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January 17, 2012

Indian-origin American Sikh elected Mayor of historic American city

WASHINGTON: Satyendra Singh Huja, a Sikh American, has been unanimously elected as the mayor of Charlottesville, a historic city in Virginia. 

Huja, who originally comes from Nainital in Uttarakhand, was elected Mayor of Charlottesville early this month. 

Incidentally, Huja is the only Sikh resident of Charlottesville, nearly 120 miles south west of Washington, having a population of 43,000. 

The other Sikhs in this city are students of the Virginia University. 

Notably, Charlottesville is home to three American Presidents - Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe. 

"It says a great deal about our community that someone like me can become mayor. Our community appreciates diversity," Huja was quoted as saying by the local The Daily Progress.

"As the mayor, I will work with City Council for a future agenda for the community," said Huja who has been elected for the two-year term. 

"I will listen to the desires and concerns of the citizens, residents and businesses. I'm accessible 24/7 to hear your concerns and ideas. As mayor, I will work my very best to protect the interests of our community. I will work to enhance the quality of life and the environment, so that Charlottesville can be a great city, a great community for all of its residents," he said. 

According to his campaign website, Huja came to the US in 1960 and has been a resident of this city for the past 38 years. He was city's director of planning and strategic from 1973 to 2004. 

In 2007, he was elected as the City Council member. Huja, who holds Masters in Urban Planning, also teaches at the University of Virginia.

India opens consulate in Atlanta for Southeast

ATLANTA: The government of India has opened a new consulate to serve the Southeast. 

Georgia governor Nathan Deal and Consul General of India in Atlanta Ajit Kumar Dec 29 announced the consulate's opening. 

In addition to Georgia, the office will serve the states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina and Tennessee, as well as the US Virgin Islands and the US commonwealth of Puerto Rico

Kumar previously served as the Indian consul general in Frankfurt, Germany, and Durban, South Africa, and as ambassador of India to theRepublic of Zimbabwe. In Atlanta, he will lead a team of 20 full-time employees. 

The consulate will serve the approximately 100,000 Indian Americans living in Georgia and roughly 290,000 across the Southeast with services such as visas, passports and other documents. 

It also will help facilitate Georgia's surging business with India. 

Figures from the Georgia Department of Economic Development show that the state exported $562 million worth of goods to India in 2010. That was a 35% increase over 2009. 

Georgia is the 10th largest exporter to India among US states. 

"This marks a significant milestone in Georgia's international evolution," said Deal on making the announcement. "The Consulate General is the crowning symbol of the dynamic business and cultural connections India shares with our region and state." 

The governor added, "This is a proud day for the State of Georgia, whose longtime efforts to locate an Indian Consulate General for the Southeastern United States in Atlanta culminated in the Indian government's 2008 announcement of its intentions." 

"Despite the worldwide economic crisis," he said, "all parties have pressed forward vigorously to realize this purpose. The Indian Consulate is a vital addition to Atlanta's consular corps and community of trade commissions and bi-national chambers of commerce, which already represents more than 70 other countries and is a key component of Georgia's diversity and international success." 

Savvy NRIs lap up India Inc’s dollar bonds from existing FIIs

MUMBAI: Dollar-denominated bonds of Indian companies are gaining popularity among wealthy non-resident Indians (NRIs) and savvy local investors. These individuals are mopping up such bonds, which are being dumped by foreign investors amid worries that Indian companies could default on their debt repayments in the wake of the slowdown in the domestic economy and squeeze in corporate profits.

Wealth managers said confidence in debt of Indian companies is so low that foreign investors are dumping their bonds at 40% to 60% discount to their original prices. Bank bonds, which bear coupon rates in the range of 4-5%, are trading at 6-6.5% levels in overseas markets. Dollar bonds issued by corporates are currently yielding 7-7.5%.

Indian companies are considered risky overseas because of their lower credit rating, which is driven by the nation's sovereign rating of 'BBB minus'.

