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If this is not enough, fraudulent land deals unearthed in Pune Already reeling under the 2G spectrum scam, the UPA government is facing a new threat following a disclosure that Bangalorebased Indian Space Research Organisation [ISRO] allegedly entered a deal with a private company that presumably may have resulted into a massive loss to the government than the previous onethe allotment of licenses to telecom companies for which former telecom minister A Raja was arrested.

The government on Tuesday tried to cancel what appeared to be an improper deal where a private company would have got 70MHz of spectrum free. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India [CAG] is said to be looking into it.

Meanwhile, a land scam in Pune was surfaced on Monday.

Continued on page 26

VOICE

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 39. ISSUE 40

Another spectrum scam hits govt

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12th February to 18th February 2011

British PM criticises homegrown terrorism

Integration v/s multiculturalism, unity v/s identity, community v/s nationalism has always been a very pertinent problem in Britain. But it has never been a threat to human lives only till recently.

The homegrown terrorism, the future prediction of mayhem like the 7/7 from MI6 have churned 'Islamophobia' amongst many Britons.

Such reactions have also been severely criticised by Tory peer Baroness Warsi and Labour MP Sadiq Khan. Just when those controversies were about to fade away, PM Cameron opened the 'pandora's box'!

British Prime Minister David Cameron in a speech on Saturday 5th February in Munich Security Conference claimed that, a lack of collective national identity has helped to promote violent Islamist ideologies in the UK. He claimed that greater emphasis should be placed on integration in a bid to tackle Islamic extremism.

Cameron added that young British Muslims who found no strong, collective identity in Britain were instead drawn to violent Islamist ideologies.

Extradition case date set for Shrien Dewani

Continued on page 13 Also See page 3 and 6 for more on PM Cameron's multiculturalism, comments and debates about the same by MPs, Lords and community torch bearers.

Chancellor Angela Merkel with British Prime Minister David Cameron

The extradition case for Shrien Dewani, will start on May 3 at Woolwich Crown Court in London.

The 31-year-old was not present to hear Judge Riddle set out the timetable of the case.

However, his legal team were told he would be required to attend the next hearing at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on March 23.

Shrien and Anni Dewani during happy days

Continued on page 2

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Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

7) And the worst?

Sheena Bhattessa Sheena started training in performing arts at the age of 4 in dance, singing and acting. Her first theatre experience was at the age of 6 when she took part in local Christmas pantomimes and continued to do so until the age of 12. Sheena's performing arts training was ongoing throughout her school education, with London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. After studying Business Management with Law at King's College, London, Sheena decided to dedicate more time to acting and moved to New York for several months to train at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She has worked across British TV and Theatre, and Bollywood and now works between London, India and America.

1) What inspired you to begin your career in acting?

It was actually by default! I never uttered the words ‘The stage is for me!’ as a 4-year old.

Saying that, my parents did begin taking me to classes in acting, dancing and singing at a young age, and I rapidly grew extremely fond of it.

Being a different character, enjoying a new script, dialect, language, working with a wonderful group of actors and directors always keeps things exciting.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

I have been asked, with 13 other cast members to return to Washington DC to do a 2-day special performance for The Pentagon. This production, The Great Game: Afghanistan, will be per-

formed for key decision makers, military and government officials, service members and veterans. This just shows that the arts as a medium has a voice and can make an impact. From the Pentagon’s perspective, The Great Game is designed to draw what remains of the Americans’ heart to the Afghan mind, in the hope of securing lasting peace and stability. This performance for the Pentagon has been a result of a 14-week tour of North America at the end of 2010.

3) Please tell us about your current role in The Great Game?

This play condenses 150 years of involvement in Afghanistan into 7 hours, which covers many notable characters and situations through history. So I play a vari-

I’m not sure there is just the one.

The variety, the surprise, the learning, the people, the adrenalin, I could go on.

If anything, it would be the unpredictability.

But this is also a good thing – it keeps you on your toes! Perhaps I won’t continue as an actress if I stop enjoying it.

People ■ Why is Asian Voice Boss CB walking around with his hand in a sling? Answers on a postcard to AV HQ! ■ Yasmin AlibhaiBrown is the front runner for the Asian Voice Awards next week.

8) What are your longterm goals?

To keep enjoying the path I have chosen. I plan on producing theatre productions and films in the near future.

It would be a good experience to be on the other side and drive a project from the start.

9) If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you change?

There’s a reason I didn’t go into politics, I would much rather talk about films! ety of individuals, from Gohar-Shad Queen of Herat to 16 year-old Berukh who hopes to get an education, highlighting the demand for education and illuminating a world where school is a luxury.

4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

I am in a career where unless you create your own theatre productions, TV shows or films, you are not in control of what roles you can get, other than working hard and giving it your best shot.

The work is slowly becoming more open minded culturally and ethnically, but this I find, is still very rigid and makes it difficult to break through.

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

My family has always encouraged me to follow my dreams and to always aim high. Their support, and dedication in their own fields has influence me above all else.

6) What is the best thing about being an actress?

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

I’m currently reading Katherine Frank’s Indira Gandhi, so Mahatma Gandhi would definitely be there for his inspiration; Harriet Tubman who could get out of any situation; and, for some added spice, Oscar Wilde, useless in a crisis but I imagine incredibly entertaining.

Continued from page 1

Extradition case date set for Shrien Dewani

Judge Riddle made it clear he had not excused Dewani this time because of his severe post-traumatic stress disorder but simply because the case could proceed equally well without him.

Dewani's counsel, Julian Knowles QC, told the court the case against extradition would centre on prison conditions in South Africa; whether a fair trial was possible; Dewani's mental and physical condition and the possible abuse of process and conduct in South Africa.

Mr Knowles said he was having great difficulty communicating with his client and his ongoing ill health was preventing him from taking instruction from him.

Dewani denies any involvement in the murder of his Swedish wife Anni, 28, who was shot dead during a carjacking

just outside Cape Town on their honeymoon in November.

Four South Africans have been arrested, with the Dewani's taxi driver Zola Tongo sentenced to 18 years for his part in the killing.

The South African authorities maintain Dewani as the masterminded his wife's murder.

Friends of Shrien told Asian Voice that he has flashbacks from the hijacking and lost 10kg in weight. He has consistently denied any involvement in Anni’s killing despite their driver on the night she died, Zola Tongo, claiming in court two months ago that Shrien paid him money to have his new wife killed.

Tongo was sentenced to 18 years for his part in the murder on November 13 while two other men face the same charges later this month.

The father of murdered honeymoon bride Anni Dewani has allegedly claimed that Shrien is pretending to be ill to avoid extradition hearing, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Vinod Hindocha allegedly told a South African newspaper that ‘sources’ had seen Shrien, 31, out at restaurants, undermining his and PR Max Clifford’s claims that he is too ill to attend court.

Mr Hindocha, Anni's father, also allegedly told the CapeTimes that he had not spoken to anyone from the Dewani family since December 4, three days before Tongo appeared in the Western Cape High Court. That is despite claims in the days and weeks after Anni’s death that the families were close, a national daily reports.

Anni was murdered

on the evening of November 13 last year after the taxi she and her husband were travelling in was hijacked as it passed through the Gugulethu township on the outskirts of Cape Town.

Four South Africans have been arrested, one of whom – the taxi’s driver Zola Tongo – has already admitted murder. Qwabe, 25, and his alleged accomplice, Xolile Mngeni, 23, are said to be the two hitmen hired by Mr Dewani for ￡1,300.

A court hearing in Cape Town last week was told that Qwabe confessed he had been driving the hijacked car when Anni was shot.

One of the gunmen accused of killing honeymoon bride Anni Dewani has also cast doubt on police claims that her husband Shrien plotted the murder.

Mziwamadoda Qwabe told police that, rather than being a planned hit, there was never any intention that she should die.

In a confession made to detectives five days after Anni was shot once in the neck, the alleged murderer said ‘we did not plan to kill her’.

Qwabe’s statement – revealed for the first time – rebutts the claim by South African police that Anni’s murder was planned, set up and paid for by her husband.

Rather, it paints a picture of a hijacking and robbery that went badly wrong.

The testimony also raises the prospect that Mr Dewani is, as his spokesman claims, being set up for Anni’s murder by police desperate to deflect attention from their country’s sky-high crime rate.

Voting has been heavy so expect a few surprises.

■

New peer Oona King has decided on Bow as her new title.

She waited long enough for her rival George Galloway to leave Tower Hamlets.

The Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards 2011 The Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards will be held on 17th February, to celebrate the achievements of those who have made a special contribution to our political or public life over the last 12 months in a variety of fields.

L a s t year’s winners of AV P P L a w a rd s w e r e : Po l i t i c i a n of the Year Prime Minister David Cameron, Labour Backbencher of the Year- Stephen Pound MP, Liberal Democrat Backbencher of the Year Simon Hughes MP, Conservative Backbencher of the Year – Damien Green MP, Minister of the Year – Ed Balls MP, TV Personality of the YearNitin Ganatra, Journalist of the Year Shefali Oza from Midlands Today, Restaurant of the Year - Moti Mahal, Asian Broadcaster of the Year Dhru Gadhvi, from Zee TV, Parliamentary Journalist of the Year – Joe Murphy from the Evening Standar, Male Entrepreneur of the Year – Rami Ranger, Female Entrepreneur of the Year Rhaynukka Soni Sports Personality of the Year - Rendell Munroe Lifetime Achievement Award - Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

COMMENT

Cameron call for realism on multiculturalism Prime Minister David Cameron's sombre words at the European security conference, in Munich, on the failures of 'state multiculturalism' in the UK are welcome. They constitute a wake-up call on an issue that dares not speak its name for fear of violating the canons of political correctness.

The revelation that the 7/7 bombers of the London Underground and a double-decker bus were guided in their preparations by an unknown voice from a Rawalpindi telephone kiosk in far away Pakistan is a reminder of the present fraught dilemma which the British government, and governments across Europe face. It was against this canvas that Mr Cameron placed his carefully crafted speech. He was aware, he said, of the terrorist threats posed by a dissident section of the IRA and of anarchist groups in Greece and in Italy. “My country, the United Kingdom, still faces threats from dissident republicans in Northern Ireland. Anarchist attacks have occurred recently in Greece and in Italy, and of course, yourselves in Germany were long scarred by terrorism from the Red Army Faction.

“Nevertheless, we should acknowledge that this threat comes in Europe overwhelmingly from young men who follow a warped interpretation of Islam, and who are prepared to blow themselves up and kill their fellow citizens....We will not defeat terrorism simply by the action we take outside our borders. Europe needs to wake up to what is happening in our own countries..... We have got to get to the root of the problem, and we need to be absolutely clear on where the origins of these terrorist attacks lie. That is the existence of an ideology, Islamist extremism. We should be equally clear what we mean by this term, and we must distinguish it from Islam. Islam is a religion observed peacefully and devoutly by over a billion people. Islamist extremism is a political ideology supported by a minority. At the furthest end are those who back terrorism to promote their ultimate goal – an entire Islamist realm, governed by an interpretation of Sharia. Move along the spectrum, and you find people who may reject violence, but who accept various parts of the extremist worldview, including real hostility towards Western democracy and liberal values....We need to be clear. Islamist extremism and Islam are not the same thing.

“This highlights, I think, a significant problem when discussing the terrorist threat that we face.

There is much muddled thinking about this whole issue. On the one hand, those on the hard right ignore this distinction between Islam and Islamist extremism, and just say that Islam and the West are irreconcilable – that there is a clash of civilisations. So, it follows we should cut ourselves off from this religion, whether that is through forced repatriation, favoured by some fascists, or the banning of new mosques, as is suggestted in some parts of Europe. These people fuel Islamophobia, and I completely reject this argument. If they want an example of how Western values and Islam can be entirely compat-

ible, they should look at what's happened in the past few weeks on the streets of Cairo and Tunis: hundreds of thousands of people demanding the universal right to free elections and democracy.”

The extract from Mr Cameron's address has been deliberately presented at length to prevent misunderstanding and to counter rumour and innuendo about what he was purported to have said. There are whimpering complaints from certain quarters that he maligned an entire community and devalued the concept of multiculturalism, when he had done no such thing. He merely drew attention to a scourge which was (and is) exploiting multicultural space for its own selfish and destructive ends; he directed his remarks at 'Islamist extremism', not to ethnic minorities in general, some of whom are singular achievers reluctant to exploit their ethnicity or religious faith for political advantage, whose values gel with those of the host community and its best traditions. Should they not command respect for so doing? It takes two to tango, surely.

Mr Cameron's speech conformed to reality, his appeal to rise above prejudice and misconception was well taken. However, there remains a lacuna.

In a globalised world Islamist terrorism has become a global phenomenon, as the Bali bombing several years ago and the murderous 26/11 assault on Mumbai have made abundantly clear.

Which brings us to the related point: what to do with states who aid and abet terror or promote the ideology in which it is incubated? That said, the finger must point to aspects of Western statecraft. It is scarcely a secret that Pakistan has long been (and continues to be) the principal hub of global terror networks. Western leaders and their media, tend to wring their hands and plead helplessness. The Pakistan military and intelligence services and government, it would appear, have their patrons in Washington and London over a barrel. They simply demand more money and squadrons of F16 warplanes and their requests are promptly met, so the game carries on without let or hindrance.

Further afield, Saudi monarchy sits atop a reactionary clergy which exports its message of a messianic and inflammatory faith through madrasas and financial aid to poorer Muslim states, even as the US and UK sign mega arms deals with Saudi Arabian state. Such anomalies will need to be corrected before Charles Moore's title to his Daily Telegraph article - “The days of doing deals with Muslim extremists are over” can come to pass.

Finally, consider Christian and animist Southern Sudan's near 99 per cent popular vote to secede from the northern Arab-dominated Islamist regime centred in Khartoum. We may go back further in time and recall Muslim-majority East Pakistan's independence struggle to break away from Islamist West Pakistan, a process which ended in the formation of today's Bangladesh. These developments are relevant to the debate initiated by David Cameron.

The trouble with the 'Big Society' The 'Big Society' is Mr David Cameron's regenerative vision for his country just as the 'Great Society' was for the late US President Lyndon Johnson in the mid-1960s. As the Democratic Party occupant of the White House, Mr Johnson, as a southerner from Texas, was deeply affected by the civil rights struggle in his country; he was especially sensitive to the sufferings the black community was forced endure through slavery and racial discrimination. Mr Johnson was determined to put an end to these scars on the American body politic and to make the country whole. But the cost of financing the 'Great Society' was too high in the context of America's draining Vietnam war, which was fought at inordinate expense. Nevertheless, much was done to alleviate the social pain through affirmative action. Yet more could have been done for the poor and disadvantaged.

Here is a lesson for Mr Cameron. He wishes to regenerate those sections of British society that have suffered serious neglect in past

decades. Housing, education and welfare need local community participation to give better value for money than state funding and organisation, he avers. Maybe so, but such schemes involving charities and voluntary groups will still need financial support from the government to get them off the ground. Without the appropriate financial mechanisms such projects will either fail or else lead a precarious hand-to-mouth existence. As a result many welfare institutions tackling child abuse or prisoner rehabilitation, for example, are withering on the vine. A number of community leaders in deprived areas have dropped out, pleading that grants from local councils were unavailable because of financial cuts imposed from Whitehall.

We live in difficult times. The UK economy is in recession and a massive national debt requires urgent reduction. Difficult choices will have to made on budgetary cuts. Eventually, it will come down to priorities. Where on this list is the Prime Minister's 'Big Society' ?

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Thought for the Week In spite of illness, in spite of the arch enemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable of intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.

- Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

“Our London” CIIr Navin Shah AM London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow

Police cuts: boost to criminals!

It is extraordinary that the so called party of ‘Law and Order’ now in government is forcing through 20% cuts to police budgets over the next 4 years. This situation could be particularly devastating in London as the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) face a budget shortfall of £170m this year.

Yvette Cooper, Shadow Home Secretary, has quite rightly stated "Far from protecting frontline policing as ministers promised, over 10,000 police officers are being cut in the next few years alone.

Cutting so fast and so deep into police budgets is crazy. It is completely out of touch with communities across the country who want to keep bobbies on the beat." The thinktank ‘Civitas’ warned that police cuts boost criminals.

Boris Johnson’s administration is no different when it comes to police numbers. Last year, long before the coalition government started forcing through its draconian measures, the Mayor reduced police numbers by 455 by 2013 and implemented 5% cuts in police budgets Londonwide.

Recruitment has been frozen, resulting in the police estimating that they will have 900 fewer officers

by March 2011 than expected. This is the Mayor who pleadged ‘to spend less on press officers and more on police officers’ and ‘to redirect more resources to frontline policing’ in action.

Mayor Livingstone introduced the Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) between April 2004 & April 2006 with dedicated team of six officers in every ward in London - an innovation that has been remarkably successful A 2008 report

demonstrated that there is a positive association between SNTs, falling crime and boosted confidence in local police. To maintain the excellent work undertaken by SNTs, a commitment to maintaining the level and composition of the neighbourhood policing model is crucial and was endorsed in a London Assembly resolution in March 2010.

In 2008 Boris Johnson at a Mayors Question Time stated “I fully support the Safer Neighbourhood Team model, and I am committed to ensuring that there at least 6 officers in every ward.” However now Mayor Johnson has backtracked on the commitment, now deferring any decision on policing structure as an operational matter for the Commissioner!

This will have local consequences that will quickly be felt. In my constituency of Brent and Harrow, the Metropolitan Police have improved quality of life for citizens over the last decade. I feel it is a backwards step for 19 police officers to be lost in Brent and 11 in Harrow this year due to the Mayors freeze in recruiting alone. I find the situation extremely worrying, requiring police having to make difficult choices with reduced resources. I am told that the Met in Brent and Harrow are consulting on ‘flexible ways of working’.

This could mean Safer Neighbourhood Teams being taken away from ‘safer’ wards to ‘problem’ areas. If a more ’flexible’ approach was adopted it would be critical to ensure that the so-called ’safe’ wards do not end up neglected, wiping out the good work carried out over the past years and endangering strong partnerships with local communities.

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 www: abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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LEICESTER VOICE/NORTH ENGLAND

Barclays cut in UK, lay eyes on India Barclays have announced cutting of another 300 jobs soon after declaring 1,000 jobs will be axed in order to support its decision of outsourcing call centre and back office roles to India. The roles are being shed by Northampton-based credit card arm Barclaycard, which has now ignited anger from Union Unite officials.

Though the major cuts will be witnessed in Northampton, other parts of the country like

Tenesside, Merseyside and Wavertree will also face cuts to certain extent.

Barclaycard apparently has operations in Mumbai and Chennai in India and will look to strengten these existing branches and getting more administration work fulfilled from the Indian sub-continent.

The top executives now are under the heat as they are cutting jobs to create stability while at the same time expecting bizzarre bonuses.

Although the bosses of

Barclays have not yet been handed their bonuses, Bob Diamond, the new Chief Executive, is believed to be entitled for a payout of about £8m for 2010.

Barclaycard employs about 8,000 of the bank's 140,000 global workforce.

Roles have also been shed from Barclays Capital, the investment banking arm that Diamond used to run and which expanded rapidly after the acquisition of the Wall Street operations of Lehman Brothers in 2008.

Mayoral fight: Patel vs Patel Two out of five candidates chasing the post for first directly elected Mayor for Leicester are of Indian origins and are both Patel. With the results in May, Leicester Council decided to hold elections to the office of Mayor and the five leading citizens of the multicultural towns announced their candidates.

Current council leader Veejay Patel will want to keep his post while Rita

Patel, Peter Soulsby, Ross Wilmott and Abdul Osman eye the leadership role.

Leicester City Council leader is selected by fellow councillors, while cabinet positions are selected by the local party and hence the leader has less influence over policy.

Rita Patel, 51, came to Britain in the 1970s and went on to hold several key positions in the voluntary sector and is expected to be chosen as

the official Labour Party candidate. She is also a former manager of the Belgrave Baheno, a voluntary organisation for local women in Leicester.

The elected Mayor will have all the liberty to select his or her own cabinet which will control every policy area in the city. The selected cabinet will administrate and monitor all these areas, from nurseries to transport, financing to health care.

International memorial in Leicester by summer An international war memorial to honour the services of large number of Hindu, Sikh, Muslim, African and Caribbean soldiers that fought for the British Army during the first and the second world wars is planned to be set up by the coming summer.

The monument that will reflect the bravery of these warriors will consist of two commemorative tablets and is going to be placed at Peace Walk in Victoria Park.

The initiative was taken by the Leicester International Troops Memorial Committee, which includes councillors, former soldiers and relatives of Indian officers who served during the Second World War. But, Royal British Legion was soon to offer support for the project.

Each memorial will stand about 60cm tall and include an inscription. The first tablet will read, 'In memory of all Leicester's people and loved ones, from Britain, the British Commonwealth and other countries who gave their lives for this land in World War I, World War II and other conflicts across the world.'

The war memorial present at The Victoria Park, Leicester

According to Councillor Culdipp Bhatti, these memorials will have a great significance from both cultural and educational point of view. A poem will also be sighted by Indian poet Sarojini Naidu which states, 'And your love shall offer memorial thanks, To the comrades who fought on the dauntless

ranks, And you honour the deeds of the dauntless ones, Remember the blood of my martyred sons.'

Though the design and specifications of the memorial is still being planned, the International Memorial project is likely to cost Leicester City Council about £15,000.

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

UKIBC plan largest ever Indiafocused business conference

Bhupinder Singh Hooda, Chief Minister of Haryana welcomed the recent UKIBC Agribusiness Delegation visit

UK India Business Council (UKIBC) have organised the biggest ever business conference to be held in UK with the total focus on India. The event will be held on 10th March in Manchester as UKIBC plans to boost the North West exports to the Indian sub-continent which is witnessing a 10 percent economy growth per year.

More than 600 businesses across the UK and

India are likely to attend the conference which will be held at Bridgewater Hall. UK was the fifth largest exporter to India in 2005 while it ranked as low as 18th in 2010 and hence UKIBC which is a business-led organisation and backed by the government intends to lift up the trade links between the two countries. Officials at UKIBC have since long raised their concerns stating that North-West and UK

at large needs to do more to catch up in the trading market.

The conference will also target the rising digital commerce market in Manchester with the aim to find the right opportunities in India's ￡30bn worth IT industry. The Summit will feature senior industry and government speakers, showcasing both British companies succeeding in India and Indian success stories in the UK.

Lights, camera, action!

Budding young film-makers will get the chance to learn the tricks of the trade at a series of workshops organised at Leicester's Phoenix Square between 21 to 26 February.

During the half-term holidays, the venue will host three workshops for children and young people and it will be run by Steve Friendship, owner of award-winning film-makers Large Scale Film.

Two day long courses will include 21st Century kids and Two Day Film School will be for 11 to 16-year-olds. Also, people aged 16 and over can try their hands at a one-day Film Making Boot Camp.

The collaboration between Phoenix Square and Large Scale Film follows the success in December 2010 and the success of that workshop has led them to devise this half-term programme, which offers participants the chance to explore film-making over a longer period and in more detail.

John Rance, chief executive of Phoenix Square said: "It is great to have the chance to work with Large Scale, whose expertise gives young people an opportunity to learn about film-making.”

Previous collaborations with Large Scale have seen young people debut their work on the screens of Phoenix Square. John adds, “It would be great to think

that those attending the half-term film-making courses will be able to do the same in future."

Large Scale Film's owner, Steve Friendship

revealed "We're delighted to be collaborating with Phoenix Square on the workshops. We chose to base our business in Phoenix Square because

we believe it will emerge as Leicester’s hub for digital production and education."

Large Scale Film specialises in providing practical training to young people, young adults and teachers as well as making short films and corporate moving image projects.

Pleased with the response, Steve adds, "these half-term workshops will combine our expertise with the facilities at Phoenix Square and offer an exciting opportunity to young people interested in film-making."

Don't prrt that paan Councillors and community workers in Leicester have urged people, especially in Highfields to stop spitting Paan at public places due to health and environment concern. A £110 strict penalty notice have now been introduced by the council to control people spitting paan anywhere at their will.

The Indian tobacco creates a red substance when chewed and causes a major problem for the cleaners as it is really difficult to remove

from pavements and floorings.

The council is trying to address the issue by informing individuals the impacts of paan and giving them ways to appropriately dispose the tobacco. The council has put posters in Paan retailer shop windows instructing people not to spit the tobacco.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Missing schoolgirl returns to Britain A British schoolgirl has returned to Britain four and a half years after she went to Pakistan to live with her father as her parents divorced.

Molly Campbell was 12 when she vanished from school on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides, and went to live in Lahore, Molly Campbell, also known as where she attended an Misbah Rana, with her father in Islamic school. She insistLahore in 2006 ed at the time that she It was later found that wanted to live with her Molly and Tahmina had met father, Sajad Rana, claiming outside her school and that life in her mother’s flown to Glasgow, where council flat was a “living they met their father and hell”. took a plane to Lahore.

Molly, now 16, flew to In Pakistan Molly insistBritain last week and met ed that her name was her mother. It is understood Misbah Rana. “It was my that she had wanted for choice,” she said. “I asked some to return permanently my sister if I could go with and that her father her. I would like to stay in approved.

Pakistan with my father.”

Her mother, Louise Ms Fairlie began a legal Campbell now Louise battle to get her daughter Fairlie is visiting Molly, who back to Scotland, but in is staying with her sister, January 2007 reached an Tahmina, 22, in England. agreement with her former Ms Fairlie said: “We are very husband that Molly should happy and we are all enjoystay in Pakistan while ing the family life that we allowing her mother visits have got. The past is behind and regular calls. us.”

Molly's father said that Molly’s disappearance in he had discussed her educa2006 from the Nicolson tion with her a few weeks Institute in Stornoway ago and had offered to pay prompted an international for her if she chose to study search. Her mother claimed in London. that she had been abducted “If she wants to stay, by her father and expressed there is no harm in that,” he fears that she might be said. “She is 16 and free to forced into marriage. decide her fate.

Racist attack made on Tory MP Priti Patel Britain is heading backwards as open racism takes un upper seat while a murder convict makes racial attacks on Priti Patel, Tory's first Asian woman MP in Britain for opposing his cause.

John Hirst, who served 25 years in jail for killing his 69-yearold landlady with an axe, unleashed a stream of vitriol against Tory MP Priti Patel, branding her a ‘Paki’, a ‘foreign import’ and even insulting her looks.

‘The “Paki” Priti Patel is far from pretty – in fact she is ugly as hell!’ he wrote in his blog, Jailhouselawyer, reported a local daily.

Mr Hirst, 60, added: ‘Unlike the foreign import Patel, I am a Brit born and bred.’

In fact, Tory rising star Ms Patel – is the child of Ugandan Indian immigrants and was born in London.

Her parents are dedicated Gujarati businessmen and Priti is a proud British I n d i a n .

Fu r t h e r m o r e , John Hirst the 38-year-old is one of the most high-profile Asian MP, known for combining intelligence with glamour.

Mr Hirst has also hurled abuse at former EastEnders actress Brooke Kinsella, David Cameron’s knife-crime adviser.

Priti Patel, MP

Ms Kinsella’s brother Ben was stabbed to death in a North London street in 2008.

Last week, in a report for the Government, Ms Kinsella said prisons and young offenders’ institutions should be ‘places of punishment’ but raised fears that some young inmates saw them as ‘holiday camps’.

Mr Hirst’s obscene outbursts come ahead of this week’s crunch session in the Commons on the prisoners’ right-to-vote issue.

In 2005, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled in favour of Mr Hirst’s case that the denial of his right to vote while he was in prison was a breach of his human rights.

Last year, under pressure from the court, the Government announced it would comply with the ruling and enfranchise prisoners serving sentences of four years or less.

But Tory and Labour back-

benchers have joined forces in an attempt to defy the ECHR and refuse to enfranchise all convicts, despite warnings that it could lead to tens of millions of pounds being paid to inmates in compensation.

