MICHAEL-

I strongly believe only a strong Congress led government in India can preserve the secular identity on the global spectrum of democratic freedom.
The recent atrocities meted out to the Christians in various parts of the country especially in Orissa and Karnataka clearly shows light to the hidden agenda of the B.J.P who covets power in the next coming parliamentary election. Most disturbing fact is that these blatant attack have taken place in two of the B.J.P led states.

Anti Christian agenda of radical Hindu organizations has exposed the double standards of BJP which on one hand is lending not so hidden support to the Bajrang Dal’s and other radical Hindu organizations who’s brutal attack on Christians across several states display terror tactics to spread their message of hard core Hindutva and on the other hand Mr. L. K. Advani is condemning these terror tactics as “a shameful crime against humanity”.

I strongly feel that all the violence in Orissa and Karnataka is very important part of hidden agenda of BJP to spread communalism in society’s nooks and corners, come to power in the states, and, under the government’s protection go all out to wreak on the social fabric, an unambiguous, aggressive communal divide. Organizations like the RSS, VHP and the Bajrang Dal, are front line militant wing of BJP through them BJP unleash vicious and often wild propaganda against the minorities and organize riots, kill people and demolish properties.

The perpetrators move with the confidence that when the state acts it will be on their behalf. The law of the land is the last concern on their minds. I strongly feel that instead of issuing a statement now, Mr. Advani should have used his influence to prevent such “a shameful crime against humanity”.

It is the responsibility of the media to unmask BJP’s hidden agenda to protect India from the vicious cycle of majority state backed terrorism and marginalized minority terrorism which has already been started and being fueled by communal BJP parivar’s stridency.
Let’s only pray together that the faithful is fenced around by the guardian angels of Almighty God!
Michael

Bharatiya Janata Party’s opposition to the Indo-US nuclear deal has been and is still a mystery. The initiative for civil nuclear cooperation with the US was started by the BJP and the current deal is only an extension of that initiative.
The BJP’s opposition appears to be motivated more by the fact that the deal was completed by the Congress rather than any serious objections to the deal itself. If the BJP is a party with a difference, this is the time to prove it by looking at the deal in a larger framework of the national interest rather than by trying to score political debating points.

The BJP initially tried hard to nitpick on the details of the deal, but has recently focused on the right to test as the key issue, arguing that the deal would prevent India from conducting future tests. This is a false claim: nothing in the deal says that India cannot test.

There may be consequences if India tests, but even this has been minimized because under the conditions of the deal, the US will have to take into consideration whether India was forced to test because of circumstances such as nuclear tests by India’s neighbors. Moreover, if India conducts a test, it will have to face some international opposition irrespective of the signing the deal or not.

It should also be noted that the vast majority of the BJP’s constituency comes from the middle class, much of which supports the deal. The Left’s opposition to the deal may help it to solidify its base, but the BJP’s position is actually driving a wedge between the party and its core support base. Repeated statements from the BJP leaders that they have no objections to closer Indo-US ties only makes their position on the nuclear deal more confusing to their supporters.

Even Brajesh Mishra, the National Security Advisor of the Vajpayee government, and someone, who initially opposed the deal, has now endorsed it. But the BJP refuses to, arguing that while an individual could change positions on policy issues, a political party cannot.

This is stubbornness, not consistency. If it is truly a party with a difference, the BJP can start by proving it by changing their position on the nuclear deal.

Businesses all over the world have seen the benefits of outsourcing. They have now realized that outsourcing is not just an option for survival but a tool that when used properly, will greatly benefit their businesses. And with India showing much talent and skills, it has become the favorite place of these businesses as an outsourcing destination.

India’s Outsourcing Revenue
India has revenues of US$10.9 billion from offshore outsourcing and US$30 billion from IT and total outsourcing (expected in FY 2008). India thus has some 5-6% share of the total Outsourcing Industry, but a commanding 63% share of the offshore component.
Why India?
Productivity and growth can somewhat be called the teaser benefits of outsourcing and the country at the number one spot that provides these two is India. All over the United States and the United Kingdom, India is the preferred destination for outsourcing assignments. In recent researches, forty four percent of the world’s offshore outsourcing back office and software services are in India. It has also been noted that as many as 400 of the Fortune 500 companies have their own branches in India or are outsourcing to India utilizing Indian technology companies.

