AV 11th April 2020

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

R

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

11 - 17 APRIL 2020 - VOL 48 ISSUE 48

A NEW LABOUR

inside: Britons in Punjab, stranded and scared SEE PAGE 2

Lisa Nandy

Preet Kaur Gill

Britain prays for BoJo’s recovery

Thangam Debbonaire

SEE PAGE 5

Sir Keir Starmer - Priyanka Mehta

On Saturday 4th April, Sir Keir Starmer emerged as the unrivalled Labour leader defeating Rebecca Long-Bailey and Lisa Nandy after securing a 56.2% vote share in the leadership contest. Besides reviving Labour following its decimation in the 2019 general election, Jeremy Corbyn’s successor is also tasked with re-building the Party’s relationship with the Indian diaspora. Will Starmer and his “new cabinet” deliver on the Labour’s Indian promise?

Both Starmer’s toughest critics and his admirers believe that the 57-year-old lawyer-turned-politician has the diplomatic ability for neutral policy framework. This can be further attributed to his appointment of a “new cabinet” where most of Jeremy Corbyn’s confidants have been replaced by new names, some Indian-origin, intent on changing the face of Labour.

“Keir has demonstrated in his leadership campaign and by the composition of his Shadow cabinet that he is serious about building bridges and working with all communities, and that includes the Indian diaspora. The depth and breadth of talent of Labour MPs across the country will be focused on reaching out and on showing that we are now in a new era, determined to rebuild trust with the British people,” said Seema Malhotra MP for Feltham and Heston in a statement to Asian Voice.

Continued on page 4

Overwhelming support to PM CARES fund SEE PAGE 10

Tablighi congregation in Delhi turns into a nightmare SEE PAGE 11

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11 - 17 April 2020

in brief

with Keith Vaz

BODY FOUND WHILE SEARCHING FOR MISSING 23-YEAR OLD

Mina Hindocha Mina Hindocha was born in 1953 in Jinja, Uganda. She arrived in the UK as a teenager at the time of exodus. She moved to Harlow in Essex where she set up a Newsagents Business and ran her shops for 17 years. While in Harlow she started the Hindu Community Gatherings with a small community of around 20 families in the 1970's. This grew to over 100 families by the early 2000s. MIna ran the celebrations of Hindu Celebrations, worked with the local council to secure funding for celebrating Indian events and festivals. She also taught Indian Dance to English pupils at schools in Essex and Hertfordshire from the 1980s to 2000s, often voluntarily. After moving to London in the early 2000s she became an ardent follower of BAPS (Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayn Sanstha), where she gave her voluntary service for over a decade.

Mina now runs various online social media forums with over 10,000 people engaging in them for the Asian Community, which talk about matters of Public awareness, Spiritual matters and Bollywood.

1

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

I made my home in London, England. So I feel at home here. Unashamedly proudly British.

2

What are your proudest achievements?

My proudest achievement is serving my community.

3

What inspires you?

Women in parliament inspire me like Margaret Thatcher and Indira Gandhi.

4

What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

Starting life from scratch in this country was the biggest obstacle.

5

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

My father has been a great influence to me and my career. My son, Kishan Devani BEM, FRSA who has achieved so much at such a young age has made me proud and pushed me to continue serving the community.

6

What is the best aspect about your current role?

I am officially retired now but I my online social media groups and the wider work I

do in the community keep me busier than a full-time job!

7

And the worst?

I wish I could reach out to more people who are in need and that would like to engage with people who need assistance.

8

What are your long-term goals?

Is to see a world that is united and not divided, a world where bridges are built and not walls.

9

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

If I were a Prime Minister, I would want to assist the most deprived people in our country, reaching out to the forgotten communities is something I would prioritise.

10

If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?

I would like to spend time with Nelson Mandela. Mr Mandela was inspirational at how he took life so positively, after spending 27 years in Jail, he took life so positively and achieved so much. He has left such a remarkable legacy for all of us to learn from.

BAME population more susceptible to the virus?

On Tuesday 7th April, a heart surgeon at Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales was declared as the first NHS worker in Wales to have died from Covid-19.

The irony of the announcement is that 7th April is celebrated by the World Health Organisation as the World health day in support of nurses, midwives, and doctors.

Earlier last week tributes were paid to four minority doctors with Asian and African heritage who had died of coronavirus whilst serving the NHS. Two Asianorigin nurses and midwives had also passed away owing to coronavirus. Now another

doctor has passed away.

“I feel betrayed by the government who are not transparent enough to say that they do not have the ideal supplies and are therefore asking us to put ourselves in harms’ way with suboptimal protection,” a GP not wanting to be named told the British Medical Association (BMA).

No clear data is indicating if Asians are more susceptible to the virus with the NHS not filtering Covid-19 deaths based on their ethnicity. However, funeral directors across the country have reported receiving a higher number of requests than usual.

“Doctors have told us they are pressurized to see a patient without adequate PPE, or to perform a highrisk procedure where they are at risk of becoming infected, or where they may go on to infect another patient,” noted Chaand Nagpaul CBE, Chair of BMA. The Northwick Park hospital has reportedly run out of critical care beds being full after a spike in the emergency cases whereas the Watford hospital had reportedly run out of oxygen.

London borough of Harrow accounts for a majority of the Asian population where Northwick Park hospital is located.

On Thursday, 2nd April, the body of a man was recovered near swing bridge at the Docks on Maritime Way. Although the man has yet to be formally identified, officers believe it to be missing Siddharth Murkumbi.

23-year-old Murkumbi had been studying at University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) before disappearing on Sunday, 15th March.

Sid as popularly known by the family, had moved to Preston, to study MBA (Marketing) at UCLan in September 2019.

However, he had gone missing from 8.30pm on Sunday, March 15. On Monday 16th March

his parents alongwith his friends launched a police complaint following which the Lancashire Police had believed that he may Siddharth Murkumbi have travelled to Preston Docks before going missing. Now they believe that the body recoverd from the docks is that of Murkumbi. The cause of the death is yet to be identified. Lancashire Police said his family have been informed.

BRITONS IN PUNJAB, STRANDED AND SCARED Thousands of British nationals remain stranded across the Indian state of Punjab even as the UK Foreign Office has started a series of repatriation flights from Goa, Mumbai, and Delhi. Whilst Asian Voice had previously reported about chartered flights successfully evacuating Britons from Kolkata and Goa, Britons in Punjab have now raised concerns about their condition.

“My grandparents suffer from Type 2 diabetes, Angina, and arthritis in the back and hip. My father is retired and has back and knee problems along with mental health issues and walks with a stick. Due to the COVID-19 lockdown, we have not been able to get my grandparents their prescribed NHS medicine. My grandmother struggles to get out of bed some days due to the heat, making her back worse, and we are constantly on a limited food supply owing to a lockdown in India as well,” said Rumnique Matharu in a statement to Asian Voice.

A British national from East London and Birmingham, Rumnique with her parents, sister and elderly grandparents are currently stranded in Jalandhar, Punjab. She explains that they had originally booked their return tickets to the UK for a 3 am flight on 19th March. India had officially sealed its domestic and international borders to curb the spread of coronavirus from 25th March for 21-days.

This lockdown officially ends on 14th April.

But even before this lockdown many airlines had already cancelled flights or stopped their services due to low traffic. In a desperate appeal to the British government, Rumnique said, “We require the UK to help us to get home because we are unable to get help out herefor medicines or food as there is police patrolling outside our gates where we are staying. If we step out then they either shout

Rumnique Matharu

or threaten us. We managed to get some medicines for them after a few weeks from a local pharmacy. However, they were not the correct ones.”

Official government sources believe that thousands of British nationals are stranded in the Indian state of Punjab besides Rumnique.

This also includes parents of Paramdeep Sehdev popularly known as Bobby Friction.

The specially chartered flights for the evacuation of British nationals started operating after Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab announced a £75 mn bailout package for those stranded across the world. However, those stranded in Punjab continue to write to their local MPs and FCO authorities in desperate need to receive an update about their status quo.

A British High Commission spokesperson in Delhi said, “We are looking to arrange flights from other locations in India, where we know there are large numbers of British nationals.

We will publish these on our travel advice and social media channels as soon as they are confirmed.”

Warriors called ‘mothers' Pregnancies and giving birth during these uncertain times are unusually lonely and worrying for many first-time mothers. Hormones on one side, a changing body, mood swings, mix of feeling happy and anxious for the coming days, postnatal depression- all very unfamiliar experiences.

On one hand there are unknown fears about risks of coronavirus in unborn babies and the new borns, on the other, there are sadness around missing out on small joys of being pampered by the extended family, especially in the last trimester or after giving birth.

The Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s partner Carrie Symonds has not been confirmed to have had the virus.

But the 32-year old chose to take precautions due to her pregnancy. She tweeted saying, “I’ve spent the past week in bed with the main symptoms of coronavirus. I haven’t needed

to be tested and, after seven days of rest, I feel stronger and I’m on the mend.”

In the meantime a couple in India's state of Chhattisgarh have named their newborn twins (daughter and son) Corona and Covid in a bid to remember the struggle in giving birth at a hospital while the country was perpetually under a lockdown.

There are Asian women who have taken twitter to discuss about missing out on their usual rituals around pregnancy.

A Muslim mother wrote: having a baby as an Asian/Muslim woman during lockdown is strange. Usually family would take over during the first 40 days celebrating baby’s birth and religious rites. But there is no ‘aqeeqah’ or ‘khitan’.

Nobody to even force me to drink ‘haldi-milk’ (turmeric milk) or eat ‘yakni’. She was joined in by many more, who shared their loneliness - some

with as young as a week old baby.

Dr Punam Krishan has taken twitter to rejoice the birth of their baby girl Elora.

She wrote, “Its been beautiful but emotional time. There’s a tribe of us new mums for whom it’s an especially isolating time. With limited access to postnatal healthcare support and an aching absence of family and friends, we’re cuddling our babies tighter.”

There is a common saying that God has made mothers, because he cannot be everywhere. Women and families who are welcoming their new members, when the world is an unknown place now, deserve a special applaud for being able to keep it all together. Times are strange, but it will get better, and these children will be the next generation of incredible humans, who brought light and joy into a world suffering from unfathomable pain and losses.

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COMMENTS

READERS’ VOICE Please email your letter within 125 words to Asian Voice at aveditorial@abplgroup.com by Sundays.

Lighting diyas The Indian Prime Minister's call to light lamps (diyas) or candles to fight the coronavirus pandemic was followed by the whole country.

The prayers to the cosmos- the planets was ably, spiritually and dynamically led by the incredible, the symbol of wisdomthe personality of Sadhguru.

Beholding the programme, one feel

that the Gods live in India.

Even the magnificent array of cricketers led by Captain Kohli and Rohit rise to unite the nation to fight off this disease.

It now leaves our scientists to discover the vaccine to fight off Covid-19 to eliminate sufferings and to normalise life.

