Canadian Sikh Leads 'Drug Awareness Walk Across Canada'

From left, Sukhdarshan Singh Sawara, Avtar Rehill, Balwinder S. Kahlon and Sandra Morrisey, member of Drug Awareness Foundation Calgary, are walking across Canada in support of drug awareness and education.

To give a message to create awareness for Drug problem existing in every society first ever in the world " Drug Awareness Walk Across Canada" started on April 1st 2011 from St John NFLD to finish Mid- November in Victoria BC. Team leader and DAFC founder Balwinder Singh Kahlon is joined at various times during the day by fellow team members Sandra Morrisey, Avtar Rehill and Sukhdarshan Singh Sawara. DAFC is a Non-Profit organization and has a vision to build a foundation that will educate and support a healthy, safe, drug and alcohol free life style. The Organisation Works together with community partners to prevent and reduce alcohol and drug related problems in Society. To create awareness and prevent drug abuse through education and outreach programs.
Balwinder Kahlon and DAFC team reached Toronto on Friday and received tremendous support from the community. A grand welcome to honour Balwinder Kahlon and DAFC team was organised in Sikh Spiritual Center also known as Rexdale Gurughar in Toronto. Members of Southasian Media also honoured Mr Kahlon.
Addressing a huge gathering Balwinder Kahlon said "During the last few years the use of Drug and Alcohol is escalating in Punjabi community at large and in particular among the youths. More than ever young adults are engaging with the gangs to involve in the illegal activities. The increased use of alcohol and drug has caused variety of social, family, financial and health related challenges in the community".
He further added "We need to change our lifestyle and stay away from alcohol even occasional drinking can lead to various issues. He also said we need to spend more time with our families to exchange cultural values".Mr Kahlon attended various programs during the weekend.
Youth volunteer Ratanpreet Singh said " Balwinder Kahlon is a messenger of God and we all must spread his message of awareness and say NO to Drugs and Alcohol". Since 2005 many Canadian youths of Punjabi origin have been killed due to their involvement in the organized crime. During 2006 the Punjabi community convened various forms and focus groups to formulate the viable approach to curtail the drug and alcohol use involving youth. After a number of community consultations it was decided to educate the community by organizing rallies, town hall meetings, youth seminars and through radio and television talk shows. In June 2008 the Drug Awareness Foundation Calgary (DAFC) was formed with its main focus on educating and informing the families, youths and seniors of the negative impacts of the drug and alcohol use. To date DAFC has organized and conducted various events, programs and activities for the community awareness.

Amitabh Bachchan's Funky New Look: You Like?

Whether it's films or fashion, Amitabh Bachchan aka the Big B of Bollywood will never stop experimenting. In his newest avatar in a movie titled Bbuddah Hoga Terra Baap (how apt!), the superstar will be seen wearing designer denims, funky shirts, branded sunglasses and two watches!
Reportedly, Bachchan is very fond of wearing watches and is sometimes seen wearing two timepieces. He turned up wearing two watches on the first day of the movie's shoot. Director Puri Jagannadh was so taken in by Bachchan's quirky style that he promptly decided Amitabh would continue wearing them in the film too!
Apparently Amitabh plays the role of an 'angry old man' and the movie will be released on July 31, 2011. We can’t wait to see Amitabh's new look and the movie, what about you?

Baba Ramdev to go ahead with fast from June 4

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Tuesday said he would go on his fast against corruption from June 4 despite the Centre's efforts to placate him over his demand for action on black money.
"My hunger strike will go ahead. There is no question of calling off the protest plan till my demands are met and till talks reach a satisfactory conclusion," Baba Ramdev said.
The government had said it will set up a Directorate of Criminal Investigation dealing with direct tax law under the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
This is the third such measure put forward by the government, which on Friday announced a high level panel to tackle generation of black money and on Sunday commissioned a study by top economists to estimate the extent of illegal wealth stashed abroad.
The sense of urgency in framing a political response to corruption was reflected in the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs meeting on Monday evening to take stock amid heightening tensions with the Anna Hazare group, Baba Ramdev's threatened fast and continuing Opposition attacks.
The series of actions also point to the government's uneasiness on black money that has lingered as an issue since the 2009 election with Supreme Court taking an interest and Baba Ramdev jumping into the fray as well.
Sources said the government felt it would be better to adopt a proactive approach to Baba Ramdev rather than lay itself open to an ambush as was the case with the Anna Hazare fast at Jantar Mantar. Ramdev was also briefed by CBDT chairperson Sudhir Chandra about two weeks ago about what the government has done and the hurdles to recovering black money.
The new Directorate of Criminal Investigation will be headed by a director general or a chief commissioner rank officer. It will function out of eight cities considered to be high wealth generators -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh and Lucknow -- and will deal with criminal matters punishable under any direct tax law.
The new department will collect information about persons and transactions suspected to be involved in criminal activities having cross-border, inter-state or international ramifications posing a threat to national security. The new directorate will investigate the source and use of funds involved in such criminal activities and can file prosecution under any direct tax law relating to a criminal activity.
It has also been empowered to protect and rehabilitate witnesses who support the state in prosecution of such offences so as to insulate them from any harm. It is also empowered to enter into agreements for sharing of information and other cooperation with any central or state agency in India or agencies of foreign countries.

German chancellor lands late in India after Iran blocks plane

BERLIN: Iran temporarily withdrew flyover rights for the plane carrying German chancellor Angela Merkel to India on Tuesday, forcing it to circle over Turkey for two hours before the rights were restored and she could land in New Delhi. "An unusual start to the India trip," Merkel's spokesman Steffen Seibert wrote on his Twitter account. "Iran temporarily denied flyover rights for the Chancellor's plane. A late landing in Delhi." A Reuters journalist travelling with Merkel reported that Iran had withdrawn the previously granted rights shortly before the plan reached Iranian territory. Officials in the German delegation travelling with Merkel attributed it to "coordination problems." The plane, carrying a large group of industry representatives and reporters, was forced to circle over Turkey before Iran gave it permission to fly over the country. A second German government plane that left Berlin earlier reached India without any problems.

New immigrants facing discrimination

Toronto, home to one of the largest South Asian community in North America, is referred to as Canada's economic engine.It's population is reflective of all the countries from where immigrants have come and made it their home.It boasts the most diverse of cultures and peaceful integration of various ethnic minorities with their majority counterparts.Soon this minority populace bleeding into the home turf ,spreading roots and sprouting new Canadians will be a healthy mix of east and west.Who said the twain shall not meet ? Mr. Kipling you stand corrected sir,just as you make us stand and wait at your namesake subway station here.
It is not uncommon for us to see how people of all nationalities speak their mother tongue and their offsprings follow suit.But as soon as they step out of their common circle of friends the language of communication switches. Is language then just a means of communication? Is it not a part of our identity any more?Does it not define our ancestory and culture and then it begs the question... does it matter? Who cares say some, as we are all here from various countries and in order to integrate we must adapt . Does adapting mean losing our identity like perhaps the melting pot of the United States or be a multicultural society like Canada? Canadians are so serious about this that multiculturalism is the law here. The multiculturalism act of 1988 called Bill C -93 makes the principle of racial and cultural equality, law. Inspite of this racism and discrimination still exists. How long does it take for a society ( lets say South Asian ) like ours to be accepted totally as an equal?v We may be the second or third generation ,own our homes ,pay our dues (taxes),be gainfully employed ,eat ,dress and talk like the next guy on the street yet be referred to as Indian ,Pakistani etc. This is the broader picture and perhaps springing from a phobia of losing jobs to the immigrants etc. a myth attached with every country allowing immigrants into their fold.
The worse that one can encounter is the discrimination or alienation by an existing immigrant towards a newcomer from their own motherland. " It hurts more" complained some one on the platform waiting with me, "when a desi pretends to be a non-desi to their fellow workers".I was stunned .Insulting, and shameful thought I. "No I swear ."came back the reply."Does my desire to hang out with desi people during lunch at work and speak in Punjabi/Hindi embarass them?"I am still reeling under the question of accusing stare that states that people who lived in foreign countries long do not like to mingle with their countrymen at work..Perhaps we do not notice it but it must happen for my source is still staring me in the faceI I tell him he can take comfort in knowing that he can now listen to desi music ,find desi food and have someone understand his language at any place in Toronto . People like us had it worse three decades ago. Pioneering desis fought battles on many fronts including discrimination associated with first generation immigrants. Integration is easier now as people understand and respect our country of origin.
I still wonder if this discrimination by a desi towards another desi exists.Is it a common phenomenon?. If so then what is the reason?. Are all foreign countries where desis have settled in stages experiencing similar problems? How can this be solved or at least not manifested as superiority by one generation of Indians over the other? As I leave the subway station I am dejected and disappointed that a city as vibrant and accommodating to newcomers like Torotno ,can still have people who harbour feelings of "not wanting to be perceived as a desi and me not wanna be hanging around desis just 'cause my parents are one "attitude. Sad.
                                                                                             -Poonam Gupta, Tornto
                                                                                           Courtecy: Times of India

