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25th March to 31st March 2017

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Goa - Does it deserve the loss of face?

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

UK witnesses protests against post-Brexit racism

Full Story on Page 16

Narendra Modi at the swearing-in ceremony of the new government of Uttar Pradesh

A week after their sensational electoral victory in Uttar Pradesh, the BJP picked Hindutva mascot Yogi Adityanath as the state's chief minister on Saturday. The decision was marked by reckless rumours before it was officially announced.

The party also chose two deputy CMs, a first in the UP politics. For a state which is severely dominated by caste politics - this was seen as an attempt to balance the complex caste equations and social diversity of the state. Analysts say Yogi is many things rolled in one: he is a 'holy man', therefore caste doesn't stick to him and he is acceptable to all. As a man without a family he is also seen as above personal corruption.

Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu announced the decisions after a long meeting with

local BJP legislators in Lucknow. 'This is a watershed moment in the history of BJP,' he told reporters.

Adityanath was sworn in on Sunday in a ceremony at Kanshiram Smriti Upvan in the state capital at 2.15pm where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah were present. News channels flashed pictures of party workers garlanding and feeding sweets to the newly elected CM, who was draped in his iconic saffron-coloured robe.

State BJP chief, Keshav Prasad Maurya, who was himself in contention for the top job, was elected as the deputy chief minister alongside senior BJP leader and Lucknow Mayor Dinesh Sharma.

A British media reported that according to party insiders, that the choice of the CM that shocked many was an obvious one in the

context of the party's longterm plans - essentially its blueprint for the 2019 elections.

Adityanath has promised that he will follow the Prime Minister's 'sab ka saath, sab ka vikas' (equality and development for all) mantra and ensure all-round development of the country's most populous state.

In his first brief media interaction, he said, “I am confident that the state will march on the path of development.”

An avid fan of the Prime Minister, Yogi Adityanath in a Modi-style jibe told the Lok Sabha (Lower House) "I am a year younger than Rahul Gandhi, and a year older than Akhilesh Yadav. I came between their jodi (alliance). That is why they failed in UP," said the saffron-robed Chief Minister Continued on page 26

Prince Harry attends bicentenary celebrations of UK-Nepal relationship

Full Story on Page 7

Prince Harry attended an event on Monday to conclude the UK-Nepal bicentenary celebrations at the Nepalese Embassy in Kensington Palace Gardens.

Nepal’s Industry Minister Nabindra Raj Joshi flew to London from Kathmandu to take part in the event.

In his speech, Prince Harry recalled visiting Nepal last year and appreciated the Gurkhas, who served in the British Army, for their courage, selfless dedication and professionalism.

He expressed his desire to go back to Nepal, saying, “…

And now that my tika has finally faded it’s probably about time to go back!”

Continued on page 5

2

ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice 25th March 2017

www.asian-voice.com

to

Greg Barrow

Greg Barrow is Head of the United Nations World Food Programme London Office from where he acts as a senior spokesman, runs campaigns, and manages a team that builds relations with the private sector, media, parliament and non-governmental organisations. Greg has worked for the World Food Programme for more than 12 years, dividing his time between the UK and the agency’s headquarters in Rome, where he was Deputy Director of Communications.

Before joining WFP, he worked as a foreign correspondent for the BBC and was based in sub-Saharan Africa for six years (Nairobi and Johannesburg) before re-locating to New York where he worked as the BBC’s United Nations Correspondent.

1) What is your current position?

I am the Head of the United Nations World Food programme Office in London, where I manage a team that is focused on advocacy and communications in support of hungry people and building partnerships with the private sector and foundations to help us reach our target of Zero Hunger by 2030.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

There are millions of people around the world whose voices are rarely heard and most of them live in some of the poorest and most remote places on

earth.

The World Food Programme assists 80 – 100 million of these people every year by improving access to the food they need. We make sure their voices are heard at the top table and that feels like quite an achievement.

3) What inspires you?

Dignity, justice, respect for human rights and equality of opportunity for everyone – whether they are born in Birmingham or Burkina Faso.

We all deserve the chance of a good start in life and access to nutritious food in the early years is a fundamental part of that.

AsianVoiceNews

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

I think I have been pretty lucky in my career so far – first at the BBC and subsequently at the World Food Programme.

Perhaps the most challenging thing has been getting the work/life balance right and ensuring that I have been there when my family has needed me.

Still trying to crack that.

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

More than anything, it is ordinary children I have met in the midst of desperate humanitarian crises, who have inspired me to keep going. Seeing how they have the will and the desire to grow up, get an education and lead a normal life, whether they are trapped in conflict, or swept up in a natural disaster, is an example to us all.

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

Most of the people I meet seem to be grateful that there is an organisation out there doing the work that the World Food Programme does. There are times when we face criticism,

but generally speaking people support what we do on the frontlines of hunger and that makes it a good organisation to work for.

7) And the worst?

There seems to be a small but noisy constituency in the UK that thinks that foreign aid and assistance is a waste of money.

It is fairly easy to present a convincing counter-argument to this narrative by highlighting the positive impact on real lives that foreign aid has and the goodwill it generates in terms of extending the “soft power” of the governments and people who give so much, but it is worrying that these views are held so strongly.

8) What are your long term goals?

At the World Food Programme I

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

am part of a global movement to get behind the push towards UN Sustainable Development Goal 2, the Zero Hunger Goal by 2030. I would like to be able to say “job done” by the time we get to that target date.

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

Here in the UK, successive governments have had a pretty good record in supporting foreign aid, maintaining a commitment to providing 0.7% of GDP for overseas development assistance and keeping humanitarian issues at the top of the global agenda. If I was PM, I would just make sure that I keep reiterating this position and ensuring that voters understand the real value of maintaining the UK’s position as a key player in the humanitarian / development world.

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

Most of the important historical figures I can think of would probably drive me slightly crazy if I was stuck on a desert island with them so I think it would probably prefer to spend the time with my family.

‘Tipsy’ doctor allegedly put hand 20 women claim they were maimed by down young woman’s bra on flight unlicensed doctor in lip fillers scandal A tribunal has heard how a “tipsy” GP put his hand down a woman’s bra and groped her during a transAtlantic flight with his wife. According to The Sun newspaper, Dr Rajkumar Mazumder also allegedly rubbed his groin against his victim’s waist while cabin lights were dimmed.

As a result the woman, who had been sat in the row in front of Mazumder, got up from her seat and alerted crew who moved her for the remainder of the 6440km journey from Charlotte, North Carolina to London’s Gatwick Airport. Police were called after the flight landed but no criminal charges were brought. The matter was not referred to the UK’s General Medical Council until three years later when Mazumder underwent checks on his background.

The British Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service was told the incident occurred in September 2012 after the passenger — known only as Miss A, and who suffers

able.

Counsel for the General Medical Council, Katie Jones, told the tribunal how the doctor, who said he had been drinking, chatted with Miss A before he rubbed his groin against her as he returned to his seat after walking around the cabin.

Mazumder, from Southgate, later attended voluntarily Dr Rajkumar Mazumdea at a police station to be (Pic courtesy: Cavendish Press) interviewed. from multiple sclerosis — Jones added: “He said was returning to the UK there had been some conafter a two-week trip visitversation between him and ing relatives. the woman sitting in front Mazumder, then 66, of him. He told the police and his then 51-year old she had told him she sufwife Dawn, who had been fered from MS, she had in the US visiting his volunteered that informagrandchild, were booked in tion and he was concerned the row behind Miss A on about her on the flight and the plane. offered to examine her. She According to the nodded and he had gone claims, the GP began talkon to examine her in a noning to Miss A. He is intimate way.” accused of grabbing the Mazumder, who is now passenger’s breast and nip70 and living in Spain, ple after earlier telling her denies misconduct. his wife was being miserThe hearing continues.

Twenty women have come forward to complain about their ordeals at the hands of a fake medic exposed by the Daily Mail. They were left with severe bruising, swelling and infections after appointments with lip filler practitioner Golam Chowdhury.

Mr Chowdhury runs a clinic in Birmingham and refers to himself as a ‘qualified doctor in Bangladesh’ – though he is not registered with the General Medical Council.

Last Sunday, he declined to apologise to the women. The complaints about Mr Chowdhury come amid growing anger at the Mail’s revelation last Saturday that amateurs with no medical training are offering to inject schoolgirls with dangerous lip fillers for as little as £59.

The cosmetic treatments can cause irreversible damage but a lack of regulation means anyone is allowed to set themselves up as a practitioner.

Some beauticians target

young women on social media and offer to inject groups at lip filler ‘parties’.

Others offer special deals, including the chance to cut costs by sharing a syringe with a friend.

Mr Chowdhury, 41, was one of three lip filler practitioners who offered to inject Ellie 17-year-old Ducker when she visited clinics with undercover reporters. And campaign group Save Face, which raises awareness about the dangers of nonsurgical cosmetic treatment, said it has had more than 20 calls about him.

Mr Chowdhury had said he was a bachelor of medicine and a bachelor of surgery.

He said he did not mislead patients into believing he was a registered medical doctor. Speaking outside his semi-detached home in Acocks Green, Birmingham, he added: ‘I’m not saying I am prescribing medicine, but I’ve

Golam Chowdhury

done my training for Botox and carrying out lip-filling procedures. I’ve got my certificates. You don’t need to be registered with the GMC to do this.’

Mr Chowdhury writes he is a doctor on official forms and is referred to at the Arcadia Care Clinic as ‘the doctor’.

But speaking to the Mail last Saturday: ‘I haven’t said to anyone I’m a doctor. I am a qualified doctor in Bangladesh, I completed training to do work in the UK. I never mentioned that I’m a qualified doctor in the UK.’

C MMENTS

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Anatomy of Modi’s triumph Narendra Modi has changed the face of Indian politics. Emerging from the wings as Gujarat chief minister, he stormed his way to Delhi in the general election of 2014. He sensed the mood for change in the country and struck a deep and abiding chord with his message of development and root and branch economic reform. He strategized his vision through the superb organizational skills of his point man Amit Shah. He adjusted his goals to realistic timelines, and with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s resounding victories in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarkhand, together with the BJP leadership’s quickness off the mark and sure footedness, they successfully cobbled coalition governments in Goa and Manipur. The BJP and Prime Minister Modi stand at the pinnacle of their political authority and influence. At the present time they have no second.

The ride to the top has been anything but easy. Mr Modi was tarnished at home and abroad by the Gujarat riots. Governments in the West preferred, initially, to shun him, before the second thoughts of American and British leaders, reading the runes, decided to open their doors to a dialogue. The warm welcome Mr Modi received on his visits to London and Washington, where he was invited to address Parliament and the Joint Houses of Congress tell of a swift and remarkable turnaround; he recognized early the importance of the Indian diaspora and their outstanding achievements, reaching out to them to harness their considerable talents to the service of India and the Indian people.

Mr Modi’s outreach has been integral to his overall achievements as an international statesman. The climb from adversity to the sunlt uplands has been nothing short of spectacular.

Like all outstanding leaders, Mr Modi chose his team shrewdly, ruthlessly, sidelining the BJP old

guard long accustomed to power with nothing really to offer the country in the way of programmes, hoping only that their names and faces would carry them through. This was not to be. Many of their number retired to sulk and nurse well worn grievances to no effect; having been reduced to irrelevance. They are mostly an ageing lot, so time is not on their side.

Having humbled his political opponents, Mr Modi has surely cleared the ground of old obstacles that have impeded progress in unshackling the economy from wasteful and opportunist populism. The implementation of infrastructure projects by States are being carried forward with renewed urgency. Well considered schemes that promise lasting economic and social benefits for society at large are bearing fruit. Ambitious legislation such as the General Services Tax (GST) designed to abolish inter-State duties and taxes and replaced it with a single, overarching system is ready for implementation. Once it comes through India will emerge as a unified market, drawing the final curtain on the cumbersome system of multiple markets that have impeded investment, both foreign and domestic. Despite the present efficient system, India attracted foreign investment in 2015 worth $63 billion, larger than those of China and the United States. With GST in place this figure is to rise exponentially.

Mr Modis’s message has also been pitched to an aspiration of a more wholesome life. A new generation is driven by fresh possibilities of success; they wish to live better, to be better educated and achieve the sort of prosperity beyond the dreams of their parents and elders. Having embraced the future, they live in hope. Mr Modi incarnates its fulfillment, as he presides over India’s transformational rebirth into a new age fit for purpose.

Congress twilight road to oblivion No person who values the health of Indian democracy would wish the Congress party ill. It has richest, the most glorious history of any political formation in contemporary India. Founded in December 1885 in Bombay, it came to embody the voice of liberal nationalism. It was an inclusive body, a broad church, if you like, that took India through its vicissitudes and despairing setbacks to the sunlit uplands of freedom. Mahatma Gandhi once remarked that without Congress he would be nothing. Almost every figure in the gallery of the great and good came from within the ranks of the Indian National Congress.

This included a number of remarkable Britons, foremost among them, Allan Octavian Hume, William Wedderburn and Annie Besant, all of fertilized and enriched with the Indian experience.

But dwelling incessantly on the past is no service to the party’s current dysfunctional malaise. Its slow descent into twilight and possible oblivion is no reason to rejoice, more an occasion to weep in silence.

What hope can there be of a healthy functioning two-party system at the centre to keep Indian democracy robust, alive and well?

The Congress performances in Uttar Pradesh and Uttakhand Assembly elections were abysmal. Punjab was a triumph of sorts, owing largely to the doughty Captain Amerinder Singh, the party’s regional head.

Rahul Gandhi’s contribution was to keep away from the fray. Punjab, a critical, strategically-located State, has been ruined economically and socially by

the Akali Dal’s jathedar interests and the Badal family. Punjabis have voted for change and revival.

Under Mr Gandhi’s and his mother, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, the party been reduced to a dynastic rump with oleaginous courtiers in dutiful attendance.

Mother and son have no coherent policies befitting an opposition seeking to convince the electorate that it is a government in waiting. Mr Gandhi, eternally on the stump, mouths populist platitudes and barbed insults at the BJP leadership in infantile road shows. He is unelectable on every count. On the great issues of state: the economy, defence and national security or the trajectories of Indian foreign policy, he has been barely audible. Mani Shanker Aiyer, a failed and discredited Congressman in government and outside it, has advised Congress to seek redemption through coalition politics in which smaller partners call the shots, on cue presumably from Congress prompters. All hands on deck to defeat the BJP juggernaut, the desperate call. This is delusional pie-in-the-sky.

Smaller regional parties are not likely to be hospitable to the prospect of partnering Congress, and end their days in a close embrace with death. For Congress, the Gandhis are too heavy a cross to bear.

With the 2019 general election virtually lost, the next best option would surely be to start afresh preparing for the general election due in 2024.

Recycled waste is not what the doctor ordered.

Lure of Kolkata for a Jewish visitor Gerry Judah and his family, denizens of old Calcutta for generations, left the city in 1961, migrating to Britain, where Gerry found his calling as an internationally renowned artist and designer. Gerry was a mere ten-year old when his parents left for their new home in London. But memories of his boyhood never deserted him and the lure of Calcutta remained. Says Gerry Judah, ‘I became more Jewish in London. In Calcutta, Jewish culture was part of the Indian way of life and the city was such a cosmopolitan place. We had our own rituals but we were part of others. We soaked in the festivities of Durga Puja, we played Holi with our friends and we celebrated Eid.’ The dramatic landscapes of India and the ornate architecture of its temples, mosques and synagogues, with their theatrical rituals …were to surface in his own work. At its peak, Calcutta’s Jewish population numbered over 4,000; today it is around 20. Soon there won’t be anyone left, Jael Silliman, 61, and her

mother, Flower, left first, for Israel, then for the United States,. They have now returned to the city of their birth as permanent residents. Jael, by training an academic, has created a digital archive documenting the history of the community, starting with the arrival of Shalom Cohen in 1798 from Syria to a city associated with the name of its founder, Job Charnock. While the Sasoons were integral to rise of Bombay, the Ezras were similarly associated with the glory days of Cal cutta. The stately David Maghen synagogue, built by the Ezra family is the largest in Asia, and a Calcutta landmark. Another is Nahoum’s bakery and Calcutta Stories, a restaurant noted for its Jewish, Armenian and Parsi cuisines.

Professor Amlan Dasgupta, Director of the School of Cultural Texts and Records, Jadavpur University, says regretfully: ‘The loss of memory of the presence of the Jewish community pains me. Our children need to be told the story of the city’s cultural diversity.’

3

Hope is not a feeling or a mood or a personality type. Hope is a choice - "The Great Awakening"

by Jim Wallis (2007)

“Our London” Navin Shah

GLA Member for Brent and Harrow

GET JAILED FOR CHARITY

Mayors of Harrow and Brent support Hospice detainees!

I’m delighted that the Mayors of both Harrow and Brent have pledged their support to St Luke’s Jail and Bail event this year on Friday 28 April. It is also heart-warming that prominent figures such as Councillor Sachin Shah, Leader of Harrow Council have volunteered to get locked up for this worthy cause.

Having been thrown behind the bars on 3 occasions and raised substantial funds for this charity I say from my personal experience that this is an unforgettable experience and I recommend Asian and Gujarat Voice readers to come forward and volunteer for this initiative of St Luke’s Hospice in Harrow and Brent to raise funds. Don’t just take my word for it – our own CB Patel has taken part in this Jail & Bail event and he recommends it highly too!

Please see details below for more information.

The Mayors of both Harrow and Brent are supporting St Luke’s ‘prisoners’ who will be locked up on Friday 28 April as part of the hospice’s upcoming Jail and Bail event. The Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Rekha Shah says, ‘I am delighted to be able to support St Luke’s Jail and Bail event in their 30th birthday year.

It is fantastic to have the local Harrow police team supporting the hospice and it’s wonderful that the leader of Harrow Council, Cllr Sachin Shah is leading by example and

getting locked up for St Luke’s. The hospice provides an exceptional service in the community and it’s great that we can help in this way. I would urge others to join Cllr Shah and help support our local hospice in this fun and unique way.’

Mayor of Brent, Cllr Parvez Ahmed says, ‘It is a pleasure to be involved with the hospice’s Jail and Bail event. I, along with The Mayor of Harrow are very much looking forward to meeting all of the ‘detainees’ on the day, taking pictures with them and handing out certificates. I am very proud of my colleague, Cllr Krupesh Hirani who is going to be taking part and urge other councillors and local people to get involved and sign up as well. St Luke’s help many people who are suffering from a life limiting illness either at the hospice or in people’s homes.

They also support the patients’ families and carers but they need to raise over £3.5 million every year to do this.

Editor: CB Patel

Continued on page 6

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4

UK

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No evidence found against Brandon A police investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of a teenager who was found hanged at his home has concluded that no bullying took place in the months before his death.

Brandon Rayat, 15, was found at his home in Humberstone, Leicester, on August 9, last year.

His parents, Rajinder and Mina Rayat both say their son, who attended Judgemeadow Community College, in Evington, was subjected to serious abuse from bullies before he died.

They said this included a fake Facebook account in the name of Jimmy Savile in which "horrendous messages"

and threats of rape were sent.

However, at a pre-inquest review hearing last Thursday, coroner Diane Hocking said: "The police conducted an investigation into alleged bullying at Judgemeadow and Detective Inspector Henry has discussed his findings with Mr and Mrs Rayat."

She said: "The investigation found no evidence of bullying at the time and no proximal evidence of bullying before Brandon's death.

"Brandon left the school in December 2015 and had no interaction whatsoever with his peer group following this and in the eight months leading to his death."

She added that the police

investigation had been "thorough". Solicitor Georgina Cursham, representing the Rayats had argued that there was evidence to show bullying took place within some of Brandon's medical reports.

She said Brandon's "sudden demise into a reclusive state and declining mental health" were a direct result of bullying. However, Mrs Hocking said any link between Brandon's death and bullying would be explored by psychiatrists at the inquest later this year, but she was satisfied with the police investigation. Mrs Hocking has commissioned an expert report into the teenager's care

by Leicestershire Partnership

Brandon Rayat

Trust's Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), who had been treating him prior to his death. A three day inquest into Brandon's death is set to start on August 7 when several witnesses, including Judgemeadow headteacher James McKenna, are expected to give evidence.

Drunken dad Khalid Mir threatened to rape fellow passenger on Emirates flight to Birmingham A drunken dad has been jailed for spitting at cabin crew and threatening to rape a fellow passenger on a Birminghambound flight.

Khalid Mir had to be bound and gagged after he lashed out after downing in Baileys and vodka on an eighthour journey from Dubai.

The 39-year-old also threw an orange juice over the passenger he threatened to rape and told senior cabin crew to “p*** off” when he was warned about his behaviour.

Mir, from Saltley , already had a marker against him when he was abusive to stewards on an earlier flight. He was jailed for seven months at

Birmingham Crown Court after he admitted being drunk on the Emirates aircraft and failing to obey a command by the captain. Cabin crew suspected Mir was drunk after bringing his own booze on board the flight on November 17 last year, the court heard.

They later found bottles of vodka and Baileys by his seat.

Philip Brunt, prosecuting, said: “Thirty minutes into the flight he started to be abusive and about 15 minutes after that he asked to be moved. He became very abusive to the woman sitting in front of him and was banging the video screen.”

She was reduced to tears

Khalid Mir

and Mir was warned about his conduct. But he threatened the woman an hour later and three other passengers also failed in attempts to calm him. The delivery driver, a father-ofthree, continued to swear and his behaviour was frightening, Mr Brunt said. The captain authorised Mir’s restraint but

it took four cabin crew to put plastic cuffs on his hands and feet – and he still tried to headbutt the screen in front of him.

He then spat at a crew member who tried to give him a drink with a straw after he pushed the mask away from his mouth with his tongue.

Mir also spat water at another steward. Mohammed Riaz, defending, said Mir had a drink problem and was returning from Pakistan following the death of a relative. Passing Judge Avik sentence Mukherjee told him: “What you did on that plane was offensive, threatening and potentially damaging to others.

YouTube refuses to ban hate preacher Abu Haleema who targeted Small Heath Hateful sermons from an extremist preacher who tried to whip up tensions in Birmingham are still online despite being ‘flagged’ to YouTube more than a year ago. Abu Haleema called members of Small Heath’s Muslim community “cowards” in one of the web videos, which also featured in a Channel 4 documentary.

Internet giants including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter were criticised by MPs this week over extremist content on their sites, often

Abu Haleema

run alongside adverts, and an investigation last Friday found hate preachers were sharing screens with household names.

Haleema is still using

YouTube to air his poisonous views through his own channel, which features dozens of videos, despite the site being made aware of the content in February 2016.

A clip of the video was shown in the Channel 4 documentary The Jihadis Next Door.

Haleema was unsuccessful in his attempt to stoke tensions in Birmingham.

The documentary cast a light on Haleema’s radical views and close association to terrorists who have travelled

to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

In the documentary Haleema was shown walking through Ealing describing how public executions would be carried out in a park under his brutal version of Sharia law.

The preacher, who had his passport seized in 2014 to stop him leaving the country, was also shown eating and smiling while watching gruesome ISIS execution videos but did not explicitly say he supported the group on camera.

Cardiff cyber-jihadi hid ISIS material on James Bond-style cufflink A man who used a James Bond-style USB cufflink to store extremist data has admitted five charges of terrorism.

Samata Ullah, 34, of Cardiff, pleaded guilty to being a member of so-called Islamic State, terrorist training, preparing terrorist acts and possessing articles for terrorist purposes. He denied one charge of directing terrorism. The Old Bailey court in London heard the Attorney General had decided to accept the pleas. The remaining charge will lie on his file.

When he was arrested on 22 September, he had a USB cufflink with an operating system loaded onto it to conceal a hoard of extremist data, including a blog.

The court heard that between December 2015 and his arrest, Ullah had provided instructional videos on how to secure sensitive data and remain anonymous online with the use of encryption programmes.

He also admitted having a book entitled Guided Missiles Fundamentals AFM 52-31 and an electronic version of Advances in Missile Guidance, Control and Estimation for terrorist purposes. Brian Altman QC, prosecuting, said a hi-tech report dealt with Ullah's desire to copy his blog onto a platform in a "format that meant it could not be closed down or deleted by the authorities".

Ullah, who has been diag-

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

nosed with autism, admitted the charges earlier in March but his pleas could not be reported until after the the prosecution had time to consider whether to go ahead with a trial on the remaining charge. Judge Gerald Gordon lifted reporting restrictions and adjourned the case until 28 April. He said the "issue of dangerousness" would have to be looked at before sentencing. Speaking after the hearing, Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Commander Dean Haydon said: "Just because Ullah's activity was in the virtual world we never underestimated how dangerous his activity was.

"He sat in his bedroom in Wales and created online con-

Samata Ullah

tent with the sole intention of aiding people who wanted to actively support ISIS and avoid getting caught by the authorities.

"This is just the sort of information that may have helped people involved in planning devastating, low technical level, attacks on crowded places as we have seen in other cities across the world."

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Teenager gunned down motorist in horror road rage attack

A teenager has been jailed for 14 years after pulling out a shotgun and shooting a motorist in a horrifying road rage attack in Birmingham.

Abbas Khan, 19, Abbas Khan gunned down Abu Taher after the pair had clashed in George Arthur Road, Alum Rock, after a minor traffic incident.

The victim, 29, needed emergency surgery to save his arm from being amputated and is now disabled.

Birmingham Crown Court heard the weapon used had never been found by police, but they did recover CCTV of the incident.

Khan previously admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent and possessing a firearm with intent.

Taxi driver hit with £1,000 bill after refusing to take on a blind passenger and guide dog

A Birmingham taxi driver has been fined with a court bill of over £1,000 for refusing to take a blind passenger and his guide dog in his cab.

Hafeez Ahmed, 45, wouldn’t let them in his private hire vehicle Hafeez Ahmed because he claimed the (Pic courtesy: dog was a normal pet and Birmingham Mail) was not an assistance dog, the city’s magistrates were told.

Even when he was eventually convinced it was a guide dog, he refused to let them in, saying the blind man had been racist and abusive towards him and he felt “upset”.

The blind man was forced to travel into Birmingham city centre on his own and missed his train, incurring £150 in extra charges.

Ahmed, a married dad-of-two of Whitehall Road, Handsworth , pleaded guilty to a charge under the Equality Act 2010 of refusing to accept a booking from a disabled person with an assistance dog.

Magistrates fined him £373 and ordered him to pay courts costs of £634.

Tahir Alam at the centre of alleged school takeover plot

A former chairman of governors at a school embroiled in the Trojan Horse plot “espoused” an “intolerant and narrow faith-based ideology”, a tribunal was told.

A total of 18 “incidents, policies and practices” around the alleged Muslim takeover of Birmingham schools were put before a hearing by lawyers for education secretary Justine Greening.

The panel is considering a challenge by Tahir Alam, who was barred from involvement in the management of schools by the Department for Education (DfE). The ban was imposed in September 2015 after officials concluded that he had engaged in conduct aimed at undermining fundamental British values.

Mr Alam was chairman of governors at Park View School in Alum Rock from 1997 to 2014, and chairman of a trust set up to manage the school.

Violence increases at Morton Hall immigration removal centre

Violence, self-harm and drug use has increased at an immigration removal centre according to the chief inspector of prisons. The findings follow an unannounced inspection of the 392room Morton Hall near Lincoln.

Inspectors said there had been a "significant decline in safety" since the last inspection.

The Home Office claimed strategies to reduce incidents of violence were in place and would be reviewed.

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Hawking hails growing gender equality in Britain's public sector Stephen Hawking has said that women achieving high status in the public sector jobs, is a proof of an advance towards gender equality. According to the Daily Telegraph, the 75 year old astrophysicist said that the Queen, Theresa May, the Prime Minister, Sturgeon, Nicola the Scottish First Minister, Amber Rudd, the Home Secretary and Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, are examples that the times have changed. However he argued that the private sector are to yet catch up.

Speaking to Piers Morgan

on Good Morning Britain, Prof Hawking also said that he would continue to vote Labour, even though he did not believe the party could win under Jeremy Corbyn.

Ponting is not the first transgender rapist who has been transferred to a women's jail after a sex change. His victims feel humiliated and offended, saying that it feels like a kick in the teeth and a mockery to the people he offended.

Hammond's prospects look grim Philip Hammond's decision to pull back the £2 billion tax rise has led to a drastic U-turn in his popularity, as per a recent poll. Pro-Remain Tory MPs are concerned about its implications on Brexit.

Hammond's relationship with Theresa May had also taken a beating after she ordered him to drop his plans to raise the National Insurance

da. One of the main objective for them is to destabilise the architecture of stabilisation created through the methodology of nation state building. Over the last century nation states have been able to maintain stability after colonialism ended. Their aim to replace Minister M J Akbar speaking as MP Virendra Sharma, HE Y K Sinha, the is High Commissioner of India to UK look on nation state through faith Minister said, “India is in a Indo-British All-Party supremacy...UN has been search of prosperity... As Parliamentary Group and trying to find a definition you know economic prosInternational Institute for of terrorism for the last 21 perity and development go Strategic Studies (IISS). years. How can you fight an hand in hand. But who is This was attended by enemy that you can't Lord Navnit Dholakia, this development for? define?”

Lord Khalid Hameed, India at this moment Claiming faith equality Baroness Usha Prashar wants a prosperity that is today as the most imporshared within and internaand High Commissioner of tant tool and an urgent tionally, and PM Modi India to UK, HE Y K requirement to build all Sinha. wants it to go to those who nation cooperation on need it the most. As the The talk revolved security (shared security Prime Minister said in his around: politics of India, goals), he also spoke about first speech, the time of geopolitics of India, forhow every single day the poverty alleviation is over. eign policy of India, and Modi government is trying The age of poverty eliminaIndia in the 21st century. to make life of people bettion has begun.”

He spoke about developter as well as internationalCalling terrorism as the ment and prosperity of ly through foreign policies, greatest obstacle to prosIndia, poverty elimination the importance and arrival perity, he further added, It in India and shared securiof technology in India and is naive to believe those ty of the world. growing importance of who encourage terrorism Speaking on the curcommunication and ecorent mood of India, the do not have political agennomic transformation.

Indian Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar was on a 4 day visit to the UK to attend the C o m m o n w e a l t h Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) meeting held in London on Friday 17 March.

On Thursday 16 March he held talks about UKIndia bilateral relationship with Ministers in the UK, including International Development Minister Priti Patel and Foreign Alok Office Minister Sharma. In reference to India-UK ties post Brexit, the Minister told reporters, “The history our relationship with the UK has a very large dimension…as Britain undergoes a dramatic re-evaluation of its relationship with Europe, India as a friend hopes to be as helpful as we can.”

On the same day, he addressed a closed group of selected people at the High Commission of India over lunch, followed by a talk on “India in the changing world’ at the House of Commons that was chaired

by MP Virendra Sharma.

The talk was organised jointly by the High Commission of India,

Prince Harry attends bicentenary celebrations of UK-Nepal relationship Philip Hammond

contributions of the selfemployed. The recent polls and sources from Downing Street are now speculating his prospects in the government, calling it rather grim.

Labour leadership at war over Momentum plot claims Labour party almost landed in an open civil war on Monday night after Tom Watson, Labour's deputy leader warned that the future of the party is in risk after it emerged that Jeremy Corbyn's supporters are plotting to take control of the party by joining forces with his union backers.

The latest charge to be levelled at apparent conspirators came from Tom Watson, following disputed reports that Momentum is seeking financial support from, and direct affiliation to, Unite. Watson’s contention that “there are some people who do not have our electoral interests at heart” will hardly come as a shock though.

Momentum is, after all, in effect an organisation within an organisation which, as outlined in its

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Terrorism is the greatest obstacle to prosperity and development: M J Akbar Rupanjana Dutta

Rapist moved to women's jail after sex transfer Moving a 50-year-old transgender Martin Ponting to a women's prison after undergoing a sex change has raised uneasiness among the fellow convicts, with an inmate threatening to selfharm in order to stay away from Ponting.

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

constitution, aims to “work for the election of a Labour government”. But rather than encouraging a broad base to flock to the Labour ranks, it commits only to encourage “those inspired

by Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership campaign” to join the party.

The turmoil was further resulted b y an ICM poll for the Guardian that suggested Tories are on 45% of vote, up by one point, but Labour has fallen behind with the support of just 26% of voters. The poll was carried out immediately after the government's U-turn on National Insurance payments, calling Mrs May and Mr Hammond as the best team to manage the economy. The poll was published after a day of furious exchanges between Mr Watson and Mr Corbyn's allies.

Continued from page 1 Harry, 32, who was made an honorary Gurkha in Afghanistan, renewed his special relationship with the Nepali soldiers whose forefathers have served with the British Army since 1815.

Garlanded with flowers, Prince Harry exchanged banters with men from the 1st Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles who served with him in Helmand province when he was a forward air controller in the winter of 2007 and 2008.

"Good to see you again.

How are you?" he reportedly told Captain Lalit Bahadur Gurung, gazing at his dress uniform with a chest full of medals. "Last time I saw you, you were wearing this. You do have other clothes?", the Daily Express reported.

Speaking at the gathering paying tribute to the Nepali people he said, "During my time in Nepal, I was able to visit some of the communities from which the Gurkhas are drawn; I now better understand what has shaped the character of this extraordinary group of men, borne out of the values which the people of Nepal hold so dear," he said.

"Last week, I joined my father in presenting operational service medals to officers and men from 2nd

Photo: Kensington Palace

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me sweat in freezing temperatures in Afghanistan while trying to get through a very spicy goat curry; some of you are probably here.”

He chatted to two old friends who both suffered double leg amputations above the knee in Helmand in 2010 and have since taken part in his Invictus for Prince Harry lighting a lamp to inaugurate Games the event in Nepal Embassy in London injured troops.

Rifleman Battalion of the Royal Vinod Budhathoki, 32, Gurkha Rifles, some of from Maidstone, Kent, and whom are with us here today. My father spoke of how important his 40 year association to the Gurkhas is to him.

"Even though my association hasn’t been quite as long, I also draw a great deal of pride and joy from my association with the Gurkhas. Your courage, selfless dedication and professionalism are legendary; but your warmth and hospitality in welcoming me as a fellow soldier and friend means a great deal to me personally – even though certain people took great enjoyment from watching

ans.

Last week Corporal Magar met Harry when he joined Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace to present campaign medals to Gurkhas returning from eight months in Kabul.

"Stop following me," the Prince joked with the corporal, who since his injuries has skied, kayaked and is now in training to become the first double amputee Gurkha to climb Mount Everest in 2018.

Rifleman Budhathoki, who like his friend left 1RGR three years ago and now makes a living from property investment, recalled is time in Afghanistan with the Prince.

"He just never let us feel like he was from the Royal Family. We just treated him like any other officer," he said.

A year ago, the Prince had toured Nepal and was presented with a Gurkha knife and watched traditional cultural performances including a Khukuri knife Prince Harry being welcomed dance by Gurkha with a garland soldiers after unveiling a photograph of Corporal Hari Budha Magar, the 13 Gurkhas who have 37, from won the Victoria Cross, Canterbury, have both seen Britain's highest award for him regularly through his work with wounded vetergallantry.

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Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a one-year-old boy died and his twin sister was critically injured in an attack in Finsbury Park.

Bidhya Sagar Das, 33, believed to be the children’s father, was arrested last night in Hackney and is in custody.

Police found the toddlers critically injured after being called to a flat in Wilberforce Road at 11.10pm on Saturday.

The boy died in the early hours of Saturday morning and the girl is fighting for her life.

Das was hunted by police after fleeing on Saturday evening when his partner Cristinela Datcu discovered their two children had been battered with a hammer at their north London home. Their Romanian mother was heard screaming as she ran into the street for help after the horrendous attack at 11pm which apparently happened while she was in the shower.

Harrowing footage

(Pic courtesy: Met Police)

Man charged over murder of baby boy in north London

Bidhya Sagar Das 33

from across the street shows Ms Datchu running out of the house with a towel still on her head making a 'terrible wailing noise' - one source claimed she may even have been locked in the bathroom during the attack. Her 18month-old son Gabriel died in hospital just before 1am yesterday and last night doctors were battling to save his sister Maria who was being operated on in an East London hospital, where she was said to be in a critical condition.

Friends described Das

Toddler Gabriel (front, right) died in an east London hospital while twin Maria (behind her brother) is in a critical condition

as ‘jealous’ yesterday, claiming the Indian-born hotel worker had often questioned whether he was the father of the twins, who are both white.

Scotland Yard said the incident is believed to be domestic.

Det Ch Insp Dave Whellams, who is leading the murder probe, said: “This is clearly a tragic incident, and our thoughts are with the family of the two young children. Despite the best efforts of medical professionals a baby boy sadly died in the early

hours of this morning. A baby girl currently remains in a critical condition and is receiving specialist medical care.

“Whilst we remain in the early stages of the investigation, a man has now been arrested. I would still like to hear from anyone who may have any information regarding this terrible incident.”

Anyone with information is asked to call 020 8345 3775 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Brexit: International students and foreign workers vital to UK's future economy Theresa May's government has made reducing immigration a predominant objective. As Theresa May makes her Brexit negotiations, after triggering it on 29th March, she would emphasise on tougher immigration, perhaps risking the state of the economy and country's reputation for openess further.

The Conservative Party, had declared that they would bring immigration down by tens and thousands. Though that target should not have included students, but it eventually has. As the Financial Times pointed out, migration quotas do not take into account the flexible nature of modern economies, par-

ticularly in the UK where international workers have fuelled economic growth and filled skills gaps.

Supporters of keeping students in the target are concerned that if an exception is made for students, pressure will grow to do the same for other migrants, such as temporary business visitors. However economically speaking, fees paid by international students account for 29% of all tuition, even though they make up just 14% of the student population.

If international students choose to no longer come to the UK, the financial impact on institutions would be significant, including shutting down of

towns whose economy totally depend on universities. Welcoming international students is also vital to protect the UK’s reputation for academic excellence.

In the 2016 Shanghai Rankings of universities, the UK has four institutions — Cambridge, Oxford, University College London, and Imperial College London — among the world’s top 25. Only one other European university makes that list.

While other countries have welcomed increasing numbers of international students, in the UK the inflow has stagnated. Enrollment of Indian students in UK universities have gone down by 50%.

This is an occasion when the Prime Minister should actually take the advice of the Brexiters.

Making a U-turn on immigration definitely makes good sense.

On the other hand companies fear that immigration rule changes aimed at the highest and lowest skilled European workers will leave a 'squeezed middle' of technical jobs that cannot be filled from abroad. The Home Office is yet to set out future visa rules for EU nationals but the system is expected to include work permits for skilled migrants who have firm job offer in Britain, and seasonal programmes for agricultural workers.

Childcare costs in Brent and Harrow hit £19k Families in Brent and Harrow with two children could pay an average of £19,195.28 a year in childcare bills, new analysis reveals. The analysis, con-

ducted by Local London Assembly Member Navin Shah considers the cost of childcare for families with one child at nursery and another in primary school.

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Mr Shah said the figures, based on a report from the Family and Childcare Trust, demonstrate “why the Government must step in” to ensure parents have choices when it comes to childcare. In Brent, there are approximately 24,400 children under 5 and 30,700 aged 5-11, whereas in Harrow there are approximately 17,700 children under 5 and 23,500 aged 511.

In Outer London, the average price of a full time nursery place for a child is £264.96 per week. The average cost of a childminder caring for a primary

school pupil after school costs an average of £104.18.

Over the course of a year this means parents in Brent and Harrow with two children could face bills of over £19,000 –£6,500 more than a similar family in the North West of England, where childcare costs are among the lowest in the country. Someone with a full time London Living Wage job who wanted to go back to work would earn £19,012.50, meaning there would be a net financial loss to the family.

Some two year olds are eligible for free childcare, for example if they have

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Road signs targeting Orthodox Jews reported in Stamford Hill A triangular road sign showing the silhouette of a man dressed in Orthodox Jewish attire was attached to a lamppost, with a bright red border around it; warning people about the community in Stamford Hill on Monday. The sign, posted in the vicinity of a Synagogue arose fear and anxiety among the local residents. The incident was promptly reported to the police and Hackney Council by the neighbourhood watch group Shomrim.

David Lammy, Labour MP for Tottenham condemned the act on twitter by describing the action as "Despicable, nasty behaviour that has absolutely no place in our com-

munity." Diane Abbot, the Shadow Home Secretary and MP for Hackney described the act as “disgusting” and “unacceptable” on Twitter. 32 counts of Anti-Semitic offences have been recorded in the Stamford Hill area last month by the neighbourhood watchdog Shomrim. Among those attacked were women and children – a lady was given a Nazi salute and an eightyear-old boy was beaten up on the streets.

Mayor Sadiq Khan expressed concerns about the growing incidents of hate crimes, among the city's Orthodox Jewish people and has committed to organise talks between the police and Shomrim to protect the community.

GET JAILED FOR CHARITY

Mayors of Harrow and Brent support Hospice detainees!

Continued from page 3 This event is a great way for the community to get involved and support their local hospice during their 30th birthday year.’

Harrow’s Borough Police Commander, Simon Ovens says, ‘I look after Pinner Police station and we are really pleased and proud to be supporting St Luke’s Hospice in any way that we can. It is a fantastic institution that looks after people and their families at the most difficult times in their lives. This is your

chance to help raise some money for the hospice and get locked up in a proper old Victorian police station without having done anything wrong! We will see you soon I hope.’

I urge you to help St Luke’s Hospice to fundraise by taking part in the ‘JAIL & BAIL’ event. Visit the website below or email me on navin.shah@london.gov.uk for more information.

Could you go behind bars for St Luke’s? Visit www.stlukes-hospice.org/jail

High Commission of India hosted a talk by Mr Ashok Malik, an eminent Indian analyst and commentator who also is a distinguishedcfellow at the Observer Research Foundation, one of India's leading think-tanks on March 17th at India House. Mr Malik spoke on 'Modi @ 3: India's domestic and foreign policy and economic outlook, and the session was moderated by Mr Manoj Ladwa, the founder and CEO of India Inc.

Photo caption: Raj D Bakrania, PrMediapix

special educational needs or the family is in receipt of tax credits, but in outer London just over a quarter of local authorities said they had enough places for children entitled to the free offer.

According to the Family and Childcare Trust, many local authorities also have significant concerns about availability ahead of the roll out of increased entitlement to free child care for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds later this year.

Local Labour London Assembly Member, Navin Shah AM, said: “It is vital that parents are able to

make their own choice about how they want to organise childcare, and not be forced to either stay at home or go back to work because of the high cost of childcare, when that isn’t what they want to do.

“The Government put childcare at the heart of their manifesto – they must now step in to ensure childcare is affordable, flexible and available to all who need it. People shouldn’t be priced out of work, or find themselves unable to afford basic childcare costs simply because they happen to live in London.”

UK Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

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UK witnesses protests against post-Brexit racism Rupanjana Dutta Post Brexit, UK has witnessed a rising anti-immigration sentiment in the UK, in a series of demonstrations across the country. On Saturday more than 30,000 of anti-racism activists rallied in central London aiming at the increasing number of attacks on foreigners in the aftermath of the vote to leave the European Union last year.

Similar demonstrations, which were organised to mark the UN's International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, drew crowds in the Welsh capital Cardiff, and in the Scottish city of Glasgow.

Many activists con-

demned the government's refusal to guarantee residency for EU nationals living in the UK after it leaves in just over two years time.

June's Referendum vote led to a dramatic rise in racist attacks on visible minorities and immigrants from EU countries. Hate crimes for the July to September quarter rose from 10,793 incidents in 2015 to 14,295 in 2016, according to a report published in February by the Press Association, which was derived from police statistics.

Despina Karayianni, a Greek national living in London, told Al Jazeera that the British Prime Minister Theresa May was using EU nationals like her as "bargaining chips".

Shreya Banerjee, an Indian banker in the UK told Asian Voice, “It is not just confined to non EU nationals. I am Indian and post Brexit, I was told to leave this country and go

Government awards £500,000 to tackle BME attainment gap in Universities A group of six higher education institutions and one college of further education, headed by Kingston University, has been awarded £500,000 by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) to help increase the number of students from black and ethnic minority backgrounds who achieve good degrees.

The Kingston University-led project, which secured the maximum amount of funding available from HEFCE's new Catalyst Fund, will expand on the institution's work identifying why fewer black and minority ethnic (BME) students achieve First or 2:1 degrees compared with their fellow white students – a discrepancy known nationally as the BME attainment gap.

It will also focus on the changes the University has made to its culture and curriculum to combat this disparity. The aim is to cascade this successful approach to five other universities – De Montfort, Greenwich, Hertfordshire, UCL and Wolverhampton – and further education college, NESCOT. Kingston University's BME attainment gap has narrowed from 29% in 2012/13 to 15% in 2015/16, mirroring the English sector average which includes Russell Group universities.

Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Kingston University Nona McDuff said the HEFCE funding would allow the University to

help drive up BME attainment in the six partner institutions by sharing the unique value added measure it had devised along with its student-centred framework – or guide – for how to build inclusivity in to the curriculum.

Kingston University activity to enhance BME student results has included collating data to monitor achievement within courses and making diversity one of the criteria for academic promotion. Staff have taken part in equality and unconscious bias seminars as well as workshops on making courses as inclusive as possible.

Student-focused activity has seen more than 420 course representatives receive training on factors influencing the attainment gap, the launch of a student-led diversity programme and expansion of such initiatives as a BME student leadership project and Beyond Barriers mentoring scheme.

The new £7.5 million HEFCE Catalyst fund, which is providing the financial backing for this project, was launched by the Government as part of

a programme aimed at addressing barriers to student success. It was created following research that exposed inequality in higher education achievement among different groups.

The programme supports activities already proving to be effective in individual institutions with the aim of replicating good practice and rolling it out to a wider range of higher education providers.

With all seven institutions contributing match funding, the overall Kingston University-led project – which was one of only 17 winning bids across the United Kingdom – is predicted to be worth more than £1.1million over a twoyear period. The funding will be used to recruit staff to manage and measure the impact of the project and to implement initiatives at each institution. Kingston University will help the six partners identify how the value added metric and inclusive curriculum framework can be adapted for their specific needs and integrated in to their teaching and learning approaches.

away, by random people on the road. It was shocking.”

Dharam Singh, a City Worker said, “Because I wear a turban, after Brexit, I had people throwing pebbles at me, calling me 'Paki' and asking me to go back to my home. My home is Birmingham, and I am in my country. My dad said it was like the 70s again."

Theresa May has formally announced UK's intent to leave the EU by invoking Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty on 29th March, sparking negotiations on a wide array of issues, including the fate of nearly three million EU nationals living in Britain.

Corbin, Tom an activist from the western

English county of Wiltshire, told Al Jazeera that the rhetoric attached to Brexit had encouraged people to "speak in a way they hadn't spoken for years". "(Brexit) has given people an excuse to have racist views towards immigrants," he said, adding he held the political class responsible for the rise in xenophobic sentiment.

"I don't hold Theresa May singularly responsible, it wa s David Cameron (her predecessor) who instigated Brexit and I think him and the Conservative party have an awful lot to answer for." The Conservative party government has con-

demned the rise in xenophobic violence, which it says has "no place whatsoever" in British society.

Addressing the rally in Parliament Square, former Guantanamo Bay detainee Moazzam Begg said: “This country was built by people who migrated from outside – the language, the customs, the culture all come from outside.

“The anti-racism movement has managed to smash the British National Party and the English Defence League, but some of their views have become mainstream.”

Begg added: “Donald Trump says he is going to load up Guantanamo Bay with ‘bad dudes’. I say to Trump ‘When are you going?’”

Siema Iqbal, from MEND said: "I have had enough of wondering if my dad will be killed on his way back from the Mosque....of being viewed through a lens of security and suspicion because I am Muslim. As a Muslim woman I have had enough of being, told what I can and cant wear. Racism is like a house fire. Just like it’s affecting the Muslim community it will spread and effect other communities"

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Top 10 Charities by Financial Health Empowering Donors. Supporting Charities. That’s what Charity Clarity is all about. CC have come up with a special rating system which assesses a charity across 18 metrics for Financial Health, Accountability and Transparency, and Accessibility.

We have 390 charities on CC right now, and will have around 500 in May 2017.

These are the Top 10 Charities in the category of Financial Health from the ones we have measured, according to Charity Clarity. They are assigned a rating out of 5, based on 5 metrics assigned different weights.

1. Divine Onkar Mission - 4.80 2. Akademi South Asian Dance UK - 4.60 3. The Community Of The Many Names Of God (Skanda Vale) - 4.60 4. Sivayogam - 4.60 5. Orangutan Foundation - 4.40 6. Shree Kutch Satsang Swaminarayan Temple (Mandir) London - 4.40 7. The Vishwa Hindu Kendra Southall - 4.40 8. Lohana Charitable Foundation - 4.40 9. Polio Children - 4.40 10. Magic Bus UK - 4.20

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NOMINATIONS

OPEN NOW!

Nomination deadline 31 March 2017.

Do you know of any UK based charities / individuals who are solving pressing social issues of our time, both in Britain and globally Nominate them for the Asian Voice Charity Awards 2017 by visiting our website w ww.asianvoicecharityawards.com

If you are interested about Charity Clarity, get in touch at contact@charityclarity.org.uk. Contact www.charityclarity.org.uk Charity Clarity is an independent charity rating agency.

A giant passes away

Maneck Ardeshir Sohrab Dalal, OBE 14th Dec 1918 – 6th March 2017 Maneck Dalal passed away peacefully in a London hospital on Monday night, 6th March 2017. He was 98.

Humble, self effacing and simple he was a colossus of a man with a big heart. These are just some of the few words that sum up an illustrious man who has left an indelible mark in industry and community.

A man with a keen eye for business Maneck Dalal OBE was on the board of several companies including the voluntary sector.

As a young post graduate from Trinity Hall, Cambridge University, he was chosen by JRD Tata himself to start the Air India office in London in 1948. He started off in Tata Airlines in 1946 as its manager in New Delhi and is considered as one of the architects of its success. In 1948 Tata Airlines operated twice a week out of London Heathrow when only eight airlines operated from there. Back then London Heathrow was only a collection of huts and one of them was Manek Dalal's office.

He was formally appointed as Air India's regional director in 1959 and held the job until 1977. He held several key Maneck Dalal Maneck Dalal was a man of several attributes. He passed away peacefully on 6th March 2017. His sheer depth and breadth of knowledge, his experience in the field of senior management and in areas as diverse as aviation was formidable. He played a key role in set-

The Awards ceremony will be held on Friday 19th May 2017 at the Hilton, Park Lane , London

Award Categories

For Charities and Not-for Profit Institutions n Charity of the Year

This award recognises a UK-registered charity for their outstanding work and contribution to society, as well as demonstrated excellence service and achievement in its work over the last five years.

posts at the Tata Group.

He was Managing Director of Tata Ltd, London from 1977 to 1988; its Vice Chairman from 1988 to 1989; and also served on the board of the group's holding company, Tata Sons.

He was Chairman of the Bharatiya Bhavan and served the august organisation for almost forty years.

Maneck Dalal was known for his compassionate and humane treatment of his colleagues and all those he came across.

There are several stories ting up Air India in London.

He held the chairmanship of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London. Initially he agreed with Mathurji (Mathur Krishnamurthy) to serve the Bhavan for a year but stayed on for almost forty years.

Dalalji's association with the Indian High

that recount the man's large heartedness.

In the year 2010 the ABPL Group was honoured to bestow on him the Asian Achievers Awards for achievement in community service.

Maneck Dalal is survived by his wife, Kay, and daughters Suzy and Caroline.

May the great soul rest in peace.

- CB Patel Publisher/Editor Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar Commission and the Indian YMCA in London are well known. He had a great sense of humour and made a huge impact on everyone who came in contact with him.

He will be sorely missed.

Mattur Nandakumara Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

n

Start-Up of the Year

This award is similar to Charity of the Year, but specifically for charities that have been operational for three years or less.

n Outstanding PR Team

This award recognises excellence in charity PR, either in-house at a charity, or an agency undertaking a PR campaign on behalf of a charity

n Most Enterprising

This award recognises a social enterprise or the trading arm of a charity that has made a significant difference to beneficiaries through its ability to generate income to meet its social goals over the last two years.

n Social Impact Award

This award recognises an organisation for the social impact they have created and their contribution to society.

For Corporate Partnerships: n Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility

This award recognises the best corporate partnership and corporate responsibility programmes. It honours a company which goes beyond simply CSR projects to engage in partnerships in the last two years with either UK-registered or international charities, social enterprises or unincorporated charitable projects, to demonstrate quantifiably positive impact to the community.

For Individuals: n Inspiring Individual

This award recognises an individual who has demonstrated dedication, professionalism and integrity over a sustained period of time, and who has produced an identifiably profound effect on the social sector in the UK or otherwise through their work, which could be voluntary or otherwise.

n Inspiring Young Person

This award recognises a young individual who has demonstrated dedication and integrity through their work with the social sector in the UK or otherwise over the past year.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT : 0207 749 4085

email: rovin@asianvoicecharityawards.com

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Kapoor, who acted in ty of the material, then I feel that I’ll be the best perthe American version of son to produce it. So I go 24 playing President Omar ahead and do it. So 24 is Hassan, bought the official one of those materials that rights in November 2011.

I felt I should produce The show aired in Hindi and was also dubbed in rather than giving it to various regional lansomeone else to proguages. India is the duce. first country outSo it is about side the US to getting the right get rights to people in to Hmm, I love adapt the ollaborate my role! It’s the cand s h o w . that was Kapoor job. first time I am my holds the Getting the playing a rights right team for 192 British Asian together. So far episodes it’s been fantasfor four tic both the seay e a r s , sons, yes.” extendable to Anil Kapoor could another ten! It’s a be said to have reached the winning deal and he top of his tree but he is still is clearly passionate humble. Asked about the about the series. difference he finds between acting in India While Anil extended and acting in the west, he himself to bring 24 to says that he admires the India, acting still has the organisation, communicaedge on producing for him.

“Well, my first passion tion and smooth running is acting of course but of, for instance, British there is certain content, film production crews, that when I come across compared to their somematerial- to keep the aestimes more chaotic Indian thetics, to keep the integricounterparts.

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Anil Kapoor Shooting in the UK Plays a Sikh for the First Time Actor-Producer Anil Kapoor is in an enviable position. He is doing something that many of his highly successful H o l l y w o o d/ B o l l y w o o d counterparts do; he produces in addition to continuing an acting career played at an admirable level.

Only megastars tend to take on producing as that involves finance and a great amount of organisational ability.

It demonstrates his clout; especially bringing American series 24 triumphantly to India. Anil’s role in Slumdog Millionaire cemented his international reputation and he has walked into Hollywood as well as Bollywood in roles of his own choosing since then.

He talked to the Asian Voice Leading Lights column in a side room at the British Film Institute recently as a special guest at the launch of the BFI India-UK film season in celebration of the 70- year anniversary of Independence.

Anil had come to the UK to act in an Indian film called Mubarakan.

He explained the

meaning of the title. “It’s like saying ‘congratulations.’ Or ‘all the best’ when you wish someone; ‘god bless.’ It’s a comedy-drama.

There’s a lot of drama and I play a British Asian character whose name is Kartar Singh. It’s about cross culture, about Indians living here, in England, and of course Indians living in Punjab. How they have this great big fat Indian wedding in London. There’s situational comedy, a lot of songs, a lot of things happen.”

The wedding scenes were shot in Gravesend in a real gurudwara, much to the joy of the local population and its town council.

Anil loved his role.

Mubarakan was written and directed by Anees Bazmee and produced by Sony Pictures Network Productions, Murad Khetani and Ashwin Varde.

Anil Kapoor and Arjun Kapoor will portray their real-life relationship of uncle and nephew in the film.

Anil is enthusiastic

“Hmm, I love my role! It’s the first time I am playing a British Asian. It’s the first

9

time I’m playing a Sikh. These are these two things and of course the director of the film. I’ve done a lot of films with Anees Bazmee.

I’ve done Welcome, No Entry, so we have a good track record of successes. Hopefully, this time also, it will be successful.”

A courageous hit for Anil Kapoor has been 24, the Indian television drama based on the American series of the same name. The Hindi language show is written

by Rensil D'Silva, Bhavani Iyer, directed by Abhinay Deo and produced by Ramesh Deo. The Hindi version of 24 is the first adaptation of the show, the India rights for which were acquired from Fox and 24 producer Howard Gordon by the Anil Kapoor Film Company.

In November 2011, Kapoor's production house signed a $20 million deal to adapt the series for India.

Kapoor plays the lead role in the series, which is set in Mumbai.

DON’T FORGET TO SPRING FOWARD

On Sunday 26th March 2016, the clock will go forward by one hour.

Don't forget to change the time!

Are you making the most of the Government’s tax giveaways?

Kishan Devani Consultant

As a community we pride ourselves on our ability to save and future planning.

However we often forget that the Government are giving us opportunities to save tax free and build up cash pots for us and our families.

ISAs are Individual Savings Accounts, a Government scheme allowing individuals to build a portfolio of cash, shares, and unit trusts free of tax on dividends, interest and capital gains.

There is no personal Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax liability on

either the investment growth or any income taken. Nor is there a need to declare or report ISA investments on your Tax Return. We can manage your ISA portfolios and aim to produce average net growth of around 5% per annum in a low-risk portfolio. What could this mean to you? From the coming tax year if a couple were each to contribute the new ISA allowance of £20,000 every year for the next ten years (assuming a net return of 5% pa) they will have ISAs worth over £500,000. Carry on doing the same for a further 6 years and will see your combined ISA pots exceed £1 million in value. That’s over a million pounds of tax free cash to be used without restriction in just 16 years. You can fund your ISA with an annual lump sum or smaller regular contributions to make it more affordable. There are no restrictions on

withdrawing your money at any time.

The Government giveaways do not stop there.

In our experience, most people do not use their annual Capital Gains Tax (CGT) allowance. This is currently £11,100 and any Capital Gains up to this amount are not taxed. We can help you utilise this allowance by investing in an onshore collective investment account. Again, we aim to produce average net growth of about 5% per annum in a low-risk portfolio. The growth in capital value will be subject only to Capital Gains Tax. Through our careful management we can trigger the gains each year so as to soak up your allowance and enable your investment to effectively grow tax-free.

Dividends and interest within certain limits are also paid tax free (currently Dividend Savings Allowance of £5,000pa and Personal Savings

Allowance of up to £1,000pa are paid tax free).For example if a couple investing £400,000 into a joint collective investment account achieved 5% capital growth, assuming their Capital Gains Tax allowance are not used elsewhere, the growth amount of £20,000 is less than their combined annual allowance of £22,200 and therefore free of tax. We can work together with you to ensure that we trigger these gains and manage them according to your circumstances so as to maximise the tax efficiency of all your investments.

As you can see from the examples above just by using these Government Giveaways we can benefit ourselves and our families tremendously. So when you have those weddings, birthdays, or family events or indeed emergencies you do not have to look fur-

ther than your structures to access liquid funds.

Rather than looking to divest your properties or raise equity on them to access liquid assets - if you plan properly, set up the correct structures and invest wisely - you should be able to have access to a large pot of liquid assets.

So do not miss this opportunity that is knocking at your door!

Cash is not always King!

Do you know much interest you are earning on the cash you have worked so hard to save? You may be surprised to know that the interest rate could be as low as 0.01% if it’s held in a standard instant access account. Of course we all need to keep cash available for the inevitable emergencies that life throws at us, such as a new boiler or replacing your washing machine. But most of us

keep far too much money in cash. If as some commentators suggest inflation hits 3% in the near future this will actually mean that your savings buying power is being reduced by 2.99%. Cash is of course is safe and it won’t go down in value – but you can lose out from inflation as you can see above and from what is called the risk of “lost opportunity”. If you are holding more cash then you may need for emergencies then you should consider a different way of investing for potentially better long term returns.

For more information, please contact Kishan Devani (Consultant): 020 8953 3444.

E-mail: kishan@hbfs.co.uk

10

READERS’ VOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

A letter to PM May First of all may I thank you Prime Minister, for email, 'Our Plan for Britain', The Young Old, Rich Poor and All in Britiain! I commend you for invoking Article 50 for BREXIT from EU. Britain is the biggest economy in EU, we have more than 3 million EU members here compared to 900,000 British in EU who are well settled, educared and more productive!

Since the Referendum result despite the £ having gone down against the $, we are doing well, exports are up, small businesses are flourishing and employment is at its peak, GDP is up as is Tax Revenue. After BREXIT there won't be any financial restrictions on London.

May I say the EU is in a mess. There is uncertainty because soon there will be elections in France and Germany with opposition parties are getting stronger! Also there is no policy as regards immigration and refugees from Africa and Middle-East. As such in the long term there will be big economic, political, cultural, social and of course terrorism problems.

Miss Sturgeon is also jumping to join the EU but Scotland will lose its identity and importance. The EU exists only because of the five main countries, e.g. Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain. Now all the states will have to pay for NATO, Defence, Finance and other Expenditure as per US president Donald Trump!

England has never been ruled by other country and now not by the EU either with its wasteful bureaucracy. As a red letter BREXIT, our law and order, sovereignty, parliament, justice and financial freeedom should be in our own hands!!!

Upendra Kapadia By email

The New India Unveiled

I did not see a similar article in Asian Voice like the one in Gujarat Samachar in CB’s column ‘Jivanpanth’.

The Indian electorate has finally come out of the caste or creed barrier as was amply observed in the elections in Uttar Pradesh. With 20% Muslims, 22 Dalits and 18 from the so called ‘OBC’ - Other Backward Classes - sadly Uttar Pradesh had been deep in the caste and creed quandry.

This election, with huge support for the BJP, makes me proud I was born in East Africa with parents from India. If the Modi government and the new UP government in Uttar Pradesh can fulfill their electoral promises of maintaining law and order, progress for all without any bias and due care of women, elderly people, farmers and the younger generation then India has a very bright future.

India is not just a thought. It is there! 20% of the world’s population lives in India.

People, both in India and abroad, are hopefully confident that Narendra Modi will take India to the same level as he has done as Chief Minister of Gujarat over 12 years.

Long live India! Long live Great Britain!

Satpal Singh Hounslow

Mothers’ Day - Matru Vandal

What a great idea and what a great inititiative.

I will sadly be far away in Vietnam and Indonesia on my business trip but through this short message may I warmly remember my mother who passed away 12 years ago.

Asian Voice has done us proud. Not only do you give a tribute to the mothers but you also remind people of my generation and my children how much we really owe not only to our parents but also our grandparents.

Happy Mothers’ Day Vinayak Deshpande By email

Asian Voice is My Voice

Last year you guys sent me a questionnaire seeking readers choices and views. I almost assumed it was a mere formality if not a PR exercise but I was wrong.

When I started reading your newspaper, which is now a regular occurance, and in particularly your ‘Back to the roots’ column I felt you had listened to me so promptly.

I am not seeking any favours from you - I am your paid subscriber. I would also like to add that I gladly distribute my copy of Asian Voice after I read it to my friends at university and I am so happy that at least three of them have become your regular readers.

I have one more suggestion if you can manage it. Though Asian Voice is almost a perfect family and community newsweekly I feel we need some more information or guidance about the various streams of edcucation that are available to students and some sort of career advice.

Another observation, with lots of hesitation, is that some of the articles are written in very good English but some need, if possible, some improvement.

But Asian Voice is still my voice.

Thank you.

Parimal Parekh Harrow, Middlesex

It’s You Again!

If you find yourself continually at loggerheads with one or more persons (family members, friends, work colleagues), the conflict between you must have arisen in previous incarnations, and the individuals concerned will keep returning together in life after life until they resolve their differences, an article says.

Entitled “Karma Story”, the article appears in a Maharashtra-based magazine, East and West Series, and its author, Aruna Gwalani, writes that the decision to get together would be the choice of the conflicted souls themselves aided by “guides and angels”.

Gwalani writes: “That annoying co-worker could be your mother or husband in the next lifetime unless you clear the energy with him or her in this one.”

The writer states that you must “detox your souls” by releasing your anger towards one other. Once this is done, the souls concerned can look forward to their individual “spiritual progress” in their next incarnations.

Rudy Otter By email

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Moksha

I am happy to read off beat subjects in Readers’ Voice. Subject of moksha has drawn good response. Moksha, karma and reincarnation are very effective philosophies and preachings to keep all humans on path of altruism, benevolence and non-violence.

There is no proof of soul, and ample visible evidence that once a body perishes, it mixes with constituent elements.

Souls has never been seen or felt. Yet it is amazing that ancient preachers successfully dwelt on on factors affecting the soul, the unseen entity.

In Hindu religious scriptures, evolution towards causal root and ultimate merger is the main purpose of the very existence. This journey is ongoing relentlessly, whether one is aware or not. Those who are aware, are known as enlightened beings. Their progress is faster than mass of humanity who struggle blindly from one incarnation to next.

It is also preached that this progress is spirally in upwards direction. Therefore it is impossible for a human to be born in non-human body. Ones progress is speeded up as result of good karma or delayed to neutralize bad karma. But in a human body one gets circumstances to do good karma and avoid bad karma.

Ramesh Jhalla By email

Inglorious Empire?

It was interesting reading Lord Popat’s in-depth summarisation of Dr Shashi Tharoor’s widely publicised book “Inglorious Empire” in AV. Congress MP Dr Shashi Tharoor is no doubt an intelligent politician at international level, being Deputy UN High Commissioner. Looking at the history of India, not many historians will lend their support to his summarization.

India’s share of world GDP may have declined, first under Moghul, then under British rule, especially going back in history to Mauryan and Gupta period when India was the granary of the world. No one nation could dominate the world economy indefinitely. Look at the past glorious empires, from Egyptian, Persian, Greek, Roman to British; all have declined even more than India. Then there is saying, lies, damn lies and statistics.

India’s unbelievable wealth, culture and civilization drew invaders from across the world. How such a mighty nation fell prey to these invaders? The answer is simple, although not many Indians would admit. It was disunity, jealousy and lack of patriotism, respect for Indian culture and religion that brought this once mighty nation to its knees. Rajput kings hated each other more than they hated Greek, Moghul and British invaders, who sided with them against their own patriotic kings like Porus, betrayed by King Ambhi of Taxila, Maha Rana Pratap and Shivaji who with his son Sambhaji was delivered in chains to Aurangzeb by his Rajput General Jai Sinh. I am sure this letter will draw more comments from my fellow letter-writers.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

The Blame Game

A report published recently conains a poster which depicts that hatred towards ethnic minority people (BME) has been on the rise since the Brexit process has begun. It is human nature to level the cause of our problems at others. People try to find scapegoats to blame for their troubles.

As the government is in the process of thrashing out details of Brexit, Britain’s exit from the European Union, prices of commodities, especially food and other household necessities, have begun to rise. The pessimists have predicted many other ills which they feel will ensue after Brexit.

The report says that over a third of ethnic minority people have been abused and have experienced some form or other of racial hatred. Clearly there is bad feeling among indigenous people towards BME and one in five have witnessed racial assault.

This is only some of the adverse outcomes since June 24 last year when the referrendum to remain in the EU or to leave it took place.

Our people, many of whom who work in the financial iunstitutions, and in banking, will suffer in many ways as we make progress towards the exit from the EU. HSBC and UBS have already announcesd that jobs will move from London.

HSBC have said that 1000 jobs will relocate to Paris and UBS have also made similar annoucements. We rely on our financial institutions to generate the income. These would most certainly suffer on our Brexit from the EU. Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Extra Terrestrial Life

NASA, the world renowned “US Space Agency” has just announced their latest amazing discovery of seven earth size planets orbiting the Star, life sustaining Sun like our own. All seven planets are placed much closer, unlike our own planetary system, with strong possibility of life-sustaining atmosphere with water and oxygen on at least two planets.

With this extraordinary discovery, NASA predicts that it is not the question of if but when we discover another planet like life sustaining Earth in our vast and ever expanding Milky Way galaxy. So the puzzle is whether we will ever be able to visit such planets.

Unfortunately the answer is emphatic no, as these planets are some 40 light years away. If we launch a rocket now, travelling at 30k miles per hour, the best speed achieved so far, it will take a million years to reach such planets.

But no one should doubt the ingenuity of human race. It is not mathematically impossible to invent a rocket that could travel at the speed of light that is 187,000 miles per second, a mind-boggling speed. But even this speed is not enough for interplanetary travel. Could it be possible to travel even faster, the answer is definitely yes, using magnetic field technology. But it will definitely not happen in our life time, not for at least one millennium. Then time scale is irrelevant, a million years is no more than an hour in universal term.

Kumudini Valambia By email

What do you think?

We want to know your views on this subject Write to: Asian Voice, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW or e-mail: aveditorial@abplgroup.com

EDUCATION

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Migrants have raised school standards in London, says Gove Immigration has been a key reason behind London's high achievement in school standards, the former education secretary Michael Gove has said.

Addressing an international education conference, Mr Gove highlighted the importance of immigrant and refugee families pushing up results.

He said migrant parents had "high expectations" for their children.

But Mr Gove, a leading campaigner for Brexit, said migration had also created "pressure on services".The capital's

Michael Gove

schools have consistently outperformed the rest of England in exam results which Mr Gove linked to the ambitions of migrant families. "There's lots of

evidence that London having become more diverse has contributed to educational standards rising," Mr Gove told the Global Education and Skills Forum in Dubai.

He said that his own experience as a parent in London had shown him that migrant parents often have "extraordinarily high expectations" of the state school system.

Pupils might be "refugees from Somalia or Kosovo", he said, but their families pushed schools to have high standards and often became the most involved parents.

Opposition MPs join forces to oppose grammar schools A powerful new cross-party campaign is threatening to derail Theresa May's plans to expand the number of grammar schools in England.

Former Conservative Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is joining forces with Lib Dem ex-Deputy PM Nick Clegg and Labour ex-shadow education minister Lucy Powell to oppose the proposals.

Mrs Morgan says the priority should be to make all schools good.

But Mrs May says her "personal mission" is to increase diversity in schools.

In a joint article in the Observer, Mrs Morgan, Mr Clegg and Ms Powell argue that creating new grammar schools will do nothing to promote social mobility and warn there is no room for more "division or political ideology" in the education system.

Mrs Morgan, who was education secretary from 2014 until she was sacked

Nicky Morgan

by Mrs May when she became prime minister in 2016, said her experience had shown that the focus needs to be on schools in areas of the country where educational under performance is entrenched.

A Story of Hope from Hope for Children

Hope for Children, the official charity for the forthcoming Anand Mela in June, has been working in India, since 1995, where It is estimated that there are in excess of 100,000 children living on the streets of Delhi alone. We have been working with specific groups of these children, providing an informal education at contact points around the city, for those who otherwise would have no opportunity to get any form of schooling. This is the inspirational story of one of those we have helped.

Purnima, a hardworking and kindhearted 15-year old girl, lives with her family in a slum area of Delhi, among a migrant community. They originally came from a less-developed part of Northern India, but moved to Delhi with the hope of a better life.

Soon after moving to the city, Purnima, her three sisters, and her mother were left to fend for themselves when their father left. This is an all too common situation resulting in single mothers having to cope on their own to care for their children, and often going to dangerous lengths to do so.

Purnima's mum took it upon herself to provide her for daughters, working tirelessly, until she was involved in a devastating accident. Her injuries meant she was no longer able to work full-time, and it fell to Purnima, as the eldest sibling, to work so the family could survive.

During a day working, Purnima came across one of our pop-up street classrooms in Delhi. She started to attend whenever she could, and quickly flourished in the informal education it provides. With our help she has progressed so well and so quickly that she has been enrolled into school – where she is now top of her class!

11

Jolie delivers "wonderful" lecture at the LSE Actress, filmmaker, philanthropist, Angelina Jolie overcame her nerves and delivered a stellar lecture on Women, Peace, and Security at the London School of Economics. A human rights advocate, Jolie took up her new role as a visiting professor with panache and grace, addressing a class of students taking the same-titled post graduate course.

Jolie revealed she was a little over the edge about her talk. "I'm a little nervous, feeling butterflies. I hope I do well. This is very important to me." She however, impressed the students, who felt free to express their awe. "Ms Jolie, you did wonderfully!" an attendee exclaimed, while another said, "Incredible lecture by Angelina today." The course on Women, Peace and Security, provide a platform to scholars, practitioners, activists, policymakers, and students to develop strategies and promote justice, human rights, and participation for women particularly in conflict-affected regions.

Angelina spoke about her experience and what motivated her work as a United States Special Envoy.

As per her new role, she will attend public events and workshops in association with the course, of course, given her "schedule allows". A Co-founder of the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative, an organisation that aims to end all stigma suffered by survivors of sexual violence, and children born of rape, Angie's work includes minimising the long term consequences this may have in communities.

LSE announced her presence on their own social media account. And her arrival was soon known throughout the campus.

After, the actress along with her son

Angelina Jolie

Maddox, took a short trip to Buckingham Palace where they were taken on a tour.

Purnima's mum is now focused on getting all of her girls through education, after seeing the hugely positive impact the pop-up street classroom had on Purnima – who is now, thanks to her experience, focused on becoming a teacher herself.

We are as committed as ever to changing the lives of children in India, and we have exciting plans to expand our work.

In our next article, we will give more details about a vital school sanitation project we are hoping to launch later this year and how you can help too.

In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about Hope for Children or volunteering with our team at the Anand Mela, please contact us at ef@hope4c.org. www.hope-for-children.org Office: 01442 234 561 Direct: 07814 004 963

Please note names and images may have been changed to protect identities.

The Armed Forces Engagement Team are presenting in your area and would like to come and inform your group, business, school etc about the Armed Forces. We will give you an overview of the Armed Forces, what it does and how it is changing in order to deal with future challenges.

If you would like the team to visit you please email ArmyACGS-AEG-mailbox@mod.uk

12

MEDIA WATCH

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Having swept the board in the State Assembly elections – Punjab, exception to the rule, voted overwhelmingly for Congress - Prime Minister Narendra Modi galvanized markets with his thunderous political impact. Politics and economics are cloned, where one goes the other follows. Both the stock exchange and currency markets touched new peaks during the first day of trading, following the weekend of Modi’s triumph.

The Nifty touched a record high and the Sensex and rupee ended the day at their highest level in almost two years (Telegraph, Hindu, Times of India, Business Line March 15)

The party would be best served by asking him to step down. A new leadership then begin preparations for the 2024 general election as the one due in 2019 is lost bar the shouting,

Car sales rise

Sales of domestic car sales rose by 9.1 per cent for the second consecutive month in February, according to data provided by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers. This was a decline from the January figure of 14 per cent due, say market analysts to the effect of demonetization. With monetary normalcy fully restored consumer demand is expected to pick in the coming weeks and months (Mint March 11).

Tata Motors behemoth

Narendra Modi with Amit Shah

Expectations

Much is now expected of Modi’s economic reforms agenda. With no rival on the political horizon, as monarch of all he surveys, the Prime Minister, riding high on approval ratings, industry and the financial sector expect renewed momentum in pushing the envelope, including opening up the retail sector, easing labour laws and cleaning up the mountain of bad debt that was hobbling banks (Telegraph et al March 15).

Gobsmacked

Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, rarely short of words, always raring to go at the Centre, was gobsmacked. Chastened by the results in Uttar Pradesh and

Mamata Banerjee

Uttarkhand, the subdued Trinamool Congress leader congratulated the winners and the electorate on the democratic exercise. In an unusually accommodating vein, she spoke of working in harmony with the central government. The penny has dropped, wisdom has dawned. As they say, better late than never. (Telegraph, Times of India March 14).

Goa, Manipur

Congess won the most seats in Goa, but the BJP had enough coalition partners to for the government. The Congress appeal to

the Supreme Court of India for a stay was peremptorily dismissed.

As the party was slow off the mark in negotiating a coalition, Governor Sinha had no option but to accept the BJP’s assurance that they had the numbers since its coalition partners gave affidavits of support to the BJP. In Manipur, the BJP-led coalition was sworn into office. This was a landmark victory for the BJP as it had ousted Congress from one of its most secure strongholds. In 2012, the BJP had no seat in the State Assembly. Now it has 21.

Next step

The BJP has now set its sights on the other hill states of the North East such as Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura. The first two are Christian, like Nagaland, where the BJP is the government.

The party hopes to extend its influence in Meghalaya and Mizoram. This would be no bad thing, as it would broaden the BJP across ethnic and religious lines. The term minority in the media is synonymous with Muslim, hence carries an exclusive brand.

Arunachal Pradesh, largely Buddhist, is under BJP control, but Tripura is multi-ethnic and a bastion of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The BJP there has its work cut out (Times of India (March 15.)

Rahul Gandhi in the dumps

There is a rumble in the jungle of Congress party politics. With only 7 of the 403 seats in the Uttar Pradesh State Assembly, Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi remarked that Congress ‘was little down in UP.’ The Goa fiasco added to the disaster, leading Congress Rajya MP from UP, Satyavrat Chaturvedi, to observe, ‘The time for surgery in Congress has passed. If a surgery was done in time, this would not have come to this pass. Rahul should think in the wider interest of Congress…Questions arise when there is defeat. Rahul has to answer this.’ (Times of India March 15) That he is incapable of doing.

Tata Motors Prima truck, a behemoth with an astonishing 1,000bhp was the showpiece during the TI Prima Truck Racing Championship at Buddh International Circuit near Delhi

Moscow India’s Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar has the sharpest brain in the country’s foreign policy establishment. Prime Minister Modi ‘s extension of his tenure reflects his trust in Jaishankar’s

Telangana tax-free budget for 2017-18

Telangana Finance Minister Etela Rajendar presented a taxfree development-cum welfareoriented budget for 2017-18.

Presenting his fourth Budget, the minister said it was projected to achieve a Gross State Domestic Product growth of over 10.1 per cent during the current fiscal.

Stating that the budget was in line with Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao’s vision of the welfare of the poor and all round economic development of the State, he said its thrust was similar to the previous three budgets (Business Line March 14).

Japan’s naval foray into South China Sea

Japan will be dispatching its largest warship on a three-month tour through the South China Sea beginning in May, its biggest projection of naval force in the area since the end of the Second World War. The Izumo helicopter carrier, commissioned only two years ago will make stops in Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka before joining the Malabar joint naval exercise with the Indian and US navies in the Indian Ocean in July (Business Line March 14)

Jaishankar visit to

the cumbersome Indian bureaucracy and its dilatory ways have held up major acquisitions, most notably new aircraft for the Indian AiR Force’s under strength squadrons about which air chiefs have long been complaining without the desired effect.

The appointment of a chairman of the joint chiefs of staff has been waiting for cabinet approval for over a year (Hindu March 15).

US backs India’s NSG bid

The Trump administration declared its support for India’s bid for membership of the 48 member Foreign Secretary S. Jaishankar Nuclear Suppliers Group, which capabilities, hence his increased China resolutely opposes. responsibilities. He is to ivisit A State Department Moscow shortly for high level spokesman said: ‘The United talks with top Statres supports India’s full Russian misters membership in the four multilatand officials, as eral export control regimes…We Indo-Russian ties have worked and continue to gain fresh traction work closely with our Indian in both capitals. counterparts and NSG Jaishankar’s visit Participating Governments to Russia’s Deputy help advance India’s case for Prime Minister membership,’ the State Yuri Trutnev.

Department spokesman said.

(Telegraph March (Times of India March 16).

14) Watch this space.

Exports on a high

4 Tata Motors Prima truck

at the weekend. It is the vehicle that company expects to sell on the export market, said Ravi Pisharody, Executive Director Commercial Vehicles.(Business Line March 14).

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Doval’s trip

Jaishankar’s visit follows the one in February by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, during which he met with his Russian counterpart Nikolai

India’s exports posted a double digit 17. 48 per cent growth in February fuelling hopes of reaching its $270 billion target this fiscal ending March 31. Continuing the positive growth over the past six months, the export surge was led by sales of petroleum, engineering goods and chemicals.

(Telegraph M arch 12).

Justice delayed

National Security Advisorr Ajit Doval

Patrushev to deepen IndoRussian counter-terror and intelligence cooperation.

Jaitley takes charge at Defence Ministry

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has been given temporary additional charge of India’s Defence Ministry, following the departure of the previous incumbent Manohar Parrikar for Goa as Chief Minister. Jaitley has stepped into the breach for the second time, amid growing anxieties of military men that the ministry can ill-afford a part-time minister, given the security challenges facing the country.

Parrikar had initiated reforms in the ministry’s administration, but

Haneef Pakatwala, an Ahmedabad businessman was in bed fast asleep when he heard a knock on the door. On opening it, his mother was confronted by a posse of policemen from the City’s Crime Branch asking asking after him. When Mr Pakatwala emerged from the room with his brother he was arrested and bundled into a van and taken to the police station, interrogated, charged with terrorism offence, tried by a court and sentenced to a term in jail.

His arrest took place on 9 April 28, 2003.

Absolved

He pleaded his innocence and his appeal eventually went to the Supreme Court where was absolved all charges and set free in February this year. In the mean time, his mother and wife had died and his family life was ruined. Asked if planned to seek compensation from the government, he replied: ‘I don’t want to get into trouble again. Let me move on.’ (Hindu March 12) The Gujarat government cannot undo the tragedy, the least they can do is compensate him fairly for his ordeal.

UK Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

13

Removal of the Five Year Limit for Domestic Abuse Claims is a Victory for Victims

5 Reasons You and Politicians Should Do Yoga and Meditation Article 50 date is announced. Some say it feels like a bereavement. Donald Trump President. Feeling nervous? Feeling Stressed?

One: As the Dalai Lama said, ‘when every 8 year old child is taught meditation, then there shall be peace in the world’.

Interestingly, schools in the UK have added mindfulness to the curriculum to help children cope with stress.

Two: A couple of years ago , I went to meditate with Buddhist monks in the jungles of Laos. The Hindus, Buddhists and Surrealists all know the world is an illusion. So they can be detached from its pains. Happiness comes from that realisation and that realisation comes as the ancient Hindu text, the Bhagavad Gita, carrying the ‘Song of God’ Himself says, comes from meditation.

Western scientists recently discovered that Hindu-Buddhist style meditation stimulates areas of the brain which cause a feeling of happiness.

Three: When former British Prime Minister, David Cameron, took office he said he wanted a measure for happiness not just economic growth (GDP). Why? Because despite a relentless rise in British GDP since it’s ever been measured, our happiness has not had the same trajectory.

Indeed, some of the happiest people in the world live in countries which have the lowest GDP. The American Founding Father revolutionaries under their Constitution even sought to rid themselves of the British ‘in

pursuit of happiness’. Happiness is therefore a legitimate political goal. Even though over 200 years since its founding, the country with the world’s largest GDP does not have the greatest happiness.

Four: Steve Jobs did it. As you take your MBA and try to emulate the greatest businessman of the century, don’t forget it was his meditation he referenced time and again to success.

When was I happiest here in Laos?

When cycling down a remote jungle hill or a moonlit deserted street at midnight.

Why? It was the meditation the monks here told me of. My mind was empty.

Meditation with monks taught me something; as a Hindu, I already knew how to meditate.

Five: Want to make British people happier Mrs PM? Want the nation to be more productive? Want it to compete better?

Teach meditation in schools. Your children are being whooped by those from Eastern meditative cultures – can’t get any worse, can it? The benefits to concentration and performance are well known. You can’t keep spending your GDP out of unhappiness.

And that leads me to one final important part of happiness. I helped raise funds for 150 scholarships for learning Hinduism through the Oxford Centre For Hindu Studies. Education is freedom, and freedom is a luxury; freedom from the illusion of attachment to comfort. Bringing happiness to others is a source of the greatest happiness of all.

The recent news that the Government are scrapping time limits for obtaining appropriate written evidence of domestic abuse victims is a victory for all those who have been vicDirector of tims of domestic Family & Child abuse. This will go a Care long way in ensuring Laila Bhunno that vulnerable persons are eligible for legal aid, particularly in cases involving children, in which a period of time has passed since incidents of domestic abuse.

Welcomed also are the expansion of types of written evidence that will now be considered acceptable in terms of proof: statements from organisations working with domestic abuse victims , along with letters from solicitors and housing officers will also now be sufficient. Sometimes victims fear going to see doctors, police or others in ‘authority’ due to a fear of not being believed or of being vilified during criminal proceedings. As a result of this, solicitors or charities are often the first people that victims will report their experience of domestic abuse to. With the changes, victims will no longer be penalised for being frightened. Previously, when they were not eligible for legal aid, the victims would sometimes be subject to facing their perpetrators in a court room without any protection from a solicitor.

In 2015, the Commons Justice Select Committee produced a highly critical report, which found that more

than a third of victims of domestic violence were unable to provide the evidence required to obtain legal aid.

Almost two years later it is finally being recognised that the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act (LASPO) requirements were too restrictive. With these changes the legal profession can now help those most vulnerable in society, which is what most legal aid practitioners came into this field to do. The full extent of the changes are eagerly awaited by solicitors, charities, victims and all organisations working with domestic violence victims.

Author Laila Bhunnoo is a SolicitorAdvocate and a Director in the Family and Childcare department. Laila is currently recommended by Chambers UK 2016, a Client’s Guide to the Legal Profession, as a leading lawyer in her field for her family work in London.

Headed by 18 Director Solicitors, and boasting over 40 Law Society Family & Childcare Panel Specialists, the Duncan Lewis Family & Childcare department are specialists in all aspects of family and private/public children law matters from offices across London and throughout the UK. Duncan Lewis is recognised by Legal 500 2016 as a leading family practice. We have also acquired a number of kite-marks which are testament to the quality of the specialised work our staff undertake. We were shortlisted by Jordan’s Family Law Awards 2015 for ‘Family Law Firm of the Year’. If you have any family related queries or require representation please do not hesitate to contact our team of expert solicitors on 0333 772 0409.

Thousands raised for family of hero dad who died after being hit by car Friends of a hero dad who died after being hit by a car in Wythenshawe have set up a fundraising page for his family. Airport worker Paul John, 47, was struck by a car after bravely pushing his daughter out of the path of the moving vehicle on Woodhouse Lane last Tuesday.

The dad-of-two lost his life two days later in hospital. In his last selfless act Mr John donated his organs, to give others the chance of life after his death. Now friends of Mr John have set up a fundraising page to support his wife and two daughters. Paying tribute to Mr John on the JustGiving page, fundraisers described him as an “extremely soft-spoken and kind-hearted person who would always rush to help anyone in need.”

They added: “At this extremely difficult time, we feel it is our prime duty to stand by the family and support them in every

Paul John with his wife Mini Paul, and daughters Kimberley and Angela

which way we can. We would like to start this fund-raising to support the family. I would like to request you to all to please donate generously to this cause.” So far, £2,610 has been donated to the page more than halfway to their £5000 target. Hundreds of tributes poured in for the Wythenshawe dad following the crash on March 14.

Witnesses reported seeing Mr John desperately push his nine-year-old

daughter Angela out of the way of the car before the crash. Moments later the car struck a 27-year-old woman and her two-yearold son, who was in a pushchair. The woman was treated for a broken wrist and the toddler was uninjured.

Mr John’s wife, Mini Paul, works as a staff nurse at Wythenshawe Hospital and his 13-yearold daughter Kimberley attends Whalley Range High School.

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Swaminarayan School receives NACE Challenge Award The Swaminarayan School has been the 101st school nationally to achieve the prestigious NACE Challenge Award for the second time. Re-accreditation of this Award is given for sustaining high quality work by the whole school, teachers and governors, in challenging all pupils, including those with high abilities, to achieve their best over the last four years.

The award is given by NACE: the National Association for Able Children in Education, a leading national education organisation and registered charity established for over 30 years. The association exists to help the daily work of teachers providing for pupils with high abilities whilst enabling all pupils to flourish. It provides advice, training and resources for teachers, including the NACE Challenge Award SelfEvaluation Framework

which The Swaminarayan School has used to review and plan what it provides for more able, gifted and talented pupils. Many thousands of primary and secondary schools are using The NACE Challenge Award Framework to develop their work.

To achieve the award for a second time is most challenging, and the award is only given when schools demonstrate that they have sustained a high level of quality provision over the

last four years and addressed any development points from their last assessment.

NACE Assessors were impressed by the strong leadership and management of provision, which keeps the needs of more able learners at the forefront of the school’s work, supported effectively by governors.

They judged the quality of the school’s work by observing lessons, interviewing the pupils, teachers, parents and governors

and by looking at the pupils’ work. The accreditation was made on the basis of the high quality seen across the school and the commitment to continuing to ensure high quality provision for more able, gifted and talented pupils for years to come.

The Head of Prep Umeshchandra School, Raja commented: "Reaccreditation of this Award is given for sustaining high quality work over the last four years, by the whole school, teachers and governors, in challenging all pupils, including those with high abilities.”

NACE Chief Executive Sue Riley said: “The Swaminarayan School has worked hard to win NACE Challenge Award Reaccreditation status. It has shown itself to be committed to developing a school and providing an education where all pupils are challenged to be the best they can be.”

LSE South Asian Centre to host India@70 summit in New Delhi ‘India at 70: LSE India Summit 2017’, the annual flagship Summit of the LSE South Asia Centre, presented by Apollo Tyres, commemorating the 70th anniversary of India’s independence this year, will be held from 29th -31st March at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. It will feature experts from academia, government, business & entrepreneurship, journalism, social impact, and many more.

‘India at 70’ is part of the India-UK Year of Culture 2017, announced by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK PM Theresa May. The line-up of speakers at the LSE India Summit is quite exceptional, representing a diverse cross-section of perspectives which would lead to an informed and incisive discussion on issues central to India’s way forward in the 21st century: Citizenship & the

Constitution of India; Corporate Social Responsibility; India’s Emergence as a Global Power; and Water Security in India. The attendees will have the opportunity to listen to domain specialists who will debate and seek answers to these critical questions on India’s future.

Experts at the summit include J A (Tony) Allan, Rahul Bajaj, Mukulika Banerjee, Harry Barkema, Amita Baviskar, S Gurumurthy, Suhasini Haidar, Niraja Gopal Jayal, Kalpana Kannabiran, Onkar S Kanwar, Madhav Khosla, Marcus Moench, Meera Shankar, Mukund Rajan, Kanwal Sibal, Ashley Tellis, Pinky Anand, and Manoj Mishra.

Speaking about the Summit, Dr Mukulika

Banerjee, Director, South Asia Centre, London School of Economics & Political Science, said ‘“India at 70’’ will be a platform for honest debate and discussion on questions central to India's way forward in the decades ahead -- through new research, applied and comparative knowledge, and ground realities. Our association with Apollo Tyres underlines precisely what the South Asia Centre has set out to achieve in this Summit: inter-sectoral participation in thought leadership for India's future.’

Apart from the main Summit, there will also be several supplementary events centred around academic research and the India story. LSE Professor

Emeritus of International Relations, Michael Cox and renowned author and historian Ramachandra Guha will speak on the long and rich legacy of the close relationship between the London School of Economics and India.

An exhibition of poignant memorabilia of the Partition of 1947 will be held in the foyer of Stein Auditorium at the India Habitat Centre by the Partition Museum based in Amritsar’s Town Hall. At the inauguration of this Exhibition will be, among others: Lady Kishwar Desai (Chairperson, The Partition Museum, Amritsar), Lord Meghnad Desai, and Suhel Seth.

Among other experts at the summit will also be George Gaskell (Special Advisor to the Director, LSE), and HE Mr Dominic Asquith (High Commissioner of UK to India).

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Bin cleaning company takes first prize at Harrow business event Credit: Dermot Carlin

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Cllr Sachin Shah

2017 Winner of Harrow Business Den

Harrow’s business community celebrated in style last week at the most successful Business Den competition yet. It was a pressure-washing specialist who cleaned up on the night, taking away the top prize in the Dragon’s Den style contest.

Conan Sammon, managing director of London Bin Cleaning, impressed judges with his cleaning-rags-toriches story, to win a package of business support, and a cash prize.

In 2012, Conan – then a student – invested £250 in a secondhand van and the London Bin Cleaning Company was born. Five years later, he has a fleet of vans and a small team of staff providing a huge range of cleaning and

waste collection services to a long list of commercial and residential clients.

Leader of the Council, Cllr Sachin Shah who opened the event said: “Congratulations to the London Bin Cleaning Company and well done to all our finalists this year. I was blown away by how great all the pitches were. It proves how innovative our local entrepreneurs and small businesses are.

“Helping local businesses is one of our greatest strengths. It’s why we are the best small business friendly borough – and this will continue as we build a better H arrow creating even more opportunities for our entrepreneurs and small businesses.”

Concerns grow over integartion of Gilgit Baltistan into Pakistan In a meeting of Kashmir Voice International (KVI) held in London, serious concern was expressed by its members regarding the move of Pakistan government to integrate Gilgit Baltistan as the fifth province of the country.

Prof. M. A. Raina Chairman, KVI said that Pakistan on one hand talks about UN resolutions and on the other hand moves to integrate a part of the state with itself. This is a clear drift of Pakistan from its own stand on Kashmir. He further said that the future political status of the whole state of Jammu & Kashmir is yet to be determined and state is not only the part held by India but it includes Pakistan held Kashmir including Gilgit Baltistan.

Secretary, KVI Mr.

Javid Kakroo said that Gilgit Baltistan is an integral part of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir. This move of Pakistan government is complete negation of what Pakistan has been advocating so far. He further said that people of the state from both sides of LOC would resist and fight against any move that separates Gilgit Baltistan from rest of the state.

At the end of the meeting Vice Chairman, KVI Mr. Irshad Malik moved a condolence resolution for the untimely death of the founder of People’s League Mr. Nazir Ahmed Wani in USA. While hailing the contribution of Mr. Wani the members prayed for the departed soul and expressed solidarity with the bereaved family.

Tata's world-class Innovation reception Dhiren Katwa Tata Limited, the global brand, held its annual Innovation Showcase at The Royal Society in London on Monday (Mar 20) this week.

Now in its third year, this prestigious reception showcased the wide range of exciting new innovations from Tata companies

including Tata Steel, Jaguar Land Rover, tata Communications, Tata Global Beverages and Tata Capital - to list just a handful.

Demonstrations, discussions and activities also featured throughout the evening. Also, the first 9 Tata-funded University Research Fellows were introduced.

Tata's Executive Dr David Director Landsman OBE welcomed guests and encouraged everyone to explore the four themed rooms: Knowledge, Technology, Delight and Power. 'I hope you enjoy your evening and leave inspired, educated and entertained,' adding, 'with a better understanding of how Tata products, services

and technology touch people's lives each day.'

Guests were each given a Programme upon arrival and a RFID badge which when scanned at a display station drew attention of the Tata representative who provided more information and answered questions. Drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic and canapes flowed throughout the

6.30pm to 9.30pm networking event.

Guests included Baroness Patricia Scotland, Baroness Shreela Flather, Birmingham Selly Oak MP Steve McCabe, author and women's ambassador Pinky Lilani CBE DL, Cllr Dr Ayesha Raza, Tata MD Shubhenjit Chaudhuri, SMMT Technology & Innovation Manager David

Wong, Avia CEO Vijay Acharya Anuj and Jayantilal Chande, senior partner at Grant Thornton.

Tata Group was by Jamsetji Tata in 1869. The global giant has had a presence in Europe since 1907, and since then has grown to compromise 19 companies, employing over 60,000 people across the region.

SP

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organised and profitable’ racket since 2011.

In an earlier arrest, police officers, working with the council’s Trading Standards Department and the England Illegal Money Lending Team found load records showing he received payments around £500,000 when they searched his home in Kenton's St Paul’s Avenue in December 2015.

Blair admits he was unsure about relaxing immigration in 2004

Former Labour leader Tony Blair who had relaxed immigration controls in 2004, after 10 nations including Lithuania, Hungry and Polland were adjudged in the EU, suggested he could have imposed only transitional and temporary controls to bar migrants for four years.

Blair said that it was important for the countries to join the EU to safeguard our security and economy.

He did not check the movement of EU at that time, because the economy was in a different position in 2004.

EU migrants into Britain rose from 15,000 in 2003 to 87,000 in 2004, 104,000 in 2006 and 127,000 in 2007.

In a recent interview at BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show, he said that one of the tragedies of Brexit is that we are now in a situation where we think this enlargement of the EU, like the single market was some sort of an error. Per him, it was actually a bipartisan policy of both governments that has done great benefit to this country and that people might still change their minds on Brexit.

Global brands ban Google and Youtube over extremist content Around 250 companies have blocked advertising on Google and Youtube since the internet giants apologised for failing to crack down on extremist content.

Companies including the BBC, M&S, O2, RBS, Channel 4, ITV, Aviva, McDonald's have pulled out advertising from Google's video platform Youtube when an investigation by The Times revealed videos posted by rape apologists, hate preachers and homopho-

bic extremists banned from entering Britain.

Matt Brittin, Google's head in Europe apologised saying that he took responsibility, would fix this and make changes in its advertising policies by raising the bar. Google did not employ anyone to keep a check on extremist videos being posted on their platform, and media analysts expressed concerns over the company falling severely short of meeting global advertising standards.

Osborne rebuffs criticism over Editor role George Osborne has snubbed disapproval by MPs involving his assignment as editor of the London Evening Standard, arguing that exministers should not be disallowed to contribute to major national decisions.

Labour lodged a complaint on Friday with the Cabinet Office, interrogating and asking the Permanent Secretary for clarity on whether the appointment was a breach of rules. They demanded a debate on the issue, claiming that it was a step too far and risked undermin-

ing public trust in politics.

Cabinet Office minister Ben Gummer reiterated that systems for maintaining safeguards were in place, but avoided preempting conclusions by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments. Shadow minister Andrew Gwynne said that the current rules were established on counter suspicion that statements by serving ministers might be influenced by the hope of future rewards in the form of a job offer or other monetary gains.

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Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

highest wicket-taker for Hertfordshire County and the highest wicket taker for Under 13's last year was also a highlight.

Harrow doctor charged for illegal money lending 49-year-old Dr Arjan Damjibhai Savani have to repay £525,000 towards the proceeds of illegally lending money or face a nonremittal sentence of five years in prison, the Harrow Crown Court said following a hearing on March 17. The court heard that he had deliberately targeted his victims, fully aware that they would be not be able to pay-back the debts. He had been handed a ten-month prison term and suspended for two years last October in a separate court hearing after admitting to two counts of illegal money lending exceeding £1 million, to Filipino workers in a ‘well-

TLIGHT

'It's important to stay relaxed and be in the moment on the pitch'

Is it good to have had the support of your dad and grow your talent alongside him?

Yes, it’s interesting listening to his analysis of the games when he plays at club level and listening to him when he comes back from sessions is very rewarding. It’s good to know I have his emotional support going forward.

Yuvresh Malholtra: A Sporting, Young Spirit

Sunetra Senior

Yuvresh is one of the country’s promising young cricketers, playing for the Hertfordshire County team at just 14 years old. One of a handful of British-Asians playing on the team, the exceptional, enthusiastic talent rose to County level after leading his Club team, Watford Town, to victory as the Captain of the U9s: “We realised very early on that Yuvresh was a natural,” Yuvresh’s proud father – and very first coach - told us: “he had excellent hand-eye co-ordination, and was particularly adept at spinning the ball. I was actively involved in his training to begin with, and we sent him off to cricketing summer camps too. From there it all took off and has been rapidly growing since.” Yuvresh himself told us that he’s “enjoyed honing batting skills, along with a clear strength in bowling, and generally loves all aspects of the multidimensional game.” *** The young sportsman’s dawning destiny in what his father aptly described as ‘the gentlemen’s game’, was also clear in the fact he learns from the cricketing approaches of individual players, such as Joe Root, Virat Kohli, AB De Villers whose batting Yuvresh particularly admires: “It’s interesting to watch the way they vary their batting from one match to the next. I really enjoy watching and studying the way players develop and their highlight moments rather than focussing on any one team – I consider how I can adapt the lessons and do better next time.” Indeed a studied, measured eye is what really distinguishes the sport, and a professional enthusiast, signalling the fact that the young dedicatee is likely progress to the highest levels of the game. “I do support the English cricket team,” Yuvresh added, “but I also have a special place in my heart for India. It’s where I was born, and they do have world-renowned players.” Recently dubbed the highest wicket-taker for the county in 2016 for Under 13's, we are sure Yuvresh will run far.

Do you have a favourite Shot?

My batting has been good to develop I have had progressive development in my batting, owing to my wonderful coaches, and I experiment a lot with my shots but I love to play cover drives and sweep shots. It’s good to just relax and have fun with them.

What really grabs you about the sport?

It’s the feeling of wanting to do well. I try to stay relaxed before a game and just be in the moment and focus.

I also enjoy working as a team: cricket really is a team effort. We talk amongst the members and exchange ideas on our collective weaknesses and strengths; think carefully about what we can improve on.

(Talking to mum, Parul): Your son is very young - Tell us a bit, as only a mum can, about your son’s cricketing life so far – how did he get into it; how has he grown?

Very young – we were playing in the garden and he was as young as 5 years (Talking to life old. Seeing the cricketing coach dad, streak in him, we Vikrant): What, in enrolled him to sumyour opinion makes mer training camps cricket a superior several years in a sport to others? row, after seeing him As Yuvresh has hintrespond so well to ed at, cricket is a the game.

I enjoy calm and collected Together with the game. It’s as much analyzing the careful, guiding about concentrahand of his tion, patience and techniques of father and strategy as it is some excelindividual p h y s i c a l lent playing prowess. cricketers and experience There’s not a with expert lot of shoutthe games training from ing and screaming as in his coaches, he has come to be the say, football. Often cricket matches well-rounded player he is today. He are steady, whole day games which excels at bowling, batting, catching keep you engaged. And of course, and fielding. He has always reciprowe believe, cricket is a sport that runs cated the energy and puts in the hard in every Indian’s blood! work, developing across various games and from the tips he picks up.

What do you feel about the Yuvresh, what have been some of your proudest moments?

When I captained the U9s team and we took home the county trophy.

There was a catch taken on the last over which turned the game around, and I think it demonstrated my managing skills very well. Being the 2nd

representation of Asian players in British international teams? Is it equable?

In the current England team, there are some great Asian players, such as Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid. In Yuvresh’s squad there are a few British-Asian players too, and it’s a strong multicultural platform. The younger clubs are generally quite mixed: you have players from Asian, Jewish and all sorts of cultural backgrounds. The parents unite for a common cause. Hopefully that journey will continue, especially with the increased encouragement from parents for their children to play serious sport.

Finally, Yuvresh, what is your goal in the future with the sport?

To qualify for major county teams: this is a decision taken after all the county coaches deliberate and is quite an honour. Hopefully then the hope is to go on and play for England!

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h e r t s c c a . p l a y cricket.com/website/web_ pages/104602

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Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Goa - Does it deserve the loss of face?

A new beginning with Navroz Zorastrians spread the spirit of New Year with other communities and groups across the world The first month of the Fasli calendar, Navroz or New Year is among the three most important festivals celebrated by the Zorastrians' across the world. Like Easter, Navroz also marks the transition from the chilly winters, welcomes Spring and celebrates the Parsis way way of life, hope, productivity, sweetness and colour as laid out by the legendary king of Persia - Jamshed Navroz.

Danielle McLaughlin

Goa is one of the most popular destinations for Britons, and every year along with lyrical travel pieces in the British news media, quite a few people from the UK go down to enjoy the beauty of this former Portugese colony. It is almost as popular as the golden triangle, which includes Rajasthan, and most travellers from the UK believe, visiting India is not complete without seeing Goa. Last week's murder of Danielle Irish girl McLaughlin has brought the popular tourist spot to limelight again, and this time for less than emotional reasons. In February 2008 Scarlett Keeling, another British teenager was murdered in Goa. Her mother Fiona MacKeown launched a fund raising campaign to raise £20,000 to offer as a reward for information or evidence that will lead to her daughter's killer's conviction.

A campaign to bring Danielle's body to Ireland has also reached £35,000, as we went to press. She was found dead last Tuesday near the Palolem beach. Her body is expected to reach Ireland this week.

From County Donegal in Ireland, Danielle was a student in Liverpool.

The Irish Embassy and the British High Commission are working together in dealing with issues related to the murder.

The Goa police have arrested a suspect, a man named Vikas Bhagat, and it is alleged that Danielle was perhaps gangraped.

Danielle was last seen at a party to celebrate India’s Holi festival at the Green Park resort in Palolem Beach on that night of March 13. The next day, her body was found stripped and battered by a farmer four miles away near Deobag Beach. Cops revealed Danielle was strangled and slashed to death after she was raped.

While several reports in the UK discuss about the rising number of deaths in Goa over the last decade, many have also questioned

whether the killer or killers will be ever brought to justice, given the fate of the Keeling case, in which two accused were acquitted in 2016. Many people who have lost family members in Goa have alleged that the police haven't followed on clues correctly and announced those deaths as natural- which they strongly believe to be not true.

Traditions and Customs

Navroz was initially celebrated in Iran, Central Asia and Caucasus – but is now celebrated in the

What visitors and community have to say

Goa is one of the most popular destinations of British tourists; most visits are incident-free. Sofia, an avid traveller who has visited India many times told the Asian Voice, “I have been to Goa alone. I have never felt threatened for my life or safety, but of course I am aware of the rave parties and some beaches to avoid. It is wise to follow the rules that Foreign office suggests.”

John, an accountant who travelled to Goa with his girlfriend last year said, “Goa is a very hippie place, very similar to Unawatuna in Sri Lanka. My girlfriend hired a scooty and she went around to different places sight-seeing, and I have not heard her complaining even once. We found the locals liberal, friendly and non interfering. If you want to have drugs, you can run into trouble anywhewre. But I have had many friends visiting Goa annually, none of us ever felt threatened for our lives.”

McLaughlin's murder is also a subject of discussion among British Goans.

Many expressed despair on social media exclaiming that murder incidents gave the state a bad name.

Antonio Fernandez, a teacher of Goan origin in the UK, told Asian Voice, “Goa and people of India have been put in bad light after this murder. Sadly such things happen everywhere. Whether it is drugs, or rape cases, it is not confined to India alone.”

Aleya, an Indian origin student in the UK who visits Goa once every year said, “I have been to Goa alone, with friends and

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Indian Subcontinent, South Asia, Turkey, the Crimea and Northwestern China and by some ethnic groups in Bosnia, Albania, Republic of Macedonia and Serbia.

Like all Spring festivities, Navroz begins with spring-cleaning and decorating homes with flowers and other objects that signify prosperity like a goldfish, a small bowl of silver coins, painted eggs, sweets and rosewater. Parsees visit the fire temple and exchange gifts and greetings with community members. with family on sveral occassions. When you are travelling anywhere alone, as a young attractive girl, you may draw attention, and it is important you are careful. It is sadly the truth of the universe. Being carefree is also a responsibility.

“This incident is a test for India, if a perpetrator is punished, people will again have faith in the justice system. With Brexit, India is going to play an important role in Britain's economy, and if we burn bridges like this, no one will want to have any kind of relationship with India again.

“It so shameful when my British friends in the University ask me if it is safe to travel in India at all.

I am from India, I grew up there and we have different sensibilities when it comes to our own safety. But lone incidents like this tarnish the name of the whole community and the country.”

London based Jamie

Navroz at the Houses of Parliament The Parsi community is known in the UK for their contributions to business, arts and politics. A Navroz reception given by nonParsi colleagues to the Ismaili Parsi parliamentarians, is now practically an annual tradition.

British Ismaili community was started under the leadership of His Highness the Aga Khan and the Aga K h a n Development Network.

Students share the spirit

formances from the countries of Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan are showcased and attended by colleagues and students from different colleges of the University of Cambridge.

Navroz in India

Jamshedi Navroz in India was celebrated on the 19th and 20th March. The Parsi community in India are known for their keen business skills, and their contributionto Arts and Entertainment remains unparallel.Bollywood actors took to the social media to wish their Parsi brotherhood well.

While most businesses

were kept open, many took a day off to take part in the festivities.

Flowers, incense and sandalwood were offered at the agiary or atashbehram. The community tables were laid with items beginning with the syllable "sh" with a picture of their prophet Zoroaster prominently set.

The celebrations continue at home, with homemade traditional Parsi meals including patra ni machhi or chicken farcha. Working families and friends sometime head to Irani restaurants that prepare a selection of choice Parsi-Irani dishes to celebrate Navroz.

Sweets are cooked in copper vessels over a woodfire, and many Iranian shops offer them this time around.

The celebrations all around the world is the same, sharing goodwill and cheer to bring prosperity and peace in the forthcoming year. Here's wishing that a New Dawn brings you a new way to success and happiness.

Navroze Mubarakh to all of you from Asian Voice.

The student communities in Cambridge – the Cambridge Central Asia Forum, University of Cambridge, Centre of Development Studies collaborated with the Cambridge University Uzbekistan Society and the Cambridge University Kazakhstan Society have been celebrating New Year and the spring festival Navroz for thirteen years.

Traditional food, cultural programmes, traditional dancing and musical perBarreto of Goa told Hindustan Times, “It is so sad. You can’t trust the police and politicians in Goa. It is not only the British who are questioning police’s role; even we Goans don’t have much trust in them. Every Goan family here I know is talking about it.”

Advisory on Goa

While no one's freedom should cost them their life, it is advisory for people to note that safety in India is not the same as on the Brighton beach. Foreign Office has a separate section on its India travel advice on Goa, where many Britons have died of alcohol and drug abuse, or drowned due to strong currents in the sea.

The advisory on Goa by Foreign Office says: “If you’re staying in a hotel on the smaller roads in the Candolim-Calangute belt, take particular care when walking to or from the

main road. There have been reports of bag-snatchings on these roads. The thieves are usually on motorbikes, with headlights on full-beam to blind their victims.

“There have been reports of drinks being

ment officials in order to extort money, so be alert if approached. Avoid beaches after dark. Travellers should observe and respect local dress and customs.

“You should follow warnings posted at beaches and instructions issued by lifeguards. Every year several people drown due to the strong currents in the sea.

Emergency service standards may differ from those in the UK. “Road traffic accidents are common and many fatal accidents occur each year. Wear a good Arrested quality helmet if rentsuspect ing a motorcycle or Vikas Bhagat scooter.

“The possession or consumption of spiked and travellers, drugs is illegal and convicincluding British nationals, tion for either offence may subsequently being robbed, lead to a very long prison sexually assaulted or killed. sentence. A number of There have also been British nationals in Goa die reports of locals posing as each year due to drug or police officers or governalcohol abuse.”

SPECIAL Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

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Making the most of Easter, the harbinger of spring Smita Sarkar

UK provides generous choices for the double bank holiday weekend, for people of all age groups and faiths To a Christian, Easter Sunday means everything, when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is meant to be a symbol of hope, renewal, and new life. For the rest, you can feel spring heralding in the air, when the days begin to seem longer after the clocks go forward, bringing back the light to evenings, and the rain abates while the temperatures rise. It might only be the an extra-long weekend but there are still plenty of exciting ways to make the most of your double bank holiday.

Asian Voice explores activities that will help you maximise your holidays and look for last minute getaways in and around London • Search for Easter Egg Hunts and Family Trails at WWT London Wetland Centre's giant yellow ducklings. The Hampton Court Palace, Museum of Brands (1 to 17 April), Kentwood House and Down House (14 to 17 Apr) all have Lindt Gold Bunny Hunts, Cadbury and Easter Adventure Quests lined up. Follow the Morning Adventures Easter trail among blooming daffodils at the Kew Gardens.

• Enjoy river-themed activities and fireworks at the Tall Ships Regatta (13 to 16 Apr) at the Tall Ships Regatta • Kids can be taken to the Osterly Park (1-17 Apr) for an adventurepacked time with 30 lifesized animated dinosaurs roaring and screeching at the Jurassic Kingdom.

• Horniman's Robot Zoo will showcase a heard of mechanical animals (11 Feb to 29 Oct) • For the film buffs, meet sorcerous beasts at Harry Potter's Forbidden Forest at Warner Bros

Tours, explore Star Wars identity with props and films at the O2 and inspire children to become a tv presentor at Kidzania, with special activities lined up in all the familyfriendly museums across London • Dramatic performance featuring 100 actors will perform The Passion of Jesus at Trafalgar Square on Good Friday (14 Apr)

Easy getaways from London

If you have not planned your Easter holidays yet, there is still some hope for that last-minute getaway from town. Wales – with its fine, sandy beaches and rugged coastline could offer some great value late holiday cottages for the weekend break.

Devon is also a popular destinations for a lastminute cottage holiday.

It's a good choice for the family, sandwiched between sand beaches in the north and south, and a beautiful countryside, adventure parks and quaint country cottages, Devon could be the perfect getaway for families.

The upmarket and bustling shopping town of Beverly, East Riding of Yorkshire, set amidst charming courtyards cobbled streets has many independent stores and antique shops along with high street brands that makes it a true shopping get-away. The Browns Depatment store is a must

visit there and an array of specialist shops, antique arcades, aromatherapy and bookshops- this vibrant and friendly shopping town is complete mix of traditional and modern fare.

You could consider a family or romantic getaway in a lodge. Enjoy campfires in the musty forests by the day and get back to a quiet evening and a snug sleep at the lodge, without compromising on your closeness to nature. A nature-break away from an agendapacked urban life, will leave you rejuvenated. A detox break in Nottinghamshire with pure Japanese meditation, close to Newark is great if you want a relaxing holiday of self-reflection and stillness with some Japanese culture.

Many airlines and tour operators have keep aside some Easter special seats and holiday-packages and it is always wise to speak to them before booking a ticket.

A place of quaint cottages, stunning architecture, islands,

diverse cities, natural landscapes - Scotland is a preferred destination for

many, specially the connoisseur of whiskey. You just need to get ready for walking the beautifully sloping streets and getting the high on-the-rocks.

From buttery new potatoes to the tangy rhubarb and delicacies made out of fresh spring produce, nature provides the perfect gourmet treats for the foodie traveller in UK. A trip to Bristol's Old City and St Nicholas markets, walking through Georgian squares to explore diverse street food stalls can be a foodie's dream-come true. The Exeter Festival of South West Food and Drink in Devon also caters to nearly 20,000 people. You can also indulge in the illustrative English tradition of the afternoon tea, on a riverboat as you float down the Cliveden reach in Windsor, Berkshire, in the ninetieth-century style as introduced by the Duches of Bedford with feshly baked scones, dainty sandwiches and the Valrhona Chocolate Afternoon tea to give you company.

The April temperatures are significantly higher and the days are longer, making is a great time for a beach holiday.

Best known for spectacular beaches, Cornwall is worth trying out this season. There are a host of cottages to choose from, even for late travellers,

ECONOMY

and if you are willing to move out from the heart of the town, affordable cottages with unmatched views should not be hard to find.

A little distance away from Kielder Water and Forest Park in Falstone, is Northumberland, packed with luxurious shephard huts that provide outdoor activities like fishing packages, beautiful trails following the Kielder Waters to beauty therapies and locally sourced fresh breakfast.

The Leeds Centre for Contemporary Art and Learning at Tetley provides cutting-edge contemporary art and live performances giving you a chance to get creative.

Situated in the former Tetley Brewery in Central Leeds, you can enjoy displays and exhibits from cutting edge artists, interact and learn new skills from artists.

The UK is small enough to drive down to most places. The coastline provides ample beach-holidays and activities from surfing to sun-bathing or just building those memorable sand-castles in the golden sands. Enjoy the azure horizons, sunsets and sun-breeze at Norfolk, or simply go shopping and detoxing.

With this wide selection of holiday destinations within UK - what are you waiting for?

BUSINESS

HYDERABAD

£417

HYDERABAD

£1588

BENGALURU

£393

BENGALURU

£1584

MUMBAI

AHMEDABAD DELHI

CHENNAI

£359

£359

£418

£388

KOLKATA

£432

LUCKNOW

£412

GOA

KOCHI 5938

£358

£383

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MUMBAI

AHMEDABAD DELHI

CHENNAI

£1594

£1585

£1619

£1584

KOLKATA

£1588

LUCKNOW

£1587

GOA

KOCHI

£1584

£1584

46 Church Road, Stanmore, Middx, London HA7 4AH *All prices are from and subject to change and availability

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FINANCIAL VOICE

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Vodafone, Idea Cellular merge to create India’s largest telco AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

India's Idea Cellular Ltd and Vodafone India Ltd have approved a merger excluding the latter's 42 per cent stake in Indus Towers Ltd, creating the country's largest telecom company with a total revenue of over £8 billion.

Vodafone will be the dominant partner in the merged entity with 45.1 per cent stake, in the beginning, after it transfers a stake of 4.9 per cent to the Aditya Birla group

for £387.4 million in cash to complete the merger.

Aditya Birla group will then own 26 per cent stake in the company but it will have the right to acquire more shares from

Vodafone under an agreed mechanism with a view to equalise the shareholding over time.

"The promoters of Idea have the right to acquire up to a 9.5 per cent addi-

Centre gets £600 mn tax on stashed cash after note ban Justice Arijit Pasayat, vicechairman of the special investigation team on black money, has said that since the demonetisation, the Centre has collected somewhere around £600 million as tax on unexplained cash deposits so far. He added that the amount is set to go up. Tax authorities have sought explanation from people who deposited substantial amounts of cash, after Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes were banned, either in their own account or in the name of others.

Many of them agreed to avail the amnesty scheme which earlier allowed compounding by payment of 60 per cent of the deposits as tax, now raised to 75 per cent. Pasayat, along with SIT chairman Justice MB Shah supervises the drive against black money by the CBI, Enforcement Directorate, Central Board of Direct Taxes and other agencies.

He refused to hazard an estimate of tax that would be collected from the unexplained cash deposits as a fallout of demonetisation, but was confident that the amount would be solid. He said that in the first phase of the postdemonetisation drive against black money, focus was on cash deposits of Rs

5000,000 or more. Emails and SMSes have also been sent to all such depositors. Many chose to avail the amnesty schemes for compounding by paying up the stipulated steep tax.

Pasayat cited that in a state like Odisha, which is generally considered poor, there were thousands who responded to such e-mails and SMSes. "As many as 1,092 people, who had deposited over Rs 5000,000, have not yet responded to notices," he said. "The authorities, while explaining the huge bank deposits, will finally have to come down to the macro level at some point of time to examine sudden huge deposits of cash in even Jan Dhan accounts.

The exercise will be tedious and time consuming. But the tax authorities

are determined to undertake this workload."

Those who have made huge deposits, have been asked to submit balance sheets of last three years along with income tax declarations for every year.

"The onus is on those who have deposited huge cash to explain the source," the VC said. Authorities have been particularly asked to be very strict with government officials who have deposited large amounts as the entire unexplained money deposited by them would be confiscated given the applicability of Prevention of Corruption Act. "A divisional forest officer in Odisha has deposited £250,000 in cash. How could he explain the source? It has to be confiscated as it could be nothing except a bribe," he said.

GM puts India investments on hold over sluggish sales American company General Motors has put its plans to invest in India "on hold" as it struggles to make a business case owing to its steadily declining sales, low production, and a portfolio that will shrink to just one model from May. As operations at its Halol factory in Gujarat have been arranged to shut down from next month, rumours are that it may review operations at its Talegaon facility in Maharashtra and could give access of the factory to the PSA Group- European car major that owns Peugeot and Citroen.

Sources said the

American company is carrying out a thorough review of its India business and a potential partnership with the PSA Group is being seen as one of the options. Talks around India came weeks after the PSA Group, a French auto major, bought out the lossmaking Opel division from GM in Europe from $2.3 billion. When asked to comment, a GM spokesperson said, "We do not respond to speculation.

GM India continues to focus on consolidating manufacturing at our Talegaon plant."

GM operations in India have been plunging over

the past few years. When asked to comment on the company's thin product line-up and difficult operations, the GM India spokesperson said, "… global investments in India product programmes are on hold as we conduct complete review of our portfolio. It remains on hold." The company said that even as the Beat Mini will be the only car that it will produce in India after the closure of the Halol plant, it has built up "enough supplies" of the Tavera MPV and the Cruze Sedan to ensure a diversified portfolio at retail points.

tional stake in from Vodafone... if Vodafone and the promoters of Idea do not have equal shareholding by the expiry of the fourth year from the completion of amalgamation, Vodafone is obliged to reduce its holding in order to equalise its ownership with that of the promoters over the following five years," Idea Cellular said in a statement. Promoters of the company have the sole right to appoint the

chairman.

Kumar Mangalam Birla, Aditya Birla Group chairman, will be the chairman of the merged entity. He said, "This landmark combination will enable the Aditya Birla group to create a high quality digital infrastructure that will transition the Indian population towards a digital lifestyle and make the government's Digital India vision a reality. For Idea shareholders and

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

lenders who have supported us thus far, this transaction is highly accretive, and Idea and Vodafone will together create a very valuable company given our complementary strengths."

The combined company would become the leading communications provider in India with at least 400 million customers, 35 per cent customer market share, and 41 per cent revenue market share.

The journey of corporate researcher Neil Shah The Director of Research at Edison Investment Research, Neil Shah, 44, believes he is expectedly at a better place than before.

After working as a bank analyst in Goldman Sachs, he now plays audience to the ever changing world of corporate research.

Following the introduction of Mifid II, a set of rules that caught the research industry offguard. Under the new regulations, investment managers have to inform their clients on how much they pay banks and brokerages for research, something which they previously received for free in exchange for placing trades.

The changes that followed brought to light that most of the research that came as part of his job, was inessential. The new regulatory regime also raised eyebrows at the future of independent research providers like Edison.

However, Shah, a practising Hindu, considers his company's business model more secure than any of its peers'.

After leaving Goldman in 2002, he, along with a friend, launched a new ventureTusker Capital, a hedge fund built from money given by friends and family.

Neil Shah

However, it wasn't soon that he realised the job wasn't for him.

Shah admitted that he "would have died" if he had stayed. "I don't have the psychology of a trader," he said. Two years later, he turned back to research. "I love research. But there was always a lingering doubt within me that felt that we hadn't done it particularly well when we went through the whole dotcom boom," he said.

Later he met Fraser Thorne, and Peter Molloy, founders of Edison, in 2003. "(Their company) was so small, they were embarrassed to show me

the office," he said.

"We held most of our meetings at the British Museum. I felt this was a chance, a soapbox, to create a different way of doing it," he said.

Edison grew to be an international company, with offices in four continents, and over 400 corporate clients.

"We set it up just at the time Aim (stock market for small UK companies) went through this enormous boom. We were picking up quite a lot of work when brokers were bringing companies to market and then moving on to the next float, leaving these companies feeling orphaned," Shah said.

Revealing his "eureka moment", Shah said it came in 2012, when the UK regulator issued a damning report on conflicts of interest in asset management.

When several fund companies were failing to monitor the costs passed on to clients when they placed trades, he noticed that the research industry was on the verge of "profound" changes.

Tata Motors aims to cut costs via VRS for execs Tata Motors is reducing its staff by offering a voluntary retirement scheme, in its first major move under N Chandrasekaran's leadership. The company, which is attempting to shrink its management from 14 levels to five, is targeting 400-500 executives through the scheme. The unit had 26,569 people on its rolls in fiscal 2016.

The country's largest automaker by revenues, Tata Motors has been offering VRS on and off to its employees, with the last one being taken up by 250-odd factory workers in 2015-16.

That year, it had incurred an employee sep-

aration cost of £1 million.

The company has yet again resorted to the extreme step, to reduce costs and to streamline its operations after losses widened at its local unit.

The new organisational layer of five levels will begin from next month.

Tata Motors has identified 120 roles in the top two levels, while it is in the process of ascertaining positions for the next three levels. Management restructuring and VRS proposal was approved by the board of directors last month.

REALESTATEVOICE

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AND THAT’S WHAT YOU CALL A HASSLE FREE INVESTMENT! AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Last week I attended an auction after a very long time. The purpose was to purchase a small studio in Hallam Street, a stone throw away from Park Crescent. Park Crescent faces Regent’s park, currently half the crescent has been knocked down and an expensive development is coming up in its place.

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap London Property Investment

This is the same road where I purchased another studio on behalf of a client back in 2012, for the tidy sum of £350,000.

This flat is now worth conservatively £550k, this price is currently dampened due to the works going on around the crescent. This is off putting for renters and end users alike, and purchasers are surprisingly short visioned, even when it comes to investing in property.

AGONY AGENT Each week, we answer a reader’s rental property question, from first-time landlords needing pointers to experienced owners.

Agony Agent is here to help!

Normally I am asked questions regarding tenants damaging the property or not paying rent; however, this week’s question isn’t one I get asked very often.

Q. My tenant is doing work without my permission, what should I do?

to a rental property should be done by the landlord, so what happens when tenants do so without permission? A good Tenancy Agreement should have some wording in it that stops the tenants from making changes to the property, and if they do, they are responsible for restoring it to the original condition when moving out. For most tenants this usually means things like taking down blinds and putting up curtains, or installing child safety gates. Tenants have no problem with putting things back in the original state when they move, and

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

A. Home improvements

London, SW6 Purchase Price: £699k

The investor, for whom we sourced the auction deal, was in the fortunate position of being a cash buyer. She had just days before offloaded on another property we had sourced for her, again in 2012. The property we originally sourced was in a high rise block in Maida Vale, the property was pretty much unmortgagable, save for a couple of very high interest niche lenders. This was due to the construction type and not the fact it was a high rise, this type of block was built just after the second world war and was built to fulfil a housing shortage, since then the properties have not come down and are still standing.

The property being unmortgagable actually suited our client. She was psychologically averse to taking a mortgage and landlords usually aren’t bothered by these types of small changes. However sometimes tenants take things a whole lot further and start doing more home improvements to the property.

Examples l Painting walls l Replacing the carpet l Changing light fittings l Changing door locks l Changing appliances l Landscaping changes, like putting in flower beds, a fence, cutting down trees Anytime a tenant makes such a permanent change, they are breaking the AST and can even be evicted if the Landlord so desires.

l

wanted to have property which generated a good rental yield. Since the lack of mortgage options on this property it attracted a discount compared to other properties of the same size.

The purchase price back in 2012 was only £215,000.

For a two bedroom property in W2 this is exceptionally cheap. This meant it would have a yield of 10% plus. It was recently put on the market for £369,000 by a local agent and achieved a price close to the asking.

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

the instability in the market place now is a good time to be both buying and extending leases.

This meant the investor was in the fortunate position of purchasing in cash. This opens up the door for buying in auction and purchasing short lease properties which are unmortagagble. After short listing several, one was selected, a short lease studio property with only six years remaining. Given

The property exchanged successfully on the day for £120,000. I was hoping to grab the deal for much less, but there was one particularly stubborn bidder who drove the price higher.

The very best tenants consider their rental property a true home, and go out of their way to take care of it and improve it as much as they can. Often, there’s a healthy relationship in place and tenants can ask permission from the landlord to do the improvements, and permission will generally be given. What happens when tenants make more permanent home improvements to the property without checking first or getting your permission? What should you do?

tenants they are, the relationship you have with them, the condition of the rental property before and after the works (has it improved?), and so on.

There is no right answer for this question, because so much depends on what was done, the type of

Excellent buy and hold opportunity l A bright and spacious three bedroom flat l Long lease l Close to the bars, shops and restaurants of New Kings Road l Properties in this location are being sold for around £1,095 to £1,100 per sq. ft. while this is coming in at around £843 per sq. ft. l We expect the end value to be around £800k Call us now to reserve!

What was amazing from my client’s point of view, was that she sold her

There are some steps that you should take in dealing with tenants that make home improvements: l

Send a written notice acknowledging that permission was never given and it should have been requested. l

Let the tenants know that there should absolutely be no more unauthorised works, and that any ideas they have for making changes should be run past you first.

19

current property and purchased of the new one, all from Peru while on a Shamanic retreat for several months. This has been a totally hands free investment for her, as everything was handled by us. We will also be handling the lease extension and the light refurbishment of the property. I imagine the hassle will not be in doing the work, but in getting the permissions from the managing agent. l Outline the consequence of the action, which will vary depending on the circumstances. It could range from doing nothing apart from the warning, to requesting that the property be restored to the original condition immediately or when they move out (at their expense). l Keep a copy of the letter on file and use it to support future actions regarding the works.

Just remember even if the work is not costing you anything and it is in fact making the property homelier, nothing should be done without your permission or consent.

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FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel

Dear Financial Voice Reader, I write to you from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on my day to Singapore after a couple of days of meetings here.

This reminds me of a recent trip to Singapore where I met Eduardo Saverin, the co-founder of Facebook. I meet a lot, a hell of a lot of billionaires, in what I do for the British Government – in searching for the best entrepreneurs around the world and landing their companies into the UK. I meet the Rothschild’s in Palaces. I am a lucky observer of wealth and have learnt long ago the difference between a class act and a money act.

But I have never met a more humble genuine ultra-rich person as Eduardo. The irony is the jumped up moderately rich I meet who are worth a fraction of a decimal point of a billion will happily be arrogant, will happily claim credit for the wealth built by their humble parents, for inheritance, attribute brilliance to themselves, not to chance.

Top lessons I learnt as a Barrister and from some very English gentlemen and ladies: 1. The chap with the smartest suit usually has the least money. The guy at the back of the room, with the scuffed shoes, and the cheap watch, is usually the money in the room 2. Money doesn’t chase, or try hard. Those shocked that they have it do.

3. Never ever chase glory. Never be nouveau riche.

Don’t know what nouveau riche is? Then you don’t know why nobles oblige is class either.

4. Class does not look over the shoulder of the person you are speaking to see if someone more important is present.

5. Class does not in reality throw parties to show wealth.

6. Little money shouts, big money is silent 7. The more you want it, the more you show it, the less the decent want to be around you.

8. It helps when you know what the charity you are raising funds with an over-priced gala dinner does.

9. Poor does not make you better. But rich guarantees you are not.

10. Never throw a party to show how rich you are.

11. You’re not as rich as Warren Buffett and he follows all these rules.

12. A Birkin is vulgar.

13. Camels pass through the eye of a needle before the rich enter heaven – the Bible told me so.

And a young billionaire in an un-ironed shirt and jeans unspotted by everyone in a room, who maintains eye contact as you discuss how to help nations aspire to better for their citizens is worth a million arrogant millionaires talking about their wealth.

www.asian-voice.com

Vedanta buys $2.4bn shares of De Beers parent AsianVoiceNews

Anil Agrawal, metal trader turning mining merchant, dared to make a surprising $2.44 billion share purchases in Anglo American owner of the largest diamond producer De Beers, and one of the world's top five miners. Agarwal's move came after the company rebuffed a merger proposal made by Vedanta Resourcesof which Agarwal is the controlling shareholder.

Vedanta's family trust Volcan Investments will own over 13 per cent stake in Anglo American, and emerge as its second largest shareholder, right after South Africa's Public Investment Corporation,

Anil Agarwal

which has a 15 per cent holding.

Volcan and Vedanta said the move was a personal investment decision of Agarwal and he

had no acquisition plans in mind. The move gained a lot of attention with the British media calling it a "raid" and "share grab".

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Anglo American is yet to react to Agarwal's share purchase.

A source close to the businessman said Vedanta will not push for a board seat as of now. "We don't know what happens tomorrow," the official said. Anglo American and Vedanta shares rode up 9 and 10 per cent respectively, last week. Major bankers who have experience working with both the companies said the investment deal is "not friendly, though not necessarily hostile".

Agarwal had approached Anglo American with a merger proposal last year, which was summarily rejected.

GST council paves way for new tax regime The Goods & Service Tax Council has paved the way to roll out new tax regime from July, clearing all legislations required for one of the most ambitious reform measures since Independence. The council has approved the state GST (SGST) and the union territory GST (UTGST) bills.

The government is now expected to seek cabinet approval for the central GST (CGST), integrated GST (IGST), and UTGST and compensation bills next week and hopes to get it approved by Parliament in the ongoing Budget session. State cabinets will examine the SGST bill and seek approval from respective assemblies. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said a July rollout now looked feasible.

The GST Council has

Arun Jaitley

already approved rules and regulations linked to registration, payments, refund, invoice and returns, but these may require minor corrections, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.

He added that the council will meet again on March 31 to approve regulations on composition, valuation, input tax credit,

and transitions. "Once that is done, we will be ready for GST implementation. We intend to immediately after March 31... take up the exercise of fitment of slabs.

We will have a sufficient buffer in terms of time between the entire preparatory exercise and July 1 date fixed for implementation," he said, adding

that the progress was in the "right direction." The GST has been seen as a top reform priority by the Modi government and its implementation, after having missed several deadlines, is expected to add to the government's reform credentials and help raise the country's attractiveness for foreign investors while cleaning up the messy indirect tax structure.

"With the clearance of SGST and UTGST bills by the GST council, the decks are cleared for introduction of the GST law in Parliament and assemblies.

This is a resounding reiteration from the government about their seriousness to introduce GST by July 1," said Sachin Menon, national head of indirect tax at consultancy firm KPMG.

India's I-T dept makes public Mistry cos' waiver plea not in public interest: Tatas list of major defaulters

US Fed rate hike may impact Indian economy The US Fed has raised interest rates by 25 basis points, taking overnight funds rate to a target range of 0.75 per cent to 1 per cent. It is the second time in three months, that the company raised the interest rate, setting a likely path of regular hikes. Such increases generally impact emerging economies like India, very negatively.

India's external debt stood at $485.6 billion in 2015/16, recording an increase of $10.6 billion over its level in 2014/15.

The US-dollar-denominated debt continued to be the largest component of India's external debt with a share of 57.1 per cent, followed by Indian rupee (28.9 per cent), SDR (5.8 per cent), Japanese Yen (4.4 per cent), and Euro (2.5 per cent). The value of external debt could increase with further firmness in the dol-

Yellen

lar. Also, hikes in Fed rates may push Indian companies to pay a higher outgo while repaying their loans.

A higher cost of borrowing on future dollar loan will also impact a company's balance sheet. Foreign institutional investors have already been pulling money from the equity market. But of late, they have been buying. The correction in the market started long before due to speculation. Gold prices are highly sensitive to rising US interest rates.

Once the rates start moving higher, they can push gold prices further down.

The Income Tax department has released a list of 29 entities owing £44.80 million in taxes as part of its strategy to name and shame large defaulters.

The department, in advertisements issued in leading national dailies, brought out the list of defaulters of income tax and corporate tax even as it advised them to pay their "tax arrears immediately".

A senior official said the public list, with details of the individual or entity like their PAN card number, last known address and assessment range and defaulted amount of tax, is also aimed to make aware the people at large so that they inform the depart-

ment in case of information against them. The IT department's notice read, "The entries in the list are specific to the tax arrears and assessment year mentioned. The tax defaulter's address, business, shareholding and management may have changed."

The total taxes due by these 29 defaulters is £44.80 million, the official said. The Central Board of Direct Taxes, the policy making body of the IT department, had few years back adopted the strategy of bringing out the names of chronic defaulters in public domain and had also begun posting these names on its possible website.

Cyrus Mistry

Ratan Tata

Tata Sons is in the works to make sure its ousted chairman Cyrus Mistry and his team get no waiver walkover to argue their case on merit in the National Company Law Tribunal. Leading Tata counsel AM Singhvi said, "A waiver gateway opens only in compelling and exceptional cases, which this is not. A waiver can be granted only if there is supervening public and national interest, or if the Mistry camp is without any alternate legal remedy,

which is not demonstrated by them."

The case involves Mistry's two family-held firms which moved the NCLT as minority shareholders of Tata Sons to essentially challenge his removal from the company board as an oppressive act.

The NCLT decision on waiver would be a landmark one and significant for both boards and shareholders of companies as it is the first such case being argued under the new Companies Act.

www.asian-voice.com

EU workplace headscarf ban might just be legal AsianVoiceNews

BRUSSELS: The European Court of Justice has ruled that a workplace ban on the wearing of any "political, philosophical or religious sign" does not call out direct discrimination. However, it added, it should be based on internal company rules requiring employees to "dress neutrally" and cannot be based on the wishes of a customer.

Prompted by the case of Samira Achbita, who was fired in June 2006, when she began wearing a headscarf to work after three years of employment at security company G4S, the ruling is the court's first on the subject.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Achbita claimed she was being directly discriminated against on grounds of her religion. Belgium's court of cassation referred the case to the EU's top court. The court's ruling has upset several liberals, with rights group Amnesty International calling it "disappointing" and that it "opened a backdoor to...prejudice."

In its defence, the ECJ clearly stated that, "The willingness of an employer to take account of the wishes of a customer no longer to have the services of that employer provided by a worker wearing an Islamic headscarf cannot be considered a genuine ande

determining occupational requirement." Issues of Mulsim dress have been prominent topics of debate across Europe recently. Places like Austria, and Bavaria, have already announced bans on full-face veils in public places.

The court, in Achbita's case said G4S's rules prohibited "any manifestation of such beliefs without distinction", and were therefore not directly discriminatory. It added that "an employer's desire to project an image of neutrality towards both its public and private sector customers is legitimate."

Director of Amnesty

International's Europe and Central Asia programme, John Dalhuisen said the decision gave "greater leeway to employers to discriminate against women, and men, on the grounds of religious belief." "The court did say that employers are not at liberty to pander to the prejudices of their clients. But by ruling that company policies can prohibit religious symbols on the grounds of neutrality, they have opened a backdoor to precisely such prejudice."

"Europe is sending a clear message- its faith communities are no longer welcome," said the Conference of European Rabbis.

Indian-American teen held for matricide WASHINGTON: A teenaged Indian-American high school student has been arrested for matricide in Cary, North Carolina. The police arrested Arnav Uppalapati, 17, over a year after he strangled his mother Nalini Tellaprolu, 51, at their upscale home in Wake County district, where the victim worked at Duke Medical Centre.

While the authorities wouldn't reveal his motive, nor what evidence led to his arrest, they steadily maintained that he was a person of interest in the case. Arnav was only 16 when he dialled 911 on the afternoon of December 17, 2015, and told

Arnav Uppalapati

an emergency dispatcher that he had arrived home from school and found his mother

lying dead on their garage floor. His father, who was out on a business trip, had been trying to reach her over the phone all day and had asked him to go home from school to check on her. When the police arrived at their home, they found Nalini strangled with a plastic bag over her head, her feet in the back seat of a car.

Medical examiner's office ruled the death a homicide after they found her body covered with bruises and scratches, and a fractured cartilage in the neck. The police did not find any signs of forced entry, and noticed that their home alarm system

that Nalini switched on meticulously every night was not activated on the night of her death.

Arnav, meanwhile, maintained that he had last seen his mother alive the night before. He has been charged as an adult and faces a life sentence.

The Indian community, including Telugu associations in North Carolina, where Nalini was a known member, expressed shock. "It's very devastating. There's never been an incident where a son has taken the life of his own biological mother," said Satish Garimella, a Morrisville town councilman.

WORLD Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

In Brief

21

Hindu marriage bill becomes law in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Sunday was a big day for Hindus in Pakistan as the bill to regulate their marriages has become a law after President Mamnoon Hussain gave his approval. A statement from the PM's office said, “On the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the President of Pakistan has assented to the The Hindu Marriage Bill 2017.” The law aims to protect marriages, families, mothers and their children while safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Hindu families. “It is a consolidated law for solemnisation of marriages by Hindu families residing in Pakistan,” the statement said.

Kabul hospital attack toll rises to 50

KABUL: The official death toll from last week's militant assault on a Kabul military hospital has risen to 50. Officials originally put the death toll at 30 for the March 8 attack. But the investigating team now updated the figure to 50. There were five attackers in whole and was claimed by the Islamic State group. Investigators said 24 people have been arrested and are under investigation - either for involvement in planning the attack or dereliction of duty in failing to prevent it. "There is no evidence to prove that insiders were involved in the attack," sources said.

UK envoy attack: Bangla SC upholds death sentences

DHAKA: The Bangladesh Supreme Court rejected the appeal by banned Harkatul-Jihad al-Islami's former chief and two of his accomplices against death sentences imposed for a grenade attack in 2004 on Britain's then envoy to Dhaka. Three militants, including Mufti Abdul Hannan, HuJI head, Sharif Shahedul Alam and Delwar Hossain, were sentenced to death in 2008.

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WORLD

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Judges block Trump’s new travel ban Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

NEW YORK: A federal judge in Hawaii has issued a nationwide order blocking US President Donald Trump's ban on travel, signalling that Donny will have to account for his heated rhetoric about Islam. Trump said he would fight the ruling and called it a "judicial overreach".

Another federal judge in Maryland ruled against Trump's order last week, adding a separate order forbidding the core provision of the travel ban from coming into effect. The moves come as the second major setback

Donald Trump

for Trump in his pursuit of a policy that he has effectively pushed as vital for national security. After his first attempt to cut down travel from a couple of predomi-

nantly Muslim countries came to an end in a courtroom drama last month, Trump issued a new and narrower travel ban affecting six countries, on March 6. However, in a pointed decision, Judge Derrick K Watson of the Federal District Court in Honolulu, wrote that a "reasonable, objective, observer" would view even the new order as "issued with a purpose to disfavour a particular religion, in spite of its stated, religiously neutral purpose."

Judge

Theodore

D

Chuang, in Maryland, gave the same verdict hours later, both, prompting Trump's wrath, who didn't hold back and accused Judge Watson of ruling for "political reasons". "This ruling makes us look weak, which by the way we no longer are, believe me," Trump said. At a campaign-style rally in Nashville, Trump said he might re-issue the initial version and that his administration would "take our case as far as it needs to go, including all the way up to the Supreme Court. We are going to win."

Indian-Americans to honour Ian Grillotin HOUSTON: The IndianAmerican community will honour the 24 year old American who was injured while trying to intervene during a racially-motivated shooting in Kansas last month. Ian Grillot got himself hurt when he tried to stop a Navy veteran targetting Indians at a bar in Olathe, Kansas. He will be honoured as 'A True American Hero' at the 14th annual gala of India House Houston on March 25.

"Without all the prayers and positive support from everybody, I wouldn't be

Ian Grillot

doing as well as I am doing right now. It's been a blessing to be alive. I am looking forward to attend India House

Gala event on March 25, in Houston, Tx. You guys are wonderful and I thank you all for such a support," Grillot said. The Gala is the main fundraising event of the India House. All the proceeds will be put into its expansion, and day-to-day community programmes.

Jiten Agarwal, Board Member and 2017 Gala Chair of India House, said, "We are privileged to honour Ian Grillot at our biggest event of the year. We invite all Houstonians to come, celebrate Ian's true American

spirit and support India House's annual fundraising event." This year's guests of honour include Indian Ambassador to the US Navtej Sarna, former US Ambassador to India David Mulford, former US Assistant Secretary of State Nisha Biswal, Mayor Sylvestor Turner, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, and Master Chef Vikas Khanna.

The Kansas shooting saw 32 year old IT professional Srinivas Kuchibhotla killed, and his colleague Alok Madasani critically injured.

Indian girl wins Junior Nobel Prize NEW JERSEY: An IndianAmerican teenager from New Jersey won the Junior Nobel Prize for her research on treating brain injury and disease. Indrani Das, 17, won the top prize at the Regeneron Science Talent Search Competition, which happens to be America's oldest and most prestigious high school science and math competition.

Das' work looked to boost the survival rate of neurons.

In a laboratory model, she showed that the exosomes isolated from astrocytes

Sufi leader, daughter killed

DHAKA: A Sufi spiritual leader and his daughter were murdered by unidentified attackers in Bangladesh, amid a series of systematic assaults targeting minorities, Sufis and bloggers in the Muslimmajority nation.

Farhad Hossain Chowdhury, 55, and his adopted daughter Rupali Begum were found murdered in a Khanqah -a building designed specifically for gatherings of a Sufi brotherhood - close to the man's home in Dinajpur's Bochaganj upazila, police said. “Both of them had bullet marks on their bodies and the young woman's neck was slit with a sharp weapon,” Dhaka Tribune reported. Police said there was a power cut in the area when the incident took place.

Indrani Das

transfected with microRNA124a both improved astrocyte uptake of glutamate and increased neuron survival. A

neuron's death is caused by astrogliosis, a condition that occurs when cells called astrocytes react to injury by

growing, dividing, and reducing their uptake of glutamate, which in excess is toxic to neurons.

Das, who also won $2,50,000 along with the coveted prize, is not the only Indian-American teen on the list. Arjun Ramani who took the third prize for his project on networks, used the mathematical field of graph theory and computer programming. He won $1,50,000. A total of 13 Indian-Americans were seen in the finals of the esteemed competition for students.

Pakistan launches census in 19 years PESHAWAR: Pakistan has launched its first ever census in the past two decades. The weeklong process, will deploy a team of over 300,000 people and involve 55 million forms, along with a separate form to be distributed by the military.

A teacher wearing a yellow Pakistan Census 2017 jacket, Nadeem Ehsan said, "It's a very hectic process, but we are ready for it. We had some reservations about security initially, but we are assured about it by the government." Pak is the sixth most populous country in the world, with an estimated 200 million people. It has, however, not held a census since 1998 due to years of internal fights between politicians.

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US man charged with hate crime for assaulting Indian-American

WASHINGTON: A US man has been indicted on a hate crime charge for assaulting an Indian-origin man and hurling racial slurs, mistaking him for a Muslim. Jeffrey Allen Burgess, 54, was accused of intentionally harming Ankur Mehta on November 22 because of his "perceived race, colour and national origin", said a report. A federal grand jury indicted Burgess in connection with the alleged assault at Red Robin restaurant in Pittsburgh's South Hills Village. According reports, at the time of the incident, Burgess was seated next to Mehta at the restaurant's bar.

Burgess then launched an unprovoked attack on the victim, striking Mehta in the face with his elbow and fist multiple times, said the police.

Witnesses said Burgess struck Mehta four or five times and called him a "(expletive) Muslim," according to the complaint.

25 killed in attack on Damascus court house

BEIRUT: At least 25 people were killed in a suicide attack at a court house in the Syrian capital Damascus. The attack targeted the Palace of Justice in central Damascus not far from the Old City. The bomber set off his explosive device after the police tried to stop him from entering the building, a senior state legal official said. A few days earlier, a number of people, most of them Iraqi Shi'ite pilgrims, were killed in a double suicide attack in Damascus claimed by an alliance of jihadist groups known as Tahrir alSham.

Six militants killed in Bangladesh raid

CHITTAGONG: Five suspected militants and a young boy were killed as police raided extremist hideouts. Police stormed a building in Chittagong, sparking a 15-hour stand-off with militants with around 20 civilians trapped inside.

Four members of Jamayetul Mujahideen Bangladesh, including one woman died in that operation, police said. Two other were killed after they detonated a suicide vest. Police also raided a second hideout in the area where they arrested a husband and wife tied to JMB. A sixth person died in a separate raid in a border town. Police identified him as a member of the group Harkatul Jihad al Islam.

Racial attack on Chinese in US

BEIJING: For the first case of a racial attack on a Chinese citizen, a woman hit a man on a bus in New York, saying she hated Chinese. The Chinese man, 68-year-old Wang Zenxin, was whacked on the head with an umbrella on March 7. When Wang asked why she was behaving in a violent manner, the middle-aged Hispanic woman said, “Because I hate Chinese people“. She asked Wang to go back to his country, saying the US was no place for the Chinese.

This girl sang Gayatri Mantra before Pak PM

KARACHI: The Hindus of Karachi hosted Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif at Holi celebrations on March 15. The PM talked about his 'strong commitment' to protect the rights of minorities.

He stressed that forcible conversion is a crime in Islam. However, a girl named Narodha Malni stole the show with her rendition of the Gayatri Mantra. The reaction of those on the dais and in the crowd is also worth watching.

The counting will become the base to revise political boundaries, parliamentary seat allocations, and finances, as the country prepares for a national election next year. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics will deploy some 119,000 people, including 84,000 enumerators. Teachers and local officials will go door to door to count homes, and

then individuals. Paki army said it will dispatch up to 200,000 troops for the exercise, including 44,000 participating directly in the census-taking and making a parallel count using a second form.

PBS' chief statistician, Asif Bajwa said the army would act only as 'observers' to ensure enumerators did not inflate local counting.

Taiwanese model robbed and strangled to death

TAIPEI: The 22 -year - old Taiwanese model Naomi Chen met a tragic end at the hands of a man who claimed to be her photographer. The accused has been identified as Cheng Yu, and his girlfriend Liang Ssu - Hui. The duo were arrested by the police. According to reports, Cheng pretended to be a photographer and invited Naomi to a photoshoot via his girlfriend. Naomi and Liang were friends for two years. A case of sexual assault has also been charged on the accused after the victim's body was found naked in the underground parking space of an abandoned shopping mall in Taipei.

INDIA - WORLD Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

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With Friendship To One And All

Chanakya

Modi To Yogi- Words from the Wise

The Bharatiya Janta Party managed to clean sweep Uttar Pradesh in the Assembly polls held last month, but what came as a bigger surprise was its choice of leader to govern what once used to be Yadavs' backyard.

Yogi Adityanath, the new Chief Minister of India's largest state, is a prominent figure in the region.

He is branded as the stalwart of masculinist, borderline chauvinistic Hindutva, known for his aggressive brand of communal politics, open and strong criticism of the Muslim community, and activities of his Hindu Yuva Vahini. Yogi, as he is called, is the head priest of the Gorakhpur Temple. What is touted to be a political suicide, the question on everybody's minds is, Why did Modi choose Yogi? The ministerial appointment has the liberal-Leftists and the Opposition going AHA! As they see the move as a metaphor of the RSS-faction BJP's "Dharam ki Rajneeti".

But, maybe, just maybe, this was expected? Aren't we all already accustomed to Modi's style of running the system? The Prime Minister has always followed his instincts. Be it his choice of

minority leaders to take over states or the unfavoured demonetisation move, Modi has always followed his gut, giving his party a new and unique view of the political structure everytime.

The new UP government has initiated its work to put the state on the right track, battling media scrutiny all along. On Tuesday, CM Yogi went to see PM Modi. PM Modi said * " N a m a s k a r !

Congratulations Yogi Ji. You have evidently begun to stir up UP's management, taking up your role dutifuly. I am extremely happy, you became Chief Minister. By common content, you are known to be very popular.

Yogi ji, you have been the Member of Parliament for over 5 terms, and are acquainted on how the polit-

ical system works. However, your candidateship is being vigourously questioned.

Many crossing over the line to point their fingers at myself for the choice.

When I was asked by the BJP to go to Gujarat in 2001 as the chief minister, it was all a new chapter in my life. I had never contested any elections, neither had any political experience- nor a job.

Following the riots of 2002, in the aftermath of the train compartment burning in Godhra, I was accused of several things, most of them unspeakable. Wild allegations were made against me, both, in India and abroad. I was accused of so many omissions and commissions.

Even the central government at the time, the UPA, spent no efforts to nail me down.

Several inquiries were

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arranged for. I was even interviewed by investigators for upto 9 hours once.

There were other organisations, some of them private, who also tried to investigate, my so-called role and responsibility in the riots. To this day, I remain strong on my lack of involvement in the series of unfortunate incidents. Back then, as the CM of Gujarat, I made sure my work spoke on my behalf and can confidently vouch that all the projects and policies of the state government, under my chief ministership, were only committed to development, and fairness to all Gujaratis- irrespective of caste, colour, and religion.

Today, everyone accepts that my Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas is not a mere slogan.

See, those in power- be it me, you, or others, it is our duty to discharge our obligations diligently, without bias, a single taint of corruption, and with our sole focus on development for all. You represent the BJP now, I believe you will focus on crucial issues- development, law and order, fairness to the deprived, safety and security to women, and all the vulnerable." *the conversation is entirely fictional and purely the writer's imagination

23

Corporates, charities join hands to build toilets India's poor sanitary conditions have since long been the topic for discussion. With over 600 million people in the country defecating out in the open, numerous children and women frequently fall victim to diseases and violence.

However, launching a drive to promote building toilets in every house in rural regions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made sanitation a priority for his government.

Rendering support to the noble cause, several organisations and charities recently came forwardincluding Bharti Foundation, the CSR arm of Indian conglomerate Bhart Enterprise, which has offered to construct toilets. The project is part of a ÂŁ10 million initiative that aims to provide 12,000 toilets, covering 900 villages in Ludhiana, Punjab.

Bindeshwar Pathak, Sociologist and founder of Sulabh International, which maintains the programme, said, "To meet India's goal, it needs to build around

12 million toilets for which it needs around 3,60,0000 million Indian rupees. India has 690 districts, and over 640,000 villages.

To provide toilets for over 600 million people, every village must have a motivator, whose job will be to educate, motivate, and train people on healthy sanitation practices and help implement projects.

They will also carry out the necessary maintenance and follow up and will help the beneficiary."

The organisation has taken up the programme to promote rural sanitation in 350 districts across the country. Their volunteers are trained in technology, methodology, implementation, and follow up.

The lack of proper toilets has led to several issues, including rapes, and kidnapping of girls and women.

Paramjit Kaur, 27, mother of three children, informs that those women who don't have access to proper sanitation are vulnerable to sexual harassment, and assault.

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INDIA

HC chides man claiming to be Jaya's son Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

CHENNAI: Justice R Mahadevan of the Madras High Court, issued a warning against a man who claimed to the biological son of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa and late Telugu film actor Shoban Babu.

J Krishnamoorthy filed a petition even claiming that AIADMK founder and former chief minister MG Ramachandran had signed as a witness in his adoption deed.

Visibly flustered, Justice Mahadevan said, "I can send you straight away to jail" when hearing the maintainability of his claim. "The doc-

uments (submitted by the petitioner) have been clearly fabricated. Even if the documents are placed before an LKH student he/she would say that they are fabricated.

You have attached a photo available in public domain."

The judge also pointed out that "MGR was not able to even move his hand around the time the document was allegedly prepared." He later gave oral instructions to the petitioner to appear before the Chennai City Commissioner of Police later and hand over the original documents of verification, also directing the

Denied wheel chair, man uses toy cycle to reach ward HYDERABAD: In a complete violation of human rights, an ailing man had to use his eight year old son's toy bike to reach the ward for treatment, when ward boys of the state-run Gandhi general hospital in Hyderabad, denied him a wheelchair. The incident came to light when a video footage of the same went viral on the internet.

Sarikonda Raju, 45, a painting worker, had suffered an electric shock on August 22, when he came in contact with a hanging live wire and suffered burn injuries in his head, left hand, and partly paralysed two legs. He has been undergoing plastic surgery treatment at the hospital, and is required to visit the doctor every week for treatment.

"Every time I come, the boys demand Rs 50 to Rs 100 to take me to the ward from the block entrance. Many times I managed to pay them. But, it has become a huge burden on me. If if am capable of paying them, I would have gone to a private hospital," Raju said.

His ward is on the first floor of the nine-storeyed building. He said he took his son Pavan Kumar's cycle to use on the

hospital premises. Despite his partial disability, he still works whenever he gets calls from his old customers. His wife Santoshi is the breadwinner of the family consisting of four children. Hospital resident medical officer R Seshadri responded to the news saying, "This is a very disturbing incident that can bring disrepute to us. We have ordered an inquiry and based on the findings, action will be taken against the ward boy responsible for it."

Hospital Superintendent BSV Manjula said, "We did not receive any formal complaint from the victim before or after the incident. We have taken it up suo motu and constituted a three-member inquiry committee. We are expecting report soon. We will take action based on the report."

Punjab farmer gets train as compensation LUDHIANA: A Ludhiana farmer's fight for appropriate compensation for land seized to build a railway, came to an unexpected conclusion this week when a court handed him a train. Sampuran Singh, who has been fighting for the money since 2015, argued in the court that Indian Railways had underpaid him for a piece of land in the northern region of Punjab.

While he won the case, the railway refused to pay and he filed another plea in January.

Last week, Singh's lawyer said in court that the state had awarded him an express train in lieu of the 10 million rupees he was owed. "We were tired of pleading with the railways to clear the pending dues. The court asked us to identify properties for recovering our

money," said Rakesh Gandhi.

Judge Jaspal Verma also granted Singh ownership of the station master's office in Ludhiana. After the hearing, Singh and his lawyer took the court order to Ludhiana station where they waited for the train to arrive before handing the document to the driver.

Singh said he allowed the driver to carry on to its destination as stopping it "would have caused inconvenience to thousands of passengers."

Railway officials later secured an interim court order giving them control of the train until the case is heard again. "If they fail to pay the money, then the court can sanction an auction," Gandhi said of the 20-coach express train, which runs daily between New Delhi and Amritsar.

Commissioner to verify the genuineness of the documents, and file a report in the court by next week.

The petitioner Krishnamoorthy who appeared as party-in-person, said he was born to Jaya and Babu on February 15, 1985 in Bengaluru. However, his parents separated later due to difference of opinion and he was subsequently given up for adoption in Erode. "In September, 2016, when I went to meet her in Veda Nilayam (Jaya's house), she told me that she had plans to introduce me to the public as her son. But VK Sasikala (cur-

rently jailed AIADMK leader) opposed the decision and quarrelled with her," he said.

He also alleged that it was after this incident that Jaya was admitted in Apollo Hospitals and declared dead on December 5, 2016.

Krishnamoorthy claimed Sasikala and her relatives kept him in illegal custody and prevented him from participating in her funeral.

Meanwhile, Justice Mahadevan also censured social activist 'Traffic' KR Ramaswamy, who accompanied the petitioner and sought to know his role in the plea.

Karnataka CM goes for a populist budget BENGALURU: The Congress government in Karnataka, in its last full budget before the upcoming re-election, has announced plans to set up 198 Namma canteens in Bengaluru, which will serve breakfast for Rs 5, and lunch and dinner for Rs 10. The entire scheme will cost the Siddaramaiah government about £10 million.

Walking along the path paved by J Jayalalithaa, Arvind Kejriwal, and Akhilesh Yadav and also to woo the urban poor, Siddaramaiah promised 10,000 litres of water free of cost to people living in the slums. The Karnataka government will provide free laptops to students joining courses like Medical, Engineering, Polytechnic and First Grade Colleges in 2017-18, a scheme closely similar to Yadav's pre2012 poll promise in Uttar Pradesh. Siddaramaiah also kept close to his pet project, the Annabhagya scheme, under which food grain allotment was increased from 5 kg to 7 kg per person.

Other than allotting £740

Siddaramaiah

million for the Bengaluru city development, the government has declared an intent to cap the maximum entry fee in multiplexes and theatres at Rs 200. "We have tried to focus on various sectors like food, poor people, women welfare, and power," CM Siddaramaiah said after presenting the budget. While several people appreciated the freebies, others remained skeptical. The Opposition called the budget "populist" and "vision-less", accusing the CM of sticking to fiscal indiscipline. Leader of Opposition Jagadish Shettar said, "The Chief Minister has borrowed £3.7 billion and has not adhered to fiscal discipline."

9-member Amarinder cabinet takes charge in Punjab CHANDIGARH: Captain Amarinder Singh, 75, was sworn in as the 26th Chief Minister of Punjab in a ceremony which was attended by Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, and other prominent Congress leaders at Punjab Raj Bhavan.

This is Amarinder's second stint as the Chief Minister.

Along with him, his ninemember council of ministers were also sworn in by Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore.

The ministers are - six-time MLA Brahm Mohindra, cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Singh Sidhu, Manpreet Singh Badal, former finance minister and estranged nephew of outgoing CM Parkash Singh Badal Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, four-time MLA from Majha Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Rana Gurjit Singh, and former CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi. Two

women MLAs, Aruna Chaudhary and Razia Sultana were sworn in as Ministers of State with independent charge. While Amarinder and Rana Gurjit took the oath of office in English, Aruna took oath in Hindi. The others took it in Punjabi.

Meanwhile, the state cabinet has decided to slash the number of liquor vends from 6,384 to 5,900 to reduce the alcohol consumption in the state. As part of the new excise policy for the year 2017-18, the IMFL quota has been reduced by 20 per cent and country liquor by 14 per cent. In its election manifesto, Congress had promised “to discourage liquor consumption in Punjab and substantially reduce its sale in five years by closing 5% of liquor vends each year.” The government has also banned liquor vends within 500 metres of national and state highways in keeping with the recent Supreme Court order.

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Car racer, wife die as BMW hits tree, goes up in flames

CHENNAI: Car racing champion Ashwin Sundar and wife were killed in an accident last week after their BMW crashed into a tree in Chennai, and caught fire. The accident occurred at the Pattikapakkam area, on the Santhome High Road. Ashwin, 27, was a national LGB F4 category champion, 2012 and 2013. His wife Nivedha, 26, was a doctor at a private hospital. Authorities said fire fighters received the distress call at around 1:51 am, and a team rushed to the scene, however, it was too late. "When we arrived, the fire was on and and we did not know the couple was inside. We extinguished the fire in 16 minutes and found them both trapped.

Jaya's niece Deepa's husband to launch new party

CHENNAI: Late chief minister Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar's MGR Amma Deepa Peravai party suffered a major setback after her husband broke ties with the outfit and declared the launch of his own political party.

Madhavan alleged a "lot of dominance of some evil forces" in the Peravai party he helped form.

Speaking to the press after paying homage at the memorial of Jaya, he said the bad elements were interfering in the functioning of the party.

He said there was no "contradiction" in his move and asserted that his wife's outfit was only an "organisation.”

Dinakaran is AIADMK nominee for RK Nagar by-poll

CHENNAI: AIADMK deputy general secretary TTV Dinakaran is set to contest the by-election to the RK Nagar constituency in Chennai, on April 12. The seat was declared empty following the death of former CM Jayalalithaa in December, last year. Speaking to the press, Dinakaran expressed confidence that he would win the seat with a margin of over 50,000 votes. He will file his nomination papers on March 23, and contest under the party's 'Two Leaves' symbol. "Our opponent is only the DMK and not any other party or individual," he said. When asked whether there are chances of him becoming the chief minister, he replied with a certain "No!". "Our Annan Edappadi K Palaniswami is our Chief Minister."

Khalistani militant pleads for mercy killing

CHANDIGARH: Jagtar Singh Tara, accused in the Beant Singh assassination case, has moved an application in the ongoing trial stating that he was physically unfit, and sought permission for euthanasia or mercy killing. In a letter submitted before the trial court during the hearing of the case, Tara said he has severe pain in the back which has made his life "miserable". The matter will come up for hearing on April 6 now. Lodged in Chandigarh's Burail Jail, Tara is among the main accused of assassinating the then Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in a bomb blast outside the Punjab secretariat on August 31, 1995.

EC denies EVM tampering allegations

NEW DELHI: In response to allegations that the Electronic Voting Machines were rigged in the recently held Assembly elections, the Election Commission issued a statement denying any such possibility. "Given effective technical and administrative safeguards, EVMs aren't tamperable and integrity of the electoral process is preserved. However, if any specific allegation with material facts is presented, it will be looked into with all seriousness on administrative sides." The EC was approached by the Aam Aadmi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party, in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh respectively. BSP's Mayawati has decided to observe a 'black day' every month against the "murder of democracy" by the BJP and charged its UP victory of "dishonesty" and "fraud".

Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal alleged that the EVM tampering may have led to AAP's poor showing in Punjab.

HERITAGE - HISTORY Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

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25

The Nizam of Hyderabad and Sardar Patel AsianVoiceNews

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• The wealthiest in the world would borrow cigarettes from his guests !

• Maharaja Kishen installed Osman Ali and Vallabhbhai uninstalled !

Dr Hari Desai

Normally the story of His Exalted Highness(H.E.H.) Nizam of Hyderabad Osman Ali Khan- Asaf Jah VII (6 April 1886- 24 February 1967) can be summed up in just four lines: “ He was the last ruler of the British Indian State of Hyderabad. His State was the largest one.

Though the seventh Nizam was one of the wealthiest persons in the world worth $ 230 Billion, he knitted his own socks, patched clothes for months and cadged cigarettes from his guests. He wanted to

have an independent Hyderabad after his close friends British were to leave India.” Of course if one wants to introduce the Nizam of Hyderabad, one requires volumes to throw light on him as an individual, his large family, his largest collection of diamonds and pearls including one 185 jacob carrot diamond worth $ 200 million used as paperweight and more than ₤ 35 million( Rs. 2,934 crore) lying with a London-based Bank almost seven decades now !

The last Nizam surrendered on 17 September 1948 following the police action “Operation Polo” by the then Deputy Prime Minister Sardar Patel

An exquisite diamond necklace was gifted by Nizam to Queen Elizabeth II

H.E.H.'s paperweight 185 carrot Jacob Diamond

Nizam with Sardar Patel after Hyderabad surrender in 1948

Nizam against signing an Instrument of Accession to Indian Union. Hyderabad had signed the Standstill Agreement with Delhi.In contravention, the Nizam had already given a loan worth Rs.20 Crore to Pakistan.

The Sardar could not be a silent spectator to butchering of Hindus by Razakars. Hence under his instructions, the police action was launched.

Nizam with PM Shastri when Ala Hazrat donated 1500 kg Gold to National Fund

H.E.H. with some of his women

despite objections put forward by Lord Mountbatten, C. Rajgopalachari and PM Jawaharlal Nehru. Though the Nizam saw “a class of Hitler” in Patel, the Sardar appointed “the communal minded” Nizam as the Raj Pramukh of Hyderabad !

The Nizam had virtually become a puppet in the hands of Qashim Razvi who ran an army of fanatic Muslim Razakars and threatening bloodshed .

The Prime Minister Laik Ali consulted the Pakistan authorities all the time.

Even Mohammed Ali Jinnah instigated the

Indian forces were commanded by Major-General J. N. Chaudhari under the direction of Lt. General Maharaj Rajendrasinghji.

It lasted barely 108 hours.

Since solid groundwork was done by Army in consultation with K. M. Munshi, the Agent General of India in Hyderabad.

Unfortunately, the Sundarlal Report, which never got released officially by the Government of India, calculates “at least 27,000 to 40,000 people (mainly Hindus) loosing their lives during and after the police action.”

Mir Osman Ali Khan

succeeded as Nizam of Hyderabad and Berar upon the death of his father, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan Siddiqi Bayafandi- Asaf Jah VI, in 1911. He had command over six languages including English. During his 37year reigned as Nizam, the development of electricity, railways, roads and airways in Hyderabad evolved, the Nizam Sagar lake in the state was excavated and some irrigation projects on the Tungabhadra river

were undertaken. Nizam’s budget focused on education. He donated to a lot of educational institution such as Jamia Nizamia, the Darul Uloom Deoband, Banaras Hindu University(BHU) and Alig arh Muslim University(AMU).

The seventh Nizam, also known as Ala Hazarat, established the Osmania University in 1918. The Nizam’s eldest son, by his first wife, Azam Jeh

Udaipur meets Hyderabad : Arvind Singh Mewar with VIII Nizam Mukarram Jah

Sahebzada Mir Himayath Ali Khan(1907-1970) married Princess Durru Shehvar, daughter of Abdul Mejid II, the last Ottoman Caliph and cousin and heir to the last Sultan of Ottoman Empire. The marriage did not go well but they had two sons, Prince Mukarram Jah, presently the titular Nizam of Hyderabad and Prince Muffarakham Jah. Nobody knows how many Begums Nizam had and how many times he married and when. He had reportedly married seven wives. The dates of his first marriage also vary. But in a report to the Viceroy, the Resident of Hyderabad wrote that he married Azim Unnisa Begum (Dulhan Pasha, daughter of Nawab Jahangir Jung Bahadur), on 19 April 1906, at Eden Bagh now known as Eden Garden at King Kothi, Hyderabad.

When the Nizam was suggested that there should be some public rejoicing for the benefit of his subjects, H.E.H. conveyed that this was not customary in his family. The marriage was a simple ceremony as the Nizam disliked ceremonial pomp, according to the book “The Legacy of the Nizam’s” published by H.E.H. The Nizam’s Urdu Trust, headed by Prince Muffarakham Jah. This very book records, “On 29 August 1911, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan died and Mir Osman Ali Khan was proclaimed as the Nizam. The credit for the smooth transition was due entirely to a compact group of officials headed by Maharaja Sir Kishen Pershad…At that time Maharaja Kishen Pershad was the

Dewan(Prime Minister).”

Sir Kishen was one of the closest and most loyal ministers of Mir Mahbub Ali Khan. “Then suddenly matters changed ..within a year of his accession, Kishen Pershad was obliged to go on long leave.”

In July 1912, Maharaja Kishen was relieved of the post of Prime Minister and Mir Yousuf Ali Khan Salar Jung was appointed in his place. Salar Jung was also relieved from his post in August 1914. A. G. Noorani in “The Destruction of Hyderabad” does indicate that Maharaja Kishen who was relieved of his post of Dewan in 1912 was again installed as the Dewan of Hyderabad during 192536. “He was highly literate and versatile and an accomplished administrator.

He chose Shaad(happy) as his takhallus.

One of his poems reads : “kafir hun ke momin hun, khuda jaane main kya hun/ main bandah hun unka jo hain sultan-e-madina”( Be I infidel or true believer-God alone knows, what I am ! / But I know : I am the Prophet’s servant, who Madina’s ruler is). Noorani states, “ Administrators built the State of Hyderabad; poets, artists and intellectuals moulded its society.”

The seventh Nizam Osman Ali Khan was survived by five wives including one former Miss Turkey. Before he died, he sired children from 86 mistresses in his harem and had more than 100 illegitimate children. The women in zenana(Harem) and their children had numbered badges ! The Nizam left behind a legacy of legal disputes with hundreds of descendants fighting over money and real estate. By the 1990s, claimants to his wealth had gone up to 400 legal heirs. The most helpless of all of them is Prince Mukarram Jah who was nominated by his grandfather, the seventh Nizam, to succeed him: he didn’t think his sons deserved to be ruler after his death.

Patel frustrated the evil design of the Nizam of converting the Hindu majority(80 % ) State Hyderabad to an Islamic State. V.P. Menon, ICS, records : “ If, in August 1947, the Nizam had acceded and had introduced responsible government, he would have won the affection of his subjects.”

Next Column : Orissa States like Ulcer, be Cured or Eliminated ! ( The writer is a Sociopolitical Historian. E-mail : haridesai@gmail.com )

26

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Ayodhya row: SC suggests out-of-court settlement AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Suggesting an out-of-court rapprochement among rival parties in the 68-yearold RamjanmabhoomiBabri Masjid title dispute, Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar advised peace negotiations instead of a pitched court battle, even offering help to settle the fight amicably.

The dispute, which has seen much tension and violence over the past decades, debuted in court in 1950 when Gopal Simla Visharad filed the first suit in Faizabad civil court for rights to perform pooja to Ram Lalla. The same year saw Paramahansa Ramachandra Das also file a suit for continuation of pooja and keeping idols in

the structure. Nine years later, in 1959, Nirmohi Akhara followed with a third suit for directions to hand over the charge of the disputed site. UP Sunni Central Wakf Board filed the fourth suit in 1961 for declaration and possession. The fifth was in 1989 in the name of Ram Lalla Virajman for declaration and possession.

On September 2010, a three-judge Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court held that Hindus have the right to the makeshift temple under the central dome of the Babri Masjid. The High Court ruled in favour of a three-part division of the disputed 2.77-acre area

among Sunni Waqf Board, Nirmohi Akhara and the Ram Lalla at the disputed site. The Bench had relied on Hindu faith, belief and folklore.

The Sunni Waqf Board and other parties filed their appeals in the Supreme Court against the 2010 judgment.

The appeals is pending in the Supreme Court for the past six years.

The pendency of the appeal was brought to the attention of the bench led

by Justice Khehar by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday. Mr. Swamy, in an urgent mentioning, sought the court to post the appeals for early hearing.

Instead, the bench, also comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Sanjay Kishan Kaul, reacted with a different point of view.

Justice Khehar said parties should understand that these are sensitive issues involving religious sentiments. They should adopt a give and take approach to arrive at a consensus.

“You (Mr. Swamy) must make fresh attempts to arrive at a consensual decision. If required, you must choose a mediator to end the dispute. If the parties want me (CJI) to sit with mediators chosen by both the sides for negotiations, I am ready,” Justice Khehar said.

Swamy's plea to

"rebuild" the Ram temple at the RamjanmabhoomiBabri Masjid site has been tagged to the appeals. The court asked Swamy to consult the litigating parties about appointing a negotiator for an out-of-court settlement and report back on March 31, 2017.

A large part of the delay in the Supreme Court owes to the fact that the litigation has records dating back to the 16th Century and written in several languages, including Arabic and Persian.

They all have to be translated into English for the court. The High Court judgment itself run into 8,000 pages.

Justices Sudhir

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Agarwal and Justice D.V. Sharma on the Allahabad High Court bench had concluded in their separate judgments that Lord Ram, son of King Dashrath, was born within the 1,482.5 square yards of the disputed Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid premises over 900,000 years ago during the Treta Yuga.

In May 2011, during a preliminary hearing of the appeals, a Supreme Court bench of Justices (retired) Aftab Alam and R.M. Lodha had described the High Court judgment fixing Lord Ram’s birthplace as a sheer “leap of faith” transgressing into the mythological realm.

UK bans electronic devices on flights from six countries LONDON: The UK government has imposed a ban on carrying laptops as part of cabin baggage on Britain-bound passenger flights from six Muslimmajority countries, hours after US introduced a similar move citing terrorism concerns.

The ban will cover around 14 airlines that operate direct flights from largely Muslim countries Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia.

The UK restrictions also apply to tablets, DVD players and phones over certain size. "Direct flights to the UK from these destinations can continue to

operate to the UK subject to new measures being in place.

Travellers are advised to keep up-to-date with the latest FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] travel advice and to check online with their chosen airline for further information," a UK government spokesperson said.

Under the new arrangements, passengers boarding flights to the UK from the countries affected will not be allowed to take any phones, laptops or tablets larger than a normal sized mobile or smartphone (Length: 16.0cm, Width: 9.3cm, Depth: 1.5cm) into the cabin of the plane. Any

such devices will need to be placed into hold luggage and checked-in before going through central security.

"The additional security measures may cause some disruption for passengers and flights, and we under-

stand the frustration that will cause, but our top priority will always be to maintain the safety of British nationals," the spokesperson said.

"The safety and security of the travelling public is our highest priority. That is

why we keep our aviation security under constant review and put in place measures we believe are necessary, effective and proportionate," he added.

British Prime Minister Theresa May chaired a number of meetings on aviation security over the last few weeks, including this morning, where the new aviation security measures were agreed.

The government said it has also been in close touch with the Americans to "fully understand" their position.

The British airlines affected include British Airways, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Monarch,

EYES ON THE YOGI AS A MASCOT OF CHANGE

Continued from page 1 of Uttar Pradesh. He promised to make UP a "dream state" with an economy favourable for its youth.

"Uttar Pradesh will be the dream state of the honourable Prime Minister. It will be an ideal state. It will be free of corruption, riots, lawlessness, and goondaraj.

In UP, we will create such a model of development that the youth won't have to flee." As he resigns from the House to take charge of India's largest state, one thing is undoubted- Yogi has huge shoes to fill. An image to maintain, and an existing image to shed.

When Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party won the UP Assembly elections, names of several prominent BJP leaders did the rounds as the media speculated on who will hold the reins to the state. What nobody anticipated, was the rise of Yogi, a Hindu hardliner.

Liberal-leftists, the country's elite, and seculars cried foul at BJP's move.

Their arguments finding traction from the leader's past. After all, isn't Yogi the total opposite of what a Chief Minister is expected to be? Somebody whose

entire credibility is based on his anti-Muslim rhetoric, steady fight for the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and his right-wing outfit, Hindu Yuva Vahini. Who the country saw as an aggressive Hindutva promoter, BJP saw as an opportunity. A five-term Lok Sabha MP, a talented speaker, and a brilliant orator. Not only is his religious comprehension strong, his grip on local politics is vicious. Yogi Adityanath has devotees from all across India and Nepal coming down to meet him every day. While India settles with the image of a sadhu in the helm of state politics, Yogi and his new administration has already sprung into action. The new CM, who was sworn in on Sunday, promises the state a much needed make-over.

No 'lal-batti' in Yogiland: As per news reports, the new UP Chief Minister has issued orders that no minister in the state government will be allowed to use the red beacon on their vehicles. Reiterating his government's commitment to fight corruption, Adityanath has also ordered his cabinet ministers to provide details of

their income- moveable and immoveable assets within 15 days.

"As uprooting corruption is the main agenda of our party, the CM is his first introductory meeting with his ministers, directed them to give details of their income, moveable and immoveable properties wit 15 days to the (party) organisation as well as the secretary (to CM)," informed Cabinet Minister Srikant Sharma. Earlier during the meeting, he also issued clear instructions to ensure that public order across the state is maintained and that it should not be disturbed in the name of celebrations.

"Utsav ke naam par upadrav nahi hona chahiye (Public order should not be disturbed in the name of celebrations)" he said.

A major crackdown on slaughterhouses and butcher shops has already been launched across UP, a move that came hours after he was sworn in. The police drive began on Sunday night, when licenses of meat shops in Muslim localities of Rasoopur, Buxipur, Tiwaripur, and Jafra Bazar were checked.

Superintendent of Police

Hemraj Meena said, "Police have only checked licences.

Reports will be sent to the state government to decide future action."

While buffalo meat is not banned in UP, curbs on beef and slaughtering of cattle is on the rise given cows' sacred status in Hinduism.

Manohar Parriker quits as Defence Minister to become Goa CM: Even though the BJP failed miserably to secure a simple majority in the February Assembly polls in Goa, it managed to win the support of two regional parties, along with two other I n d e p e n d e n t s .

Outsmarting the Congress which emerged as the single largest party with 17 seats in the 40-member house, the national party brought former Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar back where he belonged.

The decision was awaited as he led the party campaign from the front, sending across subtle hints that if it wins, the new Goa government would be headed

by Parrikar. The Minister was first elected to the Goa Assembly in 1994, and served as the Leader of the

Opposition from June to November 1999. Parrikar's first stint as the CM of the state was from October 24, 2000 to February 27, 2002.

His second term saw him in power till 2005.

In 2012, Parrikar successfully led the BJP to power, and became CM for the third time, which lasted until November 2014 when he was made the Defence Minister. In his entire career, despite facing criticism for rushing back home every weekend, not once has he hid the fact that his heart lies in the coastal state. He enjoys open acceptance from Modi's party and has always stayed at the forefront of the party activities.

Manipur gets its first BJP CM: The north-eastern state of Manipur welcomed its first BJP-led government after N Biren Singh won the floor test in the Assembly, by voice vote.

The test was taken 11 days after assembly elections gave a fractured verdict, and five days later, Singh was sworn in.

BJP won 21 seats, while the Congress won 28, in the 60-member house.

However, the former managed to join hands with the

Thomas Cook and Thomson.

The foreign airlines hit by the new ban include Turkish Airlines, Pegasus Airways, Atlas-Global Airlines, Middle East Airlines, Egyptair, Royal Jordanian, Tunis Air and Saudia.

They have been informed about the changes and will begin implementing the ban immediately.

The attempted downing of an airliner in Somalia last year was linked to a laptop device, and some media reports have claimed that the new security precautions are an attempt to stop similar incidents.

Naga People's Front, and the National People's Party, which have four legislators each, and an Independent, and a member each from the LJP and Trinamool Congress.

Speaker Y Khemchand was also elected by voice vote, defeating Congress' Govindas Konthujan.

The Manipur CM is allowed to have 12 ministers, and he already has nine. Sources from the BJP said the portfolios would be allocated to the ministers soon.

Trivendra Singh Rawat mirrors BJP's fight against corruption, in Uttarakhand: Long-time Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Trivendra Singh Rawat took oath as the next Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, on Saturday.

A former associate of Modi, he was Agriculture Minister in the previous BJP government in the state. Rawat was elected from Doiwala, where he defeated Congress' Hira Singh Bisht with a margin of over 24,000 votes.

Meanwhile, the only state to be claimed by the Congress, Punjab saw Captain Amarinder Singh take oath as the new Chief Minister, launching an attack on the region's drug issue

AsianVoiceNews

FOOD

FITNESS

LIFESTYLE

7 Health Benefits of Vitamin B3 (Niacin) Vitamin B3 is also popularly known as Niacin. It is a very important nutrient as every part of the body needs it to function properly.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin is primarily used to lower high cholesterol levels in the body. It is also used to treat respiratory or vascular disorders. Foods such as fish, nuts and chicken are good sources of this vitamin. It aids in good blood circulation, normal functioning of the brain and boosting memory.

Vitamin B3 or Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin that can travel through the human blood stream and thus the body has the option to discharge excess vitamins in form of urine.

Therefore, such vitamins can be taken through both food and liquid items, since our body does need a constant supply.

Here are seven important benefits of Vitamin B3 or Niacin and why you should have enough of it.

Regulates digestion

Vitamin B3 helps in the

To Our Readers

We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

Laughter is the Best Medicine

normal functioning of the human digestive system which in turn promotes a healthy appetite and glowing skin.

Treats pellagra

People suffering from weak muscles, digestive problems, skin infections or pellagra mark a severe vitamin B3 deficiency.

These people need to incorporate an increased dosage of vitamin B3 though their diet or supplements as a part of their treatment.

Improves skin

Vitamin B3 or Niacin helps in protecting the skin from sun damage. It is often used in cosmetics and creams used for antiageing. It is known to reverse sun damage and discoloration that may occur due to ageing.

Reduces symptoms of Arthritis

Vitamin B3 or Niacin helps in easing the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It improves joint mobility

A girl was dragged into court by her neighbor who complained about her barking dogs.

At one point, the judge asked the neighbor a question.

The neighbor didn’t reply. “Sir, are you going to answer me?”

The neighbor leaped to his feet. “Are you talking to me?” he asked. “Sorry; I can’t hear a darn thing.”

The case was dismissed. *** Two racehorses are in a stable.

One says to the other, “You know, before that last race. ” “The one that you won?” asks the other horse.

“Yeah, before that race, I felt a pinch in my hindquarters.”

The other horse says, “Funny, I felt a pinch in my hindquarters before the race that I won.”

A dog walking by says “You idiots, you’re being doped.

They’re injecting you with a drug to make you faster!”

The first horse turns to the other and says, “Hey, a talking dog!”

* ** A dog goes into a bar and orders a martini.

The bartender says, “You don’t see a dog in here drinking a martini very often.”

“The dog says, “At these prices, I’m not surprised.” *** As the stranger enters a country store, he spots a sign: “Danger! Beware of Dog!” Inside, he sees a harmless old hound asleep in the middle of the floor.

“Is that the dog we’re supposed to beware of?” he asks the owner.

“That’s him,” comes the reply.

“He doesn’t look dangerous to me. Why would you post that sign?”

“Before I posted that sign, people kept tripping over him.”

and prevents inflammation caused by arthritis.

Prevents risk of heart disease

This vitamin helps in managing the cholesterol levels in your body which further reduces the risk of heart disease. It also curbs oxidative stress and inflammation which can prove to be harmful for the heart as they tend to harden the arteries and obstruct blood flow. Niacin is known to dilate the blood vessels and improve blood flow.

Mental health

Vitamin B3 or Niacin supplements are often used to treat moos disorders like anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. People with depression are usually found to be deficient in Vitamin B. Moreover, low levels of neurotransmitter serotonin often leads to depression.

Serotonin requires amino acid tryptophan which is actually made with the help of Vitamin B3 or Niacin.

Diabetes

Niacin helps in treating diabetes and high blood sugar levels. Most diabetic patients are able to effectively control HBA1C levels and benefit with the help of niacin.

As per the Food Nutrition Board of the United States, adults over the age of 18 years require about 14-18 milligrams niacin daily.

HEALTH & WELLNESS AsianVoiceNewsweekly

27

| Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

www.asian-voice.com How Aerobic Exercises Can Help Reverse Ageing Any form of exercise is good for your, but lately, there has been a lot of talk about aerobic exercises.

Commonly known as cardio exercises, these include a set of activities like bicycling, walking and running that not only make you fit but also help you lead a longer and healthier life. While performing these exercises, you engage all your muscles and you tend to breathe faster and deeper.

Your blood vessels widen which transports more oxygen to the heart and speeds up the excretion of waste products from your body.

What’s more?

According to a group of researchers from Mayo Clinic in the United States, high-intensity aerobic exercise may also help reverse the ageing processes in adults.

To prove this, experts compared high-intensity interval training, resistance training and combined training with each other. All these three forms of exercise

improved lean body mass and insulin sensitivity, but only high-intensity and combined training improved aerobic capacity and mitochondrial function for skeletal muscle.

Further, it was also seen that high-intensity improved muscle protein content that leads to an energy boost and muscle enlargement in older adults.

"We encourage everyone to exercise regularly, but the take-home message for ageing adults that supervised high-intensity training is probably best, because, both metabolically and at the molecular level, it confers the most K benefits," said Sreekumaran Nair, a Mayo Clinic endocrinologist and senior researcher on the study.

For the study, researchers tracked metabolic and molecular changes in a group of young and older adults for over 12 weeks and gathered data 72 hours after individuals in randomised

groups completed each type of exercise. Aerobic exercise also significantly enhanced the cellular machinery responsible for making new proteins. This contributes to protein synthesis which helps in reversing the adverse effects of ageing, researchers explained.

However, they also advised that adding resistance training is important to achieve significant muscle strength. The results of the study can help in developing new therapies and exercises for individuals at different ages.

Omega 3 significantly improves a youngster's ability to read, study finds Every parent wants their child to achieve their dreams. And now scientists believe they may have found the magic potion to give them a step up in life.

Children who consumed fish oil pills significantly improved their ability to read in just three months, a new trial shows.

Packed full of omega 3 fatty acids, the Swedish study is the first to confirm that these nutrients can benefit all youngsters.

University of Gothenberg researchers conducted a trial of Equazen on 154 children who were split into two groups.

A series of computerised

reading tests were then conducted to measure the ability of the youngsters.

Those given Equazen showed a 64 per cent improvement in their overall comprehension.

While they were five

times quicker at decoding jumbled up words, the study showed.

The research is set to be presented to teachers at an education conference in Birmingham later this month.

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28

'Baahubali 2' Amala Paul trailer creates new records in place of Nayanthara Asian Voice

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

25th March 2017

A

ctress Amala Paul, has reportedly given nod to an urban adventure, women-centric film. The untitled will be helmed by newcomer Vinod, who has earlier worked as associate director in 'Tamilukku Enn Ondrinai Azhuthavum'. It is also said that Nayanthara had initially listened to the script and was keen to work, but had to turn it down due to scheduling conflicts. Amala is one of the busiest actresses in the South, who has 'VIP2', 'Vada Chennai', 'Thiruttu Payale 2', 'Cindrella' and 'Bhaskar the Rascal' Tamil remake in her kitty.

Hansika Sasikumar ctor, director, to romance

T

he day everybody has been waiting is finally here! The most anticipated trailer- 'Baahubali 2' is finally out and the viewers are running short of words to describe this masterpiece. Just when we thought part 1 was spectacular, comes along Part 2 which looks even better!

With this trailer our expectations for the final movie have tripled and we aren’t even exaggerating. While we can’t stop gushing about the trailer, we still have a month to go for the film’s release and that is our only grouch. When you look at part 2, you realise there was so much more to the story than we could have imagined. While the characters remain the same this time the true hero is the story. it’s the perfect mix of action and emotions. Apart from this, we are awaiting the answer to the most asked question: Why Kattappa killed Baahubali. There are a few clues within the trailer that suggest theories but, we will only know the real reason on 28th April, 2017.

Now with a magnificent trailer like this one, it’s no surprise it’s already creating records. As of 5 pm, the trailer has clocked in 14mil-

lion in 4 languages. The Telugu Trailer clocked the most number of views at 9102,823, the Hindi trailer followed with 4402,389 views, and the Malayalam and Tamil trailer contributed to the rest of the views. What trailers usually achieve in a day, the 'Baahubali 2' trailer has managed to break that record within a few hours.

Are you even surprised?

Celebs can’t stop gushing about this trailer. Right from NTR Jr to Samantha to Ram Pothineni – They all were at a loss for words after watching the trailer.

Baahubali; The Conclusion is a sequel to the Baahubali; The Beginning. At the launch of the event, Rajamouli revealed that despite Part 1’s success, he didn’t change the story but he worked on the action scenes and the VFX for the second part.

The movie has been produced by ARKA mediaworks and directed by SS Rajamouli. The movie stars Prabhas, Rana Daggubati, Anushka Shetty and Tamannaah Bhatia.

Currently, the film is in the post production stage to meet the 28th April deadline.

A

producer, Sasikumar is reportedly teaming up with Muthaiah for a film titled 'Pori Veeran'. It has been long known that the cast had for quite some time, been on the lookout for a leading lady and have considered several options. The latest buzz is, they have found their female lead in Hansika Motwani of 'Bogan' fame. Storyline for the film revolves around the rural areas, and castes.

N

o amount of praise and appreciation can match up a simple 'Thumbs Up' from the very special Thalaivar.

Sources reveal that Rajini Anna watched debutant director Lokesh Kanakaraj's 'Maanagaram' and was so impressed that he immediately called the film's producer SR

'Thalapathy 61' to promote religious integration

A

tlee's 'Thalapathy 61' will show superstar Vijay in three different roles, with three female leads- Samantha, Kajal Aggarwal, and Nithya Menen.

Unconfirmed sources revealed that the actor will play three characters named Joseph, Salim, and Maruthu, while the heroines will be named Mary, Benazir, and Saraswathy. While an official confirmation from the

makers is yet to come, it is believed the film will prominently promote reli-

Superstar gives a No interval sleepless night for and no songs 'Maanagaram' director

gious integration.

The film's shoot is currently in its second schedule progressing in Chennai. Sources inform this schedule will continue till the end of the month, after which, the makers will shoot in several locations abroad, for the next schedules.

Prabhu, and Kanakaraj to congratulate them.

So Lokesh is on cloud nine for OBVIOUS reasons and stated that he wasn't able to sleep the night he received Rajinikanth's call. Most part of the film's cast and crew are newcomers, or less popular. We just wish more power to them.

'Phillauri'

Watch Shashi (Anushka Sharma) escape the human realm, and try and get back to her own. Meet this year's bride... in spirit!

A

ctress Amala Paul's brother Abhijith is all set to play lead in a film to be directed by Vijay Sri G. Talking about his team, Abhijith said, "The film is a bilingual to be made in Tamil and Hindi and it will be in a Hollywood tone in every aspect of the film making from the costumes to the narrative style. It is an extremely good team led

by Vijay Sri G. Leander Lee Marty, an amazing musician will be one of the strong pluses for the film.

Raja who had worked with Ravi K Chandran and Manush Nandan will be the DoP." "An important feature of the film is it will have no interval or songs. The story is a thriller full on suspense with astrology playing a pivot. A man is told about the date of his death and he just has one month to live. What happens in this period and how he deals with this situation is what the film all about. It also talks about the karma effect on our lives. For heroine part, we are in talks with Urvashi Rautela."

29

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I'm very secure in who I am: Priyanka Chopra

S

uccess comes at a price, and actresses are the ones who pay the most. Media has often been seen pitting actors against each other, creating an air of insecurity and jealousy.

However, 'Quantico' star Priyanka Chopra feels gone are those days and she has never been unsure of herself. "I'm very secure in who I am and the work I do. These are my friends and colleagues, and I like to share in their achievements and happiness.

Good work should be applauded. I believe that there is enough work out there for everyone. We don't live in the dark ages any more," she added.

The past year has been generous on PeeCee. She found new roles, a place for herself in the mighty Hollywood, and was conferred India's fourth-highest civilian honour- the Padma Shri. Priyanka won her second People's Choice Awards this year, and we guess this is just the beginning. "Yes, 2017 has begun well. To win a second People's Choice Award, this time is a Favourite Dramatic TV Actress, is an awesome feeling. Winning an award from the people, the audience, is a vindication that both 'Quantico' and my character connected globally," she said.

Along with her television series, and movies, she is busy with several brand endorsements as well. In fact, she was recently announced the newest global brand ambassador of mega-

How Vidya transformed herself to fierce 'Begum Jaan' Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

brand Pantene. When asked if there is anything more she feels the need to achieve now, Priyanka replied, "I just want to be the best version of myself as an entertainer and as an individual. I want to try new things, explore all aspects of my creative self and basically have an adventure every day. I have a l w a y s believed that it's never about the destination... The journey matters more."

A

cclaimed Bengali filmmaker Srijit Mukherji has revealed how Vidya Balan transformed from her jovial self, to the fiery Begum, we saw in the upcoming 'Begum Jaan' trailer. "Before we started shooting 'Begum Jaan' we organised two workshops simultaneously. One with Vidya, another with girls... because Vidya is a jovial, down-to-earth person, and she easily mingles with everybody on set and I didn't want that. I wanted certain kind of distance with the girls from Vidya," he said at the trailer launch event.

"Vidya used to ask many questions during the workshop like what the memories of 'Begum Jaan' were when she was three, when she was first exploited or what happened when she got married. So at the end of the workshop, I had already completed writing four

First look poster of Hollywood film 'The Black Prince'

F

irst look poster of 'The Black Prince' is out, and it has everybody's attention.

Biopic on Maharaja Duleep Singh, the last King of Punjab, the movie created a buzz way before with its spectacular storyline.

Written and directed by Hollywood filmmaker Kavi Raz, the period drama tells the story of the India's most noble king and his delicate relationship with Queen Victoria, godmother to his children.

Acclaimed singer-poet Satinder Sartaaj makes his acting debut as the king in exile. His stellar acting is complimented by an esteemed cast inclusive of Jason Flemyng as Dr Login - foster parent for the Maharaja, Amanda Root as Queen Victoria,

scripts... one 'Begum Jaan' and others are the prequels and sequels. I had to keep ready all the backstories of 'Begum Jaan' and the girls."

Mukherji added, "After the workshop, when Vidya entered the set, I saw Begum Jaan, who is a fierce, manipulative, nononsense kind of woman, walking in. There was no trace of Vidya Balan."

'Begum Jaan' is a Hindi adaptation of a Bengali film 'Rajkahini', which saw Rituparna Sengupta in the lead. It also marks the National Award-winning filmmaker's entry into the Bollywood film industry. The film revolves around the trauma faced by displaced women in a brothel during India's partition. While the original was based in Bengal, 'Begum Jaan' is based out of Punjab. Produced by Mukesh Bhatt, the film is scheduled for release on April 14.

Alia taking a 6-month-long sabbatical?

C

and veteran actress Shabana Azmi as Rani Jindan - the Maharaja's mother.

A story that captures the tragic yet true story of the legacy of the King of Punjab, 'The Black Prince' will release worldwide in cinemas on 19th May.

hirpy actress Alia Bhatt, who is currently glowing in the success of her latest release, has decided to take a much needed break for the next month. While she already has several projects lined up, her next film 'Dragon' will only start rolling in September, and until then, the 'Badrinath Ki Dulhania' actress intends to spend her time developing her

craft and learning new skills.

Apparently, Alia, who just turned 24 last week, has a long list of things she's dying to try out. Learning piano and kathak are on it, and the little one believes they will help equip her more as an artist. Also, Bhatt Jr wants to learn cooking as she loves to host guests at her new house.

Meanwhile, as the

entire film industry poured in birthday wishes for the girl's birthday, Alia got herself the best gift possible.

She shared an utterly cute photo of herself with a white kitten, with a caption that read, "The newest member of our family.

Happy Birthday to me."

Her sister shared photo of the kitten too, revealing its name. "This is Edward Bhatt, first of his name, ruler of all (except for the ones Sheba rules) the Bhatt kingdoms." Aww, you guys!

30

EVENTS

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COMPETITION AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Celebrate Mothers' Day with Us on March 26

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Win a pair of ticketd for Comedy Night orgainised QTPromotions on 8th April at Watford Colosseum.

Answer this simple Question: Where is the Watford Colosseum: -1. Rickmansworth Road -2. Hyde Road -3. Hempstead Road Send the correct answer to aveditorial@abplgroup.com by 27 March 2017 along with your phone number.

The winner will be chosen from the right answers on a lottery basis.

Maya Dipak

After years of organising community encouraging events like Vadil Sanman, Shravan Sanman, and Saraswati Sanman, Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice have this year, come up with a distinctive way of paying homage to all mothers.

The first of a series of Matru Vandana event which is to be held on March 26, 5.30 pm onwards, at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, will see leaders, Lords, MPs, and other prominent people, speak fondly about their beloved mothers, and express their love and gratitude towards them.

The event will see Lord Jitesh Gadhia as Chief Guest, with MP Virendra Sharma, wellknown businessman Rami Ranger, Bank of Baroda CEO Dhimant Trivedi, and others present.

Following a

scrumptious vegetarian meal laid out for all guests, revered singer Maya Dipak and group will pay tributes to mothers in their melodious voice. ABPL has received an overwhelming response from all readers and well-wishers and couldn't be more grateful. Only limited seats available, those who wish to participate in the first event, please contact us.

Matru Vandana programmes will also be held on April 1, in Barking, on April 2, in Tyseley, Birmingham, April 7, in Leicester, and on April 8, in Preston.

The events have been arranged for by local communities and leaders. Those who want to hold a Maya Dipak Matru Vandana programme in their area, can contact Kamal Rao 020 7749 4001 / 07875 229 211 or e-mail: kamal.rao@abplgroup.com

The Sun transits your first

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 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.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 The Sun travels through your twelfth house now, marking a time of retreat and regeneration. This also heralds a time for research and unfinished behind-the-scene activities. Matters which have dragged on for a while should now be re-assessed and put to rest. Some of you will be looking to spiritual enlightenment and take up yoga and meditation.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 The Sun illuminates your

sector of friends, social gatherings and group activities. You will be in constant demand and will be in a position to network with newfound friends who will promote your cause. Personal relationships are also to the fore and some of you might even find true love. This is a time to follow your dreams and ideals, and to plant a seed in the form of a wish for the future.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

More than any other time of the year, your focus is drawn to your career and standing in the society. This is the time when you are more interested in, and focused on, accomplishing something important.

Contact with authority figures is more likely during this period. Recognition will come your way whether you ask for it or not, and the responsibility that goes with it.

Coming Events

l Bharat Welfare Trust, UK, has organised a Ram Katha, on March 28, Tuesday, which will continue till April 5, at the Shree Sanatan Hindu Temple, Ealing Road, Wembley, Middlesex, HA0 4TA. l Gujarat Hindu Society has organised the Ram Charit Manas Navanha Parayan from March 28 to April 4, from 3.00 pm to 5.00 pm, on South Meadow Lane, Preston, PR1 8JN. l Sri Vallabhnidhi UK's Shree Sanatan Hindu Temple will celebrate Chaitri Navratri from March 28, to April 4. Durgashtami puja will be conducted on April 4, at 7.30 am, on Ealing Road, Alperton, Wembley HA04TA. l Mahatma Gandhi Foundation will conduct a prayer meet on occasion of Mahatma Gandhi Nirvan Din, on March 30, 6.00 pm to 10.00 pm, at the Kadva Patidar Center, Canmore Avenue, Harrow HA3 8LU. l Shree Sanatan Mandir has organised a Baheno Satsang on March 22, at 10.30 am, Shree Sanatan Mandir, 84 Weymouth St, Leicester, LE4 6FQ. l Attend the Sunderkand Path at Shree Sanatan Mandir, Leicester, on March 25. Those interested can attend the Shri Jalaram Prasadi Bhajan held at the Mandir, on March 26, 10.30 pm.

Sneh Joshi

The Sun energizes your sector of change, transformation and regeneration. On a more practical level, you may be dealing with joint finances and shared resources now more than usual. You should also make sure that your tax affairs are in order. You are more willing than usual to explore and delve deeper into life's secrets and arrive at meaningful conclusions.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

As the Sun transits your seventh house, you have a greater need than usual to be in a relationship. The emphasis is on "us" rather than "me".

Social interactions of a personal nature are highlighted. This is likely to be an extremely busy time for most of you. Use tact and diplomacy in your dealing, otherwise you are likely to come across as over confident and egotistical.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

Southbank Centre’s international multiarts festival Alchemy will returns for its eighth year from Friday 19 – Monday 29 May celebrating the dynamic cultural connections and exchange of ideas between South Asia and the UK. This year’s programme focuses on the contribution of diaspora communities to British society.

The largest festival of South Asian culture outside the subcontinent, Alchemy showcases contemporary work from seven countries, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and the UK. Championing innovative British and international artists, the eleven day festival presents exciting collaborations and new work from both emerging and legendary artists across dance, music, theatre, visual art, comedy and literature. Over fifty per cent of the programme is free and there is an array of engaging workshops, talks, debates and culinary delights taking place across the site.

Alongside Southbank Centre, Alchemy will also tour the UK, with a return to Oldham (10 – 18 May), the Black Country (20 – 28 May), and Doncaster (31 May – 3 June). Working collaboratively with three key national partners, Black Country Touring, Cast Doncaster and Oldham Coliseum Theatre, each partner will curate

The UK’s leading Vedic writer and TV personality

You are feeling most adventurous and willing to achieve higher knowledge and spiritual growth. This is a good time to broaden your horizons through travel and higher learning. This may take you to far off lands in pursuit of your new-found goals. You must distance yourself from the mundane grind of life and take on something which is more meaningful for your inner growth.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Alchemy, the largest UK festival of South Asian Culture, returns this May

The Sun transits your solar sixth house and highlights your health and also makes you take pride in your day to day work. Hence, you should enhance your skills, get organized and take up a health regime for your well being. This transit highlights the need for efficiency and as such you should bring in the new and get rid of the old ideas that do not work.

their own bespoke Alchemy programme for regional audiences, featuring regional and international artists, running alongside the festival in London.

Rachel Harris, Creative Producer, Festival Development, Southbank Centre said: “Alchemy continues to grow and evolve each year and this exciting line-up encompasses a mixture of emerging and established talent.

Alchemy is a vital platform for new international global partnerships and we are proud to collaborate with both new and long standing partners from across the globe including Rafi Peer Mystic Music Sufi Festival and Karachi Literature Festival, bringing these festivals to the UK for the first time. This year’s festival sees a greater focus on celebrating work from the British diaspora across the UK and we are excited to once again tour and collaborate with partners Black Country Touring, Cast Doncaster and Oldham Coliseum Theatre to reach new audiences and bring Alchemy to these regions.”

020 8518 5500

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

After a period of relative inactivity, you are coming out of your shell, ready to perform and to express yourself creatively. This is a very progressive period of the year, when you are inspired emotionally. You take more pride in your love affairs, your children, and your hobbies and are generally very sociable and make friends easily.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 With the Sun transiting your solar fourth house of family and home, these areas are highlighted during this period. Buying or selling of property or even renovating it will be uppermost in your mind as you will be trying to put your roots down permanently. It is also a time when family life will be charged with emotions so be diplomatic and respect other people's views.

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 socializing. Siblings, close relatives and friends may play an important role in your life during this period.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

The Sun continues to transit your solar second house. This is the most "financial" period of the year for you. You have an increased interest in your own possessions, during this period. You are more attracted to objects and possessions that give you a sense of comfort, status, or luxury now. Careful with your extravagant spending habits.

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Bangladesh score historic win over Lanka AsianVoiceNews

Bangladesh pulled off a historic four-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second Test at Colombo with opener Tamim Iqbal top scoring with 82 runs. The rare win for Bangladesh just their fourth away from home and first against Sri Lanka in 18 attempts ended the two-Test series in a draw after the visitors endured a 259-run loss in the opener in Galle.

Chasing 191, teenage batsman Mehedi Hasan hit the winning run after an anxious half hour in the final session, getting Bangladesh across the line in 57.5 overs. Tamim laid the groundwork with his 22nd Test 50, teaming up with Sabbir Rahman who made 41 runs and shared 109 stand for the third wicket with the left-hander.

Sri Lanka struck in

BCCI warns ICC

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has opposed the proposed finance sharing formula of International Cricket Council (ICC) and sent an 11 page, 24 point letter to the ICC explaining its stand..

“We draw your attention to the Members Participation Agreement (MPA) dated 12th October 2014 entered into between BCCI and ICC Business Corporation, relating to ICC Events between 2015 and 2023. The proposed new ICC constitution and financial model will, if adopted, entitles us to exercise certain rights under the MPA and also to avail remedies under applicable law,” the BCCI wrote in the letter. What the BCCI has conveyed to the ICC is that since there happens to be no `scientific formula' behind the figures mentioned in the proposed financial redistribution model, and since there is `no logic' in the proposed voting, India will invoke the MPA.

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phases through spinners Dilruwan Perera and skipper Rangana Herath, who grabbed three wickets each, but lacked the cutting edge to deny Bangladesh from celebrating their 100th Test match in style.

Bangladesh began looking nervous when Tamim -who faced 82 balls and hit seven fours and a six -was caught by Dinesh Chandimal off Perera just before the tea break. Perera

then removed Sabbir through a successful review after the bowler's initial appeal for a leg before was rejected, giving Sri Lanka an outside chance for a win. Mushifiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan got Bangladesh through to the tea break with 35 runs still needed, but Herath got a lucky breakthrough soon after the resumption as Shakib dragged a ball onto stumps on 15. Mushfiqur

remained unbeaten on 22 with some support from debutant Mosaddek Hossain, who made 13 runs during the crucial period.

Herath earlier in the morning gave Sri Lanka some consolution once he picked up two wickets in two balls to leave Bangladesh struggling at 38-2 at the lunch break. He first claimed opener Soumya Sarkar who charged down the pitch and was deceived by the turn and lofted a catch to Upul Tharanga at mid-off for 10.

Imrul Kayes edged the next ball to Asela Gunaratne for a duck.

Perera and Suranga Lakmal frustrated Bangladesh for over an hour as Sri Lanka added 51 runs to their overnight 268-8 before finishing up for 319 in their second innings.

Doctor faces questions over controversial injection to Farah British MPs have summoned athlete Mo Farah's former doctor to explain why the athlete was given the controversial injections a year after the athlete had been advised to stop using it. Dr Robin Chakraverty will be asked about an injection of L-carnitine he gave to the Olympic longdistance champion before the 2014 London Marathon when he appears before the panel next month.

According to the Times report, Farah was among a group of athletes at the Nike Oregon Project who were told to stop taking the supplement in 2013, a year before he received it legally via the injection.

Chakraverty was working for UK Athletics at the time and is now with the England football team.

Farah and UK Athletics insist that the infusion did not breach anti-doping rules.

All the athletes at the Nike Oregon Project were told to stop using L-carnitine because it did not improve performance and

SPORT HSS UK organises sports meet Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

31

The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK (HSS UK) has organised its national sports tournament at PlayFootball in Birmingham. The event attracted over 800 people and 67 teams from 27 towns competed in the competition.

Though football has firmly established as the number one game, Kabaddi, Kho Kho and Ring also gained acceptance. Brij Haldania, founder and chairman of the Kho Kho Federation, England said, “Kho Kho is a fast paced game that requires immense skill, stamina, tactics and teamwork. I commend HSS UK for raising the prominence of this sport at a national level.”

Someshwar Kalia, a member of HSS UK’s Woolwich Shakha and Captain of the England Kabaddi Team said: “I have grown up playing Kabaddi every week at my Shakha. It was here that we developed the understanding and importance of building confidence, working as a team, and always being there to support others. These core values were essential to playing Kabaddi at an international level. The Khel Pratiyogita is something I have looked forward to each year and has always been a fantastic platform to nurture talent”.

Commenting on the tournament, Dhiraj D Shah, President of HSS UK said: “The Khel Pratiyogita is much more than just a sports tournament. It's a channel to bring together the human spirit. As you observe each game being played at the Khel Pratiyogita, you will see a crowd of support cheering every player on irrespective of which team they are representing. It is this spirit of community and collective effort (Sangathan) that forms the cornerstone of HSS UK’s ethos. "

Kalupur Swaminarayan temple honours cyclists

Dr Robin Chakraverty

there was a risk of side effects, including to the heart and teeth. The advice was sent by Pete Julian, the assistant coach to Alberto Salazar (Farah's coach) in Oregon.

Damian Collins, chairman of the MPs' panel, said: "We want to know more about why proper records were not kept for the infusion given to Mo Farah and why he was apparently given an intravenous drip despite having no medical need."

The panel will also question Ed Warner, the

UK Athletics chairman, and Barry Fudge, the head of endurance. Liz Nicholl, the UK Sport chief executive, has also been summoned and is expected to be questioned over claims that the national sports development body failed to act on allegations of bullying of riders at British Cycling. It has been alleged that UK Sport had told monitoring officers to be careful not to damage the successful medal-winning operation in the sport. The organisation has denied the claims.

Acharya Kaushalendraprasad Maharaj of the Kalupur Swaminarayan Temple presented a cheque of £132,000, to the cyclists of the Gujarat cycle rally, and charities Apne Aap Women's Collective (AAWC) and the Urja Trust, in an event following the completion of the journey.

Out of this amount, around £20,000 is said to be contributed by the Kutch Leuva Patel Community (UK).

Organised by Prakash Patel, Sanjay, and Shailesh Patel, the charity cycle drive was conducted from Bhuj Swaminarayan temple to Ahmedabad's Nar Narayan temple. The entire trip was arranged and co-ordinated by Sri Aksharprakash Das Ji, along with other saints. Also present at the event was Kalupur temple's Mahant Swami, Raju Bhagat, and Nairobi community's Bhimji Raghvani.

Heartbreaking story of Indian boxer who fought Muhammad Ali

Kaur Singh's is a story of apathy shown by the authorities in the welfare of sportspersons in India.

He is the only Indian boxer ever to have faced the greatest boxer Muhammad Ali in the ring. While Ali is remembered for ever, Kaur Singh has remained completely unknown and leads a frugal life.

It was in 1980 and Ali came to Delhi on a stopover. On learning about it, Rajiv Gandhi convinced Ali to showcase his talent to the people of Delhi. India's national

Kaur Singh

heavy weight champion Kaur Singh was selected to

face Ali. A ring was set up and 50,000 people gath-

ered to see Ali. Though Kaur Singh was no match for Ali, but it was a lifetime experience for the boxer and memory of the fight has ever been fetched in his memory. Two years later Kaur Singh won gold medal in the Asian Games.

Ali died in 2016, but will remain a legend in the memory of the people. But poor Kaur Singh has to plough his field for a living.

Kaur Singh earned the Arjuna Award in 1982, the Padma Shri in 1983 and the Vishisht Sewa Medal (VSM) in 1988 from the

Indian Army. Today, he is a farmer in his native village of Khanal Khurd in Sangrur. He gave up his boxing career after the Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and never let his children pursue boxing professionally, because of the apathy shown by the government towards sportspersons.

Kaur is still to receive Rs 100,000 promised to him 35 years ago by the Delhi government after he won gold at the Asiad Games.

After retiring from the Indian army, Kaur had developed a heart problem

and had to undergo angioplasty. While the army paid for his treatment, the state government never bothered to inquire about his health and offer help.

He not only won six gold medals in international competitions but was also awarded a Sena Medal for bravery in the IndiaPakistan war in Barmer sector in Rajasthan. It is a sad commentary that the government never comes to the help of needy sportspersons and leave it to the individuals to fend for themselves.

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Asian Voice | 25th March 2017

Australians secure draw in third test

The Australian cricketers survived all attempts by Indian bowlers to commit mistakes and throw away their wickets on the fifth and final day of the third test at Ranchi to force a morale boosting draw.

Ravindra Jadeja on Sunday had given hope of an Indian victory on Monday, but the pair of Shaun Marsh (53) and Peter Handscomb (72) showcased great application and dour defensive skills to bail the Aussies out of a tricky situation. The duo shared a 124run 5th wicket stand to help the Aussies erase India's lead and eventually secure a draw that kept the series level on 11.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha's marathon effort had given India a 152run lead on Sunday evening and Jadeja's twin strikes meant Australia went into stumps at 23/2. The final day started with Jadeja and UmeshYadav bowling in tandem, but Australian captain Steven Smith and opener Matt Renshaw put on a defensive play and kept the Indian bowlers at bay.

Ishant Sharma was introduced into the attack and he troubled Renshaw with his incoming deliveries from around the stumps. The duo had a bust up when Renshaw moved away from the batting crease just as Ishant approached the bowling crease, citing movements in front of the sightscreen. A miffed Ishant Sharma threw the ball away to the wicketkeeper in anger. While Ishant was walking back to his runup, he had a verbal exchange with Australian skipper Steven Smith too.

Immediately after the exchange, a riled up Ishant caught Renshaw (15) plumb in front of the wicket to give the hosts their first breakthrough of the day. In the very next over Ravindra Jadeja deceived Australian captain

Steven Smith. Smith shouldered arms to the delivery, thinking it would either hit his pads or take a sharp turn and go past the wickets. Jadeja had pitched the ball in the rough and it did take a sharp turn. Only for the ball to go and crash into Smith's off stump. The Australian captain was removed for 21, and the visitors were reduced to 63/4, still trailing the hosts by 89 runs.

That brought Shaun Marsh and Peter Handscomb together and the duo started a rearguard. Both Marsh and Handscomb showcased exemplary patience and defensive skills to first take the visitors safely to lunch at 83/4 and then kept on chipping away at India's lead, all the while keeping their wickets safe.

By the time the tea break was taken, both the batsmen had ensured that India's lead was down to just 3 runs.

Handscomb was the first to reach his half-century and he was followed to the milestone by his partner Shaun Marsh.

Jadeja eventually dismissed Marsh for 53, but by then a draw looked like the only possible result. Ashwin removed Glenn Maxwell for 2 to pick up his only wicket of the innings. That was the last wicket to fall as Virat Kohli shook hands with Peter

Handscomb to accept a draw with the Aussies on 204/6 after playing 100 overs in their second innings.

Handscomb stayed unbeaten on 72.

Pujara, Saha save India Earlier a 199 run partnership between Cheteshwar Pujara (202) and Wriddhiman Saha (117) gave India a 151 lead after the Australians scored 451 runs in the first innings. The game which was progressing on a sedate note, following the pattern of the first three days, burst into life in the final session. First, Wriddhiman Saha, unbeaten on 99 at the tea break, duly completed his third Test hundred.

Cheteshwar Pujara's third career double hundred - his second against Australia - followed soon after. After having crushed Australia's spirit with their 199-run stand for the seventh wicket which lasted five-and-a-quarter hours, both Pujara and Saha perished in their quest for quick runs before Jadeja stepped in to up the ante.

They had, however, done their job. India were already 76 runs ahead of Australia's first innings tally of 451 when Pujara fell for 202. The gallant Saha (117) followed his partner back into the pavilion

Jadeja becomes world no 1 bowler in test cricket

14 runs later, but not before giving the Aussies a lesson in the art of playing spin. The diminutive Bengali often danced down the wicket to Lyon and Steve O'Keefe, lofting them over the in-field to the boundary, while being quick to sway away from the short stuff dished out by the pacers.

After Saha's departure, Jadeja wielded the willow and cut to shreds a tired Australian attack. His quickfire unbeaten 54 off 55 balls, with five boundaries and two sixes, enabled Kohli to declare India's innings at 603-9 with just about 30 minutes play remaining on the fourth day.

Having toiled in the field for 210 overs over two days, the Australians were always going to find the task of saving the Test physically and mentally challenging on a fifth-day pitch. However, the manner in which they batted in their second innings convinced that the art of survival even on a slow turner continues to be alien to their thought process.

In India's first innings, Pujara remained the fulcrum as the hosts scored 603-9 in the first innings and others batted around him. KL Rahul (67), Murali Vijay (82), Saha and Jadeja all played their parts to perfection, but Pujara stood out as the sheet-anchor.

Ravindra Jadeja

slipped 37 points behind Jadeja to 862 points after finishing with two wickets in Ranchi.

The latest rankings, which also take into account the Colombo Test which Bangladesh won by four wickets against Sri Lanka to draw the series 1-1 and the second Test in Wellington which South Africa won by eight wickets to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series against New Zealand, also sees quite a few other significant changes.

South Africa spinner Keshav Maharaj has risen 15 places to reach a career-best 37th spot after taking eight wickets in Wellington while pace bowlers Umesh Yadav of India (26th) and Mustafizur Rahman of Bangladesh (47th) have also achieved personal best rankings.

Ravindra Jadeja toppled his coll e a g u e Ravichandran Ashwin and became the number one test bowler in ICC test rankings. The leftarm spinner, who scalped nine wickets in the third India versus Australia Test in Ranchi, now has 899 points to R Ashwin’s 862.

Jadeja was the joint number one Test bowler with Ashwin before the third Test began in Ranchi. However, following his impressive showing in the third Test, he managed to go past Ashwin.

Jadeja has also closed in on a major landmark as his tally of 899 rating points puts him on the brink of becoming only the second India bowler after Ashwin to touch the 900-point mark.

Ashwin, who had a highest rating of 904 points, has

Manohar quits as ICC chief after meeting top BCCI officials After meeting the top officials of Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and was told that the Indian board would oppose his proposed reforms in the running of cricket, the independent chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Shashank Manohar has resigned his

post. However, he has cited personal reasons for quitting the job.

Manohar had met Vinod Rai and Vikram Limaye, two members of the Supreme Courtappointed Committee of Administrators (CoA), in the presence of BCCI CEO Rahul Johri in Mumbai.

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After the meeting, he flew back to Nagpur and tendered his resignation. The resignation brought an end to his eight-month tenure in the game's governing body, which focused on bringing about a flurry of policy changes. Manohar met Rai, the head of the CoA, last month to ensure

smooth implementation of his proposed reforms.

In the meeting, according to sources, Manohar was told that BCCI wouldn't allow the finance and governance models to be changed in the prevailing circumstances. The resignation brought an end to his eight-month tenure in

the game's governing body, which focused on bringing about a flurry of policy changes. According to sources, the board conveyed to Manohar that the proposed reforms would continue to be opposed by India by way of retaining the required number of votes to block its passage.

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