"There are worries of debt repayment defaults; also there is a feeling that Indian companies will not do well over the next few quarters. This has resulted in foreign banks and institutions reducing exposure to Indian debt," said Nitin Jain, head - capital markets, Edelweiss Capital Markets.

NRIs and the informed domestic investors are seeing opportunities in such fire sales. They are looking out for papers, especially, foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCBs) that are up for redemption this year. Yields on many such bonds are trading at almost 9% overseas, with those issued by blue-chip companies like Tata SteelReliance Industries and Bharti Airtel at 8.5-9%. Such investments make sense for NRIs because dollar deposits fetch them just 1% to 1.25%.

Much more than returns, dollar bonds eliminate currency risk for NRIs, said Raghvendra Nath, managing director of Ladderup Wealth Management.

"In these times of currency volatility, there's huge risk involved in bringing money to India and investing them in local assets. There's greater comfort for NRIs to invest in dollar bonds and earn higher yields on them," Nath said. These bonds could fetch these NRIs between 5% and 7%, said wealth managers.

For wealthy local investors, such investments are attempts to diversify their portfolio. Most of them are using the Reserve Bank's liberalised remittances scheme route - which allows individuals to invest up to $2,00,000 in foreign assets every year - to invest in these bonds.

"HNIs (high net worth investors) are investing in dollar-denominated bonds to diversify their portfolio. This strategy allows investors to have exposure to a different currency other than the rupee," said Prateek Pant, head of wealth solutions at RBS. "Several FCCBs are currently trading at a significant discount to their issue price. NRIs are cherry picking the well-known names as value buys," Pant said.

Edelweiss's Jain said rich investors invest in dollar bonds to pocket the additional 'carry' value on rupee. "They are hedging the rupee ( futures) before investing in these bonds. They earn an additional 5-6% carry value on rupee along with 6-7% yields on bonds," Jain said.

Muhammad Ali: 'The Greatest' at 70


There are not many sportsmen who can call themselves 'The Greatest' and not be greeted with ridicule -- former world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali is one of the few who can lay claim to such unrivaled supremacy.
The Kentucky native turned 70 Tuesday, prompting people from across the world to pay tribute to a former boxer who has shown his fighting spirit both inside and outside the ring during an extraordinary life.
"Everything that Ali has done and stood for, you can only aspire to be like him," Tris Dixon, editor of Boxing News, told CNN. "He was the king in the biggest and best era of heavyweight champions."
Ali rose to prominence at the 1960 Olympics in Rome, where he won a gold medal in the light heavyweight division fighting under his birth name of Cassius Clay.
Muhammad Ali turns 70
After converting to Islam in 1964 Clay was renamed Muhammad Ali and went on to participate in some of the most memorable contests in the history of sport.
Ali's boxing career is perhaps best remembered for two of his most famous fights against two of his fiercest rivals.
In Zaire in October 1974, Ali upset the odds to reclaim the WBA and WBC world heavyweight titles against George Foreman in a bout dubbed the 'Rumble in the Jungle.'
A year later, Ali squared off against the late Joe Frazier for the third time in his career.
The fight in the Philippines, known as the 'Thrilla in Manilla', lasted 14 devastating rounds, with Ali taking glory when Frazier was unable to make the bell at the start of the 15th.
But, for Dixon, it was a third-round knockout of Cleveland Williams in a 1966 fight for the world heavyweight title which best displayed Ali's boxing talents.
Everything that Ali has done and stood for, you can only aspire to be like him
Tris Dixon
"Against Cleveland Williams, that was Ali at his best," he explained. "It was utter poetry. It was just immense ... it was punch perfect against a world class opponent."
Ali eventually retired in 1981 with a record of 56 wins, 37 by knockout, and five losses in 61 bouts.
He began an altogether different fight in 1984, when he was diagnosed with neurological disorder Parkinson's syndrome.
In 1996, at the age of 54, Ali provided one of the iconic images of the Atlanta Olympics when he lit the torch to declare the Games open.
Ali also received a replacement gold medal for the one he had won 36 years earlier, having thrown the original into the Ohio River after being refused entry to a restaurant.
Despite his advancing years, Dixon claimed the legacy of Ali is still as strong and relevant as it has ever been.
"There will never be anyone like Ali," he said. "There will be people like Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan who reflect their times, but there will never be someone who means as much to the world and the cultural landscape as much as Ali did."

