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VOL 39. ISSUE 21

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Welsh schoolgirl wins America's Perfect Teen pageant For full story see page 6

Cranes remove debris of a collapsed bridge at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Tuesday in New Delhi

India is literally on ‘Rambharose’ (at the mercy of God) just 12 days ahead of the showpiece Commonwealth Games to be held in New Delhi. While the preparations of the CWG have been under clouds, the suspected terrorist attack on foreign tourists in Delhi has added to the

A file picture of the Babri Masjid demolition at Ayodhya in the year 1992

Scotland, NZ Chief de Mission find CWG village shoddy, not fit for human habitation security concerns, forcing UK and at least three other countries to issue travel alerts to their nationals intending to visit India.

New Delhi witnessed shooting of two foreign tourists from Taiwan on

Sunday and within hours, a car catching fire just a small distance away from the site of shooting. The other possible trigger could be the Allhabad High Court verdict on a 60 year old title suit on disputed structure in

Ayodhya, to be announced on Sept 24.

This apart, the preparations for the Commonwealth Games have earned flak from many leaders of major international teams, including Scotland, New Zealand and Canada to name a few.

Continued on page 22

Anysha Panesar

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Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

Roger Howard, CEO UK Drug Policy Commission 1) What inspired you to begin your career in your chosen field?

I come from what you would call a traditional working class family but one which valued the importance of education for self improvement. I saw how economic and social impoverishment just fuelled problems like crime or drugs and I wanted to do something about it.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

That I continue to let research, facts and evidence guide my actions rather than be steered by ideology, blind faith or prejudice. On a practical level this has meant that I have helped, in some small way, thousands of drug addicts and offenders rebuild their ttlives.

It can be done.

3) Please tell us about the report on ethnic minorities that the commission recently released?

First my father, because of his deep ethical approach to life. The other was a history teacher, Ken Weech, who later became a Labour

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

MP. He fired up my interest in history and understanding about the roots of social injustice.

told Harrow Times: “The murder of Dr Farooq is shocking for the Edgware, Pakistani and Muslim communities.

“I would like to reassure these communities that specialist detectives from New Scotland Yard are working around the clock to catch those responsible.

“We have briefed senior community leaders and will continue to keep them updated with any developments. Additional uniform

hand with drugs. So many of them are truly inspirational.

7) And the worst?

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

I have the opportunity to work with the people who really know about drug problems as well as those who can make something happen to reduce the harms that can go hand in

Pakistani politician stabbed to death at London home Imran Farooq, pictured- a leading member of the country's MQM (Muttahida Quami Movement) party - was ambushed in the street and stabbed to death.

Detectives investigating the murder of a leading Pakistani politician in north London are examining the possibility it was a political assassination.

His death sent shock waves through Pakistan and brought Karachi, the country's second largest city, to a standstill. A post mortem took place at Finchley Mortuary, on last Friday, and gave cause of death as multiple stab wounds and blunt trauma to the head.

Officers, lead by the Metropolitan Police Service's Specialist Operations Counter Terrorism Command, have begun house to house inquiries to trace any witnesses to the attack, and have handed out appeal notices urging anyone with information to come forward.

Chief Superintendent Neil Basu, Borough Commander of Barnet

To continue making a positive contribution to how society responds to its most vulnerable members.

I would somehow ‘abolish’ the stigma, prejudice and shame associated with those who become addicted to drugs or alcohol. These are 21st century public health problems, not bubonic plague or leprosy. It does not mean we condone people’s behaviour but respond with practical help, compassion and insight about the condition.

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

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

8) What are your long term goals?

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

The report provides an overview of the differing needs and challenges associated with drug use among diverse ethnic communities in the UK. We found that a better understanding of drug use is needed to reduce drug problems and could also provide warning of ‘new’ or emergent patterns of drug use.

Undoubtedly it is my London ‘cockney’ accent!! Once in India, a group of Chinese tourists thought I was from Australia-I suspect because Britain once transported its convicts out there in the 19 century.

such as ill-health and crime.

police officers will be patrolling in Edgware over the next few days to reassure the community, and I am working closely with C h i e f Superintendent Dal Babu in Harrow to ensure both our boroughs remain calm and safe.

“The location of this tragic event is in the heart of a strong Jewish community and I would like to thank them for their compassion and understanding at this very important time of the year.”

Anyone with important information that may assist the investigation should call the incident room on 0208 721 3784 or, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Friends said Dr Faroog was “a family man, a gentleman and a perfect human being”.

His death has sparked rioting back in Pakistan and the country's senior officials have descried the death as an assassination.

The highly polarised public debate that goes on about drugs. It is very hard to get a balanced and accurate discussion about ‘what works’ best to reduce the harms that are associated with drugs,

I wonder how a collection of philosophers, radical politicians, scientists, sports figures, musicians, writers, painters, actors and so on would all get on with each other? In truth there are so many figures who intrigue and inspire in equal number it is hard to draw up the invitation list!

People ■ It was Ladies Day during Prime Ministers Questions last week when for the fisrt time ever two Asian Women MPs questioned David Cameron in succession.

Priti Patel MP asked about Fidel Castro and Valerie Vaz MP asked about the sitauion in Burma and Iran.

■ Curry King Sir Gulam Noon MBE was busy dining with David Miliband MP this week.

Gulam Noon

They are due to meet again next week at the Labour Party Conference.

■ Tory MP Paul Uppall was one of several MPs attending the launch of the 2010 Tiffin Cup at the Red Fort in Soho.

Paul's nominated restaurant was none other than the Red Fort in Wolverhampton.

Paul Uppall

Pride of India Awards held in London

HE Nalin Surie

Sir Mota Singh, UK's first Sikh and Asian judge, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year, received the 'Pride of India Award' 2009 instituted by an organisation that promotes science and culture of India.

India's High Commissioner to the UK, Nalin Surie, presented the trophy at the 6th Annual Awards of the India International Foundation at the Marriott Hotel here last night in the presence of a distinguished gathering including NRI

Sir Mota Singh

Manek Dalal OBE

industrialist Lord Swaraj Paul, Lord Iltaf Sheikh and Gurdip S Gujral, CBE. Mota Singh held various responsible positions in Kenya and the UK in the legal fields such as Secretary, Law Society, D i s c i p l i n a r y Committee, Member, Kenya Council of Legal Education in Kenya.

He was Knighted by the Queen this year.

He said "the UK has been a good host country and India-UK relations which has been good, has now moved

into a higher trajectory - a strategic partnership at higher level."

Manek Dalal OBE, Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, was given the award for his outstanding achievement in 'Administration'.

Asavari Pawar, daughter of India's well known Kathak dancer Pratap Pawar, received the award in the field of Art and Culture. Pawar is a writer on dance and music and runs music and dance classes in Kalaashish in India.

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

COMMENT

Partitioning Afghanistan: Wisdom or folly?

Robert Blackwill is one of America's high-fliers. He was Condolezza Rice's deputy as national security adviser in 2003-04 and became US ambassador to India, where he played a seminal role in fashioning a closer relationship between the two countries, whose bedrock was the Indo-US civilian nuclear accord. Mr Blackwill was quick to recognise the true dimension of the Islamist terrorist threat emanating from Pakistan and the danger this posed to regional security. He was forthright on this score and his robust attitude was much appreciated in Delhi. Mr Blackwill left India for the bowers of academe in Harvard, where he also made a considerable impact.

Mr Blackwill's latest gambit is his plan to partition Afghanistan along its ethnic faultlines. As the Taliban consists overwhelmingly of Pashtuns from the country's south, whose presence straddles Pakistan's north-western region, Mr Blackwill suggests the creation of an sovereign Taliban-ruled Pashtun homeland. Uzbeks and Tajiks and others making up the Northern Alliance and the Hazaras in western Afghanistan, who are mostly Shia, can have their separate states. Mr Blackwill's thinking stems from his recognition that, for all the brave Nato military-speak of surges and much else, “The Taliban are winning, we are losing. They have high morale and want to continue the insurgency. Plan A is going to fail. We need a Plan B. Let the Taliban control the Pashtun south and east, the American and allied price for preventing that is far too high,” Mr Blackwill said.

He pointed to the crippling $100 billion per year it was costing the US for its Afghan operations.

Hence, the US should seek only to defend the Uzbek, Tajik and Hazara territories and leave the Pashtuns to their own devices. “How many people believe that Kandahar is central to Western civilisation?”he asks. Nobody who is sane, if the truth be told. But that isn't the question. What needs mulling over is whether Mr Blackwill's partition plan for Afghanistan work. Partitions seldom deliver the results their progenitors seek. The case of the Indian

subcontinent comes readily to mind. Partition may have saved the Indian republic from a catastrophe, judging by the dysfunctional state of Pakistan, but it hasn't brought the expected regional peace.

American policies in Asia as a whole have been a litany of disasters, from the Chinese civil war in 1946-49 to the Vietnam war, 1960-75 and beyond to the intervention in Iraq in 2003 – the last a trillion dollar war, according to Nobel laureate Joseph Stiglitz.

Prior to Robert Blackwill's trumpet call for Afghanistan's partition, the respected Pakistani writer and journalist Ahmed Rashid, who has unrivalled knowledge of the country and its broader environs, warned in his article in the Financial Times that the Blackwill plan would turn out to be a recipe for yet another US disaster. What seemed plausible on paper would be unworkable on the ground because, in his view, none of the parties were agreeable to accepting Afghanistan's partition . How did he know? By simply speaking to their leaders he knows them all personally – and learnt their resolute opposition to such a deal. They would stand together rather than hang separately.

The US and its allies are in a desperate situation, but Robert Blackwill's partition plan, it would appear, is unlikely to be the solution. Mr Blackwill in his haste has omitted to mention Pakistan's current woes and its deepening infirmities. The government in Islamabad barely functions; the country's floods have crippled its economy and ruined the the livelihood of millions of Pakistanis most, desperately poor. Pakistan's declining fortunes are now twinned with those of Afghanistan. Mr Blackwill's shot gun divorce for Afghanistan and the exit he recommends from there is a luxury America can no longer afford since he excludes Pakistan from his endeavours. And people like Mr Blackwill would rather not think of Pakistan for fear of aggravating their ulcers. Yet Pakistan's seemingly slow disintegration and its possible consequences have also to be faced.

Spat which exposes an infantile disorder The Times appears to be in a spat with the Indian authorities. Its Mumbai-based India Correspondent Rhys Blakely writes: “India is threatening to reject hundreds of millions of British tax-payers' money to pre-empt expected Whitehall cuts to anti-poverty schemes in the country.” No authoritative Indian source, say, a minister, has delivered an official statement on this issue. Mr Blakely was the recipient of a sharp message from an Indian finance ministry official who informed him that “India did not require it [British aid].” The man had described the £295 million India received last year as a “petty amount”, which it clearly is not.

It is possible that the official was needled by the tone of Mr Blakely's enquiry, which appeared to suggest that without such aid India would collapse.

When in bad humour Mr Blakely ritually relays the statistic that 800 million Indians live on $1 a day.

On a better day this figure is reduced to 700 million.

Either way, this would suggest that India is in the grip of famine. Some in the British media do have a problem with India. One recalls a report in The Independent in early June 1999 by the paper's Peter Popham, whose front-page report predicting a famine in Gujarat, following a severe drought, was supplemented with a sneering critique of the Indian development story as a fake. The predicted famine failed to materialise and the Popham reports duly disappeared.

Returning to the dyspeptic Mr Blakely, he seems to think that the possible rejection of British aid to India “threatens David Cameron's ambitions of a 'new special relationship' between the countries”. It comes as a considerable surprise to learn that this 'new special relationship' was predicated on British aid.

Andrew Mitchell, Britain's International Development Minister, struck a radically different note. He said: “In India there is a development paradox. On the one hand there are more poor people in India than the whole of sub-Saharan Africa. On the other India has a space programme, it is a nuclear power, it is roaring out of poverty because of economic policies. They have their own aid programme of, I think, $1 billion in Afghanistan.”

Pakistan, “increasingly unstable and a source of terrorist attacks on Britain, is set to become the largest recipient of British overseas aid in the coming years, the Minister told The Times....”

That settles it, then. Not quite. Rhys Blakely's colleague in London, Richard Beeston, fired a supporting broadside in India's direction. Why bother giving India aid when it isn't appreciated? He then turned the screw. “The international community could also put greater effort into encouraging a change of attitude in India itself. The authorities and a growing number of Indian multinationals and billionaires need to be persuaded that charity begins at home.”

Poor man, he seems blissfully unaware of the wideranging projects funded by the Indian private sector alone to help the disadvantaged individuals and communities.

Our scribe, in full flow on his pulpit, sermonised: “A modern superpower is not simply the country with the strongest army and the best weapons; it is a nation capable of feeding and educating its people and making sure that, as the country grows rich, the wealth is shared.”

It is such patronising drivel that puts India's back up. There is wisdom in silence.

Pakistan's politics of murder in London The brutal murder of Pakistani politician Imran Farooq near his home in north London should set the alarm bells ringing. Scotland Yard's CounterTerrorism Command, which investigates political assassinations has been called in to investigate the killing, but officials have warned that the gruesome death of Mr Farooq reflected the violent factional struggles in Karachi, Pakistan's principal port city, and signals the arrival in Britain of this bloodystained brand of politics. It also tells of the deteriorating situation in Pakistan.

Mr Farooq was a founding member of the Muttahida Quami Movement, which is in a fierce struggle for power with the Taliban. The MQM repre-

sents the mohajirs, who migrated to the new state of Pakistan in 1947 from undivided India. Their efforts for the creation of this homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent contributed in no small way toward its eventual establishment. It is a tragedy that the MQM is now engaged in a ferocious struggle with other ethnic communities. The people of Pakistan deserve better.

Like people in every part of the world, the majority of Pakistanis seek security of life, which includes adequate food, housing, education and employment.

This assures their families of a better life. Pakistan's leaders have not fulfilled the trust reposed in them.

They have failed their people.

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Thought for the Week Appreciation is a wonderful thing.

It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.

- Voltaire (1694-1778)

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook:

The Politics of Business ‘We’re in a hole, and it’s not your fault, but you’re going to suffer. Sorry’.

That’s essentially was the message to the TUC by the head of the Bank of England. It’s also the message from Clegg at the LibDem Party Conference.

It’s the message from Obama to the Americans.

To add insult to injury, the banks who caused the credit crunch, are actually quite profitable, and those who lost their jobs (as long as they were being paid lots of money and not cashiers and tellers) got rehired elsewhere. We look after our own in financial services after all. Sorry.

The political mess as well as economic mess left by the credit crunch has left Harvard’s MBA programme to offer a pledge by their students: ‘I will refrain from corruption, unfair competition, or business practices harmful to society.’ Ummm...okay so they are promising not to break the law in the future when they are unleashing the latest derivatives instrument and selling it for more than it’s worth to a bigger fool. Or if it’s legal, because they are one step ahead of the law, they are promising not to act in their self-interest but be charitable to the rest of society, like TUC members or attendees of the LibDem conference.

Words are cheap.

So here are some oaths I thought others may want to take: The LloydsTSB Oath; ‘We pledge that should we ever again become a strong bank, then any pressure on our Board by the then Government will lead us to buy any load of rubbish bank in exchange for honours in due course and stuff our shareholders .’

The BP pledge: ‘We will never again employ a CEO who doesn’t know how to speak with regret to Americans, even if it’s

not our fault entirely. We shall always take the blame for anything Americans accuse us of’.

The Indian Politician Pledge: ‘I promise only take as much money as absolutely possible and no more. I promise never to handle it myself, but have a relative take receipt. I promise to launder through Switzerland because it makes me feel Western and sophisticated.

I pledge never to bid for the Olympic Games.’

The British Politician Pledge: ‘I pledge not to believe or buy everything Americans are selling me.

If we ever get gold reserves ever again, we promise not to sell them £7billion cheaper than we could have done. Also I pledge to undo and reverse everything the last Government did – good or bad and make lots of laws, whether they are needed or not.

And I pledge to understand a collatoralised debt obligation and inverse yield curve at some point in the next 50 years and how market crashes happen. ‘ The Pakistani Cricketer Pledge: ‘I pledge to sell my balls, cricket balls, to the highest bidder, and blame everyone else.’

The Pakistani Politician Pledge: ‘I promise nothing.’

The LibDem Oath: ‘We pledge never to let go of power again, engineer through the electoral system permanent hung parliaments and be in bed with Lab or Con forever and ever. Amen’ The journalists’ oath: ‘I pledge not to make stuff up...unless totally out of ideas.’ The readers’ pledge: ‘I pledge to email pledges to the write of this piece.’

My pledge: ‘I promise to accept more friends on my Facebook page.’

Alpesh Patel Alpesh.patel@tradermind.com

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

YOUR VOICE

4

Daylight Robbery When previously we had local hospitals at our doorsteps, now the general hospitals are in remote places which can only be reached by travelling on a number of buses or trains. How else can you go there except by taking your car? But the parking charges are so high that you do not get away without paying in the region of £5 -£10. For the first couple of hours, the charges are tolerable but if you need to stay longer, you will not see much change out of a £20 note!

We are under a misconception that NHS treatment in this country is free.

Not when you have to pay through the nose to visit a hospital. This charges put off people from going there. We only go there out of necessity and not for shopping or entertainment. Incidentally, car parking is free at supermarkets. Having said this, please don’t get me wrong. I am not slagging the treatment we receive at our hospitals. The service and equipment at British hospitals are un-paralleled in the world.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samacahar have the reputation for taking up the cause by mounting orchestrated campaigns against such matters. Surely one such campaign could be initiated by us Gujaratis through the medium of AV and GS. Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Is the UK tax system fair?

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Join the frequent letter writers This is in reference to Hiren Dhangar’s letter in A.V. of 11-9-2010, about three frequent writers in Your Voice and subsequent debate.

Please note that any letter printed in Asian voice is an honour and a privilege but not a right.

A.V. has no shortage of writers, vide curtailing letter to 200 words. Number of writers attending the conference at Karma Yoga House indicates pool of writers feeding Your Voice.

A.V. does not favour frequent writers, vide the fact that even 200 word letters are meticulously edited, censured or omitted as per discretion of editorial team.

Letters written by us are meant for different sets of readers, and age groups.

Thus what appears to be a repetition to some may be first reading for others.

Writers try to collate text from various sources and present it in an intelligible order under a single heading.

We focus on prevalent problems at pedestrian level, on non partisan basis, and suggest solutions. Writers have freedom of expression towards Hindu or Gujju bias, but the editor decides its placement as per company policy.

I try to variegate themes in letters to cheer and inform. I assume that Hiren would join writers to Your Voice.

Ramesh Jhalla Via Email

Caste Census of India

Will India lose Kashmir?

I am really concerned about Indian government's decision to incorporate caste in the ongoing national census is a significant one and it will have farreaching consequences.

The last caste based census was taken during the British rule in 1931.

India was divided on the basis of religion and now the politically corrupt Indian politicians want to bring caste into Indian politics. Perriyar in Tamilnadu fought for removing the caste system and hence he made sure in Tamilnadu caste names which are attributes as surname ( eg.Iyer, Iyengar, Nadar, Devar) are removed from the name.

In order to increase their share in the reservation some castes may produce more children and some of the upper castes may fight for inclusion as OBCS. This is due to the fact that there is no hard and fast rule which caste should be included in which category.

Now jats want to considered themselves as OBCS and some castes in Rajasthan want to include them as Dalits and there is no end to this.

I request the readers to write to Indian papers to urge the Indian government to drop the caste census since the present government is turning India into a caste ridden society.

Amitabh Bachan has rightly said that he is not going to mention his caste in the census form and it is the fundamental right of any individual to do so.

Indian politicians are going back to dark ages.

The Kashmir valley is burning. The children are trained by Islamist fanatics to defy curfew, attack police stations, burn down railway stations, pelt stones on security forces. The rulers tolerate all this in the name of pseudo-secularism.

The people of Jammu and Ladakh are happy. Even in the valley only four districts, Srinagar, Srepore, Baramuulah and Anantnag in the protest. They are mostly Sunni muslims fed in Wahabi fanaticism.

The Shias of the valley do not join the protests.

The Hindus in the valley have have been hounded out. Now Sikhs are Christians are in grave danger. The state administration has already become Islamic. Article 370 is the main culprit.

Under this article a Kashmiri cannot marry a non-Kashmiri and if so happens, they lose their right to vote and property.

It is believed that Kashmir has the richest politicians in the country owing villas, hotels etc around the world. It also believed most of the development money to Kashmir is siphoned off by politicians and part fund the insurgency of the Islamists.

To protect the integrity of the country, abolish article 370. If not the Kashmir valley will sooner or later go to Pakistan in the name of religion.

According to HMRC tax payer statistics, they collected ￡157 billion in Income Tax paid by 31,300 million taxpayers on total income of ￡871 billion in 2008/09.

The top 2% that is 651,000 earners who declared ￡100K or more shared 33% of the total tax burden, but then earned 18% of the total national income.

Their effective rate was 33% (tax) and 35% (tax & NI Employee). The average gross earnings were ￡2.4 million p.a.

The next 24% that is 7,470,000 earners who declared ￡30K or more shared 38% of the tax burden while earning 38% of the national income. Their effective was 19% (tax) and 23% (tax and NI-EE) respectively. The average gross earnings were ￡44,000 p.a.

The bottom 74% that is 23,150,000 who declared income below ￡30K or less shared 44% of the tax burden while sharing 44% of the national income. Their effective rate was 11% (tax) and 18% (tax and NI). The average gross earnings were ￡16,000 p.a.

True, the benefit system distorts the above results. But then why not merge the two systems and legally require all the 31,300 million earners to submit one tax return annually rather than the current 8 million only? There seems to be a lot of cheating going on according to the media and the coalition government in declared income and/or benefits returns.

It is no good to use the public sector as a scapegoat. Tax system needs to be progressive, e.g. 10%, 20%, 30% and so on.

I must appreciate that Asian Voice is playing very important role for bringing the news relating to India.

The recent news published in Asian Voice on 18th September on page 25 that Mr. Kamal Nath the minister of roads and transport faces trial in US court over role in 1984 anti -Sikh riots.The court in Southern district of New York has issued an order asking the parties to appear in the court on 22nd September for a pretrial conference to discuss the settlement and further action.

India is an Independent country and is not ruled by the US. How can a government of a foreign country issue an arrest warrant for something that is completely internal for India?

We Punjabi, Hindu and Sikhs are one people and no one on the earth can separate us. Yes there are some foolish people or rather greedy people or hungry people for political power tried to separate us but they failed .

Please do not forget that if Indian Government does not give clear message to US then next will be the turn for our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to appear in other foreign courts and India will not remain Independent.

If Manmohan Singh has not read the small prints in signing the treaties with US then he should be brave enough to refute these orders and cancel the treaties.

I do not understand why any one, either readers or the active participants in the struggle to restore direct flights between London and Ahmedabad should be surprised at the let down, the betrayal

by Praful Patel, the puppet Indian Civil Aviation Minister who is no more than a mouthpiece of the Congress, or rather Sonia Gandhi who pulls all the strings.

Manmohan Singh, although a sincere, honest and able politician is no more than a puppet on a string, dancing to the tune of Sonia who will be forced to retire once Dr. Singh has passed his sell by date, help her to win the next election.

If Praful Patel has an ounce of dignity or self respect, then he should resign, leave the government. But the lure of office and the perks associated with his position are too great, too tempting to be thrown away and put his political future in jeopardy.

Now it is up to the people of India, in particular Gujarat to teach this arrogant Government a lesson at the next election.

As long as Congress rules India, there will not be any direct flights between Ahmedabad and London, New York or any major city in Europe.

Nagindas Khajuria, FCCA Via Email

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

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Arrest of Kamal Nath

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Muslim women attend Armed forces memorial It was pleasing to read media report, (MN. 30/7/2010) that few weeks ago 20 Muslim women across the U.K. attended an armed forces memorial. This was in appreciation to show their respect for those men who died in the war serving their country.

As a Muslim I must stress my feelings of gratitude to these young women for their unselfish action epitomised as good Muslims, following fundamental teachings of their religion, Islam.