The Prime Minister, who has said the idea of letting prisoners vote makes him ‘physically ill’, has given Tory MPs a free vote on the issue – effectively encouraging them to tear up the ruling by the ECHR. However, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg’s Liberal Democrat party has traditionally backed the jail votes plan, while J u s t i c e Secretary Ken Clarke has warned MPs about the cost of defying the Brooke Kinsella ECHR. Ms Patel, MP for Witham, Essex told Daily Mail: ‘These comments are beneath contempt. My argument on votes for prisoners is based on principle, not inaccurate slurs and racist abuse.

‘I believe that people are in prison for a reason. You lose the right to vote once you commit a crime.’ She was unavailable for comments to Asian Voice.

Ms Perry, MP for Devizes, dismissed Mr Hirst’s remarks as ‘lowlife rantings’.

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Dichotomy between assimilation and integration in multiculturalism The British way of life and the Big Society have always left the country’s citizens to establish their natural selves over collective identity. This has given rise to multiculturalism and localism, both in co-existence in Europe with the spirit of globalisation.

In recent years these positions have provoked debates regarding the validity of existing British traditions and customs, especially after the 7/7 bombing and the 9/11 mayhem in the US. PM David Cameron in his speech at Munich, Germany has raised many questions as he criticised the unbridled liberty of those who have misused individual rights without due consideration for the national good.

The Prime Minister made his observations as a Briton, though many have attacked him for what they regard as his inflammatory outburst.

In his speech PM Cameron has emphasised that like the Britons have a right to raise their voice against racism, similarly Britons also have a right to speak out against homegrown terrors.

He correctly spoke about the right to criticise wrongdoing on the deprived sections PM David Cameron of the Muslim community. But he also criticised those Muslims who live in western society, belong tomiddle class families, yet have killed innocent people in the name of Islam.

Finally, David Cameron has argued for a stronger national identity and for greater security to prevent extremism getting out of hand. He has criticised the idea of multiculturalism as a strategy which has "encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and apart from the mainstream".

However this characterisation is not new. In 2004 Trevor Phillips, chairman of the the Commission for Racial Equality now the Equality and Human Rights Commission - told the Times that multiculturalism was out of date because it "suggests separateness" and should be replaced Trevor Phillips with policies which promote integration and "assert a core of Britishness".

Academic definitions of multiculturalism refer to anything from people of different communities living alongside each other to ethnic or religious groups leading completely separate lives.

Likewise, columnists who write about multiculturalism don't often define what they mean by the term, looking instead at what it is not.

The Oxford English Dictionary offers a broad definition of multiculturalism as the "characteristics of a multicultural society" and "the policy or process whereby the distinctive identities of the cultural groups within such a society are maintained or supported".

Lord Sacks, Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth told the Times that multiculturalism was intended to create a more tolerant society, one in which everyone, regardless of colour, creed or culture, felt at home. But, he says, multiculturalism's message is "there is no need to integrate".

He distinguishes between tolerance and multiculturalism - using the Netherlands as an example of a tolerant, rather than multicultural, society.

Additionally, he said the current meaning of multiculturalism is part of the wider European phenomenon of moral relativism and talked of multiculturalism as dissolving national identity, shared values and collective identity which "makes

it impossible for groups to integrate because there is nothing to integrate into".

In the Observer, the editor of Prospect magazine, David Goodhart, insists the strategy has taken on different forms within the UK over the years.

He distinguishes between the "live and let live" multiculturalism of the 1950s, which "assumed that if people could keep significant aspects of their culture they would choose to integrate in their own way"; the 1980s "'soft' multiculturalism of tolerance and equal rights"; and the more recent "hard" multiculturalism "of positive promotion of religious and ethnic identities".

BBC reports that Rod Liddle says in the Spectator that multiculturalism is a notion that cultures, no matter how antithetical to the norm, or anti-social, should be allowed to develop unhindered, without criticism.

Melanie Phillips takes this argument further in the Daily Mail, arguing that multiculturalism is a form of reverseracism and "sickeningly hypocritical".

However, Madeleine Bunting of the Guardian says Mr Cameron has offered "a straw man version of multiculturalism".

Instead of promoting segregation, she says, it is "a matter of pragmatism" reaching out to organisations within ethnic communities who can help the government achieve its goals of maintaining good community relations."

In the same newspaper in March 2010, Antony Lerman, a former director of the Institute for Jewish Policy Research, pointed to some of the academic work on multiculturalism to show it is the opposite of a philosophy of separateness. He cited Professor Bhikhu Parekh's definition which says, far from "putting people into ethnic boxes", multiculturalism is a "fusion in which a culture borrows bits of others and creatively transforms both itself and them".

In response to Dominic Grieve's speech on Muticulturalism about two years back, Lord Parekh said, "Multiculturalism is based on two believes. First, culture matters to people as an important source of values and ideals, basis of family cohesion and source of continuity and second no culture is self contained and self Lord Parekh authenticating. It has strengths and limitations...A multicultural society is where one culture interacts and learns from another rather than one composed of sealed ghettos."

BBC further reported that Professor Tariq Modood, director of the Centre for Study of Ethnicity and Citizenship at the University of Bristol wrote Still Not Easy Being British: Struggles for a Multicultural Citizenship. He says in a Runnymede Trust web chat that multiculturalism has many meanings, but the minimum is the need to politically identify groups, typically by ethnicity, and to work to remove stigmatisation, exclusion and domination in relation to such groups.

The debate around multiculturalism may be an important one. But while public discussion of the subject may have

become more familiar, there remains little consensus about what the word actually means.

In 2008 Lord Dolar Popat gave a speech on the 4th Anniversary of the Hindu Forum. He said that multiculturalism advocates division in British society. It has fostered differences between communities. And it has stopped from strengthening collective identity.

"Multiculturalism Lord Popat in many ways hands victory to our enemies to those who want to divide and to those who oppose British values." He praised America to help immigrants feel American regardless of their country of origin. He told Asian Voice that he agrees with PM Cameron that multiculturalism grows divisiveness and emphasised that he wants assimilation under collective identity.

Sabby Dhalu, Secretary of One Society Many Cultures told Asian Voice: “The Prime Minister is making a grave error in attacking the Muslim community and diverse Britain at this time. The reality is that multicultural Britain is not up for debate. It exists and brings a wealth of social, economic and cultural benefits to Britain helping to make it internationally competitive. However, senior politicians can impact on community relations, positively or negatively. Unfounded scaremongering about the Muslim community

contributes to the climate of hostility which the EDL feed off. Vilifying Muslim communities on the day when they are being targeted by the EDL in Luton could not be more grotesque."

Mr. Mohammed Shafiq, Chief Executive of the Ramadhan Foundation commented to AV: "The speech by British Prime Minister David Cameron MP fails to tackle the stooge of the fascists EDL and the BNP. Singling out Muslims as he has done feeds the hysteria and paranoia about Islam and Muslims.

British Muslims abhor terrorism and extremism and we have worked hard to eradicate this evil from our country but to suggest that we do not sign up to the values of tolerance, respect and freedom is deeply offensive and incorrect.

Multiculturalism is about understanding each others faiths and cultures whilst being proud of our British citizenship - it would help if politicians stopped pandering to the agenda of the BNP and the fascist EDL." Steve Pound, MP for Ealing North told Asian Voice, "David Cameron has entered some very dangerous waters here. There is a longstanding debate on the Steve Pound, MP dichotomy between integration and assimilation which I feel should establish that individual Continued on page 30

Way to achieve Cohesion

By Lord Navnit Dholakia The PrimeMinisters speech on multiculturalism gives us the opportunity to consider the development of a value driven British identity as a core goal. The subject is not new.

In the early 60’s we proclaimed Britain as a multi-cultural and a multiracial society.

Roy Jenkins defined it as, “A process of equality of opportunity accompanied by cultural diversity in an atmosphere of mutual tolerance”.

Gordon Brown talked about Britishness but failed to define what it represented. For a substantial number of law abiding second and third generations of British born blacks and Asians it represented a confused ideology which separated them from their mainstream counterparts who are white.

David Cameron has added another dimension. He should not be blamed if he were to single out a small minority who are involved in terrorist activities.

They represent no religion other than taking shelter behind their misguided religious beliefs. A large and substantial part of our diverse communities are law abiding citizens.

We need to move away from the confused debate about identity.

We need to articulate a shared sense of identity in contemporary conditions of flux and change. If so, how can we reconcile this with diversity, openness and pluralism of belief and practice?

Fixed notions of a shared identity – even if they could be agreed on- are less necessary than promoting individual identity, pluralism and genuine multiculturalism leading to citizenship. As Amartya Sen said "identities are robustly plural and the importance of one identity may not obliterate the other”.

It is for this reason that the debate

has to move forward from conflicting notions of multi culturalism to citizenship.

If we build active participation of communities in our democratic process supplemented by a sense of a united community then ethnicity and multiculturalism would be less contentious.

We need to identify not what we take out of country but what we put in.

That process of citizenship must encompass the rights of all people irrespective of their colour to live in peace, to get an education, to get a job, and raise a family.

From Multiculturalism to Citizenship But citizenship means much more that learning English. No one disputes that the process of communication helps to wards an integrated society, but citizenship is more than that.

It is a social contract encompassing the whole community.

Its aim must be social inclusion, tolerance, equality and a diverse society where human rights flourish.

It is about balancing citizen’s rights and responsibilities.

Citizenship must also entitle individuals to state protection, respect for the diversity and culture, and freedom of expression.

But take this too its logical conclusion; citizenship cannot be divorced from the needs of individuals.

The social contract must also include decent public services and decent social support for the weak and infirm including those who fear persecution.

It must provide the community with a healthy and pollution free environment.

If individuals feel they are protected from crime, that there is less oppression and discrimination does not blight their lives then there will be respect towards a healthy decent society.

This is the way to achieve cohesion.

UK/EDUCATION

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

7

Universities finally distinguish soft subjects from hard

Kartik.S.Raval

By Spriha Srivastava

In conversation with Akshay Kumar As Patiala House gets ready to hit the movie screens, Akshay talks to us about his role, the script and his experience working with veteran Rishi Kapoor. The film is a look into the life of a Punjabi family who has been settled in UK for 3 generations but fights to stick to Indian values and culture.

Tell us a bit about the movie Patiala House?

Patiala House is about a very big family who has lived in London for 3 generations now & of course Rishiji the Father & the head of the community who is anti everything British. I am an aspiring Cricketer who is chosen as a fast bowler for the England team, which literally kills my father and the news alone nearly tear’s the family apart as my father tear’s my dream apart in front of my very eyes. I go on to live the life my father forces upon me. I grow up respectfully yet silently resenting my Father for his stubborn patriotic selfish morals. Everyone knows that being given one opportunity in life is priceless enough; one would never dream or ask for a second chance, so when I am given my second chance the entire Patiala family support my dream, completely behind my Fathers back. What happens to our family now is heart wrenching & a story that is waiting to be heard.

How did this role impact you in your personal life?

I had to engage in a lot of emotional and cultural preparation for this film which in itself has been a challenge. The film offered me the opportunity as an artist to explore a persona that was deeply guided by a spectrum of conflicting sentiments and emotions. The unique thing about Gattu’s character is that it was so alien to me because it is the exact opposite to what I experienced while I was growing up, my own father supported my every move, I grew up with love & hugs, not tears & fear.

Which is why I’m hoping audiences will see a totally different side of me in this film, I have cried like

Akshay Kumar

never before making this.

What attracted you most to the movie?

I was drawn to everything about this project – the premise of the film, the heart wrenching story between father & son, (Rishiji & myself) the fact that I haven’t made such an inspiring dramatic family based film in a very long time. Not to mention, I would have to train & perform my favourite sport in the World, Cricket. It was as if this movie has been waiting to be made by both Nikhil & I… This film has allowed me to deliver a role & persona that audiences have never seen from me before. It’s a role that has emotionally charged and challenged me more than any other in my career so far.

How was it working with Rishi Kapoor?

This will be our second movie together & of course it was a sheer delight. He is one of our industry’s biggest icons and someone whose films I grew up watching, admiring & copying. To

have the opportunity to share screen space with him is definitely an honour. He has so much experience, insight and wisdom that very few people in the world have the grace to deal with such stardom so respectfully. He has such a wonderful, hearty personality too that you cannot help

but feel drawn to him. An inspiration to all around him, a truly beautiful human being…

The film is about Cricket. How fascinated are you with the sport?

Please do not think this is a film about cricket – this is a highly emotional family orientated drama. Yes, it has a cricket element but that is incidental and is adopted to represent my individual dream. Patiala House is a family drama about relationships, about love, about respect and trying to harmonise conflicting values and life experiences that result from migration. But more so, the film is about dreams, and destiny presenting you with a second chance in life. The cricket is merely the reason behind the family heartache, bring your heart with you rather than your cricket bat to this film.

Did you spend time getting trained for your role?

From the cricket aspect, I had to train extensively as a fast paced bowler, but it was very enjoyable as I got to try my hand at my favorite sport, cricket. I had to undergo thorough training with veteran cricketer Balwinder Singh Sandhu. He taught me how to play cricket with skill and as a sportsman which is extremely different to playing the game for leisure. I had to perfect my skill to the tee to ensure my bowling skills looked absolutely realistic on screen and that I did justice not only to the sport but to my character, Gattu, as well.

What are the other projects you are working on?

My next release post Patiala House will see a return to comedy in Anees Bazmee’s ‘Thank You’ in which I star opposite Sonam Kapoor. I also have an exciting 3D film project called ‘Joker’ with Sonakshi Sinha. But for right now, my energies are going into the release of ‘Patiala House. It’s a project that, not only I, but the entire cast and crew put our souls and hearts into. I sincerely hope that reflects on screen and connects with all audiences from many many cultures.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Students studying only 'soft' A-levels and finishing school with inadequate studies in traditional subjects will only have very slim chances to get into top universities and leading academic institutions.

A guide compiled by the Russell Group that comprises of top 20 universities including Oxford and Cambridge is set to be released advising students which A-level subjects are favoured by these universities while offering admissions.

According to the guide, 'soft' subjects include areas like media studies, art and design, photography and business studies while the traditional 'hard' subjects are mathematics, science, geography, history, pure sciences, classic and modern foreign languages which are considered to be more academically rigorous.

In many countries, particularly in Asia, in addition to the native language, maths, a science subject and an additional language are mandatory for the pupils until the age of 17 which is equivalent to the age at UK's A-levels.

Hence, the guide has suggested that this very rea-

David Willetts has been urging universities to push for greater transparency since last summer

son has positioned foreign pupils at a better place to compete with British students for top university seats.

The guide suggests that students not taking up at least two of these traditional subjects will either have a tough time to get an admission in a highly recognised university or not get considered at all when competing with students with more 'hard' subjects under their belt.

This is because universities have all the reason to believe that pupils taking up less traditional subjects are trying to avoid challenge. It has been long assumed that different subject hold varying weight of importance during admission process but

this is the very first time in any university's history that it has been made publicly acknowledged.

In 2010 David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Sciences asked universities to make the admission procedure transparent so that students do not lose out on university places due to lack of guidance. And finally with higher level of transparency set to be introduced he welcomed the guide stating it will “level the playing field”.

It is suggested that state school pupils till now chose subjects under the influence of misleading information. While on the other hand appropriate guidance at private schools is believed to have played a massive role in private school students that comprises of only seven per cent of all students in England, taking up quarter of places at the 25 most competitive universities.

For most of the courses listed in the guide, maths or science subjects are marked as either a 'requirement' or 'useful'.

While, general studies and critical thinking are considered no more than extra subjects and needs to be accompanied with three other A-levels.

London Council: Child trafficking needs attention The London Safeguarding Children Board has launched a new set of guidance and policies to help local councils and authorities identify incidents of children trafficking and support children who have been the victims.

Trafficked children can be subjected to sexual exploitation, enforced labour or drug dealing, sold or forced to commit crime by the organised gangs or individuals who have brought them into the country or traffic them between cities within the UK. A pilot scheme was carried out involving 12

local authorities, seven of which were in London. The trial was monitored by the London Safeguarding Children Board and a range of partner organisations, including representatives from the Home Office, Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre(CEOP), the UK Border Agency and UK Human Trafficking Centre, the Crown Prosecution Service and ECPAT UK. A total of 56 children were identified during the 14-month pilot and were helped to get back on track by giving them the necessary head start by following the guidance. It is now sug-

Fire kills two mothers in Deptford Santhirapathy Tharmalingam, 59 and her cousin Kunaliny Alagaratnam, 42 lost their lives as the apartment went up in fire, which police is treating as arson.

Ms Tharmalingam was visiting her children and grand children in London for the first time in Mrs Tharmalingam & Mrs Alagaratnam seven years.

She was visiting mother of two Mrs Alagaratnam at the time of fire which ignited in the next-door flat on the top floor of the 16- storey building last Friday afternoon. Though a team of 50 firefighters rushed to the blazing site and battled through the flames to bring them to safety, the efforts were in vain.

Sandra Clarke, 49 appeared at Camberwell Green magistrates court facing charges of manslaughter and two counts of arson. She remains in custody and will appear again on February 14.

gested that it is extremely essential that once a child is identified as being a victim of trafficking, immediate action must be taken before they go missing, higher level of awareness needs to be raised among the public and professionals who can sometimes underestimate the scale of the issue. Chair of the London Safeguarding Children Board, Cheryl Coppell said,“The adults who traffic them take trouble to ensure that the children do not come to the attention of the authorities, or disappear from contact with statutory services soon after arrival in the UK, or in a new area within the UK.” Chief executive of the CEOP, Peter Davies said, “Child trafficking is a form of child abuse. CEOP identified 287 children from 47 countries trafficked into the UK in 2009-2010.

These children were subject to sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, exploitation in cannabis farms and compelled to perpetrate street crime.

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www.abplgroup.com

Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Midland Voice Contact: Dhiren on 07970 911 386 or dhiren.katwa@abplgroup.com

New CBI chief faces diversity challenge The Confederation of British Industry, or CBI, Britain’s main employers’ group, is “not diverse enough”, its outgoing chief Sir Richard Lambert has accepted.

who attended the annual Board dinner of Deloitte, the business advisory firm, at Hagley Hall, in Worcestershire. All 37 guests featured were white.

Sir Richard is urging

more like businesses,” he said, but, “it would be a terrible disaster if that were to happen”.

Last month, Sir Lambert, a former editor of the Financial Times, accused the government of failing to put forward a vision for the economy. He said the coalition administration had failed to “articulate in big picture terms its vision of what the UK economy might become under its stewardship”. He added: “We need a department that is seriously knowledgeable about everyday business needs.

Less of a talking shop, more of an action-orientated growth champion.”

Born in north Buckinghamshire, Sir Lambert, aged 66, grew up in Manchester. He is married to Harriet MurrayBrowne and has two grown-up children.

Sir Lambert, who was in his post for four-and-ahalf years, is succeeded by 49-year-old John Cridland.

It remains to be seen how, under Mr Cridland’s leadership, the CBI develops, particularly from a diversity perspective.

Mr Cridland has been with the CBI for nearly three decades. Married with two teenage children, he lives in Bedfordshire. He was awarded a CBE for services to business in 2006

should come forward and offer to add value to the existing network, which would ultimately benefit everyone. Up until now, it has been a “ c l o s e d s h o p ” .

According to N i n d e r J o h a l , Chairman of the Black Country A s i a n New CBI boss CBI’s outgoing chief Business John Cridland Sir Richard Lambert Association, ethnic businesses to join or BCABA, “ there are the CBI. Praising Britain’s already ethnic forums Asian business communiwithin many UK trade ty, he said: “Britain has chambers, such as ours, been blessed by large numoffering specialist supbers of successful Asian port, and members are entrepreneurs who came always seeking value for here with nothing and money”. BCABA is not a have built up very successmember of CBI, nor is ful businesses.” He also the Institute of Asian paid a glowing tribute to Businesses, or IAB, the kids of the original which is part of immigrant trade pioneers Birmingham Chamber. who, he said, “have very Recently, The different ideas of how to Birmingham Post fearun a business”. tured photos of guests, Moving on, in his including Sir Lambert, capacity as Chancellor of the University of Warwick, I asked Sir Lambert if universities were putting their commercial interests ahead of everything else.

A Birmingham pastor, David “Universities are becoming Morrison, who provided false bank statements and letters to immigration tribunals to help foreigners enter the UK, has been jailed for 15 months.

The BBC must bring back experiMorrison, 41, pictured, founder enced female television presenters of the World Life Centre in and newsreaders, according to Newtown, pleaded guilty at Walsall South (Lab) MP Valerie Vaz, Birmingham Crown Court to pictured. She sponsored a Commons perverting the course of justice motion urging the government to and providing false documentapressure the BBC into providing tion. He had sponsored nine immigration applicaopportunities for older women with tions and two applications to remain in the country, “gravitas”. Who does she want to see each time claiming to be a friend or relative of the back in primetime? The motion lists applicants.

Moira Stewart, Anna Ford and Selina Scott among others.

Speaking to me during an hour-long meeting in Birmingham, ahead of his exit, Sir Lambert, said the CBI needed to increase the number of women in the boardroom, and boost its membership, particularly from businesses run or owned by people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Currently, the CBI does not register the number of ethnic businesses.

Despite “efforts to engage with the Asian business community with mixed success”, the CBI still does not reflect the kaleidoscope of nationalities which contribute to the economic prosperity of Britain. “It’s not a complete disaster, said Sir Lambert, “but we can be doing better”. He added: “The CBI won’t exist in 20 years if it just consists of white-haired old men.” But, in defending, “it takes two to tango”, he said, suggesting that ethnic, alike many other businesses

Pastor jailed over fake documents

MP’s comeback call

India ambassador visits college

Search for talented Asian females Do you believe you are a role model Asian woman, or know of anybody who is? If yes, then find out more about how to enter this year’s Asian Women of Achievement Awards (AWAs). The annual AWAs, brainchild of entrepreneur Pinky Lilani OBE, recognise and reward Asian women for their contribution in various professional sectors. Deadline for nominations is March 2. To find out more visit www.awaawards.com

Thumbs down to working mums Learners at West Nottinghamshire College were given a taster session on India by C Gururaj Rao, the Midlands’ highest-ranking Indian diplomat. During his visit last Friday, he talked about India’s growing economy, education system, culture and the importance of family life. He also took part in a Q & A session which was led by college principal Asha Khemka OBE, pictured, second from right, next to Mr Rao, and learners.

Just 15 per cent of employers in Birmingham plan to hire working mums this year. The poll, of 1,100 employers, was carried out by Regus, the workplace provider.

Nationally, 38 per cent of bosses surveyed thought working mums showed less commitment and flexibility than other employees. Three out of ten fear working mums will leave to have another child and 17 per cent were worried that women who return to work after having a child will have out-of-date skills.

News in Brief Anti-Islamic feelings Discrimination against Muslims is becoming a growing issue in the West Midlands, according to Dr Chris Allen. “It’s a much bigger problem. We only see the tip of the iceberg,” Dr Allen, a research fellow at Birmingham University, told the BBC’s Politics Show last week.

Cleric welcome Pastor Caleb Nyanni has been officially installed as the new minister of Sparkbrook Elim Christian Centre on Golden Hillock Road in Birmingham.

New pay system From April, Birmingham City Council will stop using cheques and adopt the widely-used BACS system to pay its suppliers, saving taxpayers at least £300,000.

Council shows ‘red card’ to mosque A Birmingham mosque, the Daarul Jannah Community Centre in Yardley, has been warned it will be shut down if it fails to stop holding prayer services outside. The problem, which is particularly worse on Fridays, came to light after neighbours complained to the council about noise and nuisance.

New role for Dipen Matrix Group, the privately owned financial services business, has appointed Dipen Patel as a credit analyst in its property division. Mr Patel was previously a senior analyst in the business support unit of Lloyds Banking Group.

India honours Baroness Verma A celebratory party was thrown in honour of Baroness Sandip Verma by a Midland couple at a swanky hotel in Leicester last Friday. The reception saw well-wishers of the Tory peer heap praise and credit on her on receiving an award from the President of India. Full report next week.

Trade links boost Simon Warren, pictured, Chief Executive of Wolverhampton City Council, was due to jet off to India on Sunday on a ten-day trip, but decided not to go. Instead, his colleague Jay Patel, head of economic development, has gone. In November, the pair had flown business-class to India with the aim of promoting Wolverhampton as a place for Indian aerospace companies to invest. A delegation from India visited Wolverhampton last month.

Robber put behind bars Daljeet Dhadwal, pictured, has been jailed for eight years and 50 weeks for his part in a street robbery in Handsworth, Birmingham. The victim, 47, was robbed of loose change and a bank card before he was taken to his home where Dhadwal, 31, and an accomplice searched the living room for valuables before heading upstairs to where the victim’s wife, 38, and three children, 10, 13 and 14 were sleeping. His accomplice escaped before police arrived.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Opening of Eden Plaza (Kensington) Hotel December 10th, 2010 was a very special and memorable occasion for Mansoor Popat and Family.

Their Flagship Hotel – Eden Plaza – was re-opened after undergoing an extensive refurbishment programme. The Hotel is located opposite The Natural History Museum within walking distance from South Kensington underground station and within commuting distance from Heathrow.

In his speech, The Mayor praised the entrepreneurial skills and business acumen of Asians with businesses in UK and in particular in his Borough.

He thanked the Popat’s for inviting him to inaugurate this prominently located Hotel.

(From Left to right) KENSINGTON & CHELSEA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE VICE PRESIDENT MR. MALCOLM SPALDING, MANSOOR POPAT

From Gujarat to UK, via East Africa

(From left to right) C.B PATEL, ABID POPAT, THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR COUNCILLOR JAMES HUSBAND, PRESIDENT AMIN MAWJI, MANSOOR POPAT, PRESIDENTBANU GULNAR MAWJI, NAZIRA POPAT.

Popat families roots are in Gujarat India and thereafter East Africa.

Originally, the Popat family hail from Porbandar in Gujarat India. Mansoor’s grand-father Mr. Popat Premji was born in Jamnagar, India.

He went to Kenya as a literate man of his times. He joined the pioneer group of Alidina Visram as an

The Hotel was officially opened by The Worshipful The Mayor of The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in presence of many Business, Community, friends, relations and other dignitaries, including Editor & Publisher of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, Mr. C.B. Patel, who is also a family friend. CB was accom-

(From left to right) C.B PATEL, THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR COUNCILLOR JAMES HUSBAND, HARSHAD KOTHARI

(From left to right) NAZIRA POPAT, MANSOOR POPAT, ABID POPAT, THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR COUNCILLOR JAMES HUSBAND.

panied by Alka Shah, Marketing Manager of ABPL Group. Some close acquaintances flew in from Canada especially for this auspicious occasion. Kensington & Chelsea Chamber of Commerce was represented by Vice President Mr. Malcolm Spalding and Executive Manager Julia Walker-Smith.

accountant for the Group’s Kisumu Branch.

He went back to India and was recruited by Bhatia Brothers Group as their Manager for the Musoma office (then in Tanganyika), while his son Alibhai, started his own business in Kinesi, Lake Victoria, Tanganyika.

After retiring from Bhatia Brothers, he joined his son POPAT PREMJI Alibhai in his businesses in Tarime and Musoma. He died at the age of 85 in Musoma in 1963.

Mr. Popat Premji was a respectable member of the community and had guided a number of prominent entrepreneurs to migrate and establish in East Africa.

Alibhai Popat’s sons, Mr. Mansoor Popat and Salim arrived in the United Kingdom ALIBHAI POPAT from Tanzania in 1974.

Mansoor opened a boutique in Kensington selling jeans. In 1984 he bought his first Hotel in Victoria and has since been an active entrepreneur owning many hotels and other investment properties throughout the UK. Mansoor Popat and his son Abid Popat (BSc Economics, MSc Management and MANSOOR POPAT WITH PRIME Finance) have a MINISTER – DAVID CAMERON AT ANOTHER EVENT vision to actively expand the hotel business and provide up-market 3 star business and tourist hotel facilities, like the recently refurbished Eden Plaza Kensington Hotel.