BJP reversed clock on development in state: Sonia

Roorkee, January 17
Congress president Sonia Gandhi today criticised the BJP government in Uttarakhand on the issues of corruption, ill-governance and alleged cheating of people of the state in the name of development.
Sonia, while addressing her maiden election rally at Roorkee in Haridwar district, assailed the BJP government for allegedly reversing the clock on development in the state and siphoning off public money.
In her 20-minute address, Sonia said the BJP government had only exploited the natural resources of the state in the name of development by handing them over to private parties and ministers pocketing money.
“Uttarakhand is a land of abundant natural bounty and resources, but instead of conserving them and using them for people’s welfare, the BJP government has been misusing them,” said Sonia.
The Congress president criticised the state government for having two chief ministers in five years. She said, “It was a move to befool the people. But the BJP leaders don’t know that the public understands that by changing the Chief Minister the party cannot hide its corrupt practices and nefarious designs.”
She reminded the people of the previous Congress government in the state and urged them to vote for the party candidates to ensure unhindered and corruption-free development.
Sonia said be it IIM, Kashipur, AIIMS, Rishikesh, NIIT, Pauri Garhwal, or employment to rural people under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA), the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre had been instrumental behind all these.
“Development means providing employment, improving the living standard of the people and working for all sections of society. The BJP has failed on all these counts and this is what we (Congress) promise to do,” she added. Sonia looked content with the 20,000-plus gathering and termed Roorkee as a prominent city of the country while referring to the premier Indian Institute of Technology, the Central Building Research Institute, the Bengal Engineers Group and numerous educational institutes.
Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Harish Rawat, Congress election in-charge for Uttarakhand Birendra Singh, state party chief Yashpal Arya, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Harak Singh Rawat and other prominent party leaders of the state were present at the rally.
She addresses an election rally.
She addresses an election rally. 
Dehradun, Januaty 17
Launching a scathing attack on the state BJP government, Congress President Sonia Gandhi said nothing had been done by it for the welfare of the people of Tehri, particularly those affected by the Tehri hydro-electric projects.
Addressing her second election rally at the Borari Stadium in New Tehri town, Sonia Gandhi appealed to the people of the area to vote for the Congress candidates in the coming Assembly poll and help in changing the government in the state. She charged that the BJP government had cheated the people of the state by its alleged corrupt practices.
She promised that if the people of the state bring in a Congress government, the problems of the people of Tehri would be taken care of. She promised to develop the Tehri lake and start a medical college in Tehri.
Amid speculation about weather conditions, Sonia Gandhi, who addressed a rally at Roorkee, flew into Tehri and addressed a well-attended election rally. Senior Congress leaders Vijay Bahuguna, MP Tehri Garhwal, Birender Singh, general secretary and in charge of the Uttarakhand Affairs and Congress candidates from Tehri district were present at the rally.

