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25 - 31 MAY 2019 - VOL 48 ISSUE 4

MODI MARCHES ON

inside:

Exit polls unanimously projected a big win for the Modi government with the NDA securing a majority, though there were differences on whether or not the BJP would cross the halfway mark on its own in the Lok Sabha. The polls forecast between 277 and 352 seats for the NDA with the BJP getting 227 to 291 seats. Two of them suggested the saffron party may actually cross its 2014 tally of 282. If these are proved correct, it would be the first instance since the Congress in 1980 and 1984 of a single party winning a majority in two successive Lok Sabha polls.

Continued on page 26 PARTY/ SEATS WON TIMES INDIA ALLIANCE IN 2014 NOW- TODAYVMR AXIS NDA 356 306 352 BJP 282 262 287 UPA 66 132 93 CONG 44 78 38 OTHERS 121 104 82 TMC 34 28 21 SP-BSP-RLD 5 20 13

TODAY’S CHANAKYANEWS 24 340 291 70 57 133 23 13

NEWS18- REPUBLIC IPSOS VOTER

ABPNIELSEN

336 276 82 46 124 37 18

277 227 130 87 135 24 45

287 236 128 80 127 29 40

CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice, Chris Dusy, Damilola Taylor Trust, winner of the Editor's Choice award, and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

Small charities pioneering large social causes SEE PAGE 15-17

Bollywood stars shine at Cannes SEE PAGE 28

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onetoone WITH KEITH VAZ, MP

tual wellness. His other interests include use of technology in improving access to health care, integrated physical and mental health care and promotion of health and wellness. He is currently working on raising awareness about Mind-Body Medicines and influence of the mind on Chronic Disease management.

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Dr Pitchiah Balu Dr Balu was born and raised in Tamil Nadu, a state in South India. He completed his undergraduate medical and surgical training in Chennai and further training in Mental and Behavioural Health Sciences in Yorkshire and Hertfordshire in the UK. He also took a break from his medical training to complete his MBA at the SAID Business School, University of Oxford. He has worked in the National Health Service mental health service (NHS) and the Private Sector in the UK and abroad in both clinical and managerial roles. Dr Balu works as a NHS Consultant Psychiatrist in Kensington and Chelsea. He works closely with a multidisciplinary team which manages common mental disorders including anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, PTSD and Bipolar affective disorder under his expert supervision. He has expertise in working with high achievers and people with Type A personalities helping them achieve their full potential while minimising the impact of their emotional problems on their work and family life. At Priory Group, he was involved in setting up and management of an inpatient facility which focused on the rehabilitation and empowerment of people with severe and enduring mental health problems. He has special expertise in Organisational behaviour and the impact of emotions on decision making in the financial services industry. He retains a keen interest in the field of neuro-economics and behavioural finance. During his work within the Investment management sector, he was able to help several professionals successfully overcome anxiety, anger, fear, procrastination, obsessional tendencies and addictions. He observed a clear positive change and emotional wellbeing in teams he was working with. Inspired by a senior banker, he decided to pursue his higher training in mental health, particularly focusing on mood disorders and Behavioural addictions. He is committed to helping his clients achieve their full potential and enjoy a state of physical, emotional, sexual and spiri-

Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in? (50 words response) It is difficult to choose one place as home My head is in London where I live with my family and work mostly. My heart is in Chennai, India - where many of my friends are. I also support social entrepreneurs in India.

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giving and Caring by Sharing - have influenced my life and work.

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What is the best aspect about your current role?

Meeting so many people and being able to make a positive difference to their lives by encouraging them to think and act differently.

What are your proudest achievements?

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What inspires you?

My Patients - I call them clients or partners.

The stories they bring are very inspiring.

Every story can be made into a book and/or movie and I learn every day.

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What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

I used to think that resources were obstacles in my career, but learnt that my own thought process was the biggest obstacle and when lack of resources made way for resourcefulness by changing my thought process, I started to look at obstacles differently.

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And the worst?

In the NHS, UK - I was the lead consultant in setting up a project which delivered 24/7 single point of access to mental health services. The Guardian reported that this project is the equivalent of A&E for mental health crisis and Community mental health care. In my Private Practice - I have been working on a PAY WHAT YOU PLEASE model for emotional wellness and has had excellent response and feedback. This has been one of my most satisfactory achievements.

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

People who have nothing but are willing to give everything - It is difficult to point out one person or event or thing. Growing by

The frustration that technology which can be an enabler of positive change is sometimes used to hinder progress and efficiency. I see many colleagues suffer moral injury within the health service which is very disheartening.

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What are your long term goals?

My dream is to work towards creating a Value Based Healthcare system where spending on health is seen as an investment and not as an expense. To move towards Healthcare and not illness care (as it is now). Use technology as an enabler of such a system.

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

Bringing in Mindfulness to every aspect of governance and economy. Mind Mining as a government policy as the mind is an endless resource.

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

There are many, but I was to choose one it would be Nelson Mandela. I want to know how he was able to survive and infact, thrive during and after his long prison sentence. Although a lot has been written about this, I have some specific questions.

Javid's new espionage Row over definition of Islamophobia bill to tackle threats Foreign spies in the UK maybe mandated to register their names in a list under a new espionage bill which aims to tackle threats from hostile states, as suggested

by Home Secretary Sajid Javid. Asking Home Office officials and counter-terror police to "urgently review" the case for designating Syria as a terrorist hotspot, Javid emphasised for a particular focus on Idlib province in the north-west of the country and others areas in the north-east.

During his speech at New Scotland Yard in London, he spoke about how UK security services have foiled over 19 major terror attacks in the last two years and confirmed plans of designating parts of Syria and possibly West Africa as terror no-go zones for Britons.

"In the past two years they have foiled 19 major terrorist attacks - 14 of them Islamist and five of them motivated by extreme rightwing ideologies.

"Anyone who is in these

Sajid Javid

areas without a legitimate reason should be on notice.

I can also see that there may be a case in the future for designating parts of West Africa," said Javid.

This could see Britons in those areas who are not aid workers or journalists, for example, face up to 10 years in prison. The Bill aims to combat the threat of hostile states following the Salisbury chemical weapons attack, which has been blamed on Russia. Javid also revealed that he shared some of the concerns of UK allies, such as the US and Australia, over allowing Chinese company Huawei access to telecommunications networks.

The government has been criticised for rejecting a proposed working definition of Islamophobia that has been adopted by parties including Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Conservatives.

The definition was drafted in a report published by a cross-party group of MPs in December where it had stated that “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.”

However, the government has said that the definition needed to be given further consideration. The former Conservative chair Sayeeda Warsi, who has been at the forefront of tackling Islamophobia in the Conservative Party, told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme responded to Martin Hewitt’s letter by calling it “irresponsible scaremongering” and urged the government to accept the proposed definition.

Martin Hewitt, the chair of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which represents the leaders of law enforcement in England and

Wales, had earlier said that the definition was “too broad as currently drafted, could cause confusion for officers enforcing it and could be used to challenge legitimate free speech on the historical or theological actions of Islamic states”.

In March, the Tory party had suspended 14 members for allegedly making Islamophobic comments after a string of abusive posts were uncovered on social media. However, some of these members were then re-instated back in the Party a few weeks ago.

Islamophobia is undefinable and the working definition proposed by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims is not legally binding today.

“I am deeply concerned at hatred which is directed against British Muslims and

others because of their faith or heritage. This is utterly unacceptable and does not reflect the values of our country,” said Rt. Hon James Brokenshire MP. He announced the Government will instead appoint two expert advisers to lead a new study in close collaboration with the cross-Government AntiMuslim Hatred Working Group.

But, some Ahmadiyya Muslims have claimed that we were not consulted in the process of adopting a formal definition of Islamophobia.

A nationwide survey by Opium has indicated that 71% of people from ethnic minorities facing discrimination, increased from 58% in January 2016.

Ethnic minorities in Britain are facing rising and increasingly overt racism, with levels of discrimination and abuse continuing to grow in the wake of the Brexit referendum, research conducted among over 1000 people has revealed.

The data comes amid rising concern at the use of divi-

sive rhetoric and propagation of right wing ideologies in public before this week’s European parliament elections, where some leading candidates, including Ukip’s Carl Benjamin and the independent Tommy Robinson, have records of overt racism.

More fundamentally the report highlighted that online racism has more than doubled since before the referendum, to 51%, and there were rises of about 50% in the number or peo-

ple reporting hearing people ranting or making negative comments about immigration or making racist comments made to sound like jokes.

However, there was a marginal decrease in the number of people who felt they were victims of more tacit forms of discrimination such as being treated with suspicion by police or security guards, being turned down for promotion at work or suffering workplace bullying.

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi

Rising racism since Brexit, reveals a new survey

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25 - 31 May 2019

Another term predicted for PM Modi Exit polls have predicted another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. All exit polls have put NDA well ahead of UPA. If exit poll projections are proven correct, some sort of an explanation will be required for how the NDA government has cut through, or entirely overcome, anti-incumbency despite many signs of a failing economy including- stagnant private investments, slowing consumption demand, agricultural distress, a jobs slowdown and credit squeeze.

There has been a long-running debate on how effective NDA’s flagship welfare schemes – such as Swachh Bharat Mission for universal sanitation, Ujjwala Yojana that provided cooking gas cylinders and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana that provided housing to poorer households – have been. If NDA does well it would indicate that these programmes – as well as related infrastructure build outs such as rural roads and electrification – have been administered well, much better than with similar schemes under UPA. Perhaps, welfare schemes may have worked well for the Modi government, but it needs to do something more if re-elected.

This will not remain true in the long run, however, and the next government must be alive to this. It will face looming challenges on the economic front.

The last five years have seen a benign environment where food prices recorded only a modest increase and oil price declined. This benign phase appears to be coming to an end. Not only has economic momentum slowed, there are incipient signs of stress on the price front, while global trade wars, perhaps even real

wars, are breaking out. Consequently, the next government will have no option but to press the accelerator on reforms.

The Modi government had shown some urgency on this front when elected in 2014, but appeared to hit the brakes when confronted by Congress president Rahul Gandhi’s populist slogan of it being a “suit boot ki sarkar”. The problem with the slogan is that it presents a false binary: market-oriented reforms don’t have to be anti-poor and can provide opportunities to the poor. Despite elite preconceptions poor people might eventually aspire to wearing suit and boot, or to the jobs that enable them to do this. Now that the Modi government has amply proven its propoor credentials, this is something it could fruitfully turn to. Just to cite an example, education which determines the quality of human capital, is critically in need of reform. The next administration should devote as much attention to educational reform as this one gave to Swachh Bharat Mission.

The numbers, however, predict a crisis for the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Even the alliance of all the other parties may not win more than a total of 133 seats. As the predictions give a boost to the BJP, most of the opposition leaders have ridiculed the polls and believe that the exit poll figures are making erroneous claims. West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee tweeted that she doesn't trust the exit poll and that people are being manipulated. She added that the game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip.

Mars, Venus on ISRO list As Indian politics plumbs the depths, Indian science and engineering are readying to soar into space.

The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) - a civilian body – is planning space missions to Mars and Venus, and a second, forthcoming mission to the Moon. In all, there will be seven such missions in the next 10 years.

While the Venus spacecraft is scheduled for a 2023 liftoff with over 20 payloads. The next decade will start in 2020 with interplanetary missions Xposat to study cosmic radiation, then Aditya LI to the Sun in 2021, Mars Orbitor in Mission 2 in 2022, Lunar Polar Exploration (Chandrayan 3) in 2024 and Exo worlds, an exploration beyond the solar system due for takeoff in 2028.

Venus is regarded as the Earth’s twin sister because of the similarities in mass, size, composition, density and gravity. The Venus mission will study its surface and subsurface, atmospheric chemistry and the interactions with the solar radiation and solar winds.

‘We have received great response from across the

world, and more than 20 payloads planned,’ said ISRO Chairman K. Sivan. ‘Aditya LI has been defined. The rest are in planning stages,’ added Sivan, who went on to explain that Aditya LI and the Sun mission may play a key role in understanding and predicting climate change. The payloads will study the solar corona. ‘Corona has an influence on the upper atmosphere and that can impact climate change on earth.’ Venus is about 1 per cent distance between the Sun and Earth, where the gravity of both celestial objects equalizes.

Placing the spacecraft in such an orbit allows it to circle along with the Earth, thereby constantly facing the Sun. ISRO’s biggest this year, Chandrayan 2 is all set for a July launch. Chairman Sivan said the spacecraft included the orbitor, lander and rover, which will be flight- ready by the end of May. The Xposat mission will last five years.

These are exciting times, the positives and negatives in co-habitation that perhaps is uniquely Indian. It is something of a mystery to foreigners and Indians alike.

Dabbawalas gift to baby Archie The Dabbawalas of Mumbai have become the stuff of legend, a cooperative venture excelling in free enterprise, a business model for some of the nation’s and the world’s top business schools.

For years these humble men joined forces to carry thousands of mid-day meals from homes to thousands of offices where people from those homes worked. Docketed faultlessly with no external aids, but simple human ingenuity and commitment, they attracted the attention of Britain’s heir apparent Prince Charles. His Royal Highness visited the Dabbawala centre in Mumbai and caught a glimpse of them at work , entranced by what he saw. The Dabbawalas were equally moved by his interest in their work.

‘Prince Charles is our friend and has become a

grandfather, we’ve become grandfathers too. In Marathi culture we present gifts to our grandchild,’ said Subhash Talekar, President of the Mumbai Dabbawala Association. Hence the Association sent silver jewellery to the new Royal arrival Archie Harrison Mountbatten Windsor, son of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They sent the couple a local dress on their wedding last year.

They celebrated the Royal wedding by distributing sweets at a government hospital in Mumbai. And it all started with the bonding with Prince Charles many years ago. In a world riven by discord and mindless violence, this surely is an uplifting story.

Hope is not a feeling or a mood or a personality type.

Hope is a choice - Jim Wallis (2007)

Alpesh Patel

Why are people embarrassed to be Hindu?

Prime Minister 11 Ashoka Road New Delhi, 110001 Dear Prime Minister Modi-ji, When a country is 70% Hindu, and is the only historic home of the oldest of all faiths, then that country is home, wherever its sons and daughters may live.

For too long nations have limited their protection to their own citizens. India, must extend this principle – to cover all those whose ancestors continue to call Hindustan their home.

Because unlike those of all other faiths, Hindus have no traditional, ancestral home, except India. It must be the policy of your Government such that all Hindus wherever they are in the world will be protection by your Government.

From this day onward, the first determinant of your relations with any foreign government must be their treatment of the Hindu population within their borders. It has to be the business of this Government how Hindus are treated worldwide. If they want better relations with India, first make the best relations with Hindus in their own country.

This doctrine is not novel in international relations. The people of Israel provide protection to Jews wherever they are in the world, of whichever nationality. We shall extend no lesser protection to Hindus.

Nor should anyone ask, what of those of other faiths? Muslims, Christians, those of all other faiths who are Indian nationals will continue to have the full unwavering protections of the Indian State.

As Hindustan becomes an economic superpower, what use is this wealth, this status, the hands of friendship of other nations, if they do not respect our people, for Hindus wherever they are will always be Hindustani first.

You are often called a Hindu Nationalist. So be it.

You have never been embarrassed of the title. This is Hindu Nationalism. This is an example of what it means. Justice for all, appeasement of none. The Hindu nation is not confined to borders drawn by a colonial power. We are the Hindu nation, world over.

Hindustan holds dominion over us all.

Extend this Doctrine to all dharmic faiths who have no home except India – including the Sikhs, Jains, Parsees too.

I have termed this as the Modi-Patel doctrine in tribute to India’s first Deputy PM, Sardar Patel, who was responsible for bringing all the States into the Union at Independence and thereby earned the title the ‘Iron Man of India’. Hereafter India will be Ironlike in its resolve in the protection of Hindus.

The riots of 2002 are testament to why Hindus need and must be protected, for it was there that hundreds of Hindus were burnt alive, and the carnage and consequences for Muslims thereafter was truly horrific.

Therefore, expect the full support of the global Muslim population that Hindus should nowhere in the world ever feel a minority. We will no longer stand afraid of protecting our own, for fear of offending others. We will no longer feel a minority in our own homeland.

Moreover, please seek to move a Constitutional Amendment to have the name of India changed to Bharat, in keeping with the actions of local State Governments who have renamed great cities from their colonial names to their traditional names, such as Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahemdabad, Vadodara.

Jai Hind.

Editor: CB Patel 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 Website: www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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Men jailed after attempting to travel to Syria to join Daesh Two men have been jailed for preparing to travel to Syria to commit terrorist acts in support of Daesh.

23 year old Safwaan Mansur, from Aston, and 22 year old Hanzalah Patel, from Leicester, were convicted at Birmingham Crown Court on Monday 1 April for being concerned in the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism between 31 May 2017 and 24 June 2017.

They were sentenced to 14 years.

Patel had told his family that he was due to be leading prayers at a mosque in Germany but after concerns were raised police searched the pair’s family homes and began piecing together their intention to travel to Syria and join Daesh. They had bought camp-

ing equipment, outdoor survival equipment and clothing and airline tickets before travelling initially to Germany and then onto Istanbul before contacting others to arrange a crossing into Syria.

They had broken down their journey in an attempt to evade surveillance using a mix of air travel and public transport, they had even booked a return flight with no intention of using it.

The pair were detained by Turkish authorities and returned to the UK. They were arrested on 1 July 2017 by West Midlands Counter Terrorism officers when they arrived at Heathrow.

Mansur and Patel - who had known each other since being at school together in Leicester embarked on a similar trip in

family member is thinking of travelling to Syria it is very important that they tell us as soon as possible. Police and other agencies can offer support to help safeguard those who are vulnerable to radicalisers.

"The sooner we can intervene, the better chance we have of preventing people from becoming embroiled in the conflict and facing potential prosecution."

Anyone concerned about someone travelling to, or returning from, Syria or another conflict zone or is worried about someone showing signs of being radicalised should contact their local police on 101.

Safwaan Mansur and Hanzalah Patel

2016 but having got to Hatay on the Syrian border, they returned to the UK. Hatay, at the time was a transit area for individuals wanting to cross into territory occupied by Daesh.

Temporary head of WMCTU Chief Superintendent Shaun Edwards, said, “If anyone is concerned that a friend or

Petition to save the reputation of a GP gains momentum A petition to 'save the reputation' of a 52 year old GP who has been in medicine for 23 years with an unblemished record, and asked a Muslim woman to remove her veil (niqab), so that he could hear her during a consultation has been signed by more than 2500 people. Dr Keith Wolverson last week received a letter from the General Medical Council (GMC) telling him his conduct was being 'investigated' over claims that he 'discriminated' against a woman.

The Mail on Sunday reported that he was 'deeply' upset for being alleged of racial discrimination over the incident and did

Dr Keith Wolverson

Wolverhampton council gets its first ever Sikh public health and wellbeing boss Cllr Jasbir Jaspal has become the first ever Sikh woman to be named as Wolverhampton council's public health and wellbeing boss in its history. She has previously chaired the authority's health scrutiny panel and while on the Cabinet, she definitely wants to combat violent crime in Wolverhampton.

Mrs Jaspal has urged community groups with any concern regarding violent crimes to contact her directly.

Mrs Jaspal, who has been a councillor since 2012 told the Express and Star, “This is a big step up for me and I am ready for the challenge, having done health scrutiny for three years.

"It is a proud moment for the Sikh community to have a female member of the Cabinet. It is probably long overdue, considering the high Sikh population in

Cllr Jasbir Jaspal

the city.

"I hope to be able to represent all of the communities in Wolverhampton.

"There are issues with violent crime in the city – particularly knives and guns. It simply has to be a priority, and I am keen to reach out to everyone to see what the council can do to deal with these problems."

not want to work as a doctor any longer. He reportedly said, “quest to perform the very finest consultation for the safety of the patient has been misinterpreted in a duplicitous manner to suggest there has been an act of racism committed.”

Last June the woman was speaking about her daughter's 'feared' tonsillitis, but the doctor apparently asked her to remove her veil, so that he could hear her clearly. The GP claims she did so without any complaint, but later her husband arrived and she allegedly complained to bosses at the Royal Stoke University Hospital in Stoke-on-Trent.

The petition that started two days ago, is calling for Dr Wolverson to be treated fairly by the GMC. The Evening Standard reported that a spokesman for the Doctors' Association UK told the Mail on Sunday, "It is of utmost importance that the religious wishes of our patients are respected.

"However, evidently there are some circumstances where removal of a niqab or burqa is necessary for medical assessment and treatment.

"The GMC should consider issuing clear guidelines to protect both doctors and our patients."

in brief GANG OF MEN ON TRIAL OVER RAPE ALLEGATION OF A CHILD A gang of men who were waiting to have sex with a teenager taken to a supermarket car park, are on trial over alleged child sexual exploitation in Telford. Prosecutors say the 15 year old victim was "scared and coerced" into sex acts.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard how on one occasion 12 men were laughing and joking while waiting to have sex with her in different cars.

The girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was allegedly first contacted by 21 year old Ayad Abdulla Hizam, in early 2016.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood claimed the victim reportedly told Hizam that she was only 15, but he still persuaded her to go to a hotel in Telford, where they had consensual sex.

It is claimed 22 year old Ghamer Sulayman, later contacted her through Snapchat, offered to take her shopping but instead took her to a Birmingham house where he allegedly raped her and then other men had sex with her. He is also the one alleged to have taken her to the supermarket car park where a gang of men were waiting to have sex with her.

Hizam denies four counts of child abduction and four counts of sexual activity with a child. Sulayman, denies seven counts of rape and three of trafficking. Qasem also denies one count of sexual assault and one of trafficking. They face a total of 20 charges. The trial continues.

AMAZON FACES SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH OVER KITCHEN AND TOILET MATS WITH HINDU GODS

First ever Indian-origin officer honoured as Diversity Champion at the National Awards Charan Singh Sekhon, a Bedford based Senior Environment Officer and Diversity Project Coordinator for East Anglia area has became the first ever Indian-origin officer since the launch of NationalAwards to receive the runner up award in the category of Chairs’ Award for Diversity Champion.

The UK Environment Agency held its annual national awards ceremony at Derby Art Gallery and Museum on 8 May. Around 200 officers and staff members attended the event.

Former British High Commissioner to India and the Chief Executive of Environment Agency, Sir James Bevan, Environment Agency Chair and UK Commissioner for Global Commission on Adaptation, Emma Howard Boyd, Executive Director of Environment and Business Harvey Bradshaw and Executive Director of Operations Toby Willison presented theawards to 30 recipients in 10 categories.

Charan told Asian Voice, “Diversity is close to my heart and I have always had a huge passion to do more. I am so proud to be involved with the Environment Agency to

Sir James Bevan with Charan Singh Sekhon

promote our fantastic work on protecting and enhancing the environment and job opportunities among all underrepresented communities in East Anglia. I have worked really hard but it was only possible with huge support from my colleagues.

This award will always remind me to work even harder in the future. We need to ensure our workforce reflects the communities we serve.

We will continue to extend our partnerships with diverse communities, colleges and universities to attract the best candidates for our jobs.”

Amazon is facing social media backlash after they were found to have listed items like toilet seat covers and kitchen and toilet mats with images of Hindu God, especially Ganesh on their website.

Thousand of twitter users backed the call to boycott of the US retailer, including some writing to Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, urging her to take action against the company.

A petition on Change.Org started by Ankur Taneja has already gained almost 300,000 signatures in the UK, demanding an apology and removal or blacklisting of the sellers. The company in a statement reportedly said, “All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action including potential removal of their account.”

The episode is almost a recurrence of an incident in 2017, when the Canadian website of Amazon was spotted selling doormats resembling the Indian tricolour (national flag). Sushma Swaraj at that time threatened to revoke visas of Amazon employees if the doormats were not removed from site.

To sign the petition see: https://www.change.org

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Asian young carers struggle to get right support, report reveals Rupanjana Dutta

Children from British Asian and other ethnic minority background, especially who care for ill or disabled relatives are more likely than other young carers to be isolated from support services, a new research has revealed. It further says, in England, carers from these communities are missing out on their childhoods because of the additional responsibilities and stresses they have to deal with. he research by UK’s leading children’s charity Barnardo’s based on interviews with BAME young carers and practitioners found that many young south Asian carers were far too often being relied upon as interpreters, relaying technical and deeply personal medical information between patients and doctors, which can lead to misdiagnosis and increased anxiety within families.

Furthermore, the concept of a young carer is unfamiliar to many ethnic minority communities as helping your family and extended family is often expected. Often suchfamilies do not want agencies involved as there is a deep mistrust of social services, or authorities and they are fearful of their families being split up. Additionally, there is stigma within manyethniccommunities in acknowledging mental health and disability issues and in seeking support.

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Neha, Priyanka and Dev Lathia- young carers in Leicester The Caring Alone report highlights how young carers like 19-year-old Neha Lathia from Leicester are affected, when she suddenly had to care for both parents and her two siblings, Priyanka and Dev, while studying for her A-levels. She and her siblings pay bills, cook, clean, shop, do the washing, run the house and provide emotional support to their parents.

Their father Jayanti Lathia came to England from India in 1995 and mum Jagruti Lathia came following their marriage in 1998.

He worked long hours on night shifts for several years as a cleaner and maintenance worker on Leicester’s bus fleet.

Jayanti has a serious rare heart condition caused by a tumour on his heart. In 2017 he had heart surgery and has had a pacemaker installed, although his heart continues to run very fast. He can only walk a few steps and is suffering from leg cramps and depression and as a result is

unable to work. After his surgery Jayanti had to stop driving because of the medication he was on. His daughter Neha had to take him to hospital in his wheelchair on the bus.

When after years of chest pains and tests Jayanti had to have his operation, his wife Jagruti needed to support him and their three children, Neha (now 19), Priyanka (14) and Dev (10).

During this time Jagruti suffered a stroke that has left her with her legs paralysed, her memory badly affected and with difficulty talking.

The family live in a two bedroom house, Jagruti is bed bound in one room downstairs and Jayanti sleeps in the other one. The children sleep upstairs.

There is only one toilet and that is upstairs.

“Everything changed for me when my parents got ill” says Neha, who was 17 at the time. “I was doing my A levels at college. My father had had his operation and we were getting ready to start school and college again in September. I was with my mum in the hospital when she had her stroke.

