VHP Seeks Rakshabandhan Holiday

In a letter to Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao, VHP Prachar Pramukh Pagadakula Balaswamy emphasised the cultural significance of the festival, which symbolises sibling love and unity.

He claimed that students from remote areas studying in Gurukuls were often denied permission to visit their families for Raksha Bandhan, causing emotional distress and academic disruption.

Balaswamy appealed to the government to recognise the festival’s importance and issue appropriate orders. Noting that some schools had granted an optional holiday for Varalakshmi Vratam observed on Friday, he said a break encompassing Raksha Bandhan and the weekend would allow students to celebrate the occasion meaningfully.

Revanth’s Sir Criticism Unacceptable: BJP

HYDERABAD: The Telangana BJP has strongly criticised Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for what it termed “undemocratic and objectionable” remarks against the Union government. BJP state spokesperson N.V. Subash took exception to Revanth’s use of the phrase “hum hata denge, gira denge, mita denge” (we will remove, overthrow and erase) in response to the Centre’s refusal to discuss Rahul Gandhi’s demand for a Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar and other states.

Subash called the comments reflective of an “Emergency mindset” and accused Congress leaders of behaving like rulers despite being out of power at the Centre for over a decade. He also condemned Rahul Gandhi for peddling unsubstantiated claims of “vote chori” (vote theft) and conspiracy against the BJP-led Union government.

He averred that even Congress senior leaders themselves had previously dismissed similar allegations about bogus voters in Maharashtra, describing such claims as irresponsible. Subash accused Revanth of neglecting the concerns of Telangana’s voters and warned that the electorate would hold Congress accountable for what he called poor governance and unfulfilled promises. Calling on the Chief Minister to temper his rhetoric, the BJP reminded him that Congress had only narrowly crossed the halfway mark in the Assembly and should focus on responsible governance rather than political provocation.

Subash also criticised Rahul Gandhi for failing to change his approach despite a past rebuke by the Supreme Court. He said it was “shameful” that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha continued to make inflammatory remarks, including the claim that China had occupied 2,000 sq km of Indian territory in Ladakh. He pointed out that the apex court had earlier questioned Congress’s tendency to air such allegations on public platforms and social media instead of raising them in Parliament.

Toshiba Invests ₹347-Cr For Expansion In TG

HYDERABAD: IT and industries minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu inaugurated and laid the foundation for key expansion projects at Toshiba Transmission and Distribution Systems in Rudraram, Sangareddy district. The projects have a combined investment of Rs 347 crore.

The minister inaugurated two advanced manufacturing units—a ₹65 crore CRGO Core Processing Centre and a ₹105 crore Surge Arrester Unit—alongside launching the ₹177 crore expansion of Toshiba’s Extra High Voltage Transformer (EHVT) plant. These facilities highlight Telangana’s emergence as a hub for high-value manufacturing and next-generation energy solutions.

Citing robust industrial growth, Sridhar Babu said, “In 2024–25, Telangana’s industrial output is projected to reach ₹2.77 lakh crore, nearly half from manufacturing. Merchandise exports have already touched ₹1 lakh crore within nine months, underscoring the state’s economic momentum.” He stated that Telangana’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) is growing at 8.2 per cent, exceeding the national average.

Looking ahead, Sridhar Babu pointed to rising electricity demand, with the Economic Survey 2024–25 projecting a doubling by 2040. He said Telangana is addressing this through its Clean and Green Energy Policy 2025. The state has already attracted ₹29,000 crore in clean energy investments and aims to ramp up renewable capacity to 20,000 MW by 2030.

“Among the initiatives is the creation of exclusive Green Energy Equipment Zones to draw global players in batteries, power components and smart grids. A smart energy R&D hub in partnership with Toshiba is also being launched as part of this vision,” he explained.

Countering the recent misinformation over investment deals, Sridhar Babu said, “From MoU signing in April to foundation laying today, the speed of execution reflects both Telangana’s commitment and Toshiba’s confidence in the state.”

The event was attended by minister Vivek Venkataswamy, special chief secretary Sanjay Kumar, Japan’s economic and development minister Kyoko Hokugo, Toshiba Corporation vice president Hiroshi Kaneta, Sangareddy collector Praveenya and other dignitaries.