
“Is our movie not a movie? I’m not a producer? When every other movie’s event was covered live, why was my film’s event was not covered live? We are also giving you business (advertisements)” lamented KS Ramarao at the film’s post-release event.
KS Ramarao said he has high respect on media and urged the media not to be biased and treat every movie equally. He said it is “small movie” that needs more support from media. He asked the media managements to keep their business prospects aside and support movies as it is.
Usually, no producer dares to talk against these two channels given their hold. Since producers wants to do more movies and wants the support of these two channels, no one would dare to criticize them. But KS Ramarao is very straightforward in his nature and proved it again with his latest comments.
#BiggBoss3: One Among These Two Might Get Evicted
Saturday is here and it is time for another elimination. As the show is getting ready to enter the sixth week of it, there is a chance for Wild Card entry to get into the house as someone leaves. So, who is that someone?
Including Rahul Sipligunj, the likes of Himaja, Ashu Reddy, Mahesh Vitta, Punarnavi, Siva Jyothi and Baba Bhaskar got nominated for eviction this week. Going by the way Baba garnered fandom, he will be easily saved and so is Rahul Sipligunj who enjoys superior support along with Siva Jyothy from Telangana folks. Also, Siva Jyothy became captain, so she got the immunity from elimination. TV serial fans are most likely to save Himaja as well.
The weaklings in the total bunch are none other than comedian Mahesh Vitta whose ‘poking nature’ is sounding noisy for audiences as well and Ashu Reddy who is never heard inside the house making any sensible point. As Mahesh as one section of audiences liking him, maybe Ashu is more vulnerable than him.
But if Vizag folks voted well for Ashu, then Mahesh might go.
Inside Talk: Chiranjeevi Tensed Over Sye Raa Investment
On the outside, the makers of films like Saaho and Sye Raa are exuding huge confidence that they will be treating audiences to a terrific entertainment. But on the inside, they are said to be quite nervous.
A source close to Megastar Chiranjeevi’s camp revealed that the Megastar still can’t imagine 300 crores being spent on a movie just like that. He usually knows about spending 20-30 crores over the production and making the movie earn 30 more crores profit easily. By his standards, the movie Sye Raa should collect 600-700 crores, leaving Ram Charan in 300-400 crores profit.
Though Charan is quite happy because Telugu version could easily make 70-80 crores from box office even if the film gets average talk, and Hindi version could rake up another 100 crores easily. If the digital streaming rights and other sales are included, Charan will not be at a penny loss even if the film flops, though he won’t make any profit.
These equations are said to be tensing Chiranjeevi, though he’s wearing a confident face in Bollywood interviews saying that Baahubali has given them enough kick to recover 200-300 budgets easily.
Pawan Heads To Stalled Projects In Capital
For the past few days, the possible shift of capital from Amaravati had triggered speculations. It was after minister Botsa’s comments of the capital being unsafe and he citing Sivaramakrishnan report. Apart from farmers from capital region, Opposition parties TDP and BJP have slammed the ruling YCP for creating disturbance among public and confusion among investors.
With pressure mounting, leaders like Kodali Nani have clarified that there is no chance of changing the capital. And Botsa too got ready for a U-turn on his comments on the capital shift.
In this backdrop, finally, Janasena chief Pawan Kalyan has responded on the issue. Pawan announced his support to the farmers in capital region after a group of farmers have met Pawan at Janasena office in Hyderabad on Saturday.
Stating that he understood the plight of the farmers, Pawan pledged his support to them. He said he would tour the capital region on 30th and 31st. Pawan said he would visit the places where the projects were stalled.
Meanwhile, it can be noted that ex CM Chandrababu Naidu had already visited the capital region when floods inundated the region. And CM Jagan is returning to the state after successfully completing his US trip. And Jagan is also likely to visit the flood-hit areas and likely to make some crucial statements over flood-prone regions and also on Amaravati capital.
Pawan’s statement and his tour schedule seems to be a late decision, like always.
Arun Jatiley: The editor’s choice prime minister
New Delhi: A lawyer-turned-politician will be as staid an introduction for Arun Jaitley as a cricketer-turned-commentator for Sunil Gavaskar.
