Rajiv Gandhi statue found damaged in Chennai

Unidentified persons on Friday damaged a statue of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi prompting angry reactions from the Congress which claimed “sympathisers” of banned LTTE could be behind the incident.

Police said the statue at Kodungaiyur in north Chennai was found damaged but no arrests have been made so far. Condemning the incident, TNCC president K V Thangkabalu demanded immediate arrest of those responsible.

In a statement here, he expressed apprehensions that sympathisers of the banned LTTE could be behind the incident, apparently referring to the MDMK, whose leaders Vaiko and M Kannappan were arrested here yesterday for making pro-LTTE speeches at a public meeting on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Congress workers staged protest demonstrations at various places in the city against the incident.

India to have first Maritime University in Chennai

India will have its first Maritime University in Chennai, aimed at promoting maritime studies, research and achieving excellence in areas of marine science and technology.

A bill to this effect was passed by the Rajya Sabha on Friday.

“This is just a beginning, more such institutions need to be set up,” Union Minister for Shipping T R Baalu told the Upper House on the passage of the Indian Maritime University Bill. It was passed by the Lok Sabha on October 21.

Two more bills for declaring water stretches in southern and eastern parts of the country as national waterways were also passed by Rajya Sabha. “This is one of the achievements of the UPA government that neglected areas like that of the waterways have been attended to,” Baalu said.

He also said “the setting up of the university in Chennai has only to do with the availability of land which we could not find elsewhere. This is only the nucleus which is sure to spread,” Baalu said.

“There is a need to set up at least five more such universities in the country. We request setting up of such a university in Kolkata,” CPI(M) member Matilal Sarkar said.

Taking part in the discussion, BJP leader Rudranarayan Pany asked government to give special attention to the state of Orissa regarding development of roads along with waterways. Bal Apte of his party also took part in the discussion.

T Siva (DMK), Ram Chandra Khuntia (Cong), E M Sudarsana Natchiappan (Cong) hailed the government for moving the legislation to establish two National Waterways and a National Maritime University.

Wawrinka confirms participation for Chennai Open

Beijing Olympics men’s doubles gold medallist and world number 12 Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland today confirmed his participation for the ATP Chennai Open tennis tournament to be held from January 5.

The 14th edition of USD 450,000 Chennai Open will be held from January 5 to 11 at the SDAT Stadium at Nungambakkam, Chennai.

Wawrinka’s greatest achievement till date was when he won the gold medal for Switzerland in the men’s doubles event at in Beijing Olympics, partnering multiple Grand Slam winning compatriot Roger Federer.

“This will be my first visit to India and I am anxiously looking forward to playing at the Chennai Open. I hope to give a good and consistent performance here,” the 23-year-old Wawrinka said confirming his participation.

Emirates to introduce more flights from Chennai; offers more cargo space

Emirates is introducing five additional flights, bringing its total frequency between Dubai and Chennai to 19 a week and offering additional cargo space. Four additional flights to Dubai would be introduced from October 26, 2008 and the fifth from February 1, 2009, Sudhir Sukumaran, sales manager Tamil Nadu said.

At present Emirates operates a daily service on Dubai-Chennai route with 14 weekly flights. Currently, Emirates has 132 flights a week to 10 Indian destinations from Dubai.

He told a press conference here that Emirates would also offer 309- tonne belly-hold cargo capacity from February 1, 2009 as Chennai is home to a large proportion of export cargo like textiles and garments, electrical and electronic goods, machinery and spares, leather and leather products, pharmaceuticals, perishables, valuables and mobile phones.

“Keeping in view the increase in travel trends across India, we are delighted to introduce additional weekly flights and strengthen our operations in Chennai to provide greater convenience and choice to our customers. Additionally our special packages and offers will be a bonanza for the upcoming holiday season,” Sukumaran said.

He said to help Chennai travellers celebrate Diwali, Emirates was offering special return economy class airfares of Rs14, 995 to Dubai, valid from October 26, 2008 to December 15, 2008.

Emirates Holidays, the airline’s tour operating division, has also announced special packages for this festival season. Starting from Rs 31,398 onwards, it offers packages to Dubai for three nights inclusive of return economy class airfare. They are valid until the end of November 2008.

