Questions emerging from RIL-Network18 deal

What are the questions emerging from RIL-Network18 deal

1) What does it mean for Indian democracy when India’s richest businessman becomes India’s biggest media baron with control over at least two dozen English and regional news and business channels?

2) What kind of control will Mukesh Ambani have over Raghav Bahl’s Network18/TV18 when and if RIL’s optionally convertible debentures (OCDs) are turned into equity?

3) What kind of due diligence did the financially troubled Network18/TV18 do on the Kampani-Ambani investment in ETV before agreeing to pick up RIL’s stake for Rs 2,100 crore?

4) How will CNBC-TV18, which incidentally broke the news of the split among the Ambani brothers in 2005, report news of India’s biggest company (or its political and other benefactors) now that it is indirectly going to be owned by it?

5) Is there a case for alarm when one man has a direct and indirect stamp over three of the five major English news channels (CNN-IBN, NewsX and NDTV 24×7), three business channels (CNBC-TV18, IBN Awaaz, NDTV Profit), and at least five Hindi news channels?

6) Do Raghav Bahl and team who ran a handful of channels heavily into debt, have the expertise to run two dozen or more channels, especially in the language space where there are bigger players like Star and Zee?

7) Is the ETV network really worth so much, especially when Ushodaya’s most profitable parts, Eenadu and Priya Foods, are out of it? Or is RIL using Network18/TV18′s plight to turn a bad asset into a good one?

8) Is RIL really tying with Network18/TV18 with 4G in mind, or is this just spin to push an audacious deal past market regulators such as SEBI and the Competition Commission of India (CCI)?

9) How immune are Mukesh Ambani and Raghav Bahl from political forces hoping to use the combined clout of RIL-Network18/TV18 to blunt negative coverage ahead of the 2014 general elections?

10) And have Network18/TV18 investors got a fair deal? 

- Courtesy Churmuri

India v. Hinduphobia: What Narendra Modi's Election as Prime Minister Really Means

Vamsee Juluri writes

Narendra Modi's victory needs to be understood beyond the two commonly heard positions we have heard these past few months leading up to the election. Critics of Mr. Modi's saw his rise as the march of Hindu nationalist fascism and the inevitable death of secularism in India. Supporters of Mr. Modi saw his rise as a sign of hope for India after years of corruption in high places, general ineptitude, and a sickening sense of venality in civic and public life.
But India's vote for Mr. Modi needs to be understood beyond these two ideas. Even if Mr. Modi ran on a campaign of universal good governance rather than divisive anti-secular rhetoric, and even if his critics now assume that his victory means an end to something noble in India, the truth is that both positions only tiptoe around what his victory means from a modern, civilizational Hindu point of view today.
The mandate that Mr. Modi has won, in other words, is not just for either good governance, or for dismantling secularism, but for embodying a new, emerging idea of what it means to be Hindu, and Indian, in the world today. It is very different from thinking of it as a mandate for Hindu nationalism of the kind we witnessed in the late 1980s and 1990s.
This mandate, simply put, is about Hinduism even more than Hindu nationalism, or secularism. It might sound paradoxical, but by running on a promise of universal good, rather than on divisive identity-rhetoric, Mr. Modi has re-established a very Hindu way of looking at the world. This is important to recognize, because the anointed secular position against Mr. Modi, though seemingly a good thing--for secularism is a good thing in my view -- has very little intellectual, emotional, or moral purchase in large sections of India's young today. We need to recognize that, and to respect that.
Young people in India today, growing up in a rapidly globalizing cultural environment, aspiring perhaps to study or work in other countries, generally disposed favorably towards the United States and the West, and also, for the most part, accustomed to diverse, multi-religious coexistence in India and therefore not inherently hateful to other communities, find a tremendous contradiction between how they see themselves and how they are represented in the global discourse. Young Hindus see themselves as part of a great civilizational heritage, and value it not just for its ancient glory, but also because they see its spirituality as being the core of their civilizational ethic of coexistence and respect for all religions. If Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and so many different kind of Hindus divided by language, custom, caste and history still share a land and history so deeply, they know it is not simply because of India's secular constitution, but because of Hinduism's ancient legacy of respecting all faiths. There is a new sense of wanting to be Indian, and Hindu, in India's young that is very different from the simplistic Hindu nationalist rhetoric we saw two decades ago.
