It was a wistful Sonia Gandhi who loved her day out on Tuesday. Happy to have “bunked school”, she said she was charmed by the environment, the buildings, trees, flowers and atmosphere at the Infosys campus.
Said the lady who keeps her Congress school in order, “...If I may share a secret, there is another reason for me to be happy to be with you this afternoon, this visit is giving me an opportunity to bunk my school — politics — for a few hours. I honestly want to say I wish I could bunk a few days to be here with you all!” She brought the house down.
The Congress chief was in Mysore to inaugurate the Infosys Global Education Centre-II, which will be a hothouse for next-generation IT professionals. “Social harmony, secure frontiers and communal amity are the need of the hour to create a conducive atmosphere for creation of wealth. Governments should ensure these elements for wealth creators to strive and grow,” she asserted.
Appreciating the efforts of Infosys chief N R Narayana Murthy and his peers for struggling hard and building an empire like Infosys, Sonia said he and his colleagues have shown the world that India can not only lead the IT field, but also guide the rest of the world. “Serious efforts, hard work and determination have made them accomplish this task of building GEC, which is a monument of sorts, withworld class facilities to train IT professionals,” she said.
Sonia said the foundation stone for modern technology was laid way back in 1985 by former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, with the establishment of an earth station. Recollecting Rajiv’s efforts to take the country’s development in science and technology to new heights, Sonia said many in politics had flayed Rajiv Gandhi and were skeptical about his efforts. But he has now been proved right. “He knew that development of communication and transport facilities would lead India into a new world of development,” she said. Then, a telephone was a luxury, now every village has a public call office and telephone network.
Agencies
Showing posts with label Sonia Gandhi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sonia Gandhi. Show all posts
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sonia, Shahrukh in Newsweek list of 50 most powerful people
Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan have been ranked among the 50 most powerful people in the world by the prestigious US-based magazine 'Newsweek' magazine in a list topped by President- elect Barack Obama.
Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who controls the the country's nuclear weapons, is placed 20th on the list of the global "power elite" at the beginning of 2009 in the magazine's January issue.
Obama, who scripted history by becoming the first black-American to be voted to the White House, is followed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Markel and powerful Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
A surprise inclusion in the list, which the magazine admits is subjective, is Osama bin Laden, whom the Newsweek describes as "global terrorist." North Korean dictator Jim Jong II also finds a place in the list.
Placing Sonia Gandhi at 17th spot, the magazine says though Indian political scene is riven by factions, Congress remains the strongest national force and rules unchallenged. "In the world's largest democracy, she is the queen."
The magazine describes Shahrukh Khan, who occupies 41st spot, as the 'King of Bollywood'.
"It's not just that his (Shahrukh Khan's) romantic flicks make gazillions it's where those gazillions come from. Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the mullahs ban his films. (The movies thrive on the black market.)
"Their main appeal is certainly the song-and-dance numbers, but Khan (a Muslim married to a Hindu) makes devoutly secular films where love trounces bigotry," the magazine says, adding that Sonia Gandhi gives Khan's DVDs to visitors, especially Muslim ones. "Here's hoping tolerance will leap from reel life to real life."
On Kayani, it says, that in theory this mumbling chain-smoking Pakistan army chief answers to President Asif Ali Zardari. But Kayani and his troops remain the dominant power in what could be the most dangerous country in the world, it adds.
"He's responsible for Pakistan's nukes; for the battle against al-Qaeda and its tribal allies along the Afghan border; and for managing tensions with neighbour India," the magazine stresses, noting that so far, his army has kept itself out of politics and seems focused on the battle against 'jihadists'.
"In the wake of the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Kayani stood firm on Pakistan's sovereignty while also taking measures against the alleged sponsors of the outrage," it says.
About 47-year-old Obama, it says the presidency of the "intensely charismatic" Democrat, who will be inaugurated on January 20, will be judged on how he handles the economic crisis that now envelops the US and the world. "For Obama to be remembered as a great President, he has to do nothing less than rescue capitalism."
