TDP MLAs should quit posts to mount pressure on Cong: TRS

Attacking the legislators of ruling Congress and main opposition TDP from Telangana region for not quitting their posts as decided by the all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC), the TRS on Tuesday said their “true colours” have come out in the open now.

“We (TRS legislators) did not care for positions. We resigned in deference to the wishes of people. We are being congratulated and praised now. But the Congress and TDP (legislators) are not resigning. Telangana people now understand the truth,” TRS leader E. Rajender, who was party’s floor leader in the Assembly, told reporters.

Criticising Congress and TDP for allegedly blaming each other on the issue, former TRS legislator T. Harish Rao said the TDP legislators should quit their posts first to mount pressure on Congress leaders. “Congress and TDP should keep aside their differences. TDP leaders should resign, then we can make the Congress leaders bend,” he said.

Rejecting the terms of reference of Sri Krishna committee appointed by the Centre to go into the issue of division of Andhra Pradesh, the all-party JAC had asked the legislators from all parties to quit their posts to mount pressure on the Centre for taking immediate steps for Telangana’s formation.

Accordingly, 15 MLAs — 10 from TRS, two from Congress, one each from TDP, BJP and Praja Rajyam — submitted their resignations to the Speaker, who accepted the resignations of 10 TRS and one TDP MLA. The TDP, however, asked the Congress legislators to quit first to put pressure on the Centre.

State Budget on Feb. 20, Cabinet nod for pay hike

The AP Legislative Assembly’s Budget Session will begin on February 15 and the Budget will be presented on February 20. The session which will continue till the end of March is going to be crucial for the Congress government in the wake of agitations over the bifurcation of the state.

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who chaired the Cabinet meeting on Saturday had reportedly advised Cabinet colleagues to come prepared thoroughly for the session.

The Cabinet approved the pay revision agreement entered with the Joint Action Committee of Employees, Teachers and Workers.

Later the secretary (services) of general administration, Ms Sri Lakshmi and JAC leaders signed the agreement which ensured 39 per cent fitment on the basic pay with effect from July 1, 2008.

The government has issued an ordinance to provide reservation of 20 per cent of seats for the students of the state in the Nalsar University of Law.

“The government had given 50 acres of land and Rs 41.96 crore as grant-in-aid for the Nalsar university. With this, the government has given nod for 20 per cent reservations in seats. The decision is going to benefit several students who are appearing for the national common entrance test to get seats in the university,” said Ms J. Geeta Reddy, minister for information and public relations while briefing the Cabinet decisions.

The Cabinet also approved setting up of family courts in nine districts of the state. The expenditure on these nine courts will be Rs 2.10 crore per year.

Nine such family courts had already been set up in the first phase and now the state has 18 family courts.

The Cabinet sanctioned Rs 20 crore for construction of buildings and setting up 21 polytechnic colleges in 12 districts of the state. The government has increased the interest subsidies on the loans taken by the handloom weavers from Rs 15,000 to Rs 1 lakh.

The Cabinet has also decided to set up ESI hospital in Nellore district and sanctioned 13 civil surgeons posts, 6 regular posts, 34 contract and 6 posts on outsourcing basis. In the Tirupati Vedic University, 8 engineering posts were sanctioned.

In the Endowments department, the eight superintendent posts and one special category steno post have been upgraded as Assistant commissioner rank.

CM, employees fail to break ice on pay hike

Talks between the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, and the state employees failed once again on Tuesday with the employees demanding implementation of the pay hike with effect from July 2008.

Mr Rosaiah and the employees also disagreed on the percentage of hike. While the Chief Minister agreed to increase it by 38 per cent, the Joint Action Committee of employees demanded 41 per cent.