GHMC mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi’s insensitive statements are continuing to shock people. Her casual remark on the horrific incident of stray dogs killing a four-year-old boy in Amberpet are still echoing in the minds of the people and drawing their wrath. She’d said that the dogs might have attacked the boy due to hunger. “When people quit feeding them after routinely feeding them, dogs tend to behave that way,” she stated. Among the netizens bashing the Mayor online was film director Ram Gopal Varma who posted a video on Twitter that quickly went viral. In the video, he was seen requesting municipal administration minister K.T. Rama Rao to lock the mayor in her house with 5,000 stray dogs. RGV made a meme of the victim being attacked by dogs and the mayor feeding her pet dog at home. RGV said he wanted to see how the mayor would feed 5,000 stray dogs happily at home. RGV also tweeted, “Still waiting madam, if you still busy with dogs what time I can expect answer madam? (sic)” The mayor had earlier courted a controversy with her comments on heavy rains in the city when she assumed office in February 2021. She said, “I pray to God that there should not be any rain for five years from now,” when media personnel asked what assurances she could give to flood-affected families who had suffered heavy losses due to the floods in October 2020.
AP BABU REWARDED BY MODI
Giridhar Aramane, a 1988 batch IAS officer of Andhra Pradesh cadre, who is known for his high levels of integrity, sincerity, commitment and dedication, has been rewarded again by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Giridhar, who was given the key posting of defence secretary in November 2022, was awarded an extension for one more year till October 2024. In his 33 years of service, Giridhar had held various important portfolios at the Centre as well as with the AP government. Prior to his current assignment, he was secretary, Union ministry of road transport and highways. He has also served as additional secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat and in the exploration division in the ministry of petroleum and natural gas and has been the executive director in-charge of inspections as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority. In the AP government, Giridhar had served as principal secretary in the urban development department, and as managing director of the AP State Finance Corporation and secretary (finance). He also held the post of the collector and district magistrate of Chittoor and Khammam districts. Giridhar’s rise and his being noticed by the Prime Minister might just be the indication of the birth a new supernova from AP.
Lokesh heaped praise on Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan, saying that the first requisite in politics is to have a good heart and that he had seen it in the “Power Star” in 2014.
JR NTR VS NARA LOKESH?
Telugu Desam workers hoping for the re-entry of Jr NTR into the party to rejuvenate it ahead of the 2024 elections are a bit puzzled by the stand of the leadership. His supporters have several times shouted slogans at public meetings, asking party chief N. Chandrababu Naidu to give Jr NTR an active role but to no avail. Interestingly, Jr NTR’s meeting with Union minister Amit Shah, the saffron top gun, had given rise to speculation that the actor may join the BJP. There has been no official outcome from the meeting yet. So the matter came up again in the TD, this time in front of Nara Lokesh, who is on his Yuva Galam padayatra. He was asked during an interaction with autorickshaw drivers and party workers in Tirupati if he would welcome Jr NTR into active politics. Lokesh said, “100 per cent. Those who wish to see Andhra Pradesh at the top of the development path should enter politics.” Pointedly, he did not take Jr NTR’s name. However, Lokesh heaped praise on Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan, saying that the first requisite in politics is to have a good heart and that he had seen it in the “Power Star” in 2014. This left TD leaders and cadres whispering among themselves that Lokesh would not allow for the entry of Jr NTR who could become a prime rival for him in the TD.
JUDGE TURNS THE HEAT UP ON AZHAR
The one-man committee of Supreme Court former judge Justice L. Nageswara Rao (retd), appointed by the apex court to sort out the mess in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA), is reportedly sending shivers down the spine of former HCA president Mohd Azharuddin and his supporters. There is buzz in cricket circles that Azhar and his HCA supporters were deeply worried over Justice Rao receiving several complaints on irregularities and corruption during Azhar’s stint. The major complaint is that the HCA selected 23 players for its Ranji Trophy squad ignoring the rule of picking only 15. Azhar and Co. have faced several allegations of collecting large sums for the selection of players. Justice Rao has already visited the Uppal Stadium once and held meetings with HCA officials and gathered information. His report on the allegations is pending.