For bin Laden, who finds 42nd spot, the magazine says the manhunt may not have been successful, but it has driven him far underground. Once a glutton for publicity, he has not shot a new video since September 2007, and no audio message from him has been heard since May 2008, it says.
Source: Agencies
Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who controls the the country's nuclear weapons, is placed 20th on the list of the global "power elite" at the beginning of 2009 in the magazine's January issue.
Obama, who scripted history by becoming the first black-American to be voted to the White House, is followed by Chinese President Hu Jintao, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, German Chancellor Angela Markel and powerful Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
A surprise inclusion in the list, which the magazine admits is subjective, is Osama bin Laden, whom the Newsweek describes as "global terrorist." North Korean dictator Jim Jong II also finds a place in the list.
Placing Sonia Gandhi at 17th spot, the magazine says though Indian political scene is riven by factions, Congress remains the strongest national force and rules unchallenged. "In the world's largest democracy, she is the queen."
The magazine describes Shahrukh Khan, who occupies 41st spot, as the 'King of Bollywood'.
"It's not just that his (Shahrukh Khan's) romantic flicks make gazillions it's where those gazillions come from. Khan is huge in the Muslim world, even in Pakistan and Afghanistan, where the mullahs ban his films. (The movies thrive on the black market.)
"Their main appeal is certainly the song-and-dance numbers, but Khan (a Muslim married to a Hindu) makes devoutly secular films where love trounces bigotry," the magazine says, adding that Sonia Gandhi gives Khan's DVDs to visitors, especially Muslim ones. "Here's hoping tolerance will leap from reel life to real life."
On Kayani, it says, that in theory this mumbling chain-smoking Pakistan army chief answers to President Asif Ali Zardari. But Kayani and his troops remain the dominant power in what could be the most dangerous country in the world, it adds.
"He's responsible for Pakistan's nukes; for the battle against al-Qaeda and its tribal allies along the Afghan border; and for managing tensions with neighbour India," the magazine stresses, noting that so far, his army has kept itself out of politics and seems focused on the battle against 'jihadists'.
"In the wake of the November terrorist attacks in Mumbai, Kayani stood firm on Pakistan's sovereignty while also taking measures against the alleged sponsors of the outrage," it says.
About 47-year-old Obama, it says the presidency of the "intensely charismatic" Democrat, who will be inaugurated on January 20, will be judged on how he handles the economic crisis that now envelops the US and the world. "For Obama to be remembered as a great President, he has to do nothing less than rescue capitalism."
For bin Laden, who finds 42nd spot, the magazine says the manhunt may not have been successful, but it has driven him far underground. Once a glutton for publicity, he has not shot a new video since September 2007, and no audio message from him has been heard since May 2008, it says.
Source: Agencies
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Who will be the new Indian finance minister?
Hunt is on for a new finance minister with the names of SM Krishna, C Rangarajan and Kapil Sibal under consideration in the wake of Chidambaram's shift to the home ministry.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, more comfortable with bureaucrats and technocrats, would ideally like Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to take over finance. But this is something not acceptable to the Congress party, say well placed sources.
For the same reason, the Congress would have reservations about C. Rangarajan, former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, who has headed the prime minister's Economic Advisory Council.
The Congress would like to elevate a politician to the position.
Though Manmohan Singh took over the finance portfolio in the wake of Shivraj Patil's resignation as home minister and Chidambaram's move to home following the terror strike in Mumbai, he would like a full time finance minister, party sources say.
The prime minister already has charge of three weighty ministries - coal, after the exit of Shibu Soren who has taken over as chief minister of Jharkhand, information and broadcasting after the illness of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, and environment and forests.
As things stand, the government may go in for vote on account in February, rather than a full budget, on the eve of general elections. But finance entails a very heavy load, the sources say. This is even more urgent now with a full-blown economic crisis the world over with India not being spared either from its fallout.
