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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. 29, 2011

Released on 2012-09-03 09:00 GMT

Email-ID | 5495117
Date | 2011-11-29 18:58:57
From | Anya.Alfano@stratfor.com
To | fred.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
. Virtually rejecting demands from within UPA and outside for
rollback of FDI in retail, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday
justified the decision as a well considered move and attacked Opposition
for not allowing Parliament to function. He said there was no compulsion
on states to implement the decision of the Union Cabinet with regard to
allowing 51 per cent FDI in retail and there were options available to
them for not implementing.
. Expressing unhappiness over the draft Lokpal bill prepared by the
parliamentary panel, Team Anna members said on Tuesday it was useless if
the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the lower bureaucracy was
kept out of its ambit. "The draft, as I am being told, provides for the
CBI to be kept under government control. If the CBI is under government
control, then the Lokpal will remain an empty tin box," Team Anna member
Arvind Kejriwal told reporters here.
. Stepping up their campaign on the Mullaperiyar issue, Union
Ministers from Kerala [ Images ] on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh, seeking his intervention in ensuring the saftey of the 116-year-old
dam. Union Ministers Vayalar Ravi, K V Thomas , K C Venugopal,Mullapally
Ramachandran and E Ahamed met Dr Singh with a demand to rein in Tamil
Nadu's insistence on increasing the water level in the reservoir for
enhancing water supply to the state.
National Economic Trends
. The government on Tuesday said that there is no direct
"correspondence" between the quantum of increase in interest rates and
fall in inflation. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, finance minister
Pranab Mukherjee said that monetary policy measures are not aimed at
merely controlling pressure from inflation.
. Productivity of foodgrains in India has increased by about 10 per
cent to 1,921 kg per hectare in the last four years, but the yield of most
of these crops are still lower than the world average, Parliament was
informed today.
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
. Warning that delayed forest clearances for captive mines could
adversely impact development and financing of a large number of power
projects, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has
said India risks missing the 1,00,000-MW capacity addition target for the
12th Plan.
. India's aviation ministry said on Tuesday it supports allowing
foreign airlines to invest in the country's cash-hungry carriers, but
added that a final decision must be made by the cabinet.
. In view of the forthcoming UP elections, industry body ASSOCHAM has
prepared a 15 point economic agenda for political parties to include in
their poll manifesto. "Food processing, automobiles, textiles, leather,
cement, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, information technology, real estate
and tourism are significant areas which can transform the state economy"
said DS Rawat while releasing the report titled 'ASSOCHAM suggestions for
election manifesto of political parties in UP.'
. Vehemently opposing the proposed Posco steel plant in Odisha's
Jagatsinghpur district, CPI demanded immediate shifting of the project
elsewhere asking the state government to refrain from repressive moves.
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
. The stage is set for another cut in retail prices of petrol by
about Re 1 a litre. But, whether this happens will depend on the oil
retailers.If the prices are reduced on Wednesday (night/Thursday), this
would be the second cut in a month. Politically, this will work out in
favour of the UPA Government, which has been drawing flak for rising
costs. Though, last June, the oil retailers where given freedom to revise
petrol retail prices, an informal Government control remains.
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai,
Coimbatore)
. The National Investigating Agency which is investigating the Mecca
Masjid blasts of Hyderabad is currently looking at the money trail that
led to the execution of these attacks. Although the NIA has found that it
was right-wing Hindu group Abhinav Bharat member Swami Aseemanand who
handed over the money to execute the blasts, it is clear that he was not
the man who was primarily responsible for raising the funds.
. A total of 5000 detonators were seized and four persons were
arrested in this connection from Giridih district in Jharkhand, the police
said today.
. Ulfa 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah and newly-appointed
'chairman' Abhijit Bormon on Tuesday condoled the death of Jnanpith Award
winning Assamese litterateur Indira Raisom Goswami. "Goswami would be
remembered in history for "correctly presenting Ulfa's goal, purpose and
philosophy to government of India," Baruah and Bormon said in a statement.
Labor/Social Unrest
. A tribal group Tuesday lifted a four-month highway blockade that
caused a serious shortage of essential supplies in parts of the
northeastern India state of Manipur.Vashum Shangreingam, a member of the
United Naga Council, said the group decided late Monday to lift the
blockade because it was causing suffering among residents. Police
confirmed the closure ended early Tuesday morning.
