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Bobby Jindal's portrait sparks race row

VOL 20, No. 1065

February 13, 2015

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Periodical Postage

KEJRIWAL TSUNAMI DECIMATES BJP

Details on page 11

Bedi 'apologizes' for not living up to expectations Details on page 8

Result not a referendum on Modi, says BJP Details on page 8

No 'unique' provision for US in nuclear deal

Modi greets Kejriwal, assures support

Details on page 12

Details on page 8

Obama appoints Banga to key admn post

Delhi loss defeat for PM: Uddhav Thackeray

Details on page 11

Details on page 9

NYT asks Modi to break silence on intolerance

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29 Classifieds ------------------------- 48

Details on page 12

Community Post -------- 16-23 Date Book -------------------------- 27

INDIA POST SURVEY

Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 32-35

survey@indiapost.com

Horoscope ------------------------- 49

This week’s question

Immigration Post ------------- 44-47

Will Kejri wave travel outside Delhi?

Life Style ----------------------- 50-52 Philosophy ------------------------- 53

Last week’s result

Will Modi get Parliament opproval on N-liability issue?

YES 63%

NO 37%

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4

A FRESH WAVE: AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal with party leaders Ashutosh, Ashish Khaitan, Sanjay Singh and Kumar

Real Estate -------------------- 30-31

Vishwas waving at party volunteers as they celebrate the party's overwhelming victory in the Delhi Assembly polls at party headquarters in Patel Nagar in New Delhi on February 10. (Details on page 5)

TechBiz Post ------------------- 36-39

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

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February 13, 2015

IndiaNewsweekly Post Mission Statement To empower the Indian Diaspora and make their voice strong and effective in countries of their adoption. RJ Media conglomerate offers a credible, professional and complete package of news, opinion, entertainment, networking and information.

Publisher’s Diary

R

emember the history lessons back from grade school in India… that bit about how a Mughal general Afzal Khan allegedly stabbed Shivaji in the back while the two embraced in a gesture of peace? Circa the present, it is possible that the historic brotherly bear hug was initiated by Prime Minister Modi but one didn't expect President Obama to do the stabbing act by rebuking religious intolerance in India soon after he returned to the US from his trip to India.

If you haven't noticed it already, there is a clear agenda afoot here. A recent news report cites senior Indian national security officials about impending nationwide agitations that are being mobilized by multiple foreign funded groups in India in an open bid to destabilize Modi's economic agenda.

Historically, Christian religious workers have been proselytizing poor and vulnerable Hindus in India with rank impunity and presently spends over $120 million in overseas funding a year, but the US was never heard to condemn it.

Hindus in Islamic countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh have been systematically wiped out over the decades, but one did not ever hear the United States mention it at any forum.

So, how come now, when India under Prime Minister Modi's governance has taken a path of economic progress, the US is making such loud noises of castigating "Hindu intolerance"?

And now in the wake of President Obama's National Prayer Breakfast speech where he invoked Mahatma Gandhi in the context of religious intolerance in today's India, the New York Times is running with the baton of India bashing with editorials on alleged conversions of Christians and Muslims in India.

Hindu organizations such as the Hindu American Foundation are calling out the hypocrisy in all of this. Since Obama has taken to invoke Mahatma Gandhi, the HAF cites one from the Mahatma that says: "It is impossible for me to reconcile myself to the idea of conversion…. Why should a Christian want to convert a Hindu to Christianity? Why should he not be satisfied if the Hindu is a good or godly man?"

Would Obama or the New York Times care to answer?

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Schizophrenia patient Kareena Kapoor Khan will be next seen playing a schizophrenia patient in Raj Kumar Gupta's next.

Cover Story: Landslide victory Halting the Modi juggernaut in its tracks, AAP has scored a landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly elections

Community: Yoga DVD "History of Yoga - Path of My Ancestors," is a 109-minute English documentary released in DVD by Vishuddhi Films

Bill blocked Stalemate over funding for the Homeland Security Department deepened as Senate Democrats blocked action on bill

Life style: Grammy Indians Bangalore-based musician Ricky Kej and activist Neela Vaswani won at the 57th Grammy awards for their work

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Nuclear projects American firms would participate in India's nuclear projects as the two sides have reached "sufficient understanding"

Amritsar With important devout centers and historical sites Amritsar exhibits a glorious past and a magnificent present

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February 13, 2015

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Kejriwal tsunami decimates BJP NEW DELHI: Halting the Modi juggernaut in its tracks, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday scored a landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly elections by winning as many as 67 of the 70 seats leaving BJP with only three and completely decimating Congress which drew a blank.

In an election that was billed by the opposition as a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the AAP tornado threw veterans of both BJP and Congress into the electoral dustbin in their traditional bastions. BJP leaders accepted the defeat as a "setback" but dismissed suggestions that it was a vote against the Modi government's performance.

The AAP's feat was rarely achieved in any state in the past.

Only once in 1989, the Sikkim Sangram Parishad had won all the 32 seats in the assembly.

Former Revenue Service officer Arvind Kejriwal, the AAP mascot who spearheaded the party's victory march, himself won the prestigious New Delhi seat by a margin of over 31,500 votes defeating the nearest BJP rival Nupur

complete with its Chief Ministerial face Kiran Bedi losing in the traditional stronghold of Krishna Nagar which was long held by party veteran Harsh Vardhan. She lost by more than 2,000 votes.

Congress' CM candidate Ajay Maken also suffered a crushing defeat by a margin of over 50,000 votes at the hands of a novice from AAP Som Dutt in Sadar Bazar constituency and lost his deposit.

Maken resigned as Congress General Secretary taking responsibility for the debacle.

Those who bit the electoral dust included BJP leaders Jagdish Mukhi, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri and Krishna Tirath who had defected from Congress on the eve of elections and Congress leaders A K Walia, Harun Yusuf, Chaudhury Prem Singh and Raj Kumar Chouhan, who are all former ministers and Mahabal Mishra, a former MP. President Pranab Mukherjee's daughter Sarmistha Mukherjee also lost in her electoral debut on a Congress ticket in Greater Kailash.

Kejriwal will be sworn in as Chief

Congress' CM candidate Ajay Maken also suffered a crushing defeat by a margin of over 50,000 votes at the hands of a novice from AAP Som Dutt in Sadar Bazar constituency and lost his deposit Sharma, a political novice. Former Minister and Congress veteran Kiran Walia came a poor third with 4,700 votes and lost her deposit.

The BJP's humiliation was

Minister on February 14, exactly the day one year ago he stepped down after 49 days in office.

In an address to his supporters who danced and cheered outside the party headquarters day-

long, Kejriwal cautioned against getting arrogant, saying if that happens, people will punish them in the next election.

Modi spoke to Kejriwal in the

sage to those who lord over Delhi," Thackeray said.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee, with whose

cember 2013, failed to open its account. Bedi also congratulated Kejriwal saying "full marks to Arvind."

In his address to his support-

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal and other party leaders celebrate their win in the Assembly polls, at party office in New Delhi on February 10

morning congratulating him on his victory and assured him of Center's support for development in Delhi.

In all elections that followed the spectacular victory in the May Lok Sabha polls, the BJP formed governments in Maharastra, Haryana, Jharkhand and emerged the second largest party in Jammu and Kashmir with the highest vote share.

The Delhi results prompted some BJP allies and rivals to attack the saffron party. Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray tweeted that he agreed with Gandhian Anna Hazare that the election result was a defeat for Modi.

"Delhi has shown that tsunami is bigger than a wave...It is a mes-

party BJP has been having a running battle, said "arrogance and political vendetta have been de-

ers, Kejriwal saluted the people of Delhi for doing a "wonder" by giving them a landslide victory.

Arvind Kejriwal watching the Assembly poll results on the TV at his residence in Kaushambi on February 10

Arvind Kejriwal in a cheerful mood with party volunteers at a meeting in New Delhi on February 9, a day before counting of votes for Delhi polls

feated today" and that BJP's "balloon has burst".

She said, "Delhi election is turning point of present political situation. Shows political vendetta has no place in a democracy.

Country needed this change."

Her party spokesman Derek O'Brien said the message from the Delhi polls was "Bhaag (run) Modi Bhaag".

Tamil Nadu ally PMK said the reason for AAP's landslide victory was that people were yearning for change due to "corruption" in government administration.

JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar said the poll outcome in Delhi was a referendum on Modi and "it reflects the mood of the country".

Congress, which ruled the national capital for 15 years till De-

"You have done a wonder.

When you are on the path of truth, all the forces of universe come together to help you. I salute the people of Delhi. It's a victory of truth," he said.

The defeat for BJP was all the more bitter because it had won all the seven Lok Sabha seats in the last year's general elections. The party's gamble of making Bedi its Chief Ministerial candidate back fired.

The only saving grace for the BJP was victory of its former state unit president Vijender Gupta who won from Rohini.

Kejriwal thanked Modi for his greetings and said he would like to meet him soon to discuss issues related to Delhi. He told the Prime Minister that he will need the Center's help.-PTI

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Kejriwal positions himself as a 'change agent' NEW DELHI: Scripting a new political narrative, Arvind Kejriwal's royal come back leading the AAP to a spectacular victory, reflects his strong positioning as a "change agent" that scuppered BJP's bid to power in the national capital and put a break on the Modi juggernaut.

The magnificent victory is being considered awe-inspiring as the 46-year-old bespectacled IITian, notwithstanding a string of electoral triumphs for BJP since the May Lok Sabha polls, managed to anchor a campaign that wooed all sections in the city.

Quietly spreading his party's wings after the Lok Sabha poll debacle, the activist-turned-politician achieved the extraordinary feat by taking his "participative politics" model to the masses through a strong army of dedicated volunteers and his sheer perseverance.

Kejriwal, who had faced huge criticism for resigning as the Chief Minister after remaining in power for 49-days, expanded the party's base by anchoring an unconventional approach to take AAP beyond his support base of the poor and lower middle class families.

Promising change, the former Delhi Chief Minister in taking AAP's agenda to the people appeared much mellower as he apologized to the people for quitting government on February 14 last year while successfully connecting with all sections.

Emerging as a mascot of an al-

ternative brand of politics, the engineer-turned-civil servant had changed the political discourse when in the last Delhi polls he decimated Congress after 15-year rule by winning 28 seats and also handed out a crushing defeat to

nals.

He had also come under attack on the governance agenda.

Born on August 16, 1968 in Hisar in Haryana to Gobind Ram Kejriwal and Gita Devi, Kejriwal sent the entire political spectrum

Delhi Assembly elections by Congress and BJP, Kejriwal, a man of simple tastes, came into prominence from the agitation by 75year-old activist Anna Hazare in support of Jan Lokpal Bill in 2011.

Soft-spoken but a man with

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal leaves after collecting the winning certificate from a counting centre for Assembly polls in New Delhi on February 10

then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in her New Delhi seat.

He had courted controversy within weeks of becoming Chief Minister by sitting on a dharna in the heart of Delhi near Parliament House over his demand for suspending three police officers for allegedly not acting against crimi-

into a tizzy, attacking both BJP and Congress on the issues of corruption, exorbitant rise in power and water tariff, safety of women and clearly managed to make a huge dent in the traditional vote banks of both the parties.

Belying all claims of being a "non-actor or no factor" in the

strong conviction, the Ramon Magsaysay award winner was

part of the Team Anna, along with first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi, lawyer Prashant Bhushan and others.

He was the civil society representative member of the committee constituted by the Government to draft the Jan Lokpal bill, following the campaign for introduction of the anti-graft legislation.

After feeling "betrayed" by the government when it rejected their draft, Congress and other leaders challenged them to join politics, win elections and come to Parliament if they wanted to "fight system from within", root out corruption and get the Jan Lokpal Bill passed.

Known for taking up challenges, the indefatigable activist decided to take a plunge into politics and formed the "Aam Aadmi Party" on November 26, 2012, after a formal split of Team Anna.

The party name 'Aam Aadmi Party' reflects the phrase Aam Aadmi or "common man", whose interests Kejriwal pledged to represent and got its poll symbol "broom" in July this year.

A bright academic, Kejriwal passed out as a Mechanical Engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur.-PTI

Kejriwal thanks wife for 'always being there'

Kejriwal tells AAP cadres not to become arrogant NEW DELHI: Saluting the people of Delhi for doing a "wonder" in Delhi elections by giving them a landslide victory, AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has asked party workers not to get carried away by the mandate and not become "arrogant".

"You have done a wonder.

When you are on the path of truth, all the forces of universe come together to help you. I salute the people of Delhi. It's a victory of truth," the 46-year-old former Delhi Chief Minister said in his first reaction to the Delhi poll outcome.

"I would like to urge all of you

Arvind Kejriwal raises slogans while addressing the party volunteers as they celebrate the party’s victory in the Delhi Assembly polls

not to be arrogant. Otherwise we will meet the same fate five years down the line. We have to serve people of Delhi as they have given such a massive mandate to us and we are grateful to them," Kejriwal told the cheering crowd of supporters.

Thanking his wife, who was standing next to him on the terrace of three-storeyed party office, Kejriwal said the victory would not have been possible without her constant support and understanding. "She never comes in the picture but she is always there. It would not have been possible for me to achieve anything if she was not there," he said. The AAP chief also thanked his parents for supporting him.

Ashutosh, standing besides Kejriwal, said the mandate was the beginning of a new kind of revolutionary politics in the country. PTI

AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal hugs his wife as he celebrates his party’s win in the Assembly polls, at his residence in Kaushambi

NEW DELHI: Surrounded by joyous supporters, AAP chief Arvind Kejirwal has made sure to thank his wife Sunita with a warm hug "for always being there".

Kejriwal had met Sunita at the National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie during their training period after both of them qualified for the Indian Revenue Service (IRS).

As the former Delhi Chief Minister spoke to party workers for the first after the staggering victory of his party, an ecstatic Sunita, who is an IRS officer, quietly

stood by his side.

Addressing the party workers, Kejriwal said the victory would not have been possible without her constant support and understanding.

"She never comes in the picture but she is always there. It would not have been possible for me to achieve anything if she was not there," he said.

Kejriwal often fondly remembers the day he proposed to Sunita, saying, "One day I knocked at her door in the academy and proposed to her. She said yes." -PTI

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'Paanch Saal Kejriwal' reverberates in Capital NEW DELHI: For hundreds of (AAP) volunteers who had toiled in the cold for more than two months, the brute majority for the party sent them into raptures as they hummed the poll jingle "Paanch Saal Kejriwal" in groups across the Capital.

As the initial trends suggesting a victory for Aam Aadmi Party

Lok Sabha elections last year and there were more media personnel than volunteers at Hanuman Road office on the day of counting on May 16. The nascent party did not win any of the seven seats at stake in the Capital.

But on Tuesday it was a total turnaround as the volunteers savored every moment of the party's

Having anticipated a better show this time, the party had made elaborate arrangements outside its Patel Nagar office. It had also put out more than three LED screens outside the party office (AAP) started pouring in, more and more volunteers started gathering outside the party office in a busy locality of Patel Nagar.

From Patel Nagar Metro station where rickshaw drivers - wearing AAP caps and a party flag on their vehicles to the road leading to the party office - volunteers started pouring in when the counting commenced at 8 am.

The mood was totally opposite when the party contested its first

march to a landslide win.

Having anticipated a better show this time, the party had made elaborate arrangements outside its Patel Nagar office. It had also put out more than three LED screens outside the party office for its volunteers. It had not only decorated the party office with balloons, but had arranged for flowers to be pumped in from the building terrace on their leaders and volunteers to bringing drums

and bursting crackers.

Each time the party tally increased, AAP volunteers roared and more crackers burst.

The party office was surrounded by jubilant AAP volunteers of different age groups from college going, middle-aged and even senior citizens, with AAP caps, Stole and Muffler Man hoodies wielding their party symbol broom danced to the tune of Paanch Saal Kejriwal (Five years for Kejriwal) -a song composed by noted music director Vishal Dadlani, specially for the Delhi elections.

At around 10.30 am when trends showed more than 65 seats for the party, volunteers were getting restless to listen to their leaders. They erupted in joy seeing AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal coming out on the rampart of the party office to address them.

"No one could stop Modi's victory rath (chariot)...in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir.

But Kejriwal halted it in Delhi," said Megh Raj Singh (26), a volunteer from Badli. -PTI

AAP supporters celebrate the party’s landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly poll, at Patel Nagar in New Delhi on February 10

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Hazare congratulates Kejriwal, attacks Modi RALEGAN SIDDHI, Maharashtra: Anti-corruption crusader and Gandhian activist Anna Hazare has congratulated AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal for the

party's spectacular performance in Delhi Assembly polls.

He said the election result was in favor of AAP because the "achhe din only came for indus-

Anna Hazare addresses the media in Ralegan Siddhi on February 10

trialists" after the Narendra Modiled government came to power at the Centre eight months back.

"I extend my best wishes to Kejriwal," Anna told reporters here.

He also urged the AAP convener, a former Team-Anna member, not to forget his struggle for the Jan Lokpal Bill and take it forward.

"The public earlier thought that 'ache din aane wale hain' but the good days came only for industrialists and that's why AAP's acceptability increased among the people.

"Public's parliament is bigger than any government. They have given their mandate," he said.

Asked about the advice he would like to give Kejriwal, Hazare said, "I will not tell him how to run the government. He has more experience than me. I hope he will do a good job".

"I would also like to tell Bedi that winning or losing is part of a game. Whatever good work she has been doing for the country and society, she should continue doing that," he said, referring to the former Team Anna member and BJP chief ministerial candidate. PTI

A setback for BJP, not a referendum on Centre: Naidu NEW DELHI: With BJP suffering its first major electoral defeat after Lok Sabha polls, Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has said the Delhi verdict was a setback to the party but maintained that it was not a referendum on the central government as people voted on local issues.

Naidu said the party has to examine the reasons behind its defeat and rectify them. Complementing the AAP for their "good" victory, he voiced hope that they will "live up to the expectations they have created" in voters and said the Centre would extend all support to the new government.

"We had eight state elections in a row. We have won in seven places and for the first time, we have a setback in Delhi," the Parliamentary Affairs Minister said on the sidelines of a function here.

"I have been saying from day one that this is Delhi elections and this is not a mandate...it is not a referendum on the central government because the issues that were focused, discussed and then

decided are local issues. So it is not a referendum on the central government."

Complementing the AAP for their victory, Naidu said the party accepts and respects the people's verdict.

He said, "Every election has a message.

The party has to study the message and understand what are the reasons that we lagged behind. They have to be rectified for the future."

"I would like to complement the AAP for their good victory and I hope that they will live up to the expectation which they have created. They have to fulfill all the promises they have made. The Centre would extend all support

to the new government."

He also assured support to the AAP government in its endeavor for development of Delhi.

"We accept the verdict of the people of Delhi humbly and we respect their mandate. We will cooperate with the new government in a more meaningful manner for all-round development in Delhi," Naidu said.

He said, "Every election has a message. The party has to study the message and understand what are the reasons that we lagged behind. They have to be rectified for the future."

Praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, he said, "Fortunately we have a PM who is universally popular. He has a vision and capacity and caliber to carry the country forward.

"Irrespective of whichever party is ruling the state, the Prime Minister has already said that we have to work as Team India and we will be also working together with the new government in Delhi." -PTI

Bedi 'apologizes' for not living up to party's expectations NEW DELHI: A crestfallen BJP the defeat. chief ministerial candidate Kiran "I lose only when I do not give Bedi, who herself suffered a my 100% to d cause. I gave it all. shocking defeat from party's tra- My party & we will reflect on the ditional bastion Krishna Nagar, causes of defeat! Best wishes for has sought forgiveness from the party and workers for not living up to their expectations.

"I got all the respect and confidence of the top leaders including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah as well as ordinary party workers.

But I ask for their forgiveness as I failed to carry that confidence and responsibility," Bedi told reporters after BJP's massive defeat in Assembly elections.

"This is the first time I felt like this in my entire career as a police officer. I have never had to face such a situation," she added.

Denying that the election result was a referendum on Modi government, she said, BJP leader Kiran Bedi addresses a press conference at her residence in New Delhi on "The Prime Minister February 10 (Modi) was not the chief ministerial candidate".

Delhi (sic)," she said in another She also took to micro- tweet. blogging site Twitter saying she Bedi also congratulated Arvind "gave it all" and the party will re- Kejriwal on AAP's spectacular flect on the cause of the defeat. victory and expressed hope that "Wish to thank my party lead- they will fulfill the promises made ership for having trusted me fully to Delhiites. and apologies to every "I hope Arvind and his party karayakarta for not living up to will now transform Delhi into a their expectations," she said in a world class city and fulfill their tweet. promises by providing all the faThe former IPS officer said that cilities to the poor as soon as posBJP will introspect and analyze sible" she said.-PTI

PM congratulates Kejriwal, assures support NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and congratulated him on his thumping victory in Delhi and assured him of all support from the Centre for development of the national capital.

"Spoke to @ArvindKejriwal & congratulated him on the win.

Assured him Center's complete support in the development of Delhi," Modi tweeted.

His tweet came as trends showed a massive victory for AAP in Delhi polls in which BJP was decimated. BJP had emerged as the single largest party in the last Assembly polls in December 2013.

Kejriwal, while thanking Modi for the greetings, said he would like to meet him soon to discuss issues related to Delhi.

He told the Prime Minister that he will need the Center's help.

Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda said since the people have voted in favor of AAP, "it is the responsibility of the Central government to give all assistance to AAP to run the Delhi government".

He said the people of Delhi should feel that both the Centre and state government have "joined hands" for the developmental activities in the national capital.-PTI

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'Big setback', we will introspect: BJP NEW DELHI: After its humiliating defeat at the hands of AAP in Delhi polls, BJP has admitted that it is a "big setback" and the party will soon introspect the reasons behind the dismal showing.

The party also said that Delhi's loss is a "collective failure" of the party and the defeat cannot be thrown on any single individual, seen as an attempt to deflect any blame on Prime Minister Narendra

Murlidhar Rao said, "BJP's defeat in Delhi elections is a collective failure of our party. It cannot be thrown on any single individual.

We all own the loss."

"Election results for Delhi state is a setback for BJP. BJP accepts d (the) defeat in Delhi elections.

We respect the verdict n (and) positively cooperate with Delhi government on d development," Rao tweeted.

were the reasons that we have not been able to appeal to the voters of Delhi. We wish well for AAP for delivering on the promises made and give Delhi a good government," he said.

Party's Delhi unit chief Satish Upadhyay admitted that the party failed to understand the mood of the people.

"We accept the mandate given by the people of Delhi. We failed to understand the mood of the people.

BJP will continue to serve the people as it had been doing in the past.

I congratulate Kejriwal on his victory," Upadhyay said.

Another party spokesperson G V L The three BJP candidates Vijender Gupta, Om Prakash Sharma and Jagdish Pradhan who have Narsimha Rao won the Assembly polls, in New Delhi on February 10 said the polls Modi.