Ramesh Nehru

By Email

Fake news High Commission of India had to issue a statement about fake news over evacuation (AV dated 4-10 April 2020). Some people are fond of forwarding messages without looking at the source, substance or authenticity of the news. Generally sensational fake news travel faster than something which is really important and useful.

When people are passing through a difficult phase of coronavirus, self-discipline in using and managing social media becomes even more important.

On another note, I would really like to applaud the hard work of the whole team of ABPL group along with the people working behind the scene for their relentless efforts. Dynamic leadership of CB Patel, in providing a print copy of both the papers in “2-in-1” format to those who are addicted to read, is inspiring. “Can do” approach of the team with minimum compromise on anything is eye catching.

Hitesh Hingu London

will be compelled to go to work tomorrow with asymptomatic colleagues and will be travelling on tube and road tomorrow.

Let us review and look at the actions of Europe and the world. Every person dying and suffering the pain of infection is partly due to the fact that the country was not locked down. Few weeks of closure should not be feared due to its economic repercussions.

Vidyut Mehta

By Email

Thank you You can remove the letter Keep positive and replace with theseI was very surprised to receive last week's Gujarat Samachar. Thank you very much as I do appreciate it, but I am sure we do not mind, if we do not get the newspaper for a while, especially in this crisis.

Please take care and be safe.

Damyanti Mistry, Herts

My colleagues and I am most grateful for your concern, best wishes, prayers and blessings. We are committed to serve you all and our esteem readers to the best of our abilities.

- Editor

Bully China West, who so miserably under estimated Hitler until it was too late, has learnt nothing from history, repeating the same mistake in case of China, who is determined to colonize the world, first economically, then politically and ultimately militarily until it replaces USA as the leading nation, only unchallengeable super power in the world.

China has blocked UN from discussing coronavirus as it fears UN may blame China for this epidemic which will destroy

economy of the West, thus relying even more on China for consumer goods, as China already dominates the market with 25% of world trade.

Many pundits fear that this was deliberate act, China developing super-bug that may have escaped from laboratory before they could develop the vaccine! Ignore China at your peril!

Bhupendra M. Gandhi

By Email

NHS Rationing I was surprised to learn that BMA has announced guideline as to who gets preferential treatment when beds and respiration equipment are in short supply.

Obviously disable and OAPs will be the last in the queue, as they are considered disposable, less valuable members of society. During my NHS days, treatment was judged solely on medical condition; age, education, social standing never came into consideration. But we now live in materi-

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Together we strive On Sunday, as the nation battled 20,000 virus affected patients and 5000 deaths, the 93 year old Queen, came forward to inspire and motivate a nation that has been anxious and in utter despair. In an about a 4 mins speech, the monarch emphasised on the importance of staying at home, following guidance "helping to protect the vulnerable and sparing many families the pain already felt by those who have lost loved ones.”

She also stressed on the value of self-discipline and resolve by saying that she hopes that, in the future, everyone would "be able to take pride in how they responded to this challenge.”

She invoked wartime spirit to defeat coronavirus in an extremely rare broadcast to the nation and said, “We should take comfort that while we may have more still to endure, better days will return: we will be with our friends again; we will be with our families again; we will meet again.”

"Together we are tackling this disease, and I want to reassure you that if we remain united and resolute, then we will overcome it.”

Jonny Dymond, the Royal Correspondent at the BBC has correctly pointed out that there have been many such difficult speeches by royals over the years, where a wrong word could have undermined the message or destroyed the very purpose of it. For example the speech the Queen gave during her visit to Ireland in 2011 or when Diana, the Princess of Wales died in 1997.

The Palace could have just played it safe this time by thanking all Britons in their unity and efforts together, but the Queen herself put in effort to write this message with her private secretary Sir Edward Young, as a true leader would, to reassure and inspire as well as ‘recast this crisis as a defining moment in a nation which will forever remember its collective effort to save the lives of its vulnerable.’

Fake 5G Coronavirus theory

Full lockdown May I recommend planned full lockdown of country for at least 2 weeks to save thousands of citizens to break completely the chain of spreading except truly essential services. Let us try to discover truth with clear conscience and in presence of God. Most secured persons in UK like the Prime Minister is in the hospital. Health SecretaryPrince Charles were infected too.

Millions of fearful citizens, looking after the elderly family or young children

UK

11 - 17 April 2020

alistic society where politicians put pricetag on every human being except themselves, Royals and super rich. Is it fair that young recent arrival jumps the queue over an OAP who has worked all his life, paid taxes, fought for his country but now abandoned because he is in wrong age group?

Kumudini Valambia

By Email

Coronavirus now appears to have its tentacles on the 5G industry. Or at least unverified WhatsApp messages, and fake YouTube videos have been successful in fielding this theory that 5G network is to be held responsible for the current pandemic. At the very onset, scientists, and tech experts have abandoned such preposterous claims emphasising there is no direct or indirect link between the two.

Yet, clusters of attacks on masts near Liverpool and the West Midlands have been reported in recent times. And now, the government has announced its concern about 20 mobile phone masts across the country being vandalised. These cases where the mobile phone masts were set on fire are being investigated.

But it also essential to put 5G into the context of coronavirus. The theories that have been purported falsely support the claim that 5G accelerates coronavirus. According to these theories 5G may potentially suppress the immune system and, secondly, that viruses can communicate through radio waves. It is to be noted that neither of these theories is backed up by evidence and has been rubbished by Michael Gove in previous government Coronavirus conferences. This myth can further be busted if one pays close attention to the coronavirus global footprint. The virus is also affecting countries and regions where 5G is not even present. This does not mean that 5G may not pose discounted health risks around chances of skin cancer, and tumours owing to an increased level of radiation.

However, it is to be noted that 5G simply uses a higher frequency of radio waves in comparison to its older generations- 3G and 4G. In fact, Public Health England has been on record stating that “the overall exposure is expected to remain low relative to guidelines and, as such, there should be no consequences for public health.”

The virus or the “radio waves” do not talk to each other. The virus does not spread by itself. It does not live on food and is neither airborne or water borne so far.

An irresponsible act The three -day Tablighi Jamaat meet in Delhi is responsible for causing over 1,000 positive Coronavirus cases in India. Many of the estimated 3,000 participants came from countries that had, weeks earlier, already become Covid-19 hotspots - most notably, Indonesia and Malaysia, where an earlier Tablighi meet was linked to more than 600 cases. On March 11, the WHO had declared the outbreak as a pandemic, but the Jamaat organisers went ahead with their meet, on March 13, disregarding a Delhi government order prohibiting the assembly of more than 200 people. They also flouted a Delhi government notification on March 12 asking people with a travel history from Covid-19-affected countries to self-isolate. The Jamaat’s representatives say that their meeting was held days before the janata curfew and that the Delhi Government itself didn’t seem serious about social distancing norms.

The Jamaat meet underlines, tragically, how easy it is to undermine any public health campaign against a virus that has no antidote. It is incumbent upon the civil society to follow the norms of responsible behaviour. Flouting of protocols by communities, even individuals, hobbles the entire country’s battle. It is despicable that attempts are being made by some, to use their example to deepen mistrust, taint and tarnish an entire community.

It must be recognised that the battle against the virus has to be won at the community level, rather than at the hospital level. Religious leaders should use their clout to empower their community and, thus, the nation. The Jamaat’s organisers, in contrast, endangered the lives of hundreds - of all faiths. The least they can do now is to use their network to cooperate with those who are working to heal the damage they helped inflict.

Serve the God in you This unexpected and unimaginable calamity has struck human race, killing vast number of people all over the Earth.

An eye opener for all is that Mecca is closed, Medina is closed, Vatican is closed, Tirupati and Shirdi have closed their doors to humans too. But in the form of

humans, they are working 24x7 in modern temples, known as hospitals.

God is in every human being, as Vivekananda would say. Be safe, be humane and serve the God within.

Dr Nagindas Patel

By Email

Editor: CB Patel Asian Voice is published by Asian Business Publications Ltd 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

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Journalists adapting to a new normal Priyanka Mehta The journalists are working with an arm tied to their backs. There is an ever-increasing reliance on technology-driven lowquality production, hangups due to volatile wi-fi connection and a scattered dependence on social media for reaching people as they continue to obey government guidelines whilst working from home.

“We are in the business of pictures and for us, it is a question of how we are telling our stories if we can’t go out and film them?” says Ria Chatterjee, a reporter with ITV News.

Ria has been filming TV packages from her home for some weeks now. She still relies on her traditional methods of news gathering: working her contacts and

Shabnam Dutta Sahi at the Sunrise Radio studio

Twitter DMs to approach people. The struggle now is with the news production process where she has to rely on Zoom, FaceTime and Skype to film her interviewees and make peace with the fact that the visual element of the news will not

align with the ideal broadcasting standards.

“Editing from home is diffcult because of the different software we used at our offices to what we are using at home now. But the important part is we are still able to bring out the news,” she says.

From ordering 2m long fish poles for their microphones to learning the latest software for self-producing the shows online, the broadcast industry is required to constantly find that balance between reporting the ground reality even when they are not on the ground.

But things are only worse for those who are reporting from the ground. However, in these difficult days, there are reporters like Shabnam

Dutta Sahi providing a beacon of hope to her listeners through her ‘TheShabnamSahi’ show on Sunrise radio every day from 9 AM to mid-noon. As many continue to struggle with high levels of anxiety and depression from being cooped up in their houses and going out for just their solitary walks, Sahi believes the onus lies on her more than ever to lift the spirits through cheerful songs and positive discussions. She said, “During our conference call, our MD Tony has time and again emphasised that our people need us the most to keep their morale high during these testing times.

We can’t shut shop now that everyone is panicking and in a coordinated team effort we can broadcast live from our homes every day.”

A NEW LABOUR Continued from page 1 Re-setting relations with an alienated Indian diaspora Starmer’s determination appears to be reflected in the appointment of Lisa Nandy, the MP for Wigan and his counterpart as Labour’s new shadow Foreign Secretary.

Replacing, Emily Thornberry, Nandy’s rise from the backbenchers has raised quite a few eyebrows within the Labour Party especially considering her strong criticism of Jeremy Corbyn previously with regards to his policy on Russia.

Lisa is the daughter of Indian-born Dipak Nandy who was the first director of Runnymede Trust and

played an instrumental role in the initial formation of the Labour Party back when Labour was historically considered as “India’s natural ally”. Politically aligned leftoff-centre, Lisa has never issued a statement earlier where the Party’s official stance on Kashmir is concerned. Yet, some MPs are optimistic about her appointment considering her connection with the local constituents, “Lisa has already started to work with MPs on concerns for constituents stuck abroad. She understands what we need to do to build strong relationships with other nations, with allies and to work together to tackle the huge challenges across

the globe, keeping our international rules-based institutions strong and keeping our citizens safe at home and abroad,” Seema continued.