“I had a panic, thinking how is Dev going to get to school? How are we going to pick him up? How am I going to get to college on time? And how will I have enough time to do my homework and revise?”

To make things even harder Neha and her sister also needed operations as they had the rare condition inherited from their father, and Neha had a tumour near her liver that needed hospital treatment. Dev does not have the condition but has a yearly check-up just in case.

“At the same time as my mum had the stroke I had hospital appointments for my operation and I had to take time out of college myself for the surgery which added to the stress. I missed about seven weeks of college after the surgery and it was a constant struggle of catching up when I did go back and then at the same time have to come home and look after my parents and make sure they were okay.”

The children’s parents

Neha with brother Dev, sister Priyanka, father Jayanti and mum Jagruti

speak English, but it is not their first language and they sometimes need to express themselves in Gujarati.

“I have to translate at most hospital appointments” Neha says. “There’s never been a translator at the hospital, so I have to be there to do it. And sometimes a word simply doesn’t exist in Gujarati, so I have to try and find another word or explain some other way.”

How does a typical day go in Neha's household?

A typical day for thesechildren is demanding.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Neha said, “I get myself and Dev up and Priyanka gets herself up.

“Then we come down and give mum and dad their medication, check they are okay and we get breakfast and Dev ready for school. I walk Dev to school Priyanka makes her own way. I come home then and make breakfast for mum and dad and I look at any bills or other household things, then I wash up or do any washing or cleaning and do the other chores like shopping.

“If I have any time I try and revise for a bit, but I always need to stop to give mum her medication at 12. I need to be sure about the medication for everyone – who is taking what and when – because it’s important that things are taken at certain times.”

The effect of her caring and her own health problems on Neha has been huge.

“It has been difficult.

There’s a lot of remembering, making sure that everything gets done on time, especially that the medication is right and on time, but you get used to it and it becomes part of your daily routine. I stay up late revising – I need to make sure that my exams go well. But the stress of everything keeps me awake and mum and dad sleep downstairs so I need to check they are okay.

“I’ve taken a gap year to help out at home, but I’m hoping to go to university next year. I have prioritised my parents as I need to stay at home for them, so I’m hoping to go to De Montfort University in Leicester to do

biomedical science or I might do paramedicine.

“I originally wanted to do medicine but the mix of everything - having to care, and my own health problems - made getting the grades I needed a struggle.

My A level results were better than I thought they would be given everything that has happened, but I do need to retake.”

Stigma and isolation

ation.

But Neha added, while the changes in her life that it felt unfair at first but she is typically positive.

Barnardo’s Chief Executive Javed Khan said, “Many young carers already have it tough, balancing cooking, cleaning, washing, shopping, and helping to look after siblings, alongside trying to keep up with their school work. But young carers from some BAME communities are even less likely to access support, due partly to the stigma attached to asking for help.

“Young people are often proud of their role in caring for family members. But as a society we must protect them from taking on too much responsibility at a young age, and from sacrificing their education, or physical and mental health.

It’s not right that BAME young carers often have to interpret complicated medical information for a loved one, which can lead to misdiagnosis and cause additional stress. This group of vulnerable children are often ‘hidden’, and there is an urgent need to break down barriers so they are not left to struggle on their own.”

Key recommendations

All the children have found that being a young carer can be isolating. After Mrs Lathia’s stroke a hospital social worker put the family in touch with Barnardo’s CareFree Service for young carers. Barnardo’s has been able to provide support to all three children, with the family’s support worker acting as an advocate in school and with the council about their housing needs, with social inclusion activity, the grants for driving lessons, school uniform and the laptop and a referral to Adult Social Care for a carers assessment, counselling for Priyanka and support for the family when Priyanka was going through her ownoper-

Key recommendations in the Caring Alone report saythat all patients who don’t speak English should have access to a translator.

Children and young people should never be expected to translate for a relative.

Additionally, the report recommends that the NHS should work with communities to tackle stigma around within BAME communities to reduce the stigma of mental illness, special needs and disability and improve access to services.

Furthermore, NHS services should employ community outreach workers to improve understanding and relationships in BAME communities.

Cllr Nitin Parekh elected as Harrow's new Mayor Cllr Nitin Parekh has been elected as the new Mayor of Harrow. His name was put forward by Cllr Ajay Maru, who noted his positive social work in the borough – while Cllr Christine Robson reportedly seconded the nomination.

Parekh was born in Aden, Yemen.

At the age of 7, he moved to Mumbai and lived there for 20 years. He completed his education in Mumbai, with a Degree in Commerce from University of Bombay and also qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Parekh got married to wife Hita, at the age 25. They moved to London in later part of 1986 and he qualified as Chartered Accountant in the UK and finished a year of taxation course.

In 1994 he became a School Governor for his sons' Primary School.

Later Parekh became the Chair of the School's Finance Committee and was elected as the school Governor for eight years. He has been a member, President and Secretary of various professional and community organisations for years.

Parekh and wife celebrated their 34th wedding anniversary last week and have two sons, Kalp, who is a Chartered Accountant as well as a Chartered Financial Analyst and Pinal, who is a medical doctor. Kalp's fiancée Nayna is a Chartered Accountant and Pinal's wife Chandni, is also a medical doctor. Speaking to Asian Voice, Parekh said, “Being the Mayor of

Cllr Nitin Parekh

Harrow, I want to make our vibrant and multicultural borough move forward with an even stronger sense of community and belongings for all our residents, whilst tackling the challenges we face today so that children and adults together play a role in their community and proud to call Harrow home.”

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CIIr Ketan Sheth Councillor for Tokyngton Wembley Brent Council’s Chair of Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Garden Therapy

Think of the NHS and you will probably picture a hospital, but most of the NHS is in fact in the community. Another image might be money and what on earth are they spending it on? Well, some of it is going into earth - in gardens! The NHS plans to refer almost 1M people to social prescribing schemes offering more personalised care because it works.

We all like time in the garden – it stills the mind, it grounds you, connects you to something fundamental and, perhaps surprisingly, heals. Research shows that doctors who prescribed gardening and similar projects brought an amazing 25% reduction in their visits to A&Es. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) garden from the Chelsea Flower Show later this month will be replanted at an NHS trust soon, but the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust has created its own allotment garden project in Uxbridge thanks to Fiona Eastmond, senior peer support worker and Nicki Harvey, senior occupational therapist.

The project started in August 2017 and has transformed a small open space with overgrown grass into an organic, sustainable and recoveryfocused peer-led co-operative.

Members are patients in the community team, those transitioning from impatient wards to community and their carers. Members are encouraged to identify their occupational strengths and interests and develop roles and shared responsibilities within the group.

Activities include garden-

ing, DIY, creative writing, problem-solving and managing money.

They are a self-funded project relying on donations and members offer a small weekly contribution; a total of £300 has achieved a great deal.

Members have nurtured seedlings at home, procured recycled palettes to build accessible raised beds and participated in group visits to garden centres. This has enabled members to overcome their occupational barriers, form meaningful relationships, use public transport independently, develop communication and interaction skills in the community and with each-other, increase their physical health, develop new skills and interests and ultimately move towards peer-led recovery outside of services.

Over the winter months, the members worked in partnership with Hillingdon Adult Community Learningto organise two horticultural courses for practical learning. They are now planning to write a recipe book promoting healthy cooking of the allotment produce. A keen chef made pumpkin pie last year!

The project has provided opportunities for social prescribing, for example, courses certified by the RHS, voluntary and paid work opportunities and participating in other community projects, all of which improves mental health.

Fiona says: “We are incredibly proud to be part of such a successful community group and look forward to seeing how it evolves as members continue to dig for recovery!”

Projects like this support and sustain recovery and they are also prescribing support for staying in employment or education, employment specialists helping people back into work and supporting employers to achieve it too.

Sheena Crowned Queen of Kensington In what has been described as the wedding of the year, Sheena Bhattessa married Ajay Baharani at Kensington Palace, becoming the first couple to celebrate their wedding in the State Rooms of Kensington Palace, the first non-royal wedding in the State Rooms of the Kensington Palace in 200 years.

80 international guests dined on a spectacular long banquet table in the elegant setting of the King’s Gallery.

The Palace, the home of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge and the former home of Princess Diana, was resplendent in its furnishings. The portraits of Queen Victoria, Princess Diana, Queen Anne and other members of the Royal Family looked down on the diners, some of whom had flown in from the United States, Kenya, India and as far away as South America.

Sheena, the youngest daughter of hotel owner and Trustee of the Swaminarayan Hindu Mission Vinu Bhattessa, and Sudha Bhattessa, looked resplendent in a gown that was created for a Queen.

Those attending included family friend Britain’s longest serving Asian MP,

Ajay Baharani & Sheena Bhattessa

The Right Honourable Keith Vaz, and Barry Gardiner, the MP for Brent North. Other dignitaries were also present.

The introductions were given by Neal Bhattessa, the brother of Sheena, and Mr Gardiner, Mr Vaz, Christophe Difalco, and groom Ajay Baharani, delivering a moving speech. The religious and other celebra-

tions will take place in London and Hertfordshire this coming weekend.

One guest commented:“This takes the community above anything that we have seen before. I have never been to a venue for a wedding like this one. It was truest fit for a Queen, and delivered with utter charm.”

Sheena, an award-win-

ning actress, and founder of travel magazine Citizen Femme, is an accomplished public performer. She compared proceedings when Amitabh Bachchan last visited the UK. Ajay Baharani is from Miami, Florida, and St Martin in the Caribbean, where his family have long been associated with the property and jewellery industries.

Asian Women and Cars: Road to Independence Rupanjana Dutta Dawinder Bansal, is an award winning producer and artist whose performances and immersive installations are informed by cultural heritage and contemporary community stories.

Her current exhibition, called 'Asian Women and Cars: Road to Independence' which will run at the British Muslim School, in West Bromwich from 24 May till 29 June, talks about first generation of South Asian women who generously shared their stories about driving and how it changed their lives. You can see and hear some of these stories in a brand new film, as a part of an installation exhibition for Blast Photo Festival 2019

by Multi story.

Dawinder is passionate about unearthing hidden stories to amaze, entertain, inspire and provoke audiences. Speaking to Asian

Voice, she told us what dence, not just for theminspired her to decide on the selves, but for future generasubject of her exhibition, “It tions of Asian women like me.” was through a heartwarmThey also have an 'In ing conversation with a Conversation' event taking female relative who shared what being able to drive enabled to do in her life. She revealed personal information which I had never heard before and I'd never known the important role of her car in her life and of those around her.

“This work is not just about cars, it's also about valuing the significant contribuDawinder tion of Asian women Bansal and I am also looking place on the 26th June, to highlight inspirational where Dawinder will be role models.

“As a British-Asian hosting a conversation with woman, I see and appreciate women who have gone the sacrifices of my mothers beyond the road to indepengeneration. These are the dence. One of their guest hidden heroes who I am celspeakers is Anita Goyal, the ebrating in this new work. patron of Binti These are the women who International. Anita recently paved the road to indepencompleted a car rally with

CEO of Binti International, Manjit Gill to provide education workshops and awareness of menstruation in schools and also distributed free menstrual products.

Looking for contributions from the community, she told the newsweekly, “I am looking for photos and stories around the world too which is why the website has been launched to submissions from around the world. I'm particularly looking for those hidden photos of women in private photos collections. But then not just photos, I'm also looking for the story behind the photo - however brief that may be. I want to know who all the South Asian women are out there who are not just the trailblazers of the past, but also of the present and future.”

8 COMMUNITY

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National Parenting Seminar at Neasden Temple A national parenting seminar was held in the presence of Sadguru Pujya Doctor Swami (Swayamprakash Swami) – a senior and learned swami visiting from India – as well as other senior swamis on Friday 17 May & Saturday 18 May 2019 at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London.

The seminar focussed on effective parenting through unity in the home, and was delivered through a series of personal testimonies from families, video presentations, discourses from swamis and enlightening panel discussions.

The session on Friday explored the balance between the professional and family life that is encountered by many parents in today’s society.

Parents shared the positive benefits they have experienced from making sacri-

Sadguru Pujya Doctor Swami (Swayamprakash Swami)

fices to their careers and businesses to nurture their children.

Discourses by swamis revealed the salient sources of happiness that children have expressed from spirituality and time with their families. They

also shared their observations on the bond that is built between parents and children through joint participation in daily devotional practices as well as household activities and chores.

A panel discussion fur-

ther reinforced the importance of quality time with children – specifically time without the distraction of screens – with personal testimonies praising the result of mutual and communication, understanding and respect.

Doctor Swami concluded the evening session by encouraging the gathered parents to inculcate values and noble principles in children from birth, and emphasised the participation of children in spiritual activities in the home.

The parenting seminar continued on Saturday with a special assembly focussed on the concept of ghar sabha – a regular gathering between members of the family to discuss spiritual concepts and share updates from one another’s daily lives.

Swamis spoke about the communication challenges that are faced between parents and chil-

Remembering the Finsbury Park attack On 21st May, Tuesday, two years from the Finsbury Park terrorist attack, Jere my Corbyn, parliamentarians, faith and community leaders joined the neighbourhood for a community street iftar. The two local mosques, Finsbury Park, Muslim Welfare House, and the charity Muslim Aid held an outdoor iftar, to celebrate the diversity of the Islington community which has been further strengthened following the assault.

“This barbaric act sought to divide us, but our multi-cultural Islington community showed that our diversity is our strength and we chose unity over division,” said Mohammed Kozbar, Chairman of the Finsbury Park mosque.

On 19 June 2017, a white van was deliberately driven into worshippers by Darren Osborne and leaving the Muslim Welfare House mosque, tragically killing Makram Ali, father of six, and injuring twelve other people. Osborne will spend at least 43 years behind bars after being jailed for life for his “murderous attack” on Muslims in London.

“The outpourings of support of people of all faiths and none since have multiplied into positive actions and attitudes, building even stronger bonds among us. Tonight, we reconfirm our commitment to each other and to all those elsewhere who promote peace and community cohesion,” Kozbar continued.

dren in today’s society, and the ways in which ghar sabha provides parents and children a better understanding of each other’s spiritual, physical and emotional needs – messages that were always close to the heart of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, and which are reinforced by His Holiness Mahant Swami Maharaj.

Swamis also drew upon the teachings from the Ramayan, citing the example of the sacrifices of Sitaji, Lakshman and Bharat as the ideals of family unity. A panel discussion then revealed the benefits of ghar sabha and provided guidance on how the effectiveness of these sabhas can be harnessed.

Mothers, wives and daughters-in-law also sent in their invaluable insights based on their own personal experiences.

Doctor Swami

addressed the gathering and stressed the importance of a family bond between children, parents and grandparents, encouraging the elder members of families to impart their wisdom to their children while stressing that they listen empathetically to the younger generations’ needs and aspirations.

B h a g w a n Swaminarayan and GuruHari Mahant Swami Maharaj, Pujya Brahmavihari Swami of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha will be here this weekend (25 and 26 May) at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, London. He will be speaking on the subject of 'Once in a Millennium' during the Saturday and Sunday assemblies to elaborate on the recent project of establishing a traditional mandir on the soil of the Middle East in Abu Dhabi.

Corbyn visits Gurudwara breaks fast at Mosque

Jeremy Corbyn at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurudwara

The iftar was held on the anniversary of the Finsbury attack according to the lunar calendar observed in Islam. Ruzina Akhtar, daughter of Makram Ali, spoke to the gathering and among those who had attended were some of the victims.

"We're very happy to be part of this community and to be in this country with such a loving, diverse community around us,” she said.

Besides Jeremy Corbyn, other speakers included Reverend Stephen Coles, vicar at St Thomas’, Rabbi and founder of MuslimJewish Forum Herschel Gluck OBE, Toufik Kacimi, CEO, Muslim Welfare House and Imam Mohamed Mahmoud who led the community in a peaceful response when he urged the crowd to be calm and restrained following the attack.

The street gathering combined a

British style summer stre et party atmosphere with the social ambience of an iftar, traditionally shared with a group of extended family and neighbours.Alongside breaking bread together, speakers at the event also challenged Islamophobia, bigotry and prejudice against all religions, drawing attention to the recent attacks around the world targeting places of worship.

This comes at a time when the Tory party, police, senior officials and other community leaders are seen in tethers in their attempts of adopting a “legally binding” definition of Islamophobia. Amidst such tensions there has been an increasing protest against U.S President Donald Trump's visit to the UK on 4th June where this time more than 200,000 people are expected to protest against his divisive leadership.

“During these past months we have all been devastated by the range of horrific incidents designed to sow seeds of insecurity, difference and disconnection. The Christchurch mosque shootings in March, the Sri Lankan church bombings in April, the San Diego shooting later in April and other violent attacks underscore the threat that people of faith and minority communities face from extremists who are determined to divide us,” said Muslim Aid Chief Executive Jehangir Malik OBE. “While government and public bodies have a vital role to play, we all have a responsibility to build stronger communities which start with small steps locally. The Finsbury Park area has a proud tradition of standing together against division and living well together, and this takes work to maintain,” he concluded.

The Labour leader has been on a spree of visiting religious organisations including the Sri Guru Singh Sabha in Southall followed by breaking the Ramadan fast at Regents Park Mosque on 20th May, Monday.

Amidst European elections, Jeremy Corbyn was seen visiting the Gurudwara on a campaign trail where he served food to the worshippers and spoke about the contributions of the Sikh community to the British society.

“Sikhs provide a hot meal to anyone who comes through their door. People of all faiths and none, the homeless and the hungry. Langar kitchens are a display of compassion and unity that we can all learn from.

Delighted to help out at Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Southall today,” he tweeted.

Corbyn had earlier visited the Gurudwara, in his labour constituency while on the campaign trail two years ago after Boris Johnson's visit to the Gurudwara in Bristol in 2017 where he had made an offensive gaffe about 'alcohol' consumption.

Boris Johnson, UK's next PM? But aside from European elections, it seems that the former foreign secretary is likely to oust Theresa May out of 10 Downing Street with the YouGov poll for The Times suggesting that Johnson was the first choice of almost one-in-four party members. Pollsters suggest that he has a massive lead over his nearest rival Brexiteer Dominic Raab, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Sajid Javid, Andrea Leadsom, Matt Hancock and Rory Stewart are all trailing way behind on single figures.

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Feeding vulnerable in Yemen as UN warns of suspending aid Priyanka Mehta Yemen has been infested with war for over 1,500 days now with scores of children dying in the midst of the world's “worst humanitarian disaster”. While the face-off between the Iranian backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi supported Yemeni Government looks unlikely to end anytime soon, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of suspending aid to areas controlled by the Houthi rebels. The warning appears after emerging reports of humanitarian volunteers on the ground being denied access to war victims and essential supplies such as food and medical aid either being diverted or stolen.

But this hasn't stopped charities in the UK such as Muslim Aid or Islamic Relief to reach out to those who have been “perennially fasting”, not by choice but because of war. Ramadan is the month of solidarity, strength, support and contemplation. Although, a WFP statement noted that "humanitarian workers in Yemen are being denied access to the hungry, aid convoys have been blocked, and local authorities have interfered with food distri-

fraud and said that humanitarian food was being sold in open market in Sanaa, allegations that the Houthi rebels have denied.

But Muslim Aid has been ensuring that they co-ordinating with partner organisations, NGOs and locals who are at the heart of the distribution process.

Islamic Relief's iftar project in Syria. Courtesy: Islamic Relief

bution" these charities continue with their various food and medical campaigns.

Two million children and a million pregnant women at malnutrition “More than 17 million people in the country at the moment are in dire need of sanitation, health facilities and food. If you compare with the facilities available in Yemen, more than 49% of these them are not functional. Whereas, more than 2 million children and a million pregnant women are in severe need of nutritional food to overcome malnutrition,” said Mohammed Zulqarnain, director of Islamic Relief, Yemen.

Aside from providing with essential food and medical supplies in close to 155 health facilities and seven different governor areas, Islamic Relief has also trained over 300 aid workers operational across these areas. But ensuring that aid reaches to those affected in the rebel areas has been a herculean task and in some contexts even a dangerous process. The WFP had earlier provided photographic and documentary evidence where local organisations were falsifying records and manipulating the selection of beneficiaries. It had even accused one local partner organisation affiliated with the Houthi Ministry of Education of committing

Distributing iftar and suhoor meals in war-affected MiddleEastern countries “The Ramadan campaign is our biggest annual campaign with 60% of funds being raised from the community. Through our “feed the fasting” campaign we ensure that people receive iftar and suhoor meals by delivering food parcels so that they can participate in the holy month of Ramadan,” said Abul Kalam, campaign manager at Muslim Aid. These food packs contain essential staple food items such as rice, chickpeas, milk, sugar procured essentially from local markets in the UK to help contribute to the British economy. But previously during

Ramadan they also ran water desalination units in Gaza, food voucher schemes in Lebanon and Jordan to support the displaced Syrians among other such causes. In 2018, Muslim Aid had fed close 150,000 people through its 'feed the fasting' capmpaign and this year they are aiming to raise at least £6million through street iftars and community events.

Asma Khan's work with Syrian refugees Asma, who runs a highly successful Indian restaurant Darjeeling Express in central London, visited the warehouses of Islamic Relief where thousands of food

Syrian women who are being supported by the charity to deal with trauma and understand their rights.

“Ramadan is a very special month. It’s vital that families have enough food because it is so important that everybody eats together. So, having a pack like this allows them to do that,” said Asma.

This year, Islamic Relief is distributing over 150,000 large food parcels, across 34 countries benefiting more than 1 million people. The food helps Muslims to break their fast at the end of each day during the holy month of Ramadan. The food parcels, which feed a family of five for up to one month,

Islamic Relief's humanitarian project in Yemen

boxes were being prepared so that vulnerable families, including refugees, can break their fast during Ramadan. She also met and cooked with a group of

are tailored to local tastes and cuisine where the food parcels in Jordan include Tahini sesame paste and halva among others.

Mayfair Marble Arch casino praised for superior customer service and its commitment to delivering 'personal touches' n award-winning Mayfair Marble Arch casino is celebrating its highest volume of customer praise and satisfaction since it opened its doors back in the 60’s The Sportsman casino - which has an unrivalled reputation for combining a professional gaming approach with an intimate atmosphere and culinary delights – has been inundated with customer feedback about its exceptional customer service.

“Everything exceeded my expectations”, “The service is terrific”, “Staff are professional, courteous and consistent”, “Attention to detail is flawless” and “The standards are excellent each time” is just some of the glowing feedback received from customers in recent weeks, with one happy customer commenting on “the best customer service I have ever experienced. Their personal touches and commitment to a tailor-made evening are second to none.”

If you take a trip to The Sportsman, it soon becomes clear that at the foundation of these glowing reviews lies a team of friendly, caring staff who all go the extra mile to give their customers exactly what they want. Whether it’s casino play or dining at Zaman restaurant – which offers a delicious halal menu –

A

customers are assured of a personalised service.

A leading example of this comes from head chef - Mumbai born Avadhoot Kamat. Passionate about delivering a ‘personal touch’ across every single dish he creates, Kamat says: “I make a note of the specific foods and flavours that delight all our guests so that on their next visit, I can create something bespoke that will exceed their expectations. And if I get asked for something that’s not on the menu, I’ll be sure to put my own creative flair on it so that it’s just to their taste.

“Many of our customers have dined in the most expensive restaurants in the world, yet they keep coming back to eat with us at Zaman and continue to praise our exemplary standards. They seem to really appreciate our efforts to give them tailor made dishes that are bursting with the flavours that we know suit their personal tastes.”

The restaurant has also hosted multiple events in recent months to gain a deeper understanding of what customers really want and used their feedback to create a fresh, new menu that is bursting with authentic tastes and flavours, tailor made by Kamat.

From a variety of appetizers such as mezze, samosas or the ‘famous’ garlic chilli king prawns, to Kamat’s award

winning signature dishes including Punjabi Karahi Lamb and Masaledar Kind Prawn Bhuna, no matter what you choose, your taste buds will sing.

Kamat continues, “We go above and beyond to respect religious events such as Ramadan, when we serve food till 2:30am. So between Iftar (meal at sunset) and Suhoor (meal at sunrise) if someone wants a good and hearty meal - we are here to cater to your specific needs.”

Another leading force behind the superior customer service is Chris Dallaway, the senior VIP Host at The Sportsman. Dallaway says “We take customer satisfaction extremely seriously and all the staff here at The Sportsman do everything in their power to ensure each and every customer gets a personalised experience. And it’s not just about perfecting their gaming experience.

With many of our customers visiting from abroad - many of whom are on a visit from the Middle East – it’s our job to make sure that their whole London experience is seamless, enjoyable and stress. We do this by booking hotels, planning transport, coordinating leisure facilities and regularly go the extra mile to surprise and delight our VIP guests by booking them tickets to major event such as Ascot, Wimbledon and many a sought-after football match. We’ve

We spoke to some of The Sportsman's customers, and here's what they say: "It's not just quality gaming that makes a good casino experience, it's knowing that there is someone that you can rely on to go above and beyond to ensure you have a tailormade experience that complements your specific needs and culture."

"The Sportsman feels like an extension of my friendly and familiar pastimes at home in India. It offers a truly personalised service - which in my experience is second to none - and I’m so grateful to the Zaman team for exceeding my expectations on every single visit with foods that are specifically tailored to my taste.”

even been known to fly customers out to the Monaco Grand Prix!”

The Sportsman casino is open 24 hours every day. Entry is free and you don’t have to be a member to enjoy the very warm welcome from the friendly staff and a special, unforgettable evening, tailored to your specific needs and wishes.

Visit www.thesportsmancasino.com to find out more.

10 READERS VOICE

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Food waste scandal It is really scandalous situation for allowing so much food to go to waste. It could feed thousands of hungry men women and children instead of going down the drain. It not only wastes good and healthy food but also money. The problem is overstocking of food and failure to use the food by their sell by date. Fruits and vegetables have the highest wastage rates of any food - with roots and tubers not far behind.

In the UK alone, 8.4m people in the UK struggle to afford a meal, according to the UN's FAO - despite the UK wasting billions through food waste every year, according to food waste charity WRAP. It estimates that 1.9m tons of food is wasted by the food industry every year in the UK alone and claimed that at least 400,000 tons of this could be redistributed to those in need. The British restaurants dispose of in total of 600,000 tons of food waste per year. We waste about a third of all food, produced for human consumption.

