Neo Nazies Swarm the GLOBE! After the Encounter Now Uttar Pradesh Migrant Lynched in Mubai!India Inc May Lay Off 25% Jobs in 10 Days. Why North is So Hated in Maharashtra and Elsewhere? No Fuel Price Cut for Now! Resurgence of Nazism and PURE Blood adovocates, supported by Hindutva and Zionist Black hatred may kill the lofty Dream of martin Luther King even if US white system is honest enough to protect the life of Barrack Hussein Obama!RBI relaxes forex derivatives accounting norms!Asia Pacific at greater risk amid global economic slowdown!
Court orders brain mapping, polygraph tests on Malegaon blast accused
Press Trust of India - ? 3 hours ago ?
Fresh Ne...Nashik, Oct 29 (PTI) A court here today ordered brain-mapping, narco and polygraphy tests of the two retired army officers arrested in connection with Malegaon bomb blast after it was told by the police that one of them was in touch with sadhvi Pragya ...
Upadhyay, Kulkarni remanded to police custody till Nov 10 NDTV.com
Ex-armyman arrested in Malegaon blast case Times of India
'Ignore The Polls'
http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=xvRmgO60yyc
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After the fake Encounter now the Uttar Pradesh Migrant is Lynched in Mumbai. Global ruling Class seems to be in Hurry to Disintegrate Indian nation once again!
Government railway police have registered a case of rioting and murder against 10 to 12 unknown people a day after a 25-year-old labourer from Uttar Pradesh was lynched on a Mumbai local train. This is the result of Globalisation! This is the FACE REAL of HINDUTVA so patriot and so National! Hindu superpower India, on the other hand,may become a major player in the emerging small satellite manufacturing industry. The country’s space agency has estimated a market potential of 50 satellites over the next decade, worth around $1.5 billion, says a space official.Keeping this in mind, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has already formed a special team to manufacture small satellites.As global leaders engage themselves to grapple with the worst economic crisis since 1929, WTO chief Pascal Lamy wants India, among other e merging economies, on board for a new financial world order.
Over 100 children were on Wednesday taken hostage by militants in Pakistan's troubled northwest tribal region bordering Afghanistan. A group of 10 to 12 militants entered a state-run school in Darwaz Gai area of Mohmand tribal agency after a gun battle with security forces and took over the premises. Some 100 children were inside the school, TV channels reported.
The incident shows the Inhuminity as More than 160 people were killed, scores injured and around 15,000 left homeless as a powerful earthquake jolted southwestern Pakistan ear ly today destroying hundreds of mud houses and sending people scurrying onto the streets in panic! The death toll could mount as Dilawar Kakker, mayor of Ziarat warned as he said that hundreds more were buried under the rubble as the quake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale triggered landslides and rockfalls on the houses catching the people as they were asleep.
"As policy makers go about creating multilateral architecture in areas like international finance...no international agreement on finance or climate change is possible today without China, India, Brazil and Indonesia on board...," Lamy said in a speech posted on the WTO website.
While Europe and North America face an economic slowdown, the emerging economies of Brazil, India, Mexico, China, Egypt, Indonesia and South Africa continue to grow, in large measure because of trade, he said at Stanford University on Monday.
The fast growing economies are of special interest to the US where exports are contributing significantly to GDP growth. On an annualised basis, the second quarter export growth and slowing imports were responsible for the US' GDP growth of 2.9 per cent.
meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India said it will conduct a special 14-day repo auction for Rs 11050 crores ($2.2 billion) on Wednesday.
The reversal of Wednesday's auction will take place on November 12, it said in a statement. The auction was introduced on October 14, and is being held every day until an allocated 200 billion rupees has been used. ($1= 48.8 rupees)
Obama would be the first black president in U.S. history if he defeats Republican John McCain in the November 4 election. Concerns about Obama's safety led the Secret Service to provide round-the-clock protection from early in his campaign.About six percent of US voters are still undecided in the final sprint of the White House race, boosting Republican John McCain hopes he may yet pull off a last-minute election day upset.Obama had a lead of 50.4 to 43.1 percent over McCain in RealClearPolitics' weekly average of polling data as of October 26 -- with 6.5 percent still uncommitted.But the gap had tightened to 50.3 to 44.1 percent by October 27, with undecided numbers down to 5.5 percent.Last minute deciders can influence the outcome most of all in toss-up states, where the race is tight.
The Undecided Voters are mostly white as well as Racial! Resurgence of Nazism and PURE Blood adovocates, supported by Hindutva and Zionist Black hatred may kill the lofty Dream of martin Luther King even if US white system is honest enough to protect the life of Barrack Hussein Obama!Those indecisive Americans are being fervently wooed by both parties in the final days of a two-year White House battle. What if a Gallup poll released Tuesday, Oct. 28, reveals that around the world, Obama is the preferred candidate for President of the United States! While 27 percent of global respondents support the Democratic candidate for president, only 7 percent said they support the Republican candidate McCain.Barak Obama seems to be especially popular in the the ancient fishing village of Obama, Japan. Japanese 'Obama Girls' shout "Yes we can!" during a rally to support Barack Obama.
The Zionists, White Racists and the Hindutva injected life by Neo Nazies won`t allow any CHANGE still in so much demand!Contradictorily, though the citizens of France, India, Germany and Georgia (the country) cannot vote in the U.S. presidential election, a new Gallup poll shows how they would vote if they could. If the world could vote for the U.S. president, Obama would win by a landslide--though turnout would be quite low. The enslaved balck Untouchable and Indigenous communities worldwide supports Martin Luther King as well as Barrack Hussein Obama!
The American Neo -Nazi movement started in the streets in the middle 1980's, in the U.S. The movement is an act to keep alive the beliefs and actions of Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Regime. Believers and activist in the movement are known as Skinhead, or "Skins." Some are dresses like a lot like the original British movement, which was started by some rough looking teenagers in combat boots hanging out on the streets. The average Skinhead, wears combat boots or Doc Martens, thin red suspenders, and a bomber jacket. The hair is completely shaven or closely cut to the head. The Skins wear many symbols supporting the movement, such as, swastikas supremacy slogans, and other white power emblems or tattoos. Neo-Nazis believe that to be white is to be right. That the Aryan race, the whites, are the pure race and that there should be no other ethnic groups or races. Homosexuals, Jews, Hispanics and Afro-Americans are the main targets for this organization. But there are others. Any minority......
Ethnic nationalism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ethnic nationalism is a form of nationalism wherein the "nation" is defined in terms of ethnicity. Whatever specific ethnicity is involved, ethnic nationalism always includes some element of descent from previous generations. It also includes ideas of a culture shared between members of the group, and with their ancestors, and usually a shared language; however it is different from purely cultural definitions of "the nation" (which allow people to become members of a nation by cultural assimilation) and a purely linguistic definitions (which see "the nation" as all speakers of a specific language).
The central political tenet of ethnic nationalism is that each ethnic group on earth is entitled to self-determination. The outcome of this right to self-determination may vary, from calls for self-regulated administrative bodies within an already-established society, to an autonomous entity separate from that society, to a sovereign state removed from that society. In international relations, it also leads to policies and movements for irredentism — to claim a common nation based upon ethnicity.
In scholarly literature, ethnic nationalism is usually contrasted with civic nationalism. Ethnic nationalism bases membership of the nation on descent or heredity - often articulated in terms of common blood or kinship - rather than on political membership. Hence, nation-states with strong traditions of ethnic nationalism tend to define nationality or citizenship by jus sanguinis (the law of blood - i.e. descent from a person of that nationality) while countries with strong traditions of civic nationalism tend to define nationality or citizenship by jus soli (the law of soil - i.e. birth within the nation-state). Ethnic nationalism is therefore seen as exclusive, while civic nationalism tends to be inclusive. Rather than allegiance to common civic ideals, then, ethnic nationalism tends to emphasise shared narratives and common culture. For example, Germany is often cited as an example of ethnic nationalism; German citizenship is open to "ethnic Germans" (e.g. descendents of Germans living in the former Soviet Union).
The theorist Anthony D. Smith uses the term 'ethnic nationalism' for non-Western concepts of nationalism as opposed to Western views of a nation defined by its geographical territory. Diaspora studies scholars extend this non-geographically bound concept of "nation" among diasporic communities, at times using the term ethnonation or ethnonationalism to describe a conceptual collective of dispersed ethnics.[1]
A nation-state for the ethnic group derives political legitimacy from its status as homeland of that ethnic group, from its protective function against colonization, persecution or racism, and from its claim to facilitate the shared cultural and social life, which may not have been possible under the ethnic group's previous status as an ethnic minority.
Ethnic nationalism has sustained criticism because of its use by extremists to advocate racist agendas and genocide, such as the case of Nazi Germany and its extermination of millions of Jews and other ethnic and cultural groups during the Holocaust. More recent acts of violence that used ethnic nationalism as a justification include ethnic cleansing such as the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, the Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995, and Operation Storm in Croatia in 1995.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_nationalism
White nationalism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
White nationalism is a political ideology which advocates a racial definition (or redefinition) of national identity for white people, in opposition to multiculturalism. The contemporary white nationalist movement in the United States is a reaction to the decline (based on US census projections) in white demographics, politics and culture.[1] According to Samuel Francis, a key white nationalist writer, it is "a movement that rejects equality as an ideal and insists on an enduring core of human nature transmitted by heredity."[2] Anti-racist organizations generally have argued that ideas such as white pride and white nationalism exist merely to provide a sanitized public face for white supremacy.[3]
The goal of white nationalism is to appeal to a larger audience. Most are nonviolent groups working for separatism.[4]
Supporters see themselves defending the legitimate civil rights of white people against society's alleged racial double standards.[5] Jared Taylor, another key writer in the movement, claims similar racial views were held by many mainstream American leaders before the 1950s.[6] Opponents accuse them of hatred, racial bigotry and destructive identity politics.[1][7]
According to Samuel P. Huntington, the modern movement is increasingly cultured, intellectual and academically trained.[8] Rather than espouse violence, they use statistics and social science data to argue for a self-conscious white identity.[9] They say a natural hierarchy should triumph over the "false promise of egalitarianism"[10] and that the downfall of white dominance spells doom for representative government, the rule of law and freedom of speech.[11]
Supporters say they stand for racial self-preservation and claim culture itself is a product of race.[12] As a result, according to Huntington, they say the demographic shift in the US towards non-whites brings a new culture that is intellectually and morally inferior.[13] With it comes affirmative action, immigrant ghettos and declining educational standards.[14] By challenging established policy on immigration, civil rights and racial integration, they seek to build bridges with moderately conservative white citizens.[15]
White separatism and supremacism are two smaller subgroups within white nationalism.[5] The former seek a separate white nation-state, while the latter add ideas from social Darwinism and Nazism to their ideology.[5] Some white nationalists deny they are in either category.[5] Both schools of thought generally avoid the term "supremacy", saying it has negative connotations.[16]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_nationalism
Black nationalism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Black nationalism (BN) advocates a racial definition (or redefinition) of black national identity, as opposed to multiculturalism. There are different black nationalist philosophies but the principles of all black nationalist ideologies are 1) black pride, and 2) black economic, political, social and/or cultural independence from white society. Marcus Garvey is considered to be the grandfather of black nationalism.
The origins of black nationalism lie in the 19th century with people like Henry McNeal Turner, Martin Delany, Henry Highland Garnet, Edward Wilmot Blyden, Paul Cuffe, etc. The repatriation of black American slaves to Liberia or Sierra Leone was a common black nationalist theme in the 19th century. Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association of the 1910s and 1920s was the most powerful black nationalist movement to date, claiming 11 million members. Although the future of Africa is seen as being central to black nationalist ambitions, some adherents to black nationalism are intent on the eventual creation of a separate black American nation in the U.S. or Western hemisphere.
According to Wilson Jeremiah Moses in his famous work Classical Black Nationalism, black nationalism as a philosophy can be examined from three different periods giving rise to various ideological perspectives for what we can today consider what black nationalism really is.
The first being pre-Classical black nationalism beginning from the time the Africans were brought ashore in the Americas to the Revolutionary period. After the Revolutionary War, a sizable number of Africans in the colonies, particularly in New England and Pennsylvania, were literate and had become disgusted with their social conditions that had spawned from Enlightenment ideas. We find in such historical personalities as Prince Hall, Richard Allen, and Absalom Jones a need to found certain organizations as the Free African Society, African Masonic lodges and Church Institutions. These institutions would serve as early foundations to developing independent and separate organizations. By the time of Post-Reconstruction Era a new form of black nationalism was emerging among various African-American clergy circles. Separate circles had already been established and were accepted by African-Americans because of the overt oppression that had been in existence since the inception of the United States. This phenomenon led to the birth of modern black nationalism which stressed the need to separate and build separate communities that promote strong racial pride and also to collectivize resources. This ideology had become the philosophy of groups like the Moorish Science Temple and the Nation of Islam and the latter Nation of Gods and Earths. Although, the Sixties brought on a heightened period of religious, cultural and political nationalism, black nationalism would later influence afrocentricity .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_nationalism
Asia Pacific region is at a greater risk now as concerns have now shifted from financial failure to worries about global economic slowdown
and with it the region will be hardest hit as exports are a major contributor to the regional output, say a latest Moody report.
"The Asia-Pacific region has escaped relatively unscathed from the financial effects of the credit crisis. But the region will not remain immune from its economic effects," Moody's Economy.Com, a subsidiary of Moody's Corporation said in its latest report.
Impact of the global economic slowdown would be so much that a major slowdown in Asian exports is on the cards later this year and in early 2009, the report added.
"The greatest risk to Asia is not a financial crisis but an economic slowdown, considering that exports are such a major contributor to regional output," Moody's Economy.Com Senior Economist Daniel Melser said.
The recent tumble in global equity markets illustrates that the global credit crisis is entering a new phase, Moody's Economy.Com said adding that concerns about financial failure are starting to ease, but worries about prospects for growth are mushrooming.
How the Ruling Hegemony creats Neo nazies promoting Blind Nationalism!
ISRO will launch two such satellites in 2009 and 2010, both having overseas payloads!
The earth orbit of India's first lunar spacecraft will be raised to 267,000 km on Wednesday, an official here said.
"The Chandrayaan spacecraft, orbiting at a distance of around 165,000 km apogee (farthest point from earth) will be raised Wednesday to around 267,000 km. As of now, everything is normal and as per our expectations," Chandrayaan-1 project director M. Annadurai said.
The third orbit-raising was done Oct 26 and the spacecraft was raised up to 164,600 km, instead of 199,277 km apogee as originally announced by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
"The important date for us is Nov 3 when the final orbit manoeuvre will happen. Between Oct 22 and Nov 3 we have the leeway to carry out the orbit raising activity," he said.
On Nov 3, the ISRO will take the spacecraft to 384,000 km apogee.
The subsequent firing of spacecraft motors will take it near the lunar orbit and it is expected to get into lunar orbit Nov 8.
The fact remains the same! Despite the Scientific and Technical gimmicks , Indian geopolitics stills remains a homeland of SNAKES!
Neo nazies swarm the GLOBE. Not only the ZIONIST, not only the HINDUTVA, all forces of DARKNESS create complete Dark Moon for the survival of Human Civilisation on this planet.Reckless borrowing against Earth's exhausted bounty is driving the planet toward an ecological "credit crunch", the World Wildlife Fund warned on Wednesday. Growing demands on natural capital - such as forests, water, soil, air and biodiversity - already outstrip the world's capacity to renew these resources by a third, according to the WWF's Living Planet Report.
