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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. 28, 2011

Released on 2012-09-03 09:00 GMT

Email-ID | 5288980
Date | 2011-11-28 17:29:25
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
. Trinamool Congress on Monday questioned the purpose of the proposed
all-party meeting by government on the issue of FDI in retail and demanded
its immediate withdrawal.
. Telangana Congress MPs have decided to resume their agitation for a
Telangana state in Parliament on Monday despite the stern warning of Union
finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.
. The political storm over the foreign direct investment in retail
gathered momentum on Monday paralysing proceedings in Parliament for the
second day.
. Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on Monday met Central
Bureau of Investigation director and demanded registration of cases
against Indians who have allegedly stashed away money in foreign banks.
. DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others have been granted bail in the 2G
spectrum allocation scam case. The Delhi High Court granted bail on Monday
to five accused while directing them to furnish two sureties of Rs 5 lakh
each and ordering them that they cannot leave the country.
. Dealing a blow to talks with Maoists, the West Bengal-government
appointed interlocutors withdrew from the parleys on Monday, four days
after top Naxal leader Kishenji was killed in an encounter in West
Midnapore district.
National Economic Trends
. The government does not propose to ban futures trading in
commodities as it has no role in the recent rise in prices of certain food
items, Parliament was informed today. "The central government does not
propose to ban futures trading on any commodity that is currently in the
futures exchanges," Food minister K V Thomas said in a written reply to
the Rajya Sabha.
. Foodgrain productivity rose by 8 per cent to 1,921 kg per hectare
in 2010-11 crop year, Parliament was informed today. India's foodgrain
productivity stood at 1,798 kg per hectare in the 2009-10 crop year
(July-June), Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat told the Rajya
Sabha in a written reply.
. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Hyderabad
today, Dr. Rangarajan said that inflation could be around 7% by March
2012.Food inflation is moderating due to a good monsoon and further easing
is likely in the next few months, Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman of the Prime
Minister's Economic Advisory Council said on Monday.
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
. India Inc on Monday appeared to be divided on allowing FDI in
multi-brand retail, an issue which has rocked Parliament and drawn stiff
opposition from UPA-ally Trinamool Congress.
. Lanco Infratech-owned Griffin Coal's threat to halt coal supply to
the Bluewaters Power Stationin Western Australia unless prices are revised
upward seems to have worked.
. Bosch Ltd will invest up to Rs 250 crore in its aftermarket
business in the next three years as it aims to increase revenue from the
division to Rs 3,000 crore.
. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has criticised the central
government for allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail sector
without consulting the states.
. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said parliament will run
smoothly from Tuesday if the government rolls back the decision to allow
51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
Concerned over opposition to the move, coming not only from BJP and Left
parties but also from United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies like
Trinamool Congress and DMK, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened an
all party meeting Tuesday to end the logjam.
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
. Oil major Reliance Industries is all set to invoke arbitration
against the Government of India (GoI) over KG-D6, reports CNBC-TV18's
Nayantara Rai, quoting sources.The arbitration is likely to be initiated
as early as today. Sources say RIL's lawyer Harish Salve, who had defended
the company in gas case against ADAG, will be looking after the
arbitration case. This arbitration may just happen in India.
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai,
Coimbatore)
. The United Liberation front of Asom (ULFA) has observed today the
Protest Day (Protibad Divas).
. Maoist leader Malojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishenji, who was killed
in an encounter with security forces in West Bengal as the CPI(Maoist)
gave a two-day Bharat bandh call from December 4.
Labor/Social Unrest
FULL TEXT
Basic Political Developments
FDI decision should be withdrawn immediately: Trinamool
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article2667994.ece
UPA ally Trinamool Congress on Monday questioned the purpose of the
proposed all-party meeting by government on the issue of FDI in retail and
demanded its immediate withdrawal.
"Now they (government) have called for an all-party meeting on FDI. But
what is the point when you have already decided. We want the FDI decision
to be immediately withdrawn," TMC parliamentary party leader Sudeep
Bandopadhaya told reporters outside Parliament House here.
