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Sadiq Khan warns Jeremy Corbyn to 'get a grip' on Labour's anti-Semitism crisis P 05

7th May to 13th May 2016

Plane crash: RAF pilot Sandhu named

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

Over 300 killed, water scarcity hits major parts of the country

Community celebrates Leicester City victory as the Club creates history P 15

Ajvir Singh Sandhu

Two pilots who died when their light aircraft crashed to the ground in North Yorkshire on Saturday have been named by local police as trainee RAF pilots Ajvir Singh Sandhu, 25, from Essex and Cameron James Forster, 21, from Sussex. North

UK steel tycoon bidding for Tata Steel P 20

Facing expulsion Mallya quits Rajya Sabha seat P 25 Chopper scam points finger at Cong P 26

Ponds have dried up, animal carcasses lay strewn on the roads and households survive on a single pot of water per day. With the country hit by a heatwave that has claimed over 300 lives, extreme drought in different parts of India has made living conditions worse for the people and animals, alike.

Jaisalmer in Rajasthan has registered 52.4 degrees, while the national Capital faced an unpleas-

ant 42 degrees Celsius recently. Down south Orissa endured 45.4 degrees Celsius, while Kerala dwindled between 42 and 45 degrees. In the north Amritsar recorded 42.3 degrees and Chandigarh touched 44.7 degrees Celsius.

State governments are engaged in taking necessary steps; shutting down schools, arranging for potable water, and in the case of Bihar, forbidding

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ONE ONE with Keith Vaz, MP

Asian Voice |7th May 2016

www.asian-voice.com

to

Wes Streeting

Wes Streeting is the Labour MP for Ilford North. He was elected at the 2015 General Election, having previously been Deputy Leader of the London Borough of Redbridge.

He has worked outside politics as a senior manager and Chief Executive for a number of voluntary sector organisations working to improve access to education: from an anti-bullying campaign working with over 10,000 schools across Britain to running a national charity that supports people from under-privileged backgrounds to gain entrance to university.

Wes is a former President of the National Union of Students and a current member of the Treasury Select Committee.

1. What is your current position?

I’m currently the Member of Parliament for Ilford North which covers most of the stations on the Hainault loop of the central line! I’m also a Member of the Commons Treasury Select Committee, which looks closely at our economic and fiscal policy.

2. What are your proudest achievements?

Being one of the few kids on free school meals to make it to

Cambridge University and winning Ilford North from the Tories against the odds at the last general election. Growing up in a working class, single parent family, you have to get used to having the odds stacked against you!

3. What inspires you?

There are loads of historical figures and political thinkers that I draw inspiration from, but on a very practical level I'm out knocking on doors every week in

Jaina Mistry revealed as new head teacher for autistic school in Oldham Jaina Mistry has been chosen as the second head of Oldham’s school for children with autism and social and communication difficulties which opened in September.

The 34-year-old will take over at the helm of the £6.25 million Hollinwood Academy from Sarah Lockwood.

Ms Lockwood took up the post in January 2015 ahead of the school’s opening. But she recently announced that she would step down in September to spend more time with her young daughter who has Down’s syndrome and autism. She said that she would be leaving the school in “the best possible hands”.

Her successor is the Key Stage 2 co-ordinator at the Roman Road school which has 70 pupils in reception through to Year 10. Miss Mistry, who lives is Derbyshire, praised the support of Miss Lockwood who encouraged her to apply for the post.

She said that her appointment would provide the continuity needed by pupils and added: “I am still in shock. I pushed myself for it and I wanted it for the children, the parents, the staff and the school.

“I plan to carry on the work that we started in September to create an environment for autistic children and children with social and communication difficulties which suits their needs and pro-

Jaina Mistry

vides stability.”

Miss Mistry did a BTEC in childhood studies followed by a four-year teaching degree in literacy and numeracy with special educational needs at Manchester Metropolitan University.

She then worked at a large primary school in Didsbury for 10-and-ahalf years where she progressed from a newlyqualified teacher to roles which included special educational needs coordinator and leadership positions.

“It was a massive change going from that period of time in a mainstream primary school to leading a team of teachers here in a specialist autistic setting,” said Miss Mistry, who also teaches English and maths at Hollinwood, as well as science at the neighbouring Newbridge Special School which is part of the same academy trust. Outside of work Miss Mistry, who lives in Derbyshire, enjoys spending time with family and friends. And it is a busy time for her as she is also planning her wedding which takes place in August.

AsianVoiceNews

by a broken immigration system and a housing crisis. It's frustrating being in opposition. I want to see Labour back in power tackling these issues.

my constituency. The feedback I receive informs my working priorities in Parliament and makes sure that I keep my feet on the ground and rooted in the community I'm sent to Parliament to represent.

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

Money. Politics is expensive and it's not hard to understand why Parliament remains unrepresentative. I gave up working full time to fight Ilford North. My budget was so tight that I took my last £20 out of the cashpoint in my first week! If we're serious about having a Parliament that looks like our country, we need to make it easier for people to be involved.

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

My nan was a real political inspiration. She fought for tenants' rights in the East End of London when I was growing up and was a bit of a firebrand in her local Labour Party.

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8. What are your long term goals?

I’d like to be re-elected! My dream job in politics is Education Secretary. Education changed my life and is one of the most powerful tools for equality we have.

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

I genuinely love my job and feel very lucky to have a job where I love every part of it. Of course it's a massive privilege to be able to speak up for Ilford North in Parliament, but I'm a people person and also love the community angle: helping people out, visiting community groups and events and knocking on doors.

7. And the worst?

Immigration and housing cases.

I often feel completely useless because people are being failed

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

I’d want to improve access to opportunity so that children from the poorest backgrounds can have the same chances in life as those from the wealthiest. I’d bring back the goal of ending child poverty.

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

Clement Attlee. I'd love to know what he'd make of the challenges facing the Labour Party and the welfare state his government created.

Men accused of giving Brussels suspect Mohamed Abrini cash Two men have appeared in court accused of giving money to the "man in the hat" suspected of being involved in the Brussels and Paris terrorist attacks.

Mohammed Ali Ahmed and Zakaria Boufassil, both 26, are accused of giving Mohamed Abrini £3,000 when he was in Birmingham in July last year. They appeared with Soumaya Boufassil, 29, who is accused of collecting money for terrorist purposes with Mr Ahmed.

The trio, from Small Heath, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court.

Ms Boufassil, who wore a burka, and the two men, who wore jumpers, spoke only to confirm their details.

Mr Ahmed is a British national, while both Mr Boufassil and his sister, Ms Boufassil, are BelgianMoroccans. They have all been living in Birmingham.

Mr Ahmed and Mr Boufassil face one count of the commission of offences abroad, on or before 7 July 2015, under section 17 of the Terrorism Act. They are accused of entering into an arrangement in which money was made available to another person, and that

Mohammed Ali Ahmed (L), Zakaria Boufassil and Soumaya Boufassil in court

Mohamed Abrini

The images of a man in a hat at Brussels airport were distributed after the attack

they knew, or had reasonable cause to suspect, it would or may be used for the purposes of terrorism.

Mr Ahmed and Ms Boufassil are charged with the preparation of terrorist acts between 1 January 2015 and 8 April 2016,

A £75 fine for feeding pigeons A mother has told of her anger after she was slapped with a £75 fine in Slough town centre - just for feeding the pigeons.

Sanya Malik, 39, of Elliman Avenue, says she was accused of "littering" by two Slough Borough Council enforcement officers. They confronted her and daughter, Islah, aged one-and-a-half, outside Queensmere Shopping Centre after they had

began putting down bread crumbs for the pigeons.

Mrs Malik, who is a customer services manager at Legoland, Windsor said: "We regularly feed birds in the parks round here. My daughter loves it. I did not see the officers to begin with as we were looking down at the pigeons. They said 'you are dropping litter and we are

going to give you ticket'.

A spokesman for Slough Borough Council was unsympathetic this week.

under section five of the Terrorism Act 2016.

The trio, who were arrested on 14 and 15 April, were remanded in custody and are due to appear at the Old Bailey in London on 13 May. Mr Abrini, a 31-yearold Belgian of Moroccan origin, is in custody in Belgium on suspicion of connection with an attack in Brussels in March. He is also wanted in connection with the November attacks in Paris.

She said: "We don't want to encourage pigeons because they make a mess.

"Food litter attracts rats and it does not necessarily get eaten at once by birds.

"I'm sorry if this lady felt upset but we have a responsibility to residents to keep the streets clean.

"Bread has no nutritional value for birds so people should only give them proper bird food and in their own gardens."

C MMENTS

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Asian Voice |7th May 2016

India in top space league India announced its arrival in the top space league of America, Russia, the European Union and China with the successful launch on April 28 of its seventh and final Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS IG) into a sub-synchronous orbit with a perigree (nearest point to the earth) of 284 km and a apogee (Farthest point to earth) of 20,657 km. The satellite was launched on board the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota in the early hours of the morning. The achievement gives India its complete constellation of its own Global Positioning System (GPS). When the entire network becomes fully operational, it will provide navigation and positioning services that require high precision for marine navigation, rail transport, aviation and military applications with an accuracy of 10 metres.

Congratulating scientists and engineers on site from Delhi vis video Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the new technology would benefit the Indian people. He named the system Navic. An Indian Space Research and Organization (ISRO)official said the agency had developed a coded chipset that could be incorporated with an existing receiver of a smartphone or any positioning device on vehicles, ships or planes to communicate with the satellite and acquire position data. ‘But entrepreneurs have to step up and manufacture chipsets on a large scale.’

An area of 1,500 km from India’s frontiers will be covered under the navigation system Prime Minister Modi said that India had seven neighbours, to whom

he issued an invitation to join in and make use of the Indian system for national development. He went on: ‘We are now one of five countries with our own navigational system. Today we are free of dependence on other countries for navigation. Our planes will be able to land with ease and accuracy; we can plan disaster relief better and with our own technologies,’ he said.

The system, he explained, was dedicated to India’s fishermen and mariners who have ventured out on the waters sometimes with only the sun and stars to guide them. The ‘navic’ opens a new chapter in their lives as it does for the rest of Indian humanity.

India has been mostly dependent on the United States for its GPS needs. However, when the US turned down an Indian request for GPS information during the Kargil war with Pakistan in the summer of 1999, India started work on its own GPS tewchnology.

In defence, India’s seven satellites will not only monitor the entire country and its environs , but they will keep track of potential threats posed by missiles and war planes. A further advantage is that signals will not get affected by the weather or through jamming. In sum, the GPS will be used for terrestrial, aerial and marine navigation, vehicle tracking, fleet management, disaster management, mapping and geodetic data, acquisition and navigation for drivers.

As with supercomputers, when denied their use by the United States, India decided to design and manufacture its own – and succeeded with conspicuous success, self-reliance has taught India many lessons: there is nothing like standing on one’s own two feet.

Supine surrender to China Having granted the German-based Uigher activist Dolkum Isa a visa to visit India, the Ministry of External Affairs back tracked and denied him on grounds that were as squalid as the decision itself.

China describes him as a terrorist, but he has travelled frequently to the United States and other countries without the slightest problem. The two Chinese human rights activists Ray Wong and Ms Lu Jinghua, likewise, were also denied entry into India. The Ministry clearly has a low opinion of the public intelligence as its excuses bordered on the absurd. Where will this unseemly farce end is anybody’s guess. Sushma Swaraj, India’s External Affairs Minister is hospitalized with an illness yet to be diagnosed. Rest assured it has nothing to with China. but , who knows, It could be shame that has made her take to the bed.

It is possible that the Modi government has good reason for its China U-turn. But this is mere speculation. The evidence thus far is damning: India has caved into Chinese pressure. The Times of India editorial (April 27) noted that by its recent actions ‘India has lost face and strategic capital.’ The paper continued: ‘This is a setback because hitherto foreign policy was considered the NDA government’s strong suit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign trips and outreach to a diverse set of countries have certainly furthered India’s strategic profile. But India’s China policy has fallen between two stools….As things stand, India has handed the negotiating advantage to China and lost strategic capital in the international arena.’

This a sorry mess. ‘ If you say a person has been

given a visa and then revoke it without a very cogent explanation, you risk coming across as succumbing to pressure, ‘said Alka Acharya, Director of the New Delhi-based Institute of Chinese Studies.

Indeed, it has. You wouldn’t think so at the silence in Parliament on this issue amidst the barrage of personal insults that party leaders hurled at each other.

Such is the wisdom of the country’s political class.

The Chinese have not been slow to exploit their triumph. A statement emanating from Beijing solemnly advised India and Pakistan to keep talking until agreement was reached on all contentious issues. The IndiaPakistan foreign secretary talks in New Delhi proved to be a bruising encounter. The Pakistan foreign secretary walked out on the dinner hosted by his Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, for delegates to the concurrent Heart of Asia conference. Meanwhile, a gaggle of former Indian and Pakistani diplomats called on the National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, and requested that India-Pakistan back channel diplomacy be restored. Kanwal Sibal, a former Indian foreign secretary demurred, arguing, rightly, that such exercises were futile as long the Pakistan military called the shots in their country.

It is not for nothing that China advertises itself as Pakistan’s ‘all weather friend,’ one that it can depend upon to carry out terrorist strikes on India, thereby crippling an awkward adversary. Truth is that India has no coherent China or Pakistan policy. Drift is no substitute for policy. It involves endless chatter, and no tangible result.

Reuben brothers top UK rich list Mumbai-born Reuben brothers, David and Simon, have topped Britain’s latest rich list, with assets worth Pounds 13.1 billion. Now, in their mid-seventies, the brothers had their schooling in Bombay, as it was then called, before emigrating to the UK in the 1950s, where they made their fortune in metals and property. They have a first cousin, Solomon Sofer, who still lives in the city and keeps in close touch with the Reuben siblings.

The family belonged to a line of Baghdadi Jews who migrated to British India in the 19th century – specifically to Bombay – from the Ottoman Empire. They were thrifty and hardworking and made the most of their opportunities.

The British rich list for 2016, published by the Sunday Times, has a strong Indian imprint. The Hinduja brothers, Srichand and Gopichand, who head the Hinduja Group, also with roots in Mumbai, have held onto the second place they achieved last year. They recently purchased the old War Office in London for 300

million pounds on a 250-year lease and plan to convert it into a three billion luxury hotel in the next few years.

The Hindujas have a firm business footprint in India.

Once head of this list, steel tycoon 65 year-old Lakshmi Mittal’s Arcelor companies have slipped to seventh place because of the plunge in the world steel price.

In 2008, when Mittal headed the rich list, his wealth was assessed at a staggering 27.7 billion pounds; today the figure has dropped to 7.13 billion pounds Steel prices are not destined to remain in the doldrums for long.

When the recovery arrives, so, assuredly, will Lakhmi Mittal’s fortune – already substantial - rise, perhaps to its former dizzying heights.

On the global scale, India has 56 billionaires compared to 193 in China and 43 in Russia. In a linked analysis of the world’s 50 richest men, the brothers Mukesh and Anil Ambani, heads of the various Reliance conglomerates, were jointly ranked 30 with a fortune of 17.9 billion pounds.

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Ignorance is the curse of God; knowledge is the wing wherewith we fly to heaven.

- William Shakespeare

Priti Patel MP Minister for Employment & the Prime Minister’s Indian Diaspora Champion

Britain’s place in the World British Indians and Asians should feel confident about voting to leave the EU in the forthcoming referendum.

Our history and heritage means that we have a strong understanding of Britain’s place in the world and our global links. We can see a world beyond the EU and know of the opportunities that exist to boost trade and enhance family and cultural connections. We dismiss the pessimistic worldview that the political establishment promotes because we know that the EU stands as a barrier to our interests.

While the UK remains a member of the EU, we are unable to work closely with India and other countries who are playing an increasingly important role in the world. The EU puts up barriers to trade and restrictions on imports. The EU has spent nearly a decade trying and failing to negotiate a trade deal with India. We want to work with these countries to share expertise and exchange goods and services, but the EU’s protectionist attitude and vested interests are blocking progress.

After we Vote Leave, the UK would be free to negotiate its own far-reaching trade deals with India and dozens of other growing economies. Our own connections and ties to those countries would mean we could use the expertise of the diaspora to negotiate a far better mutually beneficial deal than anything that the EU’s out-of-touch bureaucrats in Brussels could achieve.

Our parents and grandparents established communities in this country built around their families, places of worship and their businesses. They worked hard to give us a good future and play a positive role in British life. But while we remain a member of the EU, the businesses that we have worked hard to establish are at risk from costly red tape and regulations from Brussels. Red tape from the EU costs businesses billions of pounds each year, money which could instead be invested in growing businesses and creating jobs. By leaving the EU, we can replace EU red tape with sensible rules that promote the entrepreneurial spirit that we have in abundance. We send £350 million a week to Brussels, this is money that could be spent on our priorities like the NHS. After we Vote Leave, the UK would also be able to reform our immigration rules and introduce a new system that is fair and balanced. At the moment, our open borders give over 500 million EU nationals unrestricted access to this country. The pressures being put on our services by immigration from the EU has meant that tough limits have been put in place on immigration from outside the EU. This means that our relatives struggle to get visas to come to the UK for family celebrations, restaurants can not employ skilled chefs from abroad, our temples cannot bring in priests, and we cannot bring people in for business, cultural or sporting events - as well as the thousands of talented professionals like doctors, teachers and engineers. Once we take back control of our borders and Vote Leave, we can have an immigration system that is fair to all and allows us to bring in the brightest and the best from across the world.

Voting to leave the EU on 23 June is the safe and secure choice for our country, and it is the choice that is in the best interests of our Indian and Asian diaspora communities. It is now time to take back control of our laws, our borders and our democracy and rejoin the rest of the world.

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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Jaguar Land Rover worker sacked over "sinister" gun pics A Muslim car plant worker has been sacked for showing stunned colleagues pictures of himself wearing black, sneering and clutching an assault rifle shortly after the Charlie Hebdo terrorist atrocity.

Khalid Usman, from Bordesley Green, was shown the door by Jaguar Land Rover after proudly sharing the images with frightened employees.

The motor giant’s legal team described his leer on the images, now deleted, as “Dirty Harry” style.

Shortly before losing his job, he attempted to hawk his story to the press.

Mr Usman, who worked at the company’s Castle Bromwich plant, later urged us to hold fire on the exclusive while he allegedly hammered out an out-of-court settlement with the Midland based

motor moguls.

Those negotiations evidently failed.

Now, 23-year-old Usman lost a legal action against Jaguar Land Rover Ltd for race discrimination after an employment tribunal was told the company’s reputation would be tarnished if the pictures had been seen by the public.

But Mr Usman stressed, in a witness statement, there were no sinister motives behind the snaps. He was holidaying in a remote, mountainous part of Pakistan where it is common to carry arms as protection against bandits.

He said: “Guns are part of the Pakistani culture in this region. My uncle is a retired gunsmith and I became fascinated with the guns while I was there and had the images

taken on my mobile phone holding the guns.

“The images could only be viewed by my friends and family but I was asked to show them to work colleagues on my return to work. One worker wanted to see the images because he was a fan of guns and zombie movies.”

Mr Usman, who had been employed by Jaguar for a year, complained his dismissal was due to racial discrimination.

“I was the only Pakistani Muslim working in C block,” he added.

During the case, the images were studied by tribunal judge Charles Camp. He concluded Mr Usman looked like the type of terrorist associated with the Middle East.

“They show guns being waved about in an aggressive manner and were obviously

Khalid Usman

shown at an atmospheric time - after the Charlie Hebdo killings in France,” he said.

“AK47 guns are pointed at the camera.”

After a tribunal hearing lasting several days Mr Camp announced that Mr Usman had lost his racial discrimination claim. He said he would send the reasons for his decision in writing to Mr Usman and Jaguar at a later date.

1 in 5 sex attack arrests in West Midlands are foreign nationals Almost one in five suspects arrested for sex offences by West Midland Police last year were foreign nationals.

And in some months of 2015 the number of non-UK nationals quizzed over attacks reached as high as 22 per cent.

The statistics were revealed by the force after a Freedom of Information (FOI) request from the Birmingham Mail.

They show that in total 1,647 suspects were arrested for sex offences last year, with 294 being foreign

nationals - around 18 per cent.

Suspects included 31 from Romania, 30 from Pakistan, 25 from Poland and 23 from India.

Yet in January, September and November the foreign nationals arrest figure rose to 22 per cent more than one in five.

A total of 584 suspects, including UK and non-UK nationals, were later charged.

The 2015 figures show a rise from 2014 when of the 1,878 people arrested for sex offences a total of 316 were

people from outside the UK or 16.8 per cent.

Police arrested 184 foreign nationals on suspicion of rape in the West Midlands last year, an increase of more than 10 per cent from four years ago.

Suspects included 28 from Pakistan, 19 from Poland and 14 from India.

Other suspects quizzed included nine from Jamaica, eight from Romania and seven from both Iran and Nigeria. A total of 33 were later charged.

The 184 figure is an

increase of 11 per cent from the 163 suspects arrested in 2012, which included 22 from Pakistan and 16 from Jamaican and 12 from India.

But total sex offender arrests - including UK residents - have actually fallen in the region to their lowest level since before 2012.

In total, West Midlands Police quizzed 930 people on suspicion of rape in 2015, with a total of 152 later charged with the offence.

In 2012 there were a total of 833 people arrested, with 153 charged.

Nursery owner receives OBE at Buckingham Palace A managing director has visited Buckingham Palace where Prince William presented her with an OBE for her service to childcare.

Kala Patel, 53, managing director of Kiddycare Nurseries, set up her first nursery at the age of 21, just six years after moving to Leicester from Kenya. She faced language barriers, financial struggles and the pressures of being a mother.

She now has four nurseries in Leicester and one based at the Royal Mail, in London.

Talking to the Leicester Mercury about visiting

Kala Patel receiving an OBE for her services to childcare from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge

Buckingham Palace, she said: "It was an overwhelming and fantastic experience. It is something I will cherish for the rest of my life. The whole ceremony was so well organised, in proper British style.

They made us feel so special and welcome."

She said Prince William spent two or three minutes chatting with her.

Kala, of Knighton, said he was asking about the nurseries and starting as a small enterprise.

"I said I started more or less at the same time he was born, because my son was born then – and it was diffi-

cult for me to find childcare so I could go back to work. He was so interested.

"He shook my hand and said 'I wish you the best and that your organisation goes from strength to strength'.

"I asked about his recent visit to India and about his children. I thought I was dreaming – I was talking to a future king. His aura was fantastic. He was so humble.

"He reminded me of how his mum used to be. It is a milestone for us at Kiddycare and recognition for the childcare industry. The whole experience was quite out of this world."

OAP garden vandalised twice in three days An elderly wheelchair bound woman's garden has been attacked by vandals for the second time in three days.

Zubeda Hussein, 76, has been left heartbroken after her front garden in Northfields, Leicester, was trashed in broad daylight last Thursday. This attack came just days after the garden was destroyed on Monday afternoon.

Mrs Hussien's daughter Mumtaz Suleman has told how her mother has been left devastated after the two attacks.

Ms Suleman, 56, said: "Mum was heartbroken by the first time the garden was attacked. Now it has hap-

pened again she is very, very upset about it all."

Last Monday the garden was targeted between 10.30am and 12.30pm. A wooden wishing well was broken, plastic tulips were damaged and uprooted and ornamental lamps smashed.

Ms Suleman, a receptionist at Leicester General Hospital, said she and friend had cleaned the garden up and had the wishing well fixed last Wednesday.

The next day the garden was trashed again, this time between 4 and 5pm on Thursday.

She said: "I can't believe why anyone would do this to us. Once is bad enough but

In Brief

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice |7th May 2016

twice is cruel beyond belief.

My mum is thinking someone has something against us.

"Whoever has carried out these despicable acts of vandalism and criminal damage has done it in broad daylight.

We live in a cul-de-sac so whoever did this has gone out of their way to do it. It will take a long time to save the money to replace the ornaments."

Ms Suleman said the garden was a haven for her mother who suffers ill-health and is paralysed down her right side after a stroke four years ago.

A Leicestershire police spokeswoman said they were investigating both incidents.

She said: "We are aware of two incidents of vandalism in a garden in Northfields. We are looking into the matter."

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Benefits fraudster failed to tell council he had second home

A householder dishonestly claimed benefits by failing to declare he owned a second home.

Faruk Ajij, 56, was overpaid £6,579 in council tax and job seekers payments. He pleaded guilty to four counts of benefit fraud between 2009 and 2012.

Simon Hunka, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court that Ajij told the authorities he was living with his wife and three children at the family home in Kimberley Road, Leicester, which he owned. He was legitimately unemployed when he made the claim, but he failed to declare that he also owned a second home in Highway Road, Leicester, which was purchased in 2007 and lived in by tenants.

Both properties were owned outright with no mortgage.

Bus passenger stabbed after row with fellow traveller

A man was stabbed on one of Birmingham’s busiest bus routes.

The 22-year-old victim was knifed on the No.11 bus in Church Road, Yardley. He staggered home with blood pouring from his wounds before seeking medical attention.

West Midlands Police said he was stabbed after he became involved in a row with a fellow passenger just before 9pm on April 8. He suffered two deep cuts to his arm, but went home before police and paramedics were called. He was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.

Police have only just issued an appeal for witnesses to the incident and released CCTV images of a man they want to speak to in connection with the incident.

British Asian graduate Jailed for Speeding in BMW

Ayesha Ahmed, a university graduate from Birmingham, has been jailed by the Wolverhampton Crown Court for perverting the course of justice.

The graduate student is given a threemonth jail sentence, and a 58-week driving ban for lying to the police over a speeding fine, all to avoid three points on her license.

Ahmed was caught speeding in her BMW twice in five minutes by the same speed camera, located near her house. She was caught by speeding cameras, driving at 39mph and 40mph in a 30mph zone around midday on July 30, 2015.

Following this incident, the second class honours graduate lied to the police, stating that it was someone else driving the car at the time. She referred to the driver as a Ms Nosheen Yoqum stating it was her who was behind the wheel at the time of the breaches.

Sutton Coldfield doctor suing Met Police for false arrest

A highly respected medic and whistleblower is suing the Met Police over claims she was arrested on her doorstep, before being cuffed and driven 100 miles to a London police station.

Dr Rita Pal, a psychiatrist and medical journalist, says she was arrested by Met officers in December 2014 at her home in Sutton Coldfield on an unfounded suspicion of harassment. In a writ lodged at London's High Court, Dr Pal's lawyers relate how she was handcuffed and placed in an unmarked police car before being driven to the capital.

She was later charged with an offence under the Protection from Harassment Act before being cleared by Stratford Magistrates in August last year after the CPS "offered no evidence".

UK Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

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Labour leader in deep trouble over anti-Semitism row Jeremy Corbyn is facing resignations from the Shadow Cabinet if his ally Ken Livingstone is not expelled from the Labour party, senior figures have warned. The threat came as after a major donor called for Mr Corbyn to step down over his handling of the antisemitism row. This has created the greatest challenge for the Labour leader since he took up the post. It has been further revealed that the Labour party has secretly suspended 50 of its members over antiSemitic and racist comments as officials struggle to cope with the crisis engulfing the party.