The first class passengers flying to onward destinations via Dubai, can now enjoy a two-night complimentary stay at Atlantis, The Palm. The business class passengers can avail a one-night complimentary stay there. The offer is valid till December 24, 2008.

Vaiko arrested on charges of sedition

In a swift operation, officials of the ‘Q’ Branch CID of the Tamil Nadu police on Thursday arrested Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Vaiko on charges of sedition. The MDMK presidium chairman and former Union Minister, M. Kannappan, was also arrested at his native village Alampalayam near Pollachi on the same charges.

Mr. Vaiko, who was arrested at his Anna Nagar residence, was produced in a city court and remanded to judicial custody till November 6. He is lodged in the Puzhal Central prison.

The party leaders were charged under Section 124 (A) IPC (Whoever brings or attempts to bring in hatred or contempt or excites disaffection towards the government) and Section 13 (1) (b) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (Whoever advocates, abets, advises or incites the commission of any unlawful activity).

The charges are based on the speeches at a party meeting on the Sri Lankan issue in Chennai on October 21. Mr. Vaiko warned that extending help to protect Sri Lanka’s integrity would jeopardise the unity and integrity of India. He said he would be ready to take up arms and fight for the Tamils in the island nation. Mr. Kannappan, who presided over the meeting, warned the Centre not to force Tamils in Tamil Nadu to struggle for a separate country.

A general alert has been sounded across Tamil Nadu following the arrest.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said the law would take its course in the case. Speaking to a news channel, he said whatever had happened had happened as per the letter and spirit of the law. Asked if there would be more arrests, he said, “I do not know.”

All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary Jayalalithaa described the arrests as political vendetta.

Director-General of Police K.P. Jain said, “A case was registered against Mr. Vaiko and Mr. Kannappan as their speeches could affect the nation’s unity, integrity and security. Whoever indulges in seditious speeches will be dealt with as per law.”

Just before he was taken into custody, Mr. Vaiko told The Hindu that he was committed to the unity of India. “When the country is supplying arms to the Sri Lankan government to perpetuate genocide against Tamils, it is betrayal of Tamils. So that is why I said if you supply arms to kill and annihilate the Tamil race, we are prepared to go and fight for the Tamils … taking up arms there … not against India.”

Talking to journalists as he was being led away by the police, Mr. Vaiko said he stood by what he had stated at the meeting. “I am not for violence. The alliance with the AIADMK is intact. We may disagree on this issue, but the alliance will continue.”

He said the Indian government was responsible for the killing of the Tamils in Sri Lanka as it was supplying arms and radar equipment to that country.

Sical deploys additional rake on Delhi-Chennai sector

Sical Logistics Ltd, India’s leading integrated multimodal logistics solutions provider for bulk and containerized cargo, has initiated the operations of its third container train on the Delhi – Chennai sector with the delivery of a third rake. Sical Multimodal And Rail Transport (SMART) Ltd, the 100% subsidiary of Sical operating and managing container trains, plans to add ten more rakes in its fleet by 2011.

Sical obtained the category 1 pan-India license in January ’07 to run container trains for EXIM and domestic cargo. The Company initiated the operations of its first container train from Hatta Road Railway station in Balaghat District, Madhya Pradesh on March 05, ’08, providing complete multimodal logistics solutions to M/s. Hindustan Copper Ltd (HOL). The Company has since transported about 0.5 lakh tons of copper concentrates, copper cathodes and finished products of HCL to and from Ghatsila in Jharkhand, Khetri in Rajasthan and Taloja near Mumbai.

Sical’s second rake is deployed on the Delhi – Chennai sector carrying general cargo like cars, steel pipes, malt, raw rubber and industrial chemicals amongst others. The Company has transported about 20,000 tons of cargo on the Chennai – Delhi sector since August ’08.

Speaking on the occasion Ashwin C Muthiah, Chairman Sical Logistics said, “We are pleased at the addition of the third rake to our growing rail business. Its deployment on the North South corridor enables us to offer better services to our customers with enhanced capacity and frequency. We plan to add a fourth rake in our fleet by December ’08, to be deployed also on the Delhi – Chennai sector. Our EXIM business will commence operations by January ’09 with the development of the second container terminal at Chennai port, which will further strengthen our competitive position in the container train segment.”

