K. Rosiaah sworn in as Andhra caretaker CM, 32 ministers take oath

Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader K. Rosaiah was on Sunday sworn into office as the catetaker Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. Thirty-two ministers also took oath of office. But three ministers of the erstwhile Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cabinet refused to take oath out of a sense of loyalty to the late chief minister, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

Governor N.D. Tiwari administered the oath of office at his official residence, thus ending three days of legal and political confusion.

Governor Tiwari consulted legal experts and decided that the ministers will need to take oath afresh to fulfill a constitutional requirement following swearing-in of a new Chief Minister.

Former ministers P Ramachandra Reddy, J Krishna Rao and Syed Ahmadullah said they were only willing to work as ministers under YSR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has maintained that the leadership issue in the state will be decided after the seven-day mourning period for the late chief minister is over. It has said that it will depute central observers to meet MLAs and MPS in Hyderabad next week to decide on who will succeed YSR. It has warned the MLAs and MPs not to take any step that goes against the party’s constitution.

The Governor has also asked state Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy to explain the legal and constitutional position after meetings with state Advocate General Seetarama Murthy.

US Senator and Democrat Edward Moore Ted Kennedy Dies

Boston: The US Senator and Democratic Party member Edward Moore Ted Kennedy died on August 25, 2009 at his home in Hyannis Port. He was 77, his family members confirmed his death on Wednesday. Ted Kennedy was the Senator from Massachusetts and he was the second most senior member of the Senate. Ted Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumour in May 2008.

He was known for his powerful voice on health care, civil rights, and war and peace. He was the younger brother of John F. Kennedy – President and Robert F. Kennedy – Senator. He campaigned for Barack Obama in last year Presidential Elections in US.

Edward Moore Ted Kennedy was born on February 22, 1932 at Dorchester in Boston, US. He belonged to prominent Irish-American families in Boston. Ted Kennedy become Senator first time in 1962. His political career was successful and was one of the active members of Democratic Party. Ted Kennedy will ever be remembers by the world for his achievements and his ideologies.

Pakistan rejects India’s 6th Terror Dossier on 26/11

New Delhi: In a significant development, Pakistan rejected the sixth dossier provided by India over the last year Mumbai attack – 26/11. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said it is unfortunate that Pakistan has rejected this dossier, even after Interpol issued a red-corner notice on Jamaat-ud-Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed.

Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Tuesday that Islamabad will not be responsible for any future attacks in India if India does not provide tangible information on 26/11 – Mumbai attack and the Samjhauta Express tragedy.

Pakistan said earlier provide dossiers by India over the Mumbai attack had no significant evidence against outlawed Jamaat-ud-Dawah chief Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. The information provided by India over the Mumbai attack are not enough to arrest or punish the founder of Lashker-e-Toiba. SM Krishna said India will continue to impress on Pakistan to act on terrorists and terrorists organizations in Pakistan.

Election Commission says EVMs are Tamper-proof

New Delhi: Putting the debate over the effectiveness of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) into end, the Election Commission asserted that all EVMs are tamper-proof and they cannot be manipulated by anyone. The EC said that the persons, who had claimed that the EVMs could be tampered with, either could not prove their claim or chose not to demonstrate the vulnerability of the EVMs.

The EC had collected 100 EVMs, randomly chosen from 10 states Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and has put them on display for the last six days. The commission had asked everyone to prove that the machines could be tampered, but nobody could do that.

Retired bureaucrat Omesh Saigal, who led the criticism of EVMs, wanted to demonstrate a machine made by a private manufacturer, instead of the machine used by the EC, but he was not allowed to do so.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya and another petitioner Satinath Chaudhury were also invited by the Election Commission to prove that EVMs could be tampered with. While Satinath Chaudhury failed to demonstrate, Kirit Somaiya gave some useful suggestions to the EV regarding the use of the EVMs.