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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 42. ISSUE 16

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Ethnic minorities to decide Britain's political future The time has finally come when ethnic minority, especially the British Asians are regarded as the decider for Britain's political future.

Amongst the ethnic minorities, British Asians constitute around 7.5% of UK's population, 3.3% are Blacks, 2.2% from Mixed background and 1% belong to other ethnic groups.

A research published on Monday by Operation Black Vote (OBV) concludes that any future majority government will only be possible with the support of ethnic minority

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constituting 2.5% of the ethnic population), followed by Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Sri Lankans.

Continued on page 11

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Modi invited to visit UK and address the House of Commons The opposition Labour Party and the ruling Conservative Party in Britain are vying with each other to invite Gujarat Chief Minister and BJPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s de facto Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi to Britain and speak at the House of Commons.

Continued on page 2

voters, obviously indicating that power now rests in the hands of the majority British Asians, especially in that of Indians (Indians are the largest ethnic diaspora in Britain,

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Narendra Modi

Brit Indian couple to throw Prince Charles a gala birthday party See page 7

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Keith Vazwith MP

Keith Vaz MP

The Hon Nick Hurd MP

occasionally own side!

Minister for Civil Society

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

I greatly admire the reputation that my father, Douglas Hurd, established for integrity and competence. It is what people expect in public servants and feel a lack of right now.

Nick Hurd was appointed Minister for Civil Society in May 2010. He has been the Conservative MP for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner since May 2010 and previously MP for Ruislip-Northwood since 2005. While in opposition, Nick served as Opposition Whip and a member of the shadow teams for Justice, Communities and Local Government, before being appointed Shadow Minister for Charity, Social Enterprise and Volunteering in October 2008. Nick spent 18 years in business, including 5 years representing a British bank in Brazil. He has been a trustee of the Greenhouse Schools charity and currently serves as a governor of Coteford Junior School. He is married with 5 children.

What inspired you to stand for Parliament?

Reading my father's postbag when he retired as an MP. I realised what a difference you can make. Anyway as the fourth successive generation of Hurd MPs I probably had no choice with my gene pool!

through the Sustainable Communities Act as a Private Members Bill. As a Minister it is National Citizen Service (www.ncyes.co.uk) which has been a life changing experience for many teenagers.

Please tell me about your current position I am Minister for Civil Society in the Cabinet Office. My main responsibility is to lead our programmes that encourage more people to get involved in their communities and support

What are your proudest achievements in politics?

As a local MP it is the saving of the Mount Vernon cancer centre in Northwood. As a Backbench MP it was taking

your

What is the best aspect of your current role?

As a Minister, my constant exposure to outstanding charities and social enterprises means that I get to see the best of human nature in action. As an MP, the best thing is being in a position to make a positive difference to someone else's life.

the extraordinary network of charities and social enterprises we have in the UK. What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

I spent 18 years in business before politics, including five years in Brazil. The only big obstacle I remember was recession in the early nineties. In politics, the obstacle is normally the pesky opposition and just

And the worst?

The worst thing about the job is the challenge of juggling the balls of Parliament; ministry; constituency and family. I don't always get it right but luckily have a wife who is very quick to

tell me when I have messed up!

What are your long term goals?

I never look more than five years ahead when it comes to my career. So I can't see beyond the next Election. Generally all that really matters to me is that I care about what I am doing If you were Secretary General of the UN what one aspect would you change?

A distinguished former SG was once asked "How many people work at the UN?". To which he allegedly replied "About half of them". If true, I would change that. I would also want to try and inject some more urgency into the international conversations around the protection of the natural resources on which we depend.

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

My grandmother on my mother’s side. She died well before I was born and I would have loved to have met her.

Apparently I get my sense of time from her (I have none).

Something tells me we would have got on famously.

Modi invited to visit UK and address the House of Commons Continued from page 1 The ball was set rolling by the Labour Friends of India when its Chairman, Barry Gardiner MP, sent a letter to Modi inviting him to the House of Commons to speak on “The Future of Modern India” last week.

The invitation came nearly 10 months after Britain ended its decadelong boycott of Gujarat when its High Commissioner to India, Sir James Bevan met Modi in Gandhinagar to mark a "cordial beginning" to fresh ties, with the two discussing opportunities for greater economic cooperation.

“The invitation is a culmination of several years of engagement between senior representatives of the Labour Party and Narendra Modi,” the Labour MP for Brent North said.

“I am sure people in the UK and indeed the international community would be very interested to meet and hear what Modi has to say first hand.

He is a politician who cannot be ignored. I believe

Barry Gardiner MP

Shailesh Vara MP

it’s in Britain's best interests that we engage with him as both the chief minister of Gujarat and also potential prime minister,” he added.

“I, like many colleagues within the Labour Party, look forward to welcoming chief minister Modi to the UK. I last had the pleasure of meeting him in Gujarat in 2009.

His return visit to the UK is long overdue,” said Stephen Pound MP, former Chair of Labour Friends of India.

Not to lag behind and in a rare show of political unity, the Conservative Friends of India also issued their own invitation to Modi and the chairman of the BJP’s national election committee a day later.

Its co-chairman, Shailesh Vara MP, struck a personal note in his letter expressing a wish to “finally meet” the BJP leader.

“It would be a great privilege for us to host an event for you. I very much hope that you will take us up on this invitation when opportunity allows,” wrote Vara, the Tory MP for North West Cambridgeshire.

The UK government, like the US, had distanced itself from Modi in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots. However, after a series of discussions over the years, initiated by the likes of prominent British Indian economist Lord Meghnad Desai and Barry Gardiner MP,

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On 20th August 2003 Gujarat Chief Minister Narendrabhai Modi inaugurates Shakti Hall in Karma Yoga House, office of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar in presence of Ranjit Singh Baxi, Co-Chairman of Conservative Friends of India, CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar and Lord Navnit Dholakia, Deputy Leader, Lib Dem Party

the Conservative-led coalition was forced to reestablish diplomatic ties with the Modi administration last year.

Lord Gulam Noon, a prominent British Indian Labour peer and one time critic of Modi, welcomed the latest invitation for him to visit the UK. “I think it's the right thing to do and the right time to do it. India’s 1.2

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billion people want and deserve a change.

Narendra Modi is someone who has all the talent to lead the world's largest democracy,” he said.

The Gujarat chief minister's office confirmed it had received invitations from both Labour and Conservative parliamentary groups.

“Mr Modi is grateful for the invitations, but has

no immediate plans to visit the UK,” a spokesperson said.

Mr Modi had visited Britain last in 2003, a decade back, when on 20th August he inaugurated the Shakti Hall, at Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar offices and spent a full day with Publisher/Editor CB Patel and guests at the office premises.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Comment

India at 66: Another milestone crossed August 15, 2013 marked the 66th year of Indian Independence from British colonial rule. Through the hurly burly of present-day politics, it would be well to take pause and reflect on what has been achieved and what remains to be achieved as India continues its tryst with destiny. Materially, the India of 1947, bleeding from the wounds of Partition faced no respite as it was called upon to withstand the first military challenge to its territorial sovereignty in Kashmir from armed invaders from across the border in Pakistan, an event repeated time and again in the intervening decades. India was perceived as a pushover for many years by Pakistan and its western mentors, Britain and America. Much time, energy and money were spent on security, but the expenditure on science, industry and agriculture has borne fruit in quickening India’s transformational change.

Also, India, with its myriad tongues, ethnicities and faiths turned out to be an improbable laboratory for a democratic experiment vast in scope and ambition.

How to rid an ancient land of its encrusted totems and taboos, produce enough food for its impoverished millions, provide education and job opportunities for the younger generations and reduce mass poverty is an integral part of the Indian narrative. It has been no easy ride. India has fought existential wars, even as it combats an existential terrorist threat in an increasingly uncertain regional and international environment. The cold war may formally be over but the peace dividend is yet to take shape. Non-state jihadis incubated in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere are India’s sworn enemies. The global economic crisis has compounded the countries diverse problems.

Through it all India has survived and become stronger than at any time in her long history. Space, nuclear science, engineering and related fields have

taken great strides forward. There has been commendable progress in medicine, life sciences and information technology. The platform for modern industry has been laid, and agriculture is on securer ground than ever before. But the hurdles and impediment that bar the way to further advance are formidable. The gang rape of Nibhaya in Delhi exposed the scourge of violence against women and the shortfalls in their empowerment. Mass poverty may have declined but vast numbers of Indians still live below the poverty line. Famine has been banished but not widespread malnutrition; food grain, fruit and vegetables go waste for want of adequate storage capacity and refrigeration. Corruption keeps eating into the vitals of society.

Justice is excruciatingly slow, administration is barnacled by bureaucracy and governance by and large leaves much to be desired. Discourse in the public sphere, especially in politics, has degenerated into brawls and scrimmages. Parliament in Delhi can be compared to a fish market. Reasoned debate belongs to a halcyon past when national leaders walked tall.

Giants have been replaced by pygmies, party interest prevails over the national interest. This is not a pretty sight. The public’s disillusionment and cynicism apropos of politics and politicians doesn’t bode well for the future of Indian democracy. Politics, once considered a noble professions dedicated to the service of society, is now perceived as a marketplace for moneychangers and felons. The mismatch between a political system that is failing its citizens and the productive calling of scientists, engineers and Industrials et al requires an urgent course correction, sooner rather than later. Public life, as it should be, can only be sustained by an active public conscience. There is no room for a community of Pilates.

Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki August 6, 9, 1945 were two days the world would wish to forget but dare not. They were a foretaste of Armageddon. The United States dropped two atom bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Thousands of civilians were vaporized by the blasts, thousands suffered an agonizing death from the effects of radiation in the months and years that followed. Sombre Temple gongs in both cities every August mark the hour when these abominable weapons wrought their ghastly work on a helpless population. Ever since those horrific moments the world has been living in the shadow of a nuclear holocaust, which threatens all life on earth. Pity and shame is that every Hiroshima and Nagasaki anniversary passes in studied silence, except in the confines of Japan.

The American narrative that these terrible weapons were used to shorten the Second World War in the Pacific and save lives appears to have gained widespread acceptance in the international community. During the cold war little was said or discussed in official circles in the West on the devastation caused in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for fear that public opinion might turn against the hallowed concept of nuclear deterrence and thus invalidate the arms race and discredit those that sustained it. Saving lives and shortening the war was a convenient fiction, a brazen falsehood that has not the slightest basis in reality. The Japanese leaders at the time had put out feelers for peace as their country’s towns and cities were incinerated in ferocious US night time bombing, with virtually no resistance from the ground or air. A few years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki were destroyed, Five-star Admiral and

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs (1942-45), William J. Leahy, went public with the following statement: “It is my opinion that the use of this barbarous weapon at Hiroshima and Nagasaki was of no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender.… We had adopted an ethical standard common to the barbarians of the Dark Ages. I was not taught to make war in that fashion, and wars cannot be won by destroying women and children.” General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force that landed in Normandy in June 1944, and later President of the United States (1952-60), wrote of his “depression” and “misgivings” when informed of President Truman’s decision to drop the bombs. He thought it “completely unnecessary” and “no longer mandatory as a measure to save American lives….Japan was, at the time, seeking some way to surrender with a minimum loss of ’face’.”

So why were these bomb dropped? As revenge for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941, maybe. It can also be seen as the opening gambit of the Cold War, inspired by the Truman administration’s foolish and arrogant delusion that the atom bomb would intimidate Soviet Russia into submission to American policies in Europe and Asia. The response was a Soviet bomb manufactured and tested within four year of America’s, and the start of the nuclear arms race, which continues apace (as do mushrooming US military bases across the world) under Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama’s dispensation. Peace eludes the troubled Pax Americana, as does the freedom from fear.

Bangladesh: How best to confront the Islamist threat There has never been a red line in the sand separating politics and religion in Bangladesh. Their osmosis has muddied the waters, from time to time, never more tragically than when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family - save his two daughters, who were out of the country – were murdered in an army coup backed by a Maoist-Mullah alliance driven by an inveterate hatred of ‘Hindu’ India. The coup leader, General Ziaur Rahman, bequeathed his India-phobic legacy to his wife Begum Zia, whose Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been the principal rival to the governing Awami League led by Sheikh Hasina Wajed, the elder daughter of the assassinated Sheikh Mujib.

Bangladesh has been convulsed of late by two mass movements: the first, fervently secular, holds dear the pluralist cultural heritage of Bengal, and is vigorously opposed to its rival, the country’s Jamaat –e-Islami. The Jamaat was committed to the country’s pre-Liberation War Pakistan ideology of hatred of infidels, its leadership actively collaboratorated with the occupying Pakistani military’s campaign of rape

and murder, targeting principally the Hindu minority, but including Muslims who, rejecting the Pakistani presence in the country, joined the Mukhti Bahini resistance. However, the Bangladesh High Court’s ruling (confirmed by the Supreme Court) banning the Jamaat-e-Islami from registering as a legitimate political party and contesting the country’s next general elections is a retrograde step. As long as the Jammat abjures violence and abides by democratic norms of conduct it should be allowed to stand, abhorrent ideology, reactionary social values and all.

The Jammaat does, after all, command a considerable following; exposure to the fresh air of debate in the public space would surely reduce their appeal.

Banning it is counter-productive. Jamaat will simply reappear under a different signboard or join Khaleda Zia’s BNP with whom it has shared a platform in times past and more recently. The jet stream of rational argument and ground realities have a better chance of breaking the Jamaat mould. Better that than risk its projected halo of martyrdom.

3

This is what learning is. You suddenly understand something you've understood all your life, but in a new way - Doris Lessing

“Our London” Navin Shah

GLA Member for Brent and Harrow

Save our Fire Stations No one disagrees that savings need to be made but the big question is at what cost? Where does one draw a line? Because, we find ourselves in a situation that the emergency services are facing a siege situation.

Half of London’s police stations are virtually closed; some accident emergency departments across London are facing threats of closure and there are plans to close 12 fire stations in London.

If that’s not enough, the latest is, the Mayor wants to close ALL ticket offices of under and over-ground train stations in London. It seems that Mayor is in the mood of shutting down access to London’s key services. I find his approach reckless and short-sighted.

So what’s up with London’s fire service?

As I wrote in my AV column previously, as part of his budget for the GLA, Mayor Johnson announced his plans early this year to close 12 fire stations, remove 18 fire engines and delete 520 fire-fighter posts. These reckless plans were thrown out by the majority of elected members of both London Fire Emergency Services (LFEPA) and the London Assembly on the grounds of downgrading of London’s fire cover as evident from the examination of the proposed London Safety Plan proposed by LFEPA. Under a huge amount of controversy the closure plans were consulted upon right across London through public meetings.

In strong protest against the closure plans the consultation process lasting some 3 months plus saw thousands of Londoners taking to streets – demonstrating in thousands in areas like Islington, nearly 23,000 people signed petitions, some 1,300 people attended public meetings, and 2,323 formally responded

to consultation. This unprecedented level of engagement and response produced one single result.

Thousands of people and organisations across London said with one voice to the Mayor and the Fire Authority that they want the plans to close fire stations, remove fire engines and delete fire fighter posts axed because they fear for their safety and safety of where they live and work.

I attended over half of public consultation meetings and not a single resident or fire fighter had anything good to say about the closure plans. Consultation results showed that there was overwhelming NO to the closure plans. By any standards 96% of respondents opposing the plans is a landslide result - one that cannot and must not be ignored.

The consultation results and the Fire Commissioner’s recommendations were debated at the Fire Authority meeting in mid-July when the commissioner recommended reprieval of 2 fire stations (Clapham and Newcross). As I stated at the Authority meeting reprieving 2 fire stations is a start, but only a small start - until the plan to close 10 remaining fire stations is scrapped the job will not be done. The Fire Authority Meeting rejected plans to close fire stations and agreed that the elected members will work with the Commissioner to find additional savings and requested Mayor Johnson to find further savings from his GLA Budget to stop completely the closure programme of London’s fire stations.

If he wants, let the Mayor play with the fire but I am not prepared to sign up to his reckless plan. I’m with the people of London.

The fight against closure of fire stations is far from over.

ASIAN VOICE is published by Asian Business Publications Ltd Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080 Fax: 020 7749 4081 Email: aveditorial@abplgroup.com www: abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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Your Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Kapil’s Khichadi

Evil of Forced Marriages

I would like to comment on two letters sent to you by Mr Sharma and Mr Gandhi last week on Kapil’s Khichadi and both of them missed the point.

As far as I am aware of National Council of Hindu Temples are not politically active unlike National Association of Muslim Mosques. Muslims use mosque to recruit labour party members and they make sure that the selection meetings are dominated by their members and they manage to nominate their own candidate. As a member of the labour party for 40 years, I have seen what is happening in the selection meetings and why Hindus are not selected in safe seats.

Mr Gandhi mentions the name of Navin Shah, Manoj Ladwa and Ansuya Sodha and they are unknown quantities outside Brent area and are known only to Asian voice readers. They do not appear in national tv. What Hindus need are candidates like Shami Chakrabarti. The Labour party has three Muslim members (Shabna Mahmood, Sadiq Khan and Rushnara Ali) and two Afro-Caribbean’s (Chuka Umunna, Diane Abbott) in the shadow cabinet. There is only one Lisa Nandy from the Asian community, who is not well known. I want to know why Hindu male MPs are not in the shadow cabinet?

If the letter writers think Kapil Dudakia must become active member of a party and contest the election, the party has to first nominate him. And then he has to go and knock on the doors and find out how many ordinary voters are interested in Gujarat and Narendra Modi, when there are other pressing issues such as Immigration and unemployment amongst the Asian communities.

Hindus have to wake up and face the reality. Please encourage Hindus to join any political party and make sure that we can have political influence.

Home Office has just published the figure of forced marriages for year 2012 and it stands at 1500 with a warning that school holidays is peak period, urging teachers, GPs, community leaders and airport security staffs to keep an eye, report any suspicious behaviour to the authority.

Flights to Indian Subcontinent, in particular to Pakistan may be the main target. The evil of forced marriages is an established, well documented misdemeanour. Tons of legislation has made no difference, as victims, mainly girls are reluctant to file charges against their parents and send them to prison.

There is also tiny minority who would like to describe forced marriages as cultural issue and government should not interfere. This would be suicidal and detrimental to the younger generation.

Educating community is the next best option, although threat of prosecution should always be an option. Banning the spouses from joining their partners here would be the best, most effective but extreme, racially prejudice solution.

This is the real issue our misguided Lords and Baronesses should tackle, help the victims, rather than blowing hot air over imaginary issue of castism and being the stooge of the mischief making Christian lobby in House of Lords who have twin hidden agenda of conversion and maligning, slandering peace loving, law abiding, highly educated, articulate Hindu community.

This is the politics of envy without merit or justification and our politicians are falling in the trap hook, line and sinker, perhaps to justify their daily attendance allowance of three hundred pounds.

Arun Vaidyanathan Via Email

Clashing views on reincarnation Reader Nilesh M. Chauhan of Birmingham, in last week’s Asian Voice, points out that according to the Rig-Veda (10.16.3) after death “the soul can return to the earth, or go to the waters, or go to the plants, taking on new bodies depending on the consequences of its actions.”

However, reader Ramesh Jhalla asserts that it takes 8,400,000 incarnations to make it as a human. In other words, once you become a human you will always come back as a human in every subsequent incarnation.

But here comes another surprising view from the City Hindus Network in the same issue, shattering the notion that we only have to be good, kind, helpful and do our best in life to achieve a better incarnation in the next life. Not necessarily so, the CHN maintains.

Their article says: “God has a predetermined path for all atmans. This path exemplifies all of the dharmas (duties) each atman must fulfil before reaching

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email moksha. God determines the path and the atman does not know what duties God wishes it to complete...”

If the City Hindus Network is right, it reduces reincarnation to a guessing game. I can see God telling a human who has just died: “You did a great deal of good in your life and became an awardwinning architect but I really wanted you to be a farmer, so you wasted your incarnation. Go back and see if you can guess what dharma I have assigned to you in your next incarnation. Get it wrong and you will keep coming back...”

What do you think of the City Hindus Network’s article?

Rudy Otter Via Email

Another mystery to solve Rudy Otter’s curiosity about “speaking in tongues” is exhibited by past scholars / surgeons. Ancient lore refers to Tower of Bable, GOD’s blessing to dumb persons, Ber-Ber theory,Ta-ta theory etc.

I prefer to utilise modern / futuristic knowledge with fullest reverence to Tibetan Dzyan, Egyptian Thoth, Hindu Vedas, puranas, mimansas, upnishadas, sutras, agamas and nigamas.

Later scholars dissected human

German traditions compared to British Two-third of Germany’s industry is owned by small and medium sized family businesses. In the UK, it is one third. Two third is owned by multinationals in the UK encouraging employee culture.

German mothers stay at home at least three years after every child is born so that right from birth, the child is brought up with more love, kindness and attention compared to childminder. in the UK mothers go to work after six months because of tax incentives and/or mentality that demeans housework.

Germans start work on average 20 minutes earlier than the British. All routine chores, personal hygiene, studies and paid work are all timed in a 24-hour day.

Manufacturing is regarded very highly. 50 % of German students join apprentice training in industry. In the UK, it is less than 25%. Many of the others follow wishy washy university degrees and become unemployable after graduating.

Two third of Germans live in rented accommodation during life time. In Britain, it is one third. Average German owes £30,000. Average Briton £68,000.

German Company Law requires a workers’ representative in the executive management of the firm. Employees are valued far more than in the UK. No matter what party comes to power in 2015, unless there is a cultural reversal of British traditions, the UK economy will remain in doldrums.

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email brains to locate area of speech, which was named as BROCA’S area of speech.

It generated, monitored and controlled speaking faculty. Surgeon known as Broca noticed absence of an area in brains of dumb persons, comparable to presence of areas that he noted as speech areas, in brains of speaking persons.

External or internal stimulation of this area may cause person to speak gibberish or language other than ones mother /national lingo.

Hypnotism /mesmerism popularly used at superficial levels for stage entertainment, deeper levels for hypno-therapy; can also used to delve into uncharted profound levels of mind’s subconscious and extract hidden faculties like “speaking in tongues” of antiquity.

Babies learn by mimicking and lip reading.

To me, present /future data, is intelligible rather than incredible claims of ancient literature. Though these are accurate but appeared cukoolandish in absence of modern caliberal/futuristic manipulatable knowledge. Readers and scholars quote ancient data to understand phenomena occurring today. This ancient literature should be blended with contemporary knowledge to dispel ignorance.

In future, embedding micro-chips in human brains may become DIY-for one to become polyglot as needed- (a la DIY sim card /insulin self injection by diabetics).

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

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I have been reading Asian Voice lately. And I think there are various things in this newspaper worth mentioning.

I had a notion that Asian Voice is a translation of the Gujarati newspaper Gujarat Samachar. However a friend told me that it is worth buying and though AV has some news that perhaps any national media will cover, I was very impressed to read the paper. It has some fantastic exclusive stories and such varied coverage. The Comment page and Scrutator’s are amongs the well written section in the paper. I like Alpesh’s political sketchbook. But columns like Sow & Reap also are a good way of gaining knowledge regarding the property world. My wife likes reading the Mahabharat column, but I have not seen that column for sometime now, and was wondering if you are going to restart it any time soon?

Also somewhere I read that you have mentioned that you do not take adverts from self proclaimed magic or faith healers. I am proud of your ethics and morals.

In these times of economic severity, when every penny counts, letting go of an advert worth nearly 1000 pounds every week in the name of humanity and community, is a very thoughtful decision. I must congratulate you on your true spirit of sewa.

Thank you Asian Voice for your contribution to our lives.

S Mehta London

Stem Cell Burger Even when people’s opposition to the production of GM foods or biotech foods which were produced from (the so called Frankenstein foods) has not yet totally eased, scientists have now developed a stem cell burger from the cell of a dead cow at a cost of £250k. While it is accepted that the cell has been taken from a dead rather than a live cow, it would, nevertheless, be considered a non-vegetarian food. This begs the question, why do people want to eat meat? Why don’t we just grow more grain and vegetables instead?

To satisfy people’s taste for meat, scientists have also developed Quorn products which are made with mycoprotein, a versatile vegetable protein which is a healthy meat-free form of high quality protein and also a good source of dietary fibre.

We also have meat substitutes made from soya beans. So why is it considered necessary to experiment with nature and produce stem cell meat?

In continuation of the dialogue on karma and re-incarnation which I had initiated here a few weeks ago, if we eat meat, we are knowingly or unknowingly condoning the killing of animals. Who knows, the animal that we consume today was our dead relative or friend in one of his or her previous lives? Or indeed, it could so happen that depending on our karma in this life, we may take rebirth as an animal in our next life and be eaten by our relatives? There! I hope this will put off people from meat eating for ever!

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

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EXCLUSIVE

Nawabzada Shaharyar Khan speaks about India-Pakistan relationship in London Nawabzada Shaharyar Khan, who is from the erstwhile Bhopal Royal family and the first cousin of the late Nawab of Pataudi, met the members and guests of Indian Journalists' Association on last Thursday in London, right after meeting Indian PM Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, India.

Mr Khan, has been appointed as a special envoy to India by Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, who has shown keen interest to speed up the peace process with India.

While in Delhi, Mr Khan also met Salman Khurshid, External Affairs Minister, and a number of senior officials, including Ranjan Mathai, who has just stepped down as the Foreign Secretary; Shivshankar Menon, the National Security Adviser; and Satinder Lambah, the former Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad (1992-95) and now the Indian Prime Minister’s special envoy to Pakistan.

Mr Shaharyar Khan is a former Pakistani High Commissioner in London (1987-90) and a former Foreign Secretary of Pakistan (1990-94). From 2003-2006, he was also the Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, having been appointed to post by former President Pervez Musharraf.

In his new book, Cricket Cauldron: The Turbulent Politics of Sport in Pakistan, Mr Khan has written about “Pakistan through the prism of cricket”.

During his tenure, he had to deal with the “ball tampering” row at the Oval Test in August 2006, the growth of religiosity in the team, and the death of the Pakistan national coach, Bob Woolmer, in the West Indies.

The book is written with candour, honesty and elegance. Mr Khan is coauthor with his son, Ali Khan, an anthro-

Nawabzada Shaharyar Khan

pologist at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. Both father and son were educated at Cambridge.

Mr Khan believes that although India and Pakistan are rivals at cricket, the game can be used to improve relations between the two countries.

“Cricket more than any other game reflects the political, social and economic environment of a country."

Discussing excerpts from the book, Mr Khan told the present audience, "Looking back, I regard India’s tour of Pakistan in 2004 as the most important and defining moment of my three years tenure as Chairman (of the Pakistan Cricket Board).

The tour encompassed politics, diplomacy, logistic arrangements, public relations, overcoming interstate tensions, handling the largest invasion of Indian fans and media, water-tight security, marketing the series efficiently, and urging the Pakistani public to treat the contest as

Brit Indian student kills herself; scrawls ‘take my organs’ on wrist The latest increase in the number of students from the Asian community, committing suicide fin Britain has shocked and perplexed the diaspora.

