AV 8th February 2020

FIRST & FOREMOST ASIAN WEEKLY IN EUROPE

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Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

‘CASTE’ A NON-FACTOR

Caste discrimination has once again surfaced as the subject of debate in the British Indian society following accusations against the country’s largest matrimonial platform for British Indian. A recent report noted that Shaadi.com reinforces caste discrimination amongst singles when it asks them to state their caste whilst creating their profile.

Now, some members of the community have echoed their concerns around this report. But does caste really play a factor in the British Asian community?

8 - 14 FEBRUARY 2020 - VOL 48 ISSUE 39

inside: NRI definition changed to stop tax avoidance SEE PAGE 16

Third coronavirus case reported in Kerala SEE PAGE 26

“Over the years caste has become much less of an issue for the Asian community in the UK. In fact, we arrange and have arranged many inter-religion marriages (Hindu-Sikh) as well as crosscommunity (Hindu Punjabi-Hindu Gujarati, etc) where caste is not even a question.

“There is some misrepresentation in the press currently that this problem is more of an issue in the Hindu community. In my view it seems to be more of an issue within the Sikh community if we

are looking exclusively at British Asians,” said Parag Bhargava, Managing Partner of Suman Marriage Bureau.

However, some leaders emphasise that caste is a way of identification for an individual within the community based on a group of social ideas. They argue that cultural and social differences separate the communities but in no way is this reflective of any kind of discrimination.

Pharmacists, paramedics to train as doctors SEE PAGE 27

Continued on page 2

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‘Caste’ a non-factor

Refuting claims made by marriage bureaus, Satish Sharma, General Secretary of the National Council of Hindu Temples said, “This notion that no society can categorise itself in any form else it is engaged in discrimination is inflammatory. I am absolutely clear that there should be no grounds for discrimination but that doesn’t mean there are not differences in cultural and social ideologies.

“Anecdotal stories do not present as evidence for discrimination. In the absence of evidence, it is the denigration of the entire community. The vast majority of people have no idea that caste is defined in law and it is the existence of a hereditary, hierarchical social structure.”

The government had initially committed to making caste discrimination illegal in the UK after activists campaigned for caste discrimination to be included in the amendment of Section 9 of the Equality Act 2010. This would effectively allow caste discrimination to be interpreted as a form of racial discrimination. The Equality Act 2010 prevents discrimination on the grounds of race and other protected characteristics, and experts consider caste an aspect of the race. Although, they failed to pass separate legislation around

Parag Bhargav

the subject. Now many activists have especially campaigned for caste legislation owing to intercaste marriages and the building differences. Satpal Muman, CoFounder of Caste Watch UK however, highlighted the need for separate legislation to oversee caste.

He said, “Marriages are not covered under the Equality legislation and are seen to fall into the ambit of the personal choices made by the individual and his/her family. In case of marriages against choice, they fall under the Forced Marriage Act. “It is arguable that if a person

Satish Sharma

has been subject to harassment or violence then they can approach the police. However, a person who is victimised emotionally or mentally based on caste may not be served by these authorities as the police do not have legislation to follow and take an action against.”

But some community leaders emphasise that “caste discrimination” is used to vilify the Hindu community in the UK. Anil Bhanot, Interfaith Director, Hindu Council UK said, “People always seek commonalities when marrying and Indians marry traditionally into extended

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report notes that platforms like Shaadi.com are not offering individuals from scheduled caste as potential matches unless preferences are adjusted to include all other c a s t e s .

Shaadi.com remained unavailable for comment.

However, Parag Bhargav of Suman Marriage Bureau concluded, “The main reason why caste even comes into Anil Bhanot the equation leads families living harmome to your second question. Most niously with the added benefits of requests for similar castes are drivcommunity support. en by the older generation. Where “A Catholic prefers to marry a grandparents are still living with Catholic but that does not mean a the family or even if not living Catholic discriminates against an with the family, but are alive), the Anglican. Moreover, caste does parents will often try to first push not mean people are insular and for someone of similar caste. do not support other communities However, as time moves on, and cross-caste, they do, and that is the people are finding it harder and benign aspect of caste communiharder to find the same caste, ties” minds are starting to open up.

Caste is not included in the UK “As an agency, we come across Census. So there are no precise the caste issue mainly within the figures available around the popuJat Sikh community, which sad to lation of these groups but Dalits in say, is leaving many boys and girls the UK are estimated to be some single at the age of late 30's and 5,00,000. Now, the Sunday Times early 40's in UK.”

Coronavirus evacuees kept away from Tamil family A Tamil family who have been detained on Christmas Island whilst they fight deportation were unaware that the Australian territory will be used to quarantine Wuhan evacuees.

Known as the Bileola family after the Queensland town where they had built a life, Priya, Nadesalingam and their children, Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, were sent to Christmas Island in August after the federal court granted an injunction to halt their deportation.

They were the sole inhabitants of the island’s detention centre, which was controversially re-opened by the Australian govern-

Priya, her husband Nadesalingam and their Australian-born children Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2. The Tamil asylum seeker family is being held on Christmas Island while they wait for their day in court.

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that the island would be used as a quarantine area until she contacted them.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said those evacuated to the island would be kept away from the Tamil family and that common areas in the detention centre on the island will not be used.

Kopika and her younger sister Tharunicaa were born in Biloela in central Queensland, however the government has rejected claims for refugee status made on behalf of Kopika and her parents. They fear persecution if they are deported because of links to the banned militant group known as the Tamil Tigers.

Their case, which will focus on a visa for Tharunicaa, will be heard in the Federal Court later this month.

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8 - 14 February 2020

Is Britain’s system failing its people?

The British government recently said that it would toughen terrorism sentences and end early release for serious offenders, after a convicted terrorist who had been automatically released went ahead and knifed people on London bridge in November.

Fast forward to the month of February. Right after the Gandhi Nirvan Divaas (30 January), when the ultimate symbol of peace and non violence was murdered, a man with some Sri Lankan connection went and stabbed people on the streets of Streatham. He was a past offender with IS connection and had been jailed for researching and showing harmful interest in terrorism materials. To his mother’s disbelief, he even allegedly wanted to kill a MP. Terrorism in any country is not just a failure of law and order or radicalisation of a community due to lack of integration. It is rather a failure of policies and in the Brexit aftermath, this crises can only be expected to worsen.

There are fundamental sociological issues which demand introspection here as The Hindu said in an old article. It is easy to criticise the UK government all the time. Every terrorist attack reflects the collective failure of many agencies. The roles of the judiciary, parole boards and intelligence agencies come into focus. Successive governments have been guilty of effecting many cuts in the police budget, in turn leading to an appreciable depletion of manpower. The UK police is still very understaffed if one takes into account widening fissures in society. On the other hand the responsibility also lies on the shoulders of one's immediate family, community and its role models- who are meant to instil and inspire and not just let children grow under wrong influences.

But there will be many socio-economical crises born out of a racist Britain in the post-Brexit Britain. A recent notice on a

council flat board, asking only English speaking residents allowed to live there- is the reflection of a doomed country that was once proud of its tolerant and pluralistic society. People like Anjem Choudary and those who brain wash the likes of Sudesh Amman, are only going to take advantage of a government formed by an Islamophobic party, and weaponise the future generation. The Tories however have blamed this on the excessively liberal and indiscriminate immigration policy of former governments. They claim despite a tightening of immigration and asylum rules, the impact has still to be felt on the ground.

No one can ignore that the youth of particular community and impressionable age are being shown up repeatedly as being perpetrators of violence. A majority of them are indeed aggrieved that they have not been accepted by the mainstream white citizens as equals. Most of them come from poor backgrounds fighting class prejudices too and living in ghettos- that were once formed by their forefathers ‘to stick together’ in order to fight racist attacks. And then they are exposed to insidious propaganda.

Whether this appalling situation is result of governmental neglect or a wilful rejection of the very idea of integration is debatable. Either ways it is a matter of shame. Many efforts by UK police to decriminalise youths seem to have failed posing dilemma to those supporting reform and rehabilitation. But one must understand that recidivism is a complex phenomenon. To tell whether a prisoner who feels betrayed by the system and on a revenge spree, even on remission, parole or after completing his jail term will show a moral compunction or not, boils down to reading the mind of a prisoner. And may how advanced science be in 2020, we know even the best of psychiatrists have failed in this exercise.

Politics of economy, Brexit conundrum continues As the clock struck midnight in London, the UK may have left the European Union. But the details around the kind of trade deal between the UK-EU remain wishy-washy at best. Having delivered Brexit, the Prime Minister had appeared certain to build a "frictionless” trade relationship with the country’s divorced wife. But Johnson reluctantly acknowledged that this divorce ensues a degree of hostility and to achieve any sort of an egalitarian deal with the EU, there would have to be some friction, minimal customs checks and perhaps, even tariffs on some imports.

In the latest divorce drama, Johnson has now called for a Canada-style-free-trade deal with the EU. A deal simil ar to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), it has often been misconstrued as a deal that warrants "zero-tariff, zero-quota" between the UK and the EU. However, it removes only a majority of tariffs and not all. Taxes on goods traded between the EU and Canada continue to apply on poultry, meat, eggs among other supplies as may be in the context of the UK. But most fundamentally in ca lling for such a deal, Johnson has asserted that there is "no need" for the UK to follow 'Brussels’ rules. This appears to be in contradiction to the CETA where the Canadian rules are in alignment with the EU in some areas of copyright and patents.

Johnson is now adamant that the UK, a new sovereign at the end of this year, would not contemplate or tolerate anyone else to dictate the country in what it has to do. However, given the precedence that the EU's Michel Barnier has set in driving hard bargains with former prime minister Theresa May, many

in the know, that Johnson is prioritising a political statement over an economic choice.

Last year, the government had said that it would waive customs checks and tariffs on 87% of the goods coming into the country and only impose limited checks on goods. Bu t a latest Telegraph report indicates that Johnson plans to impose full customs checks on all goods coming into the UK from the EU. It must be noted that the UK had imported £357bn of goods and services from the EU, comprising 53% of all UK imports.

Now, such a drastic flip on the customs check policy would potentially lead to undesirable consequences for British businesses. Experts believe that full cu stoms checks would result in physical checks on food such as tomatoes and cheese and increased paperwork on import supplies. Additionally, border checks will result in massive delays and a reduction in productivity. In an illustration of the negative impacts of such checks, Honda had previously told a select committee that a 15-minute delay at the border could add around £850,000 a year.

Even the financial markets expressed their concerns at the prospect of non-alignment with the EU as the Pound fell more than 1 percent against the dollar on Monday after Johnson prompted that the UK may well leave the EU without a trade deal. Whilst the businesses may recuperate and the politics of the economy may continue to lobby the corridors of Westminster, the consumer will be the ultimate loser of such a hard bargain. And that consumer may very well include a Brexiter.

Will the Indian Budget catalyse revival of economy?

Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s second Budget was presented in the backdrop of six consecutive quarters of deceleration in Indian economic growth. Moreover, there was hardly any fiscal space left to use public spending to revive economic growth. Given this context, the Budget is unlikely to catalyse a revival, but it’s safe. Tax policy, one of the levers available to influence economic activity, conveys a mixed picture. The government has sensibly taken an interim step to move personal income tax towards a simpler framework of lower rates but no exemptions. To avoid disruptions, transition is optional. The same template has been extended to cooperatives to bring them on par with corporates.

Tax policy has also been used to attract foreign investment to finance infrastructure. There’s no choice as the level of overall government and public sector borrowing is sucking in most of domestic household savings. Sovereign wealth funds and foreign portfolio investors have been given tax concessions to supplement domestic savings and this is welcome. On indirect tax, the government has raised the import tariffs to protect domestic industry. This is inconsistent with its aim of encouraging investments by global value chains. Import substitution is a failed policy and is not going to aid the Make in India project.

The Budget offers a platform to showcase multi-sector reform proposals. None of the ideas outlined can be termed potentially game-changing. However, some proposals have a promise. To illustrate, to get urban local bodies to offer internship opportunities to fresh engineers has potential as lack of employability has been identified as a big problem. But most

ideas fall back upon long-standing templates like public-private partnerships in areas as diverse as railways and healthcare. The key, however, is design and implementation.

The financial sector has been a drag on the economy over the last few years on account of both bank bad loans and subsequent problems which showed up in NBFCs and cooperative banks. The Budget announced that deposit insurance has been increased from Rs 100,000 to 500,000. The optics are positive but the existing insurance policy does not cover some cooperative banks where problems abound. Real reform will need a combined effort by RBI and government to improve governance in financial intermediaries and deepen and widen markets.

Government finances, the heart of the Budget, had one thing to commend it. There’s a little more transparency in the numbers and the finance minister used the space provided by the FRBM law to overshoot the targeted fiscal deficit by half a percentage point. The fiscal deficit for 2019-20 was 3.8% of GDP and the next year it’s expected to come down to 3.5%. The old problem of growing dependence on public sector companies to pick up the bill for the government spending continues; it has drawn adverse observations from CAG earlier. Gross tax collections are expected to be £242 billion in 2020-21, an increase of 12% when the nominal growth is expected to be 10%; that appears a tad optimistic. The highlight is the 223% increase expected through a disinvestment target of £21 billion. Banks and LIC are to provide a big chunk. The fiscal constraint makes it a sensible way to raise resources to increase total spending next year by 12.7% to £304 billion.

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

-Winston Churchill

Alpesh Patel

Entrepreneurial India I write to you from India, having just completed an exhausting tour across four cities and hosting speeches and meetings over 5 days – getting to hotels at 2am, off a flight, then setting the alarm again for 6am. The cities I covered were Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai. I met with entrepreneurial incubators, accelerators, angel investors, Venture Capital funds, the companies and entrepreneurs. I spoke to them on a oneto-one basis, in groups, on panels, including at TIE Conference where Narayana Murthy and Ratan Tata shared the stage.

Here are some key observations: 1. The interest in the UK for such companies to establish themselves is greater than I’ve ever observed.

2. Ahmedabad is no longer the laggard and only focussed on manufacturing, oil, gas and chemicals.

It too has a tech community and is catching up.

3. There is a need for greater entrepreneurial mentoring and know-how.

4. There are a lot of wealthy angel investors, but too often there is not enough ‘smart money’ which can help the companies and the smart entrepreneurs will not take ‘dumb money’.

5. The UK Government is working with India to help it rise up the ‘ease of doing business’ rankings 6. Brand UK is important 7. More Indian companies think about going global on day 1 8. India has a focus on patents, which is good, but commercialisation is still an issue needing resolving 9. There is a lot of money chasing a few deals, as often happens, and angels are investing in each other’s deals without always casting a wide net 10. A few funds like Pontaq focus on bringing Indian companies to the UK and expanding them globally from here 11. Hyderabad remains US obsessed, but is very open to the UK focus due to the UK’s special relationship with the two largest trading blocks – the United States of America and the united States of Europe aka EU 12. Many Indian businesses see Brexit as an opportunity for them 13. Many Indian entrepreneurs see their businesses as a ticket to HQ and live in the UK which they like the idea of 14. Few Indian companies solve purely an Indian problem 15. Some Indian companies copy western ideas and exit to Western companies at huge premiums eg FlipKart 16. India could do with EIS like in the UK ie proven rules which have worked to encourage investing and savings into entrepreneurial companies These are just some thoughts from my latest trip, in my 15 years as a dealmaker for the UK Government looking to source outstanding Indian tech companies. Going above and beyond what the Government requires of me is what’s helped keep the UK at the heart of the Indian entrepreneurial eco-system more so than any other foreign Government presence. Our outstanding FCO High Commission staff are relentless in their support of such initiatives.

When I retire, I think my ashes will be scattered at an Indian accelerator, for surely with the exhaustion of these trips, it’s where they will find my body, in my suit, in the middle of a meeting or deal. I’m not complaining – there are people going hungry outside, as I told my wife.

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

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8 - 14 February 2020

Harrow born Streatham terrorist shot dead by armed police

On Sunday February 2nd Sudesh Amman, 20, was shot dead after launching a terror attack on the streets of London just days after being released from prison.

Just minutes before the attack Amman had walked into a shop with a fake suicide vest strapped to his chest, grabbed a knife from a shelf and ran out before proceeding to attack a man in his 40s and a woman in her 50s. Another woman, aged in her 20s, was injured after reportedly being struck by glass shattered by a bullet.

Within 60 seconds of the attack starting, Amman was dead, having been shot by armed police who had been following him. Officers saw a device under the terrorist’s clothes, but quickly realised it was a hoax item.

The 40-year-old man was initially thought to be in a life threatening condition but was later downgraded to serious but stable whilst the 50-year-old woman was discharged from hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Amman had just been released after serving a jail term for terrorism offences and reportedly wanted to emulate the assassination of Labour MP Jo Cox. According to the Evening Standard Sudesh Amman was raised in Harrow, north west London. Before he was jailed, the teen had been liv-

ing at home with his family and was a college student studying science and maths.

A former neighbour whose son Jignesh went to the same school as Amman, Savita Khimani, 51, said Amman's mother still believed he was wrongly accused even after he was convicted said: 'He was a normal boy at school. There were no red flags at all.

Sudesh had no social media whatsoever.'

Amman was first noticed by police in 2018 after posting images of the ISIS flag on social media and appeared to encourage an attack against a pro-gay rights speaker. He was arrested by armed police in a street in Harrow after posting an image to an encrypted forum of a knife along with two firearms on an Isis flag and the Arabic words: 'Armed and ready, April 3.'

The date was said to be a reference to a letter posted to mosques by a Right-wing activist declaring the date 'Punish a Muslim Day'.

According to reports when police searched the home where Amman lived with his mother and five younger brothers they found an airgun, a combat knife and a notebook with bomb-making instructions.

Police then looked at Amman's computer and realised he had been discussing extreme views on

Sudesh Amman

jihad.

Photographs posted to his family WhatsApp group showed his brothers in their bedroom posing with an Isis flag and BB guns. In a discussion about school with his 15-year-old brother, Amman said he would 'rather blow myself up' and wanted to 'know how to make bombs'.

Amman expressed the belief that Yazidi women – a group Isis committed genocide against in Iraq – are slaves and therefore the Koran 'makes it permissible to rape them'.

After police arrested him they discovered he had been encouraging his girlfriend to kill her parents for being non-believers. He admitted possessing documents containing terrorist information and also disseminating it and was sentenced to three years and four months behind bars in December 2018.

Amman was released after serving half his sen-

tence, and so was set free on January 23, 2020 and, as published in the Evening Standard he was fitted with an electronic tag and living in a bail hostel in south London. It is understood, by the daily, that he was also put under 24-hour police surveillance.

Scotland Yard said an operation was launched which included armed surveillance officers.

This is the second attack in the capital in the space of a few months following Usman Khan’s murderous spree on London Bridge in November and has provoked more conversations about the early release of prisoners, and the government wants to draft emergency laws to make a parole review necessary.

Meanwhile it has been reported that other convicted terrorists and hate preachers have been freed after being granted early release and are being tailed by police.

Man jailed for trying to force niece into marriage A Birmingham man, who tried to force his niece into an arranged marriage and threatened her with a gun when she refused, has been jailed for seven years. The 55-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced last Friday at Birmingham Crown Court.

The man was convicted on 24 January for attempting to force the victim, who was then 18-year-old, into a forced marriage. Along with his 43-year-old wife, he was also found guilty of child neglect.

During a three week trial, the court heard that the girl who was born in UK and raised by her uncle and

aunt in Birmingham after her mother returned to Pakistan due to a visa issue, had been mistreated by the couple. They treated her worse than a domestic servant, depriving her of food, clothing, hygiene, medical and dental care, and verbally, emotionally and physically demeaned, bullied and abused her which made the girl feel like ‘a nobody’.

She was taken to Pakistan when she was 10 where she lived in abysmal conditions later returning to the UK at age 14 to live with another family member in Birmingham where she enjoyed living and went on to complete her education and get a job.

In July 2016, the victim who also cannot be named for legal reasons, travelled to Pakistan to visit her mother who was unwell. When she arrived in Pakistan, her uncle seized her passport and kept her at his house where he tried to force her into an arranged marriage.

When she tried to refuse, he threatened her with a gun and told her to either get married to a husband of his choosing or die.

She later found a way to escape thanks to a friend she made in Pakistan who smuggled a phone to her and she called the British Embassy for help. In September 2017, she was rescued and returned to the

UK where a Forced Marriage Prevention Order (FMPO) was issued for her protection. Last Friday, her uncle was jailed for forced marriage and two counts of child cruelty while her aunt was given a one-year prison sentence, suspended for two years for child cruelty.

Lawrence English of the CPS said: “I would like to commend the victim for her bravery and courage, which has not only helped to secure this conviction but gives hope to others who are being forced or coerced into a life they do not want.

Forcing someone into marriage is a serious crime, and we will prosecute those responsible.”

Tributes paid to dad-of-four found dead in school car park According to a Birmingham newspaper heartbroken loved ones have paid tribute to a man who was found dead in a school car park.

Nasir Mehmood had been captaining a volleyball team at the Staffordshire sports complex. But when he failed to return home his concerned family contacted teammates, DerbyshireLive reports.

The man's brother-inlaw - who went to look for him - found the 36-year-old

dead in his car in the car park of a school where he had been playing volleyball.

His family said he had suffered a heart attack after the game. Mr Mehmood, had lived in Branston, for 10 years with his wife Nazia, 32, and their three children Khadeeja, seven, Ismail, five and Zulekha, three. His wife is currently expecting the couple's fourth child. His body was found following the volleyball tournament on the afternoon of Sunday, January 19.

Nasir Mehmood pictured with Khadeeja, Ismail and Zulekha

in brief FAKE DOCTOR JAILED FOR STABBING WIFE AND HER FAMILY A man who tried to murder his wife and other family members in a "terrifying" attack has been jailed for 14 years. Satya Thakor, 35, attempted to suffocate his sleeping mother-in-law before stabbing her at her home in Wraysbury, Berkshire, in May last year before then stabbing his wife, Nisha, and his brother-in-law Primal, who had come to their mother's aid. He then stabbed his brother-in-law's wife Rishika - but claimed he had no memory of the attack.

Thakor, Nisha and their daughter had travelled from their home in Leicester to his mother-in-law's house when the attack happened in the early hours of 14 May. Reading Crown Court heard how after asking to use his mother-inlaw Gita Laxman's en suite bathroom, he tried to force a rag or a tissue into her mouth and then used a pillow to try to suffocate her and had lied to his family about being a doctor for seven years. During his trial Thakor maintained he had no recollection of events and was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder and one count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent. In addition to serving 14 years in prison, he has been sentenced to spend 14 years on licence when he is released.

CITY TRADER 'SUSPENDED FOR STEALING FOOD FROM STAFF CANTEEN

According to the Financial Times a high-flying Citigroup bond trader has been suspended from the US investment bank following claims he stole food from the office canteen.

Paras Shah is accused of helping himself to food without paying at the company's European headquarters in London's Canary Wharf. The 31-yearold reportedly left his post as Citi's head of high-yield bond trading for Europe, the Middle East and Africa over the alleged theft last month. Shah joined Citi just over two years ago from HSBC and his job involved trading junk bonds risky company debt. According to employee review website Glassdoor, the average salary for a credit trader is £183,740 but Mr Shah is likely to have earned more given his senior role at Citi. Accroding to media reports a similar position at other banks could command a salary of more than £1m a year. His suspension reportedly comes weeks before senior staff at Citi were due to be paid bonuses.

JAGTAR SINGH JOHAL'S WIFE GURPREET FACES VISA BATTLE WHILST HUSBAND REMAINS IN INDIAN PRISON

According to The National, a Scottish newspaper, Gurpreet - the wife of Scotish man Jagtar Singh Johal (pictured) - has been refused the right to stay in Scotland with her in-laws whilst her husband is imprisoned in India for two years without trial or charges. According to the newspaper Gurpreet arrived in the UK last year for talks with then-foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt and subsequently applied for permission to remain in the UK. Last Saturday Gurpreet received an official letter explaining that while she has a “unique” set of circumstances, officials will not allow her to live in Scotland despite fears over her safety in India, where she wed Jagtar just two weeks before his November 2017 arrest.

BBC LICENCE FEE TO RISE BY £3 FROM APRIL

According to media reports the cost of the annual television licence fee will increase by £3, from £154.50 to £157.50, from 1 April 2020. In 2016, the government said the fee would rise in line with inflation every year for five years from 1 April 2017. The latest increase comes amid debate around the future of the licence fee, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in December that it needs "looking at". The government said last year it would consider whether failure to pay the fee should cease to be a criminal offence. And it comes a week after Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, the BBC's highest paid presenter, called for the fee to be made voluntary. There has also been controversy about plans to stop providing free TV licences to most over-75s from 1 June. The new fee works out at £3.02 per week, or £13.13 per month, and pays for BBC services including nine national TV channels, 10 national radio stations plus local radio and websites, as well as the BBC Sounds app and BBC iPlayer.

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8 - 14 February 2020

BAE Systems and apprenticeship opportunities Priyanka Mehta

The general perception is that the world of defence and aerospace engineering is maledominated. Statistics highlight that approximately only 8% of the UK’s engineering apprentices are female. In comparison, BAE Systems – a leading provider of defence technology - records a higher female representation in its apprenticeship programmes, however there is still work to be done to further increase this.

K

hadijah Ismail is in the third year of her engineering degree apprenticeship with BAE Systems’ Air sector, and is changing that stereotype whilst working on one mission at a time.

“Sometimes, I wonder how I got into engineering because I have always been a jack of all trades and master of none. I used to love watching aeroplanes fly past my window and I loved art but I was no artist either.

“I decided to pursue Maths and Physics and later when I won the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, I realised that I wanted to pursue an A-level in Electronics,” she recalls.

No student debt and industry ready The rest they say is history.

Following her A-levels, Khadijah secured places at various topnotch universities such as Imperial College in London, the University of Manchester and Loughborough University. But somewhere down the line, Khadijah knew that she would not be able to afford the university fees and did not want to take on a large student loan. So, she started looking for apprenticeship schemes online and the five-year degree apprenticeship in Aerospace Engineering with BAE Systems was the solution to help her overcome this barrier. As well as a degree in Aerospace Engineering, the apprenticeship programme requires her to complete a Level 4 Diploma in Engineering and

Advanced Manufacturing. The course has been developed by employers to meet the requirements of the engineering sector so that the apprentices are industry-ready.

In her opinion, studying for a diploma alongside her engineering degree provides her with multiple benefits.

engineering projects, I have the opportunity to speak with a variety of engineers – often the best in their field – every single day. This means that I get to build up a network of contacts, see how they think, how they work, and how they approach a problem first hand. It’s been incredibly enriching. It is not learning theoretical modules alone but their application that makes the degree programme more exciting. Additionally, studying for a degree via an apprenticeship route has allowed me to earn as I learn, which has been a real bonus! “If I was qualifying only for an Engineering Degree at university, I would not have been exposed to all of the other areas that constitute any project, such as project management and the financial aspects.”

Khadijah has worked in a department that oversees several projects, such as fuel control and electrical power generation, among others. Additionally, her apprenticeship is split into multiple areas from concept design to systems engineering. As part of her work, she has been on visits to Spain and Chicago and also played an instrumental role in the development of the new solarpowered High Altitude Long Endurance Unmanned Air Vehicle, PHASA-35.

She says, “The best thing for me was being able to run a system test for a customer. This demonstrates a level of trust the

I want to be a person who inspires anyone who's reluctant to study engineering, from any background, to feel that it's possible and go ahead and do it.

Khadijah believes her apprenticeship with BAE Systems will give her an edge over other graduates who might be well-versed in theory but may not have the practical experience.

She says, “Firstly, I gain manufacturing experience from day one of my placement, which means that by the time I receive my qualifications I’ll have five years of on-the-job experience that the majority of engineering graduates won’t have. And because I get to work on many different manufacturing and

team had in me. I watched the highs and lows of the project. This is the best way to learn because it is during this time that I get to better understand my strengths and also any areas that require improvement, so I can really focus on my personal development.

“This type of project also emphasises that engineering is not about working in isolation, you have to work as part of a team.”

The possibilities of the engineering sector This year, BAE Systems plans to hire over 800 apprentices making it a record year for the Company’s apprenticeship intake. It provides greater opportunity for others to follow in Khadijah’s footsteps, to break the mould and diversify the workforce even further. However, some girls, especially from an ethnic minority background, are low on confidence whilst considering such courses.

But Khadijah explains that the application process is straightforward. Applicants are required to answer questions around their likes and hobbies, as well as demonstrating passion for engineering. The next stage is a series of online tests. This is then followed by a day at one of the Company’s sites where applicants will attend an interview and participate in a series of activities which are monitored by apprentice supervisors.

Yet, today, some young people are not completely aware of the career paths that are available in the broad scope of engineering. As a STEM ambassador, Khadijah

engages in workshops and activities in local schools where she creates awareness about the engineering industry and gives a flavour of what working at BAE Systems is like. She says, “I am not too conscious that I wear a headscarf or that I am one of a few girls in the department and neither do other people create that kind of an atmosphere.

“I want to be a person who inspires anyone who's reluctant to study engineering, from any background, to feel that it's possible and go ahead and do it."

She highlights that BAE Systems has operations across the world. This means that the organisation offers plenty of job opportunities across the globe and the opportunity to make a real difference working across a wide range of programmes. This year the majority of new apprentices at BAE Systems will join either the Air or Maritime sectors, where they will work on nationally important programmes, including developing future combat air technologies for the Royal Air Force and working on the Dreadnought programme – a new generation of submarine for the Royal Navy that will replace the current Vanguard-class.

The apprenticeship recruitment window is now open and will run until 28 February. To apply or to find out more about the opportunities available at BAE Systems, visit: https://www.baesystems.com/en/c areers/careers-in-theuk/apprenticeships/schemes

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EY and Asian Voice honour donors of AAA 2019 Guests donate over £250,000

Zishan Nurmohammed, Partner EY

CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar

Amitabh Shah, Co-Founder Yuva Unstoppable

Event compere Alpa Soni of Sanco Global Mortgage & Financial Services Ltd

On Friday, 24th January, Asian Voice in association with EY London hosted a high-profile dinner and drinks reception to honour captains of British Asian businesses for their donations to Yuva Unstoppable at the 19th Asian Achievers Awards.

Over £200,000 was raised at the Awards gala which was held on 14th September 2019 at the Grosvenor House, Park Lane London. The Awards ceremony was attended by who's who of British society and EY has been one of the leading sponsors.

The dinner and drinks reception on 24th January once again helped raise a whopping £250,000 for Yuva Unstoppable.

An Indian charity founded by Yale graduate Amitabh Shah, Yuva Unstoppable has been instrumental in transforming the lives of over 600,000 children and 1500 schools in India by providing access to basic facilities such as better sanitation and drinking water.

Commenting at the event Zishan Nurmohammed, Head of Diversity & Inclusivity at EY said, “This event celebrates the power of giving.

The concept of giving is very powerful to us, both in our workplace and personal lives.

“As a business, we at EY believe in sustainable foundations and the integration of multi-cultural

communities that form the core of the UK. And for me, it is about trying to help and give that assistance to South Asians to reach the highest grades at EY. ” The event was attended by eminent corporate personalities such as Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited, noted literary figure Amish Tripathi, Director of Nehru Centre UK, and others.