Unfortunately, even if Hindus have moved on for the most part from the extremism and jingoistic pride of that period, the secular commentary has not. In fact, it has only become worse, if such a thing was possible. It should come as no surprise to anyone therefore that the numerous earnest and passionate appeals to Indian voters to reject Mr. Modi that populated the august pages of The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Economist in recent months probably had very little meaning for voters in India. To know why, it is worth recalling what else these publications had to say about Hindus, Hinduism, and India in the last few years, before they took up their outraged positions on behalf of India's supposedly vanishing secularism.
The Economist once described a holy Hindu deity, the Shiva Lingam at Amarnath, as a "penis-shaped lump of ice."
The Guardian once lampooned the passing of a revered Hindu guru, who probably did more to uphold India's secular, multi-religious fabric than any intellectual or activist ever did, and derided his teachings as simplistic "peace, love and vegetarianism."
The New York Times published a spate of op-ed pieces after the 2008 Pakistani terrorist attacks blaming India and Hindu nationalism. Not to mention its serious advocacy for a Hinduism "expert" who compares ancient Hindus to Nazis in her book and unilateral exclusion of dissenting opinion.
With this sort of a track record, why would take anyone take them seriously on Narendra Modi either?
The fact is that what might have been a fair, principled position of secularist critique against Hindu extremism has long ago lost all integrity in the eyes of most reasonable Hindus. They may not care for the sort of ultra-nationalism and minority-abusing that some Hindutva leaders did, but they do care about their religion, their nation, and their place in the world.
They do not see secularism being advocated against Modi, but only Hinduphobia.
Had Mr. Modi run on a really divisive platform, the situation would have indeed been different. But fact is that he did not.
Perhaps the time has truly come for a better conversation now about India, and the future of religion, and nationalism. We need a better notion of secularism than the profoundly orientalistic Hinduphobia we have seen so far. We also need a better notion of Hindu nationalism to enter the debate than the 19th century ideologies that have dominated its parties for a long time. At least on the latter, Mr. Modi has marked a distinct change from the past.
Whether Prime Minister Modi is truly different from the Chief Minister who allegedly allowed a terrible riot to run wild in 2002 is of course a question that leaves many restless. The Indian electorate has clearly spoken in his favor. If there was really an inexcusable level of culpability, then surely votes too would not mean any lessening of it. But we do have to consider one thing, which people in India probably have and those of us who only read about India through largely Hinduphobic publications have not. For a few days in 2002, the allegation holds, a government failed in its responsibility to protect its citizens, and for this lapse punishments were indeed made. We are however not satisfied with those who paid for these crimes, and somehow sought the head, so to speak, of one man more than any other. Whether it was for what he really did, or whether he only became a symbol for all our fears, is perhaps not ever going to be known for sure.
But also consider another situation about a government failing in its responsibility -- not for a few days, but for several years, really, as militants indirectly under its funding spread death and devastation on multiple occasions. The people of India have not once blamed the governments of the United States or the United Kingdom though they tolerated, if not ignored altogether, the brazen support of terrorism that was taking place through regimes under their patronage. Yet, these very governments have in the past sought to singularly condemn a democratically elected leader who has, as he has said, successfully prevented a single riot from ever taking place again under his watch.
Nothing can and will erase the pain of those who suffered in Gujarat in 2002, Hindu and Muslim. Nothing can and will erase the pain of all those who suffered at the hands of terrorists and their bombs and bullets in India in the last two decades. But one thing the Indian electorate has done decisively now is to reject those whose politics have rested on the divisive and ugly identity-claims that underlie that sort of violence. India has rejected both pseudo-secularism, and jingoistic Hindu extremism. It has accepted a plank of good governance for all, which for young Hindus could also mean a repudiation of brazen, racist Hinduphobia, and for others might prove a reassurance eventually that India's secular constitution will not be threatened, and may even be strengthened by recognizing the civilizational roots on which that country's many religions rest.
This election was not really about choosing between secularism and religious extremism as it was made out to be. The choice was perhaps seen by people in India more accurately as one between Hinduphobia and an India for everyone.
And India has chosen.

