Asian Voice

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Asian Voice wishes all the Punjabi and Bengali readers

‘A Happy Vaisakhi’ and ‘A Happy New Year’

VOICE

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 38. ISSUE 49

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General Election 2010 See Page - 2 & 28

Shilpa Shetty to support Keith Vaz’s election campaign See Page - 5 Face to face with local council candidates See Page - 9

Travel Bug: Where Raj met Simran

See Page - 10

Latest on AhmedabadLondon direct flight See Page - 23

17th April to 23rd April 2010

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Rajapaksa sweeps SL parliament polls

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Shoaib – Sania exchange vows Malik divorces Ayesha alias Maha Siddiqui last week

UPFA secures 117 of 180 seats, likely to get a two-third majority

President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his ruling United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) swept the Parliamentary polls held recently in Sri Lanka.

The results were announced last week. Till Monday, results of 180 seats were declared and the UPFA had secured 117 of them. Just 16 seats were left to be declared, while 29 other seats will be allocated on the basis of vote percentage secured by the parties nationally.

Opposition United National Party (UNP) got 46 seats, while the Tamil National Alliance, a coalition of parties for the Tamil ethnic minority, had won 12 seats and a Marxist party five.

Friday's victory follows Rajapaksa's re-election in presidential polls three months ago. Despite opposition allegations the president wants to monopolize power, he is a hero to many of the country's Sinhalese majority hoping for a new era of development and reconciliation.

Sri Lankan ruling party supporters celebrate election victory in Colombo on April 9

The Election Department said Rajapaksa's United People's Freedom Alliance so far has won 117 of the 225 seats contested in Thursday's polls. Its tally was expected to rise.

A party must win 113 seats to get a simple majority and form a government. Another opposition party led by defeated presidential candidate and former army chief Sarath Fonseka _ who is currently under detention awaiting court-martial _ has won

five seats, the Election Department said. Party official Vijitha Herath said Fonseka won one of the seats. A party of the ethnic Tamil minority received 12 seats from its stronghold in the northeast, the department said.

Rajapaksa's coalition held 128 seats in the outgoing 225-member Parliament.

United National Front official Tissa Attanayake cried foul over the elections but acknowledged his party had suffered a

setback.

The front's leader, former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has long faced criticism from his own party members for a series of election defeats.

Despite reportedly winning a seat, it was also a disappointing show for Fonseka.

A key issue confronting the new government will be how to reconcile with the Tamil community following the end of the civil war.

Rajapaksa has yet to follow through on his promise to discuss a power-sharing deal with the Tamils, more than 200,000 of whom remain displaced by the war.

For Tamils, who make up 18 percent of the population and claim persecution by the Sinhalese, the election was an opportunity to choose a new voice for their community, which was dominated by the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels for three decades.

Continued on page 24

Amidst controversies, claims and counter claims, the high profile marriage of Indian tennis star Sania Mirza to Pakistani cricketer Shoiab Malik took place on Monday, a couple of days ahead of the declared date of 15th April.

This was done only after Shoaib Malik finally agreed and signed

divorce papers last week, indirectly conceding that he was married to Ayesha alias Maha Siddiqui. The divorce was reportedly agreed up for a huge consideration – Rs. 150 million, but Malik family dismissed those reports.

The Siddiquis also did not react on that.

Continued on page 24

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GENERAL ELECTION 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Your country, Your Election, Your Call

By Rupanjana Dutta As the election date draws closer (6th May 2010), the country speculates about the future of Britain in either Brown or Cameron's hands.

Whoever takes the power in hand, it is quite obvious that he will have a broken Britain to repair- a race relation to bridge, an economy to build, 200,000 jobless to feed and a wide range of crime to fight. In a LSE Election Briefing, Tony Travers of FPA said that people who vote for Labours, continue to do so. Why? He explains, “Conservatives are not convincing as a government. People would rather grit their teeth and hang on with the Labours. It is always easier to vote for a majority government than a hung parliament.

Labours are a step ahead, as they have already started working on the public spending whereas the Tories are yet to start working on it, though the financial year has already started.”

The Initial Condition of the parties Though there is an obvious fear of hung parliament, under the current electoral system, it is quite evident that the Labour benefits because it needs fewer votes on average

pose'. Besides this his reverse tax rise, 10p cut to ease fuel rise, transfer allowance between married couples (marriage tax), makes him a popular candidate as the PM. than the Tories to win each of its seats, and its votes are more efficiently distributed.

south of England and rural areas, Labour does just enough to win seats in towns and cities, often on

2005 election- Labours were ahead by 39 seats Party Seats Vote Percentage Labour 344 35% Cons 212 32% Lib Dem 63 22% Others 30 10% To win in 2010 any party-majority required 325 seats Because of population migration to the south of England, seats held by the Tories in the Home Counties generally contain more voters than those in the north.

The blue seats average 73,217 voters, and the red ones 67,684. In England at the 2005 general election, the Conservatives won one seat for every 41,983 Conservative votes cast.

Labour was able to win one seat for only 28,111 votes it secured.

Academics have pointed out that the reason Labour does well is that its votes are just better distributed. They point out that while the Tories “pile up” votes in the

low turnouts, whereas Tory wins are often in seats with high turnout.

The Trump cards Gordon Brown wins popularity with proposals such as paternity leave extension to one month, making Northern rock share available and creating job for people who have been jobless for more than 2 years.

Cameron attacks the immigration status of the UK and say that the immigration is 'too high' and will be reduced to levels last seen in the mid-1990s under a Tory election blueprint to restore Britain's 'sense of national pur-

Financial Times in an analysis stated that the Conservatives last Monday came under fire from business for the first time in the election campaign. On the eve of the party manifesto launch, London First, the City lobby group that represents many of London's biggest companies and banks, warned that Tory plans to curb economic migrants threatened Britain's position as a global commercial centre.

The criticisms will weaken the Tories' attempts to use business support to convince voters of their economic credibility ahead of the May 6 poll. More than 100 business leaders have backed Conservative proposals partially to reverse Labour's planned national insurance rise.

Baroness Jo Valentine, London First's chief executive, said companies were waiting to see the details of Tory proposals but initial plans appeared to have "no logic at all" from a business perspec-

UK General Election Opinion Poll Tracker - 13th April 2010

Party Tory Labour Lib Dem Others

Opinion Poll Org Avg of polls Com Res You Gov 39 39 40 31 32 32 19 16 18 11 7 10

ICM 38 30 21 11

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Mori 35 30 21 14

Seats Betfair ComRes 333 311 228 275 58 33 31 31

tive. The yearly cap on skilled non-European Union workers is a central part of Conservative immigration policy.

A Tory spokesman said the party was "not planning a draconian cap that would stand for all eternity but one that would change yearly". She said the party was consulting with companies and planning a quarterly auction for visas to help them plan recruitment.

The Conservatives have not yet calculated the size of a cap but say it would help cut yearly net migration to the "tens of thousands".

In a speech designed to capitalise on the antiWestminster mood, the Tory leader called on voters to "pull together" to help the country. Business last week responded to Labour's manifesto launch by calling for greater clarity on how the party intended to tackle the £167bn deficit.

Hung Parliament Nick Clegg has flexed his muscles ahead of a possible hung parliament

ThE MANIFESTOS: Labour n Families: Promise of £4 a week Toddler Tax Credit from 2012 for families earning under £50,000. New fathers given right to a month's paid paternity leave double today's level.

Creation of National Care Service to provide free care at home for the elderly and disabled and cover the cost of residential care after the first two years. n NHS: Guaranteed cancer tests within a week of referral.

Maximum 18-week wait for treatment after an initial GP consultation or the right to go private.

Preventative healthcare through routine 'MoT' check-ups for the over40s. More GP surgeries open out of hours. n Crime: Police to spend 80 per cent of their time on the beat visible in your neighbourhood. n Rubbish: Biodegra dable and recyclable materials banned from landfill. n Education: A choice of good schools in every area and where parents are not satisfied and the power to bring in new school leadership teams.

Conservative n Be your own boss: Giving public sector workers ownership of the services and support co-operatives and mutualisation as a way of transferring public assets and revenue streams to public sector workers.

Work for Yourself n Sack your MP Run your own schoolSchool reform programme is a major part of the anti-poverty strategy, and establish new Academy schools in the most deprived areas of the country. n Own your own home First-time buyers- Create

n Economy: Realise stakes in publicly controlled banks to secure the best deal for the taxpayer. Northern Rock could be turned back into a building society.

Introduce a global banking levy and reform banking rules to stop irresponsible behaviour.

Post Office may become 'People's Bank'. n Deficit: Support the recovery by halving our £167billion annual budget deficit. Governmentcontrolled appointments paying over £150,000 will require ministerial clearance. n Jobs: Advanced apprenticeships will be radically expanded, creating up to 70,000 places. 200,000 jobs created through the Future Jobs Fund, with a job or training place for young people out of work for six months. Anyone unemployed for two years guaranteed work. n Constitution: Referendums on moving to 'Alternative Vote' proportional representation and a democratic, accountable, elected House of Lords. Free vote on lowering voting age to 16. Powers for public to sack cheating MPs and laws to introduce fixed-term Parliaments. a property-owning democracy where everyone has the chance to own their own home.

That is why permanently raise the stamp duty threshold to £250,000 for first-time buyers, meaning nine out of ten of them will pay no tax on their first home purchase.

Social tenants Conservative government will make it easier for social tenants to own or part-own their home. n Veto council tax rises n Vote for your police n Save your local pub or post office n See how government spends your money

Liberal Democrat n Fair taxes that put money back in your pocket n A fair chance for every child n Making Britain greener n A fair deal by cleaning up politics by saying he could vote down David Cameron's first Budget. In an interview with the BBC's Jeremy Paxman on Monday, the LibDem leader said he would not support any budget which was driven by 'political dogma rather than economics'. He also insisted that the Lib Dems would vote against 'any increase in VAT' which could go towards 'unfunded' promises of the Tories.

The First Election Debate to be shown on ITV1 at 8:30pm on Thursday 15th April 2010. Each political leader will deliver a one minute opening statement followed by Q&A. This process will be repeated on Sky and the BBC. Narrator Alistair Stewart For more on Election see page 9 and 28

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

COMMENT

Free Indian schooling will empower the poor A fortnight ago, India created the world's largest school voucher programme. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 comes into force from the start of the next school year. Twenty-five per cent of all private schools must admit poor and marginalized students between the ages of six to 14 with government paying for their tuition. This legislation is a landmark in India's evolution as a modern democracy; it promises to be nothing short of a social revolution which over the medium and long-term will surely transform the face of Indian society by empowering the neediest section of the country's people and reducing the gender gap.

India's parents are already flocking to both registered and unregistered private schools, which provide better education than their public school counterparts. Urban India shows that 50 per cent of all parents opt for private schools; rural India, where schools are fewer, the numbers, while lower, are still significant. Government schools, for the most part, are poorly run and the educational standards leave much to be desired.

However, it will not be smooth sailing hereon. Implementation will be key. Private schools are not equally endowed with financial resources. The richer ones will have little difficulty adjusting to the new realty. Those burdened by financial constraints including poorer salaries for their teaching staff will have to be given a helping hand through government grants.

The way out lies in a graded recognition system which evaluates and rates through independent agencies. Such a rating system could involve various tiers based on facilities, teacher performance and student learning outcomes. Broader standards focused on outcomes as much as on inputs would help keep many efficient, but less well endowed, private schools within the net recognition. It would also enhance competition around quality by incentivizing schools to acquire higher ratings and assist parents in choosing more suitable schools. Furthermore, central guidance and regulation could reduce the disparity in education standards in the states and make for a uniformly higher level of performance nationally. This has to be a vital goal. It cannot be otherwise in a competitive 21st century world.

Clearly, the new Act has put India's school system on an ascending curve, but its ultimate success will depend on imagination, flexibility and common sense in the implementation.

This exponential reform has opened the door to a new world of opportunity for millions who who have suffered exclusion. India lives in hope and expectation. And for good reason.

According to the World Bank, the number of children enrolled in elementary education in India increaded by 57 million to 192 million between 2003 and 2009. The number of children not in school declined from 25 million to 6.1 million between the same period, said the the World Bank.

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Thought for the Week At the heart of science is an essential balance between two seemingly contradictory attitudes an openness to new ideas, no matter how bizarre or counterintuitive, and the most ruthlessly sceptical scrutiny of all ideas, old and new.

- Carl Sagan

SIMON HUGHES MP Member of Parliament for North Southwark and Bermondsey Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

Britian needs a completely reformed political system It is a privilege to speak through the columns of Asian Voice to the hugely respected Asian community in Britain. First I must repeat my gratitude at being awarded this n e w s p a p e r ’ s Parliamentarian of the Year award a few weeks ago.

like me are clear that we need a fairer society – which sadly neither the conservative or labour years have delivered.

We mustn’t undermine the economy by taking away investment because we need the house building, the repairs and the new

For all of my 27 years in parliament so far I have been privileged to work with the Indian, Sri Lankan, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities in the UK and to visit each of those countries.

As I represent such a diverse part of London, I know from first hand both the contributions made by Indian and other south Asian families – to our local shops, our local businesses and to large industry and commerce across the country. But I want particularly to pay tribute to the fantastic example which South Asian families give in their commitment to education, science, technology and our public services. It’s also remarkable how much your communities give to our sport, arts and culture.

Liberal Democrats

technologies which would give us the clean energy and earn us national income in the decade ahead.

Liberal Democrats prize education and will invest extra money in smaller class sizes for young children at primary school.

We are clear that Britain needs a completely reformed political system where parliament is more representative of the breadth of our communities and every vote counts. I give you my promise that if I am re-elected, and above all if this time Liberal Democrats hold the balance of power we will make sure that the British Asian community are fully engaged in the politics of building a prosperous future for Britain.

Sri Lanka's flawed election points to troubled future Sri Lanka's parliamentary election has given President Mahinda Rajapakse's Sinhalese Buddhist-based United People's Freedom Alliance a huge majority. The party has won 120 of the 180 seats counted, but it needs 150 seats in a 225member chamber – a two-thirds majority – for Mr Rajapakse's to amend the country's constitution.

Should his party's victory fall short of that figure, Mr Rajapakse and his managers may fall back on suitable inducements to members of a demoralised opposition to defect. Such horse trading is nothing new, but will it ensure a durable peace and stability in a land torn by civil war for the past 25 years?

President Rajapakse won the presidential election in January and has again proved his popularity with the Sinhalese masses with a victory for his party. He has been the rewarded for ridding the island of the Tamil Tiger scourge. He has won the war without as yet winning the peace. In the aftermath of his triumph, President Rajapakse spoke the right words on the need for reconciliation and safeguards for all of Sri Lanka's minorities, ethnic and religious.

However, there is not much sign of implementation of such good intentions. Sri Lanka's minority Tamils consisting 12 per cent of the country's

total population remain fearful. The poll in the Tamil populated- north was seriously flawed, with far too many citizens unable to cast their ballots because of administrative shortcomings. Worse, there is disturbing evidence that the Sihalese establishment seeks to re-write Tamil history in the north and to tamper with an archaeology that tells of an ancient Tamil presence in the area. Sinhalese xenophobes are given to viewing Sri Lankan Tamil as interlopers from India with questionable rights of residence on the island. The Sinhalese Buddhist clergy appears to be in the vanguard of the movement. Religion and politics can be a cocktail of bigotry and violence. Such inner demons should be exorcized in the interests of an enduring peace.

President Rajapakse's campaign played well to the chauvinist gallery. Sinhalese democrats were given short shrift. The new government in Colombo must seriously address Tamil concerns and grievances. Devolution for the north would be a significant confidence building measure, but President Rajapakse views this, perversely, as a form of separatism. He has to be convinced that federalism is the foundation of some of the most successful states of our time, the USA being the leading example.

City float strengthens Indo-British economic ties “London's reputation as a leading financial centre has received a welcome boost after India's Essar Energy unveiled plans for a $2.5 billion (£1. 6 bn) float – the City's klargest in four years,”said a Daily Telegraph Business report. It was certainly a lift for the City as Essar, the second-biggest Indian conglomerate in both oil and gas, decided to list in London. This surely is a vote of confidence in a financial centre still suffering from the effects of a global recession.

The floatation, according to PriceWaterhouse Coopers, the global accountancy firm, showed the UK had regained its top position for floats among European stock markets in the first quarter of this year.

The proceeds of the deal should enable Essar's expansion programme to deepen its hold in India's rapidly growing oil and gas sectors. The success of Cairn Energy in Rajasthan and Reliance Industries in the offshore fields in the Bay of Bengal are signs of the time. Essar Energy's power plants have a capacity of 1,220 megawatts but under the group's growth plans this will rise to 11,470 MW by 2014.

In the oil and gas sectors the IPO proceeds will finance exploration and production and drive the

expansion of Essar's refinery from 300,000 barrels of oil a day to 750,000. Essar Energy are in separate talks to buy three refineries from Royal Dutch Oil – Stanlow, at Elsmere Port, Cheshire, and Hamburg and Heide in Germany.

Essar's revenues of around $15 billion reflects the company's interests ascross the industrial spectrum including steel, shipping, construction and telecoms. Forbes has listed Essar among the leading international players.

Essar's expression of faith in the depth of the London market underscores the City's attraction for international investors. According to Essar Chairman, Ravi Ruia, “A London listing gives us an excellent platform to showcase the potential of the Indian market in the world, and to give investors a unique , London-listed liquid vehicle to access and share in the Indian growth story.”

At its best, the boon of globalisation is that it brings nations and communities together in shared self-interest. Business enterprise, risk-taking, mutual profit, guaranteed employment at home and abroad are remaking the 21st century with bondings of peace and security. Few can ask for more.

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

Political spin in election campaign Gordon Brown states business leaders were 'deceived' by Tory's plan to scrap NI plan. Kirby Adams the chief executive of Corus, a Tata company stated “The proposal is a tax on jobs, whereas the UK needs policies that stimulate employment and Sir Stuart Rose of Marks & Spencer, stated the Prime Minister of insulting the intelligence of the country's top executives.

In Harrow & Brent, Dr Rachel Joyce the tory PPC raised issue of the nasty tactics Labours were using writing to cancer sufferers in the borough's and scaring them about cancer services recently – a disgusting piece of untruthful smears.

Now it's been rolled out nationally with the hapless lady on the card stating she was used by the Labour party! There is also a very serious question as to how Labour got such personal and confidential data. The cards were sent by a private company which won £6.3million accounts for sending mail on behalf of the Department of Health and Cancer Research UK. I hope the information commissioner takes a very very deep look at this. One expects some level of political spin in election campaign, but this one is right down in the gutter.

Ravi Shah Harrow

For Brent North residents As you are all no doubt aware, the General Election Day (6 May 2010) is looming upon us and everyone eligible should exercise his or her right to vote.

For the residents of Brent North (I am one of them), there is thrilling news that a very popular Gujarati individual, Mr Harshadbhai Patel is standing as a prospective parliamentary candidate. For those who do not know him personally (and there can not be many) Harshadbhai has lived in this Borough for the past twenty seven years and all these years he has literally sacrificed his time for the community work with no pecuniary benefits accruing to him.

He is honest, sincere, unselfish and extremely hard working. He has proven leadership qualities and will represent us with genuine enthusiasm.

I will be voting for him and I would like to think and believe that I am echoing several persons’ loud thoughts. Best wishes!

Alpesh Patel Brent North

Correspondents wanted If you live in Leeds, Manchester, Bradford or Edinburgh and are interested to be the Asian Voice 'Community News Correspondent’, please send your CV to Rupanjana at rupanjana@abplgroup.com.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Where life rests on signal After reading the article by Spriha Srivastava "where life rests on a signal" I must first praise Spriha for studying the life of the children who sell things near the light signal of Delhi.

But the way the article is written does not reflect any sympathies with these unfortunate children. Many of them are born in shanties and have no place to live. There is no body to serve them breakfast, lunch or dinner. Many of them may or may not even have theirs fathers.

They were born on the roads and possibly most of them will die on the roads. Our leaders both political and religious are too busy in making money and do not open their eyes to look after these people.

You write any letter to any body in India or here to the Indian High Commission on any subject , you will not get even acknowledgement letter, forget about the reply.

Now Maoist rebels are getting strong hold in some of the states in India and have killed 74 Indian policemen, it gives us warning that if we will continue ignoring the needs of of our people, there will be some people who will take advantage of circumstances and may take the law in their hands. The death of these 74 Indian Police should be considered a very big warning to improve the conditions of poor people and listen and respect.

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

76 dead in Naxal attack Right thinking Indians are shocked at the deaths of 76 javans at Dantewada.

The whole country mourned. It is amazing that traitors are better trained that the India army.

It is matter of shame that you relegated this tragic news of deaths to the back pages of AV. GS has kept pace with current trends by putting sensible headlines on its front page.

Why is Sania-Sohaib affair important when Islam allows polygamy and talaak?

Did they face hail of bullets, mines and bombs during the affair? Is it an achievement for Sania to indulge in a clandestine affair with married Sohaib and hurt Ayesh Sidiqqui?

Such callous attitude at humiliation at Datewada is also shamelessly displayed in India too. There are no candlelight vigils. No MP or leading personality has paid tribute or saluted.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

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Fuel tax to be means-tested

Don't mix politics with sports

The announcement that petrol prices have reached an all-time high will come as no surprise to those living on the breadline.

As a UK poverty charity, we know that for many of the people we help a car is their only lifeline.

For elderly people and vulnerable families struggling to survive in rural areas, public transport is not an option – and nor is buying a more fuel efficient car.

It's time to stop raising the tax on fuel. The poor should not be penalised through such a sweeping tax when they are using their cars for essential journeys, such as to buy food and for hospital visits.

Disabled people who need adapted vehicles will be hit, as will carers who need to transport the elderly and disabled around.

Over half (55%) of our beneficiaries cannot afford to visit family and friends.

This extra levy will force more into loneliness and isolation.

Fuel tax should be means-tested, so it is the drivers of gas-guzzling 4X4s and SUVs that pay for their luxury – not the vulnerable who rely on their cars to survive.

High fuel prices also have a knock-on effect on the price of food. All goods and services are reliant on petrol so if the wholesale price of petrol goes up, all prices go up – which hits the poor hardest.

Whichever party forms a new government next month, if they are serious about lifting people out of poverty then a cap on fuel duty should be considered as a matter of urgency.

According to the media reports Indian Premier league (IPL) Commissioner, Lalit Modi had officially announced that Pakistan cricket players were not to be selected in the ongoing league as they are not of International standard.

Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood actor and the owner of Kolkata Knight Riders,contradicted Lalit Modi, by saying that his team had exhausted it's quota of foreign players, or else he would have taken Pakistani players.

After this all hell broke loose in Shiv Sena party when Bal Thackrey criticised SRK and demanded an apology! It led to many protests by Shiv Sena supporters who tore the posters of the My Name is Khan film outside the actor's residence and demanded SRK to go to Pakistan. I can say without hesitation that the actor was not motivated by the spirit of being a Muslim but rather by being a sport enthusiastic.

It is reported that Priety Zinta and Shilpa Shetty, Bollywood actresses who each owns IPL team had confirmed when they were interviewed by the press, if they too were threatened.

If participation of the Pakistani players, posed the security of the country in danger then Lalit Modi should have announced accordingly. Cricket is a gentleman's game and politics must not be mixed with it or any other sport for that matter.

Will Davies Elizabeth Finn Care London

National Insurance is a contribution rather than a tax to pay for the National Health Service, State Pension and other Welfare benefits. It raises £100 billion a year.

When NHS was planned by Beveridge in 1943, the Tory led Assheton Committee reviewed the proposal, "it was for those who could not afford better".

The Committee recommended that those earning above £420 per annum would not be obliged to pay contributions to NHS. The logic was that if NHS was to cover the entire nation, the role of the private sector would be narrowed so much that there would be lowering of standards in the medical professions.

This has now indeed happened. NHS is hugely overcrowded.

One quarter of UK population is capable of providing for medical care privately. However, human nature being what it is, only one-eighth of UK population actually has private medical cover and even that only partly.

I read Dhiren Katwa's article on diversity and yes one has to give some credit to the Labour party, but when it comes to diversity in politics and in particular Hindu and Sikh community under David Cameron there has been considerable progress, as stated by Simon Woolley of OBV : "the conservatives party now represent diversity clearly as we go into the general election which Labour has failed in its 13 years" And it stated with a pro-active event, 'Conservatives: Nurturing Talent', organised by Operation Black Vote (OBV) and hosted by the then chairman Rt. Hon. Francis Maude MP held at the Conservative Campaign Headquarters in London in Sept 2006. Four years on, The figures are: 1. Conservatives have selected 189 Hindu and Sikh candidates for local elections, Labour 87 and Lib Dem 33.

2. Conservatives have selected 22 Hindu and Sikh Parliamentary candidates.

In local government Conservative currently has the largest number of Hindu and Sikh Councillors and this will increase after May 6. As they say the proof is in the puddings. Labour has always been good in making grandstand statements. But on political representation they have failed the community This success story has been ignored by the Asian media.

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

Amrish Patel Via Email

National Insurance Planned Increase in 2011

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

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

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(Off Coronet Street)

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

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

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

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

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Leicester Voice

Do you have any comments, news or photographs about Leicester? If you do, please send them to Leicester Voice at

leicester@abplgroup.com

Vic Sethi awarded Businessman of the Year Award 2010 Kulvinder S Sethi (Vic Sethi), president of Hyundai Corporation (UK) and Daewoo International (Europe), has received the Businessman of The Year Award 2010 at an event that took placce at Leicester City Football Club. The event was held by the EM Taskforce and was chaired

by Keith Vaz. Amongst the guests was also Margaret Beckett and many other councillors and government officials.

Vic Sethi was delighted to receive this award and thanked David Miliband and Keith Vaz. Vic Sethi left Kuwait during the invasion of Kuwait on the 2nd of August 1990 and came to the Britain. He is married to Dimple Sethi with two children. He said that he was honoured to receive this award and was collecting it on behalf of the people who supported and backed him throughout his life career which included is families in back in Kuwait, Manchester, Leicester, friends and well wishers.

Vic said that this could not have been achieved without the blessings of The One and Only Almighty Lord

Kulvinder S Sethi receives awards from David Miliband

and the other people who played a major role behind this achievement were His both parents in Kuwait and Leicester, his wife and children his Brother-InLaw Harjot S. Anand and uncle Babu S Anand who are the pillars and the backbone to his achievements and the main tribute goes to his Father-inLaw Mr Rajwans S Anand who was the creater of the Empire called Anand International Ltd. in Leicester. Vic lost his father-in-law on the 10th of Feb 2009, but says he is always with him and his family.

“Those we love don’t go away, They walk beside us every day.

Unseen, Unheard, but always near, Still loved, Still missed and Very Dear.”

Winner misses his big day out Arranging school trips, donating religious books and raising hundreds of pounds for charity has landed a community leader an award.

Tarlochan Virk, general secretary of community group Punjabi Listeners' Club, was recognised by the Punjabis in Britain All-Party Parliamentary Group at their 2010 Cultural Awards for his services to promoting Punjabi language, culture and religion .

Mr Virk, from Oadby, was due to receive his certificate from group chairman John McDonnell MP during a ceremony at the House of Commons' Jubilee Room on March

24.

However, he suffered a slipped disc while gardening just five days before and spent 10 days in hospital.

Mr Virk said: "I was very proud and honoured to receive the award but I was gutted that I couldn't go. My family and some friends had booked the day off work so that we could go down. The House of Commons has so much prestige and going there would have been great. I enjoy doing all these things and get passionate about organising events for the Punjabi community. I've been doing these things for years now and it's really nice that people

Shilpa Shetty to give Keith Vaz some Bollywood glitz

Keith Vaz, the Labour Leicester East MP is planning to dazzle voters with some Bollywood glamour, the Daily Telegraph reports. The 34-year-old actress has known Vaz, who is defending a 15,876 majority, since he invited her to meet Tony Blair at the Commons after she won Celebrity Big Brother in 2007.

She had been the victim of racist bullying by other contestants, including the late Jade Goody.