He felt that since Haryana elec- were a referendum on Kejriwal and The party leaders while con- tions, where BJP got a majority, could not be seen as reflection on gratulating Arvind Kejriwal, has not impacted Delhi polls. the performance of the Modi govhoped he will now fulfill the prom- "Why Delhi elections will impact ernment as local issues domiises made to people and ensure BJP in other states". nated the polls. development of Delhi even as the "Extending d Verdict of Delhi "I do not see in this way," he Centre promised to extend all its elections to unrelated issues is said when asked whether the elecsupport to the new government. like stretching too far. Central govt tions were a referendum on Modi's "It is a big setback for us. We performance was not d election performance. will assess the reasons of the de- issue," he said in another tweet.

"In this election it was a referfeat. We accept the verdict of the Another BJP Spokesperson endum on Arvind Kejriwal. That's people and hope Kejriwal fulfils his Nalin Kohli said the party will as- how people of Delhi saw it. I think promises made to people. As Prime sess the reasons why the party people have certainly voted for Minister Narendra Modi has said, failed to appeal to Delhi voters Kejriwal. It was a referendum of the Centre will extend all its help to and hoped Kejriwal will fulfill all AAP's 49 days in office and its Delhi government," BJP Spokes- the promises made. performance. People felt they person Sudhanshu Trivedi said.

"It is a huge victory for AAP. should be given a chance," he Party general secretary P BJP would certainly assess what said.-PTI

Delhi loss defeat for PM: Uddhav Thackeray MUMBAI: With BJP left badly tinue to be in the government but bruised in the Delhi Assembly at the same time ensure that the poll, ally Shiv Sena added to its benefits of government schemes woes saying the outcome reached the people. amounted to "defeat" for Prime "When we were in the OpposiMinister Narendra Modi and tion, we had a responsibility toshowed that tsunami is mightier wards the people of this state. than the "Modi wave".

After coming to power, this re"It would not be wrong to call sponsibility has only increased. the results a defeat for Narendra It is our duty to live up to the exModi. Talks had been going on about a Modi wave sweeping the country. But the people of Delhi have shown that tsunami is mightier than a wave," Shiv Sena chief U d d h a v Thackeray said, taking a swipe at BJP over the poll debacle.

The Sena leader, who called up AAP Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray c o n v e n e r Arvind Kejriwal to congratulate him on the victory, pectations of the people. Thus, I said he would attend the oath-tak- and the Shiv Sena will ensure that ing ceremony if invited. schemes that are meant to benefit "I spoke to (Arvind) Kejriwal people, actually benefit them," and congratulated him on this vic- Thackeray said. tory. I also advised him to con"The people of the country are tinue to work for Delhi and not the final authority. Nobody can commit the mistake of resigning take them lightly. The final outfrom the CM's post again," he come will depend on what the said. people of this nation want," he Though Shiv Sena is part of the said.

NDA government at the Centre Despite joining the Devendra and BJP-led dispensation in Fadnavis government weeks afMaharashtra, the relations be- ter it was formed after tough netween the two parties have been gotiations over ministerial berths, far from smooth since the two Sena has been critical of its hanparted ways just ahead of the dling of agrarian problems in the state Assembly elections last year. state and a spate of suicide by Uddhav said the Sena will con- farmers. -PTI

BJP's 'masterstroke' of bringing Bedi boomerangs NEW DELHI: It was seen as a masterstroke when she was anointed as BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate just three weeks ahead of the assembly polls to counter AAP's Arvind Kejriwal but India's first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi failed to change the party's fortune and now herself stares at an uncertain political future.

The 65-year-old Bedi, who had caught people's imagination as a young police officer here in 1980s and was a key member of the Team Anna during the Lokpal movement, had a poll campaign where all BJP

top brass including Prime Minister Narendra Modi canvassed for her.

However, Bedi failed to draw crowds at her rallies and her campaign looked lackluster largely due to alleged non- cooperation of the Delhi BJP leaders. They saw Bedi as someone who was "parachuted" and was devoid of grassroots support.

Some Delhi BJP leaders found Bedi less accommodative and more authoritative leading to internal dissent against her in the party though nothing came out in the open.

Bedi came under closer media

scrutiny after being made BJP's CM candidate and some of her earlier claims like removing former Prime Minister Indira

Bedi was attacked on the social media for her "flip flops" as people reminded her about her tweets in 2011 when she was critical of Modi

Gandhi's car in 1982 when she was DCP Traffic in Delhi police fell flat.

Bedi was attacked on the social media for her "flip flops" as people reminded her about her tweets in 2011 when she was critical of Modi. While joining BJP, Bedi had said Modi's inspirational leadership was the reason why she chose BJP. She was also accused of being in touch with the BJP during the anti-graft movement as she had refused to hold a protest outside then BJP President Nitin Gadkari's residence in August 2012 as part of India Against

Corruption's decision to gherao the residences of several political leaders on the coal block allocation scam.

Though Bedi promised not to indulge in personal attacks, she made scathing onslaughts on Kejriwal as the campaign peaked and went on to describe her former Team Anna colleague as a "liar" and someone whose influence was "toxic".

Bedi, who had worked closely with Kejriwal during the LokPal movement, split with him after he announced plan to form the Aam Aadmi Party on October 2, 2012. -PTI

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Delhi poll referendum on Modi: Nitish Kumar PATNA: Senior JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar has said the poll outcome in the national capital was a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asserted that the same blow would be given to the saffron party in Bihar.

"Delhi election results indeed are a referendum on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Delhi is the heart of the country so it reflects the mood of the country," Kumar told reporters.

Kumar congratulated Aam Aadmi Party's convener Arvind Kejriwal for the party's landslide victory in Delhi.

"There was a talk of swing in favor of AAP in Delhi, but indeed the entire pen-

dulum of the clock has moved from one end to another," he said to highlight BJP's defeat in Delhi.

‘Astonishingly in such a short span of nine months of Narendra Modi government, the mood of people is changing against him,’ he said and attributed this to BJP's failure to deliver on any of the tall promises

"BJP ideological parent Jansangh was born in Delhi. The Prime Minister had addressed several rallies and every decision

by BJP was taken in his name...its indeed referendum on the Prime Minister Narendra Modi," Kumar said.

"Delhi is the national capital where people from all parts of the country live so it reflects changing mood of the country against BJP-led NDA government at the Centre," the JD(U) leader flanked by state party chief Basistha Narayan Singh and senior leadNitish Kumar

ers Vijay Chaudhary and Shyam Rajak said while talking to media persons at his residence.

People from Bihar who live in Delhi in large numbers have also shown their decision on BJP by voting for AAP, Kumar said.

"Astonishingly in such a short span of nine months of Narendra Modi government, the mood of people is changing against him," he said and attributed this to BJP's failure to deliver on any of the tall promises made during the poll.

"He (Modi) talked lofty things on return of black money, paying enhanced bonus to farmers, special status to Bihar in 100 days but none of them are visible even after lapse of nine months," Kumar, whose JD(U) severed ties with BJP over elevation of Modi, said.

"Hawabazzi se kaam nahi chalega (things will not work only on the basis of lofty talks)," he said in an apparent dig at the Prime Minister.

Kumar said Bihar would be the next destination where BJP would face similar results. Bihar will go to poll before November this year.

Launching a scathing attack on BJP, Kumar said in place of fulfilling any of the promises made during the poll, the saffron party was indulging in "divisive" activities in the name of "love jihad" and "conversion."

"Many a church was attacked in Delhi during poll," he said to drive home the point.

He also mocked at Modi's oft-used expression "karz uttarenge aap logo ka" (I will repay the debt). "How much debt he has taken from people which he has to repay?" he said taking a jibe at the Prime Minister.

When asked if AAP would be invited in the merger process as part of grand antiBJP group, Kumar answered in negative.

"They are a different kind of party. They cannot be involved in merger of old Janata Parivar," he said.

"All parties cannot be part of it (merger of Janata Parivar). But there can be alignment with them," he said adding, even West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee talked to him twice on Bihar issue and extended her moral support.

Kumar said the BJP was practicing the same brand of politics in Bihar that they did in Delhi and would face the same result. -PTI

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Bobby Jindal's portrait sparks race row WASHINGTON: A portrait of Indian-American Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal has sparked a racial controversy in the US with the Republican presidential aspirant appearing to be a white man in the painting instead of his ac-

fice since 2008, it went viral on the social media when a blogger Lamar White tweeted with a picture of the portrait.

The tweet and the portrait went viral on social media in which blogger White claimed that this

Portrait of Bobby Jindal

tual skin tone.

Though the painting, made by Louisiana painter Tommy Yow Jr, who had painted the unofficial portrait from a photograph, had been hanging in his Capitol Of-

was the official portrait of Jindal.

It got more attention when Jindal's Chief of Staff, Kyle Plotkin, slammed the blogger for race biting.

"Thx 4 ur race-baiting tweet," Plotkin tweeted with Jindal's offi-

cial portrait.

"Liberals want to race-bait and they think the governor looks insufficiently brown in the picture. No other reason to tweet that picture.

They are ok with the governor being brown, but they want to make sure he knows it," Plotkin was quoted as saying by a local daily.

Yow Jr, who had painted the now controversial portrait of Jindal, told the Politico that he painted it from a photograph.

He said that the photo that caused the outrage on Twitter was "an excellent hatchet job of using either light reflection or flash on (Jindal's) head area to even further lighten the head area of the painting.

Yow said that he has never met the governor in person.

When he painted the portrait, Yow said, he was less familiar with Jindal's actual skin tone, the Politico reported.

The local Times Picayune questioned the very basis of running a story on a painting which has been hanging at the Louisiana Capitol Office since 2008.

"The portrait is front and center when people exit the elevator and enter the governor's fourth floor office suite.

Though it's been a well-known fixture in the Capitol for years, it turned into an internet sensation this week, when a left-leaning blogger and Jindal's chief of staff got into an argument on Twitter about it," the daily said.

"The question is: Should this be a big deal? Why is everyone suddenly paying attention to a portrait that is several years old?

Do we care in Louisiana?" the daily asked. -PTI

Obama appoints Banga to key administrative post WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has appointed top Indian-American executive Ajay Banga to a key administrative position tasked with providing policy advice on international trade matters.

Banga, chairman of US-India Business Council, was appointed member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations, said the White House.

Banga was among a number of key appointments announced by the White House.

"The talent and expertise these individuals bring to their

roles will serve our nation well. I am grateful for their service, and look forward to working with them," Obama said.

According to White House,

Ajay Banga

the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations is tasked with providing policy advice on trade matters, and is made up of members who broadly represent key sectors and groups of the economy, Banga, an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, is the president and CEO of MasterCard since 2009.

Prior to joining MasterCard, he held senior management roles with Citigroup from 1996 until his departure in 2009, when he served as CEO of Citigroup Asia Pacific.-PTI

Sonia Gandhi, Rahul congratulate AAP NEW DELHI: Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi have congratulated Arvind Kejriwal for AAP's landslide victory in the Delhi Assembly polls in which their party failed to score.

"My congratulations to Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party for their victory. The people of Delhi have chosen AAP and we respect that. I wish Kejriwal and his team the very best", Rahul said.

An AICC statement said the Congress President and Vice President congratulated Kejriwal.

Congress has failed to open its account in the 70-member House, prompting Ajay Maken, who was

the party's face in the Delhi polls, to resign from the post of general secretary, taking moral responsibility for the humiliating defeat at the hustings.

Congress had won 8 seats in

the last Assembly polls in Delhi held in 2013 which threw a hung verdict. Congress had lost power in those elections after being at the helm for 15-long years under the leadership of Sheila Dikshit. -PTI

Will try to establish connect with people: Cong NEW DELHI: Shattered by its humiliating defeat in Delhi polls, Congress has said the loss has "registered strongly with us" and it will take all steps to establish its connect with the people.

"The Congress party accepts the will of the people with humility and will sincerely introspect the reasons behind its loss. This loss has registered strongly with us and we will take all steps to

establish our connect with the people," the party said in a statement.

It said the party will rebuild its support among the people by working on and executing the core ideas that it has stood for the last 130 years of its inception.

The party also congratulated Arvind Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party for their historic victory. -PTI

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NYT asks Modi to break silence Doval, top Chinese diplomat meet ahead of border talks on religious intolerance NEW YORK: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to break his "deafening silence" on religious intolerance, The New York Times has said in an editorial.

The attacks at Christian places of worship have prompted "no response" from the man elected to represent and to protect all of India's citizens, the editorial observed, adding that nor has the

Narendra Modi

A day after President Barack Obama had said that religious "intolerance" in India would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi, the newspaper's Editorial Board asked in an editorial titled 'Modi's Dangerous Silence', "What will it take for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak out about the mounting violence against India's religious minorities?"

"Mr Modi needs to break his deafening silence on religious intolerance," it said.

Prime Minister addressed the "conversion" to Hinduism of Christians and Muslims.

"Mr Modi's continued silence before such troubling intolerance increasingly gives the impression that he either cannot or does not wish to control the fringe elements of the Hindu nationalist right," it added.

"Mr Modi has promised an ambitious agenda for India's development. But, as President Obama observed in a speech in New Delhi last month: 'India will

succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith'".

Obama had earlier said the "acts of intolerance" experienced by religious faiths of all types in India in the past few years would have shocked Mahatma Gandhi.

The comments by Obama came a day after the White House refuted suggestions that the US President's public speech in New Delhi on January 27 during his India visit in which he touched upon religious tolerance was a "parting shot" aimed at the ruling BJP. "Michelle and I returned from India - an incredible, beautiful country, full of magnificent diversity - but a place where, in past years, religious faiths of all types have, on occasion, been targeted by other peoples of faith, simply due to their heritage and their beliefs - acts of intolerance that would have shocked Gandhiji, the person who helped to liberate that nation," Obama said in his remarks at the high-profile National Prayer Breakfast in Washington.

The US President, who has just returned from India, was referring to violence against followers of various religions in India in the past few years.

He, however, did not name any particular religion and said the violence is not unique to one group or one religion. -PTI

No 'unique' provision for US in nuclear understanding NEW DELHI: The text of the Administrative Arrangement (AA) under the Indo-US nuclear deal contains no "novel or unique" provisions and is totally consistent with IAEA safeguards, government has said.

Noting that sharing of information under an AA was a normal practice, Spokesperson of the External Affairs Ministry Syed Akbaruddin said similarly, annual consultations were also a normal practice under an AA.

"Sharing of information under an AA on the implementation of a bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement is a normal practice. This is not novel or unique to the draft AA finalized with the US. "Similarly, annual consultations are also a normal practice under an AA." However, depending on the requirements of each country, the information is shared, officials said and cited the example of

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Canada with which India shares information of particular nature.

"At the same time, there are Indo-US specificities flowing from our bilateral 123 Agreement, which the draft AA addresses.

These include, for example, the obligation under Article 7 of the 123 Agreement to provide information on facilities that store certain types of material," the Spokesperson said.

He also emphasized that "The text of the draft AA is totally consistent with India's practice of IAEA safeguards in accordance with the India Specific Safeguards Agreement as well as with our bilateral agreements with the US, including both the 123 Agreement and the Arrangements and Procedures on reprocessing. There will be no bilateral safeguards." -PTI

BEIJING: Ahead of their first official meeting, Special Representatives of India and China for border negotiations met in Munich during which the Chinese official called for pushing forward talks to resolve the border issue and remove "disturbances" in bilateral ties.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval met Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi on the sidelines of an international security conference in Munich, Germany and discussed steps to deepen the bilateral cooperation.

The Chinese official proposed to respect and look after each

He said cooperation, including those in culture, railway and industrial parks construction, should be broadened.

Yang also said China and India should enhance cooperation in international affairs, promoting multipolarism and protecting common interests of developing countries.

Doval, for his part, said the bilateral relations between India and China have improved since the new Indian government was formed.

As the two fastest growing developing countries in the world and Asian fellows, India

State Councilor Yang Jiechi (L) meets with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval on the sidelines of the 51st Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany, on Feb 7

other's concerns, to push forward negotiations over boundaries and to effectively maintain the peace and safety of border areas, staterun Xinhua news agency reported.

The two officials are due to hold the 18th round of border talks later this month to take the process of resolving the boundary further.

It will be the first meeting of the Sino-Indian border talks by Doval after he was designated as Special Representative.

Their meeting at Munich followed recent visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here during which she held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi to make preparations for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to China before May 26.

Calling for more high level interactions with India, Yang whose rank is above that of foreign minister said both sides "should seize the opportunities, remove the disturbances, and strengthen the positive trend of China-India relations".

and China face a number of mutually beneficial cooperation opportunities.

India is willing to enhance cooperation with China in various areas, to jointly boost economic sustainable growth, as well as to maintain peace and stability of the region, Doval was quoted as saying by Xinhua.

India is expected to intensify coordination with China and keep pushing forward the process of negotiations over boundary issue, the report said.

Chinese position is that the border dispute is confined to 2,000 kms mostly on Arunachal Pradesh, whereas India asserts that the dispute covered the western side of the border, spanning to about 4,000 kms.

The two countries have held 17 rounds of Special Representative talks so far to resolve the boundary dispute.

The issue also figured during talks between Modi and Xi during his historic visit to India in September last year.

The two leaders had agreed to make efforts to resolve the border dispute at the earliest. -PTI

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US primed to unlock potential of ties with India: Obama WASHINGTON: The US is "primed to unlock" the potential of relations with India as part of its rebalance to Asia and the Pacific, President Barack Obama has said as he unveiled his new national security policy, days after his historic second trip to India.

Sending his second National Security Strategy (NSS) to Congress, Obama said, "We are primed to unlock the potential of our relationship with India."

"Our rebalance to Asia and the Pacific is yielding deeper ties with a more diverse set of allies and partners. When complete, the Trans-Pacific Partnership will generate trade and investment opportunities - and create high-quality jobs at home - across a region that represents more than 40 per cent of global trade," he said.

Running into more than 30 pages, the National Security Strategy says, in South Asia, the US continues to strengthen its strategic and economic partnership with India.

"As the world's largest democracies, we share inherent values and mutual interests that form the cornerstone of our cooperation, particularly in the areas of security, energy, and the environment," it said.

"We support India's role as a regional provider of security and its expanded participation in critical regional institutions. We see a strategic convergence with India's Act East policy and our continued implementation of the rebalance to Asia and the Pacific," the strategy said.

"At the same time, we will con-

India suffering from 'exported terrorism' in Kashmir MUNICH: Asserting that India has been suffering from the menace of "exported terrorism" in Kashmir, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has said the country's strong democratic structure and genuinely pluralistic society has not allowed any fertile ground for Islamist terror.

Successive Indian governments have pursued a policy of closely integrating all minority groups into the mainstream of the society and as a result radical Islamists could not succeed in propagating their extremist ideologies among the Muslim popula-

tion, Doval said while participating in a panel discussion on 'War on Terror' at the 51st Munich Security Conference here.

Doval made the remarks while answering a question from one of the participants on what India has done better than many other countries having large Muslim populations to prevent radicalization and to deny breeding grounds for Islamist terror.

Doval said India has been suffering from the menace of "exported terrorism" in Kashmir.

Last month's election in Kashmir showed that a vast majority of

the population ignored a call to boycott the election and took part in the voting because they have trust in the country's democratic system and they did not want to be influenced by radical Islamist groups, he said.

India's strong democratic structure and its genuinely pluralistic society provided no fertile ground for Islamist terrorism even though the country is the home to one of the world's largest Muslim populations, Doval said.

India has been combating terrorism differently and this also contributed to less radicalization among the M u s l i m population, the National Security Advisor (NSA) said.

During anti-terror operations, India's security forces always took great care to avoid "collateral damage" even putting their own life at risk, he said.

Asked about Pakistan's announcement that the attack on a school in Peshawar in December marked a turning point in its policy towards combating terrorism, Doval said he has not seen any evidence that Pakistan has changed its strategy.

Doval said he hoped that Pakistan will not differentiate between terror groups operating within and outside the country and stern action will be taken against all groups. -PTI

tinue to work with both India and Pakistan to promote strategic stability, combat terrorism, and advance regional economic integra-

tion in South and Central Asia," said the National Security Strategy.

This is the second national se-

Barack Obama

curity strategy of the Obama administration, the first one being released in May 2010.

In the 2010 strategy, the White House said the US and India are building a strategic partnership that is underpinned by their shared interests, shared values as the world's two largest democracies, and close connections among people.

"India's responsible advancement serves as a positive example for developing nations, and provides an opportunity for increased economic, scientific, environmental, and security partnership," the 2010 edition of the NSS said.

Obama said the scope of US cooperation with China is unprecedented, even as US remains alert to China's military modernization and reject any role for intimidation in resolving territorial disputes. -PTI

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Hanuman Chalisa chanting creates Guinness Record

Hanuman Yagya in progress

Dr Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji flashing Certificate

FRANK FERNANDES India Post News Service

TENALIO, AP: A four hour marathon mass chanting session led by His Holiness Dr Sri Ganapathy Sachchidananda Swamiji, pontiff of Dattapeetham, Mysore on Saturday January 31 in Tenali in Andhra Pradesh has found recognition in the "Guinness World Records."

The chanting of "Hanuman Chalisa," attended by 128,918 (One hundred and twenty eight

thousand nine hundred and eighteen) people from various parts of the world was the largest gathering ever to chant at a single venue in recorded world history.

Leading, inspiring, and participating in the effort, Sri Swamiji clearly explained the merits of the chant, and the virtues of repeat chanting ahead of each chant. The 9th chant was recognized as the Guinness World Record attempt by the official adjudicator Ms. Fortuna Burke, who adjudicated the event.

With the chant continuing for a little over six minutes, Ms. Burke announced it as "the brand new world record in the category of the most people chanting from a single location," with 128,918 participants singing in unison. During the 27th and last chant, there were over 226,000 participants as per the estimates.

Witnessing the event with great interest, the Governor of Tamilnadu K Rosaiah later presented the Record Certificate from Guinness World Records to Sri

Swamiji. Speaking on the occasion, the Governor expressed his utmost happiness and praised the large gathering of people who turned out from different parts of the world.

The Hanuman Chalisa authored by Sant Tulasidasji Maharaj - consists of 40 verses, and is well known around the world, especially since it is supposed to fulfill the desires of those who recite it.

According to Sri Swamiji, "Hanuman Chalisa is a very an-

Group of devotees participating in Hanuman Chalisa chanting

cient prayer dating back over 400 years. This particular prayer is especially chosen for chanting since the collective sound vibrations will create positive impact thereby promoting universal brotherhood, and aiding in the well-being of the entire universe."

In recent times, there has been scientific evidence showing that sound waves formed while chanting are converted into electromagnetic waves and provide enormous positive impact on beings and atmosphere.

Prior to the event day, elaborate arrangements were in place in anticipation of Sri Swamiji's arrival at the event venue in Tenali.

On the event day, a large number of people started thronging the venue from 4 am onwards with slogans of Jai Sri Ram and Jaya Guru Datta. After performing Purnahuti to Manyu Homa and Maha Mangala Arati to Hanumad Vratam, Sri Swamiji started the chanting session along with his Celestial Message troupe thereby capturing the complete attention of those who were present.

The event was organized by Sri Varadarajulu from Sri Hanuman Seva Samithi and supported by Sri Ramesh Krishna, a representative of Avadhoota Datta Peetham. A large number of media persons and local political representatives were also present at the event.

Xi plans to make first official visit to US BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to make his first official visit to the US later this year to push for "new model" of major-country relations, amid strong American Asia-Pacific military push, which officials here say is aimed at containing the communist country.

