Tag: Ladakh News

Siddaramaiah hails SC observation over Amit Shah’s remarks on Muslim quota

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Bengaluru: Congress leader Siddaramaiah on Tuesday lauded the Supreme Court for objecting to the statements of Union Home Minister Amit Shah over Muslim quota during the election campaign in Karnataka.
“The Supreme Court has objected to Amit Shah’s irresponsible statement over cancellation of Muslim quota of reservation during campaigning.
“Justice B.V. Nagaratna’s observation to maintain sanctity of the subject when the matter is seized by the court and the political statement in this regard is undesirable is apt,” he said.

“When the matter is being looked into by the court, the Solicitor General or an advocate can give their opinion. Justice Nagaratna had asked why a third person is intervening in this matter?” Siddaramaiah asked.
He hoped the Union Home Minister would give his opinion carefully in future.
Siddaramaiah maintained that the move of the BJP government to withdraw the reservation of Muslims and distribute it to Lingayats and Vokkaligas is nothing but to bring enmity and hatred between communities.
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#Siddaramaiah #hails #observation #Amit #Shahs #remarks #Muslim #quota
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
PM, other BJP leaders violated model code in ‘silence period’, Congress tells EC

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New Delhi: On the eve of polling in the crucial Karnataka Assembly polls, the Congress on Tuesday complained to the Election Commission against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP leaders for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
In a eight-page complaint to the Commission, Congress General Secretary and state unit in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said: “We write to you with great urgency to bring to your attention the brazen and blatant violation of the MCC as well as the provisions of the Representation of People Act, 1951 by the Prime Minister and other leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).”
Surjewala said that on Monday, post 11 p.m., Modi addressed the public through a video message, wherein he appealed to the voters of Karnataka on behalf of BJP and all its candidates contesting in the the elections.

“With due respect, neither the Prime Minister nor this Commission can possibly deny the ‘Silence Period’ as contemplated under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951 for the Karnataka Legislative Assembly Elections, 2023 had come into effect from Monday 6 p.m.” he said, attaching the video link of the Prime Minister’s address.
The Congress leader, who himself camped in the southern state for over two months, said: “In fact, this Commission’s attention may even be brought to the live interviews of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP President J.P. Nadda, which were aired on news channels after the declaration of the ‘Silence Period’. In these interviews, the said leaders spoke extensively about the Karnataka elections and their respective candidates.”
He also submitted a copy of the video recording of the live interviews being conducted on news channels after declaration of ‘Silence Period’ with the Commission.
The Congress leader, in his complaint, also cited the six complaints it submitted with the poll panel in last few days against the speeches given by Modi, Shah, Nadda and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, as part of BJP’s election campaign.
Surjewala said that he was still hoipeful that the poll panel may initiate action against the BJP leaders and not be intimidated by the high offices that they hold.

“The COmmission must take immediate note of this and initiate appropriate proceedings against Modi, Shah, Nadda, Yogi Adityanath and the BJP,” he said, adding that it may be mentioned that if convicted under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, these leaders will stand disqualified from their respective membership in the Parliament as well as the Legislative Assembly.
On Monday, the Commission also served a notice to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge asking to provide clarification and take rectification measures over former party chief Sonia Gandhi’s purported ‘Karnataka sovereignty’ remark.
Polling for Karnataka assembly is scheduled on May 10 and counting of votes will take place on May 13.
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#BJP #leaders #violated #model #code #silence #period #Congress #tells
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Telangana: Wakf Board owns 77k acre land, 35k institutions worth Rs 5L cr but it earns pittance

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Hyderabad: It’s a case of water water everywhere and not a drop to drink.
Throw a stone in Hyderabad and it is likely to fall on some Wakf property or the other. But unfortunately, the net benefit to the community from this treasure trove is zero. The analogy of chirag taley andehra (darkness beneath the lamp) fits to a T.
With Wakf properties worth over Rs 5 lakh crore, Muslims in Telangana are sitting on a veritable gold mine. The community should have been in a position where it need not look for the crumbs of comfort from government and financial institutions. Rather it should extend monetary support, finance businesses and run its own institutions. But the opposite is true.

