AV 9th May 2015

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London remembers Nepal earthquake victims

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VOL 44. ISSUE 1

Further allegations on voting fraud in Tower Hamlets

Let noble thoughts come to us from every side

80p

Luftur Rahman

Following the allegations on Luftur Rahman of buying votes, further accusations have risen regarding hoax votes.

Postal ballot papers for the general election have been sent out to a block of flats in Tower Hamlets which has been a building site for months.

The block of flats has 17 voters registered to it and none of the registered voters live there. Five of the names appeared on the council's list for having applied for postal votes, even though the records showed that only three ballot paper were sent out. It is still unknown whether the ballot paper had been returned.

The property is owned by Tower Hamlets council. It has been completely boarded up, is surrounded by hoardings and does not have any habitants.

However, letters can still be delivered there.

Continued on page 2

David Cameron outside BAPS Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Neasden on Saturday

Rupanjana Dutta

On Thursday Britain faces a definite choice. Since the 1980s, the distinction between Labour and Conservatives has never been so clear, nor has the ideological divide between the Left and the Right been so wide. Every British newspaper believes and are urging that Britain needs a strong, single majority government, with a clear mandate and better and clearer common sense- especially after the country faces a clear divide on basis of faiths.

The Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews and Christians have published their wishlists or manifestos.

While the Christians have emphasised on issues of poverty alleviation, the other religions have stuck to protection for their vulnerable communities against racism, hate crimes and

stressed on availability of equal opportunities and rights.

The Muslim Peer Lord Nazir Ahmed estimates that there are at least 40 constituencies on Thursday's election that could be determined by a “Muslim swing v o t e ” .

According to a Times report, Muslims are expected to nearly double its quota of MPs to 15 (mainly representing the Labour party in metropolitan constituencies), though its a long way from the 29 Ed Miliband with wife, Justine, at Shree MPs it needs to Swaminarayan Temple in Willesden reflect the size of Continued on page 8 its population.

Also see Comment on page 3

9th May to 15th May 2015

Search over, Nepal asks foreign teams to leave

Nine days after a powerful earthquake devastated Nepal, the government officially said that the search-and-rescue phase was over and the focus now was on retrieving the dead and providing relief to the affected. Meanwhile, the death toll has risen to 7,557, according to the latest update by the country's home ministry.

As many as 10,718 buildings were destroyed while 14,741 sustained partial damages, the ministry said. About 191,058 houses have been flattened and 175,162 were partially devastated. The district worst hit in the quake is Sindhupalchowk which recorded 2,911 casualties, while Kathmandu witnessed 1,202 and Nuwakot 904, the ministry added.

NDRF pulling out India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which had the largest presence on the ground with 16 teams engaged in search-andrescue operations, said it was pulling out. NDRF Director General O P

Singh said: “We are now withdrawing ourselves in a phased manner. About 250 NDRF personnel have left on Monday and another 150 on Tuesday.

The rest will be going back in a day or two.”

Earlier, Laxmi Prasad Dhakal, Joint Secretary and spokesperson for the Nepal Home Ministry, said, “As per guidelines of the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group, the duration of search-andrescue is for only seven days. So our Central Natural Disaster Relief Committee decided on Sunday that those who helped Nepal, we would like to thank them, and now that their job is almost complete, we would like to request them to make exit plans.”

“Our friends who came here from 34 countries have done a very wonderful job and they have been with us at a very difficult time. We are very thankful to them,” Dhakal said.

As many as 76 rescue teams and 70 medical

Continued on page 26

2

UK

The Arrival of the new Princess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton gave birth to a baby girl on 2nd May 2015, at 8:34am at the St. Mary's Hospital, London.

The baby weighed 8lb 3oz. The baby has become the first princess of Cambridge born in more than 180 years. She has been named as Charlotte Elizabeth Diana.

There were many speculations and predictions regarding the choice of names for the princess.

The Princess of Cambridge is the fifth great-grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and is also the first royal to take the title of princess in 25 years.

Princess Charlotte is fourth in line to the throne and the first royal to gain from the recent changes to the law. The new law now states that her position to the thrown cannot be displaced by any younger brothers.

The Princess of Cambridge, Charlotte Elizabeth Diana

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with their new born baby girl

Asian Voice wishes the Duke and Duchess

of Cambridge on the birth of their baby girl.

Gujarati widow released from detention centre

A Gujarati couple, Bhavisha and Pinakin Patel were looking forward to having their 10day dream holiday to the UK, until they were sent to Yarl's Wood, a British immigration detention centre, as the officials believed that they intended to stay in the UK. The couple had arrived from Gujarat on visitors' visas. Bhavisha Patel had brought copies of her qualifications along with her to the UK as she was uncertain of what documents may be required from her while entering Britain. The guards from the UK Border Agency took this as a sign that they were planning to stay in the UK and seek employment; hence, refusing their entry at Heathrow airports and detaining them at Yarl's Wood.

After a month of being kept at the detention centre, the couple had offered to return back to India but they were refused, saying that they would be detained until the their case had been processed.

However, this night-

Former Labour MP guilty of attacking two teenage boys in London corner shop Former Labour MP, Eric Joyce (54) has been convicted of attacking two teenage boys in a corner shop in London, as they tried to buy a chocolate milkshake.

The boys were aged 14 and 15. It is said that Joyce had grabbed one of the boys in the News & Food Express shop in Camden, London in October 2014. He had pinned one to the ground in what he termed as “citizen’s arrest”, while he elbowed the other teenager in the chest after howling, “Are you talking to me?”

The former MP denied the two counts of common assault against him.

However, he was found guilty at the Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 1st May 2015, after CCTV evidence revealed the attack that took place.

Shopkeeper, Ali Fahan recalled how the boy was crying and said he wanted to go home as Joyce constrained him. “I told the man [Eric Joyce] to let him go because he was crying. The smaller boy was trying to save his friend. He was trying to push the man and save his friend and go home.”

While sentencing, District Judge, John Zani

Yarl's Wood detention centre

mare became more traumatic for Bhavisha as her 33-year-old husband died in detention centre on 20th April 2015, after having to wait 15 minutes for medical care, when in fact help medical facilities were nearby.

Anthony Gard, from the Movement for Justice campaign group stated, “He [Pinakin Patel] collapsed very suddenly as far as we know... it took 15 minutes for healthcare to get there which is quite long considering it is in the same building.”

Gard went on to reveal, “I've had some

reports that he had been complaining previously about pains... this is one of the things that people who were in other units were telling me.”

The fellow detainees were unnerved by the authorities for keeping Bhavisha Patel in the detention centre, despite her husband passing away.

They went on a hunger strike, to protest and to affirm her release from Yarl's Wood.

Bhavisha Patel has been released and following the affliction, she is staying with her relatives in Wembley.

Hansrajbhai Shah was the founder of a soft furnishing business in Kenya. His three sons, Bharat, Manish and Kamal Shah have established the burgeoning

pharmaceutical company, Sigma Pharmaceuticals plc.

Hansrajbhai Shah's funeral took place at the Golders Green Crematorium on 2nd May.

Former Labour MP, Eric Joyce

said he had “no doubt” the politician was guilty of the two charges against him. Joyce was also told that a prison sentence was possible due to his previ-

and we have had the opportunity to review the CCTV footage, and I do not accept your evidence that the both ran at or towards you.”

The judge dismissed his defence that Joyce was trying to stop the teenager from damaging the store.

He continued, “In my view you underplayed the violence that you meted out to these young men and you wanted the police called, in my opinion, so as to justify your actions. I have no doubt, Mr Joyce, that you are guilty of both.

That is my finding. Given my findings and your pre-

The incident took place at News & Food Express, Camden

ous convictions for assault. John Zani confirmed, “I have heard the evidence from both sides

vious convictions, all options including imprisonment will be considered.”

Further allegations on voting fraud in Tower Hamlets Continued from page 1

Gujarati entrepreneur passes away 91-year-old, Hansrajbhai Devraj Anand Shah passed away in hospital on 26th April 2015. He suffered a heart attack and also had kidney damage.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

is no evidence connecting the new fraud to Mr Rahman.

Rahman was accused of “corrupt and illegal practices”. He was originally the Labour council leader and was expelled

and Local Government, Eric Pickles has stated, "Given the independent Election Court's clear findings of corruption in the mayoral administration, there is a clear need for stronger checks

It is said that none of the people who had supposedly applied for the votes live at the block of flats and at least one is said to be dead.

The candidate for the Red Flag Anti Corruption party, Rene Mugenzi said, “I am very shocked that after the devastating judgment in the election case that fraudulent votes continue to be registered under our noses.”

The leader of the Conservative group, Peter Golds stated, “There is no way this could have been done innocently.

You have to apply sepa- The block of flats in Tower Hamlets which has been a building rately for each elec- site for months and has 17 voters registered to it, though none of the registered voters live there tion, put your address on the form and and balances in the run from the party after his certify that you live at the up to the mayoral byclose links with an property, but this block election, especially given Islamic extremist group, has been a construction many of the associates of the Islamic Forum of site for a while.” the tainted mayor Europe was revealed.

Last month, Tower remain in place. The Rahman was re-electHamlets’ mayor, Lutfur ed by 3,500 votes in May Commissioners have Rahman, was disqualified 2014, but was removed identified a series of confrom office for five years from office after the cerns about the ongoing after a judge found him judge ruled that he had running of the council, guilty of lying about his “driven a coach and including the destruction opponent, buying votes horses” through elecof documents. We will with council grants and toral law. take whatever action is registering “ghost votFollowing the necessary to ensure a free ers” – fake voters at Election Court judgeand fair election and places where they did ment, the Secretary of clean up this rotten not live. However, there State for Communities administration."

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

COMMENT

General Election Whither Britain?

Britain’s General Election this week will be a landmark of a sort. The two-party mould of Conservatives and Labour, breached after almost 80 years, when a coalition of Conservatives and Lib Dem with Conservative leader, David Cameron and his Lib Dem counterpart Nick Clegg took office as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively in 2010.The construction of the coalition this time round is likely to be more problematical, with opinion pollsters predicting a collapse in the lib Dem vote. The third significant third party likely to hold the balance in all probability will be the Scottish National Party (SNP) which, according to general expectations, could win around 50 seats, a sign of the SNP’s total domination north of the border and the virtual disappearance of the Labour Party there. Should Labour come out on top in England and Wales, a Labour-led coalition will be a near automatic result. If the Conservatives came first their choice of partner would be difficult since the SNP has ruled out any participation in a Conservative led government in Westminster. One can then expect an auction if the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) is able to muster the numbers – which is uncertain from all their recent successes in the local borough and municipal ballots.

In assessing the record of the Cameron government one has to recognize the situation it inherited: the global financial crisis emanating in the United States, the British economy at a virtual standstill and the Eurozone sliding into recession. The austerity regime introduced by the Cameron government, while causing considerable social pain to the disadvantaged sections of British society, and segments of the middle class as well, stabilized the economy to register modest growth. The ongoing economic crisis has produced deepening political turbulence and a growing lack of confidence in the efficacy of the European Union and its works. Its star has faded, its potential much diminished in the eyes who once viewed it as the instrument of their, and Europe’s, salvation.

This disillusionment has also affected Britain, most of all the Conservative Party. Riding the tide of Conservative dissatisfaction, Mr Cameron promised a referendum on the subject should he get reelected to office. Meanwhile he fires broadsides at Brussels, the headquarters of the EU, complaining of this and that, then talking of conditional support for its existence.

He has emerged neither as sceptic nor true believer, drifting between the two polar opposites. In other words, Mr Cameron is neither fish nor fowl but something indeterminate, hence lacking conviction, when conviction , one way or the other, is all that matters.

UKIP and its eloquent, charismatic leader, Nigel Farrage, are hell-bent on leaving the EU. Its members include former Conservatives disillusioned by what they perceive as the Party’s pro-EU policies. UKIP made a strong showing in recent borough and municipal elections in England and Wales, but that is scarcely a guarantee of success at the national level.

Where UKIP made the running and made the Cameron government join the chase was the hunt for ‘illegal’ immigrants and making immigration the key issue in energizing the electorate. Measured debate went out of the window, irresponsible rhetoric to be replaced by irresponsible gimmicks, which no reassurances of good intent could salve. British industry has been crying out for skills – engineers, software specialists, doctors, chemists and entrepreneurs – to make Britain more competitive in the global marketplace; university vice chancellors are pleading for more foreign students, especially from India and China, to enrich institutions of higher education financially and academically, to little avail. The Home Office, like a modern day Star Chamber, is often given to pre-judging visa applications for longer residence in the country in keeping with the requirements of the law, only to be turned down. When the courts are brought into play and pronounce in favour of the plaintiffs, the Home Office, in the vast majority of cases, take recourse to persistent appeals. The time consuming process ultimately wears out the foreign plaintiff, who is then relieved and eager to depart these shores for a warmer welcome elsewhere.

Immigrants from hostile corners of the world have been allowed entry into the UK, given citizenship, constitute vote banks for specious causes and participate in destructive conflicts inimical to British interests. This election campaign leaves no inspiring message from the Mother of the Parliaments.

Futile and ill tempered allegations, accusations and undgnigied attacks on opponents are surely unBritish.

Can anything be more absurd? The British people deserve better.

President Ashraf Ghani ‘s visit to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to keep his host abreast with developments in his war-torn country.

India and Afghanistan have had a close relationship from the time India achieved its independence from British colonial rule. Whatever the colour of the regimes in New Delhi and Kabul strategic imperatives determined they remain the closest of friends.

Geopolitics and history have given Afghanistan a key place in Indian regional policy. Afghanistan was the conduit or source of the most ferocious invasions of the Subcontinent, hence the iconic status of the Khyber Pass.. Tamerlane, Ghaznavi, Abdali and Nadir Shah are deeply etched into the Indian psyche for their bloody deeds, and memories of the past were revived when the establishment of the first sovereign Islamic state in India’s immediate neighbourhood, Pakistan, aided and abetted another invasion of a similar genre in Kashmir with the Pathan tribal onslaught on the valley. It was V.P.Menon, Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s foremost aide in India’s first government, who drew the parallel with the primordial past. “Kashmir today, Delhi tomorrow,” warned Menon.

Afghanistan, like much of the Greater Middle East, is a ruin. Pakistan, as America’s partner of choice in the hideous misadventure in Afghanistan, has played a major role in its descent into chaos.

Tribal conflicts have melded with jihadi terrorist activity, the blowback now gripping Pakistan itself, but also making a destabilizing impact on India and Russia, as President Ghani informed an Indian newspaper in a long and detailed interview. How to control the depredations of the Taliban and al Qaeda and

cope with the Pakistani military’s intrusions have been the paramount concerns in Kabul over the past two decades and more. Indian support through critical financial and humanitarian aid has been vital to Afghanistan’s survival in its existential crisis and search for security. India’s missions in the country have been targeted by Pakistani-funded and trained jihadis, as Islamabad perceives the country to be an exclusive zone of influence giving Pakistan purported “strategic depth” in a projected future war with India.

Diplomatic efforts by India and Afghanistan in the pursuit of regional peace and stability, including continued persuasion to make Pakistan appreciate this would conform to Pakistan’s best interests. The key to the success of such diplomacy is transnational regional trade covering Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. In the absence of a common border, IndoAfghan commerce can prosper only through Pakistan’s acceptance of transit rights for the enterprise. President Ghani pointed to the inconsistency of the Pakistani position: trade with Afghanistan was permissible, trade between India and Afghanistan through Pakistan apparently not.

Finally, President Ghani spoke warmly of Tagore’s iconic story, “Kabuliwalla,” the tale of an Afghani in Kolkata who develops a close and affectionate relationship with a young Bengali girl and her family, and its impact on Mr Ghani’s sensibility, when he first read it long years ago during a vacation in subHimalayan Uttarkhand, in the northern reaches of India. There is life beyond politics. The modern Afghan elite is drawn to India and its culture, of which their presence in Delhi is clear evidence. The best in Indo-Afghan ties is yet to come.

Professor Venkatesh Murthy, aged 31, and a bachelor to boot, has everything going for him to be a high flier: well paid, prestigious job as professor at the premier Indian Institute of Management at Rohtak in Haryana, a far cry from the Tomakuru district in Karnataka, where he grew up. He needed something creative to do after work, a pretty hard day’s work teaching and supervising a demanding student fraternity. He discovered his métier when he chanced to come across a group of children, rag pickers, the

poorest of the poor. He would do his bit to secure their future by giving them hope of a more rewarding life, for which education was key. So every evening he mounts his motorbike and speeds off to a place he uses as a classroom to teach them: “it’s great experience to educate the ones who are deprived and need it the most,” he says. None of his pupils had ever been to school. Their learning is free, as the rented classroom is paid for by him – an uplifting tale of vision and generosity.

Afghanistan at the crossroads: India’s concerns

An uplifting tale to celebrate

3 No good act performed in the world ever dies.

Science tells us that no atom of matter can ever be destroyed, that no force once started ever ends; it merely passes through a multiplicity of ever-changing phases. Every good deed done to others is a great force that starts an unending pulsation through time and eternity. We may not know it, we may never hear a word of gratitude or recognition, but it will all come back to us in some form as naturally, as perfectly, as inevitably, as echo answers to sound.

- William George Jordan

Cllr David Perry Leader of Harrow Council

Starting the conversation with residents about Harrow’s Future At the beginning of April the Council held our first regeneration engagement event in the Kadwa Patidar Centre in Kenton.

This event started our conversation with residents about the regeneration of Harrow with the Council having conversations on bringing much needed investment to Harrow, creating jobs, building housing and supporting local businesses.

Our regeneration plans have already been kick-started with the successful bid for £31.2m of funding to improve Harrow & Wealdstone Town centres, build more affordable homes and new primary schools.

Over the coming months we will be hosting further engagement events and creating resident’s panels that will input into all the regeneration projects.

Our regeneration programme is just one of the many achievements this administration has made over the past year, despite having £83m of cuts imposed on us and the community by Central Government. By making back office efficiencies and sharing services with other Councils we have saved enough money to allow us to invest over a million pounds

in extra social workers, domestic violence projects and other services for our Borough’s most vulnerable residents. Our values are clear: we will protect those most in need from the cuts being forced onto us.

We have been working closely with the community throughout the year: I personally have visited the Indian Association of Harrow, attended memorials at the Civic Centre to commemorate the Holocaust and Pakistan Peshawar School tragedy and have met with local leaders in Harrow’s Muslim community.

Labour Group Councillors have also started on our manifesto pledge to all do a minimum of 50 hours volunteering in the community each year, with Labour Councillors volunteering with a range of organisations from local sports club to charities and community organisations.

After a year in administration our actions have shown that we have been responsible with the Council’s finances, started ambitious plans for regenerating the borough and have always prioritised the vulnerable.

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MIDLANDS VOICE

4,000 patients use new 10 imprisoned for life for NHS urgent care services shooting Malala Yousafzai across Leicester

A total of 4,000 patients have been seen in the first month of new urgent care services across parts of Leicestershire and Rutland.

The figure relates to people seen when GP surgeries are closed in the evening, at weekends and during bank holidays.

Bosses at East Leicestershire and Rutland clinical commissioning group (CCG), which plans and pays for local health services, are now planning to further promote services.

During evenings, weekends and bank holidays, services are provided at urgent care centres in Market Harborough, Oakham, Melton Mowbray and Oadby.

Dr Girish Purohit, a GP at the Jubilee Medical Practice in Syston and the CCG's lead for urgent care, said: "The urgent

care service was based on what people asked us for – to be treated quickly and locally for urgent but not life-threatening illnesses and injuries – and we are delighted to see that people are making use of the new service.

"Over the coming months we will be continuing to promote the service and we are asking people to do their bit by passing on information about the service to their friends and family living in the

area."

The new service is a partnership between GP practices in the CCG area and East Leicestershire and Rutland Urgent Care.

The Oadby Urgent Care Centre is open every day from 8am to 9pm.

During the week, from 8.30am to 5pm urgent care services with x-ray facilities are available at the Market Harborough District Hospital and the Rutland Memorial Hospital, Oakham.

People with minor injuries or illness can be seen at Market Harborough District Hospital, Rutland Memorial Hospital and Melton Mowbray Hospital from 5pm to 9pm during the week and 9am to 7pm at weekends and on bank holidays.

During GP opening hours patients can get treatment at their practice.

wanted in connection with the incident. They were both described as Asian, in their 20s and of a medium build. Det Con Kate Powell-Perry said: “This was a frightening ordeal

for the young woman and we are asking for help to trace the men responsible.

I would urge anyone who recognises the men in the CCTV to get in touch on 101.”

Dr Girish Purohit

Kidnapped Smethwick woman in 40-mile terror ride

A terrified woman was kidnapped by two men in the Black Country and driven 40 miles to Shropshire where she was dumped outside a sports club.

The frightened victim was forced into a car on Middlemore Road in Smethwick at about 6.30pm on March 13. She was finally released in Telford when she was kicked out of the vehicle near a boxing club in the Donnington area. West Midlands Police issued CCTV images of the men

I’ll kill your family if you leave me - claim A woman who claims she was held a virtual prisoner by her possessive and violent partner told a court he had threatened to kill her family if she left him.

The 28 year old said Iqbal Ali (32) controlled her in every way — even forcing her make friends with other young women so he could try to seduce them.The woman, who gave evidence at Manchester Crown Court from behind a screen, said Ali, with whom she had lived for around seven years, told her she didn’t satisfy him sexually and he wanted to sleep with other women. At one point the woman had to share a house with Ali and another of his girlfriends and her child. The other woman was told the witness was a live-in babysitter and a good friend, but the court was told Ali was having a relationship with both.

The jury heard he was extremely possessive, - so

much so that when she went for a job interview at a city centre store, he made her wear a miniature video camera disguised as a button, which he later played back and accused her of showing too much interest in a male applicant. He refused to let her go back. When she worked as an assistant at an Oldham school, he forced her to fake illness and take sick leave because he was jealous and angry that she had been speaking to a male teacher.

Ali denies 10 charges

including two of rape against the woman. He denies a further 15 counts against three other women with whom he had relationships.

Asked by Gordon Cole, defending, why she had never warned off any of Ali’s other girl friends in view of the way she had suffered, she replied: “He would have hurt me if I ruined his chances.”

Mr Cole suggested that the things she claimed about Ali had never happened, which she refuted.

The case continues.

11 face court on drugs charges in Oldham Eleven people arrested on suspicion of supplying class A drugs in Oldham will appear in court last Friday. They were arrested in dawn raids last Thursday under GMP’s Operation Plumbline crackdown on heroin and crack cocaine. Police raided 15

Oldham addresses, arrested 14 people and seized drugs worth £5,000.

Those arrested included: Adnan Arshad (23), of Keble Avenue; Mohammed Shahzad Butt (24), of Chamber Road; Hamza Illahi (28), of Burlington Avenue.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Ten Taliban gunmen have been imprisoned for life for shooting the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Malala Yousafzai, pictured, in the head in 2012, when she was returning home from school in Pakistan's Swat Valley.

The Taliban gunmen had shot Yousafzai, who was 15 at the time, for her brave campaign for girls' education in Pakistan; she defied their ban on educated girls and hence, was shot by them.

In the 2012 attack against Yousafzai, two of her classmates were also injured. Two of her class-

mates were injured in the incident.

It is believed that the attack was ordered by the Taliban leader, Maulana Fazlullah, in order to punish Yousafzai for her very outspoken campaign against their rules and

also for including a blog on the BBC website.

While many welcome the verdict against these men, however, many doubts remain over whether the person who shot Malala Yousafzai has been brought to justice.

Samar Minallah, a women's rights activist in Swat Valley, also a friend of the Yousafzai family expressed, “Malala Yousafzai cannot come back to the country. She is still under threat and until she can safely return and live among her people, real justice will not be served.”

A man paid £6,000 for his Indian passport to be endorsed with a forged five-year visa, so he could remain illegally in the country, a court heard.

Hiteshkumar Patel, who was jailed for six months, came to the UK legitimately in 2007 on a two-year holiday working visa. When it expired, instead of taking steps to renew the visa through official channels he paid a man – who claimed to be a solicitor - to arrange a fake one, Leicester Crown Court was told. He claimed he met the man, who arranged the forgery, at a friend's house in Leicester, in 2009.

Patel paid half the money up front and the second half after the visa was placed into his passport.

Alan Murphy, prosecuting, said that Patel came unstuck in June

2014 when the forged visa expired and he formally applied for a genuine visa to remain in the UK, submitting his passport. The fake documentation was discovered by the immigration authorities.

Patel, of Halkin Street, Belgrave, Leicester, admitted possessing a false identity document with improper intent and dishonestly attempting to obtain leave to remain in the UK. When arrested, Patel told officials he thought the forged visa was genuine.

Sentencing, Judge Ebraham Mooncey said: "Most people would know you don't get visas in someone's front room and pay that kind of money.

From that day on you knew you'd done wrong.

Once you'd obtained that endorsement you continued with your employment. I accept you've

always worked and paid taxes, but it was work you shouldn't have been doing during those five years, because you weren't legitimately here."

Judge Mooncey said he had read a letter from Keith Vaz MP - whom Patel sought advice from which stated the defendant wanted to return voluntarily to India.

The judge added: "These documents are very important because they help determine where people can live. I am not going to suspend the sentence, what's needed is a deterrent sentence to discourage others from behaving in the way you did."

Patel, 36, initially found work with an agency in Leicester and later worked Blueberry Foods, in Leicester Forest East, who were unaware of his illegal status.

Man paid £6,000 for Indian passport endorsement so he could remain in UK

Jobless weapons trader smuggled pepper sprays disguised as lipsticks and cigarette lighters

A weapons trader has been jailed for selling illegal pepper sprays he boasted would bring an attacker “to their knees”.

