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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 42. ISSUE 4

Deaths of young British Punjabis raises alarm in the community

80p

25th May to 31st May 2013

India, China vow to end border dispute Himalayas.

The number two in the Chinese leadership offered New Delhi a "handshake across the Himalayas" and said the world's most populous nations could become a new engine for

the global economy if they could avoid such irritants.

"Both sides believe that we need to improve the various border-related mechanisms that we have put into place and make them more Continued on page 26

Sreesanth, two other Rajasthan players arrested for spot fixing Parents Santokh Singh and Amrit Kaur Loyal with 8 years old Gurkiren’s photo

The death of an 8 years old girl from Birmingham and a 10 years old Black Country boy in Punjab after being given mysterious injections, have raised alarm amongst the Indian expatriates living in Britain.

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Continued on page 13

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh

India and China will study new ways to ease tensions along their ill-defined border, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday

in his first foreign trip since taking office, which comes just weeks after a military stand-off between the Asian giants in the

Rajasthan Royals players S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan were arrested last week for their alleged role in spot fixing scandal in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) matches. During interrogation they reportedly

confessed to their crime.

Besides the cricketers 11 bookies were also arrested. Later the police also picked up Vindu Dara Singh, the actor son of the late wrestler-cum-actor Dara Singh for his alleged role in the scandal.

Continued on page 26

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UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Keith Vazwith MP

Keith Vaz MP

Zameer Choudrey

ment to our ability to overcome even the most insurmountable obstacles.

Zameer is a fellow chartered accountant and joined Bestway in 1984. In 1995 he initiated the Group’s diversification strategy and was appointed Chief Executive of Bestway Cement.

In 2002 he led the acquisition of United Bank Limited. In recognition of his successful transformation of the Group, Zameer was promoted to Group CEO in 2004.

Bestway is the largest family owned Asian Business in UK. The Group is the largest independent wholesaler in UK. In Pakistan Bestway owns the 2nd largest cement manufacturing operations and the 2nd largest private bank. The Group has a global workforce of over 25,700 people with 5,000 in the UK. He is a Trustee of Bestway Foundation; Crimestoppers & GroceryAid. Please tell me about your current position?

Chief Executive of Bestway Group.

What is behind the phenomenal success of the Bestway Group?

Our well articulated business strategy of continuous reinvestment of our profits back into the business, underpinned by loyalty of our customers;

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

My uncle, Sir Anwar Pervez

support of our supplier partners and the commitment of our people.

What are your proudest achievements?

Transforming Bestway from a regional cash and carry operator to a global multinational British Brand. On a personal level witnessing my two boys growing into responsible young adults.

What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?

Absence of an established business track record in every industry and geography when we first started out. In some ways we have been pioneers in our businesses and today our leadership positions are testa-

All in the name of 'Religion' Often we thrust our full faith and confidence in men or women whom we believe to be the gatekeepers of our religion. While some of us think them to be perhaps an incarnation of the Lord we strongly believe in, it is no longer rare to see such 'God's people stooping low enough to deceive us' with

their insatiable thirst for greed and ravenousness.

This is exactly why Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar have given up adverts from 'magic healers, astrologers, problem fixers and self proclaimed spiritual gurus' risking no less than ÂŁ45,000/annum, as it has come to our notice that some of these

'self glorified problem solvers and magicians' take advantage of people's situations, robbing them of money and often virtues. It was immediately after our bold step that ebay also promised to stop selling such 'magical elements and portions of charms' online.

Day by day our deci-

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sion has been proven right, as we see many sins being committed by so called 'priests' and 'healers''. A recent report in a daily spoke of a retired Church of England priest was jailed for ten years on Monday for sex offences against 16 children.

Canon Gordon Rideout, 74, was convicted of 34 indecent assaults and two attempted rapes.

Most charges related to his work as an assistant curate when he would visit a Barnardo’s home.

In another report, published by Pardes Weekly (a Punjabi weekly) on 11-17 May said an employee of a Gurudwara who was appointed by the current committee saw money being stolen by an alleged culprit (brother in law of the President of the Gurudwara) and therefore keys were confiscated from the alleged 'culprit'.

According to the information received and reported by the Pardes Weekly, the alleged 'culprit' did not let the matter end there. He allegedly conspired with his brother in-law and others and sent four thugs 'to teach the complainer a lesson'.

Three of these thugs had covered their faces except for a tall young

What is the best aspect about your current role?

The ability to contribute to the greater good of society; by transforming people’s lives through job creation especially in some of the most economically deprived parts of the country.

The ability to encourage and promote a culture of giving within the wider community by supporting local and national charities.

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Too much travel and not being able to spend enough time with my family especially my mother.

What are your long term goals?

To grow the business for the future generations; to create more jobs and wealth throughout various local communities in which we operate. To further consolidate the success of business with the charitable work of Bestway Foundation and the other charities where I have the privilege of serving as a Trustee.

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

To encourage the furthering of a society of entrepreneurial excellence by creating an enabling environment that allows new ideas to germinate and commerce to follow unhindered.

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

Marilyn Monroe for obvious reasons!

man. These four thugs waited outside the complainer's house and at about 4.45am attacked him causing severe injuries to his head, arm and legs.

The weekly reported that Ambulance and Police had to be called.

The bizarre situation led to hospitalisation of the victim, from where he was dismissed and then he went traceless. A worried friend looking for him wrote a letter to the weekly newspaper, which led the newspaper to approach the police.

Ealing Police Spokeswoman reportedly said, “We can confirm police were called by London Ambulance Service at approximately 05:10hrs on Saturday 27 April to reports of an assault in Southall, UB1.The victim, a 26 year old man, walking along Park Avenue, when he was set upon by around four unknown Asian males. He was treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries. He was taken to a West London hospital and has since been discharged.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.�

Anyone with information is asked to call police

on 101.

When Pardes Weekly reportedly contacted the Gurudwara to make further enquiries they were allegedly told that there is no evidence of the stealing and the CCTV was also switched off at that time.

Majority of the Committee members refused to answer to their investigations. The newspaper had also reportedly contacted the Trustees and they allegedly said that whilst they have received information about the stealing, they can only comment after making enquiries.

Father's Day Message Asian Voice will publish a Father's Day Special on 15 June issue. If you want to print your Father's day message in Asian Voice, email aveditorial@abplgroup.com in no more than 50 words, with full name and contact details by Sunday 9 June 2013.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th may 2013

Comment

India’s China challenge The Ladakh standoff between India and China may be over, to the evident relief of both the parties, but for India it is a wakeup call. Sino-Indian relations will, from time to time, receive the unpredictable bolt or jolt, which in the present scheme of things cannot be otherwise. Prime Minister Li Keqiang has made India his first international port of call since assuming power in March - clearly a well crafted move that signals good intent.

However, the Ladakh incident, local though it was, refracted the essence of a broader relationship in which the quantum of trust has long been subsumed by mutual suspicion. The past weighs heavily upon the present. The collapse of the SinoIndian relationship in the late 1950s and the brief border war of October/November 1962 was an experience that has left an abiding scar on the Indian psyche. The country’s perception of China as an untrustworthy neighbor will be difficult to erase anytime soon. The trust deficit in SinoIndian relations commenced with China’s invasion and occupation of Tibet, with the consequent deepening Tibetan unrest continuing to this day.

The flight of the Dalai Lama from Lhasa to India in April 1959 exacerbated a relationship in decline.

Chairman Mao’s regime began to view India with increasing hostility, one that meshed with its growing rift with its erstwhile ally, the Soviet Union.

Moscow and New Delhi, already close, drew closer still as each came to share a common vision of China as a growing menace. China, for its part, struck up a close strategic relationship with Pakistan – which included the supply of nuclear weapons and technology and ballistic missiles to Islamabad – all with an eye to checkmating India.

India’s present war doctrine, predicated on a two-front military conflict, is mentioned in China’s recent Blue book, compiled by the country’s leading think-tanks: clearly no beating about the bush here on the prevailing ground realities.

Nevertheless, there is always a need to explore the possibilities of a smoother, tension-free SinoIndian relationship. Premier Li seeks to provide an emollient image of the new regime in Beijing led by President Xi Jinping. Durable peace and friendship between India and China, he has said, would benefit both countries and Asia as well: admirable sentiments commanding universal agreement. The fly in the ointment, however, is China’s fraught relations with Japan and Vietnam, and parts of

Southeast Asia arising from Beijing’s claims to sovereignty over the South China Sea and East China Sea. Soft on India and hard on Japan and Vietnam is a simply a tactical ploy. India’s close relationships with Japan and Vietnam preclude any barter with China that lacks permanence. Longterm peace, stability and economic cooperation between India and China must have a contextual regional application to stand any chance of fulfillment.

China will brook no denial of what it calls its “core interests”, which includes any threat to Communist party rule at home, and perceived threats to its authority in Xianjiang and Tibet, and its claim to sovereignty over Taiwan. The expanding definition of “core interests,” has given rise to regional anxieties. Beijing has laid claim to India’s Arunachal Pradesh, which it dubs Southern Tibet; India counters by saying the subject is non-negotiable, a reminder that this happens to be India’s core interest.

Meanwhile, China’s conventional and nuclear force projection capabilities on land, sea and cyberspace, are growing exponentially, according to an informed analysis by Olivier Zajec in Le Monde Diplomatique. Military strength is seen as integral to President Xi Jinping’s call to his people to realize the “Chinese Dream” and the “great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.” Its implication became clear when a Chinese naval taskforce sailed 1,800 kilometres from the mainland to drop anchor at the James Shoal, an outcrop claimed by Malaysia barely 80 kilometres from its coast.

Captain James Fanell, a senior US naval intelligence officer told a recent conference in San Diego: “China’s Marine Surveillance cutters have no other mission but to harass other nations into submitting to China’s expansionist claims” It is, he went on, a “full-time maritime sovereignty harassment organization.” The Middle Kingdom is laying down markers on its self-defined sphere of interest in an apparent reworking of an ancient tributary system. An organ transplant, ill-suited to the 21st century anatomy, is unlikely to gain acceptance.

Expectations of a fruitful Sino-Indian relationship, at this stage, are at best a hope. The modernization of India’s armed forces must be a national imperative well into the future. Dissuasive force, coupled with diplomatic resolve and resource, will be India’s best way forward.

Afghanistan reaches out to India Situated at the crossroad of Central and Southern Asia and astride the East-West Silk route between Iran and China, Afghanistan, from time immemorial, has been the vital guard post for India’s security to north. The presence in New Delhi of Afghan President Hamid Karzai is a significant event in the context of the forthcoming US and NATO troop withdrawal from the country. Afghanistan’s ambassador to India Shaida Abdali told reporters in New Delhi of his country’s desire for deepening defence ties with India including the supply of military hardware. India presently trains units of the Afghan national army and police, but this arrangement, he averred, needed significant expansion.

“Therefore, it is critically important that our two countries ….deepen and talk about more substantive issues beyond training and other soft issues,” he said. He spoke of the need for a dialogue on common threat perceptions and possible safeguards to their national security, for “we are facing a shared challenge,” commented the envoy, who then made this telling point: “Your investment in the security and defence sector in Afghanistan means the safety and security of

India.”

Ambassador Abdali urged India not to look at Afghanistan through the prism of Pakistan. As independent nations, neither India nor Afghanistan should mortgage their bilateral relationship to Pakistani whim and fancy. The Pakistan military, which controls the country’s foreign policy, views Afghanistan as its exclusive sphere of interest, giving it “strategic depth” in any future conflict with India. There can be no truckling to such paranoia. Mr Abdali welcomed India’s decision to develop the Iranian port of Chabahar, at the mouth of the Strait of Hormuz, and the highway linking it to land-locked Afghanistan, which would thus have access to the seas independent of the Pakistani port city of Karachi.

India signed a strategic partnership agreement with Afghanistan in October 2011under which it renders economic aid to the latter in a wide range of fields. These issues are kept under constant review. The proposal to deepen military ties with India will surely receive due consideration in New Delhi’s corridors of power. Afghanistan deserves nothing less.

Boris Johnson is frank and fearless London’s Tory Mayor Boris Johnson is known as a man of acerbic wit and forthright speech. He has spoken out repeatedly against the UK government’s immigration policies as neither good for British business nor British universities.

Responding to his voice and those of the City and the bowers of academe, Whitehall modified its visa rules to encourage more Indian students and business persons to come to the UK. But immigration is still an issue that exercises the public mind in Britain. So Mr Johnson pitched in with another strong speech, this time to the Indian Journalists’ Association (UK). He wanted the gov-

ernment to make it easier for “great” Indian students to come to Britain for higher education. He went on: “We want to see more Indian students.

They’ve been historically a massive and important presence in London. They are very good for London’s higher education economy and I think it is good for Indian students as well.” It was “very worrying” that fewer Indian students were applying to come to Britain, he said. Mr Johnson claimed he was the “first and only mayor of London with real life relatives in India,” his wife’s mother being Indian. Boris Johnson is London’s blessing.

3

There's nothing simpler than looking at the goodness in other people. The difficult part is to tell them what you see -John Mooney

In Defence Of Tax Havens - Sunday Times, Daily Mail Journalists and You in Secret Hidden Tax Haven Investments?

Why would you ever want to be a shareholder-investor in a company in a tax haven like BVI (British Virgin Islands), Cayman Islands, Bermuda, Gibraltar – other than to dodge tax?

The myths about tax havens are, first, that owning a company in them always equals tax dodging. Not true.

Tax dodgers don’t pay tax wherever their companies are.

The second myth is owning a company in them is always not ethical because the UK Government misses tax revenue. Not true, because you are still paying tax in the UK, and even better not paying any foreign country tax (which is why you do it). Only if you go to great Google or Amazon type lengths is this myth true.

The third myth is that owning a company in them must always be a secret. Not true, 3,000 investment funds in BVI all need to be public because they are looking for public investors. There are thousands in the public domain marketed daily from London alone.

It’s so good for Britain to have tax-haven companies that all these reputed investment fund companies are formed in tax havens and run by British companies, Gartmore funds (Domiciled in Cayman Islands); Barclays Global Investors funds (domiciled in Ireland); F&C funds(domiciled in Cayman Islands); Henderson funds (domiciled in Cayman Islands); Jupiter funds (domiciled in Cayman Islands); New Star funds (domiciled in Bermuda); Old Mutual funds (domiciled in Cayman) – the list of British established investment fund companies in tax havens goes on and on. A new scandal?

Your pension will be a shareholder (ie investor) in them or others just like them.

That means you are almost certainly a shareholder in a tax haven investment company, through your British pension, and that includes journalists at the Sunday Times and Daily Mail – and even Parliamentary pension funds. So are you an unethical investor, perpetuating tax-dodging? Or could you actually be bringing more tax to the British exchequer?

Around 2004 when I started my British asset management company I too had my first shareholding in a BVI investment company. So what’s going on?

BVI, Bermuda, Cayman are common jurisdictions for global investment companies because they’re geared for attracting global investors (cheap and simple and familiar globally) and it’s easier to market such ‘plain vanilla’ funds – ie the familiar to a global audience. Thereafter as a British taxpayer, profits are repatriated and paid in the UK, not in BVI (because it is a zero-tax jurisdiction).

These are secret and hidden…unless you understand global investments and realise they are actually in the public domain – how else can an investment company get investors? We’ve all seen the posters for Jupiter, Gartmore, Henderson. As a barrister I worked on pension fund law. I was a journalist for Financial Times and Bloomberg, I run an asset management company. Most people, politicians and journalists just want to witchhunt. Thankfully the Prime Minister understands the subtle point I am about to make, as his letter to those jurisdictions this past week showed.

So does Britain benefit? Yes. It means British shareholders, pensioners, get to keep more of the profits earned, with nothing deducted at source…more money for you in your pocket. More tax for you to pay too to the British exchequer.

Continued on page 6

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

4

Midlands Voice

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 25th May 2013

East Midland directors recognised for their business excellence Nottingham: More than a dozen of East Midlands directors were recognised for their business excellence in the Institute of Directors East Midlands Directors of the Year awards.

An audience of 120 business people had gathered for the awards ceremony at the Nottingham Conference Centre, which was compered by BBC East Midlands co-presenter Dominic Heale.

Ajay Naik, of Bankfield Financial Advisers, and Suleman Sacranie, of 99p Shopper were highly commended in the young director category. Chris Hall of Hallmark Consumer Services, in Melton, took a joint prize in the family business award with the Northamptonshire-based Richardson Partnership for Care.

Steve Walker, of training provider SWA, in Syston, was highly commended in the small and medium business category.

In Brief Robber snatches gold Hindu wedding necklace from woman

Suleman Sacranie, Steve Walker, John Jennings, Ajay Naik and Chris Rees

BRIC country visitors preferred Manchester to B'ham as a tourist destination in 2012 Manchester: Birmingham has lost out to Manchester, Edinburgh and London in overseas visitor numbers in 2012.

The city came fourth in the UK as the figures from VisitBritain revealed that 713,000 visitors visited Birmingham in 2012.

London accounted for more than half the visits overseas tourists made to the UK last year.

Of the 31 million trips foreign residents took to the UK in 2012, a total of 15.46 million were to London.

Edinburgh was the second most-visited destinations, with more than 1.25 million visits, with Manchester third (932,000), Birmingham fourth (713,000) and Liverpool fifth (550,000).

Some UK destinations experienced particularly good times in 2012, with Bournemouth receiving 178,000 visits 38 per cent up on 2011.

Penzance in Cornwall had 69 per

cent more overseas residents’ visits last year than in 2011, while Ipswich was up 41 per cent.

Visits increased last year from the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) with Scotland having 30 per cent more BRIC visits, including a 54 per cent rise to Glasgow.

Wales welcomed 18 per cent more visits from BRIC countries and southwest England had a 12 per cent rise in BRIC visitors.

VisitBritain strategy and communications director Patricia Yates said: “Last year we welcomed 31 million overseas visitors and hope to attract one million more in 2013.

“We’re particularly encouraged by the continued strong growth from the influential BRIC markets and their desire to visit locations across the UK.” She added: “2012 has certainly helped change the world’s perceptions of Britain, and there is real potential for

us to attract 40 million international visitors a year by 2020, an achievement which will mean more visitors are travelling to London and beyond.

“However, we face intense competition from other destinations eager to attract more visitors. That means we need to work better and smarter if we are to secure a long-term legacy for tourism and the country.”

Minister for tourism Hugh Robertson said: “We showcased the very best of Britain last year encouraging overseas visitors to come and see for themselves what our great country has to offer.

“I am encouraged that destinations across Britain have seen visitor numbers rise and we will do all we can to keep up that momentum. Tourism spend is up and I am confident that the industry can continue to grow and increase its contribution to the economy further.”

Dr Patel in race for New discovery of ancient diet Pharmacy Board role shatters conventional ideas of how agriculture emerged West Yorkshire: One of Britain’s award-winning pharmacists, Dr M a h e n d r a Gulabbhai Patel, pictured, is in the running for election to the English Pharmacy Board.

The EPB provides professional leadership and advocacy support for pharmacy practice in England across all sectors. Voting will close on 31 May. The current Board has 13 members, five female, eight male. Its current Chair is Shilpa Gohil, who is originally from East Africa and pride of the Shri Sorathia Prajapati Community.

Father-of-two Dr Patel is currently a senior lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at Huddersfield University. He is an ambassador for the British Heart

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Foundation and a founder of South Asian Health Foundation. He has selflessly served diverse communities across the country, particularly in the North, and was appointed one of the first Fellows of NICE. To read Dr Patel’s manifesto, and to find out more about his work visit www.drmahendrapatel.wordpress.com

Leicester: Archaeologists have made a discovery in southern subtropical China which could revolutionise thinking about how ancient humans lived in the region.

They have uncovered evidence for the first time that people living in Xincun 5,000 years ago may have practised agriculture –before the arrival of domesticated rice in the region.

Current archaeological thinking is that it was the advent of rice cultivation along the Lower Yangtze River that marked the beginning of agriculture in southern China. Poor organic preservation in the study region, as in many others, means that traditional archaeobotany techniques are not possible.

Now, thanks to a new method of analysis on ancient grinding stones, the archaeologists have uncovered evidence that agriculture could predate the advent of rice in the region.

The research was the result of a two-year collaboration between Dr Huw Barton, from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History at the University of Leicester, and Dr Xiaoyan Yang, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Beijing.

Funded by a Royal Society UK-China NSFC International Joint Project, and other grants held by Yang in China, the research is published in Plos One.

James is coming to Coventry Coventry: James is coming to Coventry next month with his giant peach. James, an orphan with terrible aunts for guardians, befriends human like bugs who live inside a giant peach, who take the boy on a

journey to New York. The popular children’s novel written by British author Roald Dahl and adapted by David Wood will come to life between 11-15 June at Belgrade Theatre. To find out more visit www.belgrade.co.uk

Leicester: A robber snatched a gold Hindu wedding necklace (viz 'magalsutra'- a gold chain Hindu married women wear) from a woman's neck as she walked through a busy city park.

The victim, aged 41, was targeted in Cossington Street Park, near Belgrave Road, Leicester.

The attacked ran at the woman from behind and g r a b b e d Magalsutra (file pic) the chain, w h i c h broke as he pulled it.

Police said 8ins the chain was of great sentim e n t a l value to the victim.

The attack happened between 4.30pm and 4.40pm on Wednesday May 8, 2013.

Police released details and appealed for witnesses.

Detective Constable Jemma Harrison, the investigating officer, said: “The park was busy at the time so there are potentially witnesses who may not have witnessed the incident, but who may have seen the man in the park.

“I would like to request that anyone with any information about the incident or the man involved, please contact police as soon as they can.”

The robber is black, with a light complexion, approximately 35, of stocky build and 5ft 7ins.

He is described as having a round face and was wearing a black woolly hat and a blue padded jacket. Contact Pc Harrison on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

Dad avoids jail term over benefit fraud Loughborough: A father-of-four who reportedly claimed £37,590 dishonestly in benefits that he was not entitled to, has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Jalal Uddin (41) began claiming housing and council tax benefit, as well as income support, legitimately in 2006, on the basis he was unemployed.

He failed to notify the authorities when his circumstances had changed, while working on different occasions between April 2007 and November 2011.

During 2011, he was a chef at a restaurant in Ilkeston, which he also partly owned.

He also failed to declare that during some of that time he rented out his home in Nottingham Road, Loughborough – which he has since moved back into.

Uddin was given a 20-week jail sentence, suspended for two years, and was ordered to do 300 hours of unpaid work.

Leicester Crown Court was told the defendant, who had no previous convictions, had been battling with a drink problem which led to him separating from his wife.

The benefits money was squandered on alcohol.

He has begun to address his problems and has now returned to the family home.

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Justice minister insists Pakistani community must tackle grooming gangs

LtoR: Akhtar Dogar, Anjum Dogar, Kamar Jamil, Assad Hussain

The Justice minister D a m i a n Green in an interview to The Daily LtoR: Mohammed Karrar, Bassam Telegraph has Karrar and Zeeshan Ahmed admitted that the Pakistani with The Daily community in Britain Telegraph, Mr Green, must urgently address who is the minister for the problem of gangs police and criminal jussystematically groomtice, said he was setting ing and abusing young up a Home Office led non Muslim or non group to help tackle the Pakistani girls. problem of sexual vioJust days after lence against children. seven men were conBut he said it was victed of carrying out also up to Pakistani crimes of “medieval” community leaders to depravity against girls make it absolutely clear as young as 11, in that such behaviour Oxford, Mr Green said was “100 per cent it was time to dismiss unacceptable”. any vestiges of political In the Oxford case, correctness around the six girls were targeted issue. by a gang mainly of The Oxford scandal Pakistani heritage who was the fifth such case showered them with since 2010 with gangs gifts and attention of Pakistani men being before subjecting them convicted of similar to acts of appalling sexgrooming outrages in ual violence.

Rochdale, Derby, The exploitation Rotherham and lasted for five years and Shropshire.

Continued on page 30 In an interview

Mayor of London 'fathered' love child in November 2009 London's charismatic Mayor, currently married to an Anglo Indian, is in the midst of a saucy scandal.

It has now been revealed that Johnson fathered a lovechild in 2009.

His identity as the father of the child had been kept secret from the public until now as per the wishes of the child's mother and art critic Helen Macintyre.

But Mr Johnson’s half Indian wife Marina, mother of their four children, allegedly threw him out of the house ‘like a tom cat’ after claims that Stephanie was the result of an affair between the mayor and art consultant Miss Macintyre, who worked for him in an unpaid capacity.

In a blow to Johnson, the appeal court on Tuesday ruled the public has a right to know that Boris Johnson had an extramarital affair with a woman who later gave birth to their daughter, Stephanie in November 2009, the appeal court has ruled.

Three senior judges decided on Monday that voters were entitled to be told that the Mayor of London conducted a "brief adulterous affair" with the woman who later gave birth to their daughter, now

aged three.

Johnson's fatherhood of Macintyre's daughter was first revealed by the Daily Mail in July 2010, but has since been the subject of an anonymous legal battle at the high court.

The court of appeal rejected Macintyre's bid for a privacy injunction against the newspaper, ruling that she had previously shown an "ambivalent approach to the confidentiality" of Johnson's paternity of their daughter. The judges also upheld major parts of an earlier high court ruling that referred to the politician as "philandering".

The judges also referred to an interview and photoshoot she did with Tatler magazine which contained references to her affair with Mr Johnson and the fact that he was alleged to be Stephanie’s father.

In emails to the magazine, she said she had been advised by her lawyers against agreeing to photographs of her daughter being published, adding that this was ‘quite disappointing’.

Miss Macintyre, 39,

Boris with wife Marina

moved out of the £5million London home of her cuckolded partner, property developer Pierre Rolin, after Stephanie was born.

Neither she nor Mr Johnson, 47, has ever confirmed – or denied – that he was the father.

Dismissing the application for an injunction, the court said ‘much that has been published... in relation to the baby’s paternity remains available online’.

The Master of the Rolls added: ‘It is fanciful to expect the public to forget the fact that a man who is said to be the baby’s father, and who is a major public figure, has fathered a child

Now with data

International Sim

5

Mobile

Landline

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1.5p

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Order your free sim from o2.co.uk/flag or visit any ø shop Exclusions apply. International rates are for calls made from the UK. UK data only. Internet enabled phones. Excessive usage policy and terms apply. Minimum top-up £10. Rates correct as of 08.05.13 and subject to change. See o2.co.uk/internationalsim for details and latest rates.

Helen Macintyre

after a brief adulterous affair (not for the first time).

‘The mother accepted in cross-examination that any woman who embarked on an affair with the father was “playing with fire” and that such an affair was bound to attract “very considerable media attention.

The mayor's official spokesman said: "We don't comment on matters pertaining to the mayor's private life."

6

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Q&A with Balan V. Iyer: An expert on Vedic Maths

Brand it like Beckham

By AV Correspondent It’s the age of fast-learning. Gone are the days when you sit and write a letter with pen and paper because technology has taken over with its fast and sophisticated machines that send messages instantly.

Similarly every day a new machine is launched in the market that makes human efforts easier. However, in this technological rat race are we missing out on something? Well, the human brain maybe?

This is where mathematics comes into play. No calculator can do what the human brain can. The art of Vedic Maths has become so popular lately that more and more children want to learn and acquire the skills at an early age.

Originally, Vedic Maths is the name given to the ancient system of Indian Mathematics which was rediscovered from the Vedas between 1911 and 1918

by Sri Bharati Krsna Tirthaji (18841960). In the Vedic system 'difficult' problems or huge sums can often be solved immediately by the Vedic method. These striking and beautiful methods are just a part of a complete system of Mathematics which is far more systematic than the modern 'system'.

