Asian Voice

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Health & Healing

How to treat a simple burn through alternate method See Page - 30

Spriha’s Corner

Why visa when you can get an OCI/PIO card?

See Page - 18

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 38. ISSUE 36

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Manmohan promises early voting rights for Overseas Indians

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Rajapaksa woos Tamil voters with a $4 bn rehab package

Kamal Nath wants special Infra bonds for NRIs, 14 feted Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said NRIs voting in general elections in India could become a reality before the next parliamentary polls. Addressing the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas audience, he went on to say that more than just voting, I would ask more overseas Indians to return home and join politics and public life here. The two day annual conclave was held in New Delhi last week.

14 overseas Indians were felicitated on the occasion by President Mrs. Pratibha Devi Patil, while Continued on page 24

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa lights a candle on top of a globe as he presented his election manifesto in Colombo on 11th January

Indian minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Minister for Road Transport and Highways Kamal Nath and Sam Pitroda at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in New Delhi.

Well aware of the fact that the votes of the Tamil minority has the potential to play a decisive role in the outcome, President Mahinda Rajapaksa has dangled a carrot of $4 billion reha-

bilitation package in the ravaged north, dominated by Tamil voters. Sri Lankans are to vote on 26th January to elect their next President Continued on page 24

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Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

ONE ON ONE Keith Vaz MP with Anthony Peltier Anthony was raised on the Kingsmead Estate in Hackney East London. He started his teaching career in 1979 working in Primary and secondary schools across the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA). After completing his degree in education in 1993, his drive for leadership took him to his first Deputy Headship in a primary school in Hackney.

After receiving the pride of Britain award for bravely intervening in a knife attack on a youth, Anthony made it his dogged determination to change the attitudes of young people towards violent crime. After two successful Headships in two London boroughs he is now the Executive Headteacher of Sils (Southwark’s Inclusive Learning Service), three satellite schools that provides education for young people excluded from mainstream school or at risk of exclusion.

1. What inspired you to begin a career in the education sector?

My experience as a pupil in a Hackney comprehensive school was not very inspiring except for two teachers that recognised my potential and took a particular interest in me. After leaving school and taking my first part time teaching role as a music tutor, my passion for teaching and developing learners began to emerge.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

Completing my Bachelor of Education degree and taking responsibility for the development of young, excited learners as a qualified teacher was one of my earliest achievements. Being the first in my family to gain a degree, was the proudest moment for my parents, which in turn became my proudest moment.

3. What do you think is the biggest issues facing young people today?

One of the issues for

of all abilities are offered the very best opportunities.

The establishment of the General Teaching Council has increased the professionalism of teachers and engendered greater respect for the teaching workforce.

some young people is peer pressure and negative influence. I believe some young people have lost their sense of identity, core and shared values; this often manifests itself as anti social behaviour.

5. What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

I don’t feel I have experienced obstacles in my career. I have never allowed myself to be limited by other people’s expectations or stereotypes.

People 7. And the worst?

Changing the mindset of the many adults these young people come across.

Constantly battling with some adults to believe in these young people, their modified behaviour and willingness to succeed is my greatest challenge.

Despite the achievements of the vast majority, there are still some young people we are not reaching.

8. If you were prime minister, what one thing would you change?

4. How has the profession changed since you first started out?

6. What is the best thing about your current role?

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

We now focus on the learner in all aspects of their development. If we look at a child’s early experiences of learning, from age four, everything they bring to the learning experience is valued and built upon. It's not just the academically successful who can achieve, teachers work hard to ensure that young people

I work with some of our most disaffected young people, some of whom have been written off by schools and their communities. I am able to see through their defences and anti-social behaviour and offer encouragement and the opportunity to excel. I help them realise their true learning potential.

Bob Marley, what he has said in his lyrics has inspired me and many others to rethink how we view the world.

One of his famous quotes that I often share with the young people is ‘Why judge a man by the colour of the skin when he is not judged by the colour of his eyes.’

Andy Connolly

Manjula Sood

on to the ice to save him before emergency services arrived at the scene.

A fourth brother managed to stay on the ice.

Police have now finished their investigation into the incident and an inquest into the deaths will be opened today.

Leicester East MP Keith Vaz offered his condolences to the family.

He said: "I think this is a terrible tragedy and my thoughts and prayers are with the friends and the loved ones of this family.

"I'm sure the whole community is saddened by what has happened."

Councillor Manjula Sood said: "I was devastated to hear about their deaths." The tragedy fol-

lows incidents on frozen water in Abbey Park and at Bennion Pools Nature Area, in Beaumont Leys, where teenagers and children had to be warned off the ice.

Sergeant Andrew Smith, of Beaumont Leys police, said: "Under no circumstances should children be playing on frozen ponds or lakes. You can never tell how much weight it can hold."

Councillor Andy Connolly, Leicester City Council's culture and leisure spokesman, said: "Walking on frozen lakes can have tragic consequences.

"We urge everyone not to put themselves, or their children at risk."

Roshan Dantis, 30, butchered Khusbu Shah (23), wife of a Nepali student Nagendra Shah (32), at her flat and later dumped her chopped-up remains.

He planned the mother-of-one’s grisly death on June 1st last year. It emerged during the trial that Dantis, who earned a low wage as a football steward, had become consumed with jealousy at Shah's plans to buy a restaurant in Shetland and other purchases such as a second-hand car and large screen TV. Dantis bought a ‘murder kit,’ including a meat cleaver, and later staged a ransom pretending Mrs Shah, 23, had been kidnapped.

The Shahs married in Nepal before arriving in Glasgow in 2008. Dantis met Nagendra Shah in 2008 when both started a Masters course at the Strathclyde University in Glasgow.

Dantis arrived from India after completing an engineering course with his wife Astrid.

Shilpa and Raj

I would reform the legislation around inclusion and the Education Act. I would invest to ensure that every child really matters.

24 years for killer Community in shock after brothers who butchered victim die in frozen lake tragedy The whole of Gujarati community is in shock following the tragic deaths of two brothers who fell through ice on a frozen lake.

Leicester Mercury reports, the two men, who have been named locally as Dinesh and Kishor Dattani, died in hospital after being found unconscious in water at Watermead Country Park on Friday.

A third brother, who also fell into the freezing cold water more than 30 metres from the lakeside, was also treated for hypothermia, but survived.

Family members in Belgrave, Leicester, are coming to terms with the loss and members of the close-knit community have been left stunned by the deaths.

The two men, believed to be in their 40s and 50s, were with two other brothers when they visited the park, in Thurmaston.

The third brother survived after two members of the public crawled out

! Braving the cold for the Shilpa and Raj reception at the House of Commons last week were Sanjay Anand MBE, Shashi Vekaria,

John Bercow

Sir Gulam Noon MBE, Moni Verma and Tiffinbites Andy Varma.

The list of MPs was headed by the Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow.

! India’s new High Commissioner was the Guest of Honour at a dinner in Leicester over the Christmas period.

Among those attending were three former Lord Mayor’s Piara Clair, Kuldipp Bhatti and Manju Sood. ! News reaches us that two great hotel dynasties are to be joined together. The House of Surinder Arora and Jasminder Singh may soon be joined in a blissful marriage ceremony. But at which hotel will the party be held?

Roshan Dantis

D e t e c t i v e Superintendent Michael Orr of the Strathclyde Police Monday described Dantis as "one of the most dangerous murderers Scotland has known".

He copied the killings in the Kathy Reich novel, 'The Devil Bones' in which victims were either decapitated or had limbs severed, the jury at Glasgow’s High Court heard.

Indian-born Dantis had denied the murder claiming a mystery gunman had ordered him to the Shahs’ Glasgow flat to remove the body.

But he was convicted of murder, attempting to

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020 7749 4085 defeat the ends of justice and attempted extortion after a month-long trial.

He has been jailed for life for killing a Nepali student and trying to extort 120,000 pounds from her husband.

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

COMMENT

New hope in troubled relationship When Bangladesh attained its freedom from a military-dominated Pakistan way back in December 1971 under the inspiring leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, there was buoyant optimism on both sides of the border that Indo-Bangladesh ties were destined for robust growth based on shared national interests and political and cultural values.

This, alas, was not to be. The birth pangs of the new state were difficult and the malevolence of hostile powers persistent and deep. On 15 August 1975, a military-Islamist coup overthrew Sheikh Mujib’s democratically elected secular regime. In the bloodbath Sheikh Mujib’s family save his two daughters Sheikh Hasina and Rehana, who happened, fortuitously, to be out of the country perished in the carnage.

With Islamism and the military ruling the roost in Dhaka, Indo-Bangladesh relations took a nosedive.

The country alternated between outright military and civilian Islamist governance with military support. The governing principal of the next three decades and more was an overt hostility to anything Indian.

A new era dawned when Sheikh Hasina became the country’s prime minister at the head of her Awami League, which won power on the back of an electoral landslide nearly two years ago. With the Cold War at end, the US received Sheikh Hasina’s regime with decided warmth. Global Islamist terrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan had changed the interna-

tional landscape for the better.

For India, Sheikh Hasina’s accession to power was doubly welcome. She reverted to her father’s wise policy of friendship towards India. Pakistanfunded Islamist terrorists, anti-Indian insurgents of every shade were given sanctuary in Bangladesh and operated with impunity on Indian territory from across the border.

Having consolidated her authority, Sheikh Hasina put in place an enlightened India policy based on political trust and economic co-operation.

India has reciprocated by permitting transit links through India with Nepal and Bhutan respectively.

India has also abolished import duties on Bangladeshi garments in a trade deal and granted its neighbour an aid package worth $500 million. In exchange Bangladesh has promised to police the porous border and prevent terrorists and insurgents from operatig against India. Sheikh Hasina’s high level talks in New Delhi with her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and senior Indian ministers went off remarkably well. This is a happy augury for the future.

There is now genuine cause for optimism that a subcontinent of trading nations could work in the larger interest of the region. Sri Lanka was the first regional power to work closely with India on free trade, Bangladesh is the second. This should be a model for the rest of the subcontinent.

Indo-UK education ties set to expand The recent trip to India of the Cambridge University Vice Chancellor - the third in as many years - is a sign of the times. India is keen to establish and upgrade its centres of educational excellence in close co-operation with similar institutions in the UK and US. India and Britain’s higher educational institutions have signed a series of Memoranda of Understangding (MoUs) during the visit to the UK of India’s Minister of Human Resources Development Kapil Sibal.

This includes the Imperial College of Science and Technology, one of the five leading institutions in this field in the world. Imperial College is making a major contribution in the establishment of a new IIT at Ropar (Punjab).

The MoUs were signed by Lord Peter Mandelson from the British side. It followed extensive talks involving 17 vice chancellors from a wide cross-section of British universities. Such exemplary co-operation promises considerable mutual benefit.

Building India-Africa ties India is currently the world’s fifth largest consumer of energy. As its economy expands, so does its needs for energy. Africa is now among the leading producers and exporters of energy, with 15 per cent of global crude coming from the continent. Sudan, Nigeria and Angola are its largest producers of oil and gas.

In recent times India has invested in the exploration and production of oil and gas in Sudan, Nigeria, Libya, Egypt, Gabon, Congo Brazzaville et al. Indian petroleum minister Murli Deora, addressing an India-Africa conference in New Delhi, said: “We are keen to expand the exploration of LNG from Africa. The depth of our engagement with Africa has

grown. We are also engaged in city gas distribution and CNG products. Our training facilities and consultancy services in the hydrocarbon sector have been availed of successfully in a number of countries in Africa. We want to develop this co-operation further.”

And so say all of us. And in all fields, surely.

Indian aid in medical services, drugs and IT are already in evidence in Africa. There are new vistas of co-operation between the partners as Africa looks beyond the West for succour and support in its endeavours to improve the lives of its peoples.

However arduous the journey, it has commenced.

Africa is on the road to fufill its potential.

Indian expatriates closer to voting rights at home Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh promised the countrymen settled abroad that in the next elections for the parliament, they would be perhaps voting to elect the government for their country of origin. Dr. Singh and the Congress appear to be sincere to sort out the issues – legal and logistical – to make voting rights for NRIs become a reality.

The Times of India has commented that in more than 100 countries, their non resident citizens enjoy participation in the democratic process of elections.

It is therefore well in line with the global trends that Indians settled abroad (NRIs or Non resident Indians, as they are known in India) also have an opportunity to play a role in the democratic process.

In fact, a bill for the purpose was already passed by the Manmohan Singh cabinet in 2006. It is now with the law ministry for consideration.

The intentions are sincere, alright. But the task is pretty difficult, given the fact that even all resident Indians also do not get the opportunity to vote, due to various provisions of the RPA (Representation of Peoples Act), the law that governs elections in India.

Amendment to the RPA with enabling provisions is the first step, and a tricky one at that. Leave NRIs alone, Indians within the country also face hurdles in exercising their voting rights, as migration from

one place to another makes it impossible for them to vote at a different place than where they are registered as voters.

The Unique Identity project that has just been initiated by the Manmohan Singh government is perhaps the first step in this direction. Yet, it will take years before the project reaches all eligible Indians.

With these issues confronting the goal of enabling expatriates to vote, the hopes for the government in New Delhi and the Indians settled abroad for voting process to go across the borders looks a bit distant.

The comment by the Times says every Indian passport holder is entitled to the right to vote by virtue of being an Indian citizen. NRIs can’t be exceptions. In this era of globalization, people increasingly prefer to have multiple identities and multiple residences. The RPA must be amended to reflect this new global reality.

There are quite a few logistical hurdles in doing away with the domicile clause. The process of voter registration can, and should be simplified and made easier. The initiative to provide all citizens with a Unique Identity number and a biometric card may help to ease the electoral process as well.

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3

Thought for the Week

I am an optimist. It does not seem to be much use being anything else.

- Winston Churchill (1874-1965)

Sarah Teather MP Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East

We need a general election Firstly, I’d like to wish a very Happy New Year to all readers of Asian Voice. The New Year is always a time for reflection, and to look forward to the months ahead. In the world of politics, of course, the year began just as the last one had ended, with Labour MPs and cabinet ministers conducting civil war in the TV studios and pages of the newspapers.

I know I am not alone in feeling thoroughly depressed that the people who should be running the country are tied up in their own petty squabbles and rivalries. With ordinary people still struggling to get by thanks to the recession; and with our country still engaged in a foreign war costing more lives every week; it is completely unacceptable for Labour ministers to be obsessing over their own futures at the expense of everything else.

There can be no doubt about it: we need a general election. An election would clear the air; give local electors an opportunity to vote out those MPs who claimed taxpayer money for phantom mortgages or ‘flipped’ their second homes; and, most importantly, allow us the opportunity to debate the kind of fairer country we want to live in.

Nick Clegg, the Leader of the Liberal Democrats, has seized the chance to tell people the four priorities that our party will pursue after the next election.

Firstly: fair taxes. It is outrageous that, while ordinary people struggle to get by, some

of the wealthiest people in our country avoid paying their fair share.

Our tax plan would mean that the first £10,000 you earn would be completely free of income tax. We would pay for this by a mansion tax on the value of homes above £2 million, and by switching tax from income to pollution.

Next, we have to give all our children, no matter what their background, a fair chance in life.

The Liberal Democrats would cut class sizes, so that children could receive more one-on-one attention from their teacher.

Third, we need to create a fairer and more sustainable economy.

We would focus cash on things like public transport, or a national programme of home insulation and new social housing, that would create jobs. We will also break up the banks, to protect people from the kind of economic catastrophe that has hit over the last few years.

Finally, we have to fix politics, and give power back to local people. That means introducing a fair voting system, and allowing voters to sack their MP if they have broken the rules.

For me, the most depressing thing about watching Labour ministers at war, is that debate about the kind of country we want to be has stalled.

The Liberal Democrats have been very clear about our plans to help those who have been ignored, and I challenge the other parties to do the same.

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

YOUR VOICE

4

Capital punishment should be back The lawlessness in this country keeps increasing and the police as always can only sit and do nothing. It is such a sad thing that a kind man was killed in Barking. As model citizens we are always taught to raise our voice on injustice, however everyone now sees what happens to those who actually make an effort, they end up dead on the street.

The strange part is when such crimes are increasing, the police are taught to be polite to all such criminals. In certain cases when innocent people are killed and murdered needlessly, such criminals should just be hanged without any long trials etc.

The capital punishment needs to be brought back in this country and exercised with great responsibility by the legal eagles of the state. This will, according to me, act as a deterrent for any future criminals or yobs who just kill for no reason whatsoever.

I dont think that anyone can imagine the grief the family must be going through. The young children, the wife will always have to live without their father, the husband.

Deepak Shah Leicester

Caste Watch in Britain I am really concerned that some non Government Organisations in Britain have started ‘Caste Watch’ and it has some support from Labour politicians.

Most of the Dalit organisations such as Voice of Dalit International, Dalit Solidarity Network and Caste Watch are supported by Christian organisations backed by converted Hindu Christian Dalits from South of India.

As one who is living in Britain for more than 40 years, I have never come across discrimination on the basis of caste. On the other hand I found the dominance of some communities in the local or national Hindu organisations or Hindu temples.

The renegade Indian politicians such Sonia Gandhi, Paswan and Yadavs are exporting caste system abroad for their political aims and Mr. Paswan is organising Dalit groups among Christians and Muslims abroad. Indian government is providing special reservation in educational institutions and working in governmental organisations, thereby creating caste system among minority religious groups in India.

If Christians, Muslims and Sikhs consider that their religions treat everybody in the same way, irrespective of caste and colour, what is the point in having separate OBC or Dalit groups? Christian organisations in Britain should keep out of Hindu Dalit issues and concentrate on integrating Christian Dalits and Black Christians in the white dominated churches of Britain, instead of isolating them.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Racism in Australia

Best of both Worlds

The media fraternity rightly claims that the Indian media is very immatured.

We may create a hue and cry to demand due credit and acceptability on the international platform but until the established titles, news channels, radio channels tune up their act, it will be difficult to break the mould and the impression of the international fraternity. I'm referring to the recent stories about fresh attacks on Indians in Australia. Inspite of governmental request to exercise restraint even the well established titles still publish articles on racial attacks. I wonder if we have any proof of all these attacks being linked to racial discrimination.

Why dont we reports the deaths and murders of other citizens happening in the city on that particular day?

Australia is a very beautiful country and having lived and worked there, I think, there is no basis for anyone to kill Indians only on the basis of skin colour until we as Indians are doing harm to the lifestyle of the Aussies or we are a threat to them in any way.

While skimming through the pages of the ABPL (AV/GS) calendar, I was amazed to note that we have no less than 30 or so auspicious/important days to look forward to in this year. These include both Hindu and Christian holidays. To name but a few are: India’s Republic Day (26/1); Maha Shivratri (12/2); Valentine’s Day (14/2); Ram Navmi (24/3); Mahavir Jayanti (28/3); Good Friday and Easter Monday; India’s Independence Day (15/8); Rakshabandhan (24/8); Janmashtami (2/9); Paryushan(4-11/9); Ganesh Chaturthi (11/9); Diwali (5/11); Hindu New Year(7/11); Jalaram Jayanti (13/11); Christmas and the New Year. They have been so cleverly marked with appropriate pictures that one cannot miss them. As I work with a couple of local voluntary organisations, I find the calendar indispensable in planning future events.

I wonder how fortunate we are in this country. We get the best of both worlds.

We celebrated Diwali not too long ago and recently we celebrated Christmas.

We celebrated Hindu New Year, and also celebrated Christian New Year. Hindus will celebrate Ram Navmi, Janmashtmai, Maha Shivratri, Holi etc and the Jains will have their own Mahavir Jayanti and Paryushana to celebrate. So cheer up on these cold and miserable days. All is not all that gloomy!

Vikram Sharma London

Time to say Thank you Andrew Brown's article, ' Here everyone is a minority ', ( Sat 2nd. January ) looks at what makes the city of Leicester so successful having absorbed a huge number of migrants first from East Africa and then from almost all corners of the world. As someone who also arrived to this country in the seventies and with many friends in Leicester I would say that it was the overwhelming majority of ordinary English men and women who understood the plight of Asian community coming from East Africa and went out of their way to accommodate and settle them.

People who had no hope, have now lived a life with dignity and brought up children who are high achievers working at all levels in society. We thank all those unsung heroes for their kindness. For a budding Historian or Social Scientist there are incredible stories of trials, tribulations and successes to be recorded!

The East Africans reciprocated by sheer hard work and entrepreneurial excellence and helped make Leicester what it is today. Former prime minister Ted Heath was spot on when he said Uganda's loss was our gain. When there was a choice recently of erecting a statue of Mahatma Gandhi or Garry Lineker the famous footballer, Garry resolved the issue by opting for Gandhi himself! Leicester even boasts of one of the largest Jain temples outside India!

As Leicester becomes a city in which the white community will be a minority, the way forward for this amazing place will be for all the communities. As a Gujarati Hindu I can say with confidence that we are proud Britons who will never forget what this country has done for us. We want to play a positive role in building a better and greater Britain.

Nitin Mehta Croydon

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Anti-War March According to the News of The World (3/1/10) the English Defence League has decided to stop a group of Muslims from holding an anti-war march in Wootton Bassett to honour dead soldiers returning from Afghanistan war.

As a Muslim I would not hesitate to support The League because what confounds me is how could these Muslims behave in such a unethical manner.

The reason given by them to hold the march is in opposition to the war and to demand withdrawal of British troops from Afghanistan.

In my opinion it is fundamentally wrong for Muslims to march through the Wiltshire town where the dead soldiers are honoured even though the leader of the group has promised the rally would be peaceful.

Not only it will be disrespectful for the dead soldiers, it shall also be humiliation for the families who have lost their dear ones.

I think such insidious attitude will corrupt everyone's view about Muslims in general and Islam in particular. I hope they will refrain from holding such a provocative rally, it will serve no purpose.

I am sure no sincere British Muslim will ever condone the action of mislead members of their community.

Undoubtedly such behaviour will embarrass majority of them.

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A.M.A. Pira Via Email

May I congratulate Anuja Prashar for her informative piece 'Caste Watch UK' in Asian Voice dated 12th December 2009.

It is an eye opener not only for the readers but our sheltered politicians who live in the past.

It is a pity that some of these politicians, MPs and Lords are of Indian origin but are unable or unwilling to think independently, taken in by the propaganda or the desire to get their names in the national newspapers. They are willing to sacrifice Hindus for five minute fame.

Caste Watch is a right-wing Christian organisation that uses Christian Dalits to stir-up anti Hindu feelings in order to attract converts from the Hindu community, as Hindus are the only people who do not ban conversion or punish those who leave their fold.

As Hindus are well educated, affluent people with lowest unemployment, highly educated, the most law abiding community with the lowest prison population, as stressed so often by David Cameroon, the caste is the only weapon in the armoury of the enemies of the Hindus who are misguided with sinister agenda.

Whenever we go on holidays to places like Cyprus, Malta, Goa, Kerala, we always visit churches, light a candle and donate reasonable sum.

Only Hindus can be so generous towards other faiths and culture who can pray in churches, temples, Gurudwars and Synagogues. Such organisations are no different to BNP who saw the seeds of hatred, create ill feelings for no other reasons than to advance their own ideology of divide and rule.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

Illegal Gujaratis should be removed I read article of Mr Harish Lathia in AV (9th Jan 2010) and I am very happy that we are concerned about our brothers and sister from our own country, but if I speak from my heart, I would say, we NRIs have actually destroyed future of some Gujaratis.

If you look at big companies in Gujarat, top jobs are taken by non Gujaratis and 9 out of 10 Gujaratis do not want to work there or develop their lives in Gujarat.

Few students who have come here for education they have paid money knowingly that there is no college, and their plan is to only find jobs, make lots of money, get permanent visas and settle in the UK. They very easily file a case in court against UK embassy proving that they have applied for visas unknowingly through thugs and have no means to sustain outside UK. If these illegal migrants are removed from the UK, the honest students who have really studied in the UK, can start earning money using their respective and relevant professional qualifications.