Five Indian ministers at Toronto's mini-PBD

TORONTO: Canadian Governor General David Johnston will join Vayalar Ravi, oversees Indian affairs minister, and his four cabinet colleagues in welcoming the Indian diaspora to the mini Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) here next week. Preneet Kaur, minister of state for external affairs, Ashwani Kumar, minister of state for planning and science and technology, Sachin Pilot, minister of state for communications, Jitin Prasada, minister of state for road transport, Sam Pitroda, adviser to the prime minister, and Arun Maira, member of the Planning Commission, are other top Indian dignitaries attending the two-day gathering at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre here from June 9.
The biggest conclave in Canada of the Indian-origin people in North America and the Caribbean is expected to attract about 1,000 delegates.
With its theme of 'Building Bridges: Positioning Strategies for the Indian Diaspora,' the PBD will serve as a platform to the diaspora to connect with India and participate in its growth, say Indian officials here.
The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas "offers unparalleled opportunities for networking, advancing linkages across multiple sectors - business, innovation, healthcare and culture; fostering partnerships in the small and medium-sized business sectors, providing ideas for cultural, generational and gender connections and nurturing the rapidly growing relationship between Canada and India,'' says the Indian high commission.
Divided into various sessions, the two-day gathering will focus on India's strides in economic development, innovation, science and technology, healthcare and tele-medicine and explore possibilities of collaboration with the diaspora and Canada.
The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India (ASSOCHAM) will hold a round-table on business opportunities in India.
Ontario premier Dalton McGuinty and prominent Indo-Canadians, including Scotiabank vice chairman Sabi Marwah and Fairfax Holdings chairman Prem Watsa, are also scheduled to address the gathering. A performance by Bollywood singer Shibani Kashyap will be part of the two-day proceedings.

Bellary Reddy sits on Rs 2cr gold chair

BANGALORE: Karnataka tourism and infrastructure minister G Janardhana Reddy sits on a gold chair worth Rs 2.2 crore, offers pooja to gold idols worth Rs 2.58 crore and wears a belt worth Rs 13.15 lakh. The gold plates, bowls, spoon, fork and knife at his house is worth Rs 20.87 lakh. This is as per his own statement to the Karnataka Lokayukta. He had filed the details of his assets and liabilities (up to March 31,2010) on June 25,2010. The list of jewellerry he owns runs into three full pages and is worth crores. He has several sets of gold bangles, yellow sapphire stone, ruby, gold articles, pendants, necklaces, earrings, mens jewellery, rings and gold idols. The worth of the silver articles, most of them are tableware and pooja items, runs into tens of lakhs. The household articles, like air conditioners, TV sets, furniture too run into lakhs.
Excluding the agricultural land, buildings and ancestral property, Janardhana Reddy has assets worth Rs 153.49 crore. His salary amounts to Rs 31.54 crore, while his business income is Rs 18.30 crore.

Pak looks to cross nuclear threshold against India

NEW DELHI: Pakistan's recent testing of NASR or Hatf-9 short range missile, coupled with its rapidly growing stockpile of low-intensity nuclear weapons, suggests that it is actually preparing to cross the nuclear threshold in case of a conflict with India. One of world's most authoritative voices on Pakistan's nuclear strength and American nuclear expert Hans Kristensen told that a nuclear-tipped NASR seemed more like a weapon intended for use against Indian forces advancing into Pakistani territory. "While that wouldn't threaten Indian survival in itself, it would of course mean crossing the nuclear threshold early in a conflict, which is one of the particular concerns of a short-range nuclear weapon,'' said Kristensen, who is also Federation of American Scientists' Nuclear Information Project director. While the 60-km short range of the nuclear capable missile doesn't threaten the security of any major Indian city, it certainly makes the Indian army and security forces vulnerable in case India does try to implement its much talked about Cold Start Doctrine, which entails making deep and precise incursions into Pakistani territory in the event of another Mumbai-like attack. Pakistan clearly seems to be raising the game considering that India will indeed be under pressure to destroy terror camps in Pakistan in the event of another state sponsored terror attack on India.
"A NASR would have to drive all the way up to the Indian border to be able to reach important targets in India. Amritsar would be one candidate, as would several smaller cities along the border. But that would also expose the missile to counter attack,'' Kristensen said as he emphasized that with its range of only 60 kilometres, the multi-tube NASR system is not intended to retaliate against Indian cities but be used first against advancing Indian Army in a battlefield scenario.
Kristensen had earlier described Pakistan's production of Hatf-9 as a worrisome development for South Asia and for efforts to prevent nuclear weapons from being used. He said it was time for Pakistan to explain how many nuclear weapons, of what kind, and for what purpose are needed for its minimum deterrent. Pakistan announced earlier that NASR "carries nuclear warheads of appropriate yield with high accuracy, shoot-and-scoot attributes" and that it was developed as a quick response system to add deterrence value to Pakistan's nuclear weapons.
According to Kristensen though, the talk about Pakistan surpassing France in terms of the strength of its nuclear arsenal is "a decade or two ahead''. "Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is not equal to the number of warheads that could potentially be produced by all the highly-enriched uranium and plutonium Pakistan might have produced. The size also depends on other factors such as the number of delivery vehicles and other limitations,'' he said.

Rajnikanth in ICU in Singapore hospital, condition stable

SINGAPORE: Tamil superstar Rajnikanth, who was flown in here from Chennai for treatment, has been admitted to intensive care unit of the city-state's Mount Elizabeth Hospital and is stated to be in a stable condition. The 61-year-old actor is in stable condition, the Channel News Asia reported Saturday night quoting Dhanush, Tamil actor and the mega star's son-in-law. Rajnikanth had suffered from exhaustion on April 29, the first day of the shoot of his latest venture 'Raana', and was admitted to the Isabel Hospital in Chennai. He was discharged the same day only to be readmitted there on May 4 for allergic bronchitis and viral fever.
On May 13, he was admitted to Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre for respiratory infection and other problems. He was flown in Singapore on Saturday for treatment.