Are we secularists or sick-ularists?

S Gurumurthy writes

When Narendra Modi performed Ganga Aarati on his return to Varanasi to thank the voters who had elected him some “secular” intellectuals began asking whether Modi’s Aarati was in tune with secular politics. Given the drift in the Indian secular discourse, they might not have asked this question if Modi had carried a chaddar to Ajmer Dargah—a ritual in Ajmer. Ganga Aarati is a ritual which every believing Hindu going to the holy town does. Modi, a believing Hindu, performed the Aarati which he was banned from doing before the elections. The Modi Aarati would have gone off as a private event had the media not telecast the event live and had newspapers not written about it. Assuming Narendra Modi did it so that the media is forced to cover it because of its news value, is he at fault? Had the media treated the event as a personal and private religious act, no one would have seen Modi’s Ganga Aarati. On one side, the electronic media shows Modi performing Ganga Aarati for competitive TRP rating and the print media publishes the news and photos of the event for sales, and on the other debate starts on whether Modi’s act of personal faith was secular! The real question, therefore, is not whether it was proper for Modi to have done Ganga Aarati but whether the “secular” media was right in telecasting and publishing a private religious event and then turn around to debate whether Modi’s Aarati was secular. How does a permitted private religious act become forbidden because it is publicised?
Even earlier, during the campaign when, at Faizabad, Modi addressed a public rally with Sri Rama’s picture and the Ayodhya temple forming the backdrop, the “secularists” raised a hue and cry charging that it was a religious appeal. And the Election Commission even issued a show cause notice on the issue. See what happens when illiterates expound on secularism. Everyone fell into silence when the BJP cited the great Urdu poet Allama Iqbal, the author of the famous song “Sare Jahan Se Acha Hindustan Hamara”, who said that Rama was not possession of Hindus but equally an Imam of Muslims! The Indian secular discourse, forged as a vote-catching device, has always become increasingly perverse. It is likely to intensify even after the electorate massively voted and elected Modi. Commenting on his victory, a newspaper said in a front-page edit that symbolisms of Narendra Modi were an expression of the cultural nationalism of the BJP which, it contended, was not consistent with secular polity. Over years, there is a rising opinion in and outside politics that the distorted meaning that secularism has acquired over decades needs to be debated and corrected. The mainline media has so far swept this other and the correct view under the carpet and perpetuated the distortion. Result, the Indian secularism is neither Indian in the sense of equal protection to all faiths nor Western in the sense of equal repugnance to all religions. Now, Modi’s symbolism seems to have revived the debate which L K Advani so powerfully initiated in the 1990s marking out genuine secularism from the fake and the pseudo. The monumental effort to have the idea of secularism redefined in the Indian context got suspended after the NDA came to power. But now with Narendra Modi the bete noire of the self-certifying “secularists” leading the nation, the debate is being revived.
Narendra Modi had already set the stage and suggested the rules for the debate when he held his Sadbhavana fasts in Gujarat last year. His clarity on the issue of what is secularism was astounding. When a Muslim from the audience gave him a skullcap—an Arabic symbol which Indian Muslims have begun using in the last couple of decades as a mark of their identity—Modi instinctively accepted it and put it, not on his head as his secular colleagues in politics would have done, but in his pocket. This reflex action could only have emanated from deeper clarity inside. But his action became a huge issue. Modi was debated in media for days as offending the minorities. Modi was questioned on it during the campaign. His response was profound and exposed the hollowness of today’s secularism. He said he follows his tradition but respects others’. If following others’ tradition is symbolic of secularism, then Muslims would need to wear tikha to qualify to be secular.
See how secularism wrongly defined at the start degenerated as it was bound to. Jawaharlal Nehru mixed his personal agnosticism with secularism and distorted the very definition of secularism. Normatively, Hindu leaders publicly forsaking or privatising their own tradition came to be regarded as symbolic of secularism. The issue arose in a daylong seminar in Chennai in the 1980s in which many including Arun Shourie, Cho Ramaswami, N Ram and also I participated, when Mani Shankar Aiyar in his characteristic style cited not wearing the sacred thread of a Brahmin and eating beef as symbolic demonstration of his secular credentials. Immediately, the question arose whether only Muslims shaving off their beard and eating pork would be symbolic of their secular credentials. But later far from Hindus disowning their own tradition, following other’s tradition like wearing skullcap and sipping Ramzan porridge became symbolic of secularism—something far beyond the Nehruvian secular norms. The agnostic Nehru would never have worn skullcaps nor eaten Ramzan porridge. Had there been mutuality in this between Hindus and Muslims also, that would have been meaningful. The seculars could not persuade the Muslim leaders to join the colourful fun of Holi for instance. This made secularism practised in Indian politics a mockery. That is why, in his excellent book “India’s Muslim Spring: Why is Nobody Talking about It?” Hasan Suroor pointed out to how the current brand of secularism is mocked by many educated Indians as Sickularism and the secularists as Sickularists!
Worse, thanks to the perverted secularism, gradually even national and nationalist issues have become communal symbols. When the BJP released its manifesto in which it had mentioned its three distinct issues—the common civil code, Article 370 and Ram Mandir—many in the secular media headlined “the three Hindutva issues back”. Meaning that these issues are Hindu religious issues and against secularism. Now, test the distorted logic. Take Article 370. The chapter [Chapter XXI] in which the Article figures was originally titled as Temporary and Transitional Provisions—meaning that the Article was temporary in nature. Article 370 was specifically sub-headed “Temporary provisions with respect to the State of Jammu and Kashmir”. This was in 1950. Pundit Nehru told the Lok Sabha on November 23, 1963, that Art 370 would be eroded away. All other articles from Art 371 A to 371 H in the chapter are titled “special provisions”. Art 370 is not. It still remains as a temporary and transitional provision. How come the demand that the temporary and transitional provision of Art 370 be deleted become a Hindutva issue or communal issue? Whether it is to be done or not is a different issue for debate. Take common civil code. Art 44 of the Constitution says that the government “shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India”. How come the demand that the constitutional mandate of uniform civil code should be implemented be a Hindutva issue or against secularism? Whether it is advisable to do it or not is a different issue to be debated. And yet, the media clubs these two political and constitutional issues as part of Hindutva issues and turns them against secularism.
So much for the perversion of the secular discourse. Correcting this distortion is the greatest challenge to Indian secularism which is founded on equal protection to all faiths. Modi’s symbolism seems to have revived the debate which Advani started and which got suspended since 1998. Will he continue the debate and restore the real meaning to secularism?
S Gurumurthy is a well-known commentator on political and economic issues

Sachin, the person as straight as his straight drive as you could imagine

Mikkhail Vaswani writes

Every young kid who has lived to see the Sachin Tendulkar magic has a distinct memory of the genius. Those who recall his classics from the archives are fortunate, but those who have had one-on-one interactions should feel blessed. I am part of the latter group who lives to share an experience every kid in the 90s dreamed of, at a time when the entire nation was high on three alphabets - SRT.

 My first Sachin Tendulkar moment was in the mid-90s - charity match in the small town of Mangalore in coastal Karnataka. A little boy purchased a ticket to watch Sachin Tendulkar. Sachin took off from the very first ball and it was just a matter of time until he got to his century. Mangalore went wild and the little boy caught in the frenzy, high on adrenaline, charged on to the pitch, desperate for a handshake. Almost there, just about to reach forward, at arm's length ... but he was caught by a cop who would lathi charge him back. Life can be unfair. But the consolation for the boy was "I got to see him from so close".