Speaking at the event, CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice/Gujarat Samachar said, “In the nearly 50 years of my publishing history here in the UK, there are a host of eminent businessmen who I am immensely grateful to. Personalities like Anil Agarwal and Amish Tripathi and several other South Asian women and men of eminence have contributed immensely to this country. And I believe that the best is yet to come.

“Philanthropy and charity are a part of life.

While donating monetarily is one form of impacting communities there are several other ways as demonstrated by the work

George Liji, CEO, ABPL

Dr Ruth Kattumari, Co director of the India Observatory of LSE

done by Amitabh.

“I am humbled and proud to state that in the last twenty years through Asian Achievers Awards we have been able to raise over £2 million for charities like Yuva Unstoppable.

And with the help of philanthropists and corporate leaders like Zishan, we hope to make a bigger impact and see a change for the better within the community here in the UK and the rest of the world.”

At the drinks and dinner reception on 24th January Yuva Unstoppable made a brief video presentation to demonstrate their work in rural India.

The charity also took the opportunity to thank personalities such as GP Hinduja, Lord Jeffrey Archer and Nilesh Patel of Prideview Group who have visited these schools in India.

Discussing the scope for improvement in the

education system in India, Sanjay Nevatia, Director, SKN Adisors Limited said, “Not everyone can afford the privilege of education today. Whether it is in Bihar or the rest of India, there is much work to be done in the sector and I laud all of you today for contributing to causes such as Yuva Unstoppable.”

The evening concluded with a panel discussion where children from across India put forward on film their queries for Anil Agarwal and Amish Tripathi about inspirational leaders and the significance of education.

Alpa Soni was the compere for the event and Vineet Johari was the official photographer. A special vote of thanks Zishan, Mallinath Kini, Ruman Sheikh and the entire team at EY who facilitated in the success of the program.

(L-R) Amitabh Shah, Anil Agarwal, Chairman of Vedanta Resources Limited and Amish Tripathi, Director of Nehru Centre UK

in brief NEW DELHI DISCUSSES HIGH COMMISSION’S SAFETY WITH UK’S FOREIGN OFFICE On 30th January, Thursday, India’s External Affairs ministry discussed its concerns around the safety and security of the Indian High Commission in London. The discussion occurs in Dominic Raab Raveesh Kumar light of the series of protests hosted outside India House and especially those organised on 26th January coinciding with India’s Republic Day. Hundreds and thousands have gathered outside the High Commission, slamming the Indian Government for the revocation of Article 370 in the erstwhile State of Jammu and Kashmir. They have now even demanded for an end to the ongoing "crackdown" in the region as well as protesting against the recently unveiled CAB, NRC and NPP Bills. These demonstrations are mostly organised by members of the Pakistani diaspora, Sikhs pledging for a separate Punjab or Mirpuri Kashmiris.

Indian High Commissioner to the UK, Her Excellency, Ruchi Ghanashyam had recently raised security concerns with home secretary Priti Patel. Now, the Indian Government has stepped in highlighting such incidents create difficulties in the functioning of their diplomatic quarters.

"We have taken up the issue with the British government.

These incidents create difficulties in functioning of our High Commission," said External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar.He hoped that anti-India protests in London are not repeated in the future. However, India had conveyed its concerns to the UK Foreign Office earlier over violent protests organised pre-dominantly by Pakistani supporters outside the Indian High Commission on the Independence Day last year. The matter remains under consideration.

LONDON UNIVERSITIES RECORD A 35% INCREASE IN INDIAN STUDENTS

Latest data released by a leading educational agency notes that London universities have recorded a nearly 35% increase in the traction of Indian students in 2019-19. Data analysed by UK’s Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), further highlights that Indian students now comprise the third largest group of London’s overseas students’ market, after China and the US. According to HESA, Indian student numbers in London grew by 34.7 per cent in 2018-19, the largest upswing since 2011-12.

It believes that the applications from the sub-continent may have surged following UK government’s re-introduction of the two-year post study work visa which comes into affect from this year. This allows overseas graduates a longer period of time to look for employment opportunities after the completion of their degrees.

Notably, India overtook Italy, which slipped one place down to fourth, followed by France. While Italy, sent 5,625 students, down by 1.2 per cent, France displayed a 3.9 per cent growth with 4,650 students.

IKEA’S COVENTRY STORE TO CLOSE IN FIRST UK SHUT DOWN

IKEA’s British arm is to shut a loss-making store in Coventry, central England, its first big closure in the country, putting 352 jobs at risk, the world’s biggest furniture maker said on Tuesday. The store in Coventry’s city centre, which was built in 2007, is one of 22 the Swedish company operates in Britain.

It said visitor numbers to the store had been substantially lower than expected and were continuing to fall as customers preferred to shop in retail parks and online. Also the store suffered from high operating costs because it was built over seven levels. “Although this isn’t an easy decision, this is the right decision for the long-term success of IKEA in the UK,” said Peter Jelkeby, IKEA’s UK and Ireland country manager.

The move comes as Britain’s retailers are struggling, with many outlets closing as shoppers opt to spend more online.

To meet the growing challenge from online shopping globally, IKEA is rolling out smaller, but more accessible, inner-city stores with more digital and other services. Historically most IKEA stores have been in out-of-town locations. The retailer pointed out that last year it opened its most sustainable store to date in Greenwich, south east London, as well as two planning studios in the capital.

Also this year the group’s shopping centre business, Ingka Centres, spent 170 million pounds buying a mall in Hammersmith, west London, paving the way for the brand’s first small-format city store in the UK.

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Pathfinders of success The trainee solicitors at Harold Benjamin

Priyanka Mehta

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and blockchain are rapidly transforming our legal system. Now, most high street law firms are upgrading themselves to software that enable lawyers to draft and summarise legal documents in a more efficient and time-bound nature. Such appears to be the future of law that graduates are not just competing with paralegals, and fellow other trainees but also hustling to adapt to technology.

T

his intersection of AI with the law may concern traditional practising lawyers.

But, it has also opened up a host of exciting opportunities for those looking to combine their nonlegal academic backgrounds with their passion for law. Kurren Nischal, trainee at Harold Benjamin Solicitors, is one such example.

Computer science, maths, and law are not mutually exclusive Kurren graduated in mathematics and computer science at Imperial College and pursued a career in software development and programming for eight years.

Currently seated on his first rotation with the property development team, he believes that his programming skills may give him an edge over his other counterparts. He says, “I don’t believe that computer science, mathematics and law are mutually exclusive. There are plenty of points where they do cross-over. For instance, earlier the Land Registry used to accept only hard copies for their applications. Now, they have gone online in their application processes and

Kurren Nischal

blockchain will only serve to make government registries more secure. AI will further simplify legal work especially when summarising leases and portfolios.

“My understanding of these reforms may give me an advantage over other law graduates in the industry. Besides being comfortable with the IT and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems, I believe that my software development skills also yield efficiency in project management.”

Perhaps, this inter-sectionality is best illustrated by Richard Susskind in his book ‘Online courts and the future of justice’.

Susskind predicts that in the future courts would become more of a service than a physical institute. Yet, he is careful to emphasise that law firms, chambers and courts would only go through a digital transition and not be entirely dismantled. Submissions of pieces of evidence and uploading of documents have already become commonplace. In the next phase, he believes that systems will be able to predict the outcomes of court decisions based on precedent law by using predictive analytics.

Artificial Intelligence and analytics Priyankaa Patel initially advanced onto a graduate scheme with a Swiss Banking firm. Passionate about the law since she was 15 years old, Priyankaa later decided to blend her experience in data analytics with a career in the legal industry. Initially, she followed a traditional route of achieving her LLB and LLM then she gained paralegal experience at solicitor firms within the Private Client area. Priyankaa commenced her training contract with Harold Benjamin in September 2019 and is currently in her first training seat within the dispute resolution and litigation team. She finds the evolving world of legal tech an exciting adventure even today.

She says: “Financial law is quite different from other branches of law. I have now dealt with private client law and litigation. My background in finance has certainly helped me wade through areas such as taxation, trusts, bankruptcy and insolvency as well as property litigation. Inheritance tax is often very complicated, so my

Priyankaa Patel

financial background definitely helps me navigate those issues for clients.

“At present I am focussing on adapting to the evolving tech-oriented nature of the legal industry and my role within it. At our firm, we heavily invest in a variety of new to market legal support technologies. The firm’s Award winning early adoption of an identity checking platform (which incorporates the use of AI technology) has improved business efficiency, for the firm and our clients”.

Going the paralegal route So, if you have qualified with an LLB law degree, the post graduate Legal Practice Course (‘LPC’) and later gained experience as a paralegal at law firms, where to next?

The reality is that securing a training contract with a law firm in such a climate is extremely competitive.

Davina Puran is a trainee solicitor currently training in the Private Client team at Harold Benjamin. Having graduated from the University of Leicester, she achieved her LPC August 2014, Davina has over five years’ experi-

Davina Puran

ence dealing with different aspects of property law from previous paralegal roles. She has spent the last three and a half years within the Property Development team at Harold Benjamin. Today, Davina believes that having previous experience as a paralegal has given her a more comprehensive knowledge of the law and great client exposure. She says, “My paralegal experience has made me familiar with how to approach different property transactions. This has given me the confidence of independently approaching clients and dealing with matters with minimum supervision.

“The great part of doing a training contract is that you become accustomed to other fields of the law. Hence, the biggest challenge so far has been learning the law across different sectors. It’s important to do this before you understand the field you want to specialise in. Being a trainee involves an understanding of not just how the transaction works but why it works the way it does in the field that you are currently training in.”

Minority ethnic pensioners get 24% less than white pensioners The People’s Pension, a provider with nearly five million members, in a report said that the pension income gap between a female pensioner from the ethnic minority and a white male pensioner was 51 per cent.

The report exposed a sizeable “ethnicity gap” in pensions. The report said that minority ethnic pensioners were, on average, 24% – or £3,350 a year – worse off than other people of their age.

This is not the first time a link has been made between ethnicity and poorer pension incomes.

Research by the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) charity in 2003 and 2008 concluded that people from ethnic minorities, and certain other groups, were more likely to have many of the characteristics associated with lower pension

incomes. In 2016 the PPI said it had found that differences in income were reducing, “but some will remain”.

Many of the findings in the study are based on an analysis of a survey of more than 40,000 households carried out by the Department for Work and Pensions. The report said the data showed that pension income inequality was a particular issue for Asian ethnic groups – where the gap was 30% – and for the “black African, Caribbean or black British” groups, where the figure was just under 27%. The report also indicated that average pension incomes for one category – listed as “other ethnic group (Arab, other ethnic group)” – were 6% higher than for pensioners from white ethnic groups.

The researchers said the eth-

nicity gap was driven by several factors, including lower average earnings, variable employment rates and the greater likelihood of

minority ethnic workers being self-employed. Part of the problem was that there was an annual state pension income gap of about

£600 for ethnic minorities, they added.

For example, DWP data showed that while 98% of white pensioner households received the state pension, it was 85% for Asian pensioner households.

“Our report highlights large inequalities, which will become starker as the growing ethnic minority population reaches retirement age,” said Gregg McClymont, director of policy at The People’s Pension.He said: “Understanding the size of the problem and causes is a vital first step in devising appropriate policies for closing the gap.”

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As I See It CB Patel

Sovereign, and Reclaiming Sovereignty and the Soul of the Nation Dear Readers, As a regular reader of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, you would have noticed that I'm a staunch supporter of the British monarchy and especially respect Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II as an outstanding head of state.

It's not for nothing that she is the longest serving head of state in the world today. Through various challenges, faced by UK for over six decades she has shown tremendous depth of character. Her utterances and actions make one proud to be living under her reign.

In 1979 there was a rise of right-wing groups in England like the National Front. Such political groups with Nazi tendencies were on the ascendency. However, in her Christmas message, in less than one minute, Her Majesty upheld British values, traditions, inclusiveness, and diversity, thus breaking the bubble of white extremist groups.

On another level, Her Majesty has seen several ups and downs, as witnessed in the last Christmas message when she alluded to “a bumpy road”. Heaven help any head of a family when a sister, child or grandchild has to face so many challenges. More recently, in the episode involving Harry and Meghan, it was nothing but the wisdom and tolerance of a great grandmother that created an acceptable way out. I am sure you will agree that we are fortunate to live in this great country of ours.

Reclaiming Sovereignty with Humility Now, about reclaiming sovereignty, especially as claimed

by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Dominic Cummings, and other spokespersons who are on the ascendency thanks to the 80 vote-majority in the House of Commons, I'm really concerned, and honestly, a bit worried too. All I have to say to the PM and Co. is, please don't promise what you can't deliver. Remember the famous poem – The Patriot? People will carry you on their shoulders when the going is good. But when the tide recedes, the same people will not hesitate to oust you from power.

Currently, we are undergoing the birth pangs of the first phase of the agreed Brexit separation. We have miles to go and umpteen hurdles to surmount before the final divorce is signed, sealed and delivered. I, like many of you, would like our leaders to be in complete charge of the challenges ahead. They could perhaps take a leaf out of the words and deeds of the Indian leaders on August 15, 1947. The first prime minister of Independent India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's 'Tryst with Destiny' speech is a monumental part of global history.

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, lon g suppressed, finds utterance,” the speech began. Everyone knows Pandit Nehru was Mahatma Gandhi's choice for leader. Without naming the Mahatma, Nehru mentioned him in a speech that rang aloud in the much fought-for sovereignty of the country.

He said, “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye.

That may be beyond us, but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over.

“On this day our first thoughts go to the architect of this freedom, the father of our nation, who, embodying the old spirit of India, held aloft the torch of freedom and lit up the darkness that surrounded us.”

While Nehru was paying rich tributes to the Mahatma, the man himself was not present in Delhi.

Gandhi, at the time, was in Noakhali, where massive religious riots were taking place. Nehru also paid tributes to all those divided by the Partition. He said, “We think also of our brothers and sisters who have been cut off from us by political boundaries and who unhappily cannot share at present in the freedom that has come. They are of us and will remain of us whatever may happen, and we shall be sharers in their good and ill fortune alike.”

I may have confused you with the comparison. Why does the 'Tryst with Destiny' compare with Brexit? Let me explain.

It is the 3rd of February when I write this, so much has happened in such a short duration since 31 January. I read a report over the weekend which stated that the Foreign

Secretary Dominic Raab had sent a message to UK representatives suggesting that they 'sit separately' from those from European nations at international events after Brexit happened on Friday. Such suggestions are juvenile and unbecoming of true leaders. Honestly, it upset me very much. Yes, Britain has officially separated from the European Union. But what lies ahead is an arduous and painful divorce that none of us are fully prepared for. At least not at the current moment.

It's just the beginning, not the end.

The full divorce that is to come, will be every bit painful, time-consuming, and stressful. It will require multiple trade negotiations, not just with EU members, but several other countries. Another thing that BoJo and his team need to realise is that the UK now stands alone. Going forward things are going to be very different from when it was a member of a 28-country club.

Another report that made me cringe was on Brexit “mastermind” Dominic Cummings, who was seen in tears following the exit. I have been hearing phrases like “take back control” and “get Brexit done” too often in the past few months, for my own comfort. It makes one wonder why British leaders are in such a great hurry. There is a wily Swahili proverb – Haraka Haraka Haina Baraka. It means too much haste never produced good results. After all, Rome wasn't built in one day.

Boris has failed to explain what hardships lie ahead.

Ultimately, the buck stops not at Cummings' desk, but at BoJo's as he is the person at the helm for this latest campaign and he carries all the responsibilities in case something goes wrong, and the risks are many. BoJo has been an ambitious man since his youth, when he aspired to become a Prime Minister. If he executes thing s properly, he will go down in history as a successful PM, more or less in the lines of Winston Churchill. But a small slip up and he will forever be etched with a bad name.

French President Emmanuel Macron gave an inspiring message on January 31. He reminded the UK that it may be leaving the EU, but it will not be leaving Europe.

UK has been a part of Europe for thousands of years. It may be separated by 22 miles of the English channel, but so what? BoJo has to consider the long term effects and the pros and cons.

Mixture of Optimism and Regret British Chancellor Sajid Javid hit the headlines lately for announcing a taxation policy for entrepreneurs. He backtracked from his words just as quickly, raising several eyebrows in the process. When you are in an excited mood, you take several steps that create adverse reactions. Now is the time to wake up, smell the isolation, and plan accordingly. The task ahead is a mammoth and, and I sincerely hope the British government is up to it.

Soul of a Nation Dear Readers, Indian civilisation is over many thousand years old and has evolved around Sanatan Dharma. The modern Hindu dharma is only 1200 years old. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Amish Tripathi, a well-known author of hugely successful books. He has written a series of books beginning with one on Lord Ram. Born in 1974, Tripathi is an IIMKolkata alumnus, and has worked as a banker for 15 years. He is presently the Director of Nehru Centre in London. He published his first book in 2015 which sold 5 million copies.

Sanatan Dharma has evolved as a way of life over a

long period of time. It is more spiritual than religious. I would like to point out that the Vedas and Upanishads do not mention any God by name. They, instead, give importance to values and characters. Then came the Puranas, and the Ramayana – Valmiki Ramayana and then Tulsi Krit Ramayan, which is in Hindi Bhojpuri language. It speaks of Maryada Purushottam Rama, the deity who respects all and follows the highest standards of ethics.

Similarly, Lord Krishna is also revered by Hindus everywhere. Ramayana narrated the life and situations of Lord Rama in 3400 BCE. Krishna followed Rama, and his story is Mahabharat. Today, even in the top-most management institutes, Mahabharata is taught as a management guide. Much-quoted Gita is a part of Shrimad Bhagwat, which is a part of Mahabharata.

The cardinal principle of Sanatan Dharma is - One God, Many Names. Just last week, on the Martyr Day of Mahatma Gandhi, January 30, innumerable prayers were held all around the world to celebrate 150 years of the great human being. Two hymns were sung everywhere, including China, Japan, Middle East and elsewhere. One is 'Vaishnava Jan' – an amazing Gujarati prayer written by Narsinh Mehta 500 years ago in Junagadh. It discribes, 'the noble soul'. The second song is 'Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram'. The hymn has a beautiful sentence. “ Ishwar, Allah, Tero Naam.”

In most of Hindu temples, without any hesitation, this sentence is sung, chanted. That is the essence of Sanatan Dharma. It concerns all living and non-living things, but most importantly emphasises tolerance and respect. And tolerance is mutual. After all, one hand washes another. The books written by Amish Tripathi depicts the actual messages of age-old Sanatan values.

India is now a world-wide phenomenon. Not only because of the 31 million Indian-origin people living in many countries and contributing their utmost, but the soft power of India: its principles of non-violence, peaceful co-existence, yoga, music, vegetarianism, and respect for everything around. All this we see today exists primarily because at the dawn of Independence in 1947, leaders of India, led by Mahatma Gandhi, carved out an acceptable wager laying down the soul of the country.

The Citizenship Amendment Act is the highlight of both, Indian, and global press at the moment. I see Muslim, burka-wearing women protesting CAA, calling it a “cover for Hindu nationalism”. The ladies and the protesters appear to be as mislead as many thousands of others in India and abroad. There are genuinely no legal measures against any citizen of India in the CAA. It only talks about refugees from minority communities of the three mentioned countries. How can a Muslim be discriminated in an Islamic country?

Sovereignty of Parliament is sacrosanct The CAA has passed through both- the Lower and Upper Houses of the Parliament. It is an act of the government within the Constitution and when such street protests are organised systematically to defy the law, it makes us wonder of many distant-minded human beings- both of Indian-origin and otherwise. Why such protests are being organised? Why the Parliament Sovereignty is being defied? Where will this lead to? This is undoubtedly a defiance of democratic norms.

What makes matters worse is the hulla gulla from Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party. They are damaging the very fabric of India. Protesters are bringing children to protests, this creates a kind of brainwashing that further provokes violence and creates hatred.

Not to forget the ill will that has been created between Hindus and Muslims by this illogical and highly divisive agitations. Rahul Gandhi has publicly stated more than onc e that Godse and Modi have same mindset or mentality. How come the scions of the Nehru-Gandhi family utters such misleading, provoking and insulting words? I genuinely believe that India has remained a one-country one nation with a unique way of life and all the contradictions, it is a peace loving nation amidst all the diversity. It is up to us if we live in India or abroad or we have Indian-origin how w e behave. We should be very careful with our behaviour.

Indian values have withstood the challenges for generations. Be it, invasions, colonialism, or wars.

There is something about India that helps it survive and sustain human life and humanity.

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Nandy says remove the “Empire” reference, won’t stand in way of Welsh independence A Labour leadership candidate has called out for removing references to the British empire in the honours system, and insisted on the recognition of “British excellence” instead.

On 1st February, Saturday at a hustings in Bristol Lisa Nandy asserted that the honours system should be a tool to bring people together as opposed to shutting them out. The MP for Wigan said, “It was Benjamin Zephaniah who balked at the prospect of accepting an OBE – the Order of the British Empire. Why not a choice to provide the Order of British Excellence? Why does the honours system, which should recognise the contribution of our people, shut people out, rather than bring people in?”

In her appeal to Labour’s left-wing membership, Nandy also discussed about

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Naga Munchetty had said that the American’s President’s remarks were “embedded in racism” when he had asked women of colour like Ilhan Omar to “go back to their home”.

Munchetty’s remarks had created a massive controversy within the BBC after the broadcasting service decided that the journalist had breached the reporting standards of prejudice. The decision was later reversed by Tony Hall who said that the complaints unit had made a wrong call. Now, Munchetty has revealed her “horrible” experience of being censured for calling out Trump.

In an interview with

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Political Lisa Nandy

focussing on “removing Tory MPs” as opposed to Labour’s internal power struggles.

These pledges were followed by her claims in Cardiff where she stated that if elected leader of the Labour Party, she would not stand in the way if a future Welsh Parliament wanted an independence referendum. In a statement to the BBC Wales, she said, "I think if we are honest, we are going to have to go out and fight for devolution

British Vogue, she claimed that her comments were not unprofessional and explained that it was not her job to “be a robot”. She said, “One of the balancing acts of being a Breakfast presenter is being comfortable enough to show who you are and your personality,” she said. “You have to show empathy. You cannot sit there and be a robot on that sofa.

“And I do stand by it. It is not OK to use offensive language, or to skirt around offensive language, to make a point or get attention.

“What it has done is raise an uncomfortable conversation that needed to be raised.”

Asked whether the BBC was institutionally racist, she said, “I’m going to turn this on its head: find me a large organisation, and find me an

Joker’s lead actor confronts racism in BAFTAs On 2nd February, Sunday night, the lead actor of Joker urged celebrities to “truly understand systemic racism” prevalent in the BAFTAs nominations and awards.

Joaquin Phoenix who bagged the best actor award at BAFTAs for his role in Joker said that he felt “conflicted winning the award] because so many of my fellow actors who are deserving don’t have that privilege”.

9

th Asian

in many parts of the country that have been turning away from Labour for some time.

"In my own constituency in Wigan, people feel that the city mayoral deal where Labour is in power hasn't delivered for them, in the same way it has delivered for Manchester.

"I think the Welsh Labour government understands this really well, and in the conversations I've had with Mark Drakeford and many AMs, this is exactly what we're trying to do.”

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Campaigner of the year Minister of the year Conservative Backbencher of the year Shadow Minister of the year Public Service Awards Peer of the year Politician of the year (Female) Politician of the year (Male) Labour Backbencher of the year SNP Backbencher of the year

Public Life

❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑

Naga Munchetty stands by calling out Trump's racist comments A BBC breakfast presenter who had accused Donald Trump of his racist comments has said that she stands by her comments.

UK

In his speech which was received with commendable praise but overall silence, Phoenix emphasised, “We send a very clear message to people of colour that ‘you’re not welcome here.’ We have to do the hard work to truly understand systemic racism. It is the obligation of the people who have created and benefit from the system of oppression to be the ones to dismantle it. So that’s on us.”

Entrepreneur of the year Business Person of the year Enterprise of the year Travel company of the year Professional of the year Philanthropist of the year Community Service Awards Lifetime Achievement of the year Sports personality of the year Restaurant of the year

Nomination Form ■

Full name of the person you are nominating: ____________________________

■

His/Her contact details (Tel & email): ____________________________________

■

Occupation of the nominee: ___________________________________________

Please attach the nominees's CV which includes the following information (Please do not exceed a limit of 1000 words) (1) Personal background (2) Most important career achievements till date.

■

Naga Munchetty

employee from a minority group who feels they are able to bring their true self to work today. I don’t think you’ll be able to.”

At her Breakfast show, earlier last year Munchetty had said, “Every time I have been told, as a woman of colour, to go back to where I came from, that was embedded in racism”.

(3) Nominee's contribution to the community and nation.

(4) Future Plans, ambitions and visions.

(5) Any notable obstacles in the Nominee's career that has helped him/her to reach where they are today. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ■

Summary -

(In a separate sheet please include a summary of not more than 150 words why

the nominee is worthy of winning the particular award )

Your name: __________________________________________________________ ■ Your current occupation/Company: _____________________________________ ■ Tel: _________________________________________________________ ■ Email:_______________________________________________________________ ■

Joaquin Phoenix

The all-white acting nominees announced by Bafta last month provoked uproar, with the hashtag #BaftasSoWhite once more trending and some fearing this year’s ceremony might face a boycott.

Deadline for nomination: 14th February 2020

Make sure that you fill in this nomination form and email it on or before 14th February 2020 to L.George at george@abplgroup.com If you are sending it by post the address is: L.George, ABPL Group, Unit 1, 12 Hoxton Market, London N1 6HW.

10 READERS VOICE

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HS2 The cost of HS2, 106 billion pounds is ludicrous amount to invent. This is for the benefit of few. If the same amount is split between NHS, Education and in improving existing railway tracks, it would benefit all.

NHS is suffering due to shortage of medical staff.

There are too many management levels. The current staff is working their guts off to meet the demand.

Accident and emergency is overcrowded. Recently, I had been to hospital twice, once as an inpatient and another time in emergency. Both time my experience was excellent, however seeing other patient ( all ages) waiting to be seen with various health issues, I observed that nurses were rotating reception duty, first contact check of patients etc. There were two staff on the main reception, here I experienced different thing, I had rang 111 and they advice me to go to emergency and she will contact them to see you within an hour, when I arrived at the A&E, they told me there is no communication between them and 111. So there is the first gap. There are so many gaps like this in NHS, so The Government can put some of the money in NHS to improve effectively.

I am involved in Education system and I have noticed how schools are suffering with lack of funding.

All the schools, nationwide are allocated fund at the beginning of term in September, then some school get some student from abroad to join at Easter. This has direct impact on funding because they have to provide special need teachers with languages that those children who joined do not speak English language. All these school have to manage in funds that’s been allocated by any which way and the knock on effect on Teaches causing anxiety and stress. If the Government can review the funding allocation every 6 months then schools may be able to manage.

I have been watching on the news how some railway network users are unhappy with service. Arriving late at work, school or college does not help them to concentrate and has impact on their life style and end up with stress and depression because they don’t have any alternate but to put up with incompetence of rail network. If the government invest some money into this and improve the network and tracks, put some more train on at peak time, this will create more employment as well.

In my opinion, instead of spending 106 Billion pound on just one route, the same amount can be spent on much needed and useful causes.

Mrs. Alka Gandhi JP By email

Recollections I read your recollections in your A.V of 25th January with great interest about your first Republic Day celebrations.

It has stimulated my recollections some what similar that I wish to share with you and your readers if I may.

My father retired from Kolkata ( Calcutta ) in 1947 from a Scottish shipping company and came back home (Punjab) to live in his village. He was a freedom fighter in his own ways and terms ( a very long story, I was told). At home his interests were nothing but gardening in our back garden and visiting his ancestral land during his daily walk. And before his afternoon nap, he would read two papers, one from Kolkata (weekly) and the other a Punjabi one. Many a time I would hear him singing loud patriotic songs, door closed, especially about Neta Ji Subhash Chander Bose.

I believe that both his passion for gardening and his love for India are ingrained and inherited in me naturally because of his company in my teens.

For example, when I went from a middle school to a high school in a different village, there were 11 boys from my village including me who went to that new Khalsa high school, more than 2 miles from our village. In those days after partition, there was a lot of tension between the Akali party and the Congress one. And you know what? I always argued on my own to support the congress party against all other young Akali supporters. It was all due to my dear father’s company.

And also it was a great pleasure of mine to help my father in hoisting our national flag on the top of our house, the only single hoisting in our big village, which was not liked by many villagers. But my dear Father never cared what people thought. A great sincere patriot was my dear father.

B S Grewal (Bobby) By email What do you think?

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

Well Deserved Honours

Our Republic Day

It made pleasant reading in Asian Voice regarding the latest honours list, not by Her Majesty’s Government but by Indian government honouring my two favourite Members of Parliament, MP Barry Gardiner and Bob Blackman who both received much acclaimed honour of Padma Shri, along with two stalwarts, masterly Arun Jaitley and fiercely loyal Sushma Swaraj, who both sadly passed away last year, leaving big vacuum at the top, as both of them were holding high post in PM Modi’s government.

Barry, MP for Brent North, which includes my constituency of Kingsbury, is a popular MP when it comes to helping his constituents, as he has stood by me many times in my hour of need. I interviewed Barry for Asian Voice and India Link soon after he was elected.

Unfortunately he lost some of Indian, especially Gujarati votes due to Labour Party’s stand on Kashmir.

Another lustrous ex Labour MP who deserves such an accolade is Stephen Pound, founder member of Labour Friends of India, who did not stand at the last election, disappointing his vast followers across political divide.

Both are founder members of “Labour Friends of India” once an active and popular organization which has somehow gone into hibernation recently. Let us hope that under new Labour leader, it will gain its former glory and trust of the Indian Community!

Bob Blackman, Conservative MP for Harrow East, is the darling of British Indian community. He captured the seat, defeating Labour’s popular MP Tony McNulty. Even Navin Shah, a very popular Labour member of London Assembly could not recapture the seat for Labour, Indian voters faithfully standing by him, as he stood by them and India, time and again, making him the most pro India and well informed MP in history of HOC! Others who deserve similar honour are Gareth Thomas, Priti Patel, Lord Popat and few more. Let us hope AV will provide such good news next year!

I was pleased to read the contribution made by Mr B S Grewal on our Republic Day Celebration by bravely facing the protesters at the Indian High Commission. I fully endorse his sentiments that more of us need to be active and counter any anti India demonstrations.Some of these anti India protests are politically motivated and often financed by external agencies.I also would like to thank our honourable editor in chief ,Mr C B Patel for his excellent " As I See It" on "The Economist's Redundant Provocation". I totally agree with his views and challenging the lack of factual and balanced analysis used in the article. I suspect the sources used by such renowned publications as this and others like Washington Post,New York Times, CNN are the same pseudo intellectuals and so called secularists. Our PM Modi winning 2 elections in a row has ruffled their feathers and their egos have been massively bruised. The Modi government has battled hard to change the narrative of old India( Congress) and successfully won the hearts of the majority of people, via 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Viswas'. He has provided hope and genuinely helped the poor through his inspiring national programmes.Anti CAA demonstrations are desperate measures by anti India forces including anti Modi political groups and eminent academic and Bollywood personalities to destabilise India and distract Modi government from achieving his vision for New India. I am convinced these forces will not be allowed to win and we all Indians need to be fully aware of their motives.