Muhammad Ali at 70: Bill Clinton hails Ali's worldwide impact


Muhammad Ali's talent, charisma and strong principles were responsible for raising boxing's popularity across the world, according to former US president Bill Clinton.
Clinton also credited Ali, who turned 70 on Tuesday, with helping pave the way for Barack Obama to become the country's first black president.
"He made millions of people believe. He was something unique," said Clinton.
Three-time world heavyweight champion Ali won 56 bouts over a 21-year career.
He was entertaining and when he was younger he was always mouthing off. But it was part of his schtick. He made [boxing] part theatre, part dance and all power
Bill ClintonFormer US President
He also made plenty of headlines outside of the ring with his sharp words and refusal to take part in the Vietnam War.
But Clinton believes his fellow American's legacy will be the way he got the whole world talking about boxing again in the 1960s.
"People had moved away from boxing. It was a huge deal in America in the 1940s and 1950s and then they wrote it off," he told BBC Sport boxing commentator Mike Costello.
"Then here comes Muhammad Ali, first as Cassius Clay, looking like a ballerina in the boxing ring - reminding people it was a sport.
"He made it exciting and meaningful again. He was entertaining and when he was younger he was always mouthing off. But it was part of his schtick.
"He made it part theatre, part dance and all power."

MUHAMMAD ALI FACTFILE

  • 1942: Born Cassius Clay on 17 January 1941 in Louisville, Kentucky
  • 1960: Wins Olympic light-heavyweight gold
  • 1964: Beats Sonny Liston to be crowned world heavyweight champion
  • 1964: Changes his name to Muhammad Ali after joining Nation of Islam religious movement
  • 1967: Refuses to step forward in US Army induction for Vietnam service
  • 1971: Suffers first professional loss in 'The Fight of the Century' against Joe Frazier
  • 1974: Regains title with shock win over George Foreman in fight billed as the 'Rumble in the Jungle'
  • 1975: Beats Frazier in the 'Thriller in Manila' to take crown for an unprecedented third time
  • 1981: Fights for the final time in defeat by Trevor Berbick
  • 1984: Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease
  • 1996: Lights Olympic flame at opening ceremony of Atlanta Games
  • 1999: Voted BBC's Sporting Personality of the Century
Ali risked his glittering career, and his reputation, to oppose the Vietnam War. He refused to serve in the US Army when he was called up for service and was subsequently arrested for committing a felony.
Boxing authorities suspended his licence and stripped him of his titles before he was found guilty of the offence after a 1967 trial. The US Supreme Court reversed the conviction four years later.
"It could have destroyed him but it didn't - because people realised he had been very forthright and he was prepared to pay the price for his convictions," said Clinton. "On balance he won more admirers than detractors."
Ali's success helped break down racial barriers in the US and create the path which eventually led to President Obama's election in 2008, according to Clinton.
"All those people from the Civil Rights years and also every African-American who did everything that destroyed the old stereotypes have helped," said Clinton, 65.
"There was nothing inferior about Ali - he was superior on merit without regards to his race when it came to what he loved.
"All this stuff played a role. Society changes slowly, like icebergs turning in the ocean. Sometimes great symbolic events affect changes of consciousness of a whole country. Ali reflects a lot of that."
British broadcaster Sir David Frost, who famously verbally sparred with the boxer during television interviews at the height of his fame, believes Ali touched the hearts of millions with his words.
He said: "Over the years Muhammad Ali spoke with peace. Not just for boxing but peace in general.

ANALYSIS

Ali was the primary reason I took up boxing. I wonder how many more youngsters across the globe pushed open a gym door for the same reason
Mike Costello meets Bill Clinton
"Although he spoke in this war-like rhetoric, it was already clear that the man beyond that rhetoric was a warm and friendly and peaceable man.
"He became the most famous man in the world for a long time. He's not far off it now even."
Former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Joe Bugner fought Ali in 1973 and 1975, losing on points on each occasion. He told BBC Radio 5 liveBreakfast: "It was a great pleasure to fight him on both occasions.
"He was more of an athlete than a fighter. He was a highly intelligent athlete, who utilised every inch of the boxing room."
Frank Bruno insists the world will never see another boxer like Ali, whom he believes put "boxing on the map".
"He paved the way for boxers like myself to want to go into boxing and make a living for themselves," said Bruno.
"We're grateful we had Muhammad Ali to inspire us."
David Haye, who won the WBA heavyweight crown in 2009, added: "I believe he is the world's greatest ever athlete bar none."

