HYDERABAD: A 24-year-old air-conditioning technician was allegedly killed by a group of ten persons over a paltry sum of ₹700 in what police described as a drug-related dispute in the Attapur area of the city, with eight of the accused being taken into custody on Monday following a swift investigation by the Rajendranagar Task Force and Attapur police.

The deceased, Mohammad Hussain, a resident of Langarhouse, was engaged in the illegal sale of cannabis to acquaintances in the surrounding neighbourhoods. According to Rajendranagar Deputy Commissioner of Police Srinivas, the prime accused, K. Prashant, had paid ₹700 as an advance to Hussain for a consignment of cannabis. When Hussain failed to deliver either the contraband or a refund over the following days, Prashant nursed a grievance against him.

Ambushed Near Metro Pillar

On the night of the 9th of this month, the accused spotted Hussain near Pillar No. 223 on the Attapur Road and intercepted him. The victim was then taken to a nearby function hall, where a group of ten persons assaulted him with knives. Hussain, who sustained grievous injuries, was shifted to Osmania General Hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds on Sunday.

Attapur police registered a case and launched an investigation. Sleuths utilised footage from closed-circuit television cameras in the vicinity to identify and zero in on the accused, leading to the arrest of eight persons: K. Prashant, M. Jagadeesh, Ram Roshan Yadav, Tarun Kumar, A. Nikhil, G. Rajkumar, Vengalarao, and M. Prashant. A search is currently under way for two other accused who remain at large. Two two-wheelers and several mobile phones were seized from those arrested.

Police Commended

The arrests were carried out under the supervision of Rajendranagar ACP T. Srinivas, with Attapur Inspector K. Nageswara Rao and Task Force personnel conducting the operation. City Commissioner of Police Sajjanar commended the team for the prompt resolution of the case.

The incident has once again drawn attention to the unchecked proliferation of petty drug networks in the city's outer localities, with police sources indicating that the victim himself had a prior involvement in the sale of cannabis.

Hyderabad, April 23: Andhra Pradesh BJP State President PVN Madhav on Thursday paid his last respects to former undivided Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nadendla Bhaskaraao, who passed away recently, visiting the residence of Nadendla Manohar at Jubilee Hills in Hyderabad and placing a floral wreath on the mortal remains.

Speaking on the occasion, PVN Madhav consoled the bereaved family members and expressed his profound condolences. He prayed that the Almighty grant strength and fortitude to the family members to bear the irreparable loss.

Paying tribute to the departed leader, PVN Madhav said that Nadendla Bhaskaraao had carved a distinguished place for himself in the politics of undivided Andhra Pradesh. He recalled that the initiative shown by the former Chief Minister in resolving public issues and the commitment he demonstrated in governance would remain memorable for generations to come.

The BJP State President observed that Bhaskaraao's services as a senior statesman and public representative would stand as an enduring inspiration for posterity. He described the passing of Bhaskaraao as an irreplaceable loss to the State and prayed for the eternal peace of his soul. He also participated in the funeral rites and bid a final farewell to the departed leader.

From Hyderabad to Amaravati — The Journey That Finally Has an Ending

One City, One Law, One Home... Secretariat Staff Welcome Amaravati Bill

'Years of Uncertainty Finally Over': AP Secretariat Employees Hail Amaravati's Parliamentary Recognition

Amaravati, April 2, 2026: For the thousands of government employees who uprooted their lives from Hyderabad and moved to Amaravati, only to spend years in limbo over whether the city would remain the state capital, Wednesday's passage of the Amaravati capital bill in Parliament came as more than a political milestone — it was, in the words of Andhra Pradesh Secretariat Employees Association President G. Ramakrishna, the end of a long and deeply personal ordeal.

"The confusion that prevailed all these years has finally been put to rest," Mr. Ramakrishna said, welcoming the Parliamentary amendment that formally designates Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh under a revised Reorganisation Act.

Uprooted Twice, Uncertain Thrice

The anguish of Secretariat employees, Mr. Ramakrishna explained, was not merely administrative — it was existential. Having already made the wrenching transition from Hyderabad to Amaravati following bifurcation, they had begun putting down roots in the new capital city, making decisions about housing, schools, and long-term settlement. The abrupt pivot to a three-capital model under the previous government had shattered that fragile sense of stability.