Comprising over 1.5 million people, the Indian diaspora in the UK accounts for 2.3 percent of the Union’s total population of which over 50 percent are believed to have voted Labour up until 2017. However, relations between the diaspora and the Party strained in the last few years especially under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn where many Indian-origin MPs felt “isolated” and not considered on issues of foreign policy. And Labour’s resolution on Kashmir at the Brighton Conference last year has

Vaz welcomes Starmer

Rt Hon Keith Vaz Chairman, the Integration Foundation Former Minister and Labour MP for Leicester East To say that the election of Keir Starmer has generated high expectations from Labour Party members and the public generally is a gross understatement.

However his landslide victory beating his nearest opponent and the anointed successor of Jeremy Corbyn by a huge margin in every section of Labour’s complicated Electoral College does point to a dramatic change in the fortunes of Labour fresh from a catastrophic election defeat which took place less than four months ago.

Starmer is different from others who have got to the top at Westminster.

He had a successful working life before he became an MP just four years ago.

As Director of Public Prosecutions he ran a huge public facing organisation and left it fighting fit and on his own terms in 2013. He therefore knows instinctively how to deal with the media, the public and of course he knows how to prosecute a cause in every sense of the word. When I Chaired The Home Affairs Committee he became a star witness and when he was elected joined the Committee but was soon promoted in record time.

He is thoughtful, clever, careful and fair and always seeks consensus.

He’s sensible and serious just what the country needs at the moment. He can also be ruthless as we saw this week with the way in which he sacked and promoted people to

the Shadow Cabinet. His wife is a lawyer like him, and of course comparisons will be made between him that other lawyer couple Tony and Cherie Blair. But he will want to be his own man.

His greatest challenge will be to bring the British Indian diaspora back on board. The flight from Labour by the British Indian diaspora on 12th December 2019 would have been shocking if it had not been anticipated.

An early visit to India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is advisable. Starmer needs to ‘reset' Labour’s relationship with India.

But critically what matters most is be as fair and clear on Foreign policy issues as with domestic concerns. If this can be done then Keir Starmer will be writing a bold new Chapter for Labour which could if written well lead him to Downing Street and Labour out of the wilderness.

been a sticking point.

Following the Indian government’s revocation of Article 370 in Kashmir, Labour called for “international intervention” in Kashmir with Corbyn highlighting the “human rights abuse” in the region. The Party’s stance divided the Asian diaspora residing peacefully in the UK which resulted in widespread protests outside the Indian High Commission in London in September that resulted in the vandalism of the Indian diplomatic property with some reporting of physical abuse from members of other South Asian groups.

Congratulating Starmer and optimistic about the new leader, Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Ruchi Ghanashyam tweeted, “I am confident that under your leadership the Labour Party will further strengthen its historic bonds with India and will build enduring bridges to connect with the Indian diaspora in the UK.” The Labour Friends of India has also welcomed the recent shift in the Party with co-chair, Rajesh Agrawal, the Deputy Mayor of Business for London, hoping that with “the change in the leadership the party will be able to regain the trust of the British Indian community”.

Echoing a similar view, Virendra Sharma, Labour MP for Ealing Southall said, "Keir and Angela have stood on platforms of uniting the party and holding the government to account. The result today will bring unity to the Labour Party, show the country we are a serious party of government in waiting and prepare to win the next General Election.

A diverse South Asian shadow cabinet The former Brexit shadow secretary, however, has

Kapil’s Khichadi New leader but same Labour?

Kapil Dudakia On 4th April the Labour Party announced its new leader, Sir Keir Starmer.

Many in the Party see him as their saviour, come to save Labour after four election defeats. The Party of the people has fallen so far that it has alienated the very core of its supporters, as well as the nation. Many in recent times have labelled it as the racist party.

There are some Indians who appear to be falling for the rhetoric of the Labour Party yet again. Lest we forget, remember it was the Labour Party that instigated an attack on Hindus during the Caste legislation. It was Labour that led on EDMs in Parliament to seek a visa ban on PM Modi. Labour instigated a pro-Pakistani and an antiIndian position on Kashmir. Labour Party at every turn has opted to be anti-Indian and antiHindu. This prejudice might be a result of its very close relationship with the Pakistani community. It might also be the reason why Labour has become the anti-Semitic Party.

I spoke to some community leaders and the thrust of their message was clear. They have no confidence in Labour just because it has a new leader and a new shadow cabinet.

Indeed, Trupti Patel, President of Hindu Forum of Britain said, ‘I expect Sir Keir Starmer to issue an unreserved apology to our community for its position on Caste, on Kashmir, on PM Modi, on India and the way in which it has treated Hindus. Let me be very clear, our community can never engage with any political party that thrives on prejudice and racism’.

My advice to Sir Keir Starmer: 1. Issue an unreserved apology to the whole another task cut out for him; winning the trust back of his fellow Asian MPs, some who had previously resigned from the Party owing to poor leadership. In his bid to promote Labour as a diverse party, Starmer has now appointed Preet Kaur Gill, the first British Sikh MP of Indian origin as the Shadow International Development Secretary.

“Keir Starmer has shown his commitment to diversity through the appointments in his Shadow Cabinet, and the number of women of South Asian heritage is great to

Indian community.

2. Retract from the biased position Labour has taken on Jammu and Kashmir.

3. Retract its abhorrent support for the caste legislation.

4. Issue an apology to PM Modi, and to India, for the countless transgressions of prejudice.

5. Confirm that it will root out ALL racists in the Labour Party who are antiHindu.

The Indian community (including every Indian of every faith) must stand united. The Jewish community was issued an open apology by Sir Keir Starmer on his very first day in office. There is a reason why, the Jewish community is united and strong.

The Indian community is one of the most peaceful communities in this country. It adds more than double per capita to the GDP than any other community.

Many of our public services depend on the sterling work of Indians. The business sector is thriving because of the innovative masterful energy of Indians. And now we have got Indians who sit on the front bench for the Government of the day. We are loyal, hardworking and British. Never should we ever allow any political party to undermine us.

Labour Party has disrespected us so it can curry favour with the Pakistani community. How can any Briton ever trust a Party that is willing to use prejudice to garner votes and seats?

Sir Keir Starmer, are you a leader? Time will tell if you and the Labour Party can be trusted once again.

The ball is in your court.

Rhetoric and platitudes won’t do, you will have to deliver on the above points to be taken seriously.

(Expressed opinions are personal.) see,” said Jas Singh, Sikhs for Labour to Asian Voice.

Gill is further joined by Thangam Debbonaire, a part Indian, Sri Lankan Tamil and English Labour MP for Bristol West who is appointed as the shadow housing secretary.

However, a skeptical Manoj Ladwa who resigned from LFIN following the Kashmir debacle believes, “If Starmer is serious about becoming the UK Prime Minister, he has to urgently press the ‘reset’ button with the 1.5 million Indian diaspora which the previous leadership was overtly hostile to.”

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in brief

Britain prays for BoJo’s recovery Sunak could act as Britain’s first Asian PM, if Raab becomes unavailable

Dominic Raab

Boris Johnson

Rishi Sunak

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has stepped in for the Prime Minister, as Boris Johnson was taken to intensive care unit at St Thomas’ hospital over his coronavirus infection. As we went to press, he was being treated with oxygen, after his condition worsened on Monday afternoon - more than a week after he tested positive for coronavirus. He was not on a ventilator and was diagnosed with pneumonia, a spokesman said. Prayers and best wishes were pouring in from every corner of the world, including from MPs in the Opposition. On Tuesday Downing Street said that Mr Raab would chair any meeting regarding national security and the cabinet would have "authority and ability to respond" to a military threat in Mr Johnson's absence, including the possible use of the UK's nuclear deterrent.

Amidst rumoured turmoil within the party after Mr Johnson’s illness, Downing Street clarified that Mr Raab would not have the power to hire and fire ministers while filling in as the prime minister. If Mr Raab fell ill or became unavailable, then Chancellor Rishi Sunak would be the next in line to take over.

He would then be the first Indian-origin MP stepping in as the Prime Minister of this country.

MPs write to health secretary for mental health campaign On Tuesday 7th April, a group of 40 cross-party MPs urged Health Secretary Matt Hancock to boost support for mental health whilst preventing the spread of Coronavirus crisis amid concerns that weeks of self-isolation and quarantine can have a “grave impact” on people’s wellbeing.

These MPs which include Labour MP for Manchester Afzal Khan and Liberal Democrat MP Munira Wilson have now urged Hancock to begin a new campaign securing the mental well-being of individuals as it is closely linked to their physical fitness as well.

Wilson, who co-ordinated the letter, said, “Social distancing means millions are now home alone, facing the prospect of only the most minimal contact with another soul for months.

“This isolation is likely to have a grave impact on their mental health. Millions more, without being completely isolated, will still be struggling with the rapid changes the coronavirus has wrought upon our way of life.

Campaigners also echoed their concerns about the potential for long-term damage from the coronavirus crisis to people’s mental health including high blood-pressure, anxiety disorder, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder for doctors.

Hindu body offers recorded last rites service On 7th April, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad UK (World Council of Hindus) announced that a recorded Last Rites Service is available for all who may need it on their website.

The world is facing unprecedented times due to the Coronavirus Epidemic. This will result in unusually high number of deaths, which will see an increase the number of cremations required for Hindus or burials for others. Services to perform the Last Rites will be stretched as Priests may not be readily available either. Grieving families will want to give their beloved departed family members the sacred Last Rites as required according to Hindu Dharma.

As a result, VHP UK is offering Last Rite Services to all those who wish to avail these for themselves, on the VHP UK Website with all humility and dignity.

Acknowledging there are diverse Hindu beliefs, VHP offers a minimum common scriptural text in various languages by different Priests. The VHP UK (Yorkshire) has published a booklet called Hindu Funeral Rites in Conjunction with the Bradford Metropolitan Council Community Enterprise Section to enable anyone who wishes to avail themselves of this publication. A PDF of this publication will also be available on the VHP UK Website.

This service offered by VHP UK is in keeping with the selfless service offered as one of the pillars of Hindu Dharma, SEWA.

Grooming troubles: A hairy tale Male nurses and other medics are being asked to shave off beards and facial hair to ensure protective face masks fit properly, according to new national guidance for NHS organisations in England.

But they have been advised that a blanket rule could discriminate against staff, so they have been told to work with faith groups to approach this issue more carefully and sensitively.

Farhaz, a Muslim medic redeployed to look after coronavirus patients, took the twitter to show step by step how he shaved off his beard of 15 years- a significant part of his identity.

Another man, Shumel Rahman, who works for the North East Ambulance Service, also says his beard was an important part of his faith but he made the decision to shave it off to help save lives. The 39-year old told Chronicle Live, “It is not a step I have taken lightly, my beard is not just part of my identity but of my religion. I’ve had a beard for well

Shumel Rahman

over a decade and I can’t remember the last time I shaved. I have consulted many Islamic scholars and teachers, locally and nationally, sought advice from fellow Muslim healthcare professionals and the British Islamic medical Association.

This was not a simple yes or no answer, however these are exceptional circumstances, totally unprecedented and a unique situation.