I spoke to Balan V. Iyer, a Vedic Maths expert based in Bombay. He is currently in London on a holiday but is never away from his love for maths and music.

What is Vedic Maths?

Vedic Mathematics is a set of quick calculation techniques built on sound logic which positively improves accuracy and speed in calculations and gradually increases the confidence level of students.

In today’s fiercely competitive academic environment, the importance of Vedic Mathematics can hardly be overemphasized. Vedic Mathematics is a list of sixteen basic sutras or aphorisms which are considered as good strategies for calculations. They are said to be creative and extremely useful and can be applied in a number of ways to solve problems in Arithmetic and Algebra, most notably within the education system.

How did you develop interest in this field?

As a young boy I had developed a fascination for Mathematics and was extremely fast in calculations. Over the years this interest became a deep-rooted passion and now a career option post retirement. I have my training academy.

Give me any date of any year and I could tell in a few seconds, which day that would be! Again an example of quick computation.

Can you give us examples of how these can be applied in day-to-day context?

Some examples: To multiply any two digit number by 11, just add the two digits and place the total in between them e.g. 43 X 11 = 473 and 63 X 11 = 693.

Mo Luthra Branding Consultant www.moluthra.com

Balan V. Iyer

To calculate 95² we mentally calculate to get 9025. We multiply 9 with the next number 10 to get 90 and suffix 25 to get answer. Thus 115² = 13225.

Similarly, with some practice the answers could be written in one line in the following cases too: 1012 X 1014 = 1026168; square root of 12769 is 113; cube root of 5832 is 18; 3201 X 4302 = 13770702, 21³= 9261; the number 237237 would be divisible by 7, 11 and 13 and so on. One could also verify the accuracy of calculations made using simple tools. This feature is very convenient to crack scholarship and entrance examinations, where multiple choice answers are given.

How does it help students?

Vedic Mathematics eradicates the fear of Mathematics and instils confidence, sharpens the brain and facilitates a habit of analytical thinking and measured approach. As VM has the power of demystifying Mathematics, many schools in UK and USA teach Vedic Mathematics as part of their academic curriculum.

Some schools in India too have started this in the last 4-5 years. Students are trained in mental Mathematics with the application of logic.

What kind of students do you teach and how does it help them in the future?

In my academy, about 180 students from the age 8 to 13 (Classes 4 to 8) are trained each year to gear them for various Mathematics’ based competitive examinations where accuracy and speed are important. More relevant is how to answer questions by a process of elimination. Many of my students have exhibited demonstrable improvement in their grasp of the subject and have shone in many international competitions. Teachers too can improve their methods to impart training. VM is useful to everyone – students, teachers, professionals, parents and lovers of Mathematics.

Butcher jailed for forcing Indian woman into modern day slavery A butcher who forced an Indian woman into modernday slavery and raped her was jailed for 11 years last week.

Enkarta Balapovi, 54, subjected the 39-year-old to four months of sexual abuse behind his wife's back while forcing his victim to sleep on the floor of his single room flat.

The illiterate woman had been lured to the UK with the promise of work as a nanny, hoping to earn money for her poverty-

stricken family in India.

But she found herself locked indoors and forced to work 16-hour days during a four-year ordeal at the hands of Balapovi and co-accused secretary Shamina Yousuf and optician Shashi Obhrai.

Obhrai, of Pembroke Street, Northwood, Middlesex, was convicted after trial of making a threat to kill and ABH after a trial.

She was given 18months in prison for ABH and 20 months in prison for making threats to kill, with

both sentences running concurrently and suspended for 20 months Yousuf, of Pavilion Way, Edgware, Middlesex, was convicted of ABH, and order to carry out 40 hours unpaid work. Yousuf's husband, supermarket manager, Aleemuddin Mohammed, 35, was cleared of sexual assault at the trial. Butcher Balapovi's wife Shanaz Begum, 57, was found not guilty of people trafficking offences on the direction of the judge.

Last week saw the announcement that football icon David Beckham, at the age of 38, had decided to call time on his playing career, and retire. While this captured the media headlines, when was the last time that Beckham was really seen as a proper footballer?

David Beckham has transgressed the realms of being a player. No, he is a full on brand and his retirement just goes to show how brand really works.

The product, him being a footballer, which is what he is meant to be famous for, is not the important thing with the Beckham brand, or any brand or business for that matter.

In the case of Beckham, for the last ten

years he hasn’t played on English shores. His last England cap was almost four years ago. Really since the age of 32, when he left Real Madrid for the LA Galaxy, he has not been seen as a hardcore footballer. As most footballers find, unless you are Ryan Giggs of course, at 32 is when your career hits a cliff edge.

Others will claim Beckham wasn’t even that great in the first place. Former England star Chris Waddle made a statement that Beckham wouldn’t be in the list of the best 1,000 footballers

to have played the game.

We can debate how good Beckham is but the real point is that like any brand it is the emotional appeal and the personality which is more powerful than the actual product sold, the football. What

In Defence Of Tax Havens....

Continued from page 3 No wonder for investment companies BVI is a perfectly legitimate British Overseas Territory and has 3,000 listed mutual funds.

I think the BVI, whose Head of State is HM Queen, and Cayman Islands, should keep their fund legislation, from which British companies bring to the UK profits, but always require a public list of company names and directors and shareholders. The Prime Minister agrees, as his letter this week to Governments of those British territories shows.

So how do you tell someone is not using it as a tax-shelter: A Briton being a shareholder in a BVI company does not save tax. He’d need some complicated structure like Google or Starbucks has.

And certainly would not own shares in his own name. Being in one’s own name, this means one would be taxed fully in one’s country of residence, eg the UK. Say that again, why do British asset managers and investors establish tax-haven fund companies if not for their tax-haven status? To attract foreign investors, but the British shareholder still pays tax in the UK. Some current or future shareholders alongside them may have no

connection with the UK but want a familiar investment location, with British fund and investment laws and Articles of Association, and the safety of a British Crown territory but who want to be taxed only once – in their home country.

Even before being a British Government trade advisor I believed British companies and individuals should own companies globally, but be UK tax resident – like me and my companies – because of the ease of doing business here – but sometimes, like my shares in Apple, you end up owning shares in an overseas company, still as a Briton you pay tax in the UK. We want Britons to own foreign shares and

.

he did as a player or if he retired or not is of little consequence.

That’s how brand works; it’s less about the product and more about the meaning. This is where the Beckham brand has done very well.

By him being very hard working, good looking and a pleasant chap who has got his head screwed on and using football as the medium to get his face known. Beckham has made his money from creating links and associations, his funky and provocative imagery and being seen relevant to a worldwide audience.

Just like a brand identity does, he is a symbol that imparts trust and coolness.

He was wheeled out for the Olympics bid and similarly he was employed in China to use his image to put to bed any of the scandals about the legitimacy of their soccer association. In addition, he has just signed a 5 year $30 million contract with Sky to be a brand ambassador.

If businesses can stop thinking in terms of the narrow field in which they operate, but in broader terms of what they can mean to people and how they can connect with them. Then the world is their oyster. pay tax on their returns in the UK as I do. As any economist will tell you, that is vital to a positive balance of payments. Of course next we will be told it’s immoral for Britons to own shares in Apple.

The tax evaders who do not pay tax, don’t pay tax regardless of tax-haven status. Your pension and my BVI company are not in that category. And the tax avoiders, mitigators, like Google are abusing such locations through complex structures. Again, that is not you and I. Indeed we write about and publicise it. So let’s ensure we don’t kill the benefit to British pensioners and the British exchequer of getting all profits taxed in the UK from BVI, Cayman shareholdings.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

7

Smith & Williamson launches World Remit awarded ADA its Asian Business Group Business of the Year Award Smith & Williamson, the accountancy and investment management group, hosted a drinks reception at its Moorgate office to formally launch its newly created Asian Business Group on Tuesday 14th May. The group advises clients, both resident and non-resident of South Asian diaspora.

In attendance was a focused gathering of business intermediaries and key figures within the Asian community, ranging from private wealth advisers to lawyers and entrepreneurs.

“We are launching this group because we believe there is a real need in the community for the right advice from practitioners who have the technical expertise, international capability and understanding of the culture to assist individuals, families and companies from a South

Joss Dalrymple, (National Head of Private Client Tax Service) and Harish Dass (Head of Asian Business Group) Smith & Williamson

the success of Asian entrepreneurs continues to go from strength to strength, and therefore I am delighted that Smith & Williamson now has a group dedicated to serve the needs of the Asian community.”

Joss added: “Wealth creation, wealth management and wealth preserva-

L-R: Jackie Oakes, Partner, Smith & Williamson; Arun Ram, Director, 3 Sixti Limited; Tej Randeva, Spice2Go; Shandhia Varu, Lark Insurance, Harish Dass, Head of Asian Business Group, Smith & Williamson

Asian background.

Working with private clients and their families requires the utmost tact, discretion and confidentiality, and we also put great emphasis on a bespoke and flexible

tion are at the heart of what we do, and this is particularly key for clients whose wealth is typically ‘new money’. As a firm, we have experience of preserving wealth across

L-R: Harish Dass, Joss Dalrymple, Deepak Malhotra Managing Director, Barclays Wealth Advisory and Mr Balwant Mann.

approach,” commented head of the Asian Business Group, Harish Dass. Harish, a chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser, has extensive experience in advising entrepreneurs, ownermanaged businesses, highnet worth individuals and corporations.

Joss Dalrymple, national head of private client tax services at Smith & Williamson said: “It is a well-recognised fact that the entrepreneurial spirit of the Asian community has made a significant contribution to the economy of Great Britain since their arrival in the last fifty years and beyond.

It is more important now than ever to ensure that

numerous generations and taking a long-term view of the client and their needs; in fact this is what the firm has been doing so successfully since 1881.”

Harish noted: “We are very excited to have launched the group, which we expect to grow significantly over the next five to ten years. Clients can expect to receive holistic advice tailored to their specific business or finan-

cial needs. Our specialisms include the services one would expect from an established professional services firm, namely tax, accountancy, assurance and business service, corporate finance, restructuring, recovery and investment management, to name a few.”

The Asian Business Group has the cultural understanding and commitment to assist its clients, as well as being multi-lingual, with languages spoken including Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati and Urdu.

Smith & Williamson has been managing the financial affairs of private clients and their business interests for over a century. It is one of the top ten* largest firms of accountants in the UK, and its investment management business has over £14bn of funds under management and advice (as at 31st March 2013).

It is headquartered in London, with offices in Belfast, Bristol, Birmingham, Dublin, Glasgow, Guildford, Salisbury, Manchester, Southampton and Worcester. In addition, it has international capability in over 100 countries through membership of Nexia International, WTS Alliance and M&A International.

For further information about Smith & Williamson’s Asian Business Group please contact Harish Dass on 020 7131 4395 or by email on harish.dass@smith.willia mson.co.uk.

Alternatively, the website can be found at http://www.smith.william son.co.uk/asian-businessgroup.

The international online based money transfer company WorldRemit has been awarded the prestigious ADA Business of the Year Award.

The award is given annually by the Africa Diaspora Awards and features categories that covers various aspects of socio-economic development including Business, Community, Media, E d u c a t i o n / Ac a d e m i a , Leadership, Philanthropy and Lifetime Achievement.

According to the organizers the award ceremony is an event which “celebrates, honours and recognizes achievement from within the African Diaspora community” highlighting the positive contributions the African diaspora community makes to the UK and to Africa and recognizing and rewarding the contributions of migrants.

Receiving the Award on behalf of WorldRemit Limited, the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Ms Catherine Wines, thanked the organizers and remarked that WorldRemit is fast becoming a household brand within the migrant communities as it strives to establish its better online remittance procedure for

Catherine Wines COO, WorldRemit and Martina Moh

the convenience of migrant workers.

Joined in an exclusive interview backstage, Ms Wines observed that the ADA Award was coming on the heels of WorldRemit’s recent IAMTN 2012 Award for the Best Money Transfer Company in Europe and a reflection of the company’s commitment to being the best online based remittance business for its clientele and partners around the world.

She emphasized that the company recognizes how migrant workers have hitherto struggled to remit money home, not only for the upkeep of their loved ones, but also to partici-

pate in the local economic developments in their home countries through bank savings, mortgage scheme and community project financing. “Their efforts have often been inhibited by exorbitant transfer fees and exploiting Forex rates in addition to the inconvenience of having to move from one agent location to another”, she said, adding: “Now with WorldRemit, the migrant worker can enjoy the convenience of sending money from his own home or office 24/7 with minimal fees and more favourable exchange rates from 40 countries to over 100 receive countries around the world”.

Asian business group Smith & Williamson has been looking after the financial affairs of private clients, their families and business interests for over a century.

Tax Audit and assurance Corporate finance Forensic services Financial services HR consulting Investment management Restructuring and recovery

(*according to the latest survey of the market

by Accountancy Age magazine.)

The value of investments can fall as well as rise and investors may not receive back the original amount invested.

Smith & Williamson LLP Regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities.

A member of Nexia International Nexia. Smith & Williamson Audit Limited Registered to carry on audit work and regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of Investment business activities. A member of Nexia International. Smith & Williamson Financial Services Limited Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Smith & Williamson Corporate Finance Limited Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. A member of the London Stock Exchange. A member of M&A International. Smith & Williamson Investment Management LLP Authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. 13/427 30/04/2014 The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate all of the products and services referred to here.

8

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Hindu community called to action over caste discrimination legislation

Dimpi Dattani, Team member, Alliance of Hindu Organisations On 8th May, over one 150 community leaders, representing the 450,000 Hindus living in the capital, met at a school hall in North London to start the process of calling the Hindu community to action. The meeting, called by the Alliance of Hindu Organisations UK (AHO), was the first of three to be held over the next few weeks. The others will be held with the large Hindu communities in the Midlands and the North.

ular in the House of Lords, about the community."

But there is a danger that the consultation period for the legislation will be short and legislation will be rushed through.

What could this mean for you? There may be no definition of proper "caste". There may be increased bureaucracy.

People and employers may need to register their caste. It may cause divisions in the community.

And remember - no research has been done for any other community apart from Indian on the subject of caste.

We are calling the Hindu community to write to their MPs and express their concerns.

Go to www.mycasteishindu.org, download a letter template, sign it, and send it to your local MP. The Hindu community has already sent around 300 letters to MPs expressing their concerns over the legislation and many more will follow this week.

As Lord Bhikhu Parekh said in Asian Voice last week, the issue of introducing caste discrimination legislation has "divided the Indian community far more deeply than any other." As Alpesh Patel wrote a few weeks ago: "Never have I been party to so much energy and effort by British Indian groups." Navin Shah said "the amendment is perhaps well meaning but misguided and unnecessary."

To its credit, the Government Equalities Office (GEO) sent an AHO member organisation a letter on 17 May conceded there could be "a serious risk of unintended consequences."

The Government need to know how strongly the Hindu community feels about this issue. Jayesh Jotangia, Barrister from the Hindu Lawyers Association and AHO spokesperson, said: "Many intolerant, offensive and inaccurate comments have been made, in partic-

Date:

/

/ 2013

Dear ........................................................................... (MP)

Re: Concerns over the consultation process for Caste Discrimination legislation I understand the Government has voted to bring forward legislation that will have the effect of including caste within the protected characteristics of the Equality Act 2010.

As a community leader I am deeply concerned at this as I believe this may have an extremely negative impact on communities living within the UK - not only Hindu but others also.

I think "caste" is really difficult to define. There are thousands of castes, subcastes, clans, tribes and other sub-groups in India, protected by several pieces of legislation, including Articles 16, 23, 24, 44 of the Indian Constitution, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act 1989, the Backward Classes Act 1993 and others. Yet, all of this legislation has led to an entrenchment of caste-based discrimination and has not alleviated it.

The research the government has relied upon to evidence caste discrimination in this country was biased and unrepresentative. The NIESR research only evidenced 23 cases, all of which were unverified in that the victim’s account was used without further investigation. Forming legislation based on so few untested cases is not wise. Further research urgently needs to be carried out which is independent, robust and large scale.

Caste-based discrimination may exist in the UK - and where it does it is heartbreaking - but I, and many other Hindus, think that many politicians and the prolegislation campaign has branded this as a "Hindu problem". This is unfair and unacceptable for the Hindu community and based on a lack of evidence.

Please work together with the Hindu community to make sure our concerns have been answered and we do not continue to feel like politicians are acting against our interests. This is best done through engaging us in proper research, grassroots consultation and a proper time period for consultation of between 1 and 2 years.

Thank you for reading this mail and I look forward to your response.

Constituent Name:__________________________________________________ Email Address:_____________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________ ________________________________Post Code:________________________ For updates please visit www.mycasteishindu.org Email this form to Kamal Rao at kamal.rao@abplgroup.com or fax it to 020 7749 4081 or post it to Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW for further action.

2013

LILY Foundation is the sponsored charity of Asian Achievers Awards 2013

MUNNI

Lady Mohini Kent Noon

Bharatpur, Rajasthan.

GNK project

Munni was 12 when her father sent from her village to live in Mumbai with her sister, a prostitute. “Where does she go to at night, I used to wonder. She would come back next morning with money,” she recalls. Her sister said that she too could earn money when she grew up.

Munniduly grew up, her sister introduced her to a man, and that’s how ‘Munni bad naam huyi’.

By the time she was 22, Munni had two sons.

Then a man proposed marriage to her and she accepted with alacrity, eager to get out of the life of prostitution.

However, he backed out.

“I was fed up. I’d rather wash utensils in a hotel than live any longer like this,” she says. “I would never send my child into the trade.”

Her sister was not supportive. Munni is one of four sisters and the other three work as prostitutes.

Munni returned to her village in Bharatpur, in the same tribal district that follows the abhorrent custom of prostituting their daughters. Her family was hostile and refused to accommodate her.

Another relative offered temporary shel-

ter, which gave her breathing space. With her meagre savings she bought one room and

moved in with her boys.

But what next?Her small savings would soon be exhausted.

Luckily for Munni, the Gram Niyojan Kendra (GNK) project advised her on ways to earn from home. Munni learnt to make omelette sandwiches and sold them locally, along with boiled eggs, which earned her about Rs.100 per day (about £1.20p). Now her older son, 17, works with her, selling the food at the bus-stand that his mother

cooks fresh each morning.

India is a land governed as much by custom as by law. The struggle is to change the mindset of people before any positive, constructive action can be taken. It has taken the GNK project twenty years to win the trust of the community and it’s only now that the villagers are prepared to send their girls to the school and help them to c o n s t r u c t respectable lives.

The LILY Foundation is helping GNK to run their dedicated school and develop a skills training centre to teach trades leading to employment. We must help them to find means to replace the income lost from prostitution. Girls like Munni would have no hope without our support.

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

Justice delayed is justice denied

Gary Dobson and David Norris Stephen Lawrence

While racially abused victims and their families from ethnic minority background, often fear for their lives and avoid complaining about their attacks to the authorities, it is a privilege to see

'courage' being appreciated when the “remarkable determination” of the parents of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence was praised by the three senior judges, who denied one of his killers permission to

appeal.

Doreen and Neville Lawrence fought a dogged campaign for justice that paid off last year when two of the five suspects, David Norris and Gary Dobson, were finally convicted of murder and jailed for life.

Britain launches campaign to attract more investment Britain has launched a campaign to attract more investment fund money to the country, with plans for tax breaks, cutting red tape and marketing campaigns in Asia and the Americas, the Reuters has reported.

In speeches to fund management executives on Tuesday afternoon,

Treasury ministers Sajid Javid and Greg Clark said they aim to reverse a weakening of the UK's dominance as a centre for the funds industry.

While London and Edinburgh are the locations for teams of fund managers at firms such as Schroders and Aberdeen Asset

Management, more funds are domiciled in Dublin and Luxembourg. Clark said the government's strategy will focus on more efficient and transparent taxation, while new financial watchdog the FCA will seek to cut red tape around obtaining fund authorisation.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Leading Lights

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Jillian Haslam – Suffered the Pain of

Extreme Poverty but Survived to Tell the Story Jillian Haslam is a qualified trainer, motivational speaker, success coach and author of her emotive memoir; Indian.

English.

Both of Jillian Haslam’s parents were British, born in India at the time of the British Raj to British parents on both sides. Her family was part of a forgotten minority of British left on the streets of India after Independence.

She was born in India and considers herself Indian. Jillian says that she owes a lot to the country that saved her life and that of her siblings.

“If I didn't feel Indian, it would be a disgrace,” she told us.

“My childhood consisted of poverty, hunger, disease and death I had to get through each day trying to save the life of a younger sibling. I was homeless up to the age of six or seven, going from one veranda to the back of someone’s house to rest, or under people’s

Jillian Haslam

steps to by-lanes, wherever we found a dry spot to sleep. My first home was under some steps –and is pictured on the front cover of my book.

It was wet, full or vermin; people washed their clothes, bathed and went to the toilet only a few yards away.”

In a nearby lane, Jillian and her siblings would regularly watch a man frying food on the roadside. Because they wouldn't leave, he used to splash hot oil on them with a spoon but the children would scamper a few yards, return and continue to look longingly at the food.

He would get so fed up that he would put some food in some paper and give it to them with a warning never to return.

But they did; every day, and he fed them every day.

“My second home was in a slum, where approximately 3000 people shared three bathrooms. The little room we had was eight by ten feet. There was no electricity, no water and no natural light. It was like living in the black hole of Calcutta. My sister and I were very little at the time, eight and ten. We took care of an infant sister and a two-year-old brother; we were left for hours on end with no food and no one to turn to. My youngest sister

almost died of malnutrition too. A local tea shop gave me a bowl of diluted milk every day in which I mixed some white powder that the hospital had given us and that, along with love, hope and prayers, saved her life.”

There was also a grocery store that gave them credit knowing that Jillian and her three siblings were at home alone and starving.

Chocolate bombs (illegal Diwali fireworks that look like chocolates) were thrown in front of their house hour after hour, because the passage was just three feet wide. Locals did this intentionally, for fun, but the children were traumatized.

“I remember holding my dying sisters’ ears trying to save her from the terror of the blasts, thinking she would never make it.

I didn’t want to allow another sibling of mine to die. My daily thoughts were on how to find the next meal for the three little ones in my care, how to fight death and how to be a brave example to them.”

After leaving school, Jillian moved to Delhi and found a job in a private company.

She worked hard and her family lived with her.

She competed with approximately 250 people for a role at the Bank

of America. After several rounds of interviews she was selected and shortly after that was promoted to being the President of the Bank of America Charity and Diversity Network.

Jillian then left the Bank of America to move to the UK on her parents’ ancestral papers.

She worked for Morgan Stanley, ABN Amro and RBS in London and simultaneously wrote her book.

She has since been invited to speak to women’s organizations, schools and universities, has setup her own training business and works with charities too. At RBS, Jillian won the first runner up social and humanitarian award for the 2012 Asian Woman of the Year.

She has overcome extraordinary challenges and aims to be an example of true potential. By telling her story, she hopes that corporates and individuals understand how sponsorships and kindness can save lives.

“I want them to see that there is hope and potential even in the most hopeless cases on earth.”

Discover more about Jillian at w w w. i n d i a n e n g lishthebook.com and ww w. h e l p y o u r s e l f a s s o c i ates.com.

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10

Your Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Politics of greed and opportunism

London needs a more visionary town planner

Most of us are surprised at the split in Harrow Labour Group that was at the helm. Although accusation of racism and underhand dirty tricks are freely thrown around, we are none the wiser.

It seems Indian subcontinent politics has arrived in Britain where everyone of substance would like to be chief, sit on the podium and rule the roots. Could the next step be the creation of a ruling dynasty? This is tyranny of impoverished thinking, a rapture of inner core.

Independent Labour Group with nine Labour Councillors has taken charge of the Town Hall, against twenty five loyal Labour Councillors, with the support of Conservatives that has turned the politics upside down. This is akin to uncaged monkey rushing from one place to another without aim or purpose.

This Herculean tragedy may destroy political career of some up and coming Councillors, as this break-away group will never be sanctioned at the national or regional level by Labour hierarchy.

With local elections on the horizon, their new found fame and fortune will soon be nipped in the bud.

In British politics, no break-away group has survived beyond existing term.

Dirty linen should never be washed in public. People of Harrow gave mandate to Labour, now they have virtual Conservative administration all but in name.

It is still not too late to iron-out differences, to unite, return to mother ship and not to let Conservatives in through back door. Let common sense and loyalty prevail over greed and personal ambition.

Shree Navinbhai Shah’s article “Future Growth of London” [AV 11 May p3] was timely.

The Mayor has invited several experts to advise him as how best to plan additional housing, schooling, medical care, child care, etc for further increases in the population of London. Namely Roger Tym & Partners, Catriona Riddell Associates, Martin Simons, Martin Crookston, Dr Nicholas Falk and John Hollis.

The Inner London population has been around 3 million since 1961. The Outer London has been around 4.8 million if one includes 0.3 illegal immigrants. Total 7.8 million.

According to the 2011 census, total London population shot up to Inner London 3.2 million and Outer London 5.3 million. Total 8.5 million.

My view as a Londoner (1967-2013) is that we should formulate a long term plan to reduce London population back to 7.8 million by 2036. The city has reached it’s optimum capacity.

Economic laws of diminishing returns and tail end developments will set in.

Half of London’s commercial and residential properties are ugly, dilapidated, discoloured and in need of internal and external redecorating, double glazing, roof and gutters repairs, etc. The Mayor should plan to uplift all these properties rather than build new even if it means government grants and/or long term soft loans. Millions of cars parked in narrow streets and roads are jamming free flow of vital traffic.

We could move the seat of Parliament to Birmingham and the City of London Financial Centre to Manchester respectively or build two new cities up North.

Both these groups would then be spurred into new ways of thinking.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

Cashing in

With trembling hands I opened a magazine called “FBI” expecting to read about the chilling activities of grim-faced American men with crewcuts and dark glasses.

To my relief, there was nothing sinister about the publication because FBI stood for Finance/Banking/Insurance and came from Abpl Group which publishes Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar weekly newspapers.

Readers were treated to a wealth (pun intended) of information and advice on those three vital FBI sectors from such financial superstars as Alpesh Patel, Paresh Davdra, Suresh Vagjiani and a host of other luminaries. A cracking foreword by MP Sajid Javid and a thoughtprovoking comment page by group publisher/editor C.B. Patel set the ball rolling, supported by an array of outstanding advertisements.

As CB wrote, the “very informative articles will help you to save more, invest better and perhaps help to spread our prosperity beyond the shores of this country.”

Well done, everybody concerned. A most impressive production.

Rudy Otter Via Email

Cricket spot fixing

Visas to India

I am amazed at criminal match fixing/spot fixing has reared its head in India’s cricket world. It is an irony that though Islamic sharia forbids gambling and betting, gamblers/bookies flourish in Islamic places eg Dubai / Pakistan; Muslim bookies openly defy holy sharia with impunity.

While police vigilance / outcome are commendable, many questions need answer. Was greed the only factor or hidden threats / blackmail coerced players to fix games? Why so much hoop la so early, which may cloud role of international mafia, and allow them to cover trail of misdeeds? It encourages trial by media and indelible blemish if the affair proves to be misadventure. It appears to be face saving patchwork for Police commissioner’s reputation tarnished in Delhi rape incident. Phone tapping is meant to detect terrorists, but is wrongly used for cricketers who are not terrorists. Did police have warrant to tap conversations?

