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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

VOL 39. ISSUE 30

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Raja to Radia: phony deals and huge scams

Well, from A Raja to Nira Radia, the 2G spectrum scam that has rocked India over the past couple of weeks is a telling story of

Nira Radia

alleged corruption in high places. The opposition, even as of Tuesday, while going to the press for this issue, seemed determined for nothing less than a JPC

probe in the 2G scam, forcing adjournment of the parliament for more than a week without any business being done. The UPA government and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh were relieved when on Tuesday, the apex court observed contrary to the views projected in a huge section of media and latched upon by the opposition. Earlier, remarks by the Supreme Court created a huge furore, as it was for perhaps the first time in the history of independent

A Solidarity march in Mumbai to commemorate 26/11 Prince William, Kate to tie the knot on 29th April 2011

See page 22

India that inaction or delay by the Prime Minister was under scanner. It was also a huge embarrassment for the PM that the SC categorically asked the PMO to file an affidavit in response to the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s observation of inaction or delay on letter by a Tamil Nadu leader and former law minister of India, Dr. Subramaniam Swamy. Apart from the magni-

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Four British Asians to join House of Lords soon By Rupanjana Dutta It is time for celebration again, as four other British Asians join the House of Lords after Lord Popat, who joined the Tory peerage in summer 2010. Now Tariq Ahmad businessman and former Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party, Qurban Hussain- Deputy Group Leader of the Liberal Democrat party on Luton Borough Council, Raj Loomba businessman and campaigner for widows' rights from Liberal Democrat party and Sir Gulam Noon MBE Chairman and Founder of Noon Products and Noon Foundation from Labour party join the

Get your

Sir Gulam Noon peerage.

They will be amongst the 50 new peers to join the House of Parliament. Infact PM David Cameron and Ed Miliband have sought to pepper their lists with more eye-catching names. Michael Grade, the former BBC and ITV chairman, will be a Tory peer. Continued on page 2

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tude of the scam, the biggest ever, going by the figures suggested by the CAG, an interesting aspect of the issue is a key role allegedly played by a lady with UK connection. Nira Radia, engaged in providing lobbying, corporate communications and related services to Indian as well as international corporates in India.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

one to one Keith Vaz MP with

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

Dr Sunny Karir Sunny has extensive experience in coaching and mentoring with organisations including the Windsor Fellowship, Microsoft and American Express. She has previously worked for Goldman Sachs and The Times and is also often asked by the BBC to feature on the radio as an expert in ethics, identity, relationships and conformity. She is a founding member of CAPP, the Centre for Applied Positive Psychology and also acts as International Director for the Transformative Action Institute, an organisation dedicated to training the next generation of social entrepreneurs with the skills and mentorship needed to succeed. Sunny holds degrees from the University of Oxford. Her doctoral findings have recently been published with colleagues from Harvard University. Having taught Oxford undergraduates and worked in various leadership roles, she developed a particular interest in individual differences and the theory behind human behaviour. 1) What inspired you to begin your career in your chosen field? I was lucky to be one of those people who really enjoyed their

university degrees. I first studied Psychology which was a new subject for me and immediately found it to be fascinating. Luckily I'm now in a

called 'Infit High' - it should be available to buy next year. 3) Please tell us about your current role?

position where I can also indulge my creative side - hence the novel I've just written. 2) What proudest ments?

are your achieve-

Finishing my PhD at Oxford, and getting my first solo client (Microsoft) even before graduating and starting my company. Also, finishing my novel recently has been incredibly rewarding as it's a brand new challenge. I've written a comedy/mystery

I am a business coach, helping people to achieve their career goals. My company, SilverLiningCoaching.c om is different, because it works with clients' strengths - an approach that has been proven as far more effective than just looking to 'fix' people's weaknesses. 4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career? I was working in America a lot last year and so it was tough getting the right work-life balance. Another obstacle has been getting older people to understand that they deserve individualised

Four British Asians to join House of Lords soon Continued from page 1 Dame Joan Bakewell, the broadcaster, is to become a Labour peer, and the former Labour MP Oona King will also be appointed a peer. Attention is likely to focus, however, on the presence of party donors as the Lords swells to its largest size since the departure of most of the hereditary peers under Tony Blair. There are expected to be 27 Tory names, 15 Liberal Democrats and 10 Labour on last week's list. Of the 738 current peers, 193 are Conservatives, 234 Labour, 79 Liberal Democrat, and 181 crossbenchers. There are 51 others, including 25 bishops. Labour will remain the largest party in the Upper House while the combined Tory and Lib Dem ranks will increase their majority over Labour but not over the whole of the rest of the chamber. Though speculations have been made about Lord Noon's previous contribution to the party, what is conveniently left unnoticed is his other contributions to social upliftment and humane causes. Not only Sir Noon gave £205,000 earlier this year for its general election campaign to Labour party, taking to £738,000 the value of his total gifts to the party but also is one of those British Indians who has

Raj Loomba

firmly stood against Britain's unfiltered immigration and has openly criticised the Islamic fundamentalism, which created a havoc in Mumbai recently. He has so far made the largest contribution to the welfare of community, society and humanity amongst the peers in the

House of Lords till so far. The Noon Foundation was established in December 1995 by Sir Gulam Noon, with a major donation of £4 million from his personal assets. Over the years, the Noon Foundation has been involved in many projects, which have enhanced the lives of numerous people

Philanthropy of Sir (soon to be Lord) Gulam Noon Between 1999-2005 Between 1999-2001 Between 2000-2005

£83,750 £72,191 £210,881

Between 2001-2009 2003- 2005

£65,421 £3000 each

2003-2005

£10,000

2003-2006

Rs 2.5 Lacs

2003-2006

£61,000 £25000 £200,000

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£500,000

£1,288,980 2010

£100,000

coaching. Business Schools and large corporations hire us quickly, but smaller family firms are slow to recognise development needs sometimes.

CARE Int Prince’s Trust Tower Hamlets College Mentoring Programme or their mentoring project over a period of three years British Library To Prof. David Crick and Prof. Shiv Chaudhry of the University of Central England Business School to attend conferences for research purposes. Payment was being spread over 3 years Featherstone High School toward the con struction of a new community sports centre, which is now operational Jaipur Virasat Foundation for the Jaipur Heritage International Festival 2004 Dormers Wells Building of a Young Adults Centre in Southall, East London Students over 4 years for bur saries to support Birkbeck Stratford students who fall into the poverty trap, to cover course fees and associated study costs such as books, travel and childcare. Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies at the Oxford University for the establishment of the The Sir Gulam Noon Scholarship Fund to enable students of outstanding merit to study at Oxford. Noon Hospital in Bhawani Mandi, Rajasthan, India and in 2008 allocated 100 beds, state of the art equipment and facilities. Breast Cancer Care over 2 years for their 2010 programme of specialised services for women with secondary breast cancer and younger women with breast cancer.

I was incredibly fortunate to meet Anita Roddick, the founder of The Body Shop; it was impossible not to be affected by her infectious enthusiasm. Her focus on ethical and profitable business was truly inspiring and so I've been careful to always make time for pro bono work with schools and charities.

7) If you were Prime Minister, what one thing would you change? Our prison system. When I went to Criminology lectures at Oxford I learnt more about pioneering programmes on rehabilitation, and targeted nutrition - e.g. raising levels of essential oils in prisoner diets dramatically reduces violence. They've found similar things by teaching meditation in Australian prisons. Simple - but incredibly effective.

6) What are your long term goals?

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

I've been surprised at how much I enjoyed being creative and writing my book. My ideal future would be a good balance of writing and training. I particularly want to continue sharing my passion for body language and to be able to inspire other young people to give up jobs they hate so they can follow their dreams!

I'd love to get to know George Washington and learn more about the daily techniques he used to improve his personal qualities. In many ways he was the original positive psychologist! Another person would be Roald Dahl. Not only was he a superbly talented writer, but he'd also led a fascinating life.

People

■ British Indian businessman Bhulo Kansagra was chosen to be on the top table with Anil Ambani when ‘The Obama’ whirlwind hit Mumbai last week. Bhulo had a good chat with the President about business opportunities in the USA (see photo). ■ One of the key figures in 20th Century Asian publishing Arif Ali celebrated 40 years of Hansib his publishing house at a swish gathering at the Hilton. 40 outstanding people were honoured including the publisher of this newspaper CB Patel. ■ Newly enobled peer Lord Dolar Popat has been lobbying the PM about the need to support small businesses at a meeting in Downing Street. David Cameron promised to look into the issue. ■ Also at Downing Street was the Annual Diwali Party. Those attending included Vikram Solanki, Avtar Lit, Sonia Deol and Jitu Patel with MPs Bob Blackman and Sarah Teather. here in the UK and overseas. Following are the list of his contributions/donations made so far for the societal benefit (see list). Raj Loomba, the founder chairman of the Loomba Trust, is widely known today as the pioneer of widows’ rights and instigator of International Widows Day. His campaigning achievements are founded on a successful business career as founder of Rinku Group, the fashion and clothing company of which he is Executive Chairman. He received CBE – “Commander of the British Empire” award in Her Majesty Queen’s

Birthday Honours in June 2008. He is a tireless campaigner for improving the plight of widows and their children all over the world. Raj and Veena Loomba set up the Shrimati Pushpa Wati Loomba Trust as a charitable trust in 1997 and in the ensuing ten years the Trust has concentrated on building a programme to educate the children of poor widows in India. Today the Trust educates over 3,600 children throughout India, including 500 in Tamil Nadu who lost their father or both parents in the tsunami. (Full list of Asian Lords next week)

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

COMMENT

Prince William as successor to the Queen Prince William, second in line to the British throne, has been much in the news of late – and for the right reasons. His engagement to Kate Middleton was announced to the evident pleasure and satisfaction of the Monarch and the rest of the Royal Family, most notably the Queen's eldest son and heir, Prince Charles, William's father. The Queen succeeded her father George VI way back in 1952; her coronation followed a year later and was celebrated with pomp and circumstance by a nation emerging from the trauma of the Second World War. It was a time of optimism, the dawn of a more hopeful era to which Britain would adjust as she had previously to the changing tides of history and to their myriad challenges. The Queen presided over the transformation of the Empire into the Commonwealth of free nations of every race and religious faith. She presides over the destiny of a new Britain finding its way in the post-cold war age. Her experience is unmatched, her wisdom and tact equal to every task. When Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne, Winston Churchill was prime minister and David Cameron wasn't born. Who succeeds her is an apt question. The

Prince of Wales, Prince Charles is next in line and he is well qualified to perform the role of a future king. The problems affecting his personal life are behind him, his two sons William and Harry have weathered the tragic loss of their mother Princess Diana and are taking life in their stride. It would appear that popular sentiment is weighted in favour of William as the next monarch, as his youth qualifies him better to feel the pulse of the rising generation. Should the fates intervene and Prince Charles not occupy the throne, Prince William as next in line appears well able to do so. He is well educated and trained; he is accustomed to public life, is widely travelled and has a friendly and engaging personality. If he does become king, he will have wise and experienced people around him on whose counsel he can depend. His future wife Kate Middleton is equipped to be a source of wisdom and strength in all his endeavours. But this is to indulge in unnecessary crystal ball gazing.The subject of succession is discussed here because it is currently in the public domain. The people have ways of making their preferences known. Wisdom and common sense will prevail.

Immigration cap haunts Cameron regime Immigration cap is proving a thorny subject for the government, it refuses to go away, with the captains of industry and business making repeated representations to the authorities of the serious consequences for the British economy should this measure be carried out to the letter as the government proposes to do. The problem has arisen because of the promises made at the hustings by Conservative candidates. In difficult times immigration becomes a useful instrument in handling public discontent. Issues are simplified and the real fears of people are too easily appeased. Controlling the entry of vast numbers of aliens from far-off shores causes alarm at a time when democratic societies in the West and elsewhere under threat from newcomers with a different take on public life and the rule of law. Lib Dem Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has great experience of the compulsions of business and industry. He has pointed on more than one occasion that he too is opposed to the free flow of immigrants into the UK. He well understands the pressure this would create on the country's welfare services. What he say she is against is the cap on immigrants with skills Britain badly needs. The movement of labour such this keeps pace with the movement of capital in a globalised world. They are twins, abort one and you cripple the other. Chris Humphries, chief executive of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills has put his finger on the real issue – the inflow of immigrants from the European Union, which the UK is obliged under law to permit. It is these EU immigrants who are taking up the bulk of of low-cost jobs and competing with job seekers among the loval population. He argues that even if the Government stopped every non-EU migrants from entering these dhoresshores there would no substantial reduction in numbers of immigrants since the vast majority are EU citizens.

Home Secretary Teresa May wishes to introduce Tier I and Tier II categories among would-be nonEU entrants. She will be placing this proposal in her consultation talks with business leaders. What concerns Mr Humphries is that the majority of those wishing to come here are belonged to the highly skilled category. Their presence is an aid to the British economy, their absence would impede it, he says. Marilyn Davidson, director of the Association of Professional Staffing Companies, said: “Worries over immigration centre on low skilled workers being undercut, so capping the the flow of highly skilled workers seems a strange policy. By imposing an inflexible cap, the Government could be damaging high value sectors of the economy where skills shortages can hinder growth.” Ministers put on their thinking caps and a compromise on the immigration cap policy was finally signed as went to press. Business Secretary Vince Cable who fought hardest for a change in the intended legislation agreed that the revised wording of the policy struck the right balance. His anxieties were eased by Prime Minister David Cameron's decision to exempt many “intra-company transfers,” which would allow multinationals to bring staff in from overseas offices provided their salaries exceeded £24,000 a year. The issue of company transfers had emerged as one of the most c contentious parts of Government policy to restrict the route to immigration into the UK. David Metycalf, head of the independent Migration Advisory Committee recommended that the limit on skilled and highly skilled non-EU workers be increased be set at 43,700 next year, down from 50,000 in 2009, but this figure will be subject for further review in the light of fresh data. The new rules will be placed before Parliament which will debate the issue.

India's 2G spectrum scandal underlines corruption scourge The disgraced former Indian Telecoms minister A. Raja sold licensee for 2G spectrum mobile phones at throwaway prices based on 2000 prices, a notional loss to the national exchequer of some $40 billion. Mr Raja, who belongs to Tamil Nadubased DMK party, a coalition partner of the Congress-led government at the Centre, was reported to have been advised by the Telecom Regulator, the Law Minister and even Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to take a different tack. Mr Raja says he acted within the law, which clearly did not, hence his resignation. The entire country is exercised by the scam; the Indian people are rightly concerned at the levels of corruption in high places. They see this as a scourge that needs routing out. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court instructed the Prime Minister to file an affidavit on his alleged inaction or delay to a letter from Dr Subramaniam

Swamy drawing his attention to the case. The Supre Court has absolved the Indian Prime Minister of improper conduct, on the lines laid against him by the Opposition. But beyond this there has been dirty linen washed in public concerning the lobbying activities of one Nira Radia, whose telephones were tapped by the Income-Tax Department as her activities were under scrutiny. Ms Radia, it appears, was heard briefing well known media persons on how they should cover the story. This brings a section of the Fourth Estate under suspicion for a dereliction of duty. Instead of remaining above the fray, they seem to be part to be taking sides, presumably for a shaming consideration, in other words, for a bribe. Prime Minister Singh has assured the country that those found guilty of wrongdoing would be punished. We shall see. Justice must be done and seen to be done.

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Thought for the Week Discovery consists of seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no-one else has thought - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi (1893-1986)

Tony McNulty MP Harrow East, Former Home Office Minister

Remembering Mumbai – Remembering the 26th November On the 26th November 2008, the harbingers of blood, murder and mayhem came to Mumbai. We know who sent them. We know where they came from. We know who controlled them. We know what they came to do. We know who they were. We know what they did. By the time they had finished, 179 people were dead and over 300 were injured. Fear and terror stalked the streets of Mumbai – from Café Leopold to the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, from Cama Hospital to Hotel Oberoi and from Nariman House to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus. Days after, we stood in solidarity at Canary Wharf and prayed for the victims and survivors – from one major international financial centre to another. The people of Mumbai showed the strong resilience the people of London had shown when faced with the horror of the 7th July 2005. The people of Mumbai went about their business with courage and resolve that was praised the world over. The world waited for India to react – but wise heads prevailed. When the Lok Sabha was attacked in 2001, Indian troops amassed on the Pakistan border. Not this time. India stared the terrorist threat down and was stronger for it. India sought to work with Pakistan to defeat terror, rather than take on Pakistan. The world knows that Lashkar-eTaiba was responsible for both attacks, that they were funded, organised and directed from Pakistan – but India stayed wise and strong, and responded rationally and diplomatically. India learnt lessons from the attacks, but did not give the terrorists what they wanted – strife between India and Pakistan and communal strife between India’s communities. From the time these murderers landed at Bhai Bhandarkar Machchimar Colony near Cuffe Parade at the end of their sea journey

from Keti Bandar near Karachi until the guns and bombs stopped three days later, it was the world under attack, not just Mumbai – and we mourn the loss of our brothers and sisters. But Mumbai survived and now prospers. When I was in Mumbai last May, I visited Café Leopold, as most tourists would do. I was told of the horror of that murderous day and was shown the bullet holes that still strafe the walls and ceilings and tell their own story about the horror. I went and stood on the concourse of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and watched the world go about its business and was struck by the normality of the scene. People waiting for people, people waiting for trains to Pandrel, Bandra and Kalyan. A busy bustling station – officer workers going to and from work, people up from the countryside for a visit, a man in a Manchester United shirt who smiles as he passed by, people stopping at ‘Coffee Day Express’, the Nescafe vending machines or at the ‘Refresh Food Plaza’ to eat or drink – all of it so utterly ordinary. I closed my eyes and tried imagine the horror of the 26th November – murder on the air and bombs and bullets everywhere. Terrorists strutting up and down platforms, throwing bombs and shooting at anyone they saw. We have all seen the CCTV of Ajmal Amir Kasab calmly taking aim and murdering at will. I could not possibly imagine the enormity of this carnage as I looked up and down the platforms of CST and saw such a normal, busy railway station. As Mumbai remembers, so do we. We must do all that we can to tackle the scourge of terrorism and work closely with India to ensure that there are no more attacks like the 26th November or 7th July. We must remain united in our resolve and the defence of our collective humanity.

YOUR VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Woman of power

Lord Gulam K Noon

Food for Thought

India and its corruption

I was brought up to understand when a girl marries she takes on her husbands name and also the citizenships of her husbands country. So when Antonia Maino married Rajiv Gandhi she became known as Mrs Sonia Gandhi. She also started wearing a sari but kept her Christian religion. Her religion allows the pope and vatican easy access to the most powerful person in India. Now another rich oxford educated girl Aung San Suu Kyi who married a Michael Aris, a British Citizen chose not to adopt her husband name Mrs Aung Aris nor take up British citizenship, but if Gandhi's rule is applied she becomes Mrs Aris wife of Michael Aris and mother of Richard Aris and a British citizen. So when Mrs Aris a British citizen wants to take over Mayannmar or Burma I can have some sympathy with the generals for it doesn't sound right as the British and Americans wouldn't have allowed the same.

I am delighted at the news that at last Sir Gulam Noon will be taking his welldeserved place in the House of Lords. It has been a long journey. I have known Gulambhai for many years as a supporter of many humanitarian causes and a staunch promoter of democratic values through his work with the Labour party. He has been articulate in promoting the true essence of his faith and reconciling this so seamlessly with his pride in Great Britain and his motherland, India. I am sure he will continue to be a voice of wisdom and reason at the heart of this country’s polity.

People will know that I was away in October and November visiting friends and relatives in Dar-es-Salaam and Zanzibar in Tanzania. While I was away, I was afraid that I will miss my favourite AV and GS. But never fear! If you can gain access to internet, you can log into ABPL's website and keep up to speed with the happenings in UK and all over the world. Of course, you may not be able to try your hand at the two crossword puzzles! On my return, the Diwali issue was waiting for me and as always, it contains a lot of interesting and informative material. This should give me enough food for thought for the next week or so. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this time round, more space has been devoted to the English section. The Diwali issue contains more articles and stories in English than has been the case in previous years. I hope this trend will continue in future.

India is in tizzy with cascade of corruption scandals. Corruption is systemic, pervading every area of life, but it is corruption of the rich, to the tune of billions of rupees hidden abroad, is inexcusable. Painfully, this loot is making the mass eternal beggars, and abet corruption. Incredibly, corruption is branded as national sin, when 40% are below poverty line and 90% Indians are honest tax payers. Baba Ramdevji’s swabhiman mantra that cannot generate any income, sounds hollow to hungry poor folk and ridiculous to millionaires. Today, Swabhiman is measured as per capacity to be corrupt, donation to rich institutions abroad. Corruption can reduce only if income of poor folks is raised generously to protect family’s security. Create safety net of life long welfare against unforeseen emergencies. Block price rise by dehumanised traders who might loot poor of windfall from government. Award incentive payoffs to talented to deter them from becoming opportunist looters. Declare amnesty to lure return of loot to India. Invest recovered funds in government’s high interest schemes and utilise interest for national progress. Confiscate unethical wealth of suspected looters leaving them with adequate funds for vital sustenance.

Jayesh A Patel Wimbledon

US should not involve in Kashmir issues The visit of British PM David Cameron and US President Barack Obama was greeted well by Indians and delegates. Mr Obama was keenly aware of India's economic contributions to the world. India's security council seat for veto power is under consideration The security partnership between two countries will prove useful to face terrorism. US should not involve in Indo-Pak issues- especially in Kashmir. Ramesh Moradabadi Southall

Find out more I am so happy that after so much of speculation and unfair judgement, finally Sir Gulam Noon has been awarded a peerage in the House of Lords. Nothing could be a better news than that! But I was thinking if other daily newspapers can do investigative stories on the peers why can't Asian Voice? I believe Asian Voice should find out how much each Asian peer has claimed in the last and this financial year from the parliament. They are bound to answer AV under the public information act. Also Asian Voice should find out how much each peer has donated for worthy causes. I am sure while Baroness Uddin, Lord Paul and Lord Bhatia have tarnished the reputation of Asians in the Parliament, there are many who have done outstandingly well for themselves and for our community without acting as a non dom or claiming falsely! Akhilesh Mehta Via Email

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Manoj Ladwa Chief Executive MLS Chase LLP

High time for Pakistan to let go of Kashmir It is high time that India changed its policy against Pakistan with regards to Kashmir. India should tell the world that Pakistan must vacant Kashmir which is illegally occupied and that is the only issue for discussion. How dare can Pakistan ask India for plebiscite in Kashmir? Before this can be done she must understand that the creation of Pakistan in itself was against the principle of plebiscite. The majority of people of the sub continent never wanted to divide it into India and Pak. In fact the great Gandhi almost gave his life to fight againts this principle. However, on independence, the maharajah of Kashmir did opt for Indian rule and Pakistan then illegally occupied a part of the Kashmir. One of the conditions of UN was that Pak pull out its troops from Kashmir. But this never happened. Also one should not forget that the majority of Hindus and some peace loving Muslims have left the valley for the terrorism exported to Kashmir by Pakistan. Amrit Lal Via Email

Crackdown on paan spitting I normally take a cursory glance atour local fortnightly magazine called "thenewham-mag". However, the issue for 1226 November 2010 had an insert with a section titled "Crackdown on paan spitting" caught my eye. For the benefit of those who come shopping to Green Street from surrounding areas, I would like to quote the following paragraph from the "the-newhammag": "The council's street scene enforcement officers are clamping down on paan spitting, considering it a littering offence. Spit your paan on our streets and, if caught, you'll be handed an £80 Fixed Penalty Notice fine." I wish this was published in other languages (e.g. Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu) rather than just in English. Kiran Mehta Via Email

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Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Corruption is India’s scourge Your leader article (AV 20 Nov) is right that Government should do more to combat corruption. Anti-corruption Bills [Lok Ayukta and Lok Pal equivalent to Ombudsman] have been laid before Parliament 8 times over 40 years but have yet to become law. The Judiciary itself has been found to be corrupt. Freedom of Information Bill 2001 has also not yet become law. Corruption has been of three types. Public–office centred involving bribery, nepotism and misappropriation. Marketcentred: maximising personal gain by dispersing public benefits. And Public-interest-centred: filtering public benefit through various powerful social structures, including family, kinship and clan groups and social affiliations. One study [Vittal 2005] suggested that Rs 50 billion of the Rs 150 billion annual food grain subsidies was lost through corruption representing 31% of food grain and 36% of sugar. Measures that should be taken are preventive; punitive; transparency and public-private partnership programme similar to Seoul City’s Anti-Corruption Programme: Centre for Good Governance 2003: 10-11: deregulation; rotation of duties; zero tolerance; corruption report; online procedures; joint inspection with citizen; elimination of zone jurisdiction system; citizen Ombudsman system; direct dialogue and creation of Transparency Index. Nagindas Khajuria Via Email

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Double standard in sport apartheid Before independence, the native Fijians were in a minority and free and fair elections were won by a political party that mainly attracted votes from the Indian Fijians who were brought to the islands to work in the sugarcane plantations, as the natives were too easy going or rather averse to hard work. Unfortunately the colonial power deliberately kept Indian Fijians out of police and army with the result that every democratically elected government was overthrown by the army who put in a puppet regime that mostly represented the native Fijians. Banning Fiji from CWG was a futile gesture as the main sport is rugby where Fiji is allowed to participate in every event, in the world cup. It would really hurt Fiji is not allowed to participate in their national game they love and are good at. If such a blatant suppression of human right was taking place in European country, the politicians of the calibre of Peter Haines would be up in arm, pitching up camps outside their embassy, as they did to topple the fascist regime in South Africa. But some how the rights of Asian is subservient to the rest of the world. For me, charity begins at home. Bhupendra M Gandhi Via Email

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

(Off Coronet Street)

Cricket crazy Indians for the first time was seen so euphoric on Monday morning, as they expected a couple of Oscars. British Indians in the UK, Dharavi slums, the shanty township of Mumbai, a village in Uttar Pradesh and almost the entire Bollywood waited in expectation, glued to their TV sets. They burst into celebrations as one by one, their heroes, the actors of the British Indian film and the music maestro, A R Rahman bagged the top awards in the world of entertainment. British actress Kate Winslett also won the Oscar after having missed it almost five times earlier. ‘Smile Pinki’, a short documentary on a cleft-lipped Indian girl in Uttar Pradesh directed by American director Megan Mylan, won the Oscar for the Best Documentary (Short).