"Employees did not know where they were supposed to be — Amaravati, Visakhapatnam, or Kurnool. That kind of uncertainty takes a very real toll," he said. With Parliament now having settled the matter through legislation, employees could serve from Amaravati with clarity, confidence, and undivided commitment, he added.

A Bill Born of a Resolution

Mr. Ramakrishna noted that the Parliamentary amendment had followed swiftly on the heels of a resolution passed by the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly — a sequence that underscored the determination of both the state and Central governments to place the capital question beyond the reach of future political reversal. He credited Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Minister Nara Lokesh for their persistence in steering the process to its legislative conclusion. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah were also commended for the Central Government's decisive intervention.

₹7,000 Crore Relief and Pending Assurances

Beyond the capital question, Mr. Ramakrishna touched on the broader welfare landscape for government employees, painting a cautiously optimistic picture. He said the state government had been maintaining regular dialogue with employee associations and had recently committed to clearing pending dues of over ₹7,000 crore — a development he described as a significant and tangible relief. Further assurances had been given that other long-pending issues would be addressed without delay, and he said the Association reposed confidence in the government's intentions.

A Pledge of Cooperation

In a gesture of reciprocal goodwill, Mr. Ramakrishna pledged the Association's full cooperation with the government's administrative agenda. "We understand the challenges the state faces. Employees are not merely bystanders — we are participants in Andhra Pradesh's development story," he said, affirming that Secretariat staff would discharge their responsibilities from Amaravati with renewed purpose now that the capital's future had been secured in law.

HYDERABAD — Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy on Saturday launched a sharp attack on the Telangana state government, demanding an immediate reduction in Value Added Tax on petrol and diesel — pointing out that Telangana levies the highest VAT on fuel anywhere in the country, even as the central government moves decisively to shield citizens from rising oil prices triggered by the Israel-America-Iran war.

Addressing a press conference at CGI Towers in Hyderabad, Kishan Reddy outlined the measures taken by the central government to ensure adequate supplies of LPG, petrol, and diesel across Telangana — while simultaneously putting the state government firmly on the spot over its fuel tax policy.

Telangana Charges Highest VAT in India

The numbers Kishan Reddy placed before the public were stark and difficult to dispute.

Telangana has been levying VAT at 35.20 percent on petrol and diesel — the highest rate in the entire country — for the past twelve consecutive years. Not once in that period, the minister pointed out, has the state government seen fit to reduce this burden on its citizens by even a single paisa.

The contrast with neighbouring states makes the figure even harder to justify. Andhra Pradesh levies VAT at 31 percent. Karnataka charges 29 percent. Maharashtra imposes just 26 percent. Yet Telangana — governed first by the BRS and now by the Congress — has maintained its 35.20 percent rate without revision.

"Why is Telangana levying 35.20 percent when neighbouring states charge significantly less?" Kishan Reddy demanded. "Why has this not been reduced? The Congress party beats the drum about KCR's people-friendly governance — but in twelve years, not one paisa of VAT has been cut. Reduce it now."

The minister's challenge was direct and unambiguous — and it placed the Telangana government in an uncomfortable position at a time when fuel prices are already under pressure from global conflict.

Centre Acts to Cushion Global Oil Price Shock

Kishan Reddy made clear that the central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has moved proactively to protect Indian citizens from the price shocks rippling out of the Middle East conflict.

With the Israel-America-Iran war disrupting global oil markets and pushing crude prices upward, the central government has reduced excise duty on petrol and diesel — a direct intervention designed to prevent pump prices from spiralling out of control.

The minister urged state governments across the country to follow the centre's lead by cutting their own VAT rates — reducing the cumulative tax burden on fuel and passing the benefit directly to consumers. Telangana, he made clear, has the most room to move — and the most obligation to act.

Ample Stocks — No Need for Panic

Turning to address growing public anxiety over fuel availability, Kishan Reddy was reassuring and categorical.

Telangana has abundant stocks of LPG, petrol, and diesel, he said. There is no shortage. There is no crisis. And there is absolutely no reason for citizens to panic.

