By
B.Venkateswarlu

Street club sex sport is the sign of Western cultured sport on every 1st January and midnight of Dec 31 as happended on Gateway of India. Two things never die: God who is GOOD, and EVIL who is devil.

Saddam Husseing statue was pulled

New Year's Eve for us always comes and goes like a riot, dragging a wrecking ball through our highly strung relationships, pilfering our last scraps of sanity like rare statrue of Buddh dismentled in Afganistan by Taliban or Saddam Husseing statue was pulled by American forces in Iraq.

Man bites dog

THE oldest cliché about reportage is still the soundest one: "dog bites man" isn't news, but "man bites dog" is. In line with this logic, which equates newsworthiness with a sensational breach of normality, it hasn't been news that, in recent days, there has been a steep escalation in the incidence of kidnapping, raping, murdering and serial killing. Kavita Madhumita Jesica lal, Navin Katara murder cases and recently serial killings of children of Nithari village of Noida .

Gateway of India for Western culture

The Gateway of India was opened on December 4, 1924 by the Viceroy, the Earl of Reading. This was the symbolic entrance of western culture. The last British troops to leave India, the First Battalion of the Somerset Light Infantry, passed through the gate in a ceremony on February 28, 1948. British troops and British rule had gone to leave Lord Macaulay’s Westerned cultured system.

Westernized New Year’s Eve culture in few army officers

The Army isn't wasting much time, nor is the police. A day after jawans of the 3 Madras Regiment ransacked the Park Street police station of Kolkatta to free two officers held on charges of molesting women at a New Year's Eve party at the Park Hotel, the army ordered a court of inquiry.

Woman is molested by nearly 70 goons

New Year's Eve showed drunken party-goers and a gathering of 1,500 people at the Gateway of India to watch the fireworks ushering in 2007. In the midst of all the revelry, a woman is molested by nearly 70 goons, her clothes torn apart. Her male friend is pushed to the side, the helpless woman's screams drowned by the noise of the crowd. The crowd was essentially a mixed unprepared crowd and unwilling to listen to anybody.This is the symbold of shameful criminalogy which British rule gifted to us.

Victim did not want to be Meher Bhargava

The victim lady and her partner did not protest otherwise their fate would be as Meher Bhargava. In the past Meher Bhargava Meher Bhargava was the quintessential Lucknow memsahib; courteous but candid, genteel but cut from fine steel. So on February 28, when a lewd lothario heckled her daughter-in-law in a crowded market at Hazratganj, the indignant matriarch made her disapproval public. The youth’s reaction was explicit: he took out a gun and shot Bhargava dead.

Indian way to celebrate New Year

As reported by Hindustan Times for 25-year-old Shamita, a schoolteacher from Kolkata, celebrated the New Year Eve. "We offered puja, burst crackers and had sweets on the New Year's Eve with the entire family. My husband and his parents also had good fun in celebrating New Year in this manner," she says. This is the way of Indian culture as we celebrate Diwali and ‘Varsh Pratipda’.

Slap on Mumbai Police Security

Mumbai Police Commissioner A N Roy could not feel shame to say: “No body has registered a case, neither the victim, nor her relatives have come forward”

There should have been sufficient police security in such a place especially when there was a large a gathering. If any terrorist attack had happened on that day, what would have happened? Would the police have then too said that they were not aware of the incident?

R R Patil justified sexual assault

In fact, so commonplace is this crime that Maharashtra ’s deputy chief minister RR Patil has promised to set up special, fast-track courts to nail cases of atrocities against women. Commendable, were it not so ironic that on the same day, Patil also accused a catwalk model of deliberately dropping her dress to arouse audiences at the Lakme Fashion Week — and actually promised an inquiry into the incident to “safeguard” public morality. Then, after a fracas in the state legislature and a “clean chit” from the police, he recanted, admitting that it was only an “accidental” case of “wardrobe malfunction.”

Why would not police keep vigil on New Year’s Eve

For combating hooliganism on the New Year’s Eve inside and outside the discotheque, the police would be posting men-in-plain-clothes. So the cops will mingle incognito with the partying crowd, gather information, and even issue stranger roll before the ruffians indulge in “mischief”.

Why would not officers from the Intelligence Wing of the Mumbai police, besides CID officials, keep a regular vigil? They should be assisted by the regular police force.

The cops should rush to the aid of the security guards in case of an argument. They should even help the guards in frisking the visitors, besides looking for unclaimed vehicles in the parking lots. Recently, two groups had also clashed in a place. Cops had confirmed that the fight was an aftermath of an argument between the two gangs in a discotheque over a girl.

The decision to post the cops around the discotheques is necessaryas, according to sources, incidents of violence have been reported to the media in the recent past. A senior police officer reveals that a few years ago, a youngster had even pulled out a pistol after seeing the “girl of his desire” cutting foot loose with another guy. It does not mean to spoil the mood but to ensure against harassment. Cops may allow the revellers to raise their hands only till they don’t reach the nose of others

Dishonor of womanhood by manhood and Queen’s Necklace

Marine Drive, the "Queen's Necklace", Gateway of India and the beaches drew maximum crowds while others chose to celebrate in star hotels, pubs and discos. New Year countdown celebrations are not just a time to party. They are also a thieves' wonderland, with wallets and handbags ripe for picking. Last year, countdown parties became a nightmare for some female revellers who were molested after being sprayed with aerosol foam.
This year, with an expected turnout of more than 160,000, the Marina Bay Singapore New Year's Eve Countdown 06/07 will be the biggest party in town.