I’ve shaved off my beard to protect my patients, my colleagues and family. One of the greatest acts is to save someone's life. This simple act may help to do that."

Their act received several applauds from people across the globe.

On the other hand, due to lack of open barber shops

and with strict social distancing rules, men who sport a beard for fashion or for any other reason are finding it extremely hard to maintain their looks.

Actors and athletes are taking the globe’s hairy situation into their own hands and shaving all off. Several celebrities have taken to social media to share their freshly trimmed or absolutely clean shaven looks from self-isolation.

Veejay, 39, a city worker, flaunts his beard of three years. Though not a part of his faith, it is much a part of his identity, especially after receiving several compliments from friends and family, when he started balding on his head. His beard requires a visit to a top end London barber shop, every alternate week. With this lockdown, he feels much of his look is compromised.

“Thank God due to nature of my job, I do not have to nec-

essarily face clients on Zoom call, though am working from home. I could not have gone out or on camera with such an unkempt look - a face full of shapeless beard.

A sharp, lumbersexual look is what I prefer. I cannot shave my beard at home with a trimmer. I need professional grooming. But with Covid-19 closure, and amidst social distancing rules it has been hard.”

Interestingly, many wives have turned into barbers for their husbands, with their hidden talents on display.

Udita, an architect and mother of two told Asian Voice, “I have always trimmed my twin boys’ hair at home, since they are very young. But this time I have given my husband a fresh haircut, and he loves it!”

But a 92 year old man colouring his 89 year old wife’s hair has taken the internet by storm for not only the couple goal, but also representing how everyone is addressing the issues of grooming during this lockdown.

Connecting believers to their faith through technology -Rupanjana Dutta As the coronavirus pandemic spreads, religious leaders have been advised and compelled to shut the doors of their places of worship.

In these times of uncertainties, when faith is more crucial than ever, people are confined within their homes, failing to congregate at their local place of worship for the much needed spiritual comfort.

Hence many places of worship and communal groups have started using Zoom and similar technologies to livestream services and events in recent weeks.

For example BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha UK & Europe- besides reaching out to the vulnerable and elderly with all the helps possible like tiffin service in Harrow and Brent, they are also providing with health awareness and presentations online and webcast sabhas and satsangs showing ‘sandhya arti’ and ‘abhishek’ at the temples. Weekly religious assemblies for children, teens and adults are also now being webcast live for every generation.

For Muslims, the AlSalam Institute in East London, is now reportedly facebook live streaming Friday sermons, allowing their followers to join in from the comfort of their homes. Meanwhile, Islamic prayer courses have also been converted into live-

streamed webinasemitism and rs. related threats This weekend have prepared a is Easter for comprehensive Christians. list of what to do Passover for the to protect oneself Jews is from 8 till from such 16 April. Vaisakhi mishaps.

For is on 13 April. example, “disable Many communiauto saving chats, ties for example file transfer, the Bengalis have screen sharing for their new year on non-hosts. Disable 14 April, which remote control, includes visiting Annual event of Matru-Devo Bhava on 22 March 2020 viewed annotations, ‘join by families from home due to Covid-19 temple closures before host’, enable temples and fami‘waiting room’ and lies for many. been a number of reports of use per-meeting ID not perRamadan starts from 23 ‘unwelcome guests’ intersonal ID. April till 23 May. For memrupting those proceedings, “During meeting- assign bers of these communities, what is now being called, at least two co-hosts, lock the these are among the holiest “Zoom Bombing” by posting meeting, if all attendees are seasons of the year. But now racist and other nasty compresent and mute all particiMuslims will perhaps be ments. The perpetrators pants. breaking their fast on may be “bots” (i.e. robots “But if you are ‘Zoom Whatsapp, Jews sharing programmed to send such bombed’, remove problematic seder on Zoom chat and messages), local or overseas users and disable their ability Easter morning prayers extremists, or online “trolls” to re-join when asked and lock exchanged through Skype. and other trouble-makers. the meeting to prevent addiHowever as use of Community Security Trust tional disruption,” said a spelivestream and online tech(CST), a charity that protects cial note prepared by them. nologies increase, there have British Jews from anti-

BBC favours Islamic prayers?

- Dhiren Katwa 14 BBC radio stations across the UK are airing reflections from an Islamic perspective.

Head of BBC Local Radio, Chris Burns, said that the initiative is for Muslims unable to visit their mosques during the coronavirus crisis.

Chris Burns said, “Many Muslims will feel a void in their lives where prayers used to be - a feeling the will be magnified as we approach Ramadan.

“Local radio is all about connecting communities and we hope these weekly

reflections will go some way to helping Muslims feel a sense of community while they are isolating.”

The first in a series of reflections was delivered by Qari Asim MBE, a senior imam in Leeds, last Friday.

Great idea. But what about those from other major faith groups?

Trupti Patel, President of Hindu Forum of Britain said, "To ignore representation from this and other major spiritual traditions, not to provide spiritual guidance to people of these faiths in UK is not acceptable.”

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Manmeet Kaur Chowdhry Optimum Performance Solutions

Manmeet Kaur Chowdhry

Sunetra Senior

M

anmeet’s life-enhancing business skilfully remedies the one-sidedness of positive thinking at a crucial time when individuals are looking for sustainable balance rather and a quick fix pleasant feeling. Using the philosophical ethos of Dr. John Demartini, a world renowned leading human behaviour specialist, Manmeet’s company, Optimum Performance Solutions, “asks quality questions to help a client arrive at a place of ‘true gratitude’ whereby they feel at inner peace with their position in life.”

This creates the solid inner platform for achieving professional prosperity in the long run. Manmeet elaborated: “I remember hearing Dr Demartini talk for the first time. He asked everyone in the room: ‘how many of you follow positive thinking?’ And then ‘how many still have negative thoughts?’ The point was that much positivity is still centred on achieving an ideal and aiming for that when the answer really lies in embracing one’s limitations and the bumps along the way e.g. A lot of people will say they are alright with life events when actually it’s a state of complete indifference and they are still troubled by it because they wouldn’t go through it again just the way it was – it’s not deep reconciliation.”

was a very senior role in sales. Rather, my personal emotional unease was breaking through into my professional life. As we know it is near impossible to leave your personal issues at the door.

Instead you are remarkably shown how to connect with your genuine self, by seeing the perfection in your life.”

Fundamentally energised then, balancing her perceptions, Manmeet was able to walk again, returning to her career to go on and help many more in her unique commercial way. Going beyond a balance of body and mind, Optimum Performance Solutions focuses on that underlying consolidation of personal strength. “At the level of the soul everyone and everything is perfect: there is nothing missing. However, it is the disconnect at the level of the senses where we judge creating good and bad labels on our experiences that creates the issue.”

Manmeet and her team help you experience yourself as a whole, recasting the perceived flaws and merit as both are necessary in your trajectory which then allows a fulfilled, optimum and more durable path forward.

“Seeing both sides of the situation, you really understand the WHY of what you have experienced and whom you are, rather than trying to mould yourself to an external standard or continue *** to exist at odds with your own feelings.

William James, the father of Many other life coaching contemporary psychology franchises fail because states that greatest disthey don’t go to that “Seeing both covery of mankind is profounder place: that everyone has it’s very much a sides of the situation, the ability to superficial you really understand the change their life examination WHY of what you have based on how of your worth. they view it.

I’m going experienced and whom you Actually, what against a trilare, rather than trying to happens does lion-dollar not carry any industry of mould yourself to an inherent posipositive external standard or tive or negative thinking and charge – it is t h r i v i n g continue to exist at odds always a neutral because what with your own event. It is us who we’re doing is so attribute meaning to real.”

In short, feelings" it.” This methodology knowing better who works because it is so thoryou are creates a clearer ough – it does not readily dismiss, vision of where you want to be: but rather seeks to include. Indeed, as “What are your individual priorities?

Manmeet emphasised: “the Demartini Do you yourself understand them?” method® I use incorporates universal And so, intuitively intelligent and dedilaws that govern the world. When you cated herself, Manmeet reveals the are balanced mentally, even your cells organic timeless formula to that ever physiologically react to affect a similar sought-after state of fulfilment: an equilibrium within the body.” unflappable belief in one’s sincerest Manmeet continued: “Optimum deeper self.

Performance Solutions leads you through a personal and professional As someone who works with transformation which will reverberate coping strategies, do you have advice through every aspect of your life: finanfor how to manage in the time of this cially, romantically, and psychologicalchaotic Corona Virus? ly.” Here, she talked about her own sigAgain, it is based in the altering of nificant revolution detailing this: perception. Rather than simply “When I first attended Dr Demartini’s focussing on losing out e.g. job losses class, I was actually on crutches and and strain on society, it is important to had hit rock bottom. I knew it wasn’t see the adaptive equal advantages of because I was bad at what I did, which the situation too: increased focus on

mental health, connecting with others deeply, healthy eating and exercise; not taking the immune system for granted.

There has been perceived grief, but there is also tremendous room to grow together. How can we think creatively to stay in business and help each other?

I like to refer to the metaphor of a magnet to visualise the holistic order of the world, which itself is an idea as old as time: you can’t have a one-sided magnet. This is the universal law of life called the Law of Duality. In fact, Bhuddha states that the source of human suffering is to try to obtain just the positive and trying to avoid negative. Understanding both helps you live a more fulfilling life.

Also, thinking in this newly engaged way, keep asking how does what I am experiencing, equally help me achieve what’s important to me? If you can keep aiming for this, you will

CORONAVIRUS BUSINESS INTERRUPTION LOAN SCHEME Kiran D Patel BA (Hons) FCA, Director, Albury Associates What is it?

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (“CBILS”) is an agreed arrangement with certain banks to provide access to loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance of up to £5 million for up to 6 years.

The Government will cover the interest for the first 12 months together with lender levied fees so that there are no upfront costs and lower initial repayments.

The Government will also guarantee 80% of each loan.

Who does it apply to?

Small and medium sized (“SME”) businesses.

An SME is a business that satisfies the following conditions: 1. Employs less than 250 employees and either, 2. Has an annual turnover not exceeding €50 million (approximately £40 million). Or, 3. Its Balance Sheet total does not exceed €43 million (approximately £34 million).

4. Other conditions apply.

CBILS related conditions The business must: 1. Be UK based on its business activity.

2. Have an annual turnover no more than £45 million.

3. Prepare a borrowing proposal. The conditions of the proposal was changed on Friday 3 April 2020.

4. Self certify that it has been adversely impacted by the coronavirus.

What the lenders will need from you 1. The amount that you will need.

2. Explain what the money is for.

3. The period over which you will be able to make repayments.

not feel so shaken by the flux around you. You only create distress in your life when you are not adaptable to change.

You help Employers increase their productivity too. Tell us more?

Yes, and in turn the company’s profitability. There is a difference between motivation and inspiration.

When you try to rally your workforce according to just your goals and the job spec you give them, you will inevitably lose their emotional investment and need to forever motivate them.