Unemployed Ikram Shah flogged sprays disguised as cigarette lighters and lipsticks. He boasted on eBay: “Brings an attacker to their knees in one spray.”

Police who raided his home also found a series of indecent pictures and videos of children as young as four.

Shah’s pepper spray sideline came to light when a box of 300 were found by Border Force staff at Coventry International Postal Hub in Bordesley Green on July 16, 2013.

Another 19, disguised as lipsticks, were found

at the 27-year-old’s home, Birmingham Crown Court heard.

And National Crime Agency officers who examined his laptop and a Blackberry discovered 41 indecent images of children.

Daniel Oscroft, prosecuting, said Shah knew the sale of pepper spray was illegal in the UK. He said: “There was

no attempt to disguise who they were for. A search for the defendant’s online activity established he had been involved in the sale of similar items on eBay. A number of entries clearly showed on sale disguised lipsticks or cigarette lighters as self defence sprays.”

One of Shah’s items bragged: “Brings an attacker to their knees in one spray.”

Shah, pictured, of Cherrywood Road, Bordesley Green, admitted importing a prohibited item, two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon and seven of possessing indecent images of children. He was jailed for two years.

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UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

MF Husain: The Journey of a Legend A memorable day for the elder A Tribute to the Artist, Indian Art Week, London members of the Preston community 3 – 8 June 2015, Shapero Rare Books

Gujarat Hindu Society hosted the Vadil Sanman programme in Preston, in partnership with Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice, lead by CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of the papers and Patron of Gujarat Hindu Society.

He has inspired organisations to recognise their elders over 80’s who have made huge sacrifices towards travelling around the world and finally settling in UK. In Preston there were 55 nomination from over 80’s who were awarded the Karma Yogi Award.

In addition to the over 80’s Gujarat Samachar also recognised a dozen members from the GHS committee and volunteers who have been long standing volunteers of the Society and had input in the development of GHS. The chief guests on this special occasion were the High Sheriff of Lancashire Amanda Parker, the deputy Mayor of Preston Cllr Marcus McManus and Councillor Peter Molineux.

The opening ceremony started with the main guests lighting the lamp followed by a Swagat dance by Abhinanda Dance Group.

The Society’s President Bhikubhai welcomed everyone and expressed his thanks to CB Patel for thinking of the idea of honouring the 80+ elderly people from our community. C B Patel

in his speech showed his appreciation for the elderly people’s journey from their motherland to settling in Preston. He acknowledged gratefully their contribution to the establishment of the Hindu organisation and foundation built to keep our Hindu faith and Indian culture alive. This was followed by address from the Deputy Mayor and the High Sherriff. All the main guests took turn in presenting a framed sanman patra to the elderly members.

In the form of entertainment, a taste of Gujarati poetry was rendered by a well known poet, Adambhai Tankaravi, who enthused everyone with his light hearted poems.

Adambhai was honoured

by C B Patel for his literary contribution to the community. Music and singing was provided by Mahesh and Bhavna Navekar.

Professor Gupta, Chair of the National Forum for Health and Wellbeing addressed the audience on how the elderly members can be supported by the community especially if they leave alone.

In addition to honouring the elderly there was a special programme to honour C B Patel by GHS, who has adopted Preston as his second home. CB was given a special framed sanman

patra by Bhikubhai and Chhotalal draped C B Patel with a shawl for his services to the community at large and for the contribution to the world of journalism.

This day was very special for everyone present. The main guests were overwhelmed by the affection shown to the elderly and felt this should happen in other communities as well.

Gujarat Hind Society thanked C B Patel and his team for giving us the opportunity to recognise our elders and pray to Lord Krishna to shower his blessing upon all readers of Gujarat Samachar and Asian Voice.

Deputy Mayor, Preston City Council, Councillor Margaret McManus, said: “It was a great honour to be invited to this ceremony. I am so pleased that a great number of people from the Gujarat Hindu society have settled in Preston. The elderly people who received the awards have made a great achievement not only by moving into a new environment and surrounding but also by bringing up their families whilst maintaining their culture.

I think it is fantastic that the Gujarat Hindu community have recognised the achievements these people have made by honouring them at this ceremony.”

Former DPP says Janner should stand trial over child abuse charges

The former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lord Macdonald of River Glaven has stated that a court hearing should take place to constitute whether Lord Greville Janner (86) is fit and capable of standing trial on child abuse charges.

Lord Macdonald has berated the decision of Alison Saunders, the current head of the Crown Prosecution Service, to not make Janner stand

Lord Macdonald

trial on the basis of his poor health. He has said that the case could be tested in the “full public glare of a courtroom.”

Lord Janner is said to be suffering from severe dementia. However, he

Lord Janner

has been investigated in the past between 1991 and 2007, over accusations that he abused defenceless and vulnerable young boys at children's homes in Leicester West, which was in his constituency.

Stellar International Art Foundation and Shapero Modern are pleased to present a non-selling exhibition of works by the late, great MF Husain at Shapero Rare Books in conjunction with India Art Week, June 2015.

This is Stellar International Art Foundation’s first London exhibition and will feature heretoforeunseen Paintings and Drawings from within the Stellar’s own collection over the three floors of this longstanding Mayfair Institution.

The presentation precedes the Indian Art Auctions on view over the same period, reinforcing an active programme of Indian art in the community during this summer season.

Stellar International Art Foundation has the largest collection of MF Husain’s works outside of the estate – making it the most important warden of his oeuvre. Work from The Collection spans his entire career and includes large, and sometimes entire, bodies of some of his most significant series including Ramayana, Our Planet Called Earth and most importantly, Maria.

This is the first true

survey of the Artist’s work from across his career and various media practices ever to be staged in the UK – one of the Cities he called his home in his later years.

“Husain’s work has a monumentality that this generation cannot hope to grasp, being close to the subject and from seeing the artist up close. In decades to come, he will be studied for each brush stroke and every tone of colour, for his subjects and his inspiring vision.

He will move beyond

A teenager was convicting of grooming a former schoolfriend who had learning difficulties to commit terror barbarity.

New findings reveal that the convicted teenager had links with the 7/7 bombers.

Kazi Islam, who was then aged 17, had tried to contrive his friend into purchasing chemicals for a bomb and also to follow in the footsteps of the killers of Fusilier Lee Rigby, by assassinating and beheading a soldier. He is said to have “ruthlessly exploited” his former classmate, Harry Thomas (19), who suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Islam, of East London,

was found guilty at the Old Bailey of preparing to commit acts of terrorism.

He is also the nephew of Kazi Nurur Rahman, who was an accomplice of the 2005 London bombers, jailed for trying to buy Uzi sub-machine guns and shoulder-launched missiles in an MI5 sting operation. He was released four years ago, after completing half of his nineyear sentence.

Islam is the third teenager to be convicted on terrorism charges in the past year, who admitted to having links with alMuhajiroun, the banned group founded by the Islamist Anjem Choudary.

Harry Thomas was said to be a vulnerable and

mere markets, into the realm of the great artists of the world.” – Kishore Singh, MF Husain: The Journey of a Legend, August 2014 Alongside the paintings and drawings from the collection, visitors will be able to preview S t e l l a r International Art Foundation’s seminal publication on the artist: MF Husain: The Journey of a Legend.

This raisonné is not only the first since the artist’s demise, containing plates of the over 250 works within Stellar’s collection, but includes important new scholarship on the Artist as presented by the research and interviews of curator and critic Kishore Singh.

Husain was himself a scholar of Indian history and philosophy, and it is fitting for his work to appear alongside the maps, atlases, and studies of his native land amidst Shapero’s rare, vintage holdings.

Kazi Islam groomed vulnerable friend for future terror attacks

Kazi Islam was found guilty of terrorism charges

influenceable young man.

He had only a few friends and was who had few friends and was desperate to please Kazi Islam.

During the trial, it was revealed that Islam was sending explicit messages to girls he scarcely knew.

Kazi Islam will be sentenced on 29th May 2015.

Peace vigil held for Vinay Jethwa Motorcyclist, Vinay Jethwa (33) died after a collision on Narborough Road, Leicester on 1st May 2015. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Vinay Jethwa was the son of Bhanumatiben and Himatlal Jina Chhagan Jethwa, and the grandson of Nathubhai Kachra Parmar.

A peace vigil was held in remembrance of

Vinay Jethwa

Jethwa on Monday 4th May at Wanza Community Centre in Pasture Lane, Leicester.

Police are asking people to come forward who witnessed the collision or saw the motorcycle being ridden before, as well as those who are yet to speak to the police to come forward. Please contact Detective Constable Pete Davies on 101 if you can provide any help.

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Cameron visits Neasden temple for the third time

Thought of the week

Varanasi is known as the ‘city of widows’.

According to the state government there are an estimated 38,000 widows in the Varanasi district and the vast majority live in pitiful conditions. The Loomba Foundation is aiming to provide social economic empowerment to 5,000 widows in this city. Lord Loomba

Injustices faced by widows

The British Prime Minister, speaking to a TV correspondent from an Indian media, addressed the Indian voters in Hindi saying, "Phir ek baar, Cameron Sarkar" (Literal

translation: Once more, Cameron government). It was a take-off on the Indian PM Narendra Modi's successful poll mantra last year that went 'Abki baar, Modi Sarkar'.

He also described Modi's 3D holograms used during the election campaign as "very impressive". The British PM's remarks came a day after the Conservative party, released a song in Hindi.

He went to the BAPS

In his final attempt to impress the Asian voters and support the party candidates, Ed Miliband, the Labour leader visited Harrow (Belmont circle) on the weekend and was joined by Harrow East candidate Uma Kumaran, Harrow West candidate Gareth Thomas and Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner’s Michael Borio as part of his campaign tour.

He spoke to voters about a variety of key issues including tuition fees, diversity and the NHS. Speaking about the criticism Miss Kumaran is facing for leaving a hustings early – despite making her apologies, Mr Miliband told the Harrow Times, “Of course you get

personal attacks but Uma is tough enough to withstand them, and so am I...

“I’m proud of Uma’s campaign – she’s been knocking on thousands of

doors every week, she’s been campaigning on local issues like the NHS and affordable housing, and I think she has shown with her

Shree Swaminarayan temple in Neasden on Saturday 2 May, making it his third visit to the premises. In an attempt to woo the British Asian voters, Mr Cameron spoke on various subjects, including the importance of the British Hindu values and his 2020 vision.

energy her commitment to Harrow and her real enthusiasm to the values that would make her a perfect Member of Parliament.”

Labour leader visits Harrow

Punjabi brother-sister duo contest in GE 2015

British Punjabi brother and sister are all set to enter the political arena by contesting in the upcoming elections 2015.

31 years old Arun Photay 31 and 27 years old Suria Photay are contesting on a Conservative Party ticket from Yardley, Birmingham, and Wolverhampton South East, respectively. While Arun is a local councillor, Suria is contesting elections for the first time.

Tulip Siddiq

Highly-motivated and energetic, both Arun and

Navinder Singh Sarao remains in custody despite granted bail The Hounslow-based trader, Navinder Singh Sarao who was accused of causing the 2010 Wall Street “Flash Street” in 2010 still remains in custody. Although he was granted bail, he is still to post the £5m surety in order to be granted bail and therefore, still remains locked up. Sarao will now face another hearing, as well as a review of the extradition proceedings on 26th May 2015. Furthermore, he was scheduled to face the full hearing of his

possible extradition on A u g u s t .

However, the hearing has been rescheduled for 24th September, as the barristers representing the US authorities were not able to make it for the date scheduled in August.

The US Department of Justice aim to extradite Sarao, to be tried on 22 charges of wire fraud, commodities fraud and market manipulation.

Arun and Suria with David Cameron

Suria share similar vision for their constituencies and want to ensure improvement in education and attract local business to boost economy in their constituencies. Having roots in Punjab (father from India), Arun and Suria are excited about contesting parliamentary election together.

Bangladesh PM's niece amongst Bengali candidates Tulip Siddiq, a granddaughter of the founder of Bangladesh Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and a niece of the present Bangladeshi prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, is among several Bengali

candidates in the British general election scheduled for Thursday 7 May. Siddiq is the opposition Labour party's candidate in the prestigious constituency of Hampstead and Kilburn.

This seat was held by the Academy Award-winning former actress Glenda Jackson, who won by a mere 42 votes last time in 2010 and is not seeking re-election.

Hampstead and Kilburn is expected to be very closely contested.

But opinion polls indicate Siddiq may have a slender lead over her Conservative party and Liberal Democrat rivals.

The last mentioned is, incidentally, of Pakistani origin - Maajid Nawaz.

In just a few weeks, it will be a decade since The Loomba Foundation launched its International Widows Day initiative at the House of Lords in London. At that time, the injustices faced by widows in many countries barely registered as an issue on the global radar. Information was scarce about the numbers, the customs and the impact.

With its record of supporting and campaigning for poor widows and their children in India since its foundation in 1997, The Loomba Foundation had already developed unsurpassed expertise in this issue and become aware of its significance as a driver of poverty and injustice in many other countries too. This is why we launched a global campaign.

In 2010, five years after the initiative was launched by The Loomba Foundation, the 65th United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted International Widows Day as an official global day of action.

From a campaigning perspective, the situation is very different today. Government ministers, diplomats and humanitarian campaigners have taken part in international conferences in London, Delhi and New York under the auspices of The Loomba Foundation.

Support grew from high profile supporters, including Hillary Clinton, Yoko Ono and Laura Bush. In 2010, The Loomba Foundation published the first worldwide study of the plight of widows, confirming the scale of the problem. The number of people directly affected is around 745 million: 245 million widows and 500 million of their dependents. Of these widows, 115 million live below the poverty line, struggling to survive. Of their children, 1.5 million die each year before their fifth birthday.

While progress has been significant, there is no room for resting on

Lord Raj Loomba

our laurels. The Loomba Foundation and our many generous and dedicated partners – including governments, corporations, charities, families and individuals – have transformed the lives of thousands and brought hope to many more; yet the depth of the problem is such that this has barely scratched the surface. Still many millions of widows suffer routine indignities and injustice, still they remain the poorest of the poor, a searing scar on the conscience of humanity. But no longer are they invisible or unheard in the corridors where global policy is formed.

We are proud that we have brought this issue into the daylight and now, as a UN-accredited NGO, we plan to redouble our efforts to bring about a world where widows are cherished, supported and treated with dignity. We look to make a significant impact on the nature and scale of this problem globally over the second decade of International Widows Day and we call on all our supporters and people of goodwill everywhere to play their part in making a difference.

In 2000, the UN established the M i l l e n n i u m Development Goals to address important issues such as gender equality, education, poverty and child mortality. Sadly there was not a single mention of widowhood even though it is a key issue that needs to be addressed. I very much hope that the UN will consider including widows’ issues in the post 2015 Millennium Development Goals.

Lord Loomba www.theloombafoundation.org The Loomba Foundation Loomba House 622 Western Avenue London W3 0TF 020 8102 0351

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Founder of Weight Watchers, Jean Nidetch dies at 91

Reshma Trilochun

The founder of Weight Watchers, Jean Nidetch has died at the age of 91.

She once weighed 15 stones and was a housewife from New York, until she decided to turn her weight issue into a multimillion business via Weight Watchers.

She was born as Jean Evelyn Slutsky in Brooklyn in 1923. Jean Nidetch had formerly referred to herself as a Formerly Fat Housewife (FFH). In 1961, she had become more than 15 stone and her waist was 44 inches. She had avoided full length mirrors and was unaware of how fat she had become. It was not until her neighbour mistook her for being

pregnant that she thought something had to be done about her weight.

Nidetch decided to join a diet programme run by the New York City Board of Health in Manhattan. She had found the programme to be useful and had managed to follow up to the plan; however, she was unable to curb her cravings. It is then when she decided to call over six “fat friends” to her apartment.

She thought it would be a better idea to share her woes with those who were experiencing the same issues as she was. After a few months, 40 people had queued up outside her

Jean Nidetch

door to join her group she called Jean’s Fats’ Club.

By October 1962, Jean Nidetch had reached her target of losing 72lbs. At 5 foot 7 inches tall, she weighed a remarkable 10 stones. The following year, she joined hands with businessman, Al Lippert, who suggested that they

go into business together.

They transformed Jean’s Fats’ Club to Weight Watchers International.

The business had reached new heights and within four years, Weight Watchers had generated more than 200 branches around the world, licensed to 100 franchisees who paid a modest fee for the right to represent the brand, yet transmitted 10% of annual gross profits to the founders.

Weight Watchers was already a household name to reckon with and had global reach in 1978, when Neditch decided to sell the enterprise to the Heinz Organisation, for $71 million.

Jean Neditch passed away of natural causes on 29th April 2015.

Britain goes to poll amidst widespread skepticism

Continued from page 1 Many of these Muslim voters will definitely not vote for Conservatives, because of the party's stringent stance on counter terrorism legislation, but are also far from forgiving the Labour party for the Iraq war.

Miqdaad Versi, assistant secretary of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, reportedly said, “Many of our community voted Lib-Dem at the last election, but we have anecdotal evidence that a lot of them are going to vote Green.”

It is quite interesting to note here that while the party leaders are making their rounds to attract the Asian community voters, 100 hours before Britain goes to poll- visiting Hindu temples and Sikh Gurdwaras, they have kept their visits to mosques limited or almost significantly nil.

The Conservative party leader David Cameron went to the Neasden temple thrice in his term time, and also visited several Gurdwaras.

The Labour leader Ed Miliband made a recent trip to the Jain temple in Potters Bar, as well as to Shree Swaminarayan Temple, Willsden, but has not been spotted visiting any mosque- at least in recent months.

Actually what has been remarkable about this upcoming election on Thursday is the high number of undecided voters.

One in four still to make up their mind- with the banks and investors fearing that the Labour government would spark an exodus of wealthy foreign investors (with abolition of the non-dom rules).

This complex system of multi-party politics and expansion of postal voting

means that even a big late swing may not guarantee victory for a single party.

But it's perhaps still all to play for.

What are the options we are looking at?

The election is about two things- the economy and the future of the UK. The first is linked to the second.

Ed Miliband could win significantly fewer seats votes, but more seats than his main opponents or win fewer seats, yet be placed in No 10- by the Scottish National Party (SNP), which is actually set to destroy Labour in Scotland.

Without Scottish seats, Labour may not win a majority on its own. Mr Miliband has ruled out a pact with SNP but Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader has made clear that her party will keep the Labour in power and Tories out. Yet if neither of them can govern alone, in an absence of majority, the Tories could forge into another Coalition with the Lib Dem party.

It was reported that Labour may seek legal advice, and a possible judicial review if Mr Cameron stays in No 10, without having won the 323 seats for a necessary majority. If the Tories win most seats, Mr Cameron of course would be entitled to remain in the office. But there is also a possibility that the Conservative party will not win more than 290 seats. According to The Economist magazine, the Conservatives have spent too much time mocking the Labour party leaderwhich may hurt them.

In any case, it's not for any courts to sort out a political mess. If there are difficulties caused by the Fixed Term Parliaments

Act, then the Commons should appeal the Act if necessary and not expect the judges rescue them.

Though a government with a clear majority would be preferable, the experience of Coalition has not been the chaos- as feared in 2010. When Mr Cameron had made his offer to the Lib Dems, it was an act of bold leadership to accept it. The eurozone was in crisis, markets were wobbly, Britain needed a stable governmentand the Coalition provided the assurance Britain needed at that point.

Until Monday Nick Clegg was lagging behind the Labour candidate in the constituency of Sheffield Hallam, however an ICM vote showed a sudden surge of Tory tactical support of the Lib Dem leader. The deputy Prime Minister has been more maligned that any politician in Britain these past 5 years. Mr Clegg's survival is vital to the prospect of another Tory and Lib Dem Coalition. Yet he faces two

threats- one national and one local, as The Times reported. Mr Clegg has made it clear that he will only remain the party leader, if he wins his seat and goes back to the government as the Deputy PM. But even if the Lib Dem MPs prove to be capable of defying the national collapse, the party is likely to lose several of 57 seats- making the situation precarious.

Given the chances of a hung parliament, Guardian reports that it is believed that remarkable level of people are now considering voting tactically in order to boost the chances of their favoured party forming a government. Deciding how to vote tactically is a risky process, but whatever may be the outcome or the method- one should vote, one must vote. It is your choice, democratic right and this is your country.

You must decide it's future- as future depends on you.

A special meeting to discuss the proposed scrapping of GCSE and A’ Level Gujarati by exam boards was convened in Birmingham last Thursday.

Co-ordinator Jayesh Chavda encouraged parents to sign a petition in the hope that decisionmakers will consider their concern. The one-hour meeting took place at at Shri Lakshminarayan Temple in Tyseley, where Gujarati classes run every Friday. Speakers included Britain’s most prominent and veteran Gujarati head-teacher Ramanbhai Narottam Parmar, teachers Gopalbhai Champaneri and

Saryuben Patel, poet and ardent community activist Prafulbhai Amin.

Also, our senior news editor Dhiren Katwa, a former Sparkhill Gujarati School student, urged parents to speak Gujarati at home and pledged to support the campaign. Some current teachers, most of them volunteers, have been with Sparkhill Gujarati School for over three decades. Worldwide, there are around 65 million speakers of Gujarati.

In England, according to the 2011 Census, there are 213,000 speakers of Gujarati.

For more information contact Ramanbhai Parmar on 0121 474 4906.

Plea: Don’t axe Gujarati

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Anand Mela comes to Harrow again Anand Mela is an extravagant 2-day occasion where you and your family can shop, eat, dance and get entertained under one roof. There will be different stalls, ranging from beauty, fashion and wedding, property and investment, health and wellbeing, as well as food and drinks, plus many more. There will be consistent performances on stage throughout this two-day event.

The Anand Mela attracts around 5000 visitors and is scouted as the best choice for a family day out. The event will be held at Harrow Leisure Centre, Christchurch Avenue, Harrow HA3 5BD on 6th & 7th June 2015, from 10am to 7pm.

There will be ample free parking for visitors and easy access for goods.

The event will be covered by the press.

St Luke's Hospice will be the Charity Partner with Asian Voice for the Anand Mela. St Luke’s Hospice cares for people with incurable illnesses so that they can live well, know that their family and carers are supported, and when the time comes, die with dignity in the place of their choice. They offer all there services completely free of charge.

WorldRemit are the headline sponsors for this event. They are a leading global online money remittance company that lets people send money to friends and family living abroad conveniently and at a low cost.

For enquiry about hiring stalls at the Anand Mela, Please contact 020 7749 4085.

St Luke’s volunteer Chandni Sejpal Shah is looking forward to volunteering at the Anand Mela. Chandni says: ‘Sadly my grandad passed away early last year, and he spent his final days being cared for by the wonderful staff, who treated him with kindness, dignity, care and respect. They made a difference to the quality of his life. My family and I are very grateful for all the support given to us, it made such a difference to be able to spend quality time with him. St Luke’s is very special and every staff member and volunteer makes a positive impact and difference to people’s lives.’

Chandni, who is a civil servant, has been volunteering since November 2011. She supports the reception team and has also taken part in fundraising events, such has the Midnight Walk, as well as representing the hospice at community and fundraising events.

Chandni says: ‘ Being represented at events like the Mela is important to let the community know about the free care on offer at St Luke’s, and to encourage people to support the Hospice through volunteering, donating and taking part In fundraising events . Each year I

volunteer to help with the Midnight Walk, a fantastic event in which over 1500 ladies walk to raise funds for hospice patients, supported by over 300 volunteers.

This year’s event takes place on Friday 26th June – if you would like to get involved go to w w w. s t l u k e s hospice.org/midnightwalk I would highly recommend volunteering. It has helped me build new skills, as well increasing my self-confidence. It gives me a sense of unity, and provides me with the opportunity to interact with different people from all backgrounds. I also decided to become a Patient Care Volunteer last November. I decided to support St Luke’s as I wanted to give something back to the community.’

If you would like to volunteer for St Luke’s and find out how your time can make a difference, visit the St Luke’s stall at the Anand Mela, and wear something purple to show your support. You can also w w w. s t l u k e s hospice.org/volunteer or telephone 020 8382 8000. At the moment the Hospice has a particular need for volunteers to help in our charity shops including our new shop in Hatch End.

St Luke’s volunteers supporting the Anand Mela

UK

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Rani Singh, Special Assignments Editor

The Young Indian Theatre Maestro Working in Ghana and India Manish Gandhi is an Indian theatre director and stage, film and TV actor. He studied at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Originally from Chandigarh, Manish Gandhi formed his own theatre group in 2006, focussing mainly on children’s theatre. Gandhi then worked with the Government of Chandigarh and created a theatre education programme for children in government schools. In 2009, he was awarded a scholarship from the Inlaks Foundation after which he completed a stint at the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune.

In 2010, Manish played the lead role in Rizwaan, written and directed by Abhishek Majumdar. The play has been adapted into a film

by Deepti Khurana.

Rizwan has just been to Ghana, where he attended the screening of his film ‘Rizwan’ at

Manish Gandhi

NAFTI, a film with several international awards. It was based on Agha Shahid Ali's collection of poems, "The Country Without a Post Office, the film is a story of human tragedy set in Kashmir.

Manish has just finished shooting for the film Chai Shai Biscuits, a comedy about arranged marriages.

In Ghana, he trained teachers in Tema using the techniques of theatre in education.

Created and produced by

Based on the principles laid down in the oldest Indian treatise on drama, Natyashastra, the tools and techniques are still being applied in various schools. Manish has been invited by a school in Accra, Ghana to train their teachers in these techniques as part of a project.

Manish said, “The Indian heritage provides endless possibilities to create work that stands against sameness.

