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# The Global Intelligence Files

On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.

## STRATFOR India Country Brief - Nov. 16, 2011

Released on 2012-09-03 09:00 GMT

Email-ID | 5339918
Date | 1970-01-01 01:00:00
From | Anya.Alfano@stratfor.com
To | burton@stratfor.com, Declan_O'Donovan@dell.com, John_McClurg@DELL.com, Anders_De_La_Motte@Dell.com, Vinod_Dora@Dell.com

Basic Political Developments
A. BJP leader and PAC Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi praised Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee for defending both the CAG and the PAC when they
came under attack. a**At a time when democratic institutions are under
attack and several scams have come to light, it is heartening that Finance
Minister Pranab Mukherjee has come out in support of the institutions,a**
he said. Dr. Joshi was speaking at the valedictory function of the 150
years of the institution of Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Mr.
Mukherjee and CAG Vinod Rai, however, steered clear of political issues in
their speeches.
A. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday lent support to his
Uttar Pradesh counterpart Mayawati's stand to carve out four new states
out of Uttar Pradesh. ''We are in principle in favour of formation of
smaller states ... We have been votary of smaller states for fostering a
new era of development ... However, it is a matter between Uttar Pradesh
government and the Centre,'' he told reporters here before emplaning for
Muzaffarpur for the second leg of his Seva Yatra.
A. The Bhartiya Janata Party on Wednesday said the party is happy to
know that Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and Sudheendra Kulkarni,
who are accused in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam, have granted bail by the
Delhi high court.
A. TRS leaders on Wednesday undertook 'padayatra' in Telangana region
to highlight their demand for separate statehood."Congress came to power
after promising separate Telangana. But it is delaying formation of
separate state in the name of committees, commissions and all-party
meetings. We are undertaking the 'padyatra' to expose the Congress," TRS
MLA and party president K Chandrasekhar Rao's nephew T Harish Rao told
reporters.
A. Dismissive about the self-regulatory mechanism proposed by the
broadcast media, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju
on Wednesday insisted they must come under some regulatory authority which
could be of its choice.
A. BJP leader LK Advani on Wednesday slammed Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah for seeking the removal of Armed Forces Special
Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of the state.
National Economic Trends
A. As the rupee depreciated to a new 32-month low against the US
dollar, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the Reserve Bank is
monitoring the situation and will intervene in the forex market "as and
when necessary". "As RBI has already mentioned, it is watching the
situation. As and when it is necessary, they will intervene," Mukherjee
told reporters on the sidelines of CAG event. His comments came a day
after the apex bank said that it will intervene in the foreign exchange
market only to arrest volatility.
A. The rupee breached the Rs 51 per US dollar-level today after a
32-month gap on good dollar demand from banks and importers in view of the
strong dollar overseas.
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
A. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday opposed foreign direct
investment (FDI) in the aviation sector, saying it will lead to
annihilation of the domestic industry. "We are opposed to foreign
investment in the aviation sector as it will lead to annihilation of the
domestic industry, including (state owned) Air India," said BJP
spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a former civil avaition minister.
A. A spokesman for Reliance Industries denied on Wednesday a
newspaper report the energy major was in talks to buy a stake in
cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines. A newspaper had reported that Reliance
might make a financial investment or pick up a stake through a
preferential offer bythe carrier, which could be followed up by an open
offer to public shareholders.
A. The cut in petrol prices by state-run oil companies will have
negligible or marginal impact on the country's economy and will not help
the near double-digit inflation to cool down, industry experts observe.
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
A. State-owned oil companies on Tuesday hiked jet fuel prices for the
second time this month, raising rates by a steep 2% with effect from
Tuesday midnight. "The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel,
at Delhi's T3 airport was raised by Rs 1,195 per kilolitre (kl), or
1.95%, to Rs 62,310.33 per kl with effect from midnight tonight, an
official of Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said.