The initiative, intention and courageous action of visiting memorial, indeed put them in the forefront of members of their community. Their confidence and appreciative gesture must have shamed the group of fanatic Muslims who had certainly done more harm to the rest of British Muslims by holding an anti-war march in Wotton Bassett when dead soldiers were honoured.

The reason of their visit was,” to show the grief of a mother losing her son is shared, and that loyalty of those who have been lost is remembered.”

A.M.A. Pira Via Email

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(Off Coronet Street)

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

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

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

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

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5

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Leicester Voice Student is jailed for trying to murder peacemaker in street A student has been jailed for 15 years for attempting to murder a man who was acting as a peacemaker in a dispute in the street.

Tanvir Arkate, pictured, stabbed the victim seven times leaving him with a punctured lung.

Arkate, a 21-year-old De Montfort University student from Highfields, Leicester, was sentenced at Northampton Crown Court after being found guilty of attempted murder at an earlier trial.

The court heard the victim arranged to meet a group of people in St Peter's Road, Leicester, on August 27 last year to try to resolve the disagreement over a woman.

As he was approaching the meeting point, a group of men chased him and he was stabbed with a knife.

Judge Charles White QC told Arkate: "He was a peacemaker who wanted

to do nothing more than resolve it (the dispute) without violence. What he didn't know was that you and your co-defendants arrived intent on violence.

"You launched yourself in an attack without hesitation, attacking a man on his own who wanted nothing more than to keep the peace."

The judge said the offence was aggravated because it took place in the street during Ramadan when many people were making their way to pray at mosques in the area.

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

leicester@abplgroup.com

Chance to start your own business If you’ve ever dreamt of starting your own creative business now might be your chance.

The team at Leicester Creative Business Depot are launching an enterprise support project, taking participants from a good idea to launching their own business – in just nine months.

The project, called Creative Enterprise Hub, launches its first programme this month, at Phoenix Square, with new programmes starting regularly over the next two years. It will not only provide its participants with a

place to work, complete with computers and internet access, but will work with Business Link to provide business start-up workshops and advice.

The project will also offer bespoke business development workshops and networking opportunities to help get businesses off the ground. There will be a panel of established creative and supportive entrepreneurs on hand to help new businesses move forward: think more of wise owls than a dragon’s den.

Creative Enterprise Hub builds on the success-

ful Start Me Up project, also managed by LCB Depot, that helped 17 creative businesses to launch in an 18-month period.

In addition to its work with start up businesses, the project will also aim to deliver support to existing creative businesses through business coaching and a range of initiatives to help local businesses to thrive and grow. It is hoped that these interventions will assist Leicester’s creative businesses to become more successful and generate more wealth and creativity for the city.

Leicester City Council

leader, Councillor Veejay Patel, said: “We are keen to promote and nurture local businesses, and this kind of initiative shows that Leicester is open for business. I’d urge any budding businesses to take advantage of the help and guidance on offer and make the most of this scheme.

To be eligible for the scheme applicants will need to 18 or over and be starting or growing a creative business. Other eligibility criteria apply.

For more information please email kate.cowan@lcbdepot.co.u k or ring on 0116 2616800.

I SURVIVED THE FLOODS I LOST MY HOME

Jigar Naik tops national bowling averages Photo: Jason Tanner/Save the Children

Jigar Naik provided one half of a notable end-ofseason double for Leicestershire.

While opener Greg Smith topped the national batting averages having scored 652 first-class runs at 93 per innings, including his appearances for Durham University, offspinner Naik finished at the head of the bowling statistics with 35 wickets at just 17 each.

The last four victims of that haul enabled the County to round off their season with a 10-wicket win at Northampton on Thursday, a second consecutive success for Leicestershire in a heartening end to the campaign.

"I've come on year by year with Claude Henderson and Tim Boon

around," said 26-year-old Naik. "But I have got to be realistic. When I joined the staff at Grace Road five or six years ago I was still playing park cricket for Zodiacs. It was Tim who pulled me out of that."

Until this season Naik had been looked upon as a developing spin bowler.

He is not yet the finished article, but he has proved during the summer that he already has match-winning capabilities.

Need you to help the children In the last seven weeks, Save the Children has reached over 740,00 children and adults in flood stricken regions of Pakistan with food, medical aid, shelter and hygiene kits. But there are tens of thousands more - many of them children - who are still in critical need of help.

The crops they depend on for food were washed away by the floods leaving them vulnerable to acute malnutrition and, as their

immune systems become weaker, to disease. In the temporary camps that have become home they are constantly exposed to contaminated water which brings with it deadly malaria, diarrhoea and respiratory infections.

In order to help them, Save the Children needs another £15 million for more clinics and places for children to be safe. We can only achieve this with your help.

HELP ME FIGHT DISEASE Huge parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh regions of Pakistan are going through an unprecedented crisis and we urgently need your help. Aid is getting through – we have hundreds of workers making sure of that – but there are now so many children like Muhammad in desperate need of medical help and basic supplies. £55 could provide enough hygiene kits to protect 30 children from potentially deadly diseases. Please donate and show them you care.

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Increase the value of your gift by 28%

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It is critical to our work with children that we can communicate with our supporters. By providing your details, you agree to receive information about our work and how you can help via post and telephone. If you would rather not hear from us please email: supporter.care @savethechildren.org.uk or telephone 020 7012 6400 or write to: Supporter Services, Save the Children, 1 St John’s Lane, London EC1M 4AR.

All donations received for this appeal will be spent on our work in Pakistan. Where donations exceed the appeal target we will use your money to fund our work with vulnerable children around the world. Registered charity England and Wales (213890) Scotland (SC039570)

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6

YOUR VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Burning of Quran

Medical tourism magazine

National and religious sentiments have reached dirty hands. In America anti-Islam feeling has been bubbling for some time, and culminated to the point of burning holy Quran, which has wounded and destroyed the esteem of the Muslims.

This is in relation after America suffered indignity, degradation through repeated burning of American flag, well supported by the politicians. This will inevitably risk churches and burning of Bibles in India. This has never happened, but may spread to India some day, as there burning of effigy is quite popular.

I would like to congratulate GS and AV for their excellent issue on Medical Tourism.I am proud and surprised by how far India has emerged as a nation in providing World Class healthcare.

This issue highlights the importance of Marketing these Health Services to the patients abroad. Patients are now looking for better,economical,faster or experienced medical care.India now offers the same world class procedures and surgeries at very reasonable costs compared to Western Countries.

Dr K R N Moorthy Handsworth

Pradip Kotecha, Pharmacist, Hoxton

UK NEWS

Welsh schoolgirl wins America's Perfect Teen pageant A British private schoolgirl has caused a storm after being named America's Perfect Teen.

Anysha Panesar, 16, beat a host of American beauties to win the contest while on holiday in Florida.

But the families of other contestants are allegedly furious at the snub to the US girls because Anysha is from a tiny village in Wales.

Parents of the American girls have allegedly protested to the organisers of the pageant, which has a $2,000 (￡ 1,300) first prize - and an $18,000 (￡11,500) scholarship to train as a TV broadcaster.

But Anysha has hit back - arguing the outcry is just sour grapes.

'Some people did say I shouldn't have won because I'm British,' she said.

'But really I think the people who said that just said it because they didn't win.'

Anysha - who goes to the same private school in Cardiff that singer Charlotte Church used to attend - entered the teenage beauty pageant while at the family holiday home in Kissimmee, Florida.

The America's Perfect

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Teen contest, which included girls as young as 13, has a big following in the States.

But Anysha was stunned to beat the other 30 contestants from across America.

She said: 'I think I was a bit different.

'The pageant is like no other in that there are no rules for what you wear.

It's more like America's Next Top Model.

'One year a girl even carried a panther cub down the runway.

'I didn't think I would actually win because I'm British, so I thought there was no chance I was going to win an American pageant.

'So when it got to me and one other person I thought I was going to come second.

'Then they announced

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the first runner up and I began walking forward before I realised it wasn't my name.

'My mum was sitting there crying her eyes out and my dad didn't know what to do with himself.

My grandparents were on the phone - they were all so proud.'

Anysha lives with her family in the village of Llangan in Vale of Glamorgan - and is now back in classes at Howells School in Cardiff.

She said: 'I've taken part in quite a few pageants now.

'They started off as just a bit of fun because I went on a school trip to The Clothes Show in Birmingham and won a catwalk competition there, and that got me through to the finals of my very first pageant.

'It just somehow grew from there and I got addicted to them.

'The pageants themselves can be really overwhelming because the girls do them every single weekend and they've been doing them since they were four years old.

'I wasn't as experienced as the other girls and didn't know as much as they did - so I still can't believe I actually won.'

The pageant's founder Michael Galanes, whose toddlers' pageant Little Miss Perfect has become a TV hit in the US, admitted it has caused fury, reports Daily Mail.

He said: 'Yes, her win caused a bit of a stir because she is, of course, British.

'But that is perfectly within the rules of the competition and those people are just nay-sayers.

'One of the judges told me they liked Anysha because she was a breath of fresh air.

'She has natural beauty but she isn't afraid to be a bit wild. Anysha - what a beautiful girl.'

Anysha won the scholarship to learn broadcasting in the US, which she plans to take up after her A-levels.

She is also in talks to have her own TV show

Kapil’s

KHICHADI

by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com Clegg the Blagger?

Having sold their soul for a few pieces of silver, the question arises ‘how far will he go in selling his party for the sake of power?’ I was trying to assess how many fundamental policies and values had already been sacrificed at the altar of subalternity? I gave up, too many to list!

They have already given up all hope of getting Proportional Representation – the very bed rock of their being. Given the wide ranging aggressive cuts to come in the public services, we can safely assume the pillar of social responsibility has also now gone. Even Vince Cable - no less than the Government’s new business ministerial guru came out and said that the new ‘cap’ on immigration was already hurting British businesses. In fact, the very business leaders who came out openly in their support of the Tories before the election are now getting a reality check.

They have realised that unwittingly they might have cut their nose despite their face.

Yes, we must be coming to the Party conference season. The Lib Dems meet this week in Liverpool to discuss matters of national importance – well that is what Nick Clegg will be telling the party faithful anyway.

One is left wondering, will the artful dodger be blagging it? Or will the truth about what we are about to receive actually come out? Time will tell of course.

The faithful are caught between a rock and a hard place. How should they act or react?

If they don’t stand up for their core values now, then gone are any excuses when election time comes that they stood for anything at all.

If they are to be true to their core, rise up and challenge the heinous policy crimes being committed in their name – will the leaderabout her year as America's Perfect Teen.

Her mother Caroline, 41, said: 'We're so proud of Anysha, she's such a talented girl and we couldn't be more supportive of what she's doing.

'At the end of the day, we just want her to be happy.'

ship forgive them?

Rocking the boat when you have one foot in the seat of power is a mighty undertaking but is there anyone to brave the leadership onslaught? In the polls it has become clear that the electorate have disowned the Lib Dems in their droves. Currently their rating simmers at about 12% - frankly they will be lucky to get beyond 20 seats next time if this is a measure of their gravitas in power.

Aid to India why?

Under Gordon Brown and through DFID it was agreed by the British Government that some £800m would be given in aid to India over a period of three years. That deal comes to an end in 2011 and hence there is now a debate raging in India as to whether it should continue to accept this charity as beggars’ bounty, or if it might be better to retain some national pride and integrity, and say NO. My message to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao would be a simple one – say NO. How can India become the so-called emerging super power if it needs such help from its imperial master? Of course I have been told that often such aid when given by western Governments tends to be a type of a ‘incentive’ to foreign Governments to tow the line on some international issue or other. I cannot possibly comment on the veracity of such claims, but it does seem odd that India cannot find a few hundred million from its own resources to complete these charitable projects.

If I was Finance Minister, Pranab Mukherjee or Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao – I would politely say to Britain, no thank you. Maybe the money is needed more in Pakistan given the

recent calamity that the nation has undergone.

One assumes of course that any aid going into Pakistan would be used for the people, and not in supporting the terrorists, or in lining the pockets of the politicians.

France leads the way?

The French parliament passed a law prohibiting the wearing of the fullface veil in public by 246 votes to one. It had already cleared the lower house in July of this year and subject to its legality being checked by their Constitutional Council – we can assume that early next year the ban will come into force.

Threats have already been made, most vehemently from clerics in Indonesia that there will be a serious back lash if this law is enforced.

2011 promises to be a challenge to the very essence of France and its constitution.

Other countries in Europe are not too far behind either.

Don’t be too surprised if in 2011 we see at least two other countries following in the footsteps of France. There is a serious danger that in 2011 we may witness a serious re-alignment in European politics that will target Islam directly.

Across the pond, and even with the first Black President in power, Americans seems to have lost their patience when the mere mention of an Islamic Centre near Ground Zero was mentioned.

The adverse reaction is significant and serious. Follow that with the threat to burn the ‘Koran’ at a public event; and you can see that a people who might have controlled their prejudices can at a whim revert back to their inherent natural state.

The fragility of the world order should never be taken for granted. We witnessed two world wars in the 20th century but not for any good reason, have we learnt enough to avoid the third in the 21st century?

7

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

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8

www.abplgroup.com

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Midland Voice Dee Katwa

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

Charity cheat caught red-handed Shahid Aslam, 38, of Benmore Avenue, Edgbaston, pleaded guilty to nine charges of fraud and asked for 48 similar charges to be taken into consideration.

Jitinder Matharu, prosecuting, said Aslam had knocked at the doors of around 70 homes in Harborne and adjoining areas between July 30 and August 12, this year. Mr Matharu said the defendant always wore a suit and the vic-

tims, mainly retired people, described him looking like a “young professional male”. He said in some cases money was handed over straight away and in others he returned the following day to collect the cash when he pretended he had completed the ride. He collected a total of around £500. He said that Aslam had never done a ride and that a magistrate who became suspicious about his

New role for Ranjit Mother-of-three Ranjit Kaur, 40, has been appointed an area manager in Walsall.

She will work closely with the local authority, NHS, police and other organisations to bring people and services together, addressing issues that affect local communities.

Ranjit, pictured, has worked in social housing for over 20 years.

Girish up for award Best of luck to reporter Girish Gupta, pictured, from Manchester University who has been shortlisted in the Digital Journalist of the Year category in this year’s Guardian Student Media Awards. Winners will be announced later this month.

One vision, one nation All are invited to a free lecture themed, Should India be declared a Hindu nation? The talk by Dhirajbhai Shah, Head of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK, the nationalist movement, will take place at the Arya Samaj Vedic Centre in Birmingham (B7 4SA) this Sunday (Sep 26) between 11am and 1pm followed by lunch.

Photo: Birmingham Mail

A bogus charity collector from Birmingham who falsely claimed he was going to do a sponsored bike ride to raise cash for victims of the Pakistan floods, but in fact used the money to feed his drug addiction, has appeared in court.

Guilty: Shahid Aslam leaving Birmingham Magistrates’ Court

activities alerted the police.

Aslam was arrested on August 12 - according to the front-page lead in the Birmingham Mail on Monday this week – after officers saw him calling on homes in a road in Edgbaston clutching a number of sponsorship forms.

When quizzed Aslam admitted that what he was doing was wrong saying he was “desperate” and that he had chosen “big houses”

because he thought the occupants would have plenty of money. Mr Matharu said: You may think this is a mean and despicable offence bearing in mind the crisis that has hit Pakistan. He seems to be taking advantage of a situation elsewhere in the world.”

He added that Aslam had a number of previous convictions for dishonesty and had previously committed a similar offence. Aslam, he said, gave a positive reading for opiats and cocaine when he was drug tested and went on: “It may well be he had collected this money in order to further fund a drug addiction.”

The case at B i r m i n g h a m Magistrates’ Court was adjourned by the magistrates for reports to be prepared on Aslam who was told that as far as sentencing was concerned all options were open and that it was a serious case because “vulnerable people were exploited”.

Terror suspects in Brum A Muslim fanatic described by the MI5 as the most dangerous terror kingpin in Britain is living under a control order in Birmingham. The suspected Al Qaeda plotter, known only as AY, was accused of being a major player in the 2006 plan to use liquid explosives to bring down 10 transatlantic airliners.

He is one of four terror suspects living in the Midlands under control orders, according to a report in the Sunday Mercury.

News in Brief Malik gets slap on wrist Ex-minister Shahid Malik, pictured, has been told to apologise to Parliament for claiming expenses to cover the cost of insuring his wife’s £8,000 engagement ring. This is the same politician who had last year failed to respond to my enquiry, despite several calls, on disparity in funding to different ethnic groups.

Black History Month Next month marks annual Black History Month.

Throughout October activities celebrating multiculturalism will take place up and down the country.

Black History Month is intended to celebrate African Caribbean and Asian influences across the UK and encourage all communities to come together.

Lyons calls it a day BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons, 60, is to step down after four years in the post. The former chief executive of Birmingham City Council, pictured, has written to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to explain that he will not seek reappointment next May when his term ends.

Chamber dinner raises 6k for charity The newly-created Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group was officially launched at its annual dinner held at the ICC last Thursday evening. The prestigious event, attended by over 700 guests, raised £6,650 from a prize draw for Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, a charity. The Group includes five Chambers of Commerce and represents over 6,000 businesses and their 200,000-plus employees.

Ethnic Business Awards Congratulations to Smruti Lodhia, pictured cen-

entrepreneurship College chief scoops award Promoting Motivational speaker Rajeeb Dey, pictured, shared his extraordinary story of success with over a dozen aspiring entrepreneurs from across the Midlands at a training day in Birmingham last Saturday. Founder of online recruitment portal Enternships-dot.com, Rajeeb, 24, offered help, advice and support in an attempt to inspire and instil energy and drive in all present. The all-day event at Aston University was organised by the National Consortium of University Entrepreneurs, or NACUE.

Three cheers for Asha Khemka OBE, principal and CEO of West Nottinghamshire College who received a gold medal and certificate for her outstanding achievements and contribution to education in the UK. She was honoured by the NRI Welfare Society of India at an event hosted by Baroness Sandip Verma at the House of Lords on Friday a fortnight ago. Indian-born Mrs Khemka, who tied the knot at 15, and moved to the UK in 1975 with her husband and three young children, said: “There are so many people in this world who achieve much in life but don’t get the recognition they deserve so I feel very lucky to have my achievements recognised in this way.”

Man knifed A Birmingham man is “serious but stable” in hospital after being stabbed outside his home. The 48-year-old was set upon by two middle-aged black men who were wearing fluorescent jackets. The incident happened in Colville Walk, off Stoney Lane in Sparkbrook, around 6pm last Friday.

Car ‘buyer’ jailed A car thief who led police on a 110mph rush-hour chase along the M6 motorway has been jailed for three years and four months. Drug addict Wahid Mahmood, 37, of Oldbury, pleaded guilty to robbery, dangerous driving and two charges of theft.

Mahmood, who was posing as a car buyer, was on the run in a stolen £14,000 Audi A4.

Thumbs up from Imran Imran Khan, the cricketer-turnedpolitician, paid tribute to the British fundraising effort to help victims of the Pakistan floods during his flying visit to Birmingham last Monday. Mr Khan, 57, pictured, was attending a fundraising dinner in Streetly, Sutton Coldfield.

tre, of Pride Beauty Clinic who was crowned Business Person of the Year at the annual Ethnic Minority Business Awards ceremony in Nottingham last Friday.

Natasha Elaine Bryan of Tick Tock Mobile Creche scooped the Most Positive Contribution title while former councillor Mohammed Riasat was recognised for Promoting Community Spirit. Also, well done to event manager Kim Waring for managing yet another sparkling event.

Eid Mela All are invited to Birmingham’s free annual Eid Mela which will take place this Sunday (Sep 26) in Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston from 12.30-6.30pm.

Now in its tenth year, the festival will celebrate Islamic culture, entertainment, sport, art and food.

Also at hand will be representatives from charity the British Heart Foundation offering free health checks and advice. Research by the BHF shows that more than 851 men and 632 women die from coronary heart disease each year in the city, with the South Asian community 50 per cent more likely to die.

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Bhavan celebrates Indian Independence Day India’s Independence Day celebrations are always a major event in the Bhavan’s calendar, with a glittering array of dignitaries invited to the centre in London every year.

The event this time round took place on Friday 17th September 2010 and marked the 63rd year of independence, with the audience made up of people from the Indian diaspora in London and its outskirts. Those assembled got a chance to hear from the Bhavan’s Chairman Mr Maneck Dalal OBE, Indian High Commissioner, His Excellency Sri Nalin Surie and the newly appointed Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham Cllr Adronie Alford.

In his opening speech, Mr Dalal talked about his utmost pride for his country of birth and the speed with which it is progressing on the world stage in all arenas.

He said “there was ample evidence of the opinion and attitude of the new coalition when Prime Minister David Cameron took such a high powered team from his Cabinet and others to India.”

Mr Dalal went onto talk about the important role the Bhavan was playing in keeping alive the traditions of India in the UK through its culture. He

Mr Rajesh N Prasad, Deputy High Commissioner, Mayoress Ms Lavendar Hastie, His Excellency Mr Nalin Surie, High Commissioner of India, Mr Maneck Dalal, OBE, Bhavan's Chairman, Mayor Cllr Adronie Alford and the Hon Sir Mota Singh QC

re-iterated this fact by mentioning the news of Bhavan’s very first graduates of the unique Indian music degree run at the centre in association with Trinity College of Music and City University.

Fulham Council and congratulated us on the occasion of Indian Independence. She went on to say “thank you very much on behalf of the borough, which I am privileged to represent for

Bhavan's Bharatanatyam students performing a colourful dance

The Mayor, Councillor Adronie Alford, conveyed greetings from Hammersmith and

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being here”. The borough has been home to the Bhavan for the last 30 years.

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The main speech of the evening was given by the High Commissioner, His Excellency Sri Nalin Surie who talked about the numerous successes and setbacks India has seen since its independence in1947. He also talked about the important role non-resident Indians had to play in the progress of India and commented on the privileged position people of Indian origins were in, saying they have an honoured part to play.

He said, “As India continues through the path of progress, the need to maintain our traditions and cultural diversity is equally important.

Institutions such as the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan play an important role in this.” He went onto say he felt the Bhavan in London spared no efforts in spreading Indian culture, not only to the Indian community but the people of the United Kingdom. At which point he acknowledged the efforts of Director of the Bhavan, Dr Nandakumara showering special praise for his work.

A vote of thanks was given by Sir Mota Singh and the evening was concluded with a short cultural performance by students of the Bhavan, which was followed by the Indian national anthem.

Drunk school bus driver who sliced roof off double-decker avoids jail A school bus driver who sliced off the roof of his double-decker as he tried to squeeze under a railway bridge while drunk has narrowly avoided going to jail.

Gurdeep Singh Sagoo (pictured) was three times over the drinkdrive limit when he 'forgot' he was driving a double-decker.

He had earlier dropped off 46 college students.

The accident in Langley, Berkshire, led to the main rail line between London and the West being closed and a bill of £250,000 being handed to the coach company by Network Rail for 180 cancelled services.

At Reading Crown Court, a judge criticised him as 'thoughtless' and the college principal said it was a miracle that nobody had been hurt.

Joanne Belsey, prosecuting, told the hearing that on May 12 he collected the students from Chalfonts Community College in Gerrards Cross and drove the normal route.

After dropping off all his passengers, he approached the bridge.

'The bridge was 12ft 9in high, and this was clearly signposted along with a number of yellow

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and black chevrons around it,' she said.

'The defendant drove through the bridge and the collision took place, removing the top section of the bus.'

Sagoo called police, who breathalysed him and found he had 97mg of alcohol in his breath, nearly three times the limit.

Rachel Adams, defending, said her client was now jobless and cared for his elderly mother.

Sentencing, Judge Gordon Risius said Sagoo's driving was 'thoughtless' rather than reckless.

He gave Sagoo, of Southall, west London, an eight- month jail term suspended for two years.

He also ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and banned him from driving for two years.

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10

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Celebrate Eid at the Trafalgar Square

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, invites all Londoners to come and share in the celebrations for the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Fitr in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 26 September. The jubilant Eid celebration follows immediately after the month long fasting during the holy month of Ramadan.