Oil companies are currently providing a three-day credit facility to petrol and gas agencies — a measure designed to ensure smooth and uninterrupted supply across the state. The pipeline of fuel into Telangana remains fully functional, and the central government is working actively to ensure that oil and gas supplies reach India on schedule despite the turbulence in global markets.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kishan Reddy added, is personally monitoring the situation — a signal of the seriousness with which the central government is treating the issue.

The minister also urged citizens to use LPG, petrol, and diesel conservatively and responsibly during this period of global uncertainty — a call for collective prudence rather than panic buying.

No Lockdown — Stop the Rumours

Kishan Reddy used the press conference to address one of the most damaging pieces of misinformation currently circulating on social media — the claim that India is preparing to impose a fresh lockdown.

The rumour, he said, originated from a misreading and misrepresentation of Prime Minister Modi's recent remarks in the Lok Sabha. Social media users have uploaded thousands of posts falsely claiming that a lockdown is imminent — posts that have spread rapidly and caused unnecessary alarm among the public.

"Do not believe these rumours," Kishan Reddy said firmly. "There is no lockdown coming. The Prime Minister's words have been taken completely out of context and twisted beyond recognition."

Arrest Those Spreading Rumours

The minister reserved his sharpest words for those deliberately spreading false information on social media — and he had a specific request for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

It is social media videos and fake news posts, Kishan Reddy argued, that have caused vehicle owners to queue up at petrol stations in panic — creating artificial demand and long lines at pumps that would otherwise be functioning normally. The same misinformation has created what he described as a "fire in kitchens" over LPG cylinder availability — panicking households into hoarding behaviour that serves no one.

"We have requested Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to arrest those who are creating and spreading rumours on social media," Kishan Reddy said — a demand that underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the misinformation problem.

Industry Representatives Present

The press conference brought together senior officials from India's major oil marketing companies alongside representatives of Telangana's petroleum and LPG dealer communities.

Present at the event were Indian Oil Corporation Executive Director Piyush Mittal, BPCL Chief General Manager (Retail) Nitish Selukar, HPCL Chief General Manager (Retail) Sushil Kumar Ray, Telangana Petroleum Dealers Association President Amarendra Reddy, and State LPG Owners Association President Jaganmohan Reddy, along with other senior officials.

Their collective presence at the press conference was itself a message — that the fuel supply chain in Telangana, from the national oil companies down to the local dealer level, is functioning normally and is committed to meeting public demand.

The Political Subtext

Saturday's press conference was simultaneously a public reassurance exercise and a pointed political attack — and Kishan Reddy made no attempt to disguise either dimension.

By highlighting Telangana's 35.20 percent VAT rate and the state government's twelve-year failure to reduce it — under both BRS and Congress administrations — the Union Minister placed a clear political marker. At a time when global oil prices are rising and the central government is cutting excise duty to protect consumers, Telangana's continued imposition of the country's highest fuel VAT becomes an increasingly difficult position to defend.

The ball, Kishan Reddy made abundantly clear, is now firmly in the Telangana government's court.

The Telangana state government had not responded to Minister Kishan Reddy's statements at the time of publication. This report will be updated as further developments emerge.

HYDERABAD — Two of Telangana's most prominent government doctors' associations have come out in strong opposition to a state government proposal that would place Group-1 administrative officers in charge of teaching hospitals — warning that the move would undermine the authority of medical superintendents, compromise patient care, and set a dangerous precedent unprecedented anywhere else in India.

The Telangana Government Government Doctors Association (TGGDA) and the Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) both issued sharp statements on Saturday, demanding that the government immediately reconsider the proposal and consult recognised medical associations before proceeding further.

"Superintendents Will Become Figureheads"

The TGGDA was unsparing in its criticism of the proposal. In a strongly worded statement, the association warned that placing Group-1 officers in administrative roles within government teaching hospitals would directly erode the powers of existing hospital superintendents — reducing them to mere figureheads with no real authority over the institutions they are supposed to lead.

TGGDA President Narahari and General Secretary Lalu Prasad Rathod argued that there is simply no compelling justification for transferring administrative responsibilities from medically qualified superintendents to Group-1 civil service officers.