Reported to have been suffering from depression, this student scrawled ‘take my organs’ on her wrist before killing herself with a lethal dose of cocaine, an inquest heard. This news came like a bolt from the blue, just a month after Georgina Thomsson an Indian student was found dead in her accommodation in Liverpool, thought to have hanged herself, and claimed to have been suffering from depression as well.

Former grammar schoolgirl Shruti Baral, 22, had reportedly battled depression despite appearing outwardly happy and left a desperate final message on Facebook.

She apparently uploaded a picture of herself with a farewell note asking her followers if they would remember her if she died. Ms Baral was found dead by her brother Satchet, 17, on the floor of her bedroom at their detached home in Maidstone,

Kent.

The inquest, which was held in Maidstone, heard that he was the one who spotted her dying wish on her wrist.

Coroner Patricia Harding was told that Shruti, originally from Hong Kong, was not in the habit of taking drugs.

She was a former pupil at Invicta Girls' Grammar School and was studying Geography at a college in the University in London.

She had been to see the university’s psychological services before her death.

Pathologist Dr David Rouse said Ms Baral died from a fatal level of cocaine.

Tests also found a small amount of alcohol in her blood.

The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.

a sporting contest and not as a battle between two antagonistic neighbours.

"When asked about India's image, he emphasised, that it has changed along with its own global image. Once the epitome of the colonial gentleman – elegant, exotic but genial – the team has changed alongside India’s rise as an economic powerhouse. From being a talented but almost timid team the new generation is self-assured, aggressive and untainted by their colonial baggage."

Talking about the problems and security issues surrounding the Pakistani cricket team, Mr Khan elaborated through the excerpts, "The days of university graduate leaders like Hafeez Kardar, Javed Burki, Majid Khan, Asif Iqbal and Imran Khan were long gone, with Ramiz Raja the lone remaining graduate in Pakistan cricket to assume the captaincy. "...Many of the current players have not completed even a basic formal education before entering the cricket area. This means that they often have no idea of the traditions, history or rules of the game.....The current Pakistan team did not include a single graduate – until Misbah-ul-Haq arrived on the scene and was later appointed captain.

"Today, Pakistani teams are drawn from the maidaan experience and not as in the past from elite schools and universities. No wonder they are awkward at speaking English and interacting socially with Anglo-Saxon teams. One the other hand, despite the political tension and arch rivalry, Indian and Pakistani players get on famously at a personal level. They speak a similar language, they appreciate the same songs, films, TV, pop stars, have similar taste in fashions, eat the same food and enjoy each other earthy humour.

"Harbhajan Singh and Shoaib Akhtar

are special favourites in each other’s dressing rooms. There is no cultural clash between Pakistan and Indian teams. I believe the security problem will remain on the horizon for a long time ahead – perhaps decades – so that Pakistan needs to adopt remedial measures to overcome the cricketing and financial loss due to the prevailing political insecurity in the region. One step would be to construct five-star hotels on or adjacent to the Test stadiums in the country. ...Potential security problems are aggravate when delegates or diplomats are required to travel by car or coach to their hotels, even if a short ride away.

"Deep political issues remain unresolved; incidents like the Mumbai attack (sponsored by extremists) will poison the atmosphere, but the new generation craves peace, development, good neighbourly relations and wants the hostility and terrorism of the past behind them.

Cricket should be allowed to play a healing role in that direction which is vital for peace and well-being in both countries.

"Some people become fearful that a (Indo-Pakistan cricket series) would exacerbate this hostility that has its deep roots in history and in the aftermath of partition.

"I do not share this concern and believe that cricket would act as a bridge of peace between Pakistan and India."

Though a conventionalist, and a non believer of twenty-twenty cricket like the IPL, Mr Khan told Asian Voice, that he is sure that it is the above mentioned security reason, that are actually keeping IPL teams from appointing Pakistani cricketers. He believes if that changes it could bridge the existing gap, as India-Pakistan cricket tour doubtlessly remains more important than the Ashes.

Decreasing Hindus in Brent politics worries locals The lack of Hindu candidates in the Brent borough politics has shocked the Asian community settled in and around the area.

According to the 2011 Census, the BAME population in Brent is 216,277. Brent has the second largest Asian- Indian population (58,017) in London.

Though the largest religion followed in Brent remains Christian at 41.5%, this has declined from 47.7% in 2001.

However the number of Muslims have increased remarkably from 32,290 in 2001 to 58,036 in 2011, which is a 79.7% increase.

Muslims are now the second biggest group at 18.6%, overtaking the Hindus which makes up

17.8% of Brent- a very small difference.

However, given the number of Hindus settled in that area, the total number of candidates belonging to that religion in the forthcoming election is only 8, whereas that of the Muslims is 15. Factually speaking there is a very small difference between the number of Muslims and Hindus (0.8%) settled in Britain, but what still makes the representation of Muslims double the number of Hindus in politics, have perplexed the community. Amongst the Hindu candidates selected so far we have, Bhagwanji Chohan, Milli Patel from Alperton, Krupesh Hirani from Dudden Hill ward,

Home office faces investigation over 'Go Home' campaign The Government has promised to consult local communities before launching any further campaigns in which vans bearing billboards telling illegal immigrants to go home tour the streets.

A senior immigration official made the concession after protests by migrant groups over the Home Office vans that toured six London boroughs.

The Home Office,

however, has refused to withdraw leaflets and posters from premises such as internet cafés in the boroughs. Its response follows a threat by a law firm to bring legal proceedings against the department.

The Home Office is now facing an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and the Advertising Standards Authority.

Shama Tatler from Fryent ward, Ramesh Patel and Kana Naheerathan from Queensbury, Ketan Sheth from Tokyngton and Krupa Sheth, Wembley Central.

Brent once upon a time used to be a Hindu dominated borough. It had the largest representation from non Christian members of the council. We are not sure how and why the interest in politics amongst Brent Hindus is decaying, but one wonders about be the possible way to involve this faith community in local politics, once again.

If you are a Hindu from Brent and have any suggestion, write to Asian Voice at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

Panesar's future in jeopardy Monty Panesar’s future at international and county level is in fix after England ignored the chance to show support for their troubled spinner.

Panesar was the notable omission from the Lions squad named on Monday to face Australia at Northampton on Friday and will miss the perfect opportunity to press for selection in England’s final Test squad at The Oval.

It is the latest blow for Panesar, who is facing the sack by Sussex after being fined £90 for urinating on two bouncers in an incident at a Brighton nightclub.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Spriha Srivastava

Freedom and us Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the 67th year of Independence and no matter wherever you are this day always has fond memories in your heart. I always associate this day with a fun day in school or locality. As a young child in the school I remember we always spent days preparing for a play or a dance or a poem especially to mark this day. We would get sweets from school and the fact that there were no studies was the highlight of the day.

We would wait for the flag hoisting to be done after which each one of us would sing the national anthem with a shrilling pride in our hearts.

The same was true for individual localities where we would start the day with flag hoisting and then sing patriotic songs to celebrate the day. There is this special energy, a sense of enthusiasm that this day brings along with it. But the question is what and how?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been many years since we gained freedom but I always ask myself if I feel free. Freedom can mean different things to different people. For liberals, it is a minimalist state, for Marxists it is a community that provides full development of human potential and so on. But at the end of the day what each definition wants is a

fully and this can only happen when I can move around safely,â&#x20AC;? said Anuja, a 28 year old professional in the city.

Safety for women is one of the biggest issues in our country and I would expect that to be the response from most of the women in our country.

If someone asks me I would probably say the same thing. However for many, freedom from biases is extremely important too. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The moment you hear someone is from a certain community you view them differently. I would call myself and everyone else free only when we are free from biases. By biases I mean not just community and caste but also positions of power. We should accept equality for all then only can we call ourselves free,â&#x20AC;? says another Indian professional based in U.S. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freedom is having an

times it stops an individual from achieving his dreams. And then if the individual does try to go ahead and pursue his dreams, he is looked down upon. Why do we need these bondages?,â&#x20AC;? says Aniruddh, a 30-year old IT professional from India.

So what makes a free nation? What are the ingredients? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Democracy, equality of opportunity and equality before law,â&#x20AC;? says a young supporter of the anti-corruption movement.

But how long will it take for us to achieve these principles? As someone rightly said, there is no low lying fruit in this struggle. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s similar to the Indian freedom struggle in many sense, one has to focus and it will take many years to achieve this.

As of me, I find my definition of freedom in

conducive atmosphere for the individual to grow and develop. Do we have such an atmosphere in India? I am sure we are getting there but things still seem rather bleak.

Well, I thought of asking people what their definition of freedom is, especially after India has come such a long way from its initial freedom struggle. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My idea of freedom is to be able to wander around safely even at midnight without having to worry about who is following me or who is looking at me. I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want my parents to be worried when I am out with friends late at night. I want them to live peace-

ability to choose and express, not just in action but on thoughts as well,â&#x20AC;? says Chinmoy MIshra, an entrepreneur based in Bangalore.

Another interesting opinion I got was from a 15 year old who said even though we have freedom of speech and expression in India we still implement it largely. He said we have seen many instances when people have been arrested for writing their opinion on social media platform and that is not the sign of a free nation. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freedom for me is being free from traditional bondages. Our Indian society is full of traditions and customs. While its good for a family, some-

Rabindranath Tagoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s words â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high, where knowledge is free, where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls, where words come out from the depth of truth, where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection, where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit, where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action, Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.â&#x20AC;?

World Hindu Economic Forum Speech From The Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Richest Man I write to you from Bangkok having just spoken at the World Hindu Economic Forum. Although I spoke without a script, this is what I said (from memory!): Jai Shree Krishna. I am the richest man in the world. I am the richest man in the world and it is right I should be here to speak to you about wealth creation. I am the richest man in the world, because I was born a Hindu.

It is estimated that since the beginning of human history there have been some 80 billion humans who have lived and died. And more of them have been followers of the Hindu faith than of any other.

Think of it. More Hindus have walked this earth than those of any other faith. Of course we Hindus believe all 80 billion were Hindus, whether they realised it or not.

Yet everywhere we are under attack.

Our economic strength, which once used to hold up the world on our shoulders now dwindles. The trajectory if not altered would see us an extinct species. But I am not here to manufacture some fear in you, mine is a message of hope.

Economically, we are on the battlefield of Kurukshetra on which in the Gita Lord Krishna told Arjun to do battle against insurmountable odds. He mights have said â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What better way to die than this, against insurmountable odds, for the ashes of our fathers, and the temples of our gods.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; For the world is Kurukshetra and we are all economic warriors now. Each of us is Arjun now. Fighting for our existence.

Ask any businessman and they will tell you â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it is a war every day.

For me there are three things you all businessmen and women must do. First, own the intellectual property. Patent it, copyright it, trademark it and then licence it. Otherwise you will forever be merely

making a good income for yourself but true wealth for someone else. It is no coincidence that the richest countries in the world are also the ones that produce the most patents. Rethink how you do business to be a business producing and protecting patents.

Second, build for Western Government contracts through online government procurement bids. The UK government and taxpayer wants desperately to have the best value and quality for money. Any provider in the world is eligible. The UK Government spends more in a year then the entire GDP of India.

The EU is the largest trading zone in the world. Whilst you scurry around thinking power and wealth has moved East, you overlook the bigger Western prize.

Finally, all Empires need headquarters to be located there. Given Europe is the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest market â&#x20AC;&#x201C; larger than the US â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you need a HQ there, then as a European, and may I recommend British, company â&#x20AC;&#x201C; go global and build your Empire.

So then after centuries of decline from might to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;might have beenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, it is for us gathered here, alive at this time in human existence to build, to rebuild the Hindu nation. It falls to us to prove our bloodline. That we are the sons of Ram, the daughters of Sita and the children of Lakshmi.

We have to prove we are economic warriors, that our ancestors, the billions who have gone before, never weep for us. For we are left now as the sole living defenders of the faith â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the faith more have followed in human history more than any other.

It falls to us then to once again bend the arc of history to our will and to our destiny and build the Hindu nation.

Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal, A P S Chawla and Gurpal Singh Oppal

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at aveditorial@abplgroup.com

On 14th July 2013, Kulwant Singh Dhaliwal & Gurpal Singh Oppal took part in the British 10K London run along with 25,000 runners to show their commitment to the community. The run was in aid of Roko cancer campaign to bring awareness and early detection of Cancer in Punjab, which has the highest rates of cancer in India and the Asian community in the UK. The Roko cancer campaign was started by MKC which is now known as Roko (stop) cancer and has spread in the developing countries especially India, where it is spreading awareness and early detection on mass scale among the rural population in the villages and semi urban areas using the mobile awareness and early mobile detection units .To know more about Roko cancer or donate generously visit www. rokocancer.org for further details

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UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Brit Indian couple to throw Prince Charles a gala birthday party A British Indian millionaire couple are throwing a gala party for Prince Charles, on his 65th birthday this November. A palace spokesperson confirmed that the event would take place on November 21, a week after the Prince of Wales' birthday on November 14, but added: "It is a private event so we would not comment."

The exclusive black-tie evening will be open to 250 high-profile guests, expected to include prominent members of the British Indian community as well as friends of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall.

The London-based entrepreneur and philanthropists Cyrus and Priya Vandrevala are ought to spend several thousand pounds on the concert by the Philharmonia Orchestra, as part of a champagne reception and dinner at Buckingham Palace. The Prince is a patron of the Londonbased orchestra and the music for the evening will be chosen by himself. The entire musical set will focus on the renowned German composer Wagner, whose 200th birth anniversary is being celebrated around the world.

The couple referred as part of the Indian "Bollygarch" set in Britain, Cyrus Vandrevala is a private equity investor and his wife, Priya, is Founder and Chairman of the Hirco Group - one of India's largest developers of premium residential real estate. The couple live in Holland Park area of

7

EXCLUSIVE

UK Government issues fresh alerts in new campaign against forced marriage Tanveer Mann

central London and are involved with a number of charity projects through the Vandrevala Foundation.

They are renowned within Britain's royal circles as Patrons of the Charity Elephant Family, which has been founded by conservationist Mark Shand - the brother of Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall.

Mr and Mrs Vandrevala are believed to be well acquainted with Charles and Camilla, who have even hosted them at their Royal country retreat of Highgrove in Gloucestershire.

"The evening connects with their philanthropic work as the Philharmonia Orchestra supports impoverished performers through its trust," a spokesperson for the Vandrevala Foundation told an Indian media.

Queen Elizabeth II has given her consent for the use of her palace as the venue but it has not been confirmed if she or the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge would be joining this birthday party.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) along with the Home Office have launched a new campaign to highlight the increasing issue of forced marriage. The UK government issued a warning on Saturday to teachers, doctors and airport staff to be aware of any forced marriages especially over the school holidays. The summer marks a rise in reports of forced marriage cases, when youngsters can be taken on “holiday”, unaware of the real purpose of the trip.

"The rise in forced marriage reports over the school holidays is shocking. Teenagers expecting their GCSE or A-level results should be embarking on a bright future, not condemned to a marriage with someone they have never met and do not want to marry,” said Crime Prevention Minister Jeremy Browne, during an exclusive interview with Asian Voice.

The UK is one of the leading countries in the world facing the issue of forced marriage. The Forced Marriage Unit (FMU), a joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office Unit, received over 400 reports between June and August last year, of which over 33% of victims were under 18.

The issue still remains difficult to assess by the fact that forced marriage still continues to remain covert and can often be mistaken as an ‘arranged marriage’ by the victim’s parents. Mr Browne said: “more than half of the cases that we see and get involved in relate to people from Southern Asian backgrounds, Pakistan, Bangladesh and India to a lesser degree and we need to make sure those communities are particu-

Jeremy Browne

larly aware of the dangers”.

Furthermore, though it is mainly women that are affected, Mr Browne said, this is not exclusive and a small proportion of victims of forced marriage have been men.

Traditionally, the issue of forced marriage amongst people of South Asian backgrounds was a social acceptable notion. Having an influence over your son or daughter’s partner was considered normal.

However, the UK government are reiterating that they respect the practice of arranged marriages but not the increasing issue of forced marriage where somebody is being coerced into getting married against their will. According to Mr Brown, forced marriages are ‘a basic infringement of their freedom to make a big profound choice about their life and people should be free to make those decisions for themselves’.

The campaign that the government has launched, called The Right To Choose campaign, aims to encourage young people to seek

help if they feel their rights are being taken away from the. Numerous publicity campaigns with schools, hospitals and airports have also been launched to try and target the people who might be most vulnerable. The Forced Marriage Unit recently issued “Marriage: it’s your choice” cards, to provide help and information to potential victims, signposting them to confidential advice and for them to speak to police or airline staff if they find themselves at an airport with nowhere to turn.

Aneeta Prem, the founder of Freedom Charity, said, ‘It’s vital that young people travelling abroad for a family wedding this summer realise it could be their own wedding they’ll be going to - and know who they should contact for help should they find themselves in danger.”

The Forced Marriage Unit has a confidential helpline, and can be contacted for advice Monday-Friday 9am-5pm on 0207 008 0151 or email fmu@fco.gov.uk.

Indians named among UK's 20 most wanted fraudsters and tax evaders Three Indians have been named

by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to be among UK's 20 most-wanted fraudsters and tax evaders.

According to the list made public on Friday by HMRC, the three Indians have together pulled off fraud and tax evasion worth nearly £10 million.

The new tax fugitives on the Most Wanted list are wanted for a range of crimes including VAT fraud, evasion and money laundering and have a cost to the taxpayer of between £100,000 and £10 million.

Jointly, the 20 most wanted have cost the British exchequer £700 million.

Sumir Soni also called Bhader Singh is among the top of the most wanted list. A British citizen of Indian origin, the 45-year-old is wanted for his alleged involvement in the importation of counterfeit goods worth £2million. Between 1 January 2007 and 31 January 2008, Soni was involved in the importation and distribution of nine million counterfeit cigarettes throughout the UK. He is also wanted for his alleged involvement in the illegal distribution of alcohol. Soni was due to appear before the

Manchester Crown Court in May 2010. However, he did not appear and it is believed that he is hiding in Europe or in Kenya.

HMRC said Soni cost the taxpayer £3.6 million.

Anish Anand, 30 meanwhile is wanted for his part in £5 million film production and distribution fraud. This involves fraudulent claims for film tax relief and VAT. Anand failed to appear at Croydon Crown Court on April 30, 2013. He was con-

victed in absence on June 17 and sentenced to seven years in absence in July. An Indian national, Anand's tax evation fraud has cost the taxpayer £6 million.

Another warrant has been issued by the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey) against Indian national Sahil Jain for tax fraud worth £328,000. Jain was arrested in connection with VAT fraud but failed to appear at the Court. A warrant was

issued for his arrest on 8 June 2012.

The HMRC estimates that UK's tax gap in the 2010 to 2011 financial year was £32 billion 6.7% of the total tax that HMRC estimates was due - and tax evasion and avoidance together accounted for £9 billion of this.

HMRC said "We are prosecuting more people who break the law by evading tax. We have recruited an additional 200 criminal investigators to increase the number of people prosecuted for tax evasion from 165 in 2010 to 2011, to 565 in 2012 to 2013, and to 1,165 in 2014 to 2015".

It added "We are expanding HMRC's Affluent Unit, with 100 extra investigators and extra risk and intelligence staff to identify and deal with avoidance and evasion by the wealthiest individuals. We are increasing the number of specialist personal tax inspectors to prevent evasion and avoidance of inheritance tax, using offshore trusts and bank accounts".

HMRC said it is designing legislation that minimises the scope for tax avoidance.

The government has introduced a General Anti-Abuse Rule (GAAR), aimed at deter-

ring and preventing artificial and abusive tax avoidance schemes.

Building on this success, HMRC has also launched an interactive map showing where in the world the tax fugitives are believed to be.

Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne said: “Our message is clear; tax fraud and evasion is illegal and absolutely unacceptable. The Government has invested hundreds of millions of pounds in HMRC’s enforcement activities to enable them to pursue tax cheats like these relentlessly.

“We hope that the publication of HMRC’s Most Wanted will help get them caught and ensure they are brought to justice.”

Biographies and images of the complete list of 30 Most Wanted can be viewed on HMRC's Flickr channel along with the tax fugitive map.

The Chancellor discussed the announcement while on a visit to meet some of HMRC’s criminal investigators undergoing self defence training where individuals were learning the skills needed to apprehend and arrest these potentially dangerous criminals.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

As I See It

Five years and five months that transformed the world 9th August 1942, was the historic day on which Quit India movement was launched under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi at Manibhuvan, near Chowpatti in Mumbai and all over India, especially in Mumbai where the leadership was deliberating the next step of the freedom struggle in front of Manibhuvan. Thousands had gathered in the peaceful protest against the British who had sucked up India in the Second World War without any consultation and announcement about the future of India after the war.

The security forces solidly surrounded the area, armed police were ready to use their power on the completely nonviolent protesters, huge hue and cry were made in urge to hoist the tricoloured flag on the building roof. It seemed virtually impossible in view of the ban and security apparatus.

Usha Mehta, an average sized Indian woman, but as brave as Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi, climbed on top of the roof and hoisted the tricoloured flag.

The nationwide campaign of Quit India was launched in a Usha Mehta unique way by a woman. And as we celebrate an International Year of the Woman, let us salute Usha Mehta, and millions of Indian women who took part in the fight for independence.

The world of August 1942 was a very different scenario than now. The British Empire was the biggest the world had ever seen. Great Britain, a small country with a giant heart was fighting the war of attrition against Nazi forces, who were supported by Russia and Japan.

Although USA came around to the side of allied efforts, the result of the war was, as it seemed then, not entirely in favour of Great Britain and its allies.

The brave British people fought 'tooth and nail' and the rest is history. They won the war, in the general elections of 1945. Clement Atlee inspired by Harold Laski won the power for labour party and very shortly India gained its independence on 15 August 1947.

In 5 years and 5 days the world's political map had changed for good. It was the greatness of Great Britain to relinquish the power of what was described as the jewel in the British crown in such a dignified and graceful manner.

Such a historic change happening within a short span of few months was repeated in early 1990s when the apartheid regime collapsed in South Africa and Nelson Mandela was released from Robben prison and became the President of a free nation.

Mandela also gave credit to Mahatma Gandhi and his successful experiments

in his own country (South Africa) and then in India.

In the comments this week, the present scenario prevalent in India is mentioned. I would like to look back a bit more on the days surrounding 9th August 1942. In the Boer war in South Africa, in the beginning of 20th Century, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had organised local Indians into an ambulance service and provided a very valuable service of carrying wounded British soldiers on stretchers.

Gandhiji and his friends were even awarded medals for their yeoman's service (though he was obliged to return the medals during another protest, but that's another story). Gandhiji returned to India for good on 9th January 1915.

During World War I (1914-18), British Indian army was in need of more and more soldiers. After all India had provided a huge resource of man power in the First World War. Gandhiji and Sardar Patel travelled to various parts of Gujarat and recruited over 200 men for the army- not a mean achievements in those days when very few Gujaratis joined the armed forces.

This background was known to several British opinion makers and some of them understood Gandhiji's demand for 'consultation' and afterwards a 'decision' about India's future destiny in those fateful days of 1942.

Winston Churchill, the Prime Minister of Britain was completely unwilling to relinquish British power in India. Gandhiji's deliberations with the Viceroy and the India Office establishments in London had reached a stonewall. By August 1942, India had provided the largest contingent of soldiers and funding for the British war efforts (overall in Second World War 2.5mn Indians joined the frontline, 1.6mn others in various aspects of the war. The Indian Exchequer had lent some £800 mn to the British Treasury in those days).

Gandhiji’s demand of a decision on Indian independence after the war was not without proper reasons. There was another factor.

Japan was still a very big power in the east and they had reached the borders of India and were about to reach Kohima in Assam. Within the Indian political activism the Muslim League had raised its ugly head and it was supported covertly by some members of the bureaucrats in London and Delhi, as well as some other forces. The average Britons did not know much about the ongoing efforts of 'Divide and Rule'. Gandhiji, Sardar Patel, Pandit Nehru and some other top stalwarts were deeply concerned about the communal conflict in the future.

On August 16th, 1946 Muhammad Ali Jinnah organised an Action Day in Kolkata, where Muhammad Ali Soharwardi was the Chief Minister of Bengal, and Jinnah openly declared his followers 'to set an example'. Some 12,000 Hindus were butchered in Kolkata. Eventually and most reluctantly Lord Louis Mountbatten persuaded Sardar Patel and Pandit Nehru to prevail on Gandhiji to agree on the partition of India.

Another aspect to remember is that in the Quit India movement, the North West frontier province was led by Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan- Sarhad Gandhi.

He was able to turn fierce Pathans in

2013

LILY Foundation is the sponsored charity of Asian Achievers Awards 2013

The LILY Foundation supports GNK in Bharatpur Lady Mohini Kent Noon

The LILY Foundation supports substantially the Bharatpur project, Gram Niyojan Kendra (GNK). It is run by Dr Sutupa Mukherjee and her husband, Dr K.K. Mukherjee, two academics who have devoted their lifetime to the cause. GNK operates in the heartland of the Bhedia tribal community, who are notorious for putting their girls into prostitution at an early age. Fathers and brothers are the pimps in this case.

Everyone is making money on these girls.

Trafficking is high in the catchment area of 40 villages with a population of about 15,000, most of them are from scheduled castes, Bhedia and other tribes such as Nuts and Kanjars.

Many of these communities are traditionally involved in prostitution and other illegal activities such as the preparation of illicit liquor.

For example, when Guddi (name changed) resisted her father Prem Singh’s efforts to send her to Delhi’s red light district G.B. Road to join her older sister, he was furious. Guddi’s mother sided with her. Prem Singh threatened both mother and daughter with violence and he would have succeeded had it not been for the support of the GNK team.

They took up Guddi’s cause and eventually defeated Prem Singh. Instead of becoming a prostitute, Guddi went to the GNK school.

She is now married and has a family of her own.

After years in rented premises, GNK built its own school last year. The LILY Foundation gave the funds to equip the classrooms and also pur-

chased two school buses to transport the children safely. It is estimated that the number of students will soon grow to 700. Student, especially girls, who wish to go into higher education, are assisted to join colleges in Agra, Jaipur and beyond.

Rangoonwala The Foundation is generously supporting GNK with grants to create and run a skills training institute on the premises. Many students there find it diffi-

cult to cope with academic studies because their families have been illiterate for generations, and they will benefit tremendously from being taught skills that could lead to employment. At present, there is an absence of adequate training facilities in the area. The project aims to provide employable skills to about 600 students, youth and members of the GNK Self Help Groups over the next three years.

The Rangoonwala Foundation grant will also help provide training to further develop entrepreneurial skills. So far, 59 women from 15 villages have started their own businesses running grocery stores, dairies, goat-keeping, making candles and detergent powders.

13977 girls and women have been trained in eleven different skills by the GNK project, including tailoring, embroidery, painting, dress designing, beauticians, soft toys and candle-making. Now computer training programmes are being organized in collaboration with NIIT (National Institute of Information Technology).

Dr Mukherjee has now requested £12,000 in order to buy solar panels for the school. India’s villages get an hour or two of electricity supply a day, at most.

