10 NRI PULSE ...... India Pulse ...... January 2010 Stir For Separate Thousands Gather For Telangana Meet At Osmania Vidarbha State Hyderabad: (IANS) Thousands of students There were loud cheers as the balladeers JAC leaders alleged that the police were Nagpur: (IANS) Several political groups and from various parts of Telangana gathered at the through their songs in the traditional Telangana violating court order by arresting students and social organisations participated in a two-day sit- Osmania University here to demand that the style underlined the need for Telangana state and using repressive measures to foil the meeting. In in agitation here to press the demand for a sepa- central government immediately initiate the highlighted the injustice meted out to the region Warangal, police stopped vehicles carrying rate Vidarbha state. process for granting statehood to the region. by successive rulers from Andhra. students of Kakatiya University to Hyderabad The initiative has been taken by Congress MP In what was seen as the biggest on the ground that the vehicles had no permission Vilas Muttemwar who led around 2000 people at the show of strength by Telangana to ply. peaceful sit-in (dharna) before a statue of Mahatma supporters since the movement The high court Saturday allowed the JAC to Gandhi at Variety Square in the heart of the city. The gathered steam a month ago, thousands hold the meeting but barred political leaders and agitators have demanded that along with the recently- of students from Hyderabad and nine Maoists from addressing it. approved proposal for a Telangana state, the central other districts of the region gathered at The all-party JAC comprises of members government should also “favorably” consider the 50- the sprawling university campus. from the ruling Congress, the opposition Telugu year-old demand for a separate Vidarbha state. Armed with the court permission Desam Party, Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) This, they said, would save the region - worst-hit to hold the meeting after police denied it, and others. by a spate of farmland suicides in the past decade - from the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of The Osmania University has emerged as the “dying”. Among the prominent groups which have students mobilised thousands of students nerve centre of the Telangana agitation which joined the two-day stir is Vidarbha Jan Andolan Samiti from various parts of the region for began Nov 29 when TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara (VJAS) which appealed to all political parties to sup- “vidyarthi garjana” (students’ roar). The Rao launched fast unto death, demanding port the demand for a separate state. meeting began at 4 p.m. under the tight vigil statehood to Telangana. “Congress president Sonia Gandhi should of hundreds of policemen and personnel of The massive protests and Rao’s hunger strike consider the apathy shown to the people of this paramilitary forces, who allowed students into the JAC leaders alleged that thousands of forced the central government to announce on region in the past 50 years, which now has slid to university campus only after establishing their identity. students could not reach Hyderabad as police Dec 9 that the process for formation of the new among the most backward regions in the country The campus reverberated with the slogans stopped them in various towns despite court state would be initiated. though it falls in the most advanced state of In- of “Jai Telangana” as the JAC went all out to orders allowing the JAC to hold the meeting. However, following protests in Andhra dia,” VJAS chief Kishor Tiwari said. make the event a grand success. Though the Andhra Pradesh High Court and Rayalaseema regions, the government In a letter to the Congress president last week, Before the meeting began, dozens of folk Saturday allowed the JAC to hold its meeting at made a second statement Dec 23 underlining Muttemwar said that even the erstwhile British rulers singers performed on the stage set against the the campus with certain conditions, police the need for wide-ranging consultations on recommended a separate Vidarbha way back in 1888. backdrop of the majestic Arts College building. stopped vehicles carrying students in various districts. the issue. Five Cops Suspended Vishnuvardhan’s Death Marks End Of An Era For Partying With Dons Bangalore: (IANS) The sudden death of humanity that witnessed his last journey. Not- from the Karnataka state government and six Mumbai: (IANS) The Maharashtra govern- Kannada movie icon Vishnuvardhan has devas- withstanding his huge popularity, Vishnu remained Filmfare awards. ment has ordered suspension of the five policemen tated millions of Kannadigas around the world. an icon for of his fans,” said minister Suresh Kumar. Vishnuvardhan showed his class as an actor caught partying with mafia dons in a private Well-known cricketer Anil Kumble, a big fan of Jayamala, president of Karnataka Film Cham- in films like “Nagarahaavu”, “Bandhana”, gymkhana club last week, a top official said Sunday. the late actor, described his demise as a most dev- ber of Commerce, who had acted with Vishnu in “Nagarahole”, “Muththina Haara”, The suspension follows a recommendation astating loss. “Suryavamsha”, “Veerappa Nayaka”, “Yajamana”, made by Mumbai Police Commissioner D. “I have grown up watching his “Aaptha Mithra” and “Sirivantha”. Shivanandan Saturday to the state government. films. I have been his ardent fan. It’s an He has acted in 199 films in five languages The police gathered sufficient evidence in the end of an era,” said Kumble, summing including four in Hindi - “Ek Aur Itihas”, where he matter to merit recommending the suspension of up the emotions of his fans who con- was paired with Hema Malini and “Inspector the policemen, said the official. sidered him a role model. Dhanush” in which Sangeeta Bijlani played the Based on the recommendations of the city Besides being a great star, Vishnu lead. He teamed up with Akshay Kumar in police chief, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan late was also the most lovable human being “Ashaant” and “Zaalim”. Saturday ordered the suspension of the officers in the Kannada film industry. People He also acted with Tamil superstar Rajnikanth pending a departmental inquiry against them, the loved him so much that many who in “Vidudalai” and featured in other Tamil films official told IANS. came to pay their last respects cried including director K. Balachandar’s movie. Then The controversial party Christmas eve was and fainted at the National College he was seen in two Telugu films “Okkadu Chaalu” thrown at a private gymkhana club in Chembur, a Grounds where his body was kept for and “Sangramam” and Malayalam movie north-east Mumbai suburb in which the police- ‘darshan’. “Kouravar”. men were seen on video footage, drinking, danc- The Karnataka government has Vishnuvardhan was also known for his per- ing, eating and making merry with the mafia dons ordered a state funeral for the super- sonal involvement in many charitable causes. He present there. star. Elaborate police arrangements was a brand ambassador for Mysore’s Vikram The gathering was ostensibly to celebrate the have been made for the procession Hospital and took responsibility of the treatment acquittal and release of D.K. Rao, a mafia don which will be taken from the actor’s of rural children from humble backgrounds suffer- belonging to the Chhota Rajan gang, from 31 seri- residence here to the Jayanagar Cos- ing from heart ailments. ous cases earlier last year. mopolitan Club grounds. He recently conducted a ‘padayatra’ to col- The officers who were present at the party re- Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa lect funds for the flood-affected people in the north- portedly include: DCP Vishwas Salve, Assistant Com- went to the actor’s residence early in the morning many films, was in deep shock and described the ern part of the state. missioner of Police Prakash Wani, Senior Police Inspec- to pay his last respects and consoled the members actor’s death as the most tragic incident of 2009. He had also adopted Melukote town in tor R.S. Khakale, Crime Branch Inspector S. Khalatkar his family, including his wife Bharathi. “A legend of the industry has passed away. The Mandya district. and assistant sub-inspector T. Salunkhe. Describing Vishnu as the greatest actor in the Kannada film Industry which has already suffered Vishnuvardhan died of a heart attack early Video-clips of the party, telecast by Mumbai Kannada film industry, Yediyurappa said: “His enough, now has to bear this great loss,” she said. Wednesday. The actor died while he was being TV channels, showed them celebrating joyfully death is an irrepairable loss for the people of Vishnu was often described as an ambassa- rushed to a hospital in Mysore. He leaves behind with the mafiosi even as a huge contingent of Karnataka and we should all try to follow in his dor of the Kannada film industry as he had many his wife Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, who is an ac- cops maintained law and order all over the city footsteps to lead an ideal life.” friends outside the state. Many artists from the tress, and two daughters, Keerthi and Chandana. on Christmas eve. Also said to be present at the There was a spontaneous shutdown in sev- Tamil and Telugu film industry including Sharath Vishnuvardhan, 60, was under medical observa- party were other mafia-linked persons like Farid eral parts of the state, including cities like Mysore, Kumar, Radhika and well-known singer S.P. tion at the Vikram Hospital in Mysore for many days. Tanasha and Sunil Potdar. A special guest was Davanagere and Hubli. Shops were closed even in Balasubramaniam came down to Bangalore to pay Doctors checked the actor thoroughly Tuesday evening none other than Sujata Nikhalje, wife of don Chhota small towns like Haveri, Honnali and Turuvekere. their last respects. and said he was in a good condition. But early Wednes- Rajan Nikhalje, who is addressed as ‘Nani’ by “Vishnuvardhan was deeply spiritual in the He was an actor par excellence with a bounty day morning Vishnuvardhan complained of chest pain her husband’s henchmen. true traditions of Indian culture and it was a sea of of prestigious awards, including seven state awards and died while being taken to hospital.