"Administrative responsibilities do not need to be handed over to Group-1 officers," the two leaders said in a joint statement. "The current system, where qualified medical professionals oversee hospital administration, works — and there is no reason to dismantle it."

The association also expressed deep displeasure over what it described as a complete lack of consultation with recognised medical bodies before the proposal was floated. That recognised associations were not even approached for their views on a matter of such profound consequence, the statement said, is "condemnable" — a word that reflects the depth of the medical community's frustration.

No Precedent Anywhere in India

The TTGDA went a step further, placing the proposal in its national context — and the picture it painted was damning.

"This practice does not exist in any other state in the country," the association declared flatly. Not one Indian state has handed over the administration of teaching hospitals to Group-1 civil service officers — making Telangana's proposal not just controversial, but entirely without precedent in Indian healthcare administration.

TTGDA President B. Kiran and Secretary Madala Kiran articulated the core argument against the proposal with clarity and force. Running a teaching hospital effectively, they said, requires two distinct and equally important competencies — administrative understanding and medical knowledge. These are not separate skill sets that can be divided between a civil servant and a doctor. They must exist together, in the same person, at the helm of the institution.

"Only doctors can fulfill these responsibilities," the TTGDA leaders said. "A teaching hospital is not a government office. It is a complex medical institution where administrative decisions have direct consequences for patient outcomes, medical education, and the quality of healthcare delivered to the public."

What Is at Stake

To understand why Telangana's doctors are so alarmed, it is important to appreciate what teaching hospitals actually do — and why their administration is fundamentally different from that of other government institutions.

Teaching hospitals serve a dual purpose. They are simultaneously centres of advanced medical care — often the last resort for patients with complex and life-threatening conditions — and institutions of medical education, where the next generation of doctors, nurses, and specialists are trained. The decisions made by hospital superintendents every day involve clinical judgement, resource allocation, staff management, and medical ethics in ways that simply cannot be separated from medical expertise.

Handing that authority to a Group-1 officer — however competent in general administration — would, the associations argue, create a dangerous disconnect between administrative authority and medical reality. The superintendent, stripped of real power, would be unable to respond effectively to the clinical and operational demands of a major teaching hospital. Patients, medical students, and the broader public healthcare system would all suffer the consequences.

A Demand for Dialogue

Both associations have stopped short of issuing an ultimatum — for now. But the message to the Telangana government is clear, consistent, and urgent: this proposal must not move forward without meaningful consultation with the medical community.

The TGGDA has explicitly called on the government to engage with recognised medical associations before taking any further steps. The TTGDA has demanded an immediate reversal of the proposal in its current form.

Neither association has indicated what further action it may take if the government presses ahead without dialogue — but the strength of feeling in Telangana's government medical community suggests that the response would be swift and significant.

Government Yet to Respond

The Telangana state government had not issued a formal response to the associations' statements at the time of publication. The Health Ministry was not immediately available for comment.

What is clear, however, is that the proposal has touched a raw nerve in a medical community that already bears enormous pressure — managing some of the state's most critical healthcare institutions with limited resources and growing patient loads.

For Telangana's government doctors, this is not merely an administrative dispute. It is a question of professional identity, institutional integrity, and ultimately, the quality of healthcare that the state's most vulnerable citizens receive.

And on that question, they are not prepared to stay silent.

The Telangana government had not responded to the associations' statements at the time of publication. This report will be updated as further developments emerge.

HYDERABAD — Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Telangana government, demanding the immediate dismissal of Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy over what he described as a brazen family scam — and accusing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy of deliberately protecting the minister despite acknowledging wrongdoing.

Speaking in his characteristically sharp and combative style, KTR — as the BRS leader is widely known — pulled no punches in his assault on the ruling Congress government, raising questions that he said demand urgent answers from the Chief Minister.

"CM Admitted Wrongdoing — But Still Won't Act"

KTR alleged that the exposure of Minister Ponguleti's family scam has left the Telangana government rattled and desperate. What makes the situation even more damning, he argued, is the Chief Minister's own admission.

"The Chief Minister himself has acknowledged that irregularities have taken place," KTR said. "Yet no legal action has been initiated. One must ask — is the Chief Minister protecting the minister because he too has a share in this corruption?"