Natyashastra-the ancient Indian treatise on performing arts has text and performance theory dating back to 200 BC. Sourcing from the known traditional forms of Koodiyattam, Dhrupad singing, Kalaripayattu, Asanas, Pranayama, Samavedic chanting, and combining it with the western voice training and performance techniques gives us a new language of performance that reflects a pluralistic aesthetic.”

Also in Ghana Manish directed a play, ‘Pebet,’ for kids in Tema.

Pebet is based on an Indian folk tale- a sharp comment on the cultural and political indoctrination of the time when India was a British colony.

In Ghana, Manish staged his own play, ‘Brown Shakespeare,’ in Accra. The piece is based on the classical Indian theatre form of

Koodiyattam and aims to make Shakespeare accessible to an audience who would otherwise not be exposed to or appreciate such work. This is also to encourage performers from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic community to take interest in classical texts and make use of their traditional theatre forms to devise a new performance language.

“Theatre has a long way to go in India.”

He told us, “The goal-oriented world we live in is heavily dependent on end gaining. We’re making ourselves emotionally inaccessible. We don’t necessarily have the same facility as Shakespeare had to really describe what it feels like to be hungry, to grow older, to be cheated, to score a goal.

Shakespeare uses literary allusions, mostly relating to classic mythology that an Elizabethan audience would understand. We’re just not as patient and appreciative of poetry as people were used to be.

The best way to get your head around Shakespeare’s work is to see it getting performed.”

Manish is 28 and said he loved theatre from an

early age. He loves working in London and the way theatre brings people together. “I was brought up in a religious setting.

Born in a Hindu household, it was a compulsion to start the day with praying to all 36 Gods living in our utility room but I was sent to a Hindu school that discouraged idol worship. By the time I made sense of different approaches to being a Hindu, I realized I’d begun experimenting with what it meant to be religious. Singing Ram bhajans in Kirtans and dressing up as Krishna in Jagratas gave me confidence, I really enjoyed that as a kid and now I do it for a living.”

Making money in the arts in India is difficult.

“It is tough. Theatre is still seen as a hobby, there are places where people won’t come to see a play even if you were to pay them. Theatre workers have to work really hard.

You need to have a 9 to 5 paying job. You can then afford a 6 to 9 on weekdays and all day long on weekends to make your work. The film industry is huge competition. Actors often see theatre as a springboard to realize their Bollywood dream.

With a lack of funding options and not enough venues to support new work- theatre has a long way to go in India.”

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UK

Ahmedabad direct flight issue

C.B.Patel and Manoj Ladwa CE0 India Inc have not left any stones unturned to justify the direct flight from UK to Ahmedabad for a considerably long time but regrettably without any success.

Since Modiji took office as a PM, expectations grew high particularly amongst the Gujarati community but for some reason, Modiji has not intervened in the matter or been able to influence the authorities to take a decision in favour of the petitioners. The attitude and insensitive statement from a Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gujapati has generated anger and frustration to many supporters of the campaign. Unlike British politicians and high public office bearers, a number of Indians in authority are arrogant and lack diplomacy. It will not be a matter of surprise, if the authority is not being honest and open in the matter for their stubbornness as undoubtedly, the direct flight will be to the national interest. As many of us are aware that Indian Airlines is grossly mismanaged,inefficient and in huge financial deficit. It will not be sustainable if there is no backing from the government. The direct flight will perhaps incur more debt. The petitioners have a right to demand an explanation in writing for the refusal.

Niranjan Vasant W Norwood

Direct flights

I fully endorse letter by M D Master which appeared in Asian Voice dated 2nd May. During my visit to Ahmadavad airport to receive my relatives to attend marriage in Anand. The Air India flight which was suppose to touch at 9.30 am was delayed due to some technical problem.We were informed by security man but no Air India officers were available. I myself tried to see the manager of the airport but he had no idea. I requested the securityman and pointed to Air India cabin to ask someone to come out and update about the delay as this flight was from London to Ahmedavad via Mumbai.

All visitors waited for hours but there was no update from concern officers.

Finally after waiting for almost 15 hours one gentleman Mr Mankat came out of his office and said all these UK passengers will be coming next day flight.

We all visitors requested Mr Mankad to put a detailed information about this flight no AI 131 (10 Feb) on notice board which he did but after 2 odd hours.

One young man from Air India whom I approched at 9 PM was helpful and he(Mr Abdul Hafgi) asked me the name of the passenger and told me that she has been offered hotel accomodation in Mumbai and she is flying in next day at 9.30 am.

Another point which annoyed me were the porters at the same airport. My brother in law who is a pensioner and disable was on wheel chair was demanded £10 by the porter and was not accepting in rupees though the service is free, but these porters try to fleece passengers and demand money.

Modi, out of touch with Aam Admi Ramesh Jhalla and Manoj Ladwa’s letters about direct flight to Ahmedabad in last week’s AV makes grim reading. Many die-hard supporters of Modi are confused and upset that he and his government seem to be out of touch with grass-root supporters, ordinary people who put him on the pedestal.

Before last May’s election, he promised restoration of direct flight between London and Ahmedabad within three months of BJP taking office. Now it is non-issue, broken promise of no consequence that could be laughed off.

Power sharing in J & K is seen as transcend sell-out, breaks all protocol.

Land Acquisition Bill is another highhanded legislation that would hurt BJP. Intention is right but approach is dictatorial, failing to consult farming lobby with 61% representation whose support is vital.

Plutocratic Modi is now perceived as fickle, fiduciary to business interest that financed BJP election, losing his renowned repartee skill. He may be unwavering overseas but is distant, untenable, even feeble on home-front.

Even after lucid, poignant Delhi trouncing, BJP has learnt nothing, heading for similar humiliation in Assembly elections in Bihar and other States. No one will be surprised if Modi proves to be “One Term Wonder” and leaves the job unfinished.

Bhupendra M. Gandhi By email

Death and Devastation

Importance of your vote

Immigration policies

When I was appointed as the President of the Hindu Forum of Britain I knew that it was both a huge honour and also a tremendous responsibility to carry the hopes and aspirations of thousands of Hindu families in the UK. During this time a number of critically important issues have arisen that directly impact our dharmic traditions as well as our diverse communities. Each of these issues is significant in its own right, but collectively they now represent one of the most crucial times for the Hindu community. These included caste legislation and Kashmir as well as many others.

As Hindus we all have our historical links with various political parties, and rightly so. We should engage more and become proactive agents of change in the very politics of this country. As Hindus we have a huge amount to contribute and our core values are now the very essence of good governance. However we must also be mindful that we do not unwittingly allow a political party to form a government that will be detrimental to our dharma. At such times, as a community, we should come together and ensure that we support the party that will protect our interest.

On May 7th, make your vote count.

Don’t vote blindly or because of family tradition. In these elections the very honour of your faith is in danger of being undermined. No other faith community would allow such disrespect. Let us also learn from our scriptures, that when adharmic forces take over, it might force us to go against family, friends and political allegiance – but protection of dharma must surely come first.

I am surprised to note in the manifesto of major political parties there is no mention of Immigration policy for the next month election. Except in UKIP. I do not support UKIP in some of the policies which may appear to be Racist but their policy in Immigration is hundred percent correct. The labour party allowed thousands of Eastern Europeans to come to the country without any Immigration control. Now the Present coalition government is allowing thousands of Rumanians to come to this country. Most of them are unskilled and claim social security benefits. The only job they do is car washing.

The Britain cannot afford to take more than 300 000 East Europeans every year and the government estimate of 15 000 a year proved to be false. The main political parties does not specify how many they are going to allow every year and they cannot stop them after the figure 100 000 has reached and send them back to their country. Every year we have to build say two Milton Keynes city and we have to bring thousands of people from third world countries to provide infrastructure.

It is totally rubbish to call UKIP as an anti-Immigration party, Racists and a party of fruit-cakes. I met some of the local members and they seem to be decent people and the media backed by leftists give a bad publicity. There should be control over Immigration and people with qualifications based on need in some areas especially in NHS from Third world countries should be allowed to come. Uncontrolled Immigration is not sustainable and this will create tension within various communities which is happening in some parts of Britain. This will alter demographic pattern of the society.

After living in Bletchley for 40 year I find the local town centre is taken over by people born outside Britain. We have lost our British identity, language and the culture. Educated Indians coming from India are victims of the present Immigration policy. Please read about their policies in Guardian

Early estimates indicate that over 6,500 people have died in a massive earthquake which hit Nepal on Saturday, 25 April and the death toll is expected to rise.

Along with the many Indian organisations in the UK which have responded to the appeal for help members of Shree Jain Sangh East London and Essex, have also made a small contribution to this humanitarian cause.

What could be done to prevent such disasters from happening again? It is time for governments to do more to protect the environment. This could be achieved by reducing global warming and conserving an ecological balance by avoiding the depletion of natural resources like trees and forests – by creating sustainability.

Asian Voice on its excellent coverage of the UK’s general election campaign in the weeks leading up to polling day on 7th May. Outstanding contributions came from all sides, particularly those of editor CB Patel and associate editor Rupanjana Dutta. Everyone on this newspaper worked extremely hard to highlight all the issues affecting or interesting readers, making it easier to judge which political party presented the most credible manifesto. Let us hope everybody put their crosses in the right box.

Dinesh Sheth Newbury Park, Ilford

Rudy Otter By email

Yoga not American

I read the news item “Yoga has no religious links says US Courts”, in Asian Voice of 11th April 2015 with deep interest.

The US courts should not mislead the general public by saying that it is American cultural phenomenon.

Yoga was a creation of the Vedic Hindu religion to keep their mind and body in good health to survive in this

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Trupti Patel President, Hindu Forum of Britain

Boxing clever

In the event of a hung British Parliament

world. It was also used for the purposes of praying to God with its mind control exercises.

It is up to any one to learn and have benefits of yoga but its roots are in Vadic Hindu culture and it will remain so.

If most of the Americans wish to learn it they are most welcome to do so but American Judges have no rights to make it a cultural phenomenon.

The established constitutional doctrine is that a government can be formed by a party that can win a Commons majority for its Queens speech. Thus the best plan of proposed priorities in the Queens speech may carry the day on Friday, 8 May 2015. On this day, it will be the parliament, and not the electorate, who will chose the government.

Let us all hope and pray that the Members of Parliament will rise to the occasion and act with the highest degree of integrity and responsibility in this milestone decision if this eventuality happens.

Dharam Sahdev Ilford

Nagindas Khajuria By email

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www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Heads warn Trojan Horse 'not gone away'

Head teachers have warned that intimidation is still continuing after the investigations into the socalled Trojan Horse scandal.

A head teachers' conference has heard claims of threats such as dead animals being left in school playgrounds.

"Trojan Horse has not gone away," said Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson, head of Anderton Park School in Birmingham.

Responding to the claims, Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, pictured, said: "There is no place for extremism in our schools."

The National Association of Head

Teachers' annual conference in Liverpool heard warnings that problems over extremism remained unresolved and schools could still face pressure on issues such as tackling homophobia.

The so-called Trojan Horse inquiries followed allegations that there were organised attempts by hardline Muslim groups to undermine head teachers and take over schools in

Birmingham.

Head teachers at the conference complained that no governors had been barred as a result of the inquiries and they called for a database which would identify individuals removed from governing bodies.

Ms Hewitt-Clarkson told the head teachers' conference: "Trojan Horse has not gone away. Those of us who were involved, we knew it was the tip of the iceberg. We still have dead animals hung on the gates of schools, dismembered cats on playgrounds.

We have petitions outside schools, objecting to teachers teaching against homophobia."

The number of pupils at independent schools in the UK is at its highest level since records began.

Figures published by the Independent Schools Council (ISC) show a slight rise in the numbers of privately educated pupils since last year.

The data also shows parents are on average now paying more than £15,500 a year for private schooling.

In total, there are 517,113 pupils at ISC schools this year, according to the council's annual survey of members. This is up by about 1%, or 5,000 more students, on 2014.

The council says this

means that student numbers are at their highest levels since records began 40 years ago.

There are 10 more schools in the ISC than last year, with 1,267 in total. And comparing only those schools that took part in the survey in both years, there has been a 0.6% rise in numbers.

There were increases in the numbers both of British and international pupils taking up places, the ISC said.

The survey also reveals that school fees have risen by 3.6% this year, with parents now paying £5,225 a term on average to educate their child pri-

vately. This equates to about £15,675 for a whole year.

Fees range from an average of £10,123 per term to send a child to a private boarding school, to £4,398 for day pupils at either a boarding school or private day school.

In total, 7% of schoolchildren were educated in the independent sector, while 14% of sixth-formers - those aged 16 and over - attended an ISC school, the council said.

The proportion of international students at British private schools has remained fairly steady at about 5% over the past few years.

Independent school pupils at record high

EDUCATION/COUNCIL VOICE

Parents have duty to play with children, says Hunt

Children are arriving at school unable to speak properly because parents are not playing and talking to them enough, Labour's Tristram Hunt has said.

Many heads believe the problem has got "markedly worse" in the last 10 years, said the shadow education secretary. Parents need to get "down on all fours" and engage with their children from an early age, he said.

Mr Hunt spoke to journalists after addressing the National Association of Head Teachers' annual conference. After his speech to

the conference in Liverpool, he told reporters: "Whenever I talk to head teachers one of the big issues is the development and underdevelopment of speaking and listening skills, those motor skills, and what that comes from is playing and talking to chil-

Two partners from Sabar Bros, Wexham Road, Slough, have been fined a total of £96,000 after an employee fell down an open lift shaft.

Brothers Sabar Hussain and Mr Ayub Hussain pleaded guilty in December 2014 to breaching the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 by not ensuring the lift at their building was thoroughly examined as required by law. They were sentenced on Wednesday 29 April at Reading Crown Court to a

fine of £42,200 and ordered to pay Slough Borough Council costs of £54,000.

Slough Borough Council took the prosecution after an employee at the company; Mr Khaliq Hussain fell more than 20 feet down an open lift shaft on 11 June 2011. The shaft was open due to a defect in the lift door safety mechanism which had been damaged. The lift was on the first floor when Mr Khaliq Hussain entered at the ground floor, falling into the basement.

The employee suffered serious and permanent injuries during the fall

11

dren, getting down on all fours from goo-goo, ga-ga onwards."

He suggested the problem could be down issues like technology, time-poor working parents or a lack of understanding about the importance of engaging with babies and toddlers.

£96k fine for negligent shop owners including head injuries, leaving him needing full time care.

Under law, the partners of Sabar Bros, were required to ensure lifting equipment – including passenger and good lifts – were ‘thoroughly examined’ every 12 months and every time anything happened which was likely to affect the safety of the lift.

This had not happened.

The guilty pleas in December 2014 were heard at Slough Magistrates Court. Magistrates referred the case to Reading Crown Court for sentencing due to the seriousness of the offences.

ºђકЦ® ¸Цªъ³Ъ ╙¸àક¯ђ³ЬєÃºЦ ˛ЦºЦ ¾щ¥Ц® Commercial Property Auction Thursday 21st May 2015 On behalf of Morrisons, L&G, CBREGI, Custodian Capital, Trustees, Major Banks and LPA, Joint Fixed Charge Receivers at DTZ, Savills & CBRE and Administrators at Moorfields

69 Lots for sale, including: RETAIL INVESTMENT

OFFICE INVESTMENT

BANGOR LL57 1PB

LONDON SW1Y 6HJ

255 / 257 High Street, Clwyd

113 / 113a Jermyn Street, St James’s

Let to Redcastle Limited (trading as TopShop and TopMan) Rent £70,000.00 p.a.x.

HARROW HA1 2DX

Attractive self-contained office accommodation plus two furnished residential flats Rent £112,550 p.a.x.

297/301 Station Road, Greater London

WINCHESTER SO23 9AP

Let to Superdrug Stores plc on assignment from Next plc until 2095 with no breaks Rent £110,000 p.a.x.

HARROW HA1 1JX 72/74 St Ann’s Road, Greater London Let to JD Sports Fashion plc until 2024 (no breaks) Rent £105,000 p.a.x.

LONDON TW3 1BQ 166 High Street, Hounslow Includes Retail Investment unit, 2 self-contained flats and car parking Rent £30,200 p.a.x.

LONDON TW3 1BQ

166 & 168 High Street, Hounslow

91 / 92 High Street, Hampshire Let to Mitchells & Butlers Retail Investment Limited (t/a O’Neill’s) until 2042 (subject to option) Rent £89,000 p.a.x.

WOLVERHAMPTON WV1 1TL Yates’s, 34 Queen Square, West Midlands Let to Barley Pub Company Ltd (guaranteed by Stonegate Pub Company Ltd) on a 25 year lease from completion until 2040 (no breaks) Rent £265,000 p.a.x.

WREXHAM LL11 1LF

168 High Street, Hounslow

Lord Street Arcade, Lord Street / King Street

Includes Retail Investment unit and 2 self-contained flats Rent £32,800 p.a.x.

Comprises six retail units and a large bar/restaurant. Adjacent to bus station Rent £105,000 p.a.x.

RUGBY CV23 0UX

BANK INVESTMENT

Units A-F, Central Park, Bryant Road, Warwickshire

Portfolio of 16 Banks

Comprises a modern parade of 6 Retail Investment units. Tenants include Subway and Nationwide Building Society Rent £73,466 p.a.x.

Included in the sale are 16 banks let to National Westminster Bank plc or The Royal Bank of Scotland plc until at least 2026 Rental incomes range from Rent £6,900 - £144,250 p.a.x

John Mehtab: +44 (0)20 7034 4855

INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT

KIDDERMINSTER DY11 7FB Unit 2, Finepoint Way, Worcestershire Let to Rentokil Property Holdings Limited guaranteed by Rentokil Initial (1896) Ltd. Approx. 2,585 sqm (27,609 sqft) Rent £171,875 p.a.x.

NEWBURY RG14 2AD Block A, Units 1-9 Faraday Road, London Road Industrial Estate, Berkshire Tenants include Hutchinson UK Ltd, Enterprise Rent-A-Car UK Ltd and Eyre & Elliston Ltd Rent £119,702 p.a.x.

LEISURE INVESTMENT

WOLVERHAMPTON WV1 3JY 10 Castle Street & 36 Pipers Row Let until 14th March 2022 with tenant option to extend for 5 years.

Rent £57,000 (rising to £65,000) p.a.x.

www.acuitus.co.uk

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MEDIA WATCH

The terrible earthquake in Nepal has been a tragedy beyond imagining. Kathmandu, the capital, has been reduced to rubble. Television crews from around the world have brought harrowing pictures of death, injuries, suffering, deprivation and colossal to homes across the continents. The lack of communications has placed large areas of this mountainous country beyond easy reach, hence far-off hamlets and small towns have got the publicity they deserve after a time-lag. India was quickest off the mark. The coordination between the External Affairs Ministry, the Prime Minister’s Office, not to speak of Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself, and India’s armed forces has been exemplary.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

under former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with outlays of Rs 480,000 crore [$1trillion] Rs 60,000 crore respectively. The smart city mission is aimed recasting the urban landscape of the country by making cities more environtment-friendly and drivers of economic growth.The ambitious project will have a critical public-private partnership at its core. Each selected site will receive central government funding of Rs 100 crore per year following project approval (Hindu April 30)

Biocon posts substantial profit

Bangalore-based biotech company Biocon has posted a fourth quarter profit ending March 31, of Rs 201 crore, a net jump of 78 per cent . Incresed sales of important drugs and earnings from its contract research divisions were responsible for this encouraging figure. Biocon said it planned to spend around 8-9 per cent of biopharma sales, as its key biosimilar programmes recombinant human insulin, insulin glargine and trastuzumah are in advanced clinical development in phase-3, which are likely to hit the US and European markets in 201718 (May 1).

Kathmandu devastation

Indian Army personnel with sniffer dogs and the required hardware in tow have had considerable experience in disaster management back home, and this came in handy in Nepal. Field hospitals and kitchens were set up with little delay, while the Indian Air Force did a commendable with its heavy lift transport and helicopter fleets ferrying those injured and exposed to the elements to safety, which included over 400

Indian Army relief operations

Narendra Modi, S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs

India links

Nepal’s links with India transcend geography. There is much shared history, religious tradition, shared language – Nepali is listed in the Indian Constitution as one of the country’s many languages. Their economic cooperation, especially in power, is of mutual benefit. There is unfettered human traffic across the border with ties with the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh being particularly close.

Nepal’s earthquake had a considerable impact on Bihar, where around 50 lives were lost.

If the truth be told Nepal was woefully short of infrastructure and leadership.

Allowing for the enormous difficulties of a fraught situation basic community needs were not only inordinately slow to arrive, but in many cases never arrived at all. Local people expressed their frustration and anger at the inadequate performance of their ministers and bureaucrats, making sure that foreign news networks heard their grievances.

Heroic local leadership

Into the breach stepped students and local community leaders who used whatever transport was available, from motorbikes to cycles, to reach far-flung villages and homesteads cut off from the mainstream. They were Nepal’s unsung heroes. From afar came a food kitchen manned by Sikhs from a Punjab gurdwara and an Israeli medical unit equipped with state-of-the art equipment unit and a capable staff of doctors and nurses (Times of India, Hindu, Telegraph, Mint, TV reports (April 25-May 3.)

Smart cities

The government has approved the construction of 100 smart cities across India, with another 500 to be rejuvenated under an urban renewal programme

Maruti Suzuki India Ltd posted higher profit margins for the fourth quarter ending March 31, with operating profit up 19 per cent was a tad lower than the 20 per cent profit for same period. March quarter net sales at Rs 13,625 crore were 12.6 per cent more than a year ago , driven by a mix of higher sales volumes and better net realization on vehicles sold (Maruti April 28)

India-EU close to trade deal

European Union Ambassador to India, Joao Cravinho, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to France and Germany, said, following his talks in Berlin with Chancellor Angela Merkel, that negotiations between India and EU on a free trade agreement should resume as soon as possible. Ambassador Cravinho reacted positively to the suggestiom. “I am glad this topic came up. We are fully supportive of this idea…..at the moment the issue is finding the right moment for both sides to sit down. We are actually not far from a deal,” he said. He also welcomed Modi’s “Made in India” campaign as an “extremely important initiative” (Business Line April 30)

IT majors in hiring mode

India’s largest software companies, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro et al are in hiring mode, having collectively increased their workforce to 47,138 in 2014-15 from 28,228 in the previous financial year.

The fresh recruitment has been

Mamata’s TMC triumph West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress hit the ground running thrashing its BJP, Communist and Congress opponents in the municipal elections across the state. The electoral process was far from flawless, with incidents

CRPF opt for AK-47s

India’s paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force which has been entrusted with handling the Maoist insurgency in areas of central and eastern India have opted for the Russian-designed automatic Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifle over the erratic domestically produced counterpart, which had cost the CRPF dear (Times of India April 26)

Shourie fires anti-Modi salvo

Mamata Banerjee

Arun Shourie, disinvestment minister in the BJP-led Vajpayee regime, also an economist,

Maruti Suzuki margins rise

Infrastructure lacking

foreign nationals.

Prime Minister Modi remained in close touch with his Nepali counterpart Sushil Koirala, monitoring his needs and the help required of India. The death toll in Nepal at the latest count had exceeded 6,000 and rising, with Prime Minister Koirala posting 10,000 as the possible final figure.

determined, say industry watchers, by signs of returning buoyancy and the US and European markets. Coupled with the digital initiatives that most large clients have unleashed internally and you’ll know why people with niche skill-sets were in demand last year,” said Sunl Goel, director of a global human resource company (Business Line May 1)l

of violence in numerous urban and rural pockets. That said, the polls on the whole were sufficiently well conducted to reflect the high measure of support, eccentricities, maverick behavior and all, that the feisty Chief Minister still enjoys. The reluctant media were forced to acknowledge the truth that brooks no denial.

Development

Arun Shourie

author and editor of the Indian Express news paper, has lashed out at the the Modi government’s economic which he claims “are directionless and lacking in clarity.” He accused the triumvirate of Narendra Modi, Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah of monopolizing policy decisions through intimidation and bullying, scorning the Prime Minister being in “the tweeting business.” Those responsible for drafting economic policy “lacked expertise and talent quotient.”

Shourie faulted Modi’s “silence love jihad and ghar wapsi” for sending the wrong signals.

Kolkata, once considered the ultimate urban disaster, is in the midst of an astonishing renewal . The realty sector is booming, restaurants are multiplying and are never short of customers and the markets are bustling with life, a far cry from the desperate poverty and all round decay that struck the eye. While the state is well short of the industrialization it urgently needs, rural development has largely been the engine of growth. But West Bengal has far to go before it catches up with India’s highest performers. (Telegraph, Times of India April 25-30).

Story to savour

Modi defended

BJP notables including Power Minister Piyush Goyal was quick to rebut these charges, suggestying that Shourie had a grouse and was making an issue out of nonissues.”

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said: “To say that the government, particularly on economic matters, is directionless is well off the mark and it is highly disappointing.”

A senior BJP member described Shourie as “a fair weather friend.” (Times of India May 3).

Vivek Murthy at his swearin-in as US Surgeon General

Indian American Vivek Murthy, aged 37, was recently sworn-in by Vice President Joseph Biden as Surgeon General of the United States. His rise is a truly incredible story. Let him tell it as it was. Having taken the oath of office on the Gita, he said: “I am who I am because of my grandmother’s faith, my father’s strength, my mother’s love, my sister’s support and my fiancee’s unyielding belief in me…My family was never meant to leave our ancestral village [in South India].”

Educated at Harvard and Yale Universities, Dr Murthy is the living fulfillment of the American dream (Hindu April 24).