15 years on, the same boy happened to meet Sachin Tendulkar once again, this time at the Taj Lands End Hotel in Mumbai for the unveiling of the legend's wax statue. Sachin was waiting to address the media when I went up to him and narrated the entire story. Quick to acknowledge that charity match, Sachin Tendulkar recalled a few moments just when I interrupted by saying, "That time I was denied the opportunity to shake hands with you and today 15 years on, I finally get my chance."

Sachin's reply was spontaneous and unassuming - "Oh it's my pleasure". With a lump in my throat I replied, "Sir, it's my honour". After exchanging a few more pleasantries I went back to my spot with the rest of the media, but left with a lasting impression on my mind.

Greatness sometimes is the willingness to acknowledge the presence of the lesser known. A mind that's respectful, a person who is compassionate and an individual who is considerate. Sachin Tendulkar has forever been an epitome of such values.

His life is a lesson on how to be a person before being a professional. His principles precede his passion which reflects the ideologies on which he has grown as an individual. While many attach education to one's growth in life, Sachin's upbringing and learning through observation underlines the importance of knowing what's right and adapting around the don'ts. It's said that ;formal education makes you a living but self-education makes you a fortune' and clearly Sachin's fortune is not about his fame, but what kind of person he still is even today.

While his humility is time and again spoken about off the field, his demeanour transforms into discipline on the field. It's evident from the moment he sets out to bat, with that first glance up into the sky, bat under his left arm, putting on his gloves, few warm-up hops and skips and then some shadow practice. Indian cricket is largely built around the aura of an entry that is today synonymous with not just Indian cricket but even world Cricket.

A few observations about Sachin Tendulkar indicate the unmatched focus, consistency and dedication he has maintained over the years. As a young kid Sachin was often seen without a helmet, but after a point one really cannot remember when was the last time he batted without a helmet, even when two spinners were bowling in tandem. 

Sachin's century celebration of taking off his helmet has got more to do with the innings in context to the match rather than achieving the milestone. Sachin has always enjoyed bowling, his animated field settings to the T speak about the involvement and seriousness with which he wants to excel in every situation. Also the manner in which he chases the ball even today, Sachin hates when the batsmen chance a double when played to him, he even expresses it by hurling the ball to the strikers end from long on, only to tell the batsmen, he is still very much in it.

Even today Sachin Tendulkar shows desperation for that unlikely single, even today, this 39-year-old scampers back for that improbable double and time and again throws himself around on the field only to deny runs and defy age. This is an attitude indicator of an approach that has been built through a resolute mindset over the years. Something most contemporary cricketers don't seem to achieve in the flash and brash of international and league cricket.

The current generation of cricketers who have had a chance to spend time with Sachin should consider themselves lucky. Observation and conversation will help them in their own careers. I've come across quite a few young cricketers who consider themselves the be all and end all of Indian cricket. I only hope they understand what it means to be standing in the company of Sachin Tendulkar.

This doesn't aim to be PR copy, just an account from someone who has grown up admiring a teacher, who still admits he is learning. Cricket is very much in parallel to life - a leveller, an educator and a reminder - as Sachin Tendulkar the student continues to learn, let's also imbibe from him - and walks the path of modesty, humility and humbleness. One can always write about his achievements, milestones and records but let's admire and appreciate the person who hasn't changed one bit with all the adulation and fame. For once, let's applaud the person in him and not just the professional.

At 41, Sachin Tendulkar is not here to prove anything to anyone. He is only being himself even today. A batsman who wants to express himself in the middle, a cricketer who wants to set the right example for a cricket-crazy nation and an individual who wants to be what he has always been. Times change, people do as well, but Sachin the individual hasn't changed much like his straight drive with a full face of the bat.

Follow Mikkhail @

http://www.mikkhailvaswani.com/2014/04/sachin-tendulkar-person-before.html

IPL 2014: Smith, Faulkner steal thunder from Yuvraj's superlative show

By B D Narayankar 

Bangalore, May 11 (PTI) In an incredible power-hitting show, Steven Smith and James Faulkner rattled up a match-winning 85-run stand from no where as Rajasthan Royals pulled off a stunning five-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore.


Chasing a daunting 191 to win, Rajasthan were staring down the barrel after losing five wickets for 106 runs in the 14th over but Smith (48 off 21) and Faulkner (41 off 17) combined well to find boundary after boundary.

In complete mayhem, the Australian duo scored the last 65 runs off just 17 balls to not only secure the win with seven balls to spare but also steal the thunder from Yuvraj Singh, who had roared back to form with a strokeful 83 and followed it up with four wickets.

It all started in the 17th over as Faulkner creamed two fours and a six off fellow Australian Mitchel Starc. Smith began the next over, bowled by Ashoke Dinda, with a six and two shots to the fence. Faulkner then finished it off quickly in the 19th over, punishing Varun Aaron with two sixes and a four, stunning the RCB camp and the home fans.