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai,
Coimbatore)
A. Faced with renewed violence by the Maoists, West Bengal chief
minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday described them as more "dangerous
than terrorists" and warned that her government would not sit back and
watch the bloodbath. "You cannot talk peace and kill people. We cannot
sit back and watch. We have to maintain law and order. We cannot suck our
fingers when the killings go on," Mamata said a day after the Maoists
offered to extend their unilateral ceasefire offer by four months if the
operation by Joint Forces was kept suspended for the same period.
A. The seven of the nine accused in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts,
who spent nearly half a decade in prison, were freed today from a jail in
Mumbai.
Labor/Social Unrest
A. As the economic blockade in Manipur completed 100 days on the 8th
of November, there are a few questions that need to be answered. One
amongst them is: a**For how long will the blockade continue?a** Ita**s
completed 100 days and is countinga*|.
Full Text
Basic Political Developments
Joshi praises Pranaba**s defence of CAG, PAC
PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2632992.ece
Politics over its critical reports on scams echoed in the 150th
anniversary celebrations of the CAG on Wednesday when BJP leader and PAC
Chairman Murli Manohar Joshi praised Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for
defending both the CAG and the PAC when they came under attack.
a**At a time when democratic institutions are under attack and several
scams have come to light, it is heartening that Finance Minister Pranab
Mukherjee has come out in support of the institutions,a** he said.
Dr. Joshi was speaking at the valedictory function of the 150 years of the
institution of Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Mr. Mukherjee and
CAG Vinod Rai, however, steered clear of political issues in their
speeches.
The BJP veteran referred to Mr. Mukherjeea**s speech at the ADB annual
meeting at Hanoi which he made this year in which he had said that Indian
governance system is fortified with strong checks and balances through
institutions such as the PAC and CAG and said a**such clear statements
really go a long way in infusing confidence in these institutionsa**.
a**I congratulate the Finance Minister for your support and believe that
you will continue to support these institutions.
They are highly dependent on you for the principle of transparency,a** he
said.
Dr. Joshi also said it was unfortunate that quite recently, faced with
CAGa**s critical observations in his reports, a section of the press and
even some parliamentarians have tried to whittle down the credibility of
the institution of the CAG.
a**While parliamentarians in India, by and large, have always accorded due
regard and respect to the CAG and his officers, however, sometimes unable
to stomach fair critical comments in the CAG report, ministers have
reacted in an unsavoury manner,a** Dr. Joshi said.
He recalled that when the then Defence Minister Krishna Menon had made
certain derogatory remarks about the CAG in Lok Sabha in 1960, the then
Speaker M Ananthasayanam Ayyangar had ruled that CAG is an independent
authority whose conduct cannot be a**impeached in this mannera** however
strong the language that might have been used by the auditor.
In his speech, Mr. Mukherjee said in a world of growing complexities and
uncertainties, the possibility of institutional failures, oversight and
ignorance impacting the decision making process cannot be ruled out.
Institutions and individuals, who have the benefit of hindsight, while
reviewing the work of others can provide invaluable guidance in
improvement of processes to improve decision making and attain greater
efficiency, he said.
a**We should all be cautious in determining malafide intent as distinct
from bonafide errors of judgement or divergent opinions on policy
options,a** the Finance Minister said.
Asserting that the government was fully committed to eradicating
corruption from the system, he said corruption is a many headed hydra.
Many of its causes were rooted in the colonial legacy of the
administration and the excessive government controls over planned economic
activity.
a**None of us should hesitate in exposing misdemeanour and corrupt
practices. But then we should not shy away from reporting the good news as
well,a** he said appreciating the professionalism and integrity of the
officials of the audit and accounts officials in discharging their
constitutional mandate.
Nitish backs Mayawati on dividing UP
http://zeenews.india.com/news/bihar/nitish-backs-mayawati-on-dividing-up_742116.html
Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Wednesday lent support to his
Uttar Pradesh counterpart Mayawati's stand to carve out four new states
out of Uttar Pradesh.
''We are in principle in favour of formation of smaller states ... We have
been votary of smaller states for fostering a new era of development ...