Vijay Patel Via Email

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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

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Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Kapil’s

Indian hero dies saving woman's handbag Sukhwinder Singh, 31, bravely chased two youths fleeing with a woman's handbag but suffered a fatal blow to the heart when he caught them.

The father of one managed to gasp the words 'he had a knife, he had a knife' as he fell to the ground in the heavy snow.

An ambulance was called but it was too late to save Mr Singh, a 31-yearold builder whose wife and son live in India and relied on money he sent them for support. Both youths escaped.

The woman they mugged, 28-year-old student Karamjit Kaur, was treated in hospital for shock and was too upset to talk, as reported by the Daily Mail.

But her housemate who saw the stabbing, spoke on her behalf to the daily media. He said: 'She wants to thank Sukhwinder for what he did. It is very sad, no one expects that to happen.'

Miss Kaur, who is from India, has been in Britain for only two months and didn't know Sukhwinder.

She was followed by the muggers as she walked

home from Barking station through Loxford Road in East London on Friday night after returning from university in central London.

'Two young guys grabbed her bag and mobile phone,' said Mr Singh, 28. 'She was scared, the guy punched her, she started crying, and at that moment I came out of the front door of our house.

'She told me what had happened and I started

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Sukhwinder Singh

running after the guys and could see Sukhwinder ahead of me.

'I shouted to him to catch them, so he followed after them along Victoria Road into Uphall Road. He caught up with one of them and the guy threw the mobile phone on the floor. I saw him punch Sukhwinder and run off.

'Sukhwinder fell on the road, I thought he had just been punched, but when I reached him he said, "He had a knife, he had a knife". I phoned the ambulance but by the time they got here, it was too late.'

Distraught friends and members of Sukhwinder's

family gathered at his home in Barking. A video showed him dancing energetically with relatives on New Years' Eve, a week before the attack.

Cousin Harwinder Singh, 27, who shared a house with Sukhwinder, described how he went to his side after a friend phoned him from the scene.

He told the Daily Mail: 'I saw him on the floor in the snow, he was breathing when I got there and they were trying to save him but after a few minutes he was gone.

'He just went out for a walk, for some fresh air.

He had been on an extended holiday because of the snow as they couldn't work in the weather.

'I was in the area too at the same time. If only I had seen him, maybe he wouldn't have been on that road at that moment and this would never have happened.

'He didn't know the woman who was mugged,

but he would see a woman in trouble like that and try to help. That was what he was like.

'I wasn't surprised by what he did, but I was surprised when he got stabbed. I would never imagine something like this could happen. He always tried to help everyone.

'His family were devastated to hear he has been murdered.

'To them England is a safe haven so they will never believe that their son and husband and father has been killed like this.'

Sukhwinder's son, tenyear-old Gurjinder Singh, and wife Sandeep Kaur, 29, live in a small farming community in the Ludhiana district in his native Punjab with his parents.

He had a daughter, Aman, who died eight years ago when she fell down the steps of a temple in India.

Sukhwinder moved to Britain ten years ago 'to try to give his family a good future' according to his cousin who described him as 'always cheerful and

smiling'.

A committed Sikh, he attended Singh Sabha London East Gurdwara, or place of worship, in Barking every evening after work.

Mr Singh said: 'I spoke to his parents and his wife, they are crying all the time.

'Sukhwinder spoke to his wife twice every single day. He loved her very much. He was planning on visiting them this June and was looking forward to that.

'He had been out shopping as my father was here and would be able to take presents back to his family, but now they will be taking his body back, rather than those presents.'

Homicide detectives have appealed for witnesses for information following the murder.

Suspects at this early stage described as two black males (one possibly dark skinned), both aged 20's to 30's, and both approx. 5 foot 7 inches to 6 feet tall.

KHICHADI

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com 3 A’s for the UK With so many of the economic and financial guru’s coming out of the woodwork with their doom and gloom predictions, I thought I would look into this myself.

Did you know that UK is still a triple ‘A’ rated country and keeps company with countries like France, Germany and the USA. Russia and India are both ‘BBB-‘ and you have Abu Dhabi and Japan at ‘AA’. Interesting don’t you think?

Don’t get me wrong, we have issues that will require delicate handling of the economy, employment and public services.

However, we are frankly in no better or worse state than most of the major western economies. The whole world is going through this down turn and as such, this is not purely a local phenomenon unique to the UK as some people would like us to believe. There are many who are over-zealous in wishing to blame everything on the Government, however, by not accepting the global issues how on earth will they ever be able to tackle the real underlying problems that the country faces? Do remember the world is in a mess not because of you or me, rather because these so called ‘guru’s’ of finance got it wrong and we had to bail them out.

In March the ‘Silver Fox’, our chancellor is likely to produce his final budget before the election. This will be the most strategic pre-election power play that we will witness for a long while. Expect the norm, but let me assure you – await the surprises. And yes, there are some interesting surprises on their way and some of these will potentially take the wind out of the sails of the Cameron PR yacht.

David Cameron on the other hand is possibly making an error of judgeDetective Inspector John Sandlin, from the HSCC said: "This is a tragic death of a man who was killed for attempting to stop others committing crime, and our thoughts are with Sukhwinder's family. However, I would also like to reassure the wider community that tragic events such as these are rare.

"I am appealing for anyone that knows who committed this crime, or

ment by insisting he will make even deeper and more wide ranging cuts than anything the Government is likely to do. With the average polling margin between the two parties fluctuating from 10% to 15%, the leader who makes the next big mistake will rue the day since a 5% slide on either side will make or break the viability of the next Government.

Hoon the Goon?

Readers of AV will recall that when the Labour Party was salivating for the blood of Tony Blair, I had said that it would be a mistake given it seemed to be for all the wrong reasons. In fact I went as far as saying that Gordon Brown in wanting to be the Prime Minister appeared to be undermining Tony Blair and had lost a lot of respect of the unbiased public.

The Labour Party made an even bigger mistake when they fixed the election for the Party leadership by having only one candidate – from that point onwards, the Party and its membership lost all sense of reality. It was therefore rather silly (stupid frankly) for Messrs Goon and Hewitt to come out a few months before a General Election to try and oust the Prime Minister. In my view there are around 7 members of the cabinet who I am sure would rather that Gordon Brown was no longer in charge, however, as weak minded as they are is it any surprise that they failed so magnificently and in such a public fashion?

So short of Gordon Brown resigning due to ‘personal reasons’, the scene is set and both parties have a great deal to do and come up with tangible and purposeful policies that we can trust.

Trust, that elusive quality that has gone out of fashion in the Palace of Westminster – let us hope that in fighting the next who has any information about those who committed this crime, to do the right thing and come forward and contact police.

"My officers are also keen to hear from anybody who witnessed the initial robbery, the actual altercation that lead the stabbing and additionally anyone who may have seen any persons matching the suspects description fleeing the Uphall Road area.

"It is also possible that

election all parties change for the better and bring back honour, integrity and trust in all their politicking. For Mr Brown, it is sad but in the interest of the Labour Party and for his own health and well being, stepping down might be a wise course of action.

This would allow Labour to maintain headlines for several weeks whilst the leadership battle ensues.

Shortly thereafter, it would be the General Election – a back-to-back with a new leader seems to be the only hope of closing the gap that the Tories have got on them currently. Winning, now that is a totally different scenario.

Islam4uk – Banned Islam4uk has backed down and will no longer march through Wootton Bassett. I should point out that one of the first organisations to bring the farce of extremist organisations to the attention of both the Police and the Government was in fact the Hindu Forum of Britain (HFB) some 5 years ago. I remember when the HFB openly challenged the then ‘AlMuhajiroun’ who had declared that they would be converting Hindus and Sikhs in a public ceremony – they backed off at that time as well. It took time, but the group was finally banned. Of course it quickly reformed into ‘Islam4uk’ and they continue with their agitation whilst ministers appear to turn a blind eye yet again. It took a threat of a march in Wootton Bassett to force the hand of Government to ban this hideous organisation.

Let us hope that in the future our government will take proactive action to limit the damage that such extremist organisations can inflict on the cohesiveness of our society before it breakdown into civil disorder. the suspects may have abandoned the bag stolen and I appeal to anyone who may find a brown leather shoulder bag, to contact police. It may be that it has signification clues that could help solve this awful crime."

Any witnesses or anyone with any information that can assist police are asked to call the incident room on 020 8345 3715 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

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

Free gym ‘failing’ deprived communities A free gym membership scheme, Be Active, in Birmingham is failing to reach those most in need of help, according to a local councillor.

The £4 million Birmingham City Council project was rolled out last September in an attempt to promote healthier lifestyles among Birmingham's poorest inner city residents. Since its launch, the project has been highly popular, but with prosperous middle class communities. New figures show that so far more than 23,000 people have signed up.

Now Labour's leisure spokesman, the controversial Councillor Muhammad Afzal, believes Be Active is not serving its purpose - to help people from hardhit, deprived communities. Councillor Afzal, who represents the Aston area of the city, which has an ethnic minority population of over 70 per cent,

said: "This scheme was intended to help the more deprived areas of the city but the problem is that the council has failed to equip gyms properly in these areas so it is not surprising that people in the inner city wards are not taking advantage of free membership."

However, Councillor Martin Mullaney (Lib Dem; Moseley and Kings Heath), Cabinet Member for Leisure, Sport and Culture, has defended the scheme. "I think it's great," he said. "I have been going to the gym for free and it's absolutely fantastic," said Cllr Mullaney, adding, "it doesn't matter what your background is, the more the merrier." He has become a regular visitor to his local gym where he

Hospital beds crisis As many as 150 people are occupying beds in

Birmingham hospitals, even though they are well enough to be discharged, because social services cannot provide care for them at home. This crisis has been highlighted in the Audit Commission’s latest assessment of Birmingham City Council’s performance which awarded a “red flag” for delayed discharges from hospitals, describing the performances as poor. Many patients trapped in hospitals are the victims of a row between the council and health trusts over who should pay for their on-going care when they are sent home. Most are elderly, but one case disclosed by a councillor involved a baby kept in Birmingham Children’s Hospital for seven months. Audit Commission inspector Dianne Thomas said bed blocking had been a serious issue in Birmingham for a decade and all efforts to reduce the number of patients placed unnecessarily in hospital had failed.

Thieves take wedding gifts An Indian family from Coventry have been left devastated after burglars stole £21,000 worth of jewellery with great sentimental value from their home.

Up to 70 distinctive pieces, which had been given to the couple as wedding gifts in 2004, were taken during a raid in Middlemarch Road, Radford, last Monday. Among the jewellery stolen were 20 Indian gold rings and seven pure gold necklaces.

Eatery scoops top award Three cheers to Jabbar Khan, pictured, and his team at Lasan, on being crowned the UK’s finest restaurant, according to celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. The toughtalking Scot announced the winner on Channel Four’s F Word final last week after four long months of challenges.

Tory guru train row One of David Cameron’s most influential advisors was arrested and fined for disorder in a dispute over a train ticket in Birmingham. Director of strategy Steve Hilton became embroiled in a row with rail staff as he left Birmingham after the party conference in October 2008. It is claimed Mr Hilton swore during the row, which blew up after he failed to produce a valid ticket quickly enough.

is receiving expert advice about the best exercise to take for a slipped disc.

Be Active was first trialled in the Ladywood area where levels of unemployment and deprivation are high. A breakdown showing who is taking advantage of regu-

lar free keep-fit sessions shows a keen interest among well educated professionals. In the area covered by the South Birmingham Primary Care Trust, just over half

of Be Active members are from the white middle classes with 17 per cent described as “older white families living in traditional private housing in established neighbourhoods”.

In Birmingham East and North and in the Heart of Birmingham PCT area, the council is not yet hitting targets for recruiting white working class residents. Twelve per cent of users in Birmingham East and North are described as “career professionals living in choicest housing”, while 15 per cent are white families living in private housing.

Birmingham has one of the worst fitness records of any major UK city. Only 17.2 per cent of adults do enough physical activity to maintain or improve their health, according to 2008 figures.

New Mayor in waiting Birmingham’s next Lord Mayor will be Len Gregory, it has been announced. He was the only councillor to be nominated to take over from current First Citizen Michael Wilkes in May. Councillor Gregory, pictured, who is the Cabinet member for Transport, was formally endorsed by his Conservative colleagues at their monthly meeting on Monday this week. Cllr Gregory was first elected in 1980 and enjoyed an eight-year spell on the City Council. He returned as councillor for Billesley in 2000 and was chosen as Conservative group deputy leader three years later. He started his working life as an engineering apprentice with the GPO, which is now BT. He has a keen interest in developing the role that small businesses play in the economic well-being of Birmingham and the wider region, attempting to ensure they are treated equitably and get the recognition they deserve. He is also a member of Rotary International, a worldwide charity which raises funds to support those in need, globally. Cllr Gregory’s wife, Gill, will be Lady Mayoress.

Guys and gloss One in five men would prefer their wives and girlfriends to wear less make-up. A further one in 10, according to a poll of 2,000 adults, said they liked women to wear no make-up at all. The skincare company St Ives, which conducted the research, said: “For many guys, make-up can act as a barrier between them and their partner. They prefer their women to go natural.” Four out of 10 of the women polled, however, said they dreaded their other half seeing them “au naturel” while a quarter admitted that they used heavy make-up to create a shield to mask their lack of confidence.

Free activities for men A men’s health event is being set up in Sandwell, giving people the chance to try new activities for free.

Sham Malhi, health education support worker for Sandwell PCT, said: “There will be kickboxing, break dancing, track cycling, sumo wrestling, dual combat, gladiators and a rodeo bull.” The event is at Hadley Stadium in Wilson Road, Smethwick from 10am to 5pm on January 30. For more details call Sham Malhi on 0121 612 2126.

News in Brief Squandering cash on consultants

Mystery consultants hired to give Birmingham City Council advice about buying a new computer system pocketed £180,856 for just five months’ work.

The private firm, which the council is refusing to name, was paid £1,222 a day for 148 days spent working on the Children’s Integrated Case Management System (CICMS), an IT purchasing process for the children’s social services department. Another company, Service Birmingham, led by UK outsourcing experts Capita, also received £124,490 for seven months’ work on the project. These costs were revealed following a Freedom of Information inquiry.

Restaurant fire Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses to a fire at the President Restaurant in Sparkbrook, Birmingham. An initial investigation has proved inconclusive. Firefighters spent around ten hours tackling the blaze last Wednesday. It was the second fire at the former home of the iconic pub The Mermaid in just four days. Officers are treating the blaze as suspicious. Witnesses should call police on 0845 113 5000.

Row over curry awards A High Court battle is looming between the organisers of the Midlands Curry Awards and Enam Ali, founder of the British Curry Awards as reported in Birmingham Mail. Mr Ali, pictured, has allegedly accused organisers of being “copy cats” and said they had created confusion by deciding to hold their prize-giving evening just two days before the national event. As reported by the paper, Mr Ali is seeking an injunction to stop similarities between the two events and wants £50,000 in damages. He said: “This isn’t personal – I am just trying to protect the industry.”

Sham Uddin, solicitor for the Midlands Curry Awards, organised by the Birmingham Bangladesh League, said: “They have issued a writ which we will be defending.”

Charity seeks baby heroes Baby charity Tommy’s wants to hear from parents on their ‘helpful heroes’ for its annual awards.

Categories range from someone who has given unwaivering support through a miscarriage or premature birth, a special midwife or doctor and a baby that has battled against the odds to survive and become an inspiration during their life. Funds to Tommy’s will help support desperately-needed medical research into the causes and prevention of premature birth, stillbirth and miscarriage with one in four women in the UK losing a baby. Anyone who wants to nominate a hero should visit www.tommy.org/awards

Girl dies after lift offer Police are investigating how a Birmingham teenager, Maya Tankaria, died in South Africa after apparently jumping from a moving car on a motorway. It is believed Maya, 18, from Moseley, had been offered a lift. This tragic incident happened last Tuesday night. Maya, who had lived in Sedgefield, South Africa, for a year, suffered multiple injuries and died at the scene. A post-mortem will be conducted to determine the cause of death. It is not known whether Miss Tankaria, daughter of Hitesh and Menna, was holidaying or had settled in South Africa.

Legal awards Columnist and former Conservative MP Matthew Parris, pictured, will be guest speaker at this year’s Birmingham Law Society Legal Awards at the ICC in Birmingham on March 25. As well as writing for The Times, he’s a columnist for The Spectator and until 1998, when he was famously sacked for ‘outing’ Peter Mandelson on the BBC, wrote for The Sun.

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Friendship between India and Britain

Nitin Mehta with Croydon Central MP Andrew Pelling

BY NITIN MEHTA On 6th December we held the annual Christmas lunch in Croydon. We have been organising this event for over 25 years.

The event promotes friendship between the Indian community and the host community. It also promotes vegetarianism.

We had Croydon North

MP Malcolm Wicks and Croydon Central MP Andrew Pelling. Around 120 people enjoyed the lunch. An idea that was floated was that Mondays should be declared a as Vegetarian Day by Croydon Council. Tony Newman the leader of the Labour group promised to put this on the Council agenda.

Lord Dholakia receives Honorary Doctorate Lord Dholakia, the Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader in the House of Lords, received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hertfordshire at a ceremony in St. Alban’s Cathedral on Friday 20th November 2009.

The University chose to confer the honour on Lord Dholakia because of his status as a role model and ambassador for advancing community relations and social policy in the UK and abroad.

Lord Dholakia said, “It is a huge privilege to receive this honorary doctorate from the University

Lord Dholaki

of Hertfordshire. I see my acceptance of it as being partly on behalf of all those people who I have worked with on community relations and social policy over the years”

Asian Who’s Who Award Ceremony held Ravi Gidar, Pharmacist and entrepreneur was given the award of Asian Leadership in Community Health Care for Year 2009 at the 22nd event of The Asian ‘Who’s Who’ Awards Ceremony organised by founder Jasbir Singh Sachar.

Ravi Gidar now Managing Director of Gold Care Homes, Pharmacist by profession runs a chain of care homes in the South East of England. He feels community Healthcare is very important as we will all need it at sometime. He was “delighted and proud to have been selected for this prestigious award”.

Being recognised in the field of healthcare and in the Asian arena is always special, Ravi felt honoured and privileged in front the Lords, MPs and his family to have been awarded with this

Ravi Gidar

trophy.

Ravi comes from a humble background, born in Moga, India, came to the UK with his parents in 1966 and went into business at the age of 23. He built up a chain of

Bucks Punjabi Society through which has raised substantial amounts for Thames valley ambulance and Crime stoppers.

He takes a keen interest in Politics and is a local councillor in Iver where he has been living for 20 years.

Other recipients were Alpesh B Patel for Leadership in Indo-UK Business Relations, Indya Aujla for Asian Leadership in Harmony, Nina Amin for Asian Leadership in Diversity and Vijay Goel for Asian Leadership in Europe and Max Mongia, Asian of the year.

The event was covered by the BBC World Service and was watched by millions all over the world.

The 22nd edition of Who’s Who was also released by Raj Loomba CBE, Asian of the Year 1996/7.

Robbery attempted in broad day light at Wembley A robbery has been attempted on Mrs Uma A Mehta and family from Rak Telecommunication as they stepped out of their office premises to deposit around £75000 of business money at the nearest bank.

Mrs Mehta said, “We had taken a friend's car to deposit money. But when we stepped into the parking area, assassins got out of a car and one of them attacked me. My husband Ashwin and Mr Kotia immediately went into the building with the money. I raised alarm and the assassins ran off in their car. We could not chase them due to the snow.

Everything has been recorded on the CCTV and this happened

around 9:36-9:37am.

A representative from the Wembley police told Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, “We were called at about 09.40am on Monday the 11th of Jan, following reports of an attempted robbery in the service road behind the shops in Ealing Road, Wembley.

Three family members were about to take their takings to the bank when two men approached them. One was holding a machete and the other a possible firearm. The family managed to run back to the building for safety. The men got in a black vehicle and drove off along Douglas Avenue empty handed.

Suspect one is described as 5’7” tall

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!"# $%&'( )*&+# ,"-. /010 The Asian Bride Show London 2010 Wembley Stadium Wembley, London HA9 0WS Sat 23rd January 2010 10:30am - 8:30pm & Sun 24th January 2010 10:30am - 6:30pm

Pharmacies in the South East of England and served on many Pharmacy bodies. He was the chair of the Local Pharmaceutical committee and the South East Rep of the Pharmaceutical Negotiating Committee.

He moved to the care business in 1993 and now runs a chain of care homes with his brother Sukhi, they believe in being innovative and provide specialist dementia in state of the art building specifically designed for dementia care. Currently they have nine running care homes and two in development which will take them to 750 beds under Gold Care Homes.

Ravi is the vice chair of the Hertfordshire Care Providers Association.

Ravi is also involved in the community and raises for many charities. He is the vice President of the

The Asian Bride Show Birmingham 2010 The ICC Birmingham B1 2EA Sunday 21st February 2010 11:00am - 8:00pm

wearing grey hooded top with hood up and jeans.

Suspect two is described as 5’7” tall wearing a black coat and dark trousers.

The Priority Crime

Unit at Wembley Police Station are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to call the main office on 0208 733 3249.”

Mum and child in carjacking horror A woman and her young child were subjected to a vicious car jacking following a trip to the supermarket, as reported by the Ilford Recorder.

Police said a car smashed into the back of her car in Gordon Road, Ilford, causing her to stall at about 6.30pm on Saturday.

Women told her to get out of the car while another unstrapped and handed over her child.

The suspects then drove the red Honda Civic towards the A406,

which was followed by a people carrier.

Police said one suspect is Asian, aged between 20 and 25, 5ft 8in and wearing dark clothing and a balaclava.

Another is black, aged about 20 to 25 years old and also wearing dark clothing and a balaclava.

The third man is believed to be black and aged between 18 and 22.

Anyone who saw the incident should contact Ilford police on 020 8345 2610.

Bashir Chaudhry awarded Redbridge community leader B a s h i r Chaudhry, has been rewarded with a special award at the House of Lords.

Chairman of Ilford

Community Centre, Eton Road, was honoured for his "outstanding service" to the community.

Mr Chaudhry, is also chairman of the League of British Muslims.

Bashir Chaudhry

Matrimonial

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Mother of three accused of murder A mother of three accused of sprinkling a deadly herb into a meal being eaten by her former lover and his fiancée had confronted the woman four weeks earlier, a court was told.

Lakhvir Singh, 44, visited Gurjeet Choough, 22, on Christmas Eve 2008 to tell her that she had been pregnant twice with Lakhvinder Cheema’s baby but that she had an abortion on each occasion.

Mr Cheema and Ms Choough were taken ill in January last year after eating a curry that had been laced with aconite, known as the “queen of poisons”.

They were taken to hospital but Mr Cheema, 39, was paralysed by the toxin in less than an hour and died shortly afterwards.

Ms Choough was put into a coma by doctors and survived because she had eaten less of the meal.

Ms Choough allegedly gave evidence last week at the Old Bailey and said that she and Mr Cheema had been due to be married on Valentine’s Day. She told the jurors that she was shocked to learn of the affair between Ms Singh and Mr Cheema but said that it did not affect their relationship.

The Times reported, describing the visit on Christmas Eve she said that Ms Singh arrived at her house in Feltham,

Lakhvir Singh West London, for a cup of tea. Miss Choough said: “I told her not to interfere in our marriage. I told her to forget whatever had gone on in the past.

“She said, ‘I cannot forget the feelings’. I tried to reason with her quite a lot but it had no effect on her. She was crying. I told her I knew about her affair and to stop coming around. I told her, ‘You have your own family, you have three children, you should look after them’. I

knew that she was jealous of my relationship with Lakhvinder.

“Lakhvir said, ‘I have had a relationship with Lakhvinder for 16 years’. I told her that the relationship had now ended because he was now engaged to me. She said Lakhvinder had said that he would never get married.

“I told her, ‘You should have married him’. She said, ‘I was willing to give up everything for him but

Lakhvinder didn’t agree’.

She said that twice she had applied for a divorce but Lakhvinder did not allow that to happen.”