30 corporate honchos get Rs 1 crore-plus salary

NEW DELHI: Mukesh Ambani has got the company of at least 29 fellow corporate executives, including four from his own group Reliance Industries, in terms of annual salaries running into crores of rupees for the latest fiscal.
These include JSW Energy's Sajjan Jindal, Hindustan Construction's Ajit Gulabchand, Raymond's Gautam Hari Singhania, ICICI Bank's Chanda Kochhar, Axis Bank's Shikha Sharma, as also Infosys' S Gopalakrishnan and SD Shibulal.
Companies are currently in the process of disclosing top management salaries for the financial year ended March 31, 2011 through their annual reports for the period. Just about a month in the process since the annual reports of listed companies began trickling in late April, as many as 30 top corporate executives have been found to have received annual compensation exceeding Rs 1 crore.
So far, the figures are available for a total of 32 companies, out of which executives at 13 companies received salaries in excess of Rs 1 crore mark in 2010-11, an analysis of information available with financial data aggregator Capitalline shows. Besides RIL's chairman and MD Mukesh Ambani, there are three more top executives from the company - Nikhil Meswani, Hital Meswani, PMS Prasad and Pawan Kumar Kapil - in this elite league.
The list of executives with salaries exceeding Rs 1 crore includes a total of four executives from ICICI Bank, including its chief, and five from IT major Infosys, including TV Mohandas Pai and K Dinesh who recently left the company.
Also, there are three top executives from JSW Energy (NK Jain, Lalit Kumar Gupta and SS Rao) besides its chief. The Infosys executives include Srinath Batni, while those from ICICI Bank include K Ramkumar, NS Kannan and Rajiv Sabharwal. The total list of executives with such salaries would grow further as more companies reveal their figures in the coming days.
For the previous fiscal 2009-10, there were more than 800 corporate honchos with a pay package of over Rs 1 crore. For the latest fiscal ended March 31, 2011, the list is so far led by Mukesh Ambani with a pay package of Rs 15 crore - which has remained unchanged for three years now. As per the figures available so far, Ambani is followed by Nikhil Meswani (Rs 11.05 crore) and Hital Meswani (Rs 11.03 crore).
So far, no one other than these three RIL executives have been found to have got a salary in excess of Rs 10 crore. However, Mukesh Ambani was not even in the top-10 in terms of salary in 2009-10, when Sun TV Network's Kalanithi Maran and Kavery Maran were top-earning executives with pay packages of Rs 37.08 crore each. That year, Marans were followed by Hero Honda's Pawan Munjal (Rs 30.88 crore) and Brijmohan Lall Munjal (Rs 30.63 crore), Apollo Tyres' Onkar S Kanwar (Rs 29.69 crore), Cadilla Healthcare's Pankaj Patel (Rs 28.63 crore), Madras Cements' P R R Rajha (Rs 27.91 crore), Alps Industries' Sandeep Agarwal (Rs 23.56 crore), Bharti Airtel's Sunil Mittal (Rs 23.48 crore) and Torrent Power's Markand Bhatt (Rs 21.5 crore).
In fiscal ended March 31, 2010, as many as 459 companies gave a salary of over Rs 1 crore to their one or more executives, but salary figures are so far not available for the year 2010-11 for many of them. Experts believe that the number could go higher for the year 2010-11, to mark a change from the trend seen till a few years ago when some corporates were shunning fat pay packages.
Among others, Mukesh Ambani had also announced a freeze on his pay package in October 2009, amid a debate over the need for moving away from huge CEO salaries to send a signal of solidarity to fight the global economic slowdown. Ambani was India's top-paid executive in 2007-08 with a package of over Rs 44 crore and could have remained to hold the top slot, if he had not decided to freeze his salary from 2008-09 onwards.
For the latest fiscal also, Ambani decided to forego Rs 23.75 crore from his annual compensation and kept his salary capped at Rs 15 crore for the third year in a row. At the same time, the company's total remuneration for top management personnel, as also commission paid to non-executive directors, declined during fiscal 2010-11. Ambani was eligible for an annual remuneration of Rs 38.75 crore in 2010-11 as Chairman and MD of RIL.
RIL has said that the decision to cap the salary was taken to reflect "his desire to continue to set a personal example for moderation in managerial compensation levels." At a time when there was a raging debate on right-sizing of CEO salaries, RIL had announced in October 2009 that Mukesh Ambani would take a pay cut as a result of which his pay package dropped to Rs 15 crore for 2008-09 fiscal from over Rs 44 crore in 2007-08.
Days before Ambani's decision, then Corporate Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid advised the industry to shun "vulgar" salaries. Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia had also spoken against "indecent" compensation.
However, things have changed since then and the experts believe that the days of high CEO salaries could be returning to the corporate world.

India may approach NY court to prove ISI as terror group

New York court

Inter-Services Intelligence Logo

      New DELHI: India may approach a New York court to be a party to a lawsuit, filed by the family of 26/11 victims Rabbi Gavriel Noah Holtzberg and his wife Rivka, to declare Pakistan's spy agency ISI as a terrorist group. Armed with many documents, which prove the ISI's links with terror groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, India may implead itself in the lawsuit filed in the federal court to help the petitioners as well as declaring ISI as a terrorist outfit. "Our main purpose is to help the family of the Rabbito get justice as well as to prove in the New York court ISI's direct link with terror outfits like LeT which carried out the Mumbai attack," a government official said.
If the New York court is convinced about ISI's role in 26/11 attack, it will strengthen the case of declaring ISI as terrorist outfit by the US and the UN.
In the lawsuit, ISI chief Shuja Pasha and LeT are being sued for the Mumbai attack. It was filed by the close family members of Rabbi Holtzberg and Rivka, who were killed by the terrorists at the Chabad House in Mumbai during the 26/11 attack.
The disclosure of LeT operative David Headley in a Chicago court that he was in constant contact with ISI officials and he received espionage training from ISI is also likely to strengthen the lawsuit.
Headley's testimony in the trial of Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana in a Chicago court that the Pakistani spy agency and its operatives like Major Iqbal and LeT founder Hafiz Saeed had helped him in laying the groundwork for the Mumbai attacks has exposed Islamabad's role in 26/11, the government official said.
Through records of several emails exhibited in the court, federal prosecutors established beyond doubt that Headley was in constant contact with ISI officials, in particular Major Iqbal, and his handlers in Pakistan.
In one of the emails to his ISI handler Major Iqbal, Headley writes about the latest spying gadgets. Headley told the court that Iqbal made key decisions and was indeed the mastermind of the 26/11 plot. "Major Iqbal told me the Chabad House would be added on whatever list (of targets) there was because it was a front office for the Mossad" - Israel's intelligence agency, Headley said, adding that Major Iqbal "seemed upset the (Mumbai) airport was not included" as a target.
"If we become party to the law suit, all these will come as great help in proving our point that ISI is nothing but a global terrorist organisation," the official said.

Punjabi set to become 4th top language in Canada

BARNALA: Not only Punjabis, who are making waves at faraway Canada in various spheres, including Canadian parliament, Punjabi language also is making a niche for itself there. During the ongoing census in Canada, many are coming forward to record their mother tongue as Punjabi.
A campaign is underway in that country to make Punjabis declare the language as their mother tongue and many organizations are working relentlessly to make Punjabi-origin people record Punjabi as their language. If all goes as per the wishes of Punjabis, the language is set to become 4th biggest language in Canada, moving up from the present sixth place.
Sources said that signboards at many places across Canada have come up of late even in Punjabi, along with other languages. Recently, two Punjabi-origin politicians were elevated as ministers and another retained as parliamentary secretary by ruling Conservative Party of Canada."For the last one decade, Punjabi-speaking people are increasing in Canada. There were 2.71 lakh people having Punjabi as mother tongue in 2001 census, which increased to 3.67 lakh in 2006. Now, after the 2011 census closes on May 31, the numbers are set to increase drastically," said Kendri Punjabi Lekhak Sabha ( North America) president Mohan Singh Gill.
Since 2001 census, the number of Punjabi-speaking people is expected to register 35% increase, Gill said. Punjabi presently figures after English, French, Chinese, Italian and German languages in Canada and, interestingly, it is at 4th place in British Columbia province. Punjabi Language Education president Balwant Singh Sanghera said that many organizations, including some radio stations, are working overtime to make Punjabi-speaking people record Punjabi as their mother tongue.