FULL TEXT
Basic Political Developments
FDI decision taken after lot of consideration: Manmohan
PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2671352.ece?homepage=true
Virtually rejecting demands from within UPA and outside for rollback of
FDI in retail, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday justified the
decision as a well considered move and attacked Opposition for not
allowing Parliament to function.
He said there was no compulsion on states to implement the decision of the
Union Cabinet with regard to allowing 51 per cent FDI in retail and there
were options available to them for not implementing.
Dr. Singh insisted that the decision to allow FDI in retail was aimed at
creating jobs, improving rumeneration of farmers and enabling import of
technology besides benefitting consumers.
"I would .. like to a mention today of the decision of the government
permitting Foreign Direct Investment in Retail. We have not taken this
decision in any haste but after a lot of consideration. It is our firm
convinction that the decision will benefit our country," the Prime
Minister said while addressing Youth Congress convention here.
He defended the decision taken last week even as Parliament was paralysed
for the third day on the issue with Opposition, joined by UPA constituents
Trinamool Congress and DMK, being unrelenting on the demand for its
reversal. Voices of opposition have emerged from within Congress also.
"We believe that it will bring modern technology to the country, improve
rural infrastructure, reduce wastage of agricultural produce and enable
our farmers to get better prices for their crops," Dr. Singh said,
virtually ruling out any reversal of the decision.
Justifying the decision, Singh said the differential that exists between
wholesale and retail prices will reduce and consumers will get commodities
of daily use at reduced prices.
"As far as small retailers are concerned, the experience in some other
countries suggests that both big and small retailers can easily co-exist
in a big country like ours," he said.
On the fears that the small businesses in the country would be hurt by the
FDI decision, the Prime Minister said, "we have put some conditions so
that FDI in retail promotes our small industry."
Most importantly, he said, "we are not forcing anyone to follow this
policy. State governments that are not convinced of its usefulness have
the means to prevent foreign participation in retail businesses in their
states."
He said FDI in retail will result in creation of many new employment
opportunities in a range of sectors like food processing, transportation,
and storage.
"I would urge all of you to inform the people correctly on the issue,"
held told the Youth Congress workers.
Talking about the logjam in Parliament, Dr. Singh attacked the Opposition,
saying disruption of proceedings amounted to doing "injustice" with those
who have elected MPs and lowered the image of the country.
He said all differences can be discussed in Parliament and was "still
hopeful of finding a way out of the current impasse" for which the
government will continue its efforts.
While talking about the government's endeavours to push reforms, Dr. Singh
said, "the work we have to do requires the enactment of many new
legislations and amendments in many existing ones."
Dr. Singh said the government wants to take the legislative matters
speedily before Parliament.
"It is necessary that Parliament functions smoothly if we are to move
ahead. But the Opposition parties are not allowing this to happen in the
current session," he said.
The Prime Minister said government has always believed that "whatever
differences of opinion the opposition parties have with us should be
discussed and debated in Parliament.
"If we don't do this and create obstructions in the work of Parliament, we
do injustice to the faith reposed in us by the people who have elected us
as their representatives."
Bringing the work of Parliament to a halt, he said, "also reduces the
country's prestige".
Referring to the issue of price rise, he attributed it to a variety of
factors, including domestic and international, and said the government was
determined to deal with it.
Listing the factors, Dr. Singh said due to rise in global prices of
commodities, government has to raise Minimum Support Price of farm produce
which causes inflationary pressure.
Similarly, when international fuel prices go up, it has an impact on costs
of other commodities, he said.
"We have taken so many initiatives, including fiscal initiatives... We
hope by these measures, inflation will come down," Dr. Singh said.
"In the coming months we will redouble our efforts for ensuring that the
fruits of development reach all citizens of our country, and especially
those who have been left behind," he said.
Observing that "we have still a long way to go", he said, "It is no easy
task to meet the challenges that face us."
Team Anna unhappy over final Lokpal bill draft
IANS | Nov 29, 2011, 01.41PM IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Team-Anna-unhappy-over-final-Lokpal-bill-draft/articleshow/10916738.cms
NEW DELHI: Expressing unhappiness over the draft Lokpal bill prepared by
the parliamentary panel, Team Anna members said on Tuesday it was useless
if the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the lower bureaucracy was
kept out of its ambit.