Former Minority Affairs Minister, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, once stated that the registered Wakf properties in the country have the potential to generate an annual income of over Rs. 10,000 crore. Muslims need not look to anyone for finance when they have a treasure trove like this at their disposal.
Had the Wakf institutions been properly managed, the story of Muslims going with the begging bowl before the powers-that-be seeking loans and reservations would have been a different one. Sadly the Wakf Board staff and those heading it are often found to be hand in glove to turn a golden goose into a milch cow. Whoever gets a chance starts squeezing it dry. For small gains, the Wakf officials have allowed costly properties to be sold off for a song. Worse those tasked with protection have turned Nelson’s eye as the pricey Wakf properties are encroached upon left, right, and center. Seeing the Board’s apathy, not just individuals, but even companies and government-run institutions have dared to knock off land parcels. Sadly large tracts of land dedicated to pious and religious purposes are no longer safe.
If you have tears, prepare to shed them now. Shockingly this body fluid also seems to be in short supply. It is crocodile tears that Muslim leaders and activists shed when egged on to safeguard their rich legacy. Of course, everyone is game for a protest rally, sit-in demonstration, and a photo shootout. Nobody is prepared for a long drawn-out battle, a sustained campaign is what is needed to make the authorities sit up and take notice.
This mass inertia has cost the community dearly. The Manikonda Jagir, Guttala Begumpet Idgah, and the GMR Hyderabad Airport are merely the tip of the iceberg. The Wakf Board has given away hundreds of such prime properties on a platter to the government. Despite initial success in the lower courts, the final verdict in the apex court has always gone against the Wakf Board. Call it an inept representation of the cases, lack of will to put up a strong fight, or whatever — Muslims can never pardon themselves for losing properties worth crores of rupees.
Be it Sachar Committee at the national level or Sudhir Commission set up by the Telangana State government, every report has slammed the Wakf Board for its inability to safeguard its properties. If properly managed, Wakf properties can make Muslims self-reliant and uplift them educationally and economically. The community can establish its own educational institutions, hospitals, and banks. Lack of judicial powers is cited as a factor why the Board couldn’t go after the land sharks and take timely action. This apart, most of the time the Board chairman and members don’t see eye to eye and work at cross purposes. This only helps the land grabbers make hay.

One of the richest Muslim endowment bodies, the Telangana State Wakf Board boasts 77,000 acres of landed property and 35,000 institutions. Unfortunately, 70 percent of the land is under encroachment. What is worse is that the Board has no record of some of its encroached properties. Efforts to evict the encroachers have been feeble and tardy. Now the Board’s record room is sealed by the government for ‘protection of records’, a move which is causing more damage than benefit. Result the Board can’t access the records to fight cases in court.
The issue of “misappropriation, misuse, illegal sale and transfer” of Wakf properties has been raised time and again in the State Assembly by the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen to no avail. Nothing has come out of the CB CID inquiry ordered by the government. The fraudulent acts, according to sources, are carried out by changing existing managing committees, appointing pliable persons in key positions, and executing leases without any public auction. More shocking is the pittance of rent being collected from prime properties. The monthly rent of some shops in Hyderabad is as low as Rs 1000 when similar properties in the area fetch huge rents. Most of the Wakf tenants pay rents that were fixed decades ago.
One can never imagine such nefarious activities happening in the Hindu Endowment Department. One of the reasons could be the judicial powers it is endowed with. Also, the presence of an IAS officer at the helm acts as a big deterrent and ensures smooth administration. The Wakf Board could also do with a civil servant. But the government has never been serious about this demand for reasons best known to it.
There is a need to bring about an attitudinal change in the community to bring the focus back on the protection of Wakf institutions in the State and country.
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#Telangana #Wakf #Board #owns #77k #acre #land #35k #institutions #worth #earns #pittance
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
SC agrees to examine a plea against ‘The Kerala Story’ on May 15

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to hear, on May 15, a plea against the Kerala High Court’s refusal to stay the film “The Kerala Story” – the fourth time when the apex court would consider the plea related to the movie.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justice P.S. Narasimha, agreed to examine the matter on Monday after a plea for urgent hearing was mentioned before the bench by senior advocate Kapil Sibal on behalf of the petitioners.
The plea challenged the May 5 order passed by the high court declining any relief, saying there was nothing offensive against Islam or Muslims in the film.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that producers of the movie have moved a petition in the apex court challenging the ban on the film by the West Bengal government and also the decision not to release the film in theatres in Tamil Nadu. The plea has claimed that it is against artistic freedom. They are likely to mention the matter on Wednesday for urgent hearing.
On the day of the release of the film, the Kerala High Court, while hearing petitions seeking the ban of the film, categorically, in the midst of the hearing, pointed out that in a secular state like Kerala, nothing is going to happen.
“Nothing is going to happen if the film is screened in Kerala. On examining the teaser and the preview of the film, there is nothing which is against any religion and Islam is not portrayed in poor light. There is a reference to IS and, in the country, there have been several films which refer to IS,” said the court.
“Fail to understand how this film would be against society as even the Censor Board has given the certification. The premise of the film is fictional in nature and when fictional themes have been cleared in the past, how can one prevent the screening of this film,” it asked.
The apex court had, as many as three times, rejected a plea to stop the release of the film, saying that it must also be considered that a filmmaker invests a lot of money and time in making a film and actors also put in a lot of work.

