Press Trust of India

[India (Amzi)]

Press Trust of India (often abbreviated as PTI) is the largest news agency in India. It is headquartered in Delhi and is a nonprofit cooperative among more than 450 Indian newspapers and has a staff of about 2,000 writers spread across 150 offices nationwide. It took over the Indian operations of the Associated Press and Reuters soon after India's independence on August 15, 1947. It provides news coverage and information of the region in both English and Hindi. It exchanges information with several other news agencies including 100 news agencies based outside India, such as Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, The New York Times and Bloomberg L.P.. Major Indian subscribers of PTI include Times of India, the Indian Express, the Hindustan Times, the All India Radio and Doordarshan. PTI has offices in Bangkok, Beijing, Colombo, Dubai, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Moscow, New York and Washington D.C.

Features
• Daily News Brief: A summary of the major news stories is published by prominent Indian news services.
• Weekly News Summary: Each week, the major stories of the major news sources are aggregately published.
• Special Features: Special features are intermittently published on major events within India.
• Personal Profiles: Profiles on major newsmakers in India are occasionally published.
• Press Releases: Press releases made by major Indian political bodies are reproduced in their entirety.
  
  Sources/Subscribers
• The Times of India: English-language daily newspaper. Largest circulation of any English-language newspaper in the world. Leans conservative, often favoring the BJP and associated bodies.
• The Hindu: English-language daily newspaper. Widely circulated and especially popular in Central and South India. Left-leaning, often favors the INC and associated bodies but has no historical allegiance.
• The Statesman: English-language daily newspaper. Historically characterized by its consistent anti-establishment stances and terse reporting style.
• Doordarshan/All India Radio: Public television and radio. Publishes breaking news and in-depth exclusives. Usually independent but is naturally biased towards the governing power.
• IBN-Politics: Website of IBN Live, CNN's Indian subsidiary. Focuses on the political journalism, including some personal profiles and interviews.
• Social Media: Entirely independent. Factuality not a guarantee.

[India (Amzi)]

The Statesman, 3Q2012 | Singh Calls on Lok for Labor Law Reform, Dissatisfaction With Economic Progress Grows
Daily News
July 23rd, 2012

NEW DELHI -- Prime Minister Singh called on Lok Sabha to pass significant reform to India's labor laws today as Congress appears to be reacting to the growing sentiment that the efforts to stimulate growth fall far short of what is needed. India's growth, while still robust by relative global standards, has been lagging in recent semesters. This has been dutifully noted by Indian business leaders and peasants alike with blame falling on captive corruption, misdirected public investment, pre-emptive budgetary control measures, a bloating Defence Ministry and others. Singh says if Lok takes action to properly weaken India's "dangerously protective labor laws" business will not be fearful to expand payroll. "India's businesses don't hire because they simply cannot fire workers ever. They won't expand payroll, even when many can, because they fear they won't be able to trim their workforce in times of economic contraction. And they're right," says Singh, "the labor laws are keeping millions of Indians unemployed."

The political commentariat say that Singh needing to ask the Lok Sabha, which his Coalition handily took control of in 2009, shows his Congress Party may be becoming weary of his liberalisation policies and be early signs of a fracture in the governing Coalition. President of the Indian National Congress and Chairperson of the governing Coalition, the UPA, Sonia Gandhi rebuked those claims saying, "Congress and the UPA remain dedicated Prime Minister Singh and his plans to make the proper reforms needed to bring every Indian into the 21st century."

Press Release, 3Q2012 | President-elect Pranab Mukherjee on Russian Ratification of WTO Ascension Protocol
Press Release
July 23rd, 2012

Recently elected President of the Republic, Pranab Mukherjee commented on the Russian ratification of the WTO Ascension Protocol. Mukherjee has served as Minister of External Affairs, Minister of Defence and twice as Minister of Finance:

"Russia should be commended for her ascension to the World Trade Organization, showing international leadership and the boldness to take the necessary steps towards liberalisation. The ascension will formally welcome the Russian Federation to modern international trade, which India will eagerly take part in, and will benefit every Russian, from farmer to manufacturer. Not only that, but the ascension opens the door to ascension and modern trade to Russia's historically close neighbors, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, who do not hold full membership in the WTO. Russia, in sentiment at least, sets a fine example for India who should continue to involve itself in international trade and general liberalisation. India should also be looking to emulate Russia in regard to regional leadership, and bring our neighbors who do not hold full membership in the WTO, Afghanistan, Bhutan and Laos, into the fold."

Other Headlines

IBN-Politics, 3Q2012 | Singh Tries to Motivate Underachieving Lok, Congress
The Statesman, 3Q2012 | Red Corridor Indians Living in Fear as Naxalites Grow More Brazen
The Hindu, 3Q2012 | Singh Announces Promising Economic, Structural Reforms
Social Media, 3Q2012 | Gandhi, Singh Attempt to Wrangle Weary UPA

[India (Amzi)]

The Hindu, 3Q2012 | MEA Krishna: Confident U.S Will Act "Honourably" After 2 Indian Nationals Are Injured, 1 Killed by U.S Fire
Daily News
August 2nd, 2012

TIRUCHIRAPPALLI, TAMIL NADU -- Minister of External Affairs S.M Krishna spoke on the shooting of 3 Indian fishermen from Trichy today as he joined the community in welcoming the return of the mortal remains of the deceased fisherman, Arumugam Sekar. The 3 fisherman were fired on by the USNS Rappahannock off the coast of the United Arab Emirates after allegedly receiving several warnings, an allegation the fishermen deny. The Dubai Police, who are investigating the case, also deny the claims of the American warship. MEA Krishna joined in the remembrance of Sekar and said he is "confident the United States will act honourably in the wake of this tragedy". "An apology, compensation for the victims and their families, and an independent investigatory probe are more than reasonable to get to the bottom of this."

The United States has not yet offered an official position towards the incident.

The Times of India, 3Q2012 | Kerala, Bihar Act on Corruption, "Can't Wait" for New Delhi
Daily News
August 2nd, 2012

PATNA, BIHAR -- Impressively popular Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar (JDU), announced today that Bihar public projects, in a brazen attempt to end wasteful corruption, will now be done exclusively via competitive bidding. Kumar, who has overseen Bihar's wild economic expansion in recent years, said "it's time for the era of Indian politics, where IAS employees raid public offers for sports cars and nights on the town and the average Indian eats chaff for months at a time, to end". Publicly-funded projects such as interstates and airports, will now be contracted out to private companies following a competitive bidding process, which should save the state millions immediately in both initial expenditures and future quality of the projects. "Bihar can't wait any longer for Congress to act". CM Kumar said his bold policy decision was inspired by instances in Kerala, whose own Chief Minister, Oomen Chandy, followed suit with Bihar shortly after Kumar's announcement.

Conservative commentariat pounced on the opportunity to highlight states being forced to go it their own while the INC's Lok Sabha sits idly. "The Beijing sky is more transparent than Prime Minister Singh's government," quipped Rajya Sabha Opposition Leader Arun Jaitley (BJP). "Leave it to bold BJP leaders to do what they are employed to do - lead". Economists agree, however, that the policy changes will do little more than sustain Kerala and Bihar's reputations as bastions of relative efficiency. "If I were a peasant in one of these states, I would be elated, because it means more tax rupees will be going where they are meant to go", said an op-ed piece in The Financial Express, "but it's going to take a nationally-led effort to have any significant impact. Unfortunately, we just aren't seeing that from the Lok as Manmohan tries to wrangle the left-drifting Congress".