Two white supremacist skinheads were arrested in Tennessee over plans to go on a killing spree and eventually shoot Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, court documents showed on Monday.Daniel Cowart and Paul Schlesselman were charged in a criminal complaint with making threats against a presidential candidate, illegal possession of a sawed-off shotgun and conspiracy to rob a gun dealer.The plot did not appear to be very advanced or sophisticated, the court documents showed.The suspects met over the Internet about a month ago, said an affidavit filed by Brian Weaks, a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
In India, Economic NAZIES led by Chettiar Gang of World bank IMF slaves with FINMIN and RBI continue to Divert National revenue bypassing Parliament and Constitution!
An empowered group of ministers is meeting here on Thursday to find a way of removing anomalies in calculation of tax benefits for IT spec
ial economic zones, which account for bulk of the SEZs approved.
"The issue (relating to Section 10 (AA) of the Income tax Act) will be discussed by eGom. Ministers will take a decision," Commerce Secretary G K Pillai told reporters here on Wednesday.
Pillai said Section 10 (AA) needs to be amended so that the tax benefits under the SEZ Act are given without any distortion.
The section provides exemption from income tax to the SEZ units on the export income. For calculating the exemption, export turnover is divided by the total turnover of the assessee. But an assessee may have a unit outside the SEZ as well.
In the absence of change in the law, the IT SEZs promoted by most of the big groups such as Wipro, TCS, Satyam and Infosys stand to lose. Of the 531 SEZs approved, 320 are IT and ITeS units.
At its last meeting on October 24, the eGom headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee decided to clear Essar's steel SEZ in Hazira and Adani's port SEZ in Mundra. Both the Essar and Adani SEZs were facing objections from the Revenue Department on different counts.
Now RBI relaxes forex derivatives accounting norms to save the MONEY Machine of Corporate imperialism and Brahaminical Hegemony!
The Reserve Bank on Wednesday relaxed the accounting guidelines for valuing derivatives, a move that will help the Indian banks with overseas
branches to post better financial results.
"It has now been decided to confine the applicability of the principle of borrower-wise asset classification to only the overdues arising from forward contracts and plain vanilla swap and options", the central bank said, while modifying its earlier notification for off-balance sheet exposures of banks.
Under the borrower-wise classification norms, all other funded facilities given to a defaulting clients are required to be shown as non-performing assets (NPAs)
Earlier, the RBI had said borrower-wise classification norms will apply to all funded facilities of a client if the receivables representing mark-to-market value of a derivative contract remains unpaid for over 90 days.
With the modification of the earlier circular, the unpaid amount towards foreign exchange derivatives contract entered between April 2007 and June 2008 will have to be parked in a separate account in the same of client.
RBI further said that amount overdue for more than 90 days will not make other funded facilities provided to the client as NPA as per the borrower-wise asset classification principle.
Rising overnight interest rates are a matter of concern but the liquidity position in the money market is comfortable now, a senior finan ce ministry official said on Wednesday. The official, who did not wish to be identified, also said short selling of stocks was no longer a concern as the stock market regulator had taken steps on the issue. Overnight cash rates rose to a two-week high of 12.75 per cent on Wednesday as treasury bill auctions and expectations of a bigger sale of government securities this week pushed up demand in a holiday-shortened week.
Largest public sector lender State Bank of India today said interest rates have peaked and now borrowers could see some softening of rates in the coming months mainly due to steps taken by the Reserve Bank and government to infuse liquidity.
Economic times reports:
The additional resources generated by the Union budget will determine just how much of the massive dues of fertiliser companies’ will be
settled in bonds this year. With the financial climate worsening, indications are that any clarity on the bonds from the Centre can only emerge by November end or even as late as December.
Recent back-of-the-envelope calculations by the fertiliser department indicated that around Rs 14,000 crore of the pending dues (against unpaid subsidies/concessions) could be settled in bonds in the current financial year while another Rs 31,000 crore-odd could see a cash settlement. However, those plans depend, more than ever, on how well the government is able to manage its fiscal deficit in 2008-09.
Earlier this week, finance minister P Chidambaram admitted that the government could overshoot its fiscal deficit targets for the year in view of the ongoing financial turmoil and the overall economic downturn. Well-placed government sources told ET, "Any clear perspective on what shape and size the fertiliser bonds for the current year may take would continue to remain fuzzy, atleast for another month."
Although input prices are now on the downslide, in consonance with crude oil prices, phenomenally high global prices for these materials during the year’s first half meant that the industry's working capital needs increased by four times over that of 2007-08.
This made it im-possible for fertiliser makers to leverage additional funds of that magnitude from financial institutions. Therefore, the government's fertiliser subsidy bill for the year is still projected at well over Rs one lakh crore. Apprehensions of the declining rupee trend have also added to the woes.
The pending dues account for a substantial chunk of the projected fertiliser subsidy bill of Rs 1, 20,000 crore. Budgetary provisions for the year, ironically and quite inexplicably, were only a paltry Rs 31,000 crore, spelling a massive difference. That allocated amount, infact, was enough to ensure fertiliser supplies only up to June 2008.
Not surprisingly, fertiliser companies are aggressively pushing for squaring up of all dues by the government urgently and in cash, while being deadset against the issuance of bonds. During 2007-08, Rs 7,500 crore, about 19% of the total subsidy for the year, was settled in the form of bonds.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Finance/Fiscal_deficit_to_decide_fate_of_Rs_45k_cr_fertiliser_dues/articleshow/3649448.cms
NBFCs can raise capital through perpetual debts: RBI
The Reserve Bank on Wednesday granted another window for non-deposit taking NBFCs to raise capital by issuing perpetual debts.
Considering the need for enhanced funds for increasing business and meeting regulatory requirements, it has been decided the non-deposit taking non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) may augment their capital funds by issue of perpetual debt, RBI said in a notification.
Such instruments would be considered as Tier I capital to the extent of 15 per cent of total Tier I capital as on March 31 of the previous accounting year, it said.
It also said that the amount of excess perpetual debt over permissible limit would qualify as Tier II capital within the eligible limit.
The minimum investment by single investor in such issue should not be less than Rs 5 lakh, it said, adding, the rate of interest payable to the investors may be either at a fixed rate or a floating rate referenced to market determined rupee interest benchmark rate.
The instruments which will be perpetual in nature will be issued in Indian Rupee only subject to lock-in clause with regard to payment of interest rates.
Commercial banks are allowed to raise capital by issuing perpetual debt for meeting capital adequacy ratio.
"The individuals began discussing going on a 'killing spree' that included killing 88 people and beheading 14 African Americans," Weaks said in the affidavit.
ATF special agent in charge James Cavanaugh said "H" is the eighth letter of the alphabet and 88 stood for "Heil Hitler."
"The U.S. Secret Service takes all threats against presidential candidates seriously and is actively investigating the allegations," said Richard Harlow, special agent in charge of the Secret Service-Memphis Field Office. "The Secret Service does not comment on this type of investigation."
Three-quarters of Americans now disapprove of President George W. Bush’s performance. Given this, and the fact that the policies and values of John McCain and his vice-presidential nominee, Sarah Palin, are almost identical to those of Bush, you would expect Obama to be leading in the polls by a wider margin than he is.
The worldwide survey, conducted from May through October, also measured the level of interest in the U.S. presidential election campaign among world citizens. The survey asked whether respondents thought the election would make a difference in their country.
See, so caled Civil rights and trade union leaders in the United States are warning of last-minute efforts to deny victory to Democratic candidate Barack Obama by preventing thousands of likely pro-Obama voters from casting ballots on November 4.Known as “vote suppression,” the tactic involves challenges to eligibility on a variety of grounds, including improper voter registration and insufficient proof of US citizenship or place of residence.
Asking leaders from Bihar not to add ‘fuel to the fire’ over the raging controversy on the anti-North Indian campaign, Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray said Railway Minister Lalu Prasad should not meddle in Maharashtra's affairs.In a suspected attack as part of the campaign against north Indians in Maharashtra, a 25-year-old Uttar Pradesh migrant died after being beaten up in a local train by fellow commuters, who allegedly picked up a fight with him and his three friends, police said on Wednesday.
The Bihar leaders should ‘not add fuel to the fire’ by making statements over the condition of north Indians in Mumbai.
Reacting to Lalu Prasad's demand that Sena should be banned, Uddhav said the ‘real’ culprits of Bihar people are their own leaders.
"Bihar leaders should ask themselves why people from their state have to migrate to Mumbai to make a living," Uddhav said.
"I would advice Lalu not meddle in Maharashtra's affairs," he said.
Meanwhile, in the wake of killing of a youth hailing from Uttar Pradesh in Mumbai, Chief Minister Mayawati asked the Centre and Maharashtra government to take immediate action to stop attacks on North Indians, saying they have ‘failed’ to prevent such incidents.
"The Centre and Maharashtra government should initiate immediate measures to check attack on North Indians in Maharashtra," Mayawati said in a letter shot off to the Union government and Maharashtra Chief Minister.
Terming the attacks as ‘unfortunate’, the Chief Minister said that both Centre and Maharashtra government have failed to check such ‘unconstitutional acts’.
Communalism falred once again to subvert the issues related to life and death of Common man in India! Washington Italian government is in no mood to relax Hanging Rope to KILL! thus, the SUPERSLAVE Government is not considering reduction in prices of petrol, diesel and domestic LPG despite crude falling to its lowest-level in 15 months as prices have to stablise at this level to wipe out the current revenue losses on fuel sales, an oil ministry official said. "There is no proposal to reduce fuel prices. We have to watch (the) situation for a few more weeks," said S Sundareshan, Additional Secretary in the Oil Ministry in New Delhi. The basket of crude India buys on Tuesday averaged at USD 56.72 per barrel, a level at which state-run Bharat Petroleum, Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum would break even if global prices were to stabilise for a month
On the other hand, Indian firms are likely to lay off a quarter of their employees in the next 10 days, as part of steps to contain costs in the face of shrinking margins amidst the economic turmoil, an industry body said on Wednesday. Trade body Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) said the job cuts would be across the steel, cement, construction, real estate, aviation, IT-enabled services and financial services sectors.
Expansion has slowed in Asia's third-largest economy in the last two quarters, from the 8 per cent or more annual growth in the past four years, with high interest rates crimping demand and on the global financial crisis.
The central bank last week cut its forecast for growth in 2008/09 to 7.5-8 per cent from its earlier view of 8 per cent. This compares with the economy's 9 per cent growth in 2007/08.
"Employers have no other alternatives as part of their corporate strategy ... for sustaining their operations with squeezed margins (even) after after drastic cost cutting measures," ASSOCHAM said in a statement.
Last week, realty firm Parsvnath Ltd said it would axe "non-performing" employees, as it was facing slowing sales.
Top private carrier Jet Airways had sacked 1,900 employees mid-October, citing declining demand and high fuel costs, but reinstated them days later on protests and political pressure.
The deceased, Dharam Dev, a resident of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh, was onboard a Mumbai CST-bound local train from Khopoli along with the three friends yesterday when incident occurred.
Dev, who works as a helper at a construction site, was occupying the window seat in the train, when a group of eight to ten commuters, who appeared to be local villagers, forced them to vacate the seat, police said.
The local group then asked Dev and his friends if they were 'bhaiyyas' after which they started abusing them, they said.
According to the statement given by the victim's friends, the four were slapped and kicked, thus rendering Dev unconscious.
The local group got off the train at Karjat, while Dev and his friends remained in the train. The victim's friend then called up the Railway Protection Force (RPF) control number, which is displayed in trains.
Officials from the RPF then boarded the train at Badlapur and Dev was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.
A K Sharma, Commissioner of GRP, said, "As per our information, the person died at the hospital. The information we have suggests that there were no external injuries on the victim's body. We are waiting for the postmortem report".
"We have filed a case of rioting and murder against 10 to 12 unknown persons at the Karjat railway police station," Sharma said.
"Some persons have been brought in for questioning at Karjat police station but no arrests have been made yet in the case," he added.
Death of UP youth: Shivraj Patil speaks to Maha CM
New Delhi, October 29:
Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil talked to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in the wake of a youth from Uttar Pradesh being beaten up in a local train in Mumbai.
Patil spoke over telephone to the Chief Minister amidst suggestions from the Centre that the state administration should remain cautious and alert in the wake of possibilities of linking the death of a weapon-wielding youth from Bihar in a police shootout to attacks on North Indians in the state.
Minister of State for Home Shakil Ahmed that since these are very sensitive times, Maharashtra should be extra careful.
He said Maharashtra government has informed the Centre that the death of the UP migrant was due to clash between two groups of youngsters on sitting arrangement in a local train.
A Home Ministry spokesman said details have been sought from the state government about the incident, which came close on the heels of the death of Rahul Raj, a youth from Patna, who was shot dead by the police in a Mumbai bus on Monday.
Rahul had held a bus load of passengers hostage in Mumbai with a country-made revolver.
Lynching of youth not 'hate crime': Patil
Mumbai, October 29:
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil made it clear that lynching of a person in a train was not a ‘hate crime’ against North Indians and the government will pay a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the victim, who was beaten to death by fellow commuters.
"This is not a hate crime and we will give compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the victim," Patil said.
"The state government owns the responsibility of protecting migrants from other states including Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," he said.
When asked whether the attackers were MNS activists, he said, "I do not have any confirmation of the report. But we will take strict action against the offenders."
Paswan demands imposition of President's rule in Maharashtra
Patna, October 29:
Union Minister Ramvilas Paswan demanded dismissal of Congress-NCP government in Maharashtra and trial of MNS leader Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on charges of murder and sedition in view of MNS' anti-North Indian campaign.
'If a warning has not yet been issued to Maharashtra government under Article 355, there is no need for it any more and Vilasrao Deshmukh government must be dismissed forthwith,'' Paswan, president of Lok Janashakti Party (LJP), said.
Alleging that North-Indians were being attacked as part of 'deep rooted conspiracy', Paswan said Maharastra Navanirman Sena (MNS) leader Raj Thackeray and his uncle Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray must be tried on charges of murder and sedition.
Pressing his point, Paswan said barely a day after a youth from Patna Rahul Raj was shot dead by Maharashtra police, who were reluctant to pull the trigger against MNS mobs brutalising helpless Biharis, a youth from Uttar Pradesh Dharamdev Rai was beaten to death in a train by 'divisive forces trying to reap political benefit by fomenting regionalism'.
Paswan, who was speaking after visiting Rahul Raj's family here, said an all-party delegation had met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded a judicial inquiry into the killing by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court or a High Court.
''It is unfortunate that the Maharashtra government is getting the incident probed by the chief secretary. The LJP rejects this probe and will settle for nothing less than a judicial inquiry,'' he said.
Lalu threatens to cancel train operation
New Delhi, October 29:
Against the backdrop of killing of a North Indian youth on a train in a Mumbai suburb, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad threatened to suspend train movement in states where rail passengers and properties are repeatedly attacked.
"Railways are becoming soft target in many states these days. If railway properties and passengers continued to be attacked we may think of cancelling train operations in those areas," Prasad said.
The Minister, however, clarified that he did not mean any particular state.
Prasad also spoke to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh and expressed serious concern over the incident involving Dharam Dev, the youth hailing from Uttar Pradesh who was beaten to death by fellow commuters.
The Minister also announced compensation of Rs 3 lakh to the next kith and kin of the deceased youth.
"Prime Minister and Soniaji have assured me that they would immediately take up the matter with Maharashtra government," he said.
Seeking tough action against those involved in the train incident, Prasad requested the Prime Minister to ensure ‘full security’ to North Indians in Maharashtra during the Chhath festival.
"I have told the Prime Minister to take stringent action against those behind the incident. I also spoke to Deshmukh for action against the culprits," he said.
'Maha Govt treating Raj Thackeray as its son-in-law’
Linking the death of a migrant from Uttar Pradesh in Maharashtra to the violation of the ‘honour’ of the state, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh asked Congress to ‘wake up’ and check such incidents before it faces the ire of voters in the coming elections in Delhi, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
"The attack on the migrant from Sant Kabir Nagar in Uttar Pradesh which led to his death was in fact an attack on the honour of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," Singh said.