The film, produced by Sunshine Pictures Private Ltd and directed by Sudipto Sen, was released on Friday across the country.
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#agrees #examine #plea #Kerala #Story
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Jaishankar holds talks with Israel foreign minister on cooperation in defence

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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held wide-ranging discussions with his Israeli counterpart Eli Cohen, focussing on cooperation in areas of defence, agriculture and water.
“Productive and wide-ranging discussions with Foreign Minister @elicoh1 of Israel this afternoon. The main pillars of our strategic partnership – agriculture, water, defence & security – are taking our ties forward. New agreements in water & agriculture today underline the potential to do more,” Jaishankar tweeted after the meeting with Cohen.
He also informed that discussions were held in cooperation in high-tech, digital and innovation and also connectivity, mobility tourism, finance and health sectors.

Both the leaders noted the progress in I2U2 and cooperation in multilateral fora. They also exchanged perspectives on their respective regions, Ukraine and Indo-Pacific.
The two leaders also initiated an agreement in the area of mobility.
Cohen on his part said that he had an “excellent meeting with the Foreign Minister of India – @DrSJaishankar. We are strengthening ties with the most populous country in the world, and expanding cooperation in the fields of cyber, agriculture and water”.
“Our cooperation will strengthen Israel’s position in the world and stability in the Middle East,” Cohen tweeted.
The Israel Foreign Minister, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a scheduled three-day visit, cut short his trip and is returning back to Tel Aviv on Tuesday night owing to some pressing concerns.

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#Jaishankar #holds #talks #Israel #foreign #minister #cooperation #defence
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Bilkis Bano case: SC posts hearing on July 11, directs to serve notice to convict

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New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday posted for July 11 a batch of petitions challenging the pre-mature release of 11 convicts who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and murdered her family members during the 2002 Godhra riots.
Abench of Justices KM Joseph, BV Nagarathna and Ahsanuddin Amanullah adjourned the matter for hearing after the summer break of the top court. The Supreme Court will go on summer vacation from May 20 till July 2.
The bench directed the issuance of notice to the convict, which remained unserved till now.

The apex court directed the publication of notice in local newspapers, including in Gujarati and English, against the convict who could not be served notice.
During the hearing, the bench was informed that the house of one convict was found by the local police to be locked and his phone was switched off also.
The next date of hearing of the matter, i.e. July 11 shall also be published in the notice to be carried in the newspapers, the top court directed.
The bench passed this order saying it’s adopting this process so that time is not wasted on the next date of hearing and it cannot be argued that service is left incomplete.
“Notice to be published in one English newspaper and one vernacular in circulation in the area,” the apex court directed.

On May 2 also the Supreme Court deferred the hearing of the case after some of the counsels for the convicts raised objections about not being served notices on the pleas.
Bilkis Bano and others had approached the top court challenging the premature release of 11 convicts.
Besides filing a petition against the per-mature release of convicts, Bano had also filed a review petition seeking a review of its earlier order by which it had asked the Gujarat government to consider the plea for the remission of one of the convicts.
The review petition was dismissed.
Some PILs were filed seeking directions to revoke the remission granted to 11 convicts.
The pleas were filed by the National Federation of Indian Women, whose General Secretary is Annie Raja, Member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Subhashini Ali, journalist Revati Laul, social activist and professor Roop Rekha Verma and TMC MP Mahua Moitra.
Gujarat government in its affidavit had defended remission granted to convicts saying they completed 14 years of sentence in prison and their “behaviour was found to be good”.
The State government had said it has considered the cases of all 11 convicts as per the policy of 1992 and remission was granted on August 10, 2022, and the Central government also approved the release of convicts.
It is pertinent to note that the remission was not granted under the circular governing grant of remission to prisoners as part of the celebration of “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav”, it had said.
The affidavit stated, “State government considered all the opinions and decided to release 11 prisoners since they have completed 14 years and above in prisons and their behaviour was found to be good.”
The government had also questioned the locus standi of petitioners who filed the PIL challenging the decision saying they are outsiders to the case.
The pleas said they have challenged the order of competent authority of the government of Gujarat by way of which 11 persons who were accused in a set of heinous offences committed in Gujarat were allowed to walk free on August 15, 2022, pursuant to remission being extended to them.
The remission in this heinous case would be entirely against public interest and would shock the collective public conscience, as also be entirely against the interests of the victim (whose family has publicly made statements worrying for her safety), pleas stated.
The Gujarat government released the 11 convicts, who were sentenced to life imprisonment, on August 15. All the 11 life-term convicts in the case were released as per the remission policy prevalent in Gujarat at the time of their conviction in 2008.
In March 2002 during the post-Godhra riots, Bano was allegedly gang-raped and left to die with 14 members of her family, including her three-year-old daughter. She was five months pregnant when rioters attacked her family in Vadodara.
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#Bilkis #Bano #case #posts #hearing #July #directs #serve #notice #convict
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Rishi Sunak expands role of UK pharmacies to cut GP waiting times