[India (Amzi)]

The Times of India, 3Q2012 | Indian Leaders Agree Deficits Must Be Made Priority, Controlled
Daily News
August 4th, 2012

NEW DELHI -- While Europe appears to be Blue Banana-splitting, leaders from Congress and BJP agreed today that controlling India's deficits and ballooning sovereign debt must be made a priority and largely agreed on the means. Prime Minister and Finance Minister Manmohan Singh (INC), who served a widely respected term as Finance Minister during India's liberalisation in the 1990s, commented today saying, "It would be beyond ignorant to watch Europe tear and not see that India, too, is vulnerable to the same fate if the necessary actions aren't taken". If continued at the current rate, India's public debt will reach 100% of GDP by 2019. It currently stands at roughly 65% of GDP while New Delhi racks up a 5.1% deficit each year. BJP leader Arun Jaitley agreed saying he is "thankful the Prime Minister is beginning to see the problem BJP has identified for a while".

The two went as far as to generally agree on the means to solve the ballooning debt. Prime Minister Singh offered "dramatically expanding the tax base, and quickly" as his primary solution. A large majority of Indians pay not income tax (or otherwise) as a very small minority are included in the "organised economy" meaning officially reported occupations earning steady income. Most Indians are employed off the books, farming small plots or operating unreported, hardly profitable cottage industries. "India brought hundreds of millions out of hunger through the Green Revolution," said Singh, "now it's time to bring hundreds of millions out of under and unemployment by focusing our resources on responsible industrialization". Hundreds of millions paying even marginal rates will dramatically increase government revenue and close the deficit gap. "I see absolutely nothing wrong with that," said Jaitley, "now we just need to see some action".

Press Release, 3Q2012 | INC Sec. Gen. Rahul Gandhi: India Has Stake in Europe, All Must Act in Solidarity
Press Release
August 4th

Secretary General of the Indian National Congress, son of UPA Chairwoman Sonia Gandhi, and rising political star Rahul Gandhi commented on the Madrid-Berlin rift and the path forward. Here is an excerpt:

"...India, by her refusal to attend the Greater European Prosperity Summit, may be falsely reported as supporting the German austerity regime or, worse, ignoring the plight of Europe altogether. Nothing could be further from the truth. India recognizes her stake in the European Sovereign Debt Crisis and, subsequently, her responsibility to act. However, India should not support any attempt to weaken the potential solidarity Europe must act with to solve this global crisis. The Greater European Prosperity Summit is precisely that.


India exposed

Europe must act in unwavering solidarity if this is to be resolved, and the world must follow suit. While the Indian National Congress is not supportive of suffocating austerity programs, which only reduce demand in the time when it is most needed, Europe cannot afford, in every sense of the word, to be diced up amongst ideological factions. The only result Europe will see if such a path is followed is an ability to respond so weakened that the European Union's existence should be properly brought into question. Madrid must include Berlin and Berlin must hear Madrid. There is already a debt crisis, there is no room for a crisis of personal relationship. India hopes Europe figures drying the well is not the solution, but India will only support a unified front. The world encourages freedom of discussion, but demands unity of action..."

Other Headlines

The Statesman, 3Q2012 | India Still Waits for U.S Response in UAE Shooting
The Times of India, 3Q2012 | Rahul Gandhi Quotes Stalinist Doctrine in Recent PR
The Hindu, 3Q2012 | French 'Mistral-class" Considered Favorite for Navy Tender
Social Media, 3Q2012 | MoD Antony to Privately Meet With Anna Hazare
The Hindu, 3Q2012 | Indian MoD Considers Denel After Israeli Weapons Purchase

[India (Amzi)]

IBN-Politics, 3Q2012 | Gandhis Make the Rounds on Sansad Marg for PM Singh
Daily News
August 12th, 2012

NEW DELHI -- President of the Indian National Congress and Chairwoman of the United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi will be joined by her son, Secretary General of the Indian National Congress Rahul Gandhi, as they make the rounds in Parliament, trying to consolidate pro-administration forces in a tumultuous period for the UPA/INC. Prime Minister Singh has had to wrestle with the 15th Lok Sabha for his agenda despite his Indian National Congress being the largest party in the ruling United Progressive Alliance coalition. With the wound being reopened by Congress' inaction on Singh's recent proposal to weaken labor laws, the Prime Minister dispatched the loyal and powerful Gandhi duo to ensure his party isn't getting too far off the leash and to reassure his supporters that his administration isn't dead. The two will privately visit dozens of MPs, with the headliner being a reported meeting between Sonia Gandhi and Dinesh Trivedi, the driver of the non-cooperation.


Long-time Singh allies, Rahul and Sonia Gandhi attempt to consolidate UPA behind the Prime Minister

The trouble in the UPA/INC is most obvious, and potentially dangerous, along the fault line dividing the Singh-Gandhi camp and the Dinesh Trivedi camp. The Singh-Gandhi camp has long been a leader and supporter of the liberalisation of the Indian economy, successfully passing pro-market policies during Singh's tenure as Finance Minister (1991-1996, 2008-2009, 2012-Present) as well as during the 14th Lok Sabha and early stages of the current Lok Sabha. These policies have bucked a long tradition in Congress of democratic socialism and have enjoyed significant support from the centre-right opposition, the BJP and their National Democratic Alliance coalition. On the other hand, Trivedi, who is actually a member of the All India Trinamool, the second largest party in the UPA, has devoted himself and his forces to the continuation of traditionally socialist INC economic policies.

Trivedi, former Minsiter of Railways, founded his base of support on his relationship with popular former MP and current Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. Trivedi worked during the beginning of the 15th Lok Sabha on forming a bloc of UPA MPs opposed to the "reckless industrialisation pursued by Prime Minister Singh. He and Banerjee, who is still often seen in the halls of the Sansad Bhavan, blazed the Indian countryside with fiery populist speeches appealing to the peasantry, Gandhian Socialists and lower Castes. A buzzword in almost every one of their speeches is "the Village" - the doctrine preached by Mahatma Gandhi that says "the Village is the heart of Indian society". Followers of the Village doctrine believe economic progress is best stemmed from India's countless villages, not from industrialization. 3 years into the Parliament, Trivedi's rhetoric has bled into the INC and it appears he now has a bloc, primarily consisting of Trinamool MPs and Congress MPs representing rural constituencies, sturdy enough to damper Singh's agenda.

Debate swirls around this attempt to bring the UPA back into line, many questioning its chances of success. "The Gandhis are just the dirty hands of the Singh administration," says one Sansad marg politico, "treating this mutiny as petty insolence is only going to push Trivedi further away". Speaker of the Lok Sabha and Singh ally Meira Kumar disagress, commenting that "the UPA is just getting on the same page. There's no one better for that than Sonia and Rahul". "The real losers in this are the average Indians who are going to be deprived of necessary modernization," says Indian economist Nitin Desai, "The Village is a rejected economic theory. The only person who think the Village can lift India out of poverty is Dinesh Trivedi. It's just too bad he has a loud voice in New Delhi".


Other Headlines

The Statesman, 3Q2012 | 3 Dead, 12 Injured After Naxalite Shooting in Chhattisgarh
The Hindu, 3Q2012 | 12,000 New Buddhists in Bihar After Mass Conversion
The Times of India, 3Q2012 | ONGC To Construct LNG Station in Andaman Islands, Confident in Explorations

[India (Amzi)]

The Statesman | Naxalite Militancy Worsens in Red Corridor
Daily News
September 12th, 2012

RAIPUR, CHHATTISGARH -- The murder of an affluent family in the capital of Chhattisgarh is the latest act of violence in a progressively bloody insurgency in a specific area of Eastern India known as the Red Corridor. Yatish Rajawat, a local coal plant owner, his wife and his two daughters (ages 4 and 9) were found dead in their estate in a suburb of Raipur. The scene was grisly, according to first responders, with all victims showing signs of torture before their murder. Responsibility for the attacks was claimed by the Communist Party of India (Maoist), a member of broad group of Communist militants generally referred to as Naxalites. "Mr. Rajawat and his family," says an eerie official statement from CPI (M) on the incident, "as leaders of the oppression of the Indian proletariat, and all like them are not just casualties of the People's War, they are the targets".


Red Dawn in Eastern India?