"The draft, as I am being told, provides for the CBI to be kept under
government control. If the CBI is under government control, then the
Lokpal will remain an empty tin box," Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal
told reporters here.
Kejriwal was also upset over the Parliamentary Standing Committee's draft
not including the lower bureaucracy in the ambit of the Lokpal. "The sense
of the house adopted by Parliament clearly said that lower bureaucracy and
the citizens' charter will be included. We request that the sense of the
house be respected," he said.
He insisted that all government funded NGOs should be brought under the
Lokpal as massive corruption was prevalent in NGOs.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on law and justice examining the
Lokpal bill is expected to finalise its report Nov 30-Dec 1 and submit its
recommendations to parliament in the first week of December.
Another Team Anna member Kiran Bedi warned of a mass movement if the
government went back on the commitment given to Anna Hazare.
Ministers from Kerala meet PM over Mullaperiyar dam row
November 29, 2011 16:46 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/ministers-from-kerala-meet-pm-over-mullaperiyar-dam-row/20111129.htm
Stepping up their campaign on the Mullaperiyar issue, Union Ministers from
Kerala [ Images ] on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [ Images ],
seeking his intervention in ensuring the saftey of the 116-year-old dam.
Union Ministers Vayalar Ravi, K V Thomas [ Images ], K C
Venugopal,Mullapally Ramachandran and E Ahamed [ Images ] met Dr Singh
with a demand to rein in Tamil Nadu's insistence on increasing the water
level in the reservoir for enhancing water supply to the state.
"The prime minister heard us out and assured us that he would look into
the issue," Ravi told reporters.
MPs from Kerala, cutting across party lines, continued their protest in
Parliament premises to press for their demand for building a new dam to
replace the existing structure.
Alongside the representatives from Kerala, four MPs from Tamil Nadu staged
a sit-in protest demanding implementation of the Supreme Court directive
on the matter by raising the storage level to 142 feet.
The Mullaperiyar Dam in Kerala's Idukki district has been a sparring point
for the state with Tamil Nadu for quite some time now. While Tamil Nadu
wants to increase the water-level in the reservoir, Kerala has been
insisting that it be reduced from the current 136 feet to 120 feet.
Kerala is willing to construct a new dam for supplying water to Tamil
Nadu, which is opposing the move concerned over losing control over the
functionality of the dam.
Various groups in Kerala had been arguing that the dam cannot withstand
higher magnitude earthquakes and posed a threat to lives and properties of
over three million people in Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Alappuzha and
Pathanamthitta districts.
National Economic Trends
No direct correspondence between rate hike, inflation: Pranab
Press Trust Of India
http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/No-direct-correspondence-between-rate-hike-inflation-Pranab/Article1-775531.aspx
The government on Tuesday said that there is no direct "correspondence"
between the quantum of increase in interest rates and fall in inflation.
In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee
said that monetary policy measures are not aimed at merely controlling
pressure from inflation.
"Monetary policy rate hikes seek to affect the macro economy through a
compression in aggregate demand and are aimed at not only controlling
inflationary pressure but also inflation expectations.
"There is, as such, no direct one-to-one correspondence between the
quantum of increase in interest rates and reduction in the levels of
inflation," he said.
Mukherjee said that as interest rate hikes push up costs of borrowing and,
thereby, cost of products and services in general, a part of the costs in
likely to be passed on to the consumers.
"Higher end-product prices or end-service prices would help lower
aggregate demand and arrest inflationary pressures emanating therefrom,"
he said.
Inflation has been above the 9% mark since December last year and stood at
9.73% in October this year. The Reserve Bank has hiked lending rates 13
times by a total of 350 basis points since March, 2010, to tame inflation.
Mukherjee said that to lessen the burden of rising interest rates on the
vulnerable sections, the government has been giving selective interest
subvention in some areas.
"Besides, the government is also addressing supply side constraints
through a slew of measures," he said.
Foodgrain productivity has risen by 10%: Government
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/foodgrain-productivity-has-risen-by-10-government/articleshow/10918870.cms
NEW DELHI: Productivity of foodgrains in India has increased by about 10
per cent to 1,921 kg per hectare in the last four years, but the yield of
most of these crops are still lower than the world average, Parliament was
informed today.