CSK vs RCB: Chennai Super Kings beat Royal Challengers Bangalore to win IPL 4

Chennai Super Kings cricketers celebrate with trophy after winning IPL 4 in Chennai.

CHENNAI: The Super Kings are the emperors of India. In the battlefield called Chepauk, Dhoni's army ambushed the Royal Challengers to defend the citadel they had clinched in Mumbai last year. The Chennai mean machine started working from Ball One with M Vijay (95 off 52 balls) and Mike Hussey (63 off 45 balls) taking over and there was no looking back.
Scorecard | Match in Pics
Vijay never looked good throughout the tournament, but Dhoni stuck with him. And what a day the Chennai boy chose to come good! The right-hander, in an outstanding opening partnership of 159 runs off 14.5 overs with Mike Hussey (63), did the groundwork and built some towers on it for good measure as CSK raced away to 205.
One man who could make a match out of it was Chris Gayle. But the shrewd Dhoni brought R Ashwin in the first over and the offie got the first two balls to turn away from the left-hander. Then came the killer ball which spun in and Gayle, on the back-foot After that, it was just a matter of keeping it tight as Royal Challengers kept losing wickets at regular intervals to go down by 58 runs.
But this final will be remembered by one and all for the way Vijay batted. He is highly rated and on Super Saturday he showed why. Shots were flowing from his bat like a stream as RCB skipper Daniel Vettori simply ran out of options. The crucial phase was when Vettori brought himself on, but Vijay showed excellent temperament. Vijay has the gift of timing and it was all so flawless on Saturday evening that a champion performer like Zaheer Khan looked helpless. And while Vijay was giving the fans all the reasons to cheer about, Hussey played the role of the guiding light to perfection.
In the humidity of Chennai, it's not easy to keep it going, but the two kept pushing each other. Even the strategic time-out, which is generally taken after the 16th over, was brilliantly timed. Hussey and Vijay took it after the 13th to get their breath back and carried on with the onslaught.
As the runs flowed, the shoulders drooped in the RCB ranks with misfields and overthrows creeping in. It all added to the Royal woes and finally, when Hussey got out trying to clear the long-on boundary, the game was all but over. One would have loved to see Vijay completing his second IPL century, but that was not to be. He got out in the 17th over, trying to clear the fence, but that didn't stop CSK from easing past the 200-run mark. In another couple of hours, they lifted the trophy as Chepauk sank in the sea of yellow.

Indian in bizarre bedroom drama

LONDON: An Indian student of engineering who climbed into a bed where a young woman was sleeping next to her boyfriend and indecently assaulted her, has been jailed in Britain for three years. Pradeep Baskaran, 23, who completed MS in Advanced Manufacturing Engineering and Management from the Loughborough University, woke the woman when he climbed into her bed and was then chased out of her house on the night of December 5 last year.
Baskaran, who dropped his passport in the house while being chased away, is likely to be deported to India after completing the jail term. He was found guilty earlier this week of sexual assault, but cleared of attempted rape. The unusual nature of the case was highlighted during his sentencing in the Crown Court on Thursday, according to reports from Leicester.
Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "This case has very unusual features. It's difficult to envisage what you hoped would happen, and difficult to see what you had in mind." "I don't know if you thought the victim and her boyfriend would have been so drunk they wouldn't know what was happening. There was skin-to-skin contact and you were pushing against her, and that's what woke her up. "It's fortunate she woke up at that point and chased you out. You had walked into someone's home and went upstairs and found the room in which this woman was sleeping and proceeded to do what you did." "No-one's suggesting you had broken in (the door was unlocked), but you weren't invited there and had no business being in the house. Your account that you wanted some water, because you were dehydrated (while walking home the worse for drink) was fanciful, bizarre and certainly untrue. The jury rejected your account. What you did was outrageous." A piece of chewing gum with Baskaran's DNA was found beside the alleged victim's bed. A pair of the woman's knickers allegedly taken from her bedroom as he fled were recovered from Baskaran's home. Another pair were found in an alley near the house by her boyfriend.

Rajinikanth Leaves For Singapore For Treatment

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth today flew to Singapore for "rest and rehabilitation" after being discharged from a private hospital where he was admitted for respitatory problems.
The "Endhiran" star was wheeled in through the cargo entrance through gate number two even as media personnel and others waited around gate numbers five and six, airport sources said.Rajini was taken to the waiting aircraft by an ambulance and waved to the fans who gathered at the airport before being escorted into the flight, sources said.
He was accompanied by his two daughters and son-in-laws, including actor Dhanush and his personal doctor Muralidharan, sources said. Rajini's wife Latha would leave for Singapore tomorrow, sources said.Earlier in the day, the family members of 61-year-old actor said he was "well" and "cheerful" following his discharge from the hospital.
A medical bulletin issued by Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre, where he was admitted, said "he is cheerful, taking his food himself, spending time with family. He has scheduled his trip abroad for a change and relaxation and incidentally to go in for selective checkups".
The bulletin said from May 13 till today, Rajini had 'progressively responded' to multi-pronged treatment resulting in normalisation of vital signs and varying lab parameters.
Meanwhile, Rajinikanth's wife Latha said in a statement that the actor was doing well and needed complete rest."We will be travelling to Singapore for his medical treatment and rejuvenation. Please do not believe in any unreal information about him," she said, thanking all well-wishers.The 'Endhiran' star suffered from exhaustion on April 29, the first day of the shoot of his latest venture 'Raana' and was admitted to the Isabel Hospital here.He was discharged the same day only to be readmitted on May 4 for allergic bronchitis and viral fever.Since May 13, he is undergoing treatment at the Sri Ramachandra Medical Centre for respiratory infection and other problems. He was shifted to a private ward last Sunday after being in the intensive care unit.

సింగపూర్ వెళ్లనున్న రజనీకాంత్ 
చెన్నై : ప్రముఖ నటుడు రజనీకాంత్ మెరుగైన చికిత్స కోసం సింగపూర్ వెళ్లనున్నారు. ఈరోజు రాత్రి ఆయనతో పాటు కుటుంబ సభ్యులు వెళ్లనున్నారు. అనారోగ్యంతో స్థానిక పోరూర్ రామచంద్ర ఆస్పత్రిలో చికిత్స పొందుతున్న రజనీకాంత్‌కు డయాలసిస్ కొనసాగిస్తున్న విషయం తెలిసిందే. ఆయనకు శ్వాస సంబంధిత చికిత్స కూడా చేశారు.