Statutory Deputy Mayor, Richard Barnes, will join excited crowds of Londoners at the fifth annual event, which is organised by the Mayor of London in partnership with Muslim community organisations. The event has grown to become one of the key cultural highlights of London events calendar and sees crowds of over 25,000 attend to enjoy the festivities.

Eid on the Square is supported by Lycamobile and the official media partner is Zee TV. The programme of exciting and diverse performances on the day

reflects the diversity, culture and language of the varied Muslim communities in London. There will be performances in different languages; French, Arabic, English, Urdu, Spanish and many more.

Performers and artists come from various countries and backgrounds including Pakistan, London, North Africa, Somalia, Egypt, Venezuela and the Middle East.

Highlights of this year's event include popular Nasheed artists Amir Awan, Khaleel Mohammad & Mohammaddiyya Somali Nasheed group. Other artists include hip-hop MC, Quest-Rah, Cheb Nacim, a band of mixed North African artists from the UK performing Rai music, Akeem, a French based, rap/hip hop and spoken word band, Acoustic Sufi Rock band Silk Road, Islamic World Music band Fursan and many more such acts.

Now Mobile hosts official launch at City Hall

The Grewals at the official launch of Now mobile

Now Mobile had its official launch at the City Hall, Lounge Room on 15th September 2010. It was be hosted by a series of celebrity guests, including Channel 4’s The Grewals.

Now Mobile has competitive rates for UK and International calling helping free users from lengthy mobile contracts and save money when calling favourite destinations.

Gujarat looks to UK for investment

By Spriha Srivastava A 16-member delegation from the Indian state of Gujarat was in the UK to attract investment in Gujarat with a strong focus on the infrastructure sector.

During an investors' meeting at financial services firm KPMG’s offices in London last week, Guruprasad Mohapatra, C o m m i s s i o n e r, Commercial tax, Government of Gujarat, said investment from the UK is not at a high level. “We have at least 15 German companies, three or four Dutch companies and Japanese companies investing in Gujarat.

But we find that the UK is lagging behind in making investments in India,” he said.

He also claimed that government in Gujarat works like the private sector and bureaucratic hurdles are not experienced.

The delegation mentioned that Gujarat was the first Indian state to have introduced public-private partnership route in Infrastructure and also the first state to privatise its ports. It is also the first state to enter into a carbon trading agreement with World Bank and the only state to provide power supply on a 24x7 basis.

Currently, Gujarat has infrastructure investment of $37 billion in the process of being put to work, a delegate revealed. The government is looking for further investment in sectors such as power, ports, transport and renewable energy.

The presentation at the conference comprised of three sections

– Urban sector, Ports and Special Investment Regions (SIR). Organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) and hosted at KPMG office in Salisbury Square, the conference showcased a sense of seriousness on the part of the State and its government in the area of economic and urban development.

Recently, in an ambitious report – The Blueprint for

per cent) has to come through the public-private partnership (PPP) route”.

Hence: “All actions with respect to enabling private investments need to be accelerated.”

Meanwhile, the report also mentions setting up a private equity fund of Rs50 billion ($1.1 billion) in order to invest in infrastructure projects in the early stages of implementation. The role of this fund will be to catalyse other sources of equity fund investment in the projects.

Along with setting Mr. Kapil Malhotra up the equity fund, the Business Development - Europe, government also plans Abellon Clean Energy to amend the Gujarat Limited Infrastructure Development Act, 1999 to appoint developers through direct Mr. Sahil Shah negotiations for specifManager, Business Development – UK ic projects instead of Abellon Clean Energy taking the competitive Limited tender route that existed previously.

Identifying land acquisition as one of Ms. Milina Bose the main hurdles in Vice President, delaying infrastructure Global Marketting and Business projects, the report Development proposes to amend Claris Lifesciences regulatory acts to Ltd. ensure quick movement of projects.

Mr. Ranjit Parmar Pointing out that the Director, problem still remains Suzlon Group of Companies an emotional issue with farmers, the report admits: “Earlier, the opposition resulted Mr. Shaleen in delays in acquisition Sharma of individual land Managing Director, parcels, creating spaGujarat Gas Company and tial discontent. Now, Gujarat Gas entire groups of affectFinancial Services ed land owners come Ltd. together in highly organised resistance.”

Mr. Kalpesh Sheth This is the second Assistant General infrastructure vision Manager (Projects), report launched by the iNDEXTb government of Gujarat. It previously launched a report entiMr Sushil Handa tled Vision 2010, Chairman, which was the first The Fifth Veda holistic report on Entrepreneurs Gujarat’s infrastructure development plan.

Infrastructure in Gujarat 2020(BIG 2020) - the government said that it is seeking investments from the private sector across all areas in infrastructure.

According to the report, the government is considering an investment of INR118,091 billion ($2.5 trillion) across 19 infrastructure sectors within the state up to the year 2020.

The report says the “bulk of the funding (79

Key delegates present Mr. G Mohapatra IAS. Commissioner, Commercial Tax Govt. of Gujarat

Mr. Mahendra Patel Chairman and Managing Director, Mamata Group

Mr. Arpit J Vyas Whole-Time Director, Dishman Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals Ltd.

Mr. Suresh D. Patel Chairman, The Gujarat Institute of Housing & Estate Developers (GIHED), Chairman and Managing Director, Surya Group (Real Estate Developer Mr. Sandeep Save Director, Neptune Industries Ltd

Mr. S C Goyal Director (Projects), Alok Industries Limited

Immigrant cap hurting economy, says Cable Immigration limits are costing the UK thousands of jobs and hurting the country’s fragile economic recovery, Vince Cable said in his comments that lay bear tensions on the issue in the coalition.

“A lot of damage is being done to British industry,” the business secretary told the Financial Times on Thursday.

He claimed that companies were relocating jobs overseas in response to punitive caps that left them unable to hire key staff. “I’ve got a file full of examples. This is not just people whingeing,” he said.

The cap on nonEuropean Union workers was a manifesto pledge for David Cameron and

ing from outside the EU, leaving many companies able to recruit only a handful of non-European staff.

Mr Cable said he was fully signed up to the coalition’s plan for a permanent immigration cap but wanted it applied flexibly.

Companies say that the interim cap, launched in July Dr Vince Cable amid fears of a flood of visa applications proved popular with votahead of the introduction ers; it was reluctantly of a permanent limit next accepted by Lib Dems in April, was rushed in too the May coalition negotiaquickly and places dracontions. ian limits on hiring foreign Mr Cable’s complaints talent. reflect business anger at Their biggest comthe way the coalition has plaint centres on the way imposed an interim cap on border officials have calcuwork visas for people com-

lated how many work permits each company should have this year based on the number they used in 2009, although many companies were then locked in a recession-enforced hiring freeze.

Mr Cable said in one instance a UK company needed 500 specialist engineers but was given a quota of four. He spoke of an entrepreneur who ditched plans to open a factory and create 400 jobs in the north after failing to secure visas for key staff.

Mr Cable said that the temporary quota cap had been wrongly fixed at 2009 levels. “The economy is now recovering but companies can’t get access to the people they need.”

EDUCATION/COUNCIL

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Just imagine...

Just imagine, if as a child you woke up every morning and had nothing but chores to do, cooking and cleaning and walking long distances to fetch water.

Imagine if every time you felt ill and needed to see a doctor, you would have to walk 15km to the nearest healthcare centre and if you could not walk, had to be carried by people in your village. Imagine if you did not have the basics of a school,education or clean water.

This unimaginable scenario is reality for millions of children and adults in India. In Uttar Pradesh, Oxfam has helped set up schools which ensure that this does not happen.

Oxfam has been running four rural girls schools since 2001 in Ghazipur and Mirzapur districts, and supporting 50 education centres in urban slums since 2007.

However unless the schools r e c e i v e money to continue, many girls may have to face a future without an education.

Ever y child should have the basics of education, to learn and to build their confidence and

ensure a successful future. Nobody should have to go without clean water or essential healthcare. Basic healthcare services have been set up in these schools and education projects to provide care for both adults and children.

The schools are making a real difference to childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives and having a place for them to learn and interact with other children, is building confidence. The smiles

Jonaid Jilani

love their school to bits to the extent that even on weekends they often get together and walk these distances to the school â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to use the swings etc - as there are no other places for them to play otherwise,â&#x20AC;?said Sheeba Harma who recently visited the projects.

Oxfam is asking the UK community to provide as much support and donate as much as they can to help ensure that these schools and education projects can stay open. Collectively we can make a huge difference to these children's lives.

Please visit www.oxfam.org.uk/uttarp radesh or call 0300 200 1242.

On the 30 T H September in We m b l e y, Oxfam will be the chosen charity at the 10 th Asian Achievers Awards and will be raising money to ensure that these projects continue.

and laughter in the classrooms reflect this.

"The most inspiring fact I noticed at the school was that the confidence level of the girls

were very high and communication is extremely good. Each one of them

For more information about Oxfam and its India project or to donate please call 0300 200 1242

Fee rise 'will not stop demand for university places' Increasing tuition fees even to ÂŁ10,000 per year would not significantly reduce applications for university in England, say researchers.

But the University of Leicester study suggests poorer students would be more likely to be put off from applying.

The research involving 730 sixth formers also found new universities would be the most likely to lose applicants as a result of higher fees.

Next month Lord Browne will deliver his report on university funding.

University applications have risen sharply in recent years - and this study provides a detailed analysis of how any increase in fees proposed by the Browne Review might change the appetite for degree courses.

This in-depth study suggests that the demand for university places is going to remain strong with 90% of would-be applicants saying they would not be put off by

fees of ÂŁ10,000 per year.

"Despite the prospect of fees more than doubling, most would-be stu-

dents would still seek to attend university," says the study.

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Tour of Britain races into Newham World class cyclists rolled into the borough over the weekend as the final stage of the prestigious Tour of Britain came to Newham.

Almost one hundred cyclists hurtled along at speeds of up to 50mph around a 12km circuit which started outside Newham Dockside in Beckton.

The race was won by Andre Greipel, of Team HTC Columbia in 1 hour 57 mins 07 secs and overall stage winner was Michael Albasini, also of Team HTC â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Columbia.

Prior to the professionalsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; race, residents joined the BBC EastEndersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; star Rudolph Walker, who plays Patrick Trueman, to cycle most of the route themselves as part of The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride.

Young Mayor Kaycee de Belen also took part alongside hundreds of

Newham residents.

Newham Mayor Sir Robin Wales said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The event was a huge success and it was great to see so many stars from the world of cycling rolling into the borough. Newham is already the first choice for a number of top sports competitions and, as the main host borough for the Olympics, will welcome athletes from all over the world in 2012. We want to use these sporting events to inspire our residents to lead more active and healthier lives. It was good to see so many of them supporting the professional cyclists and also getting on their bikes to take part in the tour ride.â&#x20AC;?

The race itself, which in the past has uncovered stars such as future Olympic hopeful and Tour de France competitor Mark Cavendish, snaked around Royal Albert Dock,

with participants taking in sights including the ExCeL Exhibition Centre and the O2.

The Transport for London (TfL) route then ran along the Lower Lea Crossing before heading back towards London City Airport and the finishing line.

The race was accompanied by the Newham London Waterfront Festival, a fantastic celebration of fine food, music and entertainment which was organised by Newham Council and attended by 17,000 people.

The festival at Royal Victoria Dock by ExCel combined the finest local foods as well as a live music line up fresh from the stages of Glastonbury.

It included some of the best international street theatre performers, including stilt walking pirates and breathtaking juggling.

Council to reduce parking zone subsidy Ealing Council has decided to greatly reduce its subsidy of residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) permits.

The council currently pays around ÂŁ750,000 each year towards running the zones. Because of the expected massive reduction in future funding from the Government, the council has decided it is no longer in a position to provide so great a subsidy

and those with CPZ permits must pay more towards the cost themselves.

The charges will take effect from 1 January 2011 and incorporate the increase in VAT next year.

The cost of a permit will increase from ÂŁ25 to ÂŁ40 a year for zones that are in operation two hours a day, and from ÂŁ45 to ÂŁ75 for those that are in operation all day. The charges

are still significantly less than many other London boroughs and the council has decided against making permits more expensive if a household has more than one vehicle. A 50% reduction will be introduced for those with electric vehicles.

To make life easier for motorists the council will introduce telephone payment in all its car parks and on street parking.

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Scrutator’s India's National Innovation Council, which was set up a few weeks ago and is headed by Sam Pitroda, has got off to a flying start, according to The Hindu newspaper (September 10).

The first meeting of the Council decided to raise Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion, roughly $3 billion) as seed capital for innovation projects. Its money will come from the government and the private sector. Mr Pitroda said the fund should be up and running within six months. It will be used to finance a whole range of research activities, with focus on things that affected people “at the bottom of the pyramid. The rich can find the resources to satisfy their needs. It is the poor who need support,”said Mr Pitroda. The Council has set up a website [www.innovationcouncil.gov.in]. Its 17-member panel includes former space chief K.Kasturirangan, Planning Commission's Arun Maira, former Director- General of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) R.A.Mashelkar, former head of the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom), Kiran Karnik, Executive Director of Tata Sons R.Gopalakrishnan, Biocon Chairperson Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CSIR Director-General Samir Brahmachari, Confederation of Indian Industry Chandrajit Banerjee

Tihar brand Anjli Raval's Financial Times report (September 15) on the products manufactured in Delhi's Tihar Jail, “wants to become as recognised for its 'TJ's' brand of furniture, snacks, bakery products and clothes as for some of its infamous inmates.” Ms Raval continues: “The jail this year started distributing its products through local retail outlets in New Delhi.

Now [Tihar] is looking to extend its reach to other parts of the country as well as overseas by selling products online....Sunil Gupta, the Tihar Jail law officer, says it will be open for online shopping 'within a month'....The jail's website will sell products including wooden furniture, handicrafts, pottery, bread, cakes and savoury snacks....potato chips, biscuits...” Sales have been huge in every one of these items. TJ's

decline in food prices, had reduced India's overall inflation.

He says, “The deceleration was largely due to lower food prices as monsoon rains supported crop yields. Food inflation slowed to 10.6 per cent from 13.6 per cent in July. Non-food inflation decelerated to 7.7 per cent from 8.4 per cent in July.

“The Reserve Bank of India is expected to raise rates for the fifth time this year as it unwinds an ultra-loose monetary policy adopted to weather the global financial crisis and seeks to bring inflation closer to 6 per cent. The bank has been cautiously raising rates to minimise the impact on economic growth, which rose 8.8 per cent last quarter, the fastest pace since 2007.”

A Hindu news item (September 11) noted that industrial production doubled to 13.7 per cent in July, with capital goods, used by manufacturing

Tihar Jail in Delhi

products alone have brought in revenue of Rs115 million ($2.5 million).

She concludes: “Tihar was subject to reforms in the early 1990s after Kiran Bedi, India's highest-ranking woman police officer, condemned the subhuman living conditions. Emphasis was put on teaching inmates trades such as printing, tailoring and book binding and providing high-tech vocational training.”

Tihar jail, with 12,000 inmates, is the largest in South Asia.

Inflation declines In an adjacent column James Fontanella Khan reports that an abundant monsoon, leading to a

industry, soaring to 63 per cent.

The manufacturing sector grew by 15 per cent in July against 7.4 per cent a year ago.

Coal India listing A Joe Leahy-Amy Kazmin report in the Financial Times (September 13) said Coal India was poised to begin a roadshow to promote what is expected to be India's biggest stock listing.

Coal India hopes to raise up to Rs150 billion ($3.2bn) by the sale of a 10 per cent stake. That would make its initial public offering bigger than India's largest completed listing, the $3 billion offering of the domestic electric producer Reliance Power in early 2008.

The offering is part of government plans to raise $8.6 billion by stake sales in the fiscal year to March 2012.

Coal India claims to be the world's largest coal producer and accounts for 85 per cent of production in India, which has the fourth largest reserves on the globe. Environmental considerations and the Maoist insurgency had limited coal production in India. The industry was hoping to persuade Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to revise the ban on production in certain eastern areas of the country on environmental considerations.

There was hope that a consensus could be reached on the issue in the foreseeable future.

Top card The FT Monday interview by Suzanne Kapner (September 13) was conducted with Ajay Banga, Chief Executive, MasterCard. She starts: “Not many corporate chiefs would admit to having cleaned bathrooms as part of their training, but Ajay Banga, chief executive of MasterCard, is not your typical business leader.”

Ajay Banga

Cleaning bathrooms, which he did in the 1990s while opening Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut restaurants in India for PepsiCo, “made me very valuable to my wife. I'm called the bathroom fairy,” says Mr Banga.

Ms Kapner: “The willingness to poke fun at himself extends to his appearance. As a Sikh, Mr Banga, 50, wears a turban and has a full beard, making for a striking contrast with Robert Sekander, his predecessor and vice-chairman.”

Mr Banga: “Bob and I joke about it all the time.” But this Delhi University graduate (St Stephen's College) and Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, MBA, is something of a business whizzkid, having risen from the ranks with PepsiCo to dizzying heights with MasterCard via Citibank. He has been a shaker and mover at MasterCard. “He operates on Ajay time, which is 10 times faster than everyone else,” says Josh Peirez, the head of MasterCard's business development unit. To speed up decisionmaking, Mr Banga has given lower-level employees more authority to negotiate contracts and has created a new division to this end.

Suzanne Kapner again: “The company processes more than

Madras Institutes of Technology

22 billion transactions a year, at the speed of 140 milliseconds each, faster than the blink of an eye.” Phew!

Specialists on China The Times of India (September 16) reported an Indian government decision to farm out specialisms on neighbouring countries to academic centres of excellence within the country.

These centres are the Institutes of Technology (IITs), with each IIT free to make its country of choice. The purpose is to weigh the knowledge and analyses for geo-political purposes and to formulate policy that is well informed and credible.

The concept of such centres has been inspired by the West.

Asia's present surge has prompted a number of American and British universities to establish departments to scrutinise developments in China and India.

Experts believe that these centres of expertise can be watchdogs as well as catalytic agents in bilateral relationships.

IIT Madras has chosen China as its field of research.

Sun Tzu, the ancient Chinese sage, observed two millennia ago: “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the results of a hundred battles.”

India-Russia aircraft A Hindu report (September 11) tells of a joint decision by India and Russia to move ahead with their plan to design and develop a Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA). The two countries signed a shareholders agreement to set up a joint venture company.

The Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Russia's United Aircraft Corporation and the Rosoboronexport will form the company, India's Defence Ministry announced. The MTA's main features will be: take-off weight 65 tonnes, payload capacity 15-20 tonnes, cruise speed 800 kmph, range 2,500-2,700 km and service ceiling: 12km. It will have two engines, state-of-the-art features such as fly-by-wire, full authority digital engine control, modern avionics and glass cockpit. The development is estimated to cost $600-700 million, to be shared equally by both sides.

Outsourcing maths teaching The Times Education Supplement (September 10) published a front-page lead story

by Richard Vaughan, highlighting the outsourcing of maths teaching to India by a north London primary school.

Visionary X-ray man The Daily Telegraph (August 31) profiled 37-year-old Calcuttaborn physics doctorate Arnab Basu, the chief executive Kromek, which has developed X-ray technology that could help lift the ban on liquids at airports, believes his can be a standardbearer for research-based companies.

Hoping to capitalise on the EU's plan to remove the ban on passengers carrying liquids through airports in April next year. This will require require operators to scan, so the Sedgefield firm has developed bottle scanners that can distinguish explosives, drugs sand alcohol from innocuous liquids.

The Kronek scanners have outperformed its competitors.

Mr Basu expects his scanners to be on the market in time for next April's EU legislative change, costing “less than £50,000” each. He hopes to hit the big-time in the security field with a spillover in to medical Xrays.

Indian maths tutors teach UK pupils via the web

“Ashmount Primary in Islington is running a pilot with half of its Year 6 pupils, providing them with one-to-one tuition using teachers based more than 4,000 miles away on the subcontinent – and now the school is planning to expand it to other pupils and year groups.” The service is being rolled out around the country and, predicted Dylan William, director of London University's Institute of Education, it could become mainstream.

Rebecca Stacey, assistant headteacher expressed satisfaction with the experiment, saying that she had detected a marked improvement in the performance of pupils. Catch 'em young.

13

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

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ART & CULTURE

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Madame Tussauds London announces first ever Diwali weekend

By Spriha Srivastava

One-on-one with Aamir Khan When I was asked to interview Aamir Khan at last minute I knew that I could cancel everything for this. He is definitely one actor I have waited for a long time to interview. And meeting him in real life was a truly amazing experience.

An absolutely down to earth person with an everlasting smile on his face, Aamir is truly the favourite of many.

In his cosy suite at Crowne Plaza Hotel, he discussed about his latest film Peepli Live and many more interesting issues.

SS: So tell us a bit about your film “Peepli Live” AK: Well Peepli is a film which is a satire on how we are as a society today. It’s a satire on the political scene, the media, and the bureaucracy and so on. And so it is a humorous look at how we are. And it’s a story about these two farmers, two marginal farmers who are about to lose their lands because they cannot pay their loan and then they hear of this government programme that says any farmer committing suicide, his family gets a compensation of one lakh rupees which is roughly 2000 USD. So the elder brother sets up the younger brother and he kind of cons him into agreeing to commit suicide. And the younger brother doesn’t really want to but he finds himself in this situation where he has to. And so there’s election happening in this village and the media gets a hint of this and all hell breaks loose in this small village. And there is chaos, a circus erupts and how things work out. This is what the film is about.

SS: What inspired you to make this film?

AK: I loved the script.

I thought Anusha wrote a wonderful script. She has written some really vibrant characters. And so it’s funny but it’s also quite heartbreaking and sensitising for someone like me who has lived all his life in a city. But what the film is really pointing out is that as a society we tend to focus all our energies, our resources, our wealth towards the city and in the process the villages get ignored. And rural India is where

majority of our population lives. And so there is a big unequal sharing of resources happening.

That is really the theme of the film.

SS: Very close to the theme you discussed, is what is happening

quite a slice of a life film.

SS: What do you prefer more? Acting or making movies?

AK: Well I have to say I prefer acting. Acting is my first love and I enjoy doing this the most. I am not really a producer, in

Aamir Khan being interviewed by Spriha

presently in India in the context of Commonwealth Games where large amount of money has been spent on organising an event whereas the poor population is ignored?

AK: Well what I have read about is only through the press reports and television reports on what’s happening and if what’s happening is true then it is really sad. And it will be quite a shame if things don’t go off well after all this. So I am keeping my fingers crossed that things go alright.

SS: And your next venture is Dhobi Ghaat which has been scripted

by Kiran and I read somewhere that initially you were a bit nervous about reading it?

AK: Well, I was nervous. What if I didn’t like it? But she has written a great script and I really loved it. I think she has made a very fine film.

Again like Peepli Live is a film that’s quite unusual for Indian cinema, Dhobi Ghaat too is a very unusual film for Indian cinema. And I think it’s great to see young film makers coming in with their own voices and their own thoughts.

SS: Can you tell us a bit about the film?

AK: Well, it’s a film about four characters and the city of Bombay and how their lives touch each other and how they affect each other. And the city actually is the fifth character in the film, you know, how the city affects all of us who live in it and how we affect the city and contribute to it in so any ways. So, it’s

the sense that my production company has made four films in ten years.

That’s not a very high rate of films. So I don’t really see myself as a producer. I am more of an actor but when I come across something that I find exciting, I produce it. So, I don’t do it as like a business.

SS: What about your future projects?

AK: Well I haven’t decided yet. In fact once I go back there are lot of scripts waiting for me. So I will start reading them and then let’s see what excites me.

SS: So is it going to be one film a year?

AK: Well I do one film at a time. So that would still be the case. I would do one at a time.

SS: And apart from films, you are also involved in a number of causes. Can you tell us a bit about that?

AK: Well I am involved with a number of social causes and I try and devote as much time as I can to various campaigns that I am part of back home in India.

SS: Anything specific that you want to mention?

AK: Well, there are number of them. I am ambassador for sanitation in schools in India. I am also currently working on a campaign that is on prevention of suicides.

I am also doing work for RTI and I did a campaign last year for ADR that stands for Association for Democratic Reform. I also recently went to Leh because there were these floods so to raise funds for that.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

London’s world famous Madame Tussauds has announced it will be marking one of South Asia’s most colourful and popularly celebrated festivals, as it launches its first ever Diwali Weekend on 16th and 17th of October 2010.