It was a pointed and provocative question — one that the BRS leader clearly intended to land with maximum political force.

At the center of the controversy is Raghava Constructions — a company of which KTR claims Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy served as chairman between 2020 and 2022. The Chief Minister, KTR alleged, has attempted to distance the minister from the company by claiming it belongs to Ponguleti's distant relatives — a claim KTR dismissed as a transparent cover-up.

"The facts are clear," KTR said. "Ponguleti was the chairman of Raghava Constructions. The attempt to pass it off as belonging to distant relatives fools nobody."

Two and a Half Years of Failure

KTR broadened his attack beyond the immediate controversy, using the platform to deliver a comprehensive indictment of what he called the Congress government's two and a half years of governance failure.

"In two and a half years, the Chief Minister has not done a single thing that has benefited the people of Telangana," KTR charged. "Not one. And yet a minister accused of corruption continues to sit in his chair, his family protected, his wrongdoing unpunished."

He demanded pointed answers from the Chief Minister — why has action not been taken against the minister? Why is the minister's family being shielded? What message does this send to the people of Telangana?

Mining Scandals and Political Connections

KTR did not limit his allegations to the Ponguleti family controversy. He widened the scope of his attack to include what he described as widespread irregularities in the mining sector across Telangana.

Most explosive among his allegations was the claim that Bhagyalakshmi Mining in Kokapet — a prominent location in Hyderabad — belongs to relatives of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy himself. The allegation, if proven, would represent a significant conflict of interest at the highest levels of the state government.

"Mining has become a cover for large-scale illegality across this state," KTR alleged. "And the connections lead all the way to the Chief Minister's own family."

The L&T Land Controversy

KTR also trained his fire on what he described as a dangerous conspiracy surrounding 280 acres of land leased by the previous BRS government to engineering and construction giant Larsen & Toubro.

He alleged that what he called the "Danduppalya batch" — a reference he used to describe a group within the ruling establishment — is plotting to illegally seize this land. More alarmingly, KTR claimed that the Chief Financial Officer of L&T had been threatened with imprisonment in an attempt to intimidate the company.

"This is a massive scandal," KTR said, his voice rising with controlled fury. "Threatening the CFO of one of India's most respected companies with jail — what kind of government does this? What kind of governance is this?"

He described the entire episode as a "large-scale conspiracy" that strikes at the heart of investor confidence in Telangana.

"We Will Go to the Governor"

KTR made clear that the BRS is not prepared to let these issues rest — and issued a direct warning to the Telangana government.

If the government fails to act on the allegations and continues to ignore the opposition's demands, he said, the BRS will escalate the matter to Governor Jishnu Dev Varma and lodge a formal complaint seeking intervention.

"We will go to the Governor if this government refuses to listen," KTR declared. "These are not small matters. These are issues of governance, of corruption, of public money being plundered — and someone must be held accountable."

One Non-Negotiable Demand

Amid the cascade of allegations and accusations, KTR's central demand was unambiguous and unconditional.

Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy must be removed from office. Immediately. Without further delay or excuses.

"This is not a request. This is a demand from the people of Telangana," KTR said. "A minister whose family is neck-deep in scandal, whose wrongdoing has been acknowledged by the Chief Minister himself, has no moral or legal right to continue in office. He must go."

The Political Context

Saturday's press conference marks an escalation in BRS's increasingly aggressive opposition campaign against the Telangana Congress government. With assembly elections still years away, the party — which governed Telangana for a decade before its shock defeat in 2023 — appears determined to position itself as the primary watchdog against what it characterises as runaway corruption under the Revanth Reddy administration.

KTR, who has increasingly taken on the role of the party's most combative public voice, has sharpened his rhetoric in recent months — targeting the Chief Minister personally and with growing frequency.

The Congress government has not yet formally responded to Saturday's allegations. Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy's office was not immediately available for comment.

But with KTR threatening to take the matter to the Governor and vowing to keep the pressure on, the political temperature in Hyderabad shows no sign of cooling any time soon.

BRS working president KTR's allegations have not been independently verified. The Telangana government and Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy's office had not responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.