The Mayoral candidate for Labour party, Sadiq Khan savaged Jeremy Corbyn over his handling of Labour’s anti-Semitism crisis and insisted at an interview with the Evening Standard that he would be a mayor for all London if he won the race for City Hall.

As the battle to be London Mayor entered its final few days, Labour’s candidate Sadiq Khan urged his leader to “get a grip” over the row engulfing the party amid fears it could damage his campaign. Khan who had nominated Jeremy Corbyn as the Labour leadership candidate, said he was disappointed that Mr Corbyn had failed to act “swiftly and decisively” to draw a line under the controversy.

In a bid to reach out to Jewish voters, he said it was “wrong” that they could feel they did not belong in the Labour Party.

There is growing pressure on the Labour leader ahead of the local elections on Thursday, in which his party is forecast to lose more than 100 seats.

Senior figures are now so concerned about the row that they are openly discussing the possibility of an attempted coup following the EU referendum.

MPs are allegedly said to be plotting a coup to remove Mr Corbyn after the election if things go badly, with shadJohn ow chancellor McDonnell poised to take over.

On Monday night Mr Corbyn appeared to acknowledge there was a problem for the first time, while insisting it was "not huge". He told the Daily Mirror: "What there is a very small number of people that have said things that they should not have done. We have therefore said they will be suspended and investigated."

On the other hand, Bradford West MP Naz Shah has been suspended by the Labour Party pending an investigation into antiSemitic social media posts, including one on Facebook suggesting Israel should be moved to the United States.

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Jeremy Corbyn with Labour party Mayoral candidate Sadiq Khan

Jeremy Corbyn told her that her comments were “offensive and unacceptable” but that he believed she no longer held such views.

Besides Naz, Labour has also suspended three other councillors on Monday, as the row over antisemitism threatened to inflict serious damage on the party. This includes names like Ilyas Aziz, a Nottingham Councillor, Salim Mulla, a councillor in Blackburn and Shah Hussain of Burnley council.

The high profile suspensions led Mr Corbyn to set up an independent quiry, to be Shami overseen by Chakrabarti, a former director of the human rights group Liberty.

Ms Naz, in a Commons statement, offered a “profound apology” for the posts,

Britain ever, given his alleged role in the 2002 communal violence in India that claimed the lives of hundreds of Muslims, including British nationals.

What Mr Corbyn missed to realise is that almost equal number of Hindus had died in the same riot, and the Supreme Court of India had found the Indian PM, 'notguilty'.

A letter sent to the Labour party on behalf of Modi supporters by former Lib Dem Councillor Chuni Chavda writes, “Facts are now before Jeremy Corbyn and others. This is the time for Jeremy Corbyn to correct his mistake. He should disassociate himself from EDM 479, and publicly and unreservedly apologise to Narendra Modi. If he does not then one has to assume

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which were made before she became a Member of Parliament.

Apologising in the House of Commons, Ms Shah said: “Anti-Semitism is racism, full stop. As an MP I will do everything in my power to build relationships between Muslims, Jews and people of different faiths and none.”

According to SkyNews, another post made before Ms Shah was an MP used the hashtag #IsraelApartheid above a quote saying “Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal”.

Prime Minister David Cameron had called for her suspension and the Labour Party confirmed she had been suspended.

The Opposition leader has also managed to offend Britain's Hindu and many of UK's 1.2mn Indians, who are great supporters of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During Mr Modi's historical visit, Corbyn's attitude could not be ignoredespecially as it came to light that he had signed an Early Day Motion 479 in September 2013- asking to ban Modi from entering

that Jeremy Corbyn is a practising racist, anti-Hindu and anti-India. And Indians and Hindus should consider their relationship with the Labour party. In this respect Indians and Hindus should take a lesson or two from the Jewish community following Naz Shah’s and Ken Livingstone’s recent episode.”

On the other hand, Zac Goldsmith (of Jewish descendants)- with vast wealth and place in the society has reportedly attacked Khan for his manifesto and family's association with alleged extremists. While he has tried to 'woo over' London's Indian population with a unique manifesto, it's ironical that he has pointed at Khan's faith over of his credibility, with Jemima Khan, the famous Pakistani politician Imran Khan's exwife and his sister as his confidant. It is well known that one of Imran and Jemima's teenage son is driving the youth campaign for Goldsmith's Mayoral election and it is believed Imran has also lent his expertise to win this election for his former brother-in-law.

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Asian Voice |7th May 2016

Afghan translator kills self after UK turns its back on him

Role and Responsibilities of ABPL Publications C.K. Pote

The British government has been accused of ‘shameful’ treatment of Afghan war translators after an interpreter, Nangyalai Dawoodzai, reportedly committed suicide while facing deportation from the UK. Twenty-nine-year-old Dawoodzai is said to have worked for the British Army in Afghanistan before fleeing the war-torn country after receiving death threats from the belligerent Taliban.

Dawoodzai's request for asylum in Britain was rejected when it was found he had been fingerprinted in Italy on arrival in Europe and consequently, he killed himself.

“This is the most tragic example of a shameful Government policy,” Liberal Democrat peer Lord Ashdown told the Daily Mail.

At least three other interpreters who served British forces face deportation because they were fingerprinted in mainland Europe before arriving in the UK. Dawoodzai's death by his own hand after being told he would be deported is a shame on Britain and shows how bad the UK immigration system has become.

If the likes of extremist preacher Abu Qatada – who was eventually deported to Jordan in 2014 after nearly a decade fighting it legally – are looked after and aided with legal aid, then Afghan interpreter Dawoodzai certainly deserved to be taken in by Britain because he had served UK well when it needed him the most.

Britain is letting in hundreds who have done nothing for them, but is turning its back on good people like Dawoodzai. Well, such a policy won't augur well for Britain.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Gujarat Samachar, Asian Voice and its other publications, consider themselves fortunate to have over 22,000 paid subscribers along with thousands more copies sold through retailers and, a stable presence online. We are grateful to all our readers, advertisers, distributors, shopkeepers, contributors and well-wishers who have helped us all along.

Forty four years ago, on 5th May 1972, Gujarat Samachar, a tabloid news-weekly with a small English section was released by the well-known Indian diplomat Appa Saheb Pant- then High Commissioner for India to the UK. The founding directors of the publication included 3 Gujaratis and 2 Punjabis, with a noble Maharashtrian Appa Saheb Pant playing a father figure.

Pranlal Sheth, Kusumben Shah, N.T. Pandya, Balwant Singh Kapoor, and Yuddhvir, remained in close consultation with Appa Saheb, for a year prior to the actual launch of the paper. Appa Saheb contributed in more ways than just being an inspiration in the making of what would be UK’s first ever Gujarati newsweekly.

While there was a fortnightly Gujarati paper in circulation in those times, (a cyclostyled A4 size paper), Gujarat Samachar, right from its inception, was a properly laid out, tabloid size newsweekly.

Appa Saheb Pant came from a background of Indian royalty- an Indian prince.

His father was the King of Aundh, Maharashtra, who in 1924, gave up his kingdom to his Praja (people) following Gandhian principle of trusteeship. Appa Saheb served as the Indian High Commissioner to Kenya. He was also one of the first persons to be honoured with a Padma Shri by the Indian government.

After retirement, he was appointed as the Liaison Officer for The Dalai Lama, in Dharamshala, by the Ministry of External Affairs.

One of the pillars of strength of the Asian community in the UK, Pranlal Sheth, was born and brought up in Kisumu, Kenya, growing up to be quite a radical youth. It may be of interest to know that back in those days, as even now, Sugar Plantations in Kenya were owned by mainly Gujarati businessmen, but the workers were predominantly Africans. These workers had severe grievances. Pranlal was one of the people who raised his voice and lent his ears for the cause. He was also actively

involved in some Gujarati newspapers published in Kenya. He later moved to England to become a barrister, after which, he returned to Kenya and associated himself with the Kenyan African National Union (KANU).

Two prominent leaders in Kenya during and after its independence in 1963, were Jomo Kenyatta- leader of the Kikuyus and, Oginga Odinga- leader of the Luo tribe. While both served as President and Vice-President of the country, their different ideologies often led to differences between them. Kenyatta was staunchly pro-West, while Odinga was pro-Soviet Union.

Pranlal was a close advisor of Odinga, a relation that got him into trouble. Despite being a Kenyan, Pranlal became the first Asian (a Kenyan as well) to be deported from the country- a decision taken by Kenyatta who deemed his presence as not helpful to him.

Pranlal Sheth settled in UK and began as a junior clerk at the Abbey Life Insurance company, founded by Mark Weinberg. Within three years, Pranlal rose to become a Director and head of the legal department of the company. By 1967, he had become well acquainted with the rising numbers of Gujarati and Asian populations in the UK. In 1968, Pranlal helped launch a Gujarati publication. He worked as the main mover until persistent disagreements over policies made him part. Pranlal Purushottam Sheth made a notable reputation for himself by proactively contributing to the social and economic welfare of his community. Right from participating in the negotiation processes for independence in Kenya, to putting his legal and business acumen to social use, Pranlal was one of the highest ranking Asians in the UK. Prior to independence, Kenya found a steady supporter in the Indian government. Appa Saheb Pant was the high commisioner in Kenya during the delicate period of Mau Mau. Pandit Nehru, even before the Bandung Conference (1955), was engaged in helping independence movements in several countries in Africa. In Kenya, the main political party KANU was helped with transport vehicles and resources for publicity officials, and such activities were not to the liking of the British government. Under immense pressure from UK the Nehru government reluctantly, was forced to recall Appa

HE Appasaheb Pant releasing the first issue of Gujarat Samachar

Saheb Pant from Kenya.

However, as the phrase ‘all in good times’ goes, tables turned in 1972. Then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, a lady known for her gumption, appointed Appa Saheb Pant as the high commissioner of India in London. While UK had its initial apprehensions, it was their turn to yield to the decision of India.

After arriving in UK, Appa Saheb reconnected with Pranlal Sheth, whom he knew very well and admired in Kenya. And Appa Saheb became the guiding light to the founders of Gujarat Samachar.

Kusumben Shah was born and brought up in Mumbai, to an eminent trading family from Surendranagar. Widowed at a very young age, she moved to the UK with her child son Chetan. Kusumben was often described as ambitious and determined.

Balwant Singh Kapoor was already a recognised name in the media sector, representing Indian publications and garnering attention. He was well regarded in elite circles and at one stage fraternised with the likes of Rajkumari Amrit Kaur- India's first Health Minister. Mr Yuddhvir and his family were well noted for running an Urdu daily called ‘Millat’, from Hyderabad and Delhi.

Gujarat Samachar stands tall today.

Established by six people from different backgrounds, cultures, walks of life, all united by a simple belief, to let the truth prevail. (to be continued)

MEPs claim over £1million in five years Tories Richard Ashworth and Sajjad Karim have been able to pocket the vast sums over five years in salaries, allowances and expenses. The news comes after ex-Labour MEP Peter Skinner was jailed for four years for a £100,000 expenses fraud.

MEPs are entitled to basic pay of £76,292 a

year, plus £2,670 in pension contributions. But they can also claim a £237 per day sustenance allowance tax-free just for turning up to meetings in Brussels or Strasbourg.

Mr Ashworth, 68, a former dairy farmer in East Sussex, claimed £181,705 of that handout between 2010 and 2015.

He serves on the 41-member Committee on Budgets but was observed clocking in at a r o u n d 8.30am on March 17 — and heading for a membersonly lounge while his committee meeting

MEPs Sajjad Karim and Richard Ashworth

took place.

Meanwhile, former lawyer Dr Karim, 45, netted £159,858 from the sustenance allowance over five years and both MEPs had other ways of claiming more cash from the EU. They benefit from first class train travel and busi-

ness class flights — and get paid a bonus on top of the ticket price.

Mr Ashworth claimed £164,627 in travel expenses across the five years including £45,755 in bonuses, while Dr Karim got £189,420 including £41,259 in bonuses. And

while they both get grace and favour offices in Brussels, they also receive £40,130 to fund a UK base. With all UK allowances taken into account, Mr Ashworth got £222,560 and Dr Karim

£289,038 over the five years.

Mr Ashworth also employed his wife Sally on a wage of £20,000 to £29,000, until the practice of hiring spouses was axed in 2014.

UK Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

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Seema Malhotra MP For Feltham and Heston

Remaining in EU good for jobs A few days ago, I gave a speech setting out Labour’s Economic Case for why Britain is better off in the European Union.

Remaining in Europe should be about more jobs, better jobs and fairness in the workplace. It sends a strong message to investors like the Indian companies I meet, that investing in Britain is good for us and a springboard to the 500-million strong single market.

Britain has benefitted from being in the world’s largest and successful economic and social union for four decades.

Our continued membership is the most secure route to a more prosperous future for our country and our people.

Last month in my constituency I spoke to a man in his forties who was conflicted between listening to his parents, who are planning to vote to leave, and worrying about what the future holds for his teenage children He thought of the instability if Britain did go it alone - what it would mean for his children. And he decided it was vital to get his parents to think again about what their vote might mean for their grandchildren.

This same conversation is going on in families up and down the country, as people grapple with the enormity of the choice we face, and the future we will shape.

My appeal to those considering voting to leave is this: Listen to the young people of Britain. Take note of what they think is best for their future. According to the polls, there’s a three-to-one majority amongst under 30s in favour of staying in. Meanwhile, among the over-60 the leavers outnumber the stayers by almost two-to-one. There is a generational divide.

We can learn much from the recent Irish referendum campaign which saw just such a conversation. The younger generations persuaded their parents and grandparents not to vote for an outcome they saw as damaging to Ireland and reputation of the country – with the great, progressive result to legalise equal marriage.

Today’s young are convinced that their futures lie in Europe. They look outwards with confidence. They have grown up with the internet and social media, diversity in our schools, conversing daily with thousands across the world. For them, this interconnectedness is the norm.

They cherish the freedom to travel, to learn and to experience all that Europe has to offer. They see migration in terms

of the opportunity it brings them.

Immigration needs fair rules and proper controls, but it also benefits our economy. And it works both ways. There are almost as many Britons living in mainland Europe as there are people from other European countries living here.

Young people see the benefits of the EU in ensuring good and secure jobs with guaranteed rights at work and good working conditions. Young technology entrepreneurs also see the benefits for them. As a 21 year old entrepreneur told me recently - “my business can go global in an instant”.

Britain is helping lead plans to create a Digital Single Market in Europe - forecast to add 400 billion per year to the European economy and create the best part of four million jobs. Many of these will be in the UK’s thriving tech industry.

Indeed, science, scientists and engineers also overwhelmingly back the prosperity and innovation of EU membership. Stephen Hawking and the more than 150 fellows of the Royal Society who wrote to The Times last month know that Britain’s membership brings increased funding and huge benefits from collaboration between British and continental scientists.

The EU accounts for more than a third of world scientific output – outstripping the mighty United States – and that gap is growing. Collaboration between scientists across Europe produces advances and national boundaries should not hinder this interaction and cross-fertilisation between these brilliant minds. It is not just the original research that is important, but how it feeds through to the innovation pipeline of new commercial opportunities and jobs.

Britain’s excellence in the knowledge and digital economy is underpinned by our membership of the European Union.

Hundreds of thousands of young people who we want to encourage to vote in the referendum already benefit from the digital industries such as creative industries. They know that the value of our Creative Industries exports exceeds £18bn and more than half of it goes to the European Union.

Europe isn’t perfect. Labour is both pro-Europe and pro reform in Europe.

For the sake of our economy, our shared prosperity and the strongest future for our young people – where they have the same opportunities as their peers across Europe – we must vote to remain.

Steel company boss jumped to death 'after becoming depressed over firm’s collapse' Assistant Coroner Shirley Radcliffe has ruled that Mr Angad Paul had killed himself while "the balance of his mind was disturbed".

The steel company boss felt responsible for the loss of 450 jobs at the company Caparo, announced in October 2015, amid the collapse of steel prices, the inquest heard.

Radcliffe said: "I shall record that Angad Paul has died as a result of severe head injuries, and on November 8 2015 he jumped from the balcony of his home address. He had been suffering from severe agitated depression."

Paul jumped to his death from the balcony of his penthouse apartment after becoming overcome with depression following the collapse of his business. He was concerned about how he was going to pay the mortgage, and, feeling "absolutely powerless", believed people would think he was responsible for the failure of the company.

Angad was the son of Lord Swraj Paul, who founded the business in 1968 with a £5,000 loan and helped it grow into a multibillion-pound enterprise. He had run the Caparo Industries subsidiary since taking over from his father in 1996.

Westminster Coroner's Court heard that Angad allegedly told colleague Denis Krupnov that "although he was CEO of the company, he had no real control of the company affairs".

He added that his father - who attended the inquest - "took all the decisions".

Angad had become very depressed when the company was put into administration, and,

Anish Kapoor opens world's tallest slide on Arcelormittal Orbit in London Award-winning MumbaiAnish born sculptor Kapoor has opened the world's tallest and longest tunnel slide on the ArcelorMittal Orbit.

The 61-year-old London-based artist sounded reluctant about the idea of his 114-metrehigh steel creation to mark the 2012 London Olympics being converted into a slide measuring 178m in length and 76m in height.

"The mayor foisted this on the project and there was a moment where I had to make a decision - do I go to battle with the mayor

7

Angad with father Lord Swraj Paul

although he believed it was the "wrong decision", there

Medical Tribunal Members Manchester

was nothing he could do, the court heard.

mpts-uk.org

Doctors from a variety of backgrounds support the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) by becoming Tribunal Members. The MPTS is a statutory committee of the General Medical Council (GMC). We report to Parliament and to the GMC Council for delivery of our objectives. Our Tribunal Members play a crucial role helping us deal firmly and fairly with the minority of doctors whose fitness to practise is called into question.

The GMC will refer doctors to the MPTS for us to arrange for a Tribunal to consider their case. This can either be in relation to interim action on the doctor’s registration while they investigate (known as an Interim Orders Tribunal), or at the conclusion of the GMC’s investigation process (known as a Medical Practitioners Tribunal).

Tribunals are made up of medical (doctors who are registered and hold a licence to practise) and lay (i.e. non-medical) tribunal members.

We seek to appoint medical candidates with demonstrable integrity, and with experience of and the ability to reach impartial and unbiased decisions affecting other people.

We are also interested in appointing medical candidates with chairing experience in order to act as medical chairs.

Further information on our appointment criteria for both roles is available on our website at www.mpts-uk.org and by navigating to About us and clicking on Governance of the MPTS on the left-hand menu.

The time commitment is a minimum of 20 days for medical tribunal members. Tribunal Members receive a daily fee of £310 (or up to £600 for GPs to cover locum costs) plus reasonable expenses. A tribunal chair will receive an additional payment of £50 per day.

Anish Kapoor

Boris Johnson

(Boris Johnson) or is there a more elegant or astute way through this," he told reporters.

The sculpture in the Olympic Park in north London itself costs £19 million, £16 million of which was paid for by Lakshmi N Mittal's steel

company ArcelorMittal, and the remaining £3 million by the UK government. It was expected to attract thousands of tourists and bring in annual revenues of £1.2 million from ticket sales but lost as much as £10,000 a week in 2014.

We particularly welcome applications from people from a range of backgrounds, including members of black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, women, people under the age of 45 and people with disabilities.

To discover more and apply, please visit mpts-uk.org Closing dates: Midnight on 22 May 2016.

The GMC values diversity and has made a public commitment to processes and procedures that are fair, objective, transparent and free from discrimination.

The GMC is a charity registered in England and Wales (1089278) and Scotland (SC037750).

jobs.gmc-uk.org

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Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

As I See It

CB Patel

Suicide, Not the Final Solution Drought is wreaking havoc in several Indian states. The worst situation is in eastern Maharashtra, especially around Latur where perhaps hundreds of farmers have committed suicide in the last year. Such human tragedies are not handled in a humane way, especially when they are exploited for political gains.

Rains ultimately are not controlled by any government – States or Central. Of course, it is the job of the government of

the locality to ensure that timely remedial steps are taken. There is so much available in terms of knowledge, technology and skill from the Israeli expertise of agriculture with maximum usage of scarce water resources along with more natural – organic inputs in terms of replenishing the earth instead of dumping fertilisers. Two experts from Israel are already in Latur to help local farmers with more scientific methods (Scrutator's page 12).

There are reports also that politicising farmers' suicide is also creating a domino effect. All politicians, in India specially, need to take their responsibilities more seriously. Very often a farmer goes into heavy debt not only due to his agriculture budget but also because of lavish wedding in the family, dowry, etc.

Whatever maybe the cause, the consequence of a suicide is a more permanent pain on all the relations concerned and the society in general.

Stanford and Harvard research recently have revealed that suicide rates are rising in America and in other rich countries. Over here, the cause is not predominantly financial, though poverty or unbearable debt may happen sometimes.

In America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a federal agency, adds up the causes of death noted on coroner's certificates. As per the report in The Economist, between 1999

Continued from page 1 But despite recent battles with depression the coroner concluded there was not enough evidence to say with certainty she had intended to end her life through her actions. Her mother had been the last person to speak to her, around 10 days before her death.

A neighbour had alerted the police after he grew concerned, having not seen Miss Pandya for around a week. This was despite

and 2014 the suicide rate rose by 24%.

Men shoot themselves, while women take poison. Though there has been a rise in suffocation and strangulation, Raj Chetty of Stanford and his colleagues at Harvard and elsewhere also revealed that inequality correlates with illness.

Let it be clear

America's story of inexorable progress is just an idea. At the same time there is some caution or hope, because between 1986 and 2000 the suicide rates steadily declined.

Similar pattern can be seen in some other countries too.

According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reports, America's suicide rate comes out considerably lower than those of France or Belgium.

In Britain and the Netherlands there is recent increase in suicide rates.

In America, this may not surprise that, the native Americans and nonHispanic Whites have a higher propensity for suicide than other ethnic groups.

Looking from age perspective, the highest risk of committing suicide is not from reckless young men but males aged 75 or over.

Let me go back to India

In India committing suicide is a crime with all the legal consequences and attempted suicide is a double whammy.

Any person who has thought or attempted suicide is most reluctant to admit himself or herself. But I must say I was most impressed to read about Chris Packham, the BBC wildlife presenter well-known f o r Springwatch.

He wrote a b o o k , “Fingers in the Sparkle Jar” where he describes his own two attempts to terminate his life because of depression.

S o m e years ago he went swimming where Chris Packham's book, the waters "Fingers in the Sparkle Jar" were infested with whale sperms and somehow Chris Packham got some serious health problem. It was so painful that he seriously thought of committing suicide. Then in 2003 his one-year-old dog was run over, and again the urge for suicide came back.

After seeing a therapist for two years it helped him to overcome the tendency.

Chris Packham's book is a revealing read for all of us.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Hospitals urged to indulge in 'creative accountancy' to hide NHS debts NHS hospitals are under pressure to paint a healthy picture of their accounts to hide the deficits, or they are under pressure to cook the books and underplay the scale of the deficits.

A guidance issued by the Department of Health (DoH), seen by The Daily Telegraph, urges NHS trusts to adopt measures which will help them to improve the books in the short-term.

Financial experts said the advice was a “desperate attempt at creative accounting”. The guidance urges trusts not to be too “prudent” in their

approach.

The health service is currently on course to reach a year-end deficit of £2.8bn for 2015/16, compared with debts of £822m the previous year. Such figures raise the prospect that the DoH could be forced to get a bailout from the Treasury, a serious breach of Whitehall protocol, which would be likely to trigger an inquiry by the Public Accounts Committee.

Sally Gainsbury, senior policy analyst at thinktank the Nuffield Trust, was quoted as saying in The

Daily Telegraph report: “This guidance puts pressure on finance directors to indulge in the most desperate creative accountancy – to stretch the rules as far as they can possibly go. There is nothing illegal in the DoH advice, but the risk is that this continued pressure pushes financial directors right towards the edge of what they should be doing. They are asking financial directors to pull the wool over the Treasury’s eyes and the public’s eyes – to paint a false picture of the situation the NHS is facing.”

Plane crash: RAF pilot Sandhu named

Continued from page 1

Mr Sandhu, who graduated with a first class degree and masters in Geoscience from Durham University, was selected from 3,000 cadets to accompany the Lord Lieutenant of London on royal duties throughout 2010.

While at Durham he was a member of the Northumbria Universities Air Squadron, an RAF Volunteer Reserve unit, and was named best all-round cadet during officer training at RAF College Cranwell.

He started his training to be a RAF pilot in the summer of 2014. He had grown up in Ilford with his father Amrik, mother Narinderjit and younger sister Sabinder, who also studied at Durham.

Friends this week said that it had been the former Ilford County High School pupil’s dream since childhood to fly for the RAF, and he had made his father, a senior City executive, “incredibly proud.”

Grant Slater, 48, his pastoral tutor at the college of St Hild and St Bede at Durham, said: “He was a lovely young man. It was a privilege to know him, and we are extremely proud of him. I meet a lot of young people and he was something special. You will hear the same thing from anyone who knew him, he was a brilliant young man.

“We knew he was going to be something special, to see him go like this is just

completely heartbreaking.

It’s a tragedy for him, his family and everyone who loved him. He told me during fresher’s week he wanted to be a pilot in the RAF and he had gone on to fulfill that dream. He was incredibly committed to what he wanted to do and worked incredibly hard for it. For him to die so young and so early in his career is hard to take.

“He had a very close group of friends and was incredibly loyal to them and it’s going to be a difficult time for everyone who knew him. I met his family, they were so incredibly proud of him, and they will be devastated.”

Friend Lee Toomey wrote on Facebook: “Ajvir, you were inspirational. You were one of the most compassionate, determined and focused human beings that I ever had the pleasure to share time with.”

Mr Sandhu and Mr Forster were the only people on board the aircraft, which crashed off Mains Lane, in Ryedale, on Saturday.

Paramedics declared them dead at the scene.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has launched an inquiry.

Meanwhile RAF Linton-on-Ouse station commander Ian Laing paid tribute to the "exceptionally talented" men. He said: "They were both exceptionally talented young men in the prime of their lives. The thoughts of everyone at

RAF Linton-on-Ouse are with their family and friends at this difficult time".

Members of a local aircraft spotters group also offered their condolences.

One said: "May your families and loved ones find comfort in the knowledge that you are no longer in pain and the Good Lord will watch over you guarding and guiding you in these sad times. Deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to those left behind."

Another added: "Sad news, seen the photos and can only hope it was instant for them. RIP sad loss for the local area."

A photo on Mr Sandhu's Facebook page shows the young pilot performing an aerial stunt in a small aircraft. His profile also includes a photo album entitled 'Flying' with pictures of various aircraft.

Speaking at the scene on Saturday, Superintendent Mark Grange, of North Yorkshire Police, said the plane landed more than 200m away from the nearest houses and looked like it had come "straight down". He said: "It looks like an aircraft, with two wings and a tail fin where it should be. It's in a bad way and it's obviously come down heavily. It's sat on its underside so it has not flipped. Whether they tried to land like that I don't know. I cannot say where they were going and what they were doing in the air.”

Mystery shrouds ‘depressed’ Smita’s death being able to hear her dog barking and her door remaining ajar for several days.