The Eden Plaza Kensington Hotel was acquired five years ago and required modernization. The refurbishment commenced in November 2009 and took 12 months to complete. All 80 rooms are now equipped to a high standard, with air-conditioning throughout and

(From left to right) SALIM POPAT, C.B PATEL, ABID POPAT, THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR COUNCILLOR JAMES HUSBAND, PRESIDENT AMIN MAWJI, DEAN SUNDERJI, MANSOOR POPAT, HARSHAD KOTHARI, ALKA SHAH.

satellite television and WiFi available to all guests. The Hotel has been rated 7.5 recently reviewed by Booking.com, being the National Agency for booking the rooms.

Mr. Popat and his family reside in North London. He is an active member of the community at the Ismaili Centre in South Kensington and undertakes a considerable amount of charitable work. He is also an active Philanthropist.

Mansoor is fully supported by his wife Nazira.

MANSOOR POPAT WITH PRINCE CHARLES AT ST. JAMES’ PALACE

Eden Plaza Kensington 68-69 Queens Gate, London SW7 5JT - U.K Tel: +44 (0)20 7370 6111 Fax: +44 (0)20 7370 0932 E-mail: stay@edenplazakensington.co.uk www.edenplazakensington.co.uk

YOUR VOICE

10

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Pride of one nation

House of Lords expenses

I am a regular reader of the Asian voice for many years. However, since about a year or so, I have noticed, it is not the same open-minded national Voice as before. During the past year or so, I have sent couple of emails when I felt hurt and sorry for some, for their negative contribution to the Asian Voice.

Their focus was more and more on Hinduism or Gujarati Hindus, that I feel will dent the unity of India and the Indian where ever they are. These writers are sowing the seeds of different identities amongst other ethnics of India. Instead of voicing Gujarati Hindus this and that, why don’t they shout, Indians this and Indian that. Religion is a faith or belief of an individual and I believe it is very personal and private. Let us be ourselves devoted Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Parsies, Jains, Christians, Jews and Budhists, at our places of worships or at homes.

However, our out side identity must be Indians or British Indians, like other matured nations.

Britain is the most tolerant and one of the most civilised countries of the world, where religion is rarely mentioned in its press and we should take a lesson from it.

Take the example of any Western country and America, they all take pride in calling themselves English/British, Americans, French, German, Swiss etc; but never shout their faiths, because it is very personal to them.

Nations who have tried or trying to practice their religious beliefs outside their homes or places of worships, never progress beyond their front doors. See yourself and look around, you will not find an example of a flourishing one.

Let us focus on our common problems as British Indians, living in our adopted home. We have many and we should deal with them collectively.

1. A salient point to mention is Kashmir, which was an integral part of

free India. Because of the folly of our leaders of that time, they allowed Pakistan to keep the occupied part, after the first conflict between the two countries. Why don’t we claim with one voice that our neighbour is holding over our part of Kashmir? Let us wake up and unite, otherwise believe me, one day we will loose the remainder of it as well, watch sky channels. Have we ever thought of the Kashmiri community who were made homeless? Now they dare not to go back because of the fear of death threats.

2. Look at another issue, why are we quiet to be labelled as Asians and thus forced to share the blame of crimes, committed by non Indians. I hate to be called myself an Asian, I am a very proud British Indian. Why don’t we ask our MPs, Lord friends and Councillors whose photos we see every week in the Asian voice, to take our very valid issues to the Parliament at Westminster?

Gujarat has produced Gandhi Ji, Valabh Bhai Patel, a very brave Statesman, Mr Modi who has taken Gujarat to its heights and a large number of entrepreneurs as well. Let us follow them. Our India is a great nation, under its wings are many rainbow colours flourishing next to each other for centuries.

Let us strengthen our unity by calling ourselves Indians or British Indians and then pride ourselves as one nation.

Battle of Tahrir Square

The first Indians in the Parliament

One of the world’s ancient civilisations, the land of the pharaohs, of pyramids and that of Queen Cleopatra is in turmoil. Having visited Cairo and the Tahrir Square not too many years ago, my heart goes out to the relatives of people killed and injured in the battle between the protestors and pro-government supporters. The two sides have been shown pelting one another with stones and bricks. Imagine such battles raging here in Trafalgar Square! Why the media here is only showing one sided story in favour of pro-government supporters? Is it any thing to do with the strategically situated Suez Canal? Remember the days some decades ago when Colonel Nasser held the west to ransom over Suez?

More than 900 have been injured and many have lost their lives in the clashes between rival groups in Tahrir Square.

There are calls for President Mubarak to go. One person cannot stay in power for over 30 years. As the British prime-minister has said, the country needs a clear roadmap of change.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

VOICE 0

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B.S. Grewal.

(Balwant Grewal more popularly known as Bobby Grewal has walked many miles to raise fund for charities in India and Britain. He has contributed largely to the Punjabi and Sikh communities all over Britain. Asian Voice like to have the readers' comments on the above issues raised by Mr Grewal - Editor)

There is only one thing worse than not knowing your history and that is to make false statements as facts as did a feature on Indians in the House of Lords (AV Dec 25th).

For the record, the first Indian in the House of Lords was Sir Satyendra Prassano Singha KC in 1919. He is also the first and only hereditary peer.

Lord Sinha of Raipur was the first Indian to 'take silk' and the only Indian to represent the India office as UnderSecretary in the House of Lords.

Also the first Indians in the cabinet were jointly Lord Sinha and MajorGeneral H.H.Maharajah Sir Ganga Singh Bahadur of Bikaner in 1917 as members of Imperial War Cabinet during World War I. Kusoom Vadgama London (Thank you for the information.

- AV)

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below

I read the letter from a Mr Mahadev on the 18th December, regarding the House of Lords expenses and the level of some Peers, in particular Asian Peers, involvement in Parliamentary business.

I am concerned about some of the perceptions people have surrounding the work and cost of the House of Lords.

Although I can appreciate some feelings of skepticism, on account of recent financial scandals, I respectfully urge readers not fall victim to sensationalized inclinations.

There are a couple of points I wish to make. Firstly, the House of Lords has such a vital role to play in our Parliamentary system, It is the complementary companion to the House of Commons, whilst also being the main check and balance upon it; the main defender and scrutinizer for political policy and legislation; the last chance for the second thoughts and quality debates and investigations. Its holds an assertive role, defeating the Government on average of 50 occasions per Session, so should not be underestimated or undervalued.

Secondly, it actually performs this role at a tremendously cost effective rate.

Members of the House are unsalaried volunteers who offer their time and experience freely out of their commitment to public service. The allowance they may be eligible to obtain is simply so they are able to carry out their Parliamentary responsibilities. At the last calculation, the cost of the House of Lords is less than one-third of the total costs of the House of Commons. In terms of allowances, the expenses scheme for the Lords was around £19 million, just 15 per cent of the running costs of the House of Lords and a fraction of the comparable cost of £150 million in the Commons.

I am particularly proud we have a House which performs its role so effectively and economically. It possesses such

an extraordinary breadth of experience and knowledge, as well as personal circumstances and orientation. We have, of course amongst them, many Peers of Indian origin, Lord Parekh, Lord Khaker, Lord Patel and Lord Bilomoria to name but a few, details of their level of personal involvement in Parliamentary business can be found through the Parliamentary website, but I assure you they are heavily involved and make very regular contributions to the House within their specific fields.

This brings me on to the issue of attendance. As Mr Maladev rightly highlights, on the surface, having just over half the total number of Peers attending the House per year is not a glowing statistic. However it is worth noting that Peers only receive allowances for the days they attend, and so no Peer is paid for time he or she does not contribute. Never the less there is no room for complacency and there are definitely areas which could be improved. The Government are currently reviewing the workings of all aspects of the Parliamentary process, so to build on its many strengths, whilst working to eliminating any traces of weakness, the Lords practices are no exception to this.

It is imperative the public have confidence in institutions like the House of Lords, and be able to saturate themselves that is going on and become involved.

More detailed information can be found at www.parliament.uk or www.theyworkforyou.com I think we are privileged here in the UK to have not one, but two Houses working towards achieving the best deals to serve in the public’s best interest. I hope long will it continue.

Case of mind over matter

attain, sit on the podium through our own effort, deeds and achievement, perhaps with the exception of Royal Family?

I attend many temples and no one ever asks me to what caste I belong to. To single out Brahmins is in it self casteism.

Yes, every community has its own organisation and infrastructure but they all come under some sort of umbrella body. This is called unity through diversity. It is time we take pride in our cultural heritage, tolerant Hindu religion and the achievement of our community, our younger generation and put casteism aside.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

I am some what surprised and perturbed at Dharam Sahdev’s comments regarding casts. It is no longer an issue in this country. Out of ten marriages I attend, nine are between Hindus from different background, caste and origin.

The terminology, the sentence used “The lives of lower class people” sums up the attitude of many who subconsciously believe in class discrimination, in the same manner as some suffer from inferior complexion, so ably planted in our subconscious mind during the British Raj. There is no higher or lower class. We

India today As an ex pat Indian living in the UK, I'm naturally proud that India is now seen as a real economic threat; also that the number of Indian's who are deemed to be 'middle class' is increasing. All very impressive, but is this all a case of 'a bubble waiting to burst'? (Remember Ireland, Dubai, Spain?).

Also, 7 million Bombay residents live in slums, & in the Dharavi slum there is on average just 1 toilet for 1400 residents.

Note that 1 in 4 Indians live 'on the verge

UK EUROPE WORLD 1 Year £25 £55 £70 2 Years £45 £100 £125 £225 £300 *5 Years £110 £450 £550 *10 Years £200

Lord Dolar Popat Conservative Peer

of malnutrition'. Incidentally, in Pakistan, despite it's economic & political meltdown, this figure is 'only' 1 in 6.

Add to that the obscene house recently constructed by India's richest man- as a compassionate human being, inspite of India's recent resurgence, frankly I find the above unpalatable.

Harish Dave Via Email

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‘Smile Pinky’ too gets the Oscar Boyle says Mumbai dwarfed the statuette

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(Off Coronet Street)

Cricket crazy Indians for the first time was seen so euphoric on Monday morning, as they expected a couple of Oscars. British Indians in the UK, Dharavi slums, the shanty township of Mumbai, a village in Uttar Pradesh and almost the entire Bollywood waited in expectation, glued to their TV sets. They burst into celebrations as one by one, their heroes, the actors of the British Indian film and the music maestro, A R Rahman bagged the top awards in the world of entertainment.

British actress Kate Winslett also won the Oscar after having missed it almost five times earlier.

‘Smile Pinki’, a short documentary on a cleft-lipped Indian girl in Uttar Pradesh directed

by American director Megan Mylan, won the Oscar for the Best Documentary (Short).

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

11

Tourism suffer as Egypt in clutter Kartik.S.Raval Although some media suggested that there has been no more than 10 deaths since Egyptian protests ignited the nation's streets, the Human Rights Watch have stated that at least 297 people lost their lives, thousands imprisoned and more than 5,000 are left severely injured. The united protests, demonstrations and heated up armed confrontations in order to end the 30 year regime of President Mubarak has made this warm holiday paradise too hot to handle.

Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman stated that about one million tourists flew out of Egypt in the first nine days of protests causing losses of about one billion dollars. Tens of thousands of stranded passengers flew out of Egypt in the following days as the protests continued.

remain in Egypt.

Out of them, a considerable number of people are British-Asians. As soon as the violence broke free, India announced extra flights to help its more than 3,500 citizens to fly out of Egypt, however only 500 were evacuated initially. As Sphinx, historical Pyramids, beaches and the perfect soothing weather makes Egypt an situation started to alluring destination spot for millions get worse about 1,500 US nationals, one's that returned back to the 6,000 Indonesians, 2,000 UK said the situation was 'scary, Germans and thousands of desperate and totally out of conpeople from various countrol.' tries were stranded in Cairo, Other leading travel agents Alexandria and Suez. in the UK like Southall Travels, Crowd erupts into violence at Cairo Square

months of January and February because of its mild and soothing weather. Large amount of people from Britain go to Egypt to make up for the freezing winter

The people who were highly excited to visit Egypt are afraid to go there now. Even we are not encouraging our customers to travel to Egypt looking at the unrest and the prevailing chaos.

Few of our customers were stranded at Cairo International Airport as the flight did not take off and they had to pay extra money to get a seat on another flight that can bring them home to safety. No one is taking the responsibility of the situation and hence the tourists are bound to suffer.

-Rachna Kukadia, Tour Consultant at Thomas Cook Egypt is one of the most sought holiday destination in the world, especially in the

months they spent here in the UK. As a key revenue of Egypt, tourism contributes to about ten percent of its gross domestic

income and one fifth of its foreign exchange earnings. In 2009-2010 financial year that ended in June, the country's tourism revenue hit 11.6 billion dollars. In 2010, the country has been predicted to gain 13 billion dollars solely through tourism.

There is no doubt in the massive number of travelers that will fall into the vice grip of the prevailing unstable political situation. Although many countries announced extra flights to get their tourists back home safely, thousands of passengers remain stranded at the Cairo International Airport.

According to Britain's Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt, more than 30,000 UK tourists and long term residents

Egypt tourism will suffer enormously for three months at least. This is a time when many British-Asians go to Egypt as it is cost-effective but especially because of the mild weather which is very similar to the Indian sub-continent. About 2,000 people have returned to Britain since the protests started as the situation is really chaotic in Cairo and no one would want to spend a vacation in the middle of a war.

- Sumit Arora, Branch Head for Cox and Kings, London The plight of these travelers will undoubtedly have severe effects on Egypt's tourism. Most of the travel agents in the UK have stopped taking inquiries for holidays in Egypt keeping tourist's safety and security in mind. There is no information on tourist casualties yet as Egypt looks far from stable. The

Star Tours, SOTC, Cruxton, Travelin Style, Hari Aum holidays, Carlton Leisure and Citibond Travels have prioritised their customer's security and are helping any stranded tourists in Egypt to get back home safely while at the same time guiding the one's who plan to remain there.

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12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Scrutator’s Wonders will never cease. The Economist, which has been a persistent sniper of Narendra Modi's Gujarat, never at a loss reminding its readers about the communal violence which disfigured the State in March 2002 – something which all rightinded Gujaratis and Indians, and others further afield. have deplored – without indulging in high octane abuse of the Chief Minister - outworn shibboleths of 'genocide' were discarded - but now it seems, the magazine's is coming to recognise that there is more to Gujarat than mindless rioting, that its economic development and governance have placed it at the top of the Indian league table by a considerable margin.

The Economist (February 5) has awoken from its slumbers. It writes: “ He [Narendra Modi] is a doggedly successful leader. His state prospers. Billionaires line up to lavish him with praise. Foreign environmentalists court him, and the wealthy Gujarati diaspora also cheer him.....The pro- business Chief Minister leaves other Indian politicians wide-eyed with envy.....Now the hyperactive Mr Modi is turning green, setting up Asia's largest solar park and fields of new wind farms. His energy minister predicts that by 2015 Gujarat will generate 10,000 megawatts from solar, wind and tidal power, enough to power three Mumbais.....Investors cheer the state's good roads and ports, reliable power, able bureaucrats.....Gujarat with just 5 per cent of India's population, accounts for 16 per cent of the country's industrial production and 22 per cent of exports.” Gujarat's GDP, growing at 11 per cent yearly, is significantly higher than the national average. The Modi model of development is creating waves throughout India.

Finally, Ron Summers, President of the US-India Business Council, who was presernt at the gala Vibrant Gujarat meet, hinted that America might follow in the footsteps of Canada and Japan and partner Gujarat at next show. This could accompany the lifting of the travel ban imposed by Washington on Narendra Modi, who would then end up with the last laugh.

Kutch reborn BBC Television produced an arresting documentary (see BBC News January 30) on the remarkable recovery of the Kutch area of Gujarat ten years after a devastating earthquake had flattened many of its towns and villages and driven large numbers of its population to seek refuge in more congenial surroundings.

– rains often failed, there were few jobs and the enterprising would emigrate. Then in January 2001 a magnitude seven earthquake struck, devastating a huge area, flattening cities including the district capital, Bhuj, and wrecking 8,000 villages. Twenty thousand people were killed and more than a million others made homeless.”

Help, domestic and foreign,

Bhuj temple destroyed in earthquake is now restored

Bhuj temple destroyed in earthquake

Reporters Emily Buchanan and Bhaskar Solanki bore witness to the revival and rebirth of a new, prosperous Kutch unrecognisable from the arid backwater of yesteryear. They discovered its “transformation into an economic powerhouse. How?” They set about answering their question.

First, the canvas: “Kutch is a remote region in the arid borderlands of north-west India. For centuries life was brutally tough

poured in. Still, the prevailing view was that it would take decades before the capital of Kutch would be put back on its feet, if at all. “Ten years on Bhuj has been reborn. It has two new ring roads, an airport, parks and thriving shops. Pradeep Sharma was the government official widely credited at the time with pushing through the radical plans..... economic recovery..... was triggered by the Indian government creating new tax-free

zones, which sparked a boom in private investment.....Some 300 companies have established theirbusinesses in Kutch and many more are queuing up to follow suit. Mundra is a microcosm of development. It was a small

defeat of India in 1962”, clearly a source of satisfaction in certain western chancelleries and sections of the British media, which are conspicuously shy of talking about the thrashing inflicted by Vietnam on China in February

US lifts India ban

A Times of India report (January 25) told of the lifting of the US ban on high-tech dual-use technologies to India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO), its subsidiaries, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Bharat Dynamics. This is a milestone in Indo-US relations.. These Indian bodies have been removed from Washington's Entity list. US officials said that relaxation of such exports was aimed at more than just gearing up exports to a friendly country. US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said: “Today's action Mundra Port Images: Portia Coal Terminal Development At Ennore Port marks a significant milestone in reinforcing the US-India strategic partnership and unmov1979, when Beijing's forces fishing port in the middle of a salt ing forward with export control invaded the country's southern marsh before the earthquake. reforms that will facilitate highneighbour. Folk must not be Now it's an industrial hub, hantechnology trade and cooperadenied their pleasures of the dling hundreds of tonnes of tion.” India and the US are to goods every day. The Adani moment.

Nevertheless, Mr work closely on nuclear non-progroup which owns the port is Lamont was alert to Prime liferation goals in the internationnow worth $7 billion.....Mundra Minister Manmohan Singh's al sphere. is expected soon to be bigger recent statement on national Meanwhile, a wide range of than the port at Mumbai.” security preparations: Indian ballistic missiles are to be This truly is some transfor“Substantial funds have been tested, starting in February and mation. Whence comes another? given to Arunachal Pradesh [the continuing through 2011, accordborder province on India's northing to Dr V.K. Saraswat, east claimed by China[, particuIndian war doctrine Scientific Adviser to the Defence larly for development of border Minister head of DRDO (The areas, porter and mule tracks and Defence analyst Nitin Gokhale Hindu January 28). administrative centres in remote (The Diplomat January 30) areas.” reports that the 1.1million-strong Mr Singh was quoted as sayIndian Army is undertaking its Pirates held ing that India had raised 23 new first strategic transformation in battalions of paramilitary forces more than two decades. And it The Times of India report across the country, among them has its sights firmly fixed on (January 31) told of the interdicnew recruits to the Border China. Mr Gokhale writes: tion of a Somali pirate skiff in Security Force, and taken steps “Working from the results of a Indian waters near the to fortify its coastal security. Mr 'Transformation Study,' which Lakshadweep Islands, with 20 Lamont concludes: “Mr Singh's was produced by a team of generSomali pirates on board. A Thai speech coincided with fresh alleals led by the Chief of the Army vessel including its crew were resgations that China was meddling Staff General V.K.Singh when he cued in the Indian operation. The on the Indian side of the border. was Eastern Army Commander, a 20 Somali pirates were arrested The Karmapa Lama, a senior series of radical suggestions are and brought to Mumbai, where Tibetan spiritual leader, faces set to be implemented to bring they will stand trial. suspicions of being a Tibetan spy about a paradigm shift in the way Chief of the Naval Staff after Indian police found #1.6 the Indian Army is deployed and Admiral Nirmal Verma said the million worth of foreign cash in operationalised, both defensively Indian response carried a 'strong one of his monasteries.

The ama and offensively.” Essentially, the message' that India would not tolfled China in 2000, and is seen as changes are aimed at strengthenerate any intrusion into its terria possible sucessor to the Dalai ing the Army's capacity for fighttorial waters. “It's absolutely Lama.” ing what one serving general has unacceptable to us,” he said. described “as a war on two and a half fronts' – a reference to posChina-linked Indo-Russian nuclear sible simultaneous confrontainsurgencies tions with Pakistan and China at links the same time as managing an Outlook magazine (February 7) internal counter-insurgency Business Line (January 10) told a published a detailed report by effort.”

Russian offer to partner India in Saikat Datta highlighting China's In practical terms, it works the latter's three-stage nuclear support to insurgencies in India's out thus: the Army will be organprogramme that aims at harnessnorth-east. Indian intelligence ised in a way that allows two theing the thorium fuel cycle for the agencies, having tracked Naga atres to be independent of each generation of nuclear power. As a militant Anthony Shimray from other, with the Army increasing first step, the two countries have his Bankok hideout through his its Aviation Corps to increase decided to consider the joint journey to Nepal and beyond mobility. Leaner and meaner development a 'new generation' arrested him at the Patna railway appears to be the guiding operanuclear fast neutron reactor. Fast station. He sang like a canary tional principle. New roads and during his interrogation by breeders use 'fast' or high energy new headquarters along the Indian intelligence officers, who neutrons to sustain the fission Himalayan border are to be supalso learnt of the co-ordinated process, in contrast to waterplemented by new tactical and Pakistani ISI involvement in cooled reactors that use 'therstrategic formations. The 'Cold these partnering activities. mal'or low energy neutrons.

Start' concept of the quickest and This 100-page intelligence According to the Department of most effective mobilisation to report, from which the above Atomic Energy Officials, the two meet an enemy assault, singly or mentioned details were culled, countries are working on plans to together, is undergoing refinewas made available to Outlook. develop a 'new generation' fast ment through military exercises China's stratagem of encircling neutron reactor after the Russian involving the three services in a India is as clear as daylight, but side forwarded a proposal during combined operation.

Beijing's cunning has its limitaPresident Dmitry Medvedev's tions. This promises to be a long visit to India in December. game. Beijing's rivals and adverPM on threat In India's three-stage nuclear saries are more formidable than electricity programme, the breedmullah-crazed Pakistan, Beijing's James Lamont in the Financial er reactors form a vital link stalking horse.

Times (February 2) referred ad between the first and third stages. nauseam to China's “humiliating

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

YOUR VOICE Multiculturalism and British Muslims No time could have been better than when Rt Hon Cameron spoke on the multiculturalism with reference to the Muslim Community here in our country.

It has sparked a debate here while he was still in Munich but he very rightly said and it is high time that attitude of British Muslims changes for better to respect and integrate with main stream British Society like other minorities Jews and Hindus (Indians).

It is not only shameful & unfaithful but utterly disgraceful for a section of the community to behave in such a bad way hurling insults day in day out to the over generous hosting nation which has given them so much that they can not dream of in their countries of origin.

Whenever some British leader speaks on the integration issue for British Muslims, some vocal community leaders (including some politicians) start debates on Islamophobia insidiously collating it with racism like Barones Warsi did recently.

Labour is also trying to capitalise on this issue for political mileage and I squarely blame labour's 13 years loose rule when the situation of said community's vocal machines crossed all limits of tolerance of British people. One must stand united to tackle the matter seriously.

Himmat London

Multiculturalism and Britain The Prime Minister, David Cameron in his speech in Germany was right in saying that multi-culturalism in Britain is a failure and demanded a ‘whole new way of thinking’. The Prime minister was right to declare that it was not for the government to tell people to adopt multiculturalism.

The majority of the Muslim population do not want to integrate with the rest of the British society and they have created mini Muslim ‘no-go’ ghettoes through out Britain in inner city areas such as Bradford, Tower Hamlets, Luton and so on.

The British people of all races and religions who accept British values, respect the law and enjoy full freedom of expression. It does mean a proper assimilation and eventual integration with the main stream society.

If Britain wants to create a tolerant society, extreme religious and political groups need to be watched very carefully and monitored. Labour shadow justice Minister was wrong in accusing PM of creating propaganda for rightwing extremists. Sadiq Khan’s remarks are outrageous and out of order. The PM wants to unite people around our common values and he had done it in a sensible way.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

British PM criticises home grown terrorism Continued from page 1 His statement partly echoed views expressed

by Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany's first woman Chancellor, last October that current policies of multiculturalism had failed and did not focus sufficiently on integration. However Muslim groups have complained that, once again, they are being unfairly targeted.

On the need for greater integration of Muslim minorities, the prime minister called for an end to "passive liberalism" in favor of a "more active, muscular liberalism."

This should mean, he said, that equal rights, the rule of law, freedom of speech and democracy were actively promoted against the backdrop of Islamism.

"If we are to defeat this threat, I believe it's time to turn the page on the failed policies of the past," he told the conference in a panel discussion attended by Chancellor Merkel and other highranking international politicians.

Cameron's speech was his first on Islamist extremism since taking power in May 2010. He started by differentiating between the moderate religion of Islam and "Islamist extremism."

He said "under the doctrine of state multiculturalism, we have encouraged different cultures to live separate lives, apart from each other and the mainstream."

PM David Cameron giving his speech at the Munich Security Conference

"All this leaves some young Muslims feeling rootless and the search for something to belong to and believe in can lead them to this extremist ideology."

The issue of "homegrown terrorism" is a major concern in Britain after four suicide bombers, three of whom were born in the UK, killed 52 people in a 2005 attack on London's transport system.

The Muslim Council of Britain's assistant secretary general Faisal Hanjra expressed disappointment at the comments.

"Again it just seems the Muslim community is very much in the spotlight, being treated as part of the problem as opposed to part of the solution."

Sadiq Khan, Shadow Justice Secretary told the Daily Mirror, "Cameron’s claims that “multiculturalism” has failed were unwise.

We should not make generalisations about a faith based on what a

minority do. There are 2.5million Brits of Muslim faith. The number of headbangers are small. The impression is created that the faith I follow is responsible for what these guys are doing.

On the day the EDL are marching through Luton and making British Muslims fear to step outside their own homes, it was highly unwise for the PM to make a speech like this spun the way it was.

The Conservatives are trying to create an artificial row with me because they realise now that they have been embarrassed by the timing of Cameron’s speech."

But Tory Chairman Baroness Warsi described Mr Khan’s remarks as an attempt to ‘smear’ the Prime Minister as a Right-wing extremist.

‘This is outrageous and irresponsible,’ she said.

‘David Cameron has made it clear he wants to unite Britain around our common values, and he has done so in measured

13

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook: The Politics of Multiculturism Sadiq Kahn is wrong. I don’t care he was the first Muslim in the British Cabinet. Or that he got the leader of the Opposition elected to that post. Sadiq Kahn is wrong. Kahn is wrong when he makes a speech that the Prime Minister, in stating that multiculturism is dead, is writing for the BNP. While I’m at it, Yasmin Alibhai-Brown is wrong when she writes in the Independent that ‘David Cameron’s message is that Muslim’s are not wanted’.

Kahn is wrong because his argument is as infantile as it is irrational. The PM no more supports the BNP just because the Nazis can twist his argument, than the argument that a person who disagrees with Israel is an anti-Semite.

The PM’s point, directed at British Muslims is simply put that multiculturalism does not mean many cultures and one passport. It means certain cultural values are not up for debate. Everything is not up for grabs. There will be one unifying culture and what you do within the freedoms offered by that is up to you. That culture does not stop you eating chapattis, but it also does not want simple adherence to the law, but also to the spirit of the nation and its heritage.

Why did the PM feel the need to make the speech? Consider what is Islamic extremism. Let me paraphrase from a TV script, ‘It's strict adherence to a particular interpretation of 7th century Islamic law as practiced by the prophet Mohammed, and when I say "strict adherence," I'm not kidding around.

