Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Monday, December 12, 2011
India on the verge of economic crisis!
New Delhi: The fear of an economic slowdown has turned to be a real one, as for the first time in recent months, India's industrial economy has actually shrunk, which may lead to job cuts, high inflation and more bearish stock markets.
In fact, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has warned of job losses and appealed for urgent measures to tackle the slowdown after the Index of Industrial Production fallen to minus 5.1 per cent in October.
The CII further said a lack of investments can act as a drag on growth and that a continued decline in the mining sector can have consequences on livelihoods. Economic experts say the manufacturing sector is likely to see job losses and warned that inflation will continue to stay high even as the stock markets may continue to be in bear grip.
The industrial output was 1.9 per cent in the month of September and the fall comes after a sustained slowdown over the past few months, led by a steep fall in production of almost sectors, particularly manufacturing, mining and capital goods.
The biggest fall has come in the capital goods as well as in the manufacturing sector and mining. The capital goods growth is at minus 25 per cent while manufacturing activity has declined to minus 6 per cent from 2.1 per cent a month ago.
Factory output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), had grown by 11.3 per cent in October 2010.
The negative growth in factory output pulled down the BSE Sensex by 343 points or 1.12 per cent on Monday to below the 16,000 level after two weeks.
The Sensex, which had lost 664 points in the past two trading sessions, fell further by 343.11 points to end the day at 15,870.35, closing below the 16k level after November 25.
The BSE 30-share benchmark has lost over 1,000 points in the last three sessions, eroding investor wealth by nearly Rs 3 lakh crore.
The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty has also lost 102.10 points or 2.10 per cent to 4,764.60 on Monday.
Though, Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council Advisor C Rangarajan hoped that the GDP growth will still be between 7-7.5 per cent, it looks hard to achieve due to lack of corrective measures on the part of the UPA Government.
With the headline inflation remained above the 9 per cent-mark since December 2010, the Reserve Bank has hiked interest rates 13 times since March, 2010, to tame inflation.
India Inc had attributed the slowdown to rising interest rates, which have led to an increase in the cost of borrowing, thus hindering fresh investment.
But for long, the political turmoil has prevented the scam-hit UPA Government from taking any major policy decisions.
Some leading industrialists at the annual Indian summit of World Economic Forum has already alleged that the Central Government has been suffering from policy paralysis.
Moreover, a combined attack by the Opposition and some its own allies forced the Government to hold back its decision on allowing FDI in retail sector, which put a big question mark on the ability of the Government to go for any further economic reforms.
As a result, it seems the crisis-hit UPA Government is in no position to infuse the confidence that needed to boost the falling economy, which is already facing turbulence due to gloomy global economic scenario.
In fact, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has warned of job losses and appealed for urgent measures to tackle the slowdown after the Index of Industrial Production fallen to minus 5.1 per cent in October.
The CII further said a lack of investments can act as a drag on growth and that a continued decline in the mining sector can have consequences on livelihoods. Economic experts say the manufacturing sector is likely to see job losses and warned that inflation will continue to stay high even as the stock markets may continue to be in bear grip.
The industrial output was 1.9 per cent in the month of September and the fall comes after a sustained slowdown over the past few months, led by a steep fall in production of almost sectors, particularly manufacturing, mining and capital goods.
The biggest fall has come in the capital goods as well as in the manufacturing sector and mining. The capital goods growth is at minus 25 per cent while manufacturing activity has declined to minus 6 per cent from 2.1 per cent a month ago.
Factory output, as measured by the Index of Industrial Production (IIP), had grown by 11.3 per cent in October 2010.
The negative growth in factory output pulled down the BSE Sensex by 343 points or 1.12 per cent on Monday to below the 16,000 level after two weeks.
The Sensex, which had lost 664 points in the past two trading sessions, fell further by 343.11 points to end the day at 15,870.35, closing below the 16k level after November 25.
The BSE 30-share benchmark has lost over 1,000 points in the last three sessions, eroding investor wealth by nearly Rs 3 lakh crore.
The broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty has also lost 102.10 points or 2.10 per cent to 4,764.60 on Monday.
Though, Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council Advisor C Rangarajan hoped that the GDP growth will still be between 7-7.5 per cent, it looks hard to achieve due to lack of corrective measures on the part of the UPA Government.
With the headline inflation remained above the 9 per cent-mark since December 2010, the Reserve Bank has hiked interest rates 13 times since March, 2010, to tame inflation.