Myfanwy Buckeridge, Assistant Coroner at Avon Coroners Court reached her conclusion. Speaking in court she said: "Having spoken to her mother on January 13 or 14 and having left the door ajar, and evidence she had been looking for a new job I have come to the conclusion Smita Pandya took

her own life, but the question of intent is unclear.”

Miss Pandya, 46, had been the head of her own recruitment consultancy firm in the aviation industry, having left her previous role with a recruitment consultancy agency, a few years before.

However, a statement from her brother, Dr Pandya, which was read out in the Coroners Court revealed her company

had begun to struggle and that her family had suggested she find alternative, less stressful work.

A rejection letter from a branch of Boots indicated she had been trying to find alternative work.

The statement from her brother also said she had been diagnosed with depression in 2003, while studying at the University of Manchester. It

was something which affected her at various times in her life including at the end of 2015.

But just before a three week holiday with her mother, to India, in November she had made a noticeable improvement. according to her family and GP. If you have been affected by this story, and need someone to talk to, you can contact The Samaritans by phone on 116 123. This number is free to call.

UK Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

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Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

Dharmesh Joshi, Engineering a System to Keep Plants Watered 31 year old Dharmesh Joshi is a Masters Graduate in Electronic Engineering from Queen Mary University London and has previously worked as an Electronic Systems Designer for an international company.

Dharmesh is the Founder and Lead Engineer at Aardra Systems Ltd. The company develops a fully automated cost effective solar-powered, soil moisturising system for homes and farms.

It’s a remarkable achievement focusing on a simple need of our ecosystem.

Background Dharmesh’s parents are from East Africa, third generation, migrated from India. They were born and bred in different parts of East Africa. They both immigrated to the UK in 1974, studying in different cities.

“My mother joined the Social Security Department, now known as the Department for

Dharmesh Joshi

Work and Pensions. My father, on the other hand, joined a bank as a computer system programmer, ultimately opening his own business of computer assembly,” Dharmesh Joshi told us.

Childhood memories Dharmesh was born and bred in London. “My early memories were of going with my dad to his office either here in London or abroad ,and having a whale

of a time- especially when he would set me and my sister some adventurous task. If we successfully achieved it, the reward would be a surprise that we would heartily appreciate!

Early influences “My early influences were watching over my grandfather repairing his lawn mower and other machines or radios. Also my dad giving me a redundant computer from a customer to

Se m i n a r on ‘S o l ut i on s t o P re s e nt D a y P ro bl e m s f ro m the S h ri m a d B ha gav a d G i ta A spiritual guidance seminar on “Solutions to Present Day Problems from the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita” will be delivered by legendary Ayurvedic Doctor Shri Guru Balaji Tambe.

Organised by inspiring young global leader Ashish Goyal in association with Akshaya Patra G Venue: St. James’ Court, A Taj Hotel, 54 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E G Date: May 20, 2016. at 5:30pm ( 2 hour session with Q&A) G For tickets, contact Ashish Goyal at Dr Tambe ashishgoyalwg08@gmail.com The event will support the Akshaya Patra Foundation which is a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Bengaluru, India. The organisation strives to fight issues like hunger and malnutrition in India.

Health Guidance meet with Dr Tambe A Pulse Diagnosis and Health Guidance meet with Dr Tambe has been organised a day after the spiritual seminar, on May 21.

It’s a unique opportunity to meet Dr Tambe in person and learn more about one’s individual constitution and seek lifestyle, health and dietary guidance from him.

Dr Tambe will meet individuals one on one for 10-15 minutes.

G Date: May 21st, 2016.

G Time: 2.30pm to 4.30pm and 5pm to 7pm (15 minute slots per person).

G Fee: £50 payable in advance.

G Venue: will be disclosed on confirmation of booking, in the Wembley area.

G To secure bookings*, contact Ashish Goyal on ashishgoyalwg08@gmail.com Note there could be waiting time of up to 30-60 minutes depending on previous appointments, so please plan accordingly.

(Pulse Diagnosis is not done during a woman’s menstrual cycle).

About Shreeguru Balaji Tambe Shreeguru Balaji Tambe is the founder of Atmasantulana Village (Karla, Maharashtra), largest health village in India since 1985. He has completely revamped the credibility of Ayurveda in India. His books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies and he has recorded a catalogue of healing music that is used by thousands for treatment. His TV shows, running for over 6 years, have covered philosophy in daily life discussing the Shrimad Bhagavad Gita and several important Indian traditions

be assessed and probably repair with a new computer case and components, with me finally testing the machine for its working capacity,” says the inventor.

Challenges growing up “Amongst many challenges, one of the few that changed my vision of life was trekking in the wilderness of Tanzania at the age of 15, and seeing how different people survive in different ways with very limited means. It was fascinating to watch the children playing with their own hand- made toys.”

So how did Dharmesh develop his ideas?

“I was always interested in building and inventing new machines that would help to make life easy and more practical. Ever since my Masters’ graduation, I was enthralled by the idea of turning human labour into automation. I managed to realise my father’s ambitious challenge of inventing agriculture automation and we developed it together. In the beginning it was just on paper as a blueprint, but as time went by, we tapped into the global awareness for the conservation of natural resources,” the engineer explained.

What moved Dharmesh to found Aardra Systems?

9

thing for the sake of a “Since my early days, havfinancial reward is a short ing watched many robot lived narrative. I don’t give programmes on television, up that easily!” my fascination with creating a robot grew. With a litThe challenge tle nudge from my dad, I “The biggest challenge in got to Masters’ level in my this work is to get different career. Now there are components talking to one numerous global predicaanother with different ments that need to be means of commumonitored and nication. They mechanised talk in one comaway out of Generally British mon language. human hands Asians do respect for the better plant life but there are They produce results that conservation some that are not have to be synof natural committed to chronised. resources. I nurturing plant life Getting an am now to its fullest, industry bench equipped to mark is a embark on the headache. Also chalinvention of lenging is making peoautomization.” ple aware that while a Aardra Systems says of plant’s life is necessary for itself; “The basis of our a human to exist, the conproduct is to help you creservation of natural ate the unique environresources is essential in the ment in which plants have global predicament.” adequate elements to We wondered what thrive. Aardra Systems safe Dharmesh Joshi’s take on guards water and power the typical British Asian resources from being wastand his garden is. ed and it supports different “Generally British plants to flourish at its Asians do respect plant life maximum life by monitorbut there are some that are ing the necessary requirenot committed to nurturments.” ing plant life to its fullest.

We asked Dharmesh to Asians often have a vast explain the significance area for their garden, but and importance of what he they will not spend much does, and why it mattered. time on the economics of it.

“It matters a lot to me, So as a result, the garden’s especially if it is done with running cost slowly creeps conviction and the satisfacup and when it becomes tion of doing it right for uneconomical, the garden improvement, for the enviis left to deteriorate in desronment and for mankind olation.” in general. Plus doing any-

Shree Jalaram Mandir

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Tel: +44 (0) 20 8578 8088 2 Wadsworth Road, Perivale, Middlesex UB6 7JD

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Daily Mandir Programme Aarti : Monday to Sunday at 10.30am and 7.30pm. Yajman's for Aarti welcome (Thursdays) Normal Bhajan : Monday to Sunday from 6.30 to 8pm and till 10.30 on Thursday Abishek Timings : Jal / Milk offering - Monday to Sunday - 8.00am until 1.00 pm.

Saturday Hanumanji: Edible Oil Offerings: Timings - 9am - 6.30pm MANDIR REGULAR ACTIVITIES Ladies Activity Centre: Monday and Wednesday : 11.30 am to 1pm (Activities include Yoga, Bhajan/Kirtan, lectures presentations on issues relating to women, helping with mandir activities followed by a lunch) Gents Activity Centre: Tuesday : 11.30 am to 1 pm - (Yoga, Bhajan/Kirtan, presentation on health issues followed by a lunch) Bhajan's Thursday: from 6.30pm to 10pm with Prasad from 7.30 pm until 9 pm Free Bhajan Classes: Friday : from 8 to 9.30pm 21 Hanuman Chalisa: Saturday : Recital from 11am to 1.30pm followed by Prasad (Yajman’s for the above events are welcome) Sponsored Bhajans: Saturday/Sunday : - Afternoons from 2 to 6pm

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10

READERS’ VOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

India’s guardian women of the forest As Mother's Day in Canada and America is approaching soon on May 8th I was very happy and overwhelmed to read captioned article in Toronto Star English daily newspaper in World section of May 1, 2016. This article states that even the monsoon rains don't keep the women of this tiny tribal village in India's eastern state of Odisha from patrolling the nearby forest at dawn.

Clad in colourful saris and armed with sticks and machetes, they file in rain through rice folds and on to a muddy path that leads into 500 acres of wooded hills in the Nayagarh district. They are looking for intruders who come to cut down their trees without permission.

Once that forest was declared by the British in the 1800's as their own but now under India's landmark 2006 Forest Rights Act, tribal villages like Ghunduribadi can claim title to their ancestral lands, some 390,000 square kilometres of forest all across India. These trible women organized to restore and protect forest. They banned goats grazing from the land to allow trees to regenerate. Anyone needing wood had to get permission from the village committee.

I bow my head and salute these tribal women for their strong commitment to protect their land which men cannot do and on Mother's Day I extend my warmest wishes to them and all mothers around the world living or no more in this world for their unconditional love, care, dedication and sacrifice for their family without expecting any rewards in return.

Everyday is Mother's Day. Suresh and Bhavna Patel Markham, Canada.

Hindu record Since Sri Narendra Modi came to power there has been a concerted campaign against Hindus instead of his policies. So, what is the Hindu record?

At Independence Hindus constituted about 85% (now little less then 80%) of Indian population. Yet they have elected three Muslim Presidents. Dr. Man Mohan Singh, a Sikh, has ruled India for ten years as Prime Minister.

Is there any country in the world with Muslim and Christian majority ever elected non-Muslim or non-Christian as its President or Prime Minister?

Mrs Sonia Gandhi, an Italian Catholic, and all political leaders of minority communities have been playing freely a significant role in Indian politics..

Mr Sam Manekshaw became the only Field Marshall of Indian Army since indepence. Dr Homi Modi Bhabha was appointed as the first Chairman of Indian Atomic Energy Commission. Both of them were Zoroastrians.

Sikhs were promoted to positions of General, LtGenerals in the army and similar position in Navy and Air-Force. The same is the case with many Muslims.

India is the only country in the world that grants Hajj Subsidy to Muslims. This money is paid mainly

by Hindu tax payers. Instead of gratitude the return is terrorism, killing of innocent people in Mumbai, burning Hindu pilgrims on the train and so on.

Christian Missionaries taking advantage of Hindu tolerance, leniency, progressiveness and democratic nature have been operating freely to convert Hindus into Christianity changing their mindset to be anti-Indian, e.g. Naga Christians.

If Hindus react to these activities they are criticised for doing so. Things like these should not continue for good.

Jatindra Saha By email

Subscribe Today Asian Voice in UK for only £29 for one year

Could Ken’s Hitler rant cost Labour Mayoral election?

Labour is at war since Jeremy Corbin was surprisingly elected leader after Labour’s unexpected heavy defeat under Ed Miliband.

Then Labour Party has the knack of electing wrong leader at critical time when election is there to be won.

If right brother, David Miliband, MPs’ choice was elected leader, Labour could have entrenched itself firmly in No 10 Downing Street, keeping Tories out, like Tony Blair did successfully for a decade.

Even Ken Livingstone, once darling of Left and the uncommitted lost many votes at last Mayoral election with his comment, commitment to turn London into a beacon for Islam, thus alienating other ethnic minorities who felt neglected.

Sadiq Khan who addressed, placated Jewish community with promises to treat all with respect and neutrality, will find it difficult not only to attract Jewish but votes from other minorities as well, due to no fault of his own.

Confrontation in BBC radio interview, between two Labour grandees, Ken and backbencher John Mann who brutally called Ken “Nazi apologist” will certainly harm innocent bystander Sadiq, as so often we are known by the company we keep.

If nothing else, this squabble will make election more interesting, cutting down on popular Sadiq’s commanding lead in the opinion poll will benefit Zac who now seems matured politician.

With juvenile politicians in abundance in every party, with blacklegging and fiduciary common, luminaries in short supply, politics could never be dull.

Bhupendra M Gandhi By email

More the Merrier

I note with glee that more and more new readers have jumped on the bandwagon and are participating in expressing their views in this “Readers’ Voice” column of Asian Voice. The column has now overspilled and become a nearly two page affair! This is encouraging as a few more readers now belong to this unique club of letter writers!

ABPL encourages people’s contribution in many diffferent fields and dishes out awards to deserving people in our community.This service by ABPL is unmatched by other newspapers. I am sure that the meet and greet event and the award ceremony at the prestigious venue of the House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster will be a marvellous event which will go down in ABPL’s 34 year history as unique and memorable event and something to cherish and remember for years to come. This will also provide opportunity for the regular contributors to the “Readers Voice” column of Asian Voice and those to “Tamari Vaat” column of Gujarat Samachar to put the face to the names which we are so accoustmed to. The event will enable us to share views and opinions face to face and also meet representatives of both AV and GS. I am grateful to Kumudiniben and Bhupendrabhai for their support in my endeavours to bring together all letter writers.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Managing hospitals as business enterprises

Closure, down-grading A & E Departments in North London including Central Middlesex and Hammersmith was deeply flowed decision, financially motivated in spite of the propaganda that it is for patients’ benefit.

For vast area of Brent and Harrow, Northwick Park’s (NWP) A & E is the only one within easy reach. No wonder waiting time has rocketed sky-high. Many affluent and OAPs are going private to Clementine Churchill and other private hospitals in the area rather than suffer in silence.

My congratulations to Harrow West MP Gareth Thomas for taking initiative, supported by ten other MPs to pressurise NHS to investigate these closure, unearth real reasons, whether political, financial, lack of logistics or sheer incompetence.

Successive governments reorganize NHS, making it lean, slim and efficient, forgetting that NHS is not factory churning out consumer goods. Some 4000 lives are lost every year due to negligence, carelessness and over-worked nurses and doctors making mistakes or trying to cut corners to meet unrealistic targets.

Worse aspect is that £235 million was spent unnecessarily on management consultants and further one billion will be needed to carry out these changes without much benefit to patients, not publishing business plans for public scrutiny envisage gigantic mismanagement. Perhaps these alleged savings may be used to open A & E Departments in Africa and Asia. Three cheers for politicians’ fiduciary generosity overseas, misery at home. After all we elect politicians we deserve.

Kumudini Valambia By email

How to stay young

The B.B.C. relayed two programs titled as above. The first program concluded that dancing is better for the blood circulation than walking as it exercises all parts of the body including brain. Avoiding consumption of red meat, dairy products and sugar stops clogging of the arteries, heart and reduces obesity In the second program Angela Ripon and Dr. Van Tulleken presented the outcome of the research, on how to keep our brain young. 75% of the way our brain ages and shrinks depends on the lifestyle. The result of an experiment, showed that walking increases neurons and connection in the brain leading to improved memory and alertness more than playing table tennis. However, table tennis players use the brain and co-ordination, which increase the cells in the cortex, the outer circle of the brain, leading to the expansion of the brain. This improves executive functions like planning, organizing and complicated thinking.

In addition, learning a new skill, language, musical instrument or drawing, improves mental sharpness and wires the brain. Eating purple colour fruits and vegetables (high in Anthocyanin) i.e. blackberries, blueberries, aubergine, is beneficial.

With 200000 new cases of dementia, reported last week, keeping all parts of the brain active is absolutely vital.

Ila Kapadia By email

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Council News

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

End primary school 'chaos', heads say Head teachers cannot and will not endure another year of the "chaos" that has raged in England's primary schools, a union leader has said.

Russell Hobby closed the National Association of Head Teachers' conference by calling for a fundamental review of assessment of pupils. Pupils should only be formally assessed at the start and end of primary school, he said.

A government spokesman said it was committed to measuring pupil progress. Reception tests were due to be introduced last month but the plans were axed.

The government had approved three separate baseline tests, which were to be used to measure the progress of pupils from when they start primary school to when they leave at age 11.

Thousands of schools had adopted one of the three, only to be told they were not going to be used to measure progress as had been intended. Ministers say they are committed to a new baseline test and are working on new plans for this.

Teachers have also been grappling with a new curriculum, new tests and assessments, and complained of a lack of information. Heads expressed

Education Secretary Nicky Morgan

their anger with the situation on Saturday when they heckled and jeered Education Secretary Nicky Morgan.

Mr Hobby told delegates in Birmingham: "We cannot and will not endure another year of chaos.

School leaders cannot do their duty to children under these circumstances."

He also called for a new approach to assessment of pupil's progress in primary schools. Currently pupils are assessed formally through national tests at age seven and 11.

EDUCATION

Mr Hobby continued: "If you are going to measure progress you need a start measure and an end measure. And you should start at the beginning of school, not in the middle, missing out the most important years of a child's education."

But any Reception baseline test would have to be "one that works" and "not the mess that we've seen this year", he said. He argued that statutory assessments for Year 2 pupils should be scrapped: "We cannot have two highstake tests for young children."

A spokesman for the Department for Education said: "We are committed to measuring pupil's progress through primary school and are continuing to look at the best way of assessing children in the early years.

We will engage actively with the profession as we do so.

"Parents rightly expect their children to leave primary school having mastered the basics of literacy and numeracy and that is why we have tests at the end of Key Stage 2. A highquality education in English - and the ability to communicate effectively is an important part of the government's commitment to extend opportunity to all."

11

Wake-up call for rogue landlords Rogue landlords in Wembley got a wake-up call on 28 April 2016 when Brent Council raided three overcrowded properties.

The raids, which took place just after 6am, were part of the council’s continuing enforcement activity to ensure that rogue landlords in the borough are licensed and do not let out let out substandard, squalid or overcrowded accommodation.

In one of the raids, the enforcement team found a number of problems that would be addressed if the rogue landlord had licensed the property and adhered to the conditions of the licence, including overcrowding (up to 11 people were living in a three bedroom mid terrace house), lack of shared amenities and facilities, damp and mould, unsafe electrics and poor condi-

tions throughout the property.

Enforcement officers gathered evidence by interviewing tenants and taking photos of the property. It’s now likely that the landlord will be prosecuted for failure to licence the property and for letting out substandard accommodation.

Last month a couple letting out an unlicensed property in Wembley were ordered to pay £20,000.

Successful trial of children's literacy and language programme Parents, professionals and children will mark the success of a language and literacy scheme for youngsters at a special celebration event on Thursday 5th May. Reading Council's Early Years Service has been running the project, called Helping Early Language and Literacy Outcomes

(HELLO), with the National Literacy Trust over the past year.

Reading Borough Council was one of two local authorities and eight nursery teaching schools chosen to trial the project to promote young children's communication, language and literacy development.

Many staff and parents lent each other books, shared lyrics to songs and used story maps to tell favourite tales. This helped children to become more enthusiastic about stories and books and grow in confidence which enabled them to join in more learning activities.

Blue badge fraudster ordered to pay almost £700 A driver has been prosecuted for attempting to gain free parking by using her disabled son’s blue badge.

0, aged 35 was fined £400 with £251.37 costs and a £40 victim of crime surcharge.

Ahmed failed to attend a Magistrates’ hearing but

was found guilty of two counts of using a disabled badge unlawfully. Ahmed was seen parking on a single yellow line on Albert Hill Street, Didsbury, last September.

When approached by an officer and interviewed under caution, Ahmed ini-

tially claimed her son, the badge holder, was in a nearby shop but later admitted this was not true and she had used the badge to park conveniently. In the city centre - only ten days later – officers again found Ahmed fraudulently using the badge.

ºђકЦ® ¸Цªъ³Ъ ╙¸àક¯ђ³ЬєÃºЦ ˛ЦºЦ ¾щ¥Ц® Commercial Property Auction Thursday 19th May 2016 LEISURE INVESTMENT

DUDLEY DY1 1LQ

MIXED USE INVESTMENT

BEDFORD MK42 0NX

246 Castle Street, West Midlands

BRADFORD BD5 0AB

57 London Road, Bedfordshire

3-17 (odd Numbers) & 19-25 (Mecca Bingo), Little Horton Lane, West Yorkshire

Let to Mecca Bingo Limited Approximately 19,448 sq ft with Car Parking Rent £179,687 p.a.x

Let to Heron Foods Ltd on a new 15 year lease (10 year option to renew) from completion

BIRMINGHAM B3 3AP

Rent £42,500 p.a.x

Includes substantial bingo hall, ice rink, five retail units & offices Rent £464,273 p.a.x

GRAVESEND DA11 0DA

INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT

126 Colmore Row, West Midlands Attractive restaurant and office building in prime City Centre Location Rent £103,520 p.a.x

BRIGHTLINGSEA CO7 0GB Waterside Marina, Residential and Retail Complex, Essex

BRISLINGTON BS4 5PS

60 High Street, Kent

7 Clothier Road, Brislington Trading Estate, Bristol

Let to Aurora Spa Health and Beauty Limited guaranteed

by Practical Contract Solutions Limited Rent £17,004 p.a.x

Approximately 1,345.59 sq m (14,484 sq ft), Opposite the Brislington Retail Park Vacant Possession

On the instructions of the Joint LPA Receivers includes 12 Retail Units, 133 Flats and Marina Rent £483,430 p.a.x

GREATER LONDON HA8 0BE

OFFICE INVESTMENT

Let to Ladbrokes Betting & Gaming Limited, Benefits from self-contained offices above

BIRMINGHAM B2 5SN 38 Bennetts Hill, West Midlands

Rent £38,000 p.a.x

KIDDERMINSTER DY10 1EA

BRADFORD BD1 1QN

9/10 Worcester Street, Worcestershire

32 / 32a Kirkgate & 1 Picadilly, West Yorkshire

Prominent retail position adjacent to Poundland

BURNLEY BB11 2DJ 2-22 Yorkshire Street, Lancashire Comprising an unbroken parade of 11 retail units Rent £70,076 p.a.x

CALDICOT NP26 4BG

112-114 Burnt Oak Broadway, Edgware

Approximately 458.30 sq m (4,933 sq ft) offered with vacant possession on completion Vacant Possession

Tenants include Age Concern and RSPCA. Residential development potential (STC) Rent £29,000 p.a.x

GROUND RENT INVESTMENT

7-21 (Odd) & 27-43 (Odd) Newport Road, Gwent Let for 125 years until 2089 (74 years Unexpired), Includes 18 Retail Units and 8 Residential Flats geared to approximately 45% of rent receivable.

Rent £162,037 p.a.x

SUPERMARKET INVESTMENT

LIVERPOOL L9 2BU 28-36 Walton Vale, Merseyside Entirely let to Iceland Foods Limited until February 2030 (no breaks) Rent £112,215 p.a.x

Vacant Possession

LONDON E8 4DG 290-290A Kingsland Road, Hackney

TYRE DEPOT INVESTMENT

Prominent corner position some 50m from Haggerston Overground Railway Station

Kwik Fit, Watery Road

Rent £28,000 p.a.x

John Mehtab: +44 (0)20 7034 4855

WREXHAM LL13 7SY Entirely let to Kwik-Fit (GB) Limited until 2036.

Rent £63,760 p.a.x

www.acuitus.co.uk

12

MEDIA WATCH

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chided the Supreme Court of India for the huge backlog of cases awaiting settlement before the courts across the country. Chief Justice Thakur of the Supreme Court in a terse reply told him that the judiciary, nationwide, had 18,000 judges, while the Law Commission had recommended the appointment of at least 40,000 judges across the board to meet the national requirement. The Prime Minister retired from the fray with the mumbled excuse that he would look into the matter.

This brings to the fore the issue of the delivery of proper justice. India needs more judges than it currently has. One possible reason could be that in terms of demand and supply, people more adept at breaking the law greatly exceed those upholding it. The recent scenes in Parliament are a telling reminder of the depths to which politics in the country have sunk.

Time was when a materially weak India boasted leaders who well understood the concept of public service; today, an immeasurably stronger India parades politicians addicted to personal and sectarian goals above the national interest. Political discourse has descended to rabble rousing and targeted vituperation, no holds barred. Subramaniam Swamy had his remarks expuinged twice by the Deputy Speaker of the Rajya Sabha. India is more polarized than it has been in living memory.

West Bengal elections

The Assembly elections in West Bengal are a case in point. The violence, largely engineered by the ruling Trinamool Congress, has been unprecedented. The electoral embrace between the Congress party and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) amounts to little more than death pact. Two moribund

Dayan and Chin are in talks with local MLAs and local enterprises to get things moving in Latur (Business Line April 27)

RIL’s biggest 8-year quarterly profit

Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Industries Ltd posted 16 per cent profit - its largest quarterly ( 31 March 2016) profit in eight years.

notably, the Kingfisher airline, have collapsed. India has asked Britain to deport him (Mint, Times of India, Hindu April 26, 29)

Israeli aid for Latur

The plains of India have been sweltering in a heat wave and drought greater than any in living memory, even as Assam and the neighboring hill states of North East India have been subjected to fierce downpours and floods.

entities struggle to stay alive with the aid of their respective zombies, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for Congress, Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Biman Bose for the Communists. It is a dismal tale, made worse by a near hysterical media vendetta against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The fourth estate is fourth-rate.

Such is the visible public perception. O tempora! O mores! [Oh, the times! Oh, the habits!]

Move to evict Mallya

The Rajya Sabha’s Ethics Committee moves to expel Vijay Mallya from the House, where he sits as an Independent member.

The government has abrogated his passport and may commence proceedings for his extradition from the UK. Mallya’s debts to Indian banks are astronomical.

His business ventures, most

Parts of Maharashtra, notably the district and town of Latur, are reeling under severe water shortages, with tankers arriving with water to alleviate the peoples’ desperate needs. Salvation, however, is near at hand. At Kfar Vitkin, in central Israel, thrives a cooperative agricultural community, like many others in the country. Soon drought-hit Latur will learn lessons in organic farming and efficient irrigation techniques from a pair of Israeli farmers from Kfar Vitkin.

Israeli teachers

Rafael Dayan and and Abner Chin, who will head the India project, will help set up greenhouses, buying and operating the relevant farm equipment, procuring hybrid seeds and organic fertilizers and pest control and setting up the irrigation system.

only handle the narrower A 320 aircraft (Business Line April 29)

Hindu teachers jailed in Bangladesh

Two Hindu teachers at Hijla High School in southern Bangladesh have been given 6 month prison sentences by a Bangladesh court for allegedly insulting Islam. Hindu and Muslim writers have been subjected to attacks by Islamic extremists for expressing antiIslamic sentiments (Times of India April 28)

Afghanistan seeks Indian helicopters

The figure, at Rs 7, 398 crore. ($1.1 billion), is based on strong margins in its refining and petrochemical business. The companies refineries earned $10.8 on each barrel of crude processed, $10 earlier in the year.(Times of India, Hindu, APRIL 23)

HDFC fourth quarter rise of 20.2 per cent

The Housing Development Finance Corporation, India’s largest private lender bank reported a 20.2 per cent in the fourth quarter fiscal ending 31 March 2016.The Mumbai-headquartered bank, which registered around 30 per cent growth in profit for over a decade until 2014, registered a post tax profit of Rs 12,296 crore in the recent quarter (Times of India April 23)

Singapore Airlines wings across India

Scene from Kolkata, during West Bengal Assembly election

Higher sales

However, despite the fall in profit, Maruri Suzuki’s net sales of its latest Vitara, Brezza and Balero

Mukesh Ambani

Vijay Mallya - out of parliament

engines for their pollution of the environment was ’arbitrary.’ The industry was being made a scapegoat, he said. ‘Two wheelers cause two to three times more pollution than cars and trucks four to five times…Unfortunately we are a dusty country, and Delhi sits next to a desert.’ (Times of India April 27)’

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Singapore Airlines low cost subsidiary Scoot is spreading its wings across India. Starting with the Singapore-Chennai route, Scoot is opening new routes in May to Amritsar and Jaipur.

