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28 SEPT - 4 OCT 2019 - VOL 48 ISSUE 22

HOW(DY) MODI

HAILS TRUMP 2.0

inside: Valerie Vaz becomes an advisor to the Queen SEE PAGE 2

FICCI exchanges MoU with DIT to facilitate 'techXchange' between UK and India SEE PAGE 5

Indian-origin Miller proves Boris' advice to Queen unlawful FULL STORY ON PAGE 2 The world was watching as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, standing on Texan soil, shared the stage with US President Donald Trump at 'Howdy Modi!' which attracted over 50,000 Indian-Americans at NRG Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in Houston.

FULL STORY ON PAGE 26

'Campaigner of the Year' Gina Miller receiving her Asian Voice Political and Public Life Award from Chief Guest Eleanor Laing MP and CB Patel, Publisher/Editor, Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar in 2017

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28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

onetoone WITH KEITH VAZ, MP

Dr Katy P. Sian Dr Katy Sian is a Lecturer in Sociology at the University of York. She completed her PhD in 2009 at the University of Leeds, School of Sociology and Social Policy. Katy has held visiting research posts at the University of California Humanities Research Institute, USA, and the Centre for Studies in Religion and Society, University of Victoria, Canada. Katy is the author of: Navigating Institutional Racism in British Universities (2019), Conversations in Postcolonial Thought (2014), Unsettling Sikh and Muslim Conflict (2013), and co-author of, Racism, Governance, and Public Policy (2013). Her research interests include, postcolonial studies; critical race theory; Sikh studies; Islamophobia and the war on terror; and religion, migration and identity. She serves on the steering committee for Northern Police Monitoring Project, a grassroots organisation working with local communities facing police brutality and racism. Katy is a dedicated anti-racist campaigner and also serves as Women's Officer for momentum Leeds.

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Which place, or city or country do you most feel at home in?

My parents are both Sikh and migrated from East Africa to Britain, settling in Leeds where my siblings and I were born.

Leeds has always been the place that I consider home. I pursued all my higher education at the University of Leeds; it is a

invited to present the findings in Parliament to Labour MPs who were very supportive of the research. This was a high point of my career.

also enjoy working collaboratively with third sector organizations, this allows me to take my research beyond the confinements of academia.

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7

What inspires you?

And the worst?

I am always inspired by those involved in the anti-racist movement both past and present, and local and global, fighting for social justice and a more equal and fair society for all. The collective vision for a better world,and a future free from hate and discrimination is energising.

The nature of the work that I do centres upon challenging racism and discrimination, and this in itself can bring about many different responses in people, both positive and negative. The worst aspect of my role is therefore often being subjected to online hate and harassment, it can be exhausting!

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8

What has been biggest obstacle in your career?

The biggest obstacle in my career has been working in a sector whereby people of colour are grossly under-represented. Less than 1 per cent of professors in this country are black, as such there remains widespread forms of institutional racism across universities. It is disappointing that in 2019 these barriers persist.

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vibrant and diverse city.

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

My work is informed by many different scholarly and activist traditions, therefore the works of civil rights leaders such as Malcolm X, anti-colonial scholars like Frantz Fanon, black feminists such as Angela Davis, and postcolonial writers including Edward Said have all been greatly influential to my work and thinking.

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What are your proudest achievements?

The publication of my book, Navigating Institutional Racism in British Universities is one of my proudest achievements.

Following the release of the book, I was

What is the best aspect about your current role?

The best aspect of my role is researching areas that I am passionate about, and teaching students to think critically and creatively about social issues. As a scholar-activist I

What are your long term goals?

My longer-term goals would be to continue to develop my critical, anti-racist scholarship and voice. I hope that my work will continue to resonate with marginalized people and make a difference.

9

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

I would change the curriculum in schools and universities to ensure that they represent black history and the contribution of BAME people to the history, present and future of Britain. There continues to be misunderstanding around these issues, which I think can be corrected via more diverse and inclusive teaching.

10

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

This is really difficult, but I would probably have to say anti-colonial revolutionary Bhagat Singh. I would be particularly interested in talking politics with him, and reflecting on his remarkable, brave, and fearless journey.

Indian-origin Miller proves Boris' advice Valerie Vaz becomes an to Queen unlawful advisor to the Queen On Tuesday as we went to press, a panel of 11 justices in Supreme Court declared that Boris Johnson’s advice to the Queen that Parliament should be prorogued for five weeks at the height of the Brexit crisis was unlawful.

It was a major victory for the Indian-origin entrepreneur and campaigner Gina Miller, who had brought this legal challenge over Boris Johnson's decision to suspend the Parliament.

The ruling that was read out by Baroness Brenda Hale of Richmond DBE overturns the decision by three of the most senior judges in England and Wales, including the Lord Chief Justice, who earlier this month found that they

did not have legal authority to intervene into government's decision. This was challenged by Miller in Supreme Court - the appeal hearing was held from 17-19 September and the judgement was read out on 24 September. Neither of the two main lawyers who represented the government, Lord Keen QC and Sir James Eadie QC, were in the court to hear the news of their crushing defeat.

Born as Gina Nadira Singh in British Guyana to Savitri and Doodnauth Singh, who later became Attorney General of Guyana, Miller grew up in the newly independent Guyana before being sent to England by her parents at the age of 10 to be educated at Moira House Girls School

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and Roedean School.

Speaking to Asian Voice in an exclusive interview in 2017, she told us that though her family had roots in Punjab, all that theycould actually gather over the years - was that her grandfather (mother's father) was Sikh, who told them stories of travelling to Guyana from India on a boat.

She received the Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards in 2017 as the 'Campaigner of the Year’.

Miller rose to prominence when she had challenged the UK government in 2016 over its authority to trigger Article 50- the formal notification to withdraw from EU, without Parliamentary approval. With the Supreme Court's ruling in her favour in January 2017, she became a centre of hate for many Brexiteers.

Speaking to reporters outside of the court in Westminster on Tuesday, Miller, clad in a blue jacket, said this ruling has proved that the Prime minister was not above the law.

"Today is not a win for any individual or cause, it's a win for parliamentary sovereignty, the separation of powers and the independence of our British courts," she said.

"Crucially, today's ruling confirms that we are a nation governed by the rule of law- laws that everyone, even the prime minister, is

not above.

"Do not let the government play down the seriousness of the judgment today.

"A unanimous judgment, they have spoken unequivocally.

"And when I say to the Prime Minister is to repeat Lady Hale's words: the order was a blank piece of paper. Parliament was not prorogued.

"MPs should turn up for work tomorrow and get on with scrutinising this government.

"We have had twice in three years to come to the Supreme Court, to ensure that the government does not put itself above the law.

The ruling today speaks volumes.

"This Prime Minister must open the doors of parliament tomorrow.

"MPs must get back and be brave and bold in holding this unscrupulous government to account."

Responding to the judgment, the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, said he would recall Parliament on Wednesday at 11.30 am for urgent questions to ministers.

To read our 2017 exclusive interview with Gina Miller see https://www.asianvoice.com/News/UK/Noteverything-is-fair-aboutBritain-Miller

A Labour MP has recently been appointed to the Privy Council. Valerie Vaz who was first elected as the Labour MP for Walsall South in 2010 is one of the three members to serve the council as announced by Downing Street.

As part of the council she will now advise the queen on the issuance of royal charters, the exercises of Royal Prerogative and can also draft acts of Parliament.

"In relation to prorogation, it is the Government of the day, The Prime Minister who advises the Queen who issues a proclamation.

There was no role for HM Opposition in this matter.

The Judgment from the Supreme Court is expected early next week and I look forward to hearing the views

Valerie Vaz

of the Court," she said.

The Council presently has 700 members and includes former Prime Minister David Cameron, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan among others.

Two other appointees include Solicitor General Michael Ellis MP and Alec Shelbrooke MP, who are both Conservatives.

Driver denies killing 64-year-old woman A man accused of killing a woman in Coventry by dangerous driving has denied the offence.

Prakash Kaur was in collision with a blue Subaru car near to the community centre on the afternoon of December 14, 2018 and was pronounced dead shortly after the collision.

Police have now charged Florin Firulescu 50, entered his not guilty plea at Warwick Crown Court on

Prakash Kaur

Friday (September 20).

A judge stated that his trial will take place in May next year.

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28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

Kashmir Fact File Reporters, particularly foreign reporters, covering the current Kashmir crisis take as their starting point a nebulous reference to British India’s partition in August 1947 into the States of India and Pakistan and the apparently mysterious emergence of a viral dispute on Kashmir between them. It simply happened, they say. If, in the telling of World War II, no mention was made of the events that led to the conflagration, such as the Munich settlement of September 1938 between Nazi Germany, Britain and France, followed subsequently by the invasion of Czechoslovakia and the occupation of Prague by Hitler’s legions. Then came the Nazi assault on Poland, all these developments analysed in depth by historians, and rightly so. The background to present-day Kashmir requires, surely, similar exposure.

Let us begin with its genesis i.e. the Partition story. It took place on the canvas of what was directly-ruled territory of British India from Whitehall and New Delhi. The Princely States of the Subcontinent were governed by local potentates, with a government agent from Delhi keeping a watchful eye on peace and stability. At Partition the rulers of these Princely States were given the freedom to choose between union with India or Pakistan, the preferred option usually determined by the religion of the ruler and that of that of the bulk of his subjects. The State of Jammu and Kashmir [a single constitutional entity] proved an exception to this paradigm. The people of Jammu were mainly Hindu. The ruler of Jammu and Kashmir was Hari Singh, was a Dogra Hindu, while the Kashmir Valley was populated by a Muslim majority and a Hindu minority called Pandits, whose ancestral homeland the valley also happened to be. High up in the Himalayan uplands was thinly populated Buddhist Ladakh, conjoined for administrative convenience to the Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir.

Maharaja Hari Singh was uncertain as to his choice: India or Pakistan? The Governments of India and Pakistan came to a ‘Standstill Agreement’ to give him time to make up his mind. V.P. Menon, Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s principal aide, in his magisterial work, The Integration of the Princely States (p 413) wrote that India ‘had no territorial ambitions in Kashmir...I can say in the face of any contradiction that the Government of India would have left Kashmir alone.’

It was the first of a litany of misjudgements that have plagued Pakistan down the years, when , Led by Mohammed Ali Jinnah, the Government of Pakistan decided on force majeure, dispatching into the valley

in October 1947 a horde of inflamed Pathan tribesmen, who murdered, raped and looted their way to the outskirts of the capital, Srinagar, where they were resisted by the first contingent of the Indian Army [See Lt General L.P. Sen, Slender was the Thread], following Hari Singh’s hurried signature accepting Kashmir’s accession to the Union of India.

It became a different ball game thereafter. A military conflict had been thrust upon India by Jinnah, Pakistan’s founder, in a bid to humiliate despised ‘Hindu’ India. A reflective V.P. Menon was to write later: ‘When I recommended to the Government of India the acceptance of the accession of the Maharaja of Kashmir, I had in mind one consideration and one consideration alone, viz, that the invasion of Kashmir by the raiders was a grave threat to the integrity of India. Ever since the time of Mahmud Ghaznavi, that is to say, for nearly eight centuries...India has been subjected to periodic invasions from the north-west...And within less than ten weeks of the establishment of the State of Pakistan, its very first act was to let loose a tribal invasion through the north- west. Srinagar today, Delhi tomorrow. A nation that forgets its geography and history does so at its peril.’

Kashmir’s Hurriyat leaders, in the late 1980s, acquiesced in the ethnic cleansing of its Hindu Pandit population from the valley, aided and abetted by terrorist groups from across the border in Pakistan. The Pandits fled their ancestral homeland as internally displaced refugees in parts of India. The calculation, wrote a reporter of the Financial Times in London, being that if the Soviet Superpower could collapse, so could Third World India. Glib references are routinely made to UN resolutions calling for a plebiscite in the State, but the devil in the detail is as routinely ignored. The UN instructed Pakistan withdraw its forces from those parts of Kashmir under its occupation, which it ritually refused to do.

Sir Owen Dixon, a former Chief Justice of Australia’s highest court, was appointed UN mediator on Kashmir. He failed to provide a solution acceptable to both parties, but his report specifically branded Pakistan as the aggressor.

India has been subjected to numerous terrorist attacks from Pakistan most notably on Mumbai in November 2008, in which 167 innocent people were killed. The export of terrorism as an instrument of statecraft is novel but has recoiled on the progenitor. The wars of 1965, 1971, plus the Kargil conflict of 1999 failed to deliver the prize viz Kashmir. They simply quickened the pace of India’s transformation from soft to hard state.

Amit Shah back tracks – wisely Home Minister Amit Shah, having set the cat among the pigeons, with his peremptory demand that the Hindi language be adopted as the guarantor of Indian ‘identity’ and ‘unity, ’ was visibly shaken by uproar that followed in India’s South, and the unease in Bengal and elsewhere. Mr Shah’s retraction was accompanied by the bland excuse that he had been misquoted by the media and by political opponents – the familiar ploy of politicians in distress. Mr Shah said lamely that he had merely suggested non-Hindi speakers learn Hindi as a second language, with no question of any imposition, and hence wondered what the fuss was all about.

The Government of India in 1950 declared that English would remain India’s lingua franca for the next 15 years, after which Hindi would take over.

Came 1965, there were riots in the South, especially fierce in Tamil Nadu, and strident calls for secession from the Indian Union. Passions cooled when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in 1967, came up with an acceptable three-language formula: English, Hindi and the local State language to coexist in the national interest. Mr Shah erred egregiously with his ill advised intervention.

India’s Hindi belt may have the numbers but it remains economically, socially and culturally the country most backward region. India’s strength is

its et hnic and linguistic diversity. An orchestra provides music as enchanting as solo performers.

India must play to its unique strengths, not succumb to beguiling siren calls to disaster.

The BJP lists Swami Vivekenanda as a national icon. Well, when asked by a youth how he could be a good Hindu, the Swami replied, by first learning mathematics and English! Vivekenanda was fulsome in his praise of the British for demonstrating to the world the workings of freedom under the law. Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, famed composer of Bande Mataram advocated the retention of English in parallel to the mother tongue. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, founder of the Jan Sangh, parent of the BJP, was India’s greatest parliamentarian, a master of the intricacies of Parliamentary procedure, spoke impeccable English in the chamber but addressed audiences in his native Bengal in chaste Bangla (Bengali).

Railways Minister Piyus Goyal struck an appropriate note, pointing to the need to think and act with a global vision. Cricket, hockey, soccer, tennis, badminton are British in origin, the Indian press, the first in Asia, noted Karl Marx, the Indian Constitution and the Indian military have a British parentage, do they not? Let common se nse prevail over absurdist bigotry.

When a finger points at the moon, the fool looks at the finger - Chinese proverb

Modi Magic takes over the Great White North Prime Minister Narendra Modi stirred quite the hornet's nest with his visit to the United States.

However, I wouldn't say it's unprecedented. With NaMo, he creates his own protocol and he makes his own mark. The leader addressed over 50,000 Indian-Americans in a rousing event that was livetelecast across the globe. As 'Howdy Modi' began at 2 PM on a Sunday, my tiny apartment hosted approximately seven guests- four Indian-Canadians, a Chinese-Canadian, and two French nationals, all nestled together with food and drinks to watch Modi in his glory. The PM's address was our personal little Super Bowl.

'Howdy Modi' was rife with political significance, and US President was quite unrestricted with his affection for man of the hour. Both leaders walked hand in hand (Move over Putin, there's a new BFF in town) and in their speeches showered the other with word dripping with camaraderie and mutual respect. Setting aside the powerful words spoken by Modi, the whole air of the event seemed like a scorching slap in Pakistan's face.

In his speech, Modi bid farewell to a number of things, and spoke about the rise of a New India. He talked about bidding farewell to the controversial Article 370, and he dropped the gauntlet on Islamabad as Trump looked on with a smile. NaMo has had enough. He is not playing games anymore.

He needs action and he needs it now.

During a cab ride to the doctor's on Monday, I have the luxury of knowing a Sri Lankan driver. An uninitiated talk on Modi, his work as prime minister and his speech in Houston, by a non-Indian was hint to just how impacting Modi's foreign visits can be. When Modi speaks, the world listens, and listen they did. The New York Times posted an article by Roger Cohen. Titled 'Don't Mess With Modi in Texas', the piece was a sharp-worded summary of the event and from what I read, the writer is an admirer of the Indian Prime Minister.

He concludes his column by writing, "Modi will not turn back from his elimination of Kashmir’s autonomy. That phase of Indian history is over.

Trump and Modi are both forceful, media-savvy politicians. But they are not alike. Modi, a self-made man from a poor family, is measured, ascetic, not driven by impulse. Trump was born on third base.

He’s erratic, guided by the devouring needs of his ego. I’d bet on Modi to transform India, all of it, including the newly integrated Kashmir region."

The focus was not only on Modi. The customarily bigoted US President spoke highly of IndianAmericans. 'Howdy Modi' was a display of the political power of the Indian diaspora. Prejudiced presidents will come and go, but the Indian community is here to stay and despite best efforts, growing by the day. Indians re-elected Modi in the general elections this year, and Indian-Americans have always been front about maintaining his image on global stage. It was their attention and support that Trump calculated worth relying upon. The US Prez knows for a fact that the communities influential votes are instrumental in the upcoming 2020 elections.

'Howdy Modi' also faced many protests, almost all of which failed to grab media attention.

Thousands of protesters gathered outside the stadium. They included anti-Hindu-nationalism demonstrators, Kashmiri Muslims, Sikhs for Khalistan, anti-Trump activists, and members of Black Lives Matter. A white care had the words RSS and Hitler written on one side and "Modi is Terrorist Fascist Killer" covering another. Modi effigies raised their heads amidst the crowds as they cried "AZADI".

Meanwhile, thousands of Indian-Americans gave a deafening welcome to the Indian leader as he arrived hand in hand with the President of the United States.

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

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The heart of London witnessed a mesmerising set of evenings during past weekend. Dr Kumar Vishwas, a recognised poet and prominent speaker from India was here to present a two day session about life management lessons from the life of Lord Ram, titled as 'Apne-Apne Ram'.

The two day session which ran for approximately three hours each day of Sept 21st and 22nd, captured the attention of invited guest audiences to its fullest.

Starting from the note that the God visits the earth in a human body so as to teach the mankind about how to live a better life, Dr Kumar Vishwas talked about how the story of Lord Ram teaches us how to fight stress, how to face failures, how to succeed in life and how to manage a high-value life. Not only this, he also talked about how the story of Lord Ram connects to Common man, Corporate and even the Government as well as Governance. Dr Vishwas quoted several couplets from Valmiki Ramayana in Sanskrit and Ram Charit Manas in Avadhi. He also quoted sev-

'Apne Apne Ram'

Dr Kumar Vishwas addressing the invited guests

Anil Aggarwal of Vedanta Resources Ltd addressing the audience

eral poets and writers during his address. The talk session was organised by prominent businessman Anil Aggarwal of Vedanta Resources Ltd. and managed by Siya Events

Global Ltd. The session filled with spirituality, motivation and occasional humor was backed with live music from band Poetica coming from

India and was anchored by a prominent Television anchor from India, Richa Aniruddha.

Audiences included several prominent persons of Indian origin from business, media, politics, spirituality and other areas. Invited guests of Anil Aggarwal included audience from UK, Europe, India, UAE, Russia and Thailand.

The audience were encouraged to submit their queries from any part of the story of Lord Ram. Several audience asked questions and Dr Kumar Vishwas addressed a few of them.

The audience also expressed their views about the session. They said that it was first time in their lives that they could relate their own lives with that of Lord Ram. An attendee who travelled all the way from Thailand to London to attend this session told that he could never imagine that a two-day talk session could give so much enlightenment to his consious. A close associate of Anil Aggarwal added that Anil Ji is an ardent fan of Dr Kumar Vishwas and he was very enthusiastic about the session for past three months.

Stabbing of shopkeeper in Pinner part of 'one man crimewave', murder trial told A shopkeeper whose killing was captured on his own store's CCTV was stabbed to death during a "oneman crimewave", a court has heard.

Alex Gunn, 31, is accused of the murder of 54-year-old Ravi Katharkamar (pictured) at Marsh Food and Wine in Pinner.

Jurors at the Old Bailey were shown five video clips of the attack, which happened on March 24 shortly after Mr Katharkamar, who lived in Watford, had opened the shop for the day just before 6am.

In the footage a figure, said to be Gunn, approaches Mr Katharkamar in the back of the shop before drawing a knife and holding it against his throat.

The pair can be seen grappling around the shop before Mr Katharkamar is stabbed in the chest and collapses close to the entrance.

Prosecutor William Jones told the court Gunn was "sufficiently savvy" to cover himself with a balaclava and gloves, but told jurors his build, movements and other CCTV footage helped

Alex Gunn

prove he was the killer.

Mr Katharkamar was discovered by a jogger who saw the 54-year-old on the floor and called the emergency services, who declared him dead at the scene at 6.45am.

The court heard the killing was part of a series of crimes committed to fund Gunn's drug habit, which also involved four burglaries and three thefts.

After the clip was shown to the jurors, Mr Jones said: "There was the moment he was stabbed and killed for the contents of his till.

There is an awful escalation of the violence.

"There was no waving the knife and saying 'give us your money', from the word

go the violence inflicted on Mr Katharkamar is at the utmost level. Ultimately, to get away with the till, the defendant stabbed and killed that shopkeeper."

The masked assailant can be seen running from the shop carrying the stolen till and getting into a black Vauxhall Astra, which Mr Jones said had been stolen

by Gunn on March 13 from a house in Wembley.

Jurors were told that after stealing the car, Gunn was caught on several automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras driving to Marsh Food and Wine, arriving at 6.10am where he was caught on CCTV. The court heard that Gunn, of Pinner Grove, Pinner, visited Marsh Food and Wine twice in the stolen car before the fatal robbery, including one visit a week before "almost to the minute", Mr Jones said.

Gunn was driving the car when he was arrested five days later, with the prosecution claiming the 31year-old changed the number plates to evade detection.

Mr Jones said: "The important fact is that on 29 March he was driving that car used in the commission of the robbery and the murder at Marsh Food and Wine."

He added that on the morning of the murder, Gunn visited his mother in Pinner at around 5.30am, staying at the house for around quarter of an hour before returning to the car.

Mr Jones told the court: "As you will see from the CCTV, having parked the car at about quarter to six, he appears to just sit in it for about 10 minutes, no doubt to summon the courage or nerve, if courage and nerve is what you need to run in and murder a shopkeeper."

Jurors were later told the shopkeeper suffered two knife wounds, one of which fractured a rib and punctured his lung and heart.

Gunn denies all charges, namely murder, robbery, four burglaries, three thefts (the Vauxhall and two sets of number plates), and two counts of possession of a bladed article.

The trial continues.

Man stabbed as thugs launch baseball bat and hockey stick attack on car A man has been stabbed during a vicious attack on a car. Thugs ambushed two men in a car with baseball bats and a hockey stick on Ellesmere Road, Alum Rock on Saturday night (September 21).

Police were called to the reports of an attack on a vehicle, but on arrival found one man had been knifed in the back of his leg. The 33-

year-old victim required stitches in hospital, while another man was left bruised.

Officers closed off part of the street, while two police cars with flashing blue lights were seen parked up near the scene.

A 67-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of wounding. He remained in police custody on Saturday morning, but police are

trawling CCTV and still urge witnesses to come forward.

A statement from the force read: "Police were called to Ellesmere Road in Alum Rock just after 9pm yesterday (Saturday) to reports that the occupants of a car were being attacked with baseball bats and a hockey stick.

"One man, aged 33, suffered a minor stab wound to the back of his leg, which

required stiches.

"Another man was left with bruising.

"A man aged 67 has been arrested on suspicion of wounding and remains in custody today. Enquiries continue and CCTV is being recovered.

"Anyone with information should get in touch via Live Chat at westmidands.police.uk , quoting log 20BE/224522N/19."

in brief NEIGHBOURS HELP DRIVER FROM VIOLENT THUGS

Brave neighbours ran to help a carjacking victim as masked thugs violently tried to pull him from his Mercedes.

The victim was stopped outside his house on Yardley Green Road. A shocking video has emerged as the thugs smash the driver-side window and begin attacking the terrified driver The thugs can be seen lashing out at the motorist, as he remains behind the wheel of his black Mercedes A-class.

The driver clings on to his car as members of the public race to the scene to help and the attackers flee.They can be seen climbing into two cars, thought to be a Nissan Almera and Honda Jazz, before slowly driving away.The horrific attack happened shortly before 7.30pm on Monday, September 9.

MAN SENTENCED FOR PINNING UP ANTI-JEWISH POSTERS ON GANTS HILL SYNAGOGUE A man who put up anti-Semitic posters outside a Gants Hill synagogue and at Gants Hill Tube station underpass has been sentenced. Shehroz Iqbal, 27, of Kenwood Gardens, Gants Hill, appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court today (Friday, September 20) for displaying written material that is threatening, abusive or insulting intending thereby to stir up racial hatred. The court heard how on the evening of March 19, 2017, a member of the public exiting Gants Hill Underground Station via the underpass saw Iqbal, who was dressed in camouflage clothing and a hoody, taping posters to the underpass walls. He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment (suspended for 24 months), 30 days rehabilitation activity, 60 hours unpaid work and a £100 fine for breach of a previous suspended sentence.