India Inc had attributed the slowdown to rising interest rates, which have led to an increase in the cost of borrowing, thus hindering fresh investment.
But for long, the political turmoil has prevented the scam-hit UPA Government from taking any major policy decisions.
Some leading industrialists at the annual Indian summit of World Economic Forum has already alleged that the Central Government has been suffering from policy paralysis.
Moreover, a combined attack by the Opposition and some its own allies forced the Government to hold back its decision on allowing FDI in retail sector, which put a big question mark on the ability of the Government to go for any further economic reforms.
As a result, it seems the crisis-hit UPA Government is in no position to infuse the confidence that needed to boost the falling economy, which is already facing turbulence due to gloomy global economic scenario.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Suspend violence, will give dates for talks in 72 hours : Home Ministry's fresh Truce Offer to Maoists
New Delhi: The Centre today offered talks with Maoists and insurgents in the north east with a condition that they should suspend violence.
"Violence does not pay and violence will not pay. The State will not bend before anyone who uses violence as an instrument of policy to achieve political demands... That is why we tell them suspend violence and come for talks and when you come for talks, you will be treated with dignity and honour. And we can resolve your political demands through talks," Home Minister P Chidambaram told a press conference on a day he completed three years in the ministry.
He was replying to questions on the bomb blast in Manipur today and about talks with different insurgents groups in the north east.
"Yes, it applies to maoists also. I have made this statement several times before and I make it again today as I complete three years. Even maoists should suspend violence. We are not asking for more at this stage. Just say there will be no violence and my offer stands," Mr Chidambaram said.
"After consulting Chief Ministers of the States concerned, within 72 hours we will get back to them to fix the dates and venue for starting talks. But they must suspend violence," he said.
Rejecting allegations of fake encounter, Chidambaram said there were "no doubts" that maoist leader Kishenji was killed in a gun battle with security forces in West Bengal last week.
"Reports indicates that he was killed in a gun battle that started on November 22 and concluded on November 23. We have no doubts about the encounter. He was killed in an encounter," he said.
"Violence does not pay and violence will not pay. The State will not bend before anyone who uses violence as an instrument of policy to achieve political demands... That is why we tell them suspend violence and come for talks and when you come for talks, you will be treated with dignity and honour. And we can resolve your political demands through talks," Home Minister P Chidambaram told a press conference on a day he completed three years in the ministry.
He was replying to questions on the bomb blast in Manipur today and about talks with different insurgents groups in the north east.
"Yes, it applies to maoists also. I have made this statement several times before and I make it again today as I complete three years. Even maoists should suspend violence. We are not asking for more at this stage. Just say there will be no violence and my offer stands," Mr Chidambaram said.
"After consulting Chief Ministers of the States concerned, within 72 hours we will get back to them to fix the dates and venue for starting talks. But they must suspend violence," he said.
Rejecting allegations of fake encounter, Chidambaram said there were "no doubts" that maoist leader Kishenji was killed in a gun battle with security forces in West Bengal last week.
"Reports indicates that he was killed in a gun battle that started on November 22 and concluded on November 23. We have no doubts about the encounter. He was killed in an encounter," he said.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
CRPF confirms Kishenji, ellusive Maoist leader, killed in encounter
ishenji, the elusive Maoist leader, has been killed on Thursday evening in a 30-minute gun battle between the rebels and joint forces inside the dense forest of Burishol in West Midnapore, CRPF confirmed. The security forces said that the 207 Cobra battllion killed the Maoist
leader.
“Acting on specific tip-off that few top Maoist leaders, including Kishenji, are hiding inside the dense forest of Burishol the joint force is raiding the forest since Wednesday. Within 30 minutes after we initiated a gun battle on Thursday jawans noticed a body that resembles Kishenji,” said P K Tripathi the superintendent of police of West Midnapore told a television channel.
This is for the second time that the dreaded Maoist leader came in direct confrontation with the joint force.
On March 26, 2010 Kishenji was rumoured to have suffered injuries in a 12-hour gun battle in the Hatishol forest, around 8 kms east of Lalgarh.
The 52-year-old Kishenji, alias Kotteswar Rao, was CPI(Maoist) Politburo and Central Military Commission member. He was charge of the eastern regional bureau for the Maoists.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Maoists withdraw ceasefire in WB
West Bengal government's attempt to open peace talks with the Maoists came to a virtual end after the ultras withdrew their ceasefire offer made a month ago for lack of communication from the government.