However, it is a matter between Uttar Pradesh government and the Centre,''
he told reporters here before emplaning for Muzaffarpur for the second leg
of his Seva Yatra.
Bihar too was divided in 2000 when Jharkhand was carved out of it. The
demand for formation of Telangana was already there, besides those for
bifurcation of a few more states including Maharashtra, Chief Minister
said.
Before 2000 when Jharkhand was created, the population of Uttar Pradesh
was two-and-a-half times more than undivided Bihar and now it was double
than divided Bihar at present.
Mayawati had yesterday announced bringing a resolution in the House in the
winter session beginning next week for carving out four new states.
The state's Cabinet had already approved a resolution for creation of
Purvanchal, Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh and Paschim Pradesh.
BJP vows to fight till court exonerates whistleblowers
Agencies
New Delhi, November 16, 2011First Published: 15:46 IST(16/11/2011)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/newdelhi/BJP-vows-to-fight-till-court-exonerates-whistleblowers/Article1-769991.aspx
The Bhartiya Janata Party on Wednesday said the party is happy to know
that Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and Sudheendra Kulkarni, who
are accused in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam, have granted bail by the Delhi
high court. Bhartiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday
tweeted: "I am happy that Shri Faggan Singh Kulaste, Mahavir Bhagora and
Sudheendra Kulkarni have been directed to be released on bail."
Swaraj wrote on Twitter: "They have done no wrong. They only exposed
corruption."
"We will not rest only with this. We will fight till they are honourably
exonerated by the court," the BJP leader added later.
Earlier on Wednesday, two former BJP MPs and LK Advani's former aide
Sudheendra Kulkarni were granted bail by the Delhi high court along with
two other accused in the 2008 cash-for-vote case.
Justice ML Mehta also granted anticipatory bail to BJP MP Ashok Argal,
summoned by a special court to stand trial in the case.
"All the petitioners are admitted on bail on furnishing of a personal and
a surety bond of Rs two lakh each," said Justice Mehta, while allowing the
bail pleas of the five jailed accused, which included two former BJP
lawmakers Faggan Singh Kulaste and Mahabir Singh Bhagora.
"All the petitioners are directed to join investigation as and when asked
for," Justice Mehta said and also asked Argal to appear before the trial
court on the date he has been summoned.
The others who were granted bail are Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh's former
aide Sanjeev Saxena and alleged BJP activist Suhail Hindustani. All five
had been denied bail by the trial court.
The high court gave the reprieve to the all six accused in the
cash-for-vote scam after the Delhi Police told the court that it had no
objection to the grant of bail to them as the investigation in the case
was over and they were not required for custodial interrogation.
While, Argal, who was yet to be arrested in the case, had sought
anticipatory bail in the case, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh were granted bail
earlier by the high court on health ground.
Kulkarni is in jail since September 27 while Bhagora and Kulaste were
arrested along with former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on September
6 in the case. Hindustani and Saxena were arrested on July 17 after the
Supreme Court pulled up police for its tardy probe.
The Delhi high court had on October 24 granted bail to Amar Singh on
health grounds but restrained him from leaving the country without its
permission.
On July 22, 2008, some BJP MPs had waved wads of currency notes on the
floor of Lok Sabha during the trust vote faced by the UPA-I government,
alleging they were given the money to vote in favour of the government.
Kulkarni, in his petition, had claimed that he along with the BJP MPs got
involved in the sting operation conducted by a private news channel only
to expose the "horse trading" that was going on to save the then UPA-I
government in the vote of trust in the Lok Sabha on July 22, 2008.
During the arguments, senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for an
accused, had said "no criminal motive could be attributed in the case as
it was a sting operation which was conducted to expose the horse trading
and not to get illegal gratification."
The whistleblower MPs got themselves "bugged" to catch the culprits, Singh
had said, adding "instead of being made witnesses, they have been made
accused and put behind bars."