With this win, Rajasthan have strengthened their position in the top-four although they remained in third position with 10 points. RCB are still at sixth place with six points. Bangalore owed their big total to Yuvraj and AB de Villiers (58) as they shared a magnificent 132-run stand, which powered RCB to 190 for five after electing to bat.

Yuvraj, who was dropped on 47 by Sanju Samson, and de Villiers put up a gallant fight as RCB scored 84 runs in the last five overs to snatch the momentum from their rivals, who were well in command till 12 overs. Sending the Rajasthan bowlers on a leather-hunt, the hosts belted 120 runs in the last eight overs.

Rajasthan too had to endure a bad start as Yuvraj rocked the visitors' middle-order with his spin, starting the rot with the important wicket of skipper Shane Watson (1). The left-armer also scalped Rajasthan's top scorer Karun Nair (56), Stuart Binny (1) and the talented Sanju Samson (13) to end with figures of 4-0-35-4. Rajasthan were reeling at 106 for five in the 14th over but what followed was complete mayhem.

From nowhere, Smith with Faulkner, changed the game with their amazing ability to bat under pressure. Smith played a blinder, scoring 48 off 21 balls with four sixes and as many fours while Faulkner hit three sixes and three fours in his 17-ball knock.

Yuvraj, who received criticism for his slow batting and failures in this IPL, punished the bowlers with seven fours and seven sixes in 38-ball knock.

De Villiers, who has been the most consistent batsman for RCB this season, continued with his splendid form and hit five sixes and a four. Yuvraj and de Villiers tried to outdo each other in hitting fours and sixes towards the end of the innings after RCB had a disastrous start, losing three wickets for 40 runs in 8.1 overs.



The RCB innings was off to a disastrous start after their captain Virat Kohli, who opened the innings instead of Parthiv Patel, returned to the dugout cheaply in the third over. Kohli tried to smash the ball over extra-cover but got a thick edge that went into the hands of Rajat Bhatia stationed at third man off Kane Richardson.

Chris Gayle, who is yet to get a big score under his belt in this IPL, started his innings sedately but shifted gears by smashing two boundaries in Pravin Tambe's first over, which went for nine runs. However, in the next over, the oldest IPL player had the last laugh, snaring Gayle with a googly after he had made 19 off 25 balls with three boundaries.

Vijay Zol, who played his first match of the season, made 16 runs off 14 balls with three boundaries, before he thick edged right-arm legbreak bowler Rahul Tewatia's wrong one to Watson standing in first slip.

Nostradamus predicts Cong sinking into oblivion

Francois Gautier writes

This are extracts of an article I wrote three years ago for my Ferengi’s column of the Indian Express. Was it prophetic ? It seems so, at a time when the BJP is turning the guns of its armed forces against its own people, the Hindus. One cannot think of a greater betrayal. What power does to people….

Michel de Nostre-Dame, better known as Nostradamus (1503-1566), was a famous French astrologer whose predictions - which included the assassination of John Fitzgerald Kennedy, or the premature death of the previous Pope - have proved infallibly accurate.

Last month, unpublished manuscripts of Nostrodamus have been discovered (and authentified) in an old trunk in the French city of Lyon. Curiously, there are two full pages, which deal at length with India, particularly with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the just concluded elections. We are giving here the first words in Latin, the language which he used, along with a rough translation in English

.
"Politicus Bharatus Janatus Indicus veni grandus est vingtus unus centurus - Congressus oublium est …" The Bharatiya Janata Party will come to dominate India in the beginning of the 21st century, as the Congress, will slowly sink into oblivion. "Malheureusus, duo annum millenium trahisonus idealum est Congressus ressemblum, fautum adoptus est. Electionirium Blanca Madamus attaquum"... Unfortunately, to achieve power, the BJP may gradually forsake most of its idealism and it will not address the real burning changes which India needs to adopt so as to become again a Great Power”.

And Nostradamus goes on to enumerate these changes : "Congressus independantum Blancum copium est; necessarus changum indianus cumum facus est"… As the Congress had heavily borrowed from the White Man (British ?) at Independence, it will become necessary to "Indianize" the nation so that it may manifest again its true unique soul. "Panchayatum villagum empruntus. Sanskritus introdum est. Historicum ecritum manus, daemonus est. Yogum, respirationnus introdum est…" Give back the power to the villages in the form of Panchayat. Reintroduce Sanskrit as the national language. Rewrite Indian History, which had mostly been devised by White Masters. Revive ancient traditional systems such as pranayama, yoga, and incorporate them in the education system and everyday life. Change the Constitution so that democracy may not be perverted as it will be

"Malheureusus, secularus montrarus Congressus devenium est, corptionus introdus cancerus est..." Unhappily again, goes on to say Nostradamus, the BJP in its eagerness to prove itself secular (secularus is originally a Latin word), will tend to become like the Congress : corruption, bureaucracy, the VIP plague, the madness of subsidies and the hunger for power, may eat its inner core as a cancer…

And this is Nostradamus’ scoop - if we may say : "Politicus Bharatus Janatus interminum dividus duum et novus politicus formus"… After some time, the Bharatiya Janata Party may split into two. Sincere idealists will form a parallel party which will have as its political platform many of the ideals which the BJP had forsaken. "Indianus pretus reformus est, Grandus nationus manum"… India by that time will be ready for the Big Change and the new party will sweep away the polls and implement these reforms. "Sanskritus savantuus nationalum languus, decentralisum governmentus, aryanus theorum mortuum est, dharmum hinduus devenum. Christianum, Islamus influencum"… Scholars will sit down to modernize and simplify Sanskrit; government will be decentralised; India will strive to form of a federation of SAARC countries; the theory of the Aryan invasion will be proved false and it will be shown that Indian civilisation is at least ten thousand years old and has influenced all great ancient civilisations and religions such as Christianity and even Islam.

