New Delhi, January 6, 2008: As government's threat to cancel permits of agitating trucks failed to yield any result, the nationwide indefinite strike by truckers today entered the second day.

"We are on nationwide strike and we will continue until our demands are met," AIMTC President Charan Singh Lohara said.

Yesterday Transport Secretary Brahm Dutt threatened the agitators that if the strike continues, law of the land would take its course, and permits of the trucks could be cancelled.

Reacting to the government's threat, Lohara had said if the government starts cancelling the permits, then the truckers would not be responsible for any situation arising as a reaction of that.

The government has also asked the states to draw a plan to ensure supplies of essential commodities to the general public.

The strike has been called by All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) demanding a reduction of diesel prices by Rs 10 per litre and exemption from service tax.

Meanwhile, the government yesterday fully exempted service tax from certain taxable services provided to a goods transport agency (GTA) by their sub-contractors. Some of the services include cargo handling, storage and warehousing, packaging activities and supply of tangible goods.

The strike commenced Sunday midnight following a call given by 4,000 associations affiliated to the AIMTC.

The wish list of hauliers also include levying uniform four percentage point VAT on diesel, scrapping registration and return filing clause in the new Carriers Act, reducing tyre prices by 30-35 per cent and rolling back national permit fees from Rs 5,000 to Rs 1,500.

New Delhi, January 6, 2008: After the Mumbai terror strikes, anti-India elements in Pakistan are now planning an attack on Indian computer networks, intelligence agencies have warned.

Already Pakistani hackers are trying out a dry run against Indian networks through popular websites registered there after the Mumbai terror strikes, Home Ministry sources told PTI here today.

"Every time the relations between the two countries dampen, Pakistanis start attacking Indian computer networks and this has increased after the Mumbai terror attacks," a Home Ministry source said.

Pakistani hackers have created websites such as the www.songs.pk, which are infested with software to hack data from the targeted computers, it said.

"The website www.songs.pk has over 12 lakh Indian users who are downloading stuff from these websites daily," said a cyber expert in the Ministry.

With these websites being highly popular, it will take only a few minutes for the hackers to take command of over 1.2 million computers in few minutes and the number of such computers can multiply in every minute, sources said.

"Instead of the existing less harmful virus, new ones such as Botnet and Zoombie can be easily released into the Indian computers, which later on replicate and make the entire server vulnerable," the expert said.

"Now a days new virus and worms are detected while downloading songs from these websites, which could be just a dry run to manage a bigger attack," he said.

New Delhi, January 6, 2009: Oil PSU executives have rejected the Government offer of talks on their wage demands and will strike work indefinitely from tomorrow, even as Oil Minister Murli Deora once again appealed to them to call off the agitation plans.

The Oil Sector Officers Association (OSOA), which claims to represent executives at 14 state-run firms, is protesting against a pay increase smaller than it had demanded.

"We are only being offered verbal assurances and there is nothing concrete," OSOA President Amit Kumar said.

Kumar, who yesterday met BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani on the issue, said no talks were planned with the Government. "There is no point talking to Deora or the Petroleum Ministry as they have nothing to offer us." Officers of Hindustan Petroleum are not participating in the strike, while those of Oil India Ltd may also not join the agitation.

Deora asked executives not to strike as the nation is going through a difficult economic phase even as it grappled with terrorism originating from foreign soil.

"A strike in the oil sector can cripple the economy and cause severe hardship to citizens," he said. "We are not vindictive against our own officers. All we want is that the economy is not be impacted and citizens are spared of any hardship." Deora this morning spoke to Home Minister P Chidambaram and several state chief ministers, including Ashok Chavan of Maharasthra and Tarun Gagoi of Assam, for safety and security of the oil installations during the agitation.

He also wrote to all the chief ministers, asking them to invoke Essential Supplies Maintenance Act (ESMA) to ensure that auto and cooking fuel supplies are not choked. Punitive National Security Act (NSA) would be invoked in states that do not have ESMA.

Also, contempt proceedings against OSOA office bearers has been initiated in high courts, which had barred the body from striking till next date of hearing in February.