Media coverage is confusing by statements like “no concrete proof”, “no direct evidence”, “no proof of link with foreign mafia” etc, taking public for a ride. Yet leading suspects had close links with Dubai based mafia and Pakistani network. With such explosive/eye-opening scandal, cricket will not be gentlemen’s’ game but a pawn at mercy of international crooks, who infiltrate and dictate all places where money is involved a la Bollywood. Such scandals are unhealthy not only for the game but also for India.

Indian Police should be praised and with wishes that this may lead to deterrence to greed of players and mafia.

Mr David Cameron announced the introduction of super priority visa service during his visit to India in February of this year for Indian visitors to the UK. This clearly demonstrates that Mr Cameron saw an opportunity, that not only makes it easier for Indian visitors to travel to UK but also possible investment opportunities.

The Indian Government, has increased the fees for a six month visa to £82 (excluding the VFS Service charges) and Tourist Visa fee for the UK National for more than 2 years and up to 5 years to £507 plus the VFS service fee of £10.20.

It is not clear why the Indian Government has decided to increase the visa fee! The Indian Government should be trying to attract more tourism as this generates a very high revenue. By charging such high visa fees, it seems like the Indian Government are trying to deter people from travelling to India.

The criteria and the eligibility requirements to obtain an OCI or PIO is also very stringent. Whilst it is understandable that due diligence checks and care have to be taken to verify the documents, but I believe that some of the requirements could be changed.

When a passport is issued all the necessary checks and verifications of documents are carried out, therefore, in the absence of not having any other documents a passport showing the date and place of birth should be taken as proof of when and where a person was born. Most of the countries in the world accept and recognise passports as not only as a means of identification but also as a legal document.

Kishore V Shingadia Via Email

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Visiting the Sanatan Temple

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

Call a Spade a Spade After the Rochdale scandal of last year when the so called “Asian” men made use of young white girls for monetary gain, another such case has come to light in Oxford involving another gang who skillfully groomed young victims and then sold them for £600 a time. The gang plied vulnerable girls with drugs and alcohol and offered them to men who subjected them to extreme sexual violence and torture. But unlike the Rochdale incident when the culprits were described by the media simply as “Asians” giving a false impression that Indians were involved, this time round the culprits have been properly described by their country of origin. The word Asian is an umbrella term and covers all people from the southern part of the continent including Indians, and in most cases, Indians may have nothing to do with it. We all look alike but it would not be too difficult to establish the country of origin of the culprits, rather than labelling them simply as Asians. It becomes confusing for the general public in deciding exactly where the perpetra-

tors come from and would judge all of us by the same yardstick. It is time to call a spade a spade!

The English rule was much better than our own people in India. Mostly in Uttar Pradesh cities and towns are widely famous for dirt and filth. When I was 15, I use to go out for a walk with neighbours and friends who were called ‘Mohallawale’. First thing I would notice was a road cleaner who used to clean side drainage and collected rubbish in a cart.

By 7am the whole city of Moradabad, Meerut would be shining. You could not focus on a single place that was left uncleaned. But in our Congress government, bribery, corruption, violence, crime, dirty atmosphere is easily noticeable and wide spread. Why do most elderly people talk of cities and its neighbourhood fondly, with praise and admiration? Because above mentioned vices were not found in pre 1947 India.We need a strong, unselfish, sacrificing and brooding government to forget the contribution of the foreign rulers in India.

Dr Manmohan Singh and his colleagues are not taking interest in uplifting the country and her people. The citizens should take a pledge that like the English, European or Americans we seriously want to transform the country!

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Ramesh V Moradabadi Southall

On 12 May my wife and I visited the Sanatan Temple at Wembley.

Unfortunately it was quite a disappointing visit. The temple has large windows; the empty spaces in the wall, just before a window, were dirty & clearly visible.

Flowers on a couple of Murtis didn’t look fresh and had dry bits on it. There lay a hoover which looked so ugly and improper. There should have been a store room (either outside or in a corner inside the temple) that can house any such equipments. We had a word with a person who seemed to be the Pujari. Although he did listen to our observations and suggestions, his response didn’t seem convincing enough. It seemed that he would pass the comments to the committee. With full respect to the Pujari, the Sanatan Temple and its Management Committee, I hope things will change for good.

Devang Bhatt Ilford

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EducAtion/council Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Change Makers Team GB Sprinter Motivates Sai Students to Take up Sports GB Sprinter Laura Turner visited Sai School on the last day of term as part of the Sports4All outreach programme where sportsmen and sportswomen visit Schools to encourage children to take up a range of sports.

Athletes visit Schools as they believe there is a Champion in every child and through their visits they draw the champion spirit out from each child. Laura ran 4 vigorous activities like press ups and star jumps to upbeat chart music in the background inspiring all the children to keep going until the clock stopped. All the kids really enjoyed themselves watching their friends sweat it out to complete the exercises.

Laura, originally from Harrow then addressed the assembly on what it is like to compete for your country at a national level and her day to day routine from getting

Laura Turner

up at the crack of dawn to watching everything you eat. She spoke about her experiences during Beijing Olympics and the Delhi Commonwealth Games. Children had lots of questions for her after her talk. Laura finally brought out her Gold Medal from the Commonwealth Games to show to the youngsters which was passed round to all the participants.

On the last day of each term, Sai School organises fun activities to help children bond through group activities and Mums who run the Parents Support Group organise a food sale to help with raising funds

for the free Saturday School.

Sai School of Harrow is hosting an Open Day on Saturday 22nd June for any interested parents to come with their children from the ages of 5 years to 15 years who wish to register for the September 2013 intake. Sai School, the free Saturday School in Stanmore is structured like a mainstream School and each year group from Reception through to Year 10 has its own syllabus to follow. Visit w w w. s a i s c h o o l . c o m where the syllabus for each year group is listed and contact Tejal if you wish to register for the Open Day where classes will be open for new parents and pupils to sit in.

For any Schools wishing to invite any Team GB Athlete, please contact Heather Lockwood at Sports4all on 01372 824 440.

Spoilt student 'faking his own kidnap' jailed for more than 3 years A spoilt Kenyan student of Gujarati origin who faked his own kidnap in a bid to extort his wealthy father out of £614,000 in gold bullion has been jailed for more than three years.

Viraj Mashru, 21, staged the kidnap after his father Rajendra grew tired of his son’s wastrel lifestyle and cut off his £500-a-week allowance.

Mashru worked with accomplices to convince his father he had been abducted and would only be returned in exchange for a huge bounty – all the while hiding out at a London hotel.

Amit Patel, 26, told the stricken businessman he had kidnapped Kenyan-born Mashru, and that unless the ransom was paid he would be assaulted and his fingers cut off.

Mashru also claimed his supposed kidnappers had threatened to rape him, a court heard last

week.

Working with a third accomplice, 31-year-old Marcus Bennett, Patel made a series of calls to Mr Mashru threatening to kill his son, in order to lure him from Kenya to London.

During the fake kidnap a total of £614,800 worth of gold bullion was demanded, with Mr Mashru instructed to deposit the ransom in a Harrods account and moved to a hotel in Wembley run by Patel, in a bid to avoid being seen by anybody who knew him.

On October 23 Rajendra Mashru received

a call in Kenya asking if he was Mashru’s father and making the ransom demand.

Mr Mashru arrived flew to Britain on October 30 and was greeted at the airport by police who he had called and told of the plot.

The men were caught on November 1, when police intercepted a car they believed belonged to someone involved in the plot, having analysed information collected from mobile phone monitoring.

When officers stopped the white Toyota in Rickmansworth they discovered Mashru, Patel and a third man in the vehicle.

Mashru initially stuck with his story, but when Patel told officers that the kidnapping was bogus, he admitted that he had been in on the conspiracy.

Both men were taken to Belgravia police station where they made full admissions with Mashru

11

A Wanderer’s Diary

Some strange happenings in Harrow London borough of Harrow is a leafy suburb, reasonably well off and has historic links with India. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister as well as several children of Rajas, Maharajas, Nawabs and some tycoons enrolled at the famous Harrow school in the bygone years. Today besides siblings of Indian diaspora, there are increasing number of students from China and Gulf countries, who are studying at that school.

African Asians migrated to Harrow during the Kenya exodus (1969) and the process was augmented by Ugandan Asian expulsion in 1972.

Sangat Community Centre organised a photo exhibition of this new Harrowvian some years back.

Harrow has the highest proportion of Hindus

in local authority in the UK, predominantly Gujarati Hindus and Jains. Punjabis also are settled in the area and more and more Tamils make a beeline to the Harrow too.

The Indian community living in the area is largely well educated professionals or business and commerce are their preferred occupations.

Community centres like Sangat and Kadwa Patidar centre are very active. There are large number of Hindu temples and increasing number of mosques. A huge and eye catching mosque is situated just opposite the Harrow civic centre. Up until recently Cllr Navin Shah (Labour) was the leader of the London borough of Harrow. He vacated his position on becoming the London Assembly member.

Cllr Thaya Idaikkadar became the

Leader of the Labour group and thereby of the borough. Somehow there was so much happening at the civic centre- perhaps behind the closed doors that the Labour group split and Cllr Thaya became the Leader of the Independent Labour party, and in due course became the leader of the borough again.

Tories must be supporting them from outside and hoping for advantage at the next year's local elections. Ed Miliband and the Labour party ought to keep a closer eye on a 'safe' Labour area. May be in due course we will hear from the spokespersons of all the four parties involvedLabour, C o n s e r v a t i v e , Independent Labour and Lib Dem. The large Hindu community must be watching this strange and awkward development with concerns

Is it a fair representation?

Brent has a new leadership mix. Few days ago 5 new members were elected on the Brent's executive community of the Labour run authority's most powerful panel. Cllr Roxanne Mashari, Michael Pavey, James Deneselow, Margaret McLennan and Aslam Choudry were voted on the panel on Saturday 11th May at the Annual General Meeting. This election means that half of the members are from the minority, black and ethnic backgrounds and average age of the members comes down to 46 from 60.

Cllr Muhammed

Butt, who continues as the leader of Brent Council is “incredibly excited about the dynamic, energetic, talented, new executive committee.” The new executive is made up of the following: l Muhammed ButtLeader l Ruth Moher- Deputy Leader l Krupesh Hirani- Adult social care l Michael PaveyChildren and families l Aslam Choudry- Crime and Public safety l James DeneselowCustomers and citizens l Roxanne Mashari-

Environment and Neighbourhood l Jim Moher- Highways l Margaret McLennanHousing l George CraneRegeneration One is not very sure if the two 'Mohers' are related. However it is interesting to note that one third of the Brent population is mainly formed of Hindus, Jains, Punjabis and Tamils.

Even in the Labour group there are some 'talented' councillors from the Indian background. So one wonders whether the new executives represent the residents fairly!

National Pharmacy Association Board Member appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear NPA Board Member Umesh Patel MBE has been appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Tyne and Wear for Her Majesty the Queen.

Lord-Lieutenants are the representatives of the Crown for each county in the United Kingdom. A Deputy's role includes suggesting companies and voluntary groups for whom it may be suitable for a Royal visit to be organized, and commenting on honours nominations.

Umesh Patel said: "I'm delighted to be appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Tyne and expressing relief that he had been caught.

Judge reduced Mashru’s sentence because his father had written a letter to say that he had been forgiven.

Rajendra Mashru runs P N Mashru, a logistics firm based in Mombasa,

Umesh Patel MBE

Wear, it is a great honour.

The fact that it has been conferred on me is ultimately a reflection of the contribution of communiKenya.

Mashru, of Harrow, Middlesex, admitted one count of conspiracy to blackmail and was jailed for three years and nine months.

Bennett of St John’s Wood, north west London admitted the same charge

ty pharmacies to the health of the nation."

Umesh Patel represents North East England members and was NPA chairman in 2006. Mr Patel was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s 2011 New Year Honours List, recognising his services to healthcare in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. In 2010 he received an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Sunderland and was appointed to The Board of Governors of the University this year. He has also been appointed to The Board of Governors of Sunderland High School. and was sentenced to 12 months in jail.

Patel, of Wembley, northwest London will be sentenced on May 24 for the same charge.

Mashru jailed for more than three years after admitting conspiracy to blackmail.

12

Media Watch

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 25th May 2013

Sweet words without hard action remain sweet nothings. The affable pleasantries between Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Manmohan Singh, and the congratulations offered to Mr Sharif by BJP President Rajnath Singh were the proper courtesies expected of national leaders, but it is what happens on the ground hereon that will determine the true tone of Indo-Pakistan relations.

Caution, the watchword “Make Haste Slowly” was the title of a Times of India editorial (May 15). “New Delhi must stay engaged, but watch how political alignments play out in Islamabad,” it advised, since “there is no telling how the equation between the newlyelected civilian government and the military will play out in the months ahead. Besides, be it Kargil 1999 or the 26/11terror attacks in Mumbai….New Delhi ought to take it a step at a time.”

Surat model for India Adam Roberts, the Economist’s man in India, in an arresting account of his journey across the country, writes of how “on a sweltering day, guided by local officials, I toured the water works and municipal solid waste unit of Surat [and] to my sur-

Mukesh Ambani sky-bound Industrialists and knowledgedriven techies and scientists are rewriting the script of Indian development, hence charting the country’s future. They think big, where most Indian politicians act and think small. Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) has been building on the platform left to him by his late father Dhirubhai Ambani whose life story is the stuff of legend. Son Mukesh has presided over the construction of the world’s largest oil refinery

Clarke in Chennai Senior British Cabinet Minister Kenneth Clarke headed a large healthcare business delegation to Chennai recently to promote healthcare partnership between the UK and Tamil Nadu. His was

Bhagwati broadside Mukesh Ambani

at Jamnagar and his company has a huge stake in the offshore oil and gas fields in the Bay of Bengal, in addition to RIL’s myriad other enterprises in a variety of fields including textiles to polyester, fibre intermediates and power.

Surat prise there were no flies, no smells, no litter…..it was thrilling to see how a booming town could manage its rubbish and its water supply. By burning trash and generating electricity, Surat also helps to power its water purification, helping to restore the river to health. It is so rare in India to see an example of a well-run urban place.

Others need to know about it, and to learn how some basic things can be done well” (Times of India edit-page May 11). The unmentioned new Kutch rebuilt on the debris of a devastating earthquake is also an enduring monument to good governance.

to-make generic drugs and overthe-counter play in the US and emerging markets will be the game plan,” said Satish Reddy, Vice Chairman and Managing Director. (Mint May 15).

India’s pharmaceutical industry as a whole remains upbeat. It has bucked the trend of a general economic slowdown by posting huge growth in market capitalization. Exports have been the capstone of its expansion, with the global pharmaceuticals market offering strong opportunities to Indian players. The big Indian companies have a large US presence, where much of their profits are made. However, the domestic market is robust and performing well (Hindu May 13)

Breaking state monopoly With India’s defence industry, hitherto under state control and unable to deliver products within agreed timelines and on budget, the government is opening it up to the private sector. Enter RIL. “As a company that has a track record of working on largescale projects, RIL has an advantage like other players such as the Tatas and Mahindra.

Having deep pocket helps,” said a market analyst. “Like in refining and oil exploration, RIL is really in for the kill in aerospace,” remarked a Mumbaibased defence consultant.

Former NASA scientist and Boeing company executive, 44 year-old Vivek Lall heads RIL’s aerospace division (Economic Times Magazine May 12)

Reddy’s success Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, India’s second-biggest drug maker, has reported a 67 per cent fourth quarter (2012-13) profit, based on generic sales in the US. Dr Reddy’s launched 14 new drugs in the year. “Highvalue launches in the US market, a strong pipeline of difficult-

Jagdish Bhagwati has never been known to suffer fools gladly. Nor does he take kindly to cant. The iconic Economics Professor at Columbia University, with his coruscating wit and insights, is always a pleasure to read or hear. His edit-page Times of India broadside (May 13) entitled, “A Climate of India-Baiting,” excoriated the Obama administration for its hypocrisy and double talk on reducing trade barriers. It was the maligned George W. Bush, who worked diligently to do so, while his sainted successor has done the opposite, thundered one of the world’s foremost international trade theorists, a Democrat voter as a rule.

Professor Bhagwati was especially critical of the Obama administration’s measures to limit outsourcing and clip the wings of Indian IT companies in the US. President Obama talks a good line on US ties with India, but he has little interest in the country, avers the Professor. During the reception for Prime Minister Manmmohan, he mispronounced Mrs Singh’s name twice, while also referring to India’s first prime minister as “President Jawaharlal Nehru.”

Indian techies creating US jobs The perception among certain US legislators that H-1B visas acquired by Indian IT professionals are eating into the American employment market, is patently false, according to a new study by an eminent US think-tank, the National Foundation for American Policy (NFAP). On the contrary, its findings demonstrate that Indian techies create jobs in the US. The NFAP report states that India-based companies do not use up most of their yearly H1B allotment, a conclusion based on annual statistics from 2006-11. “Research indicates measures to restrict the use of H-1B visas are not based on sound evidence and would represent a serious policy mistake that would shift more work and resources outside the United States,” said Stuart Anderson, NFAP Executive Director (Economic Times May 4).

Minister Kenneth Clarke

a timely call, for the state’s welfare, education, agricultural and industrial development has been a societal game changer for the poor, most notably for women’s empowerment. Mr Clarke said: “Of all the sectors where India and the UK can work for mutual benefit, healthcare is one of the strongest….The Indian private sector is renowned for offering world-class healthcare in India’s big cities. You are now keen to provide universal and affordable access to the same quality of service to India’s emerging towns and villages. You are also keen to strengthen your public healthcare infrastructure. The UK offers wide access to worldclass public healthcare infrastructure and owes much of that success to a vibrant public and private sector” (Hindu May 11)

Defence projects continuing apace Defence Minister A.K.Antony, speaking to the media at an Indian naval airbase in Goa said: “Our Army and Air Force are developing their capabilities in border areas only on our own land and this process will continue,” just as China had the right to do so in its area along the Line of Control (LoC).

He referred to the importance of protecting India’s vital sea lanes in the Indian Ocean and elsewhere, for which every support was being given to the Navy. “The Navy will see a new age of inductions,” he said. The indigenous 45,000 tonne aircraft carrier being built at the Cochin shipyard would be launched for

outfitting this August, with construction having begun in 2008.

It would become fully operational in 2016-17 after the completion of sea trials.

Naval air arm Terming the commissioning of the MIG 29K squadron a “red letter day” for the Navy, the Minister said the squadron would operate from INS Vikramaditya, formerly Admiral Gorshkov, which is to be delivered to India by Russia later this year. Naval aviation was set to acquire more teeth, having already grown from a modest outfit to a formidable force of 223 aircraft, said Mr Antony.

Naval Aviation would become a potent multi-dimensional networked force, said naval officials.

The Navy’s long-range maritime patrol capabilities will be boosted with the first induction of P8-1Boeing aircraft, making it the aircraft’s second operator after the US. Overall, the Minister said the armed forces were acquiring new platforms and capabilities and force projection preparedness.

Trusted partner In answer to a question, Mr Antony said Moscow had been India’s “most trusted partner,” not only in defence but also in other key areas, with the timetested relationship between the countries stretching back several decades (Hindu May 12)

Indian prodigy shines in US Kolkata-born Indian teenager Ritankar Das has turned heads at the University of California, Berkeley, by completing a double major in bioengineering and chemical biology in three years – all at the age of 18. Professor and undergraduate dean in the University’s School of Chemistry, Marcin Majda, in a letter of recommendation for a prize, stated: “In my 30 years at Berkeley, I cannot think of a single undergraduate student who would match Ritankar’s accomplishments….”

Fluent in Bengali, Hindi and Spanish, Das will shortly be leaving for Oxford University for his master’s degree in biomedical engineering with a fully funded Whittaker Fellowship, following which he will head for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for his doctorate (Times of India May 11).

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (L) speaks with the media as India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looks on during the signing of agreements ceremony in New Delhi, See comment page 3

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

As I See It

Deaths of young British Punjabis.....

Continued from page 1

The news of the death of the nameless boy came as a shock exactly 6 days after the death of Gurkiren Kaur Loyal, who died before her parents in Indian clinic.

In both the cases, no explanation was given by the Indian doctors regarding the mystery injection that claimed to have taken the children's lives. Also the pathologists in Britain could not carry out a post mortem because for the girl's body was returned to England without its organs, so a cause of death could not be established.

of Dr Moudgill’s assistants, in which he confirms the injection was given.

Gurkiren’s mum Amrit Kaur said: “The doctor is an utter disgrace. A medical professional is supposed to be like a second God, saving lives.

"But in fact he has taken my daughter’s life and then had the audacity to deny it. He did nothing for my daughter in her hours of need.

They have also been given hope that they might get some answers after it emerged that pathologists at the Rajindra Hospital,

Gurkiren Kaur Loyal

For the boy's the body was embalmed in such a way that it made it impossible for the doctors to draw any meaningful conclusions. Even doctors in India have questioned the initial pathological report and the Punjab police have launched criminal proceedings.

Fear arises amongst the parents, family members and the community that they will never receive the organs back which perhaps will be 'sold off'.

Gurkiren, from Hockley, Birmingham, was being treated for dehydration when she was given an injection which apparently caused her death in front of her parents.

It is alleged that medics deliberately killed her in order to 'harvest her organs' which would then be sold.

Parents' reaction to hospital claims The Birmingham Mail reported that Dr Pardeep Moudghill in India, the doctor who treated little Gurkiren Kaur Loyal, denied that she had been given a mystery injection, which her mother and father say killed her.

In an interview with an Indian television crew he reportedly denied that she had been given a mystery injection, which her mother and father say killed her, and claimed that she was alive when she left his clinic in Khanna Punjab.

Parents Santokh Singh and Amrit Kaur Loyal told a local newspaper that they have video evidence of a conversation with one

in Patiala, have Gurkiren’s organs and will be carrying out examinations to ascertain the cause of death.

The BBC reported that Professor Manjit Singh Bal, from the hospital in India, said they were planning to carry out microscopic examinations on the eight-year-old's body parts.

He said he had retained her heart, lungs, brain and part of her liver at the department of pathology.

He also said that the heart was enlarged and had an area of calcification.

Gurkiren became ill while visiting the Punjab with her family during the Easter holidays.

Her parents took her to a local doctor for treatment on 2 April, where they said she was given an injection of an unknown substance and fell ill immediately. She was taken to hospital but died in the mean time

Enlarged heart controversy Gurkiren had been reportedly diagnosed with a heart defect years earlier and had then had a stent fitted at Birmingham Children's Hospital.

Her mother Amrit said a doctor in the UK had declared Gurkiren fit to travel to India.

She said the Indian GP who administered the injection did not answer her questions about what it contained and whether it was necessary.

The girl's body was flown back to the UK and sent to the Birmingham Coroner's Office for a

post-mortem examination, which it was unable to carry out because her organs were missing.

The coroner's office has since written to the Foreign Office for help requesting a return of the organs.

MPs' reaction Virendra Sharma, MP who is a Punjabi himself and represents the biggest Punjabi constituency in LondonEaling and Southall, told the Asian Voice newspaper, “I am deeply saddened to hear of Gurkiren Kaur Loyal’s death, and angered at the dreadful circumstances which lead to it. I wish to send my sincere condolences to her parents and her family, and cannot imagine the terrible trauma they must be experiencing.

The circumstances that led to Gurkiren’s death are shocking and unacceptable. I will be putting pressure on the Indian authorities, alongside Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Ladywood, and Birmingham Councillor, Narinder Kaur Kooner, to return Gurkiren’s organs and investigate this crime to ensure this never happens again.”

Paul Uppal MP who is of British Punjabi origin too, on a telephone interview told Asian Voice, “This is a tragic case. I have raised this issue with David Lillingt on, the Deputy High Commissioner for the new embassy being opened in Chandigarh. This is a shocking and appalling incident and it needs to be raised at every level as it affects that element of trust between India and the UK.” Seema Malhotra, MP told Asian Voice, “This deeply distressing and upsetting case is a matter of great concern. I would urge the Indian Government to investigate.”

Shailesh Vara MP told the AV, “The Death of this lovely little girl is a great tragedy. It is important that the truth of her case is uncovered and questions are properly answered.

Sadly, the taking of organs from bodies for money is on the increase around the world and every effort must be made to stop this vile trade.

Action is required in the countries concerned but also, where necessary, on an international level too.”

Shabana Mahmood, a Ladywood MP and Handsworth Wood city Councillor Narinder Kooner are calling on the Foreign Office, travel insurance firms and Indian authorities to stop anything like this happening to a British citizen again.

13

The causes of conversion Last week some of the British press had blaring headlines that Christians (ie the Church going Christians) will become a minority very soon. Media believes that followers of a minority faith visit their places of worship, more than the Christians. With most Muslim men going to mosques at least on Fridays and with an increasing number, this may really happen. While regular Church, Temple or Gurudwara goers they may not be, does that make them less Hindus or Sikhs or Christians?

Even today almost 90% of the British are White and predominantly Christians. Very small number of them attend Churches. For all practical purposes this nation however is Christian and rightfully so.

Only some wavered member of a minority faith will disagree to this statement.

The Economist has a much more interesting story on 18th May (page 26Muslim converts- Changing my religion). Inspite of Richard Dart (a Dorset native jailed lat month, which was implicated in terrorism) and Samantha Lewthwaite, married to Germaine Lindsay, is wanted by Kenyan police in connection with an alleged bomb plot, some women are joining a religion accused of oppressing them and of terrorism. Why? Kevin Brice a researcher at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David has done some interesting research claiming that around 5200 Britons turn to Islam every year and the total number of such converts is about 100,000.

Proselytising is one of the keystone of Christianity and Islam. But this white conversion is not the main consequence.

Of course some highly enthusiastic followers of Islam attempt to proselytise.

According to Leon Moosavi, an expert on Islamic conversion in Liverpool University, most of such activity is perhaps to condemn extremism rather than wooing converts.

Who are the new converts? Perhaps majority of them are women and their main intention is to a marry a Muslim, says the study.

It also appears that some of the Christian Britons “are fed up with the bawdiness of the British society.” Some are “seeking a sense of community”,

some of course are attracted “by the spirituality of Islam and the warmth of relation amongst Muslims” Prisons appear to be fertile ground for Islamic conversions. Almost 13% (11,000) of the prisoners are Muslims.

An enquiry last year by the Home Affairs Select Committee named “prisons are the breeding ground for radicals.”

In an interview some of the converts have said, “The discipline and structure of Islam help them to cope with prison life.” Of course some admit to have received support from their Muslim “brothers”. Some even have confessed that initial attraction was the cushier spell in jail and more time outside their cells. Better food at Ramadan was also an attraction.

Not only the Christians, but others, especially Hindus, Sikhs and Jains must have taken notice of this new and interesting trend.

Hinduism, is more of a way of life.

It's inclusive and often tolerant. There's a trend (if I may call it so) when people of different faiths would practice Hinduism (not convert) to attain 'inner peace'. The concept of 'yoga' (a Hindu practice) gained more and more momentum in the 70s as it gave a sense of direction, health, positivity, inner peace and a sense of belonging to many non Asians.

Some verses of the Gita and Kautilya's Arthashastra are increasingly becoming a part of Western Management doctrines.

Conversion has a history in India, Africa and elsewhere. Poverty were often the main reason for impoverished families to take up another religion- in hopes of clothes and nourishments from Missionaries.

Historically conversions to Islam during the Muslim rule was sometimes due to the discrimination ie special tax on non Muslims or even forced conversion during the reign of some fanatical rulers.