The Raipur murders are only the most recent instance of Maoist insurgency. The "Naxalite-Maoist Insurgency", as the GoI calls it, has been steadily increasing in popularity and boldness since the early 2000s. The Maoists appeal to, often very successfully, the Dalit and Adivasi populations of the disadvantaged Indian country-side. With their broad and enthusiastic base of support, the Maoists operate armed attacks on government forces and whomever they deem as "representatives of the capitalist system", taking nearly 12,000 lives since 1989. While many have championed the cause of ending the insurgency, including India's Minister of Home Affairs P. Chidambaram, few have been successful in any capacity as the Maoists' rhetoric continues to leave swathes of troubled peasants across East India's country-side.

In reaction to the growing threat, in 2009 Prime Minister Singh announced the "Integrated Action Plan" - an outline for broad, cooperative military and economic means to undermine Maoist influence in the states of Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. included in this plan is funding for grass-roots economic investment to curb desperateness amongst the peasantry who turn to the Maoists largely due to unsatisfactory economic conditions. While the effect of the IAP on general popularity of the Maoists is debatable, empirical data seems to conclude that the insurgent threat has not been diminished.

Prime Minister Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram both offered their condolences to those affected by the Raipur murders following the news and the Prime Minister blandly said, "this latest incident proves that the Maoist threat in East India needs more attention from New Delhi and Congress is dedicated to providing that attenion". Given his Party's track record on the issue, few are taking the Prime Minister for his word.

Other Headlines

The Hindu, 3Q2012 | China Follows Indian Lead on Thorium
The Times of India, 3Q2012 | India "Hopeful" After Assad's New Proposal
The Hindu, 3Q2012 | MEA Krishna Urges International, Regional Togetherness in Response to Ecuadorian Coup

[India (Amzi)]

The Times of India, 3Q2012 | Singh Attempts to Ride Semi-Successful Gandhi Round-up, Proposes Food Subsidy Reform
Daily News
September 13th, 2012

NEW DELHI -- Prime Minister Singh has caught a stretch of calm water in the wake of the Sonia-Rahul round-up weeks ago, but hasn't hesitated to rock the boat with bombshell legislation targeting food subsidies and direct investment. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, arguably the most influential figures in New Delhi, were dispatched to dozens of private offices in Sansad Bhavan to secure confidence in Singh from cautious INC and Trinamool MPs. The mission seems to have been rather fruitful, meaning the Gandhis succeeded in reassuring the potential defectors, and has emboldened the Prime Minister to introduce controversial legislation that he says will restore the "Hindu rate of growth" that India has sorely missed in recent months. The legislation was announced immediately after the release of the August economic growth reports, which showed another month of disappointment - the growth indicator nearly dipped below 5%, landing at 5,1%.


Emboldened, Endangered

The Waste Prevention and Reinvestment Act would make several changes to Indian law. The bill will enact Singh's proposals for significantly weakening labor laws, making it easier for private companies to sack employees and negotiate with unions. It will make proper issuance of BPL (Below Poverty Line) cards, the identification poor Indians use to access subsidized grain, sugar and kerosene, India's Unique Identification System's first priority. Between 25% and 50% of all subsidized assistance meant to India's poor is stolen every year. Also, and most controversially, India's "minimum support price" system will be entirely eliminated if the legislation passes. Under the "minimum support price" program, the Government purchases wheat and rice from farmers with the intention of artificially inflating the selling price of agricultural products, and therefore the income of the farmers. Congress argues a few wealthy farm owners in Punjab and Haryana horde the inflation with their disproportionately large surpluses, which translates into lower incomes for subsistence farmers and higher prices for consumers - India's poor.

Singh and his faithful argue the bill will ensure India's poor are receiving what they are promised and create $15 bn USD in saving that will be used for "meaningful" investment. That $15 bn USD is in addition to $25 bn USD more in investment funds that, according to Singh, will pay for themselves through the increases in government revenue through newly employed Indians in the organised economy. $5 bn USD is approporiated to"Mid-Day Meal" programs where young Indian students are provided at least one meal at school per day. $10 bn USD is given to "community irrigation" projects, such as the restoration of "natural irrigation tanks" across Southern India. $10 bn USD allotted to various infrastructure projects, including a Delhi-Patna high speed rail line and. The remaining $15 bn USD is given to an ambitious job-training program intended to provide millions of Indians access to the skills necessary to transition to industrial jobs. Sonia Gandhi commented on the legislation saying, "This is India kicking into gear when we need it most. The Waste Prevention and Reinvestment Act is an excellent pivot into the direction India needs to be going in".

While the bill has the unwavering support of Gandhi-Singh loyalists and most of the BJP, it will meet fierce resistance from the bloc built around Dinesh Trivedi, and the Third and Fourth Fronts. The proposition of the legislation means Singh is confident he has the votes he needs after the Gandhi round-up, but the opposition is turning up the rhetoric and agitates the UPA's worst fault line. "This heartless assault on India's workers and farmers who constitute the soul of this nation," warned Trivedi from a joint protest rally with Communist Party leader Basudeb Acharia,"may be the Singh administration's death knell".

The Hindu, 3Q2012 | India Joins Afghanistan, Calls for Pakistan to Honor National Integrity
Daily News
September 13th, 2012

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN -- The Islamic Republic's military assault from Peshawar into Afghanistan constitutes Pakistan's most recent violation of national integrity of the latter's. Pakistan claims the barrage was merely in retaliation for Taliban inflicted casualties on the Pakistani 7th Infantry Division. The act of aggression has been widely condemned by the international community and Afghan President Hamid Karzai entered his concerns to the United Nation.

India joined this criticism, with Foreign Minister Krishna calling for Pakistan to "honor the national integrity of their neighbor". "Yes, it is rather concerning to see how flippant Pakistan is with international law as well as common respect," continued Krishna, "I think an apology for the violations, in addition to an assurance the attacks will not happen again, is in order".


Drawing a line in the sand

The criticism of Pakistan is a continuance of the isolation they have been receiving from the rest of the world, raising serious questions in India over what kind of actions an isolated, desperate Pakistan would take. "It's an unfortunate reality," said Krishna, "but Pakistan is isolating itself with their reckless and disrespectful policies. I pray for a change in attitude or otherwise".

Other Headlines

The Statesman, 3Q2012 | Trivedi, Banerjee Vows Resistance, Resilience for Singh Legislation
The Times of India, 3Q2012 | August Another Disappointing Month for Economic Growth
The Hindu, 3Q2012 | State MEA Says Assad Proposals Constitute "Transition to Democracy"
The Statesman, 3Q2012 | Singh Takes From Farmers, Gives to Industrialists
The Times of India, 3Q2012 | Mamata Banerjee's Dangerous Hero Status

[India (Amzi)]

The Statesman, 3Q2012 | Mayawati Officially Converts to Buddhism in Bodh Gaya, Millions Intend to Emulate
Daily News
September 16th, 2012

BODH GAYA, BIHAR -- Under the sacred Bodhi Tree, Rajya Sabha member, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Dalit hero Mayawati officially converted to Theravedan Buddhism. Mayawati accepted her Precepts in a quasi-covert operation during which she joined the masses of unwitting worshippers. Spokespersons say the secrecy the conversion was carried out with was primarily for Mayawati's spiritual purposes, but also to avoid publicity in Bihar where Maoist militancy has been steadily increasing. For many years Mayawati said she may officially convert and had been actively practising Buddhist traditions with fellow Dalit MP, Kanshim Ram. "This is the culmination of a long spiritual journey," said Mayawati to reporters outside of Bodh Gaya, "This is right for me. I'm excited to finally be here".