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Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

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Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Two jailed for life for murder of a shopkeeper Two men were jailed for life last week for the 'sickeningly violent' murder of a shopkeeper who was battered to death with wine bottles from his shelves during a botched robbery.

Gurmail Singh, 63, was attacked for just a few pounds, some sweets, alcohol and cigarettes during a raid at his shop in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, in February. Muawaz Khalid, 20, was told he must spend at least 21 years in prison by a judge at Bradford Crown Court. Nabeel Shafi, 18, who protested his innocence as he was led from the dock, was given a 20year minimum term. The court was told Mr Singh died as a result of a 'robbery gone wrong'. He 'did not meekly hand over his property, his hard-earned money' to a gang of robbers who targeted his shop, the court was told. The jury heard how members of the public came to Mr Singh's aid. One man trapped two members of the gang inside by holding the door

Rahul PM by 2014 ?

shut but they got out of a back door after desperate attempts to smash their way out of the front, prosecutors said. Both were tackled by other members of the public but managed to free themselves and get away, the court was told. The court heard the shopkeeper came to England from India in 1963 and raised his family in Huddersfield. He bought the Cowcliffe shop about five years ago. In July, six months after Mr Singh's death, his sons Bobby and Jas Hayre reopened the shop after a full refit. After the trial, Mr Singh's family revealed the Prince of Wales had written a letter to his widow expressing his sympathy. Gang member Rehman Afzal, 18, was sentenced to five years and four months for his part in the robbery. Umare Aslam, 20, received a six-and-a-halfyear sentence for robbery. Shoaib Khan, 18, received an eight-month sentence for assisting an offender but will be released because of time already served on remand. Aslam, of Coniston Avenue, Dalton, Huddersfield; Khalid, of Blackmoorfoot Road,

Huddersfield; Khan, of Calton Street, Hillhouse, Huddersfield; Shafi, of Park Hill, Bradley, Huddersfield; and Afzal, of Jacinth Court, Fartown, Huddersfield, all denied murder. Aslam, Afzal and Khan were cleared of murder. Khalid, who has a conviction for affray, and Aslam were convicted of robbery while Khan was cleared of the charge. Afzal and Shafi pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to rob Mr Singh. Khan, who was released from custody 20 days before the robbery after serving a sentence for assault, admitted the charge of assisting an offender. The court was told Shafi was 'no stranger to robbery' and was part of a teenage gang who carried out street robberies. Speaking after the case, Detective Superintendent Dave Pervin said: 'The people sentenced will have a long time to reflect on what they have done in robbing and murdering Mr Singh. 'I would like to thank the brave people who tried to prevent those responsible from getting away from the scene of the crime.'

Southport school employee jailed for having sex with pupils A woman who had sex with two 15-year-old pupils while working at a school on Merseyside has been jailed. Hina Patel, pictured, was employed to supervise disruptive pupils at Birkdale High S c h o o l , Southport, but instead flirted with them, Liverpool Crown Court heard. The 37-yearold pleaded guilty to two charges of abusing her position of trust by sexual misconduct. Patel, of Sandilands Grove, Hightown, was jailed for 16 months for each count, to run concurrently. Martin Decker, prosecutor, said Patel, a single

KHICHADI by Kapil Dudakia - email: kapil@abplgroup.com

Muawaz Khalid, 20, (left) and Nabeel Shafi, 18

Gurmail Singh

Kapil’s

mother of two, met the two boys in February and exchanged mobile phone numbers during one-toone supervision. Mr Decker said she began exchanging friendly text messages which progressed to content of a sexual nature within four days. " A f t e r about a week she invited the boys to her house," he said. Both boys attended her house at the same time. After one of them went to the toilet, Patel met him on the stairs and led him into her bedroom, the court heard. "In his police interview the boy said she started

touching him and kissing him and this led to sexual intercourse," Mr Decker said. "The boy was asked how he felt about this and he replied that it felt 'weird'." Patel left the second boy in her home while she went to work at her second job, behind the bar at Formby Hall Golf Club, but had sex with him when she returned later. After he stayed the night, Patel gave the boy ￡5 to get a train home. The incidents came to light after the boy told a friend, who was later arrested on suspicion of burgling Patel's home. The arrested boy told Youth Justice officials about the relationship and Patel was subsequently arrested. Patrick Williamson,

As each day goes by, the power, reach and scope of Rahul Gandhi increases with the support of his mother, Sonia Gandhi. Gradually the young man of Indian politics and heir apparent of Indira Gandhi is quickly learning how various governmental departments work. Do not underestimate his increasing influence that is already evident on policy and practice. At the same time PM Manmohan Singh, who has been a great steward holding the fort, has however taken a serious blow to his credibility in the 2G saga. It is obvious to even the common man that billions have been made by shady characters connected with Indian politics and international commerce. PM Singh had one solid attribute that kept the wolves at bay that being his integrity and the persona of the softly spoken just man. With the total shambles of the Commonwealth Games, and now the 2G scenario; under his watch the country has lost more than USD30 Billion on these two issues alone. Someone somewhere is mighty rich now! The BJP being the official opposition party has still not managed to get its act together (apart from Gujarat of course). There are still too many old, out of touch, power hungry individuals who believe that the next election is there for the taking. This is far from the truth and such lax attitude will give opportunity for Congress to rise up to the challenge and present a young energetic Gandhi who may well connect better with both the cash rich middle class as well as the aspiring youth vote. So the next election in India will be all about whether Rahul becomes the youngest Prime Minister in its history, or if there will be a credible opposition ready in time to present a challenge. I am not a betting man, but Rahul is several furlongs ahead coming to the last bend.

The Luck of the Irish Luck deserted the Irish this week with the Taoiseach having lost not just the confidence of the financial markets, but also the nation. The ramification of what has happened should not be taken lightly by anyone, especially us in Great Britain. Yes it is true that we do depend on cross border trade to keep things moving, but more importantly our banks are knee deep in the same quicksand that has a grip on Irish banks. RBS alone has got more than £50 Billion invested in Ireland, and if that does not bring tears to your eyes, collectively British financial institutions are in it to the tune of some £140 Billion! So first it was Greece and now it’s Ireland. Many predict that Portugal will be next. So let me also add that in my view the other countries to watch out for are: Japan, Canada, Spain and France, but don’t be too surprised if the likes of Italy and Great Britain join this illustrious defending, said his client felt "shame and remorse" for her actions. He described her as a good mother and a hard worker who, after splitting up with her husband, was diagnosed with depression by her GP. Judge John Rogers said he accepted the defence's argument that Patel's behaviour was "out of

gang also. The Euro is under attack given the very basis of its stability has now been breached by so many of its own member states. We may not be part of the Euro zone, or even have the Euro as our currency – but the ramifications of what happens across the English Channel and the Irish Sea has the capacity to sink this flagging ship of ours. The politicians will debate whether we will enter a double dip or not. That is the wrong question to ask. The reality is that we are so low on the curve that coming out of the first recession will be the same as being in the 2nd one. The world order as we know it is coming under attack financially, territorially, energy wise, food security and water availability. Add to this war, famine and terrorism and you can see that countries that have enjoyed power over the past several centuries are increasingly finding it difficult to reconcile their grotesque excesses. Things will get a lot worse, and for a longer time – before we see any positive outturn.

Mr Ed Ed Miliband is coming back from paternity leave to find his party in a bit of an internal turmoil. You know he has the union bosses on his side, but the parliamentary party is not exactly welcoming him back with open arms. He promises to re-galvanise the party with a root and branch review that will be on the same scale as that which took place when New Labour came into being. Great words, but for that Mr Ed needs one or two serious and challenging policy changes that will resonate with the masses. So let’s see if we can help in this process. How about changing the basis on which a Labour leader is elected by the Party. It should remove the unions totally from the equation since whilst in theory they might be paying members, Labour lost the election because many members of these same unions did not vote for them. Basically the union bosses might like Labour, but their membership appears to have a different view. The new policy could have 50% based on a simple one member one vote whilst the remaining 50% is decided by the Parliamentary Labour Party. Take the unions out of the equation and you have you first serious change in how the public perceives the Party. The rest frankly will be a lot of tinkering, no doubt smoke and mirrors will be in the tool kit of change – but the bottom line, if you cannot present a united coherent opposition to a coalition that is increasingly coming under public scrutiny, then how on earth can you claim to be ready to take power again?

Au revoir As it is often said, it’s not good bye but au revoir. Kapil’s Khichadi will take a rest for a while, but I’ll be back!

character". "I have no hesitation whatsoever in coming to the conclusion that these offences were so serious only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified," he added. As well as the custodial sentence, Patel was also made subject to a Sexual Offences Prevention Order.

It bans her from working with children under the age of 16, being alone in the company of children under the age of 16 and bans her from using social networking sites to contact children. Patel was suspended from the school when the allegations came to light and has since been sacked.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Taxi driver held over murder of newly-wed in South Africa A third man appeared in court on last Monday in a further twist in the case of Anni Dewani, 28, a Swedish national, who was killed after gunmen hijacked the car she and her British husband, Shrien, were travelling in. The taxi driver, Zola Tonga, 31, appeared at Wynberg Regional Court in Cape Town alongside Mzwamadoda Qwabe, 26, to face charges of murder and hijacking. Significantly, prosecutor Rodney de Kock told the court that Mr Tonga will enter into a "plea bargain" with the state, indicating he is likely to provide information in return for a more lenient sentence. The case has been the subject of speculation after it was revealed that the couple had opted to drive through the Gugulethu township on the night they were attacked and police sources suggested the killing was more than a "random attack". The couple, from Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol, had been married for a fortnight, when they were held at gunpoint on the night of 13 November. On the unfair and unjust speculation about Anni's husband Shrien’s involvement in the murder, Shrien Dewani, told a daily media how he pleaded with the men to spare his wife and him, offering them £500 and a ring from his wife’s

Shrien and Anni Dewani

finger to let them go. Mr Dewani told The Sun newspaper: “I searched high and low for my perfect partner. Anni was the one … why would I want to kill her?

“People who suggest this could not have seen us together. Saying I was somehow involved defies logic.” Vinod Hindocha, Anni's father told a daily news paper, “The people who did this to my daughter are criminals who need to be caught and put behind bars. As a family, we want justice to be done, and we feel the South African police should focus on the truth and not be swayed by the tourist agenda.”

As the case was adjourned to next Monday for further investigations, a police spokesman said that Mr Tonga's legal team is consulting the director of public prosecutions in Western Cape about a possible plea agreement. He added: "Detectives are in contact with Mr Dewani and at this stage they did not give any indication when he will be back in Cape Town." Another person, 26year-old Xolile Mmgeni, is due back in court on Thursday to face charges of murder and robbery with aggravating circumstances.

Thousands attend Prayer Vigil for Anni Shrien Dewani By Nishma Gosrani A celebration of Anni Dewani's life, a private Hindu cremation and a prathna 'prayer vigil' attended by thousands took place this weekend. Anni’s untimely departure has touched the hearts of millions of people worldwide and during her life time she impacted so positively on her family and friends. The bond between the Hindocha and Dewani families was cemented together long ago. Now the strength of that attachment is serving to help both families cope with this tragedy.

Anni Dewani

In celebration of her life over 600 friends, cousins and relatives gathered on Friday evening to hear devotion-

al bhajans and honour Anni in exactly the way she had described. As Preyen Dewani recalled 'Several months ago we had attended a Pratna Sabha. On the way back in the car, Anni’s words were “This was such a sad and impersonal way to remember someone, when I go I want people to smile and eat Pizza, Chips and ice-cream” The Dewani and Hindocha families thank you all for your heartfelt support. The family now need privacy to grieve the loss of their beloved Anni. May Anni's soul rest in eternal peace.

Tribute to Anni Shrien Dewani (Hindocha) By Hasmukh Velji Shah

Advisory Board National Hindu Students Forum

In the early morning of Sunday, 14th Nov 2010, as I was informed about the death of Anni Shrien Dewani, I was shocked. My children also called crying about her death. Only 2 weeks ago all the young people above had attended Anni’s & Shrien’s wedding in Mumbai, which they described as simply out of this world. I was supposed to have been at the wedding but could not attend due to reasons beyond my control. Shrien is not only a close family friend but I know him since his active Hindu Student days in the University. Anni’s loss to him is immeasurable and has traumatised him much. This was visible at the Shraddhanjali held in Anni’s honour last Sunday at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Stanmore. Shrien’s heart is broken and no one can replace his beloved Anni. Equally

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the loss of Anni to Dewani family is immense. However her loss to her parents, Vindobhai and Nilamben Hindocha is a million fold more. Are there any words that can console them? Only our prayers can help heal Shrien’s, the Dewani & Hindocha families’ hearts and minds. The Prarthna Sabha was attended by several hundreds of mourners and the outpouring of grief was a true mark of respects to Anni from one and all. I have not seen such deep feelings of pain in our Samaj since the death of Princess Diana. Many community leaders and friends of both the families paid their last respects to Anni. We pray to Param Pita Bhagwan Shree Parbrahma to grant eternal Sadgati to the Atma of dear Anni Shrien Dewani (Hindocha) and give her abode at His Lotus Feet. We also pray to Him to grant strength to Shrien and both the families to bear this immeasurable loss. (abridged version)

www.incredibleindia.org

www.abplgroup.com

Dee Katwa

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

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

Trade links further strengthened between India and the UK A major UK-India trade conference in Birmingham has won the local authority praise, a rare credit, from delegates for showing commitment to David Cameron’s vow to strengthen relations between the two countries. The aim of this all-day conference was to promote bilateral trade with small-to-medium-size enterprise (SME) in the manufacturing sector. Attended by around 200 delegates, three-quarters of whom were men and half of whom were from India, the event was held at Birmingham Council House on Thursday a fortnight ago. The morning session began with breakfast followed by speeches. The afternoon saw presentations and five sectoral workshops – which included advanced engineering, life sciences, green technologies and the SME sector in India feedback from which was discussed in a follow-up session. Following lunch, delegates were given the opportunity to network during a ‘meet the buyerseller’ session. Speakers included Uday Dholakia, Chairman of the IndoBritish Trade Council; Anil Verma, Minister for Economics at the Indian Embassy; Nalin Surie, High Commissioner of India; Councillor Mike Whitby, Leader, Birmingham City Council, C Gururaj Rao, Consul General of India in Birmingham and Professor S Banerjee from Warwick Manufacturing Group, who stood in for colleague Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya. Richard Heald, CEO of UK-India Business Council was due to speak but “pulled out after accepting”.

Speakers were introduced by Ian Taylor, Commercial Director at Marketing Birmingham. Mark Prisk MP, Enterprise Minister, was also unable to attend but had sent a letter to Mr Dholakia, who read it out in full. Mr Surie, who

either trade or invest in India, or are very positive to do so and see it as a ‘viable growth market’, according to recent independent research by the Indian High Commission. Speaking off-the-cuff, Councillor Whitby spoke with pride and passion, describing India and Birmingham as “natural friends”. He said: “I’m proud to host this conference. It gives me the chance to put substance

Photo: Jas Sansi

managed to smile for the camera, said: “India and the UK agreed, during Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent visit to India, to be ambitious in seeking to substantially increase trade and significantly increase investment between the UK and India.” Mr Surie, in his monotonous tone, and with the aid of notes, said he was “confident” that small businesses from both nations will benefit from the advanced technologies expertise that trade can offer. What would’ve shone through better, perhaps, is if Mr Surie had highlighted targets, trade aims and objectives from last year and since, what actions have been taken, where we’re at now and next steps. More than 2,000 small and medium-sized manufacturers already

on the words of Prime Minister David Cameron,” adding, “tomorrow’s world is competitive. We must trade together.” Cllr Whitby said that the UK should be India’s partner of choice, “not simply due to the economic sense it makes, but because of the shared rich cultural and social history of our two nations, perhaps best represented in the make-up of the city of Birmingham.” Councillor Whitby and Mr Surie, (pictured, centre) were both presented with shawls as a goodwill gesture. Questions asked of the panel by delegates during a Q & A session included one on how the India-UK visa and wider immigration process might be simplified to help those wishing to go

on year-long sabbaticals, or exchanges. But Anil Verma said this was “not a real problem” and that the business case was “well laid out and both governments realise this.” Another about the potential of setting up a onestop-shop-style portal, as opposed to the current raft, to facilitate ‘trade nuptials’, or direct links between Indian and British firms. Several delegates asked about the possibility of direct flights from Birmingham to India. Mr Whitby said he was doing “everything possible” and applauded leading local photographer and volunteer Jas Sansi for his efforts in collecting 25,000 signatures last year for this very cause. “We have an emotional link, a cultural link,” laughed Mr Whitby, “our minds can fly to India but we need this dream to come true.” He said this was an economic challenge, “it is essential that together we lobby and lobby hard.” Paul Kehoe, CEO of Birmingham Airport, who was also present, said he also was doing his level best to campaign and announced that his colleagues were this week due to talk to Air India and Jet Airways. Earlier this month Mr Dholakia was officially appointed brand ambassador for Asian markets by Birmingham Airport. The event, hosted in conjunction with the Indian High Commission, coincided with India celebrating its 60 years of being a republic this year, also with British Premier David Cameron’s return leg of his summer trade mission to India.

Who are you calling poor?

Foreign coins donated to charity

A major new diversity research hub, the Aston Centre for Interdisciplinary Research into Language and Diversity, or InterLanD, which aims to explore issues surrounding language and diversity was officially launched last Thursday at Aston University, Birmingham. Credit, in particular, to Professor Gargi Bhattacharyya, pictured, for making this happen. The all-day conference, held to mark the launch, saw presentations from sector experts. Among these, ‘Who are you calling Poor? Ethnicity, neighbourhood and politics’, highlighted findings from grass-root research. For example, 27 per cent of Birmingham’s population live in the 10 most deprived wards in the city, 50 per cent of the city’s BME population live in these wards.

The coffers of St Mary’s Hospice in Birmingham have been given a boost, thanks to Dr VP Narayan Rao, pictured, president of the Balaji Temple in Oldbury, who has donated thirty bags of foreign coins. The temple had accumulated the coins from visitors from around the world and, due to the huge variation in currency, have been unable to convert the coins until now. With the help of currency converter specialists, St Mary’s Hospice will now be able to put the coins to much use.

Crash kills siblings

Two Midland brothers died and their two friends remain in a critical condition following a horrific car accident in Walsall last Tuesday night. Driver Asif Javed, 23, was confirmed dead at the scene. His brother, Naveed, 18, died later in hospital. Crash investigators said the Subaru hit two parked cars.

News in Brief Trusted man exposed as liar A Birmingham pastor, David Morrison, pictured, who illegally helped foreigners desperate to stay in Britain has been named and shamed as a liar and a conman by a local newspaper. Morrison, 41, from Erdington, provided false bank statements and letters to immigration tribunals deciding the fate of those requesting visas or applicants whose requests to stay in the UK had been rejected. He also acted as a sponsor of applicants in other cases and forged a bank statement which claimed to show he had more than £150,000 in his account when he actually owed the HSBC £900. Morrison, a pastor at the Word Life Centre in Newtown, has pleaded guilty, is now on bail and is due to be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on January 10.

Keeping in good company Jewish Care, the social care charity, has launched a campaign to boost levels of ‘intergenerational connection’. An Ipsos Mori poll commissioned by the charity found that 53 percent of respondents had not spent quality time in the company of anybody over the age of 70 in the past six months or more.

I stay, you pay The leader of Birmingham City Council, Mike Whitby, has come under attack after it emerged that he hired out – even though he lives less than ten miles away - a £2,000 suite at the city’s luxury Hyatt Hotel at taxpayers’ expense during the Tory Party conference in October. He insists the room was needed to hold meetings with David Cameron and cabinet ministers.

Diabetes test Diabetes UK is urging people to go online to take the free risk score test at www.diabetes.org.uk/ RiskScore. The charity estimates that 90,000 people in the West Midlands are unaware that they have Type 2 diabetes. The main risk factor is being overweight.

Mayor praises young Hindus Passers-by in Wellingborough’s Market Square stopped to watch young Hindus recite prayers and sing hymns, aided by the local Hindu priest, as part of the annual Diwali celebrations. Also in attendance were Wellingborough Mayor Cllr Lora Lawman, Peter Bone MP, teachers and parents. The vibrant and colourful event last month was jointly organised by Wellingborough District Hindu Association and BAPS Swaminarayan Temple, supported by the borough council. Of the borough’s 36 councillors, two are Hindu – Shashi Dholakia (Lab) and Bhupendra Patel (Con).