Productivity of foodgrains in the country rose from 1,756 kg a hectare in
2006-07 to 1,921 kg/hectare in 2010-11, an increase by 165 kg per hectare,
Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat said in a written reply in
Lok Sabha.
The increased productivity has led to record level of production of 241.56
million of foodgrains during 2010-11, which is significantly higher than
the projected demand of 229.12 million tonnes for the period, he said.
But the yield of major crops in India is still lower than the world
average, as per reports of UN body Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
for 2009 (latest available), Rawat added.
While rice productivity in India is 2,178 kg per hectare the world's
average is 4,320 kg/hectare, he said.
Similarly, for wheat it stood at 2,907 kg a hectare as against the world
average of 3,039 kg/hectare, for pulses it is 659 kg per hectare for India
and 930 kg/hectare for world and in sugarcane for India it is 64,553
kg/hectare vis-a-vis world's 69,866 kg/hectare, the minister added.
Rawat said the Centre is running various schemes to increase productivity
and production of agricultural crops in the country.
This includes the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) and Integrated
schemes of oilseeds, pulses, oil palm and maize (ISOPOM), he said.
Further, the country's apex agri research body ICAR is conducting research
on crops like wheat, rice, maize, sorghum, minor millets, oilseeds,
pulses, cotton, sugarcane and jute, the minister added.
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
'India could miss the power target due to delayed forest clearance'
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2671785.ece
Warning that delayed forest clearances for captive mines could adversely
impact development and financing of a large number of power projects,
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said India
risks missing the 1,00,000-MW capacity addition target for the 12th Plan.
In his assessment submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he said many
thermal plants currently under implementation, including the ambitious
ultra mega power projects, were dependent on allotted coal mines which
have yet to get forest clearance. "This does not affect power production
immediately but it will do so a few years down the line." It would also
have an immediate effect on investor sentiment in the power generation
sector and on financing for power generation. "Unless the problem is
resolved quickly, the 12th Plan target of 1,00,00 MW will not be
attainable." The assessment, a copy of which is with The Hindu, has been
done by Mr. Ahluwalia on being asked by the Prime Minister to identify
issues in the power sector which need immediate action. Dr. Ahluwalia has
listed eight issues which require action by different Ministries.
Transition problem
He said the matter was currently under the consideration of the Empowered
Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, and
decisions needed to be expedited. "The Ministry of Environment and Forests
needs to be persuaded to take a more reasonable position to avoid
disruption in power supply from plants that are in process. Even if we
want to be tough in future - and we should be - we should recognise that
we face a transition problem. There is a good case for clearing a number
of coal mines now with suitable compensatory steps for enhanced
afforestation to offset the damage done. This will ensure that power
plants currently being constructed are not obstructed while better
provision can be made for plants in future," says the assessment note.
Interestingly, in a related report to the Prime Minister, Planning
Commission member (Energy) B.K. Chaturvedi has recommended doing away with
the contentious "Go-No-Go" concept. This has been the bone of contention
between the MoEF and the Ministries of Coal and Power, the latter two
seeking removal of this definition. The report has also called for
simultaneous processing for environment and forest clearance, doing proper
scrutiny of applications to ensure that all papers have been submitted and
setting up a nodal agency at the State level with adequate staff to ensure
forest clearance.
The Chaturvedi Committee has stated captive plants could approach the MoEF
for consideration of cases on this approach.
India proposes foreign investment in airlines: Report
Agence France-Presse
New Delhi, November 29, 2011First Published: 19:48 IST(29/11/2011)
http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/SectorsAviation/India-proposes-foreign-investment-in-airlines-Report/Article1-775645.aspx
India's aviation ministry said on Tuesday it supports allowing foreign
airlines to invest in the country's cash-hungry carriers, but added that a
final decision must be made by the cabinet.
Permitting foreign investment could bring much-needed capital for India's
cash-strapped Kingfisher, Jet and other airlines which have been battling
to keep in business in the fiercely competitive aviation market.
Foreign investment "is acceptable till a limited point," civil aviation
minister Vayalar Ravi told CNBC news channel. But he said the level to
which foreign investment should be allowed was still under discussion.
He said the aviation ministry had proposed allowing "less than 26%"
investment by international airlines in domestic carriers.