Singapore Airlines and Scoot have wide bodied aircraft capable of long haul flights, but its other low cost budget subsidiaries Silk Air and Tiger operate the narrow Airbus 320 that can fly non-stop for five hours. Furthermore Singapore Airlines holds a 49 per cent stake in Vistara with partner Tata Group holding 51 per cent (Times of India April 23)

Maruti profit falls

Maruti Suzuki reported its first quarterly decline in profit in two years. The company, with the largest market share in passenger cars, has transformed the automobile scene in India., where every one of the world’s major companies and their Indian compeers is represented in towns and cities across the country.

Scapegoat

R C Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki described the Supreme Court’s ban on diesel

In a conversation with India’s foreign sectary S.Jaishankar, Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil Karzai requested that India supply offensive attack heliMaruti Suzuki’s Breezer model copters against the Taliban. Karzai said hatchback models have risen 12 he would be appealing to the per cent. The profit fall, said a United Nations to rein in broker was a one-time phenomePakistan support for terror non that would be reversed in the groups operating in Afghanistan current fiscal (Mint April 27).

(Times of India April 28)

Nexa outlets

When Maruti Suzuki launched the Nexa line of dealerships last year to sell a range of premium cars, there were skeptics who doubted the strategy would work.

But it has. Opening Nexa outlets is to increase sales, with non-customers becoming customers (Business Line April 29)

Scooters in pole position

India is the world’s largest twowheeler market with over 16 million units sold annually. Of these numbers, scooters have taken the lion’s share. Sales of scooters are growing at an astonishing 25 per cent annually. Scooters have been associated with people of an older generation and women.

Motorcycles, on the other hand, have a macho appeal and are better suited to cope with Indian roads. Yet scooters are top of the tree, the dominating force by far of the Indian two-wheeler market. Why? Comfort and style are the primary factors, plus the fact that women with saris are better able to adapt to them. Finally, fuel economy is the clincher.

(Business Line April 29)

The Bard’s enduring appeal in India

Why does Shakespearean voice resonate so well in India? A Times of India editorial (April 23) gives an answer of which the iconic poet of all humankind would have nodded approval.

‘Knock, knock, who’s there?

Shakespeare.

Shake what?

Shakespeare whose verses and curses do boil and bubble in cauldron of India….Modern Brits are handicapped with the bard because they no longer rock that Elizabethan vibe. But we in India – thanks to enduring feudal habits, the caste walls, honour killings, overbearing parents, warring families, khap panchayats and the like – know how a lyrical love story can end in melodramatic puddles of blood for real. Cleopatra, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, they all blend in because forsooth here that whole dying for love or killing for love is verily a sweet sorrow.’

Chennai bounces back from December floods

Chennai airport has achieved 12 per cent growth in passenger traffic and a 9 per cent increasing in cargo handling in 2015-16 despite the devastating rain and floods last December that brought life in the capital city of Tamil Nadu to a standstill.

Deepak Shastri, Chennai Airport Director, said that a second runway operationally open 24 hours a day would increase aircraft movement to 35 per hour from the present 29 per hour. He also stated that the airport needed a further 14-16 acres for more space to handle wide-body aircraft. At present the runway can

Latest GPS satellite launch. see comment page 3

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Is your home not warm, safe or dry? Making sure your landlord is meeting their end of the bargain

Why British Indians Should Vote on Thursday Let me tell you the story of a British Indian grandmother. She was born in India, lived in Kenya then moved to the UK in the late 1960s. She was an unassuming lady. At a recent election, at around 2145, just before the polling booths were about to close, she asked her adult grandson if he had voted.

The grandson was curious why his grandmother, who didn’t ever show much interest in politics, was asking if her grandson had voted. So he thought he would play a trick and said he had not when in fact he had.

She grew furious. She told him to vote immediately. Wow. He had never seen this side to her. ‘Why should I vote?’ He asked.

Now she was furious. ‘Because when they change the laws, don’t complain. When you don’t like anything they do, don’t complain. When you don’t like the taxes, don’t complain. When you don’t like the roads, don’t complain. If you don’t like the hospitals, don’t complain. Your grandfather was in the army in the war. The Nazis ruled Kenya. You have the right to vote. Go vote.’

Wow. He had never seen his grandmother like this. And then he went to the polling booth, even though he had been once, it was better that, then till his already angry grandmother he had already voted.

My grandmother was correct, unlike me, she had never studied Politics at Oxford University, yet she made the case

for voting better than any Oxford Politics graduate.

As a British Indian it is especially important you vote. It is always minorities that need the laws to be on their side. It is British Indians who fought and died for this right.

For all those who think their vote will make little difference – let me tell you it was British Indians that swayed the last General Elections and more than ever politicians court them. If you don’t show up, you don’t matter.

And if you think your candidate has it already in the bank, or no chance to win, either way the size of the majority matters.

Parties measure and strategise and divide up demographics and ethnicities and formulate policies based on those that turn up.

So I appeal to your public duty, your personal interest – and if not for yourselves, then for your community. Your vote affects the services your loved ones will receive. And the cost to you? 10 minutes of your time after a day of work, or looking after the kids, and the benefit? Not just all of the above, but a most incredible wonderous experience that generations of men died for, then women suffered and died for and finally, your own peoples, Indians died for in a far away land. Now you get to elect British politicians. Make it count.

Bhaktivedanta Manor granted Planning Permission for community hall Planners unanimously gave consent for a new community development at ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Manor.

The local Hertsmere Borough Council's planning committee officially granted planning permission for a new development on the grounds of the Manor, in Aldenham north of London, last Thursday.

The temple applied to build to build a two storey community building or a Haveli, as well as relocating the existing poly tunnels, greenhouses and playground. Gauri Das, managing director at the temple, said: “We are exceptionally pleased to receive planning permission to build our community facility at Bhaktivedanta Manor. Over many years of work including the development of a planning brief, a public consultation, and one and a half years awaiting a determination, we listened carefully and patiently to local residents concerns. In the end the concerns were all addressed and thus the decision unanimous. We are extremely grateful.”

The originally planning application was submitted in December 2014 and a number of changes have been made to the applica-

Artists impression of Bhaktivedanta Manor and Haveli

tion over the past 16 Cllr David months.

Lambert, who represents Aldenham West, was originally opposed to the application following numerous complaints from the residents of Letchmore Heath.

However, during the planning meeting the officer Karen Humphries said the application has been accepted by the residents of Letchmore Heath.

Cllr Lambert said: “I am really pleased we have reached this point. It would not have been successful without the work gone in by the officers. It has been a long time coming. I commend the offi-

13

cers' hard work.”

Other councillors agreed with Cllr Lambert, including Cllr Seamus Quilty who asked the Manor to provide a master plan of what it wants to do for the whole site in the future.

Temple president Sruti Dharma Das added: “Thank you to our local councillors and Hertsmere Planners, who worked hard to balance the needs of the temple and the local community. There could be no win lose decision here, it had to be a win win. We now have permission granted on the Queen’s 90th birthday!”

Living in a home which is warm, safe and dry is a basic requirement for most, so much so that most people take it for granted. But you or someone you know might not be in Dianne Cowie such a fortunate position.

As a result of poor housing and the landlord's failure to keep properties in an adequate state, parents have to bring up children in homes which are damp. And far too many older people suffer from cold because of a lack of heating. This affects both the health and well being of people and families and can impact on people's ability to hold on to a job if they become unwell due to their housing.

But it doesn't have to be this way.

Indeed, the law is such that landlords must make sure that the property they own and rent is not in a state of disrepair.

Just as a tenant has a duty to pay their rent, so a landlord – be they a private landlord, the council or a housing association - has to meet their end of the bargain by providing a decent home in line with their legal obligations. If they do not, legal action can be an important way of ensuring you and your family have the home you are entitled to and compensation for the years you have had to suffer from your landlord failing to meet their obligations. This can include damages for inconvenience and discomfort, loss or damage to your possessions destroyed, such as clothing and furniture, and loss of earnings or increased heating costs.

Paying for legal advice and support can, of course, be tough when budgets are tight. But there is support for those with little spare money. In such circumstances legal

advice and support is free for tenants through some solicitors.

In recent years some legal support for those lower incomes has been withdrawn. However, this is not the case with some disrepair cases where the conditions at the property can be shown to be a serious risk of harm to health.

Landlords will be in breach of the obligations in situations such as: blocked drains and gutters; no supply of water, gas and electricity, no sanitation conveniences (basins, toilets, baths) and no provision of heating and hot water. In addition your tenancy agreement may detail specific obligations that your landlord is not complying with. If your landlord is not meeting these quite simple obligations and you have a low income then you could be entitled to free legal advice and support to fix the problem. If you are not able to obtain free legal advice there are other forms of funding that legal advisors can offer such as fixed fees or conditional fee agreements – often known as “no-win no-fee”.

The list of things landlords are obliged to supply is modest and not much to ask. But too many get away with taking the rent but not delivering the goods. It is important for individuals to make sure that these simple standards are being met.

Failing to do so and failing to address these issues is likely to affect you and your family’s health. And seeking advice can be the first step to making sure that you can get on with the rest of your life without knowing you will have to suffer another winter in a cold or damp property.

What's more you could be entitled to compensation for the distress you have suffered.

Having a decent home is the basic minimum that you can expect when you pay your rent. If this isn't happening, it's perhaps time you got legal advice to make sure that your landlord meets their end of the deal.

Hindu prisoners in England & Wales to be excused from work on 6 festivals Hindu prisoners in England and Wales will be excused from work on Maha Shivaratri, Raksha Bandhan, Krishna Janmashtami, Ganesha Pooja, Vijayadashami and Diwali; according to new guidelines which are effective 1st June.

National Offender Management Service (NOMS), an executive agency sponsored by the Ministry of Justice of United Kingdom Government, issued a 104pages Prison Service Instruction (PSI) on April 12 titled “Faith and Pastoral Care for Prisoners” to meet the faith and religious needs of prisoners.

This PSI allows possession/access of following religious artefacts to Hindu

prisoners: mala (comprising 108 small beads), statue/image/photograph of god, incense sticks and holder, small bell and Gita.

It says that “incense must be available through the Prison Facilities List” for prisoners registered as Hindu.

It also states: “In the Hindu tradition, Prasad is an important part of communal worship.

In the prison context, it has been agreed that the Prasad should be provided in house and can consist of fruit, dried fruit or nuts”.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement, commended the NOMS efforts to meet the religious needs of Hindu prisoners, urged NOMS to include at least five more Hindu festivals -

Holi, Ram Navmi, Hanuman Jayanti, Makar Sankranti and Yugadi - on the list when Hindu prisoners should be excused from work, in addition to six already granted.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also pointed out the need of provision of more scriptures (besides Gita) to Hindu prisoners; including Ramayana, Vedas, Upanishads, Mahabharata, Puranas, etc.

Rajan Zed further urged the need of provision of more religious artefacts to Hindu prisoners (in addition to the ones already allowed); like Om symbol, container with kumkum powder, water container and spoon, and puja tray to hold all artefacts.

14 COMMUNITY

Inside out

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Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

Simply Stop Hating Jews!

Yogesh Patel If you abhor Jews, I dare to challenge you to read one of the greatest books I have ever read. I first read Leon Uris’s Exodus around 1970. It profoundly opened up my eyes to the other side of the story where much appeasement of Islamists and Arabs goes around but the truth remains a casualty. It also reveals the true nature of the British treachery. The last scene with the ship standing in stalemate still is with me. Never leaves me. It reminds me every day what the British politicians and establishments are like. How the British committed yet again one of their greatest treacheries is still astonishingly around today in the appalling form of antiSemitism surfacing in the Labour party. I bet Tories are not immune to it either. And they should stop dancing around too.

It is just that we are hearing at the moment Labour’s undercurrent of hate.

Israel has been unequivocally a friend to India and without its help; the Kargil war would have been lost in 1999. The duplicity of Congress keeping a distance and trying to keep a foot in both camps has not worked.

Arabs always have sided with Pakistan. Modi Government is slowly working to correct this with an equal respect for the Arabs. Sushma Swaraj has taken a stance openly to call Israel ‘a reliable partner’. When you stand honest, you stand tall.

Therefore, most Indians will have a respect for Jews.

Two great poets I admire are Yehuda Amichai and Nissim Ezekiel; both are Jews.

Yehuda in Israel and Nissim in India. Both have a huge influence on their literature. I have managed to publish both in Skylark.

It was not because they were Jews, but both are great poets. If you have hatred in your heart then you are unlikely to admire these greats.

Nissim has this line in his much-celebrated poem, Night of the Scorpion: ‘May the poison purify your flesh’ Will the British politics and media be able to purify their flesh ever with the poison of anti-Semitism, just as the poison of secret

racism? No one has yet convinced me. The faith has been leaving me for quite some time now. The saga is not going to end here. The devil has wings of whisky.

David Cameron’s bedding with the likes of Murdock and not giving the British public Lord Leveson’s recommendations tells us how politics and media are of the same colour. They will always have ‘us and them’ as a dividing line, either these line are with Jews or Asians.

In his wonderful poem the last lines are: My mother only said Thank God the scorpion picked on me And spared my children.

Here the Jewish sentiments are at play. The Holy Land, the motherland reinvented, Israel, can take the poison, but hopes to spare her children. On the other simple scale, it also reveals about mother’s love. The poetry plays with God as well and His strange reasoning. It is more about humans justifying Gods, even as in the meaning of Islamist terrorists. Unfortunately, our recent British saga tells us that the children in this poem are not spared, be them Jews or Asians.

Yehuda Amichai is one the greatest poets who inspires our soul. He has this remarkable indicting lines: If the west wind does not come I will never forgive the walls The arrogance of the Western media and the politicians of hate for Israel and Jews are unmasked in these lines.

He knew the wind from the West would never come to correct things, to refresh new meanings, to flower the universal love, to remove the dust off demonization of Jews. For the West is west. It is the same icon when Jon Snow stands in Palestine to talk about only one side of the story of the Palestinians but not of what they inflict on Jews or what Jewish side of the genuine story is.

That is West. Therefore, the poor poet offers us the point of understanding that ‘I will never forget the walls.’ There are many walls he talks about, but one of them is about the prejudice of the West, and in the present troubles of the Labour party, the antiSemitism.

Here are my lines from one of my poems: You cut of the rose Handed me the stem All prickly For the taste of blood What can you do with the wolves that have tasted the blood and revel in its reality? Answers on the postcard, please.

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Indian PM Narendra Modi arrives in London Madame Tussauds The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Thursday 28 April morning took his place alongside other world leaders at Madame Tussauds London. His new wax figure today arrived at the Baker Street attraction fresh from Delhi, where Mr Modi had a private viewing with his likeness last week.

The figure is featured in the famous attraction’s popular World Leaders area alongside present day leaders Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel and Francoise Holland, as well as political heavyweights of the past including Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill.

Mr Modi was closely involved in the creation of his figure and has professed himself delighted with the final results, declaring that the Madame Tussauds team are “exceptional at what they do”.

General Manager of Madame Tussauds London, Edward Fuller, commented: “We are delighted that Mr Modi was able to see this very figure in India last week, and to welcome him to Madame Tussauds London today. It’s wonderful that our visitors now have the chance to get up close to this influential leader, who is the source of so much public interest. It's not every day

Modi's wax statue next to PM David Cameron and US President Barack Obama in London Madame Tussauds

you get to stand alongside the statesmen and women shaping our world and we think guests will relish the chance to rub shoulders with Mr Modi."

Mr Modi’s figure is dressed in his signature Kurta in cream with jacket and he is featured in a traditional pose making a namaste gesture. London's figure is one of four created of the statesman, with the other three taking up residence at Madame Tussauds attractions in

Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok. Each figure took a team of talented artists four months and cost £150,000 to create.

Madame Tussauds in London also is home to the wax statue of the father of the Indian nationGandhiji, India's first woman PM Indira Gandhi and several bollywood stars including Amitabh Bachchan, Shah rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Kareena Kapoor among others.

Biswa Bangla to present 'Heritage Arts and Crafts of West Bengal' exhibition in the UK Rupanjana Dutta Britons will experience the dynamic mysticism of West Bengal’s arts and crafts in London, Edinburgh and Glasgow from 3- 15 May 2016. Biswa Bangla will present exhibitions, live demonstrations and workshops on the making and rich history of the 'Mukhosh' or Masks of Bengal by artist Shankar Das and the visual storytelling form of Patachitra

by Suman Chitrakar.

Biswa Bangla, ‘Where the world meets Bengal’, is a Trinamul government initiative of one of the most culturally diverse states in India, West Bengal. Biswa Bangla, through its partners and networks, impacts over 10,000 artisans, craftspeople and weavers.

It encourages innovation, provides design assistance and improves quality and supply chains for the handloom and handicraft products of the state. With craftsmanship they want to share the energy and creativity of the people. The development of Rural Craft and Culture Hubs is overseen by banglanatak.com, a social enterprise. In collaboration with UNESCO, the creation of Rural Craft and Culture Hubs across the state not only encourages innovation and preserves the culture and talent of Bengal but also enriches and improves the quality of life of artisans and crafts-

people.

The summer calendar of Gods and Demons exhibitions begins at the Nehru Centre (3-6 May) in London's Mayfair area – the Indian Council for Cultural Relations in London and will also visit

by ArtVillage to passionately promote a wider interest in arts, crafts and skills and spur interest in the learning and teaching through community engagement.

Like the arts and crafts of Bengal, Gods and

both Glasgow (12-13 May) and Edinburgh (14-15 May). The Edinburgh Museum, is home to spectacular collections of decorative art, where we will be hosting live demonstrations and workshops and then continue on to being a part of the opening weekend of the Southside Fringe Festival in Glasgow, hosted

Demons is a topic that remains relevant and captivating in the twenty first century and will also be a part of this exhibition. The theme of good and evil is not only the starting point for the genesis of Patachitra and Mukhosh, but has enchanted audiences for thousands of years. Heralding from

Bengal, the history of their origin is just as mysterious as the masks themselves.

Perhaps the best place to start is their affiliation with powerful witches, who according to Bengali folklore, brought the masks into being as a way of concealing their identity. The rich colour and flamboyant designs were also intended to attract innocent victims, sacrificing them in return for immortality. The initial genesis of the masks began with great religious importance but now find themselves an integral part of many different dance forms, used symbolically to appease the demon gods and usher in peace and prosperity.

Patachitra subjects began with religion and folklore, nowadays the paintings depict contemporary events like terrorist attacks, tsunamis and earthquakes. Whilst the traditional style of the Patachitra has remained constant for thousands of years, the depicted subjects have seen a shift in the passage of time, just as our perceived concept of Gods and Demons has. What makes modern Patachitras so enchanting is their ability to portray important social themes and the demons of our day, like gender inequality, child marriage and climate change whilst staying true to the ancient and mesmerising style.

SP

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TLIGHT

Amit Gudka

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Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

15

Bulb – A Bright Alternative

Community celebrates Leicester City victory as the Club creates history

Sunetra Senior

“The vast majority of people want to be sustainable,” Amit Gudka, the co-founder of Bulb – one of the leading suppliers of energy-efficient gas and electricity in the UK – told us. “Up until now, there just hasn’t been a viable alternative to the status quo”. His company currently being rated the number one electricity and gas supplier on Trustpilot – a Danish company which publishes regular reviews of online businesses – Gudka has the evidence to back his theory up. And this is not all. Bulb goes the extra electric-wire mile to make sure the service their customers are receiving is not only 100% renewable, but also 100% accessible. “We are in a position where we can rival the Big 6 suppliers (British Gas, EDF etc.) in the pricing game,” Gudka continued. “We are around 25% cheaper!” Another progressive aspect of Bulb is the way that it you uses its web portal. In addition to using the can't expect technology to provide “a state of the art service, contemporary, improved features are conto make a stantly being released for members,” the ethiquick buck cal entrepreneur said: “One we are currently developing, for example, allows the user to see their real time energy usage live on their mobile phones. Visualising the data will allow a better understanding of how one is consuming energy on a daily basis, ultimately encouraging more responsible use.” Warm, enduring and direct, Gudka’s company philosophy extends to one that is significant in the world: Bulb doesn’t just generate energy for our homes, but is a jump-start for the tired thinking that we are sometimes faced with when it comes to issues of the environment: “our aim is to catalyse that switch away from fossil fuels to renewables,” Gudka emphasised. “It is possible to actively regulate energy usage so we can all make a lasting impact.”

Leicester City player Riyad Mahrez receiving an award from Rt Hon John Bercow MP, Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP, CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice at the Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards

The Leicester City victory in Barclays Premier League has made history. They have achieved one of the greatest sporting feats of all time after winning the Premier League title.

The Foxes were 5000 to 1 outsiders for the title at the start of the season but defied the odds to win the prestigious trophy. City have never before won a top flight title in their 132-year history.

This will bring many European major teams to play at Leicester's home ground next year, triggering a £150mn boost to its business- affecting most of the city's major areas, such as Golden Mile, famous for its Indian stores.

Rt Hon Keith Vaz MP with Leicester City fans

Harish Patel, a resident of Leicester told Asian Voice, “I have grown up in Leicester, and so have my children and family. The victory of our club, that we have supported so long, has left us emotional. We still can't believe we have won. We are planning a victory party, as the club lifts the cup at our locality. May be we could turn it into a street party.”

V Thakkar, a shop owner in Leicester said, “This victory will put our city on the world map. Next year from hotel industry to food to all other areas- everybody is going to benefit from this championship. Our business will boost, our players will be more famous, our city will earn more prestige and grandeur.”

Prami Singh, a regular at the team’s King Power Stadium reportedly said, “It puts Leicester City on the map."

His friend Asif Sheikh added, "Manchester United, Chelsea fans are from different cities, but the fans here are all born and bred here."

UK's oldest Asian MP, Rt Hon Keith Vaz, was outside the King Power Stadium on Monday night.

MP for Leicester East, Mr Vaz told Asian Voice, “Who does not believe in miracles now. This is the greatest day in the history of Leicester.

“The whole world will hail this victory and the achievements of a brave and courageous team who have overcome the most famous football teams in the world to take us to the pinnacle of world club soccer. An amazing Manager, an incredible team and a generous and visionary owner. The owners of King Power have made us the Kings of Football."

In early March, Leicester City player Riyad Mahrez had won an award at the Asian Voice Political and Public Life Awards, hosted in the Parliament. He was accompanied to the awards by his colleagues including N'Golo Kante.

As Tottenham drew with Chelsea (2-2) at London's Stamford Bridge, Leicester fans started celebrations that went on until wee hours with cries of 'champions' heard across the city as well the deafening sound of a cacophony of car horns.

The football club were taken over by Thai owners in 2010, and the stadium has been renamed after King Power, owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha's travel retail firm. The 596,000 people who like the club's official Thai page on Facebook were in celebratory mood too when the result came in.

One user, Anantawat Jhansubin, replied: "Don't forget to bring the trophy to Thailand!"

Many other Thai people writing on the Facebook page gave credit to Buddhist monk Phra Prommangkalachan, who is revered by the club's owners.

He gave blessings to the team at the start of the season, and has created banners to pray for the club's success.

In India, the Times of India's Hijam Raju Singh wrote: "The wait for the 'fairytale ending' of the 'beautiful story' is over. The biggest underdog story in recent times has met the ending everyone was hoping for."

Please tell us a bit more about how ‘Bulb’ came about?

Hayden (my co-founder) and I had been friends for many years, and both worked in the energy industry. For a long time we’d discussed the inefficiencies of the energy market, and had grown frustrated at how consumers always ended up getting a bad deal – poor customer service, ripoff tariffs and renewables incorrectly portrayed as an expensive luxury product was the norm.

We realised that there wasn’t a company out there solving these problems, and so in 2014 we both left our respective jobs – I worked at Barclays for 8 years where I traded gas and electricity - to set up Bulb.

We launched Bulb in 2015, and now supply homes and businesses across the UK. How exactly do you supply sustainable energy?

We have agreements set up with independent renewable electricity generators across the country. We purchase the output from their electricity plants and deliver this electricity to our customers, via the National Grid. So for each unit of electricity consumed by Bulb members, a unit of renewable electricity is generated and put on to the UK electricity network.

We also supply natural gas – 10% of this gas comes from renewable sources. This ‘Green Gas’ is produced by anaerobically digesting farm waste, which produces biomethane. This bio-methane is then injected on the gas distribution network, and delivered to homes and businesses.

You have said: ‘we think the current energy market is unjust, and the only way to

improve things is to offer something different and get people engaged in the decision making around their energy consumption’.

Do you think the only way to institute change for the way we consume energy is through a grassroots movement?

Yes – people power is far more effective than any government intervention.

It is clear that the way we currently consume energy is unsustainable – we regularly use more than we need, and the vast majority of it is generated from fossil fuels. It has been hard as an individual to know what action to take, and

It is crucial to us that we use technology for societal good the options up until now have been limited. To move away from fossil fuels you could switch to a renewable supplier, but that would end up costing you a small fortune. To use less energy you could try to reduce your heating at times when you don’t need it, but would be likely to forget and ultimately you wouldn’t be able to know how much of a difference it had made anyway.

We hope that Bulb can provide that viable alternative: by being costeffective and allowing the digital visualisation of data usage so people can

appreciate the impact their behavioural changes have on consumption, we are helping put the power into the hands of ordinary people.

Have you always been interested in environmental issues?

Yes, most certainly. My family are Jain and caring for the environment is core to those beliefs. But I think all people are interested in environmental issues once you get talking – it’s just that they haven’t always been presented in an interesting way.

It is very interesting that your company embraces the idea that tech can be societally ‘good’.

Do you think technology sometimes gets away from human interest: for example the fears in the news about robots succeeding a human workforce?

Yes, it can sometimes feel that technology is less rooted in human interest or societal good and more in efficiencies for the sake of financial gain.

It is crucial to us that we use technology for societal good, rather than just to profit maximise and create greater inequality. We are using technology to change and improve the way we all consume energy, whilst also enabling people to save money.

Name a mistake a lot of people make with start-ups?

Expecting to make a quick buck.

Finally, what would be the single, most important piece of advice you might give to others wanting to start a company?