As the Economists rightfully concludes “New-found zeal may leave converts vulnerable to radical strains of Islam. Isolation from their old life and lack of integration with moderate believers can only make that risk worse.”

- CB

Dr Jit Pal Singal, Mr Sukhdev Komal, Mr Bhandal, Mr Virendra Sharma MP, Mayor of Slough Cllr Balvinder Bains, Mr Dhillon, Mr Baljit Komal, Mr Nazar Lodhi and other invited guests

The Universal Aastha organised a charity dinner on Friday, 17th May in Slough to celebrate the success of Mr Jit Pal Singal (owner of A One clothing shop on The Broadway Southall) who was awarded two honorary degrees and the British Empire Medal for services to charity and the community in Southall, London Borough of Ealing, by Her Majesty during the New Years Honours. Over 350 guests including MPs, Mayors, Councillors, businessmen and well-wishers attended the event.

Catering was provided by Sukhdev's Catering and Chandani Ckowk Restaurant and Sweets. Over £5000 was raised for Cancer Research UK. Gurkiren's case has been taken up by Cllr Kooner, who has reportedly been inundated with calls by Punjabi ex-pats reporting similar experiences.

The Councillor told the Birmingham Mail: “I have been contacted by dozens of people.

“The most shocking

case to emerge is of a 10year-old lad who complained of a stomach-ache while at a theme park in the Punjab.

“He was given an injection. Minutes later he was dead.”

She added the family had serious difficulties persuading the Indian authorities to allow the

boy’s body to be flown back to the UK. “Once here the pathologist could not carry out a post mortem because the body had been embalmed in such a way that it made it impossible to draw any meaningful conclusions,” she said.

Continued on page 30

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UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Lottery Lottery

Lottery Lottery is a play by Shivam Theatre Company, presented entirely in ‘Gujlish’ a hybrid of English & Gujarati as spoken in UK today.

Featuring a cast of five actors, it tells the story of a Wembley Gujarati family who are striving to materially better their situation, and where the father makes a Faustian pact with God in order to win the Lottery jackpot.

Disgruntled and unlucky dad, Atisukh (“Always Happy”) lives in martial dis-harmony with his wife, Santosh (“Content”) and their twins, Chabil & Chhamma. He, Chabil dreams of being the new Bill Gates, while his sister, Chhamma, wants to be a Bollywood Queen.

One day, God drops in and promises to let the pater familias the chance to win the Lottery jackpot in return for something.

What will that be? And what would you give up to become a millionaire overnight?

See the real colour of money in a healthy wealthy Gujlish comedy!

Lottery Lottery is a farcical satire packed with song, music, dance and drama poking fun at mate-

rialistic aspiration of the Asians!

Shivam Theatre has been creating Gujarati theatre since 1996, having produced over a dozen full-length plays. Led by its artistic director Kiran Purohit, the company is now reaching new and younger audiences by increasing the use of English language, but keeping the vernacular of the style totally Gujarati.

Originally performed in Gujarati, this play has been adapted into a bilingual format of Gujarati and English in order take vernacular theatre originating from the UK to a wider circuit.

Dates and location of performance: l Watermans, 30 May – 2 June (Performances at 7.45pm and Sunday at 7pm)- Brentford TW8 0DS Tel: 020 8232 1010 l Peepul Centre, 7-9 JuneOrchard Avenue, Leicester, LE4 6DP Tel: 0116 261 6000 l Patidar Centre, 13, 14, 16 June- London Road, Wembley HA9 7EX Tel: 020 8795 1648 l The Drum, 21, 22, 23 June- 144 Potters Lane, Birmingham B6 4UU Box l Hove Town Hall, 29 JuneNorton Road, Brighton, BN3 4T

Conservative Friends of India host successful Annual Lunch Conservative Friends of India hosted a successful inaugural annual lunch at the Millennium Hotel, Mayfair, on Wednesday 15th May. Over 250 guests -including Cabinet Ministers, MPs, Peers and senior businessmen – gathered for an excellent lunch and to hear a keynote address from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP. In his speech, Mr Pickles expressed his admiration and gratitude for the many contributions made by the British Indian community to our country and he emphasised the importance the Government attaches to expanding Anglo-Indian trade.

In addition to Mr Pickles, the lunch was attended by Rt Hon Sir George Young CH, MP, Chief Whip; Lord Feldman, Chairman of the Conservative Party; Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Northern Ireland Secretary; Rt Hon Dominic Grieve QC, MP, Attorney General and President of CF India; Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, Foreign Office Minister with responsibility for India; Baroness Sandip Verma, Energy Minister and over a dozen other MPs. Speaking after the event, Shailesh Vara MP, the Parliamentary CoChairman of CF India said: “Conservative Friends of India was launched by the Prime

Shailesh Vara MP

Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP

Lord Feldman, Chairman of the Conservative Party

Alok Sharma MP, Baroness Sandip Verma, Rt Hon Hugo Swire MP, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP, Ranjit Baxi with other guests

Minister, David Cameron, last year to improve the relationship between the Conservative Party and the British Indian community as well as strengthen Anglo-Indian relations, especially in terms of improving trade links. CF India is now doing just that, reaching out to listen and engage with the community around the UK. This lunch is just one part of

that process: over the coming months the organisation will continue to grow and will aim to bring the Party and community together in as many ways as possible.”

CF India CoChairman Mr Ranjit Baxi added: “Conservative Friends of India has come a long way since it was launched last year and I am delighted that so many people took the

opportunity to join us at our inaugural annual lunch. That so many guests took part serves to demonstrate just how vital improved AngloIndian relations are for the UK. Moreover, the number of senior Ministers and MPs who joined us demonstrates the importance the Conservative Party attaches to the British Indian community.”

INTERNATIONAL WIDOWS DAY Promoting the fundamental freedoms and human rights of widows and their children around the world

The Loomba Foundation 5K Charity Walk Place: Hyde Park Date: 23 June 2013 Time: 10am We are walking 5K to raise money for our very special cause. We are marking International Widows Day and all our efforts will raise money to help widows and their children around the world.

There are over 245 million widows and their 500 million children, who suffer in silence. Around 115 million widows in the world today live in poverty.

1.5 million widows’ children don’t live to see their 5th birthday. Many widows often experience targeted murder, rape, prostitution, forced marriage and physical and psychological abuse.

International Widows Day is a global day of action that aims to raise public

awareness of the plight of widows and their children around the world.

If you would like to be a part of this phenomenal cause, please come along and get involved! We can guarantee a day full of fresh air, laughs and like minded supporters who want to make a difference - but most of all, a day filled with fun. There will be food stalls selling sandwiches, food, ice cream, soft drinks in Hyde Park.

The beauty of our event is that anyone can join in this charity walk. So, bring your family, your friends, your colleagues and your supporters and be a part of this special day! Get everyone involved, make a day of it - please spread the word by forwarding this email.

The registration fee is £20 for adults and £10 for under 18’s. Each participant will receive a T-shirt at the start and a £5 picnic voucher on completion, as

well as a medal for taking part. For more information and to register visit: www.theloombafoundation.org.

UK Registered Charity No 1064988.

When you have registered, you will get your own Just Giving page where your family and friends can sponsor your walk to raise funds for widows and their children. If you have any questions please contact Tim Price, Director of Events and Fundraising at tim.price@theloombafoundation.org

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Bohra community honours Lord Gulam Noon

15

Nominate your community heroes for the Asian Achievers Awards 2013 Members of the public invited to nominate inspirational characters for the ‘People’s Awards’

Dr. Idris Zainuddin Saheb, Lord Gulam Noon, Steve Pound MP, Barry Gardiner, guests and members of the mosque

On 10th May the Dawoodi Bohra Community and their President Dr. Idris Zainuddin Saheb of Anjuman-eBurhani, London, the followers of Dai al Fatemi Dr S y e d n a M o h a m m e d Burhanuddin Saheb TUS, hosted Lord Gulam Noon being presented a function to felici- with a shawl by Dr Idris Zainuddin tate and honour Saheb, President Anjuman e Burhani Lord Gulam Noon Popat, Steve Pound MP, at Masjid al Husaini, Barry Gardiner MP, CB Northolt for being Patel, Publisher/Editor of appointed as a Life Peer to Asian Voice and Gujarat the House of Lords and Samachar and others.

Chancellor of the The felicitation was University of East followed by a fantastic sit London. The felicitation down dinner with excelwas attended by Lady lent hospitality and food Mohini Noon, Lord from the community.

Nominations are now open for the public to nominate inspiring members of their communities for the esteemed Asian Achievers Awards 2013.

Taking place on 6th September at Grosvenor House Hotel, the Asian Achievers Awards will recognise the outstanding work of individuals from across all businesses and professions and acknowledge the accomplishments of the finest of the UK’s Asian community.

Hosted by Asian Business Publications Ltd (ABPL), publishers of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, the event is now into its 13th year and continues to build momentum and stature.

The ceremony will welcome a high profile guest list of dignitaries, cross party politicians, celebrities and high achievers from the Asian community.

The Asian Achievers Awards salute individuals who are singularly responsible for bringing the Asian community to the

centre stage of British life, and celebrate the exceptional and exemplary achievements of community members that are truly inspirational. The coveted

Awards were first envisioned as a standard of excellence that would create role models and encourage younger generations to follow in their footsteps.

An independent panel of judges will select a shortlist and then the winner in each category, from all nominations received from the public. Not only subscribers and readers of Asian Voice and Gujarat

Samachar but also the wider community is invited to nominate across the various categories. Each year, Asian Achievers Awards receive a record number of nominations and the calibre of candidates continues to go from strength to strength.

Asian Achievers Award categories comprise: Sports Personality of the Year; Business Person of the Year; Professional of the Year; Achievement in Community Service; Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture; Award for Entertainment; Woman of the Year; Young Entrepreneur of the Year; Uniformed and Civil Services; International Personality of the Year; and Lifetime Achievement Award.

Comments Mr. CB Patel, Chairman, Editor/Publisher of ABPL Group, “Asian Achievers Awards is much more than any normal awards. It is unique, it is all-inclusive and it is innovative.

Unique because we receive nominations from

our subscribers, readers and member of the public.

Fair because an independent panel of judges select the winners from the nominations received.

Innovative because first, we give 'unsung heroes' from the community an opportunity to be appreciated for their actual talents. Second, we select an exclusive theme for every year's ceremony.

This year it is celebrating the 'Power and Contributions of Women.'

Third, we raise funds for a sponsored charity - that promotes the right values and helps the underprivileged to get a better opportunity or footing. It is our way of doing something meaningful for the greater community. AAA has helped to raise millions of pounds for sponsored charities over the last 12 years.”

Nominations can be registered via Asian Voice (see the form below), as well as online at: w w w. a s i a n a c h i e v e r sawards.com. Deadline for nominations: 12th July 2013

Please tick the appropriate category Achievement in Media, Arts and Culture ................................

Someone who has made a mark in media including print and broadcast media; cinema, art and culture.

Achievement in Community Service............................................

NOMINATION FORM The prestigious Asian Achievers Awards is hosted every year by UK’s leading news weeklies Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar to honour British Asians par excellence. If there is someone you know who has broken boundaries and deserves recognition for their unique contribution to the community and the nation then please nominate them for one of the awards listed below. Make sure that you fill in this application form and send it on or before 12th July, 2013 by post, fax or email to Mr. L George, Tel: 020 7749 4013, Fax 020 7749 4081, Email: aaa@abplgroup.com. If you are sending it by post the address is Mr. L George, ABPL Group, Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW.

Name of the Person you are Nominating: _______________________________________ Contact Details of the Nominee (Tel & email):____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Present Occupation of the Nominee: ____________________________________________ Please attach the Nominees's CV which includes the following information (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) (1) Personal background (2) (3) (4) (5) are

Most important career achievements till date.

Nominee's contribution to the community and nation.

Future Plans, ambitions and visions.

Any notable obstacles in the Nominee's career that has helped him/her to reach where they today.

Summary-

(Please include a summary in not more than 150 words why the nominee is worthy of win-

ning the particular award in a separate sheet)

Nominators name and contact details: __________________________________________ Nominators current Occupation/Company: ______________________________________ Tel/Mobile: __________________________________________________________________ Email:_______________________________________________________________________ NOMINATION AND SELECTION PROCESS: This is a unique event where readers nominate and an independent panel of judges comprising of eminent personalities selects the winner. Judges’ decision is final. ABPL Group will not entertain any dialogue with members of the public regarding the judging process. In order to ensure a high degree of transparency and fairness, the management and members of the staff of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will play no role in the nomination or judging process. You may use an additional sheet if the space provided is insufficient. The winners will be announced at the AAA Awards ceremony on 6th September, 2013. Asian Voice, Gujarat Samachar will publish the names of the short listed candidates and winners after the event. The winners names will also appear in our e-edition www.abplgroup.com You can nominate yourself if you wish to. Nominations and entries must follow the prescribed format. All nomination forms must reach our offices on or before 12th July, 2013

In recognition for an individuals service to community.

Sports Personality of the Year ......................................................

Awarded for excellence in sports.

Uniformed and Civil Services ........................................................

For outstanding achievements in uniformed and civil services or contribution to the community through any of the above services.

Professional of the Year ..................................................................

Professionals in the field of medicine, law, education, banking, finance and others, who have scaled the heights of their chosen profession.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year ..................................................

Awarded to an young entrepreneur (less than 35 years) with a proven track record of operating a successful business enterprise.

Business Person of the Year ..........................................................

Awarded to a business person who is a success in every sense of the word and can demonstrate a genuine passion for social issues.

Woman of the Year ............................................................................

The award will recognise and honour a woman who has made a significant mark in any chosen field.

International Personality of the Year ........................................

Awarded to those who have acclaimed popularity internationally for his/her contribution in any particular sector and is recognised for their timeless philanthropic activities.

Lifetime Achievement Award ........................................................

To honour those individuals, who during their lifetime, have made immense contributions in any given field. This remarkable individual can be marked as an example for the younger generation.

16

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Internal pressure makes me work hard: Parineeti Chopra Parineeti Chopra, who has delivered hit films in the recent past, feels internal pressure that she should keep raising the bar with every project. Her role in “Ishaqzaade” was much appreciated and even got her a special mention at the National awards this year. "I don't have any external pressure. I have internal pressure that I have to do better than my previous films and advertisements. There is internal pressure on me that whether you receive an award, appreciation or not you still have to work hard...I think that way," Parineeti said. She would be seen next in Yash Raj Film's “Hasee Toh Phassee.” The chirpy actress is looking forward to sing in her upcoming projects. "I am a trained singer and I hope I get a big chance to sing and I will do it," she said.

Rishi Kapoor to play Dawood Ibrahim in Nikhil Advani's ‘D-Day’ Rishi Kapoor's much anticipated look from Nikhil Advani's upcoming action thriller 'D-Day' has now been unveiled. Clad in whites, blues and brown suits and silk kurtas, with black hair and a mustache, Rishi Kapoor is the picture of sublime aristocracy and raw power. Add the retro red aviators and you've got a look that is going to be etched into people's minds for quite some time. For quite some time, there has been buzz that the character is modeled on the lines of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim. However, a source close to the film says, "The seasoned actor plays a fictional character code named Goldman by the Indian security establishment.

Sidharth Malhotra voted as most good looking debutants of 2012 Sidharth Malhotra made his Bollywood debut with a hit like “Student of the Year” last year. Now, it has been heard that the debonair actor has topped on the UK's most popular poll conducted. Beating his contemporaries likes Varun Dhawan, Arjun Kapoor and Ayushamnn Khurrana, Sidharth Malhotra was voted as the most good looking debutants of 2012. Sidharth is very happy for all the love he is receiving from fans all over. He feels really blessed to have so many people liking him. The actor believes that his fans have supported him a lot even though he belongs to a non-filmy background.

I like to compete with myself: Shraddha Kapoor Happy with the success of her recent release “Aashiqui 2,” actress Shraddha Kapoor says she does not believe in competition and is her own competitor. While there are a lot of new comers in the film industry, Shraddha is not insecure about her position. The actress also talked of how she deals with success, post the release of “Aashiqui 2.” "I keep this thought of success at the back of my mind. I don't let success go to head and failure to heart. Today I am smiling big when I see my parents smiling and enjoying the success of the film," Shraddha said. Even her brother Siddhanth made his acting debut with a successful film “Shootout at Wadala.” "We converse a lot about films as that is generally the atmosphere at home," she said.

Sneha shifts focus to production Post marriage, Sneha has reduced her acting with mostly limited to commercials. Now the actress has shifted her focus from acting to production.

Lately the rumours are that the actress is busy o n the

Vidyut draws inspiration from Rajinikanth

Vidyut the awesomely handsome hunk is one of the most wanted dudes in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu industry. His performance in “Commando” by pulling off some jaw dropping stunts sizzled the industry. He is still being approached for negative shady roles in Tamil and Telugu industry, after his chunky performance in ‘Thuppakki.’ When quizzed about his negative roles and the one character whom he would like to play alongside, the actor quipped almost instantly that it's Rajinikanth. He is a big fan of Superstar and also said that he would love to join hands with Rajini.

Shruthi Hassan's break up lookout for some solid scripts that hits the nail. Also she is currently hearing scripts with the intention of making small budgeted movies as a start. She has learnt this art of small budget films from Prakash Raj, who paved way for newcomers with talent. If everything is set and goes according to the plan, she might as well cast Prassana in the lead in one of her very own production houses.

Ranbir 'bribed' director to let him kiss on Madhuri's cheeks

Ranbir Kapoor says he is so besotted with actress Madhuri Dixit that he cajoled his director Ayan Mukerji to let him kiss her on cheeks while she was shooting an item number with him for upcoming film “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani.” Madhuri recently shot for an item song with Ranbir in the film, slated for May 31 release. "She (Madhuri) was my first love and my heart broke when she got married. I was happy when I got the opportunity to dance with her and see her," Ranbir said at a promotional event of the film. In a candid confession, the actor said he had to "bribe" Ayan Mukerji in his own way to let him kiss the actress on her cheeks. The item song 'Ghagra' is choreographed by Farah Khan. Heaping praises on the 'dhak dhak' girl, Ranbir said, "She is sincere, passionate and talented. It was great working with her. She is wonderful."

Love makes some while it breaks some too.

Most people would have had a sad story but not everyone advertises their emotions; nor would they want to discuss such issues. But the bold as ever Shruthi Hassan does not hesitate to mention her most disappointing moment. Seems like even the most gorgeous girl had her turn of bad events, and she claims it was when she broke up.

In an interview she said, “If a movie does not do well you can do another one, if a song is not good, you can change the chorus but when you choose somebody, you are at the mercy of that person's love." But the good news now is that she has moved on for good and is concentrating full time on her movie career.

Bebo's Sister Act: Sorry Zoya, Not without Ranbir Buzz is that Kareena Kapoor is having second thoughts about Zoya Akhtar's film in which she was to essay the role of Ranbir's sister. The actress was approached to essay the role of Ranveer Singh's sister in the film.

The project was initially planned with Ranbir Kapoor -- the reason why Bebo agreed to play his sibling in the film as they are first cousins. But with Ranbir out and Ranveer in, Bebo does not apparently want to be part of a project. Says a source, “when Zoya began writing the script, she thought of getting Kareena and Ranbir together in the film. Kareena was extremely excited to play his screen sister. But with a change of plan, she is having second thoughts now.”

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

17

Indian cinema completes 100 years on May 3, 2013. We will take you back to the golden era and showcase its evolution in a four part series. “Bollywood” is the name which defines art, talent and vision which has reached every nook and corners of the world today. The French might have introduced the concept of moving images, but India would in near future become the largest film producing country in the world. It's a miracle that Indian cinema has withstood the test of time despite the vast cultural differences.

ver 100 years of Indian Cinema several beautiful and wondrously talented O women have given us much to celebrate

gradually letting go of the "arm-candy" tag attached to her. In an industry dominated by men, some of our women have managed to hold their own. Be it single-handedly carrying a film to box office success or taking on jobs earlier considered a man’s job, our women are doing it all and more.

Suchitra Sen: In an unforgiving industry which still looks askance at married heroines, Suchitra Sen not only forged a career but a hugely successful one at that.

She was married with a daughter when she made it big in movies, and the audience couldn't get enough of her. She was the first Indian actress to receive an international Best Actress award for ‘Saat Paake Bandha’ and also appeared in a handful of Hindi movies.

Devika Rani: Indian Cinema’s First Lady, Rabindranath Tagore's great-grand niece was not one to follow convention.

Co-founder of the Bombay Talkies studio with husband Himanshu Rai, Devika Rani blazed a trail with ‘Achhut Kanya’ (1936), in which she played the taboo role of an untouchable girl. A four-minute long kissing scene with Himanshu Rai in ‘Karma’ (1933) – still the longest – shocked orthodox Indian society.

Meena Kumari: Tears may have been the Tragedy Queen's best weapon but it was her willingness to play some of cinema's most difficult characters – the neglected, alcoholic wife in ‘Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam,’ a courtesan in ‘Pakeezah’ that made her unforgettable. Frequently referred to as the tragedy queen, Meena Kumari was an actress we lost ironically early, dying from cirrhosis of the liver when she was just 39.

Waheeda Rehman: After being pecked by lung infection, Bharatnatyam and a dose of Telugu cinema it all began when Guru Dutt handpicked Waheeda Rehman to play a vamp. The film was Raj Khosla's ‘CID,’ and nobody, but nobody, had ever seen a femme as fatale as Rehman, an ethereally luscious angel with eyes sparkling wickedly. She went from strength to strength, acting increasingly better and with an irresistible screen charm.

Madhubala: Arguably the best looking woman in Bollywood history, Madhubala scorched the screen in a tragically short life, giving us much to remember her by, wistfully. She

went on to star with the top leading men of her time and managed effortlessly to emerge as the talking point from the films, be it the breezy ‘Mr & Mrs 55’ or the epic ‘Mughal-E-Azam.’

Nagris: The first film personality to win the Padma Shri, Nargis had quite the filmography - from ‘Andaz’ to ‘Awaara,’ from ‘Shree 420’ to ‘Chori Chori’ - and hit peak with ‘Mother India,’ for which she won the Best Actress prize at Czechoslovakia's celebrated Karlovy film festival. An actress with range, style, grace and an incredibly warm screen presence, Nargis is truly a leading lady to celebrate.

Nutan: Nutan could be called the most talented of our mainstream heroines. She won five richly deserved Filmfare Best Actress awards – ‘Seema,’ ‘Sujata,’ ‘Bandini,’ ‘Milan,’ ‘Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki’ and one for Best Supporting Actress (‘Meri Jung’), and was nominated five other times. Nutan's fearlessness in playing unconventional roles cemented her status as one of India's finest actresses.

Vyjantimala: Vyjayanthimala was the first South Indian actress to make it big in Bollywood. The first dancing star, she i n t r o d u c e d Bharatnatyam which was her forte and appeared in blockbusters like ‘Jewel Thief,’ ‘Sangam’ and ‘Nagin,’ as well as critically acclaimed films like ‘Naya Daur,’ the Pygmalion-like ‘Kathputli,’ ‘Madhumati,’ ‘Sadhna’ and ‘Ganga Jumna.’

Jaya Bhaduri: One of the finest Hindi film actresses of her time, particularly known for reinforcing a naturalistic style of acting in both mainstream and "middleof-the-road" cinema, Jaya Bhaduri started her career with Bengali short films and Satyajit Ray’s “Mahanagar” at the age of 15. The success of ‘Guddi’ aided by her petite looks, created the girl-next-door image for her, which she was often associated with through the rest of her career though she also starred in glamourous roles in ‘Jawani Diwani’ and ‘Anamika.’

Hema Malini: Legend has it that Hema Malini was evicted from a Tamil film by a director declaring that she had 'no star quality.' Hindi cinema was quick to capitalise on this oversight, and the actress proved a breath of fresh air to the industry. At a volatile time with stiff competition, Hema managed to draw audiences on her own with films like ‘Seeta Aur Geeta.’ Her

‘Basanati’ in ‘Sholay’ is still etched in the minds of the people.

Rekha: Rekha began he career in Kannada film. Her first Hindi film ‘Saawan Bhadon’ was a huge success, and she found a place in Bollywood. Her transformation began with ‘Do Anjaane’ opposite Amitabh Bachchan.

Films like ‘Muqaddar Ka Sikandar’ were super hits, and she went on to star with Bachchan frequently, most notoriously in Yash Chopra's ‘Silsila,’ the confidence she got from those films helped her metamorphose into Bollywood's most enigmatic leading lady.

Shabana Azmi: Shabana Azmi made her debut in Shyam Benegal's ‘Ankur,’ playing a married villager who falls in love with a college student.

Immediately the film industry realised that here was a performer of extraordinary talent, and heralded her arrival with the Indian New Wave, art house directors clamouring around her.

She also holds the record for most number of National Awards – five.

Smita Patil: Despite a relatively short career – just over a decade – Smita Patil was a leading light of parallel cinema, starring in acclaimed New Wave movies such as ‘Manthan,’ ‘Bhumika,’ ‘Mirch Masala’ and ‘Bazaar.’

Cinema's radicals might have found an actress to celebrate with Shabana Azmi, but the more striking side of the coin was Patil, a compellingly intelligent presence that stood for both empowerment and sensitivity.Winning the Best Actress National Award twice she passed away at the young age of 31.

Sridevi: After conquering the South audience, Sridevi captured the hearts of Bollywood fans featuring in blockbusters like ‘Mr India,’ ‘Himmatwala’ and ‘Judaai’ and delivered critically acclaimed performances in ‘Sadma’ and ‘Gumraah.’ Such was Sridevi’s aura that directors wrote scripts woven around her character in ‘Nagina,’ ‘Chandni,’ ‘Chaalbaaz’ and ‘Lamhe,’ a phenomenon not witnessed before in male-dominated Bollywood.

Madhuri Dixit: Madhuri Dixit is “the actress” an all-time chimera of the quintessential Bollywood heroine. The biggest, brightest and smiling star in Bollywood's firmament, she became our biggest ever and one of the best dancers in showbiz, at par with and even outranking her leading men. As an actress, she's done it all - from

‘Parinda’ to ‘Beta to Hum Aapke Hain Koun’ to ‘Mrityudand’ to ‘Gajagamini.’

Kajol: Making her debut in 1992 with ‘Bekhudi,’ Kajol always had a disarming grin, but the potential didn't reach fruition until we saw her in ‘Baazigar.’

Paired opposite Shah Rukh Khan, the energy levels went visibly higher, the chemistry crackled. Audiences were smitten even before 1995 when ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’ came. Kajol was the woman of the decade, filling in a considerably empty number-one slot on the heroine's list and making the throne her own.

Rani Mukerji: Rani Mukerji's 1996 Bollywood debut, ‘Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat,’ was a washout. And her much-awaited big feature with Aamir Khan wasn't looking to hit screens anytime soon.

Rani bit her lip and bided her time. Then came ‘Ghulam,’ and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ with Shah Rukh Khan. Rani slogged her way with grit and immense drive, working doggedly at the mediocre parts she seemed to be attracting.

Aishwarya Rai: Opinions are undeniably divided over her histrionic abilities, but Aishwarya is the face of Bollywood, making unprecedented headway toward Western shores. From her wellreceived debut in Mani Ratnam's ‘Iruvar’ back in 1997, 10 years on she has just silenced critics with a strong performance in the filmmaker's ‘Guru’ while off screen there’s no doubt as to who makes the most consistent newsprint even 3 years after abdicating.