COMMUNITY INFURIATED BY ATTACK ON FAITH SCHOOLS The Indian community has criticised Labour’s new policy to abolish private schools, that would lead to hundreds of faith schools shutting down.

A motion passed at Labour Conference said that Labour would ‘integrate all private schools into the state sector’ and called for ‘endowments, investments and properties held by private schools to be redistributed democratically across the country’s educational institution.'

This has been confirmed by Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell MP, who has said religious schools would have to integrate into the state sector. Labour have previously announced they would impose a ‘common rulebook’ on all schools, removing faith schools’ autonomy to design their own admission policy and tailor their own curriculum to match their ethos. Responding, Robert Jenrick MP, Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government said, “This is another attack on faith schools from Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party, who want to take away the freedom of parents to choose how to educate their children.

“The diversity of our schools reflects the rich tapestry of faiths and communities which make up the fabric of our society.

“Labour now plans to shut down hundreds of faith schools, forcing them to sell off their assets, playing politics with our children’s futures. “The Conservative government will always stand by faith schools and support the right of parents to decide how to give their children the best start in life.”

SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY IN DERBY URGED TO KNOW THEIR TYPE 2 DIABETES RISK A new Derby-based campaign which is aiming to help young people from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi backgrounds understand and act on their risk of Type 2 diabetes has been launched on Tuesday (24 September) by Diabetes UK. People from South Asian backgrounds have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and at a younger age than people from other backgrounds. Awareness to Action is encouraging young people from South Asian communities in Derby to learn their risk of developing the condition with the help of Diabetes UK’s free online tool https://riskscore.diabetes.org.uk/c/awareness2action.

There are 12.3 million people at increased risk of Type 2 diabetes in the UK. However, those from South Asian backgrounds are 24 times at greater risk of developing the condition than white Europeans, and have a greater risk of developing the condition at a younger age – from as young of an age as 25 years old, as opposed to 40 in the white populations.

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FICCI exchanges MoU with DIT to facilitate 'techXchange' between UK and India Rupanjana Dutta

FICCI exchanged an MoU with Department for International Trade at the High Commission of India at the inaugural programme of techXchange 2019, on Thursday 19 September to facilitate mutual cooperation between UK and India.

The purpose of this collaboration is to provide the cohort of startups visiting the UK from India, as well as the one planning to visit India from the UK, with an access to market and money (help them to pitch their ideas for investments, B2B meetings with investors, market experts, buyers) as well as provide required knowledge and appropriate networks to expand.

The first ever techXchange programme, which was a vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed during his visit in Spring 2018, was launched on 20 June 2018 in London and was organised by the High Commission of India in the UK and FICCI UK between 17-21 September 2018 over 5 days. A minimum of 30 startups from India had participated.

Her Excellency Mrs

Ruchi Ghanashyam, the High Commissioner of India to UK, attending this inaugural event on Thursday, told an august gathering of financial experts, industry and government heads, potential investors, startup owners and other invited guests at Gandhi Hall that, “Startups are becoming a great asset to both UK and India. UK-India launch pad will help in promotion of India's startups. At the backbone of these programmes lies the initiative that were launched by the Prime Minister of India, like Startup India and Digital India.

“The fact that 8 Unicorns were added in 2018, establishes the potentials for growth of startups in India. India has turned it into a leading nation in startups and FinTech in the world. India is also attract-

High commissioner of India to UK, HE Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam (centre) with dignitaries and representatives of Indian startups visiting the UK at the inaugural event of techXchange 2019 in India House

ing larger volumes of investments. In the first quarter of 2019, according to reports, FinTech startups in India received venture capital investments of US Dollar 286 million...”

She further added, “UK has a strong cultural and economic ties with India.

Indian businesses make an important contribution to this country. Programs like techXchange and UK Startup launch pad provides Indian startups with a global platform which can give direct access to money and market.”

Derek Goodwin, Head of Global Entrepreneur Programme, Department for International Trade who has had 15 years of experience of working with the Indian market said, “Foreign entrepreneurs coming to the UK make a massive contribution to the economy. In 15 years, we have brought in 1200 leading tech businesses in the UK and about 15-20% of them are from India.

What differentiate our team from other teams in DIT is the team of successful entrepreneurs, who can help aspiring entrepreneurs like

yourself, with their knowledge.”

The startup delegation from India included Bobble AI, Cashify, Creditmate, 5C Network, Entropik Technologies, Imaginate, Indus OS, Magicbox Animation, MintM, Mobident, Mukunda Foods, Oizom, Shoptimize, Synersoft technology, Vphrase Analytics, StrataEnviro.

A report by BDO LLP and FICCI on 'Developing a startup ecosystem: Lessons from the UK' was also launched at this inaugural

event which was attended by Simon Spier, Head of International Trade, techUK, Sunil Parekh, CoChair (India), techXchange Programme, Arbinder Chatwal, Partner Business Assurance, BDO LLP, Shruti Singh, Director, DPIIT, Government of India, Andrew Masters, Senior Economic Adviser, Asia Region, DFID, Manish Singh, Minister (Economic), High Commission of India and Rohit Vadhwana, First Secretary (Economic), High Commission of India among others.

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Team Sehgals' aiming for the sky and beyond The UK's aviation industry appears to be grappling with Brexit uncertainties, reports of multiple airlines going bust and struggle around capping CO2 emissions.

Today, Kartick Sehgal, director of Skylord Travel talks about her journey into the tourism industry and the marked shift in the industry in the last four decades.

“The announcement of Brexit and a consequently weaker Sterling has presented challenging times for us. Our business centre is located in Delhi and owing to currency exchange rates, there has been a subsequent increase in our overheads,” says Kartick.

Born in Nairobi, she first came to the UK in 1971 following the exodus of the Kenyan Asians. Over the years, she completed her education in London and worked as a civil servant in her initial career days. Perhaps, she inherited the art and discipline of serving at the public office from her father Manoharlal Dosoar.

Although an army officer, Dosar senior also worked in close association with the British High Commission in Kenya.

It was in 1979 when she unexpectedly formed an acquaintance with Rajan Sehgal, a certified Chartered Accountant from India. As Rajan established his business in 1983,

Rajan Sehgal and Kartick Sehgal, Skylord travel at the 17th Asian Achievers Awards

she continued to work her traditional 9-5 office hours. Three years later though, she quit her job and decided to assist her husband in his business venture at Skylord Travel at a time when e-tickets was still an alien concept.

It seems another century today but plane tickets then were an actual piece of paper that one received from a travel agent, at the ticket counter or in the mail. Although Kartick was instrumental in the process of manual ticket printing, she was also pivotal in bringing a digital revolution at the company.

“I undertook a training course and learnt the operations of the Global

Distribution Service (GDS) system to venture into the process of online flight bookings, reservations, and availability of seats.

Today, the digital revolution has significantly changed the landscape of the airline industry,” she says.

Travel and tourism industry particularly in the west has seen quite a boom over the recent years especially with the introduction of package tours and discounted holiday offers. Yet the recent collapse of Thomas Cook, one of the world's oldest tour operator, and the earlier closure of Jet Airways have concerned many in the

industry.

“When a tour operator goes down, usually other operators are also carefully examined. It is very difficult to understand how an organisation as big as Thomas Cook collapsed.

“There can be various reasons but concluding is very difficult unless financial audit reports are studied, and examined especially when the aviation rules mandate that the financial information is provided every three months and the license is renewed anually,” she explains.

A hallmark of excellence in the boardroom and her kitchen, Kartick maintains that support from her husband, family, and colleagues at work has enabled her to manage her work and home simultaneously. The couple's teamwork is perhaps best illustrated through their charity in India which supports the old and vulnerable by providing them with hot food and blankets among other facilities. Today, aside from their business achievements, as the couple celebrate their upcoming 40th wedding anniversary, she says, “Marriages are difficult today but with the establishment of mutual understanding, respect for one another and unconditional support helps in strengthening that relationship.”

Tourism minister of Punjab to celebrate 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji Priyanka Mehta On Tuesday 17th September, the Minister for culture, tourism and education of Punjab visited London as part of the Punjab Government's drive to boost tourism in India.

Charanjit Singh Channi had been on a UK wide tour to invite 'Nanak Naam Leva' sangat to participate in the 550th Parkash Purb celebrations of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The event was organised

by Professor Peter Virdee of The Virdee Foundation at Hankies in Marble Arch where Channi appealed to the NRI tourists to visit Punjab. He emphasised that the government had made Punjab one of the most tourist-friendly destinations in the country, regardless of the current situation in India. Acknowledging the

(L-R) Charanjit Singh Channi, Peter Virdee and Gurpreet Singh Anand

contribution of the Sikh diaspora to the UK and congratulating Rami Ranger on his peerage Channi said, “Chief Minister Captain Amrinder Singh has especially appointed me to address the concerns of the Sikh diaspora settled in the UK.

“The Sikh community has made great strides in the UK and that is best illustrated through the exemplary works of leading figures such as Lord Loomba and Lord Rami Ranger who has recently been nominated for peerage by the former prime minister Theresa May,” he

said. Bringing to spotlight the grievances of the Punjabi and Sikh diaspora settled in the UK, Peter Virdee also requested the Punjab Government for the establishment of a new independent office. This office will ideally deal with concerns around agricultural land, safety of ancestral heritage and a bureau addressing concerns of NRI women. The event was attended by Lord Raj Loomba of The Loomba Foundation, Lord Rami Ranger CBE, and Manmeet Singh Narang Minister(Coordination), High Commission of India among other dignitaries.

The 550th Parkash Purb celebration programmes would be organised by the Punjab government from 1st to 12th November, 2019 at the holy city Sultanpur Lodhi.

LIVING BRIDGE Rohit Vadhwana

SKPLC helps in staying connected with cultural roots Shree Katch Leva Patel Community (SKLPC), UK organised its annual mela on Sunday. Thousands of people from the community attended the celebration. It was a landmark event for the SKLPC as it has started fundraising for its upcoming India Gardens project of sports, health and community center. The project is estimated to cost twelve million pounds, excluding VAT. The community has an ambitious plan to finish the project in three years.

Newly elected President Shri Velji Vekaria set the ball rolling in presence of Swaminarayan saints and community leaders. Presence of local politicians across the party line and international guests added flavor to the event.

Thousands of people had their vegetarian lunch before aarati and 'deep pragatya' (lighting of lamp ceremony).

Planning for the India Gardens project began in May 2016 and its completion is expected by the fourth quarter of 2022. It is planned to have a large sports hall, gym facilities, kitchen, cafe, dining areas, wedding and other facilities for the community. SKLPC was founded in 1972 and by 2022 when it will celebrate its 50th anniversary, the India Gardens project is expected to be ready.

Shri Veljibhai informed that there are over 6000 families of Leva Patel in the UK and if they contribute £2000 each, the targeted donation of £12 million can be achieved. The amount can be paid in installments over a period of three years by when the project is scheduled to be completed. It resonated very well with community members.

The mela had many stalls and cultural performances.

The progress that SKLPC has made in less than fifty years in planning such a remarkable art community and sports center is praiseworthy. Such facilities help the community to stand united and progress. It was remarkable that representatives from Kutch and other areas were also present in the Mela. Maintaining connection with motherland is essential and that's what SKLPC has demonstrated successfully by bridging members across the world.

(Expressed opinion is personal) Do you have a story or suggestion for this column?

Email at: livingbridgeasianvoice@gmail.com

Scotland Yard investigates the Asian Gold Jewellery warns households before Diwali Scotland Yard is investigating a series of recent burglaries at Asian homes following the burglary in enflield at the home of an 81-year old woman. The woman whose name is kept anonymous for security purposes was in her bed when two men barged through her bedroom and produced a sharp weapon demanding valuables.

In the second incident, on Sunday at around 21:00 hours, a 53-year-old woman and her 65-year-old husband were at home when they heard a loud banging on the front door and were burgled of their valuables in a similar fashion.

"I can reassure residents that increased patrols have been deployed in the area.

These burglaries targeted high-value Asian Gold and I will strongly recommend that residents review their home security in line with the burglary prevention advide which has been issued by the Metropolitan Police Serive particularly at this time of the year with Diwali fast approaching,” said Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, lead investigation officer.

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Lord Jitesh Gadhia

Cameron’s positive legacy with India should not be drowned out by Brexit The publication of David Cameron’s long-awaited memoirs last week could not have come at a more awkward time for the former British Prime Minister.

Cameron bided his time for more than three years, hoping that the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum - which prompted his resignation - would have been resolved. A Brexit settlement would have allowed a more sober and objective analysis of his six years as premiere and 11 years as Conservative Party Leader. Instead, the release (planned many months ago) falls in the middle of the most serious political and constitutional crisis which the United Kingdom has faced since the Second World War. Judging from the visceral reaction from many quarters, it currently feels like Cameron’s legacy will forever be overshadowed by Brexit, in the same way as another former Prime Minister, Anthony Eden, remains inextricably associated with the Suez Crisis.

As someone who had the privilege of working closely with David Cameron, his efforts to build a modern partnership with India deserve more charitable treatment from historians. Throughout his tenure, Cameron did more than any other holder of his office to reach out proactively to India, as an emerging superpower, and to recognise the outsized contribution made by over 1.5 million members of the British Indian diaspora.

Cameron signalled his clear geopolitical priority from the outset, choosing India for his first major official visit overseas after his election in 2010. He visited India on three separate occasions during his premiership, often leading large trade delegations encompassing not just business interests but the whole spectrum of political, educational, scientific and cultural relations which connect the world’s largest and oldest democracies. He also became the first serving Prime Minister to visit Amritsar and express his regrets at the Jallianwala Bagh memorial for the “deeply shameful event in British history”. It is quite telling how, in over 700 pages, Cameron is almost more effusive about the importance of India than the historic special relationship with the US. It is clear that Cameron had a more expansive world view and an appreciation of the rise of emerging economies, especially in Asia. In the memoirs he admits: “We couldn’t afford to carry on obsessing about Europe and America while ignoring the fresh forces that were shaping our world.” Unlike the current Trumpian doctrine which views global co-operation as a ‘zero sum game’, he understood the opportunity of harnessing the aspirations of India’s young population to build shared prosperity. Cameron was also sensitive to being “tinged with colonial guilt” and sought to build a genuine partnership of equals.

These intentions were backed up by appointing a Minister for Business Engagement with India, who worked across different Government Departments, and a Diaspora Champion in the form of Priti Patel MP. Indeed, Cameron describes the diaspora as the “greatest weapon” in the UK’s engagement with India and elsewhere refers glowingly to the contribution of Ugandan Asians, helping to make Britain “the most successful multiracial democracy on earth” . Cultivating the British Indian community therefore provided a double benefit – both political and diplomatic – and explains why

Cameron was a regular visitor to mandirs, gurdwaras and mosques.

Indeed, his memoirs include a photograph with his wife Samantha, dressed in a shalwar kameez, celebrating Vaisakhi during the 2015 General Election campaign. This election also provided a British first: a campaign song in Hindi which went viral on social media.

In November 2015, having won that election with an outright majority, Cameron went to great lengths to welcome Prime Minister Modi on his first official visit to the UK. During the visit, Modi addressed a rare joint session of Parliament, travelled up the River Thames lit up in the colours of the Indian flag, and was received in Downing Street, decorated in a festive display for Diwali. Modi was also a guest at the official country retreat of Chequers and served with specially prepared vegetarian food.

However, the high point was undoubtedly the event in front of a 60,000 strong crowd at Wembley Stadium, referenced in the memoirs as “the largest-ever gathering of the Indian diaspora in the UK” where Modi received a rousing reception. Cameron obliged with a strong endorsement of Modi, amplifying his election slogan in Hindi: ‘achche din zaroor aayenge’ and was “hugged on stage”. This cemented the personal chemistry, always important between world leaders. Even Manmohan Singh is mentioned in the book as a “saintly man” who was “robust on the threats India faced” and told Cameron that if another terrorist attack like that in Mumbai in July 2011 was repeated then India would have to take military action against Pakistan.

So the most revealing as pect of the book is Cameron’s deep understanding of the terrorist threat which emanates from across India’s border. He describes the Afghanistan-Pakistan border as the “motherlode” of Islamist extremism and in a fascinating section describes his attempts to build greater trust between Hamid Karzai and former President Zardari, hosting them both at Chequers in 2013. He laments the lack of breakthrough and says of Pakistan “as we know it is the military that makes the key decisions.”

This perhaps explains why Cameron broke with normal British Foreign Office convention during his visit to Bangalore in 2010 to address IT workers at the Infosys campus. Responding to a question, he made an unequivocal statement: “We cannot tolerate in any sense the idea that this country [Pakistan] is allowed to look both ways and is able, in any way, to promote the export of terror, whether to India or whether to Afghanistan or anywhere else in the world." This clarity, conviction and courage explains why David Cameron is so well respected in India.

His successor, Boris Johnson, is also an Indophile but whether he will be able to make the same impact as David Cameron will depend partly upon how he handles the vexed question of Brexit in the coming weeks but also, crucially, on whether he is prepared to take a similarly principled position against cross border terrorism. The biggest lesson from David Cameron is that a balanced view on the politics of the Indian subcontinent is no view at all.

Jitesh Gadhia is a Member of the House of Lords. Updated from an article first published in The Indian Express.

UK to celebrate Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary Like every year, this year as well, the Indian High Commission and India League will be celebrating the annual Gandhi Jayanti at the Tavistock Square, London on Wednesday 2 October. The event, that is open to public, will be attended by HE Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner of India to UK, Mayor of Camden, local Councillors, Asian MPs and Peers, community leaders and organisational heads.

The High Commissioner and CB Patel, Chairman of India League will address the gathered audience along with the Mayor of Camden.

This year being the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhi, there will be a number of events across the UK. On 2nd, Lord Meghnad Desai and the Gandhi Statue Memorial Trust have organised a Commemoration Ceremony at the Gandhi statue in Parliament square at 9am.

National Association of Patidar Samaj is organising a Gandhi walk from Tavistock square to Parliament square to pay floral tributes to the Gandhi statues.

The High Commission of India has organised a special event to celebrate values and teachings of the Mahatma on Sunday 29 September.

Ahead of that, Gandhi Foundation and Brahma Kumaris (UK) are bringing together leading academics and campaigners to debate and discuss the enduring relevance of his life and

message. Their conference, entitled Gandhian Voice in our World Today will be held on Friday 27 September at the Brahma Kumaris (UK) National Co-ordinating Office in Willesden Green, London, from 10.00am4.30pm. Speakers and panel discussants will include the Gandhi Foundation's President and leading Gandhi academic, Prof Lord Bhikhu Parekh, Sister Jayanti Kirpalani, European Director of the Brahma Kumaris, Bruce Kent, Vice President of the Campaign For Nuclear Disarmament, and Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, UN Rapporteur on Indigenous People.

Confluence Foundation India along with the High Commission of India to mark this milestone birth anniversary of Bapu has organised a Bharat Conclave, promoting Indian craft and culture from 26th28th September.

A new statue of Mahatma Gandhi will be inaugurated in the British city of Manchester later this year as a symbol of peace.

The 9-foot-high bronze

sculpture by Indian artist Ram V. Sutar will be installed outside Manchester Cathedral. The Mahatma Gandhi Statue Project, is an initiative of Shrimad Rajchandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD), a worldwide spiritual movement headquartered in India, epitomising the city’s resilience in the aftermath of the suicide bombing at an Ariana Grande at Manchester Arena in May 2017, an Islamic State (ISIS) claimed attack which claimed 23 lives.

The charitable organisation is being backed in its project by Manchester Cathedral, Manchester City Council and the High Commission of India and the costs are to be covered by the Indian-origin Kamani family in memory of their late scion Bhanji Khanji Kamani.

Mahatma Gandhi, known as the Father of the Nation for India, was born on 2nd October 1869 in Porbandar and was the preeminent leader of the Indian independence movement in British-ruled India. His birthday is considered world wide as the International day of Non Violence.

The statue at the Tavistock Square in London was the first Gandhi statue in the UK. Besides these many other community organisations will be organising independent events to mark the Mahatma's birthday.

Prime Minister visits his local Hindu Temple

Boris Johnson being presented the Sri Yantra

Last Friday, the Prime Minister visited his local Hindu temple, the Shree Adhya Shakti Mataji Temple, in his constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip.

During the visit, Mr Johnson learnt about the significance of and preparations for Navratri – one of the largest festivals in the Hindu calendar which starts on 29th September and was presented with a garland, shawl and Sri Yantra (a traditional Hindu symbol con-

sisting of nine interlocking triangles).

Speaking after the visit, the Prime Minister said: “The festival of Navratri marks an important moment in the year, when communities and families from all over the country come together to celebrate the universal message of good over evil. I want to wish everyone celebrating this colourful, joyous and exuberant festival over the next nine days a very Happy Navratri.”

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Immigration still a bottleneck, despite re-introduction of post-study work visa On 20th September, Thursday, a centrist policy think-tank organised a roundtable discussion with the agenda of strengthening UK-India bilateral relations.

The seminar organised by 'Global Policy Insights' along with policy advisors from the Department of Education, analysed the fields of education and sports for future collaborative projects between the UK and India's state of Madhya Pradesh.

Held at the Grand Committee Room of Westminster Palace, the discussion encompassed ministers, delegates, bureaucrats and policy advisors from both UK and India.

Members included, Jitu Patwari Minister for Higher Education, Sports and Youth Affairs of Madhya Pradesh, Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor of London for business, Virendra Sharma, MP for Ealing and Southall among others.

“Those days are gone when only India needed the UK. In today's political and economic climate the UK needs India both in terms of investment and finances,” said Virendra Sharma.

Emphasising on

90%

sities are members of the Association of Commonwealth Universities and four of those universities are from Madhya Pradesh. This includes the Makhanlal Chaturvedi N a t i o n a l University of (L-R) Uday Nagaraju, Virendra Sharma , Jitu Patwari, Rajesh Agrawal and Manish Singh Journalism and Sharma's argument of the said Agrawal.

Communication from UK-India partnership being But Agrawal also spoke Bhopal,” said Kudzai that of the “equals”, Rajesh about the growing start-up Muronzi, Association of Agrawal spoke about the economy, which is being C o m m o n w e a l t h UK's entrepreneurial spirit. further harnessed by Universities.

Agrawal who is himself from London and Partners. The Visas a bottleneck for Indore, a city in Madhya avenues of global partnerprofessionals ships were further scrutiPradesh, spoke about the nised by the Minister of education hub that the state Recently, the Department of Education, Sports and has become.

Education has been working Youth Welfare of Madhya Rajesh Agrawal : alongside the government's Pradesh, Jitu Patwari. He Hallmark of excellence from agenda in materialising praised the Deputy Mayor Madhya Pradesh plans around exchange profor being the hallmark of “I believe that sports, grams where about 200 UK excellence and a true repreculture and education form students would spend time sentation of India in the UK. a crucial role in bringing in India. Anna Sonley, together people from all Patwari further highlighted Senior Policy Advisor faith and religious backthat a sports and skilled International Higher grounds regardless of their based university would be Education, Department of age, caste and creed. This set up in Madhya Pradesh Education discussed the role was demonstrated by the and stressed about women’s of AI and technology in uniCricket World Cup. Some of higher education. He conversity collaborations and the greatest cricketers are cluded by inviting UK uniemphasised on increasing from Madhya Pradesh versities to Madhya Pradesh.

“More than 500 univerincluding Naman Ojha,” the number of international

students in the UK to 200,000 in near future.

However, Manish Singh, IAS, Minister (Economic) Indian High Commission, and Lakshmi Kaul, head of the Confederation of Indian Industry (UK), highlighted the issues around immigration and recognizing universal qualifications for acceptance in both countries.

“Although, we appreciate that the government has re-introduced the poststudy work visa for international students, obtaining visas continues to be a bottleneck for professionals and students. Therefore, more work needs to be done on those avenues,” said Kaul.

This argument was further supported by Vishal Gandhi, Staffing Director at Tata Consultancy Services, UK who highlighted that the Tata Group was the biggest private employer in the UK. They recruit 200 graduates on an average every year and emphasised on the collaborations in youth.

Global Policy Insights, is a centrist policy institute and engages in research and analysis of governance, political economy and policies.

Nirav Modi remanded to custody in UK prison until October 17 On Thursday 26th September, fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi, who is wanted in India in connection with the nearly USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud and money laundering case, was further remanded to judicial custody until October 17.

Modi appeared before the Westminster Magistrates' Court via videolink from his London prison for a routine "callover" remand hearing.

Nirav has been lodged at Wandsworth prison in south-west London, one of England's most overcrowded jails, since his arrest in March on an extradition warrant executed by Scotland Yard on charges brought by the Indian government, being represented by the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in court. He was arrested by uniformed Scotland Yard officers on an extradition warrant on March 19 and has been in prison since.

His trial is expected for May 11-15, 2020.

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Swatch Bharat We are horrified to learn of the rape statistics revealed by the Children Protection Agency of India. Nearly 9,500 minors are raped each year. Over several thousand cases are not reported to the police as the security, protection units do not take action.

Minor girls and young boys are kidnapped and trafficked into red light districts and young boys suffer mutilations and subjected to the status of beggars.

