AV 10th April 2021

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE Things to remember as lockdown rules ease

Gurkha exservicemen may seek legal action over pension-pay discrimination

SEE PAGE - 9

SEE PAGE - 15

Covid-19 has pushed the succession discussion up the family business agenda

R

SEE PAGE - 11

SEE PAGE - 21

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

BRITAIN

10 - 16 APRIL 2021 - VOL 49 ISSUE 48

inside:

IN DENIAL Ethnic minorities dismiss Downing Street’s claims, insist institutional racism exists in the UK

Priyanka Mehta

Ethnic minorities in Britain are angry and disappointed with the Tory government as they condemn the landmark report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities.

Doctors, politicians, lawyers and human rights activists were baffled when Dr. Tony Sewell, the commission’s chairman insisted that there was no evidence “of actual institutional racism”. On the contrary, Downing Street noted that the UK should be seen as an international exemplar of racial equality, and has played down the impact of structural factors in ethnic disparities.

Continued on page 6

Biden invites Modi to climate summit, Kerry plans visit to India

Vaccines: Your questions answered SEE PAGE - 16-17

Impressive turnout in Assembly polls across 5 states

The voting for Assembly elections across five states, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Assam and West Bengal, concluded on Tuesday with an impressive turnout, between 65 per cent to over 82 per cent. While it was a busy polling day, all eyes were fixed at the tough battle in Tamil Nadu where the Congress along with its allies like the DMK locked in a keen contest to regain turf in South India. Sporadic violence was also reported from parts of West Bengal which is going to polls in eight phases.

Polling was held in 475 seats across the four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry, and the remaining phases will cover only West Bengal, before the counting of votes on May 2.

Continued on page 25

2 UK

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNews

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

with Keith Vaz

Lord Woolley becomes the first Black man to head an Oxbridge college

Raj Baddhan Raj Baddhan is the Chief Executive of Lyca Media and has over 15 years of radio broadcasting experience. Previously, he headed the Midland’s leading Asian radio station, Sabras Radio where he held the post of Director. Prior to Sabras Radio, Raj worked with Radio XL in Birmingham and ZEE Radio in London. His wealth of broadcasting experience has led to revenues increase at Sabras Radio, with award-winning output that has taken the station to a new level during his 14-year tenure at the brand.

Raj is also the founder of leading UK Asian media, BizAsiaLive.com, which launched in 2005 & remains the UK’s only Asian media news portal. With a team of over 10 writers globally, BizAsiaLive.com is the only stop for Asian media industry news and reports. He completed graduated in Media, Business & Communication at University of Central England.

Raj’s interests include keeping fit, travelling, and networking with like for like individuals.

1.

Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?

New York! Even though I was born in Birmingham and have worked in Leicester and now London, there's something very special about the American city. I've been there half a dozen times and the love I have for the culture, ambience & people there, is just something else!

What are your proudest achievements?

Quite a few. On top of the list is being appointed the CEO of Lyca Media, one of the biggest Asian media brands in London, followed by my award-winning success at Sabras Radio and starting up the UK's only Asian media news website, BizAsiaLive.com.

Other smaller achievements like the ample amount of love I receive only with well over 150k followers.

What inspires you?

2.

3.

My biggest inspiration is seeing the journey of my seniors. Watching their rise and fall, has not only motivated me but I've also learned the rights and wrongs of running various businesses.

What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

I think my own compliances. At my previous work, I had become too comfortable with the daily running’s that I had forgotten about the challenges that I enjoyed when I first took over.

It's taught me to remember the challenges that drives one person in a successful career. Also, never be afraid about taking a risk when it comes to new opportunities.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?

Chris Moyles! Not only is a great broadcaster but a fantastic entertainer!

I used to listen to him religiously when he was on Radio 1. I don’t get to listen

4.

5.

to him much now on Radio X but he certainly inspired me when I was studying media at university.

What is the best aspect about your current role?

The best part is working commercial brands that I had not worked with at my previous station. Now that I have relocated to London, having that direct connect with clients & vendors will be a much more enjoyable experience in turning around my stations over the next few months.

And the worst?

6.

7.

Being in London - The travel!

Luckily, I do not live too far from the studios so that is not an issue.

However, travelling outside the office for meetings, is quite something! Grrr!

What are your long-term goals?

8.

Making Lyca Radio and Dilse Radio the most listened to Asian radio brands in London & beyond!

If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?

I'd change the perception of media studies - a subject that is often frowned at! So many aspiring individuals up and down the country struggle to find work in the media industry because of the lack of information or help.

Opening the door to further training would be a great start. Let's together help our fellow Asians in gaining work at big media institutes. . If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?

I'm quite into politics these days - I think someone from India - Indira or Rajiv Gandhi - There would be quite a few (hard-hitting) questions from my side to pass the time on this desert island!

9.

10

FINANCIAL A SERVICES MORTGAGES Residential Buy to Let Remortgages

PROTECTION Life Insurance Critical Illness Income Protection

Please conta act:

Dinesh Shonchhatra S Mortgage Ad dviser

Call: 020 8424 C 4 8686 / 07956 810647 77 High Street, Wealdston ne, Harrow, HA3 5DQ mortgage@majorestate.co om ~ majorestate.com

A political and equalities activist has become the first black man to be elected head of an Oxbridge college. Lord Simon Woolley, founding director of campaign group Operation Black Vote, will be the newly elected principal of Cambridge University's Homerton College. The former Equality and Human Rights Commissioner reportedly said it was a "must-have role". He will succeed Professor Geoffrey Ward on 1st October 2021.

Simon Woolley is the Founding Director of Operation Black Vote, the internationally renowned campaigning NGO which he launched in 1996. OBV works with ethnic minorities in the UK to increase understanding of civic society, participation in Parliament and public life, and to promote equality and human rights. Formerly an Equality and Human Rights Commissioner, in 2018 Lord Woolley was appointed by Prime Minister Theresa May to create and lead the UK Government’s pioneering Race Disparity Unit. The Unit collects, analyses and publishes

Lord Simon Woolley

data on how crime, education and health are affected by ethnicity.

Lord Woolley said, “What a truly great honour to be appointed the next Principal of Homerton College. Its history, from its origins in the East end of London, and its values of inclusion, dynamism and integrity, along with its vision to be a beacon of hope and academic excellence, make this a must-have role. It’s a great privilege to follow in the footsteps of Professor Geoff Ward, and I hope I can balance the College’s friendliness and warmth with ambition, as he has done so well.

I’m excited to get to know the staff and students in Homerton and the wider University of Cambridge, and I’m excited for the next part of

Homerton’s journey.”

Fostered and then adopted as a small child, Lord Woolley grew up on a council estate in Leicester, and left school without A-levels. Lord Woolley has a track record of addressing representational imbalances, transforming institutions, and nurturing individuals. His cross-party and cross-sector work with Operation Black Vote has seen the number of MPs from black and minority ethnic backgrounds rise from 4 to 65 over the past two decades. In collaboration with Magdalen College, Oxford, he has been instrumental in the development of Pathway to a programme Success, designed to equip future BME leaders with the tools and knowledge required for senior leadership.

Woolley was Simon knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in June 2019 and was created a life peer in December of the same year.

Sonita Alleyne was elected as head of Jesus College, Cambridge in 2019 and Baroness Amos at University College, Oxford in 2020.

Tributes paid to teenager who died in Rushall collision On 1st April, Thursday, tributes were paid to a 19-year-old teenager who unfortunately died following a collision in Rushall. Arjun Singh Gandham was a passenger in a Seat Leon which hit a parked car on Pelsall Lane on Friday evening.

The West Midlands Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances around the collision.

In a statement Arjun's family said, "Our beloved son, brother, grandson, nephew and friend.

Arjun was a hardworking, witty

Arjun Singh Gandham Image Courtesy: West Midlands Police

and loving young man. Any room he entered lit up with laughter.

Arjun thrived on bringing people

happiness and joy. We are devastated by the loss of Arjun but receiving so much support and seeing how much he was loved brings us great comfort.

A 19-year-old man from the Seat Leon has since been discharged from hospital. A man and woman from the parked Chevrolet Trax have also now been discharged, as was their nine-year-old daughter who was released at the weekend.

The Serious Collision Investigation Team are continuing to appeal for information.

Mother pays tribute to Smita Mistry O

n Thursday, 1st April, mother of Smita Mistry paid tribute to her “much loved daughter” following her death earlier this month.

32-year-old Smita Mistry

who was also known as Samita Saunders in the community, was found by officers inside a property in Gedge Way, Leicester in late March.

In a tribute her mother said, “During the early hours of Wednesday 24 March, I was visited by two female police officers who informed me that my daughter had been found dead at her home. The shock I felt will remain with me for the rest of my life. Smita was only 32 years old.

“Smita was a muchloved daughter to me. I would like to thank Leicestershire Police from the bottom of my heart for Shaban Akram their efforts during this quered mustard and blue investigation and for their Superdry jacket, blue Nike support, helping me with jogging bottoms and a red sympathy and kindness.

“I would also like to long sleeved Armani t-shirt.

Appeal to trace vulnerable 22-year-old from Billesley The West Midlands Police are urgently appealing for help from the community to trace Shaban Akram who has gone missing from his home in Billesley, Birmingham.

The 22-year-old is considered vulnerable and both the family and police are extremely concerned for his safety and well-being.

Shaban is described as slim, with short, black hair and a brown beard. He was last seen wearing a che-

Smita Mistry Image Courtesy: Leicestershire Police

thank Azara from Aylestone Taxis and his staff for their ongoing support to me. I now ask for our family to be allowed to grieve in the privacy of our homes. May Smita rest in peace.”

Frank Farrell, 36, of St Peter’s Road, Leicester, has been charged with the murder of 32-year-old Smita Mistry. He has been remanded into custody.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

COMMENTS

3

10 - 16 April 2021

Britain’s Ostrich Syndrome There has been plenty of criticism in the media and wider community about the recently published Race report. The Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities said family structure and social class had a bigger impact than race on how people's lives turned out as Downing Street out and out denied that institutional racism had any place in the UK. This is perhaps, the classic illustration of Britain or the Tory Government burying its head in the sand and thinking everything is just fine.

They often say the first step in solving any problem is by acknowledging that there is one and eventually addressing it.

What has baffled human rights activists, doctors, teachers and politicians and the corporates is the claim that the UK should be seen as an international exemplar of racial equality, and how Downing Street has played down the impact of structural factors in ethnic disparities.

In Downing Street’s defence, Dr Tony Sewell, the commission’s chair said that the report did not deny that racism exists in Britain. But in his statement to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he maintained, “What we have seen is that the term ‘institutional racism’ is sometimes wrongly applied and it’s been a sort of a catch-all phrase for micro-aggressions or acts of racial abuse. Also, people use it interchangeably – systematic racism, structural racism [are] just being used wrongly.”

The main findings of the 264-page report included: Children from ethnic-minority communities did as well or better than white pupils in compulsory education, with black Caribbean pupils the only group to perform less well. This success in education has "transformed British society over the last 50 years into one offering far greater opportunities for all". The pay gap between all ethnic minorities and the white majority population had shrunk to 2.3% overall and was barely significant for employ-

ees under 30. Diversity has increased in professions such as law and medicine. But some communities continue to be "haunted" by historic racism, which is creating "deep mistrust" and could be a barrier to success.

The commission was set up after Black Lives Matter antiracism protests across the country last summer - triggered by the killing of George Floyd in the US. The report further added that evidence had found that factors such as geography, family influence, socio-economic background, culture and religion had "more significant impact on life chances than the existence of racism".

What has perhaps, been an embarrassment for the government is the fact that some of those who were consulted for the review have distanced themselves from it now. This includes Dal Babu who was a Metropolitan police chief superintendent and one of the UK’s most senior British Asian officers until leaving the force when he was rejected for promotion, said he regretted taking part in an evidence-gathering Zoom session for the commission’s report. A bright shoot in the review is the acknowledgement of the contributions of the Indian diaspora and their progress. According to the review, Indian pupils tend to perform well in education and also go on to have high average incomes as a result, a model that needs further research to be replicated across other ethnicities. The report also finds Indians are among those with the highest net property wealth, living in good neighbourhoods and overall tend to see “fewer obstacles and less prejudice” in British society.

And perhaps, the report rightly opposes the usage of BAME, which is used to lump all ethnic minorities together, dubbing it as “demeaning” because it categorises people in relation to what they are not, rather than what they are.

Treat others as you would want to be treated Much of the speculation in today’s international arena is about Boris Johnson’s upcoming trip to India. With the increase in number of cases of coronavirus in India, critics believe UK needs to shut its border to India, though they fear that the UK government is afraid to take precautionary steps to avoid offending India as it may cost the country its vaccine doses.

A recent article in The Guardian, 'UK faces difficult path as it resumes courtship with India’ criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as ‘stifling democracy’. It went to compare how Home Secretary Priti Patel, a fellow Gujarati as Mr Modi believes and unabashedly praises Hindu nationalism or RSS sentiments, whereas Jo Johnson, PM Johnson’s own brother remains a voice of reason, speaking constantly against India’s ‘failing democracy’.

The article ends with a question on whether Prime Minister Johnson shares his brother’s view on Modi, or is he more aligned with his home secretary.

Let’s look at the current issues Britain is facing. Community’s Secretary Robert Jenrick who himself was embroiled in an alleged unlawful housing project, said that it was important not to "harm your office or public life more generally", following criticism of former Prime Minister David Cameron over his paid role with the financial company Greensill Capital.

On the other hand, as we went to press, the crisis engulfing Sanjeev Gupta’s GFG Alliance metals empire has reportedly spread to alleged sharp practices on the internet. The Times reported that the GFG Alliance said that it has launched an internal investigation into allegations that its companies were using web domain names uncannily similar to those of rivals.

Nirav Modi, a fugitive diamantaire scammed Punjab National Bank of US$ 2 billion. He is currently at Wandsworth Prison, waiting to appeal against his extradition order by Priti Patel.

Vijay Mallya, who should have been extradited by now, is

seeking asylum in the UK after £1bn of alleged fraud in India.

A UK court is presiding over Sanjay Bhandari’s extradition case on 9 April. Sanjay is an accused arms dealer and "proclaimed offender" wanted in India on money laundering charges.

Simon Jenkins in an article had said that no one will believe that Britain doesn’t launder money. He wrote, “If I walked into my bank and tried to deposit £55m, I would be asked to see the manager, if not the police. But if I were to shift such sums through a Belgravia flat or a West End jeweller or an offshore tax haven, I would be offered a tier 1 golden visa and honoured status as an inward investor. It is McMafia stream this way, sir, no questions asked…”

A country that is so steeped in financial corruption- a safe haven for fraudsters, cannot point fingers at India’s democracy or politicians ruling it. Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely- there is no denial. Boris Johnson’s own ministers distributed billions of pounds worth deals of test and trace to friends- that never got delivered – no questions asked. Health Secretary Matt Hancock continues to be a Minister, yet Home Secretary Priti Patel’s loyalty are to be questioned repeatedly! It’s an irony!

UK had promised India to be EU’s doorway luring Indian businesses here, and then went ahead with Brexit, abruptly ending that promise. UK scrapped and again reissued post study work visa, 450 Indians got caught in the Windrush scandal- India said nothing. Yet one complaint to the British High Commissioner in Delhi about the farmers’ protest debate, India is suddenly the enemy UK should fear to alienate?

Treat others as you would want to be treated and those who live in glass houses should not throw stones- are two popular proverbs that UK needs to understand and follow. And earlier the better, if they want to save their face in the international community.

US to oppose China's bid to challenge its status China wants to challenge US and to become the new superpower financially and militarily. But the US won't allow that to happen.

US President Joe Biden said he would prevent China from passing the United States to become the most powerful country in the world, vowing to invest heavily to ensure America prevails in the race between the world’s two largest economies. Biden is also trying to enlist the support of like-minded and democratic countries to form an alliance to halt China on its path. Biden is also enlisting the support of Quad countries like India, Japan and Australia in its fight against China. Biden said he had spent “hours upon hours” with Xi Jinping when he served as vice president under former President Barack Obama, and was convinced that the Chinese president believed in autocracy - not democracy. Biden said he had made it clear to Xi that the United States was not looking for confrontation, but would insist that China abide by international rules for fair competition and fair trade and respect for human rights. China wants to become the leading country in the world, the wealthiest country in the world, and the most powerful country in the world. That’s not going to happen because the United States is going to continue to grow. Biden took aim at Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin for embracing autocracy.

By reviving Quad, US is trying rally countries like India, Japan and Australia against China's dominance in Indo-Pacific region.

The Quad countries kicked off a major naval exercise with France in the Bay of Bengal, underlining the growing strategic congruence in ensuring a secure and stable Indo-Pacific in face of China’s belligerence in the region. Russia tried to impress upon India to reject confrontation and bloc-type approaches. Russia’s statement was seen in the context of Quad and the Indo-Pacific initiative, both of which it views as as “divisive” and aimed at containing

China. Putin is coming closer to China and trying to follow Xi's policies and consolidate his power. The exercise will showcase high levels of synergy, coordination and interoperability between the five friendly navies. Participation by the Indian Navy in the exercise demonstrates the shared values with the friendly navies in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order. The navies of the Quad, namely India, the US, Japan and Australia, had also come together for the high-voltage Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in November last year after a gap of 13 years.

With the Quad countries declaring their firm intent to deter any “coercion” in the Indo-Pacific during a summit of their leaders on March 12, a multi-tier cooperation and coordination mechanism is now taking shape to advance security as well as counter threats in the region. US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin and South Korean defence minister Suh Wook, both former Army generals, had also made back-to-back visits to India last month to discuss bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific. All these joint initiative is okay as long as India follow its own independent foreign policy. US should allow India to follow its own independent policy, especially in the case of buying arms , ammunitions and oil from anywhere in the world. US should not look at India to play a proxy war against China on its behalf. India knows how to deal with Chinese aggression on its own. The future relates to technology, quantum computing, a whole range of things and whoever invests more in these fields will be world leader. If US wants to be world leader, it has to make real investments, since China is spending three times more than United States on infrastructure.

Things work out best for those who make the best of how things work out. – John Wooden

Alpesh Patel

It’s Hindu’s Own Fault As you know, I’ve been one of many chasing this issue of Oxford University Hindu hatred. The City Hindus Network of which I am Chair, received this reply. The only negative one out of dozens if not hundred plus positive ones.

I thought I would share it, because in short-hand to me it reads like ‘it’s Hindus fault’ we are hated. I am sure some will explain the subtler nuances.

“Hi team I've been debating on whether to send this email but ultimately, I thought that perhaps some good / benefit could come from it for others.

To be clear from the start, my problem is not the calling out of the Oxford Faculty member, I agree with this (perhaps not the manner and especially not the emotive line "Your ancestors weep and your descendants will laugh at the fool"). But in essence, yes calling this out I can align to.

What I find troubling is the section referring to the 'girl hounded out of university" for the two following reasons: 1) to simple deny she was not homophobic, transphobic, anti-Semitic and racist in her past - alienates those who are (or have loved ones that are) LGBTQ+, trans, jewish / other faiths and, 2) a minor point but referring to her as a 'girl' she's a grown 22 yera old woman not a 12 year old child and stating she is a "girl" only minimises her own accountability.

How is (1) this aligned with the groups own objectives of "Inclusivity?" Although most (maybe all bar those like myself) are inspired by the email but looking at this objectively, I find the email hypocritical. You cannot simply call out an atheist but not call out your fellow Hindu who has also done wrong (perhaps in the past yes). This is simply not fair nor right.

I would have expected a significantly more balanced viewpoint from a group (CHN) that is full of diverse individuals, rather than a complete denial of the student's transgressions.

A reminder of the group's own objectives around "inclusivity and inspiration": Inclusivity: Our very presence and voice and successes will help keep Britain a diverse nation, a representative democracy and ensure it is inclusive of all parts of society of which we are an integral part. We too as a society will be inclusive Inspire: a new generation of leaders to help those after them and around them, and those of other faiths, to use their voice for good in society; and use our faith where relevant to bring forth inspired leadership.

Although the intention of the "Hatred of Hindus" email came from what I believe is a good place - perhaps a lack of consideration of the perception created by denying the students past could ultimately be perceived as a negative reflection of the City Hindu Network / shows the potential of the groups own biases / non-inclusivity?

Upon reviewing all of the above, ultimately, this has led me to unsubscribe from the City Hindu network - perhaps the group cares but perhaps not given I was not so much an active member. Why am I sending this? So that I know I've spoken up especially for those that do now feel alienated and those who may not have the courage to do so - one of the morals I try to live my life by as a good Hindu.

Best wishes to you all.”

My role in this column and also as Chair of City Hindus, or any role of leadership, is not to be distracted by the wrong, or try to persuade all and carry everyone. There will be those who will be a distraction. Do not swing for every pitch a cricketer may say.

Wish them well on their wrong road.

Asian Voice is published by

Asian Business Publications Ltd Unit- 7, Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 • Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com Website: www.abplgroup.com

4 UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

Kebab Alliance calls for reduced VAT rate to be extended for a year One of Britain’s largest takeaway sectors campaigns for extension to VAT reduction to help hospitality industry get back on its feet.

Ibrahim Dogus, Chair of the Kebab Alliance, the UK’s industry trade body, is campaigning for the reduced 5% VAT rate that was introduced for the hospitality sector last July to be extended until March 2022. It has been temporarily reduced to 5% for restaurants, bars, hotels and attractions by Chancellor Rishi Sunak until the end of September this year. But considering that a quarter of the year has already lapsed into a lockdown with the hospitality industry struggling to recover from a year-long loss of coronavirus, Kebab Alliance is urging that the Treasury extend the VAT reduction scheme until March next year.

Ibrahim Dogus, a Labour

Ibrahim Dogus

Party councillor, who owns a number of restaurants in London and is also Chair of the British Takeaway Campaign, said, “The hospitality sector has been hugely challenged by the unprecedented events of the last 12 months and the kebab industry which generates some £2.8bn for the UK economy is no exception.

“Like other hospitality industries, the kebab industry generates significant jobs and plays a key role in communities

the length and breadth of the country. We are therefore calling upon the Government to back the whole sector and keep the reduced VAT rate for a minimum of 12 months, rather than as planned, increasing it to 12.5% in six months’ time.”

Founder of the British Kebab Awards, further said, “Recovery will take time, it’s not going to happen quickly as customers’ confidence needs to be rebuilt and the hospitality sector will still be operating under restrictions post April 12th. At the same time businesses in the sector have to contend with significant rent bills that have mounted up during the last 12 months. Extending the reduced VAT rate will be a lifeline to the kebab industry and to other restaurants and takeaway outlets, helping food businesses to sustain themselves in the longer term.”

Dogus’s proposed VAT extension follows pub chain JD Wetherspoon vowing to keep to a 28% price drop on food and drink served to its customers if the Chancellor stuck permanently to the reduced rate of 5%.

Maz Demir, Executive Chef and Owner of Skewd Kitchen, London, comments, “It’s important for the kebab industry and I’m sure a lot of others in the hospitality sector too, that the VAT rate of 5% is kept in place for longer than planned, at least for another year, as that will really help businesses get back on their feet, as we emerge from lockdown. Rent bills have mounted up and we’ve also had to contend with the rising cost of importing fresh produce in the wake of Brexit. Anything that can be done to keep costs lower in the short to medium term will really help all restaurants and takeaways.”

Two more teachers reportedly suspended from Batley Grammar School Batley Grammar School which has been at the heart of a row over pupils being shown a cartoon of the prophet Muhammed has suspended two more teachers, it has been reported.

Previously, one of the West Yorkshire teachers had already gone into hiding with his partner and four children after receiving death threats over a Charlie Hebdo cartoon of the prophet being used during a religious studies lesson. It has now emerged that two other teachers were also sent home but this was not revealed to the public over fears of wider criticism.

A source in a statement to MailOnline said, “Two other teachers are also being investigated but the school has been trying to keep it secret because they don’t want attention being drawn to the fact that this went beyond the actions of one person.

“They were not in the class at time but were aware that offensive material was going to be used.”

In the meantime, the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has welcomed the school’s acknowledgment that the materi-

al shown in class is inappropriate for use as a resource in a teaching environment.

They further note that the school is taking proactive steps to engage the local community so as to resolve the matter, and that the engagement between the school and parents on the ground remains measured, respectful and productive in nature.

Reports suggest the image shown to students was one that depicted the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) wearing a turban with a bomb in it – an extremely offensive image that plays into the Islamophobic trope of Muslims and/or Islam being synonymous with terrorism,

and Muslims having a unique penchant for violence.

According to parents at the school, the cartoons created a hostile atmosphere and led to Islamophobic discourse and language. We all want our schools to be inclusive spaces that foster a productive learning environment – an increase in Islamophobic discourse within a school setting cannot be deemed as acceptable.

The NEU guidance on the responsibilities of teachers states that, “All teachers, including those on the way to gaining QTS, have a ‘duty of care’ towards their pupils. According to this duty of care, you are required to apply your education and acquired skills to safeguard pupils, demonstrating reasonable and careful professional standards while you are at work.”

A 2015 study on young people’s attitudes towards Muslims revealed that 31% of young children surveyed agreed with the statement that ‘Muslims are taking over England’ to some extent – an

The 'get out of jail free' card Rohit Vadhwana In the board game Monopoly, there is a card: Get Out of Jail Free. This card frees a player from jail.

This phrase has become popular in common parlance to equate with getting out of the undesirable situation.

Hundreds of time we fall into a situation from where we desire an early exit. It might be due to the changed circumstances, or changed surroundings, or maybe for other reason, but whenever it happens, we want a 'get out of jail free card in real life.

Do you remember any such situation in your life when you had badly desired some exit option? More often than not we try to get the circumstances resolved without any confrontation or friction. Honourable exit is another term used for such a situation.

In the first place, we start an analysis as to why we fall into that situation. That analysis, that introspection itself is painful.

We curse ourselves for making that mistake. But sometimes it is beyond our control. It is not always that we landed there voluntarily. Occasions arise which make the circumstances worse, adverse and difficult. Sometimes it is not about circumstances but our perspective of the situation.

Our changed expectations may be a reason we start finding the situation difficult to survive in. If it is the case, better to put our expectations in the right context and reduce our expectations. Having an eye on reality is important than flying in dreams.

Reality check for circumstances and emotional perspective should be balanced before asking for 'Get Out of Jail Free' card.

However, no doubt the Get Out of Jail Free is a wonderful idea and should be used as and when required. No point in grinding oneself into an unwanted, undesired situation that becomes unbearable. Next time, if you also fall into such a trap, ask for a Get Out of Jail Free card.

(Expressed opinions are personal.)