Punjab to send 800 ballot units to Uttarakhand

Chandigarh, January 17
With not more than 16 candidates filing nominations in any constituency, Punjab will not require more than one electronic voting machine (EVM) in every polling booth and hence, has a surplus of machines.
The state will lend 800 ballot units of EVMs to Uttarakhand where two constituencies in Dehradun and Haridwar have more than 16 candidates and require more than one ballot unit.
Punjab will require 20,000 EVMs for nearly 20,000 polling booths. It has a surplus of 800 EVMs.
Every ballot unit can accommodate names and symbols of 16 candidates only. If their number exceeds 16, another ballot unit is connected to accommodate names and symbols of more candidates.
In Punjab, only Jalalabad and Patiala Rural have 16 candidates where all buttons on a ballot unit would be put to use. The minimum number of candidates is five in Dera Baba Nanak, Qadian, Batala, Garh Shankar, Dakha, Raikot and Zira. “As we would not require more than one ballot unit, we will send our 800 units to Uttarakhand,” said Raj Kamal Chaudhary, Additional Chief Election Officer of Punjab.

Free power to farmers to stay, Capt Amarinder assures voters

Says will continue with free power and atta-daal schemes 

Kharar, January 17
A public rally addressed by Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Capt Amarinder Singh and Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni here saw the crowd keen to listen to the former Chief Minister, but not the local candidate, Jagmohan Singh Kang.
Waiting since morning on a cloudy day, party supporters from Chamkaur Sahib, Kharar and Mohali assembly segments gathered at the first rally attended by the PPCC chief after withdrawal of nominations.
While the party candidate Jagmohan Singh Kang tried to put a show of strength, Rajbir Singh Padiala, a senior party leader, who holds a sizeable vote bank in the segment, while addressing the rally said, "Politics does not always mean getting a chairmanship or an MLA ticket. I am a worker of the party and always abide by the directives of the PPCC chief. One should work for the masses." Padiala was considered as the front-runner for the party ticket from Kharar, but was later denied. Though considered close to Capt Amarinder Singh, he announced not to contest against the party candidate, but rather work for the party.
Addressing the rally, the PPCC chief said the state would continue to provide subsidised atta-dal to the poor, free power to agricultural sector and provide further subsidies under the National Food Security Act, which has already been approved by the Union Cabinet and will soon become a law.
He said the SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal was spreading rumours by saying that the Congress will stop free power and the atta-daal scheme.
Justifying the food subsidy, he said the state was not paying from its own pocket for the atta-dal scheme, as it was the Union Government's policy. He called upon the voters to compare the two regimes, the Akalis between 2007 and 2012 and the Congress between 2002 and 2007. "The main achievement of the Akalis is that they have added seven lakh more families to the already 13 lakh existing families living below the poverty line", he said while alleging that the SAD-BJP alliance was the most corrupt and incompetent government in the history of Punjab.
Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ambika Soni asked people to judge themselves as what the Akalis and the Congress had done before voting. Among others who spoke on the occasion included local MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, Inderjeet Singh Randhawa, Balbir Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi.

Police security cover to Guru, former DGP Gill withdrawn


Chandigarh, January 17
The state police has withdrawn the security cover to former DGP and SAD candidate from Moga PS Gill as well as SAD candidate from the Bhadaur (reserve) constituency DS Guru.
 Gill will now be guarded by CRPF personnel. As many as 12 commandos attached with him have been recalled, a senior police functionary said. He called it a routine procedure.
Sources said the action was taken following a complaint by the Congress to the Election Commission. While Gill was not available from comment, his spokesperson said the 12 commandos attached with him had been sent back “on the complaint of a rival candidate.”
Gill was today issued another notice by Moga RO Chander Gaind for using the loudspeaker of a gurdwara to assemble people at Sosan village yesterday.