And finally : "Aurobindus Ghosus realisum est, Indianum Agus ancientus mortum non est".. And the prophecy of Sri Aurobindo will be fulfilled : "India of the ages is not dead nor has She spoken Her last creative word. And that which She must seek now to awake, is not an anglicised oriental people, docile pupil of the West and doomed to repeat the cycle of the Occident's success and failure, but still the ancient immemorial Shakti recovering Her deepest self, lifting Her head higher towards the supreme source of light and strength and turning to discover the complete meaning and vaster form of Her Dharma".

Intel forecasts India's tablet demand at 16 pc of APAC & Japan

     
Bangalore, May 8 (PTI) Intel today said tablet demand in
India is forecast at 16 per cent of the Asia Pacific and Japan
demand (excluding-China) for 2014.
        "Intel estimates the overall tablet demand in Asia
Pacific and Japan will be up 32 per cent year-on-year in
2014," Intel Asia Pacific and Japan Director- Software and
Services group Narendra Bhandari told reporters here.
        Speaking at the Annual Intel Mobility Roadshow, he said
"In particular, India, Indonesia, Japan and Australia will
equate to 59 per cent of tablet demand."
     "Tablet demand in India is forecast at 16 per cent of the
Asia Pacific and Japan (excluding-China) demand for 2014," he
added.
     Bhandari said there are over 200 million middle-class
potential customers in India alone for different screen sizes
across different price points.
     "We are seeing lot of traction in 7 to 9 inch space. We
are working with our OEM partners to bring Intel- based
tablets starting Rs 10,000," he added.
     Bhandari also pointed out that "Intel is aggressive in
customising its solutions for the enterprise as well as
manifesto driven state governments and working with developers
to drive localised applications."
     Intel officials said the company's strategy is to
accelerate growth in India, driven by an increased focus on
new mobile form factors like 2 in 1s and tablets. PTI KSU

Toll protest: villagers will get concession, CM

       
Bangalore, May 8 (PTI) Amid persistent protests against
the toll hike on the National Highway leading to international
airport, Chief Minister Siddaramaih today said there will be
concession on toll for villagers within the proximity of the
highway.
        "Toll will be collected at concession rate from villagers
in about 40 km radius, that is Rs 220 per month for any number
of trips they commute," he told reporters here.
     Villagers within a five kilometre radius need not pay any
toll, he said.
        Siddaramaih said service road should be made available for
the sake of local villagers next to tolled road, adding that
he is in touch with Union Minister for Road Transport and
Highways Oscar Fernandes over the toll issue.
     Meanwhile, Karnataka State Lorry Owner's and Agent's
association has called for agitation tomorrow, demanding
rollback of toll hike. They are likely to be joined by taxi
drivers and several pro-Kannada organisations.
        Private taxi drivers and transporters are up in arms
against the nearly four-fold hike on the 22-km stretch of the
elevated road to the Kempegowda International airport but the
increase has been justified by NHAI citing the relevant
provisions under the National Highway Fee (Determination of
Rates and Collection) Rules.
        The toll for a return journey by car or other such
vehicles has been increased from Rs 30 to Rs 115 with effect
from Saturday last. The concessionaire of the public-private
partnership project has been allowed to hike the toll in
accordance with provisions of the agreement with NHAI.
        Both BJP and JDS have protested against the toll hike.
PTI KSU 

Karnataka CM directs officials to speed up drought relief

       
Bangalore, May 8 (PTI) Facing flak over handling of the
drought situation, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today
directed top officials to ensure relief works on a war footing
in the state where 125 taluks have been declared drought-hit.
        Addressing top officials of different departments in the
presence of senior ministers, Siddaramaiah said funds were not
a constraint for providing drinking water and fodder and added
that Rs 516 crore had been released so far for drought relief
works.
        Governor H R Bhardwaj had last week openly expressed his
unhappiness over the government's handling and said the Chief
Minister must activate the administration to deal with the
drought conditions.
        KPCC Chief G Parameshwara had also asked the Chief
Minister to speed up relief works by taking "proactive steps."
        Principal opposition BJP had in a memorandum to the
Governor yesterday had accused the government of "gross
negligence" and sought his intervention to "wake up
Siddaramiah and his cabinet colleagues from their deep slumber
and focus their attention on combating drought with all
seriousness."
        In the meeting today, Siddaramaiah said 10,163 villages
in 125 taluks were facing scarcity conditions, of which 1086
villages were hit severely. Badly affected villages were being
water through tankers.
    Fodder banks had been opened and there was enough stock to
meet the needs for the next 26 weeks, he said.
        Rural and Panchayatraj Development Minister H K Patil,
Energy Minister D K Shivakumar, Law and Animal Husbandry
Minister T B Jayachandra and Revenue Minister V Srinivasa
Prasad and senior officials of the departments concerned were
present at the meeting. 