The deployment of the third rake on the North South corridor promises improved frequency with one train every four days which will be further enhanced with the addition of the fourth rake, to three trains a week. The Company has a strategic tie-up with Sattva Conware Pvt Ltd, for establishing the ICD at Melpakkam, enabling it to easily service the industrial belt of Sriperumbudur, Ranipet, Trichy, Puducherry and Salem. The Company also has an agreement to access a private rail siding at Pat near Delhi which it currently utilizes for the operations of its second rake.

The Stock closed the day at Rs.29.60, down by Rs.3.80 or 11.38%. The stock hit an intraday high of Rs.33 and low of Rs.28.80.

The total traded quantity was 16084 compared to 2 week average of 13386.

17 law students taken into custody in Chennai

Seventeen law students were on Thursday arrested on charges of ransacking the Sri Lankan Deputy Commissioner’s office in Chennai, police said.

About 20 students of Madras Law College suddenly entered the High Commissioner’s office and started damaging the glass windows and other office equipment including computers, police said.

They raised slogans expressing solidarity with the Lankan Tamils and against the Sri Lankan government.

However, no one was injured in the incident, police said.

Sri Lankan mission in Chennai stoned (Lead)

A group of students pelted stones at the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission here Thursday afternoon, breaking the windowpanes at its entrance, police said.

Heavy reinforcements were rushed to the mission, situated about a kilometre away from the residences of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and Leader of Opposition J. Jayalalitha, police added.

Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner P. Amza was away in Colombo at the time, diplomatic sources said.

‘The miscreants suddenly broke glass window panes at the gate and entered the main building shouting slogans. Even as we rushed for cover, the police arrived and prevented further damage. Though nobody was hurt, the experience has left us shaken,’ an employee at the mission told IANS.

Six police vehicles were later positioned at the mission, situated in a quiet street in the southern part of the city.

CSB to network all branches

Catholic Syrian Bank (CSB) said, on Monday, that all its branches would be networked under core banking solution (CBS) by the end of the current fiscal. The bank had roped in the Chennai-based Laser Soft Infosystems to jointly develop a core banking product to connect all its branches in a move to further strengthen its services.

Addressing a press conference here, Chairman and CEO of the bank, R. Venkataraman, said the bank had earmarked around Rs. 40 crore to implement the CBS project. Once the branches were networked, CSB would be in a position to offer a host of technology-driven products to its customers, he said. Up to now, 100 braches were brought under CBS network.

The bank, he said, would come out with a 1:1 rights issue in the next few days.

AIG Global Real Estate invests in Velankani Tech Park, Chennai

An affiliate of AIG Global Real Estate today announced an investment in Velankani Tech Park, a part of the Bangalore-based Velankani Group. Velankani is developing a notified Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Sriperumbudur, located approximately 50km from Chennai. The proposed development of 8.5 million sq. ft. is aimed to provide plug-and-play space for electronics hardware and telecom component manufacturers and IT/ITES companies. Velankani Tech Park is expected to house around 20-30 global component suppliers and will meet ready-to-move-in space requirements of vendors to telecom original equipment manufacturers & Electronic Manufacturing Services (EMS) giants looking to set-up operations in Sriperumbudur.

Kiron Shah, Director and Founding Member of Velankani Group, commented that the development is uniquely positioned and has a first mover advantage in the region. “The Velankani Tech Park is the only SEZ which will offer a plug & play facility in Sriperumbudur for companies and a seamless experience in commencing operations. Substantial effort has already gone into the conceptualization of the project over the last two years leading to commencement of development at the project site. All basic infrastructure will be provided by Velankani to meet tenant requirements including future expansion.” He further added “AIG Global Real Estate brings tremendous experience in development of industrial parks worldwide and we are excited to partner with them. We will benefit from their global client relationships and hands on design and development expertise. This partnership is a starting point and we believe it will flourish and grow in the future.”

Rajesh Agarwal, Managing Director, AIG Global Real Estate India, stated, “We are excited to partner with the Velankani Group and invest in a project that caters to an unfulfilled demand in the region. We look forward to strengthening and expanding this relationship with Velankani. This investment is a statement of AIG Global Real Estate’s continued commitment to India and our investors, and we are looking forward to expanding its presence in India and building strong relationships with local partners and investing in attractive opportunities in the region.”

Avista Advisory Group were advisors to the Velankani Group on this transaction.