Rape and sexual assaults on minors is on the increase - under-age girls are gang-raped, their bodies are mutilated or burnt. These are blood curling crimes and these brutal atrocities must be ended forthwith. Human rights violations and crimes against children, in most case fall on deaf ears.

Children's voice is voiceless. They are venerable to adult violence and are badly "imprisoned " with no judicial, police or government support. India must eradicate this menace. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights is a farce and ineffective. It seems India's spirituality is being replaced by evil environment - a threat to decent human dignity.

Ramesh Nehru By email

British Indians, Jewish Interaction I just finished reading Lord Popat’s excellent, fascinating autobiography, “A British Subject”. This is a must read book for every East African Asian who came here after these three nations, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania gained independence in the sixties.

One lesson our community leaders should learn reading this book and so often commented by me in my letters to AV is that while there are excellent relations between our two communities, British Indians and Jewish community at the top level, between community leaders, it does not exist at grassroots level, ordinary members of these two communities hardly meet or socialize, as is the norm between various Indian communities that include Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Indian Christians, as well as other Indian minorities who mix and socialize with ease.

Although Lord Popat’s early employments were in many Jewish own business, when he moved from his house in Kenton to a lovely, architectural award winning house “The Knoll” in Stanmore, a staunch Jewish area where his neighbours on both side were Jewish, one moved out and the other kept his distances, unlike our English neighbours who welcomed us with open arms on the first day when we moved in our own home in East London. Such a scenario also exists in New Jersey USA, a staunch Jewish area dominated by them, until Indians moved in. As India has excellent relations with Israel, it is time both these governments, as well as community leaders give grassroots cooperation a priority.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

Climate Conundrum Friday, September 20th protest was the largest climate action in the history of world. It is reported that a total of four million people took part in the protests in several countries.

Presently, it is inspired by the young activist, Greta Thunberg, and the protest will continue for a week. The climate movement was kicked off during the Rio De Janeiro Earth Summit in June 1992 after scientist reported a hole in the Earth’s ozone layer. At the Paris climate conference (COP21) in December 2015, 195 countries adopted the firstever universal, legally binding global climate deal. However, president Trump withdrew from it in June 2017 stating that it undermines the USA economy.

The temperature and the sea level have changed on the earth surface in past without human activities. The last time the sea level was higher than today (by about 7m) was during the Eemain, about 130,000 years ago. There lies the climate conundrum. A minority of scientist believe that the present change is natural as in the past and nothing to do with human activities. Hence, Trump and few others believe that present climate change is a hoax. However, it is certain that the human activities has accelerated the change which may be due to nature. The acceleration happened from the middle of 18th century onward to coincide with industrial revolution. West Europe and their newly created countries (so called industrialized nations) are mainly responsible for polluting earth’s atmosphere.

Narsibhai Patel New Malden

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Sea Gulls terrorising holiday visitors During the holiday season, seaside resorts in our English Rivera, Devon and Cornwall, especially seaside hotspots like Portsmouth, from where we used to take ferry to Isle of Wight, as well as Penzance, Isles of Scilly and Newquay, few amongst many towns and villages, are popular with British people.The climate is mild, people are friendly and for those who love sea food, such as lobsters, prawns and freshly caught fish with chips, not forgetting Cornish pies, it is an unparalleled gourmet heaven, an unique attractions for those Brits who are averse to taking overseas holidays.

Recently all these hotspots were in news for all the wrong reasons, especially attacks by sea-gulls, more like suka, a large predatory gull, on children, even adults who may be enjoying fish and chips or sandwiches in the open, on the beach. These food-snatchers have turned robbing visitors of their snacks, into art form, as these are protected birds.

Recent headlines describing gulls as dog snatcher is somewhat puzzling, considering that these are sea birds, have flat, webbed feet they use for paddling in water, not suitable for snatching small dog, although they do kill pigeons and other small mammals.

To snatch a dog they need talon, sharp claws predatory birds have and they include hawk, bald eagle, harrier, osprey, kestrel, falcon and few more. But with climate change, over fishing and destroying forest, these birds are changing their habitat and food source, sea birds could be found well inland.

Kumudini Valambia By email

Rise in domestic violence Domestic violence issues are not on the forefront but kept on the back burner although domestic violence killings have hit a five year high which new figures show. This is an unacceptable situation, even Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to reintroduce domestic abuse legislation in the next Queen’s Speech. It is a horrific crime which shatters lives and tears families apart.

Domestic violence and abuse takes different forms such as: behaviour from a family member, partner or ex-partner that: is controlling, coercive, threatening, violent or abusive happens between people aged over 16. It can happen to men or women. It includes the following types of abuse: Psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional and also can include harassment, stalking, female genital mutilation, forced marriage and honour-based abuse. It can also include trafficking.

Honour-based abuse is defined as an incident or crime which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family and or community. Honour-based abuse happens where a person is punished by their family or community for doing things that are not in keeping with the traditional beliefs of their culture.

Honour-based abuse may include domestic abuse, sexual or psychological abuse, assault, forced marriage or sending someone back to their country of origin. The rising tide of domestic, killings, violence and abuse has to be stopped both through legislation and public awareness campaigns.

Baldev Sharma Rayners Lane, Harrow

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

Welcoming young readers to write in our Diwali issue Dear Readers, Diwali this year is on Sunday 27th October.

The New Year is knocking at the door waiting to bring in colours and light to our lives with fervour of joy and ever lasting happiness. Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar will once again be publishing the ‘Diwali Special’ Magazine for our fabulous and supportive readers like yourself. This year we are once again inviting our young readers to send in their articles for the English section.

1. If you are between 5-25 years of age, write an article in English on either of the following topics in no more than 350 words, along with a suitable photo: l how do you celebrate your Diwali every year OR l Your most memorable Diwali with friends and family OR l how do you celebrate Diwali in your school'.

2. If you are 2-25 years of age, you can also draw/paint a picture of what Diwali means to you or your memorable Diwali, with a suitable photo caption, your full name, age; scan and send the picture to the the below address, by the mentioned deadline.

3. If you are within 9-25 years of age, you can also write a short story within 350 words or a poem within 150 words for our Diwali special.

4. If you are a part of an organisation, which has a youth wing or support youth activities, please tell us how your young members or youth wing celebrates Diwali in 300 words with 2 pictures (in no less than 300dpi).

Send your articles/stories/poem with your photo and/or painting/picture to aveditorial@abplgroup.com.

Last date of entry: 30th September 2019.

- Asian Voice

E-Cigarettes more harmful than regular tobacco One fails to understand how e-cigarettes are more harmful than regular cigarettes, beedis, gutkha and other tobacco products.

If one is banned, shouldn't the others be banned too? If we really care about the youth of our country, the government must ban all tobacco products, including the regular cigarettes.

Cigarette smoking is injurious to health, and one should know that.

Jubel D'Cruz, Mumbai, India

UK News

Chef says women could Violent sex attacker jailed for 14 years after police solve the curry crisis A chef wants to encourage more women to work in the British Asian restaurant industry.

Sarah Ali Choudhury, who grew up in her family's Indian restaurant in Dorset, says she thinks women could be the answer to chef shortages.

According to the Office of National Statistics, less than one in five chef posi-

followed blood trail

tions in the UK are held by women.

Exhibition celebrates Hindu community A new exhibition is celebrating the Hindu community in Gloucestershire.

Musician, poet and photographer Rider Shafique has been photographing Hindu elders from across the county, and recording their stories.

The photographic display and accompanying

audio recordings are part of the Gloucester History Festival.

A man who was arrested after police followed his trail of blood through the streets to find him has been jailed for 14 years for sexual assault and grievous bodily harm.

Gohir Ayub, 34, was jailed after being found guilty at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday, April 8.

The court heard that police were first called in the early evening of December 14, 2018, after receiving a call from a distressed woman.

The woman spoke a foreign language and struggled to make herself understood but managed to say: ‘blood, blood, please police’ to operators. A baby could be heard crying.

Officers attended a property in the Snow Hill area of Hanley, and found a

woman who was covered in blood and cradling her baby.

She told officers she had managed to stab the man who’d attacked her and they seized a bloodied knife.

A passport with the name of Mohammed Gohir Ayub had been left at the scene.

A trail of blood ran along Etruria Vale Road, Rectory Road, and onto Bedford Street where Ayub was arrested by officers.

Ayub of Barrett Street, Burslem, was arrested and taken to hospital where he was found to have two stab wounds to his stomach, a stab wound to his chest and back, lacerations and a punctured lung.

Ayub was sentenced to 12 years for GBH and a further two years to be served consecutively for sexual assault.

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AsianVoiceNews

EDUCATION

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

11

28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

Challenge international students face at UK universities Got the degree? Now get a job in four months - or face going back home.

That's been the challenge for international students studying at UK universities, ever since Theresa May introduced the rule as home secretary in 2012.

But from next year, graduates from inside and outside the EU will be allowed to stay in the UK for two years - instead of just four months - to look for work after finishing their degree.

The move has been welcomed by universities and Labour but criticised as a "retrograde" step by campaign group Migration Watch. However, for recent graduates there's frustration that they will miss out on the opportunity.

Speaking to the BBC Shreya Swamy, who moved to the UK from India last year, has just finished studying for a master's degree in illustration at the University for the Creative Arts. She considers the government's move "a great step forward" but says it does nothing to help students who are currently studying here or those starting this year. She says: "I have personally struggled

so much with the fourmonth post-study visa rule.

The jobs available are close to nil for fresh international graduates because of lack of experience - plus just four months' availability. I have been through hell and back trying to figure out my career plan these past few months because it seems practically impossible to have one in the UK." She adds: "I feel really helpless, and almost regret coming here to study because I'm going to just end up going back home with a very expensive piece of paper. Today is a really sad day for me - there just has to be a way to help those already studying here or joining this year."

Meanwhile Allison Strang, from the US, has been in the UK for twoand-a-half years studying for a degree in fashion journalism at the University for

the Creative Arts in Surrey.

She's due to graduate next June so will have just four months from then to get a job.

"I feel so stressed and under pressure. It's do or die - find a job or go back home," she says.

Home is Texas where she wouldn't be able to find the type of work she's after so it would mean moving to New York. But, she says, she loves London and wants to stay so she'll start applying for jobs early next year.

"Having two years to find a fitting job in this country would be unbelievably helpful. It would give me a better opportunity to get into the career I want to get into. I'm hoping the proposal broadens to extend opportunities to me and others who have spent the past few years bringing our creativity, knowledge and culture to the UK."

Children petition council to stop parents dropping them off at school gate Children have declared war on parents dropping off youngsters at the gates of their Isle of Dogs primary school, demanding that Tower Hamlets Council sends in parking wardens to hand out fines.

Three 10-year-olds presented a petition to the town hall and addressed last night's council meeting demanding tough parking restrictions outside Arnhem Wharf Primary.

They formed what was probably the youngest-ever delegation to a council meeting and petitioned the authority to "prevent people parking dangerously in Westferry Road".

Year 6 pupil Fatmata told the councillors: "Parents are parking illegally on yellow lines near the entrance, causing pollution and increasing the chance of accidents."

The young delegates had actions they want the council to take, like sending in traffic wardens when the school opens and at home time to hand out fines, warnings or points to offenders on yellow lines.

Fatmata and classmates Mahdi and Robin had arrived with their headteacher and their Year 6 teacher who co-ordinates Arnhem Wharf's children's rights programme.

Fatmata and classmates Mahdi and Robin at the town hall.

Young Mahdi told the East London Advertiser afterwards: "Many parents stop in their cars right in front of our school listening to the radio or using their phones while leaving their engines running, which fills the air with fumes.

"Our first idea was to change the yellow lines to zigzags because you are by law actually allowed to stop on double-yellow lines."

Arnhem Wharf has its own school council to let pupils have a voice in its decision-making.

Headteacher Sarah Haynes told the paper: "We encourage children to debate and to have a voice in the wider community. I don't think they need much

training to be the politicians of tomorrow."

The petition was the children's idea, so Year 6 teacher Frances Stephens who is Arnhem Wharf's pupil voice leader arranged the delegation to the town hall.

Tower Hamlets has accepted the children's petition and is to look into better ways to enforce parking controls outside Arnhem Wharf when the pupils are arriving or leaving.

The council is already rolling our a programme to create 50 permanent "play streets" outside primary schools across the East End where cars would be banned altogether. That would solve Arnhem Wharf's problem.

12 MEDIA WATCH

AsianVoiceNews

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28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

SCRUTATOR’S whole new selection, investing in deliveries, ease of return... all part of this effort,’ said Mayank Shivam, Category Management, Amazon Fashion India (Hindu September 17).

Missile, rocket, bomb, as you will, is how India awoke to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement of an across-the-board 10 per cent reduction of the corporate tax. Markets cheered the announcement with the BSE Sensex shooting up to the highest level in a decade. The new tax structure will bring Indian corporate tax into line with those of its South East Asian competitors and should bring in a much need higher inflow of foreign investment.

The captains of Indian industry were unanimous in their acclamation of these cuts, the most farreaching in 28 years since Manmohan Singh opened up the Indian economy in 1991. The present reforms are a nudge to manufacturing. To Deepak Parekh Kumar Mangalam Birla spur fresh investments and add traction to the ‘Make in India’ cry, new manufacturing companies incorporated after October 2, 2019, and commencing production by March 31, 2023 the income tax rate will be 15 per cent from the present 25 per cent. The effective tax rate for these N. Chandrasekaran Uday Kotak companies will be 17.01 refund of input tax credits for per cent from the 29.01 per cent. exporters by the end of September These tax cuts include a reduction *Banks to be provided higher in the surcharge on corporate insurance * RBI to modify priority income tax from 12 per cent to 10 sector lending norms to increase per cent. The government has credit revenue by Rs36,000 crore done its bit. It is now up to *A special fund to provide lastbusiness to invest and take mile funding for unfinished advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime housing units *Govt to provide opportunity. (Business Line, Rs10,000 crore, other investments Hindu, Times of India, Statesman, will put in roughly the same September 21) More next week . amount *External commercial borrowing guidelines to be relaxed Priming the pump to facilitate financing for homebuyers who are eligible Prior to the announced tax break, under the Pradhan Mantri Diwas Finance Minister Sitharaman had *Interest on house building commenced ‘Priming the pump,’ advances to be lowered *Inflation for long the Keynesian remedy for under control below 4 per cent. economic recession and There will be a further raft of depression. She is presently measures, in around a week, by packaging and presenting to the

Boost for domestic TV manufacturers

Director General Chandrajit Banerjee

exporters and real estate, corporate India were decisive and were in line with industry recommendations, said the Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry, Chandrajit Banerjee. (Statesman September 15).

Apple’s $1 billion India investment US electronics tech major Apple is to invest $1 billion in India.

The company plans to make India one of its principal export hubs across the world for its ‘Made in India’ iPhones. The current trade war between the US and China, prompted Apple to transfer its China operations to India. A strong local manufacturing base will help Apple avoid 20 per cent duty for those importing devices.

(Statesman, September 17).

Amazon in bigger sales pitch

Government announced the removal of import duty on ‘open cell,’ a critical component in the manufacture of LCD and LED TV panels. Manish Sharma, President and CEO, Panasonic India and South East Asia, said: ‘Since open cells form a major share of the total manufacturing cost of TVs, the move will allow us to pass the benefits to the end customer, which would be about 3-4 per cent reduction in price, thus providing the necessary thrust to the market.’ (Business Line September 19).

Infosys sets up Arizona tech hub IT major Infosys tech centre in Arizona, USA, said it plans to hire 1000 American workers by 2023. However, on starting out in 2017, the company had declared that would hire 10,000 American workers in two years.

The company announced that the target had already been reached well before schedule (Statesman September 15).

Women Defence attachés in Moscow India’s first woman to hold the Defence Attache rubric, Wing Commander Anjali Singh, an aeronautical engineer, is to take up the post of Deputy Air Attache in Moscow. She was commissioned into the IAF in

Amazon India, in denial mode on an alleged Indian economic slowdown, is buoyantly optimistic that this year’s festive season sales ‘will be bigger and better’ than last year on the back of increased numbers of sellers and products on offer.

The e-commerce company announced its ‘Great Indian Festival’ from September 29 to October 4, saying the numbers of sellers have gone up to 500,000 - including brands, small and medium businesses, artisans and tech start-ups from the previous year’s 380,000, while selection has grown to 200 million products from 170 million last festive season. Manish Tiwari, Vice President, Category Management, Amazon India, said: ‘You wouldn’t do that if there was a slowdown. Starting from weavers to larger sellers, we see no signs of doubt in their minds. With speed, affordability and selection, this Diwali promises to be to be a far bigger one for us.’ (Business Line September 17).

2001 (Times of India September 17). The first woman naval attaché is also set for a Moscow posting. Her name is yet to be released. Meanwhile, the Indian Navy has put in a claim for an increased share of the defence budget from the current 18 per cent (Hindu September 18).

Tier III towns

Landmark events

the Finance Minister to boost growth. It is clearly understood that it will take time for these packages to take effect and arrest the current economic slowdown.

‘The Great Indian Festival is important to us to bring the next 100 million customers from online, many of them from tier 3 and even tier 4 towns,’ said Manish Tiwary.

‘So far, we have covered the first 100 million, so for the next journey forward to reach the next 100 million Indian customers, we are getting as

Commissioning of the second Scorpene submarine in Mumbai, named Khanderi, the launch of the frigate Nilgiri and the commissioning of the Indian Navy’s largest dry dock, were hailed by Vice Admiral Ashwini Kumar as developments that would add to the Navy’s reach and combat sustenance. (Hindu September 18).

Corporate India’s thumbs up Welcoming the government’s Rs 70,00 crore package for stressed

When you sup with the Devil make sure you have a long spoon.

The Indian Air Force did just that, when reopening its advanced military airstrip in Arunachal Pradesh in close proximity to China’s Tibetan border, even as the Army wrapped up an operational exercise in eastern Ladakh near the Line of Actual Control with Chinese Tibet, included a fullscale ‘all arms integrated exercise’ at a ‘super high altitude with tanks, artillery, drones, helicopters, troops and parachute drops by the IAF. The exercise was launched by Air Marshal R.D. Mathur AOC-in-C Eastern Command and by Lt General Anil Chauhan, GOC Eastern Command (Times of India September 19).

Tarigami perceives Kashmir as debacle Mohammed Yusuf Tarigami, fourtime Communist Party of India (M) Member of the Kashmir Legislative Assembly made a fervent appeal to the Central government in New Delhi to listen to the voice of the Kashmiri people, who had faced difficult time before but nothing like the desperate situation now prevailing in the State. The detention of Farooq of the mainstream Conference was particularly disturbing (Statesman September 18).

BBC report A report filed by a local BBC Correspondent was all gloom and doom, with allegations of police and army brutality and a population on the brink of starvation. The camera showed no signs of the alleged malnutrition that tells of a looming famine. The reporter would have helped her cause to let the other side give their side on the situation. Mobile phones are still off limits, as the reporter explained, but land line telephones are operating normally, a fact she failed to mention.

Supreme Court on ground realities

Anjali Singha

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

nation, segment by segment, an economic stimulus package designed to kich-start the slowing economy. In her recent declaration, she gave the following snapshot of the key provisions *Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product to incentivise exports *Electronic refund module for quick and automated

IAF reopens airstrip in Arunachal Pradesh

The Supreme Court, supplied with confidential data on the terrorst threat in Jammu and Kashmir, pronounced that circumstances warrantes the present lockdown in the State. Attorney General K.R. Venugopal told a Bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi that since 1990, 41,866 persons had lost their lives in 71q,038 terroristrelated incidents. They included 14,038 civilians, 5,292 security personnel and 22,536 terrorists; since the current restrictions were put in place the bloodshed had ceased.

‘A terrible state of affairs...There are formidable reasons [for the lockdown]...These are security matters,’ said Justice S.A.Robde. The Supreme Court sanctioned the visit to four districts of Jammu and Kashmir by senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, ‘without indulging in any political activity or rally.’

(Hindu September 17).

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AsianVoiceNews

UK

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

13

28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

Govt to decide on planning appeal for Ambedkar museum The Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick MP has recovered an appeal concerning the future of the Dr Ambedkar Museum in North London. The museum is currently appealing against an enforcement notice issued by Camden Council, following their refusal of a retrospective planning application.

The MP said: “Given the exceptional importance of Dr Ambedkar in the story of the creation of modern India, and the lasting contribution of the British-Indian community on the shared cultural heritage of our country, I have decided to recover the appeal for determination by central Government.”

The decision to recover this appeal means that Central Government will decide the case based on a recommendation from an independent Inspector appointed by the Planning Inspectorate.

The Inspector will oversee an Inquiry into the appeal, due to commence on 24 September, following which he will prepare a report and recommen-

Dr Ambedkar

dation for Ministers.

The property on King Henry’s Road was converted into a museum dedicated to Dr Ambedkar who lived in the property while studying at the London School of Economics.

Dr Ambedkar was the first law and justice minister in independent India and is described as the "principal architect" of India's constitution.

The museum was inaugurated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015. The building was bought by the government of Maharashtra. This decision has been recovered in line with policy on the recovery of planning appeals, as set out in a Written Ministerial Statement of June 2008. In line with propriety guidance, the Secretary of State will not take the final decision on this case.

Jay Singh-Sohal receives Points of Light award from the Prime Minister Jay Singh-Sohal, from Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, has been recognised by the Prime Minister for his exceptional service commemorating Sikh contributions to the British Armed Forces. Jay led the successful campaign to create the UK’s only memorial to the more than 120,000 Sikh soldiers who fought during the First World War. Jay, who is the Conservative candidate for West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner, is an Army Reserve Captain, also works with the British Army to commemorate Sikh contributions to the British Armed Forces on Saragarhi Day, every September. The Battle of Saragarhi saw 21 Sikh soldiers fight for the British Indian Army and defend the North-West Frontier with Afghanistan against 10,000 enemy forces in 1897. While the battle has long been commemorated in India by the Indian Army, Jay was inspired to bring commemorations to the UK to serve as an opportunity to engage British Sikhs with their heritage and celebrate continued Sikh contributions to the British military today.

Jay is the latest recipient of the Points of Light award, which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements. He will be presented with his award by the Mayor of the West Midlands, Andy Street.

In a personal letter to Jay, Prime

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Minister Boris Johnson said, “I know you do this with no thought of praise or reward, but allow me to offer my own recognition of how you have created our country’s first memorial to the 120,000 brave Sikh soldiers who fought during the First World War. It is fitting that we honour their enormous courage and sacrifice in ensuring the freedoms we all enjoy today.”

Andy Street, West Midlands Mayor said, “I have known Jay for around three years now. He is hugely passionate about our Armed Forces and the historical contribution of Sikh soldiers in WW1 and WW2.

This has led to the creation of the permanent Sikh WW1 memorial at the National Arboretum and has significantly raised the profile of the Battle of Saragarhi. He is extremely well deserving of this honour and I am pleased his work has been recognised by the Prime Minister.”

On receiving the award, Jay said, "I’m delighted to be receiving a Points of Light award from the Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Telling the story of shared British Sikh history through the battle of Saragarhi has been a fantastic journey working with wonderful people with the same enthusiasm for our heritage. It continues to inspire many more to serve our country in whichever way they can. I’m proud of the part I’ve been able to play in driving grassroots community activity in this way. It’s important to me, as it creates better understanding between diverse communities and

Jay Singh-Sohal

gives young people confidence and encouragement in seeking to achieve their goals. I hope my award encourages many others to do the same.”

Jay is the 1244th winner of the Points of Light award, which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA. Over 6,000 Points of Light have been awarded in the USA, and former Presidents have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK. There is a similar cross-party approach to the UK programme and MPs from different parties often present their constituents with their Points of Light awards. Regardless of whether it’s a doctor restoring local monuments in her free time, a father teaching young people life skills, or a local musician giving a voice to lonely people, the Points of Light award honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.

14 COMMUNITY

AsianVoiceNews

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28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

'Music teaches you resilience Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in an ever-changing world' Rupanjana Dutta Dr Peter Chadha and Zaki Cooper Many of you may remember Pallab Sarker from his days helping Labour cabinet ministers like Tony McNulty connect with the community, before starting his successful PR firm Apollo Strategic Communications.

From Walthamstow, East London, Sarker is also an indie acoustic singersongwriter who performed at the Global Teacher Prize Concert in Dubai, along side Rita Ora, Liam Payne and Little Mix. Indie is music produced independently from commercial record labels- a process that may include an autonomous, doit-yourself approach to recording and publishing music.

Since the release of his debut album 'Grey Day', Sarker's music took flight on underground college radio stations in the USA, receiving critical acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. He is currently writing his follow up solo album, once again choosing to record locally, tapping into the borough of Walthamstow’s talented and eclectic music scene.

Sarker was involved with the Labour government, when it was in power.

He was a press adviser to various cabinet ministers, including Alan Johnson, Jacqui Smith, Tony McNulty and gradually he started combining both work and music. He performed at a gig for Children in Need with the then Home Secretary Tony McNulty. “I was always combining my work with music. I was even the government's press adviser for Prince Andrew. I worked with various trade ministers and even went to India,” Sarker told Asian Voice.