The name of S.M. Krishna, former chief minister of Karnataka, is doing the rounds for finance. His name was also under consideration for home minister after Shivraj Patil's resignation, but the party decided to plump for Chidambaram instead.
Then there is Kapil Sibal - the prime minister enjoys a sense of comfort with him - but he is being considered too junior by the party.
It is said that 10, Janpath (residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi) was wary of both External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh - both names were under consideration - for home minister because they are considered politically astute and "may do a Narasimha Rao on Sonia Gandhi" and outsmart her.
The prime minister has not been enthusiastic about giving finance to Pranab Mukherjee, even though Manmohan Singh has relied heavily on Mukherjee in the last four years to run his government, and made him head of the 50 plus Group of Ministers (GOMs). It has been a government that has ruled through GOMs.
Whenever the question of a cabinet reshuffle has come up for discussion during the last three years, the idea of Mukherjee as either home minister or as finance minister has not found favour.
Mukherje is identified with a left-of-centre image. He was not given finance even in 1991 when P.V. Narasimha Rao became prime minister and opened up the economy, choosing Manmohan Singh as his finance minister to lead the process of reforms.
Left to himself, the "non-political" prime minister is happier working with bureaucrats than with politicians. He has given cabinet and minister of state status to almost as many bureaucrats and technocrats as to the politicians in his government.
These include those heading the Economic Advisory Council, National Knowledge Commission, National Disaster Management Authority, Inter State Council, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, to name a few. And of course, the powerful National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan.
Source: Agencies
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, more comfortable with bureaucrats and technocrats, would ideally like Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to take over finance. But this is something not acceptable to the Congress party, say well placed sources.
For the same reason, the Congress would have reservations about C. Rangarajan, former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, who has headed the prime minister's Economic Advisory Council.
The Congress would like to elevate a politician to the position.
Though Manmohan Singh took over the finance portfolio in the wake of Shivraj Patil's resignation as home minister and Chidambaram's move to home following the terror strike in Mumbai, he would like a full time finance minister, party sources say.
The prime minister already has charge of three weighty ministries - coal, after the exit of Shibu Soren who has taken over as chief minister of Jharkhand, information and broadcasting after the illness of Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, and environment and forests.
As things stand, the government may go in for vote on account in February, rather than a full budget, on the eve of general elections. But finance entails a very heavy load, the sources say. This is even more urgent now with a full-blown economic crisis the world over with India not being spared either from its fallout.
The name of S.M. Krishna, former chief minister of Karnataka, is doing the rounds for finance. His name was also under consideration for home minister after Shivraj Patil's resignation, but the party decided to plump for Chidambaram instead.
Then there is Kapil Sibal - the prime minister enjoys a sense of comfort with him - but he is being considered too junior by the party.
It is said that 10, Janpath (residence of Congress president Sonia Gandhi) was wary of both External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh - both names were under consideration - for home minister because they are considered politically astute and "may do a Narasimha Rao on Sonia Gandhi" and outsmart her.
The prime minister has not been enthusiastic about giving finance to Pranab Mukherjee, even though Manmohan Singh has relied heavily on Mukherjee in the last four years to run his government, and made him head of the 50 plus Group of Ministers (GOMs). It has been a government that has ruled through GOMs.
Whenever the question of a cabinet reshuffle has come up for discussion during the last three years, the idea of Mukherjee as either home minister or as finance minister has not found favour.
Mukherje is identified with a left-of-centre image. He was not given finance even in 1991 when P.V. Narasimha Rao became prime minister and opened up the economy, choosing Manmohan Singh as his finance minister to lead the process of reforms.
Left to himself, the "non-political" prime minister is happier working with bureaucrats than with politicians. He has given cabinet and minister of state status to almost as many bureaucrats and technocrats as to the politicians in his government.
These include those heading the Economic Advisory Council, National Knowledge Commission, National Disaster Management Authority, Inter State Council, National Manufacturing Competitiveness Council, to name a few. And of course, the powerful National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan.
Source: Agencies
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