Impacts of food waste is that the overall cost to the UK of food waste each year is £17 billion, of which £12.5 billion is the cost to households.

To look at this another way, the cost of food waste to an average household is estimated to be £470 per year. Food waste also has environmental impacts (primarily in the form of greenhouse gas emissions and water use) and links with social issues such as food poverty. The food charities do this by taking surplus food from the food industry and redistributing it to frontline charities which are best-placed to turn it into meals for vulnerable people. The UK wastes 10.2 million tonnes of food a year, the equivalent of 250 million meals, costing £15 billion or £500 per household, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

To tackle this problem we need to put in place food management and recycling of food. To plan and store to avoid waste, recycle food waste, use it for composting, make fermented foods with left overs and connect with food banks using these new apps, to save food that otherwise goes to waste.

Baldev Sharma Rayners Lane, Harrow

Losing one's marbles Last week was declared as the mental health week.

Programmes were shown on the TV, discussions were held on the radio and seminars were held around the country throwing light on peoples’ deteriorating mental health. This begs the question. Are forgetfulness and failing mental health comparable to dementia or Alzheimer’s disease? As old age creeps upon us, we find that gradually we tend to forget things. The first thing we notice is that we find it difficult to put names to faces.

We struggle to remember people’s names or other important things about them. Then forgetfulness takes a hold on us and it is a downhill ride. One may get away with ones physical problems by modern medicines but the deterioration of the grey cells in the brain cannot be halted. Nothing can be done to reverse the process as the damaged cells cannot be replaced. Imagine your plight when you go out of the house and forget where to return to your home? Or keep forgetting where you have placed your keys or wallet or do not remember whether you have turned the television off before retiring to bed at night.

With modern methods and excellent health care more and more of us live longer and longer.

But when dementia and Alzheimer diseases get a grip on us, although hale in body, our minds are unable to keep pace with today’s fast moving life and modern technology.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Rich List I read about the Richlist in your newspaper (AV 18-24 May 2019), and it is great to note that the richlist is dominated by 67 people of Asian-origin. However, it is a pity to see that none on the donors list.

I know that many Asian rich people donate for charitable causes. Some even adopt villages in India and Africa. But it is perhaps wrong to say that they are not contrbuting, may be not enough to be on the rich list give away list.

Racial discrimination will always exist in this country, as you have mentioned in your main story- Fighting Racial Bias. But when you see the richest man in this country is Asian, it actually tells you there is no lack of equal opportunity in Britain. That's what makes Britain great.

Amit Bhatt Via Email

Measles make unwelcome comeback

Injustices against women

British NHS is the envy of the world, although many elderly patients who find it difficult to see GP without long wait, Consultant appointments being cancelled time and again and have to endure severe pain, in urgent need of hip replacement, goes on a long waiting list, may differ and rightly so, as NHS do have many pitfalls.

Administratively, our NHS is the worse managed health service in the Western world, a honeypot for medical tourism, in need of quantum improvement. It costs some £300 million treating patients who may not be entitled to receive free medical care on NHS. Yet successive governments have failed to introduce NHS entitlement card that would prevent misuse of NHS. Shortages of nurses and junior doctors is a disgrace to the fifth largest economy in the world, unable to train such medical personals at home, mainly due to shortages of training places at universities that results our NHS raiding developing countries like India, Philippines and South Africa, few among many nations, of their trained staffs who are badly needed on the home front. This is a theft of the worse kind, stealing from the poor to feed the rich, morally unjustified, without guilty feeling!

Only a couple of years ago, it was confirmed that England had eliminated measles, this dreadful disease for the first time in living memory. Yet NHS has now confirmed that there were 440 laboratory confirmed cases recently and there is a threat of outbreaks in Europe, in particular in countries like Romania, Bulgaria and Italy which may spread to Northern Europe which on most part is measles free zone!

Measles mostly attack teenagers, especially those who missed out on their MMR vaccination during childhood, due to parents’ fear that MMR may cause autism, categorially repudiated by medical experts. They are particularly at risk if they travel to countries with ongoing measles outbreaks.

Measles is an infectious disease. Parents are reminded to vaccinate their children, at least one year before they start school, a congested place where the disease can spread fast. Some even advocate drastic action to bar children who have not been vaccinated from attending schools. But the best way forward is to educate parents and general public, GPs can play an important role, as they are well trusted by parents. Unfortunately GPs have neither time nor inclination to enter the fray unless government is willing to increase the funding to cover the cost.

Kumudini Valambia Via Email

It was encouraging to read few articles recently regarding injustice to women. We need to discuss more topics that could remove injustice to one section of community.

One issue that has concerned me for a long time is treatment of women during their menstruation cycle, which is a natural body function. In many customs they are locked in room and forbidden to attend or perform any religious function at that time due to fear of some god or goddess.

I can understand when humans were living in very close proximity to wild animals that women needed protection by staying in closed areas as animals would be able to smell blood easily and attack. But now we have moved away from fear of wild animals.

It appears some time in history this cycle was incorporated within religion and women have suffered since.

Unfortunately women themselves have such deep fear engulfed in their mind that they would not agree to participate in religious function during their cycle.

I have asked this question to few priests and knowledgeable people but their answer has always been vague and quoting various teachings but never received a logical explanation relating to something which is a natural process.

I hope some learned readers could explain some valid reason behind such practices if there is any.

Truth and humanity always prevail It was nice Easter Sunday morning and I was sipping on my masala tea, reading Asian Voice, April 20 edition. I switched on Tv to watch the news as usual and to my disbelief, was shocked to see the news of bombing in Sri Lanka that destroyed hotels and churches especially when Christian devotees attended Sunday Easter services.

I was totally speechless and so angry at these fanatic people killing total innocent souls in the name of religion. If they are so courageous why can’t they go and engage in face to face combat with army and military and show their valour? This is a total cowardly act. So to calm myself down, I offered my Hindu prayer for all those who lost their lives and others who were badly injured.

On the same afternoon my wife Bhavna and I went to watch Canadian musical production 'Come From Away', the remarkable true story at Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre in Toronto.

It was a mind blowing musical show and it gave us comfort and solace to know the true story of how during 9/11 terrorist in attack in US about 200 planes with about 7000 passengers diverted to a small remote airport of Gander (population 9000), Newfoundland. People not only living in Gander but also surrounding towns forgetting all their differences welcomed total strangers with open arms, hearts and fed them, sheltered them, gave them medicines, cared for them in their houses, churches, community centres and many grocery stores. Drug marts gave them whatever they needed, free of charge.

Ocean of love, kindness, sense of brother hood pouring for three days and when they all departed, they all felt that they are leaving behind true family bonding.

This is a strong message to all terrorists around the world that humanity and truth always prevail.

Suresh and Bhavna Patel Via Email

Hot point If a sun-drenched country like India decides to make full use of solar power it will be setting a fine example to the rest of the world on how to promote healthier living standards.

Rudy Otter Via Email

Suresh P Shah, Via Email

Shame on Gujarat I was indeed surprised and troubled reading the persecution of Dalit community in Gujarat after the marriage incident when bridegroom arrived on a horseback for the ceremony. Gujarat is birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi who fought tooth and nail to give equal social standing to Dalit community, visiting and having dinner with Dalit families in their own homes when it was unthinkable to mix with Dalits socially.

So how come Gujarat is moving back to Dark Ages!

The last such incident when then CM Anandiniben failed to act promptly, brought her downfall. Popular Dalit leader Jignesh Mavani has rightly demanded that Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani, accompanied by Home Minister should visit the place and talk to family members, as well as take action against perpetrators of these outdated heinous crimes that divide Hindus. It is time to shed politics of posture, politically correct spirituality, in favour of politics of courage and action!

Under the aspiring leadership of PM Modi, we expected more integration and less such crimes. Instead harassment and rape of young, innocent girls has gone up substantially, although the Central Government has introduced tough laws, including death penalties for such crimes. But in reality, hardly anyone is facing death penalty; as such crimes are mostly committed by children of the influential, Armani-clad people with political connections. India is endowed with the capacity of being the most integrated nation on earth, if it uses the well-educated human resources wisely, under the wise but firm leadership of PM Modi.

It is high time that these criminals are flogged publicly and named and shamed in media before being hanged, which may be more effective than lengthy jail sentence. I would also like to urge influential British Indians who have direct line of communication with PM Modi and other leading BJP politicians, always seen at Modi’s side when he visits London, to use their influence, let PM know how badly this reflects on overseas Indians, especially as we have managed to irradiate caste division, united Hindu community beyond stretch of imagination, climbed summit of serenity! It is time they make useful contribution, do some useful work rather than being fair weather friends of PM Modi!

Bhupendra M Gandhi, Via Email

Eid-ul-Fitr Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. All Muslim countries celebrate Eid as a sign of Muslim unity and values.

Starting a day with special prayers and sweet dish called ‘Sheer khurma’ men, women and children wear new clothes, while women along with new clothes also wear bangles and apply mehandi. The children receive blessings and gifts from elders called Eidi. Being happy and thankful to Allah, we should not forget the workers who are not celebrating Eid because of their duties such as policeman, housemaids and gate keepers. We should share our happiness with them too, as Eid is all about sharing happiness and joy.

Jubel D'Cruz Mumbai, India

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EDUCATION

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25 - 31 May 2019

Sri Lankan origin debut novelist School celebrates Deputy wins Swansea University Headteacher's achievement in International Dylan Thomas Prize Queen's Honours List Guy Gunaratne, a 35 year old British-Sri Lankan human rights documentary filmmaker, turned debut novelist, has been announced as the winner of this year’s Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize, with a prize sum of £30,000, at a ceremony held at Swansea University for his debut novel 'In Our Mad and Furious City'.

Guy Gunaratne lives between London, UK and Malmö, Sweden. His first novel In Our Mad and Furious City was longlisted for The Man Booker Prize and shortlisted for The Goldsmiths Prize, The Gordon Burn Prize as well as the Writers Guild Awards.

He has worked as a journalist and documentary filmmaker covering human rights stories around the world.

In 'Our Mad and Furious City' (Tinder Press, Headline) burst into consciousness in 2018 providing an urgent, timely and compelling fictional account of 48 hours in an North West London housing estate after the murder of a British soldier, as told through three narrators. Risky and inventive, Gunaratne has been lauded for providing an authentic voice to marginalised sectors of society and for shining a spotlight on the very real experiences of youths from minority backgrounds.

After careful deliberation the winner was chosen by a judging panel chaired by Swansea University Professor Dai Smith CBE along with acclaimed poet and Professor Kurt

Guy Gunaratne, winner of this year’s Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize

Heinzelman from the University of Texas, Books Editor for the BBC Di Speirs and award-winning novelist Kit de Waal.

Chair of the judges Professor Dai Smith CBE said, “Once in a while, a work of fiction appears which uses voice, style and story, as only works of the imagination can, to let us enter, to makes us see, to demand we understand lives and circumstances seldom given that centre stage position in our contemporary culture and society. This is what Guy Gunaratne’s stunning multi-voice debut novel ‘In Our Mad and Furious City’ sets out to do and bravely achieves for

marginal lives, young and old, in the unforgiving whirlpool of London today.”

Awarded for the best published literary work in the English language, written by an author aged 39 or under, the prize celebrates the international world of fiction in all its forms including poetry, novels, short stories and drama.

The other titles shortlisted for the 2019 Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize were: House of Stone by Novuyo Rosa Tshuma, Friday Black

by Nana Kwame AdjeiBrenyah, Trinity by Louisa Hall, FOLK by Zoe Gilbert and Melmoth by Sarah Perry.

Jashu Vekaria, Deputy Headteacher at Uxendon Manor Primary has been awarded an MBE by Prince Charles on Thursday 4th April 2019. She received the accolade in the New Year's Honours List for her contribution to primary education, as To celebrate her achievement, the school held a British values week on Wednesday 3rd April.

The whole school was involved in dressing up as king or queen, learning the national anthem and practising how to curtsy, making sandwiches and scones for an afternoon tea, and a week of British menus for the children's lunches. The children played music on the mandolins, performed a Bollywood dance and the choir sang her favourite songs during assembly.

Jashu herself designed a commemorative mug and personally signed them to mark the occasion, which was distributed to the children and staff of the school.

The idea came from staff led

by English leader, Nasima Morshed, who master minded the whole event and organised it at a short notice.

Jashu Vekaria joined Uxendon Manor in 2010 as an advanced skills teacher.

Since then her career has grown from strength to strength. She was the Gold winner of the Pearsons Teaching awards in 2016.

Speaking to Asian Voice, Jashu said, “At first I thought it was a joke and didn’t take it seriously, however as time passed I realised it was all too real! Especially on 28th

Jashu Vekaria

December when the New Year’s Honours list was published. So many well-wishers started pouring in their congratulations... To be honest, it felt surreal.

“I feel truly humbled and honoured to receive such a prestigious award. I whole heartedly believe this award is for teachers everywhere. Finally educators are

Jashu signing a commemorative mug that she personally designed to mark the occasion

being acknowledged for their hard work and commitment for the future generation. I thank my lucky stars to have found a job I adore!”

Jon Parry, Headteacher, of the School said, “Jashu is an exceptional teacher and a fantastic Deputy Head who always puts the children first. She has made a tremendous impact on our Uxendon Manor community. We feel Jashu thoroughly deserves this national recognition for all the excellent work she has done. We are all very proud of her.”

One of the proud parents discussing how Jashu treated children individually and saluting her contribution said, “At the centre of every decision Jashu makes are the children themselves. She excels in what she does because she focuses on nurturing the whole child and addresses their emotional needs as well as their academic needs.”

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12 MEDIA WATCH

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25 - 31 May 2019

SCRUTATOR’S It would appear from a range of exit polls that the BJP-led NDA coalition has emerged victorious with a comfortable majority of seats in the Lok Sabha in the 2019 General Election. The Congress-led UPA coalition were well beaten. Confirmed results will come on May 23, so Congress and partners hope the opinion pollsters got their predictions wroing.

‘Godse patriot’: BJP’s Pragya The BJP’s Bhopal Lok Sabha candidate Pragya Singh Thakur described Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse as a ‘patriot,’ much to the embarrassment of her party’s leaders. Prime Minister Modi and BJP President Amit Shah said they would never forgive her for the statement. How are such candidates selected by their party, not once, but repeatedly?

Karnataka’s Anant Kumar Hegde expressed views broadly similar to that of Pragyar Thakur. The BJP lunatic fringe, it would appear, is fast becoming mainstream.

(Statesman, Times of India, Hindu May 17, 18).

Kashmir said it was ‘worrisome that the military is increasingly being drawn into the political discourse and used to win political arguments.’ (Hindu May 17).

Anish Kapoor tops Art List The Hurun Research Institute issued the first Hurun India Art List, a ranking of the top 50 living Indian artists, based on the sales of their works at public auctions

Election mayhem in Kolkata

Narendra Modi in Taki

However publicised Modi-Shah ended roadshow in Kolkata ended in a shambles. The statue of Isvar Chandra Vidyasagar, Sanskrit and, Bengali polymath, educationist and social reformer without peer the most revered and loved across all sections of Bengali society, including his seminal contribution to women’s uplift. The college bearing his name was attacked, doors, windows and furniture were smashed; Vidyasagar’s bust and that of Swami Vivekenanda were vandalised.

Student resistance Local students fought pitched battles with the BJP faithful, many of whom were bussed in from neighbouring Hindi-speaking states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee poured scorn BJP leadership as an ignorant and half-educated cabal, who knew little or nothing of Bengal’s cultural heritage, promising that the BJP would pay dearly for its mob violence.

The BJP has clearly made West Bengal a test of its ability to spread its wings in areas of India where its standing has been traditionally low.

BJP defiance BJP Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman lodged a complaint with the Election Commission on the violence allegedly initiated by the Trinamool Congress members.

The unabashed BJP President Amit Shah made a defiant tweet that Mamata Banerjee’s days were numbered, as was the ‘hooliganism’ of her party, which would recoil on her standing in the State.

The Chief Minister led massive silent counterdemonstrations across different parts of Kolkata, which included a

number of iconic figures from the cultural life of Bengal. From afar Prime Minister quoted a few lines of Rabindranath Tagore, which, he claimed, referred to Bengal, when the allusion (in the Gitanjali) was to India. What do they know of Bengal/ Who only Gujarat know.. Meanwhile, the Election Commission issued a 24 hour suspension order against all forms of campaigning in the State including the publication or circulation of pamphlets, bulletins on the ground that lawlessness and chaos could spread. The commission also issued temporary suspension orders against the senior-most state bureaucrat together with the police chief. The Commission besmirched its image as a non-partisan body, according to the Opposition and newspaper leader writers (Hindu May 18).

Meanwhile, sniping and firing broadsides at one at one another other by Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Banerjee continue.

The police will be scanning videos to identify the rioting culprits. BJP President Amit Shah’s parting observation that the BJP would be returned to power with an absolute majority in excess of 300 seats in the Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Modi’s offer to replace the vandalised statue of Vidyasagar with a new BJP-built replacement was rejected by Chief Minister Banerjee.

However, the final day of polling in West Bengal was a disgrace. Scattered instances of arson and stone-throwing across the state besmirched the reputation of the state, more so as polling was remarkably peaceful elsewhere in the country. Truth is the ruling TMC has done a great deal to erode the rule of law. Yes, much development has been achieved during its terms in office, but TMC violence has increasingly become the norm.

Exit polls suggest that the BJP has made significant gains in the State. Watch this space next week (Statesman, Times of India, Hindu, local TV channels May 15, 16, 17,18, 19, 20).

No insistence on PM post: Azad Congress party spokesman Ghulam Nabi Azad assured opposition leaders that Congress would abide by the choice of a common candidate for prime minister. The party’s Grand Dame Sonia Gandhi plans a banquet for opposition notables to hammer out a deal. Better to eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die (Hindu May 17).

India may gain from US, China trade row

Anish Kapoor

from April 2018 to March 2019.

The works of London-based sculptor Anish Kapoor ( now a British citizen) registered the highest demand in terms of value and lots in auction houses during the period under review. Anish Kapoor’s 102 lots were sold 201819. Kapoor was followed on the list by Akbar Padamsee and Krishen Khanna (Business Line, Hindu May 16).

China blocks Wikipedia Chinese authorities have blocked Wikipedia, the online encyclopaedia across all languages. Earlier, references to the suppression of the prodemocracy movement by the government in June 1989, but the tentacles of Chinese censorship has now spread and a total shutdown of Wikipedia is now in place (Hindu M ay 16).

PM, Shah in victory mode Dr Reddy’s new antibiotic in US Prime Minister Modi and BJP President Amit Shah predicted a BJP victory at the polls during a press conference in Mew Delhi..

They were jovial and upbeat (Hindu May 18).

Anti-terror coalition The Statesman newspaper report (May 17) that Canada headed the hallowed coalition list is arresting.

The Khalistani bombers, responsible for the destruction of an Air India flight from Canada that crashed off the Irish coast in June 1985, killing over 300 passengers and crew, were Canadian citizens. There have been no arrests thus, far, by the Canadian authorities, to the best of one’s knowledge.

Question, Answers It begs the question how so many of its lunatic fringe pass the selection test. A less combustible maverick, one Dongar from another constituency claimed that if, instead of Jawaharlal Nehru, Mohammed Ali Jinnah had been appointed prime minister, India’s partition could have been avoided.

Goodness gracious, most Indians now count their blessings at the narrow escape. Blasphemy laws, stoning and much else would have become the norm. Good riddance.

Partition was the saving of India.

How odd that among Jinnah’s admirers, the two standouts are the BJP’s two top brass, the late Jaswant Singh and the present L.K. Advani.

Daptomycin for injection, 500mg/vial, single-dose vial, in the United States. A generic of Cubicin, the antibiotic is used for the treatment of bacterial infection of the skin. Cubicon for injection brand and generic (Daptomycin for injection) has had US sales of around $640.8 million for financial year ending March 31, 2019. (Hindu May 16).

India’s pharmaceutical major Dr Reddy’s has released its

The intensifying trade dispute between the US and China resulting in higher tariffs on their respective imports may present export opportunities for India in markets of both countries, particularly in garments, food products, automobiles and machinery. Professor Rakesh Mohan Joshi, of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, said: ‘These areas offer huge for India...in apparel and readymade garments, as after China, India is the only country in the world that can match the scale-up operations and integrate its supply chain for global customers.’

FIEO optimism The Federation of Indian Export Organizations President Ganesh Gupta said India’s exports to the US went up by 11.2 per cent in 2018, and by 31.4 per cent to China in the same period. ‘China is also more willing than ever before to provide more access to the Chinese market.’ It is a promise of better things to come (Statesman May 17).

India, Iran talks

Assassin killed Showkat Dar, the jihadi assassin of Indian Armyman Aurangzeb, who was murdered while on leave in Kashmir last year was shot dead together with two other terrorists in an encounter with security a force in Pulwana (Hindu May 19).

Lankan suspects in Surat jail The Gujarat police anti-Terror Squad tracked down and held two Islamic State suspects, Ubed Mirza and Kasim Stimberwala, involved in the recent Colombo bomb blasts (Hindu May 15).

Using armed forces in politics, worrisome Lt General (retired) D.S.Hooda, former Northern Command chief and principal architect of the 2016 surgical strikes on terrorist platforms in Pakistan-occupied

Iran Foreign Minister Mohammed Javed Zarif with Sushma Swaraj, India’s External Affairs Minister

India and Iran have concluded extensive talks on consular and commercial issues in their bilateral relationship. This followed a visit to New Delhi by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javed Zarif for discussions on the implications of the current tensions in the region brought on by a US naval build-up the region.

On matters consular, the two sides expressed willingness to continue with the system of giving instant visas to their respective businessmen. They also agreed to extend the duration of e-mail visas for ordinary citizens to enhance people-to-people ties (Hindu May 17).

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25 - 31 May 2019

Guru Nanak Dev's 550th birth anniversary celebrated in Cardiff A major event was organised in Cardiff on Sunday 19 May to celebrate the 550th anniversary of the birth of Guru Nanak Dev. Numerous dignitaries of all faiths from Wales visited the event, including the High Commissioner of India HE Ruchi Ghanashyam, the head of the Sikh Council of Wales Gurmit Singh Randhawa MBE, and the Indian Honorary Consul General Raj Aggarwal OBE. Children from various Sikh temples in Wales performed Kirtan (chanting), Kavita (Hindi poetry) and Sakhi (recounting of events in Sikh history) and the event concluded with authentic veg-

HE Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner of India to UK, Gurmit Singh Randhawa with the young performers

Guests at the event

etarian buffet Over 500 people attended the celebration and various dignitaries including Professor James Hegarty of Cardiff University delivered key messages on inclusivity and principles of Guru Nanak Dev’s teachings.

In her address, the High Commissioner underlined the universal appeal of Guru Nanak Dev’s message transcending time, countries, castes, creed and gender. She stressed that Guru Nanak Dev’s message of peace, harmony, equality, and love is relevant even today and will continue to guide the humanity for years to come. She highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government of India including development of Kartarpur corridor, development of historic town of Sultanpur Lodi, special trains connecting various holy places associated with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, commemorative coins and stamps, and setting up of a Guru Nanak Dev Ji Chair at one of the UK Universities, to mark the 550th Birth Anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji in a befitting manner.

She added that underscoring the true universal appeal of Guru Nanak’s message, Sri Ram Mandir in South Hall, London, took the lead and organised a large event with participation of many Gurudwaras and people of different faith.

The programme was telecast live by the Sikh Channel in 106 countries. It concluded with ‘langar’, a community meal for all. One of the highlights of the programme was

active participation by children from all the Gurudwaras.

Children recited Shabad and spoke about various facets of Sikh culture.

Indian diplomat Raj Aggarwal said, “There will be huge celebrations organised all over the world for the 550th birth anniversary of Nanak Dev Ji and the world will commemorate this amazing landmark.”

Gurmit Singh Randhawa, President of the Sikh Council of Wales said, “The message for the day will be simple, and one of communities coming together and celebrating the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, who stood for the poor and down trodden people in up holding the principles of justice, equality and freedom for all.”

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UK scraps landing cards for Immigrants Airline passengers from countries outside the European Economic Area (EEA) landing at the UK airport will no longer be required to complete the forms to be handed to immigration officers along with their passports.

The UK government has scrapped the requirement of filling out landing cards by international travellers coming to the UK from countries like India, as part of a series of measures aimed at a “smoother” entry into Britain.

“The government is removing the need for all non-EEA travellers to fill in landing cards upon arrival in the UK, making for a smoother entry to the country. The move will reduce the burden on passengers while maintaining the UK’s border security, as exactly the same security checks will be in place,” the Home Office said in a statement.

This new system is adopted in light of “driving the economy forward” and facilitating easier and cutting shorter travel journeys for businesses and global leaders visting the UK for business trips.

“The new system will help to drive our economy, cement our reputation as a global leader and send a clear message to the world –

the UK is open for business,” he said.

But security concerns have been flagged as a result of removing these restrictions and India is not yet among a list of "low risk" countries but can now access the ePassport gates on landing in the UK. Visitors from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and the US will be able to use these automated gates at ports across the UK. ePassport gates have already been available to British and European Union (EU) nationals since 2008, who will remain eligible to use them even once the UK leaves the EU. There are currently 264 ePassport gates in operation at 15 air and rail terminals in the UK. “Our new global immigration and border system will improve security and fluidity for passengers coming to visit or work in the

UK. Expanding the use of ePassport gates is a key part of this and allows us to improve the passenger experience of those arriving in the UK while keeping our border secure,” said UK home secretary Sajid Javid.

The Home Office claims that Britain is a world leader in automated passenger clearance, allowing more nationalities to use ePassport gates than anywhere else. In the year ending September 2018, 51.9 million passengers used them across the UK and “juxtaposed controls”.

The gates use facial recognition technology to compare the passenger’s face to the digital image recorded in their passport.

They are monitored by UK Border Force officers and anyone rejected at the gates will be sent to a manned passport check to have their identity and passport checked.

14 UK 25 - 31 May 2019

SP

TLIGHT

AsianVoiceNews

Dr Aaniya Ahmed Medical Entrepreneurship and Its Reverberating Impact on Life respected. In A&E, for example, I’ve made sure to offer a sympathetic ear to patients throughout their admittance. Valuing interactions and the inner world is becoming more practised in patient-care relationships.”

This psychological depth is also apparent in the enlightening marketing campaign to which Aaniya conSunetra Senior tributed while studying for her BSc. She spent “much of her time investigatmphasising her love of art and ing how healthcare professionals can good coffee alongside the medibest help declining patients achieve cal achievements, you can their dying wishes. This involved formimmediately tell that Aaniya is a difing a collaboration with Darzi’s Helix ferent calibre of doctor: certainly, a Design Centre at St. Mary’s hospital to consummate professional, she is tackle the taboo on death and dying. moreover a dynamic spirit emblematDeath, especially in British culture, is a ic of our time. It is customary to comphenomenon which is avoided. But we ment on the characteristics that must confront it, to be able to better define a generation as they become plan for it.” Indeed, equally a natural apparent, and as the new kids, dubbed and central part of our lives as “careers, ‘Generation Z’, begin to enter the relationships and finance,” as Aaniya vocational arena, this becomes very detailed, “we should not be afraid to pertinent. A few years ago, liberal accept it.” Excited to be able to focus on writer, Laurie Penny, had talked of the tactical side of medicine, the dedithe “anxiety” that differentiated cated doctor, “informed the different older members of generation Y, othpolicies on how people could achieve erwise known as Millennials, from their dying wishes as part of a talented their parents or Generation X, who in team, reading a lot of literature around turn had been defined by a surfacing the subject, and analysing the research. “depression.”

One finding, for example, was that Now in the midst of online culture, when people reach the end of their and worldwide connection, a newer, lives, they tend to strongly prefer living refreshingly promising, trend seems to at home with family.” emerge: one where young people are Here, Aaniya, who has also had increasingly negotiating disillusionexperience in the US’ famed Silicon ment, successfully turning available Valley, working on the Y-combinator actions into tangible change. The backed app, Quit Genius, founded by ongoing necessity of securing basic staher husband Yusuf, stressed the imporbility is clear, but Aaniya specifically tance of using tech to improve wellpointed out “that we’re definitely part being: “The app is a digital tool that of a generation who looks for happihelps people to stop smoking, using ness as well as meaning in our lives. We CBT and personalised information. It is take more risks, and some are even tailored to carry people through the willing to take a hit to their pay cheque process.” Currently on the prestigious to do what fulfils them.” She continClinical Entrepreneur Programme, she ued: “from my experience, life in the continued: “I see my future continuing NHS is really difficult and harder than in Healthtech, thinking creatively and people realise, but it’s always important delivering many effective resolutions to focus on the positive. You find yourfor better public care. We use so many self stretched, chronically underlifestyle apps, from transport staffed, and challenged with and communication to limited funding, but organising finances, cookthere’s always an emo"Don’t be ing and shopping, so why tional pay-off. The can’t we then go the afraid to invest in gratitude I receive whole way to assist the from patients is what we call the population?” Indeed, priceless, and I love while there has been a ‘side hustles’ to the opportunity to proliferation of healthmake that your meet so many new care apps, this has not people. From the life" yet reached a stage where patients and nurses to all the fundamentals of physiotherapists and everyhealthy living have been covone in-between, working in a ered. hospital environment has allowed me “And there is so much scope,” to socialise with people I might not Aaniya told us. “It might not be comotherwise have met. It’s not like a typiplex surgery, but Healthtech offers cal office, and that’s what gets me out simple, but significant tools to create a of bed!” reverberating positive impact. Everyday awareness makes the biggest differ*** ence.” And so, the ambitious Aaniya Aaniya is a recent graduate of medical doesn’t just represent a swathe of rising school, having won an NHS champiprofessionals who are prioritising their onship prize in 2016 as part of a select passions, but who are also champiteam in a national QI competition oning social consciousness as they along the way. She also interestingly work to realise them. “Medicine has studied Healthcare management at been slower in terms of electronic Imperial Business School, placing top reform in comparison to other indusof her class. “I loved my medical degree, tries such as domestic comfort but it is but it was a breath of fresh air to be able catching up. A lot of the NHS still uses to explore my innovative side,” the paper to handle information, but of young doctor said. “I’ve always been course, due diligence must be paid to interested in socially advancing the patient confidentiality and security. lives of people beyond just physically Similarly, there are ground-breaking treating patients. We are more than experiments being done with robotics our bodies and the mind should be

E

and surgery, which must be tested extensively first. But a switch is in motion.”

Facilitated by the technological revolution then, this as much a time of constructive solution and mobilisation as it is confusion and apparent stasis. “I have loved the opportunity to be able to experiment with my passions, and extend this to the world around me” Aaniya finished. “We are all so different, and have so much to give. I hope we can keep accommodating novel approaches to traditional routes, using

differing perspectives to our advantage, and being more imaginative with them too! Don’t be afraid to invest in what we call the ‘side hustles’ to make that your life.” This extends to strengthening the social landscape, which itself is a shared personal project.

Were you always philanthropic in your goals?

My ethics and moral compass have always guided me. They’re what led me to study medicine. That then branched out into alternative ways of helping people over time.

Coming from a family of doctors, where my twin sister and both my father and mother are practising, has obviously influenced me too! As a Muslim, I would say my faith has generally made me want to improve the world around me too.

Why do you think people are so apprehensive about discussing death?

We live in such a hyperconnected world that the thought of feeling alone is distressing. It is better to appreciate that life is temporary. People want to be in control, but that is not always possible. It’s more helpful to embrace the difficulty.

Tell us more on why you are attracted to the field of public health?

As I say, I’m interested in inspired ways of problem-solving as well as exploring aspects of human psychology and behaviour as well as the conventional medical tools and processes. It is a route to fulfil my ambition on health on a larger scale through combining management, economics and heath policy.

Ultimately public health is about creating happy, healthy and well-gelled communities.

T: @Aaniyaa29

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Lord Dolar Popat Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy to Rwanda and Uganda Chair of All Party Parliamentary Group of Rwanda

Encourage philanthropists – don’t alienate them Last week’s annual Asian Voice Charity Awards was a timely reminder of the important role that philanthropists play in society.

We live in a world where unfortunately the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

With such disparities increasing, it is easy to criticise the rich for not pulling their weight. But the fact is our society needs and relies on philanthropists, so we should do everything we can to encourage them to continue to donate more rather than alienate them.

We already have a number of well-established philanthropist families in Britain such as the Rothschilds, Westons, Wolfsons and Sainsburys who continue to support hundreds of charitable and cultural causes. Another example earlier this year was the hedge fund physicist David Harding who pledged £100 million to fund postgraduates and disadvantaged students at Cambridge University.

However we need more philanthropists.

According to research from the Beacon Collaborative – a charity that promotes philanthropy - only one in ten of the richest high net worth individuals in Britain gives to charity. Their research suggested that the average donation made by those worth more than £10 million is £240 a year; that’s less than a designer handbag or luxury holiday.

A report by the Cultural Cities Enquiry claimed that civic philanthropy has dropped by 11 per cent in the past four years. This is in contrast to the fact that the billionaire count on the Sunday Times Rich List rose by 11 to 425 last year.

As a supporter of various charities and charitable causes, I regularly speak to many high net individuals about what holds them back in donating.

The majority say that they worry charities are badly run or they fear their money will not achieve or reach those it was intended for.

These Awards powered by Charity Clarity address this very point. They have revolutionised the way charities are governed, making them more transparent and accountable. Charity Clarity has improved governance guidelines to make charities more accessible and in turn more appealing to potential philanthropists.

On the other hand many philanthropists are worried about being condemned for supporting various charities. Examples include BP who were attacked after sponsoring exhibitions at the British Museum or the recent Gillette campaign about positive masculinity. Meanwhile no one picks on the companies or individuals that don’t donate.

We all have a shared goal - to support our good, hardworking and effective charities. If we continue to alienate donors, we are in danger of endangering our charitable sector. We need to remember that philanthropists are out there. However, we need to do more to better embrace them and to channel their support to a variety of worthy causes.

The Cadbury’s Family left a lasting legacy of social housing that outlived their wealth.

Similarly, Bill Gates will be remembered more for helping to eradicate polio than for Microsoft. Such philanthropists will always be remembered for the role they played in bettering our society. Let’s welcome their efforts in making our world better instead of alienating them.

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Small charities pioneering large social causes Priyanka Mehta

Brexit, funding cuts by the Tory Government and a dip in public interest following the likes of Oxfam scandal and the controversy surrounding Comic Relief has resulted in some small charities scrambling to receive donations and have been bearing the brunt of the mishandlings of large umbrella organisations. It is at the heart of this crises that the fourth Asian Voice Charity Awards hosted on 17th May at the Hilton Park Lane recognised and celebrated the contribution that small charities have been making in pioneering causes around increasing knife crime, homelessness, substance abuse in the Asian community, among others.

“Charity occupies a central role in the Asian community. It is ingrained deep in our culture and often expressed in our faith.

Whether it's Hindus doing 'sewa', Muslims giving 'zakat'or Sikh Gurdwars practicing 'langar'. In fact the amount British Asians donate is an indicative of the huge contributions we make to the vital success of our city,” said Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.

The charities were honoured in the eminent presence of Lord Loomba CBE, widely known for being the brainchild behind International Widows Day which is recognised by the United Nations. The Loomba Foundation has been fighting for widow's rights in developing countries for over 20 years. Other members

included Lord Dholakia, Lady Anne Dholakia, Lord Rumi Verjee CBE, Baroness Usha Prashar, journalist Rupert Morris, actor Nitin Ganatra. While the judges panel for the awards included Jonathan Townsend, Chief Executive of Prince's Trust International, Abhishek Sachdev of Vedanta Hedging Limited and Subhash Thakrar, Chairman of Charity Clarity.

Leading from the front and tackling knife crime: Mayor of London “While I am convinced London is the best city in the world, I am also not blind to the reality of the problems of this city and charities have an important role to play in filling in the gaps in the social safety net

in recent years,” he said.

“Violent crime is on the rise across the country, including in London. As Mayor, I am determined to lead from the front when it comes to tackling this issue. We are focussing both on arresting the violent offenders as well as addressing the reported of violent crimes. The crucial part of this is bringing together police, health services, charities and the community groups and from preventing people from getting sucked into a life of violent crimes in the first place; giving our young people constructive activities and opportunities to focus on…" Khan emphasized while praising Asian Voice and its editor CB Patel for championing such causes.

Asian Voice has been running a

(L-R) Lord Rumi Verjee CBE, Verjee Foundation, Dr. Carrie Grant, BAFTA winner, Rupert Morris, journalist, Caroline Diehl MBE, Founder of The Media Trust and, Andy Cook, CEO of the Centre for Social Justice

series of articles on engaging with youth clubs and community centres to tackle the epidemic of knife crime, homelessness and domestic abuse as a consequence of substance abuse. According to Sian Berry’s report 'London’s Lost Youth Services 2019', there has a 46% cut in the budget for tackling knife crime since 2011-12. This report was prepared by analysing data supplied through Freedom of

tunities to live their lives free of fear and violence, and with optimism for a future where opportunities flourish.

Knocking the top down charity model: Caroline Diehl MBE The Asian Voice Charity Awards in association with Charity Clarity, also organised a panel discussion moderated by Rupert Morris and including British businessman and

Performers from the Roehampton Dance Society

Information by 26 of the 32 boroughs of London. Additionally, analysis by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on knife crime had found cuts to youth spending is directly proportional to the increase in knife crime with areas seeing the largest cut being the most affected.

“For decades Asian Voice and its esteemed Editor CB Patel have played a vital role, at the heart of the British Asian community, championing issues and concerns to those of Asian heritage, shining a spotlight on the achievements of our brothers and sisters and standing up for our community's interests,” he continued.

In light of this, The Editor's Choice Awards sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London was given to Damilola Taylor Trust.

The Trust was established in 2001 following the death of Damilola Taylor, a 10-year-old boy, who was tragically murdered by two boys not much older than him. The Trust is now committed in providing inner-city youths with oppor-

philanthropist Lord Rumi Verjee CBE, BAFTA winner Dr. Carrie Grant, Founder of The Media Trust, Caroline Diehl MBE and CEO of the Centre for Social Justice, Andy Cook.

Dr. Carrie Grant spoke about the feeling of disempowerment asking “about how to get governments to listen to us and who to approach.”

“But more importantly what difference does these meetings make? We want to see change at the ground level rather than just procure these meetings,” Dr. Grant emphasised.

“I have seen a lot of charities being locked back in the last few years as both local and national governments don't have any money left to spare. I have seen individuals knocking on the same doors but the thing that I am most excited about...is the social enterprising through a financially sustainable model,” said Caroline Diehl CBE as she urged social media platforms and mainstream media organisations to pitch in

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(L-R) Lord Navnit Dholakia, Amber Bauer, Donate4Refugees, winner of the Most Inspiring Individual award, and Martyn Day MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk

(L-R) CB Patel, Publisher-Editor of Asian Voice, Chris Dusy, Damilola Taylor Trust, winner of the Editor's Choice award, and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

(L-R) Caroline Diehl MBE, Founder, The Media Trust, Paul Strickland, Paul Strickland Scanner Centre winner of the Charity Of The Year award sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London, and Merul Patel, Director ABPL Group

(L-R) Subhash Thakrar, Chairman of Charity Clarity, Cinzia De Santis, Healing Venezuela, winner of the Startup of the Year award, and Navin Shah, Assembly Member, Brent and Harrow

(L-R) Vaseem Khan, author, Anand shah, Associate, Subhash Thaker, Founder and Trustee, Ameya Shah, The Sarvam Trust UK, winner of the Audience Choice award, and actor Raj Ghatak

(L-R) David Grant MBE, British pop singer, Alicia Jauffret, Fundraising Officer, Child Rescue Nepal, winner of the Social Impact award, and Ms Eugenie Harvey

(L-R) Nitin Ganatra, Eric Jauniaux, MD, PhD, FRCOG, Catherine McCarthy, Chief Executive, Medical Aid Films, winner of the Most Enterprising award and Lord Raj Loomba CBE, The Loomba Foundation

(L-R) Andrea Zafrakou, Leah Chowdhury, winner of the Most Inspiring Young Person of the Year award, and Olive Gray

(L-R) Navin Kundra, Suraj Patro, Lucinda Sowerbutts, Oscar Foundation, winner of the Outstanding PR Team, Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing and Southall and Ashok Rathod

Small charities pioneering large social causes are more financially sustainable.”

In the meantime, addressing the issue of dipping public interest in charities, and encouraging communties to work with grassroot organisations, Lord Verjee said, “I am an immigrant in this country.

We strive to be successful, and it is natural to give back to the society.

In my life what I have realised is the more you give, the more you get back.”

Community cohesion and tackling domestic issues While large organisations such as the British Red Cross, Muslim Aid UK, among others are often recognised for their global humanitarian projects, and crowdfunding campaigns, the AV Charity Awards Sonia Chandaria Tillu, Founder and Director of aims to pay tribute to the smaller Sona Lisa Dance Company charities that strive to fix the domestic issues close to home. their support to further these causes “I believe that small charities are picked up by the small charities. equally and vitally important for Citing the example of The Good social well-being and cohesion.

Market in Sri Lanka where 5,000 Whether it is domestic abuse, homesocial entrepreneurs and charities lessness, education or mentalare engaged in making produce, that health, the impact they make in facilitates jobs, create skills among communities is priceless. One of the other contributions, Diehl said, “We ills that now plagues our community need to challenge the old top down is knife crime, and this requires the charity and begging model and see if collective effort of individuals, famiwe can use philanthrophy and media lies, educational institutions and organisations to empower people to community organisations to put an create star-ups and enterprises that

end to the menace,” said CB Patel, Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice.

This year Charity of the Year Award was won by Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, an independent medical charity working to improve the lives of people affected by cancer and other severe conditions. The Social Impact Award has been won

by Child Rescue Nepal, which works on the ground to free children from slavery, removing children from factories, restaurants, hotels and construction sites where they are held captive. The Most Inspiring Young Person Award was given to Leah Chowdhry, the first British Asian woman to swim the English Channel to raise funds to combat child trafficking in India. The Audience Choice Award has been won by The Sarvam Trust that facilitates and supports the work of Sri Aurobindo Society in India to bring development in the lives of the underprivileged in the rural areas.

"Like earlier years, this year's winners represent the best of humanity. The awards are absolutely unique in that each applicant goes through a rigorous Charity Clarity rating process before the very best are shortlisted for the judges' consideration. It's heartening to see the wonderful work people do every day to build the civic fabric of Britain," said Pratik Dattani, Charity Clarity.

Full list of the 4th Asian Voice Charity Awards 2019 winners

Charity of the Year: Paul Strickland Scanner Centre Startup of the year: Healing Venezuela Most Enterprising: Medical Aid Films

Outstanding PR Team: Oscar International Social Impact Award: Child Rescue Nepal

Audience Choice award: The Sarvam Trust

Most inspiring young person: Leah Chowdhry

Most inspiring individual: Amber Bauer, Donate4Refugees

Editor's Choice Awards: Damilola Taylor Trust

Mr Kumar Acharya of Citibond Travel (London) Ltd Mrs Anju Acharya

Avnish and his wife Anita Goyal of charity The Hemraj Goyal Foundation

(L to R) Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar Chauhan MBE, Sqn Ldr Amir Khan, Loknath Mishra MD & CEO ICICI Bank UK PLC, Sqn Ldr Rachel Potts

Rekesh Chauhan, pianist

Stone Feathers

(L to R) Sarabjit Singh Gupta and Mohan Braj (Duncan Lewis Solicitors), Viram and Mira Jasani (Asian Music Circuit)

Members of the armed forces with guests

The cover of the Asian Voice Charity magazine is designed by Ketna Patel and the pictures of the event are taken by Vineet Johri and Raj Bakrania

16 ASIAN VOICE CHARITY AWARDS 2019

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25 - 31 May 2019

(L-R) Lord Navnit Dholakia, Amber Bauer, Donate4Refugees, winner of the Most Inspiring Individual award, and Martyn Day MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk

(L-R) CB Patel, Publisher-Editor of Asian Voice, Chris Dusy, Damilola Taylor Trust, winner of the Editor's Choice award, and Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London

(L-R) Caroline Diehl MBE, Founder, The Media Trust, Paul Strickland, Paul Strickland Scanner Centre winner of the Charity Of The Year award sponsored by Edwardian Hotels London, and Merul Patel, Director ABPL Group

(L-R) Subhash Thakrar, Chairman of Charity Clarity, Cinzia De Santis, Healing Venezuela, winner of the Startup of the Year award, and Navin Shah, Assembly Member, Brent and Harrow

(L-R) Vaseem Khan, author, Anand shah, Associate, Subhash Thaker, Founder and Trustee, Ameya Shah, The Sarvam Trust UK, winner of the Audience Choice award, and actor Raj Ghatak

(L-R) David Grant MBE, British pop singer, Alicia Jauffret, Fundraising Officer, Child Rescue Nepal, winner of the Social Impact award, and Ms Eugenie Harvey

(L-R) Nitin Ganatra, Eric Jauniaux, MD, PhD, FRCOG, Catherine McCarthy, Chief Executive, Medical Aid Films, winner of the Most Enterprising award and Lord Raj Loomba CBE, The Loomba Foundation

(L-R) Andrea Zafrakou, Leah Chowdhury, winner of the Most Inspiring Young Person of the Year award, and Olive Gray

(L-R) Navin Kundra, Suraj Patro, Lucinda Sowerbutts, Oscar Foundation, winner of the Outstanding PR Team, Virendra Sharma MP for Ealing and Southall and Ashok Rathod

Small charities pioneering large social causes are more financially sustainable.”

In the meantime, addressing the issue of dipping public interest in charities, and encouraging communties to work with grassroot organisations, Lord Verjee said, “I am an immigrant in this country.

We strive to be successful, and it is natural to give back to the society.

In my life what I have realised is the more you give, the more you get back.”

Community cohesion and tackling domestic issues While large organisations such as the British Red Cross, Muslim Aid UK, among others are often recognised for their global humanitarian projects, and crowdfunding campaigns, the AV Charity Awards Sonia Chandaria Tillu, Founder and Director of aims to pay tribute to the smaller Sona Lisa Dance Company charities that strive to fix the domestic issues close to home. their support to further these causes “I believe that small charities are picked up by the small charities. equally and vitally important for Citing the example of The Good social well-being and cohesion.

Market in Sri Lanka where 5,000 Whether it is domestic abuse, homesocial entrepreneurs and charities lessness, education or mentalare engaged in making produce, that health, the impact they make in facilitates jobs, create skills among communities is priceless. One of the other contributions, Diehl said, “We ills that now plagues our community need to challenge the old top down is knife crime, and this requires the charity and begging model and see if collective effort of individuals, famiwe can use philanthrophy and media lies, educational institutions and organisations to empower people to community organisations to put an create star-ups and enterprises that

end to the menace,” said CB Patel, Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice.

This year Charity of the Year Award was won by Paul Strickland Scanner Centre, an independent medical charity working to improve the lives of people affected by cancer and other severe conditions. The Social Impact Award has been won

by Child Rescue Nepal, which works on the ground to free children from slavery, removing children from factories, restaurants, hotels and construction sites where they are held captive. The Most Inspiring Young Person Award was given to Leah Chowdhry, the first British Asian woman to swim the English Channel to raise funds to combat child trafficking in India. The Audience Choice Award has been won by The Sarvam Trust that facilitates and supports the work of Sri Aurobindo Society in India to bring development in the lives of the underprivileged in the rural areas.

"Like earlier years, this year's winners represent the best of humanity. The awards are absolutely unique in that each applicant goes through a rigorous Charity Clarity rating process before the very best are shortlisted for the judges' consideration. It's heartening to see the wonderful work people do every day to build the civic fabric of Britain," said Pratik Dattani, Charity Clarity.

Full list of the 4th Asian Voice Charity Awards 2019 winners

Charity of the Year: Paul Strickland Scanner Centre Startup of the year: Healing Venezuela Most Enterprising: Medical Aid Films

Outstanding PR Team: Oscar International Social Impact Award: Child Rescue Nepal

Audience Choice award: The Sarvam Trust

Most inspiring young person: Leah Chowdhry

Most inspiring individual: Amber Bauer, Donate4Refugees

Editor's Choice Awards: Damilola Taylor Trust

Mr Kumar Acharya of Citibond Travel (London) Ltd Mrs Anju Acharya

Avnish and his wife Anita Goyal of charity The Hemraj Goyal Foundation

(L to R) Warrant Officer Ashok Kumar Chauhan MBE, Sqn Ldr Amir Khan, Loknath Mishra MD & CEO ICICI Bank UK PLC, Sqn Ldr Rachel Potts

Rekesh Chauhan, pianist

Stone Feathers

(L to R) Sarabjit Singh Gupta and Mohan Braj (Duncan Lewis Solicitors), Viram and Mira Jasani (Asian Music Circuit)

Members of the armed forces with guests

The cover of the Asian Voice Charity magazine is designed by Ketna Patel and the pictures of the event are taken by Vineet Johri and Raj Bakrania

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Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, With a PM Modi victory looking highly likely, I was asked by the Daily Express how important India will be to the UK economically. A lot of my readers ask about investing in India, seeing the growing wealth.

Almost 20 years ago, the then UK Prime Minister appointed me to the UK India Roundtable to suggest policies to the Prime Ministers of both countries to increase ties. Both country’s Governments have sought closer ties for decades. But what of the future? What more can be done?

India‘s GDP grew at 7.1% in 2016- 2017, and is expected to grow at 7.4% in 2018-19, when it will overtake the GDP’s of the UK and France.

Initiatives to boost Indian GDP by PM Modi also boost UK exports such as Access India Program, a market entry support program aimed at facilitating investments by UK SMEs in India.

• Since 2000, the UK has been the largest G20 investor in India, investing £17.5 billion and creating 371,000 new jobs which represent 10% of all FDI-related jobs in that period. British companies in India now employ almost 800,000 people, representing 1 in 20 jobs in India’s organised private sector.

• Over the last two decades, 8% of all foreign direct investment (FDI) into India was from the UK. • Of the 600 UK businesses present in India, almost 60% operate in two sectors: advanced engineering & manufacturing; and financial & professional services.

• Around 60% of UK companies in India have a turnover of less than £5 million per year – so it is not just a few big companies representing growth.

Well I don’t think the UK has undersold itself, I think India, unlike say America, Japan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Malaysia, has not grasped the size of the UK opportunities.

PM Modi knows it is initiatives like his ‘Digital India’ program and focus on AI, Fintech, IoT, big data, robotics, which will tie India to countries such as the UK – also a global leader in every sector the Indian PM has identified for a strong vibrant India. But there is untapped potential.

First, consider, that the during the past 5 years, according to the Financial Times last year, trade between the two countries has fallen from $15.7bn a year to $14bn. Just 1.7% of British exports go to India, less than go to Sweden and a fraction of 44% that goes to EU. Second, having heard this PM speak in London well before he was a PM thanks to the founder of this publication, one knows he does feel intellectual property protection does not necessarily benefit Indian growth. The patent revocation for GSK’s Tykerb would not have troubled the PM. But it may trouble investment from the UK into India.

What will boost trade, making UK more attractive in India?

According to UKIBC ‘Request for product or service from customers in India’ emerged as a key factor, with 62% of respondents rating it ‘Very important’, followed by ‘Visiting the markets (personally)’ with 53% respondents highlighting it as ‘Very important’ for why UK companies were active in India.

Caparo launches Space Audit Systems with University of Wolverhampton The University of Wolverhampton and Caparo plc have invested £80,000 in a new company that has developed specialist software for auditing the use of rooms in public buildings.

Universities are required to collect and report data about the utilisation of rooms in their estate, and in any event need this information to help plan when new buildings are required.

A University spin-out company, Space Audit Systems Ltd, has been formed to build on a business plan proposed by Nathan Leadbetter (a graduate in computer science from the University, and who works in the University’s Registry department). While carrying out audits himself, Nathan could see the potential for software to manage the same issue at other Universities.

Space Audit Systems Ltd received financial investment from the

Nathan Leadbetter

University of Wolverhampton and the Caparo Angad Paul Fund.

This fund was established in memory of Lord Swraj Paul’s son, the late Angad Paul, and invests in new technologies to support University research projects in transitioning from the laboratory to the commercial world. Both the University and Caparo plc will have shareholdings in Space Audit Systems Ltd. Founded by The Right

Late Angad Paul

Honourable Lord Swraj Paul, Chancellor of the University of Wolverhampton, Caparo has been investing in manufacturing for fifty years.

Conventionally, this work is undertaken by students employed on a casual basis, but this can leave some doubt over the data quality. Nathan has overseen the development of software and a management system which

Lord Swraj Paul

has proven to be very effective in ensuring proper collection and reporting of the data at low cost, and he is now being entrusted to lead the new company.

Nathan told Asian Voice, “From my experience of working to solve this problem, and talking to my opposite numbers at other universities, I know that the software we’ve developed is a great step forward. It is fantastic to have been given this opportunity to prove the commercial potential.”

Kerala Chief Minister opens trading floor at the London Stock Exchange Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan rang the bell at the London Stock Exchange, opening the Market on Friday 17 May, marking the listing of Masala Bonds sold by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), which is a government owned financial institution in Kerala that mobilises funds for infrastructure development from outside the state revenue. This was a part of CM's 13 day trip where he visited France, Netherlands and attended World Reconstruction Conference (WRC4) in Geneva.

In the afternoon on Friday, at a London hotel, the CM launched the Pravasi Chitty Scheme, which is monitored by Kerala State Financial Enterprises (KSFE), which is a savings scheme

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala State Finance Minister Thomas Issac, Nikhil Rathi, CEO, LSE, Deputy Mayor of London for Business Rajesh Agrawal and others at the Market opening on Friday

that provides stable income to Non Residential Indians (NRIS) subscribers in the form of pension when they return back to Kerala.

The idea of Masala Bonds was reportedly put forward by the State Finance Minister Thomas Issac, who also accompanied the CM, in order to raise funds to

rebuild infrastructure in Kerala which witnessed the worst floods in 100 years in August 2018. Following the floods, two Dutch water experts were part of the UN's visit to Kerala.

Masala Bonds are bonds issued by an Indian entity in a foreign market in the rupee denomination, rather than

the local currency. Masala is an Indian word and it means spices. The term was used by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to evoke the culture and cuisine of India.Unlike dollar bonds, where the borrower takes the currency risk, masala bond makes the investors bear the risk.

Defender. JLR said it has also expanded its Ingenium engine family with the addition of a new high performance, low emissions six-cylinder petrol engine.

The company intends to make around 2.5 billion pounds of investment, working capital and profit improvements by March 2020 through its Charge transformation programme.

As part of the ongoing transformation programme, the company said it continued to invest in its manufacturing footprint.

JLR opened a new plant in Nitra, Slovakia producing

the Land Rover Discovery and enhanced its state-ofthe-art flexible manufacturing in Halewood, north-west England, for the new Range Rover Evoque. Plans have been announced to assemble electric drive units and battery packs in the UK and invest in the production of the next generation of flagship Range Rover models at Solihull, in the West Midlands. Work is underway at Gaydon nearby to centralise Jaguar Land Rover's automotive design and product engineering activities.

Jaguar Land Rover suffers £3.6 bn loss Britain's largest car maker, Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover, suffered a loss of £3.6 billion for the year ended March 31. The company has struggled with plunging demand in China – made worse due to the USChina trade war triggered by President Trump – and drivers ditching diesel cars since the Volkswagen emissions scandal emerged in 2015. Much of its range is diesel-powered.

JLR, which was bought

by India's Tata Motors for £1.2 billion in 2008, said the situation is starting to improve. It made a £120

million profit in the last three months of the financial year. The company – which employs about 40,000 people in the UK – put this down to huge rounds of cost-cutting paying off after it announced plans to axe 4,500 jobs earlier this year.

Chief executive Ralf Speth said JLR – which also makes the luxury Range Rover models – has been one of the first companies in its sector 'to address the multiple headwinds simultaneously sweeping the automotive industry'. He claimed that JLR's

turnaround plan has already saved £1.3 billion. Full-year revenue came in at £24.2 billion, down from £25.8 billion the year before. It sold 6 per cent fewer vehicles, or 578,915, which it put down to weakness in China.

But the company said it is seeing solid sales for several of its new cars, such as the Jaguar E-Pace and Range Rover Velar. Tata Motors' finance chief, Pathamadai Balachandran Balaji, said he expects Chinese sales of its sleek Jaguar saloons and Land Rover SUVs to return to

growth later this year. JLR had made a profit of £1.5 billion in its previous financial year, 2017/18.

"We are taking concerted action to reduce complexity and to transform our business through cost and cash flow improvements.

The company has returned to profitability in the fourth quarter and already delivered 1.25 billion pounds of efficiencies and savings," Speth added.

Product launches have included the new Jaguar XE, to be followed by the refreshed Discovery Sport and the new Land Rover

REAL ESTATE VOICE

KNOWLEDGE IS WEALTH

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Over the weekend a deal was brought to my attention in West London; comprising of a number of flats, done surprisingly well. The property is spacious, light and airy.

The developer has gone bust, and the property has ended up in receivership. We now have the contract and are looking for a property investor with whom to close the deal.

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

When considering a property is important to not just look at the number of bedrooms, but to look at the square footage. Why? A one bedroom flat might have the same square footage as a two bedroom flat. The only difference between the two is a plaster board.

So, instead of having a number of large and airy flats, one can have say 25% more flats which are more bog standard. In this case a more bog standard proposition may have had a stronger return.

I was presented with this deal as a buy, breakup and resell opportunity. However, after further research this is not the right strategy for the current environment. The market is illiquid and uncertain. The chances of reselling in this market, at a decent margin, is questionable.

THE RETIRED LANDLORD We were recently contacted by a landlord who had just retired from a very fast paced and busy job. He was looking to take a back seat and enjoy his retirement. He contacted our office looking to discuss options which would remove him from any involvement with his properties, as he was looking to spend more time with his grandchildren and maybe spend some time travelling.

It was pretty clear from our quick conversation that he didn't need our full lettings management service. He

London, NW10 Purchase Price: £270,000

25 - 31 May 2019

There is, however, the case for holding this rare block for a three to five year period. It will appreciate nicely and there will be solid profits to be made. It helps that there is a lot of regeneration going on in the area. This will ensure the surrounding area lifts this block.

The other interesting aspect to this deal is the savings in stamp duty.

Currently, the stamp duty on an investment of this size would be about 10% of the value. This puts a severe dent into the profit margin of the investment, albeit a few years into the future at the point of resell. However, applying something called the Multiple Dwelling Relief would bring this amount down to only 5%, which halves the amount payable.

Another option would be to apply commercial rates to the transaction, there is a simpler tier of stamp duty which applies to commercial deals. There is one rate across the whole amount of the transaction, as opposed to residential, where there is a tiered system.

When purchasing six or more dwellings the purchaser has the choice of which rate to apply.

Surprisingly, there is an element of

already had tenants in his three properties, he had done everything correctly such as tenancy agreements, inventories, GSC etc. He also had a couple of his own preferred contractors to deal with repairs. I suggested that we take over the dayto-day management of the property, this would mean the tenants would contact us in the first instance with any questions, queries or qualms that they had regarding the property or repair issues. We would then contact the appropriate preferred contractor of our landlord and arrange access to

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

19

choice provided in this taxable transaction. The choice is obvious, the one which is cheaper.

a case of passing the buck to someone else at a cost to the client.

It’s surprising how many lawyers are ignorant of this saving. Some even say they have to refer it to a stamp duty specialist. Uh…no; you just need to read the guidance, it’s on the HMRC website. Unfortunately, often it’s

It is unfortunate the developer has landed in this situation, as the development has been completed to a very good standard. There are some minor snagging issues from what I can see, but nothing major.

carry out said repair. We would also collect the monthly rent, issue statements and carry out midterm inspections.

This was just the ticket for him as it has allowed him to take a step back.

His tenants know to contact us, and it gives him the most valuable things in life that we all lack, time and freedom.

Should you find yourself in a similar situation please contact our office to see how we can help.

Richard Bond

l Large one bedroom ground floor garden flat l Long lease and low service charges

l Similar flats have been sold for £315K and above, while we have secured this flat at a discount of at least 15%

l Yield of 5% per annum

l Close to local shops, restaurants and school l Moments away from Harlesden station

l Very good long term buy and hold opportunity Call us now for more information!

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

0207 993 0103

info@sowandreap.co.uk www.sowandreap.co.uk 27 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8HU SowandReapProperties

Sowandreapuk

Turning land into cash Get in touch about our land opportunities

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Hindujas to bid for Jet Airways?

UK's wealthiest people Hinduja Brothers will bid for debt-laden Jet Airways, sources said. The billionaires have obtained the assent of key stakeholder reportedly. The group is reportedly in talks with investment bankers led by SBI Capital Markets. The group has got backing of founder Naresh Goyal and Jet Airways strategic investor Etihad Airways. It may be noted that Jet Airways is running out of time as the staff and its pilots are being hired by rival airlines in India and abroad.

According to a report, the group will start the bidding process this week. It also mentioned that the lenders may be looking at paying off $30 million worth of dues to US Exim bank in a bid to free up six planes and resume limited operations. The report cited sources close to Naresh Goyal as saying that he shares a cordial relationship with the Hindujas.

They further said that the Hindujas are expecting the banks to take a sizeable cut. It may be noted that Jet's dues are pegged at £1.2 billion. The report earlier stated that a consortium of lenders, led by State Bank of India, and Etihad wanted to rope

in the Hinduja Group by offering a stake in grounded Jet Airways. The group, however, had not given any clear commitment in pumping funds into the debt-laden carrier initially.

The group, however, began showing interest after Etihad approached GP Hinduja, the elder brother, who leads the group. He, in turn, put the Abu Dhabi-based carrier in touch with Ashok Hinduja, the younger brother, who heads the India business.

Lenders plan to approach unsolicited bidders Meanwhile, Jet lenders had opted for a stake sale in hopes of better returns. After receiving Etihad’s offer to buy partial stake, the lenders plan to come up with a new scheme to attract

more investors. SBI Caps, which is the transaction advisor for the lenders and managing the stake sale process, is soon to come up with a fresh plan. According to sources, Etihad has shown interest to acquire a partial stake of around 24% in Jet which is one-third of the requirement.

SBI Caps will chalk out the contours of the new scheme based on Etihad’s offer. “It (Etihad’s bid) is a bid, but it is not a complete bid. They are saying they are willing to participate, provided there is also someone who comes in.

They have communicated their terms and conditions in their bid,” said a source.

Sources said after fresh shares are issued, Etihad’s stake will go down to almost zero, which is 24% now. Etihad has

indicated it would like to retain 24% stake in the airline and has offered £170 million. Jet promoter Naresh Goyal has 51% stake in the airline, while 25% is the public holding. “They will contribute about one-third of the requirement. So the remaining two-third has to come from other investors,” the source said. By remaining at 24%, there will be no need for an open offer - a scenario Etihad was keen to avoid.

4 executives quit Jet saw an exodus from its top management when four key executives put in their papers one after the other. The resignation of top executives, along with founder Naresh Goyal no longer being formally associated with Jet, has sealed the fate of thousands of employees.

Chief executive officer Vinay Dube, deputy CEO and CFO Amit Agarwal, chief people officer Rahul Taneja and company secretary-cumcompliance officer Kuldeep Sharma quit after it became clear that Etihad’s offer to invest in Jet may not be sufficient to make the debt-ridden airline fly again, at least not anytime soon.

Tata Group plans to re-enter FMCG market Tata Group plans to re-enter the FMCG business nearly after three decades in the personal and home care categories competing against Hindustan Unilever (HUL).

Group company Tata Global Beverages is set to transform itself to become a broadbased consumer products enterprise.

It is expected to house the consumer products of personal care, home care, dairy and nutri-supplements in addition to its existing categories of beverages, spices, staples and packaged foods.

This will make Tata Global a formidable rival to HUL and ITC, which have multi-category fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) products.

In its first phase, Tata Global will be taking over the food (salt, spices, proteins, snacks, sweeteners) and non-food (detergents) business of Tata Chemicals to create an enterprise with a turnover of £909.9 million. Tata Chem had

recently forayed into home care with the pilot launch of Tata DX detergent in West Bengal.

Once the acquisition is completed, the company will be renamed as Tata Consumer Products (TCP) to reflect the wider and changing profile of Tata Global. The management declared that TCP will be the vehicle for the group’s longer term and broader FMCG play.

Tata Global considers this consolidation an entry into high-growth, high-margin categories such as home care, personal care and dairy organically or inorganically.

Expecting to piggyback on the vast distribution reach of Tata Chem, TCP plans to double its reach to 2.5 million retail outlets and 200 million households in the country. A

billion Tata Salt packs were sold in fiscal 2019 - similar to the size of the Indian population.

In 1993, HUL (then Hindustan Lever) acquired the erstwhile Tata Oil Mill Company (TOMCO). Before that, with brands like Hamam, Moti, 501and OK, it was the second-largest soap maker in the country.

In order to focus on its commodity businesses like steel, the conglomerate exited from the space. Now, the group intends to grow its consumer-facing business and increase revenue share from branded play as against the commodity business. Tata Group company Titan already has a fragrance called ‘Skinn’.

Some years ago, Titan had expanded its object clause to include cosmetics. Another group company Trent sells its own range of make-up products at its Westside departmental stores.

in brief DIFFERENCES CROP UP BETWEEN INDIGO PARTNERS Differences cropped up between the cofounders of India’s most successful airline IndiGo, sources said. The two, Rahul Bhatia and Rakesh Gangwal, have hired legal firms for dispute resolution, sources said. It is learnt that the differences between the two are over Bhatia possibly feeling that Gangwal was trying to gain greater control of the airline by bringing his own team as the low-cost carrier plans to expand to the international markets. Bhatia and Gangwal have hired JSA Law and Khaitan & Co, respectively. Gangwal, a US citizen and nonexecutive director, is a veteran of global aviation industry holds nearly 37% stake in the airline. Bhatia has about 38% stake. In 2003-04 they came together to launch IndiGo. The airline had a smooth run till to two to three years-go and the carrier undertook massive expansion in Indian skies, emerging as the number one player.

INFY EMPLOYEES TO GET £370 MN STOCK Infosys stock options had created some of India’s early salaried millionaires. The company has now announced another major stock option programme that is expected to benefit a large number of employees. The company has decided to allocate 50 million shares, valued at £370 million, to employees based on performance. The effort appears to be partly an attempt to rein in the company’s high attrition rates of 17-20%.

The programme - Infosys Expanded Stock Ownership Programme 2019 - links longterm employee incentives with shareholder value creation. “Subject to shareholder approval, this unique plan proposes to allocate 50 million shares equating 1.15% of the company’s equity shares to a broad base of employees, which will vest on challenging performance criteria,” the company said in a statement. Infosys is said to have created 20,000 rupee-millionaires and 500 dollarmillionaires in the 1990s and 2000s. It had at one point stopped stock options. But some three years ago, it relaunched the employee stock option programme to reward employees at junior to mid levels.

PANASONIC TO SET UP CHARGING SITES FOR E-VEHICLES

India looking for a lonely battle over global e-comm rules India is readying to fight a bitter-battle on global rules for ecommerce trade at the World Trade Organization (WTO) with close to 70 countries siding with the US to have a multilateral mechanism. India is evidently under pressure at most global gatherings. With only South Africa on its side, the government had to drop a mention of the issue in a declaration issued after the mini-ministerial meeting. In the draft prepared by Indian officials, it talked about restraining from plurilateral agreements, where a group of countries and not the entire WTO membership came together for a deal. US, Europe, Japan and China are already seeking

some sort of rules that will benefit the likes of Amazon, Alibaba and Uber by opening doors to markets across the globe.

So far India, South Africa and Saudi Arabia have been the naysayers. Government sources, however, said that at a recent G20 meeting, even South Africa indicated that there is little support for blocking an international framework on e-commerce or digital trade, with a large bloc from the African continent “beginning to see the gains” that may accrue to them.

Government officials said India is going to hold firm as very little benefit accrues to consumers and domestic players.

“Even if it is 160 countries in

favour of global e-commerce rules, India will seek to stop it,” said a source. The absence of a domestic policy as well as free data flow being pushed by the US and Europe stems India’s concern. India fears that new rules could provide the pretext for unfair mandatory market access to foreign companies. In addition, the government doubts that the architecture being proposed may force developing and least developed countries to lower duties and ease restrictions on services trading, something that was being done autonomously.

In fact, the European Union in its submission to WTO, has sought an expansion of the

Information Technology Agreement (ITA) something that India has sought to avoid and has not signed ITA-2. Signing ITA-1 is believed to be a mistake by many policy makers as it restricted the government’s ability to impose import duty on several electronic goods. The US and EU members have openly sought removal of data localisation requirements, although they recognise that privacy needs to be protected. Already, fintech companies and the likes of Amazon and WhatsApp have been complaining about the requirement with the Trump administration backing them.

On its part, China has been less ambitious in its proposals.

Japanese electronics giant Panasonic is planning to set up 100,000 charging stations and telematic solutions across 25 Indian cities by 2024 to power over a million vehicles. The company - a key partner (battery cell supplier) of American electric vehicles maker Tesla - plans to set up mini charging facilities at parking areas, malls, petrol pumps, and specially developed zones across cities such as Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Chennai, Amravati, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Noida and Ghaziabad. Through the network, Panasonic aims to reach individual electric vehicle users, fleet owners, e-commerce and logistics companies to manage their transports more efficiently. Most of the expansion will be through the franchisee model, while Panasonic will control the core network and technologies.

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in brief PIO CONVICTED FOR STEPDAUGHTER’S MURDER IN US

An Indian-origin woman in the US has been convicted by a jury of killing her nine-year old stepdaughter in 2016 and faces up to life in prison at sentencing. Shamdai Arjun, 55, of Queens, New York was convicted of second-degree murder. The judge indicated that he would sentence her on June 3. Arjun was convicted for the August 2016 strangulation death of her nine-yearold stepdaughter Ashdeep Kaur, who was left in her care. Kaur had arrived in the US from India just three months before she was killed in August 2016 and was living with her father and Arjun in Queens.

PIC SHOWS SIKH MAYOR AS ARAB DICTATOR IN US Ravi Bhalla, the first ever Sikh mayor of a city in New Jersey, has been allegedly racially targeted after his photoshopped image as an Arab dictator was published on a local website. The New Jersey-based website, “Hudson Mile Square View”, ran an image of Hoboken mayor Bhalla that resembled the lead character played by British actor Sacha Baron Cohen in the comedy film “The Dictator.” Sikh activists denounced the image as racist. The website said that the image was submitted by a reader. The site has previously too photoshopped his images. In February 2017, it posted a photo of Bhalla with a “Pinocchio” nose.

2 INDIAN MOUNTAINEERS KILLED IN NEPAL Two Indian mountaineers have died on Nepal's Himalayan peaks, while another two climbers were missing, officials said.

Indian climber Ravi Thakar, 28, died while he sleeping in his tent at Mount Everest's highest camp site, according to Thaneswar Guragai of the Seven Summit Treks, which organized the expedition. Thakar had successfully scaled the 8,850-meter (29,035-foot) summit but did not appear to be well on the way back and was discovered to have died a few hours after entering his tent. Another Indian climber Narayan Singh fell sick and died on Mount Makalu and attempts are still being made to bring down his body, said Mira Acharya, a director at Nepal's Department of Tourism. Irish climber Seamus Lawless and a Chilean climer went missing while returning from Everest's summit, Acharya said.

CHRISTIAN GRAVES VANDALISED IN PAKISTAN In an act of wanton violence against Christian symbols, unknown miscreants have attacked a cemetery in Okara district of Punjab province, destroying over 30 graves and defacing crosses fixed on others. The vandalism took place on May 12 and was discovered by catechist Samson Masih and other locals when they visited the graveyard. A police complaint against unknown individuals has been registered.

“It is very sad to see that some people attacked our cemetery. They broke crosses and damaged graves. It is an offence to our faith and it has hurt us. The guilty must be arrested,” said James Bahadur, the priest in Okara.

Pak airspace to remain shut for Indian flights till May 30 Islamabad: Pakistan has decided not to lift its airspace ban for Indian flights till May 30, as Islamabad is awaiting the outcome of the Lok Sabha polls in India. Pakistan closed its airspace after an Indian Air Force strike on a Jaish-eMohammed terror camp in Balakot on February 26.

However, Pakistan opened its airspace for all flights except for New Delhi, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur on March 27.

“The top officials of Defence and Aviation Ministries held a meeting to reconsider opening its airspace for Indian flights.

They decided that Pakistan’s airspace will remain banned for the Indian flights till May 30,” a senior government official said.

He said the Civil Aviation Authority has also notified the decision to the airmen. The authority issued a notification (Notam) after the meeting to pilots, advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying. The official said

the government will now consider lifting the ban on Indian flights on May 30.

Pakistan’s Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry early this week said that the status quo will remain till the conclusion of elections in India.

“Status quo will remain till the elections are over in India. I don’t see any improvement in relations between Pakistan and India till the elections are over and a new government is installed. The ban on airspace by each other I think will also

continue till Indian polls,” Chaudhry said. Owing to the flight ban on its airspace by India, Pakistan has suspended its operation for Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur which is causing a loss of millions of rupees per day.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) used to operate four flights to Kuala Lumpur, two to Bangkok and two to New Delhi.

A senior PIA official said that the national flag carrier’s loss is running into billions of rupees because of suspension of the flights, especially to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. “We are not

only facing the huge financial loss but also losing our passengers to other airlines,” he said, adding that this matter should now be resolved. “If land and rail routes are operational between Pakistan and India, what’s wrong with the air route,” the official asked.

The airlines and civil aviation authorities of both the countries are enduring massive losses. The flights between Europe to Far-East are not only facing huge financial losses, but the flight duration has also increased, while the airlines have also increased their ticket prices. Pakistan in mid-April had opened one of its 11 air routes for west-bound flights from India and airlines such as Air India and Turkish Airlines have started using it. The operating cost for Air India, which flies to destinations in Europe and the US, reportedly has increased significantly as it had to take longer routes due to closure of Pakistan airspace.

Pak planning to appoint NSA for talks with India breaking the ice. The two held meetings in Bangkok leading to the agreement between the two foreign ministers for the resumption

Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: The Imran Khan-led Pakistan government is actively considering appointing a national security advisor to revive backchannel diplomacy with India to iron out issues hindering the resumption of peace talks between the two nuclear-armed countries, official sources said. Since assuming office in August last year, PM Khan repeatedly reached out to India for the resumption of peace talks on all outstanding issues. But India has made it clear to Pakistan that terrorism and dialogue will not go hand-in-hand.

The likely appointment of the NSA is meant for reviving the backchannel diplomacy with India to sort out some of the pressing issues between the two neighbours, the official sources said. A senior official said that the government was likely to appoint a retired military official as the NSA. He said certain names were under consideration but no final decision has been taken yet.

The relationship between the two nations currently is at an all-time low after a Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Muhammed suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy in Pulwama in Jammu & Kashmir on February 14 that killed 40 soldiers. Now, with the election exercise in India getting over, Pakistan is considering options on how to resume talks with India. One of the options include the appointment of the NSA. In the past, the two countries often used backchannel through the NSAs to prepare ground for any talks.Talking to foreign journalists last month, Khan had said that there might be a better chance of peace talks with India if PM Narendra Modi returned to power.

In 2015, Pakistan’s NSA Lt General (retd) Naseer Khan Janjua and his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval were instrumental in

of the composite dialogue. The leadership of the two countries used their respective NSAs to communicate on important issues.

22 WORLD

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AFRICA - SRI LANKA- BANGLADESH

Nordstrom apologises to Sikhs for selling offensive turban PHOENIX (US): Nordstrom has apologized to American Sikhs for selling a turban they found offensive, but a representative with the US community’s top civil rights organization said they are still waiting to hear from the Gucci brand that designed it. “We feel that companies are commodifying and capitalizing on something that is dear and sacred to people around the world,” said Simran Jeet Singh, a senior fellow with the New York-based Sikh Coalition, who said the turban has a deep religious significance for the men of his faith.

“And there is tension over the fact that the very article of our faith has been the focus of so much hate and violence and bullying,” he said, recalling that Sikhs wearing turbans have been attacked in hate crimes, including a man killed near

Models display items from Gucci's women's Fall/Winter 2018-2019

Phoenix a few days after 9/11.

The current complaint springs from a Gucci head wrap that until May 15 was advertised on Nordstrom’s website for $790 as the “Indy Full Turban.” The description said the “gorgeously crafted turban is ready to turn heads while keeping you in

comfort as well as trademark style.”

The Nordstrom website had a reference to a Gucci “head wrap,” but it was listed as sold out and it was no longer pictured. “We have decided to stop carrying this product and have removed it from the site. It

was never our intent to disrespect this religious and cultural symbol. We sincerely apologize to anyone who may have been offended by this,” the department store said.

Gucci’s turban was first talked about last winter, when a white model walked the runway wearing it during a fashion show. Gucci had not responded to the criticism over the product.

Emails seeking comment were sent to Gucci through its public relations representatives and a corporate fashion services website. “When companies appropriate articles of faith, they do not take into consideration the discrimination Sikhs face while adhering to the tenets of their faith.

We appreciate Nordstrom’s recognition of this problem & apology,” the Sikh coalition said.

Christian poet in Bangladesh arrested for 'defamatory' writings DHAKA: Prominent poet Henry Sawpon was arrested by the police in southern Bangladesh after he was accused of hurting the religious feelings of the country's minority Christian community. A Christian himself, Henry was taken into custody after a priest filed a case against him for series of defamatory writings about the clergy. The arrests were based on charges such as "hurting religious sentiment" or undermining "law and order." Sources said Sawpon was arrested under the country's digital security law for hurting religious sentiments of the Christian community.

Sawpon writes poems and

Henry Sawpon

rhymes for leading Bangladesh newspapers and magazines. He was sent to jail after a court

rejected his bail application. As per police, Sawpon had posted derogatory remarks against Catholic fathers on his Facebook profile since 2016. He also accused the city's Bishop of embezzling funds. He is being investigated for allegedly violating Bangladesh's already stringent internet laws enacted in 2006.

Days before his arrest, Sawpon told local media that two unidentified men entered his home after midnight and threatened to kill him if he did not stop writing against his community.

If found guilty, the poet faces a maximum 14 years in jail

under the controversial digital security law which has been slammed as "draconian" by media rights groups in Bangladesh and abroad. Rights groups expressed concern that the law would be used to curb freedom of expression and a crackdown on dissent.

Christians make up less than one per cent of Bangladesh's 165 million people. They have lived for centuries mostly in harmony with the local Muslim majority and have played a prominent role in the country's history.

Even today, schools and hospitals run by Catholic missionaries are a blessing for poor communities.

Parliament official among 6 held over NTJ links in Lanka COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan parliament official was among six people arrested for their alleged links to the banned Islamist extremist group, National Tawheed Jamaat (NTJ), which carried out the deadly suicide attacks on Easter Sunday, a senior police official said. Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekara said that initially three suspects had been apprehended after a NTJ training facility was discovered at a coconut estate upon a tipoff received by the police.

Gunasekara said the suspects, which included the land owner, were arrested on May 9 and have been remanded until May 24 after being produced before a court. Details pertaining to two more individuals including that of a Kurunegala hospital staffer had emerged following questioning of the three suspects.

Gunasekara said several cheques had been discovered in

the possession of the hospital staffer.

Following the questioning of the two suspects, police arrested an individual in the Alawathugoda area last Saturday.

This suspect was identified as an employee of the Parliament Hansard Department, Gunasekara said.

The man, a father of two, had been employed at parliament over the last 12 years. He has been found to be a main preacher of the NTJ and had conducted NTJ preaching all

over the island. He has been put under detention for 90 days for questioning. Earlier, a school principal and a teacher have been arrested. The Special Task Force made the arrests of 56year-old principal and the 47year-old teacher at a school in Ataweerawewa. The suspects have been identified as Noor Mohamed Addu Ul and Ajibul Jabar, residents of Kapugollewa, Horowpathana, Colombo. The police reportedly received information of them having direct ties with the NTJ and the

leader Mohamad Sahran Hashim, who carried out the suicide attack on April 21. Nine suicide bombers, including a woman, carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and three three luxury hotels in Colombo. The attack killed over 258 people and injuring over 500 others. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack, but the government has blamed the NTJ for the bombings.

Communal riots Widespread communal riots were followed in apparent retaliation for the attacks which targeted Muslim-owned businesses. Hardline Buddhist groups were blamed for a wave of anti-Muslim riots. AntiMuslim riots have killed one person and caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and mosques last week.

Authorities have arrested over 100 suspected communal rioters.

in brief ‘HERO’ DOG SAVES BABY BURIED ALIVE

BY MOTHER

A dog with only three legs has rescued a newborn baby that was buried alive reportedly by its teenage mother. Ping Pong is being hailed a hero in Thailand for saving the child whose 15-year-old mother was believed to have been hiding her pregnancy from her parents. The dog was barking and scratching at dirt by a field, alerting his owner, who then found an infant’s leg sticking up. Locals rushed the baby to hospital, where doctors cleaned him up and declared he was healthy. Police said they had arrested the mother and charged her with child abandonment and attempted murder.

AUSTRIA BANS HEADSCARF IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS Austrian MPs approved a law aimed at banning the headscarf in primary schools, a measure proposed by the ruling rightwing government. So as to avoid charges that the law discriminates against Muslims, the text refers to any “ideologically or religiously influenced clothing which is associated with the covering of the head”. The government says the patka head covering worn by Sikh boys or the Jewish kippa would not be affected. However, representatives of ruling parties have made it clear that the law is targeted at the Islamic headscarf.

FORMER FRENCH PRESIDENT SARKOZY SET FOR TRIAL France’s Constitutional Council cleared the way for former president Nicolas Sarkozy to be tried over alleged illegal financing of his failed re-election campaign in 2012. Sarkozy had appealed to the council invoking the “double jeopardy” principle because he had already been convicted in 2013 and ordered to pay more than 360,000 euros for breaching campaign-finance rules. But in its decision, the council ruled that the penalty Sarkozy was ordered to pay in 2013 was for different violations and different amounts than the fraud he and 13 co-defendants are now being investigated for. The case now hinges on the country’s top appeal court where Sarkozy, 64, has lodged a separate appeal. If that too is rejected, the case will return to prosecutors who will decide whether he should be tried.

US WOMAN KILLED, BABY CUT FROM WOMB A Chicago woman who sold baby clothes to a pregnant woman and lured her back to her house with an offer of more clothing has been charged with murder after allegedly strangling the woman with a cord and cutting the infant from her womb, police said. Clarisa Figueroa, 46, apparently wanted to raise another child two years after her adult son died of natural causes, investigators said. Figueroa’s 24-year-old daughter, Desiree Figueroa was also charged. The mother’s boyfriend was charged with concealment of a homicide.

The charges come three weeks after 19year-old Marlen Ochoa-Lopez disappeared and a day after her body was discovered in a garbage can in the backyard of Figueroa’s home.

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ELECTION SPECIAL

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Leaders arrive for PM Modi, Amit Shah's dinner in Delhi The Union Council of Ministers on Tuesday met at the Bharatiya Janata Party's headquarters in New Delhi.

The meeting was attended

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah. The BJP described the 'Aabhar Milan' meeting as an occasion to thank ministers for "their service to the nation" ahead of the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha election on May 23, following which a new government will assume charge.

The meeting came ahead of a dinner party being hosted by Shah in Delhi, which is also expected to double up as a strategy session - even though Sunday's exit polls predicted a comfortable victory for the BJP. Twelve of 14 exit polls predicted that the NDA will get full majority with seats ranging from 282 to 365. An aggregate of exit polls predicted the BJP-led

Amit Shah greeting Narendra Modi

Ahead of vote count, NDA gets together for dinner hosted by Amit Shah

National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win 302 seats and the Congress and its allies 122. A party or an alliance needs 271 seats to form the government, as the elections were held on 542 of

the 543 Lok Sabha seats.

Union Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters that 36 NDA allies were present at Amit Shah's dinner, adding that three NDA allies who did not make it to the dinner

have assured their support in writing. At the meeting of Union Council of Ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi likened his campaign for this Lok Sabha election to a pilgrimage, saying it

stood out from other polls as it was being fought by the people and not the party alone. "I have seen many elections but this one was beyond politics. Public was fighting them.

I have campaigned in assembly elections and undertaken political tours for the party in different elections.

When I toured during these polls, it seemed that I was on a pilgrimage," the

prime minister was quoted as saying. Besides Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Arun Jaitley, J P Nadda and Prakash Javadekar are among the key leaders from the BJP at the meeting.

Some ministers from BJP allies, including Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party, Harsimrat Kaur Badal from the Akali Dal and Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal, were also present in the meeting.

Opposition stands united, says Chandrababu Naidu Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu met his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on Monday. “Had a good discussion prior to the announcement of Lok Sabha election results,” Naidu tweeted. The meeting came a day after exit polls predicted a comfortable victory for the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. Some exit polls predicted that Naidu would struggle to retain power in Andhra Pradesh. Banerjee has dismissed exit polls as “gossip” and urged Opposition parties to be “united, strong and bold”.

Naidu landed in Kolkata and then travelled to Banerjee’s Kalighat residence, where he held a long meeting with her. Two unidentified Trinamool Congress leaders said that the two leaders “decided to hold detailed discussion” with other Opposition leaders after the elections results are declared on May 23.

Naidu’s meeting with Mamata came two days after he held discussions with Congress President Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav and Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati about the possibility of a grand Opposition coalition following the Lok Sabha election results. The Andhra Pradesh chief minister also met Communist Party of India leaders G Sudhakar Reddy and D Raja in Delhi.

United front: Farooq Abdullah, D. Raja, Chandrababu Naidu, Ahmed Patel, Ashok Gehlot and other Opposition leaders after meeting the EC in New Delhi

The hectic parleys are aimed at ensuring numbers and move fast to stall a Narendra Modi-led government in the event the Lok Sabha polls yield a hung House. In Lucknow, Naidu met BSP leader Mayawati and Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav. Naidu is learnt to have worked towards persuading the two leaders to join the opposition camp.

He invited them to Delhi for discussions to build a broad consensus on the formation of a front comprising anti-BJP parties. The two leaders reportedly assured Naidu that they

will consider his proposal. He also met Sonia Gandhi earlier.

Pawar reaches out to KCR, Naveen Meanwhile, Pawar has reached out to key Opposition leaders who could play a significant role in case of a hung verdict.

Sources said Pawar spoke with Biju Janata Dal (BJD) chief and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao in the past three days. Though officially the NCP

refused to comment on these discussions, a senior party leader categorically denied reports that YSR Congress leader Jagan Mohan Reddy had avoided speaking to Pawar. The NCP chief’s move follows his two rounds of meetings with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu over the weekend. Naidu has been pushing the idea of a united block of Opposition parties that can approach President Ram Nath Kovind to stake claim as a single entity if results throw up a hung Parliament on Thursday.

Key Opposition leaders argue that no prepoll alliance will get the numbers to comfortably form the government and will need the help of other parties. In such a scenario, parties like the BJD and TRS could play a significant role. Opposition strategists argue that a powerful BJP under Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would eventually eclipse its regional partners and hence regional players may be better placed in a federal front government. Opposition leaders also argue that many regional parties run the risk of alienating minority supporters if they join the NDA. “There are several possibilities and everything depends on the numbers. And until May 23, it is futile to speak about prepoll blocks or alliances. But given Pawar’s stature in politics, he has opened a channel with like minded parties,” said an Opposition leader.

Women voters outnumber men in 13 states and UTs Female voters outnumbered male voters in as many as 13 states and Union territories in the Lok Sabha polls that concluded on Sunday. The new entrants to this club are Bihar and Uttarakhand, the only states in the north to figure on this list.

In 2014, 10 states and UTs had seen more women than men voting, but within the then undivided state of Andhra Pradesh, the part that now

remains Andhra had also recorded a larger number of female voters than male. Thus, effectively 11 of the current states and UTs had witnessed this trend five years ago.

The current list is dominated by states and UTs in the south and northeast, the only exceptions being Goa and Daman Diu in the west and the two northern states. Kerala leads the pack with over 900,000 more women voters

than men. At the other end, Lakshadweep had just 165 more women voting than men.

While 11of the 13 states and UTs had more female than male voters even in 2014, the gap has widened in each case quite significantly. In Kerala, for instance, it has increased from a little over 600,000 to more than 900,000. In Tamil Nadu, the jump is from just over 100,000 to nearly 600,000.

Put together, in these 13 states and UTs, there were 21,00,000 more women voting than men. A caveat is in order in the case of Bihar. The tally here is based on detailed numbers for the first six phases of the polls, and the lead women voters have over men is only around 130,000. It is possible, though not likely, that the numbers from the seventh and final phase could change the picture.

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SOUTH INDIA

Sharp division among ruling coalition partners in Karnataka BENGALURU: A sharp division among leaders of the coalition partners in Karnataka is clearly seen with Janata Dal (Secular) state president AH Vishwanath and former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah accusing each other of not adhering to the "coalition dharma" on key issues. The flare-up between the two leaders can complicate matters for Congress and JD(S) further after the growing 'Siddaramaiah for CM' clamour within the state Congress. The call irked JD(S) leadership, with Vishwanath responded by asking Congress leaders to not resort to "chamchagiri (sycophancy)", and questioning Siddaramaiah's ability as an administrator.

"What is so special about Siddaramaiah's rule? Was his administration greater than that of Devraj Urs? People remember Devraj Urs even today, after 30 years.

What great administration happened during Siddaramaiah's time to remember it for decades? What major developmental work

Siddaramaiah and AH Vishwanath

happened?

Nothing," Vishwanath said.

A miffed Siddaramaiah tweeted that he would raise the matter before the coordination committee. "Earlier it was state Higher Education Minister GT Deve Gowda making such comments, and now it's Vishwanath. Who is going to be next? It'll help if seniors in the Janata Dal (Secular) take note of this," he said, adding that "coalition dharma" was the only thing holding him back.

Responding to Siddaramaiah's tweet,

Vishwanath asked, "The coordination committee has been formed for coalition dharma.

Do discuss this before the coordination committee. You are the chairman there. Who has stopped you from saying in the coordination committee that you want to be the Chief Minister?" He said though Siddaramaiah had been the chairman for a year, the common minimum programme has not been prepared yet.

"Siddaramaiah may want to become the Chief Minister

again, but it won't happen before 2022," he added.

Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara, who belongs to the Congress, also called it "inappropriate" of Vishwanath to speak against the coordination committee at a time when both the parties need to stand together. Meanwhile, as the two leaders sparred, the opposition BJP claimed that Vishwanath's remarks were only a reflection of the general feeling in the Janata Dal (Secular). "It is not a statement

by Vishwanath but something that Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy wants to convey through him," BJP state chief BS Yeddyurappa said.

Even during the Lok Sabha elections, squabbling between coalition partners was quite evident in several key constituencies such as Tumakuru, Hassan and Mandya from where JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda, his grandsons Prajwal Revanna and Nikhil Kumaraswamy contested, respectively.

PUNJAB

All-out war between Amarinder and Sidhu PATIALA/AMRITSAR: An allout war broke out in the ruling Congress in Punjab with chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh accusing his cabinet colleague Navjot Singh Sidhu of damaging the party and nursing ambitions to replace him at the top post. The Sidhu camp hit back with his wife Navjot Kaur saying the CM should resign if Congress failed to win all 13 seats. Amarinder referred to Sidhu’s statement that the inaction by his government against the Badals in the 2015 Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege case was giving an impression of a “friendly match” between Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal in the Lok Sabha polls.

Accusing his minister of damaging Congress with his “untimely remarks”, Amarinder said: “If Sidhu wants to

challenge me and my job, I think he should take it up with the party high command. Sidhu is ambitious and it's fine, people have ambitions.”

He added, “I think it (Sidhu’s outburst) came at the wrong time. If he was a real Congressman, he should have chosen a better time to air his grievances. It is for the high command to decide on any action, but Congress, as a party, does not tolerate indiscipline.”

Sidhu’s wife targeted Amarinder after voting in Amritsar and replied in the affirmative when asked whether he should resign if Congress fails to win all 13 LS seats. “Yes, he should resign as it has been nearly two years since the formation of his government... Had it been just six months, it would have been different. It is good he has made

Navjotsingh Sidhu and Captain Amarinder Singh

MLAs and ministers accountable.”

Sidhu himself did not comment on his ongoing tension with Amarinder, but justified his absence from campaigning in Punjab. He said he had campaigned wherever he was told to by Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka. “She (Priyanka) herself had brought me in and she directed me to go to Gurdaspur,

Ferozepur and Bathinda to raise the flag of Congress,” Sidhu said.

After the CM’s strong criticism of Sidhu, senior cabinet ministers Brahm Mohindra and Sukhjinder Randhawa accused the cricketer-turned-politician of backstabbing Congress and sought Rahul’s intervention to rein him in. Mohindra said it was shocking how Sidhu spoke at a crucial time.

WEST BENGAL

Mamta rejects Modi's offer to reinstall Vidyasagar statue LUCKNOW/KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s offer to install a new bust of social reformer Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar at the same spot where it was vandalised saying that Bengal has the money for it. Didi said Bengal did not need “BJP’s money” and that her state had enough in its coffers to rebuild the statue.

“We do not seek alms from BJP,” she said unwilling to cede any poll advantage to BJP at a rally in Mathurapur in Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district.

Prime Minister Modi, who was locked in a blame game with Mamata over the vandalisation of a bust of Vidyasagar at a college in Kolkata during Amit Shah’s rally last week, promised to install a “grand statue” of the Bengali icon at the same spot.

Narendra Modi and Mamata Banerjee

At a rally in UP, Modi said, “Dedicated to the vision of Ishwarchandra Vidyasagar, our government will install a panchdhatu (five metals) statue at the very spot as a fitting response to Trinamool Congress goondas.”

He accused the CM of putting her own “sticker” on all the central projects.“People in Bengal will teach Mamata a lesson in

democracy. Didi and her nephew (Abhishek Banerjee) have turned the state into their jagir (fiefdom). Trinamool goondas have taken the state to hell over the past three days. Those who smashed Vidyasagar’s bust did a grave wrong. They should be taken to task. The state government is trying its best to wipe the evidence of violence as it did for Narada and Saradha and other chit fund scams. It shows to what extent Didi can go to protect her vote bank,” said the PM. Violence at Amit Shah's rally Streets of Kolkata plunged into a welter of violence as Amit Shah's convoy was attacked with stones by alleged TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties. However, Shah escaped unhurt but was forced to cut short the jamboree and

in brief STALIN STAYS COLD TO KCR'S PLANS DMK chief MK Stalin said that he "doesn't see a chance" for a Third Front, in a setback for Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao who has been exploring the possibility of a non-BJP, non-Congress arrangement at the centre after the national elections. Stalin called the meeting with KCR as a "courtesy call" and denied any discussions about the alliances. The DMK chief has maintained that he is committed to the alliance with the Congress and has twice suggested the name of Rahul Gandhi for the post of prime minister in the last few months. KCR, who has been at the forefront of "Third Front" moves over the past year, has made a fresh push to rally regional parties in recent weeks, in an attempt to create a powerful bloc that could play a critical role in government formation in case of a split verdict. However, sources say that KCR's perceived closeness to the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi "has dented his credibility" among regional parties.

SUNNY DEOL GETS EC NOTICE

The Election Commission has served a notice to Sunny Deol, Bollywood actor and BJP candidate from Gurdaspur, seeking response for allegedly violating the model code of conduct. Poll officials took serious note of a public meeting held by Deol in Pathankot even after the silent period came in force.

They also found that a loud speaker was used in the public meeting in which around 200 people were present. The notice pointed out that Deol has violated the model code of conduct by holding a public meeting during the silent period. Election campaign is completely prohibited before 48 hours of the polling process. Doel contested against Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar in the Lok Sabha elections.

BENGAL BJP YOUTH LEADER REFUSES TO APOLOGISE The Supreme Court has granted bail to BJP youth leader Priyanka Sharma who was arrested for sharing a meme on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her social media. After her release, Sharma said that she will not tender an apology for sharing a meme and wanted the case and take it to a logical conclusion. Sharma was released after 14 days of custody. Meanwhile, the SC pulled up the West Bengal government over the delay in her release as it had ordered her “immediate release.” After a lot of criticism, the court also waived the need for an apology. had to be escorted to safety by police.

Furious BJP supporters retaliated and were seen exchanging blows with their TMC rivals outside the college entrance. Several motorcycles parked outside were vandalised and set ablaze. Shards of broken glass littered the lobby of the college where a bust of Vidyasagar was smashed to smithereens.

Police personnel were seen trying to douse the fire with buckets filled with water.

Contingents of Kolkata police deployed for the roadshow swung into action and were seen dispelling the warring groups.

"There was an attempt by TMC hooligans to attack me. Mamata tried to provoke violence. But I am safe," Shah said.

He claimed that he was forced to deviate from the planned route and was saddened as he could not reach at Swami Vivekananda's house to pay tribute. Hitting back to the allegations, Mamata called the BJP president a "goonda". “Amit goonda and his party are spreading fake videos to spread tension.

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HERITAGE HISTORY

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An atheist Barrister Savarkar and Science

• HM Chief finds nothing sacred about cows who advised Hindus to give up vegetarianism • The spread of machines 200 years ago in Europe challenged traditional beliefs and habits ne should not be surprised to know that the two biggest architects of the twonation theory who coined Hindus and Muslims as two separate nations, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar and Mohammed Ali Jinnah, in 1937 (Ahmedabad) and 1940 (Lahore) respectively, were staunch atheists. The celebrated writer Ronojoy Sen elaborates in 2010: “It is one of the deep ironies of South Asian history that the two figures crucial to the ideology of religious nationalism in the subcontinent - Mohammed Ali Jinnah and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar - were themselves non-believers, and militantly so. Savarkar arguably first peddled the two-nation theory some years before the idea of Pakistan was mooted and then put into action by Jinnah and the Muslim League. In his seminal text 'Hindutva', published in 1923, Savarkar gave a territorial and racial spin to the word Hindu.”

O

"Dharma of a Hindu being so completely identified with the land of the Hindus, this land to him is not only a Pitribhu but a Punyabhu, not only a fatherland but a holyland," he famously wrote. The essentials of Hindutva, in Savarakar's mind, had nothing to do with religion per se but were predicated on a common nation (rashtra), a common race (jati) and a common civilization (sanskriti).This was of a piece with Savarkar's personal life, in which he was fiercely atheist. He had publicly said there was nothing sacred about cows and advised Hindus to give up vegetarianism.

Savarkar's biographer, Dhananjay Keer, points out that when his wife died, despite entreaties by his followers he refused to allow any Hindu rituals.

Political psychologist Ashis Nandy, who has shed light on Savarkar's paradoxical relationship with religion, writes, "Savarkar's atheism was not the philosophical atheism associated with Buddhism and Vedanta, but the anti-clerical, hard atheism of fin-de-siecle scientism, increasingly popular among sections of the European middle class and, through cultural osmosis, in parts of modern India."

Though Barrister Savarkar (28 May 1883-26 February 1966) has been most controversial figure in India but none can deny that he was a fearless freedom fighter, social reformer, writer, dramatist,

Vinayak Damodar Savarkar Courtesy : Rajasthan Patrika

historian, political leader and philosopher.

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha, who wrote “The Rise of India”, has thrown light on Savarkar’s lesser known contribution to develop scientific temperament: “Savarkar often called on his supporters to welcome the age of the modern machine.

In an essay published in the magazine ‘Kirloskar’, and republished in a book of his essays on the scientific approach, he argued that India would continue to lag behind Europe as long as its leaders believed in superstition rather than science. It was 200 years ago

Next Column: Nine Schemes to Carve out Pakistan that Europe entered the era that our country is now entering. This means we are two centuries behind Europe. We are entering what economists describe as the age of the machine.

The spread of machines some 200 years ago in Europe challenged traditional beliefs and

habits.”

“Europe could truly embrace the machine age only when its religious beliefs were demolished by the scientific approach,” states the Hindu Mahasabha President Savarkar and adds: “But in India, even someone as influential as Gandhiji swears by his ‘inner voice’ to say that the Bihar earthquake is a punishment for the caste system. And that he is still waiting for his inner voice to tell him why Quetta was rocked by an earthquake. And then there are Shankaracharya and other religious leaders who swear by the religious books that the earthquake was caused by attempts to do away with the caste system.

What can one say about the religious naiveté of the ordinary people in a country when its prominent leaders hold such views? Europe is in the year 1936 while we are in the year 1736.”

Dr. Hari Desai (The writer is a Socio-political Historian.

E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com)

Monsoon likely to hit Kerala 5 days late: IMD Monsoon this year is expected to arrive over the Indian mainland five days later than the normal date and is likely to hit Kerala on June 6, the India Meteorological Department said. The normal date of monsoon’s onset is June 1.

The official weather agency’s forecast of a slight delay in the start of the rainy season comes a day after private weather forecaster Skymet

released its onset prediction that said monsoon is likely to arrive on June 4, closer to the normal date. IMD’s forecast has an error margin of ± four days as opposed to Skymet’s margin of ± two days.

A delayed (or early) arrival has no impact on monsoon’s performance through the rainy season. In the past five years, monsoon was most delayed in 2016 but the season had normal

rainfall at 97% of the long period average.

The following year, monsoon arrived early (May 30) but rainfall was below normal (95%). IMD said monsoon is likely to arrive over south Andaman Sea and Nicobar Islands around the normal date of May 18-19.

Thereafter, the projected delay in reaching the Indian mainland is because the midlatitudinal westerly system.

Won’t be able to forgive Pragya for Gandhi remarks, says Modi Looking to send a strong signal that controversial comments on Mahatma Gandhi will not be tolerated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that though party candidate for Bhopal Pragya Thakur has apologised, he would find it difficult to forgive her and others who have spoken out of turn.

“Whatever has been said about Mahatma Gandhi is terribly (bhayankar) wrong.

It is despicable. Such language is not acceptable in civil society. Those who do so will have to think 100 times. They have apologised, it is a different matter. But I will not be able to forgive from my heart (Main apne mann se maaf nahin kar paoonga),” Modi told a TV channel.

The PM’s intervention, intended to contain the backlash against the sadhvi’s comments that Gandhi’s

assassin Nathuram Godse was a “patriot” and similar comments by BJP MPs Anant Hegde and Nalin Kateel, came after he had addressed a rally in MP as campaigning for the final 59 LS seats ended.

BJP chief Amit Shah also said the comments were unacceptable even as he defended the decision to field Thakur from Bhopal against Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, saying: “This was our satyagraha (protest) against the term Hindu terror that had been used by Congress.”

Shah also said on Twitter that “they have withdrawn their statements

and also apologised.

However, their remarks are against the decorum of public life and BJP and also against the party's ideology. Taking serious note of their remarks, the party has decided to send them to the disciplinary committee.”

Shah’s comments came at a press conference in New Delhi where the Prime Minister was also present but did not answer media queries. Thakur, who had attracted controversy earlier for her comments on 26/11 martyr Hemant Karkare and on her alleged participation in Babri Masjid’s demolition, left the BJP brass squirming after her remarks on the Mahatma.

She had been repeatedly asked to watch her words even as the party did not hesitate to use her as a campaigner after the Bhopal election closed.

6 Hindu Mahasabha men held for celebrating Godse birthday in Surat Six Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha activists have been arrested for celebrating the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi’s assassin Nathuram Godse at the Suryamukhi Hanuman temple in Limbayat area of Surat on Sunday. The event was allegedly organised by Hiren Sumra alias Hiren Mashru, a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha who is also a priest at the temple. About 15 youths are reported to have attended it. The organisers had invited a cameraperson of a local television channel. They lit about 100 lamps and distributed sweets as part of the celebration.

The television channel aired the event, and video clips were circulated on social media.

The Surat police then picked up Sumra and five others - Wala Bharwad, Viral Malvi, Hitesh Sonar, Yogesh Patel, Manish Kalal, all residents of Sanjay Nagar in Limbayat - from the temple.

They were later arrested and booked under IPC Sections 153 (provocation with an intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups, doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 153B (making assertions prejudicial to national integration).

“Mahatma Gandhi is the father of the nation, and people have respect for him.

If somebody incites people by celebrating the birthday of Nathuram Godse, we cannot, and will not, tolerate it. We will take strict action. I appeal to the people to not get incited by

Six Surat Hindu Mahasabha men held for celebrating Godse birthday

rumours, and to remain calm,” said Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma.

Speaking before he was arrested, Sumra said: “We have celebrated the birthday of Nathuram Godse, we have done nothing wrong.

Like other people’s feelings are attached to Mahatma Gandhi, our feelings are attached to Godse, and we have shown this by celebrating his birthday.