Ms Singh allegedly told her that she had become pregnant twice by Mr Cheema but had had abortions.

Miss Choough said she that had asked her fiancé about the claims, but that he said Ms Singh was lying. Miss Choough added: “He said that she is capable of anything, she is capable of laying the blame on anything.”

Ms Singh is said to have acted out of “jealousy, anger and revenge” after the engagement put an end to her affair with Mr Cheema.

It is alleged that Ms Singh also poisoned another meal eaten by Mr Cheema on December 6, 2008, but that he recovered after spending a week in hospital.

Police found two bags of herbs in Ms Singh’s coat and in a handbag at her home in Southall, West London. They were found to contain the poison, the court was told.

Ms Singh denies murder and attempted murder on January 28 last year and the attempted murder of Mr Cheema on December 6, 2008.

The trial continues.

11

Copland School report handed to the police A report into claims of serious financial mismanagement at a Wembley secondary school has been handed to the police, as reported by a local media.

The decision whether to carry out a criminal investigation against those involved at Copland Community College now lies in the hands of the Metropolitan Police.

Brent Council was forced to carry out the investigation after it emerged members of staff were being paid large bonuses.

Councillor Paul Lorber, leader of Brent Council, said: "We take very seriously any abuse of position and misuse of public funds.

The council acted decisively as soon as it was made aware of the allegations about the school and we are keen that the full force of the law is now brought to bear against any wrongdoers. We will do all we can in assisting the police in any criminal enquiry."

The council says its main aim has been and remains the welfare and development of the students.

Mr Lorber said: "Good educational standards continue to be maintained and morale is high within the school."

The leader of the council has written to the Audit Commission informing them that the local authority would fully support a Public Interest Report examining the events at Copland School. It is up to the Audit Commission to decide whether this course of action is adopted.

The report has been sent to the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crime Directorate (SCD6) which deals with large scale fraud.

Four members of staff at the school in Avenue, Cecil Wembley, were suspended for gross misconduct at the end of last year. Three of these resigned and one has been dismissed.

Protect Your Eyes ideal world, the protection of eyes would not be necessary because jobs would be done in a way that make such protection unnecessary.

However, given the type of work done on construction sites, protection of your eyes will be achieved by wearing appropriate eye protection, usually safety glasses.

Rhaynukaa Soni Outreach Executive

There are, on average, 1,000 injuries to people’s eyes every working day in Britain. Some injuries are so severe that they can cause partial or even total blindness. Your eyes are very vulnerable and an accident or injury can completely change your life. The loss of sight, even in one eye, will have a profound effect on the sufferer and is highly likely affect future job prospects and earning power. In an

Prevent damage Analysis of the injuries to people’s eyes shows that damage is caused as follows: 75% are damaged by being hit by a flying object; 10% are damaged by abrasion due to dust or other objects; 15% damaged by burns or chemical contamination.

The majority of these injuries would have been prevented if the correct eye protection had been

Eye and face protection

worn.

Where there is a potential risk of injury to any worker it is the legal duty of the employer to assess the risk and to take appropriate action to eliminate or minimise the risk. As with all other types of Personal Protective Equipment (commonly called PPE in English) the employer must identify the correct type of eye protection – on most construc-

tion sites a standard pair of safety glasses should be fine. The employer must then provide the PPE to the worker free of charge.

When your employer provides you with any PPE should be given adequate information and training about the risks and about the PPE. You should wear the glasses if they are issued to you, and look after them well. Report lost PPE or defects, such as scratched glass, to your employer who should replace it.

Flying objects On any construction site there is nearly always a risk of damage to your eyes. Eye protection in the following construction work is specifically required by legal and technical guidance due to the risk of flying fragments or particles: Use of compressed air

to remove dust and dirt, and when used with abrasives for blasting or cleaning; Cleaning using high pressure water jets; Using hand or power tools to hit masonry nails, to drive in bolts and pins, or breaking, cutting or drilling glass, hard plastics, concrete, plaster, stonework, brickwork, tiles or similar materials; Chipping, sawing and cutting of metal using hand or power tools; Chipping or scuffing of paint, rust etc from metal or other hard materials using hand or power tools.

Chemicals Eye protection is also necessary to prevent chemicals splashing into the eyes when corrosive materials like acids or alkali are used, or when liquids are injected under pressure into buildings or walls –

Helpline: 0207 556 2181 e-mail: desi@hse.gsi.gov.uk Website: www.hse.gov.uk/construction/gujarati

for example, with cavity wall insulation.

Often simple safety glasses will not enough – stronger goggles or face shields will be required for many construction activities.

Going for gold protect your eyes Many construction companies with the best safety record require all workers on their sites to wear safety glasses at all times. For example, every worker helping to build the 2012 Olympic stadium and other venues must wear safety glasses at all times.

The equipment is provided to every worker free of charge.

Your eyesight is just as precious whether you work on a large project or a small domestic job.

Make sure your employer is following the lead of the best – protect your eyes.

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Scrutator’s “Gunbattle on in Srinagar; policeman killed” – such tied up with the ICICI brands have an internaBank for consumer tional reputation, hence was The Hindu’s front-page headline (January 7). financing of its products their products have made Reporting from the Kashmir capital, Shujaat Bukhari India an increasingly sigwrote: Breaking a prolonged lull, militants carried out nificant global hub, espeIndian trucks an an attack at Lal Chowk…killing a policeman and cially in the small car seginjuring nine others. The police evacuated at least 600 go global ment, in the sector. people trapped in various buildings. Many more are still Toyota has launched “You have to rub your in the buildings” Prius, while Marutieyes hard to believe the There was panic as the jihadis opened fire and Suzuki has done likewise Tata Prima and Mahindra caught the local police and members of the Central with its Eeco.

Navister trucks can rival Reserve Police Force (CPRF) by surprise. The Times of The Prius demonthe best that India, which had published a Mercedes Benz, New Year’s Day a parody of Volvo and Scanla a poem entitled “Love have to offer.

Pakistan,” but was forced to Their stylish confront hard reality – hence cabs, with the its front-page story a week multitude of buttons and gizmos later (January 8) – “Around and fittings, make 700 jihadis waiting to strike you feel are in a Valley as Pak ups ante.”

European truck.

Clearly the paper’s egregious But then again advice to the Indian people both have been to “Love Pakistan” is not developed by being reciprocated from manufacturers to across the border. However, rival the best in common sense is unlikely to the world has to replace brazen idiocy in the offer and beat these in markets more vocal sections of the outside India as Indian media. well,” wrote The Times of India, in an Rohin Nagrani in extended report, described Business how the 33-hour Srinagar CRPF personnel during the final assault on militants who were holed the up inside Punjab Hotel at Lal Chowk in Srinagar on Thursday. J&K S t a n d a r d siege had ended, with two may see more violence in the coming months as the militants have (January 8).

Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorists successfully regrouped themselves India is shot dead by Indian security unfolding its forces. The paper said: “Security forces on Thursday manufacturing wings, an strates Toyota’s determi[January 7] stormed a hotel at Lal Chowk …. killing industrial behemoth in nation to demonstrate its the making. “From two terrorists believed to be members of the LeT….. commitment to the latest Navaratnas to Just like in 26/11 …. the two terrorists were in continueco-friendly automotive Maharatnas’ was ous touch with their handlers in Pakistan.” So much for technology to its Indian the title of a report loving Pakistan, whose rulers, hoist with their own customers. Eeco, on the in The Hindu other hand, has been conpetard, are struggling to combat the very terrorism they (January 11), highceived and designed inhelped incubate. lighting the meashouse by Maruti Suzuki ures for greater engineers specifically for Sharad Pawar’s National autonomy for the Delhi auto Indian markets. Says Congress Party (NCP) – crown jewels in the Suzuki India Managing show is the unfolding strength state manufacturDirector and CEO Shinzo of Indian industry, which ing sector. This Nakanishi: “Maruti Beyond the vicissitudes tells of a future that would give these Suzuki engineers have of Indian politics – works. companies greater specially developed the Samajwadi Party general The Delhi Auto Expo ability to compete Eeco. its new powerful secretary, Amar Singh, showcased the full range effectively with forengine and a new transhas resigned and the of new models in cars, eign rivals in the mission system to meet rumour mills tell of an utility vehicles, trucks global marketplace. the diverse aspirations impending move to and motor-bicycles. The that look for a vehicle India, Japan that will fit a large family and at the same time profor vides flexibility for dual solar city use.”

BMW, Audi and The Hindu Mercedes showcased (January 7) reporting their luxury sedans. from New Delhi, told of The prized US Harley an Indo-Japanese venture Davidson motorbikes will to develop a solar city in become a familiar sight India. The solar city projon Indian roads as they ect aims to reduce a miniare set for export to India mum of 10 per cent of its in a big way. Harley projected demand of conDavidson will be launchventional energy at the ing 12 models for the end of five years through Delhi Auto show, Chevy Volt is an electric vehicle with Indian market at various energy efficiency measextended range capability prices. The company has ures and generation from renewable energy installaModel cars at Delhi tions.

Auto show The two sides agreed to strengthen co-operation in research and development for the promotion of such energy.

These talks are to continue in Tokyo later this month.

The Tata Nano is a timely reminder that Nanotechnology turned fifty on December 29, 2009. It was on that day in 1959 that the legendary American physicist Richard Feynman

Nobel laureate 1965), in a celebrated talk, said: “There’s plenty of room at the bottom,” which foretold the era of nanometer scale objects.

He proposed a new kind of technology by assembling things atom by atom, in today’s terms, ‘nanotechnology’.

Feynman spoke of including the entire scale of human knowledge on the back of an envelope..

The actual translation of this dream into reality we owe to Japanese scientist Norio Taniguchi in 1974. Science and technology march hand in hand with industry and the economy as a whole.

This is an abiding truth.

Delhi metro milestone The Delhi metro, which is a marvel of modern technology, reached another milestone last week when much awaited the Yamuna Bank-Anand Vihar link through some of the most congested areas of India’s capital city was inaugurated by Union Urban Minister S. Jaipal Reddy and Delhi

project will be funded and designed by the central government in Delhi and work will commence this year.

On a different tack, The Hindu produced an informative piece on government plan to beef up the small-scale industrial sector complementary to measures designed to boost agriculture.

The report said: “Micro, small-scale and medium enterprises provide huge employment in rural and semi-urban areas and are a mechanism in wealth distribution.” Union Minister of State with independent charge for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, Dinsha Patel, to open one such centre at Periavallikulam in Tamil Nadu.

Hollywood to Bollywood A Press Trust of India report in the Business Standard (January 11) says:“Left out in the cold after Wall Street Banks cut down film financing, Hollywood has now turned to India to fund

Wall Street Banks cut down film financing

Chief Minister Sheila Dixit.

The 6.25 km stretch is expected to relieve congestion on the east Delhi roads. Complementing this report was Mr Jaipal Reddy’s assurance that the infrastructure preparations for the October 2010 Commonwealth Games were on track and would be completed on time.

Delhi-Mumbai corridor Another fine report in The Hindu (January 8) tells of a Rajasthan government task force to work out the modalities for the projected M a n u f a c t u r i n g Investment zone in the state for the DelhiMumbai Industrial Corridor. The overall

its movies through private equity.

American private equity firms, banks and hedge funds, once a substantial resource for Hollywood films, have seen their coffers dry up over the past two years , which has led a Los Angeles-based financier to seek funds from India.” It promises to be an exciting story in the months and years to come.

“Bollywood’s Global Market Beckons” is the title of Sanjaya Baru’s think-piece on the editorial page of the newspaper.

With healthy GDP figures forecast for the quarter beginning January (2010), things look better for India, warts and all, than they did this time a year ago.

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

www.abplgroup.com

Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, Looking back at 2009 the highlight from the market for me was the Queen asking some prominent economists why the credit crunch had not been forecast.

So I thought I would draft a letter to Her Majesty; Your Majesty, You recently asked some prominent economists why the credit crunch had not been forecast. The answer they gave you I am afraid only served to ex-post facto justify their actions and was not the whole truth. Consider all the actors involved.

The credit crunch happened for the following reasons: Bankers offered loans to high risk people on the pretence that risk is reduced if pooled. Not true. Risk is not reduced if the pool moves in lock-step ie you provide the money to the same type of individuals.

The regulators self-interest in ensuring their country’s banks did not face undue domestic regulator constraints compared to their competitor foreign rivals meant that the buffer of reserves banks were required to keep was reduced to negligible levels – as shown by the sums the banks needed to rebalance the books when the bad debts were correctly valued.

The banks in loaning money to each other so they could make more loans to clients did not value the loans correctly and the likely defaults because they could not then sell more loans and make more money from the selling of loans.

Once one company was revalued, they all had to be revalued. The system, rather like the money in our pocket, depends on each of us keeping the fiction that a note is worth what it says on the face of it, it’s not backed after all by gold.

Beyond self-interest bankers and others suffer from psychological biases, indeed the Nobel Prize in Economics a few years ago went to two psychologists rather than economists for their work in this field. These biases cause them to let ‘paper’ losses run and find excuses to do so, rather than treat them like actual losses and cut them short quickly. Once they are out of hand, they’re very costly to close – a credit crunch.

Such biases include confirmation bias (seek information confirming our pre-existing views), optimism bias (our belief we are better than average leading to excessive risk taking), and worse of all risk aversion bias (shown through ample experiments that we tend to be risk averse with profits ie take them quickly and risk loving with losses, ie let them run and run to avoid facing them).

The solution for the trader and the economy is the same: Have an accurate assessment of the ‘paper loss’ at any given time Do not risk on any loss more than a miniscule amount of your reserves Ensure the investments are not likely to move in lock-step in extreme circumstances Cut ‘paper losses’ quickly when they are still miniscule Instead of trying to hope or forecast what will happen, take action regardless of your hopes, on what actually happens. If a paper loss becomes larger than a miniscule part of the reserves, exit it.

Only make investments where the probability of a gain from an investment and the amount to be gained is greater than the probability of a loss and the amount of loss on the above guidelines.

If this does not make you money, your business model does not work, and you will have to hide future large explosive losses behind short term small gains. Risk is like energy – it can’t be destroyed only shifted. Moving it from the short term to the long term only causes harm much later.

Ma’am the ugly truth about the credit crunch and making money from the markets is: Economists are too afraid or arrogant to say ‘we do not know’. The greatest 20th century economist Keynes pointed out this their greatest shortfall. And so instead they forecast often and contrary leading to bouts of overconfident wishful thinking in their followers.

The Ugly Truth of Forecasting: Our minds are geared to behavioural biases identified by psychologists so that we suffer from confirmation bias (seek information confirming our pre-existing views), optimism bias (our belief we are better than average leading to excessive risk taking), and worse of all risk aversion bias (shown through ample experiments that we tend to be risk averse with profits ie take them quickly and risk loving with losses, ie let them run and run to avoid facing them).

13

ilab UK is now a part of Reliance MediaWorks The Anil Ambani owned Reliance MediaWorks (RMW) has gained presence in London as they have acquired ilab UK Ltd. recently. RMW, formerly known as Adlabs already enjoys global presence and that has now been strengthened with the latest acquisition.

Reliance MediaWorks

(RMW), formerly Adlabs, has acquired the assets of ilab UK Ltd, one of only two film processing facilities operating in London’s Soho.

With this acquisition, RMW has expanded and strengthened its international presence which is already spread well across the globe.

Now, RMW UK offers a dedicated film and media services facility in London that include processing, restoration, conversion from 2D to 3D and post production services to studios and broadcasters.

RMW CEO Anil Arjun, commenting on the acquisition, said, “Our expansion is

growing at a remarkable pace. The UK is one of the world’s leading post-production markets and now we have a presence there.

Through RMW UK we would provide next generation services for the local film makers and broadcasters, while also catering to Hollywood and Hindi film businesses.”

Americans feel next Bill Gates likely from India or China Innovation critical to future success of USA as world leader in economy America has lost its global competitiveness and a huge majority of Americans feel the country is not likely to get it back alteast till next year.

Findings of a new survey also suggest many Americans believe it would be India or China from where the next Bill Gates is likely to come, as the two Asian economies are taking rapid strides on the global platform.

Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) commissioned a national survey and the findings of the

same were released in Las Vegas, on the sidelines of the Consumer Technology Tradeshow.

Those who responded to the survey have expressed concerns that the prosperity of the future generations could be in jeopardy, thanks to

JLR’s R&D bills to be picked up

by Tata Motors Tata Motors, the owners of British car brands JLR will have to pump in huge amount of funds for the research and development (R&D) as well as product development for their subsidiaries in the coming years. It is expected to cost them £400 mn annually. While a major part of the investments for the year 2010 models that are to be launched now were already made by Ford, the new owners will now have to provide for the work from now on. This funds are over and above the working capital needs as well as capital expenses.

Paul Chadderton, a JLR spokesman said, “earlier, JLR was a part of the Ford Motor Co., whereas now, they are an independent business unit within the Tata Motors.”

JLR has already started work on its next generation of models like the LRX concept and the compact model RR. Mr. Ratan Tata is personally involved in the design and development of all next generation products.

the federal deficit that is rising. They also said innovation was key to future success of their place of employment and retaining jobs in the USA. The survey, conducted

by Zogby International also revealed that majority of respondents feared that

the path the US Congress has taken to could be detrimental to medical innovation.

As per a World Economic Forum report, the USA has lost its global competitiveness ranking while India, China and Brazil have gained.

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14

FINANCIAL VOICE

Hindujas want a mega power plant in Gujarat UK based group also looking into healthcare and education sectors Hinduja group has plans to set up a gas based mega power plant in South Gujarat. Srichand Hinduja and Gopichand Hinduja met Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi last week with a team of executives of the group and discussed the proposal.

The group is also interested in investments in the state in the areas of healthcare and education, sources close to Gujarat CM have indicated.

Their plans for the mega power plant are for a 10,000 Mega Watts capacity facility that would be built in many phases and the total investment could be in the range of Rs. 500 billions.

The Hindujas are believed to have told Gujarat CM that tie up for supply of gas is already in place with Qatar, hence they are keen to go ahead with the power project at the earliest.

Indian exports on the rise for second month in December 9% increase over November figures helped by strong growth in 4 sectors Indian exports are on the growth track, having registered a rise of 9.4% in December over the figures in November. Commerce and Industry minister Anand Sharma, giving details said on Monday that a strong growth in shipments from pharma, chemicals, engineering and auto components have helped the country achieve exports worth US$ 14.6 billion in the last month of the third quarter for the year 2010.

Speaking at a confer-

ence in Mumbai on Monday, commerce minister added that the exports growth is expected to gain momentum in the coming months. India witnessed a continues decline in exports for 13 months upto October, 2009 following the global meltdown.

Sharma also conceded that growing food inflation is a matter of concern, though imports of wheat and rice are ruled out, atleast in the immediate future.

China beats Germany to emerge as top exporter globally With its controlled currency and huge sconomic stimulus package, China has left behind Germany to become the biggest exporter globally. Beijing has been able to achieve this inspite of the downturn that exports from the country experienced following the meltdown.

Chinese exports went down by 20 per cent during the first ten months of 2009, but since then have shown signs of recovery.

For January – November

2009 period, Germany reported exports worth $1.05 trillion, while China was ahead with shipments to the tune of $1.07 trillion.

China resisted pressures from the Western countries to revise exchange rates for Yuan, generous subsidies for exports and developing new markets in Asia and Africa have helped the country in diversification of markets and retain most of the strengths in exports.

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Business reformer award for Bihar CM Nitish Kumar

ET acknowledges the transformation evident in the state Bihar, one of the worst states in India five years ago has gone through a transformation that is there for everybody to see.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was the agent for change and he has been duly rewarded as he was conferred upon with the Business Reformer of the Year award by the jury of the Economic Times awards.

A very soft spoken and a low profile Chief Minister, Nitish Kumar had charmed the distinguished audience with his humour, as he said, “Around the world, the perception about India is

Gulf single currency likely by 2015 A single currency for the Arabian Gulf region is likely in 2015, though atleast two countries have already pulled out of the proposed monetary union. A senior official of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) secretariat said last week that the possibility of 2015 was only provided the participant countries speed up the process.

A single currency was endorsed last month after a long delay, even as UAE and Oman said they were not joining.

Now, four countries – Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar have to decide on a timeframe of setting up a joint central bank first.

Oman had way back in 2006 decided that it would not join the single currency regime. The country reiterated it’s stand recently and also said there would be no review of the decision.

UAE had pulled out last month over the decision to base the proposed central bank in Saudi Arabia.

Nitish Kumar receiving the award from Pranab Mukherjee

changing. And across India, the perception about Bihar is changing.”

Bihar under him has now become next only to Gujarat among the fastestgrowing states in the country — it has achieved

Hugh Jackman enters into a brand partnership with Lipton Ice Tea Lipton Ice Tea, one of the world’s leading iced tea brands, announced its three year partnership with Hollywood A-lister Hugh Jackman, making it the first international brand to ever work with the movie legend.

Internationally acclaimed Jackman, who has starred in Hollywood blockbusters including Wolverine, X-Men and Australia, is now the face of Lipton Ice Tea. To launch the partnership, Jackman will take the leading role in his first TV advert, set to be aired in

It’s the highest in American central bank’s 96 year history A US media report has said the Federal Reserve made a huge profit of US$ 45 billion in the year 2009, which is a record in the 96 year history of the American Central Bank.

The Washington Post, in a lead story published

L N Mittal says no scrapping Jharkhand or Orissa units

Lakshmi N Mittal

For the Jharkhand and Orissa units, the progress is not s a t i s f a c t o r y, Mittal said, speaking to media recently.

Yet, he said they are hopeful and will continue efforts.

The plans remain as they are, they could be implemented in phases.

Hugh Jackman

March 2010, as well as featuring in the brand’s upcoming 360 degree global marketing campaign.

Jackman was chosen as he reflects the Lipton Ice Tea drinker; having a fun, positive and adven-

turous outlook on life. In the UK, the marketing campaign featuring Jackman will challenge Brits to try Lipton Ice with the strapline “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.”

Jackman commented: “I’m delighted with my new role as the Lipton Ice Tea ambassador, which is a totally new experience for me, so it’s very exciting. Lipton Ice Tea is a really positive brand and its values match those that are important in my life, so I can’t wait to get started on all our plans.”

A record profit of $45 bn for the Federal Reserve

ArcelorMittal to go ahead with all projects in India L N Mittal, also known as steel king recently said ArcelorMittal has no plans to scrap their proposed steel plants in Jharkhand and Orissa even as he expressed concern about the slow progress in the two states.

He has, in the meanwhile got approval from Karnataka govt. for another steel project and said an MOU will be signed for the latest venture in June this year.

a stunning 11.3% growth in 2008-09.

That being feted in high-profile gatherings is not the culmination of his development and growth blueprint for Bihar was made amply clear by the

CM in his acceptance speech, although the progress of his efforts is clear.

Other winners Other winners this year include Anand Mahindra as the Business Leader of the Year, Vinita Bali, managing director of Britannia Industries as Businesswoman of the Year and Ram Charan for the Global Indian of the Year.

The Energy Research Institute or Teri, a leading global voice on issues such as climate change and the environment, will receive the Corporate Citizen of the year award.

ArcelorMittal is having problems in land acquisition as well as delays in securing regulatory approvals for the Jharkhand and Orissa projects. Mittal said, Karnataka would be the third project for the group. It would be a Rs. 300 billion plant. An in principle approval has already been received, the MOU for the same will be signed in the first week of June during the global investors’ meet.

today said the bank is also likely to return $ 445 billion to the treasury.

Profits made by the Federal Reserve are return to the Treasury, while the bank manages funds for its operations on its own.

The report in the daily

said though it is good news for the federal budget, the central bank stands a risk of losing some money if the Fed sells some of its investments or it incurs losses money through its stake in the bail out funds that have been advanced.

Leicester to have a Canara Bank branch in March East Midlands town of Leicester will soon have another Indian bank – Canara Bank opening a branch. The town has a large population of Indian origin as also close business connections with India. For Canara Bank, this would be their first branch outside London, while for the town, it will be the sixth major Indian bank to have its presence there.