What makes India such a hot spot for outsourcing jobs?

1. Skilled Labor – India has a myriad of skilled people that are very available in the country. The highly skilled work force in India provides not only high quality service but also other added services that are very valuable. An added advantage, which puts India on top of the list, is the ability of the people to speak in English. It boasts of being the 2nd largest nation to have the most number of English speaking citizens thus companies based in the United States or the United Kingdom opt for outsourcing in India.

2. Huge Labor Force – Because of this vast number, India can afford to trim down the cost of services without having to cut down on quality. Just by looking at the list of companies that have back office operations in India one will truly understand and believe this. Airlines such as Lufthansa and British Airways outsource their ticket reservation in India. HSBC and GE outsource accounting in India. Dell and Microsoft outsource research work in India. Standard Chartered has its full back office operations for its global business in India.

3. Government Support – Another reason why India is an outsourcing hot spot is because of its government policies. Because of the support it gives to the outsourcing industry in the country, the government and its policies have ensured the growth of outsourcing in India. As of today, its value as an outsourcing destination has reached high status.

4. Stable Democracy – The stable democracy that India has been experiencing for the last six decades gives India an advantage in the outsourcing industry. The country’s GDP rate of 9.2 percent, ever improving infrastructure and its status as a country that provides high quality of service, and rapidly developing technology makes it a hot spot destination for outsourcing.

5. Global Recognitions – Five Indian cities are among the top 10 global emerging outsourcing destinations with Chennai topping the list. Among the top 10 cities, Hyderabad is ranked at the second position followed by Pune (3rd), Kolkata (5th) and Chandigarh (9th).~~~~~

Tinto Michael

Over 10 lakh tonnes of foodgrains worth several hundred crores of rupees, which could have fed over one crore hungry people for a year, were damaged in Food Corporation of India (FCI) godowns during the last one decade.
The damages were suffered despite the FCI spending Rs 242 crore while trying to prevent any loss of foodgrains during storage. Ironically another 2.59 crore was spent just to dispose off the rotten foodgrains.
These startling facts came in reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by a Delhi resident. FCI informed that 10 lakh tonnes of foodgrain was damaged in the godowns of government owned agency, which is responsible for procurement and distribution of foodgrains across the country.
The FCI informed that 1.83 lakh tonnes of wheat, 3.95 lakh tonnes of rice, 22 thousand tonnes of paddy and 110 tonnes of maize were damaged between 1997 to 2007.
The FCI said in the northern region — UP, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi — the damage incurred was seven lakh tonnes and the PSU spent Rs 87.15 crore to prevent the loss besides spending over Rs 60 lakh to dispose off the damaged foodgrain.
Keeping in view the amount of money spent by the FCI for preservation of foodgrains in its godown, the quantum of damage is huge. Is it not a national shame?” the RTI applicant Dev Ashish Bhattacharya said.
Similarly in eastern India — Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal — the damage incurred was 1.5 tonnes of food grains while the FCI spent Rs 122 crore to prevent it from rotting. But the damaged lot was disposed off after spending another Rs 1.65 crore.
In southern region — Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala– the damage incurred was 43,069.023 tonnes despite spending Rs 25 crore. This damaged foodgrain was disposed off after spending another Rs 34,867.
While damage in Maharashtra and Gujarat mounted to 73,814 tonnes, the FCI spent Rs 2.78 crore to prevent the loss. However, this lot was also disposed off later at a cost of Rs 24 lakh.
In Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, the damage incurred was 23,323.57 tonnes of food grains and the amount spent to stop the damage was Rs 5.5 crore.
The story was no different from other go-downs as the FCI spent Rs 10.64 lakh for disposing damaged food grains.
“The data given by FCI seems manipulated. In case of Jharkhand, the food grain damage is 3,699 tonnes which is comparatively low than other states. But the money spent to dispose off the damage is Rs 1.4 crore, which is high when compared to the other states,” Sources say.