However, he hastened to add that the TMC has nothing to do with opposition
demand on the FDI issue. "We have nothing to do with opposition move in
Parliament or outside Parliament. We have given our views."
Claiming that it had played a major role in getting the prices of fuel
reduced, the TMC leader said, "Opposition parties have also opposed fuel
hike but what happened. It is the TMC which has protested the fuel hike
effectively as all our MPs had come to meet the Prime Minister on the
issue and as a result petrol price was reduced within 15 days." Asked what
will be their stand in the all-party meeting, he said, "We will oppose the
FDI decision at the meeting also. We are of the opinion that it should
have been discussed before the decision."
Congress MPs to Keep Telangana boiling
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/congress-mps-to-keep-telangana-boiling/206482-60-114.html
HYDERABAD: Telangana Congress MPs have decided to resume their agitation
for a Telangana state in Parliament on Monday despite the stern warning of
Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee that they should either behave
themselves or face the risk of being suspended from the House.For four
days after Parliament met for its winter session on Nov 22, the Telangana
Congress MPs and TRS MPs tried to stall the proceedings on the statehood
issue. On Thursday, Pranab Mukherjee summoned them to his chambers and
gave them a dressing down. The MPs, however, claimed that they gave it
back to Mukherjee in equal measure, saying that the Congress should
understand the sensibilities of the people of Telangana.From Monday, the
MPs want to resume their agitation though of one their colleagues, Manda
Jagannadham, is under treatment at Ram Manohar Lohia hospital for a
heartrelated problem. "We are committed to continuing our agitation," said
Karimnagar MP P Prabhakar and hoped that the TRS too would join them.One
MP who did not want to be quoted said: "Till now it was the party high
command which encouraged us to raise the T issue so that the party would
be protected in the Telangana region. But the same political bosses are
asking us to keep quiet. This is not proper," he said, adding that if they
did not raise the issue, they would have political problems back in their
constituencies.Meanwhile, Karimnagar MP P Prabhakar said all the eight T
MPs were committed to their protest from Monday in the Lok Sabha for which
they would evolve a strategy. The protest programme would be decided after
talks with other political parties backing the T issue. The government
should make a statement on the T issue in Parliament, he said.
Parliament adjourned as FDI policy paralyses proceedings
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/fdi-row-in-parliament-both-houses-adjourned-till-noon/20111128.htm
The political storm over the foreign direct investment in retail gathered
momentum on Monday paralysing proceedings in Parliament for the second day
amid vociferous demands to withdraw the controversial decision.
Both Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha could not transact any business and
witnessed uproar over the FDI issue, leading to their adjournment till
tomorrow.
Members of several parties, including Trinamool Congress [ Images ], a
United Progressive Alliance [ Images ] constituent, stormed the Well in
Lok Sabha opposing the decision on FDI and on other issues. Left members
were also in the Well as Bjharatiya Janata Party members showed posters on
the FDI issue.
In the Rajya Sabha too the Trinaool Congress members were on their legs.
The two Houses were rocked on Friday too, a day after government decided
to allow 51 per cent FDI in multi-brand retail.
With several other issues including price rise, separate Telangana [
Images ] and safety of Mullaperiyar dam raising the political temperature,
proceedings of Parliament remained a virtual washout since the Winter
session began last Tuesday. Some Congress members from Kerala [ Images ]
were seen in the Well on the Mullaperiyar issue, while TRS chief K
Chandrashekhar Rao and some other members from Telangana were pressing
demand for a separate state.
It was a placards galore in the Lower House with members carrying posters
'Don't allow FDI in retail', 'Bring separate Telangana Bill' and
'Mullaperiyar Dam in danger: Save 30 lakh people in Kerala'.
The uproar continued despite Deputy Speaker Karia Munda [ Images ]
informing Lok Sabha that "all the notices of adjournment motion on FDI in
retail sector are under consideration of the Speaker. She will take a
decision in due course."
