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INDIA COUNTRY BRIEF

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Basic Political Developments

• A day after Anna Hazare threatened to launch another hunger strike if a strong Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Parliament's Winter Session, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh today said his party is not afraid of the Gandhian's threats.

• CBI has called Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for questioning on November 4 in connection with alleged multi-crore iron ore mining scam.

• Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who arrived in Imphal on Wednesday on a two-day visit to Manipur, toured Naga-dominated interior Senapati hill district and appealed to people to settle all issues through dialogue. Inaugurating a mini-secretariat building at Senapati district headquarters, Mr. Chidambaram said all efforts would be made to bring peace, harmony and development in the state.

• BJP leader L.K. Advani today asked the government to make public names of those who have stashed black money abroad and sought their immediate prosecution.“Without any further delay prosecution must be initiated and appropriate follow up action taken,” Mr. Advani said referring to the people whose names have been provided to India by various foreign governments in this regard.

• The government Wednesday unveiled a bill that seeks to get committed standards of public service and redressal of grievances in a stipulated time frame. The Citizens Right to Grievance Redress Bill, 2011 will look at complaints of violation of the citizens' charter to be formulated by each government department, identify liabilities of public servants in case of default and impose penalities for failure to deliver services or redress grievances in a time-bound manner.

• Taking exception to BJP leader LK Advani seeking answers on the PMO's role in the 2G issue, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said as the case was already before the courts, a "parallel trial" cannot take place outside.

National Economic Trends

• A United Nations study has ranked India at 134 out of 187 countries in terms of Human Development Index even as it has observed that life expectancy at birth in the country has increased by 10.1 per cent a year over the last two decades. In the 2010 Human Development Report, prepared by UNDP, India had been ranked at 119 out of 169 countries. But the new report for 2011 says it is misleading to compare values and rankings with those of previously published reports, because the underlying data and methods have changed, as well as the number of countries included in the Human Development Index.

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

• Gujarat NRE Coke has entered a $100 million (about 490 crore) long-term loan agreement to meet the capital investment requirements of its Australian subsidiary.

• Larsen and Toubro (L&T)'s construction division has bagged new contracts worth Rs 1,629 crore in the buildings and factories segment.

• Mining company Coal India Ltd (CIL) has got the Finance Ministry's nod for acquiring stake in overseas unlisted firms.

• An equal joint venture agreement between state-run SAIL and South Korean major Posco is likely to be inked during Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma's proposed visit to Korea starting November 5. The shareholding pattern of the proposed venture is seen as a hurdle in signing the pact. The proposed joint venture aims to set up a plant at an investment of Rs 16,000 crore (Rs 160 billion) in Bokaro to produce three million tonne auto-grade steel.

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

• Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy has sought a meeting of a high-powered ministerial panel to decide on revising the rates of diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene.

• Industry sources said on Wednesday India's Hindustan Petroleum Corp has sold a rare gasoline cargo through a tender.

• Gail (India) Ltd has earmarked USD 400 million for its new Singapore trading office to secure LNG and petrochemical product cargoes for delivery to India in 2012.

• A day after State-owned oil companies pressed for a petrol price hike, the Petroleum Ministry today said it is up to the oil firms to decide on raising the rates of the deregulated commodity.“It is for them (oil companies) to decide. They will take a decision at a right time,” Oil Secretary G.C. Chaturvedi told reporters here.

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

• The 15 people abducted by Maoists in Bihar’s Jamui district on Monday are yet to be traced even as securitymen intensified operations to rescue them.

• Ulfa hardliners on Tuesday issued a fresh warning of launching attacks on government transport, politicians, black marketers and corrupt officials.

• Maoists shot dead a native of Aljam village in Khadgaon, Rajanadgaon district, by branding him as police informer.

• The government on Tuesday decided to deploy additional forces to protect railway properties at vulnerable stations located in Maoist-hit areas.

Labor/Social Unrest

• A group representing a section of pilots of Air India has moved the Bombay High Court.