However, the Values Linking Process© is based on the idea of inspiring employees by aligning the job spec, vision and mission of the company with personal priorities. Huge companies such as UNIQLO and HITACHI have implemented the very process I teach and are enjoying excellent results.

Supporting documents You will need the following documents: 1. Management Accounts 2. Cash Flow Forecasts 3. Business Plan 4. Historic Accounts 5. Details of Assets The precise details may vary depending on lenders and your business. If you do not have everything listed above, you may still qualify for CBILS. We can help with your application.

Finally If you need help in applying for CBILS then please contact me on 07710 989 926 or e-mail me on kiran@alburyassociates.com

OYO rooms for carers and NHS workers

What has been the hardest part of being your own boss?

Trusting others to be able to do particular jobs as well you can! But again, it is about working on ingrained viewpoints and slowly adjusting your outlook to being more open.

On Sunday 5th April, OYO Hotels & Homes rolled out a campaign which is helping the British people to thank NHS workers by rolling out ‘virtual hotel’ named OYO Rooms for Carers.

Finally, what have been some highlight moments?

Every time I help someone make the connection to themselves, see the perfection in their lives: that moment I offer them the option to wave a magic wand and change things to how they wished it had been, and all they can say is they have no desire to change others, who they are or what happened to them, because they are truly grateful from within, makes what I do all worthwhile.

W: www.optimumperformancesolutions.com FB: Optimum Performance Solutions Int IG: Optimum Performance Solutions LI: Manmeet Kaur Chowdhry

As part of this campaign people can book overnight stays at the cost of £25 per room, per night. The room nights at the virtual hotel will then be passed over to NHS trusts for frontline healthcare workers to redeem at their nearest OYO hotel.

OYO is not taking a commission on these bookings. The full revenue from every room night booked will be passed on to the hotels accommodating NHS workers to cover the minimum costs of keeping those hotels staffed and opera-

tional under the current circumstances.

“There are many critical areas where NHS funds are needed right now, so some contribution of free room nights is one way that OYO, along with our partners, customers and other supporters, can help,” said Rishabh Gupta, head of OYO UK. In addition the Indian company is also in talks with local councils to see if any of its hotels can be used for alternative purposes, such as interim accommodation for other voluntary organisations in need. Last week, it was announced that Cardiff Council had taken over OYO Cardiff Central Hotel to increase provision for homeless people. Residents receive three meals a day and around-the-clock support from council staff.

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WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER Wishing all readers of Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar a safe passage through this stormy period.

Above all…Please do not worry or lose sleep over financial concerns. The Government has introduced many measures to help most individuals and businesses.

If you are struggling to access or understand what funding you are able to get and would like to speak to a Gujarati and English-speaking Accountant and Adviser, then please call us.

We are experienced in offering proven solutions to a number of diverse businesses in many industries and structures, as well as personal situations.

Kiran Patel FCA

Albury Associates Chartered Accountants 2nd Floor, One Hobbs House, Harrovian Business Village Bessborough Road, Harrow, HA1 3EX Telephone : 07710 989 926 / 020 8051 5865 E-mail : kiran@alburyassociates.com

Please note that an initial telephone consultation will be free of charge.

A big thank you to C B Patel & All at ABPL for keeping the Asian community informed through this difficult period.

Thank you to all key workers of our society.

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As I See It CB Patel

Let’s be positive Amid the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) gloom, Her Majesty The Queen's speech appeared as the bright spot.

Queen Elizabeth II offered the much-needed hope and confidence to the nation and the Commonwealth locked down to fight a once in a century humanitarian crisis.

93-year old monarch's beautiful message that "we will succeed, and success will belong to every one of us" touched millions of hearts. It instilled a new energy and confidence.

Like me, millions here and abroad must have been relieved to a certain extent by her inspiring address.

I, as publisher and editor, carry a weighty responsibility ( much too much on my shoulders ) of inspiring and energising my readers, besides delivering true and accurate information. Dear friends, I would like to share with you some of my pains and agony of the last few days.

The socio-economic tsunami created by the Covid-19 has sent huge panic waves crashing many shores across the globe. It affected everybody, and some beings more than others. Those from the lower strata of society, especially with physical or mental illness, get hit the hardest.

Governments in the UK, India, and elsewhere are leaving no stone unturned to flatten the pandemic curve. In the UK, Boris Johnson government has come under criticism for an assumed delayed response to the outbreak.

Inadequate testing facilities combined with a shortage of Personal Protective Equipments (PPE) for those in the frontline in fighting the virus - health workers and doctors - have been disappointing on the part of the government.

In India, a country with limited resources, the situation

MNCs pledge not to lay off employees India- based multinational companies (MNCs) have promised employees that there will be no or insignificant layoffs as we enter the third week a of the Covid-19 outbreak and lockdown. While some are going for a 90-day no-layoff stance, many others are opting to put a full stop on retrenchment. A few have frozen new appointments to protect existing employees.

Among them are SAP, Morgan Stanley, Salesforce, Palo Alto Networks, PayPal, Citigroup, JP Morgan, Bank of America and Booz Allen Hamilton. JP Morgan India, in its statement, has reiterated importance of human resource. “That is why we are consciously making decisions designed to prevent any new layoffs as a result of Covid19, including significantly reducing hiring in many cases stopping it completely - and working with local governments and officials,� the spokesperson said. JP Morgan has 34,000 employees in India, its largest workforce outside the US. SAP has delayed any decision making for 90 days. “We have our valued employees in our hearts and want to assure them that we have their backs as we deal with this health crisis now,� a company spokesperson said.

SAP India is estimated to have around 13,000 employees in India.

Morgan Stanley CEO James Gorman was quoted in the US media as saying that employees’ jobs would be safe this year. It has 3,300 technologists in India. Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has pledged to do no significant layoffs for 90 days, and Booz Allen Hamilton till July 1. Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora tweeted his commitment to no Covid-related layoffs “to allay concerns of our employees�. The company has over 7,000 people in California, Tel Aviv and India. Vijay Govindarajan, distinguished professor said he is a firm believer in free markets and the process of creative destruction where weaker and inefficient firms fail, resulting in layoffs in those firms.

But the current situation, he indicated, was different - a result of sensible governmentmandated lockdowns. “Large companies like Google, Amazon, and Walmart must take the no-coronavirus layoff pledge.

of the government and the people are more challenging.

Some of the complaints and criticisms are valid to a certain extent. But, personally, it is difficult for me not to find a degree of exaggeration, stemming from one's prejudgment, even prejudice.

India is a robust democracy and a rising economy, with its limitations. Nevertheless, 1.3 billion people are voluntarily participating in a 3-week-long lockdown. The instruction has come from an elected government. But its successful execution reflects the people's support of the centre.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's initiatives - lighting diyas, candle or torch and applauding for health workers from within the boundary of houses - has helped keep people's morale high and maintain unity in adversity. I also believe, most humbly, that India, with all its limitations and contradiction, has avoided the calamity, at least so far.

The Covid-19 pandemic has refreshed my memories of World War II when the Imperial government ruling India had diverted food grains to feed allied forces, leaving 4 million in Bengal to die in a famine.

Equally painful is to see these days migrant industry and agriculture workers, carrying children on shoulders and belongings in small bundles, walking miles to reach home with their destination nowhere in sight. Men, women, children, young and old, out of panic, apparently preferring Covid-19 death than living in the lockdown lurch. No words can express their hardships.

More than ever, at this time, I am finding myself going back to lessons from our scriptures. I felt some words resonating. I spoke to Dr. Nandkumar, Resident Director of

Bhartiya Vidhya Bhavan, UK Centre. He promptly sent me: ༇ ŕĽ ŕ¤ƒ ༇ ञ ༇ ༇ ༇ ं ञ ञं ञ

ŕĽŒ ञ ༇ !ༀ #$༇/ ༂ ༇& '༠$ ༇ ( ) ༇'ŕĽˆ + 'ञ ŕĽ ŕ¤ƒ ŕĽ ŕ¤ƒ ŕ¤ƒ,- ŕ¤ƒ ञ ), ་ ŕĽˆ0ञ ŕ¤ƒ 0 ༇.// Subhaashitam.

When there is unbearable headache, when one's voice has gone weak with pain in one's throat, when there is severe fever, when the body has become weak due to sense organs not working properly, when one's relatives are all distressed, when one's inner courage and strength has completely gone then who else other than a DOCTOR who could reduce the worry of a patient.

23 ༠༠4 ŕ¤ƒ 2 ༠ञ ŕ¤žŕ¤ƒ/ 235ञ 6 7 ༠ञ 7 8 ŕĽ ŕ¤ƒ43ञ9 3 ༇8// Sanatan prayer.

May all be happy, may all be FREE FROM ILLNESSES, May all experience that which is auspicious and let no one suffer. : ŕĽ&#x2021; ञ - ŕ¤&#x192; - ञ ŕĽ&#x2021; ;ञ/ <ŕĽ&#x152; <ŕĽ&#x152; ञ= > ? ञ// Subhaashitam.

The sun is red when it rises and sets. Looking at this we come the conclusion that noble people, courageous people, remain unchanged whether its prosperity or calamity.

Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all pray (whatever be our faith or value) for the swift recovery of BoJo, our hardworking Prime Minister.

Before I conclude, I want to share the optimism that I feel. Dear friends, do not be disheartened. Hold on to the courage. This too shall pass. Let's quit being a victim, take stock of the situation, focus on the positives, be thankful, and reach out to others. Most importantly, be happy. Be as cheerful as you can be. The laughing clubs are more relevant now than ever. Back in 1995, Madan Kataria from a village in Punjab started what has now become a global phenomenon. Let's laugh about ourselves, let's remember the good old days, and be confident about better ones in the future.

Almost half of UK firms set to furlough staff over coronavirus Almost half of UK companies are expected to furlough at least 50 per cent of their staff in the next few week due to coronavirus. The report by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) comes as the Treasury had estimated that roughly 10 per cent of the private sector workforce would be put on furlough. The government's coronavirus job retention scheme covers 80 per cent of the wages of furloughed workers, to a maximum of ÂŁ2,500 per month.

The report, based on a poll with 600 businesses, also found that 62 per cent of British firms only have to up three months' cash in reserve. While almost one in five businesses (18 per cent) had less than a month's worth of cash. UK business secretary Alok Sharma told banks, "itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s time to repay the favour" and bail out small businesses in their time of need.

While thousands of struggling small business owners say greedy banks are "cashing in" on virus crisis leaving them high and dry.

BCC director general Adam Marshall said: "The coronavirus pandemic has taken a heavy toll on business and economic activity across the UK. While businesses have welcomed the unprecedented size and scope of the government support packages, our findings highlight the urgent need for that support to reach businesses on the ground as soon as possible. The majority of firms cannot wait

weeks or months for help to arrive."

What does it mean to be furloughed?

