Desam plans to move no trust against Kiran

May 28: The Telugu Desam has decided to move a no confidence motion against the Kiran Kumar Reddy government on the farmers’ issue in the next session of the Assembly.

Talking on the sidelines of Mahanadu, the Telugu Desam MP, Dr M.V. Mysoora Reddy, said on Saturday that the party would move the motion since it had 90 MLAs whereas the YSR Congress, led by Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who had been threatening to topple the government, had only one.

“We will certainly move a no confidence motion on the farmers’ problems. The party has been fighting for farmers’ causes and will stand by them,” Dr Reddy said. Taking potshots at the YSR Congress, the MP wondered how the party could bring down the Congress government with just a single MLA. “If they want to pull down the government with one MLA they can go ahead. We have 90 MLAs. Even then the government will not fall,” the leader remarked.

Describing Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s statement as immature, he said if they gave a notice for no confidence, the Governor would call for a show of strength. Dr Mysoora Reddy added that any MLA could move a no confidence motion against a government but the same had to be backed by 10 per cent of the strength of the House — 30 in this case — to have a floor test.

Nano starts overseas journey; Sri Lanka first destination

 Tata Motors on Saturday said it has begun exporting Nano with the official launch of the small car in Sri Lanka, with a price tag starting at LKR9.25 lakh (about Rs3.80 lakh).

"Sri Lanka has become the first international market for the Tata Nano, with the people's car being commercially launched in the country today (Saturday)," the company said in a statement.

The car will be sold through its 50-year old distributor in the country -- Diesel & Motor Engineering PLC (DIMO).

"Tata Motors has already established a firm footprint in international markets...The Tata Nano will play a major role in the next phase of growth of our international business," Tata Motors Managing Director and Group CEO Carl-Peter Forster said.

A company spokesperson said the three variants of the car will be available at ex-showroom prices between LKR9.25 lakh (about Rs3.8 lakh) and LKR11 lakh (over Rs4.5 lakh). In India, the car is priced between Rs1.40 lakh and Rs1.97 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Talking about Nano's future journey, Tata Motors Managing Director (India Operations) P. M. Telang said: "The stupendous international response to the unveiling of the Tata Nano in 2008 established that customers across the world were awaiting such a car.”

"We have already formulated plans for its introduction in several countries, to be implemented over the next few years."

He, however, did not share details such as which could be the next global market for Nano.

Nano, touted as the world's cheapest car, is now produced at Sanand in Gujarat for the Indian market after initially being producing at Pantnagar in Uttarakhand.

Besides Nano, the company today introduced five more products in the commercial vehicle segment. It launched Tata Divo luxury buses, Tata Marcopolo low-floor buses, Prima 4928 tractor trailor, 1618 truck and a high-end variant of the Ace.

Tata Motors had started sending the Nano to overseas markets from April with shipment of 498 units.

Besides Sri Lanka, the firm was exploring possibilities in different neighbouring nations such as Nepal.

In 2009, Tata Motors unveiled the European version of Nano -- Nano Europa -- at the 79th Geneva Motor Show.

The company was expected to launch the car in Europe by 2011. The version in Europe is said to have airbags, central locking and would be Euro V emission norms compliant.

Although Tata Motors did not reveal any price tag for the Nano Europa, British media had predicted a price of over $6,000. The Indian edition of the car hit the roads in 2009 for about $2,500.

A risqué affair

 The concept of naughty has got tangled in knots again. A slew of titillating ads on deodorants on television have yet again sparked the “decency debate” as the Information and Broadcasting ministry has directed the Advertising Standards Council of India to take action against the advertisements that depict women as “ objects of desire”.

Well, one definitely can’t advertise lingerie with a sari-clad woman neither can condoms be advertised without showing some intimacy. But, do deodorants, bikes and mango drinks really have to ride on passion to reach the consumers?

Advertisers are coming up with smart ways to make these ads humorous, witty and attention grabbing. However, it’s a thin line that divides fun from indecency, risqué from obscenity and naughty humour from objectionable portrayal. So, how far and no further can the creative licence be stretched.

Adman and director of Delhi Belly Abhinay Deo, who is all for creative freedom, feels that these deo ads have definitely crossed the limit. “It is about hinting and not making things obvious. They should be smart enough to say things in a subtle manner and yet sell their product. The audience shouldn’t cringe looking at your work,” says Abhinay.

Navjyoti Pegu, creative director, MWG Tag, feels while there is nothing wrong with the content and treatment (till it becomes crass), the only difference is in perception. He says, “The Axe ad has been lauded internationally. The Western society is quite open when compared to India where the entire family watches television together. For Example, the Aamsutra ad starring Katrina Kaif is not outright suggestive. It does hint at intimacy between a man and a woman, but nobody raised a brow. I agree that a product can be sold in a thousand other ways, but till the time an ad maintains its decency,” clears Pegu.

There is no denying the fact that sex sells and it’s a popular route to woo consumers. However, advertisements exaggerate reality and are not to be taken literally, warns Shiveshwar Raj Singh, group creative director with ULKA. He says that item songs in Bollywood films are metaphoric of objectification of women and the Censor Board has no objections with Munni Badnaam and Sheela ki Jawaani. “I wonder why we have different standards for different things. If we are fine watching a beauty pageant, we should be okay with women getting attracted to men.”

Seconds Udayan Chakravarty, creative director, JWT, “I feel we are just over-reacting to this. If Shiela ki Jawaani, which is more blatantly sexual than these ads, is allowed to enter our living rooms, then we should better appreciate the craft of innuendos.”

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