HYDERABAD — Forget the assembly floor. Forget the heated debates, the political point-scoring, and the relentless grind of governance.

On Saturday, Telangana's legislators traded their suits for sports kits — and LB Stadium has never seen anything quite like it.

The first-ever Legislators Sports and Cultural Meet 2026 threw open its doors at the iconic Lal Bahadur Shastri Stadium in Hyderabad, bringing together MLAs, MLCs, MPs, ministers, and the Chief Minister himself in a spectacle that was one part sporting competition, one part political theatre, and entirely, gloriously, human.

It was history. And it was a lot of fun.

Eleven Years in the Making

Think about this for a moment.

Telangana has existed as a state for over a decade. In that time, its legislators have debated budgets, passed laws, fought elections, and argued across the aisle with the full-throated passion that Indian democracy demands.

But never — not once in eleven years — had the state's MLAs and MLCs come together for a sporting and cultural event of their own.

Until Saturday.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, and Legislative Council Chairman Gutta Sukender Reddy jointly inaugurated the meet in a ceremony that set the tone for an evening of laughter, competition, and genuine cross-party warmth. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, cabinet ministers, MPs, MLCs, and MLAs filled the stadium with an energy that felt less like a government function and more like a school sports day — the best possible kind.

Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar captured the mood perfectly. "Leaders who are constantly busy with public issues and politics can relieve stress and relax through sports and cultural activities," he said. "When members of all parties play and perform together, a festive atmosphere is created — and we send a positive message to society."

He was not wrong. The atmosphere was festive. Infectiously so.

The Chief Minister Has Four Goals to His Name

Here is something you do not read in political dispatches every day: the Chief Minister of Telangana scored four goals in a football match on Saturday evening.

Four. Goals.

Revanth Reddy — already known for his boundless energy and his love of sport — threw himself into the football competition with an enthusiasm that left the crowd thoroughly entertained. In a move that drew equal parts applause and amusement, the Chief Minister switched teams mid-game to bolster Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar's side — a gesture of solidarity that said more about the spirit of the evening than any speech could.

By the final whistle, he had four goals to his name and the Man of the Match award in his pocket.

Not bad for a Chief Minister.

The kabaddi competition was no less entertaining. Speaker Prasad Kumar flagged off the contest with suitable ceremony, and Team A claimed a spirited victory over Team B in a match that had the crowd roaring. Sports Minister Srihari's team also tasted victory — the minister presumably feeling rather vindicated given his portfolio.

Meanwhile, Nagarjunasagar MLA Jaiveer scored the opening goal of the football match for the CM's team — a moment that will presumably feature prominently in future campaign materials.

MLAs, MPs, and MLCs who probably last laced up a pair of sports shoes during their college days rediscovered muscles they had forgotten they had. Some were graceful. Some were enthusiastic. All of them were smiling.

The Message Beneath the Medals

But strip away the fun and the football, and there is a serious point at the heart of Saturday's event — one that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy made with characteristic bluntness.

Telangana's youth are at a crossroads. And the Chief Minister has chosen his side.

"Leave the path of intoxication. Take the path of the field."

That is the message Revanth Reddy has been carrying across the state — through the CM Cup competitions that his government has run from village level all the way up to the state level, and now through Saturday's legislators' meet. The philosophy is simple: give young people a reason to run toward something, rather than escape into something.

"We are keeping youth away from pubs, feasts, farmhouse parties, drugs, cannabis, and intoxication," the Chief Minister said, his tone sharpening noticeably as he addressed the opposition's decision to boycott the event. Some opposition MLAs and MLCs had announced they would not participate — a choice Revanth Reddy dismissed with barely concealed disdain.

"They are only thinking about farmhouse parties," he said. "We are steering youth away from all of that."

His address to the state's students was passionate and personal. "Develop an interest in sports. Excel in them. Enhance the recognition and honour of the country. You will also have the opportunity to build your own future," he urged — words that carried the weight of a government that believes sport is not a luxury but a lifeline.

The CM Cup programme, he explained, was designed specifically to "unearth diamonds hidden in the soil of rural areas" — a recognition that sporting talent in Telangana does not only grow in city academies and expensive coaching centres, but in dusty village fields where children play barefoot under the afternoon sun.