Attacking the Maharashtra government, he alleged that the Vilasrao Deshmukh dispensation was treating MNS chief Raj Thackeray as its ‘son-in-law’ even as he continues attacks on North Indians.
The police force of Deshmukh, R R Patil and Sharad Pawar has failed to protect north Indians, he alleged.
"While they shot dead Rahul Raj (a gun-wielding youth who died on Monday), they have not used even a stick on Raj Thackeray," he said.
"Congress should wake up before it faces the ire of North Indians in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Delhi, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," he said, while condemning the lynching of a youth from Uttar Pradesh in a train in Maharashtra on Tuesday.
Singh would soon meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to urge her to prevent repetition of such incidents.
Amar asks Lalu, Paswan to quit UPA
The Samajwadi Party asked Union ministers from Bihar Lalu Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan to resign from the Cabinet in the wake of attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra in an apparent bid to put pressure on the UPA government to prevent such incidents in that state.
Talking to reporters in New Delhi, SP leader Amar Singh said Lalu Prasad and Paswan should take a serious view of the attacks on north Indians in Maharashtra and resign from the Cabinet as a protest.
"Had I been in the Cabinet, I would have resigned as the Vilasrao Deshmukh government is not taking steps to prevent attacks despite the Prime Minister's intervention...I request Lalu Prasad and Paswan to resign from the Cabinet," Singh said.
He said he would not support the demand for imposition of President's Rule in Maharashtra as "fortunately or unfortunately we are supporting the UPA".
"The attack on a migrant from Sant Kabir Nagar in Uttar Pradesh which led to his death was in fact an attack on the honour of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar," he said.
He also asked Congress to "wake up" and check such incidents before it faces the ire of voters in the coming elections in Delhi, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
"Congress should wake up before it faces the ire of north Indians in the Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Delhi, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh," he said, while condemning the lynching of the youth in a train on Tuesday. Singh said he would soon meet UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to urge her to prevent repetition of such incidents.
US groups warn of moves to deny Obama victory
“This year has brought heightened efforts to disenfranchise and intimidate voters,” Wade Henderson, director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, declared recently. “These are targeted and insidious attempts to suppress the vote, particularly in communities of colour.”
John Sweeney, the head of the largest US trade union confederation, charges that groups favouring John McCain are responsible for vote-suppression campaigns in some key states.
Mr Sweeney said the labour movement “strongly condemns the coordinated national effort by the Republican Party and allied political operatives to suppress voter turnout and deny ballots to newly registered voters, particularly young people, the poor and people of colour.”
Tens of thousands of individuals in six swing states have been purged from voter rolls or have been prevented from registering to vote, The New York Times reported earlier this month. Many of these moves by state election officials appear to be in violation of federal law, the Times added.
The newspaper also said, however, that the purges and denials of eligibility do not seem to be coordinated by any political party.
CBS News reported this week that there is so far no indication of widespread voter suppression in states where balloting is permitted to take place weeks in advance of Election Day. Based on surveys it conducted in 17 of those states, the US television network found that charges of vote fraud or vote suppression “are far more rhetoric than reality.”
Some voting-rights activists have also warned that the machines used to count ballots at thousands of polling places are vulnerable to “hacking.” Computer experts could rig these machines to record inaccurate vote totals, these monitors say.
Even if broadly conducted and highly effectively, vote suppression and hacking of voting machines would probably not alter the outcome of this year's presidential election. Nearly all reputable polls show Senator Obama with a substantial lead that may be impossible to erase through such tactics.
Still, the Obama campaign plans to deploy armies of attorneys at polling places around the country on November 4 to monitor voting procedures and to initiate urgent legal action in response to complaints of vote suppression. The McCain camp is preparing a similar, though smaller, effort.
Millions of names are removed from voter rolls every year in the United States in response to deaths or changes in residency. But other factors may also be involved in some states. And that leads Wendy Weiser, an elections expert at New York University, to describe the culling process as “secret, prone to error and vulnerable to manipulation.”
“Lots and lots of eligible voters could get knocked off the voter rolls without any notice and, in many cases, without any opportunity to correct if before Election Day.”
Conversely, Senator McCain's campaign has voiced fears about efforts to inflate voter rolls by adding invalid registrations in neighbourhoods likely to support Senator Obama by wide margins. Senator McCain has pointed in particular to a group that organises in low-income urban communities. It was recently revealed that 30 percent of 1.3 million voter registrations submitted by the group were faulty.
Obama around the world
Outside the United States, Obama-mania continues to capture hearts and minds. A ‘Japanese Obama ’, Noyomus Sato, has attracted attention on his comedy show and in Chicago, where he got an ‘Obama cut’ from Obama’s real-life barber, Zariff
Since he started impersonating Obama, his website has gone from receiving 200 hits per day to 100,000: a clear sign that he should focus his comedy routines on the Democratic candidate for president.
Meanwhile, in Kenya in early October, author of the Obama-skeptical book The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality Jerome Corsi was deported due to apparent visa difficulties. He was detained for 4 ½ hours before being released.
Though immigration officials said he was not in possession of the requisite work permit, his publicist Tim Guehler told Time Magazine that they had been assured in advance that their papers were in order. Could Corsi’s critical (and “factually-challenged”, according to Time) portrayal of Obama been at issue?
US Judge rejects Obama-born-in-Kenya claim!
A US federal judge on Friday rejected a lawsuit claiming Senator Barack Obama is ineligible to seek the presidency because he was either born in Kenya or is a citizen of Indonesia.
The US Constitution requires that a person be born in the United States and be a citizen of the country in order to be eligible to serve as president.
Judge Richard Barclay Surrick ruled that Philip Berg, an attorney in the state of Pennsylvania, lacked standing to bring such a suit.
The claim filed by Mr Berg, a supporter of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign, is one of several desperate attempts by Senator Obama's opponents to block what appears to be his increasingly likely victory at the polls on November 4.
Segments of the US right wing will be disappointed by the court decision thwarting this move to depict Senator Obama as less than an authentic American.
Many of the same extremists have sought to link Senator Obama closely to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is portrayed by Obama-haters as both a communist and a supporter of radical Islam.
Senator Obama has posted on his campaign Website a birth certificate showing that he was born in the state of Hawaii in 1961 to Ann Dunham, an American woman, and Barack Obama Snr, a Kenyan who was studying at the University of Hawaii at the time. Following their divorce, Ms Dunham married an Indonesian man.
"I am totally disappointed by Judge Surrick's decision and, for all citizens of the United States, I am immediately appealing to the US Supreme Court," Mr Berg said in a statement following Friday's ruling.
It is not clear whether the Supreme Court will review Mr Berg's plea for a hearing prior to the November 4 election.
Gang unleashes terror in City Centre
A shop assistant was killed and a businessman seriously injured when gangsters unleashed terror in Nairobi City Centre on Tuesday afternoon.
Six gangsters robbed shops on Nairobi's Kaunda Street and Kenyatta Avenue. They fired their guns as they dashed through Wabera Street, Banda, Kimathi and later Biashara streets before escaping.
On Tuesday, three premises were raided and a police officer mugged in two hours.
Ran in circles
Some gang members walked towards Tom Mboya Street as police ran in circles searching for them.
After the robbery at Kant’s shop on Kaunda Street, the gangsters walked a block away to an electronics shop next to The Stanley Hotel where they shot dead a shop attendant before robbing the shop and walking away.
However, as the gang was escaping from Kenyatta Avenue, they bumped into police officers on patrol on Banda Street and ran in different directions.
One of them was seen tucking his gun in his trousers on Kimathi Street before disappearing towards Biashara Street.
On Biashara Street, the gangsters are said to have shot and killed a shop attendant as they engaged police in a shoot-out for 30 minutes.
A witness said the robber who killed the worker intimidated three police officers who were pursuing him as they had pistols while he had an AK- 47 rifle.
The victim is said to have been a worker at Kashmir Crafts, which the gang wanted to rob.
“He tried to run away after he realised thugs had stormed the shop and a thug who was keeping vigil outside killed him. I tried to alert a watchman to no avail as he walked confidently down Muindi Mbingu Street,” a witness said.
He said the gangster wore a short-sleeved white shirt and carried himself confidently.
The afternoon incident affected businesses and operations on Muindi Mbingu, Banda, Kimathi and Biashara streets and Kenyatta Avenue.
Pedestrians scampered for safety and hid under vehicles and in buildings as gunfire rent the air. Some people were injured in the melee.
Another witness said a middle-aged gangster drew a gun when he realised he was being trailed by police officers.
“He shot in the air three times before he disappeared,” he said, adding: “We did not know what was going on. Everything happened so fast.”
Meanwhile, a suspected mugger was arrested on Muindi Mbingu Street after he and his accomplices robbed a police officer of Sh300,000.
Are insurance firms fair to the fairer sex?
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Agencies
Posted: Oct 29, 2008 at 1225 hrs IST
New Delhi, October 29: They have conquered many a male bastion whether it is driving an Auto-Rickshaw or playing a role in the armed forces. Women, in India, however have little option when it comes to taking an insurance cover.
As a matter of fact, in a country where there are 930womenper 1000 men, Bajaj Allianz is the only company which offers insurance policies exclusively designed for women.
Recently, Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) withdrew Jeevan Bharathi 1, a policy for women. "The policy wasn't popular. It didn't sell enough. So we withdrew it. We'll bring out a new policy soon", says Devraj Kashyap, Development officer at LIC.
However, Vinit Vidyarthi, Principal Officer at Almondz Insurance brokers Ltd, says, "Jeevan Bharthi didn't do well because it was not pushed well by LIC."
A Commonwealth Fund report 'Women and Health Coverage: The Affordability Gap', by researchers at the National Woman's Law Centre, says that women are at a disadvantage because they have greater health care needs and lower incomes than men.
"Yes, We don't have policies that are exclusively for women. But we understand that Women are equally at risk due to modern urban lifestyle," Says Soumi Rao, Manager of Public Relations at ICICI Prudential Life Insurance.
"While most of the health risks women face are similar to men and hence the coverage required is similar, they are at higher risk for cancer and hence could look at buying cancer protection," he adds.
I’m too old to play a prostitute: Julia Roberts
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ANI
Posted: Oct 29, 2008 at 1536 hrs IST
Washington, October 29: One of Hollywood’s greatest actresses Julia Roberts has laughed off reports of a sequel to her hit movie ‘Pretty Woman’, insisting that she’s too old to play a prostitute.
The now 41-year-old played the role of a ‘hooker with a heart of gold’ in the 1990 movie, which also starred Richard Gere.
While telling TV show Extra at a charity event in California on October 27, the actress made it clear she had no plans of returning to the streets of Los Angeles.
"No one wants to see an old hooker! Do they?" Contactmusic quoted her, as saying.
Malaysia likely to issue Fatwa against Yoga
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Agencies
Posted: Oct 28, 2008 at 1354 hrs IST
Kuala Lumpur, October 29: Yoga may soon be outlawed in Malaysia, if a prominent body of clerics which is planning to issue a fatwa on the practice, has its way.
Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council is going to impose Fatwa on Yoga after Zakaria Stapa, a lecturer of University of Kebangsaan’s Islamic Studies Centre, on Tuesday advised Muslims who have taken up Yoga to stop practising it fearing that it could deviate their belief, local news reports said in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday.
“A ruling would be made by the council’s Chairman, Abdul Shukor Husin, in this regard,” Deputy Director-General of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia, Othman Mustapha, quoted as saying by New Straits Times online edition
RBI must try to keep systemic liquidity ‘positive’
29 Oct, 2008, 0022 hrs IST,JAYESH MEHTA,
The first policy announced by the new Reserve Bank of India governor was intentionally devoid of any bells and whistles and signals a clear intent t
o be vigilant, intercede regularly and act swiftly for effective management of liquidity.
Basically, they showed that they are ready to manage the trinity of financial stability, price stability and growth. A key focus for RBI is to ensure the global credit crises has limited impact on the Indian markets and banking system.
The global environment has had its influence in India through different channels and markets are looking to RBI to see how best India’s strong banking system can remain reasonably insulated.
The announcement impact had been diluted in advance after RBI cut the CRR by 250 bps in multiple stages and the repo rate by 100 bps over the past few weeks.
Markets were looking at the policy to get news on whether RBI will keep liquidity easy and whether there would be more measures to spur credit growth. RBI signalled intent to provide liquidity when required without going the whole hog and is clearly not willing to compromise on credit quality.
The key thing to watch out is how RBI responds to exchange-rate movements if the dollar strengthening story continues. The liquidity angle has been complicated, given RBI’s foreign exchange intervention wherein the dollar sales would have had an adverse impact on rupee liquidity. As the offshore capital markets are kind of shut down from raising money point of view, the burden has got shifted to the banking system. This has put an extra stress on domestic liquidity.
RBI has shown its intent to provide liquidity as and when required by both conventional and non-conventional route. Another key thing, which has come out very clearly from the policy, is the fact that RBI is looking at SLR from prudence point of view (and not just liquidity tool). They see SLR as a source of strength in the current financial scenario and future liquidity interventions will be managed through more CRRs, OMOs and LAFs for market intervention.
The markets were expecting a rollback in some of counter-cyclical measures on “Risk Weights” and “Capital Adequacy” which they had initiated over the past few years, as those concerns have receded somewhat.
We think that this will give some boost to relevant sectors, as the scenarios have reversed. It is very clear that we have entered into a slowdown phase in economy though we may all have different views on the extent of it. Inflation is a lagging indicator and the pace of deceleration is going to increase.
To give a boost to the economy, we believe that RBI will continue to rely on conventional tools like CRR, repo, reverse repo rate cuts and other unconventional moves like providing more accommodation in SLR.
In short, given the current environment, RBI should try and keep systemic liquidity from ‘negative to positive’, and in order to assure markets, can continue with the measures announced in the past fortnight for the medium term at the very least, rather than keeping it as a temporary measure. This will definitely go a long way in bringing much-needed stability in the Indian financial markets.
(The author is MD & head of FICC, DSP Merrill Lynch)
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/Economy/Policy/RBI_must_try_to_keep_systemic_liquidity_positive/articleshow/3649295.cms
More firms ban execs from ill-gotten pay
29 Oct, 2008, 2020 hrs IST, REUTERS
NEW YORK: Nearly two-thirds of big U.S. companies have banned their leaders from keeping hefty bonuses when there are questions over executive condu
ct or the accuracy of financial results, a policy the government is also demanding from firms selling shares to the Treasury Department as part of the bailout plan.
A new study to be released on Thursday finds that these big corporations have voluntarily adopted so-called "clawback" policies that allow them to recoup portions of executive pay in the event of financial restatements, unethical conduct or other reasons. An early copy was provided to Reuters.
Many investors say such rules should be standard practice at companies, saying it's outrageous for executives to be able to keep ill-gotten pay. The Treasury Department, in compensation rules laid down as part of the financial rescue, has also latched onto the hot topic and demanded that companies selling equity stakes to the government agree to adopt clawback policies.
Overall, 64.2 percent of the largest 95 publicly held companies in the Fortune 100 had disclosed clawback policies as of this year, up from 42.1 percent in 2007 and 17.6 percent in 2006, according to the study from pay research firm Equilar Inc.
"We're switching from a situation from where it was a toss-up as to whether a company would have a clawback policy to now, there is a clear consensus that clawbacks are a good corporate governance policy," said Alexander Cwirko-Godycki, a research manager at Equilar and one of the study's authors.
Lockheed Martin Corp, Motorola Inc and Hess Corp are among the companies that have disclosed clawback policies this year, according to Redwood Shores, California-based Equilar.
The provisions vary from company to company. The study found that overall, clawback policies are becoming broader, applying to more types of conduct and covering more kinds of compensation that executives receive.
