Tollywood actor Akkineni Nagarjuna on Saturday reacted to the demolition of his owned establishment N-Convention centre by the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection (HYDRA) authorities saying he was pained by the unlawful action.

The Megastar, in a post on X, said that he was pained by the unlawful manner of demolition carried out in respect of N-Convention, contrary to existing stay orders and Court cases.

“I thought it fit to issue this statement to place on record certain facts for protecting my reputation and to indicate that we have not done any actions in violation of the law. The land is a Patta land, and not even an inch of tank plan is encroached”, he added.

In respect of the building constructed inside the private land, there is a stay order granted against any earlier illegal notice for demolition, the Telugu actor said. Today clearly, the demolition was carried out wrongfully based on misinformation and there was no notice issued prior to carrying out the demolition this morning, Nagarjuna added.

The actor said: “As a law-abiding citizen, if the Court before which the matter is pending, had decided against me, I would have carried out the demolition myself. I am placing this on record for the purpose of correcting any public misimpression about wrongful constructions or encroachment by us. We would be seeking appropriate relief from the Court in relation to the wrong actions carried out by the authorities.”

According to reports, officials of Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency, along with the police, carried out a demolition drive at N Convention Hall near Shilparamam in Rangareddy district.

Madhapur DCP said the HYDRAA officials had started demolishing the N Convention Hall this morning and the authority has deployed a police force to ensure the demolition is carried out smoothly, as the land comes under the FTL zone.

The N-Convention Centre, which was constructed on a 10-acre plot, has been facing scrutiny for a while. It is now being demolished due to allegations of illegal construction within the Full Tank Level (FTL) area and the buffer zone of the Thammidikunta Lake in the Madhapur area of the city.

According to official records provided by the executive engineer of the North Tank Division, the FTL area of Thammidikunta Lake is approximately 29.24 acres. It is alleged that the N-Convention Centre encroached on about 1.12 acres of the FTL area and an additional 2 acres within the buffer zone.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday (August 23) signed four agreements to boost cooperation between India and Ukraine in agriculture, food industry, medicine, culture and humanitarian assistance.

Earlier, PM Modi began the historic visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv under the shadow of war to hold talks with President Zelenskyy.

It is the first-ever visit to Ukraine by an Indian prime minister after Ukraine became independent in 1991, and his trip comes amid Kyiv’s fresh military offensive in Russia’s western Kursk region.

“President Zelenskyy and I had very productive discussions in Kyiv today. India is eager to deepen economic linkages with Ukraine. We discussed ways to boost cooperation in agriculture, technology, pharma, and other such sectors. We also agreed to further cement cultural linkages”, PM Modi said in a post on X.

PM Modi also had discussions about the ongoing conflict. He said, “It is of topmost importance that peace be maintained. A peaceful solution to the conflict is best for humanity.”

The Prime Minister emphasised that India has not remained neutral in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, asserting that the country has consistently supported peace.

During his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Kyiv, Modi reiterated India’s stance that dialogue and diplomacy are the only means to resolve the conflict and expressed India’s readiness to contribute actively to peace efforts.

On his visit to the Martyrologist Exposition, PM Modi said that he was deeply hurt. He said, “Truth is the first casualty of a war. I feel that innocent children are the first casualties of war.”

“Today is a historic day for the relationship between India and Ukraine because an Indian PM has visited Ukraine for the first time. Tomorrow is your National Day, and I, on behalf of the 140 crore Indians, congratulate you all,” PM Modi said during his meeting with Zelenskyy.

PM Modi thanked Zelenskyy for providing help during the initial stage of Russia-Ukraine war. He said: “You provided a lot of help in evacuating the Indian students who were trapped here. I, on behalf of the 140 crore people of the nation, would like to thank you for this.”

Additionally, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar disclosed that the bilateral discussions between Modi and President Zelenskyy primarily focused on the war in Ukraine.

Jaishankar also mentioned that both leaders have directed the Intergovernmental Commission, co-chaired by Minister Kuleba and himself, to concentrate on revitalizing trade and economic relations, with plans for an early meeting by the end of the year.

He highlighted the historic nature of PM Modi’s visit to Ukraine and expressed hope for President Zelenskyy’s future visit to India. Furthermore, India demonstrated solidarity by providing 22 tonnes of medical support equipment to Ukraine, reinforcing its ongoing humanitarian aid to the conflict-affected nation.

The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Friday wrote to head of all central government-run medical institutions asking them to identify an Indian attire as dress code for students during convocation as opposed to a black robe and black cap.  

The Ministry asked all its institutes to design an appropriate Indian dress code for convocation ceremonies based on the traditions of the state where they are located.

According to the directive of the Ministry, the current practice of wearing the black robe and cap is a colonial legacy, which needs to be changed. 

Further, the Ministry also stated that the current attire originated in the Middle Ages in Europe and was introduced by the British in all their colonies. The above tradition is a colonial legacy that needs to be changed, it added.

Accordingly, it has been decided by the Ministry that the various institutes of the Ministry including AIIMS/INIs engaged in imparting medical education will design appropriate Indian dress code for the convocation ceremony of their institute based on local traditions of the state in which the institute is located, it read.

The Ministry asked them to submit proposals in this regard which will be approved by the Union Health Secretary. 

The Ministry in its order said: “I am directed to invite a reference to the PANCH PRAN or five resolutions enunciated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister.”

“In this regard, it is observed that currently as a matter of practice black robe and cap is being used during convocation by various institutes of the ministry,” read the order to medical institutions”, it added.

In its order to medical college, the Ministry further said, “This attire originated in the Middle Ages in Europe and was introduced by the British in all their colonies. The above tradition is a colonial legacy that needs to be changed. Accordingly, it has been decided by the ministry that the various institutes of the ministry including AIIMS /INIs engaged in imparting medical education will design appropriate Indian dress code for the convocation ceremony of their institute’ based on local traditions of the state in which the institute is located.”