"As there was no official communication to our letter and demands either from you or the government, so the tenure of the agreement ends," Maoist state secretary Akash in a letter to one of the government-appointed interlocutors said.
The letter, written on October 31, came just a month after an agreement was signed between the Maoists and interolocutors by which they agreed to a ceasefire provided the government suspend the joint forces' operation for a month.
Alleging the Mamata Banerjee government had failed to live up to expectations, the letter said "we want peace and we have tried our level best to cooperate with the interolocutors and the government."
"We declared ceasefire unilaterally and the government not only continued with their operation but at the same time decided to recruit 5,000 policemen and informers from Jangalmahal. The state government is trying to create another Salwa Judum (vigilante groups of civilians) in West Bengal," it said.
The letter alleged the joint forces and Trinamool Congress with its newly formed 'Bhairab Bahini' was terrorising the people of the village and said they were still ready for talks but the government would have to give a written recognition to the 'agreement'.
"We also seek an explanation from the government about its stance and an answer to all our letters. We have nothing new to say", Akash said in the letter.
"As there was no official communication to our letter and demands either from you or the government, so the tenure of the agreement ends," Maoist state secretary Akash in a letter to one of the government-appointed interlocutors said.
The letter, written on October 31, came just a month after an agreement was signed between the Maoists and interolocutors by which they agreed to a ceasefire provided the government suspend the joint forces' operation for a month.
Alleging the Mamata Banerjee government had failed to live up to expectations, the letter said "we want peace and we have tried our level best to cooperate with the interolocutors and the government."
"We declared ceasefire unilaterally and the government not only continued with their operation but at the same time decided to recruit 5,000 policemen and informers from Jangalmahal. The state government is trying to create another Salwa Judum (vigilante groups of civilians) in West Bengal," it said.
The letter alleged the joint forces and Trinamool Congress with its newly formed 'Bhairab Bahini' was terrorising the people of the village and said they were still ready for talks but the government would have to give a written recognition to the 'agreement'.
"We also seek an explanation from the government about its stance and an answer to all our letters. We have nothing new to say", Akash said in the letter.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A new but quiet strategy to fight Maoists
The center-state combined force has launched the anti-Maoist operation in a full scale to flush out the Maoists from Jangalmahal but this time with an altogether new strategy. Instead of creating too much of hullabaloo, the security personnel are silently carrying out their job mainly by
picking up key Maoist leaders one after another, recovering arms and ammunition and alienating the extremists from the common villagers. Mamata Banerjee’s government has made it clear to the force that the common and innocent people of Jangalmahal must not be harassed during the operation and the think tank of the joint force has designed the blueprint following this strict government instruction.
In order to attain the goal, Cordon and Area Searching Operation (CASO), which was an indispensable part of the anti-Maoist operation earlier, has been opted out this time. At the time of CASO, an entire village or two-three villages had be cordoned of and all villagers had to come out from their residences with their identity proofs. If security personnel suspected some of the villagers, they were detained and brought to the nearest police station or police camp.
Earlier, especially during the Left Front regime, in several occasions, the joint force was accused for doing highhandedness and harassing and assaulting innocent people at the time of carrying out CASO.
“There is always a risk of police excess in CASO. We cannot avoid it. It is then better to avoid the CASO to evade the risk of harassing innocents,” said a senior official of the state police.
“We have been asked to take extra precautions during the operation so that the innocents are not harassed by any means. Therefore, we are carrying out operations on the basis of specific and definite information. We are basically giving priority on pinpointed intelligence inputs,” Praveen Tripathi, superintendent of police in West Midnapore told Hindustan Times.
The arrest of Suman Maity alias Saota, a Maoist area commander, and the recovery of five sophisticated firearms looted from Silda EFR camp from Salboni area on Thursday are the classic examples of the success in this new style of operation.
Sources told the police that Saota was hiding at Shyamapada Mahato’s house in Pairachuli village. When the sleuths crosschecked the information and found it true, the joint force carried out the operation and started cordoning the area.
“But instead of cordoning the entire Pairachuli village, we had just barricaded Mahato’s house and adjacent three houses. These were all to avoid the risk of harassing innocents,” Tripathi told HT.
The arrest of Saota will scale down the influence of the Maoists in a vast area that falls under Salboni and Lalgarh police stations. The security force are putting stress on arresting this type of key and influential leaders so that the extremists and their supporters will find no other option but to leave this path due to lack of leadership.