However, there’s no lack of sunshine. The practical solution is for the school to install solar panels of good quality.

They also need £10,000 to develop a computer and mobile phone repairs training centre, run by a qualified computer instructor.

Training will include confidence building, personality development, training for job interviews, and budding entrepreneurs will be assisted to obtain bank loans.

Women’s empowerment is central to alleviating poverty. It is the women who raise children, the women who create a home and give stability to society. Every penny a mother has will go towards raising her child.

The GNK programme aims to create a just and equitable society where girls and boys are educated and can choose from a range of employment.

The LILY Foundation helps them to give the children freedom to lead a life of dignity.

For more information go to http://www.ipartnerindia.org/lily-foundation.php OR contact us at info@ipartnerindia.org/+44 20 7841 8919

the peaceful Gandhain mode of protest and thousands of Pathans were arrested, many beaten and some also paid the price with their lives.

Let all Indians, irrespective of religion or provincial background recollect events of those 5 years and 5 days and let their children, grand children and great grand children know that India was not given independence on a platter and it is a precious possession, which have cost

Indians heavily.

It is also to be remembered that today Indo-British relations are very strong and growing steadily. The credit goes both to British and Indians- the leadership and people.

On 67th independence day, may I say Jai Hind and Jai Great Britain.

- CB

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

The Running Diplomat Prashant Pise Prashant Pise is a career diplomat working in the Ministry of External Affairs of India. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1995 and has been serving in India and overseas.

He is currently posted in the High Commission of India in London as a Press and Media Counsellor and Head of Chancery.

Prashant went to the Gandhian School in Wardha, which is eight kms from Sevagram, Mahatma Gandhi’s ashram where Gandhi lived for eight years. “My school uniform was khadi clothes. Spinning khadi was compulsory. We were taught to make paper and clothes. We learnt self-sufficiency, entrepreneurship and environment-friendly technology way before it was fashionable,” he told us.

Prashant was always fascinated by the Indian

Foreign Service, seeing it as a vehicle for implementing India’s foreign relations and for projecting India’s image abroad.

“I love travelling, exploring and understanding cultures. The IFS has given me the opportunity to understand a multidimensional approach to global issues of importance,” he explained.

Before arriving in London, Prashant served in Mauritius for about three years. More than 70% of the Mauritian population are Persons of Indian Origin, whose forefathers travelled there to work on sugarcane plantations. It’s a multicultural, multi-religious, multi-ethnic society. He found that even after two centuries of assimilation, the fraternal links with India are still strong.

But Prashant has a second pursuit; running.

Prashant Pise

He said, “As a kid, I ran track events. Short, explosive runs of 100m, 200m and 400m. In school, I played Kho Kho, a popular Maharashtran sport. Kho Kho requires bursts of running and extreme agility. I saw a Kho Kho team practicing in Wembley recently!

dozen marathons under his belt and an equal number of ultras. One race that stands out for him is the 89.2km Comrades Run in South Africa. It’s a physically demanding road race through gruelling rolling hills. “It was memorable because it started off from Pietermaritzburg, symbolic for Mahatma Gandhiji’s struggle in South Africa, and finished in Durban. Running with the Indian tricolour in my hand amidst the Indian diaspora applauding and encouraging me in the last stretch was something I cherish.”

As an avid runner, Prashant scouted a few

“As I grew older, after working long hours in the office, I found running was the only activity over which I could have complete control. It does not need fixed timings, routes, gym facilities, or even a partner. It just requires a good pair of trainers.

While I was living in Tokyo, a friend of mine told me that with my fitness level, I could run a 26.2 mile marathon. I participated in the Tokyo marathon in 2008, one of the biggest marathons in the world, drawing 35,000 runners. The experience of running with people of different abilities gave me a ‘runner’s high’ and I decided to run another marathon within a few weeks, rather than recover for a month as advised.”

Running a marathon is a test of grit. Prashant says that you have to dig deep into yourself and negative thoughts need to be set aside. “An ultra marathon is a race longer 26.2 miles. The most popular distances are 50 km, 50 miles, 100km and 100 miles, mostly off road. As soon as I finished my first marathon, I enrolled myself for a 100 km ultra marathon in Japan. It alters your personality,” Prashant commented.

He now has about a

The IFS has given me the opportunity to understand a multidimensional approach to global issues of importance races on his arrival in London. After seeing several amateur runners in Regents Park and Hyde Park, he was eager to challenge himself with a

9

UK ultramarathon. “The 100km London to Brighton was the ideal opportunity for me to explore the beautiful English countryside. It was the end of May on a perfectly bright, sunny but slightly chilly day and I was running along the Thames in complete harmony with nature. It was pure bliss and delightful to discover the splendour and beauty of off-road trails in Sussex.”

Prashant runs three to four times a week, sometimes two to three hours at stretch, more often just half an hour or under an hour. “I go out running after office hours. It’s a fine balance between work, family and running.

They cannot be mutually exclusive. It requires strong mental discipline because the temptation of sagging into a couch and watching TV programmes after a working day is more appealing than going out when it is cold.”

So which would Prashant choose if he had to, running, or the Indian Foreign Service?

“Diplomacy is my profession and the foremost duty is to perform my work. But there is life outside office hours. My mantra is; life is beautiful and enjoy it to the brim.”

EXCLUSIVE

Bradford Sikhs campaign against halal meat plant near Gurdwara Members of the Sikh community in Bradford have come out against a halal meat plant being planned at a site next to a prominent Gurdwara.

The Bradford Council are going to consider a planning application for a halal

meat plant near Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara within the next few days.

The proposal for the plant is being recommended for approval at an area planning panel meeting Aug 13. The city's leading meat retailer Pakeezah is planning to convert the site on Percival Street, once a car repair workshop, into a modern wholesale meat plant.

But since the site is close to the Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara building, local Sikhs are fiercely opposing the plant saying that meat odour would waft into the religious building.

The Guru Gobind

Singh Gurdwara in Bradford was opened in 1972 and is one of the largest Gurdwaras in northern England.

The Gurdwara has started a petition to block the plant. The petition says, "Sikhs are strict vegetarians and killing living beings is against the beliefs of Sikhs. Should this go ahead, it would cause significant emotion-

al distress to the large local Sikh community due to the animal carcasses being delivered and stored next door to a holy place of worship. The smell from the dead animals would be highly offensive and seriously impact the ability of Sikhs to worship at the temple. We call on people of all faiths and backgrounds to support this petition to block planning permission for a Meat Processing Plant next door to Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara, Bradford, UK." Kuldip Bharj, secretary of the Board of B r a d f o r d Gurdwaras, reportedly said, "Many of our people are strict vegetarians and the meat processing unit being so near to the temple is disrespectful and insensitive," She clarified that although Sikhs do not eat halal meat, they do not condemn it as repugnant because "we do respect other religions".

"It is really that the smell of meat is very offensive for people who don't eat it," Bharj added.

She also said that

director Tariq Haq has reportedly said that he would do nothing that might offend the Sikh community. "We will never do anything that might offend our neighbours and many of our customers are Sikhs," he said.

"After it was wrongly said initially that there would be an abattoir, we went to the temple and explained the details." e asserted that in 40 years, his firm had never bought a beef carcass and "our business is only in chicken, mutton and lamb."

"Also, this will just be a butchery like the one we

there were fears that beef might be processed at the plant. "The cow is viewed as a sacred animal and beef is prohibited in Sikhism as it is in Hinduism," she said.

The Gurdwara's President Kuldeep Duley was cited as writing in a letter to local planning officer Mohammed Yousef, "A butchery plant should be on an industrial estate rather than next to a place of worship and community centre where people will be exposed to the disgraceful smell and noise," However, Pakeezah

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Media Watch

The shooting dead of five Indian soldiers in an ambush along the Line of Control in Kashmir by a heavily armed terrorist unit and their uniformed Pakistani accomplices led to a predictable uproar in Parliament. Seizing their moment, Communist (CPM) MP Sitaram Yechury vented his patriotic indignation, as did fellow MPs of other persuasions. The BJP, struck by its usual amnesia, produced a clean slate on the Vajpayee peace visit to Lahore in February 1999 and the ensuing Kargil war with Pakistan in which 700 Indian Army lives were lost. Also, when the mutilated bodies of 20 Indian Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, ambushed and killed by their Bangadeshi counterparts, were dragged through the streets of a Bangladeshi border town by a gloating mob, India’s home minister at the time was none other than the BJP’s mute elder statesman, L.K.Advani.

The Times of India for months after 26/11 Mumbai jihadi attack carried the sweetly poisonous Aimen ki Aasha frontpage appeal for brotherly love for Islamo-fascist Pakistan in the wake of 26/11 jihadi assault on Mumbai. Not to be outdone, The Hindu newspaper provides columnist A.G. Noorani the hospitality of its edit-page, and the ample spaces of its stablemate, the politically absurdist Frontline magazine, to indulge

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 17th august 2013

two Yadavs’ brazen suspension must not be allowed to pass. At stake is the rule of law.

New broom at Reserve Bank The government’s Chief Economic Adviser, Dr Raghuram Govind Rajan, has been appointed as the new Governor of the Reserve Bank of India to succeed the present incumbent Dr

Singapore have done better. The bank has performed poorly in China, Indonesia and Malaysia.

Wholesale banking, which has remained the mainstay of the bank’s business in India contributing $379 of the $450 million before tax. Chief Financial Officer Anurag Adlakha said the bank’s loan register increased 14 per cent driven by demand from small and medium enterprises (SMEs). (Mint August 7)

Scientists of India’s Defence Research & Development Organization (DRDO), the Indian Navy and the Steel Authority of India (SAIL) came together in a collective endeavour to develop a special grade of steel that will replace imports worth billions of dollars that were used in the manufacture of warships. Their breakthrough circumvented the technology denial regime of western countries.

Servicing tanks, submarines

Yadav capers in Uttar Pradesh

Special grades of steel are servicing India’s Russian-designed T 72 and T 90 tanks, the indigenous Main Battle Tank, Arjun, and for mine-protected vehicles in counter-insurgency operations. The Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory (DMRL) helped develop a new grade of steel and production line for the repair of the Navy’s Kilo class submarines and in the construction of the anti-submarine warfare corvette, INS Kamorta (Hindu, Telegraph August 6)

Uttar Pradesh (UP) Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s peremptory suspension of IAS officer Durga Sakti Nagpal for demolishing an illegally constructed wall around a mosque at Kadalpur village has raised the hackles of people far and wide. A committee affiliated to the UP Sunni Central Wakf Dr Raghuram Rajan

D.Subbarao, who demits office on September 4. It is hoped that Dr Rajan, at 50, the second youngest person to hold the post,(the youngest by a few months being Dr Manmohan Singh) will bring a fresh outlook and, with it, innovative ideas, to revive the stalled Indian economy, fixing first the country’s external debt imbalance (the worst crisis since 1991).

Inspired choice Mulayam Singh Yadav with Akhilesh Yadav

in ritual ant-India scourging for alleged wrongdoings against sainted Pakistan and China.

Both newspapers have argued for India-Pakistan cricketing relations as a means of bringing the countries together. Most public figures in India, with the honourable exception of cricketing legend Sunil Gavaskar, did likewise. These worthies are now in high octane patriotic mode, reminding one of Dr Johnson’s famous aphorism that, “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” That said, government bromides and clichés can no longer suffice as a riposte to jihadi aggression.

Secular, communal dicourse Uttar Pradesh politics, which long been India’s despair and shame is ruled by the populist Samajwadi Dal. The party’s confection of felony and populism, garnished with its caste appeal, is a “secular” masque, with the righteous tilting at the mills of “communalism”. Hitler, one recalls, was secular to the core of his monstrous being, while al-Qaeda and its Islamist kin bomb and murder innocents in God’s name. Khalistanis did much the same in their time, and Shiv Sena racketeers in Mumbai intimidate and bully Indians from other parts, while offering their devotions to the god Ganesh. Hypocrisy is the name of the game.

Board which investigated the incident at the site, absolved Ms Nagpal of any wrongdoing.

According to a Times of India report (August 6),“ the committee said she had initiated the process of reclaiming wakf land, including a graveyard, that had been encroached upon. This made the [Ghaziabad-based] sand mining and land mafias join hands to fix her.” A top Samajwadi Dal leader, Narendra Bhati, was caught on camera “bragging how he had spoken to Mulayam Singh Yadav [ Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav’s father and Samajwadi Dal supremo] and the Chief Minister to get her suspended in 41 minutes flat.”

Supreme Court order In 2009, a Supreme Court order decreed, apropos of this issue: “As an interim measure, we direct that henceforth no unauthorized construction shall be carried out or permitted in the name of Temple, Church, Mosque, Gurdwara etc on public streets, public parks or other public places, etc…..in order to ensure compliance of our directions, we direct all the District Collectors and District Magistrates/Deputy Commissioners in charge of the Districts to ensure that there is total compliance of the order passed by us.” Durga Sakti Nagpal was thus doing her duty as an upright IAS officer. The

Widely recognized as one of the foremost economists of his generation, who, in 2005, foretold the global economic meltdown of 2008, Dr Rajan’s appointment is an inspired choice. An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, with a degree in electrical engineering; he was a gold medallist at the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad, before moving to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), for his Ph.D. He was Chief Economist at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2003-06, then became professor at Chicago University, where he earned the plaudits of Nobel laureate Gary Becker, who writes: “I have a very high opinion of Raghu: he is a top-notch economist….I don’t think he will find it very difficult being a successful central banker though it is challenging given the circumstances….Let’s not forget that he has excelled in every job he has had so far. ” (Economic Times Magazine, August 11, also Times of India, Mint, Telegraph, Hindu August 7).

Red letter day for Navy

Hero heads for Africa Hero MotorCorp, the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer by volumes has entered the African market with five models, but more significantly has opened its first assembly line in Kenya for its Dawn, the first

Monday, July 12, was a Red letter for India and the Indian Navy, with the launch of the country’s first aircraft carrier, the 42,000 tonne INS Vikrant at the state-owned Cochin Shipyard.

The launch of the 263 metre-long, 60 metre-wide vessel marks the first phase of the carrier’s construction with 75 per cent of its structure, including the skijump and most underwater equipment in place. The superstructure will be completed in 2016, and followHero motorbikes ing sea trials, INS Vikrant should be modified bike from the compabe fully operational in 2018. It ny’s portfolio to be launched in has been an in-house affair. “The Africa. In addition to Dawn, the entire detailed design of the carother Hero brands being readied rier was done on advanced softfor Kenya are the best selling ware, which has resulted in Splendor Pro, Hunk, Glamour ergonomics, aesthetics and more and Karizima. “We are also comefficient layout,” said a mencing our operations in spokesperson of the Cochin Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast,” Shipyard. Valuable experience said Hero Managing Director had been gained for a larger foland CEO Pawan Munjal low-up carrier weighing 63,000 (Economic Times July 6) tonnes.

Standard Chartered’s exceptional figures Whoops! Standard Chartered India posted 45 per cent rise in profit for the January-June period from a year earlier.

Only the offshore island city states of Hong Kong and

India has Launch INS Vikrant, first home-built aircraft carrier

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

11

Ethnic minorities to decide Britain's political future Continued from page 1 The study has established that the number of seats where Black and Asian voters could decide the outcome has gone up by 70% in comparison to the 2010 election. Also as the recent census shows, the population under 18 is significantly more diverse than rest of the electorates.

In 2001, it showed Britain's ethnic minority population was 7%, and by 2011 this had grown to 11%.

Though this news has created ripples amongst Britons, the Asian community settled in Britain are not exactly sure about their status in the political world.

Looking at the current trend, they fear that the politicians are not really interested in issues concerning their community and merely play lip service, while the parties stagger immensely to recruit or convince representatives from the Asian or BAME community to join them.

The study also suggests that out of 168 marginal seats, the ethnic minority vote is bigger than the majority of the sitting MP. According to the OBV study, the ethnic minority vote will be crucial in swing seats from the Midlands to the south coast, across to East Anglia, and in the north-east.

These seats are not just confined to inner city areas, but extend to places such as Southampton, Oxford, Sherwood, Ipswich and Northampton.

This findings definitely proves to be of particular concern to the Tories, who have in recent past admitted that they are indeed struggling to capture the ethnic minority vote. Discussing the importance of this report OBV Director Simon Woolley said, "This is great news for BME communities and democracy. Many individuals feel powerless, particularly in the face of rising racial tension and the apparent inability by political parties to acknowledge persistent race inequalities, much less have a plan to deal with it. The power to help decide who wins and who loses the next General Election will no doubt focus the minds of vulnerable politicians and their leaders."

During the 2010 election, the Tory party secured only 16% of the minority vote, compared with 68% for the Labour.

Experts are of the opinion that the trend may continue and in turn change the dynamics of British politics.

If the Conservatives fail to win an outright majority in 2015 it will mean their last such majority was almost a quarter of a century ago, under John Major in 1992.

In the 2012 US election the defeat of the Republican candidate, Mitt Romney, was blamed in part on a failure to connect with a growing ethnic minority vote.

Amongst these ethnic voters, Indians are said to be the largest group in several 'safe' seats in Britain - both for Labour and Conservative, as these MPs have the support of their communities.

In 2010 the Conservatives won 306 seats, 20 short of a majority, to Labour's 258, with the Lib Dems taking 57. For 2015, the Conservative strategy is to try to hold their 40 most marginal seats and gain 40 more to give them outright power.

Tory reaction PM David Cameron has given the Tory vice-chair Alok Sharma, MP for Reading West, the task of boosting the party's ethnic minority appeal. Mr Sharma, when asked about his opinion told Asian Voice: "The analysis from Operation Black Vote speaks for itself in highlighting seats with larger numbers of voters with an ethnic minority background.

"Ultimately what matters to hardworking people - whatever their background - is fixing our economy. That's

why Conservatives have taken the tough decisions to cut Labour's deficit and bring the economy back from the brink.

"Thanks to those tough decisions, our economy is now moving from rescue to recovery. We have cut the deficit by a third, helped businesses to create 1.3 million new jobs and are cutting income tax for 25 million people - achievements that benefit hardworking people up and down the country."

Paul Uppal, the MP for Wo l v e r h a m p t o n South West, who had accompanied Cameron for his India trip, including the visit to Golden Temple of Amritsar and Jallianwala bagh, told Asian Voice, "The report

by OBV reinforces the idea that the Conservative Party must attract support from BME voters if it is to win in 2015. The Party is making progress to appeal to BME voters under the leadership of David Cameron. What we have seen in the past three years is the Prime Minister's annual Vaisakhi reception at Downing Street, and his recent visit to India; a visit I was fortunate to accompany him on. The party is adapting to a changing Britain but we must continue to do so if the Conservatives are to form a government in the future."

Lord Dolar Popat, a Government Whip and Lord-inWaiting and a very key member of the BME community told Asian Voice, “This research highlights the importance of the ethnic minority vote across the country.

"British Indians in particular tend to disproportionately live in marginal constituencies, and groups like Conservative Friends of India do a lot of work in building relations between British Indians, particularly the younger British-born Indians, and the Conservative Party.

“I think we have to be careful with this research though; it would be a mistake to presume that ethnic minorities have different political priorities to everyone else just because of our background; our ancestry may be different but the 1.5 million British Indians care about fixing the economy, improving education and fixing welfare to ensure work always pays just as much as any other group of voter.”

Lib Dem reaction While the Tories continue speculating on the strategy to win the forthcoming election, Liberal Democrat councillor and OBV consultant Lester Holloway, who had worked on the report and said that this report would encourage parties to appeal to a wider proportion of the local population.

Liberal Democrat Deputy Leader Simon Hughes, MP welcoming the report told Asian Voice: “Black, other minority ethnic and mixed race adults are now not only key voters in the more obvious parts of English inner cities, they are now significant political communities in many other urban, suburban and predominantly rural seats as well.

“Unless all parties and candidates engage with and seek to win BAME support, they could be in political difficulty locally – and see their general election prospects significantly set back.

"Registered BME voters are as likely to

vote as other groups. And they have specific concerns that the inequalities of Britain in general are more clearly experienced by those in their communities.”

Lord Navnit Dholakia, Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats,House of Lords, in a statement told the Asian Voice, "A small band of politicians in main political parties are genuinely concerned about issues affecting black and minority ethnic groups.How else could we have had some major pieces of Race Relations legislation on the statute. The Equality and Human Rights Commission could not have been established without their help.

"But unfortunately we also have those who pay lip service to such causes. Some of them are eager to attend community functions suitably clad in Saris and eager to savour Samosas but they are not seen or heard when political parties succumb to nasty poster campaigns as witnessed with immigration trailers in highly concentrated ethnic areas.The ethnic community is at fault as well. We should not allow politicians to patronize us.

"It has not been an easy task to elect a Lib Dem MP because we have fewer MPs and fewer safe seats.Things are changing fast. Our Leadership Training Programme has been effective and we will see some key seats being fought by candidates from Black and minority ethnic groups. We have ensured that despite the disadvantages of fighting elections on First Past the Post system, their representation should not lack in the Upper House.We recently appointed two Peers as against none from our coalition partners.

"But the challenge to attract BME vote faces all political parties. We should not take ethnic votes for granted.There is evidence that a good number of people entitled to vote are not on Registers of Electors. I give due credit to Operation Black Vote (OBV) who have done much to encourage BME voters to register and vote.

"While it is perfectly obvious that certain constituency results can be affected

by BME votes, there is still a lot to play for.The successive generations of people born in this country are intelligent voters and their vote should not be taken for granted. We must also exercise great caution. No political party has monopoly on ethnic votes.It is a fallacy to assume that they could be made to vote for a single Party. To do so could create a backlash from other sections of the community."

Month won't be enough. Nor will relying on community elders or gatekeepers to deliver the vote.

“So called "BAME issues" need to be mainstream issues. BAME voters have never been more powerful and should be demanding more from political parties. I welcome an arms race for BAME voters.

This will ensure we all raise our game.”

Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing Southall said, “It is important that the ethnic minority vote is gaining influence over elections in this country as this will hopefully mean that many who have felt powerless and ignored in the past will be more involved in the political process. While the current Tory Government’s policies on immigration with increasing racially profiled spot checks is indicative of their failure to connect with BME voters , it is certainly not the only reason why they receive a small proportion of their vote. The Labour Party’s policies of inclusion, social justice, fairness and opportunity have always resonated with BME voters and I am certain will continue to do so, as our party has never taken ethnic minority communities for granted.”

Labour MP Seema Malhotra, from Feltham and Heston added, “Politics is about relationships with all who have a stake in Britain.

Labour's beliefs in equality and what that means for Government go to Labour's core - this isn't about lip service for election time.

That's why the Labour Party has always been a party for all communities, and it is no accident we have had greater diversity in the party at local and national level.

Labour speaks for the whole of Britain with a commitment that is about what we have achieved, from the Race Relations Act in 1976 which made discrimination on the basis of race illegal, to diversity on public boards and the EHRC’s General Duty which the Conservatives proposed to remove earlier this year before being defeated. We recognise and respect that we live together and thrive in a spirit of fairness and equality with different cultures and many roots – under one nation.”

2011 CENSUS

Labour reaction Labour's efforts to secure and increase its huge ethnic minority lead are being led by Sadiq Khan, the MP from Tooting, Shadow Lord C h a n c e l l o r, Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (with responsibility for political and constitutional reform) & Minister for London, who ran Ed Milliband's leadership campaign told Asian Voice: "Whereas once political parties opted to tailor their policies to specific issues important to particular ethnic groups, it’s now about the range of different paths that parties must take to expand their support base. Because this isn’t about treating minority citizens as a ‘bloc vote’ that automatically supports Labour.

Their support must be earned.

“The bad news for lazy politicians is that simply visiting the Temple at Diwali, sharing a samosa at Eid or attending a community event in Black History

Britain's political future to a great extend depends on the willing engagement of various communities amongst the BAMEs. Their political participation, engagement with the party of their choice, rigorous registration by voters, as well as voting on the day are the only ways to reflect powers in their numbers, as well in their commitments to the country, which has provided them with this opportunity.

- Asian Voice

Celebrating the 67 Independence Day th

forces for continuing to

India celebrates Independence Day control an increasingly India. In February on August 15 each year as the restless 1947, Prime Minister country became an independent Clement Attlee announced that the British governnation on August 15, 1947. ment would grant full selfgovernance to British India

by June 1948 at the latest.

The new viceroy, Louis Mountbatten, advanced the date for the transfer of power, believing the continuous contention between the Congress and the Muslim League might lead to a collapse of the interim government. He

Indian flag replaced British flag on August 15, 1947 as India got independence

The struggle for India's Independence began in 1857 with the Sepoy Mutiny in Meerut. Later, in the 20th century, the Indian National Congress and other political organizations, under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi, launched a countrywide independence movement.

Colonial powers were transferred to India on August 15, 1947.

The Constituent Assembly, to who power was to be transferred, met to celebrate India's independence at 11pm on August 14, 1947. India gained its liberty and became a free country at midnight between August 14 and August 15, 1947. It was then that the free India's first prime minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru gave his famous "Tryst with Destiny" speech. People across India are reminded of the meaning of this event - that it marked the start of a new era of deliverance from the British colonialism that took place in India for more than 200 years.

India's national flag is a horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesaria) at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal proportion. The ratio of the flag's width to its length is two to three. A navy-blue wheel in the center of the white band represents the chakra. Its design

is that of the wheel which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka.

Its diameter approximates to the white band's width and it has 24 spokes.

The Red Fort in Delhi is also an important Independence Day symbol in India as it is where the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru unveiled India's flag on August 15, 1947.

British India: In 1946, the Labour government in Britain, its exchequer exhausted by the recently concluded World War II, realised that it had neither the mandate at home, the international support, nor the reliability of native

effect from 15 August 1947, and granted complete legislative authority upon the respective constituent assemblies of the new countries. The Act received royal assent on 18 July 1947.

Partition and independence: The day's programme for 15 August 1947 • 8.30 am Swearing in of governor general and ministers at Government House • 9.40 am Procession of ministers to Constituent

1947 Red Fort, New Delhi

chose the second anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II, 15 August, as the date of power transfer.

The British government announced on 3 June 1947 that it had accepted the idea of partitioning British India into two states; the successor governments would be given dominion status and would have an implicit right to secede from the British Commonwealth.