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Prime Minister - My Application as Director General of the Confederation of British Industry

I am standing as the next Director General of the CBI (Confederation of British Industry).

Informed by both my practical experience in building a global asset management business investing in companies worldwide, as well as academic expertise as a Visiting Fellow in Business and Industry at Oxford University, whoever is the next Prime Minister, these would be my messages to him – ambitious, stretching goals which can be attained: Deficit As an economist, award winning investor, I know it is essential to cut the deficit, because debt payments are a poor way to spend taxpayer money, we must ensure our focus of spending is on investment, and cuts do not fall on essential investment, but instead on inefficiencies, unproductive waste. What kind of investment is essential? All levels of research and development because the amount of intellectual property a country produces is directly related to its wealth.

Europe Britain is clearly one of the best places to do business and an essential market for the EU and vice versa. But the waste in Europe has to be addressed first and foremost before the UK’s contributions are ever raised. We must push for more liberalisation across the EU for UK’s world leading service firms – with industry specific deadlines managed by the biggest firms having a vested interest lobbying in concert with Government. I want the Government to set specific targets and timelines to make their goals clear to the EU and the British people so we can better understand our relationship with the EU.

High Growth Markets Working each week for Britain as both a businessman and a Government representative, I know we must have more liberalisation for greater market access by British companies into high growth markets such as India. We must push for this through not just even more of what we already do (through UKTI, FCO) but also expert assistance to those countries on how such countries can better liberalise. The Treasury must ring-fence the budget of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, and UKTI within it as revenue generating Departments which seek to close market failures and boost British exports and investments into the UK. Exports I’ve worked with our Government Export Advisors and Government efforts to boost SME exports. We need far more education to teach British companies how to export, by businesses who have done it. There is a mar-

ket failure borne of a knowledge gap here that must be a top priority.

Investments As someone who has brought in millions in inward investment into the UK from around the globe, I know what resonates best is both bilateral trade organisations such as UK India Business Council, and also business persons who make clear the benefits of doing business in Britain as investors.

High Growth British Businesses As someone working closely with high growth British companies and an investor in them, a key factor to their continued growth has to be banks willingness to lend. Far greater pressure needs to be brought to bear on banks to lend to such businesses, and we need to expand Government schemes until that happens.

Start-up British Companies As an entrepreneur with successful start-ups under his belt and a mentor of them, whilst banks fail to meet the demand of business for financing, expansion of loans to start-up businesses is vital to help them get off the ground. There will be failures, but it is far better those entrepreneurs gain skills in failing, than the ones they would miss on benefits.

Youth Education As an entrepreneur who started whilst at school I cannot overstate the importance of ensuring we teach basic entrepreneurship skills at school. We are a capitalist economy, whatever your eventual profession, it is vital you understand what business does for the country.

Jobs As an author of a book on women entrepreneurs, my studies conclude that we must Increase the supply of women to the workforce, parents and the low paid by greater childcare provision and cutting tax on the lowest income.

Tax As the founder of companies in Britain and around the world, including those countries which attract investments because of their tax rates, we must ensure the UK is the most competitive place to establish a business amongst our peer group countries – not compared to tax havens, nor compared to the most highly taxed economies either.

These are just an outline of how we get longterm growth, wealth creation, jobs and a stable economy serving everyone from the student and low paid to the high growth executive.

UK

Discrimination by employers make Muslim women unemployed New surveys reveal the inequity of employers towards Muslim women.

The survey showed that Muslim women were more likely to be unemployed than white Christian women, even if the qualifications and language abilities are equal. The data reported that the unemployment rate among Muslim women was 18%, 9% for Hindu women and 4% for white Christian women.

Dr Nabil Khattab, of the University of Bristol, told the British Sociological Association's annual conference in Glasgow that Muslim

women in Britain were 70% more unlikely to be searching to employment unsuccessfully. He further stated that they “have experienced greater unemployment, which can be

attributed to discrimination in recruiting and hiring practices.”

Dr Khattab also found that Muslim women were 71% more likely to be unemployed, compared to

13

white Christian women, even with the same educational and language skills.

He also found that Hindu women were 57% more likely to be unemployed than white Christian women. He said that Muslim women’s appearance and attire may result in further discrimination and exclusion. “They wear the hijab or other religious symbols which makes them more visible and as such exposed to greater discrimination.”

Khattab drew his research on three surveys research drew on three surveys.

UK

Confederation of Indian Organisations (UK)

14

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

celebrates 40th anniversary 1975 to 2015

Confederation of Indian Organisations (UK), popularly known as CIO, celebrated its 40th Anniversary with a Dinner at The Taj Hotel, Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6AF on Thursday 9th April 2015.

The event saw gathering of past offices, Executive Committee Members, leaders of Indian organisations, dignitaries and politicians.

Mr. Keith Vaz, who has been an MP from Leicester since 1987, was delighted to see so many people from Leicester who were present. He commended the work done by CIO over 40 years and

ber of people from Leicester who had contributed in CIO’s progress and that of Leicester City.

Lord Navnit Dholakia remembered the historic achievements by CIO in fields of seeking political rights for the Indian community and bringing awareness about health care in the Indian community. He explained how Mr Tara Mukherjee, Kanti Nagda, CB Patel and he travelled to different parts of the UK to activate the Indian community as well as holding fringe meetings at all major political party’s annual conferences.

Mr Tara Mukherjee,

Rt Hon Keith Vaz addressing the present audience

Committee Members, staff members and members of CIO with Leicester contingent

especially highlighted Mr Tara Mukherjee and also his past and present management committees and officers. He cited a num-

who has been the President of CIO since its inception, outlined the progress made by CIO in the last 40 years and

praised the efforts of the past committee members, officers and the current Board Members. He singled out Kanti Nagda and

1.5million Indians in the UK. Mr Pritam Lal, First Secretary at the Ministry of Co-ordination, Indian High Commission expressed his delight to come in contact with an organisation which had achieved so much. He wished the organisation continued success and asked them to increase contact with the High Commission.

Mr CB. Patel (Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice/Gujarat Samachar) paid particular tribute to Mr Tara Mukherjee for his dedicated work and the results he achieved while heading the CIO. He also praised the hard work of

Mr Tara Mukherjee welcoming the guests in presence of Niranana Pathak, Kanti Nagda, Pritam Lal and Pravinbhai Amin

said, “if it was not for Kanti, we would not be here today”. He described the difficulties faced by CIO in its formative years.

He informed that he came

to the UK in 1948 and his century while playing for Leicestershire cricket team earned him friends.

Leicester then had 17 Indians and now there are

Kanti Nagda, Vijay Amin, Tanzeem Ahmed, Bhanu Nagda, Meeraben Trivedi and several others in the success of CIO.

Asian Cricket Awards launched at the home of cricket

Samiksha Pattanaik

Following last year’s highly successful event, the Talk Home Mobile Asian Cricket Awards is back again to celebrate the contribution of British Asians to cricket. The awards for this year were officially launched at Lord’s cricket ground on 1 May, 2015. Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Sajid Javid, was the guest of honour at the event.

The home of cricket will again be a witness to the cerebration on 13 October 2015, where England star Moeen Ali lifted the Player of the year trophy last year.

Inventive sports in association with England and Wales Cricket Board has given the awards its backing this year as well in an attempt to recognise the participation of South

Asians in all areas of the game.

“These awards are not only about people who play on the pitch.

But also to recognise the contribution of people who work behind the scenes right from the grassroots level up to the professional level,” said Baljit Rihal, CEO Inventive Sports and Co-founder of the awards.

“Our objective is not only to raise awareness of the fantastic achievements of individuals and organisations – but to help inspire future generations of British Asians in cricket.”

There are 11 categories for the year 2015, which include Professional Player of the year, coach of the year, media, grassroots, Asian

Baljit Rihal, centre Sajid Javid, and right Jas Jassal

cricket club of the year and so on. A new award called the Diversity Project Award, sponsored

by ECB, has been introduced this year. This award aims to highlight the work of county cricket clubs in engaging with their local British Asian community.

The low representation of Asians at the professional levels in British cricket has been a major concern, considering the love of cricket within the British Asian community.

A recent survey by ECB revealed that at grassroots level 30% of the cricketers come from

a south Asian background, but that figure drops to just “6.2% among players who appeared in firstteam county cricket in 2014”.

Responding to this, Baljit Rihal emphasised that ECB recognises this as an issue and this award is one such initiatives to enable the transition of promising players from grassroots to the county games.

“One core issue is that most of the grassroots cricket is not linked with county cricket clubs. We are trying to engage with a number of these county clubs to reach out to their communities and when they can successfully reach out, naturally this representa-

tion will start to progress,” he added.

Saij Javid sounded optimistic when he suggested that improvements have been seen in terms of representation at professional levels. “I have loved cricket all my life.

Growing up in Lancashire, it was hard thing for a young Asian to imagine how I would get involved in cricket. But that has changed a lot in recent years. The role models in those days were Asian cricket stars from the subcontinent like Imran Khan. But today we have got so many home grown talents like Moeen Ali, Ravi Bopara and many others,” he said.

Cricket stars like Moeen Ali, Ravi Bopara, Vikram Solanki are some of the high-profile supporters of the 2015 Asian Cricket Awards.

15

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

ward to with this new one?

My recipe books are family cookbooks containing delicious, fuss-free, nutrient-rich recipes suitable from weaning to one pot family meals. My current cookbook – ‘Easy Indian SuperMeals for Babies, Toddlers and the Family’, is the UK's only Asianthemed weaning cookbook guiding parents on safely introducing aromatic flavours into their child’s diet. It includes my personal parenting experiences and is packed with extensively researched nutritional information. Also, whilst my recipes are all cooked with aromatic spices for delicious flavours, the influences range from Indian classics to British, Spanish and Italian.

Stay strong and persevere!

Do you have any rudimentary advice for bringing up a healthy child, both emotionally and physically?

Stay strong and persevere! With regards to meals, there will be times when a child will reject them which can be draining, but it’s important to remember a child’s taste buds are continually changing. The same meal may be wolfed down next week.

What’s your personal motto?

Relax and enjoy the time you have with your baby as you won’t get that time back. They grow up so quickly!

Zainab Ahmed

Making Motherhood Zesty

Sunetra Senior

'Relax and enjoy the time you have with your baby as you won’t get that time back'.

Zainab Jagot Ahmed, winner of the Bizziebaby Gold award and Silver at the Prima Baby Awards 2015, is the cook and author of several vibrant baby food recipe collections. A career she puts down to her ‘little angel’, born in 2011 to whom she “owes everything. I’ve always enjoyed cooking” she continued to gush “but it was after the birth of my daughter that I felt inspired to turn my attention to cooking nutrient-rich, homemade baby food.” Also a freelance marketing consultant, Zainab not only encapsulates the go-getting spirit of modern motherhood, but shows it to be joyous. The pizazz of her dishes reflects a rewarding life-choice:

Why the niche market of Indian baby food?

Being Asian myself, I was keen to introduce my daughter to aromatic Asian flavours early when I began the weaning process, both to broaden my daughter’s palate and to introduce her to her culinary heritage.

There were no dedicated baby and toddler cookbooks and blogs at the time with Asian or Asian influenced recipes so I began researching spices, dietary recommendations and various super foods. I also researched spices to see if there was any scientific research to suggest that spices weren’t safe for baby and there was none!

From there, I had invented my own Indianinspired baby-friendly meals. I’ve had great responses to the concept of weaning with spices where my cookbook showcases this. I receive messages daily from mums who have tried my recipes on their fussy eaters and they’ve actually eaten the meals!

You worked in fashion for a while.

How did the transition into baby food come about?

Working in London has given me the confidence to try out new things, and really go for my dreams. I’m not sure I would have achieved as much if I’d stayed in my home town.

Whilst on maternity leave with my daughter I decided to take a step back from the fashion industry and start my own business to

allow flexible working hours and spend as much time with my daughter as possible.

You look very young and fresh.

How do you balance motherhood and personal health and wellbeing?

Thank you! It is definitely hard work trying to balance all three, but I always make sure we eat well-balanced meals, eat lots of fruit and drink plenty of water as a family. I also try to get as much exercise in as I can usually in the evenings after my little one has gone to sleep.

Tell me about the upcoming Baby Show at the NEC in Birmingham?

I will be giving a talk on weaning with aromatic spices and you can find me on the Made For Mums stage on Friday the 15th and Saturday 16th May. I’ll be available to answer questions from expectant parents and media attendance afterwards. I’ll then head to my stand (E106) to sign copies of my cookbook ‘Easy Indian Super Meals for Babies, Toddlers and the Family’.

Do you just deal in baby food, or do you branch out to family meals?

Yes I do - I create lots of family meals. I had one Facebook follower who said some of the best curries she’d ever cooked had been from one of my recipes. I love it when adults enjoy my meals just as much as children. There are plenty of family recipes in the cookbook.

All of the family recipes can be tai-

lored to suit both a toddler and adult taste buds!

Do you have any tips for mums who are trying to balance work and family life?

It’s important to be organised. Use a meal planner (you can download them for free from my website – www.ZainabJagotAhmed.com). It’s great for avoiding food wastage, reducing costs and saving time in that busy schedule. It’s also useful to dedicate just one hour each weekend to preparing meals in advance and if you wish, you can freeze meals too.

Do babies respond to different flavours, and if so how does this help them?

Absolutely! Weaning with aromatic spices is a great idea for baby and it’s perfectly safe. Aromatic spices are an excellent substitute to adding salt and sugar to provide much-needed flavour in baby meals; the mouth-watering aroma spices release when cooked makes food tastier when eaten; and the range of spice flavours available allows parents to offer a wider variety of meals in a baby’s diet - helping to broaden palates and reduce difficult eating behaviours.

What do you do to blow off some mummy steam?

Running on my treadmill and going to the cinema. I love any movie Marvel has worked its magic on.

What do your recipe books usually offer, and what can we look for-

Zainab’s Special

Veggie Korma (7 months plus) “I love this recipe! It’s simple, nutritious and includes the subtle and naturally sweet taste of the exotic coconut. They are antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-fungal (great for nappy rash protection) and boost energy and immune system function. Equally coconuts are rich in fibre, vitamins and minerals. With all of these health benefits and more, coconuts are definitely SuperFoods in my opinion”.

Total preparation and cooking time: 30mins Suitable for freezing Makes 4 servings 1 tbsp olive oil 1 tomato – washed, deseeded, grated Pinch of ground turmeric Pinch of ground cumin ¼ tsp minced garlic 1 medium white potato – washed, peeled, cubed 2 tbsp unsweetened desiccated coconut 200ml (7fl oz) of water 1 medium carrot – peeled, washed, chopped 40g (1½oz) peas – frozen, washed Heat the oil in a pot and add the tomato, turmeric, cumin, garlic and stir-fry for 12mins. Add the potato, coconut and water. Stir and bring to the boil. Simmer (covered) on low heat for 15-20mins until tender. Then mash and set aside.

Whilst the potato is boiling, steam the carrot and peas in either a steamer or in the microwave by placing them in a microwavable dish and adding 2 tablespoons of water. Cover the dish with either a lid (leaving a small vent) or cling film (piercing a few holes), and steam on high for 1-1½mins. Drain and add to the mashed potato. Further mash or blend as necessary using a pulse motion. Serve to baby warm. www.thebabyshow.co.uk /www.zainabjagotahmed.com.

Her book is available at amazon.co.uk.

16

REMEMBERING NEPAL VICTIMS

Reshma Trilochun

Nepal Vigil held at Kensington

On 1st May 2015, a vigil was held outside the Embassy of Nepal, in Kensington, London, to pay respect to those who had lost their lives in the horrendous earthquake that took place on 25th April 2015, in Nepal, killing thousands across Nepal and affecting many in North India. The fatalities and casualties have affected many people from across the world, including Britain, as well as the local residence.

This earthquake is one of the most calamitous to have hit South East Asia.

The purpose of the event was to allow people to attend to reflect, pray and light a candle to respect those who had lost their lives, as well as pray for the strength of the survivors and of the family members who have lost loved ones in this terrible natural disaster. It gave the opportunity to bring the Nepalese community to stand shoulder to shoulder with British Asians and the community at large.

Many esteemed people from all walks of life had participated in the vigil, as well as community leaders who represented over 20 organisations came together. Many passersby also joined in to show their respect towards the cause.

Many Hindu prayers were recited and good wishes were shared. The opening prayer at the vigil was conducted by Dhruv Chhatralia, from SHYAM, which was dedicated to peace, strength and harmony.

Representing the City

Participants at the vigil held for Nepal

A representative of the Embassy of Nepal with Asian Voice Editor/Publisher, CB Patel

BAPS Charities launches Nepal Earthquake Appeal

BAPS Charities is collecting funds to support the victims of the worst earthquake to hit Nepal in more than 80 years.

On Saturday 25 April, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck an area of central Nepal, while a 6.7 magnitude quake was felt less than 50 miles from the capital, Kathmandu, causing widespread devastation. Strong aftershocks continued to hit the region on Sunday 26 April.

As a result, more than 2,500 people have been killed with thousands more injured. Countless homes, temples and historic buildings have been destroyed.

Prayers were held at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden on Saturday evening in the presence of senior sadhus, including Pujya Ishwarcharan Swami who is currently visiting the UK from India.

His Holiness Pramukh

Swami Maharaj has also offered his prayers and condolences on behalf of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha to the families of all those who have been killed or injured in the earthquake.

He has prayed for everyone displaced or affected, including the thousands rendered homeless by this disaster. He said: “May we all remain strong and united in the face of this calamity and overcome it by helping each other.”

The Mandir in London is urging communities to lend their support to the rescue and relief mission

by donating via the BAPS Charities website at www.bapscharities.org/uk /nepalearthquake.

Yogesh Patel, volunteer for BAPS Charities, added: “The people of Nepal have suffered unimaginable trauma due to this disaster. At times like this, it’s more important than ever for people to come together and help those less fortunate – which is why we are urging those who can to donate funds via this trusted source to support rescue missions, and help the area and those affected to rebuild their lives.”

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Kokila Patel from Gujarat Samachar

Varsha Mistry, Metropolitan Police Hindu Association

Hindus Network, Shefali Davda expressed, “On behalf of the City Hindus Network and of course, all of the other organisations here present today, I would like to extend our support to our brothers and sisters in Nepal.”

Varsha Mistry from the Metropolitan Police Hindu Association was also present at the event and shared her thoughts.

“We've been deeply devastated by the suffering that we've seen amongst our Nepalese brothers and sisters who are always warmhearted, welcoming, kind and above all, courageous and many of them have sacrificed their lives for our freedom today. I hope that not just today, but in the months and years ahead we continue to pray and offer the much needed support that these communities are going to need from us for their recovery.”

Representatives who also participated in the vigil included CB Patel, Asian Voice/Gujarat Samachar; Nilesh Solanki, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh UK; Prerna Sian, Society of Asian Lawyers; Dipti Vyas, Chinmaya Mission; Rasik Kanji and Rajen Jotangia, National Hindu Students' Forum (UK); Shailen Mittal, Art of Living UK; Harendra Ravel, North London Brahmin Society; Satya Minhas, Hindu Council UK; BN Bhanot, Overseas Friends of BJP; Angeli Vadera, Hindu Lawyers Association; Priyesh Mistry, Mistry Media; Kokila Patel, Gujarat Samachar and Pranav Bhanot, Hindu Lawyers Association.

Pranav Bhanot concluded the evening by expressing, “It is at times of such disaster we grieve but also see the very best of what humanity has to

offer.”

A representative of the Embassy of Nepal was touched by the efforts of those at the vigil and stated that, “I would like to inform you that our embassy will pass on this information to Nepal government about your efforts. Thank you.”

To close the vigil, a one minute silence was held in remembrance of those who had lost their lives, followed by a one minute applause for the effort and hard work demonstrated by the emergency services and volunteers around the world.

Please continue to donate generously. Your smallest of donations can make a massive difference to someone's life. www.dec.org.uk www.sewauk.org www.chinmayauk.org/ donate www.justgiving.com/R eliefNepal/

Bhaktivedanta Manor Hare Krishna temple in Watford has launched a national charitable appeal to help the victims of the earthquake in Nepal.

The Lotus Trust, the welfare arm of Bhaktivedanta Manor, is already working with the Hare Krishna temple in Kathmandu and Bhaktivedanta Hospital in Mumbai to co-ordinate both food and medical relief activities on site, through the Hare Krishna’s Food for Life programme.

With the help of 350 Food for Life volunteers, the team is daily serving five thousand people in Kathmandu and seven thousand people Bhaktapur with fresh nutritious meals. Over the next few days, the number of meals being served by the Hare Krishna Food for Life volunteers are expected to double from twelve thousand to twenty four thousand per day.

In addition, Hare Krishna volunteers from around India are making their way to help.

Around 30,000 people have lost their homes as a consequence of the earthquake, which struck on Saturday 25th April. More than 4,000 people have been killed and more than 6,500 injured.

Srutidharma Das, Temple President of Bhaktivedanta Manor said: “Today we are seeing the devastating impact of the earthquake in Nepal on the thousands of people that have lost their homes, their lives and families, and who are desperately in need.

“Even sitting thousands of miles away, we can all do something small to help – by supporting the work of The Lotus Trust, we can ensure that much needed meals and medical aid can be given to the victims locally. Please make a small contribution today.”

The Lotus Trust supports the Food for Life pro-

gramme run by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), which distributes up to 3 million hot free meals globally to people in poverty stricken areas and the homeless each day.

Hare Krishna Food for Life is the world largest vegetarian food relief program. Inaugurated in 1974, the program is today is active in over 60 countries and has been actively involved in relief programs during major natural disasters and conflicts including: • Floods in Jammu & Kashmir – India (2014) • Cyclone Phailian – India (2013) • Typhoon Haiyan – Philippines (2013) • Tsunami in Japan (2011) • Hurricane Katrina – USA (2005) You can donate today to help The Lotus Trust to continue its vital work. To donate, please visit http://www.thelotustrust.o rg/nepal

Watford Hare Krishna Temple launches Nepal earthquake appeal

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury raises funds for Nepal

Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury has launched fundraising efforts for Nepal with a £10k injection of support.

Shree Muktajeevan Pipe Band and Shree Muktajeevan Dhol Academy played in Central London (Leicester Square) over the Bank Holiday weekend, 2-4 May) to raise funds as part of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sanstha’s wider global efforts in delivering aid

to the Earthquake-stricken region. Donations are also being taken at the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury for those wishing to donate - to support members of the Organisation in India who are already in Nepal, delivering aid on the ground and saving lives.

These efforts alone have raised just over £10,000 over two days, which was presented to aid agencies in the presence of prospective Labour parliamentary candidates for Barry Gardiner and Andrew Dismore, who were visiting the Mandir for a pre-election hustings event.

Maninagar Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sanstha’s worldwide spiritual leader, Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, said of the disaster: “The disastrous Earthquake that struck

Nepal has brought pain and misery to countless people in the region. That pain must be shared by us all. It is our humanitarian duty to help the afflicted re-build their lives.

“As the children of God we must join forces to help our siblings in their hour of need.

Shree Muktajeevan Disaster Relief Academy is already on the ground in the region, delivering vital relief and supplies. Please

support their efforts and encourage others to help.

“Let us all pray for eternal peace for all the lost lives, and for the welfare of those affected. May the almighty Lord Swaminarayanbapa Swamibapa give divine strength and courage to the survivors, and to all those engaged in helping them.”

Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), such as Shree Muktajeevan Disaster Relief Academy, are recog-

REMEMBERING NEPAL VICTIMS

nised as an essential vehicle in delivering disaster relief efficiently and effectively - so much so that around a third of the UN’s humanitarian budget is delivered through these kinds of organisations.

NGOs can often cut through bureaucracies that can hamper governmental agencies, and complement the work of those agencies to quickly target their efforts towards the most acute needs. NGOs are usually the first to arrive “on the ground” in delivering relief in disaster zones.

Under the inspiration of by Acharya Swamishree Maharaj, Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan has for many years supported relief efforts during times of natural disasters through its ‘Shree Muktajeevan Disaster Relief Academy.’

More recently the organisation has joined forces with partner bodies from

other countries in the region to form a strong coalition with greater relief-delivering impact – operating under the auspices of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), which is an organisation of eight countries, including Nepal itself.

Following the devastating Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004, Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan was not only able to mobilise its global community to raise vital funds for immediate disaster relief, but also continued to raise funds thereafter that were used to rebuild schools in South India so that children could quickly get back to education.

Once again, Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury will be mobilising to raise funds for the Nepalese cause, and aiming to inspire the Community to support us.

17

Thousands gather at Trafalgar Square for candle-lit vigil

On Tuesday 28 April, thousands of Londoners gathered in Trafalgar square for a vigil in tribute to those killed in Nepal earthquake disaster. The event was organised by representatives from London University Nepali Societies (SOAS, UCL, LondonMet, LSE, Queen Mary, Imperial and Westminster)who also raised funds for the post-disaster relief and recovery effort.

Mourners from the capital’s Nepalese com-

munity also led the candle-lit tribute, as a large

banner reading “Pray for Nepal” was set up in the centre of the square The Royals, and many other Humanitarian organisations have also made separate donations, to help the survivors at this disaster.

Besides in London, a prayer meeting was also held at the Queens Avenue Field in Aldershot on Monday 4 May at 2pm, by Shiva cultural community centre, to appeal for the Earthquake victims.

Nepalese businesses and Oxfam join up to help thousands of people devastated by Nepal Earthquake

Leading UK and global Nepalese business associations have set up a fundraising partnership with Oxfam to support its life saving work in response to the earthquake in Nepal.

Non Resident Nepalese Association UK (NRA UK) and Britain Nepal Chamber of Commerce (BNCC) are encouraging members, amounting to approximately 400,000 businesses, to donate to Oxfam’s emergency response.