This is the first time that we celebrated his birthday.”

Condemning the celebration, the Congress demanded strict action against the accused. In a memorandum to the district administration, Babubhai Rayka, president of the Surat Congress unit, said the event was “intentionally” held at a temple, a public place, “to divide society and incite those who are followers of Gandhi. Our demand is that such people have no right to stay in a peaceful city like Surat. They should be driven out from the city,” he said.

Responding to a question on the issue, Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel said: “The ideology of our party and our leaders is

very clear… Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed his feelings very clearly… BJP does not believe in any criticism of Gandhi, his works or thoughts… So, if anybody acts like this, we strictly condemn it. Neither our party nor our leaders will tolerate any criticism of Gandhi.”

Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja, in his statement, said: “With prompt action and strict instructions of the state government, an FIR has been registered against the elements who celebrated (Godse’s birthday) and all have been arrested… The state government is committed to ensure that Gujarat’s peace is not violated in the name of Godse”.

“When Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the nation, is a revered figure for the people of the country, celebration of his murderer’s birthday is an insult to the people of India.

Therefore, such incidents cannot be tolerated. Gujarat is the ‘janmabhoomi’ and ‘karmabhoomi’ of Bapu, so the feelings of Gujaratis are hurt,” he said.

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Record voter turnout in Lok Sabha election The voter turnout for the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls was the highest ever, at a tentative 67.11% across 542 constituencies, barring Vellore where polls were rescinded, and 1.16% higher than the 65.95% turnout in 2014. The figure could be subject to revision after repolling is completed. The final overall turnout for all 543 Lok Sabha seats in 2014

was 66.4%, which too is lower than the polling figure for 542 seats in the 2019 election. Before 2019, the highest ever poll percentage recorded in a parliamentary election was in 2014.

Voter turnouts have fluctuated over the past 16 Lok Sabha elections, the lowest being in the first election, held in 1951, with

45.7% voter participation.

Thereafter turnouts were 47.7% in 1957, 55.4% in 1962, 61.3% in 1967 (the first elections when Indira Gandhi led Congress), 55.3% in 1971, 60.5% in 1977, 56.9% in 1980, 64% in 1984-85 (held in the wake of assassination of Indira Gandhi), 62% in 1989 (when National Front won under V P Singh), 55.9% in 1991-92

MODI MARCHES ON Continued from page 1

The projected tally for the Congress ranged from 38 to 87 seats. The 38-seat projection would mean the party slipping even further from its all-time low of 44 in 2014, while 87 would mean it nearly doubles its tally and has enough to formally get the title of Leader of the Opposition. That would be small consolation for a party hoping to unseat Narendra Modi as Prime Minister and lead a coalition government in New Delhi.

While the exact number of seats the BJP and NDA are likely to win in specific states varied from one poll to the other, the common thread was of the saffron alliance picking up all but a handful of seats in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Bihar, very nearly replicating the 2014 outcome in these states.

It was also projected to make major inroads in West Bengal and Odisha – with one poll even suggesting it could win more seats than Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress and Naveen Patnaik's BJD respectively in these two states, which have traditionally yielded low returns for the BJP. The only resistance, if the polls are to be believed, is in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Punjab. In UP, the SP-BSP-RLD alliance was projected to win anywhere between 13 and 45 of the state’s 80 seats in the various polls. In TN, the DMK-led UPA was estimated to win a majority of the seats by most pollsters, but even here, the NDA may make a bigger dent than was widely expected. In Punjab, a resurgent Congress was projected to increase its tally at the expense not only of the Akalis and BJP but also AAP, which had won four seats last time but could end up with one at best, according to the pollsters. Interestingly, while arithmetic seems to have worked at least to some extent in UP, in Karnataka, the other state in which BJP’s main rivals had tied up to defeat it, the projections are that Congress and JD(S) may actually do worse than in 2014, when they won 11 of the 28 seats. This time round, if the polls prove accurate, they could win at best 9 seats and possibly as few as 4. For the Left, the unanimous verdict of the exit polls was that it would fail to win any seat in Bengal, a state it had dominated for over three decades. The silver lining was that one poll projected it winning more seats than the Congress-led UDF in Kerala.

The projections for Andhra Pradesh, where the buzz going into the polls was that the Jagan Reddy-led YSRCP would dominate the state, varied widely with a couple of polls predicting that TDP would actually win more seats than its arch rival.

Exit polls have a mixed track record in India with some strikingly accurate predictions and some going spectacularly wrong. But with all the polls pointing in the same direction and varying little even in terms of the extent of the trend, BJP would be upbeat about its prospects on Thursday (May 23), when the official results are to be announced.

Cong rubbishes predictions Congress rubbished exit polls predictions, saying the results on May 23

would surprise the ruling party even as political circles believed that even the lower end of the projections could well rule out any opportunity for an opposition coalition.

Though every exit poll pointed in the direction of an NDA win, Congress spokesman Rajeev Gowda said, “Please wait till May 23. We will surprise you. The entire vote share to seat share conversion is a difficult job. There is also a fear psychosis in the country and people do not reveal their views.”

Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee called the exit polls “gossip” and said, “The game plan is to manipulate or replace thousands of EVMs through this gossip.” But rhetoric apart, the consensus among the polls about a BJP victory left the opposition gripped with doubt and hoping for a repeat of 2004 when predictions proved wide off the mark. In 2004, the pollsters had gone with a victory for the NDA but the results saw Congress emerge as the single-largest party.

Insiders did betray concerns over possible results. Many were worried that post-poll predictions had only attested to the fact pointed out by in-house surveys - that Congress was doing badly even in states where it defeated BJP in December elections last year. Congress strategists believe that if NDA touches 230, it would be difficult to stop BJP from forming the government again. But if the figure drops below 230, then much would depend on the tally that Congress notches up. A figure below 100, besides being embarrassing, would render the party vulnerable to the demands of regional satraps to cede leadership to them.

Largely peaceful voting in 7th phase The Election Commission said that polling for the seventh and final phase was largely peaceful barring a few incidents of violence in Weat Bengal with 64.26 per cent voter turnout. The 2019 election saw many more women casting their votes and the difference between male and female electors falling to just 0.4% from 1.4% in 2014.

“The gap between turnout of male and female voters has narrowed down significantly from 9% in 2009 to only 0.4% in this election.

It was 1.4% in 2014,” deputy election commissioner Umesh Sinha said. The narrow difference indicates that the number of women voters would exceed men in some states.

The EC said that in the 2014 elections, 64.63% voters had voted across the 59 seats spread over seven states and one Union Territory covered in the polling.

Polling was held in 13 parliamentary constituencies each from Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, all four constituencies of Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and the one seat of Chandigarh.

With this, polling for all 542 parliamentary seats is over. The EC is yet to announce dates for the Vellore Lok Sabha seat where polling was rescinded earlier.

Elections more peaceful than 2014 Umesh Sinha claimed this year’s general elections were more peaceful, including in

(during which Congress president Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated), 57.9% in 1996, 62% in 1998, 60% in 1999, 58% in 2004, 58.2% in 2009 and 66.4% in 2014. Consolidated voter turnout data for 2019 Lok Sabha sourced from

Election Commission is tentative and subject to change, said an EC official.

A look at statewise voter turnouts in the current Lok

Sabha poll show that polling percentage was higher in 18 states/UTs and lower in 16 states/UTs as compared to 2014.

oppressive heat in the morning, both the constituencies looked as if they would better their 2014 performance, only to fall short in the last quarter of polling.

EC officials admitted that turnout fell abruptly after 3 pm and this “completely reversed the encouraging steady turnout witnessed from 7 am”. The sudden dip after 3pm - when many Bengal constituencies saw an appreciable surge this year - came as a surprise. The dip was Wearing saffron robes, PM Modi meditates in cave during Kedarnath visit after all the more hectic electioneering surprising given the challenging states such as J&K and those high-voltage drama - over BJP president affected by Leftwing extremism, as Amit Shah’s roadshow and the subsequent compared to 2014. Though exact percentage desecration of Vidyasagar’s bust - that of people who cast their votes during all the happened in Kolkata barely five days before seven phases is still being compiled, senior the poll. Even TMC leaders who expected a EC officials said up to the completion of voter surge, given the average Bengali voter’s sixth phase of polling, 67.37% had exercised reverence for Vidyasagar and other heroes of their franchise as compared to 66.12% in the Bengali Renaissance, expressed surprise 2014, marking an increase of nearly 1.24 at the low turnout, especially, the afternoon percentage points. dip.

On Sunday. Madhya Pradesh recorded The voting pattern also went against the the highest turnout at 75.5% as compared to trend of how Bengal has voted this time. The 66.87% in 2014. In West Bengal, it was 73.51% state’s overall voting percentage of 83.8 this against 79.15% during the last Lok Sabha year has exceeded the 2014 turnout of 81.1%. election. Jharkhand followed with 71.16% Kolkata South Trinamool candidate Mala compared to 68.87% in 2014. Similarly, in Roy said there were complaints of Himachal Pradesh, the turnout on Sunday malfunctioning EVMs and the VVPAT was 70.62% against 65.06% during the last process, leading to long queues in the general elections. The voter turnout was also morning. Poll officials, however, said that higher in UP and Bihar as compared to 2014. could not be a reason for low polling, Chandigarh saw maximum dip in voter especially as the situation eased out later. turnout at 63.57% as compared to 73.84% in Bombs hurled, homes ransacked in 2014. Punjab also saw a decline in voter Bengal town participation.

West Bengal’s Bhatpara assembly by-poll EC officials said preventive steps were saw widespread violence during which taken in West Bengal where nearly 2,800 bombs were hurled, shops and houses rowdies who could be potential troubleransacked and Trinamool candidate Madan makers, were detained. Deputy election Mitra’s car was vandalised. commissioner Sudeep Jain said that over 400 Unofficially, as many as 14 persons were quick response teams (QRTs) were deployed injured in the violence in the constituency, strategically so that they could reach any the home turf of BJP’s Arjun Singh. Police trouble spot within 10 minutes. These confirmed that three people received injuries vehicles were fitted with GPS and monitored and said that the polling process was by police observers. unaffected.

Jain said there was a complaint about Singh, who was Bhatpara MLA, central forces influencing voters in one of contested the LS polls from Barrackpore, the booths in Basirhat. He dismissed the necessitating the bypoll which is being complaint saying central force personnel fought by his son Pawan as a BJP candidate. were not allowed inside the polling booth “I had a narrow escape... Singh’s men and there was no question of influencing attempted to kill me but that cannot stop me voters. from protecting my supporters,” Mitra said.

Kolkata voters go missing after 3 pm Barrackpore police commissioner rushed to Voters of the two entirely urban Kolkata the spot along with a large force, said ADG constituencies went missing from polling law & order Siddhinath Gupta. “Three booths after 3 pm on Sunday, pulling down vehicles, including two police cars, were the city proper’s vote percentage below the damaged,” Gupta added. level seen in the 2014 Lok Sabha poll. Kolkata Singh denied Mitra’s allegations and said North and Kolkata South are the two only he was innocent. “I was at my office Lok Sabha seats with every booth within the throughout the day. municipal corporation area and turnouts When I heard some houses were being here have habitually lagged behind those of ransacked by outsiders, I came out to find Bengal’s 40 other seats. many locals with splinter injuries and got But despite this history and the them to hospital,” he said.

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HEALTH & LIFESTYLE

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25 - 31 May 2019

Diet, lifestyle linked to a long life People think that life expectancy is largely determined by genetics.

However, genes play a much smaller role than originally believed. It turns out that environmental factors like diet and lifestyle are key.

Here are some habits linked to a long life: Avoid overeating The link between calorie intake and longevity currently generates a lot of interest. Animal studies suggest that a 10–50% reduction in normal calorie intake may increase maximum lifespan. Studies of human populations renowned for longevity also observe links between low calorie intake, an extended lifespan, and a lower likelihood of disease. What's more, calorie restriction may help reduce excess body weight and belly fat, both of which are associated with shorter lifespans.

Eat more nuts Nuts are nutritional powerhouses. They're rich in protein, fiber, antioxidants, and beneficial plant compounds. What’s more, they’re a great source of vitamins and minerals, such as copper, magnesium, potassium, folate, niacin, and vitamins B6 and E. Studies show that nuts have beneficial effects on heart disease, high blood pressure, inflammation, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, belly fat levels, and even some forms of cancer. One study found that people who consumed at least 3 servings of nuts per week had a 39% lower risk of premature death.

Try out turmeric When it comes to anti-aging strategies, turmeric is a great option. That’s because this spice contains a potent bioactive compound called curcumin. Due to its antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, curcumin is thought to help maintain brain, heart, and lung function, as well as protect against cancers and

age-related diseases.

Curcumin is linked to an increased lifespan in both insects and mice. However, these findings have not always been replicated, and no human studies are currently available.

Nevertheless, turmeric has been consumed for thousands of years in India and is generally considered safe.

Eat plenty of healthy plant foods Consuming a wide variety of plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and beans, may decrease disease risk and promote longevity. For example, many studies link a plant-rich diet to a lower risk of premature death, as well as a reduced risk of cancer, metabolic syndrome, heart disease, depression, and brain deterioration.

These effects are attributed to plant foods’ nutrients and antioxidants, which include polyphenols, carotenoids, folate, and vitamin C. Vegetarians and vegans also generally tend to be more health-conscious than meat eaters, which could at least partly explain these findings.

Stay physically active It should come as no surprise that staying physically active can keep you healthy and add years to your life. As few as 15 minutes of exercise per day may help you achieve benefits, which could include an additional 3 years of life. Furthermore, your

risk of premature death may decrease by 4% for each additional 15 minutes of daily physical activity. A recent review observed a 22% lower risk of early death in individuals who exercised - even though they worked out less than the recommended 150 minutes per week.

Don't smoke Smoking is strongly linked to disease and early death.

Overall, people who smoke may lose up to 10 years of life and be 3 times more likely to die prematurely than those who never pick up a cigarette. Keep in mind that it's never too late to quit. One study reports that individuals who quit smoking by age 35 may prolong their lives by up to 8.5 years. Furthermore, quitting smoking in your 60s may add up to 3.7 years to your life. In fact, quitting in your 80s may still provide benefits.

Moderate your alcohol intake Heavy alcohol consumption is linked to liver, heart, and pancreatic disease, as well as an overall increased risk of early death. However, moderate consumption is associated with a reduced likelihood of several diseases, as well as a 17–18% decrease in your risk of premature death. Wine is considered particularly beneficial due to its high content of polyphenol antioxidants. In addition, one review observed wine to be especially protective

against heart disease, diabetes, neurological disorders, and metabolic syndrome.

Avoid chronic stress and anxiety Anxiety and stress may significantly decrease your lifespan. For instance, women suffering from stress or anxiety are reportedly up to two times more likely to die from heart disease, stroke, or lung cancer.

Similarly, the risk of premature death is up to three times higher for anxious or stressed men compared to their more relaxed counterparts. If you're feeling stressed, laughter and optimism could be two key components of the solution.

Be more conscientious Conscientiousness refers to a person's ability to be selfdisciplined, organized, efficient, and goal-oriented.

Based on data from a study that followed 1,500 boys and girls into old age, kids who were considered persistent, organized, and disciplined lived 11% longer than their less conscientious counterparts. Conscientious people may also have lower blood pressure and fewer psychiatric conditions, as well as a lower risk of diabetes and heart or joint problems.

Develop a good sleeping pattern Sleep is crucial for regulating cell function and helping your body heal. A recent study reports that longevity is likely linked to regular sleeping patterns, such as going to bed and waking up around the same time each day. Sleep duration also seems to be a factor, with both too little and too much being harmful.

For instance, sleeping less than 5–7 hours per night is linked to a 12% greater risk of early death, while sleeping more than 8–9 hours per night could also decrease your lifespan by up to 38%.

How pollen can be dangerous to allergic people It’s very common for pollen to trigger allergic reactions and asthma episodes. It’s the asthma that can often be lifethreatening, according to Kenneth Mendez, president and CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). About 10 people per day die from asthma in the United States, Mendez said. “If a person has allergic asthma, then an allergen such as pollen can trigger an asthma attack,” Mendez said.

Joe Dale, a 16-year-old boy, reportedly died from a severe allergic asthma attack in 2017 after visiting a park the day he collapsed. According to reports, he never regained consciousness and passed away a few days later. The teen started having symptoms of asthma at 5 years old, but only had one attack when he was 12. He took an inhaler each morning and

evening, and kept an emergency inhaler on him. The day he collapsed, he used his inhaler. He later went into a coma. It’s unclear if Dale or his parents knew he had allergic asthma.

Allergic asthma Allergic asthma is also known as extrinsic asthma. Symptoms can include: wheezing, coughing, chest tightening and fast breathing. About 80 per cent of children with asthma have

allergic asthma, and about 60 per cent of adults have allergic asthma, Mendez said. A proper diagnosis is key to know if a person has asthma or allergic asthma. A doctor can perform a skin prick or blood tests to confirm allergens.

“It is critical to be properly diagnosed, undergo testing, avoid triggers, and follow your prescribed asthma management plan,” Mendez said. “An asthma action plan can also help guide you when to take your quick-relief medicines and when to seek emergency medical care. If you have a history of asthma, an allergist will often track your asthma symptoms and do objective testing such as pulmonary function tests in your peak seasons to see if management needs to be increased,” added Dr. Stacey Galowitz, an allergy specialist from New Jersey.

in brief COMMON DIET SUPPLEMENT MAY HELP HEART HEALTH According to a new research, the use of supplement glucosamine was found to be associated with a significantly lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its more severe consequences like stroke. The reasearchers, however, point out that despite this association, their work doesn’t establish a causal link between glucosamine and better CVD outcomes.

“Our study suggests a potential new beneficial effect of glucosamine on cardiovascular health. The practical implication would be upon further evidence from future studies, such as clinical trials, that verify such effects as causal,” said Dr. Lu Qi, a professor in the department of epidemiology at Tulane University and one of the study’s authors.

Glucosamine and a potentially healthier heart?

Using national health resources, Qi and his colleagues looked at results of nearly a half-million people. Individuals reported supplement use and were followed, in some cases, up to 10 years. During that time any events related to CVD were recorded. During the follow-up time, those who reported using glucosamine had a 15 per cent lower overall risk of CVD events. It was further associated with a 9 to 22 per cent lower risk of CVD death, coronary heart disease, and stroke, compared to non-users. Other experts say that the results look promising, but more work needs to be done to establish a mechanism for glucosamine’s potential benefits for heart health.

“The event reduction effects attributed to glucosamine will need to be proven in a randomized control study looking at a specific dose, specific formulation, and regimen,” said Dr. Guy L. Mintz, director of cardiovascular health and lipidology at Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, New York. “I think this is a promising first step in looking for another tool to reduce cardiovascular events.”

This isn’t the first study to take note of glucosamine’s beneficial relationship with CVD. Its results are in line with an Australian study of 266,848 adults 45 years and older.

Researchers found a negative association between taking glucosamine, heart disease, and other cardiovascular conditions. The authors say the findings need further investigation.

EXERCISE CAN LOWER A WOMAN’S RISK FOR RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS Researchers say regular exercise can lower a woman’s risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But exercise can also be a double-edged sword for people living with (RA). On one hand, a certain degree of physical activity is encouraged for people dealing with the debilitating condition. On the other hand, many people with RA feel that most types of workouts are too difficult or painful given their symptoms. However, researchers in a study say exercise can be a preventive measure against the disease. The study concluded that women with a higher level of physical activity may have a reduced risk for eventually developing RA. This was determined by first looking at their baseline level of physical activity in the two to eight years leading up to their RA diagnosis. The participants of the study were part of the Nurse’s Health Study II. It included information on 116,430 registered nurses in the United States. These nurses were 25 to 42 years old at the time of the study.

The researchers discovered there were 506 cases of RA during the follow-up period. After adjusting for diet, smoking, and BMI at age 18 years, they found that an increase in the average total hours of physical activity per week was associated with a lower risk of developing RA. The conclusion of the study showed the effects of physical activity on RA and the general importance of some daily physical activity for everyone. More active individuals had a 20 per cent lower risk for seropositive RA and a 14 per cent reduced risk for all forms of RA. Researchers indicated that higher levels of physical activity and reduced excess weight were associated with reduced risk of RA. They also found that sitting for longer periods of time could be detrimental for RA symptoms.

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement any advice. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

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25- 31 May 2019

Bollywood stars shine at Cannes

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

Kangana Ranaut

Deepika Padukone

Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Kangana Ranaut walked the red carpet at the 72nd Cannes Film Festival last week.

Deepika walked the red carpet in a dramatic gown with an exaggerated chocolate brown bow at the premiere of the Elton John biopic Rocketman. Priyanka looked fiery in a bold black and red, and embellished strapless

Shahid Kapoor unveils his wax statue Shahid Kapoor has unveiled his wax statue at the Madame Tussauds museum in Singapore. The actor shared two photos on his Instagram story. With one of the pictures, the actor, who loves his hair, wrote, “Baal sambhal munna.”

Madame Tussauds SG’s Twitter page also shared another photo of the actor and wrote, “Did you know that more than 200 measurements were taken during sitting to ensure the portrayal? Do not forget to join our once-in-a-lifetime contest, meeting Shahid Kapoor in

person, which ends today!”

Shahid Kapoor’s 'Padmaavat' co-star Deepika Padukone had recently unveiled her statue at the museum. Other stars like Priyanka Chopra, Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Madhuri Dixit, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Varun Dhawan, Katrina Kaif and Hrithik Roshan also have their wax statue installed at the museum.

On the work front, Shahid is gearing up for the release of 'Kabir Singh' on June 21.

gown with a thigh-high slit. Kangana posted two looks from the festival. In one, she could be seen channeling her inner retro-chic in a classic Kanjeevaram sari while the other saw her donning an edgy pantsuit for a festival party. Aishwaya walked red carpet in a metallic hued dual-toned fish-cut-ensemble.

The green gold gown was designed by JeanLouis Sabaji.

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Salman and Ajay Devgn won't let me fall: Tabu Bollywood actress Tabu has found "unconditional" friendships with Salman Khan and Ajay Devgn. The 47-year-old critically-acclaimed actress says from just being co-stars Salman and Ajay have become family, who she believes will never let her "fall." "These are the unconditional relationships I have in my life. These are a part of my life as the majority of the life has been entwined and intertwined with my work. These are the people I've met through my work. These are the people I know will never let me fall in any way. They are like family," Tabu said.

The actor, who first tasted success as a Bollywood heroine in 1994 with 'Vijaypath' co-starring Ajay, went on to appear alongside him in films like 'Haqeeqat', 'Thakshak', 'Drishyam', 'Golmaal Again' and the latest 'De De Pyaar De.' With Salman, she has worked in 'Biwi No 1',' Hum Saath-Saath Hain', 'Jai Ho' and upcoming 'Bharat.' Tabu says her equation with the two stars is not about constantly being in touch or extracting favours, but is based on trust and love. "You meet people like the Salman and Ajay who transcend your work relationships and just by being the

people they are, they become that for you.

It's not like 'banking' on them, but you know these are the bonds wherein you don't have to meet, express or profess friendship for each other. They are unconditional," she said. "I love these people unconditionally.

With Salman, it is one of the non-negotiable relationships I have. It's amazing to have that kind of trust and belief in a relationship without giving it any name," Tabu added. In 'De De Pyaar De', Tabu plays Ajay's ex-wife.

She, however, did not share any details about her part in Salman's Eid release 'Bharat', in which she has a cameo.

Bachchan and Ayushmann come together for 'Gulabo Sitabo' Amitabh Bachchan and Ayushmann Khurrana have joined hands for the first time in Shoojit Saicar's quirky comedy titled 'Gulabo Sitabo.' Written

by Juhi Chaturvedi and produced by Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar, the film will be set in Lucknow. Talking about the project, Sircar said, “Juhi and I have been working on this script for quite some time and as we all know when Juhi comes up with a story, it has her trademark quirk in it. As soon as I read it, I was extremely excited and shared it with Ronnie, my dear friend and producer, and to both Bachchan and Ayushmann at the same time.”

Sircar also shared how Big B and Ayushmann were convinced about the script and readily accepted the offer. “I thought it would take some time to develop and proceed but everyone,

Sanjay Leela Bhansali to launch niece Sharmin and Meezaan Jaaferi

Maverick filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali is all set to launch his niece Sharmin Segal and Jaaved Jaaferi's son Meezaan, in his upcoming project 'Malaal.' Taking to Twitter, film critic and trade analyst Taran Adarsh said, "Sanjay Leela Bhansali introduces his niece Sharmin Segal and Meezaan (son of actor Jaaved Jaaferi) in 'Malaal.

The details about 'Malaal' and the characters debutants Sharmin Segal and Meezaan Jaaferi will portray have been kept under wraps for a while now. 'Malaal' is being helmed by Mangesh Hadawale, produced by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Bhushan Kumar, Mahaveer Jain and Krishan Kumar.

including the duo were so enthusiastic to do this script that they figured their dates and here we are, planning to release it this year.

After 'Piku' and 'Vicky Donor', I had been wanting to work with Bachchan and Ayushmann on an equally quirky script so this fell perfectly in place,” he said. 'Gulabo

Sitabo' is a metaphor used by the locals of Uttar Pradesh, explained the filmmaker.

“The story is based in Lucknow, and 'Gulabo Sitabo' is a fun colloquial metaphor used by the locals. Wait and watch the film to know more,” said Sircar. The film is expected to hit the threaters in November 2019.

Saif was hesistant to accept Padma Shri award 'Sacred Games' star Saif Ali Khan, who received India's fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2010, says he was hesitant to accept and even wanted to return it.

On a recent episode of Arbaaz Khan's chat show 'Pinch', Saif was taken through some ‘mean tweets’ about him.

One of them read: “This two bit thug who bought a Padma Shri, named his son Taimur and beat up some people in a restaurant. How the hell did he get a role in ‘Sacred Games’? He can hardly act.”

In a tweet Saif said that it was beyond his capacity to bribe the Indian government. He did not want to accept the award it since he thought that there were many deserving senior actors in the industry. Saif revealed that he changed his mind after having a conversation with his father, the late Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi.

During the show, Saif also had a witty

reply to an internet troll who questioned him about being a "nawab". The comments said that Saif was "being a nawab and still clinging on to rotten 'hukumat".