The Indian Independence Act 1947 (10 & 11 Geo 6 c. 30) of the Parliament of the United Kingdom partitioned British India into the two new independent dominions of India and Pakistan (including what is now Bangladesh) with

Assembly • 9.50 am State drive to Constituent Assembly • 9.55 am Royal salute to governor general • 10.30 am Hoisting of national flag at Constituent Assembly • 10.35 am State drive to Government House • 6.00 pm Flag ceremony at India Gate • 7.00 pm Illuminations • 7.45 pm Fireworks display • 8.45 pm Official dinner at Government House • 10.15 pm Reception at Government House India Independent: Millions of Muslim, Sikh, and Hindu refugees trekked across the newly drawn borders in the

Mountbatten swears Jawaharlal Nehru as Prime Minister of India on August 15, 1947

months surrounding independence. In Punjab, where the borders divided the Sikh regions in halves, massive bloodshed followed; in Bengal and Bihar, where Mahatma Gandhi's presence assuaged communal tempers, the violence was mitigated. In all, between 250,000 and 1,000,000 people on both sides of the new borders died in the violence. While the entire nation was celebrating the Independence Day, Gandhi stayed in Calcutta in an attempt to stem the carnage. On 14 August 1947, the Independence Day of Pakistan, the new Dominion of Pakistan came into being; Muhammad Ali Jinnah was sworn in as its first Governor General in Karachi. At midnight, as India moved into 15 August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru delivered the Tryst with Destiny speech proclaiming India's independence. “ Lo ng years ago we mad e a tryst with destiny, and n ow the time co mes wh en we s hall redeem o ur pledge, no t who lly or in full measure, but very s ubstantially. At the str oke of t he m i d n i gh t hou r, when the worl d sleeps , Ind ia will awake to l ife an d freed om. A moment co mes, whic h co mes but rarely in his tory, when we s tep out fro m the ol d to the n ew, when an age en ds, and when the so ul of a natio n, l ong suppr e s s e d , f in d s u t te r an ce. I t is fitting that at this solemn mo ment , we tak e the pledge o f dedication to the ser vic e of I nd i a a nd her peo p le an d to the still larger cause o f hu manity.”

— Tryst with Destiny speech, Jawaharlal Nehru, 15 August 1947 The Dominion of India became an independent country as official ceremonies took place in New Delhi. Nehru assumed

office as the first prime minister, and the viceroy, Lord Mountbatten, continued as its first governor general. Gandhi's name was invoked by crowds celebrating the occasion; Gandhi himself, however, took no part in the official events. Instead, he marked the day with a 24-hour fast, during which he spoke to a crowd in Calcutta, encouraging peace between Hindus and Muslims.

C e l e b r a t i o n : Independence Day, one of the three national holidays in India (the other two being the Republic Day on 26 January and Mohandas Gandhi's birthday on 2 October), is observed in all Indian states and union territories. On the eve of Independence Day, the President of India delivers the "Address to the Nation." On 15 August, the prime minister hoists the Indian flag on the ramparts of the historical Red Fort in Delhi. Twentyone gun shots are fired in honour of the solemn occasion. In his speech, the prime minister highlights the past year's achievements, raises important issues and calls for further development.

He pays tribute to the leaders of the freedom struggle.

The Indian national anthem, "Jana Gana Mana" is sung.

Chief Ministers of individual states unfurl the national flag, followed by parades and pageants.

The Indian diaspora celebrates Independence Day around the world with parades and pageants, particularly in regions with higher concentrations of Indian immigrants. In some locations, such as New York and other US cities as well as in, UK 15 August has become "India Day" among the diaspora and the local populace.

Pageants celebrate "India Day" either on 15 August or an adjoining weekend day.

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Congratulatory Messages

I

am delighted to send my congratulations to the world's largest democracy on its 67th Independence Day celebrations on 15th August.India remains a proud nation and it's achievements in developing its economy is the envy of the world.The Indian diaspora is a peace loving community contributing to the social,political and economic field in countries where they have settled.On this day we bow our heads to the tricolor which is a symbol of India's democratic nationhood.

But now for the next phase.Let us all work towards elimination of poverty which has blighted many lives.We can no longer live in peace if poverty deprives our citizen from a share in our success.

L ord Dholakia PC OBE DL, Deputy Leader, Liberal Democrats

T

his year marks 66 years since Indian Independence Day in 1947. The day will be marked in many different ways by leaders and families in India and the Indian diaspora across the world.

We can be tremendously proud of India and its achievements. In more recent years, India has broken through on to the world stage as a global force, with its progress in business, technology, arts and culture. It is the world's largest democracy.

We know that challenges continue, not least with the poverty that millions still experience, the vital goals of expanding schooling and the health system and the need to tackle violence against women. We also see the nation and diaspora community come together and provide ongoing support for those affected by natural disasters like the floods in Uttarakhand.

In tackling these challenges and creating the future, Britain and India stand strong together. I wish all Asian Voice readers a wonderful Independence Day and look forward to working together in the future to strengthen and nurture the friendship between India and the UK. Seema Malhotra MP Labour & Co-operative Member of Parliament for Feltham & Heston

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India – UK: Partners of Choice

By Lord Popat

As we mark another year of India’s Independence, now is the perfect time to contemplate how the partnership between Britain and India will progress in the 21st century. India and Britain have a special relationship; Prime Minister David Cameron refers to India as our “Partners of choice”; an amazing democratic and English-speaking country with whom we have unrivalled cultural and historical links.

We have so much that we can gain from one another; India is set to be the world’s third largest economy by 2030 but needs assistance in sectors like construction and finance.

Britain needs to rebalance its economy away from household consumption and towards exports, and has a particular expertise in many of the sectors that India is craving.

Working together will undoubtedly boost both countries.

That is why David Cameron’s first foreign visit as Prime Minister was to India, and why he returned to India earlier this year. I had the honour of joining the Prime Minister on this delegation, the largest business delegation to have ever accompanied a British Prime Minister abroad.

Collectively our message was clear; Britain is open

for business. The evidence already shows how important India is to Britain’s economy. UKTI figures show that India is the second largest investor in London with 89 Indian FDI projects creating as many as 7,255 jobs in Britain.

Thanks to Indian investment in the UK, we are set to become the second largest car producer in the whole of the European Union. One in eight workers in the City of London is of Indian heritage.

During the delegation, businessmen and politicians from both sides discussed the opportunities available for further collaboration. Research is one area where we are India’s ideal partners for collaboration. Since the delegation, UK and India have jointly committed over £100 million for research projects on health, energy, climate change and water.

In September, the UKIndia Oncology trade delegation will focus on inno-

vation in making cancer medicines more affordable a nd accessible to all.

The Delegation in February has opened up new opportunities for Britain’s businesses and universities; yet there has been some concern that the recent changes to the visa system will hamper our links with India and other countries. At this stage we should be clear with the facts.

The UK’s largest visa operation is in India, operating over 400,000 visa applications a year. People who want a UK visa almost always get one. The British High Commission in India is already giving out nine out of ten visas to anyone who wishes to travel to the UK. Ninetyseven per cent of Indians applying for a business visa also get one and we only recently opened a same-day Visa service in our High Commission.

The facts speak for themselves; Indians are very

welcome in Britain.

But as we all know, freedom of movement unfortunately often brings immigration abuse, where people try and deceive the system for ulterior motives. At a time when over a million British Indians live and work in this country; where they are pivotal members of their community and we as a community are respected for our hard-work and values; we cannot allow others to try and abuse this country’s system.

That is why, in a very small number of visa cases, a financial bond will be used. It is a simple way of providing a deterrent to those thinking of overstaying, and will only be used where it is felt there is a high risk of someone staying too long. Every country protects its borders and it is right for the UK to do the same, without undermining the UK’s wish to be open for business, students and tourists.

Britain and India share a rich history and I hope and believe we will share a prosperous future. As we reflect on how far our nations have progressed since 1947, we can be proud to say that we are making good progress in becoming India’s partners of choice, as opposed to India’s partners of convenience. Long may the special relationship continue.

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Where are we going with Indo-British relations?

By Subhash V Thakrar Let us start with a few striking facts.

UK Trade and Investment’s latest Inward Investment Report highlighted that India was responsible for 89 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the UK during 2012/13, which created or safeguarded 7,255 jobs.

This makes India the fifth most important source market globally for the UK and the third most important market for new jobs.

Looking at UK investment into India, the latest figures available show that there has been a noticeable increase in UK FDI into India, with the total value of investment rising from £1.9bn in 2010 to £7.1bn in 2011.

This is clearly a good starting point and in February this year I was lucky enough to see this developing economic partnership first-hand when I took part in the largest ever UK trade delegation to India, which was led by the UK Prime Minster, David Cameron MP. At the joint UK-India Summit held during this trip both nations put out a joint statement that agreed that there was “considerable potential for expanding the relationship further, in particular in the area of trade and investment” and both nations agreed on the “importance of an approach which supported business”.

This is a message that will chime with all those who want to maximise economic ties between our two nations. However, my role as Chairman of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) allows me to see first-hand how some areas of UK government policy are threatening the potential of this economic partnership.

The most obvious example is the issue of the UK’s visa system. I have lost count of the number of successful Indian businesspeople who have asked me why the UK seems so averse to letting them into the country. That is why the LCCI has been working with the Home Office to explain to them the economic consequences of the decisions they make and why an overly onerous visa system could end up turning successful Indian businesses into the arms of our European competitors.

Similarly, when Indian businesspeople explain to me the delays they face when entering Heathrow Airport I wince at the thought of what this could be doing to the UK’s competitiveness and ability to continue attracting India’s most successful firms.

Again, that is why the LCCI is so vocal in calling for increased aviation capacity in London and the south east.

So while I am always confident in the drive and ingenuity of Indian and British businesspeople to be able to overcome these barriers to growth, it is clear to me that policymakers could be doing more to fully exploit the opportunities created by our shared histories. As Chairman of the LCCI, I will continue to take this message to the heart of the UK government.

Whilst I feel that the UK political leadership has embraced the need to increase economic ties with India, the UK Border agency and immigration authorities are still failing in recognition of what needs to be done. Our trade with India may have gone up but the question is how do we compare this with our competitors in Europe , US and Japan. More work needs to be done in this area.

The writer is Chairman London Chamber of Commerce, Partner CBW Blackstone Franks LLP (Blackstone Franks have recently merged with CBW)

By Anita Karwal

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Should women exist ?

My husband’s cousin and I are colleagues in government and very good friends. I still recall that in the early days of my marriage, while I was still a Trainee Officer, whenever I would have one of those you-may-be-right-butI-am-so-right arguments with my husband in her presence, she would playfully intervene and tell my husband, “Get the kerosene.

High time we burnt her up.”

We would all have a good laugh over it, and the mood would be lightened.

Later, while being posted as a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) I was required to take dying declarations and conduct inquiries into cases of unnatural death. This was when the reality of her remarks struck me for the first time in my life. Most unnatural deaths I came across were of young married women, teenagers, or barely out of their teens, with 90% burn injuries.

Yet, what was painful was that in full knowledge of their impending death, they would refuse to indict

their husband or in-laws only to protect their female progeny from the wrath of the father and his family.

Historically, I am not too sure when, why, where and how the suppression of women began, but socioculturally we have evolved as a species that is very backward as compared to several other animal species when it comes to the place of females in our society.

Zoologically speaking, elephants, baboons, and even hyenas, etc., not only respect their females, but also live in a more or less matriarchal society. In the Lion community, it is the lioness, who controls almost all the activities of the Pride. Interestingly, the lioness is the one who decides whether someone needs to be rejected from the Pride or accepted into it.

The role of the lion is limited to protection from outside threats. In fact, in the entire animal kingdom the male accepts the mere presence of the female in his life as a proof of her equal, if not superior status. Sigh!

With my little knowledge of science, and the relentless support of my undeniably twisted logic and reasoning skills, I am convinced that gender discrimination in human soci-

ety is akin to the most modern and sophisticated form of warfare. My suspicion is that the war is not just in every household, community and society, but also within the physical and mental faculty of every individual. Should women be allowed to exist at all – that is the 'only' question that plays on most minds.

The question of equitability, empowerment, etc., is yet to appear on the horizon.

On this Independence Day, as a writer, it is my beholden duty to help my readers to attain ‘freedom’ from this debate, once and for all. So here I am, arguing for and against the motion, to help you arrive at a reasoned decision about whether women should be allowed to exist at all or not in your lives.

Women should be allowed to exist: 1. Because we have recently been hearing and increasingly so, that women might be people after all.

2. Because we need women to produce more men.

3. Because though they do not measure up to the cooking, cleaning, bringing up children, etc standards set by their motherin-law, they have certainly proven to be handy around the house.

4. Because resorting to physical and mental violence on women is way easier than doing it on men.

5. Because item numbers will not be the same without them.

Women must not be allowed to exist: 1. Because looking to the fact that they multitask, women may not be people after all. They might be robots.

2. Because their exposure to education is leading to competition, and competing with women is detrimental to the progress of men.

3. Because men are born to lead, command, control. In which universe do women fit in?

4. Because aside from being eye-candy and physical entertainment, what use are women?

5. Because even if a man gets a woman, he would still want the ‘other woman’. It’s too confusing! So just forget it!

I rest my case here, but while you decide today, in this 66th year of independence, let us learn to respect the Shakti of every Durga!

The writer is IAS, Chief Electoral Officer & Principal Secretary General Administration Department, Gujarat State

Freedom Fighters’ dream and Contemporary Indian Society Dr Gaurang Jani When we look back to understand what happened during the last six decades of Independence in India, the data reveals not a satisfactory picture. In modern India, the vision of Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Patel and Pandit Nehru remain just a dream. They were dreaming of a society where equality of religion, caste, language, gender etc was a priority.

But our newspapers and other media reflect a scenario which is not the dream of our great leaders.

For example, majority of our MPs and MLAs have a criminal background and the involvement of ministers and top bureaucracy in illegal and anti-people activities is a serious concern for the common man in India.

India is a developing country where according to 2011 census, more than 30% are living below the poverty line, 35% of urban women are illiterate in Gujarat, 40% of rural women cannot read and write. The gap between the rich and poor, rural and urban is widening. We have 2 India – one for affluent classes and the other for the common man.

Surprisingly after six decades of Independence, Indian children got right to education just 3 years ago.

Between 1st and 10th standard the dropout rate of girl students is 50% and only

10% of Indian youth enter colleges and universities.

Ours great freedom fighters’ vision of modern India was Roti, kapda aur makan to each and everybody.

But in 1991, Indian government accepted capitalist path of economic development. This path is known as LPGLiberalization, Privatization and Globalization, because of the acceptance of LPG from Health to Education, every aspect is in the hands of market economy.

For the poor and the middle class India, quality education is a luxury. In this context I would like to share some of my observation about of different classes of Indian society.

A century ago, in the year 1909, Mahatma Gandhi wrote in the Hind Swaraaj, “It is machinery that has impoverished India. It is difficult to measure the harm that Manchester has done to us.

It is due to Manchester that Indian handicraft has all but disappeared. But I make a mistake. How can Manchester be blamed? We wore Manchester cloth and this is why Manchester wove it.” Gandhiji’s observation is true in today’s time, mainly because of two reasons. Firstly, Gandhiji talked about it on his return from England which clearly means that he had a clear idea of England’s strong economy and the poverty of slave India. The second reason is that in the last 100 years, the educated middle

class of Gujarat has settled down abroad and are famously known as the “Global Gujarati.” In the past, approach and behavior of rich and high society Guajaratis was highly influenced by globalization.

By making loom as a symbol, Gandhiji portrayed the miserable and negative effect of foreign production method on rural India.

Gandhiji’s perplexity and vigor of problems and their realistic solutions are lost somewhere in today’s globalised Gujarati environment. Possibly in today’s world, nobody may accept Gandhiji’s opposition of loom, but their Western market structure’s inhuman results’ analysis must be remembered quite often.

He makes it very clear in Hind Swaraj that “those labourers who work in the Mumbai mills have become slaves. The condition of their wives who work there will terrify anyone. These ladies were not starving to death when there were no mills around…..”

Migration of Labourers: Two decades ago, as a result of new economic policy accepted and implemented by the Indian Government, ‘Special Economic Zone’ came into existence for Indian and foreign companies. In Gujarat for so called development, at these ‘SEZ’ and at corporate industries factories, labourers were employed on contract basis on a large scale. Just for the sake of the availability of cheap labour round the

year, all political parties and governments of the country accepted the contract method without any opposition by ignoring all labour laws. As a result, at Reliance Refinery of Jamanagar, Gujarat, thousands of workers have migrated from various States to Gujarat. Their dark hovels can compel anybody to think about the thought process behind the market structure. The same way Jamanagar and the Alang Shipyard of Bhavnagar are part of international market. The living and working conditions of those migrant labourers are the same as those labourers in Jamnagar.

Reservation, Women, Backward Class and Market: In Gujarat, in the year 1981 and 1985, there were protests against reservation. The first protest was to curb the constitutional rights of oppressed and tribal, and second protest was initiated by the upper social classes of the state to curb the reservation rights of socially and educationally backward classes (Baxi panch). After these two protests, at the beginning of the decade of the nineties, with the implementation of new economic policy, all over the country and in Gujarat, educational institutes started becoming ‘Self Financed.’

Due to privatization in education with higher fees the reservation arrangements made it compulsory for oppressed, tribal and

the rest of the backward class students to only study at the institutes which facilitated with government grants. Due to the partnership with foreign universities and entrance of corporate world in education, the intervention and control of markets kept on mounting from primary education to higher education.

Gandhinagar- based, ‘Gujarat National Law Univeristy’, for the fiveyear bachelors programme, each student has to pay the fees of Rs 1,10,000 for each semester. Oppressed and tribal students also have to pay the fees of 90,000. There is no arrangement of reservation at this university for other backward classes. There is another example of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedakar Open University. At this university where Gujarat’s backward social – economic groups can get higher education, the fees structure in some of the programmes is the same for girls and boys. University which is run by the grant of the State government and the Central government, for the B.Ed. course, the fees of Rs. 17,000 are charged for everyone (tribals are exceptions). This reality shows that even though teaching a girl is free in the State, girls have to pay higher fees to study.

Thus, the laws and rules of the government are broken. This situation basically clears the fact that just Continued on page 15

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indian independence day Special

India: Scuppered Power Ever To Be Superpower - An Unredeemed Tryst With Destiny?

By Alpesh B Patel In what far-off country, upon what obscure day I know not now, Seated in the gloom of some Mahratta mountain-wood O King Shivaji, Lighting thy brow, like a lightning flash, This thought descended,"Into one virtuous rule, this divided broken distracted India,I shall bind."

-Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore I write to you from Loas, in Indo-China – the home of a battle of the Superpowers during the Vietnam War, and previously part of the French empire – when France was a Superpower.

Superpowers first and foremost have the will and ability to project power.

Andrei Gromyko defined a superpower as “a country that has a say in every corner of the globe and without whose say nothing truly substantial can be achieved in any such corner.”

Thankfully unity is one thing you do not need to be a Superpower. Just look at the USSR – a fake forced union of disparate States or the US with its sharp bipolar politicians and politics.

Corruption too is not a hindrance. Modern Russia

and China are rife with hardly concealed corruption. The American’s at least make some attempt to conceal it.

But it is not financial corruption that destroys aspirations to be a Superpower. It is corruption of the patriotic, corruption of the ability to aspire to greatness, to a sense of destiny, to see beyond one’s own petty political selfinterests, to those of the nation. At their Superpower height, Britain, USSR, USA, China – no one could deny when they were Superpowers – the political patriotic will had never been corrupted in those countries; their sense of destiny.

Russian, Chinese, American corruption does not stop each country’s politicians acting as if they put the nation first. One simply does not get that sense from Indian politicians. Just as in Economics there was the ‘Indian rate of growth’ – something slow, pathetic and not ful-

filling its potential, so too there is the ‘Indian style of Governance’. Is a lack of Governance ability India’s real problem, that kills not only its growth, but its aspirations?

Or as Banerjee puts it more critically in India: The Next Superpower?

“Crony capitalism, the collapse of public health systems, a rising Maoist insurgency, and rampant environmental degradation all call into doubt India’s superpower aspirations” What more does it take? Military might alone does not do it. The spirit is essential. ‘Superpower?: The Amazing Race between China’s Hare and India’s Tortoise,’ by Raghav Bahl writes correctly that the country with superior innovative skills and more entrepreneurial savvy will come out on top. His deciding factor: can India fix its governance before China repairs its politics?

Until then India’s internal disunity from an inability to govern with a will for destiny, will prevent it from projecting its will globally, and it will remain a scuppered power not a Superpower.

The writer is a former Member of the Council of Chatham House, the Royal Institute for International Relations.

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Freedom Fighters’ dream and Contemporary Indian Society Continued from page 14 like private institutes, the government administration is also becoming a part of market structures.

Expanding Markets, Media and Women: As part of globalization, national and international markets are being developed. In this development process, on a day to day basis, the form of advertising as medium is becoming more and more anti women.

Co-operative retreat in social welfare sector: In Gujarat, in the last 10 years of governance, social and welfare related problems are highly visible.

The government has taken a backseat in the welfare and rights of women, children and physically challenged people.

Consumerism: Citizens against Customers: It is evident that globalization promotes consumerism and prepares new customer class. Due to the scale of business and its education, from children to the old, a new group is emerging which is less of citizen and more of customer.

The writer is Associate professor, Sociology Department, Gujarat University.

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Democracy and Political Parties

By Kanan Dhru

In an election voters have a choice. They can choose from a variety of candid a t e s .

H o w e v e r, many important decisions are made without any voter input even before the elections begin. The candidates that will contest from each constituency have already been chosen and thus the choices that are available to voters on Election Day are already decided. Voters have a choice, but the limits of that choice are set without the voters' consent.

The political parties decide who will be offered their ticket in a given constituency. Let us ask a further question: who in the party makes these decisions, and how are these decisions made?

There are various practices used by political parties the world-over. In some, party leaders make these decisions unilaterally. In others, decisions are made by a vote among party members, or even by a vote among the general public. In sum, these internal decisions can be made democratically or undemocratically.

Unlike a state, where citizenship provides a broad standard for inclu-

sion into any democratic process, political parties are voluntary organizations with fluid memberships. It is easy to join or leave a party, and different members have different levels of participation.

Thus democracy within a political party can vary tremendously depending on how the electorate – the group of individuals who have a vote – is defined. Only paying members could be allowed to vote, or only members who have been in the party for a certain period of time, or only certain ranks within the party. A political party could go even further and open itself up by allowing the general public – whether they are party members or not – to influence party decisions.

Political parties across the world follow a wide variety of practices when it comes to practicing democracy in party decisions. For example, the Green Party in Germany found after several years of experience that only a handful of supporters ended up attending most ‘all-delegates meetings’ and has thus preferred to conduct its business through delegate conventions instead. In many emerging economies a single person tends to dominate political parties decision to the point where he prevents any type of

democracy.

Sometimes internal elections become impossible to hold. The KMT in Taiwan tried unsuccessfully to organise elections to choose contesting candidates and ultimately had to provide for a significant role for the local party factions in decisionmaking of the party.

groups (such as church or trade union networks) sit in party councils and act on behalf of their supporters. Members of the represented groups are sometimes considered to be indirectly enrolled in the party as a result of such representation. Examples of parties adopting this

In some political parties, members are given a strong role and their opinions are taken seriously. In the Ecologists Green Party of Greece, for instance, those who disagree with the party’s decision often voice their dissent publicly.

At times, even though representative structures exist on paper, influential party leaders dominate decision-making.

Some parties in the world have developed a “corporatist,” or group-based, style of internal representation, in which leaders of interested constituencies have privileged positions within the party. Delegates from these

practice are Sweden’s Social Democrats, the Austrian People’s Party, and Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party, amongst others.

The Constitutions of the countries stipulate how political parties should manage themselves.

Interestingly, except briefly in the 10th Schedule, there is no mention of political parties in the Constitution of India. Many developing countries such as Liberia, Nigeria and Nepal have used their Constitutions to micromanage party organisations and behaviours. In Syria, the Constitution stipulates that the only

party in the country shall be Socialistic Bath Party.

In Netherlands, Poland, Ivory Coast, Italy, Algeria and Senegal, the constitution bans parties which refer to use of force, foreign control or promote social biases.

In India, most political parties that contest elections have some kind of organisation and internal decision making processes in place. However, there are large variations between what is set out in their constitutions and what actually takes place in reality. In theory, meetings of committees can offer an opportunity for members to ventilate their ideas, concepts and criticisms to realize a dialogue between higher and lower levels. In reality, these meetings do not provide the forum that they are supposed to. There is rarely any involvement of the younger members.

Information dissemination has a one way direction; from top to bottom, therefore there is no actual dialogue between higher ranking officials and members.

Even though the party constitutions stress the importance of avoiding caste or religion based politics, most parties embrace it in candidate selection.

Caste based politics even dominate the way tickets are distributed.

Distinctions made on the

basis of caste, religion or status form a danger to the merit based system that should be in place. Even when caste does not play a role, there are other crude political calculations and outright corruption.

Democracy is not defined solely by institutions, but also by attitudes and behaviours. Open and substantial debate, constructive criticism, accountability, transparency and free dissent are often described as being important aspects of democracy alongside simple institutions. Elections matter, but only if there are real issues at stake, people take their vote seriously, and party leaders do not just buy their supporters.

Institutions – no matter how democratic – are only as effective as the people who use them. We often say that the youth are the future of the country, that they will build a better India. But they require more than a blueprint – they require the proper tools. Inner-party democracy is a powerful tool, and we hope that the next generation may wield it.

The writer is Founder & Managing Director of Research Foundation for Governance in India.

Law graduate, London School of Economics.

Global Shaper, World Economic Forum's Ahmedabad Hub.

Investment Opportunities for NRIs in India

By Amit Guin Government of India has taken various steps to promote investments by Indians living abroad, in India. Investment promotion, through dissemination of information on the investment climate and opportunities in India and advising prospective investors including the Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) about the investment policies and procedures and opportunities has been taken up as a priority.

For the purpose of investments in India, it should be known that an NRI is a person residing outside India, but who is a citizen of India or is a Person of Indian Origin. A Person of Indian Origin is one who or whose ancestors was an Indian national and who is presently holding any other country’s citizenship/nationality.

India has a liberal and transparent policy for Foreign Direct Investment, including investments from NRIs, wherein most of the sectors are open to FDI under the automatic route. NRIs can make investment in India under various schedules of Foreign Exchange Management (Issue or Transfer of Security by a

Person Resident outside India) Regulations, 2000 as amended from time to time. Investment under FDI Scheme contained in Schedule 1 of these Regulations, permits 100 per cent NRI investments, under the automatic route, in the sector of townships, housing, built-up infrastructure and construction-development projects (which include, but are not restricted to, housing, commercial premises, hotels, resorts, hospitals, educational institutions, recreational facilities, city and regional level infrastructure), without the conditionalities attached to FDI in such projects. It also grants a special dispensation for NRI investments in the sectors of Scheduled Air Transport Services/Domestic Scheduled Passenger Airlines, Non-Scheduled Air Transport Services, Ground Handling Services, wherein 100 per cent NRI investment is allowed under the automatic route.

Along with these, NRIs can also invest in share/convertible debentures of an Indian company under FDI scheme subject to terms and conditions specified in Schedule 1 to Notification No. FEMA 20. An NRI can purchase and sell

shares/convertible debentures of an Indian company on both repatriation and non-repatriation basis under Portfolio Investment Scheme (PIS), through registered broker or recognised Stock Exchanges in India. The individual limit for NRI under PIS is five per cent

No. FEMA 20, may without any limit purchase on non-repatriation basis shares/convertible debentures of an Indian company whether by public issue or private placement or right issue.