The policies generally do not require CEOs and others to forfeit all their compensation. Instead, they target things like cash bonuses as well as stock options, restricted shares and shares granted for meeting various performance goals, Equilar said.
A handful of companies, including PepsiCo Inc. also have extended clawback provisions to apply to outside directors on the board, not just company executives, the study found.
The clawback concept is not new. The 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley corporate reform law included a provision requiring the CEO or chief financial officer of a public company to repay compensation if there were to be an accounting restatement as a result of misconduct.
That has led to pressure for companies to enact their own policies. The primary driver for boards of directors, according to Equilar, is to deter corporate managers from taking actions that could potentially harm the company's financial position.
The recent Treasury Department requirements also go further than Sarbanes-Oxley, expanding the provisions to the top five officers at a company, for example. The Treasury rules only cover financial institutions selling equity stakes to the government.
Michael Melbinger, a partner at law firm Winston & Strawn LLP in Chicago who advises boards of directors on compensation matters, said the clawback concept is gaining more acceptance among boards, as well as among corporate executives.
"They feel like they want to be part of good governance and they don't think they are going to do anything that leads to a clawback, so they are amenable to it," he said.
IMF announces 20-bn-euro rescue package for Hungary
29 Oct, 2008, 1526 hrs IST, AGENCIES
WASHINGTON: A group of donors led by the International Monetary Fund announced they would loan 20 billion euros (25 billion dollars) to Hungary, whi
ch has been hit hard by the global financial crisis.
Out of the total, 12.5 billion euros has been pledged by the IMF, 6.5 billion from the European Union and a billion by the World Bank, the IMF said in a statement late Tuesday.
"An IMF staff mission and the Hungary authorities have today reached agreement... on an economic program supported by an 12.5-billion-euro loan under a 17-month stand-by arrangement," IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said.
"The EU stands ready to provide a loan of 6.5 billion euros and the World Bank has agreed to provide 1.0 billion euros."
The IMF loan is subject to approval from the IMF executive board, expected in early November.
As the fallout from the financial crisis ripples around the world, a number of countries have found themselves needing assistance from the IMF, a lender of last resort to cash-strapped nations.
Iceland has also agreed a loan and Belarus and Pakistan have appealed for assistance.
The European Union confirmed on Wednesday that it was prepared to grant the 6.5-billion-euro loan to Hungary.
Falling market makes stocks cheaper than Diwali snack
28 Oct, 2008, 0830 hrs IST, ET Bureau
MUMBAI: In yet another attempt to salvage a sinking stock market, market regulator SEBI has made it easier for promoters with over 55% stake in companies to increase their holdings through creeping acquisition. However, though stock prices are at their extreme lows, it’s unclear how many promoters would use this opportunity, given the liquidity crunch and turmoil in financial markets.
SEBI has now allowed promoters to buy up to 5% stake every year to increase their holdings up to 75%. In order to ensure that such buying is reflected in the stock prices and provides an opportunity for retail investors to exit, the regulator said that such share purchases should be in the open market. “This is aimed at bringing in the promoters as natural buyers. In the absence of buyers, even a small offloading by FIIs is difficult for the market to absorb,” said a senior investment banker.
Also, promoters are automatically exempt from SEBI regulations for a 5% increase in stake annually as a result of a buyback by the company. This again will make it easier for companies to carry out stock buyback.
SEBI announced the relaxation on Monday, when the Sensex broke yet another psychological level, slipping below the 8,000-mark intra-day before recouping a major portion of losses. The rupee dipped below Rs 50 a dollar intra-day, but closed higher following RBI intervention and dollar selling by a large US bank. The Sensex plunged to a three-year low of 7,697.39, before bouncing back to close the day at 8,509.56, down 191.51 points, or 2%, from the previous close.
The 50-share Nifty closed at 2524.20, down 59.80 points, or 2.3%, from the previous close. Bears were clearly unruffled by reports that the regulator was analysing data to find out attempts to hammer down prices. It is also becoming obvious by now that the ban on overseas lending of Indian shares by FIIs is not having the desired impact. As per provisional data, FIIs pulled out a net Rs 1,027 crore on Monday. However, the only silver lining is that domestic institutions still appear to be flush with funds: they bought shares worth Rs 916 crore net on Monday.
Aishwarya most bankable Bollywood star
29 Oct, 2008, 2008 hrs IST, IANS
NEW DELHI: At 35, Bollywood's blue-eyed-girl Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who celebrates her birthday on Saturday, continues to woo Indian filmmakers wit
h her international appeal, making her one of the most bankable stars in the Indian film industry.
Says popular film critic Taran Adarsh, “Aishwarya's career graph has been very good though not excellent but she is the only actress who can attract national and international crowds. She is the face of so many international brands and a very good actress also.”
London-based Indian filmmaker Jagmohan Mundhra, who directed the actress in the critically acclaimed English movie “Provoked”, also credits her as a superstar with an international appeal.
“She is a superstar. Not only is she a recognised name worldwide; she is a totally bankable star. My personal experience with her from 'Provoked' says that the film wouldn't have worked without her.
“The best thing about her is that despite her stature, she is completely a director's actor. She would also give her inputs in the character and would never come back to see a shot once the director approves it. She is thoroughly professional,” Mundhra added.
Aishwarya, now married to Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, was born in Mangalore to Krishnaraj Rai, a marine biologist, and Vrinda Rai, a writer.
After winning the Miss World crown in 1994, Aishwarya took to acting in 1997 with a Tamil film “Iruvar” opposite southern superstar Mohanlal and made her Bollywood debut in the same year opposite Bobby Deol in "Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya". Both films bombed.
In the following year, she won her first Filmfare Best Actress award South for the Tamil film “Jeans” but became an overnight star with Sanjay Leela Bhansali's “Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam” in 1999. She bagged the Filmfare Best Actress award for this too.
In 2000, she gave a power packed performance in Subhash Ghai's "Taal" but followed it up with a string of flops like "Hamara Dil Aapke Paas Hai"(2000), "Dhai Akshar Prem Ke"(2000), "Albela" (2001), "Hum Kisise Kum Nahi"(2001) and many more.
In between, she was recognised for her supporting role in Yash Chopra's 2000 hit “Mohabbatein”. Her career was resurrected in 2002 with Bhansali's “Devdas” fetching her another Filmfare award in the Best Actress category.
She was highly appreciated for her performances in “Chokher Bali"(2002), “Raincoat” (2004), "Guru"(2006), “Dhoom 2” (2006), "Provoked"(2007), “Jodhaa Akbar” (2008) and “Sarkar Raj” (2008).
In her career spanning 11 years, Aishwarya has acted in over 40 movies in Hindi, Tamil, Bengali and English. Her English projects included “Bride & Prejudice” (2003), “Mistress of Spices” (2005), and “The Last Legion” (2007).
She is also starring in another international project “Pink Panther 2”, a sequel to the original comedy.
The beauty queen-turned-actress is also counted among the 100 most beautiful women in the world. Actress Priyanka Chopra feels that “Aishwarya has a perfect face”.
“She is a gorgeous lady, a very elegant person and a great representative of India abroad and I think she has made some great cinema recently. I'd like to watch a lot more of her in films,” Priyanka told media.
After her wedding in April last year, Aishwarya has cut down on her projects and has become very choosy too. But critic Adarsh feels it is only due to her “added family responsibilities”.
Currently, the actress is busy shooting with Abhishek in Kochi for Mani Ratnam's forthcoming film tentatively titled “Raavan”.
Russia looks at India, China amid global financial turmoil
29 Oct, 2008, 1547 hrs IST, PTI
MOSCOW: A key strategic plan prepared by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for Russia's foreign and economic ties in the next decade has identified Indi
a and China as priority partners, with most of the top western nations headed for recession.
The government of Prime Minister Putin on Monday adopted a strategy to develop former Communist nation's foreign economic ties till 2020, in which the world's most dynamically emerging India and China have been identified as the priority partners.
According to an unnamed official, quoted by the state-owned ITAR-TASS news agency, most of the strategic plan adopted by the cabinet is highly confidential; few passages for public consumption mention India and China as the priority partners, albeit Moscow will continue to look at the currant focal partner European Union for hi-tech, energy investments and acquisition of European assets.
With European markets falling and the continent slipping into a long recession, Moscow seems to be willing to grant India, as its priority partner, wider access to its energy assets.
The acquisition by ONGC Videsh of London-listed Imperial Energy operating in west Siberian region of Tomsk is expected to be speedily cleared by the government.
Russia seems to be willing for greater mutual investments in the energy sector and the issue is likely to be on the top of the bilateral agenda of the annual Indo-Russian summit in the first week of December, when President Dmitry Medvedev is to pay his maiden visit to India.
Farming out: Pune’s tillers reach out to tourists
29 Oct, 2008, 0404 hrs IST,Omkar Sapre, ET Bureau
PUNE: The picturesque Maval taluka in Pune district is a popular tourist destination, famous for its dams, caves, forts and its awe-inspiring mounta
ins. A group of 25 farmers from the taluka have joined hands to set up weekend getaways for tourists.
Pooling around 100 acres of their land, the farmers have formed the Maval Agri-Tourism Development Co-operative Society with the intention of promoting agritourism. The Pune District Cooperative Bank will provide loans to these farmers to help them upgrade facilities at their farms.
Agritourism involves visiting a working farm, or any agricultural, horticultural or agribusiness operation, for the purpose of enjoyment, education, or involvement in the activities of the farm. The host farmers also double up as guides.
Maval taluka has been an attraction in recent times with many actors and industrialists making a beeline to buy land there. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan’s controversial 22-acre plot is located here while yesteryear hero
Dharmendra owns a farmhouse.
“Lots of tourists visit the dams, caves and forts in the Maval taluka. Lonavala and Khandala are also a major attraction. Most tourists are unaware about the specialties of our area and keep roaming without any direction. We want to attract them to our farms, which will help also us generate additional income,” Vijay Kalekar, sarpanch of the Kale Colony village, the headquarters of the farmers’ society, said.
One of our members also operates a boating club in the backwaters of the Pavana dam, he said. “We want to introduce tourists to activities like floriculture, harvesting, bee-keeping, sericulture and dairy.”
The Kale Colony gram panchayat would be the entry point for tourists, who would be received by farmers and escorted to their farms. “Some farmers have residential arrangements on their farms, while the others are upgrading their premises,” Mr Kalekar said.
The activities are based on the model devised by the Agri Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC), a private, Pune-based body set up by entrepreneur Pandurang Taware in 2005. ATDC is promoted by Baramati-based Rajendra Pawar, nephew of agriculture minister Sharad Pawar.
Mr Taware, who operates agritourism projects in 52 locations, providing expertise, said, “Many unemployed farmers in Maval taluka were cheated of their lands as they sold at throwaway rates. Later, they worked as watchmen and domestic help on the same land.
Agritourism will help them generate jobs. We are aware of parties happening in places like Lonavala, Khandala and Pavananagar in Maval taluka. We are targeting tourists who want to spend a weekend on the farms.”
Apart from being acquainted with agricultural operations like sowing and harvesting, tourists also get a chance to savour authentic ethnic food, handicrafts, dress, culture, music and language. Rural activities, such as bullock-cart rides, milking and picking farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, are some of the other highlights.
Agritourism is a growing activity as people are increasingly choosing rural areas for leisure trips, Mr Taware said. “ATDC started with a pilot project in Baramati in 2005. We received 6,000 tourists during the first year of our operations. Our turnover was then Rs 2 lakh. We now operate in 52 locations across the state and look to close this financial year at Rs 50 lakh,” Mr Taware said.
Germany unaware of EADS plan to shift headquarters
29 Oct, 2008, 2013 hrs IST, REUTERS
BERLIN: The German government is unaware that European aerospace group EADS is considering shifting its entire headquarters to Paris, a German gover
nment spokesman said on Wednesday.
The company currently has joint headquarters in Paris and Munich.
"I am not aware of such considerations," government spokesman Ulrich Wilhelm told a regular government news conference when asked if he knew about any plans by EADS Chief Executive Louis Gallois to move the headquarters to Paris.
"I cannot imagine they (the plans) would be pursued."
EU to propose doubling aid available to troubled member states
29 Oct, 2008, 1819 hrs IST, AGENCIES
BRUSSELS: The European Commission will propose to nearly double the maximum amount of EU aid that can be given to member states facing economic troub
le to 25 billion euros, EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said.
"We sent to the council (of member states) proposals for increasing this ceiling to 25 billion euros (32 billion dollars)," Almunia told journalists in Brussels.
Under a 2002 rule, the European Union can provide up 12 billion euros in financial assistance to member states that do not use the euro when their economies run into serious trouble.
On Tuesday, the EU agreed to provide Hungary 6.5 billion euros in aid as part of 20 billion euro package along with the International Monetary fund and the World Bank.
Global finance could lose $2.8 trillion in crisis
28 Oct, 2008, 1526 hrs IST, REUTERS
TOKYO/LONDON: The global financial system could lose $2.8 trillion to the credit crisis, the Bank of England said on Tuesday, before an expected interest rate cut in the United States that others are poised to match.
Governments have agreed to inject around $4 trillion into banks and markets to contain the worst financial crisis in 80 years, which has forced stock markets to tumble and banks out of business, hastening a recession in much of the world.
Japan restricted investor bets on falling share prices with immediate effect to try to end a stock market slide, which has particularly hit its banking sector, and tried to talk down a rallying yen that threatens to deepen its economic downturn.
European shares gained 0.9 percent and Japan's Nikkei climbed 6.4 percent after hitting lows not seen in 26 years.
Prime Minister Taro Aso delayed a parliamentary election to take steps to concentrate on protecting Japan, the world's second biggest economy, from global recession.
The Bank of England (BoE) said the work so far in containing the crisis should calm the banking system but was cautious about the impact on the wider economy. It projected losses globally at $2.8 trillion.
"The instability of the global financial system in recent weeks has been the most severe in living memory," said Deputy Governor John Gieve. "And with a global economic downturn under way, the financial system remains under strain."
The BoE is expected to cut interest rates next week, a move the European Central Bank and the Federal Reserve are also expected to take to try to encourage more spending in economies increasingly fearful of a long, deep recession.
The consensus among Fed watchers is for a half-point cut in overnight rates to 1 percent, the lowest level since June 2004. It has already cut the benchmark federal funds rate to 1.5 percent from 5.25 percent over the past 13 months.
It will announce its decision on Wednesday. The ECB and Bank of England are expected to cut rates on Thursday next week.
An opportunity for Indian IT?
29 Oct, 2008, 0306 hrs IST,Vivek Sharma,
The financial crisis in the US, accentuated by the demise/restructuring of big financial institutions, has veritably taken the world by storm, leadin
g to a lot of speculation on the impact of the same on different industry verticals, the world over. To assess the impact of the financial crisis vis-à-vis the Indian IT industry, following facts need to be reviewed:
The world output is estimated at more than $50 trillion and the US represents more than 25% of this output. Any crisis in this mega economy will have overall effects. Today, the world is not only much more economic (than political as in the past), it is getting integrated with strong interdependencies.
Major emerging economies like China and India have removed the economic insulations/barriers, thus further contributing to making the world one economically integrated entity. Not only are the geographies much more interdependent, industries are also much more interdependent. A problem or opportunity in any major economy or industry has a cascading effect. Hence, it is understandable that IT being the multi-geography and multi-industry enabler gets affected by the mega trends in any of these. The question is whether Indian IT gets positively affected or negatively in the current financial crisis.
If we go back to the hi-tech bubble of this decade, Indian IT was positively impacted. There were many reasons like cost competitiveness of Indian IT, relatively smaller presence of IT in India, availability of talent pool and language communication advantage, etc. All these together enabled the growth of Indian IT. What followed was a big wave of outsourcing to capitalise on the above advantages. The companies already existing in India ramped up their operations and many companies started their first operations in India. We also started to see much lower brain drain and in certain cases even reverse brain drain. This further helped the companies operating in India to scale up the operations as the availability of experienced manpower increased.