“At present, to our assessment, the common people of Jangalmahal by and large are against the Maoists. Basically, they do not want to see again the days of bandh, road blockade, strike, violence, abductions and murders. We should take this advantage. But harassment of innocents during the operation can make them hostile to the joint force and the government. Therefore we have to carry out the operation in such a way so that the innocents must not be harassed at any cost. For this, definite intelligence inputs are necessary. And specific intelligence inputs have started coming. Otherwise we could not have got key men like Saota and Jayanta Mahato in recent times,” said an official of the state home department.
Similarly, the force is asked to open the fire if only the Maoists first attack them and if the Maoists try to flee. Again, the firing should be aimed at the lower portion of the target.
picking up key Maoist leaders one after another, recovering arms and ammunition and alienating the extremists from the common villagers. Mamata Banerjee’s government has made it clear to the force that the common and innocent people of Jangalmahal must not be harassed during the operation and the think tank of the joint force has designed the blueprint following this strict government instruction.
In order to attain the goal, Cordon and Area Searching Operation (CASO), which was an indispensable part of the anti-Maoist operation earlier, has been opted out this time. At the time of CASO, an entire village or two-three villages had be cordoned of and all villagers had to come out from their residences with their identity proofs. If security personnel suspected some of the villagers, they were detained and brought to the nearest police station or police camp.
Earlier, especially during the Left Front regime, in several occasions, the joint force was accused for doing highhandedness and harassing and assaulting innocent people at the time of carrying out CASO.
“There is always a risk of police excess in CASO. We cannot avoid it. It is then better to avoid the CASO to evade the risk of harassing innocents,” said a senior official of the state police.
“We have been asked to take extra precautions during the operation so that the innocents are not harassed by any means. Therefore, we are carrying out operations on the basis of specific and definite information. We are basically giving priority on pinpointed intelligence inputs,” Praveen Tripathi, superintendent of police in West Midnapore told Hindustan Times.
The arrest of Suman Maity alias Saota, a Maoist area commander, and the recovery of five sophisticated firearms looted from Silda EFR camp from Salboni area on Thursday are the classic examples of the success in this new style of operation.
Sources told the police that Saota was hiding at Shyamapada Mahato’s house in Pairachuli village. When the sleuths crosschecked the information and found it true, the joint force carried out the operation and started cordoning the area.
“But instead of cordoning the entire Pairachuli village, we had just barricaded Mahato’s house and adjacent three houses. These were all to avoid the risk of harassing innocents,” Tripathi told HT.
The arrest of Saota will scale down the influence of the Maoists in a vast area that falls under Salboni and Lalgarh police stations. The security force are putting stress on arresting this type of key and influential leaders so that the extremists and their supporters will find no other option but to leave this path due to lack of leadership.
“At present, to our assessment, the common people of Jangalmahal by and large are against the Maoists. Basically, they do not want to see again the days of bandh, road blockade, strike, violence, abductions and murders. We should take this advantage. But harassment of innocents during the operation can make them hostile to the joint force and the government. Therefore we have to carry out the operation in such a way so that the innocents must not be harassed at any cost. For this, definite intelligence inputs are necessary. And specific intelligence inputs have started coming. Otherwise we could not have got key men like Saota and Jayanta Mahato in recent times,” said an official of the state home department.
Similarly, the force is asked to open the fire if only the Maoists first attack them and if the Maoists try to flee. Again, the firing should be aimed at the lower portion of the target.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
CPI (Maoist) leaders start movements in jails
CPI (Maoist) has opened a new front, from behind the bars, away from Junglemahal. With senior leaders lodged in jails, the party is not only spreading its views among the inmates, but also leading movements and agitations on various issues. Since the past couple of years, a number of
agitations have taken place inside the jails, including the central jails, where a large number of inmates even sat on indefinite hunger strikes.
According to jail sources, Maoists have formed various jail committees, which not only look after rights of prisoners, but also make them aware of the current political situation. Intelligence sources admit that Maoists have also initiated indoctrination classes for young under trials in some jails.
"It is their strategy to catch the administration on the wrong foot. They have been organising inmates behind the bars and prompting agitations. They are the brain behind most agitations, however frivolous for a cause it may be," said Ranvir Kumar, inspector general of jails.
"Last week, in Behrampur jail, a religious colour was given to agitations. Earlier in Krishnagar, the Maoist organised a hunger strike," said Kumar.
Several senior Maoist leaders, including the Politburo members, former state secretaries and state committee members, are lodged in different Bengal jails, including central jails such as Presidency, Alipur and Dumdum.