Islamophobic conspiracy theory that used to be the preserve of the far-right. Whilst in 2017, for example, Childline reported that it had held over 2,500 counselling sessions for children concerned about race and faith-based bullying, where children as young as nine reported being called terrorists, enduring abuse, and threats of violence.

Murdered Muslim man’s Shop fined for mouse infestation daughter wants an official definition of Islamophobia On Monday, 5th April, it was reported that the daughter of a Muslim man is launching a campaign urging the government to adopt an official definition of Islamophobia.

Mohammed Saleem, 82, was murdered in April 2013 by Pavlo Lapshyn, a white supremacist who later planted three bombs outside mosques in Walsall, Wolverhampton and Tipton. Now, Saleem’s daughter Maz Saleem is launching a campaign called #IAmMohammedSaleem to highlight Islamophobic hate crimes and put pressure on the government.

She is urging people to post short videos and testimonies on social media throughout the month of April speaking out against Islamophobia. The all-party

parliamentary group on British Muslims produced a report in 2018 proposing a working definition of Islamophobia/anti-Muslim hatred in 2018 and recommended that this definition be adopted.

“Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness and perceived Muslimness,” it said.

Maz Saleem in a statement to The Guardian said, “This was one of the biggest acts of terrorism on UK soil. Yet to this day most people have no idea about this case.

Whenever terror-related headlines reach our screens they are often about those who identify with the Muslim faith; rarely do we hear of the merciless violence of white supremacists who took my father’s life.”

On Wednesday, 31st March, a butchers and food shop has been fined thousands of pounds by magistrates after mouse droppings were found on the premises. Slough Store and Halal Meat Ltd was closed on the spot during a routine council visit because of the immediate risk to public health.

The mouse droppings were found on the floor in several places, on food shelves and packaging as well as in boxes of fresh vegetables which were to be sold to customers.

During a sentencing hearing at Reading Magistrates’ Court the company and the director and food business operator, Wajahat Hussain, were fined for allowing the pest infestation and not making sure the food which was sold was safe. Magistrates were told during the hearing on Friday 26 March a council food safety team inspector visited the High Street store on 15 January last year.

The inspector saw there was an active mouse infestation resulting in actual contamination of food which put the health of the public at risk if they consumed it. Given the seriousness of the situation, the business was formally closed immediately using a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice. This was converted to a Prohibition Order

by Slough Magistrates’ Court on 20 January 2020.

The business re-opened a few days later once the mouse activity had been brought under control and food for sale was no longer at risk of being contaminated.

Mr Hussain and the business each admitted two offences under Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 for failing to ensure food was protected against any contamination liable to render it unfit for human consumption; and failing to ensure adequate procedures were in place to control pests.

Mr Hussain was fined £300 and the business was fined £2,600. In total both were ordered to pay £5000 costs and a victim surcharge of £380.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

10 -16 April 2021

EVERYTHING YOU NEED THIS RAMADAN Multibuy

Multibuy

Multibuy

3 for

3 for

3 for

£

£

1

1

45p each 400g

40p each 400g

£

1

39p each 400g

550 £ 50

275 £

5 litres

2kg

£

4

£

2

Selected Asda stores. Subject to availability. KTC red kidney beans 400g (11.3p per 100g), KTC plum tomatoes 400g (9.8p per 100g), KTC chick peas 400g (10p per 100g), KTC vegetable oil 5 litre (9p per 100ml), KTC gram flour 2kg (10p per 100g). Delivery or collection charge will apply. Carrier bag and minimum basket charges may apply, see ASDA.com/minimumbasketcharge for details. Delivery/collection slots subject to availability.

5

6 UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

BRITAIN IN DENIAL Continued from page 1 Now, in an open letter, several thinktanks including Runnymede Trust, civil rights campaign group Liberty, besides others are urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to reject and withdraw this report.

They claim it “whitewashes” daily challenges faced by minority communities and that its conclusions have prompted “public incredulity and national indignation”.

Khan, Liberal Rabina Democrats Councillor for Tower Hamlets was only 3 years old when she came to the UK in 1972.

Growing up in Rochester, hers was the only family of colour living in their street before she moved to

Rabina Khan

Tower Hamlets in 1991 and began her career in London.

Commenting on the report, she said, “The Government’s race report has failed to include the very real lived experiences of people of colour and what we perceive as racism, whether in school, the workplace, or within our health services. An accurate, unbiased report cannot be compiled without interviewing and including the experiences of those affected.

Failure to record lived experiences of people of colour “I recall my father had tried to purchase his first property in the late ’70s and the bank continued giving excuses to grant him his mortgage. It was only when he took his white foreman with him that the white bank manager caved in.

Because he saw another white man endorsing my dad’s mortgage application. Years later my husband and I started living in London with our extended family and found that when we tried to rent, estate agents would increase the prices when they heard our names, but the prices remained the same when white potential renters called to rent. One day I said my name was Ruby on the phone and when I met the estate agent at their office 10 minutes later the property was gone.”

The review behind the report was set up by Downing Street to investigate racial disparities in the UK in response to the Black Lives Matter protests last year. The commission’s report notes that while racism and racial injustice do still exist other factors including geography, family influence, socio-economic background, culture and religion all have a greater impact on life chances. The 258-page report calls on the government to fully fund the Equality and Human Rights Commission, improve training for police officers and include a local residency requirement for recruitment. Within 24 recommendations it advocates establishing an office for health disparities, opening up access to apprenticeships, teaching an “inclusive curriculum”, and putting a stop to use of the term BAME. It focuses significantly on edu-

cation, which it describes as the single most emphatic success story of the British ethnic minority experience, where children from many ethnic communities do as well or better than white pupils, with black Caribbean students the only group to perform less well.

High graduate unemployment in Tower Hamlets Speaking about inequalities at workplaces and universities, Councillor Khan, shared her personal experience, “I still recall a senior role I had held in the regeneration sector. I had worked on the conceptual idea and written the project, but the white senior leadership decided that whilst it was a great idea it would be better for it to be delivered and presented by another staff with the same role.

The other staff member was a white member.

“Throughout my years I worked to enable and empower Muslim girls to on to University and get a degree. Now many can’t get a job and find changing their names to fit in is easier and removing their veil.

Whilst Bangladeshi and Indian students are doing better at school this is not translated into the workplace as unemployment is still low. In boroughs like Tower Hamlets, graduate unemployment is high.

“The angry furore and backlash over the Government’s Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparity report which found no evidence of institutional racism just proves that whilst the UK is good at calling out individuals on racism.

The UK still finds it hard to call out the systematic inequalities that amplify institutional racism. The Government’s race report conveniently provided the narrative for some people to downplay the underlying cause of racial inequality stems from institutional racism.”

250 health professionals warn about “dangerous” denial of structural racism In the meantime, about 250 public health professionals have written a letter condemning the government’s recent report on race and ethnic disparities, saying its “dangerous” denial of structural racism distorts the key causes of health inequalities in the UK. The letter notes that Black babies in the UK have over twice the risk of being stillborn and black mothers have

four times the risk of death in childbirth. At the end of life, the Black Caribbean, Pakistani and Bangladeshi people live up to nine years fewer in full health, it notes. It further highlights that Black men are still more likely to die from coronavirus than white men, once socioeconomic factors are accounted for. And Bangladeshi and Pakistani people continue to experience a considerably higher risk of death compared to white people, research has shown.

In an interview with Asian Voice earlier this year, Dr. Chaand Nagpaul, Chair Council of the

Scrapping unconscious bias training Additionally, the review recommends that unconscious bias training should be scrapped for employees and replaced with more effective practices, urging organisations and firms to pull the plug on such sessions because they do not tackle disparities in the workplace. It said “intense soul-searching” of some employers in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests has amounted to 'tick-box exercises' that don't get results. Instead, it recommends funding be diverted to developing core skills that could benefit disadvantaged employees.

But many taxpayer-funded bodies such as the Met Police, the NHS and the BBC are still believed to implement unconscious bias training for staff.

Commenting on the report Lord Karan Bilimoria and President of the CBI said, “When it comes to

Dr. Chaand Nagpaul

British Medical Association had explained, “We have learnt through this pandemic that this inequality is unfair on those affected by it primarily, the BAME doctors, and therefore, has a detrimental effect on the NHS. We need to change the culture of the NHS at its core. The current culture in the NHS is such that a doctor from the BAME background is twice as likely to be bullied and harassed. They are more likely to be referred to disciplinary processes than their white colleagues even though there is no concrete evidence to indicate that they are worse doctors. They were and are warier of speaking out and challenging the authorities.

“We need to look beyond superficial commitments around tickboxes and namesake appointments.

To address the root causes of bullying, workplace harassment and discrimination, we need a cultural transformation in the NHS. We need to transform the way that medical leaders, managers and directors address the subject of institutional inequality. This transformation needs to unleash and maximise the potential of our NHS workforce.”

Lord Karan Bilimoria

supporting the career progression of ethnically diverse employees, transparency is the watchword. And while progress has been made, there is a long way to go.

“Closing the UK’s ethnicity pay gap is about making our society fairer and more inclusive. But there’s a strong business case too. Diverse companies perform better on every metric. Disclosing ethnicity pay gaps is one of the most transformative steps a company can take to address race inequality at work. Publishing a clear action plan to tackle any disparities - and reporting on the progress made – is key to turn momentum into lasting change.

“As president of the CBI, alongside Aviva, BiTC, Brunswick, City Mental Health Alliance, Cranfield University, Deloitte, Linklaters, Microsoft and Russell Reynolds in October we launched Change the Race Ratio – a campaign to increase racial and ethnic participation in

British businesses.”

Former Met Officer distances himself from the report The review arrives a week after the City of London Police Authority Board (PAB) agreed on proposals to work with the City of London Police to ensure that the force is representative of the community that it serves. Under the plans, the PAB will challenge the force to recruit at least 40% BAME officers for the remainder of the Home Office uplift programme and to use other recruitment processes to address gender imbalances and ensure representation of all protected characteristics.

According to police workforce data made available by the government, between 2007 and 2020, the percentage of police officers from every ethnic minority group went up – the biggest increase was for Asian police officers (from 1.5 to 3.1%). But the figures are striking if the percentage of police officers in the proportion of the ethnic communities they represent are to be factored.

3.1% of police officers from ethnic minority backgrounds represented the 6.8% Asians according to Census 2011. Whereas 92.7% of officers represented the 86% white community.

But proportional representation in the police forces is not the only area of concern. Nearly two years ago, Parm Sandhu had commenced legal action against Met Police while claiming she was denied promotion and work opportunities based on her race and gender.

Dal Babu a Metropolitan police chief superintendent and one of the UK’s most senior British Asian officers had also quit the force citing racial discrimination and was similarly rejected for promotion. In his statement to the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, he said he regretted taking part in an evidence-gathering Zoom session for the commission’s report.

“It was a Fawlty Towers-like experience. We were told it was going to be ex-BAME police officers.

I turned up and it was youth workers … a whole hotchpotch of individuals.

We raised concerns that we expolice officers talked about and then they stopped the meeting [and] got rid of some people who were not supposed to be on there.”

Asian Voice approached Dal Babu on multiple occasions but he could not be reached. Others have also spoken about how institutional racism has impacted their career.

Calling for brand justice and proportional representation in the media industry Javed Husain, Founder/Media Director Mediareach said, "I wel-

Javed Husain

come and acknowledge the initiative and the work done in the review. What I challenge is the intention. Is it a cover-up? Or a genuine attempt to address the needs of our hurting society?

Continued on page 7

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

UK

7

10 - 16 April 2021

BRITAIN IN DENIAL Continued from page 6 “To create a truly multicultural Britain we need to see that culture, religion and racial richness aretaken into consideration by the decision makers.

“How can the advertising and communication industry take action when monitoring methods such as BARB and RAJAR are flawed? The data supports 70% mainstream audience and has been unjust to the multicultural media community for years.

“Brands need to work with communication agencies or practitioners who understand the multicultural communities and media landscape. I am asking for 'Brand Justice' and calling on educating the communication industry and planners.

“We need good and honest representation of ethnic people who serve the community at different levels of the establishment in Government and private sector. It is great that boardrooms are changing but unfortunately, they reflect a shift in gender pay gap and not ethnicity pay gap.”

Jewish community upset about failure to address anti-Semitism Some members of the Jewish community have also spoken about how their concerns around antiSemitism have remained unaddressed.

Zaki Cooper, Co-Chair of BIJA (British Indian Jewish Association) said, “Jews are both a religion and an ethnic community. We have been in the UK since resettling in the midseventeenth century and integrated over time. The community tends to show high levels of education,

employment levels and other measures of achievement in public life.

However, there are two important qualifiers. There are still elements of the Jewish community which are not particularly well integrated. Also, there is still anti-Semitic prejudice against Jewish people operating at different levels.”

Jonathan Metliss, Chairman of Axiom Stone Solicitors, Action Against Discrimination and The Jewish Weekly noted, “Although the report has been condemned by many

Jonathan Metliss

as divisive, the issue of racism has been formally raised in public, there is a healthy debate and society has been made aware that this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed by real and effective action. However, the report does smack of complacency. Clearly, more needs to be done to address racism in society, whether it be by education or criminal sanctions.

“There are three areas I would like to address specifically. First, the racism against black footballers, both on the internet and generally which occurs on a regular basis, is unforgiv-

able and needs to be addressed, not just by words, but by effective action.

“Second, I chair a multicultural and racially diverse law firm and still believe that there is a lack of racial integration in the legal profession on the whole, especially in the City of London.

“Third, the report appears to make no reference to the existence of anti-Semitism, which remains alive in society, as was seen with the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn. The Jewish Chronicle has recently reported that anti-Semitism remains strong in the Starmer Labour party. AntiSemitism in UK football still exists and raises its ugly head both on the internet (against Israeli footballers and more recently on the Aston Villa website) and the chanting of the word “Yid” by Tottenham Hotspur supporters attracts abusive and antiSemitic responses. In Britain, there is also much anti-Semitism under the surface. Notwithstanding the general condemnation, the report should not be wasted, the debate must continue and there is much more to be done and achieved.”

The commission’s report concluded that the UK is not yet a "postracial country" - but its success in removing race-based disparity in education and, to a lesser extent, the economy, "should be regarded as a model for other white-majority countries". It must be noted that several recommendations of the report were made decades ago in the Scarman report, which was commissioned by the Thatcher government after the 1981 Brixton riots.

Long Covid patients at the mercy of postcode lottery system Long Covid patients have study into the long-term echoed their growing frustraimpact of Covid on organ tion at a “postcode lottery” in health, in a statement to The clinical support for worsening Guardian said, “It’s not only a symptoms, with some areas of postcode lottery, it’s a lottery the UK offering no specialist clinics more than a year after coronavirus took hold, The Guardian reported earlier.

Other sufferers said they were disappointed by long Covid clinics inves- Dr. Amitava Banerjee tigating certain of knowledge at the moment symptoms only, with no comas well. There are clusters of prehensive treatment plan. symptoms but at this stage we Official figures suggest don’t know which are the there are almost 700,000 ones to worry about, which Britons with Covid symptoms treatments work and which lasting over three months. In forms of rehabilitation work.

October, NHS England announced more than £10m "At UCH it’s working, for a network of clinics bringbecause we’re a big teaching ing together doctors, nurses, hospital with lots of people therapists and other NHS ... [Elsewhere] you’ve got staff to conduct physical and GPs and specialists strugpsychological assessments gling with the backlog of and recommend treatments clinics, surgeries and so on ... for long Covid patients.

Unfortunately the inequaliDr Amitava Banerjee, a ties that you see by ethnicicardiologist at University ty, by socioeconomic status, College London hospitals and by geography, are the ones Barts health NHS trusts, who that are going to be has been assessing patients at unmasked by this. The scale the UCH clinic as part of a of this is so big.”

8 UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

British Indian Sculptor to judge Freedom of Expression Awards Acclaimed writer Fatima Bhutto, Turner Prize-winning sculptor Anish Kapoor and campaigner Ailbhe Smyth will be judging the international Freedom of Expression Awards.

Index on Censorship has announced that writer Fatima Bhutto, artist Anish Kapoor and campaigner Ailbhe Smyth will join a panel of judges to decide the 2021 Freedom of Expression Awards Fellowship winners.

“In these times of grave difficulty when draconian governments all over the world are risking the freedom to report on their control of our lives and of our livelihoods the index for censorship does vital work to keep open the freedom of the press and our freedom of expression and thereby protect our right to protest, our right to disagree and our need to hold government to account. I applaud Index on Censorship for the work it does with artists, journalists, lawyers and many others to help to ensure that the human spirit in us is kept alive,” said renowned British-Indian sculptor Anish Kapoor CBE. Index on Censorship is a non-profit that campaigns for and defends free expression worldwide. They publish work by censored writers and artists

Anish Kapoor

in their award-winning magazine, and monitor threats to free speech through their advocacy and campaigning work.

They believe that everyone should be free to express themselves without fear of harm or persecution, and aim to raise awareness about threats to free expression and the value of free speech.

Since 2001, the Freedom of Expression Awards have celebrated individuals or groups who have had a significant impact fighting censorship anywhere in the world. Awards are offered in four categories: Arts, Campaigning and Journalism.

Winners join Index’s Awards Fellowship programme and receive dedicated training and support.

“2020 has seen some horrendous attacks on global free

Fatima Bhutto

expression, which went underreported due to the realities of Covid-19. Our inspirational judges have big decisions to make this year about who we reward for standing up for our basic right to free speech. I'm delighted to be joining them,” said Ruth Smeeth, CEO of Index on Censorship.

The panel will be chaired by Trevor Phillips. Previous judges include digital campaigner and entrepreneur Martha Lane Fox, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Harry Potter actor Noma Dumezweni, novelist Elif Shafak and award-winning journalist and former editor-inchief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker Tina Brown.

This year’s winners will be announced at a gala celebration in London on 12 September 2021.

Sadiq Khan to establish new London Drugs Commission if re-elected Mayor The Mayor of London, has vowed to establish a new London Drugs Commission if re-elected at the Mayoral elections on 6 May. Sadiq Khan has called for fresh ideas to tackle violent and drug-related crime, improve the public’s health and help people to recover from addiction. The proposed commission will examine the latest evidence on the harms of drugs, the best methods of prevention and how to tackle the root causes of crime. It will be comprised of independent experts from criminal justice, public health, politics, community relations and academia.

He said, “The illegal drugs trade causes huge damage to our society - driving serious and violent crime, damaging people’s health and criminalising too many young people. That’s why, if I’m re-elected, I will establish a new London Drugs Commission comprised of independent experts to examine the latest evi-

Sadiq Khan

dence from around the world.

“The commission will make recommendations focusing on the most effective laws to tackle crime, protect Londoners’ health and reduce the huge damage that illegal drugs, including cannabis, cause to our communities and society.”

The Commission will pull together the latest evidence on the effectiveness of UK drugs laws, police enforcement and support services for those with

addictions. The commissioners will examine the latest evidence from across the globe in the round, and report to the Mayor with policy recommendations for City Hall, the Government, the police, the criminal justice system and health and addiction support services. The recommendations will focus on the most effective ways to ensure violent and drug-related crimes, and the harm cannabis can cause to individuals, communities and addicts, is tackled. It will build on research that has been commissioned to assess how effective cannabis enforcement is at tackling violence in London as part of Sadiq’s action plan to improve trust and confidence in Met Police.

The illegal drugs trade in the UK is estimated to cost society £19 billion per year. 41,900 people across England and Wales were charged with drugs-related offences last year.

Brent Council receives Disability Confident Leader award The Department for Work and Pensions has recognised Brent Council as an employer leading the way when it comes to improving access and support for people with disabilities, or longterm health issues.

The award highlights the work that the council is doing to promote equality, diversity and cohesion as a locality leader, as a provider, as a commissioner of services, and as an employer.

Alice Lester, Operational Director for Regeneration, Growth and Employment at Brent, said, “We are delighted to be recognised as a Disability Confident Leader. It’s estimated that seven in ten employed people with disabilities have been impacted by loss of income, furlough, unemployment or other damaging effects as a result of the pandemic. This award recognises the great work that Brent is

doing to remove barriers to employment, and ensure that our residents are able to fulfil their potential and realise their aspirations.”

The award follows an external evaluation of the council’s support for staff and residents with disabilities by the Shaw Trust charity, which helps disabled and disadvantaged people into employment and independent living.

Establishing BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha Nitin and Kamu Palan In this article, we will talk about Shastriji Maharaj and how he established BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in 1907, and Yogiji Maharaj who furthered the cause of BAPS outside India and amongst the youth.

Shastriji Maharaj was born in the village of Mahelav on 31 January 1865. He was initiated as a sadhu in Vartal in November 1882 at the age of 17 as Sadhu Yagnapurushdas.

His guru at the time was Sadguru Vignananand Swami, a senior sadhu from the time of Bhagwan Swaminarayan. It was while serving in Surat with his guru that he first met Pragji Bhakta (Bhagatji Maharaj) of Mahuva, the dedicated disciple of Aksharbrahma Gunatitanand Swami.

It was Pragji Bhakta who spoke at lengths to Yagnapurushdas about the principle of Akshar-Purushottam as given by Bhagwan Swaminarayan.

Yagnapurushdas became a great scholar (Shastri) and so he was popularly known as Shastriji Maharaj. He became very active in propagating this knowledge of Akshar-Purushottam, but it was not easily accepted by some in the Swaminarayan Sampradaya.

In November 1905, he left Vartal to further the cause of AksharPurushottam. Within a short space of 20 months, he established the first mandir dedicated to Akshar-Purushottam in the village of Bochasan on 5 June 1907. That day is now widely regarded as the date of the formal establishment of BAPS (Bochasanvasi Akshar-Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha) as a branch of the wider Swaminarayan Sampradaya. Despite the many difficulties, Shastriji Maharaj and his few sadhus toiled day and night to help explain this philosophy to many in Gujarat and beyond and succeeded in convincing thousands.

Yogiji Maharaj and a few sadhus from Junagadh Shastriji joined Maharaj in 1911.

Over the next 40 years, another four traditional shikharbaddh mandirs were established with the murtis of AksharPurushottam consecrated in the central shrine – Sarangpur (1916), Gondal (1934), Atladra (1945) and Gadhada (1951).

In the last few years of his life, Shastriji Maharaj took steps to preserve the growth and future of BAPS by registering BAPS as a charitable trust under India’s new legal code in 1947. In 1950, he appointed the 28-year-old Shastri Narayanswarupdas (Pramukh Swami Maharaj) as the administrative head (Pramukh) of the organisation and instructed him to serve under Yogiji Maharaj who would become the spiritual head of the organization.

Shastriji Maharaj passed away on 10 May 1951 in Sarangpur and was succeeded by Yogiji Maharaj.

Yogiji Maharaj was born in the village of Dhari on 23 May 1892. A very devout child, he took initiation at the young age of 16 and served at the Swaminarayan Mandir in Junagadh before joining Shastriji Maharaj in 1911, as he knew him to be the most influential in understanding and explaining the philosophy of Akshar-Purushottam.

Touring the villages with no care for his personal needs, Yogiji Maharaj was instrumental in nurturing the growth of BAPS by reaching out to many devotees through various spiritual programmes and initiatives including the weekly Satsang assemblies, as well as formally establishing activities for children and youths.

During his tenure as guru (1951 to 1971), he consecrated two shikharbaddh mandirs (Ahmedabad in 1962 and Bhadra in 1969) as well as around 40 smaller mandirs in India. He arranged for the organization of large festival celebrations in India and abroad. At the behest of devotees living abroad, he travelled to East Africa in 1955, 1959-60 and 1970 where his travels transformed the lives of many and resulted in the establishment of mandirs in Kenya (Mombasa and Nairobi) and Uganda (Kampala, Jinja, Tororo and Gulu).

Despite the handful of devotees present in London in 1970, he visited UK to fulfil their spiritual needs which resulted in the opening of the first Swaminarayan temple in the UK in Islington, London on 14 June 1970.

During Yogiji Maharaj's spiritual tours, young aspirants often decided to join him during their school vacations. One such youth, Vinu Patel of Anand, was inspired to join the monastic order, and Yogiji Maharaj ordained him as Keshavjivandas Swami in 1961. Popularly known as Mahant Swami, he later became the president and guru of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in 2016.

After serving as guru for 20 years, Yogiji Maharaj passed away in Mumbai on 23 January 1971. Before his passing, he appointed Pramukh Swami as his spiritual successor, and he accepted both the functions of administration and spiritual oversight. A beautiful memorial shrine called the Yogi Smruti Mandir currently stands in Gondal at the site of Yogiji Maharaj’s cremation.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj took over the helm of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in 1971 and led the organisation to great heights all over the world over the next 45 years until his passing in 2016.

Subsequent articles in this series will be dedicated to the life, work, and teachings of Pramukh Swami Maharaj on the occasion of his centenary year

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

UK

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

PRODUCED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH UK GOVERNMENT

THINGS TO REMEMBER AS LOCKDOWN RULES EASE

9

10 - 16 April 2021

THE EXPERTS Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, Director, Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge and Fellow of Engineering at Girton College, Cambridge.

A member of the UK Government Science Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) - Environmental and Modelling Group.

Professor Tim Sharpe, Head of Department, Architecture at the University of Strathclyde. His research focuses include architecture, energy, ventilation and health. Member of UK Government Science Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) - Environmental and Modelling Group.

Professor Brooke Rogers, OBE. A Professor of Behaviour Science and Security at King’s College London.

Social distancing yoga for 6 at park

Rupanjana Dutta While Covid-19 deaths have reduced across the UK, and the vaccine rollout continues, we still need to remain vigilant as the virus is still circulating in communities and affecting people of all ages across the UK. Around 1 in 3 people who have the virus have no symptoms and can spread it without their knowledge.

As the Stay Home restrictions ease, people will be eager to meet friends and relatives which could cause an increase in Covid-19 cases, since you are more likely to catch the virus from people who are in close proximity to you.

If you are seeing your friends and family outside your household, you can only meet outdoors in groups of six. It is much safer to meet outdoors as fresh air disperses Covid-19 droplets.

Meeting up with friends and family carries the risk of the infection spreading, so people are encouraged to spend more time outdoors, wash their hands frequently, wear face coverings and keep a safe distance.

We all need to remain as vigilant as possible to control the spread of the virus and protect ourselves and those around us.

By sticking to rules and working together as a community we will be able to control the virus and stop the spread as the weather gets warmer and restrictions are eased.

LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Why is it much safer to socialise and exercise in groups outdoors?