Low hanging fruit

Mayawati's conversion will likely spur millions more in Northern and Eastern India where she is considered nearly a demi-God among the Dalit populations. "There's about 360 million people in heavily Mayawati-influenced states," says University of Lucknow political scientist Vinod Mehta, "These states are about 20-25% Scheduled Castes, the demographic that essentially worships Mayawati. That means there is about 72 million Mayawati faithful that will probably be considering Buddhist revival or conversion in the next few days and weeks. This is more than spiritual, this is even more than electoral, this is politically seismic". Immediately following the conversion, many came to the same conclusion as Mr. Mehta - the conversion is a political ploy. "There is no other reason this monumental social change would come in the midst of the Dalit Socialist stand against Prime Minister Singh and the rest of Congress," says Mehta. While the Prime Minister and Sonia Gandhi refused to comment, BJP leader Arun Jaitley didn't hesitate. "This manipulation of an honourable creed for purely political gain should bring unforgivable shame to Mayawati," said Jaitley, "unfortunately , I don't see many Dalits resisting the temptation. Mayawati, Banerjee and Trivedi are picking low hanging fruit".

Adding to the suspicion that the conversion was politically motivated was today's summit in New Delhi between Mayawati, Tribedi and Banerjee. The apparent collusion could mean a concerted effort amongst Trinamool , Bhujan Samaj and other Dalit Socialist parties to defeat Prime Minister Singh's most recent piece of legislation which would end the minimum price support program. "As the voting date is scheduled for the Waste Prevention and Reinvestment Act you can be sure Mayawati is joining Trivedi and Banjeree's efforts to round up 'nay' votes," continued Mehta, "and considering the amount of political capital they've already spent on this effort, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if this is a signal for future collusion. I would take this as a warning shot if were the Prime Minister".

Other Headlines

The Hindu, 3Q2012 | Vote Scheduled for Singh Legislation, Opposition Warns PM Not to Proceed
The Statesman, 3Q2012 | CRPF Scrambles in Preparation for Buddhist Conversions, Security Nightmares
The Times of India, 3Q2012 | Indian Rare Earths Limited Set to Open New Facilities
IBN-Politics, 3Q2012 | Rumours: Administration Considering Army Personnel Reductions
Press Release, 3Q2012 | Jaswant Singh: Chinese in Pakistani Schools a Gimmick

[India (Amzi)]

The Hindu, 3Q2012 | Controversial Food Subsidy Reform Passes
Daily News
September 22nd, 2012

NEW DELHI -- After 10 days of intense rhetorical campaigns, Prime Minister Singh has successfully pushed through the Waste Prevention and Reinvestment Act, his controversial legislation which ends the minimum price support system and dramatically weakens India's labour laws. Singh had been receiving harsh criticism from Dalit Socialist MPs, including many members of his own coalition, most notably Dinesh Trivedi. Trivedi, the leader of the All India Trinamool Congress Party, had built around him, Mamata Banerjee and Mayawati a bloc opposed to the Prime Minister's plans for economic liberalisation. The Dalit Socialist bloc made the Prime Minister's subsidy reform bill their main target launching a barn-burning, populist protest tour across Northern India. To no avail, however, as the bill passed 310-204-29. The Third and Fourth Fronts voted unanimously 'nay' and were joined by 86 UPA defectors.


Bluff called?

The political commentariat believes the Dalit Socialists' bluff has been called and that it will mean disaster for their influence. "The Prime Minister has shown that he can accomplish his economic agenda while allowing the existence of the Trivedi-bloc in his coalition," says University of Lucknow political scientist Vinod Mehta, "but the news is a lot worse for Trivedi and company. The Prime Minister and the Gandhis are going to be doing everything they can to consolidate their allies and marginalize the rebellious portions of their coalition".

Regardless of the politics, most economists agree that the legislation will boost industrial growth. "The bill," says Speaker Meira Kumar, "is the Prime Minister telling India that he does indeed have what it takes to move us into the future". The bill will, according to Congress, allow businesses to hire more robustly and will will save the state billions which is spent in the same bill on projects like local irrigation systems and infrastructure. "It's not even close to what India needs to really get back to the Hindu rate of growth," comments economist Debraj Ray, "But where it is really useful is in the political statement it makes. Singh can take care of business".

Doordarshan Television, 3Q2012 | BREAKING NEWS: Slaughter at Mass Conversion in Bihar After Naxalite Attack
Breaking News
September 23rd, 2012

"...We have some horrific news coming in from Bihar. According to local media, police sources and social media sources, there has been a significantly destructive attack on mass conversion in Bihar. Aurangabad, Bihar, about 70 km from Bodh Gyah. All of our sources seem to confirm that the attack was carried out by a currently unknown Naxalite cadre. We don't know at the moment how many were in attendance but reports suggest tens of thousands. We have yet to receive a casualty report from the Police as they are trying to get the situation under control, but images coming in show dozens injured and many presumably dead. While we file in more information we'll show you some of the images we're receiving from this horrific tragedy..."


Maoist assailants lay slain

"We have some more information on the Bihar attack now. Police are reporting quote 'very tentative" estimates of the casualties. 148 civilians dead, 342 injured. This is addition to 18 dead and 11 injured Central Reserve Police Forces as well as 24 confirmed killed Naxalites. The information on how the attack went down suggests a very coordinated effort to maximize casualties. The Naxalites allegedly initiated the attack via civilian vehicles in the midst of the conversion, targeting the CRPF personnel. In the ensuing chaos, the crowd rushed toward the one unblocked exit where a van or a truck filled with explosives detonated, inflicting most of the deaths.

While there are many questions left unanswered, this has been the most deadly Naxalite attack since 2010 when 150 were killed in a planned train derailment. The Prime Minister is reportedly preparing for a statement soon, we'll report that to you when it airs..."

Other Headlines
The Times of India, 3Q2012 | Trivedi-bloc Eerily Quiet Following Major Policy Defeat
IBN-Politics, 3Q2012 | FoPo Round-up: Singh Meets Japan PM, Tajikistan to Cooperate with India in Highway Construction, Rahul Gandhi Gains Experience, Krishna Reportedly Eager to Speak with Oman Gov.
Social Media, 3Q2012 | Maoist Insurgency Completely out of Control for GoI
The Hindu, 3Q2012 | Nuclear Stockpile Security Will Be Made Priority in Any Defence Reorganization Says Antony
INB-Politics, 3Q2012 | Ace in the Hole for Trivedi?

[India (Amzi)]

The Times of India, 4Q2012 | Trivedi, Banerjee, Mayawati Yank Support for UPA Government, Mass Defection
Daily News
September 28th, 2012

NEW DELHI -- After being hard-balled and defeated over a controversial piece of Prime Minister Singh's agenda, several minor Dalit Socialist parties have yanked their support for Singh's UPA governing coalition. Dinesh Trivedi and Mamata Banerjee's All India Trinamool Congress, the second largest party in the UPA, were joined by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and several regional parties in defecting to the Fourth Front. Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party and all members of the Fourth Front simultaneously announced their intention of ending their support for the UPA's government. In all, the UPA lost a devastating 88 MPs putting them well within range of losing a vote of confidence.


Shocked

Rumours are swirling New Delhi that Mayawati is serving as the intermediary between the newly empowered Fourth Front and the Third Front with the ultimate intention of merging the two blocs. Several meetings are scheduled between Mayawati and Trinamool leaders. Such a merger would result in 142 MPs for the bloc, only 17 less than the NDA. There are also rumours, which will very likely prove to be more than that, that the opposition is planning a vote of confidence for the UPA government. If the opposition remains united the UPA would be easily voted out of government.

"This was Trivedi's ace in the hole, apparently," commented Speaker Meira Kumar. "Trivedi and Baneree have betrayed every Indian," Kumar continued, "this abandonment leaves the door wide open to a BJP government". Trivedi, reacting to the Kumar comments, said it "is not Trinamool or her allies that have abandoned India, it was Congress who did that long ago. Today, every Indian is receiving justice". The BJP has largely sat back and watched as the government implodes. Arun Jaitley, BJP leader in the Rajya Sabha commented "I suppose today is Congress's day of reckoning for pursuing a brave and reasonable economic agenda. I would just like to thank all involved parties for the fantastic, unexpected opportunity to form a government". Neither Prime Minister Singh or Sonai Gandhi could be contacted for comment as New Delhi is in chaos. "I've never seen so much activity in Sansad Bhav," said IBN-Pol reporter Ranjan Ringwala, "the new blocs are using all of their resources to consolidate allies. The government is really up in the air right now, especially if snap elections are called which is an idea that is floating around right now". The life expectancy for the UPA government is short considering, mathematically, it no longer exists. "I would be surprised if Singh isn't VoCed in the next couple of days".