So police are not taking chances. Police are also working to avoid a repeat of last year's molest cases, by curbing the illegal hawking of foam sprays. The incidents spoilt the mood for at least one person. "One of my friends got sprayed by an aerosol in her eyes, and she got molested at one of these countdown parties. That's why I celebrate at home," said a woman

Why adopted Western culture and became follower of Lord Macaulay

Most of us have adopted Western culture. Our topmost leaders have feel good to marry with Western lady only. Instead of celebrating pious Hindu Nav Varsh ‘Varsh Pratipda’ we want to celebrate street sex based January 1st year. At the time of British rule the government distributed free tea. Thus we got habit to drink tea. Like that they encouraged street club sex molesting and teasing on the eve to attract non-Christians to words Christian girls. Now that culture has been adopted by girls and boys in India freely. Rakhi Sawant wpresents open sex to eat. Now she is feeling uncomfortable in Indian culture. So she started to go Girijas. She feels comfortable in Christian cultu

Source:http://premendra.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/01/new-year-s-eve-like-a-riot-teasing-and-molesting.htm

By
B.Venkateswarlu

At ET Intelligence Group, we have always strived to help readers take well-informed decisions. And we leave no stone unturned in doing this. Apart from providing analytical insights and expert opinions to anticipate the trends in ’08, we decided to lend an ear to what the celestial elements are telling us.

To have a better understanding of what ’08 has in store for us, ETIG caught up with renowned astrologer Bejan Daruwala .

According to this fond worshipper of Lord Ganesha, India’s best period started from September 3, ’07. Mr Daruwala — who had predicted India’s emergence as an economic superpower way back in January ’00 — claims that India will have a great time in the next few years and will emerge as a powerhouse some time around the year ’12.

“In ’08, Jupiter will land up in India’s sun sign Capricorn. This ensures prosperity and good luck,” he says. He further enunciates that other natives of Capricorn, including Ratan Tata, Baba Kalyani of Bharat Forge and Vikram Pandit of Citibank, will have a wonderful year ahead.

Mr Daruwala emphasises that ’08 will see Saturn teaming up with Virgo, which means only the ‘practical-minded and ruthless’ will survive. Companies that emphasise on cutting down unnecessary expenses and are willing to overhaul old management practices will do well. Similarly, Capricorn, the big daddy of all sun signs, will ensure that managements that act with a strict hand do well.

However, Mr Daruwala feels the Sensex may not reflect the strength of the Indian economy to the fullest. “The year ’08 will see the Sensex fluctuating wildly and money-making won’t be as easy as it has been in ’07,” he says. He further predicts that the months of March, June, September and December will be particularly tough for the market.

Looking beyond the economic scenario, Mr Daruwala sees the country facing a few new problems. He cautions that the next 2-3 years will see the emergence and rise of new forms of terrorism. He foresees that India and Pakistan will have a more permanent and long-term truce.

On a more positive note, Mr Daruwala opines that India’s favourable time had begun when Atal Bihari Vajpayee took over as prime minister, and both he and Manmohan Singh are lucky for the country.

Source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Market_News/Making_money_will_not_be_easy_in_08/articleshow/2663565.cms

By
B.Venkateswarlu

NEW DELHI: The five militants arrested in connection with last month's Uttar Pradesh serial blasts wanted to carry out simultaneous explosions in four crowded areas in Mumbai, including Gateway of India, official sources said.

The sources quoting the interrogators questioning the five militants arrested from Barabanki (Uttar Pradesh), Doda (Jammu and Kashmir) and North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) claimed that Bangladesh-based banned Harkat-ul-Jehadi Islamia was planning to carry out yet another serial blasts in Mumbai. All the five have been arrested for November 23 serial blasts in UP cities -- Lucknow, Faizabad and Varanasi.

Gateway of India, Andheri, Oberoi Hotel and Navi Mumbai were places where these militants had already carried out dry runs -- a chilling reminder of 2006 Mumbai serial blasts.

The militants, however, changed their plans for Mumbai after a group of UP lawyers manhandled two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) militants, arrested for hatching conspiracy to kidnap VIPs, including Rahul Gandhi.

This was the third incident in last one year when either HuJI militants, their sympathisers or Jaish militants were attacked in Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, Faizabad court witnessed to an altercation between lawyers and HuJI militants, who had conspired and provided logistic help to terrorists who carried out the suicide attack on disputed structure in 2005. The local bar association had banned its advocates from taking up their cases.

Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Terrorists_had_also_planned_strikes_at_Gateway_of_India/articleshow/2664689.cms

By
B.Venkateswarlu

How did the employee fare in 2007 and what can he or she look forward to in the coming year. The New Manager looks back and takes stock.

The pressure of making the right career choice is so high that parents are now assuming a central role in managing the careers of their young adult children.

Happy 2008! With a labour force of over 500 million and a gainfully employed workforce of over 340 million isn’t it important to ask if the employees in India will indeed be happy in the year 2008?

To predict the level of employee happiness in 2008 we just need to look around, reflect and ask ourselves some honest questions. It is equally important to understand what we can all do to make happiness happen!

What was 2007 like?

A good way to predict happiness in 2008 is to look at our experiences in the year 2007.