Around 2010, he left his career as a civil servant, and created a PR company Apollo Strategic Communications and started doing business with connections he built over the years, including Silicon valley companies

and think tank foundations.

Sarker's parents, who are Bengali Hindus originally from Bangladesh, came to Britain in the 1970s.

Originally they lived in a one-bed room apartment in London, while his father worked at Thomas Cook.

But soon they moved to Peterborough and the company helped his father to buy a nice big family home, where Sarker was born and raised.

Speaking to the newsweekly, Sarker said, “When I was growing up there were only seven Bengali families in Peterborough. So they were the family my parents knew away from home. My school was essentially white, full of English kids. I was the first Asian in my secondary school, which was a selective institution and after that I went to University of York.

Rock music was quite huge then. I listened to a lot of indie music and I formed a band. After university I moved to London, but we still did gigs everywhere. We toured around and we did quite good.”

His parents like most Asian parents could not take a chance and let Sarker persue his career in music. “Our parents gave up their lives in Bangladesh and India to come and settle here. So they wanted me to be successful. Education was very important. But having said that, my mum was a very good musician herself.

“But then music is not

something that you suddenly get interested in. People seem to like it from childhood, like I did. My mum said ever since I was three year old, I would be fascinated with a guitar. My parents could not afford a formal guitar lesson, so I taught myself. I was always passionate about music and wrote songs. My parents were traditional, but now they are extremely supportive of my music.”

Sarker however believes that Asian parents are now changing- a long waited transformation. People have realised that there are a number of career options available. With the world moving so fast, and AI taking over jobs, he insists that arts are important for career growth. “Music teaches you resilience,” he added.

“Performing on stage also teaches you confidence.

Getting on with different cultures- this is what the world is about now.”

Pallab is also an Artist in Residence, an initiative of school teacher Andria Zafirakou to bring artists into schools that are located in deprived London communities.

He attends schools, where he talks about mental health and how music improves prospects in life and various other subjects, encouraging Asian children to embrace music and push boundaries beyond studies.

For more information, please see: www.pallabsarker.com

In a few weeks' time, Westminster Councillor Gotz Mohindra and his colleagues on a planning sub-committee of the council will deliberate on a particularly high-profile application. The matter in hand will be for the proposed Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in Victoria Tower Gardens, next door to the UK Parliament in Westminster.

Whilst the government has been instrumental in developing the plans, there is also strong cross-party and inter-faith support. It was announced by David Cameron's administration with significant funding, and other former PMs - Theresa May, Gordon Brown and Tony Blair - as well as the London Mayor Sadiq Khan have added their backing. Senior faith leaders such as the Chief Rabbi, the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Catholic Cardinal have also spoken in support. At the same time, the scheme has attracted some noisy opposition from local groups and others.

The Memorial will honour the six million Jewish men, women and children who were murdered in the Holocaust, as well as other victims of Nazi persecution, including Roma, gay and disabled people. It will be accompanied by an exhibition which will tell the story of the Holocaust and also explore subsequent genocides, including those in Cambodia, Rwanda, and Bosnia.

The display will also highlight Britain's role in the War effort and the heroic efforts of allowing 10,000 Jewish children into the country (though tragically 1.5 million children were murdered in the Holocaust).

The site chosen, next door to Parliament, has a particular resonance. It will be a reminder to all what happens when democracy and civilisation break down. The Holocaust Foundation considered 50 sites and made a recommendation for this site in Westminster to the UK government, which was accepted in 2016. The design of the Memorial, led by British Ghanaian architect David Adjay, consists of 23 tall bronze fins, representing the countries in which Jewish communities were killed during the Holocaust.

The project team has considered factors like security and visitor management.

The clever design integrates into the environment ensuring 93% of the surface of the existing park. This project is important as it will teach generations of school children about the consequences of unchecked hatred or dehumanization of "others" in all its forms. As a case in point, this year, we are marking the centenary anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh atrocity in Amritsar, when 20,000 innocent Hindus, Muslim and Sikhs, including women and children, were ruthlessly shot by British troops, because they were dehumanised.

Car-free day and yoga sessions On Sunday 22nd September, London celebrated car-free day, where yoga and race go-kart sessions replaced cars and buses on the streets.

Away from the centre, 15 boroughs ran their own Car Free Day celebrations and more than 340 "play streets" - safe spaces for local people to socialise and play - were approved by 24 boroughs.

Mayor of London said he wanted, "Londoners to just imagine what is possible with fewer cars on our streets.

"There are thousands of Londoners who die prematurely. We need Londoners to understand the importance of reducing the pollution on our streets," he said.

Sadiq Khan had even criticised

some “anti-walking, anti-cycling” councils as he himself cycled across Tower Bridge. An estimated 17 miles of road in the city were closed to traffic in a bid to control environment pollution.

He said he also hoped to increase the number of people who either walk, cycle or use public transport as their preferred mode of commute. As of today there 63% people who commute through public transport however, Khan hopes to increase that number up to 80% by 2041 while suggesting that national government needed to do more to reduce air pollution within the capital.

Organisers estimated that more than 150,000 participated in the day’s festivities. The event was geared at drawing awareness to the dangers of toxic air and encouraging city dwellers to explore the capital without the use of a pollution-emitting vehicle.

More than seventy years after the end of the Holocaust, this Memorial is needed.

Holocaust survivors are dying out; soon we will have none left. Several survivors still continue their good work giving talks in schools around the country. But we are not too many years away from having no survivors left. Despite all the good work that has been done on Holocaust education, anti-Semitism persists and is growing alarmingly. It comes from the far-right, the "new left" and radical sections of the Muslim communities. By teaching future generations about the Holocaust and the perils of anti-Semitism, we can do something positive to counter racism and inculcate values of tolerance, understanding and civic decency. School children will learn about the Holocaust and other genocides. As a result, they will learn about the dangers of hatred, scapegoating and bullying.

What is the relevance of all of this to the Indian/Asian community? First, it enjoys a special kinship and chemistry with the Jewish community. Both communities know what it is to come to this country from migrant backgrounds, and build a life here. Like Jews, Indians have suffered from discrimination and prejudice, and understand what it feels like to be picked on and scapegoated (although overall Britain is a remarkably tolerant country).

Second, there is some interesting history. Gandhi, whose 150th anniversary of his birth we are about to mark, had a number of Jewish friends, particularly from his time in South Africa. Back in the 1930s, he even suggested that Jews could flee to India - "In a population of 300 million, what is a few hundred thousand?"

Third, Indians and Jews are, on the whole, model British citizens. We are proudly patriotic and also want to make a contribution to the economic, social and public life of this country. The Memorial and learning centre will teach important British values of tolerance and openness, much needed at this time.

The Holocaust Memorial proposed for Westminster is a landmark project. We encourage you to support it and, in particular, all Westminster residents to write to your local councillors. If it goes ahead, London will join the likes of Berlin, Washington and Jerusalem with moving and educational Holocaust monuments.

The legacy of the project will be to teach future generations of British children about our dark history and the positive lessons we can learn from this.

Dr Peter Chadha and Zaki Cooper are Co-Chairs of the Indian Jewish Association. Seehttps://www.indianjewishassociation.co.uk/

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28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

Shruti Saujani

BEING ACTIVE, TAKING EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING SERIOUSLY

On Her Role in Diversifying Cricket

On Friday, 20th September, Cllr Ketan Sheth, the Lead Governor of the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) hosted an event around emotional wellbeing with Inner Space. Close to 100 members attended the event with spiritual discussions by Sister Jayanti, European Director of the Brahma Kumaris, Ozkan Gedik senior CBT Therapist and Priya Rajendran CBT therapist.

Rajendran spoke about Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme (IAPT) and mentioned that in the past year over one million people have accessed these services.

She also noted how Brent Talking Therapies Service offers a range of support, some of which can be accessed online, over the phone for direct self referral or through a GP. Brent has over 335,000 people from many cultures, religions and ethnicities with over 149 languages spoken in its schools in its borough.Yet, people are challenged around emotional and mental well-being owing to a stressed work life balance and fast-paced technology-led culture.

Shruti Saujani

Sunetra Senior gleaming symbol of grass-roots diversity, Shruti is the City Programme manager for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). The raring role model directs a national engagement team, whose job it is to recruit 2,000 South Asian women into strong “activator” roles, similar to her own.

A

These ladies will lead the ECB’s drive to enhance entry-level cricket through their widespread youthful Shruti commented: “the Urban sports programme: All Stars Cricket.

Centres are a key part of our South “We are trying new and innovative Asian Action Plan, especially commitways to take cricket to the children at ted to engaging local South Asian comthe heart of cities,” Shruti elaborated, munities and beyond. Cricket is, after “to inspire the next generation to take all, a game that the Indian diaspora up the game.” Indeed, with the England loves.” Indeed, with Shruti overseeing cricket team jubilantly winning the her project across seven core cities, the World Cup this year, there is no better ECB have chosen to invest in areas that time to “increase interest in the game have a larger South-Asian population. with more people playing, and following our great sport,” as Shruti stated.

“Anecdotally,” she added, “I have seen more different types of people, both male and female, and varying ethnicities, pick up a bat and ball than ever before.

There is no doubt that this summer has been incredible for cricket, and this autumn should only get better.” *** Shruti also told us more specifically of Shruti’s work forms part of the ECB’s the increasing ambition she’s seen impressive South Asian Action plan, among young South-Asian started recently in 2018: “this women under her guidaims to engage South “The ance as the city proAsian communities in Urban Centres gramme manager: every level of the “ECB provide the sport.” As well as are a key part of training, support championing mulour South Asian and kit they need to ticulturalism and Action Plan, especially become an activawomen in the coaching sport, the ECB is committed to engaging tor, youngsters in cricket improving local local South Asian between the ages of access to the tradifive and eight. It doestional game, boosting communities and n't stop there either: social accessibility at beyond.” once an activator, we will the institutional foundasupport these women’s ongotion. “We want to provide ing development, be it in or outside quality cricket facilities in innerof cricket. As a result, I’ve seen young city areas,” Shruti told Asian Voice.

South-Asian women not only wanting Earlier this year, Leyton Cricket Ground benefitted from a joint regeneration project, where the ECB collaborated with the local Waltham Forest Council to transform the area into a ‘worldclass cricket hub’ which would encourage neighbouring residents to participate on the same turf as the place of international matches. The creativity of the inclusive initiative extends to the practical range of ways in which the sport can be played, and the complementary facilities on site. This includes All Stars, Women’s Soft Ball and Tape Ball to teach, but also become umpires and Cricket, and a real food hub, boasting scorers for the game.” both a restaurant and cafe, as well as Stimulating interest in the sport growing beds ‘allowing local residents interpersonally then, this can only to cultivate food which will then be mean more diversity at international sold as part at a regular food market levels. “There are so many skills you selling local produce on-site.’

'JIHAD IS THE ONLY SOLUTION', MUSLIM WOMEN UNDER INVESTIGATION can gain from cricket. The biggest ones that I've seen with the women we have worked with are confidence, team cohesion and just having the opportunity to be themselves.” And so, at the beating heart of an organisation which symbolises sentimental English pride, Shruti’s achievements not only reflect great representational progress, but at once the sport’s promising modern-day stand. Once hailed as an exclusive ‘Gentleman’s Game’, it now emerges principled and democratic: not only opened to the talents of the wider public, but actively driving cohesion within the nation too. “Cricket has the power to bring everyone together,” Shruti affably concluded. “That’s what grabs me most about it. Regardless of age, gender and, ethnicity, there is something for everyone within the game - I love it.”

Being appointed as the City Programme manager has been a big stride in professional diversity itself.

What do you personally hope to do in the role?

It is a phenomenal opportunity and I can't thank ECB enough for putting me in this position. As the City programme manager, I have a ambition, responsibility and hope to show the community that females from a south Asian background can be successful in sport and beyond. I also want to fly the flag for diversity, as we know it's a huge strength for any team or organisation.

You are a manager, but had you ever hoped to become a professional cricketer yourself?

It would have been so great to be the next Isa Guha and I would have loved to play a sport that I love so much, however, I am incredibly lucky to be leading a project which keeps me close to the game and able to inspire people through cricket.

What has been a big highlight during your time as City Programme Manager?

Seeing a range of women from as young as 16 up to 60+ step up and lead an All Star Cricket session has been amazing. To see the women, grow in confidence, empower one another and form friendships both locally and nationally has been so great to witness and I hope it continues.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/6 45964329168052/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shrutisaujani/

Police are investigating an activist once nominated for a Muslim of the year award after she was filmed preaching to a rally that “jihad is the only solution”. Sumaira Farrukh made this statement during a demonstration in Birmingham last month, attended by hundreds of people protesting against India’s plans to revoke Article 370 which gave Kashmir a special status.

However, the journalist and founder of Muslim channel Noor TV has defended the phrase and said that “jihad” simply meant “a struggle”. According to the Daily Mail, she claims to have been singled out because she is “an outspoken woman in a headscarf”.

In the video she is seen on the steps of the city’s Council House, telling the crowd: “There is only one slogan for today.

It is to remove curfew from Kashmir”. But she denies accusations of inciting violence and now the police have examined the footage and visited her at her home.

CHANCELLOR OFFERS ADVICE TO INDIAN STUDENTS

Lord Paul with Rustomjee students

The students from Rustomjee Academy for Global Careers were in the UK for the University’s graduation ceremonies which took place from 12 -20 September 2019.

They met with the Rt Hon The Lord Paul of Marylebone, PC, who presided over the Schools of Engineering and Pharmacy graduation ceremony on Friday, 20 September 2019.

Rustomjee is a trans-national education (TNE) partner institution, which means the students complete a University of Wolverhampton degree in their own country.

The 23 students visiting had completed degrees in International Hospitality Management and Automotive Engineering. They shared their experiences of the course, their time in England and their career aspirations.

Lord Paul also met with international students from India and the Ivory Coast who are studying on-campus in Wolverhampton.

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18 FINANCE - UK

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, It is not what you know but who you know, that makes all the difference, they say. There is a scene in the latest outstanding Gurdinder Chadha movie, ‘Blinded by the Light’ featuring the British Pakistani teenager who is a Bruce Springsteen fan. He is finally accepted by his father when Springsteen sounds like Springstein, and he may be a Jewish role model.

Like that father I am over the moon that this paper has organised the Asian-Jewish Business Network, the only business networking group bringing Jewish and Asian business leaders together. I am sure that we at City Hindus Network (cityhindus.org) will support them. Their first event is a must-attend - https://ajbn.co.uk .

The two key complaints that Hindus make about each other is: First we do not help each other, secondly we actively put obstacles in the path of each other. Of course these are generalisations and like all communities we could do more.

Hindus often look at the Jewish community as a role model for co-operation. And indeed, when I worked in Congress I studied the Israeli lobby group, AIPAC, as the admirable role model on how a community working together can effectively influence Government policy.

A while ago a friend of a friend came to see me. He had been out of work for seven years. He was a Jewish. He was beaten by rejections. His attitude smelt of defeat. Every time I gave him advice on finding a job, he would interrupt about how it wouldn’t work.

I told him, he is taking the energy out of the room.

Why would anybody employ him? But I also remembered the words from the week before I had read in New Delhi, at Birla House, the place where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated – ‘the job of a leader is to inspire fearlessness’.

And for one hour I sat with this stranger and gave him various ideas on getting a job. But the best idea I had – I told him that I would write to some wealthy Jewish friends of mine, and say to them, "My Indian community holds your Jewish community up as a role model for cooperation. I met someone from your Jewish community.

“He is a good man. I am going to help him. But I want you to prove me right, and meet him and help him too.

And then, when you do, I am going to write about it, and give my own community a specific example of the role models you are and indeed an example that if we Indians and Hindus do not help each other, then those that do will ensure we are left behind.

"So prove yourselves to be the role models we believe you to be, and motivate the best in my Indian community to be like the best in yours."

How does this story end? My Jewish friends did indeed write back. They couldn’t offer jobs – which is fair enough.

But they made the effort. That’s how communities are built. Hope you will join me at the Asian Jewish Business Network.

London surpasses Mumbai in ` trading

London has overtaken India's financial capital Mumbai to become the top centre for trading the rupee. That’s adding to a sense of urgency among local authorities to deepen the onshore market. Citing the latest survey from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the report pointed out that the average daily volumes for rupee in the UK soared to $46.8 billion in April, more than five-fold jump from $8.8 billion in 2016. Which exceeded the $34.5 billion recorded in India.

The dollar-rupee offshore non-deliverable forwards saw a three-fold increase in over the last three years. Rupee trades also ballooned in Singapore, Hong Kong and the United States over the three years as per the report. This was seen across products including spot, outright forwards, foreign-exchange swaps etc. Thus, more products also ramp up volumes which can be used by the domestic market.

Indian-origin entrepreneur's start-up leads London fintech boom: report A London-based start-up third-largest fintech spearheaded by an Indianinvestment deal in origin entrepreneur is leading Europe after Berlin the UK capital's financial and Stockholm. technology boom as it In the first eight overtakes New York in the months of 2019 sector. London has taken top alone, over USD 2 spot in 2019 among fintech billion has been investment deals on a global invested in Londonlevel, with a total of 114 deals, based businesses pushing New York in second across 114 deals, place (101). San Francisco is in Rishi Khosla surpassing the third place (80), with Beijing (24) and totals seen in any previous year, notes Singapore (23) competing for fourth Mayor of London's promotional and fifth. agency. "London is the capital of The data shows that Indian-origin capital. And as these numbers show, entrepreneur Rishi Khosla's start-up London is innovating to stay ahead, OakNorth, a scale-up business lender with more FinTech deals than which uses an artificial intelligence anywhere else in the world," said Laura model to provide loans for small and Citron, CEO of London & Partners. medium-sized companies to be able to London leads overall fintech grow their businesses, brought in USD investment in Europe with USD 2.11 440 million into London, making it the billion investment, followed by Berlin

SBI launches digital banking app in UK State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday night, launched its digital banking app YONO for customers of SBI (UK) Limited, by State Bank of India Chairman Rajnish Kumar at an exclusive event hosted in coordination with the UK India Business Council (UKIBC).

Originally launched in 2017 by SBI in India, YONO has become very popular, especially among the youth, as it combines mobile banking and lifestyle. SBI has now decided to take YONO globally, starting from the United Kingdom.

Available on both the App and Google Play stores, YONO SBI UK is an enhanced mobile app which is simple, intuitive, and user friendly for

customers to carry out almost all their banking needs.

YONO SBI UK offers numerous features like easy UK money transfers or payments, remittances to India available 24x7 with attractive exchange rates on remittances to India etc. The facility of opening an account through the app will be made available very shortly.

The app will allow customers with accounts at both SBI UK and SBI in India to see both accounts through one app, thereby improving the customer experience and ease-of-use. The app would also allow customers to change their address, e-mail, mobile numbers online.

The app also comes with a strong

cordon of device binding to protect the security of customer funds.

Rajnish Kumar, SBI Chairman, said: “I am delighted to the launch YONO for our UK customers, after its success in India. I am sure the easy-touse features and refreshing design will ensure that the app offers a positive customer experience, and showcases the Bank’s strong focus on digital banking, as well as highlight SBI’s technological capabilities.”

Sharad Chandak, Regional Head of SBI UK, said: “I am confident that YONO will prove to be an asset to our customers here in the UK. I look forward to seeing customers make use of the many new features YONO SBI UK provides.”

Mobile Banking: Click a selfie and open a current account at ICICI Bank UK In a recent move towards online banking, ICICI Bank UK PLC has announced the launch of a digital account opening facility. The first-ofits-kind service by an Indian bank in United Kingdom (UK), this facility allows customers to open their personal current accounts instantly using the Bank’s mobile application. It enables Non Resident Indians (holding Indian or British passport) and expatriate Indians (holding Indian passport) moving to the UK for work, to open a current account by downloading ‘ICICI Bank UK iMobile’ from the App Store.

Customers no longer have to visit a branch, and all documentation is conducted electronically, enabling the account to be activated instantly thus allowing customers to start transacting immediately.

Customers will receive a contactless debit card at their correspondence address within a few days either in the UK or in India and will also be able to remit money 24x7 instantly to any ICICI Bank account in India.

“ICICI Bank has always leveraged technology to pioneer digital innovations and provide world-class banking experience to its customers.

We have introduced the opening of a current account in digital manner to further improve engagement with our customers.

“This unique proposition heralds a new era of opening an account in few minutes, a marked improvement over a few days taken earlier. We believe that ease of banking is a key parameter for individuals when they look for a banking partner,” said Mr. Loknath

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(USD 881 million), Stockholm (USD 734 million), Paris (USD 330 million) and Milan (USD 49 million). Based on the analysis for the number of fintech deals in 2019 of the top 10 cities. London tops the chart with most number of international investors, with 54 per cent of total venture capitalist (VC) investment involving an investor from outside the UK. London also attracts a wider international variety of investors than other European hubs, with 39 per cent of investors coming from outside Europe, compared to 32 per cent in Berlin and Paris with 24 per cent. A country-wise comparison of global fintech investment by deal value reveals the US in top place (USD 9.37 billion), the UK second place (USD 2.29 billion), followed by Germany (USD 998.8 million), China (USD 770.8 million) and Sweden (USD 736.7 million).

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Mishra, MD & CEO, ICICI Bank UK PLC. ‘ICICI Bank UK iMobile’ can be downloaded on both android and iOS based smartphones.

Guide to downloading ICICI Bank UK iMobile application: • Download the app and fill in basic details like e-mail id, password, etc.

• Capture first page of the passport: The app is equipped with state-of-theart technology ‘Optical Character Recognition’ (OCR) that recognises written characters in documents • Click a selfie and submit • Instantly, the current account gets activated along with instant password and mobile PIN. One can immediately start using the account.

• The contactless debit card is sent at the customer’s correspondence address either in UK or India.

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EMPTY COFFERS

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Sow & Reap London Property Investment

Asking for a price reduction last minute can work from time to time, especially if backed by a sound argument such as a survey report; as any other buyer would face the same hurdles – presumably.

From what I have seen the appetite for property has not dampened, despite the three pronged attacked on the sector namely regulation, stamp duty and unfair taxes. This too with the backdrop of Brexit uncertainty. Despite these the appetite remains strong, though I detect extremely choosy. Only prime bits which are also discounted are being pounced on; and that too by several property vultures in one go.

A property in Ealing which we were so lucky to get our hands on, slipped through the net. The deal could have been closed in my opinion.

However, the solicitor was too relaxed and a little pedantic. There was more talking and very

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! Q: Do I need to do right to rent checks on my tenants?

A: Yes. You, or your agent, will need to check the tenant’s eligibility to rent a property in the UK. What are Right to Rent checks?

Following an initial trial in the North, Right to Rent checks have been rolled out nationwide affecting all residential landlords. Since February 2016, landlords are required to know their tenants in much the same way as employers are required to know their employees. In particular, they need to know the immigration status of all of their adult

little doing. Lawyers generally don’t tend to think commercially, they do not know how to measure the risk associated with issues, let alone quantify them.

At times a mountain is made from a mole hill.

Their concern isn’t necessarily doing the deal.

It seems to me it is more to do with whether they can be sued at a later date. Therefore, any unknown is a no go. However, it is in this space one gets deals.

I recall a property on Shirland Road, Maida Vale.

This was a freehold block consisting of 5 flats. It was in an auction, and all the tenancies in the property were marked as unknown. We heard from a source that despite the tenancies being marked as such, they were all in fact ASTs. This meant the tenants could be evicted. Having a tenant which cannot be evicted from a property means the property could potentially be worth significantly less.

For example, we recently sourced a penthouse on the 9th floor of a purpose built private block in central London for a client. The property was purchased for £575K and rented for £750pw. No work was done on the property. This represents a yield of 6.78%. Such yields are rare in central London. This is a strong indicator of how good a deal this property is for our investor.

The market then was more buoyant. It’s not so easy to pull off a flip in this environment.

You need to adapt according to the weather and the terrain. What you do have now is a lot of

tenants. There are exemptions, such as commercial leases, employer provided accommodation, care homes and so on; but for the majority of landlords and agents in the UK this has been an important development. The reason is that the penalties are high if mistakes are made, and the law is still relatively new, so the worry about making mistakes is real. The Immigration Act slightly improves the position offering more defenses, but essentially due diligence for landlords, and those serving them, got harder in 2016.

The requirements l

juicy deals floating up to the surface, this is a rarity.

We took the decision to purchase the property.

We exchanged on the property for £1.1M, and traded it for £1.3M only 3 days after the exchange. Therefore, our client made £200K and only used £110K in the deal.

l

Make a full copy of all the documents (front and back)

If they do not meet the guidance, make further checks. For example: l l l

Check the original documents for

leave that permission has been renewed

inconsistencies (dates across documents; that they look like the person sitting in front of you etc.)

Note the date of expiration on any leave periods Hold the document copies on file with the client’s consent Have a system in place to check back prior to the expiration date on the

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19

28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

This week we got a call from an agent, regarding a property we got gazumped on. The person who gazumped us also got gazumped. However, it has now come back to us. It seems the other buyer thought they would get away with a sharp reduction at the point of exchange. This is an age old and boring ‘trick’ in the industry. You pull the contract and then do all the required enquiries and searches, then when you are ready to do an exchange you attempt to reduce the price sharply. The idea is to wear the seller down, and then tempt them with an immediate deal so they can be shot of the property.