Dr Fitzgerald: “When you are outdoors, especially if you are two meters away from somebody, the level of concentration of the virus that might be in your vicinity is lower as opposed to being inside. Opening the windows is really good if you’re indoors, but it’s nowhere near as good as being outdoors.

“When you’re outdoors and are going for a walk, there are fewer surfaces with the virus droplets on them that you might come in contact with.

“Moreover, outdoor surfaces are exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun which can deactivate the virus.”

Are there any other provisos you would make about meeting outside?

Professor Sharpe: “Don’t let your guard down. When people meet, they do so with the very best of intentions. When we are speaking to someone outdoors, we may move closer to them to hear them better and that can be a threat. And the longer you spend time with somebody the more you tend to relax. So just be cautious.

“We’re on a journey and we’re not at the end of that journey yet. Although a lot of people have been vaccinated, many haven’t and are still at risk, and those risks are still the same.

“Until a much larger number of people are vaccinated, there will still be significant risks from

catching it from other people.

The virus is still out there.”

People who have had the vaccine think it’s all fine.

How do you convince them that it’s not over?

Professor Rogers: “You’re fortunate if you’ve had the vaccine. I’m delighted when I see a friend or family member getting it because it makes them safer, it makes me safer, it makes all of us safer. So, I think the vaccine is just amazing and it will open things up.

But in the same way that we have changed our behaviour significantly in order to protect the populations who are more vulnerable, some of those populations will still not be able to have the vaccine so there is still vulnerability. But for those who have become less

vulnerable, the unvaccinated are now the more vulnerable population. So just hold on a bit longer.

“I don’t think that we’ll see these restrictions or the lack of ability to be close to people for much longer. I certainly hope not. But hold on while we get a larger percentage of the population vaccinated - it will be safer for everyone. We all need to make sacrifices for one another and cheer one another along.

“If we look at some of the longer-term behaviour change that might come out of this, I will probably wear a mask when I commute into work on the train, tube or bus both for my benefit and out of concern for other people because I know that not everyone in the population has had a vaccination.”

What are the rules from the Monday 29 March 2021?

• • • •

6 people from different households can meet outdoors.

Only people within the same household may meet indoors.

Outdoor sports and leisure facilities will be open.

People should continue to minimise travel and work from home where possible.

Atrayee Bandopadhyay, 38, is a Biologist, who lives in Beckenham. She said, “Not meeting friends and family has been hard.

I am looking forward to catching up with a school friend in a park, whom I have recently reconnected with after 15 years. My husband Debarshi, is thrilled about playing his first cricket match of the year.”

Ameet Jogia, 34, is a Councillor, who lives in London. He said, “I’m going to the golf course!

Clocks have gone forward, so summertime has officially begun. The weather is improving, and lockdown is lifting. It feels good.”

Vivekanand Jaganathan, 39, is a Solicitor, who lives in London. He said, “I am looking forward to meeting my brother after months, as he is a frontline worker and has been extremely busy.

I am also thrilled to start playing three-a-side volleyball in the park.

“One of my close friends had a baby recently and me and my wife are planning to meet the couple outdoors, to see their baby for the first time.”

What are the three main ways that the virus is spread?

• Breathing in droplets that come from someone else with the virus when in close contact.

• Touching a surface that droplets have landed on or that has been contaminated by an infected person touching it.

• Breathing in air that carries the virus in aerosols.

For more information on how to stay safe, visit https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

10 READERS' VOICE

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

The world of technology and elderly generation Unlike so many others who have been disenfranchised from the present world of mobile, internet, zoom, e-mail and social media and all sorts of new technology, I have been fortunate to have that skills, training and experience to cope and deal with this new world due to my education, training and work experiences.

But there is that generation of elderly, vulnerable, lonely and disabled, vision and hearing impaired, unskilled, unemployed, and even young with incomplete or no education etc. who tech-savvy are not. Poor people get affected and feel excluded in this changing demographic of society to fulfill their needs, which now requires online access. There might or is support for many through families, friends, groups, charities, but not everyone is confident to use these tech devices. First there is language barrier plus they need learning or training how to use them. We did not learn to use all the new devices straight away, it took time, training and practice. It would be wrong to expect convenience of tech to reach everyone during this troubled time of lockdown.

One particular example is to get an appointment with a doctor which now has to be through an online form, after which a decision is made. Then there is the question of paying bills, managing finances, healthcare through digital world whereby before it was visits, face to face meetings. Most of life now seems to be online registering for our service needs. But there should be an option for essential services which provides that human touch to the those who need. Isn’t it wrong of that new world to assume that we all must move in this direction?

Yes, the world has reset that button, but we should not cut off from the generation in the process, who are not up with technology. It will take a few generations to be fully inclusive of the world of technology.

Jatish S Shah Northampton

Biggest weekly jump in India’s Covid cases, deaths up It is really disturbing to read “Biggest weekly jump in India’s Covid cases, deaths up” in Asian Voice dated 3 – 9 April 2021.

In 2021, India was one of the few counties that visualised the potential risk of this highly contagious disease and started countrywide lockdown early enough to prevent the spread of Covid19. However, looking at the current statistics and the rise in the number of cases and deaths are really shocking.

Ironically India is a leading producer of the vaccine but the same is passing through a critical stage in terms of a rising number of cases. Some countries and the mainstream media including the BBC are delivering mixed messages by giving healings like “India bans vaccine export”, which are harmful to the bilateral relationship between the UK and India. In the same article, reported by BBC, the drop in production is because of the bans by the US on export of the items like specialised bags and filters as mentioned by the chief executive Adar Poonawalla. The readers of only headlines will feel that India is deliberately not supplying the vaccine to other countries.

The country has got all the rights to defend its own population first before helping others. India has already supported many less privileged countries. As reported by AV, India has already exported 63.3 million doses. It has also helped neighbouring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The recent wave in India is more harmful than it was in the early part of 2020. When we hear the news that Sachin Tendulkar has also tested positive, the magnitude of this invisible killer can be realised. I think the only way is to follow the government guidelines religiously in terms of maintaining social distance, having facial masks outside the home, washing hands regularly, stay at home unless required and minimising contacts with other people. There are reports that some developed European countries like France and Italy are struggling in containing the disease, underestimating it nothing but a suicidal path for a thickly populated country like India. Let us accept the fact the government of any country can do certain things for a limited time, the onus lies on the public to respond appropriately and act responsible. Any further lockdown in India will have a cascading impact on poor people of the country whose earning depends on daily activities like drivers, vegetable sellers etc. They will never forgive people who have been behaving irresponsibly by flouting the laws and spreading the virus across the country.

Hitesh Hingu London

In top form I always learn something new from this newspaper's Health pages and benefit greatly from all the good advice which keeps me in top form, mentally and physically.

Rudy Otter London

KHICHADI Follow me on Twitter: @kk_OEG

Failure to Stand Up for India In your Asian Voice of 27 March, Nitin Mehta lamented the absence of any Indian member of the House of Lords to challenge the motion related to democracy in India that was being debated. I sympathise and support Mr. Mehta on his observations.I would suggest that the absence of the Indian members at the time of the debate was a collective and deliberate attempt to avoid the embarrassment of listening to each of their fellow House of Lords members lambast Indian Government’s actions or inactions on issues ranging from the farmers’ protests to victimisation of opposition party members. To raise objections or offer a contrary argument would for the Indian members have meant taking a stand against their fellow other non-Indian colleagues, provoking the very people who they regard as their superiors and generally giving rise to an undesirable or uncomfortable situation for themselves. After all, they owe their current patronage of being members of the House of Lords to the Government of UK and various Government institutions who recommended their appointment to this august assembly. Raising a voice against resolutions passed by their white patrons would be tantamount to nothing short of biting the very hands that feeds them. Better therefore to stay away from such provocative debates and register the protest silently like Mahatma Gandhi advocated, through civil disobedience.

Sadly, we have achieved independence from our colonial masters but the notion of inferiority complex in the presence of our former masters lingers on in some quarters. It is noticeable mainly in a generation born soon after the independence during times of extreme poverty in India which was stripped barren by Britain. Socialist and non-alignment policies followed by Nehru and his dynasty did not help matters. Indians themselves did not have anything to feel proud about. They remained silent and meekly accepted whatever was thrown at them by the former “superior” masters.

The Indian members of the House of Lords are pleasantly surprised and immensely grateful for being selected to this elite fraternity albeit of unelected officials. In preservation of this position, they are only too pleased to placate their superior colleagues and generally nurse their egos with platitudes. These dynamics, however, have run their course.

India is well on its way to becoming one of the top three superpowers of the world by 2030 and the new generation of Indians in their mid 20’s and 30’s is bold, assertive and willing to fight for their rightful place in the world. We notice this change already in the game of cricket where the Indian cricketeers give as good as they get if not more.

Gone are the days when the white cricketeers complained about dirty, smelly India and about Delhi belly.

Indians have found a lot to be proud about and leaders like Narendra Modi are making sure that they have a place on the world stage and that every Indian is proud to be Indian.

It is only a matter of time, Mr Mehta.

Lalit Shah Croydon

Don’t let go our sacrifice to waste Hardly any family has escaped the pain, emotional suffering, loneliness and loss of their beloved family members and close friends. Now tiny number of holier than thou “All Party MPs” wants to thwart PM Boris’s inclination to introduce Covid-19 passport, to be issued to qualified public.

My only concern is that not all eligible people will get their vaccination in time, especially younger ones that will create two-tier system and may be unfair to those who may be regular visitors to pubs and restaurants. But it is not unsurmountable problem. If there is a will, then surely there is a way to deal with it.

Many people believe that after suffering a year-long lockdown, vaccinations should be our passport to freedom without undergoing any more restrictions, even when we are not sure how long it will be effective. We are already talking of booster injection in September and such passports will be obligatory for overseas travel, including cruising!

If my memory serves me right, Labour government under PM Tony Blair suggested “Identity Card.” But there was wide-spread opposition, and the idea was dropped. If it was implemented, then such information could easily be added without fuss or inconvenience. Such tiny cards contain treasure-trove information that could save one’s life in an emergency. It can also serve as all-purpose ID card to open bank accounts, obtain NHS treatment, benefits and sign legal documents.

We had such ID cards in Tanzania back in mid-sixties, much advanced and sophisticated ID cards are now widely used in many South East Asian countries, like Singapore and South Korea, few among many.

British people are set in their tradition and ways, always reluctant to adopt change, no wonder our NHS is in such dire situation. It is primitive and inefficient compared to NHS in countries like France and Germany where most treatments are available on demand! Our passivity is an obstacle to much needed changes.

It is holy Easter; gospel, time to be disciples of hope, faith and human kindness that is distinctly lacking among some of us!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi London

Kapil’s

The Bloodied World Cup Kapil Dudakia December 2010, the streets of Doha were filled with people celebrating Qatar’s victory to host the Football World Cup. Many around the world believed that corrupt footballing authorities connived to give this privilege to Qatar for favours rendered. In any other sphere of human existence, one would be astounded to find that Qatar, a nation with zero competence in football, no footballing tradition and no footballing infrastructure was awarded the most prestigious sporting event in the world. Is there anyone who believes that this was nothing but the most grotesque abuse of power and privilege?

Since that day, some 7000 people have died in building the infrastructure needed to host the event. Most of the dead are migrant workers from places like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. And the world of football remains silent. Nations turning a blind eye. International conglomerates hide behind platitudes. Whilst the Christian world drink from the chalice and the Muslim world do namaz, the streets of Doha are drenched with the blood of migrants.

Contrast this with how we treat our own in this country. The Hillsborough disaster on 15 April 1989 took 96 lives. It occurred during an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. As a footballing nation we rightly took the tragedy with the seriousness it deserved. It led to decades of inquiry and investigation. Standing at football venues was made illegal. Those who dared to tarnish the victims of this disaster were named and shamed. And after 32 years, we as a nation have not forgotten.

How on earth can we as a nation then accept 7000 lives being lost just to build stadiums in Qatar? What has happened to morals and ethics of a nation when we care more for 11 men kicking a football around a man-made field in a desert, than for thousands who have perished by the negligence of the authorities?

History will mark this as a sporting event celebrating not football, but the destruction of our common humanity. It will record that money, power and greed is more important, than the lives of the innocent.

What is the point of football having a fake narrative on equality? The motto adopted by FIFA is "For the Game. For the World." What can be more fake than that?

Every self-respecting nation should refrain from taking part in this bloodied event. Those who do take part, there are no reasons that can excuse away the blood of the innocent. If 96 British lives matter, then why don’t 7000 migrant lives matter to us?

As a nation, England should take a stand. Let us as football’s founding nation declare with clarity, that we cannot and will not stand by whilst under the pretence of sport – the greed of nations spills the blood of the innocent.

Let history mark that at least one nation had the strength of character, and belief in its own constitution, to take a stand. Will this happen? Of course not. Greed does not care for the blood and lives of the innocent.

More than 80% of all death are migrant workers from India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. It seems, for some Black Lives Matter, but Brown Lives can be ignored. Footballers of colour are quick to call out the racists when it affects them, but it seems they are more than willing to line up to take part in bloodied World Cup. These high-net-worth bigots of football give hypocrisy a new meaning.

“Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” – James Baldwin

Violation of SOPs The second wave of Coronavirus which is far more lethal than the first one has already reached our country. While the second wave of Coronavirus is spreading rapidly, it is far more dangerous as compared to the previous one.Hence, we must strictly follow SOPs and wear masks in order to prevent the spread of it.The government has already taken some benevolent steps for our protection such as wearing of masks, keeping social distance and no hand shake, but we, the illiterate, have ignored them; specifically shopkeepers don’t pay any heed towards the SOPs.I very humbly request all citizens of the nation to please follow SOPs for their own protection; otherwise they will have to pay a very heavy price for ignoring the SOPs. Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai, India We are grateful to all letter writers for more and more versatile letters well within word limit. Please keep contributing as always. If you are new, then write to Rupanjana at rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com - AV

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

11

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

10 - 16 April 2021

in brief in brief SANJEEV GUPTA’S COAL BUSINESS IN AUSTRALIA IN TROUBLE?

Sanjeev Gupta

On Tuesday 6th April, an application was lodged in the NSW Supreme Court to wind up the operations of two companies, including OneSteel Manufacturing which runs the steelworks, which employs more than 1,200 workers. Creditors are now pushing to break up the Australian empire of British billionaire Sanjeev Gupta and the application has been made by Citibank, ABC news reported. There are two defendants in Citibank's action — the first is OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd (trading as Liberty Primary Steel), and the second is Tahmoor Coal Pty Ltd. These reports appear after the collapse of one of the major lenders to Mr Gupta's GFG Alliance, Greensill Capital. Greensill has been placed in the hands of administrators Grant Thornton after global wealth manager Credit Suisse froze billions of investment funds that it was dependent on.

Citibank filed the action on behalf of Credit Suisse, and it follows a similar application

by Citibank in London. In a statement to ABC news, a GFG Alliance spokesperson said that "any proceedings instituted by Credit Suisse will be vigorously defended".

"GFG Alliance's Australian Mining and Primary Steel (MPS) business, which includes OneSteel Manufacturing Pty Ltd and Tahmoor Coal Pty Ltd, does not conduct any financing with Credit Suisse and has not sold receivables to Credit Suisse.

"The Australian businesses are performing well and generating positive cash flow, supported by the operational improvements we've made and strong steel and iron ore markets."

The spokesperson said GFG remained in "constructive discussions" with Greensill's administrators.

Mr Gupta has previously insisted that there were "no plans to sell any of our core businesses", and said GFG was now taking "strong, prudent steps" towards recovery.

BOOHOO TO INVESTIGATE DIFFERENT PRICES FOR SAME CLOTHING Fast fashion online retailer Boohoo is investigating why the same items of clothing were sold for higher prices across a number of its fashion labels after the BBC discovered that Dorothy Perkins and Coast, which are both owned by Boohoo, sold exactly the same coat but it cost £34 more at Coast.

There are price disparities across a range of Boohoo brands, which also include Oasis and Warehouse.

In a statement to the BBC, Boohoo said the "miscommunication was not intentional".

"All Boohoo group brands work independently, and so this miscommunication was not intentional as teams are not privy to what's being bought and sold across the other group brands," a spokeswoman for Boohoo said.

"Our internal investigation continues and we will be re-pricing all the crossover stock to be aligned."

Boohoo said the coat was first sold by Coast and has now been re-priced at £17 on both brands' websites.

Covid-19 has pushed the succession discussion up the family business agenda Priyanka Mehta The fallout from Covid-19 will continue to impact the economy.

Much has changed. From lacklustre short-term growth prospects across some sectors to shifting consumer behaviour and from increasing reliance on hybrid work culture, to the necessary evolution of the high street and leisure and hospitality sectors. What’s more Brexit has dramatically increased the complexity of cross border trading.

Of course, despite - and in some case because of - all this challenge, a decent proportion of privately owned businesses are thriving.

Miles Davies, Managing Director of KPMG’s Family Business team, says the current changes in the economy are triggering a series of themes impacting the strategic planning of families in business regardless of current commercial performance. These span diversification, mergers and acquisitions, transformation, succession management and governance.

Diversification “Diversification is a red-hot topic. Entrepreneurial families are looking to diversify their portfolio in many cases, to address current and potential shifts in risk and reward. The pandemic has taught some that they are overly exposed in one sector of the market. We are seeing a degree of retreat from city centre property and retail for example, while opportunities underpinned by digital are in higher demand than ever. Many of our clients are increasingly focused on securing their family’s wealth for the future in diverse pockets.”

Mergers and Acquisitions The appetite for portfolio shifts, plus the uncertainty around capital taxes wrought by the widespread speculation of wealth taxes and changes to capital gains tax, are triggering exceptionally high levels of M&A

Miles Davies

activity, says Miles, “The M&A market had all but dried up last year. Very few deals were done with everyone still in a wait-and-watch mode. There is now a lot of hungry capital in the market, whether from private equity or entrepreneurial investors, waiting to be deployed in the right areas driving unprecedented levels of activity.

Potential tax changes are also leading to a number of businesses seeking to expedite their exit strategy: one of Miles’s recent projects was for a client who were in early discussions to buy a business who was also a joint venture partner. The acquisition was planned for 2023 but was accelerated owing to the owners concerns of capital gains tax reform and they have just signed contracts.

A high-profile illustration of how changing customer behaviour and stress in one area spells opportunity in another is the acquisition of Debenhams, one of the country’s oldest department store chains, by online fast-fashion giant Boohoo. While the Debenhams brand name is likely to remain, the conversion of its 118 physical stores to a ubiquitous online presence has created a stir in the retail economy.

Transformation and Succession Covid-19 may prove to have changed the succession landscape in family businesses as the need to transform at speed has,

17-year-old allegedly helps travellers break away from Covid tests A 17-year-old’s scam of false paperwork to help UK-bound travellers pass border checks has created a stir when the country is slowly coming out of lockdown restrictions.

Malik Younas Fazal with false invoices for which he charges £80, is aiding UK arrivals dodge Covid-19 tests while in quarantine.

Travellers arriving from countries on the “red list” have to go to a governmentapproved hotel. While those arriving from countries off the list can self-isolate at home, and taking two postal tests.

Police had also warned about the sale of fake negative test certificates online and even at airports. Health experts say this could put lives at risk and

undermine the vaccination programme with mutant strains entering the country undetected. Under the government’s quarantine “travel test package”, travellers are

required to undergo two tests on day two and day eight to determine presence of any Covid mutant strain.

Meanwhile, Fazal’s fake invoices helps UK arrivals to dodge the tests required for the compulsory “travel test package”.

in many families, seen the next generation step up faster and in a more critical way than ever before. In some cases, business survival relied on them playing to their strengths, for example in taking the business online or pivoting into a new market.

“Our new report into how family businesses have responded to, and been impacted by, the pandemic found that the renowned agility of the market was highlighted, with the research showing family firms were than 42% more likely than other businesses to transform themselves in the last year.

What’s more, transformation was 45% more prevalent in those with multiple generations involved in the business. This really represents the next gen setting the business up for the future,” says Miles, adding, “It can be incredibly difficult to let go, so it may be comforting for some business leaders to know that research demonstrates that there is commercial sense in letting the millennials takeover. Our previous surveys have highlighted those family businesses run by millennials or generation X out-performed counterparts run by older generations. Firms run by the former have proved to be more profitable and have grown at a faster pace.

“I expect recent experience to trigger some hard thinking by existing family leaders about the future and the handing over of the business to the next generation sooner than might have happened before the pandemic.”

Considering the febrile atmosphere, Miles believes that succession planning and smooth transition of power between generations could help firms maximise profits and better optimise their revenue models.

Importance of Governance Covid-19 has put governance more firmly on the agenda says Miles: “At the extreme it has

raised the issue of what happens if the head of business suddenly becomes incapacitated and cannot run the business. Who takes over and how do things operate then? This has become the most vital question for most businesses to answer in recent times.

“There is an inherent resilience built into many family businesses; the family. Our research found that in a number of businesses - 10% - the current family leadership was taken out of action by Covid-19 in recent months and another member of the family stepped up to lead in their absence. I wonder, was this a managed process, following established procedures?

“Simultaneously, as you might expect during challenging times, we are hearing of an increase in conflict in family businesses during the pandemic especially between the secondthird generation where multiple members of the family are in the business. This means that a diverse group of people are operating the business with a diverse set of priorities and ideas of how it should be operating and responding to changing circumstances.

“It is therefore imperative that good governance is in place to avoid and manage conflict. It includes considering the necessary forums; having an owner’s assembly or council as well as an executive board; thinking about the relationship and communication between these groups; defining roles and responsibilities, ensuring all are clear on who and how decisions are made, and who has the right to be consulted and kept informed.

As well as helping to protect against and guide the handling of conflict, good governance also helps with succession.

Ultimately, if you are clear on your shared purpose and you have strong governance then you have the foundations to flourish for generations to come.

Issa brothers to lower prices at Asda The Issa brothers have pledged to lion in the next three years to furinvest £100 million in cutting ther strengthen the business and prices at Asda and follows after its supply chain. their takeover of the supermarket “We are also excited about earlier this year.

The investment plan could see prices drop on a range of items including desserts and baking products, comes as an effort to lower prices at Asda in order to battle competitors such as Zuber and Mohsin Issa German supermarket firms Aldi and Lidl and the proposed integration of the as part of a proposed £1 billion Asda forecourts into EG’s estabinvestment in the business over lished UK operations, which we the next three years. believe would underpin the In a joint statement, Zuber future growth of the combined and Mohsin Issa said, “Looking network.” ahead, and subject to the Asda is one of the UK’s required regulatory approvals, we biggest employers, with more look forward to working with our than 146,000 workers and more Asda colleagues to build an even than 600 supermarkets, stanstronger, more differentiated dalone petrol stations and Asda retailer, including through the Living homewares stores. investment of more than £1 bil-

12 MEDIA WATCH

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

SCRUTATOR’S This vegetable sells for Rs 100,000 per kg Amresh Singh, 38, a farmer from Karamnidh Village of Bihar's Aurangabad district is selling 'hop shoots', a vegetable, for Rs 100,000 per kg. Amresh bought the saplings from the Indian Vegetable Research Institute at Varanasi. Until now Hops were a rare sighting in Indian markets and was bought only upon special orders and deliveries would also take very long time. The cultivation of Hops is being encouraged as it would help farmers grow financially. Hops are essentially flowers of the hop plant Humulus Lupulus. They are a member of the Cannabaceae family of flowering plants. What makes it so special? According to studies, every part of the plant right from the fruit, flower to the stem has multiple usages. It is very useful to the beer industry as they serve as a stability agent. It is also a potential natural remedy for managing Tuberculosis. The antioxidants found in the vegetable could give you gorgeous skin. The shoots are also known to alleviate anxiety, insomnia and depression. (Agency) Bypass surgery for President Kovind

armed with a double-barrelled gun, and Pratap, also armed, attacked them,” Maharaj, Atar Singh’s son, said.

“Rajendra, Pratap and Niranjan held my father and brother. Niranjan stabbed both of them with a knife and then shot them dead.” (Agency)

President Ram Nath Kovind underwent a cardiac bypass surgery successfully last week at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), the Rashtrapati Bhavan said. “Surgery was successful. He is stable and is being closely monitored by a team of senior doctors,” it said.

“I congratulate the team of doctors for the successful operation. Spoke to Director AIIMS to enquire about Rashtrapatiji’s health. Praying for his well-being and speedy recovery,” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Twitter.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah conveyed good wishes and prayers for the president’s speedy recovery. On Friday last, Kovind visited the Army hospital following chest discomfort. He underwent routine check-up and was kept under observation. A day later, he was shifted to AIIMS where the doctors advised him to undergo the planned bypass procedure. Nepalese President Bidya Devi Bhandari also wished a speedy recovery to Indian President. (Agency)

UP denying remission to convicts laughable: SC

Two convicted for murder after 42 years More than 40 years after four members of a family were killed over a land dispute, two people were sentenced to life imprisonment for the crime.

Additional district and sessions judge Sudhir Kumar awarded life imprisonment to Niranjan Singh and his relative Rajendra Singh and also imposed a fine of Rs 75,000 each. Niranjan is 80 now and Rajendra is 70. The case goes back to May 13, 1979. Rajendra, who was an army personnel, had a Ladakh posting and was home on leave at the time. Rajendra, Niranjan, Ranveer Singh, Narendra and Pratap were engaged in a land dispute with another family in the village of Basarai Chahr in Fatehpur Sikri.

“Atar Singh and his son Pinki, 20 at the time, were asleep on a cot in their farm when Rajendra,

Terming as “laughable” the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to reject remission of sentence of three life convicts on grounds that included their “socio economic status not being appropriate”, the Supreme Court has granted the three interim bail to enable them to come out of jail after nearly 16 years. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and R Subhash Reddy pulled up the state authorities for rejecting the convicts’ remission plea “without applying mind” and said it was done to just to prevent them from coming out of jail. Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the state, agreed to reconsider the application. “It troubles us when the state behaves like this. They are in jail for the last 16 years without parole. If the government has devised the police then it should be implemented in true spirit,” the bench said and directed the state to reconsider their plea.

Referring to the order passed by a joint secretary declining the request for release of the prisoners on various grounds, the bench said, “We are appalled to read the order passed.... We are of the view that the officer concerned possibly does not even understand the contours of what is required to be considered before deciding such an application.” (Agency) When a leopard locks horns with two lions The residents of Tataniya, a small village near Khamba taluka

in Amreli district, woke up to rare sight of a fierce fight between a leopard and two lions.

Such fights are common in Gir, but it was a rare sight for the villagers near Kamba. Eventually, the villagers saw a leopard lying injured on their home turf.

