HYDERABAD/BHUBANESWAR: With Cyclone Hudhud expected to hit the Andhra Pradesh and Odisha coasts tomorrow, state authorities today evacuated thousands of people in vulnerable areas to safer places.

The cyclone is expected to make a landfall near Visakhapatnam by tomorrow afternoon, a senior official said, adding, about 1.11 lakh people in five coastal districts have been shifted to safer places.

The Andhra government has made arrangements to evacuate 5,14,725 people in all, officials said, while the Army and the Navy have kept their personnel on stand-by for rescue and relief operations.

According to the reports received by the state Disaster Management Commissioner A.R. Sukumar, 35,000 persons have been evacuated in Srikakulam district, 6,000 in Vizianagaram, 15,000 in Visakhapatnam, 50,000 in East Godavari and 5,000 in West Godavari district.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has been reviewing the situation with top officials and requested ISRO to provide satellite images of Hudhud's course.

In all, 436 villages across 64 mandals in the five districts have been identified as exposed to the threat of cyclone. The government has identified 370 relief camps for the evacuated people in these districts.

In Odisha, the state government today began evacuating people from vulnerable areas to minimise casualties even as two flights and 39 trains on the route were cancelled.

"The collectors of eight districts — Koraput, Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Rayagada, Gajapati, Ganjam, Kalahandi and Kandhamal — have been on the job to shift people from vulnerable areas to safe places," Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) P.K. Mohapatra said.

Rain has been reported from some areas, mostly in the southern region, but there was no report of any major damage so far, sources in the SRC said.

In Delhi, an Indian Meteorological Department bulletin said heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in the next 48 hours in parts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as 'Hudhud', which has developed into a very severe cyclone, nears Visakhapatnam and Gopalpur.

It said the cyclone moved west-northwestwards during past six hours and lay centred about 260 km southeast of Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and 350 km south-southeast of Gopalpur in Odisha.

"The system would move northwestwards and cross north Andhra Pradesh coast around Visakhapatnam by the forenoon of October 12," it said.

Under the influence of the cyclonic system, heavy to very heavy rainfall would take place over west and east Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vijayanagaram and Srikakulam districts of north Andhra Pradesh and Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kalahandi, Phulbani districts of south Odisha during next 48 hours, IMD said.

The warning said squally wind speed reaching 50-60 kmph gusting to 70 kmph would prevail along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts during next 12 hours.

"The wind speed would gradually increase to 170-180 kmph gusting to 195 kmph around the time of landfall along and off north Andhra Pradesh (East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts) and 80-90 kmph along and off adjoining districts of south Andhra Pradesh (West Godavari, Krishna districts) and south Odisha (Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput and Malkangiri districts).

Sea condition along and off north Andhra Pradesh and south Odisha coasts would be rough to very rough during next 12 hours.

Meanwhile, the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) met again today under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth and reviewed the preparedness for relief and rescue operations in the wake of the cyclonic storm.

An official statement said all the central agencies are fully geared up to provide necessary assistance to the affected states in case of any eventualities arising out of the landfall of the cyclone expected tomorrow.

A total of 39 NDRF teams comprising more than 1680 rescuers along with 199 inflatable rubber boats and other life saving equipment have been deployed in various parts of Andhra and Odisha to meet any challenges arising due to the cyclonic storm.

IAF helicopters are also on standby to meet any emergent situation, it said.

Malkangiri, which is likely to be among the worst hit areas, is already experiencing heavy rainfall and strong winds. One 'kuchha' house at Gudguta village was damaged as a tree fell on it but there was no report of any casualty from anywhere in the district.

About 3.5 lakh people, including those living in the coast of Ganjam, are being evacuated and the district authorities have been asked to start a free kitchen. The district authorities have also been asked to stock adequate quantities of dryfood, Mohapatra said.

The government has deployed 25 units — 15 of NDRF and 10 of ODRF, each comprising 40 personnel, besides fire service men in vulnerable places in different parts of the state, the SRC said. — PTI

SIRSA (Haryana): Asking people to discard dynastic politics and “goondasahi”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said there was no other option but to vote for a majority government of BJP if Haryana has to progress.

Slamming the political families of the state, Modi said they have done nothing but only filled their pockets. “Five families have run Haryana until now and it has only benefited these families. Look at the coalition ... they fight in front of people like WWF.

“They have an agreement that one family will rule for five years ,while the other family will badmouth the ruling family. In the next elections, other family comes to the power and circle goes on. You have to save Haryana from these ’goondasahi’ and dynastic politics,” Modi said at the election rally here.

He said the role of Sirsa is crucial in the elections and his government will come with a special model of progress if voted to power.

“Sirsa is like an island cut off from rest of the state.

It needs integrated development; it needs railways and road connectivity, Internet connectivity. If BJP comes to power, it will come up with a special model for the progress of the region,” Modi said, adding that “development is key to progress”.

Referring to one-rank, one-pension issue, Modi said his government has successfully implemented the scheme as promised in the election manifesto

“There is no battle in which youth of Haryana have not sacrificed their life. There was this issue of one rank, one pension. But when we came to power, we decided in this regard and made provisions for the same and fulfilled the promise,” he said.

He stated that a positive trend was coming out from poll surveys.

“All poll surveys and analysis have said BJP will either be the number one party in Haryana or will get majority. It is for sure that the next government will be of BJP but it is you who has to decide whether you want full majority BJP government,” the PM said.

As Modi spoke, an enthusiastic crowd, specially youth, cheered him jubilantly. Many of them had worn Modi masks and Modi caps. — PTI

BJP, INLD only trying to grab power: Sonia

BHIWANI (Haryana): Accusing the Narendra Modi government of trying to weaken laws on land acquisition and rural employment brought in by UPA, Sonia Gandhi today asked people to be wary of BJP and INLD, claiming their sole aim was to "grab power for vested interests".

"Today, when polls are before us, our rival parties, in a bid to capture power, have come out of their houses and even out of jails," she said addressing a rally at Tosham in Bhiwani district ahead of October 15 Assembly elections.

The Congress president said the electorate should not fall into the "trap" of BJP which "promises a lot but delivers little". She also took a dig at INLD leader and former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala, who was serving a 10-year imprisonment in a graft case but was campaigning while on bail on health grounds, for his remarks that if his party comes to power he will take oath from Tihar Jail.

"Jail say sarkar chaleney walon ko bhe kursi chahiyee (Those promising to rule from jail only want power). Other parties too want their share of power. They want power not because they want to serve you and wish to undertake Haryana's development, they are in the race because they want to grab power for their vested interests," Gandhi said.

The Congress president attacked the Narendra Modi government's decision to decontrol prices of crucial drugs.

Gandhi said the decision was taken ahead of the Prime Minister's visit to the US.

"The Prime Minister recently visited the US and only time will tell what was gained and what was lost....

"But one thing which he (Modi) did ... what I think is very wrong, this will benefit American drug companies to big extent. As a result, cost of life saving drugs will go up and common man will have to suffer," she said referring to the lifting of control on drug prices.

She accused BJP of "promising moon" during run up to the Lok Sabha elections. "But now they want power for personal gain. Do not fall into the trap of their lies ... during UPA's rule, we approved one rank, one pension for ex-servicemen ... we do what we say," she said.

Gandhi said earlier land from farmers was taken away by industries without adequate compensation. But after the implementation of the land acquisition law, farmers are getting their due.

She also said the rural employment guarantee law was another milestone of the UPA government.

"We implemented MNREGA. It has changed the lives of crores of families. It has especially benefited women from Dalit families and the weaker section.

"But the BJP government is preparing to weaken the law. This will be grave injustice to those who depend on it for their livelihood and are searching for jobs," she said.

"They allege that Haryana has fallen behind in the past ten years, but you have yourself witnessed the progress made by the state during this period. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda with the help of his colleagues and Congress workers has worked hard for the state's development and to make all sections happy," she said.

Gandhi said contrary to the claims of the Opposition, Haryana has developed as a progressive state under Congress rule and was way ahead of others in terms of education and power infrastructure.

Attacking Om Prakash Chautala's INLD, she said during its rule, "law and order machinery had broken down and you will recall that a reign of terror prevailed, doing business was difficult, farmers lives was filled with problems and you faced difficulties even in getting basic amenities like water, power, better roads." 

Lashing out at the BJP government at the Centre, Gandhi alleged, "They have no concern for poor, Dalits, farmers and common citizens. They do shed crocodile tears for them. To befool them, they can adopt any method." 

"During Lok Sabha polls, they promised the moon.... Today they want to capture power in Haryana. Their sole aim is to find fault with others and crown themselves. I know you know their true colours and will not fall into their trap," she said.

Gandhi lauded the contribution of the people of Haryana in various fields, including country's freedom struggle and Green Revolution.

"Your state is front-ranking in terms of development and this is so because in 1966 after Haryana was carved out (as a separate State), most of the times you supported Congress," she said.

Commending the role of Haryana soldiers in the country’s defence, she said, "We took steps like One rank, one pension ... in future also, Congress will strive to work for welfare of various sections of the society." 

"Congress does not believe in making hollow promises. What we say, we fulfil with full dedication and honesty.

"Victory of Congress (in Haryana polls) will be the victory of rights of the poor. When the Congress government is formed, forces of social justice will be strengthened," she said.

With Bhiwani region considered a stronghold of the late Bansi Lal family, the Congress chief tried to strike a chord with the voters, saying "in the development of the state, in addition to the contribution of other leaders, Chaudhary Bansi Lal played a key role." "Today, we also remember Chaudhary Surender Singh," she said.

Surender Singh was a former Haryana Minister who died in a helicopter crash over nine years back. Surender's widow and Bansi Lal's daughter-in-law Kiran Choudhary is seeking re-election from Tohsam.

Sonia Gandhi concluded her speech, saying "Jai Hind" and "Jai Haryana" before leaving the podium. But shortly afterwards she returned to the stage and greeted the women on the occasion of "Karva Chauth" festival, during which women fast and pray for the well-being of their husband. — PTI

AGARTALA/AIZAWL: Militants have kidnapped 11 persons from Mizoram along the inter-state border with Tripura, the police said on Saturday.

"NLFT (National Liberation Front of Tripura) extremists Friday evening abducted 16 construction workers from Rajivnagar village along the Tripura-Mizoram border. Later, the rebels released five persons," a Tripura police officer said.

He said all the 16 persons — Bengali Muslims and Chakma tribals — were residents of southern Assam's Karimganj district.

They went to Rajivnagar village under Mamit district in Mizoram as construction workers. They went to Mizoram through Tripura's Kanchanpur area.

The police suspect that abductors might have taken these people to Bangladesh.

"The NLFT rebels might have taken the hostages to Bangladesh as the place is just a few kilometres away from the India-Bangladesh border. 

"Senior police officials have asked the Border Security Force to hold a flag meeting with the BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) to rescue the hostages," the official said.

The security forces of Tripura and Mizoram have jointly launched a search operation to rescue the captives and to nab the militants.

June 14, three Tripura traders and their driver were kidnapped by NLFT guerrillas from the same area of Mizoram. However, they were subsequently freed by the rebels.

After the erection of fencing and strengthening the security along the India-Bangladesh boundary with Tripura, the NLFT extremists use Mizoram as corridor for their cross border activities.

The NLFT guerrillas, with their base in Bangladesh, have been kidnapping people in Tripura and Mizoram to collect ransom.

Mizoram has unfenced and porous international border of 404 km with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh.

Tripura also shares 856-km-long border with Bangladesh and some parts of the border areas are still unfenced.

Tripura shares 109 km borders with Mizoram and 53 km borders with Assam. — IANS

WASHINGTON: Welcoming the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi, US lawmakers have said the two South Asians represent the best of humanity and are symbols of hope and perseverance.

"Malala and Satyarthi are two very deserving Nobel Peace Prize laureates. In a world beset by chaos and unease, these two individuals represent the best of humanity and are symbols of hope and perseverance, of overcoming obstacles and seemingly insurmountable challenges," Senator Robert Menendez said.

"Malala's courage and leadership in standing up for women and girls, not only in Pakistan but around the world, serves as a clarion call for all those who support the principles of fairness, equality, and the right to an education without fear of repression or violence," he said.

She has inspired millions to fight for the rights of girls to be educated and we in the Senate have honored Malala in her pursuit for justice, he added.

"Kailash Satyarthi has spent a lifetime protecting the unprotected and giving a voice to countless children who face exploitation through forced labor. His courage is known in India and felt throughout the world," Menendez said.

"This recognition for their work is one the community of nations celebrates, and we must continue to honor these heroines and heroes who make our world a more just place." Congresswoman Grace Meng, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, congratulated them for winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

"This recognition of their lives' work is both historic and inspiring. They serve as examples to the world community, and both India and Pakistan can be proud to be represented so well on the world’s stage," she said.

Children's rights director at Human Rights Watch, Zama Coursen-Neff, said: "The Nobel Committee's recognition of Malala and Satyarthi spotlights the importance of protecting children — whether in or out of school." Human Rights Watch said the recognition of Satyarthi will draw attention to gaps in enforcing India's ambitious Right to Education law, which provides free and compulsory education to all children up to age 14.

"As the youngest winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai has become a symbol of the challenges students face amid internal conflict and war," said Bede Sheppard, deputy children’s rights director at Human Rights Watch.

"The Nobel Committee’s recognition of Malala Yousafzai and Kailash Satyarthi should increase our commitment to ensuring that all children can attend school safely, no matter where they live," he said.

In a statement, Julia Gillard, Board Chair of the Global Partnership for Education, said, "We are proud and honored that both of these inspirational advocates are strong supporters of the Global Partnership for Education." "We congratulate Kailash Satyarthi, a former board member of the Global Partnership, who has devoted his life to end child labour and for better education for the children of South Asia," Gillard said. — PTI

Pak violates ceasefire again, pounds forward posts in Poonch

JAMMU: After a brief lull, Pakistan on Saturday again violated the ceasefire by firing on forward posts along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing retaliation from India.

Pakistani troops resorted to firing on forward Indian posts along LoC in Banwat sector of Poonch district from 1300 hours, a senior Army officer told PTI.

Indian troops guarding the border took positions and retaliated resulting in exchanges which were going on when last reports came from the area, he said

There was no loss of life on our side, the officer said.

The last instance of firing by Pakistan along the 192-km IB was when its Rangers targeted four BSF Border Out Posts (BoP) in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district for 20 minutes on Thursday night.

The IB has witnessed heavy firing from October 1-9 that has left eight persons dead and 90 people injured, including 13 securitymen.

Besides over 32,000 people have fled from their border homes leaving 113 hamlets deserted along the IB.

India and Pakistan troops traded heavy fire along the IB on the intervening night of October 7 and 8 after Pakistan Rangers shelled almost the entire IB by targeting 60 Border Out Posts (BoPs) and over 130 border hamlets in Jammu, Samba and Kathua districts of Jammu and Kashmir, in which 15 people including 3 BSF jawans were injured.

There have been over three dozen ceasefire violations along the IB since October 1. — PTI

J-K govt to provide safer places to ceasefire-affected people

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government today directed the Revenue Department to submit a comprehensive proposal for providing land at safer places for the people affected due to cross-border firing in the state.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah late last night, an official spokesman said.

"The Cabinet directed the Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Department to submit a comprehensive proposal to it for providing five marlas of land per family in safer zones, adjacent to the present villages, to the people affected due to cross border and cross LoC (Line of Control) firing in the state," the spokesman said.

The Cabinet also authorised the department for determining geographical limits of new and existing administrative units in the state, he said.

The departments has been advised to complete the necessary exercise and place the case before the Cabinet in its next meeting for consideration. 

He said the Minister of Rural Development and Minister of Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation were authorised to order changes in the geographical boundaries and headquarters of the new administrative units, wherever necessary, falling under their respective ministries.

The government also approved the construction of pediatric hospital at Dewan Bagh, Srinagar, and the Health and Medical Education Department has been directed to have the project executed by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Company, the spokesman said.

The Cabinet also gave nod to the extension of the Srinagar Master Plan limits from present 416.25 sq km to 757 sq km by including local areas comprising 163 settlements as local areas of the Srinagar Development Authority which shall be the integral part of the revised Srinagar Master Plan 2012-32, he added. — PTI

PM launches 'Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana'

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the ‘Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana’, an ambitious village development project under which each MP will take the responsibility of developing physical and institutional infrastructure in three villages by 2019.

Speaking at the launch in New Delhi, Modi said under the scheme it is envisaged that under the leadership and through the efforts of Members of Parliament, one village would be developed by each MP by 2016.

He said on the basis of the model created by this experience, it is envisaged that two more villages would be developed by each MP by 2019 and that one village will be developed every year.

“We are nearly 800 MPs. If before 2019 we develop three villages each, we reach nearly 2,500 villages. If in the light of this scheme, the states also create a similar scheme for MLAs, then 6,000-7,000 more villages can be added,” Modi said.

The Prime Minister also said if one village is developed in a block, it is also likely to have a “viral” effect and development would permeate other villages also.

Speaking about the scheme, Modi said there is flexibility and an MP is free to choose any village. The only condition is that it should not be his own village or that of his in-laws.

“I also have to choose a village in Varanasi,” Modi said and added that he would go there, discuss and choose a village.

He said that till now the model of development being followed in the country has largely been supply driven.

“In Delhi, Lucknow or Gandhinagar, a scheme is prepared and then an attempt is made to inject it everywhere. Through this ‘Adarsh Gram’ (scheme), we want to shift from supply driven to demand driven model,” he said.

He also said that atmosphere should be created where every person is proud of his or her village. — PTI

CHENNAI: With a vacuum created in Tamil Nadu's political scene following the conviction of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa in a graft case, Opposition parties are smelling an opportunity to strengthen their ranks ahead of the 2016 Assembly polls.

At the forefront is the DMK, whose house the party chief M. Karunanidhi is trying to put in order in the wake of intra-party squabbles following the 2011 electoral debacle.

The party has gone through its share of churnings since then, including expulsion of Karunanidhi's Madurai-based son M. K. Alagiri from the party following his open outbursts on leadership issues.

Having self-appraised its rout at the 2011 hustings — not even managing to secure the main opposition party status, the DMK sees a glimmer of hope to shore up its prospects with Jayalalithaa's conviction.

Having spearheaded the disproportionate assets case against Jayalalithaa, with party senior K. Anbazhagan impleading in the case, Karunanidhi believes the conviction of his bete noire has infused fresh energy in DMK.

"At a time when she was trying to finish off this movement (DMK), when all our comrades were tensed (about it), she herself walked into the trap, and it is a fact that she unwittingly helped in giving a push to this movement," he said.

Karunanidhi's remarks came at a recent meeting of his party's district secretaries, where he described Jayalalithaa's incarceration as her own doing.

He said Jayalalithaa may go for an appeal in the Supreme Court against her conviction, but her aspirations of coming back to power will remain a 'dream'.

However, the party is still in a Catch-22 situation as the 2G spectrum case, in which Karunanidhi's daughter Kanimozhi and junior colleague A. Raja are accused, hangs like the proverbial Damocles sword. DMK chief's wife Dayalu Ammal is a witness in the CBI-probed case.

It is believed that this fact made Karunanidhi tread a cautious path over the Jayalalithaa verdict, as he remained incommunicado over the entire day on September 27 even as his reaction to Jayalalithaa's conviction, eagerly awaited by political observers, came late.

While AIADMK is perceived to be on friendly terms with BJP at the national level, with Jayalalithaa sharing cordial ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, leaders sing a different tune in Tamil Nadu. 

The BJP's state unit, which put up a straight fight against the ruling party in the recently held bypolls to some local bodies, including corporations, seems to be planning for 2016 after it tasted some victory in the April Lok Sabha polls, though Jayalalithaa's party netted 37 of the 39 seats here.

The civic bypolls were reduced to a BJP-AIADMK fight and ever since Jayalalithaa's conviction, the saffron party is complaining of law and order situation day in and day out.

Interestingly, BJP is reportedly wooing actor Rajnikanth, apparently aiming to cash in on his star power to ensure a better performance in the next elections. The actor had earlier supported former Prime Minister A.B. Vajapayee's river inter-linking efforts.

Neither the actor nor BJP have denied reports of the latter's national president Amit Shah holding telephonic conversations with the star recently. The party has been facing a severe drought in the state Assembly, having been unable to return a legislator for over a decade.

AIADMK's anticipation of smooth sailing in the 2016 elections seem to be a tough task with its chief in jail and the party virtually directionless.

This has led to speculation of a realignment of political equations, with MDMK leader Vaiko, a strong critic of Karunanidhi, softening his stand against the DMK leader.

A former DMK leader, who quit the party after he fell out of favour with Karunanidhi, Vaiko in his party's recent conference did not attack the 90-year-old leader even as he welcomed DMK's stand on a referendum on Eelam Tamils issue, seen as feelers by political observers.

While the 2016 polls is still 18 months away, managers in political parties have started their calculations, aiming to stop the AIADMK juggernaut that had been steamrolling them since 2011.

The M.G. Ramachandran-founded party has not lost a single election since the 2011 polls even as supporters and workers are keeping their fingers crossed over 'Amma' returning to the thick of action and steer the party from the perceived blot it had suffered on September 27 when she was convicted in the disproportionate assets case. — PTI