Dubai Tourism Road Show

Dubai Tourism Road Show covering the vibrant cities of Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Ahmedabad. The event was an immense success with close to 1,000 senior travel trade members attending across the four cities. To further enhance the quantum of B2B networking opportunities between our Indian and Dubai travel fraternity, my office will participate at the Travel Outbound Workshop from the 6 – 9th of February and at the South Asia Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE) from the 10 – 12 of February in addition to B2C exhibitions such as the Times of India travel fair titled ITM and the popular exhibition TTF OTM. As a focus area for this month’s newsletter; we have highlighted several big sporting events in Dubai such as the ‘Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon’, ‘Dubai Desert Classic’ and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships which I am sure will excite all your customers who are sports enthusiasts. I am also pleased to inform you that Dubai is to receive the largest cruise ships in the world which should help aid our efforts in promoting Cruise tourism. The Dubai Cruise Terminal operated by DP World and managed by DTCM was voted the Middle East’s leading cruise port for the 4th straight year at the World Travel Awards in May 2011.On behalf of the entire team, I would like to thank you for your continued patronage towards Dubai and wishing you and your family a successful and prosperous year ahead!

Sincerely,

Carl Vaz
Director - India Representative Office

PRESS CONFERENCE on February 1, 2012

PRESS CONFERENCE on February 1, 2012

Film Festival is an exciting and unique space in many ways. Along with screenings in auditorium, films will also be shown in simulated video parlours, in a multi hub video library and as installations. It will premiere documentaries, screen award winning films, a few rarely seen films, curated sections from film archives from Germany and India; present installations, in-depth conversations with filmmakers and pay homage to Homai Vyarwalla, Tareque Masud and Lucia Rikaki. To speak about the festival and the films this year, the Curator of the Festival Ms. Gargi Sen (Director, MLF) along with Ms. Indrani Majumdar (Assistant Programme Officer, IIC) will address a PRESS CONFERENCE on February 1, 2012. The details are given below.

Complete schedule and list of the screenings will also be released at the Conference.

We request you to kindly send your reporter and photographer to cover the Press Conference.

Venue: Press Club of India

Date: February 1, 2012

Time: 4 pm

‘FOCUSED ON MARITIME SAFETY AND SECURITY’

FOCUSED ON MARITIME SAFETY AND SECURITY’

THE INDIAN COAST GUARD -

‘FOCUSED ON MARITIME SAFETY AND SECURITY’

New Delhi, 01 Feb 2012

The Indian Coast Guard is celebrating its 35^th anniversary on                 01 Feb 2012. Since its inception, the service has grown into a multi-faceted and vibrant force, maintaining ‘round the clock’ vigil in the Maritime Zones of India, by deploying its multi-role ships and aircraft.

Beginning with a modest inventory of two ex-naval frigates, the service today boasts of a force-level of 68 ships and 52 aircraft.  During the past year, one ship, four interceptor boats, four Dornier aircraft and two Chetak helicopters have been commissioned into service, in addition to the establishment of six CG Stations and two Air Enclaves.

The Indian Coast Guard today, is on a path of rapid expansion, as a large number of state-of-art ships, boats and aircraft are under-construction at various shipyards/PSUs. The service is expected to attain a force-level of              77 surface platforms and 56 aircraft by end 2012. The Coast Guard will also have 42 CG Stations, four Air Stations and 11 Air Enclaves functioning all along the coast, by the end of 2012.

On the manpower front, the service has initiated several measures to augment its manpower viz. introduction of short service appointment for women officers and CPL holders, increase in number of recruitment centres, departmental promotions of outstanding Subordinate Officers and conduct of special recruitment drives.

                                                         

As far as CG operations are concerned, an average of 18 ships and five aircraft are tasked daily, to keep the vast Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and coastline under constant surveillance. Further, the establishment of Coastal Surveillance Network (CSN) is being progressed to boost the surveillance capabilities along the coastline. 46 CSN Stations are being     set-up under Phase-I of the project.

Coastal Security has been on the fore-front of CG operations for the past few years. Today, Coast Guard stations and coastal marine police stations are functioning as ‘Hub and Spoke’ for information outflow. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for coastal security of all the coastal States / Union Territories have been promulgated by the Indian Coast Guard. Synergy amongst various stake-holders is achieved by conduct of regular exercises and operations, and subsequent review of the SOPs. 17 such exercises and       19 operations have been conducted during the last one year.

The service has also formed a bond with fishermen, by conducting regular community interaction programmes, so that they act as ‘eyes and ears’ for coastal security. About 400 such community interaction programs have been conducted since Jan 2011. Provisioning of biometric identity cards for fishermen and uniform registration of fishing boats for precise identification at sea, is under progress.

Search and Rescue operations within the Indian Search and Rescue Region are undertaken by the Indian Coast Guard. Professional and dedicated efforts of the service have resulted in saving of 415 lives last year. A Search and Rescue exercise was also conducted off Mumbai on 14 Jan 12, in which international observers from seven countries participated.

The Indian Coast Guard has carved a niche for itself at the international level and is today recognised as a leading Coast Guard in the region. Institutionalized visits as per Memorandum of Cooperation/Understanding with Japan Coast Guard and Korea Coast Guard are being conducted regularly. On 29 Jan 12, a combined Indo-Japan Coast Guard exercise was conducted off Chennai. The Indian Coast Guard, also hosted a Capacity Building Workshop with ReCAAP (Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia) in Nov last year, at Goa. In addition, a bi-annual Joint exercise ‘Dosti’ is also conducted with the Maldives National Defence Force.

The Indian Coast Guard has evolved into a mature and highly capable maritime force with state-of-the-art ships, boats and aircraft. The theme of the Indian Coast Guard for the year 2012 is ‘Focused on Maritime Safety and Security’, which aptly reflects the commitment and resolve of the service, and is in tune with its motto ‘Vayam Rakshamah’ meaning ‘We Protect’

Polling begins in Punjab, Uttarakhand

Voting started in Punjab and Uttarakhand on Monday morning amidst tight security, around 1.76 crore voters will seal the fate of 1,078 candidates, in fray for 117 assembly seats in Punjab.

About 200 companies of the central Para military forces, besides Punjab Police personnel, have been deployed to ensure free and peaceful polling at 19,841 polling stations, including five identified as "hyper-sensitive" and 32 as sensitive, an election office spokesman said.

Out of the 1,078 candidates in fray 417, including 45 women, are Independents. At the last hustings in 2007, after scrutiny and withdrawal there were a total of 1,055 candidates, including 56 women, in fray.The ruling SAD-BJP alliance, the Congress and BSP are contesting all the 117 assembly seats.

Newly formed Punjab People's Party is contesting 92 while SAD (Amritsar) headed by former IPS officer Simranjit Singh Mann is contesting 57 seats.The SAD has put up candidates on 94 seats which include 10 women while the BJP is contesting the remaining 23 seats, which includes three women.