Suresh Vagjiani

REAL ESTATE VOICE

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Once you are satisfied they meet the right to rent requirements, you can go ahead with the rental procedure. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it??? If this all sound a little too much work, and more red tape that the government has passed on to you, then contact our office. We are more than happy to provide the checks, and even a tenant for your property.

If you are going to check your own tenant’s validity, then we would suggest that if the tenant does not have a UK passport, visit the Home Office website and read their guidelines.

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20 FINANCE - INDIA

AsianVoiceNews

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28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

Modi govt cuts corporate tax rate to 22 per cent In one of its biggest and boldest booster dose to a slowing down economy and reverse the pessimism in India Inc, the Narendra Modi government announced a cut in corporate taxes hoping to kickstart stalled private investment and fuel growth. Less than three months after the Union Budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a massive £14.5 billion tax bonanza that will see the tax rate come down to 22% (effective 25.17% with cess and surcharge) from 29.5% for companies that do not seek exemptions, and to 15% (effective 17%) for manufacturing start-ups. This will not be the last as more measures to reduce red tape and attract investment are on the anvil. At present, the tax rate for companies with annual sales of over £40 million is 30 per cent (exclusive of surcharge and cess) and 25 per cent for those with a turnover below £40 million.

This move, along with other measures such as relief on the Minimum Alternate Tax (MAT) payout, the surcharge on capital gains on sale of equity shares and on the tax incidence on share buy-backs, will cost the exchequer £14.5 billion annually and comes as part of a series of measures the government has announced after consultations with the industry to deal with the deepening slowdown.

Besides, Sitharaman sought to “stabilise the flow of funds into capital markets” and announced

Nirmala Sitharaman

removal of the additional 20% tax on listed companies that had announced buyback before July 5, when the provision was announced as part of the budget proposals. The reduction in corporate tax, effectively, brings India’s ‘headline’ corporate tax rate broadly at par with the average of 23 per cent rate in Asian countries.

The enhanced surcharge shall also not apply to capital gains arising on sale of any security, including derivatives, in the hands of Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs). Since FPIs are the largest players in the derivatives market, this move will benefit them the most. “We are now almost at par with many of the Asian and South East Asian countries in terms of corporate tax rates. Today, we are probably one of the lowest and at par with the lowest in South East Asian countries. The rate at which we are now going to tax is 22% for the existing companies. For the newer

Steep decline in student enrolment in B.Tech, M.Tech According to the latest All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE), a noticeable drop in the student enrolment in professional higher education courses has been seen for the year in 2018-19. A dramatic fall of 9 per cent in those pursuing engineering courses in B.Tech and M.Tech has led to an overall dip in enrolment in professional courses, which has hit a four-year low.

From 2014-15 to 2018-19, the number of students enrolled in an M.Tech course fell by more than half from 2,89,311 to 1,35,500.

B.Tech enrollment also declined, but not so substantially, seeing a fall of around 11 per cent from 42,54,919 to 37,70,949 in the same time period. However, some professional programmes like MBA, MBBS, B.Ed and LLB showed spike in enrollments. The number of students pursuing an MBA, for instance, grew from 4,09,432 in 2014-15 to 4,62,853 in 2018-19. Similarly, enrolment in B.Ed. jumped by almost 80%, from 6,57,194 in 2014-15 to 11,75,517 last year.

“The highest number of students are enrolled in Arts courses. The total number of students enrolled in Arts courses are 93,49,000, of which 46.96% are male and 53.03% are female. Science is the second major stream with 47,13,000 students, of which 49% are male and 51% are female.

Commerce is the third major stream with 40,30,000 students enrolled. The share of male students enrolled in Commerce is 51.2%, whereas female enrolment is 48.8%,” the survey states.

investments which are coming in and start manufacturing before 2023, 15% tax rate will be applied. In addition, surcharge and cess are added. The new tax rates are going to draw new investments and make companies who want to expand existing businesses, invest more,” Sitharaman said.

“The step to cut corporate tax is historic. It will give a great stimulus to #MakeInIndia, attract private investment from across the globe, improve competitiveness of our private sector, create more jobs and result in a win-win for 130 crore Indians,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet.

“The announcements in the last few weeks clearly demonstrate that our government is doing everything to make India a better place to do business, improve opportunities for all sections of society and increase prosperity to make India a $5 trillion economy,” Modi said.

The reduction in corporate

tax rate for domestic companies would be effective from April 1 this year, while the change for new domestic companies would apply for those which get incorporated on or after October 1, 2019 and start producing on or before March 31, 2023. These changes have been brought in through the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Ordinance 2019 amending the Income-tax Act 1961 and the Finance (No 2) Act 2019.

The government also announced other changes to attract fund flows to the equity markets, while providing companies the flexibility in making their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) payments.

In order to stabilise the flow of funds into the capital market, the government removed the enhanced surcharge on capital gains arising on sale of equity share in a company or a unit of an equity oriented fund or a unit of a business trust liable for securities transaction tax, in the hands of an individual, Hindu Undivided Family, Association of Persons and others.

The finance minister said economic buoyancy created by these measures will improve government revenues. “We want more investments and Make in India, which itself means a lot more investment, employment generation and a lot more economic activity. As a result of which economy will give us more revenues,” Sitharaman said.

Petronet to invest $2.5 bn in Driftwood LNG terminal in US In a move to strengthen energy cooperation between India and the United States, PM Narendra Modi, on the first day of his visit to the US announced that India’s largest LNG importer Petronet will invest $2.5 billion in Houston-based Tellurian’s proposed Driftwood LNG export terminal, in exchange for rights to 5 million metric tonnes of LNG per year over 40 years. The agreement also includes PLL making investment in the equity of USD 28 billion Driftwood project in Louisiana to secure the LNG. The deal will increase India’s energy imports from the US and help reduce trade deficit, which US President Donald Trump has often complained about in the past.

Modi’s first engagement in Houston was a CEO round-table with oil majors.

MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said CEOs of 17 global energy companies participated in the round-

table. The combined net worth of these companies, he said, was $1trillion and they together had presence in 150 countries. “...Objective of the meeting was to deepen our energy cooperation as part of our strategic energy partnership,’’ said Kumar.

“On the sidelines, an MoU was signed between Tellurian and Petronet LNG. Petronet will invest USD 2.5 billion in Tellurian's proposed Driftwood LNG export terminal, in exchange for the rights to 5 million metric tons of LNG per year over 40 years," MEA spokesman said.

The Petronet deal, the largest by an Indian company in US LNG, came after PM Modi had a meeting with the CEOs of top US-based oil companies. “CEOs talked about enhancing their footprint in India. They lauded the government’s efforts towards ease of doing business, ...deregulation in the sector, supported reforms and policies and

were upbeat on the Indian economy.’’ “It is an honour to sign the MoU with Petronet in the presence of PM Narendra Modi. At Tellurian, we look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with Petronet in the Driftwood project,” Tellurian’s president and CEO Meg Gentle said.

Petronet will spend $2.5 billion for an 18% equity stake in the Driftwood LNG terminal - the largest outside holding so far in the project and negotiate the purchase of 5 million tonnes of gas per annum, Gentle said.

Tellurian and Petronet will endeavour to finalise the transaction agreements by March 31, 2020, they added.

The Driftwood project includes natural gas production, gathering, processing and transportation facilities, along with Driftwood LNG, a proposed 27.6 mtpa liquefaction export facility that will be located near Lake Charles, Louisiana on the US Gulf Coast.

in brief CARE DOWNGRADES RCAP TO ‘DEFAULT’ Reliance Capital (RCap), with a debt of about £3.5 billion across the group, has been downgraded to ‘default’ rating by CARE Ratings because of a day’s delay in payment on some of its bonds. Since mutual funds have very low exposure to the papers issued by the Anil Ambani-promoted company, the fund industry is mostly insulated from the default, top industry officials said. Rcap said that the delay in payment of interest was because its bank had a technical glitch on September 9, the day interest payment was due. And the payments were completed to the satisfaction of its lenders on September 11, the next working day. It also blamed CARE for not taking that into account the technical issue the company had faced as it downgraded the group’s holding company for all financial sector activities by eight notches, from ‘BB’ to ‘D’. CARE had arbitrarily disregarded the confirmation provided by independent agencies “that established the alleged delay was on account of a technical glitch in bank servers, while funds had duly been arranged on the due date,” the intimation to the exchanges said.

FPIS WITHDRAW £419.3 MN FROM CAPITAL MKTS Foreign investors have pulled out a net sum of £419.3 million from the Indian capital markets in September so far, but the trend is expected to reverse on the back of fiscal relief measures announced by the government, experts said. The Centre slashed corporate tax rates by around 10 percentage points and said the enhanced tax surcharge will not apply on capital gains arising from sale of any security, including derivatives in the hands of FPIs. “The measures will act as a catalyst for supporting the slowing investment rate, boost corporate earnings, improve aggregate demand as corporates pass on some of the benefits to consumers and attract FPI flows into India,” said Vijay Chandok, MD and CEO, ICICI Securities.

ZEE STAKE SALE MAY FACE ARBITRATION ORDER HURDLE The interim order in the arbitration between Essel Group main promoter Subhash Chandra and Indiabulls could potentially complicate the case for fund houses that are yet to get about £330 million from Chandra’s Essel group.

Although Essel Group said that the shares they are selling are already pledged and the order relates to shares not pledged, but fund houses are still scouting for clarity on the matter. In a related development, fund houses that had in February this year entered into an agreement to not sell Zee Entertainment shares after Essel Group delayed payment to them on loans Chandra had taken by pledging the shares of Zee Entertainment, may extend the last date beyond September 30. Under the earlier agreement signed between lenders and Essel Group, it had till this month-end to pay to mutual funds and NBFCs.

MINISTER CONFIDENT OF A GUJARATI SETTING UP PHARMA UNIT IN J&K Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Minister of state for shipping, chemicals and fertilizers, while addressing the businessmen at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (GCCI) said that a Gujarati will set up the first pharmaceutical unit in Kashmir. Mandaviya, who was speaking on 'Business opportunities in Jammu & kashmir' also praised the entrepreneurial skills of Gujaratis. “I am confident… I also look after the pharmaceutical department, as well as chemicals and petrochemicals… the first pharmaceutical unit (in Kashmir) will be set up by a Gujarati,” said Mandaviya. Pointing out how Gujarati firms were the first to take advantage of the relaxations offered by Himachal Pradesh to pharmaceutical industries a decade ago, the minister said, “Today half of the industries (in HP) are ours.”

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in brief ON WAY HOME, PUNJAB RESIDENT KILLED IN USA A resident of Chatt village in Punjab was shot dead in the USA while he was going home after finishing his work at a department store. According to the information available with the family, the incident occurred in Chicago when the victim, Baljeet Singh alias Prince (28), was returning home after finishing his work at a department store which is owned by Avtar Singh, also a resident of Chatt village. Baljeet's grandfather Fumman Singh said that they came to know from Avtar Singh that threefour persons stopped Baljeet with an intent to rob when he was returning home after finishing work at the department store. We were told that robbers did not find anything from Baljeet, following which they shot him in the abdomen. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead. Baljeet went to the USA around one-and-a-half years ago and has two sisters.

MAN JAILED FOR VANDALISING GURDWARA IN US A 29-year-old man in the US was sentenced to 16 months in prison for vandalising a Sikh temple in 2017, according to a media report.

Artyom Manukyan’s sentence is concurrent with a penalty he faces under a prior arson case, reports said. He scrawled two hateful screeds outside the Hollywood Sikh Temple on Vermont Avenue in Los Feliz in August 2017, the Los Angeles police department said. Police were earlier considering hate crime charges against Manukyan, saying the messages were designed as a threat to the Sikh community.

PAKISTAN BUS CRASH KILLS 26 At least 26 people were killed in Pakistan after a bus smashed into a dirt embankment after the brake failed on a mountain road.

Another 20 passengers were injured in the accident, said Abdul Wakil, a local police officer. Such road accidents are common in Pakistan, where motorists largely disregard traffic rules and safety standards on wornout roads. Last month, a speeding bus fell off a mountainous road into a river in the northwest, killing 24 passengers. Rescue efforts were hampered by the remote terrain near the town of Chilas on the route between the cities of Rawalpindi and Skardu. That's in the Gilgit-Baltistan area, part of the larger Kashmir region.

Pak army, ISI trained Al Qaeda, other terror groups in Afghanistan: Imran NEW YORK: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan admitted that the army and its InterServices Intelligence (ISI) trained the Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank in New York, Khan said his country committed "one of the biggest blunders" by joining the US in its hunt for the perpetrators of September 2001 terror attacks.

The previous governments "should not have pledged what they could not deliver," Khan said, referring to former army chief and president Pervez Musharraf's decision to side with the US. “The Pakistan army and the ISI trained Al-Qaeda and all these groups fight in Afghanistan," he said in response to a question on whether there was an inquiry conducted into how Al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden came to be hiding in Pakistan.

US special forces took out bin

Imran Khan addressing think tank in Nerw York

Laden in a top secret mission in May 2011 in Abbottabad, a military garrison town in Pakistan. “(So) There had to be links (with the Al Qaeda) because they trained them. Now as I said, after 9/11 when we did a 180 degree turn and went after those groups. Not everyone (in the Pakistani military) agreed with this. The army people did not agree with this and so there were more insider attacks in Pakistan.

There were two attacks on General Musharraf which were from inside," Khan said.

“The (Pakistan) Army chief, the ISI chief had no idea about this (bin Laden being in Pakistan). I know this because they were listening to their conversation the night the raid took place and they said so. So if there was (any knowledge of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad) it took place at lower levels,’ he said.

On Pakistan joining the USled war on terrorism in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, Khan said “Pakistan took a real battering in this," he said, adding that Islamabad should have stayed neutral in the conflict. "In the 1980s, when the Soviets invaded Afghanistan, Pakistan, helped by the US, organised the resistance to the Soviets. The ISI trained militants who were invited from all over the Muslim world for jihad against the Soviets," Khan said. "And so we created these militant groups to fight the Soviets... Jihadis were heroes then. Come 1989, Soviets leave Afghanistan, the US packs up

and leaves Afghanistan... And we were left with these groups," he added. "Then comes 9/11, and Pakistan again joins the US in the war on terror and now we are required to go after these groups as terrorists. They were indoctrinated that fighting foreign occupation is jihad but now when the US arrived in Afghanistan, it was supposed to be terrorism," Khan said.

He said there could be no military solution in Afghanistan, adding he will ask US President Donald Trump to resume peace talks. "For 19 years if you have not been able to succeed, you are not going to be able to succeed in another 19 years," he added.

Pakistan was one of the three countries along with the Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that recognised the Taliban government in Afghanistan before the US invasion in 2001. After the US invasion, following the 9/11 attack, Pakistan supported the US forces against the Taliban.

Mysterious death of Hindu girl in Pakistan’s Sindh KARACHI: A Pakistani Hindu dental college student was found dead in her hostel room in Pakistan’s Sindh province with a rope tied to her neck, a media report said. Namrita Chandni, a final year student of Bibi Asifa Dental College in Larkana district, was found lying on a cot by her friends with a rope tied to her neck. Her room was locked from inside, Express Tribune reported.

Chandni belonged to Ghotki, the district which was in the news after three cases against 218 rioters were filed for vandalising properties, including a temple.

Protests erupted in Ghotki after an FIR was filed against the principal of a school on the complaint of a student’s father who claimed the teacher had committed blasphemy.

Chandni’s friends grew worried when she did not respond to their knocks on the door for several minutes. “She was neither responding to the knocking at the door nor to our shouts,” one of her friends told police. The hostel’s watchman later broke open the door and found her dead, the report said.

Police is yet to ascertain whether the girl committed suicide or

was murdered. The girl’s body has been sent for a postmortem.

The V-C of the college Anila Attaur Rehman said the incident appeared to be one of suicide but police and the medical team will be able to ascertain the actual cause of death after the postmortem.

Doubts over autopsy report Doubts have been raised over the autopsy report, as some medico-legal experts cited several flaws in it, according to a media report. Experts and officials of the medico-legal section of the health department in Karachi believe that the

autopsy report carried many flaws and missed key facts. They said that the ligature mark in picture was not due to a dupatta.

“The post-mortem findings show suicide but ligature mark shows strangulation,” said the expert. In the post-mortem report, time between death and postmortem was 11-12 hours but the picture appeared to be about 24 hours old because decomposition signs had developed, the report said. The experts said that no comments had been mentioned in the postmortem report conducted in Larkana about decomposition.

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Lanka President forms new panel to probe bombings COLOMBO: Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed a five-member committee to investigate allegations of intelligence inputs being ignored and related errors that led to the Easter Sunday bombings, killing over 258 people.

According to an extraordinary gazette notification, the committee would comprise two appeal court judges, two retired high court judges and a retired administrator.

The panel will investigate allegations of disregarding of prior intelligence inputs on the

Maithripala Sirisena

Easter attacks and related errors which stopped authorities from taking preventive action. On April 21, nine suicide bombers carried

out a series of blasts that tore through three churches and as many high-end hotels in Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, killing 258 people.

The Islamic State claimed the attacks, but the government has blamed local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaath (NTJ) for the bombings. The new five-member committee was constituted following local Catholic church Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith’s demand for an independent investigation.

Earlier, Sirisena had appointed a three-member panel to probe

the attacks that led to the sacking and the arrest of the then police chief Pujith Jayasundera and top defense ministry official Hemasiri Fernando. Sirisena initially resisted a parliamentary probe and slammed its suggestion as an attempt to pin the blame on him for the attacks. The constitution of the latest panel is being seen as a move to appease the Catholic minorities ahead of the November 16 presidential election. It is not yet clear if Sirisena will contest the elections.

Gotabaya wants to restore ties with China COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's leading presidential candidate, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, would "restore relations" with the country's top lender China if he wins the November 16 vote, , Palitha Kohona, one of his advisers said.

President Maithripala Sirisena initially suspended all Chinese investment projects after his election in January 2015, citing allegations of corruption, overpricing and flouting of government procedures.

The following year, the Sirisena government allowed Chinese projects to resume after demanding changes in some.

But diplomatic ties have been strained since. Rajapaksa, a

Gotabaya Rajapaksa

former defence chief and brother of pro-China former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was ready to repair the ties with China, should he win the November election, Kohona said. "Now China is looking at us differently. When Gotabaya

becomes the president... he will set the record right and restore the relationship to where it was," Kohona said. Sirisena sparked a political row this week when he alleged corruption at a Chinese company contracted to build the Lotus Tower, South Asia's tallest tower. A Sri Lankan parliamentary panel said it would investigate.

Neither the company nor the Chinese embassy in Colombo has commented on the allegations.

China has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in its multi-billion dollar infrastructure projects in Sri Lanka. "I suppose the thinking was if we upset China, the West would come to us with

endless bags of gold... But the bags of gold never materialized," Kohona added.

Rajapaksa is widely seen as the frontrunner in November's election due to his popularity among Sri Lanka's Sinhala Buddhist majority for his role in ending a 26-year civil war in 2009. However, his candidature is yet to be confirmed, with uncertainties lingering over a legal battle related to misappropriation of funds and his renunciation of US citizenship. Sri Lanka does not allow dual citizens to contest elections. Rajapaksa has denied wrongdoing and says he has already renounced his US citizenship.

Hafiz Saeed charged in five cases; India not impressed

Pak falling grossly short in 27-point FATF action plan

NEW DELHI: In a move that didn’t get much notice outside Pakistan, Lashkar-eTaiba chief and 26/11 main accused Hafiz Mohammad Saeed has been charged in a terror financing case by a Gujranwala court besides being named as an accused in four similar cases.

While India continues to await significant action against Saeed and recent developments are seen as intended to fend off international pressure in the context of FATF ‘grey listing.’ Indian agencies are waiting to see if he is chargesheeted in four other cases as well and there are credible curbs on Lashkar chief’s actions and movements.

The five cases in which Saeed has been named with a few others for allegedly funding terror activities have been registered across Gujranwala, Multan and Lahore. As per details, the provisions invoked against Saeed relate to Section 11 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), of Pakistan.

The ATA cases registered against Saeed include case no. 32/19 in Gujranwala, relating to a seized property in Moza Makwal; case no. 90/19 in Multan, regarding a property in Tehsil Mian Channu; case no.

16/19 in Lahore, relating to a property seized in Raiwind Mandi, Lahore; and cases no.

21/19 and 22/ 19 at Sahiwal, Lahore, about seized properties in Lahore and Tehsil Arifwala respectively.

The cases seem mild considering Saeed’s role in planning and executing terror activities in India and global links Lashkar has developed.

NEW DELHI: Pakistan appears to be falling grossly short of delivery on the 27point action plan prepared by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to help it escape ‘black listing’, with sources monitoring its actions against terror financing indicating that Islamabad has delivered on only six of the 27 points so far. ‘Black listing’ by FATF stands to choke Pakistan’s access to international finance.

Pakistan currently figures on the FATF ‘grey list’ and is up for a final review of its status at the FATF plenary meeting in Paris next month. The objectives of the FATF are to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and other related threats to integrity of the international financial system.

Sources monitoring Pakistan’s implementation of FATF action plan said Pakistan has located only five of the 100-plus UN-

designated terrorists currently said to be within its territory. The five include Lashkar-e-Taiba/JamaatudDawah/Falah-i-Insaniyat boss Hafiz Mohammad Saeed. Saeed was arrested by Pakistani authorities in July on terror financing charges.

He has been in custody since.

As per reports coming from Pakistan, over 900 properties, including madrasas and dispensaries, have been seized for terror financing linkages. While 750 of these properties are allegedly linked to Falah-iInsaniyat, 150 are associated with Jaish-e-Mohammad.

However, Pakistan is yet to identify the source of funding behind the seized properties or register any case against their owners.

Also, none of the properties

seized are active terror facilities like armouries, weapons/explosives dumps or terror training camps.

As many as 23 terror funding cases were registered in July, one year after the FATF placed Pakistan on the grey list and asked it to deliver on a 27point anti-terror financing plan to escape the black list.

Nearly 65 active terrorists have been named in these cases.

While Pakistan is making some effort to be seen as tough on terror financing and money laundering, this may be well short of FATF’s standards and could leave Islamabad at a high risk of being black listed.

Pakistan was given 15 months to get its act together on a host of issues.

in brief US WARNS CHINA AGAINST HANDPICKING NEXT DALAI LAMA As Tibetans start grappling with the once unthinkable prospect of the octogenarian Dalai Lama’s passing, the US is looking to lay down a red line against China handpicking his successor.

Through a warning from a senior official and legislation under consideration in Congress, the US is hoping to make clear in advance that Beijing would face international opprobrium if it tries to take over the reincarnation process. At 84, the 14th Dalai Lama has slowed his once incessant travel down a notch and earlier this year was hospitalised for a chest infection, although there is no indication he faces serious health issues. Nonetheless, both Tibetan activists and Beijing are keenly aware that his death will mark a major setback in his push for more autonomy for the Himalayan region. China has not held talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives for nine years and has increasingly hinted it may identify his successor who, Beijing would presume, would back its ironfisted rule of Tibet.

HK PROTESTERS TRAMPLE CHINESE FLAG, SET STREET FIRES Protesters in Hong Kong trampled a Chinese flag, vandalized two subway stations and set at least two street on fire, as pro-democracy demonstrations took a violent turn once again.

The day's action began peacefully, as protesters filled a shopping mall and, in a new twist, folded paper "origami" cranes that they tied onto a large rigging they assembled in the mall in the outlying Shatin district. Some put a Chinese flag on the floor and took turns running over it, before defacing it and putting it in a dumpster outside, which they then pushed into a nearby river. Hong Kong's pro-democracy protests, now in their fourth month, have often descended into violence late in the day and at night.

TRUDEAU APOLOGIZES FOR DRESSING UP IN BROWN FACE Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for wearing brown face make-up in 2001 after an embarrassing picture emerged less than five weeks before an election in which he faces a tough fight. The image of a 29-year-old Trudeau with his face in dark make-up is a major challenge for a leader who often speaks about the need to fight racial discrimination and who has three prominent ministers of Indian descent in his cabinet. "I should have known better then, but I didn't and I did it and I'm deeply sorry," Trudeau, 47, told reporters on his campaign plane in Halifax, Nova Scotia, after Time magazine published the image. Time said the image was provided by Vancouver businessman Michael Adamson earlier this month. Adamson was part of the West Point Grey Academy community where Trudeau, then 29, worked at the time, the magazine said. The picture was in the Vancouver private school's yearbook.

MILLIONS MAY RISK JAIL AS INDONESIA TO OUTLAW ADULTERY Indonesia is set to vote on a plan to outlaw gay and premarital sex while beefing up its blasphemy laws in a shakeup fuelled by religious conservatism and slammed by rights groups. The proposed criminal law overhaul could affect millions in the world’s biggest Muslim majority country, including heterosexual couples who might face jail for having sex outside wedlock, or having an affair. But there are also fears it could punish the nation’s small LGBT community as gay marriage is not allowed in Indonesia.

“Indonesia’s draft criminal code is disastrous not only for women and religious and gender minorities, but for all Indonesians,” said Andreas Harsono, Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch.