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Kulaste and Bhagora, had
said, "The BJP MPs along with the journalists of a news channel planned
the sting operation to expose the scam then why the MPs are being made
accused and scribes are made witnesses?"
Pressing for Telangana, TRS undertakes 'padayatra'
http://zeenews.india.com/news/andhra-pradesh/pressing-for-telangana-trs-undertakes-padayatra_742152.html
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 17:45
Hyderabad: TRS leaders on Wednesday undertook 'padayatra' in Telangana
region to highlight their demand for separate statehood.
"Congress came to power after promising separate Telangana. But it is
delaying formation of separate state in the name of committees,
commissions and all-party meetings. We are undertaking the 'padyatra' to
expose the Congress," TRS MLA and party president K Chandrasekhar Rao's
nephew T Harish Rao told reporters.
The 'padayatra' will cover the region till November 21, party sources
said.
The foot march is part of the agitation programme finalised by the TRS
politburo which met on November 10.
Meanwhile, the Telangana political Joint Action Committee (JAC) Convener M
Kodandaram demanded that Telangana leaders in Congress and TDP must put
pressure on their party leadership for passing a resolution in the state
in the coming Assembly session.
Self-regulation is no regulation, Katju to media
http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/self-regulation-is-no-regulation-katju-to-media_742161.html
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 18:24
New Delhi: Dismissive about the self-regulatory mechanism proposed by the
broadcast media, Press Council of India Chairman Justice Markandey Katju
on Wednesday insisted they must come under some regulatory authority which
could be of its choice.
Katju said if TV channels did not want to come under the Press Council
they should choose another body like the proposed Lokpal.
The former Supreme Court judge however made it clear he was against use of
"harsh measures" against the media.
"Powers must be there, either with me, I said I am not so fond of power
and you mention which regulatory authority whom you want to come under
because you dont like the Press Council of India because the current
Chairman is a very undesirable and wicked person. You can say under which
regulatory body you want to come under like the Lokpal," he said.
He was initiating a panel discussion on 'Media as an Instrument of Public
Accountability' on the ocassion of National Press Day.
Justice(retd) Katju said if media says they will be self-regulated then
the same principle may apply for politicians and bureaucrats too.
"There has to be some regulatory mechanism. You can't say there will be
self-regulation, which means nothing. You alone are saints and everyone is
sinners? Then what is this paid news, what is (Niira) Radia tapes and what
is all these?" he asked.
Strongly criticising the way panel discussions are being conducted on
television channels, Katju said they should be held in a "disciplined
manner" and that the event would set an example.
He said he was against use of "harsh measures" against media and that he
would never support them.
"I have always been against (using) harsh measures against media. Because
media people are intellectuals they should be persuaded if they go wrong.
We should hold discussions with them. That is the way of resolving things
in a democracy," the PCI chairman said.
Referring to Hindu Editor-in-Chief N Ram's remarks that "more teeth"
should be given to the PCI, Katju said: "This teeth will almost never
bite. One has to understand my philosophy. I believe that 90 per cent of
the people who commit mistakes can be reformed."
He also narrated a story of a saint asking a cobra not to bite any human
beings. But, one day, when he saw the cobra being badly wounded, he asked
it: "Why didn't you bite them?".
The cobra reminded the saint that he had asked it not to do so.
The saint replied, Justice Katju said: "I asked you not to bite them, but
why did not you show your fangs." "Likewise I will show my fangs sometimes
but this teeth will almost never bite," the PCI Chairman said.
Justice Katju also narrated another incident to drive home his point why a
regulatory mechanism is needed.
"Shishupal (son of Kunti's younger sister) committed 99 mistakes and every
time Lord Krishna forgave him. But when he did commit mistake the 100th
time his head was chopped off...I am not trying to equate myself with Lord
Krishna," he said.
AFSPA row: Advani attacks Omar govt
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 16:00
http://zeenews.india.com/news/jammu-and-kashmir/afspa-row-advani-attacks-omar-govt_742130.html
Zeenews Bureau
Jammu: BJP leader LK Advani on Wednesday slammed Jammu and Kashmir Chief
Minister Omar Abdullah for seeking the removal of Armed Forces Special
Powers Act (AFSPA) from parts of the state.