Guests visiting the Diwali Weekend at Madame Tussauds will enjoy some of the authentic musical traditions of India, including sitar, flute and tabla players as well as traditional dance performed by accomplished classical musicians. And to make the Diwali celebration even more complete, there will be a wide range of delicious Indian mithai’s (sweets) being sold at the Indian sweets hut. The one-weekendonly event will be hosted in the popular ‘World Stage’ area and will join Indian wax figures of Bollywood superstars Shahrukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Amitabh Bachan and Salman Khan.

Diwali, the Indian celebration popularly known as ‘Festival of

Lights’ is celebrated by 1 million British Asians as well as Hindus, Sikhs and Jains across the globe. Diwali commemorates the triumph of good over evil and ushers in the Hindu New Year. It is celebrated with the coming together of families who share music, food and gifts.

Visitors to the Diwali event will also be able to enjoy all the attractions Madame Tussauds has to offer including the brand new Marvel Super

Heroes 4D. Liz Edwards, PR Manager at Madame Tussauds, said, “Celebrating Diwali at Madame Tussauds on the 16th and 17th October is a tribute to the growing number of South Asian visitors from the UK and abroad who enjoy the attraction and come back year after year to experience it. We also look forward to all our other international guests experiencing a snapshot of multicultural Britain.”

Pakistani rock star Salman Ahmad hosts community cricket tournament against terrorism Pakistani rock star, Salman Ahmad from Junoon, joined the cricketing community of east London at the weekend to celebrate the flagship Not In My Game cricket tournament. The special 20 / 20 style community cricket tournament was one of hundreds of community cricket games, held across the country over the summer, to support the campaign which sends out a clear message; terrorism has no place in sport.

Salman joined 11 teams from across London, even taking part with one team to make up their numbers, to back the Not In My Game campaign. The campaign has been running throughout the summer at a crucial time for cricket, when Pakistan’s 2010 home series has been forced to play in the UK due to the terrorist attacks against the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2009. Over a thousand people have already signed the campaign pledge at www.notinmygame.com.

This free event was held in Canary Wharf, and over 150 players took part to compete for some of the great prizes on offer. The Wanstead Royals, took home the Not In My

Game trophy, signed cricket bats and tickets to the One Day International between England vs Pakistan at Lords on Monday 20 September.

Commenting on the campaign and the flagship community event, Salman Ahmad said:

the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team shocked me greatly, as it did cricket fans around the world. Terrorists attack indiscriminately and their actions affect us all. We will not let them ruin our love of the game and we urge everyone to take a

“It is great that so many local Londoners joined me this weekend to take part in the Not In My Game cricket tournament in London – it was a great day out and the standard of cricket was very impressive. Sport, like music, unites the world. It brings us together and gives us all something to celebrate.

My real "junoon" or passion is raising awareness of some of the most important social and political issues of our time. As a former professional cricketer and a cricket fan,

stand with us. Go online now and sign the petition a t www.notinmygame.com.”

The Not in My Game campaign is being led by Sport for Life! and Radical Middle Way, two grassroots charities who will bring together cricket fans from communities across the UK. In addition to encouraging people to sign the pledge in defiance of terrorism, the groups have been organising community cricket matches across towns and cities in the UK.

Travel & Life styLe

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010 Patola silk is often termed as the queen of all silks. Patola sarees of Gujarat are one of the finest hand-woven sarees produced in India . The place associated with Patola is Patan.

Here, exquisite patterns are woven on sarees with great precision.

Besides Patan, Surat is known for pato-

The tale of

Patola la patterns on velvets. Patola silk has an exciting history. Historians believe the Patola makers originally hail from Jhalna near Aurangabad in South India and migrated to Patan in the 12th century.

Kings of the Solanki dynasty used to wear this fabric on religious occasions. The kings of Jhalna never allowed fresh Patolas to be exported out of their state.

This agitated Kumarpal, a Solanki ruler, who invaded Jhalna and brought about 700 Salvi families. There are just three families left. Possessing a patola sarees became a status symbol with Gujarati girls and women. It became an integral part of the wedding ceremonies in t h e region. The art of weaving Patola sarees is the most complex and meticulous job in this world. The exquisite textiles designs of the fabric are unique and simply amazing. In Patan, the Patola is done in ikkat style. This is a tedious process, which takes days of hard work.

Each Patola fabric is lined with a number of twisted threads. There is also a single weft thread, which binds the twisted threads together. Each twisted thread is tied and dyed according to the pattern of the saree. It is done in a manner so that

the knotted portions of the thread do not catch color. This adds to the vibrance of the colors of the fabric. Apart from this, this makes the sarees look alike from both the sides and can be worn either ways. This is a unique feature of the Patola sarees. The weaving of these exclusive pieces is done in the traditional handlooms. Hard skilled labour and long time taken for making Patola, make it bit costlier. Cost is depending on design pattern. One sari under normal use lasts for 80-100 years. It is, therefore, considered as an ornament and a priceless dignity.

The colors used in this process are dyes made from vegetable extracts and other natural colors. These colors are so fast that there is a popular Gujarati saying about the Patola sarees that the Patola may tear, but the color will not fade. The average time taken in creating a Patola marvel is usually 4 to 6 months, depending on the complexity of the pattern and design. These affluent sarees are thus, priced accordingly. The specialty of Patan patola is fine intricate patterns and typical geometric designs, with soft hazy outlines. This is the natural effect produced by the technique.

Originally, patola was woven in four distinct styles by the Salvi community. For Jains and Hindus, it was done in double ikkat style with all over patterns of flowers, parrots, dancing figures and elephants. For the Muslim Vora community, wedding sarees were woven with geometric and floral designs.

For Maharashtrian Brahmins, Nari Kunj sarees of plain, dark-color body and borders, with women and birds, were woven.

15

Lastly, there were exclusive sarees woven for the traditional export markets in the Far East. Chemical colours were not invented, colours were made from different plants. Among these natural colours, Wax, Indigo, Pomegranate bark, Katho, Majith, Kapilo, Alum, Kirmaj, Harsingar, Bojgar, Iron rust, Logware, Turmerik etc.

Nowadays, Chemical dyes and colours are in great use. However, those who insist for natural colours Patolas are made to order for customer's satisfaction.

Patola Saree also available in Vegetable colours & Cosmetic colours. This color process is much accurate that the needed combination is matched when waving is done. This is the main trait of Ptola.

The process of doing color separately to war and weft is called as Double lkat in English.In the system of Double lkat patanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s comes at the lop in the whole world because patola sari measured 5.5 meters long and 48 inch wide Coloring and design pattern developed on both sides of handloom cloth is unique and not known to have made anywhere in the world except patan.

Another main feature of Patola is, in the whole work of waving patola, measurement tap used is different than conventional tap. It is a tap, can measure 100th part of an inch ,which is not possible with common measurement tap. With invention of computers, ifs possible to measure such measurement, but the tap used for calculations of measurement in patola is used thousand years before invention of computers. In Bali islands and Japan work on Double Ikat is done but not made on huge size of patolu sari cloth. That is why, people from all over world visit patan and appreciate this unique craft. In to-days' computer age, this kind of workmanship can not be developed on computer.It has to be made manually. Textile industry can not take up this work. Students from textile industry of other countries are still looking into option of whether this art can be replicated by machines.

" #$# (&%( %'((

!

www.incredibleindia.org

Bollywood

16 Asian Voice Saturday 25th September 2010

New man in Meera Vasudevan’s life Meera Vasudevan, who divorced Vishal Agarwal, still cares for her ex-husband. “We are not in touch anymore. But I wish him all the best in his life. He is a nice guy”, the model-turnedactress says.

On Mollywood actor John Kokken, the new man in her life, Meera says, “He was a friend initially. But gradually we fell in love with each other. My life has become beautiful and wonderful now”.

She adds: “John is very caring and he is always there to motivate me. He would always say I have immense talent and I could do wonders by concentrating in my career. His words energise me like anything”.

Describing John Kokken as the perfect guy for her, Meera says she has found a great guide and mentor in him.

“He was there for me when I went through troubled phases in life.

He made me feel that life is beautiful”. She is currently busy with two projects- ‘Aattanayagan’ and ‘ T h a s a i y i n a i Theechudinum’.

Srikanth smiles bright Srikanth is happy that ‘Drohi’ has brought him back to limelight.

“It was a challenging role for me. People have seen me a suave urban hero in my earlier films,” he says.

The actor adds: “Hence to get under the skin of the character (a Royapuram youth), I struggled a lot. I had to reduce over 10 kgs and tan myself. All credits should go to director Sudha Prasad who managed to get the best out of me and my colleague Vishnu”.

On his experiences shooting for the movie, he says, “I would go to Royapuram early in the morning and watch peo-

ple at very close quarters. All became friends with me there. Also we did enough rehearsals, that came handy when we shot”.

Produced by Mano Akkineni, ‘Drohi’ is about two youngsters (Srikanth and Vishnu) who are brought up in Royapuram slums. What happens when the two friends become enemies is what the movie is all about.

I didn’t say ‘No’ to Sridevi: Asin Denying recent media reports that she refused an offer from Bollywood couple Sridevi and Boney Kapoor citing date issues, South Indian actress Asin said it’s impossible for her to say no to the senior actress and her filmmaker husband Boney Kapoor.

“I share a great personal relationship with Sridevi and her entire family. I was shooting in Chennai when I heard about the report that said that Boney Kapoor had approached me with a film and I refused it.

That’s just impossible,” Asin said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Boney

Kapoor said: “We are working on scripts of Be Positive (the sequel to No Entry) and Mr. India 2. I am not someone who will approach actors with an incomplete script; let the script get completed first, then I will announce the star cast.”

Bipasha goes glamourless for ‘Aakrosh’ Bipasha Basu is upbeat about her new film “Aakrosh,” which after “Lamhaa,” once again projects her in a ‘deglam’ avatar. “In Lamhaa (her last film) I was allowed to wear kajal (kohl), I wear absolutely no make-up in ‘Aakrosh.’ Rocky (designer Rocky S) got me cotton saris from Kolkata and Priyadarshan (the film’s director) would mess up my hair on the sets,” reminisces the actor.

“My character is trapped in an unhappy, abusive marriage and the sadness is reflected in her persona. It was a dismal role to play but an eye-opener too.”

The film touches on the subject of caste politics and honour killings and, as Basu points out, these are just incidents you read about in the papers everyday. “They don’t become real till you do a film like Aakrosh,” she reasons. “It’s a no-brainer for me and our legal system needs to wake up and pass stringent laws to rule out these feudal ‘khap panchayats’,” she asserts.

The intentions are hon-

ourable but “Lamhaa’s” commercial failure reinforces the fact that there are few takers for such realistic films. Basu acknowledges this and admits that after the TV premiere of ‘Lamhaa,’ she’s been inundated with compliments.

“The response made me feel successful as an actor but it’s unfortunate that some of these same people didn’t go to watch the film in the

theatres,” she says.

Her experience with Lamhaa has made her realise that films that tackle social issues need to have tighter budgets. “If Lamhaa had been made for the price of an Udaan or a Tere Bin Laden, it would have been a hit,” she argues.

That’s why Basu has now decided to take a pay cut on socially relevant films to make them commercially viable. “That’s the only way they can work,” she asserts, admitting that she hasn’t done Aakrosh for free since it came to her much earlier. “But I will reduce my price for similar films that follow.”

In an effort to bring in social change, Basu had announced an NGO for Kashmiri orphans, in collaboration with her Lamhaa director, Rahul Dholakia, and co-star Sanjay Dutt. In retrospect, she says that it may be a little tough since an NGO takes months of paperwork to set up. “For now, Rahul is planning filmmaking workshops in the Kashmir Valley,” she says. “ And I’ve offered to help in whatever way I can.”

One of Bollywood's most legendary romances could well be rekindling.

Katrina Kaif, they say, has gone back to Salman Khan.

Not so long ago, both Katrina and Salman were shouting from the rooftops that they were single. "But not anymore. They have reconciled their differences and are back together as a couple," says a source.

One good indication of this patch-up is “Bodyguard,” Salman's sister Alvira's directorial debut, slated for Eid 2011, now a pretty auspicious date for the Khans given the stupendous success of “Dabangg.” Sources confirm that Katrina is slated to play the female lead.

Alvira always wanted Katrina for “Bodyguard,” but Sallu and Kat parted ways. In the interim, she approached Asin but it didn't work out. Salman, despite his 'split' with Katrina, has green-lit his sister's foray into direction, with Kat opposite him.

Alvira's husband, Atul Agnihotri, said, "To be frank, there's no one we'd like to see more

Supporting Actress award.

The super successful Hindi film “3 Idiots” bagged three awards Best Popular Film, Best Director and Best Producer.

Malayalam film 'Kutty Shrank' won the Best Film award.

Shyam Benegal's 'Well Done Abba' bagged the Best Film on Social Issues while Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's 'Dilli-6' won the award for Best Film on National Integration.

Farooq Sheikh bagged the Best Supporting Actor award for the film 'Lahore'.

Imran Khan wants you to adopt stray dogs!

Imran Khan recently shot for an ad for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) urging people to adopt stray dogs instead of buying pedigree pets.

The actor, who owns two pooches Kajri and Tony, was approached by PETA to do the ad. He readily agreed and even shot with his adopted dog, Tony.

A source close to Imran reveals how Tony became a part of his family, "During the release of Jaane Tu... Yaa Jaane Na, Imran's dog Kajri had gone for a walk and came back with another dog who followed her home. The Khans soon discovered that it was actually abandoned by the owners. So Imran decided to adopt him."

Friends of the actor add that he actually tries and urges them to adopt a pet rather than buying a pedigree. Khan misses his pets the most when he's shooting abroad.

17

Katrina, Salman back together

Big B wins National Award for ‘Paa’ Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan completed a hattrick winning his third Best Actor award at the 57th National Film Awards.

Ananya Chaterjee won the Best Actress award for 'Aabo Hawa' while Rituparno Ghosh has been adjudged Best Director. The awards were announced by head of the awards jury Ramesh Sippy last week.

Bachchan won the award for his role of a child suffering with a rare disorder progeria - in the film 'Paa'.

The actor has earlier won two National Awards, for 'Agneepath' and 'Hum'. 'Paa' also fetched veteran actress Arundhati Nag the Best

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

difficult time for Katrina; despite her alleged dalliances with some co-stars, she cuts a lonely figure in the corridors of tinsel town. Salman, after all, has truly nurtured her talent from her struggling days; it is a gratitude Kat can't seem to ignore.

Likewise, the split was never acrimonious, even by Sallu's turbulent standards: neither badmouthed the other. So much so, that Katrina even recently broke down when her broken relationship with Salman was probed into at a recently-held press conference.

From what we hear, Salman is equally happy to have Katrina back in his arms.

In fact, he now wants to settle down with Kat as the buzz goes. Says a source, "Salman's ego might not have allowed him to say so publicly, but he has invested nearly seven years in Katrina now. He may have had his share of flings, but he wants to marry Katrina eventually."

in this film than Katrina. The truth is that neither Salman nor her has any inhibitions about working with each other. In fact they are already doing a song for Farah Khan's film. This goes to show how thoroughly professional they both are.

We should be ready to make an official announcement about the casting in a couple of days. The only hitch may be Katrina's dates, which are still being worked out. We have already decided on an Eid release so everything is being worked backwards from this proposed release date.

We're trying to sort things out and are hoping for the best."

Is it love again for these two then?

Surely it's been a

Raima Sen don’t like to wear bikini Actress Raima Sen, who has made a name for herself in the Bengali film industry as well as Bollywood with her offbeat roles, says she is ready to sport a bikini on screen if she finds the script exceptionally g o o d .

Given a choice,

though, she would go for period films.

"I don't like to wear a bikini on screen. I thank god that till date I haven't got such roles where I need to wear a bikini because I don't think wearing one will add glamour to the role, " Raima, 30, said.

"But if a script comes to me and if it's really a very, very good script and the role demands, then it's okay wearing a bikini, " said the star of such films as "Chokher Bali" and "Parineeta".

Raima comes from an illustrious Bengali film family - her grandmother, legendary actress Suchitra Sen, was one of the most sought after in Bengali as well as Hindi movies.

And her mother Moon Moon Sen was a yester-

year sex symbol. Her sister Riya too is active in Hindi movies.

Best known in the industry for her innocent and girl-next-door looks, Raima's beauty has often been compared to that of her grandmother's.

"I feel honoured when people compare my looks with those of my grandmother, " she said.

Raima made her debut in the film industry with a small role in the critically acclaimed Hindi movie "Godmother" in 1999. But her acting skills were overshadowed by the presence of Shabana Azmi who was the main protagonist.

She is open to all kinds of roles and is very keen to feature in period films.

"I am open to all kinds of roles and if you ask me

Vidya to act in ‘Kill Bill’ remake

Sonam Kapoor gets a scolding from her father

Bollywood actress Vidya Balan is not in the rat race to become no. 1 in the industry, but she has her own niche and a selected number of fans too.

The actress has now impressed the director Sujoy Ghosh of “Jhankaar Beats” fame and the director has reportedly signed the talented actress in the lead role of his next film, which will be a remake of Hollywood flick “Kill Bill.”

Vidya will reprise the role played by Hollywood actress Uma Thurman. So, it will be yet another path breaking role for Vidya Balan, who has created history when she played mother to Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan in “Paa.” This will be a challenging role for Vidya as she was never seen performing bold stunts on screen earlier. The source said that it would be the first action film of Vidya, who is usually seen in romantic roles.

Veteran Bollywood star Anil Kapoor is known to be a strict father, who does not even spare his daughter when it comes to professionalism and punctuality.

There is a report that Sonam, who is shooting for Anees Bazmee's latest flick “Thank You” in Canada, has been reporting late on the sets for some time. The delay by the lead actress Sonam was creating problem for senior actors like Suniel Shetty and Irrfan Khan as they were on the sets at the scheduled time.

At last, Bazmee talked to Sonam's father actor Anil Kapoor about this.

Anil reportedly scolded his darling daughter for this unprofessional behav-

ior and the actress improved quickly. A source was quoted saying that even though Sonam was not doing it intentionally, it became problematic for rest of the cast and the crew.

However, Anees Bazmee did not admit the piece of news and laughed it away. The director said that Anil came to the sets of his movie when he was in Canada for some other work. Speaking about Sonam, Bazmee said that she was never unpunctual and he had no problem with the young actress.

about my dream role, then I will say it's period films. I would like to act if there is a remake of any period films," she said.

Raima has made a mark in the film industry in the last 10 years by doing roles of substance.

She was first critically acclaimed for her breathtaking performance in director Rituparno Ghosh's 2003 Bengali movie "Chokher Bali".

Her role in Pradeep Sarkar's 2005 movie "Parineeta" also won her rave reviews and later she wowed audiences with her performances in Bengali film "Anuranan" (2005) and Hindi movie, "Honeymoon Travels Pvt. Ltd" (2007).

When asked to describe herself as an artist, she said: "I am a spontaneous actress."

Anjaana Anjaani A romantic flick from the house of Nadiadwala, Anjaana Anjaani is the story of two youngsters who meet as strangers and go together for long, yet almost decide to part ways as strangers. But as fate would have it, the story ends differently.

You can meet someone in the most mundane of circumstances or in the most exotic ones. Akash and Kiara meet. But they meet in a situation as unusual as no other.

But what if the two people who meet as strangers want to stay that way? They want to end right where they started – as strangers.

This is the story of two strangers on an odyssey of discovery – down a path that is ridden with the exquisite pain and joy of falling in love, only they don't realize it.

A series of hilarious misadventures trace their bi coastal road journey as they go about fulfilling their last wishes. But then life interrupts, as is its habit; and painful choices must be made. The duo part with the understanding that their days together were a brief interlude of insanity that had to succumb to real life.

Produced by Sajid Nadiadwala under the banner of Nadiadwala Grandson Entertainment, the film is directed by Siddharth Raj Anand.

The lead cast consists of Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra, Zayed Khan and Anupam Kher.

Neelesh Misra, Vishal Dadlani, Shekhar Ravjiani, Amitabh Bhattacharya, Anvita Dutt Guptan, Caralisa Monteiro, Kumaar, Irshad Kamil and Kausar Munir have penned the lyrics, while Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani have scored the music.

Nikhil D'Souza, Monali, Lucky Ali, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, Shekhar Ravjiani, Caralisa Monteiro, Mohit Chauhan, Shruti Pathak, Vishal Dadlani and Shilpa Rao have rendered the playback.

New Hindi movies releasing this week Anjaana Anjaani

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week No. 1 2 3 4 5

Film Last Week Total Weeks Dabangg New 1 We Are Family 1 2 Lafangey Parindey 3 4 Peepli [Live] 4 5 Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 5 7

I’m almost 90% blind, says Shruti Haasan Shruti Haasan may be seen as fit as a fiddle but she confesses her eyesight is extremely weak and that she heavily depends on spectacles and contact lenses for her vision.

"I'm almost ninety per cent blind without my glasses. I can't see something that is two cms away from me, " the 24-year- old posted on her Twitter page.

"Usually I never wish people because I don't see them and then of course the apologies and the sorrys and the how are yous flow freely, " she added.

Shruti, daughter of veteran actors Kamal Haasan and Sarika, had a bad day last week thanks to her weak eyesight. "Yesterday I wished the wrong person! Also walked into a glass

door! Everything was a massive blur not a nice feeling at all!! Long live contacts and glasses, " she posted.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice

Worried about the Tax Man

Dear Financial Voice Reader, If you’ve been caught by surprise by the recent strength of the stock market, then before you get carried away I thought I would give you my analysis of some longer term investments. These are selected by looking at their price trends over a longer period of several months.

Let’s start with the slightly smaller companies because they often move independently of the broader market so there is opportunity find stocks which are genuinely different and index beating. (Neither I nor connected persons to me have any positions in these, and nor will I or they have before or within one week of publication, if at all).

Findel: this has been declining for months. It used to be a very good stock and company and then fell off a cliff. Only recently has it started climbing back and now seems to have turned a corner. High risk.

Oxford Instruments: This has been climbing all year and has produced more great results. It remains not overly valued despite doubling this year in price and the returns come from recovering post recession.

Medium risk.

Photo-Me: The share price has been up and up since 2009. The risk is there could be a pause as the price moves sideways after such large moves up. At best has 25% upside to go by year end. High risk.

Volex: Another company with an uptrend in place for a year. Its up 200% in that time. Revenues have surged with the US recovery leaving the company undervalued given its share price to profitability per share. The company produces electronic and fibre optic cable assemblies and has facilities in Asia, Europe and Americas. Medium-high risk.

Dialight: This used to be one of my favourites before the credit crunch. And for a year its been busy doubling its share price. This manufactures of LEDs for the electronic industry has done well out of the recovery. Their products are used in cars to traffic lights.

Medium-high risk.

TT Electronics: Another one with a solid uptrend.

They make electronics for the automotive and telecoms industry and have bases including in low cost countries. Some brokers have raised it to a buy rating recently. The only problem is valuations are starting to look steep. Medium-high risk.

Moving to the broader market – the Sensex continues it rally. Incidentally worries about bubbles to one side , it’s interesting to note that Hindustan Copper, owned by the Govt, is planning a share sale to raise money to sell rocks. Yes rocks. When you can sell rocks, a market may be overvalued. That said the index is not too expensive given the earnings generated by the companies which compose the Sensex.

Some of the best performers year to date include Tata Motors (I do have a holding), ICICI, HDFC. Some of the big disapointers are Reliance and Tata Steel – because they did so well before now.

For the UK – the FTSE has turned positive and the price momentum suggests it may even hit 6000 by year end which would be a 10% rise.

You can follow me on Facebook with comments too.

Alpesh.patel@tradermind.com

Hotel price fixing scam under OFT scanner On a complaint by discount website Skoosh.com, watchdog OFT has launched investigations into the allegations of price fixing by budget hotel chains.

The website has told the Office of Fair Trading that hotel chains are putting pressure on them to offer rooms to customers at standard prices.

Dorian Harris of Skoosh said: “We were openly discounting and hotels would call and threaten legal action.