NOTICE TO GURU
A notice has been issued to SAD candidate Darbara Singh Guru for not taking permission to install loud-speakers at a rally held near Government Primary School, Dhilwan.

Capt warns dissidents


Chandigarh: PCC president Capt Amarinder Singh has given an ultimatum to the party dissidents, telling them to relent or face expulsion from the party. He, however, says they will anyway be unable to dent the poll prospects of the Congress nominees. A meeting of the disciplinary committee of the Congress on Wednesday twill decide to expel the party rebels if they fail to retire in favour of the party candidates.
“The real Congress leaders will stand by the party and withdraw,” Amarinder Singh said while talking to reporters at the Congress Bhawan here today. He said the party would expel the dissidents and bar them from joining the Congress for a period of five years. “After this, there will be another five years of cooling period which means that once expelled a person will not be able to contest elections or hold any office for 10 years. This, in real terms, mean farewell to the party forever,” he added.
Amarinder alleged that Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal was using the Vigilance Bureau to transport money to fund the elections. Many rebels had been given money through Vigilance officers,. The PCC president claimed that he had confirmed reports that the rebels were being paid huge sums by the Deputy CM ranging between Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore for contesting against Congress candidates.
Capt Amarinder claimed that the Congress was certain to win at least 70 seats as people had been joining the party in big numbers. 

Expelled SAD leader Calcutta declares support for Congress


Chandigarh, January 17
Former Akali minister and former SGPC general secretary Manjit Singh Calcutta, who was earlier expelled from the SAD, today came out openly in support of the Congress. He was accompanied by a number of Akali leaders from Amritsar who joined the Congress. Calcutta said he was supporting Capt Amarinder Singh, but was not joining the Congress.
Calcutta’s support to the Congress assumes much significance as he was one of the last of the late SGPC president Gurcharan Singh Tohra’s loyalists to have parted ways with the SAD. In these elections, the SAD has sidelined everyone from the Tohra camp, denying them the party ticket. Tohra’s daughter Kuldip Kaur is the only one from the camp who has been allotted the ticket.
Calcutta declared his support for the Congress in the presence of PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, party affairs incharge Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak, and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Managing Committee president Paramjit Singh Sarna and others.
Both Charak and Capt Amarinder welcomed Calcutta’s support for the party. They said: “This is an indication and endorsement of the general perception that the Congress alone can provide a good government and work in the interest of the state”.
Akali leader Pardeep Singh Walia joined the Congress with at least 25 activists from Amritsar on the occasion.

Royalty in Battle Gear

Preneet, daughter Jai Inder, daughter-in-law Rishma canvassing for Capt, Raninder

Patiala/Samana, January 17
Stakes are high for the erstwhile royal family of Patiala in the forthcoming assembly elections. A winning would, in a way, mean regaining control of the state reins for the next five years. For, the family head, former CM and PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh, is the Congress’ likely chief ministerial candidate.