“In India, Bollywood stars stand for parliament themselves,” says a member of Vaz’s campaign team. “It will be lovely to see them bring a bit of razzmatazz to the campaign.”

5

have nominated me."

In 2009, the 54-yearold helped raise more than £600 for Children In Need after arranging a hymnsinging event at the Shri Guru Harkrishan Sahib Ji Gurdwara, in Kenilworth Road, Oadby. He also organised trips to the Gurdwara for local schools and Scout groups and donated 101 religious books to the University of Leicester.

Mr Virk was one of two people from the UK to be invited to The White House for the sixth annual Sikh American Heritage Dinner.

Iqbal Singh, a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group, said

Mr Virk was a worthy winner of the award.

Twenty-five people were chosen to receive awards, with other categories including sport, writing, teaching and music.

Mr Singh said: "We received a number of nominations and our advisory board selected those who we believe deserved recognition for their work. Mr Virk was selected in the community category for his efforts to promote Punjabi culture in his local area. We picked a worthy winner. It is a shame he was unable to come down and enjoy the day but we've made sure he now has his certificate."

Poor state of city's GP surgeries revealed The poor condition of many of the city's GP practices has been revealed in a report by health officials.

Many buildings are highlighted as being too old and cramped – and some are so inadequate they are set to be moved. It is feared that the state of the surgeries is hampering plans to provide more health care closer to the community.

NHS Leicester City said it is in talks with 18 practices needing significant investment. Up to eight buildings are being given grants to relocate because they are "unfit for purpose".

A report by the primary care trust said too many of the city's 65 practices were

in small converted houses and shops, which may have cramped waiting areas and consulting rooms. Others have carpets – which can hold dirt – instead of vinyl floors, leading to hygiene concerns. It said such buildings was hampering plans to move more care services from hospitals closer to where people live and work.

GPs said that higher expectations from patients, coupled with rules on access for disabled people, were putting pressure on surgeries to refurbish dated buildings. In the past two years, NHS Leicester City has paid out £900,000 to subsidise upgrades or relocations of 19 practices.

News in Brief Students helping to predict major quakes Teenagers are helping lead the way in earthquake studies.

Students at John Cleveland College, in Hinckley, have been predicting devastating quakes, such as the recent ones in Chile and Turkey, since having a seismometer installed in 2007.

Now their work is to be combined with that of young people in Africa thanks to the school's long-standing links with Mtwapa Academy, in Kenya. Data recorded by the school's seismometer is uploaded to a website where it can be shared with other schools with similar equipment to help improve students' understanding of seis-

mology.

Scientist Paul Denton, the students' mentor from the British Geological Survey (BGS), said the project was now being extended to another continent.

He said: "We have been talking to seismologists at universities in Africa and they are keen to get this started."

Among the students who have been deciphering the peaks and troughs of the data charts are Louise Moeller, 16, and Grant Cooke, 18, who helped forecast the Turkish earthquake in March.

Louise said: "It is amazing we could form those predictions from looking at this data."

Appeal for witnesses A train passenger has been subjected to a racial assault.

British Transport Police is appealing for witnesses to the incident, which happened on the 6.47pm East Midlands Trains service between Loughborough and Nottingham on Easter Sunday.

Officers say the Asian victim, returning home to Glasgow after attending a wedding in Leicester, was taunted by a group of about 20 men before being grabbed by one of them.

Inspector Robin Edwards said: "He was approached by a man who began taunting him with racist abuse. The

man then grabbed the victim around the neck and put him in a headlock."

The man's wife called 999.

Insp Edwards added: "I would urge anyone on the train to come forward. Behaviour such as this is totally unacceptable."

The suspect is described as being of mixed race, or black and aged in his mid-30s.

He had very short, black hair, was 5ft 10in and scruffy looking. He was wearing a grey top and dark bottoms.

Anyone with information should contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40.

Blind student backing marathon challenge A blind student from Loughborough will run part of the London Marathon with a soldier recovering from a serious spinal injury.

Bilal Hussain will join Major Phil Packer for a one-hour leg of the 26-mile challenge in the capital.

The 21-year-old is studying for maths and English GCSEs at the Royal National Institute for the Blind College, in Radmoor Road, Loughborough.

One GP, who asked not to be named, said some practices might struggle to raise their share of the costs of upgrades and might not want to move.

In a statement NHS Leicester City said the maximum improvement grant any practice could get was £200,000, which could cover either 30% or

Major Packer, who was injured in Iraq in 2008, will try to complete the course in 26 hours, each with a separate companion raising money for a different charity. Any cash he and Bilal raises will go towards gym equipment at the college.

Bilal said: "I am really excited about marathon day. Phil is an inspiring person.

Major Packer said: "Bilal's support is crucial."

60% of the cost, depending on the refurbishments needed. So far, no practice has been turned down for a grant. Funds will be available for at least the next three years. A review of all GP practices will take place in the next year to ensure they comply with fire safety and disability laws.

6

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Kapilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our Londonâ&#x20AC;?

KHICHADI

CIIr Navin Shah AM London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow

Good Conduct Respect and Honour Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always believed in maintaining integrity and respect in public office. We, the politicians have a difficult job â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a difficult balancing act required at all the times and of course we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t succeed in doing that on some occasions. The role we play as elected representatives is often frustrating, annoying and like everybody else we get angry! Regrettably at City Hall there has been a string of incidents recently that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reflect well on elected members including the Mayor and have raised issues of good conduct, respect and honour. In this context the following is worth noting.

The Mayor is not funny!

The proposed ÂŁ4 Billion development scheme for the Brent Cross Shopping Centre, 7550 housing units, and mixed uses has attracted serious controversy and objections in the past few months and even years.

Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been an objector to the proposals and actively engaged with the residents and valued organisations who have collectively done their best to get the Barnet Council and the Mayor of London to refuse planning permission on legitimate planning grounds. The Council and the Mayor took a different view.

Whilst I strongly disagreed with their stance I under-

stand their position and have approached it professionally and respectfully.

Regrettably this has not been the case with the Mayor recently!

At a recent â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;London Planning Awardsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; event at City Hall, referring to the Brent Cross Cricklewood (BXC) development, the Mayor showed a complete contempt to objectors and made offensive remarks to those residents and objectors who have raised very serious and legitimate issues about the mega super-hub BXC development. The Mayor addressing the event made several so called funny references to the objectors of the development. He thinks this is all hilarious and jokes about nodding through the plans against fiercest opposition but then he says 'never mind' all this.

The jokes are in a very bad taste and the Mayor is not funny and making people very, very, very 'cross'. Mr Boris Johnsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s conduct has just demonstrated how little he cares for the interest of community and residents on a major plan that will have a serious impact on the generations to come.

Does this also not prove the Mayor's thoughts and actions lie firmly with developers? I've called for a public enquiry about this application and the sooner it happens the better! The Mayor owns an apology for

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com

poking unnecessary fun and causing totally avoidable offence.

Open Letter Crematorium

The Elections London and Londoners find themselves in almost unprecedented situation when theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be voting for both Council and General Elections on 6th May. Given this situation, given the fact that the country and the governments (both local and national), regardless of their political persuasions, face big challenges its vital that the political parties and candidates get a thorough examination. London is known for its diverse communities and it is important that candidates get a close scrutiny from all sections of communities with searching questions about the real commitment to diversity, the very understanding of it and what contribution they have made and will make in such areas. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m glad that this is what was planned at two Hustings I recently attended. The first one organised by the NCGO with the support of Asian Voice and the second one organised by Muslim groups. Both were very worthwhile because I witnessed real passion and often raw emotions about serious local and foreign policy issues and left the Hustings with a lot of food for thought!

Be deliciously different!

National Vegetarian Week (NVW) is the annual awareness-raising campaign promoting inspirational vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle.

The first National Vegetarian Week took place in 1992, promoting â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Seven Delicious Daysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Participation was already enthusiastic from vegetarian communities and celebrities.

The Vegetarian Society started encouraging community groups and businesses alike to get involved in the week.

Cafes, shops, food producers, our members, and celebrities throughout the country came together to bring about a celebration that was most definitely worth repeating!

In 1997, the Vegetarian Society held the first VegFest festival in Manchester, with 5,000 people attending to enjoy vegetarian food and products from over 20 different stalls, music from a local steel band, and the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest salad, which came in at a whopping 31.5 tonnes!

As popularity and sup-

port for National Vegetarian Week grew, the charity thought up more ingenious ways to get the veggie message across.

There was even the gigantic fork that featured on

the front page of The Independent. This same year, a 60ft message (Break Out!) projected onto the House of Commons, provoking further debate on the vegetarian issue.

2004 saw National Vegetarian Week return to the core theme of â&#x20AC;&#x201C; simply -vegetarianism. The amusing Feed Your Head imagery provided a lighthearted talking-piece through which we, and all those who got involved, could promote a week of healthy, vegetarian eating.

National Vegetarian Week is now in its eighteenth year and this is the fourth year that Cauldron

Foods has joined the Week as headline sponsor.

This year National Vegetarian Week is from 24-30 May 2010.

Veggie food is different - itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s often the cheaper option, the greener option, the healthier option and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always the best choice if you care about animals.

Try being different for a week - it just might be the best choice you ever make.

So, be deliciously different-visit www.nationalvegetarianweek.org or call 0161 925 2000 for free Vegetarian Society and Cauldron food recipes, meal plans and information on how you can love the food you eat.

To all the MPs and Councillors (both sitting and prospective candidates) representing the people of Harrow, Brent and Barnet (HBB).

As the election draws ever close and those who wish to represent us knock on our doors to garner our support, it is time to get some honesty and for people to come clean on where they stand on some important matters affecting our community.

Just in case there still remains any person within your administration who may not be fully aware of the case of Mr Ghai and his right to elect for an open pyre cremation â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the courts have judged this to be a fair and reasonable request and as such, there are no legal barriers to granting planning permission for any crematorium that wishes to offer such a service.

Your three boroughs have in excess of 100,000 people from the Hindu and other faiths who would prefer cremation as a religious right. A smaller minority might even elect for the open pyre option, should that also be available. Therefore the question is, is it now not time to establish the first culturally sensitive crematorium that would address the needs of the many who live in your area?

In pursuit of this I note that the political landscape is as follows: Harrow: 2 MPs and 63 Councillors Brent: 3 MPs and 63 Councillors Barnet: 3 MPs and 63 Councillors The purpose of this open letter is to ask each and every one of you to write to me directly with your answer to the following questions: Question 1: Are you in favour of establishing a culturally sensitive crematorium that addresses the needs and requirements

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Question 2: If a planning application for such a crematorium was put forward, will you support it?

Please answer, YES, NO or Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Know.

I expect each and every candidate (MPs and Councillors) from each of the three boroughs to respond to me in writing.

My email address is printed at the top of this column.

I expect the responses to be with me latest Sunday 18th April 2010.

In my column the week after, I will inform every reader of AV/GS of the outcome of this open letter. I want each and every reader to see, in black and white, exactly what each party is saying and the level of their responses back to me.

Any response that comes with ifs and buts will be considered as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Noâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. Any response that is full of rhetoric and/or platitudes will again be considered as a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Noâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. The people of Harrow, Brent and Barnet want clear responses so they can elect the right person at the next election and hold them accountable.

People of H B & B This is your time to demand what should rightfully have been granted to you many decades ago. You have allowed political parties and their representatives to come for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chaiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Samosasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and in return what have they delivered for you? Our Temples and voluntary organisations have invited and honoured these representatives from all the parties to many of our cultural and religious events, yet what is it exactly that they have done to support us in our time of need?

The open letter on cremations has been long overdue. No doubt each and every one of you will be able to judge for your-

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of the Hindu community (and others) which should be built and become operational within the next term of parliament? Please answer, YES, NO or Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Know.

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self who has given us the better response.

As I write this column, I am fully aware of some of our sampradya who have large followings in these boroughs who have been giving access to their membership to a few select individuals who want votes to get into Parliament. Ask yourself the question, what are you getting in return?

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sell yourself short.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sell your community for a photo opportunity or an honour.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t undermine your dharma by allowing those who say one thing in public, but do something totally different in private. Demand of them that they respond to the two questions I have posed and let us see how they respond.

People from other areas If you are not from Harrow, Brent or Barnet you may feel slightly neglected. This is not the intention. The purpose of using these three boroughs as an example is to show to people in other areas that if your local population is significant, then you should also demand for your rights in a similar fashion. In a close run election, every vote counts. That means every ethnic minority vote has a greater value than it ever has had before. If you do not use this election to flex your muscle now, when will you?

Community leaders, our voluntary organisations and people in influential positions â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is time you stepped up to the mark. Do not waste your support on those who will smile, take your hospitality (and money) and at the first opportunity, knife you in the back. It is time that we as a community woke up and united in how we respond to the challenges that face our communities, as well as challenges faced by our country. There is still time to register to vote.

Go to your council or do it online at: h t t p : / / w w w. a b o u t myvote.co.uk/

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Marmalade Drops

Masterchef winner Dhruv Baker might join Gordon Ramsay

Cookie Cutter Women

Dhruv Baker, the winner of Masterchef 2010, has been offered a job by his idol Gordon Ramsay.

The former sales executive, who was described as having the 'palate of an angel' by Masterchef judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace, impressed Ramsay so much that the TV chef was immediately determined to hire him.

While Ramsay has not yet decided which of his London restaurants Baker will work at, he is thrilled that he may join his team.

Ramsay told the Sunday Mirror: 'Dhruv is an outstanding young talent. It is clear he has great determination, a distinct style of cooking and an exceptional palate - all crucial for the making of a good chef.

By Deepti V. Patel Deepti is a lawyer based in London. She has previously written for The Guardian and New Statesman and sits on a number of charitable boards.

This week I read an article by Hilary Clinton on women’s equality not just being a socio-economic issue but a political imperative. Notwithstanding some important points, the thesis was a little dated and made no mention of the issues which occur after barriers to equality have been removed, like the effects of the increasing demands that successful women impose on themselves. Why are we so driven to succeed, risking burning out to complete a thousand and one goals? Are we just simply products of our current environment?

Where is the fine line between being highly driven and ambitious and being success obsessed and power hungry?

What was particularly interesting about the Clinton article, were ensuing comments left by some male readers. There was a general disgruntled attitude which seemed to stem from a perception that female equality was creating a new inequality gap - against men. There was a fear of having an army of cookie cutter women, shaped like certain female politicians promoting equality. This image of successful women being power hungry, man hating and angry doesn’t seem to help the discourse or the cause. Women have their own distinct attributes to bring to the table and those should be embraced. That we feel the need to continually improve ourselves should be encouraged, as long as it’s not a quota filling exercise. Globally speaking the above are issues in relation to women from a certain socio-economic background, because there are plenty of women who can still only dream about basic things we now take for granted. That is the nature of equality – it has unfolded at differently in every country and our experiences are all individual. In developing and post conflict countries NGOs are opting for a healthier approach to equality by working with men on women’s leadership programs, and explaining the importance of a role for women, alongside men as opposed to instead of men.

The dread of becoming a multi-tasking monster mentioned at the outset, is one of the direct consequences of a half baked equalities debate. It’s highlighted in women not knowing how to effectively express their equality, often once gained transforming it, into competitiveness and rather counter productively using it to suppress other women. Any young woman who has had a female superior at work will often know exactly what it feels like to be on the back end of “equality”. However knowing what we want as individuals rather than being influenced by political rhetoric is essential. With that awareness we are able to drive forward using positive ambition, creativity and courage. In a post-modernist setting equality should not be about a battle of the sexes but rather a conversation about collaboration. Maybe the generation of young women to come will benefit from a more balanced approach from here onwards assisted by the layers of experience from men and women before them.

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Lord Bhikhu Parekh

To mark its 60th anniversary, Britain’s prestigious Political Studies Association has published a book selecting and discussing the ideas of the greatest British political theorists of the 20th Century.

Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Professor of Political Philosophy at the Universities of Hull and Westminster, is one of them.

This is a great honour for an Indian academic.

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'We will have a discussion with him to see which restaurant will best suit him and then offer him a stage.'

Baker, 34, said he 'can't wait' to talk to Ramsay following the job offer.

He added: 'Growing

Professor Parekh’s work is praised for its range and depth as well as its original contribution to the philosophy of multicultural society. Other great British political theorists of the last 100 years include Michael Oakeshott, G.D.H. Cole, Harold Laski and R.H. Tawney. ' " # %) &(

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up, Gordon Ramsay was someone whose recipes I used to hone my skills on.'

The father-of-one was crowned the winner of Masterchef earlier last week after winning the judges over with his fusion of Indian and Western flavours, including saffron and ginger poached lobster tail and masala chi ice-cream.

He had previously credited Ramsay for inspiring him to cook, adding that as a young university graduate he became fired up by Ramsay while watching him on TV. He said: 'I did not know many famous chefs.

He was so passionate about it and so talented + ,#)( and he was one of the

celebrity chefs I first noticed.'

Asked if he would like to follow in Ramsay's footsteps and become a TV chef, he said: 'My goal is to open a restaurant and for it to be well regarded.'

Baker has not yet decided whether he will accept the position.

Talking about his family, Dhruv Baker, added that his toddler son Arun is the one food critic he can't satisfy.

"Arun's my biggest critic, for sure. At least adults are tactful when they don't like something," he quips.

"Arun just turns his plate upside down and shouts out 'Biscuits!' It's heartbreaking!"

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Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

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

Fake faith guru locked up behind bars A bogus faith healer who conned desperate Midlanders out of thousands of pounds by claiming his psychic powers could help them have babies and fix relationships has been jailed for 18 months.

Red-faced father-of-four Niem Mohammed, pictured, claimed his skills as a faith healer and spiritualist had been passed down through generations.

Mohammed, 41, who has a luxury home in Cheshire and drives a Bentley and a Ferrari, charged a Smethwick couple £9,650 to break a black magic spell he said was placed on the woman by her jealous sister. And he told her he would use his prayer to help her conceive a child with her partner.

One woman told the jury at Wolverhampton Crown Court how she feared for her safety after Mohammed told her that a powerful Sikh ghost, or ‘jinn’, would break down her home and ruin her life if she did not pay him £1,800. The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, said: “He said that my problems were so bad I

would need to spend more money. I said I wasn’t going to pay the money and he began shouting and swearing at me. I was so scared.”

The court also heard that Mohammed had laid out guarantees to his customers that he could reunite separated couples within a week. And told them he could bring joy back into the lives of young women who wanted to marry boyfriends of their choice instead of going into arranged marriages.

Mohammed used the alias Peer Sayed Sahib in newspapers and magazines. His adverts stated: “With the grace of god one night of prayer will eliminate your suffering” adding “all your anxiety and suffering will disappear forever.”

Mohammed also claimed he was born at a place of pilgrimage in India when in fact he was born

in Liverpool.

Barry Berlin, prosecuting, told the court: “This case is about a swindler who used the cloak of faith healing, spiritualism and astrology to satisfy his greed.” In his defence Mohammed demonstrated to the jury his meditation and prayer techniques and showed them his scrolls and talismans. Ahead of being sentenced, Mohammed denied he was a conman. “Having one or two complaints does not mean my work of 15 years is no good,” he said.

One campaigning organisation which played a part in bringing Mohammed’s scam to the attention of the authorities was Birmingham-based

Asian Rationalist Society which has warned there are many more fake faith healers in the city. Sach Dev Virdee, the society’s general secretary, said: “There are dozens more faith healers working in the area. Wherever you have an Asian community you have these kind of people who prey on vulnerable and superstitious people.”

He added: “We will continue working to expose these individuals.

Welcoming the outcome of Mohammed’s trial, Mr Virdee said: “I personally feel this is a victory for the common man. For Asian people in particular it is a psychological victory more than a financial one.

This will help encourage people to come forward to make complaints against other faith healers.”

Mohammed, of Altrincham Road, Wilmslow in Cheshire was sentenced at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Wednesday a fortnight ago after being found guilty of 11 charges of fraud.

Ignore flyers, Muslims told Man held over wife’s murder Leading Muslims have urged Birmingham worshippers to ignore flyers by Hizb-Ut-Tahrir, a radical group, to boycott the election. The flyers were reportedly handed out in front of Birmingham’s Central Mosque after Friday prayers last week. Tahir Alam, advisor for the Muslim Council of Britain, said voting in the elections was not “haram” or forbidden for Muslims, as claimed by the radical group.

Silence helps raise cash Hats off to Payal Mehta, a Year 10 Wolverhampton Girls High pupil, who has raised £500 for victims of the Haiti earthquake by not saying a word at home or school for three days. Her proud mother Shila Mehta, 46, of Wellington Road, Bilston, said: “I was astonished. She is normally such a chatterbox.” Payal said: “It was hard but I was determined to succeed.”

Beware: Fake gold on sale Asian customers are being urged to be extra vigilant when buying gold jewellery after thousands of pounds worth of fake items were seized from shops in Birmingham.

Officers at Trading Standards swooped on dozens of inner-city stores in predominantly Asian areas of the city including Alum Rock Road, Saltley and Stratford Road in Sparkhill and Sparkbrook. They acted after routine inspections unearthed jewellery being sold without hallmarks and real gold being sold at prices way above its true value. Head of Trading Standards Chris Neville, pictured, said: “Gold is traditionally an important currency in the British Asian community. It is often brought as an investment in times of economic uncertainty, when gold tends to hold its value.”

Anyone concerned about fake jewellery should call Trading Standards on 0121 303 6031.

House chores

One in five Midlanders believe chores from vacuuming to dusting are a woman’s job, a new survey shows.

Harminder Randhawa, 79, of Thimblemill Road, Smethwick, appeared at Warley magistrates’ court last Saturday charged with the murder of his wife Naranjan Randhawa. He was remanded in custody. Mrs Randhawa, aged in her early 70s, was pronounced dead after being found with serious head injuries at their home on April 8.

College improving City College Birmingham which almost went bust is ‘improving’ and has made ‘reasonable progress’, according to inspectors from Ofsted, the schools watchdog.

Credit, in particular, must be given to college principal Stuart Cutforth, pictured, who has gone the extra mile to make this huge difference. Not only has his leadership helped raise the rating, but it has helped to instil confidence, hope and optimism in staff and students. The 25,000 student institution was threatened with closure last year and was forced to axe 80 staff to solve a cash crisis.

Wing Wah bosses guilty after poisoning A landmark Chinese restaurant, Wing Wah, has paid out almost £65,000 in compensation claims after 50 diners fell ill with food poisoning. Restaurant director Kwai Lun Chiu, pictured, will pay £45,000 in compensation to seven customers that have made claims against him, whilst the remaining amount includes a fine and court costs.

Mr Lun Chui was also given a 12month community order and told he would have to carry out 100 hours of community service. Diners at the Wing Wah restaurant in Oldbury, which included an 80-yearold man and a 222-month-old baby, became ill with salmonella after eating raw eggs which had been used in a tiramisu desert.

News in Brief Car ban to ease congestion Cars may be banned from Birmingham’s “Golden Mile” Broad Street after 8pm on Friday and Saturday nights in a bid to tackle congestion which is bringing traffic to a standstill. The call has been made by a new group involving bus watchdogs and National Express WM.

Illegal cabbies Illegal taxi drivers who have been operating in Stafford have been warned that they face prosecution after the borough council revealed that it had taken legal action against cabbie Ibrar Latif. Latif, of Longton, was fined £100 and ordered to pay £505 costs after admitting plying for hire illegally.

Mum, 38, in benefits fraud A mother-of-three from West Bromwich, Surria Hussain, who dishonestly claimed more than £21,000 in benefits has avoided a jail sentence.

Hussain, 38, told council officials that there was no relation between her children and her landlord, but he was their uncle, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. Hussain, who had claimed the money over a four year period beginning in February 2003, was given an 18-month community and supervision order.

Desi food shop infested by mice Desi Sweet Centre in Walsall Road, Walsall, has been temporarily closed after an inspection by environmental health officers uncovered a trail of mice droppings. Droppings were found on the floor, shelves and on tins of tomatoes. A court notice was served on business operator Jasvir Kaur who did not appear in court. (Progressing)

New qualification A new degree for budding firefighters has been launched this week by the University of Wolverhampton. The Bachelors of Science degree in fire and rescue aims to prepare students for a career in the fire service through study and work placements.

Bronze Award South Birmingham Community Health has become one of the first organisations in the health sector to win an Investors in People bronze award.

Police spend £2.4m on PR Police forces in the West Midlands spent £2.4 million on media relations last year, new figures show.

Media and press office budgets for the four forces – West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, West Mercia – have risen by as much as 72 per cent in the last five years.

Serving with a smile Parking attendant Mohammed Farooq from Walsall has officially been crowned Parking Person of the Year.

The father-of-four clinched the top national honour at the British Parking Awards, which recognises excellence in the UK parking sector. Judges praised Mr Farooq, pictured, who works for Q-Park at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital car parks in Edgbaston, for making the arrival and stays of patients, their families and loved ones as stress-free as possible.

COUNCIL ELECTION 2010

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Mina

By Jyotsna Shah

9

Face to Face with local council candidates Parmar, Conservative candidate Sachin Ramesh Shah, Labour candidate for for Harrow East held for Diwali at the chance to serve the people Queensbury Ward, Harrow Vallabhnidhi Sanatan as their representative, I

The Tory party has nominated Ms. Mina Parmar as the candidate for Kenton East Ward. Mina is a Kenya born British citizen who migrated to the country in 1972 from the African nation. A single parent, Mina fully understands the importance for good education and is supporting her only son Dev to study medicine to become a doctor. A human resource consultant, she is taking up politics for the first time ever. She firmly believes that every human being is entitled to be treated equally and get equal justice.

As Britain gets ready for election, Mina visits the office of Asian Voice for a face to face interview.

AV: How did you think of coming into politics?

I have always believed

Mina Parmar

in fighting against injustice and I am blessed with the strength to fight it. We live in a multicultural society in Britain and it is very important that we treat everybody equally and get the same from others. I am sure you would remember the incident on October 25, 2003 when two British young men stormed into a ‘Satsang’ meeting that was

Temple, Ealing Road. They damaged the idols of Radha Krishna and created a panic amongst all. I was one of those who valiantly confronted them and even stood as a witness against the culprits during the trial in the court.

Every citizen needs to be aware of the rights and duties. Therefore our representation in the field of politics is a must. Even your Publisher/Editor CB Patel keeps on encouraging readers to get themselves actively involved in politics. All these factors helped me to be involved in politics.

I have the cause of the community close to my heart. My dream is to take up a project for increasing housing facilities to the elderly people and I am confident that if I got a

will definitely do something concrete for the same. I urge the readers of Asian Voice/Gujarat Samachar that they should extend their whole hearted support and ensure the success of my initiative.

AV: Any messages for our readers?

For the forthcoming parliamentary election, the Conservative Party has nominated Mr. Harshad Patel, the Brent East Councilor as its candidate.

This nomination is really a matter of pride and happiness for all of us. I feel all of us should get ready to ensure success for him. I fully support him and expecting the same from you all.

Write to Mina atmina_parmar@hotmail.com

Sachin Ramesh Shah is a Labour candidate for Queenbury Ward, Harrow.

On a face to face conversation with Sachin, he told the Asian Voice more about his ideologies, priorities and his effort to bring a difference from the grass root.

AV: Why did you choose politics?

My decision to put myself forward as a candidate in the local elections, came after I saw how the Tories were running the council. They did not seem to understand that fairness should be at the centre of what everyone does. Gandhi said “be the change you want to see in the world. I took this to heart and thought I can make a difference, I wanted to be the change in Harrow council, and that

Launch of Harrow Labour Party Election Campaign Harrow Labour Party’s election campaign was launched on Monday 12th April for the forthcoming General and Local Government Elections at Harrow East Labour Centre.

The press conference was attended by Tony McNulty, candidate for the parliamentary seat for Harrow East and Gareth Thomas Candidate for the parliamentary seat for Harrow West, Cllr Navin Shah AM and many others.

The conference commenced

with statements from the two parliamentary candidates followed by the launch of the Harrow Labour Party Manifesto by Bill Stephenson, for the Local Government elections. The pledge includes a promise to keep the Harrow Council tax low, help Harrow's residents and business, make Harrow safer, prevent cramming the Harrow Town Centre, make Harrow green and clean and ensure provision for more arts, sports and leisure facilities.