When the forest department officials reached the spot, they found that the leopard was paralyzed. The leopard was shifted to a nearby animal rescue centre, where it now is in a critical condition. A lion is more than two times heavier than a leopard. So the leopard uses its swiftness and the cover of trees to escape.

But in this case, the leopard had to deal with two lions, so a tactical retreat was probably impossible. “There have been instances of fighting between the two big cat species in the wild. It is quite rare though for a leopard and a lion to get into a fight in a village/revenue area,” said Bhushan Pandya, a wildlife photographer and member of the Gujarat State Wildlife Board.

(Agency) Gujarat’s ‘Dagri cow’ gets recognition

After Gir, Kankrej and Dangi, Dagri is the fourth indigenous breed of cow from Gujarat to get national recognition from the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR), the nodal agency of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) that registers the new breeds. “We had prepared the report and submitted it to NBAGR in 2019. This breed has distinct characteristics because of which it has received national recognition,” said Dr K B Kathiria, vice-chancellor of Anand Agricultural University (AAU). Kathiria, who is also director of research at AAU, had first noticed this distinct breed during field visits to Dahod a couple of years ago. “The special committee of NBAGR which collects proposals regarding new

breeds had visited the sites twice, had carried out its own detailed analysis and at the end of it, it finally recognised Dagri breed,” said Kathiria. He said that the addition of the breed reflects the biodiversity of livestock in Gujarat. “Out of total 175 breeds of livestock that are nationally recognised, Gujarat has 24 breeds, including cows, buffaloes, sheep, goats, horse, camel and donkey breeds that have been conferred independent breed status. It is a big contribution of Gujarat,” he said. (Agency) White tigers to join at Indroda park in Gandhinagar The Indroda Nature Park in Gandhinagar will soon get two

white tigers from Rajkot zoo.

Confirming this, Rajkot Zoo Superintendent RK Hirpara said, “We have given the tigers to Indroda in exchange of other animal which we are receiving from Sakkarbaug Zoo.” Hirpara said the Rajkot zoo has given white tigers to Kankaria zoo in Ahmedabad, Chattbir zoo in Punjab, and Pune zoo. He said that the Rajkot zoo received a pair of wild asses, fourhorned antelope (chausingha), and one male wolf.

Gir officials said that with the arrival of the white tigers, Indroda will have eight big cats, including a pair of Asiatic lions and two pairs of leopards. Apart from this, Indroda also has herbivores like sambhar, white buck, black buck, spotted deer, chinkara among others. Also, due to its proximity to the Sabarmati river, neelgai grazing in the open is a common sight there. Indroda park has already readied its largest moated enclosures for the big cats where they will get more space to move around in a green surrounding, similar to its natural habitat. (The Times of India) Teenaged girls gang-raped, killed in UP Two cases of gangrape and

murder of teenaged girls, one 14 and the other 15, have shaken Uttar Pradesh. In the first case, a Class X student from Meerut was allegedly gang-raped and poisoned by her tuition batchmate and three friends of his, after which she managed to make it home, collapsed at the gate and died within hours. The tuition batchmate has been arrested along with a friend of his. Police said it could be a case of suicide after rape. In the second case, the girl,15, from Hapur, had left for school on January 22 but did not make it back home. Her relatives convinced the family not to go to the police as it could bring “disrepute”. Nine days later, the family got a call from a hospital in Noida, saying her body had been dropped off by men who had slipped away when she was declared dead on arrival and had been lying there since. This came even as the postmortem report of a girl, 10, from Deoband in Saharanpur, who had been kidnapped earlier, established she had been raped before she was killed.

(Agency) Bullet kills youth, 3 friends commit suicide in grief Three youths who were remorseful after having accidently killed their friend during a hunting expedition allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison. The shocking incident took place at a forest near Kundi village in Uttarakhand's Tehri district.

While one of them died due to accidental fire from a gun, the three others committed suicide, apparently due to a sense of guilt over the incident. The three youngsters were between the age of 18-22. The 22-year-old Rajiv who was leading the group had loaded the gun and slipped following which the gun on his shoulder went off with a bullet getting pumped into Santosh.

Santosh immediate fell onto the ground and was bleeding profusely, petrifying his friends.

Rajiv fled the spot with the gun, while three others - Soban, Pankaj and Arjun - consumed pesticide, saying they were very ashamed of the incident.

According to a report, the villagers took the three friends to the health centre where Pankaj and Arjun were declared dead on admission while Soban died during treatment. (Agency)

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

10 - 16 April 2021

13

14 UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

Twitter bans Binti International’s account for showing an image of a Uterus On 30th March Twitter banned British charity, Binti International’s account based on a post of an image of a uterus.

The ban by twitter continues their censorship of period, anatomical, female health and education posts which has caused outrage amongst women and pro women followers of the platform previously.

Binti had posted an image of a uterus with the text accompanying the image reading “#PostMenopausal #Uterus The strength of a woman. Every girl deserves dignity.

Period. #PeriodDignity #SmashShame # P e r i o d M o l o g u e s #ILovePeriods”.

The account was blocked and a ban placed on future posts.

Binti received an email from Twitter stating that the image of a uterus was blocked in violation of their rules, specifically for, “Violating their rules against posting media depicting gratuitous gore”.

After an appeal to state that the post and image were educa-

tional and allowed under Twitter guidelines, Twitter have written back stating, “Our support team has determined that a violation did take place, and therefore we will not overturn our decision”

leaving Binti without a platform for which to talk about, connect people globally and share their voice as a charitable organization.

Last year, founder Manjit K Gill MBE, was honoured by the Queen for services to the provision of menstrual products to women. Her charity is being censored and their voice banned. In July 2019, the government set up a ‘Period Poverty Taskforce’ to tackle the issue of period poverty and wider stigma around menstruation in the UK. Binti International – was asked to convene and lead the effort to eradicate the stigma, shame and taboo of menstruation.

Founder of the award-winning charity Binti International, Manjit K Gill MBE says, “This is the 21st Century, it’s 2021! We are still fighting the same war and it’s unjust! Our vision is to ensure that all girls and women have menstrual dignity across all walks of life and we do this via education. We pride ourselves on ensuring our posts remain edu-

cational, factual, and create awareness for people to understand menstruation – a normal part of every woman’s life. Most of the PMS humour and lack of knowledge comes from never talking about menstruation or the impact it has on our lives.

Seeing an actual Uterus allows us to understand what this glorious organ goes through month after month and how it affects us.

Most of us can draw a penis but how many of us knows what a uterus looks like let alone name the parts of it? Why is it ok to show breasts and sexualize women but not to show a uterus?”.

Binti is celebrating 7 years of its international work with a vision to create a world where all women have menstrual dignity.

From the outset it has tackled period shame, with clear and concise positive language to ensure it remains an organisation that doesn’t shy away from creating the change that are needed to eradicate stigma and taboo.

Victim of grooming gang urges Priti Patel to kick abusers out of the country A victim of the Rochdale grooming gang has urged the Home Secretary to kick her abusers out of Britain after the 51-year-old ringleader was reportedly pictured stocking up on fizzy drinks in the town where he abused children nine years ago.

Main victim of the grooming gang, said it was a disgrace the Government had failed to act and called for an explanation from the Home Secretary.

When the married father-offive was released on licence in 2014 he was told he faced deportation to Pakistan because he holds a dual-nationality passport. But Rauf reportedly remains free to move around Rochdale - one of three former taxi drivers still fighting efforts to throw them out of the country. Previously one victim had revealed how she had “never been so scared in all my life” after

the foreign national offenders West England was instrumental involved in these crimes have to bringing the men to justice, recently been reviewed at the said there could be “no reasonrequest of the Home Secretary.” able excuse” for the continuing failure to throw the trio out of the country. I feel enormous sympathy for the victims who are reliving the terrible trauma because of the lack of urgency Last week on Friday 26th March 2021, Priti Patel on the part of the Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar orgabumping into her attacker in the Home Office to nized a virtual letter writer’s webinar to town. Campaigners warn the carry out the depor- encourage and motivate the writing skills continuing failure to deport tation order. The of all the authors. them would continue to blight message it sends to The webinar was held in the the lives of the girls, now in their criminals is that they august presence of Mr. Rohit twenties and thirties. can move on with Wadhwana (First secretary – The main victim played by their lives while Economics, Press and Information, Molly Windsor in the BBC their victims contin- High Commission of India), Lord drama Three Girls, told the Sun, ue to suffer.”

Rami Ranger, Mr. Alpesh Patel 'We were told they would be In a statement to (Investment & Media Spokesperson), kicked out of the country.

Daily Mail, a Home Mr. Ajay Umat (Founder & Chief Nazir Afzal, who as Chief Office spokesman Editor, Navgujarat Samay), and Mr. Crown Prosecutor for North said, “The cases of Digant Sompura (Editor- Gujarat Times – USA). The webinar was hosted by two renowned anchors Mr. Tushar Joshi and Mrs. Dwaita Joshi. Many would recollect, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar in the past have also organised greet and meet event for the regular letter writers. Some of them even went on to billion. The company compile and print these letters as a book or was spun-out of the collection. The editorial board included University of Oxford in Mr. C.B. Patel, Mrs. Kokila Patel, Mrs. 2005.

Jyotsna Shah, and Mr. Kanti Nagda. On this An Oxford occasion, we also felicitated some of our Nanopore spokeswomrenowned letter writers Bhupendrabhai an in a statement to Gandhi and Kumudiniben Valambia.

The Times said the US Mr. Digant Sompura shared his experipatent trial had no ences in the field of journalism and bearing on its plans to explained the power of pen and words. Mr. float in London: “The Ajay Umat explained the problems faced by referenced civil litigathe media industry in today’s world and tion started 17 years shared a concept of Citizen Journalism. ago and related to a Gordon Sanghera While Lord Rami Ranger thanked patent filing made Asian Voice and C.B. Patel for providing a nearly 30 years ago, in after Oxford Nanopore last platform to all the writers to share their 1983. This case is very well week told shareholders that thoughts and views. He further urged all to known, as it changed US it was preparing for an inicontribute to politics and make a differlaw. If the case was tried tial public offering in the ence. under the current, changed second half of this year. The Mr. Alpesh Patel, a multi-tasker, with law, the same ruling would IPO could value Oxford vast experience in different sectors, said a not result.”

Nanopore at more than £2

Head of Oxford Nanopore reportedly misled regulators Gordon Sanghera, head of Oxford Nanopore, the biotechnology company planning one of the biggest flotations in London this year, has reportedly misled regulators in a patent dispute.

According to The Times, Gordon Sanghera, when director of research and development for the diabetes business of Abbott Laboratories, an American health care company, was found guilty of in equitable conduct, along with Abbott’s in-house lawyer, after a patent dispute with rival multi-national drug companies.

The case has emerged

in brief LORRY DRIVER WINS £3,500 PAYOUT FOR RACE DISCRIMINATION An English lorry driver has won a £3,500 payout for race discrimination after his boss described him as “lazy” it has been reported.

According to The Times, James Heeley told a tribunal that his colleagues teased him repeatedly over his nationality, making jibes that he was workshy. He said that he had heard Gurvinder Singh Birk, boss of Birk Holdings, mentioned that no more English drivers should be used as they are lazy and only interested in claiming benefits.

The Times reported that although the company officials insisted that the workers had been joking, the panel ruled that Heeley had suffered race discrimination and harassment. Heeley was awarded £2,500 for injury to feelings and a further £961.74 for a breach of employment law.

The tribunal ruled that between 2018 and 2019 Heeley was the victim of numerous discriminatory comments. He told the hearing that senior staff at the transport company had said that he did not do much work because he was English. He also accused two employees of making “discriminatory comments”. Heeley said that when he returned after a few days off sick a worker said, “Oh, the lazy English worker has decided to come back to work.”

The hearing was told that Heeley was sacked in 2019, with Birk citing concerns about his performance, attendance and time keeping.

“The comments are serious such that they create a hostile and/or intimidating environment because they are made by a number of reasonably senior individuals, over a period of time, repeated and in a workplace in which the claimant was a minority,” said employment Judge Jennifer Bartlett.

A special webinar to encourage all the letter writers letter has all the possible powers. One can express a lot of feelings through letters.

Mr. Mahesh Shah added that this webinar was very much helpful for the present

generation as they are less familiar with the concept of letter writing. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar should conduct more such insightful webinar.

Talking further, Mr. Rohit Wadhwana suggested to organize letter writing competition every week and publish the best letter in the newspaper. He also added that Asian Voice can even create voting polls on current issues of the world and share the results to keep readers more engaged.

C.B. Patel concluded the webinar by thanking everyone and sharing their views.

The event was a super success as lot of writers participated and showcased their writing skills. Though the webinar was scheduled for 90 minutes but the enthusiasm and excitement of the guests and the writers kept it continuing for more than 2 hours. Lot of letter writers’ appreciated the concept of webinar and thanked the editorial board for providing a platform to express their ideas through letters. If you have missed out to participate, visit our youtube channel- ABPL Group to view the full webinar video- Letter Writer’s Webinar-2021.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

UK

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

15

10 - 16 April 2021

Gurkha ex-servicemen may seek legal action over pension-pay discrimination The British Gurkha ex-servicemen are planning to take legal steps against the UK Government over pension discrimination and equal pay. Though the British government has increased their pension by 2.93 per cent from April 2021, the amount still remains much less than other ex-servicemen of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. The community calls this discrimination “disgraceful and inhuman.”

In a press statement, the British Gurkha Satyagraha United Struggle Committee UK-Nepal told Asian Voice, “As per the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) of 9 November 1947, the Gurkha soldiers were an integral part of the parent army and meant to be treated equally with their British counterparts. The whole world is aware that the Gurkhas have been discriminated with regards to their pay, perks, pensions and other benefits ever since they joined the army.

“You may be well aware that the allied organisations of various Gurkha Associations such as the ‘British Gurkha United Struggle Committee’ have been struggling to obtain its equal and genuine rights for the last 3 decades. We had to have 13 days long hunger strike in 2013, after which the Joint Technical Report was submitted on 22 March 2018. Along with that, the government of

Soldiers from the Gurkha regiment marching to Sandhurst War Memorial on the 100th anniversary of the Armistice that ended WW1

Nepal also sent a requisition letter for a dialogue to the British government on 12 February 2020. But unfortunately, the UK government hasn’t taken it into account and not initiated any further steps to cover the genuine request of the sovereign country of Nepal.

“It has violated the standards of the TPA of 9 November 1947, and many other rules such as Article 7 of the International Convention on Economic, Social and Cultural Right, Article 4 of the Charter of the European Society, Article 1 of the United Nation Charter, Race Relation Act of the United Kingdom 1976, to name a few.

"Our British counterparts’ monthly salary is equivalent to our 12 months’ salary in total.”

Veteran from the Royal Gurkha Regiment with fellow female travellers from Nepal, visiting Windsor for the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018

The Gurkhas have been an integral part of the British Crown for the last 206 years. The 2011 UK Census recorded 48,497 people born in Nepal now living in England. In 2016, Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimate suggested that 62,000 Nepalese-born people were resident in the UK. The Gurkha soldiers in the British Army are still selected from young men who live in the hills of Nepal. These days Gurkhas in the UK are stationed in seven different military bases and one of them is the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst where the Gurkhas help to train British soldiers. They are believed to be adored by Both Prince William and Harry, especially the latter, after his stint in

+PJO "MUFSNBOT 4PMJDJUPST BT B $POTVMUBOU 0WFS UIF MBTU UISFF ZFBST TJY PG VT IBWF KPJOFE "MUFSNBOT BT DPOTVMUBOUT o UP XPSL JO QSPQFSUZ DPNQBOZ DPNNFSDJBM MJUJHBUJPO QSJWBUF DMJFOU BOE GBNJMZ MBX "MM PG VT IBWF CFFO QBSUOFST FMTFXIFSF BOE LOPX UIF QBJO PG SVOOJOH B UFBN IJUUJOH DIBSHFBCMF UBSHFUT BOE ESJWJOH SFWFOVF )PXFWFS FBDI PG VT LOFX EFFQ EPXO UIBU XIBU XF XBOUFE UP EP XBT mOE TPNFXIFSF XIFSF XF DPVME XPSL GPS PVS DMJFOUT JO B GSJFOEMZ BOE TVQQPSUJWF FOWJSPONFOU 8F GPVOE JU BU "MUFSNBOT JO 'JODIMFZ /PSUI -POEPO 5IF mSN JT SVO CZ (BCSJFM "MUFSNBO XIP JT HSPXJOH B CVTJOFTT XIFSF MBXZFST DBO XPSL PO UIFJS PXO PS CVJME B TNBMM UFBN UIBU NFFUT UIFJS OFFET 5IF mSN JT OPU B iWJSUVBM OFUXPSLw 8F XPSL UPHFUIFS UBML UPHFUIFS BOE SFTQFDU FBDI PUIFShT FYQFSUJTF 8F TIBSF GFFT SFXBSE FBDI PUIFS GPS SFGFSSBMT BOE IBWF SFHVMBS HBUIFSJOHT UP NBLF TVSF XFhSF PO USBDL *G UIJT TPVOET MJLF B mSN XIFSF ZPV DPVME mOE B OJDIF BOE CF BU IPNF HFU JO UPVDI UP BSSBOHF B DIBU BOE DPNF BOE NFFU VT 5IFSFhT OP NBOBHFNFOU TQFBL KVTU MBXZFST XPSLJOH UPHFUIFS

:PV DBO DPOUBDU "OJUB 1BUFM BU BOJUB!BMUFSNBOT DP VL PS (BCSJFM EJSFDUMZ BU HBCSJFM!BMUFSNBOT DP VL PS CZ QIPOF PO 0VS XFCTJUF JT BU XXX BMUFSNBOT DP VL GPS NPSF EFUBJMT PG UIF mSN

Afghanistan. The Gurkha population is settled all across the UK, especially in Farnborough (Hampshire), Kent and Woolwich in South London.

The statement further went on to say, “Today's modern world cannot tolerate such discriminatory acts carried out by the UK 's government. The friendly relationship between Nepal and Britain has been strained for this reason. If Britain wants to maintain its relationship with Nepal, it should address the genuine grievances of the Gurkhas without any delay.

“We are considering submitting a final letter of ultimatum to the UK government in early May and if both UK and Nepal government ignore it again, then we will seek legal course.”

New PCSOs to be domestic abuse first responders Conservative party’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) candidate in the West Midlands, Jay Singh-Sohal has pledged to recruit and train more specialist Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) to be first responders to deal with rising issues of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the region.

It comes as grassroots community organisations dealing with the issue say police handling domestic abuse need to be better trained to handle sensitive issues as well as those within diverse communities. Currently, police officers respond to cases of domestic abuse as with any crime.

During lockdown, reported domestic abuse has increased by 41% - and this follows year-on-year increases since 2011-12. The number of Domestic Violence Protection Notices has also increased during lockdown. These may be used following a domestic incident to provide short-term protection to victims, but arrests have not been made.

PCSOs already have the power to enter and search any premises, and Jay’s plan to get crime down will utilise PCSOs in often-challenging roles such as responding to cases of domestic abuse.

16 UK

AsianV Voi oiceNewss

AsianV Voi oiceNewsweekly

www w.asian-vo voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

PRODUCED IN ASSO OCIA ATI TION

VACC CC CINES S: YOUR U QUES STIONS S ANSW WERED Expertss addre ess common querries about th he Co ovi vid-119 va vaccines Millions of people across the UK K haavve now received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine.

The vaccines give you the best protection against Covid-19 by teaching yo our bod dyy’s imm mune une system how to fight the real virrus, should it need to. The two vaccinees currently being administered in the UK haavve met strict standards of saffety etyy, quality and eeff ffectiv ectiveness set by the independent Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agencyy (MHRA). But, as with an nyy new medicine, people peop ma mayy haavve questions they would lik kee answ answerred. Below, experts provide answers to some of the m most common ones.

I am young and do I need it? I wo w expected to have th the why is this an ny y diffe diff Dr Farzana Farzana H Hussain, a Newham, East London not like flu. Young Young peo peop long-term side eff ffects ects fr they don’t die from flu elderly people that die for Covid, C if you’re you are less likely to die, bu factors can put you mo for example examp people fro minority backgrounds according to the latest evidence, are more like suff ffer long-term l impac and poor outcomes fro Covid-19.”

I’ve ve been called c up for the vaccine c but wan want to wait for more r people to ha av ve it i to ensure it is safe. e. Is this wise e?

Dr Ragh hib Ali, Senior Clinical Research h Associate at the MRC Epidemiiology Unit, University of Cambrid dge, and a frontline NHS doctor: “Millions “ of people havve taken the he vaccine around ar the world. We W don’t need to wait any longer – we know it’s saffe. e. Some people l get g shorth term side d eff ffects, ffects, such as ffever ever, fatigue or tiredness.

In my caase, I experienced some of these ffor or a coupl coup e of daays. ys.

I’ve seen n the al alternative, which is gettingg Covid and potentially ending up in in intensive care or dying.

I’ve ve had Covid, so ha av ve th the antibodies. Why should I ha av ve the th jab?

Dr Hussain: “What we don’t know is how lon immunity lasts after yo been inffected ected, and, of we know there are lots variants. It’s still impor for peopl peop e to havve the vaccine – it will give yo better immunity for for m longer.”

Was a the vac vaccine tested on all sectors of society to ensu ure it is safe for every very yone? ne?

Dr Ali: “V Vaccine trials havve been carried o out all over the world, in Asia, South America, Ameri China and Africa. So, people of every backgrou und have v taken part in these triials, including ethnic minoritiies in the UK. We know that it w works in all ethnic groups.

The otheer point is that our immunee systems do not really vary baseed on ethnicity.”

We ha av ve now va ac c atted ccina more than half th mo he UK’s adult popula ati tion. This phenomenal achievemen ac vementt is testam e men ent tto o the efforts of th he NHS and GPs around the country y,, but it is absolutel e y cru ucial that ev very eryone gets a va vac ccine w wh hen their time comes.

Wh hy y is it importan r ntt to ge get my m y second dose e??

Havving your second dose is really important when the time comes. The fi firrst dose of the vaccine provides a high level of protection, but ffor or that protection to last longer, everyone needs to get a second dose.

Ho ow w effectiiv ve e are the va ac ccines ness??

The most receent study on the eff ffect ect of vaccines vaaccines from Public Health England showed vaccines proviide a high level of protection, theey reduce your risk of catchin ng Covid, reduce the number off people getting serious Covid-19 and needing hospital treatm ment and reduce the number off people who die from Covid-19.

9 In the overr 80s, data suggest that a single dose of either vaccine is more than 80% eff ffective ective at a preventing hospitalisation n, around 3 to 4 weeks after th he jab.

I’v ve seen in the press tha at ther th e ha av ve been some re eally sever vere allergic reaction ns. How do do I know kn this won’t n’t h ha ap a ppen to me?

Dr Ali: “S Severe allergic reactions are very rare – there have v only been a handful of cases. As llong as you do o not have v an allergy in respon nse to the ingredients themselvves, it is saffee to take tak the vaccine.””

Is the va vaccine safe for people with underlyin ng g conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or assthma, thma, and will it interac ct with my my me edicati ation? n?

Dr Ali: “It is perffectl ectly saffee in people with diabetes, heart

diseease and asthma – there are no incrreased side eff ffects, ects, and it does nott interact with any medications used to treat these conditions. used conditions If you are concerned, ask your doctor.”

Can I ask my doct doctor for a specific Covid jab b? Is it it right that some ha av ve worse w side de eff ffects ects than others o s? Was Was the testing of some more rigorous than others?

Dr Ali: “No – both the Pfizerr// BioNT Tech ech and Oxffor ord Universityy// AstraZeneca vaccines are eff ffective, e equall well tested equally and d equally saffe. e. There Ther is also no evidence e that the side eff ffects ects from m one vaccine are worse than for any an other.”

Why is there a gap betwe een the required tw wo doses? d Dr Ali: A “The interval is based on advice a from the Joint Com mmittee on V Vaccinati accination and Imm munisation and the UK’s Chiief Medical Officers. Data from m clinical trials show that a 12-w week gap is best ffor or the Oxffor ord vaccine and is also fine ffor or the Pfizzer vaccine. This saaves ves more mor livees overall than we could do by giviing two quick doses to half as man ny people.”

Do religi g ous groups endorse the v va accine e??

Dr Sony ya y a Babu-Nara ay yan, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation: “People ask if the vaccine is compatible with their faith, and many v said religious leaders have yes. The British Islamic Medical Association considers all types of the vaccine as recommended, as does the Muslim Council of Britain, the British h Sikh kh community, the Church of England and the Catholic Church.

There is also a letter from 80 Jewish doctors in the UK to confirm that the vaccine does not contain ingredients considered nonKosher.”

The vaccine was a de ev veloped so quickl ky – I don n’t ’t und der erstand how they’ve manag mana ag ged ed to ma ak ke e a vaccine for such a ne ew w illness?

Reverend Dr T Temi emi Odejid de, resident pastor of House on the Rock London, a Christian tian church, and a qualified medical doctor: “If you talk lk to people in this field, you u understand that, yes, the vaccines were produced extremely quickly, but none ne of the saffety ety processes werre compromised. Techno Technologyy has advanced significantly, funding was already in plaace, trials were run concurrentl t y, all so we can now producee vaccines at scale much faster than beffor ore.”

www w.asian-vo voice.c .com

AsianV Voi oiceNews

AsianV Voi oiceNewsweekly

UK

17

10 - 16 April 2021

WITH UK U GO OVERNMENT VERNMENT T

British Heart e Foundation supporter Zena F Fo orsterr,, 65, who lives just outside Newcastle, has heart disease and suff ffer ered a stroke in 2016. She said: “I had my first do ose a couple of weeks ago. I’’m thrill hrilled and delighted to havve had it. Itt’s about protecting yourself, but also your family, friends and nd loved ones. I would ffeel eel terrible if I was responsible ffor or passingg the virus onto someone else.”

Auditor Mary Adeson, 34, from Ad m south London, is a carer ffor or her mother. She ssaid: “Havving the vaccine ine has been liffe-changing ee-chan chan nging ffor or me. My anxiety level had been off ff the scale. I’m a carer for for my mum who haas a mental-health disorder.

This is a responsiibility I blings. share with my sib I’ve been caring for for her ffor or a long time, and I’m very consciou us of the impact it has on my own wellbeing. ng. In addition to this, I haave ve an underlying heal alth condition that caauses v difficu me to have ulty breathing. The Covid symptoms suggesst I could die a painful ul death if I get it.”

“Milliions of people ha ave tak ken en the va vaccine around the worl rld. d We We don’t do n’t need n to o wai waiit an ny y lo ong nger – w we e k know it’’ss safe. saf S Some people get short-term siide effects, such as fever e, fatigu a g e or tiiredness.”