Other Headlines
IBN-Politics, 4Q2012 | Election Commission Rumoured to be Preparing for Snap Elections
The Hindu, 4Q2012 | India Inks Highway Deal With Tajikistan, Gains Access to Central Asian Mining
IBN-Politics, 4Q2012 | Poll Shows Only 34% Have Confidence in PM Singh to Handle Naxalites
The Times of India, 4Q2012 | SM Krishna Lauds "Afghanistan's Courage" in Addressing UNSC
The Hindu, 4Q2012 | MoD Announces 150k Reduction in Personnel by 2020

[India (Amzi)]

IBN-Politics, 4Q2012 | Grand Trunk Mutiny; Fourth Front Joins Third, Threatens VoC If Snap Elections Are Not Scheduled
Daily News
October 1st, 2012

NEW DELHI -- In a stunning turn of events, the Third Front has absorbed the new Fourth Front in its entirety, robbing the UPA of any commanding coalition and almost ensuring a change in government. After several parties, including Trinamool, DMK, and Bahujan Samaj, defected en masse from the ruling United Progressive Alliance 3 days ago the Fourth Front's numbers were inflated to 66 MPs. The bloc, generally representing Dalit socialism, then joined the Third Front following negotiations between Trinamool leader Dinesh Trivedi and influential Third Fronter Mayawati. The new Third Front, firmly occupying the left-wing in Indian politics, now controls 143 MPs, 11 fewer than the BJP's National Democratic Alliance. The UPA claims 227 MPs as their own, only about 41% of the body.


Grand Trunk Mutiny

Full of fresh confidence, the Third Front is now poised to force snap elections. "If Prime Minister Singh does not dissolve the 15th Sabhas and schedule new elections within 3 weeks," Mutiny leader Dinesh Trivedi said in his press conference immediately following the announcement, "the Third Front will employ our parliamentary right to remove him from government, for he will be defying the majority's right to rule". Singh, an economist, is receiving a rough lesson in the law of confidence and supply. Following the Mutiny, Singh's coalition does not possess enough MPs to govern and would be removed if the Lok Sabha is brought to a vote on the matter. "The new Third Front sees the inevitable hung parliament if all they do is VoC Singh," says IBN-Pol reporter Ranjan Ringwala, "so they're going to take their chances in an election to gain enough seats to form a government".

Politicos disagree on their chances. "The Third Front is plain and simple going to dominate the snap elections," says Lucknow University political scientist Ali Mehta. "Congress, who has failed to control the Maoist insurgency, is progressively losing support in the Grand Trunk region which just so happens to be the Third Front's base of support. Throw in the Communists' popularity in other outliers like Kerala, and the East Indian regional parties and the Third Front is set to take 225+ seats and the government. Others believe the Third Front will be routed, however. "The Indian public is sick and tired of far left parties treating this like a game," says Speaker of the Lok Sabha Meira Kumar (INC), "Indians around the nation are going to reject the mutineers for what they are - a joke". Ringwala believes that the Third Front will be squeezed out of relevance by a NDA-UPA alliance of convenience. "The fact that the Third Front is a concern to both major parties is a toe tag for them in the snap elections."

University of Mumbai historian Somalil Saleh puts the "Grand Trunk Mutiny", as it is being called, in historical perspective. "Looking back, the Grand Trunk Mutiny will represent a paradigm shift in Indian politics. For one, India is now firmly gripped by the terrors of a true multi-party democracy, escaping the decades of two-bloc domination. More significant, however, is that Congress despite its history as the party of Gandhi, is now India's resolutely centrist bloc. Nehruvian socialism left Congress with Trivedi". Despite the debate over the Mutiny's historical and parliamentary repercussions, India agrees that its political landscape will be dramatically different following the "imminent" snap elections.

It is important to note that even though many agree the snap elections are a foregone conclusion, the Prime Minister has not made a formal decision.

Other Headlines
The Hindu, 4Q2012 | ISRO Gears up for GSLV-III Launch
The Statesman, 4Q2012 | Former MoD Fernandes Says ISI Should be Considered Terrorist Organization
The Times of India, 4Q2012 | Violence Brews Amidst Rapidly Changing Social Scene in N. India
The Hindu, 4Q2012 | Reports Suggest Uptick in Industrial Hiring Following Weakening of Labor Laws

[India (Amzi)]

The Times of India, 4Q2012 | Singh Acquiesces, Schedules Snap Elections for 21 Jan 2013
Daily News
October 3rd, 2012

NEW DELHI -- Prime Minister Singh has caved to the Third Front's demands and has scheduled snap elections for the 21st of January, 2013. Singh and his ruling United Progressive Alliance were threatened with a VoC by the Third Front, who now has the numbers to oust Congress after mass defections, if elections were not called within three weeks. The writing on the wall is, apparently, clearly legible for the Prime Minister as he only used 2 days of the grace period. Singh made a short comment, saying that he is "disappointed that such treachery ever could have occurred in a coalition of his" and that he believes "the January 21st date is respectful to the job the Election Commission must perform". Most agree that nearly 4 full months is enough for the ECI to make the proper arrangements for the largest democratic exercise in human history - a feat Indian general elections claim each and every installation.


Singh sees the signs

Addressing the press as an unofficial spokesperson, Mulayam Singh Yadav, a former Chief Minister of UP and leader of the Samajwadi Party, said that his coalition is "pleased with the promptness of the Prime Minister's agreement" but expressed concern in the snap election date. "January 21st is a half a year away. That doesn't sound very 'snappy'. It sounds more like stalling than democracy". Other prominent Third Fronters also expressed disagreement with the date, saying it is far too late. Despite this, the Third Front doesn't appear set to try its luck and senior Coalition members haven't commented.

"This is strategy, plain and simple," explains Lucknow University political scientist Ali Mehta. "The Prime Minister had no choice but to give in to the Third Front's demands. Congress knows that, the Third Front knows that, the NDA knows that. If he didn't we'd be stuck with a hung parliament for 2 years. So Singh was trapped in that angle, but what he does have is time, and January 21st just so happens to be rather far away". Mehta continued, "The Third Front has only two things: lower-caste loyalty and momentum. Singh has organization and time. By scheduling elections 4 months away, Singh takes the air out of the Third Front and allows Congress to shore up it's base of support." Despite this, Mehta, like many others, thinks Congress is in for a fight. "The Third Front is a force to be reckoned with, certainly. We've always known that if lower-castes united they'd rule India perpetually. All the Third Front has to do now is convince those castes that this might be their only chance."

The Hindu, 4Q2012 | GSLV-III Successfully Makes Maiden Flight
Daily News
October 5th, 2012

SRIHARIKOTA, ANDRHA PRADESH -- Today, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mk III successfully completed its maiden flight, soaring over the Bay of Bengal and into the sky. The launch was initiated at 9:32 Indian Standard Time from the Satish Dhawan Space Center in Srikarikota, Andrha Pradesh, the usual site for such events.

GLSV-III is the Indian Space Research Organization's latest, and one of its most ambitious, projects. The launch vehicle will further emancipate ISRO from foreign programs, notably the Russians, by enabling it to launch heavy satellites into geostationary orbit. Additionally, the vehicle is almost entirely indigenous. The rocket is the technological successor of former Indian designs (GSLV Mk I, Mk II) but is not a direct physical descendant. The Mk III utilizes an Indian cryogenic engine. It would have used a Russian engine, but U.S objections based on their Missile Technology Control Regime prevented this transfer of technology.