The Congress has fielded 11 women while the BSP has fielded six women.

Most of the 117 assembly seats will witness a triangular contest between the ruling SAD-BJP alliance, the main opposition Congress and the Sanjha Morcha which includes the Left and People's Party of Punjab (PPP) led by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal's estranged nephew Manpreet.

Hill state of Uttarakhand goes to polls on today with the election campaign came to an end last evening.

A total of 788 candidates are trying their luck from 70 constituencies in the state where over 63 lakh electorates are expected to exercise their franchise on Monday.

The weather, which had played a spoilsport most of the time during electioneering, has changed for the better now.The Election Commission has taken special care to assist the high altitude poll parties, which have already left for the tough hilly regions.Sleeping bags, snow boots, jackets and other necessary equipments have been provided to these polling parties.

In addition, two choppers have been put on alert to launch rescue operations in case of any emergency.The forest officials, BRO and PWD personnel were working continuously to ensure that all roads and pathways were cleared of snow in these places to allow voters to reach to the polling booths.

75 companies of paramilitary forces, 6000 Home Guards from Uttar Pradesh and 2000 from Himachal Pradesh and 10,000 personnel of the state police have been deployed to ensure free and fair polls.

NTPC signed USD 1.5 bn power project in Bangladesh

NTPC signed USD 1.5 bn power project in Bangladesh on Sunday signed a USD 1.5 billion deal with India's NTPC to build a 1,320 MW coal-fired power plant, the country's biggest, to help ease acute power shortages.Bangladesh's state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) struck the 50:50 joint venture deal with India's public sector National Thermal Power Company (NTPC). Under the pact, a JV company will be floated to install and operate the plant while the PDB and the NTPC will implement the USD 1.5 billion project. PDB chairman A S M Alamgir Kabir and NTPC chairman Arup Roy Chowdhury signed the agreement here.Kabir said the plant will be set up at Bagerhat's Rampal and Bangladesh and India will have equal partnership in production. "We hope to supply electricity to the national grid by 2015," he said. India's power secretary Uma Shankar said the deal opened up a "great platform" for better cooperation between the two neighbours. The plant is expected to be commissioned by 2015. Of the total project cost, 70 per cent will be arranged through loans and the rest will be equally shared between the JV partners. "We expect that the most modern and new technology would be used in setting up the JV power plant that would help Bangladesh minimise its growing need of electricity," Bangladesh's Finance Minister A M A Muhith said. PDB officials said that cost of per unit electricity will vary from Taka 5 to Taka 7 if existing international market price of coal is taken into account."Coal will be imported to run the plant from Indonesia, Australia and South Africa to run the plant...we'll use local coal if we get supply as per the demand of the plant," the PDB chairman said. PDB and NTPC had signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August last year to establish two thermal power projects at Chittagong and Khulna for mitigating power shortages in Bangladesh.The two power plants are likely to come up at an investment of around Rs 13,200 crore.NTPC had earlier carried out feasibility study to install the coal-fired power plant at Rampal in coastal Bagerhat district.Currently, Bangladesh produces power from five types of fuels: gas is used for 82 per cent of power generated, furnace oil for 5 per cent, diesel for 7 per cent, while water and coal-based power make up for the remaining 3 per cent power generated.The country's present power production is slightly more than 5,000 MW against a daily demand of 7,000 MW.The government has undertaken plans to step up power production to 15,000 MW by 2016, Bangladeshi media reports said. To realise the plan, the government so far has signed agreements to set up 50 power stations. Among these, 17 are quick rental-based stations, three are rental based, 11 are independent power producers, while the other 19 are public. Bangladesh-India Joint Steering Committee on the power sector, which was formed during Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to New Delhi in January 2010, decided to set up the JV. Bangladesh has so far five discovered coalmines having the total reserve of around 3.0 billion tonnes.At present, Bangladesh has only one coal-fired power plant, having the generation capacity of 250mw at Barapukuria in northwestern Dinajpur.Bangladesh currently can generate as high as 5300 mw in 37 public and private sector plants, mostly run by natural gas, and faced with a deficit of estimated 1,500 mw.

Aung San Suu Kyi on election campaign trail

Aung San Suu Kyi, visit coastal town of Dawei on a political tour ahead of by-elections on 1 April.
She initiated  first time her election venture outside Rangoon for  months her visit is seen as litmus test  how she and her party are able to campaign.Military  new administration entered into dialogue with Ms Suu Kyi and has changed the electoral laws that led to the NLD to poll.

Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD) is contesting all the available constituencies in the coming by-elections.She herself is seeking office in the rural township of Kawhmu.
Aung San Suu Ky flocked by  many thousands  to see Nobel peace prize winner, who was released from house arrest in 2010.Burmese government is planning to build a huge industrial complex in Dawei, which could transform the region.NLD is running for all 48 seats up  in the ensuing polls. Suu Kyi is standing in a rural constituency near Rangoon. Sunday's visit was in support of Aung Soe, the party's candidate in a local township."If we move in the right direction our country will have many opportunities. We are eager to seize them," she said in a speech in Dawei earlier."For the security of the people, the rule of law is very important...We hope to give back to the people by working for more stability in people's lives."
The 66-year-old, known here as "The Lady", also spoke about democratic principles and job creation for educated young people.Local people brought flowers and gifts and held up their children to see the NLD leader, who spent much of the past two decades in detention, with banners proclaiming "You are our heart".
Traffic clogged the roads as Suu Kyi's convoy, trailed by a large number of cars and motorbikes, travelled around the district through villages and Aung Soe's constituency.Suu Kyi's outing took her to the area set to be transformed by a huge industrial site and strategic deep sea port, the Dawei Development Project.
Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari conferred the Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Award for Democracy on Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday in recognition of her outstanding services for the cause of democracy.
The award was presented to Suu Kyi by Aseefa Bhutto Zardari at a ceremony held at the residence of the Myanmar leader. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and members of the visiting Pakistani delegation attended the ceremony.President Zardari lauded the services of Suu Kyi for democracy and said she was a source of inspiration for millions around the world.President Asif Ali Zardari returned to Karachi on Wednesday after a two-day visit to Myanmar where he held talks with its leadership on boosting cooperation in trade, commerce and other fields.
  From US several senators from both parties went to Myanmar and they all came back cautiously optimistic about reforms there, and ready to consider lifting some of the sanctions on the country.
Senators,John McCain , Joe Lieberman , Kelly Ayotte , and Sheldon Whitehouse visited Myanmar earlier this month as part of their whirlwind tour around Southeast Asia, the Philippines, Thailand, and the Hanoi Hilton in Vietnam, the POW camp where McCain was held during the Vietnam War. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Rep. Joe Crowley too visited Myanmar over the winter break on separate trips.Media agencies

India & Pakistan to ink bilateral trade pacts

India and Pakistan are set to sign three agreements to address issues such as non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that hinder bilateral trade.