Full Text

Basic Political Developments

Congress not worried by Anna's threats of fast, says Digvijaya

Press Trust of India, Updated: November 02, 2011 17:22 IST



Rampur (Uttar Pradesh): A day after Anna Hazare threatened to launch another hunger strike if a strong Jan Lokpal Bill was not passed in the Parliament's Winter Session, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh today said his party is not afraid of the Gandhian's threats.

"Congress is neither bothered, nor afraid of Anna's threat to resume his fast on the last day of Parliament's Winter Session if the government fails to get a strong Jan Lokpal Bill passed by then," he said at a religious function in Sambhal town of Moradabad district, around 70 km from here.

Digvijaya said Team Anna's claim that they have the support of over one crore people on the Jan Lokpal Bill issue is "unfounded, hollow and fictitious".

Replying to a query on 'gupt daan' (secret donations) to the NGO, India Against Corruption, run by Arvind Kejriwal during Anna's hunger strike in Delhi, Singh said sarcastically, "Na khata na bahi, jo Kejriwal kahe wahi sahi (There is no account book. Whatever Kejriwal says, is correct and unquestionable)."

CBI summons Jagan for questioning in alleged mining scam



CBI has called Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, for questioning on November 4 in connection with alleged multi-crore iron ore mining scam.

The agency is probing an alleged nexus between Mr. Jagan and Janardhana Reddy whose company Obulapuram Mining Company (OMC) has been accused of violating mining norms in the Ananthpuram district of Andhra Pradesh, CBI sources said.

The clearance for mining leases to OMC was given during the tenure of Rajasekhara Reddy as Chief Minister.

CBI has recently questioned the then cabinet colleagues of the late Rajasekhara Reddy in connection with the mining scam as it found that mining leases for OMC were cleared in an unusual haste, they said.

Kadapa MP Jagan is also facing allegations of amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income as well as alleged dilution of stake of Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructural Corporation (APIIC) which is having a joint venture with Emaar for the development of township on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The sources said CBI has called Mr. Jagan for questioning in connection with these allegations on November 4 at the Hyderabad office of the agency.

Chidambaram appeals for peace in Manipur

PTI



Chidambaram appeals to Manipur groups to withdraw blockade Manipur: SHDC withdraws blockade Nagas call for three-day total blockade NIA will not oppose bail of Malegaon accused: Chidambaram 48-hour bandh in hill districts of Manipur from Monday

Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who arrived in Imphal on Wednesday on a two-day visit to Manipur, toured Naga-dominated interior Senapati hill district and appealed to people to settle all issues through dialogue.

Inaugurating a mini-secretariat building at Senapati district headquarters, Mr. Chidambaram said all efforts would be made to bring peace, harmony and development in the state.

On October 31, Sadar Hills District Demand Committee SHDDC, which had launched economic blockades on Imphal-Dimapur -- Guwahati (NH-39) and Imphal-Jiribam-Silchar (NH-53), called off the 92-day strike after the state government assured them that their demands would be looked into.

The SHDDC was demanding conversion of Kuki-dominated Sadar Hills area into Naga-majority Senapati district,

Official said Mr. Chidambaram preferred to visit the interior hill district because both Nagas and Kukis there were well disposed towards the demand of the SHDDC for conversion of the Sadar Hills area into a full-fledged revenue district.

Mr. Chidambaram would visit various parts of the interior hill district during his two-day visit.

The minister after spending about one hour in the district visited another Naga-dominated district Ukhrul, bordering Myanmar, where he inaugurated a SDO office.

Officials said he would hold a meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to take stock of the law and order situation in Manipur.

Meanwhile, the United Naga Council said it will continue its economic blockade on the two national highways on Manipur side and called a three-day bandh from midnight on Thursday to protest against the government’s assurance of turning Sadar Hills area in Senapati district into a separate district.

An UNC spokesman said the bandh will be supported by All Naga Students Association Manipur. He said the ongoing economic blockade on the Manipur parts of the NH 39 and NH 53 which the group had launched on August 21 would continue.

He said the bandh would cover all Naga-settled areas in Manipur.

Reveal names of black money account holders: Advani to govt.

PTI



BJP leader L.K. Advani today asked the government to make public names of those who have stashed black money abroad and sought their immediate prosecution.

“Without any further delay prosecution must be initiated and appropriate follow up action taken,” Mr. Advani said referring to the people whose names have been provided to India by various foreign governments in this regard.

“Already there is a talk about three MPs having been identified, and the Government of France has given India a list of names of those possessing illegal wealth in Swiss and other foreign banks. The country eagerly expects their names to be made public. The UPA government will try to evade the issue once again, as has been its dismal record,” he told reporters here.

Mr. Advani said the Directorate of criminal investigation of Income Tax department had sent notices to persons involved in black money cases following scrutiny of classified banking data received from foreign countries about Swiss bank accounts.

“This is an issue on which there should be no hush hush...All information with the government on money stashed away abroad should be shared,” he demanded.

The BJP leader said, “I have repeatedly asked for a White Paper on the issue of black money giving facts, giving names and above all giving details of all the steps taken by the government to get back this money which legitimately belongs to India. I believe that it cannot be allowed to be kept in foreign banks.”

Mr. Advani said that the American think tank ‘Global Financial Integrity’ had estimated the amount of Indian black money in foreign banks at around Rs. 25 lakh crores. “It is a staggering amount,” he said, adding that this money should be used for the development of rural India.

Government unveils bill for time-bound public services



NEW DELHI: The government Wednesday unveiled a bill that seeks to get committed standards of public service and redressal of grievances in a stipulated time frame.

The Citizens Right to Grievance Redress Bill, 2011 will look at complaints of violation of the citizens' charter to be formulated by each government department, identify liabilities of public servants in case of default and impose penalities for failure to deliver services or redress grievances in a time-bound manner.

Speaking about the bill, the Minister of State for Personnel V. Narayanasamy said its architechture will ensure an appropriate decentralised and citizen-friendly mechanism to redress public grievances.

"The citizen's charter will have to be defined by the authorities at various levels, including panchayats, municipalities, states and the centre. For every authority, there will be a Grievance Redress Officer," Narayanasamy told mediapersons at a joint briefing with Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh.

He said the bill will be put up on the website of the department of personnel for 21 days for people to give their comments.

"We will like to introduce it (the bill) in the winter session (of parliament Nov 22-Dec 21) after cabinet approval," he said.

Narayanasamy said the bill can be enacted as a central legislation under the concurrent list and cover central schemes and central government departments. It will provide a platform to states to make a grievance redressal mechanism for state schemes and departments.

Ramesh said the bill was another landmark in the "rights-based approach followed" by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

"It (the) bill gives people legal entitlement," he said.

Parallel trial cannot take place outside courts: Salman Khurshid

Published: Wednesday, Nov 2, 2011, 17:32 IST



Taking exception to BJP leader LK Advani seeking answers on the PMO's role in the 2G issue, Law Minister Salman Khurshid today said as the case was already before the courts, a "parallel trial" cannot take place outside.

"A parallel trial cannot go on outside the courts... There is a basic thing that I want Mr Advani to know, that there is a principle of sub judice that you cannot discuss what's happening in the court," he told reporters here.

He said if things which are before the court are discussed outside, "there is a danger that you will influence what the courts will do."

Khurshid was reacting to Advani's comment that if the PMO felt that then Finance Minister P Chidambaram had not taken timely measures to prevent 2G scam, the Prime Minister should have permitted a probe against him.

"It was incumbent upon the Prime Minister to permit investigation into his(Chidambaram's) role instead of expressing confidence in him saying he is innocent."

National Economic Trends

India ranked 134th in terms of Human Development Index

Press Trust of India, Updated: November 02, 2011 18:45 IST



New Delhi: A United Nations study has ranked India at 134 out of 187 countries in terms of Human Development Index even as it has observed that life expectancy at birth in the country has increased by 10.1 per cent a year over the last two decades.

In the 2010 Human Development Report, prepared by UNDP, India had been ranked at 119 out of 169 countries. But the new report for 2011 says it is misleading to compare values and rankings with those of previously published reports, because the underlying data and methods have changed, as well as the number of countries included in the Human Development Index.

The report said India's Human Development Index (HDI) value for 2011 was 0.547 positioning the country in the 'medium human development category'.

Neighbouring Pakistan was ranked at 145 (0.504) and Bangladesh at 146 (0.500) respectively in terms of HDI.

It said between 1980 and 2011, India's HDI value increased from 0.344 to 0.547, an increase of 59 per cent or an average annual increase of about 1.5 per cent.

However, the report pointed that the country's HDI of 0.547 was below the average of 0.630 for countries in the medium human development group and below the average of 0.548 for countries in South Asia.

The HDI is a measure for assessing long-term progress in three basic dimensions of human development such as a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living.

The report said the "mean" year of schooling for the country increased by 3.9 years between 1980 and 2011 and expected years of schooling increased by 3.9 years.

Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, who was present at the report release function, however, sounded dismissive about the figures in the report.

He said a better way of analysing the progress made by countries including India is to measure comparative success they have achieved on this count in the last few years from their previous record rather than by the number of their positions in the international chart.

Ramesh said such presentation of human development indices is "grossly misleading" and the country's progress in this respect should be seen from a 20-year perspective.

He said India has made huge strides in the field of education and water supply system but admitted that the biggest block in the human development indices for India is in the field of sanitation where 58 per cent of open defecation in the world takes place in India.

He also rued that a mere expenditure of Rs. 2000 crore in the field of sanitation is being made while the budget for water supply was Rs. 20,000 crore.

Ramesh said that the answer to the problem of sanitation is massive public investment in the sector on the lines of what the Central Government has done in education sector.

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

Gujarat NRE secures $100 million loan for Australian subsidiary



MUMBAI: Gujarat NRE Coke, a leading private producer of metallurgical coke, has entered a $100 million (about 490 crore) long-term loan agreement to meet the capital investment requirements of its Australian subsidiary.

"Requisite formalities in relation to the facility agreement have been completed and the company has access to the funds made available under the (long-term loan) facility agreement," it said in a statement today, adding that the loan was arranged from Axis Bank's Hong Kong branch.

Gujarat NRE's Australian subsidiary owns and operates two hard coking coal mines in New South Wales (NSW) province of Australia. The company produces 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of coking coal and has plans to increase the quantum to 6 MTPA by 2015.

Last month, Gujarat NRE Coking Coal Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of the Kolkata-based company, secured approval from the NSW Planning Assessment Commission for a USD 122 million upgrade of its infrastructure at the NRE-1 mine in Russel Vale, Australia.

The approval will enable the company to continue to mine up to 1 MTPA of coking coal from the mine over the next three years.

Company Executive Chairman Arun Kumar Jagatramka said, "The grant of the (long-term loan) facility agreement on the back of the approval granted by the NSW Planning Assessment Commission represents another significant milestone for the company."

Gujarat NRE Coke ( GNCL) had announced last month that by the end of the year, it will make public the USD 250 million new investment plan for the Russell Vale mine, which is estimated to hold 337 million tonnes of coking coal reserves.

The proposal is part of GNCL's USD 486 million investment plan for its Australian assets, where it aims to increase total production to 6 MTPA by 2015.

Shares of the company were being traded at Rs 24.75 apiece on the BSE at 1415 hours, up 1.02 per cent from their previous close.

L&T's construction division bags Rs 1,629 crore orders



NEW DELHI: Engineering major Larsen and Toubro (L&T)'s construction division has bagged new contracts worth Rs 1,629 crore in the buildings and factories segment.

"A major design and build order worth Rs 900 crore was secured for the construction of a major IT campus facility during the end of the second quarter," L&T said today in a statement.

The third quarter ushered in new orders worth Rs 729 crore for the construction of a commercial building, university, residential towers and an automobile factory from various clients, it said.

"These orders further enhance the order book of the company which has already secured major design and build contracts for airports, IT Parks, commercial and residential projects in India and abroad," the firm said.

L&T is a USD 11.7 billion technology, engineering and construction group that operates globally.

Coal India Ltd gets Finance Ministry's nod for acquiring unlisted foreign companies



KOLKATA: Mining company Coal India Ltd (CIL) has got the Finance Ministry's nod for acquiring stake in overseas unlisted firms.

"We have received Union Finance Ministry's clarifications sought for overseas acquisitions. The ministry permitted (us) to go ahead with acquisition of unlisted firms," CIL chairman N C Jha said on the sidelines of the company's Foundation Day celebrations attended by Coal minister Sriprakash Jaiswal.

However, the Finance Ministry has not given complete relaxation to the norm of minimum 12 per cent internal rate of return (IRR) from such acquisitions.

"The Finance Ministry has said we can go ahead with the proposals even if the return is below 12 per cent if they are for strategic reasons, but those has to be cleared by them," Jha said.

He said CIL received proposals offering IRR between 9 and 12 per cent. The Finance Ministry will scrutinise the deals offering below 12 per cent IRR.

CIL, the world's largest coal miner, failed to strike any deal due to procedural delays in approval by the government. It had sought relaxation in two parameters of overseas acquisition norms, which were allowing them to acquire stake in unlisted firms, including those offering below 12 per cent IRR.

Jha said they would now pursue with some of the proposals lying before them.

SAIL, Posco likely to have equal stake in joint venture

Last updated on: November 02, 2011 17:20 IST



An equal joint venture agreement between state-run SAIL [ Get Quote ] and South Korean major Posco is likely to be inked during Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma's proposed visit to Korea starting November 5.

The shareholding pattern of the proposed venture is seen as a hurdle in signing the pact. The proposed joint venture aims to set up a plant at an investment of Rs 16,000 crore (Rs 160 billion) in Bokaro to produce three million tonne auto-grade steel.

"We may have 51 per cent equity or it could be 50:50," Verma told reporters when asked about the likely shareholding pattern in the JV.

A senior official in the ministry, however, said the two parties have nearly reached an understanding to make it an equal joint venture.

Posco's patented Finex technology, which would be used in the proposed new plant, is not being used any company other than Posco.

Finex is an environment-friendly iron-making process where iron ore fines are directly used.

There is also the iron ore price issue which is yet to be resolved, Verma said, adding that if all the pending issues were not cleared within next two days, he might even cancel his tour.

The official, however, ruled out cancellation of Minister's visit to Korea. Verma is slated to leave Korea for Russia [ Images ] on November 9 and come back to India on November 12.

In Russia, he will attend the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between state-run iron ore miner NMDC and Russia's Severstal.

NMDC had earlier signed a pact with Severstal for setting up a three million tonne per annum steel plant, expandable to 5 mtpa, plant in Karnataka [ Images ] entailing an investment of about Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion).

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

Have sought EGoM meet on diesel, LPG rate hike: Oil Minister



NEW DELHI With oil companies losing Rs 333 crore per day on selling fuel below cost, Petroleum Minister S Jaipal Reddy has sought a meeting of a high-powered ministerial panel to decide on revising the rates of diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene.

"I have asked for a meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM)," Reddy told reporters after a meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who heads the EGoM.

State-owned oil firms are currently losing Rs 9.27 per litre of diesel, Rs 26.94 per litre of kerosene sold through the public distribution system ( PDS) and Rs 260.50 per 14.2-kg LPG cylinder supplied to households for cooking purposes.

The EGoM "meeting would take place before the Winter Session of Parliament", beginning November 22, he said, adding that a decision on raising prices may "not be easy".

The ministerial panel is essentially a consensus-building body of the Congress-led UPA government and comprises key allies like the DMK, TMC and NC. The allies had in September scuttled plans to limit the supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to 4-6 per household in a year so that subsidies can be cut.

Reddy said his ministry would push for raising prices of all three regulated products, diesel, LPG and kerosene.

On oil companies pressing for a hike in petrol prices, he said PSUs were fully empowered to take a view, keeping in mind rising crude oil prices and depreciating rupee.

"Our ministry does not administer" the price of petrol, which was freed from government control in June last year, he said.

Yesterday, HPCL Director (Finance) B Mukherjee had said that oil firms may have to raise petrol prices, as they were losing Rs 1.50 per litre at the current rates.

Hindustan Petroleum sells gasoline in rare tender



SINGAPORE: India's Hindustan Petroleum Corp has sold a rare gasoline cargo through a tender, industry sources said on Wednesday.

The refiner sold 25,000 to 30,000 tonnes of 90 RON gasoline for Nov 25-27 loading to Vitol at a discount of $1.75 per barrel to Singapore quotes on a free-on-board (FOB) basis, they said.

It is unusual for the Indian state-owned refiner to export gasoline as it is usually a net importer of the product, sources in India said.

The cargo was said to be not compatible with the domestic Indian specifications as its sulphur content was too high, they said.

"It's only a one time cargo, public sector units or state refiners don't ever sell gasoline unless it's off-specs, which cannot be sold in the domestic market, so this cargo didn't match the Euro III standards," said one of the sources.

The sale of the cargo was due to a domestic surplus of the product, a second source said.

Vitol is likely to use the cargo for blending purposes, they said. But this could not be verified.

GAIL (India) earmarks $400 mn for Singapore LNG trading business in 2012



SINGAPORE: Gail (India) Ltd has earmarked USD 400 million for its new Singapore trading office to secure LNG and petrochemical product cargoes for delivery to India in 2012, Chairman and Managing Director B C Tripathi announced in Singapore today.

Gail's Singapore office, which was inaugurated today but will begin trading next month on getting all formal approvals, will tie-up as much as USD 400 million worth of LNG cargoes and petrochemical products next year for delivery into India, he said after addressing a press conference.

Ninety per cent of the trade would be in LNG from the initial start-up.

"India is a huge market for LNG and petrochemical products, while supply remains tight," stressed Tripathi, reaffirming Gail's commitment to energy development both within India and globally through an annual investment of USD 2 billion.

He also disclosed that Gail was building shale gas expertise through participation in projects in the United States.

"The company is building expertise in shale gas and will participate in the Indian shale gas projects once the government announces its policy and development plans," he said.

He said participation in US shale gas was a part of Gail's strategy to develop technology, expertise and know-how.

Gail, along with its international partners in existing projects, will aggressively bid for shale gas concessions in India once the government puts them up for auction, which is expected to take place in about one year.

Oil companies can decide on petrol price hike: Petroleum Ministry

PTI



A day after State-owned oil companies pressed for a petrol price hike, the Petroleum Ministry today said it is up to the oil firms to decide on raising the rates of the deregulated commodity.

“It is for them (oil companies) to decide. They will take a decision at a right time,” Oil Secretary G.C. Chaturvedi told reporters here.

Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) Director (Finance) B. Mukherjee had said on Tuesday that oil firms may have to raise petrol prices, as they were losing Rs. 1.50 per litre at the current rates.

Mr. Chaturvedi said petrol is a deregulated commodity whose pricing is not decided by the government. “The oil companies are empowered to take a view on it,” he said.

Indian Oil, HPCL and Bharat Petroleum had last hiked petrol prices by Rs. 3.14 a litre on September 16, when the Indian rupee was valued at about Rs. 48 per U.S. dollar. The exchange rate is now over Rs. 49 per U.S. dollar.

“From today, there are some losses on petrol. To cover them, we may have to increase prices,” Mr. Mukherjee had said on Tuesday.

He had stated that crude oil is hovering at around $108 per barrel in international markets. At the current exchange rate, the petrol price of Rs. 66.84 per litre in Delhi is equivalent to a crude oil price of about $102 per barrel.

The government had in June last year deregulated, or freed, petrol from all price controls, but the retail rates have not moved in line with the cost as high inflation forced the oil companies to seek “advice” from the parent Oil Ministry before revising rates.

Mr. Mukherjee did not say when petrol prices would be hiked. “We are in consultations,” he said, without elaborating.

The loss on petrol is currently Rs. 1.50 per litre and after including local levies, the desired increase in retail prices is Rs. 1.82 per litre.

“Let’s say, we are toying with the idea,” he said. “It may happen. We will see,” he added.

Besides petrol, the three firms are losing Rs. 333 crore per day on selling diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene below cost. They lose Rs. 9.27 per litre on diesel, Rs. 26.94 per litre on kerosene sold through the public distribution system (PDS) and Rs. 260.50 per 14.2-kg LPG cylinder supplied to domestic households for cooking purposes.

At the current rate, the industry is projected to lose Rs. 121,459 crore in revenue on the sale of diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene in the full fiscal.

While the loss on these three products is compensated through a combination of government cash subsidy and upstream oil firm dole-outs, there exists no such mechanism for making good the losses on petrol, as the product is deregulated

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

All 15 kidnapped by Maoists in Bihar traceless

PTI



The 15 people abducted by Maoists in Bihar’s Jamui district on Monday are yet to be traced even as securitymen intensified operations to rescue them.

“There is still no trace of the kidnapped persons. The security personnel have intensified the operations to free them from the clutches of the Maoists,” Jamui Superintendent of Police R N Singh said.

Maoists kidnapped the 15 - eight labourers, four employees of a private construction company and three villagers - from Balthar Ghat.

Late on Monday night, over 50 ultras stormed into the office of a private firm engaged by Bihar State Bridge Corporation for construction of a bridge over Bharnar River and took them away at gun point to a forest bordering Giridih district of Jharkhand.

Ulfa hardliners warn of fresh attacks



GUWAHATI: After opposing the ongoing peace process and stating that the political conflict between India and Assam could only be resolved by holding discussions on "sovereignty", Ulfa hardliners on Tuesday issued a fresh warning of launching attacks on government transport, politicians, black marketers and corrupt officials.

In an email sent by Arunodoy Dohotia, the chief of Ulfa's publicity wing, the hardliners asked the public to maintain safe distance from people belonging to any of the above mentioned categories. "We want to alert everyone to keep away from government transport, vehicles of corrupt politicians and companies utilizing the resources of the state improperly, black marketeers and corrupt officials to avoid any kind of action," said Dohotia in the email.

Meanwhile, the split between Ulfa hardliners and Arabinda Rajkhowa-led pro-talks faction has once again come to the fore with both sides involved in a mudslinging on the topic of "sovereign Assam".

Another email sent by pro-talks Ulfa faction's publicity wing member Kamal Kachari rubbished the demand of "sovereign" Assam by saying that it has lost relevance in in today's time. "The state is not asking for an armed movement. Paresh Baruah should not comment on the demand of Assam's sovereignty by staying at a distance. His demand has no relevance in today's time and is very immature," said Kachari.

He added that the ongoing peace process will not be hampered by Paresh Baruh's personal statements. "Though Baruah claims to represent the Assamese people, the commoners here don't want any more violence," he said in the email.

On the other hand, pro-talks Ulfa leader Jiten Dutta was arrested for contempt of court on Tuesday. Dutta was held for not being present in the TADA court several times. He was taken to Guwahati Central Jail in the evening.

Naxals gun-down villager on suspicion of being police informer



Raipur: A native of Aljam villge in Khadgaon, Rajanadgaon district, was shot dead by Naxalites on Monday night.

The victim was dragged out of his house at night and tried in a Naxal ‘court’ where he was found guilty of being a police informer. He was granted the death penalty and shot dead. Naxalites, who were reported to be around 40 in number, also asked all villagers to see the proceedings.

More than 35 people have been shot dead in last 2-3 months by Naxalites for the same reason. Police say the act was to instill fear amongst villagers. Naxal activities have been on the rise in Rajanandgaon in recent times. In another brazen act seen recently, Naxalites entered an MLA’s residence, snatched his gunner’s weapon and escaped.

Govt tightens railway security in Naxal areas



New Delhi: The government on Tuesday decided to deploy additional forces to protect railway properties and tracks and install CCTV cameras at vulnerable stations located in Naxal-hit areas to check continuous attacks by extremists.

The decision was taken at a high-level meeting, convened by Union Home Secretary R K Singh and attended by Railway Board Chairman Vinay Mittal and police chiefs of West Bengal, Orissa and Jharkhand.

The meeting decided to augment the Railway Protection Force Personnel (RPF) in Maoist affected areas in coordination with State police forces to protect railway stations, tracks, godowns and intensify patrolling to ensure smooth running of trains, official sources said.

Close Circuit Television Cameras will also be installed at vulnerable stations located in Naxal affected states to prevent extremist attacks.

Dedicated officers will also be put in three designated places round the clock to coordinate security in railway properties, particularly on inter-state borders of West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

Home Ministry officials are particularly concerned that Maoists have been attacking on goods trains loaded with coal and iron ore affecting industrial activities in different parts of the country as major coal and iron ores mines are located in these states.

"The meeting focused on systemic improvement of railway security," an official said.

Currently, night running of trains has been suspended along two railway lines passing through the Naxal belt.

There were 45 attacks on railway properties in 2010 and 23 this year till October 15.

Labor/Social Unrest

Pilots stir: Air India pilots move High Court



MUMBAI: A group representing a section of pilots of Air India has moved the Bombay High Court, challenging the management's decision to train pilots of the carrier's domestic operations in flying the latest Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

In its petition, the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG) has alleged discrimination on part of the management at the national carrier in giving opportunities for career progression to the pilots of the erstwhile Indian Airlines.

Despite the merger of the two state-owned carriers in 2007, issues of integration of pilots remain to be resolved at the cash-strapped airline. The matter, which will come up for hearing on November 2, will most likely be disposed the same day as training for batches of pilots is scheduled to commence the next day.

On Tuesday, Air India's international operations suffered due to crew crunch as 23 IPG pilots reported sick. The pilots met the management, but the meeting did not resolve the crisis. The airline, in a statement, however said the pilots will not be going on strike and that operations will be normal.

The IPG, which represents about 250 pilots from the airline's international operations, had written to Rohit Nandan, chairman and managing director on October 29, seeking a no-objection certificate for about 100 pilots so that they can find jobs elsewhere.

"We feel cheated by management's unfair and discriminatory decisions leading to a complete stall of our career progression," the letter said. Before the merger, Indian Airlines was to get 15 A330 wide body aircraft. "But since it was decided that the two airlines will be merged, the deal to get the 15 A330s was done away with," said a senior commander who is currently flying A320s. "We were made to understand that since Air India will get the Dreamliners (787s) there was enough scope for us to progress to wide body aircraft." The IPG and the pilots union of the erstwhile Indian Airlines, or the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), had agreed to send 16 sets of pilots each for training for the 787, at a meeting with the management two months ago.

In December 2010, the then Air India chief Arvind Jadhav had allotted 40 slots of Boeing 787 to the Air India narrow body pilots, a move opposed by the IPG in a letter dated February 15, as an illegal and arbitrary order. The IPG alleges that the management's move to allow ICPA pilots to fly wide body aircraft is a violation of Air India Pilots' wage document and deed of recognition.

Senior pilots in Air India say that pilots of ICPA who are flying narrow body aircraft are allowed to fly aircraft on Alliance Air (its domestic regional subsidiary) and they should do so as it flies narrow body aircraft fleet instead of eating into IPG's pie. The ICPA also claims that the commanders of Air India that are supposed to fly the 787 have much less number of flying hours.

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