Front row - Mrinal Choudhury, Sue Anderson, Gareth Tomas, Tony McNulty Cllr Navin Shah AM, Nizam Ismail and Krishna James

Sachin Ramesh Shah

is why I took the decision to stand.

AV: Why did you choose the Labour party?

I joined the Labour party at the age of 18, after I saw the large inequalities that existed in the UK. After looking at the policies of all the parties, I saw that only the Labour party had the policies and the conviction to put these wrongs to right.”

Why should our readers choose you as a Councillor?

If elected, I promise to stand up for the people of Queensbury. I will not be a silent councillor, I will speak up for people that are all too often forgotten about in society. I will work with community groups to ensure that everyone get heard. My priorities will be the priories of the people of Queensbury.

Know your council and candidates in London Boroughs

South Asian councillors in London and Greater London- Part 1 Woolwich Common

Labour

Harpinder Singh

Woolwich Common

Labour

Hussain Akhtar

Canons

Conservative

Golam Sobhan Chowdhury

Greenhill

Conservative

Manji Kara

Bemont

Conservative

St Pancras and Somers Labour Town

Ashok Kulkarni

Rayners Lane

Conservative

Vina Mathani

Kenton West

Conservative

Maya De Souza

Highgate

Green party

Salim Miah

West Harrow

Conservative

Geethika Jayantika

King's Cross

Labour

Anjana Patel

West Harrow

Conservative

Jagdish Gupta

Southall Broadway

Conservative

Dinesh Solanki

Queensbury

Conservative

Jarnail Singh Jandu

Lady Margaret

Conservative

Yogesh Teli

Kenton West

Conservative

Ashok Kapoor

Walpole

Conservative

Mrinal Chowdhury

Edgware

Labour

Amit Kapoor

Elthorne

Conservative

Mano Dharmarajah

Roxbourne

Labour

Thaya Idaikkadar

Roxeth

Labour

Maninder Kaur Keith

Lady Margaret

Conservative

Krishna James

Marlborough

Labour

Seema Kumar

Acton Central

Conservative

Gurcharan Singh

Lady Margaret

Conservative

Nizam Ismail

Queensbury

Labour

Asad Omar

Headstone South

Labour

Raj Ray

Roxeth

Labour

Name

Ward

Party

Abdul Hai

King's Cross

Labour

Barking and Dagenham

MAR Fani

Abbey

Labour

Fazlul Chowdhury

Bloomsbury

Labour

N S S Gill

Longbridge

Labour

Nasim Ali

Regent's Park

Labour

Haverstock

Lib Dem

Barnet

Bexley Brent

Camden

Rajwant Sidhu

Borough

Harrow

R Gill

Longbridge

Labour

Syed Haque

I S Jamu

River

Labour

Nurul Islam

A Agarwal

Becontree

Independent

Ansuya Sodha

West Hendon

Labour

Jazmin Naghar

Garden Suburb

Conservative

Mukesh Depala

Coppetts

Conservative

Sachin Rajput

Oakleigh

Conservative

Danish Chopra

Colindale

Labour

Harry Persaud

Thamesdmead East

Labour

Harbans Singh

Thamesmead East

Independent

Mohammad Anwar

Willesden Green

Lib Dem

Chunilal Chavda

Alperton

Lib Dem

Pawan Gupta

Dudden Hill

Lib Dem

Manjit Singh

Southall Broadway

Conservative

Chunilal Hirani

Dudden Hill

Lib Dem

Navin Shah

Kenton East

Labour

Shahbaz Ahmed

North Greenford

Labour

Rekha Shah

Wealdstone

Labour

Afifa Pervez

Wembley Central

Lib Dem

Jasbir Anand

Southall Green

Labour

Sasikala Suresh

Headstone South

Labour

Harbhajan Singh

Welsh Harp

Labour

Mohammad Aslam

Norwood Green

Labour

Muhammed Butt

Tokyngton

Labour

Kuki Thammaiah

Queensbury

Labour

Tej Ram Bagha

Dormers Wells

Labour

Havering

None

Zaffar Van Kalwala

Stonebridge

Labour

Tejinder Singh Dhami

Dormers Wells

Labour

Hackney

Faizullah Khan

Hackney Downs

Labour

Leena Ahmed

Dollis Hill

Labour

Manjeet Dheer

Dormers Wells

Labour

Nargis Khan

Dalston

Labour

Suresh Kansagra

Barnhill

Conservative

Kamaljit S Dhindsa

Southall Green

Labour

Sherjah Shaikh

Springfield

Conservative

Kanta Mistry

Queenbury

Conservative

Swaran Singh Kangh

Southall Green

Labour

Saleem Siddiqui

Kings Park

Labour

Harshad Patel

Preston

Conservative

Rita Krishna

Labour

Zahida Abbas Noori

Southall Broadway

Labour

Stoke Newington Central

Harihar Patel

Northwick Park

Conservative

Rajinder Mann

Norwood Green

Labour

Kenton

Conservative

Hammersmith and Fulham

None

Uma Fernandes

Param Sandhu

North Greenford

Labour

Harringay

Kaushika Amin

Northumberland Park

Labour

Atiq Malik

Queensbury

Democratic Consrvative

Virendra Sharma

Norwood Green

Labour

Gmmh Rahman Khan

West Green

Labour

Jayanti Patel

Woodside

Labour

Dhiren Basu

Seven Sisters

Labour

Fiyaz Mughal

Noel Park

Lib Dem

Anwar Bamber

Charville

Conservative

Santokh Dhillon

Heathrow Villages

Conservative

Sid Garg

Yealing

Labour

Mo Khursheed

Botwell

Labour

Avtar Sandhu

Pinkwell

Labour

Robin Sansarpuri

Townfield

Bromley

None

Croydon

Raj Chandrana

West Thornton

Labour

Richard Chatterjee

Shirley

Conservative

Sherwan Chowdhury

Norbury

Labour

Shafi Khan

Norbury

Labour

Vidhi Mohan

Fairfield

Conservative

Raj Rajendra

Benham Manor

Labour

Ealing

Enfield

Greenwich

Anwar Chaudhury MBE

Ponders End

Ahmet Hasan

Jubilee

Labour

Rohini Simbdyal

Jubilee

Labour

Dr Jagir Sekhon

Labour Hillingdon

Abbey

Labour

Labour

Part II next week

10

ART & CULTURE

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

By Spriha Srivastava

Bharatanatyam legend comes to UK It’s that time of the year when London is buzzing with cultural events and performances from artists around the world. There is a flow of diverse cultures coming from every part of the world and it makes the British Summer even more enjoyable.

Alarmel Valli, a well-known Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer is acclaimed internationally for her ability to turn a traditional grammar into subtle, deeply internalized, personal dance poetry.

Her dance has been described by many as ‘uncompromisingly classical, but at the same time, an undeniable language of self expression. Alarmel started learning dance from her gurus when she was just seven years old, “My first memories of learning Bharatanatyam, when I was barely seven years old, are of being woken up by my mother at the crack of dawn and of going, sleepy eyed, to an old ramshackle classroom next to railway tracks where the sound of passing trains was a constant feature.

It was here that the two great Gurus, Pa n d a n a l l u r Sri.Chokkalingam Pillai and his son Sri.Subbaraya Pillai conducted dance classes and where, despite the sooty and hardly aesthetic atmosphere, they gave me the key to the magical world of dance. I owe much to my Gurus, who were repositories of the collective conscience of many generations of dance gurus and who embodied the profound knowledge of their forefathers.”

Honoured by two of India’s highest civilian honours – the Padmasri and the Padma Bhushan, conferred by the President of India, Alarmel Valli has showcased her talent worldwide. A few of the highlights of Valli’s career on the international scene would include her performances - at the Bolshoi Theatre, at the Theatre De La Ville, the Vienna International Dance Festival, the Munich Opera Festival, the Edinburgh Festival, the New York International Festival of Arts, the Avignon Festival, the Cervantino Festival, the Harbourfront Festival , the Min-On Association in Japan, the Venice Biennale, the Lyon Biennale, the Madrid Festival, the Royal Albert Hall in London, the Helsinki Biennale, the Millennium festivals in Berlin and Bologna, the Brussels Spring Festival, the Asia in Helsinki Festival and the Frankfurt Alte Oper.

Highly acclaimed as an ‘uncompromisingly classical’ artist, Alarmel believes that globalisation apart from affecting other spheres of our lives has also affected the Indian classical dance. “With globalisation, there is an increasing tendency for Indian classical dancers to focus on sensationalism and overt dramatic interpretation. But our dance is more than just the sum part of leaps, stretch-

es and lines, infinitely more than mere geometry and breathtaking physicality. Bharatanatyam has distinctly Indian tints, a perfume and flavour all its own, a unique allure, grace and beauty, a musicality that can be at once profound and playful, sensual and delicate. Its magic lies in the language of subtext and resonance, where mood and metaphor are evoked in the turn of head, twitch of eyebrow, glance of eye, flick of wrist, arc of finger, light and shade in footwork…It would be a great pity if these were lost to us.”

And thus she comes to London with the same enthusiasm and the same grace but for an absolutely worthy cause this time. Alarmel will be performing on Saturday, 17th April at the Cadogon Hall in aid of a Charity called ‘Chain of Hope.’

Alarmel has spent months and months reading and preparing for this event. This as she says helps her in “evolving her as an artist.” The theme of the event is the Essence of Lord Krishna and it will also feature India’s Basuri flute artist, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia. And as for Alarmel, she is extremely thrilled to have prepared a special performance for this event. “It is truly a privilege to dance for such a worthy cause.

Initially, I was not sure if I could perform, but it is almost as though Krishna willed that it should be so and I am looking forward to the performance.

The theme is the Essence of Krishna. Rather than presenting shorter, familiar songs on Krishna, I have specially choreographed a composite work on Krishna for the first part of my presentation.

‘Krishna – The Intimate One’, weaves together some of the most beautiful verses in Sanskrit and invokes him, both as the universal, i n f i n i t e divinity, and as the Intimate one, loved by and accessible to all. In the second part of my performance, I will present a couple of other works.”

Alarmel Valli

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

By Priyal Sanghavi

Where Raj met Simran Hi folks, thanks for having a look at my brand new column for Asian Voice. It is going to feature food, fashion and travel notes. We start off with my recent trip to Switzerland. All feedback is welcome on priyal.sanghavi@abplgro up.com The first sign which greets you on your way up Switzerland's Mt Titlis via cable car left my friends and I in spilts- it was in Hindi.

The English one followed it much later Thats not the only Indian language atop Switzerland's highest peak.

Tamil, Gujarati all make an appearance.

And to the sheer gastronomical delight of all Indians, the cafe serves hot roti and aloo gobi.

This is the best indicator of the importance Switzerland attaches to Asian tourists. And why not? The country has been immortalised by Bollywood where many actors have romanced atop snow-clad mountain or danced in green meadows.

area for traditional Swiss food. If you are missing home food too much, Namastey and Kanchi restaurants are good bets.

Bargaining is never a taboo. We stayed in the

View en route Lucerne to Interlaken

Youth Hostel which is fifteen minutes away for city centre for £41 a night per person and found a hotel in the city centre for mere £48.

Next was the trip to Mount Titlis- heaven for skiers. Ski lessons and equipment need to be booked well in advance.

We missed out on that and settled to have a snow fight on the top.

If you have just 2-3

Lucerne Old City area

While Lugano is famous for its Italianinspired culture and Zurich is the largest city, we decided to choose Lucerne as our base.

And boy were we lucky, bright sunshine all the days We travelled this Easter break to Geneva and stayed in Lucerne, 3 hours away. Switzerland is one place where you don't mind being stuck in a train for hours, Listening to the ipod watching the lakes and the barns go by. The Swiss Tourist pass costs £74 for 4 days and includes train, tram and bus travel and discounts on popular attractions.

Lucerne is a great base to have. Stroll around Lake Lucerne, sip some hot chocolate watching the swans and then head to the Old city

Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge lovers, the park in the city centre is one where Shah Rukh squirts water from the fake flower on Kajol. An excellent place is Hooters- an American

days, skip going to more than one mountain. All have pretty much the same cable cars/ski slopes/restaurants and instead choose to explore another city. We decided to pick Interlaken, widely touted as the most beautiful city in Switzerland. The best train journey was from Lucerne to Interlaken.

Make sure your camera is ready to snap the breathtaking lakes. For

Lake Lucerne

chain restaurant with waitresses in tiny shorts serving delicious Mexican fare- you will be surprised that it’s very family friendly.

An excellent way to explore some of the lakes is to take a three-hour round trip by cruise on Lake Brienz. We were short of time, and hence got off at Brienz town and took the train back to Lucerne.

Switzerland is famous for three thingschocolates, watches and pocket knives. Right till the gate of departure you will find shops. We were on a budget trip and hence had to painfully avert our gaze from the fantastic shop windows.

Switzerland is not the most budget friendly destination in Europe and in terms of food Swiss cuisine is not vege t a r i a n - f r i e n d l y.

Restaurants cost about £15 for a main. My vegetarian luck ensured I had few options and by the end of it, I did not wish to see bread and cheese for a long time.

So that is my little getaway to Switzerlandgorgeous beautiful and fun. Even if you are sick of it on camera, witness it off camera and you know you have indeed come to heaven on earth.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Queen brought India to her

By Priyal Sanghavi It is a widely known fact that Queen Victoria was one of Britain's most loved monarchs but what is lesser known is that she could effortlessly say “Osborne House ki chai kharab hai.” (The tea at Osborne House is bad)!

This is one of the phrases in a little book of Urdu basics given by Munshi Hafiz Abdul Karim, her Urdu teacher for the last 13 years of her life. The 24-year-old Agra attendant brought to Britain to serve in the royal household quickly rose to be the 64 -year-old Queen's closest confidants. This fascinating pairing is explored in the book 'Victoria and Abdul- The True Story of the Queen's Closest Confidante' by Shrabani Basu launched on Monday at Nehru Centre, London After a six-city launch in India, in a completely packed auditorium, with many sitting on the floor, Lady Michealea Reid, whose grandfatherin-law James Reid was Victoria's royal physician released the book since film-maker Gurinder Chadha arrived late.

Basu's former work Curry- an ode to Britain's favourite dish led her to being introduced to Karim.

“He was the man who introduced curry to Queen Victoria so much so it was part of her daily diet.”

Beginning her research in 2006, she started her journey at Windsor Castle where she read the Hindustani journals(Urdu), diaries and letters of Queen Victoria. She then headed to Scotland to have a look at journals of James Reid and also newspapers and gossip of the time. The most difficult part was

Queen Victoria with Munshi Hafiz Abdul Karim

searching for Karim's descendants in Agra but no luck. “That trail went cold. But with the book release, the descendants contacted me and now they are here today.”

Indeed Karim's descendants had come from India, Pakistan and North Harrow for the occasion.

Extracts were read out, which sent audiences straight back into time when Karim first bent down to kiss Victoria's feet. Dr Amin Jaffer, director of arts at Christie's interviewed Basu revisiting ghosts of the past about Karim's life. Karim was completely devoted but did enjoy his suddenly elevated status in British High Society. “She was the

Queen. She got what she wanted, ” said Basu.

Basu revealed how Victoria lavished Karim with gifts in land (half of Agra), carriages, wealth which angered her children, Indian royals and the other Indian servants.

Hence when Victoria died, the royal household barged in Karim's house destroyed most of his letters of correspondence with her and exiled him back to Agra where he died a heartbroken man.

The evening ended with many buying copies of the book. Basu summed up saying “Inspite being the first Empress of India, Victoria could never go there. Hence she brought India to her.”

11

A-level student stabbed to death A public schoolboy was stabbed to death at his home after answering the door to two masked men.

It is thought Aamir Siddiqi, 17, may have been the victim of mistaken identity. His parents heard his screams and rushed to his aid in the garden but were set upon by the armed men as their son lay dying with knife wounds to his neck and chest.

Last week police were hunting two men, said to be of Asian origin, who fled from the house in Cardiff after last Sunday's attack. Aamir's parents were taken to hospital with stab wounds but were back home on last Monday.

Aamir, an A-level student at £9,000-a-year Cardiff Academy, was a keen sportsmen who had already been offered a place at Cardiff University to study law. His parents

Amir Siddiqui

described their son, who had three older sisters, as a 'gentleman' who was devoted to his family and friends. Neighbours said the killers must have got the wrong target. One said: 'Everyone suspects this was a case of mistaken identity because Aamir was such a nice boy.'

Emergency services were called to the leafy suburban street, but Aamir died later at hospital.

Man in court on murder charge A 43-year-old Shropshire man has appeared in court charged with murder after another man was found dead in a unit on a west London industrial estate.

Balraj Singh, from Weavers Rise, Ketley Bank, Telford, appeared before Ealing Magistrates Court last Monday.

He is allegedly accused of murdering Gurmukh Singh Chahal, of Langley, Slough, last week, who was found with a stab wound, and committed to the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing that was due to be held on last Tuesday.

Running a small construction site? What you need to know as a busy builder UK Health and Safety Law protects you even if you are not working here legally

Rhaynukaa Soni Outreach Executive

Want to run a successful construction site?

These are the essential health and safety top tips you should follow if you run a construction site, even if you don’t directly employ the people working there. n Keep your site clean and tidy, with clear space for people to work in. n Keep people, including the public, away

from danger – fence the site off and use signs to warn people. n Make sure structures, such as walls, are kept safe, and demolition work is properly planned and workers know what to do. n Use only 110 volt or battery-operated portable tools and safe electrical supplies. n Make sure trenches and excavations don’t collapse and ensure people cannot fall into them. n Make sure workers cannot fall from height – working from ladders is allowed only as a last resort. n Provide welfare facilities on site or close by – see the ‘Welfare facilities’ information sheet. n Make sure the people on your site are trained

to do the work safely.

This is just a summary – you can find out what else you need to know about health and safety by visiting www.hse.gov.uk/construction/index.htm What can happen if health and safety is ignored?

A young worker with no training or instruction was left unsupervised to demolish a high wall known to be unsafe.

The young worker was killed when the wall collapsed on him. The builder was convicted of manslaughter and sent to prison for three years.

See over for examples of good practice...

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

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Scrutator’s The Jeremy Page report in The Times - “It's a big ask – one census, 18 languages, a billion people”(April 1) was no seasonal joke but sober reality. Writing from Delhi, he described the awesome spectacle of India's ten-yearly census “that has been hailed as the biggest attempt in human history to count, classify – and ultimately issue identity cards to – the citizens of a single nation.... India has conducted a survey of this kind without fail every ten years since 1872, under the British Raj, when the population was 236 million. This year's census will be on an unprecedented scale, involves 2.5 million officials and 12,000 tonnes of paperwork printed in 18 languages and distributed from the Himalayas in the north to the Andaman Islands in the south.”

The exercise, to cost an estimated cost of $1.3 billion (£860 million), will not “only count the population and gather data on fertility, literacy and mortality, but also for the first time, include questions on the number of mobile phones in households, internet connections and bank accounts – a reflection of the past decade's economic boom. It will also help to build the National Population Register, a biometric database that includes photographs and prints of all ten fingers for every 'usual resident' over the age of 15. The Government will then issue a unique 16-digit identity number to everyone on the register, starting in November, and eventually a national identity card to everyone over 18.”

India's Home Minister put it well: “Never before have we tried an exercise of this scale. In fact nowhere in the world has a government tried to count identity and issue identity cards to more than a billion population. This is the biggest exercise, I believe, since humankind came into existence.”

Hopes revealed Overseeing the ID card endeavour is Nandan Nilekani, founder of the Infosys technology giant. Indians believe it will revolutionise government and business by allowing citizens to be identified without piles of personal documents.

The

Reprocessing deal signed The Hindu newspaper (March 30) reported the long awaited Indo-US agreement on the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel by India as per the deal signed by the two sides during the tenure of the Bush administra-

Cairn India’s oil field in Rajasthan

Terming it a significant step forward for IndoUS commercial nuclear cooperation, Ron Somers, President of the US-India Business Council (USIBC), said in Washington: “Today's announcement attests to continuity and bipartisanship in both countries, and encourages us that the US-India civil nuclear trade is near at hand.,” Ted Jones Director of Policy Advocacy at USIBC explained: “Resolution of two key issues will enable India to assume a key role in the global commercial nuclear supply chain.”

He noted that the US and Indian commercial nuclear firms are eager to partner not just in India, but in the renaissance of commercial power around the world.”

Cairn India gushes oil

Nandan Nilekani, founder of Infosys

Government hopes that it will help to increase the numbers of income-tax payers from 75 million today, and improve public services for the people.

Businesses hope that it will provide data on one of the world's fastest growing economies. The completed census should be ready for release by mid-2011.

tion. India will now be permitted to do this from US-b built nuclear plants and generate electricity from the material. The reprocessing plants will operate under the aegis of the International Atomic Energy Authority. This is only the third such pact signed by the United States. The previous two were with Japan and Eurotom, a European consortium.

BBC Online (March 27) reported that Cairn Energy had raised its estimate of reserves in its Indian oilfields from 175,000 barrels of oil per day to a potential of 240.,000 barrels of oil.

The Scottish-based oil exploration company made an operation profit of $53million in 2009, up from $11 million in 2008. Cairn shares rose 12 per cent as the market reacted positively to the news.

Cairn expected its Indian production to 'ramp up' in 2010 with the opening of new pipelines to get oil to the coast. “The Rajasthan project has been a massive undertaking,” said Cairns chairman Norman Murray. “At the peak of construction last year, approximately 16,000 people were involved in building..... making this project one of the biggest oil and gas production developments in India for many years.”

Currently oil is transported by tanker, but the new 500km pipeline will connecttt the Marigala processing terminal to the Gujarati city of Salaya by the middle of 2010.

Busting myths Ejaz Ghani is economic adviser at the World Bank, so his voice commands respect.

Hindustan Times Media reproduced extracts of a speech he gave recently, which should interest readers.

He starts thus: “The story of Hyderabad ....is truly inspiring for latecomers to development.

Within two decades, Andhra Pradesh [of which Hyderabad is the capital] has catapulted itself from a poor and largely agricultural economy into a major service centre. Fuelled by a 45fold increase in service exports between 1998 and 2008, the number of information technology companies increased 20fold. Service-led growth has mushroomed in other parts of India too.

The country has acquired a global reputation for exporting modern services..... India's growth pattern in the 21st century is remarkable because it contradicts a seemingly iron law of development that has held true for 200 years since the start of the Industrial Revolution. This law – which is now conventional wisdom – says that industrialisation is the only route to rapid economic development for developing countries......

This is no longer the case. Countries with high growth in services also tend to have high overall economic growth; conversely, countries with high overall economic growth have high services growth.”

Mr Ghani points to China's rise as a great

manufacturing power, yet India's record in the service sector is no less impressive. He explains their respective strengths: In services, “India matches labour productivity growth in manufacturing sectors in China.

Furthermore, services-led growth has been effective in reducpoverty.

India's ing growth experience suggests that a 'services revolution' – rapid growth and poverty reduction led by services – is now possible.” The author is clearly an out-of-box thinker.

Vietnam, India Voice of Vietnam (VoV) News is not normally a publication that makes waves abroad, yet it is an organ representing a truly remarkable nation, one whose resistance and triumph, in the face of overwhelming odds, against fading, fascist Japan in the concluding years of World War II and the might of colonial France in its aftermath, followed by an epic struggle against the superpower US, and ending with another victory in a month-long

Southeast Asia.

Vietnam's ties with India have been, and continue to be, close and trusting.

Hence the visit to Bangalore by the Chairman of the country's National Assembly, Nguyen Phu Trong to address the Karanataka Business Association with the goal of deepening Vietnam-India cooperation in high-tech fields.

Mr Trong referred to the specific areas of IT, high-tech science and training in the strategic partnership with India.

He invited greater Indian investment in a Vietnam determined to industrialise and modernise in the shortest possible time. If the past is anything to go by, Vietnam will achieve its goals, with India as an enthusiastic participant.

New Army chief With General Deepak Kapoor retiring as India's Chief of the Army Staff on March 31, General V.K.Singh took over as his replacement.

He has his work cut out in an uncertain security environment, with China laying claim to Arunachal Pradesh, Pakistan exporting terrorism from across the border, and the Maoist insurgency becoming more brazen by the day as its arms, funds and training from abroad increase.

General Singh was head of the Indian Army's Kolkata-based Eastern Command before his promotion. A third generation officer of the Rajput Regiment, General Singh joined the Army in 1970 and saw action in the IndoPakistan war of 1971 and served Indian Peacekeeping force in Sri

General V.K.Singh

encounter with an invading Chinese force, in sum a stupendous feat of arms unequalled in our time.

The same peace-time determination and ingenuity is transforming Vietnam into the prime regional force in

Lanka in the 1980s. He is a graduate of US Army Infantry School and US Army War College, Carlisle. He has special experience in counterinsurgency operations, which should stand him and the country in good stead as they tackle the present Maoist menace.

www.abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Alpesh Patel

BA, Iberia move ahead on merger

Consultant Editor Financial Voice

Deal signed, shareholders’ approval to be sought in November

Dear Financial Voice Reader, I write to you from on board a Kingfisher flight. Those who read my column last week will know how and why I find myself sitting at the bar (yes they have a bar, and sofas too!) of this airline and not Air India.

Would I buy airline stocks? Of course not. What would I buy? Look, the world is inverted. The outstanding columnist Matthew Lynn, wrote a piece recently explaining that what our advisors have been telling us about risk and reward is 180 degrees wrong.

And he’s got a point.

Think about conventional wisdom. You’re supposed to put your money in Gold for low volatility and low returns, in the US markets for growth and in say Russian, India and China for high risk and likelihood of being wiped out.

Well, guess what? If you did that over the past 10 years you would have got a huge loss from the US and other Western, so-called developed markets. You would have got the best returns from Russia and the apparently low volatility Gold.

Why is the world upside down? Well the Western markets have all the debts and problems of financing them, and the Indian and Chinese markets have all the growth. How did that happen? Where were you? In a coma?

I mean just look at Japan. Or Greece! And they call India an emerging market! Another Indian company is about to float on the London Stock Exchange and become a FTSE 100 company – no likelihood of a Greek company doing that any time soon.

So the next time a financial advisor tells you they are betting on the US and Japan because these emerging markets are too risky – maybe its because he’s only got US financial products to sell you. And that’s the problem. The real economy in the developed markets, the part of the economy that makes the cars and is supposed to create the jobs has vanished because everyone got a college degree and decided to get a financial job creating financial products. But without production to back it up (where is GM) you soon find you have wonderful products that have no substance (and that’s why you don’t need a Lehman Brothers).

Instead in India they’re still busy building cars, engineering, mining, constructing. It too will change, but it will take time yet.

Our Western financial advisors have been caught by surprise by the Indian growth story. And they don’t know how to sell it. So they sell the product not the value. It’s also India’s fault too. It wants to focus on making real products not financial products – and that’s good.

But there will come bubbles and a period when in India too there will be drops in the market – albeit temporary and your London financial advisor will wrongly say ‘I told you so’ and suggest you buy more Spanish stocks, or Romanian, or Turkish.

Don’t do it. If you have to buy something in America, consider the foreign company stocks listed on the New York Stock Exchange. They are called American Depository Receipts and from the UK it means you could buy Tata Motors, China Mobile, or ICICI all in dollars.

Me, I’m off to bed – we’ll be in India soon and I’ll be able to see the real thing not just the share certificate.

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Eyeing a deal since 2008, British Airways and Iberia of Spain finally signed an agreement for merger last week. The deal, if it comes through with all the approvals, will create the third largest airline in Europe and sixth worldwide. The merger is also seen as securing the future

companies. The combined airline will have flights to some 200 destinations globally and a twin hub benefit of London and Madrid.

The transaction will be implemented through the creation of a new holding company called I n t e r n a t i o n a l

Consolidated Airlines Group SA which will be known as International Airlines Group.

Stock market listings will be sought in London and Madrid, with the primary listing in London.

The airlines plan to hold shareholder meetings for approval in November.