Careers and happiness

The biggest positive change in 2007 was the effort by organisations to go beyond education and look at real talent. The move to hire graduates and even those with class XII qualifications is evidence of this shift.

While IT and ITeS appear to be the largest employers, I saw some significant shifts in 2007. I saw many talking about life beyond the IT industry. While those from the better educational institutions treated a job with any of the big IT firms the same way some of us would have treated a PSU job a decade ago, many others just did not consider them cool any longer. Many others were actually looking at opportunities with the so-called old economy companies in new light. All in all, I see this as a positive change.

The image of the BPO industry as an employment destination continued to suffer and many suggest that this is reflected in their inability to hire. Going overseas also became less cool than it used to be and that is surprising many.

For those who entered the labour market or made job shifts, there certainly has been happiness in 2007 and 2008 looks as good.

In the midst of all this abundance, the pressure of making the right career choice is so high that parents are now assuming a very central role in managing the careers of their young adult children. Managing one’s career was certainly not a source of great happiness.

Money and happiness

Did the ever growing list of Indian billionaires and the zooming Sensex translate into an equally exhilarating pay story for the average Indian employee? Not really for all.

On the contrary, most of us heard about the pressures on costs and margins, the rupee appreciation and its impact on long-term profitability. We also saw our Prime Minister talking about CEO pay, pointing perhaps to the growing disparities. Despite all of this, if money meant happiness, there was quite a bit of it in 2007 but there are worries that we may have less of it in 2008.

HR and happiness

The HR function is in many ways supposed to be the champion of happiness. Ask HR professionals and they will produce a huge list of all the things they do, copy book style. Ask the employees and they will respond quite cynically that HR and happiness just don’t go together and I must admit that there is truth in it.

In the year 2007, I saw HR continuing to sever its touch points with employees – out of sync with ground realities. Among the many HR professionals I met in 2007, I found very few who had any real interest in people. Finally, in trying to become “business partner” I saw them compromising on the people agenda.

Clearly, if HR led to happiness, I did not see as much as I would have liked and I do not believe 2008 will be any different.

Balance and happiness

Balance is the ability to pursue one’s career while also being able to meet and fulfil one’s personal needs and responsibilities.

Clearly, the year 2007 saw increasing imbalance. Invasive technology, working across the globe and commuting across Indian roads only made things worse.

If balance was important for happiness, we had little of it in 2007 and why would anyone believe it will be better in the coming year? In summary, there were plenty of jobs and quite a bit of money but not enough happiness and 2008 does not look any different.

What can we do to make 2008 happier for our employees? Despite all the challenges, I still believe it is possible for us to create a happier 2008 for our employees, if only we tried hard enough. Here are a few ideas for your consideration:

Lead from the front

The biggest casualty of our hectic pace of growth has been leadership. Our organisations desperately need leaders who can lead employees from the front. Leaders who can create and share a compelling vision, who can hold the promise of not just more money but of a great future, the opportunity to co-create a great organisation and the commitment to grow together. If we can create more leaders who are capable of doing this we will have more happiness.

Reconnect

In building large global organisations, we have lost our connect with employees. We are unable to manage the moments of truth that really matter to them because we have outsourced our employee relationships. If we can get the connection back, we have some hope of happiness.

For psychologically safe workplaces

While we have succeeded in building workplaces that are physically safe, we can do more to create workplaces that are psychologically safe for our employees — workplaces that are free of harassment and discrimination, that encourage openness, that provide fair supervision and treatment and can encourage creative expression.

If we can recognise this element of psychological safety and make it available, we may have more happiness.

Help redefine happiness

Having said all this, the most important thing to do is to redefine the jointly held meaning of happiness in the minds of employees and employers.

Let us accept it – organisations exist to deliver value to customers and returns to shareholders.

Happiness can only be a by-product and not the reason for existence. The first thing to do is to be honest about this and not mislead our employees to believe that we are here to create great workplaces and become the best employers.

At the least, we can define happiness as the experience of congruence between what was promised and what was delivered.

Let us, therefore, make only promises that we can fulfil (at all points in the relationship) and do everything to fulfil the promises we made.

Ultimately, organisations can only create the conditions for happiness. Getting there is the employee’s choice.

As Benjamin Franklin said, “The Constitution only guarantees the American people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself”.

I wish you all a really happy 2008!

Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/manager/2007/12/31/stories/2007123150351100.htm

By
B.Venkateswarlu

Australians line the foreshores to usher in the New Year with the spectacular 'The Time of Your Life' fireworks display over the Sydney Harbour as the first round of fireworks for children lights up the harbour at 9pm local time (1000 GMT). Some 3,000 kgs of pyrotechnics for the main show at midnight (1300 GMT) will include 100,000 individual effects ignited from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and six barges.

By
B.Venkateswarlu

I expect the BSE Sensex to be around 23,000 at the end of year 2008. Look beyond the index and invest in companies that are growing, and have sustainable businesses and clear competitive advantages.

The Year 2007 was one of the better years for investors in stock markets. Starting off from just 60 points shy of 14,000, the magical year saw the next peaks fall like ninepins. Doubling in value, the Indian bourses truly created wealth.

What about year 2008? Will it be different? Which sectors to bet on? “Look beyond the indices,” advises Mr Bhavesh Shah, Vice-President (Research) of Asit C Mehta, Mumbai.