3.5 minutes of terror: Air France crash dropped at 10,000 feet a minute

Passengers on an Air France flight plunged for three and a half minutes before crashing into the Atlantic, killing all 228 on board, after it lost speed and stalled while the main pilot was resting, the first evidence from black boxes has found. AF447's junior pilot battled to save the Rio de Janeiro to Paris flight, as the second pilot tried to rouse the captain shortly after the plane had begun its fateful descent in a tropical storm. According to flight recorder data, the younger of the two men, Pierre-Cédric Bonin, 32, angled the jet's nose higher, a position the aircraft maintained until its final impact, after inconsistent speed readings confused the plane. Aviation experts asked why the pilot kept giving nose-up inputs when the plane was in a stall, given that one normally puts the nose down to recover speed and regain control.
All 228 people on board – including crew – died after the Airbus hurtled into the Atlantic at a speed of 180 feet a second in the worst disaster in Air France's history. David Robert, 37, the second pilot, had begun anxiously calling for their more experienced captain after autopilot suddenly cut out four hours after take-off. Captain Marc Dubois, returned a minute and a half later, but never retook control of the plane – instead leaving the flying to his assistants.Captain Dubois, 58, had clocked up 11,000 flying hours over his airline career, while his more junior counterparts had 6,500 and 2,900 hours respectively.
Air France yesterday praised the "three skilled pilots", saying they "demonstrated a totally professional attitude and were committed to carrying out their task to the very end."
It was standard procedure for the main pilot to take a rest during long haul flights, it added.
The fresh data came after the black boxes were recovered from 12,800 feet beneath the waves and returned to Paris this month two years after the jet disappeared into the night on June 1, 2009.
Releasing preliminary findings yesterday, France's accident investigation office, the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses (BEA), said they showed the co-pilots decided to turn slightly to the left to avoid a zone of turbulence, warning cabin crew to expect the plane to "move around" in forthcoming turbulence.
Two minutes later the autopilot disengaged, the instruments began showing that the speed had slowed dramatically and the engine stall warning began to sound.
The BEA said the pilots received inconsistent speed readings for around a minute, with one pilot saying: "We have no valid indications." This suggests there was a problem with the plane's speed sensors, so-called Pitot tubes that an earlier preliminary investigation had indicated might have contributed to the crash.
The pilots responded by pulling up the nose of the aircraft, triggering a stall warning in the cockpit.
According to the BEA, the co-pilots continued to increase the angle of climb, rising rapidly from 35,000 feet to 37,500 feet. When a third stall warning sounded, they continued to pull back on the controls with the engines set to full thrust and rose to about 38,000 feet, where the plane entered a stall.
With the plane's nose still pointed up about 15 degrees, the jet began falling at about 10,000 feet a minute, rolling left and right. Almost one minute into the stall, the pilots had reduced engine thrust and tried pushing down on the controls to lower the nose.
Airspeed indications returned and the alarm sounded again as the stalled aircraft picked up some speed, but the plane never recovered.
The BEA said at no time was there engine failure: "The engines were operating and always responded to crew commands."
Air France and Airbus are facing manslaughter charges following the crash and a judicial investigation led by Paris judges is under way.
The BEA said its preliminary findings from the flight recorders had not yet established a cause for accident, which would come only after "painstaking" analysis of the data. A second report is due in July.
Mr Dubois was among some 51 victims retrieved from the Atlantic following the June 1, 2009 crash. The victims included five Britons and three Irish doctors. Robert Soulas, whose daughter and son-in law died in the Air France crash, said: "It's a great moment, because we have been waiting for a long time, so it's a very long period, and so it's possible now to see the result of this investigation, and so it's very important for us." His wife Courinne added: "We are in a horror movie... so, for my part, I would have preferred not to talk about it, that we could leave them in peace, and that we could be left with an image different from reality, from what we will be told (after recorders have been analysed). Bring back the bodies, identify them or not.... either way, we are left traumatised. And now even more so."

భారతీయులు యెమెన్ విడిచి వెళ్లాలి

న్యూఢిల్లీ: యెమెన్‌లో నివసిస్తున్న భారతీయులందరు సాధ్యమైనంత తొందరల్లో ఆ దేశం విడిచి వెళ్లాలని భారత విదేశీ వ్యవహారాల మంత్రిత్వ శాఖ కోరింది. ఈ మేరకు శుక్రవారం ఇక్కడ ఒక ప్రకటన విడుదల చేసింది. యెమెన్ అధ్యక్షుడు అలీ అబ్దుల్లా రాజీనామా కోరుతూ భద్రతాదళాలకు, స్థానిక పౌర సైన్యానికి మధ్య జరుగుతున్న పోరు తీవ్ర రూపం దాల్చింది. ఈ నేపథ్యంలో భారత ప్రభుత్వం ఈ నిర్ణయం తీసుకుంది.
యెమెన్ రాజధాని సనలోని భార తీయ రాయబార కార్యాలయం వీరికి సహాయ సహాకారాలు అందించేందుకు సిద్ధంగా ఉందని తెలిపింది. అమెరికన్లు, బ్రిటీష్‌వారిని ఆ దేశం విడిచి వెళ్లాలని ఇప్పటికే ఆయా రాయబారి కార్యాలయాలు సూచించాయని పేర్కొంది. స్వచ్ఛందగా పదవి నుంచి తప్పుకునేందుకు ఆదివారం అధ్యక్షుడు అబ్దుల్లా సంతకం చేసేందుకు నిరాకరించటంతో ఆల్లర్లు మళ్లీ తీవ్ర రూపం దాల్చాయి. దీంతో సోమవారం ఒక్క రోజు జరిగిన హింసలో 70 మంది అశువులుబాశారు. 1978 లో దేశాధ్యక్ష పదవిని చేపట్టిన అలీ అబ్దుల్లా 2013లో తను ఈ పదవి నుంచి తప్పుకుంటానని చెబుతున్నా అక్కడి ప్రజలు ఆందోళనను విరమించట్లేదు.

Romney to enter US presidential race next week

Mitt Romney

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney plans to announce next week that he's running for the GOP presidential nomination.Romney on Thursday said he formally would enter the race during an appearance Thursday at a New Hampshire farm that is a must-visit for would-be presidential candidates. Romney, who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination four years ago, has been lining up financial and political support ahead of the anticipated run, and his announcement was expected. He already has formed a presidential exploratory committee and has been raising cash. By announcing in New Hampshire, Romney is signaling that he will make the state a key piece of his political strategy. He came in second place to Sen. John McCain there in 2008.

Toronto couple defend move to keep baby's sex secret

Mr Stocker and Ms Witterick say the decision to keep Storm's sex a secret was "a tribute to freedom"

A Toronto couple are defending their decision to keep their infant's sex a secret in order to allow the child to develop his or her own gender identity.Kathy Witterick and David Stocker have been widely criticised for imposing their ideology on four-month-old Storm. The family were the subject of a recent profile in the Toronto Star newspaper. In an e-mail, Ms Witterick wrote that the idea that "the whole world must know what is between the baby's legs is unhealthy, unsafe, and voyeuristic". Ms Witterick, 38, and Mr Stocker, 39, have also been criticised for the manner in which they are raising their two sons Jazz, five, and Kio, two. The boys are encouraged to choose their own clothing and hairstyles - even if that means wearing girls' clothes - and to challenge gender norms. Jazz wears his hair in long braids, and the boys are "almost exclusively assumed to be girls," Mr Stocker told the Toronto Star. The child's grandparents do not know Storm's sex, the Toronto Star reported, and have grown weary of explaining the situation, but are supportive. In an e-mail to the Associated Press news agency, Ms Witterick, a stay-at-home mother, said a four-month-old infant was still learning to recognise him or herself, and said it was inappropriate to impose a gender identity on the child.

Indian-origin student drowns in Canada

 Pickerel Lake

shan Srinivasan, 21, and his girlfriend, Gunjan Gite, 20, are pictured in a 2010 photo. Srinivasan drowned in Pickerel Lake on Sunday, May 22.