Men are forced to pray, wear their beards a certain length. Among my favourites is there's only one acceptable cheer at a soccer match: 'Allah-uhAkbar.' "God is great." If your guys are getting creamed, then you're on your own. Things are a lot less comic for women, who aren't allowed to attend school or have jobs. They're not allowed to be unaccompanied, and oftentimes get publicly stoned to death for crimes like not wearing a veil. I don't have to tell you they don't need to shout at a soccer match because they're never going to go to one. So what bothers them about us? Well, the variety of cheers alone coming from the cheap seats at Giants stadium when they're playing the Cowboys is enough for a jihad, to say nothing of street corners lined church next to synagogue, next to mosque, newspapers that can print anylanguage.

‘It is right that we make it clear: extremism and Islam are not the same thing. Mr Khan ran Ed Miliband’s leadership campaign. He must apologise and Mr Miliband needs to disown his colleague’s baseless accusation.’

To this a spokesman for Mr Khan responded: ‘The Conservatives are trying to create an artificial row with Sadiq because they realise they have been embarrassed by the timing of Mr Cameron’s speech.

‘On the day that the EDL marched through Luton and made British Muslims fear to step outside their own homes, it was highly unwise for Mr Cameron to make his speech.’

thing they want, women who can do anything they want including taking a rocket ship to outer space, vote, and play soccer. This is a plural society. That means we accept more than one idea. It offends them... You want to get these people? I mean, you really want to reach in and kill them where they live? Keep accepting more than one idea. It makes them absolutely crazy.’

And that is why Sadiq is wrong. Mr Kahn the PM is no more writing speeches for the BNP than you are for the Taliban. As the same script reads, ‘When you think of Afghanistan, think of Poland. When you think of the Taliban, think of the Nazis. When you think of the citizens of Afghanistan, think of the Jews in concentration camps.’

And Ms Alibhai-Brown you don’t get it when you write ‘Cameron isn't troubled by Hassidic enclaves, Orthodox Jewish dress codes, or their religiously sanctioned gender inequality and stubborn self-removal from mainstream societies. I have been rebuffed by a veiled Muslim woman and a Hassidic Jewish one when I tried to talk to their children.

And the other day a young white mum told her daughter to come away from me, the "Paki".’ None of these groups are a threat to our society the way extremists trying to blow us up are.

None are running whole countries. (And if you think the West is like Iran – then your IQ is amoebic). None are producing extremist suicide bombing terrorists from their midsts. None. Not a Jewish or Hindu or white suicide bomber. Get it.

When they do – we’ll focus on them and tell them to get their house in order.

We’re not being prejudiced. And I am not being paranoid – 9/11 and 7/7 happened. On my doorstep.

You know why the Jews prayed in concentration camps? Not for deliverance. No they prayed, because they thanked God they were not made like the Nazis. You want to live in Britain, it is not enough you keep within the laws but otherwise behave like an Afghan Taliban in your home and communities.

No, you get with the programme. You thank your God he did not make you like the Taliban and he made you a British citizen. And honour the Muslims who fought in the Second World War to rid the world of tyranny. If you don’t like it, you know where the airport is. Use that passport – for the last time.

The hidden betrayal of forced marriage victims Sweety Shah, pictured, was about to be forcefully married off to India by her father, who allegedly assaulted her regularly.

She ran off from her house in Britain to save herself and was never taken back by the family, reports The Times.

Asian girls and boys are frequently coerced into marriages and the consequences are not just the personal loss suffered by them. Last week Lord Ahmed, Britain’s first Muslim peer, caused outrage when he said that such loveless marriages drove some men to prey on vulnerable white girls.

Campaigners such as Jasvinder Sanghera,

founder o f Karma Nirvana, a Leedsbased charity that supp o r t s victims and survivors of forced marriages and honour-based violence, said that protection orders, issued by the courts to deter families from trying to coerce vulnerable girls into marriage, are ineffective: some 254 have been issued, but only five families have been returned to court for breaching an order and, even then, they have received no punishment.

14

COMMUNITY

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Sikh demonstrators in Luton deal a heavy blow to the EDL A delegation of Sikhs marched joining a big rally against the English Defence League (EDL) held in Luton on Saturday 5th February 2011. They played the Dhol, a Punjabi war drum, as they entered the rally carrying a banner that read ‘Sikhs Against the English Defence League – Fighting Intolerance since 1699’, a reference to the establishment of martial Sikhism by the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. They were greeted with cheers by more than two thousand demonstrators gathered in the Park Square, in the centre of Luton, who gave the marching Sikhs a great applause.

This comes as a great blow to the English Defence League (EDL) as they had claimed that they are getting support from many Sikhs. The demonstration by ‘Sikhs Against the EDL’ shows otherwise.

Varinder Singh spoke on behalf of the Sikh delegation and pointed out that the Sikh community has a proud tradition of fighting Fascism in the Second World War. He asked, “Given our proud history, how can Sikhs not oppose the racism and Fascism espoused by EDL?” Balwindar Singh Rana, also from a Sikh background said, “The Sikhs Against the EDL have launched a ‘Joint Statement’ which has already gained support from some of the major Sikh and Hindu organisations, including many Sikh Student Societies, as well as many prominent individuals in this country. People are waking up to the dangers of the racist poison that is being spread by

Arti Kumar with her sons Ravi (left) and Akash

the EDL and they will no longer fall for their ‘divide & rule’ tactics.”

He further added: “In the ‘70s and ‘80s, whether we were Sikhs, Hindus or Muslim, we were all united against the racists and fascists of the National Front and the BNP. We now have to show the same unity again if we are going to halt this tide of racist hatred by the EDL.” Salvinder Singh Dhillon from the Indian Workers Association pointed out that the rally was being attended by all communities was a proof that they all stand shoulder to shoulder against promotion of racism and fascism. He said that, “The poison of racism serves to divide people and weaken their common struggles

against the attacks by the state on their livelihood, against imposition of tuition fees, and the pending massive spending cuts in social services, health and education.”

The rally was organised by Unite Against Fascism(UAF), a broad based organisation supported by numerous individuals and organisations including trade unions and members of parliament.

Various speakers expressed their opposition to EDL and the racist British National Party(BNP). There was also a further protest in the Bury Park, near the Mosque, organised by the Muslim community and attended by nearly two thousand people.

A peep through the curtain

The magical crystal ball Asian Voice as Britain's largest Asian newsweekly has always been the voice of the British Asians.

While Britain debates about multi culturalism and disintegration of Britons, racist bullies against the first Asian woman MP and the much controversial speech of the Tory leader, PM Cameron, a glimpse at New Life, (Asian Voice's predecessor) three decades ago, brings us 'back to the future'.

33 years back Asian Voice had a different name and a different get up. It still used to be published on every Friday, though from Chiswick High Road and cost only 10p.

A quick look at the stories on 13th January 1978 acts like a magical crystal ball reflecting an array of incidents in the British society that we encounter even today, as a part of our present. Is Britain's Big society under the Tories going back to the 1970s?

13th January 1978 l About 20 black and brown barristers practising at the English bar decided to treat Neil McKinnon, an Australian born judge as a leper because of a shameful summing up and acquittal of John Kingsley Read. The barristers led by Rudy Narayan had pledged that they

Appeal to help an Afghan Hindu mum

would boycott all courts that were presided by McKinnon.

John Kingsley Read a self declared Chairman of the Democratic National Party was on a charge under race Relations Act 1976, for using threatening, abusive or insulting words to stir up racial hatred.

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants issued a statement to boycott all judicial proceedings.

Christian Action, the anti apartheid organisation also supported JCWI's stand. On another hand, a 29 years old boy Peter Mooney refused to take oath in Warwick Crown Court, protesting against McKinnon's actions, which could have jailed Peter. l The Government urged to act quickly to stop the spread of rickets among young Asians living in Brent and other parts of the country. A campaign for change in existing food regulations was fought by Brent South MP Laurie Pavitt, who was worried about the spread of rickets among Asians who arrived in his constituency from East Africa. Mr Pavitt wanted extra Vitamin D to be added to Chapatti flour to combat disease. l Mr Samit Kumar Ghosh the first Indian to have electronic hands installed in Edinburgh. l A chef, Mr Ibrahim Ali, at an Indian restaurant in Leicester knocked to the ground and kicked

unconscious by a gang of youths, yards from where he worked. l Indian Chair made of silver gilt of around 1870 sold to a Swiss buyer at ￡4000. l Mr John Moore, MP involved in an argument on whether Tories should participate in an all party group to combat racialism. l In a week which saw a judge ludicrously talk about black and brown people, especially immigrants, a contributor Colin Welch paid tribute to the nation of shopkeepers in his article 'Where would the English be without the Asian shopkeepers and Madras Vindaloo?' l Professor Michael Dummett gave one of the most brilliant analytical speeches exposing the skill with which the government outmanoeuvred the Black Freedom movement and thwarted the formation of what he calls a movement "which impinges upon public consciousness as such" l PM Rt Hon James Callaghan MP, told Bangladeshis in a speech in Dacca on January 5th, that there is equality under the law for all in Britain. l India made a crushing victory over Australia in the fourth test.

(From this issue onwards, we will present a round up of stories, topics and headlines, that made to the pages of our 'New Life' 30 years back)

Leaders in the Teesside Hindu community are appealing for help to keep a mum and her sons in Middlesbrough.

Arti Kumar received notice last week that she is no longer eligible to claim support as an asylum seeker and will have to leave her accommodation on February 1 and be deported back to Afghanistan.

But President of the Middlesbrough Radha Krishna Temple, Krishan Nath, says doing so would mean certain death for her and her children.

The family escaped religious persecution in Kabul in 2007 - including the abduction of daughter Rekha, 16, and the brutal assault of son Ravi, then 14, who was left for dead.

When Arti left her home, husband Ram had to stay behind. They never heard from him again.

Mr Nath, 78, a former headteacher of Abingdon Primary School, said: “In Afghanistan Hindus are

terrorised. They are forced to abandon their beliefs in favour of Islam and treated as second class citizens. The treatment of women is even worse.”

Mr Nath and Prem Kumar, chairman of the Hindu Cultural Society in North Ormesby, are rallying behind the family with a petition.

The family’s social worker has backed their plea, stating Ravi’s medical needs in a letter in support. But Arti may still face homelessness here.

Her landlord has asked her to be out on Tuesday and it could be another 10 days after that before she receives a decision from the UK Border Agency, who say they are dealing with the new asylum application. Mr Nath said: “Please help us by signing the petition.”

Sign the petition at the Radha Krishna Temple on Westbourne Grove, North Ormesby, or at Acklam Post Office.

Southall Travel bags best overall agent award

Mrs Lydia Nazareth - General Manager Sales - UK and Ireland, Mr.Kuljinder Singh Bahia - Managing Director Southall Travel, Mr Jaymin Borkhatria - Sales Director Southall Travel and Late Mr Raja Segaran Sr Vice President Europe

The Southall travel group received the Best Overall Agent Award for 2009/10 from Jet Airways. The Southall Travel Group is one of the largest travel agencies in the UK employing over 700 staff globally across the Leisure, Wholesaling and Business Travel sectors.

During the last 12 months they arranged perfect flight and holiday itineraries to over 350,000 of their valued customers

They planned & tailored business trips, shortbreaks & well earned holidays totalling over 200 million.

In 2008 Southall travel Group opened new corporate premises just outside of Londons main Heathrow Airport and have since begun construction on a new global customer service centre with the capacity to house over 2000 highly trained travel advisors.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Father strangles his daughter in anger A father with a 'nasty temper' allegedly murdered his daughter during an argument about her playing music too loud, a court heard last week.

Gurmeet Singh Ubhi, 54, allegedly strangled his 24-yearold daughter Amrit at the family home in Telford, Shropshire, when he was woken up after he finished working a night shift, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Rachel Brand, prosecuting, said that Ubih, a practising Sikh, got into a struggle with his daughter in the conservatory of the family home in Leegomery last September after he tried to use the remote control to turn down the music.

She said he told police his daughter attacked him and in the ensuing struggle he suddenly found his hands around her neck.

Miss Brand told the jury of eight women and four men that Ubhi, who denies murdering his daughter, had a problematic relationship with Amrit, his son Harmeet and his wife Satinder after a period of estrangement.

The couple parted in 1997 when the children were young and Ubhi went on to re-marry, Miss Brand said.

But his second marriage broke down, she added, because he was sent to prison after attacking his sec-

father who thought his children should do what he thought. It is not really a cultural thing.'

Immediately after the fight and allegedly killing his daughter, Ubhi rang friends, family members and his brother to essentially say 'goodbye and god bless you', Miss Brand Amrit Ubhi said.

Gurmeet Singh Ubhi He then got ond wife with a chisel. in his car and drove to a police staThe court heard that Ubhi recontion in Wellington where he told ciled with his first wife Satinder and police about the argument and that the rest of the family when they paid they would find his daughter in the him frequent visits in prison and house. upon his release he moved back into She added: 'This is a case of a the family home. man with a very nasty temper who Miss Brand said Ubhi was not lashes out in arguments. Nothing at happy when he moved back into the all to do with self-defence. family home and found the children 'The injuries he received were had grown-up and had more freedom entirely in keeping with his daughter, than he approved of. He did not Amrit, fighting for her life. approve of his daughter's Caucasian 'She bit him and she scratched boyfriend either. him.

Even if she pulled some of his She said using the term beard hairs out it must have been 'Westernised' to describe how Ubhi clear it was because she was strugfelt about his children would not be gling hard.' appropriate and added: 'In this case The trial continues. it has to do with an old-fashioned

The cost of a child's life A council was ordered to pay ￡137,000 last week after a court found its negligence caused the death of a toddler crushed by a wall in high winds.

Two-year-old Saurav Ghai was fatally injured when the brick wall belonging to Camden Council gave way on the Wending Estate in north London as he walked home with his nanny.

He was taken to hospital with multiple injuries after the incident in Southampton Road, Gospel Oak, in January 2007 but died shortly afterwards.

Camden Council was given a ￡72,000 fine and ordered to pay ￡65,000 prosecution costs after admitting health and safety breaches.

Judge Deborah Taylor, sitting at Southwark Crown Court, in London, told the council: 'The most serious feature of this offence is that it was a significant cause to the death of little Saurav Ghai.'

His parents Vinay and Desiree were in court for the sentencing.

Judge Taylor added: 'Their loss is clearly immeasurable.'

The London Borough of Camden initially pleaded not guilty last year to failing to discharge a health and safety duty contrary to two sections of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, but changed its plea

Saurav Ghai

in October.

A wind speed of 75mph was recorded shortly after the 2,050lb (930kg) wall fell and hit Saurav, the court was told.

The council claimed it had no idea the wall was dangerous and at the risk of imminent collapse.

The boundary wall, which was only the thickness of half a brick, was built in the 1970s and repaired in 1997 after cracks were discovered.

However, it was found that the rebuilding work, 10 years before the accident, was not carried out correctly.

Judge Taylor said: 'It is no dispute as a matter of fact, although Camden was not then aware of it, that the wall was constructed, when it was rebuilt in 1997, so that it was dangerous.'

A survey carried out in 2006 said work needed to be done on the wall in the next 12 months, but that message had not reached the council by the time of Saurav's death.

The council said as part of its guilty plea that it did all that was reasonably practicable with regard to the safety of the wall.

The judge found, however, that it was the council's responsibility to make sure the work was carried out properly in 1997 and described the overall inspection regime as 'wholly inadequate'.

She said: 'I have concluded that Camden failed to show in relation to the repair of this section of the wall that they did all that was reasonably practicable.'

Dominic Kay, representing the council, said: 'It is accepted that the alarm bells should have rung in 2002 and steps taken, but that did not happen.

'But it is not the case that there were repeated warnings that Camden failed to take into account.'

Speaking after the sentencing, a Camden Council spokeswoman said: 'We are very sorry that the collapse of a wall belonging to Camden Council resulted in the death of Saurav

Ghai.

'We would like to express our deepest sympathy and remorse to his family, particularly at this time.

'While Camden pleaded guilty to breaching its health and safety duty, it also asked the court to consider a number of technical issues relating to the adequacy of the council's systems of repair and maintenance and the nature and extent of that breach.

'We will be giving further consideration to the ruling made by the judge, and its implications.'

The council said it has reviewed all its procedures since 2007 and added that the rest of the wall has since been demolished and rebuilt.

15

Rapist cornered by father of teenage victim A rapist who attacked a teenage schoolgirl was caught when he was spotted by his victim days later and chased down by her father.

Mohammed Alim, 30, (pictured) was cornered and arrested after police joined the pursuit. He was later jailed for seven years for a 'cold and calculated attack'.

Minshull Street Crown Court heard how the failed asylum seeker stalked his victim as she walked along a road in Chadderton, Oldham, Greater Manchester, on the evening of September 18 last year.

Alim pulled the teenager into an alleyway and throttled her before raping her twice. He then ran off with her handbag.

However, just days after the attack took place, the teenager spotted Alim on the streets of Oldham while driving with her father.

Her father pulled over the vehicle and called Alim over, pretending he was lost.

But Alim ran off after catching sight of the girl, who had tried to conceal herself from view.

The father gave chase and was joined by two nearby PCSOs on patrol.

The attacker was finally cornered by police when he ran into a stranger's house.

Alim, who came to the UK from Bangladesh aged 16 and whose previous attempts to claim refuge had been refused, pleaded guilty to one count of rape after DNA evidence was recovered from the scene.

Delivering sentencing, Judge Lakin said: 'You subjected a young girl to every woman's worst nightmare. This rape was cold and calculated. During the attack she feared she would die and says she feels lucky to be alive.

The toddler's grieving family, including mother Desiree, father Vinay and brother Arun, at the scene of the accident

'Not surprisingly this has had a very serious impact on her.

'She feels scared, has trouble sleeping and now has problems with her studies. You are in my judgement a dangerous offender.'

Alim was sentenced to seven years and four months in custody and ordered to serve a further two years on licence, minus 130 days already spent behind bars.

He was also ordered to sign the sex offenders register and banned from working with children for life.

Two other charges of sexual assault and theft were allowed to lie on file.

Speaking outside court, a member of the girl's family expressed dismay at the sentence.

They said: 'This sentence is not long enough for what he has done - it is horrendous what she has been through.

'I think if her father had caught him he would have killed him.

'She has had to have injections in case she had HIV and he gave her a sexually transmitted disease - what teenage girl should have to go through that?

'She has been left terrified and has had to move away from the area so she doesn't have to walk past where the attack happened.'

It has 28 days to pay the fine, reduced from ￡ 90,000 because of its guilty plea.

The judge emphasised to the court: 'The financial penalty is not intended to measure the value of this life which was so tragically lost.'

Saurav's parents wrote an emotional victim impact statement which was read by the judge but not made public. They did not wish to comment as they left court.

A verdict of accidental death was returned at an inquest in 2007. The toddler's nanny was also injured in the accident, but not seriously.

Bollywood

16 Asian Voice Saturday 12th February 2011

Sanjay Dutt says no to Mallika Sherawat Sonia Agarwal wishes Selvaraghavan

Sonia Agarwal has wished her ex-husband Selvaraghavan for his second marriage with Geethanjali. The actress is happy that the director is marrying again and expressed her happiness for his wedding.

According to sources, Sonia is still a good friend of Selva. Even after their break-up, she shares a good bonding with their family. She has congratulated Selvaraghavan and his fiancée soon after the

director announced about his wedding, says a source. It may be recalled that Selvaraghavan was married to actress Sonia Agarwal in 2006. But their marriage did not last long as they parted ways in 2009.

However, Sonia Agarwal is making her comeback to film industry with ‘Vaanam,’ which stars Silambarasan, Anushka Shetty, Bharath, Prakash Raj in the key roles.

Jyothika lauds Karthi Karthi’s performance in his recent release ‘Siruthai’, in which he performed dual role for the first time in his acting career, has won appreciation from his sister-inlaw Jyothika.

“Anni said long back that she would watch the film on the first day itself since I am playing a police officer. Sticking to her words, she watched ‘Siruthai’ on the very first day,” Karthi says.

“She thoroughly enjoyed the movie,” the actor says and adds: “She sent me congratulatory messages through mobile even before the

show got over. I am overwhelmed.”

On the possibilities of his acting together with his brother Suriya, Karthi says, “I don’t think we would share the screen space in the near future.

Because, he is busy for the next two years. And several other factors have also to be considered.”

Shreya Saran gets into message business!

Shreya Saran may not be seen often on big screen, as her fans expect her to see, but it has opened up a new world for her to fulfill her dreams.

Yes, the actress, who has been dreaming to open a spa for a while, has finally opened her first outlet in Andheri, Mumbai.

Fitness freak Shreya has named it Shree Spa and has plans to open in different parts of India. However, her parents will take care of the massage centre. What is more interesting is that she has stood up again for humanitarian cause by employing visually impaired people. Talking about the recruitment, she said that she has seen their struggle and understands their problems. She also knows the importance of giving them better options.

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has refused to work with Mallika Sherawat in the remake of his father's superhit film “Amrapali,” according to reports.

The grapervine has it that Sanju did show interest initially, but when he learnt about Mallika Sherawat being the lead, essayed by Legendary Vyjayanthimala in the original, he said no.

"When the makers first went to him, they hadn't zeroed in on the actress. At the time, Sanju was open to discussing the possibility of being a part of the film.

When they returned to him a few weeks later, and suggested casting the Hissss actress in the film, he decided to back out.

He said he had date problems and excused him-

self from the project," revealed a source.

It is not clear whether he was opposed to the actress on a personal level but he made it amply clear that he didn't want to work with the

Murder actress.

Mallika and Sanjay are working in ‘Dhamaal 2,’ but aren't paired together. The two have shot one schedule for ‘Dhamaal 2.’

A source from the pro-

duction adds, "Sanju and Mallika have a cold war going on.

It has something to do with the comfort he shares with K a n g n a Ranaut, who's also acting in the film. He is very fond of his ‘Knock Out’ co-star, which has obviously not gone down well with Mallika. Also, he disapproves of her raunchy image. In fact, he had called her a badly dressed celebrity on Koffee with Karan once."

Let's see who is the lucky guy opposite Mallika.

Celina Jaitley to marry Peter Haag in Sept Bollywood actress Celina Jaitley will become Mrs Peter Haag on September 23 at a very private wedding.

The actress had planned not to get married before 2012.

But now that the couple is sure of their feelings for one another, waiting seems futile.

The wedding will take place in Egypt despite the on-going unrest there.

Incidentally, Jaitley is the country's tourism ambassador.

"I'm sure everything will be normal in Egypt by September. Peter and I will take our marriage vows in Egypt and nowhere else. We had decided that when we decided to get married. That won't change."

The actress is in constant touch with the Egyptian authorities on the situation in the country.

She adds, "I'm very much in touch with Mr Khaled el Bakley, the ambassador of Egypt to India, and Mr Adel el Masery, the director of Egyptian tourism.

They have ensured that every help is provided to Indian nationals stranded in

Egypt.

I will visit Egypt as soon as it's possible for me to travel to the country. And yes, things better get to normal soon. Meri shaadi ka sawaal hai."

She feels there is no cause for worry, "The situation always looks far more alarming from the outside than it actually is." Celina last visited Egypt last month.

"In fact, I spent an entire month there until Dec 15, 2010 for a shoot. Everything was perfectly normal and Egypt was as beautiful as ever. I attended the Cairo Film Festival as jury for 12 days and shot for approximately a week for an ad campaign all over Cairo without a clue about any incident as such taking over Egypt. I urge people to come forward and share their thoughts, prayers and feelings for Egypt and its people."

Celina has initiated a campaign for peace in Egypt on her official website. "It's called Pray For Egypt. Twitter followers are invited to offer

their prayers for peace in the region, " she concludes serenely.

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

17

Punjab comes to London as ‘Patiala House’ A family drama of a father – son relationship, ‘Patiala House’ is about cross-cultural dichotomy

Prepare to be bowled over by one of the most heartfelt and poignant film releases of 2011, ‘Patiala House’, a film that perfectly unites emotion with humour in a family drama that speaks of the cross-generational conflicts that arise from migration, releasing worldwide this week. Set in London, ‘Patiala House’ transcends age, racial barriers and backgrounds, dealing with issues that resonate universally with today’s multicultural society – a story about family ties and duty, a yearning to follow one’s dreams, and trying to make sense of the dichotomies that life presents when one’s family has migrated to another land.

The film is produced by Hari Om Entertainment Company, People Tree Films and T-Series.

A film about second chances in life and following your ambitions to turn your dreams into reality, Nikhil Advani (Kal Ho Na Ho, Salaam E Ishq) directs the affecting tale of a son trying to navigate his own way through life while still adhering to his father’s projected ideals and aspirations, but finally deciding to walk his own path. ‘Patiala House’ blends emotion with humour and will have audiences simultaneously shedding tears of pathos and jubilation.

Leading the cast is Akshay Kumar in an onscreen avatar that’s never been presented to audiences before. An accomplished

and leading actor, Akki juggles the contradictory role of a shop keeper from Southall respecting his traditionalist father, played by veteran of Indian cinema Rishi Kapoor, while pursuing his dream to play cricket for England.

Akki delivers the performance of a lifetime and is joined by a stellar cast of costars including starlet Anushka Sharma and veteran actress Dimple Kapadia.

The film also features cricketers from the England, Australia, South Africa, India and Pakistan teams including three former England Captains – David Gower, Nasser Hussain and John Emburey – and an array of British Asian talent including rapper Hard Kaur and actors Armaan Kirmani, Ankush Khanna and Selina Hotwani. The lasting soundtrack combining soul, spirit and sassiness, created by acclaimed composing trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy, will be sure to linger in the hearts of audiences way beyond the

film’s end credits.

Set against the colourful and world-famous backdrop of Southall with its rich flavours and atmosphere, ‘Patiala House’ stands amidst the solid foundations of the local, Indian ‘desi’ community who will fight with their hearts to make their dreams a reality, and who aspire to make anything happen. With 80 per cent of the film set in England, filming took place in locations such as Oval, Lords and Nottingham Trent Bridge cricket grounds, Covent Garden, Harrow and Southall, as well as in Mumbai where Southall’s infamous Broadway was recreated, detail for detail.

‘Patiala House’ is a film that extends far beyond the cricket pitch – the game is just a catalyst, a tool adopted to touch upon the real message of the film, namely to fulfill one’s dreams and seize the second chance that life offers us, if we missed it the first time round.

Now, Sonakshi turns item girl for Farah After catapulting Katrina Kaif to superstardom with ‘Sheila Ki Jawani’, Bollywood choreographer-turned-director Farah Khan’s next choice is ‘Dabangg’ beauty Sonakshi Sinha.

Talking to a daily, Farah revealed her plans, “I’d love to make Sonakshi do something totally different and seductive soon. She is my next item girl. She is also working in my home production next titled Joker.” When asked whether Sonakshi will try her hand at belly

dancing, Farah quipped, “Belly dancing is a big no for Sonakshi!”

Surprisingly, Sonakshi has no clue of Farah’s intentions as she said, “She (Farah) hasn’t told me anything as yet! But I am sure if it’s Farah, it will be something big.”

Buzz has it that Kareena Kapoor is also doing an item number ‘Chammak Challo’ in ‘Ra.One’. Well, it seems Kareena will get tough completion from Sonakshi.

Aamir on Berlin film jury

Anu Kapoor’s remarks upset Priyanka Chopra

Aishwarya in ‘Vogue’ cover for third time

Aamir Khan has been invited to be on the jury of the Berlin International Film Festival.

"I am looking forward to be in the jury.

Berlin is a very prestigious film festival. It's an honour to be invited to be in the jury. I am looking forward to watch all films there," Aamir told reporters. "World's best films are showcased there. Berlin (gives a chance) to start the year with watching the best of world cinema. I am also looking forward to meet the other jury members," he added.

Aamir is recognized internationally for his films " Lagaan" and " Taare Zameen Par". His recent production "Peepli Live", directed by Anusha Rizvi, and " Dhobi Ghat" directed by his wife Kiran Rao also won him acclaim in the festival circuit.

Priyanka Chopra is upset about her co-star Anu Kapoor's statement in the media that she refused to kiss him in “Saat Khoon Maaf.”