In terms of Schedule 5 to Notification No. FEMA 20, an NRI may, without

of the paid up capital/paid up value of each series of convertible debentures of an Indian company and aggregate limit for all NRIs taken together is one per cent of the paid up capital/paid up value of the company. This limit can be increased by the Indian company to 24 per cent by passing a Board resolution and special Annual General Meeting resolution. Apart from this, an NRI, barring certain sectors, according to Schedule 4 to Notification

limit, purchase on repatriation basis, Government dated securities (other than bearer securities) or treasury bills or units of domestic mutual funds; bonds issued by a PSU in India; non-convertible debentures of a company incorporated in India; bonds/units issued by Infrastructure Debt Funds, Perpetual debt instruments and debt capital instruments issued by banks in India and shares in Public Sector Enterprises being dis-

invested by the Government.

In order to promote larger money flow into India, Government has extended some more facilities to NRI’s. Banks are free to determine the interest rates on both savings deposits and term deposits of maturity of one year and above under the NonResident External (NRE) deposits and savings deposits under NonResident Ordinary (NRO) account. An NRE account is one which can be opened only by the nonresident himself and not through the holder of the power of attorney. Only NRIs can become joint account holders in the case of NRE account. On the other hand, NRO accounts may be held jointly with residents and /or with NRIs. Along with this, the banks may also sanction Rupee loans in India or foreign currency loans outside India to either the account holder or third party to the extent of the balance in the NRE/ Foreign Currency Non Resident (Bank) account, subject to the margin requirements. To help NRIs to maintain FCNR deposits in other currency as well, since October 2011, FCNR (B) accounts have been permitted to be opened in any freely con-

vertible currency.

Moreover, NRIs are, since September 2011, also eligible to open NRE/FCNR account with resident.

The Government has also set up ‘Invest India’, a joint venture company between the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, as a not-for-profit, single window facilitator, for prospective overseas investors, to act as a structured mechanism for attracting investment. On the other hand, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has established Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre to facilitate potential NRIs and overseas corporate bodies of overseas Indians which want to invest in India.

OIFC has organised several investment and interactive meets/roadshows in different countries. It has also organised ‘Market Place’ during the annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas event in India. The annual and regional PBDs have also provided a platform for facilitation of investment by overseas Indians.

Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author in this article are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of PIB.

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 17th August 2013

indian independence day Special

17

Bhavan Celebrates Shri Mathoorji and Indian Independence Day

By Rani Singh

On August 8th 2013 the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London celebrated a poignant moment as the beautiful modern second floor gallery of the Bhavan was dedicated to the memory of its founder-director Padma Shri Mathoor Krishnamurti.

The dedication was made by the Chief Guest, High Commissioner of India Dr Jaimini Bhagwati, along with Councillor Frances Stainton, Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham. It happened during the cultural celebration of India’s 67th Independence Day, when together, the chief guests unveiled a beautiful plaque onstage.

They were invited to do so by Dr Nandakumara, Executive Director and son-in-law of Shri Mathoorji.

Dr Nandakumara read the citation to a packed Mountbatten Hall. He had opened the evening with a prayer from the Vedas that he recited in Sanskrit and English. Dr Kumara is a distinguished Sanskrit scholar.

My heart feels touched at the memory of the ever-

High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Dr Jaimini Bhagwati giving speech

smiling Shri Mathoorji, a Sanskrit and literary scholar who taught me so much about my own heritage and fed a deal of my work on Indian literature.

He instructed me and gave me a book when I originated and wrote the Ramayana for BBC Radio 4 starring Shashi Kapoor as the narrator.

The Bhavan’s chairman, Shri Joginder Sangar, chaired the evening on August 8th with gentle dignity, and spoke about India and Mathoorji’s contribution before introducing the High Commissioner and the Mayor.

Everyone spoke for only a few minutes each.

His Hon Sir Mota Singh, QC, Bhavan’s Vice Chairman and one of the most important people of his generation, spoke eloquently. He said that now Independence Day is celebrated throughout the world whereas in 1947 the idea of an Indian democracy was “Greeted with foreboding.” He also said that it was a matter of fact that India is home to 55 billionaires, while “another India is still driven by class and poverty.”

Bhavan’s joint chairman Shantu Ruparel MBE described the length and history of Indian culture, saying that it was not only Vedic but amalgamated with spiritual, Buddhist,

India Day celebrations in Birmingham

By Dhiren Katwa Scores of Midlanders of Indian origin joined the region’s highest ranking Indian diplomat, Mr VS Ramalingam, this week to celebrate India’s 67th Independence Day. Held at the Embassy in Augusta Street, Hockley in Birmingham, the event brought together local politicians, community leaders, businessmen and women, youth and staff. The morning programme began with the unfurling of the national flag followed by singing of the National Anthem. Then, the President of India’s message was read out in full, in Hindi and in English, by Mr Ramalingam. Copies circulated to guests enabled them to follow through this annual address. The morning function also included live entertainment, recital of patriotic songs, and poems, and a south Asian meal.

VS, or Vyragyam Siddi, is Mr Ramalingam’s first name. A humble, deeply modest gentleman, he is an outstanding ambassador for India in the Midlands in that he promotes social inclusion, equality, fairness, justice, peace and harmony, good practice and an ethos which can bring to our society an even greater richness of the Indian culture and heritage. A man of few words, but a believer in actions, Mr Ramalingam comes across as a chilled out, down to earth chap, which he is, but he contributes, behind the scenes so speak, enormously in terms of decision-making on various pivotal issues which are bringing Britain and India even closer. To cite just one example, Mr Ramalingam was involved in the campaign for a direct flight from Birmingham to Delhi and Amritsar, which has only this month become reality.

Mr VS Ramalingam

Father-of-two Mr Ramalingam, who became a father-in-law only weeks ago, joined the Indian Foreign Service in March 1979. Between 1982-5, he worked at the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations at Geneva on WHO and ILO matters. At the Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi, he handled consular matters relating to Pakistan from 1992-5 and later the Ministry’s Parliamentary matters from 2003-5. Mr Ramalingam has a wealth of knowledge and experience and has over the years worked closely with the governments of Singapore, South Africa, Mozambique and Colombia. Mr Ramalingam is an asset to the Midlands and deserves much credit for all that he does for the local diaspora.

Jai Hind, Vande Maataram!

Unveiling of Plaque: (From left to right) The Hon. Sir Mota Singh QC, Bhavan’s Vice Chairman, Bhavan’s Chairman, Mr Joginder Sanger, Councillor Frances Stainton, Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham, Mr Shantoo Ruparell MBE, Bhavan’s Joint Chairman, High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Dr Jaimini Bhagwati

Islamic and Christian values.

He said that the Bhavan had a roll call of 900 students working on 22 different subjects.

The Mayor described how a trinity of councils, W e s t m i n s t e r , Hammersmith and Fulham and Chelsea, was looking forward to continued work with the Bhavan. She referred to a room in Russell St, 10ft by 10ft, the first venue for the Bhavan, where Shri Mathoorji did his early pioneering work in London to build the internationally renowned cen-

tre of artistic excellence.

Mayor Stainton talked of Shri Mathoorji’s closeness and work with Mahatma Gandhi.

The High Commissioner gave the keynote speech of the evening. His Excellency emphasised the importance of the rule of law among his points, saying, “A definition that defines society is that all human beings are equal in the eyes of the law.” He said that the rule of law should extend internationally, not just nationally, and “if necessary it should include military force” because

“we have to help those who are not within our safety nets.” Dr Bhagwati said that he had great respect for the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. He was in attendance with his wife and daughter, visiting from India. He said that it was important to celebrate those in the Independence movement, but declared candidly that there was some “distance to cover for the poorest person to feel liberated.”

Dr John Marr gave the vote of thanks and moved the audience by telling us that he had been a witness to the events of 1947 while stationed in nearby Burma.

After the speeches, there were three patriotic songs performed sitting down by different sets of students; in Bengali, Tamil and Hindi. Among the instruments accompanying were tabla, violin and mridangam. These were followed by exquisite dances performed with beautiful costumes in both Bharatanatyam and Kathak styles. There were some lovely choreographed tableaux held.

Music and dance teachers as well as musicians were respectfully thanked each time.

18

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader,

I write this week’s column from the jungles of Loas.

I always wanted to be one of those foreign correspondents who sits down at a remote bar, surrounded by tropical pakm trees under a wooden fan, served a Singapore Sling (non-alcoholic) with his white cotton top drenched through with sweat as the humidity soaks the skin and clothes. And so it has happened.

There is a book called ‘The Man Who Sold His Ferrari and Became a Monk’. Today I crossed the mighty Mekong river, to a secluded monastery where I was taught by Buddhist monks how to meditate. What does this all have to do with finance? Everything.

When I wrote my first book, The Mind of a Trader, about the psychology of success in making money through trading and business, as with all my books it began with a dedication and quote from the Hindu Scriptures. The reason was in the recommended reading I said the most appropriate book for success in trading is the Bhagavad Gita.

Since I wrote that in 1997, courses and books have sprung up around the US on the management teachings and lessons from the Gita for finance and business.

Summer is a good time to recharge your investment abilities. The key is mental control. That is what meditation is about. The ability to focus, without swerving. The serenity and power that comes from that was shown in the faces of each of the monks. I have never seen that except in the face of billionaires. The knowledge that all is in control. All is as it should be and nothing can cause them to lose balance, not their bodies, not the environment, not the markets (in the case of the business persons!).

Success in trading and investing is about being able to focus on what should be done, has to be done, and that is pre-determined, with certainty – almost knowing it has already been written and done (in your plan before you entered the trade), a little like for monks who know all is written in the plan of Karma – ours is but to act it out. And so it says in the Gita.

I am not stretching a point on this hot humid night in order to meet a word count. This is truly how it is. The irony is, get it right and be like a monk in your trading and focus on when to act and not act, which is so much what the Gita itself is about, and you will have the Ferraris to give away.

As I cycled along the Mekong river this evening I was reminded of one of the greatest British traders – a man called ‘Sugar’ – he was Japanese and a FX trader at Salmon Brothers in London and was known for cycling around the trading floor on a bicycle. The monks taught me mediation does not mean being still and cross legged, but also in motion. It is deliberate focus. So I look forward to getting my Ferrari back!

Air India acquiring 19 new Airbus A-320s In a bid to face heightened competition from no-frill carriers and replace its old fleet, Air India has started the process of acquiring 19 new Airbus A-320s, an aircraft that has been its warhorse for domestic operations for over two decades.

India’s national carrier has sought dry-leasing these planes for six years instead of buying them, as part of its Turnaround and Financial Restructuring Plans, airline sources said.

All these 19 new air-

craft should have sharklets and be in an all-economy configuration, they said.

The airline has invited global technical and financial bids for dry-leasing these planes, with the technical bids to be opened in September. Dry lease is a leasing arrangement whereby an aircraft is provided for a limited period without crew or supporting staff, insurance, equipment or maintenance, as against wet lease where these addons are also supplied.

Employee exodus will not impact India projects: ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal said exodus of its employees, including CEO Sanak Mishra, will not impact projects in Jharkhand and Karnataka.

The world's largest steelmaker said it has the right team to execute the two projects. "As we have made slower than anticipated progress with our India projects, the requirement for the number of people on the ground has reduced.

This does not impact our ability to continue to work on our two remaining projects in Jharkhand and Karnataka," the company said in a statement.

"Under the leadership of Vijay Bhatnagar, CEO of ArcelorMittal India and China, we are confident we have the right team required for the projects at this point in time," ArcelorMittal spokesperson said in the statement.

The response came a

day after about 20 top executives of ArcelorMittal India were leaving the company due to frustrations of having little or no work as company's projects have failed to take off so far. The biggest exit was that of Sanak Mishra, whose last working day was July 31.

Last month ArcelorMittal had exited Odisha project, while the other two projects in Jharkhand and Karnataka, involving $ 18 billion investments, are facing delays on different counts.

Many former and present executives of ArcelorMittal had said earlier that after the company's exit from $ 12- billion Odisha project they were not expecting any major progress in Jharkhand and Karnataka projects due to several issues.

This included regulato-

Lakshmi Mittal

ry hurdles, problems in acquiring land, securing captive iron ore mine and ArcelorMittal's constrained ability in proceeding ahead with mega investments in the times of continuous slump in global steel demand.

Besides Mishra, ArcelorMittal's Head of Corporate Responsibility Sudhir Sinha and Head of Corporate Communications Mandakini Sud and Head (HR) had left the company some months ago.

India hikes import duty on gold, silver to defend rupee The import duty on gold was on Tuesday hiked to 10 per cent from 6 per cent, in a bid to defend the sliding rupee. The government also hiked the import duty on silver and other non-essential items.

The import duty on silver was hiked by 10 per cent from 6 per cent earlier. The excise duty on gold bars was also increased to 9 per cent from 7 per cent.

In order to contain the sliding value of rupee and the widening current account deficit or CAD, India’s finance minister P Chidambaram on Monday had said he would announce steps to com-

press demand of gold, silver, oil and non-essential items.

Chidambaram had also said the notifications effecting changes in the duty rates would be tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.

India’s oil ministry has retracted its move to allow successful explorers such as Reliance Industries and Cairn India to explore shale oil and gas in their existing blocks without bidding after the finance ministry said new entrants should also be given an equal opportunity.

The oil ministry, which had said earlier that the existing operators could be permitted to explore shale resources, along with conventional oil and gas, has now proposed that only state-run ONGC and Oil India should be allowed to explore shale in blocks that were given to them without an auction, government officials said.

The ministry plans to have a separate policy later to deal with explo-

ration of shale resources in blocks awarded to private firms for conventional oil and gas and coal bed methane, officials said.

The oil ministry has retracted its move to allow successful explorers such as Reliance Industries and Cairn India to explore shale oil and gas. The ministry has recently finalised a draft cabinet note on the shale gas policy after interministerial consultations, which will be placed before the CCEA soon, officials said. This is the second time the finance ministry questioned the oil ministry's plan. It had earlier asked the petroleum ministry to review the Cabinet decision to adopt the Rangarajan formula, which would double natural gas prices next April,

P Chidambaram

Its General Manager (Mines) in Jharkhand S P Prayaga was deputed to Liberia in the same capacity some time back, while the team, working for Odisha project, is now disbanded.

Its entire Corporate Communications team had quit in December last year. The company has even surrendered a major portion of the office space at its corporate office in the national capital.

In Jharkhand, the company has not been able to complete land acquisition for its 12 million tonnes steel plant, which was announced way back in 2005.

In Karnataka, where land acquisition is complete for the 6 million tonnes project, the company has not been able to secure captive iron ore mine. Due to this, there has not been much progress on the ground.

JLR aims to sell 100,000 cars in China this year

Besides changes in import duty structure, the Finance Minister on Monday had announced other measures including easier overseas borrowing norms to fetch an additional $11 billion during the current fiscal to rescue the rupee and contain the burgeoning CAD to $70 billion or 3.7 per cent of the GDP or gross domestic product.

CAD touched all alltime high of 4.8 per cent of the GDP in 2012-13.

The rupee, on account of various domestic and global factors, had slipped to 61.80 to a dollar earlier in the month.

Jaguar Land Rover, a unit of India's biggest truck and bus maker Tata Motors, aims to sell 100,000 cars in China this year, its Chief Executive Ralf Speth said. Earlier, Tata Motors posted a 23 per cent fall in quarterly profit as higher sales of its luxury Jaguar Land Rover vehicles failed to offset sagging sales at home. Tata Motors, part of the $100 billion Tata group, said consolidated net profit for the quarter ended in June was 17.26 billion rupees, compared with 22.45 billion rupees a year ago.

going by current trends.

But, oil minister Veerappa Moily ruled out any review saying the finance ministry was part of the cabinet decision.

But this time, the oil ministry has accepted the finance ministry's view because it raised the issue during inter-ministerial consultations, an important bureaucratic process that precedes any cabinet decision, officials said.

"It is unclear, whether

expertise in shale is with the same companies that are currently engaged (in conventional exploration).

The proposed approach would mean that the incumbents would get an expansion of their contracts without offering opportunities for any new entrants. An alternative could be to go in for fresh bids and give the right of first refusal to the incumbent," a finance ministry's note said.

The proposed policy, which will be placed before the cabinet committee on economic affairs soon, will automatically allow ONGC and Oil India to exploit shale in 176 identified on-land areas where they are exploring or producing conventional crude and natural gas.

Only ONGC, OIL may get to explore shale resources

finAnciAl Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

19

Horses For Courses

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

We have come across people who like the idea of investing in property, but want to avoid the hassles or perceived hassle associated with holding a Buy To Let property. They avoid purchasing property but always want to know about the deals. They are stuck in no man's land, in limbo.

One investor asked me many years ago regarding starting a fund; and he said he would be very interested in this type of investment rather than investing directly.

Each has its benefits.

With a fund you are divorced from the decision making process of what to purchase. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. It’s a bad thing if you don’t know about the market in which the property is being purchased and still give your opinion based on your limited experience.

Property involves a wide spectrum of activities in many varying locations with many different angles. There are some investors who do lease options, others who focus on HMOs, some who only specialise in student accommodation.

So when yo u cast you r opinion on a mark et in which yo u have no o r limit ed prior e xperie nce yo u c an actually be doing yourse lf in ju st ice .

Last week we wrote about a property in Dorset Sq which was in Marylebone, this property was exchanged on last week Thursday, later than we anticipated. In this example the property did not make sense from looking at the numbers, for instance there is a property currently on the market which is in the Square priced at £745 per sq ft. We were purchasing at £1,200 per sq ft, so this on the surface does not make sense.

The client trusted our opinion based on previous transactions and our local knowledge. Our opinion is by December of this year this property will sell for £1,500 per sq ft. We are happy to go on record with this prediction.

This particular client has had the benefit of working with us on previous transactions and therefore was happy to go with whatever our recommendations were. Many clients will not have had this experience, they may be coming to us for the first time.

Therefore a structure whereby security of funds is not an issue, meaning it is handled by a proper FCA (financial conduct authority – which used to be the FSA) authorised company, and the property purchasing is being done by people who have an intimate knowledge of the market they are working in and a proven track record, and the interest of this structure is aligned with that of the investors, is worth considering. This then translates to investing into a property fund which has the above ingredients.

In a nut shell there are only three things to consider when looking at this route. Firstly and most importantly, is your money safe? The second - is the investment going up? If so, by how much? The past track record is an indication, but it's only indicative, after all the past doesn’t always equal the future. And thirdly when will you get your funds back?

We have had many horror stories, only last week one client came to see me who had invested in off plan student accommodation in Bradford, only to discover the developer owns the majority of the development and also manages it himself as well. Talk about a vested interest. The service charges they were receiving were strangely skewed only to their apartments and not the developer's ones. The properties tended to be rented out in terms of priority too. The developer's properties would first get filled and then everyone else’s.

Needless to say they weren’t very happy and consequently have appointed the Leaseholders' tribunal to look at the case.

The same client also purchased something off plan in Derby, again there were issues. Naturally he was put off by any property investments whatsoever.

Yet with t he same toke n, prope rty is a safe asset class. It cann ot fall t o zero , you're making mone y not with you r mon ey but mo stl y with someo ne else's mone y, namely the banks' money.

It does rise, in the medium and long term. It gives you a steady monthly income and future capital growth is almost assured. For these reasons he has come back to the same conclusion despite his previous bad experiences; property is where it's at.

There is another investor who currently has his money tied up in a project sourced by us in Hampstead, he had previously invested heavily in Margate when this seaside town was no longer a favourite get away. Consequently the Hotels were being sold off wholesale, these were bought and used as HMOs whilst planning came in for flats, then they were converted and sold. Sounds like a good plan till the credit crunch hit. When I met him he had a property where the mortgage was in the region of £800k and the valuation was £350k. I think this quote applies here: you don’t know who's swimming naked until the tide comes in!

When we were sourcing ex council properties for our clients in Central London, some feedback we got was that this is a honeymoon period and the government cap would cause a flood of these properties to be put on the market. The logic behind this assertion was only the government rent was fuelling the purchase of ex council properties. At this time you could purchase a three bedroom property for £350k and have it rented for £820 per week, in short you would invest £100k and receive £25k clean of all charges. A no brainer. Did this happen? No. On the contrary prices have been rising almost month on month. Why? Demand for property comes from a wide and variegated segments.

The fund idea especially appealed to our Bradford/Derby investor, there was no hassle, no decision making apart from whether to invest in the fund. The money is kept securely, ok no one can predict the future, but the asset class, property in central London is a solid one.

The track record is solid.

Comparative hands off investments just aren’t offering the returns.

Broadly speaking if you keep your money in the bank it is probably shrinking day by day, eroded by inflation. Services are also being stripped away which aren’t measured by the RPI index, such as health care and education, so the cost of maintaining your family's lifestyle will cost more in the future, this trend is likely to continue.

Of course there is the investor who watches Homes Under The Hammer and wishes to roll up his sleeves and go alone. Such a structure is clearly not going to appeal to this type of investor, not for the bulk of his money anyhow.

Th is su its the person who is time poo r, and wants no extra hassle what soe ver.

P roperty ownership can be l ucrative if don e in t he right manne r and with th e right advice.

But in whose interest is it to give you advice? The agent's aim is to sell their properties often by any means necessary; they do not get paid by you, they are paid by the seller. A dog is only loyal to the master who feeds it. And often only for the time it's being fed.

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

0207 993 0103 info@sowandreap.co.uk

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SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week The mantra for property is always Location, Location, Location! Property in a good location will attract quality tenants, give strong capital growth and will resell quickly.

Remember always to see an investment from the markets’ eyes and not your own.

This is how you can make money out of it.

20

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

India may relax FDI norms for real estate sector to boost fund flows Maria Fernandes

maria@abplgroup.com

Ripped off: colleges and their practices

There was a time when private colleges homed in on foreign students as their target market which was less about education and more about charging huge fees and providing poor quality of education, if at all. The quid-pro-quo for the student was that this enabled them to work, some for the permitted 20 hours, others for more. Many of the qualifications were not accepted for degree courses.

All this was wrong.

Fast forward to the present: Students are allowed 20 hours in some cases, 10 hours in others and are completely prohibited work for some courses. Colleges are highly trusted (this word is banded around a lot) and does this therefore mean that they can be trusted to deliver? Wrong.

The introduction of ever-higher fees for home students have scared off the local populace, resulting in a reduction in numbers and making the overseas market more attractive. There have been instances, too numerous to put down to oversight or one-offs, where students have applied for and have been told verbally that everything would be fine. When things go wrong, deposits are retained, often running into hundreds and thousands. Colleges get the money and don't have a student to teach. Profits

all round.

In a particular case that I have come across, the applicant applied for one course at a known university, was accepted for another course without his knowledge and when he realised some weeks later, the college have attempted to hold on to his deposit. The student is in India and fighting the case could cost him more than the deposit so it is in his interests to stop fighting. The college is "highly trusted", in this case to relieve him of his funds.

The pendulum has turned.

The private colleges have all but disappeared but fear not, the recognised colleges are taking their place.

When complaints are made to the UKBA (or whatever their new name is) they state that it is nothing to do with them.

Ah but it is. They have created these super statuses and given untrammelled power to these colleges and when things go wrong they must take the responsibility when students are ripped off. At the very least should be a complaints system to ensure that colleges do not become too complacent believing that they can get away with students hard earned funds dishonestly. The UKBA are quick to name and shame restaurants with all the media hullabaloo. It's time to use this to shame bad practices by colleges.

Global giants plan to set up chip-making facility in India India appears set to get its first chip-making facility with at least two global players – IBM and ST Microelectronics – in advanced stages of talks with the government for an investment of over Rs 500 billion. Both ST Microelectronics, a European semiconductor player, and the consortium comprising IBM have indicated that they would initially invest over Rs 250 billion each, at least two government officers familiar with the development said.

The location has not been finalized, but sources said that one of the investor consortiums has indicated that it wants to set up the facility near Greater Noida, while another one has been proposed in Gujarat. A third option is near Bangalore where an information technology investment

region spread over 42 square km is being set up.

While ST Microelectronics did not respond to queries, an IBM spokesperson said the company it “does not comment on rumor or speculation.”

The units are expected to get concessions worth nearly Rs 600 billion over 13 years, which will include a three-year construction period and the first 10 years of operations.

“Chip-making requires high quality power and water supply, which need massive investments.

Besides, globally companies locate facilities where governments offer certain benefits,” said a high-ranking officer.

Commerce and industry minister Anand Sharma confirmed that talks were underway but did not disclose details.

The government of India is considering sweeping changes in the foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for the real estate sector to boost fund flows to the cash-strapped sector as well as to bolster the battered Indian currency.

The urban development ministry has suggested that real estate firms with less than 50% foreign ownership be exempted from all current restrictions, including the minimum area norms for development of projects.

"Foreign investment up to 49% should be free from condition to attract foreign capital providers, which do not have longterm interest in construction assets. This will also

enable real estate players to raise foreign capital at competitive rates and reduce dependency on the already strained domestic financial institutions," said an internal document of the ministry.

A similar free run has been suggested for foreign investment in urban renewal and slum re-development projects while major relaxations have

been proposed for foreign investors picking up over 50% stake.

Government may relax FDI norms for real estate sector to boost fund flows Some of the proposed relaxations for such investments are reduction in the minimum land parcel size for plotted development to 5 acres (2 hectares) from 10 hectares now and permission to

purchase farmland for FDI-funded firms. In case of construction-development projects, the present requirement of minimum built-up area of 50,000 square meters will come down to 25,000 sq meters.

"In case these proposals materialise, it would be a much-needed shot in the arm for a sector that has the potential to create huge employment opportunities," said Amit Bhagat, MD & CEO of ASK Realty Fund. "This will be a very positive move for attracting foreign capital to the fund-starved sector. It will help in developing requisite infrastructure for retail and commercial establishments, aiding job creation," he added.

India’s exports pick Lenders take over Mallya’s up, imports fall Kingfisher Mumbai office

India's exports rose 11.64% in July from a year earlier while imports fell, a rare bright spot for its struggling economy, but with the trade deficit almost unchanged pressure on the current account deficit and rupee currency remained high.

At $25.83 billion, July exports were the highest since March, while imports fell 6.2% to $38.1 billion from a year ago, India’s trade secretary S R Rao said citing provisional trade data.

However, despite the positive trends, the trade deficit of $12.27 billion in July was almost the same as in June. Rao said uncertainty about where the rupee was headed meant companies had yet to see the full benefit of the weaker currency on foreign sales.

"A stable exchange rate helps exports. Volatility does not permit exporters to get full value from the depreciation," Rao said.

In a research note, RBS said a sharp fall in gold imports to $2.9 billion in July from $4.5 billion a year ago would likely help the trade deficit going forward. "It does appear that the RBI's efforts to curtail gold purchases are finally starting to filter through," the note said.

The Reserve Bank of India and the government have taken a series of steps including increasing import duties to curb India's rampant demand for gold, which makes the country the world's biggest buyer.

Gold imports in May surged to a record $8.4 billion as people took advantage of falling prices.

The rupee has lost around 12% to the dollar since the start of May, caught up in an exodus of foreign investors from emerging markets after the US Federal Reserve said it would begin scaling back stimulus measures.