Kareena Kapoor: Kareena Kapoor is the daughter of actors Randhir Kapoor and Babita, and the younger sister of actress Karisma Kapoor. Noted for playing a variety of characters in a range of film genres - from contemporary romantic dramas to comedies - Kapoor has received six Filmfare Awards, and has established herself as a leading actress of Hindi cinema.

Katrina Kaif: Katrina Kaif made her acting debut in 2003 with Kaizad Gustad's ‘Boom.’ In 2007, she earned commercial success with Vipul Shah's ‘Namastey London’ and later she earned recognition for playing glamorous roles in ‘Partner,’ ‘Race’ and ‘Singh Is Kinng’ all of which were box office successes. Kaif subsequently played more prominent roles in films like ‘New York,’ ‘Rajneeti,’ ‘Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara’ and ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ the second highest-grossing Bollywood film to date.

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader,

I was asked to write a tip for former Channel 4’s Tom Winnifriths new stock picking site. I thought I would share it with you because it is an insight into the property market and we Indians love property.

It’s with some fear I write a tip for Tom, because the last time I did it for Tom it was on channel 4’s Show Me the Money and I was ranked at the end of that series the top picker among 45 based on performance. So that’s going to be a hard act to follow.

We all know how difficult it is to keep making winning tips. I am lucky in that when last year the BBC asked me what would happen to Facebook and I said there will be a 50% drop in 6 months based on Discount Cash Flow analysis I hit the mark. There will be many where I and many others have not. But here are my considered reasons for picking the pick I have: LSL Property Services . On my analysis of earnings, revenue growth, earnings growth, price, dividends and price momentum the stock has continued to perform. Of course with such small cap stocks there are always reasons to be cautious.

As their site says is building a market leading position in the residential property services market. It’s won quite a few awards, so I’m not the only one doing due diligence.

To year end 2012 highlights were – taken from their own report: “Very good progress during 2012 despite no improvement in market transaction levels • Underlying Group Operating profit up 13% to £35.1m • Net debt reduced by 25% to £26.6m • Full year dividend increased by 9% to 9.5p per share Estate Agency delivered excellent profit growth of 138% to £24.4m • Like--for--like profit growth of 78% to £ profit growth of 78% to £17.2m.

• Growth of 23% in lettings and 15% in financial services (exc Marsh & Parsons) • Strong first year contribution from Marsh & Parsons Surveying impacted by market decline and major contract renewals • Good growth in provision of surveying services to private buyers • Professional indemnity costs tracking as expected Strong Position entering into 2013 • Quality of Group’s earnings transformed since market decline in 2007 • Strong cash generation and balance sheet • Significant growth opportunities” So maybe the property market is picking up, especially with the Government scheme in place to allow borrowing upto 95% again. Buying property is not the only way to play property, owning property shares is another.

Disclaimer: Alpesh does not own directly or indirectly or know any persons who do own the share mentioned. www.alpeshpatel.com

RBI to launch plastic currency notes soon Reserve Bank of India governor D Subbarao said the central bank would soon introduce on a pilot basis plastic currency notes as they have longer shelf-life.

"We are trying to introduce plastic currency. We hope to introduce it on trial basis and if that succeeds it will be replicated in the entire country," he said during an interactive session. He emphasised that plastic note is environment friendly because it has longer shelf-life than the paper notes.

Australia and Singapore have introduced plastic currencies.

With a view to prolonging life of bank notes, par-

ticularly of lower denominations, it was decided by the RBI and government to introduce one billion pieces of Rs 10 notes in polymer/plastic on a trial basis in Kochi, Mysore, Jaipur, Bhubaneswar and Shimla.

The finance ministry had recently said that the review of policy of producing currency notes is a "dynamic and continuous process".

On the issue of fake currency, Subbarao said the problem is that whenever a fake currency is detected both the customer and the bank would be reluctant to put it on record.

China, India to be biggest investors by 2030 The percentage of global investment that goes to developing countries should triple in the next two decades as emerging economies catch up to richer nations and become more integrated into financial markets, the World Bank predicted in a report.

These nations and their comparatively younger and bigger populations are also set to become the largest sources of capital, with China and India turning into the world's two biggest investors by 2030, the global development lender said.

The shifting landscape of saving and investment has profound implications for everything from which currencies will dominate global markets to the rise of new financial centers, patterns of capital flows and investment priorities.

But policymakers are

still woefully unprepared for the changes, fixating instead on what will happen in the next three to six months, Kaushik Basu, the World Bank's chief economist, said. "The big question that should concern us all is what will happen to the major drivers of growth and development: namely savings and investment," Basu told reporters ahead of the report's release.

"In some sense, some of the global economic turmoil that we are seeing today are some of the early indicators of the kind of turbulent period that the world is going into," he said. Standard & Poor's earlier this week predicted that Chinese non-financial companies will overtake US companies in their borrowing needs over the next two years. By 2030, for every dollar invested in the

world, 60 cents will flow into developing countries, a dramatic change from 20 cents to the dollar in 2000.

China will make up 30 per cent of all investment activity, while the United States will have 11 per cent and India 7 per cent.

The numbers assume the world will grow on average 2.6 to 3 per cent a year in the next two decades, while emerging economies will grow 4.8 to 5.6 per cent a year.

As more capital flows from one developing country to another, known as South-South flows, China's yuan currency and its monetary policy will have a greater impact on the rest of the world, reducing the influence of US and euro area policies.

A richer world in 2030 will also have a greater demand for services over manufacturing, meaning

Demand for gold in India is higher than in China

Gold consumption reflected a strong revival over last year as Indian households flocked retail outlets to purchase gold jewellery owing to a fall in price of the yellow metal. As against a decline of 13% in global demand for gold, India reported a 27% increase in Q1 2013, surpassing China’s demand growth of 20%.

While demand for jewellery increased by 15% to 159.5 tonnes as compared to Q1 2012, investment demand witnessed a significant rise of 52% at 97 tonnes in the January to March period this year, said a recent report released by the World Gold Council (WGC).

The government also slashed the import tariff value of gold to $466 per

10 grams from $472 per 10 grams.

“Demand growth was largely driven by rural households whose incomes benefited from a good late harvest,” the report said. A 4 per cent decline in local gold prices over the quarter further prompted jewellery purchase during the wedding season. Gold prices fell by Rs 500 to a one-month low of Rs 26,800 per 10 grams in Delhi last week.

While domestic prices fell by over 3% during Q1, in

April alone, gold prices fell by nearly 18% due to global factors.

“Price fluctuations in gold recently have only served to reinforce Indian consumers’ appetite for purchasing physical gold.

Gold is a time-tested asset class. With the ongoing wedding and festive season, we believe demand for gold will continue to remain robust.

Restrictions on the supply side will not hamper demand,” said WGC India managing director Somasundaram PR. In a bid to address the issue of a widening current account deficit, the government had increased the import duty on the precious metal from 4% to 6% earlier this year.

countries will face pressure to reduce protectionist barriers to trade in services, the World Bank said.

But shifts in global saving may not be equally distributed in each country, warned lead report author Maurizio Bussolo - a key concern for the povertyfighting World Bank. In most developing countries, the top segment of the population saves three to four times more than the poorest.

Governments must make an effort to level the playing field in education, which has a strong correlation with higher earnings, savings and future wealth, he said. "So in terms of our projections, we see the increased importance of developing countries. But behind that, there is a lot of work to do, and very little time," Bussolo said.

Bill Gates reclaims ‘world’s richest’ title from Slim Bill Gates is once again the world's richest man.

The 57-year-old cofounder of Microsoft recaptured the title from Mexican investor Carlos Slim, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, as the software maker hit a five-year high.

It is the first time Gates has held the mantle since 2007. His fortune is valued at $72.7 billion, up 16% year-to-date.

Slim's America Movil, the largest mobile-phone operator in the Americas, has dropped 14% this year after Mexico's Congress passed a bill that could quash the billionaire's market dominance. That's helped erase more than $3 billion from the 73-yearold tycoon's net worth.

UK’s Actis to sell stake in road project JV to Tata group Private equity major Actis is ending a high-profile road projects joint venture with the Tata Group, selling its 35% stake to the salt-to-software conglomerate’s private equity arm, said a source.

The JV between Tata Realty & Infrastructure (TRIL) and Actis – signed three years ago -was expected to invest as much as $2 billion to develop highway projects in Asia’s third largest economy. But UK-based Actis, one of the earliest private equity investors in Indian market, is realigning its infrastructure interests with particular focus on energy assets even as road development projects face delays in land acquisition and financial closures.

The JV company’s initial equity investment was pegged at $200 million, with TRIL investing $122.5 million and Actis contributing $77.5 million reflecting the 65:35 share-

holdings. Actis has invested in the Indian joint venture from its global infrastructure fund and a changed view on domestic road projects emanated from there, added the source.

Actis, managing assets worth over $5 billion, is selling the TRIL Roads stake to Tata Opportunities Fund. The financial details of the deal could not be ascertained immediately. India’s roads and highways sector have faced the brunt of an economic slowdown which has hit the infrastructure project financing severely. The tough environment has prompted many infrastructure companies to go slow on bidding for road projects, with some like GMR, IVRCL and GVK planning to sell their interest in road projects. It is estimated that road assets - completed and in under construction - worth more than $10 billion are seeking

buyers currently.

Tata Opportunities Fund is investing in TRIL Roads after raising $600 million fund recently. The $100 billion salt-to-software group’s private equity arm sees the stressed scenario as an attractive investment opportunity and hence is buying out Actis’ stake. Last month TRIL Roads bought three road assets in Tamil Nadu from IVRCL. The three projects carry a cost of Rs 22 billion.

Sovereign investors like Malaysia's Khazanah Nasional, which has a joint venture with IDFC to invest in national highway projects, and SBI Macquarie Infrastructure Fund, have sought to buy select road assets from the troubled developers. Reports have also indicated that L&T Finance is raising a debt fund to explore investment opportunities in the stressed road sector.

finAnciAl Voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

19

Know Your Buyer

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

Last week Friday we exchanged on a property for £790,000, the contract was received in our solicitor’s office on the Thursday.

We had two investors lined up jointly for the property; one had already tasted money with us, having exchanged on a property for £240k and resold for £260k prior to completion. All he had to do was to move the funds from one lawyer's to another lawyer's account to exchange. The other was a fresh investor and hence needed more persuasion to exchange on a property he hadn’t seen, and for that matter I hadn’t either! Of course my colleague had seen the property but more importantly we know it’s worth more through due diligence and the opinion of a local agent, who is now in the process of selling this on for £850k plus.

The intention here is to not complete the transaction but to trade the property prior to completion. As always we must prepare for the completion despite strongly anticipating the property to be resold prior to completion.

The sellers on this property were particularly stubborn and insisted on the solicitor turning up at their solicitor's office to do the deal; they were not prepared to issue a contract.

In this scenario we had to dance to their tune if we wanted to do the deal, and we did as there was a lot of margin in this deal; we also had a time deadline to adhere to of 4:30pm on the next day being Friday.

With some last minute running around and chasing the property got exchanged in time. This was done within 48hrs of agreeing the deal.

B y performing at this spee d you n atu rally att ract more de als, e specially o nes which requ ire quick execution ; and deals which req uire quick executio n are gen erally und er price d as t he sel lers, for what ever re ason, wan t t o e xit the de al fast. You ne ed quick o n the ball lawyers to do the se k ind of deals. Deal s can tak e different time perio ds t o e xec ute, sometimes tak ing months or sometimes tak in g days; mu ch c omes do wn to t he solicito r used.

pletion without any fees to worry about.

It is also prudent to have another lender in place, like a bridging company who will be there, should the first lender not produce an offer in time.

The way we increase the chance of a property selling quickly is to ensure we don’t eat the whole cake, meaning we leave some margin for someone else to enjoy. This helps our property sell fast.

There are only two types of buyers in the market, the investor and the end user. The profile of the end user is they normally purchase with emotion and less with a need to have a margin.

Our resales are geared towards the investor as they normally see the need to move fast in order to secure the deal. Of course this isn’t set in stone, you may find the end user moves fast to secure the deal, but generally this is the profile.

This is not always the case if we're refurbishing the property; we have a few projects on the go, the aim with these is to sell to the end user. The properties will be furnished richly, right down to cushions and paintings, as we wish to appeal to the emotions - we do not want investors coming to purchase these properties.

Many investors don’t understand why we are able to source properties at well below market value in central locations, in a market where there doesn’t seem to exist any angles. Everything seems to be at market price, and in time it will achieve the price asked. When there is a margin it is swooped upon!

One of the reasons why we are able to get deals has been illustrated by last week's deal; it is our ability to move fast when it’s required. This not only helps us get deals but helps us negotiate the price down; as a consequence exchanges are often done without the lending finances in place.

To date we have never been unable to obtain finance after exchanging. Done at a reasonable LTV this is not such a gamble. Typically we like a low LTV, the rule of thumb for us in the current environment is 50%. If for any reason a main stream lender would turn the funding down we always have recourse to bridging funds. The bridging market is very competitive unlike mainstream lenders. It has been predicted this market is set to grow by 50% by next year. It’s easy to see why, given the lack of appetite amongst the high street banks.

With the above property we will be looking to finance using a lender which has no redemption penalty and a very reasonable interest rate of 3.29%; with an arrangement fee of £2,000 which includes a free valuation. This is a very good deal given that you have the option of reselling the property at any time post com-

Th ese are the tact ics develo pers use in the ir show ho me s to sell off plan prope rties an d the same principle is used when sellin g new cars. The advertise ment and the final prod uct very of ten have nothin g to do with common sense, price o r e fficiency bu t is d esigned to appeal to the emotion s.

Of course bridging funds are expensive, but often they are used only to get the deal over the line. There are two main reasons why investors use bridging, one is for speed and the other there is no alternative. For example, if you are looking to purchase a property which requires work, getting a Buy To Let mortgage will not work, as the property is not lettable. The basis of a Buy To Let mortgage is that the rent pays for the mortgage; properties which require work cannot be rented.

There are a few refurbishment lending products out on the market, where they lend you funds to purchase and then you develop, and then call the surveyor around again to revalue. They tend to force you to stay with them long term by having long redemption penalties; hence bridging has become a viable option.

When the property is in a lettable condition you should shift it to a more sensible interest rate as soon as possible. This obviously reduces the monthly outgo but it also allows you to hold out for the highest price; and not be held to ransom at the high level of interest rate. Instead of profitability the project then starts to become a liability.

There are seasons where the market perks up; it’s important any properties you’re developing hits these spots so you can ride the wave.

The Real Deal London, SW3 Purchase Price: £975,000 l A large two bedroom flat in this highly fashion able and sought after location l Long lease l Priced at £1,140 per sq ft l End value after minor touch up will be around £1.25m Call us now to reserve!!

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

0207 993 0103 info@sowandreap.co.uk

www.sowandreap.co.uk

55 Bryanston Street, Marble Arch Tower, London, W1H 7AA Follow us online:

Sowandreapuk

SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week l Whether it is a BTL or Buy and Flip deal, the most important aspect is Location. Find a property in a desirable neighborhood where people want to live in. l When flipping properties first impressions count; pay attention not just to the inside of the property but the outside as well. You cannot show off all the upgrades done inside the house if potential buyers are turned off by the outside appearance and its surroundings.

20

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

S&P warns India could face junk status Maria Fernandes

I

maria@abplgroup.com

Discrimination: by another name?

mmigration to the UK is as old as the hills, literally. It is a fascinating story of migration. From times when the Druids practiced human sacrifices, there have been an influx of Romans, Scandinavians, Jews, Caribbeans, Asians, more recently, Poles and now the prospect of Romanians and to a smaller extend Bulgarians.

Each community has made its presence felt by the introduction of new cuisine, habits and cultures, and each community has been absorbed.

How successful this is very much depends on the policies that are implemented.

Those who are white will only be distinguishable by their names. The nonwhite, on the other hand, will continue to stand out.

David Cameron, in one of his speeches talked about the need to retain “our way of life” and elsewhere people talk about a “tolerant” nation.

The pressure group, Migration Watch, led by Andrew Green, in the meantime continues to stoke up fears about Britain becoming non-white.

He still hankers after the imperial past that long ago faded away. The Conservative Party has made immigration the number 1 enemy, over and above the economy. The fact of the matter is that employers feel cheated at having to pay labour costs for staff that do not work hard or regularly and who lack skills.

If immigration is restricted the work and jobs will simply move abroad where conditions are more favourable.

Where employers cannot do so, by increasing fines, heaping more regulations on employers, landlords and doctors, the effect will be increased discrimination

against anyone of colour or with a different sounding surname.

In fact all you need to do these days is to pick up a paper. The Metropolitan Police only recently lost a Tribunal case where serious claims of racism were made and which they spent enormous sums of public funds defending. In the meantime G4S, that bastion of a company that let the country down during the Olympics, employed 2 officers who were discovered exchanging racist jokes on mobiles, to arrange to escort a deportee, who died during the process.

It would not be surprising if these incidents will continue to rise as migrants are seen as a problem and the Government appears to legitimise these concerns.

The rule of law is a wonderful thing. Judges, when faced with difficult questions, for example the deportation of Abu Qatada, apply the law, regardless of the consequences and in the knowledge of the criticism that a decision will inevitably generate.

It takes a brave man and system to fight for what is right. The public are ignored when issues regarding the economy, education and public services are raised but their views appear important when it comes to immigration. The policies of the Druids and human sacrifices are returning, in a different form this time.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 28 years.

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

India faces at least "a one-in-three" chance of losing its prized sovereign grade rating, global ratings agency Standard and Poor's has warned.

The announcement came after finance ministry officials have been arguing for a ratings upgrade, saying the government has been taking strong steps to curb India's financial deficit and promote investment.

India's BBB-minus investment rating is already the lowest among its BRICS peers Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, and cutting it to "junk status" would push up the country's hefty borrowing costs as it would signal higher risk.

"There is at least a onein-three chance that we will lower the ratings in the next 12 months," S&P said, adding that "risks to India's growth from stalled reforms in parliament still tilt the credit risks to the downside."

The warning from S&P, which cut its outlook on India's BBB-minus rating to negative from stable last year, came after Parliament was forced to adjourn early this month amid opposition uproar

India’s foreign investment inflows top $ 50 bn Fo re i g n investment inflows into India topped $50 billion on a net basis during 2012-13 despite the g o v e r n ment’s efforts to woo foreign direct investment (FDI) yielding poor results. But what came as a bigger surprise was a sharp decline in India Inc’s overseas forays, at least on the FDI front, despite several corporate chiefs threatening to pull out of the country in the wake of poor sentiments.

The 28.7% jump seen during the last financial year was led by portfolio flows, which went past $27 billion on a net basis, compared to a tad over $17 billion in 2011-12, latest data released by RBI showed. But on FDI, the news was dismal. On a gross basis, investment was down almost 21% to $36.9 billion as foreign investors stayed away due to the poor sentiment in the country as well as problems in Europe and the slow US recovery. FDI through all routes, including for mergers and acqui-

sitions, seems to bypass India last fiscal as there was an all-round fall.

W h a t helped matters a little was lower repatriation of profits from the country.

In fact, RBI data shows that repatriations and disinvestment more than halved to $6.8 billion during the last financial year from $13.6 billion in 201112. As a result, FDI inflows based on the new definition were estimated to have declined by 8.7% to around $30 billion.

On a net basis, however, FDI inflows went up by under 5% to around $23 billion as Indian companies slowed down their overseas expansion. RBI data revealed that India Inc’s overseas investment fell by over 36% to $7.1 billion during the last financial year despite one corporate chief after another threatening to relocate operations. But, with a more liberal regime and the overall economic mood lifting, the government is hoping to reverse the trend this year.

over corruption scandals.

The shutdown stalled the economic reform drive by Singh's minority government, which has been hobbled by a string of graft controversies with two cabinet ministers entangled in scandals quitting late last week.

The government has opened up the retail and aviation sectors to wider foreign investment and partly freed fuel prices.

But it has been striving to pass other bills to open the insurance and pension sectors to more overseas investment and streamline industrial land acquisition to spur economic growth.

The agency said it may also cut India's ratings if it

concludes that Asia's third-largest economy will not revert to higher seven to eight per cent growth levels notched up earlier in this decade.

India's growth right was bumping along at 5 per cent for the last financial year to March 2013, the lowest level in a decade, but the government expects it to pick up to 6 per cent this year and is targeting 7 per cent in 2014.

Also despite government efforts to cut red tape in implementing longdelayed infrastructure and power projects, its "success in raising investment growth remains uncertain," credit analyst Takahira Ogawa said.

Corruption charges badly affects India’s economic confidence India’s economic confidence dropped last month due to plethora of corruption allegations against the Union government ministers and the country is now the sixth most economically confident country in the world after Saudi Arabia, Sweden, China, Canada and Germany.

According to a survey by global research firm Ipsos, India’s economic confidence dropped by 2 points to 63 per cent in the month of April 2013 compared to the month of March 2013. The drop in economic confidence of the country was despite the fact the there has been a continuous decline in inflation rate and upbeat investor confidence, Ipsos said.

“Frequent allegations of corruption is revitalising negative public perception among Indians about the state of its economy despite indications that inflation is gradually subsiding and investor are increasingly becoming confident about business opportunities in India,” Ipsos India CEO Mick Gordon said.

The global assessment of national economies surveyed in 24 countries slipped slightly this month as 36 per cent of global citizens rate their national economies to be ‘good’, down 1 per cent from last month.Saudi Arabia (80 per cent) continued to lead the world on national economic assessment, despite seeing a downward trend over the past quarter. It is followed by Sweden (73 per cent), China (72 per cent), Canada (65 per cent), Germany (64 per cent) and India (63 per cent).

Meanwhile, four in 10 Indian citizens (41 per cent) believe that their local economy, which impacts their personal finance, is good and has seen a marginal rise of 2 points. About 47 per cent people expect that the economy in their local area will be stronger in next six months.

Gordon further said that Indian economy is expected to grow at around 6 per cent in 201314 on account of robust domestic demand, strong savings and growth in private investment rate.

EC may fine Indian, Chinese airlines over emissions The European Commission said that Air China and Air India were among 10 Chinese and Indian airlines facing the prospect of fines and exclusion from airports in the European Union for refusing to comply with rules aimed at regulating greenhouse emissions.

The carriers are accused of not providing emissions data, as required by the European rules, and not participating in a permit system that entitles airlines to emit greenhouse gases in European airspace. The

volumes of carbon dioxide that the European Commission said the 10 carriers emitted through their jet engines in Europe last year was comparable to the emissions from burning about 130 rail cars of coal.

The commission said the eight Chinese carriers could face fines totalling 2.4 million, or $3 million, and the two Indian airlines face total fines of 30,000.

So far the emissions rules apply only to flights within Europe and European carriers and most non-European air-

lines have complied. Still hotly debated, though, is the planned expansion of the system next January to include international flights in and out of Europe.

Japan, Russia and the

United States, as well as China and India, were among about two dozen countries that protested against that expansion early last year. The resistance by the Chinese and Indian airlines to even the

intra-Europe part of the program highlights the fierce opposition, particularly in emerging economies, to environmental rules imposed by Europe on companies and organizations in other parts of the world.

No airlines have been fined yet for violating the system, and the programme does not present them with huge costs, at least initially. The system has added less than 1 to the cost of flights from, say, Paris to Rome.

The warning derived from airlines' failure to

report their emissions to the national authorities and their missing of an April 30 deadline for handing over sufficient numbers of permits to the national authorities to cover their emissions last year. The European Commission, the Union's administrative arm, which made the announcement, oversees the system.

Connie Hedegaard, the Union's commissioner for climate action, said there was no excuse for the airlines to ignore Europe's system.

finAnciAl voice

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

21

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

Recovery of UK economy in sight

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 21st May 2013 @ 3pm GBP - INR = 83.89

In the Bank of England’s Quarterly Inflation Report last week, Governor Mervyn King commented that a recovery for the UK economy was now “in sight�. The BoE also revised their growth forecasts for the second quarter, expecting the UK economy to grow by 0.5%.

However the report also revealed that high inflation is expected to stay above target for the next few years, which could hinder growth in the UK. Preliminary findings estimate that persistently high inflation has already knocked almost 3% off UK growth in the last three years with households facing a continued squeeze on their spending power. The BoE expects inflationary pressures to peak over the summer and said it is unlikely the CPI measure will dip below 2.5% over the next four years.

The euro continued to be under pressure as data from the euro zone on Wednesday 15th May, confirmed that the singlebloc area contracted even further than markets anticipated adding to speculation that the European Central Bank may take action in the form of further

rate cuts to boost growth.

The US dollar continued to dominate the headlines in the currency markets last week as the currency continued to strengthen against its peers.

In the United States consumer sentiment rebounded at the start of May to the highest level in almost six years. A preliminary report by the University of Michigan showed that consumer sentiment index rose to 83.7 from 76.4 in April the highest level since July 2007. More households feel wealthier against the backdrop of a slowly improving jobs market and rising home values.

The data added to expectations for a reduction of the Fed’s monetary policy sooner rather than later giving reason for the US dollar to strengthen.

However it’s not all good news from the US as the consumer price index dropped the most in four years in April on lower fuel costs. Most of April’s

drop was concluded by an 8.1% slide in petrol prices, the most since December 2008, following a 4.4% in fall in March. Overall energy prices were down 4.3% in April, following a 2.6% in the previous month and food prices rose 0.2%. Housing starts also fell more than expected to a five month low.

Commodity-led currencies,

0 8 0 8

$ 0 4 5

such as the Australian dollar, New Zealand dollar, South African rand and Canadian dollar all weakened last week due to the above speculation that the Federal Reserve may look to reduce its monetary policy sooner rather than later.

Monetary stimulus is a practice that would typically entice demand for higher yielding assets; thus if the US look to reduce their measures then this demand would deteriorate.

In the coming week, investors will be looking to the Minutes Meetings from both the Bank of England and the Federal Reserve to get a better gauge of the respective central banks stances on monetary stimulus. Now that sentiment on the UK is improving could we see more members of the MPC vote against the expansion of monetary stimulus? Will the Federal Reserve give further indication of reigning in their stimulus package sooner rather than later?

USD - INR = 55.43 EUR - INR = 71.32 GBP - USD = 1.51 GBP - EUR = 1.18 EUR - USD = 1.29 GBP - AED = 5.56 GBP - CAD = 1.56 GBP - NZD = 1.86 GBP - AUD = 1.55 GBP - ZAR = 14.47 GBP - HUF = 341.46

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.

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22

Pakistan-Bangladesh-sri lanka

In Focus Pakistan to release 51 Indian fishermen as goodwill gesture

Islamabad: Prime Minister Justice (R) Mir Hazar Khan Khoso ordered the release 51 Indian fishermen on humanitarian grounds as a gesture of goodwill. These prisoners have already served their sentences. The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the Indian Government will reciprocate the gesture and release the Pakistani prisoners incarcerated in Indian jails. The Prime Minister was informed that presently 482 Indian prisoners were in Pakistani jails whereas 496 Pakistanis were in Indian jails.

He was further informed that the government of Pakistan was awaiting the confirmation of national status of other Indian prisoners.

