Life Sciences Body Set for Leadership Change

 Hyderabad:  IT and industries minister D. Sridhar Babu on Friday announced a structured leadership transition at the Telangana Life Sciences Foundation. He said he had asked director (life sciences) and CEO Shakthi M. Nagappan, who had expressed his wish to step down to pursue entrepreneurship, to continue until March 2026 to ensure continuity and stability. Post-March, he will serve as an honorary adviser to the minister. The newly appointed will shadow Nagappan during the transition period for knowledge transfer before formally taking charge as director (life sciences).

Ramchander Rao Hails Sacrifices of Sahibzades, the martyrdom of Guru Gobind Singh’s children

Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao said that ‘Veer Baal Diwas’, observed on Friday, was not just a day of remembrance, but a significant occasion to reaffirm India’s enduring values of courage, Dharma, and resolve against injustice.

Addressing members of Sikh community at a programme organised at Secunderabad gurudwara, Ramchander Rao paid rich tributes to the supreme sacrifices of the Veer Sahibzades — Sahibzada Baba Zorawar Singh ji and Sahibzada Baba Fateh Singh ji — the sons of the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.

Zorawar Singh ji, then aged about eight years, and Fateh Singh ji, about six years old, were executed by Wazir Khan, the Mughal governor of Sirhind, after they refused to convert.

Rao described their martyrdom as one of the most inspiring chapters in Indian history. Their sacrifice exemplifies faith, honor, and resistance to oppression even at a young age, he added.

Ramchander Rao highlighted the NDA government's commitment under Prime Minister Narendra Modi toward the Sikh community's welfare, dignity, and empowerment since 2014. He praised decisive steps for justice to 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims, bringing long-awaited accountability to affected families.

Rao listed out the key initiatives of the Modi government which include the Seva Bhoj Yojna, exempting langar food items from GST, reimbursing Central GST and IGST. This supports Gurudwaras serving free meals to nearly one crore people daily.

The historic Kartarpur Corridor enables year-round access to Kartarpur Sahib, fulfilling a long-cherished Sikh dream. These measures reflect Modi's vision of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas," respecting every community's faith, heritage, and aspirations, Rao stated.

He appreciated party’s minority morcha president Jagmohan Singh's efforts to strengthen Sikh ties and urged all Indians to embrace the Sahibzades' values of courage, service, and national unity.

 VHP Seeks Nobel Revocation for Yunus

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) state publicity chief Pagudakula Balaswami on Friday expressed grave concern over atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh and demanded revocation of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to interim government head Muhammad Yunus, accusing him of encouraging violence.

In a media statement, Balaswami highlighted the brutal murders of Deepu Chandra Das and Amrit Mandal, and condemned the destruction of temples, assaults on Hindu women and youth, home invasions, lootings, and arson in residential areas. He alleged that the Bangladesh government had failed to act against such attacks.

Calling for international intervention, Balaswami urged global human rights bodies to respond morally and ensure immediate protection for minorities, particularly Hindus, who he said were facing “extreme torture.”