Lenders to Kingfisher Airlines took possession of Kingfisher House - the erstwhile corporate office of Kingfisher Airlines (KFA) near Mumbai airport’s domestic terminal.

It is part of the lenders’ moves to recover Rs 60.72 billion along with interest.

A SBI Caps trustee took physical possession of the 25,850-sq ft plot, which includes the office premises of over 17,072 sq ft, situated on the Western Express Highway. A notice announcing this was pasted on the building’s doors.

SBI Caps, on behalf of the lenders, had issued a notice to KFA under the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act on May 3, 2013. The notice is

a precursor to acquiring a defaulter’s property under the Act. “The Act says that if the borrower fails to repay within 60 days of the notice, lenders can take possession of assets and dispose of them,” said a bank official who is among the lenders to Kingfisher Airlines. Banks have already recovered some money selling shares and would also look at attaching other physical assets, including Kingfisher Villa in Goa, the official added.

Besides attaching property, lenders are invoking corporate and personal guarantees provided by Vijay Mallya as part of their efforts to recover their money.

State Bank of India has the largest exposure of over Rs 16 billion followed

by Punjab National Bank and IDBI Bank which have an exposure of Rs 8 billion each. Bank of India is seeking to recover Rs 6.50 billion.

3 European banks under Sebi scanner for round-tripping At least three large European banks' dealings with Indian companies and individuals are being probed for alleged roundtripping of funds by using certain multi-layered transactions in violation of regulator Sebi norms.

It is suspected that some portfolio managers at these banks, which have significant presence in Indian financial markets, could have helped their Indian clients to route their money back into India in disguise of foreign funds through use of investment vehicles across various jurisdictions. The regulator fears that some promoters might also have been involved in such practices to boost share prices of their companies by showing a strong FII interest, a senior official said.

Sebi is coordinating with other regulators and agencies in India and abroad as part of investigations into this case, where some well-known companies and industrialists are also suspected to be involved, the official added.

Two of these three banks are from Switzerland and one is from the UK, sources said, while adding that they might not be involved directly and it could be the case that their employees were dealing with the clients directly without keeping the banks in the loop.

Still, the banks could face action on the negligence ground if allegations of wrongdoing come true, a senior official said, while refusing to divulge the identity of the banks and their Indian clients.

Among others, Sebi is looking into the possible use of Protected Cell Companies (PCCs) from places like Mauritius, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and Seychelles for alleged round-tripping of funds back into the capital market in the form of foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and overseas venture capital money.

In 2010, Sebi had barred PCCs to invest in Indian markets through FII (Foreign Institutional Investor) route after it came across instances where certain Indians had used these entities to route their money back into markets as FII funds.

However, the regulator fears that funds structured as PCCs, which are legal entities in many jurisdic-

tions, might be looking at a re-entry into Indian markets through routes like Foreign Venture Capital Funds and other avenues for the purpose of roundtripping of funds.

PCCs are specially designed entities that might comprise of various cells, having funds of various investors, in such a manner that there is legal segregation and protection of assets and liabilities for each cell.

Also, the insolvency of one cell does not affect the business of the entire PCC or that of the other cells.

Besides tax-related benefits for being considered as a single entity despite having various cells, foreign banks have also been found in the past of hard-selling these schemes to their wealthy clients for reasons like protection of identity.

finAnciAl voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

21

Foreign Exchange Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

Concerns over Carney’s forward guidance Following the Bank of England’s ‘Forward Guidance’ announcement on monetary policy, to say that the pounds movement last Wednesday was volatile would be a huge understatement.

BoE Governor Mark Carney announced that the central bank will keep interest rates at 0.5% and will remain accommodative on quantitative easing until the unemployment rate for the UK falls to 7%.

The pound immediately dropped across the board following the statement as investors feared the worst for the pound.

However, their mood on the pound soon changed as Carney’s press conference continued.

When questioned, Carney confirmed that the unemployment rate at 7% was not a target but a threshold for the BoE to tighten monetary policy as well as confirming clauses that would void the BoE’s commitment to forward guidance.

Should policy makers at the BoE decide that medium term inflation is likely to breach 2.5% or the UK’s financial stability is at risk then the BoE may indeed raise interest rates before the unemployment rate falls towards

7%. It is from these clauses that investors seem to be taking the view that there is a lack of credibility on the new guidance by the BoE and thus there seems to be a belief that a rate hike could come sooner should concerns over inflation be too much to bear for the BoE. With concerns over Carney’s plans on forward guidance seemingly alleviated and given the recent impressive manufacturing, industrial, construction and service sector figures from the UK; investors drove up the pound across the board.

The minutes of the August Bank of England monetary policy meeting will be in focus this week and more importantly the latest unemployment figures, given the tie-in between a rise in interest rates and a reduction in unemployment.

Data wise, retail sales figures from the UK and US will be in focus as well as the latest rate of inflation from the two economies and also from the euro zone.

Meanwhile across the pond, the head of the Dallas Federal Reserve bank, Fisher, spoke about the on-going debate sur-

Mark Carney

rounding the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing program stating that he believed scaling back the program should be this autumn. These sentiments were echoed by Dennis Lockhart, another Fed big wig. From a global perspective, there is nothing currently that surpasses the quantitative easing taper in terms of potential volatility and this will inevitably continue until we hear a definitive statement from the Federal Reserve itself.

One of the key factors in order for the Federal Reserve to taper their monetary stimulus program, is for inflation to reach the targeted 2%; which is indeed what analysts are expecting this week. Thus we could see

strength in the US dollar following this data on Thursday.

The euro drew support last week as their respective service sector grew from 48.3 in June to 49.8 in July. Service sector data from Spain, Italy and France also beat expectations rising marginally from June. Services in Germany expanded even further from June, although failed to live up to expectations of 52.5, coming in at 51.3 in July.

Retail sales in the euro zone fell in July but not as badly as the analysts were expecting, falling by 0.9% instead of 1.2%.

The ECB published their monthly report last Thursday morning reiterating its previous stance that interest rates should remain unchanged and they will continue to adopt an accommodative monetary policy (which may include lower interest rates) for an extended period of time. It also revised down its inflation and growth forecasts for 2014. Overall the economic outlook for the euro zone still harbours downside risks but a good run of recent euro zone data has helped the euro maintain its bullish position for the moment.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 13th August 2013 @ 2.30pm GBP - INR = 94.37 USD - INR = 61.05 EUR - INR = 81.15 GBP - USD = 1.55 GBP - EUR = 1.16 EUR - USD = 1.33 GBP - AED = 5.68 GBP - CAD = 1.59 GBP - NZD = 1.93 GBP - AUD = 1.69 GBP - ZAR = 15.34 GBP - HUF = 346.91

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

22

world

In Focus Illicit liquor claims 18 lives in Pakistan

Karachi: At least 18 people, including two policemen, have died after consuming illicit liquor in Karachi. According to police, a large quantity of toxic liquor was sold from a shop in Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s biggest city during Eid. Several people were admitted to Jinnah hospital when they fell sick after consuming the toxic liquor. Sixteen people died by Sunday night, while two other individuals passed away at a private hospital on Monday morning. Six people are still being treated at local hospitals.

Banned outfit claims it abducted Gilani's son

Islamabad: Three months after former prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's son went missing from Pakistan's Punjab province, a proscribed militant group has claimed responsibility for Ali Haider Gilani's abduction. Ail Haider Gilani was kidnapped on May 2 during an election campaign in Multan city. Abu Yazeed, a spokesperson for the outfit calling itself AlMansooreen Brigade, said Ali Haider Gilani was in their custody and safe. The group would soon release a video of Ali Haider Gilani shortly after Eid and state their demands, he added.

Bomb kills 14 in Afghan graveyard on Eid

Jalalabad: A bomb killed 14 women and children at a graveyard in eastern Afghanistan as the country celebrated the Eid al-Fitr, officials said. Many Muslims visit the graves of deceased relatives during Eid as part of traditional celebrations after the holy month of fasting. Haji Ghalib, a progovernment tribal leader and former district police chief, said the explosion had targeted his family at an all-female event to commemorate his late wife in the Ghani Khel district of Nangarhar province. He said the mourning group was gathered over his wife's grave to recite the Koran when the blast erupted, killing 14 people. "I'm shocked, I can't talk," he said.

Flash floods batter Afghanistan, 22 dead

Kabul: At least 22 people in Afghanistan were killed and farmland was damaged when flash floods hit a plain near the capital, officials said. Normally arid Afghanistan can get heavy rain in its summer and more than 60 people were killed early this month in flooding east of the capital, Kabul. The latest floods followed hours of torrential rain and hail, with the Shomali plain, just to the north of Kabul, particularly hard hit.

Japan govt's debt passes 1,000,000,000,000,000 yen

Tokyo: Japan's soaring national debt, already more than twice the size of its economy, has reached a new milestone, surpassing one quadrillion yen. Let the word quadrillion roll around in your brain for a moment or two, because it is not something you hear every day. Quadrillion.

1,000,000,000,000,000. Really. A paltry million is the numeral one followed by six zeros. A billion? Nine zeros. A trillion is getting up there: 12 zeros. But the mighty quadrillion has 15 of them.

Sri Lanka urged to probe deaths of protestors

New York: The Sri Lankan government should promptly create an independent and transparent inquiry into the deaths of protestors at Weliweriya on August 1, Human Rights Watch said. At least three people were killed and several injured after security forces fired live ammunition at protestors who were demanding access to clean drinking water. According to news reports, soldiers fired on local residents and Buddhist monks who were demonstrating for clean water on the Colombo-Kandy Road in Weliweriya, Gampaha district, about 25 km from Colombo. A government spokesman claims that the soldiers reacted in selfdefence against protestors who hurled rocks and petrol bombs and shot at them.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Canada follows US, makes work visa difficult for Indians

Bangalore: The past decade has seen a phenomenal increase in the number of Indians working in Canada, the highest amongst any single nationality. But that now looks set to slow down. Just as the US, Canada too is tightening its temporary foreign worker program (TFWP) that allows foreign nationals to work in Canada for short periods. The effort, as Rakesh Prabhu, partner-immigration practice in ALMT Legal, says, is to improve employment opportunities for its locals.

Effective from July, employers in Canada will have to pay $275 as processing fee for each application that they file to bring in a foreign worker. Till now there was no fee. The new fee is non-refundable in case the

application is rejected.

Employers have to fill a new questionnaire that tries to figure out whether a firm is seeking to replace existing Canadian workers. Employers must advertise for the position locally three months before the application for bringing a foreign worker is filed, and the advertisement must run for four weeks compared to two weeks previously.

The Employment and Social Development Canada website adds, "In addition to advertising on the national Job Bank website or the equivalent provincial/territorial websites, employers must prove that they have used at least two other recruitment methods that are consistent with the advertising practices for the occupation."

The new regulation also lays down English and French as the only languages that can be identified as a job requirement. If someone wants to bring in a foreign national who knows only one of the other languages, a very strong case has to be built for that.

The latest restrictions follow a decision in April to end a provision that allowed employers to pay foreign

workers as much as 15% less than the average Canadian wage for a job.

Sajan Poovayya, managing partner in law firm Poovayya & Co, said the changes would have an impact on the Indian workforce movement to Canada.

"Companies in India will find it harder to use this route to ship personnel on temporary IT assignments. There will be cost over runs and time delays in sending workforce to that country. The Canadian government's decision to insist on employers who rely on temporary foreign workers to have a firm plan in place to transition to a Canadian workforce over time, will make the whole programme unattractive to Indian technology players," he said.

Indian-origin woman takes charge Bangladeshi man jailed of famous South African hospital for New York bomb plot Johannesburg: An Indianorigin doctor has taken over as the first woman CEO of a hospital globally renowned for carrying out world's first heart transplant.

Dr Bhavna Patel took charge of the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, where Dr Chris Barnard carried out world's first heart transplant in 1967.

Patel, who started at the hospital in 2005 as a medical manager, was Chief Operating Officer of the medical facility for two years before talking up her new position.

Patel said she planned to continue building on the legacy of her predecessor Dr Terence Carter to have the hospital at the forefront of innovation.

Her first step would be to reduce the long waiting period of between two weeks and six months for an operation, with patients being referred from across the country.

"The core of what we do is the provision of service. We need to meet the needs of the

Dr Bhavna Patel

patients. We have a challenge of addressing the waiting lists for outpatient services and operations," Patel said after taking charge.

The hospital has about 150 specialists and 1,500 nurses. Under the earlier apartheid-rule only whites were allowed in the hospital.

Patel holds two masters degrees one from Stellenbosch University in family medicine, and one in bioethics and health law from Wits University in Johannesburg.

New York: A judge sentenced a Bangladeshi man to 30 years in prison after he admitted that he intended to use a bomb in what US authorities called a plot to blow up the New York Federal Reserve Bank.

Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis, 22, who had pleaded guilty to the government's charge of "attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction" and faced life in prison, told the judge he now rejects radical Islam and apologized to the people of New York and the United States. Prosecutors had said Nafis had claimed on social media sites to have contacts with al Qaeda.

"I'm ashamed, I'm lost, I tried to do a terrible thing," said Nafis, who was arrested in October 2012 while trying to detonate what he believed to be a 1,000-pound (454-kg) bomb hidden in a van.

Instead, the van carried inert materials planted by an undercover FBI agent as part of a sting operation.

Prosecutors said Nafis

Quazi Mohammad Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis

attempted to use a mobile phone to detonate the bogus device. Before handing down the sentence, Judge Carol Amon in US District Court in Brooklyn said it was clear Nafis intended to go through with the plot in lower Manhattan. "He continually dialed the cell phone number that he thought would explode the device," the judge said. Still, she said she was "prepared to accept that the remorse he had expressed is genuine." Had Nafis been able to accomplish what he had set out to do, prosecutor James Loonam said, it would have been "a Boston Marathon style terrorist attack."

Muslims close Lanka mosque after Buddhist violence Colombo: Sri Lanka's Muslim leaders closed down a new mosque in Colombo after attacks by a Buddhist mob revived simmering religious tensions and sparked US concern.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Council said it had agreed to shut its Grandpass mosque and move to an older place of worship which the government had earlier earmarked for demolition as part of the city's development.

"We have a compromise deal worked out last night," council president NM Ameen said.

"The government will rescind the order acquiring the old mosque premises and will grant more land and help with renovations and improvements."

"From today, we are out of

the new mosque." Buddhistled mobs vandalised the new mosque, including pelting stones at the building in Colombo's Grandpass area, wounding at least four people. Sporadic clashes also erupted despite a heavy police presence in the neighbourhood.

Local Buddhists had objected to the setting up of the new Grandpass mosque near a Buddhist temple even

though it was built to replace the older mosque earmarked for demolition in line with city works.

The violence erupted after Buddhist hardliners attacked several Muslim-run businesses outside the capital in March, the latest in a series of incidents targeting the minority group.

The government held lengthy talks with Muslim and Buddhist leaders and announced what technology minister Champika Ranawaka described as a "just solution" acceptable to all sides.

"The settlement we reached today is for the mosque to move back to its original position," Ranawaka told reporters. The govern-

ment rescinded an order that required the demolition of the old building, he added.

"Through a just solution, we have now peacefully solved the issue," the minister said.

The US embassy in Colombo has expressed concern at the violence and urged authorities to prosecute those responsible.

The US, which in March initiated a UN Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes against Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009, also urged Colombo to ensure religious freedom.

Seventy per cent of Sri Lanka's 20 million-strong population are Buddhists, while Muslims are the second largest religious group making up just under 10 per cent.

IndIA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Pakistan continues border firing; Sharif seeks 'new beginning' with India Pakistan continued to target Indian forward posts, third day in a row, by resorting to unprovoked firing along the international border (IB) and line of control (LoC). Pakistan troops opened fire at Indian positions along the IB in Ramgarh area of Samba sector. This is the ninth ceasefire violation in the last three days and fourth in the last 24 hours.

"The Pakistani Rangers opened unprovoked fire targeting the Indian post at Narayanpur in Ramgarh sector in the Samba district at around 0730 hours," said a Border Security Force (BSF) spokesperson. He added that the firing lasted for about 15 minutes. A BSF soldier was injured in the firing targeted at Narayanpur's Border Outpost (BOP) on August 5. ‘Our troops retaliated effectively. There was no loss of life or injury to anyone," the officer said.

In view of the escalation in the border skirmishes, BSF director general Subash Joshi had visited forward areas along the IB in Jammu and reviewed the security situation there on Monday.

Pakistan troops also targeted Indian forward posts along the LoC in Balakote

sector of Poonch.

Officiating PRO ministry of defence Jammu SN Acharya said, "Pakistani firing continued throughout the night at areas falling under Mendhar battalion and Hamirpur, violating the ceasefire agreement.”

Pakistan targeted forward Indian posts along the LoC in Poonch district with mortar shells, rockets and small arms firing which was effectively retaliated by Indian troops resulting in heavy exchanges. Pak Rangers also violated the ceasefire in Samba sector late Monday evening when they targeted forward Kothey BOP in Samba Sector and thereafter intermittent firing was in progress.

Sharif calls for new beginning: Amid a spurt in tensions over incidents along the LoC, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz

Sharif has called for a "new beginning" in ties with India so that all outstanding issues can be settled in a "friendly manner".

"Let us make a new beginning. Let us sit together to resolve all outstanding issues in a friendly manner and in a peaceful atmosphere," Sharif said in a message telecast on a TV news channel.

Sharif, who has repeatedly spoken of his desire to improve relations with India since he became premier in June, said the two countries should become "good friends".

"We must become good friends. Hold each other's hands. We must sit together with a open and clean heart," he said.

Addressing the people of India, he said: "We have a lot of love and affection for you and we must become good friends."

Eminent freedom fighter, educationalist Vithalbhai Patel passes away Freedom fighter, Charotar Gem awardee and academician Vithalbhai Patel (94) passed away on 8th August at Anand. His sad demise was deeply condoled by people, especially the academic fraternity. People gathered at his residence and expressed their sincere condolence to his family.

He was known as Vithalkaka and his whole life was devoted to academic and teaching services. Moreover, he also participated in freedom struggle. He said, “It is my duty towards the nation” but did not accept any pension for his services as freedom fighter. Originally from Pij, Vithalbhai Jethabhai Patel was born on 13th January 1919 to mother Rupba. He joined as teacher in D.N High School in Anand and later as educator, national volunteer and was appointed as teacher in America in 1964. In 1966,

he was awarded as best teacher on national level and honoured by the then Indian President Dr. Radhakrishnan. He was Principal of D.N High School between 1968-1976 and chief of Charotar Vidyamandal in 1979-1988 and chief of Sardar Patel Education Trust in 19791992.

Vithalbhai was jailed for travelling without tickets in railways with Satyagrahis and was also imprisoned in Sabarmati jail in 1943. A very sincere and thoroughly honest person that he was, he had

makes India only the fifth country after the US, Russia, Britain and France to have such capabilities," senior captain Zhang Junshe, vice-president of China's Naval Research Institute, told the staterun CCTV on Monday.

The Indian Navy will have lead over China as it will have two aircraft carriers by the end of this

+ #

year with INS Vikramaditya, the refitted carrier from Russia joining INS Viraat, which is already in service even though Vikrant was expected to be operational by 2018, he said.

"Which means by the end of this year India will become the only country in Asia to have two aircraft carriers," Zhang said.

The national capital is on a high alert following a warning by the Intelligence Bureau (IB) about a possible terror attack on the city.

The Delhi police put the capital on a high alert after receiving a letter from the IB stating that the 26/11 Mumbai attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed could be planning an attack in the city. Saeed has a bounty of $ 10 million on his head by the American government but continues to roam around freely in Pakistan.

According to reports, the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD) chief recently led the Eid prayers in a Lahore stadium. Saeed is believed to have visited the Line of Control (LoC) in Pakistan occupied Kashmir a couple of days before the recent ghastly attack on five Indian soldiers in the Poonch sector, according to a report by India Today.

The report says the JuD (formerly known as Lashkar-e-Taiba) chief met the soldiers of the Border Acton Team (BAT) and several Lashkar commanders in Pakistan in Gurund Post opposite Poonch on August 3. According to the military intelligence sources, the BAT is believed to be behind the ambush, resulting in the killing of five Indian soldiers.

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never claimed any medical allowances.

Prayer meeting at Sangat Community Centre on Saturday: ‘Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice’ is association with Sangat Centre has organized a prayer meet from 3 pm to 6 pm at Sangat Community Centre on 17th August.

Vithalkak’s students & admirers settled in UK are expected to attend the function and talk about their experiences and their regards for him. Melodious singer Mayadipak will sing beautiful bhajans during the function. There is no entrance fee for the programme. But since there is space for only 100 guests, those interested are requested get your name registered through e-mail or by phone.

For details: Contact: Kamal Rao, 0207 749 4001 Kamal.rao@abplgroup.com

Launch of 'INS Vikrant' raises hackles in China

The launch of INS Vikrant has raised hackles in China, with Chinese defence experts saying the aircraft carrier would have great significance for India as it would allow the Indian Navy to wade into the Pacific Ocean - which Beijing considers as its backyard.

"This bears great significance to Indian Navy. It

Delhi on high alert after IB issues terror threat warning

time being.

"At a time when Pakistan is day in and day out using terrorism against us, it would be ill-advised for the Prime Minister to meet with Nawaz Sharif as it would signal that relations between the two countries are in a businessas-usual mode.

India should show no anxiety to hold a dialogue with Pakistan, keep a steady focus on the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in any conversation that takes place, abjure language that equates our problems with terrorism with those of Pakistan, and take Siachen out of the basket of issues to be discussed with Pakistan as and when a dialogue is resumed, in view of the evolution of the ground situation in the area," said the signatories at a press conference, organized under the rubric of Vivekananda Foundation.

Over 40 experts like former high commissioner to Pakistan G Parthasarathy, former foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, ex-IB chief Ajit Doval, former Army chiefs Shankar Roychowdhury and NC Vij, former air chief S Krishnaswamy and a host of others signed the statement.

Clashes along the line of control in Jammu & Kashmir since last month have increased tensions between the two countries. India accused the Pakistan army of killing five of its soldiers in an attack along the LoC. The charge was rejected by Pakistan, which on Monday summoned Indian deputy high commissioner Gopal Baglay to protest "continuous ceasefire violations" along the LoC. It claimed a civilian was killed in firing by Indian forces at Rawalakot.

Sharif last week expressed his sadness over the incidents along the LoC that had resulted in the flaring up of tensions and the loss of "precious human lives". He also said it was imperative for India and Pakistan to take effective steps to restore the ceasefire on the LoC. Cancel meet with Sharif, top policy experts tell Manmohan: Meanwhile, India’s top strategic and foreign policy experts have asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to cancel his forthcoming meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Sharif in New York next month and refrain from holding talks with Islamabad for the

23

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24

IndIa

South 49 Sri Lankan refugees held for bid to travel to Australia The Q branch police arrested 49 Sri Lankan refugees at Velankanni in Nagappattinam on charges of attempting to illegally travel to Australia via sea. It was the second such operation since April this year. Police conducted a raid at lodges and secured 49 Sri Lankan refugees including four women and ten children. The refugees hailed from camps in Chennai, Trichy and Ramanathapuram districts.

51 taluks stare at drought in rain-rich Karnataka

Karnataka is facing a strange phenomenon: it's in the grip of a drought and floods at the same time. The floods have followed two successive years of drought.In the last week of July, five districts bore the brunt of flash floods following heavy rains. Now, the spectre of drought looms over 51 taluks in 20 districts. The twin calamities have resulted in a massive loss of human life, property, agricultural and horticultural crops and livestock.

Andhra Pradesh minister swallowed plastic band

Andhra Pradesh agriculture minister Kanna Lakshminarayana fell ill after he accidentally swallowed a plastic band attached to a water bottle. He was immediately rushed to a private ENT specialist where the doctors removed the band through a minor surgical process. The minister was discharged immediately. Sources said that the minister was speaking to party leaders and activists at Chuttugunta park when the incident took place.

HC clears way for Bangalore mayoral polls

The roster issue pertaining to the posts of mayor and deputy mayor, which had become a major hurdle to the long-pending mayoral elections in the BBMP was finally resolved on Thursday. The high court issued an order reserving the mayor's post for General Merit category and the deputy mayor for Schedule Tribe (Woman) category.

Punjab Death of former sarpanch: It was murder, says family A day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a chargesheet against two HaryanaMLAs - former transport minister O P Jain and ex-chief parliamentary secretary Zile Ram Sharma - for abetting suicide of a former village sarpanch, Karam Singh, the victim's family insisted that it was a murder case.

Karam, 58, a former sarpanch of Kambopura village was found dead a day after he lodged a complaint for duping him to the tune of Rs 12 lakh with a promise of providing them government jobs.

MLA quits, Haryana CM in tight spot

The resignation of five-time Panipat MLA Balbir Pal Shah has come as a jolt to Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who is facing revolt within the party, for his alleged regional bias. Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh and some MLAs from southern Haryana have time and again accused that Hooda only cares for his hometown Rohtak and its neighbouring region.

Punjab to recognize Urdu academy in Malerkotla

The Urdu Academy of Malerkotla will get recognition soon from the state government, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal announced this on the occasion of state-level Eid celebrations in the town.

The academy, established a few years ago here, failed to get wider acceptance in the absence of recognition. With state recognition, the academy would be able to promote Urdu literature and the language itself, said academician MH Khan.

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 17th August 2013

Four-member panel to douse Seemandhra flames

In the wake of massive protests in Seemandhra region over the creation of a separate state of Telangana, the Congress appointed a 4member special committee headed by defence minister A K Antony to address the concerns of politicians across the roiled region.

The civil unrest has brought life to a halt for the eighth day in a row and choked governance in Seemandhra. Chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has refused to enter the secretariat and employees from Seemandhra region in

Hyderabad have already declared an indefinite strike from midnight August 12.

Faced with an unprecedented crisis, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who met several delegations from Seemandhra and Rayalaseema over the past few days, handpicked the new committee comprising top brains from the party, who are supposed to douse flames of anger and revolt.

Other committee members are Digvijay Singh, AICC incharge of AP affairs, Veerappa Moily, Union petroleum minister and Ahmad Patel, politi-

cal secretary to Sonia Gandhi.

The new committee will address all concerns arising from Seemandhra, which will set the ball rolling for formation of the state much quicker, which party spokesman PC Chacko admitted was required to pave way for Telangana state.

Two more ministers resign, employees to go on indefinite strike Two more Andhra Pradesh ministers on Monday submitted resignations in protest against the creation of Telangana. Kondru Murali and S Vijayarama Raju submitted their papers to chief minister,

In rare condition, Tamil Nadu infant keeps catching fire Rahul has been virtually in flames four times since he was born two-and-a-half months ago. Doctors say it's due to a rare condition called spontaneous human combustion (SHC). Afflicted with the disorder, seen only in 200 people across the world in the past 300 years, the child is undergoing treatment at Kilpauk Medical College (KMC) Hospital.

Rahul was nine days old when he first "caught fire" in the presence of his mother Rajeshwari who watched in disbelief as there was no source of fire in the vicinity.