It really helps to work with a business partner (or a partner) who has a shared goal. bulb.co.uk

SPECIAL

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AsianVoiceNewsweekly

SEA CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF CRUISING

Over the years cruises have become an increasingly popular holiday options for families with children ranging from tots to teens, couples on a romantic getaway trying to re-kindle their romance or retired folk that want to relax. Now a days there is a cruise to suit anyone’s tastes! There are packages for everyone from range of about 16 different cruise ship companies to choose from the options are endless and prices can start from as little as £300.

SHIP AHOY

WITH TRAVLIN SYLE Disc ounts with your favourite cruise c ompany

Celebrity Fred Olsen Azamara Oceania P&O Royal Carribean NCL Carnival MSC Cunard and many more

Dial for a quote on 020 8954 0077 Fully bonded

2) Activities This rumour is definitely not true as over the years there are now cruises that offer a variety of services. Theses activities include pool games, hobby work shops like flowerarranging and watching all sorts of demonstrations to name a few. Not only that but cruises also offer a range of performances all throughout the day into the night and these can range from musical

TIP: make sure to book early for the best deals!

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRUISES

1) For the Family There are many family friendly cruises that are on offer contrary to popular belief.

There are children dedicated cruises such as the famous cruises that Disney offer filled with popular characters from classic Disney fairy tales.

Certain cruises will also have separate kids’ areas, although you won’t find any of the luxurious amenities that you find

hanging out. It is useful to note that the lounges are often closed during meal times and late at night.

Families with very small children may also be able to use youth facilities for parentchild playtime. For older kids that need activity Royal

nered with outside sources to offer unique programs, such as acting and juggling classes, hands-on science experiments and DJ training.

Children can spend as much or as little time as they want in the kids' clubs, either participating in activities or just

Cruise of a lifetime Price from £2450

booking done by 13th May, 2016.

Departure date: 6th September

Additional information

@£2

Spec

350

ial o for A ffer V

Caribbean offers rock-climbing walls, zip-lines, ice and inline skating, surf simulators, boxing rings, and basketball and volleyball courts.

Holland America, an elegant mid-size line, has traditionally drawn a more mature crowd by emphasising the

classic cruising experience over partying and pushing the adrenaline limits.

TIP: different cruise lines will offer different activities and facilities so make sure you do your research before booking

17

Opportunities to do River Safari on the Grizzly Bear Valley One and only unique water in the Grizzly Bear Valley Flight timing: 6th September AC851 Departure London Heathrow @1305 Reaching: Calgary 1455 Return AC854

18th September Vancouver 1840 London Heathrow 11.40 +1 (next day) 4* hotels & 5 Star with Celebrity Cruise Direct flight from Heathrow with Air Canada.

No extra border crossing into USA. First Rockies and then Cruise.

Includes: Calgary City Tour, Banff, Columbia Ice Field & Glacier Skywalk, Lake Louise, Emerald lake, Spiral tunnels, Bow Falls, Jasper, Kamloops, Vancouver City Tour Cruise - Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Ketchikan

K

ON

LI N E

T

w. sonatours.c

2) The Romantic Romance and cruises have always had a long and strong history of going hand in hand. With Hollywood films such as the iconic An Affair to Remember it is very clear that cruises can be ideal for CONTINUED ON P18

CANADA AND ALASKA CRUISE 14 DAYS

A journey of scenic splendours- starting with the rocky mountains and to the ocean’s edge into the cruise to witness snow-capped peaks, remote fjords and the ice-etched beauty.

Day 01: UK to Calgary Fly to Calgary. Orientation City Tour. Tour Stampede Park, Calgary Tower (from outside), St Stephens Avenue Mall, Olympic Park, City Hall and Fort Calgary. Overnight in Calgary.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner Day 02: Banff – Lake Louise – Lake Emerald – Spiral Tunnels Pass Yoho National Parks, See Lake Louise, Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake,Natural bridge, Lake Minnewanka. In Banff - Sulphur Mountains, Bow Falls. Optional to Banff cable car.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner

Y• DA

*All prices are from and subject to change and availability

TIP: when choosing the rooms you should always try to get a room in the middle of the ship as this is where there is the least rocking

3) The price People think that cruises are for those that have a lot money but this is not necessarily the case because with careful planning those on a budget can still get the full cruising experience. Try looking for websites that offer discounts or try to go through a travel agent that could get you good deals on cruises.

Fred Olsen has 13 mini-cruises, costing from as little as £199 per person, and P&O has added nine short cruises that last for two to five nights visiting the Channel Islands, Belgium and Holland. More lines are luring first-timers by offering shorter cruises such as spending two nights on the Queen Mary as it sails back to Southampton from Hamburg for £399 per person sharing which includes one-way flight back to the UK. When booking onto cruises there is an option to include an all inclusive food and drinks package if you which are cost effective. It is recommended that you also take some money with you to use other special facilities such as the cafe. Also, when choosing room preference there is a variety of different types of rooms that you can choose from. At first the different room names may sound confusing but there are usually 4 types of rooms:

inside the ship, outside the ship with a view, a room with a balcony and finally suite rooms which also include a balcony. Different cruise liners will offer different services so make sure to read up on all the facilities that individual cruise liners offer.

For those whose budget has a “sky’s the limit” approach then you could branch out and try out long distance cruises to places such as America or Australia which last around one and a half months. Also on offer are around the world cruises which price around £16,000 and last for approximately 4 months. If you do have the budget it is a must to try out one of the larger balcony rooms or one of the suites where some rooms even include their own kitchen.

Silversea offer each with ocean-view suites with Bulgari bath products, Egyptian cotton linens and a butler service.

O

46 Church Road, Stanmore, Middx, London HA7 4AH email@travelinstyle.co.uk

1) Motion sickness If you do suffer from motion sickness make sure to take precautions such as drugs or pressure bands. Smaller ships are best avoided if you suffer from serious motion sickness however, in extremely severe cases the ship’s doctor could administer an injection. It is useful to note that ships these days have been built with special features to deal with bad weather. If you are concerned about motion sickness then check with you travel agent when booking as they will be able to best advise you on more calmer routes.

performances, pool shows and even an ice skating show.

If you are not the activities type then there is always an options to lounge on the deck and enjoy an icy cocktail.

on an adult only cruise there will be a huge range of facilities that include multiple play areas for the youngest cruisers, teen hangouts and discos, kiddie pools, waterslides, arcades and kids-only deck space.

Some lines have part-

ww

5938

STYLE

MYTHS AND TRUTHS Many people have many misconceptions over cruises such as fear of motion sickness, whether there will be any activity on a cruise and that they are too expensive to afford.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Fly cruises are the best types of cruise that give you the best of both worlds of travel if you want to cruise to more further destinations such as the Bahamas, Morocco and Orlando. Fly cruises are package deals that include flights to the destination you are departing from, hotel costs at the place you are departing from and an all inclusive cruise package. Some packages include extra stay in the place that you depart from which include destinations such as: New York, Orlando, Miami or Barbados. A cruise is an unforgettably amazing experience so if you do decided to try one out remember to always look at the reviews if you are still unsure which one to go for.

o. uk

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

TRAVLIN

SPECIAL Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

• B OO

16

Day 03: Banff – Columbia Ice Field – Glacier Skywalk – Jasper – Mt Robson – Valemount Drive towards Jasper National park along the Icefield Parkway. View Bow Lake, Waterfowl Lake. Ride on Columbia Ice on a snow coach over Athabasca Glacier. Glacier Skywalk. Mt Robson.

Breakfast, Italian Dinner

Day 04: Valemount – Clear Water – River Safari – Kamloops Drive to Kamloops. River Safari (Optional), Visit the Riverside Park.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner

Day 05: Kamloops – Hells Gate – Vancouver Head to Vancouver passing through Fraser River Valley. Thompson River and Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon (optional cable car ride at Hells gate). Woodcarving town of Hope.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner

Day 06: Cruise: Vancouver – Embarkation Half day city tour of Vancouver – Chinatown, Gastown, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Robson Street, English Bay, Prospect Point, Lions Gate Bridge. Embark cruise. B,L,D Day 07: Cruise the Inside Passage-At Sea-B,L,D

Day 08: Cruise: Icy Strait Point, Alaska-B,L,D

Day 09: Cruise: Hubbard Glacier Scenic Cruising - B,L,D Day 10: Cruise: Juneau, Alaska - B,L,D

Day 11: Cruise: Ketchikan, Alaska - B,L,D

Day 12: Cruise the Inside Passage-At Sea - B,L,D

Day 13: Fly from Vancouver to London, UK- B,L,D Day 14: Arrive into London

CALL TOD DAY: 020 89 951 0111 W: www.sonatou urs.co.uk E: info@sonatours.co.uk @

son natours

For other offers including: Europ pean Coach tours, European Flight tours, Various Cruise packages, World wide destinations. s. Sona Tours Terms and conditions apply: Vie ew our website for full details.

Visit our office: 718 Kento on Road, Kingsbury Circle, Harrow, HA3 9QX

ABTA No.Y3020

SPECIAL

AsianVoiceNews

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

SEA CHANGE IN THE WORLD OF CRUISING

Over the years cruises have become an increasingly popular holiday options for families with children ranging from tots to teens, couples on a romantic getaway trying to re-kindle their romance or retired folk that want to relax. Now a days there is a cruise to suit anyone’s tastes! There are packages for everyone from range of about 16 different cruise ship companies to choose from the options are endless and prices can start from as little as £300.

SHIP AHOY

WITH TRAVLIN SYLE Disc ounts with your favourite cruise c ompany

Celebrity Fred Olsen Azamara Oceania P&O Royal Carribean NCL Carnival MSC Cunard and many more

Dial for a quote on 020 8954 0077 Fully bonded

2) Activities This rumour is definitely not true as over the years there are now cruises that offer a variety of services. Theses activities include pool games, hobby work shops like flowerarranging and watching all sorts of demonstrations to name a few. Not only that but cruises also offer a range of performances all throughout the day into the night and these can range from musical

TIP: make sure to book early for the best deals!

DIFFERENT TYPES OF CRUISES

1) For the Family There are many family friendly cruises that are on offer contrary to popular belief.

There are children dedicated cruises such as the famous cruises that Disney offer filled with popular characters from classic Disney fairy tales.

Certain cruises will also have separate kids’ areas, although you won’t find any of the luxurious amenities that you find

hanging out. It is useful to note that the lounges are often closed during meal times and late at night.

Families with very small children may also be able to use youth facilities for parentchild playtime. For older kids that need activity Royal

nered with outside sources to offer unique programs, such as acting and juggling classes, hands-on science experiments and DJ training.

Children can spend as much or as little time as they want in the kids' clubs, either participating in activities or just

Cruise of a lifetime Price from £2450

booking done by 13th May, 2016.

Departure date: 6th September

Additional information

@£2

Spec

350

ial o for A ffer V

Caribbean offers rock-climbing walls, zip-lines, ice and inline skating, surf simulators, boxing rings, and basketball and volleyball courts.

Holland America, an elegant mid-size line, has traditionally drawn a more mature crowd by emphasising the

classic cruising experience over partying and pushing the adrenaline limits.

TIP: different cruise lines will offer different activities and facilities so make sure you do your research before booking

17

Opportunities to do River Safari on the Grizzly Bear Valley One and only unique water in the Grizzly Bear Valley Flight timing: 6th September AC851 Departure London Heathrow @1305 Reaching: Calgary 1455 Return AC854

18th September Vancouver 1840 London Heathrow 11.40 +1 (next day) 4* hotels & 5 Star with Celebrity Cruise Direct flight from Heathrow with Air Canada.

No extra border crossing into USA. First Rockies and then Cruise.

Includes: Calgary City Tour, Banff, Columbia Ice Field & Glacier Skywalk, Lake Louise, Emerald lake, Spiral tunnels, Bow Falls, Jasper, Kamloops, Vancouver City Tour Cruise - Icy Strait Point, Hubbard Glacier, Juneau, Ketchikan

K

ON

LI N E

T

w. sonatours.c

2) The Romantic Romance and cruises have always had a long and strong history of going hand in hand. With Hollywood films such as the iconic An Affair to Remember it is very clear that cruises can be ideal for CONTINUED ON P18

CANADA AND ALASKA CRUISE 14 DAYS

A journey of scenic splendours- starting with the rocky mountains and to the ocean’s edge into the cruise to witness snow-capped peaks, remote fjords and the ice-etched beauty.

Day 01: UK to Calgary Fly to Calgary. Orientation City Tour. Tour Stampede Park, Calgary Tower (from outside), St Stephens Avenue Mall, Olympic Park, City Hall and Fort Calgary. Overnight in Calgary.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner Day 02: Banff – Lake Louise – Lake Emerald – Spiral Tunnels Pass Yoho National Parks, See Lake Louise, Spiral Tunnels, Emerald Lake,Natural bridge, Lake Minnewanka. In Banff - Sulphur Mountains, Bow Falls. Optional to Banff cable car.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner

Y• DA

*All prices are from and subject to change and availability

TIP: when choosing the rooms you should always try to get a room in the middle of the ship as this is where there is the least rocking

3) The price People think that cruises are for those that have a lot money but this is not necessarily the case because with careful planning those on a budget can still get the full cruising experience. Try looking for websites that offer discounts or try to go through a travel agent that could get you good deals on cruises.

Fred Olsen has 13 mini-cruises, costing from as little as £199 per person, and P&O has added nine short cruises that last for two to five nights visiting the Channel Islands, Belgium and Holland. More lines are luring first-timers by offering shorter cruises such as spending two nights on the Queen Mary as it sails back to Southampton from Hamburg for £399 per person sharing which includes one-way flight back to the UK. When booking onto cruises there is an option to include an all inclusive food and drinks package if you which are cost effective. It is recommended that you also take some money with you to use other special facilities such as the cafe. Also, when choosing room preference there is a variety of different types of rooms that you can choose from. At first the different room names may sound confusing but there are usually 4 types of rooms:

inside the ship, outside the ship with a view, a room with a balcony and finally suite rooms which also include a balcony. Different cruise liners will offer different services so make sure to read up on all the facilities that individual cruise liners offer.

For those whose budget has a “sky’s the limit” approach then you could branch out and try out long distance cruises to places such as America or Australia which last around one and a half months. Also on offer are around the world cruises which price around £16,000 and last for approximately 4 months. If you do have the budget it is a must to try out one of the larger balcony rooms or one of the suites where some rooms even include their own kitchen.

Silversea offer each with ocean-view suites with Bulgari bath products, Egyptian cotton linens and a butler service.

O

46 Church Road, Stanmore, Middx, London HA7 4AH email@travelinstyle.co.uk

1) Motion sickness If you do suffer from motion sickness make sure to take precautions such as drugs or pressure bands. Smaller ships are best avoided if you suffer from serious motion sickness however, in extremely severe cases the ship’s doctor could administer an injection. It is useful to note that ships these days have been built with special features to deal with bad weather. If you are concerned about motion sickness then check with you travel agent when booking as they will be able to best advise you on more calmer routes.

performances, pool shows and even an ice skating show.

If you are not the activities type then there is always an options to lounge on the deck and enjoy an icy cocktail.

on an adult only cruise there will be a huge range of facilities that include multiple play areas for the youngest cruisers, teen hangouts and discos, kiddie pools, waterslides, arcades and kids-only deck space.

Some lines have part-

ww

5938

STYLE

MYTHS AND TRUTHS Many people have many misconceptions over cruises such as fear of motion sickness, whether there will be any activity on a cruise and that they are too expensive to afford.

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

Fly cruises are the best types of cruise that give you the best of both worlds of travel if you want to cruise to more further destinations such as the Bahamas, Morocco and Orlando. Fly cruises are package deals that include flights to the destination you are departing from, hotel costs at the place you are departing from and an all inclusive cruise package. Some packages include extra stay in the place that you depart from which include destinations such as: New York, Orlando, Miami or Barbados. A cruise is an unforgettably amazing experience so if you do decided to try one out remember to always look at the reviews if you are still unsure which one to go for.

o. uk

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

TRAVLIN

SPECIAL Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

• B OO

16

Day 03: Banff – Columbia Ice Field – Glacier Skywalk – Jasper – Mt Robson – Valemount Drive towards Jasper National park along the Icefield Parkway. View Bow Lake, Waterfowl Lake. Ride on Columbia Ice on a snow coach over Athabasca Glacier. Glacier Skywalk. Mt Robson.

Breakfast, Italian Dinner

Day 04: Valemount – Clear Water – River Safari – Kamloops Drive to Kamloops. River Safari (Optional), Visit the Riverside Park.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner

Day 05: Kamloops – Hells Gate – Vancouver Head to Vancouver passing through Fraser River Valley. Thompson River and Hell’s Gate in the Fraser Canyon (optional cable car ride at Hells gate). Woodcarving town of Hope.

Breakfast, Indian Dinner

Day 06: Cruise: Vancouver – Embarkation Half day city tour of Vancouver – Chinatown, Gastown, Stanley Park, Granville Island, Robson Street, English Bay, Prospect Point, Lions Gate Bridge. Embark cruise. B,L,D Day 07: Cruise the Inside Passage-At Sea-B,L,D

Day 08: Cruise: Icy Strait Point, Alaska-B,L,D

Day 09: Cruise: Hubbard Glacier Scenic Cruising - B,L,D Day 10: Cruise: Juneau, Alaska - B,L,D

Day 11: Cruise: Ketchikan, Alaska - B,L,D

Day 12: Cruise the Inside Passage-At Sea - B,L,D

Day 13: Fly from Vancouver to London, UK- B,L,D Day 14: Arrive into London

CALL TOD DAY: 020 89 951 0111 W: www.sonatou urs.co.uk E: info@sonatours.co.uk @

son natours

For other offers including: Europ pean Coach tours, European Flight tours, Various Cruise packages, World wide destinations. s. Sona Tours Terms and conditions apply: Vie ew our website for full details.

Visit our office: 718 Kento on Road, Kingsbury Circle, Harrow, HA3 9QX

ABTA No.Y3020

SPECIAL

18

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

CONTINUED FROM P17 couples that want to go on a romance get away. The onboard ambiance and lifestyle contribute against the background of a stunning sunset can make anyone’s heart beat a little faster. For couples choosing the right cruise might be a tricky one as often you wouldn’t want an over crowded ship or one filled with children that could ruin a calm romantic dinner. Look out for Paul Gauguin Cruises as most rooms come with queen sized beds fit for couples and it is a small ship so you won’t be bothered. For Princess cruises romance has always been the cruise line’s number one focus.

This cruise ship offers open-seating, as well as traditional dining with available offers such as the Ultimate Balcony Dining dinner experience with a course by course serving to your room.

have an incredible thermal suite which you can get access for the entire cruise simply by booking a spa cabin.

thermal suite complete with fragrant aromatic showers. The traditional approach, found on lines like Royal Caribbean and Princess, is to simply place a spa and salon with a fitness centre onboard. Costa has recently turned part of the cruise ship into a "destination spa," where passengers can immerse themselves in the spa experience. On newer ships there are specially designed spa cabins create a more Zen in-cabin experience with easy access to the spa facilities.

Norwegian Getaway and Norwegian Breakaway

TIP: note that the balconies of cruise ships aren’t private but certain lines do have separate private dining options 3) Relaxation Those that are looking for relaxation certain cruises also offer a range of spa facilities. You can pamper yourself in a large hydrotherapy pool and a

TIP: make sure to book your treatments in advance to avoid disappointment 4) The Adventurer For those that are adventurous and looking for something new there are also a range of themed cruises that can catch one’s fancy. Some cruise companies even offer mystery cruises where the destination and stops of your

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journey will be kept secret till the last moment. Other alternative themed cruises are Glacier and Galapagos cruises. Lindblad seeks out exotic itineraries in the Arctic, Antarctica, Galapagos, Amazon and other less-mainstream cruise destinations. On its Arctic trips, passengers sail aboard an ice-class vessel that easily slips through frozen passage-

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ways populated with polar bears.

5) River Cruises Over the years river cruises have become increasingly popular to the breath taking scenic routes that some cruise liners take.

These types of cruises are available all over the world ranging from the Danube in Germany to the Yangtze in China. Though there was always a market

for river cruises in the USA and Europe new routes are being offered all around Asia. These have become increasingly popular and the range of journeys you can take have steadily increased.

Mekong cruises offer a window on time-honoured traditions and contrasting Far Eastern cultures as the city of Ho Chi Minh is discovered in a new light.

One uncommon place

one would think to take a river cruise is Myanmar's Irrawaddy River but over the past years it has wildly increased. This reflects the Buddhist land’s unhurried pace, as do the centuriesold pagodas and shrines that gild its landscapes. A Yangtze cruise through the spectacular Three Gorges gives a different perspective on China as it passes through 16 provinces in China.

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

REAL ESTATEVOICE Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

Don’t Follow The Herd

19

There is an air of nervousness in the property market. This is evidenced measurably in the share market for property companies. Developers who have a sizeable London exposure such as St Modwen, Capital & Counties and Berkley Group have had the price of their stock drop by more than 20%.

The same can be said of property agencies, those with large residential arms have been affected, both Foxtons and Savills have had their prices drop.

Where is this nervousness coming from? It stems predominantly from whether or not Britain will leave the EU. If we look at a report carried out by Knight Frank in 2013, 49 per cent of all prime central London buyers were non-British citizens, while 28 per cent did not even live in the UK: their purchases were for occasional use or investment.

But it’s unclear what role, if any at all, the EU has played in attracting this money to London; in this report only 16.5 per cent of buyers were from other EU countries.

Therefore, would there necessarily be any reduction in prices if Britain was to leave the EU? Only time will tell for sure.

The highest number of foreign buyers came from the Middle East and Russia, followed by North America and India. Will this demand subside if Britain leaves? It’s doubtful in my opinion.

I have observed that crises around the world has always brought more money into the London property market. When there was a crisis in Greece, I remember an agent telling me he had an instruction from a wealthy businessman to purchase four properties at £500k each within a week. This instruction was given blind, meaning he was not planning on seeing the properties bought.

When there is risk and uncertainty in a country, funds seek a flight for safety. The London market has a transparent system, it’s easy to see from the Land Registry much of the information regarding a property. Some may say too much information is made public.

No one is concerned about whether a property bought in London has a clean title or whether the title has actually been transferred in their names or not. They have confidence in the system. The same cannot be said for all countries in the EU, or around the world.

A lot of the money which comes into London does not do so to make money, but rather to keep some of it safe. If it goes up in price it is a bonus. Many people doing the same thing means the price inevitably goes up as a by product of the flight to safety rather than the principal aim.

One other reason is London will always be a favourite for foreign buyers, it has some of the best universities in the world, and so even though money can be made overseas, the off spring of the wealthy business people cannot be educated in the same country as the wealth is made.

London is a front runner to absorb this demand. Purchasing property is seen as getting a foot hold in the city, and the property can be used as a base, or a place to live when the time for further education comes.

The vibrancy and fluidity of London is not something which can be replicated. It has taken centuries to evolve and develop and mature.

Humans have a tendency to over panic in the face of uncertainty. There are some variables in the horizon for sure. There is also the seemingly over supply of new build property within London.

Higher value proprieties have dropped in price. The higher they are the harder they have dropped.

Real Deal The

Marylebone, London, NW1 Purchase Price: £500,000

l A large one bedroom flat within a purpose built block in an excellent location l Long lease l Low service charges l Close to the wide range of amenities of Edgware Road, Praed Street and Baker Street l Very good buy and hold opportunity

Despite the above, this however is the ideal time to purchase.

Those who invested in 2009, when most were sitting on the fence profited handsomely in the following years.

In the words of Warren Buffet ‘Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.’

This statement must be tapered with some intelligence, to be truly successful in your greed you need to be intelligent too. Now is not the time to purchase a £5m flat, however it is the time to purchase 10 flats worth £500k each.

Emotion is a greatly underestimated investment factor, behind the numbers and the economics of any market. There are only humans behind it who drive the market; and a human is controlled by emotions, therefore fundamentally the prices in a market are actually controlled by only two emotions of fear and greed.

Fear is the more dominating emotion, meaning it weighs more heavily than greed. A minus one loss feels more like a minus ten loss.

Greed is largely what makes prices rise, while fear is mostly what drives a market down.

Given that the two emotions are such important market drivers it is important to have some understanding of them.

In a rising property market even rubbish gets sold, often dumped in auctions to unsuspecting buyers who become afraid of missing the boat.

Common sense often departs in this market.

The second half of Warren Buffett’s quote is the one that’s generally more difficult to master.

But when everyone else is running scared, that’s the time to be an optimist or realist, to exploit the market sentiment.

Bear in mind this will be when general investor confidence is tanking, and even the talking head experts are having difficulty finding anything good to say about the market.

But the reason so few people are successful and wealthy is because of this very reason, the inability to cast out fear and move forward, at a time when everyone else is panicking.

Typical investors are sheep like, they buy heavily as the market is rising, and then hang on as the market flattens waiting for the property prices to rise again.

Following the trend is not actually wise investing. If it was then the masses would be wealthy. The media also supports and fuels this herd mentality.

The current market is precisely the kind of market you can be choosy in and pick the best of the crop. A good time to purchase small units. I would suggest anything below £1m is fair game.

You still have the inevitable three D’s, meaning divorce, distress and death. There are forced sellers in the market, they need to sell. It’s not a choice for them, it’s a need, at a time when buyers have declined in number.

Invest, but do so wisely, it always pays to have local knowledge on your side, and to work with someone who knows the pitfalls of the market and can guide you along the way.

Call us now to reserve!!

0207 993 0103

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SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week

l Decide whether to be an investor or a landlord, depending on how much time you can spare on your investment. Many first time investors are surprised by the amount of work involved with directly managing a buy-to-let, so delegating day to day tasks is well worthwhile for most people.

l Know the local rental market – Investors should always investigate how well similar properties have let in their chosen location. It isn’t just rental income that is important but overall volume of demand, as this can reduce voids between tenants.

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ASIANVOICE

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

Consultant Editor Financial Voice Alpesh Patel

Dear Financial Voice Reader, It’s election time. I’m not going to tell who I think you should vote for or who I will vote for from a personal financial interest. But I think there is a way to think about these things. Let’s take the Mayoral election in London.

Running an international City like London is about money and power. I want the Mayor to command money. And money I want to come from two main sources – corporations and Central Government. Like most people, I certainly do not want the money to come directly from my own pocket. Just being honest.

London like so many British cities, but even more so, has a global pulling power to international companies – companies which pay local rates, employ local people, and provide social voluntary services to build the community.

I need a Mayor with global international business appeal. A Mayor who can command a pro-business mandate. I want businesses improving my city and the burden not have to fall on workers. It’s not that businesses will leave, but I need a Mayor who can credibly say the people who voted for him want more businesses in the city and want those businesses to be at the heart of a cleaner, more efficient society.

But money is only half the equation. Without Power money is easily wasted and little use. I need a Mayor who can command the attention of and work with the most powerful Government in the land – Central Government. And because of how our politics works, it is winner takes all in Central Government ie one party Government.

I need the person I vote for to get things done without conflict, without having to score points and obstruct just to make political points. I need the job done, I don’t care about the politics.

And that job weather clean air, transport links to the rest of the country and the world, or job creation all require working with Central Government.

I cannot afford a Mayor who is battered by Central Government and obstructed (surely they would not would they?).