Until a fortnight ago, many British workers had never encountered the term 'furloughed', but now it is a concept that has been thrust into the spotlight by the coronavirus crisis. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has unveiled a series of measures to cover the wages of millions of people suddenly left without work and prevent businesses going bankrupt due to the coronavirus crisis - and furloughing staff lays at the heart of it. The so-called coronavirus job retention scheme enables businesses to continue paying part of their employees' salary who would otherwise have been laid off because of the crisis.

Sunak said the Government

will cover 80 per cent of salaries up to a ceiling of ÂŁ2,500 a month - equivalent to the UK average wage of ÂŁ30,000 a year. The scheme, open to all firms with employees, will be up and running by the end of April and backdated to March 1. But in order to access it, businesses will have to 'furlough' their employees who they can no longer afford to pay.

Essentially, if you're being furloughed by your employer, it means you're being sent home, but will still receive 80 per cent of your salary from the Government, up to a maximum of ÂŁ2,500 a month. This Government job retention scheme is only for employed people, it does not apply if you are self-employed. However, you first need to agree to be put on furlough by your employer, who can then apply for the money to the government. You cannot apply for it yourself.

Sunak offers further loans for struggling UK businesses Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak took further action to support firms affected by the coronavirus crisis by bolstering business interruption loans for small businesses and announcing a new scheme for larger companies.

The Indian-origin finance minister revealed that more than 90 million pounds of loans to nearly 1,000 small and medium sized firms have been approved under the government's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) since its launch last week.

And a government-backed

scheme to provide financing to larger companies, being operated by the Bank of England, has also provided almost 1.9 billion pounds of support to firms and a further 1.6 billion pounds has been committed.

'And now I am taking further action by extending our generous loan scheme so even more businesses can benefit. We have also listened to the concerns of some larger businesses affected by Covid-19 and are announcing new support so that they can benefit too.

'This is a national effort and we'll continue to work with the financial services sector to ensure that the 330 billion

pounds of government support, through loans and guarantees reaches as many businesses in need as possible,' he said.

To maximise the support available, Sunak said the CBILS will be extended so that all viable small businesses affected by the virus, and not just those unable to secure regular commercial financing, will now be eligible should they need finance to keep operating during this difficult time.

The government said it is also stopping lenders from requesting personal guarantees for loans under 250,000 pounds and making operational changes to speed up lending approvals,

Rishi Sunak

with the first 12 months of interest and fees covered by the state. The new Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS) will ensure that more firms are able to benefit from the governmentbacked support during this difficult time.

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Batten down the hatches Suresh Vagjiani, Sow & Reap Properties Ltd

The current environment is best responded to with caution. The truth of the matter is no one knows how long this will last for, we are in completely unknown territory.

We don’t even know what is actually going on, this is further compounded by both disinformation and misinformation.

All you can do is manage the situation with the tools currently at your disposal. There are two things which should be priority, your health which of course is number one. And your wealth. In this article we shall deal with the less important of the two, from a cash flow perspective.

There are various tools which have been offered to us.

One tool is the three month mortgage ‘payment holiday’ offered by mortgage lenders. A payment holiday means you agree with your lender that you will not have to make mortgage payments for a set amount of time. This is only a deferment though, you will still owe the amounts that you don't pay as a result of the payment holiday. Interest will continue to be charged on the amount you owe.

I believe this should be applied for with immediate effect, and without too much thought, even though it may not be immediately required. This could be a life saver in times to come.

The lender should be able to grant you a three month payment holiday on your BTL mortgage payments as well. Your tenants may not be in a position to pay their rent, and therefore you could potentially have an issue.

It is important to understand that at the end of the payment holiday, you will have to make up the missed payments. There will be various options for doing this, for example by increasing your monthly payments slightly, or by adding a short extension to your term, assuming it’s repayment. Your lender will be able to explain to you what options it offers.

If at the end of this period you discover everything was fine and you did not require the payment holiday, then you should just be able to make payments up in a lump sum.

If you read your mortgage offer, you will probably discover your mortgage agreement will allow you to make an overpayment of 10% of your outstanding mortgage amount per annum, without penalty. In this scenario, you can overpay and bring your account up to date, should you wish to.

Please read this FCA website link, which provides more information and is continually being updated: https://www.fca.org.uk/consumers/mortgages-coronavirus-consumers.

During this period, the government has also extended rights to tenants: Emergency legislation to suspend new evictions from social or private rented accommodation while this national emergency is taking place.

No new possession proceedings through applications to the court to start during the crisis.

As this is a continually changing landscape, you should visit this government website link for up to date information: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ complete-ban-on-evictions-and-additional-protectionfor-renters.

Again, it is important to understand, this is not a ret free period. It’s simply a deferment, which means the account will need to be brought up to date at a future point in time by the tenant.

So, although these payment holidays are actually payment deferments, and do need to be made up, they do provide a means to assist with keeping your cash flow in the positive.

PIO Congress candidate tests positive NEW YORK: An Indian-American former Barack Obama campaign staffer, who is running in the Democratic primary for a Congressional seat in New York’s 12th District, has been tested positive for coronavirus. Suraj Patel disclosed his positive test in a statement posted on social media. Patel is running in the Democratic primary to replace incumbent Carolyn Maloney for the Congressional seat. Patel said in his statement that about 10 days ago, he began experiencing a tightness in his chest and difficulty breathing followed by a regular fever of 102 degrees. “I live with two doctors whose ability to return to work was dependent on our household remaining Covid-free. Therefore, we had to test to verify our condition so they would not miss work. My housemates and I all tested positive for Covid-19 and have been in self-quarantine since then and have recovered,” he said. Patel served on Obama for America’s advance team for four-plus months leading up to the 2008 November election.

Eyeing to fight Covid with India, China ignores Pak’s UNSC plea New York: As president of the UN Security Council in March, and in a sharp departure from its position earlier, China ignored a plea

by Pakistan for “urgent and appropriate’’ consideration of what the latter described as grave developments in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

The significance of China’s stand while holding the UNSC presidency has not been lost on India as the two countries look to jointly combat Covid-19 and, as foreign minister S Jaishankar said last week, further build upon bilateral efforts in that domain.

The government had

wrote to then UNSC President, China’s Zhang Jun, on March 9 highlighting the “grave human rights situation’’ in J&K. Pakistan announced this Narendar Modi and Xi Jinping development announced that Air India only on March 27. had established a cargo airWhile Pakistan’s bridge between India and announcement didn’t specChina, which has worked ify what action Islamabad overtime to convince the had sought, a letter dated world that it’s not responsiMarch 10 from Pakistan’s ble for Covid-19 origin and permanent representative for transporting critical Munir Akram to Zhang, medical equipment and reveals that Pakistan supplies between the two requested “urgent and countries. Pakistan foreign appropriate consideration’’ minister Shah M Qureshi by the Security Council

under “India-Pakistan Question’’ of developments in J&K which “pose a threat to international peace and security’’. Beijing had been openly advocating Pakistan’s case on India’s decision to revoke the special status of J&K, even forcing the Security Council into having an informal meeting last year on the issue. China forced UNSC into having another closeddoor meeting on Kashmir this year in January but this one too concluded without any outcome as an overwhelming majority in the Council agreed that the issue could only be discussed bilaterally.

Pak refuses to give food to Hindus as Covid-19 rages Karachi: When the world is united in fighting against Covid-19 pandemic but for Pakistan, religious discrimination remains a top priority amidst this global crisis. The country's Hindus and Christian minorities are not being given food supplies by authorities, saying they are meant for the Muslims.

Scores of marginalised people gather at Karachi's Rehrri Ghoth to receive food supplies and daily essentials as shops remain shut to curb the spread of coronavirus.

But those belonging to the Hindu community are told to go back since the rations are only meant for Muslims.

"We only hear that people in our neighbourhoods are

receiving essential goods. My son drives the rickshaw. Due to the lockdown, all services have been suspended. He is sitting idle at home. We do not have anything to eat. We have no money. Even when we visit the ration distribution centers, the authorities assure us that they will send essential items in separate trucks but eventually they don't," said a member of the Hindu community in Karachi.Hindus in Pakistan form a 4 per cent of the country's population. The community is subjected to rampant discrimination and are often denied basic human rights. "Why is such a discrimination against us?

The disease is affecting every one of us. Why is nobody

cooperating with us?" he added.

Afridi, Jahangir Khan come forward with help Meanwhile, Pakistan's renowned sports personalities Jahangir Khan and Shahid Afridi have started distributing ration and cash to the minorities after a Hindu tennis player drew their attention to the plight of the community amid the pandemic. In a statement, international tennis player Robin Das had appealed to the Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) to help the minority communities.

"Jahangir Khan who is president of the foundation called me and spoke to me about Das's statement and said the minority community mem-

Shahid Afridi

bers must also be helped in these difficult times," Asif Azeem, the secretary of the Karachi Sports Forum, said.

The SAF has teamed up with the Karachi Sports Forum (KSF) to provide ration and cash to the needy people in the city, especially those belonging to the sports fraternity. Aseem made it clear the forum will use its manpower to distribute ration and cash among the needy minority community families in Karachi.

20,000 who attended Tablighi Jamaat Nearly 3,000 event in Lahore quarantined released from Lahore: Pakistan has quarantined 20,000 worshippers and is still searching for tens of thousands more who attended an Islamic gathering in Lahore last month despite the worsening coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

Authorities said they want to test or quarantine those who congregated at the event held by the Tablighi Jamaat between March 10-12 over fears they are now spreading Covid-19 across Pakistan and overseas.

More than 100,000 people went to the meeting, organisers said, undeterred by government requests for it to be cancelled as the virus hit the country. In northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, authorities have so far quarantined 5,300 Tablighis preachers who attended the Lahore meeting.

"Health officials are conducting tests for coronavirus and some of them have tested positive," Ajmal Wazir, a spokesperson for the region, said. Wazir said thousands of Tablighis from his province were stranded in other regions because of the closure of major highways across the country. About 7,000 have been quarantined in the central Punjab city Lahore, while in southern Sindh

Lanka prisons

province up to 8,000 Tablighis have been quarantined, government officials said. Dozens more have been forced to self-isolate in southwestern Balochistan province. The Tablighi mosques and the movement's other places of worship were shut down or marked as quarantine centres at the end of March.

At least 154 worshippers who went to the Jamaat had tested positive for coronavirus, with two fatalities, authorities said. Coronavirus has killed at least 45 people in Pakistan but with only limited testing available, observers worry the number is far higher. Numerous foreign nationals attended this year from countries including China, Indonesia, Nigeria and Afghanistan, organisers said. About 1,500 foreigners are now quarantined in Pakistan, but others left the country without being tested.

COLOMBO: Nearly 3,000 prisoners have been released from overcrowded prisons in Sri Lanka as the Indian ocean island nation has stepped up it’s efforts to contain the spreading of the new coronavirus. Sri Lanka has been under a countrywide curfew since March 20. Five people have died due to the virus and the total number of confirmed cases have risen to 166.

According to a statement from the president’s office, 2,961 prisoners have been released on bail since March 17. Sri Lanka’s prisons are highly congested, and the president’s office said at present, there are more than 26,000 inmates while the normal capacity does not exceed 10,000.