Drug pair nabbed A father and son from Birmingham have been charged with importing Class A drugs after heroin worth more than £5 million was seized by the UK Border Agency. Gulab Mohammed, 50, and Khalid Mohammed, 28, of Hugh Road, Small Heath, appeared at Telford Magistrates’ last Monday and were remanded in custody. The estimated 80kg of heroin is the biggest detection of the Class A drug in the UK this year.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Diwali celebrated at the City Hall with great success By Rupanjana Dutta Cllr Navin Shah AM, London Assembly Member for Brent and Harrow, Labour party and Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar celebrated Diwali on 17th November at the City Hall on the Queen's walk near Tower Bridge. Though it was a very cold, windy and a wet evening outside, the warmth and the hospitality of the hosts made it an extremely cherished evening. The spectacular view of London skyline

Jitendra Kumar from Indian High Commission

from the 9th floor was an added to the charm. The evening was aimed to raise funds for Harrow Association of Disabled People and Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal. The evening was attended by over 200 guests from different race, community and backgrounds. It also included people like Mr Murad Qureshi, GLA member, Tony McNulty MP, Cllr H Singh, Mayor of Brent and the creme de la creme of the society.

celebrate the Diwali. Added value to the occasion this year is fundraising for two very worthy causes, namely Harrow Association of Disabled People and Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal. I take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the sponsors and the Federation of Indian Arts UK. A special thanks to L George (Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar), Dr Ananda Gupta and Sophie Kimber for their drive to make this event a success." After Cllr Shah's speech, former Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone spoke about London and its diversity. He was the first Mayor from the Labour party who started a Diwali at the City Hall, during his office term. He said, "London's greatest strength is its diversity and the vibrancy provided by the multicultural, multifaith community that London is. Navin's Diwali reception at the City Hall was a true testimony of the trmandous contribution made by the Hindu Community in London and the UK. The values of peace, harmony and non-violence enshrined in Hindu religion are important to all of us - not just Hindus. I was pleased to be part of the Diwali celebrations with the community leaders and stakeholders from Brent and Harrow and fund raising for both Harrow Association of Disabled People and Harrow Mayor's Appeal for Pakistan Flood victims which added another dime-

Navin Sharma, The Regency Club, Ken Livingstone, Tony McNulty, MP, CB Patel with others

Sponsored by Chak 89, HDFC, The Regency Club, Citibank NRI Business and Rational FX, the evening started with a welcome by the moderator for the evening- Dr Ananda Gupta, from Federation for Indian Arts UK. After deep lighting by Cllr Navin Shah, Cllr Asad Omar, His Worshipful Mayor of Harrow, Cllr Rekhaben Shah, CB Patel and Dr Gurdeep Gujral, Director, Gujral, and opening prayer recital and dance, Cllr Navin Shah AM welcomed the audience with a short and crisp message. He said, "I am delighted to welcome Brent and Harrow's Community Leaders and businesses to

sion to the celebrations." Next invited on the podium was Mr Jitendra Kumar of the Indian High Commission who spoke

Cllr Rekha Shah, Cllr Navin Shah, Dr Gujral, Cllr Asad Omar and CB Patel lighting the lamp

about the Indians and the importance of the theme of Diwali. He emphasised that deep or diyas erased darkness from our lives through their light. In the same context he explained about the

Rajesh Agrawal, Chairman and CEO RationalFX

contribution of the Indians in Britain and the rate of their growing prosperity. The speeches were given a short break and the artists of Indian Arts UK were invited to perform yet another brilliant show. After their performance the microphone was taken by our Publisher and Editor Mr C B Patel. He also talked about the diversity of Britain and the growing influence British Indians in all the fields. Before a delicious buffet dinner was served by Chak 89, the Harrow association of Disabled People made a small presentation. HAD is a user led organisation, set up, and led by disabled people for disabled people. Its aim is to create a world where disabled people have equality as a right, not a privilege. To do this HAD carries out awareness raising and campaigning activities, and provides a range of

services. All their services and activities aim to increase the independence and choices available to disabled people. HAD is a pan impairment organisation which means it works with anyone with any kind of disability. After dinner, everybody gathered to hear about the the Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal followed by some more entertaining music and dance. The Pakistan Flood Relief Appeal was His Worshipful Mayor of Harrow Cllr Asad Omar's initiative and was established in August with a clear goal in mind. This was to make a direct, long term difference in the Kohistan district of Pakistam helping those suffering as a result of

CB Patel and Frank Khalid, Chak89

the floods. So far ￡37,773 has been raised. The next fundraising event is on the 4th December 2010 (www.harrowfloodappeal.o rg.uk). Before the evening drew to a close Rajesh Agrawal of Rational FX spoke about safe driving and followed by the vote of thanks, given by Neil Shah, son of Cllr Navin Shah. photo courtesy: Raj Bakrania

Dr Hardeep Gujral, Cllr Asad Omar, Dr Dak Patel, Cllr H Singh, CB Patel, Cllr Navin Shah, Cllr Rekha Shah and others

The Prime Minister receives the Bhagavad Gita At the recent Diwali function at held at Number 10 Downing Street, His Grace Srutidharma Das the President of Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna Temple, presented a copy of the Bhagavad Gita, India's book of spiritual wisdom, to the Prime Minister David Cameron. On receiving the Bhagavad Gita the Prime Minister said, “I remem-

ber coming to Bhaktivedanta Manor and I enjoyed my visit immensely. Thank you, I shall keep this Bhagavad Gita in 10 Downing Street.”

Immigration cap deal ‘strikes right balance’ made last week by the A compromise deal on independent Migration the government’s flagAdvisory Committee on ship immigration cap polhow to implement the icy was due to be signed cap, including lifting off by the cabinet, after Vince Cable agreed that required earnings and it struck the right balance educational standards between addressing the worries of the public and safeguarding the interests of business. The business secretary’s fears about the economic impact of the cap Vince Cable, MP Theresa May, MP have been eased by David Cameron’s promacross most categories. ise to exempt many David Metcalf, head of the committee, recom“intra-company transmended that the limit on fers”, which allow multiskilled and highly skilled nationals to bring staff in non-EU workers be set at from overseas offices. 43,700 next year, down Theresa May, home from 50,000 in 2009. secretary, was still workHowever, people ing on the final involved in the talks said announcement on the final figure would be Monday night, which different because the was due to be unveiled to committee’s calculation parliament on Tuesday. did not take into account But people involved in Mr Cameron’s exemption the talks said they for transfers and other expected companies would be free to transfer factors. staff from overseas if they Ms May will also earn more than £40,000 a announce a consultation year. period ahead of impleIt is expected that menting deep cuts to the number of foreign visas those earning less than issued to non-EU stu￡24,000 a year will be dents each year. The banned from the transfer Home Office says the route, as the government route is abused by people seeks to stem the flow of looking to come to Indian IT workers enterBritain to work. But mining the country by this isters such as Mr Cable means. Those earning and David Willetts, uni£24,000-£40,000 may versity minister, want to only be allowed into the make sure the restricUK for a year. tions do not damage Ms May is thought to legitimate universities or have accepted many of the recommendations hinder bright students.

Margaret Hodge inaugurates Texaco Forecourt Petrol station Margaret Hodge, Member of Parliament for Barking, was the Chief Guest for the opening of a newly refurbished Texaco Forecourt Petrol Station on Friday (5th November 2010). The owners of Kennford Limited have spent over £750,000 on the redevelopment of the site and employ 20 local staff from Barking & Dagenham. The newly developed site has has also installed new LPG tanks in col-

laboration with Autogas. The fully fitted out brand new Spar Shop serves full range of groceries, fresh fruit and vegetables and “to go” hot lunch snacks by Cuisine De’France. A 24 Hour Premises License has also been granted by the local authority.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Euducation/Council Voice

India-UK linked with recognition of each other's professional qualifications Following the visit of David Willetts, UK minister for Universities and Sciences, India and the UK have agreed to work towards recognising each other's professional degrees in various academic areas and also significantly increase the flow of students from the UK to India as there are only 500 students going from Britain to India to pursue higher education on the contrast of 40,000 Indian students coming to the UK. The UK minister who attended the FICCI higher education summit said that Indian institutions are good in mathematics and this will be of great interest to the UK students. Moreover, India and UK agreed on three different agendas like skill development, leadership programme in secondary school and higher education sector, partnership of UK varsities with

proposed innovation universities of India. On the other hand Construction and Hospitality are the two areas where Indian schools will learn from UK. The UK academic institutes will also help developing leadership among school administrators including principals. "Skill development and leadership programme will be of great help as we realise that employability of students must grow. The leadership programme will help reduce the shortage of quality teachers in India," claimed Kapil Sibal, Minister of Human Resource Development. David Willetts said UK higher education institutes would like to have relationship with Indian varsities in the model of the Erasmus Mundus Academic Cooperation programme. Under this scheme sever-

al universities in Europe recognise each other's degrees and credit transfers, thus help the huge student mobility. At the conference David Willetts said “Indian industries are doing very well and we want our students to get exposed to it. Industry exposure and studying at each others universities will be of great use.” In some areas Indian degrees are lengthier than the UK degrees while in a few its other way around and hence Ministers from both countries agreed to reach a common point to take up a similar pattern. Though the recognition of professional qualification is targeted to be extended to almost all the academic areas, professional degrees in engineering and management are the initial areas where both countries will work for mutual recognition by the next academic year.

Immigration cuts to affect Non-EU students Number of students coming to the UK to pursue higher education from outside the European Union is likely to be cut by half if ministers are to meet their promise to reduce net immigration.

London Councils urge a better coordination with Health department According to various councils across the capital, closer working arrangements between council services and the health service will be vital in meeting London’s health and social care needs. The warning comes following the publication of research by LG Futures into social care costs in London which reveals that London’s local authorities spend about £2.3 billion to provide care services. But because of a predicted rise in client numbers, the characteristics of London’s population and the high costs of delivering services in the capital, this expenditure is predicted to rise by as much as 20 percent which comes down to £460 million by 2016/17. London spends 46 per cent per head more than the national average on caring for older people and a higher proportion of London’s older people require care than the national average.

Theresa May, the Home Secretary is reviewing the cuts pattern and will announce the cuts in number of students next week. She has promised that degree-level courses will not be affected, the restrictions will aim at students seeking to study basic courses or English language. Apparently about 163,000 students

By Kartik S Raval

Cuts to force youth to prioritise university's employment rate Global recession, economic meltdown, sky-scrapping inflation rates and most importantly Government implying severe cuts in public jobs have all added to the misery of the youth who finish their academic tenure and looking to enter the work force. Thus, as the government's priority is clear cost-cutting, students are aiming for universities that can offer them highest gurantee of jobs after they graduate. In the last academic year the recession left one in 10 university leavers out of work and nearly 70 graduates were vying for every job going on average. This made the rate of graduate unemployment reach a 17 year high. As the times are just getting tougher with more cuts implied recently, youth unemployment is likely to remain high making competition for places further stiff and it is believed one in five graduates are left without a job this year. The data released by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) has highlighted the top and bottom Universities in the UK in terms of employment

from outside the EU come to the UK for higher education and if the cuts are implied the way it is most likely to be, the coming year will see no more than 87,000 NonEU students. Mrs May will be publishing a consultation paper next week alongside the Government's decision on the cap for skilled migrant workers.

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MEDIA WATCH

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Scrutator’s “A few bumps, but India's on the right road to growth” was the title of Mark Atherton's extensive report in the Money section of The Times (November 23). He writes: “It was no accident that David Cameron chose to visit India at an early stage of his premiership. No accident, either, that President Obama followed him only a couple of months later. India is a growing economic superpower that has announced its arrival on the world scene....The Indian stock market has given investors a highly profitable, if fairly bumpy, ride in recent years. Between June 2004 and January 2008 the market went up fivefold. It then lost two thirds of its value over the next 14 months, before bouncing back by 167 per cent from its low point in March 2009. “So what has India got going for it? A key element is demographics. India has a young population - much more so than the developed West, and considerably more so than its rival Asian economic superpower, China.....This generation will swell the ranks of India's middle class, which already totals some 200 million.....and which is forecast to grow to 500 million by 2015. As wealth trickles down to the rural and traditionally poorer sections of society, more people will be acquiring credit cards, eating out and spending money on healthcare, travel and luxuries. India has weathered the global down-turn better than many countries, helped by the fact that 70 per cent of its economy is based on domestic consumption.”

India has nothing to fear except fear itself.

India, China growth A recent StanChart report says emerging economies will be the drivers of global growth in the coming decades. Living standards in China and Indis will grow tenfold during this period. China is likely to grow by 6.9 per cent during the next two

conducted at the Institute's Flying Test Bed, with the engine running right from take-off to landing, flying for one hour to an altitude of 6,000 metres The engine helped the IL-76 aircraft test bed at speeds of 0.6 mach in its maiden flight. India's Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) chief controller (Aeronautics and Services Integration) was present during the Kaveri test. The Kaveri is

China's cyber

High market performance

Fund, adds: “Investor confidence is high because a stable government has steered the economy out of the global recesEwan Thompson, head of sion relatively unscathed. Now emerging market equities at it continues to push forward Neptune, says: “India remains in crucial economic reforms in a robust health. Its economy is broad range of areas.” currently growing at 8.8 per cent Mark Atherton again: “One year on year and this economic thing that has held India back strength has translated into confor many years was its poor vincing market performance, infrastructure. Its roads, railwith India outperforming both ways,telephone system and its developed and developing power stations were inferior to market peers in the year to those of its rival, China. But the date.” Indian Government has now Teera Chanpongsang, manembarked on a huge programme ager of Fidelity India Focus of infrastructure spending.” Pinakin Patel, of JP Morgan, the fund manager, says, “ Between 1950 and 2000 the country built 6,800 miles of roads each year. Since 2000 it has built 6,800 miles of roads each day.” Returning to his theme, Mr Atherton writes: “In the five years to 2012, India is planning to spend £377 billion on infrastructure, which will include the building of ports, power stations, railways and roads. In the following five years to 2017, the Government is planning to double this spending to £753 billion.This is a massive leap forward.” Mr Atherton pointed out to “The mobile phone Mukesh Ambani's high rise mansion in industry [as] anothMumbai, with its spectacular view of the er Indian success Arabian Sea, is the world's first $1 bullion story. It is signing home complete with three roof-top helipads, up more than 10 six floors for parking, a swimming pool, million subscribers health centre, gym and cinema, lounges and every month – more spacious apartments for guests and a staff of than any other in the 600 to service the entire complex, is a mon- country ument to the wealth of the fourth richest world – and there is man on the planet. Mr Ambani and his sib- still plenty of scope lings grew up in a chawl (slum) within sight for future growth.” Indeed, there is. of his new residence.

TechDemoSat programme, an industry-led technology demonstration satellite which aims to provide a low-Earth orbit test bed to demonstrate the technical and commercial viability of this innovative space technology. This low-cost satellite platform will provide payloads packaged from a range of industrial and academic institutions. Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre Dr T.K.Alex invited the UK to partner India in the training of the next generation of space scientists through academic exchanges between the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Indian Institute of Remote Sensing and kindred organisations. Mr Willetts replied: “I am delighted that Dr Alex shares my vision of much closer cooperation and collaboration between the UK and India on space science and innovation and I look forward to welcome an Indian delegation to the UK in the near future.”

D. Subbarao Governor of Reserve Bank of India (RBI)

decades, with India registering an average of 9.3 per cent growth over the same period. By 2030, China will overtake the US as the world's largest economy, with India in third spot after the US. James Lamont, of the Financial Times (November 18), quoted India's cautious Reserve Bank Governor Duvvuri Subbarao as saying the country needed far more foreign direct investment if the Indian government's ambitious goal of 10 per cent annual GDP growth was to to be realised. India needed to increase its quantum of investment to the level of China's. However, investment banks such as Nomura and JP Morgan “predict India's domestic consumption boom can propel its growth rate past China's.” Rob Subbaraman, chief economist at Nomura, said “India stood a strong chance of surpassing China's growth as Beijing rebalanced its economy from investment growth to growth supported by local consumer demand.” Adrian Mower, JP Morgan's chief Asian strategist agreed that India had a real “real possibility” of growing faster than China. “When you look at risk-adjusted growth, India is looking pretty attractive compared to China,” said Mr Subbaraman. “It's much more difficult for China to sustain growth rates.” We shall see soon enough.

Kaveri engine test success According to Zeenews.com (November 4), India's indigenous aircraft engine, Kaveri, had been successfully flight tested at Moscow's Gromov Flight Research Institute. The test was

being developed for India's fighter aircraft at the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) in Bangalore with the active participation of several DRDO labs, academic institutions and industry partners. During its development phase, the Kaveri engine has successfully registered various of levels of progress including component testing, safety tests, ground-based engine tests, and endurance tests, both at GTRE as well as test bed facilities abroad.

Indo-UK space cooperation The Hindu carried a `Press Trust of India (PTI) report (November 15) which told of a visit to India's Space Research Organisation (ISRO) centre in

Google Mail (November 18) posted an extraordinary news item telling of a Chinese “hijack of 15 per cent of the world's internet traffic for 18 minutes earlier this year, including sensitive ermail exchanges between senior US government and military figures, a report to the US Congress said.” Goggle explained: “A stateowned Chinese telecommunications firm re-routed around 15 per cent of the web traffic through its own servers during a brief period on April 8.... The incident has raised fears that China may have harvested highly sensitive information from its re-routed emails. Another theory is that it could be testing a cyber weapon that could disrupt internet traffic from foreign servers. The traffic included email exchanges from websites of the US Senate and the Department of Defence and Security Commission's annual report suggested the hijacking could have been 'malicious' .” Whatever its purpose, this will serve to deepen suspicion of China in its neighbourhood and beyond.

Japan arms exports

David Willitts in Bangalore Bangalore by David Willitts, Britain's Minister for Universities and Science, where he told reporters: “We are looking forward to closer cooperation with India.” This followed the visit of British Prime Minister David Cameron to India in July during which the two countries decided to take their collaboration in space to a higher level. As a first step towards this goal, Mr Willetts invited India to partner with the UK in its

The Times Asia B u s i n e s s C o r re s p o n d e n t , Leo Lewis (November 19), produced an extensive report on the likelihood of Japan lifting its longstanding ban on arms exports. “The change could begin a shift in the competitive landscape of defence for the first time since the 1960s...... India and Brazil are regarded as highly attractive markets by Japanese contractors, which have been quietly lobbying for an end to the ban for years.” China's aggressive posturing has clearly oiled the wheels of change.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Alpesh Patel’s Political Sketchbook: Nukes, Korea, Burma and India Exactly a year ago I wrote these words: “Now I am become the death, the destroyer of worlds’. These were first words uttered in awe when man first saw the devastation of an atomic detonation. They were spoken by the scientist that led the Manhattan Project to create the atom bomb – J Robert Oppenheimer. He spoke them as the mushroom cloud rose on July 16th 1945 upon the detonation of the first ever atomic bomb. He was of course quoting from the Bhagavad Gita. I was reminded of this quote again this year, as I was a year ago in this column, because as the North Korean fired their missiles on South Korea, we must remember the reason this is alarming is that North Korea has nuclear weapons and it has those because of a certain Pakistani physicist. The Pakistani nuclear physicist AQ Kahn, father of the Pakistani nuclear bomb, admitted a year ago this week, in an interview with the Washington Post that the Chinese Government had provided Pakistan with both the raw materials to make atomic bombs and the DIY kit with which to do it. He then

provided these to the North Koreans. That AQ Kahn, Pakistan and China are nuclear proliferators leaves the United States powerless. After all the former is an ally in the war on terror and the latter the bank to America. When I was an intern in the US Congress for Congressman Eliot Engel in 1995 I used the extensive facilities of the Library of Congress to research the lobbying work of the Government of Pakistan in Washington as part of my degree thesis. I stumbled upon a document in which AQ Kahn boasted Pakistan had the bomb – a document I still possess. Working with the Congressman and with the then Minister Political and First Secretary at the Indian Embassy, my Congressman sponsored resolutions in Congress and to the White House and State Department to have Pakistan declared a terrorist State. Those efforts fell on deaf ears. Make no mistake – the US Government knew in 1995 if not earlier that Pakistan not only had the bomb but Kahn was proliferating. And make no mistake had the Burmese the capability, they as totalitarian military

rulers too would have loved to have got their hands on nuclear weapons. What worries me about the Burma situation is just how little India, so willing to project economic might, is willing to project military might over Burma. For those who are interested the full version of what Oppenheimer said is, "If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once into the sky, that would be like the splendor of the mighty one. We knew the world would not be the same. A few people laughed, a few people cried, most people were silent. I remembered the line from the Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad-Gita. Vishnu is trying to persuade the Prince that he should do his duty and to impress him takes on his multi-armed form and says, "Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds." I suppose we all thought that, one way or another. Oppenheimer is quoting from the 1944 Vivekananda Isherwood translation of Bhagavad Gita. This is a line spoken by Krishna, who is revered in Hindu traditions as one of the major incarnations of Vishnu.

India Realty Corner Vikram Goyal, Managing Director

Finding Reliable Tenants Property ownership in India can be heaven or hell – your tenants are the key Global Indians may own property in every corner of the world but if it is in India, chances are that the property is lying vacant. Mrs. Shah from West London, who owns a flat in a popular suburb of Mumbai, told us, “I have a flat in India but I would rather leave it empty than take a risk and let it out. I have heard horror stories about tenants in India. They can take your flat and refuse to pay rent. Or they can refuse to vacate my flat when I need it. How can I find reliable tenants who will pay my rent on time, not create problems and vacate the flat when I need it?” The most important factor in this instance is reliable tenants. How can you check the background of potential tenants when you are based in the UK? Unesta Property Services is a unique offering started to solve such problems when it comes to India property. We market your property and find you the cream of the crop. We help you find the right tenant through our rigorous vetting process. We have designed our tenant screening process such that it follows UK best practices and answers your concerns about reliable tenants. We highly recommend and find you educated professionals with a steady income. We get you quality references from employers and bank statements. Unesta Property Services works hard to ensure that your property is let quickly and that it remains hassle-free. If you have any questions about our services, the property market in India or would like to get a free, no obligation valuation of your property in Mumbai get in touch with us. The Indian real estate market can be a mine field or a gold mine depending on how you approach it and who you work with. Talking to the right people can make your property ownership experience a joyful experience.

Unesta Property Services 79 College Road, Harrow HA1 1BD Ph: 0207 125 0425 Fax: +44 207 125 0426 Email: marketing@unesta.com Website: www.unesta.com

35,000 TEMPORARY CENSUS JOBS

Two books on India nominated for UK’s Costa Book Awards By Kartik.S.Raval Books on India by London-based writers Kishwar Desai and Aatish Taseer are up for the chase of UK’s prestigious Costa Book Awards 2010. Kishwar Desai’s Witness The Night and Aatish Taseer’s The TempleGoers are both short-listed in Costa First Novel Award Category. Even Nikesh Shukla’s Coconut Unlimited is nominated under the same category taking the toll of Indian authors wanting to bag the award to three. Desai’s Witness The Night addresses issues like unwanted girl child, gender prejudice and bias and imbalance in men-women equality. Kishwar Desai is the wife of House of Lords Member Meghnad Desai and she also deals with female foeticide or ‘gendercide’ and her intense

description surely calls for high level attention to this prevailing problem in India.

While Aatish Taseer’s The Temple-Goers is about a young man returning to his home in Delhi after living several years abroad and resuming his place amongst the city’s cosmopolitan elite. On the other hand Coconut Unlimited follows the story of three Asian boys who form a band with comic consequences. The judging panel for this year are Anita Rani, Anneka Rice and Mark Thompson. After reviewing these books the judges commented that Desai’s Witness The Night pulls

off a remarkable trick, transplanting a country’s house murder to modernday India in book that is not afraid to tackle serious themes. They also highly praised Taseer’s audacious and disturbing multi-layered story of modern Delhi. The Costa Book Awards is one of the most prestigious and popular literary prizes in the UK and recognizes books of the year by writers based in the UK and Ireland. It has five categories namely, First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry and Children;s Book. Winner in each of the five category will receive £5,000 and will be announced on 5th January. Also, one of these five books will also be selected as the overall winner of the Costa Book of the year 2010 and will receive a further £30,000.

