Reports on 8216;end of Johnnie Walker8217; completely false: Diageo

8220;This is in keeping with an announcement that Diageo plc,the makers of Johnnie Walker and the worlds largest spirits company,had made in 2009,regarding the restructuring of its production operations in Scotland. With a view to upgrade and expand bottling capacity and in anticipation of future growth in demand for its brands,including Johnnie Walker,the plan included the closure of a bottling plant in Kilmarnock and an investment of 86 million pounds in a new bottling hall at one of Diageos other packaging plants at Leven in Fife,8221; the company spokesman further said in her statement.

8220;Before the closure of the Kilmarnock bottling plant,80 percent of Johnnie Walker was already bottled at Diageos other Scottish bottling facilities and the brand will continue to be distilled,blended and bottled in Scotland,8221; the spokesperson said.

Johnnie Walker is the largest Scotch whiskey brand in the world,selling over 18 million nine litre cases per annum.

8220;Diageos interim results published in February showed a net sales growth of Johnnie Walker of 15 percent,making it the companys best performing global brand, the spokesperson said.

SP8217;s Muslim appeasement can lead to animosity: Uma Bharti

Lucknow

Senior BJP leader Uma Bharti today asked the Uttar Pradesh government to desist from 8220;Muslim appeasement policy8221;,saying it could create animosity between the minority community and Hindus.

8220;There should not be a Muslim appeasement policy..it could not only create a sense of insecurity among the Hindus but could also lead to animosity between the two communities,8221; Bharti said here,in reply to a question on the UP government8217;s move to review terror cases.

Citing the recent detention of Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan in the US,Bharti said a similar atmosphere of 8220;animosity and mistrust8221; should not be created in India.

8220;Shahrukh Khan is a film star and has little significance for me,but the incident has a great social significance,8221; she said.

Bharti,who took oath as member of the UP Assembly today,cited schemes like providing Rs 30,000 to Muslim girls to stress that there should not be any discrimination on the basis of religion.

The former Madhya Pradesh chief minister refused to delve into the reasons for her party8217;s defeat in the recent Assembly elections,saying they have already been discussed and her role would now be that of a 8220;vigilant soldier of people8221;.

8220;I am concerned about the safety and security of the people of the state,8221; she said.

When asked to comment on the induction of tainted BSP leader Babu Singh Kushwaha into her party,she evaded reply.

Stressing that she would be taking up issues concerning the people of the state and her constituency Charkahari,she warned that though BJP had lesser members in the House,8221;it has more moral strength8221;.