Gujarat based group plans to raise US$ 3 billion Essar group, the partners to Vodafone’s mobile operations in India and one of the prominent Gujarat based corporate houses have announced plans to raise funds from the UK market with an offer of sale of Essar Energy shares. The company intends to raise upto US$

3 billion (Rs. 135 billion) and the shares will be listed at the London Stock Exchange.

Making the announce-

ment of plans of the public offer, Prashant Ruia, vice chairman of Essar Energy said last week the company would be offering 20 to 25% of its shares to UK institutional investors.

Regulatory approvals for the offer have already been

sought.

Announcing the intention to go with the public offer, Essar Energy vice chairman Prashant Ruia said that offering of 2025% shares in the entity would be to institutional investors in the UK for which it has sought regulatory approvals.

Land Rover sales zoom in UK, all markets Land Rover, the iconic British cars now owned by the Tata Motors of India registered a healthy sales growth for March this year in UK with better sales for the month and for the first quarter of 2010 in almost all other markets.

Phil Popham, Managing Director of the company in a statement said Land Rover sales for the month were 11,300 cars. It is a rise of 67 per cent as compared to March 2009.

New models launched this year – Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, Discovery 4 and Freelander 2 helped improving the sales. “It is the most efficient and

technologically advanced line-up of vehicles Land Rover has ever had, ensuring a continued demand for our brand,” Popham said.

This is the seventh consecutive month of growth for the Land Rover

People in UK interested to buy properties in Gujarat will have a local firm with tie ups Gujarat developers.

H a m p t o n s International, the UK based real estate agency is looking to have tie ups with developers in Ahmedabad, Vadodara and other major cities of Gujarat.

H a m p t o n s International has 85

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offices in UK, Italy, Morocco, Monaco, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and India.

The country head of Hamptons International India, Chhavi Jagtiani said land prices in Gujarat are affordable as compared to other big cities in India as well as globally.

There is also a huge demand from British Gujaratis as well as other Indian groups in UK.

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also improved in the Europe, Brazil, South Korea and China.

In the USA, the brand's second largest market, March sales were up 23 per cent at 2,975 units.

Sales in China saw a jump of over two-fold at over 2,000 units. The East Asian giant is now the third largest market for the brand, the statement said.

Among other countries, sales of Land Rover cars went up over two-fold in South Korea, Brazil, Switzerland and Turkey in March. In addition, the brand also showed good growth in Austria, Spain, Germany, France and The Netherlands.

brand in the British market.

Global retail sales have also gone up by 43 per cent in March, while sales growth during the first quarter of 2010 has been 36.6 per cent.

Sales of the brand have

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of both carriers that are loss making at present.

While the combined entity will be owned by a new company, the two will continue to have their individual brands.

It needs the approval of the European Commission as well as the shareholders of the two

Essar Energy to raise capital with LSE listing

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

IIM-A alumnus becomes MasterCard CEO Maria Fernandes maria@abplgroup.com

Proposed and current changes to immigration law The Prime Minister in his speech on immigration emphasised the need for skilled workers and for the constant need to strengthen the links between the new Points Based System and the skills policy and continually assessing the UK’s needs to fill key skill gaps in the economy and flexibility in doing so. He rejected the plan by the Conservative party to establish quotas or caps as it would be unworkable in practice.

Nevertheless he has suggested some changes ahead which will affect the local ethnic communities.

Removal of chefs and care worker from shortage occupation list The main plan with regard to chefs and care workers is to remove them from the shortage occupation list in 2012 and 2014 respectively subject to agreement by the Migration Advisory Committee an independent body which considers evidence of shortages.

In addition to proposed changes the following changes are already taking effect: Armed forces: lowering of age The UKBA have lowered the age of qualifying for entry as a spouse from 21 to 18 for members of the armed forces. Those coming to settle here will be unaffected by this change.

Tier 4 Changes: Introduction of highly trusted sponsors Only sponsors who hold a Highly Trusted sponsor licence can now offer the following courses, known as 'restricted courses', to Tier 4 (General) students: l courses at National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 3 or equivalent; and l courses below degree level that include a work placement (other than foundation degrees, which can still be offered with a work placement by any Tier 4 (General) sponsor).

Education providers who hold a standard Tier 4 sponsor licence can only offer courses at or above NQF level 4 or

equivalent. And they cannot offer courses that include work placements unless those courses are degree-level courses or foundation degrees.

Interim arrangements If a student is currently studying a restricted course (defined above) at an institution that does not hold a Highly Trusted sponsor licence, they can continue to study at that institution until they either complete their course of study or their permission to stay under Tier 4 expires, whichever is sooner. If a student wants to extend their stay to complete their studies beyond this they can only do so at an institution that holds a Highly Trusted sponsor licence.

Interim arrangements for education providers Publicly funded institutions that were deemed to hold a Highly Trusted sponsor licence on 6 April 2010 are now listed as 'Highly Trusted' on the Tier 4 register of sponsors, pending their application for a Highly Trusted sponsor licence.

If they do not apply by 30 June 2010, they will lose this status and will be unable to access the Highly Trusted sponsor benefits from 1 July 2010. Those who do not want to apply for a Highly trusted Sponsor licence, should inform the UKBAs by writing to HTSLicenceEvidence@ UKBA.gsi.gov.uk.

If the institution did not qualify for automatic inclusion as a Highly Trusted sponsor and is currently an A-rated sponsor, they can apply for a Highly Trusted sponsor licence. If the application is made by 30 April 2010, they can continue to offer restricted courses until 30 June 2010 or the date when your application is decided, whichever is sooner. If an application is no made by 30 April 2010 the institution will not be able to offer restricted courses to Tier 4 (General) students after 1 May 2010.

ing for permanent residence, to ensure that those relying on qualifications in English for of Other Speakers Languages (ESOL) will study at accredited colleges. The provisions will also clarify the progression that migrants are required to demonstrate before they can apply for permanent residence.

The most worrying signal is that chefs will no longer qualify for entry. Chefs do not have qualifications and rely on their skills to qualify at present. If removed from the shortage list they will not be able to score the points necessary to qualify. This will in turn have a significant impact on restaurants.

Another change that is curious is the fact that lowering of the age for marriage from 21 to 18 is introduced for some categories. Work permit holders and now armed forces staff are able to qualify whilst those from specific communities are excluded from bringing their spouses even though ther is no whiff of a forced marriage.

The reason for the raising of the age of marriage (ie to prevent forced marriages) appears to apply for some groups but not others.

What is also clear is that the speed of change caused by altering the Points Based System will increase with very little warning.

Maria Fernandes is a principal of Fernandes Vaz solicitors who specialise in immigration and nationality law.

She has substantial experience of immigration and is an accredited member of the Immigration Law Panel. www.fernandesvaz.com

Yet another financial pundit of Indian origin climbed the corporate pinnacle on Monday with MasterCard Inc naming Pune-born, Delhi-educated, IIM-Ahmedabad alumnus Ajay Banga as its CEO. Banga will take over the top position from current CEO Robert Selander on July 1, only 10 months after being hired from CitiGroup as a potential successor. Banga joined MasterCard as president and chief operating officer from Citigroup last August, and was given a $4.2 million signing bonus he could keep if he wasn’t named CEO by June 30, 2010, according to a regulatory filing. Banga will retain his title of president when he becomes CEO. CitiGroup is also led by a CEO of Indian origin, Vikram Pandit, as is PepsiCo (CEO Indra Nooyi), which, like MasterCard, is headquartered in a small town called Purchase in New

Ajay Banga

York. Purchase, accidentally named so because the British who bought the land from native Americans put down the word on the map, is also home to J P Morgan, another financial institution with a wealth of Indian talent in its upper echelons.

Banga, a Sikh, was born in Khadki near Pune, where his father, an army officer, was posted. He grew up and schooled across India, successively Secunderabad, in Jalandhar, Delhi, Hyderabad and in Shimla,

where he finished his schooling. He forego a career in the army that his father was keen he pursue and instead took a BA in economics honors from St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and later an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management-Ahmedabad.

In that sense, he is an entirely India-minted executive who has reached the top of an international company. He started his career at Nestle and joined Citigroup in 1996 as head of marketing in India for the consumer business.

Incidentally, his brother M S Banga is the former chairman of Hindustan Unilever Ltd. In 2000, Ajay Banga was promoted to head CitiFinancial and the US consumer assets division.

In 2002, he took over the retail bank in North America - his first stint in the US - and in 2005 he was named to head Citigroup’s international consumer-banking and finance businesses.

Moselle in France woos Tatas to set up Nano plant

The province of Moselle in France on Tuesday said Tata Motors should explore setting up a manufacturing unit for the Nano in the region as it could facilitate the company's plans to launch the world's cheapest car in Europe by 2011.

"Tata Motors should take a look at the Moselle province for establishing manufacturing and logistics units for Nano cars," Moselle Development Agency Director General M David Malingrey said on the sidelines of the JEC Composites Show.

He said the province also has lucrative business openings for major auto component makers as it is home to German firm Daimler's manufacturing unit for its popular urban two-seater small car 'Smart'.

Leading Canadian automobile parts maker Magna, which supplies automobile parts to the Smart cars, also has its unit here, he said.

Malingrey said, "By the end of this month, we are

planning to contact Tata Motors in India with a proposal to look at the investment opportunities here for the Nano."

The setting up of a manufacturing base in Moselle will help Tata Motors expand the Nano' market across Europe fast, he added.

Last year, Tata Group chief Ratan Tata had said that the company hopes to

have a version for Europe by 2011 and one for the US perhaps by 2012.

Tata Nano is the world's cheapest car priced at Rs 1,00,000. It was commercially launched in India last year. If the company plans to launch a version in Europe, it would have to boost the safety features of Nano and meet higher emissions standards, as well.

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Revised English tests Revised provisions have been introducedfor migrants who are apply-

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Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

RIL to buy 40% in Atlas Energy’s shale gas field After losing out on two overseas acquisitions, Reliance Industries (RIL) has finally got lucky the third time. India's largest private sector firm is acquiring a 40% stake in the US-based Atlas Energy's Marcellus Shale gas operations for an allcash deal of $339 million, marking its foray into the shale gas business.

RIL, through its subsidiary Reliance Marcellus, would be spending another $4.76 billion to develop shale gas in the Marcellus region, its CFO Alok Agarwal, told reporters last week.

Shale gas has emerged as a valuable clean source

of energy in the US and its popularity has been spreading across the world. India has considerable shale gas deposits, particularly in Gujarat and the northeastern states and the government plans to join hands with the US to evaluate Indias shale gas potential.

RIL is the first Indian energy company to get into shale gas and its joint venture with Atlas is its first acquisition in the North American region.

Atlas controls about 3 lakh acres in the expansive Marcellus Shale, out of which RILs share will be 1.20 lakh acres. RIL, in a statement, said that it has the right of first offer

with regard to potential future sale by Atlas of around 2.8 lakh additional Appalachian acres. This field is, however, not part of the joint venture and is controlled by Atlas.

Agarwal added that shale gas represents a growing source of energy and over the next decade, would contribute over 20% of overall gas production in the US. The acreage, said RIL in a statement, will support the drilling of over 3,000 wells to tap into the approximately 13.3 trillion cubin feet (tcf) equivalent of natural gas. Of this, RIL's share is 5.3 (tcf).

RIL had built a cash

mountain of $2 billion in recent months by selling its own stock which was earmarked for overseas buys.

RIL's international footprint spans across seven countries in three continents with 14 overseas blocks. Its oil & gas exploration & production portfolio includes 3 blocks in Peru, 3 in Yemen (1 production and 2 exploratory), 2 each in Oman, Kurdistan and Colombia, 1 each in East Timor and Australia, with a total acreage of 99,000 km. The total acreage under RIL across the globe is about 425,000 sq km, 80% of which are in deepwaters.

out any urgent need for the government to decide on its future.

"The new Air India Board is having a complete review of the airline's functioning. They have formed four sub- committees (on audit, finance, strategy and HR) for the purpose. So, there is no immediate necessity for the Union Cabinet to take any decision," he said on the sidelines of a CII conference on Indo-US relations.

His comments came in the backdrop of unconfirmed reports that the government could consider restructuring the carrier

if it did not come out of the present financial rut by divesting some of its stake.

"Certainly things are looking much more controlled than they were two months ago," Patel said, adding that the new Board, with four professionals and business leaders, should make "an independent assessment of the work that is required to be done before we take any further steps".

"Certainly, there has been a qualitative improvement in the functioning (of Air India) in the last six months," the Minister said, adding that an upward trend in passenger traffic had led to improvement in yields.

Some old aircraft have been retired and new fleet

was being inducted.

Making it clear that wage cuts were "not a priority", he said "the priority is to try to improve efficiency, increase revenue, cut costs in other areas.

These and a couple of other measures (including those suggested by the Board committees) will make a great impact".

He said while Air India had received the first tranche of equity infusion worth pound 116.84 million, it was slated to get another pound 175.26 million in equity in the current financial year. "The amount has already been provided in the budget."

Asked whether more foreign professionals would be inducted at the highest levels after Gustav Baldauf's appointment as Chief Operating Officer, Patel said it was for the airline Board to decide.

India and the US last week affirmed their commitment to work together for financial sector reforms, deepening of capital markets, including more liquid debt markets and increasing the scope of infrastructure finance.

India’s finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said that India was looking towards the US for an investment of $600 billion in the next five years towards Indian infrastructure projects through the public private partnership (PPP) mode especially in roads and ports.

On financial systems reforms, the US Treasury department sought cooperation on the design of private financial systems that can finance future innovations. The two sides want to reform the sector in a way so as to be able to extend financial services more broadly to people outside the banking system and also design a mechanism to finance the substantial investment needs in infrastructure in

both countries by leveraging on private investment.

Even as private investment is picking up in the American economy postrecession, the US Treasury Department used this visit to explore the Indian PPP model while considering similar implementation in US markets. The two sides discussed potential for technical collaboration on PPPs. The global economic climate and India’s fiscal stimulus policy was also discussed at length.

“We also face the urgent challenge of making sure that the gains from economic growth in both of our countries is broadly shared. Economic growth must be about improving the prospects of all our citizens,” an official statement from the US Treasury department said.

US Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner also supported India’s view of strengthening global financial institutions such as the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF). The idea is to

make these institutions more effective and representative.

Geithner said the commitments made by the heads of state of India and the US at the G-20 summit in London a year ago have reaped benefits for the world. The two sides committed to act to restore stability to the financial systems of the major economies, to provide financial support to emerging and developing economies on a dramatic scale, to keep markets open to trade and investment, to restore growth in their own economies, and to lay the foundation for international financial reform. Those actions worked, and the world is now starting to come out of the great recession, the most severe crisis since the Great Depression, he added.

In the US, the economy has been growing for three quarters. “While unemployment remains unacceptably high, the private sector has added jobs

Air India on path of recovery, says Patel

For the first time since the merger of the two national carriers, Air India's losses have started to show a declining trend, with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel saying that the "worst is over".

"Earlier the losses were in the average of pound 58.42 million per month.

Now these have started coming down by at least pound 14.60 million per month," Patel said on Tuesday, asserting that "the worst is over and Air India is continuing on a path of recovery".

This is the first time since the March 2007 merger that there has been any sign of recovery in the cash-strapped airline, which has started experiencing some improvement in yields with a rise in passenger traffic.

Given the signs of improvement, Patel ruled

Jet Airways to hike fares by 10-15 pc Jet Airways said it would raise fares by 10-15 per cent as early as this month to offset rising jet fuel prices - a decision that possibly stems from confidence about returning passenger demand.

Fares are set to rise by 10-15 per cent in April-June over January-March period, Jet Airways VicePresident (revenue management) Shiv Kumar said.

Jet fuel (ATF) prices have been on the rise on the back of crude nearly doubling from last year's level to trade at USD 86 a barrell level now.

Kumar, who said crude prices are a concern, added that volumes were seen rising, particularly on domestic routes which may be influencing the pricing decision.

15

Vodafone crosses 100m users in India Vodafone Essar, the Indian arm of UK's Vodafone Group, crossed the landmark 100-million subscriber mark in India.

Vodafone, which is among the nine cellular operators that will bid for 3G spectrum in 22 circles which started on Friday, is the third telecom services provider to cross the 100million mark in the country.

Bharti Airtel was the first to achieve the milestone in May 2009, while Reliance Communications clocked the feat on March 15 this year.

Marten Pieters, MD and CEO, Vodafone Essar, said: "The road ahead is not so much about how soon we can get to the next 100 million subscribers. It is all about how we can drive revenues in this market, given the fact that most operators have reported flat revenues for six quarters in a row."

The company, which has invested 3.5 billion pounds over the past three years, is keen to expand operations in the country. "Our shareholders are willing to give us more money to invest in the country as long as it makes good business sense. We need to show returns, which is not a major issue in this market, but the government needs to create the environment."

Vodafone is targeting new areas of growth and new revenue streams.

"India is one of the fastest growing economies in which the service sector's contribution is the largest.

From merely looking at retail customers, we would be keen on enterprise business (Vodafone to corporates), carrier business (between telecom operators) and even data services to drive the next phase of growth," he said.

Tata Tea, Pepsi in deal for beverage jv Tata Tea, part of the Ratan Tata-led business conglomerate, on Friday announced a preliminary agreement with global beverage major PepsiCo for exploring a joint venture in the non-carbonated beverage business.

"The Board of Tata Tea Limited approved a nonbinding Memorandum of Understanding with PepsiCo Inc, with the

intention of exploring the formation of a joint venture in the area of non-carbonated ready-to-drink beverages, focused on health and enhanced wellness," Tata Tea said in a regulatory filing with the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The company said that definitive agreements for the proposed JV could be finalised over the next few months.

India eyes $600-bn US investment in infrastructure

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financial voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

US, General Motors to grow jatropha in Gujarat Global auto giant General Motors has turned a farmer in Gujarat. Jointly with US department of energy, the car-maker plans to develop jatropha farms over 84 hectares of land near Bhavnagar and at its existing facility in Halol.

An announcement is likely to be made by a high-profile team of company executives and US officials in Ahmedabad soon.

The auto maker recently announced a fiveyear partnership with the US department of energy to help develop the potential of jatropha, a weed

that produces an oil which can be refined into biodiesel, as a sustainable biofuel energy crop.

“If commercially viable, jatropha will reduce dependence on petroleum as well as cut greenhouse gas emissions and promote economic growth in the long run.

Besides, it will also boost GM India growth plans with biodiesel-capable products,” said a company source.

Two jatropha farms will be established in India. A 16-hectare plot in Bhavnagar and a 38 hectare plot near GM’s India manufacturing plant

in Halol. An existing 30 hectare jatropha farm in Bhavnagar also will be managed under this project.

While the funds will flow from the department of energy and GM, Bhavnagar-based Central Salt & Marine Chemicals Research Institute, a research facility under Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, will manage the operation.

Lab-optimised strains of jatropha, produced through selective and marker-assisted breeding, will be cultivated at these farms, say company sources.

India's automobile industry reported a 26.41 per cent growth in sales in 2009-10 riding on the government's stimulus packages that perked demand, making it the second fastest growing market in the world after China.

Buoyed by the robust performance, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) forecast 10-14 per cent growth for the industry during 2010-11.

According to the figures released by SIAM, total vehicles sales in India in the last fiscal was at 1,22,92,770 units compared to 97,24,243 units in the previous financial year.

"This year (FY10) was one of the best years for growth.

When we started the year, we did not expect such high growth, we are pleasantly surprised," SIAM President Pawan Goenka told reporters.

He said a variety of fac-

tors, including the stimulus package, lower interest rates, implementation of the 6th pay commission and new model launches, helped the industry register the growth.

The strong sales have made India the second fastest growing market after China that had a 42 per cent growth last year followed by Germany with 23 per cent even as many other markets in the world witnessed a negative growth. Sales in the domestic market were driven mainly by the car and the two-wheeler segment that posted 25.10 per cent and 26 per cent increase respectively.

In 2009-10, domestic passenger car sales rose by 25.10 per cent to 15,26,787 units from 12,20,475 units in the April-March period of the earlier fiscal.

Market leader Maruti Suzuki's sales during the last fiscal jumped 20.23

per cent at 7,65,526 units, while that of its rival Hyundai Motor's increased 29.07 per cent at 3,14,967 units. Tata Motors witnessed a rise of 25.54 per cent at 2,01,399 units, SIAM said.

Motorcycle sales in the country during the year were up by 25.88 per cent at 73,41,139 units against 58,31,953 units in 200809, SIAM said.

The country's largest bike maker Hero Honda's sales rose by 23.14 per cent at 42,93,991 units.

Bajaj Auto saw its sales climbing by 39.59 per cent to 17,81,748 units in FY'10. Total two-wheeler sales in FY'10 also increased by 26 per cent at 93,71,231 units compared to 74,37,619 units in FY'09.

The sale of commercial vehicles in 2008-09 increased by 38.31 per cent to 5,31,395 units from 3,84,194 units for the previous fiscal, SIAM said.

Vijay Mallya-led UB Group said it has become the world's second largest liquor maker after Diageo with sales of over 100 million cases in the last 12 months and is certain to be the number one by next fiscal.

In the process, group firm United Spirits has overtaken France's Pernod Ricard, Mallya told reporters, adding the company has set its eyes on the number one spot.

"We are now clearly the second largest spirits company in the world and we have outperformed our global competitors," he said, adding the firm has done "extremely well despite the economic slowdown".

United Spirits Ltd (USL) in the last 25 years

sold over 740 million cases of spirits products making a total of 26 billion bottles of alcohol beverages of different pack sizes, he added.

"We are certain that our additional sales in the next financial year will take us to the number one position globally," he said.

Mallya said it took USL 12 years to cross the first 100 million cases, another five years for the next 100 million cases and four years for the third 100 million cases.

It took three years for the company to cross the fourth, fifth and sixth million cases and "finally we achieved 100 million cases sales in just 12 months".

"Our three years compounded annual growth

rate is 15 per cent plus. If you take the two other large spirits companies in the world - Diageo and Pernord Ricard, they have achieved only single digits," he said.

The company today announced that it has achieved a sale of over 100 million cases of nine litres each in last 12 months, thus replacing Pernod Ricard as the second largest spirits firm globally while its another firm engaged in beer manufacturing has also achieved a sale of 100 million cases in the financial year ended on March 31, 2010.

The retail sales value of the spirits portfolio sales of United Spirits for the 100 million cases sold is over pound 5.25 billion, USL said.

India is second fastest growing car market in world

UB Group becomes world’s 2nd largest spirits co

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook: ‘I’m not nice, I’m a pyscho’ Two stories in the same paper caught my eye this week. The first about how the PM allegedly has blocked the elevation to the Lords of Army officer Major Dannett. You may recall the Major was caught in a row because he became a Tory defence advisor whilst still technically serving in the Army or soon upon leaving – thereby breaching the tradition of the divorce between politics and the military.

The second story, in the same paper, was about the actress Gwyneth Paltrow, and it was entitled, ‘I’m not nice, I’m a psycho’, apparently explaining that she can often hold grudges for rather lengthy periods and harbour revenge, despite the popular belief she is a nice person. (Oh boy, I can relate!).

What links the two stories other than that they appeared in the same paper? Well, if the PM really did block the elevation to the Lords, then those (Labour) supporters who may think he is a ‘nice’ man, may have seen how psychotic politics can be.

But maybe that is what you need to be in politics. Maybe that is why we get what we deserve as a nation from our politicians – a room full of nice mask-wearing pyschotics?

Indeed, even a cursory glance at the political coverage in the papers needs you to wear anticorrosive gloves. Take the column in the Telegraph about how the Speaker of the House only got the post because he was so loathed by his fellow Tories, that Labour wanted him to be

Speaker to annoy the Conservatives. How perverse? Especially when you consider that these are ‘Honourable’ members.

Real politics – not the idealistic notions you and I have – will involve the game of strike and counter-strike. What of Obama? Surely, you can never meet a more lovely gentile leader – for an American President anyway. Well, his Chief of Staff is his rottweiller – apparently rarely does he say a sentence without a few swear words littered in there. His role is to ensure the President gets what he wants from staff, and Congressmen and Senators, Governors and just about anyone who fears the President’s right hand man could be vindictive.

So if watching election coverage makes you want to go into politics here are some tips: One: Remember bullet proof vests prevent knives from being twisted. Sooner or later some wanna-be second-rate has-been journalist is going to twist things to make it look like that non-dom status of yours means you’re a guzzilianaire, or some such nonsense. I’ve prepared myself for this. I am meeting my accountant to tell him I don’t want to be a non-dom.

Luckily, in my case it makes absolutely no difference to my tax bill because I earn nothing from abroad. Of course the problem here is that your domicile is based on things like your ties and attachments to another country, for example, I as a Hindu wish to be cremated in India and my ashes scattered there. Little things like that can shape your

domicile. Never mind, Parliament beckons.

And indeed, to be in Parliament you will soon have to be UK domiciled.

Two: Get an accountant who is straightforward and simple. I don’t want someone ‘creative’.

We’ve all met them at gatherings. The one’s who to get your business will describe the little schemes they have running for their clients. Usually it’s a one-man-band working from home and he has a lot of clients who are onshore and offshore.

Stay clear. This is the accountant who is going to prison when one of his clients tells on him and all his other clients point the finger at him. In politics, just like with creativity in expenses, make sure you don’t test the limits of the rule. An MP’s accountant needs to be as close to a bookkeeper as possible. If our MPs had followed that piece of advice then they’d never had had any problems.

Three: Find yourself a rottweiller. Someone who will scare the daylights out of the other person. Actually if you’re in business you’ll understand this. Most business people have worked out that either they, or someone near them has to play the role of ‘the Godfather’; when the other guy doesn’t play fair or tries to stich you up – you need someone to ‘make them an offer they can’t refuse’. I’ve readied myself on this. I am too nice, like Gwyneth Paltrow, so I’ve got me a pyscho rottweiller.

Politics, here I come… here doggy doggy…

Electrotherm installs world’s largest steel melting furnace Industrial furnace maker Electrotherm (India) Ltd announced commissioning of a 40-tonne capacity furnace, the world’s largest medium frequency induction melting furnace for steel melting application, at Mahalaxmi TMT Pvt Ltd in Maharshtra last week.

Avinash Bhandari, joint managing director and group CEO of Electrotherm (India) Ltd said, the indigenously developed furnace would save around Rs 800 per tonne compared to the tra-

ditional one and would be able to produce 1.6 lakh tonne metals per annum.

Meanwhile, the BSElisted company said that in 2009-10 the group’s turnover crossed pound 292 million, for the first time, since its inception in 1983; in previous year, the figure was pound 248 million.

“In spite of average

25% lower price realisation during the year due to slowdown, we managed to increase turnover in wake of good domestic as well as overseas demand. We hope to achieve an export revenue of pound 51 million this year, up from pound 29 million earned in 2009-10,” he said.

The company expects to double turnover to pound 584 million in the next two years looking at current demand from its diversified business interests.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

17

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

Sowing The Seeds Spring is here and the sun is shining.

With a bitter cold winter behind us there is no better time than now to sow the seeds in the property market.

The coming months traditionally are the busiest with the warm weather and holidays encouraging activity.

Easter is when people like to both to rent and move.

All The Flowers Of Tomorrow Are In The Seeds Of Yesterday The front page of this weekend’s money section of the FT outlines the best rates given by ISAs. The article is titled ‘Savers urged to use ISAs now’ starting with the paragraph “Savers and investors are being urged to take advantage of higher limits for individual savings accounts (ISAs), amid fears of rising taxes and as the new 50 per cent top rate of income tax takes effect.

Investors can now pay up to £10,200 into ISAs each year, with up to £5,100 payable into a cash ISA”. The article goes on to give the highest instant access rate offered by an ISA, being 3.2%, and a market leading rate offered by Century Building Society, being 4% for a 2 year fixed. It goes on to discuss who the market leading ones are, what are the pros and cons and how saving now as opposed to later will save you about £83 in saved income tax.

It’s like discussing what is the best part of a piece of stool: the top dry side or the moist side underneath. The returns are paltry and it’s a sad state of affairs when this is the level of returns being discussed and seriously considered by investors.