She took him to the Villupuram Medical College from where the baby was discharged three days later.

After coming home, he suffered burns again. "Doctors say he is a healthy child and his organs are fine. The last time he caught fire was a fortnight ago, and this time it was head to toe," said Rajeshwari who hails from a

village near Tindivanam.

Paediatrician Dr Narayana Babu, who is treating Rahul, said the baby emitted some highly combustible gas through the pores of his skin, which made him catch fire. "We have not identified the gas yet," said Dr Babu.

The case has stunned doctors in the city. There are many theories about the poorly understood condition, ranging from high acetone content in the body to the paranormal. Some doctors say everyone has certain amount of alcohol present in their blood and when its content is high, it combines with

the gases in the body; resulting in burns.

"More than 20 years ago, we saw a similar case of a 23year-old man, but it went undocumented," said Dr Jayaraman, former head of the burns unit in KMC. "Several theories of SHC do the rounds but they are very vague and not backed by scientific proof. Though there is no special cure for the condition, it can be treated like a regular burn injury," he said.

Dr Kalpesh Gajiwala, in Mumbai, said it was surprising that it happened to a child in a village, where children are usually breastfed and breast milk, would rarely ever be converted to methane.

"A plausible hypothesis for SHC is that some bacteria, such as the methanogenic micro-organism-archaebacteria, in the intestine convert the food into methane, which is a combustible substance," said Dr Gajiwala.

taking the number of ministerial resignations to seven.

Over 350,000 state government employees are set to launch an indefinite strike in 13 Seemandhra district in protest against the division of the state. Tension mounted up in the state secretariat as hundreds of Seemandhra employees lodged against the decision to create Telangana.

They demanded that the decision be withdrawn. Protests also mounted up in the Seemandhra region.

Thousands of people came to the streets despite heavy rain at many places.

Bangalore school sends peace cranes to Japan As many as 600 children from Mount Litera Zee School came together on August 6 to observe 'Peace day' in the memory of the thousands devastated in the Hiroshima bomb atomic blast.

This year children from Mount Litera Zee School, Whitfield and Sarjapur prepared 600 cranes which were sent to Hiroshima in support of the initiative. As a tradition on this day, people from across the world make thousands of paper cranes as an 'envoy for peace' and send them to the peace monument to show their support against atomic bombs. The cranes sent by students of Mount Litera Zee School (MLZS) were accompanied by peace message from the school principal and was placed under the Children's Peace Memorial. This initiative was undertaken to raise awareness and promote peace among students.

Punjab prepares `1.85 bn Jaspal Singh Bhullar refutes plan to fight drug menace evidence against him

Having failed to fight off the growing problem of drugs in the state, which is spiraling out of control, Punjab government has now prepared a 'comprehensive' plan to reach out to addicts in each and every village and also to knock on the Union government's door for financial assistance.

The state health department has made a proposal, to be submitted to the 14th finance commission, seeking a grant of Rs 1.85 bn, to battle the growing abuse of narcotics. The department is also seeking a separate Rs 1bn to fight the problem of growing number of injection drug users (IUDs), which is directly linked to corresponding rise in HIV+ persons.

Though there is no consensus on the actual number of addicts in the state and various studies have put different figures, with some claiming the number of youth addicts ranging from 60% to 70%. While presenting its case for financial grant

to the commission, the department has painted quite a dreadful picture of the problem in the state.

According to the health department, "The problem of drugs abuse has reached epidemic proportions in Punjab with 60% of all illicit drugs confiscated in India being seized in the state." Quoting a study done by Chandigarhbased Institute of Development and Communication, the proposal states that, "70% of the drug users in Punjab were hooked to opium and other drugs." As per the proposal, the health department will target all the 13,200 Punjab villages and launch campaigns in a phased manner from 2015-16 to 2019-20 to identify, treat and rehabilitate drug addicts.

The department also plans to rope in around 2 lakh NSS volunteers and 5,500 youth clubs, which besides identifying and counseling the addicts and 'probable addicts,' will also adopt villages.

In a nearly four-year-old road accident, in which Chandigarh Police SI Jaspal Singh Bhullar is accused of crushing a youth under the wheels of his car, the defence told the court that the evidence placed on record in the chargesheet was not enough.

This case is on the stage of framing of charges, and the defence has appealed to ask the prosecution to provide various documents and electronic evidence. The court has slated the next date of hearing for September 20.

The police had filed the chargesheet in September 2011. There were many dramatic turnarounds in this case, as at one time, the accused official had managed to get the deceased wrongly booked for various offences.

It was only after the intervention of Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2011, that a fresh inquiry was initiated psot which Bhullar was convicted.

First inquiry officer, SI Ram Parkash, who had

allegedly acted under Bhullar's influence, had given a clean chit to the accused in July 2009. Later, on the appeal of the deceased's father, reinvestigation was marked, but again another inspector, Kuldeep Singh of Chandigarh Police, let Bhullar go scot-free. In June 2012, after reinvestigation of the accident, Bhullar was held responsible for rash and negligent driving, causing death. It was also established that while misusing his power a?? being an incharge of police post-22 a?? Bhullar had managed to lodge an FIR against deceased Gagandeep Singh and a pillion rider Mandeep Singh.

indiA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

A platform to remain active after 60

Despite being fit and able to work as good as any other young person, senior citizens are finding it difficult to remain active. Ahmedabad- based organization ‘Sixty Plus Life’ is putting efforts to provide platform to keep seniors active and fit

By Mayuri Dave hmedabad based notfor-profit organization A ‘Sixty Plus Life’ plans to

start a Companion Service for those Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), whose old-age parents are staying in the city. Lonely old age people can get young companion, who would stay with the elders from 11 am to 6 pm on daily basis and give company to them.

“The young companions would do banking work for old people. They would accompany them to watch movies, will drive them to temple and even play cards or chess with them. This service would be for old-age couple as well as single oldies also. In the case of singles, they would get companion of same sex, while couples would get choice whether they want male companion or female,” says Jagat Shah, founder of Sixty Plus Life.

This is just one feature of the organization. The organization is also providing consultancy to senior people to learn Information Technology.

Besides, a large data base of senior people is being created for employment, so that seniors can be hired as per their requirements.

Recently the organization has conducted a job fair for the sixty plus age people who want to work.

Top executives and decision-makers of nearly 70 companies and institutions attended the novel

fair to pick suitable candidates for employment on various terms - full time, part time, consulting, training, mentoring, counseling, teaching at university, and voluntary services at NGOs. The 900-odd registered members in their twilight years from all over India are active in life and have years of rich, hands-on experience in various fields. About 110 different jobs were offered to the 90 members from all over Gujarat who attended the fair, called ‘Corporates meet 60 Plus Life members’, and the oldest participant was 72 years ‘young’.

The concept of forming the organization was of Tej Malhotra who was working with Dalmia Group Company GHCL Limited as executive director. The 62-years-old Malhotra felt the need for a platform for the seniors who want to keep themselves active throughout their lives. After retire-

ment he joined with a Saudi Arabia based company as technical director.

However, he always dreams for the success of Sixty Plus Life.

Though the organization is still in its nascent stage, the concept has attracted people from abroad also. Philadelphia based Psychotherapist Larry Fiebert and Hannover based Wolfgang Hoeltgen, who is also founder of German Indian Business Centre (GIBC) have also came on board of the organization.

“In order to demonstrate fitness of senior citizens, we have organized ‘Dandi March’ on October 2 to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. On that day, seniors will walk right from Sabarmati to Dandi – almost 250 km. In fact they would be free to walk as per their stamina, but founder members are committed to complete the distance,” says Malhotra.

Vadodara bikers reaching London soon

Gujaratis are entrepreneurs and risk takers wherever they go. Such adventurous Gujaratis with ‘Save the Children’ theme have ventured on a bike trip from Vadodara to London. Kumar Shah of Vadodara, Mechanic Hitesh Raval and Gagandip of Delhi has dared to take a bike trip from Vadodara to London. They began their journey on 9th June from Vadodara and are on their way to London.

Gujarat state energy minister Saurabh

Patel flagged off their bike journey. The bikers will reach Dover of England on 16th and will be welcomed in Leicester and London on 17th.

They had reached Paris on Tuesday and biker Kumar Shah had telephonic conversation with CB Patel, EditorPublisher of ‘Gujarat Samachar & Asian Voice,’ and told him that they would soon be reaching England. He also said that they were eager to meet the BritishGujaratis there. They will stay for 10 days in London. They will be completing 15,300 km journey within 55 days and during their trip they have spread the message of children welfare in the countries they have crossed.

While starting from Vadodara, Kumar Shah said, “Before this, I have gone motorcycle trip to Leh-Ladakh, Nepal, Kanyakumari, Visakapatinam and Lakshadeep. It was my keen desire dream to take bike trip to London. After many hurdles, at last we succeeded in our mission since last two years. It has been last one year we are trying for the visa and permission to enter different countries..

From India they traveled through Nepal, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Italy, Netherlands, France, Belgium and now will reach UK. Those British Gujarati-Indian social organizations interested in honouring them, please contact ‘Gujarat Samachar’ News editor Kamal Rao: 020 7749 4001 or email kamal.rao@abplgroup.com

25

Green cards for Indians soar six-fold to 35,472 in a year Indians chasing the American dream have reason to cheer. In 2012, as many as 35,472 Indians with H-1B visas got green cards, up from 6,000 in 2011 — accounting for more than 50% of all green cards issued to H-1B holders for all countries in the year. The data from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) comes in the wake of a new Bill that focuses on attracting knowledge workers to the US by providing them citizenship.

The common impression is that the US is increasingly trying to keep foreigners out with new immigration walls. But that's only a partial truth; it pertains to less skilled overseas workers. In reality, the US is also trying to attract the best brains from around the world and among the biggest beneficiaries are talented Indians.

A green card allows a person to live and work anywhere in America, and is a path to citizenship. An H-1B visa-holder is beholden to the employer who hired him or her, and can be deported unless the holder can find another H1B sponsor. Most Indians

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who got green cards in 2012 came from the EB-2 category, which includes professionals with advanced degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math).

Clearly, the US wants to retain its competitive edge and accelerate R&D. "They need people with specialized skills who can substantially contribute to the knowledge economy.

The large base of Indians with advanced degrees and domain expertise is highly sought after and given preferential treatment," said Rakesh Prabhu, partner, immigration practice, ALMT Legal.

The number of green cards a country gets in a year cannot exceed 7% of the total available. The limit primarily restricts those born in India, China, Mexico and the Philippines, given the large numbers of applicants from these countries.

However, most of the rest of the world does not come anywhere close to this quota. The unused numbers in a year from other countries are often given to countries that have long queues. In 2012, India

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appears to have benefited.

"The US visa office seeks to use the available visa numbers by the time the fiscal year ends, at the end of September. They don't like to waste numbers.

So there could be a new surge (Indians becoming eligible for green cards) in August 2013 and in subsequent months," said Cyrus D Mehta, managing attorney and founder of the New York-based law firm Cyrus D Mehta & Associates.

Now, there's a serious effort to remove country quotas, which has a broad agreement among Republicans and Democrats.

The Comprehensive Immigration Bill, which is before the Senate, seeks to remove the country caps to attract the best minds to the US. The political consensus right now is that knowledge workers with permanent residency are valuable to the economy.

"If Congress removes country quotas, it should help Indian citizens.

However, it will affect the rest of the world adversely," said Denyse Sabagh, partner in the Philadelphiaheadquartered law firm Duane Morris.

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travel & women

www.abplgroup.com - asian voice 17th August 2013

Purvi Apurva Shah ne would imagine that Leh, the hottest holiday destination of India O this season, would be teeming with excit-

ed tourists. You would have to get past a lot of pushing and shoving to get a glimpse of the `must-sees` of the place, and the shop owners of the trinkets` stores would be screaming at passers-by for attention.

Strangely, Leh in the Ladakh region of Jammu and Kashmir reveals a very different picture; the picturesque little town, cocooned amid the hills, is drowned in calmness. You can savour every little moment and enjoy your holiday in the true sense of the word. Leh, you realize, is not just a destination; it`s an experience.

altitude of more than 18,000 feet, is again a must-do. It’s especially popular among bikers who make sure to get embroidered T-shirts back in Leh declaring their feat a souvenir worth wearing back home.

Another popular souvenir is a string of multi-coloured prayer flags, also available in small size.

All said, Leh in itself has a lot for visitors to see. There is the magnificent Shanti Stupa, the 400-year-old Jama Masjid, and the ancient Leh Palace which, unlike the bedecked royal palaces you see elsewhere like Rajasthan, is a humble multi-storeyed structure from whose balconies you get a bird’s eye view of the entire town.

For those looking for adventure, there

Shri Hari Mandir

A Place of beauty and exquisite work of art AV Correspondent a breathtaking locaand sight. Situated Iin ttionisPorbander, on the

Leh, at an altitude of more than 11,000 feet, is blessed with nature`s bounty. Simple things like waking up to an azure blue sky and the sight of snowcapped mountains, or star-gazing at night (you would have hardly seen so many stars in the night sky!) and wishing upon the scores of shooting stars leaves you with happy memories.

Although it has an airport with direct flights from Delhi, Jammu and Srinagar, most people prefer taking a road trip to Leh. One, because the journey through the changing landscape, whether you go via Manali or through Srinagar, is in itself a lifetime experience. Plus, you get to drive past the `magnetic hill` (from Kargil to Leh) when your car defies gravity to move a short distance of slight road elevation on its own! And second, as most travel experts would say, a road trip prepares you better in the acclimatization process.

Having said that, while it is only natural for your body to take some time to get used to the low pressure and thin oxygen levels, help is always at hand in case of medical need. The Indian Army base hospital in Leh gets a lot of tourists who take tips on how best to fight altitude sickness. There is also an army medical unit in the snow-laden Chang La Pass - at 17,586 feet, the third highest pass in the world - as well as an army tea stall serving complimentary hot tea!

From Leh, one has to cross the Chang La Pass to reach the breathtakingly beautiful Pangong lake, made more famous by the movie "3 Idiots". The lake, 60 per cent of which lies in Tibet, is striking amid the surrounding barren hills. One can count at least seven shades of blue in the water!

The Nubra valley, at a distance of 150 km from Leh, is again a must-visit.

Famous for being a cold desert, when there, a ride on the double humped camel, also called the Bactrian camel is worth experiencing.

Driving on the world’s second highest motorable road at Khardung La, at an

is much to do - river rafting, kayaking, trekking, and hiking - at close distance.

For others looking for a quiet, relaxed time, Leh is best explored on foot.

Shopping wise, a word of caution: be ready to loosen your purse strings because things are generally priced high.

Shops are laden with exquisite arte facts, woolen shawls and jackets, carpets, and jewellery in silver with different gemstones.

Tenzin Wangchuk, one of the shop owners, tries to justify the high prices, saying: "The tourist season (between May-June and October) is the only time we can sell our wares. When winter sets in, it snows and we get cut off from the rest of the world. This is the only time to earn some money."

Many of its escalating number of tourists (nearly 180,000 in 2012) are foreigners and Leh is therefore flooded with restaurants and small cafes serving all kinds of cuisine - German, Italian, et al.

However, tucking into some momos, thentuk (noodles) and thukpa is highly recommended to complete the Leh experience.

How to get there: • By air: There are direct flights from Delhi, Srinagar and Jammu.

• By road: Approximate distance from Chandigarh to Leh via Manali is 800 km.

Approximate distance from Srinagar to Leh is 440 km. State transport buses also ply on the Srinagar-Leh route.

Accommodation: Leh, being a popular holiday destination, has innumerable hotels, guest houses, and even youth hostels. In the peak tourist season, you can expect the hotel room tariff to start anywhere from Rs.1,500.

Precautions: Altitude sickness is a reality; so be prepared. You can consult a doctor beforehand about any medication to be carried. But even if you don’t, do not fret. It takes a day or two for your body to acclimatize. Drink plenty of fluids, and don’t forget to carry a good sunscreen!

grounds of the Sandipani Vidyaniketan, stands the monumental and breathtaking structure of the Shri Hari Mandir. Measuring 105 ft, held up by 66 pillars, capped by beautifully carved domes, it is the hallmark of Sandipani. The temple is incomparable in its exquisitely designed architecture and aesthetic precision. While the structure is a visual delight, the deities residing within are the personification of Pujya Bhaishri’s faith and ardent devotion. In accordance with Pujya Bhaishri’s vision, the Mandir has been built to provide Rishikul students practical training in performing rituals and for the mandir to become an epicentre of culture and spirituality. The Shri Hari Mandir was completed in 2006 and a grand event, ‘Sandipani Mandir Mahotsav’, marked the opening of the Mandir.

The Shri Hari Mandir has the deities of Shri Lakshmi Narayan Bhagavan, Shri Radha Krishna Bhagavan, Shri Janki Vallabh Bhagavan, Shri Karunamayi Maa, Shri

This sheera is usually fed to babies as it is rich in carbohydrates, protein, iron and calcium and will keep your baby 'full' for a longer period of time.

Preparation Time: 10 mins Cooking Time: 20 mins Makes 0.75 cup Show me for cup Ingredients: 1/4 cup jowar (white millet) flour 1/2 cup milk 1 tsp chopped jaggery (gur) 1/4 cup mashed banana 1 tsp ghee.

Method: The ghee should be heat in a nonstick pan, add the jowar flour to it and sauté on a medium flame for 1 to 2 minutes or till it turns light brown in colour.

Then put milk in it mix well and cook on a medium flame for 30

Chandramauleshwar Bhagavan, Shri Hanumanji, Shri Ganeshji and Shri Veda Bhagavan. An oasis of peace and harmony, the mandir also has an auditorium, with a seating capacity of 2,000, which is the hub of numerous spiritual and cultural activities. The mandir complex sits in beautifully landscaped scenery making it a wondrous sight to behold. With a special play area for children and seating areas, families love to visit the mandir, partake in the aarti in the evenings and enjoy the spiritual atmosphere of Sandipani.

Recently statues of Pujya Bapu Mahatma Gandhiji and Kasturba and Sudama and Sushila have been added to the complex

of the mandir. Standing tall, the statues remind every visitor of Gandhiji’s teachings of truth and non-violence and Sudama’s faith and devotion. More than being an edifice of stone and marble, the mandir bears testimony to the realisation of Bhaishri’s dream.

Bhaishri had envisioned the building of the Shri Hari Mandir over a decade before it was actually constructed. His original plans for the site had not been extravagant or excessive.

However, ten years later, the image that Bhaishri had with him enlarged itself into the manifestation of the glorious temple that is visited by thousands of devotees who come to pay homage to the deities of the temple.

Jowar Banana Sheera

seconds,stirring continuously so that no lumps remain. Later ½ cup of water & jaggery should be added, mix well and cook on a medium flame for 1 minute, stirring continuosly. Switch off the flame, add the banana and mix well. Serve lukewarm, adding some warm milk to dilute the consistency to suit your baby's requirements.

Health benefits: This

diet is full meal of high nutrients for babies and as it is rich in fiber it lower your risk of obesity, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, elevated blood cholesterol in adults.

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 17th august 2013

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Tips to Prevent Does salt cause hypertension and heart disease?

Sickness

Big breakfasts, not dinners help

lose weight

People who eat their largest daily meal at breakfast time are far more likely to lose weight and have a lesser waist line circumference than those who eat a large dinner, a new study has revealed.

Tel Aviv University had done a research that has found that that proper meal timing can make an important contribution towards managing obesity and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle Participants who ate a larger breakfast- which included a dessert item such as a piece of chocolate cake or a cookiealso had significantly lower levels of insulin, glucose, and triglycerides throughout the day, translating into a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.

Prof.

Daniela Jakubowicz and her fellow researchers conducted a study in which 93 obese women were randomly assigned to one of two isocaloric groups.

Each consumed a moderate-carbohydrate, moderate-fat diet totalling 1,400 calories daily for a period of 12 weeks.

The first group consumed 700 calories at breakfast, 500 at lunch, and 200 at dinner, while the second group ate a 200 calorie breakfast, 500 calorie lunch, and 700 calorie dinner. The 700 calorie breakfast and dinner included the same foods.

By the end of the study, participants in the "big breakfast" group had lost an average of 17.8 pounds each and three inches off their waist line, compared to a 7.3 pound and 1.4 inch loss for participants in the "big dinner" group.

Those in the big breakfast group were found to have significantly lower levels of the hunger-regulating hormone ghrelin, and showed a more significant decrease in insulin, glucose, and triglyceride levels than those in the big dinner group.

It is said that prevention is better than cure so it’s better to follow some simple tips to make your health better. It is also a fact that these natural self-healing practices go back thousands of years, as well as being practiced among the indigenous people of the Earth. Here are some tips that can help you to prevent sickness and keep you healthy: Washing hands: It may sound as ordinary tip but a very important tip. During the "sickness" season it is very important to wash away germs from our hands. We pick up germs from various places we touch with our hands; therefore stay clean and you'll be helping prevent sickness.

Vitamins: Take a diet rich in multi vitamin to boost the ability of your immune system. Vitamin C is known a good vitamin to have during sickness before and after as well. Vitamins are found in vegetables and fruits so increase their quantity in your diet.

Proper Rest & Exercise: To keep your self fit takes proper rest. Most "Experts" recommend a minimum of eight hours rest each night. Proper rest gives the body time to heal and rejuvenate. It allows

our brain to sort out the various messages received during the day. In juxtaposition to the benefits of sleep, the deprivation of sleep can weaken our body's various systems overall ability to ward of sickness. Exercise also aids in the body's ability to fight susceptibility to sickness. You do not have to join some elaborate gym to exercise. The point is to keep your body active by whatever means work for you a few times a week.

Fasting: It’s a fact that fasting is the cure for 90 percent of our ills, known by the medical scientists.

"Fasting is a greater cure of our ills, both mental and physical, than all of the drugs of the earth combined into one bottle or a billion bottles”. Fasting will help in your body's ability to fight sickness by reducing disease-producing toxins. But before start fasting take a look on your body’s capacity. If you are not able to complete a regular fast, try a juice fast while drinking pure water.

Fasting is necessary to be done once a month for three days, four days, or for whatever length of time you are able to go without food without harming yourself, and you will feel good.

Should we eat salt? The controversy continues to this day... The danger of using regular "table salt" and a healthier alternative Many people are unaware that refined table salt is dried at more than 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. When consumed, this highlytoxic (processed) salt, commonly found in most restaurants and processed foods, will lead to cellular inflammation; water retention and cardiovascular disease. Keep in mind, the human body can NOT properly digest commercially-produced table salt, which is 97.5% sodium chloride, other chemicals plus sugar.

On the other hand, Himalayan crystal salt is a much better alternative for human consumption.

Himalayan salt has matured over millions of years without many of the toxins and pollutants that pervade other forms of ocean salt. And, best of

Cataract surgery is not urgent but is definitely required In India, cataract is the most common cause of blindness. According to statistics almost 82% of Indians between the ages of 75 to 83 years suffer from cataract, that might lead to blindness. We spoke to Dr Vandana Jain, renowned eye surgeon specializing in cornea and external diseases, about the condition, its diagnosis and treatment.

Old age is not the only causative factor for cataracts: Cataract is an eye disease in which the normally clear lens of the eyes become cloudy leading to a decrease in one’s vision. It is commonly related to the aging process. In younger people, the lens is clear and is able to change shape for accurate focusing, but as people age the proteins in the lens breaks down making it rigid and cloudy.

Cataract is not only an old age disorder: Apart from old age, conditions such as diabetes, swelling or infection within the eye, like in the case of iritis (inflammation of the iris)

or uveitis, blunt or penetrating injury to the eye, prolonged sun exposure to X- rays or UV rays, certain diseases like eczema or thyroid disorder, smoking and tobacco use, family history of cataract, other

genetic diseases like Downs’s syndrome, infections like herpes or rubella which affect the baby while in the womb and various medications like steroids can also lead to cataracts. (Read: Why you should visit an eye doctor regularly) Cataract surgery is not an emergency surgery, but is definitely required: You may consider going in for cataract surgery when your cataract causes problems in carrying out your daily activities. Cataract

surgery is usually not an emergency surgery and you can take your time to make your decision.

Not everybody can have cataract surgery: A doctor may advise against cataract surgery if• The patient feels that he is able to go about his daily tasks with glasses • The patient is not medically fit and is suffering from high blood pressure, high blood sugars, acute infection, lung diseases, bleeding disorders etc. Ideally it is advisable that one get these conditions under control before the surgery.

• The patient has other diseases which would prevent his vision from becoming normal despite undergoing cataract surgery.

To Our Readers We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

all, this salt has the same 84 natural minerals and elements found inside the human body.

Some of the health benefits of Himalayan crystal salt include: the control of water levels within the body; promotes a stable pH balance inside cells (including the brain); supports excellent blood sugar health; improves cardiorespiratory function; helps to reduce muscle cramps and increase bone strength.

The importance of iodine for healthy thyroid function The thyroid gland synthesizes thyroid hormones and iodine is an essential trace mineral that is crucial in order for the thyroid to work properly. In order for your thyroid to manage metabolism, detoxification, growth and development you must have a sufficient amount of iodine within the body.

A lack of iodine can

lead to a swollen thyroid gland, fatigue, weakened immunity, metabolic disorders, weight gain and even anxiety or depression. If you or someone you love is suffering with iodine deficiency, try to find a qualified, healthcare provider to assist in the healing process.

If you're looking for iodine-rich foods - try: sea vegetables like arame, kombu or wakame; organic cranberries; organic yogurt; organic navy beans; organic strawberries; Himalayan crystal salt or potatoes - to name a few. And, of course, you may want to consider a good quality iodine supplement after talking to your healthcare provider.

Educate yourself on the health benefits of proper salt consumption; how to improve thyroid function plus much more on the next NaturalNews Talk Hour with Dr. David Brownstein.

3 Best foods for your hair There's a limit to how much nourishment expensive shampoos, conditioners and serums can provide to your hair!

If you want a naturally lustrous-looking mane, you will need to consume certain foods in your diet that will provide sustenance to your hair from deep within. The following are foods that you should consume daily for beautiful, stronger hair.

Eggs: Eggs are like magic as it contains a special vitamin called biotin.

This helps in hair growth and also helps renew hair follicles, so that you get thicker hair. In fact, lack of biotin can create dry, brittle hair, which makes it susceptible to breaking.

Eggs also help the scalp, making it one of the best hair foods.

Green leafy vegetables: Dark green vegetables like broccoli and spinach have hair-healing powers because of Vitamins A and C, which secrete natural scalp oil. This works as a hair conditioner, providing essential oils that are important for hair growth and renewal. These natural oils that will always keep your hair shiny.

Strawberries: Fruits like strawberries that are rich in vitamin C help absorb iron, which is necessary for healthy hair and their growth. Eating just a few strawberries a day will help you get stronger strands of hair.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Deepika's advice to Katrina Kaif

Deepika Padukone is on a roll. The film industry is abuzz with rumours that the actress is working with Shah Rukh for the third time in Happy New Year and is also pairing up with ex-boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor in Imtiaz Ali's next project. When asked about it, Deepika chose to play safe by neither confirming nor denying the news. On pictures of Ranbir-Katrina (holidaying in Spain) going viral online, Deepika said, "It has never happened with me. I believe if you are a celebrity or public figure... these things are bound to happen.