Murli Manohar Joshi [ Images ] (BJP) and Communist Party of India-Marxist
leader Basudeb Acharia had given notices of adjournment motion on the FDI
issue in the Lower House.
Barring Shiromani Akali Dal [ Images ], other Opposition parties are
opposing the FDI move.
While the BJP has announced that it would not allow foreign multinationals
to set shop in states ruled by it, BSP chief and UP Chief Minister
Mayawati [ Images ],
All India [ Images ] Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam [ Images ] supremo and
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa [ Images ], BJD chief and Odisha
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Trinamool chief and West Bengal [ Images
] Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee [ Images ] are also opposed to the FDI
move.
In the Rajya Sabha, the entire opposition and Trinamool Congress members
were on their feet against the Government's decision when it reassembled
at noon.
Immediately after Deputy Chairman K Rahman Khan took his seat, BSP members
were on their feet, raising slogans like "FDI wapas lo (withdraw FDI)".
They were supported by the BJP, the Bahujan Samaj Party, Janata
Dal-United, AIADMK and Asom Gana Parishad. Trinamool Congress members also
stood up to demand withdrawal of the FDI decision.
Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley [ Images ], whose party BJP had
moved a motion for adjournment of the Question Hour on the issue, again
made an attempt to speak but could not do so. As the din continued, Khan
adjourned the House for the day.
Earlier, when the Upper House met for the day, the BSP, JD-U, AIADMK and
Samajwadi Party members raised slogans against the FDI decision soon after
Chairman Hamid Ansari took his seat. Left MPs from Kerala moved into the
Well holding banners on the safety of Mullaperiyar dam in the state.
The chairman's appeals to members not to raise banners or to withdraw from
the Well went unheeded, forcing him to adjourn the House till noon. The
same scene prevailed when the House reassembled, forcing adjournment of
the House for the day.
Swamy meets CBI Director over black money
http://www.rediff.com/news/report/swamy-meets-cbi-director-over-black-money/20111128.htm
Janata Party President Subramanian Swamy on Monday met Central Bureau of
Investigation director and demanded registration of cases against Indians
who have allegedly stashed away money in foreign banks.
Swamy, who heads Action Committee Against Corruption in India [ Images ],
met Director A P Singh in the morning here with his complaint, demanding
registration of cases.
Singh assured him that his complaint would be "examined" and action would
be taken if it came under CBI's domain.
"Swamy had requested a meeting with director, CBI on Monday. He handed
over a complaint regarding alleged illegal bank accounts of Indians
abroad. The Director told him this will be examined and acted upon if CBI
has jurisdiction," CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said.
Swamy told reporters after the meeting that the CBI director has given an
assurance that the agency will take a decision on his complaint within a
fortnight. Recently, the Central Board of Direct Taxes had given a list of
18 individuals, received from German authorities, to CBI to ascertain if
they have any pending cases with it.
CBI, in its reply, had informed CBDT that except one individual, none of
the rest 17, whose names have been provided to it, had any case against
them.
The agency said a preliminary inquiry was initiated in 1999 against one of
the individuals mentioned in the list and it was closed for the want of
evidence.
The government has imposed a penalty of Rs 24.66 crore on these 18
individuals who have bank accounts with Liechtenstein's LGT Bank on the
basis of information provided by the German authorities.
Kanimozhi, four others get bail in 2G caseCNN-IBN
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/kanimozhi-four-others-get-bail-in-2g-case/206631-3.html
New Delhi: DMK MP Kanimozhi and four others have been granted bail in the
2G spectrum allocation scam case. The Delhi High Court granted bail on
Monday to five accused while directing them to furnish two sureties of Rs
5 lakh each and ordering them that they cannot leave the country.
Other than Kanimozhi the other accused who have been granted bail include
Cineyug founder Karim Morani, Kalaignar TV's MD Sharath Kumar, Kusegaon
directors Asif Balwa and Rajeev Agarwal.
While ordering the release of the five accused Justice VK Shali of the
High Court observed that they have been granted bail as the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) had not opposed their bail applications.