However, the scenario now is quite different. For example, the size of IT companies in India is already quite significant with employment of more than one million people. In the past few years, the cost advantage, though not fully gone, has surely diminished due to high salary increases year after year. Moreover, the strengthening of the rupee in the recent past was also eroding the cost competitiveness. Weakening of the rupee these days may provide certain temporary relief; however, the trend will stay. Therefore, optimising costs by further outsourcing may not be that lucrative anymore. Already, there are hiring freezes and even size reduction by certain IT companies in India. This is a recent phenomenon as in the past operations in India were not affected by hiring freezes, etc. It is, therefore, a clear demonstration of local operations maturing and becoming costlier.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/An_opportunity_for_Indian_IT/articleshow/3649498.cms
India's demographic dilemma
29 Oct, 2008, 0311 hrs IST,Janmejaya Sinha,
We talk these days about India's favourable demographics. We are one of the few countries in the world where the dependency ratio will improve in the
coming years. There are 570 million people in India under the age of 25. When most of the developed world is beset with the problem of ageing, we have a uniquely young population.
However, whether this is an advantage or not depends on our ability to have a productive population. If we have a large group of young uneducated people without the ability to participate in the workforce, what we will have is a demographic disaster. We will have an army of young people not ready for the 21st century, left behind and increasingly frustrated with their lot. Their frustration can find an outlet in violence and rage that may challenge the very fabric of our society. To ensure they can join the workforce is not being good but simply being smart.
India's workforce today has 484 million people. Of these 273 million are working in rural areas primarily in agriculture (many of them clearly underemployed), there are another 61 million working in manufacturing and about 150 million in services. Shockingly, 40% of the current workforce is illiterate and another 40% is below 12 class pass. That means 200 million of our workers cannot even sign their name! Given that 60% of our workforce is in rural areas, which provides only about 18% of our GDP and the growth engine for our economy is the services sector, these simple statistics condemn our rural workforce to penury and destitution.
What is worse, given their skill levels it is very difficult for them to escape their fate by migrating to the services sector. It is true that much of our services sector is correctly characterised by the woman carrying bricks on a construction site or the family run neighbourhood kirana store - both services reasonably tolerant of illiteracy. However the openings arising in modern India, even in modern retail and more mechanised construction, will seek a basic education. It is hard to use uneducated people in the productive parts of our economy. At the higher end in IT, financial services and healthcare the problem is different - we need high quality graduates. In fact, we will not be able to accelerate our GDP growth rate to over 10% or have any meaningful impact on inequality in incomes unless we can address this.
Let me ply you with some unfortunate statistics. Currently about 23 million children are eligible for entry into the school system yet only six million finish the 12 standard and only about 2.3 million graduate. Thus 17 million do not even finish school. It gets worse than that - the quality of education on offer is abysmal. On any day 25% of the teachers are absent and 50% of children in class V cannot read a story and 21% of them cannot recognise numbers. Little wonder that parents dependent on government schools do not see the relevance of sending their children to school.
Our estimates show that there are 89 million people expected to join the work force in the next five years. However, 47 million of these will be school drop-outs. Only 13 million of these will be graduates and above. While our demand over the next five years is met by the supply on offer in overall numeric terms, if we disaggregate this by sector, we find that there will be a shortage of 600,000 graduates by 2012. However, if we adjust for employability, which is about 60% for graduates, we find the overall shortage will be in excess of five million for graduates.
Prognosis on consumer spending
27 Oct, 2008, 0044 hrs IST,Rama Bijapurkar, ET Bureau
We are spooking ourselves into a slowdown that is even slower than is warranted by the reality of how much our consumers' disposable income and their
mood has actually been hit. Gloom and doom feeds on itself, and then it makes companies even more pessimistic in their marketing conduct as they shift from coaxing consumers to buy (as they usually do in the normal course of their business) to conserving their own cash and not taking chances on sales growth generating expenditure.
The last several quarters saw unprecedented rise in input costs, but companies decided to absorb much of it and opt for margin pressure rather than pass it on to the consumer and risk decreasing consumer demand. Their bet was on a steady future increase in consumer income and desire to consume, hence top-line growth would more than offset the margin drop, and profits growth would be safe. They also strove to improve margins through efficiencies. Now it seems to be the reverse logic that is operating - companies have bull and bear behaviour with respect to consumers too!
The bet seems to be that consumers have no money to spend, so let's focus on value growths, pass on price increases to consumers, focus on the value end of the market and cut marketing expenditure. But before totally moving to this line of action, companies should pause and examine who their consumers are, how badly they are affected and in what way (real income hits? Credit availability and price? Uncertainty driven 'wait and watch' mood?). The picture may be far from bleak, in fact there may be opportunities to shore up market share or customer loyalty.
Gloom and doom based on abstract debates like whether we have a de-coupled economy or on an exaggerated notion of how aam janata are linked to the stock market needs to be replaced by a more consumer-centred analysis of consumer demand. The stock market effects actually are far exaggerated - the number of households it directly or indirectly affects is around 20 million (admittedly 100 million people). The bad 'good' news is that most Indians don't have pensions and hence don't have the life crippling story of their old age savings being wiped out. Of course, that does not mean having a pension fund is undesirable. But it means that we don't have that problem just now. There is no reason for us to assume that stockbroker and share bazaar players committing suicide is more dangerous for our economy than the farmer suicides due to indebtedness that we just saw.
Let's look at the state of consumer demand through the lens of 'real people' not abstract macro constructs. The fact is that Consumer India is a hydra-headed monster, and comprises many demand segments or "mini Indias". Each of these is not as badly hit by the US recession - indeed some 85 million farmers and their families are quite de-linked, and have a good monsoon and crop and recent loan write-offs. Nor did they gain much as world food prices skyrocketed nor do they lose as they come down. Hit by the US recession are 1.6 million people and their families in IT/ ITES sectors, traditionally good spenders, now with shaky jobs and low confidence, taking some of the pubs and landlords that they patronise down with them.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Opinion/Comments__Analysis/Prognosis_on_consumer_spending/articleshow/3643744.cms
Bumpy ride for carmakers in US
29 Oct, 2008, 0614 hrs IST,
For years, auto and energy industry watchers wondered how high the price of gas would have to climb before consumers in the US - still the world's biggest automobile market - would change their driving habits. Now they know. As the price neared and passed $4 per gallon in the late spring and summer, American motorists cut back on their driving and started to shun the fuel-hungry small trucks and sportutility vehicles that had been profit centers for auto manufacturers in the US. Many even switched to mass transit, the poor step child of America's transportation mix since the 1950s.
The change in consumer attitudes about fuel efficiency has been so swift and widespread that the American vehicle manufacturers have found themselves once again behind the curve relative to their Asian and European competitors, just as they did following the oil embargo of 1973. But after the 1973 embargo and an oil price spike in the 1970s and early 1980s, the price of gasoline in the US declined. Almost immediately, US automakers began introducing big minivans, powerful new SUVs and luxurious pickup trucks. Consumers loved them, and small cars were displaced from the top of the US sales charts.
Will that happen again, or has the cost of energy - not to mention growing concerns about global warming - triggered a long-term shift in the automobile marketplace?
Wharton management professor John Paul MacDuffie, co-director of the International Motor Vehicle Program, believes that the changes this time are more likely to stick. "It certainly feels and looks like that right now," he says, citing a key variant in the auto industry of 2008 versus the 1970s and 1980s. "What's different now is that there are these alternative technologies such as hybrids and fuel cells; some are in the marketplace, some are rushing to market and others are in the pipeline." In the 1980s, "there weren't really any brand new technologies that promised significant or permanent reductions in fuel consumption. The only option was mainly just to build a smaller product."
Making the situation even worse for automakers is that the high price of oil is driving up other costs - for energy to run its plants and distribute its products, and for raw materials. The cost of steel has doubled since the beginning of the year.
Smaller cars are also part of the industry's response this time. Autos such as Daimler-Benz's Smart Car, Honda's Fit and GM's Aveo - all comparatively tiny vehicles of the sort once popular only in Europe and Asia, where gas prices have long been higher than in the US - are now entering the US. GM announced in July that it hopes to introduce a minicar called Beat, which has been successful overseas, to the US by 2012. But automakers in the US - and in Europe and Asia - are also rushing to expand their offerings of hybrid engines, which employ an electric motor to work in tandem with a traditional internal combustion engine to provide a boost in gas mileage. The electric motor is powered by batteries that are recharged by the petroleum-powered engine when the vehicle is cruising at high speed, or when the vehicle brakes or coasts. Some manufacturers, including Ford, GM and Toyota, have said they aim to start selling "plug-in" hybrids in which the electric motor can take on more of the work because of more powerful batteries that can be recharged between trips by plugging them into a standard wall outlet.
Many unhappy returns
Consumer demand and the manufacturers' scramble to serve it can be seen in the sales numbers. Auto sales in the US fell 18% year-to-year in June, mostly due to sparse sales of once popular light trucks, which include pickup trucks and SUVs. Those light trucks represented 55% of all US vehicle sales in 2005. In the first half of 2008, their share was down to 47%. In May, General Motors announced it would close four truck and SUV plants and roll out more fuel-efficient vehicles.
Ford, for its part, announced in June that it would delay by two months the introduction of its redesigned F-150 pickup truck, which for years was the nation's top-selling vehicle. The new 2009 model will instead debut in the late fall of this year. In addition, the company said it will reduce by 90,000 its production of pickups and sport utility vehicles in the second half of the year. And even though Ford said it plans to build additional fuel-efficient cars, it expects to produce 25% fewer vehicles overall than it did during the second half of 2007.
Govt examining relief for exporters
29 Oct, 2008, 2048 hrs IST, PTI
NEW DELHI: Concerned over a sharp decline in export growth to 10 per cent in September from about 27 per cent in August this year, the Commerce Minis
try is working on a relief package for exporters.
"Commerce Ministry is preparing a relief package in consultation with the industry and it will be submitted to the Finance ministry. In the next couple of days, it will be finalised," Commerce Secretary G K Pillai told reporters here.
After an impressive growth of 35.1 per cent for the first five months of the current fiscal, the export growth has plunged. In fact, several of the employment-oriented sectors have shown negative growth.
"Yes we are seeing slowdown in our exports... September figures are just about 10 per cent growth compared with 35 per cent over the last five months," the Commerce Secretary said.
He said recession in the US and problems in Europe are bound to affect Indian exports, "because people are not buying there".
With the problems in the buying countries, the sharp fall in rupee value has not been of much help. While the rupee depreciation helps improve exporters' margins, the problem is drying up or cancellation of orders.
Many Indian exporters are forced to scale down their businesses laying off workers as hundreds of the US and European garment stores have pulled the shutters down and several of them went bankrupt.
Amnesty concerned over Colombia conflict
Bogota (Colombia) (AP): Amnesty International urged the United States and other nations to halt military aid to Colombia until it stems a rise in killings of noncombatants by security forces and heeds other UN prescriptions for ending its long-running internal conflict.
In a 94-page report yesterday, the international human rights watchdog questions President Alvaro Uribe's claims that Colombia "is experiencing an irreversible renaissance of relative peace" and "rapidly falling levels of violence."
Amnesty acknowledges that kidnappings and conflict-related killings of civilians have decreased since Uribe first took office in 2002, and some major cities are safer. But the report says that's only part of the picture.
"Colombia remains a country where millions of civilians, especially outside the big cities and in the countryside, continue to bear the brunt of this violent and protracted conflict," the report says, adding that "impunity remains the norm in most cases of human rights abuses."
The Colombian vice president's office, which oversees human rights matters, had no immediate comment on the Amnesty report. But Monday evening, Uribe called on the military to "completely eradicate whatever perverse notion might remain in any member of the armed forces who is not committed to absolutely respect human rights."
He made the comments as the UN's high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay of South Africa, arrived for a weeklong visit.
On Friday, three colonels were fired over the mysterious disappearance of 11 noncombatants from a Bogota suburb. The bodies were later found hundreds of miles (kilometers) away in common graves in a war zone.
Mccain continues to attack Obama for his economic policy
Washington (PTI): Refusing to accept his trail in Pennsylvania, as shown by some state surveys, the Republican nominee for the US presidential election vowed to go down to the wire and continued to slam his Democratic rival Barack Obama for talking about redistributing wealth.
"After months of campaign trail eloquence, we finally learned what Senator Obama's economic goal is to spread the wealth. In a radio interview he revealed this week, he said the same thing, that one of the "tragedies of the civil rights movement is that it didn't bring about redistributive change." Can you imagine? Senator Obama believes in redistributing wealth, not in policies that grow our economy and create jobs," McCain said.
"... He's more interested in controlling wealth than creating it, in redistributing money instead of spreading opportunity. I'm going to create wealth for all Americans by creating opportunity for all Americans. Senator Obama is running to be redistributionist-in-chief. I'm running to be commander-in-chief" the Arizona Republican maintained.
State polls are now showing Senator Obama pulling away with a comfortable lead in Pennsylvania, the must-win state for the Republicans, with at least one survey showing the African American Senator in double digit advantage over his Republican rival.
Political operatives have suggested that McCain must do well in Ohio, Virginia and Pennsylvania to have a shot at the Presidency in less than seven days. However, some argue that the Arizona senator can win all the three states and still lose the election by the way Senator Obama making up in the Mid-west and the west.
Syria convicts 12 of fomenting sectarian strife
DAMASCUS (AP): A Syrian criminal court on Wednesday convicted 12 dissidents of fomenting sectarian strife and sentenced them to two-and-a-half years in prison, a local human rights group said.
Ammar Qurabi of the National Organization for Human Rights in Syria said the defendants are all members of a pro-democracy group known as the Damascus Declaration who were arrested last December.
They were charged with spreading false information and belonging to a secret organization promoting sectarian strife began.
The Damascus Declaration, formed in 2005, is the broadest coalition of opposition figures in Syria. Its signatories have said they want to build internal support for peaceful democratic change in Syria.
The activists were originally sentenced to six years, but the judge reduced the sentence, without giving any reason. The session was attended by diplomats from Western and Arab countries, human rights activists and relatives of the 12 defendants.
The dissidents, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, include Fidaa Horani, the group's head, and Riyadh Seif, a former member of the parliament.
Qurabi's organization expressed ``deep shock'' with the verdicts and called for the immediate release of the defendants, saying they have exercised ``their right of freedom of expression.''
On the eve of their trial, Amnesty International called on Syrian authorities to release the 12 activists whom have been victims of an unfair trial.
``Syria must put an end to its policy of silencing peaceful dissent and punishing people who dare to speak out,'' Philip Luther, deputy director of the Middle East and North Africa Program, said in a statement Tuesday.
The London-based organization has been calling for an investigation into the allegations of torture and other ill-treatment against some of the activists.
When Syrian President Bashar Assad succeeded his father in 2000, he released hundreds of political prisoners. But he soon clamped down on pro-democracy activists, suggesting there were limits to the level of opposition he was prepared to tolerate.
Swiss banking secrecy lifted in Italian arms probe
BELLINZONA, Switzerland (AP): Switzerland can provide legal assistance to Italian prosecutors investigating an alleged attempt by black market dealers to sell arms to Libya and Iraq, according to a court ruling released on Tuesday.
An Italian citizen and a company alleged to have been involved in setting up the deal had asked the Swiss Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona to block the release of their bank account details to Italian authorities.
The court dismissed their request.
Prosecutors in the central Italian city of Perugia have been investigating five Italians for illegally dealing in arms and allegedly giving hundreds of thousands of dollars in kickbacks to Libyan officials.
Italian authorities believe the group was working to sell some 100,000 AK-47 rifles to Iraq and a half-million assault rifles to Libya before police broke up the deals.
Prosecutors in Italy suspect the group brokered the deals through companies in Malta and Cyprus, and allege that bank accounts in Geneva and Lugano were used to funnel bribes to Libyan government officials. They asked Switzerland for details of the transactions.
The Bellinzona court said the request was proportionate to the suspected crime. Swiss banking secrecy laws forbid the release of customers' details unless there is a strong suspicion that a crime has been committed.
The plaintiffs _ not identified in the ruling because of privacy rules _ can appeal the decision to Switzerland's highest court, the Federal Tribunal in Lausanne.
China urges rich nations to help poor fight climate change
Beijing (Xinhua): China Wednesday called on the developed countries to lead the international efforts in fighting climate change and helping developing and poor nations reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Rich and industrialised nations should spend at least 0.7 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) in helping developing nations address the climate change, China's cabinet said in a white paper issued Wednesday.
"But till now, their spending is far below the level," Xie Zhenhua, vice director of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), said while explaining the policy paper to the press.
In the white paper titled "China's Policies and Actions for Addressing Climate Change", the government stated that the developed nations should provide financial support and transfer technologies to help the developing countries fight against global warming.
The developing countries, while developing their economies and fighting poverty, should also actively adopt strong measures, reduce their emissions to the lowest degree and fulfil their duties in addressing climate change, the white paper said.
China and the US are the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, but Beijing has argued that the West bears a greater historical responsibility for global warming and should allow poorer countries to develop their economies and reduce poverty as the world fights climate change.
Xie said developed nations should take the major responsibility for climate change as their greenhouse gas emissions from 1950 to 2000 accounted for 77 percent of the world total.
Underlining that China's emissions accounted for 8 percent of the world total from 1904 to 2004, the official said: "According to our data, China's current total emissions are almost as the same size as that of the US."
"But we should look at the issue fairly and from a historic view."}
"The Chinese government pays high attention to the issue of climate change," he added.
Rizwanur case: CBI gets passport of Todi's cancelled
New Delhi (PTI): The CBI has secured suspension of passports of Ashok Todi and his brother for their alleged role in inciting Rizwanur Rehman to suicide last year, a month after his marriage to the industrialist's daughter.
CBI sources said the agency had applied for revocation of their travel documents immediately after they along with three others were chargesheeted by it.
An alert has already been sounded against Todi brothers, who began to face the heat of the law after the Seventh metropolitan magistrate Bhivas Chatterjee of the Metropolitan court issued non-bailable warrants against them as they failed to appear before it on October 27.
The warrants were issued against Ashok Todi, his brother Pradip Todi and brother-in-law Anil Saraogi.
CBI sources said an application for revocation of their passports was moved on September 24, which was approved by the concerned authorities after which a Letter of Cancellation was issued against their travel documents.
The airports and other international departing points in the country have been informed, the sources said.
Besides Todis, the chargesheet names Anil Saraogi, then Deputy Commissioner of Police Ajoy Kumar, then Assistant Commissioner of Police Sukanti Chakraborty, Sub-Inspector Krsihnendu Das and family friend of the victim S M Mohiuddin alias Pappu.
Rizwanur's body was found on railway tracks on September 21, 2007. He had "secretly married" Priyanka Todi, daughter of influential Kolkata businessman Ashok Todi on August 18 last year.
All the accused have been named in the CBI's chargesheet under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy), 306 and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Retired Army officers played major role in Malegaon blasts
Mumbai (PTI): The Mumbai police on wednesday alleged two retired and arrested army officers were "a part of the larger conspiracy" and played a "major role" in the Malegaon blast.
The two retired officers arrested on Tuesday Sameer Kulkarni (34) and Ramesh Upadhyay (57) have been remanded to police custody till November 10 by a Nashik court, Additional Commissioner of Police (ATS), Sukhvinder Singh told reporters here today.
They have been booked for attempt to murder under the Indian Explosives Act, he said.
BJP, Shiv Sena seek dismissal of Goa Govt.
Panaji (PTI): The BJP and Shiv Sena have asked the governor to dismiss the Digamber Kamat government alleging that the law and order situation was deteriorating in the state.
While Shiv Sena has already placed the demand before Governor S Sidhu on Tuesday, main opposition BJP is likely to meet him by tomorrow on the issue.
"The Governor can use his powers to dismiss the government as the law and order situation is turning grave in the state," BJP spokesman Damodar Naik told PTI.
Accusing the police of failing to nab those indulging in desecration of religious idols, he expressed fears that it could spark off communal tensions in the state. He also alleged rampant corruption.
The Shiv Sena in its memorandum to the Governor too alleged that several temples, statues and religious structures have been destroyed by miscreants and police have failed to arrest the culprits.
"We briefed the Governor about our demands. He was concerned about the law and order situation," Shiv Sena's Goa Chief Upendra Gaonkar said.
He said the Shiv Sena would follow-up the issue and take to the streets against the government if needed.
Commenting on the disqualification petition filed by NCP minister Fransisco Pacheco against Congress minister Churchill Alemao and legislator Aleixo Lourenco Reginaldo, the BJP leader said ministers were seeking action against their own cabinet colleagues.
VHP leader sent to police custody
Ahmedabad (PTI): A local court in Gandhinagar on Wednesday sent Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Ashwin Patel to police custody till November 1.
Patel was arrested on Tuesday for circulating "defamatory SMSs" against Chief Minister Narendra Modi and trying to create "social tension" among different communities.
"He was produced in the court today. The court has sent him to police custody till Saturday," police inspector P P Bhatt told PTI.
Bhatt is the complainant in the case against the VHP leader.
Patel, who was arrested yesterday after being charged under various sections of IPC, has also been booked under section 124A (sedition).
His arrest had prompted strong reactions from the leaders of the saffron outfit who alleged that the government and police were "terrorising" their office-bearers and workers.
VHP leader Pravin Togadia had alleged that Patel was "abducted" from a school near VHP headquarters in the city.
Other leaders said that they would approach the Human Rights Commission as Patel's arrest was a "clear case of rights violation".
According to VHP secretary Ranchhod Bharwad, two office- bearers of the outfit, Devjibhai Rawat and Ashwin Patel, received a telephone call on Monday evening and were told to collect some CDs and literary books from a school near VHP office.
However, the police had claimed that they were called for interrogation and subsequently Rawat was released while Patel was placed under arrest.
Swamy demands Chidambaram's resignation
Coimbatore (PTI): Janata Party President Dr Subramanian Swamy on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram for the present 'economic downturn' in the Indian economy and the stock market crash.
Speaking to reporters here,he alleged that Chidambaram was responsible for 90 per cent of the economic crisis and international factors contributed only 10 per cent.
He said that the finance minister had not heeded the warning given by him and AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa not to allow issue of Participatory Notes (PNs).
The PNs, which amounted to about Rs 35,000 crore had 'deserted' the Indian economy, dumping Rupees for the Dollar, resulting in a run on foreign exchange reserves, Swamy alleged.
While the world over the Dollar was falling in value against other currencies, in India it has risen from Rs 39 to Rs 50 in just two weeks, Swamy said.
Special 'yagna' in Coimbatore to ensure Obama's victory
Coimbatore (PTI): Democratic White House nominee Barak Obama has found an unexpected ally thousands of miles away in this city who is conducting special 'yagna' for ensuring his smooth victory in Presidential polls.
An Ayurvedic hospital chief is conducting the yagna since September 26, seeking the blessings of the Gods for Obama's victory.
Topping the yagna is the 'Mrityunjaya Homam', performed for ensuring a healthy and long life of a person, which is being conducted at the Dhanvanthari Temple, attached to the Arya Vaidya Pharmacy (AVP).
"The homam (yagna) is being performed to protect Obama from attacks by enemies or opponents and also for long life," Krishnakumar, Managing Director of AVP, told PTI.
"I have no special interest in Obama. But I was fascinated by his campaigning style when I was in America recently. I got his horoscope, read it carefully and thought of performing some poojas for his victory," he said.
Finding him to be a black, dynamic, poor and above all a pro-Indian, I wanted him to win the elections and voluntarily started poojas, he said.
Besides the main Mrityunjaya Homam, 'Shatru Samhara Pushpanjali' are also being conducted to 'dilute' the powers of his opponents, he said.
These special poojas, which would conclude on November 4, would definitely reflect on his victory, Krishnakumar claimed.
On every Monday, an 'ilanir dhara' on Lord Shiva Idol (anointing with tender coconut water), was also being performed, Krishnakumar added.
Cotton futures down by 1 pc on poor demand
New Delhi (PTI): Cotton futures slipped almost 1per cent on the NCDEX and MCX counters today due to weak export demand.
At 11.30 am, the most-active April 2009 contract fell by almost 1 per cent to Rs 478 per 20 kg on both the commodity bourses.
Spot rates of Shankar-6 variety was trading at Rs 500 per 20 kg in Gujarat.
According to an analyst with Karvy Comtrade, cotton, also known as kapas, is trading down in futures market due to lack of buying.
Export demand still remains weak as overseas buyers are not aggressive due to global financial crisis, he said.
The domestic cotton output is estimated at 322 lakh bales for 2008-09, against 315 bales in the year-ago period. One bale is equal to 170 kg, according to Cotton Advisory Board.
UP mills delay cane crushing; to start from Nov 3rd week
New Delhi (PTI): Sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh are set to start crushing the cane from the third week of November, with mills blaming low cane quality and experts putting it on high state advisory price for the delay.
"Mills will start crushing from third week of November," a top official of the UP sugar mills association said.
He said the delay in crushing, which begins in October, is mainly due to the quality of sugarcane, which is affected by untimely rains in the central region of the state and less rains in western UP.
"The recovery rate of sugarcane has been adversely affected," he added.
The statutory minimum price or the state advisory price (SAP) is payable if there is a minimum of nine per cent recovery rate in sugarcane. It means, for each quintal of sugarcane, at least nine kg of sugar should be produced.
If the recovery rate is higher, farmers receive extra price for the canes.
The industry official also said recovery rate in western UP may be 1-1.5 per cent less in the current season, compared with last year. In 2007-08 (October-September), the recovery rate was 9-9.5 per cent in the region, he added.
However, sugar experts said the main reason for the delay in crushing is not the recovery rate but the high SAP of Rs 140 a quintal fixed by the UP government.
"The UP mills are expecting some reprieve from court and, hence, are delaying the decision on crushing," a senior executive of a leading sugar company said.
Last week, an industry official had said that UP mills would move the Allahabad High Court, after it opens on November 3, to challenge the government's decision on SAP.
Titel / Referat: Blacks in America
Schlagwörter: First worldwar, Garvey, self-confidence, burning, UNIA, Ku Klux Klan, Hausaufgabe, Referat
Blacks in America
1) black movement in general
2) biographie Malcolm X
3) Black Panther Party
4) situation today
1) black movement in general
- in first worldwar: 400.000 black soldiers gave their lives for US- war
- after war, same rank in society
- even more difficult because of economic crises and unemployment
- Cu- Clux Clan (terrororganisation of white racists) founded in years after the abolishion of racial segregation
- members tried to take away self- confidence (Selbstbewußtsein) of the black people, which they got in the years of the war
- measures (Maßnahmen): burning down houses of the blacks (first year after war 11 people were burned down alive), they strangled (erdrosseln) a lot of people (example: first year after war more than 70 black people were strangled by them)
- in this climate the Universal Negro Improvement Association UNIA was founded
- it was founded by Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)
- propaganded: enormous (massenhaft) emigration to Africa (but Africa was under the control of the colonialists)
- his popularity wasn´t result of utopic "Back to Africa movement"
- instead result of his radical condemnation (Verurteilung) of the white racism
civil- rights-movement
- unlike first worldwar it took a few years after second worldwar to build up a big movement of blacks
- to this point there were a few old, conservative, liberal, white- controlled blacks on court, who tried to make something better for the black people
- 1954 apparent (scheinbar) sucess: highest court abolished racial segregation
- said: "That must be stopped in a suitable (angemessen) speed"
- example of "suitable speed": 9 years after this resolution there were only 8% of the black kids in the south who went on mixed schools
- the strong opposition of white racists against this only symbolic improvement resulted in an opposition movement
- the Montgomery Bus Boykott, the Freedom Rides, the sit-ins, the Detroit and Washington marches of 1963 and the Selma to Montomery march, this movement of black youth and black people, with increasing involvement of white youth and other whites shook the world
- part of this movement were: Dr Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks,....
2) Malcolm X
* May, 29 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska
+ February, 13 1965 in Harlem
- mothet: Loise Little
- father: Earl Little
- 6 brothers and sisters
- family early was faced with racism: after 3 months in their house in Omaha, one
night house was burned down
- family went to Lansing
- 1939: Malcolm into home (Heim) because mother in psychiatry
- father killed under a bus
- Malcolm went to sister Ella (Boston), part- time- jobs
- never enough money -> criminal, sold marihuana
- some homosexuell contacts as an "masseur" of a man who could be his father
- had a lot of girlfriends (most white or mulatt) who he exploited (ausnutzen) financially
- 1946 in prison because of theft (Diebstahl), instead jugde: "sexual contacts with white women"
- so he had to go into prison for ten years
- march 1949: became a member of the "Nation of Islam"
- the Islam gave Malcolm the power to create a better, a new life for himself
- 1952: got out of prison
- with payment chanced his name Malcolm Little in Malcolm X
- X of "Nation of Islam": old name= name of a slave, so real name unknown
- when first name multiplied: 2X, 3X,...
- strict rules in NOI: no drugs, no crime, hard work with little sleep and little holidays, no dancing, no cosmetics for women, no TV( but later when Malcolm often was in TV- shows, shows like these were legal)
- men and women weren´t allowed to swim together, sex outside marriage wasn´t legal
- Malcolm submitted himself to these rules, because he was frightend falling back into old way of life
- 1953: he became a preacher,first Philadelphia, then New York
- Elijah Mohammed, leader and prophet of NOI made commercial things with the members of the Cu-Clux-Clan and the American Nazi Party
- example: big piece of land sold only for whites -> blacks roused(empört) ->
want to organize themselves -> going to become members of the NOI-> Elijah Mohammed gets the money for membership
- he practised sex outside marriage often girls under 16, white girls
- Malcolm got out of NOI in 1964
- but he adviced to stay in the "Nation", perhaps he hoped that it could be reformed
- he confessed himself to nationalism, but he interpreted it in a new way: "The aim must be the control of the policy and politicans of the black unity by the blacks and not by the whites and their marionetts."
- following years build up his organisation "Muslim Moschee"
- he traveled: Mekka, South-Arabia, Beirut, Egypt, Nigeria; Ghana; Algier,...
- had a lot of sympathizers, but only a few members
- so he build up a second, unreligious organisation: the OAAU (Organisation of Afro- American- Unity)
- but still deficiency (Mangel) at members and money
- again tour through Africa and the Arab
- made some reports and discussions about racism in the USA and the United Nations
- purpose (Zweck) of journey: propaganda of Malcolm´s ideas, wanted to earn money
- sucess in Egypt and South- Arabia
- on tours/ journeys: protection in advance the NOI, because lot of people wanted to kill him after he got out of NOI
- 13.02.1965: Malcolm wanted to read out his programme of the OAAU in Harlem
- there was ignited a smokebomb, people confused, Malcolm X was shot down
- the murderers are still unknown, but a lot of people speculated that the murderers were members of the NOI
- his organisations broke down after his death
- I think the murderous attack is the best sign of the fact that he was on the right way to build up a big, strong Black- Movement
- the dead Malcolm is much more dangerous for his enemies than the alive Malcolm, because
- he became idol for black youth
- they support his ideas, want to live them
- most famous of these attempts (Versuche) is the attempt of a group of young blacks in Oakland, California:
The Black Panther Party
http://www.abipur.de/hausaufgaben/neu/detail/stat/274033042.html
Neo-Nazis in America: They're Not Just "Hailing" Hitler
By Werner Haas, published May 04, 2007
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close windowMost Americans have seen the bone-chilling images of World War II that show Nazi soldiers marching to war, Adolph Hitler promoting terrorism, and Jews being gassed at concentration camps. However, what most people do not know is that neo-nazism, promoted by neo-nazi organizations, is still found in the United States today. In fact, their numbers are growing. The movement is mostly underground these days, but the norms, values, beliefs, and goals of this subculture are still present in American life. Although it would be nice to discount neo-nazi hate groups altogether, the sad fact is that most of their stances are very similar to those of mainstream Americans. Unfortunately, if one cannot see the warp in their way of thinking, it can become easy to support neo-nazism. By look at how the neo-nazis in America today slightly twist the beliefs of the typical American society, one can truly learn why these organizations are a real danger to the world.
"We demand equality of rights for the American people in its dealing with other nations, and the revocation of the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the World Bank, the North American Free Trade Agreement, the World Trade Organization, and the International Monetary Fund" (National Socialist Movement). The above statement is one with which most American-minded organizations would agree. Equality is an important issue in the America mainstream culture. However, this is point two on the National Socialist Movement's "25 Points of American National Socialism," a governing doctrine catering to neo-nazi members. Taken out of context, this seems to align perfectly to American values, but if one reads the first point on the list, it is apparent how warped this mindset really is. According to the National Socialist Movement, "We demand the union of all Whites into a greater America on the basis of the right of national self-determination." In short, the neo-nazi sentiment is equality, but only if you meet certain requirements, like being white and being heterosexual.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/232936/neonazis_in_america_theyre_not_just.html
American Nazis
Anti-Semitic, Racist, Neo-Nazi Groups in America Today
By Lisa Katz, About.com
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism. The ADL’s annual Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents found that Anti-Semitic incidents in the United States declined in 2005, but that levels were still a source of concern. More specifically, there were 1,757 reported anti-Semitic incidents in North America 2005, a three percent decline from 2004.
Anti-Semitic incidents included in the Audit comprise physical and verbal assaults, harassment, property defacement, vandalism or other expressions of anti-Jewish sentiment. States with the most total incidents: New York, New Jersey, California, Florida, Massachusetts, and Connecticut.
One trend that has served as a driving force behind the numbers is public activity by organized neo-Nazi and other hate groups.
National Socialist Movement
Today America's largest Neo-Nazi group is the National Socialist Movement (NSM).
NSM is a Minneapolis-based hate group known for its Nazi uniforms and open display of explicit Nazi symbols.
NSM Profile
Leader: Jeff Schoep
Founded: 1974 by Robert Brannen and Cliff Herrington
Ideology: Neo-Nazi
Mission Statement: NSM calls for a "greater America" that would deny citizenship to Jews, non-whites, and homosexuals.
Composition: Mostly young, including racist skinheads; some older members of the American Nazi Party of the 1960s.
Structure: It has a vaguely paramilitary structure, with military ranks for its members.
Character: One of the most explicitly "Nazi-like" neo-Nazi groups, emulating the uniforms and paraphernalia of the Third Reich.
Outreach: NSM Magazine, Web site, literature distribution, conferences and rallies
NSM has outpaced other anti-Semitic groups in both membership and activity.
NSM Activity
NSM has chapters in 32 states.
NSM has absorbed members from various racist and skinhead groups.
The group's activities, ranging from literature distribution to raucous rallies, have proven popular among these young recruits.
NSM has a growing Internet presence that includes online radio and a "news service" geared to white supremacists.
NSM launched its own in-house white power music label, NSM Records.
NSM plans to release an anti-Semitic video game called "ZOG's Nightmare," whose object is to kill minorities and Jews. ZOG is a racist abbreviation for "Zionist Occupied Government."
The NSM holds public events in various cities while dressed in full Nazi regalia and shouting "Seig Heil!" NSM members wear Nazi uniforms and openly display swastikas to a degree unusual even among white supremacists.
Other Anti-Semitic Groups in the United States
In the United States, the Constitutional guarantee for freedom of speech allows political organizations great latitude in expressing Nazi, racist or anti-Semitic ideology. Due to First Amendment restrictions, the federal government generally cracks down on such organizations only after members engage in hate crimes and violence.
Other American Anti-Semitic Groups
American Nazi Party
Aryan Nations
Aryan Brotherhood
Creativity Movement
Jew Watch
Ku Klux Klan
Libertarian National Socialist Green Party
National Alliance
National Independents Movement
National Socialist Party of America
NSDAP-AO
Overthrow.com (Bill White)
Stormfront.org
White Aryan Resistance
On the bright side, U.S.-based racist organizations are a tiny percentage of the population. Generally they are outnumbered at public demonstrations by counter-protesters. And they are quickly prosecuted for any crimes. The U.S. congress passed extra penalties for hate crimes, such as vandalizing a synagogue with a Swastika.
Nevertheless, as the 21st Century begins, NSM and other anti-Semitic movements in America must be carefully watched.
Never again.
http://judaism.about.com/od/americanjewry/a/am_nazis.htm
Hindu nationalism
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Hindu nationalism is a nationalist ideology that sees the modern state of the Republic of India as a Hindu polity [1] ("Hindu Rashtra"), and seeks to preserve the Hindu heritage and opposes preferential treatment for Muslims and Christians. Although the concept of "Hindu Rashtra" has been used in slogans and pamphlets of the Bharatiya Janata Party[citation needed], the main group that promotes this ideology, it has not been clearly and unambiguously defined in any of their literature. The notion of "Hindu principles" (Hindutva) promoted by this group is intended to be inclusive of the multiple indigenous traditions of India, including Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. However these religions do not consider themselves to be Hindu. Hindu nationalism has played a crucial role in the recent history of India and that of Hinduism.
Contents [hide]
1 History
1.1 Hindu reform movements
1.2 Savarkar
1.3 Independence movement and Partition of India
2 Hindutva
2.1 Hindu Rashtra
2.2 The Sangh Parivar
2.2.1 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
2.2.2 Vishwa Hindu Parishad
2.2.3 Bharatiya Janata Party
2.2.4 International presence
2.3 Violence
3 References
4 Notes
5 External links
6 See also
[edit] History
[edit] Hindu reform movements
Main article: Hindu reform movements
This section does not cite any references or sources.
Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (September 2008)
Various Hindu reform movements, led by Dayananda Saraswati, Swami Vivekananda and others, originated as a reaction to what was perceived as offensive propaganda of Christian missionaries and forcible conversion to Islam and Christianity[citation needed].
The Arya Samaj was founded by Dayananda Saraswati in the later 19th century to revive Hindu society, which was entrenched deeply in the social schisms of untouchability and sati. The Samaj prescribed a return to the Vedas; they were monotheistic in their approach. Another 19th century revivalist was Swami Vivekananda, a follower of Ramakrishna Paramahansa. The Ramakrishna Mission he founded has grown into one of India's most important community organizations.
Sri AurobindoSri Aurobindo was a nationalist and one of the first to embrace the idea of complete political independence for India, before giving up the struggle to adopt a life devoted to the mystical descent of the supermind consciousness. Both Swami Vivekananda and Sri Aurobindo are credited with having found the basis for a vision of freedom and glory for India in the spiritual richness and heritage of Hinduism. Madan Mohan Malviya, a politician with the Congress Party and the founder of the Benares Hindu University, was another prominent figure of the time.
[edit] Savarkar
The term Hindutva and the associated ideology were propounded by Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a freedom fighter and one of the earliest Hindu nationalists. In his 1923 book Hindutva he defines a Hindu as:
“ He who considers India as both his Fatherland and Holyland ”
He thus defined Hindutva ("Hindu-ness") or Hindu nationalism as different from Hinduism in that it defines a Hindu nation, rather than a religion. The "Hindu nation" is conceived as including Indians belonging to religions like Sikhism and Buddhism (whose sacred sites associated with the founders lie in India), but whether Indian Muslims and Christians also are included, is a point of debate within the Hindu nationalists, as they expect each citizen to express his or her loyalty to the nation. For Savarkar at least, they cannot be Hindus as long as the origins and sacred sites of their religions lie in West Asia.[2] Savarkar identified India as a Hindu Rashtra ("Hindu nation") in terms of culture and heritage. It asserted that all of its people had in history adhered to Hindu religious values, and thus should be identified as Hindus not only as a religion but also as a nationality.
[edit] Independence movement and Partition of India
Main article: Partition of India
[[Image:Marche sel.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Though Gandhi never called himself a nationalist, but he always was a big preacher of Dharma|]
While the Indian National Congress was recognized by a majority of Indians as their representative in the struggle for freedom from the British Raj, Hindu nationalist movements not only desired freedom from European colonialism, but also wanted to avoid a return of the Muslim rule.
National leaders like Bal Gangadhar Tilak instilled Hindu history, heritage and culture into Indian nationalism and politics during the Indian Independence Movement.
The Partition of India outraged many majority Hindu nationalist politicians and social groups. Savarkar and members of the Hindu Mahasabha were extremely critical of Gandhi's leadership[citation needed]. They accused him of appeasing the Muslims to preserve a unity that in their opinion, did not exist; Savarkar endorsed the concept of the Two-nation theory while disagreeing with it in practice. Some Hindu nationalists also blamed Gandhi for conceding Pakistan to the Muslim League via appeasement. And they were further inflamed when Gandhi conducted a fast-unto-death for the Indian government to give Rs. 55 crores which were due to the Pakistan government, but were being held back due to the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947.
After the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi by Nathuram Godse, the Sangh Parivar was plunged into distress when the RSS was accused of involvement in his murder. Along with the conspirators and the assassin, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was also arrested. The Court acquitted Savarkar, and the RSS was found be to completely unlinked with the conspirators[citation needed]. The Hindu Mahasabha, of which Godse was a member, lost membership and popularity. The effects of public outrage had a permanent effect on the Hindu Mahasabha, which is now a defunct Hindutva party.
[edit] Hindutva
[edit] Hindu Rashtra
The meaning of the Hindu Rashtra (literally, "Hindu polity")[3], often mentioned in texts on the Bharatiya Janata Party ("Indian Peoples' Party", part of the Sangh Parivar) has been summed up by one of its top leaders, Lal Krishna Advani, as follows. He starts by correctly pointing out that:
“ The term Hindu Rashtra was never used during the Jana Sangh days, neither had it ever been mentioned in any manifesto of the BJP[4] ”
The BJP has never used the term Hindu Rashtra.[5] In contrast with the BJP, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ("National Volunteer Organisation", also known as the RSS, which forms the main arm of the Sangh Parivar) openly espouses the concept of Hindu Rashtra, but RSS statements about this central concept are not much more forthright than Advani's. For example, in a book by H.V. Sheshadri, a senior leader of the RSS writes:
“ As Hindu Rashtra is not a religious concept, it is also not a political concept. It is generally misinterpreted as a theocratic state or a religious Hindu state. Nation (Rashtra) and State (Rajya) are entirely different and should never be mixed up. State is purely a political concept. ... The State changes as the political authority shifts from person to person or party to party. But the people in the Nation remain the same. ”
—K.S. Rao in H. V. Seshadri, ed.:Why Hindu Rashtra?, p.24
The Hindu nation is suggested as something that has always been there and always will exist in the future. It has not been discussed in Hindu nationalist circles as a revolutionary ideal. Hindu nationalists, however, assure the world that the concept of Hindu Rashtra does not contradict the principles of secularism and democracy.[6]
In this somewhat vague definition of a Hindu nation, a Hindu is connoted beyond just as an adherent of Hinduism. For some, the term Hindu is set to encompass the adherents to a culture, that is, the unique Indian culture. For others, however, the definition of Hindu is extended to all Indians as long as they have an ancestral connection to the Hindu Rashtra (ie. the Indian subcontinent). Those proponents have argued that even Muslim and Christian Indians are Hindus, as their ancestors were Hindu, and despite their religion, their culture and heritage is the same as that of India's natural Hindu majority. Many Hindu nationalists also prescribe to a vision of Akhand Bharat (Complete India), wherein the partition of India is reversed to found a nation based on what they consider as India's natural territorial extent in terms of the bonds of history, culture, economy and people.
Advocates of Hindu Rashtra contend that Hinduism's strong legacy of tolerance for diverse philosophies and reform movements, and the root idea of universal human brotherhood is the reason for the country's vibrant fabric of diversity, and thus every person, community and institution is perennially Hindu. In that sense, it is contended that the term Hindu in this case is a synecdoche for all indigenous Indian religions and philosophies. In that vein, some advocates of the "Hindu Rashtra" prefer to think of the concept as inclusive of religions that evolved in India (such as Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism), and thus are believed to be compatible with Indian social ethos. The adherents of the Hindu Rashtra philosophy claim that the English term nation is only a crude translation of the Sanskrit term rashtra. Their term rashtra does not mean a European-type nation with one ethnicity, one common history, one language and one religion. In fact, the proper English translation of 'Hindu rashtra' would be 'Hindu polity' and not 'Hindu nation'.[7]
[edit] The Sangh Parivar
The Sangh Parivar is an umbrella organization of social, religious and political organizations that make up or support directly or indirectly the Hindu nationalist ideology in character and purpose, most who are exponents of Hindutva and other forms of Hindu expression. Today, its is the largest organization of Hindu nationalist expression and activity in India and the world at large. The Sangh Parivar consists of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Janata Party, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and numerous other organisations in India and across the world.
[edit] Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Main article: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh was founded in Nagpur, Maharashtra in 1925 by K.B. Hedgewar, a physician who felt that Hindu social unity was a deeply important foundation for a free India. The RSS stayed out of the freedom struggle as such[citation needed], but promoted a brotherhood amongst its membership, working to erase caste distinctions, and for the upliftment of backward Hindu communities. To this day, the RSS claims to stand for the Hindu nation in terms of culture and social heritage, which it believes Muslims and Christians are naturally a part of, despite their religion, as their ancestors were Hindus and their basic culture and lifestyle is Hindu.
During the 1947 riots and population exchange the RSS organized relief camps for Sikhs and Hindus coming to India from Pakistan. The RSS under its second leader Madhav Sadashiv Golwalkar developed a reputation as a socio-cultural organization whose selfless volunteers were always at the forefront of several patriotic endeavors in India. The RSS holds that Christians and Muslims are basically converts from Hinduism and should be reintegrated into the mainstream of Indian Hindu culture other wise leave India. Christianity has had a toehold in India since the middle of the first century[citation needed]-far longer than in many parts of Europe-but Christians still represent less than 2 percent of the population. Muslims, although(13-14%), number somewhere between 138 million [8], however, which makes India the third biggest Muslim country in the world after Indonesia. Pakistan, which was partitioned from India by in 1947, 161 million people mostly muslim.
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh renounces the Indian caste system and the practice of Untouchability and works to emancipate the lower castes from persecution and discrimination in India. They have also engaged in numerous relief efforts in Jammu and Kashmir, which has been plagued by terrorism[1].
[edit] Vishwa Hindu Parishad
Main article: Vishwa Hindu Parishad
The RSS also sponsored the creation of independent organizations to open different avenues in forwarding its main mission. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad was organized in 1967 by Hindu religious leaders and RSS members to focus exclusively on reviving the Hindu religion, religious tradition and expanding community unity. The VHP has adopted the Ram Janmabhoomi issue as its own, while preaching against religious conversions and advocating a ban on cow slaughter. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad is one of India's major student organizations, while some labor and farmer unions have also been formed.
[edit] Bharatiya Janata Party
Main article: Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party and its predecessor the Bharatiya Jana Sangh are considered by observers and critics as the political wing of the RSS. Founded by Syama Prasad Mookerjee in 1951, the Jana Singh transformed into the BJP in 1980, and Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, both proteges of Mookerjee have led to become one of the largest political parties in India.