Bharat Naik By email

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

Canada’s unity in diversity The other day I went to mail a Christmas card to a nonChristian friend. After applying the stamp, I requested the postal clerk Indra ( Hindu immigrant from Sri Lanka) to write the name of my daughter Aarti Patel on a Secret Santa gift card ( Our grandchildren organised Secret Santa within the family ) and she can recognise my handwriting easily. Indra was more than happy to help me. As I began to leave, she wished me a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I reciprocated in true festive spirit.

Another customer standing behind me overheard us.

Of Chinese origin, he wished me well for the greetings and said being a Roman Catholic, he was overwhelmed by my wishes. I said that's the beauty of Canada – Unity in Diversity.

The Sanatan Temple in Markham and other Hindu temples across the Greater Toronto Area celebrate Christmas every year. They organise parties for children, and also observe Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, and Remembrance Day among other days. Despite the random spurts of incidents that often mar the otherwise unified spirit of this country, I am very much overwhelmed to see the ocean of humanity which is the real essence of Canada. Bhavna and I wish Merry Christmas ( January 7) and Happy New Year( January 14) as per the Julian calendar to our Orthodox brothers and sisters. God bless all.

Suresh & Bhavna Patel by email

Woodford Equity Income fund Open letter for Neil Woodford and Craig Newman, We followed you blindly when you launched Woodford Equity Income fund as you were one of the best fund manager with your previous employer and lots of people withdrew their money to invest in your funds as for me I was getting very low returns form saving account from banks and building society. In the first year you gave us good returns and I got greedy and withdrew all of our saving to invest it into your funds yet we got our fingers burnt due to your mistakes as it was our money you took gamble with and also made sure you got your profits and dividends over the years totalling some £ 111.8 million, yet when you decided to close your funds I was only loosing 40% of our investment and now your fund been Liquidated we only got back less than 40 % back.

We are both pensioners and we will never see £40,000 lost we made due to your negligibly. I hope if you have sympathy please kindly donate some of our money to Diabetes UK which you took from the charges and dividends during you were managing your funds funds totalling £118.8 million. Thanking you Parimal Patel By email

CAA and related changes The introduction of the CAA and related changes in India have sparked significant emotions on all sides of the political spectrum in India and outside. Every country has a sovereign right to protect its borders and to choose who it lets in, keeps in, and asks to leave.

I understand there are a lot of people for it, and a lot against too. I understand that emotions have not allowed the constitutional, policy and human rights elements of arguments on both sides to argued separately and rationally.

But people have died. Activists have been detained.

Some politicians have been openly inciting violence. I’ve received dozens of WhatsApp forwards in the last few weeks that are, let me be absolutely clear, racist. They are not consistent with my British values.

For a government that prides itself on its messaging, led by India’s tallest leader for decades, its response to the protests seems like an unmitigated disaster. I fully appreciate that the strategy behind its response is a wish to project strength, but it is getting in the way of policymaking and governance. The Constitution of India starts with “We, the People”. In responding to its citizens’ concerns, humility and rapprochement could have furthered the Government’s objectives much better. The Government has achieved so much in the last five years – why not focus on the positives, rather than lowering the level of the discourse?

Tara Sahgal, Intern, Bridge India by email

Cheap Tactics While reading the latest edition of Asian Voice, I was shocked to read about British Pakistanis’ latest protest at the Indian High Commission on 26th January. This doesn’t seem to stop! British Pakistanis have shown so much disrespect to Indians as well as Hindus by conducting protests on India’s Independence Day, Diwali Day and Republic Day. They have showcased low character in two folds. Firstly in choosing the days for these protests and secondly how they conducted them. If you want to protest against something then fair enough, react when that particular event happened not when Indians have got together to celebrate their Independence Day at the Indian High Commission or when Hindus are celebrating their biggest and most important day of the year. On 15th August, the amount of British Pakistanis got together, the way they gathered around Indian High Commission cornering peaceful Indian families comprising of mostly children & women along with the way they shown their anger & frustration was so shameful! Eggs, tomatoes & potatoes were thrown by strong & aggressive group of 5000 to 7000 British Pakistanis mostly men targeting peaceful Indians, 100s of men, women and children along with the Indian High Commission.

Devang Bhatt, Basildon by email Continued on page 11

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EDUCATION

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8 - 14 February 2020

Universities call to keep EU research links after Brexit According to the BBC university leaders in the UK and Europe have signed a joint statement calling for UK universities to remain part of European research schemes after Brexit.

Before UK left the European Union, 36 higher education groups have called for a "swift agreement" to allow UK universities to rejoin EU research networks and Erasmus student exchanges. The country could pay to join these schemes as associate members.

The CBI business group backed the statement, as did Universities UK. The statement, issued by representatives of university, research and science groups across

Europe, says it would be of "clear mutual benefit" for UK universities to have "full association" with European research projects.

In response, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, said it is "open to collaborating" in EU programmes, "if it's in the UK's interests".

Universities in the UK have been leading partners - and among the biggest fainancial beneficiaries - of research funded on a European basis, including major science projects.

The next research round, Horizon Europe, will be worth about €100bn (£84bn) - but so far there have been no terms agreed on which UK universities can par-

ticipate. Countries outside the EU can take part, but the cost and terms of membership have still to be negotiated.

Universities Minister Chris Skidmore commented that in the current round of EU research, UK institutions have taken about £5bn of the funding pot. The representatives want a deal to be reached by the end of the year on UK participation in research projects.

They also want an agreement to allow the Erasmus student exchanges to continue.

The statement, from university leaders , from both UK and EU says it would be "good for all of us" if UK universities were able to "continue to work together" with their European counterparts.

READERS VOICE Un-littering Britain Those who have long memories, going back to early sixties when some of us seek shelter in this far away shores, leaving behind idealistic life in sunny East Africa, will remember how much this country has changed in the last few decades, not for the better, whether it is on honesty, cleanliness, respect for the elderly and on many other fronts as well. Print industry, leading national newspapers like ever popular Daily Mail plays a leading part in nudging the government to introduce new laws, toughing the existing ones, as well as encouraging public to be law abiding, being good citizens and keep Britain clean and tidy.

Daily Mail’s recruitment for volunteers for their “Annual Spring Cleaning” is now well under way, thousands of ordinary people, including many youngsters from local schools have already signed up, the figure exceeding 65,000 in the first week, is truly amazing, especially as our springs are not always sunny and warm, even snow fall in March and April is not unusual.

No one will be surprised if last year’s prestigious figure of half a million volunteers is exceeded by staggering numbers who will fill-up thousands of plastic black bin bags with rubbish generated by selfish, thoughtless public, cleaning up our streets, cities, parks, countryside, river banks and beaches, covering every part of the nation, from Aberdeen in Scotland to Land’s End, the southern-most point on the mainland!

It is time government give them helping hand, appreciate their unselfish contribution and members of the general public to join en masse and help this noble cause to keep our nation clean and litter free! But this spring cleaning may not be necessary if British people are disciplined and law abiding like the people of Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore and a few more!

How come this great nation has lost its morality, sense of pride and purpose!

Kumudini Valambia By email

World Book Day 2020 Reading opened wide world portals for me in my own childhood. It allowed my imagination to soar and to travel to places beyond whatever situation I found myself in. Reading is a great equaliser- it inspires us to meet our fellow humans, to understand, empathise and enter landscapes we could never dream of experiencing in one lifetime. Reading contributes to a better quality of life, impacts on our health, spirit, educational opportunities and well being… it connects us to each other and our own humanity.

I have seen first-hand - through working with refugee children forced to travel and surviving alone, without family what a transformational impact escaping into a book can have in helping them to keep hope alive in unimaginably unstable situations they should never have to face.

To hear a child laugh and reconnect to childhood in these harsh circumstances is life affirming. It is out of this instinct that I created a magical story hive in my book Where The River Runs Gold, where the children take refuge whenever they need.

However, for millions of children across the globe, especially those dis-

placed and living in war-torn countries, access to this story hive of books is closed to them.

I want every child to be able to reach for that book that brings them light.

That’s why this World Book Day (Thursday 5th March) I’m supporting Book Aid International. Their fundraising efforts mean more children and young people will have access to books. Every day I’m inspired by the stories children have to tell and being a part of World Book Day means we can spread the enjoyment of reading even further.

Just £2 helps send another book, giving children the opportunity to read, learn and have fun. The Book Aid International website (www.bookaid.org) has plenty of exciting World Book Day fundraising ideas for schools and parents. Whether you host a Big Booky Breaktime, have a sponsored Read-A-Thon or run your own unique fundraising event, it will have a positive effect.

Sita Brahmachari, Author London SE5 9NR by email

50% of 10-year-olds own a smartphone

According to a report by media regulator Ofcom fifty per cent of the UK's 10-year-olds owned a smartphone in 2019 and doubled between the ages of nine and 10, which Ofcom dubbed "the age of digital independence".

In addition, 24% of 3 and 4-year-olds had their own tablet, and 15% of them were allowed to take it to bed.

The regulator's annual report looks at the media habits of children, and the types of devices they are using. The 2019 study was based on more than 3,200 interviews with children and parents around the UK. The Ofcom report also found that more older children were using social media to express their support for social causes and organisations, with 18% having shared or commented on a post, and one in ten having signed an online petition.

Other key findings for 2019 included: ● 48% of girls aged 5-15 played online games, compared with 71% of boys. Boys spent twice as long playing, clocking up 14.5 hours per week, compared with 7.5 for girls ● Snapchat and Facebook

remained the most popular social media platforms of older children, but 62% were also using WhatsApp (up from 43% in 2018) ● 99% of children aged 5-15 used a TV set, 27% used a smart speaker and 22% used a radio ● 80% of the children in the report watched video-ondemand, and 25% watched no live broadcast TV at all.

One nine-year-old girl told researchers: "I don't really

like the TV because you can't pick what channels are on it".

The regulator also interviewed parents about their concerns and found that 45% of parents thought the benefits of children using the internet outweighed the risks, but there was an overall increase in parental concern about young people seeing content that might lead them to selfharm.

12 MEDIA WATCH

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SCRUTATOR’S The IAF remains fully convinced that Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman, who was awarded the Vir Chakra on Independence Day last year, shot down a Pakistani F-16 before his MiG-21 itself was downed during the aerial skirmish on February 27 last year, while rubbishing reports that the narrative was far-fetched. “Despite the enemy’s immense numerical and technological superiority, Wing Commander Varthaman proceeded to courageously engage the enemy aircraft with utter disregard to his personal safety,” says the gallantry citation for the Vir Chakra, which was not made public earlier.

Abhi shot down Pak F-16, confirms Vir Chakra citation

The pre-dawn air strikes on the Jaish-e-Mohammed facility at Balakot on February 26 last year and the subsequent skirmish between Indian and Pakistani fighters garnered a dozen medals for the IAF. It included Vayu Sena Medals for the five Mirage-2000 pilots who successfully struck the JeM facility with Spice-2000 penetration bombs after crossing the Line of Control in the early hours of February 26.

The next day, Pakistan mounted a massive retaliation with advanced fourth generation F-16 and JF-17 fighters. The enemy aircraft were armed with beyond visual range air-to-air missiles and advanced high-calibre air-toground stand-off weapons. Wing Commander Varthaman was among the fighter pilots who were scrambled from Srinagar airbase to intercept the incoming hostile jets. “Displaying exceptional air combat acumen and knowledge of the enemy’s tactics, Varthaman scanned the low altitude airspace with his airborne intercept radar and picked up an enemy aircraft that was flying low to ambush the Indian fighter interceptors,” says the citation. (The Times of India).

Cheetah to roam Indian jungles after 75 years More than 70 years after it was hunted to extinction by maharajas and the British, cheetah, the world's fastest animal will soon roam Indian jungles, initially in Kuno Palpur sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh. For a decade, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has been knocking on the Supreme Court’s door for introduction of cheetah into Kuno Palpur sanctuary saying this was an ideal habitat for the animals to be brought from Namibia. But the SC in 2013 refused to experiment by introducing ‘foreign species’ without a proper study on its

impact on jungle fauna.

Last week, noted environment conservationist M K Ranjitsinh argued for introduction of cheetah from Africa. “This is the only species the Indian jungles have lost though we have managed to maintain a healthy number of other endangered species. It can be introduced in India after studying suitability of habitat,” he said. The last of the cheetahs are said to have been hunted down in 1947 by the maharaja of Sarguja, now in Madhya Pradesh. A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant said it was not re-introduction but introduction of African cheetah to the Indian jungle. Praising Ranjitsinh’s work in wildlife conservation, especially in raising the numbers of Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan, it said, “Cheetah will be introduced on an experimental basis after carefully choosing the habitat, nurtured and watched to see whether it can adapt to Indian jungles.” The NTCA had zeroed in on Kuno Palpur sanctuary for introduction of cheetah. “If it finds it difficult to adapt to the chosen location, the committee comprising Ranjitsinh, Wildlife Institute of India’s Dhananjai Mohan and DIG (wildlife) in ministry of environment and forests will supervise and guide the NTCA to choose the most suitable environment for its introduction,” the bench said. (The Times of India).

Nirbhaya case convicts testing India's Patience: Centre tells HC The manner in which four death row convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape and murder case are abusing the legal system is testing the patience of India, the Centre told Delhi High Court in a rare hearing.

The Centre challenged a trial court's order to stay the execution, meant for February 1 and reminded

Mukesh Singh

Vinay Sharma

Akshay Thakur

Pawan Gupta

Nirbhaya case convicts testing India's Patience Centre tells HC

of the atrocities the 23-year-old went through. The Nirbhaya case was termed "rarest of rare" crime by judges, and it certainly was. Six, including a minor, raped her on a moving bus, inserted rods in her private parts, pulled out her intestines and then dumped her to die on the road.

After undergoing treatment in Delhi, Nirbhaya was shifted to Singapore, where she died on December 29, 2012. Courtesy a quick trial, the four convicts Akshay, Pawan, Mukesh, and Vinay, were sentenced to death in 2013. One key accused committed suicide, and the juvenile was punished accordingly. While the prompt sentencing was welcomed by all, the convicts exploited legal loopholes to escape. They were set to be hanged on January 22 but weren't. The hanging didn't happen on February 1, either.

Speaking about the same delay in its plea, the Centre told HC about the alleged encounter of rapists in the Hyderabad vet-rape case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the celebrations after the alleged rapists were killed showed people were losing faith in the criminal justice delivery system. He said the judiciary's credibility and power to go ahead with the execution are at stake.

(The Indian Express).

SC fixes 10-day period for hearing Sabarimala issue The Supreme Court has fixed a 10day time period for wrapping up proceedings in the matter relating to discrimination against women at religious places, including Kerala's Sabarimala temple. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India S A Bobde said questions to be dealt with would be purely legal in nature, and, therefore, it would not take more than 10 days to conclude the hearing. "It cannot take more than 10 days. Even if someone wants more time, it cannot be given," stated the ninejudge bench, which also comprised Justices R Banumathi, Ashok Bhushan, L Nageswara Rao, B R Gavai, S A Nazeer, M M Shantanagoudar, R Subhash Reddy, and Surya Kant. The court's observation came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta mentioned before the apex court that all the counsels of various parties could not frame the common legal questions to be considered by the nine-judge bench. The bench then asked Mehta to furnish issues dealt by lawyers in the meeting.

(Agency).

Two biz scions held for sex & blackmail Two young scions of prominent business families in Kolkata were arrested for an alleged sex-andblackmail racket that involved filming their intimate moments

with multiple women and extorting money from them by threatening to make the clips public. A cook employed by one of these families was also arrested for his alleged involvement in the racket, which police said spanned several years. Video grabs of 182 women were seized during the three-month investigation that led to the arrest of Aditya Aggarwal and Anish Loharuka, both in their 20s, along with employee Kailash Yadav. Aditya's family owns an ethnic apparel retail chain with a nationwide presence while Anish's family runs several hotels in the city. (The Times of India).

Man who took 25 kids hostage killed, wife stoned to death Subhash Batham, a murder convict who held a fake birthday party for his daughter in UP’s Farrukhabad and then held 25 children who were his “guests” hostage for several hours, was shot dead by police. His wife, Ruby, who was allegedly an accomplice to the act, died in a hospital soon after angry local residents pelted her with stones, lynching her.

Police filed an FIR against 300 unknown people under Section 302 (murder). Police, forensic teams and the bomb disposal squad claimed they had recovered 145 crude bombs, including a cylinder bomb and a can bomb,

along with wire, battery, tape, sutali (thread) that they said were used in a bomb hurled by Batham during the night, injuring two constables.

Police said Batham acquired his “bomb-making skills” during a 12-year stint in jail after he was convicted of murder. The basement in which he held the children hostage doubled up as his laboratory where he painstakingly readied the crude bombs, cops added, suggesting he had been planning his act for a long time.

But his motives, there are different theories - anger at the residents for boycotting him for a long time for marrying a Dalit woman, allegedly being left out of government schemes, and enmity against those who testified against him in court in the murder case.

(Agency).

26 killed in bus-rickshaw collision At least 26 people were killed following a collision between a bus and an autorickshaw in Maharashtra's Nashik district. The bodies of the victims fell in a well and later recovered. A senior police official said that 32 people were under treatment in different hospitals. The accident occurred when a speeding ST bus collided with an autorickshaw, causing both the vehicles to fall into a roadside well. More than 18 people also suffered injuries in the accident which took place at Meshi Phata on the MalegaonDeola Road in the North Maharashtra district. The deceased included passengers travelling in both the vehicles, the official said, adding the bus driver also lost his life in the crash. The impact of the collision was so severe that the bus dragged the rickshaw along with it and both the vehicles fell into the well.

(Agency.

Gay couple moves court to legalise their marriage

Gay couple moves court to legalise their marriage

A gay couple has moved the Kerala High Court, seeking to strike down certain provisions under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which do not permit to get their marriage registered. Considering the writ petition by the petitioners, the court has sought the views of Central and state governments on the matter. The petitioners, a business man and an IT professional had met each other in May 2018 and fallen in love. After being in a relationship for two months, they decided to get hitched. In September last year, they got married in a private ceremony. However, the religious authorities declined to solemnise the wedding and hence the couple decided to get their marriage registered under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, which does not recognise homosexual marriages. In their plea, the gay couple stated that it was aggrieved by the provisions of the Special Marriage Act, 1954 whereby the law provided therein only permits a heterosexual (opposite sex) couple to get married and a homosexual couple like them is denied equal access to the institution of marriage.

(Agency).

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1 - 7 February 2020

Indian diaspora owned businesses contribute BAME veterans struggling to £36.8bn to UK economy find employment in London A new research report celebrating the contribution of Indian diaspora in the UK highlights the value of Indian diaspora-owned businesses to the UK economy.

The research, ‘India in the UK: the diaspora effect’, completed by Grant Thornton UK LLP in collaboration with the High Commission of India in the UK and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI UK), found that 654 Indian diaspora-owned companies in the UK have a turnover of at least £100,000.

These businesses are making a significant contribution to the UK economy, recording combined revenues of £36.84 billion and employing just over 174,000 people. They also pay over £1 billion in corporation tax and invest close to £2 billion through capital expenditure.

The report aims to help develop a better understanding of the contributions of businesses owned by people of Indian origin to the UK and builds on the insight developed by the annual ‘India Meets Britain’ tracker which provides a picture of the fastest-growing Indian companies in the UK, as well as the top Indian employers.

The research also shows that these Indian diaspora-owned businesses are focused on five key sectors: hospitality, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, retail and wholesale, real estate and construction, and food and beverage.

Biggest Indian diaspora employers

Major employers (those employing more than 1000 people) among Indian diaspora-owned businesses, generate a total of over 140,000 jobs. The largest employer is B&M Retail Ltd, employing almost 26,500 people, while food and beverage company Boparan Holdings provides close to 22,000 jobs across the UK. Of the top employers, those in the hospitality and the food and beverage sectors account for nearly a quarter of the total employment.

Diaspora entrepreneurs favour real estate, trading and medicine The research also shows that the 654 large Indian diaspora-owned businesses are focused on five key sectors: hospitality, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, retail and wholesale, real estate and construction, and food and beverage. This focus reflects the natural inclinations of the diaspora community towards real estate, trading and medicine.

The report predicts that over time, with the emergence of second and third generations, this focus will evolve.

Mrs Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner of India to the UK, said, “The Prime Minister of India, Mr Narendra Modi, warmly describes the UK’s Indian diaspora community as a ‘living bridge’ between the two countries. With not only valuable contributions to industry and business, but also to the areas of academia, literature, arts, medicine, science, sport and

politics, the diaspora adds to the rich tapestry of British culture, which is widely acknowledged and appreciated. Though this report looks only at the businesses with an annual turnover of more than £100,000 we hope that contributions of the many smaller enterprises will be added in future reports.”

Anuj Chande, Partner and Head of South Asia Group at Grant Thornton UK LLP, said, “A flair for entrepreneurship sees Indian diaspora-run businesses making an increasingly important contribution to the UK economy.

Our research suggests there are now more than 65,000 Indian diaspora-owned businesses in the UK. From trailblazers such as the late Lord Gulam Noon MBE who arrived in the UK with just £50 in the 1970s and built a business empire catering to Briton’s love of curry, to new generation Britons of Indian Heritage such as Rishi Khosla of Oaknorth Bank or the Arora brothers of the B&M retail chain, the Indian diaspora community is a powerful force in the UK economy.”

The Rt. Hon. Baroness Usha Prashar of Runnymede CBE, PC and Chairperson FICCI UK said, “The economic contribution of the Indian diaspora in the UK is rightly applauded and commented upon, but to date it has not been quantified. This report is an attempt to fill that gap. It provides very helpful information which we hope will be built upon in the future. The key findings are matter for both pride and celebration.”

Rupanjana Dutta A military employment charity has said that black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) veterans are struggling to find employment in London.

The revelation comes after RFEA – The Forces Employment Charity Forces for London Programme, an employment support service solely dedicated to providing jobs and careers advice to ex-Servicemen and women living in the capital, received an “unprecedented” number of BAME applicants- even when the number of ex-military from the community living in the capital is not much.

In fact since the launch in November 2017, the programme has attracted 56% BAME applicants, a figure 10 times greater than the predicted 5%.

Sanjay who served in the Army for 12 years and has struggled to find meaningful employment in London told Asian Voice exclusively, “Since leaving the military I’ve faced a number of challenges from debt, to housing and relationship problems. I moved to the UK from India, so I don’t have a support network here, which makes tackling big life issues that much harder.”

Therefore, RFEA is calling for more to be done to support BAME ex-Forces job seekers. Sanjay added, “I’m still haven’t found a secure civilian role, but having joined RFEA’s Forces for London gives me hope.

Knowing RFEA is there to help me with things like my CV, interview technique, as well as signposting to

jobs with employers who value the skills of ex-Forces men and women, makes a huge difference.”

Deputy Mayor of London for Social Integration, Social Mobility, Debbie Weekes-Bernard told the newspaper, “Our armed forces make unimaginable sacrifices in order to keep us safe so it is only right we provide our veterans with the help they deserve once they return to civilian life.

“While they have gained extensive skills in service, it is clear that veterans from BAME communities in the capital face particular challenges finding meaningful work once they leave the forces. The Forces for London programme provides crucial support to veterans from diverse backgrounds, offering them invaluable insight into the job market and helping them develop the competitive edge they need to compete in an ever-changing job market.”

Alistair Halliday, Chief Executive of RFEA said, “We know that Service leavers and veterans face a unique set of challenges when seeking civilian employment. We were surprised to hear from such a high number of BAME applicants, as there is a relatively small number of BAME exmilitary li ving in the capital, so it shows that more needs to be done to make sure that all ex-servicemen and women are getting the support they need to find employment opportunities that enable them to thrive.”

Forces for London is delivered in partnership with the Mayor of London and part funded by the European Social Fund.

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14 COMMUNITY

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Gandhiji’s death anniversary Kapil’s Khichadi observed at Tavistock square Madness of On a day overladen with thick rainy clouds over London, Tavistock Square saw a sombre gathering of enthusiastic Indians. They were commemorating the “Gandhi Nirvaan divas” (Martyr’s Day) in fond memory of Mahatma Gandhi.

To grace the occasion were present The High Commissioner of India, Ruchi Ghanashyam; Deputy High Commissioner of India, Charanjeet Singh, Member of Parliament, Virendra Sharma MP; Deputy Mayor of Camden, Sabrina Francis; Chairman, India League, CB Patel; Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Nanda Kumara Maur.

While paying glorious tributes to the father of nation, the speakers took opportunity to reflect on Mahatma’s life and its relevance today.

The High Commissioner

Deputy Mayor for Camden Sabrina Francis addressing the audience in presence of High Commissioner of India to UK, Ruchi Ghanashyam

reflected on the moment, when Gandhiji was thrown out and left alone at the Pietermaritzburg Railway Station in Pretoria. She highlighted how key political movement leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela drew inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. Barack Obama is the new age leader to

acknowledge his reverence for the Mahatma.

CB Patel of India League, spoke passionately about Mahatma’s contribution to inspiring changes across the world. Mr. Patel pointed out that even today, Mahatma’s philosophies are relevant and can provide solutions to our contemporary struggles

like climate change, terrorism, ecological and social injustices.

London, always has been the centre of world’s attention, with hundreds of visitors passing Tavistock Square each day.

According to Mr. Patel, this statue of “Mahatma in Meditation” continues to emit message of peace and non-violence to all, around the world.

The occasion resonated with Bapu’s favourite bhajans like ‘‘Vaiṣṇava jana to tene kahiye’ and Raghupati Rāghav Rājārām’. The students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London imbued their melodious voice to those bhajans.

While the British weather made its presence, the cold windy drizzle shivering the city, it brought our thoughts closer to realisation, sacrifices Mahatma Gandhi made, to give mantra of achieving freedom without violence.

Students from Bhavans performing

Death of young mum on her wedding day inspires concert to help fund raise A mum-of-two from Lambeth, South London, who died just minutes after marrying the love of her life, was the inspiration for a Deepak Pandit concert to raise awareness of brain tumours.

photo courtesy: Dinesh Joshi

Louise Simonsen, who worked for a homeless outreach service, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma multi-

forme (GBM)brain tumour in November 2018, aged just 41. Given a stark prognosis of one to two years, Louise died nine months later, on the day she married her long-term partner, Shaff Prabatani, 49. The couple lived together in Streatham Common with their two daughters, Alia aged nine and seven-year-old Hannah Sofia.

Alia, Louise, Hannah Sofia and Shelina

Deepak Pandit

On 26 January Louise’s sister-in-law, Shelina Prabatani, a diversity, inclusion and wellbeing adviser, hosted a concert in her memory, to raising more than £2,000 for the charity Brain Tumour Research.

The event at Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End was an evening of Sufi, Fusion, Classical & Ghazal,

featuring acclaimed Indian classical and fusion musician, Deepak Pandit.

Producer, instrumentalist, vocalist and orchestral composer Deepak is hailed as one of the serious, young exponents of Indian classical music. He was accompanied by the vocals of young singing talent Abira Shah, from Feltham.

woke

Kapil Dudakia I use the term ‘woke’ in as fluid a way as possible. After all, everything it seems is very fluid in the 21st Century. People have made an industry out of making up terms that mean nothing; but allows them the freedom to exercise their fake outrage and empathy at anything and everything. ‘Woke’ it seems is an act of being pretentious about how much you care about a social or political issue.

The operative word being, ‘pretentious’. In reality the vast majority of them have very little sense or knowledge on any of the topics they outrage about.

Equalities and human rights have been hijacked by the socalled millennials, the mediawalas, the celebrities and the selfobsessed academics.

They shout, scream, protest, riot, vandalise and are ever ready to jump on any bandwagon that happens to be passing by.

‘Woke’ it seems is even worse than being PC. We now have people who in their ignorance, or stupidity, or both in many cases feel that they have an entitlement to attack anyone who dares to challenge their madness.

They thrive on their freedom of expression to attack society that gives them the very system that affords them those freedoms.

However, what is even more maddening is that these same rights that they enjoy attacking others, they wish to revoke to those who stand up to them.

That’s their kind of equality, I guess!

At the Golden Globes, Ricky Gervais tore into the ‘wokes’.

He said, "You're in no position to lecture the public about anything, you know nothing about the real world.

Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg". He dared to look the fake outrage celebrities in the eye and tell them some home truths.

They laughed, nervously, knowing that any one of them could be next to get roasted.

It seems the cult of protest is a full time occupation for many.

Whether it’s anti-

Brexit, anti-Tories, anti-Jews, Kashmir, climate change and extinction rebellion, anti-Trump or whatever. When Brexiters dared to stand up, the remainers threw insults and abuse. When that failed, Brexiters were called racist – all 17.4m of them! Even I was called a racist for supporting Brexit. Can you imagine that? I have faced racism for more than five decades. My generation suffered real extreme racism in public, and we have got todays millennials who think they can lecture us about racism? Extend this madness and witness the rise of antisemitism that is being promoted mostly by the far-left. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s the far-left that is the real danger to our society today.

The silent majority that don’t get the airtime, are now voting to show their intent. Boris, Trump and Modi won because the silent majority have had enough of extreme socialists and so called ‘liberals’. Don’t be too surprised to see this same pattern repeat across the globe.

When the power of media, the celebrities, the academics and the politicians ignore the majority, it’s only a matter of time before there is a reaction. We are lucky that this reaction has been via the ballot box. However, push this envelope further and don’t be too surprised if it takes a nasty turn.

I came across this quote, ‘I tend to become uncomfortable around all ideologies that brand themselves as “the truth” or “the only way”.

This not only includes most religions, but also atheism, radical bi-partisan politics or any system of thought, including “woke” culture, that finds its energy in selfrighteous belief and the suppression of contrary systems of thought.

Regardless of the virtuous intentions of many woke issues, it is its lack of humility and the paternalistic and doctrinal sureness of its claims that repel me’. I leave it to you to find out who said it.

(Expressed opinions are personal.)

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TLIGHT

Shiv Haria-Shah

UK

15

8 - 14 February 2020

CELEBRATING LIFE AND WORK OF ARTISANS

The Bar and Beyond

Shiv Haria-Shah

Sunetra Senior

S

hiv is a Barrister and Mediator who sits at the sharp end of social and corporate responsibility. His work is a cross-over between law, strategy and international business. Shiv became Director of the specialist legal firm, Fulcrum Chambers Ltd, based in The Shard, at the age of just 28, having previously served as one of London’s youngest Magistrates and worked for a current member of the Cabinet.

He performs a valuable role, noting “the majority of my work involves investigations, advising on and implementing bespoke compliance programmes as well as representing companies at trial.” He told us that he is “also called upon to give expert evidence on English law, in particular the Bribery Act 2010, from time to time.”