I accept tha att the trials ha av ve shown the vac vaccin ne e to t be safe e, but ut how w do I know that dangerous sid de effe ects wo won’t n’t show sh themselves ves in na few wy ye ears’ time?

Dr N Nikki Kanani, a GP in South West L ndon Lon d and d medical di l director di off Primary Pi Care ffor or NHS England: E “Our confidence com mes from knowing how other vaccines beh havve. We havve vaccinations all the time, either in childhood or when we go abro oad. When side eff ffects ects occur, occur they usu ually happen within 24 hours or a ffew ew weeeks, rather than years. Plus, scientists havve been testing the vaccines ffor or months mon and d using them in the real world since Deccember. All the data show that serious sidee eff ffects ects are ar very, very rare.”

Do the v va accines protect against new ew v varian ariants of Covid d?

Dr Kanani: K “Everything that we’ve seen so far sa s ys y that they do, probably to diff ffering ering exteents. We also know that over time all viru uses change, which results in the need for new n vaccines – as happens every ever year for flu fl – and that scientists will be able to tweeak them relatively quickly.”

18 UK - FINANCE

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel It is the new tax year, new ISA and SIPP year and the US markets are at an all time high. You could have had a 50% return from even large relatively safe well known names. But you missed out. Yet again. And it’s tax free in an ISA. It is imperative not just for ourselves, or kids, but our community we make use of all the opportunities to build our savings. Me, I’m lazy, I like my money to sweat.

What defines a worthy stock for investment or retirement income?

Unfortunately, for many investors, the answer is a stock that pays dividends. While dividends are a factor (among many) that can be used to judge a stock, it isn’t necessarily the most important or profitable determination to make when investing.

Furthermore, the world’s greatest investor and some Nobel Prize-winning economists both agree that a portfolio that focuses heavily on dividend-paying stocks is leaving money on the table.

Warren Buffett on Dividends In 2011, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway announced they would be buying back shares in the company. Many shareholders wondered why their profits would be used this way instead of paying out cash dividends.

However, some years later, in an annual shareholder’s letter, Buffet explained his position on dividends.

His opinion was that a company could do one of four things with profit.

1.Reinvest in the company, 2.Purchase other companies, 3.Buyback shares,4.Payout cash dividends While the first three are certainly part of Berkshire’s strategy, Buffet explained what he saw as the disadvantage of dividends. Firstly, shareholders might require different levels of dividends. Secondly, dividends are taxed as income, which is disadvantageous for long-term investors.

Finally, he was concerned that a dividend-paying stock could turn off potential investors who didn’t want a surplus cash payout.

Buffet’s Case Against Dividends To surmise a case laid out well in this article from 2013 by Sam Ro, Buffet spells out why dividends might not be the best way to generate wealth.

He postulates that suppose two individuals own a company worth $2m that earns 12% on net worth. This means a profit of $240,000 per year, which can either be taken out or reinvested (also accruing a 12% profit).

Additionally, because investors are keen to buy into the company at 125% of the next worth, this means the value of what each owner has is $1.25 (total $2.5m).

The Result of Paying Dividends However, if one shareholder wants dividends of one third ($80,000) to be paid out and two thirds ($160,000) to be reinvested in the company, this will result in an annual payout of $40,000 each. As the company grows, this 12% profit is split between dividends (4%) and reinvestment (8%), resulting in a net worth of $4,317,850 after ten years. By this time, the dividend would be $86,357, and each investor would own half the net worth, or $2,698,656.

The Result of Full Reinvestment While this is a fantastic outcome, Buffet suggests there is a more preferable and profitable method to consider. By leaving all earnings in the company and selling 3.2% of shares annually, the same $40,000 of returns would be earned in year one. However, after ten years, this sell-off scenario nets a return of $6,211,696 by compounding these extra funds.

By selling off shares annually, each individuals ownership will decrease from 50% down to 36.12%. Still, because the company’s net worth is higher, the shares’ market value would be $2,804,425 — a full 4% greater than the dividend approach.

To further understand Buffett's philosophy, we should take a look at Dividend Irrelevance Theory.

Dividend Irrelevance Theory In 1961, Franco Modigliani and Merton Miller argued that a company’s dividend policy doesn’t affect its market value or capital structure. Instead, they believed that its stock price was determined by its ability to generate future earnings combined with its attendant business risk.

They stated that dividends don’t add value to a companies’ stock price, and furthermore, that dividends constitute a missed opportunity for reinvestment that, if anything, ends up harming a company.

Both men went on to win a Nobel Prize in Economics in 1985 and 1990.

However, their theory — like all economic theories — has come under some criticism from those who feel that it falls short in a practical sense.

Do Dividends Matter?

Yes and no. While dividends indicate how much cash a company is generating, they are not definitive, ironclad proof that a company is generating cash and sales.

As Steve Coker from Cedarstone Advisors points out, between 1995 and 2012, Apple Inc. paid no dividends yet generated billions of dollars for its shareholders. He notes that because cash was not exiting the company, reserves built up and increased the stock price, which benefited shareholders who still owned their percentage of this accrued cash. When analysing whether a company is a quality investment, dividends are important, but they’re not everything.

What This Means For Investors?

Taking all of this information together, what should investors do?

While dividends are one of the factors determining how good a stock is, it is far from the only consideration a smart investor should make.

Instead of looking for dividend companies to generate income, investors are better served identifying stocks with good growth potential and then selling some shares to generate revenue.

Per Buffet’s calculations — and the work of two Nobel-winning economists — this is preferable to relying on a few percents of dividends when a stock could quickly drop by 10% or more. Also, it’s more profitable.

I want everyone to learn how to invest for themselves, or at least the right questions to ask their fund manager, or financial advisor. I create a Campaign to teach for free people how to invest better and so they feel they are seated next to me, connect with me on instant messenger and see what I see. It’s all free on www.campaignforamillion.com

Around 190,000 High Street jobs lost since onset of Covid-19 New figures reveal almost 190,000 jobs have been lost since the onslaught of Covid-19 last year. Data released by the Centre for Retail Research reveals that 188,685 retails jobs have been lost since the start of the first coronavirus lockdown on March 23, 2020 until March 31, 2021. The figures come less than two weeks before non-essential shops reopen their doors in England.

The worst-hit high street saw permanent closures of thousands of stores.

The data also revealed that 83,725 jobs lost in the period were due to administrations. This includes high-end collapses by Debenhams and Sir Philip Green's Arcadia Group. Real estate adviser Altus Group has announced that up to 401,690 shops are currently shut down around the country and could reopen in the next stage of Prime Minister Boris Johnson's roadmap out of lockdown.

Retailers continue to raise concerns that the high street will still be very challenging for the stores despite the easing of restrictions. UK president of property tax at Altus, Robert Hayton has warned that the current business rates regime could bring further devastation. He was quoted by The Independent as saying, “Come 1 July, large retailers in England will effectively be returned to full business rates liabilities, calculated by reference to rents being paid six years ago, bearing no resemblance to the here and now, with the funda-

mental right of appeal to seek valuation adjustments being retrospectively removed.” A government spokesperson was quoted as saying, “We have continued to support the retail sector throughout the pandemic, including our new £5bn Restart Grant scheme, extending the furlough scheme and the VAT cut, providing 750,000 businesses in retail and other sectors with business rates relief and a £350bn package to support jobs and livelihoods.”

They added, “As we build back better from coronavirus we want to see our high streets thrive. We have put in place an accelerated £1bn Future High Streets Fund, a £4.8bn Levelling Up Fund and are working with local leaders through the High Street Taskforce, all to support town centres, high street regeneration and drive growth across the UK.”

UK businesses lose £37bn through poor business spending controls A new study by European pay and spend automation platform Soldo reveals UK businesses lose around £37bn a year through poor business spending controls.

The concerning figure is equivalent to 2 per cent of revenues for every business in the UK, with losses starting at around £50,000 for small businesses, rising to around £12m for the biggest UK firms.

CEO of Soldo, Carlo Gualandri said, “Although many businesses in the UK are struggling to manage cash flows in this exceptionally challenging economic landscape, we see that

many are losing significant revenues on an annual basis simply through poor management of spending. Looking at this loss of revenue at a macro-level, the numbers are quite staggering.”

The study points out how poor visibility, overspending and duplication of spend are the

Thousands of foreign tourists allowed into UK every day

Thousands of foreign tourists are being allowed into the UK every day despite Brits being banned from travelling. Of the 20,000 people arriving at British borders, around 40 per cent - or 8,000 - are holidaymakers, according to Border Force estimates. Hundreds of visitors are granted holiday visas issued by the Home Office.

One visitor from Peru was granted a visa after writing on their application form that the reason for their trip to the UK was to "visit Big Ben". A Border Force source said hundreds of people visiting the UK each day are "basically coming here on a two-week holiday" and the agency has "no grounds to refuse them".

"As long as they’ve got an address where they say they’ll quarantine, and they’ve completed their pre-departure tests, they’ve got their certificates and everything else, they’ve got means and a return ticket, we’ve got no grounds to refuse them," they added.

Almost half of people arriving in the UK are tourists, but this jumps to 80 or 90 per cent at Gatwick and Eurostar terminals.

It is a slap in the face for Brits who are currently barred from travelling abroad and could face fines of up to £5,000 for breaking the rules. All passengers entering the UK must provide proof of a negative Covid test taken no more than three days before departure, regardless of where they came from. They must also provide details of where they are staying and self-isolate for 10 days.

biggest contributing factors to limiting organisational growth. It also reveals that over £19bn is lost each year in unclaimed VAT across the UK, of which approximately £3.8bn is lost due to errors in the processing of receipts.

Gualandri said, “Finance functions need to transform to drive business results, too much time and revenue is being wasted because of inefficient practices that are holding finance teams back. After all, it is these teams who are ideally placed to provide the strategic insight that will enable the company to thrive in the wake of Covid.”

REIM Capital diversifies their loan book by completing a £13m development loan REIM capital has completed on a £13m development loan, their largest since inception, reaching 50% of their annual target in the first quarter of the year.

The borrower, Investars Paragon House Development will deliver 140 new homes to Manchester which will further close the gap in the current UK housing shortage. Kunal Vaitha, Principle and co-founder said, "We are very pleased to be working with a new developer and to be completing our first loan in the North West of England.

The company goal at the start of the year was to diversify our book into new region."

Reim Capital, based in London, completed £25m worth of loans in their first year of trading and expects to surpass these figures later this year by growing its broker distribution and expanding the team. Funded through a joint venture with a real estate debt fund, Reim Capital provides various bridging finance products, including residential and commercial bridging, auction finance, semi-commercial bridging and development exit.

For further information, please visit http://reimcapital.com.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

FINANCE & REAL ESTATE 19

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

10 - 16 April 2021

GST collections at record high of £12.3 bn in March GST collections in March touched a record high of over £12. 3 billion, a 27 per cent growth over the yearago period, India's Finance Ministry said.

"GST revenues crossed above £10 billion mark at a stretch for the last six months and a steep increasing trend over this period are clear indicators of rapid economic recovery post pandemic," the ministry said.

Closer monitoring against fake-billing, deep data analytics using data from multiple sources including GST, income tax

and customs IT systems and effective tax administration have also contributed to the steady increase in tax revenue over last few months, it added.

The gross GST revenue collected in the month of March 2021 stood at £12.39 billion, of which central GST is £2.29 billion, state GST is £2.93 billion, integrated GST is £6.28 billion (including £3.10 billion collected on import of goods) and cess is £875.7 million (including £93.5 million collected on import of goods).

"GST revenues during

March 2021 are the highest since introduction of GST. In line with the trend of recovery in the GST revenues over past five months, the revenues for

the month of March 2021 are 27 per cent higher than the GST revenues in the same month last year," the ministry said in a statement.

India's exports surge by over 58% in March, imports rise 53% India’s exports shot up by over 58% to $34 billion in March, led by a jump in engineering, garments, iron ore and pharma, while imports rose 53% to $48 billion, preliminary data released by the commerce department showed. Trade deficit widened to over $14 billion in March 2021, compared to around $10 billion a year ago.

While the growth rate may have been boosted by the base effect, $34 billion exports in March 2021 is the highest monthly value of shipments out of the country. In March 2020, exports had dropped by 35% as the impact of Covid started showing, especially with the lockdown kicking in. In contrast, the fourth week of March 2021 witnessed a massive jump in

exports, with March 21 seeing record exports from the country.

For the full year, however, exports dipped by 7.4% to $290 billion, compared to $313.4 billion in 2019-20, the data showed.

During 2020-21, imports too contracted18% to $389 billion. PM NarendraModi ji’s policies have propelled Indian economy to historic new heights, despite the

pandemic,” commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal tweeted. What was heartening for policymakers is the over 62% rise in nonoil exports to $31 billion in March.

“This (the rise in March exports) has been mainly on account of 28 out of 30 major product group of exports showing either a very impressive high positive growth starting

with triple digit and almost all ending with a very high double digit growth, defying all the odds during these difficult times,” said Fieo president Sharad Kumar Saraf.

Global trade has been hit hard by the Coronavirus pandemic with signs of a recovery visible now. In its latest projections, the World Trade Organisation said that global merchandise trade is expected to rise 8% in 2021, after declining last year.

With the US and the European Union, two major markets for Indian exports, expected to see a rise in demand, India’s export prospects appear brighter.

Fieo said that the government should aim for $350 billion exports during the 2021-22.

First Strike Advantage

Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

Currently, we are looking to develop a site we purchased for a client in NW London.

Generally, when we purchase a site, the aim is obviously to maximise its potential; with this site it will be done in phases. The first will involve redeveloping the existing flats; the second will be to convert the commercial into residential; the third will be to extend the building outwards; and the fourth will be to build upwards.

The planning for phase one and two is in place. The aim is to rent all 8 flats out, and switch the borrowing to a 5 year fixed rate; and when there is a monthly cashflow and the project is stabilised, then go for the third and fourth phases, taking our time. When the planning does come through, the lender we are looking to go with allows the borrower to swap to a development mortgage and back again; hence of the reasons why we choose to go with this particular lender.

However, whilst talking to the neighbour, it transpired they are also looking to go for planning. Their property butts on to ours. There is a rule which means if someone has constructed a building and you are looking to build as well you need to ensure your line of development is built keeping a certain distance away from theirs. This severely restricts what you can build.

It was some time after talking to the neighbour, and hearing about their proposed plans to build on top of their site, that the penny dropped.

If they get planning first and build out it will severely affect our ability to extend and perhaps even build upwards; the extension aspect for sure. This was further confirmed by our planner.

This prompted us to pull our finger out and get moving with the third and fourth phase.

This decision to move first, perhaps a little prematurely, could serve to enhance our development by at least a couple of hundred thousand pounds.

Once the planning is in, we will have a few years before it expires, so there is no need to act on it straight away. There is the possibility of implementing it close to its expiry, in other words starting it to further extend this time period.

Once our planning is in and hopefully approved, it will mean our neighbour will need to follow the same guidelines and cut back what they can submit, as our development will have a right to light and therefore any proposed development will need to be mindful of this. In other words, it will restrict what they can put up.

Ideally, this should have been a joint venture; but people always have an exaggerated idea of what their properties are worth. Valuing the existing properties is the first basis of a JV. It seems there is only one route to go down if we wish to maximise this investment.

India's oil ministry PSU banks go slow on asset to seek millions sales, waits for privatisation list WORLD BANK RAISES INDIA'S GROWTH FORECAST Public sector banks in India that were sector banks and one general insurer from Cairn The World Bank has raised India's growth forecast to 10.1 per not part of the consolidation process during the current financial year. The cent for the next financial year 2021-22, compared to the earlier

India's oil ministry will seek tens of millions of dollars from Vedanta’s Cairn Oil & Gas after the Delhi High Court held that the firm was liable to pay higher profit share to the government in lieu of its Rajasthan oil and gas block licence being extended beyond initial term, a top official said.

In the interim, the firm’s Barmer basin block licence, whose initial 25-year term ended on May15, 2020, has been given an eighth interim extension, the official said.

“Now that the Delhi High Court has upheld the government policy, we will issue recovery notices seeking higher profit petroleum since May 15, 2020,” he said. “The exact amount is being calculated but it will be in tens of millions of dollars.”

When contacted, a company spokesperson said, “We are in the process of reviewing the court’s order, will assess any next course of action” after that. The Union Cabinet headed by Prime Minister Narendrea Modi had in March 2017 approved a policy for extension of production sharing contracts (PSCs) for oil and gas blocks beyond their initial term.

This policy provided that the government's share of profit petroleum (earning from sale of oil and gas after deducting all expenses) would be 10% more during the extended period.

are going slow on their plans to monetise assets as part of their capital-raising efforts. These banks have decided to wait and see whether they are candidates for the government’s privatisation plan before initiating any stake sale.

The thinking is that private investors might see more value in a bank that has other businesses that can be grown. Last week, Central Bank of India allowed a deal to sell its housing finance arm Cent Bank Home Finance to fall through by not going ahead with the transaction before the longstop date of March 31, 2021.

In terms of the deal, the public sector lender would have received £16 million. Similarly, Bank of India has been looking to sell stake in its life insurance arm, Star Union Daiichi. In good times, public sector banks have made investments in financial sector entities. But the Reserve Bank of India is now reluctant to grant permission to banks to set up subsidiaries.

In her budget, the finance minister had said that the government will privatise two public

Niti Aayog has decided to keep the five public sector banks that were part of the consolidation - Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, Union Bank and Indian Bank - out of the privatisation process. The reason for keeping the consolidated banks out of the privatisation process is that, while the merger is complete, the benefits of consolidation are yet to be realised.

In the initial phase, there is expected to be a rationalisation of expenses, while in subsequent years more value is expected to be delivered through economies of scale and growth.

Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India, Punjab & Sind Bank and UCO Bank are the ones that were not part of the consolidation. IDBI Bank has been classified as a private bank after Life Insurance Corporation came in as an investor. The government has said that even after privatisation, the interest of employees would be protected and there would not be any change in their salaries and that right and perquisites of workers would be protected.

estimate of 5.4 per cent. The country's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth could range between 7.5 per cent-12.5 per cent. The World Bank stated in its recent report 'South Asia Economic Focus' that the Indian economy had been slowing prior to the Covid-19 pandemic and that the spread of the coronavirus infection, leading to lockdown measures severely disrupted supply and demand conditions. The Monetary policy was deployed aggressively and the fiscal resources have been channeled to public health and social protection, but additional counter-cyclical measures will be needed, within a revised medium-term fiscal framework, according to World Bank. Despite the measures to shield vulnerable households and firms, the trajectory of poverty reduction has slowed, if not reversed.

RELIANCE GETS NOD FOR HIVING OFF O2C BUSINESS Reliance Industries said it has secured approval of its shareholders and creditors for hiving off its oil-to-chemical (O2C) business into a separate unit. As per directions of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the company convened meetings of equity shareholders, lenders and unsecured creditors for consideration of a resolution for transferring the O2C business to a separate subsidiary - Reliance O2C Limited. In stock exchange filings, RIL said 99.99% of shareholders, who participated in the meeting held through video conferencing, voted in favour of the resolution. While 100% of the secured creditors voted in favour of the resolution, 99.99% of unsecured creditors cast their vote in favour of the resolution. The meetings were chaired by former Supreme Court judge Justice (Retd) BN Srikrishna.

20 WORLD

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

Hasina warns Hefazat militants, slams anti-Modi protests DHAKA: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina warned all Hefazat-e-Islam militant involved in the long spell of violence since last month following the visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of legal action as she stressed her government’s zero tolerance strategy against social menaces like militancy.

“You, the Hefazat leaders and workers, don’t you go to study at Deoband (in India)? So, how dare you protest against the Prime Minister of India’s visit? I have managed all opportunities for you people to go abroad... I’m surprised...,” she said.

Speaking in Parliament, she questioned Hefazat leaders’ ethics and honesty, especially its Joint Secretary General Mamunul Haque. “Hefazat leader Mamunul set vehicles on fire and attacked people... after then

Sheikh Hasina

he went to spend holidays with a beautician in a resort, whom he claimed as his second wife..., she said, questioning the source of Mamunul’s money.

People will never spare these militants, those who only destroy Islam, she said. “I want to ask... Islam is a religion of peace, how did these Hefazat militants attack public!” Hasina questioned.“It is a secular country, no one should be attacked in

the name of Islam. Who uses children in massacres, sets vehicles and homes of Awami League leaders on fire, attacks Awami league workers only, and destroys all the establishments of the government...

These militants are a shame to the Muslims. Those militants will never be spared,” she said in her 44 minutes speech ending the parliament session.

Earlier, Hasina asked officials of National Security Intelligence (NSI), the government’s intelligence agency, to work towards eradicating terrorism. Referring to the government’s zero tolerance stance against militancy, terrorism, drug and corruption, she said the NSI will have to do whatever is required to protect the people’s

lives, livelihoods, properties and interests as well as ensure peace in society.

She was speaking after inaugurating the NSI’s newly-constructed 20-storey head office, virtually from her official residence. Asking the NSI to remain alert always, she said Bangladesh has attained the status of a developing nation and would be a developed country by 2041 if “you people perform your responsibilities perfectly”.

Hasina also directed all authorities concerned to perform their duties properly to ensure the government’s directives are implemented appropriately to battle the fresh wave of the Covid-19 in the country. She said her government is conscious about keeping the economic activities running, but saving the lives of the people is the first priority.

Pakistan does U-turn on resuming trade ties with India ISLAMABAD: Pakistan did a Uturn on a move for limited resumption of trade with India, as a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan rejected a government panel’s decision to allow imports of sugar and cotton from the neighbouring country. The meeting rejected the decision made by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet to allow imports of the two commodities to control prices and overcome a shortage, the Pakistani media reported.

There was no official word on the development from the Pakistan government. The reasons for the sudden change could not immediately be ascertained. The ECC’s decision, if implemented, would have led to resumption of trade between the two countries after almost two years. Pakistan had unilaterally suspended trade with India in August 2019 after New Delhi

scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

The Pakistani flip-flop came hours after human rights minister Shireen Mazari, known for her anti-India stance, tweeted that all decisions made by the ECC have to be approved by the Cabinet.

“Just for the record – All ECC decisions have to be approved by cabinet & only then they can be seen as ‘approved by govt’! So today in the cabinet there will be a discussion on ECC decisions including trade with India and then the government decision will be taken!”

Mazari said in her tweet.

On Wednesday, Pakistan’s new finance minister Hammad Azhar had announced the decision to import cotton and sugar from India and defended the move in the face of questions from the media. The green signal for the imports was earlier seen in the context of a thaw in relations between New Delhi

and Islamabad after the armies of the two sides recommitted themselves to a ceasefire Imran Khan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu Trade between India and and Kashmir last month.

Pakistan has invariably taken a Azhar, who was appointed hit whenever tensions spike finance minister by Prime between the countries, and this Minister Khan, told a news conwas also case when the 2019 ference in Islamabad the Pulwama suicide attack trigimports would allow Pakistan to gered a military standoff. cope with the rising price of The move by the Indian and sugar and a shortage of cotton.

Pakistani armies to strictly The ECC had approved imports adhere to the ceasefire on the of up to 500,000 tonnes of sugar LoC from February 25 was the by the private sector and also outcome of behind-the-scenes allowed imports of cotton up to contacts between the two sides the end of June to meet the and led to a thaw in relations. needs of small and medium In recent weeks, Pakistan enterprises.

Army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa Azhar had sidestepped a has spoken of the need to “bury question from a reporter on the the past and move forward”, resumption of trade ties with while Prime Minister Khan has India without addressing the said India will have to take the Kashmir issue by saying: “If the first step for improving ties by burden on the ordinary man is addressing Kashmir, the only reduced by trading with some issue standing in the way of betcountry, there is no loss in it.” ter relations.

Greece reports large number of sexual assault by Pak origin men ATHENS: There is a rising concern among the people of Greece after an increasing number of sexual assault cases are being linked to men of Pakistani origin.

In the last few months, there have been several cases where Pakistani migrants were found committing unspeakable sexual atrocities against native women and children.

Recently, a Pakistani migrant was arrested in Ierapetra, Crete, for the assault and attempted rape of a local woman. The Pakistani migrant had approached a local woman named Despina Platanaki near the old town hall and beat her while attempting to rape her. A police complaint was filed by the victim and the assaulter was arrested. It was later learned by the police that the assaulter might have sexually harassed at least five other women.

Two days later, Platanaki

posted a picture of herself on Facebook and informed the world about the sexual attack on her. She urged other victims of sexual assault to come forward and speak up after she came to know that she was not the Pakistani migrant’s only victim.

In her appeal, Platanaki said, “I was brutally, sexually assaulted by a man of Pakistani descent.

After many hours of security statements, we discovered that this ‘gentleman’ had attempted and sexually harassed five more girls who have not testified.”

“Fortunately for those girls, they did not experience the horror and pain that I feel. I know this is a delicate matter, and you may feel ashamed, but if any of you have been harassed and have not mentioned it, please go to the police and make a statement,” Platanaki said.

For some time now, Greece has been afflicted by a series of

sexual assaults involving Pakistani migrants. While the victims have been predominantly native women, in some cases, even children have been brutalised by men of Pakistani descent.

On 26 March, a case of a Pakistani migrant trying to molest a 13-year-old boy came to the fore. In the Greek village of Messara, a Pakistani migrant reportedly attempted to kiss the minor boy on his lips. The boy had gone to the house of the Pakistani migrant, who was a neighbour of the boy’s relative.

After the incident, the boy narrated the incident to his father, who in turn called the police and filed a complaint against the Pakistani migrant.

In February 2021, a court in Greece had extended the judicial custody of a man of Pakistani descent from 12 months to 18 months after he was found guilty

of sexually assaulting an 11-yearold minor girl. The incident occurred in April 2020 when the Pakistani migrant had raped the minor girl. The culprit had reportedly sexually assaulted the girl when she had come to her home. While the Pakistani migrant defended himself saying that there was no sexual act between the two, the court had pressed charges for committing rape. Witnesses testified that the Pakistani met the 11-year-old outside a primary school and that the children had informed him that she was a student.

Again in February 2021, a case of a Pakistani man trying to rob and rape a young woman was reported from Pyrgos Kallistos, a village on the island of Santorini.

The Pakistani migrant had reportedly threatened the girl with a knife and attempted to rape her in the small municipality of Koliri in the Peloponnese.

in brief TEXAS SCHOOL TO BE NAMED AFTER INDIAN-AMERICAN An elementary school in the US state of Texas will be named after an IndianAmerican trailblazer Sonal Bhuchar so that her legacy in education and philanthropy continues for generations to come, according to a statement. The Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) Board of Trustees unanimously approved naming upcoming elementary school 53, after Ms Bhuchar, who died of cancer complications at the age of 58 in 2019. The school will open in January 2023 in the Riverstone community.