Promises From the Podium

The Chief Minister did not leave the stadium without making commitments.

The Begumpet Hockey Stadium, he announced, will be developed and upgraded by the state government — a pledge that will be welcomed by hockey enthusiasts across Telangana who have long called for better facilities.

He also revisited one of his government's more colourful political controversies — the furore that erupted when his administration invited global football icon Lionel Messi to Telangana. The opposition had criticised the move as an expensive vanity project. Revanth Reddy, characteristically, was unapologetic. It was about inspiration, he maintained — about showing young Telangana what the world's best looks like, and daring them to dream accordingly.

Athletes who excel in sport, he added, will be honoured and recognised by his government. In Telangana, he made clear, a gold medal and a government job are not mutually exclusive ambitions.

Politics on Pause

Perhaps the most striking image of Saturday evening was not the Chief Minister's fourth goal, or the kabaddi final, or the opening ceremony. It was something simpler and more profound.

It was the sight of legislators from rival parties — people who spend their professional lives arguing, debating, and opposing each other across the assembly chamber — standing on the same field, playing the same game, and cheering for the same moments.

Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar put it best. "Elections are for politics," he said. "The rest of the time, we should all live together in harmony."

For one Saturday evening at LB Stadium, they did exactly that.

Telangana's lawmakers showed up, laced up, and played — and in doing so, reminded a watching state that behind every political title and every assembly seat is a human being who once played cricket in the street, kicked a football in a field, and felt the simple, uncomplicated joy of sport.

That joy was back on Saturday. And Hyderabad loved every minute of it.

The Legislators Sports and Cultural Meet 2026 continues with additional sporting and cultural events at LB Stadium. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's Man of the Match award is, we are told, already framed.

తెనాలి(జర్నలిస్ట్ ఫైల్) :ఉగ్రవాదం మూలాలను నాశనం చేయడమే లక్ష్యంగా ఒకవైపు మనసైనిక దళాలు రోషంతో పాకిస్థాన్ గుండెపై గురిపెట్టి యుద్ధం చేస్తుoటే మరో వైపు దేశరక్షణ కోసం భరతమాత వీరపుత్రులు ప్రాణత్యాగం చేస్తుంటే హైదరాబాద్ లో అందాలపోటీలు అవసరమా అని 'మా -ఎపి'  వ్యవస్థాపాకులు, సినీదర్శకుడు దిలీప్ రాజా నిర్వహకులను ప్రశ్నించారు.స్థానిక మూవీ ఆర్టిస్ట్ అసోసియేషన్,ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్ 24 విభాగాల యూనియన్ కార్యాలయంలో మంగళవారo ఏర్పాటుచేసిన విలేకరుల సమావేశంలో దిలీప్ రాజ మాట్లాడుతు ఉగ్రవాదo ఊపిరిపై దాడిచేసి యుద్ధంలో  దేశం కోసం మరణించిన భారత సైనికుల ఆత్మలకు కనీస గౌరవం ఇవ్వడం సముచితమని  హితవు పలికారు.
ఇలాంటి అందాల అరబోతల కార్యక్రమలకు అనుమతి ఉంటే సినిమాలను సెన్సార్ చేయాల్సిన అవసరమేలేదని ఆయన వ్యాఖ్యానించారు. సినిమా తెరలపై కనిపించే బొమ్మలకు సెన్సార్ పెట్టి,ప్రత్యక్ష అందాల భామలకు అనుమతులు ఇవ్వడం హాస్యాస్పదంగా ఉందని ఆయన అభిప్రాయం వ్యక్తం చేశారు.
ప్రపంచ సుందరి పోటీల్లోని విజేతలు సినిమా హీరోయిన్లుగా చెలామణి కావడం మినహా దేశ సంస్కృతిని కాపాడే రాయబారులని ప్రస్థావించడo పద్ధతి కాదని ఆయన తెలిపారు.సంగీత బిజిలానీ, జీనత్ అమన్, సుస్మితాసేన్,ఐశ్వర్య రాయ్, మీనాక్షి శేషాద్రి,ప్రియాంక చోప్రా, నందిని గుప్తా, శోభిత ధూళిపాళ్ల,లారదత్తా, మీనాక్షి చౌదరిలు మిస్ ఇండియా అందాలపోటీల్లో విజేతలయిన తర్వాత సినీరంగంలో హీరొయిన్లుగా చెలామణి అయ్యారని దిలీప్ రాజా వివరించారు.వస్త్రాలంకరణలో వెర్రితలలు వేస్తున్న సమాజంలో ఇంకా భారతీయ సంప్రదాయాలను, ఆచార వ్యవహారాలను గౌరవిస్తున్న  మహిళామతల్లులకు ప్రణామాలు తెలిపారు.కాగా మే 31 న  హైదరాబాద్ లో జరగనున్న అందాల పోటీలపై పునరాలోచాల్సిందిగా ఆయన నిర్వాహకులను కోరారు.