Describing his firm he said, “we don’t shout about a lot of what we do but we’ve been involved in, and continue to be involved in, the very best work in the market and serve as discreet advisors to governments and companies, including listed multi-nationals, across a range of sectors from Mining, Oil & Gas, Banking, Defence and Engineering.”

farmer. My paternal grandfather was a truck driver. Neither of them had any formal education but both recognized the value of personal responsibility and individual endeavour. Like so many others, they both came to the UK from India, via East Africa, in search of a better life for their families. In time, both started successful businesses which continue to flourish and create employment today. They were also supported throughout by strong women, who survive them, and who worked even harder, and sacrificed even more, so their children would have opportunities that they themselves never did. The fearlessness of that generation, a generation that is starting to disappear, who came from overseas dreaming of a more secure and prosperous future, is humbling.”

Shiv also acts as a mentor for the Social Mobility Foundation, which improves opportunity for aspiring young people. “I believe that the two deciding factors in any life are luck, taken in its many forms, and hard work; my upbringing taught me the value of both. I believe that society, working at its best, increases the

rewards of the latter while minimizing the effects of the lack of the former.

There have historically been issues within the law but there is a clear *** recognition by the guardians of the Shiv elaborated: “My career as a profession that a lack of diversity Barrister has evolved from traditional poses a threat to one of the jewels of practice in a set of Chambers to acting, the economy. I’m hopeful for the within a specialist legal business, as a future in this regard based on the trusted advisor providing independent commitment and changes that I see.” advice to companies and boards to He further commented on his facilitate commercial decision-making own journey: “I’m surrounded on a and risk management.” Indeed, Shiv day-to-day basis by incredibly able specifically identifies “advocacy and people that I admire greatly. The people” as his motivation. “It’s a privifounders of Fulcrum Chambers Ltd lege to be paid for your advice and have been very supportive of my strategic judgment and it is very career, disregarding some of rewarding to both shoulder the more anachronistic and relieve burdens for peopractices which still perple who find themselves “I don’t think sist in the legal industry, in difficult situations.

The work we do is prethat we are living valuing merit over hierarchy and encourdominantly internain a more corrupt aging an tional in nature and requires high levels of world, I believe the e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l ethos.”

EQ as well as pure opposite to be ”I don’t think that ‘black-letter’ legal skills. true" we are living in a more Sophisticated advice corrupt world – quite the involves the ability to think opposite…” Shiv stated on the creatively. It’s very satisfying topic of white-collar crime. “A lot my to use every part of your mind and work is around prevention and assistpersonality to achieve successful outing our clients to manage their reputacomes for those that you represent and tions to avoid situations escalating to indeed for those outcomes often to be the point where they fall under the so clearly measurable.” The benefit of media and regulatory spotlight. open yet measured wisdom and guidCompanies are recognising the comance has been one of the defining facmercial benefits that can be achieved tors in the multidimensional lawyer’s as a welcome byproduct of a focus on life. “I was incredibly fortunate to have integrity, sustainability and ethical a childhood where I spent a lot of time practices. The availability of easily with my grandparents,” he continued. searchable electronic data, cross-bor“My maternal grandfather was a

der cooperation and the law enforcement tools at the disposal of regulators mean that businesses are under an unprecedented intensity of scrutiny.

As to the question of whether companies need greater oversight, its important to keep in mind that change at a macro level isn’t driven by regulators and lawyers but by investors and shareholders.”

Shiv concluded by cautioning on the danger of an inflexible mindset within the legal industry, “Firms that can’t or won’t adapt to reflect the commerciality and modern working practices of their clients will struggle to survive. Increased consciousness as to the importance of well-being will mean that bigger firms will have to consider moving away from draconian billing targets that not only foster inefficiency but at worst, ‘creative accounting’. The professional services industry is having to think very carefully as to how it attracts and retains the brightest people who are capable of independent thought.

Increasing starting salaries is not enough and will, in any event, be unsustainable in the medium to long term as clients scrutinise the value that their advisors provide with increasing sophistication and rigour.”

He added: “The difficulty is that given the obsession with hierarchy in the traditional legal profession, these changes affecting the industry are, in the short term at least, unlikely to materially to affect those who occupy well-remunerated leadership positions within large firms. There is a risk therefore that the incentives to drive rapid change and future-proof the businesses that they oversee are limited.”

What has been a highlight of your career?

Over the past five years I have acted for the French multi-national, Alstom, both at trial and in the Court of Appeal as part of one of the most significant prosecutions in the history of UK financial crime. The company was acquitted of three of the four charges brought by the Serious Fraud Office.

These sorts of cases don’t come along very often and it may be that with the advent of Deferred Prosecution Agreements, there won’t be a case of similar magnitude for many years.

What is your advice to current aspiring lawyers?

I read Law at university and decided not to pursue a training contract at a Magic Circle law firm in favour of a career at the Bar. I’m not sure I would be making the same choices today.

Pursue a non-legal degree that you truly enjoy – life is too short to waste so much time memorising information that can be accessed at the click of a button in the ‘real world’. Think about a first career doing something else, anything else quite frankly, before you decide to become a lawyer. If you do decide to become a lawyer, don’t specialise too early. Competition for training contracts and pupillages is ferocious and the industry is changing rapidly. The skills required to be a successful ‘lawyer’ aren’t going to be the same in five years as they were five years ago.

W: https://fulcrumchambers.com/shivharia-shah/

HE Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner of India at the exhibition

The High Commission of India organised an event on 3rd February 2020 to celebrate the life and work of shepherds, spinners, weavers, artisans, and craftsmen, from Kashmir, and their passionate journey to create Pashmina - the finest natural fabric known to the mankind.

HE Ruchi Ghanashyam, High Commissioner of India delivered welcome remarks and opened the event. Mrs Varuna Anand delivered a talk on the art of pashmina making and its journey through centuries. Babar Afzal shared his experiences of living among shepherds and spoke on sustainability of the industry. Charanjeet Singh, Deputy High Commissioner delivered concluding remarks following which the three artisans Varuna Anand, Babar Afzal and Aijaz Sheikh from Kashmir displayed beautiful Pashmina shawls in an exhibition at the venue.

The event was attended by over 120 people from all walks of life including politicians, business persons, community members and fashion people.

BASANT PANCHAMI AND REPUBLIC DAY CELEBRATION

BY ESSEX INDIANS

Essex Indians celebrated Saraswati puja and the Republic day of India recently at the Shenfield Parish Hall. The celebration was lively and homely with community participation and heartwarming contribution from charity supporters.

The afternoon started with decoration of the hall and setting up of puja area including stalls that sold from jewellery to food. The Essex Indians supporters maintained wonderful tradition of providing homecooked food and prashad to community and ensured to serve it in ecofriendly disposable utensils. Cultural programme included a saraswati vandana, Bihoo dance, bhajans, patriotic songs as well as violin rendition of the Indian national anthem.

CELEBRATING INDIAN ROOTS

Amongst many grand Indian Republic Day celebrations held all over the UK, Inspiring Indian Woman(IIW), a Not for Profit organisation, based in UK, lead the Republic Day celebrations in Harrow, Greater London. They also organised an event viz.

“Hum Aur Humari Bhasha” at the Zoroastrian Centre, Harrow.

Bob Blackman MP being felicitated by the Indian diaspora

Chief Guest on the occasion was His Worshipful Mayor Cllr Nitin Parekh and Guest of Honour was Harrow East MP and Padmshree recipient Bob Blackman. He was joined by Minister of Coordination from High Commission of India, Manmeet Singh Narang and other guests.

The Indian Diaspora also felicitated Bob Blackman with a standing ovation and shawls on this occasion, for being awarded Padmashree by the Indian Government.

16 BUDGET SPECIAL

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8 - 14 February 2020

8 - 14 February 2020

NRI definition changed to stop tax avoidance The Indian Budget has tightened the screws on those seeking to escape tax by exploiting their non-resident status. While earlier it was possible to be classified as non-resident by staying out of the country for 183 days or about six months in a year, this has now been, in effect, enhanced to 245 days.

The change has been made because some taxpayers divided their time between India and overseas to avoid being categorised as tax residents in India. Once a tax resident is further classified as ordinarily resident (OR), he pays tax in India on his global income, which would include say interest income on overseas bank accounts.

As Parizad Sirwalla, partner and head, global mobility services (tax) at KPMG India points out, “Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin who were on visit to India had an extended period of 182 days of stay in India (as opposed to 60 days) before they could be regarded as a resident from an income tax perspective. This period is proposed to be reduced to 120 days now.”

As things stand, an individual is a resident in India for a particular financial year if

he has been here for an overall period of 365 days or more within the four years preceding and an overall period of 60 days in that particular year. The 182-day relaxation was made available to Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin.

Individuals with major business in India misused relaxed duration The Budget memorandum pointed out that this relaxed duration of 182 days was misused by individuals who had significant economic activity in India (say a business), managed their period of stay, so as to remain a nonresident in perpetuity. With such individuals now being

required to stay out of the country for 245 days in a year, the misuse becomes more difficult for those having business interests in India.

Gautam Nayak, tax partner at CNK & Associates cautions, “NRIs or Overseas Citizens of India, visiting relatives in India need to now be more careful and limit their stays to less than 120 days in a year, or else they may also face tax on their worldwide income.”

After having determined an individual as a tax resident, there is a secondary test to determine whether the individual qualifies as a not ordinarily resident (NOR) or ordinarily resident (OR).

Currently there are complex rules to determine when a person is NOR. This has been simplified to say that a person is NOR for a particular financial year if he has been a non-resident in seven out of the ten preceding years.

This determination is critical as while an ‘NOR’ is only taxed on India income, an individual who is an ‘OR’ is taxable on his worldwide income.

Another change made is that an Indian citizen not ‘liable to tax’ in any other country or territory shall be deemed to be resident in India. At first glance, it appeared that India’s diaspora which works in Gulf coun-

tries (where there is no tax on individual income) would be badly hit. However, the Finance Bill added that this would be the case if the individual is not liable to tax in any other country by reason of his domicile, or residence or any other criteria of similar nature.

Tour packages, overseas remittances under tax net According to the Budget documents, an authorised dealer receiving an amount or an aggregate of amounts of Rs 700,000 or more in a financial year for remittance out of India under the LRS of the Reserve Bank of India, will be liable to collect TCS, if he receives sum in excess of said amount from a buyer at the rate of five per cent.

Sellers of overseas tour packages will be liable to collect TCS at 5%. In a bid to widen and deepen the tax net, the government has proposed to amend Section 206C of the I-T Act to levy five per cent TCS (tax collected at source) on overseas remittances and for sale of overseas tour package.

According to the Budget documents, an authorised dealer receiving an amount or an aggregate of amounts of Rs 700,000 or more in a financial year for remittance

Boosting 'Make-In-India’ process The government has clearly signalled that it’s willing boost ‘Make in India’.

Boosting localisation in consumer categories is a priority from a policy perspective as protecting the domestic industry from low-cost imports, much of it from China, is seen as a positive for local players. It would also help boost employment, an imperative in poor job environment.

“Measures have been taken for providing a level playing field to our domestic manufacturers, particularly the MSME sector… The provisions for checking dumping of goods and imports of subsidised goods are also being strengthened for ensuring a level-playing field for domestic industry,” the FM said.

In the near term, this means the prices of imported daily-use items such as shelled walnuts, peanut butter, shavers, hair dryers, table & kitchenware, footwear, kids’ toys and even electric cars and two-wheelers will rise as the customs duties on these and many more have been increased quite substantially.

The hikes could range from a few hundred rupees in case of certain items to well over thousands for items like

17

electric cars and bigger green buses. “Labour-intensive sectors in MSME are critical for employment generation.

Cheap and low-quality imports are an impediment to their growth,” the FM said.

The localisation drive was also strengthened in the highvolume mobile phones category where components such as printed circuit boards, fingerprint scanners, display panels, and ringers saw import duty go up. Industry players said prices would not see much of an impact as investments are already under way for making them here.

“This is in line with the phased manufacturing plan

(PMP) and we don’t expect any major impact on retail prices,” said Pankaj Mohindroo, president of India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).

Panasonic India MD Manish Sharma said products such as hair dryers, shavers, and trimmers could now be made in India as companies take steps to cut costs. On electric vehicles, companies are not happy with customs hike as they feel that it is too early as local suppliers are yet to firm up.

Imported e-cars, stationery, toys, furniture to cost more The government announced one of the

biggest-ever increases in customs duty on close to 100 product categories ranging

from the humble comb and padlock to precious metal coins, apart from electrical goods, footwear and furniture, as it sought to clamp down on “non-essential” imports.

While it will push up the prices of several items, including toasters, sneakers and fans, the move is meant to help small businesses, many of which are complaining of being adversely impacted by cheap imports from China. The import duty on toys, including dolls, games and tricycles, is proposed to be trebled to 60%.

Several stationery products and adapters will also see a tariff hike. The government has also reduced import tariffs on several inputs and

out of India under the Liberalised remittances Schemes (LRS) of the Reserve Bank of India, will be liable to collect TCS, if he receives sum in excess of said amount from a buyer - a person remitting such amount out of India - at the rate of five per cent. In non PAN/Aadhaar cases, the rate will be ten per cent.

Similarly, a seller of an overseas tour programme package who receives any amount from any buyer - a person who purchases such package - will be liable to collect TCS at the rate of five per cent. The rate will be ten per cent in non-PAN and nonAadhaar cases.

Overseas tour programme package is defined as any tour package which offers visit to a country or countries or territory or territories outside India, and includes expenses for travel or hotel stay or boarding or lodging or any other expense of similar nature, the Budget documents state.

Further, it has also proposed a new levy of TDS at the rate of one per cent to be paid by a e-commerce operator for sale of goods or provision of service facilitated by it through its digital or electronic facility or platform.

components, such as unassembled solar cells and open cell for TV sets, as part of a push for local manufacturing of finished products.

Besides, import of electric vehicles, in completely built form or in semi-knockeddown state, as well as completely built commercial vehicles are being discouraged. The Centre has promised to refund electricity duty and VAT on fuel, along with other state and central levies.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman also announced steps for the manufacture of mobile phones, electronic equipment and semi-conductor packaging in the country, which are seen to be critical to the growing import of electronic goods.

NRIs under India's income tax Now, Under Income Tax Act, 1961 NRIs will be treated as Resident of India if he stays in India for more than 120 days in any financial year. Earlier it was 182 days. NRIs will be treated as RNOR if he has been resident of India in three years out of ten previous years.

Then global income will be liable to tax in India.

Individuals being citizen of India are liable to tax in India on income earned outside India provided it is derived from Indian Business or Profession and he is not liable to be taxed in any country or jurisdiction.

NRI's can invest in specified Government

securities - an attractive investment opportunity. FPI can invest up to 15% of the outstanding stock of Corporate Bonds - earlier it was 9%.

In case of income from royalty and fee for technical services, if TDS has been deducted then NRIs are not required to file Income Tax Return.

CA Nita R Dhru Keynote Consultancy Femaonline.com Tel. No. : 0091 281 245 3367 (four lines)/ 245 9613 Cell : 0091 98242 13254.

NRIs to be taxed only on Indian income, says Sitharaman India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that NRIs will be taxed only on Indian income, not on foreign income. She said that the "income generated in tax free jurisdictions will not be taxed".

The Union Budget 2020 proposed to tax Indians who are not tax residents in India but are neither tax residents in any other countries. The budget proposes changes in the income tax law to make such individuals deemed tax residents of India.

"The Finance Bill, 2020 has proposed that an Indian citizen shall be deemed to be resident in India, if he is not liable to be taxed in any country or jurisdiction. This is an anti-abuse provision since it is noticed that some Indian citizens shift their stay in low or no tax jurisdiction to avoid payment of tax in India," the government said in a statement.

The government added, the new provision was not intended to include bonafide Indian workers in tax net who were working in other countries. "The new provision is not intended to include in tax net those Indian citizens who are bonafide workers in other

countries. In some section of the media the new provision is being interpreted to create an impression that those Indians who are bonafide workers in other countries, including in Middle East, and who are not liable to tax in these countries will be taxed in India on the income that they have earned there. This interpretation is not correct," government said.

At present, if an Indian or a person of Indian origin managed his stay in India such that he remained a nonresident in perpetuity, he was not liable to pay tax on his global income in India. "In order to avoid any misinterpretation, it is clarified that in case of an Indian citizen who becomes deemed resident of India under this proposed provision, income earned outside India by him

shall not be taxed in India unless it is derived from an Indian business or profession," the government added.

Tightening the residency provisions, the Budget also proposed to reduce the period of stay in India to 120 days from 182 days earlier for persons of Indian origin (PIOs) to be categorised as non-resident Indians (NRIs).

Reworking the definition of non-resident Indians (NRIs), the Budget document said that the I-T Act provides that an Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin shall be Indian resident if he is in India for 182 days in that year.

According to experts, Indian citizens who do not stay in India but have significant economic activities in India would now find it difficult to escape paying taxes in India.

Rohit Vadhwana

LIVING BRIDGE De-coding the Budget

Under Article 112 of the Constitution of India, an Annual Financial Statement is presented to the Parliament every year. This is called a budget in a common language. This year, the Finance Minister of India Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for Financial Year 2020-21 on 1 February 2020, a second budget presented by her. Sitharaman has the distinction of not only being the second woman to present the budget in Parliament after Mrs. Indira Gandhi but also giving the longest ever budget speech in the Indian Parliament, lasting over 2 hours 41 minutes.

Under Article 112 of the Constitution of India, an Annual Financial Statement is presented to the Parliament every year. This is called a budget in a common language. This year, the Finance Minister of India Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for Financial Year 2020-21 on 1 February 2020, a second budget presented by her. Sitharaman has the distinction of not only being the second woman to present the budget in Parliament after Mrs. Indira Gandhi but also giving the longest ever budget speech in the Indian Parliament, lasting over 2 hours 41 minutes. This is also the second budget of PM Modi led government in its second term as well. Last year a vote on account was presented before the election and full budget was presented in July, after the election result.

This year's budget is considered to be focused on social and welfare sectors along with introducing some continuity in the reforms. To put the budget into context, it is important to note that India is the fifth largest economy and has grown at an average of 7.4% during 20142019. Alongside economic growth, India has uplifted more than 271 million people out of the poverty line during 2006-16. India's Foreign Direct Investment during 2009-14 was about USD 190 billion and it increased to USD 284 billion during 2014-19.

India's centre government debt was 52.2% of GDP in 2014, now it stands at 48.7%, a remarkable reduction. With this fundamental strength of the economy, Finance Minister focused on three main themes in this budget: Aspirational India, Development for all and Caring Society.

The Budget allocates Rs 99,300 crores to Education sector; Rs 1,38,700 crores to the welfare and upliftment of the weaker sections of the society; Agriculture gets Rs 1,38,000 crores; Rural development Rs 1,23,000 crores and healthcare Rs 69,000 crores. The budget announced a 16point agenda for agriculture and blue economy to boost these sectors. More credit will be given to farmers as the target for 2020-21 is set at Rs 15,00,000 crore.

In the blue economy, the country aims to achieve Rs 1,00,000 crore export by 2024-25. New Education policy will be announced soon for India. Health sector with 10% increased allocation also focused on the budget where the government has started a campaign 'TB Harega, Desh Jeetega' to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. On personal income tax, the Finance Minister proposed some relief as well.

Five new smart cities are proposed to be developed under the infrastructural front. There will be an investment of Rs. 100,00,000 in infrastructure during the next five year period.

Development of highways will become faster as the budget envisages to create 2500 km of access control highways, 9000 km of economic corridors, 2000 km of coastal and land port roads and 2000 km of strategic highways. On the sidelines of railway tracks, on railway owned land, large solar power projects will be established. There are many other majors taken in the budget to accomplish the goal of becoming USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25. The growth rate for 2020-21 is estimated at 6-6.5% by the economic survey released on 31 January 2020, a document which is customarily released prior to the budget presentation.

(Expressed opinion is personal) Do you have a story or suggestion for this column? Email at: livingbridgeasianvoice@gmail.com

Budget presents reforms to speed up economy, says PM

Going solar to ease discomfiture

The Budget presents a strong vision as well as action by way of new reforms to speed up the economy and lay a firm foundation for the development of modern India in the new decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The PM said the objective of the Budget was to strengthen every citizen economically.

“Employment is mainly generated in agriculture, infrastructure, textiles and technology... there is a boost for employment generation in these areas. There is an effort to double farm incomes with 16 action points,” he added.

Modi said there was an integrated approach to agriculture with traditional practices being supported along with horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry.

Home minister Amit Shah said the Budget offered £8.5 billion to schemes and measures for Scheduled Castes and other disadvantages sections while there was £5.7 billion for Scheduled Tribes.

“The water mission is an important addition to housing, electricity, toilets and cooking gas programmes already rolled out by the gov-

The Budget bet big on solar installations to power farm income and unveiled a ‘smart’ solution to make electricity consumer the king as well as ease financial pain of discoms.

ernment,” he said.

“In this Budget, the Modi government has taken effective steps to rationalise the tax system, boost basic infrastructure, strengthen the banking system, promote investment and ease of doing business,” Shah said. There was unprecedented relief for income tax payers of every category, particularly the middle class, he said, adding that salaried taxpayers would not only see their tax reduced but would get relief from simplification of the tax system.

BJP president J P Nadda hailed the Budget as “vision-

ary, futuristic, growth oriented, transformative and allinclusive” and said it would ensure development of all sections of society.

The PM said the duty structure had been reformed and the Ayushman Bharat programme had given a major boost to the health sector.

“The connection between technology and employment has been recognised. The necessary policy support for quantum computing has been given. India is being made a bigger part of the global value chain,” he said.

“There is an ambitious

plan to develop export potential in districts. Modern India needs modern infrastructure.

The £10 billion for 6,500 projects will spur business.

Tourism needs infrastructure and it can generate jobs with lesser investment,” he added.

“There are basic changes in the tax structure, there is investment for jobs and historic steps have been taken like in the bond markets and removal of DDT. Companies will get £2.5 billion for investment. All these decisions are intended to quicken the economy and create more jobs,” he said.

The topping came in the form of reduced corporate tax rate of 15% for new gencos (generating companies) that received the ‘manufacturing’ tag. An outlay of £2.2 billion for power and renewable energy marked a marginal increase over 2019-20, underpinning the thrust on sectoral reforms.

A three-year roadmap will see every conventional meter in the country replaced by pre-paid meters. The ground scheme will be worked out by the power ministry, an investment-based ministry, for Cabinet approval and additional funds, if needed.

Power minister R K Singh reckons solar-powered pumps can reduce farming costs by a quarter and farmers can earn up to Rs 60,000 a year from selling electricity to the grid from solar projects set up on barren/fallow land allowed in the Budget.

KUSUM scheme for solarising farm irrigation has been expanded from 175,000 standalone solar-powered pumps to 20,00,000. The number of grid-connected solar pumps has been raised from 10,00,000 to 15,00,000. N K Ranganath of smart pump manufacturer Grundfos sees KUSUM acting as a catalyst for sustainable irrigation solutions across the country. Rating agency ICRA’s Sabyasachi Majumdar sees KUSUM leading to lower subsidy dependence for discoms. Smart meters will allow consumers to choose, through pre-paid cards, the most affordable supplier as per time of the day once multiple players enter after separation of carriage and content.

16 BUDGET SPECIAL

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BUDGET SPECIAL

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8 - 14 February 2020

8 - 14 February 2020

NRI definition changed to stop tax avoidance The Indian Budget has tightened the screws on those seeking to escape tax by exploiting their non-resident status. While earlier it was possible to be classified as non-resident by staying out of the country for 183 days or about six months in a year, this has now been, in effect, enhanced to 245 days.

The change has been made because some taxpayers divided their time between India and overseas to avoid being categorised as tax residents in India. Once a tax resident is further classified as ordinarily resident (OR), he pays tax in India on his global income, which would include say interest income on overseas bank accounts.

As Parizad Sirwalla, partner and head, global mobility services (tax) at KPMG India points out, “Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin who were on visit to India had an extended period of 182 days of stay in India (as opposed to 60 days) before they could be regarded as a resident from an income tax perspective. This period is proposed to be reduced to 120 days now.”

As things stand, an individual is a resident in India for a particular financial year if

he has been here for an overall period of 365 days or more within the four years preceding and an overall period of 60 days in that particular year. The 182-day relaxation was made available to Indian citizens and persons of Indian origin.

Individuals with major business in India misused relaxed duration The Budget memorandum pointed out that this relaxed duration of 182 days was misused by individuals who had significant economic activity in India (say a business), managed their period of stay, so as to remain a nonresident in perpetuity. With such individuals now being

required to stay out of the country for 245 days in a year, the misuse becomes more difficult for those having business interests in India.

Gautam Nayak, tax partner at CNK & Associates cautions, “NRIs or Overseas Citizens of India, visiting relatives in India need to now be more careful and limit their stays to less than 120 days in a year, or else they may also face tax on their worldwide income.”

After having determined an individual as a tax resident, there is a secondary test to determine whether the individual qualifies as a not ordinarily resident (NOR) or ordinarily resident (OR).

Currently there are complex rules to determine when a person is NOR. This has been simplified to say that a person is NOR for a particular financial year if he has been a non-resident in seven out of the ten preceding years.

This determination is critical as while an ‘NOR’ is only taxed on India income, an individual who is an ‘OR’ is taxable on his worldwide income.

Another change made is that an Indian citizen not ‘liable to tax’ in any other country or territory shall be deemed to be resident in India. At first glance, it appeared that India’s diaspora which works in Gulf coun-

tries (where there is no tax on individual income) would be badly hit. However, the Finance Bill added that this would be the case if the individual is not liable to tax in any other country by reason of his domicile, or residence or any other criteria of similar nature.

Tour packages, overseas remittances under tax net According to the Budget documents, an authorised dealer receiving an amount or an aggregate of amounts of Rs 700,000 or more in a financial year for remittance out of India under the LRS of the Reserve Bank of India, will be liable to collect TCS, if he receives sum in excess of said amount from a buyer at the rate of five per cent.

Sellers of overseas tour packages will be liable to collect TCS at 5%. In a bid to widen and deepen the tax net, the government has proposed to amend Section 206C of the I-T Act to levy five per cent TCS (tax collected at source) on overseas remittances and for sale of overseas tour package.

According to the Budget documents, an authorised dealer receiving an amount or an aggregate of amounts of Rs 700,000 or more in a financial year for remittance

Boosting 'Make-In-India’ process The government has clearly signalled that it’s willing boost ‘Make in India’.

Boosting localisation in consumer categories is a priority from a policy perspective as protecting the domestic industry from low-cost imports, much of it from China, is seen as a positive for local players. It would also help boost employment, an imperative in poor job environment.

“Measures have been taken for providing a level playing field to our domestic manufacturers, particularly the MSME sector… The provisions for checking dumping of goods and imports of subsidised goods are also being strengthened for ensuring a level-playing field for domestic industry,” the FM said.

In the near term, this means the prices of imported daily-use items such as shelled walnuts, peanut butter, shavers, hair dryers, table & kitchenware, footwear, kids’ toys and even electric cars and two-wheelers will rise as the customs duties on these and many more have been increased quite substantially.

The hikes could range from a few hundred rupees in case of certain items to well over thousands for items like

17

electric cars and bigger green buses. “Labour-intensive sectors in MSME are critical for employment generation.

Cheap and low-quality imports are an impediment to their growth,” the FM said.

The localisation drive was also strengthened in the highvolume mobile phones category where components such as printed circuit boards, fingerprint scanners, display panels, and ringers saw import duty go up. Industry players said prices would not see much of an impact as investments are already under way for making them here.

“This is in line with the phased manufacturing plan

(PMP) and we don’t expect any major impact on retail prices,” said Pankaj Mohindroo, president of India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA).

Panasonic India MD Manish Sharma said products such as hair dryers, shavers, and trimmers could now be made in India as companies take steps to cut costs. On electric vehicles, companies are not happy with customs hike as they feel that it is too early as local suppliers are yet to firm up.

Imported e-cars, stationery, toys, furniture to cost more The government announced one of the

biggest-ever increases in customs duty on close to 100 product categories ranging

from the humble comb and padlock to precious metal coins, apart from electrical goods, footwear and furniture, as it sought to clamp down on “non-essential” imports.

While it will push up the prices of several items, including toasters, sneakers and fans, the move is meant to help small businesses, many of which are complaining of being adversely impacted by cheap imports from China. The import duty on toys, including dolls, games and tricycles, is proposed to be trebled to 60%.

Several stationery products and adapters will also see a tariff hike. The government has also reduced import tariffs on several inputs and

out of India under the Liberalised remittances Schemes (LRS) of the Reserve Bank of India, will be liable to collect TCS, if he receives sum in excess of said amount from a buyer - a person remitting such amount out of India - at the rate of five per cent. In non PAN/Aadhaar cases, the rate will be ten per cent.

Similarly, a seller of an overseas tour programme package who receives any amount from any buyer - a person who purchases such package - will be liable to collect TCS at the rate of five per cent. The rate will be ten per cent in non-PAN and nonAadhaar cases.

Overseas tour programme package is defined as any tour package which offers visit to a country or countries or territory or territories outside India, and includes expenses for travel or hotel stay or boarding or lodging or any other expense of similar nature, the Budget documents state.

Further, it has also proposed a new levy of TDS at the rate of one per cent to be paid by a e-commerce operator for sale of goods or provision of service facilitated by it through its digital or electronic facility or platform.

components, such as unassembled solar cells and open cell for TV sets, as part of a push for local manufacturing of finished products.

Besides, import of electric vehicles, in completely built form or in semi-knockeddown state, as well as completely built commercial vehicles are being discouraged. The Centre has promised to refund electricity duty and VAT on fuel, along with other state and central levies.

FM Nirmala Sitharaman also announced steps for the manufacture of mobile phones, electronic equipment and semi-conductor packaging in the country, which are seen to be critical to the growing import of electronic goods.

NRIs under India's income tax Now, Under Income Tax Act, 1961 NRIs will be treated as Resident of India if he stays in India for more than 120 days in any financial year. Earlier it was 182 days. NRIs will be treated as RNOR if he has been resident of India in three years out of ten previous years.

Then global income will be liable to tax in India.

Individuals being citizen of India are liable to tax in India on income earned outside India provided it is derived from Indian Business or Profession and he is not liable to be taxed in any country or jurisdiction.

NRI's can invest in specified Government

securities - an attractive investment opportunity. FPI can invest up to 15% of the outstanding stock of Corporate Bonds - earlier it was 9%.

In case of income from royalty and fee for technical services, if TDS has been deducted then NRIs are not required to file Income Tax Return.

CA Nita R Dhru Keynote Consultancy Femaonline.com Tel. No. : 0091 281 245 3367 (four lines)/ 245 9613 Cell : 0091 98242 13254.

NRIs to be taxed only on Indian income, says Sitharaman India's Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that NRIs will be taxed only on Indian income, not on foreign income. She said that the "income generated in tax free jurisdictions will not be taxed".

The Union Budget 2020 proposed to tax Indians who are not tax residents in India but are neither tax residents in any other countries. The budget proposes changes in the income tax law to make such individuals deemed tax residents of India.

"The Finance Bill, 2020 has proposed that an Indian citizen shall be deemed to be resident in India, if he is not liable to be taxed in any country or jurisdiction. This is an anti-abuse provision since it is noticed that some Indian citizens shift their stay in low or no tax jurisdiction to avoid payment of tax in India," the government said in a statement.

