Varun Gandhi targets Muslims, BJP shocked
Pilibhit (Uttar Pradesh): The strident communal overtones of the campaign being run by Varun Gandhi has left his own party (BJP) workers shocked.
The 29-year-old son of Maneka and late Sanjay Gandhi is contesting his maiden Lok Sabha election from Pilibhit constituency. Maneka Gandhi gave up the seat to ensure his easy entry into the Lok Sabha.
On Sunday Varun was issued a notice by the district authorities in Pilibhit. What came as a shocker is his staunchly pro-Hindu and rabid anti-Muslim vitriolic that his opponents and supporters say could trigger a communal clash.
From taking up issues like the ban on cow slaughter to asking a Sikh leader to leave a Hindu meeting, Varun has been ruffling feathers everywhere.
Though just one offensive remark captured by a TV channel drew the attention of the local authorities, the scion of the estranged Gandhi family has been busy making such statements all over Pilibhit.
While "Jai Shri Ram" is his battle-cry at all roadside meetings or assemblies, some of the other slogans being used are "Gau hatya rukwana hai, Varun Gandhi ko jitana hai" (Cow slaughter must stop, Varun Gandhi must win) and "Varun nahin yeh aandhi hai, doosra Sanjay Gandhi hai (Varun Gandhi is like a storm, he is another Sanjay Gandhi)".
Varun has already addressed three 'Hindu sammellans'. While the district administration has taken cognizance of his utterances at a meet in Barkhera on March 8, those at earlier meetings in Dalchand on March 6 and at Lalori Khera locality on February 22 have almost gone unnoticed.
On March 6, he said at the Dalchand meeting - "Agar kissi galat tatv ke aadmi ne, kisi Hindu pe haath uthaya ya hinduon ke upar yeh samajh key ki yeh kamzor hain, unke peeche koi nahi hai... hinduon ke upar haath uthaya, mein geeta ki kasam khake kehta hoon ki mein uss haath ko kaat daaloonga. (If somebody lifts a hand against Hindus, or thinks they are weak, there is nobody behind them, then I swear on the (Bhagvad) Gita that I will cut off that hand)".
It has left even leaders who are working for his victory flabbergasted.
"I am a BJP activist and a Hindu too. But I am not in favour of launching a communally charged campaign. If Varun Gandhi persists with such style of campaigning, I would be compelled to keep myself away from it," a popular BJP leader in Puranpur, Naresh Verma told IANS.
"Varun is going out of hand. If he is not restrained, this election could end in a bloody communal clash," added another BJP veteran Gurdial Singh.
The 70-year-old Sikh from Ramnagar village was even asked to leave one of the Hindu meets being addressed by Varun.
"He neither has respect for any other religion nor even for elders. In his arrogance, he has gone to the extent of forgetting that his mother was also a Sikh before her marriage," Gurudial said.
If the BJP is alarmed, other parties are determined to ensure that this stops.
"We have audio-recordings of the provocative language used by Varun Gandhi to run down Muslims," claimed a local Samajwadi Party leader, Haroon Ahmad.
"We have been restraining our people from retaliating because that will lead to a clash, but how long can we stop people from reacting?" he asked.
Varun's Congress rival VM Singh said he was "going to make a detailed complaint in this regard to the Election Commission".
"I have been gathering all the evidence against him so far but now I am going to make a written complaint," Singh added.
"The highly objectionable slang used by Varun in his reference to Muslims could just spark off a violent communal clash here."
Source From: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/varun-gandhi-targets-muslims-bjp-shocked/87834-37.html
Sri Ram Sene chief Muthalik banned from Mangalore
NEW DELHI: A Mangalore court on Monday banned Sri Ram Sene chief Pramod Muthalik from entering Dakshina Kannada district for one year. Muthalik's
Ram Sene was involved in an attack in a Mangalore pub in January, 2009. ( Watch )
An official spokesperson said district administration of Dakshina Kannada passed a 15-page order citing various reasons, including an attack on young women in a Mangalore pub in January and Valentine's Day threat, to bar Muthalik's entry to the district, IANS reported.
Mangalore is the headquarters of Dakshina Kannada district.
The order by district magistrate V Ponnuraj came into effect immediately, the spokesperson said by phone from Mangalore.
A group of 40 activists of the Sri Ram Sene barged into a pub in Mangalore and bashed up a group of young women and men, claiming the women were violating traditional Indian values.
Muthalik had also threatened to disrupt Valentine's Day celebrations.
Source From: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sri-Ram-Sene-chief-Muthalik-banned-from-Mangalore/articleshow/4272254.cms
South Africa to host Champions Trophy: ICC
NEW DELHI: South Africa will stage this year's Champions Trophy One-Day tournament in September and October, the International Cricket
Council
said on Monday.
The ICC executive board made a "unanimous" decision in a teleconference after its executive committee made the recommendation last week.
The eight-team event was originally scheduled to take place in Pakistan but was postponed last year and then switched due to security concerns.
The Wanderers stadium in Johannesburg and Centurion in Pretoria were identified as preferred venues subject to conclusion of satisfactory commercial terms, an ICC release said.
South Africa was shortlisted as the host country for the premier One-Day tournament, second only in importance to the World Cup, after fears of poor weather ruled out Sri Lankan capital Colombo for the Sept. 24-Oct. 5 event.
The trimmed event this time will be played over 12 days. "I think the board has made a sensible decision that will give the event every chance of success," ICC president David Morgan said.
"We now have clarity on the subject and we can make firm plans for what is going to be a great spectacle of ODI cricket.
"I would like to thank Sri Lanka Cricket for its commitment to offer an alternative to Pakistan. And also, I want to acknowledge its willingness to step aside in this matter.
"I'd also like to thank CSA (Cricket South Africa) for putting its hand up and offering to host this event."
South Africa jointly hosted the 2003 one-day World Cup with Zimbabwe and Kenya and the World Twenty20 in 2007.
The ICC board confirmed the dates for next year's World Twenty20 in the West Indies from Apr. 30 to May. 16. Matches will be staged in St Lucia, Barbados and St Kitts, which will simultaneously stage the women's tournament.
Source From:http://cricket.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/South_Africa_to_host_Champions_Trophy_ICC/articleshow/4272817.cms
Tatas' debt to cross Rs 1-trillion mark
NEW DELHI: Tata group's total debt is set to exceed Rs 1,00,000 crore in the current fiscal, but it appears comfortable on the liquidity front, a
report has said.
"We expect the total debt of the Tata group as of the end of FY'09 (ending this month) at over Rs one trillion, of which Rs 117 billion is due through March 2010," analysts at domestic brokerage unit of financial major Kotak group said.
When contacted, Tata Sons spokesperson told PTI, "We are not in a position to comment on such reports. As you are aware Tata Sons does not aggregate the debt of individual group companies as each company is a standalone legal entity and is evaluated accordingly."
Increase of more than Rs 30,000 crore in group's overall outstanding debt position from year-ago level of about Rs 70,000 crore is primarily due to its aggressive capital expenditure plans and past acquisitions, the report stated.
Analysts, however, noted that Tatas' funding challenges are manageable and debt obligations could be met through free cash flow generated at various group companies and proceeds from the stake sale by holding company Tata Sons.
"We believe the group's liquidity position is comfortable at an aggregate level," Kotak Institutional Equities Research analysts said, adding that possible fund-raising options include monetising Tata Motors' commercial vehicle division and stake sale by Tata Sons in TCS and Tata Tele Services.
"We believe the Tata Group of companies (represented by five largest listed entities) would generate Rs 10,000 crore in free cash flows in FY2010, against Rs 11,700 crore in debt coming due for repayment/refinance, implying a funding gap of Rs 1,700 crore," the report noted.
Total debt of these five entities -- Tata Motors, Tata Steel, TCS, Tata Power and Tata Communications -- which account for 90 per cent of the group's revenues, is estimated at Rs 91,000 crore in FY2010, the analysts said.
This would include Rs 40,600 crore from Tata Steel, Rs 22,800 crore from Tata Motors, Rs 21,400 crore from Tata Power and Rs 6,200 crore from Tata Communications.
"Within the group, the most pertinent issue remains Tata Motors' Rs 11,300 crore debt coming up for repayment/refinance in FY2010," the analysts said. Tata Motors needs to refinance USD 2 billion (Rs 10,000 crore) of its USD 3 billion one-year bridge loan coming due in June 2009, while another Rs 1,300 crore debt is coming due in its books.
To meet group's funding needs, the report said, Tata Sons has the financial flexibility to support group companies in extreme cases like clampdown in the debt markets and its options include stake sale in group companies.
Tata Sons might also be required to infuse fresh equity into one or more group companies, such as Tata Motors and Tata Steel, in case of a sharp deterioration in operational and financial conditions.
"Worse and prolonged decline in global demand environment would require some tough decisions regarding restructuring of the group itself, asset sales and reorganisation within companies," the report said.
For instance, a decision might have to be taken if Tata Motors needs to be in both the passenger car and commercial vehicle businesses, it added.
For Tata Sons, analysts said, stake sale remains primary option. "Tata Sons has a 33 per cent stake in TTSL and in our view most suitable course of action would be to exit the firm," adding it could fetch USD 3 billion (Rs 15,000 crore).
Besides, Tata Sons has a 74 per cent stake in TCS, out of which a 25 per cent could be sold, but divestment has limited merit at current valuations. "While a strategic buyer may not be interested in a non-controlling stake, a financial buyer could pay 10 per cent premium to current market price", wherein Tata Sons could get USD 2.5 billion (Rs 12,500 crore).
Analysts said Tata Motors could monetise its commercial vehicle division, valued at Rs 12,000 crore, through measures like stake sale or spin-off.
Besides, Tata Motors can borrow up to Rs 11,500 crore against assets in its books and sell some subsidiaries.
"Tata Motors' stake in Tata Motors Daewoo could fetch USD 180 million (Rs 900 crore) ... stakes in Tata Construction and Tata Technologies could fetch up to USD 200-300 million (Rs 1,000 crore to Rs 1,500 crore)," they added.
Source From: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/Tatas-debt-to-cross-Rs-1-trillion-mark/articleshow/4271918.cms
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