Hyderabad ( Journalist File ) : Actor and National Award recipient Allu Arjun was granted interim bail by the Telangana High Court on Friday after dramatic developments in the Sandhya Theatre stampede case. Earlier in the day, Arjun was arrested and taken to the Chikkadpally police station, where his statement was recorded. He was subsequently transferred to Gandhi Hospital for medical examinations before being presented at the Nampally court, which remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. Following this, he was sent to Chanchalguda Jail under heavy security. However, the High Court later granted him interim relief after hearing a quash petition.

The case stems from a tragic stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre on December 4 during the screening of Pushpa-2. The incident claimed the life of a woman, Revathi, and left her son critically injured. Police registered a case against Allu Arjun under Sections BNS 105 and 118, making him one of the accused.

Dramatic Arrest and Court Proceedings

Arjun’s arrest unfolded amidst high drama. After returning from a success meet for Pushpa-2 in Delhi, police arrived at his residence in Hyderabad around noon and detained him in the presence of his family. Expressing displeasure over the police’s actions, Arjun was escorted to Chikkadpally police station, accompanied by his father, Allu Aravind.

At the station, Central Zone DCP Akanksha Yadav oversaw his interrogation, which lasted for two hours. Statements from eyewitnesses were recorded as part of the investigation. Meanwhile, prominent figures, including megastar Chiranjeevi and his wife, visited Arjun's residence to extend their support.

After the interrogation, Arjun was taken to Gandhi Hospital for COVID-19 and other routine medical tests. The scene outside the hospital turned chaotic as fans and onlookers gathered in large numbers to catch a glimpse of the actor. With the medical reports deemed normal, he was subsequently presented at Nampally court.

Security Measures and High-Profile Presence

Heavy security was deployed in and around the court premises, with roads leading to the court sealed off to control the swelling crowds. Inside the court, due to overcrowding, proceedings were shifted to the judge’s chamber. Several film industry representatives and producers of Pushpa-2 were also present to show solidarity.

The High Court’s decision to grant interim bail came as a relief for Arjun, who faced intense scrutiny over the incident. The case continues to draw widespread attention, with questions raised about safety protocols at public events and the accountability of high-profile figures

Hyderabad ( Journalist File ) : The Telangana Legislative Assembly session commenced without the presence of the principal opposition party. As the BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) legislators and MLCs headed towards the Assembly, police blocked their way and arrested several of them. Among those detained were K.T. Rama Rao, K. Kavitha, and other party representatives, who were later taken away in police vans.

Earlier in the day, BRS legislators and MLCs had paid tribute to the martyrs of Telangana at the Amaraveerula Stupa in Gun Park on the occasion of Deeksha Vijay Diwas. Afterward, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's son, K.T. Rama Rao, along with Revanth Reddy, donned T-shirts featuring photos of industrialist Adani, and made their way towards the Assembly.

At Gate-2 of the Assembly, they were stopped by the police, who expressed objection to their attire. This led to a brief tense standoff. K.T. Rama Rao confronted the police, demanding an explanation for their actions. In response, Revanth Reddy and other BRS representatives raised slogans such as "Adani Bhai Bhai" and "Kusthi in Delhi, Dosti in the Streets," among others, in a show of protest.

The confrontation escalated as BRS leaders, including K.T. Rama Rao, Harish Rao, Kavitha, and Sabitha Indra Reddy, were arrested and taken away in police vans