The inmates have been agitating over lack of basic amenities, like proper food and water, apart from agitations and hunger strikes demanding withdrawal of joint forces and release of political prisoners.
According to jail sources, Maoist leaders, most of whom are highly educated, have now become role models in the jails. Since they are aware of the jail code and laws, they are also lending a helping hand to common inmates, both under trials and convicts.
Leaders such as Chandi Sarkar (former state committee member), who is in Krishnanagar jail, and V Venkateshwara Rao alias Telegu Dipak (former state committee and military commission member), presently is lodged in Alipur central jail, have been organising the inmates for various protests and agitations.
Former Politburo members, former state committee secretaries and members like Himadri Sen Roy alias Somen, Sudip Chongdar alias Kanchan and Patit Paban Halder are behind the bars.
"Previously inmates used to fight, shout abuses at the authorities over their demands. They were not organised. Now they jointly give us petitions, deputations and observe hunger strikes over various issues. They are more organised these days under Maoist leadership behind the bars," said a senior jail officer in Presidency central jail.
Interestingly, even prisoners charged with anti-national activities are also showing solidarity to the Maoists on different issues, even relating to Junglemahal. A few months ago, a number of inmates accused for terrorist activities, in Presidency, Alipur and Dumdum central jails, officially supported the hunger strike held by the Maoists in demand for withdrawal of joint forces and release of political prisoners.
A spate of agitations broke out in Bengal jails recently, including in Krishnanagar where over 200 inmates sat on hunger strike on August 15 and four had to be shifted to a hospital as their condition grew critical. On October 10, over 1300 inmates of Berhampore jail initiated agitations over lack of basic amenities. In Midnapore jail, which houses people like Chattrdhar Mahato, inmates organise agitations frequently for various demands under the leadership of Maoist leaders.
agitations have taken place inside the jails, including the central jails, where a large number of inmates even sat on indefinite hunger strikes.
According to jail sources, Maoists have formed various jail committees, which not only look after rights of prisoners, but also make them aware of the current political situation. Intelligence sources admit that Maoists have also initiated indoctrination classes for young under trials in some jails.
"It is their strategy to catch the administration on the wrong foot. They have been organising inmates behind the bars and prompting agitations. They are the brain behind most agitations, however frivolous for a cause it may be," said Ranvir Kumar, inspector general of jails.
"Last week, in Behrampur jail, a religious colour was given to agitations. Earlier in Krishnagar, the Maoist organised a hunger strike," said Kumar.
Several senior Maoist leaders, including the Politburo members, former state secretaries and state committee members, are lodged in different Bengal jails, including central jails such as Presidency, Alipur and Dumdum.
The inmates have been agitating over lack of basic amenities, like proper food and water, apart from agitations and hunger strikes demanding withdrawal of joint forces and release of political prisoners.
According to jail sources, Maoist leaders, most of whom are highly educated, have now become role models in the jails. Since they are aware of the jail code and laws, they are also lending a helping hand to common inmates, both under trials and convicts.
Leaders such as Chandi Sarkar (former state committee member), who is in Krishnanagar jail, and V Venkateshwara Rao alias Telegu Dipak (former state committee and military commission member), presently is lodged in Alipur central jail, have been organising the inmates for various protests and agitations.
Former Politburo members, former state committee secretaries and members like Himadri Sen Roy alias Somen, Sudip Chongdar alias Kanchan and Patit Paban Halder are behind the bars.
"Previously inmates used to fight, shout abuses at the authorities over their demands. They were not organised. Now they jointly give us petitions, deputations and observe hunger strikes over various issues. They are more organised these days under Maoist leadership behind the bars," said a senior jail officer in Presidency central jail.
Interestingly, even prisoners charged with anti-national activities are also showing solidarity to the Maoists on different issues, even relating to Junglemahal. A few months ago, a number of inmates accused for terrorist activities, in Presidency, Alipur and Dumdum central jails, officially supported the hunger strike held by the Maoists in demand for withdrawal of joint forces and release of political prisoners.
A spate of agitations broke out in Bengal jails recently, including in Krishnanagar where over 200 inmates sat on hunger strike on August 15 and four had to be shifted to a hospital as their condition grew critical. On October 10, over 1300 inmates of Berhampore jail initiated agitations over lack of basic amenities. In Midnapore jail, which houses people like Chattrdhar Mahato, inmates organise agitations frequently for various demands under the leadership of Maoist leaders.
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