NEW DELHI: The first day of Maharashtra Assembly after the government formation in the state witnessed noisy scenes as Maharashtra Navnirman Sena workers snatched away Samajwadi Party leader Abu Azmi's mike. MNS may have just 13 MLAs in the 288-member state assembly, but it could not prevent them from creating pandemonium in the house on their maiden appearance on Monday. The newly elected MLAs resorted to unparliamentary method to prevent Samjawadi Party (SP) legislator Abu Azmi from taking oath in Hindi. Azmi termed the MNS action an insult to the national language. "Raj Thackeray has insulted our national language. I think he follows some other Constitution. He should go and live in England if he does not respect India's national language," said Azmi.Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav too strongly supported Azmi. Mulayam said Azmi was only showing his respect for the national language by taking his oath in Hindi. Remote controlled by their party chief Raj Thackeray, the MNS MLAs had no qualms displaying the rowdy behaviour to prevent Azmi from taking his oath. The MNS had earlier threatened to use muscle power in the house if Azmi took his oath in Hindi.As soon as Azmi started his oath in Hindi, the MNS legislators snatched his mike, scuffled with him and tried to tear up the document of oath even as the high profile SP leader continued his read through the chaos. Ahead of the oath taking ceremony, Azmi had been ranged against the Thackerays on both sides of the divide. His decision had raised the hackles of the MNS and the Shiv Sena, both self-styled champions of all things Marathi. Earlier, Raj had written to all 288 MLAs asking them take their oath in Marathi. He also said Hindi is not the national language of Marathis. But an unfazed Azmi ticked off the MNS chief for opposing the national language.
Sunday, February 28, 2010 HAVANA: Hundreds of wealthy merchants and cigar aficionados from all parts of the world gathered in Havana this week to bid high stakes for humidors full of premium cigars. Cuba's annual Habanos festival ended on Friday night with an auction of ornate humidors of cedar and mahogany stacked with hand-rolled stogies that raised 800,000 euros ($1.09 million dollars). Habanos S.A. executives this month said cigar sales fell 8 percent to $360 million in 2009, so they have created the Julieta, a smaller, milder version of the Romeo y Julieta cigar, aimed specifically at female smokers. Women now make up only 5 to 10 percent of customers for Habanos. But even with the creation of the Julieta, Garcia said Habanos has only modest hopes for 2010 sales, due largely to a weak economy in Spain, the biggest market for Cuban cigars. The flavor of premium tobacco relies on the soil and climate in which it is grown. The western province of Pinar Del Rio, famous fo...
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