Sriharikota, we have no problems

The Indian science community rejoiced at the launching, celebrating the milestone in Indian history ."This launch really represents sovereignty over our own future," says ISRO Administrator K. Radhakrishnan. "Now, with indigenous capability to successfully launch a very capable rocket that thousands of Indians have put their lives into, ISRO can really take off," finished Radhakrishnan with a smile and a laugh. ISRO welcomed a from the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.

Other Headlines
The Statesman, 4Q2012 | ECI Expresses "Urgent Concern" Over Potential Election Violence in Red Corridor
The Times of India, 4Q2012 | ONGC Looks to Significantly Raise Production Caps in the Next Year
The Hindu, 4Q2012 | MEA Krishna Commends UNASUR on Appropriate Response to Ecuador Coup

[India (Amzi)]

The Statesman, 4Q2012 | The Magadha Mess; Maoist Insurgency's Metamorphoses into Genuine Social Chaos
Daily News
October 10th, 2012

PATNA, BIHAR -- In 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called the Naxalites (the common slang used to describe a member of a slew of Communist organizations) "the single biggest internal security challenge ever faced by our country". That security challenge has festered for too long and has now exploded into pervasive social chaos as New Delhi struggles to maintain a grip on its North-Eastern regions. An energized Communist sentiment, emboldened by Third Front progress in New Delhi, has merged with a vigorous religious rival and centuries old caste differences. The resulting brew is a situation far beyond Prime Minister Singh's control, or anyone's for that matter. Naxalites have engaged in armed rebellion, with the intention of overthrowing the Indian government, since the early 1980s but the last several months of 2012 have seen a dramatic spike in violence. With the total death toll in the Red Corridor for the months of June, July, August, and September standing at 874, the last four months have seen more killed than the entirety of 2011. In the process of the ballooning massacre, the Naxalite groups have generally moved North to the provinces of Bihar and Jharkhand where additional factors have incubated an anarchy particularly appealing to the revolutionaries.


Upper-caste funded Salwa Judum strikes back

The groundwork for the disarray, often considered tandem to the long-festering Maoist insurgency, has been increasingly violent caste interactions. While the Maoists are, according to the Central Reserve Police Forces, are setting up increasingly extravagant base camps in the northern provinces, Hindi nationals, defensive Brahmins and brazen OBCs are turning historical divisions into a contemporary caste-war. Dalits, Adivasis and Other Backward Classes are the base of support for the Communists who, in return, have been arming, training and motivating "the forgotten" to strike back against caste and economic repression. In response, upper-castes have been preparing for a fight. Pre-emptive attacks on reportedly sympathetic Dalit villages have been common. Most concerning to state security forces, however, is the upper-caste arming and funding of Hindi ultra-nationalists militias like Salwa Judum. Salwa Judum and groups like them have a long track-record of caste violence, including brutal killings, village burnings, kidnapping and more. The conflict is palpable to the Indian public who saw the violence first hand after the Raipur murders.

The equation is only becoming more peculiar. The newest accelerant is a Dalit Buddhist revival that is spreading like wildfire. A Buddhist revival has been simmering in India since B. R. Ambedkar's mass conversions of the 1950s, and the recent installation was sparked by Dalit-hero Mayawati's conversion on September 16th. Dozens of mass conversions promptly followed and India's northern provinces were home to millions of new Buddhists within weeks. The egalitarian religion was quickly at odds with the Communists who existentially disagree with the teachings. While the large majority of Buddhists, due to doctrine, have neglected violence, the Communists struck swiftly with the horrific bombing in Bodh Gaya. Buddhists, who generally sympathize with lower-caste movements, have had trouble finding calm waters as the lower-castes are commonly employed to do the Communists' dirty work. Stuck between the Maoists, who think they shouldn't have chosen religion, and upper-castes who think they have chosen the wrong one, the Buddhists have been forced to circle their own wagons.


India's Buddhist revival is receiving a baptism by fire

The Uttar Pradeshi government's alliance with Muslim constituencies and surprisingly aggressive propaganda scheme has largely secured their borders, but the good news ends there. What little industry was developing prior to the new fire-storm has stagnated in Bihar and Jharkhand, leaving thousands of Indians economically desperate. Ethnic violence from the Chicken Neck constantly threatens to spill over westward. The Maoists are liaising with Kashmiri terrorist groups and are likely receiving support from the Pakistani ISI and perhaps Chinese ideologues. With apparently little will from New Delhi to take decisive action, the Magadha Mess appears far from resolution.

Other Headlines
The Hindu, 4Q2012 | Singh Signals Support for Future Sovereign Wealth Fund
The Statesman, 4Q2012 | Brahmin Controlled Mainstream Media Ignores Magadha Mess
The Times of India, 4Q2012 | Political Scene in New Delhi Losing Business Confidence in India?
The Hindu, 4Q2012 | Singh Reports Successful Meeting With Japan, PM Noda to be Chief Guest at 2013 Republic Day Parade

[India (Amzi)]

((Back-RP. If I could've done this in real-time I would've offered more analysis and intrigue, but there's not much point now. ))

IBN-Politics, 1Q2013 | Snap Elections Held; Lok Split, Coalitions Into Negotiations
Daily News
January 22nd, 2013

Coalition Breakdown
United Progressive Alliance - 189 (-73)
National Democratic Alliance - 176 (+17)
Third Front - 160 (+81)
Other Parties and Independents - 18 (+2)

NEW DELHI -- The snap elections forced by an insurgent coalition of Dalit socialists fourth months ago have been held and the only thing clear is that there will not be a clear government. The Third Front, while making a significant push, was not able to fully capitalize on its moment while Congress has held its ground. The BJP, likewise, made limited gains. What remains is a parliament that, without action, will be hung. On the trail, Congress put most of its effort into holding traditional strongholds, particualrly in Andrha Pradesh and Rajasthan, which they did successfully. Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were stumping and negotiating with allied regional parties throughout while Prime Minister Singh mostly removed himself from the fight. His decision to postpone snaps for four months, however, appear to have given Congress the time it needed to kick its political machinery into gear.


Still relevant

The BJP, likewise, made several alliances with regional and ethnic parties but found the most success in returning to its traditional nationalist pitch to the Hindu middle class. Immediately following the announcement of snap elections, President of the BJP Nitin Gadkari was sacked in favor of Arun Jaitley. Gadkari had been accused of taking the BJP away from its traditional stances, including newly tempered positions on the Ram Temple, a common civil code and minority involvement. Jaitley, who was intimately involved in the early-200s BJP government and the exoneration of Narendra Modi in the wake of the Gujurat riots, represented a staunch reversal of policy - back to those reminiscent of L.K Advani, who was heavily involved in campaigning. Ratcheting up the rhetoric on the Ram Temple, terrorism, minority rights and Hindu pride, the BJP replenished their lost support amongst the Hindu middle class. The support of wildly popular "Hindu evangelists" such as Sri Sri Ravi Shankar added momentum, as well.

While the Third Front was blessed with unprecedented momentum going in to the elections, they categorically failed on message. In the tradition of lower-caste parties, the Third Front entirely lacked an economic platform, with the exception of the CPI (M). Caste-based politics dominated their events who were often led by lower-caste ideologues Lalu Prasad, Mamata Banerjee, Mayawati, Dinesh Trivedi and Mulayam Singh Yadav. Message was entirely founded on lower-caste patronage and anti-Brahmin rhetoric. This, expectedly, proved successful in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, but could not translate well to votes beyond those borders. The momentum was not wholly waste, obviously, as the Third Front still increased its seat share in the Lok by over 100%.

