Under the terms of the deal being negotiated, Ford will form a new unit in India in which it will hold a 49 per cent stake.

[Nasheman news] Ford Motor is nearing a deal with Mahindra & Mahindra to form a new joint-venture company in India.

Ford Motor Co is nearing a deal with Mahindra & Mahindra to form a new joint-venture company in India, a move that will likely see the US automaker cease independent operations in the country, two sources with direct knowledge of the talks told Reuters.

The deal would make Ford the latest automaker to pare back its interests in India. At the end of 2017, General Motors Co downsized its Indian operations and stopped selling cars locally, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy to encourage domestic manufacturing.

Over two decades, Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford invested more than $2 billion in India but has consistently struggled – it currently has a market share of just 3 per cent in India, one of the world’s fastest-growing car markets.

Under the terms of the deal being negotiated, Ford will form a new unit in India in which it will hold a 49 per cent stake, while Mahindra will own 51 per cent, the two sources said.

The US carmaker’s Indian unit will transfer most of its current automotive business to the new entity, including its assets and employees, according to one of the sources.

“It’s like a partial exit (for Ford from India),” the source said.

The deal is expected to close within 90 days, the sources said, adding the value of the transaction was not yet clear.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

Ford said it does not comment on speculation, but added both companies continue to work together “to develop avenues of strategic cooperation that help us achieve commercial, manufacturing and business efficiencies”.

Mahindra too said it does not comment on speculation. It said in a statement it was “working together in identified areas” with Ford after a 2017 partnership arrangement, and “will announce further definitive agreements as we progress on some of the other areas.”

Currently, Ford manufactures and sells its cars in India through its wholly-owned subsidiary. In 2017, it formed a strategic alliance with Mahindra under which, among other things, they will build new cars together, including sport-utility vehicles and electric variants.

Ford has been globally restructuring its businesses with an aim to save $11 billion over the next few years. Last month, its Russian joint venture said it would close two assembly plants and an engine factory in Russia, exiting the country’s passenger vehicle market.

Tough market

India has been a major growth area for global car manufacturers but growth has slowed of late – car sales grew by 3 per cent to just over 3.3 million units in the last fiscal year to March 31, compared with 8 per cent the previous year.

Even so, India is set to become the world’s third-largest car market by 2023 with sales of over 5 million cars annually, according to forecasting firm IHS Markit.

Ford’s decision is a stark reminder of how most foreign automakers have struggled to make major inroads in India, a market dominated by players such as Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor Co.

Ford sold close to 93,000 vehicles in the country last fiscal year, a far cry from market leader Maruti Suzuki which commands a 51 per cent market share and sold more than 1.7 million cars.

Automakers such as Maruti benefit from their vast dealership network and an autonomous local team that can quickly react to market changes.

One of the sources said the Ford-Mahindra deal would lead to more affordable Ford cars in the country, as the company would not need to pay any royalty to its global parent, as the Indian unit has to now.

The funds that accrue to Ford’s India unit because of the deal will also be used to clear some of its accumulated losses, the two sources said.

Puneet Gupta, associate director at IHS Markit, said the deal would help Ford and Mahindra launch new models at a faster pace and lower development cost, which is critical to success in a price sensitive market like India.

Surveen Chawla wrote: “We now have her tiny feet to fill the tiny shoes! Blessed by her wonderful arrival in our little family!”

1. Surveen announced her pregnancy in November 2018
2. She married Akshay Takker in 2015 but made an announcement in 2017
3.  Surveen and akshay have named their daughter Eva

Actress Surveen Chawla and her husband Akshay Thakker welcomed a baby girl recently. Surveen, who has starred in films such as Hate Story 2 andParched, shared a picture of her daughter’s tiny feet and wrote: “We now have her tiny feet to fill the tiny shoes! Blessed by her wonderful arrival in our little family! Welcoming our daughter Eva.” The comments section of the post is filled with congratulatory messages for the new mother and blessing for the little one. Surveen’s small screen celebrity friends including Ekta Kapoor and Aashka Goradia congratulated her on Instagram.

Here’s Surveen Chawla’s post announcing her daughter’s arrival:

Surveen Chawla married Akshay Thakker in Italy in 2015 but she revealed about her wedding two years later. In an interview with news agency IANS, Surveen had said that she kept her marital status a scret partly to “break the myth” about married actresses. “I strongly believe that being married has nothing to do with my profession. It does not make me less beautiful, less charming or sexy. Being married does not make me a less artiste or a professional,” she had said.