In stark contrast let’s look at a property we will have exchanged on, by the time you read this article. It’s a two bedroom duplex 1st floor property in Westbourne Park Road, close to Notting Hill. We have secured this for a client at £275,000. When rented out it will be producing a rental of £500 per week. Even if you are a high tax payer and even if you take into account paying service charge, allowing 10% for management fees, mortgage interest at 5.5% and a full 50% hit in income tax you will be left with returns of 8.1% on your deposit. This is the return on 25% of the purchase price

of £68,750 invested.

In this example we have not taken into account the purchasing cost but conversely we have not taken into account any uplift which may occur, which due to the strength of the location is likely to occur, especially as London heads into the Olympics in 2012. No country who has hosted the Olympics has had a decrease in their property prices.

Looking at the ISA returns in comparison to property returns highlights how bad the returns offered actually are.

There are four things going favourably for the property market currently: l Fear of a double dip recession l The instability and lethargy caused by the coming election l The reduction in the lenders’ rates in anticipation of when the market heats up in the coming months of spring. l The holiday in stamp duty for first time buyers The coming few months will traditionally be the busiest of the year in the property market.

Mortgage lenders have cut rates.

Normally a few lenders take the plunge and shave rates, the rest follow suit in order to retain market share. Currently rates as low as 1.89% exist, which is a 70% loan to value product 1.39% over the base rate.

Call me a pessimist but I would apply the same analogy when deciding which political party to vote for. Interestingly the example is relevant because they are actually operating from the same platform.

Better to handle certain things on your own and not rely on the state, wealth and health included.

The mortgage lenders have decreased their rates in anticipation of the coming hive activity. They are preparing, so must you.

As the flowers are budding and opening, your funds must now be planted so they can yield fruits in the future. For this you need an expert gardener to ensure you plant in the right place and in the right season, and the type of fruit suits you.

Why not use Sow & Reap as your gardeners to sow your seeds for you so you can watch them grow.

Exclusive Lifetime Tracker Rates: Buy To Let & Commercial

n Mortgages n Commercial Finance n Property Sourcing n Gujarat Properties - Sale & Resale T: 0207 706 0187 F: 0203 014 8484

E: info@sowandreap.co.uk W: www.sowandreap.co.uk

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

18

www.abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

By

Any ques tions

SwAtI BhAn

Life style

write t om amta@ abplgroup.com

By Mamta Bhatia, Psychologist

Take care of bad breath If bad breath is something that is affecting your life then here are some ways of taking care of bad breath. There are many things you can do which will help you naturally get rid of that terrible breath fast and easy.

All you need to do is follow a few simple methods.

The firs thing to do is remember to brush teeth at least twice a day.

Believe it or not a lot of problem forget to do this or feel they are too busy.

But brushing teeth on a regular basis is an easy and quick way to help prevent bad breath.

Another thing to do to help eliminate your breath problems for good is to watch what one

eats. If you are eating foods that you know cause you bad breath then now might be the time to stop. By cutting back on those certain foods that cause bad breath you will easily be able to get rid of that horrible breath. And in place of those foods should begin eating things like fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats. And also make sure to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. That way it will help guarantee that no food particles stay in mouth between teeth.

Another way to stop bad breath in its path is

by getting rid of stress.

Stress is known to cause a lot of different medical conditions with bad breath being one of them.

So if you start relieving and preventing that stress in your life then you will end up bad breath free. So what you should do is begin getting more rest and getting some exercise. Things like those are what will help you naturally and effectively get rid that stress from your life.

Brushing your teeth, at least twice a day , and flossing daily will naturally help remove the bacteria. Be sure to brush the back of your tongue, also.

Many people throughout the world rely on washing the tongue to get rid of bad breath.

Going on a five-day raw food diet: during this time 50% of what you eat is raw. This will help clean out your system.

Garlic contains aromatic compounds that are exhaled as offensive breath for up to 24 hours.

But although garlic can be a temporary problem, it is such a powerful antibiotic that may help

Get your mind behind saving!

cure bad breath.

Include yogurt or probiotic drinks in regular diet. Yogurt contains nutrients that are healthy for your digestive system, which is where the cause of bad breath can occur.

Apples, pears, melon, are excellent for cleaning out your mouth after a meal.

They remove odor-causing bacteria from the mouth.Eat parsley after a meal. It has natural properties that freshen the breath. Fresh mint will help alleviate a foul odor in the mouth. On a daily basis, gather three fresh mint leaves and chew on them, this will remove the bad odor emitting from your mouth.

Apple cider vinegar is also helpful in getting rid of the bad breath. You just have to take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before each meal.

If you cannot take apple cider vinegar alone you can also mix it with a glass of water or pineapple juice. This helps in aiding the digestive system. Take activated charcoal by mouth. Let it dissolve slowly in the mouth. This will help clean both your mouth and stomach.

Brushing your teeth with baking soda helps prevent the growth of bacteria in your mouth.

Exercise regularly, this will bring more oxygen into the lungs and help clean out the system, reducing bad breath.

This week I have collaborated with Elizabeth Grier a Personal Finance consultant to get your mind focused on saving. A lot of fear is attached to the concept of ‘finance’ and this week we want to encourage you to embrace what you have so that you can save for a more prosperous future. Remember in life you were born with two fears: falling over and loud noises – so every other fear you have is self created.

Challenge your fear and start to embrace the possibility of having a more fruitful financial life.

Read the tips below to start saving now.

Saving is for everyone.

One cannot emphasize how important it is for your financial well-being. It may be understandable that some of you might think “I don’t make enough money to save”, or “I barely can pay the mortgage/rent”, or “saving is a luxury”.

Perhaps you are already saving, but would like to save more.

This article is to explain that saving is possible since there are always small yet impactful ways to cut expenses in your daily lives which can amount to substantial annual savings.

Think about what you could do with the savings! Even saving £20 a week accumulates to over £80 a month or the equivalent of £1040 a year! (£20 a week x 52 weeks a year).

Here are a couple of examples: 1) Instead of buying a coffee or tea with milk at the coffeeshop en route to work or during your break, you can bring a thermos to work

instead and make your own tea or coffee. If you have 2 teas a day during an average workweek of 5 days a week, that is 10 teas a week. If you assume a tea with milk at a coffeeshop is around £2, then that is £20 a week. You can instead buy a box of 50 tea bags for around £2.80 which is around 5.7 pence a tea, or £2.28 a month for your workweek tea drinking habit versus £80/month if you take tea out, so you save over £1000 a year if you bring and make tea at work!

Often there it may be deemed fashionable to be holding a paper coffee cup from certain stores, think about investing in a flask from that coffee shop if you so wish. Alternatively you could create your own fashion and not worry about what others think. Just be mindful of all the saving you can make and what you could actually do with the money you save.

My father always told me to save for a rainy day. If we live impulsively we may not have enough capital to support us when we really need it. Always ask yourself twice if you really need something before you put your money down for it.

Little things add up, so be mindful of every cost. Be around people who like to save and not spend impulsively, this will have a positive influence on you and ensure you are mindful of saving.

2) Further savings can be had if you choose to bring your lunch to work. Instead of going out to buy a sandwich and a bag of crisps for £5 a day, that is £25 a workweek, or £1300 a

masala powder and mix well.

Garnish with the

chopped coriander leaves.

Eat with chapathi/nan.

Aloo Dum Ingredients • 10 small potatoes • 3 medium sized onions • 2-3 tbsp shredded coconut • A small piece of ginger • 4-5 green chilles • 2-3 cardammom pods • 1/2 cup yoghurt • 1 tsp garam masala powder • 1 tbsp poppy seeds • 2 1/2 tsp dhania (coriander) powder • 1/2 tsp cumin powder • 1 tsp red chilli powder • 1 tablespoon chopped coriander leaves

• •

Salt to taste Oil for deep frying the potatoes • 2 tbsp cooking oil/ghee(clarified butter) Method • Boil the potatoes. Peel them and prick the potatoes with a fork.

• Fry the potatoes in hot oil till they turn slightly brown.

• Drain and set aside.

• Heat oil in a shallow pan and fry the onions to light brown.

• Grind the coconut,

• • • • • • •

poppy seeds, cardamon, ginger and green chillies to a paste.

Add the paste to the onions. Fry till the oil seperates.

Add chilli powder, cumin powder and dhania powder and stir for 5 mins.

Add the yoghurt , salt and the fried potatoes.

Add enough water to cover the potatoes and simmer till the gravy is thick for about 10 minutes.

Now add the garam

•

•

year on a simple takeaway lunch! Instead, you can buy a loaf of bread, cheese slices, mayonnaise and tomatoes, and pack an apple (healthier option) instead of crisps, for a packed lunch. On an annual basis, it was calculated that a packed lunch of a sandwich and an apple would cost approximately £155. If you were to pack a lunch instead of buying one, you could save over £1100 a year!

You could receive similar savings by subscribing on an annual basis to a magazine or a newspaper instead of buying it on a daily basis.

You usually receive significant savings that way.

Remember that all of the power we have comes from within and is therefore under our control, so get into the driving seat of your finances and drive yourself towards a comfortable life.

Create a vision board of what this could look like and start practicing the great tips above to create the life that you want. In June I plan to run a work shop entitled ‘Achieve the life that you want and more’ and we will be covering how you can create more saving and draw abundance into your life. To sign up and take advantage of an early bird discount email: Mamta at think spa London dot com.

We hope that these examples outlined in the article will give you the motivation and the belief in yourself that you can save.

Everything is possible and never forget that the smallest journey begins with the smallest steps.

Bolly Heros

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Akshay training hard to become fast bowler Akshay Kumar is very sincere about the roles he play in any movie. So Akshay is rigorously training under former test cricketer Paras Mhambrey to become a fast bowler for his role in “Patiala House.”

Currently working with the team members of the IPL's Mumbai Indians, Mhambrey has been taking time off to coach Akshay whenever possible.

Akshay wants to continue training steadily and regularly so that his bowling skills are sharpened by the time he starts shoot-

ing.

Says the “Patiala House” director Nikhil Advani, “Akshay has been training diligently and religiously. His coach Paras Mhambrey even joined him at Malshej Ghat for Farah's film. Because right after that our cricket sequences start in London.”

Advani's British sports coordinator Robert Miller who coordinated the hockey and cricket scenes in “Chak De” and “Dil Bole Hadippa,” respectively, is in Mumbai right now finalizing the list of inter-

SRK finds sense of humour missing

national cricketers who will play with Akshay in “Patiala House.”

Explains Advani, “We're looking at international cricketers from all over t h e world…England, South Africa, Au s t r a l i a , Bangladesh…The fact that the IPL matches are on makes our job easier because Robert can meet and negotiate with a lot of international cricketers while they are here.”

The film also requires

county-level and regional cricketers whom Miller will finalize once the bigname cricketers are finalized.

Riteish Deshmukh going back to comedies Though Riteish Deshmukh says that he is comfortable with any type of role, he has gone back to comedies after the failure of “Rann” and “Aladin.” He says the audiences prefer to see him best in comic roles. So in “Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai” and “Houseful” he has gone back to the tested style.

"I guess it is not about me being in a comfort zone or anything. It's the other

way round where it is instead audience which gets into a comfort zone while seeing me doing a comedy,” Riteish said.

The actor made a niche for himself, playing the happy-golucky guy in comedies like “Heyy Babyy,” “Masti,” “Apna Sapna Money Money” and “Kya Kool Hain Hum,” but his attempt to move away from the stereotype was not as successful. But Riteish, says that the audience remembers him in these films because they did well at the box-office while his performances in serious films were forgotten

19

because the movies tanked.

"You are talking about films that worked and not whether Riteish worked or not. Audience remembers these films because they were successful at the box office. Having said that, it wasn't like I was doing too bad in the films which belonged to non-comedy genres. Maybe if a Rann or an Aladin would have worked, it would have been a different thing altogether," said the actor. Riteish had pinned his hopes on the Amitabh Bachchan starrer “Rann,” but the film directed by Ram Gopal Varma sank without a trace at the box-office, despite getting good critical reviews.

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan finds the sense of humour missing from the minds of public. He finds this out after his statement of “dancing in naked if his team Kolkata Knight Riders wins the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) was blown out of proportion by media.”

"Read in some paper that I can be taken to court for my dancing in the buff statement at IPL. When will people develop a sense of humour, " the actor posted on his Twitter page.

"I just joked about dancing like that at IPL... obviously I won't even if my team wins. Who does?

Doesn't anyone take a joke anymore... ha ha, " he added. The actor didn't even hesitate from cracking another joke on the controversy. "...from now on I am also bathing with my clothes on, ha ha, " he said.

Farhan to wear director’s cap again Farhan Akhtar is wearing beck the cap of the director after making a name for himself as an actor with 'Rock On' and 'Luck

By Chance'. s keen to return behind the camera for 'Don 2'.

The director-actor, who was recently seen in psychological thriller 'Karthick Calling Karthik' with Deepika Padukone, is currently scouting for location for his forthcoming movie “Don 2.”

"Hey guys! In Mumbai for a day... Flying away tmrw for 10 more days for 'Don2' recce (sic)," Farhan tweeted. The film will be a sequel to the 2006 movie

by Farhan and will star Shah Rukh Khan and Priyanka Chopra in the lead. The 35-year-old Farhan began his journey in cinema with cult hit 'Dil Chahta Hai' in 2001.

The Infidel - Red Carpet If your premiere is at Britain's largest screen, one can expect a star studded red carpet. With its one-line description 'A Muslim who realises he's born a Jew', The Infidel has generated buzz beyond the two ethnic communities graduating to a mainstream audience. With comic genius Omid Djalili in the lead, the film also stars Archie Punjabi, Matt Lucas, Richard 'West Wing' Schiff and Amit Shah.

The comic community was out in full force to support Djalili including David Mitchell, Frank Skinner and Hardeep Singh Kohli.

Shot in six weeks, the independently financed film faced issues with its central theme of religion.

BBC backed out of the project. However producer Uzma Hasan had decided she will definitely make the movie. “It was very difficult to convince financiers and the industry that such a film can be made.”

Asian Voice gets all the news and views from the red carpet at Hammersmith Apollo Dizzee Rascal walked in with a bodyguard in a

plain black tee and jeans.

Minus the bling he looked like an ordinary bloke which is perhaps why he kept looking around though no one looked back at him. Bling is in, Dizzee!

Amit wit and charm helped us get over an awful middle-aged suit (which he agreed that he did not spend much time planning) The handsome actor who plays Omid's son Rashid in the movie auditioned three times for the role before finally bagging it “It was brilliant coming to work everyday,” he said.

Channel 4's The Family was there.

Sarbjit, Arvinder and Sunny Grewal all strolled in earlier giving bytes to the reporters.

While Arvinder spoke on loving being recognised, Auntyji confessed how she is going to need to open a hotel for all the people who keep asking for tea.

Dizzee Rascal walked in with a bodyguard in a plain black tee and jeans. Minus the bling he looked like an ordinary bloke which is perhaps why when he kept looking around no

Mahmud Nasir is a loving family man who usually goes on an anger rampage while driving and at extremist muslim on television and tries to emulate a dead androgynous 80s pop star. His biggest problem is his son's prospective father in law is an devout-accused-of-spreadinghatred Muslim leader. While he may not do namaz five times a day nor fast all days of Ramadan, in his heart he is a Muslim.

But he soon discovers he was adopted at birth and his birth certificate reveals his name as Solly Shimshillewitzand hes Jewish. A

one looked back at him.

Bling sometimes is necessary, Dizze.

The glowing Jimi Mistry was seen giving skincare tips such as drinking a lot of water.

The right person to answer the questions.

Man of the hour Omid Djalili was hounded by all media and still managed to speak to AV about his research into playing Mahmoud Nasir.

“I hung out with Muslim cab drivers, Jewish bakers and met rabbis and now sound so Jewish that I need to stop doing such roles.”

The Infidel - Film Review horrified Mahmoud undergoes an identity crisis and must rely on Jewish cab driver Lenny (Richard Schiff, excellent) to teach him to be a Jew. Lenny thinks he might as well be called Jewy-Jew-JewJewy-Jew. Its in this romance that the comedy lies. There is something wonderfully quirky when Lenny teaches the Jewish shrugs and the 'oyes'.

Director Josh Appignanesi executes the bar mitzvah sequence spectacularly where Mahmoud goes undercover to test his Jewish skills.

Mentions about Israel and Palestine are inevitable. The movie goes flat in the end and the gags which are not that funny illicit big laughs, such has Mahmud punching the rabbi while he is praying. The twist in the end is more bizarre than clever.

The rom-com caper leaves no space to showcase relations between Mahmoud and his beautiful wife Saamiya (Archie Punjabi, endearing but not seen much) . The last scene has Lenny hanging out at the back of the room and thats exactly what

Writer David Baddiel and actor Omid Djalili at the Red Carpet

happens towards the endAppignanesi leaves Lenny out.

Omid Djalili is undoubtedly the star and does what a does best- delivers a hilarious standup routine from start to finish.

David Baddiel had written the script with Djalili in mind and one can see why, the comic is the life of the movie and the audience instantly warms up to Mahmud.

Baddiel builds up a superb premise for comedy, but fails to sustain it till the end and uses a fail-safe route. Watch the Infidel for its first hour and forget the last 20 minutes of it.

20

Asian Voice

Saturday 17th April 2010

I owe a lot to Salman, says Zarine Khan Simbu to lend his voice to Abhishek Bachchan Multi-talented actor Silambarasan a.k.a. Simbu is said to be lending his voice for Abhishek Bachchan for his upcoming movie “Raavan.”

Director Mani Ratnam feels that Simbu’s voice will suit Junior Bachchan and wants him to dub it for Tamil version of “Raavan.”

Mani Ratnam has recently met actor Simbu and has requested him to dub for which Simbu has happily agreed. The actor had earlier dubbed his voice for Naanum Kodeeswaran,the Tamil version of “Slumdog Millionaire.”

Manmadhan star Simbu has acted in 19 films as a child artist and his debut as a hero came in the form of “Kadhal Azhivathillai.”

From then on, he has tried his hands in singing, screenwriting

and direction. His upcoming movies “Valiban” and “Podaa Podi” are in pre-production stage.

Thamarai reveals the secret behind ‘Mannipaya’ song!

He swept us off our feet with Roja and then waltzed into our hearts forever; his musical recent extravaganza Vinnaithaandi Varuvaayaa is the new anthem of love.

And now, lyricist has Thamarai revealed the secret behind the success of the ‘Mannipaya’ song from VTV. “Rahman called me to his studio one day and said he had created a tune which would fit in at a crucial point in the story.

He asked me to come up with lyrics where the female lead asks for forgiveness for toying with the hero’s feelings. I was initially hesitant as the scene where the song was to be inserted was one where the female lead chooses the hero over her Rahman But father.

her (Katrina). She is a beautiful woman and I take the compliment in a positive manner.

Frankly speaking, after 'Veer', people have started recognising me as Zarine Khan, " said the 25-year-old actress.

Though Zarine has not signed any new movie as of now, she is keen on doing a movie that gives her potential to perform.

"Talks are on for my next film, but nothing has been confirmed as of now. Will let you know whenever it happens.

Also, I want to work in a movie that gives me scope to perform.

I don't want to run around trees, " said Zarine.

Saif is my man for life, says Kareena Kapoor Kareena Kapoor is convinced that Saif Ali Khan is the man with whom she wants to live the rest of her life. “One does feel settled in every relationship that one is in, but this time I am with the man I want to live with for the rest of my life,” Kareena told her friend and director Karan Johar on the TV show 'Lift Kara De'.

In the episode, Kareena makes candid confess i o n s a b o u t her life a n d

even shows a fun side of herself while making 'chuski' (flavoured ice balls) on the show. Kareena is considered one of the highest paid actress in tinsel town, but she snubbed it saying: 'How can I say that when I don't know what the others are earning?

Besides, I would never do a film for the money alone.'

The actress will be seen next in movies like 'Milenge Milenge', 'Ra. One' and Hindi remake of Hollywood film 'Stepmom'.

Hansika starts following Buddhism

assured me that he wanted this to be a surprise for Thamarai Gautham,” revealed to a leading English daily.

“When Gautham heard the song, he too was a little apprehensive. But he wen t ahead and shot the song suitably and now, it is a rage!” said the hot and happening lyricist.

Kamal Biography for Guinness Records Ulaga Nayagan Kamal Haasan’s fans are as different and creative as the versatile star himself. One of the fans of Kamal Haasan from Srivilliputhur has tried something unique and is attempting to put the name of his favourite star in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Manikandan is a devoted fan of Kamal Haasan and he has written a biography of the

actress. I wanted to become a doctor, but destiny had something else in store for me. I am happy with the way my life is shaping up, " she added.

Before the release of "Veer" she was referred to as Katrina Kaif's look alike.

But Zarine says post the film, people have started recognising her.

"It's fair enough if people compare me to

Zarine Khan, who made her acting debut opposite Salman Khan in "Veer", says she owes a lot to the star whom she doesn't hesitate to call her mentor.

"I am here because of Salman Khan. He is my mentor who discovered me and gave me my first Bollywood break. He has always been very supportive and I owe a lot to him, " Zarine said.

"I never thought that I w o u l d become an

actor from ‘Kalathur Kannamma’ to ‘Dhasavatharam’.

The unique thing is that the title of the book alone consists of 330 words with 1,458 characters.

The previous record for a similar thing is 290 words with 1,443 characters and belongs to an Italian, Manikandan says.

Manikandan is all set to send his feat to the Guinness Records and put his idol’s in history.

Bollywood actress Hansika Motwani has started following Bhuddism and finds chants very useful in getting peace of mind and spirituality. She believes Buddhism aims to awaken people to the limitless potential and value of their own lives. Through Chants one can associate themselves with the god and can experience a peace of mind.

Hansika was excited to quote “The best way to

effectively de-stress for me is to chant - Nam Myo Ho Renge Kyo, as I strongly follow Buddhism.

This practice strengthens compassion in my mind.

When asked whether Chanting has helped her in her personal or professional life she said ‘Chanting makes a person very balanced in his/her approach towards managing life'.

She adds that she is now able to manage her stress better and is generally more positive while dealing with people. She would often prefer Chanting over things such as parties, socializing, etc.

John-Bipasha don’t feel the need to get married Bipasha and John may be dating for years now but the duo has not still given thought to their marriage plans. It's not that Bips doesn't have faith in the institution of marriage but her relationship with John is so fulfilling that she doesn't feel the need to marry him.

"There are no plans and there is no pressure to get married. And actually we don't feel the need to get married now. We do believe in the institution of marriage. Our intentions were very clear since year one that the relationship is for keeps. But something happen when they have to happen and I don't think it is time yet, " Bipasha said in an interview.

Bipasha and John, who started dating in 2002, have seen ups

and down in their relationship but the couple has stood strong together and the actress credits the success of their relationship to their similar values.

"We are very similar. Our ideologies in life are very similar.

Our roots, family values are same. Besides we enjoy a lot of support from both of our families," Bipasha said.

Another passion which keeps the couple together is their obsession with fitness.

While John is well known for a body to-die-for, Bipasha has gone a step ahead and launched her 'Love Yourself' fitness DVD sharing secrets behind her fab body and the star claims that it is a major sell out.

21

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

BollyKats Katrina hopeful of getting married in two years

Paathshaala

A social flick produced by Ahmed and Shaira Khan, Paathshaala is a film with emphasis on the profession of teaching, once considered a very noble one, but now is no more like that in a majority of cases.

Education too has succumbed to modernization as everything else - ruled by commercialization and consumerism in this age of rat-race. There are a lot many cases of students being bogged down under study pressures, parents burdened with fees hikes, teachers punishing students inhumanly, some students even dying in such cases or some committing suicides... what state of affairs have we brought our education system to? Paathshaala is an attempt to answer many such questions related to the sanctity of today's education system. It's shameful that even schooling has fallen prey to the pressures of competition and the vices of money-making mantra.

The story begins with a new English Teacher Rahul Prakash Udyavar joining Swaraswati Vidya Mandir school, situated in the outskirts of Mumbai Suburbs. Though he strikes instant rapport with students and teachers alike, he realizes that there is something amiss in the school. Slowly his doubts prove true as the School Manager- Sharma makes many monetary obligations compulsory on the parents in the name of extracurricular activities. He goes to the extent of punishing the students inhumanly when the new unjustified demands of the school are not fulfilled by the parents.

When Rahul Udyawar unifies the teachers against the atrocities of school management, the Principal Aditya Sahay (Nana Patekar) defends the management decision. This comes as a shocker to the teachers as Mr. Sahay is known for his dedication as an educationist for last 32 years which has built the school's high reputation.

The situation becomes graver as school management becomes overambitious with its growth and involves media planners in the extracurricular activities. This demands the involvement of students in TV reality shows and many other media PR activities used for building up the school’s image in public which starts reflecting on the students' stress levels.

The pressure on young minds increases incredibly leading to unexpected and grim consequences.

Caught in the web of commercialization and internal rebellion, the school's situation becomes so explosive that it finally becomes a national issue.

Produced and presented under the banner of Eros Entertainment and Paperdoll Entertainment, the film has been directed to by Milind Ukey.

The lead Cast of the film is made up of Shahid Kapoor, Nana Patekar, Aditya Sahay, Ayesha Takia Azmi, Swini Khara, Dwij Yadav, Master Ali Haji, Avika Gor, Sushant Singh, Saurabh Shukla, Nassar Abdulla, Shraddha Arya, Sanatan Modi, Anjan Srivastava, Vicky Ahuja and Preeti Kopikar.

New Hindi movies releasing this week 1. Mushkurake Dekh Jhara 2. Paathshaala 3. Phoonk 2

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week No. Film

No. Last Week

Total weeks

1

Tum Milo Toh Sahi

New

1

2

Love Sex Aur Dhokha

1

3

3

Well Done Abba

New

1

4

Hum Tum Aur Ghost

2

2

5

Sadiyaan

New

1

Katrina Kaif, who is busy promoting her forthcoming film 'Raajneeti', says she may get married in the next two years.

'I think in two years I will get married. But still two years is a long time. I think I still have some time. Lets see. You know as the saying goes, 'Man proposes and god disposes' - so every time we make a plan god comes and changes it. Let's see,' Katrina, who is often linked with Salman Khan, said.

Katrina, 25, has shed

her glam girl image to play a politician in director Prakash Jha's much talked

about 'Raajneeti'. She describes it as a special film in her career.

'A lot of people have given tremendous feedback... hopefully audiences will like it and it would be a new step for me in my career,' Katrina said.

'Raajneeti' takes an incisive look at Indian electoral system where a handful of people control the destiny of millions. It shows how people, who understand power, fight a bitter and violent battle to achieve their unstoppable

ambition.

Apart from Katrina Kaif, the film also features Ajay Devgn, Ranbir Kapoor, Arjun Rampal, Manoj Bajpai, Sarah Thompson, Naseeruddin Shah and Nana Patekar.

Though many feel her character in 'Raajneeti' is based on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Katrina has denied the speculation.

'For me Sonia Gandhiji is one of the most inspiring women in India. And personally, she is an inspiration,' she said.

Manisha Koirala to tie the knot with Samrat Bollywood actress and the daughter of one of the most powerful political houses in Nepal, Manisha Koirala, is all set to tie the knot and in Nepal.

The 40-year-old actress will finally say "I do" to Nepali businessman Samrat Dahal with the wedding set for June 19.

“Mutual acquaintances told me about a week ago that Manisha Koirala was getting married in Nepal,” said Nepali film director Dipendra Khanal, whose upcoming release "Dharma" will mark the

Sonam has her hands full

Sonam Kapoor has just done two movies since her debut in 2007, but this year, the actress has her hands full with the release of two projects and shooting schedules of three movies.

The 24-year-old, who was first seen opposite Ranbir Kapoor in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's “Saawariya” and later in Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's “Delhi-6, is awaiting the release of “Aisha” and “I Hate Luv Storys” in 2010.

"Guys, I've finished filming “Aisha” and “I Hate Luv Storys” and they will be my two releases this year. I'm working on three films this year.

I'm doing “Thank You,” “Mausam and the third one I can't talk about," Sonam posted on her Twitter page.

return of the actress to the Nepali film industry nearly two decades after she left Nepal to storm Bollywood.