The industry ministry earlier this month suggested permitting 26% foreign
investment, saying the domestic airlines were "in dire need of funds" to
compete with global carriers.
Ravi said the cabinet would have the final word but did not say when.
A decision by the Congress party-led government last week to allow foreign
retailers to own 51% of multi-brand supermarkets has raised expectations
it may also allow foreign carriers to buy stakes in domestic airlines as
it pursues its economic reform agenda.
The television report came after executives of some of India's largest
airlines met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last week to seek government
assistance for the beleaguered industry.
India's airlines may lose a total of $2.5 billion in the year ending in
March 2012, according to the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, an industry
body.
The airlines have been demanding change in the aviation policy to allow
foreign airlines to pick up stakes in Indian carriers and provide cash
infusions.
Earlier this month, Singh said airlines should be managed efficiently,
"but if they do get into difficulties, we have to find ways in supporting
the development of the country".
On the surface, demographics make India, a country of 1.2 billion, an
attractive story. India's passenger aviation sector is estimated to be
growing at between 15 and 20% each year.
But all of India's six main airlines -- barring budget carrier IndiGo --
announced steep losses in the financial quarter to September.
Ravi said the aviation ministry was also urging state governments to
reduce steep taxes on sales of jet fuel.
ASSOCHAM prepares 15 point economic agenda for political parties
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/regulation/assocham-prepares-15-point-economic-agenda-for-political-parties/articleshow/10919957.cms
LUCKNOW: In view of the forthcoming UP elections, industry body ASSOCHAM
has prepared a 15 point economic agenda for political parties to include
in their poll manifesto.
National Secretary General, ASSOCHAM, DS Rawat said that the inclusion of
these points in the parties manifesto would help generate public opinion
and achieve double digit growth for UP.
"Food processing, automobiles, textiles, leather, cement, healthcare,
pharmaceuticals, information technology, real estate and tourism are
significant areas which can transform the state economy" said DS Rawat
while releasing the report titled 'ASSOCHAM suggestions for election
manifesto of political parties in UP.'
He said that ASSOCHAM representatives would be meeting the top leaders of
all political parties in UP to press them to include economic issues in
their manifesto. This is the first time an industry body is pushing for
inclusion of key economic issues in poll manifesto during a state
election, said DS Rawat.
Promotion of public-private partnership in agriculture, industry and
services sectors is of prime importance to create new jobs and promote
economic activity in the state. Besides, cluster development approach can
help spur employment in micro, small and medium enterprises, says the
report.
Embroidery, rice mills, powerloom, leather, glass, carpet, banarsi saree,
screen printing, food processing, readymade garments, jute, yarn/rope and
zari are certain key areas identified by ASSOCHAM to be developed on the
cluster development model.
"Considering that nearly 80 per cent of the state's population is engaged
in agricultural activities, the state government must facilitate contract
farming by attracting investments from the private sector" said Rawat.
"Besides, the heavy dependence on monsoon rains may be curbed by employing
modern irrigational technology to boost the productivity".
ASSOCHAM also proposed setting up of an International Finance Technology
city (NIFT) in Noida to sit alongside global commercial hubs of Manhattan
in New York, Ginza in Tokyo and the Square Mile in London.
CPI demands shifting of POSCO plant
PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2671237.ece
Vehemently opposing the proposed Posco steel plant in Odisha's
Jagatsinghpur district, CPI demanded immediate shifting of the project
elsewhere asking the state government to refrain from repressive moves.
"There is an attempt to set up Posco plant in the area forcibly. We demand
its immediate shifting", CPI general secretary A B Bardhan and party
leaders D Raja told a meeting at Patana under Dhinkia panchyat near here
last evening.
Demanding immediate release of arrested anti-Posco movement leader Abhaya
Sahu from jail, Mr. Bardhan alleged he was implicated in false charges.
Asking Odisha government to refrain from repressive measures against
anti-Posco movement leaders, the CPI leaders said the issue would be
raised by their party in Parliament.
Because of people's resistance, Odisha government had not been able to
enter the Posco site for last six years. Now, in view of the coming
panchayat elections, the government had arrested Mr. Sahu, they claimed.
In its three-day ongoing state executive meeting at Paradip, CPI adopted a
political resolution condemning the Centre's decision to allow FDI in
retail sector.