Before films, Surveen Chawla starred in several K-Soaps. Ekta Kapoor launched her in Kahin To Hoga, which made Surveen a household name. Surveen also starred in Kasautii Zindagi Kay and Kaajjal. She was last seen on Anurag Kashyap and Vikramaditya Motwane’s web-series Sacred Games.

Bengaluru, Apr 19 : The Election Commission efforts to give a boost to increase of voting per cent in the IT hub Bengaluru went in vain as the so called learned voters in the State Capital failed to turn up at booths in the first phase of polling held yesterday for 14 seats in Karnataka.

The polling reported in the four LS seats including Bangalore rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central and Bangalore South was in down trend, according to reports available in the EC office.
The per centage has gone to minus as compared to 2014 MP election and minus 5.27 per cent was reported in Bengaluru North where 51.26 per cent polling reported as against 56.53 per cent (2014) in the polling held yesterday and the downward trend was reported also in Bengaluru Central (50.84 per cent in 2019, 55.64 per cent in 2014–minus 4.80 per cent), Bengaluru Rural (64.09 per cent and 66.45 per cent- minus 2.36 per cent) and Bengaluru South 54.2 and 55.75 per cent, minus 1.55 per cent).
The overall percentage of voting in the 14 segments, there is slight increase in polling that touched 68.05 as against 67.76 per cent in 2014 elections.

Bengaluru, Apr 18 : Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, former Prime Minister and JDS Supremo, Karnataka Minister Krishna Byregowda are among the early voters in the first phase of Polling which began in the State for 14 Lok Sabha seats today.
Overnight showers in the State Capital and across South Karnataka helped bring down the heat as voters voters started arriving early at the polling booths. However, as the polling began on a brisk note the mercury also started increasing and voters were seen standing in queues near the polling booths.

Union Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, former Minister Revanna Minister D K Shivakumar also joined among the early voters by exercising their franchise with family in their respective Polling booths. The other prominent personalities who voted early were member of Mysore Royal Family Yaduveera Krishnadatta Wodeyar, S M Krishna, cricketer Anil Kumble and prominent seers Sri Vishwesha Theerta swamiji, Sri Siddaganga swamiji and Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra swamiji.
Police sources said that Polling was picking up and it was peaceful through out 14 Lok Sabha constituencies.

Bengaluru, Apr 18 : An estimated 15 per cent polling was reported in 14 Lok Sabha segments in the first phase of election (second phase in the country) at 10 AM.
Official sources said polling was peaceful throughout the 14 segments and barring minor glitches in EVMs the voting process was carried out seamlessly.
Karnataka Director General of Police Neelamani S Raju said no untoward incidents reported from across the 14 segments and polling remained totally peaceful.

Polling ws brisk in Dakshina Kannada segment where BJP’s Nalin Kumar Kateel is seeking his third term. It accounted for 32.10 per cent by 11 AM while it was lowest in Bengaluru Rural at 13.54 per cent.
In the other segments, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru recorded 29.01 per cent, Hassan 23.31 per cent, Chitradurga 16.75 per cent, Tumakuru where former prime minister H D Devegowda is the JD(S) candidate 22,62 per cent, Mandya 17 per cent, Musuru-Kodagu 19.99 per cent, Chamarajanagara 19.21 per cent, Bangalore North 15.85 per cent, Bangalore Central 15.27 per cent, Bangalore South 19.69 per cent, Chikkaballapura 17.57 per cent and Kolar 20/22 per cent.

Prominent among the total number of 241 candidates, who are in the fray in the first phase included former Prime minister H D Deve Gowda (Tumakuru), his two grand-sons, Nikhil K (Mandya), Prajval Revanna (Hassan), Union Ministers DV SadanandaGowda (Bengaluru North), K H Muniyappa (Kolar), V Srinivasprasad (Chamarajanagara), Veerappa Moily (Chikkaballapura), Rajya sabha member B K Hariprasad (Bengaluru South) and State BJP General secretary Shobha Karandlaje (Udupi-Chikkamagaluru).