Manisha, presently shooting in Kerala for a Telugu film, will return to Kathmandu soon, Khanal said.

She was in Nepal last month to attend the last rites of her grand-uncle Girija Prasad Koirala. At a press conference afterwards, she said the patriarch of Nepal's politics and five-time prime minister had lamented to her

that nobody loved him; people flocked to him only to get something out of

him.

She was asked about her wedding plans but she parried the questions without divulging her new romance.

The would-be bridegroom was reportedly educated in the US and is a businessman. While not much is known about him, his father Surendra Dahal made his fortune in the leather industry. The wedding will be a three-day extravaganza that is expected to see Mumbai's stars descend on Kathmandu.

22

InDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Thousands of Sikhs return to the fold on World Turban Day Thousands of Sikh men, each with a unique work of art perched on his head took to the streets of India last Tuesday. Their mission: to prove to the world that the turban is not old hat. Scores of rallies, prayer vigils and tying competitions marked World Turban Day, an event conceived amid concerns that young Sikhs are abandoning the most conspicuous emblem of their faith, six to eight metres of cloth wrapped around their heads — in favour of close-cropped Westernstyle hairdos.

Sikh men, and some women have worn turbans since 1699 when Guru Gobind Singh, the religion’s tenth master, prohibited them from cutting their hair. Every man was given the surname Singh lion and was required to wear a steel bangle, long cotton underwear, a sheathed sword and wooden comb.

In recent decades many Sikhs have preferred to blend into India’s Hindu society. Their turbans and beards are often confused with those of Islamist extremists and count against them when job hunting, young Sikhs say.

“People think I’m Taleban,” said Karan Singh. “The prejudice is ridiculous: I’m not a terrorist.”

Others trace the demise to 1984 when Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister and a Hindu, was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards.

In the riots that came after people wearing turbans

Chinese hackers steal information from Gujarat Chinese hackers in Sichuan and Chengdu provinces used a simple twitter message and an e mail to steal sensitive information about major ports in Gujarat and even sensitive information about missile training from Vadodara Air Force base.

A group of researchers from Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto, in their recent report “Shadows in the Cloud: Investigating Cyber Espionage” provide a detailed account of how a group of Chinese hackers conducted one of the largest internet espionage operations and stole critical details of sensitive installations and state secrets of the country.

The Toronto University researchers had approached the Union home ministry some months ago only to be told that the espionage was being investigated.

were attacked.

There are no official figures but Sikh leaders say that about half the community wear turbans, compared with 80 per cent to 90 per cent a few decades ago. The trend must be reversed, they believe, if Sikhism is to endure.

“A big turban may make it difficult to play cricket. But a Sikh without a turban is like a king without a crown,” Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh Ji, the religion’s supreme spiritual leader, told a national UK newspaper-The Times.

World Turban Day is in its seventh year and the SGPC says that it is seeing results. The religion’s leaders have also given their blessing to Mr Singh International, a kind of beauty pageant for Sikh men held every two years at which entrants are judged on criteria including the quality of their turbans.

In Amritsar a turban clinic that opens each evening to teach boys how to tie a turban has attracted more than a thousand pupils in the past few

years, according to Javinder Singh Jassi, its founder. The children, most wearing jeans and trainers, spend up to two weeks learning a skill that was handed down previously from father to son.

Judge Mota Singh in the UK who wore a white Turban in the court, said, he never felt inhibited though he was the only person wearing a turban in the Royal Court of Justice.

"The fact that I'm a Sikh matters more to me than anything else," he said.

"If, for instance, when I was appointed the suggestion had been made that I could not appear unless I wore a wig and discarded my turban, I would have refused.

"I would have said I would not accept the appointment, but the question never arose and no judicial eyebrows were raised at all." It shows how the multi cultural British society and establishment are open to diversity.

London-based Singh, who is also a Queen's Counsel, has been knighted in the Queen's New Year Honours List for "services to the Administration of Justice, Community Relations and to the Voluntary Sector".

Recently he started a campaign to allow Sikh students to wear their ceremonial daggers - known as Kirpans - to school and other public places. He added, “Not allowing someone who is baptised to wear a Kirpan is not right."

Dry Gujarat may well have wet zones to make its beaches bustle with tourists. Tourism Finance Corporation of India (TFCI), hired to prepare the state’s draft tourism policy, is learnt to have advised the Gujarat government to set up ‘14 wet zones’ as a key factor to promote beach tourism in the state.

A top Government of India source, who recently interacted with state officials on tourism-related issues, said that the TFCI’s proposal has been sent for clearance at the top level in Gujarat government. The new tourism policy is likely to be announced during the Swarnim Gujarat celebrations.

“While interacting with senior officials in state government, it became clear that they are willing to set up permit rooms in three to five star hotels in the wet zones.

Here, anyone who is not a resident of the area, will

be allowed to drink on producing a residence proof. If Gujaratis can go to Mount Abu to drink, why can’t one create a similar facility on the state’s beaches?” said the source.

The beaches which the TFCI is particularly interested in developing as wet zones include Shivrajpur, Ku t c h - M a n d v i , Ahmedpur-Mandvi, Ingleshwar and Suvali.

“TFCI has also asked government in its draft policy for Gujarat to develop tourism on a public-private partnership model,” the source added.

Other TFCI proposals are setting up of Gujarat Tourism Investment Promotion Board, responsible for working out details on leasing five acres land on each tourism spot, especially beaches, on a profit-sharing basis. It also wants government to provide subsidy to renovate heritage hotels.

Mota Singh

14 wet zones proposed in dry Gujarat

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Anger and its manifestations Yoga says that behind the manifest world lies the interplay of the three forces. These are active, passive, and neutralising forces. The active force is the desire to do, the passive force is that which creates obstacles to the desire to do, and the neutralising force is that which decides whether the active will overcome the passive or vice versa.

In Sanskrit, these are known as rajas, tamas and satva respectively.

To understand these three forces, let us take the building of a house as an instance. The thought to build a house is the active force, but the moment we decide to do so, we start facing obstacles – rise in price of building material, non-availability of preferred material, difficulty in obtaining building permission, etc. All these are a part of the passive force, which tries to obstruct the active force.

Now, the neutralising force will decide which force manifests – the active or the passive.

With the advent of life on earth, in addition to all forms of then preexisting life facing obstacles, an added impulse grew within the active force. This additional impulse is the impulse of anger and it provides an extra force from within to overcome the obstacles or the passive force.

Anger existed even before man. Over years of evolution, anger has manifested in some very particular traits or forms. Examples of this additional impulse to overcome resistance can be observed in the gnashing of teeth, protrusion of claws, expansion of nostrils, and other sounds like growling in beasts of prey.

Some animals becoming highly strung in their mating season while others becoming combative against intrusion by an external agency are also examples of anger.

The Mahabharata talks of krodha or anger, and her nine daughters (or manifestations). The scripture looks at anger in a very radical and different manner. It does not brand anger as being bad or something that ought to be rid of it.

Instead, it reveals to us that hidden in each manifestation of anger is the very valuable energy of the essence of consciousness. The scriptures emphasise on being free

of this anger and saving these energies, later also explaining the effects transforming this anger and extracting the energy of essence of consciousness can have on our lives. Let us study the nine manifestations of anger (and the importance of its transformation).

1. Mrigi (a deer): Manifestation of anger as fear or flight. If we go into the deeper meaning, Mrigi also means to investigate or obtain by effort. So in the transformation of our fear or instinct to run away from pain, comes the capacity to penetrate deeper into any subject or the mystery of life.

2. Manda (slow): Also, means lethargic or indifferent. This manifests in forms of bears and hogs, characterised by making one indifferent to or lose interest in things. A deeper mean-

ing of manda is to rejoice, so by working on this form of anger we can create the power to enjoy small beauties of life.

3. Hari (take away or steal): This form of anger of snatching away manifests in monkeys. In the frenzy of this form of anger if we can pause, observe, and transform, then our whole being suddenly becomes very attractive or captivating.

This is not just physical attraction but something much higher.

4. Bhadramana: This is seen in elephants and is characterized by a lot of noise. By working on this form of anger, we gain the power to attract only those events that are auspicious and bring prosperity into our lives.

5. Matangi: Means a

mad elephant, one who is very dangerous. If we can transform this very powerful form of anger, we are blessed with immense power and become the leader of our clan.

6. Sharduli: This anger manifests in lions, tigers and leopards. It signifies to hurt or to injure. By meditating and transforming this kind of anger, our eyes gain the power to pierce through the apparent visual manifestations of life into the causal world.

7. Shwet (white): This anger can be observed in fleet-footed animals such as rabbits, deer, and monkeys, characterised by impatience and aggressiveness.

Impatience is very difficult to work with. The energy to hold on to a problem or thought is called dharna-shakti in yoga. In the very holding of a problem, we become free of it. Quite often, we say something only to regret it later. Then, we can’t wait to make amends with that person immediately, but if we have dharna-shakti, then we can hold the pain of not saying sorry immediately.

This blesses us with a different quality of strength and an inner maturity.

8. Surabhi (the cow of plenty): Surabhi is the cow that grants all our desires. This is a very subtle form of anger which manifests in unknowingly hurting or insulting someone. If, in our practice of self observation, we can be free of even unknowingly hurting people, we invite good fortune and good luck in our lives.

9. Surasa: This anger manifests in snakes when they cry out, making a hissing sound. It also is seen in the screams of other smaller animals. ‘Su’ means good and ‘ras’ means juice. Our small sounds such as ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ and our moans are signs of this form of anger. If we can transform this anger we become full of juice of life, ripening like fruits, and this ripeness brings about a certain wisdom and maturity.

(Edited by Chintu Gandhi. Illustration by Siddharth Ramanuj.)

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

IndIa

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

23

ahmedabad – London direct flight: ignoring this genuine demand of the people for long will be difficult Nilesh Parmar It was a Sunday afternoon. I was just going through the pages of newspapers at home in Ahmedabad, when my cell phone rang up. I looked up to find out who it was, but the screen just flashed an international number.

The ISD code made it clear that the call was from UK, but was unknown. I had been to UK a few months ago, when I met a lot of people.

Who could it be was the natural question in my mind, as I received the call. The voice at the other end sounded like a bit known, but could not remember the name.

The caller made a quick remark, saying “You have forgotten me altogether, it seems…” She added, “It is really a good thing that you people have taken up the campaign for resumption of the London-Ahmedabad direct flight. I have also spoken to your London office by phone and told them that if this flight is resumed, it will bring in a lot of relief for all Gujaratis here and even back home in Gujarat. The troubles that passengers face when they are going to native place in Gujarat are really horrendous. We have to spend 4 – 5 hours in waiting for getting a connecting flight when we go from London to Gujarat when we come back. It almost amounts to wasting one day in this waiting game. That passengers getting tired is an added inconvenience.” I now remembered the name of the lady on the other side. She was Bhadraben of Amita Restaurant.

The troubles that she recounted though are not of her or her family members alone. All British Gujaratis, British Indians as well as others share the same pains, agony when they have to travel to Gujarat, as there is at present not a single direct flight between Ahmedabad and London.

Britain is today a home to 750,000 Gujaratis.

There are many reasons that make them travel from London to Gujarat.

Hence, when one has to decide on travel plans, the first question that strikes his/her mind is which route will be the least troublesome. One of the options is that people take a flight from London to Mumbai or New Delhi, wait there for a few hours to get a connecting flight, which is a sheer waste of time and a tiring experience. The big question always remains is of the connecting domestic flight in India – whether that would be also on time or

not.

The other option is to come via a gulf destination, which entails changing the plane and wait at some place outside India. I have myself experienced the problem, as when I visited London a few months ago, I had to wait for more than 4 hours at Dubai Airport when going to London and also when coming back. I had to just kill time, without any purpose. And this was the least of the inconveniences, as the other option was traveling via Doha, where the waiting period was 10.30 hours. Hence, going in for the 4.30 hours break was the best option.

A well known Gujarati writer Ms. Kajal Oza Vaidhya, a seasoned journalist and columnist Vishnu Pandya, Vishwa Gujarati Parishad President Krishnakant Vakhariya, leader of the Leuva Patel community Savjibhai Vekaria are a few of the umpteen examples of people who have gone through this troubles when they traveled from India to London.

People like me are not regular travelers (like the British Gujaratis), coming and going for social, health, family occasions or functions or for holidays.

Yet, if we find the experience of getting connecting flights a real headache, it is just a matter of imagination for the experience that British Gujaratis would be undergoing when they have to travel.

Lord Bhikhu Parekh is a very pertinent example.

He says he is a frequent traveler. He rarely has much of luggage except a hand bag full of books.

Yet, wasting a couple of hours waiting for a connecting flight is something he finds very troublesome along with embarking/disembarking with hand baggage.

The harrowing experience of other elderly people, single female passengers, lady passengers traveling with children but without a male company, pregnant women, disabled or sick people or even families traveling together with young children is just to be imagined. Invariably, every flight has a handful of such travelers.

Today, traveling by air is one of the most simple, speedy and convenient option for going abroad to far off places. In India, most of the states have direct flights connecting destinations that are important from their Diaspora point of view.

But for Gujarat, the story is different. The state that is taking rapid strides in development has been robbed off the basic facility that was once made available to it. The reasons

of cancellation of the direct flight between Ahmedabad – London are known only to two – God and Praful Patel, the minister for civil aviation in India.

There was a time when Ahmedabad had five flights a week that connected the city to London directly. It was during the NDA regime in New Delhi, under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee that Air India started with one direct flight a week between Ahmedabad and London. With increasing traffic, the frequency was stepped up to five flights a week. Travelers really were finding the journey very convenient.

But as the change of guard happened and the UPA government came to power under Dr. Manmohan Singh, for reasons best known to them, Air India suddenly cancelled all the direct flights.

When leading British Indians asked for the reasons, K D Rao, the then regional director for Air India at London initially said this was a decision for a short period, the flights would be restored soon.

But now, it is more than 2 years and flights are yet to be resumed. Air India has not even come out with a convincing reason. The Airline keeps on promising to resume, but to no avail.

It is for this reason that the National Congress of Gujarati Organisations (NCGO) UK and foremost Indian news weeklies – Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have taken up the campaign for resumption of the direct flight.

The campaign has drawn widespread support among not only the British Gujaratis and British Indians, but also from commoners to leaders in Gujarat. The issue was being debated amongst the British Gujaratis for long time, but no one took any serious notice of the same.

It was for this reason that the NCGO UK as well as the Indian weeklies decided to take up the issue and launch a campaign.

NCGO Chairman CB Patel took the lead in UK, while in Gujarat, it is Bhupatrai Parekh. Hon. Editor of Gujarat Samachar and head of news agency Hindustan Samachar.

Shri Bhupatrai made a representation before Praful Patel, the minister for civil aviation in the government of India, when he was on a visit to Ahmedabad. At a later stage, Praful Patel was one of the special invitees for the inaugural function of the Vishwa Gujarati Samaj conference, held in Ahmedabad in January

then about doing the needful at the earliest. It is almost three months now and yet nothing has happened about the issue, hence the campaign is being intensified.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar launched a signature campaign in support of the demand.

More than 14,000 people have signed the petition, including British MPs, councilors and office bearers of various Gujarati organisations. Back home in India

this year. On that occasion, CB Patel publicly raised the issue of resumption of the direct flight in presence of the civil aviation minister.

Those attending the conference expressed support for the demand. Even an eminent person like Sam Pitroda, a technocrat and chairman of the Knowledge Commission appointed by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh extended his support for the resumption of direct flight.

Praful Patel had assured

also, the campaign has drawn widespread support.

Bhupatrai Parekh personally met Ministers, MPs, MLAs and others, informing them about the campaign. Many of them also extended their support in various ways.

Some them of wrote letters, while some even directly spoke to Praful Patel on phone, urging him to take a positive decision on the demand.

Continued on page 24

Direct flight campaign: PUCL warns of an agitation The campaign for the restoration of Air India’s direct flight between Ahmedabad and London got a boost with Gujarat unit of People’s Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL) also endorsing the demand.

Gautam Thaker, secretary of the body in a letter to the Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, has said that as per their information and statistics, Gujaratis constitute 40% of the traffic that Air India is enjoying on the India – UK sector.

Hence, resumption of direct flight will be a mutually beneficial step even for the beleaguered national carrier, as it is likely to get more passengers if they provide a direct flight between Ahmedabad and London.

The campaign is getting stronger as the Vishwa Gujarat Samaj also passed a

resolution, supporting the demand. The Samaj President Krishnakant Vakharia, in a letter written to Praful Patel on April 05, reminded him that he had given a positive response to the demand when he attended the VGS conference at Ahmedabad on January 22, 2010. Vakharia further urged the Civil Aviation Minister that now he should announce the resumption of the direct flight at the earliest possible and fulfil the assurance that he gave on that occasion.

PUCL secretary, in his letter to Praful Patel has also warned that if early action is not taken on the issue, the body will be forced to launch an agitation under the democratic norms and as per Gandhian principles. The letter by PUCL is reproduced here.

People’s Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL)

Founder President: Jayprakash Narayan - Justice V. M. Tarkunde Office: C/o, Gandhi Shanti Pratisthan Kendra, Himavan, Paldi Cross Road, Ahmedabad-380006.

Correspondence Address: 4, Sanmitra Society, Jivraj Park area, Opp. Malav Talav, Ahmedabad - 380 051. GUJARAT. President Prof. J. S. Bandukwala (0265-2783338)

General Secretary Gautam Thaker (Ph.: 079-26641353, M: 98253 82556)

Mr. Prafulbhai Patel Minister of State for Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Government of India, New Delhi.

Working President Prakash N. Shah (M: 9328234321)

Date : 13-04-2010

Respected Sir, Reg.: Early resumption of Air India Direct flight Ahmedabad London.

Namaskar, You will be aware that Air India had cancelled its direct flight between Ahmedabad to London (U.K.). The consequence of this unilateral action had resulted in hardships & difficulties to the senior - elderly persons, passenger having serious illness, & passenger traveling with kids.

Sir, as you know that Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad is technically equipped with all required amenities. As compared Ahmedabad had better advance facility than Chandigardh, Cochin & Chennai. We do not understand why this direct flight was cancelled even Air Indian had got better air traffic. This flight was started on having more passenger as well as positive feasibility report. We got the statistic that 40% Air India Passenger to U.K. are from Gujarat. No doubt the flight between Ahmedabad in U.K. will be definitely economically & commercially benefited to the Air India.

The most valid reason for such flight is convenience to the Gujarati Families; otherwise they have to travel via Mumbai & Delhi with much more time, expenses and inconvenience. Sir, being a Gujarati you can understand this point easily.

Looking to the strong filling and genuine demand you will take early necessary action to restore immediately Ahmedabad - London flight.

Hope wise counsel will prevail & do not compel us to flight for this with other Democratic and Gandhiyan ways.

With warm regards, Thanking you, Yours faithfully Gautam Thaker (Secretary - PUCL, Gujarat) CC: Shri C.B. Patel, London.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Big B not invited to Swarnim celebrations The Big B is the brand ambassador of Gujarat, but when the state celebrates 50 years of its existence on 1st May, the superstar will not be present. That is because he has not been invited.

Gujarat Education Minister Raman Vora confirmed that

Shoaib – Sania exchange vows Continued from page 1 There were further controversies over the Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik staying together before marriage as well as some Qazis denying to solemnize the Nikaah as Shoaib Malik didn’t have his passport in his possession.

Some local clerics even issued a ‘Fatwa’ (diktat) asking the local muslims to stay away from the high profile marriage, as Shoaib Malik was staying at Sania Mirza’s home and

also appearing with her at press conferences. This is not permissible under Islam as the duo was still not married.

The Mirza family reportedly decided to prepone the Nikaah to avoid more controversies.

The much-awaited wedding was performed at a five-star hotel around 1.00 pm on Monday as per the Muslim religious customs. It was performed in the presence of a select gathering comprising only the family members of the the groom and the bride.

Rajapaksa sweeps SL parliament polls

Continued from page 1 According to results announced Friday evening, the UPFA had received 4.7 million votes, or 60.43 percent of Thursday's ballots. The United National Party (UNP), the main opposition party, had 2.3 million votes, or 29.43 percent.

In Thursday's elections, 14 million people were registered to vote, and an estimated 55 percent of them turned out.

The turnout was considered low compared with the January presidential elections, in which 74 percent voted, and with the previous parliamentary elections, in which 75% voted. Election officials had commenced the counting of preference votes, which decide the members who enter Parliament. Four ministers of the past government have lost their seats.

Jayasuriya wins parliament seat Sanath Jayasuriya has

won a seat in parliament for the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The 40 year old cricketer cast his ballot on Wednesday, a day before the nationwide election as he had to head back to India to play in the ongoing IPL. Jayasuriya won 74,352 votes to win his seat in his hometown Matara, in the southern province, an official with the local election commission said.

Jayasuriya is the latest high-profile cricketer in the country to join politics, following the footsteps of former World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillekaratne.

I n c i d e n t a l l y, Ranatunga was formerly with the UPFA, before switching allegiance to the defeated opposition presidential candidate Sarath Fonseka, of the Democratic National Alliance.

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Bachchan wasn’t invited for the big event, which will also be attended by the President.

State spokesperson Jayanaran Vyas refused to comment on the issue. Vora said Bachchan had never attended any of the Gujarat Swarna Jayanthi functions.

Modi still persona non grata in Europe, say German MPs Modi writes to PM, BJP protests before the German embassy in New Delhi A delegation of German MPs last week were on a visit to Gujarat and created a political storm, as they justified Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi still being branded as a ‘Persona non Grata’ (an undesirable person) by the European Union for his record against minorities in Gujarat. The action of the ruling party and allied party MPs from the European nation led to protests by BJP in New Delhi. A demonstration was also staged by BJP activists before the Germany embassy there.

Gujarat Chief Minister Modi, meanwhile wrote a letter to Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, asking him to direct the German Ambassador to India to apologise for the indiscretion of the visiting MPs from Germany.

BJP demanded an apology from the German government for provocative' statements made by its parliamentary delegation which also reportedly said Gujarat's chief minister Narendra Modi was described as a dictator'.

"Describing Modi as a dictator is intolerable.

Tarnishing the image of a democratically elected Chief Minister by visiting German officials is unac-

Narendra Modi

ceptable," a BJP release said.

The delegation of German Parliamentarians, whose visit was supported by ‘Missio’, a Christian Catholic Bishops Agency, had gone to Gujarat, it said.

The lawmakers had raised an objection to the new anti-conversion law of the state government saying it had made conversions difficult, the release claimed.

The delegation members, who had visited the state to study the status of minorities, reportedly justified the European Union's earlier decision of not granting visa to Modi.

Modi has also written a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh request-

ing him to take up the matter with the German Ambassador in India.

BJP protests German delegation remarks against Narendra Modi The youth wing of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday submitted a memorandum to the German Embassy protesting against alleged undiplomatic remarks by a German delegation against Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

An eight-member delegation led by senior leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi submitted the memorandum to German Embassy officials. The delegation sought an apology from Germany over the provocative remarks made during a recent visit to that state.

The delegation had visited Gujarat to study the status of minorities and reportedly justified the European Union's earlier decision of not granting visa to Modi, for his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

"The Embassy authorities said we are shocked over this incident. They said that Modi is a head of a state that is elected in a democratic manner and they said that it is wrong to link him with Hitler and

we detach ourselves from the remarks made by the delegation," Naqvi said.

"They also said the delegation that went there and made the remark does not represent the government. They also assured us that the memorandum that we have given them would be soon sent to the German parliament, "he added.

German MPs in Gujarat A four member delegation from Germany representing parliamentarians of its ruling coalition visited Ahmedabad on Wednesday and Thursday last week. They met with people from different walks of life to have an idea about the Human Rights situation in the state.

The MPs represented the ruling party of Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democrat Union party and its alliance Free Democrat Party. They will be submitting a report to the president of the German parliament.

Christian Democrat Union MP, Ute Granold, said that Modi continues to be persona non grata in Europe. "His visit to Europe cannot be justified and we strongly support that stand," Granold said.

Ahmedabad – London direct flight: ignoring this genuine demand of the people for long will be difficult Continued from page 23 The ruling party in Gujarat – the BJP, the opposition Congress and their alliance partner in the centre – the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MLAs have written joint letters in support of resumption of the flight, while Praful Patel’s ministerial colleague Dinsha Patel, Gujarat Assembly Speaker Ashok Bhatt, Tourism and NRG affairs minister Jai Narayan Vyas, BJP chief whip in the assembly Pradeepsinh Jadeja, leader of opposition in the assembly Shaktisinh Gohil, former leader of opposition Arjun Modhvadia, Gujarat Congress chief and MLA Siddharth Patel, Gujarat NCP chief and MLA Jayant Bosky, BJP MP Harin Pathak, Nadiad MLA Pankajkumar Desai, former minister Bhupendra Lakhavala have all written letters.

Gujarat BJP chief and

MLA R C Faldu also wrote a letter along with 19 party MLAs, 31 Congress MLAs, including a former minister Babubhai Shah have written separate letters.

National secretary of the NCP, Bholabhai Patel met Praful Patel in New Delhi personally for the purpose. Political adviser to Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Gujarat Congress MP Mr. Ahmed Patel has said he will make a representation with the ministry of civil aviation, while another organisation fighting for the rights of citizens in Gujarat – Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) has made a representation before the civil aviation minister. PUCL general secretary Gautam Thakar has even warned that if this genuine demand of the Gujaratis is not accepted soon, they would resort to action, including staging demonstrations and launching an agitation.

In spite of all these efforts, the ministry of civil aviation and officials of Air India seem unmoved. Though I had a very brief stay in Britain, I have realised that the British Gujarati community is not likely to accept this meekly. I would like to mention one instance – the day of March 14, 1994.

British Government had ordered closure of the Iskcon’s Hare Krishna temple. The order was challenged in the high court, but the Hindus lost the case. The community came together under the leadership of Asian Voice – Gujarat Samachar Publisher and Editor CB Patel and announced the launch of an agitation.

Over 35,000 Hindus converged in Central London and held a march to the British Parliament. The entire traffic was halted in the area for around five hours. The government ultimately gave in and decided that the Hare Krishna temple shall

remain open. This is the strength of the British Gujaratis.

Now, as a next step in the campaign, a delegation of British Gujaratis is planning to visit New Delhi for a representation before the ministry of civil aviation. A number of other Gujarati organisations are also tightening their belts to stage demonstrations before the Indian High Commission in London and the Air India office against the inaction of Air India on the issue.

Even as the Gujarati community is gearing up to launch an agitation as per the Gandhian principles, Air India need to realise that they cannot afford to ignore the genuine demand of the community and their clients – the passengers. It is definitely in the interests of not only the people but also in the interests of India that a positive decision on resumption of the direct flight is taken at the earliest.

25

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Afghanistan-Pak dominates Manmohan-Obama talks US president assures Indian prime minister of access to Headley

Washington: US President Barack Obama assured Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that Washington fully recognized India's security concerns arising from the AfPak region and wouldn't do anything inimical to it since it valued the prospect of a strong strategic partnership with New Delhi.

Relief, satisfaction, and a renewed confidence was palpable among Indian officials as they briefed the media on a 50minute meeting between Obama and Singh on Sunday at the White House. It also brought back color to US-India ties with Obama's assertion of support on various issues after a rather bleak run-up that called into question that state of play between the two countries.

Among the assurances

that the Indian side reportedly received from Obama was that the US would work through the legal process to provide access to LeT terrorist David Headley (a sore point with New Delhi) and also seek continued Indian support in the developmental efforts in Afghanistan.

India’s foreign secretary Nirupama Rao, who briefed the media on the Obama-Singh meeting said the US President told Prime Minister Singh that he fully understood India's concerns about the security situation in the region and assured him that "there is no country in the world where the opportunities for a strong strategic partnership are greater and more important to him and the United States" than the one with India.

Obama's assurance came after Mr Singh strongly raised India's concern with him about Pakistan's relentless pursuit of terrorism as a policy option. "India's interests are constantly on the US mind," Rao, who was part of the Indian delegation at the meeting, quoted President Obama as saying.