A brilliant strategist and one of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s most trusted colleagues, Jaitley was far more than an accomplished lawyer and many notches above his contemporaries in politics.
The overcrowded grand stage of Delhi’s intoxicating power elite has paused. It has lost one of its main protagonists, who passed away at AIIMS after prolonged illness on Saturday.
Armed with a razor sharp legal mind and ace political acumen, Jaitley slayed his opponents with intellectual finesse, yet maintained a dignity and class that earned him accolades from even those at the receiving end of his diatribe.
Before blossoming into a full-fledged politician, Jaitley had established himself as a shining spark in legal circles. Despite becoming one of the top lawyers in the country, politics seemed his natural calling.
His sprouting at the national scene became imminent after he made his mark as the Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) President in 1974 and got sucked into anti-Emergency movement.
Those were the heady 70s when it was not surprising to see someone from a prestigious institution like Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) representing the student’s body, unlike these days when campus politics has become a domain of bullies and thugs.
The doors for his formal arrival on the national scene were opened in the early 1990s when the nation was at the cusp of social, political and economic transformation.
The Mandal politics was peaking in the Hindi heartland, the dust from the demolition of Babri mosque in Ayodhya had turned into a thick dark cloud threatening the very foundations of the nation amidst which then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and his Finance Minister Manmohan Singh were scripting a new economic chapter.
Jaitley slowly occupied a prime place in BJP’s hierarchy in the shadow of stalwarts of the time Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani.
After BJP uprooted the Congress from Madhya Pradesh in 2003, Jaitley’s abilities as a poll manager were widely hailed. He brought the development agenda at the forefront of political discourse by focussing the campaign on basic and long overlooked issues like ‘Bijli’, ‘Sadak’, ‘Paani’ (electricity, roads and water).
He made smooth transition from the corridors of the Supreme Court to the chaotic workspace in Shastri Bhawan, first as junior minister in the Vajpayee government handling Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Disinvestment, and then as Cabinet Minister from July 2000 onwards driving Law, Justice and Company Affairs and Shipping Ministries.
Jaitley, however, flourished more in Parliament than in the cabinet. After 2004 when the Vajpayee government was voted out in a surprise verdict, Jaitley became the voice of the opposition in the Upper House.
He went on to become the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha in June 2009 and led a series of virulent attacks against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, playing a key role in ensuring its eventual downfall. His acerbic speeches echoed in the high ceilings of Rajya Sabha as he had the government on the mat on series of corruption scandals and what he termed as ‘policy paralysis’.
His was no ordinary voice in the Parliament. When he stood up to speak, the government of the day would hear in rapt attention. In fact, such was his prowess that the UPA government would often fear if the legislations brought by it would pass Jaitley’s scrutiny.
It is ironical that the best performing MP failed the people’s test in 2014. Jaitley contested Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar but lost to Captain Amarinder Singh. The defeat was a rare personal setback for him as even a Modi wave could not help his fortune.
The electoral debacle did not alter his standing in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Jaitley was seen as the most trusted confidante of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who learnt intricacies of New Delhi’s power ecosystem from his long time friend.
Jaitley was given charge of two key ministries — Finance and Defence. As he shuffled between the North and South block, he suffered another jolt and this time it was more personal. He got bogged down by health issues. Despite frequent visits to the hospital and subsequent long recuperating spells, Jaitley continued to be the most important minister in Modi 1.0 until his condition deteriorated further because of multiple ailments.
Despite his medical condition, he would come to the rescue of the Modi government through his periodic commentaries on social media which became a repository of political judgment.
Jaitley remained physically absent from the election campaign in 2019 but kept the pot of his attacks on the Congress boiling through social media and continued his tirade till the very last days. In one of his recent posts, he had blasted the Congress for its stand on the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Despite his ideological doggedness, Jaitley earned respect of his opponents. His right wing mooring did not deter him from making friends from leaders of all political hues. The boundaries between political ideologies blurred in his family.