Temporary Census Jobs Locations across England and Wales From £7.41 to £13.03 per hour (depending on location) We need temporary staff in your area to help make the 2011 Census a success. 35,000 full and part time roles are available in all locations, so it’s a great opportunity to earn extra cash close to home. If you are a good communicator, well organised and have sound knowledge of the local area, we can offer flexible working patterns, a boost to your income and the satisfaction of helping out your local community. For more information or to apply visit www.censusjobs.co.uk

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

UK’s Sunday Times loses defamation case against India’s Lavasa By Kartik.S.Raval

By Spriha Srivastava

India, UK discuss Infrastructure Infrastructure sector in India comprises as one of the most important sectors contributing to the economic growth and GDP. As part of celebrating the 60 years of Indian Republic, the High Commission of India joined hands with the City of London to organise a full day conference on Financing India’s Infrastructure at the beautiful Mansion House. India’s Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla made the opening and closing remarks followed by a number of brilliant presentations on the infrastructure commitments of both India and UK. Chawla said India is doing everything to ensure that the country’s infrastructure sector achieves its set target. The government of India has set a target investment of $1 trillion by 2017 in its infrastructure sector. Out of this $1 trillion, a large sum of money is expected to come from the private sector. Chawla also said that development through public-private partnerships (PPP) is a very innovative approach. He said in order to welcome more foreign investment in the country the government has relaxed rules, set up dedicated debt funds among others. He said in the last four years, 60 infrastructure proposals involving a total project cost in excess of USD 8 billion have been granted approval under the government's viability gap funding scheme. The discussions in the conference revolved around four areas – Power, Roads & Highways, Ports & Shipping and Urban Infrastructure. These areas form the core group of the country’s infrastructure sector. Apart from contributing heavily to the economic growth and GDP figure, these areas also ensure that millions of people have a better and more efficient life. By joining hands with the private sector, the government

ensures that these projects are delivered in a much more efficient fashion. However, the infrastructure sector in India suffers from funding problems. Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla highlighted the asset-liability mismatch that the infrastructure projects suffer from. This happens because infrastructure projects like roads, highways or electric grids have a long life of 25-30 years. These are known as long-term projects. However commercial banks in India like the State Bank of India and others can only provide a short term loan of 5-7 years due to restrictions from the Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank. In a situation like this it becomes extremely difficult for the infrastructure projects to get funding. The Indian government has set up debt funds in order to help finance these projects. The government has also introduced the option of tax-free infrastructure bonds that can be raised by a few financial institutions named by the Indian government. The bonds, with a minimum tenure of 10 years, have the potential to raise about $6.5 billion in 2010-11. The purpose of the funds is to encourage investment and bridge the gap in India’s infrastructure sector. "The extent of foreign participation -both through debt and equity -- in the financing of India's infrastructure has been of the order of 8 to 10 per cent in the recent past. I expect, in the future, a much greater degree of involvement of foreign investors in this sector," Chawla said. One of the keynote speakers, Michael Queen, the Chief Executive Officer of 3i, a London-based private equity fund made a remarkable speech about India’s growing infra sector. 3i has a dedicated India Infrastructure Fund through which it makes

investments in Indian projects. The fund recently invested close to $182 million in GVK Energy, an Indian power company. One of the remarkable points Michael Queen made was his support to India in fighting terrorism. He then went on to mention his own experience when he was held captive for 40 hours during the Mumbai attacks in November 2008. The conference had big names from both India and UK who were quite interested in learning about each other’s infrastructure sector. James Stewart, CEO of Infrastructure UK (IUK) made a presentation about UK’s side story. He said UK’s infrastructure sector is still developing. Only recently British Prime Minister David Cameron launched a $200 billion National Infrastructure Plan that looks to attract investments from private sector to invest in areas like high speed rail, ports, wind farms and so on. A participant at the conference who wishes to remain anonymous said: “India’s infrastructure sector is growing at this stage and with heavy private investments it will surely be a success. But what government needs to do at this stage is to ease down the bureaucratic hurdles so that it is an easy entry for the private sector. Presently, many private investors are reluctant of entering the Indian market because they are wary of the hurdles and roadblocks. The government needs to work on that front.” The conference brought together ideas, opinions and discussions to help both India and UK find a solution to save its infrastructure sector from falling down. Both the countries have a heritage old infrastructure but now it’s time for them to join hands and discuss a new-age infrastructure.

Let us know what you think. Email Spriha at spriha@abplgroup.com

Lavasa Corporation which has one of the biggest township in India near Pune is to receive £30,000 compensation from The Times Newspapers of London after the newspaper accepted violation of libel law as it had carried an article with incorrect information. The Sunday Times had earlier reported in an feature investigative article that while constructing the Lavasa City project, Lavasa had cut down millions of trees, benefited from the fraudulent land procurement and most importantly highlighted that the corporation had used armed employees to

force unwilling farmers in the area to sell their land. But, the Times soon saw itself being dragged to court of Justice and in absence of any strong evidence to prove the claims, it had to accept the fault and withdraw. The out-ofcourt settlement of £30,000 as compensation was reached in front of the Royal Courts of Justice and the Times agreed to

publish a correction to its first article headlined ‘Oxford dragged into Indian landgrab row.” Lavasa, a company of leading construction firm Hindustan Construction Company Ltd said the compensation money will be donated to the Christel House School, Lavasa which provides education to the poor and underprivileged children from villages around Lavasa and Pune. Lavasa Corporation will also be receiving the payments towards all the legal fees incurred by the company.

UK’s leading fashion brand linked with child labour in India By Kartik.S.Raval Monsoon that ranks in the top notch amongst Britain’s leading fashion chain has been accused of using suppliers in India who allegedly employ child labour and pay workers much below the minimum salary band. The revelation has been attached with a lot of irony as Monsoon had pioneered ethical shopping earlier and hence it has now caused a lot of embarrassment to the company’s belief. Monsoon, Britain's leading fashion chain that pioneered ethical shopping has been accused of using suppliers in India who employ child labour and pay workers below the minimum wages. The facts came to light following the company’s own general supervi-

sion procedure. The high street brand discovered that there are many children working in its supply chain and women working from home were paid less than the minimum wages. The company owned by Peter Simon has about 1,000 stories in 54 countries including 400 in the UK and the report has suggested that just like other retailers operating in Asia, it is struggling or not putting enough efforts to

tackle the problem of child labour. Except child labour and poor wages, very low health and safety standards and excessive working hours are also amongst the issues that Monsoon saw itself get wrapped within. In a public statement released by the company it accepted the claims and said it is taking necessary and adequate steps to regain its ethical standards.

Lord McNally praises contribution of India to modern Britain The Rt. Hon. The Lord McNally, Deputy Leader of the House of Lords and Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice was the Chief Guest at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s annual fund-raising Diwali Banquet on Wednesday 10th November 2010. The High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Sri Nalin Surie was also present as joint Chief Guest. The Millennium Mayfair Hotel in London was the setting for the dinner which was attended by many distinguished guests from all walks of life, including members of both Houses of Parliament. In his speech of welcome, the Bhavan’s Chairman, Mr Maneck Dalal OBE, paid tribute to the close co-operation between the Indian High Commission and the

Bhavan. In his address, the High Commissioner of India, His Excellency Sri Nalin Surie praised the work of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London and said that Diwali sent a message of victory of good over evil; of the faith in hope, and the joy that flows when such hopes and dreams come true, and is common to all of humankind. In his speech, Lord McNally said how pleased he was to be giving an address on the occasion of the important festival of Diwali. He then went on to say that celebrations of festivals such as Eid, Hannukah, and Diwali as well as Christmas, were testaments to a diverse and tolerant society. The Indian community contributed greatly to our economy, and culture. It was often asked

if economic development could go hand-in-hand with a society which espouses the rule of law, democratic elections and a free media. The answer to such a question was simply to look at India, which sets an example to the world of how economic goals can be achieved without the sacrifice of the basic liberties and human rights. Britain and India were natural partners with a shared history. After the loyal toasts a short cultural programme involving Bhavan’s teachers and students followed. The Vote of Thanks was given by the Bhavan’s ViceChairman, Mr Joginder Sanger, who was responsible for arranging the fundraising Banquet. The concluding prayer was given by Bhavan UK’s former Director, Sri Mathoor Krishnamurthi.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Bollywood

16 Asian Voice Saturday 27th November 2010

John Abraham wants to become a director ‘Aanmai Thavarel’ gets UA

Producer Kamal Nayan is a happy man. For his venture ‘Aanmai Thavarel’ has won a UA certification from the Censor Board besides appreciations from the officials for handling a social theme. Says the producer, “We wanted the film to reflect on an issue that is affecting the society. And we also wanted to offer a solution to it. At a time when kidnapping of children is hogging the headlines, this movie talks about the same.” Director of the film Kuzhandhai Velappan says, “Though India is seventh largest country in the world and the eighth most unsafe place to live. This propelled me to make a script and we are elated when Censor officials gave us a pat watching the movie and said the attempt is very genuine.” The movie travels from Chennai to Goa and it is not just loaded with message but also has commercial elements including romance and comedy. A great admirer of Mani Ratnam, Kuzhandhai Velappan says, “I wish to continue doing films that are useful and productive for the society.” With Dhruvah, Shruti, Sampath, Dharan, Panchu Subbu and John Vijay playing pivotal roles, music for ‘Aanmai Thavarel’ is by Mariya Manohar. All the songs have grabbed the attention of the music lovers.

Kamal & Rajni launch Vaalee 1000 Veteran actors Kamal Haasan and Rajinikanth launched Vaalee 1000, a book compiled with 1000 film songs by the lyricist, recently in Chennai. The event took place at Vaalee’s 80th birthday party in Brahma Gana Sabha. Veteran musician M.S. Viswanathan, Suriya, filmmaker Shankar, singers P. Susheela, Vani Jayaram, T M Sounderrajan, P B Srinivas and S P Balasubrahmanyam also attended the function.

Aishwarya Dhanush’s fake ID

Aishwarya Dhanush, daughter of superstar Rajinikanth and wife of actor Dhanush, is now concerned about her fake ID on a social networking site. It seems a user has been uploading pictures and posting threads on her under this ID.

John Abraham is not content with his acting career. He wants to wield the megaphone soon and is sure of doing a good job as a director. "I have good friends around me who are directors and writers. They are all willing to sit with me, help me and formulate screenplays. I have ideas and I want to become a director very soon and when I become one, I will be damn good at it," John said in an interview. "Probably, five-eight years down the line, I'll direct a film. I'm just seven years old in the industry. I want to first settle down properly and singularly prove myself in a big way and then I will get into direct i o n , " added the a c t o r who will turn 38 n e x t month. John has worked in all genres - from Oscar nominated period drama “Water” to comedies “Garam Masala” and “Dostana” to issuebased “New York.” Explaining his evolution as an actor, he said, "After all these years, I think I've become very comfortable with the medium, but more than myself I've seen a change in the perception of the audience towards me." "I've always been an understated actor. I'm

not into over-projection. When I joined the industry, there was a section of the audience that felt I was too understated. Today the same audiences have a different perception and somehow that same style of acting is working for them now." "I really haven't changed. I'm following my director's brief and I'm doing exactly that. But people's perception has changed. The sense of reality has prevailed in the mind of the audience and I think that's the change I have seen." His nerdy look in “Jhootha Hi Sahi” failed to set the cash registers ringing, but the Bollywood hunk has not given up. He is all set to play boy-nextdoor in a new film. "I'll be starting the film in March, which will be directed by Kapil Sharma, a first time director. He is the best chief assistant director we have in the country," said John. "The film is about just a regular guy who gets busted by all the women in his life. It's about a guy who learns life through the women he is with - his mother, sister, his boss, his neighbour, his girlfriend, his exgirlfriend. It's just about this journey. It's amazing."

Currently, he is busy with director Nishikant Kamat and producer Vipul Shah's Hindi remake of Tamil blockbuster “Kaakha Kaakha.” The action movie also stars Genelia D'Souza.

Hrithik hospitalized for allergic reaction Hrithik Roshan has been hospitalized for an allergic reaction and is better now though he admitted that he reached the hospital just in time and a delay of even 15 minutes could have proved fatal. 'It was an allergic reaction to the antibiotics I was taking. Lungs and throat went into spasm. I reached hospital just in time...All cool now. I'm under observation,' Hrithik said from the hospital on Sunday night. On Sunday evening, the allergic reaction was so violent that the star gave his family the scare of their life. Hrithik was rushed to hospital at around 4 p.m. and was put under immediate surveillance by a battery of doctors.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

I am single and not ready to mingle, says Sushmita Sushmita Sen turned unapologetic on her 35th birthday recently. Every year she would bring in her birthday in Goa with her daughter and the man in her life. This year it is Dubai where Sushmita brings in her birthday. This year there is no man on the scene and now there are two daughters instead of one. The two girls Renee and Alisah keep the single mom so busy she has no time for anything as mundane as dating. So yes, Sushmita has decided to stay supremely single for the time being. In fact the Goan birthday holiday was this year relinquished. Instead Sushmita headed for Dubai with her two daughters to be with her mom for her birthday. Just before leaving Sushmita said, “It’s going to be an all-girls’ birthday for me this time. Three generations of Sen women all together. I’m so excited about it.” When asked about the absence of a

man in her life, Sushmuta laughed her throaty laughter and said, “At the moment my entire attention is on my two girls. By God’s grace my elder one Renee is turning into quite an accomplished little lady. As for the newest Sen in the house, Alisah is so bright and inquisitive. My mom says I was exactly like her in my childhood.” The three girls seem to be having themselves a ball. Men not allowed. In fact the next man in her life would probably be the one Sushmita marries. “I’m in no hurry. But I do know marriage will happen only once in my life. Whoever I select will be with me for keeps.” Interestingly Sushmita plays a psychotic suspicious wife who wants to kill her husband (Anil Kapoor) in her next release “No Problem.” Says the actress, “Now that’s a role that could scare you off marriages forever. No but seriously. I do believe in the institution of marriage.”

As for turning 35 with pride Sushmita says, “Is there any point in claiming to be a few years younger? My life and career are an open book. Anyone who has followed my journey from the age that I won the crown (for Miss Universe) would know exactly how old I am. I am very happy to tell the world I am 35 now - that is, for those who are i n t e re s t e d in such things.”

Break Ke Baad A flick joingly produced by Kunal Kohli Productions and Reliance Big Pictures, Break Ke Baad is a movie that portrays the way the present day generations look at their love lives and careers. A drama and romance movie, it is produced by Kunal Kohli and directed by Danish Aslam. Abhay Gulati and Aaliya Khan have known each other since they were four years old. Their friendship turned into love at the tender age of 15, when Abhay realises Aaliya is the girl for him. Aaliya's life is dominated by her burning desire to become an actress and she is unmindful of what or who comes in her way. Abhay is unsure about what he wants to do finds himself competing with Aaliya's incessant plans and projects to fulfil her dreams. While their relationship blooms because of their personality differences, the baggage because of these differences also grows silently. Things come to a head when Aaliya decides to go to Australia to study and Abhay has to deal with the prospect of a long term relationship, secretly fearing that he will lose Aaliya forever. He takes a leap of faith and they decide to take this time off from each other to figure out what they want to do. The choices Abhay and Aaliya make from here on tests their relationship. Aaliya risks everything and everyone she loves only to realise that there is no joy in achieving one's dreams if one has no one to share it with. Abhay risks losing every shred of his ego, dignity and self respect only to realize that there is no bigger high than seeing your dream come to life, brick by brick. They make mistakes, deal with disappointments, even lose each other–and become stronger individually. BREAK KE BAAD is not just a coming of age film, but a film about couples growing up together. The lead cast of the film consists of Imran Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sharmila Tagore, Shahana Goswami, Yudishtir Urs, Navin Nischol and Lillete Dubey. Director Danish Aslam shares the credits for story with Renuka Kunzru, while Renuka has the solo credit for screenplay and dialogues. Prasoon Joshi has penned the lyrics, while Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani have scored the music.

Money could not entice Saif, Kareena

Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor refused to perform at the wedding of a gutkha king where everyone from Salman to SRK will be dancing. The duo has decided as a rule not to perform at weddings, no matter what fee is offered. Most of B-Town, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Katrina Kaif will be at the Delhi wedding. But one couple, Saif and Kareena, has decided to stay away from it in spite of being offered big bucks.

Says a source, "The couple was Rs 40 million to perform at the wedding between two gutkha families but they turned it down. They had taken a decision over a year ago that no matter what the price offered, they would not dance at wedding functions of strangers. That is strictly reserved for family and friends." The reason for the star couple's non-performances at weddings is parental disapproval. Mainly his. The chote nawab comes from a royal family, and it is belittling for them to perform at weddings for cash. Even Bebo's parents weren't exactly thrilled with the idea of them dancing at private functions. While shows and events like award functions are fine,

they draw the line at weddings. While Saif and Kareena took the decision not to perform at weddings a year ago, Ajay Devgn and his wife Kajol have never performed at weddings. It's a stand they had taken right in the beginning of their career and till now, haven't changed their minds though they have been offered big money to perform together. In fact, Devgn has often expressed his displeasure of stars performing at shows, events and weddings. Sunil Shetty also doesn't perform at weddings.

‘Munni’ becomes a showstopper in Pakistan 'Munni Badnam Hui, the hit song of Salman’s “Dabangg” picturised on Malaika Arora Khan, has become the rage in Pakistan. If the Bollywood hero is charming audiences in the superhit film, so is Malaika, who has almost become a household name here after the song composed by Lalit Pandit. No wedding or function is considered complete without the song. It also blares from audio systems in cars and music shops while FM radio stations are swarmed with requests to play 'Munni Badnam Hui'. Comedy king Umar Sharif, who is equally famous in India for his rib-tickling stage performances, returned to the stage this Eid after several years with a play titled 'Munni Badnam Hui' staged in Karachi's arts council theatre. Sharif himself donned the avatar of

'Munni' in the play and had the audience in fits with his funny lines and situations. The storyline of the play revolved around a household with a 'Munni' who is the cynosure of attention in her locality. Bushra Ansari, considered an icon on Pakistani television, also penned a

play 'Doli ki aaye gi baraat' for Eid. The play revolved around two families, one living in Karachi and the other in Faisalabad, whose kids wanted to marry each other. The play, aired by Geo TV, was a huge hit and was re-run. But the showstopper was a dholki sequence where both the families danced their hearts out to 'Munni badnaam hui'. When the star cast of the play sat in the studio on Eid day to narrate the making of the play, they were again asked to perform to the hit tune.

New Hindi movies releasing this week 1. Allah Ke Banday

2. Break Ke Baad

Top 2 Bollywood movies for the week No. Film 1 Golmaal 3 2 Action Replayy

Last Week 1 2

Total Weeks 2 2

When Dev Patel punched Freida Pinto Freida Pinto remembers how co-star and boyfriend Dev Patel once accidentally punched her in the face while promoting “Slumdog Millionaire.” The 26-year-old actress took a blow from Dev while they were promoting “Slumdog Millionaire” together in the year 2008. She, however, seemed to enjoy it. "Small things bring so much joy to us, like when we were first doing interviews, there was one time when Dev punched me in my face by mistake," femalefirst.co.uk reported Freida as saying. This accidental punch was one of the many intriguing events that took place on the sets of the movie and the

actress believes only she and Patel can understand them. "The only two people who can understand what happened on Slumdog... are the

two of us. Even our families, who appreciate and support us, are still on the outside and that is why we hold it so very dear to our hearts," she said.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Alpesh Patel Consultant Editor Financial Voice Dear Financial Voice Reader, I write to you having returned from Malaysia. Do you watch Dragon’s Den. Well in Malaysia, at entrepreneur events I’ve been looking on behalf of the Government for companies ready willing and able to establish in the UK. And for the companies to be able to do this they often need angel investors. We are looking for companies which have already got some seed funding from friends, family or fools (the 3 ‘f’s), who have a protected intellectual property based product, with sales, the ability to scale and looking to raise realistic amounts of money which is not simply for marketing but which would really catalyse the company forward – accelerate it. At UK India Business Angel Network (UKIBAN) for instance we have a simple 1 page form which we invite companies to fill in which is a standardized form all our angels wish to see and that allows us to do the initial screening. The step beyond that is then to move things forward with filling in any gaps of information and undertaking more due diligence to ensure the company is telling the truth about its product, the customers it has and so on. Entrepreneurs, with untested business models or innovative ideas, seek financial back up in the form of capital or the early stage finance from Angel investors. What is the most preferred investment structure by the Angel investor and the investee? For those companies from India, or Malaysia, looking to go global via the UK, but still having an India operation as their competitive edge, we look to establish a separate UK company with the relevant UK tax breaks for the UK angels. Does any Angel Investor participate actively in the management of investee/portfolio company? Are they offered any seat on the board? What equity stake is generally offered to the investor? Most angels do not want to be passive. If they put $500,000 into a company, they want to do it knowing that with one phone call they can get a big order for the company and so recoup their investment. Given the angel is looking for a return of 30% minimum pa, then the stake they take is such that they estimate the value of the company at exit based on earnings at that point and a market cap based on a multiple of those earnings would mean their stake at that point would leave them with such a return – after all dilution. So for example, if I am investing $1m, and in 5 years expect with the company earning $10m at that point and a valuation on a multiple at that time of 3, so a valuation of $30m, and I want my $1m to have become $3m, then I would need to ensure in 5 years I owned 10% of the company. Which would also be 10% of the company today if no other investors came in, but since they will, I would need to calculate that today I may need 30% of the company or more because it will be diluted to a mere 10% in five years. So now you know those calculations going through a dragon’s mind.

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Vedanta to offer stake in Zambian Copper business Vedanta Resources, the London registered Indian metals and minerals business owned by Anil Agarwal has announced plans to raise cash by offering a stake in Konkola Copper Mines, Zambia. Vedanta acquired a 51 per cent stake in Konkola way back in 2004 for just $48 mn. Now, the company aims to mobilise $1.1 bn in the London float.

Konkola is the second biggest copper miner in A f r i c a . Vedanta has raised its stake in KCM later, currently holding 79.4 shares, while the remaining stake is held by ZCCM, a company controlled by the Zambian Government. According to Kishore Kumar, KCM’s chief exec-

utive, the London offering will help to raise cash to pay off debts and fund an investment programme to boost output. The listing is the next step. Anil Agarwal, 56, Vedanta’s founder, born in Bihar, started out in busi-

ness in 1976 as a scrap metal dealer in Mumbai. He is now worth an estimated $6.4 billion (£4 billion), according to Forbes magazine. After the float, Vedanta will retain a majority shareholding of at least 51 per cent. The listing is expected to value the Konkola group, which will also be listed in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, at about £4 billion.

Credit flow to small businesses getting scarce, banks admit Credit flow to smaller companies and small businesses is getting scarce, a leading UK lender has admitted to UK MPs. The issue is bound to stoke a debate over the issue. Speaking at a House of Commons inquiry into the supply of credit to small businesses, Peter Ibbetson, chairman of the small business division of the Royal Bank of Scotland group, which includes NatWest, was pressed by MPs on whether customers were being turned away more readily because of questions over the viability of their businesses. “We have not tightened up the [lending] cri-

Mahindra signs agreement for Ssangyong takeover India auto major Mahindra & Mahindra said last week it has signed a definitive agreement with Ssangyong Motor Company Limited of South Korea to acquire 70 per cent stake at a total cost of USD 463 million. The deal is likely to be concluded by March 2011. “The coming together of Mahindra and Ssangyong will result in a competitive global UV player. Together with its financial capability, Mahindra offers competence in sourcing and marketing strategy while Ssangyong has strong capabilities in technology,” M&M President, Automotive & Farm Equipment Sectors, Pawan Goenka said. M&M said it has also signed a tripartite agreement the labour union of SYMC and SYMC, which contains provisions for employment protection, long—term investment and commitment for no labour dispute. Ssangyong Motors is a premier manufacturer of sports utility vehicles (SUV) and recreational vehicles (RV), with models such as Musso and Korando C, which was launched in export markets in October 2010.

from small businesses — for example, to cover salary costs — and a bank’s desire to know the longer-term viability of a business customer’s cashflows. Mr Ibbetson’s admission came under questioning from MPs on the Business Select Committee, which is investigating allegations from the small business lobby that, contrary to the claims of the leading banks, Britain’s lenders are not open for business. Brian Binley, a Conservative committee member, said: “The small

teria but we are asking more questions than we did three years ago,” he said. “It would be irresponsible of us if we were not asking these questions at this point of the cycle of the downturn.” Mr Ibbetson said that there was sometimes a “chasm of understanding” with customers over shortterm demands for loans

business sector believes it is engaged in a dialogue of the deaf, a dialogue with the don’t-want-to-hear.” Mr Ibbetson responded: “We have been through a programme of rebuilding the confidence and trust of customers. We have to try and remove the perception that the banks are not open for business. That is not true. We are doing all we can to support viable businesses.” Nadhim Zahawi, another Conservative MP on the committee, said he believed that the banks were hiding behind a more aggressive “viability quotient” when considering businesses’ borrowing credentials.