The court ordered that the bail bond will have to be taken to the trial
court in Patiala House and the release order will be issued to Tihar Jail
where the accused are lodged after furnishing of the bail bond.
However, former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura has not been granted
bail as his application was opposed by the CBI. Justice Shali reserved the
order on Behura's bail application.
"Today all the five accused - Karim Morani, Sharath Kumar, Asif Balwa,
Rajeev Agarwal and Kanimozhi - have been granted bail. We have just heard
the operative part of the order. There was no concession for Siddharth
Behura, but the bail for the rest of the five people was not opposed by
the CBI," said Vijay Agarwal, lawyer of Asif Balwa.
The accused had approached the High Court after the Supreme Court granted
bail to five corporate executives on November 23.
The CBI had not opposed the bail applications conceded bail of Kanimozhi
and Morani in the trial court.
Kanimozhi has been in judicial custody in the 2G scam since May 20.
The Supreme Court had on November 23 granted bail to five corporate
executives in the first set of bail granted in the mutli-crore telecom
spectrum scam, which according to a Comptroller and Auditor General report
caused a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the state exchequer.
The two-judge bench comprising justices GS Singhvi and HL Dattu ordered
the release of the five corporate executives - Unitech's Managing Director
Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom's Director Vinod Goenka as well Reliance Anil
Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) Managing Director Gautam Doshi, Reliance
Communications Senior Vice-President Surendra Pipara and Reliance ADAG
Senior Vice-President Hari Nair.
Former telecom minister A Raja and Kanimozhi along with 12 other people
and three companies have been accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam
case. They have been charged under Indian Penal Code Section 409 (criminal
breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent).
The maximum punishment if convicted for criminal breach of trust is life
term while the minimum punishment is seven years in prison.
Interlocutors withdraw from peace talks with Maoists
PTI
http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article2668359.ece
Dealing a blow to talks with Maoists, the West Bengal-government appointed
interlocutors withdrew from the parleys on Monday, four days after top
Naxal leader Kishenji was killed in an encounter in West Midnapore
district.
"The prevailing situation in Jungalmahal does not allow us to carry
forward the peace talks and we, therefore, express our inability and
helplessness to the Chief Minister," the interlocutors said in a
communication to Mamata Banerjee after its six members met here.
Asked whether they would reconsider their decision, Sujato Bhadra, who
headed the team of interlocutors and is a human rights activist, said,
"Everything is uncertain in Junglemahal. The situation may worsen. It is
not possible to carry forward the peace process."
One of the interlocutors was stated to have given a divergent view and
suggested continuance of the talks.
The interlocutors, who had two rounds of talks with the Maoists, had
earlier decided to slow down their efforts after the State government
decided to step up joint force operations in Junglemahal.
The Chief Minister, however, called them recently and asked them to
continue with the peace process.
National Economic Trends
No proposal to ban futures trading in food items: Food minister K V Thomas
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/no-proposal-to-ban-futures-trading-in-food-items-food-minister-k-v-thomas/articleshow/10904523.cms
The government does not propose to ban futures trading in commodities as
it has no role in the recent rise in prices of certain food items,
Parliament was informed today.
"The central government does not propose to ban futures trading on any
commodity that is currently in the futures exchanges," Food minister K V
Thomas said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.
Trading in futures exchanges are currently done in 24 food items,
including wheat, barley, gram, sugar, potato and crude palm oil.
Thomas said the recent spike in prices has been witnessed in food items
such as vegetables, meat, milk, fish and fruits which are not traded at
the commodity futures exchanges.
He said the Reserve Bank in its Annual Report (2009-10) had stated that
commodity prices in the country seem to be influenced more by the drivers
of price changes, particularly demand-supply gap in specific commodities,
the degree of dependence on imports and international price movements in
the these commodities rather than future trading.
The minister said that a strategic reserve of 30 lakh tonnes of wheat and
20 lakh tonnes of rice was created in 2008-09 in addition to existing
buffer stock norms.