TORONTO: An Indian-origin student of the University of Waterloo near here has drowned in the chilly waters of Pickerel Lake while trying to save a friend. Ishan Srinivasan, 21, who lived in the Toronto suburb of Mississauga, drowned when their boat capsized in frigid waters, plunging him and his two friends into the lake. Srinivasan's body was cremated here Thursday. His two friends, who survived and were admitted to hospital with hypothermia, have recovered, according to the Toronto Star newspaper. Recalling their ordeal after their boat capsized, one of the survivors told the paper, "We were all struggling. The water was freezing. The canoe tipped over and I knew if we didn't call someone it would have been over for all of us." The survivor said he and Srinivasan tried to save their third friend who was struggling to stay afloat despite being the only one wearing a life jacket.

He said that between shouts for help, he and Srinivasan took turns to prop up their sinking friend. But by the time neighbours in nearby cottages arrived in motorboats to save them, Srinivasan drowned. Gunjan Gite, Srinivasan's girlfriend of four years, told the newspaper that he was "completely selfless. His personality just shines out. You meet him once and you feel like you can open up to him... He cares so much for everyone around him". The University of Waterloo is a favourite institution with Indian students. Hyderabad-born Prem Watsa, who is known as the 'Canadian Warren Buffet', is the chancellor of the university.shan Srinivasan, 21, and his girlfriend, Gunjan Gite, 20, are pictured in a 2010 photo. Srinivasan drowned in Pickerel Lake on Sunday, May 22.

Hoboken city councilman Bhalla runs for state assembly

Ravinder Bhalla

NEW JERSEY: Attorney Ravinder Bhalla, who currently serves on the Hoboken, New Jersey's city council, formally launched his bid for a state assembly seat May 24 at the Hudson Tavern. 

New Jersey's primaries are on June 7, so Bhalla has about 10 days to sell voters in Hoboken, Weehawken, West New York, Union City and parts of Jersey City on his platform of fiscal prudence, transparency in government, responsible development, and alternatives to high property taxes. 

Bhalla is running in the newly carved-out 33rd district, which was re-drawn earlier this year after U.S. Census data was released. He is running against Democrat incumbents Ruben Ramos and Sean Conners and filed his papers April 11. 

"As an attorney, I am intimately familiar with state laws and how they impact the lives of ordinary people," said Bhalla in an interview with India-West the evening before he launched his campaign. 

New Jersey has the highest property taxes in the country, asserted Bhalla, stating that state and income taxes should be raised to offset lower property taxes. Bhalla – who calls himself an "independent Democrat" - vehemently raised his objections to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's $1.3 million cuts in the education budget. The New Jersey Supreme Court May 23 ordered Christie to restore $500 million in funding to the state's 31 poorest schools. "The governor is balancing the budget on the backs of working-class people," asserted Bhalla, noting that Christie has steadfastly refused to adopt a "millionaire's tax." 

Bhalla also wants to spur jobs creation and strengthen the state's hate crime laws. He believes he can win the 33rd district – in its new form – because of the large percentage of Asian Americans and young professionals who live there. 

The New Jersey native — born and raised in Passaic — has lived in Hoboken for 10 years with his wife Navneet, who works with South Asian Americans Leading Together, and their four-year-old daughter Arza. 

Bhalla won a four-year Hoboken city council seat in 2009, campaigning on a platform of lower property taxes and calling for a moratorium on all new development projects. He has received strong endorsement from Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer, who stood beside him May 24 as he launched his state assembly campaign. 

"We need someone to really represent Hoboken on the state level," Zimmer told India-West, adding that the tiny city currently lacks representation in state politics. 

"We've gone through some real fiscal challenges in the city, said Zimmer, noting that police and fire department budgets have had to be cut. "Ravi has always stood by me and said 'Look, we need to come to the center of the room.' He will do us right in the statehouse from a fiscal point of view." San Francisco Republican Party chairwoman Harmeet Dhillon has known Bhalla since they were both teenagers attending Sikh camp together. Though he is a Democrat and she is Republican, Dhillon told India-West she nevertheless ardently supports Bhalla's campaign. "Ravi is an independent Democrat, not beholden to labor interests, and in favor of anti-corruption, which is huge in that part of the country," said Dhillon, pointing to Bhalla's platform of lowering taxes and less regulation, which she said was in line with conservative values. Dhillon's sister Parveen and Nitasha Sawhney are co-hosting a fundraiser for Bhalla on Memorial Day, May 30, in Oakland, Calif., from 10-1 pm Additional details about the event can be obtained by writing tonitashasawhney@gmail.com. 

Bhalla is the son of Montville, New Jersey residents Ranbir and Harminder Singh. His parents own and manage Lumenarc, Inc., which manufactures high pressure sodium street lamps, invented by Ranbir, a physicist. Bhalla completed his undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley with a B.S. in political psychology. He then attended the London School of Economics, where he completed a masters in public administration and public policy. He received his law degree from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana.