But unlike earlier elections, the royalty’s energies are divided this time. Both the “Raja” (Amarinder) and the “Yuvraj” (Raninder Singh), are fighting the poll battle.
The elections have also brought along a greater responsibility for the family women, especially Patiala MP Preneet Kaur (Capt’s wife). As Amarinder is busy canvassing for other Congress candidates across the state and his son Raninder is contesting the assembly elections for the first time, it’s Preneet Kaur who has been managing poll affairs in both the constituencies.
While Amarinder is seeking re-election from Patiala (City) seat, Raninder is testing political waters from Samana. Apart from this, Preneet, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, also has on her shoulders the responsibility to canvass for Congress candidates in other seats that are part of her parliamentary constituency.
For Preneet, the day begins much before dawn. Her mornings and evenings pass by preparing poll strategies while goes campaigning door to door during the day. She also has a new “foe” to deal with this time round: Malvinder Singh, Amarinder’s younger brother who prior to the declaration of candidates was a trusted soldier of Perneet. He defected to the SAD after losing out to Raninder in the race for the ticket. Malvinder even announced support for the Yuvraj’s Akali opponent, thus, signifying the MP would have to work overtime to keep her flock together in Samana.
While Preneet is the most "busy member" of the royal family these days, other family members, including Amarinder's daughter Jai Inder Kaur and Raninder's wife Rishma, too, are doing their bit. The magic of the women camaraderie seems to be casting a spell on the voters, with the trio getting good response wherever they head to seek mandate. Most of the voters assure: “We again want to see Amarinder on the CM’s chair”.
Jai Inder Kaur, who is married to a Delhi-based industrialist, says campaigning for her father gives her “immense satisfaction”. She was instrumental in campaigning for her family during the last assembly elections and the 2009 General Election too. She is the one who remains in touch with the close aides of the Amarinder family to ensure electioneering is flawless.
Jai starts her day early in the morning and tries to cover maximum area in Capt Amarinder's constituency.
Speaking to the Tribune, Preneet says she has been representing the Patiala parliamentary constituency since 1999 and is well aware of the issues concerning the people. "I enjoy good rapport with the people. They have trusted me in the past and will do do this time as well,” she says. Asked how she manages such a hectic campaigning, she says: “Politics is all about struggle and commitment. One has to work tirelessly to win the voters’ trust and work even harder to serve them after getting elected.” Preneet says as Amarinder is busy canvassing outside Patiala, she has to take charge in his place.
Raninder's wife Rishma, too, is not new to election campaign. She had a shot at it during the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, though her husband lost to Badal ‘bahu’ Harsimrat Kaur from Bathinda then. She is also contributing in her father-in-law’s constituency, moving door to door, greeting people with a smile and noting down their complaints, if anybody has one.
Raninder’s schedule is no different. His journey begins at 7 am. Getting off his SUV in a Samana village, the royal scion, nicknamed Tikku, values time in the run-up to polls, and hurriedly counts the achievements of the previous Congress regime. “Samana was ignored by the Akalis. But I promise, this will not happen during the Congress rule,” he tells a gathering at Kherhi Mallan.
Village after village that he visits, crowds of bearded men gather in large number to listen to him while women folk are more eager to have a glimpse of the royal scion. 

Govt favours 49% FDI in aviation


New Delhi, January 17
The government will soon set the ball rolling on allowing foreign airlines a 49% stake in cash-strapped Indian carriers.
The issue was discussed today at a meeting attended by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and top officials from related ministries and banks. Many airline majors, including Kingfisher Airlines promoter Vijay Mallya, have been demanding foreign investment in cash-strapped carriers.
Leading global consultancy company KPMG has welcomed the move, terming it as "much needed relief for the Indian carriers."
The government also decided to immediately release Rs 150 crore as payment of a portion of pending salaries and allowances of Air India employees, who went on agitation only two days ago.
"The government had decided to release sufficient funds to pay at least some part of wages and PLI (productivity-linked incentives)," said Ajit Singh. As additional major relief for airlines, a committee of secretaries has recommended direct import of jet fuel, which constitutes 40 to 50% of an airline's operating costs.
At present, in some states, airlines have to pay taxes ranging up to 24 % on ATF. The issue, along with the one related to restructuring of the debt of Air India, would be placed before a GoM, Singh said. The Civil Aviation Ministry will now prepare a Cabinet note allowing foreign airlines a 49% stake in Indian carriers.
"49% FDI is already there. The question was to allow (international) airlines to participate in the FDI. The Committee of Secretaries has also recommended that FDI limit should be raised to 49%," Singh said, hoping that FDI would help the industry survive the current financial crisis. "We all know that the aviation industry is under a lot of stress," he said.
SBI chairman Pratip Chaudhuri said different options were discussed for loan restructuring for Air India. However, further lending to the airline would be difficult.