The international agency aims to help an initial 350,000 people hit by the earthquake in Nepal, providing clean water, toilets and shelter to thousands of people.

Oxfam’s Fundraising Director Tim Hunter said: “Oxfam teams are working around the clock to reach the many people who need our urgent help.

The faith that these business associations have put in us to deliver is testament to our experience

and their support will help us raise the funds we desperately need to save lives.” Oxfam is among 13 members of the DEC, which launched the Nepal Earthquake Appeal on Tuesday. It is working in four open air sites in the Kathmandu Valley - delivering water and building toilets. Over the coming days Oxfam will work with other agencies to provide clean water to 16 open air sites set up by the Government of Nepal and to provide food and shelter, while also expanding operations outside Kathmandu.

Oxfam has so far raised just over £2 million from the UK public – a fantastic initial response but more is needed.

The UN estimates that 8 million people, more than a quarter of the population, have been hit by the crisis. So far, around 5,000 people are reported to have been killed with around 10,000 injured.

More than five tonnes

of water and sanitation materials have been dispatched from Oxfam’s warehouse in Barcelona to help those hit by the crisis.

Pit toilets are being constructed, clean and safe water has started to be delivered, and tarpaulin for temporary shelter has been provided.

An Oxfam response team from India is assessing the humanitarian situation in Gorkha, the hardest hit district. Oxfam is also carrying out a rapid assessment on what needs to be done to help people in Sindhupalchwok district. Mahendra Kandel, President of NRNA UK, said: “Oxfam has an international reputation.

NRNA UK was looking for a very strong, trustworthy, reliable partner to channel its funds. Due to Oxfam’s good presence and their expertise in Nepal, we decided to work with Oxfam. Our NRN community in the UK can also take advantage of the gift aid.”

18

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Dear Financial Voice Reader, What will the election mean for your investments and for the Pound?

It makes no sense trying to go against a multi-trillion dollars market because you're angry or "you know better", the market will wipe you out.

Understand when you're wrong on a trade and get out as soon as your stops are hit, never move them or add to a losing trade.

What that means comes down to two lessons basically: first, that you should not get stuck to a losing trade more time than what's needed to find out that your initial idea was wrong. And secondly that trading is a game or a business where ego has no place.

Talking about not going against the market, what is really important to understand is that each trade is essentially a bet, an attempt to get a feeling of where the market is heading. And as such there are levels and indications that pretty much confirm the market's intentions for the time being so if your trade is towards the opposite direction simply get out of it.

Don't get fixated and try to stay in the trade "just a bit longer" only because "it might eventually reverse in your favor", it rarely does. And most of the times you will lose more money than you should and also waste time waiting for more or less a miracle or better put a rare exception.

So don't try to outsmart the market or stomach supposedly "temporary" losses, the market will always outstretch you to a point where your account simply can't take it. Instead, trying to understand what the market wants to do and calmly follow it is much simpler, much safer and mostly stress-free.

Trading is like a small business, it requires a starting capital. You wouldn't want to fund your account with such a small amount that a few mistakes will wipe it out. You need to provide yourself with the opportunity to make mistakes and still have the chance to correct them and move forward.

Always keep in mind that making a loss means that you need to over-perform the next time to cover your loss and break even. It is key to understand that for example a 5% loss requires a 5.3% gain just to bring you up to your original capital and so on. So each loss hurts more than an equal win, this is an important lesson to understand.

Hence having an adequately funded account means that you prolong the life of your trading career and allow yourself to make mistakes, learn from them and then over-perform to break into profits.

And with that I will end this first part of this mini-guide but before that I want to stress something really important. Trading is one of the very few things in life where mistakes translate to an immediate loss of money. It’s not that you don’t make money, you actually and immediately see your capital going down. So sticking to a few rules or “commandments” literally translates to preserving your capital and avoiding simple yet treacherous pitfalls.

I’ve made a complete online course to teach you how to trade shares. You can find it here: www.udemy.com/tradingonline (it’s free to keep for 30 days) and if you use the ‘asianvoice’ coupon code you get a 50% discount on keeping it for life.

Jaitley gives foreign investors some concession on MAT

The government of India provided some relief to overseas investors on the contentious issue of minimum alternate tax (MAT).

Finance minister Arun Jaitley said foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) parking funds in bonds, private equity funds as well as multinationals earning royalty or technical fee that face levies that are lower than the 20% minimum alternate tax (MAT) will not be subjected to this levy from April 1.

The changes, announced before the Finance Bill was put to vote, are in addition to the exemption given to FPIs from payment of MAT on capital gains made by them, while dealing in shares on Indian exchanges. At the same time, Jaitley clarified that the case related to MAT demand for period prior to

Arun Jaitley

the April cut-off will be decided by court.

“A big task for the debt FPIs was the exclusion of interest income from MAT liability .The concessional rate of 5% introduced two years back would have become redundant if MAT were to apply. Now, the FM has provided relief on this, and that is a welcome step. Of course, all this is for prospective applicability, effective April 1, 2015 and as has been indicated by the government, the past years will hence nec-

essarily have to be decided by the judicial process through courts,“ said Sameer Gupta, tax leader for financial services, consulting firm EY India.

Similarly, private equity funds earning capital gains and interest income have been provided nonapplicability of MAT. The FM also announced that for the implementation of special tax regime for offshore funds, conditions such as minimum number of investors and threshold of participation of interest of members will not apply to sovereign wealth funds, government and pension funds.

No concession on black money: Jaitley refused to offer any concessions on the issue of dealing with black money and said that unearthing of illicit wealth will help the government reduce tax

rates and rework slabs.

“When the Budget proposals came up this year and last year, some of the members were asking me, “how do you squeeze black money?” When I announce a proposal that all right let us squeeze domestic black money, there is one way to squeeze it and this is a practice which is a global practice. Even in the US, if you have more than $10,000, you have to declare your social security number, which is their substitute for a PAN card,” the minister said, while dismissing suggestion that there is a need to do away with PAN for transactions of over Rs 100,000. Instead, he said the government is launching a mega campaign to issue PAN within 48 hours, including through an online facility.

India to register highest steel consumption growth: WSA

India’s steel consumption growth is likely to be the highest both in current year and the next at 6.2% and 7.3%, respectively, while all other major consuming countries such as China, the US, Japan and Korea are expected to witness a sharp decline, World Steel Association (WSA) says in its first short range outlook for 2015. The short range outlook, prepared by the largest industry body’s Economic Studies Committee consisting of chief economists of over 40 member companies twice in a year, also forecast continued negative growth in consumption in China in 2015 and in 2016 due to its government’s rebalancing efforts, which has a huge bearing on the real estate market.

China posted negative

steel growth in 2014 for the first time since 1995.

The use of steel in China shrunk by 3.3% to 710.8 MT in 2014.

WSA, whose members contribute 85% of the global steel production, sees “increased optimism” about India and forecasts India’s steel use to go up to 80 MT in 2015 and further to 85.8 MT in 2016 from 75.3 MT in 2014, up 2.2% from the previous year.

“In the developing and emerging world, we see increased optimism about India and growth in steel use in some MENA and ASEAN countries. While these developments will not be enough to counterbalance the deceleration of China, we expect to see gradually improving growth prospects beyond 2016,” said Committee chairman Jurgen Kerkhoff.

The committee sees slower growth in steel

demand internationally which is likely to average at 0.5% in the current year, down from 0.6% in 2014, to stand at 1,544 MT. However, the global average will be higher at 1.4% in 2016 to touch at 1,565 MT, it said.

The developed world, which recorded a 6.2% growth in steel demand in 2014 on the back of strong fundamentals and a firming recovery, is going to see a moderate growth in 2015 due to high base effect by 0.2% in 2015 and by 1.8% in 2016.

Meanwhile, overtaking the US, India became the world’s third largest steel producer during JanuaryMarch of the current year.

WSA data showed India produced 22.78 MT steel during the period compared to 19.99 MT by the US.

current fiscal, which is higher than the 2 per cent recorded in the last fiscal, a Dun & Bradstreet research report said.

"D&B expects WPI (Wholesale Price Index) inflation to edge up to 3.7 per cent in financial year 2016 up from 2 per cent in fiscal year 2015," Dun & Bradstreet said in a note.

Though declining crude oil prices and lower demand side pressures will help ease inflation, D&B listed factors which may push up WPI inflation. "If

only agricultural growth would be impacted, the resultant increase in food prices would lead to reversal in the downward inflation trajectory," the report said. Declining for the third consecutive year, WPI inflation during the last fiscal witnessed a growth of 2 per cent against a growth of 7.4 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively, in 2012-13 and 2013-14. It has gone into the negative since November 2014 mainly on account of cheaper food

February, (-)0.39 per cent in January, (-)0.50 per cent in December and ()0.17 per cent in November. In the monetary policy review in April, the Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan kept interest rates on hold at 7.50 per cent saying he was waiting for banks to pass on the RBI's previous rate cuts, and dismissed bankers' claims that the cost of funds remained too high. In this connection, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had,

target deadline for controlling fiscal deficit to three per cent, reasoning that insistence on a timetable to contain the deficit would harm growth prospects. The targets for the next three years have been set at 3.9 per cent for 2015-16, 3.5 per cent for 2016-17, and 3 per cent for 2017-18.

Jaitley also announced the fait accompli of a monetary policy committee pact earlier with the RBI, which will reduce the governor's power to act alone.

India approves changes India's inflation to range at 3.7% in 2015-16 in his landmark budget in and fuel products. It was actual monsoon turns out India's inflation is likely to to Companies Act February, extended the at (-)2.06 per cent in to be below normal, not average 3.7 per cent in the

To make it easy to do business in India, the central government has rationalised certain documentation procedures required for companies. The cabinet approved "doing away with the requirement of filing a declaration by a company before commencement of business or exercising its borrowing powers," a cabinet statement said.

It also approved "rationalizing the procedure for laying draft notifications granting exemptions to various

classes of companies or modifying provisions of the Act in Parliament," the statement added.

These amendments to the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2014 "will address issues related to ease of doing business and put in place a speedier process for approval of draft notifications for providing exemptions etc. from specific provisions of the Act to a class of companies," the ministry of corporate affairs said in a statement.

REAL ESTATE VOICE

A small piece of diamond is better than a whole piece of glass

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Suresh Vagjiani

Sow & Reap A Property Investment Company

We have agreed a deal in North London. This is a site we are looking to purchase imminently. Our architect and the planning consultant have both been through the deal and have confirmed this is a site which has been earmarked for massive development.

I actually didn’t go to see the property until after it had been agreed and we had a response from the planners. Looking is way down on the list, especially if the property is only of site value which this one is.

After seeing the property over the weekend it was clear why the planners confirmed this was a hot site to purchase. Large buildings had sprung up all around this site, so it is clear the skyline is being lifted. The council would actually be pleased to grant planning in this location. The number we have been given is eighty flats on this site alone.

It was timely that this site came up as a similar planning site I had been writing about over the last couple of weeks actually didn’t go ahead, it fell through. Apparently the landlord next door to the site woke up and did the deal at a higher price than us. We were given the option of doing the deal, and from a financial point of view £100k – £200k extra would not be a deal breaker but on this occasion the principle overrode the decision making; the seller had shaken hands with us and now was back tracking, so for that reason alone we did not go ahead.

This investor had moved fast and therefore was understandably annoyed at the situation. But time to time this happens, it’s the nature of the beast.

We had already given instructions to the lawyer to transfer his funds back from whence they came. Luckily our lawyer was a little slow in doing so, so when the new deal was confirmed I called to check and luckily he was still in funds.

I feel this is a rare deal, one you cannot even design; if you keep sowing the seeds through rain and shine there will be a time when the harvest will be plentiful. This deal has this potential.

Similar to the last deal, there is a lot of money to be made if a JV can be created but on this one the requirement to do so is not necessary meaning we have enough development potential standing on our own legs. Once the exchange has been done we can then approach the other party and see if we can work together on something. Let’s see once we cross the line, if at all!

We are currently l ookin g t o f und a propert y we exchang ed on a few week s ag o in Br yanston Square. The deal is a good on e, we purchase d at £1,544 per sq. ft. We thou ght the property was wort h £2,200 per sq. ft . One agen t- who knows her stu ff - came t o see the propert y and t houg ht t he price woul d be more at th e £2, 500 per sq. ft . mark . This is a massive mark-u p given the W1 postcod e. Id eall y we wish to purchase this in cash and use it as a long te rm or even pe rmanent investmen t.

We were told to exchan ge like lig htenin g, as bid s we re co min g out of the wood work, there is int erest f ro m 30 bid ders on this d eal. So we made sure the gun was cocked from our side an d re ad y to fire, mo re so due t o t he last experienc e we had.

There are even possibilities of the next door site wanting to do a joint venture with us. This is a little spooky as this was the same situation as the last deal and it’s not every day you get a request for a JV from your neighbour.

However with this deal even if we do not come to any common terms with the neighbour this site has more potential than the last one as far as a standalone deal goes. With the last site we could have built 24 flats, with this one we are looking at 80 flats plus, given this isn’t as strong an area so the values wouldn’t be as strong.

We are yet to exchange and will do so by the time the article goes to print – hopefully. Sometimes things don’t always go to the plans we create, it is always good to remember whatever happens is always for the best, there may be something better around the corner which is outside of your realm of possibility. Long term things always work out even if at the moment they may seem disastrous.

Many of our clients do not like the idea of coming in collectively.

They wish to have control. Many have come with bad experience in the past and so project this on to anything they look at. It’s actually illogical. It’s the equivalent of reasoning if you’ve had bad relationship you shouldn’t get married ever again.

JVs go wrong when the terms and procedures are not specified up front. When this is done with clarity then the deal can be focused on on a purely commercial basis.

The basis on which we are pu shing t his deal is it is be tter to have hal f a pure diamond than a whole piec e o f a glass one. It will go up in valu e far q uicker. The aim from th e outset is to buy and hol d, as I can not see a property like this ever g oing down. The mone y will not be stuck, as the aim will be to ext ract it by way of refin anc e within a couple of years. So we aim to recycle t he f und s but not the property an d build a long t erm po t start in g from th is deal as a base.

The Real Deal

Brixton, SW2 Purchase Price: £475k

I see this property going up to a minimum of £1.7m from our purchase price of £1.3m within one year and that’s being conservative. If you’re interested in this deal or similar types of deals why not get in touch, its doors are open right now.

l A spacious two bedroom flat in excellent condition l Long lease l Properties in this location are being sold for around £700 to £850 per sq. ft. while this is coming in at around £560 per sq. ft. l Brixton High Road is lined with a variety of high street and independent shops and also plenty of cafés and a wealth of cuisine from around the world to choose from l The fantastic 125 acres of green open space at Brockwell Park is literally a stone’s throw away l Excellent buy and hold opportunity

THURSDAY 21ST MAY 7.30PM WEMBLEY

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0207 993 0103

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19

info@sowandreap.co.uk

www.sowandreap.co.uk

55 Bryanston Street, Marble Arch Tower, London, W1H 7AA

Follow us online:

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SowandReapProperties

Tips of the Week l Decision making and speed are two characteristics which separate the investors who make money and those who do not.

More people lose money by not making a decision than making the wrong decisions when investing in property. l The money you invest in property will grow in direct proportion with the location you invest in.

20

LEGAL VOICE

World Bank pegs India's GDP growth at 7.5%

The Indian economy has turned the corner but wider reforms are needed to boost growth, the World Bank said, and estimated the economy to expand by 7.5% in 2015-16. The World Bank's India Development update said if the reform agenda was successfully implemented, it carries great promise of an acceleration in economic growth. The government expects growth in the 8.5% range, boosted by the measures that have been unveiled. “The government has made progress in several policy areas, and long-term prospects for growth remain bright for India,” said Onno Ruhl, World Bank country director for India.

“The current situation offers an opportunity to further strengthen the business environment and enhance the quality of

India's core sector contracts on steel, cement slide

India's key infrastructure sector remained under stress in March with data showing that annual growth in output fell, dragged down by a sharp decline in cement and steel sectors.

Data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed the core sector comprising steel, cement, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilizers, electricity and coal, contracted 0.1% in March compared to a 4% growth in the same month earlier year.

For 2014-15, the sector grew 3.5% compared to an expansion of 4.2% in the year earlier period.

The core sector data has remained volatile and has hurt overall industrial growth.

The sector accounts for 38% of the index of industrial production. Economists said the data showed that a wider revival in industrial growth was yet to be visible and called for government action to fast-track stalled projects. “The stagnation in core sector output and contraction in merchandise trade are expected to outweigh the mild uptick in automobile production in March 2015, leading us to expect a moderation in industrial growth from the threemonth high of 5% in February 2015,” Aditi Nayar, senior economist at rating agency ICRA, said.

“While capital goods output witnessed a 10% expansion in JanuaryFebruary 2015, a broadbased revival in investment activity is yet to take root,” she said.

public spending.

Continuous strong momentum in these reforms will further unleash the productivity that Indian firms need in order to create jobs and become globally competitive,” said Ruhl. The report said a favourable external environment, particularly the sharp decline in the international prices of oil, metals and food, has helped to improve the economic outlook significantly.

According to the update, a twice-yearly report on the Indian econ-

omy and its prospects, economic growth is expected to rise to 7.9% in 2016-2017 and 8% in 20172 0 1 8 .

H o w e v e r, acceleration in growth is conditional to investment growth picking up to 11% during 2016 to 2018. But, it said the economic outlook is subject to both external and domestic risks. “A rapid increase in oil prices is a key risk, and global growth remains constrained, particularly in several of India's trading partners,” the report said.

It also said a tightening of US monetary policy can have a disruptive impact on India's exchange rate and financial markets.

While the RBI has built reserves to reduce India's external vulnerability, the

risk remains, warranting vigilance, the report said.

On the domestic front, the report points out that boosting private investment will be crucial to bridge the yawning infrastructure deficit and support the favourable growth outlook.

“With India's tax-toGDP ratio remaining stubbornly low, the country will need to explore alternative channels of long term investment, and revive PPP model of financing. Additional fiscal space can be generated by increasing the tax-to GDP ratio, and improving tax administration and compliance,” the report said.

It said the outlook for new investments continues to be dented by the debt overhang in the corporate balance sheets, which has extended to the public sector banks.

Global rating agency Moody’s said any upgrade in India’s sovereign rating would depend on implementation of policies by its leaders to improve business environment for private sector and for infrastructure growth.

“How the recently elected leaders in India… implement the pledges to improve infrastructure and governance will determine the credit trajectory of the sovereign,” Moody’s Investors Service said in a report. Moody’s, which has given the lowest investment grade rating to India, named regulatory complexity and weak social and physical infrastructure as challenges before the country.

“The evolution of sovereign’s credit profile will hinge on whether its leaders are able to implement policies that facilitate infrastructure development and strengthen the private sector’s operating environment,” Moody’s said.

Earlier this month, Moody’s had upgraded India’s outlook to ‘posi-

tive’ from ‘stable’, but retained the credit rating at the at ‘Baa3′, just a notch above the junk grade.

Moody’s had said it would consider a rating upgrade after 12-18 months depending upon improvement in macroeconomic parameters. In its report, Moody’s said India’s growth will outperform similarly rated peers, and macroeconomic policy vigilance is likely to contain inflation and balance of payments pressures in the near-term.

It said India’s sovereign rating reflects credit strengths of robust economic size and growth and credit challenges of weak governance and infrastructure.

Favourable savings levels, investment rates,

and demographics are likely to keep India’s growth stronger than most Moody’s rated peers, it said. Lower global commodity prices support India’s growth and balance of payments, but its banking system would pose sovereign risks over the medium-term if asset quality and capitalisation levels do not improve, Moody’s said.

The positive outlook incorporates the reduction in inflation and the balance of payments pressures over the last year, recent measures to address constraints on investment, including the passage of related bills in Parliament, and its expectation that India’s strong growth will improve its fiscal ratios over the rating horizon, it added.

Anil Agarwal-led Sesa Sterlite, which was renamed as Vedanta recently, has been hit hard by falling crude prices as it booked nearly Rs 200 billion ($3 billion) as “goodwill impairment charges” related to its oil and gas business. The write-down resulted in the company posting the biggest quarterly loss in India's corporate history. Vedanta reported a consolidated net loss of Rs 192.28 billion (about $3 billion) for the January-

March quarter as against a profit of Rs 16.21 billion in the corresponding quarter last year.

An impairment refers to an erosion in the value of an asset, including an intangible asset like goodwill. This means Cairn India, which Vedanta acquired for $9.1 billion in 2011, is now valued at around $6 billion as the company reported exceptional items of Rs 199.56 billion for the quarter ended March 31, 2015,

Vedanta said in its earnings report.

Vedanta, the Indian-listed subsidiary of London-listed Vedanta Resources Plc controlled by Anil Agarwal, owns 58.9% in Cairn India. It may be recalled that Tata Steel in May 2013 had announced a goodwill impairment charge of $1.6 billion on account of loss of value at its European steel business under Corus and other overseas assets due to a slump in demand in overseas markets, the biggest

Reforms to determine India’s rating upgrade: Moody’s

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Maria Fernandes

Off to cast your vote…

Finally, after all these weeks, the end is near, the vote ever closer. If you do not have a postal vote you will I hope be trotting down to the polling booths to cast your vote. I cannot bear those who say there is no point. Not after people have died for this fundamental democratic right.

Immigration has been of course on the top of the issues that the various parties want to “tackle”. Almost all of them talk about immigration control.

EU “immigration” is top of the agenda although it is scandalous to describe it as immigration. The rights of EU citizens to move is a fundamental right derived from Treaties which Governments from all sides have signed.

What has undoubtedly happened is that as a result of this, there has been an attempt to control migration from non EU countries, but even in relation to this not all migration is equal. In terms of actual numbers, the multinational companies have been able to bring and transfer their staff with ease.

The smaller and disparate businesses have however suffered. Take restaurants as a prime example.

Chefs have been completely obliterated from entering. New talent has all but completely been brought to a halt. The Migration Advisory Committee retained the shortage list although they recommended a raise in the salaries being paid. However the system has been manipulated to reduce numbers even further by creating a system in which control of the decision lies with the UKVI and their decision is final even if poorly reasoned. There is a huge amount of subjectivity in the hands of those whose

primary task is to restrict numbers. Care homes too are suffering the same fate.

And all the time much is being made of the fact that there is a shortage of nurses.

Another area which is of great concern is the student market. Finally, the UKVI have removed the term “highly trusted” but they continue to grant licences to colleges and take them away at will. There is no oversight or protection for students themselves. I can point to countless cases of students who have paid fees upwards of £9000 only to be refused for some reason and give the colleges an excuse to pocket the funds.

And individuals do not fare any better. The appeals system has been demolished despite the fact that around 40% of appeals were successful.

The UK has always been known throughout the world for its rules of fair play, justice and the rule of law. Not any more.

When we do not play by these rules any more we are not different to the dictatorship regimes that operate throughout the world.

Much has been made of the pressure on services. What is true is that migrants contribute more than they take from the system. The politicians paint a picture out of numbers rather like the paint by numbers pictures you can buy. They deliberately scapegoat immigrants. There are decent, hardworking people out there who very rarely complain about their situation.

When you go out to vote consider very carefully what has passed and what is on offer. Many of the immigrants reading this will be unable to cast a vote. For those who can, make it count.

To contact Maria Fernandes, please email at: info@fernandesvaz.com

Vedanta writes down about Rs 200 bn in oil biz write-off then.

“This is a one time noncash charge. The impairment will be reflected as a write-down in goodwill and will have no bearing on operational cash flows in coming quarters,” Vedanta Resources CEO Tom Albanese said. The companies that brought assets at higher valuations at the peak of the economy are now forced to write down the value of their investments in such assets. BP Plc, in last two years, has

written down the value of its 30% stake in the KG basin block acquired from RIL for $7.2 billion by over $1 billion. State-owned ONGC also had to write down the value of its investments in Imperial Energy by $500 million that it acquired for $2.1 billion in 2008. Globally, natural resource firms and oil companies have taken impairments write-downs on their balance sheets in the last few quarters, totalling over $30 billion.

CURRENCY VOICE

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

21

Foreign Exchange

Paresh Davdra is the Dealing Director of RationalFX,

Another strong year of growth predicted Currency Specialists.

Britain's economy slowed sharply in the first three months of 2015, gross domestic product grew by 0.3 percent in the January-March period, the slowest quarterly rate since the end of 2012. The UK's initial estimate of Q1 GDP was 0.3%, below expectations for a 0.5% expansion, and half the pace of Q4 2014 growth. Sterling initially fell on the disappointment but quickly resurfaced.

Economists said the weakness was likely to be a blip, with the economy still on course for another strong year of growth. But coming just nine days before what looks like being the closest national election in a generation, the numbers put Cameron's Conservatives on the back foot.

The preliminary estimate of Q1 UK GDP lacks details and is based on less than half of the information that will ultimately go into the final estimate. ONS indicated the slowdown was led by the service sector, which expanded by 0.5%, the least since Q2 2013.

Production fell 0.1%, and construction output fell 1.6%. The 2.4% year-over-year growth compares with a 2.6% expectations and 2.7% growth in 2014.

The weak first-quarter growth contrasts with an upbeat tone from the Bank of England at its latest monetary policy meeting, and most economists expect the

economy to keep its momentum in 2015 after last year's growth of 2.8 percent. "We think underlying growth in the economy is significantly stronger than in today's data," said Kevin Daly, an economist at Goldman Sachs. "We would anticipate over time that the weak ONS data is likely to be revised higher into line with the stronger activity implied by business surveys and other activity indicators." But some economists have said an inconclusive outcome of next week's elections could hurt confidence and slow investment.