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London: British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who worked in his mother’s pharmacy as a young boy growing up in Southampton, was back in his hometown on Tuesday to unveil plans for an expanded role for pharmacists to cut down long wait times for patients wanting to see a general practitioner (GP).
The 42-year-old British Indian leader had his blood pressure checked at Weston Lane Surgery in the south-east England port city and got a clean chit as he spoke to reporters about the initiative to cut down waiting lists for the state-funded National Health Service (NHS), one of his government’s top priorities. Patients with minor ailments like earache and sore throat would now be encouraged to go directly to their pharmacist, freeing up GPs for more serious illnesses.
“By expanding the role of pharmacies, fewer people will need to see their GP in the first place,” said Sunak.

“Today’s plans are expected to free up around 15 million GP appointments over the next two years for patients who need them most. Which means the next time you want to see your GP, you should be able to do so quicker,” he said.
Sunak branded his plans as a “bold and innovative package” of measures to significantly change how the NHS works and also tackle the “frustrating” 8 am local time call to a GP practice to get an appointment for the day.
“We will end the 8 am rush by making sure patients are either given an appointment immediately when they call or signposted to a more appropriate service such as NHS 111 or their local pharmacy. You will no longer be told to call back later,” said Sunak.
Cutting down on NHS wait times made worse as a result of the COVID pandemic, was among Sunak’s five key pledges at the start of this year. According to him, transforming primary care is the next part of this government’s promise to cut NHS waiting lists.
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the reforms would “help us to free up millions of appointments for those who need them most, as well as supporting staff so that they can do less admin and spend more time with patients”.

“We are already making real progress with 10 per cent more GP appointments happening every month, compared to before the pandemic. I want to make sure people receive the right support when they contact their general practice and bring an end to the 8 am scramble for appointments,” said UK Health Secretary Steve Barclay.
“To do this, we are improving technology and reducing bureaucracy, increasing staffing and changing the way primary care services are provided, which are all helping to deliver on the government’s promise to cut waiting lists,” he said.
An average-sized GP clinic in England of 10,000 patients often receives more than 100 calls in the first hour of every Monday. The UK’s Department for Health and Social Care said with advanced digital telephony, rather than an engaged tone, patients will receive a queue position, a call-back option, and their call can be directly routed to the right professional. The phone system will also be integrated with the clinical systems so practice staff can quickly identify patients and their information from phone numbers.
UK Minister for Health Neil O’Brien added: “Where GPs have already moved over to these new technologies, we see they free up the phones, making it much easier for people to get through to their general practice team.”
“As well as being more convenient for patients, these really easy-to-use digital tools allow a lot of patients to get the help they need without ever needing to go in for an appointment, which will help cut waiting lists. Investing GBP 240 million in these modern tools and the help GPs need to move onto them will make things more convenient for patients, but also make the workload more manageable for general practice teams,” he added.
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#Rishi #Sunak #expands #role #pharmacies #cut #waiting #times
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Vehicle auction: Hyderabad police asks people to submit objections

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Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police department has an accumulation of 820 abandoned / unclaimed automobiles of all sorts and makes, which are housed at the Moinabad PS Grounds in the Cyberabad Commissionerate in Hyderabad.
It is proposed that these cars be sold at public auction in accordance with Sections 6 (2) and 7 of the Cyberabad (Metropolitan area) Police Act, 2004, and Sections 40 and 41 of the Hyderabad City Police Act.
Anyone with an objection or ownership/hypothecation interest in any of these vehicles may file an application with the Commissioner of Police, Cyberabad Commissionerate, and claim the vehicle within 6 months of notification, after which the vehicles will be auctioned.