Bank of Baroda, State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, ICICI Bank and Bank of India already have branches there.

Two local bodies – Prospect Leicestershire and East Midlands Development Agency (Emda) as well as Est Midlands India Business Bureau joined the efforts to identify a suitable site for the Canara Bank branch.

Nick Carter, chairman of Prospect Leicestershire and Leicestershire Asian Business Association Jaffer Kapasi welcomed the decision of Canara Bank in opening a branch there.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Thomas Cook forex services now available at Indian post offices Diversification is gaining a slow yet definite momentum at Post Offices in India, as they have tied up with many entities for sales of various products and services. The latest is an agreement with Travel Service provider Thomas Cook. The department of Indian Posts will provide foreign exchanges services

to the customers.

Various designated post offices are already providing passport application receiving services, delivering remittances received from abroad under a tie-up with Western Union and some other services.

Under the tie up with Thomas Cook, post office

customers will get forex, insurance and travel products. Telecom and IT Minister A Raja said this would be a meaningful value-addition to the portfolio of services offered by post offices.

With the Commonwealth games being hosted by Delhi in October this year, a huge

Credit Suisse finds Indian stocks less interesting With their valuation gap in relation to the rest of Asian stocks shrinking, Indian stocks at the present levels look less interesting, according to Credit Suisse Group AG. Based on a model comparing price to book value against return on equity, Credit Suisse analysts have found that Indian stocks currently are trading a 2 per cent

discount, which was 40 per cent in March, 2009.

From valuation perspective, they are becoming less interesting, as earnings per share revisions in India are lagging behind as compared to other markets in the region. India is rated as the most expensive market in the region after Japan, according to Bloomberg data.

Technology companies are now trading at a 65 percent premium relative to the region, compared with a 90 percent discount at the lows in December 2008, the analysts said. Materials shares are also valued at 11 percent more than the region, compared with a discount of as much as 139 percent, they estimated.

Gujarat to have 7 more SIRs soon Gujarat is on a fast track of developing economic activities and setting up industries, as it enjoys a key position on the DMIC. The state government has plans up its sleeves to set up seven new special investment regions (SIRs). The proposed new locations are mostly in the region from Ahmedabad to Saurashtra - at Sanand and Changodar, both in Ahmedabad district; Navlakhi, a port on the eastern tip of the Gulf of Kutch; Pipavav and Simar along the southern Saurashtra coast; and Anjar in Kutch district.

Only Aliabet, an island in the mouth of Narmada river falling in the Gulf of Khambhat lies in central Gujarat region.

Once through, it will take the total number of SIRs in Gujarat to 13.

SIRs are especially notified industrial-cum-resi-

dential zones, each 100 sq km or more, to be developed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. Of the six SIR proposals already through, two, at Dholera and Dahej, are under implementation. Four others, for which a decision has been taken, are in the Palanpur-Mehsana, Vadodara-Ankleshwar, Bharuch-Dahej and SuratNavsari belts.

A project report for developing Sanand and Changodar SIRs is being prepared by Mott MacDonald, a renowned consultant. Consultants for others include PricewaterhouseCoopers, Voyant and Cept University, sources said.

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SIRs will be 138 and 401 sq km respectively. As the distance between the two is unlikely to be more than five kilometres, in the long run, both will be converted into one huge SIR. The SIR at Aliabet island has been notified as entertainment and tourism zone. It will be of 169 sq km, though it may take some time before the Gujarat government kickstarts infrastructure development on this uninhabited island. “It will be necessary to take forest and environmental clearance for its development,” a senior official said. As for Pipavav, Simar and Navlakhi, there is huge development of port traffic here.

influx of tourists is expected from all parts of the world and this tie-up will cater to the needs of the floating population in a befitting manner, he added. The services would be first rolled out in five centres in Delhi and would give easy access to customers for foreign exchange services.

RIL eyes Lyondell co-promotership Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) is wooing the LyondellBasell management, especially Russian promoter Leonid Blavatnik, to become copromoter in the bankrupt Dutch chemical company.

Sources close to the developments said the gameplan for RIL was to either partner the Lyondell management in the reorganisation, or offer funds to the promoters to repay their debt, probably after the firm got out of bankruptcy.

RIL has raised over pound 1.26 billion from sale of treasury stock.

The bankruptcy court in New York will reopen its hearing on Lyondell’s reorganisation plan on Wednesday. The management’s new plan has got “substantial creditor support”, though unsecured creditors favour RIL’s acquisition plans.

“At the hearing , the Lyondell management is expected to ask for time till September to submit its final plan with suggestions from the creditors. If the court allows time, RIL could work out its supportive plan jointly with the management. If not, the company will prefer a partnership with the promoters after the firm emerges from bankruptcy protection,” said two executives close to the developments.

15

Sanand to have a plastic park too Sanand town on the outskirts of Ahmedabad is on an industrialisation spree.

After Tata Motors decided to park their Nano plant here, the area is attracting a horde of other industries and units.

GIDC, the Gujarat government owned corporation has decided to develop an industrial estate near Sanand, a taluka town of Ahmedabad.

Following Nano, a large tyre manufacturing unit is also coming, a biotech park is also slated to come to Sanand.

The latest to join the Sanand bandwagon is a plastic park, a cluster of plastic making units.

Under a joint initiative by Gujarat State Plastic M a n u f a c t u r i n g Association (GSPMA) and the state government, the park will come up over 100 acres near Tata

Motors plant.

“The proposed park will have around 1,000 units. Investments worth Rs 5 billion over next couple of years are expected.

More than 200 manufacturers have already decided to set up units in the park and another 250 have evinced interest,” said Jigish Doshi, former president of GSPMA. Apart from basic infrastructure, the park will also have a convention and exhibition centre, hotel and restaurants as well as a training centre to prepare suitable workforce for plastic and allied industry.

In the Indian plastic industry, Gujarat has a lion’s share of about 20%, while in production of polymer, an essential raw material for manufacturing of plastic, the state’s share is 65%.

7,200 ArcelorMittal workers go on strike in Algeria Some 7,200 workers at the ArcelorMittal steel factory near Annaba in eastern Algeria launched an indefinite strike on Tuesday, shutting the plant down, the main union and the management said.

"The complex is completely paralysed," union leader Smain Kouadria said. "The workers are gathered outside the management offices."

"The factory has stopped. There will be discussions with the union," ArcelorMittal A n n a b a ' s Communications Director Mohamed Guedha stated on Frenchlanguage radio.

Kouadria said the strike was agreed because the management had

refused to renovate the coking plant at the factory at El-Hadjar, which the union saw as reneging on a decision made last October.

The management said then it would shut down the coking plant, which is more than 30 years old, for a year while renovating it. Then they abandoned the project, according to Kouadria.

"The top management has informed us that the renovation of the coking plant is not a priority," Kouadria said.

In a statement given to the press, the management said it would "treat the (320) workers of the coking plant with particular attention", redeploying them to other parts of the factory if necessary.

16

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Airbus zooms past Boeing with more deliveries, orders Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer has zoomed past Boeing, their American rival as the global no. 1 with more deliveries and orders in 2009, Airbus has claimed.

The turnover though, has gone down slightly due to the meltdown.

Addressing the media at Seville in Spain, Tom Enders, the chief executive said that even in face of the credit crunch, Airbus successfully managed financing for their planes and that led to Boeing being pushed

Awards: Are we tired of the election? behind.

Airbus had 498 aircrafts delivered and 310 orders, while Boeing numbers were 481 and 263 respectively.

EADS (European

Aeronautic Defence and Space Company), the parent company for Airbus said revenues went down by almost 3.5 per cent at 41.7 billion euros according to preliminary figures.

An Indian electric mini truck for the West Indian auto giant Mahindra and Mahindra is to explore the western markets for its electric mini truck. M&M, as the company is known, unveiled their newly developed Maxximo mini truck with diesel and electric version at the Delhi auto show last week.

After the Tata Motors targeting Europe and US with their small car Nano

in the small and ultra cheap vehicle category, M&M is the second Indian auto major to venture with small vehicles.

Anand Mahindra, managing director of the Mahindra group said, “I could these trucks plying in urban municipalities in America - New York, for example - and all over Europe, as they are pushing further ahead with its regulations and stipula-

tions for alternate fuel.

This could be a very interesting Mahindra export product and a brand builder for us,” he said.

While Indian companies are targeting world markets, global brands are focusing on the Indian markets, particularly in the small car segment, with a number of companies having unveiled models as well as concept cars.

Japan wants to develop eco townships in Gujarat After deciding to develop a mini-Japan in Dholera special investment region (SIR) as a feeder township for Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), the Japanese have shown interest in developing a Rs 5,000crore eco-township project at Dahej.

Planned on a 500-acre land, the proposal, put up before CM Narendra Modi includes a dozen-odd satellite eco-towns across Gujarat — each on 10 to 15 acres in polluting industrial areas of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vapi,

Panoli, Jamnagar, Kutch and Alang.

To be jointly developed with Gujarat Environment Protection and Infrastructure Ltd (GEPIL), a private company promoted by Luthra group, the proposal aims at recycling and recovering 90 per cent of the industrial waste and reuse it as raw material. Details of the Japanese funding are being finalised. "They have already developed Kitaykyushu eco-town in Japan. They are planning a similar model for Gujarat.

The aim is to recycle and

India to be flooded with global SUVs With the rising cost of fuel and meltdown, as Americans are changing their preference, going for small and fuel efficient cars, while the global brands are launching an array of costly SUVs in India, as the Indians love these brands.

Some of the world’s top carmakers such as BMW, Audi, Land Rover, Toyota and Volkswagen are launching over half-adozen SUVs in the next six months in the world’s fastest growing auto market after China. SUVs, allterrain vehicles that can cruise with the same comfort in cities and countryside, are drawing big

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook:

crowds at the Auto Expo in New Delhi.

Automakers are planning to manufacture most of the new products locally to reduce cost, rather than relying on imports as they have done in the past.

The new batch of these SUV comes on the back of a spurt in demand that saw Toyota’s SUV Fortuner having a sixmonth waiting list due to an unanticipated rush for bookings. The SUV market, that also comprises cheaper products manufactured by M&M and Tata Motors, grew 21% to 1.04 lakh units in AprilDecember 2009 over the year-ago period.

reuse everything – waste water and sewage to electronic waste and end-oflife vehicles," said a senior official.

Girish Luthra of GEPIL told "Besides ecotownships, the Japanese government has offered to turn Alang into an ecofriendly destination. The aim is to make Gujarat a zero disposal and a landfill-free state. They have agreed to be our knowledge partner."

Modi had met Japanese Prime Minister Y Hatoyawa in Mumbai a few days back.

It’s only been a couple of days and this election, when it happens, already looks like politicians are hell-bent on turning off the electorate as quickly as possible. Why is this when they are supposedly trying their hardest to attract us? Imagine someone peddling CocaCola immediately putting you off fizzy drinks just as they start to speak – just when you thought you were thirsty?

Traditional political campaigns run thus: “I will promise you X, the other side have not delivered it/can’t deliver it/won’t deliver it, and it’s good for you.”

And the other side responds, “X can’t be delivered, won’t be delivered and you don’t want it anyway”.

And the cycle continues. Politics is so much better than this. Politics as it can be, should be.

Elections are essentially won in marginals – small percentage swings only ever happen between parties after all. So it is the few single digit percentage people who switch between parties that matter for victory.

The remaining giant core blocks will always vote as they’ve always voted. Statistics proves this.

Game theory is a discipline of economics with applications in everything from the Cuban missile crisis to electoral outcomes. And if you doubt its significance, consider that eight game theorists have won Noble Prizes.

I’ve been fortunate enough to have studied under some of the best minds in Game Theory and in Politics at university.

Applying game theory to the election, for the Tories to win, given the mountain they have to climb, they have to convert some Labour constituencies in which they are third behind the Liberals.

Their optimal strategy is not simply the cyclical punch-throwing statements above, since their own voters will vote for them anyway and core Labour voters won’t. Rather the optimal strategy is to assert Conservatives will win countrywide (a credible but not certain proposition) and a vote for Labour or Liberal candidate would mean a local MP sitting on the opposition benches and therefore less influential.

But that’s a strategy relating to power. What of strategies to do with issues? When I was knocking on doors as a law undergraduate canvassing in Bradford South in the 1992 General Election a couple of things became very clear. First, people felt the government had come to ask their opinion. They would talk at length about what bothered them. Second, what bothered them in a Labour constituency was that they did not trust Tories with what they trusted Labour – such as the NHS. At that time I told numerous Tories, ‘why are the

Conservatives not the Party of the NHS?’ Why have they not positioned themselves thus?

Eighteen years later it appears this week David Cameron understands that as a matter of game theory at least, your optimal policy strategy is to position yourself at the heart of your opponents issue turf. It’s what won Labour the election in 1997. Your core supporters won’t hate you for it, they’ll always support you. The other side’s core supporters won’t be moved either. But at the margins you’ll win a few over because you’ve reached further across.

Of course that’s strategy, some may say Machiavellian and as I said politics at its best is about the people – so the better reason to have the other side’s core concerns at your centre too is because if so many people care for those things as to put the other side in power and make elections close to call, then you should care about them too because you care about all the people. And for the non-idealist, the cynic: you do it to win.

The columnist is hails from Karamsad, a former Visiting Fellow at Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

He read Philosophy, Politics, Economics at St Anne’s College, Oxford when he also interned in the US Congress and read Law at King’s College, London, qualifying as a barrister.

GM, Nissan to compete in India, world markets in the small cars space Global giants to use India as hub for exports of the new models Global auto majors woken up to the reality that India is not just a lucrative market, it is an attractive hub that can be used to cater to export markets for small cars. Now, General Motors and Nissan aim to take advantage of their presence in India to have a slice of the Indian market and also export small cars to other countries.

10 new compact cars were launched at the Delhi auto show last week. Japanese automakers, for one, will enter uncharted territory by

expanding parts procurement from Indian suppliers for goods such as sheet steel normally imported from Japan.

“The key to lowering costs was to look for locally available materials," said Yoshinori Noritake, chief engineer of Toyota Motor's Etios family car, one of the highlights of the

Auto Expo this week. The Etios is expected to be the cheapest offering in Toyota's global line-up when it goes on sale in late 2010 in India, with parts sourced from suppliers aligned with Maruti Suzuki and Tata Motors, such as Tata Steel, Noritake said.

From India to World The need for big volumes to lower per-unit costs means that some, including General Motors and Nissan Motor, will use India as an export base for their new small cars join-

ing market leaders Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai Motor. GM generated buzz at the Delhi show with an aggressive sticker price of $7,111 for the Chevrolet Beat, is earmarking onefifth of the car's production for exports.

"The Beat can be a real game changer in the Indian mini-car segment," Karl Slym, chief of General Motors India said at the launch. GM India expects a 50 percent rise in sales this year, with production of the Beat due to start at the end of 2010.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

17

Suresh Vagjiani is the Managing Director of Sow & Reap, a Property Investment & Financing company.

Protection matters An insurance policy pays out when a specified event happens. This payment could be a lump sum or a series of payments for a specified period. The amount of this payment is not always specified exactly, the sum insured can be made to increase with future inflation.

Most people have their house and cars insured as a matter of course, the latter is of course a legal requirement, though very few insure against the inevitable. This is of course death.

The protection market has significantly evolved offering a wide variety of products through numerous providers specialising in niche fields of the mar-

ket.

There exist three basic types of insurance available to protect oneself or the family. The first is insurance against death.

This type of cover is of course very price competitive since other factors play little part in determining which insurance firm you will choose to get the cover from i.e. you are either dead or not,(bar any freak cases). Though some companies offer a very good post claim service, which can be very valuable.

Within life insurance, there are two types of policy, Term Insurance and Whole of Life Assurance.

Whole of life Assurance will pay out on death at any point, hence this will

happen.

Term Insurance will pay out in the event of death within a specified period.

This may or may not occur. Whole of life policies can be written to protect against Inheritance tax with the amount insured regularly reviewed to make sure the policy meets its objective in line with government changes to policy. Term Insurance can be used to protect a mortgage, this can therefore be a declining cover, if the mortgage is repayment, or level cover, if the mortgage is interest only.

The second type has been growing in the market exponentially and is Critical Illness cover.

This policy will pay out on the event of a specified illness occurring.

The types of illness will generally be terminal ones, but not always.

The Critical Illness policies within the market must cover core illnesses

by FSA regulation, however the devil is in the detail. When looking at CI cover, price although a factor is not the only consideration. The policy must be scrutinised, and any illness particularly if they have existed in previous generations must be paid careful attention to.

Generally this type of cover can be decreasing or level, in line with the mortgage.

Primarily the above two covers are used to

protect one’s mortgage, so that it is fully paid on occurrence of this event.

The third type is Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance or MPPI. This policy will pay a stream of payments typically for either 12 or 24 months on the event of either Accident, Sickness or Unemployment. Again this cover normally has a growth rate attached to it to protect from inflation.

The policy is designed to substitute one’s wage for a short period, the amount will constitute of the monthly mortgage payment as well as any living costs.

These events can be insured individually in the policy, you can just take Accident and Sickness or

only Unemployment cover. If you are self employed an Insurance Firm will not sell you unemployment cover for obvious reasons.

‘Even if you have a Life Insurance policy in place, it is important to check you have the appropriate cover in place and any life assurance written is put into trust to shield it from any capital gains which may arise. In our experience very rarely is appropriate cover in place. Often the adviser has simply sold whatever he could with his focus purely on his commission.

To carry out a free check call Sow & Reap now.’ on 0800 096 3132 or email info@sowandreap.co.uk.

Ahmadabad: Gem of India Having recently spent days in Ahmadabad I got some understanding and had a chance to get to grips with this soon to be major city in India. The riksha wallas do not rip you off - not much anyway the deviation is about Rps10 max which is acceptable and in fact perhaps this should be a standard NRI premium. The city functions well, and still retains its colourful identity with festivals such as the coming kite festival celebrated with great enthusiasm.

Several streets could be seen colouring the long string in preparation of the coming kite festival.

Clearly firms have missed this little gem, streets are wide and without holes, the people are intelligent and courteous and have a thirst for success. The pollution levels are relatively low in comparison to the likes of other cities in India. One of the main things which struck me is the level of education received by

students, it is way below the jobs they end up doing. There is clearly an underutilised work force in this city. The levels to which they are taught is phenomenal, and will make the equivalent aged person in the UK appear backward.

The striking thing is, this pool of talent is not being utilised. Typically they end up working 12 hour days, 6 days a week in customer facing roles dealing with minor account enquiries by banks eager to expand and lap up the new business Ahmadabad has to bring. It is only a matter of time before this resource is going to be exploited properly, as Ahmadabad has already been earmarked in many top research reports for best cities to relocate to. It offers a cost advantage and high staff retention.

The expansion of Ahmadabad is not going to be lop sided as in other cities where the infrastructure cannot

trends which are inevitable and have occurred the world over.

However the important point is ALL of these factors will lead to an increase in the demand for property and more specifically within cities. This massive shift in population can be seen more clearly when we look at the following current statistics, which show the proportion of people living in the cities to those who do not:India 28:72 UK 90:10 US 77:23

cope with the population growth. In the words of Gautam Adani, chairman of the Ahmadabad Adani Group, “Unlike Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad, where infrastructure is collapsing because of population growth, the peripheral development is well

Mortgages Commercial Finance Gujarat Properties - Sale & Resale Property Sourcing

planned to take the pressure of the growing population”. What we have happening in India is the process of urbanisation, this is the migration of the population into the cities.

This will be an inevitable effect of economic growth. However the symptoms of this

are not always desirable from a social perspective. Some of the effects will be the traditional Indian family nucleus will break down, more people will stay single (not so they can be monks!), there will be an increase in divorce and so forth. These are not speculations but

It is predicted 7-8 million people per annum will shift to the cities over the next few years.

Ahmadabad is an undiscovered gem and this is the very reason why we have tied up with developers here to offer you well placed developments. As time goes on the full potential of Ahmedabd will slowly be discovered.

Sow & Reap Call On: 0207 706 0187 Email at: info@sowandreap.co.uk

Sow & Reap Properties Limited is trading as Sow & Reap.

Registered in England No. 05083823 Registered Office Address: 31 Southwick Street, Paddington, W2 1JQ

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Spriha’s

Corner

By Spriha Srivastava

Why visa when you can get an OCI/PIO card?

The term “Visa” is such that it can surely bring a frown on the face of any International traveller. I am sure that every individual who has ever applied for a visa to no matter whatever country will have an anecdote to share. I have been in UK for about an year and a half and have come across many British Indians who are very unhappy with the long waiting time and mountain load of paper work to get a visa to India.

And at this moment, I always start wondering that why can’t travelling to your home country be simple enough?

Well, it surely isn’t as tough as we think it is.

Especially for those who themselves or through their parents, grandparents or even spouse, trace their origin back to India. Once they apply for an OCI or a PIO card, depending on their eligibility, they don’t have to worry about those long queues at the VFS visa centres or making innumerable visits to the Indian H i g h Commission.

But in order to apply for this card, many of them will have to surrender their Indian passports. And that is what seems to be holding back many in this case.

In fact, sources from the High Commission of India have encouraged more and more British Indians to apply for the OCI and PIO card. One needs to plan their visit in advance, maybe like 34 months in advance so that there is enough time to carry out the paper work for the process.

The High Commission of India has also suggested that it takes almost two months to get the cards processed and thus applicants should be ready for such a time.

But it also gives you a lifelong visa to visit India in the case of OCI and fifteen years in case of PIO card.

A lot of times many of us get confused

between both the cards.

Well, to start with, there are differences in terms of eligibility, process, cost and benefits and restrictions of both the OCI and PIO card.

Persons who belong to Indian origin either through parents, grandparents, great grandparents or spouse can apply under PIO category, while those overseas Indians who migrated from India after 26th January, 1950, except from Pakistan and Bangladesh come under the overseas citizen’s cri-

teria. For them to be eligible under OCI category, they must belong to Indian origin through either their parents or grandparents. The clause of spouse does not exist in this case.

The Indian government has always been very sensitive towards the issues of the NRI community that is spread all across the globe. In fact the OCI and PIO card scheme is the cornerstone in its policy on Diaspora. The government actively encourages Indians settled abroad to apply under these schemes. This also helps lessen the burden of missions abroad that look into a number of visa issues every day.

Frankly, if every person of Indian origin living in this country applies for

an OCI or PIO card, imagine how easy it will be for the mission to deal with other matters.

But there are many Indians worldwide who have faced extremely tough situation in the hands of immigration officer even after having an OCI card. In fact just a couple of months back I had read about an Emeritus Professor from US who was travelling on his OCI card and had not carried his old passport with him because under the rules it states that if you have a OCI card, you don’t need a visa. But apparently the immigration officer at the counter asked for his passport and on the failure to produce the passport, the Professor was given a seven day temporary visa in India and was asked to produce his old passport at the earliest.

There have been similar cases that came to light regarding OCI and PIO card. This is not to baffle anyone but it is just to make people aware that there might be a gap between what the government decides and what the immigration officials know. At that moment, rules and policies of the government doesn’t work. It is the question of whether you can produce the asked document or not.

Well, there would always be such cases floating around in the newspapers and online portals. But that shouldn’t deter the fact that this scheme has been brought into action to benefit the Indian diasporic population that is settled worldwide. I think a lot of us are intimidated by any government policy till we actually pick up the rules and read it. Because we are afraid that if it is a government scheme it will need a lot of paper work and running around. But sometimes it is for a long term benefit as well. I think for the British Indian population, this scheme might just be worth a try.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Vasant Panchami 20th January 2010 Vasant Panchami, sometimes referred to as Basant Panchami or Shree Panchami, is a Hindu festival celebrating Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge, music and art.

It is celebrated every year on the fifth day (Panchami) of the Indian month Magh (JanuaryFebruary), the first day of Spring in India.