The Euro strengthened against a host of currencies after the Eurozone ended four months of deflation in April with consumer prices unchanged from year-ago levels, removing the threat of persistent price declines as energy costs pushed up in the month. The bottoming out of price declines is welcome news for the European Central Bank who started printing money in March to inject more cash into the economy and ward off concerns of persistently falling prices, or deflation, showing the quantitative easing programme is working. Analysts had begun questioning whether the ECB will need to carry out quantitative easing all the way through to September 2016; the data suggested otherwise which boosted the currency.

Manufacturing growth across the currency zone as a whole eased off slightly in April from March’s 10-month high, according to the latest Eurozone manufacturing PMI. With the reading coming in at 52, this is just down on the revised figure of 52.2 for the previous month. Ireland and Spain led the continued expansion although the pace of growth slipped, whereas factories in Greece and France suffered falling production and job cuts.

Manufacturers also raised average selling prices for the first time since August 2014, news that will reassure policymakers at the European Central Bank (ECB) after launching a large-scale quantitative easing (QE) programme to head off deflation. Since the €60bn-a-month stimulus programme was launched in March, data from the currency union has pointed to steadier growth – official figures last week showed the four month run of deflation came to an end in April.

Consumer confidence unexpectedly declined in April to a four-month low as Americans’ views of the labour market and the outlook on the economy deteriorated. The fewest respondents in four months said jobs were plentiful in April and income expectations cooled, the report showed, signalling consumers will remain

guarded about spending. The setback in sentiment may indicate demand will be slow to pick up after a stronger dollar, bad winter weather in some regions and a labour dispute at West Coast ports weighed on the economy in the first quarter.

Last week saw an incredibly disappointed GDP figure from the US, with the QoQ growth coming in at 0.2% against a 1.1% consensus which was the lowest growth figure since June 2014. Treasuries and US equities both initially saw a knee-jerk reaction however the moves were not sustained as the statement did not hint at a change in policy stance.

In a statement from the FOMC, they announced that the lack of growth is not a cause for concern. Extreme winter weather, strong dollar and collapsing oil prices that have stalled the US energy boom contributed to the slowdown. The US central bank has indicated it will raise rates soon, as long as the US economy continued to grow, but the timing of the increase remains uncertain.

The Fed also decided to remove any specific references to calendar dates when discussing the timing of a rate rise, which could further confuse markets, which have often reacted badly to any hint of the end of cheap money in the US economy.

Weekly Currencies As of Tuesday 5th May 2015 @ 1pm

GBP - INR = 96.18

USD - INR = 63.33 EUR - INR = 70.89 GBP - USD = 1.52 GBP - EUR = 1.36

EUR - USD = 1.12 GBP - AED = 5.58

GBP - CAD = 1.83

GBP - NZD = 2.01

GBP - AUD = 1.91

GBP - ZAR = 18.19

GBP - HUF = 412.03

www.rationalfx.com

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

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22

WORLD

Sikhs urged to explain meaning of turban to Americans

Washington: Sikhs have to explain to American people what the turban means because that is the immediate source of their identification, according to the author of a new report on Sikhs in America presented to US lawmakers.

"Sikhs have to explain what it symbolizes and what values it represents," said Geoff Garin, former political strategist for presidential candidate Hillary Clinton presenting the key findings of the report at a briefing arranged by the National Sikh Campaign (NSC).

"This will have a very powerful impact on the broader American public," he said. "The study shows that when people see Sikhs on the streets anywhere, people are very confused about what Sikh faith is and that confusion leads to tragic conse-

quences," said Garin.

"They also feel that they will not have very much in common with Sikhs." Garin, whose current clients include the World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Harvard University, heads the Hart Research Associates, one of the leading survey firms in the US. The firm conducted a six-month long nationwide polling and focus

group study to understand how Sikhs are perceived in America and what strategies would be helpful to change perceptions. The report lists specific messaging techniques which Sikhs could use in their media strategies resonating with American public.

Garin said the survey showed that 6 out 10 Americans acknowledge that they know nothing at all about Sikhs and Sikhism."

"Better educated

Americans are likely to come in contact with Sikhs," he said. "Younger Americans are likely to have some information about Sikhs." Judy Chu, founder and vice chair of the Congressional American Sikh Caucus, called it "a very significant report about the American perceptions of the Sikh community."

John Garamendi, co-chair of the Sikh Caucus, said, "It's extremely important that the people of the United States and beyond learn and understand the multiple cultures that we have in the United States."

Dr. Rajwant Singh, senior advisor to NSC, said the NSC plans to start a media ad campaign based specifically on this study and the various intricate details input collected from common Americans.

Mradulaben Patel shows a man walking into the store and buying a pack of cigars.

Investigators said they believe the man shot Patel during an attempted robbery. They said after the shooting, a customer, Michael Wheat, found Patel lying on the floor and called 911. “I saw her lying there on the floor, bleeding pretty bad,” said

Wheat, adding that Patel had blood all over her head and on the floor.

Wheat said he left the store and got into his truck from where he called emergency assistance. He said he ran back into the store without knowing whether or not the shooter had already left the scene of the incident. “She was kinda moaning as she was breathing,” said Wheat.

Patel holds American and British citizenship. The Indian Consulate in Atlanta has extended all possible assistance to the family of Patel and is in touch with police regarding the investigation, he said. Her family has not

sought any assistance from the Indian mission, they added. Customers of the shop remembered Patel as a friendly woman.

“She always asked how everybody was, their day was, (and) she asked how my daughter was every day that I came in here,“ said Shalynn Zarczynski, a frequent customer of Patel's shop.

Two Indians -Sanjay Patel (39) and Rajesh Madala (35) -were killed during apparent robbery attempts in two separate incidents at gas stations in the United States last month, sending shockwaves among the local population.

Indian-origin woman in US dies after being shot in face

New York: An Indian-origin woman working at a gas station died after being shot in the face in an attempted armed robbery in South Carolina, the third such incident against Indians in the US within a month. Mradulaben Patel from Gujarat, 59, was the co-owner of a store at a BP gas station in Powdersville. An unidentified man is believed to have shot Patel in the face on Thursday night. Police have asked for help to identify the assailant.

Patel, who underwent surgery on Friday, later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Police said surveillance video footage

BAT raises prices to balance the decline in tobacco sales

The world's second largest tobacco company by market share, British American Tobacco (BAT) have raised their cigarette prices to balance out a precipitating drop in smoking in the first quarter.

The BAT revealed that the volume of tobacco sold has fallen by 3.6% to 152 billion cigarettes in the first three months of the year, compared with a 1% fall in the same period last year, plus 1.4% fall overall in 2014.

There have been major declines in Russia, which was down 11%, while Vietnam had fallen by 5%.

Daily intake of aspirin can reduce risk of cervical cancer

Washington: American researchers have found that daily intake of aspirin could lower the risk of cervical cancer. They found that people who took aspirin seven or more times a week had a 47 per cent lower risk of developing the disease. And researchers found this was the case regardless of how many years women had been taking the drug.

In addition, those who had been taking the drug frequently for five or more years had a 41 per cent reduced risk. Meanwhile, paracetamol, or acetaminophen, was not linked with a reduced risk of cervical cancer.

Professor Kirsten Moysich, of Roswell Park Cancer Institute, said: “Aspirin use remains an attractive cancer-prevention option, due to the fact that most people will be more likely to take a pill

rather than make major lifestyle modifications such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet and engaging in physical activity.

However, people should seek the advice of their doctor before starting an aspirin regimen.”

As part of the study, Professor Moysich and colleagues examined 328 patients with cervical cancer and 1,312 other patients who did not have the disease. The participants were all matched by age, and were all treated at Roswell Park between 1982 and 1998. They provided self-reported information on how often and for how many years they took both aspirin and paracetamol.

The researchers did not study why aspirin could prevent the disease developing.

In the US, 4,100 women will die of cervical

cancer in 2015. Dr Moysich said more research was needed on how aspirin and paracetamol (or acetaminophen) may prevent cervical cancer. Cervical cancer is a relatively uncommon type of cancer that develops in a woman's cervix, the entrance to the womb from the vagina.

It often has no symptoms in its early stages, but the most common ones are unusual vaginal bleeding which can occur after sex, in-between periods or after the menopause.

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV is a very common virus that can be passed on through any type of sexual contact with a man or a woman. There are more than 100 different types of HPV, many of which are harmless.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

In Brief

Polygamy increases risk of heart disease

Riyadh: A new study has found that men with multiple wives have four times more the risk of heart disease. Researchers said the study suggested that the stress of running multiple households and the “emotional expense” of polygamy could place strain on the heart. Research on 687 men in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates found that the risks of heart disease increased with each extra wife. Two thirds of the men in the research were monogamous while the rest had between two and four wives.

Saudi king appoints nephew as new crown prince

Riyadh: Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz has appointed his nephew and deputy crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef as the new crown prince, replacing his younger half-brother Muqrin. Muqrin was also relieved of his duties as the first deputy prime minister, Xinhua news agency reported. The king also appointed his son Prince Mohammed bin Salman as the deputy crown prince and replaced Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal with the kingdom's ambassador to the US, Adel al-Jubeir, according to Saudi state television.

Hillary Clinton calls for reforms in US race relations

Washington: Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton calls for reforms in US race relations in the wake of Baltimore riots. She said there was something “profoundly wrong” in the state of US racerelations, blaming rising inequality and institutional racism in the police and court system for creating a situation that should “tear at the soul” of America.

Speaking as order was restored in Baltimore following two days of rioting following the death of another unarmed black person at the hands of white police, Clinton called for every US police officer to be fitted with body cameras. “Not every problem can be or will be prevented by cameras but this is a common sense step we should take,” she said.

Muslim schoolgirl sent home for wearing long skirt

Paris: France's controversial ban on religious clothing in state schools has come under attack after a 15year-old Muslim girl was sent home twice for wearing a long black skirt. The 2004 ban covers Islamic head scarves, the Jewish kippa, or skullcap, large Christian crosses or any other "ostentatious sign of religion".

But schools' interpretation of the ban has come under scrutiny after a girl, named as Sarah K, was sent home twice this month from the Léo Lagrange high school in the eastern town of Charleville-Mézières. An education official, Patrice Dutot, said she had not been expelled or suspended: "She was asked to come back with neutral clothing and it seems her father did not want the pupil to return to school." The girl herself said that her skirt was "nothing special, it's very simple, there's nothing conspicuous. There's no religious sign at all."

Five beheaded in Saudi Arabia for Indian's murder

Jeddah: Five people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia for killing an Indian during an armed robbery, the interior ministry announced. The convicts - two from Yemen and one each from Chad, Eritrea and Sudan were executed in the western coastal city of Jeddah, the ministry said. No further details of the case were provided, other than that the armed robbery took place in a store. The kingdom executed 87 people in 2014, according to rights group Amnesty International. Over 70 people have already been put to death this year.

Murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable with death. Saudi Arabia is among the five countries that execute most people in the world, according to Amnesty's 2014 global report.

3 Indians plead guilty to student visa fraud charges in US

New York: Three Indians have pleaded guilty to criminal charges of conspiring to commit student visa and financial aid fraud through a for-profit school they ran and agreed to forfeit over $8 million to US authorities. Suresh Hiranandaney, 61, Lalit Chabria, 54, and Anita Chabria, 50, were arrested in May 2014, along with co-defendants Samir Hiranandaney and Seema Shah following a long-term investigation by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations. Hiranandaney and Chabria pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit student visa fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit student financial aid fraud. Each faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and will be sentenced in September this year.

In Brief

Italian ships rescue nearly 6,800 migrants

Rome: A baby girl was born aboard a rescue boat in the Mediterranean Sea as Italian Coast Guard and Navy ships bring migrants by the thousands to the country's southern ports. In the three-day period ending Sunday, 6,771 survivors were rescued at sea north of Libya from overcrowded rubber dinghies and unseaworthy fishing boats used by Libya-based smugglers. Ten bodies were found on boats or in the sea. Calm seas and mild temperatures brought the spike in arrivals. The relentless flood of migrants this year is on track to surpass the 170,000 rescued at sea by Italy in 2014. The Navy said a woman, in labour when rescued, gave birth aboard a patrol ship.

Saudi-led aerial campaign leaves bloody stalemate in Yemen

Dubai: A month of Saudi-led air strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen has failed to bring a decisive victory in a conflict that is becoming a bloody stalemate. Saudi Arabia launched its aerial campaign in March after the Houthis, a Zaydi Shia militia, closed in on the southern city of Aden where Abd Rabbu Hadi, the ousted president, was sheltering. Hadi then fled the country. Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the Saudi king, and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, his defence minister son, were confident a coalition of anti-Houthi forces would form quickly behind Hadi in the largely Sunni south and central territories, bringing the rebels to a standstill. The campaign has achieved some of its aims, destroying long-range ballistic missiles that threatened Saudi Arabia, preventing the Houthis and their allies from asserting control over all of Yemen and giving opposition groups in southern and central provinces operational space.

Taliban, Afghan negotiators fail to agree on ceasefire

Qatar/Peshawar: Taliban representatives met with Afghan political figures in Qatar on Sunday, and one participant said the two sides discussed a possible ceasefire but ultimately disagreed over the continued presence of US troops in the country. The United States and Pakistan, long-regarded by critics as sympathetic to the Afghan Taliban, both welcomed the closed-door talks aimed at ending an insurgency that has raged in Afghanistan since US-backed forces drove the Taliban from power in 2001. The informal talks, hosted by Qatar's foreign ministry, came as fighting escalated after the withdrawal of most US and allied troops. The Taliban recently launched an offensive in northern Afghanistan that brought its fighters to the outskirts of Kunduz city, a provincial capital.

Indians in US cross $100,000 median income

Washington: A snapshot released by the US Census Bureau last week reveals that the median household income for Indian-Americans has crossed the $100,000 per annum milestone, the highest for any ethnic group, including white, native-born Americans.

In fact, the groundbreaking figure was crossed almost two years ago in 2013 but came to light only recently when the US Census Bureau put it out as part of the Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month which is celebrated in May. According to the bureau, the median income of households headed by the Asian population in 2013 was $72,472, much higher then than national median income of around $51,000.

Even among AsianAmericans, IndianAmericans racked it up at $100,547, almost double the national median income, and significantly more than even white, non-Hispanic Americans whose median income is approximately $57,000.

Indian-Americans also earn more than other South Asian groups such as Pakistani-Americans ($63,000) and Bangladeshi-Americans ($51,000).

In contrast to the high-earning groups, the median income of BlackAmerican households was $33,321 and that of Hispanic households was $39,005.

WORLD

United Nations: A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) committee has assured India that it would take up the issue of Mumbai terror attack mastermind Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi's release at its next meeting, after India expressed concern that his release from a Pakistani jail violates the provisions of the global body.

India's ambassador to the UN Asoke Mukerji had written a letter to the chair of the UNSC al-Qaida sanctions committee ambassador Jim McLay expressing concern over Lakhvi's release, pointing out that as a listed terrorist, Lakhvi can neither receive or give money since all his assets and financial resources have to be frozen. Any bail money posted for Lakhvi is also a violation of the provisions of the committee.

Acknowledging India's concerns, McLay has assured that the matter would be discussed at the panel's next meeting, UN sources said. The next

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Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi meet is expected to take place in the next few days.

The panel had listed Lakhvi in December 2008 as a terrorist associated with LeT and al-Qaida for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts of activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of both entities.”

As a listed terrorist, Lakhvi is subject to freezing of assets, ban on travel and an arms embargo. The committee said that as chief of operations and military commander of LeT, Lakhvi has directed its operations, including in Iraq and South-East Asia.

“In past years, Lakhvi has

played an important role in LeT fund raising activities, receiving donations from al Qaida affiliates on behalf of LeT. He has also managed a training camp in Afghanistan,” according to the committee website.

Lakhvi's release had also raised concerns in the US, UK, Russia, France and Germany .

Lakhvi is 'innocent': Hafiz Saeed Claiming that Lakhvi is innocent, chief of banned Jamaat-ud-Dawa Hafiz Saeed said India was trying to put pressure on Pakistan through the UN and the US to punish him for the 2008 Mumbai attack.

"India has no evidence against Lakhvi. Out of desperation it has contacted the United Nations and the US to pressure the Pakistani government to give punishment to Lakhvi.

India and the UN have no right to intervene in the judicial system of Pakistan.

India had never accepted the decisions of the Pakistani courts in the past," he said.

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23

Will discuss Lakhvi's release, UNSC panel assures India

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INDIA

TRS chief vows to turn Telangana into a golden state

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao vowed to turn the newlycreated Telangana into a golden state by implementing more welfare and development schemes in four years. Addressing the plenary of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) recently, he said the welfare of all weaker sections, who constitute an overwhelming majority of the state, was the objective of his government.

Rao reiterated that TRS will not seek votes in the next elections if it failed it supply drinking

K Chandrasekhar Rao water to every house. He also promised to complete all pending irrigation projects in four years. He assured the working class that the government would stand by them and also promised all help to

New Delhi: The Central government categorically told Tamil Nadu fishermen not to fish in Sri Lankan waters by crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).

India's minister of external affairs Sushma Swaraj told fishermen's leaders who met her in New Delhi that it was time the Indian fishermen stopped fishing on the Sri Lankan side.

“We explained to her that if we do not fish across the boundary line, we cannot make our ends meet. We have invested heavily in our trawlers and fishing nets,” said P Sesu Raja, leader of a Rameswaram-based mechanised boat fishermen’s association, who was part of the 22-member delegation.

However, Swaraj is said to have “categorically” stated that negotiating

the release of arrested fishermen with the island nation was getting increasingly difficult, as Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen were badly hit by excessive trawling.

In response, the fisher leaders asked the Centre to take their trawlers and compensate them. “It was New Delhi that encouraged our fishermen to start using trawlers and now they want us to give up the practice,” Raja said.

Strain on ties: The Palk Bay conflict has also proved a strain on IndoLanka ties. “The Minister said Sri Lanka may not release our arrested fishermen easily if we continue to fish in their waters,” Raja said. New Delhi is mulling over deep sea fishing as an alternative, but fisher leaders said the shift would require huge investment and training.

Moga (Punjab): The last rites of a teenage girl who was raped and thrown out of a bus owned by Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, was performed by her parents on Sunday, a day after Moga town was to shut down in protest against her gruesome killing.

The 13-year-old girl's family and the Punjab police held day-long meeting trying to contain the political damage to the Badals after the teen's father, Sukhdev Singh, had rejected the Rs 2000,000 compensation offer by the SAD government, and refused an autopsy unless Sukhbir was booked under charges amounting to death due to negligence.

The compensation amount was revised to Rs 2400,000 and a government statement said the amount would be given by Sukhbir's firm, Orbit Aviation. News agencies reported Sukhdev, who

works as a class four employee in a private firm, would also get a government job.

The cremation took place under the watch of more than 4,000 cops, even as villagers and Opposition leaders, who had gathered there, attacked the government for resorting to coercive tactics.

Another woman allegedly molested: Days after the Moga bus molestation case, another woman was allegedly molested on board a bus in Punjab. The driver and conductor of a private bus were arrested after a woman alleged that she had been molested by a passenger near Punjab's Khanna town. In her complaint to the police, the woman alleged that a fellow passenger sat next to her and started touching her. When she protested, he moved to a seat behind her but continued to pass lewd comments.

farmers, whose crops were damaged due to unseasonal rains.

At the plenary, the first after TRS came to power in the newly created state in June last year, Rao highlighted the achievements of his government, especially its success in overcoming electricity shortage, ongoing programmes like Mission Kakatiya to revive lakes, Water Grid to supply water to every household, social security pensions for different sections of people and waiver of farm loans.

Rao, who was re-elected unopposed as TRS

chief for the eighth consecutive term, said Telangana state became a reality because of the efforts and sacrifices made by the party workers.

He said the workers suffered humiliation and the blows of police 'lathis' during the movement for separate state. Rao, who floated TRS in 2001 to intensify the Telangana movement, addressed over 35,000 delegates who had come from 10 districts of the state. This was the biggest gathering of the party since it formed first government in the new state.

Hyderabad: Over 20 mountaineers from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana were rescued by Chinese Mountaineering Association (CMA) from Everest base camp, where they had been stranded fol-

lowing the Nepal earthquake. Nalgonda resident Shekhar Babu-led climbers planned to scale the world's highest mountain from dangerous North Col. They had stayed put at the camp as avalanches triggered by the earthquake had blocked the highway connecting Nepal and

China. A representative from Hyderabad's Transcend Adventures had organised the expedition.

As posted on the adventure club's Facebook wall, Nima Tsering, vice-chairman, CMA, visited the base camp and told the climbers that they would be taken down, much to the relief of team leader Shekhar Babu and his boys. Tsering also carried some good news with him, which brought some cheer and relief to the mountaineers who pay huge sums to plan a trip to Everest. The CMA said the registration fee of the climbers for this year would hold good for the next three years.

"We are grateful for this gesture," said Prithvi Raj, a representative from the adventure club.

New Delhi: A Canadabased Indian girl fell in love with an auto driver of Punjab and fled her parents' home to get married to her lover in India. But her life was cut short when her mother hired contract killers who murdered her a year after she her marriage.

Unable to digest the fact that her educated daughter had married an auto driver, Malkiat Kaur and her brother gave contract to kill her in 2,000.

They hired killers with the help of a Punjab Police officer who managed things for them on their instructions from Canada.

Fifteen years later, the Supreme Court convicted the three killers and the police officer and sentenced them to life imprisonment for the murder.

The police have not been able to nab the mother and her brother who have been declared proclaimed

offenders.

Jaswinder Kaur, living with her parents in Canada, fell in love with auto driver Sukhwinder while on a trip to India.

She got married in court on April 15, 1999 against the wishes of her parents and her maternal uncle.

She thereafter went to Canada. Her mother then faxed a complaint to Punjab police against Sukhwinder with the forged signature of her daughter and an FIR was lodged by the accomplice police officer against the auto driver for illegally confining Jaswinder.

After knowing that a false FIR had been filed against her husband, Jaswinder came back to India and told the police that she married out of her own will and she had not faxed the complaint. She refused to go to Canada and started living with her husband.

TN fishermen told not Chinese team rescues to fish in Lankan waters Andhra, Telangana mountaineers

Rape victim cremated after five days

4 get life term for murder of Canadabased Indian girl

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South Brief

Jayalalithaa case: Acharya back as SPP

Bengaluru: Senior Counsel and former State Advocate General B V Acharya is back as the special public prosecutor (SPP) in the disproportionate assets case against AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa.

Karnataka government issued notification in this regards after the Supreme Court declared that Tamil Nadu government had no right to appoint SPP in the case since transfer of the case to Karnataka. The Apex Court had earlier declared as unauthorised the Tamil Nadu’s action of appointing G Bhavani Singh as SPP and had asked State of Karnataka to file written statement in the appeals filed by Jayalalitha before the High Court questioning her conviction in the case. The Supreme Court had also asked the High Court to ignore the statement filed by Singh.

Gurgaon mothers offer to help 2 orphaned children of Telangana

Medak (Telangana): After the plight of two minor orphaned children in Telangana's Medak was highlighted by media, the state government has stepped in, announcing an "immediate" compensation of Rs 100,000 for the family. The children were forced to work as daily wage labourers after their father committed suicide leaving behind a debt of Rs 300,000. Now a group of 60 women, who call themselves "Gurgaon Moms", has offered to help the family by contributing Rs 5,000 each, which would effectively help clear the entire debt of Rs 300,000 each.

Student hospitalised after bear attack

Ooty (Tamil Nadu): A student suffered serious injuries after bear attacked him in Ooty in Tamil Nadu.

The student, who is doing Bachelor of Business Management, was attacked by the bear while he was returning home after attending a festival near Pandalur. Arun Kumar and his friends had gone to attend a temple festival in Gudalur-Cherambadi, around 70 km from Ooty. While returning, two bears chased them and started attacking, police said.

Though his friends managed to escape, one bear attacked Arun, which resulted in injuries on legs and back. As the bears were scared away by the friends, some villagers took and admitted Arun in a government hospital in Pandalur, they said.

North Brief

Haryana IAS officer arrested for plotting murder of his friend

Chandigarh: Suspended Haryana cadre IAS officer Sanjiv Kumar has been arrested by the Delhi police for allegedly conspiring to murder a businessman based in the national capital. Kumar, a 1985 batch officer, along with former Haryana chief minister, Om Prakash Chautala, his MLA son, Ajay Chautala and 53 others was earlier convicted by a Delhi court for illegally recruiting 3,206 junior teachers and was out on parole.

The IAS officer was arrested after the police learnt about the alleged murder plot he was hatching with the help of a contract killer after a property dispute with his friend. Kumar was arrested along with alleged gangsters Shoukat Pasha and two shooters Taufiq and Manna.

Rahul takes train to Punjab, meets farmers in mandi

Sirhind (Punjab): Rahul Gandhi last week travelled by train to the grain bowl Punjab and met farmers to see their condition "with my own eyes". Rahul reached Ambala in Haryana bordering Punjab in Sachkhand Express before he drove down to the local Anaj Mandi in Fategarh Sahib district. "I have been told that the situation is very bad. So I want to see it with my own eyes. Asked to respond to the criticism that his visit to Punjab was a "drama" and was political, Gandhi shot back," What do they want to make everything nonpolitical?"