RCB's top six batsmen have to convert the starts: Albie Morkel

By B D Narayankar

Bangalore: Royal Challengers Bangalore allrounder Albie Morkel has said that at least one of their top six batsmen would need to score a big one in Friday's match if they are keen to get the better of indomitable Kings XI Punjab.
"Most of our batsmen got good starts. But we didn't convert. The best innings was of AB (de Villiers) who hit 89. And if you want to win T20 games, out of the top 5-6 batsmen, one has to go out and score a big one.
"30s and 40s can win you games on occasions. From our batting point of view, we are aiming that somebody should score a big one," Morkel told reporters on the eve of the match.

The team needs to win at least five out of the seven remaining games, and the South African allrounder said, "We have seven games to play and have to win five to qualify for semifinals. Certainly, our goal is to play well in the next seven games."

Morkel said RCB would try to take advantage of the home conditions and win three consecutive matches in Bangalore.
"It is a blessing in disguise to play three matches (in Bangalore). If you want to qualify, you have to win home matches. We will go out and try to win all three. We are proud of our record here," said Morkel.
"We are playing Punjab tomorrow. It is going to be a tough contest. They have a few dangerous batsmen. But we are taking things game by game. We haven't yet peaked. Hopefully, that happens tomorrow.
"We all know Virat Kohli is a feisty character and he will be up for it (to win five out of seven games). I think the team will respond very well. It is going to be a good contest. We are prepared like any other game. Hopefully, we recharge ourselves," he said.
Morkel said his team is a very competitive but the batting hasn't clicked as expected.
"We have been doing so many things right and were close to winning games. I think our batting unit probably has not done well as expected," he said.
Replying to a query, Morkel said quite a few niggles were
there, but nothing to worry.
     "There are few niggles. Those are not new injuries. They
have been carrying for a while now. They can play with it.
Just they have to manage it well. For tomorrow's game, I think
everyone is fit. The physio is working overtime. We would
entertain the people and 'Gaylestorm' is around," he said.
     On Mitchell Starc and Kieron Pollard's ugly on-field
spat, Morkel said "both players went wrong and from RCB's
point of view, we don't want this to be repeated".
     "It should not have happened," he said.
     Morkel also said that such incidents always happen in
Mumbai as the crowd gets behind the opposition teams.
     "It always happens when you play in Mumbai. The games I
played for Chennai, the matches in Mumbai were always heated.
The crowd gets behind them," he pointed out. 

Legislature session likely after June 15, Council chairman

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, May 8 (PTI): The month-long monsoon session of the state legislature is likely to be held after June 15, Legislative Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy said today. 

"Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has told me that the government will for the first time hold a 30 working day legislature session. It is likely to be held after June 15," he told reporters here. 

Shankaramurthy said the renovation work, which was taken up to give a new and modern touch to the majestic Council Hall, will be completed by June 12. 

"All civil and electrical works would be completed by June 12 and the renovated hall would be ready to host the monsoon session," he said. 

The Public Works Department had invited tenders for taking up renovation work, which included installation of the latest electrical and audio-video systems, Shankaramurthy said. Renovation work was pending for the last two years. 

Latest earphones and lighting system would be installed as per specifications, he said. 

To a query, he said the Election Commission will announce the dates for conducting polls to the Upper House. The process of elections and nominations will be held to choose 16 MLCs, of which three are already vacant and the rest will fall vacant by June end. 

Former Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda of BJP and former Union Minister M V Rajasekaran of Congress are retiring. In the 75-member strong Council, BJP has 39 members including Shankaramurthy, Congress 19, JD(S) 12, Independents 2 and three vacant posts. 

Of the 13 retiring members, nine are from BJP, three from JD(S) and one from Congress, he said. Of 16 vacancies, seven members will be elected from the assembly, five members would be nominated by the government, and four seats, two each from graduate and teachers' constituency, will witness an electoral battle, Shankarmurthy said.

