
KCR's black magic rituals at farmhouse led to collapse of SLBC tunnel: Minister Venkat Reddy
In an informal interaction with reporters, he accused BRS leaders of large-scale corruption in the Kaleshwaram project. 'If `50-60 crore was found with officials and engineers, imagine how much the leaders made. Even the BJP has alleged Kaleshwaram became an ATM for the BRS,' he said.
Venkat charged that under the banner of 'Bangaru Telangana', BRS rulers had created a 'Beggars Telangana'. He said BRS was plagued by internal feuds and alleged that its paid social media workers, operating from abroad, were spreading disinformation against the government. 'We are not resorting to vendetta politics. Don't expect AP-style arrests here,' he said.
Expressing confidence in the Congress' prospects, he said: 'Villains last only a few days, but our chief minister and we are evergreen heroes.'
The minister said 96% of land acquisition for the Regional Ring Road had been completed.

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First Post
21 minutes ago
- First Post
Will PM Modi visit the US next month? It depends on 3 factors
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday announced on X that he discussed plans for a personal meeting with the Indian prime minister at the UN General Assembly in September read more US President Donald Trump has ruled out the possibility of trade talks with India amid the ongoing tariff dispute. File image/AP Is a US visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the cards? If so, this will be the second visit by the Indian prime minister to the country this year after US President Donald Trump took over the presidency. However, the dynamic has changed since PM Modi's last visit to the Oval Office in February. From Operation Sindoor to tariffs, ties between India and the US have crossed many roads in the past few months. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Here are the three factors that will determine whether doors are open for an upcoming US visit by PM Modi. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday announced on X that he discussed plans for a personal meeting with the Indian prime minister at the UN General Assembly in September. While New Delhi has not officially responded to the announcement yet, PM Modi is listed as one of the speakers at the upcoming General Assembly session I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India @narendramodi. We discussed in detail all important issues – both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people. I… — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 11, 2025 Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, are set to meet in Alaska later this week in a major breakthrough meeting in the Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks. PM Modi's recent phone call with Ukraine's Zelenskyy suggests that his possible visit to the US hinges on how the Trump-Putin meeting goes Tariffs have been the latest point of contention between India and the US, with Trump imposing 25 per cent tariffs on New Delhi over its use of Russian oil. Any future visit by PM Modi to the US would also depend on whether the two sides meet in Delhi for sixth round of trade negotiations
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
Andaman Islands: India's strategic frontline in Indo-Pacific
Stretching 800 km from Myanmar to Indonesia, Andaman & Nicobar Islands guard the entrance to the Indian Ocean from the South China Sea.. File image/AP Like a sharpshooter methodically chambering rounds before a high-stakes standoff, India is fortifying its most valuable maritime outpost—the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. As the Quad appeal lessens amid the US downgrade of India as a security partner, New Delhi has emphasised geography. The 572 islands in the Bay of Bengal, long overlooked, are being transformed into what strategists call an unsinkable aircraft carrier, projecting power across the Indo-Pacific's turbulent waters. The pivot makes sense. China's navy, once confined to its coastal shallows, now roams the Indian Ocean with the confidence of a rising hegemon. Submarines slip through chokepoints, and spy ships spend a long time in India's littoral as routine. So, the Andaman Islands are the strategic outpost to compete. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the heart of this strategy lies the Six Degree Channel, also known as the Great Channel, a 163 km-wide passage between Great Nicobar and Indonesia's Sumatra. Through it flows a quarter of global maritime trade, including 80 per cent of China's oil imports. Some 94,000 ships pass annually, making it a lifeline. For India, dominating this artery means holding a chokehold on potential adversaries. Unlike the Malacca Strait, farther east and shared with allies, the Great Channel offers New Delhi unilateral leverage—monitoring traffic in peacetime, interdicting it in crisis. The islands' position amplifies this advantage. Stretching 800 km from Myanmar to Indonesia, they guard the entrance to the Indian Ocean from the South China Sea. China's 'Malacca dilemma'—its vulnerability to blockade—becomes India's opportunity. Beijing knows this: its survey ships have probed nearby waters, and it has leased Myanmar's Coco Islands, just 55 km north, for what many suspect are listening posts. India's response? A muscular buildup to turn vulnerability into strength. Enter the Rs 5,650-crore masterplan, a ten-year blueprint to militarise the archipelago against China's expanding footprint. Approved amid rising tensions, it aims to station more warships, aircraft, missile batteries, drones and troops. Supply lines stretch 1,200 km from the mainland, demanding self-reliance—hence the hefty price tag. But the investments span six key areas, blending naval, air and infrastructure muscle. First, the navy is lengthening runways at INS Kohassa in Shibpur, North Andamans, and INS Baaz at Campbell Bay in the south. Both will extend to 10,000 feet, allowing heavyweight aircraft like Boeing P-8I Poseidons for anti-submarine warfare. INS Kohassa was commissioned on January 24, 2019, by then-navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba; recent extensions underscore ongoing momentum. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Second, the Indian Air Force is upgrading Car Nicobar's station for fighter squadrons, adding radar coverage for anti-missile defence and hangars to support extended deployments. This complements Port Blair's INS Utkrosh, now equipped for surveillance drones. Third, new jetties are rising to berth larger vessels, turning temporary anchorages into permanent naval hubs. Fourth, road networks are expanding for swift troop movements. Fifth, permanent barracks and logistics depots will house division-strength infantry, lessening reliance on mainland rotations. Sixth, advanced surveillance—radars, sensors and missile systems—will create a digital shield, spotting intruders from afar. These aren't pipe dreams. In the past 30 days alone—as of early August 2025—defence officials have inspected progress, with Shibpur's runway work accelerating. Port Blair and Car Nicobar airports already handle military ops; the extensions at Shibpur and Campbell Bay will supercharge them. It's a far cry from the archipelago's sleepy past, when limited airstrips confined operations to light aircraft. Yet the real edge comes from alliances that endure. Amid Quad uncertainties, the 'Fish Hook' partnership with America and Japan—a submarine surveillance network—stands firm. This chain of underwater sensors, stretching from Japan to the Andamans, tracks Chinese subs like a digital dragnet. Born of Cold War tech, it weathers tariff spats, offering India early warnings against Beijing's 60-plus submarine fleet. For a navy with just 13 conventional subs, it's a vital equaliser, monitoring movements through the Great Channel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Challenges abound. The islands' isolation inflates costs; everything from cement to soldiers must cross the Bay of Bengal. China's shadow looms with its navy, with 3-4 task forces patrolling the Indian Ocean. India's stretched logistics could falter if projects drag. Execution is key. Like an admiral priming his fleet for the decisive salvo, India is positioning the Andamans to command the littoral. In an era of waning coalitions, these islands offer enduring might—guarding trade, deterring foes, and securing a multipolar Indo-Pacific. The duel is on; India, chamber loaded, stands ready to fire. The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of Firstpost.


The Hindu
2 hours ago
- The Hindu
KTR serves defamation notice to Bandi Sanjay for remarks accusing his involvement in phone tapping; demands apology in a week
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president and Sircilla MLA, K. T. Rama Rao (KTR), served a legal notice to Union Minister of State for Home, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, demanding an unconditional apology for what he termed as 'false, defamatory and slanderous' remarks accusing the MLA of indulging in phone tapping using the police. The notice, issued by KTR's legal counsel, alleges that Mr. Kumar accused him of misusing the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) for large-scale phone tapping during his tenure as Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Industries and IT in the previous BRS government. The allegations made at a press conference on August 8, 2025, reportedly included the claims that thousands of phones, including those of political leaders, a High Court judge, the current Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, and even members of former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao's family were tapped for personal and political purposes. The legal notice also mentioned that the Union Minister accused KTR of misusing phone tapping for personal and political purposes. It added Mr. Kumar alleged that individuals were falsely linked to Maoists to justify surveillance, private conversations between spouses were monitored and general public avoided regular calls, preferring encrypted apps like WhatsApp, FaceTime, and Signal due to fear. KTR, in the notice, said the accusations were 'malicious and vindictive,' and made 'without any basis or proof whatsoever', and with 'mala fide intention' to tarnish his image and goodwill. The BRS leader, who represents the Sircilla constituency, said the statements had caused him 'considerable embarrassment and loss of reputation' both in India and abroad, with friends and family expressing concern after the remarks were widely circulated by television channels and on social media. The notice demanded an unconditional public apology from Mr. Kumar within seven days and to refrain from making further defamatory comments. Or else, KTR would initiate both civil and criminal proceedings, holding the Union Minister responsible for all consequences. KTR's legal team also accused the Union Minister of 'distorting facts and misleading the public' to advance his political agenda, asserting that such conduct was 'unexpected of a Minister of State for Home Affairs.' Before sending the legal notice on Tuesday (August 12, 2025), KTR rejected the allegations on the same day the allegations were made, and also warned that a defamatory notice would be served to Mr. Kumar if he didn't apologise.