Top politicians and their family, seers and other prominent personnel queued up early in the morning to exercise their franchise and the early birds who turned up the polling booths were chief minsiter H D Kumaraswamy, former prime minister H D Devegowda, Union minister Nirmala Sitaraman, D V Sadananda Gowda, former chief minister Siddaramaiah, former External Affairs Miniser S M Krishna, Veerappa Moily ,Actor-turned politician Prakash Rai (Raj), member of Mysore Royal Family Yaduveera Krishnadatta Wadiyar, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and his wife Sudha Murthy and seers including Pejwar Mutt head Viswesha Thirtha, Siddaganga Mutt seer Sidddaganga swamiji and Suttur Mutt seer Shivaratri Deshikendra swamiji, ace cricketer Anil Kumble and others.

In a tragic incident assistant polling officer Shantamurthy (48) died due to cardiac arrest while he was discharging his duties at polling station No. 48 in Hanur town coming under Chamarajanagara segment. He was the principal of Hanur Government college. Soon after polling began he fell ill and was shifted to nearby hospital but died.
Meanwhile polling process could be affected as weatherman has warned of widespread rains in the South Interior Karnataka late this afternoon. The region reported heavy rains in many districts in South Karnataka. This has caused concern among the candidates who fear that voting percentage could be affected.

Chamarajanagara, Karnataka, Apr 18 : An Additional Polling officer posted at Sultan Sharief Circle, in the town, died following severe cardiac arrest while discharging his duty
at his Polling booth today.
According to Official sources the deceased was identified as Shanthamurthy (48), Principal of a College at Hanur.
He complained severe chest pain and was immediately rushed to nearby Hospital where he breathed last.

The forum observed that if companies were really worried about the environment, they should provide environment-friendly bags for free to their customers.

Bata India Limited has been told to pay Rs 9,000 to a consumer for deficiency in services. Acting on a complaint filed by the customer, a Chandigarh consumer forum has slammed Bata for asking the customer to pay Rs 3 for a paper bag.

In his complaint, Chandigarh resident Dinesh Prasad Raturi, told the consumer forum that he had purchased a pair of shoes on February 5 from a Bata store located in Sector 22D. The store charged him Rs 402 which also included charges for the paper bag. Raturi told the forum that by charging him for the bag, Bata was also endorsing its brand on the bag which was not justified.

The complainant sought a refund of Rs 3 and compensation for deficiency in services. Countering this, Bata India refuted the allegations of deficiency in services. The forum said compelling a customer to pay for a paper bag was a clear deficiency in service as it was the store’s duty to provide a free bag to the customer who had purchased their product.

The consumer forum has also directed Bata India to provide free paper bags to its customers. It also observed that if the companies were really worried about the environment, they should provide free environment-friendly bags to their customers.

The forum in its decision has directed Bata India Limited to refund the cost of the bag (Rs 3) and litigation charges, i.e. Rs 1000.

Besides asking Bata to pay Rs 3000 as compensation to the customer for the mental agony caused by deficiency in services, the forum has also directed the leading shoe brand to deposit Rs 5,000 in the legal aid account of the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

The Chandigarh consumer forum’s decision is an eye opener for stores that compel customers to pay up to Rs five for carry bags.

Agencies

The raids were conducted at the premises of an AMMK leader in Theni where assembly bypolls are scheduled tomorrow.

The income tax department has seized unaccounted cash worth Rs 1.48 crore after an overnight search at a shop of a worker of TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK in Andipatti near Tamil Nadu’s Theni ahead of assembly by-polls, officials said on Wednesday.

This comes after the Lok Sabha election to the Vellore constituency in the southern state was cancelled on Tuesday after officials recovered huge amounts of cash from a building allegedly linked to a prominent Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader last week. The cash seizure of Rs 11.53 crore was the biggest from a single location till date during the election season.

The police have also detained four Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam workers for restraining the officials from entering the premise at Andipatti, where a by-poll is scheduled to be held on Thursday.

“After we got information that a huge amount of unaccounted cash has been kept in a shop owned by an AMMK worker, we raided it. During the nine-hour-long raid, the I-T department seized the cash packed in 92 covers,” Pallavi Baldev, returning officer and Theni district collector, said.

The ward numbers, voters’ names and address were written on each and every cover which were filled with cash. They had planned to give Rs 300 to each voter, said sources with the EC.

According to the I-T department’s officials, they launched the raid at around on Tuesday to 5.30am on Wednesday.

According to news agency , I-T department’s director general (investigations) B Murali Kumar said the “sworn statement of the person present in the premises was recorded and he said that Rs 2 crore in cash was brought in there for distribution to voters in Andipatti panchayat union area on April 16.”