The coalitions promptly went into negotiations following the elections. "I'm glad forming a government is a priority," says Speaker Meira Kumar, "it's a pleasant surprise actually. I would have guessed the Third Front would have remained and insurgency." Analysts agree, saying the apparent willingness to negotiate is a sign that none of the coalitions want to live with a hung parliament for the next five years. However, few are making bets. "It's really all up in the air," says IBN-Pol contributor and Lucknow-U professor Ali Mehta. "I'd be surprised if the Third Front, after their taking an adversarial stance to the establishment, is willing to form a coalition. But I would be equally surprised if any of these coalitions would be content with a parliament split into near equal thirds."

Other Headlines, 1Q2013
The Hindu, 1Q2013 | Investors, Businesses Fear Third Front Government
The Times of India, 1Q2013 | Strengthened Euro Helps Stave Off Wild Rupee Inflation
The Hindu, 1Q2013 | MEA Expresses Tepid Support for EU-Palestine Position
The Statesman, 1Q2013 | Varun Gandhi Promises "Swift Justice" in Red Corridor if BJP Assumes Power
The Hindu, 1Q2013 | Rahul Gandhi to Take Senior Role in Prospective INC-Government

[India (Amzi)]

((Another back-RP. Again, I'd have provided more intrigue but as time continues to slip away I want to resolve this quickly.))

The Times of India, 1Q2013 | UPA, NDA Form Grand Coalition; Rahul PM, Cabinet Carved Up
Daily News
January 24th, 2013

NEW DELHI -- Following two days of intense negotiations, the United Progressive Alliance and the National Democratic Alliance have announced their formation of a grand coalition. The union of the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party, India's two largest parties who have engaged in an intense rivalry since the 1990s, will give the grand coalition control over 365 seats in the Lok Sabha - a commanding 67% majority. The deal will also unquestionably leave the Third Front out of any decision making in New Delhi - a parliamentary cordon sanitaire. Reporters and political insiders say the deal is the result of serious concessions from both sides. The two parties have, reportedly, come to a consensus plan of general economic liberalisation. However, the BJP will allegedly be dropping rhetoric on the Ram temple and a uniform civil code as well as make efforts to increase inclusion of minorities. Congress, in return, will properly revise their membership rolls, which are commonly accused of being artificially inflated, and take more aggressive action on the social upheaval in Eastern India.


His father's son

Most notable, however, is the division of the Union Cabinet. Rahul Gandhi, the 43 year old son of Rajiv and Sonia Gandhi and flag-bearer of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, will take the helm as Prime Minister. The choice is seen by insiders as a choice both parties can live with. Rahul, often considered very much his father's son, is known for his gentle courtesy, measured opinions and wit, although he is also considered quite inexperienced. While previously critical of the Hindu extremism practised by some of the BJP's most polarizing figures, "Rahul's known level-headedness and respectable reputation will be critical in keeping the peace in what will, undoubtedly, be a very tense marriage between Congress and the BJP," says IBN-Pol contributor Ali Mehta. "Rahul, if he stays above the fray, will likely have a stressful tenure as marriage counsellor of the Union".

The composition of the rest of Cabinet, however, is less unanimous. Gandhi is joined by what reads like a who's-who of influential Indian politicians and is, clearly, a patch-work resulting from mutually conciliatory negotiations. Right-wing firecracker and cousin of Rahul, Varun Gandhi (BJP) , will be included in the government as Deputy Prime Minister - the first to man the position since L.K Advani. Varun, also considered to be his father's son (Sanjay, the fist of Indira) will give the BJP influence in executive decisions and add a mercurial family dynamic to the Prime Minister's office. Former Prime Minister Singh (INC) will be returning to Finance, a move critical to consolidating the two parties shared interest in economic liberalisation, as well as heading a grab-bag of other economic ministries. Seasoned veteran Jaswant Singh (BJP) will head the Ministry of External Affairs, returning to the position he held from 1998-2002. Controversially, BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who was intimately involved in the 2002 Gujurat violence, will be Minister of Home. Also inflammatory, Narendra Modi (BJP) will be Minister of Defence after being elected to the Rajya Sabha only two days ago. Sonia Gandhi (INC), Rahul's mother, will be included as Minister of Parliamentary Affairs. Another Gandhi, Rahul's aunt, Maneka (BJP) will be heading New and Renewable Energy - likely an attempt to bring the estranged widow of Sanjay back into the family fold.


The king of saffron, quite pleased

"Congress, obviously, was willing to make serious concessions to hold on to power," continued Mehta. "Singh and the Gandhis were ready to give control, essentially, of India's internal and external security matters to the BJP in return for the Prime Ministership and dominance on economic and social matters. The inclusion of Modi and Jaitley, two highly inflammatory figures and outspoken Hindu nationalists, shows the lengths Congress was willing to go to keep the government". The concessions were mutual however, signalling a shared interest in keeping the Third Front out of the government. "The BJP and INC share a lust for keeping the Third Front in a cordon sanitaire, so while party insiders on both sides might be moaning over the controversial deal, I know they are all happy, at the end of the day, that the Third Front is safely quarantined".

Despite the shared motivation, the government will likely be a tense one, IBN-Pol reporter Ranjan Ringwala says. "The two might share a general agreement, which I think it vastly overstated, on where the economy should be going, but that's basically where cooperation ends. Congress and the BJP have fundamentally different visions for India. The deal may be good for Indian business and is beneficial in that the Third Front is retained to Uttar Pradesh, but I can't possibly imagine much harmony. The tense family dynamics only adds to the discord in New Delhi that I think we will be accustomed to within a few weeks. If out of the fire-storm can come a coherant government, is the real question".

Notable Union Cabinet Members
Prime Minister - Rahul Gandhi (INC)
Deputy Prime Minister - Varun Gandhi (BJP)
Minister of Finance, Commerce and Industry, Atomic Energy, Corporate Affairs, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises - Manmohan Singh (INC)
Minister of Defense - Narendra Modi (BJP)
Minister of Home - Arun Jaitley (BJP)
Minister of External Affairs - Jaswant Singh (BJP)
Minister of Parliamentary Affairs - Sonia Gandhi (INC)
Minister of Law and Justice, Rural Development, Urban Development - Nitin Gadkari (BJP)
Minister of Minority Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment - Omar Abdullah (JKNC)
Minister of New and Renewable Energy - Maneka Gandhi (BJP)
Cabinet Secretary - A.K Antony

Other Headlines
The Times of India, 1Q2013 | Investors, Businesses Confused On Grand Coalition
The Hindu, 1Q2013 | Farkhor Air Base Under Review Following Highway Deal Fallout
The Statesman, 1Q2013 | Communists Fear BJP Home, Defense Ministries
The Hindu, 1Q2013 | New Indian Leadership to Meet New Chinese Leadership
IBN-Pol, 1Q2013 | Raj Thackery Leaves MNS For BJP Presidency

[India (Amzi)]

The Times of India, 1Q2013 | Coalition Acts Swiftly, Aggressively to Extinguish Investor Anxiety
Daily News
February 8th, 2013

With a government comprised of two historically diametric political parties, much was left up in the air for the Indian, and international, business communities. A muted panic spread amongst potential investors and those already established in India spurred by confusion over what to expect; will Singh's dreams of an 'unleashed tiger' prevail, or Nehru's of swadeshi (self-sufficiency)? Despite claims of a consensus on the economic future of India, investors and businesses remained suspicious regarding the existence of an coherent economic plan until the Sabhas acted decisively today. President Mukherjee assented to two bills following their passage through the Lok and Raj Sabhas. The first, L.S.B. 3, will allow foreign multi-brand retailers to wholly own stores in India, essentially removing all ownership restrictions on foreign retailing. L.S.B. 4, the other, will establish a system for funding and operating SIBs - social impact bonds - a investment cooperation between the government and private organizations.