6 US nationals among 15 killed in Afghan attack

Kabul: A suicide bomber in a car attacked a convoy of foreign troops in Kabul, killing at least 15 people, including six Americans, Afghan and foreign officials said, in one of the worst attacks in the Afghan capital in months. Forty people were wounded in the blast during the morning rush-hour. It caused heavy damage to mud-built houses in the vicinity. The Hezb-e-Islami insurgent group, which is allied with the Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack on the two-vehicle convoy

‘Brain eating amoeba’ claims life of 14-year-old

Karachi: The critically-ill 14-year-old patient of ‘brain eating amoeba’ died in Liaquat National Hospital. Adeel Hussain a resident of Karachi’s Korangi area was brought to LNH in a semi-conscious condition with high fever. Though he was instantly put on ventilators, the child succumbed to the disease. The survival rate in this disease is quite low. According to head of National Institute of Child Health, Dr Jamal Raza, the Naegleria fowleri is a special organism found in warm water or puddles. Swimming in public pools, with improper arrangements for chlorination, is considered to be a major reason for contracting the disease.

Sarabjit's death: Pak judge seeks online submissions

Islamabad: A Pakistani judge investigating the murder of Indian death row convict Sarabjit Singh has appealed to Indian nationals having information about the matter to file written submissions with relevant documents. "The Indians are required to get themselves registered with one-man inquiry tribunal at official URL http://mail.punjab.gov.pk at the email address: registrartribunals@lhc.gov.pk," said Riaz Ahmed, the personal staff officer of the judge.

First Pakistani woman atop Everest

Karachi: Mountaineer Samina Baig has become the first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain peak at 8,848 metres. Baig completed the climb to the summit with her brother Mirza Ali, who becomes the third and youngest Pakistani male to scale the mountain. Nepal mountaineering department official Tilak Padney said 35 foreigners accompanied by 29 Nepalese Sherpa guides reached the peak after climbing all night from the highest camp on South Col the pass between Everest and a neighbouring mountain.

Chinese held in PoK over Quran abuse

Muzaffarabad (Pakistan): A Chinese man working on an energy project in PoK was held after hundreds of protesters attacked his company offices over the alleged desecration of a Quran, officials said. Lee Ping, administration manager of a Chinese consortium was accused of throwing the Quran on the ground. "We have taken Ping into protective custody after protests erupted in the company when Pakistani labourers saw him throwing the belongings of a Pakistani worker including the Quran," Sardar Gulfraz, a senior police official, said.

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 25th May 2013

Gen Kayani cautions Sharif on ties with India Islamabad: In the backdrop of Nawaz Sharif 's positive remarks on ties with India, powerful army chief Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has suggested Pakistan's prime minister-designate to take gradual initiatives with utmost caution for improving relations with New Delhi, a media report said.

Kayani made the suggestion when he called on PMLN chief Nawaz Sharif, set to become prime minister for a record third term following his party's victory in the May 11 polls, at his brother Shahbaz Sharif 's home in Lahore.

The News daily quoted its sources as saying that Kayani wanted the new government to take gradual initiatives with utmost caution to improve relations with India as this alone "may lead to lasting peace in the region." Kayani ensured that Sharif "knew the exact situation on the ground with regard to Pakistan-India ties

Sharif had made some surprisingly positive statements on ties with India which many thought may not have gone down well with the Army, the News said.

The PML -N chief had said he was keen on resuming the IndiaGen Ashfaq Kayani meeting Nawaz Sharif Pakistan peace process that was interrupted in the backdrop of developin 1999 by then-army chief ments over the past decade" Pervez Musharraf, who as Sharif did not have firstousted Sharif 's government hand experience in view of in a military coup. his absence from power, the The report said Kayani report said. called on Sharif to congratuIn Kayani's view, the relalate him on the PML-N's tionship between Pakistan success in the general elecand India "demands a comtion and informally talked prehensive strategy for "about all national security addressing the geopolitical issues." challenges which have He informed Sharif that cropped up over the years" the new premier and his cabsince Sharif 's last tenure as inet would be given a briefpremier. There was no offiing on all important internal cial word from the PML-N and external national securior the army on the meeting. ty challenges after their Before the elections,

swearing-in.

The armed forces are "fully behind the democratic government and had worked hard for ensuring democracy," Kayani was quoted as saying.

Kayani reportedly stressed the need to bring the armed forces and the government on the same page as the towering challenges facing Pakistan required "symphonic harmony between the two important pillars of the state."

He also discussed the situation in Afghanistan and the challenges awaiting the new government for negotiations on this issue. The army chief reportedly said the pullout of the US and its allies from Afghanistan in 2014 would "surely have an impact on the new government" and Pakistan should prepare for this significant development in advance, especially handling "affairs at the time of the US withdrawal and afterwards."

Musharraf granted bail Pakistan govt may consider in Benazir murder case importing electricity from India

Rawalpindi: Pakistan’s antiterrorism court granted bail to former military ruler Pervez Musharraf over the assassination of ex-prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007.

Judge Chaudhry Habib-ur-Rehman of the anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted bail to Musharraf against two surety bonds of Rs 1000,000 each.

During the arguments, Musharraf’s lawyer Salman Safdar said there was no solid evidence or witness against his client. He said that Musharraf had not been blamed by the family of any of the victims for the 2007 suicide attack that killed Bhutto.

Prosecutor Chaudhry Azhar of the Federal Investigation Agency opposed Musharraf’s bail petition, saying the former President could flee Pakistan if he was freed from detention.

Bhutto was killed by a suicide bomber after she addressed an election rally in Rawalpindi in December 2007. Musharraf has been accused of providing inadequate security to Bhutto.

Sixty-nine year old Musharraf, who is currently being held at his farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad, was arrested shortly after he returned to Pakistan in March to lead his All Pakistan Muslim League party in the general election.

He was subsequently barred by a court from contesting polls for the rest of his life.

Besides the Bhutto assassination case, Musharraf has been arrested for detaining dozens of judges during the 2007 emergency and for the killing of Baloch nationalist leader Akbar Bugti in a 2006 military operation.

Speculation is rife in Islamabad that Musharraf may be allowed to leave the country under a deal worked out by the powerful military.

Islamabad: Pakistan's new government will seriously consider importing 1,000 MW of electricity from India as part of a short to mediumterm strategy to end power outages, according to a media report. The import of electricity from India, Iran and Central Asian Republics was feasible, The News quoted its sources as saying. It is a prerequisite for reviving shattered growth prospects, the sources said.

Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party, set to form government after its victory in the May 11 polls, is considering various options to overcome the crippling energy crisis.

An Islamabad-based unnamed official of the World Bank confirmed that a feasibility study had been done for exploring the import of electricity from India. The official said 1,000 MW could be imported from India within the next two years.

According to World Bank officials, electricity trade between Pakistan and India will be completed in the next two years, including conducting feasibility studies, pricing and building a transmission

line. India and Pakistan are working on energy cooperation though there is no energy-sharing mechanism in this region, the report said.

The previous Pakistan People's Party-led government had decided in principle last year to import 500 MW of power from India.

In August, Indian and Pakistani experts agreed to conduct feasibility studies and identify points for the proposed import of electricity.

ACs in govt offices switched off Meanwhile, civil servants in the country have been told not to wear socks as the country turns off air-conditioners amid a chronic power crisis and soaring temperatures. The government has turned off all air-conditioning in its offices as the country endures blackouts of up to 20 hours a day in some places.

"There shall be no more use of air-conditioners in public offices till such time that substantial improvement in the energy situation takes place," a cabinet directive said. As part of a new dress code, moccasins or sandals must be worn without socks.

Infighting breaks out in Imran’s party over CM's post Islamabad: Infighting has broken out in Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf party over choosing a chief minister for the crucial KhyberPakhtunkhwa province, with two top leaders jockeying for the position.

Pervez Khattak, the secretary general of the party, and Asad Qaisar, the president of the party's KhyberPakhtunkhwa chapter, are in the race for the post of chief minister. Khan's party has emerged the single largest force in the provincial assembly and is trying to cobble together a coalition. A party

spokesman in Peshawar had initially announced that Khattak would be the chief minister but the media reported that Khan was backing Qaisar for the position.

A statement from party said no one had been nominated for the post of chief minister as yet. It said consultations were underway in this regard. Qaisar defeated Khattak in intra-party elections held this year and became the provincial president. He was president of the provincial chapter during 2008-2011. Qaisar won elections to both a National

Assembly and provincial assembly seat from his native Swabi district. However, Khattak has claimed that he has the support of more legislators than Qaisar. The party now appears divided into two groups over the issue of choosing a chief minister.

Khattak has been meeting leaders of other parties like the Jamaat-e-Islami and Qaumi Watan Party to discuss forming a coalition. On the other hand, Qaisar went to Lahore and met Khan at Shaukat Khanum Hospital, where he is recuperating after an accident at a campaign

meeting last week.

Imran’s party leader shot dead in Karachi A founder member of Imran Khan's party was shot dead by unidentified gunmen outside her residence in Karachi, hours before partial re-polling for the national assembly seat in the area.

Zahra Shahid Hussain, the 60-year-old vice-president of the party’s Sindh unit,was shot outside her home. She died while being taken to hospital. Zahra, a mother figure for party workers, was a member of the party's central executive committee.

world

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

In Focus 60 injured as US commuter trains collide

New York: A rush-hour collision between two commuter trains in a suburb north of New York City injured 60 passengers. The incident included the train headed into the city and one travelling in the opposite direction toward New Haven, Connecticut. It pulled to a sudden halt and then suddenly jerked forward. There was smoke. People were screaming, people were really nervous.

They had to smash a window to get out.

400 Indians in Saudi Arabia to help illegal expatriates

Dubai: Responding to an appeal by Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao, 400 expatriate Indians have registered as volunteers to help Indian workers in Saudi Arabia affected by a new labour policy. The ambassador again appealed to illegal Indian workers to rectify their residency status or leave the country following the implementation of the Nitaqat or Saudisation policy in that Gulf nation. The new policy makes it mandatory for all Saudi companies to reserve 10 per cent of jobs for Saudi nationals.

Australian PM brought to tears in parliament

Sydney: Australian prime minister Julia Gillard's tough exterior cracked as she choked back tears while introducing a bill into parliament on disability reforms. The country's first female leader, seen as a hard-talking survivor in male-dominated politics, spoke in a quivering voice of people with disabilities she had recently met.

She said a proposed national disability insurance scheme would let people like 17year-old Sandy from Brisbane realise their dreams for life.

Video shows Syria rebel eating dead soldier's heart

Beirut: Human Rights Watch and the Syrian opposition National Coalition have condemned a gruesome video apparently showing a Syrian rebel fighter cutting out the heart of a regime soldier and eating it.

The Coalition stresses that such an act contradicts the morals of the Syrian people.

Human Rights Watch said the man depicted in the video appeared to be from a rebel brigade in central Homs province that fired indiscriminately at Lebanese villages earlier this year.

NRI teen invents 20-second phone charger

Washington: Teenagers of Indian origin won a raft of prizes at the annual Intel science bash in what's now par for course, but although the top prize eluded them, the most electrifying breakthrough came from Indian-American high-school student.

A device she has developed can fully charge a cell phone in 20 to 30 seconds in what will be a boon for a gazillion mobile users who need to juice up their cell phones quickly. Eesha Khare, 18, of Saratoga, California received the Intel Foundation Young Scientist Award of $50,000 for developing a fast-charging super capacitor that fits inside a cell phone, charge the battery in under a minute, and hold it for long.

Wave of attacks kills at least 95 in Iraq

Baghdad: A wave of attacks killed at least 95 people in Shiite and Sunni areas of Iraq, officials said, pushing the death toll over the past week to more than 240 and extending one of the most sustained bouts of sectarian violence the country has seen in years. The bloodshed is still far shy of the pace, scale and brutality of the dark days of 2006-2007, when Sunni and Shiite militias carried out retaliatory attacks against each other in a cycle of violence that left the country awash in blood. Still, the recent attacks, some of which hit markets and crowded bus stops during the morning rush hour, have heightened fears that the country could be turning back down the path toward civil war.

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91 killed as tornado devastates Oklahoma

Washington: The death toll from a massive tornado that swept through a US suburb of Oklahoma City has risen to 91, including at least 20 children, an official said.

Amy Elliott, of the state medical examiner's office, said in a televised interview that 40 more bodies had been recovered since an earlier toll of 51, after the massive twister flattened several suburban blocks and two schools.

Stunned weather forecasters reported a two-mile wide swath of vicious winds and television news helicopters tracked a dark funnel plowing through denselypacked suburbs.

"We've had a massive tornado, a huge one that has passed through this community," Oklahoma's Governor

Mary Fallin told a news conference.

"We know there are a lot of injuries. We know we've lost a tremendous amount of structures throughout this community and throughout the state," she said, as the Moore police chief urged people to leave the area.

"There are a lot of safety issues, gas lines, power lines, things of that nature, that we have to take into consideration and there's just not

much else that can be done there at this time," police chief Jerry Sillings said.

Reporters saw children as young as nine being pulled out of the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, a residential community of 55,000 just south of Oklahoma's state capital.

A second elementary school, Briarwood, was also hit but did not appear to have sustained casualties.

Utility lines were down and gas lines exposed, triggering localized fires. The Moore Medical Center was evacuated after it sustained damage, and state authorities called out the National Guard to help rescue

efforts.

US President Barack Obama, meanwhile, declared a "major disaster" in Oklahoma and ordered federal aid to supplement local recovery efforts. The National Weather Service gave the tornado a preliminary rating of EF-4, indicating that it packed winds of 166 to 200 miles per hour.

Monday's tornado followed roughly the same track as a May 1999 twister that killed 44 people, injured hundreds more and destroyed thousands of homes. Tornadoes frequently touch down on Oklahoma's wide open plains, but Monday's twister struck a populated urban area and raised fears of a high casualty toll.

Australian gets jail for rape, US gun lobby invokes Bapu in right to bear arms murder of Indian woman act," the Sydney Sydney: A 21-yearold Australian man Morning Herald of Sri Lankan quoted sentencing descent, who raped judge Derek Price and murdered an as saying in his rulIndian woman, has ing.

"The last been sentenced to moments of her life 45 years in jail by a must have been terSydney court. The rifying. This was a New South Wales terrible way to die."

Supreme Court Police reportedly ruled that Daniel found over 10,000 Tosha Thakkar website links in the Stani-Reginald would not be eligible for convict's laptop relating to parole for a minimum of 30 serial killers and rapists. On years for raping and murderthe day he murdered ing Tosha Thakkar, then 24, Thakkar, he had searched the in a Sydney flat on March 9, internet with the keywords 2011, a media report said. "choke hold" and also viewed Thakkar, a university stupornography. He then raped dent in Sydney studying her and strangled her with a cable. "There's documented accounting, was raped and evidence that he had been strangled to death in a flat at planning the murder for a Croydon here by Staninumber of years prior," judge Reginald who was her neighPrice said, adding that the bour. Stani-Reginald then put callousness of the manner in her body in a suitcase and which the act was carried out threw it in a canal at a park in was evident from the way Meadowbank. He was arrestStani-Reginald stuffed the ed two days later after some body in a suitcase, booked a construction workers found taxi, and took it to the suitcase. He later pleaded Meadowbank. Prosecutors guilty for the murder. had asked for life sentence for "The offender strangled the perpetrator. her, an extraordinary cruel

Washington: Mahatma Gandhi should be turning in his grave after being invoked by the American gun lobby in its fight for the right to bear arms. A maverick gun enthusiast who has asked 1,000 pro-gun supporters to march across the Potomac carrying loaded rifles on July 4 has pledged to respond "with satyagraha" if he and his supporters are met with force, as the capital police has indicated they would be.

Adam Kokesh, an ex-US marine activist has a history of rabble-rousing and selfpromotion, according to various media accounts. But earlier this week, he carried his stunt to the edge of hilarity by virtually adopting Gandhi as a mascot for gun rights, saying he would use the Mahatma's methods of peaceful resistance to fight the "tyranny" of the state if it cracked down on the right to bear arms enshrined in the US Constitution.

Kokesh has taken to Facebook to promote his July 4 march, which will take place if his online petition gathers enough steam.

According to his plans, at least 1,000 pro-gun activists, with loaded rifles slung on their backs, will congregate at the Arlington cemetery across the Potomac river and then will march peacefully around the Capitol and the White House, before trooping back to the Cemetery. The point is to "put the government on notice that we will not be intimidated."

Any such march will violate a raft of DC laws.

Carrying a loaded weapon, concealed or unconcealed, especially if it is unregistered, invites a jail sentence in the district; across the river, Virginia laws are different.

"There's a pretty good chance we'll meet them on the DC side of the bridge," Police Chief Cathy Lanier has warned. To compound matters, activists of the group CodePink, mainly left-wing anti-gun female peaceniks, have promised to meet the gun lovers on the bridge - to offer them hugs. It could all turn out to be fun and farcical, but no one wants to take chances with 1,000 gunlovers with loaded weapons.

Senate approves Srinivasan's nomination to a top US court Washington: IndianAmerican Srikanth Srinivasan inched closer to scripting history as the first South Asian judge after a key Senate committee confirmed his nomination to the DC Circuit Court, America's second highest.

Described as "trailblazer"

by US President Barack Obama, Chandigarh-born Srinivasan's nomination to the US court of appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit was unanimously approved by the 18-member Senate Judiciary Committee.

He was first nominated to the post by Obama nearly one year ago, and if confirmed, he would fill one of the four vacancies on the DC Circuit.

"I am glad we are moving forward with this fine nomi-

nee in a bipartisan way," said Senator Patrick Leahy, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Srinivasan, 46, now has to be confirmed by the Senate before he becomes the first Indian American to be appointed to the top American court.

Srinivasan is currently principal US deputy solicitor general and is a former clerk for Supreme Court Justice

Sandra Day O'Connor.

Congressman Ami Bera, the only Indian American lawmaker in the US House of Representatives, in a statement Srikanth said he is Srinivasan "pleased" that the Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved his appointment to the DC Circuit Court of Appeals.

Bera hoped that the Senate majority leader Harry Reid will swiftly bring the appointment to the Senate floor for a vote.

"Sri is widely regarded as one of the best legal minds in the country, and his breadth of experience makes him

extremely well-qualified for the appointment to one of our country's most important courts," he said.

"His appointment would also be historic for the Indian American and Asian American community.

Representation of Indian Americans within our judicial system is overdue," Bera said.

Srinivasan successfully worked for both Republican and Democratic Administrations and has bipartisan support from the legal community. If confirmed, he would become the first Asian American on the DC Circuit and the first Indian American to serve as a federal circuit court judge.

DC Circuit Court is America's second highest after the Supreme Court.

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IndIa

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 25th May 2013

South Amma Canteen scheme, menu to be expanded: Jayalalithaa Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa announced the expansion of the Amma Canteen (budget canteen) scheme to nine other districts in the state. She said "To implement the budget canteen scheme in other parts of the state in the first phase, 10 canteens will be set up in Madurai, Tiruchirapalli, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Salem, Tiruppur, Tuticorin, Vellore and Erode by the end of this month." She said that at these canteens, idli will be sold at Re.1 per piece, sambar rice at Rs.5 per plate and curd rice at Rs.3 per plate.

Youth kills self for 'cause of separate state of Telangana' A 23-year-old electrician allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree on the Osmania University (OU) campus in Hyderabad for the "cause of separate state of Telangana", police said. The deceased, identified only as Bharat, was found hanging from a tree on the campus by some locals who alerted police. The deceased, a native of Huzurnagar in Nalgonda district, came here only two months ago and had been working as an electrician, police said.

In a suicide note, purportedly written by him, Bharat said "he was dying for Telangana", police said.

Bangalore has water only for the next 15 to 18 days

Bangalore is fearing an acute water shortage in days to come. Municipal officials have warned that the city has water only for the next 15 to 18 days. People are forced to buy water from tankers nearly six times a month. The only source of water for Bangalore city other than the Cauvery river, the TG Halli reservoir, too, is in no state to come to the city's rescue.

Punjab 3 die as jilted lover sets girl's family on fire

A 20-year-old girl was charred to death along with her sister and grandmother after her jilted lover set her six-member family on fire at JattanWala in Punjab's Ferozepur district. Police said the girl's father received 50% while the mother and 10-year-old brother 20% burns. They said the girl had recently ended her relationship with the accused, Lakhwinder, and got engaged to another youth around a week back.

14-year-old boy ‘offers’ minor girl Rs 5 for sex

In Chandigardh, the police arrested a juvenile boy, accused of trying to lure an eightyear-old child, a student of Class II, in a bid to abuse her sexually. According to the police, the victim's mother, a resident of Maloya, complained that when her daughter returned home from school, the accused sexually harassed her and offered her Rs 5 to have sex with him. The boy has been booked under section section Protection of Children Act.

Rapper Honey Singh booked for vulgar songs

Punjab Police booked singer-rapper Honey Singh for using obscene language in his songs. A case was registered against the singer under provisions of Section 294 (singing, reciting or uttering any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place) of the Indian Penal Code in Punjab's Nawanshahr town. The singer-rapper has been courting controversies in the country for his songs based on sexual themes.

Dreaded contract killer gunned down

Contract killer Sandeep Chitania, 35, wanted in around 18 cases in Haryana and Delhi was gunned down by police near Gorgaria village in Jind district. Chitania had escaped custody of Delhi police along with another accomplice Neetu on April 2, 2012. Police acted on information that he was and three teams were put into action.

It could turn out to be the tallest modern-day statue in Tamil Nadu, or perhaps even the country. Be it a gesture of supplication or political oneupmanship, a statue of 'Tamil Thai' (Mother of Tamil), taller than even the 133-foothigh Thiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari, built during an earlier DMK regime, will soon tower over Madurai, a city synonymous with Tamil language. Chief minister J Jayalalithaa announced in the assembly that the grand statue would cost her government Rs 1 billion and would, symbolically and perhaps even in physical dimensions, resemble the Statue of Liberty in the US. Jayalalithaa said the statue was aimed at spreading the culture, tradition, literary treasures and architectural excellence of Tamils. The statue of saint-poet

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah inducted 28 members into his five-day-old cabinet. Out of the 28 new ministers, 20 have been given cabinet rank, while eight have been given the rank of ministers of state.State Governor H. R. Bhardwaj administered the oath of office and secrecy in batches to each of the new ministers at a formal Raj Bhavan ceremony here amidst loud applause and cheer-e The Congress Party has come to power in the state after nine years.

Chief Minister K. Siddaramaiah expanded his ministry, amid demands that "tainted" legislators be kept out.

According to one television channel, Congress Lok Sabha member A. H.

Thiruvalluvar in the sea off Kanyakumari in the state's southern end, constructed at a cost of more than Rs 6 crore, is the tallest in the state now and took nine years to erect. The height of the statute alone (without the pedestal) is 95 feet, and the total weight is about 7,000 tonnes. "The Tamil Thai statute will be taller than the Thiruvalluvar statute," said a senior official in the depart-

ment of Tamil development.

"We will identify a location in Madurai for the statue soon," he said, adding it would be sculpted from high quality stone. Like the Thiruvalluvar statute, the outer layer of 'Tamil Thai' would be covered with fine granite stone, the official said.

The Thiruvalluvar statue was inaugurated by then chief minister M Karunanidhi in January 2000.

In the assembly, Jayalalithaa said parks resembling the five terrains - kurinji (mountains), marudham (agriculture land), mullai (forests), neidhal (sea shore) and paalai (desert) - will come up around the statue.

When a curious rebel DMDK member wanted to know if the Tamil Thai statute would be similar to the Thiruvalluvar statue in terms of its size, ministers sitting in

the front row gestured it would be much bigger.

It is not unusual for political parties to attempt to build massive statues that would reflect the cultural ethos of the state to which they belong and to assert their political identity. In Maharashtra, the Shiv Sena wanted to put up a massive statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji in the sea off Marine Drive in Mumbai. But it gave up the proposal due to the practical difficulties of erecting a statue in the sea.

In Madurai, the big question worrying certain sections is whether Tamil Thai would tower over the city's famous Meenakshi Amman temple, whose tallest tower is 160 feet high. VHP district president Chinmaya Somasundaram, who has consistently opposed highrise buildings in the temple's vicinity, told.

Vishwanath from Mysore and 95-year-old freedom fighter H. S. Doreswamy, are among many who have been strident in their call to induct party legislators with clean image into the state cabinet.

Doreswamy was among the first group of people that Siddaramaiah called on in Bangalore after taking oath as chief minister four days ago.

He also met well-known writers such as U.R. Anantha Murthy, Girish Karnad and Chandrashekar Kambar, all Jnanpith Award winners.

Before Saturday's swearing-in ceremony, Siddaramaiah had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi, party vice-president Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders to finalise the names of legislators to be made ministers.

Environmentalists have written to state authorities to regulate the crowd during the festival at the Maasi temple located in the heart of the reserve forest in the Nilgiris in western Tamil Nadu. The festival is an annual event that takes place during May last week and activists have been crying hoarse that the area around the temple suffers major environmental degradation due to dumping of garbage, use of fireworks and vehicular movement.

K Mohan Raj of the Tamil Nadu Green Movement has written to several senior Tamil Nadu forest officials and the Nilgiris district collector urging them to regulate the crowds, deploy adequate and well-informed police and forest personnel during the

festival, prohibit liquor and sale of beedis and cigarettes and arrange for dustbins to collect the tones of garbage that would be generated during the festival from May 26 to 28. His letter includes several other demands.

"Every year around 10,000 people visit the temple in heavy vehicles like jeeps, vans, trucks and buses.

It is also pertinent to note that in the year 2011, three people died in an accident during the festival," said Mohan Raj in his letter. The letter was addressed to principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden, Chennai, additional principal chief conservator of forests - tiger reserves, Coimbatore and district forest officer, Nilgiris north division, Ooty.

Jayalalithaa

28 new members inducted TN govt told to regulate crowd during Maasi temple festival into Karnataka Cabinet

Akali Dal manifesto comes in handy for Congress A top Congress leader displaying the manifesto of the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal in Punjab may appear odd, but that's exactly what is happening in Punjab these days.

Newly-appointed Punjab state Congress president Pratap Singh Bajwa carries a copy of the Akali Dal election manifesto everywhere he visits as part of the ongoing campaigning for zila parishad and block samiti polls in the state. But he is not doing any service to his political opponents.

Bajwa shows the manifesto to people and asks them if any of the 204 promises made in it by the Akali Dal have been fulfilled. The promises were made by the party in its election manifesto released before the January 2012 assembly elections. The Akali Dal returned to power in the state for a

second consecutive term after the polls.

During his rallies, Bajwa has been reading out the Akali Dal manifesto and then posing questions to the people.

"Have you got anything out of this?" he asks. According to him, in over 14 months in power (since March 2012), the Akali Dal has failed to fulfil any of its promises.

"Have you got the Rs.1,000 per month unemployment allowance? Has the pension for widows and senior citizens been hiked? Are you getting the money of the Shagun scheme?" are some other questions he poses to his audience.

"We want to expose the Akali Dal through their own document. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir (Akali Dal president and deputy chief minister) have cheated the people of Punjab,� Bajwa asks.

Violence mars Punjab civic polls

Violence marred the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections in Muktsar - the hometown of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal -- as well as Faridkot, Moga and Fazilka districts as the state election commission ordered re-polling at eight polling booths.While Congress supporters torched eight vehicles and clashed with cops in Maana village of Lambi constituency in Muktsar district after alleged booth-capturing by Akali aides, miscreants fled with ballot boxes in Golewala village in Faridkot district.

Congress workers alleged that when they opposed Akali supporters from capturing a polling booth in Maana village, they were attacked and beaten up.

Bathinda IG Nirmal Singh Dhillon said, "Congress workers set abalze

vehicles belonging to Akali supporters and also held hostage a few Akali supporters. The police had to lathicharge and open fire in the air to free the Akali workers Congress MLA from Giddarbaha in Mukatsar Amarinder Singh Raja Warring later said that Akali Dal turned Punjab into Bihar for a few hours. Later, repolling was ordered in two booths of Rupana village.