Arrangements are being made for Xi to pay his first state visit later this year to the United States, China's ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai told state-run China Daily.

While the date has yet to be released, discussion is ongoing between Beijing and Washington for Xi's expected trip, Cui said, noting that the two countries have carried out successful highlevel interactions in recent years despite differences.

"We are also very willing to see such interactions continuing this year, and we may even have a greater success," Cui said.

61-year-old Xi's expected visit would be his first to the White

House since taking office in March 2013.

It would also be the latest summit between him and Obama, following the informal summit in California in June 2013, and their meeting on the sidelines of the AsiaPacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Beijing last November.

US National Security Adviser Susan Rice said US has invited Xi for a state visit to the country this year.

Commenting on Xi's visit, Chinese analysts said China will continue to push for a "new model of major-country relations," despite the US intention to further promote its "rebalancing" Asian strategy.

Chinese official media came out with scathing commentaries of China containment, when Obama made unprecedented second visit to India last month.

Zhou Wenzhong, former ambassador of China to the US, said that as international society is

faced with an increasingly complicated situation, a healthy SinoUS relationship is key to ensure stability of the world order.

During Xi's trip, discussions will touch upon highly sensitive interactions, but neither of the world's largest economies will risk ties by seeking major confrontation, Chinese strategic analysts said.

The "new model of major-country relations" was a concept proposed by Xi during his visit to Washington in 2012.-PTI

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300 foreign companies to attend Aero India show NEW DELHI: With India emerging as one of the biggest defense market, over 300 foreign firms along with 54 ministerial and other high-level delegations from several countries will be taking part in the 'Aero India' show later this month.

With the theme "Make in India", the 10th international edition of the aerospace and aviation exhibition to be held at Bengaluru from February 18 to 22 will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It will also include sectors like defense manufacturing and airport infrastructure besides aerospace, defense and civil aviation.

Describing the biennial event as one of the largest premium air shows in Asia, Secretary (Defense Production) G Mohan Kumar outlined the impetus of the "Make in India" initiative.

"We want to set 'Make in India' as the major theme of the exhibition and see 'Make in India' progress in the defense sector also," Kumar said at a curtain raiser press conference for mega event here.

Besides 54 ministerial and other high-level delegations from several countries that are slated to attend the inaugural event, the exhibition will also see participation by over 600 companies, including 295 Indian and 328 foreign companies, he said addressing reporters.

With 64 companies, USA is the leading participant in the exhibition among the 33 other countries participating.

Behind them is France with 58 companies, UK with 48, Russia with 41, Israel with 25 and Germany with 17 companies.

French Defense giant Dassault, whose Rafale fighter plane has been selected for procurement under a multibillion dollar deal of 126 aircraft, will also be participating in the event.

It will fly three Rafale jets at the show.

Negotiations over contract finalization are facing trouble and both the countries are working to resolve the matter.

Finmeccanica, which is embroiled in the VVIP chopper scam, will also participate.

The exhibition, which first began in 1996, will also see around 300 CEOs from Indian and foreign industries attending the event.

Business-to-business and round-table meetings of Indian companies with those of Israel, UK and Poland will also be held at the event.

For the first time, the exhibition will witness participation by a few states who want to be partners in defense production and are keen to set up defense-related industry and SEZz. Kumar said Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh have confirmed the participation and they are making policies to attract defense companies to them.

Giving statistics, officials said that 266 Indian companies are participating as compared to 156 last edition while 328 foreign companies are in for this year as compared to 210 last year.

A "Make in India" Defense Manufacturing Investors

Summit and Global CEOs Conference, to be chaired by Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, is also being held for the first time during the air show.

Speakers from Indian defense industries including TATA, Mahindra, L&T, Adani, Bharat Forge along with others will share their vision on defense manufacturing in India.

Even as the number of business visitors is expected to rise by nearly 50 per cent from the last edition to 1,50,000 this year, the air show is invariably a huge attraction for aviation aficionados who throng to the event to witness the static and air display by various aircraft including

fighter, transport, helicopter and aerobatic display teams.

While the number of aircraft participating in static and air displays is tentatively 72, Indian Air Force Sarang Team and air display teams from Sweden, UK, Czech Republic and open sky jump by USA Special Forces are among the major attractions at Aero India-2015.

Among the foreign military aircraft that will be seen at the airshow include F-15C Eagle, Lockheed F-16C, Boeing KC135, Boeing C-17 A Globemaster III, Boeing P-8A Posedon, Rafale Dassault and Emb-145 I, officials said. -PTI

More Top stories on page 24

Desi News Candle light vigil for Kiran Pabla; victim of road racing RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: Kiran Pabla, a 24 year old San Jose native, was jogging when she was run over by one of two cars that lost control while racing on the street.

The two men were racing down Yerba Buena Road, a stretch known for speeding, when the cars hit a guardrail, crashing into Kiran Pabla, a young woman jogging near Edenwood Drive. The men, 19 year old Gabriel Becerra, and 24 year old Manual Malonado, ended up losing control of their speeding cars, hitting Kiran Pabla, and pinning her against a tree, where she eventually died.

Details on page 21

Cleveland to host Indian classical music festival India Post News Service

CLEVELAND, Ohio: One of the biggest festivals of Indian classical music outside India, the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, will be held in Cleveland beginning April 1. It will last 12 days under the auspices of the Aradhana Committee, a group of volunteers who work closely with various other Carnatic music organizations in the United States and Canada to bring artists for the festival.

It was first celebrated in 1978 and this time it will mark its 38th year of continuity.

Details on page 18

Bal Vihar kids excel at Republic Day event RAJ IYER

ST. LOUIS: January 26 this year turned out to be of huge historical significance for India when heads of two of the largest democracies in the world came together to celebrate India's 66th Republic Day of India.

Commemorating this event in its own way, Bal Vihar and its students went extra mile to outdo the efforts from the previous years by putting together a grand celebration with splendid display of India's states, their culture and heritage. India's diversity was at full display at the Republic Day event organized by Bal Vihar of St. Louis. The event took place at Ladue Middle School on January 25.

Details on page 19

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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February 13, 2015

A prison with golden bars is still a prison Details on page 23

Retracing paths of our ancestors through 'History of Yoga'

T

ELIZABETH VISUVALINGAM

he result of six years of complete absorption (samadhi) in Though Patanjali mentions de- erodox, doctrinal streams such as extensive research and the transcendental principle. votion to God as facilitating eman- Jainism, Buddhism, and theistic filming, with 30 scholar India's distinctive civilizational cipation, his Sutras do not pro- devotional currents, such as contributions, showing features are seen as societal ef- pose any theology and its Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Islam.

84 archeological sites and 137 lo- fects of the pursuit of such spiri- Samkhya sister-doctrine is atheisCentral to early Buddhist mocations, visiting 37 museums, libraries, temples, shrines, "History of Yoga - Path of My Ancestors," is a 109-minute English documentary released in DVD by Vishuddhi Films and Madhya Pradesh Madhyam in USA last month.

Directed by Deepika Kothari and Ramji Om, it is now being distributed in North America at $24.

This labor of love may be better described as a recapitulation of the spiritual basis of Indian culture, from its very beginnings.

The textual backbone and anchor of the exposition is the still extant Yoga Sutras of Patanjali formulated in the early centuries of the Common Era, while the enOfficially launched in Mumbai "History of Yoga - Path of My Ancestors" is directed by Deepika Kothari (2nd from left) and Ramji compassing worldview Om (left) and released in person by public intellectual and president of Infinity Foundation, Rajiv Malhotra (4th from left) is provided by its sister cosmogony of Samkhya.

Patanjali's often cryptic 196 apho- tual techniques. tic. That the experiential 'science' nasticism, it later became the inrisms outline a progression of pracThe non-militaristic character of underlying yoga is the basis also spiration for an entire school of tice ascending from yama or re- Indus-Sarasvati Civilization (3400 of medicine and (Sanskrit) gram- thought and practice called straints (nonviolence, truthful- to 1800 BCE), its sophisticated mar is given credence through the Yogacara that underlined the abdrainage network and immense medieval claim that Patanjali like- solute primacy of Consciousness baths, would reflect the preoccu- wise purified the body and speech and thus deeply influenced pation with nonviolence (ahimsa) and purity (cleanliness), embodThat the experiential 'science' underlying ied by the horned "lord of animals" (pashupati) seated in bhadrasana yoga is the basis also of medicine and posture amidst reverent beasts (Sanskrit) grammar is given credence and the "priest-king" depicted in seals and figurines. Familiarity at through the medieval claim that Patanjali the popular level with yoga-like postures is evidenced by many likewise purified the body and speech makterracotta images of the contorted ing them instruments of self-liberation. human torso.

Cover of Yoga DVD The Vedic tradition, though ness, non-theft, chastity and non- centered on the collective perfor- making them instruments of self- Vedantic monism (advaita). In terpossessiveness), niyama or disci- mance of the external sacrifice liberation. minology and approach, Patanjali plines (purity, contentment, etc.), (yajna), remains studded with its The focus on body, mind and Yoga is in some ways perhaps stable comfortable posture associated themes such as mystic consciousness has facilitated this closer to Buddhistic meditation (asana), breath-control physiology (nadis) that are treated inner experiential "technology" than to Samkhya. (pranayama), concentration explicitly in later Upanishadic lit- being adopted and adapted by Cont’d on page 19 (dharana), meditation (dhyana) to erature. otherwise competing, even het-

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India Post 17

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Chicago Tamils celebrate 'Pongal Vizha' ASIAN MEDIA USA & TAMIL SANGAM

CHICAGO: Pongal festival falling on the first day of the month in Tamil Calendar is much more than a ritualistic celebration and open to everyone with no barriers of religion and creed. Representing the Tamil community, Chicago Tamil Sangam (CTS)

hosted its Pongal Vizha "Festival of harvest" celebrations showcasing its affinity towards rich Tamil culture, on January 31 at Hemmens Cultural Centerin Elgin, a northwest suburb of Chicago, with over 500 members and guests attending despite inclement weather.

Air India tips on Visa on Arrival program SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Indian governemnt has introduced a Tourist Visa-on-Arrival (TVoA) program of which citizens of USA and several other countries can take advantage.

The Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) is valid for entry only at any of the following nine designated international Airports: Bangalore,Chennai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai,

Air India Maharaja

Trivandrum Passengers traveling on TvoA enabled ETA to any other cities like Amritsar or Ahmedabad will require to complete their Immigration and Customs formalities at the above nine cities only. If they would like to complete their Immigration and Customs formalities at destination cities other than the nine ETA/TvoA enabled, they need to be in possession of a normal Tourist Visa before embarking travel on Air India.

International passengers traveling EWRAMD on AI144, or those connecting from

AI102/AI126 at Delhi to Amritsar/ Ahmedabad via flight numbers AI 0001 through AI 0199, will clear Immigration and Customs formalities at Amristar and Ahmedabad, respectively, and NOT at Mumbai or Delhi. Whilst making reservations on Air India for through destinations as in the example cited, passengers must possess a normal Tourist Visa in case they are clearing Customs and Immigration at destination airports that do not have ETA/TVoA clearance facility.

Those travelling on ETA/ TVoA will book upto the above listed nine cities for Immigration and Customs clearance, and thereafter continue their journey on any flight as a domestic passenger.

Any changes to reservations/ tickets at the embarking airport Newark (EWR), NewYork (JFK) and Chicago (ORD) resulting due to incorrect documentation, will attract all the fare penalties applicable at the time of departure.

According to a press release by Air India, it will not accept any responsibility towards the correctness of travel documents.

Passengers are solely responsible to ensure that they possess the proper documents for travel, to prevent any avoidable last-minute inconvenience and/or penalties arising due to this lapse, accordign to Rishikant Singh, Regional Manager Air India.

Complete details and the application process for the same can be found on the website http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visavoa

Kummiyattam by audience. Pics Aruloli Rajaram, Arthama Solutions Inc

CTS President Somu Thiru inaugurated the event by introducing organizers Mrs Lakshmi Anandan and Kamala Babu, who then chivalrously welcomed the patrons and the Special Guest Dindigul I. Leoni. This was followed with Kavithai (poem) renditions by Mrs Devi Annamalai and Sivakumar Murugesan.

Then came the stunning presentations by beautiful women and the charming men of Chicagoland area displaying the rich performing arts: traditional, contemporary, classical and folk. The variety transported the audience to the streets and lush fields of Tamil Nadu, from foot tapping to soulful strains of Tamil songs. The whole program was emceed by Mrs Manimekalai Praveen, Mrs Rukmani Sivakumar and Surendar Babu.

A folk dance presentation by Anu, Geetha Jagdeesh, Karthiga Kumaravel and Lavanya Mohan was a real impetus to the group. A semi-classical dance performance by the teens was a real ecstasy for the audience. Followed by that, an assembly of five ladies presented a medley dance performance. The dancers' elegant footwork, fluid movements, and facial expressions beautifully in sync with the melody of the song, made the dance seem almost effortless.

Between colorful dances came "Silambattam" by children from "American Parai Team", St. Louis. Performances by three different dance groups comprising the elegant ladies of Chicagoland truly brought the house down, rather, up, on the stage, with their lively rendering of the latest Tamil film numbers.

Cont’d on page 20

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Cleveland to host Indian classical music festival India Post News Service

CLEVELAND, Ohio: One of the biggest festivals of Indian classical music outside India, the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, will be held in Cleveland beginning April 1. It will last 12 days under the auspices of the Aradhana Committee, a group of volunteers who work closely with various other Carnatic music organizations in the United States and Canada to bring artists for the

festival.

It was first celebrated in 1978 and this time it will mark its 38th year of continuity.

Expectations are that there will be 8000 plus attendees during the course of the festival with the first day getting in about 2000 of them.

The Aradhana Committee, a non-profit organization responsible for organization of this Festival, includes President R. Balasubramaniam, Co-founder/

Secretary V.V. Sundaram, Cofounder/Vice-President Gomathy Balasubramaniam, Treasurers Roger and Jaya Natarajan, K. Venkataraman, among others The committee has programs for Sustaining Sampradaya that include some of the greatest compositions of Carnatic music in some of the most enchanting ragas.

The first program is an offering to the presiding deity of the seven hills, Lord Venkateswara.

Thyagaraja Music Festival participants

The second program will be dedicated to the memory of two of the greatest exponents of Indian Classical Arts namely the musicians' musician Sangeetha Kala Sagaram Prof.

T.R. Subrahmanyam and the violin legend Sangeetha Rathnakara Sri M.S. Gopalakrishnan.

It will include over 200 celebrity artistes in over 85 concerts; including Carnatic Symphony, a fusion of Western music orchestra with Carnatic music presented by about 100 talented children of

part of this Festival which will also bestow various music and dance awards, like Sangeetha Rathnakara, Nrithya Rathnakara, Sangeetha Kala Sagaram, Nrithya Kala Sagaram, etc and organize educational programs, including "The Glory of Lord Venkateswara".

Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, commended the Festival organizers, volunteers and the Cleveland area community for piecing together such a wonderful event showcasing heritage and tradition of classical music and dance of India and Hinduism, including a musical offering to L o r d Venkateswara praising his glory.

Rajan indicated that the elements of musical theory were first found in ancient Sama-Veda.

By tradition, the dance was invented by Lord Shiva who first danced the Thyagaraja Music Festival participants c o s m i c Ta n d a v a . various nationalities and con- Zed urged Ohio Governor John ducted by K.N.Shashikiran.

R. Kasich to issue an official procMusic and Bharathanatyam lamation marking this unique and dance competitions will also form prestigious Festival.

February 13, 2015

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Bal Vihar kids excel at Republic Day event RAJ IYER

Attendance at Bal Vihar celebrations

Retracing paths of our ancestors through 'History of Yoga' Yoga practices were however not dependent on textual erudition and elite culture for their propagation, development and diffusion beyond sectarian boundaries, as demonstrated by later Nath and Baul traditions, whose often illiterate adepts captured the popular imagination. In attempting a comprehensive panorama of yoga from other sources, the documentary, unwittingly relativizes and problematizes the significance of the Sutras.

Samkhya dualism posits two fundamentally distinct, male and female principles: aloof inactive consciousness (purusha) versus insentient dynamic nature (prakriti). By disentangling the two, its "path of knowledge" aims to detach the suffering finite self from its superimposed human identity. Patanjali Yoga constitutes the practical aspect of this dis-identification from mental and physical limitations. Because Prakriti is depicted as a seductive woman under whose spell Purusha has fallen, the Samkhya-Yoga framework is derived from a matriarchal, still surviving, prehistory where the Mother Goddess reigned supreme before being overlaid and domesticated by brahmanical patriarchy.

This cultic context is seen in the architectural vestiges of the medieval Yogini temples. The psychophysical methods that (re-) emerge

in trans-sectarian Tantra would be therefore more faithful to the 'original' outlook than the Purusha-centered 'vision' (darshana) privileged by classical Samkhya-Yoga.

The 112 techniques compiled (by 800 CE) as the esoteric Vijnana-Bhairava Tantra also exploit sensual (gustatory and sexual) enjoyment and agitated states (anger, fear, disgust, laughter, etc.)-mental modifications (citta-vritti) that Patanjali Yoga aims to suppress-as springboards

Indian music is rooted in the "yoga of sound" (nada) as Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar demonstrates by eking out various mantras on his veena.

Sufis, especially from the Qadiri order, readily assimilated its elements into their meditative practices to spiritual insight. In other words, the detachment or "ascent" of consciousness from the clutches of matter is complemented by its "re-descent" into embodied existence as autonomous agent imbued with power.

The latter aesthetic perception of life appeals especially to artists

and those artisans, who seem to have crafted astounding creations after having meditated on their inner essence. This is the lesson drawn from the three-faced Shiva of the Ellora cave, fearsome on one side balanced by the effeminate on the other, mediated by the tranquil middle face.

Indian music is rooted in the "yoga of sound" (nada) as Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar demonstrates by eking out various mantras on his veena. Sufis, especially from the Qadiri order, readily assimilated its elements into their meditative practices focused on repeating (dhikr) the holy names of God. The tradition was transplanted in the late 19th century through Swami Vivekananda's Raja Yoga lectures to America, where the associated physical postures have become a multimillion dollar health industry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposed an International Day of Yoga at his October 2014 address before the United Nations, a call since endorsed by over 175 other nations and fixed as June 21.

The only Hindu member of Congress, Tulsi Gabbard, has publicly championed this initiative.

"History of Yoga" that the Indian Government has now sent for screening to all its missions abroad is a readily accessible, comprehensive and laudable attempt to re-anchor this exploding global interest within its original, ancient religio-cultural context.

ST. LOUIS: January 26 this year turned out to be of huge historical significance for India when heads of two of the largest democracies in the world came together to celebrate India's 66th Republic Day of India.

Commemorating this event in its

Gandhi's great grandson). These dignitaries also formed the panel of judges that reviewed booths from various States and recognized the best display. Also present were Cecilia Nadal (Gitana Productions), Jeannetter Cooperman (STL Magazine) and Andrew Cooperman.

The day opened with a group of young musicians from Bal Vihar playing United States and Indian national anthem. It is a real treat to see a young orchestra playing so melodiously.

Each class put together a splendid display in their effort to outdo each other with facts even natives may not claim to know. Those present could get a glimpse of the largest democratic republic. The kids were dressed in traditional Indian clothes. There were so many details and not enough time to capture them all. There were also food samples from these states that provided an insight into their cuisine.

It was heartening to see that the second generation Indians, get a chance to view and delve into India's culture, history and food among other aspects.

Center for Indian Cultural Education - Bal Vihar of St. Louis, a nonprofit organization, since its incep-

Bal Vihar kids singing national anthem

own way, Bal Vihar and its students went extra mile to outdo the efforts from the previous years by putting together a grand celebration with splendid display of India's states, their culture and heritage. India's diversity was at full display at the Republic Day event organized by Bal Vihar of St. Louis. The event took place at Ladue Middle School on January 25.

Eminent people from the city present on the occasion were Dr Smita & Dr Sharad Parikh, Dr Amita & Tony Bhalla, Deepika & Chand Vyas, and Rahul Parikh (Mahatma

tion in 1992 has been serving the Metro St. Louis Indian community.

The primary focus of this organization is to provide Indian cultural education to students age 5-18 and its application and integration with the global multicultural and multifaceted society. They are also taught discipline, tolerance and devotion in their daily routine. The ultimate goal is "to throw the light of cultural knowledge on every child, to make every child an outstanding citizen and to spread the song of peace and harmony around the world."

Kids in Indian dresses

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First Bank officials active in Chambers of Commerce SURENDRA ULLAL

EVANSTON: First Bank & Trust, a front ranking community bank in Evanston, has announced that two of its top executives Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking Michael Corr and Vice President of Banking and Branch Manager David Putrus will be more actively involved in community affairs with both recently commencing terms as presidents of their local chamber

of commerce.

Putrus has been working at First Bank & Trust since 2004. He also serves on the board of many Skokie organizations including Turning Point Behavioral Health Care Center, the Village of SkokieEconomic Development Commission, the District 219 Education Foundation, the Skokie North shore Sculpture Park and the Skokie Lions Club.

Corr, who is based out of the bank's main office at 820 Church St. in Evanston, will lead the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, while Putrus, who is the manager of the bank's branch at 8047 Skokie Blvd. in Skokie, will take the helm of the Skokie Chamber of Commerce. Both terms last one year.

Corr has been working at First Bank & Trust since 2002 and is very active in the Evanston com-

Chicago Tamils celebrate 'Pongal Vizha'

munity. He serves on the board of Lending for Evanston and Northwestern Development (LEND) and Turning Point Behav-

"We are truly proud of the contribution that both David and Michael have made to Evanston and Skokie, and we know both of

David Putrus and Michael Corr

ioral Health Care Center in Skokie, and is a member of the City of Evanston Downtown Performing Arts Task Force.

"First Bank & Trust believes strongly in being an integral part of the communities we serve," said Michael Yohanan, marketing manager for First Bank & Trust.

them will inspire other members of the Chambers with their passion for their communities."

The Bank is a locally owned and managed bank with a mission to supporting individuals, privately-held and family-owned businesses and non-profits as they pursue their dreams.

Intra World celebrates 30th anniversary SURENDRA ULLAL Chicago Sooravaligal Team - Mani, Lakshmi, Sriram, Deepa, Vidhya, Ranganathan, Ramesh and Jayshri Cont’d from page 17

For the first time, CTS patrons have organized a special presentation that paid a tribute, "Pushpanjali" to Iyakkunar Sigaram (literally The Director who scaled the peak) K. Balachander.

A team of dazzling 16 brought in the characters that were ever relished by the Tamil community.

With the traditional and appropriate attire conveyed by perfect synchronization of music and dance, the performers kept the audience spellbound.

The list of performances came to an end with "Paraiyattam" (an authentic dance form of Tamil Nadu) and "Kummiyattam" by "American Parai Team" from St Louis. N. Chandrakumar, Seeni Guruswamy, and Anand S. Anandan honored the performers.

Socrates Ponnusamy announced the recent developments of CTS website and thanked the generous sponsors - Professional Mortgage Solutions Inc., Sunshine Services Inc., Motherland Day Care and T.R Viswanathan, RE/MAX. Somu Thiru introduced Chief Guest Dindigul I. Leoni, who was

honored by the previous Presidents of CTS Veera Venugopal, Muthusamy Selvaraj, Ram Raghuraman and M. Bhaskaran.