Indian Joint Secretary for Commerce Arvind Mehta said, the agreements are expected to be signed during Commerce Minister Anand Sharma’s visit to Pakistan next month. Mr. Mehta was speaking at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr.Mehta, who is in Pakistan with a five-member delegation of Indian regulators, said these pacts are the Customs Cooperation Agreement to avoid arbitrary stoppage of goods at each other's ports, Mutual Recognition Agreement for acceptance of certificates of internationally accredited laboratories, and Redressal of Grievances Agreement to address any disagreements.

Mr. Mehta said the two sides have also finalised a very liberal visa regime that will be in place as soon as the Cabinets of the two countries grant approval.

UN:Assad is asked to transfer powers to deputy

UN draft resolution asks Assad to transfer powers to deputy

  The political unrest in Syria, a fresh draft resolution has been circulated in the UNSC, calling for an immediate end to the govt crackdown on civilians as it asked Prez Bashar al-Assad to transfer his powers to his deputy.

The draft introduced on Friday offers that if Syria does not comply with the provisions of the resolution within 15 days, the UN Security Council can "adopt further measures, in consultation with the League of Arab States," against the Syrian regime.

The draft also "fully supports" League of Arab States' initiative to facilitate a political transition leading to a democratic, plural political system, which will see President Bashar Al Assad delegating his "full authority to his Deputy to fully cooperate with the national unity government in order to empower it to perform its duties in the transitional period."

The 15-member UNSC has however remained deeply divided over the action that should be taken against the Syrian regime, even as more than 5000 people have been killed in the uprising that began almost a year ago. According to UNICEF, 384 children have been killed during the fighting.

Germany's UN ambassador Peter Wittig said the situation in Syria "just needed action."

"I appealed to the members of the Council that we should recover the unity of the Council and not fall back into acrimonious discussions of the past, climb out of our trenches and reunite, because we owe it to the Syrian people to send out rather sooner than later a strong endorsement of the Arab League decisions," he said on Friday.

Wittig said consultations on the draft resolution will begin next week, and "I think it is possible that we find an agreement." Witting said the new draft does not mention putting an arms embrago against Syria.

The French Permanent Representative to the United Nations Grard Araud said the new text reflects the postion of the Arab League on the release of political prisoners, access of media and on withdrawal of armed forces from the centres of the cities.

Russia had previously circulated a draft on Syria, in which the Council members had sought several changes.

However Russia did not return to the Council with a new text. Araud said some members have raised objections over sanctions being imposed on Syria. Russia in particular does not want sanctions imposed on Syria.

The French ambassador said the issue of sanctions will be discussed during the "very determined negotiating process" which will begin next week.

"I'm sure that this is one of the questions which will be raised. It can be interpreted as sanctions; several countries have expressed their reluctance of accepting sanctions or even the prospect of sanctions. It will be one of the three or four political issues that we have to handle. Negotiating is precisely about trying to find a way to solve these issues," he said.

Araud added that he hoped a resolution will be agreed upon "by the end of next week."

Russian envoy Vitaly Churkin said the draft, circulated by Morocco, ignores the "red lines".

"Unfortunately, the draft that we saw today not only ignored our red lines, but also added some new elements that we find unacceptable as a matter of principle. The Security Council cannot go about imposing political solutions in crisis situations in various countries of the world."

He said while the Russian delegation does not see the draft as a "basis on which we can agree...that does not mean we refuse to engage with the co-sponsors of that resolution. We will continue to engage."

Poll campaigning ends in Punjab, U’khand

Poll Campaigning for 117-seat Punjab Assembly ended on Saturday evening with ruling SAD-BJP alliance and opposition Congress putting their best foot forward to wrest power in the 30th January polls.

The campaigning by and large remained peaceful in the state which saw national leaders including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, BJP leaders L K Advani, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Uma Bharti and BSP Chief Mayawati criss-cross the state.

Besides Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, the other campaigners included Team Anna members who, however, did not advocate in favour or any political party confining their campaign to corruption and setting up of a strong Lokpal.

Film and TV actors Hema Malini, Shatrughan Sinha, Rajesh Khanna, Kirron Kher and Samriti Irani and a host of local singers and actors, including Gurdas Mann, Harbhajan Mann and Gurpreet Ghuggi besides cricketer-turned-politicians Navjot Sidhu and Mohd Azharudin added to the colour.

The other leaders who visited the state included Union Ministers Ambika Soni and Ghulam Nabi Azad, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, former Chief Ministers of Rajasthan and Haryana Vasundhara Raje Scindia and Om Parkash Chautala, respectively.

Leaders of Left and other parties, including Brinda Karat and Sitaram Yechury, also toured the state which will see a total of 1,078 candidates, including 93 women, in fray. About 1.76 crore voters, including 83.61 lakh women, will seal the fate of the candidates at 19,841 polling stations, including five identified as "hyper sensitive" and 32 as "sensitive".

Besides Punjab Police personnel, about 200 companies of central paramilitary forces will be deployed in the state to ensure free and fair polling.

Electioneering comes to end in Uttarakhand

Electioneering outdoor for the 30^th January assembly poll in Uttarakhand on Saturday came to an end after which candidates switched over to door-to-door campaign in a last-minute attempt to woo voters.

A total of 788 candidates are trying their luck from 70 constituencies in the state where over 63 lakh electorates are expected to exercise their franchise on Monday.

Electioneering picked up towards the fag end as bad weather hampered the movement of national leaders during the early phase of campaign. BJP President Nitin Gadkari and some other leaders' visits were also cancelled due to the inclement weather.

During the electioneering, Congress had attacked BJP on changing chief ministers frequently to cover up its alleged scams and asked the people to vote on development plank.

Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi tried to puncture the campaign of BJP "Khanduri (incumbent chief minister B C Khanduri) hai zaroori" by stating why he was removed in 2009 if he was so important.

Ruling BJP highlighted scams relating to 2G spectrum allocation, Commonwealth Games and Adarsha Housing Society in a bid to nail down Congress and asked the people to vote for the party for showing its commitment to weeding out corruption by bringing a strong Lokayukta bill.

The star campaigners from BJP and Congress also crisscrossed the hill state during the fortnight-long electioneering.

Chief Minister B C Khanduri addressed nearly two dozen rallies across the state during the past four to five days.

During his meetings, Khanduri had raked up emotive issues including the Muzaffarnagar massacre during Mulayam Singh Yadav government in 1994. "You all know who were the perpetrators of the Muzaffarnagar incident? You also know that it was only BJP which formed the new state of Uttarakhand," Khanduri had said.

With the Election Commission cracking down on use of money power, the cacophony of the electioneering was missing this time with candidates shunning big shows of strength.