“Investors should do their homework before investing in stock market, if they are taking investment decisions in the absence of any professional guidance,” he adds, in the course of an exclusive interaction with Business Line, over the e-mail. “Market efficiency will increase only when there are informed investors.”

Excerpts from the interview:

The Sensex gained nearly 40 per cent in 2007. What do you think year 2008 will offer?

The year 2007 was a volatile year for the market. If one looks at the point-to-point movement, it shows gain; but, during the year, the market corrected sharply and recovered with the same intensity.

Till September, the market was in a broader range of 12,500 to 16,000. With the emergence of turbulence in the credit market due to the sub-prime crisis, the US Federal Reserve was forced to cut interest rate.

This, in turn, prompted huge liquidity flows towards the emerging markets. India was one of the prime beneficiaries of these flows. As a result, there was a buying spree in equities, and the market scaled record highs during the remaining part of the year.

Sectors that had visible opportunities to grow, companies with earning potential and order books in their favour, and companies that had a potential to unlock value for their shareholders fascinated investors, both big and small.

I think in 2008, corporate performance and liquidity flows are the two major factors one should look for. Those companies which fail to perform, or fail to convert the invisibles into visibles will be punished with profit-booking. And the efficient ones will be rewarded.

Economic dynamics are also challenging. Rising rupee, and increase in wages and material cost are putting pressure on margins on the one hand and, on the other, demand-supply equilibrium is also changing in some sectors (such as cement, base metals, and steel).

The ability of a company to raise its efficiency bar under these conditions will be put to test. Those with a clear vision and scalability are expected to do better.

India’s economic growth is projected to be in a higher trajectory (8-9 per cent) in the next three years. Infrastructure spending, domestic consumption and investment will continue to drive economic growth. And growth will attract increased capital flows, be they long-term or short-term in nature.

Looking at the overall picture, I expect the BSE Sensex to be around 23,000 at the end of year 2008. My advice to investors is this: Look beyond the index and invest in companies that are growing, and have sustainable businesses and clear competitive advantages. Company-specific focus will provide enough opportunity for investors to get a return higher than that of the benchmark indices.

Infrastructure, real estate, oil and gas dominated last year. Which are the sectors that investors should put their money into in 2008?

India’s sustainable economic growth story depends on two key dynamics as far as new investment is concerned. First, infrastructure (road, bridges, ports, airports, etc.); and second, resources (power, oil, gas, minerals and metals). These sectors are expected to outperform in 2008.

Among other sectors, passenger and commercial vehicle, telecom, selected pharma, capital goods, engineering goods and services, logistics, chemicals, banking and financial services are also attractive. Investors with a purely long-term investment perspective can also buy top-tier information technology (IT) companies at declines.

FIIs (foreign institutional investors) who were active in the better part of 2007 seem to have gone a bit slow now. When do you see the FIIs returning to the markets?

Fund flow from overseas is expected to be bullish especially with the SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India) allowing the registration of entities such as pension funds and endowment funds.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that India was the recipient of higher portfolio investments from hedge funds and private equities. If one looks at the size of assets under management (AUM), pension funds and insurance companies are very large. Collectively, these institutions have $40 trillion under their management compared to $2.2 trillion held by hedge funds and private equity players.

Secondly, pension funds and insurance companies are stable, long-term investors.

What effect did the following really have on the Indian equity markets: Sub-prime crisis, tight credit conditions worldwide, and the fear of the US economy slowing?

Sub-prime: Sub-prime crises in the US and the UK are localised as far their direct impact on the financial sector is concerned. There will be some companies in the IT sector, which provide BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance) solutions or services to US corporations, but India’s direct exposure to sub-prime crisis is very minimal.

However, due to increased integration of global financial markets, sub-prime’s effect on sentiments cannot be ruled out. These sentiments will increase volatility in the market. One must understand that sound fundamentals (economic growth, corporate profitability) are a precondition for stock market investments.

Credit conditions: The Federal Reserve and the ECB (European Central Bank) cut interest rates, and pumped in money to rescue the troubled credit markets. This eased the situation a bit. I don’t expect money supply being tightened, or a rise in interest rates at the global level. Rising energy and food prices are a challenge before the central bankers. The situation is uncertain as of now and I think the first quarter of 2008 will give us a clearer perspective.

US economy: At this juncture, it is too early to talk about any particular impact of slowdown in the US economy. We need to see whether or not problems in the housing market, and thus on the credit market, have any impact on other sectors.

We need to wait for Q4 GDP (gross domestic product) data from the US and the response of the US economy to the steps taken by the Federal Reserve in subsequent quarters.

The US being the largest economy, slowdown will definitely have an impact on the Indian economy. However, any impact on India would be marginal compared to that on China or Japan, where exports to the US are a key driver for growth.

Broadly, I can say that domestic consumption and investment are the growth engine of the Indian economy, and that at the domestic level we are going to see a stronger growth in the coming years.

Do you see the domestic investors — retail, financial institutions, and mutual funds — being more active in the coming 12 months?

Even in 2007, whenever the FIIs were booking profit or curtailing their exposures to Indian equities, domestic investors, especially institutions, remained very active in the market. According to the latest data, mutual funds are flush with cash. I expect mutual fund investment to increase in 2008.

There is a perception that Indian markets would be called overvalued, if there were no China around. How far is that true?