While India's norms on buffer stocks and strategic reserves require
stocking 32 million tonnes of food grains, Food Corporation of India (
FCI) and state government agencies have stockpiled 61 million tonnes -
35.6 million tonnes of wheat and 24.9 million tonnes of rice.
Thomas, however, denied any move for strategic reserve of pulses to check
its prices.
"India being a chronically deficient nation in production of pulses, hence
there is no proposal to create strategic reserve of pulses. The mismatch
between demand and supply is in fact covered by imports," he said.
Foodgrain productivity up 8% at 1,921 kg/hectare in 2010-11
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/agriculture/foodgrain-productivity-up-8-at-1921-kg/hectare-in-2010-11/articleshow/10869663.cms
NEW DELHI: Foodgrain productivity rose by 8 per cent to 1,921 kg per
hectare in 2010-11 crop year, Parliament was informed today.
India's foodgrain productivity stood at 1,798 kg per hectare in the
2009-10 crop year (July-June), Minister of State for Agriculture Harish
Rawat told the Rajya Sabha in a written reply.
"The productivity of foodgrains has increased from 1,715 kg per hectare in
2005-06 to 1,798 kg per hectare in 2009-10 and further to 1,921 kg per
hectare in 2010-11," Rawat said.
The average annual growth in the agriculture and allied sectors during the
first four years of the 11th Five-Year Plan (2007-08 to 2011-12) was 3.2
per cent as against the targeted rate of 4 per cent, he added.
"The average growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of agriculture and
allied sectors suffered a setback due to severe drought in many parts of
the country during 2009-10 and drought/deficient rainfall in some states
namely Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and East Uttar Pradesh in 2010-11,"
he said.
However, the GDP growth for agriculture sector touched 6.6 per cent in
2010-11 -- the highest growth rate achieved in last six years -- on
account of the corrective actions taken by the government, the minister
informed the house.
Rawat also said that investments in the farm sector in the country have
been increasing in the past five years.
"The level of investment (Gross Capital Formation) in the agriculture
sector has been increasing over the years from Rs 76,096 crore in 2004-05
to Rs 1,33,377 crore in 2009-10, he noted.
This includes public sector investment from 16,187 crore in 2004-05 to Rs
23,635 crore in 2009-10 and private sector investment from Rs 59,909 crore
to Rs 1,09,742 crore in the same period at 2004-05 prices, Rawat added.
Rangarajan sees further easing in food inflation
India Infoline News Service / 18:18 , Nov 28, 2011
http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/C.-Rangarajan-sees-further-easing-in-food-inflation/5299030044
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Hyderabad today,
Dr. Rangarajan said that inflation could be around 7% by March 2012.
Food inflation is moderating due to a good monsoon and further easing is
likely in the next few months, Dr. C. Rangarajan, Chairman of the Prime
Minister's Economic Advisory Council said on Monday.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in Hyderabad today,
Dr. Rangarajan said that inflation could be around 7% by March 2012.
Headline inflation has been above the 9% mark since December 2010 and
stood at 9.73% in October this year.
The improvement on the supply-side was leading to moderation of food and
vegetable prices, he said
Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions
Industry appears divided on FDI in multi-brand retail
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/article2667976.ece
India Inc on Monday appeared to be divided on allowing FDI in multi-brand
retail, an issue which has rocked Parliament and drawn stiff opposition
from UPA-ally Trinamool Congress.
While FICCI extended an all-out support to the government, CII recommended
"a calibrated approach for introducing FDI in the retail sector in terms
of the percentage and minimum capitalisation requirements".
Addressing a press conference, FICCI Secretary General Rajiv Kumar said
opening of the retail sector would create big employment opportunities in
the country.
Without naming, he said those industry associations which are opposing the
foreign direct investment in multi-brand retail have a vested interest.
"This is just a fear that has been created for some vested interest. FDI
in retail will be a game-changer like telecom. I see only positive impact
on employment," he said.