50 HURT IN CLASH AFTER PAK SHRINE SHUT DUE TO COVID Pakistan deployed paramilitary troops to a shrine closed due to coronavirus restrictions, after hundreds of pilgrims trying to get in clashed with police. Police said the pilgrims broke open the main gate of the the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar, a 13th-century mystic Sufi saint, located in the town of Sehwan in the southern Sindh province. The crowds attacked police and threw stones, police officer Mohammad Mushtaq said. Nearly 50 suffered minor injuries, including police, and a probe has been launched. Shrines in Pakistan were closed recently as part of steps to help stem Covid-19.

PAK COURT JAILS HAFIZ’S 5 AIDES Anti-terrorism court in Pakistan has sentenced five members of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s JuD to nine years of imprisonment each in a terror financing case. Three of them - Umar Bahadar, Nasarullah and Samiullah - have been convicted for the first time since the antiterrorism court in Lahore pronounced its verdict some time ago in the terror financing cases registered by the the Punjab police. The other two - JuD spokesperson Yahya Mujahid and senior member Zafar Iqbal - had already been convicted for many years in other terror financing cases. Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar handed down 9-year imprisonment to each one of them. He also gave a 6-month jail term to Saeed’s brother-in-law Hafiz Abdul Rehman Makki in the same case.

26 KILLED IN BANGLADESH FERRY DISASTER At least 26 people were killed after a ferry capsized in the Shitalakkhya river in Bangladesh’s Narayanganj district on Monday.

The accident site is about 20 km away from the capital Dhaka. Ershad Hossain, senior duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters, said that the victims included children and women. The overcrowded ferry, carrying some 50 passengers onboard, capsized after it was hit by another boat. Hossain added that a search operation is still underway for the unknown number of people still missing. “We’ve come to know that the ferry was carrying about 50 passengers,” he said, adding that the boat has been dragged to the bank.

HEALTH STAFF ON POLIO VACCINE DRIVE SHOT DEAD Gunmen killed three female polio vaccination workers in the Afghan city of Jalalabad, officials said, adding that a blast had also rocked the provincial health department headquarters but left no casualties. Ghulam Dastagir Nazari, head of the immunisation programme at the health ministry, said the explosion took place at the entrance to the health department for Nangarhar province.

Around the same time unknown gunmen shot vaccination workers at two separate locations in Jalalabad, killing two volunteers and one supervisor in the polio immunisation programme, all of them women, he said. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

WORLD 21

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

10 - 16 April 2021

in brief US STATE REFUSES TO LIFT YOGA BAN IN SCHOOLS Alabama’s decades-old ban on yoga in public schools could stay in place a little longer. The Alabama Senate Judiciary Committee did not advance the bill after a public hearing in which representatives from two conservative groups objected, saying they were worried it could lead to the promotion of Hinduism or guided meditation practices. The Alabama lawmaker sponsoring the bill said the bill is about exercise and not religion. The legislation failed on a tie vote but the committee chairman said he would bring the bill back for another try. The Alabama Board of Education voted in 1993 to prohibit yoga, hypnosis and meditation in public schools.

Yoga done in school would be limited to poses and stretches, and all poses would have to have English names. The use of chanting, mantras and teaching the greeting ‘namaste’ would be forbidden.

IMF APPROVES $2.34 BN PACKAGE FOR KENYA IMF Board approves about US $2.34 billion ECF and EFF arrangements for Kenya. The three-year financing package will support the next phase of the authorities' Covid-19 response and their plan to reduce debt vulnerabilities while safeguarding resources to protect vulnerable groups. The supported program will also advance the broader reform and governance agenda, including by addressing weaknesses in some state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and strengthening transparency and accountability through the anti-corruption framework. This comes as Fitch Ratings recently affirmed Kenya’s credit rating at ‘B+’ with a negative outlook. Fitch says that on the positive, the rating reflects the country’s strong economic growth, macroeconomic stability, and favourable public debt composition. Estimates show that Kenya faces US$2.6 billion in sovereign external debt servicing in 2021 and US $3.6 billion in 2022.

NAVALNY ALLIES VOW JAIL PROTEST UNTIL HIS DOC SEES HIM Allies of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny said they would stage a rolling protest outside his prison next week unless he is examined by a doctor of his choice and given what they regard as proper medicine.

Navalny, one of President Putin's most prominent critics, has complained of acute back and leg pain and accused authorities of refusing him access to his chosen doctor and of declining to supply him with the right medicine for a condition he has joked darkly could deprive him of the use of both legs.

Authorities have said his condition is satisfactory and that he has been provided with necessary medical care.

MPANGO SWORN IN AS TANZANIA'S VICE PRESIDENT Dr Philip Isdor Mpango was sworn in as Tanzania’s vice president in the presence of the newly appointed President Samia Suluhu.

Mpango was appointed to the post after Suluhu took over as president following the death of the former strongman John Magufuli.

A total of 363 MPs had voted to endorse Mpango after nomination by President Suluhu.

President Suluhu urged Mpango to prioritize resolving challenges facing the union on financial matters. Mpango is among the few ministers who were reappointed by Magufuli during his second term. He previously served as the Acting Commissioner General of the Tanzania Revenue Authority, the Executive Secretary in the President’s Office (Planning Commission). He also served as the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance & Economic Affairs, and the Personal Assistant to Magufuli in economic affairs.

Biden invites Modi to climate summit, Kerry plans visit to India NEW YORK: US President Joe Biden has invited 40 heads of state, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to join him for the World Leaders Summit on Climate to be hosted by his administration on April 22-23. The other leaders, including Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, and Prime Ministers Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh and Lotay Tshering of Bhutan, have also been invited to the virtual meeting to highlight the urgency of action to combat climate change, the White House said.

European leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson were also invited. So were Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"The Leaders Summit on Climate will underscore the urgency, and the economic ben-

efits, of stronger climate action.

It will be a key milestone on the road to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) this November in Glasgow," the White House said. The virtual summit will be live-streamed.

Biden has made fighting climate change a pillar of both his foreign and domestic policies and one of his first actions on taking office in January was to have the US rejoin the Paris Climate Change Agreement.

The summit is meant to position Biden, and the US, as the global leader in meeting the climate change challenge and boost his stature. "By the time of the summit, the US will announce an ambitious 2030 emissions target as its new Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement for limiting the damage from climate change, the White House said.

Biden has asked all US government agencies to come up with ways to cut greenhouse emissions and harness green energy. He appointed former

Secretary of State John Kerry to be his international emissary for climate change, reflecting the high priority it has on his agenda. He is reaching out to the leaders of China and Joe Biden and Narendra Modi Russia, whom he has world's third-highest emitter of harshly criticized over their greenhouse gases after Beijing human rights record and their and Washington. India is already international rivalry with the promoting green energy to US, to work together on the clieventually eliminate fossil fuelmate agenda despite their differgenerated electricity. It is ences. reportedly working on a goal of Biden wants countries achieving a net-zero emissions around the world to take steps by 2050. The Climate Summit to limit emissions to a level that will be Modi's second multilaterwould limit planetary warming al virtual meeting with Biden. to 1.5 degrees Celsius "in order to Earlier this month, Biden and stave off the worst impacts of Modi were joined by Prime climate change," the White Minister Yoshihide Sugo of House said. "The president Japan and Scott Morrison of urged leaders to use the summit Australia at a summit of the as an opportunity to outline Quad. Ahead of the summit, how their countries also will Kerry plans to visit India in early contribute to stronger climate April. Kerry’s visit to India is part ambition." of the US’s planning for Glasgow India will be under US pres- he had said as much in sure to cut its greenhouse gas February, according to reports. emissions by being shown as the

India continuing steps to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir: US report NEW YORK: "The Indian government continued taking steps to restore normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir by gradually lifting some security and communications restrictions," according to the State Department's annual human rights report. The report released in Washington by Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted the release of detained political activists, the restoration of some internet access and the holding of local elections where an opposition coalition won most seats.

The report also drew attention to the killing and torture of government officials and civilians by terrorists while also mentioning human rights abuses by security forces. The separatists, the report said, "committed serious abuses, including killings and torture of armed forces personnel, police, government officials, and civilians, and

recruitment and use of child soldiers."

The 2020 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which took a comprehensive look at the human rights situation across India, devoted a part of it to Kashmir. It was based on secondary and tertiary sources, including government reports and statements, news stories and reports by non-governmental organizations.

The State Department report quoted the United Nations special rapporteurs as saying that since August 2019,

when Kashmir's special status was rescinded, "the human rights situation in Jammu and Kashmir has been in free fall" and that they were "particularly concerned that during the Covid-19 pandemic, many protesters are still in detention and internet restrictions remain in place."

But the report also said, "The government released most political activists from detention. In January, the government partially restored internet access; however, high-speed 4G mobile internet remained restricted in most parts of Jammu and Kashmir."

The State Department said that according to the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society, 662 individuals were arrested under the Public Safety Act in 2019, of

whom 412 remained under detention as of August.

The report said that the government released most political activists from detention and that on Sept. 15, the Home Affairs Ministry said that only 223 Kashmiri political leaders who had been detained after August 2019, remained in detention "but added 'no person is under house arrest.'"

On the political front, it said: "Local district development council elections took place in December in which a coalition of Kashmiri opposition parties won the majority of seats." The report took note of the plight of Kashmiri Pandits and said that tens of thousands of them "fled the Kashmir Valley after 1990 because of conflict and violent intimidation, including destruction of houses of worship, sexual abuse, and theft of property by Kashmiri separatists."

Myanmar junta faces international criticism for child deaths YANGON: Myanmar's junta faced fresh international criticism over the deaths of more than 40 children and the "forced disappearance" of hundreds of people in its crackdown on prodemocracy protests. The military's ruthless suppression of demonstrations against its February 1 power grab has left 543 civilians dead, including 44 children, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), a local monitoring organisation.

Violence has ramped up in recent weeks, with Save the Children saying the death toll of youngsters had more than doubled in the past12 days. "We are shocked that children continue to be among the targets of these fatal attacks, despite repeated calls to protect children from

harm," the charity said in a statement. "It is especially horrifying that several of these children were reportedly killed at home, where they should have been safe from harm."

The authorities have made numerous arrests during night raids on the homes of people suspected of supporting the rallies or the civil disobedience movement that has sprung up aimed at stopping the military from running the country.

Human Rights Watch said the junta had "forcibly disappeared"

hundreds of people, refusing to confirm their location or allow access to lawyers.

"The military junta's widespread use of arbitrary arrests and enforced disappearances appears designed to strike fear in the hearts of anti-coup protesters," said HRW's Asia director Brad Adams.

India condemns violence For the second time, India last week condemned the violence, specifically any use of violence, in Myanmar as it called for restoration of democracy in the country. "Let me be very clear. We condemn any use of violence. We believe that the rule of law should prevail. We stand for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said while responding to media

queries.

However, India's position remains nuanced with the government having also called for engagement with Myanmar and for the situation to be resolved peacefully through dialogue.

While India was among eight countries to send a representative to the recent Myanmar Armed Forces Day parade, Bagchi said not too much should be read into it as India had a functioning embassy there with the ambassador and defence attache performing their duties.

The defence attache had attended the parade.

"We have urged the release of political prisoners and supported any attempts at resolving the current situation, including through the efforts of Asean," Bagchi said.

22 INDIA

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

India, other Quad countries begin major naval exercise in Bay of Bengal India and the three other Quad countries kicked off a major naval exercise with France in the Bay of Bengal on Monday, underlining the growing strategic congruence in ensuring a secure and stable IndoPacific in face of China’s belligerence in the region. This came a day after the Russian embassy in New Delhi said it attached great importance on “rejection of confrontation and bloc-type approaches”. Russia’s statement was seen in the context of Quad and the Indo-Pacific initiative, both of which it views as as “divisive” and aimed at containing China. Incidentally, Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov landed in Delhi on an official visit on Monday.

In the Bay of Bengal, India deployed its advanced stealth frigate INS Satpura and

antisubmarine warfare corvette INS Kiltan, along with P-8I long range maritime patrol aircraft, for the three-day “La Pérouse” exercise led

by France.

“The exercise will witness complex and advanced naval operations, including surface warfare, anti-air warfare and air

defence operations as well as weapon firings, cross-deck flying, tactical manoeuvres and seamanship evolutions such as replenishment at sea,” said Navy spokesperson Commander Vivek Madhwal. “It will showcase high levels of synergy, coordination and interoperability between the five

friendly navies. Participation by the Indian Navy in the exercise demonstrates the shared values with the friendly navies in ensuring freedom of seas and commitment to an open, inclusive Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order,” he added.

France has fielded amphibious assault warship Tonnerre and frigate Surcouf for the exercise, while the US is represented by amphibious transport dock ship Somerset. Australia, in turn, has deployed frigate Anzac and tanker Sirius, while Japan is represented by destroyer Akebono.

The navies of the Quad, namely India, the US, Japan and Australia, had also come together for the high-voltage Malabar exercise in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea in November last year after a gap of 13 years. The ongoing Quad plus-

France exercise comes soon after Indian warships and fighters also held another exercise with the mammoth nuclear-powered USS Theodore Roosevelt and its accompanying warships in the same region last week.

With the Quad countries declaring their firm intent to deter any “coercion” in the Indo-Pacific during a summit of their leaders on March 12, a multi-tier cooperation and coordination mechanism is now taking shape to advance security as well as counter threats in the region. US secretary of defence Lloyd Austin and South Korean defence minister Suh Wook, both former Army generals, had also made back-to-back visits to India last month to discuss bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to bolster security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Allahabad HC reserves verdict Atiya Sabri, who moved SC against triple talaq, wins alimony battle on plea in Kashi VishwanathGyanvapi Masjid Case The Allahabad high court has reserved its judgment on a petition challenging maintainability of a civil suit pending before the Varanasi district court with respect to land title dispute in the Kashi VishwanathGyanvapi Masjid Case.

Justice Prakash Padia reserved judgment after hearing the petitioner, Anjuman Intazamia Masazid (mosque committee), Varanasi, and respondents.

The land title disputes relates to the Gyanvapi mosque, which was allegedly built on the ruins of Kashi Vishwanath Temple. According to the suit filed by the temple's trust in 1991 in Varanasi district court, the temple was destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in 1664 and the mosque was built using the remains of the temple.

In the instant petition, Anjuman Intazamia Masazid, Varanasi has challenged the maintainability of the said suit taking the plea that Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, bars filing of suit or any other legal proceedings with respect to conversion of religious character of any place of worship, existing on August 15, 1947.

Hence, in this backdrop of the situation, it was argued on behalf of the petitioner that the impugned (under challenge) suit has been filed in contravention of the above provision and proceedings, therefore, it should be quashed on this ground alone.

The petitioner has made reference to the Ayodaya-

Babri Masjid case, where the apex court has observed, “Historical wrongs cannot be remedied by the people taking law in their own hands. In preserving the character of places of public worship.

Parliament has mandated in no uncertain terms that history and its wrongs shall not be used as instruments to oppress the present and the future.

Earlier last year, the high court had stayed the decision of the Varanasai district court to proceed with the hearing of the Kashi Vishwanath TempleGyanvapi Mosque land title dispute. It is relevant to mention that after the said suit was filed in 1991, the Allahabad high court had imposed an interim order staying the hearing of the dispute in question.

However, in February 2020, the district court held that the stay order stood vacated in the light of the Supreme Court verdict, which provided that all stay orders will come to an end after the expiry of six months unless in a exceptional case by the speaking order such stay is extended.

The district court observed that since the stay passed by the Allahabad

High Court in 1998 had not been extended by a separate order within six months, the stay was deemed to be vacated and it could resume hearing of the case.

Atiya Sabri, one of the six petitioners who had fought against the practice of triple talaq in the Supreme Court, won a major battle as a family court in Saharanpur has directed her estranged husband to give her monthly maintenance of Rs 21,000 so that she can raise her two daughters.

The decision came recently in the trial which lasted for over five years.

Besides the alimony, Atiya will also get an arrear of Rs 134,000 as the case had been filed more than five years ago.

Atiya had also petitioned the Supreme Court which passed an order against the age-old practice in August 2017.

Atiya’s marriage headed for discord with the birth of

her second daughter.

As per her allegations, she was forced out of the house by her husband and in-laws for giving birth to a second girl child in 2015. She also alleged that they tortured her for dowry and asked Atiya Sabri her to bring Rs It was a battle of Atma 20,00,000 from her parent.

Samman for me. I am Married on March 24, satisfied with the order as 2012, Atiya was given the God has been kind as he instant ‘talaq’ on November chose me for this purpose, 2, 2015, by her husband be it the fight for the triple Wajid Ali who sent her a ‘talaq’ law or winning this letter writing the word talaq alimony case. This will come thrice on it. Atiya moved as a boon to women of our Saharanpur family court on community and inspire November 24, 2015, about 20 them to fight for their days after getting the rights,” said Atiya while talaqnama. interacting with media “Now, I will be able raise persons. my two daughters decently.

4 officials suspended, repoll ordered after EVM found in Assam BJP nominee's car The Election Commission of India (ECI) suspended four officials, including the presiding officer of No. 149- Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari(SC), after an electronic voting machine (EVM) was found in the car of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate in Assam following the second phase of voting in the state on Thursday last.

The poll body said in a statement that the polled EVM, with Ballot Unit (BU), Control Unit (CU) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) was found with its seal undamaged, adding that all the items have been deposited in the strong room.

"Although the seals of the EVM were found intact, it has nevertheless been decided to do a re-poll at No. 149Indira M.V. School of LAC 1 Ratabari (SC) as an added precaution. A report has also been sought from the Special Observer," the statement read.

The polling party, consisting of the presiding officer and three police personnel, hailed a vehicle as the car they had been allotted broke down as they were going to the centre to deposit machine, the commission said. “As they

slowed down, they were surrounded by a mob of about 50 people which started pelting stones at them. The mob also started abusing them and did not allow the vehicle to pass. When they asked the leader of the mob, he replied that the car they were travelling was the vehicle of Sri Krishnendu Paul who is a contesting as a BJP candidate of a neighbouring constituency and he levelled allegations that the EVM was being taken to be tampered with,” the statement said.

“It was only then that they realised that something was amiss and alerted the Sector Officer. However, a larger crowd had gathered by then and they were attacked and held hostage by a mob along with the EVM in the vehicle alleging that the EVM was being taken to be tampered with,” it added. The poll body said that the district election officer (DEO) and the superintendent

of police of Karimganj reached the spot in Kanaishil area after receiving the news. The first polling officer was found missing and the EVMs and the remaining party were escorted safely from the area and taken into control of the DEO. Overnight search operations were also conducted to find the missing first polling officer, who was hiding nearby.

Assam underwent polling for the second phase for 39 constituencies across 13 districts on Thursday last. A 74.76 per cent voter turnout was witnessed in the second phase of polling.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

INDIA

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

10 - 16 April 2021

Explosives plot sheds light on Mumbai’s dirty politics A green SUV, parked on a leafy street a few hundred metres from the Mumbai skyscraper that houses Mukesh Ambani, did not look like much. Inside, however, police made an alarming discovery: explosives and a letter that local media said warned Mukesh Ambani, the chief of Reliance Industries, that this was just a “trailer” for what was to come. The twists and turns that followed the bomb scare in late February have escalated into one of India’s most dramatic scandals. The man to whom the SUV was linked was found dead, floating in a creek. A policeman said to have political ties - and an allegedly violent past was arrested. Mumbai’s police chief was ousted and went on to accuse the state home minister of running an elaborate extortion racket in the city.

Mumbai has long held a reputation as a city of extremes, its gleaming offices and film studios built atop a notorious underbelly of brass-knuckled politics and gangsterism. But analysts said there was little precedent for the way in which the latest controversy had brought the messy inner workings of India’s financial capital and the behind-the-scenes dealings that bind politics, police and crime across much of the country out of the shadows. “The real takeaway is the gross decay of the institutions,”

said Suhas Palshikar, a political scientist. “It doesn’t remain merely a story of administrative decay. It also means there’s a complete failure of politics . . . The dramatic aspect is new but all the elements have always been there.”

After Mansukh Hiren, the small-time suburban businessman to whom police had linked the SUV – and who had reported the vehicle missing - was found dead, investigators arrested police official Sachin Vaze for his alleged role in the bomb plot. Vaze said in court that he was “a scapegoat”, according to a lawyer representing him, and was not involved in the crime.

The scandal might have died down were it not for the intervention of Param Bir Singh, Mumbai’s former police commissioner, who was transferred from his post days after Vaze’s arrest. Singh alleged in a widely circulated letter that the home minister for Maharashtra, the state that is home to Mumbai,

wanted Vaze to help collect Rs1bn ($14m) a month in payments from businesses such as and restaurants bars.

A lawyer for Singh confirmed the authenticity of the letter. A case filed by Singh, demanding a central government investigation into his allegations, is being heard in the Bombay High Court.

Anil Deshmukh, the home minister of Maharashtra, responded in a letter posted on Twitter that Singh’s allegations were “absolutely false and baseless”. He called it part of “a conspiracy” to deflect attention from the bomb case and undermine the state government.

Among the many questions that remain unanswered is what, if anything, those behind the bomb plot wanted from Ambani. Reliance declined to comment but previously said it was confident police would “complete their thorough investigation quickly”.

The scandal could also have broader political ramifications.

Maharashtra is run by a coalition led by the rightwing nationalist Shiv Sena party, which broke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata party after state

Maharashtra home minister Deshmukh quits as HC calls for probe into ‘graft’ Maharashtra home minister Anil Deshmukh resigned hours after the Bombay high court directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry into allegations of “corrupt malpractices” made by former Mumbai police chief Param Bir Singh against him. A CBI team from New Delhi is slated to arrive in the city to initiate the probe after discussing the court order with its legal team.

Singh had, in an 8-page letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray on March 20, alleged Deshmukh had met subordinate police officers, including suspended API Sachin Waze, and asked for “collection” of £10 million from various establishments in Mumbai.

Deshmukh has denied the allegations, and his party NCP had earlier said there was no need for him to quit though the BJP had demanded his resignation.

Senior NCP leader and labour and excise minister Dilip Walse Patil is likely to take over the reins of the home department.

Deshmukh is the second minister of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, in power for one year and four months, to quit in the wake of a controversy. His resignation, the first in the ‘Wazegate’ controversy, comes a little over a month after Shiv Sena’s Sanjay Rathod quit as forest minister following a scandal over the suicide of a 22-year-old woman in Pune.

Accompanied by deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, Deshmukh first called on NCP president Sharad Pawar to brief him on the outcome of the public interest litigation filed

by Singh before the HC. Pawar quickly approved Deshmukh’s plea to resign from the cabinet “on moral grounds”. Deshmukh is counted among the trusted aides of Pawar but had been at the receiving end for inept handling of the Waze episode.

Observing that it will not countenance violation of constitutional principles of integrity by anyone howsoever high an office he may hold, the Bombay HC, while asking the CBI to probe allegations against

Anil Deshmukh

Deshmukh, said the “Constitution envisages a rule of law and not rule of goons having political support”. “It is indeed unheard of and unprecedented that a minister could be so openly accused of wrongdoings and corrupt practices by none other than a senior police officer, attracting wide attention from all and sundry,” said the HC bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni.

Cash worth £325,000 seized from Khambhat farmer's house Anand’s Special Operation Group (SOG) raided Rajesh Patel’s house in Khambhat’s Kharopat area and seized cash worth £325,000. According to a report, during the renovation of Patel’s house several bundles Rs 2,000 and 500 were found from the locker of his house.

On receiving news, cops reached his residence and to question him about the origin of the bundles. However, Patel was not present at the house. When the team interrogated his wife Punitaben, she said that the money was sent by their son Dhaval through their relative, who lives in London. There is the possibility of a hawala scam behind this money.

elections in 2019.

The bizarre events have revived memories of 1990s-era Mumbai previously known as Bombay when the city’s underworld was at its height. Larger-than-life police officials with a reputation for ruthless tactics, including extrajudicial killings of suspected criminals, were lauded as heroes and enjoyed political support. Vaze, according to media reports, was reputed to be one of them. Of his alleged victims, he reportedly said: “I don’t think about it ever. Every one of them deserved to go and they went.”

Vaze was suspended from the force in 2004 for his alleged role in a custodial death, though he called it a “false case”, according to his lawyer. But he subsequently joined Shiv Sena and was reinstated to the police last year, according to media reports. Vaze could not be reached for comment. “This is a quintessential Bombay story,” said a journalist in the city. “It’s a typical Bollywood masala thriller.

There’s as much masala as you can put into a typical Bollywood script.” Former police officers said the scandal underscored the need to curb the politicisation of law enforcement, which allowed politicians to decide appointments and transfers, leaving police beholden to ruling parties.

“In a way, it is good that it has brought out the alleged nexus

between police and politicians into the open, though an inquiry is required to prove the charges,” said Meeran Chadha Borwankar, who previously held high-level positions in the Maharashtra and national police forces. “Political parties in power generally expect police to toe their line and act for them in grey and sometimes totally illegal black areas, as alleged in the said letter of the former commissioner,” she added. “We should pursue an independent police organisation instead of the current system where we are at the mercy of politicians.”

The grim affair could have national implications if it upsets the balance of power in Maharashtra, considered one of the country’s biggest political prizes for its size and economic heft. The BJP has maintained a fierce rivalry with the Shiv Senaled government, and has decried its alleged conduct. Political analysts said this could ultimately give Modi’s party another shot at power in the state if the coalition was sufficiently weakened. “For the BJP, this is a tailor-made political opportunity,” said Milan Vaishnav, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace think-tank. “Even if they don’t get back to power, they can go to the bank on this when elections come around.”

RT-PCR reports compulsory before entering Gujarat With the spike in the number of Covid-19 cases, all the visitors to Gujarat will now have to produce their RT-PCR negative report on arrival. Reportedly, airlines have been directed to check for passengers’ reports at boarding points before they travel to Gujarat.

Reportedly, it has been recorded that a number of passengers who visited the state over the past two days were made to provide their samples for testing before leaving the airport premises, as they arrived without a negative RT-PCR report.

The Gujarat health department has also issued a notification regarding the same, and stated that considering a large number of passengers arriving at the airport terminals and there is a chance of Covid-19 spread, all airlines have

been directed to ask for a negative RT-PCR report of passengers before they board the flight. The notification also stated that without the said report, the passenger should not be allowed to enter Gujarat, or they will be required to undergo a self-paid test at the Gujarat airport and wait till they get their report. All airport and airline authorities have also been requested to sensitise all passengers regarding

Covid-related protocols.