When she was recently asked which of her seven husbands she would have really liked to kill, "Anu Kapoor," was her prompt reply.

Says a source, "Priyanka is not the kind of girl who gets put off easily. She gets along with all her costars. Even with Anu Kapoor she was fine on the sets. She has known him for long now; he happens to be a friend of her father's.

Anu and Priyanka's dad share a mutual passion for music. In fact, Priyanka remembers appearing on Anu's TV show ‘Antakshari’ long ago. They got along well during the shoot of Saat Khoon Maaf." That was why Priyanka was shocked to hear Anu's version of the story.

Says the source, "It was rather odd of Anu to talk like that about Priyanka, as she did not refuse to kiss him."

And here's where the plot thickens. The source adds, "The reason why Priyanka couldn't do the intimate sequence with Anu Kapoor is quite simple. She wasn't there to shoot it. The intimate sequence with Anu was shot with a body double."

Bollywood diva Aishwarya Rai has made it to the cover of Vogue for the third time, sporting an all black feathered look. The magazine carries interesting tidbits on the former beauty queen from 10 men who know her well.

The magazine has spoken to people including Ash's husband Abhishek Bachchan, designer Manish Malhotra, director Ashutosh Gowariker and ace make-up artist Mickey Contractor, said a statement.

Abhishek shared the memories of his first meeting with Ash saying: "The first time I met Aishwarya was in August 1997. I was on a recce for my father's

film 'Mrityudata' in Switzerland and she was shooting her first film 'Aur Pyar Ho Gaya' with my dear friend Bobby Deol. I remember one evening

Bobby invited me over to his hotel for dinner and Aishwarya and the rest of the unit were there. That was the first time I actually met her."

"If you ask her, she will tell you the same thing - that the minute we came together, we both knew that this was something for keeps.

So, there wasn't just this 'one' defining moment, it always felt perfect," he added.

Others too have shared similar interesting episodes relating to the beauty queen.

Anaita Shroff Adajania, the fashion director for Vogue India magazine, has styled her for the shoot.

Aashiqui.in A social romantic comedy, Aashiqui.in is about young hearts getting hooked online and trying to find out if they are compatible.

Cyrus and April meet randomly online and they start getting close. They never reveal their true identities. But patience runs out and they finally decide to meet. Somehow April manages to find out his true identity but Cyrus fails to do so. April thinks that Cyrus is too good for her and tries to sulk away in the fear of rejection whereas Cyrus looks for her everywhere as she was the only one who could understand him as a friend and as a lover...

Will Cyrus and April finally meet?

Will Cyrus accept April for what she really is? Will April find the courage to be herself and claim the life she's always wanted?

Produced by Shashikant Chheda and Amit Cheeda under the banner of

New Hindi movies releasing this week 1 - Aashiqui.In 2 - Angel 3 - Patiala House

Gipsy Films and Shethia Audio Video Productions, it is directed by Shankadeep. He has also written the story, screenplay and dialogues of the film. The cast comprises of Ishaan Manhaas, Ankita Shrivastava, Dheeraj Miglani, Tiya Gandwani, Shubhi Ahuja, Deepan Shah, Sharmila Joshi and Priti Gandwani.

Taufeeq Paalvi has penned the lyrics, while Nitin Kumar Gupta and Prem Hariya have composed the music.

Kunal Ganjawala, Shaan, Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi Chauhan, Amit Kumar and Jojo Khan have rendered the playback.

Top 4 Bollywood movies for the week No. Film Last Week Total Weeks 1 Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji New 1 2 Yamla Pagla Deewana 1 2 3 Dhobi Ghat 2 2 4 No One Killed Jessica 3 4

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, As I said in my first column of the year, it will be a bad year for Indian stocks, compared to US ones.

Money is shifting this year from Indian to US stocks.

This is because US growth has picked up, partly because more Government money has been plugged in the system which means more purchasing power.

Moreover the Chinese continue to buy American exports.

As for commodities, expect new records this year for Gold and Copper. This year global growth is strong. Next year, when inflation hits and interest rates climb is another problem for December 2011.

For now enjoy the party.

As goes America so often goes the UK. Expect the UK to follow as I have been saying for a few weeks now. Especially commodity related stocks.

At the start of each year I pick stocks for users of my ‘Alpesh Patel Special Edition of Sharescope.’ In 2010 they produced a 16% return compared to the 9% from the stock market. Since 2004 when Sharescope have been keeping a record my annual 12 month picks have produced a 16.8% annual return compared to the market which has produced a 4.7% return annually.

My picks for January 2011 were: Aberdeen Asset Management, Charles Stanley, Dechra Pharma, Diploma, Fenner, Mears, Morgan Crucible, RSM Tenon, Skywest, Straight. These are based on my ‘value-growth-income’ filter. As Sharescope who monitor my performance independently put it, ‘Following Alpesh Patel Special Edition, an initial investment of £1,000 in 2004 would have compounded to £2,972 by the end of 2010 - an impressive 197.2% return in just 7 years. By contrast, the same £1,000 invested in a FTSE All-Share tracker fund would have yielded a profit of just £380 over the same 6 year period (a 38% gain).’

My best pick of 2010 was China Medical up 114% and the worst was BP! How was I supposed to know there would be an oil spill! The rule with my picks is that if any stock drops 25% in a year, then you sell it and hold cash for the rest of the year.

My point is these picks are not without risk and what you really want to know is how I did in 2008 – the year of the credit crunch. Well the markets were down 32% and I was down 18%. Not nice. Of the 12 stocks I picked that year, 9 had to be sold at their 25% loss limit. The best performer was De La Rue which was only down 7% - ie not one was up.

That is worth baring in mind. Whereas my best year was 2005 with a 44% return. The point is also no one year is a good guide. This is an important lesson, which brings me back to India. If you are holding Indian stocks, that is fine - in 3 years you will forget 2011 and subsequent years will make up for it.

Stop looking for sops; Mukherjee told exporters India’s finance minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said exporters would have to "fight" their own battle and stop expecting fiscal incentives from the government.

"Government only can play its part. Ultimately, exporters will have to compete and fight their own battle in the overseas markets," Mukherjee said adding "they have to stop looking towards the government for sops".

Unveiling a report that listed measures for cutting export transaction costs, Mukherjee said the country’s exporters must innovate and become more productive.

However, the Finance Minister expressed optimism that India would be able to achieve the USD

200 billion export target this fiscal.

Overseas shipments have already reached USD 164.7 billion during AprilDecember 2010-11 and according to Commerce Ministry's assessment they may well touch USD 215-220 billion.

Referring to high transaction cost for exports, estimated at 7-10 per cent of the cargo value, Mukherjee said the government was committed to help reduce the same.

With exports entering negative zone in October 2008 due to economic slowdown, the government had given several fiscal sops such as two per cent interest subsidy and incentives for exporting products to select markets.

Bangalore car maker to make engine parts for Airbus Reva makers Maini group are already suppliers to Boeing, other fighter aircraft makers take them another five years to actually see the results," says B Mahadevan, professor, production and operations management, at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore (IIM-B).

The contract work will be led by group companies such as Maini Precision Products (MPP), including its subsidiary company Maini Global Aerospace (MGA). The multi-year contract now positions the Mainis as strategic suppliers to the German major that has total revenues of $ 3.5 billion and partners with aero-engine manufacturers such as GE, Pratt & Whitney and Rolls-Royce to source aero-engine components.

"For them this is the India test, to see whether private industry in India can actually deliver as per the German standards,"

said Gautam Maini, managing director, Maini Precision, who led the aerospace foray for the group even as younger brother Chetan Maini made waves with Reva.

"Aerospace is going to be a big market in 5-8 years.

The business cycle ranges between 7 and 8 years. It was a quantum shift, something we had to believe for a long-term," says Maini.

Maini Aerospace , which got Snecma, a major French manufacturer of engines, as its first customer, has now developed more than 900 build-toprint parts in the past six years. These involve contracts from global customers such as Safran, BAE Systems , Eaton, Goodrich and Magellan Aerospace . It is also working with state-owned HAL to make components for various projects.

Kotak Bank set to tap British investors

Ratan Tata sees great potential in UK-India trade

In a major outsourcing deal, Bangalore-based Maini Group has bagged a multi-million dollar contract from German engine maker MTU Aero-Engines to make components for Eurofighter Typhoon and Airbus planes.

The engineering group, best known as maker of Reva, the country's first ever electric passenger car, will develop engine components for multi-role combat aircraft Eurofighter Typhoon and next generation A380 and A320 planes of Airbus, the world's largest aircraft maker. The deal will be signed during the Bangalore Air Show (Aero India 2011) which takes off on 9th February.

"With the commercial aero-engine market expected to generate about $740 billion sales over the next 20 years, we are now looking forward to growing the

relationship with MTU on a strategic level," said Naresh Palta, chief executive, Maini Aerospace.

"The group will invest around $30-40 million in the next 4-5 years to scale up its infrastructure and capacity," said Palta, who was earlier an executive director at public sector major, Hindustan Aeronautics (HAL). Last year, the group bagged an outsourcing contract worth up to $10 million from Marshall Aerospace, subcontractors for Boeing, the world's largest aerospace company.

"The timing of Maini's transformation to Aerospace is right. It will

London listed investment trust to focus on infrastructure sector One of India’s biggest banks is to tap British investors, including small punters, for £100 million to invest in infrastructure companies in the sub-continent.

Kotak Mahindra Bank has announced plans for a London-listed investment trust to take advantage of India’s plans for rapidly expanding investment in transport and utilities.

The announcement came as another Londonlisted Indian investment trust, the troubled Hirco, was named as the worst performer in Britain last year, losing 54.5 per cent

of its value.

The trust, Kotak India Infrastructure Fund, is sponsored by Investec and will be the only Indian infrastructure fund focused on listed companies to have a full London listing.

Investec is orchestrating an institutional placing and will also organise a subscription offer for small investors. The minimum investment will be £1,000.

Nitin Jain, the Kotak fund manager, said that India planned to invest $1 trillion (£650 billion) in infrastructure in its next

five-year plan, starting next year.

Economic growth was forecast to continue at 8 per cent, in spite of an awkward rise in inflation. Mr Jain said that after three years of relative underperformance, infrastructure was poised to make a comeback. As well as investing in transport and power companies, the new fund will also consider construction companies and building product suppliers. The chairman will be Jonathan Hooley, the former senior partner of KPMG in Guernsey. A prospectus is due next week.

Ayurvedic, herbal medicines face EU ban from May Users, promoters say directive is discriminatory, disproportionate A directive issued by the European Union way back in 2004 and scheduled to be made effective from May 1 next will force Ayurvedic and herbal medicines out of the market.

The said EU directive was issued after there were concerns voiced over the adverse effects of such alternative medicines.

Meanwhile, users and promoters of these medicines have described the “Traditional Herbal medicinal Products Directive, 2004/24/EC” as discriminatory and disproportionate.

Under the directive, all herbal medicinal products must have prior authorisation before they are allowed to be marketed in the EU.

Herbal practitioners say it is impossible for most herbal medicines to meet the licensing requirements for safety and quality, which are intended to be similar to those for pharmaceutical drugs, because of the cost of testing. Producers and independent health store owners allege that the draconian directive favours large European manufacturers, as smaller firms are at the risk of being driven out of the market.

According to the Alliance for Natural Health (ANH), which represents herbal practitioners, not a single product used in traditional Chinese medicine or Ayurvedic medicine has been licensed.

Under EU law, statuto-

rily regulated herbal practitioners will be permitted to continue prescribing unlicensed products, but the government in Britain has delayed plans to introduce a statutory herbal practitioner register.

Further, according to Dr Rob Verkerk, of the ANH, “Thousands of people across Europe rely on herbal medicines to improve their quality of life. They don't take them because they are sick – they take them to keep healthy.

If these medicines are taken off the market, people will try and find them elsewhere, such as from the internet, where there is a genuine risk they will get low quality products, that either don't work or are adulterated."

The chairman of Tata Sons, Ratan Tata, said that there was significant unrealized potential in UK-India trade and investment relations.

Speaking at the first meeting of the India-UK CEO Forum at Number 10, Downing Street, Tata said: "The UK has a special place in the hearts and minds of Indians and Indian industry."

"However, I feel our trade and investment relationship has significant unrealised potential given the synergies possible between the two countries -- such as what we could achieve by leveraging the technology and manufacturing capabilities in the UK, to serve the global market," he said.

Tata, who is also the co-chair of the forum, said he hoped the UK-India CEO Forum "is able to help build trade and investment between the two countries to a level approaching its potential and we intend to look at a range of sectors and ideas on how this could be facilitated by government and industry from both countries, working together."

Bilateral trade between India and the UK amounted to over 11 billion pounds in 2009.

Last year, exports from the UK to India increased by 38 per cent vis-a-vis the previous year, while 17 per cent of India's exports to the EU went to the UK. There are around 700 Indian companies with investments in the UK and the UK garners more than 50 per cent of Indian investment into Europe.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

19

Contrasting UK and India Investments

Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director Sow & Reap A Property Investment & Financing company.

Sow & Reap offer turnkey investments in both UK and India. Turnkey meaning in India the purchase and resell is handled for you without you having to leave your armchair. For the bits in between such as checking title clearance and help with repatriation of funds etc we have experts who will ensure this will be a smooth experience.

Many of our initial investors who bought at less than Rs 1000 are now exiting their investments at Rs 2800-3000 over a 2 and ½ year period . Most without even seeing the development. Not surprisingly they want to now turn over their gains into other projects.

But how does one know where to invest? What are the pros and cons of UK vs India investments. Specifically Central London and Gujarat, these are the regions we focus on. Gujarat is said to be the growth engine of India and Central London is a bullet proof market.

Therefore we will compare these.

This is an important question and we do both and therefore it is important for Sow & Reap to give the best advice to suit our clients.

We will go through some of the considerations.

The first consideration and restraint will be the size of the investment. This will be the most immediate restric tion. If the amount you have to invest is £20,000, there are very few plac es to put this in UK property. This amount c an be geared up to allow you to purchase property up to £100,000. You will be unable to purc hase in Central London with this amount.

Therefore being of NRI status the Indian property market is open for you. There your £20,000 can be doubled or tripled within a few years. This level of growth has been demonstrated in the last few years with the investments we have recommended, and the growth curve of Gujarat is growing exponentially so future growth is likely to be sustained and increased.

The second is the shape of the investment. Assuming you have £100,000 liquid cash or sitting in your property. Where best to invest this? Central London is certainly open to you as this will allow you to purchase around £300,000 of property. You also have the option to invest in India with the additional option of gearing it up to £200,000 and purchasing a flat or plots.

The consideration would be the shape of the investment. The returns in UK could yield about 10-13% on your deposit as well as capital growth. The capital growth element will benefit from the gearing of your investment. What this means is a £75,000 will allow you to borrow a further £225,000. This means if the property is worth £300,000, and it rises 5% you will have made a £15,000 gain on your £75,000.

The returns are roughly split 50:50 between capital growth and yield. So about half of your return will come monthly. The other half will be in capital growth. The other angle to consider this from is the impact of taxation. When you make a UK investment you are liable for income tax and capital gains tax. This means if you’re a high rate tax payer you will not be getting a return as high as 13% this will be

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The capital gain element only comes into play if the property is sold, if you never sell you never pay the tax. As these are cash cows, most investors decide not to sell. To extract the gain you can always remortgage your investment.

Contrasting this with India investment, most schemes will provide a lump sum when exiting the investment and nothing in between. This is because they will either be in stages of development hence you have not actually bought a property but have bought a contract. With a plotting scheme you simply buy the land and wait for it to rise.

So, comparing the two: in UK part of your return will be a stream of return on your investment and in India the return will be a lump sum when you exit.

The gain in India will of course be subject to capital gains tax.

The other consideration when investing in India is of course the added variable of currency fluctuations. The Rupee vs GBP will enhance or reduce your investment.

The above are only a few of the considerations you should look at when deciding where to invest. A much more detailed understanding is required before you commit to an investment. Sow & Reap can help you in this decision making process and will be with you all the way which ever you decide.

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20

fInancIal vOicE

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Leadership Matters

By Amit Patel

No Easy Way Out Maria Fernandes maria@abplgroup.com

Reading between the lines: The Immigration Minister’s Speech for the period ahead On Tuesday the Immigration Minister gave a speech outlining his immigration policy.

The approach he takes so he says is a different approach in that he will “tighten up our system, stop abuse and support only the most economically beneficial migrants”. The tasks are reducing numbers coming to the UK, increasing the numbers leaving when their visas are expired and eliminating abuse.

Workers In terms of the economic route, an interim limit is ahead in force. In addition the plan is to raise the minimum skill level. The task of this was given to the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) who have by now reported to the Government.

Tier 1 applicants coming from abroad have already been suspended.

Investors It appears that there will be more emphasis on entrepreneurs, investors and those with exceptional talent in the Arts and Sciences. There is therefore likely to be an increase in categories and possible relaxation of the criteria.

Family In terms of family visas, there is a clear link between tightening controls and the raising of levels of English as a way of bringing down numbers. There is no indication of what other measures are likely to be introduced other than measures cracking down on sham marriages.

Students Currently, the focus is on students. Responses following consultation have been collected and are being considered on 16th March 2011 an announcement will be made with regard to students.

Universities have been given a green light

as they are on the list of highly trusted sponsors.

It appears that the private sector will be targeted for severe restrictions. It is interesting that the Minister states that up to 26% of students who were studying at private institutions cannot be accounted for.

It says that it is known that they are no longer at the college which sponsored them but are unable to identify them as having left Britain.

This is a surprising statement as it is quite clear that there are no systems in place to ascertain who is in the UK and who has left with certainty. It is not the students’ fault but rather the UKBA’s responsibility that has led to this situation yet is being used against them without any clear evidence either way.

The Minister says that the UK Border Agency has revoked Sponsorship Licences of 58 colleges and suspended a total of 247 sponsors of which 208 are privately funded. He does not take account of the fact that when the Sponsorship’s Licensing System was introduced licenses were handed out very freely and easily to colleges without proper checks being conducted and where checks were conducted those given the task of doing so were not adequately trained to look for weaknesses in the system. There are undoubtedly questionable Sponsors and there always will be. There are also Sponsors who may not be dishonest but disorganised. The duty of the UKBA is to ensure that proper checks are conducted on a regular and random basis to ensure that there is no abuse. There are also likely to be restrictions on the right of dependants to work.

There appeared to be emphasis in the

Minister’s speech on the fact that there is evidence that dependants of students have not been in genuine relationships.

This information appears to be based entirely on information received from Nepal and appears to be based on assumptions rather than any real evidence. What is clear is that it appears that this information is being used to drive changes to the rights of those who wish to enter as dependants of students.

Settlement There is a clear indication that the Government intends to tackle those who move from a temporary state to a permanent one.

Students are within this target group. It appears that they will be excluded from any rights to settle.

Post Study Work Finally and not surprisingly, the issue of working after graduation is a target for abolition on the basis the Minister says that around half of students do not enter skilled occupation after the completion of their degree. The proposal is that rather than remove this right completely they must have an offer from a Sponsor in order to remain in the UK. There are also options to reduce the length of time that graduates can seek skilled work.

In addition to the changes outlined there are increased fees for applications and likely to be introduced in respect of appeals.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years and is accredited in Immigration Law by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.

Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 02087330123, by email on info@fernandesvaz.com

With events in Egypt dominating the news I felt that this would be a good time to discuss exit strategies.

Ironically, although leaders are the ones who exercise control over the fate of others, they often have little control over their own.

Fortunate are the few who are afforded the privilege of determining ‘how’, and more importantly, ‘when’ they will step down. History tells us of countless ‘exits’ from power and when these exits do come, they are usually swift, heartless and can come in a variety of ways.

Some leaders are ousted; one of the best examples is that of Winston Churchill.

Having led the nation to victory, he was unceremoniously and immediately dumped out of office by the very electorate he had just saved!

Some are assassinated – Julius Caesar was one of the greatest generals in the history. He expanded the Roman empire like none before him. However, despite his victories on the battlefield, he was famously killed by his own friend

Brutus.

For some there is simply no rational explanation. Just last month, it was announced that Dirk Meyer, CEO of the microchip producer AMD had been forced to resign by the board. This was shocking because Meyer had actually saved the company from ruin and made it the no.2 company behind Intel.

Despite this the explanation for his sacking was that while he saved the company and returned it to profitability, they felt that he was not the right person to take the company forward!

While exits are usually quite difficult for any leader (unless you are Sir Fred Goodwin), being prepared for it at least allows one to leave with ones dignity intact.

Gordon Brown had his fair share of critics, but it must also be noted that when Labour lost power and the Tories and LibDems were still negotiating, the constitution required him to stay in office until a new government was formed. While many in the media criticised his refusal to step down immediately as the

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Management actions of a man desperately clinging to power, he actually displayed considerable grace in fulfilling the last duties of the office he had just lost.

Although, he would have been prepared as even he must have seen it coming.

Despite all of this, very few leaders actually have an exit strategy or even think about how and when they will step down. All too often leaders become so enamoured by their own power and status that they lose sight of the fact that one day it will end and in doing so they lose control over ‘how and when’ – a predicament which has befallen President Mubarak. As a result, for him, there is no easy way out.

Political crisis affects Indian businesses in Egypt Many Indian consumer companies operating in Egypt are hoping against hope that the political turmoil which has gripped the country would end soon. If it continues for a longer period it would affect the earnings of many of them. They have temporarily suspended their operations in the country. Firms such as Marico, Dabur, Asian Paints have shut down their Egyptian units and are watching the situation closely, officials said.

For more than a week now, the African nation has been convulsed by street protests, demanding an immediate end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30-year-rule.

"If the unrest in Egypt is resolved over the next few weeks, we would see a minor impact on business on the supply side.

However, if it continues for a longer period of time

then the slowdown in Egypt and the neighbouring economies could impact FMCG demand," said an analyst with Edelweiss Capital.

Egypt has been quite attractive to Indian FMCG players as it offers tax cuts, preferential trade treaties, and speedy approvals for business, in addition to high growth.

Indian consumer firms have been tapping Africa of late as it opens up new growth avenues with rising costs and fierce competition at home squeezing profits.

Crisis Hits "There have been mass demonstrations and disruption of public life (in Egypt). Consequently, we have temporarily closed Marico's factories as a safety measure," the company said in a filing to the Bombay stock exchange.

With Egypt as a manufacturing hub for the

entire MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, Marico said prolonged closure would impact supply to the entire region. The MENA region accounts for 7-8 per cent of Marico' sales revenues.

Rival Dabur, which draws 2.5-3 per cent of its revenues from Egypt, on Monday evening shut down its sole hair oil plant there that caters to local demand, a spokesman said.

"If the unrest is resolved over the next few days and weeks, we would not see much of any impact on business," Paints maker Asian Paints shut operations at its two plants in Egypt from Jan. 29 and will resume operations once normalcy returns, the company said in a statement.

About 5 per cent of the company's sales come from Egypt, analysts said.

India likely to open FDI in retail; Tesco, Walmart to benefit As India is grappling with soaring food prices and shortages, the minister of state for commerce and industry, Jyotiraditya Scindia recently indicated that the country is mulling opening sectors such as multi-brand retail and defence to be opened for foreign direct investment (FDI). In an interview to

business channel CNBC – TV 18, Scindia said it was a matter of concern that FDI in the country registered a decline of 35 per cent in 2010 and opening of these sectors is the possible remedy.

Interestingly, his comments follow the visit of UK business secretary Vince Cable to New Delhi

recently. During the visit, he had lobbied with India's commerce minister, Anand Sharma, to further relax restrictions on foreign direct investment in higher education, defence, financial services and the retail sectors.

Britain has been disadvantaged in its attempt to capitalise on India's break-

neck 9pc annual growth because of heavy restrictions on investment in sectors where it is strong.

Last week Mr Cable told Indian ministers its current food crisis, in which shortages of supply have sent prices of staples such onions and grains soaring, could have been minimised if supermarket

giants like Tesco had been able to set up operations in India.

The Indian government wants foreign investment to establish new cold chain logistics systems and warehousing facilities to dramatically staunch the loss of up to 40pc of its food produce that rots every year before it reaches the

market. More than 17m tonnes of food grain was left to rot last year because there was no space to store it in suitable warehouses – a loss of £2bn.

Now, after more than four years of indecision, the New Delhi government finally looks set to turn to foreign supermarkets to solve its food problems.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

21

Foreign Exchange Rajesh Agrawal is the Chairman & CEO of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

For any further information call 020 7220 8181 or e-mail info@rationalfx.com

Are worries about inflation inflated?

Inflation seems to be the big economic news story in every part of the globe. The effects of soaring commodity prices are pushing up consumer prices around the world. The most obvious areas affected by this upward price spiral are the emerging markets of India, China and parts of South America. These are areas where the workforce spends a high percentage of their income on food. China’s inflation rate is hovering around 5% Brazil is approaching 6% and India’s remains close to 10%.

Even in the troubled so-called rich economies inflation is the word on every ones lips.

Britain’s consumer prices rose 3.7% in the year to December, almost double Bank of England expectations and the European Central Bank’s goal of 2% or less has been exceeded slightly to 2.4% over the past year.

This all leads to worries that global monetary conditions are too loose, a combination of rockbottom interest rates and seemingly cash rich central bank balance sheets in the rich and established economies, while the emerging economies are showing inability or unwillingness to tighten fiscal policies. These dangerous combinations suggest worldwide inflation could run

totally out of control if things are not put right soon. These concerns are beginning to become apparent in various ways in world economies. The financial inequalities in the emerging markets, as politicians begin to fear social unrest and overheating economies. In the traditional rich economies some central bankers are beginning to worry that the fear of rising inflation has taken the place of deflation fears that were the main concern until a short time ago, with both the Bank of England and the European Central Bank warming to the fact that interest rate

rises might be the answer. Yet with all the worries about inflation we must be realistic and hope the world’s policy makers do not panic and make the wrong decisions. Inflation is higher than ideal but not high in real terms, in America for instance it is running at a mere 1.5%. Realistically we must attribute spikes in inflation to one-off effects, from the virtual failure of the Russian grain harvest forcing worldwide food prices higher, to the UK rise in value added tax.

A major worry is that as inflation fears are becoming

over hyped in the established economies, workers wage demands to cope with the perceived problems will lead to long term inflation becoming embedded in the economy. Although this is beginning to look less likely in Western economies as high unemployment will stop high wage demands, so with no real wage increases and as higher food and fuel prices eat into consumer spending this would suggest lower inflation figures, this is particularly true in Britain where the austerity package is also set to dampen spending again leading to lower inflation.

It is a different story for the world’s emerging economies. In general monetary policies are a lot looser, which poses a real risk of higher inflation, but even here the risks can be over exaggerated. China’s work force are beginning to command higher wages and internal consumer price rises fuelled by local demand should help re-balance the export led economy with an increase in domestic spending.

In India and Brazil the main inflation fighting tool should be plans towards a smaller budget deficit.

This all suggests that inflation is a cause for concern not a reason to panic.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 8th Februay 2011 @ 10.30am GBP - INR = 72.95 USD - INR = 45.245 EUR - INR = 61.693 GBP - USD = 1.6136 GBP - EUR = 1.185 EUR - USD = 1.3635 GBP - AED = 5.9179 GBP - CAD = 1.5923 GBP - NZD = 2.0783 GBP - AUD = 1.5845 GBP - ZAR = 11.635 GBP - HUF = 317.405

www.rationalfx.com Information provided by RationalFX. None of the information on this page constitutes, nor should be construed as financial advice. The exchange rates used are the commercial foreign exchange rates provided by RationalFX. For a live quote or to find out more about how RationalFX can help you, call us on 0207 220 8181.