Traditionally during this festival children are taught to write their first words; brahmins are fed; ancestor worship (Pitrtarpan) is performed; the god of love Kamadeva is worshipped; and most educational institutions in West Bengal & Orissa (India) organise special prayer for Saraswati. The colour yellow also plays an important role in this festival, and people usually wear yellow clothes.

Goddess Saraswati Goddess Saraswati is the consort of Lord Brahma (Lord of Creation) and is the Goddess of wisdom and learning.

Saraswati is the one who gives the essence (sara) of our own self (swa).

She is considered as the personification of all knowledge - arts, sciences, crafts and other skills. She has a beautiful and elegant presence, is pure white in colour, clad in a white sari, seated on a white lotus, representing purity and brilliance. She has four hands repre-

senting four aspects of human personality in learning; mind, intellect, alertness and ego. She has the sacred scriptures in one hand and a lotus (a symbol of true knowledge) in the second.

With her other two hands she plays the music of love and life on the Veena.

She is dressed in white (sign of purity) and rides on a white goose (swan). The swan is known for its peculiar characteristic of being capable of separating water from milk, indicating that we should possess discrimination in separating the bad from the good. The seat being a lotus or peacock implies that the teacher is wellestablished in the subjective experience of truth. When sitting on a peacock she reminds us that wisdom suppresses ego.

Like Brahma, she is not worshipped much in temples. However, every year Saraswati Puja is celebrated by people all over India, be it students, workers, craftsmen, businessmen offering their prayers for a successful and fruitful year. In India however, Saraswati does have a temple in Koothanur in Tanjavur district (Tamil Nadu). There is an important Saraswati Temple in Basar at a distance of 40 km from Nizamabad in Adilabad District, Andhra Pradesh on the banks of Godavari River. There is also a small but very old temple in Hasanpur and a relatively new one in Bakhri Bazar, Bihar.

Kilimanjaro

A dream come true

BY VIJAY CHAVDA

The very first time I saw Kilimanjaro was from Kenya over ten years ago. I was completely mesmerised and amazed by the shear beauty of this colossal snow capped mountain; and from this day on, Kilimanjaro continuously stayed close to my heart and I always, dreamt of climbing it one day.

I tried many attempts to instigate an expedition, but life threw many obstacles in my way. I almost gave up my dream until October 2009, where I finally got the opportunity.

Kilimanjaro, stands proudly at 19,340ft which is equivalent of eighteen Eiffel towers on top of each other.

It is said that every year around 15 to 20 people die in trying to climb Kilimanjaro.

Kilimanjaro is a serious mountain that needed a serious amount of time dedicated to its preparation. It took my brother and me nine months to fully prepare for the expedition.

I remember the night before reaching the summit.

I was so exhausted that my body started to shut down and I could hardly keep my eyes open. The high altitude was challenging, I made myself believe the mountain

Vijay with his brother on Mt Kilimanjaro

went on till infinity and I was going to keep walking until my very last breath. I kept on walking until I heard voices and laughter. I looked up and saw the sign that I had been dreaming of standing next to for many, many years. I had finally arrived, on the roof of Africa.

I looked around and saw the breathtaking views such as the curvature of the earth, the huge and beautiful glaciers and the clouds beneath me. I then looked at my brother standing next to me who was out of breath, exhausted and coughing viciously. I started to recall the nine months of arduous training and support received from him and the

six days spent with him laughing and arguing in a tiny cramped tent that had a faulty zip. I realised then, that although my dream of climbing Kilimanjaro had been fulfilled it was only completed by having my brother, Bhavesh standing besides me on the highest free standing mountain in the world.

I fulfilled my dream and at the same time we helped towards raising approximately £10,000 for children with cancer.

If anyone is interested in climbing Kilimanjaro then I would be more then happy to share my experiences with you. Email me at vijay_k ilimanjaro@hotmail.com.

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

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Aamir to take a break in 2010

Bollywood star Aamir Khan now plans to take a break from acting this year as he wants to concentrate on his role as the producer of “Delhi Belly,” “Peepli Live” and “Dhobi Ghat.”

“I want to take a break from acting this year. So no shootings for me. I would like to concentrate more as a producer,” Aamir said at a press conference.

“I will be reading scripts as an actor but I am not sure whether I would be saying yes to acting. I would like to market my films internationally as I personally feel that our films have potential in the international market,” he pointed out. This year, Aamir will be seen

in home production “Dhobi Ghat,” which has been directed by his wife Kiran Rao. With his ‘one-year-one-movie’ plan, Aamir has managed to deliver superhits one after another and says he has been lucky in terms of directors and scripts.

“I try to pick up films that I love or which move me emotionally. I have been lucky in the last 10 years to be successful. It’s because I have been lucky enough to work with directors who are very good,” Aamir maintained.

Karan Johar wants to make a ‘lighter’ movie now Bollywood director Karan Johar wants to go back to 'song and dance' movies after 'My Name Is Khan', which is about the journey of an unusual couple living in the US post- 9/11 terrorist attacks.

'I have given my three years, heart, soul and body to 'My Name Is Khan'. Now I would love to get back to songs and dances. I guess it's the need of the hour for me,' said Karan who is known for making light movies like 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' and 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham'.

'Making a film is all about the state of mind three years back I felt that I had to tell the story of 'My Name Is Khan'. Perhaps after making my 'song and dance' film, I would be fed up again and make something else thereafter.

However, as of now I am very clear that my next movie has to be a lighter affair,' he said.

Talking about the trigger point that led to conceptualising of 'My Name Is Khan', he said: 'It was basically a film that was needed to be addressed.’

Claim Your Tax Credits – CEMVO can help The Council of Ethnic Minority Voluntary Sector Organisations (CEMVO), is a charitable organisation committed to supporting the development of Britain's Minority Ethnic communities, organisations and Individuals. In partnership with Her Majesty’s Revenue and customs, CEMVO is working to promote the uptake of Tax Credits among Britain’s Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

Every year, billions of pounds of Tax Credits are left unclaimed. In 2009; it is estimated that over £4 billion was left unclaimed. But if you have children, are disabled, a carer or work on a low wage, you may be entitled to claim Tax Credits.

Tax Credits are not a tax. They are payments made by the government to

increase the income of families and people working on a low wage. They are not deducted from your tax bill- in fact you can claim Tax Credits even if you do not pay tax.

There are two kinds of Tax Credit: Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.

90% of families with children under 16 years old (or 20 years old if the child is in full time education) are entitled to Child Tax Credits, but 12.5% do not claim for the money they are entitled to. You do not have to be employed to claim Child Tax Credit.

Working Tax Credits are for people who earn a low wage for the work they do. If you are over 25, work at least 30 hours per week and earn less than £13,190 if you are single, or £17,695 as a couple, you will qualify for Working Tax Credits. This could

increase your income by over £2,000 per year, and you do not have to have children to qualify.

You can also claim Working Tax Credits if you work only 16 hours a week, but are disabled, have children or, in some cases, if you are over 50 years old.

For more information about Tax Credits or to find out about CEMVO’s events, you can email Satnam Sagoo at satnam.sagoo@cemvo. org.uk; or telephone 0208 432 0079 or 0208 432 0086.You can also call the National Tax Credit Helpline and receive help in your own language– including Hindi, Gujarati, Punjabi, Urdu and Swahili; telephone number listed in the adjacent advert.

Remember-you will not receive what you are entitled to unless you apply!

19

Shahid forces director to drop kissing scene Shahid Kapoor has just sliced a kissing scene that he was supposed to have in “Chance Pe Dance” with Genelia D’Souza completely. This is because he didn’t think it would be good for his image among kids considering most of his fans comprise of children. The kissing scene was supposed to be followed by a love-making scene but Shahid broke into cold sweat at the thought of it. He also didn’t want the film to get an ‘A’ certificate. Director Ken Ghosh agreed with him and they decided to chuck the scene out of the script.

Akki and Paresh Rawal dump Hera Pheri 4 The third instalment of the film Hera Pheri, titled Hera Pheri 4’, is going to have Sanjay Dutt and Nana Patekar in the lead roles instead of Akshay Kumar and Paresh Rawal. It is learnt that the film has been delayed because both Akki and Paresh don't have the necessary dates required by producer Feroz Nadiadwala.

Though insiders believe that the move is triggered by the lacklustre run of the Phir Hera Pheri at the box office, officially it is stated that the actors backed out, as they don’t have dates.

Confirming the news a source said, “Both actors have lost interest in the project and have made it clear they have no interest in coming together for yet another Hera Pheri film.”

20

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Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Shakeela to wed Sathish in June The man in Shakeela’s life was a mystery ever since the actress revealed she was in love with an entrepreneur and plans to marry him in June. She refused to reveal more details, saying that she had to get her fiancé’s permission first.

Now here is m o r e news! She is all set to marry P.G. Sathish from Avadi, a functionary in

Vijaykanth’s DMDK. He is also a film financier and realtor. Shakeela also revealed that they were engaged in a private ceremony last month.

Shakeela is currently acting in three Tamil films: “Maanja Velu,” “Thottu Par” and “Payanangal Thodarum.” She has acted in more than 100 Malayalam movies, with most of them being crowd pullers.

‘3 Idiots’ and ‘Paa’ sweep Star Screen awards Big B, Vidya Balan best actors; Big Pictures strike it rich with 14 trophies In a rare honour of it’s kind, Amitabh Bachchan and son Abhishek were honoured with the ‘Best Jodi’ (best pair) trophy at the Star Screen awards.

Big Pictures, the production house from the Reliance group had a rich haul of 14 awards with three of their films claiming trophies in various, top categories. ‘3 Idiots’ the biggest block buster got the best film, director and screenplay among the 8 honours, while ‘Paa’ claimed the best actor and best actress awards for Amitabh Bachchan and Vidya Balan. Pratik Katare got the best child artist award, also for the same film. ‘ 3 Idiots’ won a total of 8

awards, including the Best Film of the Year, Best Director award, won by Rajkumar Hirani, and the Best Screenplay award, which Abhijat Joshi and Hirani shared. Omi Vaidya walked away with two trophies - Best Performance in a Comic Role and the Most Promising Newcomer, Boman Irani got the award for the Best Actor in a Negative Role.

Kareena Kapoor won the Best Actress award in the Popular Choice category, while the film also bagged the award for the Best Dialogue. Arundhati Nag, who played Auro's grandmother in ‘Paa’, won the Best Supporting Actor (female) award.

Rishi Kapoor won the Best Supporting Actor for his role in ‘Luck By Chance’.

Preity Zinta to be back with a bang Preity Zinta was not in the Bollywood circuit for a long time as she was preoccupied with the Indian Premier League (IPL) and a management course at Harvard Business School in the US. She has reassured fans she will be seen in a whole lot of movies in 2010.

"Guys I am back in business. Its nice to be back after a freezing New Year. Well my New Year resolution is to work in more films, work out five

Tamil film enters Guinness Book for s y a d 2 1 in n io t le p m o c rd beats the 1990 reco an nk La i Sr e th A film on ish film of 13 days for a Brit

film made in A two-hour Tamil has entered less than 12 days of Wor ld ok Bo s the Gu inn es Records. u Mazhai, The film, Shivapp i Lanka, Sr in based on Tamils working s an ici hn tec 0 had over 60 lete the mp co round the clock to .

09 20 3, film by June and Meera Suresh Joachim d roles of lea the in r Jasmine sta the film.

h produc"Prior to this, a Britis record, the ld he tion company y shot a film which was when the is took 12 Th .

90 in 13 days in 19 big achievea is is Th ly. days on u Ma zh ai pp iva me nt, " sa id Sh moorthy. director V Krishna to release on e du The film is 10 . Ho we ve r, Ja nu ar y 14 , 20 pr ob lem on me the re wa s so ssary certifireceiving the nece ion. let mp cates after its co

times a week and learn how to drive in Mumbai traffic, " Preity posted on her Twitter page.

"You all will see me doing a lot of movies this year! Please be patient and wait for announcements," she added.

Preity was last seen in full fledged roles in films like "Heaven On Earth" and "Heroes" apart from cameos in "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" and "Main Aur Mrs Khanna." This year, she is expected to be seen in Jahnu Barua's "Har Pal".

SRK, Priyanka bag top honours at Apsara Awards Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan bagged the best actor award for the movie “Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi” while Priyanka Chopra was adjudged best actress for “Kaminey” at the fifth Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards.

Murugadoss bagged the best director and best screenplay awards for “Ghajini,” which was also adjudged best film.

The Chevrolet Heartbeat of the Nation Award (Male) was bagged

by Shahid Kapoor for “Kaminey” and Dipika Padukone (Female) for “Love Aj Kal.” The other special award, Guinness World Record for the Most Public Appearances to Promote a Film went to Abhishek Bachchan. He travelled to seven cities in

12 hours to promote “Delhi-6.”

The outstanding debutant director award went to Ayan Mukherjee for “Wake up Sid,” the best singer female award was bagged by Shreya Ghoshal for “Tujh mein rab dikhta hai” from Rab Ne Bana..., and for best male singer to Mohit Chauhan for “Yeh dooriyan” (Love Aj Kal).

Imtiaz Ali bagged the best story award for “Love

Aj Kal.” The best performance in a comic role went to Ajay Devgn for “All The Best,” while best in negative role award went to Amol Gupte for “Kaminey.”

Pritam won the best music award for “Love Aj Kal,” while Jaideep Sahani won the award for best lyrics for “Rab Ne Bana Di...”

Amitabh Bachchan won the Best Lifetime Achievement award. He was there with his entire family at the venue - the Chitrakoot Grounds at Andheri.

Shah Rukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena performed on stage to some of their hit songs to entertain the crowds. The Guild jury, including Ravi Chopra, Ketan Desai, and Sajid Nadiadwala, had chosen the winners.

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

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21

BollyKats

An upset Genelia says she is not marrying Riteish

“I’m not getting married to anyone now,” says an upset Genelia D'Souza with rumours of her wedding with actor Riteish Deshmukh.

"To set the record straight, I am not getting married to anyone.

I have

always maintained that my personal life is not something I would like to discuss. But this time since it was something that would affect my family, I decided to take a stand, " said Genelia in a statement.

"My films and my brands are my priority as of now and I'd like to keep it that way. And if I do decide to settle down, you will hear it from me as and when it happens, " she added.

A tabloid had reported the

romance brewed between Genelia and Riteish on the sets of "Tujhe Meri Kasam" (2003) and that they are planning to get married this year.

"It's rather funny that we have to read about the progress in our lives in the press before we even know it ourselves. I wonder how news like that can be put out without any confirmation from the people whose lives are being discussed," she said.

Nandita Das moves to Mumbai after marriage

A musical, romance flick from the UTV Motion Pictures banner, Chance Pe Dance is the story of a highly talented, hard working guy who wants to make it big as an actor in films, his struggle and triumph.

Sameer is positive and brimming with energy, juggles various jobs to keep him afloat while pursuing his one dream to get a break on the big screen!

In his quest, Sameer has a lot of ups and down, hopes and disappointments. Not the one to be disillusioned and armed with a 'Never-Say-Die' attitude and dynamic talent; Sameer fights every hurdle that comes his way because achieving the biggest dream is never easy.

Nandita Das has finally made Mumbai her home following her marriage to environment entrepreneur Subodh Maskara. All these years she was refusing to shift out from Delhi.

Confirming the news, she sighs, “What I resisted doing for 13 long years has finally been done. I couldn’t imagine shifting to Mumbai for my career, but love did it.”

Subodh was introduced to Nandita by her friend Shahana Goswami (whom she directed last year in Firaq) and her boyfriend Milind Soman.

Katrina is ZOOM’s ‘Most Desirable Women’

In this challenging journey, he is helped by a beautiful and spirited choreographer Tina and eventually, Sameer realizes that sometimes life gives you that one chance.

Ronnie Screwvala is the producer of the film, while Ken Ghosh has directed it.

Shahid Kapur and Genelia D'Souza are the two main characters in the film that has music by Adnan Sami and Sandeep Shirodkar. The credits for lyrics are shared by Irfan Siddique, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Kumaar and Pritam Chakraborty.

Playback is rendered by Neeraj Shridhar, Salim Shahzada, Vishal Dadlani, Soham Chakraborty, Shreya Ghoshal, Kunal Ganjawala, Shaan and Tulsi Kumar.

New Hindi movie releasing this week 1. Chance Pe Dance 2. Idiot Box

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week No. Film

No. Last Week

1.

3 Idiots

1

Total weeks 2

2.

Paa

3

5

3.

Raat Gayi, Baat Gayi

New

1

4.

Bolo Raam

New

1

5.

Accident On Hill Road New

1

Katrina Kaif has won the most-vaunted hot list of the year 2009- the “ZOOM 50 Most Desirable People” of the year.

Priyanka Chopra, who won the ‘desirable’ title last year thanks to her gold swimsuit and her Fashion act, is now at No. 3. Kareena ranks No. 2 in the ‘D’ race this year, and the Bong beauty Bipasha ranks fourth, followed by Deepika, Lara Dutta and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

The ‘ZOOM – 50 Most Desirable’ poll is decided by an in-house jury, SMS polling, online voting and general popularity that year of the celebrity – based on Desirability Quotient for that calendar year. This is hot enough to scorch any man’s wildest imagination. It can’t get hotter than this, can it?

“Milind and Shahana kept urging me to meet Subodh.

But I’m the last person to believe in blind dates. But look at destiny, now I completely believe in instant love. When I was hesitant about meeting him, Subodh sent me a lovely e-mail. And I said, ‘Why not? Just have coffee with him?’ So we met.

And immediately I knew this was it.

Within five months of meeting him, I

knew I wanted to marry him. We became soul mates seamlessly,” she recalls.

Nandita and Subodh got married according to Ashram Vidhi rites on January 2 at Subodh’s residence in Worli, which is now their marital home.

“Only our parents – his parents and brother, my parents and my brother were there for the marriage. And of course, Shahana and Milind, who brought us together. We couldn’t possibly get married without them,” adds Nandita.

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INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Telugu TV channel in soup over YSR death story TV 5 report on involvement of industrialists Mukesh and Anil Ambani in chopper crash led to violence, attack on Reliance stores TV 5, a Telugu TV channel aired reports last week, alleging that Mukesh and Anil Ambani of Reliance were involved in a conspiracy behind death of former Andhra Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. The channel is in a soup now, as Hyderabad police has booked a case against them for provocation to

cause riot and sale or circulating defamatory matter.

There was violence in many parts of Andhra Pradesh, including capital Hyderabad after the channel aired a report that the Ambani duo had a hand in the chopper crash that killed YSR Reddly last year. Reliance stores were also attacked in the state

by people believed to be YSR supporters.

TV 5 report was believed to be “baseless and malicious”. A few other channels also aired the allegedly false new after TV 5 breaking it.

Director General of Police R.R. Girish Kumar told reporters that notices would also be issued to other TV channels also.

A series of suicides by studends rock Maharashtra 15 kill themselves in 10 days; govt. forms committee to hammer out a solultion Shocked by a series of suicides by students, the Maharashtra govt. last week formed a committee headed by the state education minister to suggest remedial measures.

15 students, most of them in their teens have ended their lives in last 10 days. In a majority of the cases, being unable to

handle the pressures of examinations was the primary reason for the students to take the extreme step.

Among the 15 killed till Sunday, 10th January were 11 girls and 4 boys.

With these five deaths, the number of students committing suicide in the past 10 days has gone up

to 15. The victims include 11 girls and 4 boys, mostly in their teens.

Worried by the spate of students ending their lives, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan Sunday night announced a committee headed by the education minister to look into the matter and suggest remedial measures.

UP lawyer, family face threat to life from police Vikas Shakya instrumental in getting lifer to 13 cops for killing two in a fake shootout 13 policemen in UP’s Sonbhadra town had killed two innocent men from Jharkhand in a bizarre fake shootout in 2003. The prosecution lawyer Vikas Shakya, instrumental in getting a life imprisonment sentence for the killer cops last week has been threatened by aides of the culprits, including some other policemen that they will kill the lawyer and his family.

The lawyer has been

forced to bring the matter to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Ms. Mayawati and state police chief Karamveer Singh, asking protection for himself and his family. Vikas told reporters that the aides of the culprit cops barged into his home, attacked his family members and have threatened to kill them.

Prabhat Kumar Srivastava and Rama Shankar Sahu of Jharkhand had come to

Sonbhadra in September, 2003 to meet their relatives. “Both had alighted at Sonbhadra railway station, where policemen from the Pipri police station picked them up, branded them criminals and later killed them,” Shakya said.

In 2006, a case was registered against 16 policemen -- four subinspectors and 12 constables. Of these, two never turned up for trial and were declared absconders.

Former Haryana top cop now faces CBI probe All Ruchika cases handed over to the central agency Following the request by the state government, CBI has now taken over the cases against former Haryana top cop SPS Rathore in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation and suicide incidents.

Rathore was held guilty of molesting Ruchika in 1990. Now, he faces charges of abetment of suicide, framing Ruchika’s brother in false case and sending him into prison and also tampering with documents relating to the girl’s post mortem.

One of the lower courts has already turned down his anticipatory bail plea, while Rathore has filed applied afresh for

anticipatory bail in the fresh cases. Chandigarh administration conducted an inquiry against the school where Ruchika was studying and has found that the school, under pressure or influence of Rathore had expelled the girl unfairly.

Rathore has already been sentenced to six months in prison after he was found guilty of molesting the teenager school girl. He is also to appeal against this verdict.

Ruchika had filed a complaint against Rathore, but nothing moved for three years. In frustration, she committed suicide after that.

Ruchika's case has angered India legal experts there.

Many believe it symbolizes the difficulty an average Indian faces in winning justice especially when they are fighting against a powerful and influential opponent.

Four different state governments gave promotions to Rathore and also honoured him with medals despite the fact that he was facing molestation charges. He retired as the top police official of Haryana in 2002. Recently, the Haryana government and the Union government also decided to strip Rathore of the medals.

In divine light

BY RAJEN VAKIL

Karna – our noble ego The story of the warrior Karna appears full of sorrow and misfortune. On the path of spirituality, we are concerned with identifying the Karna within our psychic nature; observing and studying this multifaceted character so that our consciousness is slowly freed from his bondage.

The life of Karna is rich with events and incidents making it possible for us to study it in our lower psychic nature.

Karna was born out of Kunti’s curiosity. On giving birth to him, she left him adrift in the waters of the river Ganga. In life, we do many things out of curiosity and then leave them adrift, moving on to different tasks; many people practice one type of yoga today and move on to practice something else tomorrow. In doing so, they feel they have done a lot, but really done nothing. Karna symbolises this pattern of curiosity present in all of us. Real practice means to keep on doing the same routine everyday but with a fresh attitude, only then can we achieve our aim.

Karna means ear.

Whenever we hear that someone has said something about us, our two ears stand on end and the inner ego immediately sits upright. If we see two people whispering and laughing in a corner, we always feel they are talking about us. Further, most of our knowledge is just information or heard knowledge, which we misuse in logical arguments and justify this by calling it rational thinking. Something in us loves to argue, especially with borrowed knowledge from books and magazines, etc. It is not our own understanding and hence, does not help us in the time of need.

Karna, too, could not remember the mantras to invoke the divine weapons when he needed them in the thick of battle.

Karna’s father was Surya or the Sun, but he was brought up in the house of a charioteer.

This symbolises that the energy came from a higher source but was reared

in a lower one. The energy of the sun flowing through us is the energy by which the five senses work. Jesus calls this energy the light of the body. This energy can follow in two routes.

The first is that of excitement, leading to more

and kundala (earrings).

In life we praise and honour such a person, but on the spiritual path it just strengthens the ego of the donor which in all of us is so subtle and noble-like, it becomes very difficult to dissolve.

Karna’s death is very significant. The wheel of his chariot gets stuck in the wet ground and he

and more indulgence.

Indulgence destroys the power of the senses to enjoy and we keep looking for something new to bring some excitement in our live. This urge to derive sensual pleasure from every action is one of our deepest habits and binds us to a sentient existence where we are ruled by desire for sensuous pleasure or become Angaraj, another name for Karna. We waste the highest energy of the sun into lower animal-like satisfaction.