If ever you doubt politics is about power and money, and that it isn’t true at Mayoral level – just look at London’s close comparison – Chicago. For decades the Mayor of Chicago has been so powerful, that he could not be ignored at even the Presidential level.

Our Mayor’s don’t have that level of power, and so need even more to work with where power and money resides in British politics – which as I said – is in Central Government and international business.

That’s how I want my elected officials. And in terms of personal financial interest the calculation is simple – my personal finances are better off if international businesses and Central Governments are paying for more things, than the Mayor charging me because he can’t get money from either of the other two deep pockets.

Media grills Sir Philip Green of Arcadia Sir Philip Green, who has spent his years brushing shoulders with the cream of the society, recently gained himself quite the reputation of being the “unacceptable face of capitalism.”

Owner of retail group Arcadia was thoroughly grilled by the media for Sir Philip Green and his wife Tina entirely depends on him. taking out “enormous sums” “He cultivates this cool guy out of BHS in dividend payimage, hanging around with ments as the chain crashed.

Kate Moss and Beyoncé, Not the kind to take but the reality is he’s a criticism in stride, Sir Philip bully,” said a senior business responded to media quesjournalist. tions in the worst manner With the Fleet Street possible, shooting disrelining up against him, and spectful scripts to journalthe pensions regulator conists and their editors. He sidering an inquiry and a even stooped to the level of Commons select committee telling Mirror's business to summon him for queseditor that he planned to tioning, Sir Philips is just wipe his backside with the inviting more trouble for copy of the paper. While he himself with his lack of elealways engages with the gance and decency. media, how he does it,

www.asian-voice.com

UK steel tycoon bidding for Tata Steel AsianVoiceNews

Liberty House, owned by Indian-origin businessman Sanjeev Gupta, has confirmed that it will submit its bid for loss-making Tata Steel's businesses in an announcement that gives fresh hopes to the thousands who lie on the verge of unemployment.

The commodities trading firm said its team was evaluating the bid. “We can confirm that Liberty will submit a letter of intent to Tata Steel on Tuesday and has put in place a strong internal transaction team and panel of leading external advisers to take the bid forward,” a spokesperson said. Gupta is being advised by former Tata Steel executives, including Jon Bolton, who until last year headed Tata's long products business in Europe, the report said. Gupta expressed his desire to invest in the steel industry and return businesses “to their former glory”. Liberty House was established by the businessman while a student at Cambridge.

The British government, in its bid to avoid the

Sanjeev Gupta

loss of 10,000 jobs, has offered hundreds of millions of pounds in support to potential buyers and said it could take a 25 per cent stake in the firm. Firms including Deloitte and Grant Thornton will advise Liberty House on the dealing with the almost 500million pound funding deficit in Tata's pensions scheme. Just last week, Gupta completed the acquisition of Tata's Scottish plants in a back to back transaction in which the Scottish government acquired the two plants of Dalzell and Clydebridge in Lanarkshire and sell them

to Liberty.

Other bidders for the remaining Tata Steel UK assets include Albion Steel, a UK start-up business. A Tata management team buyout is seen as the other serious contender at this stage.

Cameron urges Tata Steel to sell whole of its UK ops: Prime Minister David Cameron has told Tata Steel that any sale of its remaining UK assets would have to cover the whole of its business and be given sufficient time to take place.

Thousands of employees will be rendered jobless if the company

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

quits.

Cameron's spokeswoman said the prime minister wanted to see for himself what the situation was at Port Talbot and toured the site to see the control room of the blast furnace and the finishing lines. “He had a roundtable discussion with senior management from Tata and the (trade) unions.

That was largely focused on the action the government has taken to support the steel sector.

The prime minister underlined our commitment to working with Tata to support the future of steelmaking in Port Talbot, emphasised the need for the Tata sales process to cover the whole business, (and) for there to be sufficient time for that process to run.”

The Tata Group announced plans to quit its entire British steel operation last month, leaving the government battling to save an industry that has been hurt by cheap Chinese imports, soaring costs and weak demand.

Scottish Power fined for poor service One of Britain's biggest energy suppliers, Scottish Power, has been fined £18mn for poor customer service. The company has agreed with Ofgem to pay what is the third-largest fine in the energy regulator's history after attracting more than 1 million customer complaints between June 2013 and December 2015.

Dermot Nolan, Ofgem's chief executive said, “Scottish Power let its cus-

tomers down during the implementation of a new IT system. When things went wrong, it didn't act quickly enough to fix them.

This created frustration and worry for many customers, who also wasted a lot of time trying to contact the supplier by phone. The £18mn payment sends a strong message to all energy companies about the importance of treating consumers well at all times, including while new sys-

British govt agency CDC to invest in India CDC, the British government's development finance arm, is all set to invest $680 million in India, where the economy is expected to expand to 7.5 per cent in the coming days. One of the earliest private equity investors in India, CDC has pumped over $1 billion in 325 companies in Asia's No. 3 economy. A top executive of the company said if the funds find the right opportunities, it will make multimillion-dollar investments in the next two years. CDC's South Asia head N Srinivasan said the finance institution is excited about

opportunities in the affordable services space and intends to support ventures that will create more jobs and aid in sustainable development. About 70 per cent of the $1-billion investment until now has been directed towards private equity funds such as IDFC, Multiple, Actis, Aavishkaar, Rabo Agri Business Fund, Avigo and Baring India, and the balance 30% has been invested in companies including Ratnakar Bank, Rainbow Hospitals, Narayana Hrudayalaya, Janalakshmi Finance and Equitaas.

Osborne under pressure to tax betting machines Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has allegedly been blocking a review into betting machines citing the tax revenue generated by them.

Osborne faces steady opposition from Tory MPs over his failure to act against the fixed-odds betting termi-

nals that raised £425 million for the Treasury last year. The pressure mounted after Josh Jones, jumped from the ten-storied headquarters of PriceWaterhouseCoopers in London last year after his gambling debts from online poker kept mounting.

tems are put in place.” The energy company said it would pay up to £15mn to vulnerable customers, including those affected by the move to the new IT system, and pay the remaining £3mn to charity. Neil Clitherow, head of energy retail and generation, said, “In order to upgrade our old IT systems, we invested £200mn on new technology to allow us to deliver smarter digital products and services to benefit our

customers.

“During the complex transition between systems we encountered a range of technical issues. This led to an unacceptable increase in complaints and reduced the quality of our customer service. We know we need to do more and we will continue to work hard to deliver further improvements, and ensure that our customer service standards return to being amongst the best in the industry.”

Patel, Nooyi, Nadella among highest-paid CEOs

Indra Nooyi, Bhavesh Patel and Satya Nadella

Three executives of Indianorigin have made to the list of 100 highest-paid CEOs compiled by Equilar, with two of them making to the top 10. Chemicals company LyondellBasell Industries' Bhavesh Patel ranked sixth on the list with a total compensation of $24.5 million, PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi ranked eighth on the list with a total pay of $22.2 million and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stood on 26, with a total of $ 18.3 million.

Mark V Hurd and Safra A Catz of Oracle topped the list with a total salary of $53.2 million. The compilation included Robert A Iger of Walt Disney, David M Cote of Honeywell International, General

Electric's Jeffrey R Immelt, Randall L Stephenson of AT&T, and Rupert Murdoch of Twenty-First Century Fox. The list is a snapshot of companies that file annual proxy statements before April 1 and aims to provide an early look at CEO pay trends for 2015. Apple is the largest company by revenue on the list, totalling $233.7 billion in 2015, followed by Berkshire Hathaway with $210.8 billion. “Notably, Tim Cook of Apple was paid below the median ($10.3 million) and Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway was by far the lowest-paid CEO in the Equilar 100, earning $470,244 in total compensation last year,” it added.

CURRENCYVOICE

www.asian-voice.com AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX, Currency Specialists.

Marginal slowdown of economic

During a visit to UK, President Barack Obama discussed why the UK should stay in the EU. He said that Britain would find itself at the back of the queue for a trade deal with the United States if the UK left. Obama also stated it would be safer, more prosperous and influential if the UK stayed in the Eurozone.

Market research group ICM published an opinion poll which stated that the campaign for Britain to leave the European Union had a narrow lead over the ‘In Campaign’. 46% voted in favour of a ‘Brexit’ against 44% who wished to remain in the EU. This survey was sampled during Barack Obamas visit to the UK and possibly highlights a negative sentiment toward his intervention in UK politics.

However, many Brexit supporters, among them London Mayor Boris Johnson, point to a recently agreed free trade deal between Canada and the EU as a possible model for a post-Brexit Britain. Under the Canadian model, Britain would not be required to allow workers in from the EU or pay into its budget. However, the Canada deal with the EU took over a decade to negotiate and George Osborne said last week that a Canada style

21

Foreign Exchange

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

deal would leave the economy 6.2% smaller by the time it is implemented.

UK GDP figures were released in line with expectations at 0.4% and the YoY figure was slightly above expectations at 2.1%. The data release showed a marginal slowdown of economic growth compared to the growth of last year.

Following Obama’s view on Britain and the EU, the pound has found a renewed sense of positivity causing GBP strength across the board. However, Mark Carney has warned Britain’s economy appears to be slowing because of June’s referendum of the EU membership but also admitted this is likely to be a very short term slowdown. Carney said the economy was performing ‘pretty well’ with expectations for wage growth to improve over time. Nevertheless, Carney has reiterated the risks and negative impact on the British economy should a Brexit materialise.

In the Eurozone, Greece resumed talks with its creditors in Athens over reforms it must make to conclude a drawn-out review of its bailout progress and unlock more than 5 billion euros of further financial aid. The reforms under discussion include

changes to pensions and taxes, plus additional measures that Athens would have to put in place for use in case it misses the budget targets. The contingent measures would kick in only if the regular measures are not enough to generate a primary budget surplus of 3.5 percent of GDP by 2018.

Discussions with Greece regarding them obtaining a further tranche of aid have received a knock back as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is questioning whether the present cutbacks are enough. Greece and its international leaders are close to a deal on a package of bailout reforms and are working to agree further contingency steps by May 9th when an extraordinary meeting of euro zone finance ministers will be held in Brussels.

In the US, Consumer Confidence came out below expectations, falling to 94.2.

With the largest share of consumers still expect business conditions to improve in the next six months, although in April the gap narrowed with those who expecting conditions to worsen.

Questions about future employment also showed a growing share of pessimism.

Compounding the poor senti-

ment, Core Durable Goods Orders came out 0.8% worse than expected. Manufacturing, which accounts for 12 percent of the U.S. economy, is struggling with the lingering effects of the dollar's past surge and sluggish overseas demand. This seems to be the strongest reason yet why the Fed will not be raising interest rates.

The FOMC held a meeting to discuss their monetary policy stance and concluded they were not to raise rates – a move that was widely expected by many market participants.

US economic output showed a sharp decrease in the first quarter posting figures 0.5% against a previous of 1.4% - the weakest since the first quarter of 2014.

Growth in the economy has reportedly been held back by businesses stepping up efforts to reduce unwanted merchandise and not spending, thus causing a slowdown in all sectors of the economy for the first quarter of the year.

Cheap oil prices and a strong dollar weighed heavily on the US economy; however we are seeing a shift in momentum and a retrace in the dollar strength we have experienced since the turn of this calendar year.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 3rd May 2016 @ 12.50pm

GBP - INR = 97.23

USD - INR = 66.40 EUR - INR = 76.80 GBP - USD = 1.46 GBP - EUR = 1.26

EUR - USD = 1.15 GBP - AED = 5.38

GBP - CAD = 1.84

GBP - NZD = 2.09

GBP - AUD = 1.93

GBP - ZAR = 21.15

GBP - HUF = 394.59

www.rationalfx.com

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

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22

WORLD

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IS targeting Hindus, other minorities In Brief Sikh man, Pakistani talking in in Bangladesh Punjabi arrested AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

DHAKA: A Hindu tailor was hacked to death by machetewielding Islamic State militants in his shop in central Bangladesh. The latest in a series of brutal attacks on intellectuals, activists and the minorities, Nikhil Joarder, 50, was killed by three assailants. Gopalpur police station officer in-charge Mohammad Abdul Jalil said, “Three assailants entered Joarder's house-cum shop and slit his throat.” Not only did the attackers flee the scene immediately after murder, they left behind a black bag at the spot containing

three to four bomb-like objects. A case was filed against Joarder in 2012 for making “derogatory” comment about the Prophet.

While the police said he had been arrested for allegedly making the comments and then released, media reports suggested the deceased served three months of imprisonment in 2012 for his “crime”.

US-based intelligence assessment company Stratfor said the Islamic State will claim more attacks on minorities and foreigners in a bid to please the local extremists, as part of its global expansion

Man who stalked woman from India to US jailed for 19 years was denied admisWASHINGTON: A sion and ordered to 32 year old man of stay away from the Indian origin has campus by the unibeen sentenced to 19 versity. He followed years in prison in the the woman to US, for stalking a California, where she woman from New went for an internDelhi to Texas for ship and followed her nearly a decade. back to New York.

Jitender Singh who Between 2011 and met the victim in a college in Delhi, had Jitender Singh 2014, Singh harassed the victim on the phone and asked her to marry him in through other means. He later 2006. The victim's troubles located the victim's address in began after she turned down Plano by falsely creating a his offer. Singh began stalking credit monitoring service her home from college until account in her name. she graduated. In 2007, after While the victim was she left for New York for furaway, Singh broke into her ther studies, he continued home by convincing a lockwith his harassment, even smith to unlock her door, took assaulting her father in India. her passport, social security Singh was convicted for the card and other documents as crimes in India, but made an well as several pieces of her appeal and agreement with jewellery. A suspicious neighauthorities to stay away from bour called Plano police which the victim. He eventually travlocated Singh in the parking elled to New York, where he lot of the victim's apartment tried to enrol at the same uniand arrested him. versity as her. However, he

plan.

In their magazine Dabiq, the head of IS operations in Bangladesh, Sheikh Abu Ibrahim al-Hanif discussed the group's “goals” for the Muslim-majority country.

“Bangladesh is strategically important for several reasons as it provides a location from which to expand future operations into eastern India and Myanmar. The group has carried out some small attacks in Bangladesh, but it wants to conduct a large attack to boost its credentials among local jihadists and promote the interests of the larger organi-

sation.”

Over 20 people belonging to minority groups, mostly Hindus, have faced the wrath of the terrorist group. A group of people had attacked a temple in February; hacking the priest to death, and firing gunshots at a devotee. AlHanif, in the report, listed a range of potential targets, including Christian missionaries, Hindu figures, Shias and foreigners in general. “In a sign of things to come, he indicated that the group intends to also target the military and other radical Islamist groups,” it said.

Pak police book 6 men for desecrating Sikh’s turban ISLAMABAD: Police have booked six men under the country's blasphemy law for allegedly desecrating a Sikh man's turban during a fight.

Mahinder Paal Singh, 29, said he was travelling from Faisalabad to Multan by a bus owned by Kohistan-Faisal Movers when it broke down.

Though the driver got the vehicle to start again, its slow speed took them five hours to travel the short distance between Dijkot and Chichawatni.

At the terminal, Singh and other passengers complained to the transport company's staff about the slow speed of the bus and demanded a different vehicle for the rest of the journey. A fight broke down during which five employees of the transport company and the terminal owner allegedly manhandled the passengers, including Singh.

He alleged that a bus ter-

minal hawker threw his turban on the ground, adding that the turban is considered sacred in the Sikh religious code and throwing it on the ground amounted to “desecration”. He also told the policemen after the incident that the attackers “should be booked under the blasphemy law”. Police official Khaizer Hayat said the men who attacked Singh had been booked under sections 295, 148 and 506 of the Pakistan Penal Code. The police are conducting raids to arrest the terminal owner, Haji Riyasat.

Singh alleged some local politicians were backing the suspects and influencing the investigations.

US lawmakers ask Obama to review F-16s sale to Pak WASHINGTON: Top US Congressmen have shown concerns over Obama administration's decision to sell eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan, and have urged the government to review its decision.

“Many members of Congress, including me, seriously question the judgment and timing of such a sale.

Additionally, Indo-Pak tensions remain elevated and some question whether the F-16s could ultimately be used against India or other regional powers, rather than the terrorists as Pakistan has asserted,” Congressman Matt Salmon said during a Congressional hearing. He found support from several other lawmakers during the Congressional hearing on Afghanistan and Pakistan convened by the Subcommittee on Asia and Pacific of the House Foreign Affairs Committee wherein

Barack Obama

the Obama Administration was represented by the Special US Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Olson.

Congressman Brad Sherman said, “We've got to be concerned what military assistance and whether the F-16s constitute the least expensive, most efficient way for the Pakistani air force to go after the terrorists and the least disruptive weapon system to the balance of power

between India and Pakistan.

We need to offer to Pakistan those weapon systems wellcrafted to go after terrorists and not crafter for a war with India.”

The Senate has currently put a hold on the decision to give eight F-16 fighter jets to Pakistan at an estimated cost of $700 million. “Despite giving Pakistan enormous amounts of counter-terror assistance over the years, over $25 billion since 9/11, terrorist organisations continue to operate with impunity in Pakistan. Pakistan has used terror as a tool of statecraft and terrorist proxy group, for the Pakistani military have carried out fatal attacks inside India,” Salmon said.

Subcommitee chairperson Ileana Rose-Lehtinen shared her concerns over the sale. “I think that we need to leverage our military sales to Pakistan in order to get some

more cooperation within the region,” she said.

Olson defended the move saying this is in the best interest of the United States.

“The administration is supportive of the F-16 sale to Pakistan. This is been developed between our military coordinating groups over the course of time that is consistent with our overall program of support for the Pakistani military, which is based on counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism.

The Pakistanis have developed a precision strike capability that they use in the F-16s they have right now to take our targets. These are principally the Pakistani Taliban, but we think that that is a good thing. The Pakistani Taliban has been involved in attacks against Americans at Chapman in Afghanistan in 2009, and, indeed, in supporting the Times Square bomber.”

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

TEXAS: A Sikh man and a Pakistan-American met in a bus in the US and started to chat each other in Punjabi leading to them getting arrested at gunpoint and detained for 30 hours after fellow travellers claimed they were discussing a “bomb threat” in Arabic. Daljeet Singh and Mohammed Chotri struck a conversation while on the way to Indiana from Arizona, not realising their companionship will get them put into immigration detention centres. Both of them have been released, and Singh gave a statement saying he had been granted parole to live and work in the US pending a decision on his refugee application. The Sikh Coalition has filed a complaint against the woman for “acting weird”.

Air strikes kill 60 in Syrian city, including 27 at a hospital

BEIRUT: Air strikes and shelling lead to the death of more than 60 people in less than 24 hours in Aleppo, Syria. One of the main areas of the country's ongoing civil war, at least 27 people died as a hospital supported by Doctors Without Borders and the International Committee for the Red Cross and nearby buildings were hit overnight. UN envoy for Syria has appealed to the US and Russia to help revive the peace talks and a ceasefire, which he said “hangs by a thread”. Around 200 civilians have been killed in the past week in Syria with half of them around Aleppo. The ICRC said the war, including the destruction in air strikes, is putting millions at grave risk.

Number of Indian pupils in US jumps in a year

WASHINGTON: Official data released shows the number of Indian students in American universities and colleges have risen by over 32 per cent, number over 194,000 in one year. “The number of F&M students from India studying in the US grew from 148,360 in March 2015 to 194,438 in March 2016, an increase of 31.1 per cent,” as per the latest 'Sevis by the Numbers', a quarterly report on foreign student trends prepared by Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Based on data extracted from SEVIS March 7, international student enrolment at US schools increased 6.2 per cent as compared to March 2015.

In a first, Iranian House to have more women than clerics

TEHRAN: In a first, Iran's new parliament will have more women than clerics once its members are sworn in this month. Official results showed that reformist and moderate politicians allied with President Hassan Rouhani won a big victory in the second round parliamentary elections. A record 17 women will become lawmakers in the 290-seat parliament. Although the 17 women, almost all reformists, represent only 9 per cent of the total, it is definitely a high for the Islamic republic and almost double the nine conservative women in the outgoing chamber. Results reveal there will be 133 reformists in the new parliament.

Beijing begins to build biggest dam in Tibet

BEIJING: Construction of China's biggest hydropower project has taken off in Tibet, with a cost of over $3 billion. The Suwalong hydropower project at Mangkam county and Batang county, has a design capacity of 1.2 gigawatts, and will be generate about 5,400 gigawatt hours of electricity a year when completed in 2021, a media reported.

This is more than double the capacity of the Zangmu hydropower plant on Brahmaputra, Tibet's largest existing hydro project.

Protesters storm Baghdad’s Green Zone, enter parliament

BAGHDAD: Hundreds of Shi'ite Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr supporters stomped parliament inside Baghdad's Green Zone, camping out nearby after Sadr denounced Politicians' failure to reform a political quota system blamed for rampant corruption. While the initial breach was quite peaceful, things took a turn for the worse by evening, with security forces resorting to teargas and shooting bullets in the air to stop more protesters from entering.

HEALTH&WELLNESS

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Things to avoid before you go to sleep AsianVoiceNews

FOOD

ur ability to fall asleep at a reasonable time, stay asleep and wake up feeling well-rested the following morning depends on the steps you take hours before your head hits the pillow. And many of them go beyond basic sleep hygiene and focus more on daily habits that are surprisingly easy to rectify. Struggling with sleep despite your best efforts? These nine behaviours might be to blame if they're a part of your evening routine after 9 pm.

Eating a huge dinner: Inconsistency when it comes to evening meals can wreak havoc on your sleep. It's okay to eat an early or late dinner, so long as you aim at eating at the same time every night. As for quantity, sticking with bigger breakfasts and smaller dinners has been shown to stabilise blood sugar, while big meals that include more fatty foods, delicious as they may be, take longer to digest and keep the body awake. If your sleep is suffering, keep dinner on the lighter, healthier side.

You're checking your work email: Once you're finally home from office and preparing to unwind, the last thing you should do is reach for your smartphone to check and see if your boss sent you an urgent, 'Reply ASAP' email. If it's really that urgent, they'll call.

Otherwise, take a deep breath and meditate on the fact that any residual work from today can, in fact, wait until the following day. The evening is time set aside for you. A recent study found that even push notifications are just as distracting as actively seeking out officerelated messages, so go ahead and silence your phone, too, so you can focus on your down time.

You're ordering a few more cocktails: This attempt to relax after a stressful day is actually preventing you from sleeping soundly later.

While a cocktail or two may seem to make you

FITNESS

AsianVoiceNewsweekly

www.asian-voice.com

LIFESTYLE

O

more sleepy and help you drift off faster, the quality of your sleep suffers and you often wake up feeling the consequences the following morning. If you're going to indulge in alcohol, drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume and close that tab three hours before you plan to call it night.

You're bickering with a loved one: Going to bed angry doesn't offer much in the way of sound sleep, especially if you have Type A tendencies.

Overthinkers struggle with letting go of stressful thoughts at all times of the day, but in the evening, the habit of ruminating can keep you mentally alert even when your body is physically sending you 'time for bed' signals. It's often best to address the things that are irritating you and then work together with the other person to let them go. It'll make your personal relationships stronger and your morning mood sweeter.

You want to go on a movie watching binge: Stop right there. You've experienced this deep, dark rabbit hole one too many times before and know very well what is about to happen. It doesn't matter if you're 'catching up' on the latest seasons of one of your favourite series or if you're simply bored and looking to explore a new one. You get hooked, and 30 minutes becomes three hours before you even blink. All that screen time is scientifically proven to affect your body's production of

melatonin - the hormone produce in your body to tell you that it's time to go to bed. The sooner you shut down all electronic devices that are in your bedroom, the sooner you'll drift off into dreamland.

Better still, try not having any such devices in your bedroom to avoid the temptation.

You're indulging in that after-dinner cappuccino: Of course it tastes wonderful, but this caffeinated beverage from heaven is best enjoyed earlier in the day - before 2 pm if possible.

While the human body doesn't metabolise caffeine in one, uniform way, most available research confirms that if you call it quits with the stimulant by mid-afternoon, it shouldn't affect the quality of your sleep later that evening. Caffeine is another compound that counters the body's natural production of melatonin, so if you're looking to increase your Z's, stick to water or herbal tea in the evening.

You're checking out the best online posts of the day: No matter how good it feels to surf social media news feeds at the end of a long day, science says that browsing on that smartphone is interfering with your sleep. Teens are particularly susceptible to this effect, because they often turn to their phones to help them drift off when they aren't quite sleepy yet.

But a recent study revealed that kids who specifically make a point

| Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

to unplug before bedtime experience real benefits in the quality and quantity of their sleep, too.

You're jumping into the next amazing novel on your bookshelf: Congratulations on your screen-free choice! But honestly, if you tend to gravitate to thrillers, emotional novels or more intellectual topics in the non-fiction genre, you'll be stimulating your mind more than relaxing it.

U n f o r t u n a t e l y , researchers found that such mental demands can lead to poor sleep, so it's best to stick to lighter reading like an entertainment magazine or something a little on the dull side to lull you off to sleep.

You're taking your multivitamin: There's nothing

wrong with making sure your body is receiving adequate nutrients, but a hefty dose of B vitamins in the evening can create an unintentional energising effect that counteracts the natural sleep cycle. If you're someone who struggles with sleep apnea, try to take any medication with a flexible time prescription in the morning as opposed to the evening to avoid this frustrating interaction. When taken on an empty stomach, multivitamins can sometimes cause discomfort and even nausea, so consider taking yours with breakfast as a preventative measure

24

INDIA

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Gujarati vote holds key in Madurai South In Brief AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

MADURAI: Voters from Saurashtra, Gujarat, play an important role in the city of Madurai South. With a strong grip in the political structure of Tamil Nadu, parties like DMK, AIADMK and BJP have pitched in candidates from the community.

“Our community hasn't been represented in the TN Assembly since 1996. So we resolved to vote for that party whose candidate is from our community.

AIADMK responded first, naming a candidate from among us,” says TD Easwara Moorthy,

president of All-India Sourashtra Madhya Sabha.

DMK followed the move with M Balachandran and BJP with AR Mahalakshmi.

The fight for Madurai South has always been about cornering votes of this community, which usually supports a candidate en bloc. Of the 220,000 voters in Madurai South, Saurashtrians number 70,000. Many have a soft spot for the BJP because of PM Narendra Modi.

They've hosted him in Madurai twice. But this time, aware that local factors are at

Karnataka Chief Minister’s future uncertain BENGALURU: While Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah struggles to keep his chair, two names have emerged as front-runners for the post. Political sources said one of the ideal choices for the post is former labour minister and present leader of opposition in Parliamant, Mallikarjun Kharge. “But he is the most important man in Delhi now.

He alone has put the Modi government on the mat,” a Congress leader said.

The CM came under the radar after he accepted an expensive Hublot watch from a friend. That was just the beginning of his troubles. He later disbanded the Lokayukta police wing, and set up an Anti-Corruption Bureau which would report to him. Taking one wrong step after another, Siddaramaiah is on the verge of losing his position. However, none of

Siddaramaiah

the reports visibly touched the senior Congress leader as he stays strong on his feet, calling them rumours to be dismissed.