22

Pakistan-Bangladesh-sri Lanka

In focus Musharraf is now an accused in Benazir killing

Islamabad: The name of former president Pervez Musharraf has been included in the list of accused in the Benazir Bhutto’s assassination case, media reports said. Musharraf's name was added following a statement by former Rawalpindi city police chief Saud Aziz, the daily Dawn reported. Aziz claimed that Musharraf had given the order to change Benazir's security incharge. He also claimed that the murder scene was immediately washed on Musharraf's orders. Bhutto was assassinated on Dec 27, 2007 as she was leaving Liaquat Bagh in a motorcade after addressing an election rally in Rawalpindi, Islamabad's twin city and Pakistan's old capital in northern Punjab. A teenaged shooter was seen aiming for her head in the CCTV footage before a powerful suicide blast killed at least 24 people participating in the rally.

Shoe hurled at Mush

A man hurled a shoe at Musharraf while he was holding a meeting in London on Sunday though it did not hit him, media report said. The man stood up about five minutes after Musharraf began his speech at the meeting in Walthamstow and flung his show at the former military ruler. The shoe fell in the front rows and did not reach the stage, Geo News channel reported.

The security personnel immediately swung into action and removed the attacker from the venue.

3 more Americans barred from leaving Pak

Lahore: The Pakistani authorities have barred three more Americans, besides US official Raymond Davis who fatally shot two Pakistanis in Lahore, from leaving the country, said an official. There were allegations that these US nationals were in the vehicle that crushed a man to death in Lahore after Davis was involved in the shooting, the Express Tribune reported on Monday. Davis was arrested after he shot dead two people riding on a motorbike at a busy intersection in Lahore on Jan 27. He called up the US consulate after the shooting and a team rushed to help him. The team's vehicle collided with a motorcyclist, killing him.

The Punjab government has asked the federal government's assistance in securing the custody of the three Americans who are accused of running over the motorcyclist.

Lanka woman gives birth to baby in chopper

Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka): A pregnant woman gave birth to a baby last week while being rescued from a flood-hit area in a Sri Lankan air force helicopter. She was one of four pregnant mothers rescued from Horowpathana. They were being taken in a Bell 212 helicopter when the delivery took place, Colombo Page website reported officials as saying on Friday. The air force had deployed four helicopters to rescue people stranded by the ravaging floods in Anuradhapura district.

Thieves strike at another temple in Dhaka

Dhaka: Gold, silver, saris and cash were stolen from a temple in Dhaka, the fourth such incident in the past two months. The latest burglary took place just 23 days after a similar heist at the historic Dhakeshwari Mandir, New Age newspaper said on Thursday last.

Shusil Kumar Datta, secretary of Kadamtola Kali Mandir committee, said the theft took place TuesdayWednesday night. The temple's priests Manik Chakraborty and Archana Rani came to open the shrine at around 7.30 a.m. and found all the locks were broken and ornaments that adorn the idol and cash kept in the donation box had been stolen. Nazrul Islam, a police official, said that 4.7 tolas of gold, 6 tolas of silver, 10 saris and Taka 7,000 ($100) in cash were stolen from the shrine. Chakraborty said: 'After several thefts occurred in different temples in the city we took special security care and bought new locks for the mandir. But despite taking all security measures, the burglars broke into the temple and took away the gold ornaments and cash.'

Jamaat, Hizbul hold anti-India meet in PoK

Islamabad: Top leaders of extremist groups, including the Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Hizbul Mujahideen, participated in a conference held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Thursday last to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day. Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahudin, who also heads the United Jihad Council, senior JuD leader Abdur Rehman Makki and former Inter-Services Intelligence agency chief Hamid Gul took part in the conference held in PoK capital Muzaffarabad. The JuD also announced that it would organize rallies across Pakistan and PoK to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day. JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, will join leaders of political parties in a rally in Lahore, the organization said. The JuD said protests would also be organized in Islamabad, Lahore and other cities to show solidarity with the "oppressed people of Kashmir".

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Lanka opposition warns of Arab-style uprising Colombo: Sri Lanka's main opposition on Saturday warned of an uprising, a day after ruling party activists unleashed violent attacks against demonstrators seeking the release of a jailed opposition leader.

The United National Party (UNP) said repeated violence against the opposition, arson attacks on anti-government news organisations and arrests of student leaders could lead to protests similar to those sweeping the Arab world.

"The rulers cannot suppress the people forever," UNP deputy leader Karu Jayasuriya said in a

statement. "We urge the government to look at what is happening in the Arab world and learn a lesson."

Violence erupted in the capital on Friday night when ruling party activists attacked a UNP-led march demanding the release of their presidential candidate and former army chief Sarath Fonseka, who is serving a 30-month prison term.

At least four opposition MPs were among a dozen people wounded in the Friday night attack, while cars belonging to opposition lawmakers were smashed by ruling party activists.

"The two groups fought as the protest march went past a religious ceremony organised by some government lawmakers," police deputy inspector general Anura Senanayake said on Friday night.

There was no immediate comment from the government. Mass protests gripped Sri Lanka soon after Fonseka's arrest last year, but opposition rallies since then have seen diminished crowds.

Fonseka is widely credited with leading troops to crush Tamil Tiger rebels and ending the island's 37year separatist war in May 2009. However, he fell out

with President Mahinda Rajapakse on sharing the credit.

Fonseka was arrested two weeks after failing to unseat Rajapakse in the January 2010 presidential ballot. A court martial later found him guilty of irregularities when he was Army chief.

The opposition has said it would stage a mass rally in Colombo next week to mark the first year since Fonseka's arrest by the military.

Fonseka's imprisonment has meant the loss of the seat he won in Parliament last April and the right to stand for public office until 2017.

Pak govt to withdraw blasphemy amendment law Islamabad: Following pressure from religious groups, the Pakistan government has decided to withdraw the bill seeking changes in the country’s controversial blasphemy law.

The blasphemy law, according to Human Rights Watch, has been misused against members of the minority faiths.

Speaking to parliamentarians, prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilan said that the former information minister, Sherry Rehman, who introduced the bill for changes in the controversial law, has agreed to withdraw her proposed bill. Rehman submitted a bill to the national assembly last year, proposing some pro-

Yousuf Raza Gilani

cedural changes to the law including elimination of death penalty. However, she never succeeded in winning support from her party members.

Contradicting PM's claim that she had been consulted on issue of withdrawal of the bill, Sherry Rehman said in a statement that she would abide by the party policy and directives of PM and

would not pursue her private member bill, seeking changes to the blasphemy law.

"But since the prime minister has apparently decided that there cannot be discussion on procedural amendments, and the committee announced by the party to amend laws has been disbanded, then as a PPP MNA I have to abide by the party leader's decision after he has spoken so definitively," the statement said.

Earlier Gillani told the lower house, "We are all unanimous that nobody wants to change this law".

Neither the government nor the speaker formed

Bangla girl ‘lashed to death’; 4 arrested

Dhaka: A Muslim cleric were among four people arrested in Bangladesh in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl who was lashed publicly earlier.

The teenager was accused of having an affair with a married man, police say, and the punishment was given under Islamic Sharia law.

Hena Begum's family members said a village court consisting of elders and clerics passed the sentence. She was alleged to have had the affair with her cousin and received 80 lashes.

The family members of the married man also allegedly beat the girl up a day before the village court passed the sentence in the district of Shariatpur.

Hena Begum died after being taken to hospital "Her family members said she was admitted to a hospital after the incident and she died six days later.

The village elders also asked the girl's father to pay a fine of about 50,000 Taka (£430; $700)," district superintendent of police, AKM Shahidur Rahman, said.

He said it had not been established yet whether she died because of the punishment she received or for any other reason.

"We are still waiting for the post-mortem report. In the meantime, we are also looking for another 14 people including a teacher from a local madrassa in connection with this case," Mr Rahman said.

Activists say dozens of fatwas - or religious rulings - are issued under Sharia law each year by village clergy in Bangladesh.

any committee to consider amending the blasphemy law, Gilani said, adding that only the president or the speaker of the National Assembly was empowered to create such a panel and neither have done so.

Despite government's earlier assurances that it will not change the blasphemy law, an alliance of religious parties was threatening to continue with the country-wide agitation over the issue. Just last week, thousands of people rallied in Lahore against the bill. The controversy regarding blasphemy law had been in the spotlight since a Christian woman was sentenced to death in the Punjab province last November.

Pak PM Gilani to prune his cabinet Islamabad: Bowing to pressure from opposition parties and international donors, the ruling Pakistan People's Party on Friday authorized prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani to dissolve his jumbo cabinet and form a smaller council of ministers.

The PPP's central executive committee gave Gilani the go-ahead to dissolve the cabinet during a meeting chaired by party chief and president Asif Ali Zardari at the presidency.

Samjhauta case figured in Indo-Pak talks Thimphu: Though there was nothing to suggest that there has been any change in Pakistan’s stand since July last year, when foreign minister of both the countries met, the foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan on Sunday discussed all “outstanding issues” and India described the meeting as “constructive”.

As was being widely speculated, Pakistan did bring up the Samjhauta blast case and its demand for a timeline for discussing sensitive issues, including Kashmir and Siachen. The fact that

Pakistan continued to play hardball during the talks was evident also in Islamabad not specifying exactly when foreign minister S M Qureshi will visit India this year.

“The foreign secretaries had useful and frank discussions on the steps required to be taken in this context. They agreed on the need for a constructive dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve all outstanding issues. They affirmed the need to carry forward the dialogue process. They will brief their respective governments on their discus-

sions,” official spokesperson Vishnu Prakash said.

The meeting lasted for exactly 90 minutes. “Our stand basically was that we are open to discussing all issues. I don’t want to get into specifics but both sides agreed that it is to our mutual advantage that we carry forward the dialogue process,” a source said. Before going in for the talks, Pakistani foreign secretary Salman Bashir had said Pakistan wanted to discuss all issues and not just Samjhauta while his counterpart Nirupama Rao reiterated that the talks were going to be

exploratory in nature.

While the talks were earlier tentatively scheduled for Sunday afternoon, the dialogue could start only around 9.15pm local time as both sides remained occupied with their commitments throughout the day in the ongoing Saarc ministerial conference.

The two officials met eventually in the Taj Tashi hotel where officials from both the countries are putting up. Both the foreign secretaries were accompanied by five officials each when they walked into the hall where the meeting was held.

world

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Thousands of Indian illegal immigrants cross into US Most of them are reportedly from Punjab and Gujarat Washington: Thousands of immigrants from India have crossed into the United States illegally at the southern tip of Texas during last year, indicating rapidly growing humansmuggling racket, a report in Los Angels Times claimed.

The immigrants, mostly young men from poor villages, are quoted by the newspaper as saying that they are fleeing religious and political persecution.

More than 1,600 Indians have been caught since the influx began here early last year, while an undetermined number, perhaps thousands, are believed to

have sneaked through undetected, according to US border authorities.

They catch buses or go to local Indian-run motels before flying north for the final leg of their monthslong journeys.

The Indian migration in some ways mirrors the journeys of previous waves of immigrants from far-flung places, such as China and Brazil, who have illegally crossed the US border. But the suddenness and still-undetermined cause of the Indian migration baffles many border authorities and judges.

The trend has caught

the attention of anti-terrorism officials because of the racketeers’ efficiency in delivering to America's doorstep large numbers of people from a troubled region. Authorities interview the immigrants, most of who arrive with no documents, to ensure that people from neighboring Pakistan or Middle Eastern countries are not slipping through.

Most of the immigrants say they are from the Punjab or Gujarat states. They are largely Sikhs who say they face religious persecution, or members of the Bharatiya Janata Party who say they

are targeted for beatings by members of the National Congress Party.

But analysts and human rights monitors say political conditions in India don't explain the migration.

There is no evidence of the kind of persecution that would prompt a mass exodus, they say, and Sikhs haven't been targets since the 1980s.

Some authorities think the immigrants are simply seeking economic opportunities and are willing to pay $12,000 to $20,000 to groups that smuggle them to staging grounds in northern Mexico.

Turmoil continues in Egypt as talks fail Govt offers reforms but opposition groups insist on Hosni Mubarak’s ouster Cairo: The embattled Egyptian regime and the emboldened opposition groups remained deadlocked on Monday over the nation’s future as protesters were adamant that President Hosni Mubarak should step down before progress was made on a deal to initiate landmark constitutional reforms.

Fresh pressure also mounted on Mubarak as US President Barack Obama clearly indicated that there could be no going back to the preprotest era in Egypt, and said Washington was ready to work with a future representative government in the north African country.

Opposition supporters gather around Egyptian army tanks and APCs outside the Egyptian Museum at Cairo on Tuesday

Thousands of protesters stayed put at the now iconic Tahrir Square for the 14th successive day and foiled attempts by the army to squeeze them into a smaller area as Mubarak’s government

was holding its full cabinet meeting to focus on restoring order. The govt also announced a 15% hike in salaries and pensions in its latest attempt to calm the demonstrators who are demanding an end to

Mubarak’s 30-year-old autocratic rule.

The opposition groups did not appear too optimistic on the deal reached with the government on Sunday in a breakthrough meeting with Vice President Omar Suleiman.

A statement issued from Suleiman’s office after the meeting said that the government had offered to form a committee to suggest required constitutional amendments by the first week of March.

But the opposition termed these proposals as “insufficient” and demanded that there could be no move forward unless Mubarak steps down.

In focUS America's top civil rights group backs Hindus

Nevada (US): National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), America’s top civil rights organization, has come out in support of Hindus, who are disturbed over the portrayal of Lord Ganesh in a sex act on NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) and want apologies from all those responsible for it, including actor Jim Carrey and NBC. Lonnie L Feemster, President of Reno-Sparks branch of NAACP which covers northern Nevada, in a statement on Monday, expressed support to Hindus' displeasure of the SNL skit showing disrespect for the Hindu deity.

He urged NBC and SNL and actors "to offer a complete and immediate apology" for the lack of their understanding and insensitivity.

In a skit on NBC's SNL (January 8) titled "The Wrath of Ganesh", Jim Carrey and Kenan Thomson demonstrated a sexual technique, mocking elephantheaded Lord Ganesh and his trunk in the process.

Indians on death row pay blood money

Jalandhar: In a major relief for the eight Punjabi youth facing trial at a Sharia court in Sharjah for murdering a Pakistani youth, the deceased's family agreed to accept blood money last week. The Sharia court recorded the murdered youth's father stating that he would accept the money and forgive the accused.

Mumtaj Yousuf died following a group clash in 2009 and 10 youth - eight Indians and two Pakistanis - were tried for his murder. The case was soon to be decided when Dubai-based hotelier S P Singh Oberoi, who has been fighting for the accused, sought adjournment from the Sharia court as negotiations were on with the family in Pakistan.

New Nepal PM fails to name cabinet

Kathmandu: Nepal’s new premier Jhala Nath Khanal failed to name his cabinet even on Tuesday, casting doubts on his ability to conclude the peace process successfully within the remaining 110 days. The 61year-old communist leader, who abandoned his party's ally, the Nepali Congress, to become prime minister with the support of the Maoists, is now being asked to pay his pound of flesh by the former guerillas, who are eying major ministries.

US suspends all high-level dialogue with Pak Washington: The US administration has suspended all high-level dialogue with Pakistan and is demanding the release of arrested American diplomat Raymond Allen Davis according to a report in The Washington Post.

Davis was arrested on January 27 for killing two Pakistanis he claims had threatened him.

The meeting between US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in Munich was cancelled last week. 'The Washington Post' says the spat also

threatens the Washington summit of US, Afghan and Pakistani leaders on February 24. Pakistani Ambassador Husain Haqqani was summoned to the White House twice over the issue.

US Ambassador in Islamabad Cameron Hunter held a meeting with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari on the issue.

The State Department has maintained that Davis holds a diplomatic passport and is a member of "technical and administrative staff" at the US Embassy in Islamabad and is "entitled

to full criminal immunity in accordance with the Vienna Convection."

The US Congress has said that the Pakistan government should resolve the issue at the earliest or it could impact other bilateral initiatives including an American aid which is bankrolling cash-starved Pakistan.

Davis was arrested in Lahore in January and produced before a court which has extended his detention for another eight days. The US embassy said it was given no notice of the hearing and that David had no attorney present

and he was not even provided with an interpreter.

"He was denied due process and a fair hearing," a State Department statement said, claiming "his continued detention is a gross violation of the international law."

Quoting Pakistani officials, the Post said Islamabad was divided over the case while the Foreign Ministry was pushing Davis' diplomatic immunity, other parts of the government, which were not named, were using the issue to prove independence from Washington.

Kenyan Prez Kibaki ‘sought UK invitation for a year’ Nairobi: The British Government accepted Kenyan President Kibaki’s visit to London last year to “deliver tough political messages”, one of America’s leaked diplomatic cables says.

The cable also claims the President had sought the invitation for over one year. The trip was to take place on February 23-24, 2010.

On Sunday, the Government spokesman, Dr Alfred Mutua, denied the claim, saying that it

was the UK that had invited the President but he failed to go due to other commitments.

The cable, dated January 12, 2010, quotes UK’s Horn of Africa team leader, Ms Chloe Hamborg, terming the visit a “difficult decision” and the visit would also be used to “extend the UK’s diplomatic leverage” in Kenya.

“It was a ‘difficult decision’ to extend the invitation to Kibaki but indicated that the UK

Government ultimately decided in favour of the visit in order to ‘deliver tough political messages’ (including through a onehour one-on-one meeting with UK Prime Minister Brown) and to ‘extend the UK’s diplomatic leverage’ in Kenya,” the cable claims.

Ms Hamborg is said to have explained that the UK wanted to grant the visit “in anticipation of difficult conversations about reform over the coming year”.

The leaks add that the UK wanted to clearly deliver its reform messages in private before it does so in public. Ms Hamborg is also said to have stated that there would “be few deliverables from the visit” relating to some development projects on health or climate change.

“She noted that the health package was also in the pipeline and may only be announced during the Kibaki visit,” the cable states.

23

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24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

SC judge questions continuation of Deshmukh as central minster

In divine light

The apex court had held him guilty of shielding MLA, family members from prosecution At a seminar in Mumbai last weekend, Supreme Judge A K Ganguly raised questions over how Vilasrao Deshmukh is allowed to continue as a central minister after the apex court had recently held him guilty of shielding a Maharashtra MLA and his family from prosecution during his tenure as the state chief minister.

Congress MLA from Vidarbha region, Dilip Sadanand and his family were illegally doing money lending business to farmers.

There was a complaint about them, but Deshmukh had instructed the district collector and concerned police station incharge not to proceed against the MLA and his family in the matter of the farmers’ complaint.

Mumbai High Court had held the then Chief Minister guilty and slapped a fine of Rs. 25,000 on the state gov-

ernment.

Maharashtra government had approached the supreme court, which not only upheld the verdict, but also increased the fine to Rs. 1 million. The supreme court verdict was pronounced on December 14, 2010.

Deshmukh continues to be a member of the central cabinet, a fact which was described as sad and shocking by the SC judge.

Justice Ganguly had gone to the extent of saying, “It is not a dignified act and I would call it a shameless act.”

Even as Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh recently reshuffled his cabinet, Deshmukh was just shifted to Rural development from heavy industries.

Justice Ganguly’s remarks came against the backdrop of concerns over exploitation of poor farmers by moneylenders. The judge was speaking at a

two-day conference on gender concern in conflict zones.

The Supreme Court had said the action of Deshmukh was condemnable as he acted beyond “all legal norms” for “political consideration” despite the Vidarbha region having the dubious distinction of witnessing a large number of farmer suicides.

Kalam prod Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam asked youths to start fighting corruption from their homes.

“If a daughter or son goes and tells their father not to be corrupt, then it will certainly bring a change.” Kalam said.

“Just imagine a son or daughter walking to their father and telling that corruption is our enemy, it’s bad and he should not be a corrupt person. That would make a huge difference,” he said.

Mahatma Gandhi tops the list of ‘Top 25 Political Icons’

Time magazine’s all time greats list includes Hitler and Mussolini too The father of India Mahatma Gandhi and Emperor Akbar have been listed among the 'Top 25 Political Icons' of all time by Time magazine, along with Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and Mao Zedong, the father of modern China.

Released on the 100th birth anniversary of the late US President Ronald Reagan, the Time list figures names like the great conqueror Alexander the Great and some of history's most polarising figures like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini.

Gandhi's experiments with satyagraha - the genesis of the non-violent methods of protest pioneered by him - and his leadership of India's freedom movement that has inspired many revolutionaries of later years, led him to the top of the list of the 25 all time greats.

Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar

Mahatma Gandhi

Describing Mohandas Gandhi as a figure "few will ever forget", the prestigious magazine said his struggle paved the way for other social movements including America's struggle for civil rights.

"While working as a lawyer in South Africa, he pioneered the concept of satyagraha, or, civil disobedience in response to tyranny, helping Indians there campaign for civil rights," it said.

"Working with Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister, Gandhi led the country in peaceful protest against foreign domination, exemplified by the 1930 Salt March in protest to a British salt tax. His rise paved the way for India's independence in 1947," it said.

Gandhi, who left behind a universal influence, has inspired leaders like American civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King and South Africa's anti-apartheid

champion Nelson Mandela, and also US President Barack Obama.

The 16th century Mughal E m p e r o r J a l a l u d d i n Mohammad Akbar, a figure who played a major role in unifying the largely scattered fiefdoms in northern India, also finds a place in the elite list.

The ethos of pluralism and tolerance pioneered by the Muslim ruler in a Hindu-majority India underline the values of the modern republic of India, the magazine said.

The third Mughal ruler of India presided over a flourishing of the arts, sponsoring artisans, poets, engineers and philosophers at a time when Europe was still in itspreRenaissance stage.

"If ever a leader merited a tautology, it was the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great. Under Akbar, a fragile collection of fiefs around Delhi grew into the great Mughal Empire, a diverse and sprawling kingdom across northern India," the magazine said.

"He was a canny warlord whose conquests gave rise to one of the early modern world's wealthiest states. Moreover, while a Muslim, Akbar was spiritually curious and hosted religious scholars from Hindu gurus to Jesuits at his vast, diverse court," it said.

By Rajen Vakil

Burning of the Khandava Forest

Part 3: Weapons to burn the Khandava Forest In our last article we saw how Agni tried to burn the Khandava forest seven times, but was unsuccessful. We also discussed about King Swetika performing a hundred year sacrifice.

The word Swetika means white. When we initially start getting interested in the spiritual path, we form a kind of pious ego. This ego loves to do things it thinks are spiritual, such as talking about god and the scriptures, performing big spiritual rites involving a lot of people. This is a show-off spirituality which does not really lead to any transformation or change in our psychic nature. This is represented by the hundred year yagna he performed. Once we are used to pseudo spirituality, then the real fire and thirst to seek out the truth dies. In the story, we saw that Agni had lost the desire to burn. Our real bondage is our memory pattern or samskaras that lie in our unconscious mind. If we can learn to burn these patterns, maybe with a little help, then the fire of sadhna will come into our lives. Now let us continue the story and see how Agni gets back the desire to burn.

After trying to burn the forest seven times and having failed, Agni was dejected and went back to Lord Brahma and narrated everything in detail.

Brahma asked him to wait for some time. When the time came Brahma called Agni and told him that the two great rishis ‘Nar’ and ‘Narayan’ had been born on the earth as Arjuna and Krishna. He also told Agni that at that very moment both of them were sitting near the Khandava forest, so he should go immediately and ask for their help; that with their help he would be able to burn the forest even though it was protected by Indra. Agni then explained to Krishna and Arjuna why he had come.

Arjuna spoke to Agni that “I possess and do know how to use many divine weapons, but I do not have a bow which can withstand the strength of my forearms. Further, I can, with both hands, shoot countless arrows and so I need quivers in which the arrows never exhaust. Also, I need a chariot which can withstand the weight of all my

weapons. I desire a chariot that moves at the speed of the wind, drawn by divine white horses, has the lustre of the sun and makes the sound of thunder. You see, the great Krishna who can kill all the nagas and demons, also has no weapons worthy of his greatness. Both of us are capable of warding off Indra and allowing you to burn the forest freely, but we need powerful and capable weapons to do it.”

Agni then meditated upon the God of water, Varuna, who appeared before him immediately.

Agni paid him his respects and then said “Please give to me immediately the chariot which was given to you by the moon god and the chariot with the Hanuman emblem given to you by Sharasen with all the weapons in it.

In it is the great bow called Gandiva and the chakra called Sudarshana; both Arjuna and Krishna will perform mighty deeds with them.”

Varuna then gave him all that he asked for saying these were the weapons which are worshipped even by the gods. Thus, Arjuna got the Gandiva bow, two quivers in which the arrows never exhausted and the great chariot.

Krishna got the Sudarshana chakra, the Kaumodaki mace and the ‘Agneya astra’, Agni’s personal weapon. Agni told Krishna that with the Sudarshana chakra, he would be the most powerful of all humans, and the chakra, when released, would kill his enemy and come back to him.

Arjuna and Krishna sat in the chariot and Arjuna then addressed Agni thus, “When this great Rishikesh will wield this chakra there is nothing impossible for him in the three worlds. Even I am impatient to use this wonderful bow and magical quivers in battle. O! great one, start burning this forest by surrounding it with fire, we are ready to help you and stop anyone who tries to put out the fire.”

Agni then started burning the forest. So powerful was his fire that it seemed as if the end of the world had come. It bloomed in seven differ-

ent kinds of flames. All the animals in the forest started trembling with fear.

The forest looked like a mountain of fire from afar.

Now let us try to understand the mystery of the story so far. Arjuna got the Gandiva, two quivers in which the arrows never got exhausted and a chariot. The word Gandiva characterises the quality of a rhinoceros. When a rhino runs, it does so in a straight line; Gandiva means one-pointed attention. The bow represents our diaphragm meaning that to maintain one-pointed attention there must be rhythm and harmony in our breathing. The two quivers represent desire and imagination. At present, our attention is totally seduced in our desires and imagination but once we are one-pointed, we free our attention from the two quivers and are able to shoot it like a guided missile. The chariot represents our body-brain system and the monkey flag a symbol of restlessness, symbolising that we have conquered restlessness.

Sri Krishna is given the Sudarshana; this means right seeing. To burn the forest of samskaras within, we need the right quality of observation, and since the ray of observation comes from the inner divine fragment, the chakra is with Sri Krishna. He is also given the Kaumodaki mace. This word comes from the Sanskrit root ‘mud’ meaning to rejoice.

As we become free of the bondage of our patterns, we rejoice. He is also given the Agneya Astra, which means pertaining to Agni. As the forest is protected by Indra and his weapon is lightning, this weapon neutralises it. In our efforts to burn and purify the inner impurities represented by the Khandava forest, many a times we will be carried away by our desires which will attack us as flashes of lightning, it is this weapon which will keep us steady and calm in those trying times.

In the next article we will see how Arjuna and Sri Krishna battle Indra.

(Edited by Chintu Gandhi)

All past articles on the Mahabharata can be accessed from http://epaper.asianvoice.com or from http://www.3stepbreath.com/mahabharata.html

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

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VGS honours torchbearers of social service Gujaratis always try to be on top, in whatever fields they take a plunge – be it business/profession or social service. This was the witnessed again last month at a special function in Ahmedabad, held by the Vishwa Gujarati Samaj (VGS) that was organised to honour three Gujaratis with Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vishwa Pratibha (global personality) and Kanjibhai Desai Gujarat Pratibha Awards. The trio was bestowed with the honours for their outstanding contributions in various fields. Four Gujaratis now settled abroad were also given special NRI awards.

Mrs. Ela Bhatt, the founder of SEWA (Self Employed Women’s Association), Ahmedabad was honoured with the Sardar Patel Vishwa Pratibha Award (2009) for her efforts that have brought a radical transformation in the lives of economically backward women. Dr. H. L. Trivedi, the founder of the Kidney Institute at Ahmedabad and Dr. K. M. Acharya (skin specialist) were honoured with Kanjibhai Desai Gujarati Pratibha awards for 2009 and 2010 respectively.

There was a convergence of views on one issue in every speaker’s address: Gujarat has truly turned vibrant, it is taking rapid strides in economic development under the able leadership of Chief Minister Narendra Modi even as the state continues to enjoy the front ranking spot in the field of services.