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in brief PAK ANALYST FALLING OFF CHAIR WHILE ON TV GOES VIRAL Amid tension between India and Pakistan, netizens got a little moment to laugh when an analyst on a Pakistani news channel fell off his chair during a live discussion. The clip has gone viral on social media. The incident took place on September 16 on GTV during a debate on Kashmir. While the other participants remained unfazed, the anchor couldn’t control his laughter and was seen biting his tongue. Many sharing the clip online inquired if the panelist was okay, while others slammed the anchor for his reaction.

HIKER SAVED AFTER CRAWLING FOR 2 DAYS WITH BROKEN LIMBS An Australian hiker said he had to crawl for two days through scrub land before he was rescued after falling 20 feet down a waterfall, breaking his leg and wrist. Neil Parker, 54, said he was walking alone on Mount Nebo, 32 km west of Brisbane when he fell. “Straight away, I thought, ‘I’m now in a lot of trouble because no-one knows where I am’,” Parker told reporters from his hospital bed. Parker, an experienced hiker, said he tried to phone for help but his mobile had been damaged in the fall. He decided to crawl about three km to an area where he believed search and rescue workers would better be able to spot him.

Parker said painkillers and protein bars he had packed for his hike had helped him survive. He was eventually spotted by a rescue helicopter.

US accuses Afghan govt of not fighting corruption, cuts aid KABUL: US secretary of state Mike Pompeo says Washington is taking back $100 million intended for an Afghan energy infrastructure project, citing unacceptably high levels of corruption in the Afghan government. In the harshly worded statement, Pompeo said the US will still finish the massive project that involves five power substations and a maze of transmission lines in southern Afghanistan. It just won’t be spending the money through Afghan government, blaming the “Afghan government’s inability to transparently manage US government resources.”

This follows an earlier statement, also from Pompeo, calling for “credible and transparent presidential election” when Afghans go to the polls on September 28. The 2014 presidential election was marred by allegations of massive fraud, as was last year’s parliamentary vote.

Doors open to resume talks: Taliban The Taliban’s chief negotiator has said their

Ashraf Ghani

“doors are open” to resuming talks with Washington, hours after two attacks by the insurgents killed at least 48 people in war-weary Afghanistan.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai also defended the Taliban’s role in recent bloodshed across the country after US President Trump cited an attack that killed an American soldier as his reason for calling off negotiations earlier this month. Stanikzai said that the Americans had also admitted to killing thousands of Taliban during the discussions, and that the insurgents had done nothing wrong by continuing to fight throughout the talks. “From

our side, our doors are open for negotiations,” he said.

Meanwhile, militants attempted to storm a government office in Jalalabad, with a suicide bombing sparking a running gunbattle with security forces. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State group are active in eastern Afghanistan.

40 civilians killed in antiTaliban raid Anti-Taliban raids by Afghan forces backed by US airstrikes killed at least 40 civilians attending a wedding party in the southern Helmand province, Afghan officials said. The civilian deaths further rattled Afghanistan amid an upsurge in violence that's followed the collapse this month of US-Taliban peace talks.

"We are saddened and divested to hear that civilians have lost their lives in an incident in Helmand despite President Ashraf Ghani's repeated call for extra cautions in conducting military operations," said Sediq Sediqqi, President's spokesman.

Super-30 founder Anand Kumar honoured CALIFORNIA: Super 30 founder and mathematician Anand Kumar, recently celebrated in a Bollywood biopic, was the keynote speaker at the Foundation For Excellence’s 25th a n n i v e r s a r y Anand Kumar celebrations. FFE, which offers scholarships to low-income students in India pursuing degrees in medicine or engineering, raised $498,000 during an onstage pledge drive at the event. Ramesh Yadava, executive director of the organization said that with additional pledges from donors the total amount raised as of Sept. 16 was $900,000 with more pledges expected to come in throughout the week.

FFE scholars are supported through their entire four-year undergraduate programs, at a cost of $700 per year, which meets all needs including tuition, board and lodging, and school supplies. Scholars are also offered soft-skills training and mentorship. Since its inception, FFE has distributed more than 57,400 scholarships.

Several FFE alumni were at the gala and narrated how the scholarship program had changed their lives.

Anand Kumar received a standing ovation before and after his moving speech.

As a young student, Kumar had to travel more than six hours each weekend by train to Banaras Hindu University to read mathematics journals. The young man persisted and began writing articles on number theory, which were published in scholarly journals.

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in brief PAK ANALYST FALLING OFF CHAIR WHILE ON TV GOES VIRAL Amid tension between India and Pakistan, netizens got a little moment to laugh when an analyst on a Pakistani news channel fell off his chair during a live discussion. The clip has gone viral on social media. The incident took place on September 16 on GTV during a debate on Kashmir. While the other participants remained unfazed, the anchor couldn’t control his laughter and was seen biting his tongue. Many sharing the clip online inquired if the panelist was okay, while others slammed the anchor for his reaction.

HIKER SAVED AFTER CRAWLING FOR 2 DAYS WITH BROKEN LIMBS An Australian hiker said he had to crawl for two days through scrub land before he was rescued after falling 20 feet down a waterfall, breaking his leg and wrist. Neil Parker, 54, said he was walking alone on Mount Nebo, 32 km west of Brisbane when he fell. “Straight away, I thought, ‘I’m now in a lot of trouble because no-one knows where I am’,” Parker told reporters from his hospital bed. Parker, an experienced hiker, said he tried to phone for help but his mobile had been damaged in the fall. He decided to crawl about three km to an area where he believed search and rescue workers would better be able to spot him.

Parker said painkillers and protein bars he had packed for his hike had helped him survive. He was eventually spotted by a rescue helicopter.

US accuses Af govt of not fighting corruption, cuts aid KABUL: US secretary of state Mike Pompeo says Washington is taking back $100 million intended for an Afghan energy infrastructure project, citing unacceptably high levels of corruption in the Afghan government. In the harshly worded statement, Pompeo said the US will still finish the massive project that involves five power substations and a maze of transmission lines in southern Afghanistan. It just won’t be spending the money through Afghan government, blaming the “Afghan government’s inability to transparently manage US government resources.”

This follows an earlier statement, also from Pompeo, calling for “credible and transparent presidential election” when Afghans go to the polls on September 28. The 2014 presidential election was marred by allegations of massive fraud, as was last year’s parliamentary vote.

Doors open to resume talks: Taliban The Taliban’s chief negotiator has said their

Ashraf Ghani

“doors are open” to resuming talks with Washington, hours after two attacks by the insurgents killed at least 48 people in war-weary Afghanistan.

Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai also defended the Taliban’s role in recent bloodshed across the country after US President Trump cited an attack that killed an American soldier as his reason for calling off negotiations earlier this month. Stanikzai said that the Americans had also admitted to killing thousands of Taliban during the discussions, and that the insurgents had done nothing wrong by continuing to fight throughout the talks. “From

our side, our doors are open for negotiations,” he said.

Meanwhile, militants attempted to storm a government office in Jalalabad, with a suicide bombing sparking a running gunbattle with security forces. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but both the Taliban and the Islamic State group are active in eastern Afghanistan.

40 civilians killed in antiTaliban raid Anti-Taliban raids by Afghan forces backed by US airstrikes killed at least 40 civilians attending a wedding party in the southern Helmand province, Afghan officials said. The civilian deaths further rattled Afghanistan amid an upsurge in violence that's followed the collapse this month of US-Taliban peace talks.

"We are saddened and divested to hear that civilians have lost their lives in an incident in Helmand despite President Ashraf Ghani's repeated call for extra cautions in conducting military operations," said Sediq Sediqqi, President's spokesman.

Super-30 founder Anand Kumar honoured CALIFORNIA: Super 30 founder and mathematician Anand Kumar, recently celebrated in a Bollywood biopic, was the keynote speaker at the Foundation For Excellence’s 25th a n n i v e r s a r y Anand Kumar celebrations. FFE, which offers scholarships to low-income students in India pursuing degrees in medicine or engineering, raised $498,000 during an onstage pledge drive at the event. Ramesh Yadava, executive director of the organization said that with additional pledges from donors the total amount raised as of Sept. 16 was $900,000 with more pledges expected to come in throughout the week.

FFE scholars are supported through their entire four-year undergraduate programs, at a cost of $700 per year, which meets all needs including tuition, board and lodging, and school supplies. Scholars are also offered soft-skills training and mentorship. Since its inception, FFE has distributed more than 57,400 scholarships.

Several FFE alumni were at the gala and narrated how the scholarship program had changed their lives.

Anand Kumar received a standing ovation before and after his moving speech.

As a young student, Kumar had to travel more than six hours each weekend by train to Banaras Hindu University to read mathematics journals. The young man persisted and began writing articles on number theory, which were published in scholarly journals.

1/11/19 LANDMARK HOTEL

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SOUTH INDIA

DMK ‘postpones’ anti-Hindi protest after clarification Chennai: DMK has announced its decision to “temporarily postpone” the September 20 state-wide protest against union home minister Amit Shah’s call for “expanding the reach of Hindi” across the country. DMK president M K Stalin decided to postpone the protest after a 45-minute meeting with governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Stalin said that the governor explained to him that Shah’s speech on Hindi Diwas had been misunderstood. “The governor forcefully stressed that Hindi will not be imposed on Tamil Nadu. We asked the governor whether the Centre will confirm this. The governor said he represented the Centre and was saying what the Centre had conveyed to him,” said Stalin.

Stalin said he came to know

DMK president M K Stalin

about a clarification issued by Shah by way of a tweet. “Thus, based on what the governor and Shah have said, we have decided to postpone the protest,” said Stalin. Shah’s clarification and the governor’s explanation, coming as they did in the wake of the proposed protest, were a “victory” for DMK, he said.

Sources said that the NDA government had requested the governor to persuade DMK to withdraw its protest as it did not want anything to mar PM Modi’s visit to IIT Madras on September 30 as well as the second edition of the Indo-China informal summit that may be held in Mamallapuram.

Tamil most suited Meanwhile, DMK has argued that Tamil was most suited to unify India. DMK MP and spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said if the government of India wants to choose an Indian language for a global identity, then Tamil, and not Hindi, qualifies for it. "Unity in diversity is the identity of India which we support. If there needs to be an Indian language for India's global identity, then Tamil is most suited," Elangovan said.

"Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world. It is the official language in Sri Lanka, Singapore and India. It has the classical language status and is rich in literature. The Tamil culture has spread to several South Asian countries. There are Tamils who have migrated to far off lands several centuries ago," he said. The DMK leader said that while a large number of people speak Hindi in India, "it is equally true that there are more number of people who don't speak Hindi."

He argued that Hindi cannot be the India's global identity.

"For instance, it is the non-Hindi speaking Indian states that are advanced in several metrics like economy, technology and social factors while the Hindispeaking states lag far behind on these aspects."

PUNJAB

SAD condemns Pak for imposing ‘jazia’ on Kartarpur pilgrims ChanDiGaRh: Condemning the Pakistan government's decision of imposing $20 per pilgrim as service charge for using the upcoming Kartarpur corridor, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said the neighbouring country is trying to impose ‘jazia’ (a tax non-Muslims pay under Sharia law) on Indian devotees.

Addressing the media at the annual Chappar Mela in Ludhiana district’s Jagraon subdivision, senior party leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan backtracked on his earlier promise of free travel and if they don’t take back the decision, the Punjab government should bear the cost of pilgrimage. “This will put financial burden on millions

of pilgrims to Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, many of whom might not be well-off,” said the SAD leader.

SAD president and Ferozepur MP Sukhbir Singh Badal thanked the Centre, particularly PM Narendra Modi, for pruning the controversial blacklist of Sikh foreign nationals who were barred from travelling to India for decades.

“Of 314 people, the name of 312 people has been removed from the blacklist. Now these people can visit their homeland,” he said.

Days after SAD expressed views on imposing service charges on pilgrims, Punjab chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh asked Pakistan to withdraw the proposed fee.

Amarinder said, “Mughal emperor Akbar had abolished

the controversial and regressive tax during his rule. The proposed service/facilitation charge is against the basic spirit of Sikh tenet of allowing ‘khulle darshan deedar’ (open access) at the gurdwaras that remained in Pakistan after partition.”

“I have already sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention regarding the withdrawal of the service charge,” he pointed out.

He had suggested that the ministry of external affairs (MEA) take up the matter in a bilateral meeting for an early resolution of the issue. He expressed the confidence that the work on the corridor on the Indian territory will be completed by October 30, expressing concerns about the pace of progress in Pakistan.

in brief JAYA'S MEMORIAL TURNS WEDDING VENUE AIADMK leader S Bhavanishankar held his son's wedding ceremony at former party chief J Jayalalithaa's memorial on the Marina Beach in Chennai. The final resting place of Jayalalithaa was decorated for the occasion with a colourful array of flowers and garlands as S P Sambasivaraman alias Satish married R Deepika in a traditional ceremony.

The couple sat right in front of the memorial for the ceremony along with friends and relatives. An "aarti" was also performed as a mark of respect to Jayalalithaa. Party workers said the marriage at the memorial gave them the satisfaction of the wedding being blessed by the late leader.

Jayalalithaa died on December 5, 2016 and was buried behind the memorial of her mentor and AIADMK founder leader MG Ramachandran abutting the Marina Beach.

MAN KILLED FOR SUSPECTED WITCHCRAFT Bovini Anjaneyulu, 24, was lynched in Adraspalli village on the outskirts of Hyderabad on the suspicion of practicing witchcraft, which allegedly led to the death of a woman. The 45-year-old woman identified as Gara Lakshmi died after a prolonged illness. But her family suspected that Anjaneyulu, a resident of the same village, performed witchcraft on her. While performing the last rites of the woman, her relatives waited to see if the victim turned up. When he was passing by, they caught hold of him, thrashed him and axed him to death. The body was burnt in the same pyre to wipe out evidence. However, the police was informed about the incident and senior officials rushed to the village and launched an investigation. Witchcraft is practiced in Telangana villages and in the past many people suspected to be practicing black magic were killed by the relatives of the victims.

PUNJAB MAN GETS MASTERS’ DEGREE AT 83 Capt has no right to give water to haryana Referring to Amarinder Singh’s statement on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal while addressing the rally earlier, Sukhbir said the CM does not have any right to give an extra drop of water to the neighbouring Haryana. “The Akali Dal will not let state’s water go to Haryana at any cost.

The CM was part of a conspiracy to give Punjab waters to Haryana as he welcomed then PM Indira Gandhi when she came to inaugurate the canal project in Punjab,” he said.

Sohan Singh Gill, 83, has proved that it is never too late for learning. Gill received a huge round of applause when he was conferred the degree by a university in Jalandhar at its annual convocation. A native of Daata village of Hoshiarpur, Gill migrated to Kenya after he completed his teaching course in 1957 and became a teacher there. He returned to India 1991 and till 2017, taught in various schools with the desire of a post graduate degree still alive.

Two years ago, he signed-up for the MA in English and joined a distance education centre.

“With my will power and God’s grace, I have finally achieved what I always desired. English has been my favourite language right from the childhood. During my stay in Kenya, I got a chance to master it,” he adds. He says a healthy lifestyle and positive thinking kept him going.

“Now that I have accomplished other things, I wish to write books for children,” he added.

WEST BENGAL

Mamta meets Modi, extends olive branch neW DeLhi/KoLKaTa: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last week. Mamata also invited PM Modi to the state after Durga Puja. She described the meeting as “not political but one between government to government” and called the discussion “fruitful.” But, the meeting has raised eyebrows as both the leaders are political rivals and often slam each other on various issues.

In an effort to send a signal that she was extending an olive branch to the PM, Mamata invited Modi to inaugurate the Deocha Pachami coal block in Birbhum. “I invited the PM to Bengal for the inauguration of the world’s second-largest coal block, Birbhum’s Deocha Pachami block. I requested him to come after the Durga Puja and Navaratri celebrations, taking time-off his busy schedule,” Mamata said after exiting from the one-on-one with the PM. The Prime Minister's Office tweeted

send its opinion on or suggest modifications to the proposed name. Our state has sent the namechange proposal thrice to the Centre.

This is urgent because it involves people’s sentiments,” the CM said.

“We submitted a lot of documents to back up our requests. Bengal’s GDP is among the highest in the country. We showed the Mamata Banerjee meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi PM how Bengal was pictures of the two leaders at the official progressing despite a huge debt burden,” she residence of Modi. Banerjee is seen said. presenting a bouquet to the prime minister.

Responding to questions from the She emphasised two issues - the change media, she said some political issues came up of name of the state (from ‘West Bengal’ to during the talks but the National Register of ‘Bangla’) and the £1.35 billion that the centre Citizens was not among them. “The NRC owed to the state - during her talks with the issue did not come up. There is no chance of PM. “I told the PM that the Centre could NRC being implemented in Bengal. The

Supreme Court ordered NRC in Assam because it was part of the Assam Accord. I took up certain issues regarding public undertakings in sectors like banking, coal, railways and the proposed divestment of Air India,” Mamata said.

Didi meets Shah too After meeting PM Modi, Mamata met home minister Amit Shah and told him that many genuine Indians were excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. “I met the home minister and discussed the NRC in Assam and told him that many genuine Indians were excluded from the list.

I have requested him to see to it that they are included in the NRC as they are in distress,” Banerjee told reporters after meeting Shah. The CM said the NRC had excluded many Bengalis, Biharis, Gorkhas and even Assamese people. “I have given him (Shah) a letter with our concerns and requested him to examine their cases,” she added. The final NRC, published on August 31, excluded the names of 19,00,000 people.

“The home minister has assured me that he will look into it,” Mamata said.

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SC sets Oct 18 deadline to The Secret of Bhagat Singh’s conclude Ayodhya hearings •Popularity

The Supreme Court of India has set October 18 deadline for completion of all arguments in the protracted Ram-Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land title dispute, the 70-year-old litigation by Hindu and Muslim parties for the ownership of the 2.77 acre disputed land in Ayodhya. The controversial case, among the most important cases in the history of India, inched closer to finality, with the Supreme Court confirming that its verdict would be pronounced on or before November 17, the day CJI Ranjan Gogoi retires.

After lawyers of both Hindu and Muslim parties K Parasaran, C S Vaidyanathan and Rajeev Dhavan - gave a rough estimate of the time they would need to conclude arguments, the five-judge constitution bench of CJI Gogoi and Justices S A Bobde, D Y Chandrachud, Ashok Bhushan and S Abdul Nazeer held a brief consultation with each other and said, “We hope to conclude the hearing by October 18, which will give us four weeks to write the judgment.” The bench also added if extra days for hearing were required, it would consider sitting on Saturdays.

This gives the parties some more hearing days to complete their arguments

as the court will remain closed on October 2 for Gandhi Jayanti and six days, beginning October 7, for Dussehra holidays. The Muslim parties said they would complete their arguments by October 27, while the Hindu parties said they would require two or three more days, with the Muslim parties again giving concluding arguments for a day or two.

The bench also directed parties to suggest the kind of relief they expected on the verdict given by the Allahabad High Court which apportioned the disputed land equally among the deity, Sunni Waqf Board and Nirmohi Akhara. “Argue on how the Supreme Court can mould the relief,” it said.

Anxiety has been building up on both sides as the hearing continued without an end in sight and with the looming retirement of CJI Gogoi on November 17. If the hearing did not conclude and the judges did not get adequate time to write their opinions prior to pronouncement of judgments, and Justice Gogoi had retired, then the bench would have to be reconstituted for commencement of fresh hearing. Experts put the impending verdict on a scale equal to the 1973 judgment of a 13-judge

constitution bench in the Keshavananda Bharti case, in which it delineated Constitution’s basic structure doctrine and made it inviolable.

In 1989, the Allahabad HC had withdrawn to itself the title suits pending before Faizabad district court in the Ayodhya matter. The first suit was filed by Gopal Singh Visharad in 1950 who is now represented by his legal heir Rajendra Singh, while the second suit was filed by another Hindu devotee which was later withdrawn.

The third suit was filed by Nirmohi Akhara in 1959, and fourth one, by Sunni Waqf Board, two years later.

The last one was by the deity through next friend Devki Nandan Agarwal in 1989. During the pendency of suits in the HC, the Babri Masjid was demolished by kar sevaks on December 6, 1992.

The HC had heard arguments from parties and examined evidence for nearly 100 days before delivering its verdict on September 30, 2010.

Though both Hindu and Muslim sides had promptly filed appeals against the HC verdict in the SC seeking sole right over the entire disputed land, the appeals were taken up for day-to-day hearing only on August 6.

Vikram lander has long been dead The sun has finally set on Vikram lander as the 14 day window to establish connection with it ended on September 20. The two-week period saw heavy scouting for the lander from the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

From the early morning of September 7, when the lander failed to soft land, till last Friday, the space agency had been trying to establish connection with the lander with little to no success.

“We know it is highly unlikely to connect with the lander. There are way too many conditions, but we will continue to try till September 20, the last window to establish contact,” said an ISRO scientist, who was a part of the tracking team. Indian Space Research Organisation in a tweet last Friday said that the agency has set up a national committee of academicians and ISRO experts to analyse the cause of loss of communication with the lander.

Though results of the analysis are awaited,

informed guesses have been made as to what could have happened.

The most reasonable one, at this juncture, seems to be the speed of the lander. Isro insiders said the 1,471kg Vikram, with the 27kg rover Pragyan in its belly, had crashed on the lunar surface at over 200kmph, and that onboard systems are unlikely to have survived the impact. Scientist who saw an image of Vikram after the crash-landing said the lander was either upturned or tilted, but not damaged beyond recognition.

“What I saw appeared like a shadow of Vikram,” said a scientist who analysed the image. “It was definitely not on its legs. I could see at least two of its four legs protruding. It was either upturned or tilted.” Another scientist privy to the failure

analysis said Vikram must have spun out of control sometime during the final 10km descent, and lost contact with the mission control when it was about 330m above the lunar surface (not 2.1km as Isro had earlier said).

Two scientists said there could have been an error in the landing program written by a team at the UR Rao Satellite Centre, Bengaluru. “Teams are going through the program. We have to see if it was properly reviewed before execution,” said a scientist who did not want to be named. The software program was to guide the various systems for altitude and velocity control throughout Vikram’s 15minute descent from Moon’s 30km orbit to the surface to ensure a soft landing.

The lander and the rover were designed to work for these 14 Earth days, after which the systems would anyway have shut down during the long, frigid lunar night when temperature dips to minus 183 degrees Celsius

His slogan ‘Inquilab Zindabad’ came to replace ‘Vande Mataram’ Challenging the mighty British Empire made him extremely popular

•

espite being an atheist and a hardcore leftist, even after 88 years of his martyrdom he continues to be a popular revolutionary icon not only in India but even in Pakistan.

Lovingly hailed as Shaheed-e-Azam, the name of Bhagat Singh is hailed by leftist as well as rightist. He continues to be the most popular hero of the youth. The first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru referred to “the phenomenon of Bhagat Singh, and his sudden and amazing popularity in north India”.

D

Bhagat Singh was not the first martyr of the As news of the attack on Lajpat Rai national struggle for freedom, nor was he spread, the country reacted with anger. the last. Prof. Harish Puri notes while Bhagat Singh was appalled. He could not exploring his amazing popularity in believe that a white man could dare take a “Mainstream”: “Actually the number of stick in hand and set upon Lajpat Rai. The martyrs was quite large… In fact, in the HSRA (Hindustan Socialist Republic Army) then dominating context of religious decided to undertake retaliatory action. On symbolism and mysticism in the 17 December, Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, revolutionary organizations, Bhagat Singh’s atheism could have been a good enough reason for him to be less glorified than some others. How do we then make sense of the extraordinary stature that Bhagat Singh gained at the young age of less than 24 years?”

Bhagat Singh Bhagat Singh as National College student with the staff and students (standing was highly forth from right) respected and loved among his comrades for his knowledge and Sukhdev and Chandra Shekhar Azad qualities of a good human being. His slogan mistook the ASP, J. P. Scot for Saunders, as of ‘Inquilab Zindabad (Long Live they pounced upon him and shot him dead.

Revolution)’ came to replace A few months later, on 8 the earlier popular slogan April 1929, Bhagat Singh and Next Column: ‘Vande Mataram’. His serious Mahatma Gandhi on Batukeswar Datta threw a rethinking on making a choice bomb in the Central Jammu-Kashmir between terrorist actions and Legislative Assembly Hall in revolution, the Irish nationalist path and Delhi. It was hurled from the midst of a the Marxist-Leninist road, as also his packed gallery, not aimed at anybody, but maturity of mind reflected in three of his to draw the attention of the House, the writings during the last six months of his Indian people and the British rulers in life reflect an image quite different from India. the popular perception about the martyr.

As Bhagat Singh and Batukeswar Dutt His popular image in the minds of most had planned not to escape after throwing Indians in those days, as also at present, was the bomb, they were arrested. While Dutt of a handsome young man who challenged was sentenced to transportation for life in the mighty British Empire, avenged the the Assembly Bomb Case, Bhagat Singh, national insult of the British assault on Lala along with Rajguru and Sukhdev, was Lajpat Rai, and smilingly sacrificed his life sentenced to death for the murder of alongside two other comrades, Rajguru and Saunders in what became famous as the Sukhdev.