Airlines have been instructed to not just verify RT-PCR negative reports of passengers, but also to prepare passengers to get tested at the airport at their cost before leaving. It has been reported that over the past three to four days, some of the passengers that arrived in Gujarat without an RT-PCR negative report from various parts of the country were reluctant to get tested.

Maoists kill 23 security personnel in Chhattisgarh Twenty-three security personnel were killed and 33 injured last week in one of the deadliest Maoist ambushes ever in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh.

A CoBRA commando is still missing.

When reinforcements reached the encounter site on Sunday, police found injured jawans, who tried to take refuge in abandoned huts, had run into Maoists lying in wait for this. Wounded troops were stabbed, shot and hacked to death. A fierce battle raged in the jungles of Bijapur district for hours on Saturday.

The area is a stronghold of dreaded Maoist commander Madvi Hidma, whose

name has cropped up in every major attack in these parts since the massacre of Congress leaders in Jhiram Ghati in June 2013. In Saturday’s ambush, Maoists triggered blasts and then rained bullets and shells on the troops from well-camouflaged positions, inflicting heavy causalities.

One of the survivors of the encounter said that they were attacked by over 400 Maoists from three sides. The ambush lines stretched over 2km near Tekulguda village.

Running gunfights broke out near Tekulguda, Jonaguda and Jeeragaon villages as the forces fought back hard to break out of the ambush.

24 INDIA

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

SOUTH INDIA

5 states vote in the biggest polling day New Delhi: By the end of the day, the outcome of the assembly polls in all but West Bengal will be sealed in the EVMs. This phase of polling, encompassing 475 seats across four states and the union territory of Puducherry, is by far the biggest of this round of state polls. And for many of the parties it is also the most significant for differing reasons.

For BJP, Tuesday’s polling is in states and areas where it has little to lose and hopes to make significant gains. Congress must make this day count in its bid to return to office in Kerala and in Assam as must DMK in Tamil Nadu. Trinamool Congress can’t afford to lose ground in these areas which it swept in both 2016 and the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and AIADMK will know that losing office at this juncture could seriously threaten the party’s cohesion. Left will be

hoping to regain some of the votes it lost in Bengal and would be just as anxious to remain in the saddle in Kerala.

The BJP’s stakes in Kerala and Tamil Nadu are relatively low but in Assam this phase is in lower Assam and the Bodo areas where the combination of

Congress, AIUDF and Bodoland People’s Front is on paper very formidable. This was the weakest area for BJP even in 2016, but it can’t afford to lose any further ground. Congress, on the other hand, must make significant inroads here with its allies if it is to pose a serious

challenge in the state.

In West Bengal, on the other hand, TMC’s domination of the 31 seats in this phase in and around Greater Kolkata has been so overwhelming that there is only an upside for the rest and at best a holding operation for the party facing an energised BJP. It won 29 of these 31 seats in 2016 and led in the same number in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

From Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in the south to Assam in the northeast, Tuesday will be a day of contending alliances. West Bengal stands out as an exception on this day with TMC and BJP perceived as the main adversaries. Who comes out on top in this slugfest could well determine the future not just of the state but of national politics in the short to medium term.

PUNJAB

Punjab CM reiterates support to farmers, arhtiyas Ludhiana: Reiterating his full support to farmers and arhtiyas, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Monday flayed the central government for “encroaching upon the rights of the states in its bid to dominate them” and castigated it over forcible imposition of the farm laws and the direct benefit transfer (DBT).

“States never faced such problems earlier,” he said, slamming the Centre for allegedly trying to destroy the existing relations and systems that have worked well for more than 100 years in the name of so-called reforms. Punjab’s farmers and arhtiyas have ageold cordial ties, which the Centre was hell bent on damaging, he said, terming its

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh

tough posturing and illconceived decisions against the basic spirit of federalism. He said during his earlier tenure, he enjoyed the full confidence of Late PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr Manmohan Singh in all major policy decisions and development issues related to Punjab.

Virtually launching the two-day kisan mela organised by Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana, the Chief Minister expressed his solidarity with the farmers against the farm laws and stressed the Centre should have taken them into confidence before their enactment. The Chief Minister categorically said Punjab, which was initially not even a part of the deliberations on the agricultural reforms, was included in the high-powered committee only after he wrote to the Centre. Even after that, there was no mention of these laws at the committee’s meetings.

Pointing out that 144

farmers have died so far during the agitation, he said his government was giving Rs 500,000 and a job to the next of kin of the deceased farmer, while the Centre continued to be insensitive. On the growing problem of scarcity of surface as well as underground water, he urged the farmers to go for drip irrigation in a big way to save the state from becoming a desert in the near future. “The fast depleting water table is a major challenge for the state and the only solution is to get out of the paddy-wheat cycle to save this precious resource,” he said. He further stressed efforts should be made to adapt to horticultural crops which have a global market with chances of enormous profitability.

WEST BENGAL

EC junks Didi’s claim on booth capturing and entry of outsiders New Delhi/Kolkata: The Election Commission has rubbished allegations levelled by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee regarding entry of outsiders and booth capturing at a polling station at Boyal in Nandigram on April1 as “factually incorrect, without any empirical evidence whatsoever and devoid of substance”.

In Nandigaram Mamata faces her one time protege-turned rival Suvendu Adhikari.

The commission said it was being examined if the events of that day merited action under Sections 131 and 123(2) of the Representation of the People’s Act (RP Act) and the model code of conduct. The first section deals with disorderly conduct in or near polling stations and the next is about disturbance in the conduct of elections.

The EC’s rejoinder to Banerjee’s hand-written note was despatched on Saturday.

The poll panel earlier received a

the election process was on. There could not have been a greater misdemeanour,” it added.

The EC gave a timeline of smooth polling at Boyal despite complaints received from the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee TMC polling agent and later the CM. It detailed report from special also set out steps taken by poll observers on the incident, and authorities to verify and address found the allegations to be the complaints. It said there unsubstantiated. was no mention in reports of The Election Commission officials at various levels “of said it noted with “ deep regret” either outsiders or guns and that a “media narrative was goons capturing the said sought to be weaved "hour after booth”. hour to misguide the biggest On the allegation that the stakeholders, which is the Trinamool election agent was voters, by a candidate who also denied entry to the polling happens to be CM of the state”. booth, the EC said the report The commission said the events of the district officers at Boyal could have an adverse mentioned the great lengths to impact on law and order. "And which the local administration all this was being done when went to ensure his presence

but that he refused to come despite being assured of police escort. “The EC cannot force anyone unwilling to work as a polling agent,” the commission said.

Over 80% voting in Bengal, 73% in Assam Over 80 per cent voter turnout have been reported from 30 assembly seats in West Bengal in the second phase of voting on April 1. In Assam, over 73 per cent voting has been registered in 39 assembly constituencies. The Election Commission said the polling in the two states were conducted peacefully.

Elaborate arrangements were made for Covid safe, intimidation free and inducement free elections.

The Commission expressed gratitude to all stakeholders specially the voters for their enthusiastic and fearless participation in the election process.

in brief KAMAL HAASAN BOOKED FOR POLL CODE VIOLATION Police registered a case against Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) president Kamal Haasan for violating the model code of conduct, based on a complaint by independent candidate Palanikumar.

Palanikumar, who is contesting from Coimbatore South constituency where Kamal Haasan is fighting, has complained to the police that stage actors dressed as Hindu gods and goddesses were used during the actor-turned-politician’s campaign near a temple, which is a violation of the model code of conduct. Kamal is engaged in a four-cornered fight in Coimbatore South against BJP women’s wing national president Vanathi Srinivasan, Congress’s Mayura Jayakumar and Challenger R. Doraisamy of the AMMK.

SASIKALA ALLEGES REMOVAL OF NAME FROM VOTERS' LIST The name of VK Sasikala, the confidante of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has been "removed" from the voters' list without her knowledge and it is an "injustice", she has said through her legal counsel. She was sad about it and legal action will be initiated against officials responsible, her lawyer said. A senior poll officer put the onus on the 66-year-old for losing her chance to vote this time. "There is no conspiracy in this. It was her responsibility to ensure that her name is added," the electoral officer said. Sasikala's name had earlier figured in Chennai's Thousand Lights Assembly constituency.

She was previously a resident of Jayalalithaa's Poes Garden residence, which was converted into a memorial by the AIADMK government.

PAK INVITES SIKH JATHA FOR BAISAKHI EVENT Amid Covid threat, the Pakistan Government has decided to host Indian pilgrims on the occasion of Baisakhi. The SGPC will be sending a ‘jatha’ to commemorate the occasion. The main event has been scheduled at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Pakistan, on April 14.

A contingent of Sikh pilgrims was scheduled to leave for Pakistan via the Attari-Wagah border on April 12. They will be able to visit other shrines in Pakistan on different days, including Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, before returning on April 22. Around 878 passports of aspirants have been sent to the Ministry of External Affairs for visa approval.

PM MODI HITS BACK AT MAMATA Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Mamata Banerjee of "insulting the culture of Bengal" and "disliking" his temple visits as he hit back at her party Trinamool Congress for accusing him of violating the poll code with his Bangladesh trip. “Didi did not like me praying at the Ma Kali temple in Bangladesh.

We are not seasonal with our religious belief," said the PM, while campaigning at Jaynagar in Bengal. This was his first response to the Trinamool calling his Bangladesh trip unethical and in violation of the model code.

Taking shots at Mamata, the PM also referred to the most high-profile constituency in this round, Nandigram, where the Chief Minister faces a tough challenge from BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari.

Mamata was "afraid of losing", so was forced to camp in Nandigram, the PM remarked.

"Didi left Bhawanipore (her constituency) to go to Nandigram. Then she realised her mistake in coming here. Didi is forced to camp in Nandigram for three days," he said.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

INDIA

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

25

10 - 16 April 2021

Covid spreading at fast Gujarat passes Bill to stop ‘love jihad’ pace, next 4 weeks critical, says health ministry The Central government on Tuesday said that an increase in the intensity of the pandemic has led Covid to spread at a faster pace than last year and that the next four weeks are very critical. At a press conference, NITI Aayog Member (Health) Dr V K Paul said the pandemic situation in the country has worsened with a sharp rise in cases and a large part of the population is still susceptible to the virus.

Meanwhile, Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the Centre is concerned about Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Punjab as they have been reporting the maximum number of fresh cases and deaths in the country. He further informed that the Centre has asked the state governments to ramp up RT-PCR tests after it noticed that only 60% of the tests were done using the method in Maharashtra last week.

Earlier in the day, the Delhi government imposed a night curfew from 10 pm to 5 am till April 30 in the wake of rising cases. A proposal to bring back the curfew was sent to the Chief Minister’s office on Monday after several discussions within the government over the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases. Officials also took into account large gatherings at restaurants and clubs at night.

This comes after India, on Tuesday, reported 107,000 fresh coronavirus cases and 446 related deaths. Of these, 47,288 cases were reported in Maharashtra. While cases in Chhattisgarh scaled a new high of 7,302, and the count in Karnataka crossed the 5,000-mark. The country’s active case tally now stands at 7,88,223. While 164 people died in Maharashtra, 72 deceased in Punjab. The country’s cumulative count climbed up to 1,26,86,049, while the death toll stands at 1,65,547. Over 43,00,000 people were also inoculated on Monday, pushing the vaccination count up to 8,31,10,926 Karnataka sees highest single-day spike Karnataka on Tuesday reported 6,150 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, which is the highest single-day spike in the

state this year. Bengaluru alone contributed 4,266 fresh cases. The state also reported 39 fatalities, taking the death toll to 12,696, while Bengaluru reported 26 deaths related to Covid-19.

Rajasthan reports 2,236 cases, 13 deaths Rajasthan reported 2,236 new cases and 13 fatalities on Tuesday, taking the state's infection tally to 3,43,990 and the death toll to 2,854. Five deaths were reported from Jodhpur, two each from Kota and Jhalawar and one fatality each was registered in Chittorgarh, Dungarpur, Rajsamand and Udaipur, according to an official report here.

2 Covid cases recorded every minute in Gujarat Gujarat reeled under relentless third surge of coronavirus as the state breached the 3,000 Covid-19 cases in a day for the first time on Monday. Total 3,160 cases were reported which calculated to roughly two Covid-19 cases detected every minute in the state. Fifteen people succumbed to the infection.

Authorities of the Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, revealed that a total of 899 patients were hospitalised with corona complications in the past nine days. Of these, 95% of patients eligible for the Covid19 protective jab had not got vaccinated. Dr J P Modi, medical superintendent of Civil Hospital, said that of the 899 hospitalised patients, only 93 had taken the first shot of Covid-19 vaccine and 21 out of these had got both the shots. “Even when one rules out the patients who are below 60 years of age – as the vaccination for those above 45 years started recently – the ratio of vaccinated patients is not more than 5%,” Dr Modi said.

“If we interpret the data, we can surely argue that those who have taken even one shot of vaccine had a lesser hospitalisation rate,” he said, adding that vaccination must be taken by all eligible to reduce chances of infection. As Covid-19 surges across the state and country, local experts advocate vaccination as a protective shield against complications of the viral infection.

Impressive turnout in Assembly polls across 5 states Continued From page 1 In Kerala, where the Left is hoping to beat anti-incumbency to retain power, a feat unseen in four decades, and the BJP is making efforts to build inroads, nearly 74 per cent polling was recorded in the 140 seats till 7 PM. There was nearly 65 per cent voting in Tamil Nadu for 234 assembly constituencies and around 80 per cent in Puducherry’s 30 seats.

The three-phase assembly election culminated in Assam with 82.33 per cent in 40 seats polling in the final round in the state where the ruling BJP is battling the Congress-led alliance to retain power. The trend of high turnout and violence during polling continued in West Bengal as the ruling Trinamool Congress, the BJP and the Left-Congress alliance put up an intense fight in the high-stakes contest. Five candidates, including two women, were assaulted in poll-related clashes as over 77 per cent voting was recorded in 31 seats in West Bengal in the third phase.

The massive polling exercise following Covid-19 health protocol and involving millions of personnel began at 7 AM and the last hour from 6 PM to 7 PM was set aside for Covid-19 patients and those under isolation.

DMK Lok Sabha MP Kanimozhi, who is being treated for Covid-19, voted at a polling station in Chennai while wearing a PPE kit.

In Tamil Nadu, both the Dravidian parties AIADMK and DMK went into the election without their stalwarts, J Jayalalithaa and M

Karunanidhi. Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam will cement their position as successors of Jayalalithaa if the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK) retains power though it faces an uphill task especially after the rout in the 2019 Lok Sabha election when the DMK-led alliance won 38 out of 39 seats.

In Kerala, where the Left Democratic Front (LDF) is seeking to break the state’s four-decade-old trend of swinging between the communists and the Congress-led United Democratic Front, the electors decided the fate of 957 candidates in 140 Assembly constituencies across the state. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, health minister K K Shailaja, Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran, Power Minister M M Mani and Higher Education Minister K K Jaleel are among the prominent personalities trying their electoral luck from the ruling side.

Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, senior leaders K Muraleedharan, P T Thomas and Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan are among those contesting from the UDF fold. The BJP, which has failed to make a dent in the state, has fielded former Mizoram Governor Kummanam Rajasekharan, ‘Metroman’ E Sreedharan, who joined the saffron party recently, state president K Surendran , senior leader Shobha Surendran and Rajya Sabha members Suresh Gopi and K J Alphons.

Inter faith marriage “done by trickery” cannot fall under fundamental right of an adult girl and “people with mentality of spreading Islam through religious conversions are indulging in such acts”, Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said in the Gujarat Assembly while introducing Gujarat Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that prohibits forcible conversion by marriage.

The amended Bill that includes “better lifestyle” as an allurement and awards punishment of three to ten years of imprisonment for such religious conversion, was passed in the Assembly by the ruling BJP with majority, amid opposition by the Congress, after a day-long debate. Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani said, “By not using love jihad word in the Bill, people of Gujarat have been misguided.”

Dhanani said that the Gujarat government brought the Bill when there are enough IPC provisions to deal with the issue.

He also congratulated CM Vijay Rupani for his inter-faith marriage. In his speech while introducing the Bill in the House, Jadeja said, “Some intellectuals are arguing that it is a fundamental right of an adult girl as to whom she should marry. And that it is a right given by the Constitution. But Hindu Ramcharit Manas and Muslims’ religious book Quran, too, says not to break anybody’s trust. Marriage done with trickery is as good as breaking trust. This government firmly

believes that trickery cannot exist with fundamental right. Marriage done by hiding name is trickery.”

“I say it clearly that people doing such activity are those who deprived us from the darshan of Lord Ram for centuries, who tried to damage the country from within through cross border terrorism, who took lives of our soldiers through terrorist acts… who did blasts in Mumbai in 1992, who launched attacks on country’s Parliament… who tried to defame Indian government by opposing Citizenship Amendment Act, who have aligned with the tukde-tukde gang,” said Jadeja.

BJP MLA Purnesh Modi alleged that after Independence, a number of conspiracies were hatched in the country to make it “Darul Islam”. BJP MLA Jagdish Panchal alleged that Muslim actors marry Hindus only for the latter’s religious conversion.

Congress MLA Gyasuddin Shaikh said he has a list of 100 Muslim girls who have married Hindu boys in last one year.

26

10 - 16 April 2021

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

HEALTH

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

27

10 - 16 April 2021

5 high fibre foods to consume for a healthy body Fibre is an important component for your body.

Consumed, it reaches your colon undigested where it feeds friendly gut bacteria, and promotes multiple health benefits. There are several types of fibre that may also promote weight loss, lower blood sugar levels, and fight constipation.

The standard recommendation of fibre is 14 grams for every 1000 calories consumed daily; meaning an average of 24 grams for women and 38 for men.

Increasing your fibre intake is fairly easy and in this article we tell you what foods to consume for a decent intake of this wonderful carbohydrate.

What exactly is fibre?

Fibre is a term used for any type of carbohydrate that your body can't digest.

There are several benefits when you consume it.

Reduces cholesterol:

The presence of fibre in the digestive tract can help reduce your body's cholesterol absorption.

Promotes weight loss: Vegetables and fruits are the most common foods high in fibre. Fibre slows digestion

in the stomach, making you feel fuller for longer. constipation: Treats People with a sluggish digestive tract may fare better with an increased fibre content in their diet. It naturally adds bulk to the

digestive tract and in turn, stimulates the intestines.

Promotes blood sugar control: It takes your body longer to break down high fibre foods. Which helps you maintain more consistent blood sugar levels,

which is especially helpful for those with diabetes.

The following are our five favourite sources of fibre.

Strawberries A delicious and healthy option to increase your fibre intake. They are bursting with vitamin C, manganese, and several powerful antioxidants. 1 cup of fresh strawberries hold 3 grams fibre, or 2 grams per 100 grams.

Broccoli A type of cruciferous vegetable and one of the most promoted foods on the plant, Broccoli is loaded with vitamin K, vitamin B, C, potassium, iron, and manganese. It contains antioxidants and potent cancer-fighting nutrients.

This vegetable is relatively high in protein, and tastes best as a slaw. Broccoli contains 2.4 grams fibre per cup, or 2.6 grams per 100

grams.

Chickpeas A type of legume that is ripe with minerals and protein, chickpeas are a vegetarian's delight. One cup of cooked chickpeas contains 12.5 grams fibre, or 7.6 grams per 100 grams.

Quinoa A pseudo-cereal that has grown incredibly popular over the last few years, Quinoa has protein, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium, and antioxidants. It tastes great in salads, or as pilaf.

There are 5.2 grams per cup of cooked quinoa, or 2.8 per 100 grams.

Almonds This tree nut is high in healthy fats, vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium. They can be consumed as a whole or be made into almond flour.

There are 4 grams per 3 tablespoons of almonds, or 13.3 grams per 100 grams.

Burning out? Reset yourself with Is your body at risk of diabetes? these approaches Listen to these 6 warning signs Covid-19 has reigned for over a year, and we would be lying if we say we have not had enough. At this point, it is common for the brain and body to feel overworked, and overwhelmed. Working from home, with steady workload, and minimal physical contact tends to catch up with one's self. If you consistently experience high levels of stress without taking steps to manage or reduce it, exhaustion eventually takes over.

There are very subtle signs to burnout. It happens gradually, and most of the initial symptoms usually go unnoticed. However, once it does take hold, it can affect your ability to function across all aspects of life.

What are the common signs of burnout?

• Forgetfulness and lack of concentration • Frustration and irritability • Unexplained muscle tension, pain, and fatigue • Losing sight of yourself and your goals • Difficulty maintaining relationships Burnout can have a farreaching impact often affecting your life negatively. It is necessary to address burnout, since more often than not, it only gets worse.

So how does one recover?

While there is no set formula, there are several steps one can take to get started on the road to recovery.

Find the source One can only make changes when they know what needs to change.

Burnout is often related to professional triggers, like the stress of an increasingly demanding job. It does not necessarily mean that that is the only source. Your burnout could be because of

a rigorous academic schedule, or dealing with relationship problems, caring for a loved one with chronic health conditions, or taking on too much. While the stress of individual factors may be manageable, a combination of multiple factors may easily overwhelm you.

So what can you do to cope?

Lighten your load It is easy to take on too much at a time, especially when you are ambitious. Try and accept that doing it all is not realistic. Learn to say NO. That is the one key to a stress-free life. Those with people-pleasing tendencies tend to take on too much to avoid letting anyone down.

Evaluate your existing commitments and any that feel a tad too much, consider cancelling them or rescheduling them.

Talk If you are feeling overwhelmed with the prospect of sorting out causes of your burnout, look for ways to ease your stress. Burnout can become too much for one to take and determining how to address it does not come easy. It is also hard to identify potential solutions when you feel completely spent. Involve a trusted one to help you feel supported and less alone. Seek their help in finding clarity.

Use the following tips: • Prioritise tasks • Say No • Delegate • Don't bring work home • Set boundaries • Push pause whenever needed • Practice self-compassion

Our lifestyle plays a vital role in managing the overall health of our body. How we really treat it is how it responds. One of the worst lifestyle disorders to have is diabetes. It not only affects your overall health, it increases your risk of renal issues, digestion problems, and heart illnesses.

There are two forms of diabetes-type 1, and type 2.

While Type 1 is genetic in nature at its core, type 2 stems solely from wrong lifestyle choices. What are factors that may be increasing your risk of developing diabetes? You may be eating junk food a bit too frequently. Your body is not getting enough or any exercise, you avoid getting routine check-ups, and

more.

The 'don't fix if it ain't broken' logic can get very damaging for your body. It sends warning signs to help you realise what area to pay attention to. In this article we explain what signs your body may be throwing your way indicating an onset of diabetes.

Thirst If you have a healthy

FDA okays first new ADHD drug for children The US Food and Drug Administration okayed Qelbree (KELL'-bree) for treating attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in children above the age of 6. It comes as a capsule that's taken daily.

Unlike nearly all other ADHD medicines, Qelbree is not a stimulant or a controlled substance, making it harder to abuse than older drugs. That's been a problem with earlier ADHD treatments like Ritalin, nearly all of which contain the stimulants amphetamine or methylphenidate.

Qelbree, developed by Supernus Pharmaceuticals of Rockville, Maryland, carries a warning of potential for suicidal thoughts and behavior, which occurred in fewer than 1% of volunteers in studies of the drug.

Supernus wouldn't disclose the drug's list price, but it's sure to be higher than the many chegeneric ADHD pills.

ADHD affects about 6 million American children and adolescents. For many, problems include trouble paying attention and completing tasks, fidgeting and impulsiveness. Experts say the

drug may appeal to parents who don't want to give their child stimulants.

It also could be an option for kids who have substance abuse problems, dislike the side effects of stimulants or need additional therapy, said Dr. David W. Goodman, director of Suburban Psychiatric Associates near Baltimore and an assistant professor of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.

Goodman said most ADHD patients taking medication currently are prescribed long-acting stimulants, which are harder to abuse to get a high than the original, fast-acting versions.

In a key late-stage study funded by Supernus, 477 children ages 6 to 11 took the drug for six weeks. Inattention and hyperactivity symptoms were reduced by about 50% compared to the placebo group. Qelbree, also known as viloxazine, helped reduce symptoms in some study volunteers within a week.

Common side effects include sleepiness, lethargy, decreased appetite and headache.

water intake and still feel constantly thirsty, you might want to get yourself checked for diabetes. Your kidneys work extra hard when you have diabetes, to regulate excess glucose.

Glucose is released in the urine, and some very essential minerals get flushed out with it, which makes you feel dehydrated.

Frequent Urination Yet another cause behind the dehydration, the logic here works similarly as above. Your body needs to clear out extra glucose from the body, which is why you urinate more frequently if you have diabetes.

Hunger With diabetes, the body is unable to digest glucose which is necessary to release energy. When this excess glucose doesn't get digested, you will feel lethargy, leading to hunger.

Dry skin High blood sugar makes your skin tissues more prone to dryness, leading to itchiness and making yourself more prone to skin infections.

Sores Sores appear due to blood vessel damage caused by diabetes.

Slow Healing Diabetes slows down the process of cell regeneration, which slows down the process of healing

28

BOLLYWOOD

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNews

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

Corona hits many

celebrities Alia Bhatt, Akshay Kumar, Govinda, Narayani Shastri and Aditya Narayan were among host of celebrities who have tested positive for to Covid-19. Alia said she tested positive and is currently under home quarantine. Alia's boyfriend and actor Ranbir Kapoor only recently recovered from the virus. Akshay Kumar announced that he has tested positive and has isolated himself. “I wish to inform everyone that I tested positive for Covid19. Following all the protocols, I have immediately isolated myself. I’m under home quarantine and have sought necessary medical care.

Actor Govinda too has tested positive and is currently under home quarantine.

The actor said he is under able medical guidance. The actor said: “I have been

testing myself and taking all the necessary precautions to keep the coronavirus away.

However, I tested positive following mild symptoms. All others at home have tested negative. Sunita (wife) has just recovered from Covid-19 a couple of weeks back.”

Meanwhile, TV actors Narayani Shastri and Abrar Qazi have tested positive for the virus and are under home quarantine.

Shastri and Qazi, who were shooting for their respective shows in Mumbai.

Leading producer Rajan Shahi has also tested positive for Covid. Singer-TV host Aditya Narayan and his wife, actor Shweta Agarwal also tested positive for Covid-19.

Earlier last week, as many as 18 crew members of the popular dance reality show Dance Deewane tested positive for coronavirus.