Encompassing eight local talents this show was an intellectual and joyful treat for the audience and for the participants

EVANSTON: It was a great day not only for Intra World Travel and Tours, an Evanston based Indian owned travel firm but also for the Indian community at large when the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and the City of Evanston took initiative in honoring the firm for its yeomen services to the City and the travel public at large for thirty long

rector of Evanston Chambers of Commerce Elaine Kemna-Irish, lead airliners-Cathay Pacific and Japan representatives, associates and well wishers of the company.

The company was the outcome of a great initiative by its founder Dial Gidwaney who brought huge travel experience with him working in a senior position with Air India. Hailing originally from un-

Ribbon cutting by Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl with Gidwanis ( Founder president Dial Gidwaney is extreme left)

Medley dance performance by Geetha Alagappan, Sudha Annamalai, Veena Karthik, Paru Venkat, Meena Sathappan and Devi Meyyappan

years.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was organized on January 29 at 1740 Ridge Avenue in Evanston with Elizabeth Tisdahl, Mayor of Evanston leading the celebration by cutting the ribbon. Present on the occasion were Executive Di-

divided India, Gidwanis migrated to India during partition.

Choithram Gidwani, Dial Gidwani's uncle, was a confidante of Pundit Nehru and was also a Member of Indian Parliament.

Cont’d on page 22

February 13, 2015

Community Across America www.indiapost.com

Candle light vigil for Kiran Pabla; victim of road racing rupted by traffic lights or stop signs. Police have stated that accident rates are not out of line with comparable San Jose roads but residents of the area are calling for action. Neighbors are horrified and are calling for immediate changes to the dangerous stretch of the road. Neighbors hope this crash will serve as a wake-up call to public officials.

Kiran Pabla

RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: Kiran Pabla, a 24 year old San Jose native, was jogging when she was run over by one of two cars that lost control while racing on the street.

The two men were racing down Yerba Buena Road, a stretch known for speeding, when the cars hit a guardrail, crashing into Kiran Pabla, a young woman jogging near Edenwood Drive. The men, 19 year old Gabriel Becerra, and 24 year old Manual Malonado, ended up losing control of their speeding cars, hitting Kiran Pabla, and pinning her against a tree, where she eventually died.

The drivers have been booked on charges of vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving. They face a maximum sentence of six years in prison. The two men did not know each other prior to the race and had no prior criminal history.

The community held a candle light vigil at Fremont Hindu Temple to remember Kiran Pabla. Hundreds of community members came to show solidarity. Dr Romesh Japra, Convener and President of Federation of Indo Americans (FIA) of Northern California, spoke at the vigil and called for action to create awareness and build deterrents to avoid such incidents in future.

The drivers have been booked on charges of vehicular manslaughter and reckless driving. They face a maximum sentence of six years in prison.

At the vigil, Kiran's family members were very emotional and emphatic that justice should be done and the two drivers be held accountable for their actions and the devastation these two drivers have caused with their senseless behavior. Kiran's brother Kunal Singh called upon police to be more vigilant and take action to make roads safer.

"My niece was 24. She hadn't seen a life," said Samir Mohan, Kiran's uncle. "I really want to make sure justice is done for the murder they committed ‌ it is no way for a child to die."

Pabla's death has sparked residential concern and outrage about a stretch of road known for speeding problems, uninter-

Community gathered for the candle light vigil

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Grand centennial celebration of Panama-Pacific Exposition India Post News Service

SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The centennial celebration of the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exposition (PPIE) officially kicks off the weekend of February 20th with three days filled with spectacular events, activities, exhibitions, historic light displays and entertainment for history buffs, innovators and families that will bring to life the spirit and innovation of the 1915 World's Fair.

The main feature of the weekend events is PPIE100 Community Day, a free event for the public that begins at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, February 21 at the Palace of Fine Arts and boasts a celebration of music, arts, history and innovation - all of the things that made the 1915 World's Fair such a special moment for San Francisco and the World a century ago.

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department is hosting PPIE100 Community Day, which begins with a grand opening ceremony. Celebrities and Fair attendees of the time - Buffalo Bill

Cody, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Henry Ford, Charlie Chaplin, Michael H De Young, and aviator Art Smith will be among the special guests, dignitaries and entertainment on hand to help officially re-open the

grand doors of the Palace to the public.

Inside visitors will get to expe-

rience the beautiful Palace, transformed into Innovation Hangar (iHangar), a unique social innovation space that facilitates connections, ideas and investments in a way that simply cannot happen in the virtual world. iHangar will be open throughout the year to the public and feature new inventions and prototypes, hands-on educational activities and amazing exhibitions from Bay Area Discovery Museum, Kaboom, Smithsonian, Maker Media, Tech Museum, ARUP, Palace Escape and Wearable World Technologies, among others. Also featured is a 10,000 sq. ft. exhibition by the California Historical Society, "City Rising: San Francisco and the 1915 World's Fair" that shares the rich and remarkable history of the PPIE. A broad array Bay Area cultural institutions, including the Fine Arts Museums San Francisco, Music In Schools Today, The Exploratorium, and Heyday Books, along with companies with connections to the original Fair (AT&T, Wells Fargo, and Ford Motor Company),

Intra World celebrates 30th anniversary Cont’d from page 20

Ajay Gidwani, the CEO of the company said that "this year Intra World Travels and Tours celebrates thirty years of service to the Evanston community, a landmark. We know the main reason for our continued success is you, our customers and the airlines we engage. All of you have come to expect and to rely on the professional advice and personal service we offer you. We thank you sincerely for your trust."

In 1985 the founder of Intra World, Dial Gidwaney, brought 30 years of experience with an international airline to the start up and together with his two sons set out to make his firm best in class. In the intervening years the nature of the travel industry has altered in significant ways and personal travel advisors have struggled to stay

afloat in a turbulent times of competition and technological changes.

Airlines themselves, pressured by costs since 9/11, have tended to favor online travel companies

provided the high standard of service that is consistent with our philosophy and logo. New direction of Intra is to continue to serve the community with their travel requirements, the old fashioned

Ajay Gidwani talking to Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl

over consumer-friendly agencies.

Rigorous cut-backs have deprived travelers of the benefits brought to them by agents whose direct communication and expert advice is delivered with a human touch.

"Intra World, a family-owned firm, has a carefully selected list it calls its 'partner of airlines. These airline partners have consistently

way by giving quality service and continued advocacy on their behalf, when it comes to dealing with today's airlines."

"Because of the trust and confidence we have built over the years we are able to provide advocates for our clients in case of disagreements with our partner airlines," added Ajay.

will be featured, along with more than thirty other community organizations.

Visitors will be able to see rare collections of PPIE artifacts, original 1915 Ford Model T's, sit in a Wells Fargo stagecoach and take special period photos with historic treasures. Guardians of the City will feature three of the ten origi-

San Francisco Recreation and Parks Department, which manages the Palace of Fine Arts. "This is going to be an exciting, historic weekend with lots of fun, entertaining events for families to enjoy."

Additional events taking place during PPIE100 opening weekend include: The San Francisco Eth-

The main feature of the weekend events is PPIE100 Community Day, a free event for the public that begins at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, February 21 at the Palace of Fine Arts and boasts a celebration of music, arts, history and innovation nal fire engines from the Exposition. Author Laura Ackley will sign copies of her new book, San Francisco's Jewel City.

There will be plenty of food, drinks and fun for all to enjoy. Special entertainment includes performances by the Academy Of Hawaiian Arts, Emeryville Taiko, Nemenzo Polynesian Dance Company, Jessica Recinos Featuring Soltrón, Mala Junta, the San Francisco Opera and Merola Opera Program .

At 3:00 p.m. a much-anticipated Uke-a-Thon begins under the Rotunda, where hundreds of professional and amateur Ukulele players, led by Ben Ahn, Hana hou 100, and Hiram Kaailau Bell, join special guests in a salute this amazing instrument, first introduced to the United States at the PPIE, sparking a "Uke" craze throughout the nation.

nic Dance Festival 2015 Season "Under the Rotunda" at City Hall with dance and music from a myriad of world cultures honoring PPIE (Friday, 2/20 @ 12:00 Noon); The opening of the California Historical Society sister exhibit City Rising: San Francisco and The 1915 World's Fair at 678 Mission Street - a stunning jewel-box show, highlighting the Fair's history, beauty, complexity, and impact.

(Sunday, 2/22, 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.); and a Commonwealth Club panel discussion with historians and cultural leaders about PPIE. (2/23 @ 7:00 p.m.).

February 20, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the PPIE, celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal and showcasing San Francisco - its recovery from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire and its world trade potential. In commemoration of this semi-

February 20, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the PPIE, celebrating the completion of the Panama Canal and showcasing San Francisco - its recovery from the ashes of the 1906 earthquake and fire PPIE100 Community Day concludes Saturday evening with Palace After Dark from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. where the public can stroll the Palace Grounds and experience what it was like to be at the World's Fair and enjoy a film and light installation by Optic Flare, made possible by a grant from Taube Philanthropies and the Friend family.

The public will also be able to experience Palace After Dark on Friday evening from 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.

"We are thrilled to be re-opening the beautiful Palace of Fine Arts to the public and bringing together so many of San Francisco's cultural, civic and business organizations to celebrate the 1915 World's Fair and the innovation of Then, Now and Tomorrow," said Phil Ginsburg, General Manager,

nal event in San Francisco history, CHS, together with RPD, Innovation Hangar and Maybeck Foundation are organizing a yearlong series of public events, exhibitions and activities, presented by more than 40 Bay Area cultural, civic and business organizations to reflect on PPIE's historical significance and celebrate the innovations of "Then, Now and Tomorrow".

AT&T is the presenting sponsor of PPIE100 with Hearst Corporation sponsoring the grand opening weekend. Other major support is being provided by Wells Fargo, Ford, Henry Mayo Newhall Foundation, Sterling Bank/Seligman Family Foundation and Recology.

All the details for the weekend events can be found at www.PPIE100.org.

February 13, 2015

Community Across America

India Post 23

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A prison with golden bars is still a prison SWAMI NIKHILANAND

I

n the last article, we saw that although Shree Krishna explained to Arjun that if he did his duty by fighting the war, he would be rewarded with the pleasures of this world or of swarg. However, this was not sufficient incentive to motivate Arjun to fight the war. He was convinced that both worldly pleasures and those of swarg are temporary and unfulfilling.

Both good actions (punya) and bad actions (pap) are binding.

Punya sends one to swarg, and pap sends one to narak, but in either case one is still stuck in the cycle of birth and death and under the bondage of karm, time, and maya.

Whether you put poison in a sweet ball that tastes delicious, or you put poison in a bitter drink that tastes terrible, it is still poison. Whether you go to swarg and enjoy, or whether you go to narak and suffer, you are still under maya, and you still end up being reborn in this world.

Swarg is like a prison with golden bars, and this world is like a prison with iron bars, but both are within the realm of maya. After having understood the reality of Swarg, Arjun wanted to go beyond it. Shree Krishna told him that He is going to explain karm yog, by

Swami Nikhilanand

practicing which he can be freed from the bondage of karm and the cycle of birth and death (chapter 2, verses 38-40).

Beyond the Ved Surprisingly, at this point Shree Krishna tells Arjun that he must go beyond the teachings of the Ved. Why would Shree Krishna say such a thing? After all, the Ved is the foundation of Sanatan Dharm, and all other scriptures like the Gita are based on the teachings of the Ved. Here we must remember that the Ved and other scriptures of Sanatan Dharm are a fully coordinated, multi-tiered edu-

cational system that has something for everyone, depending on their level of spiritual advancement, and the goal they wish to attain.

The lowest level of this system teaches people how to be good, and gives them incentive to develop discipline and the positive qualities of their mind. This is handled by the karm kand of the Ved, which comprises 80% of the one hundred thousand mantras of the Ved. It tells the law of karm, what is punya, what is pap, and what are the rewards for punya, and the punishments for pap. In other words, it tells all of the do's and don'ts that a person should live by. This is called the vidhi and nishedh of the Ved. By understanding this, a person who desires to enjoy this world - but does not yet desire God - will be motivated to perform good actions in order to secure more worldly prosperity for himself in the future, and to avoid the punishments of bad karm.

However, as explained above, this can only take a person so far.

After many lifetimes of such good actions, a person may start to wonder if there is something more - if there is a state of perfect happiness beyond the cycle of birth and death and beyond the sufferings of this world.

This means that this person has sufficiently evolved the good qualities of his m i n d (through following the do's and don'ts of the Ved) that he is now ready to go to the next level. At this time, he must transcend the mere do's and don'ts of the Ved and learn how to reach God. Striving for the Divine goal Thus, Shree Krishna tells Arjun that the teachings of the karm kand of Ved are limited to the three qualities of maya (sattva, raj, tam), and must be transcended. Instead of making the attainment of worldly happiness his goal in life, he should make the attainment of God the goal of his life (chapter 2, verse 45). God is absolute bliss and knowledge, and the one who attains Him becomes equally blissful and knowledgeable.

After attaining God, Who is the unlimited ocean of bliss, a person has as much use for the pleasures of the world as a person in possession of an ocean would have

birth and death? How does karm yog result in the attainment of God? All these questions will be addressed in the next article.

for a small puddle (chapter 2, verse 46). Karm yog is one of the ways of attaining God, which Shree Krishna proceeded to explain to Arjun.

Disciple of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj Swami Nikhilanand Ji is a Canadian born Hindu spiritual leader based in Austin, Texas. He is a sanyasi disciple and pracharak of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj.

What is karm yog?

To perform karm yog, you must not be attached to the outcome of your actions, nor must you be attached to inaction (chapter 2, verse 47). While keeping your mind in God, you must perform your duty free of attachment and be unaffected by either success or failure (chapter 2, verse 48).

Then you will transcend good and bad actions and attain freedom from the bondage of karm (chapter 2, verse 50).

By performing your actions while renouncing the fruit of those actions, you will be freed from the bondage of birth and death and will attain a perfect, eternal Divine state (chapter 2, verse 51). This is how Shree Krishna presents the practice of karm yog to Arjun, which brings up several questions.

How can one perform an action without being attached to the outcome? By nature, when we undertake an action, it is with a specific goal in mind - so how could we not be attached to the outcome?

How is it possible to keep the mind in God while performing any action?

The involvement of the mind is required for the performance of any action, so how can the mind be in two places at once? How does karm yog free one from the bondage of karm? How does karm yog free one from the bondage of

Attracted to the teachings of Hinduism from a young age, Swamiji eventually let his deep spiritual longing lead him to India, where he was most fortunate to come under the guidance of Shree Kripaluji Maharaj. Thereafter, living in the ashrams of JKP, he extensively studied Hindi, the philosophy of the prime Sanskrit scriptures (Vedas, Darshan Shastras, Gita, Bhagwatam), and practiced meditation in the tradition of raganuga bhakti. In 2003, he was given sanyas.

Now, with the blessings of his Guruji, he offers satsang programs throughout America, engaging audiences with his clear explanations of Hindu philosophy coupled with inspired chanting of Sanskrit mantras and shlokas and charming nam sankirtan. His informative and compelling speeches provide practical insight into how to adopt the teachings of Sanatan Dharm into our daily lives, and inspire us to awaken our inner spiritual potential.

To stay in touch with Swami Nikhilanand Ji, like his Facebook page at https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / SwamiNikhilanand or follow him on twitter at https://twitter.com/ Swami_Nikhil.

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February 13, 2015

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India commits to achieving Indo-Bangla Maitree Express firebombed 'gender-equal world' UNITED NATIONS: Voicing its commitment towards achieving a "gender-equal world", India has said that empowering women using enabling information technology could be a "game changer" as technology-enabled women would lead to a "technology-enabled society" faster.

First Secretary in the Indian Mission to the UN Mayank Joshi said at the first regular session of UN Women Executive Board here that India is committed to steadfastly continue to working together with UN Women and the international community for achieving a "gender-equal world". "...Empowering women using enabling Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) could be a game changer if harnessed and applied to its full potential, especially in areas of education, healthcare, water and sanitation, energy and help in expediting addressing the challenges of digital divide. Technology-enabled women would lead to a technology- enabled society faster," he said.

He noted that UN Women should also enhance visibility of donations and introduce incen-

tives for donors, who in turn should now move beyond mere political rhetoric of stated commitments.

India, the largest donor among developing countries, has fulfilled its commitment of USD five million to UN Women, having made

He also voiced India's full support to the UN's 'HeForShe' Campaign, a step based on the principle of shared power and responsibility among women and men at home and in the workplace USD one million contribution last year in November.

He also voiced India's full support to the UN's 'HeForShe' Campaign, a step based on the principle of shared power and responsibility among women and men at home and in the workplace.

He highlighted measures taken

by the Indian government towards ensuring equality and dignity for women.

India has nearly 1.5 million elected and empowered women representatives and the recently launched "Beti Bachao Beti Padao" program is envisioned to break the intergenerational cycle of multiple deprivations faced by girls and women, critical for more inclusive and sustainable growth and arrest gender differential.

"Education, health, development and empowerment of women and girls remain a high priority in our government policies," he said, adding that legislations have been enacted aiming at elimination of violence against women in India and ensuring their protection from sexual offences.

The National Rural Health Mission is working on improvement of many indicators pertaining to gender and women, particularly from vulnerable communities, he said.

"Mainstreaming gender concerns in the policies and programs of different Ministries/Departments of Government of India and State Governments through gender budgeting has been specially emphasized," he said. -PTI

President of the Republic of Singapore, Tony Tan Keng Yam and Mary Tan being welcomed by the President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his arrival at Ceremonial Reception, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on February 9

DHAKA: Passengers on the Indo-Bangla 'Maitree Express' had a narrow escape when opposition activists hurled petrol bombs on the train coming from Kolkata, as violence triggered by BNPenforced nationwide transport blockade continued unabated in Bangladesh.

The suspected blockaders hurled several rounds of petrol bombs on the train near western

After the attack on 'Maitree Express', a changed engine later brought the carriages to Dhaka with passengers onboard, said Sayedur Rahman, assistant director of Bangladesh Railway.

A manhunt is underway to track down the attackers.

The incident took place on the first day of a fresh 72-hour spell of general strike sponsored by the BNP-led 20-party

Maitree Express

Iswardi Railway Station on its alliance. way back to Dhaka, railway offiThe attack on Maitree Excials said. press came five days after saboNo passenger was injured in teurs uprooted tracks derailing the attack which caused minor a train injuring five people and damage to the engine as the delinking southeastern port city bombs exploded under its of Chittagong with rest of the wheels, a railway spokesman country for hours in railway told PTI in Dhaka. routes.

The attack is the latest in a spate of political violence that has The attack is the latest in a claimed 75 lives so far in Bangladesh, where spate of political violence the opposition BNP that has claimed 75 lives so has clamped an indefinite countrywide far in Bangladesh, where the blockade. opposition BNP has At least nine perclamped an indefinite sons, including three children, were burnt countrywide blockade. At alive in the past two least nine persons, days when opposition activists hurled petrol including three children bombs at a packed bus and a truck.

"Since the unrest began, we Railway officials said this was issued directives for passengers the eighth such attack on trains to keep shut the windows and in the country since former Prime loco masters to keep an extra eye Minister Khaleda Zia's BNP on tracks and limit the speed launched the transport blockade within 40 kilometers per hour inon highways, railways and wa- stead of routine 70 km per hour. terways on February 6 as part of This has caused a collapse their protest against Sheikh schedule but so far we evaded Hasina government, demanding any deadly crashes," a railway mid-term elections. official said. -PTI

February 13, 2015

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February 13, 2015

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Cameron woos Indian-origin voters in UK LONDON: Ahead of the general election in May, Prime Minister David Cameron has praised the crucial Indian- origin voters in the United Kingdom and highlighted their "amazing" contributions to the British society.

During a visit to a gurdwara in the West Midlands region, Cameron praised the Sikh community in the country.

"As with other British Asians, British Sikhs make an amazing contribution to our country: in business, in our military, in our communities, in our charities," he said.

"We should celebrate that our country is a successful multi-faith, multi-ethnic democracy," said the 48-year-old leader during a visit to Gurdwara Sahib Leamington and Warwick in Warwickshire.

"Of course we need to do more to promote opportunity but already you can see people who in one or two generations can come here, build a future for themselves and end up at the top in politics, in business," Cameron said.

According to a recent analysis, India-born migrants form UK's largest population of foreign-born voters and could play a decisive role in some constituencies in the general election on May 7.

British Prime Minister David Cameron making chapatis as he takes part in community service during a visit to the Gurdwara Sahib in Leamington Spa, U K on February 6

As per 2011 census, nearly 4.3 lakh Sikhs live in England. They have a considerable influence on 50-100 seats of out of the total 650.

About 615,000 Indian-origin voters are expected to vote in the election and patterns suggest

they are likely to prefer parties viewed positive about race-equality and immigration, says a new study titled 'Migrant Voters in the 2015 Election'.

Cameron highlighted Conservative party's pro-India views yet

again by referring to the BritishIndian ties as "something very close to my heart."

He said: "It was the first major country I visited as leader of the opposition, and I have made three trips to India as Prime Minister."

"I had a very good meeting with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi when we met in Australia. I think all the elements are there -the trade relationship is good, India invest more into Britain than the rest of Europe combined, the links between our communities are very strong."

He said: "I also think there's a growing understanding that the rise of India in the world, Britain and India as the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy should be cooperating over vital international issues like climate change and supporting free trade.

"There is a real opportunity for us to work together."

Leaders of major parties, including Labor's Ed Miliband and Liberal Democrats' Nick Clegg, have been seen at Hindu temples and gurdwaras across Britain in the last few months as part of an attempt to woo the ethnic minority community.

Operation Black Vote, a nonpartisan campaign group, has concluded that there will be 70 per cent more seats where black and Asian voters could decide the outcome this year than there were in the last election in 2010. -PTI

India for enhanced resources on Eyedrops may be replaced by stick-on nanowafers climate change UNITED NATIONS: As the global community readies to adopt an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, India has highlighted the importance of ensuring enhanced resources to developing countries to combat climate change.

"It is important to ensure that the enhanced provision of resources to developing countries for climate change and environmental concerns is additional and not at the cost of traditional development finance.

"The present double counting of climate finance with Official Development Assistance (ODA) is a matter of concern," counselor in the Indian Mission to the UN Amit Narang said.

Even though ODA levels have regrettably declined, this does not diminish their relevance and ODA would remain relevant and important in the post-2015 period, he said, adding that much of the recent discourse has focused on the insufficiency and declining role of ODA. "In fact the broader agenda envisaged under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) s

would require ODA levels to be enhanced and scaled up," Narang said in the General Assembly debate on 'Means of Implementation for a Transformative Post-2015 Development Agenda.'

He said the organization of Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa in July this

Amit Narang

year is a welcome opportunity to enrich global efforts to forge an ambitious set of 'means' for implementing the agenda.

"The linkage between the Post2015 and Financing for Development processes must be seen through the lens of 'complementarity'. The objective of the Financing for Development Conference is not to replace the

Means of Implementation segment under the Post-2015 Development Agenda, but to complement it," Narang said.