After reading it, Saif quipped: "I have never been interested in being a nawab. I prefer eating kebabs." Another commenter poked him for turning up at actress Sonam Kapoor's wedding in a simple white kurta pajama. "It was her wedding, not mine," responded Saif.

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Hansika to star in a horror -thriller Actress Hansika Motwani was recently seen alongside Atharva in the Sam Anton directorial '100'. The actress will be soon reach the milestone of starring in fifty films with U.R. Jameel's upcoming directorial 'Maha.' The film is produced

by Mathi Alagan under the banner Etcetera entertainment.

Meanwhile, the actress will be partnering with Gulaebaghavalidirector Kalyaan. The director has confirmed Hansika as the female

lead in his third project, a horror-thriller.

When asked about the supporting star cast, he added that actors Yogi Babu and Motta Rajendran will also be a part of the film and the team has also contacted actor Munishkanth Ramdoss to play a crucial part in the film. Music director A.H Kaashif, who made his mark in Kaatrin Mozhi's directorial 'Radha Mohan', is said to have signed as

Dalip Tahil to star with Rajinikant after 24 years

Superstar Rajnikant will next be seen in much-awaited AR Murugadoss directorial 'Darbar'. The film is produced by Allirajah Subaskaran under Lyca Productions banner. The starcast of the film includes Nayanthara, Yogi Babu, Jatin Sarna, Prateik Babbar and others in the pivotal roles.

According to reports, Bollywood actor Dalip Tahil is the latest addition to Rajinikanth’s cop flick. The veteran actor will be seen essaying the role of a

senior police officer in the movie. It is to be noted that exactly after 24 years the two actors are c o m i n g together for this venture. Dalip had acted with Superstar in the 1995 film 'Aatank Hi Aatank.'

The music will be composed by Anirudh Ravichander whereas

Santosh Sivan will be handling the camera for Rajinikanth for the first time after 'Thalapathi' (1991). ‘Darbar’ is set to be released for Pongal 2020 which will mark Rajinikanth's 11th Pongal release.

Amritha Aiyer joins 'Thalapathy 63' star cast Amritha Aiyer has been roped in to play a crucial role in upcoming film 'Thalapathy 63' written and directed by Atlee. The film's ensemble cast includes actors like Vijay, Nayanthara, Kathir, Yogi Babu, Jackie Shroff, Reba Monica John and others.

Amritha had earlier starred in action-dramas like the Vijay Yesudas-starrer 'Padaiveeran' and 'Kaali', and also played a small role in the Atlee's earlier film 'Theri.'

G K Vishnu is the cinematographer, with whom the director had earlier collaborated in the

film 'Mersal', while the editing department will be handled by Ruben. The film has AR Rahman scoring the music and the team is filming song sequences in Gokulam studios. The film is reported to be produced

by Kalpathi S. Aghoram under AGS entertainment banner.

Actress hits back at moral policing trolls

Actress Malavika Mohanan recently posted her picture on Instagram wearing Denim shorts and a sleeveless top. Soon after that, many people started moral policing, asking her to dress properly and also received many derogatory comments. Not being a person who bows down to abuse and hatred, she lashed back at her

trollers by posting another photo from the same shoot. This was accompanied by a caption that read: "So many comments and opinions about how “a respectable girl should dress.” On that note, here, take one more picture of me sitting very respectably wearing whatever the hell I want to wear:)."

Malavika is a popular actress who has predominantly acted in Malayalam films. The actress made her Tamil debut with director Karthik Subbaraj's 'Petta', which went on to become a blockbuster.

The film starred Superstar Rajinikanth, Simran, Trisha, Vijay Sethupathi, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Sasikumar, Sananth and others playing crucial roles.

music composer. Kalyaan's second film, 'Jackpot', is currently under post production which is bankrolled by actor Suriya under the banner 2D Entertainment in association with Sakthi Film Factory.

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SUNDAY MAY 26, 2019 01:10 FILM: SHOR IN THE CITY 05:00 FILM: 18.11...A CODE OF SECRECY 07:27 FILM: ISHQ CLICK 10:15 FILM: BOMBAY 13:00 FILM: BESHARAM 16:00 FILM: HOLIDAY 19:15 FILM: HAPPY BHAG JAYEGI 21:53 FILM: AWARAPAN MONDAY MAY 27, 2019 00:23 FILM: NAZAR 05:00 FILM: PRITHIPAL SINGH... A STORY 07:00 FILM: TAAQAT KI JUNG 09:55 FILM: CHOR BAZAARI-EK ATRANGI PREM KAHANI 12:18 FILM: GHATAK 15:30 FILM: OMKARA 18:20 LIFESTYLE : STAR STOP 19:00 FILM: GUNAAH 21:30 FILM: RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMA TUESDAY MAY 28, 2019 00:10 FILM: YEH HAI JUDGEMENT HANGED TILL DEATH 05:00 FILM: BAS EK TAMANNA 07:11 FILM: HOTE HOTE PYAR HO GAYA 10:00 FILM: AUR EK DILJALA 13:00 FILM: MELA

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SATURDAY 25TH MAY TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 16:30 KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPER DANCER CHAPTER 3 21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 23:00 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW SUNDAY 26TH MAY TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:00 KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPER DANCER CHAPTER 3

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MON 20TH - FRI 24TH MAY 2019 15:30: SIRF 30 MINUTES 16:30: THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 17:30: RASOI SHOW 18:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA 19:30: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI 20:30: UTTARAN 21:30: JAHAANARA 22:30: BEPANNAH

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 20TH - FRI 24TH MAY 2019 18:30: KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA 19:30: UDAAN 20:00: SHAKTI ASTITVA KE EHSAAS KI 20:30: KESARRI NANDAN 21:00: GATHBANDHAN 21:45: SILSILA

16:30 FILM: HAPPY BHAG JAYEGI 19:10 FILM: THE KILLER 21:33 FILM: ZEHER WEDNESDAY MAY 29, 2019 00:10 FILM: PAPPU CAN'T DANCE SAALA 05:00 FILM: GOOD BUDDY GADBADI 07:28 FILM: KRISHNA ARJUN 10:14 FILM: JWALAMUKHI 13:03 FILM: JAANAM 15:51 FILM: EK AUR MARD ACTION MAN 18:10 LIFESTYLE : STAR STOP 19:00 FILM: MERE DOST PICTURE ABHI BAKI HAI 21:42 FILM: YEH ZINDAGI KA SAFAR THURSDAY MAY 30, 2019 00:33 FILM: JASHNN 05:00 FILM: DAM999 07:15 FILM: 16 DECEMBER 10:20 FILM: JAAN SE PYARA 13:26 FILM: LUV SHUV PYAR VYAR 16:00 FILM: TUMSA NAHIN DEKHA 18:41 LIFESTYLE : STAR STOP 19:15 FILM: MACHINE 22:03 FILM: BAADSHAH FRIDAY MAY 31, 2019 01:20 FILM: HAI APNA DIL TOH AWARA 05:00 FILM: THE PERFECT GIRL 07:00 FILM: SHIKAAR 09:33 FILM: FAREB 12:00 FILM: KEEMAT 15:26 FILM: DASTAK 18:17 LIFESTYLE : STAR STOP 19:00 FILM: COMMANDO 2 21:38 FILM: MACHINE

21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 23:00 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW MON 27TH MAY - FRI 31ST MAY TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 16:30 BEYHADH 17:00 EK DUJE KE VAASTE 17:30 KUCH RANG PYAR KE AISE BHI 18:00 VIGHNAHARTA GANESH 18:45 MERE SAI 19:30 YEH UN DINON KI BAAT HAI 20:00 CHANDRAGUPTA MAURYA 20:30 MAIN MAAYKE CHALI JAAUNGI 21:00 PATIALA BABES 21:30 LADIES SPECIAL 22:00 CRIME PATROL SONY MAX 2 PRIME TIME 19:00 MONDAY SOHNI MAHIWAL 19:00 TUESDAY AAKHIR KYON 19:00 WEDNESDAY KARAN ARJUN 19:00 THURSDAY PATI PATNI AUR WOH 19:00 FRIDAY BETAAB

20:00: ISHQ MEIN MARJAWAN 20:30: MOHE RANNG DO LAAL 21:00: BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE 22:00: RED ALERT SAT 25TH MAY 2019 17:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI 18:30: UTTARAN 19:00: COURT ROOM 20:00: KHATRON KE KHILADI 21:30: ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA SUN 26TH MAY 2019 18:00: RADHA PREM KI DEEWANI 18:30: UTTARAN 19:00: FILMFARE AWARDS 23:00: ZINDAGI KI HAQEEQAT SE AAMNA SAAMNA

22:15: KHOOB LADI MARDANI JHANSI KI RANI 23:00: SITARA SAT 25TH MAY 2019 18:00: NAAGIN - SEASON 3 19:00: COLORS SE SANG ANTAKSHARI KE RANG 20:00: DESI BEAT RESET 21:00: RISING STAR - SEASON 3 23:00: KAWACH SUN 26TH MAY 2019 18:30: RISING STAR INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL 19:30: COLORS SE SANG ANTAKSHARI KE RANG 20:30: DESI BEAT BEST OF SEASON 3 21:30: RISING STAR - SEASON 3 23:00: KAWACH

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Lord Dholakia responds to government reforms over re-nationalisation of probation service

BAPS Mahant Swami is presently in Nadiad on his journey of transmitting spiritual motivation - Vicharan. The students demonstrated how education is imparted at the center through various performances. Mahant Swami while showering blessings said, “Revelry can adversely affect your future.

A religious approach can bring peace to mind.” Swamiji also visited Santram temple where he met pujya Ramdasji Maharaj. A large number of devotees in Nadiad are visiting everyday to seek Swamiji's darshan and blessings. Apart from this, devotees are also seen performing the morning worship rituals.

Coming Events

l Vaishnav Ekta Mahotsav (A Celebration of Unity),108 Shreemad Bhagwat Saptah From Saturday, 1st June to Friday, 7th June 2019, Venue: Sattavis Patidar Centre, Forty Avenue, Wembley Park, Middlesex HA9 9PE. l Haathon Mein Tiranga Ho... First Live Musical Concert to celebrate Culture, Language and Nation, 25th May, 2019 Venue: Logan hall, London. l Special Satsang Sabha, Once in a Millennium by Pujaya Brahmavihari Swami, Saturday 25 May 2019 (Part 1) Mahaprasad: 5:30 pm to 7 pm | Sabha 7:15 pm to 8:45 pm l Sunday 2 May 2019 (Part 2), Sabha: 5:30 pm to 7pm Mahaprasad: 7 pm to 8 pm Venue: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden, London

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Mahant Swami gives spiritual motivation

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The subject of re-nationalisation of the probation services has come to the forefront yet again, with the supervision of all offenders in the community to be undertaken by the state in a major re-nationalisation of the probation sector in England and Wales. This comes just five years after Chris Grayling introduced a widely derided programme of privatisation while he was the justice secretary.

Responding to the Government's statement on the subject, Lord Dholakia has "broadly welcomed the thrust of the Government’s intention to reorganise this service. Whilst it has been a long time coming," he was also apologetic of the role the Liberal Democrats played as part of the coalition Government.

Notwithstanding the issues, "some of the principles of these reforms were very sound when they were introduced. It was right that supervision was available for at least the first year when inmates leave prison," he stated.

Under Grayling's disastrous shake-up in 2014, the probation sector was separated into a public sector organisation managing high-risk criminals and 21 private companies responsible for the supervision of 150,000 low- to mediumrisk offenders.

"It was important to provide through-the-gate services, so that people can have a place to live as well as continuity of training and treatment between prison and the community. But, Mr. Grayling has bungled and underfunded contracts so badly that his reforms failed to achieve these objectives. No wonder it is

A Moments Indulgence - Poem by Rabindranath Tagore I ask for a moment's indulgence to sit by thy side. The works that I have in hand I will finish afterwards.

Away from the sight of thy face my heart knows no rest nor respite, and my work becomes an endless toil in a shoreless sea of toil.

Today the summer has come at my window with its sighs and murmurs; and the bees are plying their minstrelsy at the court of the flowering grove.

Now it is time to sit quite, face to face with thee, and to sing dedication of life in this silent and overflowing leisure.

estimated, that these botched reforms have cost the taxpayer more than £500 million," he declared.

Following years of damning criticism from MPs, inspectorates and former probation officers, the justice secretary, David Gauke, has decided to bring all offender management under the National Probation Service (NPS) by spring 2021. But concerned that the latest announcement of reform will just lead nowhere, Lord Dholakia stated "We need some guarantees to ensure that the probation service is not let down again". Questioning how the reforms will work in practice, he asked the Minister, "Is there some way of ensuring that more incarceration of prisoners will effectively mean more work for the probation service?"

Furthermore, enquiring about the many experienced people who have left the Probation Service in the last few years, he asked, "What is being done to bring them back into probation work?"

But he is also apprehensive of how the funding will work on the ground- "What share will voluntary organisations have in such funds in order to make the probation service more effective?"

Lord Dholakia concluded.

Sandeep Adhwaryu for TOI

Unique collaboration between Sufi superstar and renowned Kathak dancer Abida Parveen will return to Manchester five years after her MIF debut for a unique collaboration between the world’s greatest spiritual singer and Nahid Siddiqui, legend of South Asian classical dance.

“Music should rise from the heart and go straight to the soul,” says Abida Parveen. When this iconic Sufi singer takes to the microphone, that’s exactly the journey it takes – as anyone who witnessed her tran-

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The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 You are exploring and searching

now, making connections, and paying attention to your immediate environment. Socially you are very popular and your communications strengthen your connections. You will be busy with errands, paperwork, phone calls, and light socialising. Siblings, close relatives and friends may play an important role in your life during this period.

The Sun and Mercury highlight TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 your second house of finance, and your focus is on material affairs and comfort issues. This is a good time to plan your future investments carefully to maximise your profits. Anything or anyone that drains your time and energy should be re-evaluated. It’s time to use that creative imagination of yours to create grandeur in your life.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 The Sun and Mercury transit

your first house and this affects your personal identity, appearance, outward behaviour, and selfexpression. This marks the peak of your physical solar cycle, and you are in the position to make an impression on others, and to assert your personal influence. Increased energy and a renewed feeling of confidence is with you now, so take advantage of your charisma to achieve your goals.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Your mind is focused on private matters and past issues while Mercury and Sun transit the twelfth house of your solar chart. This is a time when you are least likely to express yourself freely. You're examining the past for answers. This is a good time for quiet contemplation, and meditation.

Mercury and Sun continue to journey through your solar eleventh house. This is a time when various networking activities are much appreciated and offer you learning experiences. Your ideas are progressive and you are also interested in spending time with people who are like-minded.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Mercury and Sun transit your solar tenth house. This is an excellent period for developing career and professional plans or strategies. Although approachable and ready to communicate, you are less inclined towards frivolous matters now. Good time to seek promotions to improve your status.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

The cosmic energies are decidedly invigorating at the moment. If you are taking a holiday, so much the better. Not only do you have Mercury putting a favourable emphasis on travel but, with Sun you can be sure of deriving the utmost pleasure from adventures and excursions.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Long-term partnerships are reinvigorated by Mercury and Sun's transit of your solar 8th house. Whether you’re single or attached you’ll have a busy time ahead of you. Business partnerships are tested by Mars and Venus's placement in your chart. The more you live up to your own set of principles the more cash you’ll pull in.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

scendent show at MIF13 will remember.

For this rare UK date, Parveen will be joined by dazzling kathak dancer Nahid Siddiqui for a one-off performance together. An inspirational evening of sacred music and dance, a message of peace, love and harmony from two of the greatest devotional artists alive today.

The Lowry, Pier 8, The Quays, Salford, M50 3AZ Friday 5 July, 7.30pm

020 8518 5500

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Sun and Mercury in your opposite sign makes you feel invincible, but the way to utilise this transit is to sift through all the opportunities that come your way. You know you have no choice but to streamline and reassess your priorities.Try to create a balance between expansion and conservation.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

The Sun and mercury highlight your solar sixth house. This is a period that finds you tending to your daily routines, and health matters. You seek to perfect your skills and as a result, you can be more critical than usual, but this process is necessary for you to sort out what works for you and what doesn't.

With Sun and Mercury 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.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Mercury and Sun transit your solar fourth house now. During this cycle, you are especially fond of spending more time at home around the family. You are more receptive and tend to be sentimental or nostalgic now. Loyalty and sensitivity in your relationships are more important to you than typically.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

32

Sport

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25 - 31 May 2019

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The key players of India Every team has its key players, those who play critical roles at key moments of a contest. These are players in whom the captain has utmost trust, the belief that they can deliver when the going gets tough, and extricate the team from trouble. These players are high in skill and big in temperament, and usually rich in experience. And they also have the Midas touch which gives them an edge over lesser mortals. This makes them invaluable to the team and a favourite of the captain.

So who are these key players India will be relying on at the 2019 World Cup, which promises to be as cut-throat as we have ever witnessed? Since the competition is likely to be fierce, these men will be often called upon to extricate the team from difficult situations. Let’s look at what the Indian roster offers: Virat Kohli The preeminent Oneday batsman, Virat Kohli will obviously be the man India will be depending on more than anyone else when chasing a total. No total looks impossible when the master of the chase is at the crease. He carries immense skill, fitness, experience and self-belief to the middle and also a metronomic understanding of the dynamics of a chase. The precision with which he goes about the job of chipping away at a target before finally dismantling it is a gratifying experience. Most batsmen feel the pressure while chasing, especially if it’s a big target. It can stymie their game and force them to commit mistakes. Kohli is immune to this pressure - he, in fact, thrives on it and even puts the fielding side under stress, such is his impact and his prowess. His

numbers while chasing in ODIs are nothing but phenomenal: 6,617 runs in 133 matches at an average of 68.21 and a strike rate of 94.43. He has 25 centuries while batting second, 21 of which have resulted in wins for India.

Rohit Sharma Often, a team batting first is unsure about what will be a good total on a particular surface.

The b a t s m e n vacillate, fail to change gears in time and the team ends up shortchanging itself. Rohit Sharma, when on song, takes care of this problem in a way only he can. The Mumbai batsman revels in piling up the “daddy hundreds,” having mastered the art of building an innings and spacing it out for high yield. He can effortlessly switch gears from slow to brisk to fast to hypersonic, leaving the opponents dazed and not even knowing what hit them. Rohit is the only batsman to have cracked three ODI double tons, all of which have come batting first. Needless to add, they led India to big wins. It’s not that Rohit has unimpressive secondinnings numbers – he is excellent even while chasing.

But his best have mostly come when he has taken guard right after the toss. Thus, when it’s about setting up a target while batting first at the World Cup, a target which Indian bowlers can defend on batting-friendly tracks, then this regal batsman has to put his hands up. If Rohit’s bat talks, India will roar.

MS Dhoni MS Dhoni has always been a master finisher in ODIs, and an adept tactician when it came to limited-overs cricket. With time, he has also become the elder statesman of the Indian team, the sage-like big brother for

many rookies who come from across the country with big dreams but fluttering hearts.

It’s hardly a surprise that he is to Virat Kohli what Chanakya was to Chandragupt Maurya.

Ever since Kohli took over the mantle of limited-overs captaincy from Dhoni, the icon from Ranchi has been his biggest support system on the pitch. It’s not going to be any different at the World Cup – Kohli, and India, will be looking to Dhoni to provide the tactical boost.

Besides, Dhoni remains the coolest one when it comes to chasing a target and finishing a game. In a World Cup humdinger, who would you want to bat for you at the business end of it? Dhoni, of course.

Jasprit Bumrah Feted as the ‘world’s best bower’ at present by many experts, bowler Jasprit Bumrah is truly a jewel in India’s crown. Bumrah has the potency and self-belief to answer the call of duty whenever India might need him at the World Cup. Pitches in England are expected to be very flat and full of runs. The bowlers are likely to suffer. But Bumrah is one of those outstanding bowlers who take the track out of the equation. Besides restricting the run flow, he will also be expected to provide breakthroughs whenever he has the white ball in his hands. If a partnership threatens to take the game away, Kohli is likely to turn to Bumrah to break it.

Bumrah is a master of bowling at the death and if the power hitters are making merry at the slog stage, it’s Bumrah again who will have to unleash his

dreaded yorkers to stem the tide.

Players told to rest and relax It is learnt that the selected players have been told to take rest and relax before they assemble on May 21 in Mumbai for the flight to London on May 22. “The players have been told that they can take a break from training after the IPL. “The support staff of the Indian team initiated this move. There were talks of having a short camp before the team leaves. But it will be very unfair on the players to get into the grind immediately after a grueling tournament like the IPL. So, it was decided that the players rather go on a break, ideally a short vacation, so that they feel good about themselves. We can’t risk any burnout,” a source said.

While the Indian players were relaxing, most teams were playing international matches or holding camps. England and Pakistan are currently playing a bilateral ODI series while Bangladesh and West Indies are playing a ODI triseries with Ireland in Ireland to get accustomed to the conditions in UK. Even Australia and New Zealand played a few friendly matches earlier this month to get their teams together and get used to the 50-over format.

South Africa’s camp at home began in early May while Afghanistan are holding a camp in South Africa.

All of India’s options became tough to implement with the IPL being held so close to the World Cup. Even the much talked-about fitness test (yo-yo) will not be conducted. “Holding a fitness test after 10 days of IPL doesn’t make sense. It is basically an endurance test. You have to be fresh to take the test.

That’s why it generally happens at the start of a season or after a long break. IPL takes a lot out of your body with the frequent travel and games in such hot conditions,” the source said.

Mohammad Amir included in Pak’s WC squad Experienced left-arm pacer Mohammad Amir was included in Pakistan's World Cup squad after lacklustre performance by its bowlers against England. The thrashing by English batsmen in a T20 International and two ODIs has alarmed the selectors, who were initially not keen on picking Amir for the showpiece owing to lack of form. Though Amir is suspected to be suffering from chicken pox and will have a medical examination done in London, a reliable source said that the team management,

Mohammad Amir

including captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and head coach Mickey Arthur, expressed confidence in the bowler and allowed him time to recover.

“The chief selector Inzamam-

ul-Haq is also in agreement with the team management but he wants to first make sure Amir can be fit by the time the World Cup starts from 30 May,” a PCB official said.

He said the team management and chief selector are now awaiting the medical report of Amir who was sent to London to stay with his in-laws after it first emerged he might have contracted chicken pox. “If the cricket board confirms that Amir can make a recovery in two weeks time, the management

and chief selector will want him in the World Cup squad,” the PCB official said. The lacklustre performance of the bowlers in the matches against England forced the team management to go back to Amir, who was not part of the 15-man squad named initially.

"They are also keeping a close look at Asif Ali who has scored two successive halfcenturies in the ODIs and if he continues his form he might well be included in the World Cup squad,” he added.

England clinch series against Pakistan England beat Pakistan by 54 runs to win the fifth One-Day International at Headingley and with this victory, England completed a 4-0 series win over Pakistan in the ODI series.

Pakistan, chasing 352, collapsed to six for three thanks to Chris

Woakes, who finished with five for 54. Babar Azam (80) and Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed (97) ket England at bay before they were both run-out. England’s score was built on a stand of 117 between Test skipper Joe Root (84) and one-day captain Eoin

Morgan (76). Imad Wasim finished with figures of three for 53 in his 10 overs, while fast bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi returned with figures of four for 82.

Brief scores: England: 351for 9 in 50 overs (Joe Root 84, Eoin Morgan 76; Shaheen Shah Afridi

Joe Root

4-82, Imad Wasim 3-53); Pakistan 297 all out in 46.5 overs (Sarfraz Ahmed 97, Babar Azam 80; C Woakes 5-54)

in brief WASIM JAFFER JOINS AS BANGLADESH BATTING COACH Former India opener Wasim Jaffer has been roped in as a batting coach for Bangladesh in their high-performance academy in Dhaka. Jaffer was approached by Bangladesh Cricket Board a few weeks ago and as per his contract he will be stationed in Dhaka for six months in a year. "They had approached me whether I will be interested to come on board as batting coach in their academy. I said yes, as I felt it’s a good opportunity for me. I have said in the past that I want to be part of coaching and commentary in future. I recently went to play Dhaka Premier League where I finalised the offer. I will be going to Dhaka in June," Jaffer said. In his 40s, Jaffer has been in great form in Indian domestic cricket. He was one of the chief architects behind Vidarbha winning Ranji Trophy for the second successive year. Jaffer says he will be playing domestic cricket in coming months and at the same time will be managing his batting coach job in Bangladesh.

IGOR STIMAC APPOINTED INDIAN FOOTBALL COACH The All India Football Federation announced the appointment of Igor Stimac as the Head Coach of the Men’s Senior National Team on a two-year contract. Stimac comes with an experience of over 18 years in coaching, structuring, and developing football and players in Croatia, and internationally.

During his tenure as the national coach of Croatia, he handed national team debuts to the likes of Mateo Kovacic, Ante Rebic, Alen Halilovic, and Ivan Perisic, amongst others.

He also played a pivotal role in developing likes of Dario Srna, Daniel Subasic, Ivan Strinic, Kovacic, Perisic, and other players.

His last assignment was with Al-Shahania Club in Qatar. As a player, he was part the of the Croatia National squad which finished third in the FIFA World Cup in France 1998, and a member of the Croatia national squad which qualified for the quarter-finals of the Euro 1996 in England. Besides, he was also a part of the Yugoslavia U-19 National Team which won the FIFA U-20 World Cup Chile 1987. “His (Stimac) credentials as a coach, and experience as a player are sure to add immense value to the players, and the Indian Football ecosystem. The momentum gained needs to be sustained,” Kushal Das, General Secretary, AIFF said.

AHMEDABAD LIKELY TO HOST WC FOOTBALL MATCHES Ahmedabad is likely to host matches of under-17 Women's World Cup to be held in India next year. Gujarat government officials said they were in talks with Fifa, international governing body of football, officials to host some matches, including the semifinals, in the city. Top Fifa officials are expected to arrive in Ahmedabad to finalize the details of the mega biennial event. India was selected to host the World Cup by the Fifa Council on March 15. As the host country, India automatically qualifies for the 16-team showpiece event. The officials of Fifa and the Gujarat government met in Gandhinagar to discuss the details. The Fifa officials discussed the readiness of the city stadium to host the matches. R C Meena, secretary, sports & cultural affairs, Gujarat, confirmed that the Fifa is set to allott the U17 Women's World Cup matches to the state.