Friday, November 30, 2012

Seriously, what's new in it?

To be able to maintain peace and security in Iraq, al-Maliki would need approval from the opposition

In what may lead to the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, the outgoing Bush apparatus and the Iraqi government led by Nuri Kamal al-Maliki are close to signing an agreement that would lay out the setting under which American troops would stay put in Iraq for time being and a roadmap for their eventual departure. The draft text on the context came to Iraq's political council for national security full seven months after the negotiation for the same started. Concurrent commotion in Washington and Baghdad hinted that the agreement – formally called a status of forces agreement – is in its final stage.

If accepted, the text will be presented before the Iraqi Parliament, where it is likely to ignite argument among rival splinter groups resolute to secure partisan gain in advance of next year's regional and legislative vote. Policy-makers are under immense popular pressure to lock an earliest possible time limit for the pulling out of the US troops, as well as to guarantee the reinstatement of Iraq's sovereignty.

The preliminary draft asks for the troops to leave Iraq in a phased manner by 2011, “unless asked to provide training and support.” A shared commission would synchronise US military operations. The government will meanwhile assure co-operation during searches of homes and detention of suspects. However, it is far easier said than done. PM al-Maliki is looking for endorsement of the text by two-thirds of the 275-member National Assembly of Iraq.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Rahul attempts to fill fissures

The MP from Amethi needs to stand up to his Punjabi promises

If the great charming grandfather penned the Discovery of India, the heart-throb great grandson is actually out to discover India. With eyes glued on the forthcoming Parliamentary polls, Congress party General Secretary, Rahul Gandhi recently toured Punjab. The 38-year-old heir to the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty discovered many skeletons inside (and outside) the closets of Punjab Congress and the state’s government.

Rahul’s visit to the state, and more so, the Sikh holy shrine of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, affirms that the Gandhi family wants to build bridges with the Sikh community, ending an animosity, which began with Operation Bluestar in 1984. His grandmother, former PM Indira Gandhi, in fact fell to the bullets fired to avenge the operation. Rahul’s father Rajiv Gandhi, who succeeded his mother as Prime Minister, never visited the Golden Temple, but his mother Sonia Ganshi paid obeisance at the Temple in 1990. Rahul is the second member of the family to visit the holy Sikh shrine. Ignoring security threats, Rahul paid his obeisance at the temple adorning a saffron scarf besides partaking food from its langar.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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PAKISTAN: TERROR ATTACK

Explosives laden truck rips apart Pakistan's security machinery

He said that 600 kilograms of highly explosive material – RDX and TNT – was used in the blast, leaving questions on how a six-wheeler dumper truck laden with a huge quantity of explosives could enter such a high security zone. “It was the first incident in the capital in which terrorists have used RDX and TNT explosives. Earlier they had used potassium. Aluminium powder used this time caused fire in the hotel,” informs Malik. Marauders chose to strike at a moment when a high-powered Pakistani delegation, led by President Zardari, was about to leave for New York. Pakistan's Prime Minister, Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani said the real target of the suicide bomber was the Prime Minister's House, where top political leaders & Chief of the Army Staff, Gen. Ashfaq Pervez Kayani were present. But the bomber could not reach there because of tight security arrangements. The Marriot is a mile from the PM's residence.

With the deadly attack, Pakistan now tops the list of countries suffering from suicide attacks.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Countering Frankenstein

 Bhattacharya's views on bandh makes him go against his party

Swimming against the tide is difficult. West Bengal CM, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya seems to be learning it the hard way. Being a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist), which over the years made bandhs and strikes an inseparable part of its culture, he was supposed to adhere to its ideology and the bandh culture. CPI (M) is the party that believes in protecting the working class by organising bandhs irrespective of the cost. But he shocked his party recently by opposing the bandhs. “Personally, I don't support bandhs. Bandhs do not help us or the country. Unfortunately, I belong to a political party. They call strikes and I keep mum.." he said. Bhattacharya it seems, had taken the Tata’s threat to withdraw from Singur due to farmers’ agitation, very seriously. Earlier too, his attempts to industrialise the state by setting up a chemical hub at Nandigram, were met with a bloody resistance by local farmers supported by Trinamool Congress and Maoists.

The party, predictably, rebuked Bhattacharya by reaffirming its faith in bandhs as an instrument of protest. “It was his personal opinion. Workers will resort to strike as long as capitalism and exploitation are there,” said West Bengal CITU general secretary Kali Ghosh. Others too tried to justify strikes by saying it was a common mode of protest even in developed countries. Bhattacharya however, hasn’t joined the issue with them. Though he is trying to fight the Frankenstein created by his party, few have seen the flip side of the incident. In parties like CPI (M) having iron-hand discipline, it is unusual for the cadre to come out against set principles of the party.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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Monday, November 26, 2012

On second thought...

With rising disposable incomes & soaring aspirations, the second hand car market is on a roll

spirations have led man to the moon! The quest of being the best among peers is what spears a man ahead of the race. But all these desires come with lots of constraints – lack of finances being one of them. One such aspiration that has remained long unfulfilled for many Indians is the desire to own a family car. But no more! The second hand car market has made all those dreams of driving an opulent vehicle come true. The growing used car market across the country in the form of both organised and unorganised players is a testimony to the vast potential of this segment.

According to the Society of Automobile Manufacturers in India, the used car market currently in India stands at over one million units, almost as big as the new-car market (1.3 million units). But the used car market in India is highly unorganised, with the organised players accounting for just 20-25%. The main organised players are Maruti (True Value), Hyundai (Advantage), Ford (Assured), Mahindra (Automart India) & Honda (Auto Terrace). The situation is however, completely different in developed markets like the US and Europe, where organised players have grabbed nearly 90% of the used-car market pie. “Consumers’ decisions are fast getting influenced by the quality of after sales service and the value addition. An organised channel definitely adds to the value proposition with quality assurance through warranty,” assures Nikhil Kumar, General Manager Marketing, First Choice, M&M. Buying decision of a consumer really begins with scouring the used-car market for the best bargains. And it’s a known fact that very few Indian buyers pay an expert to evaluate the vehicle and mostly rely on personal mechanics and friends. Thus, a decision of going to an unorganised player might result in a redundant purchase.


Source : IIPM Editorial, 2012.

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