Commercial Property Auction 9th December 2010 Millennium Hotel, 39-44 Grosvenor Square, London W1K 2HP

49 lots to be offered, including:

MOTOR TRADE INVESTMENT

Luton LU1 1XL Kwik-Fit, 32 Cosgrove Way Tenant: Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd

Rent £80,000 per annum LEISURE INVESTMENTS

Hounslow TW3 3LF Gala Bingo Unit, 80/82 Staines Road Tenant: Gala Leisure Limited, with surety

Rent £174,124.60 per annum (rising)

Bradford BD7 1AL 20-32 Great Horton Road Two city centre night clubs. Tenant: Whitbread plc 20-32 Great Horton Road, Bradford

Rent £66,825 per annum plus Vacant Unit

BANK INVESTMENTS

GROUND RENT INVESTMENT

On behalf of Joint LPA Receivers

Manchester M60 1TA

Brighton BN1 2HA

Debenhams Department Store, Rylands Building, 109-127 Market St

Santander Bank, 56 Western Road Tenant: Bradford & Bingley plc (t/a Santander)

Rent £47,300 per annum

Tenant: A subsidiary of The British Land Company plc. Let until 2867

Rent £50,755.20 pa.

Farnham GU9 7NJ

PUBLIC HOUSE INVESTMENTS

HSBC Bank, 33 The Borough

London SE10 8RT

On behalf of Joint LPA Receivers Tenant: HSBC Bank plc

Rent £90,000 per annum

Hove BN3 3YE

The Prince Albert Public House, 72 Royal Hill, Greenwich On behalf of Enterprise Inns plc. Tenant: Enterprise Inns plc

Santander Bank, 103 George Street

Rent £60,000 per annum

Tenant: Bradford & Bingley plc (t/a Santander)

London SE5 8TR

Rent £21,000 per annum

The Recreation Ground Public House, 65 Camberwell Church Street

London SW9 8EQ Santander Bank, 496-498 Brixton Road, Brixton Tenants: Santander UK plc with offices let to Solicitors and a vacant possession 3 bedroom self-contained flat

Rent £115,539 per annum (subject to annual fixed 2% retail increase)

Torquay TQ1 4ND HSBC Bank, 14 Fore Street, St Marychurch Tenant: HSBC Bank plc

On behalf of Enterprise Inns plc. Tenant: Enterprise Inns plc

Rent £65,000 per annum

London SW19 1AN The Horse & Groom Public House, 143-145 Haydons Road, Wimbledon On behalf of Enterprise Inns plc. Tenant: Enterprise Inns plc

Rent £70,000 per annum

Cheltenham GL50 2XE The Beehive Public House, 1-3 Montpellier Villas On behalf of Enterprise Inns plc. Tenant: Enterprise Inns plc

Rent £18,750 per annum

Rent £65,000 per annum

+44 (0)20 7034 4850

www.acuitus.co.uk

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 20th November 2010

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

Why You Shouldn’t Sell A Cash Cow This week was the annual release of the Estates Gazette Rich List showcasing the richest 250 property people. Many of these, such as John Hunt – former owner of central London estate agency Foxtons, The Rueben brothers Jewish brothers from Mumbai ranked no. 2 on the list and Andreas Panayiotou , an East End former boxer, all sold at the right time foreseeing the property crash. Interestingly enough many of the individuals in this list are now looking to exploit the UK downturn and are now getting ready to enter the property market. These individuals are obviously not the majority, they are the few. They are the successful few who know how to read the UK property market and when to exit and enter. If you do not know something you either learn about it or even simpler follow those who do. Clearly this will not be the majority opinion of the market as then the majority would be wealthy. Information like this is only worthwhile if followed, otherwise it is only interesting reading. The main point is to see how information can be used for personal benefit. It is important to apply these learnings for our benefit. When these property moguls are readying to enter the market it doesn’t take much discrimination if you want to make money from property - simply follow those who know more than you. The properties we are sourcing are unlikely to decrease in price because the three most important points in property is LOCATION, LOCATION and LOCATION. And these properties are in the prime locations. If the pound weakens this will further increase foreign investment. People often forget the global reach central London has, cities like China and Malaysia have a lot of mileage in them and many of these wealthy individuals want property in Central London as a safe and stable haven. Some because their children study here. So let us consider the possibility property prices will not increase in the next few years. Let’s assume the worst – Let’s assume henceforward Property prices will go down. First is is important to note that properties do not crash, meaning their value will never go to zero. This

is because they exist and they are a tangible form of wealth. What is actually called a crash is a reduction in property price. Therefore a drop of 10-15% could be classed as a property crash by the media. The properties we are bringing to your attention have positive yields earning you around 12% on your money invested and is paid monthly, in line with rental income. The money deposited in the property is returned to you when and if you sell, or when you remortgage. Therefore in one sense what happens in the interim is irrelevant. These are cash cows. Generally you do not sell a cow which is giving you milk daily. The properties are roughly priced at £300,000. These properties are producing £12-13,000 net income per annum.

Due to this income the property would need to decrease at a rate of 4% every year from the time you purchase to the time you sell in order for the deal to result in a loss. Generally when purchasing these we encourage our investors to take a 5 year plus view for holding on to these properties. So the properties would need to decrease in value by more than 20% over the next 5 years in order for the investor to be in a loss. We are of course making assumptions of the rental figures and mortgage product rates staying constant. This is not an unreasonable assumption as the current mortgage product rates are around 5% for Buy To Let. They have not decreased in line with the base rate, the margins applied have instead been increased. In summary these are safe buys: l Given in the last credit crunch these same properties have not decreased in price.

Dholera to model China What is the main contrast between India and china? In India everybody is an entrepreneur and wants to progress and the government is the reason why things don’t progress. In china it is the government who is the entrepreneur. This is why the infrastructure in china is extremely well organised and in India it is poorly organised. The key to India progress is that the infrastructure must be implemented and well managed on a large scale. If we look at the first model project in china which started in 1980 in Shenzhen we can discover the reasons why this country has progress has become a model for the world to follow. Shenzhen was the first SEZ- a SEZ is a special economic zone - to be set up in China. It developed from being a small shipping village into a global industrial and financial centre. The reason for its progress was replicated all over China. The speed of growth in Shenzhen has been phenomenal from its first opening in 1980 the GDP growth has been an average 44% every year for its first 6 years. Why are we concerned about what happened in China in 1980? The reason is to show parallels between Shenzhen with what is currently happening in Gujarat. The Indian government has passed an act known as the special investment region (SIR) Act -2009. This act came into effect on the 6th January 2009. The aim of this act is to set up a world class hub along the lines of the fastest growing country’s of the world. This Act has the power to designate regions to be SIR. These sections will then be earmarked for high rates of economic growth based on policies and joint partnership. Dholera has been designated a SIR zone, the region will be 2360 Sq Km, 360 Sq Km bigger then shenzen. The development of Dholera is part of the ambitious Delhi- Mumbai corridor. The bigger aim of this project is to develop a industrial infrastructure over 6 states of India including industrial clusters and rail, road, port, air connectivity in the states along the route of the corridor. It has been conceived to be a global manufacturing and trading hub. The project is expected to double employment potential, triple industrial output and quadruple exports form the l Given a reduction in the pound relative will lead to foreign investors investing into central London l Given many of the property big guns are getting ready to invest in london It is a good time to enter the Central London property market. Sow & Reap will execute and manage this investment for you fully. We have an ARLA regis-

region within a 5 year period. The project will be funded through a private-public partnerships and foreign investment. This legislation recognises the need for the Indian government to link with both private and foreign firms to ensure the development of India’s infrastructure is holistic. It shows it recognises its weakness and in doing so this becomes a strength. It makes much more sense to follow the polices and already proven concepts by countries who have been through these stages. This is the reason we have chosen to

bring this exciting and grossly under estimated project to your attention. The plots we are offering lie within the SIR region of Dholera and will experience tremendous uplift in price of the back of the development . The plots in Dholera are ideal investments, Firstly purchasing plots dispense with maintenance and service charges secondly the entry levels start from £15,000 all thirdly rise in property prices are actually rises in land prices not property fourthly you willbe entering in the earliest stages of this project. Dholera will be developed beyond the imagination of the guajaratis mind. Indeed it is Human nature to react to change once it has happened rather then prepare and benifit from it in advance. The maximum growth is made in the earliest stages of the development. We have already done full due diligence in this project so you do not need to worry. If the area in china went up by 44% per annum what will this region go up by? Call now to invest in Dholera. As plots are limited and time is of the essence we taking £1,000 booking deposits in our client accounts. If within 7 days you are unhappy to go ahead with the purchase will give you a no quibble money back guarantee call our office now to book on 0203 384 5323. tered lettings member and an FSA approved mortgage person all in house. We look forward to growing with you into the future. We have a Central London Property seminar on the 8th December 2010 in Croyden. Call our offices to register your attendance 0207 706 0187 or email info@sowandreap.co.uk.

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

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

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

finanCial voice

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Maria Fernandes maria@abplgroup.com

The latest on the temporary immigration cap The immigration cap has resulted in a severe reduction of available certificates for use and so far most requests for additional certificates are being refused without reasons and with no clear indication of when this logjam is likely to be cleared if at all. What is different in this system is that the goal posts for the interim limit seem to be changing endlessly without notice. Under new rules recently introduced it is becoming clear that the higher the salary the greater the chance of securing a certificate. Highly skilled jobs of which there is an acute shortage ( such as skilled chefs and senior care workers) are being pushed aside in favour of those working in international business. There are a few additional certificates (although it is not known how many) which have been reserved for new shortage occupation posts with salaries above £20000. Recent report by Migration Advisory Committee The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), set up by the government to advise on labour trends published its report yesterday. It pointed out that the Government cannot meet its intention to reduce migration to tens of thousands by reducing the number of Tier 1 and Tier 2 applicants. It will have to look at other routes and this includes changing the post study work rules, and those in relation to students and families

It found that migration has a positive impact on the Gross Domestic Product of the UK. Tier 1 and Tier applicants are young and healthy and therefore make a greater fiscal contribution. It is acknowledged that a reduction of staff will have a significant impact on the micro economy of the country. However to some extent the employers will adjust by training and upskilling. One of the main concerns of the Government was the impact of migrants on public services. MAC found that they are light users of public services as they are young and healthy. They exert upward pressure on rents and on house prices. The evidence suggested that there was neither a strong nor negative net effect on social cohesion. The suggestions for reducing migrant numbers is to reduce numbers of visas issued to between 29400 to 32600 but to exclude those who come over for less than 12 months from the limit. Finally it has suggested that the grant of criteria for settlement should be reviewed. 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.

Leadership Matters

By Amit Patel

to explain, under oath, why Prime Minister Manmohan Singh failed to respond to a petition lodged in 2008 by veteran political leader Subramanian Swamy. The petition sought the prime ministers’ authority to prosecute A Raja for his involvement in the 2G spectrum scam. Swamy stated before the court that to this day, he has not received a reply from the prime minister. The whole issue has become a massive embarrassment for the PM and is becoming a bigger story than the scam itself. But the best bit is that the PM himself has not yet said a single word. Remember the man in the monastery? Is the PM being harshly judged for saying nothing or is he guilty of not saying enough? Silence can be a strength - soldiers are trained to maintain silence if they are captured and interrogated. It can also be a weakness – why did western governments say nothing during

“Chote Muh Badi Baat”

I recently had the privilege of attending the “Women of the Future Awards” in London. Hosted by Riz Lateef from BBC news and attended by over 500 delegates including Nick Clegg and Cherie Blair, the awards recognise rising stars, women under 35, from business, arts, science, technology and media. I was thrilled to be nominated in the knowledge that my parents would be proud that I was shortlisted. Growing up in a rural part of India, I had never imagined that 30 years on, I would share the stage with the Deputy Prime Minister. As exciting as it was to be shortlisted, I was really humbled to be invited on stage as the winner of the Technology category, stunned in the presence of some spectacularly impressive women. Having fumbled my own acceptance speech, I was left breathless when Tabitha Manzuangani, the “Young Star Award” winner from Norwood College, came on stage. “My recognition is nothing but proof that hard work always pays off. I encourage others to work hard and if you do that, the rest will follow.” What a heartwarming declaration of confi-

dence. As worried as I feel when I look at current news about the world our children will grow up in, it is in moments like these that I feel excited about the promise of the future. I could see tears of pride and satisfaction roll down the eyes of a woman at the next table. I could tell she was Tabithas mum, a very proud night for her indeed. At the end of the ceremony, all the winners were invited on stage for a group photograph. I made a bee-line towards Tabitha to congratulate her on such a great achievement at such a tender age. Wanting to keep my interaction ‘simple’, I casually remarked “Tabitha, your speech was superb, it put the rest of us to shame!” Without rushing into an equally clichéd response, Tabitha paused, and then answered, “You should never be ashamed, children need role models that are proud of the work they do, I am smiling for the cameras so that others working hard can see that in the end, smiles await those that try their best”. Its not often that I am speechless but this response simply floored me. I reflect at the Governments efforts to ‘reward’ young people to

attend college, ‘bribe’ them to lose weight and eat healthy food. I really couldn’t help but wonder whether it is simply the art of recognition that we are missing in the West. Bribes work but where is the ‘pride’ and ‘achievement’ in that? What about the simple parental responsibility of ensuring your children WANT to do things that you can be proud of? What about ensuring your children act and think like Tabitha. Perhaps the art is to ‘deprive’ children of things they want, ‘make them work’ for things so that they learn to appreciate what they get, not take things for granted. As hard as it is, I make a pledge to raise Ria with this view in mind. After all, looking ahead, I want to be the mum at an awards ceremony and not the mum campaigning for the government to put their hands in their pocket to make my child achieve basic things like eat well and study! For more information on these awards and to nominate future candidates for Women of the Future Awards, please visit; http://wof.realbusiness.co.uk/ “Don’t worry when you are not recognised, but strive to be worthy of recognition” Abraham Lincoln.

Should you have any comments or want to get in touch with me you can email on avmamaria@gmail.com

Silence is Golden A man joins a monastery and takes a vow of silence - he’s allowed to say two words every seven years. After seven years, the elders bring him in and ask for his two words. "Cold floors," he says. Seven more years pass. They bring him back in and ask for his two words. He says, "Bad food." Another seven years pass. They bring him in for his two words. "I quit," he says. "That’s not surprising," the elders say. "You’ve done nothing but complain since you got here." Most of the time we revere silence and relate it to serenity and even spirituality; however, on occasion it can become something less than pure. One of the headlines this week covered the story about the Telecoms minister, A Raja’s involvement in a corruption scandal (is corruption really a scandal anymore?). But even more intriguing is the story about how the Supreme Court of India has ordered the government

By Radhika Madlani

IPRO 2010: Indian property show in London this weekend Pan-Eastern Trade and Exhibitors show at Alexandra Palace, Wood Green

Amit Patel has over 15 years experience in the field of Leadership and Human Resource Management the genocide in Rwanda? Silence is a right - as anyone who has been arrested is reminded. It is also a privilege – we do not have to vote for someone we do not believe in. Silence is sometimes a blessing - ask any new parent; it is also a punishment - ask anyone who forgot an anniversary. In essence, silence is many things but why is it golden? Because like gold, it is precious; and just as people wear gold to enhance their appearance, silence, when used wisely, enhances our dignity.

After an overwhelming response every year in the Middle East, Pan-Eastern Trade and Exhibitors Worldwide presents yet another property expo, IPRO 2010, London which is one of the most important exhibitions for Indians keeping our promise of bringing joy to the NRI families in London. IPRO 2010 is being hosted at the Alexandra Palace, London on the 27th (Sat) and 28TH Nov (Sun) 2010 (10 am to 7.30 pm) to showcase exclusive properties from India. The

show features reputed builders with properties from various parts of India. “Pan-Eastern Trade and Exhibitors has a cutting edge over its competitors, because we take

pride in offering personalized service to our clients by motivating and inspiring them to explore the global market ” said Ms Sayali Chawla, M.D, PanEastern Trade and Exhibitors Worldwide. Pan-Eastern Trade and Exhibitors Worldwide is scheduled to conduct the INDIA PROPERTY SHOW SERIES in Muscat, Oman in March 2011 and Annual National Career Event and Exhibition CAREER WORLD 2011 in Mauritius in February, 2011.

Britain’s Personal Accounts Delivery Authority (Pada) recently confirmed the 10 year deal with TCS, Indian software major for administering NEST, ending the uncertainty over the deal after the new coalition government came to power. The

deal was award to Tata Consultancy Services by the previous Labour government. “I welcome this contract as the next significant milestone for workplace pension reforms and automatic enrolment. We are on track for delivery of

the reforms from 2012. NEST will offer access to a good quality workplace pension scheme to many people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to save for their retirement,” said Steve Webb, the country’s minister for pensions.

Sayali Chawla

TCS pension deal with UK govt okayed

FINANCIAL VOICE

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

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 The New Currency Doomed?

When the Euro was first introduced it received many plaudits, they thought it was the start of a real unification of Europe as a whole and would aid Europe as a centre in world trade. The idealists thought that one governing body namely the ECB would be able to run and determine the interest rates of all party members. In theory it seemed a perfect system but in practice it doesn’t appear to be working. Many of the smaller economies have been devastated by the recent world recession and have been looking to the ECB for assistance which wasn’t the design of the unification. Greece, Portugal, Spain and

Ireland to name a few have recently had the biggest slump in their economies history. Their alliance to the Euro also means their options to aid recovery are limited by their union with the Euro. So they have to abide by the rules of their affiliation. It has been well documented that many believe that the Euro is being run and propped up by the Germans and French and that if either pulled out and decided go alone the Euro would automatically collapse as a unit. In recent times their two leaders Merkl and Sarkozy have

been heavily criticized by their own people for not putting their respective countries first on the road to revival before assisting others. Germany especially is the country that everyone looks to first as a yardstick to gauge what is happening as to regards the Euro revival. The reason for this is that Germany is such as a big part of the European economy that what happens in some of the smaller nation’s economies is such a small part of Europe as a whole that it is almost insignificant. A small blip down in the German economy has a much bigger effect on

the strength of the Euro than one of the smaller partner’s having loan problems. If the cost to Germany and France appears to be too much to prop up the Euro then you may see the unprecedented move by one of the two main players to pull out of the Euro altogether. It is doubtful that this would happen but it has been mentioned more and more recently in some areas of the media. It maybe just scaremongering but is an option that mustn’t be overlooked and for the sake of the Euro must be avoided at all costs.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 23rd November 2010 @ 3pm GBP - INR = 72.601 USD - INR = 45.72 EUR - INR = 61.55 GBP - USD = 1.59 GBP - EUR = 1.18 EUR - USD = 1.3450 GBP - AED = 5.8512 GBP - CAD = 1.6228 GBP - NZD = 2.0804 GBP - AUD = 5.84 GBP - ZAR = 11.22 GBP - HUF = 326.04

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.

INDIA

Prince William to marry Kate Middleton on April 29 Prince William will marry Kate Middleton on April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey and the government has declared it as a bank holiday. Prime minister The royal couple have selected David Cameron wel- a 'first choice' date, thought to be in the final week of April comed the announcement of the wedding date, which he said would be a "happy and momentous occasion". The Prime Minister added: "We want to mark the day as one of national celebration - a public holiday so that people will have a chance to celebrate on the day." The timing of the wedding will mean there will be two four-day public holidays, two weekends in succession. The Monday after the wedding, May 2, is already a designated bank holiday; and the previous weekend is Easter, which also has two bank holidays on the Friday and Monday. The couple, who revealed their engagement to the world last week, were described as "over the moon" about their forthcoming wedding. Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, the prince's private secretary, said: "They’re on cloud nine like any other newly engaged couple and they’re now getting stuck into organising their wedding.

A solidarity march to commemorate 26/11

High alert for the second anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks Prominent personalities from all walks of life have planned a solidarity march to commemorate the second anniversary of Mumbai terror attacks. Meanwhile, intelligence agencies have sounded high alert in Mumbai and New Delhi based on inputs that LeT is planning to launch spectacular attacks like the Mumbai strikes. Governments have been asked to mount strict vigilance in crowded places and deploy additional police forces. Bollywood stars, industrialists, politicians, religious heads, and social activists will participate in the rally on Friday. It will start trom Trident Towers at Nariman Point and conclude at Gateway of India. Film actors Ajay Devgn, Raveena Tandon, Mahima Chaudhary and Rajan Varma, who played terrorist Ajmal Kasab in the film Ashok Chakra, will participate. “We are propagating the message of peace and solidarity since we believe that patriotic fervour needs to be kept alive in our hearts,” said Charan Singh Sapra, an MLA who is lending support to the event. Sapra added that the organisers have been inspired by Gandhi’s peaceful marches during the freedom struggle. K Unnikrishnan, father of National Security Guard commando, major Sandeep Unnikrishnan, who died fighting terrorists at the Taj Hotel during the terror attacks, will be felicitated. He is on a cross-country bicycle trip to show solidarity with martyrs and victims of the terror strikes and to mark the second anniversary of the attacks.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

PM’s authority definitely under cloud Well, after the Supreme Court of India heard submissions by Dr. Subramaniam Swamy on Tuesday that he never had any doubts about the integrity or the probity of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in the 2G spectrum scam, the issue has been settled to a limited extent, but the larger issue of position of Dr Manmohan Singh under a cloud visà-vis his authority in the UPA and the cabinet still remains very much under a cloud. The broadside launched by the then leader of opposition and BJP stalwart, also called by some of his supporters as the “PM in waiting” L K Advani against Dr. Singh of being a “Weak Prime Minister” sounded a rhetoric, but events leading to the telecom scam have made people believe that the PM is indeed spineless. The 2G scam, as per an estimate of the CAG has caused a huge loss of Rs. 1.76 trillion to the exchequer. The findings of the CAG are categorical to the extent that A Raja, the sacked former Telecom minister ignored notes of caution and advises from the PMO, the finance and the

law ministry among others on the allocation of 2G spectrum licences to telecom companies in 2007-08. It is also worth highlighting the fact that the man behind the political tremors, Dr. Swamy has alleged that A Raja may be the key player in the scam, but he cannot be the sole beneficiary. M Karunanidhi, the DMK supermo and Raja’s political boss, his party and even keen of Congress leader, two sisters of Sonia Gandhi are alleged to have benefited from the spoils of the 2G scam.

• Perspective •

Manmohan Singh was wary from the beginning during the formation of the UPA II government. He was very insistent that he would not have A Raja and T R Balu of the DMK in his team. Reasons were very clear – Raja was facing the 2G storm. But, the PM’s hands were tied down by the Congress leader and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Had Sonia not budged to Karunanidhi’s dictates, Dr. Singh could have saved himself from the stinging remarks from the Supreme Court. Further, he

also had to allow another tainted leader Suresh Kalmadi continue till the CWG were concluded. Further, questions over the authority of the Prime Minister persist over the facts that while Sonia Gandhi walks away with all the credit and praise for the populist schemes and successes, Dr Singh is alone left to face the criticism and carry on the baggage that he would have liked to dump, had he been on his own! Sonia Gandhi is enjoying a sort of unfettered privileges and back seat driving without any constitutional obligations. She may deserve all the credit for electoral success of the UPA, but her political acumen is not established. There are almost no takers for the rhetoric of “no one guilty will be spared” dished out off and on by the Prime Minister, Sonia Gandhi or Rahul Gandhi. The most tangible way of reining corruption in a country like India is independence and autonomy of institutions like the CAG, the CBI, the CVC and likes along with good governance, and more importantly, the political will.