Amitabh Bachchan takes first

Covid vaccine dose Veteran Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is now the latest celebrity to get their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine. He took to his blog last week to share his experience. He revealed that his whole family took the vaccine, barring son and actor Abhishek Bachchan who is not in Mumbai currently, Amitabh wrote, “DONE .. vaccination done .. all well .. did Covid test for family and staff yesterday .. results came today .. all good , all negative .. so done the vaccine .. all family done except Abhishek .. he be on location and shall do it on return soon in a few days.” He shared a picture of himself taking the shot.

Most of the Bachchan clan tested positive for the novel coronavirus last year. Amitabh, Abhishek, Aishwarya, and Aaradhya all tested positive for the disease and were admitted to the hospital.

Abhishek was the last to recover and remained under medical care for almost a month. Meanwhile, Amitabh spoke about Holi celebrations this year. “The streets are silent .. the drums and the singing of the celebrations remained muted .. nothing moves .. the festival is shrouded .. and the desolation among all...”

On the work front, the actor was last seen in 'Gulabo Sitabo'. He has been busy shooting for 'Brahmastra' and 'May Day'.

Kirron Kher diagnosed with blood cancer Actor-politician Kirron Kher has been diagnosed with blood cancer, as announced in a statement by husband and veteran actor Anupam Kher. He took to social media to announce the news and reassured well-wishers that she is “well on her way to recovery.” Bollywood celebrities poured in with their wishes after the update broke out.

Veteran actor Neetu Kapoor dropped a heart emoticon along with a folded hands emoji. Priyanka Chopra wrote “Prayers” followed by a folded hands emoji, and Parineeti Chopra wrote, “Sir we are praying for her.” Riteish Deshmukh took to

Arjun Kapoor: Need to look at the content, not numbers Actor Arjun Kapoor feels the pandemic has changed the entertainment world and that a lot of rethinking and rejigging is required now that theatres have opened. He expects the whole box-office number game to see a major shift soon. Speaking in an interview, Arjun said, “Eventually they (box office numbers) will matter. It's a business, so you'd like to have an understanding of what numbers are coming in, so we make film of certain calibre. But do I believe that from April and May we will see the same numbers as 'War' (2019) saw before Covid?

I don't think so. It will take a little bit of time.”

He added, “Today, we're in a new environment amid the pandemic and we'll have to rejig our expectations and our understanding. So, rather than looking at the

first day or second day, you look at the totality of the film. You look at the overall perspective; six to eight weeks after the run is over, you kind of understand how the audiences reacted to the material.”

Arjun's 'Sandeep' and 'Pinky Farar' recently hit the big screens. He said that while numbers are important, they are only so from a business perspective, and not much for the actors. “It’s a good reality check for us because we’re too caught up with numbers. I don’t think actors, beyond a point, can engage in numbers because they’re very subjective. An actor can do an X amount of business in the right sort of film, and he can do an X amount in a wrong film. But that shouldn’t change the fact that he should be allowed to do what he wants to do,” Arjun said.

Twitter and wrote, “I pray for @KirronKherBJP ji's good health and speedy recovery.” Suniel Shetty tweeted, “Thoughts prayers and warmest wishes to the inspiring strong courageous and amazing @KirronKherBJP for a speedy recovery ....get well soon maam.”

In his statement, Kher had written, “Just so that rumours don't get the better of a situation Sikandar and I would like to inform everyone that Kirron has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment and we are sure she will come out of this stronger than before. We are very blessed that she is being looked after by a phenomenal set of doctors.”

He thanked everyone for their support and love.

The note stated, “She's always been a fighter and takes things head on. She's all heart and that's why she has so many people that love her. So keep sending your love to her in your prayers and in your heart. She is well on her way to recovery and we thank everyone for their support and love.

Anupam and Sikandar.”

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

BOLLYWOOD 29

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

10 - 16 April 2021

Dia Mirza announces first pregnancy with husband Vaibhav

Bollywood’s release calendar goes for a toss, yet again

Actor Dia Mirza has announced her first pregnancy with husband Vaibhav Rekhi through an Instagram post.

Sharing a picture from Maldives featuring her cradling her baby bump, she wrote, “Blessed to be...One with Mother Earth... One with the Life Force that is the beginning of everything...Of all stories. Lullabies. Songs.

Of new saplings. And the blossoming of hope. Blessed to cradle this purest of all dreams in my womb Photo by @vaibh_r #SunsetLeDiVaNe.” Dia and Vaibhav married in an

The year 2021 was looking like the year of Bollywood’s resurgence. Announcements for new films were being made one after the other, shoots were getting started and wrapped up as well. But the Covid pandemic refuses to slow down, and hence Maharashtra theatres have been shut till April 30. This in turn has led to filmmakers rethinking about their releases.

Rohit Shetty has postponed the already delayed

intimate ceremony in February this year. She was previously married to Sahil Sangha, while her now husband was married to Sunaina, and has a daughter named Samaira with her.

Ranveer Singh, Anil Kapoor set to collaborate on yet-tobe-revealed project 'Sooryavanshi', again. What happens to the rest of the biggies- 'Thalaivi' in April, 'Radhe: Your Most Wanted Bhai' and 'Satayameva Jayate 2' in May, and so on? Does the entire year seem set for a reshuffle?

Experts and makers believe so. Producer Anand Pandit, who has delayed the theatrical release of his Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Chehre', says, “Unfortunately, we have only got 52 Fridays in a year, and there are usually 300-400 films. Entire months of April and May will go, I am sure films will start releasing only after June. It will disturb the whole calendar.”

Rajender Jyala, Chief Programming Officer, INOX Leisure, says while south releases are on track so far, Hindi films will change their dates. “Sooryavanshi will have to find a new release date now. We don’t know when the theatres will reopen. Once that clarity comes, then there scheduling will happen in the whole lineup,” he says.

She took care of me: Priyanka about her bond with pet Diana Priyanka Chopra and husband Nick Jonas are parents to not one, but three pet dogs. In a recent interview, the actress spoke at length about Diana, Panda, and Gino, and the bond she shares with them. Speaking to Financial Times, Priyanka revealed that she is particularly close to Diana.

“Diana was the first pup that I fully took care of. She's from North Shore Rescue in New York, and she chose me. It was four years ago, at a time in my life where I was really low. I had just moved to the States, I was mourning my father's death, I didn't know anybody. I was working on 'Quantico' for ABC and going back home on my own.”

She added, “Diana had been rescued from the streets of Atlanta. She's a chihuahua-terrier mix, I think, but we're not completely sure. I had no idea what to do with a pup, but it was she and I, alone in New York City. It was Diana I snuggled into and Diana who barked whenever the door opened. With Diana, I had somebody to take care of, and in return, she took care of me.”

Talking about her other pets, Panda – a Husky crossed with an Australian shepherd, and Gino – a German shepherd. Revealing the reason why she got her third pet, she said Nick is diabetic and German shepherds are particularly good at smelling low blood sugar levels.

On the work front, the actress is currently in London shooting for her new show 'Citadel'.

Bollywood's handsome hunks Ranveer Singh and Anil Kapoor have informally announced a collaboration much to the delight of their fans. Ranveer announced the news with a post on Instagram.

He shared a string of pictures with Anil who is seen sporting a threepiece suit, while Ranveer himself is seen donning a formal shirt and blue trousers.

The 'Padmaavat' star wrote a note alongside the pictures and

called Anil Kapoor “one-of-akind” and “one of Hindi cinema's finest”. "Can't express the gratitude, the pride, the utter delight & sheer joy of collaborating with one of my most admired screen idols. I deeply cherish the bond that we share.

He is one-of-a-kind. Giant of a performer. Legend of an artist.

One of Hindi cinema's finest @anilskapoor," Singh wrote.

In response, Anil wrote on Instagram, “The pleasure, the pride, the delight, the utter joy is all mine @ranveersingh! I cherish you and our friendship immensely!” No details have been revealed about the project which will mark their third collaboration. The two were last seen together in 'Dil Dhadakne Do', and will soon be seen in Karan Johar's 'Takht'.

On the work front, Ranveer will soon be seen in upcoming sports drama '83'. He will essay the role of legendary cricketer Kapil Dev, while his wife Deepika Padukone will play his wife Romi Bhatia.

Yesteryear film actor

Shashikala is no more Shashikala, who left an indelible imprint playing characters that the audience loved to hate in the Hindi cinema of 1960s and 70s, passed away in Mumbai on Sunday. She was 88. The Solapur-born actor’s career spanned over six decades and 175 odd films and TV serials. But Shashikala Jawalkar (later Saigal) endured a deprived childhood and struggled for years doing miniscule parts before finding a semblance of a foothold with V Shantaram’s 'Teen Batti Char Raasta' (1953) and 'Surang' (1953).

It was Bimal Roy’s 'Sujata' (1960), where she lip-synced with Nutan, ‘Bachpan ke din bhi kya din thhey’, that made people take notice and earned her a first Filmfare nomination for “best supporting actress.” The Sixties was her most rewarding decade. Old timers still remember her running away wih sandals in hand to avoid her domineering mother (Lalita Pawar) in 'Junglee' (1961) to sing, ‘Nain tumhare mazedar’, with Anoop Kumar.

Shashikala earned eight Filmfare nominations ('Sujata', 'Aayee Milan Ki Bela', 'Himalay Ki God Mein', 'Anupama', 'Neel Kamal' and 'Phool Aur Patthar'), including two awards ('Aarti' and 'Gumrah') for “best supporting actress”.

She received a nomination every year between 1963-67.

30 KOLLYWOOD

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

10 - 16 April 2021

Kannada film has a pan-India appeal these days: Raai Laxmi South film actress Raai Laxmi believes the evolution of cinema has been astounding. After launching her career in 2005 with 'Valmiki' in the Kannada film industry, she has worked in Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam movies over the years.

“The Kannada film industry has undergone a massive change. From where I had started to today when I look at it, it is at a different place altogether. They are really making some big films and after 'KGF' (2018) it has become bigger. It has a pan India appeal,” She says. Raai says that earlier Kannada films would not even get dubbed in other languages in other states.

“But now even Kannada films have come into that category.

Initially, it was only for Kannada audience and Kannada people.

But now the industry is making films that can be watched by other people with dubbing and subtitles,” she says.

Laxmi is currently gearing up for her next Kannada project 'Jhansi I.P.S' and believes it will be monumental in her career. “I am just eagerly waiting to see how it turns out. I was really in two minds about the film. A lot of people had told me to do an action film and I finally got a good script. I have trained very hard for it. I didn't have the confidence before to do an action film because for an action film you have to be very fit and have a physique and personality as well.”

I play a powerful character: Nagarjuna on 'Brahmastra' role Ace actor Nagarjuna Akkineni is all over the news these days as the theatrical release of his much-awaited 'Wild Dogs' nears. In a recent press brief, the actor spoke about the movie, and his upcoming Bollywood stint, 'Brahmastra'. When asked about his role in the Ayan Mukerji directorial, Nagarjuna said he “can't reveal anything right now.”

He, however, did stress on his character. The actor said, “I can't reveal anything right now. But, I am playing a powerful character in 'Brahmastra'. We recently completed the filming for the first part. The duration of my character in the movie will be around half an hour.”

Meanwhile, Nagarjuna's 'Wild Dog' is set to be released on April 2. Directed

by Ahishor Solomon, the movie revolves around the 2007 Hyderabad bomb blasts

TV Listing

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 12 APR FRI 16 APR 2021 14.30 KASAM 16.00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 18.30 BEST OF COOKERY SHOW THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 19.00 UDAARIYAAN 19.30 CHOTI SARDAARNI 20.00 SHAKTI

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 12 APR FRI 16 APR 2021 8.30 BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN 16.00 SILSILA BADALTE RISHTON KA 16.30 THE RASOI SHOW 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 TUM KAUN PIYA 18.30 DIL KA RISHTA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 BARRISTER BABU 21.00 BALIKA VADHU LAMHE PYAAR KE 22.00 ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 3

20.30 MOLKKI 21.00 PINJARA KHUBSOORTI KA 21.30 BAWARA DIL 22.00 NAMAK ISSK KA SATURDAY 10 APR 16.00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 18.30 BEST OF COOKERY SHOW DESI BEAT RESET 19.00 UDAARIYAAN 19.30 CHOTI SARDAARNI 20.00 SHAKTI 20.30 BEST OF DESI BEAT 21.30 DANCE DEEWANE 3 SUNDAY 11 APR 16.00 THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 18.00 CHOTI SARDARNI 20.30 BEST OF DESI BEAT 21.30 DANCE DEEWANE 3

SATURDAY 10 APR 11.00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 16.00 SILSILA BADALTE RISHTON KA 16.30 THE RASOI SHOW 17.30 CHHUTA CHHEDA 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 BARRISTER BABU 21.00 BALIKA VADHU LAMHE PYAAR KE SUNDAY 11 APR 11.00 DESI BEAT SEASON 2 16.00 SILSILA BADALTE RISHTON KA 16.30 THE RASOI SHOW 17.30 DESI BEAT SEASON 3 18.00 KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19.00 BHAGYA KA LIKHA 20.00 DIL SE DIL TAK 20.30 DESI BEAT RESET 21.00 BALIKA VADHU LAMHE PYAAR KE

and stars Dia Mirza, Saiyami Kher, and Atul Kulkarni in other major roles. Naga talked about his character in the movie.

He said, “I play ACP Vijay Varma in the movie. He is a good father and husband.

He is a very powerful officer yet a good team leader. The reason why he got into NIA is his love for the country. He believes that terrorism will destabilise the nation. So, his pure purpose is to catch terrorists and punish them. I liked the character very much. It is going to be a memorable one in my career. Wild Dog is a new age commercial film, and we are very confident about the film’s success at the box office.”

On the work front, Nagarjuna is planning to produce a film with Vaisshnav Tej of 'Uppena' fame. He also has a commercial actioner with Praveen Sattaru in the works.

Rajinikanth honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke Award Veteran actor Rajinikanth has been honoured with the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke award.

The news was confirmed by Information and Broadcasting Minister Prakash Javadekar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to extend his good wishes.

Rajinikanth himself took to Twitter to share a long note in Tamil, expressing his profound gratitude at the honour. Rajinikanth wrote, “I wholeheartedly thank the central government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for conferring me Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest award in the Indian Film Industry. I thank my bus driver and friend Raj Bahadur who discovered my acting talent and

encouraged me, my brother Sathyanarayana Rao Gaekwad who sacrificed a lot while we were struggling in poverty to make me an actor, my guru K Balachander for creating 'the Rajinikanth.'”

He added, “I also thank my directors, producers, distributors, technicians, theatre owners, media, and Tamil people who have given me life. I dedicate this award to my fans around the world. I thank Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Pannerselvam, opposition leader and my friend MK Stalin, my friend Kamal Haasan, other state and central leaders, industry friends, and my well-wishers. Long Live Tamils, May Tamil Nadu prosper, Jai Hind!”

Nayanthara targeted by Radha Ravi, Chinmayi says she is 'sick' of him Actress Nayanthara has been once again targeted by actor-politician Radha Ravi, who passed lewd comments against her while campaigning for the BJP-AIADMK alliance ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. A video that has gone viral on social media features him taking a distasteful dig at the actress.

He says he never spoke ill of her before, however, it became a huge issue and he was temporarily dismissed from the DMK party. “How is Nayanthara related to DMK? Is she their public relations officer? Why do they have to dismiss me if I talk about her? Before they could ask me to leave, I tendered my permanent resignation. If she is in a relationship with Udhayanidhi, what can I do?” he says. Udhayanidhi is the son of DMK leader Stalin, and also an actor. He has worked with

Nayanthara in multiple Tamil films.

Actress Chinmayi jumped in and gave her two pennies' worth on the issue and said she is tired and sick of Radha Ravi's behaviour.

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

SPORT

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

31

10 - 16 April 2021

in brief SACHIN HOSPITALISED AS PRECAUTIONARY STEP Former India captain and batting icon Sachin Tendulkar has been hospitalised as a precautionary measure, six days after he tested Sachin Tendulkar positive for Covid-19.

The 47-year-old took to twitter to announce the development. “Thank you for your wishes and prayers. As a matter of abundant precaution under medical advice, I have been hospitalised. I hope to be back home in a few days. Take care and stay safe everyone,” Tendulkar wrote.

8 MEMBERS OF INDIA’S BOXING SQUAD IN TURKEY TEST POSITIVE Eight members of an Indian boxing squad, including three pugilists, were quarantined in Istanbul after testing positive for Covid-19 during a competition trip but seven of them have recovered and will be back in the country. Commonwealth Games goldmedallist Gaurav Solanki (57kg), Prayag Chouhan (75kg) and Brijesh Yadav (81kg) tested positive for the virus a week back, leading to them being quarantined following the event which ended on March 19.

However, all three of them tested negative now and will be back in the country along with four members of the support staff coach Santosh Birmole, physiotherapists Shikha Kedia and Dr Umesh and video analyst Nitin Kumar. However, another coach Dharmendra Yadav remains positive and will have to wait a few more days for his return. “(Of these) seven members have been cleared to travel. They will be reaching India,” Boxing Federation Secretary General Hemanta Kalita said.

BCCI TO RESOLVE PAKISTAN VISA ISSUE The Indian cricket board (BCCI) has assured the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it will be able to guarantee visas and tax arrangements for the upcoming T20 World Cup in India in Oct-Nov later this year. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had asked for a guarantee from BCCI over issuing visas to its players for the marquee tournament. BCCI informed the ICC board in its quarterly meeting that the issue will be resolved over the next month. ICC and BCCI had been at loggerheads over tax exemptions for hosting a World Cup for a couple of years. BCCI said that this matter will also be resolved in a month.

Stage all set for 14th edition of IPL 2021 The stage is set for the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), which returns to India again, less than six months after the previous edition ended in the UAE, where Mumbai Indians (MI) clinched a record fifth title by beating Delhi Capitals (DC). The latest season is set to begin in Chennai with a match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore on 9 April, with the final to be played in Ahmedabad on 30 May. The previous edition was held behind closed doors owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, and it is going to continue, at least in the initial phase.

The IPL Governing Council said in a statement that a call on allowing spectators inside stadiums will be taken at a later stage.

Although all teams face each other twice in the league stage, the IPL is doing away with home and away games for this season.

Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, New Delhi and Kolkata will host games throughout the tournament, with Ahmedabad also hosting the playoffs and final. All teams will play at four of the six venues with 11 double headers to be held.

During the league stage, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru will host 10 games with Ahmedabad and New Delhi organising eight games each.

Match timings: The night matches begin at 7.30 PM IST, while the day matches will have an afternoon start at 3.30 PM IST. There will be a total of 11 double-headers. The matches of the afternoon slots are: 18 April: RCB vs KKR at Chennai; 21 April: PBKS vs SRH at Chennai; 25 April: CSK vs RCB at Mumbai; 29 April: MI vs RR at New Delhi; 2 May: RR vs SRH at New Delhi; 8 May: KKR vs DC at Ahmedabad; 9 May: CSK vs PBKS at Bengaluru; 13 May: MI vs PBKS at Bengaluru; 16 May: RR vs RCB at Kolkata; 21 May: KKR vs SRH at Bengaluru; 23 May: MI vs DC at Kolkata; Telecast of matches The matches will be telecast on the Star Sports network. The matches can also be watched on online platform Disney+ Hostar. Firstpost will also be live-blogging

all the matches.

Teams and list of players: Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Quinton de Kock (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), Chris Lynn, Anmolpreet Singh, Saurabh Tiwary, Aditya Tare, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Anukul Roy, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Rahul Chahar, Jayant Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Mohsin Khan, Adam Milne, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Piyush Chawla, James Neesham, Yudhvir Charak, Marco Jansen, Arjun Tendulkar.

Delhi Capitals: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (Captain, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma, R Ashwin, Lalit Yadav, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Pravin Dubey, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Marcus Stoinis, Shimron Hetmyer, Chris Woakes, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Umesh Yadav, Ripal Patel, Vishnu Vinod, Lukman Meriwala, M Siddharth, Tom Curran, Sam Billings Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (Captain), AB de Villiers, Yuzvendra Chahal, Devdutt Padikkal, Navdeep Saini, Washington Sundar, Mohammed Siraj, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Josh Philippe, Shahbaz Ahmed, Pavan Deshpande, Kyle Jamieson, Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian, Sachin Baby, Rajat Patidar, Mohammed Azharuddeen, Suyash Prabhudesai, KS Bharat Chennai Super Kings: MS Dhoni (C and WK), Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, N Jagadeesan, Faf Du Plessis, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sam Curran, Ravi Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo,

Ollie Pope reveals warning from Kohli about turning wickets England batsman Ollie Pope revealed that India captain Virat Kohli had warned him about turning wickets mid-way through the India vs England 1st Test match in Chennai.

The first Test was the only one in which England batsmen stood up in front of the Indian bowlers and as a result also went on to win the match. However, they failed to hold on to their 1-0 lead as India came storming back to win the next three Tests comfortably and take the series 3-1.

After posting 578 riding on a double

century from captain Joe Root in the first innings of the first Test, England only managed to cross the 200-run mark just once in the next seven innings as Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel shared close to 60 wickets between them to make the England side look ordinary in front of the turning ball.

"In the second innings the pitch started spinning quite a lot," Pope said during Surrey's pre-season media day at the Oval. "I remember standing at the non-striker's end

The remarkable story of British boxer Cheavon Clarke The story of British boxer Cheavon Clarke who is aiming for gold at the Tokyo Olympics is a remarkable one. At the age of eight, Clarke was left lifeless after falling off a ladder and being impaled by a steel spike.

Then when he was 18, he 'flatlined' in hospital again, this time because of a burst appendix.

For the first time he knew about he could fight was when a punched racist bully at school and get excluded. The heavyweight, now 29, also recalls the moment he squared up to Prince Charles, the time he played Call of Duty with Usain Bolt, and when he went in the ring with Rio Ferdinand in the former footballer's back garden. Oh, and how he once quit boxing to become a lorry driver.

Having grown up in the small town of Stonehenge, near Montego Bay in Jamaica, he moved to England with his mum and sister at the age of 10 and started school in Kent.

Following his playground scrap, Clarke plucked up the courage to go to the boxing club. 'I had my first session, it was really good and I met a coach called Jason Weeks and he

Mitchell Santner, Josh Hazlewood, Shardul Thakur, Karn Sharma, KM Asif, Imran Tahir, R. Sai Kishore, Deepak Chahar, Lungi Ngidi, Moeen Ali, Krishnappa Gowtham, Harisankar Reddy, Bhagvath Varma and Cheteshwar Pujara Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (c), Kane Williamson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Manish Pandey, Sreevats Goswami (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Priyam Garg, Vijay Shankar, Abhishek Sharma, Abdul Samad, Virat Singh, Mitchell Marsh, Jason Holder, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T. Natarajan, Sandeep Sharma, Khaleel Ahmed, Siddarth Kaul, Basil Thampi, Jagadeesha Suchith, Kedar Jadhav, Mujeebur-Rahman.

Punjab Kings: KL Rahul (c&wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Mandeep Singh, Prabsimran Singh, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Sarfaraz Khan, Deepak Hooda, Murugan Ashwin, Ravi Bishnoi, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Porel, Darshan Nalkande, Chris Jordan, Dawid Malan, Jhye Richardson, Shahrukh Khan, Riley Meredith, Moises Henriques, Jalaj Saxena, Utkarsh Singh, Fabian Allen , Saurabh Kumar.

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shubman Gill, Nitish Rana, Tim Seifert (wk), Rahul Tripathi, Rinku Singh, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Eoin Morgan (c), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Varun CV, Kuldeep Yadav, Pat Cummins, Lockie Ferguson, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Shivam Mavi, Sandeep Warrier, Prasidh Krishna, Shakib Al Hasan, Sheldon Jackson, Vaibhav Arora, Karun Nair, Harbhajan Singh, Ben Cutting, Venkatesh Iyer, Pawan Negi.

Rajasthan Royals: Sanju Samson (c), Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer, Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Shreyas Gopal, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomor, Kartik Tyagi, Andrew Tye, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Anuj Rawat, David Miller, Manan Vohra, Chris Morris, Mustafizur Rahman, Shivam Dube, KC Cariappa, Chetan Sakariya, Liam Livingstone, Kuldip Yadav, Akash Singh.

was really into me. He said, 'You can be really good, you could be a world champ'. But later he left coaching to become a supplier. In 2015 he returned his journey back to become a boxer.

Clarke went on to win the National Amateur Cheavon Clarke Championships in 2016 and got another trial for Team GB. This time he was successful and in January 2017 he was invited on to the funded World Class Programme. It was also around this time that he boxed with former England captain Ferdinand. World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, the London 2012 gold medallist, is another famous face Clarke has come across in Sheffield. Clarke came across a number of famous faces in Sheffield, including Anthony Joshua.

While in Jamaica, he was running up the ladder and got three quarters of the way up when the ladder went and he dropped. He fell on a steel spike which went straight

through him. He was taken to the hospital and he almost died on the theatre table. But survived. A decade on, when he was living in England, he felt a pain in his stomach. He tried home remedy and finally went to a hospital. But there was a five-hour wait so Clarke decided to go back home, where he ended up collapsing on the stairs and was rushed back to hospital in an ambulance. He woke up in the morning and saw flowers around him. However, Clarke came back to life again. If he were to win a medal in Tokyo it would undoubtedly be one of the best British stories of the Olympics.

Clarke won a bronze medal for England at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and reached the quarter-finals of last year's World Championships in Russia, where he lost to home fighter and eventual winner. He is not ranked among the three favourites for Tokyo, but do not expect him to pay any attention to that.

Ollie Pope and Virat Kohli

and Kohli came up to me and said 'this is the last of the flat wickets'. At that point I knew it was probably going to be quite a challenging rest of the series from a batting point of view."

Pope, who was troubled a lot by both Axar Patel and Ashwin, said senior England cricketers like Joe Root and Ben Stokes had said it was one of the toughest conditions that they have played in. "Chatting to the more experienced guys like Joe Root and Ben Stokes, those guys were pretty much saying exactly the same: these are the toughest conditions they've played in," Pope said. "If those guys are saying it as well, you know how challenging it is.”

The right-hander said it was actually a compliment for their batsmen and bowlers that India had to change their ‘gameplan’ in the final three Tests. "I'm not saying [India] felt they had to produce those wickets, but the fact they've gone away from their flat wickets for three days, then spin on day four and five, which is generally the theme out there, it was quite a compliment to us in how we went about our business and a compliment to our bowlers.

"That shot us in the foot a little bit but it's a good compliment to us as a team because they obviously felt they had to change their gameplan," he said.

32

10 - 16 April 2021

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

AsianVoiceNews

www.asian-voice.com