Two inmates were killed and six others wounded last month when they scuffled with guards and some tried to escape during a protest against new strict measures to control the spread of the virus.

President seeks debt moratorium President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, meanwhile, requested international financial organisations to provide debt moratorium or debt deferment facilities to developing nations such as Sri Lanka, which have adversely affected by the pandemic.

Gotabaya made the request during a telephonic discussion with the DirectorGeneral of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

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Akal Takht asks Sikhs to stay home this Baisakhi The Akal Takht has asked Sikhs to celebrate this Baisakhi by staying homes and praying for world peace the coronavirus amid outbreak.

Baisakhi, observed on April 13, is usually celebrated with much fervour in Punjab because it marks the start of harvesting season and this year, it is also the 321st Foundation Day of the Khalsa. It is celebrated in all gurdwaras. Big gatherings are called at Takht Damdma Sahib Talwandi Sabo and Anandpur Sahib.

However, this year the Akal Takht has asked Sikhs to defer all religious

congregations. "Like every year, the Sikh community was excited to celebrate the Foundation Day of Khalsa on coming Baisakhi. But right now the whole world is in the grip of coronavirus.

According to World Health Organisation, this virus spread from one person to

another at a very high rate.

Also there is a lockdown in many countries of the world, making it impossible to call big gathering," read the statement issued by the five Sikh Takht jathedars.

A meeting of the five Sikh jathedars was called via video conferencing. After

Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel

the meeting, Akal Takh Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh issued the order. "Like every year, Akhand Path or Sehaj Path bhog should be performed at gurdwaras on the occasion of Baisakhi to pray for world peace. On this festival, every Sikh should stay at home and perform Sehaj Path and pray for the world...By sitting back at their homes, Sikhs should connect with the historical gurdwaras on this day via live streaming on TV channels and social media and listen to Gurbani and Kirtan. No big gathering and religious congregation should be organised at gurdwaras till next orders."

Statue of Unity put up on sale for £3 bn!

An unidentified man kept the world’s tallest statue – the Statue of Unity (SoU) for sale on the online marketplace OLX for £3 billion. The post was deleted by the website within hours but screenshots of the sale went viral.

The mischief monger seemed to be taking potshots at the government for spending millions of pound for building SoU instead of using the money on hospitals and healthcare.

The incident came to light last week when screenshots of SoU’s photo

along accompanying a text reading ‘Emergency! Selling Statue of Unity because of urgent money required for hospitals and healthcare equipment’ went viral. SoU authorities later filed a complaint against the unidentified person. The complaint stated that the miscreant deliberately insulted feelings of the public by trying to put the statue on sale. A police official in Kevadia police station where the complaint has been filed, said that they will track down the person who may have made the post from his mobile or

computer.

The 182metre-tall statue of India’s former union home minister Sardar Patel has caught the fascination of tourists since its inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2018.

In November last year, SoU surpassed the USA’s Statue of Liberty in terms of daily footfall. The statue has been closed indefinitely

for public due coronavirus pandemic.

to

Overwhelming support to PM CARES fund The PM CARES fund to collect donations for fight against COVID-19, is witnessing an overwhelming support from individuals, companies, businessmen, employees' associations, film stars, politicians, trade associations, celebrities etc.

Many citizens are generously donating to this fund which was launched to support the government efforts in fight against Coronavirus spread.

The Union Cabinet cleared a 30 per cent salary cut for all Members of Parliament (MPs), including the Prime Minister and the

union ministers for a year. In addition, the government also decided to suspend all

M P L A D S (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) funds for two financial years.

The government said the President, Vice-President and state governors have also decided to take 30 per cent salary cut for a year.

Akshya Kumar is among many film stars who contributed to the fund.

The following is a list of major Indian companies and their contributions: Tata Group - £150 mn, Reliance Industries – £50 mn, Larsen and Toubro – £15 mn, Infosys – £10 mn, Adani Group – £10 mn, JSW – £10 mn, Vedanta – £10 mn, Hero – £10 mn, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India – £10mn, ITC Limited – £10 mn, Bharti Enterprises – £10 mn, Kotak Mahindra Bank and Uday Kotak – £5 mn (£2,5 mn each), Asian Paints – £3.5 mn, TVS – £2.5 mn, Patanjali – £2.5 mn, Jindal Steel and Power – £2.5 mn.

India responds to PM Modi's 'divya jalao' call As Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed, the whole of India turned off electric lights at 9 pm on Sunday for nine minutes, and illuminated candles, diyas, flash torchlights and mobile lights standing at doorsteps and their balconies.

Countrymen showed their unity and integrity against corona pandemic, which was a very amazing scene.

Actually, it is said that to win any battle directly, first you have to mentally conquer it. If you are not mentally confident of your

and administration in the battle of coronavirus.

The Indians have shown the courage to fight against Corona, which is commendable.

Along with this, it was also realized that how much every Indian is devoted to the nation.

Modi’s mother Hiraba with lighted ‘divya’ This time, the brothers of Muslim society were also victory, then the attainment seen lighting a lamp and of victory is difficult. The showing the example of same is visible in our Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb and country on Sunday, lamps they also lit a lamp and and candles burning in every candle in front of their street, locality are indicating house. Along with this, 13 that every Indian stands billion countrymen prayed firmly with the government together to get rid of the

corona epidemic.

Millions of Amdavadis also celebrated the occasion as a show of solidarity in the fight against Covid-19 and their faith in overcoming this phase. It was a nearblackout in Ahmedabad with the twinkling lights of rows of earthen lamps, fairy lights and candles shining bright in the dark, reminiscent of Diwali festivities. Several societies also played patriotic songs and raised slogans. It was an atmosphere of Diwali as firecrackers were also burst in various areas of Ahmedabad.

The future of our nation depends upon its finances. And its finances depend upon the Chancellor. Of course one feels immense pride that this is a practicing Hindu – perhaps more than ever faith matters at this time.

It would be too much of a stretch to say that wealth and Lakshmi being an inherent part of Hinduism, we should not be surprised at the loosening of the purse strings from him.

Watching him with sacred thread on his wrist as he read the budget once must be incredulous that in the same House of Commons where Warren Hastings was impeached as Government General of India for corruption in robbing India of her wealth, that a descendant of that nation serves to provide that wealth to the citizens of Britain today.

But it is more than Rishi’s faith. It is how he calmed a nation. Not just at the budget, but thereafter at the daily briefings. How many wished that if sadly the PM were to be hospitalized, then it should be Rishi leading the country?

It is easy to forget he is a man of destiny. Only 5 years ago he was not even an MP. A child not of the 1970s – but the 1980s. His First Class degree from Oxford and then Goldman Sachs, onwards to a hedge fund and an MBA from Stanford would usually set him up for derision.

But there is a humility and likeability about the man.

That X-factor is the key. Yes as Chairman of the City Hindus Network, it makes me immensely proud a practicing Hindu, one not ashamed of his faith, is the Chancellor.

But there is more of importance than even that you must know. Unlike other Chancellors, Rishi understand entrepreneurship and investment into start ups and small businesses. His wife, runs a family office, venture investment fund.

At this critical time for Britain it has been argued the UK has not done enough for start-ups. This is a Chancellor who understands more than any other what startups need. I know from sources the Treasury are looking at making changes to their financial assistance for start ups to allow them to access monies despite the unique problems they face of lacking in security for loans.

The statistics show it is today’s start-ups with few employees, large IT bills, and little assets, that become tomorrow’s largest employers.

The fear is Germany, France and US are giving grants and more funding to these high growth tech companies and so Britain, a global leader is left behind in a desolation of lost talent and intellectual property.

And given the disproportionate number of British Indians who are entrepreneurs and increasingly tech entrepreneurs, it will be our community which will be hit too.

Should god-forbid Dominic Raab fall ill to Covid19, then Rishi Sunak, the first ever Indian, will lead the United Kingdom as stand-in for the Prime Minister. We would not wish it in these circumstance, but we would in better times I am sure. We wish the Prime Minister well and a speedy recovery for him and the nation to normality.

India partially lifts ban on export of key drugs With coronavirus (Covid-19) spreading at a rapid pace in the country and the neighbourhood, India has partially eased restrictions on export of paracetamol and Hydroxychloroquine. It has decided to licence paracetamol & Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in appropriate quantities to all our neighbouring countries who are dependent on India's capabilities, the Ministry of External Affairs announced.

HCQ is the same drug that US President Donald Trump had sought from India and warned of retaliation if India did not supply the drug. MEA said, "We will also be supplying these essential drugs to some nations who have been particularly badly affected by the pandemic. We would, therefore, discourage any speculation in this regard or any attempts to politicise the matter".

"India has always maintained that the international community must display strong solidarity and cooperation.

This approach also guided our evacuation of nationals of other countries," spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Anurag Srivastava said. President Trump had called Prime Minister Modi, requesting him to supply the antimalaria drug hydroxychloroquine that is being used to treat Covid-19 patients and as prophylactic by the frontline health care workers deployed in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

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Tablighi congregation in Delhi turns into a nightmare The death toll from the Covid-19 outbreak in India has reached 124 while the total number of positive cases touched 4,789 on Tuesday. The three- day Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi is responsible for causing over 1,000 positive cases in India.

Government authorities are tackling a logistical nightmare as they try to map the movements of nearly four thousand people who attended the congregation in February-end and early March and then dispersed, many carrying the coronavirus to states across the length and breadth of India. While most of the attendees were identified, some are still hiding.

Authorities believe several clerics from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, who transited through the Tablighi Jamaat markaz (centre) in New Delhi’s Nizamuddin West, may have been the original source of the infections in the cluster. The Centre released data that showed how the recent surge in cases are significantly linked to the infections spread through the Jamaat congregations. Minus the cases linked to the event,

India’s Covid-19 cases would have doubled in 7.4 days, whereas it is doubling in 4.1 days at present because several infected members of the Jamaat dispersed across the country to spread the virus multiple times.

“The doubling rate, which means in how many days the number of Covid-19 cases double, at present is 4.1 days. But if cases reported due to the Jamaat event, had not come, then the doubling rate would have been 7.4 days,” health ministry joint secretary Lav Agarwal said.

The ministry had said 30% of the total cases reported in the country so far were linked to Jamaat. Around 274 districts across the country have reported Covid-19 cases so far. With increasing transmission of the disease to wider geographies, the cabinet secretary had asked district magistrates and collectors of

different districts with larger number of cases to share their experience with other districts. In a meeting, district administrations from such districts including Bhilwara, Agra, Gautam Buddh Nagar, East Delhi and Mumbai shared their observations. “The two key observations about strategies that worked were – one, proactive and ruthless implementation of containment measures at field level, and preparedness to the extent of being overprepared,” Agarwal said.

Besides, the government has decided to have a crisis management plan for Covid-19 in every district.

The government also allayed concerns over the spread of the virus through air, clarifying that the infection only transmits via droplets released due to coughing, sneezing and from the breath of a Covid-

19 patient.