Either we’d have to raise prices or take the hotels

Anand Unalkat Tax Investigations Senior You have received income over the years which the tax authorities do not know about. The source of income could have arisen from rental properties, interest from offshore accounts, private cash jobs undertaken, cash diverted from a business not included in the books, etc.

Is there good reason to worry?

The thought of the taxman finding out frequently plays on your mind. This is a major concern especially when you read recent news items such as HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) stepping up their level of activity to crack down on “tax dodgers” and the authorities recently requesting 408 banks to provide contact details of those living in the UK who hold offshore accounts.

If you have undeclared income, it may only be a matter of time before the tax man comes knocking on your door with a huge tax bill to greet you with.

There is also a major risk that somebody will inform the tax authorities, maybe

the ex-wife or business partner, perhaps a former employee, a neighbour or someone that you have had a falling out with. If HMRC are notified of any potential offences, it is very likely that they will soon pounce. Before you know it you will have to endure the burden of a long-winded, costly and stressful tax enquiry with the possibility of criminal prosecution, depending on the seriousness of the case.

Is there a solution?

To much relief, HMRC are currently offering an amnesty where if a voluntary tax disclosure is made, favourable terms can be gained with a guarantee of immunity from prosecution, no matter the type of tax offence.

The financial incentives include a reduced disclosure for the past 10 years instead of the usual 20 years. Any undeclared income before this 10 year period will be completely ignored and you never have to worry about it again, no matter how significant the amounts may be. Furthermore, HMRC may only levy a 10% penalty compared to up to 10 times this figure if a voluntary disclosure is not made!

Am I eligible to use this amnesty?

So long as you hold, or have held, an offshore or overseas account which was not opened through a UK branch or agency, it is very likely that you could take advantage of the

amnesty. Even if you are currently (or were previously) under investigation by a local HMRC office, you will still be eligible.

To register for the terms of the amnesty, known as the “Liechtenstein Disclosure Facility”, there is a need to establish “relevant property” in Liechtenstein. This generally means a bank account will need to be opened in the principality, which we can easily facilitate. You do not have to have any previous link or tie with Liechtenstein.

I am not sure if I need to make a disclosure.

It may be the case that you do not even need to make a disclosure. For instance if your undeclared income solely came from interest earned from an offshore or overseas account, and you have not brought (remitted) any of the funds back to the UK, then a disclosure may not be required so long as you have a “non-UK domiciled” status.

Determining your domicile status is not straight-forward and if you claim, for instance, that your domicile status is Indian, HMRC would consider factors such as the assets that you hold in India, the ties you have with India and what your future intentions are. They will test this in great detail before being convinced of what your status is. You may wish to seek professional advice to determine what your domicile status is, which is an area that we can help with.

However, if you have

Families, pensioners to feel spending cut pinch

Child benefits may end early, winter fuel payments starting may be pushed back UK government, aiming to drastically cut spending is considering benefits to families and pensioners for possible savings.

Proposals are lowering the age of child benefits by three years.

This means families will continue to get the benefits scrapped as chil-

dren reach 16 instead of present 19 years of age.

Official sources say this move could help government save upto £3 billion a year.

Another proposal is to push back the winter fuel allowance benefits to pensioners. The proposal says the age at which this

should start can be pushed back to 70 against the present age of 60.

There are other proposals also, some suggest making the benefit system more complicated, but ministers are reportedly reluctant to agree to introduce means-testing for universal benefits.

Sean Wakeman

Tax Investigations Partner undeclared income arising in the UK, then a disclosure is likely to be necessary, no matter what your domicile status is.

Although the deadline to disclose under these terms is still some time away, you are strongly advised to do so at the earliest possible opportunity. If HMRC pounce first and open an enquiry, you may not be able to register for this amnesty.

Managing tax disclosures of this kind is a specialised area and Horwath Clark Whitehill LLP is one of a small number of firms who have 100% dedicated expertise in this field. If you require any assistance in making a tax disclosure, even if you feel you are not eligible for the terms of the amnesty but you want to make a voluntary tax disclosure to HMRC using other avenues, you may wish to telephone Sean Wakeman, partner, on 020 7842 7285 or Anand Unalkat on 020 7842 7143 for a free initial consultation. Alternatively, you can call our Disclosure Helpline on 020 7842 7200.

Elder Pharma of India to buy NeutraHealth

Elder Pharmaceuticals of India has announced plans to acquire NeutraHealth Plc of UK in a deal worth £9.80 million. Elder will be buying the UK entity through their wholly owned subsidiary based in Dubai.

Elder already holds 21.1% shares of NeutraHealth.

Lafarge now faces the red flag of environment in India Limestone mine, cement plant project in Himachal Pradesh blocked off our list.”

The OFT said the investigation had just started and it was too soon to say if the law was being broken or consumers were being ripped off.

Skoosh finds the best deals at trade-only wholesalers and passes on the savings to consumers.

French industrial group engaged in construction material production, Lafarge is now facing the red flag of environment in India as the environmental clearance to Lafarge’s limestone mining and cement plant in Himachal Pradesh is been blocked after a petition environmental groups was upheld by the appellate tribunal of the ministry of environ-

ment.

Vedanta group, an industrial house owned by a British Indian baron Anil Agarwal also had their environmental permission cancelled to bauxite mining in Orissa forests.

This is a definite signal of a tougher approach to environmental regulation of large industrial projects by the country.

Jairam Ramesh, India’s environment minister, has expressed a determination to enforce environmental and social protection laws more aggressively.

Lafarge wants to build an integrated, $187m plant and mine producing 3m tonnes of cement per year in Himachal Pradesh, a Himalayan state known for its scenery and horticulture.

The environment ministry approved the plan in June 2009, but opponents appealed against the decision to the NEAA. Expressing concern about the project’s impact on a wildlife sanctuary just 5km away, the tribunal concluded it was not “desirable” for the area.

Himachal is not Lafarge’s first difficulty in India.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

19

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

The Nal Safari Project Investment Summary You can invest from as little as £15,000 Growth has been 10% already in 3 months We anticipates growth of around 50% within 2 years The developer’s last project, Rituraj Palace, has gone up five fold in three years- we have actual proof of this from a purchase to sale of a plot which took place in Late December.

This project has over 90 homes built on the site as opposed to most plot only schemes. This encourages end user activity and therefore leads to an up lift in prices.

We can provide an exit strategy – through our office in the UK and in Ahmadabad.

This scheme and area has been chosen for its modest prices and strong future potential.

The Tato Nano Plant has now brought this region into the limelight. As Ahmadabad expands we are confident this area will become a centre of gravity, meaning it will act as a magnet for future investment.

The development has been approved by DHFL, one of the leading banks in India, and funding can be arranged from the UK.

My Personal Perspective When I first saw the site and met the developer, I liked the enthusiasm and passion he has for his own project. I knew from visiting past sites his construction work is good.

The aim of this scheme was not to only section plots, it would have been easier and the developer and the investors would no doubt make money. He wanted activity in this site.

He wanted families to come and use the facilities. Hence the Safari Scheme.

In all honesty I believed it was an excellent scheme, but I had reservation regarding the execution of the whole safari concept on to this huge barren piece of farmland. In short I could not see the vision he was seeing and I thought perhaps the finished product may look a little tacky. In much the same way many Indian movies do when they copy a western film or concept.

I am glad to say I was wrong and the finished product looks amazing. Only it looks too beautiful. One cannot help but get attached to it.

The site now has greenery, horses, geese, and lots of open space. It is now very difficult to simply treat it as an investment and cash in.

The area is still raw and will increase further in price. We would like to invite you to our coming seminars for this development and become our neighbor. Please call our office to register for the seminars.

T: +44 (0)203 384 5323 E: info@sowandreap.co.uk

Where will you get off?

Wembley Park or Baker St? The property we advertised last week has attracted a lot of interest and viewings will take place this week. We expect it to be under offer in a short period of time.

If you are still interested in this investment purchase please get back to us quickly. As a brief reminder, it is a freehold block in the heart of London, walking distance to Baker Street station. The property is currently used as a 10 bedroom HMO. The property is generating annual rentals of more than £63,000. In addition, there is planning permission granted for conversion of the property to be used as a single dwelling unit. The property has got an excellent growth potential in terms of capital growth and it is estimated that the price for this property will be worth £1.4m when it’s converted. We suggest a liquid cash investment of £500,000 to see this through to completion. Remember you can always have a pool of investors to purchase this property.

This week we shift to North London.

There we have an opportunity to purchase a two double bedroom flat in the up and coming area of Wembley.

Wembley is under rated bearing in mind We m b l e y Park station is only 2 stops away from Baker St station, and an 11 minute ride.

Wembley stadium is only 1 stop away from Marylebone station.

The area has come up tremendously with the regeneration plans for Wembley still yet to rise to their full height.

The interesting point with this flat is

the way it has been packaged.

The flat can be bought for £195,000 the two interesting points in this investment is it can be bought with only 15% deposit and comes with a two year rental guarantee.

Reception Room. The property is situated close to the junction of Greenhill Way, with shopping facilities found locally in Wembley. Fryent Country Park is close by and provides recreational facilities to the area.

548 Kings Drive, Wembley Middlesex, HA9 9JD The property comprises of a Reception Room, Two bedrooms, Kitchen and Bathroom/WC. It is a first floor flat forming part of a three storey block, well presented in reasonable decorative order with the benefit of a balcony off the

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

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

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

20

fInancIal voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Indian stockmarkets on an upswing Sensex scales 20,000 after 32 months; Nifty crosses 6000 mark Riding high on huge fund flows from Foreign Institutional Investors (FII), Indian stock markets continued the upswing that was witnessed last week.

The BSE Sensex broke the 20,000 points level early on Tuesday and ended just above the mark.

Previously, it was in

January 2008 that the index recorded that level.

The NSE Nifty also closed at more than 6000.

On Monday, the sensex had gained more than 300 points and 20,000 mark was well in sight.

The BSE index broke the level soon, ending the day with a gain of 95 points.

Nifty went up by 28 points to close at 6009.

Even the Wall Street had jumped on Monday, with the Dow adding 1.3% to 10,754 and Nasdaq gaining 1.7% to 2,356, while the Asian markets were steady.

The market breath was negative; Out of 3113 stocks traded on the BSE, there were 883 advancing stocks as against 2118 declines.

After Spielberg’s Dreamworks, now MGM looks to go to India Sahara India in talks with the famous Hollywood studio to help MGM pay back some debts

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Big Entertainment bought Dreamworks, the studios created by Steven Spielberg from Paramount last year.

Now, another famous Hollywood studio – MGM is likely to go the India way. Sahara India, the Indian corporate conglomerate is in talks to help MGM its way out of the huge debts in return for a share stake.

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or MGM is deep into debts worth $3.7 billion. Sahara India is reportedly prepared to help MGM pay up half of the debt and get

SpiceJet to fly to Nepal, Sri Lanka from October SpiceJet will become the second low cost carrier from India to fly beyond the Indian air space next month.

Air India Express, the budget arm of the national flag carrier, Air India is the other airline operating on international routes.

SpiceJet will start on foreign routes with the first flight to take off from New Delhi to Kathmandu in Nepal.

Flights to Colombo will follow after two days.

The airline has recently seen the change of ownership after founders sold a majority stake to media baron from Tamil Nadu, Kalanithi Maran.

He bought the stake from the Kansagaras, British business family of Indian origin.

The flight to Kathmandu will take off on 7th October and will be a six days a week operation.

Colombo route will be operated from Chennai and will be a daily flight.

SpiceJet completes five years of domestic operations this month — a mandatory requirement to launch international flights — has already got the government's nod to fly on two more routes, Male and Dhaka.

The low-cost carrier, which will induct seven more aircraft into its fleet this year, will use the new aircraft on international routes.

a substantial stake in return.

MGM owns famous films such as “Gone with the Wind”, the 007 James Bond series among others.

Both the sides did confirm the development, but declined any further details on the deal.

Sahara India are the sponsors of Indian hockey team. They had for long

been sponsors of the Indian cricket team too, but recently that changed and Sahara group won the Pune Warriors team in the cash rich and famous IPL – the T20 tournament of the BCCI. The group also had showed some interest in acquiring UK’s Liverpool Football Club, but later things didn’t materliase.

Anil Ambani’s Reliance Big Entertainment, Time Warner, Spyglass Entertainment and Lions Gate Entertainment also were among the interested groups for MGM.

Leadership Matters

For God’s Sake As I write the BBC website has just reported that Pope Benedict has now left the UK. The unprecedented media coverage of his visit is a testimony to the power of a man who has no significant army, no huge business or industry (some of you will disagree and say that Religion is the largest industry in the world), or any significant personal wealth. It is almost as if every single word, every gesture, every expression of the Pontiff has some significance attached to it.

Yet we live in a society wherein we are told that more and more people shunning organised religion.

Man has always travelled far and wide to ‘spread the message of God’ under the premise of helping others find salvation. Although history shows that has not always been the case, a fact acknowledged by Bishop Desmond Tutu when he said, “When the missionaries came to Africa they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened

India to have a Finnish Innovation Centre in Delhi New Delhi, the capital of India will have a Finnish Innovation Centre next year, Finland counsellor (economic and commercial Juha Pyykko said on Monday. He disclosed the decision of Finland government to the media at Chandigarh, on the sidelines of an interactive session organised by PHD chamber of commerce.

The Innovation Centre is aimed at showcasing innovations developed by Finnish companies in the fields of clean technology

in sectors like water purification, waste management, energy efficiency.

For Finland, it will be the third centre after China and California. In Asia, India is the fourth biggest trade partner for the European country after China, Japan and South Korea.

It enjoys a favourable balance of trade. Indian exports valued at 200 mn Euros in 2009, while Imports valued at 450 mn Euros.

Finland in collabora-

tion with India has also set up joint commissions to promote education and innovations in India.

Ministry of foreign affairs of Finland and ministry of commerce, India will look after these joint commissions, he said.

Finland this year signed economic cooperation agreement and double taxation avoidance treaty with India.

A memorandum of Understanding has also been inked with India on data security, he said.

ArcelorMittal to shift focus, smaller units is the new strategy for India ventures Land acquisition delays, protests by tribals and other issues have led to ArcelorMittal, the global steelmaker to change plans for setting up units in India. The group, headed by L N Mittal, the British Indian industrialist and known as steelking, has now decided that the group will now opt for smaller plants of 1.5 to 3 mn tones in India. The group also feels Karnataka is the state with least risk in implementation of proj-

ects as compared to Jharkhand and Orissa.

Aditya Mittal, group CFO and son of L N Mittal said last week, “For Karnataka greenfield project, land acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of this year. We are also expecting to get some mining leases in Karnataka”.

"Our strategy in India has changed. We are now on the ground selling branded steel. Our first domestic production is

expected by 2013," Mittal, who is also member of the group management board, told the conference simultaneously from here and New York. ArcelorMittal has a 34 per cent stake in Indian steel producer Uttam Galva and is a copromoter of the firm.

There were reports of a possible stake sale by steel company Ispat Industries to ArcelorMittal. Ispat is incidentally owned by L.N. Mittal's younger brothers Pramod and Vinod.

them we had the Bible and they had the land.”

We all have our own motives for doing the things we do, some honourable and some personal. But rather than trying to ascertain what the Pope’s motives were, there are actually many of leadership qualities which can be learned from religious leaders.

1.

Engagement – they make a point to reach out to people, not just by email or video conferencing. Its one thing to write, ‘I stand with you’, it is another to actually be there in person.

2.

Communication – every letter is answered, every phone call taken, every visitor met. Not always directly, but a response is always given, none are ignored. 3. Delegation – most religions have a clearly defined organisational structure with each level filled by a person who is given adequate authority to fulfil their roles. 4. Ethics – they observe their rules and principles and will not waiver from these to seek popularity. 5. Empathy – they understand that peo-

By Amit Patel

ple make mistakes and offer forgiveness and support to help people get back on their feet. 6.

They practice what they preach.

Many of the points I’ve listed are often discarded as being ‘soft’ or ‘impractical’. However, whether or not you are a leader, we all have the power to help those who seek it from us. If not for yourself, do it for God’s sake.

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Personal Development and Human Resource Management. He has delivered speeches on People Management and Development throughout Europe, North America, and Asia. To contact Amit, email him at amitpatelmail@gmail.com

Core Projects buys 2 US companies Indian company also looking at acquisitions in UK Core Projects and Technologies of India announced last week it has acquired two USA companies in a deal worth about $20 mn. Technical Systems Integrators LLC of Georgia as well as Keenan and Keenan Group of New York are both education solutions companies. A top Core Projects official also said

they are now looking to acquisitions in the UK market.

The two US companies have combined revenues of more than US$ 25 million.

Core Projects had mobilised about $75 million from the FCCB issue in May this year. The acquisitions were funded from these proceeds.

USA out of recession, officially 18 months of downturn ended in June 2009, says NBER

The US economy has finally come out of the longest recession since the World War II. The National Bureau of Economic Research announced earlier this week that recession ended in June, 2009. Dodgy mortgage investments by the Wall Street biggies triggered the sub-prime crisis, plunging the world into a downturn. For US economy, it lasted 18 months and caused job

losses for more than eight million Americans.

Despite economists' warnings of a double-dip recession, the bureau said the economy had recovered enough that any new slide would constitute a new recession. Unlike many countries where a recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of shrinking growth domestic product, in the United States it is determined by a sevenmember NBER panel.

Reserve Bank of India raises bank rates to tame inflation Concerned at the inflation levels, Reserve Bank of India earlier this week hiked key bank rates in a mid-quarterly review, the first ever carried out by the central bank. Repo rate was raised by 25

points to 6%, while reverse repo rate was raised by 50 points to 5%.

These rates are raised against the strong economic performance indicators. India’s GDP for the first quarter of 2010-

11 (April – June this year) recorded a growth rate of 8.8%, up by 2.8% as compared to 6% for the same period last year. Industrial output went by 6.6% in July, 2010. It went up to 13.8% this year against

6.2% in July 2009.

As a result of the rate hike, bankers feel loans will get costlier for borrowers.

Subir Gokarn, deputy governor at RBI has says, "The inflation rates that the economy is now experienc-

ing, both from the supply and the demand sides, are clearly a matter of great concern. It is incumbent on the government and the central bank to use all the means at their disposal to rein inflation."

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

21

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

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

A flight to quality as the recovery appears to faulter Last week gold prices rose to a record high of $1,283.25 an ounce as fears that the global recovery was beginning to slow, this coupled with rumours of the Federal Reserve Bank of America’s intention to increase quantitative easing measures in the United States, has once again encouraged investors to seriously consider the safe haven appeal of Gold Bullion.

Doubts about the recovery in the Eurozone seem to be a very real threat to stability in the currency markets and several releases of recent economic data have been worse than expected both in Europe and Stateside, have started murmurs about the double- dip recession, resulting in nervous equity and foreign exchange markets and have served to encourage the present revival in the ‘flight to quality’ resulting in the boost to new highs in the gold market.

United States inflationary pressures showed no real improvement last month although consumer confidence in high street sales hit a thirteenth month low fuelling further fears for the slowing eco-

nomic recovery, leading to traders and economists alike starting to believe in a real possibility of further United States quantitative easing.

Headline economic data has been thin over the summer months and markets now await more realistic indications of information such as U.S. housing starts and prices as further

and more accurate indications on the speed on any recovery.

The United States Federal Reserve Bank are not expected to make any immediate moves

in monetary policy but they must surely consider further quantitative easing to support the sluggish American recovery.

The continued strength of the Chinese Renminbi against

the U.S. dollar has also acted to encourage traders to sell dollars in favour of gold adding to the spike in the price of Bullion.

Last week it was reported that the Central Bank of Bangladesh had bought 10 tonnes of gold from the International Monetary Fund, leading speculation that some reserves held in dollars may be switched to gold.

Anglo-Ashanti, the largest gold producer in Africa has raised $1.53 billion through a fully paid and convertible share issue and repositioned short gold hedges, which indicates real confidence in the Gold Market.

Investment in Bullion is a traditional investment manoeuvre in times of volatile and turbulent currency and stock markets, and attention to green shoot recovery in the world’s major economies must be strictly observed as this could obviously lead to a possible turn round in the Gold price.

A recent Bloomberg survey among market analysts an average prediction on future gold prices was $1500.00 an ounce.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 21st September 2010 @ 12.49pm GBP - INR = 71.28 USD - INR = 45.60 EUR - INR = 59.98 GBP - USD = 1.5598 GBP - EUR = 1.1956 EUR - USD = 1.3133 GBP - AED = 5.7298 GBP - CAD = 1.6061 GBP - NZD = 2.1354 GBP - AUD = 1.6484 GBP - ZAR = 11.01 GBP - HUF = 330.30

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

22

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

BJP conquers Congress bastion in Gujarat On his 61st birthday, chief minister Narendra Modi couldn't have asked for a better gift. Not only did Modi lead the BJP to an impressive win in the bypoll at Kathlal (in Kheda district), a traditional Congress bastion,

but he claimed his development-oriented politics found many takers among Muslims as well. BJP both in Gujarat and in New Delhi seized upon the victory to describe it as a defeat of Congress-CBI concern.

Continued from page 1 Ayodhya: All parties appeal for peace; one judge makes his dissent open After the three judge bench of the Allahabad High Court last week rejected a plea to postpone the verdict in the Ayodhya temple title suit, the authorities and contend-

India on tenterhooks ing parties on both the sides have appealed to the people of India to maintain peace after the verdict is pronounced on 24th September.

After the rejection of postponement plea, the

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plaintiff Ramesh Chandra Tripathi even said on Monday that he will approach the Supreme Court on Wednesday to seek postponement of the verdict.

Justice Dharam Veer Sharma did not concurr with the view of the other two judges--Justice S U Khan and Justice Sudhir Agarwal, said that an amicable settlement could have been explored.

The Bench of Justices Sudhir Agarwal, S U Khan and D V Sharma reserved judgment on July 26.

Gopal Singh Visharad, Nirmohi Akhara, the Uttar Pradesh Sunni Waqf Board and Ram Lalla Virajman are the main parties to the title dispute, which has dragged on for the past 60 years. Counsel for the Waqf Board Zafaryab Jilani said the contending parties were informed in writing that the verdict would be delivered on September 24.

Though the first suit was filed in a Faizabad court on July 19, 1885 by Mahant Raghubar Das, who sought rights over “Ram Chabootra,” a raised platform in front of the 16th century Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, the title suit has figured in the law courts only since 1950.

After the demolition of the Babri Masjid on December 6, 1992, the government of India acquired 2.77 acres around the “disputed site.”

In all, 87 witnesses belonging to the main parties deposed before the High Court. It is the third Special Bench to take up the Ayodhya case.

Security has been tightened by the Uttar Pradesh government to prevent any law and order problem that may arise after the verdict.

The verdict will be on the aspects of the ownership of the land of the disputed site, whether Babri Masjid built after demolition of a temple at the place, whether Lord Ram was born at that place.

Central Government, BJP, the Muslim bodies and all have appealed the people to accept the verdict of court. All have said, if there is injustice felt, the aggrieved have the options of approaching the higher or even the Supreme Court.

CWG under cloud: Games village mess, security situation a concern Manager of Scotland’s Commonwealth Games team and Chief de mission of New Zealand contingent have posed questions about the facilities, or rather lack of the same at

the Games village. They have termed the Games village blocks as “unsafe and unfit for human habitation”. To add to that, a foot overbridge near the Nehru stadium collapsed on Tuesday, though no one was killed.

The bosses have questioned whether the Games should go ahead on 3 October if the situation was not resolved.

Scotland was one of six countries that arrived in the Indian capital at the earliest opportunity to set up its team headquarters, along with England, Wales, New Zealand, Australia and Canada.

“We sincerely hope that the outstanding issues can be resolved, however we will not compromise on issues of safety, security and health”, Jon Doig, chef de mission of Team Scotland said.

Mr Doig added: "The other countries will be arriving soon and the organisers will simply be overwhelmed by the volume of the problems they face unless they take action now.

"We will continue to monitor the situation before determining our next response. "At this point we are planning for full participation in the Games and sincerely hope that the outstanding issues can be resolved, however we will not compromise on issues of safety, security and health."

