First Quote Added
April 10, 2026
Latest Quote Added
"“The grammar of business is no be respected.” — French Finance Minister Thierry Breton, expressing “profound concerns” about the unsolicited offer and its lack of advance warning."
"“I'd like to present to you my fellow managers — my son isn’t one of them.” - Arcelor chief executive Guy Dolle, opening a news conference by mocking the presence of Indian-born Mittal’s son as his company’s finance director."
"“There are two types of steel: high-end and commoditised. There are those who specialise in a sort of perfume like Arcelor and others like Mittal who produce Eau de Cologne.” — Dolle."
"“We are not at war here, we are creating value for shareholders.” — Lakshmi Mittal at a news conference."
"“I am determined, as is the Government, to do everything to preserve everything that we have worked for and that we believe in … by using all necessary means to fend off the hostile (bid).” — Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker."
"“I wish to state strongly that protectionist impulses have no place in modern economic governance.” — Breton in Financial Times, rejecting claims that France’s “economic patriotism” policy is unfair to Indian and other foreign firms."
"“What do you want out of this economic patriotism? A strong European company, a strong European champion. This is the merger of two European companies: no job cuts, better future, better product, more investment.” — Mittal in European Voice."
"“The concerns (about the Mittal offer) that have been expressed are entirely legitimate. I don’t understand what the fuss is about.” — French President Jacques Chirac in India."
"“I cannot perceive why there must be hostile takeovers within the EU.” — Jean-Claude Juncker in FT Deutschland."
"“We have been courting for a long time. Now it is time to be engaged to be married.” — Dolle, announcing a tie-up with Russia’s Severstal to thwart Mittal offer."
"“Arcelor’s shareholders are being forced to hand over control of their company, whilst being denied a premium.” — Mittal spokesman on the Arcelor-Severstal deal."
"“At the end, it was decided unanimously by the Arcelor board (to) recommend the new offer of Mittal Steel. We concluded that Mittal Steel’s was a better offer than that of Severstal.” — Arcelor chairman Joseph Kinsch, after Arcelor accepts sharply higher Mittal bid. — Reuters"
Young though he was, his radiant energy produced such an impression of absolute reliability that Hedgewar made him the first sarkaryavah, or general secretary, of the RSS.
- Gopal Mukund Huddar
Largely because of the influence of communists in London, Huddar's conversion into an enthusiastic supporter of the fight against fascism was quick and smooth. The ease with which he crossed from one worldview to another betrays the fact that he had not properly understood the world he had grown in.
Huddar would have been 101 now had he been alive. But then centenaries are not celebrated only to register how old so and so would have been and when. They are usually celebrated to explore how much poorer our lives are without them. Maharashtrian public life is poorer without him. It is poorer for not having made the effort to recall an extraordinary life.
I regret I was not there to listen to Balaji Huddar's speech [...] No matter how many times you listen to him, his speeches are so delightful that you feel like listening to them again and again.
By the time he came out of Franco's prison, Huddar had relinquished many of his old ideas. He displayed a worldview completely different from that of the RSS, even though he continued to remain deferential to Hedgewar and maintained a personal relationship with him.