He said the broader and integrated development template of the SDG will require an integrated and comprehensive financing strategy to ensure the provision of additional, predictable and stable flows of resources to developing countries.

Narang noted that the starting point for forging a revitalized global partnership must be to draw lessons from the implementation of Millenium Development Goals, where the keys failures included a lack of integration and synergy between the substantive goals and the Global Partnership framework.

An excessive reliance on donor-recipient framework to the detriment of systemic issues for boosting growth and a complete absence of monitoring and accountability of the global partnership against agreed targets and indicators.

For South-South cooperation to live up to its potential, it must be allowed to grow under its own impetus, he said.-PTI

WASHINGTON: Tiny drugcontaining polymer nanowafers that are applied to the eye like a contact lens can eliminate the need for medicinal eyedrops, according to scientists, including one of Indian-origin.

The nanowafers in the eye would proceed to gradually dissolve, releasing medic a t i o n throughout the day, researchers said.

Eyedrops do not always go right into the eye, and the liquid medication is often quickly expelled by blinking, or washed away by tears.

A team of scientists from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, led by Dr Ghanashyam Acharya developed the nanowafer. It's clear and discshaped like a contact lens, but is only about one-tenth the size.

The pharmaceutical payload is contained within an array of

nanoreservoirs embedded throughout the non-toxic polymer, 'Gizmag' reported.

Users would apply it to the surface of their eye just once a day, then leave it to dissolve on its own - repeated blinking would not displace it.

In a lab test, nanowafers loaded with antibiotics were used to treat burns on the corneas of mice. A second group of mice received the same medication, but in the form of eye drops delivered twice a day.

When the corneas were examined after 10 days of treatment, researchers found that the wafers were approximately twice as effective at healing the wounds.

The research was published in the journal ACS Nano. -PTI

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Khamoshiyan : Khamoshiyan 2 Tu Hai Ki Nahi : Roy 3 Sooraj Dooba Hain : Roy 4 Tu Har Lamha : 28 India Post

February 13, 2015

www.indiapost.com

K

areena Kapoor Khan, who is currently busy with family affairs and 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' will be next seen playing a schizophrenia patient in Raj Kumar Gupta's next. The 'No One Kiled Jessica' director indirectly confirmed the news. It is learnt that the dark and mysterious tale will revolve around Kareena's character and she will play a schizophrenia patient.

When she is released from a mental asylum, Kareena finds herself trapped in some criminal activities. Amidst this dangerous mental condition, Kareena commits some offense unknowingly.

According to Raj Kumar Gupta, this untitled film is based on a real life incident and it explores the Section 84 of the Indian Penal Code which states, 'Nothing is an offence which is done by a person who, at the time of doing it, by reason of unsoundness of mind, is incapable of knowing the nature of the act, or that he is doing what is either wrong or contrary to law.'

Amidst this dangerous mental condition, Kareena commits some offense unknowingly

A

ccording to the latest grape vine, Bollywood actress Amrita Rao has secretly mar ried boyfriend RJ Anmol. It is heard that the actress has married Anmol in a private ceremony in Mumbai.

Says a source, "They tied the knot a few months ago and have been living in their own pad at Vakola, close to where Anmol's family stays. Amrita earlier lived in with her folks in Versova."

Anmol who is an RJ of a music radio station also does a show for a sports channel now. Adds the source, "She has been conducting professional meetings at her new Vakola home. After her sister Preetika Rao featured in the TV show 'Beintehaa', she too is keen on exploring television since her Bollywood career isn't booming at the moment."

The actress's engagement rumor sparked when she was spotted with a ring at an event. Rumor got rife when she visited a private nursing home in Santa Cruz where Anmol was admitted when he was ailing.

Khamoshiyan 5 Tharki Chokro : PK 6 Superman : Tevar 7 Dance Basanti : Ungli 8 Lovely : Happy New Year 9 Mileya Mileya : Happy Ending 10 Chaar Kadam : PK

A

ctress Neha Sharma's last film, Youngistaan, which didn't do well in India, was submitted as an independent entry to the Oscars sometime back.

Ask her on it and she says," Honestly, everybody had an opinion a b o u t Youngistaan making it to the Oscars and I am not saying that we have made the best film of the year. But I don't know what is the parameter of a good film and a bad film or a successful film and a not-so-successful film.

There are times when good films are not successful and there are times when bad films are successful.

"Of course there were some fantastic films that people would have wanted to go to the Oscars, like everyone is telling me that PK is the coolest film of the year. But I don't know if it deserves an Oscar. Frankly speaking, I never thought that Youngistaan was going to make it to the Oscars. But when I found out, I was obviously happy 'coz I was a part of the film.

Bollywood

February 13, 2015

India Post 29

www.indiapost.com

N

ational award winner

Dhanush, who made his big Bollywood debut with Raanjhanaa, a film that brought him accolades, will be seen next in R Balki's Shamitabh.

The film also stars the megastar Amitabh Bachchan and debutante Akshara Haasan.

And he (Dhanush) is lucky that he has an unusual honor coming his way. He will be the first recipient of Big B's baritone.

Says Dhanush, "Mr Bachchan's voice is probably one of the most emulated voices. Everyone, at some point in their life, has tried out an impersonation of his baritone.

And for him to lend

his voice to my character is nothing short of a dream. This film will always be special to me not just because I get to share screen space with him, but also because it will always be the film where I speak in the legend's voice. Everyone wants to be seen with Amitabh Bachchan, but with this film, I got to be him and was connected to the most iconic part of him his voice that is recognized across the world."

Says Dhanush, "Mr Bachchan's voice is probably one of the most emulated voices.

Everyone, at some point in their life, has tried out an impersonation of his baritone

V

arun Dhawan's mother, Lali, has an interesting take on her son's makeup in Badlapur.

She recalls, "The makeup made him look startlingly different and not just because of the beard. If you watch him closely (as a 40-year-old in the film), they gave him under-eye creases. His hair was pulled back so that the forehead appears a tad bigger... I could barely recognize him. I remember once, when I opened the door, I actually thought he was some salesman!"

T

isca Chopra is delighted with the audience ap plauding her perfor mance in the murder mystery, Rahasya. "It is a very different role and has surprised everyone. It was bit of a risk, but luckily, the gamble paid off," says the actress.

She feels that she has established herself as a versatile actress over the years. She is now looking forward to her forthcoming releases in which she plays diametrically different roles. "I love challenges. I'm in a good space, working with a bunch of good directors. Some great scripts are coming my way," she adds.

Tisca will be seen in pivotal roles in four releases this year.

There is Qisaa, an international production, followed by the slice-of-life Highway in Marathi, the period film Kaaksparsh in Hindi and Tamil, and finally Loveshuda, a comedy-drama.

She says, "I've always wanted to try my hand at comedy and have finally got the opportunity this year. I am glad that I have ducked the stereotype - I'm neither babe nor bhabhi nor beeji, and yet can be all three."

„

Realty Tidbits

Oahu house, condo sales have dropped HONOLULU: Single-family and condo sales saw a decrease during what's typically one of the slowest months of the year for Oahu real estate.

The Honolulu Board of Realtors released resale figures for the month of January.

According to the data, there were 210 single-family homes sold last month, a 14.6 percent drop from January 2014. There were 286 condos sold - nearly 8 percent fewer than the same month last year.

Board President Jack Legal says sluggish sales are not surprising for January.

Despite the decrease in sales, median prices increased for both categories. The median price for a single-family home last month was $675,000, a 7.2 percent increase from January 2014. The median price for a condo was $381,500, a more than 19 percent increase from last year. -AP

„ CCI rejects charges against Noida authorities NEW DELHI: Competition watchdog has dismissed charges that the New Okhla Industrial Development Authority (NOIDA), Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority and Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority indulged in unfair business ways with respect to allotment of land.

As per a complaint filed with the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the three entities were accused of abusing their dominant market positions by imposing discriminatory and unfair terms and conditions on the land allottees.

In its order, the fair trade regulator said that "no prima facie case of contravention of the provisions of...the (Competition) Act is made out against the opposite parties in the instant matter".

"Accordingly, the matter is closed...," it added.

CCI observed that "the alleged conduct of the opposite parties like allotment of land on leasehold basis, bribery etc do not appear to fall in the category of abuse in terms of the provisions... of the Act".

The complainant had alleged, among others, that the allottees had no right over the property and were made to run after the officials for seeking various permissions and were made to pay huge amount of money as bribe. -PTI

Real Estate 30 India Post

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February 13, 2015

CCI orders fresh probe against DLF NEW DELHI: The Competition Commission has ordered a fresh probe against realty major DLF, finding the company to have prima-facie abused its dominant position, making it the second such probe ordered within two days.

The new order, in which CCI has asked its investigative arm to conduct a detailed probe, relates to alleged "abuse of dominant position in development and sale of residential units in Gurgaon" for the Skycourt residential project of DLF Universal Ltd. -PTI

High mortgage rates? No biggie, poll finds

M

any Americans would be untroubled by double-digit mortgage rates and an alarming number say they are not sure what the rate on their mortgage is, according to a survey commissioned by Bankrate.

More than 3 in 5 respondents say they prefer to own rather than rent, even if mortgage rates spike by more than a percentage point above today's level, according to the survey. One in 3 would still consider buying if the 30-year fixed climbed to 10 percent or higher.

And about 35 percent of the respondents who have a mortgage say they are not very confident they know what their mortgage rate is, according to results of Bankrate's Money Pulse survey for February.

It is highly unlikely that rates will shoot up to double digits soon. But the fact that the majority of people still view homeownership as the better alternative, regardless of potentially higher rates, is a good sign of optimism among homebuyers, says Daniel Roccato, assistant professor of economics at Rutgers Uni-

POLYANA DA COSTA

versity.

"This reinforces or confirms that despite the trauma and the drama that we have seen in the real estate market in 2007, people still want to own a home, even if you are looking at potentially higher rates," Roccato says.

adds. A substantial increase in rates would have a major impact on affordability and buyers might not realize that until they look at the actual mortgage payments.

"Oftentimes people buy the payment instead of the rate," Roccato explains.

As highlighted by Bankrate's survey, many homeowners simply are not aware of the interest rates on their loans and that's one of the reasons they have ignored the current low interest rates Some 11 percent of respondents said they plan to get a new mortgage this year, implying that they would like to buy a home. Another 5 percent said they plan to refinance their mortgage this year.

Younger respondents were more likely to say they plan to get a mortgage this year, whether to buy a home or to refinance.

Buyers underestimate the damage of higher rates But there's a disconnect between that optimism and reality, he

Mortgage planner Jim Sahnger agrees that buyers often underestimate the implication that higher rates would have on their ability to purchase a home. For example, the monthly payment on a $240,000 loan at 4 percent is nearly the same as the monthly payment on a $130,000 loan at 10 percent. So a buyer could afford a $300,000 house at an interest rate of 4 percent, and a $162,500 house at a mortgage rate of 10 percent (assuming a 20 percent down payment).

"It's strictly a function of debt-to-income ratio -- a lot of the people are hanging in that limit," says Sahnger, a planner for Schaffer Mortgage in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

Homeowners ignoring low rates and their own The rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage averaged 4.24 percent in the past year. Rates remain near the bottom but will probably rise to a little over 5 percent by the end of the year, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's latest forecast.

Although rates have hovered near the lows for so long, many homeowners with higher rates have not refinanced their mortgages, says Ed Conarchy, a mortgage adviser for Cherry Creek Mortgage Co. in Gurnee, Illinois.

As highlighted by Bankrate's survey, many homeowners simply are not aware of the interest rates on their loans and that's one of the reasons they have ignored the current low interest rates, Conarchy says.

Cont’d on page 31

Parsvnath gets Rs 572 cr back from Chandigarh NEW DELHI: Realty firm Parsvnath Developers says it has received Rs 572 crore from the Chandigarh Housing Board after both parties agreed to accept arbitration award in a dispute over development of a real estate project.

Last month, a sole arbitrator had directed the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) to repay the amount to Parsvnath, while the realty firm was asked to surrender 124 acres land.

In a filing to the BSE, Parsvnath Developers said that the "company and Chandigarh Housing Board both have mutually agreed to accept the Award and accordingly the company has received a sum of approximately Rs 572 crore towards the Award from Chandigarh Housing Board, upon surrendering of the project land by the company to Chandigarh Housing Board."

The CHB has also released the

Rs 75 crore bank guarantees furnished by Parsvnath, the filing added.

However, Parsvnath noted that "due to a computational error in the Award, the awarded amount is

deficient by about Rs 146 crore.

Consequently, the company has already made an application to the sole arbitrator for correction of computational error".

The company would be entitled to receive a further amount of

about Rs 146 crore from the CHB. In October 2006, Parsvnath had entered into an agreement with CHB for the development of housing, commercial and other infrastructure facilities on 123.79 acre project located at Rajiv Gandhi Technology Park.

During October 2006 and April 2008 period, Parsvnath had paid Rs 516.53 crore to CHB as bid price towards the part consideration payable for the right to develop this project.

However, the agreement was later terminated due to dispute between the two parties. Parsvnath had invoked the arbitration clause in the development agreement.

The arbitrator has passed an award on January 9 this year upholding the termination of development agreement on January 31, 2010.

The arbitrator had directed "CHB to repay to the company a sum of Rs 568 crore approximately (after adjustment of compensation and interest payable to CHB) along with interest from January 9, 2015 till the date of payment and return the bank guarantees furnished aggregating to Rs 75 crore".

Parsvnath had said that disputes had arisen between the company and CHB due to various factors like "delay in handing over unencumbered land and consequent non-determination of start of development period, delay in approval of drawings etc and various other issues".

In 2007, Parsvnath had announced an investment of Rs 2,600 crore to develop this project 'PrideAsia'. The company had to pay Rs 821 crore upfront and also share 30 per cent sales revenue with CHB. Over 1,300 flats were to be constructed in this project. -PTI

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ED issues Rs 3,600cr FEMA High mortgage rates?

No biggie, poll finds notice to Sahara NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate (ED) has slapped a show cause notice on Sahara group for alleged violations of foreign exchange laws to the tune of Rs 3,600 crore in connection with the purchase of a luxury property in London few years back.

Official sources said the agency issued the notice after about two-year-long investigation

in the case which pertain to the purchase of Grosvernor House hotel in London, a luxury property, by transfer of funds from India by the group in 2010.

The agency's probe, under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), has charged Sahara for not taking the legal route of obtaining the RBI clearance for transfer of funds to the tune of over Rs 3,600 crore in striking this deal.

"The group made an overseas direct investment in contravention to the existing RBI rules that time.

The RBI referred the case to ED and the agency has now issued final show cause notices to them," sources said.

The ED probe found that the group chose to make this investment and channelise funds through the automatic route of funds transfer but Sahara allegedly did not obtain "required RBI permissions" in this regard.

The agency said that the funds sent abroad for purchasing this costly asset was sent through Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Limited and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Limited and then to its overseas subsidiary which was violation of FEMA and RBI rules.

Trouble has been mounting for the beleaguered group as the ED in November last year had registered a money laundering case against Sahara in connection with non-payment of crores of rupees to depositors as probed by capital markets regulator SEBI. -PTI

West Bengal clears two new townships KOLKATA: West Bengal has cleared two theme townships to be developed by private sector that would attract an investment worth around Rs 4,000 crore.

"Out of 15 proposals for new townships received, the government has cleared two themebased townships, one for tourism and another innovation. We expect work would start within a year," urban development principal secretary Debashis Sen said on the sidelines of CII organized Infra East.

Though it was early to gauge the investments, but it could be around Rs 4,000 crore in these two new townships which already received provisional approval by state cabinet.

These two townships would come up around Rajarhat's New Town township.

Sen said the government has received proposals for 13 other townships from private developers and these will get approvals in due course as PPP projects.

He did not divulge the names of the entities that would de-

velop the townships.

Sen reiterated the Mamata Banerjee government's stand that land acquisition would have to be done by the developer for

Meanwhile, the state has also decided to develop a Kolkata International Arbitration Centre, that will house all infrastructure needed to carryout arbitration

their projects. The township has to be developed on 50 acres or more.

The West Bengal government has decided to develop Asansol as industrial town, Bolpur as culture township and Kalyani as analytics.

cases.

"We will charge fees for the facilities we will provide. This will also boost confidence among the investors specially foreign ones in creating an investor friendly environment in the state," Sen said.-PTI

Cont’d from page 30

"As consumers, once we get the mortgage, we sweep the rate under the rug and we don't worry about it," he says. "So, we don't look at rebalancing or refinancing opportunities."

Some 65 percent of mortgage borrowers said they are "very confident" that they know their rate. More than one-third of borrowers are "somewhat confident," "not confident" or say they don't know their rate. The higher the mortgage borrower's income, the more likely the borrower is to express strong confidence in knowing his or her interest rate.

You think you know According to the survey, 65 percent of homeowners are very confident they know their mortgage rates. That figure may even be too high compared with the reality of the percentage of homeowners who actually know

their rate, says Sahnger, based on experience.

He says that when he asks homeowners for their mortgage rate and later compares the number given with the actual rate on the documents, most don't get it right.

"They may have a general range, but they don't know exactly," he says.

Being aware of current mortgage rates and your own, for those who have a mortgage, could lead to substantial savings, finance and mortgage experts say.

"If you are not going to get a big raise at work why don't you see if you can give yourself one at home?" he asks, urging homeowners to see if they could save with a refinance.

Homeowners under age 30 are almost as likely to be mortgagefree as those age 65 and up. Most homeowners ages 30 to 64 have mortgages.

-Courtesy Bankrate.com

National Games Village a hit with the athletes THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Beautifully aligned hut-like housing units surrounded by symbols of Kerala's cultural heritage and life size posters of Goodwill Ambassador Sachin Tendulkar welcoming athletes - the National Games Village here has managed to impress one and all for being professionally managed and wellmaintained.

Tucked away at Menamkulam, about 20km from the hustle and bustle of the city, the Village has all essential facilities ranging from a bank, a fitness centre and a food court besides coffee parlors, ayurvedic centers, a solid waste management system and recreational zones.

Tendulkar can be seen in every

nook and corner of the Village, offering visitors a warm welcome and calling on the athletes to aim for perfection in life-size posters.

A sprawling food court, with a lip-smacking spread of ethnic delicacies from different states of the country ensures that every tastebud is taken care of.

Majority of athletes, coaches and team officials, who have seen "substandard facilities" in many previous Games, are all praise for the Village here.

Morramme, a vibrant triathlon player from Assam, said she was pleasantly surprised to find airconditioned accommodation for the athletes and were several notches better than what even her home state offered in 2007. -PTI

„ Health

Line

Brown gets grant for physical therapy research PROVIDENCE, R.I.: Brown University has been awarded a $2.5 million, five-year grant for a new center for physical therapy research.

The university says the Foun-

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Meditation can slow loss of brain's gray matter Details on Page 35

Surgeon General's appeal to AAPI groups to get enrolled DR VIVEK MURTHY

W dation for Physical Therapy awarded it the grant for a center of excellence to spur research in the field.

In the new Center on Health Services Training and Research, Brown, Boston University and the University of Pittsburgh will train researchers and produce new studies to improve how care is delivered.

The center's director, Linda Resnik, says there have been few physical therapist researchers with the skills to conduct health services research. She says the field lacks the kind of evidence it needs to inform improvements in health service delivery and policy. -AP

„ Ga. gets $9.5 mn for mental health in schools ATLANTA: Education officials in Georgia say the state has received $9.5 million to help schools address mental health.

The Georgia Department of Education says it's launching a new initiative called Georgia Project AWARE, which stands for Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education.

The agency says project will address the mental health needs of children, youth, families, caregivers and communities, and support the implementation of mental health training at the state and local levels.

The grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will be spread over five years. Georgia State University plans to partner with the department to provide technical assistance, training and evaluation.

The grant will support the establishment of Youth Mental Health First Aid training in school districts statewide. -AP

ith the deadline to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace right around the corner on February 15, it's important that we make sure Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country are aware and sign up for health coverage.

Before the Affordable Care Act, about 2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) were uninsured. Among some AAPI groups - such as Korean, Tongan, Pakistani, and Thai Americans nearly one in four people were uninsured. We made great strides getting AAPIs insured during last year's Open Enrollment period, and we're working to help the remaining 1.3 million uninsured AAPIs #GetCovered.

That's why the Affordable Care Act matters. It's helping individuals, families and communities across the country - including AAPIs - #GetCovered. Stories such as those of Anne Ha, Maly Xiong, and Peter Yang serve to remind us how life-changing it can be to have health insurance.

During the week of January 2630, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders partnered with the White House, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the national Action for Health Justice

United States Surgeon General collaborative to host the second AAPI Affordable Care Act Enrollment Week of Action to help AAPIs #GetCovered.

The Week of Action included 23 events in six states - and in more than 13 languages - geared toward encouraging Asian Ameri-

On January 29, National Youth Enrollment Day of Action, the White House hosted an #AAPIhealth Twitterstorm to encourage young AAPIs to #GetCovered. The Twitterstorm was joined by White House officials, HHS offices, AAPI celeb-

At an enrollment event in Salt Lake City, Luis Rios, a certified navigator from the Utah Health Policy Project, helps Gui Ying Lee (bottom) and Shuo Chau Yang (top) enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace.-Pic Paul Chang

cans and Pacific Islanders to enroll in health coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace by the February 15 Open Enrollment deadline. Overall, more than 1,000 AAPI families received information on the Affordable Care Act and nearly 400 individuals received assistance to enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace.

rities, and community groups around the country.

I joined Tina Tchen, Assistant to President Barack Obama and Chief of Staff to the First Lady, for a special call to thank AAPI navigators, certified application counselors, and other enrollment assistors for their efforts to ensure that AAPI communities benefit from the ACA. We wanted to

encourage these hardworking individuals and organizations to continue spreading the word in the final weeks before the February 15 enrollment deadline.

Another way we are spreading the word is by using in-language resources to help people learn about the Affordable Care Act. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released new From Coverage to Care toolkits available in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. These toolkits help guide individuals new to health insurance on how to understand health insurance cards, find a doctor, and make a doctor's appointment. We also have new in-language educational videos in Burmese, Hmong, Khmer, and Lao as well as fact sheets available in Asian languages.

For more information on the Affordable Care Act, visit HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-3182596 for assistance in 150 languages, and enroll before February 15. You can join us on Twitter with #AAPIhealth and #GetCovered. Let's continue to get the word out and make sure AAPIs across the country #GetCovered!

Reproduced from a special White House blog by U.S. Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy

India plans to provide 'holistic' healthcare NEW DELHI: Advocating the need for innovation in healthcare practices for enhanced effectiveness, Union Minister JP Nadda has said the government was planning to provide "holistic" healthcare, which would involve the creation of medical infrastructure at multiple levels, including in the rural areas.

"There is a need for innovation in the systems and practices for the delivery of healthcare to enhance their effectiveness.

"There is an equal need for the sharing of best practices between the various stakeholders in the health sector in order to benefit

from the prevalent knowledge and experience in different quarters," the Health Minister said here at the third Biennial International Conference and Advanced Live Laparoscopic WorkshopENDOLAP 2014.

Noting that laparoscopy was a skilled procedure which requires advanced training, the Health Minister highlighted the gap between the demand and supply of human resources in the health sector, including of doctors, specialists and para-medical professionals.