NZ boss casts doubt on Delhi Games The head of New Zealand's Commonwealth Games mission says it is possible the New Delhi Games will not go ahead.

The head of New Zealand's chef de mission, Dave Currie, is in Delhi and told NZ radio station NewstalkZB it would be extremely hard for India to get across the line.

"If the village is not ready and athletes can't come, obviously the implications of that are that it's not going to happen," he said.

But Australia's chef de mission, Steve Moneghetti, says he does not think the accommodation is as bad as the New Zealand team has suggested.

Earlier, the village was slammed as "seriously compromised" by Commonwealth Games Federation president Mike Fennell.

Fennell says he has written to senior Indian officials expressing his "great concern" and urging them to immediately deploy the necessary resources to ensure the village is acceptable when it opens.

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

23

Prince Charles, Camilla to visit Patiala Former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to host the British Royal couple Prince Charles and his wife Camilla will be visiting Patiala in Punjab next month. Heir to the British throne, Prince will be in India to inaugurate the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, beginning from 3rd October. They would be representing Queen, who has expressed her inability to visit India on the occasion.

Captain Amarinder Singh, former Chief minister of Punjab, a Congress leader and himself a member of the former Royal family of Patiala state has

have an overnight stay there.

The British royals will be on a private visit to the New Moti Bagh Palace.

The prince and Camilla Amarinder Singh Prince Charles have earlier also visited invited the British Royals.

Patiala, in March 2006.

Captain and his wife, The dinner hosted by India’s junior minister of Amarinder Singh for them external affairs Preneet saw some dramatic Kaur will be hosting moments with the entire Prince Charles and banquet blown away by a Camilla, as the guests will strong evening storm.

British police has taken up the probe into a murder case that happened in Phagwara district in Punjab, India after the family of the victim approached them and also filed a complaint as the Punjab police did not take any action on the complains. The case relates to death of Manjit Kaur, a young woman from Phagwara who was married to a Jagpaljeet Singh, settled in UK. While Jagpal and his family claimed that Manjit died in an accident, the family

members of Manjit suspected that she was killed by the in-laws.

According to Manjit’s family, she was allegedly killed at Beeja village near Khanna in November, 2007. After waiting for almost three years, Manjit’s family approached the UK Police as there was no progress in the investigation by the Punjab police. Jagpaljeet secretly flew away to UK after a case of murder was registered.

A four member team of the British police, led by

A Punjab murder probed by UK police

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He also alleged that his son-in-law, Jagpaljeet was harassing Manjit for bringing more dowry. He had once sent Rs.400,000 to him, yet he did not stop harassing Manjit,” he added.

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In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Vinita and Kadru: Response and Reaction Patanjali has a beautiful sutra wherein he says ‘that which is seen by the five senses comes into the body-brain system’.

We often say that ‘such’ an event happened in our lives. Patanjali says that man has the choice of interpreting the experience of an event in either of two ways. The first he calls as ‘bhoga’ or indulgence – we react to the event mechanically without any introduction of consciousness or simply put, we are hypnotised by the event. The other way he calls as ‘apavarga’ or evolution – between the reception of the event by the mind through the five senses and the acting upon it by the brain, we introduce a pause. This pause creates a gap wherein consciousness comes in; the action which arises out of this introduction of consciousness is not a mechanical reaction but a silent and deliberate powerful response to the event.

The word responsibility comes from response, signifying it is man’s duty to rise from a lowly mechanical action to a higher conscious action.

Of all life-forms on this planet, only human beings have the capacity to act and simultaneously be conscious of their actions. The scriptures say that nature experimented with different energies in the plant and animal kingdoms.

Through years of evolution when man inherited these energies, they came with nature’s innate tendency of mechanicalness.

In the Mahabharata, the beautiful story of Vinita and Kadru represents our two patterns of living life – either reactive and mechanical, or conscious and responsible.

The sage Kasyapa married the two sisters Vinita and Kadru. Though very beautiful, they were both jealous of each other, even though Vinita’s was a positive jealousy which does not lead into harming the other, but Kadru’s was a very negative jealousy or rather envy, where she wanted to bring harm to Vinita. Their husband granted each of them a boon. Kadru asked first that a thousand sons be born to her of great strength and bravery.

When Vinita’s turn came, she asked for two sons who in all respects would be greater than Kadru’s

sons put together. Kadru laid a thousand eggs which soon hatched into a thousand snakes. Vinita laid two eggs which her maids kept in warm water.

Five hundred years went by but Vinita’s eggs had not hatched and she started growing impatient as Kadru had already had her thousand children. In her impatience she broke open one egg, and a child came out but only his upper part was fully developed and had no legs. The child was very angry with his mother for being so rash that his body was only halfformed and cursed her to slavery. He did leave his mother saying that if she was patient, the son born of the other egg would deliver her from bondage.

The child was called Arun and became the charioteer of the Sun. The sun represents light and Arun twilight.

There was a divine horse Ucchayhsravas (higher hearing). Both the sisters then had an argument as to its colour.

Vinita said the whole horse was white while Kadru said that even though the body was white, the tail was black.

They entered into a wager that whoever lost would become the slave of the others. Kadru knew that the horse was fully white but she was very cunning, and ordered her sons (snakes) to go and cover the tail so it would look black. Her children did not want to deceive Vinita but Kadru threatened them that those who do not obey her would die in a snake yagna that was to happen in the future. So out of fear, most of her children went and entwined themselves around the horse’s tail. When the sisters came they saw the now black tail black and Kadru won the wager and Vinita had to become her slave.

The word ‘Kadru’ means a root, or that which is reddish.

Experiences and actions are of two kinds – conscious and mechanical.

In all mechanical experiences and actions, there is a residue which becomes a root for the repetition of a similar kind of experience. Thus all mechanical action is a kind of bondage which is

represented by Kadru.

Her children were the snakes or ‘sarpa’ which also means experience, and represent the roots of desire and cunningness lying in our unconscious minds waiting to spring up at any time. ‘Vinita’ means bent down or humble, that is in each experience in life if we practice bowing down or dissolving the ego, the experience becomes a conscious one and does not leave a residue to create the root of repetition.

In all mechanical experiences, attention and energy both flow outwards and are fragmented. In all conscious experiences, attention and energy flows back inwards and becomes one-pointed. This fragmentation of attention into different patterns and desires that lie in our unconscious minds are the thousand snakes, or the sons of Kadru.

The root cause of acting mechanically is impatience represented by Vinita’s impatience in breaking the egg. What this reveals is that due to impatience, our consciousness is a slave of mechanical action. The horse Ucchayhsravas means to hear the higher.

The higher is pure and white. Within all of us this higher or voice of consciousness lies, but we cannot hear it because it speaks in whispers and we must pause to listen to it. We only hear our ego which shouts loudly and blindly reacts to every situation in life. We condition the higher by our unfulfilled desires that are the snakes covering the tail of time.

Because of this, we never see the real and it is desire which makes us a slave to time.

Vinita has to wait for another five hundred years to have a son who can free her. This shows that to be free of our own karma requires time, patience, and effort.

‘Garuda’ or the eagle is born of the next egg and it is he who frees Vinita.

The eagle flies high and represents consciousness; when a bird flies it does not leave footprints, actions then performed leave no residue. We will look into this in detail in our next article.

(Edited by Chintu Gandhi)

All past articles on the Mahabharata can be accessed from http://epaper.asianvoice.com or from http://www.3stepbreath.com/mahabharata.html

INDIA

24

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Gujarat is now a prominent emergency treatment destination for foreign patients Personal care, quality medicare and cost advantages are the USP of the state on the Medical tourism front

By Dilip D. Trivedi Gujarat has already entered into the next stage of medical tourism surge.

Convenient location, fully equipped hospitals and well experienced doctors as well as para medics have helped it gain due prominence. The state is now being preferred as emergency care and treatment destination by people in the Gulf region and also from Africa. This new dimension may be due to the fact that the above countries do not have enough of good, adequately equipped hospitals as also experienced specialists in many fields. Now, patients from UK and USA do come here for emergencies.

Shalby – a hospital of choice for foreign patients, institutions Ahmedabad has a good number of private, corporate hospitals with excellent facilities. Shalby hospital is one of the prominent ones and a preferred institution of foreign patients. Asian Voice on a recent visit, met at least two patients from Kenya and Tanzania admitted to the hospital.

Mrs Theodora Daffi and her husband from Tanzania

On query, both the patients and their kin accompanying them expressed complete satisfaction at the facilities, the staff and the warm, welcoming atmosphere in Ahmedabad and India.

Mrs. Elizabeth Meingi, 66 had undergone knee replacement surgeries in both the legs. She had trouble in her knees since 1985 and from 1990 onwards, it became really painful. But, she knew the hospitals and facilities in almost all of African countries were not good enough. She did get some treatment for a heart ailment in South Africa some years back.

For her knee replacement, she preferred to come to India, as she got

some good reference for the country from a friend in Nairobi. She said before she came here, her condition had worsened so much that she was unable to walk even a couple of steps. Even if she tried, she would stumble and fall down. She had recovered completely and was about to leave for Kenya on Friday, 10th September when we met her and her daughter. They were all in smiles and happy.

The other patient, Mrs Daffi from Tanzania had undergone a spine surgery.

She had complaints about backache and restricted physical activities, particularly movement of hands and in sleeping. That was since November, 2009.

The problem was of natu-

Mrs Elizabeth Meingi and her daughter from Kenya

ral occurrence, but her pain and troubles increased since February this year. Her husband was accompanying her.

When asked why they chose India and Ahmedabad, he said in African countries, they don’t have modern facilities like MRIs and CT scans and such other equipment that are vital for investigations and diagnosis. So they came to Ahmedabad. When the doctors at Shalby hospital carried out detailed investigations, they found out that the patient was having more serious spine problems than earlier thought of.

According to Mr Duffi, his wife underwent a surgery and is recovering fast.

The couple also said they were very much impressed with the friendly approach of the doctors and the hospital staff and felt as welcome guests of the city and India ever since their arrival. Mr and Mrs Daffi as well as Mrs Meingi said they were very happy and satisfied that they would surely become goodwill ambassadors of India, Gujarat and Ahmedabad to all their families, friends and acquaintances at home.

Emergency treatment in Ahmedabad Recently, a Tanzanian family of Gujarati origin got emergency orthopaedic and plastic surgery treatment for their young son Milap Badiyani in Ahmedabad after the

family met with an accident during their African Safari. Dr Deepak Dave, the orthopaedic and joint replacement specialist treated the boy for his multiple fractures at HCG Medisurge Hospital. He said a decision just in the nick of time by the boy’s family proved vital. The type of treatment and facilities, particularly services of an experienced plastic surgeon to co-ordinate with the orthopaedic treatment were not available in Tanzania or Kenya.

The quick decision helped the boy, as otherwise he would have been left with some sort of deformity or debility and might have been forced to live with it for lifetime.

According to officials at the hospital, on an average at least 1 or 2 patients from Gulf, Africa or UK come to Ahmedabad every month for emergencies.

Among the African countries, patients come from Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Congo and Rwanda. India has in fact, become a destination of preference from people of Congo. They do have a language problem, as French is the language for most of the Congolese people, yet they have faith in Indian hospitals, Dr Dave added.

Milap Badiyani, the 15 year old boy was brought to Ahmedabad with multiple fractures and damage to growth plates in the knee, again a complicated problem that needed inno-

vative and expert care. He was in the hospital for almost two months and had undergone six surgeries. Dr Ritesh Dawra had assisted Dr Dave in treating Milap.

About choice of Ahmedabad, Dr Dave said the city has a large number of well equipped hospitals and expert doctors in almost every conceivable discipline. Added USP is the human touch and care that the patients get here from the doctors and the staff at the hospitals.

Patients who have undergone treatment at Ahmedabad have almost always been fully satisfied about every thing here.

According to Dr Dave, a testimony of the satisfied

Dr. Deepak Dave, HCG Medisurge Hospital

patients lies in the fact that the Badiyani family as well as another Gujarati family from Kenya both even gave liberal donation of Rs 50,000 each to help poor patients they saw at the hospital.

The doctors said a Christian missionary was brought here for spine surgery and the expenses of his treatment were borne

by Uganda President’s Fund. A member of Kinshasa provincial assembly also preferred Ahmedabad for treatment.

Dr Dave added that the hospital has also made arrangements with Gujarati community organisations in African countries for the benefit of poor and deserving patients there, as those referred for help are given treatment here at very reasonable and concessional rates.

Punjab farmers to go for agriculture in Ethiopia 16 farmers to sign a deal to lease 50,000 hectares of farm land Farmers from Punjab are all set to go for overseas agriculture, as they have decided to acquire farm land on lease in Ethiopia.

The government of the African nation had invited the farmers to try farming in that country. A deal to provide 50,000 hectares of agricultural land on long term lease is about to be signed between the government and 16 farmers from Punjab who are at present engaged in potato growing in the state.

The plans are for growing crops like pulses

and maize. The produce will be exported to Europe and India.

The Punjab farmers were attracted for this overseas farming venture as land was available in Ethiopia at very cheap rates, for long term lease of 25 to 40 years. The government there has also assured that imports of farm equipment and exports of the produce will be tax free.

The Ethiopian Ambassador to India led a delegation from Punjab to his country in the month of June and asked

Punjab farmers to invest in farming. Tanzania and Uganda as well as other African countries are also trying to attract Punjab farmers for farming there.

Punjab government is keen to go for overseas farming ventures, as a delegation of farmers will be going next month to CIS (former Russian regions) countries of Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Ukraine. In these countries, the prospects are for growing and exports of fruits, vegetables, basmati rice etc.

World

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Democrats’ Gujarati candidate loses New York

Be prepared to welcome the festival of lights Beware of people who promise the moon, but…..

Dear Friends, as you all know, the festival of Diwali is a festival of joy, a festival for welcoming, a festival to mark the beginning of new trade and also a festival of building new relationships. We at Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar wish all our readers, advertisers, agents and distributors that the Festival of Diwali brings them a world of fortune and well being.

Chanakya, the great Indian statesman and economic expert has defined a friend in a very apt manner: “A true friend is one who keeps you informed with right details, leads you on the right path and protects you from possible losses.” We thought it would be worthwhile as a

true friend of you all that we take up the responsibility of bringing it to your notice some realities, facts.

Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice are the news weeklies that enjoy the widest patronage of readers and have the highest circulation amongst all the Indogenic publications being published outside India. As a publishing house based in UK and serving the Asian, Indian, Gujarati communities in this country as well as in other European nations, we feel humble and proud for our prime position. It is in this context that we feel we should enlighten you all.

If people, marketing executives from publications

in support of these details, we are ready to provide the same.

We also feel that in these troubled times of recession, all advertisers should ensure that their hard earned money is not wasted in ad spends that give you very little or no returns in terms of mileage. All advertisers could even make it a rule that they will verify the claims of wide circulation of all media that approach them. If the concerned claimants appear to be dilly – dallying or seen trying to divert on the issue, well, we are sure everybody would be smart enough to evaluate the people and their products.

C B Patel Publisher/Editor

their claims of wide circulation such as printing bills for their print orders, certificates from Royal Mail giving number of their circulation to subscribers. We are sure you realise the importance of verification of claims, as otherwise, is it wise at all to doll out money for adverts?

In case you are interested to find out the real circulation figures, we state with pride and confidence that Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice enjoy a healthy circulation of 30,000 copies per week through annual subscriptions and news stand sales. If any advertisers want to verify our claims and themselves check reliable documents

approach you and make tall claims about themselves, claim that their publications have a huge circulation of 49 or 50,000 copies, you have the right to ask them to produce proofs in support of their claims. If some people make attempts to paint a rosy picture about themselves that could be far from truth and try to mislead you, we feel it is our duty to warn you.

There may be efforts by people to secure advertisements and you could also be lured with huge concessions, or may be they would offer publishing your adverts “At your rates”. As prudent business people, you have the right to ask for some supporting evidence to back

India third most powerful nation, says US report Washington: India is listed as the third most powerful country in the world after the US and China and the fourth most powerful bloc after the US, China and the European Union in a new official US report.

The new global power lineup for 2010 also predicted that New Delhi's clout in the world will further rise by 2025, according to 'Global Governance 2025' jointly issued by the National Intelligence Council (NIC) of the US and the European Union's Institute for Security Studies (EUISS).

Using the insights of a host of experts from Brazil, Russia, India and China, among others, and fictionalised scenarios, the report illustrates what could happen over the next 25 years in terms of global governance.

In 2010, the US tops the list of powerful countries/regions, accounting for nearly 22 per cent of the global power.

The US is followed by China with European Union at 16 per cent and India at eight per cent.

India is followed by Japan, Russia and Brazil with less than five per cent each.

According to this international futures model, by 2025 the power of the US, EU, Japan and Russia will decline while that of China, India and Brazil will increase, even though there will be no change in this listing.

By 2025, the US will still be the most powerful country of the world, but it will have a little over 18 per cent of the global power. The US will be closely followed by China with 16 per cent,

New York: IndianAmerican Democrat Reshma Saujani lost New York's Democratic Congressional primary to veteran Carolyn B Maloney after a keenly fought and sometimes vicious contest in which the two candidates took potshots at each other and exchanged a series of verbal punches. Congress Representative Maloney has taken 81 per cent of the votes against her 34year-old opponent, a former fundraiser for Hillary Clinton who represents New York in the US Senate.

Saujani might have garnered only 19 per cent of the votes, but many observers have described her as a "tough challenger" to Maloney who has never had serious competition earlier, and is expected to win a 10th term in the general election in November.

Saujani, a lawyer whose parents fled the oppressive regime of Idi Amin in Uganda to seek asylum in the US, raised more than USD 1.3 million in her bid to represent the 14th Congressional District, and she was Maloney's most serious opposition to date, The New York Times said.

2010

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Indian-American Dipak Jain named dean of INSEAD Boston: Noted IndianAmerican academician Dipak Jain has been named as dean of leading international business school INSEAD and will take up his new role in March 2011.

Jain, a Dean Emeritus at N o r t h w e s t e r n University's prestigious Kellogg School of Management, will succeed J Frank Brown, who will step down in 2011.

Among Jain's responsibilities would be to look for opportunities to build INSEAD programmes in China and India as the business school focuses on growing its global presence and attracting more students from the developing countries.

"I am pleased that someone of Dipak Jain's calibre and values will continue to develop the school. The Board chose

an intertwining of domestic politics and international issues and fueled the need for more cooperation and more effective leadership. But on the other hand, an increasingly multipolar world, often dominated by non-state actors, have put a snag in progress toward effectual global governance, it said.

point includes issues of climate change, ethnic and regional conflicts, new technology, and the managing of natural resources.

The report also highlights the challenges proponents of effective global governance face.

On one hand, rapid globalistion, economic and otherwise, has led to

European Union with 14 per cent and India with 10 per cent.

'The growing number of issues on the international agenda, and their complexity, is outpacing the ability of international organisations and national governments to cope,' the report warns.

This critical turning

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In this environment we need to teach solid business and management skills while being innovative, entrepreneurial and instilling a culture of true sustainability," Chairman of the INSEAD Board Franz Humer said.

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26

Pakistan

In focUS India gives Pakistan $20 mn for flood relief United Nations: India's permanent representative to the United Nations, Hardeep Singh Puri, has given a cheque for $20 million to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, as India's contribution towards the 'Pakistan Emergency Response Plan'. The cheque was handed over to Ban in the presence of Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN, Abdullah Hussain Haroon on Friday last. Puri recalled the messages of solidarity, sympathy and support from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna to their Pakistani counterparts in the immediate aftermath of the devastating floods that affected parts of Pakistan in August this year. 'Natural disasters do not respect national boundaries. This is a small but significant gesture from the highest levels of the Indian government conveying the message that the people of India stand by the people of Pakistan in their hour of need,' he said. This amount of US$ 20 million is in addition to the amount of US$ 5 million that the Government of India has already contributed to the World Food Programme for its relief efforts in Pakistan.

China delivers third F-22P frigate to Pak navy Islamabad: In yet another landmark achievement in the expansion of the unwavering bilateral defence cooperation between Pakistan and China, Beijing last week delivered the third of the four F-22P frigates PNS Saif to the Pakistan navy. The newly built warship of the sword class series constructed by Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard Shanghai was delivered in a colourful and impressive ceremony, The Nation reports. As per the schedule, the Pakistan navy has already decided to go ahead with its plans to get the fourth ship constructed at the Karachi Shipyard, which is progressing satisfactorily. This move by the navy would be of great help to Pakistan in achieving self-reliance towards defence of its territorial waters.

It has been reported that the F-22P Frigates are equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and sensors.

The ships also carry Z9EC helicopters onboard. With the addition of these ships, the strength of PN Fleet has increased considerably with much needed capabilities, while contributing in enhancement of country's shipbuilding capabilities.

Pak turns blind eye to anti-India rallies

by Hafiz Saeed's JuD Lahore: The Pakistan government, which repeatedly says it wants dialogue with India, once again looked the other way when terror group the Jamaat-udDawah (JuD) held anti-India rallies yet again, this time in Lahore. They last held such a rally in Pakistan's capital Islamabad in July this year. The JuD held well-attended rallies in several cities of Punjab province. Close to 5,000 people are estimated to have taken part in the rally in Lahore. In all the rallies, JuD leaders slammed India for the situation in Kashmir. India has given several dossiers to Islamabad giving proof of the role played by JuD chief Hafiz Saeed as the mastermind of 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. But the Pakistan government maintains the evidence is not enough.

Zardari offers more intelligence to Afghans Islamabad: Pakistan's president said last week that his nation's intelligence services are willing to cooperate closer with Afghanistan to fight the Taliban.

President Asif Ali Zardari told reporters after meeting the Afghan president leader that the two nations' cooperation had improved since Zardari took office and "we intend to enhance it further." "We need more security cooperation between our intelligence and their intelligence, which Pakistan is willing to offer," he said. It was not clear, however, if the offer was endorsed by Pakistan's military and intelligence establishment, which historically wields more power than its civilian rulers. Afghan President Hamid Karzai described the men's meeting as wide-ranging and productive. "This openness in dialogue in fact is a step forward in our relations," he said, saying the discussion was focused on Taliban bases in Pakistan's tribal areas. "These are issues that we should discuss and these are issues that we should fight together," Karzai said. Afghanistan and Pakistan have a long history of tense and complicated relations, marred in recent years by Afghan allegations that Pakistan is not moving against Taliban militants on its territory, and has even backed some of their attacks.

The US has also urged Pakistan to do more against militants in its territory, and for the last 2 1/2 years has fired missiles from unmanned drones against insurgent targets in the northwest of the country.

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Kashmir belongs to us, Pak told US in 2002 Washington: Pakistan had told the United States of America not to push it on Kashmir as the Valley belonged to them, according to declassified documents. The US declassified document reveal that US asked Pakistan to end infiltration across the border a year after 9/11 attack.

But Islamabad's response was that Kashmir Valley belonged to Pakistan. The communication forms part of a meeting between the then US Director of Policy Planning Staff Richard Haass and an unnamed Pakistani military official on October 31, 2002 to discuss US-Pak cooperation a year after the deadly

9/11 attacks in the US. Hass stressed the importance of ending infiltration, but the Pakistani official warned the US not to push Pakistan too far on Kashmir.

"On Kashmir, Hass stressed the importance of ending infiltration, but the Pak official warned the US not to push Pakistan too far on Kashmir," classified documents released last week said.

According to the document, Hass told the top official that he was pleased about the (Indian) announcement of troop pullback from the border as de-escalation would free resources to be devoted to sealing the Afghan border

and counter-terrorism.

"It appeared that India wanted to renew contacts but continued infiltration was a barrier to progress," Hass said. "The US believed that infiltration was continuing. Stopping it would help Pakistan's cause with the US and India.

Infiltration hurts Pakistan's friends efforts to help it," he said, according to the documents.

The Pak official agreed that Kashmir was the issue "bedevilling our relations".

But Pakistanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kashmir position was "based on justice", he argued.

"Kashmir should have been ours. The Pakistani people would not agree to

make the LOC (Line of Control) the international border. Kashmir had cost Musharraf a lot, as had his decision to help the CT coalition.