“A few are not happy with me and launched a propaganda to mislead people. They could not see me at a top post and are spreading such gossip. But there is no such move or any development in this regard,” he said. He downplayed the issue of MPs expressing displeasure over the CM’s attitude and accused the media of making up stories.

AAP now turns its focus on Punjab and Goa

Arvind Kejriwal

NEW DELHI: Reconstitution of the national executive of the Aam Aadmi Party has made it plainly evident of the party's intentions to expand base beyond the Capital, and focus on at least Punjab and Goa. The new NE, highest decision-making body of the party, involves a lot of members actively involved in Punjab and Goa. Senior members have explained that promoting these leaders who have been working in the two regions, not only gives them more authority but is also indication of the party's priorities for the coming year. Just few months back, party members had unanimously suggested AAP must look beyond Delhi.

Members of a new think tank within the party which was not formalised, had also said

the party should go solo in other state assembly elections.

Leaders who played significant roles in the victory of AAP in Delhi, are now brought back to the National Executive. Senior party leader Ashish Talwar, who had taken a back seat after the win, has now been brought back to a party host with his inclusion in the NE. Not only seniors, young leaders like Atishi Marlena and Raghav Chadha have also been involved.

The C-voter survey that generously handed out 100 out of 117 seats to the AAP in Punjab assembly polls slated early next year has infused the party with such confidence that it has begun to draw up a blueprint for Punjab along the lines of the one for Delhi three years ago.

play, it may go with either AIADMK or DMK. “BJP's chances look bleak,” says Moorthy.

Madurai's Saurashtrians are descendants of master weavers in the court of Vijayanagar king Krishnadeva Raya. In the 17th century, King Thirumalai Naicker invited them to Madurai to weave silk for him. “We were Madurai's dominant community till the 1960s,” says Moorthy. Though hit by the decline in weaving, they still hold land in Madurai. With the advent of powerlooms in

the 1970s, many `pattunoolkaarar' (silk thread people) migrated. The richer folk set up engineering colleges for their youngsters.

They no longer depend on their looms, but don't want to lose their deep roots with Madurai or weaving. The reason they want a candidate from their community is so they can reopen their 200 to 300 weaving co-operatives.

“Around 30% still weave. Our glorious past can be revived if weaving is invigorated. Only our own MLA can do this,” Moorthy said.

Don't succumb to money power: Kamal Haasan CHENNAI: Barely two weeks before Tamil Nadu votes, actor Kamal Haasan has caused a flutter with his statement warning voters not to succumb to money power. “If you sell your votes you will have to accept your fate,” he said on TV. “You lose the moral right to question politicians. Nothing can be more pathetic than selling your vote,” he added. This isn't the first time the actor has taken a stand on an issue, but what makes it significant are the political undertones. It could become a talking point among his fans. While some analysts read it as a criticism of the ruling party, others feel the actor, without taking sides, was making an appeal out of concern over reports of cash inducements offered to voters.

In TN, where cinema and politics are intertwined, statements by actors have generated debate and even turned the

tide in elections. In 1996, Rajinikanth's statement that “Even God can't save Tamil Nadu if you vote for Jayalalithaa” is believed to have helped the DMK-Tamil Maanila Congress combine sweep the polls.

Reports on money seized from touts and middlemen linked to ruling party members were worrying, said Dravidian scholar R Kannan, who now represents DMK. “ Although there's no mention of any party, the statement gives a clear message to people,” said Kannan.“The situation is so dire that an apolitical and respected citizen Kamal Haasan has felt the need to warn people,” he said.

Bhajan Lal’s son merges his party with Congress NEW DELHI: After almost a decade since it was formed, Haryana Janhit Congress has formally merged with Congress. The party was formed in 2007 in a breakaway faction and led by former Haryana CM Bhajan Lal. The formal merger announcement was made at Parliament House complex, in the presence of senior Congress leaders, with the meeting presided over by Bhajan Lal's son Kuldeep Bishnoi.

“Let bygones be bygones. We are here to merge with Congress to rid the country of communal forces and eradicate BJP from the political map of the country,” Bishnoi said. He had met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and vice-president Rahul Gandhi prior to the announcement and formally concluded the merger process.

Bishnoi said talks had been going on for the past eight months, during which, he spoke to Rahul Gandhi several times.

Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar welcomed Bishnoi and other HJC leaders, saying that it indicated the “rising graph” of the party. “I had never separated from Congress. Differences occur in a family. Congress is

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Kerala CM has no immoveable assets; no cash in hand

KOCHI: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has declared that he has no immoveable assets citing his moveable assets are worth Rs 321,000. In an affidavit, he filed along with his nomination papers, Chandy said he has no cash in hand. He has cited moveable assets worth Rs 3,21,840 while his spouse and dependent have movable assets of Rs 32,85,000 and Rs 13,09,871, respectively. The CM's total income in the year 2014-15 is Rs 3,42,230, while his wife's income is Rs 4,25,650. While he does not own a car, he has 38 gms jewellery. The Congress leader has marked NIL against columns on the form inquiring about pending cases where charges have been framed by court and total number of pending cases where the courts have taken cognizance.

Notice to Kerala govt over student's rape, murder

NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission has issued notice to the government of Kerala over the gruesome rape and murder of a Dalit law student in Ernakulam.

The Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports about yet another Nirbhaya-like rape and murder of a Dalit law student whose body was found by her mother on April 29 evening, in Ernakulam. "The crime is so spine-chilling and gruesome that words fall short and expressing anguish and shock appear meaningless and mere ritualistic. "It is a matter of utmost concern that women's security is facing grave threat in spite of several measures taken in the recent times including amendment in Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act," the Commission said in a statement.

Haryana govt strips Hooda off cabinet rank

CHANDIGARH: Haryana Cabinet has stripped former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, off his cabinet rank, bringing him on level with other MLAs of the state.

Announcing the decision, Haryana Minister of State Krishan Kumar Bedi said, “He has been given Kothi Number 70 in Sector 7 of Chandigarh, with staff assigned to a cabinet minister, vehicles and security. The budget was too high. Thus, taking into consideration the public demand, the cabinet has decided to withdraw it. He is only an MLA now, and whatever facilities an MLA avails will be provided to Hooda ji.”

Woman dragged out of office, kidnapped & raped

Kuldeep Bishnoi

in our blood. The differences are now over …Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are our only leaders. We will work for strengthening Congress. I will work as an ordinary worker of the party and I have not set any condition or come back out of greed for any post,” Bishnoi said after the merger.

While the coming together of both parties is expected to boost Congress’s support base among the non-Jats, Bishnoi asserted that he will work for all people of Haryana, including Jats and non-Jats. Bishnoi had taken over reins of HJC after Bhajan Lal’s death on June 3, 2011. The party contested the 2014 Lok Sabha polls in alliance with BJP. But it fought the last Assembly polls alone and was reduced to just two seats — Bishnoi won from his father’s traditional Adampur seat, while his wife Renuka won from Hansi.

MUKTSAR: In an extremely shocking incident, a young woman was forcibly dragged out of her office by a man and later raped.

Media reports said the CCTV footage shows a young man dragging the 24 year old woman out of her office in broad daylight, as she screams and shouts for help. However, nobody came forward to help her. She was later taken to a farmhouse and repeatedly raped. While the victim got an FIR registered in the case, the police are yet to make any headway.

Gangster -turned -politician Rocky shot dead

CHANDIGARH: Gangster-turned-politician Jaswinder Singh, also known as 'Rocky', was shot dead by unidentified people on the Panchkula-Shimla national highway, on Saturday. A preliminary probe suggested Rocky and his driver were travelling from Himachal Pradesh to Chandigarh, when two armed men opened fire at his SUV at a traffic signal in Pawanoo, Haryana. While the leader died on the spot, his driver Parampal Singh has suffered serious injuries. IGP Zahoor Haider Zaidi said, “SP Anjum Ara visited the spot. We are coordinating with the Punjab police. The assailants will be nabbed soon.”

The police said the Parampal has given them a lead.

INDIA Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

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Facing expulsion Mallya quits Rajya Sabha seat AsianVoiceNews

Vijay Mallya, who was facing action for defaulting on loans of £940 million and facing imminent expulsion from the Rajya Sabha, resigned his membership from the Upper House. The ethics committee of the Upper House was to meet on Tuesday to expel Mallya from the House. The decision was taken last week and the businessman was given a week to reply.

In his resignation letter to Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari, Mallya tried to take the moral high ground and presented himself as someone being deliberately wronged. He denied the charges against him as false and baseless. “I am shocked that the department of financial services, ministry of finance, government of India has provided factually wrong information to a Parliament committee,” he said.

Mallya said he did not want his “name and reputation to be further dragged in the mud. And since recent events suggest that I will not get a fair trial or justice, I am hereby resigning as a member of the Rajya Sabha with immediate effect,” Mallya said. He said he had separately written to Karan Singh, chairperson of the ethics committee. Mallya's term was to get over on July 1.

Mallya thanked Ansari and his “colleagues in the House for all the cooperation” that he received during his two terms.

He said he received a letter from Karan Singh stating that the Rajya Sabha chairman had referred an issue to the ethics committee regarding “purported default” by Mallya in the “repayment of bank loans,” which have “not been reflected” in his declaration of assets and liabilities. Mallya said the letter further stated that in a meeting “purportedly held” on April 25, the ethics committee unanimously felt that he should be expelled.

I have no plans to leave Britain, Mallya: Two months after his arrival in Britain, Mallya spoke out about his “forced exile” saying he has no plans to leave Britain.

Speaking to the Financial Times, the first time he directly addressed the issue, Mallya said he wants a “reasonable” settlement with the banks.

“We have always been in dialogue with banks saying 'We wish to settle.' But we wish to settle at a reasonable number that we can afford and banks can justify on the basis of set-

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Oil giant issues major job cuts Shell pushes ahead, planning on job cutoffs and closing down of offices owing to the dip in oil prices and its takeover of BG Group. Three offices including former BG Group headquarters at Thames Valley Park, BG's offices at Albyn Place, Aberdeen, and Shell's Brabazon House office, will soon be closed.

Shell has asked its staff at the Thames Valley site to apply for voluntary redundancy, also rolling out a separate voluntary severance programme for “some UK employees”.

They will be moved to its headquarters in central

London, while employees at its Manchester office will be offered redeployment to the capital. Its people at Albyn Place will be transferred to its Tullos office in Aberdeen.

The company has maintained that any staff

that leave the company as part of the severance programme will be counted as part of its drive to cut 10,300 jobs. It called the takeover of BG as a “new chapter” when it also announced an 80 per cent plunge in annual profits.

Venue: Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD

Vijay Mallya

tlements done before.”

Reacting to India revoking his passport, the liquor tycoon said, “By taking my passport or arresting me, they are not getting any money.” Denying any wrongdoing, Mallya said, “I am absolutely not guilty of any of these preposterous charges of diverting funds from Kingfisher, buying properties or stuff

The Indian government has written to the United Kingdom asking for the deportation of Vijay Mallya. They have cited the revocation of his passport and the non-bailable warrant issued against him. like that.”

The Indian government has written to the United Kingdom asking for the deportation of Vijay Mallya. They have cited the revocation of his passport and the non-bailable warrant issued against him. The Ministry of External Affairs also emphasised that India will continue to pursue Mallya's deportation matter with the UK authorities. Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “The ministry has written to the High Commission of the UK in Delhi requesting the deportation of Vijay Mallya so that his presence can be secured for investigations against him under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act

2002.” He added that the Indian High Commission in the UK will also be issuing a similar note verbale to the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

“Mallya's passport was revoked last week in view of these (PMLA) investigations and non-bailable warrant issued by the Special Judge, Mumbai.

We will continue to pursue this matter with UK authorities,” Swarup said.

Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation are looking at around 40 companies in which he is said to have a stake, directly or indirectly. Most of the listed companies are based abroad, in the Netherlands, UK, South Africa, China and Nepal. It is reckoned the money Mallya embezzled from bank loans was routed to these offshore organisations. It was also found out that Mallya owns a large number of immovable properties in many countries, and the case in under investigation.

“The worth of properties owned by him, including some palatial houses and his shares in the companies is being estimated,” said a source. “We also have information and details of his movable properties, including his yacht and vehicles in some of these countries. We need to question him about his investments in many companies, but since he has refused to join the probe, we are gathering evidence through different channels and taking assistance from agencies abroad,” said an ED official.

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Gujarat govt offers quota to placate Patidars

AsianVoiceNews

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

In a bid to pacify agitating Patidars ahead of the 2017 assembly elections, Anandiben Patel government in Gujarat announced a separate 10% quota for economically backward classes (EBC) in higher education and government jobs. The new category would cover all upper castes, including Patidars, whose family income does not exceed Rs 600,000 per annum. Later the state government issued an ordinance to implement the 10% quota for economically backward classes.

Implementation of the EBC quota required an ordinance published in the official gazette, as currently the state assembly is not in session.

The announcement follows similar moves by BJP governments in Rajasthan and Haryana, where the ruling party passed quota bills to placate Gujjars and Jats, respectively.

However, like other states which exceeded the Supreme Court-prescribed 50% cap on quota, the Gujarat government's decision is bound to be challenged in court once it is notified.

The decision to give quota to upper castes by creating an EBC category in Gujarat was taken at BJP's core committee meeting at the state headquarters. BJP president Amit Shah chaired the meeting, which was attended by Anandiben Patel and other state officials.

However, the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) rejected the announcement with Ketan

Anandiben Patel

Patel, a close aide of Samiti convenor Hardik Patel calling it “yet another lollipop from the BJP factory“.

Hardik talks of compromise: Jailed Patidar leader Hardik Patel softened his stance over OBC status for Patels and said compromise was important for both sides (Patidars and government). “We will study the state government's decision of 10% EBC quota for nonreserved classes and think of compromise (with the government) if it is in favour of the community,” Hardik said on Saturday.“Solution to the issue is required for peace... and it is important for both sides to compromise,” he added.

Hardik's reaction contradicts the widespread reaction of Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leaders who termed the quota as “lollipop“. In fact, PAAS declared a weeklong protest `Swarnim Lollipop Mahotsav` from Sunday against EBC quota.

The Anandiben government was under duress ever since Patidars, one of BJP's biggest vote banks,

turned against the party, launching an agitation demanding OBC status.

The nine-month long agitation had left the party rattled as it sustained electoral setbacks in local body elections.

With an eye on 2017 elections, the 10% EBC quota is an all out attempt

by BJP to woo its voters back into the fold without upsetting other communities. State BJP president Vijay Rupani clarified that the new quota will not affect the existing reservation given to OBCs, backward classes, Dalits and tribals.

Congress leader Shankarsinh Vaghela said the EBC quota should be raised to 20% and the income limit be increased to Rs 1200,000 per annum. Senior advocate Girish Patel said while the government can issue an ordinance on EBC quota and notify it as well, the quota is impermissible in the Constitution under its Article 16(1) which prohibits reservation on the basis of economic backwardness and Article 16(4), which provides for reservation on caste basis.

the enormous suffering of the rural people”. They have asked the government to provide 100 days of paid work a year for the poor and unemployed.

Uttarakhand Forest Fire: Almost 3,466 hectares of forested land have been ravaged by blazing flames in a record 1,591 incidents of fire as the fire season began in February.

Firefighting operations are continuing days after the triggered incident with only 70% of the fire

doused. Three IAF choppers were used to sprinkle water on flaming forests along with 11,000 personnel fighting the blaze from the grounds. So far, six lives have been claimed by the unfortunate chain of events. India faces the heatwave followed by drought in several regions for the second consecutive year. Even with the impending chances of the heatwave expected by the officials, very little was done to prevent it.

Heatwave burns India

Continued from page1 anything during the day and instead, cook at night.

The severe conditions have damaged crops, killed livestock and left at least 330 million people without enough water for their daily needs. Water sources have dried up in Maharashtra and Gujarat, with officials citing groundwater reservoirs at a mere 22% capacity. One of the worst hit, Andhra Pradesh government has begun advising its people to stay indoors, especially labourers who are urged to seek shade. Farmers in the region have migrated to different cities and town, all in search of manual labour.

While the agricultural sector suffers, more than 150 Indian leaders and activists have signed an open letter to the Prime Minister, sharing their “collective anxiety about

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Chopper scam points finger at Cong A major furore has been raised in the Parliament over the alleged involvement of Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the court proceedings of the AgustaWestland chopper scam. Also entangled in the mess is the former IAF chief SP Tyagi with the CBI probing into bribery charges. Sources said Tyagi visited Florence, Milan and Venice after retirement.

Soon to be put under radar are Tyagis' cousins Sanjeev, Rajeev, and Sandeep, along with Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan, who is said to have played a vital role in moving the bribe money.

Tyagi was examined till late at the CBI headquarters in the Capital, and will have to sit through the gruelling investigation again.

A CBI official said, “The examination is with regard to bribery allegations in the case in light of recent developments in Italy, especially the court judgement there.” The Milan Court of Appeals, revealed details in its recent orders of how alleged bribes were paid by helicopter-maker AgustaWestland, to Indian officials through middlemen. Tyagi's name has been mentioned on more than one occasion in the court order. “We have now learned that Tyagi visited Italy after he retired. We are finding out the purpose and details of his visit. He retired in 2007, and in 2008 or 2009 he visited Florence, Milan and Venice. We are also checking details of his bank accounts and other assets.”

The scam relates to a contract signed in February 2010, by the Congress-led UPA government with UK-based

Former IAF chief SP Tyagi

Agusta Helicopter

AgustaWestland, to purchase 12 AW101 helicopters for the Indian Air Force for a sum of £360 million. While the choppers were supposed to be put to use for the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIP's of India. In 2013, the Italian police arrested Agusta's CEO Bruna Spagnolini and Guiseppe Orsi, chairman of the company's parent Finmeccanica, on charges of paying bribes to win the VVIP chopper deal with the Indian Air Force. The charges affected the deal as the UPA government put in on hold and then Defence Minister AK Antony ordered a CBI probe into the matter. The deal was cancelled in 2014 on grounds of integrity,

and most of the money paid for the deal is said to have been recovered.

The Italian Court of Appeals released a 225page judgement citing several conversations that took place between all the people involved. The conversations have mentions of “Mrs Gandhi” (Sonia) being the “driving force behind the VIP” and she and her “closest advisers” being “the aim of the British high commissioner”. Sonia countered the allegations saying the party has “nothing to hide” and that she is “not afraid”. She said, “We have nothing to hide. Let them take my name, I am not afraid. This government has been in power for two years now, why didn't they complete the inquiry?”

Air show mesmerises Amdavadis The second edition of air show by a UK-based team, Global Stars, was kicked off on Friday evening by chief minister Anandiben Patel on Sabarmati Riverfront with thousands of Amdavadis in attendance.

The four pilots of the team enthralled people who had gathered there to enjoy the aerobatic displays.

The pilots, led by Mark Jefferies, performed loops, barrel rolls, cubans and turns on the riverfront between Gandhi Bridge and Nehru Bridge as people watched in awe. They also formed shapes such as heart in the air.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said, “Sometimes, we have to organize such stuntbased shows to make people aware about the works of the government.“ During the inaugural event, the CM handed over a commitment letter to Ventura Airconnect for starting the intra-state flight services from Surat and

Ahmedabad to various cities of the state. She also launched a coffee table book on aviation sector's growth in the state.

Six girls, who are studying to be pilots at an institute in Vadodara, were awarded letters of appreciation by the CM on the occasion. The show was held at 10 am and 5.30 pm on Saturday and Sunday.

This is the second time that Global Stars is holding an air show in the city. The state civil aviation department along with industry body FICCI is organizing the show to celebrate Gujarat state formation day on May 1.

Jefferies said, “Flying over a river in the centre of the city is very exciting.

This is our second show in the city and we are very excited. The riverfront provides us an accurate land feature in the middle of city which makes it easy to fly .”

Jefferies added, “It feels good when people appreciate the show, from both sides of the river.“

INDIA Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

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Mumbai's Bhendi Bazaar set for a model makeover AsianVoiceNews

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The Dawoodi Bohra community is planning to redevelop Mumbai's Bhendi bazaar, to rehouse 20,000 people, mainly Shia Muslims, as per the State government’s cluster development policy. This ambitious project involves pulling down 250 buildings and 1,250 shops, and building 17 towers across nine sub-clusters. As the 3,200 houses of Bhendi Bazaar go vertical, more open spaces will be available for parks, parking and other amenities. Residents will get a minimum of 350 square feet carpet area (smallest units). One of the densest localities in the island city, this 16.5-acre bazaar holds an important place in the city’s long history of trade and commerce. The population alone is a daunting factor for any kind of development activity and the reason this Rs. 4,000-crore (£410mn) project is being keenly watched. It is the largest urban redevelopent to take place in India, or, as trust officials claim, in any democratic country. The project promises to give residents more private living space and modern amenities such as lifts and private toilets. The government rules say residents of a development area must receive equivalent space in the new project- even is the residents' previous homes were smaller. Families with bigger units will get 10% more space than they had previously.

Bhendi bazaar, well known for its tempting street market food and shops jammed below creaky homes, is a typical of

a big task in a city with powerful tenants' rights and where demolishing even a single dilapitating building can be stalled for years by determined holdouts. Yet the redevelopment of the Bhendi Bazaar is well under its way. The project blessed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is being treated as a potential model for other similar urban neighbourhoods. The Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT)an arm of the Bohra clerical hierarchy's community administration or 'dawat' has already acquired 215 of the 250 buildings. Of these 70 have been demolished, with 1700 families installed in purpose-built temporary

Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin

many colonial-era parts of India's cities. Its 150-yearold, four storey buildings, with their steep wooden staircases, were originally designed to house male migrant workers in small dorm-like rooms, with a single communal lavatory on each floor. Now multigenerational families have

been crammed into the building's tiny rooms, many measuring less than 200sq ft. Mumbai's statecontrolled room rents have been frozen for decades and this has left the building owners unwilling to invest in maintenance, and over time and Mumbai's heavy monsoon rains have

Aga Khan and Ismailis

Similar to the Bohras, another sect of Shias are well known for the upliftment of the communities, their progressive nature- much to the credit of their spiritual leader- The Aga Khan, or His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV. The 75-yearold Aga Khan, who is believed to be a direct descendant of Islam's Prophet Muhammad, is the 49th Imam or spiritual leader of the Ismailis.

"Forbes" magazine lists the Aga Khan among the world's ten richest royals with an estimated net worth of $800 million.

Other sources estimate his wealth at around $3 billion. He has an estimated 15 million followers in more than 25 countries.

Most Ismailis – also known also Nizari Ismailis – live in African and Asian countries, including India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, and Iran. There are also sizeable communities in the United States, Canada, and Britain.

Since his ascension to the Imamate of Nizari Ismailis in 1957, the Aga Khan has been involved in complex political and economic changes which have affected his Nizari Ismaili followers, including the independence of African countries from colonial rule, expulsion of Asians from Uganda, the independence of Central Asian countries such as Tajikistan from the former Soviet Union and the continuous turmoil in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Aga Khan IV became the first faith leader to address the Joint Session of the Canadian Parliament on 27 February

2014.

Among the goals the Aga Khan has said he works toward are the elimination of global poverty; the promotion and implementation of secular pluralism; the advancement of the status of women; and the honouring of Islamic art and architecture. He is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, one of the largest private development networks in the world. The organisation has said it works toward improvement of the environment, health, education, architecture, culture, microfinance, rural development, disaster reduction, the promotion of private-sector enterprise and the revitalisation of historic cities.

Pramukh Swami Maharaj

take a heavy toll.

The area is different from other similar areas.

The Financial Times in a feature wrote, most of the area's residents are Dawoodi Bohra Muslims (a tight knit Shia sect), whose members are known for their secular education, business and professional acumen. In 2009 the community's then 98-year-old spiritual Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, made a revolutionary proposal. He declared that the Bhendi bazaar should be demolished, except for its holy sites and in its place new skyscrappers should be constructed to provide modern houses suitable for this upwardly mobile lot.

Razing several city blocks is

accomodation, which is being provided for free until their new homes are ready. Much credit is due to the pervasive influence of Syedna- a dynastic leader formally called Dai al-Mutlaq.

The FT interviewed, a 22 year old law student Fatema Tankiwala and her family, who were the first one to sell the building they owned, without haggling over the price. She said, “The only reason we agreed to do it so quickly was because of Holiness, said Fatema, “We have a lot of faith in him...He says it's for our betterment, so we said, ok we will go for it.”

Qutub Mandviwala, master planner and archi-

tect of the project told The Hindu, “Density and shopping areas are our biggest challenges. We have tried to retain the vitality of Bhendi Bazaar, the cultural factor, the eateries and markets. It’s old wine in new bottle with better infrastructure. We want to give the high-street shopping experience as opposed to the mall experience. We are making sure the businesses are not affected.

Next, we have retained the religious structures.”

He told the FT, the project will fulfil “the needs and requirements of today's society and today's perception of how people should live in a decent atmosphere or a decent house.” But he insisted that it will remain a “vibrant, cultural place” with multilevel, street-facing shopping arcades filled by the old businesses and attracting people across Mumbai.

SBUT Chief Executive Officer Abbas Master said, “The Bohra leitmotif is evident in the project’s conceptualisation, inspiration as well as planning. The SBUT, a charitable institution of the community, was formed solely to redevelop the area, which has the Raudat Tahera, a mausoleum in Bhendi Bazaar, at its heart.

“The whole idea is to uplift the lives of the people. The late His Holiness Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin always knew the area is in bad shape and wanted to do something about it.”

Hindu sects

Among Hindus, the contributions BAPS Shri Swaminarayan mandir towards its followers has been pivotal. As the leadership of Shri Pramukh Swami Maharaj goes, whether it's education or development of the community or different awareness programmesSwaminarayan sect is very proactive, ensuring all round developments for its followers.

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Taapsee Pannu says no to big offer for sake of 'Pink' Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

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aapsee Pannu is quite in demand now and swamped with work commitments. Along with balancing her work schedules between 'Pink' along side A m i t a b h Bachchan and 'Ghazi' with Rana Dagubatti, she is also signing new films. The actress was recently offered a live dance show in Chennai for a private corporate show, for which she was offered a huge amount. However, persisting work commitments made her deny the show. Taapsee was later offered a bigger sum of money, but she unfortunately had to let the moolah go.

Confirming the incident, she said, “I had already committed that date to the

I can never match Simbu's class: Dhanush AsianVoiceNews

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he first guest on director Gautham Menon's new chat show on his YouTube channel was none other than actor Dhanush, who plays lead role in his film 'Enmel Paayum Thotta'.

Talking about 'Vinnaithaandi Varuvaaya' that starred Simbu, it was revealed that the movie was originally planned with Dhanush.

The actor says he would not have fit into that role, adding that Simbu is a classy actor whereas he is a 'local boy'.

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Hollywood technician joins Rajinikanth's '2.0'

i l m m a k e r Shankar who is in the works of Rajinikanth starrer '2.0' is going the extra mile for the movie, roping in the best from the industry. The latest addition to the £35 million budgeted project is costume designer Ror Rodriguezz, who is

known for his amazing work for 'Supergirl' and 'Daredevil' series. While both Rajni, and Amy Jackson worked on the fortnight schedule for the movie, Ror designed the futuristic costumes for the two, and will soon return when the shooting picks pace in the next couple of months.