A Delhi boy (he went to St. Xavier’s school in the Civil Lines), he was also the son-in-law of Jammu, having married staunch Congressman and regional stalwart Girdhari Lal Dogra’s daughter Sangeeta. Modi in 2015 attended his father-in-law’s centenary ceremony, attended by scores of Congress leaders, among others.
Jaitley’s influence was far beyond the political domain. He dominated the legal circles even after becoming politician and was a key cricket administrator who had complete control over Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA). He was one of the key influencers in Delhi’s bar, playing an intricate role its politics. He commanded same influence in complex cricketing affairs of the country.
Apart from cricket and legal arena, Jaitley was a darling of the media. Contrary to his popular image of being a serious political analyst, Jaitley was a reservoir of Lutyen’s gossip which often landed him on the wrong side of many of his party colleagues who suspected him to be the “source” of many media commentaries on internal affairs. He was at ease with editors and propreitors and held regular ‘darbar’ with a group of reporters.
There was a joke at one time that if an editor’s choice was sought on who should be the Prime Minister, Jaitley would have won hands down!
Jagan angry with ministers for bungling?
YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is said to have expressed serious displeasure over the way his cabinet colleagues had bungled on various issues when he was away in the US on personal trip.
Soon after returning from his US trip to Tadepalli on Saturday, Jagan held an emergency meeting with some of his ministers, besides officials of the chief minister’s office, Water Resources, Energy, Law, Endowments, disaster management and police departments.
Sources said Jagan expressed anger at the ministers and also officials for not able to handle issues pertaining to flood management in Krishna, undertaking of relief measures in flood affected areas, controversies over Polavaram project and also on Amaravati issue.
He apparently felt there was a lack of coordination among the ministers who made contradictory statements in the media on various issues.
He also pulled his cabinet colleagues for not handling the criticism from the opposition parties including the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Jagan held thorough discussions with the officials on future steps to be taken on Polavaram re-tendering issue, review of power purchase agreements, law and order scenario in the state and village volunteers’ recruitment.
Trade Talk: Box Office Set For Saaho Storm
Nearly nine films were released on Friday, but none of them could make an impression. Only notable release among them is Kousalya Krishnamurthy, a remake of Tamil film Kanaa.
It is a part remake part dubbing film that used a good amount of footage from the original. It turned out to be a tepid sports drama with an overdose of melodrama.
New films failing to get noticed will help Evaru to make decent profits. The mystery thriller has already broke even and still collecting steady collections at the box office.
Ranarangam that opened on a strong note on its day 1 crashed after that and has shown no signs of picking up. It will go down as another failure for Sharwanand, who seems to have lost track of late.
Rakshasudu took a while to reach the safe zone and is termed as a sleeper hit by the trade.
Manmadhudu 2 has ended up as another forgettable flop for Nagarjuna. The film received flak for being passed off as a family entertainer in spite of an overdose of adult stuff.
Next week’s big release Saaho can grab more than ninety percent screens across Telugu states. The coast is clear for Saaho storm.
Jagan not to budge on Polavaram re-tenders!
Notwithstanding the interim order given by the Andhra Pradesh high court suspending the state government’s order to go in for fresh tenders on the Polavaram hydro power project and Polavaram project authority (PPA)’s objections over the same, YSR Congress president and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided not to budge.
Jagan is learnt to have told the officials to explore the possibility of going in for an appeal to the division bench of the state high court challenging the interim order given by the single-judge bench.
However, it is not clear whether the government will wait till the single judge bench delivers its final judgement or go for an immediate appeal.
The officials reportedly advised Jagan that there might not be much use if single judge bench order is challenged in the court, since there are no additional points with the government to argue. But Jagan is no mood to listen, sources said.
On August 22, the State Water Resources Department called for the re-tenders for Polavaram Project Concrete works (1771.44 Crore) and Hydel Project (3216.11 Crores) as total one Package of 4987.55 Crore Rupees.
On the same day, the High Court has given a verdict to stall the re-tendering process.
Even though the stay is only on Hydel Project, the entire process got stalled as the tenders for both the works are floated as a single package.