A B de Villiers sensational blitz helps RCB beat SRH

By B D Narayankar
   
Bangalore, May 4 (PTI) A B de Villiers produced one of
the most devastating Twenty20 innings as he smashed an
unbeaten 89 from just 42 balls as Royal Challengers Bangalore
pulled off a sensational four-wicket victory over Sunrisers
Hyderabad in a dramatic IPL match here today.
     De Villiers butchered Hyderabad bowlers with six fours
and eight sixes as he single-handedly took Bangalore to
victory after Bangalore suffered early jolts after fine
bowling show by Karn Sharma (3/17) and  Bhuvneshwar Kumar
(2/16).
     Chasing 156 for six, Bangalore seemingly lost the plot as
they were reduced to 59 for four in the 11th over and then
were down 95 for five when Yuvraj Singh (14) was out, needing
61 from 5.3 overs.
     But de Villiers took on from there and played a memorable
innings to take Bangalore to 158 for six with one ball to
spare. He stitched 57 runs for the sixth wicket with Mitchell
Starc who could score just five.
     In the process, de Villiers dented the reputation of his
South African compatriot fast bowler Dale Steyn who bled 39
runs without a wicket in his four overs.
     Bangalore needed 28 runs runs off last two overs and de
Villiers came into the act and hammered Steyn for 24 runs in
the 19th over with three scintillating sixes and a four, which
turned the tables against Hyderabad, leaving the home side
just four runs to score in the last over bowled Pathan.
     Fittingly, de Villiers hit the winning runs, a four off
Pathan, to take Bangalore to their first victory at home in
IPL 7 in front of wildly cheering crowd at the Chinnaswamy
Stadium.
     This was Bangalore's third win in IPL 7 and they are now
at the fourth spot with six points from six matches.
     The only blemish in de Villiers' incredible innings was
when Karn Sharma failed to hold onto a tough chance in the
14th over off the bowling of Irfan Pathan when the batsman was
on 32.
     After restricting Hyderabad for 155 for six in 20 overs,
Bangalore top order, however, could not click as per
expectations as they were reduced to 38 for three 6.4 overs.
     Opener Parthiv Patel, who had a good start in couple of
matches, failed yet again as he was castled by Bhuvneshwar
Kumar for just three in the second over.
     Captain Virat Kohli, who was a bit low in confidence in
this year's IPL, did not bother the scorers, as he
irresponsibly flashed at Kumar to give a simple catch to Naman
Ojha behind the stumps.
     Chris Gayle (27) showed the glimpse of his batting
prowess for a short while by hammering India pacer Ishant
Sharma for two sixes and a boundary in the fifth over, but
threw his wicket away when he tried to slog Karn Sharma.
     The West Indian batsman scored an entertaining 27 off 19
balls with three fours and two massive sixes, but failed to
shore up Bangalore's chase from troubled waters. When he left
the scene, the home side was deep in trouble, struggling 38
for three.
     South African Rilee Rossouw, a replacement for the Nick
Maddinson, looked out of sorts playing on the Indian
conditions. He scored a laborious 14 runs off 23 balls with
one boundary, before he was trapped by leggie Karn Sharma in
11th over, leaving the home side tottering at 59 for four.
     Left to steady the ship forward, Yuvraj, with de
Villiers, added valuable 36 runs for fifth wicket before he
fell to Karn Sharma.
     Earlier, David Warner's fighting knock of 61 off 49 balls
helped Hyderabad post a challenging 155 for six after being
put into bat.
     Warner hit four boundaries and three sixes as he steadied
Hyderabad innings, along with captain Shikhar Dhawan (37 off
36 balls) with a 62-run partnership for third wicket.
     Put into bat, Hyderabad lost their in-form opener Aaron
Finch (13) and Lokesh Rahul (6) early as they were reduced to
29 for two in four overs. Mitchel Starc and Ashoke Dinda
(1/39) accounted for both the batsmen.
     Australian pacer Starc (2/21) had Finch caught behind by
Parthiv Patel and then Dinda sent back local lad Rahul as he
fished at an out-going bowl to Chris Gayle at first slip.
     Warner, who survived a scare while on six when he played
an uppish shot, and Dhawan provided stability for the visitors
by adding 62 runs for third wicket in the next nine overs.
     Both played some effective shots during their partnership
and prominent among those were the boundaries scored off Varun
Aaron (2/33) and Harshel Patel (1/29).
     A moment of indiscretion cost Dhawan his wicket as he
pulled one off Aaron straight into the hands of A B de
Villiers who was standing at deep mid-wicket after making 37
off 36 balls with four hits to the fence.
     But Warner continued to fight as he smashed Yuzvendra
Chahal for a six over the bowler's head and followed it up by
accumulating seven more runs. He was ultimately castled by
Starc in the last over of the innings.
     Darren Sammy then smashed a flat over long-off for a six
to prop up Hyderabad's innings but was holed out by Starc off
Harshal Patel in deep mid-wicket for eight in as many balls in
16th over.
     Naman Ojha looked in good nick and contributed 15 runs
off 11 balls, which included a gentle guide into the Hyderabad
dug-out for a boundary and a six, before he was caught by
Starc at third-man fence off Aaron. 

Steel Authority of India's hot metal capacity to reach 19 million tonne by September end

B D Narayankar reports

Bangalore, May 4 (PTI) After the operationalisation of a new blast furnace at Burnpur steel plant, Steel Authority of India Ltd’s hot metal capacity would go up to 19 million tonnes by September-end, company Chairman C S Verma today said.

Now, the capacity is 14 mt per annum.

The new blast furnace at Burnpur steel plant will be commissioned in August, Verma said. In addition, the “first heat” in the new converter in Rourkela plant will be made on May 10.

“The converter in Rourkela steel plant — first heat — we are taking on May 10, and in the next three months, in August, SAIL is going to commence one more blast furnace in Burnpur steel plant,” he said.

The country’s largest blast furnace is operating in Rourkela steel plant and the volume there is 4,060 cubic meter, he added.

He said the company has also drawn up its “Vision 2025” plan to ramp up its hot metal capacity from 24 mt to 50 mt with an additional capital outlay of Rs 1,50,000 crore.

Verma said the steel company has the total investment of Rs 72,000 crore for the ongoing expansion, of which Rs 55,000 crore had been spent on modernisation plan. 

"This is an ongoing expansion which we have been discussing many a time. All these special programmes were started three years back. Total investment is 72,000 crore. Already Rs 55,000 crore has been spent," he added.