 Online edition of India's National Newspaper Saturday, Mar 28, 2009 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Andhra Pradesh |
|
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
Advts: Retail Plus | Classifieds | Jobs |
Andhra Pradesh
Vedic scholar Malladi Chandrasekhara Sastry refuses to participate ‘Better for Chiranjeevi to concentrate on films than enter politics’ 
Que sera sera: Chief Secretary P. Ramakantha Reddy releasing the ‘panchangam’ for 2009-2010 on the occasion of Ugadi on Friday. HYDERABAD: The Virodhinama Ugadi, the Telugu New Year, was ushered in on a subdued note on Friday sans the usual political predictions, thanks to the scare created by the Election Commission’s direction, reminiscent of the famed “Seshan effect”. With the Commission imposing restrictions, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy preferred to skip the official function at Ravindra Bharati and was presided over by Chief Secretary P. Ramakantha Reddy. In tune with the Commission’s direction, the reading of the almanac too was general in nature, scrupulously avoiding anything remotely relating to politics, lest it is perceived as influencing the voters. Following instructions from the election authorities, Sagi Kamalakara Sarma, a professor in Osmania University who read the almanac, confined his predictions to mere weather, crops and well-being of livestock in the State, scrupulously skipping references to political forecasts. In view of the year being “Virodhi”, he advised individuals to shun selfishness and help others to make friendship and ensure harmony in society. Sources said officials first invited noted and poplar Vedic scholar Malladi Chandrasekhara Sastry to read out the almanac but he refused to participate because of the restrictions on making the predictions in all respects. Along with the Chief Secretary, other senior officials including D. Lakshmi Parthasarathy, principal secretary, Culture, were present. They extended Ugadi greetings to Telugus all over the world. The main Opposition, Telugu Desam too preferred making it a drab affair. Like the Chief Minister, the leader of the Opposition, N. Chandrababu Naidu, did not attend and the party’s seniors said he was relaxing at home to make up for the sleep he lost after he rushed to see NTR Jr., who had met with an accident and was admitted to a hospital. Srinivasa Gargeya who rendered the almanac at the TDP office, only spoke of delayed but copious rainfall, good agriculture production, no war despite tension with neighbouring countries and no major terrorist attacks. Party leaders said the astrologer had been requested not to make political predictions. Hung AssemblyBut in a chat with media persons later, Mr. Gargeya predicted a hung Assembly, no possibility of separate Telangana and that it would have been better for Chiranjeevi to concentrate on films rather than entering politics. The almanac reading organised by BJP also was non-political in nature. In contrast, the one held at Gandhi Bhavan predicted the return of Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and a good year for women political leaders.
Printer friendly
page
News:
ePaper |
Front Page |
National |
Tamil Nadu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Karnataka |
Kerala |
New Delhi |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Engagements |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | The Hindu ePaper | Business Line | Business Line ePaper | Sportstar | Frontline | Publications | eBooks | Images | Ergo | Home |
Copyright © 2009, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|