The shopkeeper fled the spot after downing the shutter when the team, comprised officials of the Election Commission-appointed surveillance squad and the I-T department, arrived at the shop. An argument broke out between AMMK workers and the officials and police had to open fire during the raids to disperse the party’s supporters, who objected to the action being taken. No one was injured in the firing, officials said.

“When I-T and EC officials tried to access the shop, a gang blocked them. A few also tried for run-away with cash bundles. Therefore, the police force which accompanied the officials opened fire in the air as a precautionary measure,” Baldev said.

A detailed report has been sent to Election Commission and income tax department in New Delhi, she said.

The AMMK’s Andippati constituency by-poll candidate K Jayakumar denied the charge, saying that the cash was seized from an office of the ruling AIADMK.

“We have not kept any money in our place. As we had noticed that the AIADMK’s workers have kept money, we informed the flying squad of EC. However, they are accusing us,” said Jayakumar.

I-T department officials also conducted searches in DMK’s senior leader and candidate K for the Thoothukkudi Lok Sabha seat Kanimozhi’s residence and office on Tuesday night.

This is not the first time an election has been countermanded on charges of bribing voters in Tamil Nadu.

The by-elections in the RK Nagar seat, held by former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, was cancelled in 2017 after bribery charges. In 2016, the commission had cancelled polling in Thanjavur and Aravakurichi assembly constituencies after the AIADMK and DMK were alleged to have been bribing voters.

All the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu go to polls on April 18. Elections are also being held on 22 assembly seats that are vacant in the state in two phases on April 18 and May 19. The counting of votes will be held on May 23.

Thoothukudi, Apr 17 : DMK candidate for Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency Kanimozhi on Tuesday night accused that the “Election Commission and Income Tax (IT) were part of Modi tie-up”.

Talking to newsmen soon after the completion of Income Tax raids in her house here, she said, “they are conducting searches because I am in the opposition.
The IT officials came to my house and sought permission for conducting searches. When I asked them whom did they want to inquire, they replied “candidate.” Further when I asked whether they possess necessary orders to conduct the searches, they have no answer. According to my knowledge, this is illegal.”

“Despite that I extended full cooperation to the officials. I was issued summons at 0930 pm and asked to report a statement at the spot. after two hours of search, the IT officials admitted that nothing was found in the house. The IT team returned empty handed,” she claimed.
Kanimozhi, who is DMK’s women wing president said the IT raid is ”anti-democratic” and the DMK will not be cowed down by these threats and intimidation, adding,” We will emerge victorious.The ruling party is scared of our victory, hence they were carrying out raids to tarnish our image.”
“Crores of rupees were stashed in the house of BJP candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan. Whether the IT will conduct searches in Tamilisai’s house,” she added.
Answering a query, she said, “They might have come with a desire to rescind the election in Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, like the Vellore constituency, but their wish became futile.”

[nasheman news] On Monday (April 15), the Supreme Court of India has refused to stay the order of Madras High Court to ban the Chinese video sharing platform TikTok.

Last week (April 8), the Supreme Court of India had rejected an urgent hearing plea by Chinese media giant ByteDance (India) against ban imposed on its TikTok app by Madras High Court.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Bytedance (India) Technology Pvt. Ltd, owner of Tik Tok, argued for a stay against the ban, contending that it was causing the company irreparable damage.

However, the Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi along with justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjeev Khanna ordered the case be heard after the Madras High Court made its observations tomorrow (April 16) with both parties present before it.

The Madurai bench ordered a ban on TikTok as it noted that the app exposes children to pornography, and makes them vulnerable to sexual predators online.

Also, there are reports about third party videos being uploaded on to the app without consent, which is a violation of the right to privacy. The court had asked the government to ban the downloading of the app and also asked the government to answer if it will be enacting a statute to protect children against cybercrime, similar to the one enacted in the US (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act).

The court had observed that there was inappropriate content, including pornography, on the platform that was easily accessible to children.

The Supreme Court will now be hearing the case on April 22. The ban comes in the light of rapid and far reaching growth of the Chinese social media apps in India.

In an email statement, TikTok spokesperson told Inc42, “At TikTok, we have faith in the Indian Judicial system and the stipulations afforded to social media platforms by the Information Technology (Intermediaries Guidelines) Rules, 2011. We are committed to continuously enhancing our existing measures and introducing additional technical and moderation processes as part of our ongoing commitment to our users in India.”

Story By : Faizan rizwan