He said that with more opportunities for advanced training to

Health Minister JP Nadda

gain specialization, not only will the demand-supply gap be reduced but the patients will also benefit with better healthcare.

"The government is working on plans for providing holistic healthcare, which includes creating infrastructure at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels in addition to providing better healthcare services in the rural areas," he said.

The minister invited suggestions from doctors and the other stakeholders for enhancing the effectiveness of the healthcare delivery mechanism in the country.PTI

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Cow immune system inspires new therapies for humans WASHINGTON: Indians have another reason to consider cows as sacred as a new study shows antibodies similar to theirs may help human beings grappling with hormone deficiencies.

Scientists have developed a potential new therapy by fusing together human hormones and antibodies to mimic long, stalk-like cow antibodies.

Their research, published recently in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows the therapy

could also provide the foundation for treatments for a range of other diseases.

"We were inspired by this unique structure found in nature, and we assembled an antibody that might one day benefit humans," said co-first author Tao Liu, research associate at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in the US. Many people need injections of human growth hormone (hGH) to combat conditions such as Turner syndrome (which causes short stature in females), low birth weight and other hormone deficiencies. Unfortunately, the body degrades hGH quickly, sometimes within 30 minutes.

"This means people need to inject themselves every day," explained Liu. "For a kid, that's really painful -- and for a drug, that's really bad."

Antibodies, however, can last for weeks in the body.

The researchers drew inspiration from a study of bovine antibody, that has an unusual structure - a round base with a long amino-acid "stalk" pointing out. On the top of the stalk is a "knob region" that presumably binds to pathogens.

The researchers fused hGH to a coiled version of the bovine antibody's stalks.

This fusion was stable and maintained the function of hGH, so they next tried making an antibody-hormone molecule without any cow DNA, so that the molecules might someday be applied in human therapy.

They used the humanized anti-cancer antibody Herceptin as the antibody base in the new treatment and then tested their antibody-hGH molecule in rat models. They found that hGH- deficient rats that received the treatment grew normally. In fact, the treated rats only needed injections two times a week to grow, compared with daily injections for rats given hGH without the antibody base.

"It acts just like the normal growth hormone," said Liu. "This means the treatment might only need to be injected once a week or even once a month in humans. It would be so much easier for patients."

Subsequent experiments showed no harmful side effects from the treatments.

The research team is working to optimize the treatment for potential use in humans, and Liu hopes the method could someday deliver longer-lasting doses of hGH - or maybe even insulin to treat type 2 diabetes - to patients in need.

Cows are considered as sacred by a large number of Indians.-PTI

Diabetes interventions should be localized WASHINGTON: Factors associated with the prevalence of diabetes vary by geographic region, suggesting that approaches to combating the disease should be localized, a new US study has found.

Researchers from the Brown School at Washington University in St Louis analyzed county data from the US Census Bureau and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to find attributes associated with diabetes.

They discovered that results varied by region. Poverty levels and inactivity were associated with diabetes, but only in some areas.

"In one region of the US, poverty and lower education outcomes are more predictive of higher diabetes prevalence, while in other regions physical inactivity and obesity are more predictive," said lead author J

Aaron Hipp, assistant professor at the Brown School.

The percentage of the population cycling or walking to work correlated with lower prevalence of diabetes in most counties, but not in some rural areas of Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, researchers found.

"Given this clustering of predictors of diabetes prevalence, and knowing the effect of the predictors we used in our study, counties, states and regions should be able to better target the most common predictors of diabetes in their more local area," said Hipp, who is also a faculty scholar at Washington University's Institute for Public Health.

The study was published in the journal Preventing Chronic Disease. -PTI

Washington medical school bill hits a snag OLYMPIA, Wash.: A widely supported bill to let Washington State University open a medical school in Spokane hit a snag when a Seattle lawmaker asked the school to promise that it would not limit teaching on reproductive health or end-of-life care because of its partnerships with religious hospitals.

House Bill 1559 was scheduled to be voted out of the House Higher Education Committee, but the vote was delayed after Rep. Gerry Pollet, D-Seattle, pushed that amendment, the Seattle Times reported.

WSU supporters say they have no intention of restricting medical education. But they say Pollet's amendment has no place in the bill. ``It's way out on the front end of the process,'' said Ken Roberts, acting dean of the WSU College of Medical Sciences.

Pollet is the only legislator he's heard raise such a concern, Roberts said.

Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, the prime sponsor of the bill, said he's confident the proposal will pass out of the committee without Pollet's amendment.

The bill has broad bipartisan support, with 65 co-sponsors. It would end a 1916

restriction that allowed the University of Washington to operate the state's only medical school.

Pollet said the state should not authorize a medical school without an assurance that it will train students in all relevant medical practices, including reproductive health for women. Pollet's amendment reflects a larger concern over a recent surge in affiliations between Catholic health-care systems and secular hospitals. Critics have worried about access to abortion and other medical services getting barred by religious doctrine.

The UW has long trained its own medical students in Spokane, through its WWAMI program, which has been operated as a partnership with WSU. That program trains students at times in religiously affiliated hospitals, such as Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center.

But Pollet said the UW has worked on policies to ensure no gaps in its medical education occur because of those affiliations. He said he worries about the WSU medical school, which would place students entirely in local hospitals for two years. -AP

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Breastfeeding prepares baby for solid food WASHINGTON: Babies get microbes from breast milk that makes them 'more ready' for solid food, a new study has found.

Researchers from University of North Carolina found that a baby's diet during the first few months of life has a profound influence on the composition, diversity, and stability of the gut microbiome.

These factors, in turn, influence the baby's ability to transition from milk to solid foods and may have long-term health effects.

"We found that babies who are fed only breast milk have microbial communities that seem more ready for the introduction of solid foods," said Andrea AzcaratePeril, assistant professor in the department of cell biology and physiology and the study's senior author.

"The transition to solids is much more dramatic for the microbiomes of babies that are not exclusively breastfed. We think the microbiomes of non-exclusively breastfed babies could contribute to more stomach aches and colic," she said.

The discovery adds to the growing awareness that the gut microbiome plays a major role in helping us digest food and fight pathogens, among other func-

tions.

For the study, the research team collected stool samples and information about the diets and health of nine babies as they grew from ages 2 weeks to 14 months.

Applying genomic sequencing

techniques to the stool samples, the scientists deduced the types and functions of the bacteria in the babies' gut microbiomes.

The analysis found that during the first few months of life there were clear differences between the microbiomes of babies that were exclusively breastfed as compared to those fed both formula and breast milk.

Researchers found differing amounts of about 20 bacterial enzymes in exclusively breastfed babies when compared to exclusively breastfed babies that received solid food.

This indicated that some new bacterial species had entered the scene to help process the new food types.

In babies fed both formula and breast milk - and then introduced to solid foods - the samples showed about 230 enzymes, indicating a much more dramatic shift in microbial composition.

T h e microbiomes of exclusively breastfed babies tended to be less diverse and were dominated by Bifidobacterium, a type of bacteria considered beneficial for digestion.

Babies fed a mixture of breast milk and formula had a lower proportion of Bifidobacterium.

The study was published in the journal Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology.-PTI

E-cigarette vapors, flavorings damage lungs WASHINGTON: Emissions from e-cigarette aerosols and flavorings damage lung cells by creating harmful free radicals and inflammation in lung tissue, a new study has warned.

Researchers from the Univer-

sity of Rochester suggest the harm begins when the ecigarette's heating element is activated.

The heating element is designed to turn a liquid solution

(known as an e-liquid or "juice") into an aerosol that mimics cigarette smoke.

The inhaled vapors contain heavy metals and other possible carcinogens in the form of nanoparticles - tiny particulate matter that can reach farther into lung tissue, cell systems, and blood stream.

I r f a n Rahman, professor of Environmental Medicine at the UR School of Medicine and Dentistry, led the research which also found that some flavored e-juices (particularly cinnamon) create more stress and toxicity on lung tissue.

Researchers observed in the laboratory that human lung cells exposed to e-cigarette aerosols released various inflammation biomarkers.

Mice exposed to e-cigarettes with classic tobacco flavoring also demonstrated signs of pulmonary inflammation.

"Several leading medical groups, organizations, and scientists are concerned about the lack of restrictions and regulations for e-cigarettes," Rahman said.

"Our research affirms that ecigarettes may pose significant health risks and should be investigated further.

It seems that every day a new e-cigarette product is launched without knowing the harmful health effects of these products," he said.

The study is published in the journal PLOS ONE. -PTI

More being tested after school TB case MONTPELIER, Vt.: Vermont Health Department officials are continuing to monitor students and staff from the Charlotte Central School to determine how many people were infected with the tuberculosis bacteria after a school employee developed an active case of the disease.

Last week, health officials said tests done on a portion of the school community found seven children and another adult had been infected, but none were found to have active cases of the disease that commonly infects the lungs.

Positive tests mean a person has been exposed to the TB bacteria. Public health officials emphasized that people who have been infected can't transmit the disease until and unless they get sick, which can come years, sometimes decades, after their initial exposure.

Vermont sees only a handful of TB cases each year, but nationwide school cases are relatively common, officials said. ``As distressing as it is for Vermont, and we're not used to this in Vermont because we have so little TB, it is not unusual,'' said Dr. W. Kemper Alston, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Vermont and the state's TB consultant.

The eight people who were infected were identified last month after officials tested the 150 people believed to be at highest risk of exposure. They will be treated with antibiotics.

Health workers did TB skin

Though TB was long a deadly disease, it became controllable with antibiotics in the mid-20th century.

There are still occasional flare ups across the country. tests on about 260 Charlotte students and plan to test teachers, staff and students who were absent for the first round of tests. It takes two to three days for the tests, given via a shot under the skin of the forearm, to reveal whether the person has been exposed to the TB bacteria.

Officials expect more positive test results.

The tests will all be repeated in 10 weeks on all whose tests were

negative to ensure it didn't develop after the first test was done.

Though the positive tests can provoke anxiety, Alston said it's important to maintain perspective. ``We have to realize these people aren't sick and there is a medication that we can give them to prevent them from getting sick,'' Alston said.

Vermont epidemiologist Patsy Kelso said it has been a logistical challenge arranging the tests, but the public health community has responded.

`We have to realize these people aren't sick and there is a medication that we can give them to prevent them from getting sick,'' Alston said. ``In reality it's one case of TB that can happen anytime, anywhere,'' she said.

Superintendent Elaine Pinckney, whose district includes the Charlotte school, said there was a meeting between parents, staff and health department officials last month to discuss concerns. ``The school administration is focusing on being a logistical support to the (health department) providing access to space, access to staff and students,'' Pinckney said.

Though TB was long a deadly disease, it became controllable with antibiotics in the mid-20th century. There are still occasional flare ups across the country. Tuberculosis is transmitted through the air, but is not as infectious as many other common diseases.

Over the last several years, TB cases, both active and latent, have been reported in a number of states, including California, Wisconsin and South Carolina.

The Charlotte case began last month after an unidentified female employee was found to have an active case of the disease. Citing confidentiality rules, officials can't say how she is responding to treatment.

All of the eight people who later tested positive received follow up chest X-rays and none were found to have developed active cases, meaning they could begin a nine-month drug treatment program to eliminate the bacteria, Alston said. -AP

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Meditation can slow loss of brain's gray matter LOS ANGELES: Meditation can help preserve gray matter which processes information in the brain, scientists have found.

Researchers from University of California - Los Angeles looked specifically at the association between age and gray matter.

Their earlier work had suggested that people who meditate have less age-related

atrophy in the brain's white matter.

The new study compared 50 people who had mediated for years and 50 who didn't.

People in both groups showed a loss of gray matter as they aged.

But the researchers found among those who meditated, the volume of gray matter did not decline as much as it did among those who did not.

Dr Florian Kurth, a co-author of the study and postdoctoral fellow at the UCLA Brain Mapping Center, said the researchers were surprised by the magnitude of the difference.

"We expected rather small and distinct effects located in some of the regions that had previously been associated with medi-

tating," he said.

"Instead, what we actually observed was a widespread effect of meditation that encompassed regions throughout the entire brain," Kurth added.

Each group in the study was made up of 28 men and 22 women ranging in age from 24 to 77. Those who meditated had been doing so for four to 46 years, with an average of 20 years.

The participants' brains were scanned using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Although the researchers found a negative correlation between gray matter and age in both groups of people - suggesting a loss of brain tissue with increasing age they also found that large parts of the gray matter in the brains of those who meditated seemed to be better preserved.

The researchers cautioned that they cannot draw a direct, causal connection between meditation and preserving gray matter in the brain. Too many other factors may come into play, including lifestyle choices, personality traits, and genetic brain differences.

"Still, our results are promising," said Dr Eileen Luders, first author and assistant professor of neurology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "Hopefully they will stimulate other studies exploring the potential of meditation to better preserve our ageing brains and minds.

"Accumulating scientific evidence that meditation has brain-altering capabilities might ultimately allow for an effective translation from research to practice, not only in the framework of healthy ageing but also pathological ageing," Luders said.

The study appears in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. -PTI

Illinois rehab programs fear budget shortfall SPRINGFIELD, Ill.: Illinois rehabilitation services could face a $110 million shortfall in programs that cover mental health and developmentally-disabled adults.

The Springfield bureau of Lee Enterprises reports payments that support the two programs are slowing.

The Illinois State Capitol building

The $35.7 billion budget lawmakers passed in May does not include enough money for the rest of the fiscal year. Vital state programs are waiting to see how Gov. Bruce Rauner and the legislature will keep funds flowing.

Rauner aides have asked for wider authority to use state money to address a $300 million budget shortfall to fund a subsidized daycare program through June 30.

Greg Shaver, executive director of Kaskaskia Workshop in Centralia, says the funding problem ``is about to unveil itself.''

He says rehabilitation programs went for months without payments five years ago. -AP

Red wine compound can prevent memory loss WASHINGTON: A compound found in common foods such as red grapes and peanuts may help prevent age-related decline in memory, according to an Indian-origin researcher.

Ashok K Shetty, a faculty member in the Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, has been studying the potential benefit of resveratrol, an antioxidant that is found in the skin of red grapes, as well as in red wine, peanuts and some berries.

Resveratrol has been widely touted for its potential to prevent heart disease, and Shetty and his team believe it also has positive effects on the hippocampus, an area of the brain that is critical to functions such as memory, learning and mood.

Because both humans and animals show a decline in cognitive capacity after middle age, the findings may have implications for treating memory loss in the elderly, researchers said.

Resveratrol may even be able to help people afflicted with severe neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, they said.

In a study published in the journal Scientific Reports, Shetty and his team reported that treatment with resveratrol had apparent benefits in terms of learning, memory and mood function in aged rats.

"The results of the study were striking.

They indicated that for the control rats who did not receive resveratrol, spatial learning ability was largely maintained but ability to make new spatial memories significantly declined between 22 and 25 months," Shetty said.

"By contrast, both spatial learning and memory improved in the resveratrol-treated rats," Shetty added.

Shetty said neurogenesis (the growth and development of neurons) approximately doubled in the rats given resveratrol compared to the control rats.

The resveratrol-treated rats also had significantly improved microvasculature, indicating improved blood flow, and had a lower level of chronic inflammation in the hippocampus.

"The study provides novel evidence that resveratrol treatment in late middle age can help improve memory and mood function in old age," Shetty said. -PTI

Tech News New app can help you print your lost keys WASHINGTON: Lost your keys? A new app lets users take a photo of their keys and use it to print another set in under a minute. The app by New York-based KeyMe allows users to take a photograph of their home, office or car keys.

Users need to photograph both

sides of the keys and use a blank white sheet of paper in the background, 'CNET' reported.

The app then uploads that image to the company's system.

A press of a button tells the app to deliver the keys to the user in the mail.

Users can also travel to one of KeyMe's bright yellow kiosks and have new keys printed in under a minute. KeyMe has almost two dozen automated locations in the greater New York City area, as well as a few scattered around in states like Florida, Arizona and Arkansas.-PTI

Goyal says he always 'welcomes' competition NEW DELHI: Sounding unconcerned about the competition from the peers especially newly launched full service carrier, Jet Airways chairman Naresh Goyal has said he always 'welcomes' any competition in the business.

"I always welcome competition...I would always welcome every body," Goyal told reporters here.

Goyal, who has offloaded 24 per cent stake in his carrier to the Gulfbased carrier Etihad, earlier met the Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, besides senior Ministry officials here.

However, the contours of these meetings were not known.

When prodded repeatedly whether he takes Tata-SIA joint venture carrier 'Vistara' as challenge to his established business in view of the competition, he said, "Everybody is allowed to do business. Whatever everybody does, they are welcome to do."

It may be noted here that Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA), an association of Indian carriers, of which Jet Airways is a member, has opposed the entry of both AirAsia India and Vistara.-PTI

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February 13, 2015

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, Tata Group Chairman Cyrus Mistry, SBI Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya and Reliance ADAG Chairman Anil Ambani during Mumbai Next Seminar in Mumbai on February 6

US hopeful of investing in India's nuclear projects WASHINGTON: The US hopes that American firms would participate in India's nuclear projects as the two sides have reached "sufficient understanding" on the liability issue, days after India made it clear that foreign suppliers of reactors cannot be sued by the victims in case of a mishap.

"We believe that we've reached a sufficient understanding, and I think this process will continue.

We are hopeful that it will lead to our companies having their concerns addressed and being able to participate in India," said Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor at the White House.

Rhodes was responding to questions on clarification issued by the Indian government on the recently agreed understanding between India and the US on the liability clause of the landmark civil nuclear agreement.

A seven-page 'frequently asked questions' dealing with contentious issues including liability, compensation and right of recourse in case of nuclear mishap was issued by India's External Affairs Ministry.

The ministry said the understanding on the policy hurdles were reached after three rounds of discussions between the Indo-US

visit), companies are going to make their own judgments. They're going to look at the liability pool; they're going to look at India's

Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor

Nuclear Contact Group, which met last in London, just three days before President Barack Obama visited New Delhi on January 25.

"As we said on the trip (President Barack Obama's recent India

clarifications of its laws," said Rhodes, who accompanied Obama on his trip to India last month.

"I think this is a sign of an effort to continue to move forward

and using the breakthrough to try to open the space to resolve the concerns of US businesses so that they can participate in the Indian nuclear industry," he said.

Rhodes, who is considered close to the US President, said after returning from India, the Obama Administration has briefed American companies on the new understanding they reached with the Indian government on issue.

The resolution between the two governments on the civil nuclear issue was a key part of the successful Obama visit to India, he said.

Rhodes said that the US had encouraged the Indian government to make information available about the nature of the understandings as part of its ongoing engagement with companies "so that people could have a clear understanding of what the way forward is".

"We have also been able to consult with our companies and brief them on the ongoing discussions that we've had through the contact group with India," Rhodes said. -PTI

PM call to speed up pace of infra projects NEW DELHI: Contending that funds are no longer a constraint for the infrastructure sector, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pushed for quick resolution of inter-departmental and Centre-state issues to speed up the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects.

Chairing a meeting to review the progress of work being done by various infrastructure ministries and departments, he pitched for expediting electrification of the country, including through solar energy, and integrating the railway as well as coastal networks for development.

The meeting was told that no power plant today faces shortage of coal as issues regarding the fuel supply to the plants have been resolved.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairing a high-level meeting on infrastructure sectors in New Delhi on February 9

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Govt, SIT widen black money probe as new names emerge NEW DELHI: With a fresh list of black money holders abroad making waves, the Indian government said it will probe all the new cases and take the assistance of a whistle blower to get all the names of Indians with HSBC accounts in Switzerland and other places, even as the SIT decided to widen its probe.

"Some new names have been revealed whose veracity would be checked by authorities," Finance Minister of India Arun Jaitley told reporters as government said that information in more than 600 cases has been sought from foreign jurisdictions based credible information of undisclosed foreign accounts.

He said that mere names would be of no use, unless accompanied by independent evidence.

Later an official statement said that the Income Tax Department is

in touch with the whistle blower who apparently brought out the names of persons holding undisclosed bank accounts in HSBC, Switzerland.

"He has been requested to share information available with him in regard to undisclosed bank accounts of Indians in HSBC, Switzerland and other destinations. His response is awaited," it said.

Jaitley and the government were reacting to a report in the Indian Express newspaper which said 1,195 Indian names in the fresh HSBC list are nearly double the 628 names that figured in an earlier list that was shared by the French government with India in 2011.

The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) also discussed the fresh list and felt that there could be 100 new names in it. "... the scope of investigation

will be widened due to the new names. We will have to identify

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley

those names and scrutinize them," SIT Chairman M B Shah told PTI. "We will consider all new cases where there is evidence of black

'Distinguish between legitimate funds & black money' MUMBAI: In the wake of a new list revealing names of nearly 1,200 Indian account holders in Swiss banks, eminent banker Deepak Parekh has said the government should distinguish between legitimate and illicit funds before taking any action.

"There may be some fraudulent transactions and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has said that the government is investigating. We are going to get some penalty and taxes from them.

"They have to be proved first, because we have a system wherein each individual can remit some amount abroad a year.

Many people have done that also.

So you have to distinguish what is legitimate and what's not,"

Deepak Parekh

Parekh told reporters on the sidelines of a business event here.

When asked whether there could be more names to come, Parekh said, "We read media re-

ports. You people say there are crores and crores rupees outside.

But, we don't know what the actual number is.

"But I am glad that it has come and people will be more reluctant to transfer money," he said.

An international body of investigative journalists has revealed a list of over one lakh account holders in Swiss branch of global banking major HSBC with funds totaling more than USD 100 billion.

The list also includes 1,195 Indians with funds totaling USD 4.1 billion (Rs 25,420 crore) and the report prompted the government to widen its probe into suspected black money stashed abroad by Indians.-PTI

India plans India-Pacific Island nations meet NEW DELHI: India is planning to host the second conclave of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation this year after the one held in Fiji few months back as part of efforts to build ties with countries of these regions.

This was stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his congratulatory message to Akilisi Pohiva on his election as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga.

"Please accept my warm congratulations and best wishes on your election as the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Tonga.

India deeply values the close

relationship with Tonga, which has grown in intensity over the years," he said in his letter to Pohiva.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

Modi said he has great appreciation for the ties with the Pacific

money... We will complete probe in all cases which are getting time

Region, which is why India recently hosted the Forum for IndiaPacific Islands Cooperation in Suva, Fiji.

"We are planning to host the next edition of the Forum in India later this year, which I hope you will be able to attend," the Prime Minister added.

"I wish to convey my good wishes for your personal health and well-being, and for the progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Tonga," he wrote. -PTI

barred by March 31," SIT vice chairman Arijit Pasayat told reporters separately.

The Enforcement Directorate

(ED) and Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) of India have been asked to gather information on the new list and inform SIT at the earliest, Pasayat said adding that with this development the scope of the probe has widened.

Meanwhile some of the big industrialists and others figuring in the list including Ambani brothers Mukesh and Anil, NRI businessman Naresh Goyal and politician Narayan Rane denied holding any illegal bank accounts abroad.

The government statement, issued after Jaitley's interaction with the media, said that out of the 628 Indian appearing in the first HSBC list, 200 were either non-residents or non-traceable, leaving 428 cases of residents which were found actionable. The net amount of peak balance for these 428 cases was about Rs 4,500 crore. -PTI

All my accounts legitimate: Lord Paul LONDON: Lord Swraj Paul, NRI industrialist based here, has said that all his bank accounts were legitimate.