Meanwhile, Mukatsar DC said that as the violence had taken place outside the pooling booths, repoll was not necessitated.

indiA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

In Focus At 104, Noida man is world’s oldest to get a heart stent

Noida resident Hari Singh successfully undergo an angioplasty at 104 years of age, also became the oldest person in the world to do so. Singh, born in 1909 in present-day Pakistan, was brought to the hospital on May 16 with chest pain and kidney dysfunction. Reports showed 90% blockage in one of the main arteries supplying blood to the heart and 100% blockage in two others. Dr Purshottam Lal, chief cardiologist and chairman of Metro Hospital and Heart Institute had performed.

Indian sisters first twins to climb Mount Everest

Two Indian girls have scripted history by becoming the first twins ever to climb Mount Everest together. 21-year-old Tashi and Nancy Malik from Dehra Dun achieved this feat by successfully reaching the world's highest mountain peak at 8,848 meters. The duo were among other recordmakers including the first women from Saudi Arabia and Pakistan who climbed the Everest.

A 'restless' Sanjay Dutt reading spiritual books in Jail

Sanjay Dutt had sought permission from the TADA Court to carry with him to jail copies of Bhagwad Gita, Ramayan and Hanuman Chalisa. He spent his first night after returning to prison reading spiritual books even as Maharashtra Government authorities are yet to decide on keeping him at Arthur Road Central Jail here or shifting him elsewhere. The 53-year-old filmstar surrendered before TADA Court on Thursday and was later shifted to the highsecurity jail in central Mumbai. He has to serve 42 more months in jail after his conviction in the 1993 bomb blast case

Blogging lands Indian lecturer in Dubai jail

An Indian university lecturer landed in police custody in Dubai after he blogged against a private university based in Dubai.

The arrest took place a couple of weeks ago when the professor was visiting Dubai on a business visa. He has now been granted bail, but his passport has been confiscated and he cannot travel. The lecturer, qualified by UGC-NET in 'Journalism & Mass Communication', has taught in two well-known colleges in south India for five years before his stint in Dubai.

Two teachers on world tuk tuk tour reach Mumbai

Rich Sears and Nick Gough from Guildford are out to tour the world on a tuk tuk, all set to spread the importance of education. Rich Sears and Nick Gough from Guildford, England are no ordinary teachers. Since August 2012, they've been on a journey around the world (yes literally) creating and promoting educational projects wherever they can. They've travelled 27,540km across UK, France, Africa and now India -

High court chief justice for new law on live-in relationships

Chief Justice of Orissa high court C Nagappan said live-in relationships must be recognized by the law and it is important to understand that the society is changing. "Introducing a new law for live-in relationships is difficult and complex but the legal system must accommodate them," he said at a seminar on 'Live-in relationship."

Son kills father for misbehaving with daughter

A 20-year-old youth killed his father as he allegedly misbehaved with daughter in Nasik. While the mother of the siblings had gone to her native place in Madhya Pradesh, their father, Hanumant Totaram More (55) allegedly misbehaved with his teenaged daughter yesterday at their house in Durga Nagar locality under Panchvati area of the city. Enraged over his father's behaviour, his son Mayur Hanumant More, a second year student.

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UPA to fare badly if polls are held now: Survey The Congress-led UPA 2, which will complete four years in office, would fare badly if general elections were to be held now, with inflation, unbridled corruption and economic decline playing a major role, said a survey.

The ABP AnandaNielsen survey conducted across 21 states and Union territories says the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) would suffer badly in several states of the country including West Bengal, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led led National Democratic Alliance would gain.

According to the survey, the UPA's kitty would come

down to just 136 from the current 262 while the NDA's share would swell to 206 from the current 158.

People have also given a thumbs down to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with only 7 percent of them wanting see him in the top post for the third time.

BJP leader and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is the "favourite" with as many as 48 percent of the

surveyed wanting him to be the prime minister. Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi comes a distant second with 18 percent.

In West Bengal, the Congress would get nine Lok Sabha seats and the Trinamool 14 in case the former allies contested independently with the Left Front getting 18 seats. However, in case of a Congress-Trinamool alliance, they would bag 24 seats with the Left getting 17.

In Uttar Pradesh, Congress's kitty would come down to six from the current 21 while the ruling Samajwadi Party would be the leaders with 24 seats.

The biggest gainer though

would be the BJP which will see its seat count swell to 23 from the current 10.

The scenario in Maharastra would also be similar with the CongressNationalist Congress Party coalition's share coming down to 16 seats from the 25 they now have.

In Bihar, the ruling BJP and Nitish Kumar led Janata Dal United alliance would continue to be the leaders with 34 seats while the Congress would manage just three seats.

The survey also says the "charisma" of Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit who was voted to power third time in arrow would not work this time.

Prospective grooms in Sehore district of Madhya Pradesh are posing along side toilets at their homes. This picture would be one of the most important proofs in ensuring their marriage at mass marriages organized by the government in the district.The local administration has made the picture of the groom along with the toilet a mandatory requirement for getting registered for mass marriage ceremonies and avail benefits under the Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana (MKY).

Shortage of toilets in the district led to this unique solution being mooted.

Earlier, there were instructions from the social justice department that grooms having toilets in their houses would get the benefit of the

Mukhyamantri Kanyadan Yojana. The grooms were required to produce an affidavit in this regard.

"With new modification, we have tried to ensure that there is no chance of fraud and wrong information from the grooms. It is precisely for this reason that we didn't only ask for providing pictures of toilets, but pictures of grooms with their toilets," district collector Kavindra Kiyawat had said. Couples, who marry under the MKY scheme of the state government are provided financial assistance of Rs 15,000 and utility gift items. Marriages of 184 couples were solemnized in Budhni block in the presence of the chief minister. In every case it was ensured that the groom had a toilet facility in his house.

Advisor to the Indian Academy of Pediatrics and former secretary of department of biotechnology said.

This partnership in social innovation shows how the biomedical science has progressed, he said adding: "The safety profile of the vaccine is outstanding. I am confident

that the efficacy will improve with time." " This is an important scientific breakthrough against rotavirus infections, the most severe and lethal cause of childhood diarrhoea," DBT secretary Dr K VijayRaghvan said.The clinical results he said indicated that the vaccine if licensed could save the lives of thousands of children every year. " This represents the successful development of a novel vaccine from the developing world which can be matched with global standards."Dr Krishna M Ella, Chairman and Managing Director of Bharat Biotech said.

Coal Block Scam: CBI Pose with a toilet to get arrests chief investigator hitched in MP district for taking bribe

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested the chief investigator in the coal blocks allotment case for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs.7 lakh to "settle" a land dispute for a businessman.

A second CBI officer and two others were arrested as well. The arrests were carried out by the CBI's internal intelligence unit.

The arrested persons are Superintendent of Police Vivek Dutt and Inspector Rajesh. They were arrested outside the CBI's headquarters here. The alleged bribe money was found on Dutt.

The two officers will be produced before a special CBI

judge.

The alleged bribe is not connected with the coal case which is being monitored by the Supreme Court, sources said. However, the agency cannot change its investigating officer without the court's permission. CBI Director Ranjit Sinha said the agency would inform the Supreme Court about recent arrests, adding that the CBI had been maintaining surveillance on the three for some time.

Dutt heads the CBI's cyber cell, and is alleged to have given a report favourable to the alleged bribe giver on a case that was referred to the CBI by the Delhi Police.

India comes up with low-cost vaccine for diarrhoea

Indian scientists have developed a new vaccine to protect children from rotaviruses which cause severe diarrhoea among infants and children.

In India, nearly one lakh children die every year because of rotavirus infections.

Developed by the scientists of the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and Bharat Biotech, the vaccine will cost around Rs. 54 per dose.

An oral vaccine, Rotavac will be administered to infants in three dose course at the age of 6, 10 and 14 weeks.

It will be given along with routine immunizations recommended at these ages. The

vaccine efficacy compares favourably with the efficacy of the currently licensed vaccines.

P r e s e n t l y , GlaxoSmith Kline and Merck market effective rotavirus vaccine. The commercial availability of the vaccine will be done only after getting a clearance from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). "With its low price and strong efficacy, the vaccine has the potential to reduce the incidence of severe diarrhoea caused by rotavirus, "Dr M K Bhan

Indian's WorldFloat ready to take on Facebook, Twitter

Imagine being in Chandni Chowk and floating over to meet someone in New York.

Or playing a virtual game and making money. Or advertising in a billboard in any city.

Futuristic? It's already happening on WorldFloat, the only Indian social networking site. With one lakh sign-ups daily, it could seriously challenge Facebook and Twitter in the months to come.

Pushkar Mahatta, 37, its founder, says that when he started this site last June, he got 12,000 sign-ups in the

first month. Today, it has 7 million users. "By December, I hope to have 30 million users. Presently, 80% are from India. We're in 1,600 cities and hope to scale this to 43,000," says Mahatta.

Venture capitalists have offered up to $300 million to buy him out, but he's not selling.

The idea is intriguing.

WorldFloat works on Float technology which allows users to virtually float to different cities and connect with people by tapping the photos

moving around. "It's not confined to groups like Facebook is. There is versatility of movement and cultures here.

One can also put messages on the world wall and get a global response. Most users are men and women wanting to meet each other.

Interestingly, women from smaller cities too are approaching men," says Mahatta. "And it is secure, as we have systems in place to block out offensive words."

Surprisingly, Mahatta is not a Facebook user, though

he uses elements from top websites for WorldFloat.

There are also sections on travel, health, movies, etc. It also offers virtual billboards for advertisers in any city, making the revenue model a surefire success.

WorldFloat's winning mantra, however, is Treasure Hunt, a virtual game which allows people to make money, probably for the first time.

Users have to notch the maximum points as they click on 100 denomination currency notes floating around.

26

IndIa

www.abplgroup.com - asian Voice 25th May 2013

Gujarat takes Lion Sreesanth, two other Rajasthan players arrested for spot fixing Continued from page 1 details about her. They at the behest of bookies cousin who has also been war back to SC also ruled out her involvewho had promised to offer arrested. He had played

The battle over the translocation of lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh is back in the Supreme Court.

The Gujarat government moved a petition challenging the April 15 order which directed the state to translocate lions to PalpurKuno wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

The review petition which was filed in the apex court has relied heavily on the argument that the court had been misguided by Madhya Pradesh. The petition quotes a report prepared for the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The judgment dated April 15 had said: "The State of Gujarat has also raised various other objections stating that the past track record would indicate that the State of Madhya Pradesh is not taking any effective steps to control poaching which is also a threat if lions are

translocated to Kuno. To meet that contention, the State of Madhya Pradesh stated that the Tiger Authority of India in its report - Tiger Meetr, July 2011 - has assessed the performance of the State of Madhya Pradesh as outstanding, which would indicate that they had taken effective steps against poaching of animals at Kuno." The review petition argues that though the Madhya Pradesh government has in the apex court highlighted the safety in Kuno, the report which was used as a base to make the claims does not even mention Palpur-Kuno.

Also, the Gujarat government has raised doubts about the claims that the prey base in Palpur-Kuno was better than that of Gujarat. Moreover, Gujarat contends that the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, have been violated.

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The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) swung into action and asked the Rajasthan Royals franchise to file case against the cricketers while the cricket board itself has ordered an internal inquiry into the issue.

The Mumbai crime branch arrested Sreesanth for his links with Ramesh Vyas who was arrested on May 15. Vyas had links to key bookies Jupiter and others who were named by the Delhi police. The BCCI also suspended Gujarat medium pacer Amit Singh who, during his stint with Rajasthan Royals, was allegedly used by the bookies to fix deals with cricketers. After a day of intense interrogation and investigation, Delhi police sources said they stumbled on the spot fixing racket after they recorded the phone calls of aides of Tiger Memon with bookies. They also found out that one of the players was told to rope in others in the sordid saga.

It was Ajit Chandila, arrested from Mumbai along with his Rajasthan Royals colleagues Sreesanth and Ankeet Chavan, who reportedly told police that he tried to rope in two more players

him Rs 2000,000 for bowling a fixed over. But the two players refused.

"During questioning, Chandila told police that he met bookies at Country Club in Manesar (adjoining Delhi) on April 6. In the meeting, the bookies asked him to rope in more players for spot fixing. He gave two names and the bookies asked him to bring them to a party where the deal could be discussed," police sources had said.

However, the two cricketers refused to attend the party.

Chandila also reportedly told interrogators that in the 2012 IPL season, the last two overs of a match between Delhi Daredevils and Rajasthan Royals might have been fixed. The police said they were able to trail the sleazy connection when they started to intercept the calls of aides of Tiger Memon, who is said to be in Dubai, since March 2013. They also said that escorts were used to lure the players into the net.

Sources also said that when Sreesanth was arrested from Trident Hotel in south Mumbai's Nariman Point, he was with a woman. Police refused to give more

ment in spot fixing.

The three players, who along with 11 bookies have been remanded to five days' police custody, have been lodged in the office of Delhi Police's Special Cell in Lodhi Colony.

Police said all the three players have confessed to their crime.

Police say the players used codes like "rotating their watches, putting towels in their pants, taking out locket from shirt, taking out shirt and vest that you're wearing, make signs with jersey" to communicate with the bookmakers.

The first to break down was Chavan, a senior police officer informed.

"He broke down when we questioned him.

He accepted that he made a mistake. He also accepted his role in spot fixing," he added. Of the 11 bookies, Chandresh Patel, who was arrested from Mumbai's Andheri area, may be the main conspirator in this case, police said. He was into the profession for many years, police added.

Sources also said that Sreesanth was directly approached by cricketerturned bookie Jiju Janardhan, his distant

for Kerala U-25 cricket team.

BCCI bosses made it clear to Manoj Badale, the Rajasthan Royals representative in the working committee meeting, that the franchise had to take a stern step against the three players who have brought the game into disrepute.

“The board cannot lodge an FIR. Badale was told that the franchise is the biggest sufferer in the entire issue and it should take necessary action even as the board initiates its own internal inquiry,” a source in the working committee had said.

BCCI president N Srinivasan, on his part, made it clear that the board wouldn’t try to cover up for anybody. “Ravi Sawani, the head of the anti-corruption and security unit (ACSU) of the BCCI will start an inquiry and we will take the help of the Delhi police. He will send a report to the disciplinary committee of the BCCI as soon as possible and we will take action accordingly,” Srinivasan said during the press conference. It has also been decided that an ACSU official will accompany every team; in IPL-6, it will start from the play-offs.

India, China vow to end border dispute Continued from page 1 efficient.into place and make them more efficient.

We need to appropriately manage and resolve our differences," Li said at a joint news conference with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, where both men appeared relaxed.

"A successful start is halfway to final success," state-run China Daily quoted him as saying about the first leg of his nine-day foreign trip to India, Pakistan, Switzerland and Germany.

Taking stock of "lessons learnt" from the recent stand-off in Ladakh after a Chinese incursion there, India and China decided on further measures for maintaining peace and tranquility along their border. This was disclosed after discussions on "mutual interest and concern" between Manmohan Singh and Li Keqiang, who met for the second time, covering a wide range of issues including boundary dispute, transborder rivers and trade deficit. Addressing a joint press meet, the two leaders acknowledged their talks had been "candid" and "frank," a diplomatic aphorism for their forthright discussions. Noting that they "took stock of lessons learnt from the recent incident in the

western sector, when existing mechanisms proved their worth," Singh announced, "We have tasked our special representatives to consider further measures that may be needed to maintain peace and tranquillity along the border. We agreed that our special representatives will meet soon to continue discussions, seeking early agreement on a framework for a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable boundary settlement."

The talks come nearly a month after the 19-kmdeep incursion by the Chinese troops in Depsang valley in Ladakh which was resolved only two weeks ago. On his part, Li, while admitting that there were "some problems" between the two countries, said, "Both sides believe that, with regard to the boundary question, one that is leftover by history, the two sides have over time established the principles on this question. In the meantime, we have worked together to maintain tranquility and peace on the border," the Chinese premier said, adding, "We need to confront various issues with a board mind and conduct dialogue on those issues in a mature and sensible way.

"We need to appropriately handle our cooperation by maintaining peace

and tranquility in the border areas and on the transborder river issues."

Singh said he was delighted that there are so many areas of convergence between them and on which there is a great deal of meeting of minds.

"Most importantly, we agreed that the relationship between our two countries is of growing significance and essential for our peaceful development and sustained economic growth, as well as for stability and prosperity in our region and the world," he said. Noting that India and China are two civilisational neighbours and have lived in peace through the ages, he said, "We have had our differences..., but over the last 25 years, we have steadily built a mutually beneficial relationship." "The basis for continued growth and expansion of our ties is peace and tranquility on our borders. While seeking an early resolution of the boundary question, Premier Li and I agreed that this must continue to be preserved," he said.

"I also reiterated to Premier Li India's concerns about the effects on the activities in the upper reaches of our shared rivers," Singh said, in an apparent reference to China building dams on Brahmaputra river.

Singh said the man-

date of the expert-level mechanism should be expanded to include information sharing on upstream development projects on these rivers.

He said he was glad that both sides have agreed to expand cooperation on trans-border rivers. It would also be useful for India and China to collaborate on a better understanding of the stresses of the shared Himalayan ecosystem, he said.

Keqiang pledged to open up domestic markets to Indian businesses and narrow a gaping trade deficit between the two countries. "As for Indian concerns over the trade deficit, the Chinese side is willing to provide facilitations for more Indian products to access the Chinese market," Li said during a speech to Indian business leaders in New Delhi.

"I am confident we have the ability to mitigate the trade imbalance between our two countries," he added.

The two sides have agreed to quicken efforts to sort out the differences over the border with national security advisor Shivshankar Menon and his counterpart Yang Jiechi set to meet in the next six weeks to take the boundary resolution forward.

india

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

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Gujarat bureaucrat keeps the E-talaq is the latest in–thing dying Sanskrit language alive Senior IAS officer Bhagyesh Jha is passionate about ancient language Sanskrit. Also an avid Gujarati poet he loves to speak in Sanskrit. He contributes his bit to keep the Devbhasha, a language of the gods alive.

By Nayan Dave

A

t a time when Sanskrit – the mother of all Indo-Aryan languages is on the verge of extinction, Bhagyesh Jha, a senior Gujarat cadre IAS officer is putting serious efforts to keep it alive.

According to Sanskrit scholars, hardly 15,000 people who can speak the language well enough. The 57-year-old Jha did Bachelor of Arts with Sanskrit in 1976. A gold medalist in Sanskrit, he joined Gujarat government and nominated as IAS in the year 1991. As he started working with the state government, he lost touch with the language since he has to work mainly in Gujarati, Hindi and English.

However, an incident in 1998 again brought Jha back to the language. He was invited at a function organized by Santaram temple in Nadiad town.

The organizers wanted Jha to address gathering in Sanskrit as many Sanskrit scholars were attending the event.

However, Jha was skeptical as he was not in touch with the language for more than two decades.

He wanted to deliver speech either in Gujarati or Hindi. “The chief priest of the temple insisted me to give speech in Sanskrit and encouraged me to do so. Eventually I gathered courage and gave extempore speech in Sanskrit. To everyone’s surprise, it was really

Bhagyesh Jha

impressive,” said Jha. From that day onwards, he decided to keep in constant touch with the language. “Since last 15 years, I make it a point to read at least two pages of Sanskrit literature.

Again Sanskrit became my passion.

Automatically I was connected with a group of people interested in Sanskrit,” he said.

Over the period of time, Jha was posted as secretary sports, youth service and cultural activities department, which allows him to contribute his bit to promote Sanskrit language. Every year his department celebrates ‘Sanskrit Utsav’ on the 1st day of monsoon. Besides, he keeps on encouraging people willing to do something with Sanskrit. He also remains in touch with Somnath Sanskrit University, situated near Somnath temple.

At present Jha is reading a Sanskrit translated version of Kannada book ‘Parv’ written by H R Bhairapp based on Mahabharata. He believes that Sanskrit is the tersest language in the world and one can easily convey long

messages in very few words. “Had Mahabharata and Meghdoot written in any other language it would have been much bulkier,” he said. Even in modern life Sanskrit is relevant, he says adding that Sanskrit was once considered as the lingua-franca and was also the language of scriptures. It is proven that Sanskrit is most suitable for computer too because of its perfect syntax and has very little room for error, he adds.

Jha also writes Gujarati poetry and is well-known amongst Gujarat’s literary circle. He admits that his aptitude for Sanskrit makes his poetry writing more articulate. Even as an administrative official, knowledge of Sanskrit helps him to handle difficult issues easily. He said that all the modern age management principles were depicted hundreds of years back in Sanskrit scriptures.

Amidst the gloomy scenario, there is ray of hope for Sanskrit as over 90 per cent people in two villages – Mattur in Karnataka and Jhiri in Madhya Pradesh still speak the language in dayto-day life, he says.

The bureaucrat has explicit plan to devote maximum time for Sanskrit studies post retirement. He wants to do research on Bhagawad Gita in context of modern life. He also plans to write a book in Sanskrit apart from his ambitious project to write a Sanskrit play.

13-year-old Babita has been sold and resold four times

Within a span of five years from 2008, 13-year-old Babita was sold and resold four times. The girl from Amla Road village in Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh had her fourth engagement in January.

Each time, her father made a killing.

Selling of women is part of the tradition of ‘naatra’ among tribals and backward communities in and around Rajgarh district such as Tawars, Sondhias and Harijans where the groom pays money to get a bride. Eventually, panchayats are convened to fix 'jhagda' or 'conflict money' which the latest fiance has to pay to the earlier one as compensation.

"The woman thus becomes a source of earning for her caretakers, be it her father or her husband," says Snehlata Upadhyay, member of the state women's commission.

Between January 1, 2011

and April 30, 2013, 55 cases of crimes resulting from ‘naatra’ have been registered in various police stations of the district.

Young Babita's tale of woe began with Madanlal of Karedi village, her first fiance.

Then followed Bhagwan of Dhaturia, Ramesh of Pipalkheda and lastly Ram Charan of Rupaheda.

What the first bidder paid to the girl's father is not known, but when the engagement broke, Bhagwan paid Rs 24,000 as compensation to Madanlal.

When Ramesh entered the scene, he paid Rs 60,000 to the girl's father. Out of this, Rs 43,000 was returned to Bhagwan, but he demanded Rs 48,000 as compensation.

The final "groom” Ram

Charan reportedly paid Rs 80,000 to Babita's father.

Another case was that of Moni, 19, from the Sondhia community. She is presently studying for BA, but was engaged when she was just eight.

Now her 'jhagda' has ben fixed at Rs 200,000.

What is needed, says Upadhyay, is to create awareness among women about their rights with the involvement of the community. What makes matters worse is that if anyone fails to pay 'jhadga', community members of the aggrieved party sets crops ablaze or resorts to violence.

While contentious cases are brought before the panchayat, it's only when its diktats fail that a police complaint is made.

Sushant Saxena, SP, Rajgarh, says, "When this problem manifests itself in various crimes, we take action. This is a social problem which should.

If online nikah gained popularity in the Muslim community, could e-talaq be far behind? The new generation is now using modern communication tools like Skype and short message service (SMS) to sever marital ties in a jiffy.

For instance, Mehrunnisa (name changed), a 23-year-old housewife from Hussainialam, Hyderabad, was shocked to receive talaq in the form of an SMS on her mobile from her United Arab Emirates-based husband. A perplexed M e h r u n n i s a approached the police. "The woman's husband, a private employee who had gone to the UAE a year ago, had sent an SMS saying talaq.

The woman believed that she was divorced and approached us for justice," Women Police Station (WPS), South Zone, inspector N Sreya said.

Narrating another such incident, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), South Zone, Tarun Joshi said that when he was posted in the Central Zone a few months ago, a housewife from Himayatnagar approached him with a complaint against her techie husband who had given her talaq through Skype video chat.

"The victim's husband is in the US and he pronounced talaq while video

chatting with her on Skype. As the woman complained that she was harassed by her husband, we have registered a domestic violence case under section 498-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)," the DCP said.

Every year, millions of skilled and semi-skilled Hyderabadi Muslim workers migrate to the oil-rich Gulf countries, North America and European nations in search of liveli-

hood.

Earlier, when migrants wanted to get divorced, they used to post talaq documents to their wives back home with details of settlement of the Mehr amount. However, with the advent of digital technology, Muslim men have begun to utilise the internet and mobile phones to give talaq. The Hyderabad police claimed that in the past few months, several cases of men giving talaq to their wives through SMSs and video chats have come to their notice.

Asked about the validity of such talaq, advocate Mohammed Muneeruddin

said, "Pronouncing talaq through digital means, including SMS or video chat or e-mail, in the presence of witnesses is perfectly acceptable as per the Sharia."

"Talaq has to be pronounced thrice, on three occasions in three consecutive months as per the Sharia. However, the prevalent practice is to pronounce it thrice at a go in the presence of a qazi and other witnesses and get it registered. It is illegal as per the S h a r i a , " Muneeruddin added.

Though legal experts claim e-talaq is acceptable as per the Sharia if done in the presence of witnesses by showing that the dower (mehr) amount has been given to the wife, women can still hope for justice if they prove they were subjected to torture.

"We are accepting talaq documents sent by post but not intimations through SMSs and e-mails as in a majority of such cases, men act on the spur of the moment. In such cases, if a woman approaches us saying she was duped, we will register cases under section 498-A (Punishment for subjecting a married woman to cruelty) of the IPC or the Dowry Prohibition Act," Central Crime Station (CCS), WPS inspector P Janakamma said.

Newspaper vendor from Bangalore makes it to IIM-Calcutta

N Shiva Kumar, a newspaper vendor from Bangalore, has made it to Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta as a PGP student. Come June 16, this newspaper-boy-turned-vendor will walk down the corridors of India’s premier management institute.

It sounds like a fairy tale, but the vendor who cracked CAT 2012 has indeed grabbed a seat in the premier business school. Shiva, 23, an engineering student from Banaswadi, is the son of an illiterate mother and a father who was a truck driver. He started working as a newspaper delivery boy and for his debt-ridden family of four the Rs 150 he would bring home was a huge relief.

"Every morning people would come home asking my father to return the money he had borrowed. My father had a truck. But there were more liabilities than what he could earn with it. When I was in Class 3 or 4, I sold flowers that my mother strung into garlands by the roadside. It was only later that I found the job of newspaper boy," said the 8th semester computer science student of Bangalore Institute of Technology.

Shiva managed the part-time job along with school. "I was studying in an ICSE school. In Class 9, I was asked not to come to school till I paid the fees. The next day, I approached the first customer I was delivering the paper to, Krishna Veda Vyasa, and requested him to fund me. He hesitated, and said he didn't even know me. I asked him to do a background check, and he found I was the topper there. I requested him to pay one term's fee, but he paid for the entire year.

He continued funding me ever since. I

owe it all to him," he said.

He soon found an opportunity to be a vendor and started his own agency when in Class 10. "I'd learnt the tricks of the trade by then. My vendor had some 50 extra copies to sell and I took them from him. That's how I started," he said. The 50 copies have now grown to 500. "After school, I would take my cycle and identify new buildings and residents. I would approach them for business and ensured the papers reached before 6 am. I had my own targets for a month," he explained his marketing tactics. He still delivers the paper along with four of his delivery boys.

"It was hard work. I had to get up at 4 am every day, deliver the papers and head to school. I had to skip breakfast to be on time, but would still be late. In college, I opted to sit in the last bench during the first hour so I could catch up on some sleep."

IIM could not have rejected a seat for an aspirant like him. "After my family stabilizes, I want to start a charitable institution, Educate India, by which I can help the underprivileged gain some education.

I could achieve this because someone helped me. In turn, I want to help at least 10 people," he said. Shiva is taking an education loan to fund his IIM course.

At IIM-C, he plans to "work extremely hard" while he specializes in finance.

It's an attitude that has already made a mark on teachers and faculty members at his new school. "We are really impressed with the boy. He will certainly serve as an example to others and we will look forward to teaching him," said Subir Bhattacharya, chairman of IIM-C's post graduate programmes.

28

travel & women

www.abplgroup.com - asian voice 25th may 2013

AV Correspondent

onjour my friends, my French alas is a little rusty but surprisingly as soon B as I land in Paris it all comes flooding

back. From the “un café s'il vous plait” to the “merci beaucoup”! I say this with a proud smile on my face. Paris does this to you. You feel all Parisian as you cruise down the River Seine passing majestic buildings and floating restaurants.

Make sure your camera (or phone!) is well charged up as you will be in a clicking frenzy with all the iconic sightseeing that abounds.

Paris is famed for many things, and retail therapy is definitely one of them!

Head straight to the Champs-Élysées, the French are proud to call it “la plus belle avenue du monde” - "the most beautiful

Mention Paris to anyone and it con- avenue in the world". Judge for yourself jures up images of romance, the iconic as you pass the most exquisite of bouEiffel tower, Notre Dame, The Champs- tiques selling the most exquisite of Élysées and the list goes on. The perfect designer fashion, or stop of at the many short city break destination, Paris has long pavement bars and restaurants to rest been a favorite for those of us seeking out your weary feet. And when you look a little “ooh la la!”. From walking along down this Avenue of Avenues as the sun sets and the street the banks of the lights twinkle on, meandering River decide for yourself and discovering a litcould this really be tle coffee shop, to a visit to the Louvre to “la plus belle avenue see Mona Lisa smile, du monde” ?

Paris will welcome You may bid a you with a raised fond farewell to eyebrow and a slight Paris, but Paris will leave a warm feeling of the hand. Paris is in your heart and like a beautiful lady will forever call to who knows how A stylized Metro sign you to pay it a return alluring she is, so she visit, and no charms you, doubt you will smiles with and willingly sucbeguiles you – cumb… you can’t help When bookbut fall in love! ing a holiday, A very conwe recommend venient one using a long hour flight established brings you to travel agent this City of who is well love.

Paris versed in delivoffers up someering holidays thing for all with an ATOL budgets from Grande Arche de la Defense certification, chic little hotels ensuring the with roof tersecurity of your races to 5 star booking. When luxury Spa’s. booking with Dining is obvian online agent, ously a delight with delectable check there is a restaurants contact phone serving authennumber – this tic French cuiensures you will get service sine, to just as from an actual delectable little Louvre person and get brasserie’s serving reasonably priced traditional fare. Try your questions answered swiftly. exploring off the beaten track to find Brightsun Travel is such an agent and has where the locals hang out and you will be weekend breaks to Paris from just £199 surprised at what’s on offer. Artisan bak- per person including flights and accomeries selling freshly baked baguettes, modation. Brightsun Travel also offers a independent patisseries offering up price match promise on worldwide flights multi-coloured pastries and cakes oozing and holidays. To book your dream holiwith fresh cream and the little wine bars day, visit www.brightsun.co.uk or call with rickety old tables and chairs settled Brightsun Travel on 0208 819 0486 and on pavements with a carafe of the red make a booking with an actual person – a stuff in little bistro glasses – a photo refreshing way to book your next holiday! opportunity if ever there was one!

Buddhism and its traces in Gujarat

he earliest archeological evidence of Buddhism T in Gujarat dates back to

Emperor Ashoka's reign (269–232 BC). Saurashtra (known as Surashtra/ Saraostes/Syrastene in the past) finds a mention in early Buddhist literature such as the Indriya Jataka, Milinda Panha, Petavatthu, etc. In the sixth century, Bhattarkka, a general of the Gupta Emperors, established an independent principality around Valabhi (Vallabhipur). He was a devout Shaivite but the Maitraka rulers that followed him, though Hindus themselves were great patrons of Buddhism. On his visit to Gujarat in 640 AD, Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang noted the presence of 200 monasteries housing 10,000 monks at Bharuch, Atali, Kheta, Valabhi, Anandapura and Surashtra. Both Hinayana and Mahayana Buddhism were prevalent in Gujarat.

Some of the main Buddhist archeological sites in Gujarat are: Vadnagar, Mehsana: Nearly 128 km from Ahmedabad, the archeological site between River Banas and River Rupen, has a 12-cell structure that belonged to a Buddhist vihara or monastery and housed monks from the 2nd to 4th century AD. Hiuen Tsang, who visited Vadnagar (then known as Anandapur) in the 7th century, reported that the city had some 10 sangharams (resting places for Buddhist monks) with a 1,000 Buddhist monks.

Archaeologists found around 2,000 artifacts, including a Buddha idol, an amphora, figurines, a crucible, a grinding stone, seals, a terracotta head wearing a turban, shell Ingredients:Semolina (Rava) - 1 cup Mango Pulp - 1.5 cup (store bought or home made) Ghee - 1/2 cup - 1 cup (add according to your health condition and taste) Sugar - 1 cup (add more if you like it sweeter) Water - 2.5 cup Cardamom Powder - 1/2 tsp Cashews - 1 tblsp Salt - a pinch Orange food colour.

Method: Heat 1 tblsp ghee in a pan and roast the rava till it turns light brown. Take care that it does not burn .. Remove the rava from the pan. Add another tblsp of ghee and fry the cashews till it turns golden brown. Remove it.

Add water to the same pan and bring it to a boil. . Add the sugar, salt, mango pulp and orange food colour to the water. . Slowly add the roasted rava while constantly stirring.. Reduce the flame to a simmer. Cover and let it cook for about 5 minutes. Add the ghee little

bangles, necklace beads, copper and silver coins that are housed at the Museum of Archaeology at the Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara.

Perched atop the Taranga Hills nearby, is a shrine dedicated to Devi Taranmata. The idols of Taranmata and Dharanmata are of Buddhist Goddess Tara, the "Mother of all Buddhas," which usually refers to the enlightened wisdom of the Buddhas.

In the Dharanmata Temple, over the halo behind the head of the marble sculpture of the Goddess Tara, is a lotus on which rests the Amitabh Buddha. The lower register of the sculpture also displays the symbolic representation of the Buddha in form of an elephant, a horse and a chakra.

D e v n i m o r i , Sabarkantha: Better known for its hot springs, Devnimori located 132 km from Ahmedabad has a large Buddhist establishment that dates back to the period between 2nd and 7th centuries AD. King Ashoka is said to have erected as many as 80,000 stupas across India. He unearthed the ashes of Buddha from their original place and distributed them across the country, build-

ing stupas accordingly. One such stupa, from the 4th century was excavated in early 1960s at Devnimori.

Close to the major trade routes of Mewar and Dungarpur, Devnimori was the site of an important Buddhist monastic centre 1,600 years ago. The mahastupa's still there but the relics including a casket containing Buddha's ashes and 17 terracotta statues of Buddha are now housed in the Department of Archaeology at The Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara.

Junagadh District: A prominent Buddhist centre since Ashoka's reign, Junagadh district is sprinkled with rock-cut-caves, monasteries and stupas at 15-odd sites such as the Ashoka rock edict at Girnar, Baba Pyara Caves, Khapra Kodia caves, Upparkot caves, Panheswer Caves, Mai Gadechi, Matri, structural monastery at Intawa, brick stupa at Bordevi and Vajrapanat, Sana caves, caves around Prabhas Patan, Mandor Caves and Savni-Gir. Buddhist caves, about 2000 years old, are among the oldest monuments at Uparkot. Carved out of monolithic rock, these threetiered caves are famous for their exquisite art.

Aam ka sheera

by little and keep mixing till the whole things forms a shiny mass and does not stick to the pan.. Add the cardamom powder and roasted cashews and switch off.

Delicious mouth watering Aam ka sheera is ready to serve.

Oven method: When you are making for a big group this method might be easier. Mix all the above ingredients in a baking dish. Bake it in a 350 degree oven for about 30 minutes.

Health benefits: According to new research study, mango fruit has been found to protect against colon, breast,

leukemia and prostate cancers. Fresh mango is a good source of potassium, important component of cell and body fluids that helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure.

Ghee is rich with antioxidants and acts as an aid in the absorption of vitamins and minerals from other foods, serving to strengthen the immune system

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in real long term health consequences. Once we put on high heeled shoes, we push our forefoot to tremendous pressure because it has to carry the entire body weight, thereby causing the rest of the body to adjust, in order to maintain a balance. Now, the bottom half of the body leans forward and hence the top half must lean back, causing disruption of the normal ‘S’ curve of the back, flattening the lower spine and pacing the mid-back and neck. The natural alignment of the spine is displaced, causing pain, tingling and numbness. Also, maintaining the correct upright posture in such a case is difficult, often giving way to a stooped look, which definitely doesn’t add any oomph. Besides that, the way of walking may seem weird and

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uncomfortable.

The hip flexor muscles, which are located on the upper front part of the thighs, are forced to work much harder and longer to help you walk because the feet are held in a downward position and have reduced power to move the body forward. In such a case, if these muscles are overused, in no time a contracture can happen because of their shortening. The risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knee also increases because of high heels. Toe pain, mid foot pain, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, lower back pain, mid back pain, upper back pain, and headaches can occur if those heels are worn on a regular basis. Putting yourself in heels cause muscles behind the back to turn stiff, which, in turn exerts pressure on nerves, the outcome of which can be chronic headaches.

Employees who spend half of an eight-hour working day standing use 13 percent more energy than colleagues who are seated, a new study has found.

During an average fiveday working week, the extra energy used standing for four hours a day equated to a 45-minute brisk walk, Prof Dunstan said.

"This is a small increment but it`s significant if you consider the difference over a working week"If people change their workplace environment and they were also meeting their regular exercise goals, it would have a positive effect on their health," he said.

Much of the extra energy use came from the contraction of muscles used to keep the body upright.

Few findings found people who spend most of their days sitting - at work, on the bus or train and while watching TV - may not ward off heart disease, even if they exercise for 30 minutes a day as recommended.

Workers who don`t have height-adjustable workstations should take a break, stand up and move every 20-30 minutes.

Scorching heat can cause blood clot in brain A salesman, spends most of the working hours outdoors. The excruciating heat and high humidity levels left Desai with a neurological disorder cerebral venous sinus thrombosis. It is a condition which causes blood clots to develop in the brain.

“Excessive heat teamed with high humidity causes loss of water from the body. Blood thickens and does not get drained out of the brain effectively. Desai was brought in with symptoms of headache, vomiting and fits. He was immediately put on hydrating fluids and anti-coagulants,” said Dr Joy Desai, neurologist at Bhatia Hospital in Tardeo.

“Dehydration due to excessive heat is one of the most common reasons for clotting of blood in the brain. It can lead to catastrophic repercussions within as less as a few minutes to 48 hours,” said Dr Paresh Doshi, neurosurgeon at Jaslok Hospital in Peddar Road. While symptoms of thrombosis

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are convulsions, severe headache and vomiting, a sunstroke leads to a person becoming unconscious and that thrombosis should not be mistaken for a sunstroke, say doctors.

If a patient is suffering from a splitting headache and convulsions he/she should immediately be

rushed to hospital. The effect of excessive heat and dehydration may badly affect the circulation of blood in the brain.

Surgery may be required wherein the skull cap is drilled open and the brain is decompressed to remove blood clots. Delay in treatment can lead to death.

hough there is no definite way to prevent T breast cancer, there are

Exercise regularly: Research suggests that regular exercise cuts overall breast cancer risk by about 10 to 30 percent. A moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five or more days a week can be effective.

Know your carbs: Cut down on food with high glycemic index- white flour, white rice, white potatoes, sugar, etc, as these foods activate hormonal changes that help cellular growth in breast tissue.

Do your fats right: The type of oil that you consume can influence your breast cancer risk. Cut down on omega-6 fats, saturated fats and trans-fats.

Instead increase your intake of omega-3 fats found in oily fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines, lake trout and herring. Also, it is advised to replace animal fats with

5 tips to prevent nails from breaking

Eating pepper could help prevent Parkinson’s

things that women can do that might help them cut the risk of getting the disease in their life.

Maintain a healthy body weight: Obesity is one of the main culprits that cause cancer among post menopausal women.

One should avoid gaining weight over time and try to keep a body-mass index (BMI) less than 25.

Avoid or limit alcohol intake: Studies have shown that consuming more than one alcoholic beverage a day can boost breast cancer risk by as much as 20-25 percent.

Eat lots of fruits and vegetables: Try to include as much as fruits and vegetables in your daily diet..

Citrus, berries and cherries are superstar fruits for breast cancer protection.

If you crave to have those long beautiful nails, follow some methods to prevent nail breakage and brittle nails.

• Massage your nails with a moisturising lotion to stimulate proper blood flow into them so that they can grow longer and stronger.

• Drink a lot of water to keep your skin overall hydrated and this will also help in preventing dry and damaged nails.

• Include multivitamins and calcium supplements in your diet daily as it works wonders.

• Make a habit of soaking your nails in olive oil, say for 10-15 minutes a day for a month and notice the difference yourself.

• Don’t bite your nails as it will make your nails weak and eventually lead to breakage.

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...

A new study has shown that eating food, which contains even a small amount of nicotine, like peppers and tomatoes, may help reduce risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

Solanaceae-a flowering plant family with some species producing foods that are edible sources of nicotine-may provide a protective effect against Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that is caused by loss of brain cells that produce dopamine. Its symptoms include facial, hand, arm, and leg tremors, stiffness in the limbs, loss of balance, and slower overall movement.

Vegetable consumption

vegetable oils.

Avoid smoking: Several studies have shown that long-term smoking is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in some women.

Breastfeeding: Women who breast feed their babies for at least a year in total have a lesser risk of developing breast cancer later.

M e d i c a t i o n : Tamoxifen is an estrogen antagonist with proven benefit for the treatment of estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.

Furthermore, tamoxifen reduces the incidence of a second primary breast cancer by 50% in women who received the drug as adjuvant therapy for a first breast cancer.

Moreover, monthly self-breast examination and annual clinical breast examination should be conducted.

in general did not affect Parkinson’s disease risk, but as consumption of edible Solanaceae increased, Parkinson’s disease risk decreased, with peppers displaying the strongest association.

Nielsen said that similar to the many studies that indicate tobacco use might reduce risk of Parkinson’s, their findings suggests a protective effect from nicotine, or perhaps a similar but less toxic chemical in peppers and tobacco.

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30

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Justice minister insists....

Continued from page 5 only ended when the girls became brave enough to report their abusers to police.

But there is growing concern that wider issue is being brushed under the carpet because the authorities are fearful of being accused of racism.

He said the group would also look at how social media is used by gangs to groom and abuse the vulnerable.

Mr Green reportedly said while it was important to recognise exploitation and sexual abuse was a problem common to all parts of society denying the issue existed in the Pakistani community for cultural reasons was completely wrong.

Dr Taj Hargey, imam of the Oxford Islamic Congregation, said race and religion were also inextricably linked to the recent spate of grooming rings in which Muslim

men have targeted underage white girls.

Dr Hargey said that the Oxford grooming case brought shame on the city and the community and is a set back for cross community harmony.

On the other hand, Joanna Simons, chief executive of Oxfordshire County Council, and Sara Thornton, chief constable of Thames Valley Police, both refused to stand down after seven men were found guilty of a litany of horrific child sex crimes over a seven-year period. Miss Thornton, who became chief constable in 2007, said she was sorry the paedophile ring had not been brought to justice sooner.

But when asked if she had considered offering her resignation, she told BBC Radio 4’s programme: "I think the focus for me is on driving improvements into the future."

Coming Events l Re-opening of Shree Lakshmi Narayan Temple in Tyseley, Birmingham, on Sunday 26th May. May 27 will see a week-long spiritual festival, a reading of Hindu scriptures the Bhagwad Gita.

Contact Mukeshbhai Ladwa on 07976 178800 or email mukeshladwa@hotmail.co.uk l Shri Vallabh Nidhi UK and Shri Sanatan Hindu Mandir presents Shrinath Chaitamrut Katha, 24 May-31 May, 3-6:30pm. Contact: 02089037737 l AMC Music Circuit presents Yogeswaran and The carnatic Music Ensemble Recital, 7 June, 1 Bradford Road, London W37SP l Chinmaya Mission UK presents Life of Vision, Signpost for Spiritual Living, 22-26May, 7:30-9pm.

Brent Town hall, Wembley. l Hindu Thought in Western Literature By Shaunaka Rishi Das of the Oxford Centre, Saturday 25th May 2013, 6.30pm to 9.00pm Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre Rothley Street, Leicester LE4 6LF l Sunday 26th May 2013 - Bhajans from 3.00pm -5.30pm by Shree Manubhai Kotak and various visiting Artists thereafter thereafter Arti and Maha Prasad. Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple, 55 High Street, Cowley, Middlesex UB8 2DZ Tel: 07882 253 540

Deaths of young British Punjabis....

Continued from page 13 Thousands of Punjabi ex-pats living in Britain travel to Punjab, India every year. Some also go for medical treatment which is cheaper than here in the UK. She further said: “People are now literally too afraid to travel to Punjab.”

“It is important that history is not repeated.”

Campaign launched Key to this would be a Foreign Office backed accreditation scheme for reputable hospitals and clinics around the world.

The campaign also calls for: l British High Commissions to support British families in these circumstances, and to provide a list of recommended medical clinics and hospitals and approved post-mortem pathologists. l British Government and insurance companies to ensure that post mortems are carried out at facilities which meet international standards. l British Government to ensure through its High Commissions that the bodies of deceased British citizens are not repatriated following post-mortem until all organs are properly preserved. l If the body of a deceased British citizen

is being repatriated to the UK, with its organs, this should take place within 14 days of date of death. l The government to review of the powers of British coroners in relation to inquests for British citizens who die abroad. l An urgent review of the standards and practices of the British High Commission in India when assisting British citizens in these circumstances and a report on the specific case of Gurkiren’s family to ensure that history is not repeated.

Criminal proceedings Doctors in India have called into question the initial post mortem carried out at the hospital.

A doctor Dr SS Oberoi, head of forensic medicine and toxicology at Rajendra Hospital is reported to have said: “We were not satisfied with the post mortem examination report.”

Now Punjab Police have started criminal proceedings to find the cause of Gurkiren’s death.

On Tuesday as the paper went to press, a spokesman reportedly have said: “We have initiated criminal proceedings as we would whenever a person dies under mysterious circumstances.

“We are awaiting a final report from doctors.”

It is an excellent time for exercising your mental energies. Exercise caution when it comes to making financial decisions as being hasty will cost you ! Wait before going full steam ahead with grand actions and gestures. Focus on essentials and establish a solid foundation, so that you feel secure.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

The fiery planet Mars 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. On a material level the trend greatly favours anything geared towards establishing greater financial stability.

You could work with someone on a project that calls for clear communication and a high degree of co-operation. You may also find yourself thinking deeply about what it is you really want to do, and who you really want to be with. The decisions you make now will be important for the path you take.

You should also adopt a new health regime.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

You may find yourself hard at work behind the scenes, although that may not be apparent to others. You may find yourself caught up in a whirlwind of activity, with opportunities to advance on both the inner and outer level. There’s a sparkle to your social life and much enjoyment is to be had simply from being in touch with other people.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

From a financial point of view take stock of where you’re at rather than to launch any ambitious new business plan. Opportunities abound, professionally and socially, so make the right choices. There may be something to sort out with a partner, particularly of a financial nature. Please ensure that it won’t be all work and no play.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Your career seems to take a new positive direction now. Opportunities for promotion and financial gain present themselves throughout this period. Self improvement and discipline with health and diet have just become easier. You have changed your habits and made it a new way of life now. Inner growth continues for some time to come.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

It is a particularly favourable time for dealing with financial interests with a long-term basis, such as investments, insurance and pension schemes, legacies and all jointly held resources.

You will be able to sort out any difficulties by taking immediate action. There may be a certain amount of unfinished business to be dealt with.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

Love is liable to blow hot and cold rather unpredictably. If so, it could be that you are taking too much for granted. Avoid get-rich-quick schemes and be cautious about other people's enthusiasm which is likely to be misplaced. Travel and social life combine to bring a lively time ahead of you.

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This week should see you at the peak of your creative powers and at the height of a romance. It’s an exciting, expansive time, when you should find it easier to be who you are and do what you want. This is a tremendously exciting time for you, in which you can embrace changes you might not even consider at other times.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

You’re likely to receive insights into where everything is going and these may shape your life for months to come. Capricornians can look forward to advancing both personal and professional ambitions from now onwards. There are opportunities to expand your sphere of operations and you and a partner could really go places.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 Hard work and a disciplined approach keeps your head in the right place. You will continue to be in a restless mood for some time to come. This makes you impatient with restrictions and even more determined to cut your own path. Do not get over-anxious if everything seems to be in slow motion - it is time to pull a few strings.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 You’re likely to find yourself doing a lot of thinking about both new and existing partnerships, and maybe toing and froing in one relationship in particular. Home and family duties and responsibilities may weigh heavy on you.

In effect, you’re building a new foundation, so the work you put in now will pay off in the future.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 25th May 2013

Chennai thrash Mumbai Indians to seal final berth Chennai Super Kings sealed berth in the finals of sixth edition of the Indian Premier League by thrashing Mumbai Indians by 48 runs in the first qualifier at the Feroz Shah Kotla stadium on Tuesday.

Chasing a massive 193, Mumbai Indians were bundled out for just 144, conceding a thumping victory to the former champions.

After Mike Hussey and Suresh Raina powered Chennai to a huge 192/1, Mumbai got off to poor start as they lost opener Aditya Tare in the second over with just 12 runs on board.

Albie Morkel got Tare caught by Murali Vijay at mid-on after his seven run knock.

Dwayne Smith, however, kept Mumbai in hunt with his aggressive batting. He reached his half-ton in just 21 balls. Ravindra Jadeja got rid of Smith after his explosive knock of 68 off 28 balls, studded with five sixes and six boundaries, in the ninth over. He was caught by Suresh Raina. Smith shared 75run stand for the second wicket with Dinesh Karthik who became second victim of Jadeja in the 11th over.

Jadeja ended Karthik's challenge by trapping him leg before, reducing Mumbai to 95/3.

Skipper Rohit Sharma was the fourth man to fall at the score of 101 on the final delivery of the 12th over by Chris Morris.

Tailenders then failed to put up a fight allowing Chennai a place in the finals.

Michael Hussey and Suresh Raina took the Mumbai Indians attack to the cleaners as Chennai Super Kings posted a

Chennai Super Kings players celebrate their victory

mammoth 192 for one in the first Qualifier of the Indian Premier League on Tuesday.

Hussey, known as 'Mr Cricket', delighted the sell-out crowd with his amazing array of strokes as he scored an unbeaten 86 off 58 balls with the help of 10 boundaries and two shots over the fence.

He was ably complemented by the ever-dependable Suresh Raina who smashed his way to a breathtaking 42ball-82 that had five boundaries and an equal number of huge sixes.

The duo put on astonishing 140 runs for the second wicket in 12.4 overs as CSK put on an imposing total on a low

and slow Feroze Shah Kotla track after electing to bat.

The duo scored 123 runs in the last 10 overs with both going on the rampage.

The southpaws were on song as they played some breathtaking shots in the cover region. Both matched each other stroke for stroke with MI bowlers dishing out one full-toss after other.

Although Harbhajan Singh went wicket-less, his figures of none for 26 were decent while pace duo of Lasith Malinga (0/45) and Mitchell Johnson (0/40) gave away 85 runs in eight overs between them. Munaf Patel (0/32) poor effort also didn't help the cause.

CSK's 'Man Friday' Hussey started off

with a boundary as Johnson fed him one on his legs. The normally profligate Munaf Patel was hit for successive boundaries by Vijay as 12 runs came of that over.

The initial momentum that they got helped them get into the groove. Hussey in particular was a delight to watch. When Johnson provided width, he played the square cut with ferocity, when Malinga bowled a slower one, he was quick to judge the length of the delivery and dispatch it through covers.

Forty seven runs came in the Powerplay and Hussey was already up and racing. When Harbhajan tried to flight one, he came out and played a delightful inside-out shot over extra cover.

The 50 came up in the seventh over but Vijay (23, 2x4) again frittered away a good start. Kieron Pollard proved to be the man with 'Golden Arm' as Vijay slogged lazily and was holed out in the deep mid-wicket region by Dwayne Smith.

The introduction of Raina proved to be a shot in the arm for Hussey as both players carted the MI bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Raina's sixes were a treat to watch, especially the one over extra cover which was hit with a lot of panache. Similarly Hussey looked elegant as he pulled a short ball from Pollard over deep square leg for a six.

While Hussey completed his 50 off 40 deliveries, Raina smacked a Pollard fulltoss into the cow-corner to get to his milestone in 29 balls.

Stuart Broad bowls England to victory Stuart Broad bowled England to victory in the first Test as New Zealand suffered a dramatic fourth-day collapse at Lord's on Sunday.

New Zealand, chasing 239 for victory, were dismissed for just 68 with Broad taking seven wickets for 44 runs in a mere 11 overs. South Africa born duo BJ Watling (13) and Neil Wagner (17), who got to 10 with a six off Broad, were the only New Zealand batsmen in England's Stuart Broad the innings to reach doucelebrates the wicket of New ble figures.

Zealand's Ross Taylor Fast-medium bowler Broad struck with his Broad took the first four third ball to have Peter wickets to fall after frusFulton caught behind and trating New Zealand with then produced a superb 26 not out as England delivery that jagged back slumped to 213 all out in from leg to knock to over their second innings Hamish Rutherford's offearlier. stump.

What had been a seeRoss Taylor, New saw contest was all but Zealand's first innings topover in an hour before scorer with 66, then fell lunch that saw New for nought when he edged Zealand reduced to 29 for Broad low to England capsix - with Broad having tain Alastair Cook at first then taken five for 22 in 32 slip. New Zealand - chasballs. ing what would be the At that stage the only highest single innings total consolation for New of the match if they Zealand, bowled out for achieved it - were now 16 43 by South Africa at Cape for three.

Town in January, was that And that became 21 they had surpassed the allfor four when Kane time lowest Test innings Williamson chipped Broad total of 26 they made to Steven Finn in the against England at covers.

Auckland in 1954/55.

Sahara pulls out of IPL, not to renew BCCI sponsorship Pune Warriors India, owned by Sahara India Pariwar, pulled out of the already scandal-hit Indian Premier League (IPL) and announced that they will not renew their sponsorship of the Indian cricket team after the present contract expires in December 2013.

The decision comes after the Lucknow-based firm's demand to bring down the franchisee fee was not agreed upon by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

Sahara failed to pay the full franchisee fee of the Warriors for the current year which resulted in BCCI encashing the bank guarantee - and this further led to the Pune-based franchise pulling out.

"It is firm and final decision of Sahara to withdraw from IPL," said a Sahara Statement.

This is the second time that Sahara have pulled the plug. The first time it happened was in 2012 owing to similar reasons but they bridged their differences with BCCI and returned to the fold. Sahara bought the franchise for Rs 17.02 billion in 2011 for 10 years, making Pune Warriors the costliest team in the IPL. Sahara have now said that they would not return to IPL "even if the entire fee was waived".