Addressing a rally here as part of his Jan Chetna Yatra, Advani said the
removal of AFSPA will handicap the Army, which otherwise has done a
commendable job in tackling terrorism in the state.
He stated that the Armya**s nod was necessary before any decision on part
or full revocation of AFSPA could be taken.
Advani also hit out at Central governmenta**s policies with regard to
Pakistan, saying it sometimes favoured talks and at other times sayid
talks cannot be held until visible action against terrorism.
National Economic Trends
RBI monitoring rupee; will intervene when necessary: Pranab
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, November 16, 2011First Published: 17:00 IST(16/11/2011)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/RBI-monitoring-rupee-will-intervene-when-necessary-Pranab/Article1-770030.aspx
As the rupee depreciated to a new 32-month low against the US dollar,
finance minister Pranab Mukherjee today said the Reserve Bank is
monitoring the situation and will intervene in the forex market "as and
when necessary". "As RBI has already mentioned, it is watching the
situation. As and when it is necessary, they will intervene," Mukherjee
told reporters on the sidelines of CAG event. His comments came a day
after the apex bank said that it will intervene in the foreign exchange
market only to arrest volatility.
"We intervene when there is a very strong movement in a particular
direction or extreme volatility and the objective is to smooth that
volatility and not fix a rate," RBI Deputy Governor Subir Gokarn had said
yesterday.
The rupee fell by 24 paise to a fresh 32-month low of Rs 50.91 against the
US dollar in early trade today amid depreciation of the euro due to the
deepening debt crisis in the euro-zone nations. The rupee is the fourth
most depreciated currency in the world and most depreciated in the Asian
continent. RBI has attributed the movement to the demand-supply factor,
and said it is happening globally.
Gokarn had said that RBI would opt for open market operations to manage
liquidity in the system only if there is a stress and not to influence
government bond yields. A weaker rupee is a matter of concern for India as
it depends on imports for over 70% of its oil and gas requirements and the
depreciation in the local currency have made imports expensive.
This has come at a time when headline inflation has remained above the 9%
mark for 11 consecutive months.
Rupee at 32-month low, breaches Rs 51-level vs dollar
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/forex/rupee-at-32-month-low-breaches-rs-51-level-vs-dollar/articleshow/10755242.cms
MUMBAI: The rupee breached the Rs 51 per US dollar-level today after a
32-month gap on good dollar demand from banks and importers in view of the
strong dollar overseas.
The rupee resumed lower at Rs 50.90/91 per dollar on the Interbank Foreign
Exchange, as against yesterday's close of Rs 50.67/68 per dollar, and
dropped further to a 32-month low of 51.01 per dollar before quoting at Rs
50.88/90 per dollar at 1030 hours.
The rupee had last touched Rs 51.20 per dollar on March 31, 2009.
The domestic currency moved in a range between 50.84 per dollar and Rs
51.01 per dollar during morning deals.
Sustained dollar demand from banks and importers on the back of a higher
dollar in overseas markets mainly affected the rupee value against the
dollar, a forex dealer said.
The US dollar gained and the euro slumped yesterday in the New York market
as borrowing costs for Italy, Spain and core members of the euro zone
continued to rise, undercutting investors' interest in riskier assets.
Meanwhile, the BSE benchmark Sensex dropped further by 165 points, or 0.98
per cent, in early trade.
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
BJP against foreign investment in aviation sector
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/bjp-against-foreign-investment-in-aviation-sector/articleshow/10756809.cms
NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Wednesday opposed foreign
direct investment (FDI) in the aviation sector, saying it will lead to
annihilation of the domestic industry.
"We are opposed to foreign investment in the aviation sector as it will
lead to annihilation of the domestic industry, including (state owned) Air
India," said BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a former civil avaition
minister.