వైఎస్సార్ కాంగ్రెస్ గౌరవ అధ్యక్షురాలిగా విజయమ్మ

* జగన్ అధ్యక్షతన 22 మంది సభ్యులతో  కేంద్ర పాలక మండలి * జిల్లాలకు అడ్‌హాక్ కన్వీనర్లు, ఎన్నికల  పరిశీలకులు... పార్టీ అధికార ప్రతినిధుల  నియామకం * మహిళ, యువజన, విద్యార్థి విభాగాల  అధ్యక్షుల ఎంపిక * ఇది తాత్కాలిక కమిటీ మాత్రమే...  జూలై 8న పార్టీ ప్లీనరీ.. ఆ తర్వాతే పూర్తి స్థాయి కమిటీలు: భూమా * జగన్ పేరిట ఏర్పాటు చేసిన సంఘాలన్నీ రద్దు హైదరాబాద్, న్యూస్‌లైన్:  పార్టీ సంస్థాగత  ఎన్నికల ప్రక్రియను  పర్యవేక్షించడంతో పాటు  రానున్న స్థానిక  సంస్థల ఎన్నికలను దృష్టిలో ఉంచుకొని వైఎస్సార్ కాంగ్రెస్  పార్టీ రాష్ట్ర కమిటీ(అడ్‌హాక్)ని ప్రకటించింది. మహానేత వై.ఎస్.రాజశేఖరరెడ్డి సతీమణి  వై.ఎస్.విజయమ్మ  గౌరవ అధ్యక్షురాలిగా ఏర్పాటైన ఈ  కమిటీలో కడప ఎంపీ వై.ఎస్.జగన్‌మోహన్‌రెడ్డి  అధ్యక్షతన 22 మంది సభ్యులతో  కూడిన కేంద్ర పాలక మండలి (సెంట్రల్  గవర్నింగ్ కౌన్సిల్)తోపాటు  వివిధ కమిటీలను పార్టీ నేత భూమా  నాగిరెడ్డి ప్రకటించారు.  గురువారమిక్కడ పార్టీ కార్యాలయంలో వైఎస్సార్  కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ  నేతలు జూపూడి ప్రభాకర్ రావు, వాసిరెడ్డి పద్మ,  అబ్దుల్ రెహమాన్‌లతో కలసి భూమా విలేకరులతో మాట్లాడారు. అనుభవజ్ఞులైన ఇద్దరు సలహాదారులతో పాటు కేంద్ర  పాలకమండలి (సీజీసీ), జిల్లాలకు అడ్‌హాక్‌కన్వీనర్లు,  సంస్థాగత ఎన్నికల ప్రక్రియ నిర్వహణకు జిల్లా  ఎన్నికల పరిశీలకులు, పార్టీ అధికార ప్రతినిధులు,  రాష్ట్ర మహిళా, యువజన, విద్యార్థి విభాగాల ప్రతినిధుల  పేర్లను వారు ప్రకటించారు. పార్టీ అధ్యక్షుడు జగన్  నేతృత్వంలో సుదీర్ఘ కసరత్తు అనంతరం పార్టీ  మిత్రులు, శ్రేయోభిలాషులతో చర్చించి ఈ అడ్‌హాక్  కమిటీని నియమించారని చెప్పారు. అభ్యర్థులపై  ఎంతో విశ్వాసంతో జగన్ వారిని ఎంపిక చేశారని..  అందుకే ప్రతి ఒక్కరూ తమ గురుతర బాధ్యతను  సవాలుగా తీసుకొని పనిచేయాలని భూమా కోరారు.  ‘పార్టీ అవసరాల కోసం ఈ కమిటీని ఏర్పాటు చేశారు.  రాష్ట్రంలో ఎలాంటి ఎన్నికలు జరి గినా వాటిపై ప్రత్యేక శ్రద్ధ వహించే దిశగా కమిటీ రూపకల్పన జరిగింది.  రాబోయే మున్సిపల్ ఎన్నికల్లో బలమైన అభ్యర్థులను  నిలపడానికి కమిటీ తోడ్పడుతుంది. మున్సిపల్,  స్థానిక సంస్థల ఎన్నికల దృష్ట్యా ఏర్పాటు చేసిన  ఈ కమిటీ తాత్కాలికమే’ అని స్పష్టం చేశారు. వైఎస్ జయంతి జూలై 8న ఇడుపులపాయలో మూడ్రోజులపాటు  పార్టీ ప్లీనరీ నిర్వహిస్తామని, తర్వాత పూర్తి స్థాయి కమిటీ  ప్రకటిస్తామని అన్నారు. కమిటీలో అన్ని విభాగాలుంటాయన్నారు. వైఎస్సార్ కాం గ్రెస్‌లోకి చాలా మంది ప్రముఖులు త్వరలో వచ్చి  చేర తారన్నారు. పార్టీ సభ్యత్వ నమోదును యుద్ధప్రాతిపదికన  పూర్తి చేస్తూ, పార్టీని గ్రామస్థాయి దాకా తీసుకెళ్లాలని సూచించారు.  నాగం జనార్దన్‌రెడ్డి పార్టీలోకి వస్తే ఆహ్వానిస్తామని విలేకరుల ప్రశ్నకు బదులుగా చెప్పారు. బాధ్యత పెంచిన ఎన్నికల తీర్పు.. కడప, పులివెందుల ఉప ఎన్నికల తీర్పు వైఎస్సార్  కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ నేతలపై బాధ్యతను మరింత పెంచిందని  భూమా నాగిరెడ్డి తెలిపారు. దేశవ్యాప్తంగా ఆసక్తిగా ఎదురు చూసిన  ఈ ఎన్నికల్లో జగన్ ప్రత్యర్థులకు డిపాజిట్ కూడా  రాకుండా చేశారని గుర్తు చేశారు. కడప ప్రజలిచ్చిన  తీర్పు పార్టీ క్యాడర్‌లో నూతనోత్సాహాన్ని, విశ్వాసాన్ని పెంచిందన్నారు. ఈ కొత్త ఉత్సాహంతో స్థానిక సంస్థల ఎన్నికల్లో మెజార్టీ స్థానాలు చేజిక్కించుకుంటామని  ధీమా వ్యక్తం చేశారు. రాష్ట్రంలో ఎలాంటి ఎన్నికలు  జరిగినా ప్రత్యర్థి పార్టీలను చిత్తుగా ఓడిస్తామన్నారు. జగన్ అభిమాన సం ఘాలన్నింటినీ రద్దు చేస్తున్నట్టు  జూపూడి ప్రభాకర్‌రావు తెలిపారు. వారంతా పార్టీ  బలోపేతానికి కృషి చేయాలని చెప్పారు. యువకులు, అనుభవజ్ఞుల కలయిక.. అటు యువత, ఇటు అనుభవజ్ఞుల కలయికతో వైఎస్సార్  కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ కమిటీలను ఏర్పాటు చేశారు. తాత్కాలిక కమిటీలే అయినా సాధ్యమైనంత మేర సామాజిక  న్యాయాన్ని పాటిస్తూ అన్ని వర్గాలకూ ఇందులో స్థానం  కల్పించినట్లు పార్టీ నేతలు చెప్పారు. జూన్ 1వ తేదీ  నుంచి ప్రారంభించనున్న సభ్యత్వ నమోదు కార్యక్రమం,  రానున్న స్థానిక సంస్థల ఎన్నికలను దృష్టిలో ఉంచుకుని  ఏర్పాటు చేసిన ఈ కమిటీలో విజయమ్మ, జగన్‌లను  మినహాయిస్తే ఇద్దరు ఎమ్మెల్సీలు, పలువురు మాజీ మంత్రులు,  జెడ్పీ మాజీ చైర్మన్లు. మాజీ ఎమ్మెల్యేలతో పాటుగా అనేక మంది యువకులకు ప్రాతినిధ్యం కల్పించారు. ఒక్క గ్రేటర్ హైదరాబాద్‌ను  మినహాయిస్తే అన్ని జిల్లాలకూ స్థానం లభించింది. కేంద్ర పాలక  మండలిలోని 22 మందితో పాటు 27 మంది జిల్లా, నగర కన్వీనర్లను నియమించారు. సభ్యత్వ నమోదుతో పాటు ఎన్నికల పరిశీలకులుగా  మరో 22 మందిని నియమించారు. వీరుగాక ఏడుగురు అధికార ప్రతినిధులతో సహా రాష్ట్ర మహిళా, యువజన, విద్యార్థి  విభాగాలకు అధ్యక్షులను ప్రకటించారు. ఈ మూడు విభాగాలకూ  కొత్తవారినే అధ్యక్షులుగా ఎంపిక చేయడం విశేషం. మొన్నటి వరకూ రాష్ట్ర ప్రభుత్వ సలహాదారులుగా పనిచేసిన  డి.