"All my accounts are legitimate. I am responsible for them. I pay full taxes where due," he said reacting to media reports about Swiss bank account holders in which his name figures. -PTI

Lord Swraj Paul

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IFSCs may soon become reality NEW DELHI: The government and financial sector regulators, including RBI and Sebi, are working on a new set of norms for International Financial Services Centers (IFSCs) - a move that would help setting up such global business hubs in different parts of the country.

Among others, one such IFSC is likely to come up in the GIFT City in Gujarat, while another is likely to be developed in the country's financial capital Mumbai, sources said.

There have been several attempts in the past to develop IFSCs in India on the lines of global financial hubs like Singapore, Hong Kong and Dubai.

India ranks very low in terms of attractiveness of global financial centers. As per the latest Global Financial Centers Index (GFCI) rankings, New York is on the top, followed by London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Tokyo in the top five. Mumbai is ranked 48th, although up from 61 earlier, as the only Indian city on this index.

The new regime could entail easier rules and regulations for foreign financial investors, as also for the Indian entities seeking to

The issue is already being actively discussed by various regulators internally as also collectively including at the forums like Finan-

Project of GIFT City in Gujarat

do business with overseas financial investors, sources said.

The rules and regulations applicable within IFSCs tend to be different from those applicable outside these centers and a roadmap in this regard is expected to be announced in the Union Budget later this month.

cial Stability and Development Council.

At a recent Sub-Committee meeting of the FSDC, the regulators discussed the "matters relating to IFSC".

The meeting was chaired by RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan, while those who attended included

India to grow at 7.4% this year, outpacing China NEW DELHI: Indian economy will grow by 7.4 per cent this fiscal, outpacing China to become the world's fastest growing economy, after a revision in the method of calculations.

Aided by a 7.5 per cent expansion during October- December, Asia's third-largest economy will this fiscal see the fastest pace of growth since 2010-11 when it achieved 8.7 per cent, even as some doubts lingered on the revised methodology.

The growth in gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010-11 was calculated based on factor cost which has now been changed to constant prices to take into account gross value addition in goods and services as well as indirect taxes.

Besides, the base year has been shifted to 2011-12 from 2004-05 earlier.

Last month, the Statistics Ministry had pegged the previous year's growth at 6.9 per cent as against 4.7 per cent estimated previously, a revision which led to some economists including RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan seeking more clarity.

"We do need to spend more

capital markets regulator Sebi Chairman U K Sinha, insurance watchdog IRDA chief T S Vijayan, PFRDA Chairman Hemant Con-

time to understanding the GDP numbers," he had said on February 3 after releasing the bi-monthly monetary policy of the central bank that retained the forecast of 5.5 per cent GDP (calculation based on old method) growth in 2014-15.

"We will be watching the February 9 release with great care and

dwell deeply into what we see there. At this point this is premature to take a strong view based on these GDP numbers," he had said.

Industry chamber Assocham said the revision was confusing as "investment is yet to revive, consumer demand is not returning with a significant pace despite a sharp reduction in crude oil prices."

The advance estimates re-

leased by the government further said the per capita net national income in 2014-15 is estimated to be Rs 88,538 showing, up 10.1 per cent as compared to Rs 80,388 in 2013-14.

The sectors contributing to the advance estimates, include higher manufacturing growth at 6.8 per cent and most of the services, including financial, real estate, hotels and transport growing over seven per cent in the fiscal.

However, agriculture is pegged at 1.1 per cent, much lower than 3.7 per cent achieved in the last fiscal.

When asked about comparison between Indian with Chinese economies, Director General in Central Statistics Office Ashish Kumar said it is not a "beauty competition" as their (China's) economy is four-five times larger than that of India.

Even at this growth rate of over 7 per cent, it will take 20-30 years to match the size of Chinese economy, he added.

The base year for computing national accounts is revised by the Statistics Ministry periodically to present a more realistic picture of the economy.-PTI

tractor, FMC Chairman Ramesh Abhishek, as also top Finance Ministry and RBI officials.

Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha also said last week

that government is keen to transform Mumbai as a global financial centre.

Besides, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the state government is already working in this regard, but much of the work was to be done by the Centre and the pending issues in this regard should be addressed in the upcoming Union Budget.

Several countries around the world have successfully unlocked their financial services potential by establishing hubs, which over time have become IFSC. These financial services centers help provide suitable regulatory regimes and create a business environment to promote talent and help increase capital flow.

As these financial services centers develop, they create significant economic value for their domestic economies. -PTI

PM call to speed up pace of infra projects Cont’d from page 36

including solar energy, power connectivity through nearby railway infrastructure, and off-grid solutions.

While reviewing plans for augmenting solar power generation capacity in the country, the Prime Minister suggested that BCCI could be involved in an effort to convert power consumption of all major cricket stadiums across the country from conventional energy to solar energy.

On the progress in coastal development, he reiterated his call for a 'Blue Revolution', integrating

He reviewed the plans for augmenting solar power generation capacity in the country.

At the meeting, the NITI Aayog made a presentation on various infrastructure sectors including power, coal, renewable energy, ports and coastal development, roads, and railways.

Modi said the NITI Aayog should focus on quick resolution of inter-departmental and Centrestate issues to speed up the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects, a PMO statement said.

Referring to his meetThe Prime said innovative ing with top international investors during solutions should be exthe recent BlackRock plored for ensuring total India Investor Summit here, the Prime Minister rural electrification, includsaid funds are no longer ing solar energy a constraint for the infrastructure sector.

He directed all concerned departments of the govern- coastal shipping, tourism, and rement to work towards creating a gional development, through the holistic framework and environ- Sagarmala Project. ment that will be conducive for He also called for a fundameninvestment. tal change in the approach towards He also instructed the minis- redevelopment of railway stations tries concerned to work in a 'Mis- and development of areas contigusion mode' towards achieving elec- ous to railway corridors that run trification of the remaining 20,000 through major cities in the coununelectrified villages, in a clearly try. defined time-frame.

Top government officers from The Prime said innovative so- all related infrastructure ministries, lutions should be explored for en- the PMO and the NITI Aayog were suring total rural electrification, present at the meeting. -PTI

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OECD asks India to ease regulatory burden LONDON: India needs to ease administrative and regulatory "burden" on companies and to encourage infrastructure development to promote economic growth, global body OECD said here.

While acknowledging that barriers to FDI have been reduced by India in various sectors, the Parisbased think tank said that more needs to be done for efficient allocation of capital.

"Easing administrative and regulatory burden on companies and encouraging infrastructure development would promote economic activity," the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in a report.

To spur creation of formal jobs,

labor market duality should be reduced while labor laws need to be simplified.

Besides, the "rather stringent employment protection legislation

should be reconsidered," the report titled 'Going for Growth' said.

According to OECD, the FDI barriers have been reduced in particular in telecom, civil aviation, railways, defense, construction and multibrand retail.

"Financial reforms are gradually implemented and the Reserve Bank of India has taken steps to increase competition in the banking sector as well as its efficiency but more is needed to achieve a more efficient allocation of capital," it noted.

Further, the report said that reforms to promote the development of a dynamic and efficient financial sector are needed to support investment and inclusive growth.

"The Reserve Bank of India approved the issuance of new banking licenses in 2014 and now

allows banks to open branches without prior permission. Foreign banks can open subsidiaries and branches across the country, subject to domestic regulation," it added.

Suggesting a way forward, OECD said that bank portfolio restrictions should be eased, including gradual reduction in the share of government bonds held by banks and have a plan to phase out priority lending.

"Allow greater participation by foreign investors in the financial service sector and further promote the entry of new private banks," the report noted.-PTI

New app to keep teens safe behind wheel WASHINGTON: Researchers have developed a new smartphone app that texts parents if their teenager is engaging in risky driving behavior such as speeding or blowing through stop signs.

Researchers at the University of Minnesota developed the Teen Driver Support System (TDSS) smartphone app and tested it in a study involving 300 newly licensed teens from 18 Minnesota communities.

The app automatically prevents teens from using their phones or texting while driving except to call emergency services, a critical safety component since distracted driving is a frequent cause of car accidents and deaths, 'startribune.com' reported.

"Ultimately, we did the research because we wanted to reduce traffic crashes and deaths among teens," said Janet Creaser, a research fellow at the University of Minnesota's HumanFIRST Laboratory.

In the study, the teens were divided into three groups - a control group that received no feedback

from the smartphone, a group that received only in-vehicle feedback, and a final group that received both in-vehicle and parental feedback.

They were tracked for 12 months.

If the teen violated good driv-

ing etiquette, their parents received a text message. Parents also had access to a website detailing their teen's driving "events and behaviors" over a longer period of time.

Teens in the groups that got feedback from the TDSS smartphone were less likely to engage in risky driving behavior.

More than 90 per cent parents said they would recommend the app to other parents.-PTI

40 India Post

T

he city of Amritsar is a glittering showcase of compound traditions and secular culture. A thriving city with important devout centers and historical sites Amritsar exhibits a glorious past, magnificent present and a hopeful future. A significant city of Majha region, it has been entitled the prestigious title of the jewel of Punjab. A prosperous depository of national heritage and religion, it has been renowned as the abode of all merits.

A synonym of Sikh religion, every pious Sikh desires to be hallowed with a pilgrimage to Amritsar and to have a divine bath at the Golden Temple. A visit to Amritsar is supposed to cleanse the soul of the pilgrim.

An embodiment of Sikh belief, the core of Punjab's political affairs, an opening to the Gulf countries, a watchful sentry at the IndoPak border, Amritsar adorns a remarkable position in the Indian subcontinent.

An icon of confrontation against the British despotism and the nucleus of Akali move-

www.indiapost.com ments, Amritsar recalls the fierce onslaught of the Muslim invaders of the medieval India. Amritsar is like a lozenge with many features. The indispensable strength of the city lies in its effervescent monuments, sacred temples, pretty shrines and most of all in its folk arts and the tasty cuisine.

Blessed with a sociable and hospitable people, who are, reliable, casual, and jovial and have wonderful enthusiasm.

They are fond of good cuisine, good

February 13, 2015 dress and all the good amenities in life.

Amritsar is not just an ordinary Indian city bestowed with tremendous attractions. It displays a stunning elegance and a lifestyle.

In spite of its modern outlook, the city still preserves and emanates a vital and enriching uniqueness on their cheap tour packages in Amritsar.

Tourist Attractions Golden Temple: The holiest abode of the Sikhs all over the world, the Golden Temple at Amristar is popularly called as the Sri Harmandir Sahib. The idea behind this sacred shrine was conceived by Guru Arjan Dev, who himself designed

the structure of the temple. A Muslim saint Hazrat Mian Mir of Lahore laid the foundation of Golden Temple on 1st December,1588.

Placed on the lake, Amrit Sarovar, the Golden Temple, is bounded by a corridor of glittering white marble. Made up of the yellow metal, gold, this grand edifice of the Sikh religion is the pride of not only the Sikhs but also the entire nation.

Akal Takht: Literally Akal Takht means Eternal Throne. It is considered as the one among the five sacred Takhts and has obtained the status of the power point of all religious activities of the Sikhs. Situated in the holiest premises of the Golden Temple, Akal Takht is conferred with the authority to call upon and order contrition on persons blamed with breach of sacred regulation.

Ber Baba Buddha: Sikh religion gave birth to so many pious and saintly people and Baba Buddha was one of such prominent figures, who adorn a remarkable position in the history of this sacred faith. It is believed that this sage was authorized with the construction of the Sarovar in the premises of the Golden temple. It is also believed that Baba Buddha used to sit under a tree, which is still preserved in the temple.

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International craftpersons add variety to Surajkund Mela India Post News Service

FARIDABAD, Haryana: The Surajkund International Crafts Mela, which began here on February 1, is the largest crafts fair in the world that offers a platform for national and state awardee craftspersons, weavers and artistes to showcase their talent.

The Mela has become so popular that international craftpersons and their promoting States vie to take part in it.

Among the main attractions were Theme State Chhattisgarh's crafts made from terracotta, brass, wood, bamboo and wrought iron leave one spellbound.

Known for its bell metal items, there is an elephant weighing one quintal priced at Rs 1.5 lakhs.

They say that this intricately crafted bell metal elephant took about one-and-a-half months and 15 men and five women to make it.

Chhattisgarh Apex Handloom Federation and National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) presented a grand evening celebrating the rich textiles and heritage

of Chhattisgarh-'Amber Mandaar - Vastra from Divine Land', a unique fashion show.

The models sashayed down the ramp clad in western wear collection, a conglomeration of Western minimalism and the indigenous hand woven craftsmanship of Chhattisgarh. The collection spelt out how the exquisite fabrics shaped into urbanized silhouettes can be

adapted as smart semi-formals.

Lebanon, the Partner Nation of the Mela, celebrated its National Day at the Fair. Lebanese artistes presented cultural performances based on popular folklores of Lebanon. Confident gyrating moves on beats of drums and white flags waving was the hallmark of the dance troupe's presentation.

Russia's mythical connection A troupe from Russian Federation presented Ramayana in the form of a puppet show at

Chaupal. Tells Olga, the instructor of the group, "We are a group of 10 and specialize in this form of dance where we hide ourselves behind a sheet and use our handmade big size puppets to perform.

These performances need proper hand movements to coordinate the action of the puppets."

It is their first time at the Mela and they are enjoying all the attention. Adds Olga, "People are

appreciating our dance style known as Bashhort. We are very much inspired by Indian religious beliefs and that is why, we choose to enact the story Ramayana through our puppets."

A splash of color and verve was spread out at Chaupal when the Telangana artistes danced in

trance to the rhythmic beats of drums in honor of Goddess while balancing pots on their heads. A well-built man with turmeric smeared on his body, wearing bells near ankles danced to the enthralling music, lashing his whip and other men dancing in a unique style.

The name of famous Mongolian emperor Chinghis Khan rings a bell. At FC 26, wall hangings, key chains, pouches and cushion covers bear a stamp of the emperor and the other symbols representing the country's nationalistic sentiments.

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Amritsar

February 13, 2015

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Prosperous depository of national heritage & religions

Cont’d from page 40

This tree, which is called beri in the local language, is famed as the Ber Baba Buddha, which literally means the Baba Buddha's tree.

Gurudwara Baba Atal: An octagonal tower with nine stories Gurudwara Baba Atal Sahib is a lofty structure with a height of 45 meters. This is believed to be the cremation ground of Baba Atal, who died at the tender age of nine.

The nine floors of the building represent the short span of life of Baba Atal. A simple monument earlier, the present structure was the contribution of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum: The summer palace of erstwhile king, Maharaja Ranjit Singh is now transformed into a wonderful Museum. It is surrounded by the lovely garden Ram Bagh. Maharaja Ranjit Singh is a prominent figure, who had carved a niche for himself in the history of India. The Museum displays objects connected with Maharaja Ranjit Singh; such as arms and amour, outstanding paintings and centuries old coins and manuscripts.

Most of the paintings on display showcase the court and camp of the king and among them, the most significant one is the painting of the city of Lahore with all its elegant structures. This legendary

king of Punjab had shown a commendable spirit of secularism and it is reflected on the coins that are displayed in the Museum.

Wagah Border: The international borderline between India and Pakistan, Wagah is always in the news headlines of both countries. Convoluted buildings, barriers and roads mark both sides of the border. The fencing between the borders is electrified with very high voltage. The Swarna Jayanthi Gate, which is the entry gate of the outpost, commands the magnificent scenery of verdant landscapes.

Jallianwala Bagh: Jallianwala Bagh is a sprawling memory of the great tragedy, which evokes the patriotic spirit in every Indian. It was here, that the worst massacre in the entire history of Indian freedom struggle took place in the year 1919. To commemorate the murder of the innocent people a memorial was constructed at the site of the gruesome bump off.

Jalianwala Bagh is a vast garden spread over 6.5 acres and the most conspicuous structure in the garden is the memorial of the 1919 massacre victims. The memorial also preserves the portion of the wall with pellet marks along with the well.

Rambagh Gardens: An attractive garden, Ram Bagh is famed as

Rambagh Gardens

Jallianwala Bagh

Bibeksar Sahib

Maharaja Ranjit Singh Museum

Wagah Border

the summer palace of the erstwhile Raja of Punjab, Ranjit Singh. This picturesque garden was formerly known as the Company Garden and its name was changed as Rambagh by Ranjit Singh to commemorate his faith and devotion to the great sage, Guru Ram Das. This garden is a prototype of Shalimar Garden of Lahore.

Bibeksar Sahib: Situated on the banks of Bibeksar Sarovar, this lovely Gurudwara was constructed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh.

Bibeksar Sahib presents picturesque scenery and it lies between Sultanwind and Chativind. The Sarovar was dug by the 6th Sikh guru, Hargobind for devotees who wanted to be in sheer solitude. He used to sit by the sides of this Sarovar and united the Sikhs against the despotism of the Muslim rulers.

Durgiana Temple: The holy abode of goddess Durga in Amritsar, Durgiana temple resembles the Golden Temple in its structural design. It is considered one among the holiest temples in the city and dates back to the 16th century. Intricately carved paintings of goddess Durga in her various incarnations are the significant feature of this marvelous shrine. The peculiarity of this temple is that it does not follow the typical temple architecture of ancient times.

Khair-ud-Din Masjid: Built in the year 1876, this pretty shrine got tremendous impact in the freedom movement of India. This Masjid was built by Mohd.

Khairuddin and it was from here the great call for waging war against the looting British were put forward by Tootie-e-Hind, Shah Attaullah Bukhari.

Amritsar has the extremes of summers and winters. The best time to visit the city is from October to March.

How to reach

By Train: Amritsar Railway Station is well linked to other rail heads in the state and is also connected to most of the cities in India. Direct trains are available from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Bhopal.

By Air: Raja Sansi International Airport in Amritsar provides regular service to major Indian cities.

By Bus: State run public buses and private buses are available to move in and out from Amritsar. Grand Trunk Road connects Delhi to Amritsar.

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World's biggest travel rush kicks off in China BEIJING: China is in the grip of the world's biggest travel rush as it kicked off its 40-day Spring Festival and Lunar New Year holiday season during which 2.8 billion trips are expected to be made.

Ahead of the Lunar New Year on February 19, the travel spree, known as "Chunyun" in Chinese, is considered the world's largest human migration, with hundreds of millions of Chinese people traveling home to reunite with family and then returning back to work.

This year's number of trips would be 3.4 per cent higher than that of last year, official media here reported.

China's rail system which would be stretched to its limits during this season every year is expected to handle 300 million trips during the travel rush, up 10 per cent from last year.

It represents the highest growth of all forms of passenger transportation, the National Development and Reform Commission said.

This year's growth is expected to be better managed, with the of-

ficial ticket purchasing website, opening "Chunyun" ticket sales 60 days ahead of the festival, compared with 20 day in advance in previous years.

In the past, ticket booths in large cities were overwhelmed during the Spring Festival period, with people waiting hours, in some

cases days, to make a purchase.

The Chinese government has declared an official holiday from February 18 to 24.

Song Jianguo, the spokesman for Beijing Railway station, said the peak period is expected be-

tween February 13 and 18, with a record of 230,000 passengers to use the station daily.

He said during the travel rush, they will handle 204 train arrivals and departures a day, meaning a bullet train arrives every 4 minutes and a regular train every five minutes, state-run Xinhua news

agency reported.

However, not all cities have experienced explosive growth during the country's biggest holiday season.

In recent years, the daily "Chunyun" passenger volume in

International craftpersons add variety to Surajkund Mela rides at Rs 2000 per person.

Wooden boxes from Syria are intricately designed. Side tables and trays are made from walnut wood with inlay work on them.

Mohammed Dib Ajaj from Damasucs, Syria, says "These boxes in all shapes and sizes have been designed with utmost perfection and are priced at pocket friendly rates from Rs 800-2200".

Cont’d from page 41

Clad in Mongolian headgear and outfit, Ichhi welcomes you at the Mongolian stall and shares that every product prepared in Mangolia is dedicated to Chinghis Khan.

Royal carpets of Afghanistan The carpets of Afghanistan are a rage at the Mela. Mohammad Jaan, a regular at Surajkund Mela for last 7 years, says that the handmade carpets are weaved mainly by women back in Afghanistan.

Adds Jaan, "The older the carpet, the more expensive it is. Our carpets are completely handmade from sheep and camel wool and only natural colors are used. It takes 40 days to 9 months to make one carpet which are priced from Rs 4,000 to Rs 1.5 lakhs.

Helicopter rides Helicopter rides are a big fad this time. Pawan Hans Ltd. is offering continuous helicopter rides from the helipad located opposite hotel Rajhans at Surajkund. Lot of families along with children are simply enjoying the helicopter

Handmade beauties Vibrant hand-painted flower vases, ceramic dolls, tea pots, cups and coasters from Vietnam are popular at the Mela. Tells Shuong, the Vietnamese craftsperson, says "We have got our specialties at the Mela from hand painted lampshades to our traditional dresses and silken stoles."

Shanghai has been gradually shrinking, said Zhu Wenzhong, head of Shanghai Railway Station.

This year is no exception, with the station expecting an even smaller crowd than that recorded during the week-long National Day

holiday in October, he said.

The estimated 47.5 million passengers expected to travel by airplane, up 8 per cent year on year, will see cheaper tickets than normal, as airlines prepare to remove the fuel surcharge.-PTI

Goa ranks 6th in 'Top 10 Nightlife Cities' PANAJI: Goa Tourism Minister Dilip Parulekar has said it is an honor that the state was getting global recognition as a "safe tourism destination" as he hailed the recent announcement by a media conglomerate that placed Goa at the sixth spot in 'Top 10 Nightlife Cities' list.

Goa has been positioned sixth in the list of top 10 nightlife cities in the world by 'National Geographic'.

"Goa is getting world recognition for several tourism related aspects. Now enlisted as the World's Best Night Life Cities is another feather in our cap. We must acknowledge this is an honor as Goa

is a safe destination for tourists 24x7 whether on or off the beach," Parulekar said in a statement.

Parulekar said city's night bazaars, music festivals are very popular and his department will encourage and promote such events which are held conforming to all laws of the land.

In National Geographic's 'Top 10 Nightlife Cities' list, Dublin in Ireland ranked first, followed by Belgrade in Serbia, La Paz in Bolivia, Sao Paulo in Brazil, San Juan in Puerto Rico, Goa In India, Ibiza in Spain, Houston in Texas, Thessaloniki in Greece and Baku in Azerbaijan. -PTI

Uttarakhand launches Himalaya Darshan program DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand government has launched its ambitious "Himalaya Darshan" program as part of its ongoing efforts to boost tourism in the state.

A chopper carrying a group of students was flagged off from the city's Sahastradhara Helidrome for a sortie around the mountains.

The children enjoyed the 45minute free chopper ride during which they had a glimpse of the picturesque environs of the hill state.

After the chopper was flagged off by Civil Aviation Secretary Akshat Gupta to mark the launch

government to put back on track Uttarakhand's tourism industry derailed by the 2013 calamity.

A guest house of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority was also inaugurated on the occasion.

Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Sharma said the idea behind the program is to enable common people to fly around the beautiful mountains of Uttarakhand for Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000.