CII, on the other hand, said while it "strongly supports the introduction
of FDI in multi-brand retail trading, it recommends a calibrated approach
for introducing FDI in the retail sector in terms of the percentage and
minimum capitalisation requirements."
Mr. Kumar said the associations which are raising concerns that global
retail chains like Walmart and Tesco would wipe out mom-and-pop stores are
following a "politically motivated argument".
Some traders' associations are arguing that about 40 million employed in
this sector would loose their earnings because of opening of big foreign
retail stores.
"In fact, foreign stores will generate employment and that will be higher
quality employment. Small stores would also increase their employment to
compete with the big retailers," he said.
Lanco Infratech close to deal on hiking coal prices at Australia mine
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals-mining/lanco-infratech-close-to-deal-on-hiking-coal-prices-at-australia-mine/articleshow/10901627.cms
Lanco Infratech-owned Griffin Coal's threat to halt coal supply to the
Bluewaters Power Stationin Western Australia unless prices are revised
upward seems to have worked, with sources close to the development
indicating an agreement might be inked within a fortnight.
The sources said there could a price revision in favour of Lanco with
respect to the supply contract with Australian firm Griffin Energy's
Bluewaters Power Station, besides some upfront fee.
Earlier, Lanco had indicated its intention to hike prices of coal sold to
the power plant and said it may suspend coal supply to the Bluewaters
Power Station, which accounts for as much as 10 per cent of power
generation in Western Australia.
Lanco's move earned the wrath of the local administration, which
threatened the Indian infrastructure major with a coal export ban.
However, "All the issues with Bluwaters Power are settled. The company may
formally announce the terms in two to three weeks' time. There will be
upward revision of coal price," sources told PTI.
As per the agreement, Lanco will have to supply 1.6 to 1.8 million tonnes
per annum to Bluewaters and according to experts, the coal supply price to
Bluewaters could be in the range of 40 Australian dollars per tonne.
When contacted, Lanco Infratech CFO J Suresh, without confirming the
development, said talks are moving in a positive direction and the company
cannot comment at the moment.
The Bluewaters power station was set to be sold to Sumitomo Corp and
Kansai Electric Power Co for an enterprise value of around USD 1.2
billion.
Commenting on the development in the latest creditors' update on its
website, KordaMentha -- an advisory firm specialising in corporate
recovery, turnaround and restructuring -- said the settlement would
include an unspecified payment to Lanco from the proceeds of the
Bluewaters sale.
"To enable completion of the sale of Griffin Power, the settlement
requires Griffin Energy to make a contribution to Lanco from the Griffin
sale proceeds," Kordamentha said.
Apart from Bluewaters, Lanco is also in a legal battle with Perdaman
Industries, which has filed a 3.5 billion Australian dollar (about Rs
16,600 crore) lawsuit in the Supreme Courtof Western Australia, alleging
that Lanco is not complying with a 25 year-long coal supply pact related
to its upcoming Collie urea plant in Western Australia.
Mike Murray, an MLA in Western Australia, said in an emailed reply to a
query from PTI that he offered mediation between the two warring
companies, but the offer was declined.
Bosch to invest Rs 250 crore on aftermarket business in 3 years
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/auto/auto-components/bosch-to-invest-rs-250-crore-on-aftermarket-business-in-3-years/articleshow/10904372.cms
Auto component maker Bosch Ltd will invest up to Rs 250 crore in its
aftermarket business in the next three years as it aims to increase
revenue from the division to Rs 3,000 crore.
The firm that is aiming for Rs 2,000 crore revenue from the aftermarket
business this fiscal said it will also enhance its training centres for
mechanics to 15 in the next three years from 11 currently.
"We will invest Rs 200 crore to Rs 250 crore in the next three years to
expand our aftermarket business. This will include ramping up of car
service centres from 750 to 800 outlets from the current 500 across the
country," Bosch Ltd Vice-President (Automotive aftermarket) S Muralidharan
told PTI.
This will be a part of the Rs 2,500 crore investment till 2013, announced
by the company earlier this year for capacity augmentation, business
diversification and research and development in India.