The BJP adopted came into power federally within India 1996, but had to give up power after 13 days because of a transfer of the majority. In 1998, the BJP formed the forefront of the National Democratic Alliance and came to power once again. It led India to victory in the Kargil War and was re-elected for a five year term in 1999. The BJP government lost the 2004 Indian General Elections to the now ruling Indian National Congress, nevertheless it continues to have great support under the leadership of Rajnath Singh.
[edit] International presence
Main article: Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
The RSS and associated Hindu nationalist bodies founded the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh in the 1980s, to foster a sense of common heritage and community discipline amongst expatriate Hindus living in North America and Western Europe. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad also maintains major branch organizations in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France.
The activities of these bodies mainly work to bring Hindu communities together by sponsoring temple programs, pujas and festivals, and conducting camp programs for young Hindus to learn religious literature, Indian languages and history, to cultivate a sense of identity.
[edit] Violence
See also: Communal violence
On December 6, 1992, a large procession of VHP activists destroyed the Babri Mosque, which has been claimed to have been built over Ram Janmabhoomi, in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Hindu deity Rama.
The VHP and the BJP have been blamed for organizing the mob violence and mass murder attacks on Muslim civilians across the state of Gujarat in 2002 following the burning alive of Hindu pilgrims in the Godhra train burning.
The sequence of events leading to the violence in Godhra, the Muslim attack on the passenger train in Godhra, and the Hindu retalliation is well documented. While the Indian government estimated 790 Muslims and 254 Hindus died in the violence, it is claimed by human rights groups that upwards estimates of 1,000 people and possibly over 2,000 were killed by mobs during this Gujarat riot with tens of thousands of Muslim Gujaratis displaced.[9]
See also: Babri Mosque, 2002 Gujarat violence, Godhra Train Burning, and communal violence
[edit] References
Elst, Koenraad (2005). Decolonizing the Hindu mind. India: Rupa. ISBN 81-7167-519-0.
Blank, Jonah. Arrow of the Blue-Skinned God.
Savarkar, Vinayak Damodar (1923). Hindutva. Delhi, India: Bharati Sahitya Sadan.
Gandhi, Rajmohan. Patel: A Life.
Ainslie T. Embree, ‘The Function of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh: To Define the Hindu Nation’, in Accounting for Fundamentalisms, The Fundamentalism Project 4, ed. Martin E. Marty and R. Scott Appleby (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1994), pp. 617–652. (ISBN 0-226-50885-4)
Partha Banerjee, In the Belly of the Beast: The Hindu Supremacist RSS and BJP of India (Delhi: Ajanta, 1998). OCLC 43318775
Walter K. Andersen. ‘Bharatiya Janata Party: Searching for the Hindu Nationalist Face’, In The New Politics of the Right: Neo–Populist Parties and Movements in Established Democracies, ed. Hans–Georg Betz and Stefan Immerfall (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998), pp. 219–232. (ISBN 0-312-21134-1 or ISBN 0-312-21338-7)
[edit] Notes
^ the proper english translation of 'Hindu rashtra' would be 'Hindu polity' and not 'Hindu nation'. as retrieved from para 1, page vi, editors note, The Hindu Phenomenon by Girilal Jain, ISBN no. 81-86112-32-4
^ Elst, Koenraad (2005). Decolonizing the Hindu mind. India: Rupa, 21. ISBN 81-7167-519-0.
^ para 1, page vi, editors note, The Hindu Phenomenon by Girilal Jain, ISBN no. 81-86112-32-4
^ "Advani wants Muslims to identify with 'Hindutva'" (in English), Times of India (2006-01-30).
^ Elst, Koenraad (2005). Decolonizing the Hindu mind. India: Rupa, 480. ISBN 81-7167-519-0.
^ Elst, Koenraad (2005). Decolonizing the Hindu mind. India: Rupa, 480-486. ISBN 81-7167-519-0.
^ para 1, page vi, editors note, The Hindu Phenomenon by Girilal Jain, ISBN no. 81-86112-32-4
^ Islam in India
^ Gujarat riot death toll revealed, BBC report, BJP cites govt statistics to defend Modi, Indian Express, 254 Hindus, 790 Muslims killed in post-Godhra riots,Indiainfo.com, "Talibanization" and "Saffronization" in India, Harvard International Review, Why is Narendra Modi in Wembley?, The Guardian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_nationalism
Manu Smriti
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The Manu Smriti (Sanskrit: ?????????) is a work of Hindu law and ancient Indian society. It is also known as the Laws of Manu. It is one of the nineteen[1] Dharmasastra, which are part of the Smriti literature. It is considered the oldest and one of the most important texts of this genre.[2] Some of these codes of conduct pertain to the caste system and discuss the stages of life for "twice-born" males (the asrama system).[3][4] It explains itself as a discourse given by Sage Manu to rishis who begged him to enlighten them on the topic. There are 2,684 verses divided into twelve chapters.[5]
Contents [hide]
1 Dating and historical context
2 Structure of Law Code
3 Views and criticism
4 Notes
5 References
[edit] Dating and historical context
A range of historical opinion generally dates composition of the text any time between 200 BCE and 200 CE.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag form" to the second century CE, see: Keay, p. 103. For dating as completed some time between 200 BCE and 100 CE see: Hopkins, p. 74. For probable origination during the second or third centuries AD, see: Kulke and Rothermund, p. 85. For the text as preserved dated to around the 1st century BCE. see: Encyclopedia Britannica Concise, http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9371223/Manu-smrti. Retrieved on 24 June 2007 </ref> The dating is significant because the work was written during the period when brahminical tradition was seriously threatened by non-Vedic movements.[6] The Manu Smriti and other dharmashastras and the views of society that they represent were brahminical responses to those threats.[7] After the breakdown of the Maurya and Shunga empires, there was a period of uncertainty that led to renewed interest in traditional social norms.[8] In Thapar's view, "The severity of the Dharma-shastras was doubtless a commentary arising from the insecurity of the orthodox in an age of flux."[9]
The dharma class of texts were also noteworthy because they did not depend on the authority of particular Vedic schools, becoming the starting point of an independent tradition that emphasized dharma itself and not its Vedic origins.[10]
[edit] Structure of Law Code
Manu wrote in the contemporary, simple verse (unlike metrical verse of the preceding Dharmasutras) but incorporated his own unique style, in which he separated each concept with a “transitional verse" (a short segue is used to mark the end of one subject and the beginning of another). Below is the general structure of Manu's law book, as summarized by Patrick Olivelle in his translation: [11]
1. Origin of the World (1.1-119)
2. Sources of the Law (2.1-24)
I have described to you above succinctly the source of the Law, as also the origin of this whole world. Learn now the Laws of the social classes. (2.25)
3. Dharma of the Four Social Classes (2.25-11.266)
3.1 Rules Relating to Law (2.25-10.131)
3.1.1 Rules of Action in Normal Times (2.26-9.336)
3.1.1.1 Fourfold Dharma of a Brahmin (2.26-6.97)
I have explained to you above the fourfold Law of Brahmins, a Law that is holy and brings imperishable rewards after death. Listen now to the Law of kings. (6.97)
3.1.1.2 Rules of Action for a King (7.1-9.325)
I have described above in its entirety the eternal rules of action for the king. What follows, one should understand, are the rules of action for the Vaisyas and Sudras in their proper order. (9.325).
3.1.1.3 Rules of Action for Vaisyas and Sudras (9.325-36)
I have described above the splendid rules of action for the social classes outside times of adversity. Listen now to the rules for them in the proper order for times of adversity. (9.336)
3.1.2 Rules of Action in Times of Adversity (10.1-129)
I have described above the entire set of rules pertaining to the Law of the four classes. Next, I will explain the splendid rules pertaining to penance. (10.131)
3.2 Rules Relating to Penance (11.1-265)
You have described this Law for the four classes in its entirety, O Sinless One! Teach us accurately the ultimate consummation of the fruits of actions. (12.1)
4. Determination Regarding Engagement in Action (12.3-116)
Bhrgu, the son of Manu and the very embodiment of the Law, said to those great seers: ‘Listen to the determination with respect to engagement in action.’ (12.2)
4.1 Fruits of Action (12.3-81)
I have declared to you above all the fruits arising from actions. Listen now to these rules of action for a Brahmin, rules that secure the supreme good. (12.82)
4.2 Rules of Action for Supreme God (12.83-115)
I have explained to you above all the best means of securing the supreme good. A Brahmin who does not deviate from them obtains the highest state. (12.116)
[edit] Views and criticism
The work is considered an important source for sociological, political and historical studies. Manu Smriti is one of the most heavily criticized of the scriptures of Hinduism, having been attacked by colonial scholars, modern liberals, Hindu reformists, Dalit advocates, feminists,[12] , Marxists and certain groups of traditional Hindus, namely Smartas. Much of its criticism stems from its unknown authority, as some believe the text to be authoritative, but others do not. There is also debate over whether the text has suffered from later interpolations of verses.
The Bhagavad Gita contradicts many statements in Manu Smriti, including the fixture of one's Varana at birth, and has always been accorded a higher authority by the people in daily life. In northern/southern India Vaishnavism and Shivaism were the common religious traditions, and the teachings of the Manu Smriti was not as widely followed or well-known.
In 300 BCE, Megasthenes wrote that the people around the Mathura region worshipped Harculas (Hari-Krishna) and followed the Gita as daily life principles. Also Fahn-sain did not mention anything about rigid-ness of the varna systems. Chanakya, the author of Arthashastra, never mentioned any social laws prevailing in the society during the first integrator and Mauryan Emperor Chandragupta's reign.
The Manu Smriti was one of the first Sanskrit texts studied by the British. It was first translated into English by the founder of indology, Sir William Jones. His version was published in 1794.[13] British administrative requirements encouraged their interest in the Dharmashastras, which they believed to be legal codes. In fact, these were not codes of law but norms related to social obligations and ritual requirements.[14] According to Avari:
The text was never universally followed or acclaimed by the vast majority of Indians in their history; it came to the world's attention through a late eighteenth-century translation by Sir William Jones, who mistakenly exaggerated both its antiquity and its importance. Today many of its ideas are popularised as the golden norm of classical Hindu law by Hindu universalists. They are, however, anathema to modern thinkers and particularly feminists.[15]
Surendra Kumar, who counts a total of 2,685 verses, finds that only 1,214 are authentic, the other 1,471 being interpolations on the text.[16] In reply to the criticism of the sudra caste, the verses critical of the sudras and women are considered to be later interpolations, but not later than Adi Shankara (7th-8th century CE). The law in Manu Smriti also appears to be overtly positive towards the brahmin (priest) caste in terms of concessions made in fines and punishments. The stance of the Manu Smriti about women has also been debated. While certain verses such as (III - 55, 56, 57, 59, 62) glorify the position of women, other verses (IX - 3, 17) seem to attack the position and freedom women have. The education of women is also discussed in the text. Certain interpretations of Verse (IX - 18) claim that it discourages women from reading Vedic scriptures. Verse (II - 240), however, allows women to read Vedic scriptures. Similar contradictory phrases are encountered in relation to child marriage in verses (IX - 94) and (IX - 90).
In his book Revolution and Counter-Revolution in India, Dalit leader B. R. Ambedkar asserted that Manu Smriti was written by a sage named Brigu during the times of Pushyamitra of Sangha in connection with social pressures caused by the rise of Buddhism.[citation needed] However, historian Romila Thapar considers these claims to be exaggerations. She writes that archaeological evidence casts doubt on the claims of Buddhist persecution by Pushyamitra.[17] Support of the Buddhist faith by the Sungas at some point is suggested by an epigraph on the gateway of Bharhut, which mentions its erection "during the supremacy of the Sungas"[18] Hinduism does not evangelize.[19]
However, not all Hindus agree with the criticisms of the text, or the assertion that the Manu Smriti is not authoritative. Some prominent Hindu figures, such as Swami Dayananda Saraswati and A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami, hold the text to be authentic and authoritative.[citation needed] Other admirers of the text have included Annie Besant, P.D. Ouspensky, Pandurang Shastri Athavale and Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Friedrich Nietzsche is noted to have said "Close the Bible and open the Manu Smriti. “It has an affirmation of life, a triumphing agreeable sensation in life and that to draw up a lawbook such as Manu means to permit oneself to get the upper hand, to become perfection, to be ambitious of the highest art of living" [20]
[edit] Notes
^ For nineteen Dharmashastras, see: Avari, p. 142.
^ For Manu Smriti as the oldest and most important texts of this genre, see: Flood (1996), p. 56. For Manu Smriti and the Yajñyavalkya Smriti as the two most important early Dharma Shastras, see: Hopkins, p. 74.
^ For discussion of the stages of life (asrama) system and references in Manusmriti, see: Flood (1996), pp. 61-65.
^ For application of the stages of life system (asrama) to "twice-born" Hindu males belonging to the top three castes (Brahmans, Kshatriyas, and Vaishyas, see: Flood (1996), p. 202.
^ For 2,684 verses and twelve chapters, see: Avari, p. 142.
^ For significance of dating during time of non-Vedic movements, see: Hopkins, p. 74. For Manas Dharmashastra as dating to the period which was opening to trade, new ideas, and social movements, see: Thapar, p. 261.
^ For characterization of the Manu Smriti as a response to a perceived threat, see: Hopkins, pp. 74, 84.
^ For significance of post-empire social uncertainty as a factor in the development of the Code of Manas, see: Kulke and Rothermund, p. 85.
^ Tharpar (2002), p. 279.
^ For the dharmashastras, including Manu Smriti, as the starting point for an independent tradition not dependent on Vedic origins, see: Hopkins, p. 74.
^ Olivelle (2004), pp. xxviii-xxix
^ For objections to the work by feminists, see: Avari, pp. 142-143.
^ For Manu Smriti as one of the first Sanskrit texts noted by the British and translation by Sir William Jones in 1794, see: Flood (1996), p. 56.
^ For British interest in Dharmashastras due to administrative needs, and their misinterpretation of them as legal codes rather than as social and ritual texts, see: Thapar (2002), pp. 2-3.
^ Avari, p. 142.
^ Surendra Kumar, Vishuddha Manusmriti, (Arsh Sahitya Prachar Trust, Delhi, Fourth Edition), p. 5.
^ Romila Thapar, Asoka and the Decline of the Mauryas, Oxford University Press (1960) p. 200.
^ John Marshall, "An Historical and Artistic Description of Sanchi", from A Guide to Sanchi, citing p. 11. Calcutta: Superintendent, Government Printing (1918). Pp. 7-29 on line, Project South Asia.
^ K. V. Rao, Socialism, Secularism, and Democracy in India, pp. 28-30. Nagendra K. Singh, Enforcement of Human Rights in Peace and War and the Future of Humanity, p. 35. Martinus Nijhoff (1986) ISBN 9024733022
^ Friedrich Nietzsche, The Will to Power, vol. 1.
[edit] References
Flood, Gavin (1996). An Introduction to Hinduism. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-43878-0.
Hopkins, Thomas J. (1971). The Hindu Religious Tradition. Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing Company.
Keay, John (2000). India: A History. New York: Grove Press. ISBN 0-8021-3797-0.
Kulke, Hermann; Rothermund, Dietmar (1986). A History of India. New York: Barnes & Noble. ISBN 0-88029-577-5.
Olivelle, Patrick (2005). Manu's Code of Law: A Critical Edition and Translation of the Manava-Dharmasastra. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-195-17146-2.
Thapar, Romila (2002). Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-24225-4.
Translation by G. Bühler (1886). Sacred Books of the East: The Laws of Manus (Vol. XXV). Oxford. Available online as The Laws of Manu
"The Laws of Manu". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.
Olivelle, Patrick (2004). The Law Code of Manu. New York: OUP. ISBN 0192802712.
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