Mr Singh told Obama that New Delhi cannot forgo its strategic and security interests to US prevarication or Pakistani pressure in AfPak region, especially as both US and India desired the same end result – the defeat of terrorism.

In this context, Singh had a litany of complaints and grievances that overran Obama’s suggestion to reduce tensions through dialogue with Pakistan. Singh told him that he saw no will on

part of Pakistan to punish the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai massacre even as terrorists such as Hafeez Mohammed Saeed and Ilyas Kashmir continued to operate with impunity.

The future of South Asia will be determined by the way the menace of terrorism is tackled, Singh said, adding this was where the partnership between India and the US would help.

Implicit in his presentation was a call greater pressure from Washington on Pakistan to crack down on its home-grown and fostered jihadi groups such as LeT. Ahead of the meeting, the Indian side made it clear in unusually blunt language that New Delhi will not forfeit its core interests in its sphere of influence (read Afghanistan) just because

Obama leads world to stop N-spread Washington: Presidents, prime ministers and other leaders from 47 countries began work on Monday on a battle plan to keep nuclear weapons out of terrorist hands.

The host, US president Barack Obama, is looking for global help in his goal of ensuring all nuclear materials worldwide are secured from theft or diversion within four years.

On the eve of what would be the largest assembly of world leaders hosted by an American president since 1945 - the San Francisco conference to found the United Nations - Obama said nuclear materials in the hands of al-Qaida or another terrorist group

Manmohan shakes hands with Gilani Washington: When 47 world leaders gather together in one room, the meeting of hands which everyone seemed to be waiting for was between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Yusuf Raza Gilani.

The two Prime Ministers met at the Walter E. Washington convention centre in downtown Washington, venue of the Nuclear Security Summit which got underway on Monday evening with a reception hosted by US President Barack Obama.

Gilani strode up to Dr. Singh and the two men greeted each other warmly.

"could change the security landscape in this country and around the world for years to come".

A few hours ahead of Obama's official Monday welcome for the guests at a convention center here, the White House was a revolving door for international visitors, including Jordan's king Abdullah II, who held face-to-face talks with the president.

Jordan's intelligence apparatus is deeply involved in the Afghan war.

Obama opens the conference on Monday with a working dinner and has meetings lined up with the leaders of Malaysia, Armenia and China. The sessions close with a joint statement on efforts to prevent the transfer of

nuclear materials and technology and to keep them locked up.

Ahead of the conference, German chancellor Angela Merkel made it clear that she, too, sees dirty bombs in terrorist hands as an even larger threat than regular nuclear weapons. Merkel praised Obama's decision to hold the conference as "extremely important", and said it fits well with Obama's global disarmament efforts.

Meanwhile, Russian president Dmitri Medvedev said in an interview on Monday that Iran's nuclear program must be watched closely, but he said sanctions on the regime would have to be smart and effective

because sanctions often don't work.

While sweeping or even bold new strategies were unlikely to emerge from the two-day gathering, Obama declared himself pleased with what he heard in warm-up meetings on Sunday with the leaders of Kazakhstan, South Africa, India and Pakistan.

"I feel very good at this stage in the degree of commitment and a sense of urgency that I have seen from the world leaders so far on this issue," Obama said. "We think we can make enormous progress on this, and this then becomes part and parcel of the broader focus that we've had over the last several weeks."

Menon discusses India’s access to Headley with Jones Washington: India’s National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon has met his US counterpart James Jones here and discussed modalities by which access could be given to David Headley, Lashkar-e Taiba operative blamed for role in Mumbai attacks.

Mr Menon’s meeting with Mr Jones to discuss next steps in the bilateral ties came a day after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh raised the issue of Headley with US President Barack Obama.

Modalities and ways in which India could be given access to Headley were among the various issues discussed by the two National Security Advisers, sources said.

Besides access, India is determined to seek Headleys’ extradition.

India has said that it would use every occasion to seek Headley’s extradition and access to him.

Headley, who was arrested in Chicago in October last year, has confessed to playing a crucial role in the Mumbai attacks.

In this plea bargain with the US government, he has offered to be subjected to questioning by foreign investigators through deposition, video conferencing or Letters Rogatory.

The sources said India would push for Headley’s extradition. But if that takes time, India will seek direct access to him to unravel the entire conspir-

acy to which he was a part not only in terms of 26/11 but other planned attacks in India. “Extradition will be our preference because the crime has been committed in India,” they said.

At the same time, the sources noted that India was still in the midst of legal processes with regard to seeking access to and extradition of Headley.

Formal communication would be sent to the US after that.

India is keen to interrogate Headley in a way that is legally acceptable in a court in the country.

“The interrogation should be legally usable and satisfy our legal processes,” the sources said.

Barack Obama with Manmohan Singh at the start of the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington on Monday.

of Pakistani’s existential paranoia.

Singh conveyed this to Obama, along with the Indian position on various other issues the two

sides don’t see eye to eye, including Washington pandering to Pakistan’s insatiable hunger for military hardware, and differing perceptions on Iran.

Pakistan told to punish Mumbai attackers Washington: Hours after Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed concern over Pakistan's lack of will to punish those responsible for the terror attack in Mumbai that left 166 people dead, US president Barack Obama asked Islamabad to move against the perpetrators.

A couple of hours after meeting Manmohan Singh, Obama on Sunday told Pakistani Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani that the Indian leader was sincere in improving ties with Islamabad, but wants Pakistan to take action against those responsible for the Mumbai attack.

Obama, according to diplomatic sources, told Gilani at their 40-minute meeting that he also personally believes that

Pakistan taking action against those responsible for the Mumbai terrorist attack 'would be a positive thing'. The US president also made no commitment on the issue of an Indiatype civil nuclear deal to meet Pakistan’s acute energy needs saying there is need to have a proper balance between progress and security concerns.

Voicing his desire for an improved IndiaPakistan relationship, Obama said he believes that this would be not only beneficial to the South Asian neighbours, but would also have a positive impact on the overall situation in the region.

'Obama began by noting that he is very fond of Pakistan, having visited the country during college,' the White House later said in a statement.

India asks Canada to curb activities of Sikh separatists Washington: Two months before the 25th anniversary of the bombing of Air-India flight Kanishka, India has asked Canada to monitor surging activities of Sikh separatists in that country when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his Canadian counterpart Stephen Harper.

In his 30-minute meeting with Harper on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit at Walter E. Washington Convention Centre on Monday evening, Manmohan Singh conveyed his concerns over

the surge in activities of Sikh separatists in Canada who are trying to revive militancy in Punjab.

Manmohan Singh conveyed India's continuing concerns over the activities of terrorist organisations in that country, Vishnu Prakash, the spokesperson of India's external affairs ministry, told journalists here after the talks.

Manmohan Singh hoped that the Canadian government would curb and monitor the activities of these organizations, said Prakash.

26

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Indo-Canadian minister under scanner quits post Vancouver: Kash Heed, the Indian-origin solicitor general of British Columbia province in Canada who is under scanner for alleged election malpractices, resigned on Friday.

A former chief of West Vancouver City Police, Kash Heed (short from Kashmir Heer) is one of the three Indo-Canadians serving in cabinet posts in Canada, including federal

Roundup Kyrgyz opposition seizes power, dissolves Parliament Bishkek: Kyrgyzstan's opposition has taken over power and dissolved Parliament in the Central Asian state after deadly protests forced president Kurmanbek Bakiyev to flee the capital.

As interim government leader, Roza Otunbayeva, demanded the resignation of the president, whom she helped bring to power five years ago. She said Bakiyev was trying to rally supporters in his power base in southern Kyrgyzstan.

"We have a caretaker government now in place, and I am the head of it," Otunbayeva, a former foreign minister, said several hours before addressing reporters in the parliament building in Bishkek.

"It will remain in place for half a year, during which we will draft the Constitution and create conditions for free and fair (Presidential) Elections."

Emergency in Bangkok Bangkok: Thailand declared a state of emergency in the capital last week after protesters stormed the grounds of parliament, forcing government ministers to flee and raising pressure for snap elections.

The red-shirted supporters of ousted premier Thaksin Shinawatra retreated from parliament but tens of thousands remain in Bangkok's main shopping district, refusing orders to leave until Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva dissolves parliament. Earlier the protesters clashed with security forces that leaves at least 21 dead. The "red shirts" responded to the decree with defiance, exhorting followers in rural provinces to mass at city halls. "We will declare war," Arisman Pongruangrong, a "red shirt" leader, told supporters.

"No more negotiations." The state of emergency bans public gatherings of more than five people and gives the army broad powers to control crowds. But Abhisit said the government would not use force.

Malaysian Sikh writes heaviest Guru Granth Sahib Kuala Lumpur: A 73-year-old Malaysian Sikh has completed his fourth handwritten copy of 1,430 page Guru Granth Sahib, which could be the largest and heaviest in the world.

Jaswant Singh Khosa's handwritten fourth copy of the Guru Granth Sahib weighs 84 kg and is 91.44 cm in length and 66.04 cm wide, breaking his previous 'Malaysia Book of Records' for his second copy which weighed 45 kg and was 76.2 cm long and 48.26 cm wide in 2004, a media report said on Sunday.

"It is a labour of love. The (latest) book is 182.9 cm long when it opens up. I wrote for 14 hours a day. It was worth it," he told The Star newspaper. It took Khosa 14 months to complete his fourth copy which he donated to a Sikh temple in the United States.

The daily said a gurudwara in Amritsar had replaced its 200-year-old holy book and was currently using Khosa's second hand-written copy, which he had also donated. The third copy, which is the same size as the second, was given to a Sikh temple in Canada in 2007. His first hand-written copy, a smaller version, was donated to a Sikh temple in London in 1998. All four copies were in traditional Gurmukhi calligraphy.

Kamal Nath summoned by US court over anti-Sikh riots New York: India’s road transport and highways minister Kamal Nath has been summoned by a US federal district court for his alleged role in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots based on a case filed by a Sikh outfit. In the civil case filed under the Alien Torts Claims Act, the petitioners sought compensatory and punitive damages for several allegations including crimes against humanity, degrading treatment and wrongful killing.

However, Nath, who was incidentally here on a visit, said he was "surprised and appalled" as the case has been filed 25 years after the anti-Sikh riots in India.

"I really have no clue about it. I don't have a basis and I don't know the authenticity. I don't know the validity. It was for the first time that I saw it," Nath said when asked to comment on the case.

parliamentary secretary Deepak Obhrai and Ontario provincial minister Harinder Takhar.

Heed, who belongs one of the oldest Indian families in Canada, was handpicked for the job of top cop of British Columbia by the premier (chief minister) of the province after the May 2009 elections.

Poles pay tributes to Lech Kaczynski Polish president, 95 others killed when their planes crashes in Russia Warsaw: Poles paid tributes to late president Lech Kaczynski who was killed on Saturday when his plane crashed while on way to Russia. The crash has claimed the lives of 95 others. Among the dead were Kaczynski’s wife, many top defence officials and public figures. The jet crashed while en route to a war memorial service in Russia.

Russian investigators suspect pilot error caused the crash. They say the pilots were warned that they were flying too low just before the plane clipped tree-tops in heavy fog, as it was coming in to land at an air base on Saturday morning.

the parliamentary speaker pending a new election.

The Polish government plane was carrying leaders from across national public life who had been due

to attend a memorial for the Polish victims of a World War II massacre by Soviet secret police at Katyn in the Smolensk region.

The pavement in front of President Kaczynski's palace in central Warsaw has nearly disappeared from sight, covered now with thousands of small glass pots containing candles laid as a mark of respect. Mr Kaczynski's body was brought back from Russia on Sunday. It was driven through crowd-lined streets to the palace, where it will lie in state from Tuesday.

Officials have mentioned Saturday as a possible date for the funeral.

court.

The Indian consulate entrusted Chettur’s law firm, Mohamed Salman Advocates and Legal Consultants, with the case following a March 29 judgment by a Sharjah Shariah Court sentencing the 17 to death.

The Indians were convicted for killing a Pakistani and injuring

three others in January last year.

“Our plea will be based on the premise that 17 people cannot be implicated for the same crime as the degrees of crime must be different,” Chettur said.

She said she is positive about the outcome of this appeal process as she has handled such cases in the past.

Investigators work at the site of a Polish government Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft crash in Smolensk on Tuesday (Inset: Lech Kaczynski)

Poland has moved to fill some of the gaps left by the disaster, appointing an acting head of the central bank, while the presidential post has been filled by

UAE court to hear Indians’ appeal on May 19 Sharjah: The case of 17 Indians, sentenced to death for murdering a Pakistani national in Sharjah, will be heard by a UAE appellate court on May 19, the lawyer handling the case on behalf of the Indian consulate here has said.

“We filed the appeal last week and are awaiting the full file for defence

which will help us study the entire case,” Bindu Suresh Chettur said.

The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 19.

According to her, further to this preparation, a national lawyer will take up the case in the appellate court. As per local laws, foreign lawyers cannot appear in the local

US, Russia sign treaty to cut nuclear arms Prague: US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev have signed a treaty to shrink their nations' nuclear arsenals, the biggest such pact between the former Cold War foes in a generation.

Tenaciously negotiated by even the leaders

themselves, the treaty commits their nations to slash the number of strategic nuclear warheads by one-third and more than halve the number of missiles, submarines and bombers carrying them.

On Thursday last, the two presidents put their names to history. The

treaty must be now be ratified by Russia's Parliament and by the US Senate. The new treaty will shrink the limit of nuclear warheads to 1,550 per country over seven years. It is intended to send a strong signal that Russia and the US are serious about disarmament.

Karzai threatens to block Nato operations in Kandahar Kandahar: Afghanistan president Hamid Karzai has cast doubt over Nato's planned summer offensive against the Taliban in the southern province of Kandahar, as more than 10,000 American troops pour in for the fight.

Karzai threatened to delay or even cancel the operation - one of the biggest in the nine-year war - after being confronted in Kandahar by elders who said it would bring strife, not security, to his home province.

Visiting last week to rally support for the offensive, the president was instead overwhelmed by a barrage of complaints about corruption and mis-

Hamid Karzai

rule. As he was heckled at a shura of 1,500 tribal leaders and elders, he appeared to offer them a veto over military action.

"Are you happy or unhappy for the operation to be carried out?" he asked.

The elders shouted

back: "We are not happy."

"Then until the time you say you are happy, the operation will not happen," Karzai replied.

General Stanley McChrystal, the Nato commander, who was sitting behind him, looked distinctly apprehensive.

The remarks have compounded US anger and bewilderment with Karzai, who has already accused the United States of rigging last year's presidential elections and even threatened to switch sides to join the Taliban.

One American official said after the shura that Karzai had proved neither a reliable ally nor popular with his own people.

India, China establish hotline Beijing: Indian and Chinese leaders last week signed an agreement to establish a hotline between New Delhi and Beijing to enhance the quality of communication and evolve better relationship. This agreement was signed during the visit of India’s foreign minister S M Krishna to Beijing. China, meanwhile, made no effort to deny reports that construction companies from the country were involved in developing infrastructure projects in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir. The only assurance they gave to Krishna is that Chinese work in the area is "without prejudice" to the fact that it is a disputed area.

Krishna, who met Chinese premier Wen Jiabao and foreign minister Yang Jiechi, raised a wide range of issues, including the problem of stapled visas given by China to certain Indian citizens including Kashmiris, said India’s foreign secretary Nirupama Rao. Rao seemed to suggest there was no clear assurance from the Chinese side when she told reporters that the matter was "a subject of ongoing discussions".

27

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Hafiz Saeed sees Indo-Pak war over water Lahore: Lashker-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed claimed the next war between India and Pakistan could be fought over water if India does not stop what he described as "water terrorism". Saeed, who currently heads the Jamaat-udDawah, made the remarks while addressing a gathering at a mosque in Chowburji area of Lahore. He claimed India was

diverting the flow of rivers in Jammu and Kashmir by building dams and tunnels in a bid to turn Pakistan into a desert and to "spoil the regional situation". Saeed called on the people of Pakistan to stand united against India and to oppose the construction of dams that allegedly rob the country of its share of river waters.

Lawmakers abolish President Zardari’s sweeping powers Many of the powers now will be transferred to the office of the prime minister Islamabad: Pakistan's National Assembly last week passed by two-thirds majority a package of landmark amendments aimed at stripping President Asif Ali Zardari of his sweeping powers and removing changes made to the constitution by former military dictators.

Amid the shouting of slogans against former dictators Zia-ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, the members of the lower house of parliament approved 102 amendments, including several that will transfer powers

from the office of the President to the Prime Minister.

A total of 292 lawmakers of the 342-member National Assembly voted in favour of the bill, ensuring that it was cleared by a two-thirds majority.

A total of 228 votes

Islamabad: The Pakistan Army on Saturday began its largest war games near the Indian border involving some 20,000 soldiers and the air force.

The six-week exercise, codenamed Azm-i-Nau 3, involves troops from all arms and services, besides engagement of various aircraft and equipment of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Online news agency reported. It is the largest exercise since the Zarb-iMomin war games of 1989. The ongoing PAF

exercise High Mark 2010 will be fully integrated with the army field exercise, which will continue till May 13.

The exercise is being organised in southern Punjab, Sialkot and Sindh.

The Director General of Military Training, Maj. Gen. Muzammil Hussain, said India had been informed about the exercise.

He said the exercise would be the culmination of a long and deliberate

Asif Ali Zardari

were required for the passage of the amendments.

No member opposed the bill but several abstained from the voting.

"The impossible has been made possible by the house today," Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani told the House after it voted in favour of the 18th amendment.

"We will now be answerable to both the national assembly and the senate," he said.

The 18th constitutional amendment bill declared as illegal all measures taken by former

President Musharraf, who took power in a bloodless coup in 1999 after dismissing the elected government of then premier Nawaz Sharif.

When an amendment to delete an article related to the emergency imposed

by Musharraf in 2007 was passed, several lawmakers were heard shouting slogans calling for him to be hanged.

The bill also removed the name of Zia-ul-Haq from the constitution, a measure that was welcomed by lawmakers with the thumping of desks.

process of war games, discussions and logistic evolution of a concept of warfare that is fully responsive to a wide array of emerging threats.

The process commenced with the exercise Azm-i-Nau-2 in February.

Hussain pointed out that the army followed a biennial training pattern wherein training objectives set forth were to be achieved over a span of two years.

The training was mission oriented and based

on the obtaining security environment, he said, adding that the training was methodical and progressive, culminating in map exercises, war games and field exercises at various levels of command.

'In the light of the army chief's vision, a comprehensive package in the form of the Year of Training was formulated in 2009-2010 and now, the Pakistan Army is all set to go in the field to validate those concepts,' Hussain pointed out.

Largest Army war games begin

Pakistan imposes curbs on Indian Sikh pilgrims’ visit Says they must have visa for sites they want to visit Lahore: Pakistani authorities have imposed a ban on the travel of Indian Sikh pilgrims to places for which they do not possess a visa, as 1,400 devotees arrived here to take part in celebrations marking the Baisakhi festival.

The Home Department of Punjab province banned such travel by issuing an official circular, sources said on Monday.

The circular was sent to the Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) which looks after shrines of minority communities and organises pilgrimages to such sites, and to law enforcement agencies. The circular stated it was the

Indian Sikh pilgrims wave after boarding a train for Pakistan at a railway station in Amritsar on Sunday

duty of authorities "to provide all facilities and protection to the Sikh yatris (pilgrims). But it is important for their (Sikhs') protection to disallow them to

visit places for which they are not issued visa by the Pakistan High Commission in India."

Law enforcement agencies and the ETPB

were asked by the Home Department to enforce the ban at any cost.

The circular said Pakistanis found taking the pilgrims to cities for which they had not been issued visas would be strictly dealt with.

Official sources said the Home Department issued the circular following reports that ETPB often entertained requests by the visiting Sikhs to permit them to visit gurdwaras in places for which they had not been issued visas.

Around 1,400 Indian Sikhs arrived in Lahore on Sunday to take part in celebrations marking the Baisakhi festival.

IN FOCUS US team in Peshawar to probe consulate bombing Peshawar: A four-member team from the US has arrived in Peshawar to probe recent terror strike on the American consulate. The team visited the crime scene to collect ground evidence. The rubble from the adjacent buildings, damaged in the attack, has still not been cleared, The Daily Times reports. Meanwhile, North West Frontier Province (NWFP) police chief Malik Naveed has rejected reports of there being any security failure. "It was a great success that the attackers were not allowed to reach their target," Naveed said. The militants had first exploded a car bomb, then opened gun fire and hurled grenades and tried to enter the consulate, but were prevented. Two Pakistani security officials were killed and many others were injured, but no American was killed or injured.

41 militants, 2 soldiers killed in fighting Parachinar (Pakistan): More than 100 militants armed with rockets and automatic weapons attacked two security checkpoints in northwestern Pakistan on Monday, sparking intense fighting that left at least 41 insurgents and two soldiers dead, officials said. The clashes were the latest violence in the Orakzai tribal region, where the military launched an operation in March to wipe out Pakistani Taliban fighters who have fled there to escape other offensives.

More than 300 suspected militants have been killed in three weeks of constant air strikes and occasional ground clashes.

The US has applauded Pakistan's push to go after militants in the volatile border area near Afghanistan. But American officials would like the country to do more to target those fighters who have been staging cross-border attacks against US and NATO troops in Afghanistan. Security forces successfully repelled the attacks early on Monday morning against checkpoints in the villages of Shireen Dara and Sangrana in Lower Orakzai, local administrator Samiullah Khan said. Three soldiers were wounded in the fighting, he said. "More then 100 militants attacked the security checkpoint in Shireen Dara," Khan said. "They fought a gunbattle for two hours and fired several rockets." After the battles subsided, authorities found the bodies of 15 dead militants around the two checkpoints, said two intelligence officials. Insurgents removed the bodies of at least 26 others who were killed, they said. Fighter jets destroyed three militant hide-outs in Sangram village in Orakzai on Sunday, killing 10 suspected insurgents, Khan said. A day earlier, similar strikes killed nearly 100 suspected militants in the Orakzai and Khyber tribal areas, according to officials.

Government reports are almost impossible to independently verify because journalists are prohibited from travelling to the country's semi-autonomous tribal areas.

Nuclear arsenal in 'safe hands', says Gilani Islamabad: Pakistan prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani assured the world community on Sunday that Pakistan's nuclear arsenal is in "safe hands" as he embarked on a visit to the US to attend the Nuclear Security Summit hosted by President Barack Obama. "I assure the world, I assure the people of Pakistan that the nuclear capability, the nuclear programme is in safe hands," Gilani told reporters at the Chaklala military airbase in Rawalpindi before boarding a special flight to the US. Noting that the summit had been convened as the world has concerns about nuclear safety, Gilani said Pakistan's "nuclear programme is in experienced hands and we have experience of over 30 years". He said he has the entire nation's support on nuclear issues and that he had briefed the national security committee of parliament about his participation in the summit. The parliamentary panel had "totally endorsed" the government's stance on nuclear issues. Gilani will also hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.

Asked if he would also meet his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh, Gilani said a meeting has not yet been scheduled.

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UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

This week CB will discuss about the General Elections 2010 with Kanti Nagda of Sangat Community Centre and talk about ‘Swarnim Gujarat 2010’ with NCGO(UK) Vice President Pravin Amin

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500

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

Sarah Brown, a brave heart?

Coming Events l Ninth Annual Health Mela Saturday 17th April, Gujarat Hindu Society South Meadow Lane, Preston

Sarah Brown appeared as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at an International Women’s Day conference hosted at London’s famous Neasden Temple (officially known as BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir) on Sunday 11 April 2010.

The conference was hosted by BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS). Mrs Brown arrived at the temple at 10.15am and was greeted in traditional Hindu manner with a flower garland and the tying of an auspicious thread around her wrist signifying goodwill and friendship. After touring the temple and paying her respects in the inner sanctum, the Prime Minster’s wife entered the assembly hall to rapturous applause.

In her keynote address, Mrs Brown began by saying: “It is indeed such an honour to be here at this truly stunning tem-

ple. I can entirely understand why it is often referred to as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’, but I suspect what keeps thousands and thousands of people coming back here is not just how beautiful a building it is, but the warmth of the welcome and the compassion of the community.”

Mrs Brown went on to share her experiences of meeting inspiring women around the world, adding: “The women who have made the deepest impression on me are the people who show the determination to help others.”

Drawing upon the conference’s theme, Mrs Brown emphasised the crucial role women play in our modern society, and chose to “focus on the future, as the needs there are so urgent”, urging the delegates to have the “courage to dream about a better future and then set out to make that future

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Anne Hoose Deputy Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Accounts Executive: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07957 694 909 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Advertising Sales Executive: Nikhil Gor - Email: nikhil.gor@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4009 Media Consultant: Rovin John George Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 Business Development Managers: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 - Email: george@abplgroup.com Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Saroj Patel Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel: +9179 2646 Fax: +9179 6061 Chief Executive Director: Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamleshamin123@yahoo.co.in

Relationships are experiencing major transformations - those with shaky foundations should be extra careful. Financially, you have everything going for you. A good time to put lucrative plans into action and reap the benefits of sound investments. Be prudent and do not fritter away your good fortune.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

l Holistic Health, Sunday 25 April, Monday 26 April, 10am-5pm, Hall 11, NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT Contact: www.BeautyServe.com/ HolisticHealth l Dr Karan Singh, speaks on Vedanta philosophy.

Friday 16 April 6.30pm. Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, 4A Castletown Road, London W14 NHQ, www.bhavan.net l Shree Ram Mandir will hold a special program during Adhik/Purshottam Mass. Everyday between 10-12.30pm there will be Purshotam Bhagwan, Kanthagorma Puja and Pravachan. 4- 6.30 pm will be Namavalio, Pravachan, Stotras, Mantras and Janmotsav l 15 April- 14 May, Shree Ram Mandir, Hildyard Road,Off Ross Walk, Leicester LE4 5GG l Shree Aden Deepala Mitra Mandal (UK) Charity has organised a Satsang event presented by a team from Mauritius. It will feature dinner as well, Monday 19th April, Bhojan (dinner) - 6.30-7.30 pm Satsang 8- 10.30 pm, Tel- 02083466686

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 At home, be at your diplomatic best and try not to tread on anyone's toes.

Passions will run from hot to cold, and relationships may suffer. Even the most strong-willed Taureans will be more open to compromise to keep the peace. Plan your spending and set sensible budgets to reach your financial goals.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Your communication sector is all-abuzz with planetary energies firing you up preventing you from sleeping properly. Give yourself plenty of physical outlets to drain off some of the excess mental stimulation. You feel like you can finally settle into a more grounded and steady routine instead of letting your schedule run you.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Your horizons have most certainly expanding. Jupiter in the area of your chart ruling long-distance travel and philosophical thoughts will make your mind run wild. With Venus transiting your networking sector for some time, there will be many romantic opportunities. Your financial affairs are looking up.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Long-term partnerships are reinvigorated by Jupiter's transit of your solar 8th house. Whether you’re single or attached you’ll have a busy time ahead of you. Business partnerships are tested and some of them could challenge your authority. The more you live up to your own set of principles the more cash you’ll pull in.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Jupiter, the planet of abundance, is transiting your partnership sector. You have plenty of romantic options. Financially you are still not out of the woods as Saturn is still challenging you. At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will help you to get on with everyone around you.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Jupiter's transit in your solar 6th house, you will find it easy to do well at work and rise to great heights.

During this transit you will enjoy robust health and find physical activities very enjoyable. Expect this to be a romantic period in your life with lots of opportunities arising for you to find someone special. come true.”

Though the wife of Labour leader Gordon Brown was aware of a problem with her left foot, she unveiled her little toe and fourth toe crossed over one another, as she appeared bare foot in the temple premises as a Hindu ritual. Though she has been placed in direct competition with David

Cameron's wife Samantha, and is believed that it's the kind of sight that will immediately put the Prime Minister's wife into second place behind the Tory leader's wife, Sarah Brown proved to be a brave heart, fighting all criticism for community harmony and mutual respect, that is seldom observed.