The other is the path of sensitivity. Here, we free our senses from becoming slaves of excitement and enjoy whatever we are doing by going deep into the sensitivity of it. We never get bored, for every time we repeat the old sequence, it has a new feeling which is independent of excitement. In excitement, we get bored seeing the same partner everyday. In sensitivity, even though we see the same partner we see something new in him or her everyday.

Another name for Karna was Vaikartan or the one born of suggestibility. We are all victims of suggestibility in one form or another. It could be something which brings pleasure or comfort, money, power, or most important fame.

Karna was known to be a great donor or dani. He was hypnotised by his fame as a donor and gave away even his most cherished possessions, such as his kavacha (armour)

leaves his chariot, trying to get the wheel free. It is at this moment (when he is unarmed), that Sri Krishna incites Arjuna to kill him. The subtle ego within us cannot be killed when it is in its own space (chariot). It has to dismount. A person who keeps on using logical arguments cannot be defeated. When working with this aspect of the ego within us called Karna, we have to disarm it first. The wet ground signifies emotions, so the logical minded must first leave the chariot of logic and move to emotion.

Here, he has no weapons and can be killed easily.

Karna is known for his friendship with Duryodhana, which represents our self-love; the one that loves to hear its own name and sing its own song. It is never happier then when arguing about how good it is. So self-love and the capacity to support it through arguing are always the best of friends.

First, we must free our selves of unnecessary logical arguing and self justification. Then, we can finally kill the selflove within us. That is why Karna must die before Duryodhana.

Once we have freed love from self, then what remains is the pure energy of love; Love is God. (Illustrations by Siddharth Ramanuj.

Edited by Chintu Gandhi.)

The author can be reached by emailing 3srb@live.com

Surat has a ‘Pakistan’ within the city It is something surprising for many, but not for the Surtis. A part of the locality known as Ramnagar was named as “Pakistan” 60 years ago.

It is a settlement of Sindhis who had migrated

from Pakistan at the time of Independence.

The interesting part of the story is that the name of this Sindhi cluster is also on recorded as “Pakistan” in the municipal corporation

records.

Further, neither the Sindhi settlers nor the locals have any complains against each other. They are happy neighbours. It is one of the most peaceful areas of the city.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

23

No ‘bikini babes’ for Big B ready to be Gujarat’s brand ambassador Goa advertisements Fighting against the slur of turning into a sextourism destination, the Goa tourism department has decided to censor all advertisements showing 'bikini babes'.

"Goa is a family holiday destination and not sex tourism destination.

We will make sure that bikini babes do not symbolise Goa tourism in future," state tourism minister Fransisco Pacheco said.

He said the tourism department would ask all empanelled advertisement agencies to desist from using scantily-clad women in their campaigns.

"The department has already stopped such ads but I will make sure that henceforth all advertisements are scrutinised by the department before being sent for printing," Pacheco said.

The tourism minister expressed concern over the recent incidents of rape in the state which, he said, had given a bad name to Goa, one of the most favoured tourist destinations for both Indian and foreign tourists.

Pacheco said that he would also ask all tour operators, including private players, to follow the guidelines on advertisements to help improve the

Attracting Buddhist pilgrims is a goal for Gujarat After being ignored for more than 50 years since its excavation, the stone casket containing the mortal remains of Lord Gautam Buddha would become the mascot for the state government, which now wants to popularise Gujarat as a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination. The remains were excavated from Dev Ni Mori Buddhist stupas by archaeologist B Subbarao.

A three-day international seminar on Buddhist heritage would be held in MS University campus, Vadodara from January 15.

The event would see several Buddhist scholars from all around the world including, 1,500 religious preachers, academicians and His Holiness Dalai Lama converge at varsity.

South East Asian countries, certain European and South American countries which have over the last few years shown interest in investments in the state would be the prime focus.

These include Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Germany, USA, Canada, and Bangladesh.

Several religious and political leaders would be in Vadodara at the inaugural session of the international seminar.

state's image.

Stating that foreigners sunbathing on the beaches in bikini should not be misconstrued as promoting sex tourism, he said, "Can you ask someone to be fully dressed and take a bath? Naturally, they will venture into the sea in bikini and later soak in the sun."

Amitabh Bachchan offered to become brand ambassador for Gujarat, as he was impressed by the development of the state and expressed his wish that he would like to come here again and again.

Big B said he would like to lend his voice and face to promote tourism and other developmental activities in Gujarat.

A special screening of

Big B’s film ‘Paa’ was last week held for Gujarat ministers and other dignitaries.

Amitabh attended the screening and paid a courtesy call to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi said the state government would take an initiative soon in preparing special documentaries with Mr. Bachchan to promote the State’s progress in various fields.

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Saturday 16th January 2010 - Asian Voice

Rosaiah asks Centre to find lasting solution for Telangana Unlike his predecessor Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who took a tough line against separate Telangana, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah has no personal view on the bifurcation of his state and would like the Centre to find a lasting solution not a temporary truce. He says he will accept whatever the Central government decides and that it is the responsibility of the Central government to find a lasting solution to the current political turmoil in the state. 77-year-old Konijeti Rosaiah has been moving from crisis to crisis ever since he assumed chief ministership of Andhra Pradesh after Reddy was killed in a helicopter crash on September 2 last year.

China has usurped Indian land in Ladakh Government of India’s denials apart, various officials have now confirmed that China has slowly creeped in and usurped huge tracts of land in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir, India. This process though has happened at a very slow pace over a period of almost two decades.

At a recent government meeting attended by officials from the Jammu and Kashmir government, union ministry of home affairs and the Army, there was consensus that there was difference in the maps of various agencies of the LAC and that there was a lack of proper mapping of the area, said an agency report.

The report said offi-

cials at the meeting agreed that India is “withdrawing from LAC” and that though the process was slow, the country, it was pointed out, “had lost substantial amount of land in 20-25 years” to China.

According to the minutes of the meeting held in December, “there is a lack of institutional memory in various agencies as well as clear policy on this issue which in the long run has resulted in loss of territory

by India in favour of China”.

The meeting was convened to discuss protection for nomads who were having problems with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The nomads, who move with

their cattle to Dokbug area of Nyoma sector during the winter months every year, were threatened by the PLA, which damaged their tents and asked them to vacate the land.

“They (Chinese) have threatened the nomadic people who had been using Dokbug area (in Ladakh sector) for grazing since decades long, in a way to snatch our land in inches. A Chinese proverb is famous in the world - better do in inches than in yards,” said a report filed by former Sub-Divisional Magistrate (Nyoma) Tsering Norboo, who was assigned to probe complaints of incursion by the PLA. Mr Norboo concluded

21 Indians detained in China for alleged diamond smuggling India on Tuesday sought consular access to its nationals, reportedly arrested by China for alleged diamond smuggling. Media reports suggested that some 21 Indians were detained in the Shenzhen region of China for alleged diamond smuggling from Hong Kong.

According to reports reaching New Delhi, the detentions were made on Friday last and the Chinese authorities are likely to file charges soon, reports quoting unknown sources added.

Indian embassy in Beijing immediately took up the matter with the

Chinese government and sought consular access to them. India’s foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said a report has been sought from the embassy in Beijing.

"I am aware that some Indians have been taken into custody by the Chinese authorities in Shenzhen. I have asked our ambassador in Beijing for factual report on this matter," she said.

Rao said Ambassador S Jaishankar "is in touch with the Indian consular general in Guangzhou, which covers Shenzhen and we are awaiting the full facts from the Ambassador."

Chinese media claim that the diamond smuggling racket was busted by Shenzhen custom's officials.

The ring is said to have sourced diamonds in Hong Kong and hired Indians and local carriers to smuggle them into Shenzhen before distributing them to factories, which, in turn, sold them on the open market.

The incident comes at a time when three Chinese engineers were arrested in Korba town in Chhattisgarh on Monday for chimney crash in the Balco plant in which 41 workers were killed in September last year.

that this was another attempt by the Chinese to claim disputed territory.

The area of Dokbug and Doley Tango was frequented by shepherds and nomads from December to March every year.

The government has so far publicly shrugged off Chinese incursions with the ministry of external affairs maintaining that these were misunderstandings that occurred due to the difference in perception between China and India on the border.

External affairs minister S M Krishna had recently pointed out that India shared a long border with China and that he was hopeful of amicably settling the border dispute through dialogue.

Gowda abuses Karnataka CM; BJP threatens to file suit Former Indian prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader H D Deve Gowda on Monday faced the ire of the BJP for calling Karnataka CM B S Yeddyurappa a “bloody bastard” with the party going on the offensive threatening to file a suit against him.

BJP central leadership and its Karnataka unit demanded an unconditional apology from Gowda but the JD (S) supremo said in New Delhi he has already withdrawn the provocative words on Sunday itself and expressed regret after admitting he had used them to attack the chief minister.

Manmohan promises early voting rights for Overseas Indians Continued from page 1 India’s Road Transport and Highways minister Kamal Nath exhorted the overseas the Overseas Indians to contribute to the development of infrastructure in India, as he mooted special Infrastructure Bonds for NRIs in various currencies.

Addressing the conclave, Dr. Manmohan Singh said, “I recognise the legitimate desire of Indians living abroad to exercise their franchise and to have a say in who governs India.” We are working on this issue and I sincerely hope that they will get a chance to vote by the time of the next regular general elections.”

Approximately 1,500 delegates from 50-plus

countries attended the conclave.

Infrastructure Bonds Road Transport and Highways Minister Kamal Nath pitched for infrastructure bonds in different currencies, specially suited to NRIs, for raising resources for building roads in India.

“I would request the Finance Minister (Pranab Mukherjee) to look at issuance of infrastructure bonds in different currencies and denominations specifically for people of Indian origin and NRIs. Let the Finance Minister examine this issue, we will come out with something for the NRIs and PIOs (Person of India Origin),” he said, stressing that “India is not only a stable, its a very attractive investment des-

tination.”

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman President Pratibha Patil Saturday conferred the prestigious Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award to 14 distinguished members of the Indian diaspora for their achievements in life and contribution to the welfare of the Indian community and enhancing India's image overseas.

A list of those honoured is: Pravin Jamnadas Gordhan, Finance Minister of South Africa; Mohinder Singh Bhullar, a successful businessman in Brunei Darussalam; Yanktesh Piramal Reddy, an Indian origin businessman in Fiji; Ryuko Hira, a successful Indian entrepreneur in Japan; Dr. Ruby Umesh Pawankar, a medical practitioner in

Japan; Suresh Kumar Virmani, a successful engineer, entrepreneur and businessman in Oman; Tholisah Perumal Naidoo, a publisher, journalist and founder of the Indian Academy of South Africa; Rajni Kanabar, a philanthropist from Tanzania; Deepak Mittal, an industrialist and financial expert in Thailand; Lenny Krishendath Saith, a minister in the Prime Minister's Office in Trinidad & Tobago; Dr. Azad Moopen, a physician turned entrepreneur in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries; Mani Lal Bhaumik, a scientist, author, educator and philanthropist in the USA and Ashok Kumar Mago, chairman of the IndoAmerican Political Forum in Dallas, USA.

India, Bangladesh to sign security, power pacts Sheikh Hasina given a warm welcome on her four-day official visit India on Monday gave a warm welcome to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as she began the official leg of her fourday visit during which the two neighbours will sign five agreements, including three Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (R) talks with her Indian security related counterpart Manmohan Singh and pacts.

President Pratibha Patil Sheikh Hasina, issues relating to connecwho is visiting India for tivity, trade and SAARC. the first time after assumIndian Prime Minister ing power last year, was Manmohan Singh later accorded a ceremonial held discussions with the welcome at the Bangladesh leader. The Rashtrapati Bhavan in the two sides are set to usher morning. The Bangladesh in a new chapter in their leader later called on bilateral ties by signing President Pratibha Patil five pacts in areas ranging and discussed a host of from security to power bilateral and regional and culture after the talks. issues. India’s external Mr. Singh later hosted affairs Minister S.M. a state banquet in her Krishna also met Ms. honour.

Hasina and discussed

J-K govt declares 2010 as ‘visit Kashmir’ year After fall in militancy, Jammu and Kashmir government has declared 2010 as "Visit Kashmir" year to attract domestic and foreign tourists to the state.

"We have declared 2010 as 'Visit Kashmir' year for the domestic and international tourists. We hope this would be the best year to record the arrival of largest number of tourists," Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora said.

Unveiling the road map of tourism in Jammu and Kashmir in the New Year, Jora said, "We are positive that it would be our best year and hope that violence will touch zero."

The state has recorded a fall in militancy as terror violence was lowest last

year in the past two decades. There were no suicide attacks. Civilian killings had come down to just 72 and militancy related incidents to 470.

To attract more and more tourists, state tourism department will hold road shows, Kashmiri festivals and participate in all tourism and trade marts, Jora said. Last year, 82 lakh pilgrims visited cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi, 8 lakh pilgrims visited Shiv Khori, 4,75,050 tourists, including 23,636 foreigners, visited Kashmir valley, near 4 lakh pilgrims visited Amarnath cave shrine and 78,573 tourists, including 41 thousand foreigners, visited Ladakh region.

Rajapaksa woos Tamil voters with a $4 bn rehab package

Continued from page 1 The Sri Lankan President is seeking a second term for himself. He is facing some real challenge from retired army general, Sarath Fonseka.

He was at the helm of the Sri Lankan army, instrumental in wiping out the LTTE last year.

Announcing the rehabilitation package, Rajapaksa said ‘the end of the war does not mean the end of the conflict’ and asserted, "we need to politically address the needs of the Tamils".

It may be noted that Tamils have long been

demanding genuine devolution of power and regional autonomy. Of the 20 million population of Sri Lanka, Tamils constitute about 13 per cent.

Addressing foreign media at a breakfast meet, Rajapaksa said the package would include rebuilding roads, electricity, irrigation projects and Railway lines in Northern Sri Lanka.

India, China, Asian Develoopment Bank and the World Bank would be helping Sri Lanka with funds in the rehabilitation process that is likely to take a few years.

25

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

US Prez Obama's approval rating drops to a new low Washington: The approval rating of US President Barack Obama has dropped down to a new low of 46 per cent, according to a latest national opinion poll. The CBS News in its latest opinion poll said only 46 per cent of the people now approve, and 41 per cent now say they disapprove Obama's performance as the US president. In last month's CBS News poll, 50 per cent of Americans had approved of how the president was handling his job, while 39 per cent disapproved, the news channel said, adding domestic issues appears to be driving down his popularity.

Lankan Tamils back Fonseka in presidential poll Colombo: The sympathizers of Tamil Tigers unanimously backed the general who crushed the separatists in May, saying it was the only way to thwart incumbent Mahinda Rajapaksa's re-election in the presidential election.

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA), a group of ethnic Tamil parties that took orders from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said Rajapaksa's record on human rights and law and order made defeating him a priority.

TNA parliamentary group leader R Sampanthan told a news conference that eventhough they had some reservations about sup-

Sarath Fonseka

porting General Sarath Fonseka, who won few fans among Tamils during the war.

"The majority ... are of the view that the only meaningful way in which the desire of President

US dismisses N Korean call for peace treaty Seoul: North Korea proposed Monday signing a peace treaty this year to formally end the Korean War, a suggestion that Washington quickly dismissed.

In a move seen as an attempt to bolster its negotiating position, the isolated communist regime said a return to negotiations on its nuclear weapons program depends on better relations with Washington and the lifting of sanctions.

However, US State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told reporters on Monday that peace treaty talks would only be discussed once North Korea comes back to sixnation nuclear talks and takes steps on abandoning its nuclear programs.

As for dropping sanctions, Crowley said,

“We're not going to pay North Korea to come back to the six-party process.''

He urged North Korea to “say yes'' to returning to the talks “and then we can begin to march down the list of issues that we have.''

North Korea has long demanded a peace treaty, but the prospects seem dim with South Korea suspicious that its rival is using the issue as a distraction and a US official saying on Monday that the authoritarian North must improve its human rights record before any normalization of ties.

Washington and Pyongyang have never had diplomatic relations because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty, thus leaving the peninsula technically at war.

Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek a mandate for a further term may be thwarted is by voting for joint opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka," Sampanthan said.

Rajapaksa's human rights record was "dismal", he said.

"Extra-judicial killings and enforced disappearances have been common, and the worst-affected are Tamil people. Corruption is rampant, and consequently the rule of law and good governance have reached the nadir," Sampanthan said.

The TNA's support for Fonseka is a reversal.

During the war Fonseka, a career military officer and member of the Sinhalese

Kan becomes Japan’s new finance minister Tokyo: Japanese deputy prime minister Naoto Kan has become the new finance minister, succeeding Hirohisa Fujii who has resigned due to health problems last week.

Yoshito Sengoku, administrative reform minister, took on Kan's previous portfolio of National Strategy Minister.

Fujii, 77, was admitted to hospital for tests last week and later said he was worn out by wrangling over finalizing Japan's budget. One of the few experienced members of the novice Democratic Party-led government, Fujii has often served as the voice of fiscal restraint. He was the main proponent of sticking to a cap of around 44 trillion yen (FX) on new bond issuance in the budget for the year starting April 1.

40,000 Indians ‘missing’ in Malaysia Putrajaya (Malaysia): Nearly 40,000 Indians, mostly from Tamil Nadu are ‘missing’ in Malaysia after the expiry of their tourist visas, Malaysian Premier Mohd Najib Tun Razak said on Monday amid indication that he may take up the issue with New Delhi during his forthcoming visit to India.

“Almost 3,9046 are missing. Thankfully they have not become terrorists. They are here for economic reasons,” he said, adding that ‘their names are not in official records.’

“They may have gone back to India or working here in restaurants or plantations,” Najib told visiting Indian journalists here. Most of the missing Indians in Malaysia

belong to Tamil Nadu.

Najib is planning to take the issue of visa on arrival. He also indicated that visa on arrival services could again be restarted from metros like Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi but not from Chennai due to problem of over stayers from the city.

“I will probably mention it during my visit to Chennai. It is not a government issue. People decide on their own. We would like them to visit Malaysia but the problematic area is Chennai.”

“We want Indian people to visit Malaysia as tourists. We have been quiet liberal. We want genuine ones. They are most welcome,” Najib, who leaves for a three day official visit to India on

January 19, said. He cited it as a reason why immigration was not keen on visa on arrival from there.

“We have been quite liberal in allowing people from India into the country and we have even allowed barbers from India and we have gone to that extent,” he said.

Najib who is embarking on a five-day India visit will discuss the issue with the New Delhi. He will hold bilateral talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on January 20. He plans to extend an invitation to Singh to visit Malaysia, the Premier said. On possible cooperation on civil nuclear energy, he said as far as Malaysia is concerned nuclear energy is a last option.

ethnic majority, was often painted by pro-rebel groups as emblematic of the Sinhalese chauvinism that sparked the Tamil discontent that fueled the LTTE's fight.

As army commander he conducted an uncompromising war to defeat the LTTE, kill its leaders and end their quarter-century civil war for a separate Tamil state.

But since he fell out with the president over a postwar promotion to what he deemed a job with no powers, he has softened his uncompromising image and become the candidate for a motley coalition of parties that only wants to beat Rajapaksa.

Prabhakaran’s gun, body armour found Colombo: Sri Lanka last week claimed to have found the slain Tamil Tiger chief Vellupilai Prabhakaran's personal gun and body armour, seven months after overrunning the last LTTE bastion in the decisive battle at Nanthaikadal lagoon off the northern coast.

The arms used by Prabhakaran were found buried 15 feet under the ground at Vellamulliwaikkal area in Mulaittivu along with scores of suicide kits and several anti-aircraft guns.

Senior DIG for Vavuniya Nimal Lewke

confirmed that the weapon a M-16A2 with a grenade launcher that was found was used by the LTTE leader as his personal weapon, local media reports said.

Prabhakaran was killed

by Lankan Army at Nanthikadal lagoon in Mullaitivu on May 18 last year.

The gun had been found buried with his body armour and as many as 125 suicide kits, 50 mortar bombs, 25 anti-aircraft guns.

Lankan security authorities continue to scour the northern countryside for weapons of the LTTE.

Fewer people declare themselves as Hindus in US New York: The number of people declaring themselves as Hindus in US has dropped by nearly a quarter since 2001.

According to data released by the US Census Bureau, in 2001, the number was 7,66,000, up from 2,27,000 in 1990. But in 2008, it dipped to 5,82,000. Among all the major religions surveyed, Hindus and Jews were the only groups showing a decline. What makes the data puzzling is that the number of Indians getting residency in the US has

risen sharply - from 3,83,000 between 1991 and 2000 to 4,72,000 between 2001 and 2007.

The US Constitution prohibits the Census Bureau from surveying religion and the data in its annual abstract is derived from the American Religious Identification Survey 2008, conducted by Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut. With more than 54,000 respondents, this is the largest religionbased survey in the US. Dr Ariela Keysar, principal investigators of the

survey, said: "When we asked them, 'What is your religion, if any?' they chose 'None'. They may perceive it as a culture, not necessarily as a religion."

Hinduism Today estimated that the number of Hindus in the country rose from 11,00,000 in 1997 to 22,90,000 in 2009. In its 2008 study, the Washington-based Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life said Hindus form about 0.4 per cent of the US population.

Indian-American Rajiv Shah takes over as USAID chief Washington: The 36-year old Indian-American Rajiv Shah has taken over as the head of USAID last week.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Rajiv Shah about the pitfalls in Washington DC even as she swore him in as the Obama administration’s USAID chief, a high profile and lately controversial job that involves overseeing disbursal of nearly $ 40 billion US foreign aid program.

Describing Shah, who worked with the Gates Foundation till 2008 as a "passionate, visionary, experienced development expert," Clinton joked, "This is also a man who summated the 14,400-foot Mount Rainier, one of the most difficult climbs in the continental United States.

It combines the challenges of an unforgiving glacier with the unpredictability of an active volcano. That may be the best preparation Raj has for working in Washington these days."

Rajiv Shah

The remark was an oblique reference to the continued struggle and controversy in the capital over the role of USAID, which is technically a statutory independent federal agency but works under the State Department. The position of the administrator had also been kept vacant for months as lawmakers (who have to confirm the candidate) and the administration wrangled over nominees before settling

on Shah last November.

Clinton herself disclosed the administration’s exertions to find the right candidate, recalling that when she phoned to ask Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack (with whom Shah worked as Under Secretary before being picked for the new job) if he would mind her nominating Shah to be the USAID Administrator, "there was this long silence on the other end" before he "gave us, if not his blessing, his understanding."

In fact, Shah’s pitfalls won’t be just domestic but also international. One of his biggest portfolios - and headaches - will be Pakistan, recipient of billions in US aid, where public and political discourse is not only infected with rabid outbursts and paranoia about "Indian influence" in the United States, but also vicious propaganda against Washington.

26

Saturday 16th January 2010 - Asian Voice

US honours Mother Teresa, Hepburn with stamps Washington: Nobel Prize winner Mother Teresa and Oscar-winning actress Katharine Hepburn will be honoured on U.S. postage stamps this year. Joining them will be singing cowboy Gene Autry, artist Winslow Homer and Adm. Arleigh Burke. Other new stamps will honour the Negro baseball leagues and the Hawaiian rain forest, the Postal Service announced last week. The US post office releases a series of commemorative stamps every year, honouring people, places and institutions. These stamps remain on sale for a limited period and are widely collected.

Africa Focus 20 killed in Somali violence Mogadishu: At least 20 people were killed and more than 40 others were wounded when African Union peacekeeping forces and Islamist insurgents exchanged heavy fire in Mogadishu last week, officials said. Most of the victims were civilians, Xinhua reported citing emergency officials. The fighting started in the northern part of the Somali capital after militants detonated a bomb targeting the Somali Army chief. He survived the attack. The Somali government and Islamist insurgents are locked in a bitter battle over the control of Mogadishu.

Kenya deports Muslim cleric for preaching hatred Nairobi: Kenya has deported a Jamaican-born Muslim cleric notorious for preaching racial hatred to The Gambia, Kenya's immigration minister said.