“The coronavirus infection is not airborne but a droplet infection. Had it been an airborne infection, every person in a family of an infected person would have caught the virus,” said Dr R R Gangakhedkar, head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Meanwhile, to ease the burden of the affected, the government has offered free tests and treatment to beneficiaries of Ayushman Bharat (AB-PMJAY).

"Testing and treatment of Covid-19 is already available for free in public facilities.

Now, more than 500 million people, eligible under the health assurance scheme will be able to avail free testing through private labs and treatment for the virus in empanelled hospitals," said National Health Authority (NHA) in a statement.

Additionally, officials said that 22,000 people linked to the Jamat congregation have been quarantined as of April 5.

They added that at least 1,023 confirmed cases have been linked to the Nizamuddin event. The Tablighi-linked infections spread across 17 states.

Muslim sects slam Tablighi Jamaat for ‘irresponsible’ behavior Shia and Sunni leaders have condemned the Tablighi Jamaat for its ‘irresponsible’ behavior in organising the meet in Delhi at a time when the country was fighting against the spread of coronavirus.

UP Shia Central Waqf Board chief Waseem Rizvi accused the Tablighi Jamaat of deliberately getting its followers infected with coronavirus and sending them to India so that maximum people get infected. “Such a mentality deserves death and nothing less. The organisation should be banned,” he stated.

Maulana Kalbe Jawaad who shares an uneasy equation with Rizvi, has maintained a silence on the issue though when asked, he did say, “The Tablighi Jamaat should not have organised the congregation and action must be taken against those responsible.” Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, also a Shia leader, tweeted, “Talibani crime by Tablighi Jamaat. This is not a negligence. It’s a serious criminal act. When the entire country is fighting united against corona, such a sin is unpardonable.”

UP Minister Mohsin

Raza, also a Shia, described Tablighi Jamaat as an extremist organisation and demanded a ban on such organisations for alleged involvement in anti-national activities. Sunni cleric Maulana Khalid Rashid Firangi Mahali said, “The incident is unfortunate. It is endangering the lives of many. Action should be taken against those responsible for it.” He further said that those who had attended the Tablighi Jamaat meeting should get themselves tested. The Dargah Ala Hazrat in Bareilly has demanded a ban on the Jamaat.

The Jamiat Ulema-eHind, arguably the largest organisation of Muslims in the country, said the Tablighi Jamaat should not have held such a meeting at a time when the whole world is fighting the epidemic. Jamiat’s general secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP, Maulana Mahmood Madani was quoted as having said that the guilty should be punished.

But it should not be done through a media trial.

Governments and legal systems should decide the punishment. Their version should also be heard.

Madani said there are 10,00,000 mosques in the country.

“We all decided to accept the governments’ orders and closed down the mosques.

But if four or five mosques opened during the lockdown, the entire community should not be blamed. Already, there is Islamophobia in the country. Such incidents should not add to this problem,” he said. Jamiat

Waseem Rizvi

spokesperson Niaz Farooqui added that the community should not get a feeling of witch-hunting. “The gravity of the problem is large.

Instead of addressing this problem, we are engaging in blame-game. Positivity is needed,” he said.

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Five coronavirus hacks Rohit Vadhwana Except for essential public services and manufacturing jobs, most of the people are working from home. At this stage, it seems important to analyse our work schedule and productivity. Has it happened that even after having less work you feel exhausted at the end of the day? In that case, may be the following five tricks will help.

1. Check your schedule in the morning: Like those days when you were working in office, check your schedule of the day in the morning. See how many activities are in plan. Having an overview of the day will give real picture of engagements. Now think what free time is available at your disposal during the day.

2. Fill up free time in your schedule: Before, during and after office hours, fill it up with some productive activity.

During the office hours, if there are no engagements, make a 'To Do' list where you can do the long pending works of decluttering mail box; go back to that request of a client which was not resolved; schedule a new project which will add value to organisation. But don't keep your schedule free.

3. Create an atmosphere of office: Fixing office and home time distinctly helps your brain to draw a clear demarcation. Use a designated place, preferably a chair and a desk during the office time. Earmark at least a corner for office.

Do not sit there in night dress or shorts during the office hours. At least wear casual, if not formal clothes. Leave the place/desk after office hours when all tasks are finished.

4. Maintain discipline in work: You cannot enjoy a glass of wine with family during the office hours. Don't indulge into friendly gossips. Nor can you watch Netflix when there is no official meeting. Meet deadlines of every work.

Be proactive and complete all tasks in its scheduled time.

Do not drag office work by indulging in chatting with friends or watching TV. Such indiscipline in office work should be strictly avoided.

5. Give yourself free and relax time: Relaxed timeline may eat up your personal time. You will feel exhausted even while doing less work. To avoid it, when office is over, spend time with family and on your hobbies. Do your favourite activities and get in touch with your loved ones.

Give yourself free time, relaxed time, family time and personal time. It is essential for your energy.

(Expressed opinion is personal)

Restrictions on international flights India will allow people abroad to fly in on a country-tocountry basis, depending on the coronavirus situation in the places they are flying in from, once passengers flights resume.

Unless the 21-day lockdown is extended, schedule commercial air travel is supposed to resume on April 14-15.

"Even before international flights were suspended on March 22, there were restrictions on people coming to India (similar to those adopted by many other countries) depending on the corona situation there. Once the lockdown is lifted, the health ministry will decide which countries are safe enough to allow people to fly from there to India,” aviation secretary P S Kharola said. “The current lockdown on both domestic & international passenger flights is till April 15. A decision to restart the flights after this period remains to be taken.

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Deepika is 'spoiling' hubby Ranveer Priya

Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh seems to have the best lockdown going as he reveals wife Deepika Padukone is “spoiling him rotten” feeding him yummy food. The '83' actor went live on his Instagram where he spoke about the actress and life under quarantine.

He said, “My wife has been spoiling me rotten, feeding me all this yummy food.

Cakes, ice creams, just amazing stuff. So I have to come here and wash it all off. Today, she's in the mood to cook again, there's a lovely Italian meal coming up which I'm really looking forward to.”

She adds the sweetest “she's lovely” at the end, and our hearts collectively burst. The actor later shared pictures of the amazing spread which included pasta, garlic bread, and gratin dauphinois, among other things.

Living with yourself Corona may have you living alone right now, imagine if you could apply this theory to it too!

Priya

Bytes to Binge Genre: Comedy Drama Duration: 26 minutes Written by: Timothy Greenberg Where to watch: Netflix

Paul Rudd best known for his part in the American comedy show ‘Friends’, plays the lead character in this one as well- a guy called Miles. He plays the role of a desperate guy who undergoes a procedure he thinks will make him and his life better! This weird comedy drama will either get you caught in its web immediately or sadly...not. They are short burst episodes of 26 minutes showcasing unrealistic scenarios, however I must say, with the unusualness and the strangeness of present circumstances, what’s proposed in

Bolly celebrities participate in PM Modi's 9 pm-9 min call

Bollywood celebrities supported to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 9 pm 9 minutes initiatives, as they turned off all the lights at their home and lit diyas and candles. Modi had appealed the nation to participate as a symbolic gesture of the country's “collective resolve” to defeat the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Among celebrities who lit up diyas

included Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan, Virat Kohli and Anusha Sharma, Katrina Kaif, Akshay Kumar, Kapil Sharma, Alia Bhatt, Kangana Ranaut, Vicky Kaushal, and others.

Akshay Kumar shared a picture where he is seen lighting up a diya, while Kangana and her entire family light diyas in Manali. Shilpa Shetty lit a

candle in support of the initiative, while Arjun Rampal shared a video of himself with girlfriend Gabriella Demetriades holding a candle.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Abhishek and their daughter Aaradhya lit diyas at the temple in their home. Anushka Sharma took to Instagram to share pictures of herself lighting diyas with her husband and cricketer Virat Kohli.

this drama may not be as far fetched and may be nearer to fruition than I think! I won’t give anything away! Watch for yourself. The cast is small and actually makes sense for the plot but the madness of the main lead is portrayed as real as can possibly be for this kind of story.

Aisling Bea plays Miles’s wife and brings the normality to the show, she always does. She’s got a realness to her acting which I love. The every day challenges, pitfalls, hardships one faces is dealt with by a single act of this character but shows there are always consequences we will either like or not, think they are worth it! For me, the show is about societal ills and bringing the ‘procedure’ to the forefront only magnifies these ills. Talking shop for a minute, I feel we currently aren’t helping as a society enough as a whole. It’s a subject close to my heart actually, the fact that we all have a responsibility and a part to play to help collectively portray the message of being who you are is enough, and bumping people up with our help when they need it. Concreted in today’s climate as I’m sure you will all agree! Moving swiftly back onto the show, yes this show is an escapism for sure and while I think the acting skills are brilliant and holds the show up, the writing could be more sophisticated but that’s me picking at it as I’m not a real fan of the plot anyway. Worth a watch though! It’s a show about how we face challenges and actually what really is our mindset and how we meet our fears mentally. If any of you have watched a show that deals with mental strength you really enjoyed watching recently and you think needs more light shed on it to help others, find me on twitter @ApblPriya and I’d love to hear about it! Let’s share together.

SRK looks pensive in his latest selfie Nick Jonas is more of a 'paneer guy'

Shah Rukh Khan shared a selfie on Twitter recently along with some words of encouragement for people amid the coronavirus lockdown. He posted a caption, “I believe this moment in our lives will finally b a memory of when v had all the time on our hands & our loved ones in our arms.

Here's wishing this for every1. Stay Safe. Stay Distant. Stay Healthy.”

He ended the caption with a P.S. that read, “The selfie has nothing to do with the msg, thot I look good, so I sneaked it in.”

Shah Rukh urged people to stay kind to each other and support each other in another post.

“At a time when the human race is facing an immense crisis, there can only be one true response: The expression of Humanity itself.

This is a moment for all of us to come together in a collective effort to make each

other kinder, stronger and braver to face the days ahead,” he said.

American singer Nick Jonas has revealed he is more of a paneer guy, but, loves samosa too. In an interview with Today magazine, the 'Jonas Brothers' singer was asked what his favorite Indian dish was, and he said, “Paneer, it's the best.” When asked if he likes samosa, he said, “I do... but am more of a paneer guy.” With US under lockdown, both, Nick and wife Priyanka Chopra have been posting videos from their Los Angeles home where they are currently self-isolating.

The power couple have made several joint donations to charities and organisations like the PM Cares fund, Unicef, Feeding America, and Goonj, among others. PeeCee had tweeted, “These organizations are doing amazing work by helping those impacted by #Covid19. They are feeding the hungry, supporting doctors and first responders, helping low income

and homeless communities, and supporting our colleagues in the entertainment industry. Nick and I have donated to these charities: @unicef, @FeedingAmerica, @goonj, #DoctorsWithoutBorders, @nokidhungry, @GiveIndia, and @sagaftra, #IAHV, #Aseema, and #PMCARES fund.”