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With Jupiter riding high SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 in your 5th house of romance and creativity, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. This will give you a chance to meet people of your own calibre. Your communications are extremely high making it easy to close those lucrative deals.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 This week you are energetic, eager and resourceful. Charm will be your ally in this week' s activities. Others will be responsive to you and your ideas. You are extremely warm and affectionate as a person and you look for just as strong a response from your partner. You will achieve success by being responsible and diplomatic.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

With Venus transiting your 5th house, this promises to be very romantic week where some of you might even tie the knot with your loved one. This is a good time to buy or sell property or to renovate existing ones. The atmosphere at home will be calm and amiable with everyone at their best behaviour.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

The focus is on finances this week, but that doesn’t mean you should worry yourself sick. Rather, finding new and improved ways to boost your earnings potential. Don’t let nebulous tendencies interfere with your plans. It’s fine to consider several options but don’t get caught up in indecision. Schedule networking opportunities later this week.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 The need to push ahead with personal interests and to assert yourself with added force will take precedence over everything else for some time to come. Mentally you will be in top form, feeling quite passionate about expressing your ideas and views.

A goal you have been striving towards will at last be reached.

time

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

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Across 1 Straddle 5 Speak in Spanish 10 Caroonist Silverstein 14 Der ___ (Adenauer) 15 Haughty 16 Disaster relief agcy.

17 “Living the Bill of Rigths” writer 19 Greenish-blue 20 Small coronets 21 Neet rival 23 Lively dance 24 Bring upon oneself

25 27 28 30 31 33 36 37 40 43 44 48 50 52

Outocme Final degree Work at “The X-files” character Alternative to “Ah” One-named supermodel Like a run-down wal-up Quibbled Craps number Empty space Long yarn La Scala shows Canine call Rocky crag

53 Ain’t gonna happen!

56 Up an about 58 Vane dir.

59 Slips up 60 Current Phenomenon 61 Australian lake 63 Reason to eschew cashews 65 Kodak brand 66 News bits 67 Presidental no 68 IRS identifiers 69 Hawk’s home 70 Fusses

Solution of Crossword-82

SPELLATHON - 83

H A N S I M B I S P A D E R A B B I D A C A R E B A S N E R A I L C A L L E H A R E I G O R D E N Y

Today’s Ratings: 05-average |07-good | 08-outstanding

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 A should be at least one H seven-letter word.

V Plurals, foreign words K and proper names are not allowed. British S I English Dictionary is N used as reference.

Solution of Spellathon - 82 cede, cued, deuce, educe, seduce, SUCCEED

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Solution of sudoku-82 HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and square 3x3 box is a sub-grid of 9 cells. Fill in the grid so that each subgrid contains the digits 1 to 9. Every puzzle has one solution.

A S L O W R A I N O N

E R A T A U A G R O M O R M A R C A N A T E A R D S D E E P O N S R E C E E R N E I G W B E E E L

M O U T H D I S

A L E L A F P O F I T I S N T I

N G E E T S O W W A N G

D E L O O S L F R Y A T E D

A chemistry teacher began the day’s lecture. He held up a glass tube and said to his class, “In this vial I have a liquid which immediately melt any substance it touches. “ He got no further. A student loudly replied, “Professor, you’re just trying to kid us.” Can you think as rapildy as the student and tell how it was that he knew the professor wasn’t telling the truth?

Dr. Livingstone, I presume?

Dr. David Livingstone (1813-73), British missionary doctor, explorer, scientist, and a pioneer in abolition of the slave trade devoted his life to the exploration of Africa where he spent some 30 years of his life. He was born in Blantyre, Scotland. At the age of 10 he began working in a local cotton mill with school lessons in the evenings. Later during his medical studies in Glasgow he also studied theology and decided to become a missionary doctor. He worked during holidays to support himself. After completion of his studies, he left for Africa to become a medical missionary and from then until his death in 1873 he travelled over a vast tract of Central Africa from east coast to the west in three separate expeditions from England.

As a member of the London Missionary Society, Livingstone began his work in Bechuanaland (now Botswana) in 1841 where he met and married Mary Moffat, daughter of a fellow missionary.

Accompanied by his wife, he travelled through regions where no European had ever been before and discovered Lake Ngami (1849) and the Zambezi River (1851). Once a lion moulded him injuring his left shoulder. After reaching the west coast he went back eastwards again and found in 1855, a spectacular falls on the Zambezi which he named after Queen Victoria.

After incredible hardships he reached the mouth of the Zambezi on the Indian Ocean in 1856 becoming the first European to cross the width of southern Africa.

He returned to England to a hero’s welcome.

Following his success of the first expedition, Livingstone left for Africa again (British Government sponsored) in 1856 and for the next six years carried out exploration of east-central Africa and became the first European to see Lake Nyasa (Malawi).

Unfortunately, the Zambezi expedition met with many difficulties (not least his wife’s death – a bitter blow) and the government recalled the expedition in 1864.

In 1866, Livingstone led yet another expedition (privately financed) into Central Africa to discover the source of Nile.

He made his way towards Lake Tanganyika reaching its shore in 1869.

During this time little was heard of him; his long absence became a matter of concerned and a search party led by Henry Stanley – A Welshborn American explorer and journalist – was sent in his pursuit. After many hardships Livingstone was found in poor health on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika in 1871.

It was here that Stanley supposedly greeted him with the immortal words ‘Dr. Livingstone, I presume?’ Despite Stanley’s attempt to persuade him to return home, Livingstone (with new supplies from Stanley)

Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters.

Solution of - 82 :

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Money troubles

KAKURO - 83 Solution of KAKURO - 82

continued his quest for the source of the Nile, but his health fading, he died in 1873 in the country and among people he loved. He was buried in London’s Westminster Abbey (1874).

Livingstone was one of the greatest explorers of the African continent.

He had familiarised himself with the local languages and cultures and established new missions. He preached a Christian message but did not force it on unwilling ears.

He showed stubborn determination in the face of extreme hardships. A missionary and an explorer to the end his philosophy was ‘I am prepared to go anywhere, provided it be forward’.

Livingstone’s discoveries had a profound significance for the future of Africa. His exploration and mapping of central and eastern Africa filled huge gaps in Europeans’ knowledge of Africa, the ‘Dark Continent’ as it was known in Victorian times, and contributed to its rapid colonisation in the 2nd half of the 19th century, the so-called ‘scramble for Africa’. His travels and the best-seller ‘Missionary Travels and Researches in South Africa’ brought him world-wide fame and honours. He is commemorated in the names of two towns, Blantyre (his birth place) in Malawi, and Livingstone, in Zambia. He was and remains an inspiration to many would-be explorers and intrepid travellers.

WHATZIT? - 83

The paragraph does not contain an E, it does contain all of the other letters though

8 5

M E R E T A A L C K T I E D L O L I D O

29

By Dr Anil Mehta

Solution of 82 :

9 6

O B E L I

MINDBENDER - 83

Sudoku-83

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Down 1 Duvall title role 2 Lamentations 3 Case handled by a lawyer?

4 Indi’s first PM 5 Fictional Brinker 6 Keyboard key 7 Trailblzin’ Dan’l 8 Diet-food claim 9 Swear to 10 U.S. Army rank 11 Beatles hit 12 Sent a cybermesage 13 The Jersey lily 18 Legendary lawman Wyatt 22 Practice recycling 25 Maiden of myth 26 Maiden of myth 26 Iditarod sights 29 Allow to 32 January in Oaxaca 34 “O sole___” 35 Big success 38 Beyond silly 39 Plunk starter?

40 Fourteen-line poems 41 Names turned into words 42 Ex-soldier 45 Clad 46 Attending 47 Dry gulches 49 Largest city on Lake Huron 51 Take a trip?

54 Beast 55 Perfume ingredient 57 1983 Indy 500 winner 60 Different 62 “All my__Live in taxes” 64 Paris pal

pass

20

The numbers in the pink Example 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.

12

Note: 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.

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HEALTH WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Nutritional tips to support healthy hair growth

By Urja Patel vegetrition.com As mentioned two weeks ago, there are a number of reasons for hair loss including illness, medications or hereditary. No matter what the cause of hair loss it is nevertheless a blow to those affected causing many to feel anxious and look for treatment to reverse hair loss.

Here are a few more ideas on how you can promote hair growth through good nutrition.

1. Eat adequate amounts of protein.

Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair.

Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth - cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.

Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later. It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet.

The best sources of dietary protein for vegetarians are eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.

2. Eat adequate amounts

of useful carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.

It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.

3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.

4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.

How much of each food group you eat

depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity. When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition: - Eat a variety of foods.

- Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.

- Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.

- Do not over cook.

HEALTH WATCH IN BRIEF

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.

Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons: - Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.

- High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.

- Dieting may affect nutrient levels.

- Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.

- Exercise can deplete some nutrients.

It may be sufficient to supplement with a wellbalanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.

Scientists unravel link between stress, anxiety, depression Scientists have unravelled the link between stress, anxiety and depression.

By identifying the connecting mechanism in the brain, the research led by Stephen Ferguson of the Robarts Research Institute in the University of Western Ontario (UWO) shows exactly how stress and anxiety can cause depression.

The study also reveals a small molecule inhibitor developed by Ferguson, which may provide anew and better way to treat anxiety, depression and other

related disorders.

Ferguson, Ana Magalhaes, professor in physiology and pharmacology at Western's Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry and their colleagues used a behavioural mouse model and a series of molecular experiments to reveal the connection pathway and to test the new inhibitor. "Our findings suggest there may be an entire new generation drugs and drug targets that can be used to selectively target depression, and therefore treat it more effectively."

Scientists unveil bionic eye for future implantation

Treatment may cure rheumatoid arthritis

Scientists have unveiled a bionic eye for future implantation in patients.

The prototype, developed by Bionic Vision Australia (BVA) researchers at the University of New South Wales, will deliver improved quality of life for patients suffering from degenerative vision loss caused by retinitis pigmentosa and agerelated macular degeneration.

Macular degeneration is a condition that

British scientists claim to have developed one-off treatment which could potentially help cure rheumatoid arthritis.

The crippling joint disease is triggered by attacks from the body's own defences.

Research team hopes that the drug, called otelixizumab, will turn off this response by the immune system, placing the patient into remission for years and potentially forever.

The trials are due to start next month and, if successful, the drug could be available to patients within a decade.

The drug targets Tcells, white blood cells which control the body's natural defences. These cells are believed to send signals to other cells in the body to attack the joints.

causes loss of vision in older adults by damaging the retina.

The device, which is undergoing tests, consists of a miniature camera mounted on glasses that captures visual input, transforming it into electrical signals that directly stimulate surviving neurons in the retina. The implant will enable recipients to perceive points of light in the visual field that the brain can then reconstruct into an image.

BP drugs could help repair damaged kidneys Blood pressure drugs could someday be used to allow damaged kidneys to repair themselves, researchers have claimed.

If successful, the treatment could cut the numbers who need a kidney transplant every

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year or who are on constant dialysis.

The claim is based on a study of patients given ACE inhibitors, a common set of blood pressure drugs, conducted by Giuseppe Remuzzi, Ariela Benigni, and Marina Morigi from the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Bergamo, Italy.

A trial on 112 patients showed that the half who were given an ACE inhibitor were less likely to suffer from kidney failure than those who received standard treatment, according to reports.

Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

www.abplgroup.com

Pollard lives up to his reputation, finally Mumbai Indians continue winning spree, beat Delhi Daredevils by 39 runs Mumbai consolidated their position at the top of the IPL points table, having already secured their semi final berth earlier. On Tuesday, they beat Delhi Daredevils with a huge margin of 39 runs. Delhi now is tied with three other teams, all having 12 points each from as many matches, making the contest very tough. Delhi now have to scale up their game if they have to make it to the semi finals, as after Tuesday’s game, they are at no. 3, with tough contenders RCB ahead of them, while RR and DC are just ready to catch up from behind.

For Mumbai Indians on Tuesday, the better signs were from Kieron Pollard finally coming to his elements. He blasted 25 runs off the last over of innings, making the task that much harder for Delhi Daredevils when they had to chase. Pollars belted 45 runs from just 13 balls that included 5 sixes. Pollard had come with a huge reputation of big hitting, but it was the first time he could live up to that.

Delhi initially kept Mumbai batting on tight leash. Mumbai, at the halfway stage in their innings, had limped to 66 for 2, their slowest start in

the tournament.

Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary, Mumbai's finds this tournament, showed more desperation, breaking a 28-ball boundary drought. Tiwary was the more aggressive, smacking two sixes and a four before being deceived by a slower delivery from Sangwan to be bowled.

But the much-needed release came in the 16th over, as JP Duminy scored three consecutive fours off Mishra, and Pollard mixed craftiness with power at the death, mistiming a ball for six and scooping Nehra over the ropes behind fine leg. Aiming for

the blockhole, Delhi's bowlers often erred, gifting full tosses that were treated aptly by Pollard, and his assault on McDonald more than compensated for Mumbai's travails for much of the innings.

Delhi had raced to 69 at the end of the Powerplay, their highest this IPL, but lost five wickets for 22 runs in 31 balls to drift out of contention. {Brief scores: MI 183 for 4 (Pollard 45*, Tiwary 38) beat DDs 144 for 7 (McDonald 33*, Murtaza 2-18, Fernando 2-32) by 39 runs}.

Raj - Shilpa now plan for an international football league in India Having tasted success as co-owners of Rajasthan Royals team in the cash rich Indian cricket show piece event – IPL, the British Indian celebrity couple now are reported to be toying with the idea of launching an international football league in India.

Yes, Raj Kundra and his actor wife Shilpa Shetty have this grand plans, media reports in India suggest.

A source close to the couple is believed to have said, “It will be a private football league (by invitation only). Six elite corporates and six A-List celebrities will co-own the football teams. The league will be christened the Football India Cup.

Talks are on with the All India Football Federation to be affiliated with them. Team owners will buy international footballers. Retired footballers at the top of their form may also be included.

There will be four interna-

tional footballers and seven Indian ones for each team.”

Raj and Shilpa are waiting for a window to be given to launch the football league. Only the letter in intent has been signed. The source adds, "Raj has always been extremely passionate about football and has wanted to form a league along international lines for some time now. He wants to improve the infrastructure for the Indian youth. Shilpa's hubby hopes that one day India will have 11 football players who will win us the World Cup."

The source says, "In fact, last year, he even met AIFF general secretary, Alberto Colaco and discusssed development projects, football competitions, the general football structure and the opportunities available in India.

Moreover, Shilpa and Raj are good friends of Praful Patel, AIFF president. It is hoped that with his involvement, the sport will be encouraged now.

Football is huge in India and Britain. Kundra feels it’s good to encourage another sport. For him, it's not another business.

There are 300,000 registered footballers in India.

The football league will offer them all job opportunities.”

Sehwag, Yusuf withdraw from English counties BCCI revokes NOC citing heavy engagements for the players Citing heavy engagements and workload, the Board for Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) has revoked the NOCs granted to Indian players that are on contracts with BCCI to play for the English counties.

Virendra Sehwag, the explosive opened will not be able to play for Northamptonshire, while Yusuf Pathan, another explosive batsman and an allrounder had to withdraw from playing for Essex.

Piyush Chawla, spinner is also on contract with the BCCI and has been named for the World T20 squad, but his club Surrey has said they have no word from the bowler or the BCCI. A press release issued

by Northants Cricket claimed the club was "stunned" by BCCI's revocation, after it had grant-

ed Sehwag an NOC just days earlier. Northants chief executive Mark Tagg said: "I received an email out of the blue from the BCCI which said "BCCI has (since) reviewed the International calendar of the Indian Team during 2010 preceding the World Cup 2011.

"Considering the heavy work load of the Indian Team during the year, it has been decided to revoke the NOC granted to all Indian Contracted players

including Mr. Virender Sehwag".

India are due to play a triangular series involving Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in May, while a planned The BCCI's NOC had confirmed, however, that national duty must come before his county commitments.

Chawla was due to miss the early part of the county season due to his commitments with Kings XI Punjab for the IPL, but is expected to join in later.

Essex stung by Yusuf Pathan withdrawal Essex have become the latest victim of the BCCI's decision to revoke 'No Objection Certificates' for their contracted players to play in the English Twenty20 Cup with Yusuf Pathan being ruled out.

Days after Northamptonshire announced that Virender Sehwag's NOC had also been revoked, Essex were told by the BCCI that Pathan would not be made available.

Indian Premier League - Points table (for matches played upto 13th April) Teams Mat Won Lost Tied N/R Mumbai Indians 12 9 3 0 0 Royal Challengers Bangalore 12 6 6 0 0 Delhi Daredevils 12 6 6 0 0 Rajasthan Royals 12 6 6 0 0 Deccan Chargers 12 6 6 0 0 Chennai Super Kings 11 5 6 0 0 Kolkata Knight Riders 11 5 6 0 0 Kings XI Punjab 12 4 8 0 0

Pts 18 12 12 12 12 10 10 8

Net RR +1.116 +0.343 +0.024 -0.288 -0.438 +0.107 -0.417 -0.484

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Asia Cup Cricket from June 15 to 25 The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced the holding of Asia Cup cricket tournament 2010 in Sri Lanka.

The tournament will be held in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka are the reigning champions and will play the first game against Pakistan on 15th June. India and Bangladesh are the two other teams to participate.

The final will be played on June 25. ACC made this announcement in Lahore last week. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, play each other in a league format after which the top two sides will meet in a final.

There is a provision for three reserve days during the league phase, as well as one for the final.

Soccer WC in SA faces Al-Quida threat South Africa is to host the Soccer World Cup in June this year. Al-Quida has threatened to strike at the tournament, with the USA, the British, French, German and Italian teams being the likely targets.

The North African branch of the dreaded terror outfit has issued the threat via the online jihadist magazine ‘Mushtaqun Lel Jannah’.

Al-Qaida has said it will use an undetectable explosive that will be able to circumvent security checkpoints.

English Premier League Matches Saturday, 17 April Birmingham v/s Hull St. Andrews Ground Blackburn v/s Everton Ewood Park Fulham v/s Wolverhampton Craven Cottage Man City v/s Man Utd City of Mcr Stadium Stoke v/s Bolton Britannia Stadium Sunderland v/s Burnley Stadium of Light Tottenham v/s Chelsea White Hart Lane Sunday, 18 April Portsmouth v/s Aston Villa Fratton Park Wigan v/s Arsenal D W Stadium Monday, 19 April Liverpool v/s West Ham Anfield Wednesday, 21 April Hull v/s Aston Villa Kingston Comms Stadium

15:00 15:00 15:00 12:45 15:00 15:00 17:30 16:00 13:30 20:00 19:45

IPL: Results of 11 matches played till Monday, 12th April Match Date Teams No. 46 12 April DC v/s RCB at Nagpur DC won by 13 runs Brief scores: DC 151/6 (20 overs); RCB 138 (19.4 overs) 45 11 April RR v/s MI at Jaipur MI won by 37 runs Brief scores: MI 174/5 (20 overs); RR 137/8 (20 overs) 44 11 April DD v/s KXIP at Delhi KXIP won by 7 wickets Brief scores: DD 111 (19.4 overs); KXIP 112/3 (18.4 overs) 43 10 April RCB v/s KKR at Bangalore RCB won by 7 wickets Brief scores: KKR 160/9 (20 overs); RCB 162/3 (17.1 overs) 42 10 April DC v/s CSK at Nagpur DC won by 6 wickets Brief scores: CSK 138/8 (20 overs); DC 139/4 (19.1 overs) 41 09 April KXIP v/s MI at Mohali KXIP won by 6 wickets Brief scores: MI 154/9 (20 overs); KXIP 158/4 (20 overs) 40 08 April RCB v/s DC at Bangalore DC won by 7 wickets Brief scores: RCB 184/6 (20 overs); DC 186/3 (19.2 overs) 39 07 April KKR v/s DD at Kolkata KKR won by 14 runs Brief scores: KKR 181/3 (20 overs); DD 167/8 (20 overs) 38 07 April RR v/s KXIP at Jaipur RR won by 9 wickets Brief scores: KXIP 153/6 (20 overs); RR 157/1 (15 overs) 37 06 April CSK v/s MI at Chennai CSK won by 24 runs Brief scores: CSK 165/4 (20 overs); MI 141/9 (20 overs) 36 05 April DC v/s RR at Nagpur RR won by 2 runs Brief scores: RR 159 (20 overs); DC 157 (20 overs)

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Asian Voice - Saturday 17th April 2010

Kochi controversy Tharoor in cricket tangle too!

Rendezvous Sports mystery stakeholder unmasked by IPL boss Lalit Modi After Pakistani cricketer, its now Indian cricket that’s embroiled in a serious controversy! Yes, as the Sania Mirza – Shoiab Malik marriage just happened the other day, IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi used the tweeter weapon against Shashi Tharoor, India’s minister of state for external affairs.

Tharoor has landed himself into many a controversy over tweeting on a few occasions earlier. It was perhaps for the first time that Tharoor was at the receiving end through tweets. The role and stake issue also took a legal turn, with an advocate having filed a petition in the Supreme Court to get the matters investigated.

BJP has meanwhile demanded that Shashi Tharoor should be sacked from the ministry.

It may be recalled that when the results of the bids for the two new teams were announced, Shashi Tharoor had said his role was limited to just encouraging and guiding the Rendezvous group, he had no other interests or stakes.

But IPL commissioner Lalit Modi over the weekend has said that Sunanda Pushkar owns a free stake of 25% in the Kochi consortium. Free stake is believed as such that she has paid no money and yet will enjoy a 25% stake in the Kochi franchise. It

would be worth a mention that Shashi Tharoor has already initiated the process of divorcing his second wife, a Canadian whom he married during his days at the UN. After the divorce, the minister, it is rumoured will be marrying Sunanda Pushkar. She is a woman of Kashmiri Pandit origin and based in Dubai. For Sunanda too, it would be her third marriage with Tharoor, if and when it happens.

With this background, Tharoor is in the eye of the storm as he is believed to have attempted to take undue advantage of his position in getting a franchise for Kochi and also securing a free stake in favour of the lady he is often seen with and is likely to marry soon.

The other group has hit back at Modi, alleging that he has violated the confidentiality norms.

Shashi Tharoor also alleged that Modi was interested in securing the franchise for another city (Ahmedabad, though he did not name it) and even tried to influence the Kochi consortium to retract their bid.

As a minister, Tharoor has landed himself in controversies on a few occasions earlier too. The Congress President Sonia Gandhi has once again decided that the party will keep distance in the latest

Sunanda Pushkar

Shashi Tharoor

cricket row too.

But as the matter has already taken an ugly turn, the BCCI boss Shashank Manohar has stepped in and will call a meeting of the IPL governing body within next ten days and settle the row. He has already reprimanded Lalit Modi, though the later seems to be unnerved by Manohar’s actions.

Tharoor reaction “I’ve had enough of this”, Tharoor wrote on his Twitter page after releasing an official statement on the issue.

Earlier, hitting back at Indian Premier League (IPL) commissioner Lalit Modi, he denied the allegations of having vested interests in the Kochi franchisee of the T20 league and termed Modi’s actions as ‘unethical’ and ‘disgraceful’.

BCCI Stand BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla told reporters, "BCCI president has decided to convene an IPL Governing Council meeting within 10 days to

discuss all the issues and take a decision," after a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi at her residence.

Shukla, who maintained that her meeting with Sonia Gandhi had nothing to do with the Tharoor issue, said, "Whatever allegations have been made from both the sides, all those issues will be deliberated upto at the meeting of the Governing Council.”

"I don't want to make a comment or any observation on what one has said against the other. All I was trying to suggest that all these issues will be discussed in the meeting convened by the BCCI president," he said.

Tharoor's close aides have also gotten into the muck-slinging and dug up Modi's past, stating that a man who was once charged with drug pedalling has no right to run cricket in India.

Tharoor-Modi spat moves to the Apex Court The Shashi Tharoor-Lalit

Modi spat over Kochi IPL team reached the Supreme Court on Tuesday with a petition seeking a CBI probe into the Union Minister’s alleging proxy stakes in the Rs.1,533crore franchise won by Rendezvous.

Alternatively, the petition urged the apex court to constitute a special investigation team to probe the allegations.

The petitioner Ajay K Agrawal, an advocate, contended that the Minister of State for External Affairs had used his official position to help get 19 per cent of the stakes pegged around Rs 70 crore free to Sunanda Pushkar.

Mr. Agrawal said he would make a plea before the apex court on Thursday seeking early hearing of the petition.

IPL Commissioner Modi had on Sunday disclosed the names of the free equity holders, including Pushkar, in the Rendezvous Sports World (RSW) which coughed up approximately Rs. 1,533 crore to bag the Kochi franchise.

Miffed by the disclosure, RSW threatened to send a legal notice to Modi and accused the IPL Commissioner of breaking the confidentiality terms.

The Kochi franchise has also complained to BCCI president Shashank Manohar about Modi’s indiscretion.

OZ – Pakistan to play series in England MCC to sponsor international series for the first time ever Pakistan being unable to host cricket series at home, will be playing Australia in England this summer. MCC, the owners of the Lord’s cricket ground in London have announced that they will sponsor the Australia – Pakistan test and one day series.

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) announced earlier this week that it would be sponsoring the Test and one-day series between Pakistan and Australia in England in July. This will be the first time MCC, the owners of London Lord’s Cricket Ground where the first of two Tests between Pakistan and Australia is due to start on July 13, has sponsored an international series

in its 223-year history.

The series comes at a time when Pakistan, who will also be playing a Test and one-day series against England in this English season, has become a no-go area for international cricket following a terror attack on the Sri Lanka team bus in Lahore last year.

MCC`s Australian secretary, Keith Bradshaw, told a news conference in the Long Room of the Lord`s Pavilion: "MCC is committed to the health of Test cricket, and by sponsoring the series and hosting the first Test, the club is supporting Pakistani cricket at a time when the country`s Test calendar has been decimated.”

"We often speak about Tests being the pinnacle of the game -now we are acting to back up those words," the former Tasmania batsman added.

Bradshaw refused to divulge how much money MCC was putting into the series, which also features a Test at Yorkshire`s Headingley ground in Leeds, citing "commercial confidentiality" but insisted it was a "not for profit exercise" as far as his club was concerned.

"We feel we are independent and to some extent the conscience of the game," Bradshaw said of MCC, which is still responsible for overseeing the game`s Laws or rules.

"We are very thrilled Pakistan are coming here to play at the `home of cricket`."

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of cricket operations Zakir Khan said: "We thank the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and Cricket Australia for helping us out and making this Test and T20 series in England happen.”

"We are also very thankful to MCC. When you are not playing your home series at home, it`s very difficult.”

It is nearly a century since Lord`s staged a neutral Test, during the 1912 triangular series involving England, Australia and South Africa.

No window for IPL in ICC calendar Remaining firm, the world governing body for cricket, the ICC reiterated that there cannot be any window for IPL or any such domestic tournaments in the FTP being decided under the aegis of ICC. Haroon Lorgat, the CEO of ICC said this in New Delhi. He was in the Indian capital for the unveiling of the ICC World Twenty20 trophy.

“We don't envisage a separate window for a domestic event like the IPL. We cannot incorporate all domestic events into the FTP. It is just not possible as there would be implications for all other member boards.”

Australians, New Zealanders as well as cricketers from other countries have opined that a window for IPL would enable players to play the show piece tournament without disturbing national commitments of cricketers from different countries.

Players from Australia, New Zealand and West Indies had to miss the first few games of the IPL this season as they were busy playing for their countries.

Commenting on the T20-heavy calendar, Lorgat said he wasn't too concerned about possible player burnout once players assemble in the West Indies for the World T20. The tournament begins on April 30, just five days after the conclusion of IPL. He pointed to the success of last year's World T20 in England, which followed just after the IPL. “The World Cup in England last year came immediately after the IPL. But it was a huge success. We saw a full house at all the venues.

I think the IPL is a great forerunner to the World Cup,” he said. “Players are in T20 mode and we are hopeful of an equally successful World Cup this time around.”

The World T20 is supposed to be held once every two years, but the fact that this edition follows barely a year after the previous one is an anomaly, which the ICC is trying to fix. “The fact that it is the third T20 World Cup in four years is a bit of an anomaly,” Lorgat said. "We are trying to rectify the scheduling and set it right."