The government is said to be exploring options of allowing FDI in the
aviation sector.
He said that as compared to the National Democratic Alliance rule, the
growth of aviation sector had dropped to around 12 percent under the
United Progressive Alliance.
He reiterated that BJP was opposed to government bailing out Kingfisher
Airlines.
"A company reeling under losses has challenged providing connectivity to
northeast. Operating in areas like northeast, Jammu and Kashmir and island
areas are social obligation and it is for the company to manage its
affairs. Why should government bailout a private airline?" asked Rudy.
Reliance denies Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher stake-buy talks report
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Reliance-denies-Kingfisher-stake-buy-talks-report/articleshow/10751326.cms
Reuters | Nov 16, 2011, 10.06AM ISTMUMBAI: A spokesman for Reliance
Industries denied on Wednesday a newspaper report the energy major was in
talks to buy a stake in cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines. A newspaper had
reported that Reliance might make a financial investment or pick up a
stake through a preferential offer bythe carrier, which could be followed
up by an open offer to public shareholders.
Citing an unnamed person close to the airline, the paper said Reliance was
understood to have engaged a merchant banker to carry out due diligence of
the carrier.
Ravi Nedungadi, chief financial officer of UB Group, the airline's parent,
had said on Tuesday it had been approached by strategic investors.
An official with one of Kingfisher's lenders had also said the carrier's
chairman, Vijay Mallya, was talking to a potential strategic investor.
Kingfisher, which reported a September quarter loss of 4.69 billion rupees
($92 million) on Tuesday, cancelled scores of flights last week as it
abruptly shut some routes. It has also been late paying salaries.
Petrol price cut by oil companys' will not help inflation: Experts
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/petrol-price-cut-by-oil-companys-will-not-help-inflation-experts/articleshow/10755297.cms
KOLKATA: The cut in petrol prices by state-run oil companies will have
negligible or marginal impact on the country's economy and will not help
the near double-digit inflation to cool down, industry experts observe.
India's fuel retailers cut petrol prices by Rs.1.85 per litre Tuesday.
The move came after some United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies,
including Trinamool Congress, and opposition parties alike criticised the
petrol price hike of Rs.1.80 per litre earlier this month.
However, Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the largest of the three state-run oil
marketing companies, stated that a fall in global crude prices and the
rupee remaining stable at 49.30 to a US dollar were the reasons for the
cut in petrol prices in domestic market.
"Bringing down fuel prices is always a good decision. Now the thing is
that we have to see how sustainable it is as the rupee is depreciating
against the dollar. The government must take measures to ensure that rupee
does not depreciate," Srei Infrastructure Finance managing director Hemant
Kanoria told IANS here Wednesday.
Kanoria said Rs.42 to Rs.44 was the right level of exchange rate against
dollar.
"The price cut will have some marginal effect on the economy. Continuous
hike in petrol prices was badly affecting the auto market of the country.
Car owners now will get some relief. So general people will be benefited
by the decision," he said.
He also observed that the reduction in petrol prices will not have any
cooling effect on overall inflation which has stood at over nine percent
for 11 months in a row.
Emami Group of companies director Manish Goenka said the petrol price cut
will only benefit the common people, not the industry. "Now use of petrol
is very limited in the industry. So the slash in petrol prices will not
have any impact on the industry. But the cut is good for consumer
sentiment," he said.
D.P. Nag, secretary of industry body Bengal National Chamber Of Commerce
and Industry (BNCCI), said fuel prices always affect the industry. "But I
think there will be a very negligible effect on industry because petrol
use is reduced now," he averred.
He, however, said reducing petrol prices was a good signal. "It is a good
signal for any market economy where reduction in global crude oil prices
should be followed by a corresponding reduction in prices of fuel in the
domestic market."
Dipankar Dasgupta, former professor of economics at the Indian Statistical
Institute (ISI), also felt that petrol price cut will not give people any
relief from very high inflation.