And I don't think you can accuse anybody of anything. If I am a public figure and if someone has captured me then I feel I should have been a little careful."

No takers for Amitabh Bachchan film?

After his last film “Inkaar” (starring Arjun Rampal and muse Chitrangada Singh) didn't fare too well at the box office, it seems like director Sudhir Mishra is struggling to release his next film. The film has a huge star cast including Amitabh Bachchan, Chitrangada Singh and Rishi Kapoor. The film was earlier delayed due to Rishi's hectic schedule and Big B's sickness.

Now it seems that this period film is not finding any buyers because a huge sum of Rs 260 million has been demanded for the same and to raise that kind of money is going to be difficult.

Hansika’s Birthday Gift From Simbu

Birthdays are beautiful reminders of good times and the countless opportunities that lie ahead of us. Every birthday is special in its own way and when it is a special someone's then it becomes all the more beautiful. It is no big secret that Hansika is now Simbu's special someone. As the heroine is completing 22, Simbu is yet to decide his gift for her.

Utterly confused, Simbu posted on Twitter, "Breaking my head to buy a gift for my gf's birthday and nothing is striking my mind, any ideas?" While this has put a smile on Hansika's face, it has put a lot of young brains to work, as the actor is poured in with ideas for the perfect birthday gift for the perfect special someone.

Dhanush and Harris Jayaraj join for the first time!

It cannot get better! It’s now official that KV Anand for the second time after “Maattrraan” has joined hands with AGS Entertainments for his next project that will have Dhanush in the lead. KV Anand’s regular, Harris Jayaraj has also signed up for the project.

This is the first time Harris is doing music for a Dhanush starrer, although Dhanush has sung a song in “Irandam Ulagam” for the composer.

Meanwhile, AGS Entertainments has got a number of interesting projects lined up, including Saraswathi Sabatham starring Jai, Aishwarya Dhanush’s Vai Raja Vai, Vadivel starrer Jaga Jala Buja Bala Tenaliraman, Jayam Ravi-Jayam Raja project and Irumbu Kuthirai featuring A t h a r v a a Murali.

Karisma Kapur pens book on motherhood Bollywood actress Karisma Kapur and a mother-of-two, has turned author with her first book, a guide to motherhood filed with post pregnancy tips for women, slated to hit bookstores later this month. 'My Yummy Mummy Guide: From Getting Pregnant to losing all the weight and beyond" by Karisma Kapur, has been published by Penguin under its cover imprint Shobhaa De Books. The same imprint had launched sister Kareena Kapoor's book on style, fashion and glamour in December 2012. "It's the ultimate guide for motherhood, loaded with tips and tricks for dealing with everything – from health, fitness, beauty and fashion to caring for a newborn, disciplining your kid, managing work, and dealing with school and nannies," says the publisher.

I'm getting ready to come back: Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen has lost oodles of weight, and she looks wonderful. The former Miss Universe and actress admits she is readying herself for a comeback to showbiz. On the silver screen, Sushmita was last seen in the 2010 film "No Problem". During the three-year hiatus, she was busy taking care of her second adopted daughter, Alisah. She had first adopted Renee in 2000. "I will definitely come back with a film," the 37-year-old said. Without giving out too much details, she added: "I will wait for the producers to officially announce it. I had to take a three-year break to spend time with my daughter Alisah,” says Sushmita.

Salman Khan's girl makes Punjabi debut Punjabi cinema which is growing into a multi-million industry, will soon see a Bollywood face in its local multiplex.

Zarine Khan, who was launched in Bollywood as Salman Khan's leading lady in “Veer,” is making her Punjabi debut in Rohit Jugraj's film titled “Jatt James Bond.” She will be paired opposite Gippy Grewal, who is a well established name in the Punjabi film industry. A source said, "Zarine was approached for the film and she loved the subject. She has also been paid a highly lucrative amount for this role."

Kainaat Arora beat 200 girls to bag role

Having made an entry in Bollywood three years ago with an item song in Akshay Kumar starrer “Khatta Meetha,” actress Kainaat Arora is finally making her acting debut in Indra Kumar's “Grand Masti.” The model-turned-actress says she is proud that she bagged the role after seeing off competition from 200 other girls during the audition of the film, which is a sequel to the 2004 hit “Masti.” The film will feature Vivek Oberoi, Aftab Shivdasani and Riteish Deshmukh reprising their roles from the original.

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29

Siddharth's absence saddens Samantha S

unny Leone believes she has shed her bold image in Bollywood and is now getting offers which will help bring her acting skills to the fore. The 32-year-old Indo-Canadian adult film star, who made her return to India with reality show Bigg Boss, is happy that she has a busy schedule till 2014 end.

"I am getting accepted in the industry and bagging performance oriented roles.

I am happy that I am doing all kind of films be it a horror, thriller or action. I have three films lined up – “Ragini MMS 2,” “Jackpot” and “Tina and Lolo.” I don`t have time for anything else as I am shooting them back-to-back," Sunny said.

Sunny is currently shooting Kaizad Gustad's “Jackpot” in Goa and in the thriller she is playing the female lead opposite veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. The “Jism 2” star said she sought acting tips from Naseeruddin from the day one of the shooting.

Priyanka parties whole night with Ronaldo & his friends P

riyanka Chopra’s attempts at a pop career may not be finding many takers back home but she is enjoying her moment in the American sun. Priyanka is on a tour of the USA to promote her latest single but footballers and parties too seem to figure prominently on her agenda. When Real Madrid defeated Chelsea in a friendly match, the desi girl decided to celebrate the win with football heartthrob Christiano Ronaldo and his footie peers. Priyanka attended the match with her entourage and decided to invite the two teams for a post match night-out at Miami's famous LIV club. The actress did not just host the bash, she entertained the footballers with a special performance which saw her gyrating to a whole lot of Bollywood and international numbers. Other than Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Sami Khedira, Iker Casillas and Ricardo Kaka danced the night away with Priyanka. Priyanka said, "I had a great time at the club with the footballers."

The hot and happening couple of South Indian cinema, Samantha and Siddharth, have always been maintaining that they are family friends and mutual well wishers. However, the disappointment was apparent on Samantha's face when she won the enviable double awards. The actress won two black ladies at the Film Fare Awards this year.

While she received warm appreciation, she missed the acknowledgment from one person - Siddharth.

The actor could not attend the function which had disappointed Samantha. When the actress expressed her sorrow in her micro blog, she was thronged with questions that smirked 'what's cooking'. However, as always, she reiterated that she and Siddharth are just good friends.

Ankita Shorey signs three film deal with Bhushan Bhushan Kumar is known for launching new faces and this time its winner of Miss India International, 2011 Ankita Shorey.

Confirming the news, Kumar says, "We have always given a platform to new talent to showcase their work in the industry.

Be it in music, actors or directors. Ankita Shorey is a very popular face after her winning the Miss India international title. We have immense faith in her and love her dedication towards the work. A few days ago, I signed her for a three film deal. We will decide post her workshop which role suits her best and then will finalize her for a film. "

AbRam is my best production: Shah Rukh S

uperstar Shah Rukh Khan feels that it’s unfair to subject new-born AbRam to his life, which is constantly under media glare and wants his son to remain untouched by this job hazard.

"I am very happy that I am blessed by such a beautiful child. AbRam is my best production. I would not like to talk a lot about him because a lot of people have already spoken a lot of things before he deserved to or before my family or I could say anything. I think it was unfair for people to know halftruth and talk about it but I don't hold it against anyone," Shah Rukh said.

"It is depressing and sad that someone who has just entered this world is subjected to my life. I would like him to be untouched by the world as much as possible," he said.

While talking about his son, SRK seemed a bit emotional. The 47-year-old actor did not wish to talk about his health.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

29

Siddharth's absence saddens Samantha S

unny Leone believes she has shed her bold image in Bollywood and is now getting offers which will help bring her acting skills to the fore. The 32-year-old Indo-Canadian adult film star, who made her return to India with reality show Bigg Boss, is happy that she has a busy schedule till 2014 end.

"I am getting accepted in the industry and bagging performance oriented roles.

I am happy that I am doing all kind of films be it a horror, thriller or action. I have three films lined up – “Ragini MMS 2,” “Jackpot” and “Tina and Lolo.” I don`t have time for anything else as I am shooting them back-to-back," Sunny said.

Sunny is currently shooting Kaizad Gustad's “Jackpot” in Goa and in the thriller she is playing the female lead opposite veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah. The “Jism 2” star said she sought acting tips from Naseeruddin from the day one of the shooting.

Priyanka parties whole night with Ronaldo & his friends P

riyanka Chopra’s attempts at a pop career may not be finding many takers back home but she is enjoying her moment in the American sun. Priyanka is on a tour of the USA to promote her latest single but footballers and parties too seem to figure prominently on her agenda. When Real Madrid defeated Chelsea in a friendly match, the desi girl decided to celebrate the win with football heartthrob Christiano Ronaldo and his footie peers. Priyanka attended the match with her entourage and decided to invite the two teams for a post match night-out at Miami's famous LIV club. The actress did not just host the bash, she entertained the footballers with a special performance which saw her gyrating to a whole lot of Bollywood and international numbers. Other than Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, Sami Khedira, Iker Casillas and Ricardo Kaka danced the night away with Priyanka. Priyanka said, "I had a great time at the club with the footballers."

The hot and happening couple of South Indian cinema, Samantha and Siddharth, have always been maintaining that they are family friends and mutual well wishers. However, the disappointment was apparent on Samantha's face when she won the enviable double awards. The actress won two black ladies at the Film Fare Awards this year.

While she received warm appreciation, she missed the acknowledgment from one person - Siddharth.

The actor could not attend the function which had disappointed Samantha. When the actress expressed her sorrow in her micro blog, she was thronged with questions that smirked 'what's cooking'. However, as always, she reiterated that she and Siddharth are just good friends.

Ankita Shorey signs three film deal with Bhushan Bhushan Kumar is known for launching new faces and this time its winner of Miss India International, 2011 Ankita Shorey.

Confirming the news, Kumar says, "We have always given a platform to new talent to showcase their work in the industry.

Be it in music, actors or directors. Ankita Shorey is a very popular face after her winning the Miss India international title. We have immense faith in her and love her dedication towards the work. A few days ago, I signed her for a three film deal. We will decide post her workshop which role suits her best and then will finalize her for a film. "

AbRam is my best production: Shah Rukh S

uperstar Shah Rukh Khan feels that it’s unfair to subject new-born AbRam to his life, which is constantly under media glare and wants his son to remain untouched by this job hazard.

"I am very happy that I am blessed by such a beautiful child. AbRam is my best production. I would not like to talk a lot about him because a lot of people have already spoken a lot of things before he deserved to or before my family or I could say anything. I think it was unfair for people to know halftruth and talk about it but I don't hold it against anyone," Shah Rukh said.

"It is depressing and sad that someone who has just entered this world is subjected to my life. I would like him to be untouched by the world as much as possible," he said.

While talking about his son, SRK seemed a bit emotional. The 47-year-old actor did not wish to talk about his health.

30

UK Coming Events

l Sangam and Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan hold dance/music classes upto Diploma. Starting 21st September on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings at Sangam, 210 Burnt Oak, Broadway, Edgware HA8 0AP. Contact: 020 8952 7062 l Chalti Ka Nam Gadi natak, Ruislip, 25 Aug, 8pm, Lohana Community and Mahila Mandal North Croydon 24 Aug, 8pm. Contact: 02083612475 l Indian Independence Day celebrations - To mark India’s Independence Day on 15 August 2013, The National Archives has given a voice to historical documents relating to the Road to Partition 1939-47, through the use of multi-media resources. Broadening access to its collection, The National Archives has recently added audio and video recordings to complement the records. This includes an audio recording of the British transcript of broadcasts made by Subhash Chandra Bose in June 1943 calling on ‘Indians abroad to form an army’, a letter from Winston Churchill in 1947 supporting legislation to confer dominion status for parts of India and Mountbatten’s radio broadcast in 1947 announcing ‘the transfer of power to Indian hands’.

As part of the community outreach programme, The National Archives made a series of video recordings interviewing four Punjabi elders uprooted from their homeland during the Partition of British India in 1947. These interviews provide the human context to complement the historical documents and form part of our wider educational resources for community groups and schools.

- India's Independence Day at Navnat Vadil Mandal in Navnat Center on Friday, 16th August. Navnat center, Middlesex UB 3 1AR - Sunday 11th August 2013 Independence Day celebrations and bhajans at 3.00pm by Shree Budhdevbhai, Shree Manubhai Kotak.

Monday 12th August 2013 to Monday 2nd September (Shiv Puja) - Rudrabhishek for all visitors every 15 minutes starting at 10am to 5.00pm.

Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple, 5Middlesex UB8 2DZ, Tel: 07882 253 540 - Gujarat Hindu Association will be holding India’s Independence Day celebration on Thursday 15th August 2013 at 7.00 pm at the Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre, Rothley Street, Leicester .

LE4 6LF. Chief Guest will be Mr B C Pradhan, Consul and Head of Chancery at the Indian High Commission in Birmingham. Contact: Rajendra M Gosai 0116 266 8266

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013 Programme: l Flag hoisting by IHC l Folk dances by Mayura Patel & her group Patriotic songs by Munmum Ratta: A Melodious Voice From India l Dance performance by the students of Priya Pawar at VHK l Special appearance by The World Famous Magician Shankar Samrat Program dedicated to the people of Uttarakhand, contact: Jagdish Gupta Senior Vice President, 07956418336 - Indian High Commission and the Nehru Centre present India’s Independence day Celebrations 2013 on Sunday 18 August. 11am-3pm. Indian Gymkhana Club, Thornsbury Avenue, Osterley, London TW7 4NQ. - Brent Indian Association celebrates India's Independence day, flag hoisting 15 August (10am11:45am) and Cultural programme on 18 August (3pm-4:50pm). BIA, 116 Ealing Road, Middlesex HA04TH. Contact: 020 8903 3019 - Anoopam Mission celebrates Independence day, Brahmajyoti, The Lea, Denham, UB9 4NA. Contact: 01895832709

(BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960

Venus the planet of love is the moving force in regard to amorous experience, giving more than just a hint that links between lovers will be rather intense and passionate. Legal or official matters are likely to occupy your time. Saturn, the planet of structure and discipline has moved into your solar 8th house.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Get out as much as possible. Do not be misled by inconsequential issues as you will have better opportunities if you stick to your main objectives.

Try and work out where you want to make changes in your busy life.

A tremendous amount of planetary activity in your chart signals a time of mixed emotions as well as personal issues to be dealt with.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

Extra energy and drive will serve you well in getting things accomplished. There appears to be a more successful trend coming into effect. Amorous affairs continue to be highlighted - whether or not this leads to a lasting relationship depends much on your own personal maturity and circumstances.

Decision making will prove to be a bit of a bind because of your wavering mind - seek professional advice and then steam ahead. Be careful with your expenditure as you have a tendency to be extravagant. Relationships need to be scrutinised carefully. Sometimes it is a good idea to stand back and get a more objective view of the pattern of your life.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

Congratulation Congratulations to Dharmisha, daughter of Mohanbhai Mulji Shingadia and Shantaben who tied the knot to Sandeep, son of Shantilalbhai and Chandrikaben Dattani, last Sunday (11 August) in Birmingham. Devoted couple Mohanbhai and Shantaben Shingadia, of Sparkhill in Birmingham, have been serving the community silently for many years.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to host their own Anand Mela Anand Mela Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar are to host their popular Anand Mela on 28th and 29th September 2013 at Kingsbury High School.

The Mela like last year promises to being exquisite shopping, fashion and entertainment to your area along with Raas-Garba to celebrate the forthcoming Navratri.

(See advert on page 25)

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Your thinking is inspired, so listen to your thoughts. This may be a time of expansion and improved opportunity and it would be unwise to let yourself become complacent.

A good time for restructuring and rethinking your aims and interests. Affairs of the heart are likely to flourish.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 This is a good time to get away from usual routines and seek a retreat for a few days. All the better if you are interested in such things as meditation, yoga and therapies that help you to get in closer touch with your inner self.

This will have a beneficial effect on your physical and psychological well-being.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 You will be pleased to see that your social life livens up during this week. Its influence will help you to maintain a high energy level and achieve positive results in anything that requires drive and initiative. If you are involved in a fairly competitive field of activity, you will come out on top.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Much enthusiasm goes into professional ambitions right now, but you need to be your own boss in many ways.

Circumstances will make you more determined to place your lifestyle on a foundation of greater security. Taking a broad perspective on the prevailing cosmic pattern, far-reaching change begins to gather momentum.

- Vishwa Hindu Kendra Southall to celebrate India’s Independence Day Celebrations on Fri 16th.

August 2013, 7 PM To 9 PM, New Auditorium, 2 Lady Margaret Rd Southall.

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Chief Accountant: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Nihir Shah - Email: nihir.shah@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4089 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Kalpesh Shah Tel: 07539 88 66 44 Email: kalpesh.shah@abplgroup.com Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com Consulting Editor: Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar,Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Hardik Shah (M) +91 99250 42936 Email: hardik.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Neeta Patel (Vadodara) M: +91 98255 11702 Email: neeta_abplgroup@yahoo.co.in Assistant Marketing Manager: Manish Shah (Vadodara) M: +91 96876 06824 Email: manish.shah@abplgroup.com Assistant Marketing Manager: Krunal Shah (Ahmedabad) M: +91 98243 67146 Email: krunal.shah@abplgroup.com Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com Prashant Chanchal (Rajkot) M: +91 98250 35635 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group (South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 44 9311581597

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 With Venus in your solar 11th house, this is a good time for your social as well as your love life. If you’re single you are likely to meet the person of your dreams. You could also benefit at work through a promotion.

Organise your time so that it is not taken up entirely by the demands of other people.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 The accent’s very much on relationships, you and a partner may become embroiled in financial arrangements or some other nitty—gritty aspect of your relationship.

Either you or your partner have been going through a phase of inner doubts and uncertainties, and perhaps the main source of tension has simply been the need for breathing space in your relationship.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

You have everything to gain by following creative inclinations. If you have new ideas, now is the time to put them into practice. Whatever your present interests you are likely to find that new doors open and the way ahead offers increased scope for expressing your real self. A great time to meet and interact with people.

This is going to be one of those times when insignificant events give rise to unexpected developments especially regarding work and health. Make up your mind early in the week to knuckle down to the tasks in hand. If love has left you feeling rather dejected or cynical, it looks as though soon events will pull you out of this mood of despondency.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 17th August 2013

Batsmen let Australia down again in Ashes collapse

Just when it seemed Australia had turned the corner after an abject summer's cricket in England, along came a batting implosion that will rank among the worst and most painful in its recent history.

That it came in an Ashes Test - a critical one at that made it all the more difficult to stomach for captain Michael Clarke. Mentally drained and clearly stunned after seeing his team throw away eight wickets for 56 runs to lose the fourth Test and the series to England on Monday, Clarke spoke from the heart.

"I don't enjoy the press conferences, to be honest," he said, "you asking the same questions and me having to answer them the same way."

Clarke was referring to the failures of his team's batsmen that have littered, not just this Ashes series, but most of 2013 and much of his tenure as Australia captain.

The 47 all out against South Africa in November 2011 was the low point in terms of pure numbers, but the meltdowns at Lord's last month and now here at Chester-le-Street have hit him just as hard.

"I'd like our batting to be stronger," Clarke said. "Our bowlers are doing a fantastic

job (but) I don't think we are making enough runs, it's as simple as that."

With David Warner back in the team, Australia's batsmen shone in the drawn third Test at Old Trafford, declaring their first innings at 527-7 with Clarke hitting 187 and both Chris Rogers and Steve Smith getting into the 80s.

Rarely can a captain have been so positive after losing a chance to regain the urn than Clarke was in Manchester.

But the same old failings have returned a few days later in County Durham.

Rogers's gritty century got them out of trouble in the

first innings, when only Shane Watson of the other batsmen got above 20.

And the second innings, as they chased 299 to win the match and keep alive hopes of squaring the series? Well, it became a horror show as soon as Warner edged a beauty from Tim Bresnan behind for 168-3.

Those last eight wickets fell in less than two hours as Stuart Broad built up a head of steam and Australia crumbled.

"I mean, obviously our middle order find different ways to get out, which is extremely disappointing," Clarke said, "but I have to pay

credit to Stuart Broad. I think his performance was exceptional."

Australia is now winless in eight Test matches - a sorry record for a great cricketing nation - but Clarke says selectors should persevere with the current crop of players.

In truth, he has few alternatives.

"I think we are picking the best players - everyone says rebuild, rebuild, rebuild, but you need guys in first-class cricket making runs to take someone's slot," he said. "We have to continue to show faith in these guys. It takes time playing against good opposition. We just played South Africa in Australia, we are playing England here then England in Australia, then we go to South Africa. We are playing the best opposition in the world. I think the selectors are doing the best they can to pick the best sides."

What will hurt Clarke even more is the knowledge that this England team was there to be beaten this summer. Ian Bell has been head and shoulders the best batsmen this series but his teammates have only performed well in spells (James Anderson at Trent Bridge, Joe Root at Lord's, Broad at Chester-le-Street).

Shikhar Dhawan's 248 drives India A into tri-series final

Riding on Shikhar Dhawan's rambunctious, boundary-laden 248 off 150 balls, India A beat South Africa A by 39 runs at the LC de Villiers Oval on Monday to set a date with their Australian counterparts in the tri-series final in two days.

Dhawan, rested for the 25-run defeat to Australia A that left India in a must-win situation, returned to the line-up and smashed a career-best List A score while dominating a second-wicket stand of 285 with Cheteshwar Pujara who made 109.

In doing so, Dhawan came within 21 runs of the highest List A score of all time. India's total of 433 for 3 was also the sixth-highest ever in the format, and despite the flat nature of the pitch it proved well beyond the hosts' reach.

Reeza Hendricks (106 off 78 balls) gave India a scare he once was dismissed in the 25th over the chase lost steam.

For the third match in a row, India were given a platform by their openers.

Today, the chosen pair was Dhawan and Murali Vijay and they put on 91 for the first wicket, with each batsman trying to outdo the other in the scoring stakes.

Both took a boundary off the first over bowled by Hardus Viljoen but Dhawan galloped ahead of his partner by cracking three consecutive fours off Viljoen in the third over. Vijay replied with three boundaries in three overs, moving to within eight runs of Dhawan's 29.

Dhawan proceeded to clatter three fours

off left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe; Vijay replied by hitting Viljoen for three boundaries in the ninth over.

Dhawan reached fifty in 31 balls but Vijay (40) was unable to catch up, nicking Beuran Hendricks behind the wicket in the 12th over. That ushered in Pujara, who ticked along at a decent clip while offering the strike to Dhawan. Dhawan slowed down once Vijay departed, taking 55 balls to scored his second 50 runs but still reached a century at a strike-rate of 86 - his fourth of the summer following three at ODI level - with a boundary

off van der Merwe to long-on. The celebration was two twos in a row, followed by consecutive sixes off medium-pacer Justy Theron, the second of which raised the 100 stand with Pujara.

Dhawan chose to step on the pedal, hitting a four and six in the next two overs as India's total crossed 200 in the 29th over. Hendricks was hit for three fours in a row as Dhawan galloped to 150, while at the other end Pujara hit his first four - a glance to fine leg off Viljoen. With his 19th boundary, a drive to long-on off the hapless Viljoen, Dhawan surpassed his previous best List A score of 155 scored for his state team Delhi. At the drinks break after 33 overs, India were 251 for 1.

The landmark came in 132 balls with a push into the covers, a momentarily release of emotion before Dhawan went back to belting the cover off the ball.

Vaughn van Jaarsveld was punished for three fours, Hendricks launched over the ropes twice in an over, and six No. seven came when Viljoen was driven over extra cover. Having hit back-toback boundaries off Theron in the 45th over, Dhawan was bowled for 248 - 21 runs short of beating Ali Brown's record score of 268 in List A cricket.

Pujara also got a brisk century, in 90 balls, helped by seven boundaries.

Though Suresh Raina (6) fell in the pursuit of quick runs at the death, Dinesh Karthik collected a breezy 18 off 12 balls.

Khel Ratna for Ronjan Sodhi, Arjuna award for Virat Kohli

Trap shooter Ronjan Sodhi, the first Indian to win two back-toback World Cup gold medals, was recommended for the prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, while star Ronjan Sodhi cricketer Virat Kohli was among the 14 sportspersons picked for the Arjuna award by the selection committee. List of awardees: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna award: Ronjan Sodhi. The Arjuna awardees: Virat Kohli (Cricket), Chekrovolu Swuro (Archery), Renjith Maheshwary (Athletics), PV Sindhu (Badminton), Kavita Chahal (Boxing), Rupesh Shah (Snooker), Gaganjeet Bhullar (Golf), Saba Anjum (Hockey), Rajkumari Rathore (Shooting), Joshna Chinappa (Squash), Mouma Das (Table Tennis), Neha Rathi (Wrestling), Dharmendra Dalal (Wrestling), Amit Kumar Saroha (Parasports).

Indian shuttler Sindhu bags bronze at world championship

India's rising shuttler PV Sindhu settled for a bronze medal at the World Championships after suffering a straightgame defeat against world number three Ratchanok Inthanon in the semifinals of the prestigious event at Guangzhou on Saturday. World number 12 Sindhu, playing in her maiden World Championships, had notched up stunning victories against two Chinese players in the run-up to the semifinals but she failed to out it cross Ratchanok, going down 10-21, 13-21 in a 36-minute women's singles match.

Ratchanok mixed her strokes well and moved smoothly across the court. Sindhu, on the other hand, committed too many unforced errors allowing her opponent to move into the interval at 11-4 in the opening game. Ratchanok used her deceptive shots to flummox Sindhu, who struggled in anticipation. The Indian failed to gauge the Thai girl's game and also ended up hitting the shuttle wide and out to allow Ratchanok to move to 19-10.

Dhoni to promote English Premier League in India

Star Sports appointed Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as brand ambassador to promote Premier League football in India. A Manchester United fan, Dhoni will invite fans to 'Join the Game' in a new campaign which will be launched soon. This news comes on the back of the sports broadcaster announcing the launch of Hindi commentary for the first time on Premier League. The Hindi commentary will be in addition to the English commentary and will be available for over 100 live matches across the season.

15-year-old Sarfaraz spins India colts to series win

Fifteen year old Mumbai off-spinner Sarfaraz Khan grabbed four wickets as India U-19 comfortably beat their Sri Lankan counterparts by seven wickets to win the 'Youth ODI' series 2-0 at Dambulla, Sri Lanka. The first match of the series didn't yield any result due to inclement weather. Chasing a paltry target of 138, India colts knocked off the runs with 103 balls to spare. Earlier, Sarfaraz took four for 27 in 7.1 overs and was ably complemented by UP bowler Kuldeep Yadav who chipped in with figures of three for 16 after skipper Vijay Zol won the toss.