Ramdev declines Haryana govt offer

New Delhi: Yoga guru Ramdev, who has been appointed Haryana's brand ambassador to promote yoga and ayurveda, declined the state government's offer to have the status of a cabinet minister. "I am a sanyaasi, service to humanity is my only objective. I am not looking for any ministerial position or status," Ramdev said. Ramdev made the announcement at a function organized by the Haryana government in Rai recently, to honour him. "For your decision to bestow me with this honour, I thank you (Haryana govt) profusely, but I want to humbly state that I want to serve you by remaining a 'baba' and a 'fakir'. What you have given, I want to thank you for that but very respectfully I want to hand it back to you," Ramdev said.

WORLD - INDIA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

25

Kashmiri Pandits organise rally in Delhi to oppose govt's resettlement proposal

Over 7,000 Kashmiri Pandits (KPs) joined in a demonstration at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi on last Sunday to protest against the Central government’s latest proposal to resettle them in Kashmir in different clusters and in mixed localities.

Thousands of KPs – men, women and children – assembled at Jantar Mantar to put across their message to the government loud and clear: that they will return to Kashmir but not on terms dictated by separatists who drove them out from their homes and hearths. They say they are the state subjects of J&K and free citizens of India and it is they who will decide as to when, where and how they may want to return.

At the onset of the armed Islamist insurgency in 1989-90, Kashmiri Pandits were targeted in hundreds. Men were murdered en masse and hundreds of women were brutally raped. In a clear attempt to ethnically cleanse an entire community of over 3,50,000 KPs, they were forced to flee their homes. Most of their properties were either destroyed or occupied, and usurped. Over 10,000 KP

homes and 400 temples were destroyed by terrorists and Jihadis who relentlessly targeted the community.

Even after their mass exodus in 1990, Pandits became targets of orchestrated massacres. That is why it is important today that they feel secure when they return to the Valley and their views taken into cognizance.

Through their gathering, Kashmiri Pandits urge the Central government, as a vital prerequisite to its plan to enable their return, to order a trial for all the heinous crimes committed against the community at the hands of Islamist extremists, who still remain unpunished. Their particular demand is to reopen the cases against JKLF terrorist Farooq Ahmed Dar (alias Bitta Karate). KPs demands this as a critical confidencebuilding measure for the community. They want

Bitta Karate to be put on trial immediately for his confessed killings of more than 20 Kashmiri Pandits.

It is a sad reality that no FIRs have been filed in over 80% of the cases of killings of KPs. Even to this day, the community is awaiting justice because not even one has been punished for the killings of KPs. Manoj Bhan, general secretary JKVM and one of the main organisers, said that government should speak to KP's first before making any plan to rehabilitate them in Valley. A commission should be set up to probe the genocide of KPS from 1986.

The three key take aways from this rally were: 1. Kashmiri Pandits unani-

South Indian Actor, Sunder Ramu lets women pay on dates

South Indian actor and photographer, Sunder Ramu has been criticised for being a philanderer and has been termed as a playboy. However, he states that he is only trying to make a difference by going out on dates with different women daily and having them pay for the date. Sunder Ramu goes on to state that despite what the critics have claimed, he is not in search of a relationship, nor is he looking for a one night stand. He feels appalled by the gender inequality in India, where casual dating may still be seen as a taboo. He has been angered by the

Date 15: Actor Sunder Ramu with his oldest date, Alamelu (105)

Sundar Ramu sponsored two meals for children at an orphanage this year

recent sexual related crimes which have taken place in India against women and he believes he is trying to empower women. “I want people to

Sunder Ramu with the children at an orphanage where he used the money he saved on his own food to buy them meals

start celebrating women…

I hope men and women start interacting with each other without all the taboos. I'm hoping a lot of people replicate this

everywhere - sharing meals with random strangers.”

His dates have ranged between the ages of 21 to 105. He lets them ask him

out, choose the venue as well as the food he will eat. He then posted pictures of his dates on his Facebook page and writes reviews.

His oldest date was 105-year-old Alamelu, who had not set foot out of her home for 13 years.

Ramu drove nine hours to Alamelu’s village and took her to pray at a temple and watch the sunset. Sundar wrote about their date, “Our conversation ranged from the manners of British gentlemen in her youth to the effects of cell phones on relationships, and from politics in the state to her undying Titanic love for her man Thirumeni, who passed away 22 years ago.”

It is said that the money he saves on his on food from these dates goes towards the meals of underprivileged children, the elderly as well as animals in in shelters. He has sponsored two meals for children at an Indian orphanage this year as well. Ramu has so far date 100 different women in 2015. He concluded, “I've started making a small difference somewhere. I genuinely wasn't trying to be a hero, but common people can make a difference too you don't need to be in power to be empowered.”

mously reject the latest proposal of the Central government for their rehabilitation in mixed townships. The community is united in the demand that they will not return to the Valley until the terms are arrived at in consultation with them. Governments, both at the state and Centre, must speak to the community leaders before formulating any plan for their return.

2. State government must reopen prosecution cases against all those who were involved in the killings of Kashmiri Pandits.

3. Government of India must institute a commission of inquiry to pinpoint the responsibility for the genocide of KPs that led to their exodus from Kashmir.

Among the many organisations and individuals participating, key organisations involved were: Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch, All India Kashmiri Samaj, Panun

Kashmir and Roots in Kashmir.

Parikshit Koul, senior organiser, said whole Kashmir is ours and we will go back with our conditions and terms. Nobody can dictate terms with them. Col Ten Tikoo, vice president AIKS, said and requested the Central Government to reopen all the cases of genocide with KPs. While thousands travelled from across India to be part of this demonstration, international Kashmiri Hindu community supported the initiative on social media. Lakshmi Kaul, founder of Kashmiri Pandits Cultural Society UK and her team members tirelessly carried out the social media campaign to add strength to the initiative. Anupama Handoo, leading the social media campaign from KPCS, UK said, "It was a great team effort and a true demonstration of our unity and one voice."

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INDIA

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Modi joins Chinese Chandro Tomar, 78-year -old social media Indian professional sharpshooter platform Weibo

Chandro Tomar

Meet Chandro Tomar, the 78-year-old Indian grandmother, who is believed to be the world's oldest professional sharpshooter.

She has won over 25 national championships across India as well as raising six children and 15 grandchildren. She said: “I wanted to do something useful with my life and show people my capabilities. As soon as I shot my first pistol I was hooked.

And now I’ve shown everyone there’s no disadvantages to my age. If you’re focused you can do anything.”

Almost 10 years ago Chandro took her granddaughter to a local firing

Chandro takes aim at the local firing range

range in Johri village, in Uttar Pradesh. She wanted to learn a new skill but was too shy to go alone. In the end it was Chandro who was welcomed into the club with open arms.

“As I was waiting around I decided to have a go. The coach spotted me and was amazed at my aim. He told me to come back so I did.

Initially I was just supporting my granddaughter but I enjoyed it so much it became a passion and I looked forward to going to the club every week,” she said. While doing her daily chores on her farm and raising her family,

Chandro practised her aim using stones and throwing them at water bottles.

The club’s coach Farooq Pathan said: “I was surprised when I saw a pensioner in our group but she picked it up pretty quickly. She was so good some of the men stopped turning up altogether to avoid being humiliated by her, a old woman. She has the ultimate skill, a steady hand and a sharp eye.”

And now she has even won a gold medal at the Veteran Shooting Championship in Chennai.

Her biggest fan is her

Chandro at home with her many medals and awards

daughter Seema, who is also an international shooting star becoming the first Indian woman to win a medal at the Rifle and Pistol World Cup. “She is amazing and showed us that anything is possible. Chandro has helped many of us improve our lives. Many members of the club even find jobs with the military and police force because of her encouragement,” Seema said.

Medals or no medals, life at home never changes for Chandro and she still cooks, cleans and cares for her family.

Search over, Nepal asks foreign teams to leave

Continued from page 1 teams with a total strength of 4,050 personnel and 129 canines were involved in search-and-rescue operations across Nepal, including 962 from India, 370 from China, 286 from Israel, 140 from Sri Lanka and 106 from Singapore.

“The teams saved 16 lives together with the Nepal Police and Nepalese Armed Forces,” Dhakal said. “Their main task was in the Kathmandu Valley and the urban areas since large structures require certain specialization. We are capable of retrieving the bodies from beneath smaller structures such as huts,” he said. Almost 50 per cent of the foreign personnel, he said, were expected to leave soon and the operations would be wrapped up

by Friday.

According to the Home Ministry, the count of the dead until Monday stood at 7,557 while 14,366 people were injured, and 6,085 under treatment. “It was predicted that the death toll could reach 10,000. We have information about bodies buried in remote areas, so we might reach that figure,” Dhakal said.

As many as 54 foreigners died in the earthquake, while 52 were injured and 109 missing.

The Nepal government has decided to set up a Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Fund, hoping to collect $2 billion. It has transferred $2 million as seed money. The government estimates that reconstruction could cost around NPR 200 billion.

Foreign Affairs Minister

Mahendra Bahadur Pandey discussed the issue with heads of diplomatic missions based in Nepal but gave no date on when it would start.

Pandey said utilization of funds would be transparent and open to audit. “The international community will have no reason to worry about it not reaching the targeted people.” He asked diplomats to make specific commitments on how best they could contribute to the reconstruction effort. “We know you have all the right gestures

for us. But a specific commitment will help us draw a plan for time-bound execution,” he said.

About 100 bodies found in trekking village Nepal police and local volunteers found the bodies of about 100 trekkers and villagers buried in an avalanche and were digging through snow and ice for signs of dozens more missing, officials said.

The bodies were recovered on Saturday and Sunday at the Langtang village, 60 km north of Kathmandu, which is on a

trekking route popular with Westerners. The entire village, which includes 55 guest houses for trekkers, was wiped out by the avalanche, officials said.

"Local volunteers and police personnel are digging through six-feet (deep) snow with shovels looking for more bodies," said Gautam Rimal, assistant chief district officer in the area where Langtang is located. The dead include at least 7 foreigners but only two had been identified, he said.

India evacuates 170 foreigners India has evacuated 170 people of 15 countries including the US, the UK, Russia and Germany. The foreign evacuees include four people from Brazil, 20 from Czech Republic, five from France, eight from Germany, 33 from Poland, two each from Russia and South Africa, 71 from Spain, one from Switzerland, four from Tanzania, three from the UK, five from Ukraine and 10 from the US.

Narendra Modi

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi began directly communicating with Chinese people on Monday after opening an account on Weibo, the Twitter-like social media platform in China. The move came just about 10 days before his scheduled visit to China.

"Hello China! Looking forward to interacting with Chinese friends through Weibo," Modi said in his first post. He followed it up with another post greeting people on the occasion of Budh Purnima.

The new account started attracting new followers rapidly and built up a following of over 26,442 by late evening. This is very significant because there was no advance publicity about Modi's arrival on Weibo.

Observers said Modi's following might cross 200,000 by the time he begins the tour at the expected date of May 14.

This is entirely feasible because millions of Chinese are on Weibo at any given time, and they are given to retweeting posts all the time.

This will give Modi a strong platform to convey his ideas about IndiaChina friendship particularly among the Chinese youth. Modi's second post contained a strong message of peace.

"I wish everyone happiness on Buddha's birthday. Today we remember Buddha ideals and commands. He preached the ideas of harmony and brotherhood and had a vision of a peaceful world.

Buddism is a unifying force across Asian countries. It can be one form of strong cohesion as the world enters the Asian era".

Buddism has seen a strong revival in China in recent years. Modi's message is expected to be widely circulated and commented upon in the coming days. Several foreign leaders, including British prime minister David Cameron, have their own

Weibo accounts. But this is the first time an Indian leader has arrived on the Chinese social media scene.

In a statement, the Indian Embassy said that, "This Indian Prime Minister is an avid and active user of social media for several years now".

"From sharing updates on working of the government, policy deliberations, his own thoughts, greetings and replies to wellwishers, the Indian PM's social media outreach has been lauded all over the world," it said. Modi is also using info-graphics and videos to share the various efforts of the Indian government in the past one year, it said.

Modi's 3nation tour starts from May 14

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a three-nation official visit to China, Mongolia and Republic of Korea from May 14 to May 19, ministry of external affairs announced.

In China, Modi will visit Xian, Beijing and Shanghai from May 14 to May 16 and will hold bilateral meetings with Chinese leadership, the MEA said.

He will also attend an event organized by the Indian community. Modi's official engagements in Mongolia will be on May 17. This will be the first ever visit by a Prime Minister of India to Mongolia.

On May 18 and May 19, PM will be in the Republic of Korea.

He will hold bilateral discussions with President Park Geunhye. Modi is also scheduled to meet with important business leaders in Seoul, according to MEA.

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Why you should take probiotics every day

By now you must have heard about probiotics, know that they are healthy and are wondering if you should be taking them. Before you stock up on pills, it would be helpful to understand how they work and whether your body really needs them. Inside our digestive tract, we harbor about 100 trillion bacteria – both good and bad.

Probiotics are healthy bacteria that reside in our gastrointestinal tract. You may associate the word ‘bacteria’ with something that is harmful, but it’s actually the other way round.

otics can destroy the good gut flora. When this ratio is disturbed it can cause dysfunction and digestive problems like gas, bloating, heartburn and constipation or even complicated diseases like irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s and ulcerative colitis.

Supplements

There is no way to eliminate all harmful bacteria from the environment which is why it is important to maintain a balance and boost these beneficial strains of bacteria.

"Probiotics are

tion is important to eliminate harmful bacteria.

That’s when a probiotic supplement can provide additional support. Some supplements may contain specific bacterial strains that you might not find in foods. People who suffer with regular tummy troubles and digestive problems should take supplements to boost the gut flora. Also, those who are gluten or lactose intolerant can depend on probiotic supplements and foods. You can find probiotic yogurt or milk in the markets. These products contain live active cul-

Benefits

Probiotics act like internal healers.

They keep pathogens in check, aid digestion and nutrient absorption, and balance our immune system. They regulate the movement through our intestine.

They help your body to produce vitamins, absorb minerals and aid in the elimination of toxins.

Moreover, a woman's gut flora can also influence the health of her child.

A growing body of evidence also suggests that gut bacteria may have a significant effect on brain function and mental health.

Scientists are becoming interested in probiotics as potential treatments for depression and anxiety.

Our gut bacteria are extremely vulnerable to lifestyle and environmental factors. There are a number of things that can disrupt the ratio of good and bad bacteria that exists in our body.

Certain factors like disease, stress, poor diet and overdose of antibi-

required for daily digestive functions. They help in 'gut cleaning'. Most of the food that we eat, especially processed and canned food, can destroy the healthy bacteria," says Dr Simran Saini, Nutritionist at Fortis Hospital in New Delhi.

The best way to replenish good bacteria is to add fermented foods like yogurt, picked vegetables, soy products and raw milk to your diet or anything that is non-pasteurized, as pasteurization kills both good and bad bacteria. But we can only include a very small amount of such naturally fermented foods.

Besides this, it’s hard to resort to non-pasteurized foods as pasteuriza-

Insomnia may lower your tolerance for pain Insomnia is a sleeping disorder characterized by the inability to fall asleep or stay asleep. It depends on the quality of sleep and whether you feel refreshed or drowsy on waking up, not on the number of hours you sleep.

People with insomnia may have the following symptoms – finding it hard to sleep, frequently waking up and trouble going back to sleep, waking up to early, being drowsy and tired upon waking, day sleepiness amongst others. It can not only leave you tired or fatigued, but can also make you feel depressed, irritable and anxious. Poor sleep quality can cause tension headaches, affect digestive

functions and make it difficult for a person to concentrate and focus on tasks.

A new study, published in the Journal Pain, shows that people suffering from insomnia and other sleep problems have increased sensitivity to pain. The results suggest that psychological factors may contribute to the relationship between sleep problems and pain, but they do not fully explain it.

tures that make them healthier.

Things to know

1. Probiotics are not regulated like other drugs.

There are no standardized amounts of microbes or minimum levels that we require. Therefore, be careful with the quantity, dosage and type of bacteria you ingest.

2. You may have to deal with mild side effects like gas or bloating, initially when you start taking probiotics. However, these symptoms get better over time. Try decreasing your dose or take it on alternate days.

3. Probiotics may not be safe for everyone, especially those who have

intestinal disease, HIV, cancer, weak immune system, or excessive bacteria in the intestines. Check with your doctor first.

4. Different types of bacteria have different benefits. The two most common types of probiotics found in the market are Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria. If you are looking to prevent or treat a specific health concern consult your doctor to help you select the microorganism needed.

5. Health experts suggest that we take probiotics when following antibiotic course. Antibiotics may cause collateral damage to the good bacteria and can cause antibiotic-associated diarrhea. For this reason, it is advisable to take probiotic supplements during your treatment with an antibiotic medication.

6. Probiotics are beneficial only if the microorganisms are alive.

Probiotics are living creatures or at least freezedried so that they can come back to life once consumed. If you decide to use it in powdered form, do not mix it in warm water unless it indicates so. Check for expiry dates. For refrigerated products, make sure you store them in the refrigerator till you consume it.

7. Different manufacturers may instruct you to take probiotics at different times. A study published in the journal 'Beneficial Microbes suggests that the bacteria in the supplements may survive much better when taken with or 30 minutes before a meal.

The dietary fat tends to improve survival of the bacteria. Moreover, consuming it with milk is more effective than taking it with water or juice.

Drinking water could cut risk of Diabetes 2 Study suggests replacing soft drinks and sweetened milky drinks with water or unsweetened tea or coffee is practical way to reduce rising incidence of disease.

Forgoing a sugary drink a day and drinking water or unsweetened tea or coffee instead could cut the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by up to a quarter, say researchers.

The research was based on a study of a week’s food diary compiled by 25,000 men and women aged 40 to 79 in Norfolk, England, more than a decade ago.

During 11 years of follow-up, 847 of those who completed the diaries were diagnosed with new-onset type 2 diabetes, a condition seen as an increasing risk

to the public health of an ageing population, increasing the likelihood of heart disease, stroke and nerve damage. More than 3 million people in the UK are thought to have diabetes which is linked to obesity, lack of exercise and poor diet.

The study published in Diabetologia, the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, looked at whether people drank fizzy drinks and squashes, sweetened-milk drinks such as milkshakes, flavoured milks and hot chocolate, sweetened tea or coffee, or artificially sweetened drinks and fruit juice, and found that nearly all participants consumed at least one.

Humble turmeric could help treat oral cancers Turmeric - a familiar yellow spice common in Indian cooking - may help treat oral cancers caused by a virus, researchers, including one of Indianorigin, claim. One of the herb's key active ingredients - an antioxidant called curcumin - appears to have a quelling effect on the activity of human papillomavirus (HPV), researchers said.

HPV is a virus that promotes the development of cervical and oral cancer.

There is no cure, but curcumin may offer a means of future control, they said. "Turmeric has established antiviral and anticancer properties," said corresponding author Dr Alok Mishra of Emory University, Atlanta, US. "And according to our new findings, we could say that it is good for oral health too," he said.

Mishra's research group first noted the effect of curcumin on HPV and cervical cancer cells in 2005. The antioxidant

slowed the expression of HPV, suggesting that curcumin could control the extent of HPV infection.

"Since HPV-related oral cancer cases are on rise, we tested the same hypothesis on oral cancer," Mishra said. "They turned out to be some very interesting findings," he said.

The new research indicates that curcumin turns down the expression of HPV in infected oral cancer cells by downregulating the levels of cellular transcription factors AP-1 and NF-kB. These findings could suggest a new therapeutic role for curcumin in cancer control, researchers said.

Walk for two minutes every hour, suggest experts

Walking is the easiest way to remain fit and active.

You may think it is underrated as a form of exercise, not more. Regular walking can reduce stress levels, prevent memory decline, boost heart health and add more years to your life.

A new study led by an Indian-origin researcher and published in the Journal Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology shows that walking for just two minutes every hour can offset the health hazards of sitting for long periods of time.

Scientists and health experts both agree that sitting for long hours can

drastically harm your health.

Studies have shown that it can trigger chronic ailments like heart disease and even cancer.

These findings indicate that a "trade-off" of sitting for light intensity activities for two minutes each hour is associated with a 33 percent lower risk of dying.

Researchers examined 3,243 participants to see whether longer durations of low intensity activities (e.g. standing), and light intensity activities (e.g. casual walking, light gardening, cleaning) extends the life span of people who are sedentary for more than half of their waking hours.

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Jiiva and Nayanthara again J iiva and Nayanthara are coming together for a film now after their “Jhananathan” film. The talented duo will be teaming up for “Thirunaal” to be direted

by S P Ramnath and produced by Kodhandapani films. It is reported that Jiiva will be donning a village hero

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in this film which is said to have humor, romance and action in right proportions.

“Thirunaal” will go on floors from May in Kumbakonam where a massive set is being erected to shoot sequences.

Mahesh Muthusamy is the cinematographer and Sri is the music director.

Dhanush is Maniratnam's next hero

aniratnam has overjoyed by the huge reception received to his latest film “OK Kanmani,” but the classic filmmaker is not sitting back to enjoy it and has already kick started the ground work for his next project. Maniratnam speaking to a Bollywood media house confirmed that his next film will be a bilingual in Hindi and Tamil and will feature current heartthrob

Dhanush as the hero.

Dhanush has been unanimously accepted by the Hindi audience and there is no need to talk about his popularity down south.

Maniratnam has given super hits like 'Roja', ‘Bombay’, ‘Dil Se’ and ‘Guru’ in Hindi. The coming together of the legendary director and the Mass hero has created a huge buzz among fans and industry trade circles.

“Piku” is an upcoming Bollywood comedy-drama film directed by Shoojit Sircar.

Deepika Padukone portrays the titular protagonist, a Bengali architect living in New Delhi, and Amitabh Bachchan plays her ageing father. The film explores the dynamics of their relationship as they take a road trip to Kolkata. Irrfan Khan, Moushumi Chatterjee and Jishu Sengupta portray supporting roles.

imbu has quite a number of interesting projects lined up in his kitty – “Vaalu,” “Idhu Namma Aalu” with Pandiraj, “Acham E n b a t h u Madamaiyada” with Gautham Menon and also the upcoming Selvaraghavan untitled directorial.

Trisha would be pairing up with Simbu for this Selvaraghavan film, alongside Taapsee and Jagapathi Babu. The team kickstarted the proceedings with a live-

ly photoshoot. It was learnt that the photoshoot was in a gangstertype theme, and it would be interesting to note if the core script also would be along the lines of this photoshoot theme. Simbu, Trisha, Jagapathi Babu and Taapsee were all involved in this interesting photo session.

Trisha was said to be beaming with beauty in a professional costume, while Taapsee was reportedly seen in a tank top.

'OK Kanmani' betters 'Yennai Arindhaal's' collections A

s reported earlier, “OK Kanmani” is being given a huge welcome in overseas markets such as the US, UK and Australia.

In USA, the film has reportedly crossed the coveted 0.5 million USD gross mark and has entered the all-time Top 10 among Tamil films. Recently “Yennai Arindhaal” grossed a similar amount and now it has been

'Piku'

A gangster set up for Simbu & Trisha?

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'Kuch Kuch Locha Hai'

“Kuch Kuch Locha Hai,” previously titled Patel Rap is an upcoming Bollywood comedy movie directed by Devang Dholakia starring Sunny Leone, Ram Kapoor, Evelyn Sharma and Navdeep Chabbra in lead roles.

Described as a sexy comedy, Navdeep Chabbra will debut with this film and will play the son of Kapoor and the love interest of Evelyn Sharma. The trailer of the film was released on 31 March 2015 and received a million views in 2 days.

pushed down by “OK Kanmani.” This year, 'I' has by far performed the best in the US and now “OKK” has pushed down 'I' in the 2nd place. The to-date US gross of “OK Kanmani” is reported to be 520,084 USD (Rs 32.9 million) and the 2nd weekend is also expected to be great due to the regular inflow of crowd to theatres even on the weekdays.

Aishwarya’s ‘Jazbaa’ to be showcased at Cannes

Irrfan wants to work again with Big B

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ormer Miss World Aishwarya Rai is making a comeback to the silver screen with Sanjay Gupta’s “Jazbaa,” which has already gone on floors. The much-awaited movie will now be showcased at the Cannes Film Festival 2015, where Aishwarya is a regular feature at the red carpet. Director Sanjay Gupta took to Twitter to share this piece of news. Sanjay Gupta has edited the movie with famous editor Bunty Negi to be showcased at the French Riviera. Aishwarya is said to be playing a lawyer in the movie, opposite Irrfan Khan, who plays a suspended cop. Also starring Shabana Azmi, Anupam Kher and Siddhanth Kapoor, “Jazbaa” is scheduled to hit theatres on October 9. Cannes 2015 begins on May 13 and carries on till May 24.

ollywood actor Irrfan Khan, who got an opportunity to work with Amitabh Bachchan in “Piku,” says they share a "memorable chemistry" in the film and that he'd love to again work with the megastar. "The chemistry between Bachchan sahab and me in the film has been very memorable and I would want to work with him again," Irrfan said. He was all praise of the megastar's performance in the Shoojit Sircar directorial, and added: "In this film, you (audience) will see him in a totally new avatar. The way he has moulded himself in this film, is very endearing and admirable." The film also features Deepika Padukone.

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Katrina to make debut at Cannes film gala

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ollywood actress Katrina Kaif will grace the red carpet at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival as the ambassador of cosmetic brand L'Oréal Paris. She says she can't wait to join the other global ambassadors, which also include Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor.

L'Oréal Paris will celebrate 18 years of its partnership as the official makeup partner for Festival De Cannes, and it promises an exciting line-up of its spokespeople ready to walk the red carpet from May 1324. In the past, Aishwarya and Sonam have made India proud with their stunning beauty and fashion statements, and now Katrina - who has worked with top-notch stars and filmmakers in her over

decade-long acting career in Bollywood - is ready to sport a specially created look for her debut at Cannes.

"I'm very excited to represent L'Oréal Paris and India at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Being an actor, it is very inspiring to attend an event that celebrates all forms of cinema.

As a L'Oréal Paris ambassador, I can't wait to meet the other global ambassadors and help set new beauty trends for this year," Katrina said in a statement.

Sonam is happy to welcome Katrina "Katrina is a gorgeous girl who has a unique individual style that she embraces and highlights with panache. I am sure she will dazzle everyone at the French Riviera and I can't wait to meet her there. I am

glad to be representing India with two amazing L'Oréal Paris ambassadors at Cannes.

"Together we will embody the glamour, diversity, beauty and talent that define this country," said the “Khoobsurat” actress.

L'Oréal Paris calls its ambassadors 'Women of Worth' and the brand's officials are delighted to announce Katrina's debut this year. "L'Oréal Paris has played an active role in promoting cinema and catering to the event's grandeur and we're excited that our beautiful Indian ladies in their Matte or Gloss themed looks will only add to the glamour of the event," said Manashi Guha, general manager of the brand.

here is no denying the fact that most of us are interested in knowing about celebrity weddings. There are constant speculations about them in the media.

While it is exciting for us, it can sometimes become a bit too much for the celebrities.

Katrina Kaif recently said that she will let everyone know when her wedding date is fixed. When asked Ranbir, her alleged boyfriend if he agreed with Katrina, he said, "You can-

Kangana goes to school again

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angana Ranaut is busy promoting her upcoming film, “Tanu Weds Manu Returns.” And as part of the p ro m o t i o n s , the actress visited her school in Chandigarh recently.

A report stated that two of Kangana's close friends had planned a surprise reunion for the actress, and that their room was called Charlie's angels den. In a reminiscent mood, Kangana also visited the school cafeteria and spent some leisure time, concluded the report.

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Ranbir Kapoor: Yes, I am in love T

not keep your wedding private and it should not be private. We are all actors.

Wedding is always a celebration. But having said that, I must say that my wedding date has been planned six years back since the time I came into this industry. People have always being speculating about my marriage. It's a very special day so let me announce it.

As of now, I have no plans." He further added, "Yes, I am in love. I do feel responsible and have a sense of commitment. But the speculations regarding my wedding spoil the fun. You want to set a date and you want to celebrate. So I would really request that the media to stop speculating the date. I will not hide and get married because that doesn't make sense."

It remains to be seen now whether the media stops speculating about Ranbir's shaadi.

Madhuri Dixit, Terence Lewis to come together

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ased on the concept of a dance festival in Germany, Bollywood actress Madhuri Dixit and choreographer Terence Lewis have decided to come together to provide a platform for all dancers to connect through the festival “Jugnu.” The festival will flag off at NCPA, South Mumbai and later move towards St. Andrew College (Auditorium), Bandra. Talking about it, Terence mentioned that they did not want to feature on television because some of these talented performers believe that true art is on the streets. Madhuri Dixit, who too has given a nod to this concept, will be sharing her knowledge on the craft.

There are no friends in Bollywood: Karan Johar

ollywood director, producer and actor Karan Johar has been quite forthright about his views on the film industry. During the launch of the trailer of “Bombay Velvet” he was asked whether he sought the opinion of his friends in the industry about his role in the film. And his reply was frank and definite and he was not joking. He said there are no friends in this industry, there are just people and he cannot turn to anyone here for an honest assessment of one's work. People always say nice things on your face and praise you but that's that. He admitted that there existed a film fraternity but implied that there were no friends in it. He is playing a key role in the film.

Even earlier he had said in one of his TV interviews that his survival and success and relationships in the industry had largely depended on how he kept people in good humour and did not hurt their enlarged egos. He was pointing to the underbelly of Bollywood, the world of glitz and glamour and fake smiles, behind which hides the ugly reality of professional and personal rivalries, jealousies, constant bitching, and back biting. “Bombay Velvet” directed by Anurag Kashyap is releasing on 15th May 2015. The film is produced by Phantom Films and Fox Star Studios.

Mallika Sherawat likes to be a part of 'Dangal'

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allika Sherawat, who was last seen in the Bollywood film “Dirty Politics” has shown keen interest in being a part of Aamir Khan's upcoming film “Dangal.” Mallika shared a photo of an article published in a newspaper writing, "Would love to be a part of Dangal." Aamir, is apparently portraying the role of wrestler Mahavir Phogat, the father of Indian women wrestlers Geeta and Babita Kumari Phogat. According to a daily tabloid, Mallika had auditioned for the role of the wrestler sisters' mother and Aamir's wife. Recently, Fatima Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra have been finalized to portray the role of Aamir's daughters. Aamir will be seen playing a father to four daughters and the search for the other two is still in process.

Sachin faces camera for docu-feature

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avi Bhagchandka has been following Sachin Tendulkar with a camera for the last 20 months for a docufeature on the cricket legend's personal and professional life.

Besides Sachin, the film will also feature a younger actor who will be seen in the flashback sequences and will incorporate archival and real-life footage. "The film is a not a biopic," asserts the producer who has spent a lot of time filming inside Sachin's home. "We are filming and editing simultaneously as we're looking to release the film in 2016. And Sachin has been extremely candid. Now I know what he does when he wakes up in the morning, what goes on in his mind the night before a crucial match and many other lesser known facts about the legend." The film is being directed by James Erskine, a London-based writer, director and producer.

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UK

Sounds for the Soul Festival

Scores of people from all over England and beyond will once again descend in Birmingham this weekend for a round-the-clock, non-stop meditational and spiritual festival. Now in its 16th year the annual Sounds for the Soul event will begin at 2pm this Saturday (9th May)and finish on Sunday (10th May).

The lively programme will feature an opening speech by His Holiness Sacinandana Swami, live music, food and drink.

Each year this festival, organised by ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness)

Birmingham, attracts and welcomes people from all ages, backgrounds and abilities and this year will be no different.

Credit to all ISKCON volunteers but, in particular, to ardent and selfless devotee Mohan Nandi whose behind the scenes contribution to the overall choreography of this festival is extraordinary. Free admission, all welcome.

The festival will take place at the Radha Swami Rasila Satsang (RSRS) Centre, Wharf Street, Hockley, Birmingham (B18 5HS). For more information see www.iskconbirmingham.org

The second edition of JLF @ Southbank will be held in London on 16-17 May. The two-day event provides a snapshot of what has been dubbed as ‘the greatest literary show on earth’. JLF @ Southbank will feature as part of Alchemy, the Southbank Centre’s celebration of South Asian culture held from 15-25 May. The Jaipur Literature Festival started in 2006 with only 18 authors and a handful of spectators. It has since grown to become the world’s largest free literary festival attracting nearly 250,000 visitors annually.

Previous participants include Amartya Sen,

Salman Rushdie, Oprah Winfrey, Vikram Seth, Jhumpa Lahiri, Tash Aw, V.S. Naipaul, Taiye Selasi, Reza Aslan, Orhan Pamuk, Jung Chang, Jonathan Franzen and JM Coetzee. Jaipur Literature Festival directors Namita Gokhale, William Dalrymple and producer Sanjoy K. Roy have curated a weekend of talks, music and readings. This year’s line-up includes Anita Anand, Ashwin Sanghi, Lance Price, Lily Wangchuk, Meghnad Desai, Navtej Sarna, Nils Nordberg, Rajdeep Sardesai, Sam Miller, Suhel Seth, Tahmima Anam, Tara Gandhi Bhattacharjee and Vasundhara Raje.

Jaipur literature festival returns to London

Coming Events

l Hanuman Chalisa on Sunday 10th May 2015, 11am-5pm. Social Club Hall, Northwick Park Hospital, Watford Road, Harrow, HA1 3UJ Opposite Car Park 3 and 186 bus stop. Contact Prabhaben Bhagat and family: 020 8459 5758/ 07973550310 l Tushar Trivedi Production presents: Jivanlaley Jaan Jodi. Friday 15th May 2015, 7:30pm. 4A Castletown Road, West Kensington, London, W14 9HE. Contact Tushar Trivedi: 07821 131774 l Shree Bhuvneshwari Mahotsav on Sunday 10th May 2015 from 11am. Ramgarhia Sikh Community Centre, 270 Neville Road, London E7 9QN. Contact Mr. Rajnibhai & Mrs. Naliniben Patel: 01708 448259 Editor: CB Patel Associate Editor: Rupanjana Dutta Tel: 020 7749 4098 - Email: rupanjana.dutta@abplgroup.com Senior News Editor: Dhiren Katwa Freelance Correspondent: Rudy Otter Chief Operating Officer: Liji George Tel: 020 7749 4013 Email: george@abplgroup.com Chief Accountant: Akshay Desai Tel: 020 7749 4087 Email:accounts@abplgroup.com Advertising Manager: Kishor Parmar Tel: 020 7749 4095 - Mobile: 07875 229 088 Email: kishor.parmar@abplgroup.com Business Development Managers: Rovin J George - Email: rovin.george@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4097 - Mobile: 07875 229 219 Urja Patel - Email: urja.patel@abplgroup.com Sales Executive: Daxa Gami - Email: daxa.gami@abplgroup.com Tel: 020 7749 4089 - Mobile: 07875 229 111 Graphic Designers: Harish Dahya & Ajay Kumar Tel: 020 7749 4086 Email: graphics@abplgroup.com Customer Service: Ragini Nayak Tel: 020 7749 4080 - Email: support@abplgroup.com Leicester Distributors: Europe Enterprise, Raj Surani Tel: 01530 481600 (BPO) AB Publication (India) Pvt. Ltd. 207 Shalibhadra Complex, Opp. Jain Derasar, Nr. Nehru Nagar Circle, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad.

Tel. +91 79 2646 5960 Bureau Chief: Nilesh Parmar (M) +91 94266 36912

Exams to be marked in India to relieve stress off UK teachers An academic has suggested that schools in Britain should send their exams papers to be marked in India, so that it takes off the pressure from British school teachers.

A particular exam board is already using there services provided by a company in Bangalore, which marks practical skills tests in reading, mathematics and Information and Communications

Technology (ICT).

However, some headteachers have been vigilant of this idea, as they consider marking pupils' work as an essential part of a teacher's job criteria.

Financial, work, and practical matters improve.

You have a good sense for how much to invest and where.

Conditions are favorable for raises, loans, support, and taxes. Venus is illuminating your communications sector now, suggesting "busy-ness" and movement. You are exploring and searching now, making connections, and paying attention to your immediate environment.

The Sun is now transiting through your twelfth house, marking a time of retreat and regeneration. It's a time for reflection, dreaming, and recharging your batteries. Your disposition is introspective. Your career ruler Jupiter transits you solar house of communications, during this cycle, you are most charming and well-received by your work colleagues.

GEMINI May 22 - June 22

while Mercury transits the twelfth house of your solar chart, your mind is focused on private matters. This is a time when you are searching for answers. This is a good time for research, quiet contemplation and meditation. You are likely to require a certain amount of solitude in order to get your thoughts together or to be mentally productive.

CANCER Jun 22 - Jul 22

ting a number of motoring offences including driving while disqualified at Newcastle Crown Court.

Mrugesh weds Vidhi Mrugesh, son of Sangitaben and Rakeshbhai Mathuradas Madlani of Hotel Sheetal, Porbandar, will this weekend tie-the-knot to Vidhi, daughter of Minaben and C h a n d re s h b h a i Madhvani. Mrugesh and guests will travel from Porbandar, birthplace of

ARIES Mar 21 - Apr 20 The Sun highlights your second house now, and your focus is on material affairs and comfort issues. Security is a driving force for you at the moment, and you might find that you are especially interested in accumulating possessions. Venus is spending some time in desires sector in your Solar 3rd house.

Personal and social contacts will be successful.

TAURUS Apr 21 - May 21

Talented Leicester dancer escapes death at level crossing A Leicester man escaped death after taking his brother's car and being hit by train after running a red light on a level crossing.

A judge said it was amazing no-one was killed or seriously hurt in the collision.

Satwinder Singh(29), pictured, was given a suspended jail sentence and driving ban after admit-

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

Mahatma Gandhi, to Surat - a journey of almost 10 hours and 600km - this Saturday (9th May) and the ceremony will take place on Sunday (10th May).

Congratulations to the newly-weds from the team at Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar, London.

LEO Jul 23 - Aug 23

Now that Mars is opposite your solar 4th house, for you this can be a difficult period with family. Watch for passiveaggressive behavior. The Sun illuminates your career sector. This is the time when you are more interested in, and focused on, your profession. Recognition is likely to come your way and do what you feel is right.

Venus is transiting your solar eleventh house. It's a sociable sector of your chart, and that's exactly how you are feeling. There will be lots of networking going on and this will pay off in the long run. Sun graces your solar ninth house. Routine affairs simply don't seem to satisfy you. You receive pleasure from anything that expands your horizons, both physically and mentally.

VIRGO Aug 24 - Sep 23

It is a particularly favourable time for dealing with financial interests with a long-term basis, such as investments, insurance and pension schemes, legacies and all jointly held resources. There may be a certain amount of unfinished business to be dealt with. Therefore you will need to adopt a fairly flexible policy in order to accommodate the odd twists and turns of everyday life.

LIBRA Sep 24 - Oct 23

It's a great time to make improvements to your regular routines. Your ruling planet Mars is in your opposite sign of relationships. Old resentments, hurts, and angers can resurface. There can be lowered vitality due to emotional frustrations and exasperation. This is a time for learning about how your mental health impacts your life.

SCORPIO Oct 24- Nov 22

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SAGITTARIUS Nov 23 - Dec 21

Overall, you are likely to feel more introspective. It's not that you lack confidence, but you are looking for answers from within. Mercury continues to transit your opposite house. This is an excellent time for relationships, so that you can make necessary changes in your personal environment. The need to communicate, is especially strong now.

CAPRICORN Dec 22 - Jan 20

The Sun is now highlighting your solar 5th house. This is a cycle in which you seek a higher meaning to your life and do anything that broadens your mind. Venus is gracing your solar seventh house. This is a good time to Smooth out your personal relationships. If single, this is a period when you are more willing than normal to enter into a committed relationship.

AQUARIUS Jan 21 - Feb 19

Avoid lending any money unless you're entirely certain you'll get it back, or if you can take the loss. It's a good time for re-assessing your budget, and try not to spend money on big purchases. Venus graces your solar sixth house now. A good time to establish a happy and harmonious work environment through friendly relations with co-workers.

PISCES Feb 20 - Mar 20 Saturn is now retrograde in your solar 10th house, and this is likely to cause some disruptions and frustrations in your professional life. Work on coming to compromises and agreements. All Saturn retrograde cycles also affect you in the areas of home, family, security, and domestic activities because Saturn is opposite your Solar 4th house.

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

114 mile rollerblading challenge for St Luke's Hospice

Kunal Patel organised his own rollerblading challenge to help raise funds for the St Luke's Hospice.

Patel from Harrow skated from London to Brighton and back again. He started this 114 mile challenge from Thursday 30th AprilFriday 1st May 2015 and has raised over £6200.

On speaking about why he chose to get involved with St Luke's Hospice, Kunal Patel expressed, “It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact time I became involved with St Luke’s as my mother had always supported the hospice since I was a boy. She brought me up to understand that St Luke’s plays an important role in our community in helping others. The hospice means a lot to me; the time has

come for me to get involved and put my efforts into supporting the Hospice.”

Kunal Patel also encourages people to get involved in organising events or challenges to raise funds for the hospice.

He said, “You can’t go

wrong with the ‘go for it’ principle. If you want to raise funds there are many ways to go about it and the right way will come to you.

There is no harm in either trying something different or asking for support. You will not know the result unless you try.”

He feels extremely grateful for the support he has received. "I could not have done it without everyone’s support, friends, family, St Luke’s Hospice and my sponsors Lions Club of Sudbury whom have made huge efforts in helping raise funds. The amount of positive energy that everyone gave was really motivating and encouraging for myself on skates and the team on cycles. I would like to thank everyone

from the bottom of my heart whom made this challenge possible and I would like to give a special thanks to my team mates, Ricky Diaghe, Deborah Guisado , Andrew Contreras and Oliver Francis. The team was by my side the entire journey through ups and down, twists and turns, death defying roads and painful moments."

Kunal Patel will continue to raise money for St Luke’s over the next month. You can still support him by visiting http://bit.ly/1BzVU3G. If you would like to organise your own event or challenge to raise funds for St Luke's Hospice, please visit www.stlukes-hospice.org/myevent or call 020 8382 8023.

Indian youth wins chance to train with Crystal Palace's Academy

A 15-year-old from India was given a taste of the Premier League lifestyle after winning a competition to train with Crystal Palace's Academy.

Dhruvmil Pandya from Mumbai was identified as the outstanding talent among more than 350 teenagers who competed in the 'Play for Palace' trials.

"There were so many good players, but once it got down to the final eight I knew I was in with a chance," Dhruvmil said.

"This is a dream come true for me to travel to England and train with the Crystal

Dhruvmil Pandya with a club official

Palace Academy. "I hope in a few years Indians will be playing in the Premier League or at big European clubs."

Dhruvmil, who has recently been selected to represent the Indian national under-17 team,

met Palace manager Alan Pardew during his time in London and also attended Academy classes and took part in an Academy match against Millwall.

The youngster also watched Palace's Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion and was taken to Wembley to see Aston Villa upset Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final.

Play for Palace was a partnership between Crystal Palace and Indian Super League club Mumbai City FC. Premier League chief executive

Richard Scudamore is hoping to see Indian players break into the English top flight.

"The way football has taken off out there I am sure that over the next five to seven years players will come through who will be good enough to take their place in the Premier League," Scudamore said.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu became the first Indian footballer to play for a top-tier European club recently when he made his debut for Stabek FC in a Norwegian Cup tie against Runar.

Windies draw test series with England

West Indies defied the odds and a wearing pitch to complete a series-levelling five-wicket victory over England on Day 3 of the third and final Test on Sunday at Barbados. Set a daunting target of 192 after the tourists were dismissed for 123 in their second innings, a 108-run fifth-wicket partnership between Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood tilted the match decisively the Caribbean's way.

It was their first victory over England since the opening match of the 2009 series in Kingston, Jamaica. Bravo's controlled knock of 82 ended when he attempted to make the victory hit off Ben Stokes as Stuart Broad pulled down the catch at mid-off.

It was left to Blackwood to finish off the match in the next over, hoisting Moeen Ali's off-spin over long-on to complete a team and personal triumph following his first innings top score of 85 out of a total of 189.

West Indies seemed on the verge of another capitulation when veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul, who endured a poor series, played on to James Anderson without scoring

to leave the home side uncomfortably placed at 80 for four.

H o w e v e r, Blackwood capitalised on a significant moment of luck - a missed stumping by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler off Joe Root when only on four - to stay with his senior partner.Gradually they wore down the England bowlers before unfurling the attacking shots that sped the West Indies to the target that seemed beyond them at the start of the chase given the state of the pitch and the low-scoring nature of the match. Openers Kraigg Brathwaite and Shai Hope saw off the early assault from Anderson

and Broad, although not without a few anxious moments. However, the introduction of Chris Jordan into the attack brought the breakthrough that England craved as the debutant fell legbefore for nine.

In the very next over, Jordan's brilliance at slip throughout the series was again in evidence as he held on to a sharp chance to remove Brathwaite off Ali's off-spin for 25.

England had started the day brightly, putting on 51 in the first hour for the loss of just one wicket from a perilous overnight position of 39 for five.

Gary Ballance was that early casualty after England resumed in the perilous overnight position of 39 for five.

SPORT WORLD

Sunil Chhetri in UK magazine's top 500 football players

31

Indian football team striker Sunil Chhetri was named among the top 500 players in the world by a United Kingdom-based magazine 'World Soccer', placing him along with the likes of superstars Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Neymar. The 30-year-old Chhetri was described as "India's record goal scorer" while also mentioning that he did not take part in the recent Indian Super League. Besides Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar, other top footballers in the list include Real Madrid's Gareth Bale and Iker Casillas, Barcelona's Luiz Suarez and Andre Iniesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Steven Gerrard.

IPL Results from April 28 to 4 May Match 01.

Date

28 April

Teams

02.

29 April

03.

30 April

RCB v/s RR at Bangalore Cancelled

04.

01 May

05.

01 May

06.

02 May

07.

02 May

08.

03 May

09.

03 May

10.

04 May

11.

04 May

No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

CSK v/s KKR at Chennai CSK won by 2 runs Brief Scores: CSK 134/6(20) KKR 132/9(20)

CSK v/s KKR at Kolkata KKR won by 7 wickets Brief Scores: KKR 169/3(19.5) RCB 165/9(20) KXIP v/s DD at Delhi DD won by 9 wickets Brief Scores: DD 119/1(13.5) KXIP 118/8(20)

MI v/s RR at Mumbai MI won by 8 runs Brief Scores: MI 187/5(20) RR 179/7(20)

RCB v/s KKR at Bangalore RCB won by 7 wickets Brief Scores: RCB 115/3(9.4) KKR 111/4(10) SRH v/s CSK at Hyderabad SRH won by 22 runs Brief Scores: SRH 192/7(20) CSK 170/6(20) KXIP v/s MI at Mohali MI won by 23 runs Brief Scores: MI 172/3(20) KXIP 149/7(20) RR v/s DD at Mumbai RR won by 14 runs Brief Scores: RR 189/2(20) DD 175/7(20)

CSK v/s RCB at Chennai CSK won by 24 runs Brief Scores: CSK 148/9(20) RCB 124/10(19.4)

KKR v/s SRH at Kolkata KKR won by 35 runs Brief Scores: KKR 167/7(20) SRH 132/9(20)

IPL 2015 point table

IPL CSK RR KKR RCB DD SRH MI KXIP

M 10 11 10 9 9 9 9 9

W 7 6 5 4 4 4 4 2

L 3 3 4 4 5 5 5 7

T 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

NRR 0.948 0.141 0.367 0.258 -0.096 -0.132 -0.252 -1.278

Pts 14 14 11 9 8 8 8 4

32

SPORT

www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 9th May 2015

CSK win low-scoring game against Royal Challengers

After suffering two losses, Chennai Super Kings returned to the MA Chidambaram Stadium and extended their undefeated run at home this season to five games by winning a choppy contest against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The 24-run victory took Super Kings to 14 points, level with tabletoppers Rajasthan Royals with a game in hand.

Royal Challengers were left in third place on nine points, with four teams not more than a point behind them.

Batsmen from both sides struggled on a sweltering day in Chennai but when Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik were at the crease, with Royal Challengers needing 52 off 37 balls with seven wickets in hand, the visitors were favourites. They had added 63 and were cruising, when Dwayne Bravo turned the match with a stunning display of reflexes and athleticism while bowling.

Kohli had stepped out of his crease and dug a

ies and their position of strength unravelled so quickly that they were eventually dismissed for 124 in 19.4 overs.

Royal Challengers had struggled before the partnership between Kohli and Karthik too, but that was because of soft dismissals and not exceptional play from the Super Kings.

Chris Gayle's replacement, Nic Maddinson, charged at most deliveries Bravo celebrates with Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina and missed a straight full toss to be bowled; and dived in desperation yorker hard into the AB de Villiers' dangerous as the ball whizzed past ground. He then took a cameo ended when he hit him and uprooted middle couple of steps further, another full toss to midstump, with the bat inches partly because of momenoff; and Mandeep Singh short of the crease. tum and partly because he was run out attempting an The very next ball - the thought the ball was going impossible single. In purfirst of the 15th over to bounce over the bowler. suit of 149, Royal accounted for Karthik.

Bravo, however, jumped Challengers had slipped to Nehra pitched short and high during his follow 34 for 3, and their subseKarthik pulled; the shot through with his right quent recovery did not was on but the placement hand outstretched above have a happy ending. was dire. The ball flew his head to field the ball.

Super Kings' bowlers straight to Dwayne Smith He let the throw rip even and fielding made up for a at deep midwicket. Royal before his feet were sputtering batting perChallengers had lost two grounded again. Caught formance after MS Dhoni set batsmen in two deliverby surprise, Kohli turned had won the toss. Smith

did not touch the first five balls of Mitchell Starc's opening over and was bowled by the sixth. The innings never really recovered from that wicket maiden.

Knight Riders beat Sunrisers by 35 runs Riding on fine bowling

by Brad Hogg (2/17) and Umesh Yadav (2/34), Kolkata Knight Riders registered an easy 35-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in their IPL match at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Monday.

Chasing 168, Sunrisers Hyderabad, who were tottering at 66/4 after the end of 11 overs at one stage, lost wickets at regular intervals as they could all manage 132/9 in the stipulated 20 overs. KKR paceman Umesh Yadav gave two denting blows to Hyderabad early on as they lost skipper David Warner (4) and Naman Ojha (0) in the very first over.

Brad Hogg soon sent dangerous Shikhar Dhawan, who scored a

run-a-ball 15, back in the dugout in his first over.

Moises Henriques (41) fought hard in the middle but he was well dismissed

by Hogg.

Leggie Piyush Chawla too joined the party as he foxed Hanuma Vihari (6), who was finely stumped

by Robin Uthappa, as Hyderabad lost half of their side at the score of 68.

Earlier, Yusuf Pathan's late cameo lifted Kolkata Knight Riders to a fighting 167 for seven after a middle-order collapse against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Asked to bat, KKR were in trouble as none of their top batsman could make it big, but Pathan held fort and struck an unbeaten 30 off 19 balls to give the total respectability.

Karn Sharma and Bipul Sharma, included in place of Ashish Reddy, took full advantage of the slow nature of the pitch, and were instrumental in KKR's slide after a flying start given by the duo of Robin Uthappa (30) and Gautam Gambhir (31).