America’s Facade on Terrorism By Vipul Ladwa The Asian Voice wrote a very good editorial (6th November) entitled ‘Serious action, not ritual breastbeating on terror, is needed’. On the one hand the US condemns terrorism and on the other it inadvertently funds it by forming alliances with the Arab world. So is former President George W Bush’s “generational challenge” to instil democracy into the Arab world in the hope of stopping anti-American terrorism just a façade? In other words, is the security rationale for promoting democracy in the Arab world based on a sound premise? Unfortunately, the answer appears to be no. Terrorism stems from factors much more specific than regime type. Al Qaeda and like-minded groups are not fighting for democracy in the Muslim world; they are fighting to impose their vision of an Islamic state. It therefore begs the question of whether the US is doing enough to fight terrorism or are there other agendas at play? The Arab Lobby in US The US has always been aware that Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Arab world, is the biggest funder of Islamic terror activities. The 9/11 attacks brought this into sharp focus when it was revealed that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudis. Yet the US turns a blind eye on this fact when it comes to forming US-Arab ‘business’ relations. A recent publication, Mitchell Bard’s The Arab Lobbyist talks about an invisible alliance of groups working in the US promoting a pro-Arab agenda. The book explains with startling evidences how Saudi Arabia has recruited over two dozen US firms as foreign agents, and have spent nearly $100 million on American lobbyists, consultants and public relations firms to rebrand the Saudis as allies in the war on terror.

Other than Kennedy no other US President before or since has ever tried to pressurise the Saudis to introduce social reforms. During the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama made several pro-Israel statements. According to the book, 80 per cent of Jews voted for him. Within a few weeks of taking office, “Obama seemed to pick a fight with the Israeli government over its settlement policy … When Israeli officials brought up the fact that certain understandings had been reached with Obama’s predecessor regarding what the US considered to be acceptable construction, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton denied any such agreements had been made.” Obama’s first interview as President was to an Arab publication and his first visit to the Middle East omitted Israel. America has a habit of speaking in terms of ideals in lieu of speaking in terms of reality. The grave reality of US foreign policy is that they misuse military and economic might to coerce other nations into adopting policies that will favour the US, and in return they turn a blind eye to abiding nations which imprison dissenters, maintain tyrannical regimes, and abuse human rights. As long as countries like Saudi Arabia maintain policies that suit US interests such as oil trade and allowing US bases on Saudi soil, the US will remain content. On the flip side, if a country deviates from the straight and narrow path that the US has bound them to, they will not be so gentle in return. India is developing close relations with US in the hope of fighting terrorism in the country. It needs to be cautious and not optimistic in the outcome. This flawed approach to foreign policy won't be remedied overnight, and more than likely not at all. The unfortunate reality is that there is too much capital at stake, both in the government and business sphere, to not embrace the current doctrine.

India to soon witness an inbound flow of British students By Kartik.S.Raval The plans of making UK students more employable by giving them opportunity for international education in a booming economy like India was discussed and launched by David Willetts, Minister of Universities and Sciences. Mr. Willetts recently visited to India, launched the second phase of UK India Education and Research Initiative (UKIERI) along with Shri Kapil Sibal, India’s Minister of Human Resource Development. There are currently more than 40,000 Indian students receiving education at various universities in the UK, whereas only 500 students from the entire Britain go to India to pursue further education and this has been an issue of major concern amongst the education leaders in the UK. Mr. Willetts visited Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune during 11 to 17 November, pledged to support the new phase of the programme for the next five years from April 2011 to April 2016. It is comprised of four strands of education collaboration focusing on building a new generation of leaders, innovative partnership, skills development and finally building harmony and enhancing mobility. David Willetts met Indian Ministers Sharad Pawar and Kapil Sibal and also the officials at the Ministry of Science and Technology in Delhi and also delivered the inaugural address at the FICCI Higher Education

Kapil Sibal and David Willetts co-chaired the third UK-India Education Forum

Summit. Prior to his visit to Pune, Mr. Willetts revealed “I am delighted to be visiting Pune, which is known for its high quality academic profile. In addition to its well respected University, Pune is home to some of the leading research institutions in India and some of the country’s top healthcare, engineering, IT and energy companies, which have a very strong R&D base. There are several successful academic and research links between Pune and the UK and I am keen that they should be

taken to the next level.” He also visited reputed institutes like ITI in Gurgaon and ISRO in Bangalore. The ministers also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on UKIERI and a Joint Statement on the work of the Forum. The Forum discussion also identified a number of particular ideas for future collaboration, including in areas of school leadership, vocational education through use of technology, distance learning, skills development, universities for innovation, teacher and faculty development. This was David Willetts’ second visit to India in a short span of four months as in July he was a part of the Prime Minister Cameron's Cabinet's delegation for their first overseas visit since coming to office. Hence the intent has been made clear by David Willetts with yet another essential visit to India which highlights the importance of Education and Research partnership between UK and India. The programme, if applied and executed properly can surely benefit British students to enhance their international exposure and achieve higher job prospect in this shrinking global economy and cut-throat competition. But it is likely to be a two way learning process as even the Indian students who either could not travel or opted to stay in India will have a lot to learn about UK's culture, education and socio-political environment as they will be accompanied by the British students in the lecture halls and in the academic learning process.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

INDIA

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Mother Teresa award for Dalai Lama Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader and head of the Tibetan government in exile received the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice last week in New Dellhi. The Tibetan leader was honoured for his contribution towards humanity, promoting inter-religious discourses and welfare of Tibetans. Responding to the honour, Dalai Lama said, “I am one of the admirers of late Mother Teresa. I have met her. I really admire her work and her spirit”. He also welcomed the release of Myanmar prodemocracy leader Suu Kyi from prison in Yangon on November 13 after seven years of house arrest.

In divine light By Rajen Vakil

Sisupala, the childishness within

Dalai Lama receives the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice from Bollywood actress Rani Mukherjee at New Delhi on 18th November

Dalai Lama to retire from govt-in-exile role The Dalai Lama intends to retire as head of the Tibetan government in

exile next year as he looks to reduce his ceremonial role and scale back his workload, his spokesman told reporters.

Navi Mumbai airport to take off Environmental clearance received

Finally, the Environment ministry of India has accorded clearance to the Navi Mumbai airport, or the second international airport for Mumbai, the commercial capital of India. Plans for the second airport faced problems over change of course for two rivers and destruction of mangroves. "Formally the environmental clearance has been given to the Navi Mumbai Project. The provisions of building the airport will

start now," Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said. Planned as a publicprivate partnership, the project is proposed with 74 per cent equity with the private players and the remaining 26 per cent divided equally between the state-run Airports Authority of India and the City and Industrial D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation (CIDCO) of Maharashtra. The project, proposed at a distance of some 35

km from the existing Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, is expected to absorb the load due to future growth in population, business and commercial activity of the region. It is expected to handle 10 million passengers in its first operational year, doubling to 20 million in eight years. The aim is that the airport would have a handling capacity of 40 million passengers by 2030.

Gujarati singer sets world record in non-stop singing Gujarati singer Dharini Pandya, popularly known as Sawradhika Panchamda, has set a new world record for non-stop singing by performing around 101 hours. She achieved the rare feat on Monday, the opening day of Swarnim TanaRiri Mahotsava at Vadanagar in Mehsana district of north Gujarat. The festival is organised every year in the memory

Dharini Pandya being felicitated by Narendra Modi

of Gujarat’s classical music duo Tana and Riri.

She was felicitated for her record-breaking feat at a function organized in Vadnagar on Monday evening to present Lata Mangeshkar and Usha Mangeshkar the Tana-Riri Sangeet Samman for their contributions in the field of music. Bhagyesh Jha, secretary, youth, sports & culture, said Dharini’s achievement made this annual music festival a world class event.

Raja to Radia: phony deals and huge scams Continued from page 1 Even the CBI, the apex Indian investigation agency has submitted before the supreme court that Nira Radia was under the scanner of the Income Tax department and her phones were tapped. Her connections were allegedly right upto the high and the mighty and she is believed to have played a big role in ensuring that the now sacked minister, A Raja got a cabinet berth in the UPA II, just when initially Dr. Singh was almost bent upon not accommodating him atleast. That was perhaps largely due to the fact that the 2G spectrum allocation, which was already over by then, was seen as a

clear act of defiance and corruption by the same minister who held the Telecom portfolio in the UPA I. Nira Radia, a British citizen of Indian origin and married to Janak Radia, a native of Kutch district in Gujarat moved to India after her divorce. She has many firms working in the area of strategic consulting, PR and corporate communications domain. Her business history is also allegedly a bit chequered, as one of her business associate was allegedly involved in kidnapping one of Nira Radia’s three sons and was also arrested. According to a submission by the CBI, 5,851 phone calls made and received by Nira and

82,665 pages of documents relating to her are under scrutiny. The agency has also indicated of a possibility of some international ramifications. The client list of entities owned by Nira Radia include Reliance Industries (Mukesh Ambani), Tata Group Companies, Singapore Airlines, Star Group, Nortel, Siemens and more. The transcripts of her phone calls, as exposed by a little known magazine reveal that even big names in the Indian media were hooked up by her in attempts to serve interests business of lobbying and helping A Raja getting back the cabinet berth and the Telecommunications dept.

For today’s story we will take the setting of the ‘Rajasuya Yagna’ performed by Yudhisthira. The Pandavas had created a beautiful kingdom called Indraprastha from Khandavprastha, a desert (more a wasteland). The Yagna was preceded by great celebrations and all the kings of the country had come to support the Pandavas. The final act of the celebrations was to name a guest of honour from among the distinguished guests present there. Yudhisthira took the advice of his grandsire, Bhishma, on this matter. Bhishma told Yudhisthira that in that great gathering of so many princes and sages, it was only Krishna who, like a great sun, shines in his own rays – his light comes from within and so in that gathering, it would only be appropriate that Krishna be the guest of honour. Yudhisthira was very happy as he loved Krishna dearly and he asked Sahdeva to come forward, wash Krishna’s feet, and honour him. With great love, Sahdeva performed the actions honouring Krishna but a group of the assembled princes were not satisfied with what had happened. The whole hall, which was silent, was suddenly aroused by a loud and eerie laughter. Sisupala, Krishna’s cousin who hated him from the core of his being, started raining insult upon insult on Krishna. He called Krishna a cowherd and Yudhisthira a bastard. He further added that everything that Krishna had achieved in life was through deceit and kept on insulting him. The grandsire Bhishma told Yudhisthira not to worry as it was ordained that Sisupala’s death would be at the hands of Krishna and the time had come. Bhishma then narrated to Yudhisthira the story of Sisupala’s birth. When Sisupala was born, he had three eyes and four arms. His parents were horrified at what they saw but a heavenly voice told them that whenever the child was placed in the lap of the person who was to kill him, the extra eye and arms would fall off. When Krishna and Balarama went to see the child, his mother (Krishna’s aunt) put him in Krishna’s lap.

Immediately the third eye closed and the arms fell off. Sisupala’s mother requested Krishna to spare Sisupala. Krishna replied that he would allow Sisupala to insult him a hundred times before killing him. Now in the hall as Sisupala kept on showering insults upon Krishna, the time had come for Krishna to kill him. Krishna recounted all the evil deeds of Sisupala and after a long battle, severed his head with his chakra called ‘Sudarshana’. As soon as Sisupala fell, the forces of nature were suddenly aroused and the wind blew in the trees suggesting omens of future discord and destruction. The seed for the great Mahabharata battle had been sown. Now let us try to see the above events through the eyes of a disciple. The first step a disciple takes is to be free of unnecessary leakages of energy. He realises that the chief source of leakage is excitement and he practices hard to be free of it. Excitement is chaotic or Khandavprastha which the Pandavas transform to Indraprastha. This is the transformation of excitement into sensitivity. The student then starts using his consciousness (sudarshana) to observe the workings of his own psychic nature. It is at this time that we observe the workings of the Sisupala within ourselves and eventually killing him. ‘Sisu’ means a child and ‘pala’ means to look after, that is to look after the child within us. When the child is young he plays with his toys. If a neighbour’s child wants one of the toys, the child holds it tightly and does not part with it. Say, the same child grows up and becomes a great politician, or a member of parliament. If from within his own party someone wants his seat then the member will hold his seat tightly saying he won’t step down. The body has grown but nothing within has matured. When people come closer to death, they become like infants. This is the tragedy of our lives that we never really

grow up – when we die it is the same child (when we were three years old) that dies. This childishness within us is the Sisupala and he must be killed. ‘Rajasuya Yagna’ means that point in our spiritual journey when we start looking inside. Krishna symbolises consciousness and it is this inner light of consciousness (sudarshana) that kills the Sisupala within. Before killing him he allows him a hundred insults; this shows that this inner childishness of ours must first be studied over a period of time without any interference and only then defeated. When Sisupala was born, he had three eyes and four arms. This shows that that childishness within us is never bound by normal ethics and morality. A young child loves to peep through holes and do things which he should not be doing, depicted by an extra eye and two extra arms. Sisupala was the king of Cedi (pronounced Chedi) and on his death, his son Dhristaketu becomes the king. ‘Dhris’ means bold and ‘ketu’ means chief. This signifies a new boldness on the part of the disciple. As a child, he was frightened to go into dark rooms alone and in meditation he was frightened to enter into the darkness of the mind. Now that Sisupala was dead, with his new boldness, he can delve deeper into his own psyche without fear. This new boldness gives him the power of mental resilience. The child in us would always be hypnotised by some evil thought but now we have the power to resist such hypnoses. Even though the Pandavas were responsible for his father’s death, Dhristaketu overcomes the urge for revenge and becomes their friend. In all of us, this urge to avenge lies deeply rooted and it is with the killing of the inner Sisupala that we have the maturity to rise above this. When the disciple is free from the urge to avenge, he has taken a big step forward in his journey. (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

World

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

US resolution backs India’s UNSC bid

Washington: Lauding India's commitment to global peace and development of the South Asian region, a resolution introduced in the US House of Representatives has appealed to the United Nations to take necessary steps to make New Delhi a permanent member of the Security Council. The resolution by Congressman Gus Bilirakis gives the sense of the House of

Representatives that the UN should forthwith take the procedural actions necessary to amend Article 23 of the Charter of the United Nations to establish India as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. The resolution, which has been sent to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs for necessary action, noted that India is the largest democratic country in the

world in which all political views are freely expressed and respected. India is the world's second most populous country, with over one billion citizens residing within its borders and is one of the largest contributors of troops to UNmandated peacekeeping missions, it said. The resolution also said that India has demonstrated a strong commitment to global

peace and promotion of the peaceful development of the South Asian region. "... it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United Nations should forthwith take the procedural actions necessary to amend Article 23 of the Charter of the United Nations to establish India as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council," it said.

Vancouver (Canada): Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only man convicted in the 1985 Air India Kanishka bombing, has offered an apology to the families of the 329 victims of the bombing. According to the Globe and Mail, Reyat's letter of apology was read out by his lawyer, Ian Donaldson, at his sentencing hearing on a conviction for perjury last week. "No words in any language can ever bring closure to those who have lost loved ones as a result of the Air India and

Narita tragedies. Neither can words bring back those who perished in such tragic circumstances. I sincerely apologize to each and every one of the victims who have been left with such grief of burden to bear," Reyat said in the statement. Reyat was convicted of perjury in September after a jury ruled that he had made untruthful statements during the 2003 Air India trial of Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri, who were acquitted of

masterminding the bomb plot. Both Malik and Bagri were acquitted of all charges, but Crown prosecutor Len Doust has said that the outcome of the trial might have been different if Reyat had told what he knew about the Air India disaster. The 58-year-old, who will be sentenced on January 7, faces up to 14 years in prison. Reyat was earlier sentenced to five years in prison for manslaughter in connection to his role in acquiring bomb parts used

in the explosive device that brought down an Air India Flight 182. Flight 182 had crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Ireland after leaving Montreal on June 23, 1985, killing 329 people. Reyat also served a 10year sentence for a blast on the same day at Tokyo's Narita airport, where two baggage handlers died when a bomb-laden suitcase exploded before it could be transported to another Air India plane, which was carrying 250 passengers.

Air India Kanishka bomber says sorry to victims’ families

N Korean artillery strike worries world powers Washington: Washington pledged to defend South Korea after North Korean forces shot artillery shells at a southern island on Tuesday, prompting grave concern in capitals around the world. In a powerfully-worded statement, the White House said the United States "strongly condemns this attack and calls on North Korea to halt its belligerent action." Pyongyang's attack on the island near the Korean border killed at least two South Korean marines. US ally Japan, as well as China and Russia, also voiced their deep concern over the incident.

Four Indian-Americans selected for Rhodes scholarship Houston: Four IndianAmerican students have been selected for the Rhodes scholarships for 2011 for studying at the University of Oxford, UK. The award is widely considered the "world's most prestigious scholarship". The Rhodes Trust on Sunday named Aakash K Shah of New Jersey, Prerna Nadathur & Priya M Sury, and Varun Sivaram of California. Aakash K Shah, Cliffside Park, graduated from Ursinus College and is now in his first year at Harvard Medical School. Prerna Nadathur, Roseville, is a senior at the University of Chicago

where she majors in mathematics and minors in linguistics and philosophy. Priya M Sury, Roseville, graduated from Washington University in St. Louis in May in anthropology and Spanish. She is currently studying for an MD degree at the University of Minnesota. Varun S Sivarum, Monte Sereno, is a senior at Stanford majoring in engineering physics and international relations. A Truman Scholar and junior mentor at Phi Beta Kappa, Varun has won Stanford prizes for excellence in humanities and

political science, as well as in engineering. The 32 chosen from the United States will join an international group of scholars chosen from 14 other jurisdictions around the world. In addition to the 32 Americans, scholars are also selected from Australia, Bermuda, Canada, the nations of the C o m m o n w e a l t h Caribbean, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Jamaica, Kenya, New Zealand, Pakistan, Southern Africa (South Africa, plus Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland), Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

deputy ministers took the oath of office before Rajapaksa at the presidential secretariat, ahead of the presentation of the first budget of his second term. Ministerial portfolios were offered to several MPs who pledged their support to the government during the crucial vote on 18th amendment to the Constitution which removed the term limits

for the presidency. The previous Cabinet under Rajapaksa had 41 ministers in it. Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the leading party representing the Muslim minority which had supported the now jailed common opposition candidate Sarath Fonseka during the presidential election in January, also become a partner of the coalition government.

Rajapaksa unveils new Lankan cabinet

Colombo: Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday unveiled an expanded 59member cabinet for his second six-year term as he kept with himself the key defence and finance portfolios and retained prime minister D M Jayaratne. The president's brother Basil Rajapaksa, the main political strategist of his administration, also

Mahinda Rajapaksa

retained his post of economic development minister. Newly-appointed ministers along with 31 other

Indian cultural festival opens in Bangladesh Dhaka: An India cultural festival with art exhibitions as well performances by Indian artists opened in Bangladesh, this week. ‘Ananda Jagya’, a week-long dance, music, crafts and film festival, and fortnight-long art exhibitions was held simultaneously in many cities including Dhaka, Chittagong and Rajshahi.

The festival was being organised jointly by the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre (IGCC) of the Indian high commission here and the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). Veteran Indian artists like Pandit Debu Chaudhury, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Jayanta Bose, Pandit Kumar Bose,

Pandit Debojyoti Bose, Manoj Mitra, Rita Ganguly, Rajendra Gangani and others were expected to perform during the festival. The art exhibition, titled ‘Harmony and Rhythm’, which begins on Sunday, will showcase works of four contemporary Indian painters. It will also highlight styles

and techniques, representing Indian folk and traditional culture, the Daily Star said. Films like ‘Nayak’, ‘Shaptopadi’, ‘Jai Jayanti’, ‘Harano Sur’, ‘Chhaddobeshi’ and ‘Pathe Holo Deri’ featuring popular Bengali actor Uttam Kumar will also be screened in Chittagong during the festival.

378 killed in Cambodia stampede Phnom Penh: At least 378 people were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede in Cambodia on Monday. The tragedy took place when the panic-stricken crowd celebrating the end of the rainy season on an island in a river tried to flee over a narrow bridge in the capital Phnom Penh and many people were crushed underfoot of fell over its side into the water. Disoriented victims struggled to find an escape hatch through the human mass, pushing their way in every direction. The prime minister called it the country’s biggest tragedy since the murderous 1970s reign of Khmer Rouge. Rescuers on Tuesday searched a muddy river for more bodies as the country prepared for a day of mourning. After the stampede, bodies were stacked upon bodies on the bridge as rescuers swarmed the area. The search for bodies along the Bassac River continued as state television showed horrific footage of twisted and writhing bodies - both alive and dead - piled on each other. Some desperately reached out with their hands, screaming for help and grasping for hands of rescuers who struggled to pull limp bodies from the pile as if they were trapped in sand or snow.

Catholic University offers Hinduism classes Nevada (US): Catholic University Leuven (Belgium), oldest existing Catholic university in the world founded in 1425, is offering Hinduism classes in English and Dutch. These Hinduism courses will acquaint students with Veda, Bhagavad-Gita, Upanishads, epics and Puranas, tantric and bhakti traditions, concept of salvation, philosophical traditions, etc. On the oral exam, students are supposed to be able to explain cited Sanskrit terms. It is included in Master of Theology and Religious Studies and some other programs. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, founded by Pope Martin V, has about 37,000 students from all over the world and offers 120 postgraduate academic programs with revenue of about $890 million. Mark Waer is the Rector. Prominent Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement described Catholic University's action as "a step in the right direction".

Branson to work as air hostess after losing bet Kuala Lumpur: Virgin Atlantic boss Richard Branson will don a striking red skirt and play a stewardess on a rival airline AirAsia flight after he lost a bet with the company's owner. Branson lost a friendly bet to AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes as his Formula One Virgin Racing team ended behind Lotus Racing in the overall team rankings. "We want him to shave his legs. We are going to try and get him to shave his legs and wear some makeup," The Star quoted Fernandes, the Indian-origin chief of the Malaysian budget airline, as saying. If Richard is sporting, so is Tony. He is prepared to make a concession to his British friend as he seeks his pound of flesh. "But we will leave his moustache alone as it is his trademark," said Fernandes, who is the Lotus Racing team principal and AirAsia Group chief executive.

Myanmar cracks the whip on media over Suu Kyi coverage Yangon: Eight magazines in military-controlled Myanmar were suspended by government censors after they prominently published news and photos about pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi's release from detention. An editor of one publication said the Press Scrutiny board cited the size of a supplementary section about her as a violation of regulations. The magazine Weekly Eleven, a publication that was not suspended , reported in its latest issue that the suspension order for the magazines did not say in what manner the rules were violated. Mother meets son Meanwhile, Suu Kyi met her son after a decade. Kim Aris flew into Yangon on Tuesday after being granted a visa by the military regime and was greeted by his smiling mother at the airport. The 33-year-old son resides in Britain.

Haneef returning to Australia for compensation talks Canberra: Indian origin doctor Mohamed Haneef, who was falsely accused of terrorism and deprived of his working visa three years back, is reportedly returning back to Brisbane in Australia next month for compensation talks with the Government. Haneef, who for the past two and -a- half years has been working as a GP in the United Arab Emirates, would be accompanied by his wife Firdous and daughter Haniyah. The Australian quoted him as saying that he is scared at the thought of returning to Brisbane, where he was held for 12 days without charge after his mobile phone SIM card was linked to the failed terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow in 2007. But he also said that he would love to return to that country permanently.