Greetings, Wal-Mart

Opening India entirely to foreign investment in retail has been as viciously resisted as it has advocated. Protests, often organized by the BJP's civic partner the RSS, have been common and enthusiastic in rural India with demonstrators' signs reading, "Killing mom and pop" and "Go back Wal-Mart". The BJP, while traditionally centre-right, has likewise been traditionally opposed to foreign "meddling" in the Indian economy. Championing the established ideology of "swadeshi", or "self-sufficiency", the BJP has always been a nuisance to foreign investors; In the early 2000s, the BJP government of New Delhi ejected the only KFC from the city for finding a fly in the facility. The hygiene of New Delhi restaurants considered, the international business community has long known the BJP is not particularly hospitable to their investment. With only a handful of BJP MPs voting in the negative on the reform, however, it appears that the BJP has abandoned "swadeshi" and the two ruling parties have genuinely come to a consensus on the Indian economy.

The less controversial SIBs, or social impact bonds, also show a coming together on economic issues. SIBs are new and inexperienced financial tool geared for maximizing efficiency in public investment. The government will set aside a principal for a private firm, the size depending on the goal. A private company will loan the principal from the government with the terms such as objective, ethics and return clearly outlined; the company will use the loan to attempt to complete the objective. Quite simply, if the objective is met under the agreed upon terms, the company will be paid the agreed upon return by the government. If the objective is not met, no returns will be paid out. Importantly, Finance Minister Singh says that "not only will foreign investment in the SIBs be allowed, it will be encouraged". Singh says that the free-market cooperation between foreign firms and the Indian government with the goal of helping India is the best way to earn allies and promote mutual understanding. Since the bonds are still somewhat experimental, the government will only be issuing one - a nationwide, multi-billion dollar contract for increasing female enrollment rates for all ages - but Minister Singh has expressed his eagerness to expand them in the near future.

The two reforms, particularly the retail reform, will provide a jolt to the sluggish economy but they are most valuable in showing that India will be hospitable to every business community. The cooperation of Congress and the BJP has restored the business community's confidence in India beyond even the waning days of the Singh administration. "I'm excited about the Coalition's cooperation, but even more excited about what this means for Indians all across the nation," commented Prime Minister Gandhi. "From the rice farmer in Bihar to the upstart business owner in Mumbai," the Prime Minister continued, "the Coalition is lifting India up".

Other Headlines
The Times of India, 2Q2014 | Varun Asks Rahul for Sovereign Wealth Fund
The Hindu, 2Q2014 | Gandhi Rumoured to Have Accepted Mauritius Offer of Agalega Islands
The Statesman, 2Q2014 | Red Corridor in Jaitley's, Modi's Sights
The Hindu, 2Q2014 | MEA Singh: Arab League Resisting NATO "Bullying"
The Times of India, 2Q2014 | Parliament to Consider Jan Lokpal Bill

[India (Amzi)]

The Statesman, 2Q2013 | Parliament Passes Jan Lokpal Bill
Daily News
June 17th, 2013

NEW DELHI -- Parliament, with the support of the Grand Coalition and opposition of the Third Front, has passed a Jan Lokpal Bill after years of public urging. The Jan Lokpal Bill has been one of the most hotly debated items in Indian political culture. Spearheaded by anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare and his followers, the Jan Lokpal Bill endeavours to create an independent body that would investigate charges of corruption against public servants in an attempt to reduce the graft, extortion and dishonesty that rages rampantly across India. A national version of state Lokayuktas with extensive prosecution power will be created. The passed bill is an updated and compromised version of several other similar bills that have been presented before Parliament.


Victory, at last for Anna Hazare

The government had been in a gridlock with anti-corruption activists who demanded more aggressive powers for the Lokpal, but has pulled out a compromise bill, allegedly with former Defence Minister A.K Antony and Sonia Gandhi at the helm of negotiations. The passed bill contains wider investigatory powers, such as the jurisdiction over the Prime Minsiter and MP conduct, as well as whistleblower protections and can directly impose penalties instead of merely referring matters to courts. However, the Central Bureau of Investigation will be kept separate from the Lokpal, contrary to the activists' demands. Sonia Gandhi said she feared, "witch hunts for public servants by untrustworthy interests for the sake of extortion of the public integrity."

"The Lokpal bill is initially going to be a drain on the public coffers," says University of Mumbai public administration professor Vijay Khole, "but it will pay off sooner rather than later. Funds will be going to the projects they were actually appropriated to and, with the new confidence of redress, ordinary citizens will be more inclined to report inefficiencies. It will also, eventually, likely make India more business friendly as investors have the comfort of aggressive watch-dogs." Lucknow political scientist believes the passage will have an interesting affect on India's political landscape. "The Grand Coalition categorically robbed the Third Front of everything they're worth - patronage. Without the ability to reward political loyalty, lower-caste parties are either going to have to adapt or die. The inverse could be true, also. Lower-caste citizens of Northwest India, who solely aspire to accomplish a lucrative government post, may not react gracefully to having their dreams dashed away."

Other Headlines
The Times of India, 3Q2013 | Government Laying Groundwork for Sovereign Wealth Fund
The Hindu, 3Q2013 | Polls Show Record High Confidence in India's Economic Administration
The Statesman, 3Q2013 | Communist Influence in Red Corridor Wilts Under Intense BJP Pressure
The Times of India, 3Q2013 | India to Construct Military Base, Expand Commercial Interests in Mauritius

[India (Amzi)]

The Times of India, 4Q2013 | India Establishes $15bn Sovereign Wealth Fund
Daily News
September 27th, 2013

NEW DELHI -- After 8 months of insistence by Deputy Prime Minister Varun Gandhi, Prime Minister Rahul Gandhi and Finance Minister Singh finally acquiesced to his plea for an Indian sovereign wealth fund. Varun has, reportedly, been asking for a sovereign wealth fund since the formation of the Grand Coalition with the intention of expanding Indian influence around the globe without making heavy investments in things like naval bases and foreign aid. The 15bn Indian International Investment Portfolio, a state-owned international investment fund fed by India's foreign exchange reserves, will be primarily used to bankroll the nation's growing overseas energy needs.


Getting hands-off

The idea has been floating around New Delhi for years but has been hampered by concerns over insufficient funding and a worsening of the Rupee's fluctuating value which a strong foreign exchange reserve helps stabilize. The solidification of a coherent plan for the European crisis and China's guarantee of that plan has slowed the growth of the value of the Dollar against the strengthening Euro, which in turn stabilize the value of the Rupee. Varun, apparently, removed the other concern by convincing Minister Singh of the $15bn amount - less than 3.5% of India's forex reserves - and Rahul could find little to object to. Inspired by the SWFs of nations like China, Kuwait, and Hong Kong, the IIIP will invest heavily in India's resource interests in Southeast Asia, East Africa and West Asia. Analysts have determined petroleum, natural gas, and rare earth elements to be areas of particular interest.

"The IIIP will enable India to expand its influence around the Indian Ocean without material, tangible investment - soft power - freeing up resources and political capital," says Mumbai economist A.R Kodnani, "It's the next logical step to widening India's aura in this hemisphere". Lucknow University political science professor Ali Mehta suggests the announcement is less economic and more geopolitical. "It's no coincidence the IIIP is right on the heels of the revelation that China is building four military bases west of India. It's a direct threat to Indian regional influence and New Delhi has decided to respond with adaptation". Minister Singh hinted at nothing of the sort saying, "The Indian International Investment Portfolio will be a valuable tool for India to secure the resources she needs to grow and to support her friends across the globe, goals which she no longer needs to her hands dirty to accomplish".

Other Headlines
The Hindu, 4Q2013 | Rumours of Indian Naval Bases in Oman, Vietnam, Philippines, Swirl
The Times of India, 4Q2013 | 2014 Budget Will Contain "Tens of Billions" Allotted to SIBs Says Singh
The Statesman, 4Q2013 | Home Ministry Accused of Arming, Training Hindu-Nationalist Militias in Red Corridor
The Hindu, 4Q2013 | Confidence in Economy Remains Strong As Reforms Bear Fruits
The Statesman, 4Q2013 | Bal Jarang Rumoured to be in Possession of Election Rolls, CBI Investigation Commissioned