Asked about revenues from the aftermarket division, he said: "It is
growing at a strong double digits rate and we expect this to continue. We
are hoping to cross Rs 3,000 crore turnover in the next three years from
about Rs 2,000 crore that we are expecting in this fiscal."
Muralidharan, however, said the firm is losing about 30 per cent of its
aftermarket businesses to fake and spurious parts.
"The positive thing is that the impact of spurious parts is declining
because of the raids that we conduct along with local authorities and
education that we impart to our mechanics."
The company is currently is conducting about two raids every day in
different parts of the country, he added.
Commenting on spreading its training centre network for automotive
mechanics, Muralidharan said in the next three years it will be increased
to 15 from 11 at present.
The company today opened a training for North India here.
He said also said the company expects to train about 25,000 people this
year and it will be doubled in the next three years.
Now, Orissa CM protests FDI in retail
http://zeenews.india.com/news/orissa/now-orissa-cm-protests-fdi-in-retail_744266.html
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has criticised the central government
for allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in retail sector without
consulting the states.
"In a federal country like ours, the union government should not have
taken such a major policy decision without adequate consultation with the
state governments," Patnaik said in a statement.
"As we are aware, the biggest challenge facing the country today is
inflation," said the statement released by his office late Sunday.
"Instead of taking immediate steps to tackle this problem, the central
government has allowed FDI in a sector which provides employment to seven
percent of the workforce of the country.
"This move will only favour the large multinational corporations which
will have monopoly over trading... Instead of that, the government should
have strengthened the marketing opportunities for farmers and small-scale
manufacturers," Patnaik said.
India Thursday allowed global chains like Wal-Mart, Carrefour and 7-Eleven
to bring up to 51 percent foreign equity to open multi-brand retail stores
and allowed 100-percent equity in single brand format.
Rollback FDI in retail to let parliament run: BJP
Indo-Asian News Service
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Rollback-FDI-in-retail-to-let-parliament-run-BJP/Article1-775127.aspx
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday said parliament will run
smoothly from Tuesday if the government rolls back the decision to allow
51 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail.
Concerned over opposition to the move, coming not only from BJP and Left
parties but also from United Progressive Alliance (UPA) allies like
Trinamool Congress and DMK, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened an
all party meeting Tuesday to end the logjam.
"If the government announces a rollback of the decision by Monday night or
even in the all party meeting Tuesday, parliament will run smoothly,"
leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.
Citing the case of Trinamool and DMK, she said: "It is the Congress which
does not want parliament to run."
Sushma Swaraj said besides BJP, parties like Janata Dal-United (JD-U),
Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M),
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and AIADMK had Monday given notices for an
adjournment motion for a debate on the FDI issue.
Downplaying the initial response of BJP's ally in Punjab Shiromani Akali
Dal (SAD), which has welcomed the FDI decision, she said: "The SAD agreed
to our adjournment motion Monday."
She said the parties had to bring the adjournment motion as the government
approved 51 percent FDI in multi-brand retail without holding a debate on
the issue. The BJP also gave an adjournment motion on a debate on the
black money issue.
She also dismissed the government's argument that two adjournment motions
cannot be accepted in a session, saying rules permitted such a move.
Stating that parliament had the authority to comment on government
policies and express its views through a voting system, leader of the
opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said: "The government's
reluctance to allow a debate under rules which entail voting is actually
leading to house disruptions."
Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)
RIL may invoke arbitration against GoI over KG-D6: Sources
Published on Mon, Nov 28, 2011 at 14:05 | Source : CNBC-TV18
http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/ril-may-invoke-arbitration-against-goi-over-kg-d6-sources_625364.html
Oil major Reliance Industries is all set to invoke arbitration against the
Government of India (GoI) over KG-D6, reports CNBC-TV18's Nayantara Rai,
quoting sources.
The arbitration is likely to be initiated as early as today. Sources say
RIL's lawyer Harish Salve, who had defended the company in gas case
against ADAG, will be looking after the arbitration case. This arbitration
may just happen in India.