Pakistan

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

In focus

Politicians helping Taliban, claims terror suspect

60 Hindu couples tie the knot at mass wedding in Karachi

Islamabad: Some influential Pakistani politicians have been patronising the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terror suspect has revealed during his interrogation. Mohammad Rafique, an alleged terrorist, who was caught by the Islamabad police following a foiled terror strike at the CIA Centre, made some startling revelations during the course of investigations, The News reported. He disclosed that these politicians, some of whom

Karachi: Sixty Hindu couples from poor families tied the knot at a mass wedding in Karachi on Saturday. The Pakistan Hindu Council, an NGO, which organised the event, bore all expenses; it even chipped in with the dowry. The couples sat in colourfully designed mandaps at the YMCA Lawn. Each couple was allowed to bring in 20 guests, and the bride was given jewellery, a bed set, quilts and blankets, a television set, an iron box, clothes and utensils, Hindu Council president Ramesh Kumar Vankhwani said. Some of the couples hailed from Karachi, while the others were from different parts of the Sindh province. A pundit delivered instructions over the microphone, and all couples performed the rituals in unison. The couples circumambulated the fire seven times, while rituals unique to each family were held in the individual mandaps.

Blasphemy accused Pak-Christian woman seeks President's mercy Lahore: A Christian woman sentenced to death in Pakistan on charges of blasphemy has appealed to President Asif Ali Zardari to pardon her, saying that she had been wrongfully accused by neighbours due to a personal dispute. "I told the police that I have not committed any blasphemy and this is a wrong accusation, but they did not listen to me," the Daily Times quoted Aasia Bibi, as saying to reporters, after meeting Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer. "I have small kids. I have wrongly been implicated in this false case," she said from the prison. "It was just the outcome of a rivalry. I would never even think of blasphemy," Aasia said weeping. "I have small children. For God's sake, please set me free," she appealed. It was just a dispute over water but the people accused her of blasphemy and implicated her in a false and fabricated case, Aasia said, adding that she respected the Holy Prophet, and would never think of passing blasphemous remarks against Him. The case has drawn huge attention in the media, and there is deep sympathy for her. Several NGOs have called for repealing the blasphemy law because it was "being used by illiterate masses in rural areas to hoodwink the minorities". Meanwhile, Zardari has stayed Aasia's execution, and directed the federal minister for minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti, to submit a report in this regard.

Sikh pilgrims’ tents gutted Islamabad: At least 20 tents of Sikh pilgrims were burnt to ashes in Pakistan's Nankana Sahib city where they had gone to participate in the 542nd birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, a media report said last week. No casualties were reported. 'Rescue officials and fire brigade have reached the spot and the situation was brought under control,' Dunya TV reported adding that there was no loss of life or injury. Regarding the cause of fire, there were conflicting reports. Some people on the spot said that the 'tents caught fire during the process of cooking food in one of them' while some others claimed that 'children playing with fire-crackers caused the fire'. 'Most of the pilgrims had already left for Gurdwara Sacha Sauda by the time the tents caught fire,' the channel said adding that only a few women and children were left behind who remained unhurt. Some 4,000 Sikh pilgrims had reached Pakistan boarding special trains through the Wagah border to attend the birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak, founder of the Sikh faith.

India not involved in terror activities, admits Rehman Malik Karachi: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rehman Malik has ruled out India’s involvement in carrying out terrorist activities in the country, admitting that the locals were supporting terrorism. “We should put our own house in order before blaming any other country, including India,” the News quoted Malik, as saying. “Terrorists cannot carry out any activity without local help,” he added while highlighting that the “traitors of the country” should be eliminated. The interior minister further claimed that Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), al Qaeda and the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) were coordinating with each other and were trying to destabilise Pakistan.

LeJ splits into 8 smaller cells Islamabad: The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), a notorious anti-Shia militant group accused of having links with alQaida, has split into at least eight cells to better coordinate its activities across Pakistan, according to a news report. "The creation of the cells is aimed at coordinating the banned group's activities in the area ranging from the southern port city of Karachi to Waziristan in the restive tribal belt bordering Afghanistan," reports said. "With scattered cells, they have better chances of survival by diverting the focus of law enforcement agencies," an intelligence official said.

were very important and influential, were compelled to help the Pakistan Taliban either because they were quite vulnerable because of their links with the terrorist-infested Tribal Areas or they were made to believe by the TTP that they or their families could suffer, no matter where they are in Pakistan. According to sources privy to the interrogations, the alleged terrorist has been cooperating and dishing out information while answering the ques-

tions put to him. "This piece of information that some of the important and influential politicians are practically helping the TTP to carry out terror strikes in the country, whether because of their sympathies or under some sort of duress is quite startling," the investigators said. Rafique said that the Orakzai Agency is 'hot' these days, from where these terrorist outfits and the TTP are feeling comfortable to operate, the investigators told the

newspaper. "He told us that these days Amjad, Yasin and Jamal Shah (names might have been changed) are located in the Orakzai Agency and they are preparing and dispatching the explosive laden vehicles to be used in the terror activities all over the country," the sources privy to the investigations said, adding that three personsnatives of Orakzai Agency- were training and preparing suicide bombers using intoxication and other techniques.

Prof Samuel Burke, Pakistan’s first envoy to UK is no more London: Professor Samuel Burke, who died on October 9 aged 104, was one of very few Indians to become a senior official in the Indian Civil Service under the British Raj; following partition, he helped to set up the Foreign Office in Pakistan and became an ambassador for the country, serving in 11 different capitals. After retirement from the diplomatic service he became an academic in the United States, publishing a number of books on the history of India and the politics of Pakistan. Samuel Martin Burke was born on July 3, 1906 at Martinpur, a small Christian village near Faisalabad in what is now Pakistan. Samuel took a first class degree in History and a masters at the Government College of Lahore before passing the Indian Civil Service

Samuel Burke

(ICS) exams in 1931. He rose to be a High Court judge and, in the closing phase of British rule in India, served as chairman of the three-man election petitions committee for the Punjab, set up to consider appeals against the results of the general election of December 1945, which had pitted the Congress Party, supporting a united India, against the Muslim League, campaigning for an independent Pakistan. While the commission was still sitting, Indian political parties agreed to the formation of Pakistan, and a circular was sent to

members of the ICS asking whether they wished to serve India or Pakistan or to retire. Burke felt that the only way he could assure leaders of all the political parties of his continued impartiality and accordingly, he decided to retire on August 15, 1947. After partition both Congress and League urged him to come out of retirement. Since he had been born in what became Pakistan, he decided to serve in Pakistan. Though he was offered a ministry, he chose to join the newlycreated Foreign Service. His first appointment abroad was in 1949 as counsellor to the High Commission in London. In 1952, he was transferred to Washington as counsellor, but was soon promoted to the rank of minister. After Washington, he served as Chargé d’Affaires in Rio de

Chinese missiles for Pak jets

Janeiro, and as Deputy High Commissioner in London. He then became the first Christian head of a Pakistani diplomatic mission, as Minister to Sweden, Norway, Finland and Denmark from 1953 to 1956. After a spell in southeast Asia as first resident ambassador to Thailand, Burke was appointed to his final diplomatic posting, as High Commissioner in Canada from 1959 to 1961. Burke retired from Pakistan’s Foreign Service to take up a new chair in South Asian Studies created for him at the University of Minnesota. His books include Foreign Policy of Pakistan, and he also advised on the compilation of A Historical Atlas of South Asia. Burke continued to write after he and his wife moved to England.

Mush to be queried in Benazir murder probe

Beijing: Pakistan will buy Chinese air-to-air SD-10 missiles and avionics to arm its 250 JF-17 Thunder fighter fleet, the country's air force chief has said, amid signs that the French had spurned an offer to equip them. "Islamabad is seeking to deepen military cooperation with Beijing," air chief marshal Rao Qamar Suleman, chief of the Pakistani air force, told the Global Times, revealing that his country may also opt to acquire other advanced defence missile systems including Chinese surface to air missiles

(SAM) systems. Pakistan has opted to go in for full Chinese armament systems for the jointly developed fighters and Suleman, currently on a visit to China, told the paper that the advanced active radar and homing middle-range missile developed by China, called the SD-10 , will become the standard Beyond Visual Range (BVR) weapon of the JF-17. "PAF has no plans to install western devices and weapons on the aircraft for the time being," the Pakistani air force chief said. The Global

Times, quoting unnamed sources, claimed that the French consortium has withdrawn from a reported 1.2 billion euro contract to supply radars and missiles for the first wave of 50 JF-17 fighters, allegedly after pressure from India. The Pakistan air force chief visited China to attend the Zhuhai air show in southern China, where the JF-17s were a major attraction. The SD-10 (ShanDian-10 ) is a radar guided air-to-air missile developed by China in 2002.

Islamabad: The Pakistan govt has decided to include former president Pervez Musharraf in the investigation into the assassination of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) joint investigation team (JIT) has prepared a detailed questionnaire that will be forwarded to Musharraf in Britain in a few days, Dawn reported on Tuesday. "We have prepared a questionnaire for the former president to record his statement," Dawn quoted FIA director general Waseem Ahmed as saying.

Islamabad: Proof of the involvement of regular Pakistani soldiers in the 1999 Kargil war has come from an institution that has been for years denying its role in the hostilities with India - the Pakistan Army. Eleven years after the Kargil war, the Pakistan Army has quietly included the names of 453 soldiers and officers who were killed during the conflict on its website. The 453 Pakistani sol-

diers are shown as killed in the Batalik-Kargil sector in Jammu and Kashmir. The names of those who died in Kargil are tucked away in a list of thousands of personnel killed while on duty posted in the “Shuhada's Corner” (Martyrs Corner) of the website. The very first page of the long list includes the names of Captain Karnal Sher and Havildar Lalak Jan, who were both killed

on July 7, 1999 in Kargil and awarded Pakistan's highest military award, the Nishan-e-Haider. Several others were posthumously given other gallantry awards like the Tamgha-eJurat (Medal of Courage). The Army also reveals the codename given to the operation to occupy strategic mountains and heights on the Indian side of the LoC - “Operation Koh-e-Paima” or Mountain of Resolve. In some cases, the campaign

is also referred to as “Operation Kargil.” A majority of those who died in Kargil were soldiers from the Northern Light Infantry, a formation that was made a regular regiment of the Pakistan Army because of its performance in the 1999 conflict. It was earlier a paramilitary force formed by the amalgamation of several militias from the Northern Areas or GilgitBaltistan.

Pakistan lists names of soldiers killed in Kargil war

Africa

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Madagascar mutiny ends without bloodshed Antananarivo: An attempted coup on this troubled Indian Ocean island has been defused without bloodshed, the Madagascar regime's prime minister said. Camille Vital told reporters late on Saturday that 16 officers surrendered, ending an impasse that began recently when a faction of officers declared they were taking over from Andry Rajoelina. Rajoelina, a former mayor and disc jockey, himself had the military's support when he toppled an elected president last year after months of violent protest. Earlier on Saturday, reporters had seen hundreds of soldiers loyal to Rajoelina converge on a base near the capital's airport where the mutineers were holed up. Officials had said talks were planned, but shots could be heard inside the base. Col. Julien Ravelomihary, a high-ranking member of the High Transitional Authority's military, told reporters that mutinous officers were ready to hand themselves over, but some junior officers initially resisted.

Oil discovery leads to land grab in Uganda Kampala: Oil has not even started flowing but, already, it is causing conflict in Bunyoro, western Uganda where land disputes have erupted. The two billion barrels of oil discovered in the Lake Albert area have drawn speculators hoping to cash in on rising land values in the area and sparked conflicts in many villages, particularly in the district of Buliisa. Already oil has changed the fundamental nature of people's relationship to land, according Dickens Kamugisha, the head of the African Institute for Energy Governance. Before oil brought speculators to Buliisa, people were unaware that land was something to be bought and sold, he says. "Land [used to be] a free good owned and enjoyed equally by all," Kamugisha says. Now it is a commodity. "Oil has monetised things such as land which used to be free, and because people are not used to that . . . the whole social fabric is likely to change."

S Africa turns apartheid-era nukes into medicine Johannesburg: South Africa has transformed apartheid-era nuclear weapons into a tool for detecting cancer and heart disease, with a new technology that could ease global worries about nuclear arms trafficking. After voluntarily dismantling its weapons programme, democratic South Africa used the leftover nuclear fuel to produce medical isotopes used by doctors for imaging technology. South Africa is one of the world's top three producers of molybdenum-99, better known as moly, used in 80 per cent of the 50 million nuclear medical procedures performed globally each year. Normally, moly is created with the same type of uranium as used to make nuclear arms, creating a headache for efforts to corral weapons-grade uranium. But a new technique designed by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) allows scientists to create moly using low-enriched uranium, rather than the highly enriched type needed for bombs.

India to set up higher education institutions in Africa New Delhi: India is poised to set up a string of higher education and training institutions in Africa - in areas ranging from diamond polishing to foreign trade - that differentiate its development-centric approach from that of China, says Jean-Pierre Ezin, a top African Union (AU) official. 'The AU looks to India to set up higher education institutions in Africa. India is doing a lot for the future of the continent and can transform the continent through education,' Ezin, commissioner

of the African Union Commission for Human Resource and Science and Technology, said in an interview. 'What we need in Africa is higher education to face global challenges. Per capita investment on education has to increase,' said Ezin, who visited India recently to discuss a host of training institutes that India plans to set up in the continent. 'If we can put education and research at the heart of the India-Africa partnership, it will be hugely beneficial for the

Nairobi: A British couple who had been kidnapped by Somali pirates and held in captivity in a remote, sweltering patch of central Somalia for more than a year was finally released, Somali officials said recently, apparently after a ransom was paid. The couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler, were hijacked in October 2009 while sailing in a small yacht in the Indian Ocean

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said the AU is looking to partner India in setting up a regional institute on Life and Earth Sciences. 'This is an area where we plan to develop traditional knowledge medicines. India is very strong in the traditional knowledge industry,' he said. In March this year, India and the 53-nation AU, the pan-African body headquartered in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, launched an action plan that outlined a detailed strategy for accelerating bilateral engagement for the next four years.

very nice thing to be doing." Somali elders said the couple's friends and relatives paid the pirates several hundred thousand dollars in ransom. The Chandlers said in earlier interviews, from captivity, that the pirates had whipped them and kept them apart from each other, in solitary confinement, for months. Ms Chandler is in her mid50s and Mr Chandler is

about 60. They were released in central Somalia, and flew to the capital, Mogadishu where they met the prime minister of Somalia's weak transitional government. That government has little influence over the pirates, or much else in Somalia, though the prime minister quickly called a news conference and stood side by side with the Chandlers.

Kenyan judiciary set for major overhaul

Mass break-out at Congolese jail

Nairobi: In just under six months, Kenya’s judicial system is set to experience a major transformation as it relocates to an ultramodern complex with a capacity to house over 100 courtrooms and judges chambers. Fully fitted with an electronic record management centre for capturing court proceedings as they unfold, the new complex is set to speed up the delivery of court rulings, therefore reducing the huge backlog of cases that has been the bane of the country’s judiciary to date. Officially handing over the complex, which formerly used to house the headquarters of the East African Community and more recently, the Income Tax department, to Chief Justice Evan Gicheru,

in what they had described to friends as "the trip of a lifetime." At a news conference shortly after their release, Ms Chandler said, "We are happy to be alive, happy to be here, desperate to see our family, and so happy to be amongst decent, everyday people, Somalis, people from anywhere in the world who are not criminals, because we've been a year with criminals and that's not a

Public Works minister Chris Obure described the new courthouse as the biggest and most modern in Eastern Africa. The complex, situated in the community area in Nairobi, will accommodate a total of 57 court rooms, a similar number of judges and magistrates’ chambers and 74 cells to serve as holding grounds for suspects as they go through the judicial process. The four-storey complex also has separate restaurants for judges, magistrates, lawyers and members of the public, as well as a state of the art office for the Chief Justice. It also boasts a modern library, five boardrooms, the electronic record management centre for capturing court proceedings, a gate screening house with

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African continent,' he said, adding: 'India can play a key role in this transformational process.' 'At the next IndiaAfrica Forum summit, we would like to focus on capacity building,' he said while alluding to the second India-Africa Forum Summit next year. India will also be assisting in setting up a pan-African university, a network of five proposed regional institutions devoted to specific disciplines. Disclosing the contours of the proposed panAfrican university, Ezin

Pirates free British couple after over a year in captivity

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public toilets and a ceremonial hall with a seating capacity of 500 persons. The cells, the court’s archives and the public restaurant are located at the complex’s basement while the court’s registrars, the magistrates chambers, some of the courtrooms and the ceremonial hall are on the ground floor. According to CJ Gicheru, it should not take more than six months for the entire judiciary to relocate from its current location at the Nairobi Law courts to the ultramodern complex to pave way for the establishment of the supreme court and other judicial structures as set out in the new constitution.

Kinshasa: Nearly 200 prisoners in the Democratic Republic of Congo have escaped from a jail in the remote north-west of the country. The mass breakout occurred as a hearing was taking place in their prison in Gemena to try to reduce the backlog of defendants awaiting trial. Lawyers said the inmates began throwing stones as the court sat through cases scheduled that day. Mutinies are frequent in Congolese prisons. "It looked like a crowd walking out of a church or a stadium," Francis Wombali, a lawyer assisting a defendant at the hearing that was taking place inside the prison, said.

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Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

This week on CB Live- Mr and Mrs Ranbir Singh Suri, J.P, will speak for a few minutes in Punjabi on the occasion of Guru Nanak Dev Prakash Divas. Most of the program will be, as usual in Gujarati and the couple are fluent in the language. Tanzania, Kenya, India and UK are the wide vista of the deliberations. Also taking part will be Mrs Trupti Patel, Manchester based, engineer, an entrepreneur, a consultant and she has been a senior officer in the Highways and Traffic Management. She is also involved with Artistic and Woman's projects in a fully voluntary capacity.

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Social Enterprise celebrates reasons to be cheerful

To take our minds away from the gloom and doom of the current austerity measures, Capable Communities Ltd, a new social enterprise in Harrow, has organised two family events to be held at 6pm, 5 December at Byron Hall, Harrow Leisure Centre and 7pm 11 December at Patidar House, London Road, Wembley. Drawing inspiration from the classic Ian Drury 1979 hit, this new company has organised the events to celebrate the creative work of youth, community and small creative enterprises across Brent and Harrow. It’s not so much about what they have achieved, though this is certainly sizeable, as realising the potential through opportunities offered by the rise of the social enterprise’ says Steve Porter, from Capable Communities. Social enterprises are

companies that are set apart from other businesses because they have a social or environmental aim, with any profits put back into the business or given directly to the community, rather than going to owners or shareholders. The Harrow event, described as the first indoor London Mela, gives young people a chance to perform alongside pop idols such as Mumzy Stranger and Pop Idol Sham D of Rishi Rich fame and offering older people the chance to hear Shahid Abbas Khan. The Brent event presents the IDMC Gospel Choir. The programme has the support of the Cllr. Navin Shah AM, The I n t e r n a t i o n a l Siddhashram Shakti Centre, and Asian Voice. In keeping with the social enterprise ethos proceeds will be donated to the Pakistan Flood relief appeal.

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Having all the major planets above the horizon 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. In fact, you will be very much in demand socially.

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20

Coming Events l Saturday 27th November, 18:30 onwards: Diwali and New Year Celebration @ Shree Sanatan Mandir, LE4 6FQ. Contact: 0116 2661 402 l Saturday 27th November, 19:30 onwards: Meera Dance drame @ Djanogly dance academy, NG7 7AR. Contact: 07968480796 l Sunday 28th November, 11:00 – 17:00: Hanuman Chalisa Maha Yagya @ Social Club Hall, HA1 3UJ. Contact: 0208 459 5758 l Sunday 28th November, 15:00-18:00: 85th Birthday of Sathya Sai Baba @ Archbishop lanfranc School, CR9 3AS l Sunday 28th November, 15:00 – 17:30: Yoga and Bhajans @ Aadh Shakti Mataji Temple, UB8 2DX. : 253 540

CEO of New India Assurance Company promoted to GM Mr. M. Vasantha Krishna, CEO of the New India Assurance Company in UK has been recently promoted to the cadre of General Manager. His services have been retained in UK and he will continue to head the company's UK operations till the completion of his term.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 It is a particularly favourable time for dealing with financial interests with a long-term basis. You will be able to sort out any difficulties by taking immediate action. There may be a certain amount of unfinished business to be dealt with.Therefor, you need to be flexible in order to accommodate the odd twists and turns of everyday life. GEMINI May 22 - June 22 If lately you have had all sorts of demands being placed on you from all sides, don't despair; take some time out to reflect. Once you know, don't hesitate to implement it systematically. A tremendous amount of planetary activity in your chart signals a time of mixed emotions as well as personal issues to be dealt with.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 All close ties of love and affection will benefit from the gentle influence of Venus. If you have a well-founded relationship, it seems that the pattern of events will somehow draw you closer together emotionally. Cancerians who are not yet wholly decided on what direction to take careerwise, this is a fine time to do some serious thinking. LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 With Venus traversing your sign of desires for some time to come, it will put you in the right mood to indulge your pleasure-loving instincts. Venus, the planet of love and romance throws a pleasing light on affairs of the heart. Existing emotional differences can be easily sorted out now. Your creativity is also riding high. VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 You will have the distinct feeling that everything is moving ahead at a very satisfying pace. You will be in a forward-looking mood, more inclined to reflect on the future and its potentials. The power of destiny is very much in your own hands and that any major decision you make will have a profound effect on your future. LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23 You will make your best progress 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 is bound to enrich your life and give you a deeper sense of purpose. The prevailing pattern of planets gives you a marvellous opportunity - take advantage. SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 The cash situation continues to be rather erratic. However, problems can be avoided if you can curtail extravagant impulses and keep everything well organised. However, there are indications of favourable changes and developments in the areas of career and employment. Keep away from any emotional tensions with your partner.

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21 You will feel energetic and confident as the week begins. New beginnings are favoured around now, as long as you do not bite off more than you can chew. Your thinking is inspired, so listen to your thoughts. This may be a time of expansion and improved opportunity and it would be unwise to let yourself become complacent. CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Sun's transit of your 12th Solar House indicates that experience will put you in a deeply reflective mood. This is a favourable time for getting away from usual routines and seeking a retreat for a few days. All the better if you are interested in such things as meditation, yoga and therapies that help you to get in closer touch with your inner self. 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.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

This is not a time to take undue risks with money yet it is certainly favourable for those who are working towards improving their earning potential. It is not only career and employment that come under this fortunate trend because your creative energies will be very much to the fore, too. Tread carefully where legal matters are concerned.

time

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

C R O S S W O R D - 114 1

34 38

49 51 52 53 54 57 58 59 60

31 33

Across 1 Freezes 10 Crenshaw or casaba 15 1965 hit by the Zombies 16 Where Aesop Shpped? 17 Backing 18 __ Gras 19 Zodiac butter? 20 NASA’s ISS partner 21 Melatonin gland 22 Warriorrs org.

23 25 26 28 29 30 31 33 35 38 42 43

Argue noisily Fleur-de-___ Draw forth Nest-egg initials Writing-on-the-wall word Excavated again Financial specialist Spar alone Pool game Insults wittily WWll milestone Linguistics suffix

SCRAMBLE - 68 How to play

Now arrange the letters in the circles to form the answer to the riddle or to fill in the missing word as indicated

TELCOS HISTFY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

A mind always employed is always happy. This is the true secret, the grand recipe for _____. - Thomas Jefferson (8) Solution of Scramble - 67 Words: Creed, surge, livied, queers.. Answer: The end of labor is to gain Leisure. --Aristotle

WHATZIT? - 114 Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters.