I don’t agree with this argument. One should not compare one market with another. Price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is one of the methods — not the only method — taken into consideration for stock investments. Relative P/E valuation would not take into account other factors such as corporate growth and sustainability, investment climate, risk, etc.

As I mentioned, sound fundamentals such as economic growth and corporate profitability are the preconditions for any stock market investment. Investors will not commit their investment in the absence of the fundamentals.

The Sensex is trading at around 25-27 P/E multiples. But the price/book value is at around 6.5, which makes the Indian benchmark the most richly-valued among the global indices on this parameter. Would the domestic equity markets justify these numbers, going forward?

There are several issues one must take into consideration before valuing a market. Rather than looking at the past, I would like to look at the earning potential and the sustainability of growth, going forward.

—

If one looks at forward P/E for Sensex, it is around 21-23 for FY-08. One can conclude that Sensex companies are fairly valued at this juncture. Then, we should start discounting earnings for FY-09 and FY-10. This will give us a clearer picture.

As far as price to book value (P is concerned, though it sets the base value of a company, it does not take into account the future earning potential of the business. Also, while calculating net worth, assets are valued at cost.

PB is a method mostly looked at by investment bankers. Companies in the US and Europe have higher public holdings. If one intends to takeover the business, he will not have to price in premium to be paid to its promoters. Indian scenario is different, wherein most of the companies are promoter-controlled and, hence, a premium needs to be paid to acquire such a business. This premium is also reflected in current stock prices.

Barring a handful, companies in IT, pharma and textiles have been laggards in 2007. What’s your outlook on them for the New Year?

I think selective pharma and IT companies will continue to do better. Sector as such will remain under pressure on account of rupee appreciation and other challenges before the sector.

What is your take on SEBI allowing short selling to all classes of investors?

A welcome decision. It will increase market participation and liquidity in the markets. Now people with a counter view (bearish) in the market can also participate.

How will short selling benefit the investors?

It will provide an opportunity to market participants to take a contrary view on the market or with regard to a particular company. At present, when share prices of a company move northwards there is no mechanism by which an investor can have a bearish view on that scrip. Short-selling mechanism will curb unprecedented upward movement of share prices; and with a reduction in volatility there will be an increased stability of the market.

We have seen the market regulator stating its position on issues such as Participatory Notes. Do you see SEBI being more active in 2008?

As a market regulator, SEBI’s objective is to provide conducive market conditions for all concerned. As and when the situation warrants, it can take a view and announce policy, regulations and norms for the same. As a market participant, I am comfortable as far as SEBI is willing to consider the views of all concerned.

Do you feel that a mature equity market can choose to say no to foreign inflows or perhaps, desist the same for some time?

The mantra for the way ahead is to raise the efficiency and competitiveness parameters. Indian markets are in a development phase; and as a country we are not in a position to say no to foreign capital. India needs capital for investment. Capital flows are, therefore, welcome, though the flows can cause the rupee to rise.

Lastly, do you feel that the small investor is safe in today’s equity markets? It’s often seen that the big guys get out first, while the small investor is left in the lurch. What would be your words of precaution to small investors as we enter another year?

We are in a better position as compared to the past, in terms of risk management, compliance and protection of the interests of small investors.

Investors must ask basic questions. Such as: What are the company’s products? How are the company’s products better placed compared to those of the competitors? What is the company’s past financial performance? What are the initiatives that the company is taking — to mitigate competition, to manage risks associated with the industry, and to grab opportunity, if any?

Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/12/31/stories/2007123150500900.htm

By
B.Venkateswarlu

In the event of political instability increasing across the border, the political posturing of Pakistan vis-À-vis India in international fora will harden appreciably.

That the work of terrorists should mark the end of 2007 and usher in the New Year underscores, as nothing else does, the deep integration of terrorism in the daily lives of average people all over the world.

True, throughout the year, many lives have been taken by bullets and bombs fired and detonated by people who are prepared to impose their will on the world with the help of death and destruction. But the assassination of the Pakistan People’s Pa rty leader Benazir Bhutto — like that of Indira Gandhi 23 years ago — falls into the category of events which will not merely leave, as it must, an indelible mark at a personal level on the families concerned but also on the course of political (and perhaps military) events in the subcontinent.

Another spell of military rule

In the history of Pakistan, the impact of her assassination will probably be equivalent to the execution of her father, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, in 1979 under the military regime of Gen. Zia-ul-Haq in that the strictly political content in the quest for social leaderhip in that country has been delivered a serious blow. Her father’s execution led to 10 years of Zia rule (till 1988) which ended with the death of the military dictator in a plane crash in mysterious circumstances.

It seems likely that the exit of the daughter from Pakistan’s political scene will also lead to another prolonged spell of military rule in that country for the simple reason that there is no able successor to the late PPP leader on the horizon.

Admittedly, Mr Nawaz Sharif, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), is the next most important Pakistani political leader and should be generally expected to take over the political mantle of the country in the absence of a viable, credible PPP leadership. But this, in fact, will be far from what is likely to happen because those who support the PPP will not back Mr Sharif even if it means continuance of the military establishment in the political saddle in Islamabad.

Only workable solution

It may be argued that Gen. (Retd) Pervez Musharraf, who made himself President of Pakistan in dubious circumstances, may try to seize this opportunity to anoint himself as the only workable political option in the absence of a strong PPP on the national political scene.

This view may appear to be logical to an extent, but is in fact somewhat fanciful because of the strong (probably unfounded) suspicion that he may have had a hand in the physical elimination of Benazir Bhutto. Put simply, Musharraf stands no chance at all in the post-Bhutto Pakistan political scenario, which means that the military establishment will once again resume its position as the supreme arbiter of life in that country.

Thus, history will probably repeat itself in that, like the period after the execution of her father, Pakistan will once again witness the ascendancy of the military, and unfortunately so because the present juncture appeared to provide a good opportunity for the political forces in that country to stage a comeback.

There is little doubt that whatever has been happening in Pakistan (including the return of Bhutto to fight the January elections) over the past couple of months has been carefully scripted by Gen. Pervez Musharraf — presumably with the help of the US Administration — his sole objective being to remain in power, particularly during the transition from a military career to a post-military one (which, quite obviously, does not rule out an effort to have his own man as Army Chief, namely, General Ashfaq Kayani). But such carefully planned scenarios, specially when they are dependent on human beings, sometimes misfire, Gen. Musharraf’s final nemesis being probably expedited by the Bhutto killing.

Take the back-seat

If the elections are held in early January, as scheduled, they will be nothing more than a State-managed farce, which no one in Pakistan (that is, including the Army and Musharraf) would probably be willing to indulge in at the moment. They could be pushed back, but the PPP leadership issue would still remain, which would have more or less the same effect. This apart, if the security situation in the country were to spin out of control, or threaten to do so, the military would have to bare its fangs, or appear to do so, an exercise over which Musharraf (now out of uniform) would probably not have any control.

What this would ultimately mean is that both Pakistani politicians and Gen Musharraf would have to take the backseat while the Army under General Kayani went about its task of restoring a semblance of civil order in a country where the practice of parliamentary democracy now seems to be even more uncertain after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination.

Of course, the pertinent question is whether Gen. Kayani will turn out to be another Zia, something which only time will be able to tell. If he does, Mr Musharraf will have to seek early retirement; if he does not, Pakistan is in for an extremely unstable phase, which may — and this is important for New Delhi — have a critical military fallout affecting India-Pakistan relations.

Keeping tension alive

This is based on the key assumption that the Pakistan military establishment has always kept tension with India alive solely to underscore its own pre-eminent position in the Pakistani power-structure. Afghanistan is no longer an important issue (as it once was) which could be used for the same purpose, and the anti-terrorism struggle — as Islamabad has found to its discomfiture — cuts both ways.

So, the greater the problems within the country, it is safe to expect that India-Pakistan border problems will become more ‘active’. (Kargil appears to be a prime example where pressing domestic political considerations led to heightened Pakistani activity on the border, a process which finally culminated with Musharraf’s coup against Nawaz Sharif.)

It is, therefore, safe to conclude that, in the months to come, in the event of political instability increasing across the border, the political posturing of Pakistan vis-À-vis India in international fora will harden appreciably. However, the same may not be true on the trade front because a higher level of ‘controlled’ trade (from Pakistan’s perspective) could benefit certain sections in Pakistani society, whose support could be useful for the military rulers.

However, all this will depend crucially on the scale of activity launched by the Islamic fundamentalists, who will probably assert themselves in the New Year as much as they have in the year just ending.

Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/12/31/stories/2007123150440800.htm

By
B.Venkateswarlu
Despite wishing each other happiness every New Year, humanity is no nearer to unlocking its secrets. For at least 2,600 years since Gautama the Buddha, many have pointed out the prevalence of the opposite — deep and abiding sorrow, its sources and the means to remove them — but not with much conspicuous success. So, can we at least try to realise the ‘new’ part this time? This implies being prepared to challenge our old ways of living and try someth ing creative, making life more interesting, more original; and then, we may chance upon the way to living the good life.

How to begin

We can begin with how we mark the first day. We can contact some friends and relations whom we have not met or thought about for a long while. Give them a surprise, and leave them maybe wondering what your motives might be — but assure them that it was just a New Year whim. We all have friends who have slipped out of our circle for some reason. Hunt them out drop them a line or call.

Next, you can send all your friends, as some already do, a chatty (and if possible humorous) letter with a resume of what life had been like for you in 2007. In other words, make up for not being in touch for 12 months. Another way of marking the day is to save some of the money spent on parties, cards and postage and send a donation to some charitable cause. One could do this without exercising the option of flooding the airwaves with messages, emails and e-cards. Surely a line along with a regular letter of email in the normal course would do just as well.

Change yourself

More significant for me is the question: What have I learnt, done differently and learnt afresh during the past year? One important thing I heard for the first time from a top manager during 2007 was that “we can never really change other people, we can only change ourselves”. This casual remark truly opened my eyes. It is a truth about life that I had only been vaguely aware of; was I perhaps afraid to speak of it openly; because as a consultant, one subscribes to the dominant notion that big sweeping changes can and must be made — and with the help of outsiders.

Which of my bad habits have I managed to get rid of or at least reduce to some extent? For instance, am I bit more courteous, or compassionate? Were there any mistakes at all that taught me so much that I shall never repeat them? Have I learnt a new game, a new subject, explored a new region or country, or made a few good friends during 2007? Have I learnt how not to be negative or grow pessimistic, despite the encircling gloom of political and economic chaos and ever spreading violence? Can I remain calm but not indifferent to the world? Can I not let the images others hold about me to sway my actions — but rather do something for its own sake because it is worth doing?

We could set ourselves such questions as pointers for the incoming year, even if we have not paid them much attention during the past one. We might then be on the way to making it a truly new year this time!

Source:http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/12/31/stories/2007123150510900.htm

By
B.Venkateswarlu

If buying a car is on your New Year wishlist, rest assured that you will be spoilt for choice in 2008.

No less than 60 new cars, models and variants are expected to reach the showrooms in 2008, with something for pockets of every size. Bringing cheer to the middle class will be about 15 new models and variants in the small car segment and around 20 new models in the midsize segment.

From Tata’s Rs 1 lakh-car, to Alfa Romeo 159 and BMW X6, the new launches are bound to make choices delightfully difficult.

The luxury segment will have about 10 new models to boast of, along with 15 new SUVs.

Annual sales of passenger cars in India more than doubled in the past five years to 1.08 million in the 12 months ended March 31, according to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. With seven in every 1,000 people in India owning a car at present, the total may reach three million by 2015.

To accommodate all the extra vroom, dealers are cutting down on inventories and hiring salespersons to ensure that your hot wheels get to you in the comfort of your homes.

Hottest action will be seen in the compact and sub-compact segments, with prices ranging from Rs 1 lakh for the Tata’s now famous peoples’ car to the Fiat Cinquecento that comes with a price tag close to Rs 12 lakh.

While Maruti is scheduled to launch Splash, Hyundai is prepared to counter it with the automatic gearshift i10, the manual shift version of which was first launched in India. In the hatchback/mid-size segment, Fiat is lining up its Linea while Volkswagen will bring in Jetta and Renault the Sandero.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=11cc0734-7eb1-420c-b374-8003935984a1&&Headline=60+new+cars+coming+in+%e2%80%9908.+Take+your+pick

By
B.Venkateswarlu

The Pakistan Peoples Party settled the leadership issue on Sunday night by naming its slain leader Benazir Bhutto’s eldest child, the teenaged Bilawal, as her successor.

Benazir had named her husband Asif Ali Zardari as the party chief in the will Bilawal read out at the PPP’s central executive committee meeting at Naudero, Larkana, on Sunday. But Zardari explained his decision to pass on the baton to his son by arguing that “nobody other than Bilawal can keep the PPP and the federation (of Pakistan) intact.” He said the new PPP chairperson will be called Bilawal Bhutto Zardari from now on.

Born in the middle of the 1988 poll campaign that brought his mother to power for the first time, Bilawal, 19, is studying at Oxford. He said as PPP co-chairperson, his father Asif Ali Zardari will “take care of the party till I complete my studies.”

At the interaction that saw Bilawal quoting Benazir to assert that “democracy is the best revenge,” Zardari claimed his party was ready to contest the polls as scheduled on January 8.

Many observers interpreted this move and the one to give his children — including daughters Bakhtawar and Asifa — the Bhutto surname as “deft manoeuvering” aimed at exploiting electorally the sympathy wave sweeping Pakistan after Benazir’s assassination.

A late night PTI report said that after PPP’s decision, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N party has also decided to take part in the January 8 polls.

Quite noteworthy in this context was his claim that most of those who died in the fidayeen attack with Benazir were Punjabis he had befriended while in jail. He told his party’s Sindhi cadres to refrain from drawing ethnic lines: “Punjabis have died in Punjab with your leader. Please respect them.”

He upbraided those who raised questions about Pakistan’s survival after Benazir’s killing: “Don’t say Pakistan na khapey (don’t say Pakistan will break up). I say Pakistan khapey. Suntey kaano, dekhte aankhon, mera faisla democracy aur Pakistan ko bachaney ke liye hai.”

Zardari added: “Benazir and ZAB (Zulfikar Ali Bhutto) never talked of breaking Pakistan.”

Most of the talking at the press conference was done by Zardari, prompting early comments about his central role in the party's affairs. He said his wife had chosen Makhdoom Amin Fahim, who ran the PPP during her self-imposed exile from Pakistan, as the prime ministerial candidate. But the proviso he very meaningfully added was that the final call on the issue will be taken by the party.

With the PML (Nawaz) responding positively tonight to Zardari's exhortations against boycotting the polls, the ball now is in the court of Pervez Musharraf, whose caretaker administration had asked the PPP to decide on the issue in the fond hope that it may seek a breather. Recalling Benazir's comment to him after her first victory in the 1980s that she has avenged her father, ZAB's blood, Zardari predicted a PPP victory in the next polls “which will be our revenge for her death.”

But while being boisterous, he let it be known that his party's battle was not against the army but a section of those who are in power. He also frequently described the pro-Musharraf PML(Q) as the “qatil (murderer)” league, urging the electorate to express their anger through the vote.

Confirming reports that he asked the government not to carry out an autopsy on his wife's body, he rubbished the ongoing probe while seeking an international investigation into Benazir's assassination on the pattern of the commission that went into Lebanese PM Rafik Hariri's killing. Zardari told the gathering to address their questions to him rather than his son who, he said, despite being the party chief, was of “tender age”.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=9e3dc845-a585-4cca-a4b3-8c25fd091d39Benazirassassinated_Special&&Headline=Bilawal+becomes+a+Bhutto%2c+named+PPP+chairman

By
B.Venkateswarlu

Haven't thought of where you are going to party on New Year's Eve? Think no further. The hottest destination on the final night of the year is going to be the Andheri Sports Complex in Mumbai where the Mumbai part of Nokia's blockbuster New Year's Eve celebrations are going to be held. "You can boogey the night away to the accompaniment of laser shows, pyrotechnics and performances by international stars."