The government added, the new provision was not intended to include bonafide Indian workers in tax net who were working in other countries. "The new provision is not intended to include in tax net those Indian citizens who are bonafide workers in other

countries. In some section of the media the new provision is being interpreted to create an impression that those Indians who are bonafide workers in other countries, including in Middle East, and who are not liable to tax in these countries will be taxed in India on the income that they have earned there. This interpretation is not correct," government said.

At present, if an Indian or a person of Indian origin managed his stay in India such that he remained a nonresident in perpetuity, he was not liable to pay tax on his global income in India. "In order to avoid any misinterpretation, it is clarified that in case of an Indian citizen who becomes deemed resident of India under this proposed provision, income earned outside India by him

shall not be taxed in India unless it is derived from an Indian business or profession," the government added.

Tightening the residency provisions, the Budget also proposed to reduce the period of stay in India to 120 days from 182 days earlier for persons of Indian origin (PIOs) to be categorised as non-resident Indians (NRIs).

Reworking the definition of non-resident Indians (NRIs), the Budget document said that the I-T Act provides that an Indian citizen or a person of Indian origin shall be Indian resident if he is in India for 182 days in that year.

According to experts, Indian citizens who do not stay in India but have significant economic activities in India would now find it difficult to escape paying taxes in India.

Rohit Vadhwana

LIVING BRIDGE De-coding the Budget

Under Article 112 of the Constitution of India, an Annual Financial Statement is presented to the Parliament every year. This is called a budget in a common language. This year, the Finance Minister of India Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for Financial Year 2020-21 on 1 February 2020, a second budget presented by her. Sitharaman has the distinction of not only being the second woman to present the budget in Parliament after Mrs. Indira Gandhi but also giving the longest ever budget speech in the Indian Parliament, lasting over 2 hours 41 minutes.

Under Article 112 of the Constitution of India, an Annual Financial Statement is presented to the Parliament every year. This is called a budget in a common language. This year, the Finance Minister of India Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for Financial Year 2020-21 on 1 February 2020, a second budget presented by her. Sitharaman has the distinction of not only being the second woman to present the budget in Parliament after Mrs. Indira Gandhi but also giving the longest ever budget speech in the Indian Parliament, lasting over 2 hours 41 minutes. This is also the second budget of PM Modi led government in its second term as well. Last year a vote on account was presented before the election and full budget was presented in July, after the election result.

This year's budget is considered to be focused on social and welfare sectors along with introducing some continuity in the reforms. To put the budget into context, it is important to note that India is the fifth largest economy and has grown at an average of 7.4% during 20142019. Alongside economic growth, India has uplifted more than 271 million people out of the poverty line during 2006-16. India's Foreign Direct Investment during 2009-14 was about USD 190 billion and it increased to USD 284 billion during 2014-19.

India's centre government debt was 52.2% of GDP in 2014, now it stands at 48.7%, a remarkable reduction. With this fundamental strength of the economy, Finance Minister focused on three main themes in this budget: Aspirational India, Development for all and Caring Society.

The Budget allocates Rs 99,300 crores to Education sector; Rs 1,38,700 crores to the welfare and upliftment of the weaker sections of the society; Agriculture gets Rs 1,38,000 crores; Rural development Rs 1,23,000 crores and healthcare Rs 69,000 crores. The budget announced a 16point agenda for agriculture and blue economy to boost these sectors. More credit will be given to farmers as the target for 2020-21 is set at Rs 15,00,000 crore.

In the blue economy, the country aims to achieve Rs 1,00,000 crore export by 2024-25. New Education policy will be announced soon for India. Health sector with 10% increased allocation also focused on the budget where the government has started a campaign 'TB Harega, Desh Jeetega' to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025. On personal income tax, the Finance Minister proposed some relief as well.

Five new smart cities are proposed to be developed under the infrastructural front. There will be an investment of Rs. 100,00,000 in infrastructure during the next five year period.

Development of highways will become faster as the budget envisages to create 2500 km of access control highways, 9000 km of economic corridors, 2000 km of coastal and land port roads and 2000 km of strategic highways. On the sidelines of railway tracks, on railway owned land, large solar power projects will be established. There are many other majors taken in the budget to accomplish the goal of becoming USD 5 trillion economy by 2024-25. The growth rate for 2020-21 is estimated at 6-6.5% by the economic survey released on 31 January 2020, a document which is customarily released prior to the budget presentation.

(Expressed opinion is personal) Do you have a story or suggestion for this column? Email at: livingbridgeasianvoice@gmail.com

Budget presents reforms to speed up economy, says PM

Going solar to ease discomfiture

The Budget presents a strong vision as well as action by way of new reforms to speed up the economy and lay a firm foundation for the development of modern India in the new decade, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The PM said the objective of the Budget was to strengthen every citizen economically.

“Employment is mainly generated in agriculture, infrastructure, textiles and technology... there is a boost for employment generation in these areas. There is an effort to double farm incomes with 16 action points,” he added.

Modi said there was an integrated approach to agriculture with traditional practices being supported along with horticulture, fisheries and animal husbandry.

Home minister Amit Shah said the Budget offered £8.5 billion to schemes and measures for Scheduled Castes and other disadvantages sections while there was £5.7 billion for Scheduled Tribes.

“The water mission is an important addition to housing, electricity, toilets and cooking gas programmes already rolled out by the gov-

The Budget bet big on solar installations to power farm income and unveiled a ‘smart’ solution to make electricity consumer the king as well as ease financial pain of discoms.

ernment,” he said.

“In this Budget, the Modi government has taken effective steps to rationalise the tax system, boost basic infrastructure, strengthen the banking system, promote investment and ease of doing business,” Shah said. There was unprecedented relief for income tax payers of every category, particularly the middle class, he said, adding that salaried taxpayers would not only see their tax reduced but would get relief from simplification of the tax system.

BJP president J P Nadda hailed the Budget as “vision-

ary, futuristic, growth oriented, transformative and allinclusive” and said it would ensure development of all sections of society.

The PM said the duty structure had been reformed and the Ayushman Bharat programme had given a major boost to the health sector.

“The connection between technology and employment has been recognised. The necessary policy support for quantum computing has been given. India is being made a bigger part of the global value chain,” he said.

“There is an ambitious

plan to develop export potential in districts. Modern India needs modern infrastructure.

The £10 billion for 6,500 projects will spur business.

Tourism needs infrastructure and it can generate jobs with lesser investment,” he added.

“There are basic changes in the tax structure, there is investment for jobs and historic steps have been taken like in the bond markets and removal of DDT. Companies will get £2.5 billion for investment. All these decisions are intended to quicken the economy and create more jobs,” he said.

The topping came in the form of reduced corporate tax rate of 15% for new gencos (generating companies) that received the ‘manufacturing’ tag. An outlay of £2.2 billion for power and renewable energy marked a marginal increase over 2019-20, underpinning the thrust on sectoral reforms.

A three-year roadmap will see every conventional meter in the country replaced by pre-paid meters. The ground scheme will be worked out by the power ministry, an investment-based ministry, for Cabinet approval and additional funds, if needed.

Power minister R K Singh reckons solar-powered pumps can reduce farming costs by a quarter and farmers can earn up to Rs 60,000 a year from selling electricity to the grid from solar projects set up on barren/fallow land allowed in the Budget.

KUSUM scheme for solarising farm irrigation has been expanded from 175,000 standalone solar-powered pumps to 20,00,000. The number of grid-connected solar pumps has been raised from 10,00,000 to 15,00,000. N K Ranganath of smart pump manufacturer Grundfos sees KUSUM acting as a catalyst for sustainable irrigation solutions across the country. Rating agency ICRA’s Sabyasachi Majumdar sees KUSUM leading to lower subsidy dependence for discoms. Smart meters will allow consumers to choose, through pre-paid cards, the most affordable supplier as per time of the day once multiple players enter after separation of carriage and content.

18 FINANCE - UK

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Dear Financial Voice Reader, Alpesh Patel Dear Financial Voice Reader, The BBC reported last week that “fraud victims 'failed' as criminals 'operate with impunity'” according to a report by ex-Met Police Deputy Commissioner Sir Craig Mackey.

The report found fraud now accounts for one-in-three crimes - but just 2% are detected.

Chances are if you’re reading this article, you or a member of your family has been a victim of fraud. We British Indians are of course a wealthy community, or at least, have savings and so a common target.

What is less known is, the perpetrators can be from our community too. After all, who would a victim more trust?

So it was that Maulik contacted me, with a story of how he and his friends had been allegedly defrauded.

Maulik is a doctor here in the UK. I say ‘allegedly’ not because I do not believe him, but because a police case he has filed is pending against the alleged preparator. And the story behind it goes to the heart of our British Indian community. It involves a Mandir going community, son of a priest, fraudulent photos with Warren Buffet, fake awards.

Where to begin? Let’s try Swindon. Unassuming Swindon. I asked Maulik to put things in his words, and I’ve made some editing and legally required changes.

“On a morning of 29th March 2018 an article appeared in the Swindon Advertiser Nilkesh Mehta which claimed that Nilkesh had won “ International Rising Star Award” for year 17/18 which was given to him by Warren Buffett himself in New York.

“Nilkesh claimed to be FCA regulated, but subsequent investigation shows he is not. Nilkesh then opened up Wiltshire Trading Academy where he starts charging £ 3000 for two days.

“He then came up with an investment scheme where he offered a very attractive 20% return on minimum investment of £20,000 for one year. He claims to have been FCA regulated.

“He also offers 5% commission of the initial invested amount to whoever brings him investment in excess of £ 20,000. Innocent people had invested large amounts of money in the scheme. He claims to be very busy trading Hinduja Brothers large amounts of investment.

“He has lured many innocent victims using Swindon Hindu Samaj, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS) and Hindu Temple platform. In the meantime, one investor found out that sum of money he invested (£50,000) is now lost. His account has been wiped out. Nilkesh claims to have lost that amount of money trading and does not offer him any compensation. His trading academy is closed now and Nilkesh is now not able to provide any updates as he claims to be suffering from severe mental illness up to the extent that he is not able to communicate with anyone.

“After some investigation it is clear the awards he claims to have won never existed. He created false websites confirming his fake awards. He was and he is still not FCA regulated or even registered. He copied his trading techniques from a short video on YouTube for which he was charging £ 3000. He photoshopped pictures with Warren Buffett. He has been doing portfolio management without being FCA regulated. There has been 5 FCA complaints and 4 ActionFraud complaints registered against him.

“It’s very sad to know that neither FCA or Police have taken any solid action against him.”

I would say, sad but not surprising as the BBC has discovered.

Nirav Modi's extradition trial to begin on May 11 Fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi was remanded in custody till February 27, 2020, after he appeared before a UK court last week via video link from his London prison.

Modi, the prime accused in USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud, is currently lodged at Wandsworth prison in south-west London and is wanted for his alleged role in the £1.35 billion loss caused to the Punjab National Bank (PNB) along with his uncle, Mehul Choksi.

Modi, 48, was arrested in March last year by Scotland Yard in connection with the case. His five-day extradition trial is due to begin on May 11. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), earlier this month, said that the Indian government has put all "resources on the ground to ensure early extradition" of Modi and Choksi.

He was declared a fugitive economic offender under the Fugitive Economic Offenders Act on December 5, 2019. The order on the confiscation of his properties is yet to be issued.

He did not return to India despite repeated summons from Indian probe agencies and courts. India is seeking his extradition to make him face the law of the land for allegedly committing economic offenses.

UK manufacturing sector exhibits signs of stabilisation The British manufacturing sector showed signs of stability last month, in a U-turn on the longest plunge since the financial crisis.

A survey released by IHS Markit and the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply showed that the factory output remained steady in January after eight months of contraction.

The IHS Markit/Cips manufacturing purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 50 in January, up from the previous month's 47.5. The reading was marginally higher than the 49.8 “flash” estimate made last month. It should be known that anything above 50 separates

growth from contraction.

The new orders and business confidence was helped by reduced levels of political uncertainty following Boris Johnson's unexpected decisive election victory. Despite the improve-

ment in the PMI reading, growth in the manufacturing sector, which accounts for about a tenth of the economy, remains at stall speed due to a broader global slowdown and lingering uncertainty over Brexit.

Director at IHS Markit, Rob Dobson said the survey of about 600 manufacturers indicated that business investment remained depressed. He added, “A full revival in capital spending may still be some way off, likely reflecting lingering uncertainty about the Brexit roadmap in the coming year.”

UK manufacturers have developed close ties and complex supply chains with their EU counterparts after almost half a century of EU membership. The stabilisation in business confidence among manufacturers comes after a difficult period for industrial firms around the world.

Nissan may pull out of EU and expand in the UK Reports suggest Nissan has drawn up contingency plans to pull out of manufacturing in mainland Europe in case of a hard Brexit.

A report said if a trade deal is stuck between the UK and the EU that leads to tariffs on car exports, the Japanese carmaker would focus on selling more cars in Britain.

Nissan would maintain its factory in Sunderland and aim to boost its four per cent UK market share to about 20 per cent, under the proposal. Also, it would shut its struggling van factory in

Barcelona and stop manufacturing in France.

Meanwhile, Nissan denied having such a plan but said its Sunderland plant would be under threat along with its European operations if the UK fails to ensure tarifffree access to the EU market.

A Nissan spokesman said, “We deny such a contingency plan exists. We've modelled every possible ramification of Brexit and the fact remains that our entire business both in the UK and in Europe is not sustainable in the event of WTO tariffs. We want our UK team of more than 7,000

people to have the best possible chance of future success, which is why we continue to urge the UK and EU negotiators to work collaboratively towards an orderly balanced Brexit that will continue to encourage mutually beneficial trade.”

Nissan Europe Chairman Gianluca de Ficchy had already warned

Two women in race to become Bank of England governor Data released by the Treasury reveal that only two women applied for the post of the next governor of the Bank of England, even though the department hired a specialist headhunting firm in a bid to diversify candidates.

The stats reveal men accounted for 21 of the 23 applicants hoping to take over the job previously held

by Mark Carney and now Andrew Bailey. It is known that both women made the shortlist, alongside seven male candidates.

Headhunting firm Sapphire Partners, that specialises in diversity and placing women in top roles was reportedly paid £90,000 to conduct the search. While the bill is footed by the Bank, the Treasury appointed the firm and was in charge of the final selection, which was delayed because of the general election and the announcement by Chancellor Sajid Javid. The

Treasury’s selection panel was made up of three men and one woman.

With Carney's exit, the department had the chance to appoint the Bank's first female governor in its 325 year old history. In a letter sent to the Treasury committee in December, Javid said Bailey is “highly qualified” and “has strong experience in central banking and regulation with a strong international profile.” He added, “I believe that his knowledge and skills will be extremely valuable at the Bank of England in the coming years.”

Santander's UK chair Shriti Vadera, and former deputy Bank of England governor Minouche Shafik were both reported as the apt candidates for the job.

The Treasury has long faced criticism over a lack of diversity across the BoE's higher positions. A Treasury spokesman said, “Our aim was always to appoint the best possible candidate, which is what we have done.

And it was right to take steps to run as open a recruitment process as possible. We will continue to support that agenda in the future.”

in October that the imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on exports under WTO terms would put the company's entire Europe business model in trouble.

Sunderland is the UK's largest car factory and holds around 6,000 workers. It makes three of Nissan's five flagship models – the Qashqai, Juke and the Leaf.

Police seize Sanjay Shah's Hyde Park mansion Danish police have seized a £14.7m mansion near Hyde Park, central London, owned by British multi-millionaire businessman Sanjay Shah. He is accused of defrauding Danish taxpayers out of £1.5bn.

Denmark's serious economic and international crime police department said it had seized the property owned by a suspect “believed to have scammed over 12 bn Danish kroner.”

Shah's name, however, wasn't identified. A report has confirmed that the seized property belongs to the 50 year old currently living in Dubai's Palm Jumeirah. It also stated that Shah's spokesman confirmed his London mansion had been seized. Jack Irvine, the spokesman said Shah denies any wrongdoing. Denmark Tax Authority, Skat, in a court filing in 2018, had described Shah as “the primary individual said to be responsible for the fraudulent scheme.”

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REAL ESTATE VOICE

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8 - 14 February 2020

LESS IS MORE We are underway with the works in a property in Wembley. The aim is to convert the property into a 5 room HMO. The loft extension has already been completed in a matter of days. The extension remains to be completed, and then the internals to be designed and finished off.

Suresh Vagjiani Sow & Reap London Property Investment

There exists the possibility to get even more rooms into the property; but the feeling was it would be better to get less rooms, and have higher occupancy levels. Our lettings manager confirmed the one thing tenants prefer in shared accommodation is to have ensuite rooms. Therefore, we have decided with our client to have them all ensuite.

Sometimes less is more.

The rooms will be large and spacious; we do not foresee any issues in renting these out. I have been told by a local agent that even £850pm is possible. I remember not that long ago this was the going rate for a 2 bedroom flat.

Actually, I find this hard to believe. But this is the word on the street, straight from the horse’s mouth. The gross income on this property will be £51K per annum on this basis.

Previously, the property was generating £21,600 pa.

In order to get from one position to the other has only involved two factors. One is time, and the other is money. The time period was six weeks for the planning; and we expect about

two months for the build. So, three and a half months in total; and of course the other being money, the cost of works in total is only £110K. In short, an inject of £110K gives our client £30K extra income. If we wipe off £10K for expenses, even a £20K net income is a good return on funds invested.

What makes this deal even more lucrative, is one mortgage provider is giving the money at 2.09% per annum fixed for the next 5 years. So, the £110K is costing only £2,299 per annum.

Therefore, another way to look at this deal is to say you’re spending £2.3K pa in order to make £20K per annum. This is 9 times your return consistently. The rate will be fixed for 5 years. I can’t see any downside here. The rents generally only tend to go upwards.

The local agent whom I consulted with was also commenting on how high the area has come up and at times he gets surprised at the rents achieved.

This was an interesting point to hear, even someone on the ground and in the trade gets stumped at the rents achievable. I guess to some extent or another we all look in the rear view mirror and do not look at the terrain around us, let alone try to foresee where things could go.

This project will be over shortly; but we hope to do a few more of these. If you have a freehold semi detached property and wish to enhance the rental, give our office a call, we already have the prototype.

AGONY AGENT IS HERE TO HELP! Q: What kind of agreement would I need in place if I was to short let my BTL?

them removed from the property if they choose not to leave at the end of their stay.

You would have to wait four months minimum before you are able to give notice for them to leave at the end of month six.

This is down to the Deregulation Act that came into force on 1st October 2016.

A: There are some agents and landlords out there that run the risk of either no agreement or the wrong agreement. In some cases, we have had landlords approach us and say that they have actually given their tenants two months on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. As many of you may be aware, in order for an AST to be an AST it must conform to a minimum term of six months.

The best thing for you to do would be to either rent through a reputable agent or a tour operator. However, if you are adamant you want to do yourself, we suggest that you draft a Holiday Let agreement.

Now, if you provided your short lets with an AST you may find it very difficult to have

If you would like further information on this, please don't hesitate to contact us.

BUY TO LET OPPORTUNITY

● Large one bedroom flat with very long lease and low service charges ● Close to a Crossrail station ● Journey time to Canary Wharf and Bond Street will be 11 mins and 25 mins

● Yield of 5.7% per annum

London, SE2 Purchase Price: £170,000

● £60K cash required to close this deal, subject to mortgage criteria ● Sustained long term growth due to Crossrail Call us now for more information!

Specialists in Central London Property Sourcing

0207 993 0103 info@sowandreap.co.uk www.sowandreap.co.uk 27 Gloucester Place, London, W1U 8HU SowandReapProperties

Sowandreapuk

Interested in investing in property?

Do get in touch to see how we can help

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8 - 14 February 2020

Economic survey expects 6-6.5% growth in 2020-21 The economic survey which was tabled in parliament a day ahead of budget 2020-21, expects the economy to rebound strongly and clock a growth rate of 6-6.5 per cent in 2020-21. This, it said, would be possible because of a low statistical base of 5 per cent growth rate in 2019-20.

The economy had continuously powered down over the last six quarters from 8.1 per cent in January-March 2018 to 4.5 per cent in July-September 2019.

While Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman estimated the fiscal deficit for 2019-20 at 3.3 per cent of the GDP, the Survey gave enough indications this would be breached. “Fiscal deficit target may have to be relaxed for the current year,” it said, pointing to the imperative of boosting domestic demand, which is crucial to revive growth.

For employment generation, the survey called for policies that promote ease of doing busi-

ness and flexible labour regulations, and foster entrepreneurial activity, especially in the manufacturing sector. It further said that ‘Assemble in India’ for the world should be integrated with ‘Make in India’ to raise India’s export market share to about 3.5 per cent by 2025 and 6 per cent by 2030. In the process, India would be able to create about 40 million jobs by 2025 and about 80 million jobs by 2030.

The survey called for cutting non-committed revenue expenditures like subsidies, but warned against cutting capital expenditure. “…since a considerable proportion of revenue expenditure like interest payments, wages and salaries and pensions is committed. In nature, this leaves a little fiscal headroom for manoeuvre.

Therefore, the focus of the government should lie on rationalization of non-committed revenue expenditure like subsidies,” it said. It also advocated aggressive disinvestment to “facilitate creation of fiscal

space and improve the efficient allocation of public resources”.

The survey authored by Chief Economic Advisor Krishnamurthy Subramanian, underlined the importance of wealth creation. Stressing that many of the interventions over the years in sectors such as pharmaceuticals and agriculture have been counterproductive, the survey called for strengthening the ‘invisible hand of markets’ along with the ‘hand of trust’ to support markets.

“India’s aspiration to become a $5 trillion economy depends critically on strengthening the invisible hand of markets together with the hand of trust that can support markets,” it said. According to Subramanian, looking at the business cycle phenomena in India, typically the peaks and troughs, and corelating them with what has happened, “it seems like we

have hit the trough therefore there should be uptick in growth. That is what we are Budgeting.”

Listing ten positive factors such as picking up of Nifty India Consumption Index for the first time this year, an upbeat secondary market, higher FDI flows, build-up of demand pressure, positive outlook for rural consumption, rebound of industrial activity, steady improvement in manufacturing, growth in merchandise exports, higher build-up of foreign exchange reserves and positive growth rate of GST revenue collection, the Survey said the uptick in second half of 2019-20 will be mainly due to these factors.

AI’s network seen as biggest strength in flight to selloff Jet Airways’ shutting down last April, leaving Air India as the only Indian carrier operating medium and long-haul nonstops between India and distant continents, is possibly the jewel in the on-sale Maharaja’s crown.

While the terms of the second divestment attempt have been considerably sweetened by relaxing eligibility norms for bidders, allowing them to take on a much lower debt-cum-liability burden and the government exiting fully, AI’s biggest strength could be its network.

AI’s 27 young Boeing 787 Dreamliners (average age 5.2 years) and 16 B777s (average age 10 years) operate 36 weekly flights to six North American destinations like New York (JFK and Newark), San Francisco, Chicago, Washington and Toronto, 37 weekly to London

and Birmingham, 38 weekly to eight European destinations like Paris and Vienna and 84 in southeast, far east and Australian destinations like Tokyo, Seoul, Melbourne and Sydney. On India-Australia and routes like DelhiVienna/Chicago and Washington, AI is the only airline with direct flights.

Among Indian carriers, AI and AI Express account for 50.6% market share of international travel to and from India.

Taking both foreign and Indian carriers into account, AI-AI Express’s share is 18.4%. Indian carriers account for just over a third (36%) of all international travel to and from the country.

“Growing organically will mean Vistara and IndiGo will take several years to reach the network of AI. Acquiring AI will mean a plug-and-play for medi-

um and long haul operations.

Both Vistara (with SIA as one of the parents) and IndiGo are solid professional airlines for whom AI may make good business sense,” said a person involved in AI divestment.

Vistara and IndiGo have not commented on this issue.

Aviation insiders, however, point out that while Jet’s absence may make AI attractive, what happened after Jet shutdown could make Maharaja’s divestment tough. “After Jet shutdown, SpiceJet and Vistara took some of ex-Jet B737s with

crew and added flights on Jet’s then-vacant slots. They got what they wanted without having to take over Jet’s debt burden. Remains to be seen if the same happens with AI too,” said a senior private airline official.

Some foreign airlines are also learnt to be examining AI closely and while comments have been sought from them, they have not commented.

Dubai-based Emirates has categorically said, “We do not intend to acquire equity in AI as we are currently focused on our own organic growth.”

Arvind Krishna to lead IBM, joins club of global Indian CEOs

IIT-Kanpur alumnus Arvind Krishna will lead IBM, the 108year-old American company which posted annual revenue of $80 billion in 2018 - from April 6, when CEO Virginia Rometty steps down from that position.

The company’s share price, which has been trending down since 2013 except for occasional spikes, rose by 5% in opening trade in the US following the announcement.

Indian-origin CEOs now lead tech companies that together command a market capitalisation of nearly $2.7 trillion. These include Satya Nadella of Microsoft, Sundar Pichai of Alphabet/Google, Shantanu Narayen of Adobe, Sanjay Mehrotra of Micron Technology,

Arvind Krishna

Nikesh Arora of Palo Alto Networks, and George Kurian of NetApp. Krishna, 57, son of an Indian Army officer, joined IBM in 1990, right after university, and is currently its senior vice president for cloud and cognitive software, two of the company’s biggest focus areas. He led the compa-

ny's $34-billion acquisition of open source enterprise software company Red Hat in 2018, a deal that was the biggest in IBM’s history, and on which a lot of IBM’s future rides.

"Arvind is the right CEO for the next era at IBM," said Rometty. "He is a brilliant technologist who has played a significant role in developing our key technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud, quantum computing and blockchain.”

Many would be watching to see whether he can do for IBM what Nadella did for Microsoft.

IBM’s annual revenue fell steadily for many years from 2011, when it had touched a high of $107 billion, and has risen only slightly in the past couple of years. It was weighed down by its

legacy businesses, and could not transition to newer digital offerings with as much agility as younger companies like Amazon and Google. Nadella rejuvenated Microsoft with his focus on the cloud and partnerships with companies that were once regarded as competitors. In IBM’s case, analysts remain divided on whether it can pull itself up in a sustainable way. The company’s decision to repose faith in a man who has been a researcher and core to IBM’s new-age offerings in cloud and AI has raised hopes.

Krishna hold 15 patents, and perhaps because of his research focus, has been relatively low-profile.

Rometty described Krishna as a superb operational leader, “able to win today while building the business of tomorrow.”

in brief

JLR CHIEF TO RETIRE IN SEPT

Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) CEO, will retire from the current post in September this year as he turns 65. According to the company’s HR policy, executive directors retire at the age of 65. However, Speth will continue to be on the board of JLR in a nonexecutive capacity. He will be redesignated as the vice-chairman of the company that accounts for the bulk of parent Tata Motors’ revenue. According to the company’s HR norms, a non-executive director can remain on the board until the age of 70. Tata Motors had acquired JLR from Ford Motor Company for $2.3 billion in 2008 and brought Speth, a German engineer, on board to steer JLR in 2010. Besides JLR, Speth is a director on the board of Tata Motors and Tata Sons, the promoter of the Indian automotive giant. A search committee has been formed to find the next CEO for JLR, Tata Motors said.

RBI PENALISES HDFC BANK FOR FAILING KYC

The RBI has imposed a £100,000 penalty on HDFC Bank for failing to comply with the central bank’s know your customer (KYC) norms. The RBI said that 39 current accounts opened by the bank had transactions disproportionate to the declared income and profile of the customers. “Based on the observations made during the on-site inspection for FY17, a scrutiny of 39 current accounts opened by its customers for bidding in initial public offer was conducted by the RBI, which revealed that the bank had failed to exercise ongoing due diligence in those accounts,” the central bank said. The RBI then issued a showcause notice to the bank. After considering the bank’s response, the central bank concluded that the charge of non-compliance with the direction was sustained and warranted imposition of monetary penalty.

GOVT NOTIFIES RULES FOR WINDING UP OF COMPANIES

In a move that will help lessen the burden on the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), the government has notified the rules for winding up of firms under the companies law.

The corporate affairs ministry has notified the Companies (Winding Up) Rules, 2020, which would be effective from April 1.

Petitions for winding up of companies are subject to various conditions, including thresholds on turnover and paid-up capital.

Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas partner & head (M&A) Akila Agrawal said the rules seek to inter alia reduce the burden of the NCLT by enabling summary procedures for liquidation to be filed with the central government. “A large part of the procedure applicable to regular companies continues to be applicable to the companies that can opt for the summary procedure.

SBI SEES HIGHEST QUARTERLY NET IN OCT-DEC

SBI reported its highest ever quarterly net profit of £558.3 million - up 41% from the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

The gains were bolstered by a sharp jump in net interest income which was partly because of the recovery of £1.1 billion following resolution of Essar Steel default due to its sale to Arcelor Mittal under the insolvency process. The bank managed to grow its net interest income by 22% to £2.28 billion despite loan growth being subdued at less than 7%. This was because the bank managed to cap increase in interest outgo to less than one per cent despite deposits growing by 10%. “For the quarter our net interest margin was 3.59, if we remove the impact of Essar Steel recovery the NIM would be 3.37,” said Rajnish Kumar, chairman, State Bank of India.

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PAKISTAN

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8 - 14 February 2020

in brief 4 INDIANS DIE OF SUFFOCATION IN NEPAL

Four Indian nationals, including two children, belonging to the same family died of suffocation after they were crushed beneath a pile of gunny sacks in Nepal, the second tragedy to strike Indians in the Himalayan nations this month. The incident happened in Gallamandi Pipariya area of Siddharthanagar Municipality in province No 5 of western Nepal. According to police, Sahajad Hussain, 30, his wife Saddab Khatun and their two-year-old daughter and sixyear-old son were found dead beneath a pile of sacks in their rented room. They belonged to Bihar. The four, who had been working as rag pickers for one and a half decade in the area, might have died of suffocation, according to preliminary reports. Their bodies have been kept in a hospital for postmortem. Earlier, eight Indian tourists from Kerala died in Nepal last week after they fell unconscious due to a suspected gas leak from a heater in their room at a resort in Makwanpur district.

INDIAN JAILED FOR SCAMS IN US

A 28-year-old Indian national was sentenced to 5 years in prison followed by three years of supervised release for participating in several scams involving call centres and defrauding victims of over $377,000. Safder Iqbal was also ordered to pay over $377,800 in restitution to the victims, a US attorney said. Iqbal was remanded into custody after the sentencing hearing. Iqbal came to the US from India in April 2018 to work at a hotel in Colorado through the J-1visa programme. He was involved in different scams. Court records show that even before coming to the US, Iqbal was involved in various India-based fraud schemes. He had worked as a call centre agent working to defraud victims in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and South Africa. He had also served as a “broker” helping to connect the India-based owners of scam call centres with receivers who could accept money from victims in their native countries.

INDIAN-AMERICANS ORGANISE 'SIT-IN SATYAGRAHA' IN US

A group of Indian-Americans organised a 'sit-in Satyagraha' in front of the Mahatma Gandhi statue near the Indian Embassy, highlighting the need for pluralism in India.

The sit-in-Satyagraha was organised by 'Young India', a policy advocacy group.

Speeches from community members were also made in the memory of the Mahatma.

The speakers highlighted the need for pluralism in India. 'We have gathered here to remind us of Mahatma's message, method and also insistence to activate our conscience in times of trial. World's two largest democracies have found themselves in positions where many see democratic evolution is under duress,' said IndianAmerican Rohit Tripathi, the founder and current president of 'Young India'.

