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Mukesh Ambani came, spoke and left
by Ajitha Menon

     Kolkata: Much was expected from the visit of Mukesh Ambani, to the `City of Joy', but the Chairman and Managing Director of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), just came for a two-hour visit, spoke and left. Having stirred a hornet's nest almost a fortnight ago by announcing that there were differences over "ownership issues" with his younger brother Anil vis-`-vis the operations of the Reliance Group, but adding that they were largely in the "private domain", there was an air of expectancy about a possible excitable sound byte emerging from Mukesh during his brief visit to Kolkata to announce the investment plans of Reliance Infocom in West Bengal. He literally came, saw, spoke and went. For the expectant and hovering media - both print and television - Mukesh's decision to stick to the predetermined script was immensely disappointing and disheartening. They were hoping that Mukesh would say something in the wake of the four e-mail messages - two by him and two by Anil - sent to Reliance employees over the last week, as also a comment on Reliance Energy Limited's decision to refer all its future proposals for approval to the RIL Board of Directors, but this never materialized.

     Mukesh simply came to open and attend the Infocom-2004 IT seminar jointly organized by the ABP group and NASSCOM. As the chief of Reliance Infocom, he announced a series of investment plans for West Bengal, including setting up a solution development and service center over the next three years and had a round of the exhibition hall. The gathering at the event was there by invitation only. No one else was allowed in, and there was security to boot. The mood was somber, and business-like. "We have already invested close to Rs.1000 crore in the state, but I feel this is not enough and we will set up a solution development and service centre here that would give employment to over 2500 people in the next three years," Mukesh Ambani said. He also announced that the company would set up a Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology in Kolkata, the first of which is already functioning in Gujarat.

Reliance announces investment plans for West Bengal (Go To Top)

     Kolkata: Reliance Infocom has announced a series of investment plans for West Bengal, including setting up a solution development and service centre over the next three years. "We have already invested close to Rs 1000 crore in the state but I feel this is not enough and we will set up a solution development and service centre here that would give employment to over 2500 people in the next three years," company's Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani said. The company would also set up Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology in Kolkata, the first of which is already functioning in Gujarat, said Ambani, who was inaugurating the Infocom-2004 IT seminar organised by ABP group and Nasscom.

Ganguly faces dissent charge (Go To Top)

     Kolkata: Cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is said to have been called up by match referee Jeff Crowe on a dissent charge. Like Harbhajan Singh, Ganguly made his displeasure quite clear when South African batsman Jacques Kallis was given not out off this appeal today, the fourth day of the ongoing Kolkata Test. Harbhajan reportedly asked Kallis to walk, but was later seen on television apologising to him for the outburst. This is the second successive instance when Ganguly is facing trouble. Recently, ICC match referee had banned him for two Tests following slow over rate during the ODI against Pakistan on the occasion of Platinum Jubilee celebrations on Nov 14.

Gangandeep replaces Nehra for B'desh tour (Go To Top)

     Kolkata: Punjab fast bowler Gangandeep Singh is the only new face in the 15-member cricket squad announced today for the two-Test series against Bangladesh starting in Dhaka later this month. He replaces Ashish Nehra. The Indian team for the three-match one-day series would be announced tomorrow, Cricket Board Secretary SK Nair told reporters in Kolkata. The team announced is as follows: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Mohd Kaif, S S Paul, Gangandeep Singh, Dinesh Kaarthick, Murali Kartik, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Irfan Pathan and Zaheer Khan.

India peg S.Africa back, could win Kolkata Test (Go To Top)

     Kolkata: India put themselves on course for their first home series win in two years as South Africa was put on the mat on the fourth day of the decisive second cricket Test here today. Taking a vital 106-run first innings lead over the visitors, the hosts then had the South Africans tottering at 172 for five at close of play on Wednesday. Off spinner Harbhajan Singh did the most damage. Harbhajan snared four of the five wickets (4/58), completely changing the complexion of the Test after the visitors were at one stage 77 for no loss. Jacques Kallis with a gritty 52 and Zander de Bruyn on nine were at the crease at the close of play. Earlier, India scored 411, adding 52 runs to their overnight tally.

Andhra boy crowned world's Junior Chess Champion (Go To Top)

     Kochi: Andhra Pradesh youngster Pentyala Harikrishna crowned the world's new Junior Chess Champion, the second Indian to win the coveted title after Vishwanathan Anand in 1987, at the 43rd World Junior Boys Championship that concluded in Kochi today. An elated Pentyala said on the occasion, "it is just the first step I cleared, my ultimate aim is become world champion." At the end of 13 rounds of the ongoing championship at Kochi on Monday, Harikrishna was declared the champion with ten points while Armenian Petrosian Tigran bagged silver and Zhao Jun of China finished with Bronze. Over 150 players from 40 foreign countries participated for the prestigious title. In the girls group, Russian Ekaterina Korbut emerged the champion, followed by Elizabeth Paehtz of Germany while Indian girl Eesha Karavade won the bronze. Russia's Ekaterina Korbut, with 10.5 points, won the girls under-20 championship, which was held alongside. The championship was first held in Birmingham, England, in 1951 and it used to be held once every two years. From 1974 onwards it was held every year. The World Junior Girls championship was born in 1983 when it was first staged in Mexico City. From the year 1987 when it was held at Baguio City in the Philippines it was held together with the Boys event.