Still need convincing? Look at who's going to perform: you can rock away to the tunes of Nelly Furtado and JoSh, plus the one and only AR Rahman. What's more, you can also get down to serious partying with some of the hottest Bollywood stars, including the gorgeous Priyanka Chopra, Koena Mitra and Shahid Kapur setting the stage alight. And there's an opening act by DJ Nikhil Chinappa to get you warmed up!

The mammoth event will be held at the Andheri Sports Complex under a canopy of stars. It'll have enough space for thousands of party-hoppers. It's going to be huge! It's going to be THE New Year's Eve Bash of the year! So be there!

The event is part of Nokia's grand New Year's Eve bash that will be celebrated in Hong Kong, Mumbai, Berlin, Rio and New York.

Proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to the A.R. Rahman Foundation.

Venue Details
Andheri Sports Complex (Shahaji Raje Bhosale Kreeda Sankul), J.P. Road, Andheri West, Mumbai

Time
Gates open from 6 pm onwards, Entry from GATE 1

The Stars Who Will Shine

* Shahid Kapur
* A.R. Rahman
* Koena Mitra
* Priyanka Chopra
* Nelly Furtado

Source:http://in.specials.yahoo.com/newyear/cometogether.html

By
B.Venkateswarlu

Canadian government to pressurise President Pervez Musharraf into accepting a United Nations-led international investigation into the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Staging a protest rally, which was attended by Canadian Opposition leader Jack Layton and other legislators, at the Ontario legislature assembly in Toronto, the Pakistan People's Party of Canada (PPP-Canada) presented its five-point demand charter to the government which, among other things, sought pressure on Musharraf to quit before elections were held.

Blaming Musharraf for the assassination, the protesters said Canada "should do more than just issue statements."

PPP-Canada convener Mansoor Mirza, who led the protesters and gave a memorandum to Jack Layton to be passed on to Prime Minister Harper, told IANS, "Through the opposition leader, we have requested Prime Minister Harper to press for an independent international probe into Benazir's death and Musharraf's ouster."

Mirza said free elections were not possible under Musharraf.

"The army is well-entrenched in Pakistan and they would not allow the PPP to emerge victorious. That's why they have killed Benazir. We also demand that the ousted judges be restored to their jobs and the media allowed full freedom," he said.

Addressing the rally, Layton promised to convey these demands to the government. He said democracy and stability in Pakistan were very important for Canada which, along with the US-led coalition, was fighting the Taliban in neighbouring Afghanistan.

Without mentioning Musharraf, Layton said Pakistan should be freed from dictatorship. He promised them Canada's full support in their struggle for restoration of democracy in Pakistan.

Haling the decision of the PPP leadership to anoint Benazir's son Bilawal as her successor and contest the Jan 8 elections, the protesters said the decision would pull Pakistan back from the brink of civil war.

"By appointing Bilawal as PPP chairman, the party has doused the fires engulfing the country. There is a huge bitterness among people towards the Punjabis in Pakistan because of what has happened. We hope Pakistan has been saved once again," said a party office-bearer.

Mirza added: "Only a Bhutto can bind all Pakistanis. Though nobody can replace Benazir, we hope Bilawal will fill the vacuum with the passage of time. He is a kid and will need to grow up fast."

The protesters welcomed the decision of their party and Nawaz Sharif to contest the January 8 elections, saying their joint victory could put Musharraf in the dock.

"He needs a majority vote from the new National Assembly for approval of his May changes to the constitution. If the PPP and Sharif can defeat him on it, he can be forced out. We have to wait," said the PPP convener.

Source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/FullcoverageStoryPage.aspx?id=6c1cc78a-d610-4767-92d5-4bd6db619d4cBenazirassassinated_Special&&Headline=PPP+seeks+Canadian+pressure+on+Musharraf+for+UN+probe

By
B.Venkateswarlu

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto wanted Pervez Musharraf, then a brigadier in the Pakistan Army, to serve as her military secretary but he declined the offer, and is thankful he did so, the president says.

Had he accepted the offer he would have 'gone down with her and her government', Musharraf, who stepped down earlier this month as the Pakistan Army chief before being sworn in as president for a second term, says in his memoir 'In The Line Of Fire'.

The offer came when Musharraf was serving at the Pakistan Army General Headquarters as deputy military secretary, dealing with the career management of majors and lower ranks in the army, in the process becoming their 'godfather'.

"One day, out of the blue, a friend of Benazir Bhutto's husband Asif Zardari came to call on me. Benazir was prime minister at the time. The friend's name was Javed Pasha. I had never seen him before," Musharraf writes in the memoir published in 2006.

"Pasha suggested that I become Benazir's military secretary. I do not know whether this was Pasha's personal initiative or if it had the backing of the prime minister. I asked for time to think about it."

"The next day, I broached the subject with my boss, Major General Farrakh. He rejected Pasha's suggestion outright, saying, 'You are a professional soldier and should continue with your professional work'. This was yet another time my caree