Sollution-113: sign on the dotted line.

12 Marilyn’s blonde part? 13 Confers holy orders upon 14 Carpenter’s tool 21 Second course? 23 Isile of __ 24 Canine warning 27 Undemanding 29 2014 31 Dutch cheeses 32 Seeped 34 Crosswise, nautically 35 Imposing structure 36 Ugandan despot 37 Old-fashioned footwear 39 Comment toa sun worshiper 40 Having buds 41 Dealt with flies 44 Sailor’s jacket 46 Hive product 47 Keno’s cousin 50 Unrespected writer 54 Univ. employees 55 Prov. bordering NY 56 Wish otherwise

Exam cramming Sundial three Annoyed Nashville-based awards org. Six feet of water Curly poker? 911 responder “That is to say...” Retaliation “Odyssey” sorceress Mske slender Exalt tothe heavens Cut

Down

Rearrange the letters in the four word jumbles, one letter to each square/circle, to make four ordinary words BINGE VILES

44 45 46 48

9 10 11

Less flexible Rationally defensible Children’s card game Arafat’s org. for 36 years Wall St. unit Skp out on Tax act lettes 1993 playmate to the Year Boxer or pug First Lady of the ‘50s Alaska’s first governor

Solution of Crossword-113 A

S P

U T

Solution of Spellathon - 113: sign, SIGNIFY, sing

LOOP THE LOOP - 68

MINDBENDER - 114 In a singles tennis tournament, 111 players participated. They used a new ball for each match. When a player lost one match, he was eliminated from the tournament. How many balls did they need ?

Solution of 113 :

Maverick, subtle or bustle, pique, golfer, jink, wrap, brazen, and holiday.

Sudoku-114 2

3 8

Example

7 5

KAKURO - 114

Rules Connect adjacent dots with vertical or horizontal lines, creating a single loop. (Fig A). Crossovers or branches are not allowed 2 2 2 (As shown by dotted lines in Fig B). 1 3 1 0 3 Numbers in the puzzle indicate the 3 2 number of lines that should 3 3 2 surround it, while empty cells may 2 2 1 2 1 be surrounded by any number of 2 lines. You can’t draw lines arround 2 1 zeroes. Each puzzle has just one unique solution. How to begin: Example (Fig A) - Begin with the zero next to 3. Since no lines can be drawn around zero, mark crosses around it, as shown. Now there is a cross in one space around 3. So we know the three lines of 3 can only be drawn in the remaining three spaces. Next these lines can only be extended in one direction each. Continue, using the same Solution of LTL No. 67 logic. x x x Hints: Keep elim3 2 2 2 2 x inating possibilix x x x x ties by marking x x 3 crosses in x x x x spaces between x 1 1 x 2 x 3 x dots where a line x x x isn’t possible, x 2 x 2 x 1 i.e., if you have 2 x 2 x x x x already completx 1 x x x 2 ed required lines 2 x x x or where a line extension may 3 x 1 x2 x0 x 3 x x x x create a branch x x or cause a dead3 3 3 x x x x end (Fig B)

SPELLATHON -114 Today’s Ratings: 09-average | 12-good | 15-outstanding How many words of four or more letters can you make from the letters shown in E today’s puzzle? In making a word, each L D letter may be used once only. Each word must contain the central letter. There M U A should be at least one seven-letter word. Plurals, foreign words and proper L names are not allowed. British English Dictionary is used as reference.

pass

2 3

6 1

The numbers in the pink squares refer to the sums of the digits that you must fill into the empty spaces directly below or to the right of the pink square containing the number. For instance, in the given example, the 2 boxes below 12 must contain 2 digits that add upto 12, whereas for 20, the 3 boxes places horizontally next to it must add upto 20. No zeroes are used here, only the digits one through nine.

Solution of KAKURO - 113

Solution of sudoku-113

Note:

A digit cannot appear more than once in any particular digit combination. For instance in the example, we cannot have the combination of 8+4+8 for 20.

HOW TO PLAY Each row, column and square 3x3 box is a subgrid of 9 cells. Fill in the grid so that each sub-grid contains the digits 1 to 9. Every puzzle has one solution.

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Health Watch

By Kartik S Raval

Red wine holds scope of competing with anti-diabetic drug A small glass of red wine every day can keep adult diabetes under control, latest study by University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Vienna reveals. Also taken up in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Food and Function, the findings state that red wine contains high concentrations of chemicals that help the body regulate levels of sugar in the blood. According to the research just a small glass of red wine contains as many of these active ingredients as a daily dose of an anti-diabetic drug. But, as red wine is high on calories many scientists say it could lead to weight gain and outweigh the benefits of the chemical presence and hence according to Diabetes UK,

the research work is still limited. However, the authors of the research believe moderate drinking as part of a calorie controlled diet could protect

against type-2 diabetes. “Moderate consumption means a small glass each day. The big problem with the research is to convey the right message as one

needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle because too much wine cause diabetes and obesity and hence if you have wine you need to cut the calorie-consumption from food by the same amount”, claims Professor Alois Jungbauer, lecturer for Protein Technology and Downstream and member of editorial boards from numerous journals in the area of Biochemical Engineering. About 2.6million people suffer from type 2 diabetes in Britain. The disease occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin - the hormone that regulates blood sugar - or when its insulin does not work properly. High levels of sugar in the blood can cause tired-

ness, heart disease, strokes, blindness, nerve damage and kidney disease. Past studies have shown that natural chemicals found in grape skin and wine called Polyphenols can help the body control glucose levels, and prevent potentially dangerous spikes or dips in blood sugar. The new study compared the polyphenol content of 12 different wine varieties and the research showed that level in red wine was the highest. The Researchers have even claimed that polyphenols in wine bind to the receptor and that a small glass of wine contains enough to rival the activity of the potent and the most consumed diabetes drug Avandia.

NHS and GP's warn people against winter vomiting bug According to NHS Direct and Health protection Agency, millions of people in the UK will suffer from winter vomiting bug as the official figures are showing a rapid spread of the disease. Termed as Norovirus, the disease causes violent vomiting and diarrhoea which normally resolves over 48 hours but it can be fatal in infants, elderly and people already suffering from sickness. In the first two weeks of November there were 12 outbreaks in hospitals in England and Wales, leading to nine wards being closed for a period of time. Research has shown that around two

million people are likely to fall ill with it this winter and in the last two weeks calls to NHS Direct about vomiting have exceeded the threshold level of 4.8 percent of all calls. Dr. George Summerville, a NorthLondon based GP tells Asian Voice, “The bug is highly contagious and there is hardly a chance to avoid it if one of the family member fall sick through norovirus. Moreover there is no treatment to it except fluids and taking proper rest. People who are unwell should take a lot of drinks to replace lost fluids as in the case of lower immunity level they are more like-

ly to get affected.” NHS has requested that people don’t just go down to their GP surgery, NHS or hospitals as this could spread the illness to vulnerable people and healthcare workers and the outbreak can lead to the closure of wards. Since the summer, when norovirus recording begins, there have been a total of 71 hospital outbreaks leading to 58 ward closures. In the first two weeks of November there have also been 16 outbreaks in nursing homes and GPs are reporting rising cases of the diseases across all age groups. This includes a fifth of children under the age of five.

Drugged drivers beware: Cops now Know A new handheld device called 'Drugalyser' is soon to be distributed across the government bodies and will be used as a weapon to clampdown drug driving. The portable device can detect drug abuse in under two minutes and this means police officers could carry out tests on suspected drug drivers at the roadside. A positive result would mean officers would no longer have to wait for permission from a doctor before a blood test could be taken to be used as evidence in court. The portable handheld device can detect cocaine and heroine from a saliva sample within 90 seconds and other form of drugs within minutes. It is also able to detect drugs in the body at far lower levels than existing testing

devices. The government of UK has since long urged a need of a way that can alter down and further restrict the high level of drug driving across the country. The government also announced plans in August to install a device to catch motorists driving under the influence of drugs at every police station within two years after a survey revealed earlier this year that nine in 10 drivers support a

tougher stance on drug driving. Last year, in a government-sponsored study, 10 per cent of drivers aged 18-29 admitted getting behind the wheel after taking illegal drugs. But, the new system will offer significant operational benefits to police and healthcare professionals as it is also going to be used at hospitals and doctor's surgeries to detect patients with substance abuse problems.

Last winter norovirus cases rose sharply in the New Year and peaked in February before falling away in April. Norovirus is one of the reasons why the NHS is busier and under greater pressure during the winter months as more elderly people are admitted from nursing and residential homes with complications caused by the disease, outbreaks occur in hospitals among patients being treated for other reasons leading to ward closures and medical staff are likely to fall sick with it too. Hence, it is highly advisable to keep yourself and your family members well hydrated.

Liver at threat from crash, now safe and transplanted A private jet carrying the donor organ crashed and caught fire on the runway of Birmingham airport. The crash seemed fatal and the liver transplant surgery seemed to be in jeopardy but both pilot and the donor organ were rescued and the operation went ahead successfully at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. The pilot was seriously injured and trapped in the wreckage but was saved by an air ambulance pilot arriving on the scene who climbed into the burning fuselage to cut the engine’s fuel supply. No damage was done to the donor liver and the operation was the sixth successful liver transplant performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital within five days.

Ignorance can pave way to yet another flu outbreak It was not too long before when swine flu took about 10,000 lives in its grasp. But still this year people have been highly ignorant in taking influenza vaccine. It is linked to a much milder weather making people not think about possible development of the flu and also due to ongoing misconceptions over the swine flu vaccine. But the government has urged that people should get their vaccine or else they will remain vulnerable to flu this winter. It is essential that the effects of the virus is not underestimated. At the end of October, 48 per cent of people over the age of 65 had so far accepted the jab against 54 per cent at the same point last year. Whereas only 26 per cent of people under the age of 65 have accepted it against 31 per cent last year. Only one in ten frontline healthcare staff who have been offered the jab have had it, the figures show. For the first time

pregnant women are being offered the seasonal flu vaccine because the H1N1 swine flu virus struck this group particularly hard during the pandemic and is expected to be the dominant form of flu around this

winter also. It is even more essential to take the vaccine as there is more than one virus around and the vaccine can protect you from about all the common one's and swine flu in particular as according to World Health Organisation, it will be the most common this year. Around 15 million doses of seasonal flu vaccine are available for use in the UK, which must be administered every year as it is altered to match the flu strains in circulation.

Now call centres to book your GP's appointment According to a report released by the department of Health, GP's support team should be streamlined to help in cost-cutting, which most definitely seems to be the Government's only priority. By this plan patients will be forced to make doctor's appointments through remote call centres. NHS claim to spend about £2.8 billion each year on back-office functions and if the new method is implied then about £ 600 million can be saved from the very first year. The plan includes centralising appointment bookings through a national call centre and clearing thousands of GP's support staff. It also states that all NHS body needs to simplify, standardise and share medical support to save money. However, Doctors are ridiculed by this method of streamlining back office functions and have hit back at the Health Department say-

ing the call centres cannot provide them with the adequate and appropriate assistance. They have also raised concerns as these call centre executives would not be able to give the personal service that patients need. According to doctors and surgery staff the proposal is flawed and is totally hilarious.

Unison, the public sector trade union has also given its support to the doctor as it believes this is not the right way of saving money and cost-cutting. In the field of healthcare, if there is a lack of attention or care it can have fatal outcomes and hence it has become yet another controversial implication of cuts, raising doubts on importance laid by the government on health and well-being.

Sport worLd

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

OZ prefer Doherty for Hauritz against England Australian selectors have picked up Xavier Doherty, a rookie spinner in place of experienced Nathan Hauritz to play the first of the five test Ashes clash starting on Thursday at Brisbane. Doherty, the left-arm orthodox from Tasmania, is a surprise inclusion after a bright start to the summer and the selectors hope he will be a threat for the right-handers in England's order. Michael Hussey was

Xavier Doherty

selected after his century for Western Australia on Friday while Marcus North, the other underpressure batsman, was also included. Four men were cut from the inflated 17-man unit chosen earlier. Hauritz struggled during the two Tests in India last month and has been under-bowled since returning home.

Doug Bollinger returns to the squad after recovering from the stomach injury that ruled him out of the second Test in India last month. Australia team: Simon Katich, Shane Watson, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Xavier Doherty, Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Doug Bollinger.

Delhi’s Kotla will now stage World Cup cricket matches ICC lifts one year ban after SL ODI fiasco over ‘dangerous pitch’ Ferozeshah Kotla, the renovated cricket stadium at New Delhi is finally back into the international circuit. ICC announced lifting of the one year ban slapped on the Kotla pitch after the One day international against Sri Lanka was abandoned in December last year as the pitch was termed as ‘dangerous’ following com-

plains by the visitors. Based on a detailed report from their pitch consultant Andy Atkinson, who spent the last week carefully monitoring a first-class game between Delhi and Gujarat, ICC announced the decision on Monday. The re-certification now clears the way for Kotla to host all four scheduled

World Cup 2011 matches. “Yes, the DDCA has been informed verbally by the BCCI that ICC has lifted the ban on Ferozeshah Kotla stadium. We will be getting the written report tomorrow,” DDCA secretary Sneh Bansal said. “The ICC has studied Atkinson’s report and are very happy with the new pitch and the facilities pro-

vided. They have told us about a few shortcomings, especially with the sightscreens. We will take care of that as well,” he added. Sundaram, the chairman of BCCI pitches committee, who supervised the entire reworking of the Kotla pitch over the last 12 months was happy with the final outcome.

Dhoni, Sachin, Sehwag, Bhajji rested for two ODIs Gautam Gambhir to lead against New Zealand

After skipper M S Dhoni asked for rest, the BCCI selectors responded positively, leaving the skipper as well as Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Harbhajan Singh from the team for the first two ODIs against New Zealand. The first one is to be played at Guwahati on 28th, while the second will be played at Jaipur on 1st December. Gautam Gambhir has

been named as captain to lead the side. Wriddhiman Saha will make his ODI debut. Yusuf Pathan makes a comeback for the two ODIs. 2 ODI team: Gautam Gambhir (capt), M Vijay, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Saurabh Tiwary, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, Yusuf Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja.

Jaidev Unadkat in team for SA test series For the Indian tour of South Africa, starting in the second half of December, selectors have opted to rope in Umesh Yadav and Jaidev Unadkat, seamers and Wriddhiman Saha as the second wicket keeper for the three tests. First test begins on December 16 in Centurion. Zaheer Khan makes a return to the squad after being ruled out

of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand because of a groin strain. Squad for South Africa Tests: MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav, Jaidev Unadkat, Pragyan Ojha.

Sri Lanka manage to draw Galle test West Indies enforce follow-on, SL resist Poor fielding and overall, a lack luster show after lunch on the final day saw Sri Lanka take the first test match at Galle to a draw. West Indies picked up two wickets early in the second session, but later they let off the home team easily and settled for a no result contest on Saturday. Rain cloud further helped Sri Lanka to safety. The debutant seamer Andre Russell lacked the fire and intensity to cause any concern after lunch as the well-set pair of Tharanga Paranavitana and Mahela Jayawardene negotiated the early overs of the afternoon with relative ease in comparison to the discomfort caused by Kemar Roach in the morning. While Russell maintained a consistent line and length, he lacked the pace and movement to pose a threat, and even the return of Roach could not make an impact. Shane Shillingford too, was handled confidently in the afternoon, despite the offspinner's dismissal of Paranavitana for 95, midway through the session. Darren Sammy, who had dropped Paranavitana

Darren Sammy catches Tharanga Paranavitana at Galle on November 19

off the same bowler earlier on, held on to this one at slip, after the batsman had looked edgy in the 90s. Mahela progressed to his second half-century of the match with a straight six off part-timer Brendan Nash, but fell to him two overs later, tamely chipping back to the bowler when he had looked good for a long innings. It was not always such smooth sailing for Sri Lanka on the final day, though. An electric spell

from Roach in the morning had blasted out Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara. Roach sizzled through that opening burst, hurling down two hostile maidens to Paranavitana before sending Dilshan's off stump cartwheeling with a fiery yorker. Sangakkara fell in Roach's next over, edging outside the off stump, to leave Sri Lanka tottering at 110 for two before Paranavitana and Mahela combined to claw and

scrap their way to lunch. The pair survived a tense spell from Shillingford, whose fizzing, biting deliveries did everything but make the crucial breakthrough for the visitors, and took control of the situation after the lunch break. Despite the stalemate, West Indies had positives to take into the second Test following their impressive work in the first innings. Sri Lanka's second-innings batting and Ajantha Mendis' spell on the second day was the silver lining in what was otherwise a bleak Test for them. West Indies' strong show completed the week of the underdog in world cricket as they came away with laudable draws against more fancied opponents, just as New Zealand and Pakistan did against India and South Africa respectively. {Brief scores: WI 580 for 9 dec (Gayle 333, Mendis 6-169) drew with SL 378 (Sangakkara 73, Mahela 59, Shillingford 4123) and 241 for 4 (Paranavitana 95, Mahela 58)}.

Venky’s takeover of Blackburn Rovers complete Ewood Park may be rechristened, indicates Anuradha Desai

Poultry giant from India, Venky’s completed the takeover of English Premier League football club Blackburn Rovers last week. Venky’s have become first Indian corporate to own an EPL club. Further, there are indications that Ewood Park, the stadium may also be renamed like Arsenal have their stadium name changed to Emirates, after their main sponsors. The new owners also intend to organise exhibition matches in India and have an Indian footballer playing in the team to strengthen the links with the country’s market. “Arsenal named their stadium ‘The Emirates’ after their main sponsors. Our stadium could be called the Venky's Stadium or could adopt the name of another sponsor,” Venky’s chairperson Anuradha Desai was quoted as saying by the Indian Express newspaper. “We are also looking to start workshops where we fly down coaches of the Blackburn academy and arrange training sessions for kids in India,” Desai told another Indian newspaper. Venky’s acquired 99.9 per cent of the club in a deal with the trust set up by former owner Jack Walker to own the club, paying £23 million and taking on a debt of £20 million.

Indian origin lawyer to defend Salman Butt in UK spot fixing case Barrister Yasin Patel, a lawyer of Indian origin and specialising in human rights, money laundering and sports related matters will defend Salman Butt, one of the tainted Pakistani trio of cricketers in the spot fixing case in UK. The Pakistani lawyer for Salman Butt, Aftab Gul confirmed that Barrister Yasin Patel would be representing the player in all matters. He said if need arose Patel could also represent Butt at the full hearing of the International Cricket Council code of conduct commission in Doha in January. "At present the plan is that myself and Khalid Ranjha will represent the player at the ICC hearing but if we feel the need Patel can also be part of the hearing," Gul said. Patel with a Gujarati background has been involved in some high profile criminal and human right cases in the UK. Interestingly, Gul a former Test player had earlier announced he would no longer be representing Butt in the spot-fixing case as he accused the ICC of injustice and of having already decided to ban the players.

China Asiad Medals Tally (After 11 days) Country China South Korea Japan Chinese Taipei Iran Hong Kong Kazakhstan India Thailand Malaysia Pakistan Bangladesh

G 165 64 34 12 12 8 7 7 7 6 1 0

S 85 55 64 11 9 14 14 12 7 13 2 1

B 79 74 68 29 15 14 26 20 26 8 1 0

Total 329 193 166 52 36 36 47 39 40 27 4 1

EPL matches this week Saturday, 27 November Aston Villa v/s Arsenal Villa Park Bolton v/s Blackpool Reebok Stadium Everton v/s West Brom Goodison Park Fulham v/s Birmingham Craven Cottage Man Utd v/s Blackburn Old Trafford Stoke v/s Man City Britannia Stadium West Ham v/s Wigan Boleyn Ground Wolverhampton v/s Sunderland Molineux Sunday, 28 November Newcastle v/s Chelsea St. James Park Tottenham v/s Liverpool White Hart Lane

12:45 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 15:00 13:30 16:00

Asian Voice - Saturday 27th November 2010

Somdev bags historic Asiad gold in tennis India ranks eighth in the medals tally, hockey hopes dashed

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could either have pitched within the stumps or hit the stumps. As the replays showed, it was hitting the stumps all right, but after having pitched outside leg. Tim Southee swung the bat a little bit, hitting three sixes, but he only delayed the inevitable. India have not lost any of their last nine series. {Brief scores: India 566 for 8 dec. (Dravid 191, Dhoni 98, Gambhir 78, Sehwag 74) beat NZ 193 (Ryder 59, Ishant 443, Ojha 3-57) and 175 (Ishant 3-15, Harbhajan 3-56) by an innings and 198 runs}.

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can attack too. He started by outsmarting Brendon McCullum, who tried the old bullying tactic of hitting early boundaries and trying to get the fielders out of his face. Ojha kept pitching the ball up, flighting it, giving it the best chance to turn and bounce. McCullum played back, and Ojha did the thing to do on a turner, slip in the straighter one. Dead plumb. However, because the pitch was offering so much turn, the decision to give Martin Guptill lbw was ordinary. Being Ojha's regulation offbreak, it

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Indian cricket team poses with a trophy at Nagpur on Tuesday

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throw and heptathlon respectively to save India from ending the third day in track and field competitions without a medal in the Asian Games here on Tuesday. Indian had begun their

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Finally, the man in charge – Nagpur groundsman delivered. With the wicket helping, India dominated the New Zealand reponse to a huge first innings deficit. The bowlers made the most of the offer and helped India score a huge victory against the black caps with more than a day and half on Tuesday. For the home team, though, Sachin Tendulkar could not reach his unique landmark, of scoring the 50th test century, while Harbhajan Singh emerged as the new Indian hero with the bat, helping the team avoid defeats in both the previous tests. On the final day, Indian bowlers were all over the New Zealand batsmen, who were surrounded by all kinds of close-in fieldsmen. The umpires felt the heat too, which is expected with the ball dancing and a gang of fielders around the bat. As the three spinners shared the wickets with Ishant Sharma, this was also India’s third-biggest victory. Pragyan Ojha showed at Nagpur on Tuesday he

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Three match test series under the belt 1 - 0

got the better of Korea in penalty shoot-out after both sides were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation as well as extra time. Krishna Poonia and G G Pramila won a bronze each in women's discus

India beat NZ at Nagpur

track and field campaign in spectacular fashion winning two gold and a silver on Sunday. With Tuesday's bronze medals, the Indian athletes have so far won two gold, a silver and two bronze. India rounded off its tennis campaign with five medals, two more than what the country had got at the Doha Asian Games in 2006. At Doha, Leander Paes had won two gold medals - in men's doubles with Mahesh Bhupathi and in mixed doubles with Sania Mirza. While 11 countries, including Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives have yet to find a place in the medals tally, Pakistan and Bangladesh stood at no. 21 and 31 respectively.

Somdev Devvarman with his gold medal at Guangzhou on Tuesday

Somdev Devvarman (L) and Sanam Krishan Singh with their gold medal at Guangzhou on Monday

Somdev won the men’s singles gold on Tuesday, beating top seed and world number 44 Denis Istomin 6-1 6-2 in the lop-sided summit clash here. It is for the first time that any Indian played in the battle for gold in Asiad tennis. In the hockey game, India came for the match unbeaten, but poor show ended the regulation time at level 3-3, while the 15th ranked rival banged the board for the golden goal. Penalty corner conversion turned out to be the difference between the two sides as Malaysia converted three out of the four short corners they earned in the match, while the Indians could utilise only two out of four. In the first semifinal earlier in the day, Pakistan

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bronze with South Korea, while Malaysia and Pakistan will battle for the gold and silver. Earlier, Sania Mirza too won bronze in women’s singles and silver in mixed doubles. India were at the 8th spot in the medals tally.

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While Somdev Devvraman and his partner Sanam Singh bagged two golds for India in tennis, hopes for a hockey gold were dashed were Malaysia on Tuesday after the underdogs beat India 4-3. India will now have to play for a