"Musharraf's detractors had hit him on both Kashmir and Afghanistan.

India had tried to exploit the political atmosphere after 9/11," the Pak official said. "Hass relied that he perceived an opportunity to improve the situation in and surrounding Kashmir.

India seemed to realize that lack of political and economic opportunity and abuse of human rights created support for insurgency and a better context for diplomacy was now being created.

Musharraf faces abusive callers during telethon

Islamabad: Aiming to enter political arena in Pakistan, the former military ruler's first direct dialogue with the people threw up some bitter moments for him as he faced an abusive and offensive audience.

Taking part in a telethon to raise funds for millions of victims of the country's flood devastation, former president Pervez Musharraf, who is on a self-imposed exile, faced several abusive callers who blamed him for Pakistan's problems.

At the same time, many callers appreciated Musharraf's effort during his tenure as military ruler. They praised him for the role he was playing for Pakistan and lauded his

Raises Rs 250 mn for flood relief

Pervez Musharraf

services as President.

A retired brigadier who called the telethon organised by a TV news channel said: "Musharraf sahab, I have two shoes for you..."

He was then abruptly cut off. Another caller asked: "Where is the money amassed for Muzaffarabad (the area affected by the 2005 earthquake)? You should account for it."

Musharraf has, meanwhile, garnered pledges of 250 millions of rupees for flood relief and rehabilitation work in the country, the Dawn quoted the news channel, as claiming. Notable among the people who called Musharraf to pledge sizable donations were former ministers Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri and Ameer Muqam.

Yet another caller said: extreme and you destroyed "You have sold out the the country. Curse on you, daughters of Pakistan to curse on you." the US. Where are the dolMusharraf refused to lars so earned?" reply to questions on conAnother caller asked troversial issues like the Lal Musharraf to account for Masjid operation and said the number of persons that he would answer such "slaughtered" by him durqueries separately. He said ing the 2007 military operthe telethon was not the ation against radical eleoccasion for discussing ments holed up in the Lal such matters. The former Masjid in Islamabad. military ruler, who has been Another caller said: living abroad in self-exile since April last year, said he "We can never forgive you would certainly go back to for what you have done to Pakistan and take part in Pakistan. You have plunthe next elections. dered Pakistan to the

Chinese firm plans to build big nuclear plant

Beijing: China's main nuclear power corporation is in discussions to build a 1-gigawatt nuclear power plant in Pakistan, having already built two other smaller ones there and signed deals for two more, an executive said on Monday.

The proposed expansion of China's nuclear power ties with Pakistan could magnify unease in Washington, New Delhi and other capitals worried about the effects on regional security and international non-proliferation rules.

China has already helped Pakistan build its main nuclear power facility at Chashma in Punjab province, is completing a second reactor there and has contracts to build two more, despite the qualms of other governments.

Qiu Jiangang, vice president of the China National Nuclear Corp (CNNC), told a meeting in Beijing that the company was already looking beyond those deals to an even bigger plant.

"After the successful, safe operation of the first 300- megawatt reactor in Chashma...the second reactor is now under testing and is expected to start formal operations by the end of this year," Qiu said.

"Both sides are in discussions over the CNNC exporting a one gigawatt nuclear plant to Pakistan," he added. Qiu confirmed the two countries have already signed contracts to build the No. 3 and No. 4 reactors of about 300 megawatts each at Chashma. He did not give details about who was involved in

discussions for the bigger plant and how far the talks had progressed.

Pakistan is a long-standing partner of China, and has been suffering chronic power shortages.

Beijing is also wary of Indian regional dominance and of US sway.

In 2008 Washington signed a nuclear energy deal with India in 2008 that China and other countries questioned. Critics of that deal say that agreement prompted China to deepen its own nuclear power cooperation with Pakistan, which has been beset by political instability and militant attacks.

Rivals India and Pakistan both possess nuclear arsenals and refuse to join the Nuclear NonProliferation Treaty, which would oblige them to scrap those arsenals..

Karachi shuts down after politician killed in London Karachi: Pakistan's biggest city Karachi shut down on Friday last after a senior politician belonging to the city's dominant Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was stabbed to death in London.

Imran Farooq, a founding member of the MQM party, the most influential in Pakistan's commercial capital Karachi, was killed on Thursday but it was not clear if it was politically motivated.

Farooq, inactive in politics for about two years,

claimed asylum in Britain 11 years ago after more than seven years on the run from Pakistani police who accused him of involvement in murder and other serious crimes.

He denied the charges.

Even though he is not an influential MQM figure, the killing could trigger more ethnic and political violence in Karachi.

Most shops and schools were closed and no public transport was available after the MQM announced 10 days of

mourning.

A few vehicles were torched, police said.

"We are confident that the culprit will be arrested and will be given exemplary punishment," Farooq Sattar, a senior member of the MQM and a minister in the government of President Asif Ali Zardari, told reporters in Karachi.

Sattar refused to speculate on the motives behind the killing, saying they were awaiting results of British investigations.

Up to 100 people were

killed and hundreds wounded in several days of clashes in Karachi last month after MQM member Raza Haider, who was a Shi'ite Muslim, was gunned down along with his bodyguard while attending a funeral.

Farooq was one of several senior members of the MQM who have taken refuge in London.

The party's top leader, Altaf Hussain, has been living in self-exile in the British capital since 1992.

East Africa

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

In foCus Kenyan church supports new law implementation

Nairobi: National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) secretary general Canon Peter Karanja has announced the Church would support the implementation of the new Constitution and said it was ready to engage fully in the process. In a departure from its stance during the referendum campaigns where it opposed the new law, the Church says it takes cognisance of the fact that Kenyans voted in favour of the new Constitution and urged all "Kenyans to focus their individual and corporate energies to the implementation of the new constitution".

"We recognise that Kenya has adopted a new constitution. We thus pledge to fully support and engage in the implementation of this new constitution. No group of people should be excluded from the implementation process. Inclusion and representation of all Kenyans in the implementation organs is of paramount importance," said the statement signed by NCCK secretary general Reverend Canon Karanja and the chairman of the North Rift region Bishop Thomas Kogo. But in the same breath, the Church demanded that the government moves fast to amend the laws saying its flock voted for the new Constitution on the understanding that contentious issues will be amended.

Kenyans held in Uganda over Kampala bombings

Kampala: Ugandan police have arrested two Kenyans - a lawyer and a human rights activist - as they arrived in Uganda to attend a hearing for suspects in July's Kampala bombing.

Mureitha Mbugua and Al-Amin Kimathi had been due at a hearing for dozens of people charged with the attack which killed 76 people. Some human rights workers have expressed fears for the men's safety.

They had previously criticised the transfer of 10 Kenyans to Uganda. A Ugandan police spokesman did not explain why the Kenyan pair had been detained at Entebbe International airport. The latest hearing in the case of at least 30 people, including the 10 Kenyans, arrested over the attack was moved to Kampala's Luzira prison for security reasons, Ugandan officials say. The Kenyan pair are being detained in the Ugandan Police Rapid Response Unit, which Human Rights Watch says has previously been responsible for torturing and killing suspects.

Hard-line Somali group al-Shabab has said it carried out the suicide attack on people watching the World Cup final on TV. It said it was revenge for the presence of Ugandan troops in the African Union peacekeeping force backing the Somali government against the al-Qaeda linked al-Shabab.

Nigeria election may be delayed

Abuja: Nigeria's governing party, People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has said holding elections in January, as planned, would be difficult. PDP spokesman Rufai Ahmed Alkali, however, declined to formally call for a delay, saying this could be "misunderstood".

On Sunday, election officials said they were looking at ways to delay the poll so they could work on a credible voters' roll. Several heavyweight PDP figures are vying for the presidential nomination.

Over the weekend, presidential security advisor Aliyu Gusau resigned so he can stand against President Goodluck Jonathan in the party contest. The PDP has won all of Nigeria's elections since military rule ended in 1999 and so its candidate will be seen as the favourite for next year's poll. Nigeria's previous elections have been marred by widespread violence and allegations of fraud. Mr Jonathan, a southerner, became president in February after the death of Umaru Yar'Adua. The PDP has previously said its candidate should be a northerner. But Mr Alkali said that the party should move beyond such "primordial analysis" and select the best candidate for the job.

President Jonathan launched his campaign on Saturday after announcing his plans on Facebook He said the four-month timetable for holding party primaries, campaigning and the elections was "very, very tight".

Commonwealth offers Kenya aid in drafting new laws Nairobi: Kenya is to receive legal help from the Commonwealth to implement the new Constitution.

The Commonwealth will send four legal experts to help in drafting the laws, which will bring the Constitution into effect.

The experts, who will serve at the cost of the Commonwealth, will join a team of local drafters drawn from the Attorney General’s office and the Kenya Law Reform Commission in preparing 49 bills required to bring the Constitution into operation.

Mr Kamalesh Sharma, the Commonwealth secretary-general, said the drafters would initially concentrate on the bills that will bring into force chapters on devolution, public finance, people’s

Kamalesh Sharma

representation and land.

“We are offering in the first stage legislative drafters because all of these resolutions in Parliament have to be translated into laws and they have to be done on a crash basis because the new Constitution has set deadlines,” he said.

The deal was sealed during a meeting recently between Mr Sharma, Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister Mutula Kilonzo and Attorney

London: Following the arrest of a British citizen on terrorism charges while on his way to Entebbe, concerns are growing that al-Qaeda may have expanded its East African operations into Uganda.

Western security sources said that attacks on football fans watching the World Cup final in Uganda had been carried out by "Al-Qaeda in East Africa," rather than the Somali group al-Shabaab which claimed responsibility.

US officials have talked recently of an increase of al-Qaeda activity in East Africa where militants have been helping train al-Shabaab fighters.

Al-Shabaab has claimed allegiance to alQaeda but its ability to launch attacks outside the country had been limited until the Kampala attacks in July. The group has

recently been involved in heavy fighting in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Dutch security officials were continuing to question a British man of Somali origin who was arrested on a plane at Schiphol airport on his way from Liverpool to Entebbe.

Dutch prosecutors said they were investigating the man for links to a terrorist organisation but had not found any explosives.

A European diplomat in Kampala, Uganda's capital, said the man arrested in Amsterdam could have been acting as a copycat after the publicity following the Ugandan attack, which was blamed on the presence of Ugandan troops in Somalia under an African Union peace keeping mandate.

"The problem with something like the World Cup bombings is that it

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“Indeed, we say that we are happy and ready to do whatever legislative drafting that is to be done in these areas,” the secretary-general said.

Welcoming the help, Mr Kilonzo said the four chapters were a challenge in the first phases of implementation.

“We are grateful to the Commonwealth secretarygeneral and we are looking at the choice of the people before we communicate.

However, they are not adequate and we will require more,” he said.

Mr Sharma said that some key issues, which were cast aside during the referendum campaigns, were emerging as challenges and will require experts to sort them out.

“You can see that after the misinterpretations of

Al-Qaeda ‘expand into Uganda’

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puts Uganda on the map of copycat attackers, who might not even really have known Uganda was involved [in Somalia] before," the diplomat said.

"This man could have been coming here to cause a nuisance, rather than because militants in Mogadishu were controlling him."

A security consultant specialising on Somalia said there was the "sense that the World Cup bombings were going to be a one-off, and al-Shabaab sent those guys here from Somalia."

Most foreigners wanting to join al-Shabaab's ranks are believed to fly to Kenya and then cross the porous land border with Somalia, or to fly to the northern semiautonomous state of Somaliland and then travel south from there.

the new Constitution during the referendum campaigns, real issues are beginning to emerge mainly in the county governments,” he said.

The government had asked for international assistance in the drafting of the bills. So far, the Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Bill, the Supreme Court Bill, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Commission on Revenue Allocation Bill, the Judicial Service Commission Bill and the Vetting of Judges and Magistrates Bill have been drafted.

Mr Sharma was on a three-day visit to Kenya to attend the 56th C o m m o n w e a l t h Parliamentary Association conference in Nairobi.

Somalia PM resigns amid tensions Mogadishu: Somalia's prime minister resigned on Tuesday to prevent what he called political turmoil amid an impasse with the country's president. Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke told reporters he was resigning while standing alongside President Sheik Sharif Sheik Ahmed, who thanked the prime minister for what he called a "courageous decision." "After seeing that the political turmoil between me and the president has caused security vulnerability, I have decided to resign to save the nation and give a chance to others," the prime minister said. The resignation comes amid a rift between Sharmarke and Ahmed over a new draft constitution.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

This week meet Kalpesh Verma, developer of Triveni Landmark- sophisticated modern homes and bungalow on 18 acre land near Anand-Vallabh Vidyanagar-Vartal Road and Kanjibhai Jesani, Vice President, Shree Baldia Leva Patel, one of the organisers of Swarnim Gujarat in Harrow Leisure Centre on 26th September with Kokila Patel, Executive Editor of Gujarat Samachar If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

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Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Jadeja attends 2nd Annual Ranji Memorial lecture

Ajay Jadeja, Former India Batsman and Captain lighting a lamp to the memory of his Great Grand uncle Kumar Sri Ranjit Singhji or Ranji at the Nehru Cemtre in London on Friday 17th September evening.

Jadeja delivered the 2nd

Annual Ranji Memorial lecture. He said age should not be a mitigating factor in handling out punishment to corrupt cricketers. He also felt legalising bookmakers in India would not necessarily end corruption among players.

If you have ever raised money or item for charity for the needy on any Diwali, write your story in 650 words and send to aveditorial@abplgroup. com by 24th October 2010 with your photograph.

Picture of the week

At the moment, relationships are experiencing major transformations - those with shaky foundations should be extra careful. Financially, you have everything going for you.

This is a good time to put lucrative plans into action and reap the benefits of sound investments. However, be prudent and do not fritter away your good fortune.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

Coming Events l In Association with Relay for Life Team Pranasha presents Musical Evening in aid of Cancer Research UK, Saturday 2nd October 2010, The Mehfil Restaurant, 2 Park Rd, Hendon, London NW4 3PQ Music by Bollywood Orchestra, Time: 7.30 pm till Late l Walk for Heart and Stroke, Sunday 26th September 2010, Hyde Park. Northwick Park Institute for Medical Research, Register now. Contact: 020 8869 3284.

Web: http://npimr.org/funraising/heartstrokecampaign l Mahatma Gandhi's Pragatya Din (Gandhi Jayanti) on Thursday 30th September, 6 for 6:30pm at Kadva Patidar Centre, Kenmore Avenue, Harrow, HA3 8LU. HE the High Commissioner of India, the Mayors of Harrow and Brent, Members of the House of Lords, Members of the House of Commons, Councillors and other dignitaries are invited to grace the occassion. l Karamsad Samaj presents Annual Gathering (AGM) on Saturday 25th September. 6pm at Oakington Manor Primary School, Wembley, Middsx HA9 6NF. Contact: Mahendrabhai S Patel 020 8777 4881 l Shree Bhagavat Katha from Sunday 26th September 2010 till Sunday 3rd October from 10:30am-1pm and 3:30-6pm. Venue: Shree Ram Mandir, Leicester LE4 5GG. Contact: 01162664642 l Navaratri Festival 2010 8th October-17th October 2010, 130-4:30 and 7:30-10:30pm. Gonville Primary School, Thornton Heath Surrey. Ashtami Havan: 15th October, 7:30pm-11pm.Contact: 020 8665 5502 l Ek Shaam Lataji Ke Naam, with Anila Gohil, accompanied by Nimesh Trilok and Sejal, Sunday 26th September, Elliot Hall- Harrow Arts Centre, HA5 4EA, 6:30pm. Contact: 020 8416 8989 l Saturday 2nd October, 6:30pm, celebrating gandhiji's Birth Anniversary. Music: Gandhiji's favourite hymns by Dr Meera Pandit l Sun 3rd October. Illusatrated talk: My kind of Fim Making by Dr Nikhil Kaushik Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 An inspiring boost to matters of communication but make sure your curiosity on a range of topics does not lead to a scattering of mental energy. With a surge of enery and enthusiasm, this is a favourable time to make fresh starts. Personal relationships may be more intense, though this may also demand some heavy sacrifices of personal freedom.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 It's a time of slow and steady progress that can set the stage for a long time to come. Of course, there are still challenging issues on both a personal and practical level. To get here you may have overcome obstacles by making important decision and choices. You will achieve a lot more, especially when you're motivated by your own desires.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Your communication sector is all-abuzz with planetary energies firing you up preventing you from sleeping properly. Give yourself plenty of physical outlets to drain off some of the excess mental stimulation. You will soon feel like you can finally settle into a more grounded and steady routine.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 The focus is on finances this week, but that doesn’t mean you should worry yourself sick. Rather, it is about finding new and improved ways to boost your earnings potential. Don’t let nebulous tendencies interfere with your plans. It’s fine to consider several options but don’t get caught up in indecision. Schedule networking opportunities later this week.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Jupiter, the planet of abundance, is transiting your partnership sector. You have plenty of romantic options. Financially you are still not out of the woods as Saturn is going to remain in your financial sector for quite a while. At work you will experience a relaxed atmosphere and this will help you to get on with everyone around you.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

You will probably have little cause to complain this week. Expect everything to run smoothly and luck to attend your efforts. However, underneath this positive surface you may be plagued by a feeling of restlessness, an uneasy feeling that something is not quite right. Try to srike a balance between material and emotional affairs !

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

With Jupiter riding high in your 5th house of romance and creativity, you should enjoy a very popular phase in your life where everyone wants to invite you to parties. This will give you a chance to meet people of your own calibre and pursue any romantic liaisons that might present themselves. Your communications are extremely high making it easy to close those lucrative deals.

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 Much enthusiasm goes into professional ambitions right now, but you need to be your own boss in many ways. Circumstances will make you more determined to place your lifestyle on a foundation of greater security. Taking a broad perspective on the prevailing cosmic pattern, far-reaching change begins to gather momentum.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 The fiery planet Mars, continues to occupy your Solar 11th house for some time to come. Its influence will help you to maintain a high energy level and achieve positive results in anything that requires drive and initiative. If you are involved in a fairly competitive field of activity, you will be the one who comes out on top.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19 There seems to be some pressure on financial affairs and maybe a problem to contend with in regard to a joint venture. If you feel that something has been hanging in the balance, whatever happens you will get a clearer picture of the situation eventually.

Allow matters to ride as impatience will not give you the whole picture.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 The need to push ahead with personal interests and to assert yourself with added force will take precedence over everything else for some time to come. Mentally you will be in top form, perhaps feeling quite passionate about expressing your ideas and views.

This is also a time when you will develop fresh insights into other people.

time

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

C R O S S W O R D - 106 1

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1 “Waterloo” group 5 Bograt film, “High ___” 11 Not turned on 14 Skiff or dory 15 Provo resident 16 internet adress letters 17 Chinese way 20 Jeans 21 Depict distinctly 22 Handwoven rug 23 Writer Jong 24 part 2 of quip

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Hawthorne’s birthplace Turn or_ suff.

Collapsible bed Parkinson’s Medication Dearie Fruit coolers Part 3 of quip “Whip It” rock group The king of France Ice sheets Birthday figure %

SCRAMBLE - 64 Rearrange the letters in the four word jumbles, one letter to each square/circle, to make four ordinary words ADORN

How to play

Now arrange the letters in the circles to form the answer to the riddle or to fill in the missing word as indicated

IDEAS

50 52 57 60 61 62 63 64 66 67

Absolute Part 4 of quip U-shaped river bend Anger Actress Giplin Zen enlightenment Tibetan gazelle End of comment Letters in tennis ?

Former Dolphin running-back 68 Hawaiian bird 69 Caustic cleaner 70 Nairobi native 71 Winter Place ruler Down 1 First letters 2 Raspberry blower 3 Four-minute mile breaker 4 NY prison 5 Basks 6 Morticia’s cousin 7 Chair designer 8 Scarlelt’s Butler 9 “___Notorious” 10 National songs 11 Bizarre 12 Brawls

13 18 24 25 27 29 30 32 33 35 36 37 39 41 44 46 49 51 52 53 54 55 56 58

Parade vehicle Online shopping centre See-yal One bit per second Tokyo, once Infielder Ripken “___ to a Nightingale” Good buddy For all to hear Shif mechanisms GPA part Sturgeon eggs 2nd-year man Permit to Awllike tool Brown ermine Dreaded fly Still around Star in Orion Intriouing Incongruity Knock off Pyromaniac’s crime Fool Where the magic used to play 59 Dentist’s request 62 Kyle’s “South Park” friend 65 River of Oral

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Memory is the ____we all carry about with us. (5)

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CEIKKD AGRSSY

Words: Revue, tiers, hosing, maimed.

Answer: Some memories are realities and are better than anything that can every happen to one again.

WHATZIT? - 106 Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters.

Y

SPELLATHON -106 Today’s Ratings: 08-average | 09-good | 11-outstanding How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in A today’s puzzle? In making a word, each E S letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the central letter. There V G L should be at least one seven-letter word.

Plurals, foreign words and proper E names are not allowed. British English Dictionary is used as reference.

LOOP THE LOOP - 64

MINDBENDER - 106

You’ll find me where the sea meets land, Proud, tall, and straight I stand. Warmtsh in winter, and summer shade, In between I begin to fade. What am I? (The answer is a specific kind of tree. Most trees will fit the last three lines of the riddle; what variety will fit the first line?

Solution of 105 :

The original amount was Rs. 31.63. He cashes the check, and gets Rs. 63.31. Then he buys a stamp for Rs. 0.05, leaving him with Rs. 63.26, which is indeed exactly twice Rs. 31.63.

Sudoku-106 3 4

hell, HELLISH, hill, shell, shill

KAKURO - 106

20 12

Example

The numbers in the pink squares refer to the sums of the digits that you must fill into the empty spaces directly below or to the right of the pink square containing the number. For instance, in the given example, the 2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 digits that add upto 12, whereas for 20, the 3 boxes places horizontally next to it must add upto 20.

No zeroes are used here, only the digits one through nine.

Solution of KAKURO - 105

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Rules Connect adjacent dots with vertical or horizontal lines, creating a single loop.

(Fig A).

Crossovers or branches are not allowed 2 3 2 2 (As shown by dotted lines in Fig B).

2 1 1 3 2 Numbers in the puzzle indicate the 3 0 2 2 number of lines that should 1 2 3 3 2 surround it, while empty cells may 1 2 be surrounded by any number of 2 2 3 lines.

You can’t draw lines arround 2 2 1 3 3 zeroes.

Each puzzle has just one unique solution.

How to begin: Example (Fig A) - Begin with the zero next to 3. Since no lines can be drawn around zero, mark crosses around it, as shown. Now there is a cross in one space around 3. So we know the three lines of 3 can only be drawn in the remaining three spaces. Next these lines can only be extended in one direction each. Continue, using the same Solution of LTL No. 63 logic.

Hints: Keep elimx x 1 x x x x inating possibilix x ties by marking x x x 2 2 2 x 3 crosses in x x spaces between x 2 x dots where a line 2 x 2 x 3 3 x x x isn’t possible, x x x 1 x 2 3 i.e., if you have x x x x already completx x 0 x 3 2 x ed required lines x x x x or where a line x 3 extension may 3 2 x1 x x x x x create a branch x x x x or cause a deadx end (Fig B)

Solution of Spellathon - 105:

Sollution-105: Times square

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Solution of sudoku-105 HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and square 3x3 box is a subgrid of 9 cells. Fill in the grid so that each sub-grid contains the digits 1 to 9.

Every puzzle has one solution.

Note:

A digit cannot appear more than once in any particular digit combination. For instance in the example, we cannot have the combination of 8+4+8 for 20.

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HEALTH WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Drinking gallons of water erases wrinkles Recent research suggests that not only does water help the skin, but the extent to which it makes a difference may vary depending on the type one drinks.

Doctors and nutritionists agree that drinking at least eight glasses of water daily helps maintain a clear, youthful complexion. They are agreed that oodles of water will 'flush out' our systems, banish spots, plump out wrinkles and moisturise our skin.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, female volunteers were told to drink one-and-half litres of water daily for eight weeks without changing their lifestyle,

reports the Daily Mail .