IAF 2012 Collateral Event

6:30 pm (By invitation only)Artist France  IAF 2012

Cocktail Reception and multimedia works by French Artists, Laurent Pernot    

Host.The French Embassy /Institut Français in India

Venue 2, Aurangzeb Road, New Delhi

6:30 pm (IAF VIP pass holders)

Parallel Journeys
Spain - Jordi Gispert Pi: The World’s Longest Landscape
India - Sunaina Bhalla: India Diaspora
Curated by Dr. Alka Pande
Cocktail Reception

Host

Instituto Cervantes

Venue;Instituto Cervantes, Exhibition Gallery, 48 Hanuman Road, New Delhi

THE DELHI DIALOGUE IV February 14, 2012,

Towards Economic Integration: Prospects & Challenges

THE DELHI DIALOGUE IV

 “India and ASEAN: Partners for Peace, Progress and Stability”

February 14, 2012, Time: 9.30-11.00am, Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi

 

The Delhi Dialogue IV (a Regional Security & Cooperation Dialogue) is being organized by FICCI in partnership with the Ministry of External Affairs & Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in support with Institute of south East Asian Studies (ISEAS), Singapore and SAEA Group after the resounding success of the earlier three Conferences.

 

The theme for the Delhi-Dialogue IV is “India and ASEAN: Partners for Peace, Progress and Stability” which seeks to underscore India’s increasing engagement with ASEAN countries and to explore an agenda for the consolidation of this relationship in the coming years. The Dialogue is also significant given that India and ASEAN will celebrate two decades of their institutionalized engagement in 2012.

 

The idea of this Annual Conference is to get together policy makers, businesses, think tanks as well as politicians from India and the ASEAN countries, under one roof, to discuss the way forward for addressing various issues of common interest.

3rd MSME Summit“Innovation & Clusters” February 23, 2012

FICCI with support of the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), Government of India is organizing its 3^rd MSME Summit with the theme “Innovation & Clusters” on February 23, 2012 at FICCI.

Shri. Virbhadra Singh, Hon’ble Minister of MSME, Government of India, has been invited to inaugurate the Summit. Mr. Radha Krishna Mathur, Secretary, Ministry of MSME, Govt. of India has kindly agreed to deliver the keynote address.  Innovation and Cluster; Setting agenda for 12th Five Year Plan for the development of MSMEs; Relevance of Technology, R&D and Capacity Building in development of MSMEs; Innovative models to ease Finance to MSMEs and Financing for Innovations, etc. will be the key issues of discussion.

Paes in mixed doubles final:Australia open

 Paes in mixed doubles final, Sania-Hesh ousted

Leander Paes is in line to win two Slam titles as he and Elena Vesnina reached the mixed doubles summit clash even as Sania Mirza and Mahesh Bhupathi bowed out after their semifinal defeat at the Australian Open on Friday.

Fifth seeds Paes and Vesnina came from behind to tame a fighting Italian pair of Roberta Vinci and Daniele Bracciali 5-7 6-2 10-7 in the semifinals.

Paes has already made it to the men's doubles final with Czech partner Radek Stepanek and they face top seeds Americans Bob and Mike Bryan.

Meanwhile, the sixth seeded Sania-Bhupathi's campaign ended after they lost 3-6 3-6 to the eighth seeded combo of Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States and Romania's Horia Tecau in just 68 minutes at the Rod Laver Arena.

Although the match was a closely-contested affair, the American-Romanian duo played better as far as the crucial points were concerned. The Indians could hit only 17 winners as compared to 24 by their opponents.

In the opening set, the Indians managed to convert only breakpoint out of the three that they got, besides losing their serve on two occasions to hand their opponents the advantage.

The second set was on serve till 3-3 but the eighth seeds broke Sania and Bhupathi to go up 4-3 and then held their serve to make it 5-3.

The Indians once again failed to keep their serve and the opponents claimed their second consecutive break to book a place in the final

Posted 8 minutes ago by Nksagar

Team India test temperament at low ebb

Australian team win  at the Adelaide Oval on Saturday against India as Oz claimed four remaining wickets in an hour to crush India to a 298-run defeat and humiliating 0-4 whitewash.
Why Team India test temperament is at low ebb is moot point.Senior players failed to show the defensive game of cricket,lacked maturity to stay at site and failed to deliver on fast tracks which needs quick reflexes.Practice and fitness is key mantra to which senior players needs to play more test games thus building their games and none of the senior players wants to have rest is matter of concern.Bench strength of team India needs to be tested with regular induction but the cartel makes the strategy  hard to bend.
 Sachin Tendulkar God of Cricket failed to present his 100th international century and is  without a century for 25 Test and one-day innings media reports his  last hundred was in the World Cup last March.
Team India big names famous for their batting standards in game of cricket are reduced to paper tigers in the test format of games and selectors needs to reinvent his team or he should too exit for the sake of the game.

Virender Sehwag: said to NDTV,"Haven't done good, will have to look at my performance."

cricketwallah Cricketwallah tweets

ICC Tweets ,Recall now Glen McGrath predicting a whitewash at the start of the series. Is he a clairvoyant or wot? India have lost 8 away Tests in a row. Between June 1959 and January 1968 India lost 17 successive Tests away from home.

Michael Clarke to NDTV: 'Senior Indian players need to perform to keep place in team'

 Sehwag: Haven't done good, will have to look at my performance.Sehwag: This is the time for fans to support us.On the strategy of team India Sehwag said  Problem was with execution & not planning.Rahul Dravid not to retire: Indian Team Manager calls Dravid retirement report a rumour.
Srikant said in one of the seminar,We started the game of  1983 world cup  just to enjoy the foreign trip and were never serious about win but it was Skipper Kapil Dev who kept on pursuing that we can win the world cup.Srikant the selector needs to think that team India can retain the number one status is games administrators are serious on the subject and donot look for only spin of money.

Rajeev Sethi at India Art Fair2012

India Art Fair2012

Against Corruption & Black Money पर 4 फरवरी राष्ट्रीय सम्मलेन

Action Committee Against Corruption In India (ACACI) के चेयरमेन डॉ सुब्रमण्यम स्वामी द्वारा दिल्ली के के मावलंकर हाल में Fight Against Corruption & Black Money पर 4 फरवरी , दोपहर 3.30 बजे राष्ट्रीय सम्मलेन रखा गया है | कालेधन व भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाप सम्पूर्ण राष्ट्र में नवजागरण करने वाले राष्ट्रनायक स्वामी रामदेव जी महराज मुख्य अतिथि के रूप में इस सम्मलेन को संबोधित करेंगे | सम्मलेन में श्री के.एन. गोविन्दाचार्य, श्री एस.गुरुमूर्ति, श्री अजित डोवाल और डॉ वेदप्रकाश वेदिक आदि प्रामाणिक गणमान्य अतिथि भी अपने विचार रखेंगे | आप सभी को हम इस कार्यक्रम में सादर आमंत्रित करते हैं| कार्यक्रम में शामिल होने व अधिक जानकारी के लिए संपर्क करें 09212137571

Thai PM Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra at Republic Day Parade

@PMOIndia Dr Manmohan Singh

India OECD sign Multilateral Convention on Mutual Adm Assistance in Tax Matters.

India Signs Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. India has signed a Multilateral Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters. The Convention was signed by Shri Sanjay Kumar Mishra, Joint Secretary, Foreign Tax & Tax Research Division, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, Government of India in the presence of Deputy Secretary-General of OECD, Mr. Rintaro Tamaki. This instrument hitherto available for the members of OECD and Council of Europe was amended in 2010 and open for all countries in June 2011. The Convention was amended to respond to the 2009 G20 Summit call for developing a broader multilateral approach to improve the effectiveness of exchange of information, co-operation between the countries in the assessment and collection of taxes, with a view to combating tax avoidance and evasion.

Present signatories to the amended Convention are: Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Moldova, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

By signing the Convention, India and the other 31 signatories encourage more countries to join, sending a strong signal that countries are acting together to ensure that individuals and multinational enterprises pay the right amount of tax, at the right time and in the right place. Many more countries are expected to sign the Convention in future. This provides for a wider network of countries co-operating in exchange of information, assistance in tax collection etc. Out of the 31 signatories, 12 of them have ratified the Convention so far.

Salient features of this Multilateral Convention are

- It is based on international standard of transparency and exchange of information.

- This instrument is multilateral and a single legal basis for multi-country co-operation as against the DTAAs/TIEAs which are bilateral. It provides for an extensive network and there will be consistent application of provisions leaving limited scope for deviation.

- It provides extensive forms of co-operation among the signatories on all taxes.

- It not only facilitates the exchange of information, but also provides for assistance in the recovery of taxes. This will give a fillip to the efforts of the Government in bringing the Indian money illegally stashed abroad.

- It provides for simultaneous tax examinations and participation in tax examinations in other countries. This provides for examination of tax affairs of the taxpayers simultaneously in their own territory and share the relevant information to each other. This allows tax officials to entering into the territory of the other country to interview individuals and examine records.

- The Convention explicitly provides for automatic exchange of information and spontaneous exchange of information.

- It provides for service of documents in other country.

- The Convention allows exchange of past information in criminal tax matters.

- The information received under the convention can also be used for other purposes besides those related to tax co-operation, for example to counter money laundering with the approval of the supplying state.

Tax rebate to Companies in safe -haven funded by Indian Banks

Honorable Members of Parliament,

I was shocked to find yesterday Essar Steel had commissioned Rs.37,500 crore Flat Products Steel Plant but soon Firstly found out in 2008 Annual Report it was 93% owned by Cayman Island company. Secondly this Indian Funded project would not contribute much to taxes in India, thirdly it would cause all the pollution in high population density Surat district and fourthly displace existing facilities in other states due to excess capacity.

Ø      With Rs.37,500 Crores India could have promoted 10,000 Agro Industries – 20 in each district adding atleast 10% GDP and to benefit 5 crore farmers directly and indirectly compared to NEGATIVE contribution – reducing net employment and increasing cost compared to existing units. 

My NRI returned friend invested in Essar Steel subscribing to IPO – purchased 10,000 shares for Rs.220 each when Ruias paid just Rs.10 for each share, for several years ES didn’t register the share – finally when registered its value Rs.15-Rs.18 and he than sold it. Had he purchased some plot it would have been worth Rs.10 crores.

Thus Essar Steel largely financially promoted by Indians and debt funded by Indian Bank and Indian money was owned by Ruias almost free is now owned and operated by Ruia company from Cayman Island. Essar Steel retained over subscription as permitted and invested Free Cash in its control to fund (Oil and Gas, Power, Infrastructure, Ports, Projects, Services, Shipping, BPO, Telecom, Realty, Information technology, Publishing, Agribusiness, Essar TV, Partner with Essar, Other businesses.) 

Ø      Ruias transferred ESSAR STEEL to Cayman Islands – foreign ownership is 93%. So entire group funded by Indian Equity and Indian Deposits is not registered in India and not contributing to Taxes in India.

Ø      This alone is $30b to $50b Loss to India or transfer of $50b to CAYMAN Island. (Essar Hutch was worth $18.9b)

You wondered how Gujarat as claimed by Narendra Modi is growing fast but firstly not reflected in GDP figures and secondly Gujarati people continues to be Malnourished, Stunted and Under Weight. Essar Projects, RIL, Tata, Adani and others contribute nothing to Gujarat – subsidies are more than tax revenue when most are owned and operated from Tax Heavens. These Foreign Owned companies also claim Corporate Tax Concessions called Tax Forgone.

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=73098

As per latest Monthly Per Capita Expenditure Gujarat Ranks 8th and 9th among major states.

I quick succession we found just one family Essar was involved in Foreign Transactions and Illegal Subsidy to

1. Sales tax subsidy of 125% of project cost i.e. Rs.9100 crores to Essar Refinery.

2. $20b Essar Hutch sold out to Vodafone for $12b – India got nothing – even IT case was lost.

3. Essar Steel too is Cayman Island Company 93% directly owned and controlled by Ruias.

4. Tata, Ambanis, Mittals, Ruias, Agarwals etc operate foreign companies from Foreign Heavens with Indian Money.

Similarly many more companies Funded By Indian Banks and Indian money are Registered in Foreign Companies contributing nothing to the states and center as Taxes and little by way of employment – but polluting our Environment.