Lahore conspiracy case. One does get the A number of students and youth feel of direct rapport of Bhagat Singh with organizations sprang up at various places. the people in his words as quoted by Shiv The most prominent of these was the Verma in ‘Sansmritiyan’ :“The people of the Naujawan Bharat Sabha, first established at country appreciate our courage and our Lahore in 1926 which, in the words of actions but they are not able to directly Subhas Bose, was “a thoroughgoing connect with us. So far we have not even nationalist movement, in order to fight told them in clear words regarding the communalism and religious fanaticism in meaning of the freedom that we talk Punjab”. The radicalism inspired by the about—what would be the form and Russian Revolution affected not only those content of that freedom. What would be who were dissatisfied with the course of the shape of the government to be Gandhian struggle but also a new constituted after the exit of the British and generation of Congress-men like Jawaharlal who would constitute that government? To Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose. give our movement a popular support base The year 1928 was marked by an antiwe will have to take our objectives and Simon Commission upsurge everywhere in programme to the people. Because without India. On 30 October 1928, the Simon gaining such a support our old type of Commission faced a large hostile crowd led sporadic individual actions of killing

by Lala Lajpat Rai at Lahore Station. The one or the other Lala was severely beaten by the Police British official or Dr. Hari Desai under J. A. Scot, British SP and he later government succumbed to his head injury. The whole approvers will (The writer is a Sociopolitical Historian. nation was stunned by this savagery. not do.”

E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com)

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How(dy) Modi hails Trump 2.0 The world was watching as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, standing on Texan soil, shared the stage with US President Donald Trump at 'Howdy Modi!' which attracted over 50,000 Indian-Americans at NRG Stadium, one of the largest football stadiums in Houston. This is for the first time the US President became the part of the event which is billed as one of the largest ever receptions of a foreign leader in the US. After an hour and half of colourful cultural presentation by various cultural wings of Houston's Indian community, "Modi!

Modi!,Modi!" chants echoed off the stadium's fibreglass dome. Modi and Trump clasped hands as they took the stage to a mix of drumbeats and cheers.

Trump sat in the front row as the Indian Prime Minister took over the dais to address the cheering crowds.

Trump, well known for his short attention span and impatience, actually sat through Modi's speech without flinching a muscle, listening intently into the earpiece that translated Modi's speech in Hindi into English.

Modi introduced Trump as "my friend, a friend of India" and as someone who

A man is dressed up as Mahatma Ghandi while people celebrate before a "Howdy, Modi" rally celebrating India's Prime Minister Narenda Modi at NRG Stadium

Cultural programmes being organised at NRG Stadium, Houston before arriaval of Prime Minister Narendra Modi

"has left a deep and lasting impact everywhere.” He figuratively endorsed Trump for a second term saying ‘Abki Baar Trump Sarkar'. The President of the United States reciprocated heaping praises on PM Modi and pointed out that he was "thrilled to be here in Texas with one of America's greatest, most devoted and most loyal friends, Prime Minister Modi". Trump also made a direct appeal to

Indian Americans, citing what he called their g r o u n d b r e a k i n g achievements in medicine and business.

"You enrich our culture, you uphold our values… and we are proud to have you as Americans," he said.

President Trump also made a brief appearance at the United Nations climate summit in New York, despite expectations that he would fully snub the

landmark event. He stayed for PM Modi and German chancellor Angela Merkel's speeches. Trump was also seen clapping during PM Modi's speech where he highlighted India's "practical approach and roadmap" to mitigate climate change and outlined the efforts the country has made on the global platform.

PM Modi emphasised on the fact that "need" and not "greed" should be the

guiding principles if we have to overcome the serious challenge of climate change.

The Houston event was the third time Trump and Modi have met in as many months, after they were seen clasping hands at the G-20 in Japan in June and at the G-7 in France in August.

The two men famously embraced in a bear hug when they met for the first time in June 2017 at the White House, sparking chemistry that would extend beyond relations between the US and India.

“Howdy, Modi” is famously seen as a diplomatic win for Modi.

But the spectacle was also designed to put the President, who is ramping

up his own re-election campaign, before an expected audience of 50,000 Indian-Americans, the second largest immigrant group in the US after Mexicans.

PM Modi's week-long visit in the United States from September 21 to 27 will be his sixth visit to the US. Modi was accorded with warm welcome by Christopher Olson, the Director of Trade and International Affairs in Trump administration, and other US officials.

US Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster and Indian Ambassador to the US Harsh Vardhan Shringla were also present to greet the Indian prime minister.

Maharashtra, Haryana to vote on Oct 21, results three days later The first state elections after the Modi government’s return to office in Lok Sabha polls will be held in Maharashtra and Haryana on October 21 with BJP as front-runner in the face of a weakened opposition and the party hoping to capitalise on decisions like the nullification of Article 370.

Looking to consolidate its gains, BJP is looking to score bigger wins in Maharashtra in partnership with Shiv Sena - and on its own in Haryana as well. The situation for the opposition is fragmented in Haryana where the Chautala family is split into warring factions and Congress has barely managed an in-house truce by giving former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda the pole position, reposing hope in his skills as a political organiser.

In Maharashtra, Congress and NCP have sealed seat-sharing but both parties are hit by significant desertions, particularly from the ranks of influential Maratha leaders who have been the mainstay of their politics.

The defections have

demoralised the rank and file and fortified the perception that BJP has a big lead over its rivals and avoiding a mauling will be seen as a gain for the opposition.

As in all state elections since 2014, PM Narendra Modi will be the main BJP campaigner and he can be expected to try and keep the Lok Sabha momentum going, using decisions like scrapping Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and passage of the bill to ban triple talaq as examples of political will. He can be expected to attack Congress over corruption cases dogging its leaders. Though state issues dominate assembly polls, BJP hopes the “national” discourse brings it more cheer.

It will be a first if saffron forces score consecutive wins in Maharashtra and Haryana. BJP and Sena were in office earlier in 19951999, but were unable to repeat their success till 2014. BJP won a majority on its own in Haryana for the first time in 2014 and another win will help consolidate its hold over a state where Jat politics led by the Devi Lal clan or

leaders from the Congressfold has often held sway.

By-elections to six seats in Gujarat The Election Commission announced by-elections to two more Legislative Assembly seats in Gujarat, a day after it released schedule for four by-polls in the state out of the total seven constituencies up for grabs. The EC is yet to announce the schedule for Morva Hadaf Assembly constituency, reserved for the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category.

Bypolls to rest six seats would be held on October 21. Counting of votes would be taken up three days later.

The by-polls to Radhanpur and Bayad Assembly seats were necessitated after sitting MLAs Alpesh Thakor and Dhavalsinh Zala of Congress resigned and joined the ruling BJP. Earlier, the EC announced by-polls to Amraiwadi, Tharad, Lunawada, and Kheralu seats, which fell vacant after sitting MLAs successfully contested Lok Sabha polls in April-May this year.

Morva Hadaf seat fell vacant after Independent MLA Bhupendrasinh Khant

was disqualified following the invalidation of his caste certificate.

Meanwhile, Alpesh Thakor and Zala have staked claims for their respective constituencies, Radhanpur and Bayad. Both the leaders belonged to the Alpesh Thakor community.

"My decision to join the BJP was for the sake of the Alpesh Thakor community and farmers of Bayad constituency. A former MLA has also demanded ticket from the seat. But people know me. I have

helped resolve even small, personal problems of people in my area. If given ticket, I will help the party win," said Zala. Alpesh Thakor said (abrogation of provisions of) Article 370 will remain the main issue in polls. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has provided a capable leadership to the country.

The way the Congress campaigned against Article 370 has disillusioned people," he said. Alpesh Thakor added that people

are also appreciating the work of the state government. "The decision on likely candidate from Radhanpur will be decided by the parliamentary board of the BJP. However, senior BJP leaders have indicated that I will contest. I am very much interested..." he added.

Accusing the poll panel of acting under pressure from the BJP, the Congress questioned its decision to not announce by-polls to all the seven vacated seats.

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Harvard scientists believe chewing a handful in brief CHILDREN WHO SPEND HOURS of nuts each day could keep your weight down WATCHING TELEVISION AND Eating half a serving of nuts every day could stop you from gaining weight as you get older, research suggests.

Experts tracked almost 300,000 people for around two decades. They were asked about how many nuts they ate and how much they weighed. Results showed participants who ate half an ounce (14g) of nuts every day gained less weight and were less likely to become obese.

Scientists now say replacing unhealthy snacks, such as chocolate, with nuts could slow down the dreaded middle-age spread. The researchers say the study cannot establish cause and relied on self-reported data, which can prove to be inac-

curate. But they suggest that chewing nuts takes more effort than eating fast food, while the high fibre content can make people feel full for longer.

Nut fibre also binds well to fat in the gut, meaning more calories are excreted, the researchers wrote in the published paper of their study. Nuts are rich in healthy unsaturated fats, vitamins, minerals and

fibre, but are not often consumed for weight loss because they are calorie dense.

But there is evidence to suggest that quality of diet as well as counting calories plays a role in weight management.

Harvard University researchers analysed information on weight, diet and physical activity in three groups of people.

In terms of individual nuts, eating an extra half a serving of walnuts a day lowered the odds of becoming obese of the next four years by around 15 per cent.

No such associations were observed for increases in peanut butter intake, according to the researchers led by Dr Xiaoran Liu. The findings remained true after taking account of changes in diet and lifestyle, such as exercise and alcohol intake.

Adults in the US pile on 1lb (0.45kg every year, on average. It is thought British adults gain a similar amount of weight.

Gaining 5.5-22lbs (2.510kg) in weight is linked to a significantly greater risk of heart disease/stroke and diabetes.

The youngest children in a school year are 30% more likely to have depression The youngest children in their school year may be at a higher risk of mental health problems, research suggests.

Scientists analysed the GP records of more than a million children from across the UK. They found the students who were the youngest in their year group were 30 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with depression by the time they turned 16.

The youngsters were also 36 per cent more at risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and 30 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with an 'intellectual disability'.

The scientists noted children in the same school year as each other can be almost 12 months apart in age.

Younger children may

find it harder to concentrate, grasp what they are being taught or maintain friendships with their older peers, they added.

The research was carried out by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.

'We've known for a while children who are young in their school year are more likely to have hyperactivity disorders and tend to do less well academically than older children,' lead author Jeremy Brown said.

'However, we believe this is the first evidence of an association between younger relative age in the school year and increases in the diagnosis of depression.'

The scientists analysed the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, an elec-

tronic primary care database for more than 700 GP clinics.

Results - published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics - revealed the youngest quartile were around 30 per cent more likely to develop depression than those in the oldest quartile.

This remained true after adjusting for factors like socioeconomic status and gender. No difference in risk was found between boy and girls.

To put the results into context, around 800,000 children start primary school in the UK every year.

Of these, the scientists predict about 500 more of the youngest in the year might be diagnosed with depression compared with the oldest (2,200 versus 1,700), over the course of their schooling up to 16 years old.

The scientists also found ADHD was more common in children under 10. Their study did not set out to uncover why young children may be more at risk of these conditions. They note, however, 'relative immaturity' compared to their older peers may suggest hyperactivity.

Academic performance and depression have also been linked. And 'relative youth' may lead to 'poorer peer relationships', which could trigger depression.

The scientists stress the total number of children diagnosed with depression remains low.

However, they hope their study will encourage more research into the causes of depression in schoolchildren and how it can be prevented.

1 in 3 breast cancer cases could be prevented if women ate better, exercised more and drank less, report suggests As many as one in three breast cancer cases could be prevented with simple lifestyle changes, a new report suggests.

Researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, say the easiest form of prevention for women is eating healthily, exercising more and drinking less alcohol.

They found that losing weight could slash women's risk by more than half and cutting out alcohol could prevent nearly 10 percent of breast cancer cases.

Breast cancer is the number one killer of women between the ages of 20 to 59 and the odds may seem alarming, but the team lists a few steps women can take for themselves to lower their risk.

One out of every eight

American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime, according to the American Cancer Society.

More than 268,000 cases are estimated be diagnosed in 2019 and more than 41,700 will die.

It is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, behind lung cancer. Breast cancer does also

occur in men but the incidence rate is less than one percent.

For the new report, the team looked at a 2018 joint paper from the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research on how certain lifestyle factors affect the risk of developing cancer.

Researchers found that

postmenopausal women are two times more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer if they are obese.

One reason could be due to estrogen levels. After menopause, estrogen is mainly produced by fat tissue, making heavier women have higher blood estrogen levels than leaner women.

A 2011 study from the Breast Cancer Collaborative Group found that women who have higher estrogen levels have an increased risk of breast cancer.

This closely follows recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which estimates that physical activity alone could prevent one in eight breast cancer cases.

The team adds that daily exercise goes hand-inhand with good nutrition.

PLAYING VIDEO GAMES DO WORSE AT SCHOOL, STUDY CLAIMS Children who spend hours watching television or playing video games do worse at school, scientists claim. In the largest study of its kind, the habits of almost half a million children across the globe were analysed. Generally, time spent on screens, including mobile phones, did not affect academic performance. However, children who chose to watch the TV or play video games in the majority of their free time did suffer worse grades at school, the study found.

Lead author Dr Mireia Adelantado-Renau, of University Jaume I in Castellon, Spain, said: 'Each screen-based activity should be analysed individually for its association with academic performance. 'Education and public health professionals should consider supervision and reduction to improve the academic performance of children and adolescents exposed to these activities.'

The research, published in JAMA Pediatrics, reviewed 58 studies from 23 countries involving 480,000 youngsters under the age of 18. Further analysis suggested these screen-based activities have a greater effect on adolescents than children. Television viewing may reduce how much youngsters use their brain, compared to if they were exercising, the researchers said.

'In addition, excessive television viewing time among children has been shown to decrease attention and cognitive functioning and to increase behavioral problems and unhealthy eating habits, which may also impair academic outcomes,' the authors said.

Video games, on the other hand, may trigger psychological and behavioural problems, implicating a child's schooling.

SECONDHAND SMOKE INCREASES CHILDREN'S RISKS OF IRREGULAR HEARTBEATS

Children of parents who smoke are at much greater risk of suffering from an irregular heartbeat later in life, warns a new study. Irregular heartbeat, also known as atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder and raises the risks of stroke. The link between AF and smoking is well established, but the new study suggests a strong connection between secondhand smoke and the condition as well. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, found that every pack of cigarettes a child's parents smoked a day increased their AF risk by 18 percent.

The research team looked at more than 5,000 youngsters under the age of 18 and followed them for the next 40 years.

Parents and children were recruited beginning in 1971, when smoking - especially inside the home - was much more common. In 1971, ads promoting cigarettes were banned from radio and TV. Just a few years prior, in 1965, over 42 percent of adults in the US smoked - a rate that's now fallen to 15.5 percent, but took decades to do so. Among the children involved in the study, 82 percent had been exposed to secondhand smoke. Parents were evaluated by a doctor every two to four years, and children were evaluated every four to eight years. Smoking was defined in both studies as participants smoking more than one cigarette daily during the year prior to their examination for the study.Smoking status was calculated in terms of packets of 20 per day, while second-hand smoke exposure was defined as the presence of a parent smoking anything more than zero packs per day. On average, parents smoked about 10 cigarettes - or half a pack - a day. Around one in seven people who were recruited to the study under the age of 18 in (14.3 percent) developed AF over a follow-up period of 40.5 years. For each pack per day increase in parental smoking, children had an 18 per cent increase in developing AF, according to the findings published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

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Alia Bhatt, Ranveer win top honours at IIFA 2019

The star-studded evening of the 20th edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards concluded with Alia Bhatt, Ranveer Singh, Vicky Kaushal,

Aditi Rao Hydari, Ishaan Khatter, Sara Ali Khan, filmmaker Sriram Raghavan and others scoring top honours in their respective categories.

Alia who was critically acclaimed for portraying the role of a spy in the espionage drama 'Raazi,' took home the Best Actress Award, while Ranveer was handed the Best Actor Award for his villainous role as Alauddin Khilji in the period piece 'Padmaavat.'

Both 'Raazi' and 'Padmaavat' had 10 nominations each, second highest after 'AndhaDhun,' which held the highest number of IIFA nominations with 13 nods.

'AndhaDhun' fetched the Best Director award for Sriram Raghavan.

Vicky Kaushal, who also featured in 'Raazi,' won the Best Supporting Actor award for Sanju - the Sanjay Dutt biopic. Meanwhile, Aditi Rao Hydari won in the Best Supporting

Actress category for her role in 'Padmaavat.'

Sara Ali Khan's Bollywood debut was welcomed with the Best Debut Actress Award for 'Kedarnath' while her contemporary Ishaan Khatter took home the Best Debut Actor trophy for 'Dhadak.'

To celebrate 20 years of the IIFA Awards, special awards were also given to Deepika Padukone for her work in 'Chennai Express.'

Ranbir Kapoor won the Special Award for Best Actor for 'Barfi.' The IIFA Special Awards were also handed out to Rajkumar Hirani who was named Best Director for '3 Idiots,' Pritam for 'Ae Dil Hai Mushkil' while Bollywood cheered for 'Kaho Naa...

Pyaar Hai' as it won a Special Award as the Best Film of the last 20 years category.

Outstanding Contribution to Indian Cinema Award was handed to veteran choreographer Saroj Khan. The evening also saw the Outstanding Achievement in Cinema award being bestowed upon veteran actor Jagdeep.

Jagdeep, beloved for his hilarious turns in 'Sholay,' 'Brahmachari,' 'Andaz Apna Apna' and other films, was presented with a special award for his phenomenal work in cinema and acting.

Salman rules himself out from Bhansali's 'Inshallah' After the news of shelving of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Inshallah', Salman Khan opened about the so-called 'fiasco' and announced that he will not be part of the film.

"Currently, Inshallah is not being made.

Inshallah will be made but at least not with me," said the 53-year-old superstar at IIFA awards ceremony. The filming of 'Inshallah' starring Alia Bhatt was supposed to begin in September after Salman would have finished shooting for 'Dabangg 3'. Last month, Khan had tweeted, "The film with Sanjay Leela Bhansali is pushed but I will still see you all on Eid, 2020. Insha-Allah!!"

Salman was accompanied by his 'Dabangg 3' co-star and daughter of Mahesh Manjrekar, Saiee. While introducing Saiee

at the IIFA 2019, 'Bajarangi Bhaijan' actor recalled the time when Sonakshi Sinha was also introduced at the gala event, IIFA. "It's so strange that long time back, Sonakshi Sinha was also introduced on the ramp at IIFA and now this is her turn," he said.

Alia Bhatt who was set to work with Khan and Bhansali for the first time in 'Inshallah' was reportedly very upset after the film was shelved. At IIFA's green carpet she said, "I was very excited to work with Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Salman as well. I believe that sometimes things happen which are not in your control. Plans never really go as per plans but I can give it to you in writing that I am going to work with Bhansali very soon." Alia is currently

'Gully Boy' is India’s official entry for Oscars Ranveer Singh and Alia Bhatt starrer 'Gully Boy' has been named as India’s official entry to Oscars 2020.

Directed by Zoya Akhtar, the film chronicled the story of Mumbai’s street rappers and was said to loosely based on rapper Naezy’s life.

The movie, which was released in February this year, also features Vijay Raaz, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi, Vijay Varma and Amruta Subhash.

If nominated, the film will compete in the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 92nd Academy Awards. As per reports, Ayushmann Khurrana’s

'AndhaDhun', 'Article 15', 'Badhaai Ho', Varun Dhawan’s 'Badla', among others were competing for the nomination.

Announcing the development, producer Farhan Akhtar tweeted, “#GullyBoy has been selected as India’s official entry to the 92nd Oscar Awards.” Kalki, who played a pivotal role in the movie, also expressed her excitement on the film’s selection. “Woweeeeeeeee!

That is just the best Saturday evening news!” she tweeted.

The film received widespread praise from critics as well as the audience. It is among the top

earners of 2019, having made £23.8 million worldwide.

No Indian film has ever won an Oscar. The last Indian film that made it to the final five in the Best Foreign Film category list was Ashutosh Gowariker’s 'Lagaan' in 2001. 'Mother India' (1958) and 'Salaam Bombay' (1989) are the other two Indian movies to have made it to the top five. Assamese film 'Village Rockstars,' directed by Rima Das, was India’s official submission to the Oscars last year. The 92nd Academy Awards will take place on February 9, 2020 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, US.

working on Ayan Mukerji's 'Brahmastra' and Mahesh Bhatt's 'Sadak 2.'

For uninitiated, 'Inshallah' got shelved reportedly due to the creative differences between Salman and Bhansali. The project would have marked the reunion of Bhansali with Salman after 20 years. Salman and Bhansali had first worked together in the filmmaker's debut movie 'Khamoshi: The Musical' (1996).

The iconic actor-director duo last worked together on 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' (1999), the film also starred Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and it went on to become one of the biggest blockbusters of that time. Salman also had a brief cameo in Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Saawariya'.

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Radhika Apte nominated for Emmy award Critically acclaimed actress Radhika Aapte has bagged the Best Actress nominations at the 2019 Emmy Awards.

Radhika has been nominated for her performance in Netflix film 'Lust Stories.'

Netflix’s India original series 'Sacred Games,' and Amazon Prime Video’s 'The Remix' are also listed in the Awards nominations.

Elated by the nomination, Radhika took to Instagram to share her excitement.

The second season of 'Sacred Games,' starring Saif Ali Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui, has been

nominated in the best drama category alongside Brazil’s 'Contra Todos' - season three, Germany’s 'Bad Banks' and UK’s 'McMafia,' which also features Siddiqui in a key role. Director Anurag Kashyap and Neeraj Ghaywan directed the second season of 'Sacred Games' while Vikramaditya Motwane served as a show runner. Kashyap, who shared the news on his Instagram page, was also one of the directors of 'Lust Stories' with Zoya Akhtar, Dibakar Banerjee and Karan Johar.

“What a day. 3 Emmy Nominations . 1 lust stories (best mini series) 2.Sacred Games (best Drama) 3. Radhika Apte (best actressLust Stories),” he wrote tagging International Emmy, Netflix and other collaborators. 'The Gangs Of Wasseypur'

director also took to Instagram to share the news. Karan Johar too couldn't contain his excitement. Karan shared the news on Twitter. He wrote, "So proud and excited that our anthology 'Lust Stories' is nominated at the Emmys." The filmmaker also thanked his fellow directors Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap and Dibakar Banerjee in the tweet. He added, "Our quartet rocks. Thanks for the support."

Lust Stories also featured Kiara Advani, Vicky Kaushal, Manisha Koirala, Sanjay Kapoor, Jaideep Ahlawat, Akash Thosar, Neha Dhupia and Bhumi Pednekar in lead roles. The film was a hit among the audience and received rave reviews from the critics.

The Emmy Awards will be held on November 25 at the Hilton New York.

Akshay unveils new Narendra Modi biopic on his 69th birthday Akshay Kumar and Prabhas, wished PM Narendra Modi on his 69th birthday with the announcement of a new biopic 'Mann Bairagi,' based on the defining moment of PM's life. “Happy to present the first look of Sanjay Leela Bhansali & Mahaveer Jain’s special feature, #MannBairagi on the defining moment of our PM's life on his birthday,” wrote the 'Mission Mangal' actor.

Prabhas, in turn, wrote, A special film on a special person by a special filmmaker on this special day, Happy Birthday @narendramodi Sir. So happy to present the first look of Sanjay Leela Bhansali

& Mahaveer Jain's 'Mann Bairagi', an untold story of our PM, directed by Ssanjay Tripaathy. The film, that is expected to release this winter, is bankrolled by Bhansali and Jain, while Tripaathy has written and directed it. It will be interesting to see, how different this film is going to be from Viveik Oberoi’s 'PM Narendra Modi', that hit the screens on May 24, 2019.

According to makers, 'Mann Bairagi' is based on a turning point in the Prime Minister’s life and is essentially about that defining moment in the life of any great achiever that

goes on to shape them, and the world around them. What interested me in the story was its universal appeal and message. The story was very well researched and the turning point of our PM’s life, as a young man, really intrigued me. I felt that it’s a story that is unheard of and needs to be told, Bhansali said. The film will present lesser-known facts about PM Modi's life, and from the looks of it, it might be available in at least two languages. Surely Tripaathy’s version and approach will be very different from that of Omung Kumar’s in 'PM Narendra Modi.'

Ranveer 'going to London' for his Christopher Nolan shooting wax statue next to wife Deepika for 'Tenet' in Mumbai Bollywood couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone painted the IIFA awards 2019 red with their romance.

Ranveer who won the Best Actor award, couldn't stop praising his ladylove while giving his winning speech. "It’s a miracle and a blessing I made it as an actor. To do what I love to do for a living is a gift," he said. The catch of the evening was Ranveer carrying his wife's veil while entering the ceremony.

Apart from thanking everyone for his prestigious win, Ranveer talked about his wax statue that will be displayed at Madame Tussauds, London.

The 'Befikre' actor's wax statue will be placed right next to D e e p i k a ' s .

Revealing the same, he said, "My mother-in-law was like you’ve to work hard too, we want a statue of you also.

Mama, we’re going to London. I'm going

to be figuring out my clothes and my pose. It's going to be you and me baby in Madame Tussauds together. Boom."