The arbitration is under dispute resolution mechanism in production
sharing contract (PSC).
What is the entire issue about?
The arbitration is over GoI plan to reverse cost recovery. The Oil
Ministry is looking at USD 1.8 billion reimbursement from RIL from the
capex the company has recovered so far.
So far, RIL has been able to recover USD 5.2 billion of the USD 5.4
billion capex incurred. Oil Ministry is of the view that since it has not
been able to meet the production target, it should not be able to recover
the entire capex.
Oil Ministry believes 37 mmscmd production, in September, warrants USD 3.4
billion capex. That is why the ministry is looking at USD 1.8 billion
reimbursement.
Last week, Oil Secretary had said PSC can be altered by the parliament.
All of this is taking place after Solicitor General had given his opinion
on the entire matter. He had said RIL should reimburse GoI for unmet
production targets.
Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai,
Coimbatore)
ULFA observes Protest Day, security tightened in Assam
http://www.timesofassam.com/headlines/ulfa-observes-protest-day-security-tightened-in-assam/
The United Liberation front of Asom (ULFA) has observed today the Protest
Day (Protibad Divas). In a press release sent to Times of Assam, acting
Chairman of ULFA, Dr Abhijit Bormon stated that the outfit had observed
the day in the Mobile Central Headquarters of the outfit. The press
release also included a copy of the acting chairman's speech on account of
ULFA's protest day.
In his speech, the newly appointed acting chairman of the outfit Dr
Abhijit Bormon paid homage and saluted the sacrifice of the thousands of
parents whose sons and daughters fought and died for the freedom of
motherland. The acting chairman also mentioned about the Armed Forces
Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which he alleged to a medium of Indian colonial
rule and dominance over Assam and other states of the region.
It is to be mentioned that the outfit has been observing November 28 as
Protest Day ever since ULFA was declared as a banned outfit 21 years ago
on this very date.
On the other hand, security forces in the state have been beefed up to
counter any activity of the outfit to mark their protest. As per sources,
security has been intensified across the state, specially in upper Assam
districts such as Dibrugarh, Sadiya, Tinisukia and Sivasagar. Patrolling
and operations around oil pipelines, railway tracks, etc have been
increased. Mentionable that just a day earlier, one CRPF jawan was
reported to be killed and another injured in an encounter between ULFA and
CRPF at Medela Tiniali of Dibruagrh district.
Kishanji cremated, CPI(Maoist) calls Bharat bandh on December 4-5
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Kishanji-cremated-CPIMaoist-calls-Bharat-bandh-on-December-4-5/articleshow/10896443.cms
KARIMNAGAR: Top Maoist leader Malojula Koteswara Rao alias Kishenji, who
was killed in an encounter with security forces in West Bengal, was
cremated on Sunday at his native village, as the CPI(Maoist) gave a
two-day Bharat bandh call from December 4.
Kishenji's elder brother Anjaneyulu lit the pyre at Peddapalli, 35 km from
here.
The funeral was attended by political leaders including Telangana Rashtra
Samithi MLAs Etela Rajender and Koppula Eeshwar, besides TRS MLC N Laxman
Rao.
Ballad singer and Naxal sympathiser Gaddar, who was also present, demanded
that the movement for separate Telangana state be intensified as a homage
to Kishenji.
Alleging that Kishenji was murdered, outlawed CPI(Maoist) party termed the
encounter as fake and gave a two-day Bharat bandh call from December 4 in
protest against his killing.
Maoist Central Committee spokesperson Abhay released a letter alleging
that Kishenji was murdered in a fake encounter. The letter was read out by
the revolutionary writer and Maoist sympathiser Varavara Rao at
Peddapally.
58-year-old Kishenji was killed in a gunfight with security forces at
Burisole jungle in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on November 24.
His body was brought to Peddapalli from Kolkata in wee hours today and was
kept at his residence after local police denied permission to his family
members to keep the body for public viewing at Junior College ground.
Labor/Social Unrest
--
Anya Alfano
Briefer
STRATFOR
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