Ravinder Singh

Progressindia008@yahoo.com

January27, 2012

फिर भी थप्पड़ को मेरे साथ जोड़ा जा रहा है

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Jan Lokpal

पिछले ३० साल से मैं भ्रष्टाचारियों के खिलाफ़ लड़ रहा हूं, न मैंने किसी को थप्पड़ मारा है, न ही किसी को मारने के लिए कहा, फिर भी थप्पड़  को मेरे साथ जोड़ा जा रहा है। थप्पड़ के बारे में मेरे बयान को बगैर सोचे, न समझते हुए इस देश के बहुत बड़े अपराधी के रूप में मेरा चित्र रंगाया जा रहा है, जो कि दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है।
मैं तो पहले भी बता चुका हूं कि गांधीजी के पैरों के पास बैठने की भी मेरी पात्रता नहीं है, गांधीजी के साथ मुझे जोड़ना ठीक नहीं। गांधीजी ने तो किसी के लिए कठोर शब्द प्रयोग करने का भी शुमार हिंसा में किया है। लेकिन मैंने कई बार देश और समाज के साथ गद्दारी करने वालों का विरोध कर कठोर शब्दों का प्रयोग किया है, जो कि मैं मानता हूं कि देश और समाज की भलाई के ही लिए किया है, हालाँकि गांधीजी के विचारों में वह भी हिंसा ही है।
एक दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण साजिश के तहत थप्पड़  के बारे में गलतफहमियाँ फैला कर मेरी बदनामी करने के प्रयास किये जा रहे हैं। यह पहली घटना नहीं है। मेरी बदनामी की कोशिशें कई बार हो चुकी हैं। लेकिन सत्य हमेशा सत्य ही होता है। इतिहास गवाह है कि सत्य को कोई झूठ नहीं साबित कर पाया। फिर भी सत्य के मार्ग पर चलने वालों को काफी तकलीफें सहनी पड़ी हैं। उनकी हमेशा निन्दा होती रही है, बुराई के साथ उन्हें संघर्ष भी करना पड़ा है, फिर हम पाते हैं कि मानव जाति के इतिहास में सत्य कभी भी पराजित नहीं हुआ। सत्य हमेशा सत्य ही रहा है। इस बात का मैंने अपने जीवन में खुद अनुभव किया है। पिछले २५ सालों से मेरी बदनामी के प्रयास होते रहे हैं। लेकिन मन्दिर में रहने वाले अण्णा पर उससे कोई फर्क नहीं पड़ता। क्योंकि अण्णा अपने निजी स्वार्थ के लिए कुछ भी तो नहीं कर रहा है। निन्दा करने वालों को मैं बताना चाहता हूं कि थप्पड़ का सच क्या है। ‘अण्णा कहते हैं भ्रष्टाचारियों को थप्पड़ मारो।’ इसी बात को लेकर इस थप्पड़ को गांधीजी की समाधि के साथ तक जोड़ा गया…’गांधी के चोले में थप्पड़’, ‘क्यों पड़ी अण्णा को थप्पड़ की जरूरत’, वगैरह-वगैरह। इन बातों को कह कर मेरी बदनामी का चित्र रंगाया गया जो कि मैं समझता हूं कि एक दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना है।
१६ अगस्त को रामलीला मैदान में भ्रष्टाचार के विरोध में हुए आन्दोलन में करोड़ों की संख्या में देश की जनता रास्ते पर उतर आई थी। मैंने बार-बार जनता से अपील की कि सभी भाई-बहनों ने, युवकों ने शान्ति के मार्ग ही से आन्दोलन करना है। कहीं पर भी हिंसा नहीं करनी है। अहिंसा में बहुत शक्ति है। अगर कहीं छुटपुट भी हिंसा हुई तो सरकार इस आन्दोलन को तोड़ देगी, कुचल देगी। इतना विशाल आन्दोलन हुआ मगर पूरा का पूरा शान्तिपूर्ण हुआ। न सिर्फ देश में बल्कि पूरी दुनिया में इस बात की चर्चा जरूर हुई कि भारत में करोड़ों लोग रास्ते पर उतर आए, पर देश भर में कहीं भी एक पत्थर भी किसी ने नहीं उठाया। इसके पीछे क्या रहस्य छिपा है?
२५ सालों से आन्दोलन चल रहे हैं, कभी भी जीवन में हिंसा का विचार नहीं आया। १६ अगस्त २०११ के इतने बड़े आन्दोलन में कभी हिंसा का विचार मन में नहीं आया। वहीं आन्दोलन के सिर्फ चार महीने बाद हिंसा करने या करवाने के विचार कैसे आ सकते हैं? इन चार महीनों के दौरान कई स्थानों पर मेरी बड़ी-बड़ी सभाएं हुईं। न मैंने कहीं हिंसा की बात रखी, न ही जनता ने भी हिंसा की है। भारतीय सेना में सेवा के दौरान १९६३ से लेकर १९७६ तक १२ वर्ष मैं पाकिस्तान जैसे देश के दुश्मन के साथ लड़ता रहा। खुद के स्वार्थ के लिए नहीं पर देश व समाज के हित के लिए मैंने २६ साल की उम्र में लड़ाई में भी हिस्सा लिया है। आज भी देश में छिपे हुए भ्रष्टाचारियों के साथ जंग जारी है, पर हिंसात्मक नहीं, अहिंसा के मार्ग से जारी है। १९७५ में पहले तो स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी और बाद में गांधीजी के विचारों का प्रभाव जीवन पर हुआ। उस कारण जीवन में कभी भी किसी के साथ हिंसात्मक लड़ाई नहीं की। २५ सालों से भ्रष्ट प्रवृत्ति के खिलाफ़ चल रही इस लड़ाई में राजनीति के कई खिलाड़ियों ने यदि मेरी हद से ज्यादा बदनामी की है, मुझे जेल में भी भिजवाया गया, तरह-तरह के दुर्व्यवहार किये गये, फिर भी मैंने कभी भी थप्पड़ मारने की भाषा नहीं की। इतने वर्षों में न मैंने किसी को थप्पड़ मारा, न ही किसी को मारने के लिए उकसाया। भ्रष्टाचारियों के खिलाफ़ कानूनी लड़ाई के फलस्वरूप ६ कैबिनेट मिनिस्टर तथा ४०० से अधिक भ्रष्ट अधिकारियों को अपने घर जाना पड़ा। उस समय भी मेरे साथ उन लोगों ने भाँति-भाँति के दुर्व्यवहार किये, लेकिन उनके साथ भी थप्पड़ की भाषा मैंने कभी नहीं की। समाज और देश की भलाई के लिए कई बार मैंने आन्दोलन किये लेकिन उनमें हमेशा खुद आत्मक्लेश करना और उसकी संवेदना जनता को हो इसी प्रकार से आन्दोलन किये गये, कभी भी थप्पड़ की भाषा का प्रयोग नहीं हुआ।