Vehicle details are accessible from N. Vishnu, MTO-2, Reserve Inspector Of Police, Cyberabad, cell no. 9490517317, and on the Cyberabad Police official website, www.cyberabadpolice.gov.in.
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#Vehicle #auction #Hyderabad #police #asks #people #submit #objections
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Thackeray to host lunch for Nitish with Oppn unity on the menu

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Mumbai: Janata Dal (U) President and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar will arrive in Mumbai on Thursday morning as part of his Opposition unity efforts, and hold meetings with top Maharashtra leaders, an official said here on Tuesday.
Nitish Kumar will meet Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray over lunch at ‘Matoshri’ in Bandra, before meeting Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar over tea at the latter’s ‘Silver Oaks’ home in south Mumbai.
The JD(U) supremo shall be accompanied by Bihar Legislative Council Chairman Deveshchandra Thakur, and Cooperation Minister Sanjaykumar Jha for the meetings with the Maharashtra leaders, said JD(U) National Secretary, Kapil Patil.

Last fortnight, Thakur had met both Pawar and Thackeray ahead of Nitish Kumar’s plans to visit Maharashtra on May 11.
Continuing his efforts to forge a national front comprising all non-BJP forces, Nitish Kumar has so far met Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, Odish CM Navin Patnaik and also former Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav, said Patil.
The JD(U)’s Maharashtra unit has made elaborate arrangements to welcome Nitish Kumar with thousands of workers set to gather at Bandra and other places.
“Nitish Kumar enjoys a clean image as a good administrator who has brought about a sea-change in Bihar. The women are safe, the youth are confident, and now the nation awaits him,” Patil added.

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#Thackeray #host #lunch #Nitish #Oppn #unity #menu
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023
Hyderabad police to restore historic Kotwal building in Old City

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Hyderabad: The historic Kotwal office building in the Old City’s Purani Haveli, currently being used as a camp office, is being restored to its full glory. City police commissioner CV Anand on Tuesday inspected the structure and unveiled the plaque to mark the beginning of restoration works of the heritage building, which is symbol of the city’s 176-year-old police history.
The restoration project is being sponsored by Greenco, and carried out by Deccan Terrain Pvt, which renovates heritage buildings. The latter will work on restoring the old Hyderabad Police Kotwal building with materials like lime, hydrated lime, raw gum extracts, fibres and other materials that were widely used hundred years ago in construction.
Officials from Deccan Terrain gave a pictorial presentation to Hyderabad City police’s top brass about the current condition of the building, the outcome after its restoration etc, said a press release from CV Anand’s office. The commissioner also thanked Anil Kumar, Director Ace Urban group – Greenco, for sponsoring this project. The work is expected to be completed within 6 months, the release added.

The old Kotwal building was constructed a century ago and functioned as office of the Kotwal (police head in Hyderabad) from 1920 to 2002. Post relocating Hyderabad commissioner’s office to Basheerbagh in 2002, the structure was being used as the camp office for the south zone deputy commissioner of police (DCP).
“Nevertheless the City police decided to restore this structure since its existence is intertwined with the history of the City and served as an essential landmark. GreenKo company came forward to sponsor this restoration project,” said the release from the city police.
“From an operational stand point and its close proximity to many iconic structures, religious places and other crowded areas , many of my predecessors preferred to camp in here while monitoring Friday prayers, large scale events and other processions etc., I had been continuing the same tradition and noticed that it’s condition is deteriorating till one day the roof caved in,” said Anand.
“But being a Hyderabadi, I felt it is our responsibility to conserve and revive these heritage structures,“ the Hyderabad commissioner added. Mr.Mir Barkatullah Khan, MD of Deccan Terrain, AR Srinivas, Addl. Commissioner of Police (Crimes & SIT), P.Sai Chaitanya, DCP south zone and other officers attended the program.
“Back then also there was the state and city police. Director General was responsible for the entire state (Hyderabad). As far as I remember, Kotwal was for the city police, who directly worked under the Nizam,” said Sajjad Shahid, historian and activist from the city.

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#Hyderabad #police #restore #historic #Kotwal #building #City
( With inputs from www.siasat.com )

May 9, 2023