New Delhi, January 6, 2009: The non-life insurance companies have recorded a paltry 0.11 per cent growth in the premium collection in November following declining vehicle sales and general economic slowdown.

During the month under review, 16 general insurance companies, both public and private, together collected Rs 2,223.45 crore, against Rs 2220.96 crore in the same month last year.

However, premium collected by four public sector insurers recorded a negative growth of 0.68 per cent. Even as 12 private sector players clocked a marginal growth of 1.2 per cent in the premium collection, according to IRDA data.

During the month under review, automobile industry sales dipped by about 18 per cent 7,11,281 units against 8,67,243 units in the same month last year.

Commercial vehicle sales crashed by 49.52 per cent last month at 20,637 units, compared with 40,879 units in the year-ago period. Sales of passenger cars dropped by 19.38 per cent to 83,059 units in December from 1,03,031 units in the same month last year.

This is the first time in the last many months that the public sector insurance companies comprising New India Assurance, Oriental Insurance, National Insurance and United India Insurance recorded a negative growth.

Among the four players, United India Insurance was the only exception that earned Rs 34.2 crore higher premium during November, compared with Rs 304.71 crore collected in the same month last year, it said.

Private sector players like Reliance General, ICICI Lombard, Bajaj Allianz and Tata AIG recorded negative growth.

Premium collection of Reliance General was down by about Rs 5.34 crore to Rs 181.34 crore, while ICICI Lombard fell by Rs 53.44 crore to Rs 230.54 crore.

Bajaj Alianz premium collection was lower by Rs 1.7 crore against Rs 190.45 crore earned during the same month in 2007.

While four public sector companies earned total premium of Rs 1,284 crore in November, 2008, 12 private sector players together garnered Rs 939.33 crore.

However, April-November premium collection stood at Rs 20,277.89 crore compared to Rs 18,507.30 crore, up by 9.57 per cent.

During the first eight months of the current fiscal, premium collection by private players recorded a growth of 15 per cent at Rs 8,470 crore.

However, public sector during the same period witnessed a premium growth of 5.86 per cent at Rs 11,154.49 crore against Rs 11,807.85 crore.

A fast food giant with a global presence planned to enter India in the midst of strong local sentiments against MNCs in fast food sector and opposition from neo-nationalist groups. The Company’s perceived image in India was it's beef centric menu and this was unacceptable and hostile to religious groups.

 

DTA helped counter local opposition to the entry of MNCs in the fast food sector and obtained licenses for opening restaurants. A major thought leadership project neutralised competitor opposition to opening  new outlets. A sustained programme addressed opposition from pressure groups and Parliamentarians bringing out a turnaround in their perceptions.

 

Clients Business continuity plans were further strengthened by successfully working for a reduction and rationalisation of duties for imports.

The worlds leading brand of non alcoholic commercial beverages entry into India had many roadblocks. Other than political and neo-nationalist blockades, the Company faced many regulatory restrains. Brands under this category could not enter India using their International brand names. It was mandatory to have the participation of a  local partner.

 

DTA’s public advocacy campaign resulted in the Company launching its brands without diluting Brand equity. Efforts also resulted in 100 % equity in this sector for the first time.

 

Clients Business continuity plans were further strengthened by successfully working for a reduction and rationalisation of Excise Duties.

This involved the largest deal that impacted India. A global telecom giant acquired majority shares in an Indian Telecom Service Provider. These shares were held by an overseas entity. The entire transaction involved various arms of the India government as well as the Telephone Regulatory Authority of India. 

The worlds leading brand of non-alcoholic commercial beverages entry into India had many roadblocks. Other than political and neo-nationalist blockades, the Company faced many regulatory restrains. Brands under this category could not enter India using their International brand names. It was mandatory to have the participation of a  local partner.

 

DTA’s public advocacy campaign resulted in the Company launching its brands without diluting Brand equity. Efforts also resulted in 100 % equity in this sector for the first time.

 

Clients Business continuity plans were further strengthened by successfully working for a reduction and rationalisation of Excise Duties.