आत्मक्लेश के तीन अनशन पिछले १० महीनों में किये, नतीजा यह हुआ कि महीने भर से बीमार पड़ा हूं। फिर भी मेरा हौसला कम नहीं हुआ है। पूर्णतया स्वस्थ हो जाऊं तो फिर से भ्रष्टाचारी प्रवृत्ति के विरोध में मैं देश भर में जनता को सम्बोधित करने निकल पडूंगा। उसमें थप्पड़ की बात कभी भी नहीं होगी। कुछ लोगों ने जो यह थप्पड़ का माहौल खड़ा किया है उसके पीछे असलियत क्या है यह मैं जनता को बताना चाहता हूं। वैसे मैं कभी फिल्में देखता नहीं और बीमारी के कारण महीने भर से कमरे के बाहर भी नहीं गया। हमारे कार्यकर्ता यह सन्देश ले आए कि एक फिल्म बनी है ‘गली-गली में चोर’ जो कि भ्रष्टाचार निर्मूलन के विषय पर बनाई गई है। इस फिल्म को दिखाने हेतु फिल्म के निर्माता एवं कलाकार हमारे गाँव में आ रहे हैं। मुझे फिल्म दिखाने की उनकी तीव्र इच्छा थी और चूंकि भ्रष्टाचार निर्मूलन विषय पर आधारित है इसलिए फिल्म देखने को मैं राजी हो गया। मैंने फिल्म देखी। एक परिवार पर पुलिस व राजनीति वाले मिल कर इतने अन्याय अत्याचार करते हैं कि उनका जीना दूभर हो जाता है। अत्याचार सहने की उनकी क्षमता खत्म हो जाती है। पुलिस वाले और राजनायिक विधायक मिल कर उन्हें झूठे मुकदमे में फँसा देते हैं, सताते जाते हैं, फर्जी कागज़ात बना कर उन्हें घर से बेघर करने की कोशिश करते हैं। यह ज़ुल्मों सितम इतना हद से बढ़ जाता है कि अब इसके आगे सह पाना उन्हें असम्भव हो जाता है। आखिरकार भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ़ लड़ने वाला उस परिवार का मुखिया तंग आकर पुलिस वाला और विधायक दोनों के मुंह पर थप्पड़ जमा देता है और जनता को संगठित कर एक जन आन्दोलन को आरम्भ कर देता है।
फिल्म देखने के बाद मुझे फिल्म के बारे में पूछा गया तो मैंने बताया कि फिल्म अच्छी बनी है। आदमी की सहन करने की भी सीमा होती है। अन्याय अत्याचार हद से बढ़ जाए और वह सीमा लाँघ जाएं तो उस आदमी के सामने सिवा थप्पड़ मारने के क्या पर्याय रहता है? यही बात मैंने मीडिया के सामने भी कही। अण्णा हजारे ने न तो किसी को थप्पड़ मारा और न ही किसी को थप्पड़ मारने का सन्देश दिया। बस, इतना ही कहा कि जब सहन करने की क्षमता खत्म हो जाती है तो अन्याय और अत्याचार से ग्रस्त आदमी के सामने सिवा थप्पड़ मारने के कोई पर्याय नहीं बचता।
गांधीजी और स्वामी विवेकानन्द जी के विचारों से प्रेरणा पाकर भ्रष्टाचार के खिलाफ़ लड़ाई लड़ रहा हूं। इस लड़ाई में मैंने किसी को भी थप्पड़ नहीं मारा है और न ही भविष्य में कभी मारूंगा। लेकिन यह एक मिसाल है कि कोई बदनामी करने पर उतारू हो ही जाए तो कैसे बदनामी की जाती है। न मैंने थप्पड़ मारा, न किसी को मारने के लिए उकसाया। फिल्म देख कर जैसे मुझे लगा मैंने बता दिया। उसी बात को लेकर राजनीति होने लगी और कई लोग षड़यन्त्र बनाने में जुट गये।
जाहिर है कि राजनीति से जुड़े कई लोगों ने हमारे आन्दोलन को बदनाम करने का षड़यन्त्र रचा है। टीम अण्णा के सभी सदस्यों पर आरोप प्रत्यारोप कर उन्हें बदनाम करने की कई कोशिशें हुई हैं। मेरी बदनामी के भी कई प्रयास हुए। सुना है कि राजनीति वालों ने इस काम में करोड़ों रुपये खर्च भी किये हैं। फिर भी उन्हें सफलता नहीं मिली क्योंकि मैंने अपने जीवन में कहीं छोटा दाग भी नहीं लगने दिया। ऊपर बताये जैसे कोई उदाहरण मेरे साथ जोड़कर मुझे बदनाम करने की साजिश की जाती है। मेरी बदनामी करने वालों को मेरी विनती है कि मैंने क्या बोला इसका सच यदि जानना चाहते हों तो ‘ऑनलाईन प्रश्न-उत्तर’ हो जाएं। किसने किसको क्या कहा और फिल्म में जो थप्पड़ मारा गया उसकी असलियत क्या है इस पर बहस करने को मैं तैयार हूं। मुझे इस बात का भी अन्देशा है कि वे राजनायिक जो हमारे आन्दोलन को एक खतरे के रूप में देखते हैं, उन्होंने हमारी बदनामी का षड़यन्त्र रचा है। लेकिन उन लोगों ने कितने भी कोशिशें कीं तो भी हमारे आन्दोलन पर न ही इसके पूर्व में भी कोई असर हुआ है और न ही भविष्य में भी पड़ेगा।
जिस आदमी ने अपना जीवन समाज और देश के लिए अर्पण किया है, ३५ साल पूर्व अपना घर छोड़ने के बाद फिर से कभी घर नहीं लौटा, अपने भाइयों के बच्चों के नाम तक जिसको मालूम नहीं, करोड़ों रुपयों की योजनाएं पूरी कीं पर कहीं भी बैंक बैलेन्स नहीं रखा है, ऐसे आदमी पर उन राजनायिकों ने कितने भी झूठे आरोप लगाये तो भी क्या होने वाला है? ना ही जनता पर उसका कोई असर होगा। क्यों कि सच तो सच ही होता है। जो आदमी अपने जीवन में शुद्ध आचार, शुद्ध विचार, निष्कलंक जीवन, त्याग और अपमान सहने की शक्ति रखता हो, उसी के शब्दों का लोगों पर प्रभाव होता है। भ्रष्टाचार में डूबे लोगों ने कितने ही आरोप लगाये तो भी उनका असर नहीं होगा।
मेरा स्वास्थ्य सुधरने के बाद जब मैं देश भर में निकल पडूंगा तब इन भ्रष्टाचारियों की समझ में आएगा कि ऐसे आरोपों का कोई प्रभाव नहीं पड़ता है। बीमारी के कारण मैं पाँच राज्यों में नहीं जा पाया, लेकिन २०१४ में होने वाले चुनावों के पहले मैं पूरे देश भर में जाऊंगा और मतदाताओं को जगाऊंगा। भ्रष्टाचार के विरोध में जो लम्बी लड़ाई लड़नी है, उसकी तैयारी करूंगा। जनता हमारे साथ है। क्योंकि जनता के लिए भ्रष्टाचार एक बहुत बड़ी समस्या है, और उसी की लड़ाई हम लड़ रहे हैं।
केन्द्र में जन लोकपाल, राज्यों में जन लोकायुक्त, ग्राम सभा को पूरे अधिकार, राईट टू रिजेक्ट जैसे कई कानून बनवाने हैं। आज गरीब किसानों की जमीनें मार पीट कर हथिया ली जाती हैं, जैसा कि कभी अंग्रेजों के जमाने में हुआ करता था। शिक्षा के क्षेत्र में भी कई सारी समस्याएं हैं, जिस वजह से गरीबों के बच्चें उच्च शिक्षा नहीं ले पाते हैं।
सही मायने में देश में प्रजातन्त्र लाना हो तो इन विषयों को लेकर लम्बी लड़ाई लड़नी पड़ेगी जो कई वर्षों तक चल सकती है। देश में प्रजातन्त्र, गणतन्त्र कायम करने के लिए एक ही रास्ता है और वह है जन आन्दोलन का। रात-दिन भ्रष्टाचार में लगे लोगों ने कितने भी आरोप लगाए तो भी ऐसे आरोपों का कोई प्रभाव नहीं होगा। ये लोग ना तो भ्रष्टाचार को मिटाएंगे, ना ही गणतन्त्र- प्रजातन्त्र को कारगर बनाने का प्रयास करेंगे। क्योंकि अगर वे ऐसा करेंगे तो उन्हें डर है कि कहीं अपने हाथों में केन्द्रित सत्ता कम न हो जाये। उन्हें तो ऐसा करने को बाध्य करना होगा और वह केवल जन आन्दोलन के माध्यम से ही सम्भव है। और इसी कारण हमारे संविधान ने जनता को आन्दोलन करने का मौलिक अधिकार दिया है। उसी अधिकार का प्रयोग कर हम सब जनता को उसके अधिकार दिलाने की भरसक कोशिश करेंगे।
कि.बा. उपनाम अण्णा हज़ारे