Over 1.6 crore retail shops in the country providing direct or indirect
employment to over four crore people and over 16 crore people depending on
it would suffer.
The party also supported the Bharat Bandh call given by retailers against
FDI on December 1.
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
Petrol price may be reduced by Re 1 a litre
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/article2671635.ece
The stage is set for another cut in retail prices of petrol by about Re 1
a litre. But, whether this happens will depend on the oil retailers.
If the prices are reduced on Wednesday (night/Thursday), this would be the
second cut in a month. Politically, this will work out in favour of the
UPA Government, which has been drawing flak for rising costs. Though, last
June, the oil retailers where given freedom to revise petrol retail
prices, an informal Government control remains.
"In the current price situation, the base price of petrol could be reduced
by Rs 0.85 a paise (excluding taxes and levies)," an oil industry official
said.
The oil retailers revise the price on the basis of fortnightly average of
international prices. The factors resulting in the revision are generally
the international price (f.o.b) of product and currency fluctuation.
Softening of Singapore spot petrol price will offset the impact of rupee
depreciation, the official added.
Private oil retailers - Essar and Reliance - generally wait for the public
sector retailers - Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum, and Hindustan
Petroleum - to effect any revision in auto fuel prices.
However, the auto industry has adopted a more cautious approach to changes
in petrol prices as it feels that prices may go up again.
Says Mr Vishnu Mathur, Director-General, Society of Indian Automobile
Manufacturers, "Although a rupee drop in petrol price is negligible, it is
a step in the right director. In the long term, we can expect parity in
the petrol-diesel prices, the differential of which stands at 1.6 times at
present."
Public sector retailers continue to sell diesel, kerosene sold under
public distribution system, and domestic LPG at a Government controlled
price. This, according to the Government, is done to insulate the
consumers from the volatility in international crude oil and product
prices.
The Petroleum Minister, Mr S. Jaipal Reddy, had recently informed the Lok
Sabha, "The average price of Indian basket of crude oil which was $85.09 a
barrel in 2010-11 has now increased by 30 per cent and the average price
during the current financial year is at around $110 a barrel. Coupled with
the upward price movements, the public sector oil retailers have also been
hit by depreciation of rupee, which has fallen from an average Rs 45.58
versus dollar last year to over Rs 50 versus dollar in November 2011."
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai,
Coimbatore)
NIA unable to crack money trail to Mecca Masjid blast case
November 29, 2011 16:23 IST
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/nia-unable-to-crack-money-trail-to-mecca-masjid-blast-case/20111129.htm
The National Investigating Agency which is investigating the Mecca Masjid
blasts of Hyderabad is currently looking at the money trail that led to
the execution of these attacks. Although the NIA has found that it was
right-wing Hindu group Abhinav Bharat member Swami Aseemanand who handed
over the money to execute the blasts, it is clear that he was not the man
who was primarily responsible for raising the funds.
Although investigators have been looking into the flow of funds into the
ashram that he ran, they say that Aseemanand was entrusted with the task
of stocking the funds and not raising them. The conspirators felt that it
was best to stock money in the ashram since they are exempted from any
normal inspection. Moreover, they thought that the money kept in the
ashram could be passed off as donations and there would be no real
suspicion.
Today the NIA claims that they have evidence to show that Aseemanand had
handed over Rs 25,000 to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh worker Sunil Joshi to
carry out the Mecca Masjid blasts. Similar transactions had been made
during the Malegaon and also the Samjhauta Express blasts, the
investigators pointed out.
However, investigators have still not been able to unearth the money
trails into these incidents. Probe agencies have been back and forth on
several aspects but no real breakthrough has been possible.
It has been established that it was the ashram run at Dangs in Gujarat
where all the money landed. There were several like-minded operatives who
were part of this operation and each one had a small role to play in
raising funds.
However, they all wanted Aseemanand to handle the money, as they felt that
the trail would never lead up to him. There is a lot of money that has
come into his ashram through donations as he was undertaking some work for
the tribals. Moreover, these persons ran odd businesses through which they
raised money. It is pretty hard to find out what money was finally used to
execute these blasts.