VGS President Krishnakant Vakharia made a special point that Sardar Patel Vishwa Pratibha Award by the samaj is the only award named after Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The award was instituted with the aim of creating awareness about the ideals and values of Sardar Patel among the young generation of today. He also underlined the fact that Gujaratis are not solely after making money; they are also at the forefront when it comes to selfless services, a virtue that was very well embodied by all the three winners.

General secretary of the samaj, a journalist and litterateur Vishnu Pandya said the month of January is associated with the republic day of the country, anniversaries of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Swami Vivekanand, birth anniversary of Gujarati poet Dalpatram and returning of Mahatma Gandhi from South Africa to India.

Editor and publisher of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar C B Patel in his address made a special mention of the first ever International Gujarati confer-

Ela Bhatt of SEWA being honoured with Sardar Patel Award. (L to R) MP Parimal Nathwani, Vishwa Gujarat Samaj President Krishnakant Vakharia, retired Supreme Court justice C K Thakker and C B Patel, Editor and publisher of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar.

ence in London in 1984. He lauded the efforts of Krishnakant Vakharia in founding the VGS in 1989 and guiding it through for 22 years braving all the odds.

He said he was proud of being a Patel, a Gujarati and an Indian. He also underlined the importance of Sardar Patel’s role in keeping India united immediately after independence, when it was facing a real threat of disintegration. In the same way, the efforts of the VGS in maintaining a link between the Gujaratis here at home and Gujaratis settled abroad are also beneficial to both.

C B Patel also praised the contribution of the four honoured with special NRI awards to the society. Making a special mention of Dixit Joshi, a British Indian, said his grandfather was a companion of Mahatma Gandhi in South Africa. A native of Rajkot in Saurashtra, Dixit Joshi is today MD of Barclays Capital, one of the topmost British financial services companies, a matter of pride for all. Vimal Shah, an industrialist from Kenya, Dr. A. S. Nakadar, a Gujarati doctor who is now settled in the USA and one of the founder trustees of AFMI as well as Mr. Jayant Jhaveri, a gems and jewellery tycoon settled in Hong Kong were also honoured.

MP and president of the function, Parimal Nathwani said that Gujaratis have come a long way from the image of ‘soft, pure vegetarian business community’. Kumarpal Desai, one of the judges for

Gujarat CM Narnendra Modi inducts 6 more ministers Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi last week expanded his cabinet by inducting six new faces, taking the total strength to 27.

The expansion saw central Gujarat, which had only one minister till now, getting two more Jitendra Sukhadia (Vadodara) and Jayadrathsinh Parmar (Halol, Panchmahals district).

Similarly, representation from south Gujarat, which stood at two – Narottam Patel and Mangubhai Patel – was increased to four by inducting Ishwarbhai Patel from Ankleshwar and Ranjit Gilletwala from Surat. Modi also took one person from Saurashtra (Mohan Kundaria from Tankara) and another from north Gujarat (Liladhar Vaghela from

Narendra Modi

Deesa). With this, the number of ministers from Saurashtra has reached 10 and those from north Gujarat to nine.

Despite the expansion, second in a row in the last six months, two central Gujarat districts, Anand and Kheda, have remained underrepresented.

Modi has also sought to provide better caste balance through his expansion. Of the six new faces

inducted, three are OBCs, one Patel and one Bania. Out of 27 Modi ministers, eight are Patels, nine OBCs, three Rajputs, two tribals, two Dalits, two Brahmins and one Bania (Jitendra Sukhadia).

Keeping an eye on polls in late next year, two of the new persons belong to the numerically strong Koli and Thakore communities – Ishwarsinh Patel and Liladhar Vaghela, respectively.

The expansion is politically significant, as two of those taken in were close loyalists of Modi’s bête noire, former CM Keshubhai Patel – Mohan Kundaria and Liladhar Vaghela, both ex-ministers. Two others were promoted from their posts as parliamentary secretary.

selection of the awardees said all the awardees embody the virtues of Sardar Patel who was always for making real independence reach the most common citizen of the country.

The awardees: Ela Bhatt The founder of Self Employed Women’s Association, Ahmedabad and a former member of Parliament, Mrs. Bhatt said she had heard of independence and women’s power while she was a student, but was able to understand the true meaning of it only from the women labourers, workers. All women do have the same qualities of bravery and entrepreneurship. Be it Kashmir or Afghanistan, the struggle for all poor women is almost the same. Today SEWA has spread its wings to not only Gujarat but also beyond India, having a membership of 1.3 million globally. The credit for it all goes to the land and the people of

Gujarat. For a transformation in a women’s life, it should first happen in their family and than in the society. I have learnt from my own work that for a true nation building effort, everybody should invest in empowerment of women.

Dr. H L Trivedi Founder of the Kidney Institute (an autonomous wing for treatment of kidney ailments within the Civil Hospital Complex, Ahmedabad), Dr. Trivedi said when I returned from Canada to India 47 years ago, I found out that kidney ailments are one of the major health problems in India and that’s why I focused on that. Today I am proud that we have been able to set up the world’s largest specialised kidney institute with a 400 bed capacity. Here, almost two transplant surgeries are carried out every day. Our success rate is 95%, the highest anywhere in the world. We are also glad that we have made possible what was once thought almost impossible.

Dr. K M Acharya Mahatma Gandhi actually didn’t want the political independence. He was aspiring for freedom for the most common Indian citizens from their woes. In fact, in my view, there was a great influence of ‘Ram Charitmanas’ on Gandhiji’s life. He saw Jesus Christ, Mohammed Payagamber and Lord Ram in leprosy patients. Recalling one instance of his commitment to the service of lepers, Dr. Acharya said in 1940, Mahatma left an important meeting on the independence struggle midway, as according to his schedule, it was time up for the service of the lepers. Pandit Nehra tried to stop him, but Bapu didn’t. On success in the fight against leprosy, he said in 1981, Gujarat had 256,000 leprosy patients, which has now come down to just 9,000 in 2010. I am proud that Gujarat is leading India in eradication of leprosy and rehabilitation of leprosy patients.

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InDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

In focus CBI names Chavan in Adarsh housing society FIR The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last registered a case against some retired Army officials and bureaucrats of the Maharashtra government in connection with the Adarsh housing society scam. The case was registered after the CBI received flak from the Bombay High Court for its tardy probe in the case.

Sources claim that the name of the former Maharashtra Chief minister Ashok Chavan is also there in the list, though he has not been named as an accused. The CBI FIR names two former senior Army officials of the rank of Major General and Brigadier, sources said. The agency had registered a preliminary inquiry into the scam in November last year. The decision to register a case was taken after seeking a legal opinion on the evidence which had favoured registering of a case against some people for allegedly forging the documents and abusing official position.

During hearing of a petition in the Adarsh case, a division bench of Justices B H Marlapalle and U D Salvi had asked CBI why it had not registered the case.

"It has been more than two months since CBI has been conducting a preliminary inquiry into the case.

Why have you (CBI) not registered FIR as yet?" it had asked. Two former army chiefs Gen Deepak Kapoor and Gen N C Vij and ex-navy chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh owned flats in the scam-hit society building in upscale Colaba. However, the former top chiefs have claimed that they have now surrendered the flats. The Union Ministry of Environment and Forests had on January 16 ordered demolition of the building within three months, holding it as "unauthorised" and built in violation of the spirit of coastal regulations.

Apart from violating the CRZ norms, the society is alleged to have got clearances from various authorities through dubious means.

HC verdict in Kasab case on Feb 21

The Bombay High Court last week said it would deliver its verdict on February 21 on confirmation of death sentence awarded to Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab for his role in the 26/11 terror attacks and also on his appeal against his conviction.

Justices Ranjana Desai and R V More said that they were ready with the judgment even now but because of bulky paper work and heavy compilation they would pronounce the verdict a fortnight later.

On the same day the High Court would also pronounce its judgment on the appeal filed by Maharashtra Government challenging acquittal of coaccused Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed in the same case. The trial court had set them free on the ground that evidence against the duo was doubtful.

The judges asked Government Counsel Ujjwal Nikam to make arrangements for video conference link in the court for Kasab on February 21 in case he wanted to hear the verdict from the Arthur Road Central jail where he is lodged.

However, Kasab’s lawyer Amin Solkar pleaded that the judgment may be pronounced on February 28 as he was going abroad and would not be able to remain present on February 21. The judges expressed their inability to consider his request and decided to give the verdict on February 21.

Dual citizenship campaign finds Resonance In Political corridors A new wave of reassurance from Indian political circles has reinforced the hopes of those who have been forced to give up their Indian nationality on attaining foreign citizenship fighting for their right to dual citizenship.

The relentless campaigning by the HSMP Forum, a prominent UKbased organisation has yielded hope after Indian politicians acknowledged the need to review the dual citizenship policy.

Mr Amit Kapadia, Chairman/Executive Director of the Forum met key Indian politicians recently to garner their

support for the dual citizenship campaign.

Mr Kapadia said, “We have found a lot of support from cross party politicians regarding the dual citizenship provision and they have shown great willingness to raise this matter in the Parliament and political circles. Many are confident that this change is inevitable and long overdue. We believe this issue has been long suppressed and undermines the contribution of the non-resident Indian community settled abroad.

We want and implore the Indian government to give this matter its due

importance.”

Mr Kapadia also met cross-party senior politicians and party leaders such as Mr Rahul Gandhi, General Secretary of the Congress, Mr M Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice, Mr D Raja of the Communist Party of India, Dr Subramaniam Swamy of the Janata Party, Mr Nitin Gadkari, President of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Venkaiah Naidu Senior BJP leader, the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi and some state chief ministers to discuss this issue.

Although, most politi-

‘In principle’ approval for Girnar ropeway project India’s Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh on Monday granted ‘in principle’ approval to the ropeway project on Girnar mountain in Junagadh district.

The minister has also laid down six conditions while granting in principle approval to the project and said that Gujarat government would have to submit a report based on which final decision would be taken by the standing committee of National Board of Wildlife (NBWL).

The proposed ropeway would carry people from bottom of Girnar mountain to its peak, that is, from Bhavnat Taleti to Ambaji temple on top. The project had been hanging fire since 1995 due to opposition by environmentalists who have been claiming that it would endanger the natural habitat of Girnari Vultures, which fall in the schedule I list of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

“Although I have received numerous representations against the ropeway on environmental grounds (primarily the anticipated adverse impact on vulture habi-

tats), I have seen for myself the strong reasons to build the ropeway,” Ramesh said in his note of approval.

“It would minimise man-animal conflict in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary (a new concern) and it would also provide a convenient way of transporting thousands of pilgrims daily to the holy spots on Mount Girnar,” he stated.

“It would also put an end to socially unacceptable modes of transportation (the dolis) that are being used presently,” Ramesh added. ♦ The state government will conduct a study to consider alternate alignment of the ropeway proj-

take whatever steps are necessary to safeguard public interest. A decision on the matter is likely to be taken soon”.

In 2005, ISRO’s commercial division Antrix Corp agrees to launch two satellites for Devas Multimedia. Devas got complete control of 70MHz of limited S-band spectrum, valuable for mobile broadband services, on satellites GSAT-6 and GSAT-6A (both to be launched) for 20 years.

Devas plans to launch multimedia services using satellite and terrestrial networks.

According to sources in the department of space, ISRO’s Antrix gave away S-band spectrum to

Devas “because it was the only company that approached ISRO at that time”. The sources said: “If other companies had approached SRO, they too would have got spectrum.

But no other company did.”

PMO denies reports Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has denied reports that a private company has been allotted a whopping 70MHZ of spectrum through a deal with the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which reports directly to the Prime Minister.

In a statement issued here, the PMO clarified that no decision has been taken by the Government

ect, preferably along the Datter /Bhesan side with a view to ensure that it does not cut across the prime vulture habitat and minimises disturbance to the nesting, roosting and ranging sites of long-billed vultures and other wildlife species and submit a report within two months. ♦ The height of the 9th and 10th tower of ropeway will be increased to avoid disturbance to the vulture nesting sites located in this area. ♦ A camera of high resolution will be placed on the 9th tower to monitor movement of vultures and if required, movement of cabins of the ropeways will be regulated in such

Another spectrum scam hits govt Continued from page 1 The Bombay high court which is hearing a public interest litigation termed the alleged scam even bigger than the 2G scam.

The beneficiary in the ISRO deal, Devas Multimedia, is in a joint venture with ISRO-affiliate Antrix to offer satellite broadband services on various platforms, including mobile telephony.

The government last year earned Rs 677.19 billion just by auctioning 15MHz of similar airwaves for 3G mobile services. It got another Rs 380 billion by auctioning spectrum for broadband wireless access services which

some operators propose to use to launch 4G services.

The ISRO spectrum can be used for providing mobile broadband services using 4G technologies such as WiMax and LongTerm Evolution.

If sold at the same price government got for 15MHz of 3G spectrum, the sale of ISRO spectrum could have significantly lowered the fiscal deficit estimated this year. With the deal under attack, ISRO indicated it could be revoked shortly.

In a statement, the space agency said, “The agreement entered into by Antrix with Devas is already under review by the department of space and the government will

cians were supportive of the dual citizenship provision the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi was allegedly not in favour of the dual citizenship provision.

The UK-based campaigning organisations HSMP Forum and Association of Immigrants work for the rights of Indians, and other nonEuropean immigrants in the UK. They have been successful in pursuing immigrants’ interests in the face of legal challenges with a focus on safeguarding their rights to work and settle in the UK.

to allocate space segment using S Band Spectrum to ANTRIX Corporation or Devas Multimedia.

In the Pune land deal which was being heard in the Bombay high court, it is alleged that the land which should have been used by the government to benefit weaker sections of the society was granted instead to developers for commercial exploitation.

Individuals or trusts were allowed to own up to 500 square metres of land under the Urban Land Ceiling (Regulation) Act (ULCA). Owners had been given this land decades ago - most owners were industrialists or real estate developers.

According to the Act,

way as to avoid any accidental collision of vultures. ♦ A cafeteria for vultures will be constructed at an appropriate location, to be decided in consultation with the experts, to provide for supplemental feed to the vultures apart from attempting to divert the movement of vultures away from the ropeway: ♦ A cess of Rs. 5 per ticket or 2% of the ticket turnover revenue, whichever is higher, will be imposed. This cess amount will be given to the Gir Lion Conservation Society for conservationrelated activities in and around the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary with a focus on long-billed vultures. ♦ A technical monitoring group of officers from Gujarat Forest Department, local voluntary organisation concerned, BNHS, WWF and experts will be set up to advise on safety protocols and to monitor the implementation of the conditions governing the clearance of the ropeway project.

any land above 500 square meters had to be declared in returns filed by the owners, so that it could be used by the government for public projects.

However, the PIL alleges that till 2005, government officials colluded with land-owners and developers to show there was no surplus land. ULCA has recently been repealed.

The petition alleges that most of these violations took place before that.

"This is more serious than any other scam in the country. This is a mini-2G scam. Lakhs of square feet land has been released on fake and bogus orders under the ULCA," one of the judges hearing the case commented.

VALENTINE’S DAY SPECIAL

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

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The History of Valentine's Day Saint Valentine's Day, more popularly known as Valentine's Day, is an annual celebration held on February 14, rejoicing love and affection between intimate companions.

The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD. It was deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI, but its religious observance is still permitted. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards (known as "valentines"). The day first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

M o d e r n Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have given way to mass-produced greeting cards.

Christian and interrogated by Roman Emperor Claudius II in person. Claudius was impressed by Valentine and had a discussion with him, attempting to get him to convert to Roman paganism in order to save his life. Valentine refused and tried to convert Claudius to Christianity instead. Because of this, he was executed.

Before his execution, he is reported to have performed a miracle by healing the blind daughter of his jailer.

Since Legenda Aurea still provided no connections whatsoever with sentimental love, appropriate lore has been embroidered in modern times to portray Valentine as a priest who refused an unattested law attributed to Roman Emperor Claudius II, allegedly ordering that young men remain single. The Emperor supposedly did this to grow his army, believing that married men did not make

Historical facts: Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine. The Valentines honoured on February 14 are Valentine of Rome (Valentinus presb. m. Romae) and Valentine of Terni (Valentinus ep.

Interamnensis m. Romae).

Valentine of Rome was a priest in Rome who was martyred about AD 269 and was buried on the Via Flaminia. His relics are at the Church of Saint Praxed in Rome, and at Whitefriar Street Carmelite Church in Dublin, Ireland.

Valentine of Terni became bishop of Interamna (modern Terni) about AD 197 and is said to have been martyred during the persecution under Emperor Aurelian.

He is also buried on the Via Flaminia, but in a different location than Valentine of Rome. His relics are at the Basilica of Saint Valentine in Terni (Basilica di San Valentino).

The Catholic Encyclopedia also speaks of a third saint named Valentine who was mentioned in early martyrologies under date of February 14. He was martyred in Africa with a number of companions, but nothing more is known about him.

No romantic elements are present in the original early medieval biographies of either of these martyrs. By the time a Saint Valentine became linked to romance in the 14th century, distinctions between Valentine of Rome and Valentine of Terni were utterly lost.

In the 1969 revision of the Roman Catholic Calendar of Saints, the feastday of Saint Valentine on February 14 was removed from the General Roman Calendar and relegated to particular (local or even national) calendars for the following reason: "Though the memorial of Saint Valentine is ancient, it is left to particular calendars, since, apart from his name, nothing is known of Saint Valentine except that he was buried on the Via Flaminia on February 14." The feast day is still celebrated in Balzan (Malta) where relics of the saint are claimed to be found, and also throughout the world by Traditionalist Catholics who follow the older, pre-Second Vatican Council calendar.

Saint Valentine of Terni and his disciples The Early Medieval acta of either Saint Valentine were expounded briefly in Legenda Aurea. According to that version, St Valentine was persecuted as a

historical fact, had their origins among 18th-century antiquaries, notably Alban Butler, the author of Butler's Lives of Saints, and have been perpetuated even by respectable modern scholars. Most notably, "the idea that Valentine's Day customs perpetuated those of the Roman Lupercalia has been accepted uncritically and repeated, in various forms, up to the present"

Medieval period and the English Renaissance Using the language of the law courts for the rituals of courtly love, a "High Court of Love" was established in Paris on Valentine's Day in 1400. The court dealt with love contracts, betrayals, and violence against women. Judges were selected by women on the basis of a poetry reading.

Modern times

for good soldiers. The priest Valentine, however, secretly performed marriage ceremonies for young men. When Claudius found out about this, he had Valentine arrested and thrown in jail.

Chaucer's love birds The first recorded association of Valentine's Day with romantic love is in Parlement of Foules (1382) by Geoffrey Chaucer Chaucer wrote: For this was on seynt Volantynys day Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make. ["For this was Saint Valentine's Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate."]

This poem was written to honor the first anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia.

A treaty providing for a marriage was signed on May 2, 1381.

(When they were married eight months later, they were each only 15 years old).

Readers have uncritically assumed that Chaucer was referring to February 14 as Valentine's Day; however, midFebruary is an unlikely time for birds to be mating in England. Henry Ansgar Kelly has pointed out that in the liturgical calendar, May 2 is the saints' day for Valentine of Genoa. This St. Valentine was an early bishop of Genoa who died around AD 307.

Chaucer's Parliament of Foules is set in a fictional context of an old tradition, but in fact there was no such tradition before Chaucer. The speculative explanation of sentimental customs, posing as

In 1797, a British publisher issued The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, which contained scores of suggested sentimental verses for the young lover unable to compose his own. Printers had already begun producing a limited number of cards with verses and sketches, called “mechanical valentines,” and a reduction in postal rates in the next century ushered in the less personal but easier practice of mailing Valentines. That, in turn, made it possible for the first time to exchange cards anonymously, which is taken as the reason for the sudden appearance of racy verse in an era otherwise prudishly Victorian.

Paper Valentines became so popular in England in the early 19th century that they were assembled in factories. Fancy Valentines were made with real lace and ribbons, with paper lace introduced in the mid-19th century.

In the UK, just under half the population spend money on their Valentines and around 1.3 billion pounds is spent yearly on cards, flowers, chocolates and other gifts, with an estimated 25 million cards being sent. The reinvention of Saint Valentine's Day in the 1840s has been traced by Leigh Eric Schmidt. As a writer in Graham's American Monthly observed in 1849, "Saint Valentine's Day... is becoming, nay it has become, a national holyday."

In the United States, the first massproduced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828–1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts.

India Thanks to a concentrated marketing effort, Valentine's Day is celebrated in some Asian countries with Singaporeans, Chinese and South Koreans spending the most money on Valentine's gifts.

In India, in the antiquity, there was a tradition of adoring Kamadev, the lord of love; exemplificated by the erotic carvings in the Khajuraho Group of Monuments and by the writing of the Kamasutra treaty of lovemaking.

This tradition was lost around the Middle Ages, when Kamadev was no longer celebrated, and public displays of sexual affections became frowned upon.

Around 1992 Valentine's Day started catching in India, with special TV and radio programs, and even love letter competitions. The economic liberation also helped the Valentine card industry.

In modern times, Hindu and Islamic traditionalists consider the holiday to be cultural contamination from the West, result of the globalisation in India.

Shiv Sena and the Sangh Parivar have asked their followers to shun the holiday and the "public admission of love" because of them being "alien to Indian culture". These protests are organised by political elites, but the protesters themselves are middle-class men who fear that the globalisation will destroy the traditions in his society.

Despite these obstacles, valentine's day is becoming increasingly popular in India.

However, leftist and liberal critiques of Valentine's day remain strong in India.

Valentine's Day has been strongly criticised from a postcolonial perspective by intellectuals from the Indian left . The holiday is regarded as a front for Western imperialism, neocolonialism, and the exploitation of working classes through commercialism by multinational corporations. Studies have shown that Valentine's day promotes and exacerbates income inequality in India, and aids in the creation of a pseudo-westernised middle class. As a

Kamdev: The Indian Cupid

result, the working classes and rural poor become more disconnected socially, politically, and geographically from the hegemonic capitalist power structure. They also criticise mainstream media attacks on Indians opposed to valentine's day as a form of demonisation that is designed and derived to further the valentine's day agenda.

Fashion/ Valentine’s Day

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Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Valentine's Day gift ideas Though this year Valentine's Day is on a weekday, treat your loved one on the weekend to something they would love to see, eat or wear.

Valentine's Day, is a time when lovers express their feelings and make extra special efforts to do something different.

Following are the gift ideas you can consider for your loved one: l Personalised photo cushion l Book of love with your picture and exclusive messages of togetherness l Personalised jewellery box l A joint spa day l A joint massage l Thames dinner cruise l Chocolate making workshop l Musical and dinner While the traditional gifts remain to be flowers and chocolates, this year why don't you plan to gate away with your love to somewhere far off and spend a fantastic weekend away from people and humdrum.

You can make short trips to close by towns of London that includes Cotswold, Canterbury, York or even a short London walk with a sumptuous dinner at the end.

Traditional Best Gifts for Her Flowers Perfumes Scarf Clutch Bags Accessories

Traditional Best Gifts for Him l l l l l

Tanchhoi, Gajee and Kinkhab: Silk sarees from Surat If the city of Surat is famous for anything apart from its diamond it is for the sarees. The city is famous for its fine silk sarees classified into different type of silks such as Tanchhoi, Gajee and Kinkhab. These sarees are exclusive and adored all over the world.

They are designed with traditional motifs like peacocks, flowers, hunting scenes and traditional figures.

The brocade sarees of Gujarat are also very much a part of Surat.

The unique point in all these sarees are that the designs are woven in coloured silk with the background being golden. Various motifs of leaves, flowers, birds, fruits, figures of women dancers and other interesting figures are embroidered in these sarees.

Surat is also famous for its zari works. Zari is the fine and delicate thread made of silver or gold, which is used to embroider the garments. Sarees embellished with exquisite works of zari, kinari and salma can be a valuable collection for women.

The Gharchola sarees are a good example of these type of works and they are widely in use as wedding sarees. Surat takes pride in its collection of printed sarees too. Surat is the largest production center for synthetic sarees and other fabrics.

For obvious reasons, printed synthetic sarees of Surat are in great demand. Golden Zari Embroidered Sarees that have a high demand in

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domestic as well as international markets.

These saree can also be customized in terms of design, fabric and colour to meet the specific demands of the clients.

Ideal for any occasion, these sarees look elegant and can be worn daily or to work.

Full Jacquard sarees enhance the appeal and

look of modish female clients. Designed using high grade raw material, these sarees are also embellished with embroidery and other heavy works. In order to enhance the appeal of these sarees, they are available in various vivacious colours and elegant designs. In order to satisfy the varying needs, a wide range of Crystal Embroidered Sarees are custom made.

To make these sarees look more appealing and elegant, these are crafted with heavy pallu, border & overall butis in silver sequins and crystal hand embroidery.

Suppliers strive hard to offer these sarees at economical prices within the set time limit. A unique collection of Hand Embroidered Sarees is made for customers at most competitive prices. This entire collection is fully handmade & woven by dexterous craftsmen. The complementary designs and eyecatching colour patterns of these sarees make them very elegant in appearance.

Embroidered Dyed Sarees are manufactured using superior quality raw materials. These are designed according to the current market trends and are extremely popular for their features like nonshrinkability, colourfastness and stylish d e s i g n s .

T i s s u e Embroidered Sarees are well-reckoned for bright and sophisticated colour combination and elegant designs. Apart from this, in order to enhance the appeal of these sarees, these are adorned with glass tissue and are set exclusively embroidered. All this make sarees in compliance with all the contemporary trends of fashion industry.

Surat has many large and small saree shops in and around the city. One can visit even the textile market to purchase some exclusive local handloom productions.

If bargained properly, you can buy extraordinary beautiful sarees at a very reasonable price.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

29

Spinach has multiple benefits Nitrates in the vegetable helps better blood circulation, lower BP The leafy green vegetable not just helps people gain growth and strength, it also ensures better blood circulation and helps lowering blood pressure. The substance behind all these benefits is the nitrates.

Swedish scientists say nitrates, found abundantly spinach boost cellular powerhouses that provide energy. A single helping of spinach is enough to up the efficiency of mitochondria, small bean-shaped bodies, which fuel cell activity and growth.

Until recently, the chemical was thought to be devoid of nutritional value, the journal ‘Cell Metabolism’ reports.

They have found that after taking a small dose of inorganic nitrate for three days, healthy people consumed less oxygen while riding an exercise bike.

Eddie Weitzberg from the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, who led the study, said: "We're

talking about an amount of nitrate equivalent to what is found in two or three beetroots or a plate of spinach.

"We know that diets rich in fruits and vegetables can help prevent cardiovascular disease and diabetes, but the active nutrients haven't been clear. This shows inorganic nitrate as a candidate to explain those benefits."

Dietary nitrate increases levels of nitric oxide in the body, a molecule that opens up blood vessels, lowers blood pressure and improves circulation.

Soy better than milk for lowering cholesterol

Soy protein has been found to be a better way of lowering non-HDL cholesterol in a new study in the USA. The results of the study showed that soy protein lowered non-HDL through a mechanism that does not involve increased bile acid excretion, but some yet to be determined mechanism, says Kevin Maki, lead author of the study.

Scientists have discovered that soy protein lowers total cholesterol and non-HDL (non-high-density lipoprotein) choles-

terol significantly more than milk protein in patients with moderately high cholesterol levels.

“Non-HDL cholesterol has been shown to be a somewhat stronger predictor of cardiovascular disease and mortality risk than LDL cholesterol in population studies,” said Elaine Krul, co-author of

the study. This randomized, controlled, parallel arm trial evaluated the effects of an insoluble

fraction of soy protein, compared to total milk proteins with high calcium content, on the fasting lipid profile.

Solae’s soy protein that was used in this study was a relatively insoluble fraction of soy protein isolate that had been shown to lower plasma cholesterol and increase fecal bile acid excretion in animals. The levels of isoflavones in the soy protein were lower than the average commercial soy protein isolate further supporting the notion that isoflavones do not play a role in the cholesterol lowering. The milk protein supplemented group also showed a modest cholesterol lowering.