Cuts International FICCI and FT INVITATION

CUTS International is pleased to invite you to the subject-mentioned event. This is an invitation to YOU and your colleagues to come to the event, for which we will be grateful. Please pass this onto to your colleagues and networks.

Anna Hazare's message for Election bound states

Anna Hazare's message for Election bound states

Anna has not been able to travel to the five poll bound states due to his ill health. As soon he gets well, he will start his travel. Till
then, he has issued his message through a video CD, which will be shown at all public meetings and also would be widely circulated. In
this video, he has appealed to the public to ask every party whether they would enact Uttarakhand type of Lokayukta, if they won? He has
also said that till he got well, he was asking his team to travel to the states and take his message to the people. The video can be seen
at the following link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU07RkbbCls

Myanmar, Mr. U. Wunna Maung Lwin called on the Prime Minister

@PMOIndia Dr Manmohan Singh

Foreign Affairs Minister of Myanmar, Mr. U. Wunna Maung Lwin called on the Prime Minister today pic.twitter.com/AGzq2TTt

India showcases military might

India showcases military might, cultural heritage on R-Day

An impressive display of armour and unmanned aerial vehicles recently added to India's military prowess was on full display at the 63rd Republic Day parade on Thursday that also showcased the country's rich heritage.

The early morning chill did not deter people along the 8-km-parade route as they gathered on both sides of the majestic Rajpath, the country's ceremonial boulevard facing the Raisina Hills, and cheered the contingents as they went past portraying the diverse culture of the country.

The well-turned out and synchronised military and police formations led by General Officer Commanding (Delhi) Lt Gen V K Pillai marched proudly to the lilting tunes of bands through the Rajpath where President Pratibha Patil, who is the Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, took salute.

The impressive march-past was watched by Chief Guest Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister A K Antony, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Marshal of Air Force Arjan Singh and top political and military brass. Police and other para-military forces turned Delhi into a a virtual fortress for the Republic Day celebrations as helicpoters scanned from air, snipers kept a hawk-eye vigil from rooftops and armed personnel at every nook and corner provided a ground-to-air security apparatus.

Minutes before the parade began, Singh, Antony and chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force laid wreaths at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', an eternal flame in the memory of those who laid down their lives while defending the nation. After the customary 21-gun salute and unfurling of the national tricolour, President Patil presented Ashok Chakra -- the highest peacetime gallantry award -- posthumously to Lieutenant Navdeep Singh who died foiling an infiltration attempt by Pakistan-based terrorists along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

Then, four Mi-17 helicopters zoomed in from skies on the western side showering flower petals on thousands of spectators, signalling the start of the impressive parade followed by winners of Param Vir Chakra, highest war-time gallantry award, and Ashok Chakra and mounted columns of 61 Cavalry.

The Army showcased its impressive weaponry which included T-72 tanks, Carrier Motor Tracked vehicle, Smerch missile Launcher, Multi Barrel Rocket System 'Pinaka' and Full Width Mine Plough.

It also displayed the NBC (Nuclear- Biological-Chemical) Chemical Purification System and Jammer Station.

Demonstrating its air power, Army's also conducted a flypast of three indegenously made advanced light helicopters Dhruv.

The Army contingent from Parachute Regiment, Bengal Engineer Group, The Brigade of the Guards, Kumaon Regiment, Assam Regiment, Mahar Regiment and Gorkha Rifles marched to the tunes of 'Arjuna', Thimmaya, 'Gangotri' and 'Veer Gorkha' military numbers.

The next to follow were smartly-dressed Navy personnel and then the Air Force contingent, led by Flight Lieutenant Sneha Shekhawat, marching to the tunes of 'Jai Bharati' and 'Air Battle'.

The Navy showcased models of the Delhi Class guided missile destroyer and IL-38 (Sea Dragon) Long-Range Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft. The 3,000-km-range nuclear-capable Agni-IV missile, successfully flight tested in November last year, stole the limelight as people cheered and clapped when the weapons system's model came near them.

Commentaries gave an insight into the capabilities of the sophisticated missile system. The DRDO also put on display for the first time the 150- km range Prahaar tactical battlefield support missile and the Rustom-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

Other marching contingents were those of camel-mounted BSF, Assam Rifles, Coast Guard, CRPF, ITBP, CISF, SSB, RPF, Delhi Police, NCC and NSS.

As the country's armed and police forces demonstrated their might, states and different departments put up an impressive show when they showcased their rich cultural diversity in full display in 23 tableaux -- 13 from states and ten from ministries.

Another highlight of the event was that West Bengal became part of the parade after 13 years as it showcased the university town of Shantiniketan, the living abode of Rabindranath Tagore, that symbolises the avant garde vision of an international, educational and cultural institution.

The Jammu and Kashmir tableaux depicts the architectural heritage of its capital Srinagar during the medieval period, while Chhatisgrah showcased the Dondaki art and claywork by artists late Sonabhai Rajwar, Darogaram and Atmadas Manikpuri.

The one by Maharashtra boasted of its rich culture, natural wonders and historical monuments and attractive tourist destinations.

The north-eastern state of Meghalaya depicted the Jaintia Festivals and the most colourful dance by the major tribal community inhabiting the state, while Rajasthan brought alive the 'Aamber Fort' which has an unique artistic style that blends both Hindu and Mughal elements.

Assam showcased its enthralling Bhortal dance, while the Punjab tableaux adorned the larger than life figure of Sher-e-Punjab Maharaja Ranjit Singh atop the Lahore fort. Goa, Nagaland and Sikkim are other states who showcased their cultural heritage.

The Union Textiles Ministry's tableaux displayed the range of Indian handicrafts, reflecting the journey of Indian handicrafts from the traditional to the modern world, representing the rich cultural heritage from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.