"In the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), the weightage of fuel is only 24
percent. And in this 24 percent, share of petrol is only one percent. So
we are talking about one percent of the 24 percent...."
"Thus petrol prices have a very insignificant impact on overall
inflation," Dasgupta observed
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
Oil companies hike jet fuel prices
Press Trust Of India
New Delhi, November 15, 2011First Published: 20:25 IST(15/11/2011)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/Oil-companies-hike-jet-fuel-prices/Article1-769609.aspx
State-owned oil companies on Tuesday hiked jet fuel prices for the second
time this month, raising rates by a steep 2% with effect from Tuesday
midnight.
"The price of aviation turbine fuel (ATF), or jet fuel, at Delhi's T3
airport was raised by Rs 1,195 per kilolitre (kl), or 1.95%, to Rs
62,310.33 per kl with effect from midnight tonight, an official of Indian
Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer, said.
The increase comes on back of a massive 3.8% or Rs 2,845 per kl hike in
rates effected from November 1.
But for a one-off marginal reduction in mid-October, ATF prices have been
on the climb since September. IOC and other state retailers, Hindustan
Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum, had on October 1 and September 16 and
raised jet fuel prices by 2.5% and 1.5% respectively, as imports became
costlier due to a fall in rupee value against the US dollar.
ATF in Mumbai, home to the nation's busiest airport, will cost Rs
63,228.40 per kl from Wednesday as against current rate of Rs 61,983.64
per kl.
Jet fuel makes up for 40% of an airlines' operating cost and the steep
hike in prices will raise burden on the cash-strapped airlines. No
immediate comment was available from airlines on the impact of the price
hike on passenger fares.
ATF prices vary from airport to airport, depending on the local sales tax
or VAT.
The three fuel retailers revise jet fuel prices on the 1st and 16th of
every month, based on the average international price in the preceding
fortnight.
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai,
Coimbatore)
Maoists more dangerous than terrorists: Mamata
Press Trust Of India
Kolkata, November 16, 2011First Published: 15:10 IST(16/11/2011)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Kolkata/Maoists-more-dangerous-than-terrorists-Mamata/Article1-769945.aspx
Faced with renewed violence by the Maoists, West Bengal chief minister
Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday described them as more "dangerous than
terrorists" and warned that her government would not sit back and watch
the bloodbath. "You cannot talk peace and kill people. We cannot sit back
and watch. We have to maintain law and order. We cannot suck our fingers
when the killings go on," Mamata said a day after the Maoists offered to
extend their unilateral ceasefire offer by four months if the operation by
Joint Forces was kept suspended for the same period.
She said the Maoists were more dangerous than terrorists.
However, she said, "I still feel good sense will prevail on them and they
will come back to the mainstream. If they come to the mainstream, the
state government will take responsibility. It is a duty of the government
to give protection to people."
The chief minister was speaking at meeting to condole the killing of two
Trinamool supporters by the Maoists at Balarampur in Purulia district on
November 14.
She said some people were helping the Maoists with money and shelter.
"The government is keeping a watch on them," she said and urged people to
stay vigilant about their activities, particularly in Uttarpara in Hoogly
district and activities of some students of universities like the Jadavpur
University.
"I know all people are not bad, but you must keep a watch," Banerjee said.
2006 Malegaon blast: 7 accused walk free from jail
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/2006-malegaon-blast-7-accused-walk-free-from-jail/876782/
The seven of the nine accused in the 2006 Malegaon bomb blasts, who spent
nearly half a decade in prison, were freed today from a jail in Mumbai.
A special MCOCA court, on November 5, granted bail to all nine men accused
in the case, in which 37 persons were killed and hundreds injured.
The accused were granted bail after the National Investigation Agency
(NIA) told MCOCA Judge Yatin D Shinde that it had decided not to oppose
the bail pleas of the accused.
While granting bail, the court also directed each of the nine men to
deposit Rs 50,000 as surety.