2 INDIANS KILLED IN TANKER FIRE OFF UAE

Two Indian sailors were killed and several others were reported missing after a Panamanian-flagged tanker caught fire off the UAE’s coast, a media report said. The federal authority for land and maritime transport said the fire broke out on board the tanker 21 miles off the UAE coast and was quickly brought under control by fire-fighters.

Efforts are on to trace the missing persons, it said. According to reports, the tanker had around 55 people on board, including 12 crew members at the time of the accident. Two Indians died in the fire while two others are reported to be critical. Another 10 are said to be missing, the report said.

Pak declares national emergency to battle locusts ISLAMABAD: Pakistan, which is facing its worst locust attack in decades, has declared national emergency to tackle the insects destroying crops on a large scale in Punjab province, country's main region for agricultural production.

The decision was taken at a meeting convened by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The meeting, attended by federal ministers and senior officials of the four provinces, also approved a National Action Plan (NAP) that requires a sum of Rs 7.3 billion to overcome the crisis.

Minister for National Food Security Khusro Bakhtiar informed the National Assembly about the gravity of the situation and the steps so far taken by the federal and provincial governments to deal with the crisis, the Dawn newspaper reported.

During the meeting at the Prime Minister's Office, which was also attended by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Hafeez Shaikh among others, a detailed

briefing on the overall situation was given to the prime minister.

The meeting was informed that besides involving the officials concerned at the provincial and district levels, different tasks have been given to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), provincial disaster management authorities and federal and provincial departments to deal with the threat.

Prime Minister Khan ordered formation of a highlevel committee to be headed by Bakhtiar to take decisions at the federal level for the elimination of insects. The prime minister directed the authorities concerned to make immediate measures on the basis of damage of ripened crops. 'Protection of farms and farmers is the highest priority of the government.

Therefore, the federal government should take all necessary steps to save national crops and provide required resources to the quarters concerned,' Khan was quoted as saying in the

report. Bakhtiar informed the house that it was for the first time that after attacking Sindh and Punjab, the swarms of locust had entered Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. 'A sum of Rs 7.3 bn is required to avoid further destruction,' he said.

'Declaration of national emergency was to handle the situation; besides, Parliament must have a role in monitoring the situation,' he added.

Bakhtiar claimed that the government had managed to save cotton and winter crops to a large extent, adding that climate change was one of the reasons for delay in the exit of locusts.

He said the situation was worse

than the one Pakistan faced in 1993.

The swarms of locust are currently on the Pakistan-India border along Cholistan, the minister said, adding that insects had entered Cholistan and Nara from Sindh and Balochistan. Locusts used to move to Iran after sometime, but perhaps this time due to low temperatures they are still in Pakistan, he said.

Nawab Yousuf Talpur of Pakistan Peoples Party said that in 1993 when locusts had attacked the country, the situation had been handled in four days with limited resources, the report said.

Honour killing: 6 of family gunned down in Pakistan SINDH: In a gruesome case of honour killing in Pakistan, six members of a family, including two women and a child, were gunned down in their sleep in the country's southern Sindh province, police said.

According to the police, the father and relatives of a girl, Nasreen Brohi, belonging to the Brohi tribe, entered the house of Murtaza Rind and opened fire on the sleeping family, killing him and five others. Rind's wife Nasreen Brohi, who had contracted a free will marriage, managed to escape the massacre in

the dark, they said. Those killed included Rind's two brothers, two sisters and a child.

"She (Nasreen) is now in police protection and the search is on for her father Rafiq Brohi and his brothers who are suspected to have carried out the killings in the name of honour," senior police official Naeem Sheikh said.

Nasreen said that she eloped with Rind in January 2018.

She returned home after a deal between the Brohi and Rind tribes by a tribal council under which her husband paid Rs 1.2 million to her father as fine.

According to Nasreen, her family

sold her off to the Jatoi tribe from where she managed to escape and reach her husband's home and they were living happily. She said apparently her father and relatives did not forgive her and eventually attacked her home. According to the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, nearly 1,000 women and girls in deeply conservative Pakistan are being killed every year for allegedly bringing shame

Court issues notices to NAB, law ministry over Abbasi, Iqbal petitions ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has issued notices to the ministry of law and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over the petitions of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and former minister Ahsan Iqbal.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Athar Minallah and Justice Lubna Saleem heard petitions and sought reply from the law ministry and the NAB. Barrister Zafarullah Khan and Jahangir Jadoon appeared before the court to represent Abbasi. Former prime minister Abbasi filed a bail petition in the Islamabad high court (IHC) last week.

Barrister Zafarullah pleaded in the IHC to approve the bail until completion of his client’s trial in NAB’s LNG refer-

House of Murtaza Rind

on their family.

The rights group says that the women are killed for being accused of having illicit relations and marrying without the family's consent. Most of them are killed by their brothers and husbands, the group added.

Pak dismisses reports of 4-fold pay hike for Imran KARACHI: The cash-strapped Pakistan government has dismissed as “baseless” reports of PM Imran Khan getting a near-four-fold hike in salary, media reported. The clarification was issued after news reports claimed the prime minister’s gross salary would be increased from Rs 2,01,574 to around Rs 8,00,000.

Ahsan Iqbal and Shahid Abbasi

ence. “The petitioner has been in NAB detention for 191 days and the NAB has filed only an interim reference against him till now,” the counsel argued. The petitioner and other accused were not even provided with the copies of the reference so far, the counsel said. A copy of the court decision with regard to bail granted to Shaikh Imranul Haq, a coaccused in the LNG case, was also attached with the petition. Earlier, on Jan 21, an accountability court had extended the judicial

remand of Abbasi in LNG reference. Abbasi, Miftah Ismail, ex-PSO MD Imranul Haq and others are facing charges of corruption over awarding a LNG import contract allegedly at exorbitant rates in 2015, which caused a big loss to the national exchequer.

NAB sources said Abbasi, in 2013, had awarded a LNG import and distribution contract to the Elengy Terminal in violation of the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules and relevant laws.

“At a time when the PM was carrying out a campaign to slash the government’s expenditures, the propagation of such a baseless and concocted news report was unfortunate,” the Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson was quoted as saying. Khan recently said he could not manage his household expenses from his official salary, the report added. “We have reduced the expenses of the PM House by 40%. I live in my own home, pay my own expenses,” Khan said. According to The News, Khan earned Rs 1,96,979 after deductions, as per his February 2019 pay slip. Khan has also claimed that his foreign visits have cost the exchequer 10 times less than his predecessors. He said his visit to Davos in January for the World Economic Forum was sponsored by two businessmen friends.

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Sri Lanka celebrates 72nd Independence Day COLOMBO: Sri Lanka on Tuesday (Feb 4) marked its 72nd Independence Day, with the main celebration event held at the iconic Independence Square in Colombo.

The ceremony - themed A Secured Nation - A Prosperous Country - was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, his first Independence Day commemoration since taking office in November last year.

The event brought together 2,500 guests - including Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, members of parliament and diplomats as well as Russia’s Commander-in-Chief of the Land Forces Gen. Oleg Salyukov. The event also featured military pageantry, cultural dances by students and civil society organizations.

In his address to the nation, President Rajapaksa said he will

not allow any form of extremism or terrorism in his country. “We have paid special attention to strengthening the national security and public security. We will not allow extremist organizations that pave the way for terrorism to function in the country,” he added. The president also pledged to strengthen the freedom of all citizens.

“Sri Lanka is a unitary state.

It is a free, sovereign, independent and democratic republic. On this occasion when we celebrate 72 years of Independence after nearly 500 years of imperialist colonial rule, I address you as the Head of the State with a pledge to further strengthen your freedom,” he said. Rajapaksa also paid tributes to all the Sinhala, Tamil,

Muslim, Malay and Burgher leaders who dedicated themselves to achieving and ensuring this country’s independence from British rule in 1948.

He said that every citizen living in Sri Lanka has the right to live in free and secure environment. “We will always ensure their right to think freely, hold independent opinions, and express themselves without any hindrance. We will always respect the right of every citizen to follow the religion of his or her choice,” he added. The president also called for a strong executive and legislature and an independent judiciary.

“A strong executive, a legislature and an independent judiciary is essential for the wellbeing and advancement of any democratic society,” he said, adding loss of public confidence in any of these key institutions could give rise to anarchy.

US sues 5 companies over fake robocalls that came from India Washington: The US has filed lawsuits against five companies and three individuals allegedly responsible for making hundreds of millions of fake robocalls to American consumers from abroad, mostly from India, and causing massive financial losses to the elderly and the vulnerable.

Seeking a restraining order against such call centres and robocalls, the department of justice in its class action lawsuit alleged that the companies were warned many times not to place fraudulent robocalls - including government and business imposter calls - yet they continued to do so and facilitated foreign-based fraud schemes targeting Americans.

“The calls, most of which originated in India, led to massive financial losses to elderly and

vulnerable victims across the nation,” it said. The companies named in the suits include Tollfreedeals.com, Global Voicecom Inc, Global Telecommunication Services Inc and KAT Telecom Inc. The three individuals named were owners/operators of these firms — Nicholas Palumbo and Natasha Palumbo of Tollfreedeals and Jon Kahen of Global Voicecom Inc. The companies did not respond to requests for comment.

In each case, the department of justice sought an order immediately halting the defendants’ transmission of unlawful robocall traffic.“Robocalls are an annoyance to many Americans, and those that are fraudulent and predatory are a serious problem, often causing devastating

Dalai succession: US curbs against China officials for meddling Washington: The US House of Representatives voted to authorise sanctions against Chinese officials who interfere in the process of determining the Dalai Lama’s successor, raising pressure as the Tibetan spiritual leader approaches 85.

Under the legislation, Washington would freeze any US assets and ban travel to the United States of Chinese officials found to be involved in “identifying or installing” a government-approved Dalai Lama. A total of 392 lawmakers voted for the bill with 22, all of them Republicans plus one conservative independent, opposed. The act still needs approval from the Senate, where Republican Marco Rubio has promised to lead efforts, before heading to President Donald Trump for his signature. The law would also prohibit China from opening any further consulates in the US until Washington can open a mission in Lhasa, the Himalayan territory’s tightly restricted capital.

financial harm to the elderly and vulnerable members of our society,” said assistant attorney general Jody Hunt for department of justice’s civil division. Robocall frauds are a significant issue in US. In 2019, the Federal Trade Commission received nearly 400,000 complaints allegedly imposter fraud claims of $152.9 million,

which the justice department said “substantially underestimates the extent” of fraud because many do not report losses.

Last month, US President Donald Trump signed a measure aimed at cracking down on the billions of irritating and deceptive robocalls that Americans receive.

PIO named Bloomberg's presidential campaign spokesperson WASHINGTON: IndianAmerican Sabrina Singh, who served as a former top aide to New Jersey Senator Cory Bookers' unsuccessful White House bid, has been appointed as the national spokesperson for Democratic candidate Michael Bloomberg's presidential campaign.

Singh, who also previously served as a spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee (DNC), took to Twitter to announce her new innings with a vow to help defeat President Donald Trump, The American Bazaar said in a report. The Bloomberg campaign also

issued a statement welcoming Singh on board, saying: "We are thrilled to have Sabrina on board - she's a veteran of multiple races who will add to our talented team as we continue to grow in the run-up to Super Tuesday."

Even though Bloomberg would miss the next Democratic debate on February 7, his campaign is actively targeting the Super Tuesday Democratic primary on March 3. Singh also served as a regional communications director for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016, said the American Bazaar report. She comes with a varied experience in

Sabrina Singh

politics. Besides being a top aide to DNC Chairman Tom Perez, Singh has also overseen party's coalition programs and several other important activities. Singh comes from a family deeprooted in American politics.

Her grandfather J.J. Singh was the head of India League of America. Back in the 1940s, he along with a group of Indians, channeled a campaign against racially discriminatory policies in the US.

in brief FIVE INDIAN ASYLUM SEEKERS ON HUNGER STRIKE IN US

Five Indian asylum seekers have been on a hunger strike for 90 days at a detention centre in the US state of Louisiana, a media report said. Each of the men - four Hindus and one Sikh - have formal sponsors in the US who have committed to housing and supporting them while they fight their asylum case, the American Bazaar report said. It added all the five men were undergoing forced-hydration and forcefeeding at the La Salle centre in Jena.

Michelle Graffeo of NGO ‘Freedom for Immigrants’, who has been regularly visiting the men in the facility, said: “Three of the five men are now being held in isolation as punishment for not drinking Boost. All five men are wheelchair bound and unable to get out of bed without assistance. ”

20 KILLED IN A STAMPEDE AT CHURCH SERVICE IN TANZANIA

At least 20 people were killed and more than a dozen hurt in a stampede as worshippers rushed to be anointed during a church service in northern Tanzania, officials said.

Thousands of people crammed into a sports stadium for the service in the town of Moshi near Mount Kilimanjaro, with many getting crushed after the pastor called them to be anointed with “blessed oil.” The pastor was arrested, officials said. “Twenty people died and 16 others were injured in the incident,” Moshi district commissioner Kippi Warioba said. Five of the dead were kids. Pastor Boniface Mwamposa had been drawing crowds by promising prosperity and cures for diseases to worshippers who step in what he calls “blessed oil” during his services.

According to the home affairs minister George Simbachawene, the stampede took place after the pastor instructed worshippers, who numbered some 10,000, to rush to one side of the stadium all at once to get anointed.

PAK COURT DENIES BAIL TO PASHTUN LEADER

A court in Pakistan rejected the transit bail plea of a prominent Pashtun minority leader, known for criticising the country’s powerful military, and ordered his transfer to another jail, a day after he was arrested for alleged sedition, leading to calls for his immediate release. Manzoor Pashteen, chief of the rights-based alliance Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement, attended a gathering on January 18 in Dera Ismail Khan city in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where he had allegedly said that the 1973 constitution violated human rights, reports said. District and sessions judge Muhammad Younis accepted the police’s request to shift Pashteen, 27, to a jail in Dera Ismail Khan.

PAK PM TO VISIT MALAYSIA TO PACIFY MAHATHIR

Pakistan PM Imran Khan will visit Kuala Lumpur next week to placate Malaysia after he skipped a major summit of Muslim nations reportedly under pressure from Saudi Arabia, media reported. Khan had confirmed Pakistan’s participation in the December 19-21 summit hosted by Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad, but skipped the event at the 11th hour due to pressure exerted by Saudi Arabia and the UAE - key financial backers of the cash-strapped country. After pulling out from the event, Khan spoke to his Malaysian counterpart and offered him to visit after the summit. It is believed that Khan will use the visit to explain to Mahathir the reason why Pakistan pulled out from the summit, the report said.

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in brief

EX-KING ACKNOWLEDGES LONG-DISMISSED DAUGHTER Belgium’s former king Albert II admitted that he is the father of a daughter born from an affair half a century ago after a DNA test he was forced to take came back positive.

Recognising he is the “biological father” of artist Delphine Boel, the 85-year-old exmonarch said he had decided to halt a “painful” paternity legal battle that has dragged on since 2013, the year he abdicated and lost his immunity. Albert had repeatedly denied being the father of Boel, who had made her claim over the past two decades before turning to the courts. The former king agreed in May last year to take a DNA test to resolve the matter after a Brussels court levied a fine of €5,000 ($5,500) for each day he refused.

Boel, now aged 51, has maintained that her aristocratic mother, Sybille de Selys Longchamps, had an affair with Albert between 1966 and 1984. She was raised by her mother’s husband, Jacques Boel, but won a court decision that he was not her “legal father”.

NETANYAHU FORMALLY INDICTED ON CORRUPTION CHARGES

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was formally indicted in court on corruption charges after he withdrew his request for parliamentary immunity from prosecution. The immunity bid seemed doomed to fail from the beginning since Netanyahu, who denies any wrongdoing, lacked sufficient votes in the legislature for approval. The request for protection from prosecution had effectively blocked the filing of the indictment until now.

As proceedings move toward trial the timeline remains unclear and it could take months or years. In addition to his legal battle, Netanyahu is fighting for his political life in a March 2 election, Israel's third in less than a year after inconclusive ballots in April and September.

Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, said in a statement that an immunity debate in parliament would have been a "circus" and he did not want to take part in this "dirty game".

CAROLINA WOMAN WINS LOTTERY TWO DAYS IN A ROW A woman from South Carolina won the lottery for 2 straight days and ended up winning a total of $100,001. The woman, who is from Charleston, South Carolina, told the South Carolina Education Lottery officials that she purchased a multi-draw Palmetto Cash 5 ticket.

The woman, whose identity was not revealed, won $100,000 in the January 18, 2020 jackpot draw. The next day the woman found out that her second ticket won another prize, which was only $1.The woman said the $100,001 she won will allow her to help her family help the less fortunate people.

DRUG STORE FINED FOR HIKING PRICE OF MASKS

A drug store in Beijing will be fined 3 million yuan ($434,530) for hiking the price of face masks by almost six times the online price amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Beijing municipal market regulator said. The regulator has issued a notice of administrative penalty to Beijing Jimin Kangtai Pharmacy for sharply raising the price of N95 masks, it said. Jimin Kangtai raised the price of 3M brand masks to 850 yuan (Rs 8,738) per box, while the price of the same type of masks sold online was 143 yuan (Rs 1,470) per box, state TV said. The Beijing municipal regulator has stepped up supervision on prices of epidemic protective equipment and punished illegal activities such as hoarding or fabricating information about price hikes. It has probed 31 cases of price violation, it said.

Ayurveda day at European Parliament BRUSSELS: Ayurveda Day celebrations were hosted at the European Parliament in Brussels recently, delayed from November 2019 due to elections in the UK and Brexit.

The chief guests included Geoffrey Van Orden CBE MEP, Dinesh Dhamija MEP, Neena Gill CBE MEP, Jo Linen MEP, Her Excellency the Ambassador of India to the Belgium, Luxembourg and the European Union Gaitri Issar Kumar, Dr Tony Nader, and Dr Nagendra.

Practitioners and stalwarts of Ayurveda from about 20 countries have gathered on the occasion. This historical programme was organised by Amarjeet S Bhamra, SecretariatAll Party Parliamentary Group for Indian Traditional Sciences based in the United Kingdom.

In her address, Ambassador Kumar commended the role of the APPG and Secretariat Bhamra in raising the profile of alternate medicinal systems of

Ayurveda and Yoga in the European Parliament.

Speaking on the occasion, Amarjeet S Bhamra highlighted the cooperation received in terms of arranging awareness meetings particularly from the above chief guests over years and their unstinting support in the incorporation of Indian Traditional Sciences into the health system of the European nations. He also handed, along with Prof. Madan Thangavelu, a

statement of intent between the EU and India to all chief guests.

A proposal was made for the creation of Ayurveda Centre of Excellence for Research, Education and Practical Application in continental Europe, post Brexit scenario.

Dr Tony Nader and Dr Nagendra presented their speeches via Skype and addressed Ayurveda being the science of life at both physical and mental levels. Recalling her

own visits to India, Neena Gill MEP opined that the benefits be recognised across Europe in that they are cost saving and healthy. MEP Geoffrey Van Orden MEP has applauded the work done in the EU in the field of Ayurveda.

Valuable presentations were made by Gita Desai (USA), Dr Carolyn Peters (Austria), Yannick Pots (Belgium), Dr Martina Ziskova (Czech Republic), Durlabh Vasudeva (France), Gayatri Puranik and Dr Peter Kath (Germany) and Dr Partap Singh Chauhan (India). A trailer of Gita Desai’s her new documentary “Ayurveda Unveiled” was shown on the occasion. Ragasudha Vinjamuri, award-winning dancer from the UK perfomed classical dance depicting the story of Ayurveda.

Dignitaries have also attended from Ireland, Belgium, The Netherlands, Czech Republic, Portgual, Romania, Spain, Germany, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Singapore, and the UK.

EU Parliament defers vote on India's citizenship law resolutions BRUSSELS: As the European Parliament met to debate the two resolutions - one of them a sharply worded condemnation of India's Citizenship (Amendment) Act - it decided to postpone voting on them till March The European Parliament will now take up the resolutions for voting during the March plenary session between March 30 and April 2.

The voting, if it takes place then, will come after the IndiaEuropean Union summit scheduled on March 13, which is likely to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “A resolution slamming the Indian government on CAA could have jeopardised the summit,” a source said. Indian diplomats in Brussels, led by the country’s envoy to Belgium, Gaitri Issar Kumar, had been reaching out to the groups of Members of

European Parliament (MEPs) over the last few days.

Sources in the Indian government called the postponement of voting as a “diplomatic victory” for India. The source said, “Friends of India prevailed over the Friends of Pakistan in the European Parliament today.”

The source said that efforts of outgoing British MEP, Shaffaq Mohammad, to have a resolution passed by the European Parliament against India on the penultimate day before Brexit were defeated.

Shaffaq Ahmed, a Pakistanorigin British MEP, was considered one of the architects of the resolutions, although it had the support of 559 MEPs in the 751member European Parliament.

The CAA is a matter internal to India and has been adopted through a due process through democratic means. We expect that our perspectives in this

matter will be understood by all objective and fair-minded MEPs,” the source in the government said.

The joint resolution by five political groups says that a process like the NRC exacerbates “climate of xenophobia” while fuelling religious intolerance and discrimination. It said the CAA is “discriminatory in nature and dangerously divisive”, and appears to undermine India’s commitment to equality before the law.

The strongly worded joint resolution was drafted by five political groups from the Centre-Right to far-Left, and had replaced the five separate resolutions by these groups. A second resolution piloted by a Eurosceptic political group backs India on the new citizenship law, but condemns the use of excessive violence.

Distancing itself from the

MEPs’ move, the EU had stated that opinions expressed by the European Parliament and its members “do not represent the official position of the European Union”. The joint resolution mentions the issue of freedom of expression in India and has named some of the activists, including Akhil Gogoi and Sadaf Jafar, who had been arrested for opposing CAA and NRC. It also warns against the “increasing nationalism which has resulted, inter alia, in fuelling of religious intolerance and discrimination against Muslims”. The second resolution, while saying that India, as a sovereign state, is “free to be the sole determinant of its legislation on who can be granted Indian citizenship”, also condemns “any excessive use of force by security forces against demonstrators protesting against the CAA”.

Indian-American couple killed in New Zealand volcanic eruption Wellington: An IndianAmerican businessman has become the latest victim of a massive volcanic eruption in New Zealand after he succumbed to his burn injuries, over a month after his wife died in the same tragedy, leaving their three children orphaned.

Pratap Singh and his wife Mayuari were visiting the popular White Island in New Zealand when the volcano erupted on December 9.

Mayuari died on December 22. Police in New Zealand confirmed that another victim died of his injuries in Middlemore Hospital. Singh, also known as Paul, had suffered burns to more than half of his body and had remained in the hospital in New Zealand's Auckland, where he

died this week.

The couple's three children and Mayuari's mother stayed on the ship and were not injured in the eruption. Forty-seven people from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship were visiting the tourist destination when the volcano erupted, killing 13 initially and leaving more than two dozen hospitalised with severe burns.

Twenty-one people have now died as a result of the eruption.

Singh was the Atlanta branch president of Sewa International, a not-for-profit organisation "inspired by the noble tradition of service before self" which also promoted philanthropy, the report said. The family said in a statement, "With an incredibly heavy heart, I disclose that my Uncle Pratap Singh (nicknamed "Paul") is the

latest victim who did not survive from the Whakaari White Island incident.

He had suffered 55 per cent burns in the volcano eruption that Pratap Singh and his wife Mayuari Middlemore ICU with 72 per occurred on December 9, 2019. cent body burns. She battled for "He was transferred from 13 days before passing away on Whakatane Hospital on December 22, 2019," the stateDecember 10th to the Critical ment said.

Care Unit in Middlemore "Paul and Mary are survived Hospital. Throughout his surgby three children: 11-year-old eries and treatment process, he son, and 6-year-old twin daughfought bravely and battled hard ters (names not provided for prifor 50 days - the doctors vacy, they will remain in predescribed him as a "fighter". cious care of immediate family "We all should be proud of members, the statement said. the way he fought. He was on New Zealand authorities are the Island with his wife Mayuari investigating the circumstances Singh (nicknamed "Mary"), who around the disaster. was also admitted into the

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SOUTH INDIA

Karnataka cabinet expansion on Feb 6: Yediyurappa BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said that he would expand the cabinet on February 6. Thirteen ministers would be inducted into the cabinet on Thursday.

This is the first time the Chief Minister has specified a date for expansion, ending several weeks of speculation.

He said the formula for expansion was “10+3”, meaning 10 members who crossed over to the BJP and won in the byelections and three party oldtimers.

When asked who among those who won in the by-polls would not be inducted, the chief minister refused to divulge the names. When quizzed whether it would simply be an expansion or more than that, Yediyurappa only said: “It will be decided soon.”

Hours later, intense lobbying began for the portfolios and there was also

dissatisfaction in the party.

Mahesh Kumathalli expressed his disappointment after learning that he may not be inducted into the cabinet. Those who joined BJP along with him, especially Ramesh Jarkiholi, came out in his support.

Meanwhile, the choice of three Ministers from among the BJP’s old-timers has left many disappointed and angry. Some of the aspirants who seem to have not made the cut, reportedly held a meeting and have decided to put pressure on the Chief Minister and even approach the party high command, sources said.

It has been almost six months since Yediyurappa took over as chief minister.

Yediyurappa took charge after the collapse of the earlier Congress-Janata Dal Secular coalition government following the withdrawal of support by 17 of their MLAs. Those MLAs were disqualified by the

coalition government's Speaker and said they could not contest elections until the end of the current Assembly's term in 2023.

But the Supreme Court, while upholding their disqualification, said they could stand for elections. In the by-elections, 13 of the former Congress and JDS MLAs won their seats back.

Yediyurappa had made it clear that they would be rewarded for helping the BJP come to power.

BJP state spokesperson Ashwath Narayan said, "Cabinet expansion is totally the chief minister's prerogative.

Definitely Yediyurappa will take the right decision at the right time. We are a national party and our high command is in Delhi. Our chief minister would have taken opinion of high command. Definitely he will fulfil the demand of legislators who have come from other parties.” The chief minister himself told reporters that the cabinet expansion would

B S Yediyurappa

happen by the end of January.

With 224 members in the full Assembly, Karnataka can have a maximum of 34 ministers. And with pressure for cabinet berths not just from the newest members of the BJP but also from those who have been with the party for much longer, Yediyurappa is under pressure.

He was seen in a video at a function in north Karnataka two weeks ago, getting angry with a Lingayat seer who urged him to add north Karnataka leader Murugesh Nirani to the cabinet.

PUNJAB

Three prisoners escape from jail, Capt orders probe CHANDIGARH: Three undertrial prisoners escaped from the high-security Amritsar Central Jail by scaling the boundary walls, prompting Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to order a review and revamp of prison security across the state.

The three - one accused of rape and the other two (both brothers) of theft and dacoity escaped on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday by making a hole in the wall of their barrack by removing about 10 bricks, officials said. "They then appear to have scaled the inner wall - which is about 16-feet high - by standing one atop the other.

While the outer wall - approx 21feet - was crossed by them using a hook made of a steel bar and the cover of a quilt to make a

ladder. "They finally escaped the jail complex from a point near Tower no. 10, which was not under CCTV cover," DGP Dinkar Gupta said. The DGP said there was no evidence of any outside help, according to preliminary investigations, which suggests that the trio, among 61 prisoners in barrack no. 7, Ahata no. 2, had planned their escape on their own.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Singh ordered a magisterial inquiry which will be led by Commissioner Jalandhar. Singh has also directed the jails minister to immediately suspend, pending inquiry, all those responsible for prison security. He also asked the ADGP Jails to review and further strengthen prison security not just in this jail but in jails across the state, official said. The authorities suspended seven jail officials with immediate effect - Assistant Superintendent Parshotam Lal, who was on duty, Assistant Superintendent Gian Singh, in charge of the barrack, warders Subheg Singh, Kulwant Singh,

Dheer Singh, Shamsher Singh, and Home Guard Kashmir Singh.

Police Commissioner SS Gill said a hunt had been launched to nab the escapees. A total of 3,250 inmates are lodged in the jail.A statewide hunt has been launched for the trio, they said.

The jail authorities came to know about the incident almost two hours after the prisoners escaped, as per the CCTV footage from the prison, officials said.

The prison guards were alerted about the escape by other inmates. One of the escaped prisoners has been identified as Vishal, aged about 22 years of Ara Colony, Amritsar. He is accused in a rape case registered last year.

The DGP said the two brothers were accused of theft and dacoity and were brought to the prison in July last year.

WEST BENGAL

SC declines plea for removal of WB CM Mamata NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has refused to entertain a plea seeking removal of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for allegedly 'openly desecrating' the office and the Constitution in suggesting that a 'foreign entity' was required to ascertain neutrality on the issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde, however, granted the petitioner permission to withdraw the plea with liberty to approach the Calcutta High Court on the issue. 'We understand the issue is important but it will be appropriate if you approach the high court,' said the bench, also comprising Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant, after counsel appearing for the petitioner said that the issue is important and

the apex court should consider it.

The top court was hearing the plea filed by Varaaki, a journalist and President of 'Indian Makkal Mandram' who had contended that a Chief Minister of a state takes an oath to uphold the sovereignty of India, and must not make any statements which go against the country's sovereignty and integrity. On December 19 last year, the Chief Minister had said, 'Just because BJP has got the majority doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. If the BJP has guts, it should go for a United Nations-monitored referendum on the issue of Citizenship Amendment Act and the NRC.' The plea claimed that it was 'not acceptable' for any citizen to seek an intervention of an 'outside body' to settle disputes inside the territory of India.

'The Chief Minister of a State is not permitted to make such a

statement and thirdly that it gives a very bad signal,' the plea said. It claimed that the moment a constitutional authority sought a referendum in the Indian territory with the assistance and monitoring of an international/alien agency, the constitutional authority ceased to believe in the 'sovereignty and integrity' of the country.

'The moment the constitutional authority makes a statement that a foreign entity is required to ascertain neutrality, then the authority also doubts the institutions in India under the Indian Constitution and this includes the Judiciary as well and even from this perspective, the statement is worthy of being scrutinized in terms of the

Mamata Banerjee

provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act 1971,' the plea said.

The petitioner sought issuance a writ of quo warranto (legal action requiring a person to show by what warrant an office or franchise is held) to the Governor of West Bengal as regards the continuance of Banerjee as the Chief Minister of the state.

in brief DMK COLLABORATES WITH PRASHANT KISHOR’S GROUP

DMK president MK Stalin said the collaboration of his party with Prashant Kishor’s poll strategy group Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) for the 2021 Assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. “Happy to share that many bright and like-minded young professionals of Tamil Nadu are joining us under the banner of I-PAC to work with us on our 2021election and help shape our plans to restore TN to its former glory!” Stalin tweeted. Responding to the DMK leader, the I-PAC said that its Tamil Nadu team will help the party to secure an emphatic victory in the Assembly polls next year.

BENGALURU HAS WORLD’S WORST TRAFFIC CONGESTION

Bengaluru has overtaken Mumbai as the city with the highest traffic congestion and emerged on the top of the list globally.