Terming his wife's wax statue as 'sexiest of all', RS added, "Let me just add that my wife's putla is the sexiest of all. I must say Deepika is a perfectionist, so she was very particular about all the time she devoted to getting her statue made." As far as their professional front is concerned, Ranveer and Deepika will be seen playing an on-screen couple in Kabir Khan's '83.

RS plays Kapil Dev in the film while DP will be seen essaying the role of his wife- Romi Dev. '83 releases on April 10, 2020.

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan and Hollywood star Robert Pattinson were in Mumbai for 10 days for their upcoming film 'Tenet.' The movie features John David Washington and Michael Caine and Bollywood actor Dimple Kapadia in pivotal roles.

Nolan, along with the cast members, was spotted near the Gateway of India for a street scene. Also featuring Elizabeth Debicki, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Clémence Poésy, Kenneth Branagh and Himesh Patel, 'Tenet' is slated for a July 17, 2020 release. Nolan is bestknown for directing critically acclaimed films like 'The Prestige', 'Batman Begins', 'The Dark Knight' series, 'Interstellar' and 'Memento.

'Tenet' is described as “an action epic which is about the world of international espionage.” While Nolan is seen in motion in the images, Dimple can be seen getting ready for a shot dressed in an orange-coloured salwar suit, which she paired with a red shawl. She was also photographed talking to John David, a former footballer, who has earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work in 2018 drama-crime 'BlacKkKlansman.' Son of veteran actor

Denzel Washington, John David is also known for his work on 'HBO's Ballers.'

Last year, Nolan had visited India in March to create awareness about celluloid films in the digital era and to "engage with people from one of the greatest film cultures in the world." He had also met several celebrities such as Amitabh Bachchan, Kamal Haasan and Shah Rukh Khan then. In an interview, the director revealed his motive behind his three-day visit to India and said: "One of the reasons why I am here in India, other than I believe in the cause of saving celluloid films, is to meet more people from the Indian film industry and engage with the people from one of the greatest film cultures of the world... To learn more about it."

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Parvathy's Tamil movie bags international award!

'Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum,' a Tamil anthology movie, starring Parvathy Thiruvothu, Kaleseewari Srinivasan and Lakshmi Priya Chandramouli in the lead bagged the ‘Best Film Award’ at the 29th Fukuoka International Film Festival that was held in Japan recently. Parvathy took to twitter and congratulated director Vasanth and the team. According to media reports, 'Sivaranjaniyum Innum Sila Pengallum' was the only Indian movie selected to the festival.

The movie, directed by Vasanth S Sai, is based on three female-centric short stories penned by writers Jeyamohan, Adhavan and Ashoka Mithran. After receiving the award, director Sai said he was humbled by the honour. “I thank the festival team and I'd like to place on record my writers - the heroes - the late Ashokamitran, the late Aadhavan, and the living legend Jeya Mohan. They are the backbone of this film and I would like to thank them in a big way at this happy time,” he was quoted as saying. The movie was appreciated by the critics at the International Film Fest held in Thiruvananthapuram in 2018.

Parvathy is one of the top actresses of Malayalam film industry, and she had won the National award last year for her performance in the movie 'Take Off.' Parvathy had debuted in Tamil with Sasi directorial 'Poo,' and starred in movies like 'Mariyan' and 'Chennaiyil Oru Naal.'

Tamannaah joins Diwali race!

This year's Diwali festivities is all set to witness two big releases namely Vijay starrer 'Bigil' directed by Atlee and Kaithi starring 'Karthi' directed

by Lokesh Kanagaraj. Now, Tamannaah starring 'Petromax' will be another movie set to join them.

The surprise entry of this horror comedy to the Diwali Box office contest is directed by Rohin Venkatesan who had debuted before two years with the thriller 'Athe Kangal.' The film is produced by Eagle's Eye Production. It is the remake of the Telugu film 'Anando Brahma' which starred Taapsee in the lead. The film had released a couple of interesting and intriguing posters earlier which created a good buzz about the film.

'Petromax' also stars Yogi Babu, Kaali Venkat, Munishkanth and Sathyan and has music by Ghibran. The team has reportedly planned to release the movie on Diwali and the release date will be announced soon.

'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy' promises to be an action extravaganza

The highly anticipated trailer of Chiranjeevi’s magnum opus 'Sye Raa Narasimha Reddy' has finally arrived and its visuals promise a never-before-seen action film. The action-packed trailer from Telugu cinema introduces Chiranjeevi, who plays Kurnool-based freedom fighter Narasimha Reddy, as a rebel, warrior and a martyr. The video also introduces other important characters, played

by Sudeep, Vijay Sethupathi, Tamannah Bhatia, Amitabh Bachchan and Nayanthara.

The trailer has set the bar very high giving a glimpse of breathtaking action sequences, production design befitting a bygone era and above all, a thundering Chiranjeevi as freedom fighter Uyyalawada Narasimha

Reddy. For legions of Telugu film buffs, the icing on the cake is the voice over by Pawan Kalyan, Chiranjeevi’s brother or ‘Power Star’ as he is referred to by his fans. On signing the project, Chiranjeevi had said it was his long-time desire to play a historic character.

“It has always been my dream to play Bhagat Singh. Despite being offered the role back then, I couldn’t play it because of various reasons. I regret missing out on an opportunity to play the role because I don’t think anyone wants to make a film on him today,” Chiranjeevi said. For the uninitiated, the teaser gives an idea of who Uyyalawada Narasimha Reddy was, by referring to him ‘the first rebel’ who roared like a lion and led a rebellion against the British East India Company. History has it that Narasimha Reddy led a peasant uprising in Kurnool in the 1840s, much before Sepoy Mutiny in 1857.

Directed by Surender Reddy and produced by Ram Charan, the film has music by Amit Trivedi. Originally, AR Rahman was signed for the project but he opted out citing lack of time due to other commitments. The film, which will be distributed by Farhan Akhtar’s Excel Entertainment in Hindi, will release worldwide on October 2.

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SATURDAY SEP 28, 2019 01:00 FILM: DHOKHA 05:00 FILM: HAIR IS FALLING 07:00 FILM: JUNGLE 10:00 COMEDY: BAADSHAH 13:00 FILM: JUDAAI 16:00 FILM: BESHARAM 19:00 FILM: UDTA PUNJAB 22:00 FILM: RAMA RAMA KYA HAI DRAMA SUNDAY SEP 29, 2019 01:00 FILM: KEEMAT 05:00 FILM: VIKALP 07:00 FILM: CHINA GATE 10:00 FILM: AWARAPAN 13:00 FILM: CHAALBAAZ 16:00 FILM: COMMANDO 2 19:00 FILM: HAPPY BHAG JAYEGI 22:00 FILM: UDTA PUNJAB MONDAY SEP 30, 2019 01:00 FILM: GANGSTER 05:00 FILM: MUNNA MAANGE MEMSAAB 07:00 FILM: AAKHRI GHULAM 10:00 FILM: LUV SHUV PYAR VYAR 13:00 FILM: BESHARAM 16:00 FILM: EK SE BURE DO 19:00 FILM: SHAKTI - THE POWER 22:00 FILM: JURM

TUESDAY OCT 1, 2019 01:00 FILM: INTEHA 05:00 FILM: TITOO MBA 07:08 FILM: PYAR KE KABIL 10:15 FILM: ISHQ CLICK 12:59 FILM: FAMILYWALA 16:17 FILM: HAPPY BHAG JAYEGI 19:01 FILM: DESI BOYZ 21:33 FILM: GUNAAH WEDNESDAY OCT 2, 2019 00:03 FILM: ANJAANE - THE UNKNOWN 05:00 FILM: 18.11 - A CODE OF SECRECY 07:26 FILM: GANGSTER 09:44 FILM: YEH HAI JUDGEMENT HANGED TILL DEATH 12:37 FILM: PUKAR 16:03 FILM: SHAKTI-THE POWER 19:43 FILM: RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0 22:18 FILM: INTEHA THURSDAY OCT 3, 2019 01:15 FILM: DUS TOLA 05:00 FILM: DAMM 999 07:11 FILM: KHEL 10:43 FILM: PUKAR 14:12 FILM: DESI BOYZ 16:46 FILM: NIL BATTEY SANNATA 19:00 FILM: RAHASYA 21:34 FILM: RAMAN RAGHAV 2.0 FRIDAY OCT 4, 2019 00:12 FILM: SHAITAAN 05:00 FILM: HUFF! ITS TOO MUCH 07:00 FILM: SAMAY-WHEN THE TIME STRIKES 09:45 FILM: RAHASYA 12:18 FILM: BAADSHAH 15:52 FILM: AWARA PAAGAL DEEWANA 19:16 FILM: DON - THE CHASE BEGINS AGAIN 22:51 FILM: GRAND MASTI MON 30TH SEPTEMBER - FRI 4TH OCTOBER

TIME

TV PROGRAM NAMES

19:00

MERE SAI

18:30 19:30 20:00

* Schedule is subject to change

SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:30 ZINDAGI KE CROSSROADS 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPERSTAR SINGER 21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW SUNDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER TIME TV PROGRAM NAMES 17:30 ZINDAGI KE CROSSROADS 18:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW 20:00 SUPERSTAR SINGER 21:30 THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 30TH - FRI 4TH OCT 2019 13:00: SWARAGINI 13:30: BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN 15:30: SIRF 30 MINUTES 16:00: THE GREAT INDIAN GLOBAL KITCHEN 2 16:30: RASOI SHOW 17:30: CHHUTA CHHEDA 18:00: TUM KAUN PIYA

VIGHNAHARTA GANESHA TARA FROM SATARA

ISHAARON ISHAARON MEIN

20:30

PATIALA BABES

22:30

TARA FROM SATARA

21:00 23:00 19:00

KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI CRIME PATROL

SONY MAX 2 PRIME TIME

19:00 19:00 19:00 19:00

MONDAY

TUESDAY

KATI PATANG

KUCHHE DHAAGE

WEDNESDAY PUKAR

THURSDAY CHASHME BADOOR

FRIDAY

AYA SAWAN JHOOM KE

18:30: 19:00: 19:30: 20:00: 20:30: 21:00:

DIL KA RISHTA JAHAANARA BEPANNAH TERE NAAL ISHQ MOHE RANNG DO LAAL BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE 22:00: JAGTE RAHO SAT 5TH OCT 2019 17:00: WORLD OF FESTIVALS NAVRATRI 18:00: DESI BEAT - SEASON 3 18:30: RISING STAR (SEASON 3) 20:30: RED ALERT 21:30: JAGTE RAHO

SUN 6TH OCT 2019 17:30: FILMFARE AWARDS 2019 21:30: JAGTE RAHO

23:00: CHOTI SARDAARNI 00:00: GATHBANDHAN SAT 5TH OCT 2019

19:30: DESI BEAT RESET

20:00: CHOTI SARDAARNI

20:30: KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA * Schedule is subject to change

MON 30TH - FRI 4TH OCT 2019 18:00: MERE HUMRAHI 18:30: VIDYA 19:00: RAM SIYA KE LUV KUSH 19:30: CHOTI SARDAARNI 20:00: SHAKTI ASTITVA KE EHSAAS KI 20:30: KITCHEN CHAMPION 21:30: BIGG BOSS - SEASON 13 22:30: BAHU BEGUM 23:00: BEPANAH PYAARR

21:30: BIGG BOSS (SEASON 13) WEEKEND KA VAAR

23:00: KAWACH MAHASHIVRATRI SUN 6TH OCT 2019

20:00: CHOTI SARDAARNI

20:30: KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA

21:30: BIGG BOSS (SEASON 13) WEEKEND KA VAAR

23:00: KAWACH MAHASHIVRATRI

www.asian-voice.com

AsianVoiceNews

EVENTS

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

31

28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

Birthday celebrations of Mahant Swami in Nairobi

Raas Garba Competitions 2019

Flower - Poem by Rabindranath Tagore Pluck this little flower and take it, delay not!

I fear lest it droop and drop into the dust.

I may not find a place in thy garland, but honour it with a touch of pain from thy hand and pluck it.

I fear lest the day end before I am aware, and the time of offering go by.

Though its colour be not deep and its smell be faint, use this flower in thy service and pluck it while there is time.

Currently Mahant Swami is in Nairobi, Kenya. Earlier, he was in Johannesburg. On 17th, 'Kishor Din' was celebrated where teenagers performed dance and presented dialogues. On 18th, commemoration ceremony of Shastriji Maharaj was organised. In the evening, Mayor of Johannesburg, Herman Mashaba paid a courtesy visit to Mahant Swami. On 19th, Mahant Swami arrived in Nairobi from Johannesburg. On 21st, 'Swagat Din' was celebrated.

While addressing the morning assembly, Mahant Swami said, “ The one who walks on the path of god is a monk.”

Saints and devotees gathered to welcome Mahant Swami and Harikrishna Maharaj and recited vedic hymns. Also, dance and dialogue were presented while the children recited vedic slogans. On 22nd 'Sameep Darshan' was conducted. On 23rd, Mahant Swami celebrated his 89th birthday according to the Indian calender. In the morning, Mahant Swami conducted pooja at Nilakanthaverni Maharaj in the newly renovated Abhishek Mandapam.

Gujarat Hindu Society participated in Annual Raas Garba competitions held on Saturday 14th September at Manchester, Wythenshawe Forum.

Teams from Oldham, Ashton U Lyne, Preston, Bradford and Blackburn took part in the competitions. Over 600 people attended the event. Preston

entered 2 teams one in Raas and one Garba. All the young people who participated put on a good display of their skills both in Garba and Raas.

Gujarat Hindu Society Garba Team were the Winners in this category and Runners up in Raas.

They were also winners in Best Costumes.

Charity event held to raise money for homeless

Coming Events

l National Association Of Patidar Samaj, Gita Foundation and various organisations organise, Gandhi walk on 150th Birth Anniversary. Flagging off of by the High Commissioner of India, Date: 2nd October, Wednesday, Time: Annual garlanding event at 11.45 am. From 12:45 pm to 2:00 pm Floral Tributes and Speeches by the Dignitaries and Leaders of Voluntary Organisations, dances and Garba at the Parliament Square, Venue: Tavistock Square, Woburn Place, LONDON WC1H 9EZ after the annual garlanding event Contact: Pravin Amin 07967013871 l 73rd India’s Independence Day celebrations, Date: 29 Sept, Sunday, Time: From 11:00 am. to 4:00pm, Venue: Osterely Sports Ground, Tentelow Lane, Southall, UB2 4LW, London

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AJIT NINAN FOR TOI

Bhadran Bandhu Samaj UK, hosts a Fun Filled family picnic and Kite flying day in aid of collecting clothes for the Homeless on 26th August 2019 at Kingsbury High School in London.

The response was overwhelming as there were numerous bags of various warm clothes donated by all those who attended. The day was enjoyed by families who flew Indian Kites, spe-

cially imported from India for this event, furthermore they were entertained with music, delicious food and cold drinks as it was one of the hottest day's in London.

If anyone wishes to donate any warm clothes in aid of this great cause please email – bhadranbandhusamajuk@gmail.com and we will inform you where your nearest drop off centre is located.

British Asian artist to celebrate 1980s VHS video shop cultures Jambo Cinema, is an immersive art installation and film taking audiences back in time to the by-gone era of Bollywood VHS rental shops and celebrates British Asian lives.

London’s Barbican Centre has commissioned Jambo Cinema to feature as part of Leytonstone Loves Film festival, which is a FREE weekend of films, music, arts, workshops, markets and more in unexpected places around Leytonstone. It is also the birthplace of world famous Director and Producer, Alfred Hitchcock and his centenary year of birth.

This project is inspired by the personal experiences of Dawinder Bansal, who grew up in her parents’ corner

shop, Bansal Electrical (closed in 1989) which sold electrical supplies and also rented VHS video films to the newly arrived and established Indian and Pakistani migrant communities in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton.

Dawinder told Asian Voice, “I’m so delighted and honoured to present Jambo Cinema at Leytonstone Loves Film festival this year. Jambo Cinema began in 2016 as a passion project, mainly as a tribute to my late father.

After my father died, our shop closed down but we retained majority of the original VHS tapes, artwork, fixtures and fittings. In fact my garage is busting with stock!

In 2015 I explored the old shop stock and realised it was an important part of South

Asian social history.

"Jambo Cinema is a working class story, about me, the humble beginnings of my family moving from Kenya to the UK and our love for film.

While it is a very personal story, people from all walks of life can resonate with the story or be curious about British Asian lives in the 1980s.”

Dawinder will be welcoming guests on Saturday

28thSunday 29thSeptember, 11am – 6pm at Leytonstone Library at the Octagon Room. They will be transported back in time and be greeted as guests at aunty and uncle Bansal’s residence during the 1980s. The guests are invited to explore the Indian-Kenyan living room, complete with family photographs, memorabilia and original Bollywood VHS films.

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Celebrating National Inclusion Week The National Inclusion Week is celebrated on 23rd29th September and the MEA Consulting Group is launching an #includeyourvoice campaign. This campaign is aimed to raise awareness for the need for inclusion, and drive real change striving to empower workplaces, schools and people to make change in everyday life. #includeyourvoice asks for everyone to post a short clip of why inclusion is important to them. Each day, MEA will be posting videos and share ideas how to be more inclusive.

MEA Consulting Group was created by ambitious female Investment Bankers who identified a genuine need for corporate behavioural change, if com-

Anju Solanki

panies are to successfully retain and grow strong female talent. Founder of MEA - Anju Solanki who despite socio-economic disadvantages, became an Investment Banker and worked on a trading floor for 12 years. Being an Asian female, she was deeply passionate to drive change and thereafter set up MEA to make a difference for people from diverse backgrounds.

32

Sport

www.asian-voice.com

28 Sept - 4 Oct 2019

AsianVoiceNews AsianVoiceNewsweekly

South Africa beat India by 9 wickets; level series An unbeaten 79 by skipper Quinton de Kock helped South Africa romp home to a nine-wicket victory over India in the third T20 to level the series one all. India had won in Mohali by seven wickets earlier. Chasing a below-par 134 for 9, the South Africans, much like the Indians in the previous match, chased down the target without much ado in 16.5 overs.

De Kock, who was with the Royal Challengers Bangalore until last season, made ample use of his familiarity of the conditions to stay untroubled by the Indian bowling attack.

There was no extravagance or needless aggression in his batting. He shared a 76-run opening stand with Reeza Hendricks (28) before finishing with finesse with Temba Bavuma (27 not out) for company.

Earlier, with an eye on a

series win, the home side began well but it didn’t take them long to lose fizz and the plot to end their quota of overs with 134, of which the bowling side contributed 15 extras. South Africa, decided to open the attack with left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin (2-19), who made his T20 debut in Mohali. Shikhar Dhawan (36) pulled the first ball to the fence to set the tone, but the 24-year-old kept it tight thereafter. India’s big over was to follow with Kagiso Rabada (3-39) spraying the ball all over the pitch and conceding 17 runs including seven wides.

Beuran Hendricks (2-14) made his 11th T20 international appearance in five years count as an unsure Rohit Sharma edged him to Reeza Hendricks at first slip.

The partnership between Dhawan and Kohli came with a lot of promises,

Quinton de Kock

especially with Dhawan in an entertaining mood. He danced down the wicket twice in a row to send spinner Tabraiz Shamsi’s deliveries beyond the ropes.

The 41-run second wicket stand with his captain ended when he mistimed a turning ball from Shamsi, lofted it and Bavuma came in from extra cover to hold on to the

catch. Thereafter, a parade of the Indian players to the pavilion began with the hosts losing five wickets for the addition of a mere 35 runs. The runs, boundaries in particular, dried up and the fact that they went from 63 for 2 in the eighth over to end with 134.

On a wicket which had slowed down, a sluggish

Kohli, who was dropped by Fortuin off his own bowling on three, made little use of the lifeline and instead was first of Rabada’s three wickets. Much was expected from the under-fire Rishbah Pant and the talented Shreyas Iyer but both made a mess of the opportunity they were presented with.

There was hope from the Pandya brothers - Hardik and Krunal but that too did not materialise.

Kohli leads from front In the second T20, Virat Kohli helped India ease past the 150 set by the South Africans with six wickets and an over to spare at Mohali. Kohli reasserted his reputation as the master of this white-ball game. The India captain walked back to the pavilion with 72 against his name, unbeaten, untroubled and with a 1-0 lead with one game to go.

Kohli's example of fearless

and yet careful cricket was so infectious that Shikhar Dhawan caught it without any trouble. There were no frantic rundowns, just clean hitting clubbed with smart rotation of strike till David Miller’s moment of unworldly brilliance at the long-on boundary sent Dhawan back for a measured 31-ball 40. Shreyas Iyer followed it up with 14ball 16 after Rishabh Pant threw away another opportunity off a slow long hop from left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin.

Temba Bavuma, fighting the label of a Test specialist, scored a 43-ball 49 to lay the platform for the designated power-hitters. South Africa set it up beautifully to go big but the ticking brain of India’s new crop of whiteball specialists averted a potential onslaught as the visitors finished with 149/5 after winning the toss.

Dhoni unavailable for Bangla T20I series Mahendra Singh Dhoni will not be available for selection until November this year, reports say. The former India captain had previously missed the West Indies tour after taking a break of two months which also meant that he missed the ongoing home series against South Africa.

The extension of the

break means that he will miss out on the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the home T20I series against Bangladesh as well.

This means that Dhoni would be available to play for India only in December when the West Indies tour the country for three T20Is and as many ODIs. The series is scheduled to start on

December 6.

Dhoni had last played for India on July 10 when the Men in Blue lost to New Zealand in the semifinal of the ODI World Cup in England.

His break would effectively be nearly six months long.

This comes at a time when there has been speculation over the 37year-old’s future in the

team, especially with the team management grooming 21-year-old Rishabh Pant as his replacement behind the stumps ahead of next year’s World T20.

Recently, rumours about Dhoni announcing his retirement were doing the rounds after captain Virat Kohli tweeted a pic of him and Dhoni during a match with the

caption: “A game I can never forget. Special night. This man, made me run like in a fitness test.”

When Kohli was asked about it in a press conference ahead of India’s first T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala, the skipper said that he had nothing on his mind when he Mahendra Singh Dhoni posted the tweet.

Specially-abled shooter Dhanush A milestone for weightlifter Mirabai makes it to Indian team Dhanush Srikanth has added another feather to his cap.

After raising the bar by registering world record scores in the national trials, the Telangana boy has become the first shooter with hearing impairment to make it to the Indian national Dhanush Srikanth squad. Dhanush, 16, has made his way to the junior (U-21) men’s 10m air rifle team for the Asian Championships to be held in November.

Earlier this month at the national trials, Dhanush had shot scores better than the current senior final world record (251.2) by scoring 252.5 in the juniors final. The score was not considered as official world record as it was scored at a national-level match, but his performance fetched him a place in the Indian squad.

Dhanush, who was born with a hearing loss, took up shooting when he was 14. He

trains at Gagan Narang’s Gun For Glory academy in Pune and Telangana.

His coach Neha Chavan, a former national shooter, said Dhanush was working on the goal of getting into the team since June this year. “We set goals for all our shooters.

In June, I asked Dhanush if he would be able to make his way to the Asian Championships team and he smiled. He has been shooting consistently and it helped him achieve his target,” Neha said. The qualification world record shot by South Korea’s Choi Changhoon at the 2017 Deaflympics - a quadrennial multi-discipline event for hearing-impaired athletes - was 618.3. The final world record in ‘Deaf category’ (as called by International Committee of Sports for the Deaf) is 205.6, held by Ukraine’s Oleksandr Kostyk since 2016.

Mirabai Saikhom Chanu failed to clinch a medal at the World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, but achieved what no other Indian woman weightlifter has been able to accomplish so far – lift a total that was more than four times her body weight.

Mirabai came agonisingly close to a podium finish before settling for a fourth-place finish in the 49kg category. In the process, she became the first woman weightlifter from the country to breach the magic mark of 200kg –she lifted a total of 201 (87 in snatch and 114 in clean and jerk) in her weight category. She surpassed her personal best of 199kg, which she had achieved at the Asian championships in Ningbo,China this April.

China’s Jiang Huihua (total 212 – 94 snatch and 118 clean and jerk) won the gold medal, while silver went to another Chinese lifter, Hou Zhihui (total 211 – 94 snatch and 117 clean and jerk) and North Korea’s Song Gum (total 204 – 89 snatch and 115 clean and jerk) settled for bronze. Mirabai’s fourth finish in the 33-strong field did a world of good to her Tokyo Olympics qualification chances. The Pattaya Worlds is a qualifying meet and performances in the event will hold much significance when global rankings in each weight category will be released by the International Weightlifting

Mirabai Saikhom Chanu

Federation (IWF) at the end of the qualification cycle in April 2020.

Mirabai is at present ranked third in the world in her 49kg category and she is almost certain to travel to Tokyo being the country’s No.1 in her weight division. A country (read Indian weightlifting body) can nominate only one weightlifter in each qualified weight category for the Olympics and there is little doubt that entry would be of Mirabai.

In Olympics, each weight category will have a total of 14 lifters (13 those who will qualify based on world rankings and one from the host nation i.e. Japan). Mirabai’s coaches have planned two more competitions in coming months, which will fall in the Olympic qualification cycle, to enable her to continue in the same position.