Some drank ordinary tap water. Others drank Willow Water, a natural mineral water sourced in the Lake district in Britain. The latter contains salicin, a derivative of willow bark which, when metabolised, turns into salicylic acid, a compound found in a number of skin products, known for its anti-inflammatory properties and acts in the same way as aspirin.

Each woman had her picture taken before and after the trial using the latest, state-of-the-art Visia complexion analysis system. It examines the extent and depth of wrinkles, the texture of skin

and the amount of sun damage, to allow detailed comparison.

At the end of the trial, the results were astonishing. Those who drank

ordinary tap water saw a 19 percent reduction in their wrinkles. Those who drank Willow Water saw a dramatic 24 percent reduction.

PMS: Women’s monthly misery just a drug away Millions of women now could be freed from the monthly misery of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) by taking a tiny dose of a common drug for a few days. A major breakthrough has uncovered the cause of the debilitating cramps and mood swings that blight most women, reports express.co.uk.

Giving them a low dose of the common antidepressant Prozac could

stop PMS for good. For the first time neuroscientists have found an organic cause for the condition when the levels of a female sex hormone changes.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham, led by Thelma Lovick, have shown that premenstrual-like symptoms can be triggered in female rats by a change in the level of secretion of one of the female sex hormones that

normally occurs towards the end of the menstrual cycle in women.

In tests, the team found that PMS could be prevented by giving low doses of Prozac which is also known as fluoxetine.

Lovick said: “All that would be needed for countless women to benefit from what could be a simple and accessible treatment, involving a drug that is already in widespread use, is clinical

tests to refine it and identify the optimal dosing strategy.”

PMS causes pain and upset for millions of women worldwide.

Although not all women show all the symptoms, around 75 percent of women are thought to experience some of them.

These can include anxiety, mood swings, tiredness, depression, headaches, feeling bloated and pains in the joints.

Fit children have better memories say experts If you want to boost your child’s results at school, you could do a lot worse than ensuring that they do plenty of exercise.

Scientists have already shown that physical activity can make you brainier.

But a team in America has used scans to show that an important part of the brain actually grows in children who are fit. These youngsters tend to be more intelligent and have better memories than those who are inactive.

Scientists also found that one of the most important parts of their brains was 12 per cent larger than those of unfit youngsters. They believe that encouraging children to take exercise from a

very young age could help them do better at school later.

Researchers from the University of Illinois, in the U.S., studied the brains of 49 children aged nine and ten using a magnetic resonance imaging scan, a technique which provides very detailed pictures of organs and tissues in the body. They also tested the fitness levels of the children by making them run on a treadmill. The scientists found that the hippocampus, a part of the brain responsible for memory and learning, was around 12 per cent larger in the fitter youngsters.

They found that these children performed much better in memory tests.

How diet and not exercise is the key to losing weight

High-tech skin patch to cure acne A high-tech skin patch could be a new way to cure acne, the most common type of skin condition that afflicts adolescents.

The patch produces an electric charge to kill the bugs that cause the ugly spots.

Results from a test show that acne spots almost disappeared within three days, and that spots in the area around the patch also improved.

In some cases, acne will continue into adult life, with one in 20 women and one in 100 men over the age of 25 experiencing symptoms, reports the Daily Mail.

While it usually develops on the face, it can also appear on the back and chest.

The condition is thought to be triggered by hormones which send sebaceous glands into overdrive. These glands, found near the surface of the skin, are attached to hair follicles. Their purpose is to stop the hair from drying out, which they do by producing an oily substance called sebum. In acne sufferers, the glands produce too much sebum.

The excess mixes with skin cells to block the hair follicle. Bacteria that nor-

mally lives harmlessly on the skin can then infect the blocked follicles, resulting in the characteristic spots.

Traditional treatments include creams such as benzoyl peroxide, which work by preventing dead skin blocking hair follicles and killing bacteria on the skin. Another option is antibiotics to kill off the bacteria.

The contraceptive pill, which balances out the hormone levels, may also be helpful.

However, many of these treatments can take weeks to be effective and some carry a risk of side-

effects, including dry skin, nausea, weight gain and mood changes.

The new treatment, which looks like an ordinary plaster and is used once, produces results overnight - with no apparent side-effects.

The patch, which was developed by Oplon, an Israel-based technology company, is now being trialled. Around 100 people will wear the patches overnight or for around six hours.

The study results are expected by the end of the year and the patch itself could be available within two years.

Gene network behind hardening arteries identified A gene network behind the hardening of coronary arteries and heart disease has been identified by a team of scientists from Australia, Europe and Britain.

Researchers from Australia's Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare, the University of Helsinki and Leiden University Medical Centre in The Netherlands were involved in the study.

Concentrations of cholesterols (waxy substance found in the cell membranes) that severely restrict blood flow in the heart muscle, causing chest pains, are an important predictor of coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease.

Coronary artery disease refers to 'hardening of the arteries,' or atherosclerosis, a cycle where cholesterol builds up on the walls of arteries and the body's resultant immune response leads to more build-up, according to Walter and Eliza statement.

To investigate how cholesterols in the blood stream activate circulating immune cells, the researchers looked at samples from more than 500 volunteers to construct biological networks of genes that move in concert.

Circulating immune cells are integrated system of organs, tissues, cells, and cell products such as antibodies that neutralise potentially harmful organisms or substances.

The volunteers were participants in Finland's Dietary, Lifestyle and Genetic determinants of Obesity and Metabolic syndrome (DILGOM) study.

Michael Inouye, postdoctoral fellow at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, who conducted the research, said the study identified a network of genes whose activity was tied to the level of cholesterol in the blood, reports the journal Public Library of SciencesGenetics.

'These genes look like an inflammatory network and appear reactive to high-density lipoprotein,(which enable fats to be carried in the blood stream), triglycerides, (fatty deposits in coronary arteries and liver)... all of

It will give couch potatoes more reason to put their feet up and disappoint those who hit the gym to try to shed the extra pounds.

Apparently, exercising is not the best way to lose weight. Research shows that, contrary to popular belief, we are not less active than we were 20 years ago.

This means that the growing obesity problem is down to people eating too much, not a lack of exercise, according to Professor John Speakman.

Working with a Dutch colleague, Professor Speakman, of Aberdeen University, analysed two decades of studies on energy expenditure.

The data, from the U.S. and the Netherlands, showed that despite a growing reliance on timesaving technology, people today are not any less active than those of 20

years ago.

Factors such as decline in the number of children walking to school and a rise in TV watching do not necessarily equate to weight gain, the International Journal of Obesity reports.

For example, children driven to school have more time to spend running around in the playground, while evening TV watching has replaced other sedentary activities such as reading and listening to the radio.

Professor Speakman told the British Science Festival: ‘In the 1950s no one would have bought an exercise bike and sat on it in their garage but now people will do that.’

The researcher, however, stressed that physical activity is good for the body in other ways and should be part of a ‘healthy, balanced lifestyle’.

Breakthrough to help 'deep coma' victims move or chat

which are predictors of downstream cardiovascular disease,' he said.

'We are just beginning to understand biological networks and how they relate to disease,' Inouye said.

Patients in a vegetative state after a devastating brain damage could soon be able to 'talk' or steer a wheelchair, says a top neuroscientist.

Adrian Owen at Cambridge University has already proved that some victims with no outward signs of awareness not only can grasp what people are uttering, but also answer simple questions.

Now he believes a new

breakthrough will before long enable them to communicate using a voice synthesizer almost in 'real time', and even move around using a motorised wheelchair.

Owen has already shown that using a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) brain scanner one patient was able to give 'yes' or 'no' responses to queries, reports the Telegraph.

Sport worLd

Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

India upset Brazil 3-2 in Davis Cup Down 0 – 2, India upset Brazil on Sunday at Chennai to retain their World group berth in the Davis Cup tennis. After losing both the singles, Somdev Derrarman and Rohan Bopanna won their reverse singles games, making the doubles win of veterans Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi worthwhile.

This is perhaps the best show that India has put on in 89 years of Davis Cup participation. Somdev beat Thomas Belluci and Bopanna seized his chance at glory and rolled over Ricardo Mello 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3 to complete a famous triumph.

Ryan Sidebottom hangs boots from international cricket

England medium pacer Ryan Sidebottom announced his retirement from international cricket on Monday. He ended his England career on a high note, as he was a part of the World Champion England T20 team.

Sidebottom also played important role in helping his country side Nottinghamshire in claiming the County Championship Division One title. The 32 year old bowler made his Test debut against Pakistan at Lords in 2001, but had to wait another six years for a second opportunity. He went on to establish himself as a regular in the England team, producing a Test hat-trick and returning career-best figures of 7-47 against New Zealand in 2008.

In all, he took 79 wickets in 22 Tests and more than 50 in ODIs and T20 internationals.

Ronjan Sodhi is the new star on Indian shooting horizon Wins double trap gold at World Cup at Izmir in Turkey India has one more shooting star dotting the horizon, as Ronjan Sodhi scored a near flawless 49/50 in the World Cup shooting finals on Monday to win the gold medal at Izmir, Turkey.

Ranked as world no. 9, Sodhi was comfortably ahead of his nearest rival, Junnjie Mo of China (188 points -final round score 47).

The 31-year-old car-

Ronjan Sodhi

ried to the final the confidence he had gained from his performance this year, which included a World Cup stage gold at Lonato and an unregistered world record score.

Sodhi said that Monday's showing would give a boost to his morale ahead of the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games. "It's a big booster, no doubt about that.

Pak may honour Bopanna as Qureshi’s partner The Indian tennis player who created a record of sorts recently, Rohan Bopanna is likely to be honoured with the highest civil award of Pakistan. He is to be rewarded as he played with Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan as the doubles partner and they emerged as runners up at the US Open.

Governor of Punjab province in Pakistan, Salmaan Taseer said his proposal for Pakistan's highest civil award to tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq

Qureshi and his Indian partner Rohan Boppana for their performance in the US Open has been accepted.

Addressing a reception he hosted in honour of Qureshi at Governor House, Taseer said: “Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and President Asif Ali Zardari have consented to my proposal and both players will soon be rewarded for their feat.”

Through the performance of Qureshi, Pakistan wanted to tell the world

that it is a peace-loving nation, Taseer said. He awarded a gold medal and Rs 500,000 to Qureshi.

During a separate meeting with Qureshi, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the tennis star was a national hero and the whole nation was proud of him.

Sharif said Qureshi's success in the Grand Slam had come as a breath of fresh air for Pakistan.

Qureshi was given a hero's welcome when he returned to Pakistan.

Cheteshwar Pujara to don Indian cap against OZ Known as ‘The second Wall’ after Rahul Dravid.

Saurashtra middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is the only new face in the Indian cricket team named for the first test match against Australia to be played at Mohali near Chandigarh from 1st October. Pujara has been picked up in place of Yuvraj Singh, who was dropped for his lack form.

Karnataka pace bowler Abhimanyu Mithun also has been sidelined after some impressive performance in Sri Lanka.

Zaheer Khan, the Indian pace spearhead has made comeback alongwith S Sreesanth as they were reported fit after recovery

from injuries. Harbhajan Singh and Gautam Gambhir are also back in the team.

India squad: MS Dhoni (capt. & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid,

Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara, M Vijay, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Sreesanth and Amit Mishra.

Mumbai Indians, Wayamba out of Champions League T20 gent half-century and, with assistance from No. 5 Cameron Borgas, helped South Australia preserve their 100% record in the league phase by powering the Redbacks to their highest total of the tournament.

It was easily Guyana's best performance of the tournament, troubling South Australia with the new ball and then remaining in the hunt for much of the chase despite facing a mammoth target.

In perfect batting conditions, Sarwan exploited the short boundary towards long-off to siphon plenty of runs, and was

Fifth World Boxing gold for Mary Kom of India Mary Kom, the Indian woman boxer has created a record of sorts as she punched her way to fifth title at the World women’s boxing championships Mary Kom, a mother of two from in Bridgetown, Manipur, is the only boxer to have Barbados last won a medal in each edition of the weekend.

The World Championship. braveheart from Manipur took her fifth gold in a different category – 48 kg, while her first four titles in 46 kg category. In the final bout on Saturday, she beat Duta Seluta of Romania 16-6. This is third consecutive victory for Mary Kom against the Romanian.

Mahesh Bhupathi declares ‘love all’ for Lara Dutta In yet another pairing of sports stars and silver screen stars, Mahesh Bhupathi, the veteran tennis player of India last week announced his engagement with Lara Dutta, a bollywood star and former Miss Universe. They got engaged in New York. Mahesh had recently divorced his former wife and ex Lara Dutta with model Shveta Mahesh Bhupathi Jaishankar, while Lara Dutta had a long live-in relationship with model turned actor Kelly Dorjee. She was later also linked up with another actor Dino Morea for a while.

Mahesh Bhupathi also owns a celebrity management company. Lara Dutta first turned up as a client and later progressed to the tennis star’s sweet heart.

EPL games this week

South Australia remains unbeaten Already in the semi finals and unbeaten till Tuesday, South Australia beat Guyana by 15 runs at Johannesburg.

Mumbai Indians and Wayamba of Sri Lanka have already been ousted of the next stage.

South Australia had already strolled into the semi-finals and seemingly had little to gain against the also-rans from Guyana in their final league match, but still benefited as their largely untested middle-order got a thorough and muchneeded workout.

Callum Ferguson made a typically intelli-

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well supported by the youngsters, Richard Ramdeen and Steven Jacobs, as Guyana asked South Australia's bowlers plenty of questions.

Perhaps Guyana's best phase of the match was the Powerplay after being asked to bowl. Seven deliveries into the innings, South Australia had cracked three boundaries to sprint to 15 but seamer Paul Wintz, who was clobbered by Kieron Pollard on his debut against Mumbai Indians, managed to extract some bounce to remove Daniel Harris and slow the scoring.

Just like when they were bowling, Guyana were the more impressive side for more than half the innings when they batted.

Their finest batting patch was the 56-run stand between Sarwan and Jacobs.

They were together for five overs, each of which was taken for at least ten runs, which meant that at the end of the 12th Guyana were at a solid 106 for 2. {Brief scores: South Australia 191 for 6 (Ferguson 55, Borgas 48) beat Guyana 176 for 7 (Sarwan 70, Harris 3-33) by 15 runs}.

Saturday, 25 September Man City v/s Chelsea City of Mcr. Stadium Arsenal v/s West Brom Emirates Stadium Birmingham v/s Wigan St. Andrews Ground Blackpool v/s Blackburn Bloomfield Road Fulham v/s Everton Craven Cottage Liverpool v/s Sunderland Anfield West Ham v/s Tottenham Boleyn Ground Sunday, 26 September Bolton v/s Man Utd Reebok Stadium Wolverhampton v/s Aston Villa Molineux Newcastle v/s Stoke St. James’ Park

12:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 12:00 14:05 16:10

Champions League results 7th Match – South Australia beat Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets at Durban; Mumbai Indians 180/7 (20 overs); South Australia 182/5 (19.3 overs) 8th Match – Victoria beat Central Districts by 7 wickets at Centurion; Central Districts 165/5 (20 overs); Victoria 166/3 (19.4 overs) 9th Match - Chennai Super Kings beat Wayamba by 9 runs at Centurion; Chennai Super Kings 200/3 (20 overs); Wayamba 103 (17.1 overs) 10th Match – Mumbai Indians beat Guyana by 31 runs at Durban; Mumbai Indians 184/4 (20 overs); Guyana 153/6 (20 overs) 11th Match – South Australia beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 8 wickets; Royal Challengers Bangalore 154 (19.5 overs); South Australia 155/2 (18.3 overs) 12th Match – Warriors beat Central Districts by 6 wickets at Port Elizabeth; Central Districts 175/3 (20 overs); Warriors 181/4 (19.1 overs) 13th Match – Victoria beat Chennai Super Kings in ‘Eliminator’ at Port Elizabeth; Chennai Super Kings 162/6 (20 overs); Victoria 162 (20 overs) 14th Match - Lions beat Guyana by 9 wickets at Johannesburg; Guyana 148/9 (20 overs); Lions 149/1 (15.1 overs) 15th Match - Mumbai Indians beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 2 runs at Durban; Mumbai Indians 165/7 (20 overs); Royal Challengers Bangalore 163/5 (20 overs) 16th Match - Victoria beat Wayamba by 8 wickets at Centurion; Wayamba 106 (16.3 overs); Victoria 108/2 (13.2 overs)

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Asian Voice - Saturday 25th September 2010

Pakistan draw level but ill feeling deepens

By Premen Addy

Pakistan's creditable fightback, with successive wins at the Oval and Lord's, to draw level with England in the ODI series lost much of its lustre after Ijaz Butt, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, accused unnamed English players of throwing the Oval match for money.

This brought a furious rebuttal from the England captain Andrew Strauss and talk of suing Mr Butt for libel in the courts. The English players will be consulting the England & Welsh Cricket Board (ECB) on the most appropriate course to take, while keeping in mind the best interests of cricket.

This last point was important to England, with the side contemplating withdrawing from the Lord's match, then choosing not to do so as wiser counsels prevailed.

However, the series, already blighted by corruption allegations against three Pakistani cricketers, had lost its appeal.

Pakistan's sporting loss may in time rival the economic damage caused by the floods. The country's reputation for decency and fairplay – flimsy at the best of times - has disappeared into limbo. English cricket legend Ian Botham has called for Pakistan's expulsion from the game until the mess of Pakistani cricket is sorted. The International Players Association, led by former Australian spinner Tim May, may well pitch into the controversy – if it does, you can bet it won't

Pakistan were obviously over-joyed at the win, and even a 35-year-old Shoaib Akhtar was leaping around in celebration at Lord's on Monday

take Pakistan's side.

Raucous voiced in Pakistan see a sinister Indian hand in all this, adding to the witches brew. The drama has still to be played out. Placing Pakistan beyond the pale could save cricket from its most dangerous cancer.

Now to the cricket.

Two down with three matches to play, Pakistan came up trumps at the Oval, defeating England by 23 runs, thanks largely to Umar Gul's seam and swing, which earned him a 6 wicket haul for 42 runs.

A middle order collapse terminated the England innings at innings 218, well short of Pakistan's total of 241.

The fourth encounter at Lord's was almost a repeat. Pakistan closed on 265 for7, thanks to Abdul

Razzak's blistering unbeaten 44 (from 20 balls). England were going great guns at 113 for no loss, when Steven Davis departed for 49, followed quickly by Jonathan Trott for 4, but the killer blow came with Strauss's dismissal for 68 (from 72 balls). Thereafter wickets fell steadily, with Gul once more the pick of the Pakistani attack with figures of 4 for 32. The final match will decide the outcome of the series, but few now care. The cricket has lost its savour; it will be remembered in years to come for the wrong reasons.

Meanwhile, Andrew 'Freddie' Flintoff announced his retirement from all forms of cricket.

Plagued by injury, his body finally gave way and

he called a day on the advice of the surgeon who operated on his bad knee.

He will walk and move comfortably, but never again as an active sportsman. Flintoff was a drawcard wherever he played.

He was a match winner on his day, as he proved in the home Ashes series against Australia in 2005. But consistency eluded him.

He scored 3, 845 Test runs averaging 31 and took 238 Test wickets at 32.

Compare this with the South African allrounder Jacques Kallis, who has scored 11,126 runs and taken 266 wickets at 31 apiece. So Flintoff was a very good allrounder - not a great one. A larger than life figure, he was something of a hell-raiser. He was chivalrous and sporting to a fault. Few will forget Flintoff kneeling beside Brett Lee, uttering words of comfort in his ear, after Australia had gone down to England by 3 runs in the Edgbaston Test. He understood an opponent's pang of disappointment, even as he celebrated a dramatic victory.

It was a game, after all, played hard but in the right spirit. Cricket for Andrew Flintoff was never a war. Thanks for the enjoyment and the memory. {Brief scores: 4th ODI - Pakistan 265 for 7 (Hafeez 64, Swann 4-37) beat England 227 (Strauss 68, Gul 4-32) by 38 runs.

3rd ODI - Pakistan 241 (Fawad 64, Anderson 326) beat England 218 (Morgan 61, Strauss 57, Wright 48*, Gul 6-42) by 23 runs}.

Indian origin Canadian to lead team at CWG opening ceremony Ken Pereira is the captain of Canadian hockey team, has played more than 300 matches Canadian Indian Ken Pereira, captain of the country’s hockey team is to receive a distinct honour on October 3 at New Delhi. He will be leading the Canadian contingent with the national flag at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games.

Pereira is born in Toronto to Indian parents. Ken is playing for Canadian hockey team for more than 16 years

and has been played in more than 300 matches.

He will be leading the 255 member Canadian contingent.

Ken is the first Canadian Indian and the first field hockey player to get the honour of leading all the athletes. Ken is elated and said that being in India as a leader of the contingent makes it more special.

“It’s especially sweet because it's the birthplace

Ken Pereira

of my parents. We still have a lot of family over there and I'm sure they'll come out and support the Canadian team.”

Pereira said initially he "couldn't believe" his ears when informed that he had been selected by Commonwealth Games Canada as the flag bearer.

He is one of the best midfielders in the game and as a professional, plays in Holland in world’s top league.

ICC rejects match-fixing reports in IPL Even as Pakistani cricket is sinking deeper into the match fixing and spot fixing scams, IPL – the showpiece Indian T20 cricket tournament has got a clean chit from the ICC, at least for the present.

Haroon Lorgat, CEO of the International Cricket Council last week refuted media reports suggesting 29 cricketers of

different nationalities were under ICC’s AntiCorruption and Security Unit watch for suspected match or spot fixing.

“This is to confirm that there is no such list and we believe it is simply a way that the media is trying to fish for information without any basis for doing so,” Lorgat added.

Sachin, Sehwag again in race for ICC awards Graeme Swan, Steven Finn, Katherine Brunt also nominated Maestro Sachin Tendulkar and dashing opener V i r e n d e r Sehwag of India, along with South African b a t s m a n Hashim Amla and England offspinner Graeme Swann, have been short-listed for the top honours at the LG ICC Awards 2010.

The votes have now been cast by the independent 25-person academy and one of the four players will receive the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for Cricketer of the Year at a glittering ceremony in Bangalore on October 6.

Tendulkar, Sehwag and Amla are also in the running for the Test Player of the Year award, alongside South Africa paceman Dale Steyn.

Tendulkar is in contention too for the ODI Player of the Year award with the Australian duo of Shane Watson (pace bowling all-rounder) and Ryan Harris (paceman) as well as South Africa's A.B. de Villiers (batsman).

The T20 International Performance of the Year sees New Zealand's Brendon McCullum shortlisted alongside Australia's Michael Hussey, Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayawardene and South Africa's Ryan McLaren.

Player short-list (in alphabetical order): Cricketer of the Year: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Graeme Swann (Eng), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind).

Test Player of the Year: Hashim Amla (SA), Virender Sehwag (Ind), Dale Steyn (SA), Sachin Tendulkar (Ind).

ODI Player of the Year: Ryan Harris (Aus),

Sachin Tendulkar (Ind), A.B. de Villiers (SA), Shane Watson (Aus).

Emerging Player: Umar Akmal (Pak), Steven Finn (Eng), Angelo Mathews (SL), Tim Paine (Aus).

Associate and Affiliate Player of the Year: Ryan ten Doeschate (Ned), Trent Johnson (Ire), Kevin O'Brien (Ire), Mohammed Shahzad (Afg).

T20 International Performance of the Year: Michael Hussey (Aus) for his 60 not out off 24 balls against Pakistan in the semifinal of the ICC World Twenty20 2010 in St. Lucia on May 14, Mahela Jayawardene (SL) for his 100 off 64 balls against Zimbabwe in Guyana on May 3 and his 98 not out off 56 balls against West Indies in Bridgetown on May 2010 both during the ICC World Twenty20 2010, Ryan McLaren (SA) for his five for 19 against the West Indies on May 19 in Antigua, Brendon McCullum (NZ) for his 116 not out off 56 balls against Australia in Christchurch, New Zealand on February 28.

Women's Cricketer of the Year: Katherine Brunt (Eng), Shelley Nitschke (Aus), Ellyse Perry (Aus), Stafanie Taylor (WI).

Umpire of the Year: Aleem Dar, Steve Davis, Tony Hill, Simon Taufel.

Spirit of Cricket: India, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe.