Asian Voice

FIRST & BUSINESS

CLASS DEALS TRAVEL

never fly ECONOMY again Flat Bed, Suite, Limo, Lounge, Comfort, t&c

020 8515 9200 deals@cruxton.com IATA ABTA ATOL3348

VOICE

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 39. ISSUE 42

Beaten for teaching world religions

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

80p

26th February to 4th March 2011

Godhra train carnage a conspiracy: Court 31 accused found guilty, 63 acquitted

RE teacher, Gary Smith attacked on the name of religion

Gary Smith was not proselytizing; he was just teaching a world religions course at Central Foundation Girls School in Bow, East London. But according to a gang of Akmol Hussein (26), Sheikh Rashid (27), Azad Hussain (25), and Simon Alam(19), the act of teaching other religions to Muslim girls was meant to be punished and hence brutally attacked the teacher by stanley knife, an iron rod and a block of cement.

Continued on page 15

A special court hearing the Godhra train carnage case of 2002 pronounced its verdict on Tuesday, upholding the stand of Gujarat government and BJP that the burning of the train just outside Godhra railway station was a pre planned conspiracy. 31 of the accused were held guilty by the court, while 63 others were acquitted, mainly for want of credible evidence against them.

The court has also said the sentences will be pronounced on Friday.

The gruesome incident had led to one of the worst riots in Gujarat and India.

While in the train carnage, 59 people, mainly ‘Karsevaks’ or followers of BJP and VHP, returning from Ayodhya were burnt alive, the violence that gripped Gujarat in the days to follow witnessed a communal frenzy, leaving more than 1200 people dead. Most of those killed in the post Godhra riots were Muslims.

It may be recalled that among the victims, there were two brothers having

British nationality.

The court acquitted prime accused Maulana Umarji, Godhra Town Municipality chief Mohammad Abdul Rahim Kalota, Nannu Mian Chowdhary and Mohammad Ansari while other key accused Haji Billa and Rajjak Kurkur were convicted.

"Special Court judge P R Patel has convicted 31 accused while acquitting 63 others," Public Prosecutor J M Panchal said after the verdict

inside the Sabarmati jail.

"The conspiracy theory has been accepted by the court," he said. Scientific evidence, statement of witnesses, circumstantial and documentary evidence placed on record formed the basis of the judgement.

The trial conducted inside the Sabarmati Central Jail here began in June 2009 with the framing of charges against 94 accused in the carnage.

Continued on page 25

Manmohan concedes demand of a JPC probe in 2G scam See page 26

Leader of Labour party and Her Majesty’s opposition, Rt Hon Ed Miliband, MP receives Parliamentarian of the Year Award at Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards.

For details see page 6-8

A Brent Hindu Temple deserves a better deal from the Council The Shirdi Saibaba Temple in Wembley is not alone. The Hindus in Britain and elsewhere are deeply concerned about this temple and its future. They feel they have been targeted by some gerrymandering members of the Brent council.

Continued on page 29

Wide choice, value, rst class It’s suddenly clicked.great You can affordfiyour dreamservice.

Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes-Benz Retail Used Cars.

Over 1,000 Approved Used models available nationally. From ÂŁ4,999.

" ! (

((

# +

/" ./ !&1"

" # '

$

#

" #

(. (( +))+*

5 &)&*$% ) 5

/" % )

/2& '

5

./ +*!+*

5 " )" ( " ),./"

!

5 &*$./+* 0,+* % )" .

5

* %" ./"

5

'

+3 ( 5

(/% ) +.. & & & " # ' " $

%# " #

! %

, $" + +( - #&

#&#+/

&" . +"/

/ /&)"

+#

$+&*$ /+ , " ..

& /0"

# + &((0./ /&+* , 0, +."

+*(3

((. ) 3

"

"+! " !

" $&./" " !

+6

"

" -" ! " . " *4

" / &( +0,

/!

+*$2" ((

&(/+* " 3*" .

0 )"' ! /* .""%

2

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

Polly Harrar, Director & Founder, The Sharan Project, www.sharan.org.uk With a background in Equality & Diversity, Marketing, Public Affairs and Accounts Polly began her career within the legal profession which led to roles at the Commission for Racial Equality and the London Development Agency. Having started her own consultancy in 2007 she moved to the charity sector as an Ethnic Minority Campaigner and later as Project Manager. In 2010 Polly decided to leave her full time position to realise her vision to develop The Sharan Project, a not for profit social enterprise aimed to support women, particularly South Asian women who are unable to remain in the family environment.

Polly’s own life experiences and her natural ability to empower women combined with her extensive work background demonstrate her desire to ‘give back’ to a unrepresented number of women within the South Asian community that, like her, can and will lead successful, independent lives.

1) What inspired you to begin your career in your chosen field?

I left home almost 20 years ago and was faced with many cultural challenges and barriers so I wanted to use this experience to positively help others in similar situations. I realised that there was gap in provision for support for South Asian women and decided to do something about it.

2) What are your proudest achievements?

I have had a varied and successful career so far but starting Sharan has to be my proudest achievement: taking a seed of an idea and making it a reality, believing that one person can make a difference and that by helping others we really can change lives.

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

3) Please tell us about the Sharan Project?

Sharan (meaning shelter/protector in Hindi/Punjabi) is an online support network for South Asian women who have been disowned/left home.

Providing access to support and information towards successful independent living without fear.

4) What has been the biggest obstacle in setting up the project?

Our main function is a preventative one. So because we do not fit neatly into the box of violence against women and young girls, due in part to the fact many of our clients do not identify themselves in these term, many more doors are closed to us in regards to funding and access/recognition to the

current networks in this sector.

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

inspiring people. The best thing would have to be the flexibility this role offers and the chance to see the real impact of our work.

7) And the worst?

My friends and family have helped to shape who I am today and are a constant source of support.

Over the years there have been many people who have influenced my direction in life but my biggest influence would have to be the women we help and support.

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

No two days are ever the same. I really enjoy seeing the organisation grow and develop and I get to work with some amazing and

As with any organisation there are good and not so good days. One of our main challenges remains securing funding for our work and projects; much of what I have done so far has been personally financed through savings although we have received a small grass roots grant to help develop our volunteer base.

8) What are your long term goals?

I would like to see Sharan grow and develop into a global network for women

Census forms soon at your doorstep Kartik.S.Raval With 10 years gone by, it is time for Census to describe population growth, changing living and working patterns and ageing population. It was in 2001 that Census was last carried out and is administered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Information derived from the census is used by central and local government to help plan and deliver local services to meet the various needs of the population.

The 2011 Census takes place on Sunday March 27. Questionnaires will begin to drop through letterboxes in March. It can also be completed securely online via the census website at www.census.gov.uk or on paper and posted back in

Census Director, Glen Watson (Left) and Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Luftur Rahman (Right) initiated the Census tour

the pre paid envelope.

With increasing inflow of Asian community to the UK, a few additional questions have been included in this year's Census questionnaire in order to cater to this information. Glen Watson,

seeking information and support and to be in a position to create jobs/training that will allow women to gain new skills, increase employability and become the next generation of leaders. I would like to see earlier identification of the barriers and challenges faced by South Asian women, and a move towards prevention before intervention through education and awareness.

Director for Census told Asian Voice, “We have witnessed a significant increase in the number of migrants from Asia in the last 10 years and thus to adopt to this change we have included a National Identity category which

will give them a chance to exactly describe their nationality.”

The star of the 2011 Census TV adverts, the purple origami doubledecker bus, will be on a tour of England and Wales giving people the opportunity to ask any questions they have about the upcoming census and the team of Census on the bus will aim to make people aware of its significance.

The journey initiated at the Tower Hamlets, London, on Monday 21 February and the bus will stop at different locations each day, namely; Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle, Leicester, Peterborough and Southend. Mayor of Tower Hamlets, Luftur Rahman was present to give Census the right start.

I wouldn’t want to be PM but I would like Government to dispel the rhetoric around the ‘Big Society’, with funding cuts essentially crushing local government capacity to support small, grassroots organisations I would like to know is how realistic it is for individuals, small charities and organisations to fix this so called ‘broken Britain’ It is difficult enough to gain an audience at local government level, massive budget cuts in community level spending can only make it worse!

People ■ Businessman of The Year Ken Popat celebrated his birthday in style at a Bollywood

Ken Popat

bash in Reading last Saturday night. Kindly Ken was 50 last December but put off the party because his young niece was ill.

■ Former External Affairs Minister Shashi Tharoor was in London to address a Conference about India's soft power.

Shashi Tharoor

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

He was seen breakfasting at the Dorchester with his talented wife Sunanda. We await his comeback as a Minister.

It would have to be combination of Ghandi & Mother Teresa for wisdom and spiritual guidance, Bernie Mac & Elvis or for comedy and entertainment and Sarah Baartman, Rosa Parks, Pocahontas and Indra Ghandi for inspirational insight.

■ Hundreds of people attended a memorial service in Southall to remember the life of Dr Sharma the father of local MP Virendra Sharma who died a few weeks ago. Tributes were paid by Steve Pound MP, Ranjit Dheer, and former MP Parmjit Dhanda.

You're too fat to be a check-in girl says Cityjet Aisha Khan, who worked for Cityjet at City airport, London was told that she should lose weight and apply more make up after she returned from her maternal leave.

Mrs Khan, wears a size 16 – one dress size bigger than before giving birth. But the check-in assistant never dreamed that would be a problem at work. She said the remarks made her so depressed that she had to hibernate and is now using anti-depressants.

She also accused CityJet of cultural discrimination after she was sent home for wearing the nose stud, which she wears for cultural reasons. No sooner had she returned to work, Mrs Khan’s manager told her that her ‘grooming' and 'increased weight' needed attention. Staff and workers’ union, the GMB, is backing the mother of two and has Aisha Khan threatened to strike.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

COMMENT

If not now, when?

There is something rotten in the State of India, it would seem. The winter of discontent has been seeded in a succession of scams. First came the shocking financial irregularities associated with award of contracts to make last October's Commonwealth Games fit for purpose. It was, but only just. But the Indian Games chief Suresh Kalmadi lost whatever reputation he had for efficiency and propriety. The next scam involving the country's telecoms industry was even more outrageous resulting in a loss to the national exchequer of possibly $39 billion. The disgraced minister A.Raja, of the DMK party, a coalition partner in the government, is under arrest and the courts will decide his future. There were other scams, such as the one related to housing in Mumbai involving army officers and politicians, which caught public attention. The ISRO affair was also a case in point.

The proposed Joint Parliamentary Committee Inquiry into India's telecom scam will surely highlight the lack of probity in much of India's public life. By all accounts, Mr Raja's role in the award of second generation (Spectrum 2) mobile network licences to a number of high profile bidders is under scrutiny by the law enforcement agencies. Notable companies who bagged the are struggling to clear their names.

What this sorry saga reveals is the poor regulatory mechanism to oversee the award of contracts. As a result there was a conspicuous lack of due diligence and little regard for a level playing field – both vital components in any honest business culture. The understandable public uproar has left an indelible mark in the affairs of the nation, proceedings in parliament came to a halt and urgent legislative work to take the country's economic reforms forward have been in limbo for the past several months.

As all this has occurred on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's watch, he must shoulder prime responsibility for the sorry state of affairs.

He and his colleagues were remiss in not agreeing at the outset to a joint parliamentary committee probe. By holding out for no good reason

that one can fathom, effective government was brought to a halt. After this unnecessary delay, Dr Singh has belatedly agreed to appear before the parliamentary committee this week to answer questions. This will enable the resumption of normal legislative business. Dr Singh told a press conference in New Delhi: “As Prime Minister, my conduct has be like Caesar's wife, above suspicion.” Quite so. He subsequently expressed disappointment that his second term was mired in corruption scandals. He has every reason to be.

But where lies the blame? With him, of course.

As head of the executive branch of government it was surely his duty not to allow things to get out of hand. He was lax and weak in not doing so, but now must lose no time in putting things right. Truth is the public confidence in those who govern India has been dealt a severe blow.

People, whatever their rank, must be assured that the system in place is impartial and works for the good of all and not for a privileged few with money to grease the wheels of government.

A political system works when there is transparency and accountability, both visible to the public eye. Justice must be done and seen to be done.

If widespread and deep corruption eats into the country's vitals there is a real danger that law and order will suffer. If sufficiently large numbers of India's citizens come to believe that the only redress against injustice is direct action, then such action will become the norm rather than the exception. Thiis is what has prompted some Naxalites to take recourse to arms.

Politicians, especially those in power, should not confuse public forbearance for resignation or acquiescence. They are elected by the people to serve the people. The civil strife that is tearing certain societies apart before our eyes is surely a wake up call for leaders in positions of responsibility everywhere. The Prime Minister spoke of the compulsions with which he was confronted.

This cannot be accepted as an excuse for the present lamentable state of affairs. Good governance is a principle that brooks no compromise.

Middle East crisis needs clear head not delusions As Libya burns, its madcap despot Moamar Gadaffi pours oil onto the flames. He will have depart at the end of the day, but how many hundreds or thousands of Libyan will lie dead on the streets of the country's cities and hamlets? The government there is in meltdown, with ministers and ambassadors joining forces with the opposition. The future of the Middle East and North Africa looks bleak, very bleak indeed. Will the unrest spread to Saudi Arabia? Who knows? Its feudalism, with its absurd royal privileges, gender inequalities, coupled with the absence of basic freedoms and much else are a tinder box ready to explode.

The West – America, in particular - has much to answer for. While making fork-tongued utterances on democracy and human rights, the Western powers have mollycoddled dictators on the plea that they were Muslim “moderates”. Western leaders are looking for damage limitation palliatives in a desperate bid to restore their interests. The call for a Marshall Plan for the area to make it safe for democracy is one of the most hare-brained schemes put out so far. As if democracy is a saleable product to be bought and sold on a whim.

It takes time for a democratic culture to evolve and mature.

The Arab Middle East and North Africa have a different history, social and economic base, and cultural traditions. Oil has given much of the area wealth beyond imagining. If money were the sole requirement these countries would be robustly democratic. They are not. Their educational levels are poor. For reasons of real politik, the Western powers have indulged the Gulf sheikhdoms, reactionary monarchies and military dictatorships with generous supplies of weapons for oil. The chickens are coming home to roost.

Throwing more money at bad causes – as a Middle East Marshall Plan would be – is likely to make a bad situation worse. Wise regional leaders must take responsibility for their peoples' future.

They should draw upon the wisdom of West and East alike in seeking help. They should not confine their attention to the West, which has been the case so far. There is a wealth of global experience which can enrich the present arc of crisis.

The process will take patience and wise counsel to fructify.

Mother tongue education can aid multiculturalism Multiculturalism has been subjected to close critical scrutiny of late. Whatever be its weaknesses – which mainly arise from defective practices – the concept has much to commend it as we live in a globalised world in which communities are in constant interaction. It would thus be a pity to throw out the baby with the bath water and reject multiculturalism altogether.

May we suggest that immigrants would feel less insecure in alien surroundings if they were to seek the anchorage of their mother tongues. These have a place at home with parents, siblings and kin but this intimate circle could be widened to the broader linguistic community. Community centres, with opportunities for mother tongue teaching, would help.

Let it be said that this would in no way impair English-language speaking and writing skills.

These must remain of paramount importance.

Indeed, they already are. Indian, Chinese and Vietnamese youth excel in education, often outperforming their counterparts in the host community. Cultural factors and social tradition have placed education at the core of Indian and Chinese values. Many young Indians and Chinese and those belonging to other successful ethnic groups are multi-lingual, hence well integrated citizens, who move easily between cultures, without at the same time losing sight of their priorities. Such people are a source of strength to Britain, at home and in the international marketplace. Multiculturalism is an idea whose time has come. It has to be translated into workable practice. This is where the Big Society of devolved authority and responsibility and voluntary endeavour, topped off with a minimum of government funding, would come out well.

www.abplgroup.com

3

Thought for the Week In spite of illness, in spite of the arch enemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable of intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways.

- Edith Wharton (1862-1937)

“Our London” CIIr Navin Shah AM London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow

Multiculturalism - Harmony & Repsect A wide range of views have been expressed in the Asian Voice addings to the debate on multiculturalism and I’m happy to add my voice. The debate has found some strange beldfellows like the Prime Minister and Trevor Phillips portraying multicultrasim as some form of evil which in view and experience is at the best dangerous distortion of what multicultural values actually stand for. I firmly believe multicultural values and ethos have strengthened our nation by bringing closer different cultures and religions and made a valuable contribution by instilling harmony and respect. Britain has benifitteded from multicultarism and put it on the map as an example for other nations by championing the cause of diversity and cohesion. This I say as a proud British for the last 35 years.

I welcome the debate but find it wholly wrong and very disturbing when the Prmime Minister talking on multiculturalism links it with terrorism as though it has aided terrorism. Such comments and attitudes divide and offend the community rather than helping cohesive. No Mr Prime Minsister, the so called ‘state doctrine of multicultarism’ has not ‘encouraged different cultures to live sperate lives’.

On the contrary multiculturaism has over the years nourished the diverse values and made a vital contribution in gradually establishing different communties. Trevor Phillip’s assertion that multicultural values somehow breeds ‘seperateness’ is complete nonsense becuase multicultrasim has meant integration of differrent ethnic and religious groups and developed our own brand of community that has seen us living in a spirit of harmony and respect for all.

Often America, which has longer history of ‘immigrant’ community settling in the USA, is portrayed as a great example of integration. But when analysed closley all is not well on this front in America. One only needs to examine ‘ghettoes’ in America and the no go areas in places

like New York and Washington to see how bad the issues of discrimination and divisions in the community are. Lord Dolar Popat is way off the mark in his assessment when he describes multcultarism advocating division in the British Society. In my view it is the very multicultural approach which has provided a platform for assimilation and our brand of identity which I believe is very positive and unique.

Sadiq Khan MP has added an interesting dimension to this debate recently through the launch of a new campaign "One Society, Many Cultures” with leading politicians religious leaders, trade unionists and anti-racist campaigners pledging to stand up against division and hatred and defend the right to freedom of thought, religion and culture. Ken Livingstone, who’s been a genuine supporter of the great multicultural nation that we are, has made a passionate plea on this matter saying "The launch of One Society Many Cultures could not be more timely. Britain's history is riddled with examples of communities being vilified, from the Jewish refugees of the early 20th century being accused of bringing diseases here, to the "No Blacks, No Irish, No Dogs" signs that were common place in the 1960s. We have made huge progress but there is always a backlash.

All communities make a choice about the way they live their lives; that is why cities like London are socially, culturally and economically competitive on the world stage. This is a template for the future of humanity. The British identity is the biggest mixing bowl in human history.

This is what makes it successful”.

Having lived in Brent and Harrow all my ‘UK life’ I say that we in these Boroughs have shining demonstration of multicultural communities cherishing our diversity and living together shoulder to shoulder, There are undeniable issues about terrorism and much work is needed to tackle this but let’s not knock multicultural values.

YOUR VOICE

4

Pride of Valands It is grate honour and privilege for Valands to feel proud of our prominent and well respected Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE, to be appointed to Privy Council in Her Majesty's Government. Many congratulations to you sir. Opportunity like this comes one in life time and Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE deserves for his sincerity, honesty in his work in the House of Lords.

Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE, is the first Hindu and a Valand to get such recognition to a high post. Many people has benefited from his advice and guidance in resolving their problems.

We pray to our mother goddess Shree Limbach Maataji to give Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE, her blessings and guidance for him to serve the Privy Council to his best ability and knowledge. Once again many congratulations and best wishes to Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE and his family.

Ashwin Devjibhai Galoria Via Email

Too Choosy by Far? In my walk of life I am increasingly coming across Indians who are still single and have reached 40; 45 & even 49.

This contrasts with our parents who were married earlier.

Is it possible that people (children & their parents) today are far too choosy; and thus delaying getting married (till it’s possibly too late)? Or is it that the traditional matchmaking our parents did is something we are not doing – because our society has become too fragmented as we choose to live further and further apart?

R.Patel Via Email

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Understanding the human mind

Teachers should change their mindset

Dr Iqbal Singh replied to Keith Vaz [AV 5 Feb One to One] that he specialised in psychiatry as he “felt that the real final frontiers in the field of medicine are to understand the human mind”.

Broadly speaking, mental illness in divided into two categories: psychosis [madness] and neurosis [hysteria, anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder or OCD and/or multiple personality disorder]. Hereditary factors have some influence.

Those in the latter category are treated by psychiatrists. One in 10 women and one in 20 men suffer from neurosis. One in 4 suffers from psychosis. However, this categorisation is not fully understood.

Psychosis is further divided into organic psychosis [resulting from physical damage to the brain] and functional psychosis.

Functional psychosis is further divided into schizophrenia [split personality] and manic depressive psychosis [bipolar or two extremes disorder] where hereditary factors conflict with life events for causation.

Theories invoking abnormalities in dopamine [neurotransmitter including adrenalin], the substance responsible for transmission of brain signals, are supported by the fact that some symptoms of schizophrenia can be induced experimentally.

The discovery of Chlorpromazine tranquilliser in the fifties, that lowers the rate at which signals are transmitted by the brain, was of the same significance for mental illness treatment as the discovery of Penicillin was for illness of the body.

Historically, NHS has done well in drug therapy but not in psychotherapy.

I was shocked to read the story about the teacher spraying on Asian children for smelling of curry. I am an Indian and my staple food is curry. I understand it is wrong for the parents as they should ensure the children do not smell of food (whatever it is). This is a cold country.

Sweaters and jumpers catches on the smell of curry faster than any other garment. It is our responsibility to see that.

I live in East London and very often the buses have parents and children who equally smell of food. I sometimes feel like telling them to use a deo or perfume.

But culturally I am aware that it would hurt them. So I choose to ignore.

For a teacher it will definitely be more difficult as it is a daily affair especially because she is not even ethnic! But this does not give anybody any right to spray on the children. If the teacher had a problem she should have called the parents for a meeting and told them what to do.

Why psychologically affect the children by spraying on them unnecessarily? I think this country needs to change the way they think and teachers need to be more of community leaders than just doing a 9 to 5 job!

Racism in any form must be condemned but we all have the responsibilities to behave in a manner which appeals to every body, this particularly apply when we are in public places.There are some foods which gives terrible smells, like onions and garlic when cooked with fish or even such as chilly paneer sold in Asian restaurants.

Once you have eaten this food, the body really becomes so smelly that it is like an odour bomb. I would like to ask the Hindu Asians will any body like any one with this smell in the temple?

Elizabeth Davies, I agree has done wrong but it is also the responsibility of the parents to make sure their children do not eat such smelly food before coming to school or do not at least stink.

There should be code of conduct in the schools which should cover this aspect and the copy should be given to all the parents. I wish I was in the Jury in this case.

Instead of sacking Elizabeth from school she could be better trained and we must understand how we should handle such cases instead of branding any one unnecessarily a racist.

Amita Sethi Via Email

Dharam Sahdev Ilford IG2 6JF

Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

No Free Lunch

The story of 'I do' was a very interesting read (AV page 11, 19th Feb). It is true that marriages are indeed made on Earth.

It is also of more interest to learn that we have issues like marriages being discussed in the House of Lords. Lord Parekh has made some very vital points.

To begin with forced marriages. When you are raising a child here in the western society, it is obvious that the children will have certain western values. Marrying her or him off in Pakistan or India or Bangladesh will change nothing! It will eventually lead to hypocrits like the men in Darby praying on 16 years old girls!

With visa rules changing every second day, we have nuclear family- often broken ones! We must know that the most strong point about our community is our ability to stand by each other. We must not let our younger generations fall apart due to lack of guidance in relationships!

There has been an up-roar in the media about the British Government’s decision to give £1billion in aid to India, despite the rapidly increasing wealth of the emerging economic giant. The Government has decided to maintain aid donations to India of £280 million a year until 2015. Many people here believe that it is time to halt aid to this country which has an economic growth of 8.5% a year and has a defence budget of £20 billion a year, and seems to be doing remarkably well economically. However, there is no such thing as a free lunch. The money this country gives to India will return to it in some form or the other!

India is in a part of the world which is quite challenged in defence terms. It is surrounded on all sides by enemies who are waiting in the wings to pounce on it at the earliest opportunity. In an ideal world, all the money India, and the other surrounding countries, have to spend on defence could be well spent on feeding their hungry mouths or to educate their illiterate people.

Amartya Kanti London

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Problems of I do

Don't steal Navratri from us I read a story on page 2 (AV, 19th Feb) about the government's spending cuts affecting the ethnic organisations. I absolutely agree with what has been written. Indian organisations especially Hindu organisations have never stood up for their rights. They never try to protect what they are gifted with!

It is unfortunate that the government does not think of cutting budget for Eid or Christmas or even Easter. But it is targeting us for the Navratris and Diwalis!

We must realise that this country has always given equal rights of enjoyment and civil liberties to all faiths and religions. The decision now to take away funding affecting the lives of so many is not acceptable.

17.1% of the population in the Brent area are Hindus. If our Navratri festival is taken away, millions of hearts will be broken. It is ok to give reasonably less, but the funds should not be so drastically cut down by the council, that the borough residents face a loss of a festival that is enjoyed by all generations and is close to their hearts. I support the campaign to save it!

Kajal Kakkar London

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

Please detach the form and send it with your payment or credit card instructions to address below FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

VOICE 0

Page -13

Page -17

Page -18

Page -19-21

Health Watch

Page -30

3( %"14!16 3/ 3(

!1#(

Smell of curry

1 Year 2 Years *5 Years *10 Years

UK £25 £45 £110 £200

EUROPE £55 £100 £225 £450

Shraddhanjali to Anilbhai Pota Passing away of Shri Anil Pota on 1oth February was indeed a very sad for the Hindu community in general and his nearest and dearest ones in particular. He was a towering figure, indeed Bhishma Pita of our community, towering above all.

I always used to turn to Anilbhai whenever I needed a wise, cool and calm head, seek guidance or just to have a chat to lighten the burden that we encounter from time to time.

Although we know that death inevitably follows birth, yet when it comes, especially an untimely departure, it is difficult to acknowledge, especially for those who may have lived under his umbrella, protected from the turbulences that is part of our survival.

Anilbhai was a devoted servant to our Hindu community and as a General Secretary of Overseas Friends of BJP, he was part of the inner circle of BJP establishment. No wonder leading lights of BJP, the likes of Modi, Advani and Gadkari paid their sincere tribute to Anilji and praised his enormous contributions on all fronts.

His departure has left a vacuum in the lives and activities of many individuals and organisations that would be difficult to fill.

We pray to the All Mighty to give all the strength to bear this loss and grant eternal peace to the departed soul.

Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

Visit our website: www.abplgroup.com WORLD £70 £125 £300 £550

*Subscriptions paid will not be refunded *To Subscribe 5 ro 10 years please pay by cheque or Debit Card

‘Smile Pinky’ too gets the Oscar Boyle says Mumbai dwarfed the statuette

!

E-mail: support@abplgroup.com

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

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

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

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

-/1% /. 0!'%

!..6

&1/.3 642( !.%2( (%$%+!1 4").! ,) "!#+ 2(/3/2( /"/ !*)5!,! !.!6 %1-!.3 ((%$! !.$ !.') !.%2( /.+!1

!..6

/6,% !.$

4").! ,)

/6,%

.+1,4- $57# 9 3 )0! .'0 0)9 $4 ,1($ +5 .9$0 .6 8)0/ 5$4 0++0$37 4 4 5 8)4 2 0)8 "2 !"0 .8+2 0)8 "2 !4'$37 *+0 ' &),4 &)4 4 !4 5$0 %4$8 .8 4 '4$8 '07 9 : * 0 $4 +,4 %0%!$2 0. $57# *4+2

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Will Shrien get justice in SA? Shrien Dewani, the husband of murdered Anni Dewani was taken to hospital after an alleged attempted suicide bid, it was claimed on Monday night, as reported by The Times.

The businessman, who is fighting attempts by the South African authorities to extradite him to face an alleged murder charge, is said to have been taken to the Bristol Royal Infirmary on Sunday afternoon after allegedly taking an overdose of pills. He is expected to be released within the next three days.

Mr Dewani, 31, has been accused of arranging the contract killing of his wife Anni while the couple were in South Africa on their honeymoon in November. South Africa is attempting to extradite him from Britain to answer allegations that he paid gangsters £1,300 to kill his wife after a fake hijack in the Cape Town township of Gugulethu.

Max Clifford, Mr Dewani’s spokesman, told a national media his client had been suffering from “severe post-traumatic stress disorder” and that he had lost a lot of weight in recent weeks.

Mr Clifford said: “There has been a build up over weeks and weeks

doctors have become increasingly concerned.

He’s lost a lot of weight 12 kilos in the last few weeks and is not sleeping. His family is very, very worried.”

Mr Dewani, from Westbury-on-Trym, has not been able to attend his recent extradition hearings due to his illhealth, according to his legal team. His next extradition hearing is due in May. The family have been arguing that Mr Dewani would not receive a fair trial in South Africa following a number of outspoken interviews by senior South African judicial figures.

In a television interview during the weekend the head of the South Africa’s prosecuting authority described Mr Dewani as a murderer and a fugitive.

Menzi

Simelane said that Mr Dewani had committed a “very heinous crime” before he “ran out of the country”.

In fact Mr Dewani was allowed to leave for Britain by police two days after the body of his wife was found so that he could arrange the funeral.

The head of South Africa's prosecuting authority has been accused of deliberately sabotaging his own case by labelling Shrien Dewani a murderer.

A spokesman for the National Prosecuting Authority said: "This is unfair. We have repeatedly said Dewani would have a fair trial and that we have one of the best constitutions and a respected judicial system."

"We are confident that he will be extradited to South Africa."

A spokesman for Mr Dewani said: "The matter is the subject of ongoing legal process where Shrien's name will be cleared."

A witness who saw Mrs Dewani's body sprawled in the back seat of the taxi where she was shot told The Sunday Telegraph that she was

half undressed when she was found in the back seat of the car. The daily newspaper has reportedly seen evidence contained in a post mortem report, held in South Africa, which clearly shows a number of dark bruises – consistent with "finger mark" grips – on Mrs Dewani's leg.

The post mortem appears to corroborate the claims of the eyewitness as to how the body was found. It shows that Mrs Dewani's left arm was pulled across her chest and her hand in front of her face.

The bullet which killed Mrs Dewani passed through her hand, then grazed her shoulder before entering her neck.

Experts believe the evidence shows Mrs Dewani, 28, may have been shot accidentally as she struggled to resist being raped.

The evidence gathered by the Sunday Telegraph is at odds with the insistence of the South African police that Mrs Dewani was not sexually assaulted before she was killed. It is not clear what tests were carried out by authorities in South Africa to examine if rape or assault had occurred before the single, fatal shot was fired.

5

UK visa deal for 20,000 Indians Indians may get up to 20,000 UK visas a year under a deal which is being negotiated with the European Union and in return India has put forward an annual 4 billion pounds trade with the EU. New Delhi is lobbying for between 35,000 and 50,000 visas a year across the 27-member states under EU-India free trade agreement.

Britain is likely to give between 15,000 and 20,000 visas while Germany and France will give around 7,000 and 3,000 visas respectively.

Under the deal, Britain is predicted to win about half of the proposed 4 billion pounds trade, providing a significant boost to exports.

About 30,000 Indian workers came to Britain last year, 19,000 of whom arrived through the intra-company transfer (ICT) scheme, which is exempt from the Coalition’s immigration cap. Last week, the government announced that non-EU workers who earn more than 150,000 pounds a year will also be exempt from the immigration cap.

Rules to allow mixedrace adoption One of the biggest shakeup in the adoption system will allow white couples to allow black and ethnic minority children. This changes are based on the new and specific government guidance that states

as long as a family is able to meet all the emotional and development needs of a child seeking a permanent home, their ethnic origin should not be a concern.

Continued on page 30

Correction: In last week's edition, 'pupil' has been mistakenly typed as 'puppy' and 'Markazi Jamia' as 'Markazi Kamia' in the photo caption of page 4 story 'God's children taught extremism in the name of religion.'

6

Political & Public

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Outstanding contributor Kartik.S.Raval

Asian Voice organised its fifth consecutive Political and Public Life Awards at Britain's one of the most prolific venues, the House of Commons, London on 17 February. The awards are given to people who have made significant contribution in the preceding 12 months on both public and political domain.

Politicians who played an essential part in national and international politics while individuals who made a difference in their local community picked up awards for their efforts making annual Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards a massive success.

In total 24 awards were presented in company of some of the most eminent politicians, entrepreneurs and community leaders.

C B Patel, Publisher and Editor of Asian Voice said, “These awards have a unique tradition as the readers of Asian Voice and the members of the community nominate people whose work have been highly significant either on political or public domain before going through a panel of judges.”

Compere for the evening was Priya Patel while Associate Editor of Asian Voice Rupanjana Dutta was present to garland each winner and award presenter. Valerie Vaz MP for Walsall South was called on stage to present the first set of awards.

Group Chairman for Lycatel and Lycamobile, Subaskaran Allirajah was awarded as the International Entrepreneur of the Year for revolutionising Telecom industry within the community while Sunil Anand's Curry Fever grabbed Restaurant of the Year Award.

C B Patel was asked to give the next award. Rt. Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Education was presented with a deserving award of the Conservative Minister of the Year. Nadim Zahawi MP of Stratford on Avon was the winner of Conservative Backbencher of the Year Award.

Managing Director of Training Connect, Pawan Srivastava presented the following set of awards starting with the Charity of the Year Award which went to Path to

Success for its enormous work in India.

Another special guest for the evening was Sir George Young, Leader of the House of Commons and was asked to come on stage to give away the next awards to their deserving winners. Local Government Award saw joint winners; Lutfur Rahman, Mayor of Tower Hamlets and Dr. Neeraj Patil, Mayor of Lambeth. The Liberal Democrat Backbencher of the Year was grabbed by Dr. Julian Huppert MP for Cambridge. Sir George Young also presented Business in the Community Award to Director for Finance House Limited, Kantesh Popat, who while receiving the award said, “I am just a beneficiary here because behind me is an excellent team that have fulfilled every task to accomplish success and helped me make a significant contribution to the community.”

Ed Davey MP, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State was presented with Junior Minister of the Year Award. He said, “The community has given some of the most vibrant businesses and great entrepreneurs to this country. As a coalition government and I being a Business Minister I am keen to work with the Asian community to make this great country even greater.”

Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow MP was requested to take over Sir George Young in presenting the winners with their awards. The first award he presented was the Community Award and High Sheriff of Greater London, Ranjit Mathrani was the winner. Renowned Film Editor Tariq Anwar was rightly awarded for his achievement in the movie The Kings Speech which for many is the film of 2010.

This award came at the time when a lot has been spoken about the movie, The Kings Speech bagging awards while the great edi-

Mr Subaskaran Allirajah, Group chairman of Lycatel and Lycamobile receiving the International Entrepreneur of the year Award from Valarie Vaz MP

Nadhim Zahawi MP receiving the Conservative Backbencher of the year Award from Rt Hon Micheal Gove MP

Rt Hon Ed Miliband (center) winner holding up the Parliamentarian of the year award, CB Patel Publisher/Editor Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar (L) and Rt Hon John Bercow (R)

tor behind it not receiving acknowledgement.

Contribution to Sport in the UK was the next category and Leicester City Football Club bagged the award. This year's Lifetime Achievement Award went to Nirmal Sethia, Chairman of Sethia Group, producers of Newby Teas.

Mr. Speaker presented his last but one of the most prolific awards of the night, Parliamentarian of the Year Award which went to the Leader of the opposition and the youngest Labour party leader ever, Rt. Hon Ed Miliband MP. Receiving the award, Ed Miliband said, “I sincerely want to pay tribute to the amazing work Asian Voice and CB Patel have done in the past 39 years due to which today the newspaper is widely read and respected. I want to emphasize the importance me and my party attach to maintain the best relationship with the Asian community in Britain because they make an enormous contribution in every walks of life and the diversity they bring with them, enriches the essence of this

Mr Ed Davey MP receiving the Junior Minister of the year Award from Sir George Young MP, Leader of House of Commons

Mr Tariq Ahmed,Film Editor - The Kings Speech receiving the Special Award for Achievement in Film Award from the speaker of House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow

country.”

Ed Miliband was asked to stay on the stage to give away the next few awards starting from the Journalist of the Year which went to Paul Lewis of The Guardian.

He also presented Labour Backbencher of the Year Award to Anas Sarwar MP for Glasgow Central. The winner of the Columnist of the Year Award was a regular columnist for The Independent and The Evening Standard and the first non-white columnist for a national UK newspaper, Yasmin Alibhai Brown, who while receiving the award jokingly added, “I did not expect this award because I have offended so many people with my writing. I have offended CB Patel, Ed Miliband and Keith Vaz. But they are way too generous to give me this award.”

Ed Miliband gave his last award to Rudolph Walker, famously known as Patrick Truman on the BBC Soap Eastenders as TV Personality of the Year.

Rudolph Walker revealed, “I feel privileged receiving this award from the Asian

Rt Hon Micheal Gove MP receiving the Conservative Minister of the year Award from CB Patel Editor/ Publisher of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar

Mr Rudolph Walker from the BBC soap Eastenders accepting TV Personality of the year Award from Rt Hon Ed Miliband

Life Awards 2011

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

7

s throng the Parliament Community and that too at a historical place. I will take this award to the schools to tell the kids that if I can come all the way from Trinidad and Tobago and can reach where I am now, so can you.”

Valerie Vaz MP was asked to come back on stage to present couple of more awards.

She presented professor Iqbal Singh with Professional of the Year Award while FlexFX Productions under the leadership of

Naz Choudhry was awarded Creative and Entertainment Company of the Year.

Actress Sheena Bhattessa was asked to present the Asian Broadcaster of the Year Award which was given to the entertainment channel B4U. Virendra Sharma MP was called on stage to give last couple of awards.

He presented Fukhera Khalid, Managing Director for Elbrook C&C and Chak 89 with Business Person of the Year Award. Also, the

17 year old that came into the limelight by winning BBC One's Junior Apprentice 2010, Arjun Rajyagor was present and picked up his deserving Face of the Future Award. Liji George closed the award ceremony by thanking the company of all the amazing guests.

Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, Chair, Home Affairs Committee was acknowledged by many parliamentarians for being successful

in linking Asian community to the parliament which has earned him respect right across the political spectrum. Keith Vaz MP said, “These awards are indeed very unique as they are held in mother of Parliaments and that they honour and recognise public and political figures who have really impressed the Asian community. It cannot be forgotten that one of the last year's winner went on to become the Prime Minister.”

Dr Julian Huppert MP receiving the Liberal Democrat Backbencher of the year Award from Sir George Young MP, Leader of House of Commons

Mr Kantesh Popat of Finance House Ltd receiving the Business in Community Award from Sir George Young MP, Leader of House of Commons

Mr Sunil Anand, Managing Director of Curry Fever Restaurant receiving the Restaurant of the year Award from Valarie Vaz MP

Mr Lutfur Rahman receiving the Local Government Award (Joint Award) from Sir George Young MP, Leader of House of Commons

Mrs Anita Choudhrie (center) Path to Success receiving the Charity of the year Award from Rt Hon Micheal Gove MP (R) and the Sponsor of this award Mr Pawan Srivastava of Training Connect Ltd (L)looks on

Mr Ranjit Mathrani, High Sheriff of Greater London receiving the Community Award from the speaker of House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow

Mrs Khalid and Mr Fukhera Khalid, Managing Director Elbrook & CHAK89

Lee Hoos and club's vice-chairman Aiyawatt Raksriaksorn of Leicester City Football Club receiving the Contribution to Sport in the UK from the speaker of House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow

Mr Nirmal Sethia of the Sethia Group and Newby Teas receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the speaker of House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow

Mr Ken Popat and Rekha Popat along with their colleagues and Guests

Mr Subaskaran Allirajah and Mrs Allirajah of Lyca Mobile with their colleagues at the Awards

8

www.abplgroup.com

Political & Public Life Awards 2011

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Outstanding contributors throng the Parliament

Mr Paul Lewis Editor at The Guardian receiving the Journalist of the Year Award from Rt Hon Ed Miliband

Mr Anas Sarwar MP receiving the Labour Backbencher of the Year Award from Rt Hon Ed Miliband

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown Columinst for the Independent Newspaper receiving the Columnist of the Year Award from Rt Hon Ed Miliband

Cllr Dr Neeraj Patil receiving the Local Government Award (Joint Award) from Sir George Young MP, Leader of House of Commons

Professor Iqbal Singh accepting the Professional of the Year Award from Valarie Vaz MP

Mr Naz Choudhry of Flex FX production accepting the Creative and Entertainment Company of the Year award from Valarie Vaz MP

Mr Sunil Rohra COO of B4U accepting the Asian Broadcaster of the Year award from Sheena Bhattessa

Mr Fukhera Khalid, Managing Director Elbrook & CHAK89 accepting his Award from Virendra Sharma MP

Master Arjun Rajyagor, Winner of the BBC Junior Apprentice accepting his Award from Virendra Sharma MP

L George giving the vote of thanks

Winner of the raffle tickets Mr Vijay Parikh accepting the prize from Rudolph Walker

Guests present at the Awards

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

9

10

www.abplgroup.com

Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

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

Self-confessed “troublemaker” GP speaks out An outspoken Indian doctor has revealed, as part of the ongoing Stafford Hospital inquiry into inadequate care standards, how he was offered a “deal” to leave the trust by former chief executive Martin Yeates.

Dr Pradip Singh, a consultant at the hospital since 1995, told the inquiry: “Throughout my time at the trust, I have continually raised concerns about clinical and quality-of-care

issues. I have never received a satisfactory response. Every day was a battle.” He recalled his “amazing conversation” from 2007 with Martin Yeates, the then chief

Exit over equality row Veteran Birmingham journalist Devan Maistry is seeking compensation against the BBC for unfair dismissal and victimisation, it has emerged. Mr Maistry, of Edgbaston, who worked as a producer on the Asian Network, has accused the corporation of failing to honour its values of equality. Mr Maistry, who spent 14 years at the BBC, alleged that his dismissal showed that the BBC had discriminated against its values about being “straight and up front” and promoting cultural interchange, citizenship and social cohesion, reports the Birmingham Mail. He was once involved in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

executive. “He offered me a redundancy package. He said the trust was doing quite well at the moment financially and this situation might not last very long. He said ‘we have a window of opportunity, we could give you a deal. Would you like to leave?’” Dr Singh said the meeting was a “bolt out of the blue” adding: “I was quite shocked and I wasn’t prepared for that.” He said there was a “climate of intimidation, of falling in line” which “came from the top.” According to Dr Singh, “there was a number of senior doctors at the trust who had a vested interest in protecting each other”. He said this included doctors who were “not up to scratch” adding those

who spoke out could be “undermined”.

When asked why he didn’t take his fears outside the hospital, “I could but I have to look after my own family and my own mortgage.” Dr Singh was suspended from the hospital in March 2009 for raising concerns about the lack of nurses on ward rounds. He was re-instated a week later when new medical director Manjit Obhrai started at the trust. He claimed his suspension was as a result of being a “troublemaker”.

Dr Singh is still employed at Stafford Hospital, where in March 2009, a Healthcare Commission report revealed that some 400 people may have died unnecessarily due to poor care.

Waiter sent lewd photo to diner

Traders encouraged to ‘go green’

A police enquiry has been launched into a claim that a waiter at Akbar’s, a lavish Indian restaurant in Edgbaston, Birmingham, sent a picture of his penis to a female customer who had booked a party for her first wedding anniversary. When shocked Asiya Field, 22, a school administrator from Walsall, told the waiter she would complain, he pleaded: “I apologise sincerely.

Only just started at Akbar’s.” He sent 15 texts in total. When Asiya, a devout Muslim, went to Akbar’s with husband Ryan, a teaching assistant, to complain, she failed to receive an apology for the waiter’s behaviour. “I felt so degraded by what had happened and thought it would be handled properly by Akbar’s, “Asiya told a reporter on a city newspaper. “But they were very unsympathetic towards me and just said head office would contact me.” The waiter has since been suspended.

West Midlands businesses “need to wake up to the opportunities of the UK’s £112 billion green economy” which is set to grow by 25 per cent over the next four years. According to recent research by the Carbon Trust, 54 per cent of business leaders in the region recognise that they can save money by being more sustainable.

However, only about one in four are actively developing greener products and services.

Knitters needed for World Record Friends Janet Malatesta and Chris Botham from Coventry are asking readers to support them in their rare mission, the outcome of which could make history. The pair aim to draw 1,000 people to Coventry Cathedral on March 17 to sit down for 15 minutes and knit together. The current Guinness World Record, from the USA, stands at 937 people. Among supporters so far is a local 101 year-old great grandmother.

For more information email cov_knitathon@hotmail.co.uk, or call 07834 480664 or make a donation at www.justgiving.com/cov-knitathon

Promotion for lawyer Mandip Law firm Cartwright King has promoted Mandip Kumar to partner as part of its expansion plans in the Midlands. Mandip, pictured, who has been with the firm since 2009, will head up the professional discipline department, which comprises a team of seven. Mandip “a robust, no nonsense lawyer” is the firm’s first director, of a total 24, from an ethnic minority background.

Students’ record-break taxi mission Three ex-Aston University students have embarked on a globetrotting mission in an attempt to break the world record for the longest-ever taxi journey. Leigh Purnell, Johno Ellison and Paul Archer, pictured, who had been planning the trip for three years, will cross Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, China, South Asia and Australia in a classic London black cab, bought for £1,500 on eBay in 2009. The trio are hoping to raise over £20,000 - the estimated taxi fare for their 30,000 mile, eight-month trip for the British Red Cross. To find out more visit www.itsonthemeter.com

LABA to celebrate Silver Anniversary Leicestershire Asian Business Association, or LABA, is celebrating its Silver Anniversary. To mark this milestone, LABA will bestow awards on achieving firms and individuals at a prestigious dinner at Athena Conference Centre, Leicester, next Thursday (March 3). The chief guest will be Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk MP. For more details visit www.labauk.org

All-in-one smart key BMW is developing a fob that will not only open and start your car, but also act as a train ticket, credit card and hotel room key. This “smart key” uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to communicate wirelessly with any other device or object fitted with an NFC receiver.

News in Brief Networking evening Small businesses in Nottingham are being offered the chance to secure procurement contracts with the local authority. Procurement officer Sid Sharma will be giving tips and advice on how to apply at a free networking event at Nottingham’s Park Inn Hotel (NG5 2BT) between 6pm and 8.30pm on March 10.

Axe to fall on fire service West Midlands Fire Service has been “shafted” by the government in the spending cuts, according to fire authority chairman, Cllr David Hinton. The service will lose £6.7 million from its budget this year. And in three years’ time its budget could shrink by as much as £30 million.

QC Dobbs meets lawyers The UK’s first nonwhite High Court judge, Mrs Justice Dobbs DBE, pictured, met with leading lawyers during a legal networking event in Birmingham last Thursday. Her “inspiring” and “thought-provoking” speech won her rapturous applause. The event was organised by Debo Nwauzu, of the Black Lawyers Directory (BLD). To find out more visit www.onlinebld.com

Olympic Games launch Coventry’s Ricoh Arena will be the first stadium to host an Olympic event during the London 2012 Games. The venue will showcase a women’s football match on July 25, two days ahead of the opening ceremony in London.

Historic trail comes alive The Tanzanian president, Jakaya Kikwete, has announced the construction of a £22 million museum in the Serengeti to showcase the 3.6m-year-old Laetoli trail, site of the earliest known hominid footprints.

World Book Day Next Thursday (Mar 3) is World Book Day, the annual celebration of books, which will see one million books given away for free across the UK and Ireland by National Book Tokens.

Sweet turns sour

Sugar, the teenage girls’ magazine, is to close after a dramatic fall in its circulation. It has suffered a 75 per cent drop over the past decade. Publisher Hachette Filipacchi blamed young readers’ appetite for free content.

JLR’s popular graduate scheme Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) received more than 6,500 applications for just 280 graduate recruitment places this year. Applications were up 68 per cent than in 2010, and have more than tripled in two years. The Warwickshire-based manufacturing company’s graduate scheme runs for two years.

Banned driver caught speeding A disqualified Birmingham driver, Harkamaljit Hayer, who was involved in a high-speed police chase after stealing his father’s Mercedes has been spared a prison sentence. At Wolverhampton Crown Court, Hayer, 24, from Perry Barr, admitted aggravated vehicle taking, driving dangerously, while disqualified and without insurance. He was given a 12 month jail term, suspended for 18 months.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

11

12

MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Scrutator’s “The Barack Obama administration has launched a concerted and aggressive campaign on behalf of United States's fighter aircraft manufacturers to push for the 'mother of all deals' – the $11billion medium multi-role combat aircraft deal for 126 fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force.,” wrote veteran Washington DC-based reporter Aziz Haniffa, who continued: “ The deal could give the ailing US economy a major boost in terms of both exports and thousands of jobs. US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke, who met Defence Minister A.K.Antony and senior officials of the IAF during his India visit made a strong pitch fot the US aircraft at every opportunity.....” Rediff.com (February 15).

To demonstrate the intensity of these US endeavours, Mr Haniffa told how Ashley Tellis, Senior Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, had “pilloried the Russian [Mig 35} aircraft saying it was the 'weakest of the contenders' for the contract,” the other vendors being Sweden's Grippen, France's Rafale, American Boeing F/A 18 Super Hornet and Lockheed's F16 Super Viper and the Eurofighter Typhoon produced by a UK-German-Spanish consortium.

Mr Tellis, in a singular display of bad manners, condescension and downright arrogance, advised: “For heaven's sake don't buy Russian MiG 35” as “it does not have the sensor suites that the Indian Air Force would like,” adding that “it brings no new weapons to the game from an Indian Air Force point of view.”

But isn't the Indian Air Force the best judge of such matters rather than an amateur such as Ashley Tellis whose chosen field is strategic affairs. What is significant about his extraordinary outburst is the lack of reference to aircraft from Sweden, France and the UK-led consortium, all close allies of Washington.

Note of warning A report from Aero India 2011 Bangalore by Nirad Mudur in DNA (February12), a specialist Mumbai-based defence publication, said that India and Russia had “finalised the base design model for their $6 billion Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft programme....{this} also indicates the nature of things to come on India's final selection of the $10 billion deal to procure 126 Medium weight MultiRole Combat Aircraft. And it does not appear bright for the Americans who have come to Aero India 2011 with Boeing's F/A 18 Super Hornet and Lockheed Martin's F16 IN Super Viper – previously considered as one of the two of which one would be signed by September this year.”

Mr Mudur quoted Mikhail Pogosyan, ace designer and General Director of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation, as saying the MiG 35 has already made modifications as per Indian Air Force requirements, and that Russia was ready to make the technology transfer wanted by India. The battle has been joined.

Roll on, September.

US doubts over untested partner James Lamont in the Financial Times (February 18) spiced up the tale by referring to the US Ambassador's doubts, expressed to his superiors at home, about the suitability of Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) as partner to Boeing or Lockheed Martin in the technology transfers that would accompany the successful bid for the Indian contract.

Mr Lamont pointed out that HAL had handled machines from Russia, France and Britain, producing an estimated 3,600 planes and helicopters: HAL's turnover last year was $2.5 billion. But Ambassador Timothy Roemer told his government; “The potential for HAL to successfully partner with US firms on a truly advanced aircraft remains

were engaged in 30 major research projects. It was a significant step forward which boded well for Indo-US defence ties, as Washington's technology denial regime against DRDO and kindred Indian organisations had ended.

Telecom scam India's telecom scam has reached a new stage with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressing his willingness to

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not in his prime!

bankers' bonuses in the UK. The Lex Columnist saw the Gandhi sentiment as ritual “breast beating. Yet investors need to believe in it, too.” You bet they do. They invested in Hosni Mubarak and the Bahraini royals for decades, did they not?

British aid to India The vexed issue of British aid to India has reappeared on the pages of the London-based print media. The Times devoted an entire page (with pictures) to Francis Elliott, who reported: “Britain is about to perform an embarrassing U-turn, agreeing to continue giving India £300 million a year in aid – even though officials in Delhi said that they do not need it.”

In June, Andrew Mitchell, the International Development Secretary, had hinted that India was becoming too rich to be worthy of so much British money. But he apparently had a change of mind, with India still home to a third of the world's poor. Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh were the other Subcontinental nations receiving British aid.

Aid to India was proving controversial. After all, the country's economic growth was significant. Which was not the point. What rankled with Mr Elliott was Indian civil servants saying they would help if Britain wished to stop aid to India and divert it to needier corners of the globe.

The India that these people live in – a nuclear power that builds its own cruise missiles and fighter aircraft and even has its own overseas aid and space programmes – is not the country that most citizens experience [which is true of the UK and US surely].....Delhi's indifference, even ingratitude, is bound to grate at a time when belts are being tightened at home, but this should be set aside.”

Mr Elliot pointed to the state of Bihar, where poverty levels were high, but as real progress in poverty alleviation was being made it would be a shame to stop the aid at this critical juncture. This was also the view of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, too, he said.

The Daily Telegraph editorial had a broadly similar take (February 15). It understood the logic behind the decision to continue aid to India, there still being significant pockets of poverty in the country; but with the Indian economy growing at its present high rate, New Delhi was well capable of shouldering the burden of poverty reduction without British help.

untested and suspect”, the cable revealed by WikiLeaks appear before a joint parliamenhad been seen by the reporter. tary committee of inquiry. A The US embassy in New Financial Times leader Delhi, the State Department in (February 17) - “Message to Washington and Ashok Nayak, India: Reform is impossible the HAL chairman in without fighting corruption” Dhaka glitz Bangalore, had refused to comstarts thus: “Few people doubt ment. that Manmohan Singh is an Mike Atherton, the former A word of cheer, Rhys upright, erudite politician, English cricket captain, and Blakely, reporting for The Times above the corruption that has now The Times principal crickfrom Mumbai (February 16), mired his political allies. Not et Correspondent produced a told of Tata's sights “on the when you are prime minister of fulsome report (February 21) booming Indian arms market,” India, it is not enough to be on the opening ceremony of the proof of which was its joint venclean yourself. A booming ICC Worlld Cup in Dhaka, the ture with Lockheed Martin to economy has created more huge following the game commake parts for military aircraft. scope for corruption. By failing mands in the country and Lockheed had sold India six Cto stamp down on graft, even Bangladesh's creditable show130 transport aircraft in a deal among close associates, Mr ing in their match against India, Righteous indignation worth $1billion and hoped to Singh is frittering away the which got the tournamernt off sell six more. The new venture, chance to modernise the counto a blazing start.

Mr Elliott gave vent to rightcalled Tata Lockheed Martin try.... He is a brilliant econoThe home side were well eous indignation. “For the selfaeronautics, will make parts for mist: he should have been just beaten but not disgraced. serving Delhi elite that likes to the C-130 and hoped to find the man to enact structural Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, propagate the myth of 'shining customers outside India. It will reforms. Instead corruption has along with India, are the host India' , overseas aid is, at best, also provide the US company paralysed parliament and nations. an awkward embarrassment. with a bridge to the derailed any other business of Subcontinent. government.”

Meanwhile, the respected This is fair and just critiDeccan Herald newspaper cism. The Indian prime minis(February13) teasingly reported ter has it in him to take this on that the deal for 126 frontline the chin and introduce remeaircraft for the Indian Air Force dial measures to strengthen the was likely to be increased to administration through timely 260, if so the money earned by action. the successful vendor would be The FT's Lex Column in the range of $25 billion. US (February 18), looking through losers, if this turns out to be the his glass, darkly noted that the case, might qualify for photoIndian government's “deficit is graphs of the year. The increase expected to top 5.5 per cent of in plane numbers had been output – among Asia's highest – brought on by the possibility of in the current year to March.....

India facing a two-front war.

Entreaties from Sonia Gandhi, The Herald also reported that the Congress party leader India's total acquisition of the “the broad mass of people must Russian-built Sukhoi 30 MKIs believe in the fairness of the A view of Banbandhu Stadium ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 Opening would reach 280.

Ceremony in Dhaka system if it is to survive” - is as A Pioneer newspaper report true of India as it is of the par(February 17) quoted Indian liamentary expenses scam and Defence Minister A.K.Antony as saying: “We are modernising our armed forces on the basis of a comprehensive review of the emergency scenario around us.”

Business Standard online (February 12) told how Defence & Development (DRDO) Chief V.K.Saraswat, addressing a press conference during Aero India 2011 in Bangalore, India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on a rickshaw had revealed that DRDO during the opening ceremony of the 2011 ICC Cricket and US counterparts Bangladesh cricket captain Shakib Al Hasan acknowledges World Cup at the Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook: The Politics of Privacy Ratan Tata had his phone tapped. He complained about it. He said there should be a privacy law. No one cared. I cared. I wrote a piece online on IndiaIncorporated.com. I got a response from a Delhi lawyer that I was wrong. I wasn’t. I was on the side of Ratan Tata.

Chances are, on Mr Tata’s side, I’d never be wrong.

Here’s a summary of my argument: “Indians have died for a simple just business request he made this week. I have been in court to enforce my right.

Not in my case illicit phone taps, but illicit tapping into my personal and business emails. So I know a little about what I am talking about and Ratan Tata is right.

Indian soldiers fought and died in the Second World War. You know what they were fighting for? You know what the Nazis fundamentally were attacking. The family. How do I know the protection of the family was what the Second World War was about – for what the Indian soldiers and allies fought for and died?

Because when the war ended, European powers worked on enacting the European Convention on Human Rights. These are not simply individual rights, they are rights so that never again will the family be under threat.

Rights to marriage for instance. Rights to privacy. People died for these rights.

Indians died for these rights.

Let me remind you what 60 short years ago they died for: “Considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10 December 1948; Considering that this Declaration aims at securing the universal and effective recognition and observance of the Rights therein declared…Right to respect for private and family life. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.” This right in Article 8, nestles alongside other trivial ones such as the “Right to Life”, “Prohibition of Torture”, “Prohibition of Slavery”, “Freedom of Religion”.

When recently the wife of a businessman in the UK who founded the Del Monte empire accessed his personal and business emails and sought to use them in divorce proceedings to extend her financial claim, the British courts –enforced his right to privacy under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, they told the wife she committed acts of criminality under the Data Protection Act and Data Misuse Act. She potentially faces a prison sentence.

The people who snooped on Ratan Tata are not facing prison. Why not? In Britain, journalists tapping phone conversations have been put in prison. In India they have not. Which is the better business environment? Mr Tata you are right.

And in case you are thinking, ‘why should businessman want to be so private unless they have something to hide?’ Presumably you want Coca-Cola to print the formula for its drink.

Presumably you have no need for intellectual property? And if you do not believe in Intellectual property protected by privacy, then you do not believe in private property. Think of that as you read this on your private laptop, in the privacy of your home, paid for by profits from exploitation of the private intellectual property of your employer.

But no, commercial sensitivity is not the root of my case, nor of Ratan Tata’s.

It is this - my case is summed up thus: I sent an email to my sister offering her money if she needed it to pay her rent, bills. She’s young, in her 20s. I am her brother and in business. If you cannot see what is sacred in brother talking to sister, then you can have your society and keep it, for it is gone to hell already.

Still not convinced Ratan is right?

Consider then that you are on the wrong end of saints not just business leaders – “The saint and poet seek privacy to ends the most public and universal: and it is the secret of culture, to interest the man more in his public, than in his private quality,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson.”

Silver Star Forum discusses new health landscape Over 160 GP’s and pharmacists attended the Silver Star Forum to hear Earl Howe, the Health Minister and Rt. Hon John Healey MP, the Shadow Health Secretary discuss the new health landscape on Wednesday 16th February 2011 The seminar held in the House of Commons played host to some of the leading voices of the healthcare profession, including Chair of the Health Select Committee, Rt. Hon Stephen Dorrell MP, Professor David Taylor of the University of London, Professor Naveed Sattar, Professor of Metabolic Medicine at the University of Glasgow and Dr. Sarah Jarvis, GP and author of ‘Diabetes for Dummies’. The speakers and attendees discussed commissioning and its impact on community pharmacists, with Valerie

13

A peep through the curtain

Race relations in Britain A few days back PM David Cameron in his speech at Munich, talked about multiculturalism that has failed in Britain.

Though there have been communities that have probably not integrated well enough in the British Big Society, the Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Jews from the Asian subcontinent have come a long way.

There were certain circumstances that have not ceased to exist. The immigration issues, racial discriminations, not appreciated in art and culture have continued in a different scale. Jean Sean rightly pointed out that he failed to earn fame in British Music world.

Last week's Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar had reported about an intolerant school teacher who sprayed on Asian children alleging that they smelt of curry.

We still have the government streamlining visa rules with scrapping of Tier 1 (General) and changes in PSW along with Tier 2 sponsorship.

These radical changes have definitely complicated the free flow of cultures and people between South Asia and Britain.

New Life, 33 years ago around the same time, was reporting about racial discrimination and fighting for the rights of legal immigrants and asylum seekers. There were stories and sincere attempts to integrate the the immigrants as Britons. There were stories of family sacrifices and efforts to live in a close nit environment. It

goes without saying the British Indians since Idi Amin's expulsion, have worked very hard and lived through many horrors to reach their goals.

Here is a recap journey of those Asians and their struggle to be a sincere part of the Queen's land.

24th February 1978 l Eleven Asians steered through Ugandan terror: A family of shrewd and likeable Ugandan Asians, who had to flee to Britain on November 5,

1972, feels proud and lucky to in Grantham, Lincolnshire, the birthplace of Opposition leader Margaret Thatcher. The Janet family including 4 adults and seven children crossed the Ugandan Kenyan border on a bus with documents obtained by bribing a Ugandan official. They sat in terror as others with less convincing papers were dragged out of vehicles, to be beaten and whipped by soldiers. The escape was organised by Nadar Shah, who had fled to

Vice-Chair of the Diabetes APPG Vaz MP chairing a said: plenary session “Whatever assessing the impact changes the of reforms on diaGovernment betes and the role makes to the community pharmahealth service, it is cists can play. vital that they are Earl Howe, the well thought out Health Minister, and openly disspoke about the cussed with all of need for joined up the relevant stakeworking with local holders.

Silver pharmacists and Star’s event sucGP’s and also precessfully brought sented Matthew together policy Hancock MP with makers and those the award for winaffected by ning the Silver Star Government plans 50 Day for commissionParliamentary ing. The speeches Health Challenge.

Launched in Prof Sattar, Dr Jarvis, Valeries Vaz, MP, Prof Taylor during the panel discussion and discussions held this afternoon January 2007, Silver healthcare, with particular The Mobile Diabetes will help dictate the effecStar is a registered charity regard to the high prevaAssessment Units have tiveness of our health campaigning to provide lence of diabetes in the testing equipment, beds, service and community diabetes awareness. The major towns and cities of washing facilities and an services, such as pharmaCharity runs Mobile Britain. The Units travel entrance for disabled peocists for years to come.”

Diabetes Units (MDU) to local community cenple.

Dr. Malde Modwhadia, that carry out important tres, schools, work places Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP, Silver Star Chairman of diabetes testing and proand other organisations.

Silver Star Patron and Trustees said: “I am mote culturally sensitive

Holland five years earlier and been trying to rescue his sister, her husband and family, and his uncle and aunt and their children ever since. l Faith in multi racial society: In a sharp contrast to the outside race rumpus and chasing of 'Alf garnett' votes following the three week old Thatcher-Race-Muddle, tolerant and understanding Britons of all shades of skin reinforced their eagerness to lead a happy life in a multi-racial society at a reception they gave to various dignitaries at the Brent Town Hall. Among others, Alerman Philip Hartley, Commission for Racial Equality Deputy Chairman Pranlal Seth and Mr Nalannikant T Pandya were honoured for their outstanding contribution for Race Relations in Britain by the Trustees of the Sanatan Dharma Mandal (Cultural and Educational) UK. The hosts included members from European, Asian, African and Jewish communities. l The Indian Government has sent two officers to Oman to investigate complaints of serious ill treatments of Indian emigrants in oil rich Sheikhdoms in skilled and unskilled jobs. l Multiracial cultural programme aids cyclone fund: In a genuinely multi community atmosphere, a ￡1,100 cheque for the Indian cyclone relief fund was handed over to the Indian High Commissioner by Preston Mayor Cllr Joe Hood at a special concert at the town's Guild Hall. delighted at the turn out at the Forum. Prevention of diabetes is essential because is it an extremely costly condition for this country in terms of both lives and money.”

“With a person dying every 10 seconds and the NHS spending ￡1 million an hour on diabetes and its complications, it is essential that the health service dedicates the necessary resources and services towards raising awareness and treating this condition.”

Asian Voice asked Earl Howe, the Health Minister if the changes in NHS will increase the cost and the red tape. To that he said that the new rule would ensure the government saves at least ￡ 1.7bn as a reduction in management cost. This will not increase waiting time or bureaucracy. It will rather make sure that productivity goes up!

14

COMMUNITY

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Helping Businesses in the Community Kantesh Popat most popularly known as “Ken”, a Ugandan Asian of Gujarati decent born in Tororo Uganda came to the UK as a 9 year old. He Studied at the Harrow College of Further Education and Willesden College of Technology respectively and went on to achieve a higher National Diploma in Business Studies at the Hammersmith and West London College. On leaving college he worked at various companies gaining experience in manufacturing, logistics, accountancy and management which underpinned his ambition to establish his own business.

He is the youngest brother in a family of six and now married to Rekha with two sons Shyam and Suraj.

His first foray into a self employed environment was with his family when he and they acquired 3 sub post offices in North London area where he was instrumental and in the process became the youngest post master in the region. In 1987 Ken went into business on his own account, he bought a 19 bed Dual Care Home in Swindon simultaneously he established a Specialist Business Transfer Agency dealing with the sale of Residential Care and Nursing Homes throughout England and Wales. In 1995 he went into partnership to build, open and operate a group of Homes in North London this lead to him establish his own Independent Commercial Finance Brokerage what is now his core business as Financial Advisor .

Ken founded Finance House Limited, now based in Kenton, Harrow some 21 years ago and it is now one of the most successful Independent Commercial Finance Brokers in the South East of England. He recognises that small and medium sized businesses in particular face financial turmoil in today’s strained market and he concentrates his initial efforts on fully understanding client need before structuring and or restructuring

Direct ors – Ve niso ns, Ealing Road .

Mr Kantesh (Ken) Popat with his wife Rekha Popat

their finances thus ensuring firm foundations are in place going forward. Despite these somewhat challenging times his business is carrying work in progress of well in excess of some £40,000,000. In addition Ken has built up a strong network of Banks willing to assist with mainly not for profit , community based projects and over the years he has assisted places of Worship, Community Centres, and Educational Charities Establishments, taking no account of the ethnicity of any applicant.

Ken and his team, whilst being a small close knit unit , have a wealth of knowledge across all sections of commercial finance and in the last year funding was organised for Going Concerns, both Retail and Industrial, Leisure, Hospitality, Catering, Health Care, Investment Properties and Development .

Alongside his regular finance business he has also developed a 121 bedroom Hotel in the Midlands (now run under management), and more recently acquired and redeveloped a service station in Barking which is now a landmark site for both Texaco and Spar with a turnover

of £10M p.a.

Some recent achievements in securing finance in today’s economic times are:Venison’s of Ealing Road Wembley: Long established and renowned specialist retailer operating from a number of sites on the prestigious Ealing Road required substantial acquisition funds and restructuring of existing debt. Own Bankers were unable to help, FHL negotiated the monies required through Lloyds Bank and met the time deadlines set by the borrower.

Highly complex transaction as properties in Ealing Road ,Wembley achieve huge prices when compared to neighbouring shopping centres / streets but FHL was able to convince the Bank that the values put forward were factual and this was confirmed by the Banks own Independent Valuers. “ Finance House has made a big difference in assisting us in raising corporate funding when all other avenues were not available to us. There support and expertise has made a huge difference and we would certainly rate them as the very best I have worked with”.

Ashok Verma bags Bharat Gaurav Award

Shehnai Banqueting Suite, Reading: An antagonistic partnership split whereby the working partner was set a short timeline by his co - founding partner to buy him out. A complex transaction as the business was only established less than 3 years ago and we were reliant upon projections to substantiate long term repayability. Existing Bankers could not help so new source had to be found .We had a 4pm deadline and were able to complete at 3:40pm.

“Ken has achieved for us what we would never have dreamt of, without his support and expertise we could not have achieved our success” Direct ors – Shehn ai Banque ting Suites, Readin g.

Gurjar Hindu Union, Crawley – GHU Ltd A well structured community project many years in the making prior to their approach to FHL, their existing funders did not understand the structure of the proposal and we were able to bring Barclays to the table whilst ensuring that the Independent Valuers properly understood both the aims of the trustees and how the monies borrowed would be repaid. The land/site was technically in the ownership of the Local Authority until the complex was up and opened and despite this the Bank still provided the funding. Both we and the Bank through its lead Manager still keep a close eye on progress. A true funding partnership.

Silver Star Appeal: A Leicester based mobile, diabetes screening unit needed to acquire freehold office and storage premises in the city. FHL secured the funds required together with free banking for the Charity all secured on the freehold with no personal liabili-

ty to the Trustees.

Despite his success Ken has never forgotten where he came from and he is seriously committed to putting something back into the community and helping others without thought of reward. Ken over past years has been heavily involved in raising funds and helping to provide for the less fortunate through various Charities and Organisations.

He was nominated as President of Lions Club of Southgate & was a RIP ROARING YEAR under Ken’s Presidency. He proved instrumental in establishing 2 new schools in Gujarat, India partnering with Care Education whereby upwards of 1000 students are currently being educated. These schools provide free education, meals and medical care to all of the pupils irrespective of religion, cast or creed.

Ken has also been active with many other Charitable Organisations including Bhakti Vedanta Manor Foundation & The Shamakti Mission, he is also one of the founder members of Vaishnav Sangh of UK , encouraging and supporting them in their objectives.In his everyday life Ken is both highly influenced and inspired by the teachings of Pujya Indira Betiji Mahodaya 108 (JIJI) and he continually strives to maintain the high levels of morality set by her.

Ken has recently been awarded the “Business in Community Award” by Sir George Young at the Asian Voice Political & Public Life Awards ceremony held at the House of Commons on 17th February 2011.

For those who know Ken this is a very well deserved award he is acknowledged for his remarkable contribution recognising both his ability and willingness to assist both the business and wider communities by bringing to bear his considerable business experience combined with his moral and ethical approach to life.

A Hindustani Classical recital at Nehru Centre

Mr Ashok Verma receives the award in presence of other dignitaries and Baroness Sandeep Verma

Mr Ashok Verma was conferred upon a 'Bharat Gaurav Award' for his meritorious services, outstanding performance and remarkable role in the society. The award was presented to him by the Indian Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Pawan K. Bansal at the Global Friendship Day, organised by IIFS, on 6th January 2011 in Delhi at Hotel Lemeridian

Janpath, New Delhi.

Indian International Friendship Society (IIFS) is more than a decade old engageds in patriotic activities, such as coordinating India’s and NRI’s efforts in creating joint ventures and encourage active participation of NRIs in Indian development projects as well as nourishing the bond with their motherland. IIFS organises

conferences periodically such as 'Global Friendship Day' in national metros and cities abroad.

This year the event was attended by NRIs, Lords, Members of Parliament, Businessmen, Industrialists, Dignitaries, Politicians, Intellectuals, Industrialists, Senior Diplomats and more.

Baroness Sandip Verma was the Chief Guest.

Anirban accompanied on Tabla by Anirudhha Mukherjee and on Harmonium By Debipriya Sarkar

A Hindustani Classical recital ‘Ignition Anirban’ by Anirban Bhattacharyya took place at Nehru Centre on 8th February.

Born in Kolkata, Anirban is a disciple of Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty and a teacher in Shrutinandan.

A ‘President of India Awardee’ in Kheyal-Thumri and a

National Scholar himself, Anirban portrayed ‘Radha’s longing for Krishna’ through the Raagas Madhumanti, Saraswati and Sohini. Anirban was accompanied on Tabla by Anirudhha Mukherjee and on Harmonium By Debipriya Sarkar.

EDUCATION / COUNCIL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Indian head teacher victim of racial abuse Sudhana Singh, 44, head teacher of Moorlands Primary School in Reading is suing her school claiming that a “playground mafia” of racist parents have made her life a misery and the school stance has added to the cause.

She is alleging that some parents are complained “That bloody Indian woman should not be in charge of our children." According to Mrs Singh, school governors have failed to investigate her formal complaint of racism amongst the parents, while some pupils hold deep racist attitudes

Sudhana Singh

as children revealed how their parents "hated blacks".

A petition among parents calling for Mrs Singh to be sacked was organised, and it was handed to

Beaten for teaching world religions Continued from page 1 Smith, 37 who is a professional religious education teacher suffers a fracture in the skull and is cut from mouth to ears. The mob has been pleaded guilty and face jail for the horrific attacks they launched while the teacher was walking his way to school.

Detectives made secret recordings of the gang’s plot to attack Mr Smith prior to the brutal assault.

The covert audio probe captured the gang condemning Mr Smith for ‘teaching other religions to our sisters’, the Snaresbrook Crown Court heard and it is also believed the gang had made two previous

attempts to attack. The RE teacher was also targeted on July 12 last year while walking through Burdett Road near Mile End. But, the attack did not make him quit his profession.

The four muslim boys face a jail sentence and are ordered custody till the sentence on the date is confirmed.

Akmol Hussein of Bethnal Green, Sheikh Rashid of Shadwell, Azad Hussain of Wapping and Simon Alam of Whitechapel have all admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent. A fifth defendant, Badruzzuha Uddin (23) of Shadwell admitted assisting the thugs by hiding blood-stained clothing.

the local education authority. Reading borough council, which maintains the school, then gave the go-ahead for an independent inquiry.

Mrs Singh said she was horrified that the council caved in to the "demands of the playground mafia" and was placed on compulsory leave while the inquiry continued. Mrs Singh is suing the school's governing body and the council for alleged race discrimination, harassment and victimisation.

In legal papers submitted to Reading Employment Tribunal, Mrs Singh describes how she had a hitherto highly successful 20 year teaching career. She is of Indian origin but started her teaching career in South Africa.

She was deputy head at a primary school in Slough, Berkshire, before joining Moorlands in September 2009.

The school's governing body and Reading borough council are denying her allegations. They cite the inquiry's findings that Mrs Singh could be "intimidating" and some staff had left the school because of difficulties working with her.

According to the 44 year old head teacher, she encountered hostility and aggression from a group of parents described by the previous head teacher as a "playground mafia".

15

Return of the 'Tory teacher'?

Kartik.S.Raval This week education system has been surrounded by incidents of religious attacks and racial discrimination. Hence there couldn't be a better time to launch Katharine Birbalsingh's book To Miss with Love that addresses the rising hostility from children and parents as well as depicts serious concerns of education system going into the vice grip of violence and hatred on the basis of real life incidents.

Katharine Birbalsingh came into spotlight after giving an exposing speech about the failures of state schools at the Tory party conference as she was invited by Steve Hilton, the Tories' Director of Strategy to address the Conservatives. Though she just gave an overview of the diminishing accountability of the state schools she left with the label of the 'Tory teacher' putting state education out of her bounds as she lost her job at St Michaels and All Angels Academy.

She was offered a job at a state school but with a condition that she keeps her head down, reinvent herself and not side with the right when asked to.

These were the conditions that Katharine was not

she has witnessed in five schools in the last decade. The incidents are from real life but the characters are fiction. She describes in depth how children are destroyed by England's chaotic, sometimes violent, state schools and the left-leaning liberalism of their teachers.

She has also openly stated that though results at some state have Katharine at Tory party conference schools that got her famous but jobless improved, the standard of education and ready to accept and hence discipline have hit the the only way it looked she rock bottom. She also could get back to her promentions that many fession was to leave the schools tend to be very libcountry till the time estaberal in assessing exam lishment of free schools results and keep them was announced. This has high, so that more parents pumped fresh hope into send their kids to their the Oxford graduate who schools. With Katharine's is now set to return to her book likely to catch a lot much loved profession of of attention with her reputeaching. She was shorttation of being outspoken listed as Deputy Head at and reflecting the real picWest London free school ture, there is no doubt it is established by famous going to spark a lot of writer Toby Young. debate and argument in However, Young felt her the coming weeks. capabilities would be Moreover, if she finally wasted as a deputy head returns to the education and she can bring major system with her own free positive reforms if she school, there will be no goes solo in opening her lack of critics that will be own school. wanting to evaluate the In her book To Miss level of teaching adminiswith Love, Katharine trated at the school ran by Birbalsingh gives a total the famous 'Tory teacher'. account of failures which

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

!

www.incredibleindia.org

Bollywood

16 Asian Voice Saturday 26th February 2011

Judging tougher than acting: Madhuri Smiling Sneha donates her eyes!

Kollywood actress Punnagai Arasi Sneha has volunteered to donate her eyes!

Recently, we read that Sneha has joined Rotary Club and is working for the cause to eradicate Polio from the world and she was speaking about the same in a meeting held at SRM College Campus. Recently, she walked into Rajan Eye Care Hospital in Chennai and straight away filled up the form for donating her eyes!!!

Hospital authorities rushed to Sneha and took the signed form her. It was then held as a function so as to educate

other people also in donating their eyes after death! Speaking in the specially held function, Sneha said "By donating my eyes, I get an opportunity to live further even after the death."

I don't believe in arranged marriage: Trisha

"I want to learn about the would-be man before marriage and there is no question of parents arranging my marriage," declares Trisha who is in the edge of retiring from Kollywood!!! "I first want to understand the man's mind, charector etc., and he should love my mom / dad the way he loves me," says Trisha while

commenting on How her Wouldbe should be!!!

She also declares that she will not count caste and creed while searching for a suitable man for her. The only condition is that the man should be handsome!

She also adds that "Just because women in Kollywood are getting married, there is no compulsion that I should opt for a marriage." According to details, Trisha's dad had recommended a boy and soon she will settle with that boy. She want to go with her dad's advice as Mr Krishnan is living separately as he totally disapproves her daughter being an actor!

Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit, finds judging tougher than acting while she is enjoying her second stint on television almost after a decade with 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa'. She is also likely to appear in the fifth season of the dance reality show.

"I feel judging is more difficult than acting. Acting we can do easily. In judging one has to see and understand the work first and then comment. Also, one has to make them (contestants) realise their flaws and guide them to excel," Madhuri said.

The 43-year-old actress, who made her television debut with 'Kahin Na Kahin Koi Hai', a marriage-based reality show in 2001, said, "talks about the fifth season of 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa' are on. Lets see how things work out."

The Dhak-Dhak girl, before taking up the show, went to Los Angeles to see the original version of the show – 'Dancing with stars'. "I am happy with the Indian version of the show. I am enjoying it completely," Madhuri said.

On her journey in 'Jhalak Dikhla Jaa', Madhuri said, "as a judge I feel more comfortable now. I am enjoying this. I feel I know the contestants bet-

ter. I know their strengths and weaknesses. All and all its been a wonderful expe-

rience."

"From this journey of dance show I have learned nothing is impossible.

When I see Meiyang Chang (a contestant) I remember his first performance... and his present... there is a drastic change. When you put in your mind and hard work you can achieve everything," the actress added.

Madhuri will be in India till March for the filming of this dance reality show that she is judging alongside choreographer Remo D'Souza and Malaika Arora Khan.

The show started with 12 celebrity contestants and now has six – Sushant Singh Rajput, Ankita Lokhande, Mahi Vij, Yana Gupta, Ragini Khanna and Meiyang Chang competing for the title.

Asked about her favourite contestant, the diva said, "It has to be one who takes ten marks every time - Sushant. He is too good and dances beautifully. There is Chang, who has grown tremendously and then Mahi who was another non-dancer, her confidence level and dancing both has improved." On films, Madhuri said, "There are offers but nothing is decided as of now. Once I sign any film I shall let you all know about it."

Sanjay Dutt keen on Ash in ‘Satte Pe Satta’ remake Sanjay Dutt is keen on Aishwarya Rai Bachchan as the female lead in his “Satte Pe Satta” remake. If all goes well, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be playing Sanjay Dutt's wife, in the “Satte Pe Satta” remake produced by Dutt's production house.

Says an insider, "We don't know how the rumour started that Vidya Balan had been signed to play Sanju's wife in the remake. Nobody even approached her. Dutt is extremely keen that we sign Aishwarya to play the female lead opposite him. He is adamant that only Ash fits the role. The actress is keen on the idea of doing the film if everything else works out."

The source adds, "The script writer along with the director of Satta Pe Satta, Soham Shah, will fly down to New Zealand next week to give her a story narration. Ash is holidaying there with husband Abhishek, who is shooting in

Wellington for AbbasMastan's Players, along with Sonam Kapoor."

Aishwarya and Sanjay Dutt have earlier worked together in David Dhawan's “Hum Kisise Kum Nahin” and Leena Bajaj's “Shabd.”

“Satte Pe Satta” is about six lazy brothers. The eldest one, Ravi (Amitabh Bachchan) falls in love with Indu (Hema Malini) and marries her.

She comes home and starts taking care of Ravi's brothers.

All of them change themselves. They love six girls and bring them to their home forcefully along with Seema (Ranjeeta), whose uncle Ranjit Singh (Amjad Khan) is after her wealth. He kidnaps Ravi and sends Babu, his lookalike, to kill Seema. But Babu changes and falls in love with Seema. When the brothers come to know that their brother has been kidnapped, they fight Ranjit and bring Ravi back.

Gowtham Menon wants to direct Rajini, Kamal

Big B, Sonakshi join cast for 'Housefull' sequel

Gowtham Menon wants to direct Kamal and Rajini in a single movie!!! He has created a place in Kollywood and is now busy doing his ‘Nadunisi Naaykal.’

Gowtham spoke to reporters and was discussing about his latest project.

While speaking, he said "Few years before I met a psychology specialist who was detailing me about a patient with a different issue. The interaction with the psychologist gave me idea about making the movie Nadunisi Naaykal." Gowtham continued "I was searching for a person who can take up the lead role who according to the story suffers with a peculiar psychic disorder. I found my assistent Veera suitable for it and have assigned him the job."

Now, shooting for the movie is complete and all related works are over. The movie is ready for release.

Amitabh Bachchan has joined hands with Akshay Kumar for “Housefull” sequel.

The cast of Sajid Nadiadwala's “Housefull 2” directed

by Sajid Khan seems to be getting bigger by the day. While it is known that Akshay Kumar, Riteish Deshmukh, John Abraham, Asin, Jacqueline Fernandez, Chunky Pandey, Randhir and Rishi Kapoor are already in the sequel, the makers have now managed a coup of sorts by signing none other than Amitabh Bachchan for a pivotal role in the film.

The buzz is that Big B's dates are available only post July which has resulted in the schedule of “Housefull 2” being a bit delayed. Besides Big B, the search for the third heroine also seems to have ended and the word doing the rounds is that it's none other than Sonakshi Sinha who has bagged the plum role.

With a plethora of actors signed for this one, this 'House' is already getting 'Full' real fast.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

17

Hrithik looking forward to successful innings in television Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan is looking forward to a successful innings in small screen after his two previous films bombed at the box office. He will be making his television debut as a judge in a dance reality show soon.

"Only after biggest failure comes the biggest success," Hrithik said, after his biggies, 'Kites' and 'Guzaarish', failed to create magic at the box office.

"It has been 10 years in the industry and I still believe, I am an aspiring actor. I still have to see and learn things," said Hrithik, who made his debut in 2000 with 'Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai'.

The 37-year-old actor, who will be seen as a judge on Star Plus' dance reality show 'Just Dance' alongside ace choreographers Farah Khan and Vaibhavi Merchant, said, "TV is a bigger medium...the size, it fools you. I was never inclined to television but the con-

cept and the spirit of the show drove me to be part of it."

"I never thought I would do 'Guzaarish' or 'Dhoom' or 'Kites' but I liked the concept...and so did it," he added.

About reports that he is being paid approximately Rs 20 million per episode, Hrithik said, "I think I am paid well."

The auditions for the show will begin from February 27 while the show is expected to be aired in summer.

On dancing skills, the actor said, "I don't think there is any God of Dance. I don't think I am one. Dance is beyond doing those steps… its an expression…an emotion."

Hrithik considers veteran actor Shammi Kapoor as the ultimate dancer. "He was someone who danced beyond steps and had his own expressions and movements."

Tanu Weds Manu

The actor revealed that he considers King of Pop, Michael Jackson his mentor.

When asked who he loves to see on TV among Amitabh Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan, Hrithik said, "I love to see all of them on small screen.

They all bring so much of magic...I look up to them."

About the competition, Hrithik said, "I have always believed that the spirit of competition drives others to push ahead.

Competition drives passion and brings innovation."

B-town hottie gets Hollywood chance Even before making her debut in Bollywood, model-turned-actress Tena Desae got the chance to act in John Madden's Hollywood film "The Best Exotic Marigold" opposite "Slumdog Millionaire" actor Dev Patel.

Desae, who will be seen in upcoming Hindi film "Yeh Faasley" releasing on March 3, has featured in several commercials for products like Fair & Lovely, Titan Raga, iPill and Hero Honda, among others.

Acting came as a different ball game for her altogether, but she admits that working in both Hollywood and Bollywood was equally

Ranbir says no to Deepika Ranbir Kapoor has refused to work with his ex-love Deepika Pudukone. The “Wake Up Sid” director Ayaan Mukherji wanted to bring Ranbir and Deepika together in his forthcoming venture, but Ranbir is not ready to play the ball.

And because of the history they share, the young filmmaker might have to forget about working with RK's ex, despite being keen on doing so.

The role of the girl in his next is of a modern girl with traditional values - something similar to DP's character in Love Aaj Kal. Reveals a source, "When Ayaan told Ranbir that he wanted to sign Deepika for his next opposite him, RK flatly said no.

Apart from the fact that it would be awkward for him to work with an ex-girlfriend on the sets, her spewing venom on him on Koffee With Karan and the news reports that followed after that, had upset the actor. There still is too much bitterness left between the estranged couple. Now, the director is in a fix."

challenging. "Shooting a film itself was a new experience for me, so it's difficult to say which was more fun or tasking for me, " Desae said. About

working with Dev, she said: "I can't say much about the character but Dev was very down to earth and has no airs of being the 'Slumdog Millionaire' hero, " she added. Desae's journey to Hollywood started through a friend, who introduced her to the director. After a series of auditions, she was selected for the movie, which also features Judi Dench and Bill Nighy.

The decision to shift to the acting world was a tough one for the young girl. "Acting is what I always wanted to do. But it took me a long time to arrive at this decision of taking acting as a career," the actress said.

A romantic comedy flick jointly produced by Viacom 18 Motion Pictures and Paramhans Creations and Movies N More Pvt. Ltd., Tanu Weds Manu is the story of a London groom, Dr. Manu coming to India to find a suitable bride for him. He meets Tanu, a girl with a rebellious mood. The two are poles apart personality wise.

Manu is a straight forward guy, Intelligent, temperate and from a respectable family, the perfect groom which every parent wants for their daughter. 'Family pressure' leads him to Kanpur to meet Tanu the quintessential small town girl who has studied in Delhi.

Tanu is a smart, intelligent girl who will do everything that her parents will disapprove. With a mind of her own and a love for rebellion,

New Hindi movies releasing this week

Top 5 Bollywood movies for the week

1. Satrangee Parachute 2. Tanu Weds Manu

Aamir Khan to sing in ‘Dhoom 3’ Composer Pritam Chakraborty has set aside all his assignments from June to fully focus on the music of “Dhoom 3” which will have a theme song for Aamir Khan which the actor will sing. The last time Aamir sang was the chartbuster “Aati Kya khandala” for JatinLalit in “Ghulam.”

The over-committed music composer with a hit record for the last three years has been asked to concentrate only on the music of “Dhoom 3” from June onwards by producer Aditya Chopra. He would have to complete all his pending assignments and make himself completely free for the YRF film.

Recently Pritam had a closed-door meeting with Aditya Chopra at the Yashraj office where the soft-spoken producer stressed on creating a new sound for “Dhoom 3” including a signature tune for Aamir's character.

Adi has asked Pritam to come up with a song that would make the audience sit up and jump out of their seats every time Aamir strides across the screen.

Pritam confirms, "I've said no to several new assignments, including Double Dhamaal. This is the first time in my entire career that I'd be working with Aamir Khan. We all know how special that makes this project." The biggest challenge is a theme song for AK's villainous character.

Tanu is dead against an arranged marriage.

But destiny holds something totally different for two. Their paths keep crossing time and again and weave this wonderful story through the Indian heartland.

Anand L Rai has directed the film while the story is by Himanshu Sharma. The lead cast of Tanu Weds Manu consists of R Madhavan, Kangna Ranaut, Jimmy Sheirgill, Ravi Kissen, Deepak Dobriyal, Rajendra Gupta, K K Raina, Eijaz Khan and Swara Bhaskar.

Rajshekhar has penned the lyrics, while the music is by Krsna.

Playback has been rendered by Lehmber Hussainpuri, Mohit Chauhan, Ujjaini, Shafqat Amanat Ali, Sunidhi Chauhan, Mika Singh and Wadali Brothers

No. Film Last Week Total Weeks 1 Patiala House New 1 2 Yeh Saali Zindagi 1 2 3 Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji 2 3 4 Yamla Pagla Deewan 3 4 5 Angel New 1

Lara Dutta becomes Mrs Bhupati now

Bollywood actress Lara Dutta and tennis ace Mahesh Bhupathi last week had a registered marriage.

Announcing their wedding on microblogging site Twitter, Mahesh posted his picture with Lara, saying: "Mr and Mrs Bhupathi folks..."

Later the couple will reportedly have a Church wedding in Goa and their sangeet ceremony. After months of speculations that they are dating, Lara, 32, and Mahesh, 36, disclosed their engagement in September last year.

18

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, I said in this column at the start of the year that the US markets will be up about 15% in 2011. Well they are about half way there already and it isn’t even March. Now you may have ignored my comments, or you may have read them and not known what to do with them.

So let me address both issues. Before I do, I am inviting my readers to a free talk I will be giving on 10th March and 29th March, at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, on Pall Mall in Central London. Email me if you’d like to attend.

First, people hearing advice and not doing anything about it. We don’t like simplicity as a species. I could tell you simple and best trading ideas but you would prefer to here some complicated story. People don’t like simple ideas, especially if others can follow them, and can easily understand them. That is why you would have ignored my view on the UK and US markets.

But what about the fact that many readers would not know how to do something about it. You could use, and I declare my familial interest, my uncle’s website – www.sterlingmarkets.com – how terrible am I plugging such a thing – but it happens to be one way to take advantage of my views.

But that is just my view on the US markets. What about my views on India. Or China? Again most people don’t know what to do. Well thankfully online trading and investing has become so sophisticated you can do it without paying commissions, or tax for that matter. For instance with spreadbetting there is neither tax nor commissions.

But again online investing is so much easier than when I first started writing about it 12 years ago in the Financial Times. As well as the benefits just mentioned, you have on the one website and webpage all the products you ever dreamed of. From UK to Chinese stocks to the price of oil and gold and the Dollar.

The reason I mention this is because many people want to dabble in the market. I say dabble, because make no mistake you will lose a lot of money if you decide you want to make a lot money quickly and easily. Play the lottery…and even then you won’t.

I mention the risks because too often I have seen people come to online trading just desperate to lose money. Of course they don’t put it that way. But that is their intent. They come up with some ‘simple’ strategy. But in reality they bet too large a sum on a few ideas and then when the moves don’t immediately go their way – they lose a lot of money. And then they chase the market, over and over again.

Anyway, what other ideas, simple ones do I like for the year? As I said on CNBC last week – fill your boots with oil and gold. Why? Because whether it is inflation, Chinese demand or inflation – oil and gold will continue to rise this year. Simples as they say.

Alpesh Patel (alpesh.patel@tradermind.com)

Indian industrial growth again on a downslide IIP clocks just 1.6% growth in Dec’10 Industrial growth in India showed a downslide in December, 2010.

It clocked a dismal 1.6 per cent that was even worse than 2.7 per cent recorded in the previous month.

However, taken overall as figures from April to December, it remained at 8.6 per cent when compared to the same period of the previous year.

This numbers were a part of the official data released late last week. In December, 2010, manufacturing growth plummeted to 1 per cent from 19.6 per cent a year ago.

Production of consumer non-durables

declined by 1.1 per cent during the month under review, in sharp contrast to 3 per cent growth in the same period a year ago.

The capital goods sector too contracted by 13.7 per cent in December, 2010. The sector had expanded by 42.9 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

However, electricity generation expanded by 6 per cent in December, 2010, compared to 5.4 per cent in December, 2009.

In terms of industries, 12 out of 17 industry groups achieved positive growth in the last month of 2010.

Essar to emerge as a global player after Stanlow refinery acquisition Essar Energy, the London listed oil major and a part of Indian industrial giant Essar group will emerge as a global player in oil refining after acquisition of Shell’s Stanlow refinery is completed. The company will own a capacity that is close to one per cent globally. The Ruis promoted company has struck a deal to buy Royal Dutch Shell’s refinery in northwest England for $350 mn.

Essar will also emerge as the first Indian refiner with a truely global footprint.

"Stanlow is a high quality refinery in terms of

its employees, assets, location and customer base," Essar Energy chief executive Naresh Nayyar said.

Essar owns a refinery at Vadinar in Gujarat which can process 280,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

It also owns a 90,000 bpd unit in Kenya and is expanding Vadinar to 400,000 bpd (20 million tons). Stanlow has a nameplate capacity of

296,000 bpd but currently operates at 220,000 bpd.

Together, it now has a little less than one percent of global oil refining capacity of 88 million bpd.

"Stanlow fits very well with our strategy of providing options for the export of high quality products from our Vadinar refinery," Nayyar said.

Essar plans to use infrastructure at Stanlow to market diesel and jet fuel from Vadinar into Europe, he said.

With Stanlow, Essar now is the third biggest Indian refiner after stateowned Indian Oil and

BP in partnership deal with Indian oil major Reliance UK company to pump in £4.4 bn, India’s largest single FDI deal Reliance Industries, India’s biggest private sector player in oil and gas has signed a deal to bring in the largest single FDI in the country.

British Petroleum or BP is the new partner, taking up a 30% stake in 23 oil and gas blocks. They will also set up a 50:50 joint venture for sourcing and marketing of gas in India.

Mukesh Ambani, majority stake holder in Reliance is India’s richest man, listed at no. 4 in the global richlist of Forbes.

The long-term deal with Reliance, which could see BP pour $20bn into the project, was sealed at Downing Street

on Monday.

The agreement is BP’s second crossborder exploration deal in as many months.

BP is set to enter arbitration with its partners in TNK-BP next month over its £10bn share swap with Russia’s Rosneft.

BP chief executive Bob Dudley told reporters that Reliance’s exploration spaces contain gas reserves of up to 15 trillion cubic feet, adding: “The whole world’s looking for gas, particularly in Asia... we believe it is

going to be a very, very valuable fuel.

Reliance’s tieup with BP is still subject to Indian regulator y approval, which has proved a sticking point for other energy investors in the country including Cairn and Vedanta.

Dudley also said “BP looks forward to a long and successful working partnership with Reliance.

The two companies are well acquainted, with BP having worked with Reliance on the D-17 deepwater block in the Krishna-Godavari basin since December 2008.

Reliance Industries. Its total refining capacity is now more than that of Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroelum.

The transaction expected to close in the second half of 2011.

Stanlow acquisition would be funded from internal sources and potentially a new debt facility.

With controlling stakes held by billionaires Sashi and Ravi Ruia, Essar group is targeting 1 million barrels a day of oil processing capacity after its expands Vadinar in phase-II by 18 million tons.

OZ trade office opened in Ahmedabad After the UK, the Netherlands, Canada and Denmark, Australia is the latest country to have their presence in Gujarat.

Australia’s trade office was opened in Ahmedabad last week end.

Peter Varghese, Australian High Commissioner of India inaugurated the office.

One of the top officials said, “Gujarat can not be ignored. The state is offering huge business opportunity. Nearly 40% of Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) route is passing through Gujarat.

Apart from business friendly state government, prevailing industrial peace is luring many companies from Australia to invest in Gujarat.”

Debt relief for dodgy deals fuels fierce campaign for a clean up

ECGD faces ire of MPs and activists as taxpayers’ money is being used to support allegedly unethical businesses A department of the UK government set up to offer insurance and support to British companies doing business overseas is facing ire of campaigners and MPs as they it is time to reveal the ECGD's full role in bankrolling what it calls "dodgy deals", and to ensure that any new loans under Cable's drive to create an export-led recovery match the government's rhetoric on climate change, child labour and human rights.

ECGD’s deals are supporting Hawk trainer jets for the Indonesian air force, a vast hydroelectric project in Kenya that has been dubbed as “the whitest of white elephant” by the local press there and multibillion dollar oil pipelines through the Caucasus seem the most unlikely recipients of sup-

port that is generated from tax receipts by British citizens, yet they are all recipients of ECGD’s money.

Now, the department is on the scanner of a number of coalition of MPs and activists.

Vince Cable recently announced his aim to extend the remit of the ECGD to help smaller British companies, even as a formidable coalition of campaigners, including Amnesty International and the Jubilee Debt Campaign have demanded a clean up.

Cable has already received more than 7,000

letters urging him to force the ECGD to raise its ethical and environmental standards, and carry out an audit of the £2bn of past loans to some of the world's poorest countries it is still pursuing.

ECGD’s help is meant to be targeted on firms that struggle to find this kind of "credit insurance" on the open market, but in practice that has often meant backing exports in controversial industries such as armaments or to politically risky countries.

More than 90% of developing-world debt to

the UK is owed to the ECGD; countries including Indonesia, Kenya and Pakistan have all paid an average of £700m a year to the department in recent years.

The ECGD stresses that it carries out considerable due diligence on each project, and applies rules set by the OECD on ethics and the environment. "Our job is to support those businesses that cannot get support from the private market," a spokesman said.

More than 100 MPs have signed an early day motion calling for the ECGD to clean up its act.

Veteran Lib Dem MP Malcolm Bruce, who attended the campaign's parliamentary launch recently, says: "We need to challenge the government to really make the ECGD more transparent, more concentrated on small and medium-sized businesses, and to apply real standards about climate change, child labour and human rights."

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

19

Unreal and Real Forms of Wealth

Suresh Vagjiani Managing Director Sow & Reap A Property Investment & Financing company.

Cash in its element is a decreasing form of wealth even an ISA or bank account will not provide protection. A simple comparison with petrol prices will illustrate this. On January 2009 the Diesel price per litre was 100p, in January 2011 the price was 125p this shows an increase of 12.5% per annum. Currently the highest ISA is offering 2.9% p.a. so roughly if you’ve stuck your money in the highest paying ISA your money would be able to buy 20% less petrol than two years ago.

Therefore to keep wealth in the form of cash is clearly not a good idea. The cash should be exchanged for a real form of wealth such as property or gold. These have been considered to be forms of wealth by most civilisations for millennia, long before the concept of creating money from thin air came into play. This is the origin of money. It is simply created into a system and then it exists, it has no reserves to back it.

Yo u need t o start worrying when £200bn is simply created and pu t into the syste m. Whe re e xactly did this amoun t of wealth come fro m?

Many clever economists talk about the implication of this and use clever words like quantitive easing. But the fundamentals of by whose authority and how this amount of money can come into existence are not clear and shrouded in secrecy.

Clearly if the UK was a family it would be on the street, if it were a company it would be bankrupt. Because this is the UK, money is created into existence by the Bank of England and loaned to the government and the people of the UK, we are told this is to ease the economy. What this does is enslave the population and simply transfers the liabilities from the bankers to the taxpayers of the UK. The origin of the word mortgage is illustrated well by this transfer. The word comes from the Old French words mort, "dead," and gage, "pledge." Perhaps not an instantaneous death but certainly a slow one.

China who in 2003 were holding $403bn almost 25% of their GDP naturally were very worried, when nearly $404bn is spent on the US military and the US is in $3.9 trillion of debt, they figured it’s time to dump this dollar. Hence China done what any sane investor would do they dumped the dollar and moved into a real form of wealth and started buying gold. They bought 1000 tonnes. Their gold reserves have

Purchase freehold in Wembley with £65,000 equity 4 Freehold Semi detached property with rear and front gardens 4 Has been converted into 2 flats 4 Currently generating £19,200 per annum 4 Purchase price £275,000 4 In desirable residential location 4 You earn from day one on this purchase 4 Each 2 bedroom flat valued at

£170,000 4 Lease can be issued and sold on 4 Immediate 10% exchange required

increased by 75% over the last six years.

The principle is very simple. If something can be created unlimitedly and something else cannot be created, what will retain its value?

The thing that can be created unlimitedly is money. The things that cannot are finite forms of wealth such property and gold.

How else can the Bank of England create £200bn. The UK will be in debt by £1.1 trillion in 2011 and the interest payments will be £48bn per annum.

Now more than ever your wealth should be transferred from paper to a real form. Purchasing a property is like having your own mini Bank of England or Federal reserve, it will print money for you month after month. Most of the properties we recommend are highly income producing and in strong locations. Call us now, rather than later to see how we can help you. Tel 0207 706 0187.

Investment opportunity in Sanand 4 Seminar: Feb 28th in Birmingham 4 Fully approved NA plots (WEALTH WARNING: do NOT buy Indian property without an NA certificate!!)

4 Clear title 4 Hassle-free purchase & resell through Sow & Reap 4 All paper work completed here and legal documents and titles and delivered to you at home in the UK 4 If you have been sitting on the fence now is the time to jump Register by calling us on 0203 384 5323 or email to info@sowandreapdesi.com.

We provide a turnkey solution. Contact us now:

UK Sales 0207 706 0187 India Sales 0203 384 5323

Tips of the Week l Look at borrowing in terms of money instead of percentage eg if you’re borrowing at £5 and renting at £8 it makes sense to carry on doing this l Instead of selling your property you can always remortgage and get 75% of the value out. Remember this is a buyers market not a sellers one

20

financial voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Leadership Matters

By Amit Patel

Does Slow and Steady Win the Race?

Maria Fernandes

maria@abplgroup.com

Shortage occupation and the raising of the bar Shortage occupations have come under fire over the last few months since the introduction of the interim limit or cap (which by the way was ruled to be unlawful by the High Court between July and December 2010).

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) have been asked to provide information on which Codes should be considered to be graduate level occupations and how the current shortage occupation lists can be revised to remove jobs below graduate level.

They recently reported generally but the issues involving shortage occupations in respect of Chefs and Senior Care Workers are still outstanding. In the meantime much mischief has been taking place in the allocation of certificates which now have to go through a process of being analysed by the great and good managers of the UKBA. They introduced a system whereby occupations would be considered according to salaries with the highest salary taking preference over the lower salaries.

Information indicates that at the December panel shortage occupations over £20,000 were approved while nonshortage occupations were approved at £32,000. In the January panel shortage occupations over £28,000 were approved and non-shortage requests above £36,000 were granted. In the February panel shortage occupations over £32,000 whilst nonshortage requests over £36,000 were approved.

What this shows is (a) that it is impossible for an employer to predict whether they are likely to be granted an allocation or not. (b) It operates as an auction

with the highest bidder winning the allocation.

There is no information at present on which shortage occupations were approved at £32,000 and above. This information has been requested and is awaited.

The UKBA’s view about this is that the system is acceptable on the basis that the cut off point is lower for shortage occupations than for non-shortage occupations. However this does not take account of the fact that certain professions, despite their high skill level and innate ability do not attract the type of salaries that have been approved. In Indian cuisine, for example, only a few fine dining restaurants will succeed in getting certificates and as far as Senior Care Assistants are concerned it is doubtful whether any employer will be in a position to pay that kind of salary.

The problem of the lack of care for the elderly recently highlighted within the NHS will spread into Nursing and Care Homes.

If the purpose of the interim limit is to discourage employers, it has certainly done that.

However in so doing it has also discouraged growth in certain types of businesses.

There are already signs that Care homes have decided to abandon plans to develop and restaurants have decided not to increase their capacity. In the short term, numbers may drop but at what cost?

The Independent Inspectors Report on Tier 2 The Chief Inspector, John Vine, recently issued his report on the quality of decisions in relation to Tier 2 cases.

He concluded that there were: • Inconsistent approaches to decision making

on Tier 2 in the UK and abroad cases which resulted in refusal of some applications because of minor admissions whilst others were given additional time to supply missing information.

• Concerns that Applicants were having to make and pay for subsequent applications because of minor admissions, which he said could have been addressed with minimal effort by the Agency. He has suggested that the post adopt a more pragmatic in deciding applications where there are minor admissions on documents or information.

• Disparities between targets for processing of applications made in the UK and overseas with no clear explanation for the variance.

• Different approaches were taken to the quality checking of decisions.

Finally •••••••• Did you know?

The Home Office have determined that Doctors are not considered to be an “acceptable professional persons” by the Home Office in relation to providing references for nationality purposes although journalists, bankers and politicians are. Does anyone have thoughts on why this might be the case? If so write in and tell us.

Maria Fernandes has been in practice exclusively in immigration for the past 25 years and is accredited in Immigration Law by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. Fernandes Vaz is based at 87 Wembley Hill Road Wembley in Wembley and can be contacted by telephone on 02087330123, by email on info@fernandesvaz.com

We’ve all heard the story about the hare and the tortoise having a race.

The moral of the story being that if you are steady and consistent, you will succeed in whatever you do. This is fair enough – but I wonder if this is really true? Or is it a just a fable created by someone who was looking to get ahead by convincing everybody else that speed is not the name of the game?

When Bill Gates started Microsoft, he heard that IBM was looking for an operating system for its machines and wanted it quickly. So what did Gates do? He bought the licence of an existing operating system, modified it and supplied it to IBM and thus won the order. Microsoft has never looked back. In essence he took the approach of the Hare and sprinted to get a system ready and the rest is history. (Incidentally, the system Gates bought was called ‘QDOS’ or ‘Quick and Dirty Operating system’).

This suggests that the approach of the Hare -

Prior to taking and the USA up the position in during 2005 to Canara Bank, he 2008. was an executive Raman has a director distinguished with academic backUnion bank of ground. He is India. S Raman is also a Certified a vast and varied Associate of experience in the Indian Institute of field of banking, S Raman Bankers and having worked for Associate of the Bank of India for 34 long Chartered Institute of years. He has worked in Bankers, London.

UK during 1983 to 1987

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Management but that unless it was to radically change its approach, it would not be able to catch up. He assessed the problem as, “We have some brilliant sources of innovation inside Nokia, but we are not bringing it to market fast enough.”

While it would be wrong to suggest that stability and consistency are not as important as speed, it certainly seems that on their own they are not enough to ensure that a business can survive.

What Elop (an exMicrosoft employee) is asking Nokia to do is not to totally abandon its approach – he is just asking the Tortoise to run faster.

99p Stores bags the coveted Retail Leadership Award Hussein Lalani receives the honour at Asia Retail Congress in Mumbai One of the top retail brands in UK owned by a British Asian family, the 99p Stores won the coveted Retail Leadership Award. Hussein Lalani, Commercial Director and Co-Founder of 99p Stores, received the honour at the Asia Retail Congress held earlier in Mumbai, India.

The accolade, awarded earlier this month (9th February 2011), recognises the “hard work” of the Lalani family in growing their 99p Stores retail business to where it is today, with 140 stores nationwide and a turnover of over £300M. The Asia Retail Congress – now in its 7th year - is the leading Retail event of the year in India and makes awards to “Retailers of Distinction”.

The high-profile event – which was held this year

Canara Bank CMD S Raman on a visit to UK Canara Bank, one of the premier state owned banks of India is all set to expand its presence in UK. The bank has a branch in London, while a new branch is scheduled to be opened in Leicester next month.

Just ahead of the expansion, S Raman, Chairman and Managing Director of the bank is on a visit to UK.

which was to run at a sprint, get ahead and then relax for a breather before the next sprint was actually the right one. Rightly so, for the ability to see an opportunity and react faster than everyone else is critical to the success of an organisation.

To back this is up is the case of Nokia - the world’s largest manufacturer of mobile phones. It is a company which has been built on the foundation of stability, consistency and quality. Some could argue that it is the epitome the Tortoise.

Recently the CEO of Nokia, Stephen Elop, sent a memo to all Nokia employees bluntly stating that Nokia’s predicament was like that of a man standing on a burning oil platform in the middle of the ocean. The man had to make a split second choice, stay on the platform and be consumed by the flames, or jump 30 metres into the icy cold waters below.

In other words he was saying that Nokia had not only fallen behind its competitors,

Shri Raman is a Member of the Managing Committee, Standing Committee on Retail Banking and SubCommittee on Customer Service & Customer Rights of IBA. He is a Member of the Governing Council of Indian Institute of Banking & Finance and also Honorary Fellow of the Institute.

Hussein Lalani (centre) collecting his award. Left: Vice chairman of the Asia Retail Congress, Prodipta Sen VP Marketing & Corporate Affairs. Right is: Chairman of the Asia Retail Congress, Alok Bharadwaj, Senior Vice President, Canon India Pvt. Ltd.

at the Taj Land’s End in Mumbai - is sponsored by some of India’s leading businesses, including Reliance Industries, Canon, LG, PWC. The Lalani family picked up the award in the ‘International Category of Retail Leadership’.

Hussein Lalani says: “I am delighted to have picked up this award on behalf of my family. I feel it recognises the hard work that has gone into bringing 99p Stores to where it is today. It is also great timing for us as this year is our 10th anniversary year.

The award should really be for my father Nadir Lalani.”

“Without his vision,

leadership and inspiration we would not have been able to achieve so much in this past decade.”

The value retailer stocks around 10,000 different lines at its branches from baby-wear to biscuits, cosmetics to chilled products, drinks to DIY, food to fashion, gardening to gifts, pet-care to partywear, stationery to sweets – in fact 99p Stores prides itself on being the ABC of High Street stores, according to its loyal 1.75M “family” of customers.

More than 60% of 99p Stores products are well known leading household brands such as Colgate, Disney, Johnson’s, Nivea, Palmolive, Pringles and Radox.

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

21

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

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

Is There A Need For Currency Reform?

The US Federal Reserve Chairman Mr. Ben Bernanke has defended the loose monetary policies in the world’s advanced economies against the charge that it is overheating the emerging markets. He believes that factors such as exchange rate rigidity are also to blame.

Bernanke was speaking ahead of an economic summit in Paris, a summit that will include many critics of the Fed’s aggressive $600 million quantative easing programme (buying bonds with newly printed government funds). He also acknowledged that strong capital flows from the advanced to the emerging economies might have negative effects.

The effect of flows of investment from the established to the emerging economies is creating a rush of ‘hot’ money destabilising emerging economies by inflating commodity prices and stoking inflation.

Mr. Bernanke said that policy makers in the emerging markets face big challenges and that concerns about overheating should be weighed against stronger growth, ‘countries with excessive and unsustainable trade surpluses will need to allow their exchange rates to better reflect market fundamen-

tals and increase their efforts to substitute domestic demand for exports.’

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King said the world is at risk of renewed protectionism if the global financial policy makers do not agree to currency reform. ‘Global imbalances contributed to the financial crisis and a rebalancing of global demand is the key to a sustainable recovery.’ Mr. King also added that while financial regulation can go part of the way to deal with financial imbalances, there needs to be agreements on spending and exchange rates.

Without co-operation it will be ‘only a matter of time before one

or more countries resort to protectionism’ as the way to counter these imbalances. ‘If we collectively, do not deal with these problems at best we will have weak world recovery and at worst we will sow the seeds of the next financial crisis’ he said.

Japan’s finance minister Mr. Yoshihiko Noda, was speaking before the start of the meeting said he was not sure they would reach an agreement on a set of economic indicators to asses economic equilibrium. ‘It is uncertain whether the countries will agree on all indicators, but I think on some is possible he said ‘from working group discussions, I get the impression coun-

tries are split in half about their opinions.’

Nations from around the globe are divided on how to deal with these imbalances. The socalled ‘BRICS’ – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have strong reservations about economic indicators used to measure economic gaps between countries.

China and India have already raised interest rates to combat inflation, these measures could soon be another unwelcome import with pressure mounting on the Bank of England to follow suit to combat rising inflation.

The European Union is said to be looking for specific targets to asses countries current accounts, exchange rates, currency reserves, public budgets and private savings.

On the sidelines of the G20 meeting, the European policy makers may well take the opportunity to discuss the plight of Portugal, which now faces sharply increased borrowing costs after the bail out.

Central Bankers will discuss commodity prices, inflation and how to handle the gap between the booming emerging markets and the sluggish growth in the most developed of the world’s economies.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 22nd Februay 2011 @ 1pm GBP - INR = 73.18 USD - INR = 45.28 EUR - INR = 61.748 GBP - USD = 1.61 GBP - EUR = 1.18 EUR - USD = 1.3420 GBP - AED = 5.9380 GBP - CAD = 1.591 GBP - NZD = 2.157 GBP - AUD = 1.599 GBP - ZAR = 11.624 GBP - HUF = 322.78

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

22

Pakistan-Bangladesh-sri Lanka

In focus Pak to get $ 3.1 bn aid from US

Washington: Pakistan will get $ 3.1 billion assistance from US for the second year in the succession despite its stand off with Islamabad over the issue of jailing of its diplomat Raymond Davis. President Barack Obama has kept up the aid levels to Pakistan and of the huge allocation a $1.1 billion is to provide critical equipment and training for Pakistani forces, increasing the ability of Pakistani government to combat insurgents inside that country and eliminating the insurgent's capacity to conduct cross-border operations in Afghanistan.

Pak mulls ‘blood money’ deal to let off Davis, buy peace with US

Islamabad: Pakistan government is exploring a possible "blood money deal" between American official Raymond Davis, arrested for double murder in Lahore, and relatives of the victims for ending the tense standoff with the US. Finding itself on a sticky wicket, the government is looking at a face-saving option under which the relatives of the two men killed by the American agree to withdraw charges in exchange for money to be paid by Davis. Davis, who was arrested in Lahore on January 27 after he shot and killed two men he claimed were trying to rob him, may have to spend at least three more weeks in custody with a Pakistani court on Friday putting off till March 14 the case to decide his diplomatic status.

Davis is a CIA agent Meanwhile, media reports have said US official Raymond Davis, arrested on charges of gunning down two men in Lahore, is a CIA agent. UK daily ‘The Guardian’ said based on interviews in the US and Pakistan , it can confirm that Davis, a former special forces soldier is employed by the CIA. It quoted a senior Pakistani intelligence official as saying that "it's beyond a shadow of doubt". This may complicate US efforts to seek the release of Davis, who claims to have fired in self-defence when the two attempted to rob him. Davis is now lodged in a Lahore jail where additional security forces have been deployed.

Pak court reissues arrest warrant against Musharraf

Rawalpindi: A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Saturday reissued an arrest warrant for former president Pervez Musharraf over the assassination of exprime minister Benazir Bhutto, a prosecutor said.

Musharraf, who was president when Bhutto was killed in December 2007 in a gun and suicide bomb attack, is in self-imposed exile in London and his spokesman has said he will not be going back to Pakistan for any court hearing. "Last week the court had issued the arrest warrant but it could not be served at Musharraf's residence in Islamabad and we were told that he does not live there," special prosecutor Chaudhry Zulfiqar Ali said.

"Today the court reissued the warrants and adjourned the hearing till March 5." "We do not have his address, but we came to know through media and officials who went to serve the warrant that he is in UK. We will get his address and serve the notice on it," he added.

13 killed as 2 trains hit packed buses in Dhaka

Dhaka: At least 13 people were killed as two trains rammed into packed buses in separate accidents at unmanned railroad crossings in Bangladesh on Saturday. The United News of Bangladesh news agency says eight people were killed and 25 others injured when an express train hit a bus at a crossing in Comilla district, east of Dhaka. In the second accident five people died and 20 were injured in Jessore district, west of the capital. All the victims and the injured were traveling in the buses.

First Pak drone attack in weeks kills 7

Dera Ismail Khan: At least seven people were killed in drone strike on Monday in a tribal region along Pakistan's western border, officials said, the first such attack in a month as a diplomatic feud strains USPakistani ties. At least four missiles were fired from unmanned US aircraft at a suspected militant training centre in Azam Warsak, just west of Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan tribal agency, intelligence officials in South Waziristan said.

Canadian shelter for Mujib's killer angers media

Toronto: The Canadian media has slammed the government for not deporting Bangladeshi fugitive Nur Chowdhury who shot dead Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his extended family in the August 1975 coup. A 24-year-old major at that time, Chowdhury has been living in the Etobicoke area of Toronto since 1996. The 61-year-old assassin, who was tried in absentia and sentenced to death in April 2001 along with 11 others, cannot be deported because Canada doesn't send fugitives back to countries which have the death penalty.

Bangladesh hanged five of his co-plotters last year after Amnesty International described the trial as fair.

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Lanka frees detained Indian fishermen Release follows Krishna's talks with his counterpart Colombo: An ugly spat between India and Sri Lanka was averted following the release of 136 Indian fishermen detained by the Lanka police. A Lankan court on Friday last ordered the release of the fishermen and they were sent back to India from Jaffna. After their arrest on the charge of fishing in Sri Lankan waters, two local courts in Jaffna remanded the fishermen in 14 days judicial custody and sent them to jail.

Their release followed India’s external affairs minister S M Krishna's talks with his counterpart and hectic diplomatic ini-

tiative by the Indian mission here headed by Ashok K Kantha.

25 boats released “They went back in two batches,” Indian Consul General in Jaffna V Mahalingam said. Of the three Indian diplomats in Jaffna, two were at the piers, overseeing the return journey of the fishermen.

The Indian Coast Guard has been alerted and they will escort the fishermen back to their harbours in south India from the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

It was on Tuesday the first batch of fishermen was arrested by Jaffna

fishermen.

In an unprecedented move, the Jaffna fishermen, with their small boats, surrounded the Indian fishing boats and forced them ashore, from about 10-15 km off Point Pedro. This act of “citizen arrest” had the blessings of the Sri Lankan Navy, and was widely commended in the media here, which decried the “poachers” and their attitude of fishing the waters off the north “clean.”

The second batch of 24 fishermen, along with their seven boats, was also brought ashore, following a similar act of “citizen

arrest.”

The first batch spent two days in the Jaffna jail and the second batch a day. Some Indian fishermen, who spoke to Indian officials and prominent local people, apologised for straying into the Sri Lankan waters. They said that since the Sri Lankan waters were rich in fish resources, the boat owners wanted them to cross the IMBL and get good catch.

Meanwhile, an expert committee in India is considering adopting a new mobile communication technology to caution fishermen from straying across the IMBL.

cal issues.

An array of Left parties, which are part of the Hasina-led alliance, also have been vocal in their criticism and say that they would like to pose as the 'third alternative' to the Awami League and the BNP. The latest to join criticism from the Awami League leadership is Tofael Ahmed, who was political secretary to Hasina's father and Bangladesh's founding leader, slain president Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Tofail Ahmed urged 'an environment for politi-

cians to do politics'.

'It does not require anyone to work in the grass roots to become a minister. People become ministers if people high up in the parties so wish,' he said.

Abdul Jalil, a former Awami League general secretary and minister, said the rising prices, deteriorating law and order and shortage in the supply of gas and electricity were aggravating public sufferings.

He also said that the law and order situation in the country has not been satisfactory.

Bangla PM Hasina under fire over poor law and order, high prices

Dhaka: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is facing dissent and criticism from some of the party veterans and alliance partners for poor law and order and high prices of essential commodities.

While main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has been unrelenting in its criticism of the Hasina government, senior leaders of the ruling Awami League (AL) have also joined in public criticism.

Ministers, however, continued to assert that both the price situation and law and order was

Sheikh Hasina

under control, the New Age newspaper said on Tuesday.

Among the alliance partners, former president H M Ershad has been critical of Hasina's handling of the economy and politi-

India proposes dates for secy-level talks with Pak New Delhi: India has proposed two sets of dates March 21-22 or March 2829 - to Pakistan for home secretary-level talks, where counter-terrorism, including progress in Mumbai terror attacks trial and the demand for voice samples of 26/11 accused are expected to be discussed.

Home secretary Gopal K Pillai extended the invitation to Pakistan interior secretary Chaudhry Qamar Zaman last week

and a response from Islamabad is awaited, official sources said.

This will be the first structured bilateral Secretary- level meeting on counter-terrorism after the recent Indo-Pak decision to resume comprehensive talks.

More than two years after India had suspended composite dialogue with Pakistan in the wake of 26/11 attacks in 2008, the two sides recently decided to resume comprehensive

dialogue on all outstanding issues.

Pillai last week had said that India would ask Pakistan how much progress on 26/11 investigations was made in that country.

"We will ask for voice transcripts even though the trial court has said no.

We will ask them why they have not gone and appealed. I am sure the high court or the Supreme Court may have said that the voice transcripts can

be given," he had said.

India has been demanding voice samples of prime accused of Mumbai attacks case Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist Zaki-ur- Rehman Lakhvi and others giving instructions to the ten terrorists who attacked Mumbai.

A Rawalpindi court is hearing a case against Lakhvi and six of his accomplices, who have been charged with planning and facilitating the 26/11 strikes.

Ban on Bollywood songs, dances in Lahore theatres Lahore: The Lahore Arts Council has decided to ban all song and dance performances based on Indian films in Lahore because of the presence of "vulgarity" in them and to promote only classical dances in Pakistani theatre.

The decision has, however, infuriated producers and artistes who believe the council was trying to damage their business, the Express Tribune reported.

The decision was made to facilitate quality theatre, a council spokesperson said.

Chaudhary Zulfiqar Ahmad, chairman of the Commercial Theatre Producers' Association, said: "How many films are made in Pakistan annually? From the handful that

are made, how many have songs that we can use in our plays?"

"If we don't have performances on Indian songs, and cannot include any dance performances other than classical dance, then what are we left with," he asked.

"Some artistes and producers don't follow certain moral standards when including dance performances in their plays, they should be banned - not the dances."

"Only a limited section of the audience appreciates classical dances, while large number of theatre-goers have little or no interest in such performances. This ban will have major financial repercussions on commercial the-

atre," Ahmad said.

Suggesting a remedy to the "vulgarity" in commercial theatre, he said the council should strictly censor the scripts and not impose a ban.

"The script of a play is first approved by the council and the Punjab Arts Council and only then it is sent to the home department for clearance.

Writers on the panel of the council approve the scripts," he said.

Each submitted script mentions the dance performances included in a play. If the council has objections to any performance, it should censor that, instead of banning all dances featuring Indian songs, he opined.

"As far as Indian songs

are concerned, many of them are now sung by Pakistani singers and are popular here. If we can allow them in the form of CDs, DVDs and screen them in our cinemas, why can't we include them in our stage plays," asked another producer.

On the other hand, popular Pakistani artistes like Samina Ahmad and Usman Peerzada are supporting the ban on Bollywood dance performances. Quite often, the dance performances in these commercial theatre productions are vulgar.

The performances have no theme or relevance. It's better to ban such plays in their entirety than allowing them to have dances," Peerzada said.

world

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

23

Ugandan President Museveni wins In focus another five-year term amid fraud charges 65 killed in New Zealand earthquake Kampala: Yoweri Museveni won a resounding victory in the Uganda’s presidential elections, extending his 25-year rule for another five-year term, but the outcome was swiftly rejected by his main opponent who has threatened street protests.

With all votes counted Badru Kiggundu, chairman of the Electoral Commission, said Mr Museveni had won 68.4 per cent of the vote while his nearest rival, Dr Kizza Besigye, scored only 26 per cent. Two other opponents, Norbert Mao and Olara Otunnu, scored 1.9 and 1.6 per cent respectively while the remaining four candidates got less than 1 per cent each.

Mr Museveni’s victory came as little surprise and the inevitability of his win was underscored by a low turnout, with only 59 per cent of 13.9 million voters bothering to take part in

Yoweri Museveni

Friday’s election, the second multiparty election since Mr Museveni came to power at the head of a rebel army in 1986.

Elsewhere in Africa only Angola’s Eduardo dos Santos, Cameroon’s Paul Biya, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema and Libya’s Muammar Gadaffi have ruled for longer Alleging widespread fraud, bias, intimidation and bribery Dr Besigye, leader of the opposition Inter-Party Cooperation coalition, rejected the out-

come of the vote and Mr Museveni’s leadership.

“It’s already very clear there were widespread malpractices in the electoral process,” he said.

“It is now clear the will of the people cannot be expressed through the electoral process in this kind of corrupt and repressive political environment,” he said.

Dr Besigye stopped short of repeating his threat of Egypt-style street protests, saying that he would consult with other opposition groups and his supporters to decide how to bring Mr Museveni’s “illegitimate government” to an end.

After losing to Mr Museveni in 2001 and again in 2006, Dr Besigye appealed to the courts, which agreed there had been fraud but ruled it was not enough to affect the results.

There was a heavy

deployment of riot police in the capital Kampala, an opposition stronghold, and contingents of soldiers carried out foot patrols, assault rifles at the ready.

Election day itself was largely peaceful across most of the country, but Maria Burnett, a Ugandabased researcher with Human Rights Watch, said: “A violence-free election is not the same as a free and fair election.”

Election observers seemed to agree with this assessment. The head of an observer group from the Commonwealth, of which Uganda is a member, highlighted the “commercialisation of politics” and said the presence of the army was a concern.

Dame Billie Miller said that huge spending during the campaigns skewed the vote in favour of the ruling National Resistance Movement.

Diplomats stage a sort of coup against Gaddafi The Libyan strongman vows defiance in the face of mounting revolt Tripoli: Ambassadors and diplomatic staffs of Libya in India, China, USA, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Arab League and Bangladesh have staged a sort of coup against the Muammar Gaddafi regime that attacked protesters in the country.

They have resigned or have announced of severing their links with the present day government in Tripoli.

Meanwhile, Gaddafi vowed defiance in the face of mounting revolt against his 41-year-rule on Tuesday, making a fleeting television appearance to disdain protesters and deny that he had fled the country. Gaddafi’s forces have cracked down on demonstrators, with fighting now spread to the capital Tripoli after erupting in Libya’s oilproducing Benghazi last week. Human Rights Watch says at least 233 people have been killed.

Many Libyan ambassadors and officials say that they now stand with the protesters, and have called for international intervention into what at least one deputy ambassador

termed a “genocide”.

Some of Gaddafi’s military also turned against him.

Ali al-Essawi, Libya’s ambassador to India, created a stir on Monday when he apparently resigned in protest against the violent crackdown on demonstrators in his home country.

In Beijing, Hussein Sadiq al-Musrati, a second secretary, also stepped down during an interview with Al Jazeera and called

of defiant protesters have congregated in Behrain's capital Manama which has been the focal point of the unrest that continued for more than a week.

The protests in Bahrain have been inspired by the successful uprising in Tunisia and Egypt. Tunisia saw a month-long mass unrest which toppled the 23-year rule of President Zine alAbidine Ben Ali on Jan 14.

Gandhi articles fetch over ` 2.3 million

New Delhi: Signed notes, letters and a khadi cloth of Mahatma Gandhi has fetched over Rs 2.3 million at an auction in the United States recently. The Bonhams sale of Fine Books and Manuscripts in California also saw an autograph letter and a photograph of Rabindranath Tagore fetching $5,856. Bonhams said the 10 lots of Gandhi items realised $50,752. Sources in the Londonbased auction house said that buyers were from India, the US, Canada, South America and Europe. Auction houses do not reveal the identity of the buyers. An autograph letter by Gandhi (dated October 3, 1933) to an unnamed correspondent, in which he discusses his thoughts on Catholic faith and world religions in general, went under the hammer for $15,860, more than double of its pre-sale estimate.

DR Congo colonel jailed for mass rape

Kinshasa: A military court in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo investigating a case of mass rape has sentenced Lt Col Kibibi Mutware to 20 years in jail. He was found guilty of crimes against humanity for sending his troops to rape, beat up and loot from the population of Fizi on New Year's Day. Forty-nine women came to testify in the court in Baraka. It is the first conviction of a commanding officer for rape in eastern DR Congo.

Humanitarian agencies regularly cite government troops as the largest single group of perpetrators of widespread sexual violence in the Kivu region. The military judges also sentenced three officers serving under Lt Col Kibibi to 20 years and five soldiers to between 10 and 15 years.

India prepares evacuation plan As Libya’s revolution entered a decisive but violent phase, Indian ambassador in Tripoli Mani Meklai gathered about 192 Indian nurses working there in a hospital, where officials said they are safe. There are about 18,000 Indians in Libya.

Benghazi, in eastern Libya, which is reportedly under the control of civilian protesters, has several Indians. A 42year-old contract worker from Tamil Nadu has been killed and another seriously injured in the gunfire during violence, the victim’s family said. Except that no Indian has been targeted by any side, officials said. Indian ambassadors Yusuf Saeed in Yemen and Mohan Kumar in Bahrain have prepared contingency plans to evacuate expatriate Indians if the situation worsens in these countries. India’s foreign minister S M Krishna has given

500 Indian workers sue US company for human trafficking Houston: Over 500 Indian guest workers have sued an American company, Signal International, along with its co-conspirators and other entities for human trafficking and racketeering. They were trafficked to the US from India to work in shipyards after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

If class status is granted, the lawsuit could be the largest human trafficking case in US history, the American Civil Liberties

on all diplomatic staff to resign. The ambassadors have also protested against the use of foreign mercenaries by Gaddafi and his son against their countrymen. There have been reports that the ruling family has been using mercenary soldiers from Pakistan and some Arab countries.

Protesters camp in Bahrain capital Meanwhile, hundreds

Christchurch: At least 65 people were confirmed dead and many more fatalities feared after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Christchurch on Tuesday in New Zealand’s South Island, causing widespread destruction.

Prime Minister John Key said at least 65 people were dead with many more people yet to be rescued.

Hundreds more have suffered a wide range of injuries.

“We could be facing New Zealand’s darkest hour,” Mr Key said after arriving in the devastated area following an emergency meeting of cabinet ministers. Rescue teams were dealing with widespread destruction, including two buses crushed by falling debris. There were other reports of bodies being pulled out of buildings and crushed cars. Police said emergency services were battling a number of fires and power was out in many areas.

Union (ACLU) has said in a statement.

Workers were allegedly lured here with dishonest assurances of becoming lawful permanent US residents, the statement said.

The ACLU joined a class action lawsuit brought on behalf of over 500 guest workers from India charging that the workers were trafficked with dishonest assurances of becoming lawful permanent US residents.

the ambassadors full authority to take decisions without having to go through lengthy bureaucratic processes.

Krishna was on the phone with his envoys through the day, officials said.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao is heading an emergency committee with secretaries of shipping and civil aviation and officials in the overseas Indian affairs ministry to coordinate plans. Overseas Indian affairs minister Vayalar Ravi said.

On the issue of an evacuation plan, Ravi said, “Nothing has been decided, but the committee will monitor the situation. The government is making preparations to meet any eventuality so that we can act immediately.”

Bahrain has an estimated 350,000 Indians, while Yemen has about 14,000 Indians working in the country.

"

(' + -.% -"(' -( +",! ' & ,! .) + %" 2 +, (% (+& + ).)"% ( +0" $ !((% , !(% +,!") "' + . 0"-! ('(.+, "' ('(&" , +(& -! '"/ +,"-2 ( +",-(% . ,, .%%2 (&)% "' ('(&" , +(& -! (' (' !((% ( ('(&" , % - + #("' , + . - ' #.,*. %" " , ! ! +',-"-.( ' & '(.'- '-, #("', "' 2 0"-! +',(.' , ' 1 .-"/ "' -! "+ "' ' " % .,"' ,, /",(+2 # ! ! # $ ! $ !

% # $"

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

! ##!

+/"

!

,

*,

$ ! # " " # # #% # ! ! !" % ! ( !( ! $! " " !" ' ) ( $! &# % ! ## ! # -$ ) /-$) -- / '$ .$*)- . ,( *" */*2.*) ,& . !! *,*) . ., *) *)

.

24

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

MCI curbs on foreign, NRI doctors in India No demonstrations of procedures/surgeries without prior permission Medical council of India (MCI) has put curbs on foreign doctors, including NRI medicos coming to the country and organising lectures or demonstrations of n e w procedures/surgeries. Prior permission or registration with MCI has now been made mandatory.

A circular issued by the MCI has warned that failure on this count will invite action against all erring institutions and individuals. The circular

has been sent to all medical colleges/institutions, state medical councils, all medical associations and hospitals.

The action is aimed at verifying the credentials of foreign/NRI medical pro-

fessionals participating in continuing medical education (CME) programmes or workshops or postgraduate courses in India.

The announcement has evoked mixed reactions from the medical fraternity across the country. While some leading doctors agreed on the need to screen the bonafides of visiting medics, many felt that the proposal would needlessly hamper flow of knowhow and research findings into India.

Chaplin’s grandson weds in India, in Hindu style Another US couple also tie the knot in Khajuraho Indian culture and Hindu weddings are increasingly becoming popular in the west with quite a few Hollywood stars having recently gone all the way to India for their new partnership in life.

The latest to join the bandwagon were a young US couple who flew down to Khajuraho as recently as last week, while Mark Joplin, 60 and grandson of Hollywood’s iconic comedian Charlie Chaplin also entered wedlock with Terra Fiffany, 52 at Gokarna village in South India.

Distinguished Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA), welcomed JoplinTiffany for choosing traditional Hindu marriage with due respect to rich traditions of Hinduism, world’s oldest religion.

Rajan Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that the marriage was one

of the major sacrament of Hindus which involved rich and ancient rituals.

The couple is reportedly interested in Hinduism; have conducted seminars on in USA; play Indian musical instruments, chant kirtan; and have adopted gurus. Joplin speaks five Indian languages.

Saint and Julia take ‘Saat Feras’ in Khajuraho Saint and Julia are no Hollywood stars or any big names in the USA, yet they had a desire enter the wedlock in the traditional Indian style. And they did it at one of the most attractive tourist destinations in India – Khajuraho.

The setting for their wedding could not be more appropriate. The young girl and her beau flew all the way from Boston in the US to Khajuraho just to fulfill their dream of tying the knot the Indian way in the glory of the ancient tem-

ples famous for erotic sculptures.

They became husband and wife Monday in a temple. Local priest chanted the Gayatri mantra and many of the local people were on hand to greet the newly-weds. The locals also helped the couple make all the arrangements.

Saint and Julia chanted the mantra the priest recited to them. They also took the ‘Saat feras’ (seven rounds) around the holy fire and Saint put sindoor on Julia's forehead.

‘Indian culture is very fascinating. We had heard about the Indian marriage system and wanted our marriage to be this way,’ a beaming Julia said afterwards.

Jageshwar Shukla, the priest who solemnised the marriage, was also happy.

‘Ninety% of marriages conducted under Vedic system do not fail. I think that is why they chose it this way’, he said.

Pakistani singer Rahat, manager pay ` 3 mn penalty Allowed to leave India, unauthorised cash is reportedly confiscated Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, the popular Pakistani playback singer in quite a few Bollywood movies and his manager have each paid a fine of Rs. 1.5 million to the Customs department in India, official sources said.

Rahat and his manager were arrested at the IGI airport in New Delhi as they alongwith their troupe were about to board a flight to Dubai after stage shows in the country. They were found to have excess cash, US dollars in their baggage that was undisclosed.

Meanwhile, on one hand, Shiv Sena has warned Bollywood and the TV industry not to hire Pakistan artists, leaders from Lollywood, the Pakistani film industry has also advised artists not to visit India frequently and work there in the face of insults and threats by Shiv Sena.

Rahat and his manager Maroof were initially detained and later arrested by the Indian authorities.

They were freed on bail on Sunday, while the Customs and the DRI (Directorate of Revenue

Intelligence) adjudicated on the case and slapped a fine of Rs. 1.5 mn each on them. The duo, according to official sources have paid the fine on Monday and were expected to get back their passport back on Tuesday after which, they will be allowed to leave India.

Rahat had incidently won the Filmfare Award for best male playback singer for his song Dil To Bachcha Hai Ji from the movie Ishqiya recently. He has won several other prestigious awards this year.

In divine light

By Rajen Vakil

Burning of the Khandava Forest Part 5: The Khandava Battle In the last article we saw how Arjuna had used the Vayavya astra to calm all the fierce winds sent by Indra. The skies were cleared of the dark clouds, the sun re-appeared, and all the obstacles disappeared; Agni was then free to burn the forest to his heart’s content. In his joy of burning the fat of the dead animals, Agni’s flames danced in seven different forms and in different colours, spinning and twirling, trying to reach the sky.

Now beings of the netherworld that were protecting the forest started appearing out of nowhere.

They were rakshasas, asuras, gandharvas, yakshas, and pannagas. They charged on both, Arjuna and Sri Krishna, to engage them in battle. In great anger they, using wooden crossbows and fast moving slings, started showering Arjuna and Sri Krishna with iron pipes and huge stones. Arjuna cut off their heads with his extremely sharp arrows. Then a whole army of daityas attacked Sri Krishna. With his Sudarshana Chakra, he was able to severe their heads off too. When Indra, sitting on a white elephant, saw that Sri Krishna and Arjuna had defeated all the different kinds of demons and demi-gods he had sent, he charged at them throwing flashes of lightning and bolts of thunder.

He also provoked his fellow gods to come and battle alongside him and they all did. Let us see what Vyasji is trying to convey in the above lines. We have seen that the burning of the Khandava forest is symbolic of the student working with his deep unconscious mind. This unseen and dark side of us is full of passions and desires. The army that attacked Arjuna and Sri Krishna was of ‘rakshasas’. This word comes from the word ‘rakhsa’ or to save; the Sanskrit meaning being that from which the sacrificial fire has to be saved. Sacrifice means yagna. There are two types of efforts, one is called ‘yagna-karma’, the karma we do for the general good with no personal motive, not even for fame or merit.

The other is ‘kamya-karma’ or that which only fulfils personal desire. Suppose we want to provide a large donation; the idea of donating is to free oneself of the inner bondage of ownership or possessiveness.

When we say that ‘this is the money I have earned’ – we cannot see and are oblivious to the notion that it has been loaned to us

from a central bank and we just enjoy it for some time.

So by donating, we rise above the feeling of mine.

This donation is now a yagna-karma. But when we give the donation and feel that people should acknowledge us as donors, we do not see that the demon of possessiveness has come just in another form this time around. So that from which the yagnakarma of donation has to be protected is the rakshasa of the ego, the one who asks for merit. These rakshasas are masters of illusion and magic. How easily we fall prey to the illusion that we have done something good!

Then were the ‘Asuras’, this comes from the word ‘as’ meaning to be and ‘sura’ meaning drunk. Our unconscious mind is full of desires for power and when we get power, we are drunk with it. Also there were the ‘Gandharvas’; this word comes from the root ‘gandha’ or smell. Many of the desires and patterns we are holding onto smell worse than the gutter; actually we live in a psychological gutter of self-love, jealousy, meanness, and pettiness – the gandharvas within that we have to kill.

The ‘Yakshas’ are kind of ghosts that protect the hidden treasures. Hidden within us are great treasures – one is conscience or the power to discriminate between right and wrong and true and false.

Patanjali calls this viveka.

How many times we fall prey to the false? This treasure of discrimination must be unlocked and those guarding it killed.

Finally, there were ‘Pannagas’, kind of serpents which represent the coiled energy lying in our unconscious that manifest as sexual dreams and/or desires.

Then, Vyasji tells us that Sri Krishna was attacked by an army of ‘daityas’. He used his Sudarshana to severe off their heads. ‘Daitya’ comes from ‘dwaita’ or duality and ‘Sudarshana’ means right observation. All of us are hypnotised by duality and the truth is in between the two ends. Everything in our life is dual in nature – such as love and hate, beauty and ugliness, happiness and sorrow. We swing to the law of the pendulum – from one extreme to the other. With right observation, all dualities fall and we see that even though their

nature is dual, in fact they just complement each other. This state of seeing these opposites as parts of one whole comes only after years of right inner observation.

The gods all came to help Indra in his battle with Sri Krishna and Arjuna.

Each of the gods came with their personal weapons.

Yama came with his ‘Kaaldand’ or rod of time.

The physical body is bound by the rod of time, but when we separate from our physical appetites and are able to hold consciousness, we defeat the god of death.

Kubera, the god of riches, came with his ‘gada’ (or mace), meaning to speak with harsh words. Rich represents pride and vanity, which results in harsh language and if we have overpowered these two giants, we have defeated Kubera.

Jesus said ‘A camel will pass through the eye of a needle, but a rich man will not enter the kingdom of God’, implying that one who is rich in pride and vanity can never attain the kingdom of God. Varuna, the god of water, comes from the root ‘vru’ meaning to choose.

He has two weapons – a lasso and a thunderbolt; the rope binds and the thunderbolt shocks. Water represents our emotions, which binds us in attachment and gives us the shock of separation. We choose that which we like and dislike what we dislike; represented by the lasso and the thunderbolt.

Kartikka, or Shiva’s son, came with his Shakti, or power of dissolution. We should harness this power and use it for dissolution of the ego. The twin gods, the Ashwinikumars, came with flaming herbs that scorch and burn. The emotions of jealousy and envy are twins within us. The god Dhata came with his bow representing the diaphragm, our breathing and the prana currents in the body. These are nearly always in a state of agitation and chaos; through deep relaxation and rhythmic breathing we can calm them and provide the correct direction to the pranic currents. Arjuna and Sri Krishna were able to defeat all the gods. This actually made Indra happy and he came to bless Arjuna, who is actually his son born through Kunti.

The author can be reached by emailing 3srb@live.com (Edited by Chintu Gandhi)

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

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

25

Chronology of Godhra train carnage and aftermath • February 27, 2002: 59 ‘Karsevaks’ die after S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express torched by a mob near Godhra railway station. FIR filed against 1,500 people.

• February 28–March 31, 2002: Communal violence erupts in various parts of Gujarat killing over 1,200 people mostly belonging to the minority community.

• March 3, 2002: Prevention Of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) invoked against those arrested for Godhra train burning case.

• March 6, 2002: Gujarat government appoints a Commission under Commission of Inquiry's Act to probe the Godhra incident and the postGodhra riots.

• March 9, 2002: Police include IPC section 120 B (criminal conspiracy) against all accused.

• March 25, 2002: POTA suspended on all the accused due to pressure from the central government.

• May 27, 2002: First charge sheet filed

•

•

•

•

•

against 54 accused but were not charged under POTA. February 18, 2003: Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA became an Act as it was cleared by Parliament) was reinvoked against the accused after BJP government was re-elected in the state.

November 21, 2003: Supreme Court stays judicial proceeding of all riot related cases including Godhra train burning incident.

September 4, 2004: A Committee headed by former Supreme Court judge U C Banerjee constituted, following a Union Cabinet decision to inquire into certain aspects of the incident under Railway Ministry when RJD leader Lalu Prasad was the minister.

September 21, 2004: Decision to review POTA charges against the accused as POTA was repealed by Union Government.

January 17, 2005: U C Banerjee submits preliminary report suggesting fire in S-6 coach being an 'accident' and

•

•

•

•

•

ruled out the possibility of fire having resulted out of any external attack.

May 16, 2005: POTA Review Committee gives it opinion not to charge accused under POTA. The Act was abolished by the newly elected UPA government.

October 13, 2006: Gujarat High Court rules formation of UC Banerjee committee as "illegal" and "unconstitutional" since Nanavati-Shah Commission was already conducting inquiry in all the riots related cases and said Banerjee probe results stand 'invalid'.

March 26, 2008: SC constitutes Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate Godhra train burning incident and eight other post-Godhra riot cases.

September 18, 2008: Nanavati Commission submits its report on Godhra train burning incident, saying that it was a pre-planned conspiracy and S-6 coach was torched by mob who had poured petrol inside it.

February 12, 2009: HC upholds Pota

Conspiracy stand vindicated: BJP The BJP said that special court verdict convicting 31 accused in the 2002 Godhra train burning case has ''vindicated'' its stand that there was a conspiracy behind it and accused the UPA government of trying to cover up the entire episode.

It said the verdict had "exposed the nefarious designs" of the UPA government which "tried to cover up" the entire episode.

The party dismissed as "eyewash" the report of the U C Banerjee Committee, appointed by the then Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav to probe the

FSL Report proved crucial Scientific evidence prepared by forensic science laboratory has played important role in terms of investigation and trial of the 2002 Godhra Train Carnage case.

The forensic science laboratory (FSL) at Gandhinagar, after series of investigation, concluded that burning of the S-6 coach of the train was by using petrol. The FSL also stated that the culprits entered in the coach through sliding door of the coach. As per the police investigation theory, the fire broke out after accused had cut vestibule between two coaches (S-6 and S-7) and entered in from there whereas another group poured petrol inside the coach and set it on fire. To examine the pattern of burning, the FSL had reconstructed the episode. It reconstructed as to how coach could be burnt. For this, the officials of the FSL reconstructed the scene by pouring liquid from outside, inside and passage of the coach. It’s examination showed the presence of hydro carbons of petrol in S-6 coach. The two containers found from the track also had petrol inside.

causes of fire in Sabarmati Express at Godhra, that the fire was "accidental."

"The judgment proves that the court has accepted that this was a culmination of a conspiracy. The arson and self-immolation theory ended today," Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj told reporters.

BJP said the verdict also accepted that the event was "planned in a room" and petrol was bought to set the train on fire.

"The judgment vindicates our stand that they (victims) were burnt to death under a conspiracy.

It re-establishes the conspiracy theory," Swaraj said.

BJP insisted that the verdict proves its contention that the U C Banerjee committee report, which stated that the fire was caused from inside the S-6 bogey of Sabarmati Express, was an "eyewash and manipulated".

BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said the verdict has come as an "embarrassment" for the central government.

"The theory of the government and some NGOs has been proved wrong with the court saying there

was a conspiracy.... One man (Banerjee) gave a clean chit but the court has not accepted this. The attempts to rubbish the fact of conspiracy has been defeated," Hussain said.

Party chief spokesperson Ravishankar Prasad maintained that some elements were trying to "belittle the issue but finally justice has prevailed".

"Certainly, there has been a degree of assurance that law and justice has prevailed. There were elements who were trying to belittle it. There have been politicians who tried to abuse it," Prasad said.

Indian civil aviation minister responds after 4 long months Vayalar Ravi says Air India not in a position to operate a direct flight between Ahmedabad – London at present It took four long months for the ministry of civil aviation of the government of India to respond to a letter by Gujarat Assembly speaker, Prof.

Mangaldas Patel. The issue raised by the speaker was supporting the cause of resumption of direct flight between Ahmedabad and London

by Air India. Prof. It may be recalled that Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar had launched a sustained campaign for the resumption of Air India’s direct flight.

Following the sad demise of Ashok Bhatt, Prof. Mangaldas Patel took over as the speaker of the assembly. Soon after, on 08 November 2010, he wrote a letter to Praful Patel, asking for Air India to resume a direct flight between Ahmedabad – London at the earliest, as that would help many travelers between Gujarat and UK in reducing inconvenience of changing air crafts and spending extra hours for the journey. The absence of a direct flight results in a lot of problems

for elderly people, women traveling with kids and even pregnant women.

Responding to Prof.

Patel’s letter after almost four months, Vayalar Ravi, the minister in charge of civil avaiation has said in a letter dtd. 04 February 2011 that he has looked in to the representation made

by Mr. Patel. As per details provided by Air India, currently the airline operates a flight between Ahmedabad and London, but the travelers have to change the aircraft at Mumbai. As Air India is facing shortage of planes, it is not in a position allocate another aircraft for the Ahmedabad – London route.

It has to be understood that whatever explanation the civil aviation minister may give out, the ground situation is that resumption of a direct flight between Ahmedabad and London does not require allocation of a new aircraft. What needs to be done is that instead of carrying the passengers to Mumbai and than making them change the aircraft, Air India needs to operate

the Mumbai – London flight via Ahmedabad. The air route for the flight is otherwise also overflying Ahmedabad. Hence, if the flight starts at Mumbai and comes to Ahmedabad and further fly to London, Gujarat travelers will be relieved of the troubles of changing at Mumbai. Even a trial run on the said route for a couple of months would make Air India realise how profitable the route is.

Praful Patel had during his stint as civil aviation minister, promised to resume the Ahmedabad – London direct flight on the occasion of inauguration of the new T2 at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport in August last year. He had announced that the flight would be included in the winter schedule. But for some reasons, he failed to keep his promise. It is also a fact that in absence of a direct flight, middle east based airlines and other private carriers of India are making a big business on the route.

•

•

• •

• •

Review Committee decision that the act cannot be applied in this case.

February 20, 2009: Kin of victim of Godhra train burning case move SC against decision of HC to drop POTA charges against the accused. Case is still pending.

May 1, 2009: SC lifts stay on trial of Godhra and all other cases being probed by the SIT, after the team headed by former CBI director R K Raghavan makes steady progress in the Godhra-train burning and eight other major riot cases in the state.

June 1, 2009: Trial of the Godhra train carnage commences inside the Sabarmati Central jail in Ahmedabad.

May 6, 2010: SC restrains trial courts to pronounce judgment in nine sensitive riot cases of Gujarat including Godhra train incident.

September 28, 2010: Trial concludes, no pronouncement of judgment due to stay by the apex court.

January 18, 2011: SC lifts ban on pronouncement of verdict.

Congress offers no comment The Congress Tuesday declined to comment on an Ahmedabad court ruling convicting 31 people and acquitting 63 for the 2002 Godhra train carnage.

Yet, it utilised the opportunity to castigate Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for triggering the communal riots in which over 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in the aftermath of the train killings.

'We cannot possibly comment on the judgment per say because we don't actually comment upon a judgment of court, it is a part of a legal process,' Congress spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan told reporters in New Delhi.

B.K. Hariprasad, general secretary and incharge of Gujarat, said the 'verdict has vindicated that innocent people who were put behind bars' for nine long years.

Godhra train carnage a conspiracy: Court Continued from page 1 The accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy and murder in burning of the S-6 coach of the train on February 27, 2002 near Godhra, about 150 kms from Ahmedabad.

Asked whether he would demand death penalty for those convicted in the case, he said, "What will be the stand of prosecution I cannot disclose at this stage but on February 25, I will be making my humble submissions before the honourable court as discharge of my official duty."

On whether the prosecution was satisfied by the verdict, Panchal said, "There is no question of any satisfaction. One has to respect the judicial verdict. There cannot be a debate on the judicial verdict."

"Maulana (Umarje) has been acquitted because the judge found that he is not guilty. The grounds on which he has been acquitted can be said only after reading full text of the judgement," Panchal said on the release of the prime conspirator.

As many as 253 witnesses were examined during the trial and over 1,500 documentary evidences were presented before the court by the

Gujarat police.

There were a total of 134 accused in the case, out of which 14 were released due to lack of evidence, five were juvenile, five died during proceedings of over nine years, 16 are absconding, and trial was conducted against 94 accused.

Of the 94, against whom the trial was conducted 80 are in jail and 14 are out on bail.

Two different panels appointed to inquire into the 2002 case had given different views on the Godhra train burning incident.

The Nanavati Commission, appointed by the Gujarat government to probe the carnage, had in the first part of the report concluded that the fire in the S-6 coach was not an accident, but it was caused by throwing petrol inside it.

"The burning of the coach S-6 was a preplanned act. In other words there was a conspiracy to burn the coach of the train coming from Ayodhya and to cause harm to the 'karsevaks' travelling in it," the report submitted to the government in September 2008 had said.

The one-man U C Banerjee Commission appointed by the Railway Ministry under Lalu Prasad Yadav had said that fire was "accidental".

26

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Death sentence for Kasab upheld Bombay HC acquits two others The lone surviving terrorist of the Mumbai attack, better known as 26/11 killings, Ajmal Kasab smiled and said “Shukriya” (Thank you) as the Bombay High Court on Monday upheld the death sentence for his involvement in the terror attacks that left 166 people dead.

A division bench of the court comprising justices Ranjana Desai and R V More also dismissed the Maharashtra government’s petition against acquittal of two Indians, Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed, accused of aiding the Pakistani terrorist in the crime.

24-year-old Kasab, the only one of the 10 Pakistani perpetrators of the attack to be captured alive, was sentenced to death by a special anti-terror court on May 6 last

Ajmal Kasab

year.

Ansari and Ahmed had been, however, let off for want of adequate evidence by the trial court.

Kasab and his accomplices had landed at Budhwar Park in south Mumbai on November 26, 2008 night from Karachi by sea and went on a shooting spree at various city landmarks including CST railway terminus, iconic Taj Mahal and Oberoi Hotels, Leopold Cafe, Cama Hospital and Nariman House, a Jewish outreach centre, leaving 166 dead and many more wounded.

CBI grills Anil Ambani, Dhoot brothers over 2G scam The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last week questioned industrialist Anil Ambani, Videocon’s Dhoot brothers and the brother of former telecom minister A Raja’s brother in connection with 2G spectrum allocation case. There have been allegations that Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) received favours from Raja in getting dual technology and a role for Reliance Telecom in promoting Swan Telecom.

Anil Ambani was questioned by the agency sleuths with whom he remained closeted for nearly two hours. The agency had sought clarifications from him on certain documents relating to Swan Telecom, the Bureau sources said.

Swan Telecom has been under the scanner over alleged diversion of funds to

DMK-owned Kalaignar television.

Dhoot brothers grilled The CBI on Monday questioned Videocon group chairman Venugopal Dhoot and his brother Rajkumar Dhoot in connection with the scam.

According to sources, the two were asked about funding and transactions in Datacom Services, one of the firms which was awarded 2G licences at 2001 rates. The Dhoot brothers reached CBI headquarters around 11 am and were questioned till late in the evening.

Raja's brother questioned Kalia Perumal, brother of Raja, was also questioned for over three hours by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the scam. It also questioned Raja's close aide Sadiq Batcha in connection with the case.

Manmohan concedes the demand of a JPC probe in 2G scam Finally, the Manmohan Singh government conceded the demand of a JPC (Joint Parliamentary Committee) probe into the 2G scam on Tuesday.

Prime Minister announced the decision as soon as the Lok Sabha began is working at the start of the budget session.

Dr. Singh said the country could “ill afford” disruption of the crucial Budget session of Parliament. A formal motion for constitution of the Joint Parliamentary Committee would be moved soon. “We could not succeed in spite of our sincere efforts” to persuade the Opposition not to insist on a JPC probe, Mr. Singh said.

Asserting that his government was committed to rooting out corruption, the Prime Minister said “all effective steps” were

for a subsidy to the venture under the national horticulture mission (NHM).

The project will include a complete value chain – processing, cold storages and exporters.

According to a consultant of the project, the limited liability company would adopt best farming techniques in well-organised structure.

The process to avail certification of global GAP has also been initiated.

JK Horticulture Export Pvt Ltd will buy vegetables from the company. “We have tied up with UK based companies for export of vegeta-

talk of victory or defeat,” she said. The Left party said the government had only done its duty.

The AIADMK demanded that the JPC include all the parties.

Recalling that the Winter session of Parliament had been lost on account of controversy over 2G spectrum allocation, Mr. Singh said, “In paralysing Parliament, I believe, we all do disservice to those who have elected us.”

Dubbing it as the biggest scam in independent India, the Opposition had made it clear that it would not allow the Budget session to function properly if the JPC was not announced.

Arun Jaitley disappointed In the Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister made a similar statement on the JPC formation.

Soon after he completed, Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley said he was “disappointed” over the contents of the statement.

“The issue could be resolved in a more gracious manner,” he said adding the content of the PM’s statement showed the government had done everything and the JPC was formed only because Parliament was paralysed.

Mr. Jaitley said the formation of the JPC could have been done in a graceful way rather than in a “tasteless” manner by projecting that the opposition had coerced the government to do so.

BJP members including S S Ahluwalia and Ravi Shankar Prasad as also AIAMDK member M Maitreyan took objection to the content of the PM’s statement.

Modi hails Daudi Bohras as goodwill ambassadors of Gujarat Chief Minister cut a cake to celebrate 100th birth anniversary of their spiritual leader Dr Syedna

Gujarat Chief minister Narendra Modi last week inaugurated a trade fair organised by Daudi Bohra community here as part of the centenary celebrations of their spiritual leader Dr Syedna Mohammed Burhannudin. He hailed the community for being progressive and lauded them as a progressive community, especially about achieving 100 per cent education for girls.

Modi cut a cake to mark the 100th birth anniversary of Syedna at an inauguration ceremony of Burhani Expo. The community members who came from across the country gave a standing ovation to Modi after his speech. Modi highlighted the fact that they had kept traditional values intact and were at the same time receptive to new ideas.

“Economic development is the solution to every problem. Peace and harmony

UK, Europe may soon savour vegetables from Gujarat A group of farmers from a Kheda district village are planning to go for vegetable farming as per GAP (Good agriculture practices), aiming to export their produce to the UK and Europe.

A company called Kailash Kampa Producer Co. Ltd. (KKPCL) will be set up by the farmers of Kailash Kampa village and green house farming zones are to be developed in an area of about 100 acres.

Gujarat government has already approved the project, likely to cost about Rs. 226 mn and has also recommended to the central government

taken to convince the Opposition in this regard.

“We can ill afford a situation where Parliament is not allowed to function during the crucial Budget session. It is in these special circumstances that the government agrees to the setting up of a JPC,” he said. Mr. Singh requested Speaker Meira Kumar to proceed with the process of formation of the JPC and said a formal motion would be moved soon.

Victory of democracy: Sushma Welcoming the government’s move, Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj thanked the Prime Minister and Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee for the decision.

“We should not see this as a victory or defeat.

This is a victory of democracy. We should all work together putting aside any

bles grown by the KKCPL,” said Kaushik Davada, CEO of JK Horticulture.

Farmers would grow okra (bhindi), chilli, bottle gourd and guwar as per GAP standards, says Davada adding, “We would like them to grow tomato and capsicum in future.”

“Initially, a group of 100 farmers will grow vegetables over 35 acres under green house to ensure high quality. Later on we will expand area of cultivation and include new members also,” said Haresh Patel, vegetable grower and executive member of the company.

Modi opens Burhani Expo of Dawoodi Bohras in Amdavad

are pillars of development,” said Modi .

Terming Bohras peace loving people, he said that wherever they go, they generate goodwill for Gujarat.

Giving an example of the foresight of Bohra leaders, he said Mahatma Gandhi established Gujarat Vidyapith in 1930, but the community had established their university in 1920 in Surat.

He also said that community should create awareness among people of Gujarat to fight against

the problem of malnutrition in pregnant women as part of the centenary celebrations. Members of the Dawoodi Bohra community participating in the event from across the country as well as globe seemed very impressed with Modi after he finished his 20-minute speech.

In between showering praises on spiritual leader Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb, Modi spoke at length on how the Bohra community had contributed to the state's

growth and appealed them to continue doing so. He also urged Bohras to play a bigger role in the state's development. The two-day expo is a trade exhibition of Dawoodi Bohra community, the first of its kind in the country where more than 150 exhibitors from various industries are taking part.

Describing Syedna Saheb as a karmasheel person the CM said that the community has been fortunate enough to get Saheb's blessings and good wishes every year.

"Today Vibrant Gujarat Summit has become a big event but few people know that first Vibrant Gujarat Summit in 2003 had started off in Surat with Syedna Saheb's blessings," Modi said.

Earlier, Saheb's son Huzefa Saheb praised Modi for taking Gujarat on the fast track of progress.

Srichand Hinduja wants Indian amnesty for black money stashed abroad Srichand Hinduja, one of the key members of Hinduja brothers, owners of a variety of businesses in India, UK and other global destinations has prayed for amnesty from the government of India for the black money stashed away by Indians in tax heavens abroad. He has also called for greater liberalisation of investment and currency regulations in India.

In a letter to Pranab Mukherjee, the Indian finance minister, Srichand Hinduja has written that if granted, the amnesty would help Indian businessmen increase the flow of funds into India and boost investment in its

Srichand Hinduja

infrastructure sector.

It comes in the backdrop of a huge political and public row in India over government’s failure to secure information and bringing back the ill-gotten wealth, which activists claim belong to Indian tax payers and citizens.

Srichand and his brother Gopichand have an estimated family fortune of more than £8bn and a business empire spanning oil, gas, power generation, heavy goods and truck manufacturing and banking. The senior Hinduja also said, “Amnesty is not a one-time solution and we will have to introduce systems and procedures to regularise the accounts at the foreign centres on an ongoing basis.”

India should follow the example of the US and the eurozone, where, he said, offshore account holders had been able to regularise their tax status by paying between 15pc to 20pc on outstanding amounts.

YOUTH / CULTURE

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

27

Pushing boundaries By Aman Singh

The real test of a community…

By Spriha Srivastava

The many faces of ‘Bollywood’ The last few bollywood movies that I have seen have left me rather worried regarding the changing trend of Indian cinema. Gone are the days when Indian cinema was issue-based and close to reality. The movies today are far away from reality and tend to stray from the focus very easily.

They are also emotionally very exhausting.

When an individual decides to watch a movie, he/she looks for complete entertainment, to learn something new or feel close to a burning issue. But when you go to a movie that has an overdose of emotions, sex and drama you start cursing yourself for having spent three hours inside the movie hall.

Very few movies keep you gripped till the end.

For example, I think movies like Rajneeti or even No one Killed Jessica did true justice to their plot. But the problem is that we don’t have enough movies like them.

The bollywood industry is also influenced heavily by two things – Hollywood and Target audience.

Hollywood plays a very important role in our lives. Well a lot of movies are “inspired” or “based” or sometimes “copy pasted” from Hollywood. To give you a small example – the other day I was watching Primal Fear starring Richard Gere and Edward Norton. An absolutely fantastic movie that stayed true to its plot and when it ended, it left a thought in my mind. And I kept thinking and reasoning it out. I also went on to read about it. Such is the impact that we sometimes desire. Just a few minutes later, a friend told me that the bollywood movie Deewangee is based on Primal Fear.

Having been very impressed by Primal Fear, I started watching Deewangee. Needless to mention, that the movie lacked focus heavily. The focus was divided into three – the main lawyerclient relationship, love and emotional drama and an absolutely unreal turnaround that left me bewildered. On top of it, the important scenes from the movie were copied exactly as they

were in Primal Fear. At this moment, I wasn’t impressed but was quite amused.

And this was just one example of the many bollywood movies that have been copied scene by scene from various other movies. If we leave this aside, the other problem I have with these movies is the content and language used. A movie like Saat Khoon Maaf allows a 15 year old child to go inside the movie theatre and be a witness to inappropriate content. Fair enough, we are modern

Leela Bhansali and the likes and meaningful movies are still made.

But when you see a number of movies that have absolutely no story line or weak script or too much of unreality you tend to get worried if this is what bollywood has in store for you. The amount of skin show we see in bollywood now, sometimes it leaves me wondering what the situation will be 10 years later. It seems like it’s growing more and more with time.

This is not to com-

but what kind of exposure are we giving to the young ones in our country?

Coming back to my main point of too much emotional drama; the film-makers in our country need to tone down on drama. Yes we are all emotional people who cried when Shahrukh Khan was dying in Kal Ho Na Ho and when Kajol’s father did not let her meet Shahrukh in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge. But there is a limit to emotions on the big screen. My appeal to cinema-makers is to not turn it into a moneymaking business. To give you a quick example – a movie like Patiala House is simply just about emotions and celebrations with no connection with reality. And that’s when overdose of emotions happen.

I also think that bollywood has the capability to make some wonderful cinema and we still have finest directors like Mani Ratnam, Sanjay

pare, but when today when I see old movies like Mother India or An Evening in Paris among others, I enjoy the movie for both the story and the performance.

Whereas movies today are appreciated for many other things – Location, clothes, styling, jewellery, skin show, item numbers and then comes acting. Many a times I have heard that people go to watch a movie because “xyz” actress is looking really good in it or because the movie was shot in Switzerland or Maldives.

One can only hope that film-makers who indulge in making lousy movies understand that a saturation point has come and public has started appreciating the story line and the script.

And in this context it is extremely important for them to focus on the plot other than everything else that does not even seem important at the end of the day.

Let us know what you think.

Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Despite the fact that most of my parents' siblings lived in India, I had a huge number of aunties and uncles visiting my parents' corner shop in Wolverhampton when I was young.

Indeed, unbeknownst to me whilst I counted out change as a teenager, wishing I was outside playing footy, I was part of something uniquely South Asian: A community.

These memories are probably no different to our young adults today. Where our parents’ generation had built the local Gurdwara or Masjid, placing their roots in the comfortable confines of religion, culture and the eponymous openall-hours business, young adults today find the tentacles of this community have spread further to include socialising and a metropolitan professional class.

The essence and real test of a community, however, is unchanged from the Aunties in Gurdwaras and multi-colour turbaned, Scotch-drinking uncles of my youth. It is just the issues that have changed for young adults. Whereas back then it was practical help, housing, jobs and migration, nowadays young adults are faced with more emotional, cultural and mental health issues.

The question, therefore, is how does this community help you if you are the one in sixth young women who self harm? The one in five young males who contemplates suicide? The one in fifty that actually carries it out?

Academics have talked at length about our community as an 'informal support network'. I revisited this community later in my life when I was working on my PhD, examining how South Asian communities treated service users with severe mental health conditions. A body of research, lead by the famous psychiatrist Margaret Waxler in the 1970s, had concluded that individuals from the Indian Subcontinent who had migrated to the UK were 'protected' by the negative effects of psychotic conditions by the existence of the 'informal support networks' I describe earlier.

Being slightly more critical than in my parents' corner shop, I began to question whether this finding still held true in 21st century British Asian society. The results perhaps took the shine off my earlier rose-tinted spectacles. People I subsequently met with schizophrenia appeared not to be reaping the benefits of informal support within their ethnic communities. They were facing stigma within their own families, being exploited by religious healers and consigned to the matrimonial scrapheap in the long term by the same Aunties in Gurdwaras.

And the uncles in multi-coloured turbans? They were hiding signs of severe alcohol dependency. The south asian community, it appeared, sought to work

against you and hide you if you suffered from severe mental illness. This lead me to set up Destigmatize (www.anxietyuk.destigmatize.org.uk), the first mental health advocacy and information helpline for sufferers in the UK. My discussions with young adults facing self harm, addiction and mental health difficulties have revealed lessons for the community at large. Firstly, youngsters are not afraid to acknowledge their problems and are keen to challenge stigma, bring issues out into the open rather than hide them away.

Therefore, the first issue is that firstgeneration community members, parents and elders need to recognise these issues, to talk about them without fear, Secondly, young adults want to be able to access the full menu of help out there. Many social entrepreneurs exist, those who have faced similar barriers to tackling mental health issues from within a closed community in their youth and stuck their neck out to fight for change. These people are the unsung heroes, less concerned with Knighthoods and Chicken Tikka at House of Commons receptions than evidence-based research and providing practical solutions. Organizations such as Rethink Sahayak, the only dedicated Asian-language helpline in the UK or the Newham Asian Womens’ Project (www.nawp.org). Individuals such as Prof. Kam Bhui, Suman Fernando and Prof. Dinesh Bhugra to name but a few.

Finally and perhaps most importantly, each of us need to harness the power of the community better. You may ask how we can do this? Use the power of religion, the community spirit within our organisations and places of worship to speak openly about severe mental illness, stigma and identity. Give money to such causes. Recognise the issues within our homes and speak to young adults as parents.

Being a new writer to this publication ,I am keen to open debate on such issues. Are you suffering from mental illness? How have the community reacted? Is there a community anymore?

What do you think? Please join me on twitter: #amansingh or email amanAV@gmail.com (Aman Singh has published research into how communities respond to young people with severe mental illness in the UK and India/ Pakistan. His Whitehall contacts and policy insight have been developed through a five-year career covering the severe mental illness, extremism and crime/drugs Government policy areas. Aman is a seasoned media commentator, having presented the hugely-successful ‘The Journey Within’ cable-TV show and writing regularly for national and ethnic minority media outlets).

Duncan Lewis raises £3,000 for Redbridge Single Homelessness Project at Annual Office Party Duncan Lewis held their annual office party at the Queens Tower Room at Imperial College London on January 21st 2011. The firm hosted the event for 300 guests who enjoyed a champagne filled reception and a three course sit down dinner and dance.

The evening showcased Ben Silver from upcoming band Super Soul Soldiers.

There was also a raffle in aid of the Redbridge Single Homelessness Project, with kind donations from 9-12 Bell Yard Chambers, Decathlon, New ID Studios, management from Duncan Lewis and many more. The raffle generated a flurry of interest with prizes including; annual leave, a short break away for 2, vouchers and photo makeovers. Generous donations came from Duncan Lewis staff and guests to raise an impressive £1,000.

This was matched by the firms CEO; Shany Gupta on top of their monthly

(L-R) Practice Director Adam Makepeace (CEO), Shany Gupta (MD) Nina Joshi

charity donation of £1,000 giving a grand total of £3,000 raised for the firms charity of the month, the Redbridge Single Homelessness Project.

Duncan Lewis CEO, Shany Gupta comments “The night was enjoyed by all and it was great to see so many employees from Duncan Lewis together. I am very pleased that Duncan Lewis has managed to raise a great amount of money for a very deserving charity.”

28

HEALTH WatCh

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

Healthiest breakfast is cereal with milk Cereal with milk is the healthiest breakfast, a new study suggests.

An active individual needs good nutrition for a full working day and breakfast is the key to a healthy lifestyle.

The best way to start the morning is with a simple bowl of cereal, as it makes people less likely to turn to fatty, sugary food through the rest of the day.

Sigrid Nutritionist Gibson carried out the study that has revealed cereals are good source of calcium as well as some other important nutrients like fibre, protein and carbohydrates. The result of the study was published in BNF Nutrition the Bulletin.

The research team analysed 12,068 food records from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey, which interviewed Britons aged from 19 to 64.

The results showed that one in five adults ate no solid food for breakfast,

one third chose cereal and 45 per cent enjoyed a noncereal breakfast. The most popular item was tea or coffee, taken on 84 per cent of breakfast occasions.

Milk was consumed with 82 per cent of breakfasts, followed by cereal (39 per cent), bread (33 per cent) and fruit (14 per cent).

Women were less likely than men to choose bread, sausage, bacon or eggs and more likely to have fruit instead.

The study found that eating breakfast was associated with a lower fat and higher carbohydrate intake over 24 hours compared with skipping breakfast.

But this was mainly attributable to cerealbased breakfasts as noncereal meals were associated with a higher intake of saturated fatty acid and lower protein intakes.

“This provides yet more evidence of the importance of having breakfast and shows the value of making wise choices,” Newcastle University’s nutrition professor Chris Seal, a member of The Breakfast Panel which commissioned the study, said.

“People who eat breakfast cereal generally eat less fat, saturated fat and sugar than those who do not and have better intakes of protein and important micro-nutrients, such as iron, vitamins and calcium.”

Loud music on headphones is injurious to your ears Youngsters who are addicted to playing their music at full blast on their headphones or music players stand the risk of going deaf. A top audiologist in UK, Dr. Tony Kay has revealed that a large number of music fans, particularly youngsters who love to enjoy music on their music players are suffering from ‘iPod-itis’ (ringing in ears). The doctor warns that these are the people who are at a greater risk of going deaf in later life.

Senior chief audiologist at the Liverpool hospital, Dr. Kay says the number of young music lovers visiting the clinic with hearing complaints has increased dramatically in the last two years.

Kay, of Aintree

University Hospital, said he is concerned that 'iPoditis' is causing Britain's youngsters irreparable damage.

He said, “We all have emotional attachment to our music players but if music lovers are not careful this sustained exposure could eventually lead to complete hearing loss.

“Going out every night or working in close proximity to loud music blaring out of speakers can be

)& )" & &* ' * (# ,#) )" & && " ( #)& $& ! ' ' #& " ,#)& #! ! # ( )" & ( ! ' # )( #& ( ' # )! "( ( #" $ &! (( " & #)' & ( ' " + ' ' & '$ ( " ! " '( & #&' & +" && && " & %) & # &" ) , %) $$ + ' " " & '' " ( ' & , & &##! #& $ & #&! " ( )" & ( ' #& #& $ , " )" & & !#", ( !' $&#* & '( && " #& $ & #&! " '( & ( ' $ (& ( #" ' &* ' (# " &#! ", $ &( # ( +#& ' ' '$ &' " " "

# " ,#)& " & '( & " $ ' #"( (

, ( " + " # " & '(&,

#& #& !#& " #&! ( #"

extremely hazardous.

Youngsters who listen to music on personal music players do not understand the damage they are causing. In the last two decades we have seen more people in their late teens and early 20s with tinnitus because they have been exposed to music that is too loud.”

“Often on trains, people will turn up their music players to drown out background noise, which is hammering their ears. If you can hear the music a person is listening to three seats away, imagine how loud it must be for them.” However, Kay feels that “Good ear-plugs and lower volumes” can help safeguard hearing. He says that if his warning his heeded, every clubber can “enjoy music for decades longer.”

By Radhika Madlani

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star... magar na moma aavi gayo, magar biladi …how I wonder what you are? I imagkhai gayo! ine most parents and children can finish Considering this is the only nursery off this nursery rhyme in a heartbeat. rhyme I recall that isn’t in English, it is Or can you? As I found to my recent slightly amusing albeit slightly frightensurprise, the actual rhyme is much ing to think that the message in this longer and I have included it at the end rhyme is about a fat cat who whilst of my article for other curious types wearing a saree goes for a walk. The cat who, like me only know the first two then decides to go for a swim in a lake lines of the poem. where she is eaten by a crocodile.

Did you know that the origin of Hmmm. some of the traditional nursery rhymes I thank our culture for being versathat we are accustomed to singing date tile as the absence of meaningful nursall the way back to the 1800s? I guess ery rhymes are happily replaced by our that would explain why it is so natural parents with the hanuman chalisa or a for us all to pick up the same nursery bhajan or two that have an equally rhymes irrespective of the country we important message for us and will no grew up in and recite them to the next doubt continue to serve us not only durgeneration as part and parcel of childing childhood but throughout our entire hood. lives.

The origin of the poem actually Quote: hides an interesting story. The star used Twinkle twinkle little star, how I in the rhyme is being compared to a diawonder what you are? mond in the sky with the intent of Up above the world so high , like a teaching children how to paint a picture diamond in the sky in their imagination by comparing one When the blazing sun is gone, thing to another. These words create a when he nothing shines upon, comparison between the twinkling of Then you show your little light, the star to a sparkling diamond. The twinkle, twinkle all the night. joint authors of the rhyme were sisters Then the traveller in the dark, called Ann and Jane Taylor who first thanks you for your tiny spark, published the rhyme in 1806!

He could not see which way to go, if Amusingly, when I compared this you did not twinkle so. old English favourite to my favourite In the dark blue sky you keep, and Gujarati rhyme (the only one I know I often through my curtains peep, might add), I found myself in giggles as For you never shut your eye, 'till the I fondly recalled the words with my famsun is in the sky. ily; As your bright and tiny spark lights Ek biladi jadi, Ene peri saadi, saadi the traveller in the dark, peri farwa gai, tadav ma to tarwa gai, Though I know not what you are tadav ma hato magar, billi ne avya twinkle, twinkle little star. chakkar, saadi chhedo chhutto padyo, Should you have any comments or want to get in touch with me you can email on avmamaria@gmail.com

Cholesterol content in Eggs has gone down The cholesterol content in eggs is found to be lower than believed hitherto, new nutrition data suggests.

United States Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (USDAARS) recently reviewed the nutrient composition of standard large eggs, and results show the average amount of cholesterol in

one large egg is 185mg, 14% lower than previously recorded. The analysis has also revealed that large eggs now contain 41 IU of

vitamin D, an increase of 64%. “We collected a random sample of regular large shell eggs from 12 locations across the country to analyse the nutrient content,” said Dr Jacob Exler, Nutritionist with the Agricultural Research Service's Nutrient Data Laboratory. Previously, nutrients study of eggs was done in 2002.

*0- ' . " ' " # (' %#0 -!", * ( . " ' " # " # (' %#0 /"(+ ) *& ' ', * ++ #' ' # #+ +".#' ( # ,0 #.#+#(' ( -* , -$ * , ' )* + ',%0 * +# #'! , (*," * (%%#+(' 0 (' (' * 0 !#. '(,# ( &0 #', ',#(' ,( " '! &0 ' & +-*' & ,( *0- $ 0 ' '#

'( & '$ ('

DIMPLE SELF DRIVE HIRE LTD

DIMPLE VANS - CARS - MINIBUS

Competitive prices No hidden extras Unlimited mileage 3 days & over Special weekend rates Minibuses 8, 12, 15 & 17 seaters Vans & estate cars

Mini Bus (8-17 Seater) 8 Seater from £60 12 Seater from £65 15 Seater from £70 17 Seater from £80 Small Cars from £25 Medium Cars from £30 Large Cars from £35 Large Vans from £40

Tel: 020 8205 1200 / 7898 Fax: 020 8200 7426 www.dimpleselfdrive.com Email:dimplemotors@aol.com 19 Varley Parade, Edgware Road, London NW9 6RR

Wedding

day Birth

ties Par

al O eci Sp

sion cca

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

29

A Brent Hindu Temple deserves a better deal from the Council Continued from page 1 Last year this temple made an application for an erection of a single storey rear extension and a canopy to the side elevation. They also requested for double glaze in the window. When this application was made, the Temple authority were told they did not have a D1 unit permission and were not eligible to run a temple in the Class Sui Generis premises.

Though the temple authority claim that they already have a class D1 use permission from inception, they had to re-apply for it.

To their aghast the Brent Planning Committee not only refused the permission to extension but also threatened to close the temple for the following reasons: 1. Changing use of permission from a hall (Use class Sui Generis) to a temple/place of worship (Use Class D1).

2. Erection of a canopy structures to side and front of premises.

3. Erection of a marquee to the rear and installation of signage to the premises.

4. Causing traffic hazard, congestion noise, littering and nuisance in the neighbourhood which has fetched 156 letters of objection.

5. Capacity of the temple premises to hold people.

While going to the press, Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar learnt that the temple has withdrawn the original planning application as per the professional and legal advices. It is also understood that the Council is reconsidering the enforcement notice. A meeting is likely to take place on 23rd February, 7pm to decide the fate of the temple, which will be attended by Council officers, Councillors and the Temple Trustees.

Though this meeting was supposed to take place on 15th of March, it has been preponed for some reasons by the Council. If the D1 issues are not resolved by then, the enforcement to close the temple may come upon on 12th May 2011. The temple authority has now requested the Local Planning Authority to withdraw the enforcement notice.

Perturbed by the current situation 5 Trustees of the Temple visited Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar offices to seek help in running a campaign to save their temple and had a detailed discussion with our Editorial team. On Monday 21st February Asian Voice wrote to Cllr Ann John, Leader of the Labour Party in Brent Council and Lead Member for Corporate Strategy and Policy Co-ordination of the Brent Council and Cllr Ramesh Patel, Chair of the Planning Committee, but received no response from them. Inspite of repetitive reminders, no response has been received by 6pm Tuesday, 22nd February.

Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar contacted many leaders of Hindu organisations. They are shocked to know about the problems faced by the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, Wembley. Hindu organisations in London and other parts of Britain are ready to support this temple in all possible manner!

On Feb 22nd morning a few Hindu devotees including Swaroop Ramadugu, Dev Joshi, Milin Patil, Rashmika Patel, Kalyani Patel, Pavan, Hardik Vaidya, Prasath Suthagar & Mahesh Mehta who are local residents in Brent area visited Councillor Ramesh Patel's residence, hoping to collect his signature on the petition against Brent Council's wish to

close the Shirdi Saibaba Temple.

They told Asian Voice that they were not only turned back but were also told that Mr Patel was neither willing to speak to any person regarding this matter nor would like to interfere in this matter and he was out since 5am.

This has deeply hurt the sentiments of several hundreds of Hindus who live in the local Brent Area. They are extremely pained that at the end of the day Cllr Ramesh Patel is a local councillor and he has refused to support his own faith!

According to the 2001 census, Brent boasts of an impressive array of religions.

Majority is Christian (47.7%), but there is a high percentage of Hindus (17.2%one of the highest percentage in the country) and Muslims (12.3%). There are 17 temples and 25 mosques in the Brent area. There are around 6 churches on the Ealing Road alone.

The Sai Temple in Wembley is located very close to the Ealing Road. Opposite this temple is a Shiva temple, close by is

a library and a Mosque and the Ealing Road shops and businesses are not too far either. That itself is a reason for traffic, congestion and high level of noise. If the premises were left as a community hall, alcohol license and loud music and late night parties would have increased the level of noise as well! How does having a temple, 100 worshippers per day or 750 to 874 worshippers over 8.5hrs on some festivals or Thursdays (once a week) be a threat? Moreover, there already is a yellow line that does not allow parking on the roads in front of the temple and there is enough parking available in public parking areas nearby like Lexham car Park!

Every Friday during 'namaaz' the road is blocked as our Muslim brothers pray on the footpath and the road.

Moreover the temple has opened up branches in East London, Milton Keynes and Leicester so that people in the locality can avail them, reducing the number of devotees in the Wembley temple.

Cllr Navin Shah, who is the only Hindu member from Brent and Harrow for the Greater London Assembly and an architect by profession is deeply concerned about this planning issue and the fate of the temple. He told Asian Voice, "Whether ‘Change of Use to D1’ is required so that the building can be used for worshipping purposes is central and critical to the planning application. Two documents, brought to my attention, originating from Brent Council’s plan-

Because the issues involve complex Planning Law my advice is two fold: 1 The organisation needs to obtain proper Planning Advice.

2. They should enter in discussions with the Brent Planning Officers to find out what is required from them in terms of management of the building and control of visitors and then ensure that they fully comply. They should also talk to all their neighbours and reassure them that they will do everything possible to ensure that they are not impacted by activities from the temple – especially on major religious event days. They need to set out a robust management plan to prove that they can manage."

Cllr Harshad Patel, leader of the Conservatives in the Brent Council told Asian Voice, "The decision is for the Planning Committee to make. Before the current use as a Place of Worship, the premises was used as a function hall. It is also clear from the design of the original building that the building was intended as a function hall which facilitates large groups of people meeting. The question therefore remain to be answered is simple but it has been made unnecessarily complicated. Whether the application to be granted or refused should not be a matter of disput in this case.. It is because use as a hall before and now as a temple, both attracts people and in fact worshipping is much more peaceful and less noisy than using it as a function hall. I am of the opinion that permission is only required if the Sui generis use is materially different from the existing one and it will be matter of fact and degree. Looking at the interpretation of the planning laws and its applications to the given facts, I would say that it has been wrongly interpreted and applied.. The issues concerning parking, noise and nuisance by visitors of the temple is not properly considered...The reasons given for The Shirdi Saibaba Temple in Wembley. refusal is not justifiable and I will be The yellow line on the road clearly seen opposing it.. I am against it, I will be in the photo shows that no parking is there at the meeting. I am not a allowed in front of the temple Planning Committee member but I will fight for the devotees. I hope that the Planning Committee will conLet the members of planning committee sider all the relevant issues very carefultake a decision taking into account arguments on both sides. Whatever the outly and do justice." come at the planning committee meeting The devotees of Shirdi Sai Baba it is important that the temple and counTemple are non violent people and are from different faiths. The Chair of the cil work together for a final resolution Temple Trustee is a Sikh gentleman. They that helps the temple and also looks have national and international support after the interest of the neighbouring resand volunteers from every walks of life, idents." creed, race and community. In facebook, Cllr Paul Lorber, the leader of the Lib the followers of Shirdi Saibaba Temple Dems in the Brent Council and a former have put up a page (http://www.faceleader of the Brent Council told Asian b o o k . c o m / p a g e s / S h i rd i - S a i - B a b a Voice, "I do not sit on the Planning Committee and as such am not involved Temple-London/145144668869162) to in the process or the decision...In broad save the temple. The temple has already terms the planning officers were conreceived letters of support from Hindu Forum of Britain and Barry Gardiner, MP. cerned on two key issues. Firstly they Asian Voice believes like other ethnic were responding to complaints from minorities, the Hindus have equal rights local residents who raised issues about as long as they are within the law. The poor management of certain events since Local Government should ensure that the Temple was opened (the impact on there is no harassment for the devotees local residents and protecting their and no unnecessary problems are caused amenity is an important planning confor this temple. sideration) and Secondly the officer view that Union Road cannot cope MP Rt Hon Keith Vaz, Virendra because of the proximity of a both a Sharma, Lord Dolar Popat, GLA Member Mosque and another Temple very nearCllr Navin Shah, British Asian Conservative Link Chairman Ranbir by.

Singh Suri, prominent leaders including I also understand that there is a disRami Ranger are very concerned about pute about whether the Temple requires the problems of the Shirdi Saibaba planning permission for change of use Temple and they are working hard for a and an argument was put across that the just and amicable solution for the disother Temple in Union Road, situated in pute. a building owned by the Brent Labour Party, was not required to obtain plan(Raise your voice, let us know what ning permission – something the officers you think at aveditorial@abplgroup.com) say may have been an oversight.

ning services during the period of 2007 and 09 clearly suggest that the premises now used by Shirdi SaiBaba Temple, falls within the D1 use class. Given this assessment the building does not require change of use permission for it to perform worshipping functions. However, the planning officers take a different view now and assert that change of use is required. But, based on Council’s previous position I have fundamental disagreement with this new opinion and believe that change of use is not required.

The other issues surrounding the controversy are related to the capacity of the hall (number of worshippers), traffic and two extensions to the building. The issues of numbers of worshippers and car parking are hugely important to ensure that the temple is used efficiently and in a way that they do not create problems of noise, nuisance and congestion in the area and that the quality of life of local residents does not suffer.

30

UK

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

CB Patel will discuss with Mr. Ashok Rabheru, Knight Commander of the Victorian Order, recently appointed by her majesty as a Deputy Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire and who is also involved eminently as a Trustee of the world renowned The Duke of Edinburgh Awards, various aspects of his work, especially charitable activities. Also, Mr. Ramprasad.H.Joshi, a graduate of Faculty of Music from M.S University, Baroda and a music teacher as well will render some bhajans and prayers keeping in view, the forthcoming Maha Shivratri on Wednesday, 3 March.

Sneh Joshi - 020 8518 5500 will be able to sort ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 out You any difficulties regard-

ing any long-term investments by taking immediate action. There may be a certain amount of unfinished business to be dealt with. Therefore you will need to adopt a fairly flexible policy in order to accommodate the odd twists and turns of everyday life.

If you do not have a tv, go to www.tvunetworks.com and watch CB Live on TVU Player Channel 75203

To ask questions please call on: 020 8963 1001

For more information e-mail: cblive_matv@yahoo.co.uk

Don't miss !!!

Only on CB Live - MATV Sky 793 - Thursday 7:00pm to 8:00pm

Rules to allow mixedrace adoption Continued from page 5 The adoption system will witness these changes as the current guidance are believed to have been misinterpreted and is believed to have been preventing families from adopting children who do not belong to the same background or identity is unacceptable. The system is not child-centered, the way it should be if child is

denied adoptive parents on the ethnic basis.

The present guidelines which only states that social worker must give “due consideration to the child's religious persuasion, racial origin, cultural and linguistic backgrounds” are currently misinterpreted and preventing mixed-race adoption.

Asian Voice Summer Special British Asian WomenThe Pinnacle of Success British Asian Women make a vital contribution to the family, wealth, health and intellectual well being of Britain. With a huge number of honours for their endeavours, Asian Voice will be producing a special issue this May saluting these achievements and focussing on their successes The special issue 'British Asian Women-The Pinnacle of Success' 0will profile some influential Asian Women who have accomplished their aspirations, despite various obstacles. The profiles will include women from various professions such as Banking, Law, IT, Politics, Medicine, Education, Recruitment, Retail, arts, culture, community service and other areas. If you are

aware of any young and aspiring asian woman who deserves to be recognised for their achievement in their profession or contribution towards the community please contact us on 020 7749 4097

'

!

'

'() # $ )% %# $ &%+ '( % (& ' )* " ), ! %% # ( % )!&# "#! $ # " & $! ' % ' $" # % $ $ # % ! $ "$ ! $ &$ $$ & % $ % !$ ( ! & !' & "") & & ) # !' ' $" $ & " " #$! ( ! $ !! !# #$ " !# "!"& # %) )!&# !' ! &$ ( ( !&% ! )!&# " (% % !$% "!( # & $" %! # # % ) # $%& !# # " (% ! ! $ !# %! ! &$ & % $ " # % $ "#!% % % #! " !" )

Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Editorial Executive: Kartik Raval Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Financial Officer: Surendra Patel Tel: 020 7749 4093 - Mobile: 07875 229 220 Email: surendra.patel@abplgroup.com Accounts Executive: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Alka Shah Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Mobile: 07944 151 893 Email: alka.shah@abplgroup.com Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Media Consultant: Rovin John Goerge - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Business Development Managers: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 - Email: george@abplgroup.com Nikhil Gor - Email: nikhil.gor@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4009 - Mobile: 07875 229 200 Design and Layout: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Saroj Patel Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar

Coming Events l From Monday, 31st January 2011, Shravika Satsang Mandal will be holding it's meeting together with acupressre and yoga activities on every Monday from 10am-2pm in Kenmore Community Hall, Warneford Road, Kenton, Harrow, Middlesex.

Everyone welcome.

Contact: 020 8904 4262 l On Sun 27th February, 2011 Musical Evening from 7.30pm. Maha Prasad (Dinner) from 6.00pm to 7.00pm at the Temple. Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple, 55 High Street, Cowley, Middlesex UB8 2DX. Tel: 07882 253 540 l Jalaram Bhajans every Thursday's at New Jalaram Temple, Wembley, Repton Avenue, Middx HA0 3DW. Bhajans from 7.30pm till 9.30pm.. Aarti at 7.30pm followed by Prasad...

Contact: CJRabheru 07958 275 222 l Maha Shivratri at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Neasden on Wednesday 2nd March 2011.

Aarti-1145am-12pm and 7-7:20pm. Venue: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Temple. Neasden.

London NW10 8LD. Contact: 02 8965 2651 l NRIs and PIOs invited top strike deals with builders, promoters and real estate developers from India. 26th & 27th Feb 10am-7pm. Concourse Suite, NEC Birmingham. Contact: sales@servicesindialtd.net l Sunday 6th March, 5 pm onwards, Confluence @ Queen Elizabeth Hall, SE1 8XX. Contact: 0844 847 9910

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Whatever you are aiming to achieve, either in the near or distant future, everything is now swinging into your favour. Do not be afraid to aim high if you are working towards promotion or wish to begin a new venture. It is definitely a time of high potential in regard to worldly achievement.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Having all the major planets above the horizon in your solar chart shows that the general pattern of events will focus your attention on the need to make an impact on the world. Although the very practical affairs of life continue to be highlighted, this does not mean that there will be all work and no play.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 If you are taking a holiday, so much the better ! Not only Jupiter putting a favourable emphasis on travel but, with sun and Mercury you can be sure of deriving the utmost pleasure from adventures and excursions. There are influences around you now that will do much to give you greater confidence.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 This week progress is made by focusing your mental and physical energies on what you want to achieve. The underlying trend seems to be pulling you into a much wider social circle now.

This will enrich your life and give you a deeper sense of purpose. The prevailing pattern of planets gives you many opportunities - take advantage.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Venus traversing your sign of leisure will put you in the right mood to indulge in your pleasure-loving instincts. Venus, the planet of love and romance throws a pleasing light on affairs of the heart. Emotional differences can be sorted out now. Your creativity is riding high and you should make the most of this phase.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 Brilliant ideas come easily, as you trust your higher self and allow thoughts to flow freely. You are able to embrace new opportunities and make positive changes in your life.

Your efforts bring you into a more stable way of working than ever before, an important development, with all the changes occurring around you.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 With Mars being the prime mover in the romantic sphere, it is likely that new developments will be swift and passionate. Your experience in love is likely to be dramatic but also deeply satisfying emotionally. Whether you are seeking relaxation or want something more challenging, all tastes will be catered for this week.

Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel: +9179 2646 Fax: +9179 6061 Chief Executive Director: Kamlesh Amin Tel: +91 922 710 4308 Email: kamleshamin123@yahoo.co.in Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Suresh Samani (M) +91 9898441330 Email: sureshsamani@yahoo.com Dy. Editorial Co-Ordinator (BPO): Nilesh Parmar (M) +919426636912 Consulting Editor (BPO): Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 205 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad Tel / Fax: +91 79 2646 5960 (M) +91 9913346487 Email: horizonadvt2009@yahoo.in Neeta Patel, (Advertising Manager) (M) +91 98255 11702 International Advertisement Representative: Jain Group(South India) Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 222471 4122 Email: jainmedia@eth.net

Asian Voice Main Office

Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

Asian Voice switchboard: 020 7749 4000 Gujarat Samachar switchboard: 020 7749 4080 Sales: 020 7749 4085

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 If you're currently romantically involved, your lover could well go from strength to strength in the area of passion. The work that you are involved with at this time is likely to demand a great deal of energy and initiative from you.

This will also involve a lot of moving around and a need to establish a wider network of contacts.

All close ties of love and affection will benefit from the gentle influence of Venus. If you are married or have a well-founded relationship, it seems that the pattern of events will somehow draw you closer together emotionally. Careerwise, this is a fine time to do some serious thinking.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

There will be increased scope for varying your activities, widening your network of contacts and getting out and about. It is an excellent time for exercising your mental energies, claryfying your and other people's ideas and getting involved in discussion. Exercise caution when it comes to making financial decisions.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

All sorts of demands may be placed on you from all sides. Take some time out to reflect and work out where you want to make changes in your busy life.

Once you know, implement it systematically. A tremendous amount of planetary activity in your chart signals a time of mixed emotions and personal issues to be dealt with.s

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

31

32

Chelsea start search for next Asian star

Chelsea’s Asian Soccer Star is back, giving groundbreaking opportunities to young players from Asian communities.

The programme offers the chance for players to win a place at the Chelsea Academy trials this summer and has already seen four winners go on to sign for professional clubs. This year's event will take place on 7th May at Chelsea's world famous training ground in Cobham for players in the Under 9 to Under 12 age groups. Striker Nicolas Anelka is an ambassador for the Asian Soccer Star programme. Anelka said, "Asian Star is making a real difference.

Everyone should have the same chances to play no matter what backgrounds they come from and this programme is offering young Asian players the opportunities they deserve." Participants will be judged on a series of matches and tests specifically designed and used by the Chelsea Academy to examine speed, skill and ability. One player from each of the four age groups will be selected for the Chelsea Academy summer trials where they will train and play alongside some of the country's best young talent. Any player meeting the required standard will be offered the chance to be signed by the Blues. Applications are now open but places are limited for each day. Asian Soccer Star trials are open to players from all Asian backgrounds.

However a priority will be given to players from Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi backgrounds.

Ponting apologises for smashing LCD screen

Australian skipper, unable to control his frustration at being run out against Zimbabwe in the world cup opening encounter at Ahmedabad on Monday, smashed an LCD screen in the dressing room at Ahmedabad’s Sardar Patel Stadium. He later apologised for his action. An agitated Ponting was seen talking angrily to himself as he walked back to the dressing room and, in a state of fury, threw his gear, which accidentally hit the LCD monitor.

Gujarat Cricket Association (GCA) officials claimed that the OZ skipper immediately apologised and requested the authorities for a replacement, said the Australian team's media manager Lachy Paterson. While Ponting is unlikely to face any disciplinary action if an ICC source is to be believed, his action didn't go down well with the cricketing fraternity.

EPL Matches this week

Saturday, 26 February Aston Villa v/s Blackburn Villa Park 15:00 Everton v/s Sunderland Goodison Park 15:00 Newcastle v/s Bolton St. James Park 15:00 Wigan v/s Man Utd D W Stadium 15:00 Wolverhampton v/s Blackpool Molineux 15:00 Sunday, 27 February West Ham v/s Liverpool Boleyn Ground 13:30 Man City v/s Fulham City of Mcr. Stadium15:00 Monday, 28 February Stoke v/s West Brom Britannia Stadium 20:00 Tuesday, 1 March Chelsea v/s Man Utd Stamford Bridge 19:45

Asian Voice - Saturday 26th February 2011

England survive Netherlands scare Ryan ten Doeschate’s ton at Nagpur in vain

The Netherlands gave England a full run for their money at Nagpur on Tuesday.

The minnows scored a challenging 292 runs with the help of a scintillating century (119 of 110 balls) by Ryan ten Doeschate and made England toil hard for the six wicket victory.

Faced with a massive target of 293, England responded with a determined batting performance under the floodlights. Thanks to composed half-centuries from Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott, they eventually reached safety with six wickets and eight balls to spare. However, the final margin of victory did no justice to the journey they

Ian Bell was bowled as the chase got a little tense for England

were forced to undertake. Had England stumbled, it would surely have gone down as the

greatest upset in World Cup history.

The final overs were

fraught with possibility, as England battled with a runrate that barely dipped below seven an over, against a pumped-up team of performers. With 69 needed from the final ten overs, Trott was exquisitely stumped off a legside wide by Wesley Barresi.

England's fate was in the hands of Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara in the fina stages. Collingwood however proved the key. He restored faith in both himself and his team with an unbeaten 30 from 23. {Brief scores: England 296 for 4 (Strauss 88, Trott 62) beat Netherlands 292 for 6 (ten Doeschate 119*, Cooper 47) by six wickets}.

India crush Bangladesh in World Cup opener

Reversing the poor show in the previous edition, India thumped Bangladesh in the World Cup opener on Saturday at Mirpur. First, Virender Sehwag and and Virat Kohli dominated the Bangladesh bowlers, recording centuries in the very first game of the show piece event and later, the pace duo of Munaf Patel and Zahir Khan gave jolts to the host team at regular intervals to beat them with a huge margin of 87 runs.

India piled up 370 runs.

Bangladesh kept the battle very much alive till long, but ultimately could not keep pace as the required run rate went into double figures. They could reach only 283 runs, just managing to prolong the innings enough to complete the 50 overs. India could not pick last wicket.

If Bangladesh bowlers were pitching all over, India

India's players shake hands with the Bangladesh batsmen after their 87-run victory

too tasted the same fate with S Sreesanth proving expensive, giving more than 10 runs per over in his first spell of 3.

Sehwag and Kohli hit the home bowlers at will in front of a shell-shocked crowd and powered India to 370.

Bangladesh took the fight

World Cup Round-Up Australia beat Zimbabwe by 91 runs at Ahmedabad on Monday, Feb 21. (OZ 262 for 6 (Watson 79, Clarke 58*, Mpofu 258), Zim 171 (Cremer 37, Johnson 4-19, Tait 2-34).

Sri Lanka beat Canada by 210 runs at Hambantota on Sunday, Feb 20. (SL 332 for 7 (Jayawardene 100, Sangakkara 92), Canada 122 (Cheema 37, Kulasekara 3-16).

New Zealand beat Kenya by 10 wickets at Chennai on Sunday, Feb 20. (NZ 72 for 0 (Guptill 39*, McCullum 26*), Kenya 69 (Bennett 4-16, Oram 3-2, Southee 3-13).

to the Indian camp in the early part of their innings. Faced with an impossible chase, Imrul Kayes attacked from the outset after which Tamim Iqbal and Shakib took charge.

They set off at a sprint, swinging fearlessly, edging luckily, and brought cheer to their

supporters. What Bangladesh failed to do, though, was sustain the aggression for as long as Sehwag did, and the asking-rate soared irreversibly out of reach. Bangladesh had some good fortune. A mix-up, during which both Tendulkar and Sehwag were ball-watching, left both batsmen at one end and the Mirpur crowd found its voice again.

The highlight of Kohli's innings was his driving. On a surface this slow, he reached the pitch of the ball, gathering momentum with a forward thrust of his body, and drove crisply through the off side with a whip of his wrists. He did it against pace and spin, scoring effortlessly at more than a run a ball. {Brief scores: India 370 for 4 (Sehwag 175, Kohli 100*) beat B’desh 283 for 9 (Tamim 70, Shakib 55, Munaf 4-48) by 87 runs}.

World Cup Cricket Points table (as on 22/2/11) Teams New Zealand Sri Lanka Australia Zimbabwe Canada Kenya

Mat 1 1 1 1 1 1

Won 1 1 1 0 0 0

Lost 0 0 0 1 1 1

India England Netherlands Bangladesh

1 1 1 1

1 1 0 0

0 0 1 1

Group A Tied 0 0 0 0 0 0

N/R 0 0 0 0 0 0

Group B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Pts 2 2 2 0 0 0

Net RR +7.620 +4.200 +1.820 -1.820 -4.200 -7.620

2 2 0 0

+1.740 +0.242 -0.242 -1.740