Subjects for this study included men and women 18 to 79 years of age with elevated cholesterol, defined as fasting LDLcholesterol concentrations of at least 100 mg/dL and less than 200 mg/dL while receiving no lipid altering therapy.

The study has been published in the Journal of Clinical Lipidology last month.

Three cheers for chocolate lovers!!!

Dark chocolates are better than fruits for health

A new study had found out that chocolate lovers are at more benefit healthwise, as cocoa powder, the raw ingredient of chocolate is better than powders made from fruits like acai berries, blueberries, cranberries and pomegranates.

These all fruits are known as super fruits for their power health properties.

In fact, now chocolates have been dubbed as ‘Super Foods’.

Researchers at the Hershey Center for Health and Nutrition in the USA have discovered that particularly dark chocolate that contains about 60 per cent of cocoa and cocoa drinks have more fla-

vanoids and posses more antioxidant activity than fruits.

The good news, however, doesn''t apply to hot chocolate, which is processed.

The discovery means

cocoa beans meet the nutritional criteria needed for fruits to be classed as ‘super fruits’.

“The compounds in dark chocolate are just as good as the botanical compounds in fruit,” said Debra Miller, a senior member of the team.

“Cacao seeds should be considered a ‘super fruit’ and products derived from cacao seed extracts, such as natural cocoa powder and dark chocolate, as ‘super foods’,” she said.

By Radhika Madlani

Is love waiting for Valentine’s Day? The joy of internet commerce means that I have a web service that reminds me when a loved ones birthday is coming up and also sends me a link to a site where I can send out personalised cards to celebrate their special day.

I received one such link this morning which made me chuckle. A personalised link took me to the Valentine’s Day page and requested that I spend £3 on a card to send my 16-month old a Valentine card from ‘her secret admirer’. I cursed and admired this commercial intent in equal measure. An estimated 15 million eValentines were sent in 2010, and only half of them to other halves or partners. Surprisingly, over half were sent to family members, mothers, fathers, children and even teachers and friends. Although it is considered a happy tradition by most, I am not sure I agree to the millions of pounds people spend simply to express their love for others.

And furthermore, I am not certain I would want

a date in the diary to remind me when to tell those I care about them that I care about them!

I do wonder whether I will ‘give in’ to this commercial venture when Ria is actually old enough to understand what Valentine’s Day is about. Hopefully, if I explain it well, she will recognise that Valentine’s Day is a celebration of St.Valentine and others who celebrated love in their time.

Whether it be celebrated in the UK as Valentine’s Day, in Sweden as ‘All Hearts Day’, in Finland as ‘Friends Day’ or in Turkey as ‘Sweethearts’ Day’, the message is quite simply to appreciate your loved ones and show that you care.

I am sure like most parents, I lose count of the hugs and ‘I love yous’ sandwiched between the time I wish my daughter Good Morning and the time I kiss her Good Night each day. I certainly don’t need February 14th to remind me to tell my daughter I love her and I most definitely don’t need a commercial website and a card to say

it either.

Oh and its not just children that need to be shown love, adults need it too. But sadly, as we get older, the hugs and ‘I love you’s’ get lost in the noise of everyday life.

Imagine having to pay for hugs? Well, I know you don’t believe me so check it out for yourself (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ news/uk-england-london-12337502). I saw a news feature yesterday reporting a growing trend of a group based in Camden that offered workshops costing up to £24 per person for hugs.

It seems most of us cannot or don’t want to hug those around us but are willing to pay strangers for hugs!

Well, this February 14th, I challenge you to hug those you care about. Show your loved ones you care with a hug, not some e-card from a commercial website or a clichéd bunch of red roses from the florist.

Why let love wait for Valentine’s Day? Quote: “Children need love always, but especially when they don’t deserve it!

– Harold Hulbert

Should you have any comments or want to get in touch with me you can email on avmamaria@gmail.com

Too much of sunblock ‘causing a rise in Vitamin D deficiency in children’ Don’t be afraid of some exposure to sunshine, especially for children. A new study suggests that lack of exposure to sunshine causes increase in deficiency of vitamin D in children. People in the western countries use a bit too much of sunblock lotion to keep the skin safe of cancer risks that is posed after exposure to sunshine.

According to Dr. Colin Michie, a consultant senior lecturer in paediatrics

at Ealing Hospital in West London, “People have a stronger belief in the sun causing cancer than the benefits of getting vitamin D but we need to get a balance.”

“Teenagers are coming into hospital with vitamin D deficiency. They are growing fast and come in with aches and pains,” he added.

“When we measure their levels, they are very low and it’s because they do not go out in the sun

anymore, and spend time indoors playing video games.”

The deficiency cases have also seen a rise in the number of cases of rickets, the childhood bone disorder not seen since the 19th century.

Human bodies only makes Vitamin D when the skin is exposed to the sun’s UV rays. Although turning bright red will increase cancer risk, it is safe to small exposure to sun rays.

Milk is a good precaution against bowel cancer Try to ensure that kids drink milk regularly at young age. New Zealand scientists have discovered that those who consumed milk daily as children are considered 40% safe than others from suffering bowel cancer. The key to its anti-cancer effects lies in daily consumption over long periods.

According to Associate Professor Brian Cox, the leader of the research team, “Our results suggest daily consumption of milk in childhood may reduce bowel cancer incidence,

possibly by the action of calcium.”

Experts believe calcium helps kill off cancer cells and accumulating a supply in the system can help to ward off the disease. The team discovered

pupils were 40 percent less likely to suffer a tumour later in life if they had milk every day for six years or more. The study was published last week in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Mr. Subhash Thakrar, FCA and a Senior Partner for the City based Blackstone Franks has broken another glass ceiling. Mr. Subhash Thakrar has become the first ever Asian President for London Chamber of Commerce. This week in CB Live, CB will discuss with Subhash Thakrar the current economic situation, his role in London Chamber of Commerce as well as his views on the multiculturalism debate. Do not miss the program.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500

If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

Don't miss !!!

For more information e-mail: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

India appeals to London's frozen folk

By Rudy Otter Freezing people flocked to London's Earl's Court exhibition centre from 3rd to 6th February in search of sunnier climes.

They visited Destinations, the annual holiday and travel show sponsored by The Times newspaper, and India was high on their list judging by the response to stands dealing with subcontinental travel.

Staff at India's London-based Ministry of Tourism Office stand, as well as the TransIndus Holidays stand, answered a flurry of questions covering the whole country.

At one of the other stands, Rajeev Olickel,

Amazing predictions

Sneh Joshi, the UK’s leading Vedic astrologer, writer and TV personality can answer questions on:

Health Problems Investments Married Life Marriage Compatibility Love Affairs Court Cases Any other problems

operations director of the Kerala Travel Centre of Witham, Essex, told Asian Voice: "Interest in Kerala is so great that we have launched our biggest brochure yet." Its 200 pages are packed with information on everything from bespoke activity and culinary tours to hotel descriptions. Testimonials from happy customers fill two pages. Comments range from "I have never had a better time" to "we look forward to spending more time in Kerala."

More than 450 travel organisations highlighted the world's tourism destinations, and travel experts gave lectures on their experiences.

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At the moment, relationships are experiencing major transformations - those with shaky foundations should be extra careful. Financially, you have everything going for you. This is a good time to put lucrative plans into action and reap the benefits of sound investments.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

Dichotomy b/w assimilation and integration Continued from page 1 communities and cultures should cherish and celebrate their individuality while integrating within the broad legal and cultural framework of the UK. The Hindu community shows how good and productive members of society can still maintain their culture because there is no

conflict with the wider societal tenets.

Some communities fail to achieve this and Mr. Cameron has to accept that his words are actually addressed at them. The fact that he’s caused widespread offence in the wider communities is to be profoundly regretted – and will be by him."

Coming Events l The President and the Executive Committee of Mahatma Gandhi Foundation invites to a special prayer meeting and solemnly observe Gandhiji’s Nirvan Day, on Thursday 10 February 2011 18:00 for 18:30 at Kadva Patidar Centre, Kenmore Ave, Harrow, HA3 8LU. Contact: Shree Manjibhai Kara 020 8930 7845. l Lions Club of Loudwater and Rickmansworth Proudly presents: An Evening of stand up comedy with ShaziaMirza plus supporting act a very funny award winning British Asian stand up, Watersmeet Theatre, High Street, Rickmansworth, WD3 1EH, 5-9:30pm, Sunday 13thFebruary 2011.

Contact: Dilip Manek -07956452018 l All Thursdays 19:00 - 20:00 : Jalaram Jyot @ Rapton Avenue, Sudbury HA0 3DW l University College London – Hindu Society, Presents a Cultural Extravaganza on Sunday 13th February, 2011 at 6.30 PM, at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Haymarket , London SW1Y 4QL. Contact: www.rangeela2011.com l 108 Hanuman Chalisa and yajna 10:30am, 13th Feb, Social Club Hall, Northwick Park Hospital, Harrow, HA1 3UJ, Sunitaben Mangalani 020 8459 5758 l Jain Samaj Europe and Jains UK have arranged Ilaachikumar play at Leicester on 13th March (Sunday). l AMC presents Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar in concert Sunday 20 February, 6.30pm, Monday 21 - Wednesday 23 February, 4pm - 8pm every evening AMC’s Museum, Bradford Road, London W3 7SP . Contact: 020 8742 9911.

Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel: +9179 2646 Fax: +9179 6061 Chief Executive Director: Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamleshamin123@yahoo.co.in Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Suresh Samani (M) +91 9898441330 Email: sureshsamani@yahoo.com Dy. Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Nilesh Parmar (M) +919426636912 Consulting Editor (BPO): Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 (M) +91 9913346487 Email: horizonadvt2009@yahoo.in Neeta Patel, (Advertising Manager) (M) +91 98255 11702 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group(South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jainmedia@eth.net

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Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Sales: 020 7749 4085

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Much enthusiasm goes into professional ambitions right now, but you need to be your own boss in many ways. Circumstances will make you more determined to place your lifestyle on a foundation of greater security. Far-reaching change begins to gather momentum.

Your horizons are most certainly expanding. Your philosophical thoughts will make your mind run wild.

With Jupiter transiting your house of gains, there will be many opportunities. Your financial affairs are looking up. Do not miss out on ways to better yourself in the coming weeks.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Long-term partnerships are reinvigorated. Whether you’re single or attached you’ll have a busy time ahead of you. Business partnerships are tested and the more you live up to your own set of principles the more cash you’ll pull in.

At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will promote unity.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 You can expect everything to run smoothly and luck to attend your efforts.

However, underneath this positive surface you may be plagued by a feeling of restlessness, an uneasy feeling that something is not quite right. Try to srike a balance between material and emotional affairs !

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

Venus, the planet of love and beauty, is transiting your solar 5th house. You have plenty of romantic options. Financially you are still not out of the woods, so do not be hasty when buying At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will help you to get on with everyone around you.

This promises to be very romantic week where some of you might even tie the knot with your loved one. This is a good time to buy or sell property or to renovate existing ones. The atmosphere at home will be calm and amiable with everyone at their best behaviour. Time to join the gym and start a new fitness regime.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 At home, be at your diplomatic best and try not to tread on anyone's toes.

Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer. Even the most strong-willed Scorpions will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 The focus is on finances this week, but that doesn’t mean you should worry yourself sick. Rather, it is about finding new and improved ways to boost your earnings potential. Don’t let nebulous tendencies interfere with your plans. It’s fine to consider several options but don’t get caught up in indecision. Schedule networking opportunities later this week.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 The need to push ahead with personal interests and to assert yourself with added force will take precedence over everything else for some time to come. Mentally you will be in top form, perhaps feeling quite passionate about expressing your ideas and views. This is also a time when you will develop fresh insights into other people.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Your communication sector is all-abuzz with planetary energies firing you up preventing you from sleeping properly. Give yourself plenty of physical outlets to drain off some of the excess mental stimulation. You should try to settle into a more grounded and steady routine instead of letting your schedule run you.

With Venus riding high in your 11th house leisure and creativity, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties.

This will give you a chance to meet people of your own calibre and pursue any romantic liaisons that might present themselves.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Sport worLd

Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

Ganguly scoffs at retirement reports Former Indian captain and IPL hopeful Sourav Ganguly has scoffed at reports of his retirement from all forms of cricket and said he would play IPL if he got a chance.

Earlier a television channel has claimed that he had retired from all forms of the game.

Media reports had said that he took the decision after he was snubbed by the Indian Premier League in its fourth season where he was not selected by any of the franchises.

He had announced his retirement from international cricket after the Test series against Australia in November 2008. He, however, plays for West Bengal in the domestic circuit.

Ganguly, who had played for Shah Rukh Khan-owned KKR in the

Sourav Ganguly

last three seasons, was not picked by any of the 10 franchises at the two-day IPL auction at a base price of USD 400,000 in January.

The former India captain was quoted as saying that at some point, he would like to go into cricket administration and take up a coaching role with Team India. “I am mental-

ly preparing myself for an administrator’s role. I would love to be part of the Cricket Association of Bengal at some point of my life. I also would love to coach the Indian cricket team as well,” Sourav was quoted by the TV news channel on Monday.

“If I don’t get to play IPL I will not be participating in any form of domestic cricket,” said Sourav, reiterating that he has been playing domestic cricket only to stay fit for IPL. Clearly disappointed at being left out of IPL-4, Sourav maintained that reasons other than cricket were at play. “I had the runs. Players of my age, Gilchrist, Dravid and

Laxman are still actively involved. I haven’t been able to put my finger on why I was left out.

Cricketing logic and past form suggest I should have been picked. There are several reasons I could have been dropped, but not for cricket.”

On Friday, IPL's Governing Council stalled what could have been a back-door entry for Ganguly as the Kochi IPL team was keen on roping him in.

After opposition from other franchisees, the Governing Council decided not to make available the unsold Indian Players from the auction. IPL rules state that no capped player can be bought outside the players' auction after he has been part of the process.

Nadal is ‘World Sportsman of the Year’ Tennis ace Rafael Nadal piped star footballers Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta to become the “World Sportsman of the Year” at the Laureus World Sports Awards at Abu Dhabi on Monday.

The World Cup winning Spanish football side walked away with the ''World Team of the Year'' trophy.

The ''World Sportswoman of the Year'' award went to American alpine skiier Lindsey Vonn, who beat off competition from Belgian tennis ace Kim Clijsters, who won a second straight US Open and four other events last year, Serena Williams, and world number one tennis player Caroline Wozniacki among others.

Vonn had secured her third straight skiing World Cup and the Olympic

Somdev at career best in ATP ranking Indian tennis star Somdev Devvarman jumped 30 places to reach career best singles ranking of 80 in the ATP charts following his stupendous show at the SA Tennis Open, where he ended runner-up on Monday.

Somdev lost the summit clash to local favourite Kevin Anderson but earned 150 ranking points, that helped him climb the ranking ladder up.

Somdev had broken into top-100 in August last year but kept floating inside and outside that bracket in the next few months. Comeback boy Karan Rastogi is the next best Indian at number 328.

Meanwhile the re-united partners Mahesh Bhupathi (5) and Leander Paes (6) kept their rankings intact in the doubles chart. In the WTA ranking, Sania Mirza's ranking was unchanged in both singles (135) and doubles (66).

Downhill gold medal last year.

World number one Nadal - who completed a career slam last year by clinching the US Open, French Open and the Wimbledon to go with his 2009 Australian Open triumph - walked away with the top honours by pipping pre-awards favourites Messi and Iniesta.

It was Nadal’s second after the Laureus Breakthrough Award in 2006.

"Thank you very much for this," said the star who received the trophy from German tennis legend Boris Becker.

The Spanish celebrations did not end at that as their World Cup winning football side clinched the ''Team of the Year'' honour

Rafael Nadal

ahead of Europe''s Ryder Cup-winning team and the Italian football club Inter Milan -- which had won the treble of Champions League, Serie A and Coppa Italia last year -among others.

The Spanish team, however, could not make it to the awards ceremony because of training engagements for an international match.

French football legend Zinedine Zidane was presented the ''Lifetime Achievement'' award "in

recognition of his remarkable career.” The ace midfielder walked in to a standing ovation from the gathering and received the trophy from legendary Moroccan athlete Nawal El Moutawakel and English football legend Sir Bobby Charlton.

"Thank you to all those who voted for me. I have to thank (former France teammate) Marseille Desailly for all that he did for me. Today is February 7 and it has been 20 years since I got married, it's a special day for me," Zidane said in French, insisting speaking in English would be "too difficult" for him.

American Kelly Slater was presented with the ''Laureus Action Sports Award'' for the third time, after winning a record 10th World Surfing Championship.

Sreesanth replaces injured Kumar in India WC squad

Indian pace bowler S Sreesanth is a happy man now. He has replaced the injured Praveen Kumar for the World Cup squad.

S Sreesanth

The Indian cricket board announced on Tuesday said that Kumar has been ruled out because of an elbow injury and the International Cricket Council has allowed him to be replaced

by Sreesanth.

Kumar failed a fitness test on Monday. The other

pace bowlers in India's 15man squad are Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Munaf Patel.

India is co-hosting the 14-nation tournament from Feb 19 to April 2 along with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh and is the favorite to win the World Cup for a second time following its success in 1983.

India takes on Bangladesh at Dhaka in the tournament opener.

Hauritz, Hussey out of Oz squad Australia has requisitioned the services of Callum Ferguson and Jason Krejza to replace injured duo Nathan Hauritz and Mike Hussey in its World Cup squad on Monday.

Hussey and Hauritz were both in doubt after undergoing surgery on injuries and chief selector Andrew Hilditch said officials had decided to replace them and take a

fully-fit squad to the World Cup. "Based on the medical advice an application is being made to the ICC to replace both players in the World Cup squad," Hilditch said in a statement.

Veteran batsman Hussey, felled with a hamstring tendon injury, has been replaced by the 26year-old Ferguson, who was recently called up for the final two matches of Australia's one-day series against England.

"Callum has an excellent record in one-day international cricket and played well in the one-day game against England in Sydney recently," said Hilditch.

Despite only making his ODI debut last Sunday, Jason Krejza, 28, will step in for Hauritz, who dislocated his shoulder in the first ODI clash with England.

31

Afridi retained as Pak WC captain Pakistan has finally retained Shahid Afridi, the seasoned campaigner, as captain for the team in the World Cup that is starting next week. Misbah-ul-Haq, the test captain has been named as his deputy.

Waqar Younis and Aaqib Javed will also continue as head coach and bowling consultant. The PCB also appointed a security advisor, Wasim Ahmed to accompany the team in the World Cup after the post was lying vacant following the resignation of Khawaja Naeem. Misbah would be part of the tour selection committee for the World Cup, which also includes manager (Intikhan Alam), coach and the captain.

Eden Gardens to host 3 WC matches The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given the go-ahead to the Eden Gardens cricket ground in Kolkata for hosting three non-India matches there. A three-member ICC team which made an inspection at the stadium was happy with the progress made at the renovation work being carried out there.

This comes after the ICC had ruled that renovation work was too slow and the venue was unlikely to be ready for its only match featuring India and England last month. The stadium is now due to host three matches - South Africa vs Ireland on March 15, Ireland vs Netherlands on March 18 and Zimbabwe vs Kenya on March 20. The World Cup, which is being co-hosted by India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, begins with a match between India and Bangladesh in Dhaka on February 19.

Messi to play in Kolkata soon In December 2008, legendary Diego Maradona had set foot in this football-crazy city of Kolkata. Come September 2, another Argentine stalwart Lionel Messi is set to arrive with his national team.

If everything goes as per the plan, it will be a double bonanza of sorts for football lovers here, as Argentina will play against either Spain or Portugal in the one-lakh capacity Yuba Bharati Krirangan. The Barcelona star forward who won the Fifa Ballon d'Or award recently is likely to be part of the side that is scheduled to visit the city.

"We have signed an agreement for bringing the star-studded Argentine team to Kolkata," an official of a sports management company said. Confirming this, IFA general secretary Utpal Ganguli said, "The Argentina team are scheduled to play an exhibition match either against Spain or Portugal on September 2 here.

Mumbai girls win Dubai hockey tournament Friends United girls hockey team created waves in Dubai by winning the Lusitanians' Ladies Invitation Hockey Tournament for the third time in a row.

The Mumbai team outplayed Dubai Hockey Club 3-0 in the final on Sunday at the Dubai Scholars Ground to win the eight-team league-cum-knockout competition, a statement said.

In the run-up to the final, Friends United beat Lusitanians 6-0 in the opening match, before routing Cambridge High School 9-0 and Sharjah Tigers 5-0 in the following league encounters.

In the semi-finals, the Mumbai club, promoted by former player Hillary Gomes and trained by former India captain Dhanraj Pillay, beat Dubai Scholars 40. In the final, Vishakha Dodke scored a brace while 14-year-old Jemima Monteiro scored once to emerge as the team's highest scorer, while Nimmy Nair of "Chak De India" fame was adjudged the 'Best Player' of the tournament.

EPL matches this week Saturday, 12 February Man Utd v/s Man City Old Trafford 12:45 Arsenal v/s Wolverhampton Emirates Stadium 15:00 Birmingham v/s Stoke St. Andrews Ground 15:00 Blackburn v/s Newcastle Ewood Park 15:00 Blackpool v/s Aston Villa Bloomfield Road 15:00 Liverpool v/s Wigan Anfield 15:00 West Brom v/s West Ham The Hawthorns 15:00 Sunderland v/s Tottenham Stadium of Light 17:30 Sunday, 13 February Bolton v/s Everton Reebok Stadium 16:00 Monday, 14 February Fulham v/s Chelsea Craven Cottage 20:00 Tuesday, 15 February Birmingham v/s Newcastle St. Andrews Ground19:45

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Asian Voice - Saturday 12th February 2011

OZ sweep the ODIs at Perth

Kiwis salvage some pride at Auckland Pakistan take ODI series 3 - 2

Beat England in all but one to make it 6 - 1

On Sunday at Perth, Australia completed their dominance over England in the limited overs version, beating England by a comfortable margine of 57 runs to take the series 6 – 1. Adam Voges and David Hussey stole the limelight with their batting as the home team scored 279 and then limited England’s abilities, packing them back to the pavilion with 6 overs still to go.

Voges hit a career-best 80 before England's mentally-finished top order was blown away to end hopes of a face-saving win.

Nothing will compensate for the crushing loss in the Ashes series, but Australia's resurgent oneday form has suggested a fourth consecutive World Cup title is possible, especially if key players return from injury.

After the top order of the home team wobbled to 4 for 102, Hussey and Voges added 95 in 13

Australia won the match by 57 runs to finish resounding 6-1 series winners at Perth on Sunday

overs. Once Australia had posted a competitive total it was always unlikely that the visitors would be able to dig deep enough to make it a contest.

Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen briefly consolidated but there was never any great sense of permanency even from the in-form Trott. At 5 for 64 the game was over. Matt Prior played some handsome drives before giving

Jason Krejza his maiden one-day wicket to end another unfulfilled innings and Michael Yardy battled hard to reduce the margin of defeat with his highest ODI score.

England's makeshift bowling attack had done a decent job through the first half of the innings as the quicks started well and Yardy picked up two, but in a familiar pattern the work of the front line

bowlers was squandered.

Earlier, on Wednesday at Sydney, a huge century

by Jonathan Trott was not good enough to help England beat Australia, as the home team, helped by a superb innings from Michael Clarke chased a record target of 334 successfully and thumped the visitors by two wickets in the last over.

However, it was a tense finish after Clarke was run out for 82 with seven needed but John Hastings and Brett Lee held their nerve to see the home side across the line and leave a weary England with plenty of soul-searching to do. {Brief scores: 7th ODI - OZ 7 for 279 (Voges 80*, Hussey 60, Anderson 348) beat England 222 (Yardy 60, Johnson 3-18, Tait 3-48) by 57 runs. 6th ODI - OZ 8 for 334 (Clarke 82, Johnson 57) beat England 6 for 333 (Trott 137) by 2 wickets}.

ICC bans Pakistan trio from playing any form of cricket

They also face criminal charges for their actions in England The International Cricket Council last week banned former Pakistan captain Salman Butt and fast bowlers Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir from playing any format of cricket after they were found guilty of spot-fixing by an ICC tribunal.

The 26-year-old Butt, who was captain of Pakistan team in last year’s test series against England, was banned for 10 years, Asif, 28, was ruled out for seven years while 18-year-old Amir was banned for five years.

News of the punishment came a day after British prosecutors said the trio would face criminal charges over their actions in the fourth cricket test against England at Lord’s.

Michael Beloff, the lawyer who headed the tribunal, said the suspended parts of the sentence were dependent on the players committing no further

Salman Butt

Mohammad Asif

Mohammad Amir

breach of the code and attending an anti-corruption programme run by the Pakistan Cricket Board.

A three-man tribunal run the case for six days last month following the allegations in a British newspaper that the trio had arranged for deliberate no-balls to be delivered at pre- decided time in the fourth test at Lord’s last year. All three can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for sport after the tribunal.

“We are very disappointed but we are still hopeful we can appeal in 20 days’ time,” Amir’s lawyer

Shahid Karim told reporters.

Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service said the trio, along with 35year-old sports agent Mazhar Majeed from Croydon, England, has been charged with conspiracy to obtain and accept corrupt payments and with conspiracy to cheat.

"These charges relate to allegations that Mr Majeed accepted money from a third party to arrange for the players to bowl 'no balls' on 26 and 27 August 2010, during Pakistan's Fourth Test at

Lord's Cricket Ground in London," said Simon Clements, head of the CPS Special Crime Division.

He said Majeed had been ordered to appear at London's City of Westminster Magistrates Court on March 17.

"Summonses for the same court date have been issued for the three players and they have been asked to return to this country voluntarily, as they agreed to do in September last year," Clements said.

"Their extradition will be sought should they fail to return," he added.

Pakistan celebrate their series victory

New Zealand salvaged some pride in the sixth and final ODI at Auckland on Saturday, beating Pakistan by a huge margin of 57 runs after having already lost the series when they lost the previous game at Hamilton on Thursday.

It was Jesse Ryder who scored a belligerent hundred from just 82 balls, helping the Kiwis set up an uphill challenge for Pakistan, setting them a target of 312 runs to win.

Pakistan too helped the rivals with a questionable choice of slog-over bowlers, allowing Nathan McCullum and Scott Styris score a blazing 72 off the last five.

It all started with Tanvir's average first spell of four overs.

He yielded 25 and accouned for Brendon McCullum, but Ryder spanked him out of the attack with three huge sixes in his fifth. The rest of the cast fared only marginally better.

After the powerplay, Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq reined New Zealand in. From 108 for 1 in the 16th over, they could add only 33 in 9.3 overs.

A niggle forced Ryder to ask for a runner, but he ensured Brendon did not have much running to do.

He completed his century in the 33rd over.

However, with his mobility clearly hampered by the injury, he targeted the boundary exclusively, and was caught in the deep.

Wary of their longish tail, New Zealand chose

to conserve resources for the late surge. Tanvir's return in the 43rd over signalled the end of the ceasefire.

Pakistan began the chase with the same lack of intensity that characterised their bowling.

The game changed when Asad Shafiq exited to a needless mix-up, after a stand of 74.

Kamran kept attacking, but James Franklin removed him and Umar Akmal in an energetic spell as the chase sputtered.

Pakistan’s first ODI series win after 2 years helped by Ahmed Shehzad’ maiden ton Earlier on Thursday at Hamilton, new comer Ahmed Shehzad scored a fluent century as Pakistan won their first ODI series for more than 2 years, beating hosts New Zealand comfortably by 41 runs.

Ahmed Shehzad batted with utmost confidence during his calculated assault, overcoming a cautious start in overcast conditions.

He was backed up by a determined performance from Pakistan's bowlers, who stepped up in areas where New Zealand had erred, and completed the job quite comfortably in the end. {Brief scores: 6th ODI - NZ 311 for 7 (Ryder 107, N McCullum 65, Styris 58*) beat Pak 254 (Kamran 89, Bennett 4-46) by 57 runs. 5th ODI - Pak 268 for 9 (Shehzad 115) beat NZ 227 (Taylor 69, Guptill 65, Riaz 3-51) by 41 runs}.