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A woman seeks help from a spiritual healer after her husband is possessed.

Kamal Haasan’s new trilingual to stream live

etting off a new trend, ace actor Kamal Haasan has announced his fans would be able to enjoy the inaugural function of his trilingual novel online.

Haasan added that he has found a simple and interesting title suggested by Ilaiyaraaja, for the film. He s a i d , “Inaugural function of Raaj Kamal

shoot of 'Pink' in Mumbai.

It's an ensemble cast schedule and lot of prep has been done for each and every day which has costed a lot of money. I tried to see if there was a possibility to postpone the dates, it wasn't working. So I had to give up that show.”

1920 London

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One Night Stand

A Hindi thriller with Sunny Leone and Tanuj Virwani in the lead.

Traffic

A true life story on the traffic police's efforts to save a little girls' life by transporting a heart organ by road in 150 minutes.

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productions in Hindi, Tamil & Telugu going live on respective language channels & also Ulaganayagan tube.” It is said Haasan would bring back one of his most loved characters from yesteryear in his next project. “It's true that Kamal sir will be playing one of his most popular characters, and it's tipped to be hilarious,” a source said. To be directed by Rajeev Kumar, the film also involves Shruti Haasan, and the two will pair up as father-daughter for the first time on screen. A major portion of the film will be shot in the US, besides some scenes in India. Maestro Ilayaraja has been roped in for music.

Priyanka Chopra slams Donald Trump

r i y a n k a Chopra has pitched in on the ugliness that is the US presidential elections.

The 'Quantico' star slammed Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump's call to ban Muslim immigrants from the US. Sharing her views about the fight against extremism, Priyanka said, “I just think you can't put a ban on anyone.

Generalising a type of people is really primitive.”

She added that the fight against terrorism had grown so complex that “you can't put a face on it any more.”

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Sangeeta is classy, says Nargis Fakhri AsianVoiceNews

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gets a Shreya Ghoshal to Kalki pact from perform in London Melinda Gates

Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

Mitul Paniker

Jai Kumar

Nargis Fakhri is not your average Bollywood actress. In an industry with unwritten rules to follow and actors breaking their backs proving their worth, Nargis is satisfied with just "winging it". "I am taking you to Nature's Basket with me" quipped the 'Rockstar' actress as she took our interview 'to go'.

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What made you say yes to 'Azhar', given that you had no idea about Mohammad Azharuddin and Sangeeta Bijlani?

That's the interesting part, right? The film is based on a true story of a legendary athlete and a beautiful, sexy Bollywood actress. I think that is what made people more curious, including me.

The script was fantastic. They gave me a narration when I felt I could play the role. I said yes, and that's how it began.

Apart from all the kissing, how was your experience working with Emraan Hashmi?

I am so glad you said APART from all the kissing. Emraan is such a professional. He made everything very comfortable and easy for me to work with.

He is also well knowledgeable about holistic and alternative healing and I am into Naturopathy and Ayurvedic medicines, which is why most of our conversations were casual, and about them.

One similarity between you and Sangeeta Only obvious similarity is the fact that we are both models.

Our height, slenderness, physical appearance. When you are a model, you have to look a certain way, so I think I have capped that part. Look wise, I am doing a good job!

Otherwise, we are two very different people. She is more feminine, classier, glamorous, and well put together. I, am just a six year old boy trapped in a woman's body.

You have quite an eventful year ahead. Four films in line and none from the same genre. How do you select a project?

It's so cool, huh? I have so much of variety in my life.

Honestly, I don't know what it is. This may sound silly but sometimes I feel like I am just going with it. Sometimes, films come to me, and I don't like how it sounds so I say no.

Then there's my agency that helps me decide. There's always a collaborative discussion while picking a project, but in the end, its my decision. I just go with my feeling.

Which is really weird.

Rapid Fire

You in one word: Interesting Fav B'wood co-star: Varun Dhawan B'town actor/ actress on your speed dial: Nobody!

Home is...: Wherever I am

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achievement that a special honour, considered to be very prestigious, was bestowed upon her by the governor of the State of Ohio, USA, Ted Strickland, by a proclamation that June 26 as the Shreya Goshal Day in Ohio. Only two other Indians, Swami Vivekanand and Rabindranath Tagore, were given this recognition.

Vijay Bhola, a veteran of Indian film and music promotions in the UK and Europe, is now promoting Shreya concert in London and Leicester this week. He said: "Shreya is all set to enrapture the Asian audiences. You have to be part of these thrilling shows staged non-stop for more than three hours."

Shreya's schedule: Friday 6th May 2016, 7 pm at De Montfort Hall, Leicester; Saturday 7th May 7 pm at Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith, London.

Rock on Music continue to bring high calibre artists to the UK for sellout concerts such as Arijit Singh, Sonu Nigam, Shreya Ghoshal and Shaan to name a few. This year has a smorgasbord of versatile artists including Shankar Ehsaan Loy later this month and Arijit Singh in July.

Aditya-Shraddha patch up

Bipasha and Karan tie the knot

fter rumours of differences, latest reports say Shraddha Kapoor and Aditya Roy Kapur are back together. Neope! Not in real life. The two are brought together for Shaad Ali's upcoming 'OK Jaanu'. As dating rumours refuse to die down, Shraddha stated that she is definitely single right now. A report quoted her saying, “Aditya and I have spoken about these speculations and dismissed them with a laugh.

Your personal equation has nothing to do with your professional commitments.”

Guess all we can do now is wait Aditya to react now.

ctors Bipasha Basu and Karan Singh Grover finally tied the knot at a suburban hotel in Mumbai on April 30. The function was attended by celebrities, including Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sonam Kapoor and Sushmita Sen. After the wedding, Bipasha and Karan hosted a dinner party for their friends and colleagues from the film and television industry. Bipasha and Karan worked together in 2015s 'Alone.' For Karan it is his second marriage.

Action time for Jacqueline and Sushant Singh

alman Khan and Karan Johar are teaming up for Tarun Mansukhani's upcoming action drama with Sushant Singh Rajput and Jacqueline Fernandez in the the lead. A Fast and Furious-style racing drama, sources said the Dharma Productions and Salman Khan Productions' collaboration will be an action film which the makers want to turn into a franchise.

“The banners are keen to make this film the first instalment of an action series.

Discussions about two follow ups are already in talks,” the source said.

hreya Ghoshal is a musical phenomenon, hailed as the reigning queen of Indian film music. She has been delighting the Asian audiences the world over with her delectable songs for over more than a decade. Shreya has brought a vocal wonder to the world only in Bollywood Hindi music but also Gujarati, Bengali, Punjabi and South Indian music.

Shreya has over 500 film songs in her name and received a number of musical awards in India. It was Shreya who sang with Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan the hit song 'Tere Mast Mast Do Nain' in 'Dabang' which, in fact, initiated her into the realm of fame and fortune.

There are other hits like 'Shukran Allah' from 'Kurbaan,' 'Theri Ore' from 'Singh is King,' 'Zoobi Doobi' from 'Three Idiots' and many more.

Recently she came up with a Ghazal album, 'Humnasheen,' where she sang in the purest form of the Ghazal. She was lauded for her effort by both the public and demanding pundits of the genre. When I met her in London at the time, she said “Humnasheen is a heartfelt humble effort from me to revive the pure form of ghazals.”

Apart from being a musical exponent, what is equally captivating about Shreya is her personality. She is, like her voice, beautiful. And it is her beauty as a person and a performer that she endears herself passionately to the people who come to see her perform.

On stage, Shreya also sings a few golden oldies of Lata Mangeshkar. She is expected to sing some Gujarati songs too.

It is for her musical

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ollywood actor Kalki Koechlin has made a new admirer in Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The actress was recently praised by Melinda for her “bringing attention to violence and discrimination against women” through a “thought provoking” poem. Kalki had featured in Culture Machine's Unblushed series where in a five-minute-long video 'Printing Machine,' she can be seen reciting a monologue she penned down on society and media. The 'Margarita with a Straw' actress said, “Culture Machine taking 'The Printing Machine' as far as Melinda Gates' personal computer is social media machinery at its best. I just want to say the magic of my director Akanksha should be held highly responsible.” Kalki received a letter from Melinda which she shared on Instagram.

It read, “Dear Ms Koechlin: I appreciate your taking the time to join me in a discussion on empowering women and girls in India. Your video poem, 'The Printing Machine', was powerful and thought provoking. Thank you for bringing attention to violence and discrimination against women. Your voice helps bring much needed attention and support to these issues and I am grateful for your efforts. It was a pleasure meeting you during my visit.”

Karan Johar has a ‘lot of lust’ for Malaika

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aran Johar was at his cheekiest best at the recent launch of 'India's Got Talent' season 7. Judging the show with Malaika Arora Khan and Kirron Kher, Karan said he has a lot of lust for Malaika.

“I have a lot of lust for Malaika. Anybody would go lustful for Malaika,” he said.

Taking the comments sportingly Malaika responded tongue-in-cheek. “We lust for each other so badly and this is a khulasa (revelation) that everybody knows.” The three judges saw breath-taking performances that included a magician, gymnasts, a break dancer and singers.

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Asian Voice |7th May 2016

Modiji Yoga Guru Dr H.R Nagendra invited for Basaveshwara's first birthday The 882nd Birth Anniversary of Basaveshwara (1134-1168 AD) will be celebrated in London on 7th May 2016.

For the first time Basaveshwara birth anniversary will be officially celebrated on the British soil in the presence of the Indian High Commissioner Mr. Navtaj Sarna. Rt Hon Keith Vaz, M.P for Vauxhall Kate Hoey, Mr C.B Patel and Former Mayor of Lambeth Dr Neeraj Patil.

Modi ji Yoga guru Dr H.R Nagendra is invited as a special guest for this occasion by The Basaveshwara Foundation UK. He was recently conferred the prestigious Padma Shri award for his contribution in the field of

Yoga and research in India.

The statue of 12th century Indian Philosopher and social reformer was erected along the bank of river Thames in London.

The Prime Minister of India; Sri Narendra Modi ji unveiled the statue of Basaveshwara in the backdrop of British Parliament on the 14th of Nov 2015 along the bank of river Thames.

This was the first statue of an Indian philosopher approved by the British Government on conceptual grounds in the vicinity of British Parliament.

The British Government approved the statue because of Basaveshwara’s role in promoting democratic ideals, gender equality and his

Coming Events

l London Sevashram Sangha celebrating 100 years of Bharat Sevashram Sangha: A Series of Lectures on Hinduism By Prof Jatindra Saha. To be Introduced by CB Patel, Editor of Asian Voice/Gujarat Samachar.

Second lecture on the origin, action and fundamental teachings of Hinduism: Saturday 14th May at 16:00 – 17:30pm at Sevashram Sangha, 99a Devonport Road, Shepherds Bush, London W12 8PB. Tel: 020 8743 9048 l Asia House Literature Festival, 4- 18 May: with the majority of events taking place at Asia House’s central London headquarters. 63 New Cavendish St, London W1G 7LP l Shreya Ghoshal Live in Concert, Friday 6 May, De Montfort hall, Leicester; Saturday 7 May Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, London.

Contact Videorama: 020 8907 0116 l Samir Date & Dipalee Somaiya presents old and new hits, Leicester: 13 May, 7:30 onwards, Checketts Road, Leicester LE5 4ER. Contact: 01162661054, Ilford Town Hall 14 May, 7:30 onwards. Contact: 020 8220 8541; Harrow Arts Centre Sunday 15 May, 6:30pm onwards.

Contact: 07931534270 l Heritage Arts and Crafts of West Bengal exhibition in the UK by Biswa Bangla Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Deputy Editor: Anand Pillai Tel: 020 7749 4002 - Email: anand.pillai@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Advertising Managers: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Senior Business Development Manager: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Head - New Projects & Business Development: Cecil Soans - Email: cecil.soans@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Advertising Sales Executive: Rintu Alex - Email: Rintu.alex@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4003 - Mobile: 07816 213 610 Business Development Manager: Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com Leicester Distributors: Shabde Magazine, Shobhan Mehta Mob: 07846480220 (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel. +91 79 2646 5960

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 Saturn and your ruling planet

Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar ninth house. This house in your chart signifies higher learning and expanding your horizons but Saturn here restricts and impedes your progress. You will go through a mental tug-ofwar but you will emerge the wiser for your experience.

Chancellor Dr HR Nagendra ji honoured with Padma Shri for contribution in the field of Yoga and Research

crusade against caste discrimination.

The Prime Minister is very concerned about the ongoing drought situation in Karnataka/India and is

against any lavish expenditure towards the event, so the entire event will organized with a budget of £1:00 that was paid for the garland to the statue.

Billingsgate Fish Market manager jailed

The manager of London’s historic Billingsgate Fish Market who stole nearly £95,000 from traders’ rent to feed his gambling addiction has been jailed for two years and eight months. Roshan Persad, 48, stole the money from the market’s landlord over an 18-month period.

Persad, from Hornchurch in Essex, denied the charges but a jury at the Old Bailey found him guilty of six counts of theft, seven of false accounting and one of fraud by abuse of position.

l London- Nehru Centre - 3rd to 6th May, 11am – 5pm l Edinburgh- Museum of Edinburgh, Thursday 12th May, 11am – 5pm drop-in event; Friday 13th May, 10am – 1pm: Gods and Demons: Interactive Patachitra workshop drop-in event Friday 13th May, 2pm – 5pm: Gods and Demons: Interactive Mukhosh making workshop Free drop-in event l Glasgow- Art Village Scotland, 14th and 15th May as a part of the Southside Fringe festival

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21 Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar eight house. This house in your chart signifies joint resources, alimony, taxes, insurance and deep emotions. The presence of these two planets can indicate reassessing how well you manage others' resources. During this cycle you also need to deal with deep rooted emotions regarding your sexual relationships.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Seventh house. This house in your chart signifies partnerships and relationships and as you have two retrograde planets, relationships with others are very significant now. This is a good time to re-assess relationships and those built on weak foundations have to go. This is a time to grow spiritually and be more independent.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22 Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Sixth house. This house in your chart signifies health, work and daily routine. You need to re-assess your health as this is a good time for starting new healthy regimes as exercising, eating nutritious food and generally reorganizing your daily schedule.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23 Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Fifth house. This house in your chart signifies creativity in your chart, you might initially feel restricted and confined in expressing yourself. You will re-evaluate your talents express yourself in a more practical, useful manner. Romances will also go through a tough time.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23 Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Fourth house. This house in your chart signifies home and property. During this retrograde cycle, you are working on establishing your identity and exploring your roots.

These two planets have a powerful and life-changing influence on ones life. This is a learning process but at the same time there will emerge a structure to your life.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Third house. This is a good time to learn to network with people around you and at the same time gain information. You will at first struggle to structure your time and effort but soon learn to manage time to suit your lifestyle.

Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912 Email: nilesh.parmar@abplgroup.com Consulting Editor: Bhupatbhai Parekh, Ahmedabad, Gujarat Tel: +91 79 2630 4142 Urvashi Jagadeesan (India) Mumbai: Kanti Bhatt, Hemraj Shah (Jumbo Advertiser) Horizon Advertising & Marketing: 2012, Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad. Tel +91 79 2646 5960 Email: horizon.marketing@abplgroup.com Business Manager: Hardik Shah (M) +91 99250 42936 Email: hardik.shah@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Neeta Patel (Vadodara) M: +91 98255 11702 Email: neeta_abplgroup@yahoo.co.in Business Co-ordinator: Shrijit Rajan M: +91 98798 82312 Email: shrijit.rajan@abplgroup.com International Advertisement Representative: Jain International Tel: +91 44 42041122/3/4 Fax: +91 44 25362973 Mumbai: +91 022 2471 4122 Email: jain@jaingroup.net Delhi Office: Tel: +91 9311581597

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Karma Yoga House, 12 Hoxton Market, (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Tel: 020 7749 4080, Fax: 020 7749 4081 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

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SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22 Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Second house. Use this transit for getting yourself onto solid financial ground. Work out budgets and be sensible in spending your money. Financial success will be steady rather than remarkable . Have patience as business matters move slowly or get delayed.

SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar house. This house in your chart signifies your personal self. Confusion and frustration reign, so work on plans sensibly. During this transit your outlook on life changes as you adopt a more mature and responsible attitude. At times progress may be slow but don’t let that bother you.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20 Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar twelfth house. This house in your chart signals the end of a cycle. You need to tie up loose ends and finish with the past that has plagued you. You will go through a transformation which will test you but you will be the better for it.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Eleventh house.

This house in your chart signifies friendships and the role you play in other people’s lives. During this transit your ruler Saturn is in tug of war with Mars it would serve you well if you spend more time listening than speaking.

Saturn and Mars are retrograde in the sign of Sagittarius. Both these planets are now transiting your solar Tenth house. During this retrograde transit you will shoulder immense responsibilities and work very hard. Now is your chance to build a secure foundation in your professional life. Take care not to take on too much at any given time. It is important for you to remain focused.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20

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BCCI recommends Kohli for Khel Ratna, Rahane for Arjuna AsianVoiceNews

Indian test skipper Virat Kohli and star batsman Ajinkya Rahane's superlative performances were rewarded on Tuesday as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recommended the duo for this year's prestigious Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Award respectively.

Kohli, who took over the reins of the Test side from Mahendra Singh Dhoni during last year's Asutralia tour, has been in prolific form with the willow. He led India to an impressive series win in Sri Lanka and followed it up with a 3-0 win at home against South

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Virat Kohli

Africa, then the number one Test playing nation.

In 2016, Kohli stands at the peak of T20 cricket with over 1,000 runs, becoming only the second

Indian to do so after Suresh Raina achieved the distinction in 2012. If Kohli is awarded the honour, he will become the third cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar

(1997-98) and Dhoni (2007-08) to join the list of Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna awardees. Rahane, who has been nominated for the Arjuna award, has been India's batting mainstay in overseas conditions. With a sound technique, the righthander proved his worth with twin centuries in both the innings of the fourth and final Test against South Africa at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

The Khel Ratna comes with a cash reward of Rs 750,000 and a citation, while the Arjuna award comes with a cash prize of Rs 500,000 and a citation.

Rare honour for Indian-origin cricketer in Australia

In the history of Australian domestic cricket, a 16-yearold batsman of Indian origin, Jason Sangha, became the youngest player to ever be contracted by the country's most decorated team, New South Wales. The teenager has come up the ranks of NSW cricket rapidly, having scored heavily in the Under-19 National Championships and then scoring a hundred on debut for the Australian U-19 team against Pakistan in January this year.

Also in the NSW list of fully contracted players for the 2016-17 season is an 18year-old spinner by the name of Arjun Nair.

Interestingly, Nair honed his brand of spin by watch-

Jason Sangha and Arjun Nair

ing clips of India off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and West Indian Sunil Narine on YouTube.

News of Sangha's contract comes just a couple of days ago after it was announced that another Indian-origin sportsman, wrestler Vinod Kumar Dahiya, will represent Australia at the 2016 Rio

Olympics after he won silver at the African/Oceania Olympic qualifiers in Antigua. Dahiya, 31, hails from the village of Khanda in Haryana and only became an Australian citizen last year having migrated to the country in 2010. Now settled in Victoria, Dahiya has won six national championships apart from other

medals at the Australia Cup and Canberra Cup. Other notable sportspersons of Indian origin who have made names for themselves overseas include badminton player Rajiv Ouseph, who is currently England's top ranked shuttler and has two Commonwealth Games golds and an Asian Games bronze to his name; Brandon Chillar, whose father is Indian and mother Italian, played in the NFL and later became a heavy investor in the Elite Football League of India; Manny Malhotra, who plays ice hockey in the NHL; Sim Bhullar, the NBA's first Indian-origin basketball player.

Indian founded charity raises £17,000 for wheelchair basketball

Path to Success, a London-based charity founded in 2005 by philanthropist Mrs Anita Choudhrie, has supported the Wheelchair Basketball tournament organised at Olympic Park Copper Box Arena. The event was designed to expose more people to the game of wheelchair basketball and to raise money for the London Titans wheelchair basketball team – with over £17,000 raised on the day. Corporate companies enjoyed a visit from Baroness Tanni GreyThompson at the event.

The day began with current Titans players, including ex-Team GB Paralympian Tyler Saunders and Junior Team GB European champion Christy Gregan running a training session for the five participating teams.

The day then moved into a tournament phase with PHA Media, Deloitte, C&C Alpha Group, Shanti Hospitality and University

of East London (sponsored by The May Fair Hotel) competing against each other in a knockout format, with Deloitte winning as eventual corporate champions.

Baroness Thompson arrived in the afternoon to speak with the participants and to present an achievement award to Titans head coach, Ian Laker, for his contributions to wheelchair basketball in the UK. Baroness Thompson said: “Today has been brilliant because it’s so important to get people playing wheelchair sport whether

disabled or able-bodied.

When I was growing up it was so hard to find a team and to play but now you can see the strength of wheelchair basketball and that is a testament to the legacy of 2012 and to people like Ian Laker.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are, how good you are or what your impairment is, you can play at some level and we want disabled children to be fit and healthy and playing sport.” The London Titans have 66 members aged 10 to 50 and have produced more than 50 team GB

players, but they receive no central sports funding.

The money raised by the event will go towards buying sports wheelchairs, court hire, match fees, transport and coaching for the team.

Current Titans player Christy Gregan said: “Wheelchair basketball has enabled me to travel the world, meet some of my best friends and do things I never thought I could do. Getting your first chair makes you feel like have a new set of legs, as a youngster you feel like you can do things you’ve never done before. Days like these that fund those feelings are vital.”

Path to Success founder Anita Choudhrie said: “Today has gone off really well and we are so happy and proud to see the culmination of 6-8 months of very hard work.

We have had really good fundraising support from companies and I hope they will respond to us again in the future.”

SPORT Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

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Assamese girl to represent India at Wimbledon

Tanisha Kashyap, a 14- year-old tennis player, will become the first Assamese to represent India in under-14 Wimbledon tournament that is going to be held in August. The girl from Hajo of Kamrup district was earlier crowned India Champions and this time, she will be competing in the Road to Wimbledon National Finals on the grass courts at Wimbledon.

She has already bagged 12 junior titles and one national championship and now, the Wimbledon is like a dream come true for her. She will be joined by Dev J Javia and other two finalists at the All England Club. The Road to Wimbledon is a tournament for players aged under 14. It is a joint initiative by the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), HSBC and the All India Tennis Association (AITA) who have all reaffirmed their commitment to tennis in India by extending the event to Indore and Hyderabad for 2016.

Messi's toddler fan forced to leave Afghanistan The family of a 5-year-old Afghan boy who received

autographed shirts from his soccer hero Lionel Messi was forced to leave Afghanistan amid constant telephone threats, the boy's father said. Mohammad Arif Ahmadi - whose son grabbed headlines when he was photographed wearing a homemade Argentina shirt with No. 10 on the back - said they have moved to neighboring Pakistan and settled in the city of Quetta, hoping for a better life there. "Life became a misery for us," said Ahmadi. He added that the family didn't want to leave Afghanistan, but the threats were just getting more and more serious. Ahmadi said he feared that his son, Murtaza Ahmadi, would be kidnapped after becoming an Internet sensation after pictures of him wearing a Messi shirt made out of a striped plastic bag went viral. The family first travelled to the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, but couldn't stay there long because of the high cost of living. They later moved to Quetta. "I sold all my belongings and brought my family out of Afghanistan to save my son's life as well as the lives of the rest of the family," the father said. Earlier this year, the Afghan soccer federation had promised to arrange a meeting between Messi, a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, and Murtaza.

There were reports that either Messi would come to Afghanistan to visit the boy or that some other arrangement would be made, such as sending the boy to Spain, where Messi plays with Barcelona, or arranging a meeting in a third country. But none of the options worked out, Ahmadi said. "Still, Murtaza hopes that one day he would be able to meet his hero, Messi," the father added.

IPL 2016 points table

Team Gujarat Lions Knight Riders Indians Daredevils Sunrisers Rising Pune Supergiants Royal Challengers Kings XI

M 8 8 9 6 7 8 7 7

W 6 5 5 4 4 2 2 2

L 2 3 4 2 3 6 5 5

NRR -0.115 0.362 -0.009 0.441 0.06 0.13 -0.031 -0.811

Pts 12 10 10 8 8 4 4 4

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Asian Voice | 7th May 2016

Sachin, Bindra join Salman as Rio Ambassadors

Axar Patel

Kings XI Punjab have halted the march of tabletoppers Gujarat Lions in the IPL matches by defeating them by 23 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association ground at Rajkot. A change in captaincy brought good fortunes to Kings XI. Chasing a target of 155, Lions' top and middle-order collapsed to some superb Punjab bowling, led by left-arm spinner Axar Patel. James Faulkner did take the fight to the opposition camp late in the innings but his 32 was not enough.

While this was KXIP's

Punjab halt Gujarat Lions march only the second win off seven matches, this must have infused new life into their campaign. If it was newly-appointed skipper Murli Vijay's brilliance with the bat in the first half of the innings that took Punjab to a respectable total of 154, then Axar's brilliant effort (4-21), which included a hat-trick, that brought the Lions down to their knees.

Nadiad boy Axar made the opposition batsmen dance to his tunes and accounted for the menacing opener Dwayne Smith in the seventh over. It was just the beginning to a

dream spell as Patel took his first hat-trick in the IPL by picking the wickets of Dinesh Kartik, Dwayne Bravo off last two balls of the 7th over and Ravindra Jadeja off the first ball of the 11th over to completely wreck the middle-order.

It was only the second hat-trick by a KXIP bowler. Incidentally, on the same day back in 2009, Yuvraj Singh, then donning Punjab colours, had claimed a hat-trick against Bangalore.

Patel's performance overshadowed the efforts of Mohit Sharma who was responsible for starting

Lions' downfall by cleaning up Brendon McCullam and Suresh Raina's stumps upfront. None apart from allrounder Faulkner could put up a fight with the hosts reaching just 131for nine in their 20 overs.

Earlier, KXIP skipper Vijay demonstrated he meant business as soon as his team was invited to bat first by the hosts. The skipper combined well with his opening partner Marcus Stoinis and together the duo put on 59 runs in the Powerplay. However, the two were soon separated by local boy Ravindra Jadeja who foxed Stoinis.

Sachin Tendulkar

Abhinav Bindra

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar and Olympics gold medallist Abhinav Bindra have agreed to become India's goodwill ambassadors for 2016 Rio Olympics.

Indian Olympics Association has even approached music maestro AR Rahman for the post but he has yet responded to the approach. The IOA initiative came after superstar Salman Khan's appointment as goodwill ambassador created furore, with top athletes like Milkha Singh and Yogeshwar Dutt criticising the move.

"Received a letter from the president and secre-

tary general of the IOA inviting me to be a goodwill ambassador. I am humbled that they thought I am worthy enough for this honour," Bindra said in a statement.

"I respectfully accept this with gratitude. I have lived my life for the Olympic Games and have always done my best to work for the betterment of the Olympic movement in India and I will continue.

While my focus will be to perform at Rio, I will be writing to every member of the Indian Olympic team and offering them any help they may want."