Abdullah al-Faisal was arrested last week and there have been conflicting reports about his whereabouts. "We had problems deporting him because many countries, including the US, declined to have him even on transit," the minister, Otieno Kajwang, said. Mr Kajwang said Faisal was being expelled for his "terrorist history". The cleric has served four years in a UK prison after being convicted of soliciting the murder of Jews and Hindus. "He chose Gambia and we have deported him there this morning," Mr Kajwang told reporters.

Nigeria issues ultimatum to US over terror watchlist Abuja: Nigerian Senate has given the Obama administration a one-week ultimatum to remove the country's name from a terror screening list or face a possible diplomatic row. The West African country was blacklisted by the US as a country whose citizens would receive additional searching while passing through American airports. Senate's spokesperson Anyaogu Eze has said it would take "appropriate action" if the US failed to remove the country's name from the watchlist. He said the "obvious flaws" by the US security system led to the failed attack and accused the American security agents of incompetence and irresponsibility.

Nigerian president breaks silence, says he is recovering Abuja: Nigeria's president who was admitted to a Saudi Arabia hospital seven weeks ago for heart ailment, finally broke his silence and said that he was recovering and hoped to return home soon.

Speculation over President Umaru Yar'Adua's health and the fact he kept full powers despite his silence had brought growing unease in the country of 140 million, slowed official business and put at risk a truce in the oil-producing Niger Delta. His comments came hours before a group of religious leaders and politicians was due to hold a rally in Abuja to demand the government end uncertainty threatening the worst political crisis since army rule ended more than a decade ago.

Religion-based politics banned in Bangladesh Dhaka: All religion-based political parties in Bangladesh will be forced to drop Islam from their names and stop the use of faith while electioneering, following an apex court order, which would facilitate "automatic restoration" of the word secularism in the constitution.

The supreme court upheld a 2005 ruling by

the high court throwing out the fifth amendment of the constitution, which had allowed religion-based politics to flourish in the country during the last three decades.

Following the apex court order, dozens of Islamic political parties must drop Islam from their name and stop using religion during their elec-

tion campaigns, Law Minister Shafique Ahmed said.

His comments came as Bangladeshi newspapers speculated about the fate of "religion-based" political parties after the apex court earlier this week withdrew a stay on the high court verdict declaring illegal the fifth amendment to the constitution.

The amendment was carried out during late president Ziaur Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) government in 1979 and allowed the religion-based political parties and added the Arabic "Bismillah-ArRahman-Ar-Rahim" or in the name of God, the most merciful, benevolent in the preamble.

Another Indian attacked, set on fire in Melbourne Melbourne: The attacks on Indians continued unabated in Australia. In the latest case, an Indian youth was allegedly attacked and set on fire by four men while he was parking his car in the northwestern part of the city in the early hours of Saturday. The attack comes a week after an Indian youth was fatally stabbed in this city.

The 29-year-old was taken to hospital with 15 per cent burns and was said to be in a serious condition, The Age newspaper reported.

According to police, the man had dropped his wife at home and gone to park

Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivor dies at 93 Tokyo: Tsutomu Yamaguchi, who witnessed the nuclear devastation of two Japanese cities, and lived to tell the tale has now left to others to narrate his story for he is no more. He died last week at the age of 93.

Mr Yamaguchi, the only person officially recognised as a survivor of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, died of stomach cancer at a hospital in Nagasaki, his family said.

The mayor of Nagasaki said “a precious storyteller has been lost”.

Mr Yamaguchi, then an engineer for the shipbuilder Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, was in Hiroshima and later in Nagasaki when US planes dropped bombs in boths of the places.

Nitin Garg

his car after a dinner party when he was attacked in Grice Crescent.

As the man was getting out of the car, four men attacked him, pushing him back against the vehicle and pouring an unidentified fluid on him, police said. One of the men then ignited the fluid with a

lighter and all four fled, police said. The victim reportedly ran from the car while peeling off his clothes. He suffered burns to his arms, chest and face, the daily said.

The latest attack comes a week after 21year-old Indian graduate Nitin Garg was stabbed to death in a Yarraville park on Jan 2. He staggered to Hungry Jack's restaurant where he worked - and pleaded for help before collapsing. He was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital where he died.

Indian beaten up by mob in Sydney Yet another Indian has been attacked in Australia,

this time in Sydney.

The victim is a 28year-old man who was at a beach in Sydney when he was reportedly attacked by a group of Australian-born boys and girls. Other people in the beach allegedly did not help him. He called the police himself who took 40 minutes to reach him. The attackers reportedly admitted that they had punched and kicked the Indian, who is a permanent resident of Australia and has lived there for 11 years. The victim is being taken for an internal medical check-up and x-rays. He complains of extreme pain in his back, neck and head.

Malaysian churches torched in Allah dispute Kuala Lumpur: Firebombs were thrown at three more churches in Malaysia on Sunday and another was splashed with black paint, the latest in a series of assaults on Christian houses of worship following a court decision allowing nonMuslims to use “Allah” to refer to God. The Malaysian government, meanwhile, has obtained a stay of execution from the high court Justice Lau Bee Lan on her ruling allowing Catholic newspaper The Herald to use the word Allah.

Despite the attacks, thousands of Christians nationwide attended Sunday services and prayed for national unity and an end to the violence. The unprecedented attacks have set off a wave of disquiet among

Malaysia’s Four churchm i n o r i t y es were hit by Christians and gasoline bombs strained their on Friday and ties with the Saturday. No one majority Malay was hurt and all Muslims. suffered little About 9% damage, except of Malaysia’s the Metro 28 million peoTa b e r n a c l e ple are C h u r c h .

Christian, most The torched Metro P a r i s h i o n e r s Tabernacle church of whom are there moved in Kuala Lumpur ethnic Chinese services after fire or Indian. Muslims make gutted the first floor. The up 60% of the population other churches held reguand most of them are ethlar services on Sunday. nic Malays. Religious On Sunday, people minorities have often from the Metro complained about what Tabernacle parish assemthey say is institutionalbled in the 1,800-seat ized religious discriminameeting hall of the tion here.

Malaysian Chinese “The situation is Association party for the under control and the service. Leaders and many Muslims have conpeople should not be wordemned the firebombings, ried,” home minister Hishammuddin Hussein saying it is un-Islamic to was quoted as saying. attack places of worship.

24 million Chinese men face lonely future Most of the country's men of marrying age could find themselves without spouses by 2020, says a govt study Beijing: More than 24 million Chinese men of marrying age could find themselves without spouses in 2020, state media reported on Monday, citing a study that blamed sex-specific abortions as a major factor.

The study, by the government-backed Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, named the gender imbalance among new-

borns as the most serious demographic problem for the country's population of 1.3 billion, the Global Times said.

"Sex-specific abortions remained extremely commonplace, especially in rural areas," where the cultural preference for boys over girls is strongest, the study said, while noting the reasons for the gender

imbalance were "complex."

Researcher Wang Guangzhou said the skewed birth ratio could lead to difficulties for men with lower incomes in finding spouses, as well as a widening age gap between partners, according to the Global Times.

Another researcher quoted by the newspaper, Wang Yuesheng, said men

in poorer parts of China would be forced to accept marriages late in life or remain single for life, which could "cause a break in family lines."

"The chance of getting married will be rare if a man is more than 40 years old in the countryside.

They will be more dependent on social security as they age and have fewer

household resources to rely on," Wang said. The study said the key contributing factors to the phenomenon included the nation's family-planning policy, which restricts the number of children citizens may have, as well as an insufficient social security system.

The situation influenced people to seek male

offspring, who are preferred for their greater earning potential as adults and thus their ability to care for their elderly parents. The Global Times said abductions and trafficking of women were "rampant" in areas with excess numbers of men, citing the National Population and Family Planning Commission.

27

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Zardari ready for ‘1,000-year ideological war’ with India Islamabad: Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari has said that Pakistan is ready to wage a thousandyear war with India over the Kashmir dispute. The Daily Times quoted Zardari as saying that this was a war of ideologies and would last for generations. Addressing a joint session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Assembly and the Kashmir Council, Zardari said democratic governments had played a key role in moving forward on the Kashmir dispute. President Zardari said regional peace was inextricably linked to the settlement of the decades-old dispute over Kashmir.

Army gets additional Rs 35 bn to counter India Islamabad: The Pakistan government allocated an additional amount of Rs 35 billion for the 2009-10 defence budget due to expenses on anti-militancy operations and the need to acquire modern equipment to counter a perceived threat from India, according to a media report.

Following the additional allocation,

Pakistan's defence budget will increase to about Rs 378 billion.

In June, Pakistan hiked its defence spending for 2009-10 to Rs 342.9 billion, marking a 15.3% increase over the outlay of Rs 296 billion for the previous fiscal.

Pakistan president Asif Ali Zardari and prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani approved the addi-

tional outlay following demands from army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani and Gen Tariq Majid, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Dawn News channel quoted sources as saying.

The military told the government that the additional amount is needed for expenses on operations against the Taliban in

Gilani seeks review of new US rules to screen its travellers Islamabad: Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has asked the US to review new rules introduced by it to screen air travellers from Pakistan, warning that the "discriminatory" measures could "negatively impact bilateral ties".

Gilani expressed concern over the issue during a meeting with a visiting US Congressional delegation led by Senator John McCain.

Pakistan is among 14 countries whose nationals are subject to tougher screening rules introduced by the US after a Nigerian man tried to set off a bomb on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit last

Yousuf Raza Gilani

month.

The premier "expressed serious reservations on the new security measures introduced by the US government for screening Pakistani nationals...and termed them as discriminatory," said a statement issued by Gilani's office.

Noting that such poli-

cies cause "consternation and anxiety among the people of Pakistan," he said "their continuity can negatively impact bilateral ties".

Gilani urged the US administration to "revisit this policy and asked for the immediate removal of Pakistan from the list of the countries affected by it".

He also took up several issues that have strained relations between Pakistan and the US, including continuing attacks by American drones in the tribal belt bordering Afghanistan and delays in reimbursing Islamabad's expenses on the war against terror.

Swat and Waziristan tribal region and to procure modern equipment in the face of a perceived threat from India, the sources were quoted as saying.

Pakistan has mobilised over 30,000 soldiers to flush out Taliban militants from South Waziristan.

Troops are also conducting operations against rebels in the northwestern Swat valley.

39 killed in Karachi political violence Karachi: Unidentified assailants shot dead 11 more people in Karachi, taking the death toll in clashes between workers of rival political groups to 39 over the past three days. Karachi has a long history of factional bloodshed although it has been relatively peaceful in recent years.

The Muttahida Quami Movement (MQM), the dominant political party in Karachi, said the provincial government, dominated by president Asif Ali Zardari’s party, had failed to stop the violence in the city.

The MQM is a member of Zardari’s federal coalition government and the threat to leave the alliance could destabilise the government.

Musharraf had met ULFA leader Chetia in Dhaka Probe reveals the link between ISI and the Indian insurgent group Dhaka: Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf had a secret meeting with jailed ULFA leader Anup Chetia during a visit here when ex-premier Khaleda Zia of BNP was in power, a senior Bangladesh minister has alleged.

"Pervez Musharraf came to Dhaka... when the ULFA leader was detained in the (Dhaka Central) jail, from where he was

brought to the Sheraton Hotel" for a meeting with the President, local government minister Ashraful Islam said.

"He (Chetia) held a meeting with Musharraf for some one and a half hours," Islam, also the general secretary of ruling Awami League, said at a discussion on Indo-Bangla relations last week.

Chetia was arrested from Dhaka during the

past 1996-2001 Awami League regime and still is in "security custody" despite the expiry of his jail term for cross-border intrusion.

Islam's comments came as investigators here reportedly revealed alleged links between the insurgent group and Pakistan's Inter Service Intelligence (ISI). A probe is underway into the country's biggestever arms haul in 2004

when Bangladesh police seized 10 truckloads of weapons believed to be destined for ULFA hideouts in northeast India.

"The 10 truckloads of weapon were not brought to be used in Bangladesh, these were destined to India, one lakh bullets were seized (earlier) from (northwestern) Bogra and those too were being smuggled to India," the minister said.

Court rejects acquittal plea for Lakhvi, six others Islamabad: A Pakistani anti-terror court last week rejected an application seeking acquittal of LeT operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi and six others charged with helping plan and executes the Mumbai attacks.

It also turned down an application by the suspects for Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist arrested alive during the attacks, to be brought to Pakistan from India for trial.

Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan, who is conducting the trial within Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for security reasons, directed the prosecution to present evidence

against the accused at the next hearing on January 16. He rejected the applications filed by the suspects after hearing arguments by defence lawyers and the prosecution, which told the court that it has "strong evidence" against the accused.

The suspects had last month filed an application under Section 265-K of the Code of Criminal Procedure seeking their acquittal on the ground that there is no probability of their being convicted for any offence.

The defence lawyers had challenged the prosecution's decision to use Kasab's statement to Indian

authorities on the ground that the accused were not given an opportunity to cross-examine Kasab in the Pakistani court.

They had also questioned the prosecution's decision to use Kasab's statement after he recently retracted his confession.

The accused - Lakhvi, Zarar Shah, Abu al-Qama, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jamil Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younas Anjum - were last year formally charged with planning and helping execute the assault on India's financial hub in November 2008.

The anti-terror court has issued notice to one of the defence lawyers after

he contended that Judge Awan had indicted the accused on the basis of charges that were framed and argued while the case was being heard by another judge. The notice pointed out that the records of the case are sealed and the lawyer could make such a claim only if he had accessed the records.

The notice also said that if the lawyer had accessed the sealed records, he had interfered in the working of the court. The defence lawyer responded to the court's notice and this matter will be taken up again at the next hearing on January 16, sources said.

Pakistan accused of harassing US diplomats Islamabad: The US embassy has accused Pakistan of harassing its diplomats and detaining them while they were traveling in the country, illustrating heightened tensions between the allies as US expands its presence here. The rare public protest reflects the rising frustration among US officials over alleged Pakistani efforts to stymie Washington’s moves to add hundreds more staff and more space to its embassy in Islamabad.

US officials say they

need more room and people to help disburse a $7.5 billion humanitarian aid package to Pakistan, whose cooperation Washington needs to fight al-Qaida-allied militants along the PakistanAfghan border.

In recent weeks, American diplomats have faced lengthy delays in receiving approvals for visas and visa extensions. Some also have been stopped at checkpoints by police who have in a couple of cases temporarily confiscated their cars.

ISI using Nepal links to fund anti-India operations?

Kathmandu: The arrest of the son of a powerful Nepalese politician on charges of heading a major fake Indian currency and drugs smuggling racket allegedly sponsored by Pakistani intelligence agencies has exposed how Islamabad is quietly pouring money into Nepal with the underworld's help to unleash a propaganda war against India, well placed sources here say.

Yunus Ansari, the son of former minister Salim Miya Ansari, who is alleged to have links with Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan and crime boss Dawood Ibrahim who has massive following in

Mumbai's underworld, was arrested by a special task force of Nepal police after a tip-off by Indian authorities that he was running the two criminal networks.

Yunus Ansari, the president of Nepal's National Wrestling Federation, is also the chairman of a new television channel that is yet to start regular transmission.

While Yunus Ansari was arrested along with three other Nepalis, two Pakistanis, one African and one from the Caribbean, police said they had no evidence against his father, former forest and soil conservation minister Ansari.

Terror suspect Rana says that he is a Pak army deserter Chicago: PakistaniCanadian terror suspect Tahawwur Hussain Rana, under investigation for possible links to 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, offered a novel plea for bail saying as he is a deserter from the Pakistani army he's not a flight risk.

Rana, arrested for plotting to attack a Danish newspaper made the deserter plea before US District Judge Matthew Kennelly in a Chicago court last week making a bond request that has already been denied by another federal judge. Rana

contended that because he deserted the military and isn't welcome back in Pakistan, he's not a flight risk and should be released on bond. But judge Kennelly postponed a decision on Rana's bond pending a new indictment against the suspect, which prosecutors say could come

by Jan 14. That indictment could send the case to a different judge, hence the delay in ruling on bond.

Federal prosecutors say he should remain behind bars because he knew about plans to commit terrorist attacks on Mumbai.

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28

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

This week meet Jagadishbhai Patel, Manager of Brent Indian Association, who has survived many ailments yet continues to serve the community in the best possible way

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

Week commences 16th January 2010 ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

For more information e-mail:

cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

Don't miss !!!

Thursday 7pm to 8pm

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Gurkhas to appeal after losing High Court pensions ruling Gurkha veterans have vowed to continue campaigning after losing a test case against the Ministry of Defence over pension rights at the High Court in London.

Last week's ruling is a blow to the veterans from Nepal after the Government last year granted them the right to settle in Britain. The action was brought by the British Gurkha Welfare Society, which says that 24,000 veterans who served in the British Army before 1997, and their dependants, receive only a third of the normal payments. It is to appeal.

Major Tikendra Dal Dewan, chairman of the society, told a national daily that unless overturned the judgment would turn out to be far more expensive than paying the 24,000 their pension rights in the first place.

Many of the veterans “live in very impoverished conditions. They are like-

ly now to come to live in the UK. If 10,000 to 15,000 come here, that could cost the Government £300-400 million. Paying the pension rights would cost an estimated £74 million.”

Judge Ian Burnett spoke of the “high regard” British people had for Gurkhas but he rejected their challenge on the ground that the MoD had not acted unlawfully. It had argued that because Gurkha pensions were payable over a longer time than standard Armed Forces pensions, Gurkhas received the same as British veterans. In the two world wars, 200,000 Gurkhas served with British Forces. More than 45,000 have died in British uniform. About 3,500 now serve in the British Army, including in Afghanistan.

Dozens of MPs have signed an early day motion calling for Gurkhas to have improved pension rights.

Amazing predictions Sneh Joshi, the UK’s leading Vedic astrologer, writer and TV personality can answer questions on: ! Health Problems ! Investments ! Married Life ! Children’s matters ! Marriage Compatibility ! Love Affairs ! Court Cases ! Any other problems

Call 020 8518 5500 and face your future with confidence!

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Schoolboy saves child from frozen lake A 10 year old “action man" schoolboy has been hailed a hero for rescuing his five-year-old pal after he slipped into a frozen lake.

Quick-thinking Cameron Roberts watched in horror as Narayan Cromar fell through the ice head-first after losing his balance in Valentines Park, Cranbrook Road, Ilford.

Cameron, who goes to St Aidan's Catholic Primary School, Benton Road, Ilford, grabbed his friend and hung on to him - stopping him from drifting away until his dad pulled him free of the water.

Believed dad George Cromar, of Abercorn Gardens, Chadwell Heath, said: "It was lucky Cameron acted so quickly.

He went into action man mode because it's a sheer drop from the side and Narayan could have floated away.

I rushed over to pull him out and fortunately he was fine, although he was very cold so we took him

home for a hot bath."

The incident happened on Sunday when the boys were out riding on the new bicycles they had got for Christmas.

They were warned by their parents not to play too close to the edge of the lake, but they wandered off as their dads prepared some food and hot drinks.

Narayan, a pupil at Grove Primary School, Chadwell Heath Lane, Chadwell Heath, then tumbled into the icy water after banging the surface with a stick which snapped.

Cameron's mum, Sharon Roberts of Colombo Road, Ilford, said: "I am very proud of my son, he acted very responsibly.

These things happen and it was fortunate he was really quick to think on his feet."

Bedbridge Council warned parents and children to stay away from frozen lakes.

Coming Events ! Patel Samaj of Nothampton (GHU) hosts Jalaram Bhajan on Sunday 17th Jan 2010 Grange Park community centre, Northampton NN4 5FZ Contact: Suresh Patel 07884166 657 ! Nehru Centre, London W1K 1HF. Contact: 020 7491 3567 Jan 25th 6:15: Exhibition of photographs- Happy days Jan 25th 7pm: Kuchipudi: Navarasa Jan 27th 6:30pm: Reflections of India.

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Decision making will prove to be a bit of a bind because of your wavering mind - seek professional advice and then steam ahead. You will also be in great demand socially and you can expect to be invited to a few get-togethers. Be careful with your expenditure as you have a tendency to be extravagant.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 You might feel that life is in the doldrums, but appearances could prove deceptive. The underlying trend indicates that deep creative energies are stirring within you and that seemingly insignificant events and meetings will play a vital role in the future enrichment of life. This is a time to flow with the tide.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 The pattern of significant relationships in your life will continue to favour you. It seems that a great deal of mutual benefit will accrue because of various interactions. This is an excellent time for dealing with long-term money matters. You also stand to benefit through a bonus, rebate or perhaps a lucky windfall.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 There is a rather secretive aura surrounding new romance, which could turn into something very special. Give top priority to important official matters and communications. This applies particularly to financial and commercial interests. If you can manage to get away from usual routines, this will prove to be highly enjoyable.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 A progressive time ahead regarding money and the material world, and the keyword is increase. Personal charm and confidence is on the increase, so get involved in high level talks. During this phase, choose your words carefully as you can upset people around you. Some of you will be tempted to have extra marital affairs !

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 With both Venus and Mars resonating powerfully in your Solar chart, amorous affairs are likely to become extremely intense.

Sometimes it is better to get a more objective view of the pattern of your life. You may find that you can enrich your lifestyle by simplifying certain areas and re-organsing your priorities.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 It seems that the winds of change begin to gather momentum and put a strong focus on domestic matters. The outlook remains optimistic and the way forward will bring you a sense of real achievement. However, this is not likely to be an easygoing week because demands on time and energy are going to be heavy.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 There are subtle transformations taking shape in you life and a feeling of helpful influences in the background. There is much to suggest that you are in touch with those hidden forces which often seem to take a guiding hand in one's life.

Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation, so that you feel secure.

Unexpected developments could have a favourable long-term effect on your prosperity and you may place your expectations at a higher level. You may feel at times that the results of your efforts are not coming up to expectation. However, this seems like a temporary blip in what is otherwise a highly constructive state of affairs.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

There will be increased scope for varying your activities, widening your network of contacts and getting out and about. It is an excellent time for exercising your mental energies and getting involved in discussions. Exercise caution when it comes to making financial decisions as being hasty will cost you !

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Either you or your partner have been going through a phase of inner doubts and uncertainties, and perhaps the main source of tension has simply been the need for breathing space in your relationship and a need to look at things more objectively. Wait before going full steam ahead with grand actions and gestures.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

This is a good time to appreciate what you have already created in your life. There are still challenging issues on both a personal and practical level. It's a time of slow and steady progress that can set the stage for a long time to come. To get here you may have overcome obstacles by making important decision and choices.

TIME

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

C R O S S W O R D - 70 1

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Across 1 Fizzy drink 5 Throat prob.

10 Frozen fall 14 Double 15 Brownish gray 16 Part of S.R.O. 17 One from Dr. Seuss 20 Lure and catch 21 Evaluate again 22 Verdi heroine 24 Trun on a pivot

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Fulfilled Pop ____L.Jackson Lowa college town Low character Slow in tempo Another from Dr. Seuss Certain anchor position “Green Gables” girl Twixt 12 and 20 less of amess

SCRAMBLE - 46

Rearrange the letters in the four word jumbles, one letter to each square/circle, to make four ordinary words MIDAS

How to play

Now arrange the letters in the circles to form the answer to the riddle or to fill in the missing word as indicated

GHTIT AHSTCN ASTYCH

Mile by mile, it’s a trial. Yard by yard, it’s hard. But inch by inch, _____ _____ _____. (2’1, 1,5)

Solution of Scramble - 45

18 19 23 25 26 27 29 31 32 33 35

47 49 50 52 54 58 62

Assistant Arid Mountain goat’s perch Plug of tobacco Feeling of wellbeing Alector or Megaera One more from Dr. Seuss 64 Ripening factor 65 Sensational 66 Coastal bird 67 Animal shelters 68 Full calendars 69 Temper out of control Down 1 Affliction of the eye 2 Western writer Wister 3 Gossip 4 Cavities in bones 5 Resign or detrain 6 Make lace 7 Essen’s region 8 Fencing swords 9 Corolla segments 10 Steak for some 11 A chip, maybe 12 Misfortunes 13 Caustic solutions

37 40 41 46 48 51 53 54 55 56 57 59 60 61 63

Non-cleric Regulars’ orders Honolulu hello Hunter of the PGA Be theatrical __Cotta Site of the action Not married Former anesthetic Crazy in the head Sewing circle members Bouncing off the walls Unit of gene activity Carrot-tops Not often Make, as money Lively baroque dance More expansive Oh my gosh!