According to a report released by a major global location technology specialist, drivers in Bengaluru spent an average of 71% extra time on the road due to congestion in 2019, while in Mumbai, drivers spent 65% more time in vehicles thanks to the city’s traffic snarls.

While Mumbai has slipped to fourth rank among 416 cities in 57 countries after topping the list for two consecutive years - 2017 and 2018 - Delhi has also improved its position from second most traffic congested city in 2017 to eighth in the 2019 ranking. The ninth edition of Tom-Tom Traffic Index saw Pune, which was included for the first time in 2019, ranked fifth where drivers spent 59% extra time because of traffic jams.

US LAWMAKERS HAIL SIKHS’ CONTRIBUTION IN AMERICAN MILIEU

More than 10 Congressmen gathered at the US Capitol this week to celebrate the contributions of Sikh community in American milieu. Sikhs are America’s exemplary community, said the Congressmen addressing a gathering of more than 200 members of the community. “History was made when Dalip Singh Saund was elected first Asian in the US Congress. It is about time another Sikh American runs for congressional seat,” said Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna. “Sikhs have added to the richness of my district and America,” said Congressman Jim Costa, at the event organised by the Sikh Council On Religion and Education marking the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak and to honour 50 prominent Sikhs in the USA.

BENGAL GOVERNOR LEAVES CU CONVOCATION AFTER PROTESTS

West Bengal governor Jagdeep Dhankhar faced protests from a section of students of Calcutta University and was stopped from attending the university’s annual convocation ceremony. The Governor had to leave the premises. Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee was conferred a DLitt (honoris causa) by Vice-Chancellor Sonali Chakravarty Banerjee in the absence of Dhankhar. The protest began after the Governor arrived at the university. Three students held ‘No CAA’ and ‘No NRC’ posters, waved black flags at Dhankar, and raised ‘go back’ slogans. As the Governor was set to head towards the stage, another group of students raised slogans against him. The students said they would not allow the convocation to begin unless the Governor leaves the venue. Succumbing to pressure, university authorities told students that the Governor would neither hand over the DLitt to the Nobel laureate nor lead the ceremonial academic procession of scholars and the Senate members.

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The writer is a Socio-political Historian - E-mail: haridesai@gmail.com Dr. Hari Desai

PM Morarji Desai who made a difference

• The ongoing quarrels and arrogance led to the Janata Party’s suicide • Limaye used emotional card for Fernandes to change side overnight

S

ince the year 2020 is the Leap year, India will be celebrating 29 February as the birth anniversary of late Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Following the Black Emergency of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the March 1977 Lok Sabha elections gave a severe setback to Smt. Gandhi whose Indian national Congress lost power at the Centre for the first time in the history of Independent India. Not only her party lost the elections but she herself and her son Sanjay Gandhi too lost the Lok Sabha elections.

Morarji Desai, who spoke Mahatma Gandhi’s language and who had been the Union Minister in her father Pandit Nehru’s as well as in her own Ministry rose to become the Prime Minister of India.

Two old Congressmen Chaudhary Charan Sigh and Babu Jagjivan Ram became the Deputy Prime Ministers in the shortlived Janata Ministry. Of course, the 30 month rule of the Janata government did make a difference as the prices had gone down and people enjoyed the democratic norms though the fundamental rights. Frequent quarrels among the fractions of the Janata Party led to the fall of the government. The Janata Party “committed suicide” in the words of Jay Dubashi, a celebrated Indira Gandhi and Morarji Desai economist, and Smt. Gandhi bounce union and led a major railway strike in back in 1980.

1974 that saw action in different states.

The Janata Party had odd bedThis strike was one of the disruptive fellows. Even when they were to choose agitations across the land against the leader there were claims and corruption and unemployment that counterclaims. Loknayak Jaiprakash finally led to the imposition of Narayan and Acharya Kriplani played a Emergency by the then PM Indira key role to settle for Morarji Desai. Inder Gandhi. T K Arun writes : “Fernandes Malhotra who closely monitored the had his share of controversies, ranging political hobnobbing writes : “Charan from delivering thundering speeches for Singh, a former Congress Chief Minister and against the Morarji Desai of the politically key state of Uttar government within the space of a few Pradesh and leader of a caste-based party days, declaring China to be India’s of farmers, argued that since the Janata Enemy Number One, to the Coffin-gate had won in the northern part of India, he and Tehelka sting operations. Neither should be the obvious choice for Prime charge of financial impropriety could Minister. Jagjivan Ram disputed this and stick. He was married to Lila Kabir till was equally adamant about his claim. the mid-‘80s, after which Jaya Jaitly was After all, he had been a senior member of his companion and political aide.” the cabinets of both Jawaharlal Nehru Jaya Jaitly herself described the and Indira Gandhi and was the tallest political behavior of George saying, “he leader of the Scheduled Castes, at one had defended the government time called Untouchables and now Dalits powerfully in Parliament in 1979 upon or “the oppressed”. It was his resignation the request of Prime Minister Morarji from Gandhi’s government and the Desai.Overnight, he changed his stance, Congress, he said, that had tipped the shocking and deeply disappointing his electoral scales decisively against her. socialist colleagues and the rest of the And then there was Morarji Desai, who country. During the night, having tried had twice missed becoming Prime his utmost to persuade the Left parties Minister.” headed by Jyoti Basu, and other senior “Since the squabbling trio could not colleagues in government, not to agree, it was decided to leave the choice contribute to the imminent collapse of to the two grand old men behind the the government, he was subjected to a Janata — Jaiprakash long political and finally Next Column Narayan, better known emotional argument by as JP, and Acharya J.B. Jiddu Krishnamurti’s Madhu Limaye. Limaye failed Kriplani. They settled to convince George Fernandes advice to Indira for Desai. Singh was with his ideological arguments Gandhi given the powerful to resign on the issue of the ministry of home affairs. Jagjivan Ram Jan Sangh’s dual membership in the RSS. accepted the important portfolio of Finally, he lobbed him a big sentimental defence after a show of reluctance. ball: ‘Do all our years of friendship mean External affairs went to Atal Bihari nothing to you?’ he asked. At that point Vajpayee, the leader of the Jana Sangh, George Fernandes stood up and said, which later morphed into the present‘Madhu, if it all comes down to just that, day BJP. The fiery socialist and archI will submit my resignation tomorrow enemy of Gandhi, George Fernandes, morning.’ And that is what happened.” was given charge of industries.”

One does not find bitterness in George Fernandes played rather Morarji when he pens down his days in dubious role in bringing down the Janata the prison during PM Indira Gandhi’s government. He defended Morarji Emergency. Unlike the political government in the House and on the narratives of present day India, Desai very next day changed the side. He respectfully mentions Smt. Gandhi in his entered electoral politics by defeating autobiography and states: “I am thankful one of the tallest Congress leaders of toIndiraben that she gave me a chance to Maharashtra of the time, SK Patil, in introspect.” Of course, despite some 1967, earning the sobriquet, the contradictions in Desai, he continues to giantkiller. Parliamentary politics aided, earn respect frommajority of rather than hindered his trade union Indianseven after nearly 25 years. He activity. He became leader of a railway passed away in 1995 at the age of 99.

Mahant Swami in Navsari The head of BAPS Mahant Swami is currently in Navsari.

A special function to instal the idols of Lords was held on the auspicious of Vasant Panchmi on 30th January. More than 20,000 people took part in the function. The main assembly was held at Aksharwadi. On 2nd a cultural programme was held in which artists performed dancedrama on the history of Navsari, and BAPS faith.

President Ramnath Kovind opens global headquarters of Heartfulness Indian President Ramnath Kovind inaugurated the global headquarters of Heartfulness Institute at Kanha Shanti Vanam, Hyderabad, on 2nd February 2020.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent congratulatory message on the occasion.

The Institute’s meditation centre is the largest in the world with a capacity of 100,000 occupants.

Kovind, an avid Heartfulness practitioner, joined Heartfulness’ global guide Daaji and addressed 40,000 fellow practitioners saying, “Inner self-development through the practices of Heartfulness will help bring about individual and collective transformation across the globe”.

The event marked several days of celebration to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the organisation and included guests such as the renowned yoga guru, Baba Ramdev. The meditation centre has been dedicated to the first guide of Heartfulness, fondly known as Lalaji.

Commenting on the inauguration, Daaji said,

“Over five years, Kanha Shanti Vanam’s evolution into a magnificent wellness destination, complete with the world’s largest meditation centre, was possible due to the relentless efforts of thousands of our practitioners. Our work to ensure that Heartfulness remains timeless has just begun.”

The spectacular meditation centre can easily match the grandeur of global structures such as Sydney Opera House.

Explaining its main purpose, Daaji said, “This meditation centre will be one of the most recognised symbols in the world in years to come.

Recognised not just due to its magnificence but as a symbol of human transformation.”

The 1,400-acre Kanha Shanti Vanam with its iconic meditation centre has evolved into an epicentre of human transformation. This once barren area is now a green oasis with half a million trees, nurtured to create a microclimate in the region. It is a completely self-sufficient and sustainable ecosystem designed for the highest quality of habitation - be it human, flora or fauna.

During his visit, the President furthered the greening of Kanha by planting the 500,000th tree.

With several million practitioners worldwide, Heartfulness offers free, simple practices throughout the UK for self-development and inner calm.

Trump may start India visit from Ahmedabad

As preparations pick up for US President Donald Trump’s visit later this month, it is learnt that he is likely to land in Ahmedabad on February 23 where, apart from visiting Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram, he may address a town hall-like event.

The event is likely to include Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well, and might be even bigger than the ‘Howdy Modi’ function in Houston last year. The US advance team to finalize preparations are

expected to arrive this week. Trump is likely to come to Delhi that evening, beginning his official visit on February 24. It is unclear whether he will come with wife Melania or daughter Ivanka, who has already visited India, representing her father at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad in 2017.

After his official engagements, which include talks with Modi and a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan among others, Trump may make a

short trip to Agra to see the Taj Mahal.

The visit will be Trump’s first to India as president, and has acquired significance since he will be coming just after a bruising impeachment trial and in an election year. The US goes to polls in November, but the gruelling primary season is scheduled to start by the month-end. The US and India are expected to conclude a limited trade deal during Trump’s visit that has been in negotiations for the past few months.

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Third coronavirus case reported in Kerala The third positive case of novel coronavirus was reported in Kerala. “The patient has a travel history from Wuhan in China. The patient has tested positive for novel coronavirus and is in isolation in the hospital.

The patient is stable and is being closely monitored,” said a health ministry statement.

Meanwhile, Indians have been asked to refrain from travel to China and, in case of travel, they could be quarantined on return from the country. “Anyone with travel history in China since 15 January 2020 and from now on could be quarantined,” noted a statement issued by the ministry.

India has temporarily suspended evisa facility for Chinese and foreigners residing in China.

The first two coronavirus cases were also reported from Kerala. In the first case, a woman medical student is undergoing treatment in Thrissur. In the second case, a male medical student of a university in Wuhan

admitted to Alappuzha medical college hospital testing positive for the virus.

Kerala health minister K K Shailaja said that there was no need for panic as the condition of both patients was stable.

All those coming from China under surveillance All those coming from China are under health department surveillance.

“The only request to people is that if anyone who has come from China recently has not reported to the nearby health centre so far, they should immediately do so,” Shailaja said. The Union health ministry and the

India Council of Medical Research have permitted the Kerala unit of National Institute of Virology in Alappuzha to conduct tests for coronavirus. “Though we have facilities, we were not supposed to conduct the tests. There was a delay in getting test results from Pune NIV,” Shailaja said.

Wuhan in China is the ground zero of the virus outbreak which had infected over 14,500 people and led to 361 deaths till Monday.

Despite strong measures to contain the outbreak, including the Chinese government locking down Wuhan and adjoining cities

in Hubei province, the virus continues to spread rapidly.

Apart from China, the virus has been detected in at least 21 countries, including India.

Amid mounting fear of a wider spread, the Union health ministry has asked hospitals across all states and Union territories to prepare isolation wards.

654 Indians airlifted from Wuhan As the coronavirus epidemic gathered intensity with over 361 recorded deaths in China alone, India on Sunday suspended e-visa facility for Chinese travellers and foreigners travelling from China.

“Due to certain developments, travel to India on e-visas stands temporarily suspended with immediate effect,” the Indian Embassy in Beijing tweeted. “This applies to holders of Chinese passports and applicants of other nationalities residing in the People’s Republic of

China. Holders of already issued e-visas may note that these are no longer valid,” it added. While India has not yet suspended flights as the US has done, the Indian embassy in Beijing has left a window open for emergency/ important travellers from China to India. “All those who have a compelling reason to visit India may contact the embassy of India in Beijing or the Indian consulates in Shanghai or Guangzhou, as well as the Indian visa application centres in these cities,“ the statement said.

An additional concern emerged on Sunday when the Chinese government said it was tackling a bird flu outbreak in Hunan province, which is adjacent to Hubei province, the scene of the coronavirus outbreak. India have so far evacuated 654 people from Wuhan on Saturday and Sunday as well as seven Maldevians.

Air India’s special flight evacuated 324 Indians on Saturday morning. “Six Indians were not allowed to board the flight by Chinese authorities, as they were

President hails CAA, skips NRC mention As protests over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC) continue in different parts of the country, President Ram Nath Kovind, in his customary address to the joint session of the two Houses of Parliament to start the Budget session, hailed the passage of the CAA but made no mention of the NRC, unlike his address to the joint session at the inaugural of the 17th Lok Sabha on June 20 last year.

On the CAA, President Kovind said: “India has always believed in the principle of equal respect for all faiths. However, at the time of Partition, this very belief of India and of its people came under the most severe attack.

In the environment prevailing in the aftermath of partition, the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi had said: ‘Hindus and Sikhs of Pakistan, who do not wish to live there, can come to India. It is the duty of the Government of India to ensure a normal life for them.’

Many national leaders and political parties have from time to time supported this idea of Pujya Bapu and further propagated it. It is our responsibility to honour this wish of the founding fathers of our nation.”

“I am happy that both the Houses of Parliament have fulfilled this wish, by enacting the Citizenship Amendment Act. At a time when the country is celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Gandhiji, all of you have given paramount consideration to this sentiment.

I congratulate both the Houses of Parliament and all the MPs

for this.”

“My Government would like to clarify once again that the procedures which have existed for people from all faiths of the world who believe in India and who wish to obtain Indian citizenship, remain unchanged.

A person of any faith can follow these processes and become a citizen of India.

The Government has made several provisions to ensure that granting citizenship to those who have been compelled to take shelter in India does not have any adverse cultural impact on any region, especially the North East.”

He, however, made no mention of the NRC. In his June 20, 2019 address, President Kovind had said: “Illegal infiltrators pose a major threat to our internal security. This is leading to social imbalance in many parts of the country, as well as putting a huge pressure on limited livelihood opportunities. My Government has decided to implement the process of ‘National Register of Citizens’ on priority basis in

areas affected by infiltration.

Security along the border will be further strengthened to prevent infiltration.”

Recap: President’s Address to Parliament in 2019, and the current status of those initiatives “While on the one hand, the Government is working to identify the infiltrators, on the other, it is also fully committed to protecting the victims of persecution due to their faith. In this regard, efforts will be made to amend the Citizenship Act while protecting the linguistic, cultural and social identities.”

The amendment to the Citizenship Act was carried out

by Parliament during the winter session in December. Its passage triggered nationwide protests over Home Minister Amit Shah’s assertion for a nationwide NRC during his reply to a debate on the citizenship amendment legislation.

On Friday, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP members responded to the President’s laudatory reference to the CAA with thumping of

desks, Opposition members shouted “shame shame”. BJP members shouted “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and “Vande Mataram” and the Trinamool Congress matched it with “Jai Hind”.

A little before Kovind finished his address, over a dozen Trinamool Congress members displayed banners which read ‘No CAA’, ‘No NPR’ and ‘No NRC’.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad sat in the fifth row, instead of the front seats earmarked for them.

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was in the front row. Opposition members belonging to 14 parties sported black arm-bands.

On minorities in Pakistan, the President said: “We have all seen what happened in Nankana Sahib recently. It is the responsibility of all of us to bring the atrocities being committed in Pakistan to the notice of the global community.”

On terrorism, he said the government had given security forces a free hand to curb it.

“The faith reposed by the people of our country in our democratic institutions strengthens the foundation of our democracy. The maturity displayed by the countrymen after the Supreme Court’s verdict on Ram Janmabhoomi is also laudable. My Government is of the firm view that mutual discussions and debates strengthen democracy. At the same time, any kind of violence in the name of protests weakens the society and the nation,” he said.

running fever. In all, 211 students, 110 people working in the region and three minors boarded the B747 “Ajanta” which took off from Wuhan and reached Delhi at 7.26am,” said an AI official.

While everyone tested negative in the initial screening, high alert and precaution have been advised. For the next two weeks, all returnees who were taken to two isolation facilities will undergo tests twice a day, where their pulse, temperature and other parameters will be monitored.

Meanwhile, RML Hospital admitted two more with coronavirus symptoms, taking the suspected cases there to eight.

The Wuhan passengers and their baggage were dropped at a remote bay where special immigration camps were set up, so that the returnees do not pass through the terminal. ITBP buses took them to the two quarantine centres at Manesar (managed by Armed Forces Medical Services) and Chhawla camp (managed by ITBP).

SC: Anticipatory bail can be given till completion of trial In a ruling with wide-ranging implications, the Supreme Court said as arbitrary arrests continue to be pervasive, the discretionary power of courts to grant anticipatory bail cannot be curtailed and such protection can extend till the end of trial.

Pointing to arrests during the freedom movement when people were jailed for protesting against British rule, the SC lamented that arbitrary arrests are still common with ordinary citizens bearing the brunt while the interests of powerful individuals are protected.

Adjudicating on the extent of protection to an accused under anticipatory bail, a fivejudge Constitution bench of Justices Arun Mishra, Indira Banerjee, Vineet Saran, M R Shah and S Ravindra Bhat unanimously held that there should not ordinarily be a limited or a fixed period for such an order.

“The spectre of arbitrary and heavyhanded arrests, too often to harass and humiliate citizens, and often times at the interest of powerful individuals (and not to further any meaningful investigation into offences) led to the enactment of Section 438,” the court said. Provision of anticipatory bail under Section 438 was introduced when CrPC was amended in 1973. “Despite several Law Commission reports and recommendations of several committees and commissions, arbitrary and groundless arrests continue as a pervasive phenomenon. Parliament has not thought it appropriate to curtail the power or discretion of the courts in granting prearrest or anticipatory bail, especially regarding the duration,” Justice Bhat said.

In this context, the bench said it would not be in the larger interest of society if the court, by judicial interpretation, limits the exercise of such power.

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8 - 14 February 2020

Pharmacists, paramedics to train as doctors Government's post-Brexit plans to overcome NHS crisis Professor Mahendra G Patel Following UK’s exit from Europe, NHS England is now looking to allow pharmacists (along with paramedics) to become doctors after undergoing additional training as part of a fast-track conversion course.

This is a move thought to be in line with plans to create “a more flexible, more permeable” NHS organisation, that could help address the serious and escalating workforce crisis that embraces the NHS today.

Post-Brexit Ministers will consider relaxation of the regulatory requirements for the current medical degree programmes spanning five or six years – programmes that have been customary for many years under EU ruling.

First and foremost, it is important to recognise and understand that pharmacists in the UK undergo a rigorous 5-year training programme before being allowed to practice as qualified pharmacists – no mean feat! In addition, pharmacists as experts in medicines undergo a continued programme of ongoing professional development – a mandatory and regulatory requirement set out by the General Pharmaceutical Council as part of daily practice.

Pharmacists are highly

Professor Mahendra G Patel PhD FRPharmS, Honorary Visiting Professor University of Bradford, English Pharmacy Board member Royal Pharmaceutical Society

skilled healthcare professionals and as such are central to help improving patient care, ensuring safe and effective use of medicines, and adding positive value to the £18 billion annual NHS spend on medicines – as outlined in the NHS Long-Term Plan.

Their work largely straddles across community, primary care, hospital, industry and academia. Within the NHS pharmacists are often part of a multidisciplinary team, supporting, advising and providing best clinical care and practice to patients. In the community alone, up to 1.6 million people access community pharmacy services and provision on a daily basis.

For a great number of years pharmacists have been recognised by many as being a valuable yet highly underutilised resource in the

Campaigners claim better home insulation, and exercise could save NHS £3.7billion a year According to the Daily Mail campaigners have claimed that improving house insulation and encouraging cycling and walking would save the NHS £3.7billion a year.

They say that reducing energy demand in transport, buildings and industry - by insulating homes and getting people out of their cars - would reduce early deaths through pollution and pneumonia.

A report by the Green Alliance group accused ministers of a 'short sighted approach to energy' which is damaging people's health.

The top priority in transport should be to reduce the need to own and drive vehicles, campaigners said.

Transport is the largest sector for greenhouse gas pollution in the UK, with current policies set to deliver just six million tonnes of the 70 million tonnes a year reduction needed by 2032.

Emissions are not coming down, in part due to the increase in weight of cars with more SUVs on the road, but policies to encourage walking, cycling and more use of public transport

could cut pollution and improve health.

According to the report switching just 1.7 per cent of car journeys to walking and cycling could deliver £2.5 billion in health benefits, by reducing problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease and added that cleaner travel will also help prevent the estimated 65,000 early deaths a year from air pollution.

The report continued that making homes more energy efficient and warmer could save the NHS £1.2billion a year, currently spent on treating problems attributed to cold living conditions such as pneumonia and heart attacks.

A £1billion a year investment up to 2035 in energy efficiency would also lower household bills by an average of £270, and prevent 10,000 early deaths a year, it added.

The study, based on research by the Centre for Research into Energy Demand Solutions - which involves academics from 15 UK universities - said the Government should implement measures to reduce demand.

delivery of health care – it seems the tide has now begun to turn. The changing landscape of the NHS and ever-advancing role of the pharmacist, is now making it more favorable than before in allowing the NHS to help make better and more effective use of their clinical skills and expertise.

Whilst Sir Simon Stevens, head of NHS England, advocates that pharmacists could be retrained quickly as doctors in a crusade to help plug the national shortage of NHS doctors, I strongly believe that this “quick-fix approach” should not and cannot be a means to helping resolve the workforce crisis. In fact, supporting the better utilisation of healthcare professionals trained within their own chosen disciplines, through wiser and additional investment, would bring greater value, improve health outcomes, and genuinely provide a more effective health service.

For example, as many as 6,000 pharmacists will be needed to support Primary Care Networks, yet many are struggling to recruit into new roles. Equally in the case of diabetes, a national audit report conducted by Diabetes UK in 2017 found that as many as 260,000 people with diabetes in hospital experienced medication errors, which could

have resulted in serious harm or even death. Around 58,000 of them had severe hypoglycaemia. It is now believed that that one in three people with diabetes will experience a medication error during their stay in hospital. Having the right team, in the right areas, at the right times, may have helped prevent many of these avoidable adversities.

It is important to make good use of the right skill set and expertise around you.

Encouraging highly trained experts to move into other healthcare disciplines is pointless in many ways, when they can be better utilised, add more value in their own areas of expertise and skill sets through appropriate investment and support. Tackling the workforce shortage crisis needs a strategic approach and one without compromise to standards, competency, knowledge levels and skillsets.

It’s important to thoughtfully support and build on the healthcare professionals that we currently have to help make our NHS better, more effective, much safer, and more efficient in delivering the highest standard of care and services to patients that we have all been accustomed to for many years in the past.

Let’s make more pharmacists become better pharmacists not doctors.

Vegetarians suffer less UTIs as 'meat harbours more bacteria' A study has suggested that vegetarian women are less likely to suffer from the misery of cystitis.

The study researchers recruited 9,274 people and tracked them for nearly a decade to see if vegetarians got fewer urinary tract and kidney infections.

When other potential influences were taken into account, including age, sex and smoking habits, vegetarians were 16 per cent less likely than meat-eaters to develop a UTI. The effects were greater in men, but women are far more likely to be burdened with cystitis generally.

Meat, especially chicken and pork, is believed to carry the E.coli bacteria which cause up to three quarters of bladder infections such as cystitis.

Study leader Dr ChinLon Lin of Tzu Chi University in Taiwan suggested women who repeatedly suffer from UTIs should try becoming vegetarian.

Urinary tract infections are extremely common and affect more than half of women and around one in

in brief FITNESS LEVEL COULD BE LINKED TO BIRTH WEIGHT

Many of us get out of breath just running for a bus and feel guilty about not going to the gym. But fitness levels could actually be down to how much you weighed at birth, according to scientists. Researchers looked at more than 280,000 Swedish men aged between 17 and 24 - the years when they could be called up for military conscription in the country. On being called up, the men underwent tests on stationary bicycles to test their fitness at Sweden's Department for Global Public Health. The findings show that for every 1lb (450g) of weight at birth, the participants' capacity on the bikes increased by an average of 7.9 watts.

This translates to a 34 per cent increase in fitness levels and a 13 per cent difference in risk of premature death, the researchers said. Co-author Dr Daniel Berglind said the difference he and his team observed was 'alarming'. The average weight for a baby born in the UK is 7lbs 3oz and the NHS classified a low weight as anything below 5lbs 8oz. Low birthweight babies struggle to feed, gain weight, fight off infections and can develop breathing difficulties. As they grow older, they are also known to face a greater risk of suffering problems such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

STUDY SHOWS VITAL ORGAN SHRINKS IN THOSE WHO DRINK EVERY DAY

a study has found drinkers who like a pint of beer or glass of wine every day show more signs their vital organ is shrinking. Researchers looked at brain scans from thousands of Britons aged between 45 to 81, and compared it with their drinking habits. For every extra gram of alcohol consumed per day, participants brains' were 0.02 years older - the equivalent of a day and a half. An 'old' brain would show more signs of deterioration than the brains of average people the same age in scans. Certain lifestyle habits, such as heavy smoking and alcohol consumption, will alter how the brain works. For the first time, the researchers at Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California were able to quantify how booze - as well as smoking - leads to brain ageing.

BREAST CANCER SCREENINGS MISSED BY 1.5MILLION WOMEN LAST YEAR

eight men at some point during their lives.

In the US, there are around 8.1million doctor's appointments because of UTIs every year, according to the American Urology Association – this could be about equal to 1.6m in the UK. The infection is caused when disease-causing bacteria attack the urethra, the tube carrying urine out of the body.

This causes pain in the stomach, back and legs and while anyone can develop the condition, women are more commonly affected because their bladder is closer to their back passage.

Sufferers often feel a frequent need to urinate and sleep and sex lives can also be affected. They can also develop into a more serious kidney infection if the bacteria travels further up the bladder.

Official figures reveal that more than 1.5million women in England missed their latest breast cancer screening appointment and are now overdue a test. According to the BBC uptake of the screening programme for 2018/19 was just 71.1 per cent, meaning more than a quarter of women did not turn up which is a slight improvement on the previous year - and saw uptake at an all-time low of 70.5 per cent. But is far short of the 80 per cent 'achievable' level NHS bosses are aiming for.

All women aged 50 to 70 are invited for screening every three years - and in some parts of the country the tests start at an earlier age and extend beyond 70. Although some women who miss their test go in subsequent years, the new statistics show 25.4 per cent of women have gone more than three years without a mammogram and are now overdue a test.

To Our Readers We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement any advice. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...

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Anushka opens up on taking a break from movies MESSIAH Will he con you or convert you?

Mehdi Dehbi

Priya Desai

Bytes to Binge

No. of Episodes: 10 Duration: 50 minutes each Cast: Mehdi Dehbi & Tom Sisley Where: Netflix Genre: Thriller

Messiah is based on fictional characters and holds no resemblance to true events. It is a thriller centered around the character of AlMasih: A man who is believed to elevate Damascus from dust and rubble and lead people to a better life. Yet, he appears to remain unaware of his strengths and potential. The plot thickens with the introduction of an Israeli secret police officer alongside an American CIA officer as their intrigue rises in him who are equally intrigued by the Messiah. Who is he? He asks us, “Is your world good?”

The episode crawls with a slow start but teases you to believe in the Messiah. The first few minutes of the episode capture a tone of human injustice and rings especially true as it reflects current times. If you are after an hour of escapism perhaps, this show can be put on the back burner for another time.

However, if you are after a thrilling watch that depicts reallife issues and tries to question not only current affairs set in Middle-eastern countries and America but also questions your own moral being, then it is worth a watch!

The focal Character grips you. Not only does he visually bears resemblance to the characteristics of Jesus Christ but his sheer composure and determination to lead his followers to make you wonder if he is Christ? Has Al-Masih returned on earth to liberate these people from their suffering? My God is the back. No pun intended.

A few storylines run parallel to each other in the very first episode but the character of a young boy, Jabril strikes a chord with me. Caught in the nasty web war in Syria and Israel, Jabril has lost his father and now his mother. An excerpt between Jabril and Al-Masih where the poor child attempts to seek answers and make sense of the ensuing turmoil around him pulls at my heartstrings. It goes as follows: He questions Al-Masih “Imam, is my mother in a good place?”

“She is where God wants her” replies Al-Masih.

“Is she with him?”

The plight in Jabril’s voice illustrates how desperately he wanted some sort of guarantee that his mother was actually with God. The very thought, giving him some respite.

“Do you think he would forsake a soul as good as hers?”

His meaning? Maybe she was needed and has done a great

Anushka Sharma has been missing from the big screen since her last outing in Shah Rukh Khan's 2018 film 'Zero'. In a recent interview, the actress said work got exhausting. When asked why she has taken a break from films, Anushka said, “I was on auto pilot, and it got exhausting. There was a period when I was shooting two films simultaneously. I made choices that weren't necessarily healthy. I needed to try other things, things that didn't fit into the schedule that I had found myself getting accustomed to for such a long time.”

She said she needed to slow down.

“There's never a good time to step away from creative opportunities, but I needed to grow and I needed to challenge myself in a different way to figure out a purpose and live a little outside of the movie sets and promotional tours, and dresses and heels, and have authentic exchanges with people.”

She added, “I also prioritised slowing down and working on building a life for myself. I worked in a different capacity. I tried to create some things, produce some things, build my clothing brand.” Anushka has been accompanying her husband and cricketer Virat Kohli on his Australia and West Indies tours.

On the work front, she has two productions in pipeline – a film titled 'Bulbul' on Netflix and a web series for Amazon.

Aamir Khan shares unseen family photos Bollywood's Mr Perfectionist, Aamir Khan, has shared some unseen gems from his family album as he paid tribute to his late father Tahir Hussain on his death anniversary.

Khan shared throwback pictures of the renowned filmmaker, and captioned the post, “Remembering my father..”

One picture shows the actor with his father, another features his entire family, including him, his father, sister, and mother – Zeenat Hussain.

The third photo shows Hussain laughing with his friends. Aamir's fans reacted to the post and called him his father's “carbon copy”. One of them wrote, “Your memories are so nice, by the way, you resemble to him so much.” While another wrote, “You are Xerox copy of your father.”

A Twitter user wrote, “What a wonderful man he was, a thorough gentleman. A decade has gone by since he left us this day. I miss him

dearly. R.I.P. Tahir Bhai.” Aamir's father was the brother of filmmaker Nasir Hussain, and had produced several films like 'Caravan', 'Anamika', 'Zakhmee', 'Tum Mere Ho', and 'Hum Hain Rahi Pyar Ke'.