ఎ.సోమయాజులు, సి.సి.రెడ్డి వంటి నిపుణులను  కీలకమైన సలహాదారు పదవుల్లో నియమించారు.  పార్టీ అధికార ప్రతినిధులుగా నియమితులైన అంబటి రాంబాబు,  ఆర్.కె.రోజా సెల్వమణి, బాజిరెడ్డి గోవర్దన్, జూపూడి ప్రభాకర్‌రావు,  వాసిరెడ్డి పద్మ, గట్టు రామచంద్రరావు, హెచ్.ఎ.రెహ్మాన్  అందరూ రాజకీయ రంగంలో విశేష అనుభవం కలిగినవారే.  ఆయా జిల్లాల నుంచి సుదీర్ఘ రాజకీయ అనుభవాన్ని  పరిగణనలోకి తీసుకుని నలుగురు మాజీ మంత్రులు  కొణతాల రామకృష్ణ, పెన్మత్స సాంబశివరాజు,  మాకినేని పెద రత్తయ్య, ఐ.రామకృష్ణంరాజులను తీసుకున్నారు.  కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీతోపాటు తమ పదవులనూ వదిలివేసిన  మాజీ జెడ్పీ చైర్మన్లు కాకాని గోవర్దన్‌రెడ్డి,  వెంకటరమణారెడ్డిని నెల్లూరు, నిజామాబాద్ జిల్లాలకు  అడ్‌హాక్ కన్వీనర్లుగా నియమించి, ప్రాధాన్యత కల్పించారు. మరో మాజీ చైర్‌పర్సన్ తోపుదుర్తి కవితకు కేంద్ర  పాలక మండలిలో స్థానం లభించింది. మొత్తమ్మీద  9 మంది మాజీ ఎమ్మెల్యేలు, ఇద్దరు మాజీ ఎంపీలు,  ఒక మాజీ ఎమ్మెల్సీ వివిధ హోదాల్లో నియమితులయ్యారు.  ఇద్దరు ఎమ్మెల్సీల్లో జూపూడి ప్రభాకర్‌రావుకు పాలనా  మండలితో పాటు అధికార ప్రతినిధుల జాబితాలో చోటు  లభించింది. మహిళావిభాగం అధ్యక్షురాలిగా  నియమితురాలైన నిర్మలా కుమారి, యువ జన విభాగం అధ్యక్షుడు పుత్తా ప్రతాప్‌రెడ్డి, విద్యార్థి విభాగం  అధ్యక్షుడు మద్దినేని అజయ్ ఇప్పటికే వైఎస్సార్  కాంగ్రెస్ కార్యకలాపాల్లో  చురుగ్గా పాల్గొంటున్నారు. వైఎస్సార్ కాంగ్రెస్ రాష్ట్ర కమిటీ (తాత్కాలిక)స్వరూపమిదీ .. వైఎస్సార్ కాంగ్రెస్ పార్టీ గౌరవ అధ్యక్షురాలు:  వై.ఎస్.విజయలక్ష్మి అధ్యక్షుడు: వై.ఎస్.జగన్‌మోహన్‌రెడ్డి పార్టీ గౌరవ సలహాదారులు: డి.ఎ.సోమయాజులు, సి.సి.రెడ్డి కేంద్ర పాలక మండలి: 1. కొణతాల రామకృష్ణ, 2. పెన్మత్స  సాంబశివరాజు, 3. వై.వి.సుబ్బారెడ్డి, 4. హబీబ్ అబ్దుల్ రెహమాన్, 5. బి.కరుణాకర్‌రెడ్డి, 6. బాజిరెడ్డి గోవర్దన్, 7. కె.కె.మహేందర్‌రెడ్డి,  8. జ్యోతుల నెహ్రూ, 9. జూపూడి ప్రభాకర్‌రావు, 10. ఆర్.కె.రోజా సెల్వమణి, 11. డి.ఎ.సోమయాజులు, 12. మాకినేని పెదరత్తయ్య,  13. భూమా నాగిరెడ్డి, 14. జక్కంపూడి విజయలక్ష్మి,  15. కణితి విశ్వనాథం, 16. తోపుదుర్తి కవిత, 17. బాలమణెమ్మ,  18. మూలింటి మారెప్ప, 19. జంగా కృష్ణమూర్తి,  20. మదన్‌లాల్ నాయక్, 21. గిరిరాజ్ నాగేశ్, 22.  గంప వెంకటరమణ. జిల్లా అడ్‌హాక్ కన్వీనర్‌లు 1. శ్రీకాకుళం-ధర్మాన పద్మప్రియ కృష్ణదాస్,  2. విజయనగరం-పెన్మత్స సాంబశివరాజు, 3. విశాఖపట్నం- కొణతాల రామకృష్ణ,4. తూర్పు గోదావరి-కె.చిట్టబ్బాయి,  5. పశ్చిమ గోదావరి-మోషేన్ రాజు, 6. కృష్ణా-సామినేని ఉదయభాను,  7. గుంటూరు-మర్రి రాజశేఖర్, 8. ప్రకాశం-ఎన్.బాలాజీ,  9. నెల్లూరు-కాకాని గోవర్దన్‌రెడ్డి, 10. చిత్తూరు-నారాయణ స్వామి,  11. అనంతపురం-పల్లె నర్సింహం, 12. కడప-కె.సురేష్ బాబు,  13. కర్నూలు-గౌరు వెంకటరెడ్డి, 14. మహబూబ్‌నగర్-ఎడ్మ కిష్టారెడ్డి, 15. నల్లగొండ-బీరవోలు సోమిరెడ్డి, 16. ఖమ్మం-కుంజా ధర్మా,  17. వరంగల్-కొమ్మూరు ప్రతాప్‌రెడ్డి, 18. కరీంనగర్-రాజ్ ఠాకూర్, 19. నిజామాబాద్-వెంకట రమణారెడ్డి, 20. ఆదిలాబాద్- జనక్ ప్రసాద్, 21. మెదక్-భట్టి జగపతి, 22. రంగారెడ్డి- బి.జనార్దన్‌రెడ్డి, 23. విశాఖ (సిటీ)-రవిరాజ్,  24. విజయవాడ (సిటీ)-జలీల్ ఖాన్, 25. గుంటూరు(సిటీ)- లేళ్ల అప్పిరెడ్డి, 26. రాజమండ్రి-బొమ్మన రాజ్‌కుమార్,  27. తిరుపతి-పి.ప్రతాప్‌రెడ్డి. జిల్లా ఎన్నికల పరిశీలకులు 1. శ్రీకాకుళం-రవిబాబు, 2. విజయనగరం-సి.వంశీకృష్ణ,  3. విశాఖపట్నం-ఆర్.కె.రోజా సెల్వమణి, 4. తూర్పు గోదావరి- ఇందుకూరి  రామకృష్ణ రాజు, 5. పశ్చిమ గోదావరి-వాసిరెడ్డి పద్మ,  6. గుంటూరు-జ్యోతుల నెహ్రూ, 7. కృష్ణా-రావి వెంకటరమణ, 8. ప్రకాశం-జంగా కృష్ణమూర్తి, 9. చిత్తూరు-బి.గోవిందరెడ్డి, 10. అనంతపురం-భూమా నాగిరెడ్డి, 11.కడప-శిల్పా చక్రపాణిరెడ్డి,  12. కర్నూలు-దేవగుడి నారాయణరెడ్డి,  13. నల్లగొండ-పుల్లా భాస్కర్, 14. రంగారెడ్డి-కె.మధుసూదన్ రావు,  15. మెద క్-ఆది శ్రీనివాస్, 16. కరీంనగర్-కె.కె.మహేందర్‌రెడ్డి, 17. వరంగల్-బాజిరెడ్డి గోవర్దన్, 18. ఖమ్మం-జి.నాగిరెడ్డి,  19. ఆదిలాబాద్-గట్టు రామచంద్రరావు, 20. నిజామాబాద్- జి.నిరంజన్ రెడ్డి, 21. మహబూబ్‌నగర్-బండారు మోహన్‌రెడ్డి, 22. విజయవాడ(సిటీ)-గౌతం రెడ్డి రాష్ట్ర సమన్వయకర్త (సభ్యత్వం-ఎన్నికలు): పీఎన్వీ ప్రసాద్ పార్టీ అధికార ప్రతినిధులు: 1. అంబటి రాంబాబు,  2. ఆర్.కె.రోజా సెల్వమణి, 3. బాజిరెడ్డి గోవర్దన్,  4. జూపూడి ప్రభాకర్‌రావు, 5. వాసిరెడ్డి పద్మ, 6. గట్టు రామచంద్రరావు, 7. హబీబ్ అబ్దుల్ రెహమాన్ రాష్ట్ర మహిళా విభాగం అధ్యక్షురాలు: కె.నిర్మలా కుమారి రాష్ట్ర యువజన విభాగం అధ్యక్షుడు: పుత్తా ప్రతాప్‌రెడ్డి విద్యార్థి విభాగం అధ్యక్షుడు: మద్దినేని అజయ్.