Advocte Round hammerhead Taj Mahal location Auto-racing org.

Yin and __ Hook’s right hand man Title for Galahad

Solution of Crossword-69 A

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Words: Crags, video, eunuch, cringe Answer: It is Curious that physical courage should be so common in the world and moral courage so rare. - Mark Twain

T G

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Solution of KAKURO - 69 12

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The numbers in the pink squares refer to the sums of the digits that you must fill into the empty spaces directly below or to the right of the pink square containing the number. For instance, in the given example, the 2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 digits that add upto 12, whereas for 20, the 3 boxes places horizontally next to it must add upto 20.

No zeroes are used here, only the digits one through nine.

Example

8

6

2

KAKURO - 70

12

3

Sudoku-70 1 9

Bull in a china shop

20

6

Solution of 69 :

solution of - 69:

Solution of Spellathon - 69

16

What unusual property do the words FLOUR, TERN, and THIRSTY have in common?

5

finny, FUNNILY, funny, unify

9

MINDBENDER - 70

WHATZIT? - 70

How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in today’s puzzle? In making a word, each letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the central letter. There should be at least one seven-letter word. Plurals, foreign words and proper names are not allowed. British English Dictionary is used as reference.

L

LOOP THE LOOP - 46

Z = last letter in the English alphabet.

Today’s Ratings: 07-average | 00-good | 11-outstanding

A

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Rules Connect adjacent dots with vertical or horizontal lines, creating a single loop.

(Fig A).

Crossovers or branches are not allowed 2 1 2 3 2 (As shown by dotted lines in Fig B).

1 2 Numbers in the puzzle indicate the 3 1 3 0 2 number of lines that should 1 2 surround it, while empty cells may 2 1 3 1 2 3 be surrounded by any number of 3 2 1 lines.

You can’t draw lines arround 3 2 zeroes.

Each puzzle has just one unique solution.

How to begin: Example (Fig A) - Begin with the zero next to 3. Since no lines can be drawn around zero, mark crosses around it, as shown. Now there is a cross in one space around 3. So we know the three lines of 3 can only be drawn in the remaining three spaces. Next these lines can only be extended in one direction each. Continue, using the same Solution of LTL No. 45 logic. x x x x Hints: Keep elimix x 1 nating possibilix x x x x ties by marking 2 2 x1 x2 crosses in x x x x x spaces between 1 x 3 2 x dots where a line x x x x x isn’t possible, 3 2 2 x x i.e., if you have x x x x already completx x x 1 x3 2 ed required lines x x x or where a line x x x x 2 2 2 3 0 2 extension may x x x x x create a branch x 3 3 1 x2 or cause a deadx x x end (Fig B)

Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters.

SPELLATHON - 70

PASS

16

6

10

13

3

4

4

9

9

2

7

1

8

A digit cannot appear more than once in any particular digit combination. For instance in the example, we cannot have the combination of 8+4+8 for 20.

4

Solution of sudoku-69 HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and square 3x3 box is a subgrid of 9 cells. Fill in the grid so that each sub-grid contains the digits 1 to 9.

Every puzzle has one solution.

6

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3

8

7

1

9

2

4

1

2

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5

9

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8

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9

8

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2

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9

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7

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Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

BY

How to treat a simple burn through alternate method If you have had a burn injury, then you know how painful it can be. A sunburn or a burn from a hot stove, all of them hurt badly, and need to be treated as soon as possible. Here is what has worked for my family and myself, so if you have a burn try this out.

First thing when you have a burn, you need to cool it down with cool water. If you have a small burn, put it under some running water for at least five minutes.

After running under water, if you need to, pat dry very gently.

Next, separate egg whites from their yolk, and spread this on the affected area. You can even soak some gauze in the egg whites, and then wrap the affected area. Leave this on the wound for a couple of hours, and then change if necessary.

If the burn is large (such as a sunburn) spread the egg whites all over the affected area, keep adding more as needed.

After wrapping the area, take a Tylenol, or some Ibuprofen. This will help ease some of the pain that you may experience.

Treating a second degree burn with alternate method A second-degree burn is a burn that not only affects the outer layer of the skin, but the second layer of skin as well.

The second layer of skin is called the dermis and it is full of nerves and blood vessels. A second-degree burn often develops blisters

at the burn site that are full of watery fluid from the tissue that has been destroyed by the burn. A burn blister on your finger should be allowed to resolve on its own and protected from further damage.

Recognize the signs of a burn blister.

Several hours after the burn injury, it will appear on the burn site, full of fluid. It may also be painful to the touch and

red.

Apply burn cream to the burn site to speed up the healing process.

Aloe vera can also be useful in reducing the healing time of your second-degree burn.

Mango Tree

SWATI BHAN

Avoid popping your burn blister. Allowing it to resolve on its own will help the skin beneath it heal. Do not bandage it either, as that will put unhealthy pressure on the burn blister and may cause it to burst.

Monitor you burn blister for signs of infection. If you notice oozing pus, increased pain or greenish brown fluid coming from your burn blister, it may be infected.

See your doctor immediately for treatment to avoid further complications.

You should also see your doctor if your seconddegree burn does not heal within three weeks because it can also be a sign of complications.

crackers are flavoured unlike the usual ready made ones available at large in the market.

The main course can be divided predominantly into four types: curry items, stir fry items, set meals and grilled dishes.

The food is tasty, very authentic, fresh and the quantity is quite filling.

Mango Tree as a restaurant has explored all possibilities of the Thai

energy and happy dinners.

Dim lit lounge bar, oak panelling, the richness of the décor is sensuous.

Though some of the tables on either corner of the room are correctly placed, I would still recommend an alteration in the proximity of the tables. They are too close for comfort. A fine dining like Mango Tree, should allow more space for privacy.

Even being one of the high end restaurants, the hospitality and service are worth recommending. It is swift, suave, yet warm.

The personal attention by staff makes you feel comfortable with everything including the names on the menu card that appear puzzling!

Precisely, Mango Tree is an extremely refined dining for corporate as well as family purposes. It is a paradise for people who live to eat.

With a Tropical name, this restaurant has an amazing blend of contemporary and conventional on the same plate.

Situated near Victoria, the elegant venue is an expensive place to dine.

But unlike many other top oriental/Asian restaurants of London, dining at Mango Tree is definitely value for money.

The taste of food is definitely authentic and the extensive menu is eye catching. Also the options are extensive if not exhaustive. The papaya salad specially caught my attention for cuisine. Even the desserts its peculiarity in taste. If are very unique and there are two of you and extremely sumptuous. The both are non vegetarian, taste, the proportion and try choosing the platter the blend are extremely for two. It gives you an palatable. overall picture of pretty Ratings The decoration is much all appetisers. quite modern. It is an Food Taste: ✷✷✷✷✷ The cocktail list is open model restaurant, Food Quality: ✷✷✷✷✷ enchanting and very with a lot of contemporary Hospitality / Service: ✷✷✷✷ innovative. decorations. The ambiQuantity: ✷✷✷✷✷ If I should describe ence is romantic though Décor: ✷✷✷ the food in nutshell, I the place is bubbling with must say, a lot of fresh Cuisine: Thai, Cost: £40 - £50/head ingredients are used. All Mango Tree, the dishes are well mari46 Grosvenor Place, London, SW1X 7EQ nated, well attended and Contact: 020 7823 1888 info@mangotree.org.uk well cooked. Even the If you want to get your restaurant reviewed call Rupanjana at 020 7749 4098 or write to rupanjana@abplgroup.com

Life style

By Mamta Bhatia, Psychologist

Create a happier you now This week’s article focus’s on how you can create a happier more fulfilling 2010 by worrying less.

Eliminating stress and tension from your life does not have to be difficult. The techniques are far from rocket science and all you really need is willingness and motivation to want to change the way you feel, for the better. The benefits will appear all around you, life will be more fulfilled and you will be happier. Great things will start to happen, people will respond to you in a positive way and whatever you were worrying about will soon be left behind so you can focus on the good.

It is fundamental to understand that no amount of tension, guilt or negative emotion will prevent or resolve any problems you have. You must realise that you are in the driving seat of your life. When you worry and let the hurdles of life get in the way of your

own betterment, you are at the mercy of all things external. When you give yourself permission to be in control of ‘you’ you are driving so you can ultimately create how you feel. Negative people constantly use their circumstances as a justification for why they can’t do something. They waste energy discussing how hard life is and do not realise that this pushes them even further away from achieving their goals. Attending a seminar at think spa London dot com will encourage you to look at what is in the sphere of your control and what isn’t.

When you acknowledge the fact that you control you, this then liberates you to start creating the life that you want!

Successful people have problems, however, they refuse to be defeated by obstacles as they are too busy keeping their eyes on their goals in life.

This enables them to gra-

ciously avoid pitfalls and continue to create the motivation they need to strive ahead and achieve satisfaction. They detach themselves from any unhelpful emotion and refrain from negatively judging situations or people. Successful people know that this is unhelpful to their inner state of calm, control and overall happiness.

Therefore, this goal takes precedent over anything else.

You are the screenwriter, producer, and director of the film called ‘your life’! You write this screenplay every moment of your life with your thoughts, words and behaviour. If you want of drama you can have it, if you want an inspiring story with happiness you can have that. Think about what you really want, then tap into your power to be stronger then your worries, if you do that you get closer to obtaining the happiness you so desire. Good Luck!

If you have any questions write to mamta@abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

Sport in Action A hug to a woman cost Pakistan hockey team Rs. 200,000 Player, coach and manager fined by the parliament over their act in Argentina A hug to the lady liaison officer in Argentina in December has proved to be too costly to a Pakistani hockey player as well as the coach and manager. The player, Rehan Butt just managed to escape a ban by the parliamentary committee chairman, as he is a key member of the team and the world cup hockey is less than 2 months away, to be played in New Delhi – India.

Pakistan hockey team that played the Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina

in December, 2009 lost the finals to New Zealand and also a spot in the Champions Trophy tourney.

At the end of the tournament, during the official players’ night function, the lady officer requested to players to have photographs with her. The dinner was also attended by other participating teams and their officials. Team members clicked photographs, and they were found particularly objectionable by Pakistani authorities.

Rehan Butt was shown in

Rehan Butt

a hug with the lady officer. Jamshed Dasti, chairman of Pakistan national assembly standing committee on sports, reacting to the behaviour, said “It is not our culture to hug a

lady.” Nasim Akhtar Chaudhary, one of the lady members of the committee also was furious with the pictures. She said, “We live in an Islamic country, have our own traditions, our own culture which should be portrayed abroad.”

Rehan Butt was fined rupees 100,000; coach Shahid Ali Khan and manager Asif Bajwa have to pay rupees 50,000 each.

"The PHF has warned all the team players and officials to be careful in future," Khan said.

OZ stun Pakistan to win Sydney test Hussey ton, Hauritz haul help home team make it 2 - 0 Australia stunned Pakistan with a complete twist at Sydney the previous week (Wednesday, 6th January) with a 36 run victory in the second test match of the 3 game series after which the third match is rendered of only academic consequence, if any. The home team has sealed the series with a victory in the first test match also, making 2 – 0.

A stunning victory it was, as Ricky Ponting’s boys were trailing behind the visitors with more than 200 runs. Only five times in the history of test cricket it has happened that a team a won after having conceded

of 109 runs from Imran Farhat and Salman Butt, Pakistan went on to score 333 runs, taking a lead of 206 runs.

Day three again belong Mitchell Johnson (3rd L) is to Pakistan, as congratulated after capturing the they had the wicket of Kamran Akmal at Sydney home team more than 200 runs lead reeling at 8 wickets for in the first innings. OZ 286 runs, practically renmade it the sixth time. dering them 82 for six. A The Pakistani bowlers fighting century from ran through the OZ first Michael Hussey and a innings on the first day ninth wicket partnership itself, bundling them out of 123 runs between him in just 127 runs. Later, and Peter Siddle gave the with a solid opening stand Australians something to

defend, and that ultimately proved a little too much for the visitors on the last day, as even the target of 176 runs for a series leveling victory proved a bit distant Pakistan, as they succumbed to Nathan Hauritz spin and fell short by 36 runs.

Pakistani batsmen looked to be on course on many an occasion, but Nathan Hauritz had different ideas. {Brief scores: OZ 127 and 381 (Hussey 134*, Kaneria 5-151) beat Pak 333 and 139 (Umar Akmal 49, Hauritz 5-53, Johnson 3-27) by 36 runs}.

Eric Simons to help Indian bowlers The South African has also coached his home team Heeding to captain Dhoni’s demands, BCCI has finally appointed Eric Simons of South Africa as the bowling coach for the Indian team. Simons will get into action right away with the current tour of Bangladesh and also be with the team at home for the series against touring South Africa.

Initially, Alan

Eric Simons

Donald’s name had come up for consideration, but

Eric Simons clinched the job, to join fellow South African Gary Kirsten.

The later is team India’s coach.

Simons has played very little international cricket for his team, but his coaching experience is pretty good. In fact, Gary Kirsten, the current coach of team India has played as a South Africa batsman under Simons.

He was the home team’s coach in 2002-04.

Simons, 47 years had a long stint as first class player, representating the Western Province for more than 17 years as a right handed medium pacer. As a bowling coach, he just has a small stint with the IPL season II with Royal Challengers, Bangalore team.

Lahore style attack on Togo football team in Angola 3, including 2 officials of the team killed, goalkeeper hospitalised Even as the Togo football team returned home on Sunday after attack by gunmen on their bus left 3 people killed and many injured, officials the team could be back to play the tournament. Togo assistant coach Amelete Abalo and media official Stan O’Cloo as well the Angolan bus driver were killed in the Friday attack by separatist gunmen.

Togo Prime Minister later ordered the team to return home and a special

plane was sent for them.

Reports on Monday also suggested Angola had arrested two people for the attack, as FLEC separatists said the Togo team was not their target.

A total of 9 were injured apart from the bus driver. 2 Togo team officials died of their bullet wounds later.

The Togo team was on its way from Congo in a bus. In a convoy of vehicles, the team bus had travelled just 6 kms into

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the Angolan territory when separatists attack them. FLEC, the region’s main separatist group claimed that had carried out the attack. Angolan officials the football tournament shall go on despite the attack.

16 teams are to play the championship scheduled to start on Sunday, 10th January, 2010.

Speaking to BBC, Togo captain Adebayor said a lot of players want to leave the country.

Emmanuel Adebayor, the captain of the Togo team is playing for the Manchester City team in the EPL, while another EPL club Portsmouth has four players in Angola, said it was considering withdrawing its players.

After the March, 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan team in Lahore, this is the second major incident when sportsmen have been targeted by separatist or terrorist violence.

England – Pakistan to play two T20 matches in Dubai in February England cricket team is going on a cricket tour to Bangladesh next month. Ahead of that, the team will play two T20 games against Pakistan in Dubai, ECB announced last week end.

These matches have been organised to provide the team more practice for the shortest version of the game.

England team will arrive in Dubai on 14th February and will reach Bangladesh on 21st February.

Razzaq injured, out of OZ ODI series Pakistan allrounder Abdul Razzaq, already out of the Test match squads, will also be unable to play against Australia in the limited overs leg of the Pakistan teams’s tour of down under.

Recently, while batting, he got his hand hit by a ball. The injury resulted into a fracture, leaving him unfit to play for Pakistan in the limited overs Abdul Razzaq matches in Australia.

Razzaq last played against the New Zealand in November, in ODIs and T20s in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

ICC World Cup trophy unveiled The countdown for the ICC World Cup 2011 has started with the unveiling of the trophy in Dhaka on Saturday, 9th January. Sharad Pawar, chairman of the 2011 World Cup central organising committee and vice president of the ICC was handed over the trophy after it was unveiled

by Haroon Lorgat, the CEO of the governing body.

Board presidents of the three co-host countries (Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka), the teams of the three countries and other foreign guests were present at the unveiling ceremony on Saturday evening at the Bangabandhu National Stadium. The opening ceremony of the cricket fiesta will be held on 17th February 2011 at same venue. Dhaka will also host the opening match, at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on February 19, between Bangladesh and India.

A total of eight matches, including two quarter finals, will be held in Bangladesh.

SA name Imran Tahir for a test cap, then withdraw Cricket South Africa, disappointed with the poor form of their main spinner Paul Harris named an amateur, Imran Tahir to play in the third test match against visiting England, only to withdraw the next day, as Imran’s eligibility is still to be established.

The legspinner, a Lahore (Pakistan) born lad has married Imran Tahir a South African woman and thus qualified for South Africa in April last year.

CSA said his permanent residency papers are not through yet, hence Imran is withdrawn. But he is likely to make to the tour of India next month.

South Africa's squad is now down to 14 - Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, Friedel de Wet, JP Duminy, Paul Harris, Jacques Kallis, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Alviro Petersen, Ashwell Prince, Dale Steyn.

English Premier League Matches Saturday 16 January Chelsea v/s Sunderland Everton v/s Man City Man Utd v/s Burnley Portsmouth v/s Birmingham Stoke v/s Liverpool Tottenham v/s Hull Wolverhampton v/s Wigan Sunday 17 January Aston Villa v/s West Ham Blackburn v/s Fulham Bolton v/s Arsenal

Stamford Bridge Goodison Park Old Trafford Fratton Park Britannia Stadium White Hart Lane Molineux

15:00 17:30 15:00 15:00 12:45 15:00 15:00

Villa Park Ewood Park Reebok Stadium

13:30 15:00 16:00

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"#$% !"#$%&!

Asian Voice - Saturday 16th January 2010

!!!"#$%&'()*%"+),

B’desh blanked out in home tri-series India – Sri Lanka win 3 matches each, in finals

Hosts Bangladesh were blanked out in the home tri-series as they lost all the four encounters against Sri Lanka and India, leaving the two neighbours to play the finals slated for Wednesday, 13th January.

India and Sri Lanka won and lost one match each and will now play for the title. For India, Virat Kohli emerged as the new find as he scored consistently and showed maturity as well as class.

The young lad scored an unbeaten century on Monday against Bangladesh, helping India cruise to a six wicket victory.

Sudeep Tyagi also showed promise as the bench strength in pace bowling.

India’s place in the finals was already secured on Sunday when they defeated Sri Lanka in their second encounter, having lost the first one with the same rivals.

On Monday, Dhoni won the toss and decided to invite Bangladesh to bat first.

Bangladesh did well to last the full 50 overs and posting a reasonable score of 247 runs after they were in shambles at 95 for 5. Shakib Al Hasan scored 85 and a 106-run partnership with Mahmudullah to lift his team, but on a placid track and against an inform Indian batting lineup, a target of 248 was no challenge, as India achieved the goal with seven overs still to go.

Early wickets were the

Another great escape for England at Cape Town Collingwood, Bell and Onions frustrate South Africa

Graeme Smith played a genuine captain's innings as he punished a wilting England attack in the Cape Town

Yuvraj Singh is lifted by his team-mates after running Raqibul Hasan out

only option for Bangladesh to be able to give a fight, but that didn’t happen.

In the Bangladesh innings, Naeem scored a brisk as they took 47 from the batting Powerplay and 95 from the final 10 overs to reach a respectable score.

Mahmudullah continued his good form, remaining unbeaten on 64.

India had started the bowling attack much the better. After a maiden from Tyagi, Imrul Kayes had flailed twice through the off side as Sreesanth pitched too wide, but when he tried the same approach against Tyagi, Kohli snaffled him at point. Ashraful had no

thoughts of consolidating - after playing one reckless shot to third man, he decided to give Sreesanth the charge and played on via the pads.

Raqibul Hasan played some chancy strokes while Tamim Iqbal had a cautious start.

Raqibul was then run out as Yuvraj managed to deflect a Shakib drive on the stumps, and though Shakib gave the fans something to cheer, Mushfiqur lobbed a slower one from Yuvraj straight to the man at cover to leave the side in disarray with half the overs remaining. {Brief scores: 6th match - India 249 for 4 (Kohli 102*, Gambhir

41, Naeem 2-35) beat Bangladesh 247 for 6 (Shakib 85, Mahmudullah 64*, Nehra 2-58) by 6 wickets. 5th match - India 214 for 2 (Kohli 71*, Gambhir 71, Karthik 48) beat Sri Lanka 213 (Sangakkara 68, Randiv 56, Zaheer 338, Mishra 3-40) by eight wickets. 4th match - Sri Lanka 252 for 1 (Tharanga 114*, Jayawardene 108) beat Bangladesh 249 for 9 (Shakib 47, Raqibul 43, Perera 2-32, Randiv 240). 3rd Match - India 297 for 4 (Dhoni 101*, Kohli 91) beat Bangladesh 296 for 6 (Kayes 70, Mahmudullah 60*, Tamim 60) by six wickets.}

England tailenders braved a spirited attempt to stave off defeat in the third test match against the hosts South Africa last week at Cape Town. The team ensured that they will not lose the series, keeping in tact their 1 – 0 lead and final encounter starts at Johannesburg this week.

Graham Onions again proved to be crucial match saver after his heroics at the Centurian, as he played the last over by Morne Morkel to keep the Proteas at bay.

Ian Bell produced the innings of his life and Paul Collingwood battled for four-and-a-half hours in another masterclass of crease occupation.

England went into bat on the last day with the score reading 132 for three with the target being 466 runs.

They were in an uncomfortable situation and at the first break, had lost two further wickets to make it 179 for 5. South Africa had all the chances to bag the remaining wick-

ets and level the series to go for the kill in the fourth and final test match.

Matt Prior came and went for 4 from nine balls, brilliantly scooped by AB de Villiers at short leg to give Paul Harris his second wicket of an otherwise disappointing.

Morne Morkel, given the ball for a final attempt, had Ian Bell departed for 78 from 213 balls, and South Africa sensed a sensational turnaround.

But Onions and Swann proved they can survive. Once again, it came down to the final over.

It was a sensational escape. England have done it three times in their last eight outings. Paul Collingwood played a crucial role in all the three occasions. {Brief scores: England 273 (Prior 76, Morkel 575) and 296 for 9 (Bell 78, Collingwood 40) drew with South Africa 291 (Kallis 108, Anderson 563) and 447 for 7 declared (Smith 183, Amla 95)

A hockey revolt rocks India on money matters World Cup due in February, HI and players say no compromise

Hockey India (HI), the interim body that was formed in place of Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) proved worse than the predecessor, as they have failed to end the stalemate with the Indian hockey players over their pending dues. The national hockey team members, who were to take part in the prepara-

tory coaching camp at Pune for the Hockey World Cup next month, have walked out of the talks on Tuesday as HI president A K Mattoo flatly refused to release the overdue match fees to the player. This was their second meeting, after the first one in Delhi last week.

The players have been

served with a 48 hour ultimatum to resume coaching or leave.

HI stand that it had no money to pay was challenged with a TV news channel having discovered that HI had atleast got around Rs. 17 million from the sponsors Sahara India, but the body was in no mood to answer ques-

tions. On an average, every player of the Indian hockey team is due to receive Rs. 400,000 for their participation in the previous tournaments.

After the players walked out of the talks, Matto said, “The revolt by players was hurting particularly at a time when the World Cup is to be

staged in India next month. We had a detailed discussion on various issues. The players want to continue the strike.

Money is more important for the players, playing for country secondary.”

Mattoo said, “We’ll restart the camp with probables, India will participate in the World Cup, irre-

spective of the people. We will pick up players from all over the country.”

The Indian hockey players have laid out three major demands in front of their governing body, which includes clearing their dues, introducing a gradation system for payments and a meeting with the sponsors.