In the Nanded blasts case it was found that the accused persons were
running a gym and the money that was made through it was finally used for
the unsuccessful Nanded operation. The police have, however, not found any
similar modus operandi in the Mecca Masjid or Samjautha blasts case.
The police are also trying to find out if money that legitimately came
into these places was diverted for terror operations. The NIA has said
that it would be looking into that aspect as well. Probes into Aseemanand
have revealed that he had paid Rs 25,000 to Sunil in the presence of a
businessman Bharath Bai at Valsad in Gujarat.
The primary focus of the NIA at the moment is the Mecca Masjid blasts
case. They are trying to find if there was any local help in arranging the
money and in logistics. There have been allegations by Muslim
organisations in Hyderabad that some Hindu groups have taken a violent
turn and have helped in organising these attacks.
The police which has taken into account these allegations have however not
found a dedicated module in Hyderabad that could have helped carry out
this blast. There may be one or two persons who were in the know of this
operation, but it was largely staged and planned by the Joshi gang, which
operated mainly out of North India [ Images ], the police claim.
The NIA claims that the Ajmer, Malegaon, Samjhauta Express attacks were
all part of the same module. "In the days to come a couple of more arrests
could be expected and this we hope would lead us to the money trail," say
investigators.
5000 detonators seized in Giridih
The author has posted comments on this articlePTI | Nov 29, 2011, 07.28PM
IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/5000-detonators-seized-in-Giridih/articleshow/10920036.cms
GIRIDIH: A total of 5000 detonators were seized and four persons were
arrested in this connection from Giridih district in Jharkhand, the police
said today.
Getting at tip-off that the four persons were allegedly transporting the
explosives by a van, a police team intercepted the vehicle at Jogia Pahari
and recovered them yesterday, Superintendent of Police A V Homker told
reporters here.
The police suspected the four persons of allegedly supplying detonators to
the Maoists, he said.
Ulfa condoles Indira Goswami's death
PTI | Nov 29, 2011, 11.28AM IST
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Ulfa-condoles-Indira-Goswamis-death/articleshow/10915484.cms
GUWAHATI: Ulfa 'commander-in-chief' Paresh Baruah and newly-appointed
'chairman' Abhijit Bormon on Tuesday condoled the death of Jnanpith Award
winning Assamese litterateur Indira Raisom Goswami.
"Goswami would be remembered in history for "correctly presenting Ulfa's
goal, purpose and philosophy to government of India," Baruah and Bormon
said in a statement.
"Baideu (Elder sister) has a special place in the heart of every Ulfa
member and we will remember her at every step of our movement," they said.
As a mark of respect, they said, a condolence meeting would be held in
every Ulfa unit today and discussions on Goswami's life and contributions
to literature tomorrow.
Goswami had taken the initiative to be the peace facilitator between Ulfa
and government following which the banned insurgent outfit had constituted
People's Consultative Committee (PCG).
The committee has held three rounds of talks with the Centre with one of
them being with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Labor/Social Unrest
4-month highway blockade in Indian state ends
NEW DELHI (AP) - A tribal group Tuesday lifted a four-month highway
blockade that caused a serious shortage of essential supplies in parts of
the northeastern India state of Manipur.
Vashum Shangreingam, a member of the United Naga Council, said the group
decided late Monday to lift the blockade because it was causing suffering
among residents. Police confirmed the closure ended early Tuesday morning.
Hundreds of Naga tribespeople had been blocking two vital highways linking
Manipur with the rest of India to protest the state government's decision
to create a new district for a rival tribal group.
The blockade led to shortages of fuel, cooking gas, medicine and other
items. It had even forced some schools and colleges to close.
The trouble began in early August when the Kuki tribal group began a
blockade of two highways over their demand for a new district.
The Naga tribal group, which opposes the creation of the district, began
its own blockade three weeks later, virtually stopping all road traffic
into and out of Manipur.
In early November the government agreed to carve out the Sadar Hills
district from the larger Senapati district, which is dominated by Nagas.
While the move ended the Kuki blockade, the Nagas stepped up their
protests, leading to increased shortages of essential items.
Shangreingam said his group may resume its blockade if the government does
not take the concerns of the Naga people into account.
Apart from tribal rivalries in the restive Manipur state, at least 17
different rebel groups are active there, and calls for strikes and
protests routinely paralyze daily life.
--
Anya Alfano
Briefer
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