He had also acted in a couple of movies. Meanwhile, Aamir, on the work front, was last seen in 'Thugs of Hindostan', and is now set to unite with Karina Kapoor Khan in 'Laal Singh Chaddha.'

Working with Mahesh Bhatt a 'great opportunity': Aditya Roy Actor Aditya Roy Kapur, who will soon be seen in Mahesh Bhatt's 'Sadak 2', called working with the ace director a “great opportunity”. A sequel to 1991's 'Sadak', the

thing, that this young boy should look beyond his needs and be the small sum of the whole picture to liberation. Do we need the saviour returned to save us again?

The CIA officer offers a sneak-peak into the other side of the mystery man. But here is the catch, she is just as mysterious!

The directors have excelled in weaving together the various parallel stories in a string of ten episodes. But, I wish the plot was more condensed without gaps where the audience may space out.

Messiah will be debatable, talked about and some may be inclined to have strong views about the narrative. I believe that this will open up conversations and in my perspective, it brings hope to the forefront.

film marks Bhatt's return as a director after 20 years. Aditya revealed it was his co-star Alia Bhatt, who had asked him to meet her filmmaker father for some work. He said, “Alia

told me her dad wants to meet me for work, I agreed immediately. Bhatt Sahab took me through the film, I said yes then and there, not left a chance like that to pass me by. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with him.” He added, “I have

interacted with him a lot during 'Aashiqui 2' but to interact with him in this dynamic of being a director and working under him as an actor was enriching. He is such a beautiful director to work with. He gets you into a certain emotional space and believes it is his job to get you there.”

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Sara says she and Kartik never hung out Sara Ali Khan and Kartik Aaryan have been shipped together ever since the former announced her crush on the 'Pyaar Ka Panchnama” actor on national television.

Rumoured to be dating him, Sara said she did not work with or hang out with Kartik, adding that it was always their characters Veer and Zoe, from Imtiaz Ali's upcoming 'Love Aaj Kal' .

“I don't think I've worked with Kartik. It was Veer I met on the sets of the film. I don't think Sara and Kartik have ever hung out together, they were Zoe and Veer. Everything I say is to be taken with a pinch of salt because sometimes I say things just for effect.”

She added that there's a “gawkiness, weirdness in Raghu and Veer” but there's none of that in the actor. 'Love Aaj Kal' is a remake of Imtiaz's 2009 film starring Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan. The new film brings forth two contemporary love stories one set in the 90s Udaipur and the other in

modern-day Delhi. Sara elaborated on her character and how different she is in real life.

She said, “Personally, I am not a hookup kind of person. It takes a lot to get me worked up. Zoe is the opposite, she loses her cool easily. She can say 'F**k you, a**hole' without flinching, and doesn't mind casual relationships. If the hookup culture makes you cringe, then, there's also a story told in flashback which will take you to the good old romance of the 90s. You will get what you want in the film, at some point or the other hopefully, throughout.”

Directed by Imtiaz Ali, the film features them as the lead couple and also features Arushi Sharma and Randeep Hooda in important roles.

Sayani Gupta lashes out at filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri recently invited the wrath of actor Sayani Gupta as he voiced his opinions on anti-CAA protests at Delhi's Shaheen Bagh. His tweets were not received well by Gupta who wrote, “Sir, I never pick out people on Twitter & leave bigots unaddressed. But you really have no conscience. What went wrong with your upbringing Sir? I am so glad I refused your film & didn't speak to you on the award night. I am glad my instinct always tells me to stay away from poisonous ppl.”

The tweet came in response to Agnihotri's comments on the microblogging website that said, “#ShaheenBagh has turned into an Islamist conversion centre and a hideout for all kinds of criminals like pickpockets, mobile thieves, drug-peddlers. All kinds of illegal activities are flourishing there. I wonder why Delhi citizens are tolerating this?” The director has been very vocal on the anti-CAA protests that mar the country.

He had earlier tweeted about Deepika Padukone's visit to the Capital's Jawaharlal Nehru University last month. He wrote, “I am told that it was suggested to #DeepikaPadukone to go and stand next to #Nirbhaya's parents for a photo op. But last minute she changed her plan because #Nirbhaya wasn't trending whereas #JNU was. This is how it works, my dear friends.”

29

by Vallisa Chauhan

Genre: Dance Film Duration: 146 minutes

Put on your dancing shoes for Street Dancer 3D

Street dancer 3D revolves around two opposing dance teams.

One of them is from India which is led by Suhej played by Varun Dhawan. Whilst the other is from neighbouring Pakistan hailed by Inayat played by Shraddha Kapoor. The film is set in London with the premise of a huge global dance competition. Suhej and his brother Inder are part of a group called Street Dancers. Inder was part of a competition called Ground Zero two years ago but towards the end of the competition he was injured. Suhej travels to India and comes back with some money to open a dance studio but the only problem is that there is another dance team in town called the Rule Breakers.

As ardent supporters of cricket, these two teams always come head to head when they meet to watch cricket at Prabha Ana’s restaurant. It is at this restaurant that Inayat notices

Dha Varun

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'Malang'

Gulshan Kumar and T-Series present a Luv Films production, the official trailer of Mohit Suri’s multi-starrer thrilling love story MalangUnleash The Madness starring Aditya Roy Kapur, Disha Patani, Anil Kapoor and Kunal Kemmu. Written by Aseem Arorra, the film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Krishan Kumar, Luv Ranjan, Ankur Garg, and Jay Shewakramani.

'Shikara' Re-visiting her home in Kashmir after 10 years with her granddaughter was no less than a dream come true for Vidhu Vinod Chopra's mother, Shanti Devi Chopra. 'Shikara' is a tribute to a mother who could never go back home. Come join us in this unforgettable journey of more than 4,00,000 Kashmiri Pandits who were forced to leave their homes in Kashmir 30 years ago.

some men coming through the back door. She later confronts Prabha, who explains they are illegal Indian immigrants who he helps by giving them left over food.

Inayat is moved by this and decides that if her team win the Ground Zero competition then she would put their winnings towards helping these immigrants return to their country.

The two teams soon realise that although from different countries they are of the same elk and this becomes an interesting part of the film.

Dhawan is the perfect actor for the job and looks absolutely gorgeous. We have seen in previous dance films Shraddha Kapoor compliments him flawlessly and she will blow your mind with her look, style and dance moves. The dance sequences in film are completely on point as they should be with Remo D’Souza and Prabhu Deva involved and Dhawan and Kapoor executing the moves on screen. You will notice that a lot of the songs in the film are remix/re-fixes which work really well to praise the premise of the huge dance competition.

Dhawan/Kapoor fans may be disappointed that there was no romance between the two but this can be forgiven due to the film being all about dance. Whilst most dance films end with the leads falling in love, the climax of this movie makes for a refreshing end. The actual storyline had some flaws and can become a little jarring but if you love dancing and music then you can overlook this and really enjoy the film.

You can get in touch with Vallisa: djvallisa@gmail.com

30 KOLLYWOOD

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Amala Paul set to play Parveen Babi in Mahesh Bhatt’s web series proudly say it’s going to be my most ambitious work yet. I start shoot soon,” Amala said.

While she’s yet to confirm whether she’s signed a film or web series, reliable reports have already confirmed that Amala will be seen as Parveen Babi in an upcoming show.

The actress reportedly joined the sets in Mumbai.

Kollywood star Amala Paul will be making her Bollywood debut in a web series. If recent grapevine is to be believed, she will be seen playing yesteryear actor Parveen Babi in a show directed by Mahesh Bhatt.

Amala confirmed signing a project in the production of Vishesh Films. “I’ve signed a project in Bollywood. I could

However, she had to rush back to Kerala following the unfortunate demise of her father.

Last seen on screen in Tamil film 'Aadai', Amala currently awaits the release of Tamil forest-based thriller 'Adho Andha Paravai Pola'. Amala also has Malayalam film 'Aadujeevitham' in the pipeline.

Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran join hands for Rajamouli's 'RRR' Sivakarthikeyan’s sci-fi team reunites after a year Ace actor Sivakarthikeyan's upcoming Tamil science-fiction film, which was rumoured to be shelved over a year ago, has finally been revived.

Makers of the movie, 24 AM Studios shared a picture from the sets and wrote, “Happy to have kick started the last two schedules of our production no 5 after a brief gap; starring Sivakarthikeyan and directed by Ravi Kumar. Thanks to all those who supported us throughout. Title announcement in few days.” If everything goes well, the film will hit the screens next year.

Tipped to be a science-fiction comedy, it is rumoured that the film will feature a sub-plot about alien invasion. Siva had opened up about the

project in 2018, while promoting 'Seemaraja'.

He had said, “It is due to the exhaustive research work for the project that it has taken so much time. I told Ravi that he can go work on another film and come back when I'm done with all my existing commitments. But he insisted that he will work on the pre-production and keep everything ready by the time I'm ready to join.”

TV Listing 11:46 14:25 17:02 21:02

FILM: HAI APNA DIL TOH AWARA FILM: MERE DOST PICTURE ABHI BAKI HAI FILM: HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN FILM: TEHZEEB

After working together for Hindi thriller 'Drishyam', Ajay Devgn and Shriya Saran will be seen paired opposite each other in SS Rajamouli's upcoming Telugu magnum opus 'RRR'. Reports suggest the actress has already joined sets of the film that will also feature Jr NTR and Ram Charan. A source said, “Shriya has joined the sets a few days ago and is currently shooting with the team in the forests of Vikarabad.

She is excited to work with Ajay Devgn and is equally thrilled to collaborate with her 'Chatrapathi' director Rajamouli for this his-

16:58 20:00 21:50

FILM: DIL NE JISE APNA KAHA FILM: RAGINI MMS FILM: D-DAY

00:54

FILM: YEH HAI MUMBAI MERI JAAN

FRIDAY FEB 14, 2020

TUESDAY FEB 11, 2020

* Schedule is subject to change

SATURDAY FEB 08, 2020

00:01 02:26 06:00 08:42 10:55 14:11 17:39 19:38 20:13

FILM: TUMSA NAHIN DEKHA FILM: JISM 2 FILM: TADIPAAR FILM: TITOO MBA FILM: FAMILYWALA FILM: MELA FILM: POORNA LIFESTYLE : STAR STOP FILM: HUM AAPKE HAIN KOUN

00:13 02:38 06:00 08:00 09:59 12:52 15:59 19:33 20:00 22:30

FILM: KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI FILM: JOSH FILM: PRITHIPAL SINGH... A STORY FILM: POORNA FILM: ROJA FILM: HASEENA MAAN JAYEGI FILM: PUKAR LIFESTYLE : STAR STOP FILM: GREAT GRAND MASTI FILM: THE KILLER

SUNDAY FEB 09, 2020

MONDAY FEB 10, 2020

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FILM: KUCH KUCH HOTA HAI FILM: BAAT BANN GAYI FILM: TAQDEER KA TAMASHA

00:18 02:26 06:00 08:34 11:47 14:42 17:47 20:29 23:32

FILM: GREAT GRAND MASTI FILM: JEET - BORN TO WIN FILM: KAUN KARE KURBANIE FILM: AULAD FILM: HOTE HOTE PYAR HO GAYA FILM: KRANTIVEER FILM: EMI - LIYA HAI TO CHUKANA PADEGA FILM: DIL NE JISE APNA KAHA FILM: ANJAANE - THE UNKNOWN

WEDNESDAY FEB 12, 2020 01:43 06:00

08:00 10:24 13:34 16:24 19:33 20:00 23:08

FILM: BIWI. COM FILM: PRITHIPAL SINGH... A STORY FILM: SAI TERI MAYA FILM: 16 DECEMBER FILM: CHAAR DIN KI CHANDNI FILM: TEHZEEB LIFESTYLE : STAR STOP FILM: D-DAY FILM: JAHAN TUM LE CHALO FILM: SHOWBIZ FILM: THE PERFECT GIRL FILM: SWEEKAR KIYA MAINE FILM: MRITYUDAND FILM: EMI - LIYA HAI TO CHUKANA PADEGA

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FILM: FILM: FILM: FILM: FILM: FILM:

DAM999 WOH LAMHE YES BOSS DHADKAN PARDES WANTED

20:00 21:30 23:00

INDIAN IDOL THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW DUS KA DUM

MON 10TH JANUARY- FRI 14TH JANUARY * Schedule is subject to change

SATURDAY 8TH JANUARY 16:30 18:00 18:30 20:00 21:30 23:00

SUPER DANCER CHAPTER 3 THE CHEF THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW INDIAN IDOL THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW DUS KA DUM

SUNDAY 9TH JANUARY

18:30

VIGHNAHARTA GANESHA

19:00

MERE SAI

19:30

EK DUJE KE VAASTE 2

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ISHAARON ISHAARON MEIN

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PATIALA BABES

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years. It is through this fictional story we'd like to show what could have happened in their lives and what would have happened if they met and bonded.”

The film also stars Alia Bhatt and Samuthirakani in crucial roles.

Alia will be paired with Ram Charan, while a foreign actor will be paired with NTR. 'RRR' will release worldwide for Dussehra 2020 in ten Indian languages. Presented by D Parvathy, the film is going to be produced under the DVV Entertainments banner by DVV Danayya.

DHARAM THI GUJARATI RASOI SHOW CHHUTA CHHEDA TUM KAUN PIYA DIL KA RISHTA MERE HUMRAHI KITCHEN CHAMPION MOHE RANNG DO LAAL BALIKA VADHU - LAMHE PYAAR KE

DESI BEAT RESET (SEASON 3)

20:00: THE BOLLYWOOD ROUNDTABLE 2019 21:00:

DANCE DEEWANE (SEASON 2)

SUN 9TH FEB 2020 11:00:

SHRIMAD BHAGWAT

17:00:

DHARAM THI GUJARATI

SAT 08TH FEB 2020

17:30:

DIVINE DESTINATION

11:00: MAHAKALI

18:00:

BIGG BOSS - SEASON 13 -

19:30:

DESI BEAT (SEASON 3)

13:30:

WEEKEND KA VAAR

BHAV BHAV NA BHARTHAR

17:00: DHARAM THI GUJARATI 17:30: DIVINE DESTINATION

20:00:

KHATRA KHATRA KHATRA

18:00: BIGG BOSS (SEASON 13) -

21:00:

DANCE DEEWANE (SEASON 2)

21:00: NAATI PINKY KI LAMBI LOVE STORY

19:00

MONDAY SADAK

21:30: BIGG BOSS - SEASON 13

19:00

TUESDAY CHHOTI SI BAAT

SAT 08TH FEB 2020

SUPER DANCER CHAPTER 3

19:00

WEDNESDAY DAAG

18:00 18:30

THE CHEF THE KAPIL SHARMA SHOW

19:00

THURSDAY MAHAAN

19:00

FRIDAY PARVARISH

22:30: BEPANAH PYAARR

* Schedule is subject to change

MON 10TH FEB - 14TH FEB2020 8:00:

TERE NAAL ISHQ

8:30:

BHARADWAJ BAHUEIN

13:00: SWARAGINI 13:30: BIGG BOSS (SEASON 13) 15:00: STRICTLY STREET

* Schedule is subject to change

WEEKEND KA VAAR 19:30:

SONY MAX 2 PRIME TIME

16:30

THURSDAY FEB 13, 2020

01:51 06:00 08:00 10:54 14:16

torical war drama.”

It is rumoured that NTR and Charan will play brothers in the modern-day portion as Komaram Bheem and Alluri Sitarama Raju.

In a press meet last year, Rajamouli had said 'RRR' will be a fictional story set in 1920s preindependent era and will be based on few years in the lives of two real heroes and well-known revolutionaries.

He had said, “There are gaps in the lives of these legendary freedom fighters that we don't know about. We don't know what happened in their lives in these

15:30: JAI SHRI KRISHNA

MON 10TH FEB - 14TH FEB2020 18:30: VIDYA

18:30:

VIDYA

19:00:

CHOTI SARDAARNI

20:00:

NAAGIN (SEASON 4)

21:00:

FEET UP WITH THE STARS

21:30:

BIGG BOSS (SEASON 13) WEEKEND KA VAAR

19:00: RAM SIYA KE LUV KUSH

SUN 9TH FEB 2020

19:30: CHOTI SARDAARNI

11:00:00 MOTU PATLU

20:00: SHAKTI ASTITVA KE

11:30:00 PAKDAM PAKDAI

EHSAAS KI 20:30: SHUBHARAMBH

14:30:00 PADMAVAT 20:00:00 FILMFARE AWARDS 2020

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TRAVEL & EVENTS

31

8 - 14 February 2020

It’s always sunny in

Colombia Basking in the golden sunshine while lounging on the beaches lining the Caribbean coastline. De-toxifying yourself with an early morning hike in the Amazon rainforests. Or exploring the archaeological ruins and remains of the colonial era cities. The equatorial climate of Colombia allows one to travel to the concrete jungle of the South-American country at any time of the year. From the emerald-green hilltops in the Zona Cafetera to the snowcapped peaks, and high-altitude lakes of the páramo and the Andes, Colombia is a treasure trove of vegetative grasslands and historical civilisations.

Colombian Peso (The rates are bound to change). Over 99% of the population speak Spanish in the cities and English has an official status only in the San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina Islands. Therefore, it might be helpful if you carried a pocket-Spanish dictionary or installed

Fun fact: Visa, Pesos, flights and learning Spanish British nationals can enter Colombia for up to 90 days as a visitor without a visa at the discretion of the Colombian Immigration Officer on arrival. There are plenty of non-stop and one-stop flights operating from London Heathrow to Colombian cities such as Bogota, Medellin, and Cartagena with roundtrip flight prices dipping to as low as £400. Whilst flight tickets may pinch your purses, the foreign exchange currency rates would salvage the situation with 1 GBP being equivalent to 4,421

a Spanish translation app on your phone especially required for hailing cabs and navigating cities.

Lose yourself in the Lost City, Cuidad Perdida Second, to Machu Pichu, Cuidad Perdida is over 650 years older after being discovered in 1972 and has remained off-limits for much of the time since. Deep in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta mountains, it remains accessible only on foot and in six-day rugged hikes.

Whilst San Andres and Providencia are beautiful islands, along with

Koralia beach, back on the mainland.

The Carribean coastline can be a labyrinth for those who immerse themselves in outdoor adventurers and wish to dive, climb, raft, trek and soar. San Gil is the undisputed adventure capital. Sustainable tourism at its best can be found at the Parque Nacional Natural Sierra de la Macarena in Los Llanos.

Old Town Road in Cartagena and Santa Marta Cobblestoned alleys, secrets stored in the historic walls of arched buildings and panoramic sunsets, Cartagena and Santa Marta are the ideal holiday getaway resorts. Cartagena's Old Town is a Unesco World Heritage Site – a maze of cobbled alleys, balconies covered in bougainvillea, and Spanish domed churches. Other top attractions include Palacio de la Inquisición, Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas and Convento & Iglesia de San Pedro Claver among others.

Bogota where the Urban meets the colonial Bogotá is Colombia's vibrant capital, overcrowded being the third-densely populated city and cradled by the Andean peaks and steeped in history and colonial civilisations. La Candelaria, is perhaps, the city’s illustrious and most glamorous tourist hotspot. It also boasts of a potpourri of Spanish cuisine-serving restaurants, hotels, and bars, peppered amid 300-year-old houses, churches, and convents. From Plaza de Bolívar to Cerro de Monserrate, the city breeds multi-culturalism.

Other top attractions include Museo del Oro, Andrés Carne de Res, and Museo Santa Clara.

Other tourist attractions include the Valley of the Statues lie to the southwest, hidden in the jungle and surrounding the town of San Agustín.

Equally spectacular are the burial chambers in nearby Tierradentro, for which the village is famous.

Overall, Colombia is a Carribean paradise safe and uncommercialized territory that makes for an ideal tropical holiday destination!

LET’S PELOTON! Most of us don’t seem to have time for self-care! But exercising and investing in our physical fitness remains a key component to our mental and emotional well-being. Peloton, an American fitness equipment company, has a solution for those complaining of an exhaustive 9-6 work schedule.

Peleton has launched an indoor cycling bike which comes with a luxurious Wi-Fi– enabled, 22-inch touchscreen tablet. The purpose of this tablet is simple: It streams 14 daily live and 8000+ on-demand classes and allows the rider to compete with other participants.

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These classes vary in their lengths of duration starting from 5 minutes and lasting to 120 minutes. This means you can choose a session according to your morning routine before you leave for work. It also offers ‘off-the-bike’ workouts including strength, stretching, and cardio sessions and you can filter by instructor, length of class, music genre or intensity.

The on-screen performance tracking metrics also allows one to monitor their speed, resistance and power. There’s also a real-time leaderboard which pops up with names of other riders tuning in remotely to take the class.

Asian Voice Head Office Karma Yoga House 12 Hoxton Market (Off Coronet Street) London N1 6HW. Asian Voice & Gujarat Samachar Switch board: 020 7749 4080 Advertising Sales: 020 7749 4085 www.abplgroup.com © Asian Business Publications

What’s on ● Think you know Friends? We're here for you! Now is the time to test your knowledge with Top Trumps Quiz with a Twist! 500 questions and a unique form of game play that will test your mind on the world's greatest television series!

Each card has a different subject from Pizza, Thanksgiving, Objects, Phrases, Dates, Kisses, Animals, Phoebe's Songs or even Jobs! If you know what Chandler does for a living or can you complete the lyrics of Smelly Cat, congrats! You might get a point! Deal 5 cards each, ask the first question and check if your opponent is a true Friends fan! It's the first to win 3 pairs, but then comes the Top Trumps Twist!

Challenge yourself and be responsible - never bet your apartment!

Key Features Quizzical fun with a Top Trumps Twist Entertaining educational card game loved for bringing your favourite characters to life 500 puzzling and captivating questions that will test your knowledge and memory Easy-to-carry plastic case means there are no limits on game play Prepare to outsmart your opponents, discover new and exciting facts and duel your way to becoming the Top Trump! RRP £9.99 Available on Amazon.co.uk Woo-pah! It’s time to join the legendary Friends, from one of TV’s best-loved sitcoms in the Friends edition of Top Trumps. The pack is full of the best Friends’ moments, from the laugh out loud ‘Holiday Armadillo’, to the hilarious giant poking device and Monica and Ross’ unforgettable dance routine! So if this is brand new information to you, then prepare to become bamboozled as you enter the world of Friends Top Trumps! You’re gonna love it!

Key Features Find out the friendship rating for 'the one with Ross' new girlfriend' and discover the laughter rating for 'the one where no one's ready' Easy to carry plastic case means there are no limit on game play Play Top Trumps anytime, anywhere, with as many people as you like RRP £4.99 Available on Amazon.co.uk ONLY FOOLS & HORSES TOP TRUMPS Britain's best-loved sitcom gets a Top Trumps twist with this edition of Only Fools and Horses Top Trumps. Follow in the footsteps of everyone's favourite wheeling-and-dealing family, the Trotters, as you experience some of the best moments and meet your favourite characters from the Peckham estate. Relive ideal moments like when Del and Rodney offer their services as chandelier cleaners in a touch of glass, or when Del attempts to sell wigs of distinction in the Nag's head. The Trotters have had their fair share of highs and lows and you can experience them all as you battle to become the Top Trump.

Key Features Find out who is the most intelligent - could it be Rodney, Uncle Albert or Del Boy? Or who will win in the Top Trumps Wheeler Dealer stakes?

Easy to carry plastic case means there are no limit on game play Play Top Trumps anytime, anywhere, with as many people as you like

For the cyclist devotees or the gym junkies this bicycle provides a strenuous cardio workout in the process. It costs roughly £2,000 for the first year alongside a roughly £30 per-month membership fee for the streaming content and iOS app, obligatory for the first year. Many have debated if the cycle is worth the investment.

However, it perhaps is equivalent to a high-end gym-subscription of about a couple of years’ time whilst bringing the gym to your room.

i- F i to n Pe le do o r W a n i n n g bi ke i cyc l

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More than 50% rise in football racism in one year Home Office figures show that there was more than 150 footballrelated racist incidents reported to police last season, a rise of more than 50% on the year before and more than double the number from three seasons ago.

The figures, revealed by Home Office minister Susan Williams, show three years of increases in reported incidents across England and Wales, with a sharp rise from 98 to 152 between the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Previously there had been a decline in reported incidents of racially charged nonviolent abuse, such as chanting or verbal intimidation, from 99 during the 2013-14 season, to 78 in 2014-15, 68 in 2015-16 and 70 in 2016-17.

Reports of this nature are usually made by the clubs, where they have been alerted to incidents, or collected by police themselves. Since January 2018 the UK Football Policing Unit, the FA and Kick It Out have met every week to discuss incidents from the previous week and allocate a lead agency to take forward

Antonio Rudiger tells alleged racist Tottenham fan to get some "basic education"

positive action, such as police investigations or educational initiatives.

Officials from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said racism “has no place in football or society” and cited this working arrangement as a contributing factor in the increase of reported hate crime incidents. However, Kick It Out pointed to the normalisation of divisive language in society as it described the figures as unsurprising.

A spokesperson for Kick It Out said: “Racism is both a football and societal issue, and

it is clear that we are living in a climate of rising hatred and tribalism across the world. In this country, the situation is no different and the language of division has become normalised within our political debate – and our politicians must take the lead in countering that.

“In that context, it is no surprise to see a rise in reported incidents in English football. But it is also important to note that racism in the game has now become a far more mainstream topic – which we believe is encouraging supporters to take action and report abuse

they see or hear.”

Labour’s shadow sports minister Catherine West said: “The evidence from the Home Office is clear, with such an astonishing rise in footballrelated racist incidents since the 15-16 season, coinciding with the EU referendum and the normalisation of bigotry that it ushered in.

“The FA and Kick it Out have been doing good work to stamp out racism from the sport, but clearly we all need to do more to ensure that the beautiful game is free from all forms of bigotry.”

The issue of divisive language was raised last month by Gary Neville after the Manchester derby where a man was arrested for alleged racial abuse. Neville blamed politicians, including the prime minister, Boris Johnson, for creating a climate where racism is more acceptable.

“There are things being said within a political domain that four or five years ago were just not acceptable,” he said. “What is said by politicians is followed up by the media, some of whom give it legitimacy.”

Neeraj Chopra qualifies for Tokyo Olympics Returning after a 16-month long injury layoff, star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra achieved the Tokyo Olympics qualification mark (85m) after throwing the spear to an impressive distance of 87.86m at a low-key Athletics Central North East (ACNE) meet in Potchefstroom, South Africa.

The throw was his career’s second best, behind the sensational 88.06m achieved during his gold medal winning effort at the 2018 Jakarta Asian Games.

This was Neeraj’s first competitive international outing after suffering an elbow injury in his throwing arm in September 2018, which kept him out of the circuit for a year. During his recovery period, Neeraj missed the IAAF World championships,

the Diamond League and Asian Championships. He was supposed to make a comeback at the Nationals but was advised more rest by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). The 22-year-old went under the knife at a Mumbai hospital on May 2, 2019 and did his rehabilitation separately at NIS Patiala and JSW’s sports facility in Vijayangar near Bengaluru.

He then shifted base in November last year to Potchefstroom to train under coach Klaus Bartonietz.

“It’s been a difficult time over the past year, but I knew I was preparing to come back stronger. This was a major target for me (to qualify for Tokyo) during my rehab and I am happy to have achieved that. I will now get back to my regular training in

Potchefstroom with my coach and physio in a few days and continue my training for the Olympics. I will look to compete more in the coming months and am looking forward to more high-quality competition in the Federation Cup and the Diamond League circuit,” Neeraj said.

The javelin event in Potchefstroom had just five competitors, with another

Indian, Rohit Yadav, occupying the second spot with a best throw of 77.61m.

The other three competitors, all from France, couldn’t even breach the 70m-mark in their designated six attempts.

Neeraj breached it in his fourth attempt after 81.76m, 82m and 82.57m. The reigning CWG champion didn’t take the next two throws.

Ellyse Perry stars as Australia beat India Indian women suffered a four-wicket loss against the mighty Australia after a disappointing batting performance in their second match of the T20I tri-series on Sunday.

India struggled to 103 for nine in 20 overs after being asked to bat. The visiting team's bowlers did well to stretch the game till the penultimate over but there were not enough runs on the board. Ellyse Perry was the

undisputed star of the game, picking up three wickets in one before making 49 off 47 balls in Australia's chase.

India had beaten England in the tournament opener while Australia had lost to England in a Super Over finish on Saturday, leaving all three teams with a win each.

"Our lower order definitely needs to bat a lot better, especially when the top-order doesn't get runs.

However, really appreciate the performance of the

bowlers," said India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur at the post-match presentation.

India next play against England at the Junction Oval in Melbourne on February 7.

Barring opener Smriti Mandhana (35) and Harmanpreet (28), Indian batters showed complete lack of application on a pitch offering extra bounce. India lost their last six wickets for 21 runs with pacer Perry (4/13 in 4 overs) picking three of them in 14th over over,

removing Harmanpreet, Taniya Bhatia and Deepti Sharma.

Sixteen-year-old Shafali Verma, touted as the next big thing in women's cricket, lasted only three balls while Jemimah Rodrigues crawled to 1 off 11 balls, leaving their team at 16 for two in three overs. The experienced Mandhana and Harmanpreet stitched a 40run stand before the latter's dismissal triggered a collapse.

Cherry Talk

Monty’s Spin Monty Panesar

Kohli's men – Simply awesome!

The recently concluded T20 series between India and New Zealand was an epic one. How on earth can a team win two back-to-back Super Over matches boggles the mind. The amazing spectacle provided the world of cricket some of the best possible sporting entertainment since the 50 over cricket World Cup final in 2019.

This Indian cricket team is probably one the strongest in Indian cricket history. And, the formidable presence of Indian fans at venues across the world makes for an electric atmosphere and gives one the feeling of being in India.

Thanks to their swashbuckling brand of cricket Virat Kolhi's men have created a massive fan following around the world.

Dare I say that any cricket match comes alive only when the Indian team arrives. I do not think there is another team that is stronger than India at the moment. They seem to find a way to win in the most impossible situation.

The fearless approach with which their youngsters play in the IPL tournament continues to produce fearless and entertaining cricketers. Currently India has the best fast bowler in the world for all formats of the game in Jasprit Bumrah. The experienced warhorse Mohammed Shami reminds me of the similar role Zaheer Khan played for India or what James Anderson does for England.

The decision to have KL Rahul keep wickets in the T20 games gives India the option of an extra batsman or bowler. It's like having 12 players against 11.

Can the current Indian team win the 2020 ICC Men's T20 World Cup to be held in Australia from 18 October to 15 November?

I'm sure Ravi Shastri, Virat Kohli and the Indian fans will be keeping a close watch on England who are the team to beat.

Like the Big Boss television series in India which is turning out to be the most entertaining so far, watching the Indian cricket team takes you through all the emotions. It is more than mere cricket. It's like the feeling when your favourite Premiership football team wins on a Saturday and your celebrations go wild! That is the effect that the current Indian team has on you.

You can follow Monty Panesar @MontyChannel