The nine accused are Salman Farsi, Shabir Ahmed, Noorulhuda Doha, Raees
Ahmed, Javed Sheikh, Farooque Ansari, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammed Ali and Asif
Khan. However, the last two will not be set free as they are also accused
in the 7/11 local train blasts in Mumbai.
The nine had filed fresh bail applications after Swami Aseemananda**s
reported confession late last year in which he claimed that the blasts
were the handiwork of Hindu right wing groups, also blamed for the 2008
Malegaon bomb blast, and blasts in Ajmer and Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad.
The NIA said that after the confession of Aseemanand, it reviewed the
evidence of other investigating agencies and then collected fresh evidence
before arriving at its decision.
The September 8, 2006 blasts had occurred in and around a mosque in the
town in Nashik district during afternoon prayers on Shab-e-Barat.
Labor/Social Unrest
Manipur blockade: 100 days and counting
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 16, 2011, 18:27
http://zeenews.india.com/news/exclusive/b-manipur-blockade-100-days-and-counting-b_742156.html
As the economic blockade in Manipur completed 100 days on the 8th of
November, there are a few questions that need to be answered. One amongst
them is: a**For how long will the blockade continue?a** Ita**s completed
100 days and is countinga*|.
The economic blockade, which started on the 1st of August, has led to
acute shortage of essential commodities in the state such as food, fuel
and medicine. According to reports, the price of fuel (petrol and diesel)
has hit a high of Rs 150-200 per liter while the price of cooking gas is
at Rs 1500-2000 per cylinder in the black market; supplies have reportedly
run out and loaded goods trucks have been stopped from entering the state.
This means that the common people have to bear the brunt of the black
marketers, the agitation and high prices.
What is also saddening is the fact that there is little or no intervention
from the government, both from the state and the centre, making the
situation of the state a sad plight. And this is another reason why the
count of the number of blockade days could go on increasing.
While the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee (SHDDC), which started
the blockade of NHs 53 and 39 in their demand for a Kuki majority
district, might have called off the blockade after a written assurance
from the Ibobi Singh led Manipur government, the Nagas of the state under
the aegis of the United Naga Council (UNC) and All Naga Students'
Association of Manipur (ANSAM) have only intensified their counter
blockade which began on August 21. The Nagas feel that their demand for a
a**Greater Nagalanda** or a**Nagalima** has been ignored while the
government has conceded to the demand for a Sadar Hills District which
would cut out a major chunk of Naga occupied districts in the state.
Perhaps, this action of the Ibobi Singh government of a**favouringa** the
SHDDC over the UNC and ANSAM has only worsened the situation in the
region. The Kukis and the Nagas in the state have a history of ethnic
violence that dates back to the early nineties, and this act of the state
government could just add fuel to it. This also means that the blockade
could go on unless the Manipur government finds a better solution or
handles it better.
The visit of Home Minister, P Chidambaram, to the state in the first week
of November was seen by many as damage control after the Manipur
government had agreed to the demand of the SHDDC; the central government
could really do nothing much and there has been hardly any interference
from the part of the UPA government in the state either. Is this because
the state does not really affect the economic condition of the country or
is it an issue too small for the central government to deal with? That is
for the central government to answer. However, considering this act of the
government, it is not hard to imagine that the people of the state
consider themselves a**outsidersa** or as being a**neglecteda**.
In reality, there is no easy or one way solution to the problem of the
state. For a state where the Meiteis are the majority of the ethnic group
in a population of 2.7 million, (they form about 60 percent of the total
population) they would never ever give in to the demands of the Nagas
(they occupy about 60-70 percent of the total land area but form just
about 20-30 percent of the population) for a a**Greater Nagalanda** or
a**Nagalima** as it would mean a major chunk of their homeland attached to
Nagaland.
Hence, one does not see a possible or easy solution to the problems of the
Nagas and the Kukis in the state. Perhaps, one of the solutions could be
for the government to intervene and bring about an understanding between
the different groups, and make them live in peace. But only if that was as
easy as saying it
--
Anya Alfano
Briefer
STRATFOR
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