However, the launch function was kept low-key in view of the untimely demise of state cabinet minister Surendra Rakesh, who

of the program, Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Authority vice-chairman Gaurav Chaudhry said it is aimed to boost tourism in the state by offering a helicopter ride on subsidized rates to tourists with a shoestring budget.

The move is among a slew of measures being taken by the state

passed away at a Gurgaon hospital after a protracted battle with cancer.

The June 2013 calamity severely affected the tourism industry in Uttarakhand, the mainstay of its economy and all efforts are being made to lure visitors back to its scenic beauty. -PTI

Mela offers online shopping Keeping pace with Information & Technology (IT) advancement, Surajkund Mela Authority & Haryana Tourism have introduced online shopping in which like snasdeal.com and flipkart.com register the interested craftspersons for selling their stuff.

Sumita Misra, Managing Director, Haryana Tourism Corporation & Chief Administrator, Surajkund Mela Authority states that the main aim of Surajkund International Crafts Mela is to provide direct access to craftspersons, who come from distant parts of the country, and provide them access to a wider audience.

The Snapdeal & Flipkart teams are present at the Surajkund Mela for assisting artisans/ craftspersons and are helping them to register as sellers.

In Brief Man charged in crackdown on immigration scams LOS ANGELES: A Los Angeles County man faces several criminal charges following an undercover investigation into the unlicensed practice of immigration law.

City Attorney Mike Feuer said

Mike Feuer

that 52-year-old Jesus Luna Lozano is charged with six counts including the unauthorized practice of law and violating the Immigration Consultant Act. If convicted, Lozano could face more than five years in jail. It's not immediately known if he has a lawyer.

Feuer said Lozano unlawfully gave legal advice to undercover investigators who posed as immigrants seeking help with a case.

The investigation was conducted by a new city-county task force formed last fall after President Obama announced the expansion of his deferred action program. It will offer protection from deportation to millions of immigrants. -AP

„ Heated rhetoric at New Mexico Legislature SANTA FE, N.M.: One lawmaker compared the repeal of a New Mexico immigrant driver's license law to the Holocaust. A state senator said the appointment of a new child welfare leader was ``a slap in the face'' - to abused children.

Despite initial calls for bipartisanship, the opening days of a divided New Mexico Legislature have seen its fair share of heated rhetoric. Lawmakers have linked immigrants to terrorists. Others say their opponents are pushing Jim Crow-style segregation laws.

Experts say these rhetorical bombs help lawmakers later raise money during campaigns.

Richard Pineda, a communications professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, says the outlandish language in legislative debates also speaks to lawmakers' political bases but doesn't help with the business of governing.-AP

Immigration 44 India Post

www.indiapost.com

February 13, 2015

New hope for the old H-1B visa program-II Details on page 46

Congress stuck on Homeland Security funding, immigration WASHINGTON: A congressional stalemate over funding for the Homeland Security Department deepened as Senate Democrats blocked action on the bill for a third straight day to protest Republican language on immigration. ``This is like Groundhog Day,'' Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, complained on the Senate floor after the measure failed to advance. The vote was 52 to 47, eight short of the 60 needed to move ahead. Two procedural votes earlier in the week yielded similar outcomes.

Homeland Security funding will lapse Feb. 27 without action.

The legislation, passed last month by the House, funds the agency through the remainder of the budget year while reversing President Barack Obama's administrative policies protecting millions of immigrants living in this country illegally from deportation.

Senate Democrats say they won't agree to the bill unless all the immigration language is removed. Republicans say such a bill won't pass the House.

Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. A congressional stalemate over funding for the Homeland Security Department deepened as Senate Democrats blocked action on the bill for a third straight day to protest Republican language on immigration. “This is like Groundhog Day,� Hirono complained on the Senate floor after the measure failed to advance.

Republican leaders in both chambers insist they will not allow the Homeland Security agency to go without funding at a time of global terror threats. But if they have a solution, they haven't said what it is.

The likeliest scenario may be a short-term funding extension. ``There is a bipartisan desire to fund the Department of Homeland Security, and I'm sure we'll resolve this sometime in the next few weeks,'' said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, RKy. ``God bless him and good luck,'' House Speaker John Boehner said later of McConnell. ``What else can you say?''

The logjam offered a vivid illustration of the limits on Republicans' power even now that they control both chambers of Congress for the first time in eight years. Senate rules give minority Democrats significant rights and Obama's veto pen gives him the ultimate leverage.

But having spent years passing bills only to see them bottled up in a Senate controlled by Democrats, House Republicans weren't ready to concede that the dynamic hasn't much changed. ``Right now the ball's in the Senate's court,'' said Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., summing up for many House Republicans. ``If the Senate can't pass anything, how is that the House's problem?''

No one seemed to know how it would all end. ``You're asking me to speculate and predict an outcome, which at this point I'm not able to do,'' said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. ``What I can tell you is we can't finish a bill if they won't let us get started on it.'' -AP

Important to fix immigration system, says Jeb Bush WASHINGTON: Citing frustration of the H-1B visa holders from countries like India who don't get their permanent residency status for years, Republican presidential aspirant Jeb Bush has called for fixing of the US immigration system which he said is key to economic growth.

"The high skills agenda that is desperately important for us where H-1B visa holders languish and don't get their status improved," Bush, the former Florida Governor, told a Detroit audience in a major policy speech the first after his announcement three weeks ago that he intends to run for the 2016 presidential elections.

By specifically mentioning H1B visa holders, Bush was referring to the years of frustrating and agonizing wait for these highly-skilled workers from countries like India to get their

permanent residency status, in the absence of which many of them have started going back to their home country.

In some cases the current wait

Jeb Bush

for H-1B visas is about 10 years.

Bush said, he knows for a fact that people are surprised that 40 per cent of the undocumented workers, undocumented people in our country have come with a le-

gal visa and have just overstayed their time.

"The high skills agenda that is desperately important for us where H-1B visa holders languish and don't get their status improved," he said in response to a question.

"Investors, DREAMers, people that come to our great universities, all these people should be welcome in our country. The unwritten contract ought to embrace our values and you can pursue your dreams in this great country. By doing so you're creating opportunity for more people," Bush said.

Bush said there is "great frustration" in him about the lack of immigration reform.

"This should be the lowest hanging fruit, to be honest with you, because this is a huge opportunity. Immigration's not a problem. The immigrant experience in our country makes us unique and special and different, and it is part of our extraordinary success over time," he said.

"So while the political fights go on, we're missing this opportunity. I view fixing a broken system as a huge opportunity to get to that 4 per cent growth.

If we're going to stick around the two percent run rate, it's a little bit higher this quarter, a little bit higher last. But that's kind of what the economists say. That's the new normal," he said.

"The new normal is European style growth. If we're going to do that then the demands on government are going to overwhelm a whole lot of people.

Cont'd on Page 46

Immigration Post

February 13, 2015

India Post 45

www.indiapost.com

India offers to waive visa fees to LDCs GENEVA: India has made substantial offers like waiving off visa fees, granting market access and technical assistance to service providers from poor nations, showing its resolve to support the Least Developing Countries.

The offers were made at a highlevel WTO meeting here convened to indicate proposals from developed and developing countries for preferential treatment to service providers from the Least Developing Countries (LDCs).

Among major concessions and offers, India proposed to waive off visa fees for applicants applying for Indian business or employment from LDCs. High visa fees is one of the biggest impediments for service providers from the poorer nations.

"Onerous application fees for visas, licenses and residence and work permits for many LDCs are tantamount to one month's salary for the families. Also, a severe loss if the visa is not granted and the fees are not returned," said Uganda's Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives Amelia Anne Kyambadde.

"Visa waiver is a really good thing if India does it in practice," said LDC coordinator and Ugandan Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr.

Also, the Indian offer includes market access, capacity building and technical assistance to service providers from poor nations. The offer is specific to the requests made by LDCs in July 2014.

The sectors for preferential treatment in market access, under

General Agreement and Trade in Services plus new mode 4 commitments - contractual service suppliers and independent professionals - are engineering services and management consulting services (excluding services in legal consultancy).

In addition, computer and related services, integrated engineering services, hotel and lodging services, travel agency and tour operator services and project management services other than

construction are part of GATS. An exclusive quota of 250 is for tourist guides from the LDCs. Some of the 15 sub-sectors with which India will engage with LDCs were not included in earlier GATS commitments.

Under the technical assistance support, India will earmark at least 25 per cent of all technical assistance offered by Ministry of External Affairs exclusively for LDC memb e r s , a m o n g other proposals.

India will also design courses for about 1,000 LDC professionals every year, which will be conducted in India or any LDC country, in areas such as management consulting, technical consulting, project management etc.

As part of its commitment to promote the tourism sector, the Indian Government will have one LDC partner country every year for the India International Trade Fair (IITF) - the largest consumer

6 immigrants accused of helping Islamic group ST LOUIS: Six Bosnian immigrants have been accused of sending money and equipment to terrorists oversees, including fighters with the Islamic State group and al-Qaida in Iraq, the US attorney's office announced.

An indictment unsealed in St Louis said the defendants donated money themselves and in some cases collected funds from others in the US and sent the donations oversees.

It says two of the defendants used some of the money to buy US military uniforms, firearms accessories, tactical gear and other equipment, which was shipped to people in Turkey and Saudi Arabia who forwarded the supplies to terrorists.

The supplies and money eventually made their way to fighters in Syria, Iraq and elsewhere, according to the indictment. Money also was sent to support family members of people fighting in Iraq

and elsewhere, the indictment says.

All of the defendants knew where the money and supplies were going, the indictment says.

The indictment alleges the conspiracy began no later than May 2013 and that the defendants used

email, phones and social media websites including Facebook to communicate using coded words, such as "brothers," ''lions" and "Bosnian brothers."

All six people who are charged are natives of Bosnia who were living in the US legally.

Three are naturalized citizens;

the other three had either refugee or legal resident status, according to the US attorney's office.

The indictment names Ramiz Zijad Hodzic, 40, his wife, Sedina Unkic Hodzic, 35, and Armin Harcevic, 37, all of St. Louis; Nihad Rosic, 26 of Utica, New York; Mediha Medy Salkicevic, 34, of Schiller Park, Illinois; and Jasminka Ramic, 42 of Rockford, Illinois.

All face charges of conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists and with providing material support to terrorists. Rosic and Ramiz Hodzic are also charged with conspiring to kill and maim people in a foreign country.

The indictment says that last July, Rosic tried to board a flight from New York to Syria to join the fight.

The US attorney's office said five of the defendants have been arrested; the sixth is overseas, but the Justice Department would not say exactly where. -AP

goods fair in the Indian sub-continent.

"I am very pleased with the Indian proposals. It is most comprehensive compared to what the other countries offered," Aparr said.

"Some of the proposals by the developed world were not clear.

They just indicated the areas they will make the efforts. Our friends in America did not offer anything," Aparr added.

This meeting was a step towards implementing the key Bali decision to enhance the LDCs participation in world services trading by supporting measures for the growth of services trade in poorer countries.

The US did not make any offers and stated that whenever TiSA - a proposed international trade treaty between 23 parties including the US and EU, with an

objective of liberalizing worldwide trade services - happens, there might be a proposal for the LDCs provided they meet the conditions.

The EU, Canada, Australia, Norway, Japan, China and Switzerland are some of the 25 countries that have made proposals for preferential treatment to the services sectors and modes of supply especially, technical assistance and capacity-building.

Chairperson of the meeting, Choi Seokyoung of the Republic of Korea, said that developed and developing countries addressed 74 per cent services sectors in which the LDCs are requested for preference.

However, he said this is "one important stepping stone towards the operationalization of the waiver, but not the final concluding step." -PTI

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2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 204, Tel: 773-381-1820 Chicago, IL 60659

Immigration Post

46 India Post

February 13, 2015

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New hope for the old H-1B visa program-II GARY ENDELMAN & CYRUS D. MEHTA

Continued from last week

T

he bill will also bring some respite to H-1B workers whose jobs get suddenly terminated. At present, there is no respite and an H-1B worker is in violation of his or her status upon termination. The bill will grant a 60 day grace period if the H-1B is terminated before the I-94 expires during which time a new employer can file a petition to extend or change status.

This is the first step. We also urge that Congress passed a startup visa for entrepreneurs who wish to set up innovative businesses in the US. The H-1B visa is ill-suited for startups due

plications involving the same petitioner and beneficiary unless there was a material error relating to the approval of the prior petition, a material change in circumstances has occurred or new material has been discovered which adversely affects the eligibility of the employer or the worker. Although this bill has bipartisan support, it remains to be seen whether it will pass Congress.

Republicans will want to introduce an amendment to abolish the Deferred Action for Parents Accountability (DAPA) program and Democrats may want to include provisions to make it more comprehensive such as legalizing undocumented persons. If both par-

Republicans will want to introduce an amendment to abolish the Deferred Action for Parents Accountability (DAPA) program and Democrats may want to include provisions to make it more comprehensive such as legalizing undocumented persons. to the need for the employer to establish control over the H-1B worker's employment, which is difficult to demonstrate if the foreign national is the founder and owner of the entity.

The bill will also prohibit USCIS and DOS from denying subsequent petitions, visa or ap-

ties want to be able to demonstrate and can get something done, it would behoove them to pass this bill so as to avoid another H-1B cap quagmire looming ahead of us. Additionally, this bill will also help to further strengthen the American economy.

Section 102 of the I-Squared Bill would allow both H-4 and L-2 spouses to work, providing them with an "employment authorized endorsement of other appropriate work permit." Does this mean a need to get an Employment Authorization Document? Who knows?

We welcome this development even though there is nothing in the INA right now that prevents an H-4 spouse from working. This prohibition is purely an act of regulation.

While the USCIS has proposed to allow H-4 employment in select instances, the I-Squared version of H-4 employment authorization is a distinct improvement.

I-Squared improves the USCIS proposed rule as it would allow H4s to obtain EADs without preconditions.

The proposed USCIS rule imposes preconditions where the principal must either have to have an approved I-140 or be filing for an H-1B extension beyond the 6th year under the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act. Both versions unnecessarily limit H-4 employment to spouses rather than extending it to teen age children.

Much as with the notion of a flexible H-1B cap, this reframing of visa availability is not so much an attempt to create a new immigra-

Important to fix immigration system, says Jeb Bush Cont'd from Page 44

But if we grew at 4 per cent, by all sorts of policies, but immigration has to be part of that," Bush said.

"Because if we don't do that, 10 years from now, I'm guessing, and I hope this is the case, that everybody in this room will be 10 years older. Family formation rates in this country are at an alltime low. Birth rates are below break-even. There are more single women than married women in this country for the first time in our history," he said.

"Our demography could be a huge strength for high sustained economic growth. Or if we do nothing it'll end up becoming a significant problem, maybe not as bad as Japan or as Europe, but a significant problem. So shifting this to an economic driver I think is important," Bush said.

"Then one other thing that I think is really important. That is we see the struggles of immigration in places like Japan where race is the identifier basically of national identity, or Europe where there are many immigrants that come but they're not neces-

up in our disparate parts. And so I would urge every state to focus on how do we expand civics education as well. We should love our country. We should embrace our heritage. We should encourage immigrants to do so as well," he said.

Family formation rates in this country are at an all-time low. Birth rates are below breakeven. There are more single women than married women in this country for the first time in our history sarily embraced as full Europeans or full French or German or whatever," said the former Florida governor.

"That the American experience works when people embrace a set of shared values. It doesn't work when we divide ourselves

"That will reestablish this unique American experience, which is you come, you work hard, you embrace these values. And you're as American as anybody that came on the Mayflower. That's the America that will yield great, great results," Bush said. -PTI

tion law as to bring new depth and definition to the existing INA, thus indicating yet again that the value of incremental change is to function as an improvement upon existing legislation.

While I-Squared does not overly challenge the tyranny of priority dates, it does so indirectly by updating our understanding of visa availability and exempting EB-1 extraordinary ability and outstanding researchers from being subject to the crushing weight of the numerical employment based caps, as well as advanced degree holders with STEM degrees.

The concept of family unit is advanced by not counting family members against the employment-

the INA now will define visa availability so long as any visa number allocated to employment-based preference immigrants has not yet been issued for that fiscal year.

Beyond that, US advanced degree STEM holders are no longer counted against the overall EB limits. In sum, I-Squared is a classic example of legislative remediation that retains the frame of what was not working while infusing it with new meaning and greater adaptability to meet and answer the challenges of the 21st century.

This is pre-eminently a time for innovation. Try something, if that does not work, well then, try something else. True and lasting change is what America needs. In

The proposed USCIS rule imposes preconditions where the principal must either have to have an approved I-140 or be filing for an H-1B extension beyond the 6th year under the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act. based immigrant visa caps but it would be even better if family members were similarly exempt as a factor in the family-based quota limits.

While I-Squared does not explicitly link H-1B allotments to domestic economic conditions, it does so on a de facto basis by allowing the H-1B cap to rise or fall in connection with increases or decreases in H-1B sponsorship which themselves are a direct function of business profitability. While I-Squared does not make the H-1B truly portable, it does grant a temporary 60 day basis for the H-1B worker to find a new job without falling out of status.

While I-Squared does not explicitly sanction consular reviewability, it makes it unnecessary for E, H, L, O or P visa holders to go to a consulate in the first place in order to renew their existing visas by restoring the pre-9/11 practice of visa revalidation.

While I-Squared retains the INA 214(b) presumption of intending residence or immigrant intent, it exempts F-1 students from the obligation to maintain an unabandoned foreign residence abroad. Dual intent is not eliminated but students now come within the protection of its sheltering arms.

The concept of the per country cap is partially retained but only on the family based side of the ledger. Let's take the next step and extend this reductive methodology to FB quotas. The priority date system remains in place but

a global economy, all forms of capital, including intellectual capital, flow to their optimum destinations according to the laws of supply and demand. The American economy does not operate in a vacuum and assumptions to the contrary, the very assumptions that have dominated the nativist response to date, only enrich our foreign competitors while we all lose.

The USCIS and DOL care about American workers but do not effectively express such concern through policies that make US companies less competitive and the US itself less desirable as a place for the world's creative elite to live and work.

There is a better way where everyone benefits. We can, if we think and act anew, transform immigration policy from an endless source of controversy to a flexible weapon in our economic arsenal so that everyone profits.

For those who think a new way is too complex, do we not have complexity now and towards what end? For those who shrink from the demands of change, or doubt what they can do to chart a new course, let them listen to the wise words of Robert Frost in his immortal poem The Road Not Taken that can, if we have the will and wisdom to hear it, still speak to us today: " Two roads diverged in a wood, and I - I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

Concluded * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Datebook

February 13, 2015

NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

Upcoming

Upcoming Fri, Feb 14 • Valentine Soiree Venue: Executive Suite Hotel, 30 Minue St, Carteret, NJ 07008 Time : 7:30 pm Contact: 3479222006

Sat, Feb 28 • NJTS 2015 Annual Membership Venue: New jersey Tamil Sangam, 30 Ginger Dr, NJ 08837 Time: 9:00 pm

Sat, Mar 14 • Music Workshop by Sharda Rajan Venue: Homewood suites by Hilton, 66 Stanley St, East Rutherford, NJ 07073 Time: 10:00 am Contact: 203-599-1437

Fri, Feb 13

• Bollywood Disco Presidents Day Weekend Venue: Drom NYC, 85 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 718-207-0058

Sat, Feb 14 • Harry Malhotras Valentine Party

Venue: Antun's by minar, 244 W Old Country Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801 Time : 8:00 pm Contact: 917-325-4903

Sat, Feb 14

• Valentine Grand Bollywood Gala with USAS Venue: Castle Royale, 92 Waverly St, Yonkers, NY 10701 Time : 6:00 pm Contact: 917-903-4000

India Post 47

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ILLINOIS

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

CHICAGO

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat, Feb 14 • Valentines Day Party at Royal

Sun, Feb 15 • Brahma Kumaris Silicon Valley Meditation Center, Milpitas will celebrate Shivratri

Albert Palace Venue: Royal Albert Palace, 1050 King Georges Post Rd, Edison, NJ 08837 Time: 07:00 pm Contact: 732-723-7213

Fri, Feb 20 • Pretty In Pink Ladies Night, Fundraiser + Karaoke in Sunnyvale!

Venue: Athidhi Indian Cuisine, 727 S Wolfe Rd, Sunnyvale, CA 94086 Timet: 07:30 pm Contact: 925-261-8682

Fri, Feb 27 • Party Club Entertainment & Meri saheli

Upcoming

RSVP is required for better planning Venue: Jain Center, 722 S. Main St., Milpitas, CA 95035 Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Contact: rsvp@bksiliconvalley.org www.bksiliconvalley.org

Fri, Mar 13 • Zakir Hussain Connection

Celtic

Venue: Pabst Theater, 144 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 414-467-3032

ATLANTA Upcoming

Venue: David's Restaurent, 5151 Stars and Stripes Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95054 Time :08:00 pm Contact: 650 669 0281

Sat, Feb 14 • Cupid Calling ! Valentines Day Party 2015

Fri, Mar 6 • GujjuBhai Banya Dabang -

Venue: Ashiana banquet hall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 9:00 pm Contact: 404-246-3256

Gujarati Drama Venue: Chabot College Performing Arts Center, 25555 Hesperian Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545 Timet: 7:30 pm

Sat, Mar 14 • South Asian Heart Center's Seventh Annual Scarlet Night Gala Venue: Mission City Room at the Santa Clara Convention Center at 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA. Timet: 6 to 11:30 p.m Contact: 650 940 7242

Sat, Feb 28 • Zindagi Ek Safar Hai Suhana Venue: Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA 30047 Time: 8:30 pm Contact: 678-789-4690

Mon, Aug 31 • MITHAS 2014 Membership Venue: Wong Auditorium, MIT, 70 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02142 Time: 07:00 pm Contact: 857-205-9731

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of Month Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105Time: 5:30 pm

48

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February 13, 2015

Horoscope

February 13, 2015

India Post

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Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

February 13th - February 19th 2015 (March 21 to April 20)

U

nless you have confidence and determination, results will not come.

Planets are favorable, go with the full swing. You will learn some ropes from a very intelligent person about career. Any business trip taken this week will bring instant rewards. An unexpected payment will show up in mail this week.

(April 21 to May 20)

A

ny property deal this week will be lucky and may turn profitable soon. You may also sign an important contract after making minor changes. Spouse may continue to have aches and pains in body. Children will also do very well in their life. You may plan dinner or lunch with one new colleague at work.

(May 21 to June 20)

I

f you flex your limits even an inch, people will not hesitate to take undue advantage. Some of you will continue working on buying a running business.

People in business will continue to gain an edge over their opponents with new products. Do not procrastinate if you will to be successful this year.

(June 21 to July 22)

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rogress will be slow and you may have to make repeated attempts to get the job done big or small. One of your vehicle or some equipment in the house may need some major repairs. You may feel little lonely as support you need will be hard to find. Do not sign any contract without reading those fine lines.

(July 23 to August 22)

(November 23 to December 22)

C

hanges in career will be beneficial. Gambling and other financial speculations will be profitable. Eat food on proper interval in order to avoid complications. Just change of diet and little walking will help you shed off noticeable weight. In laws may invite you for dinner and may give some nice and valuable gifts.

(August 23 to September 22)

P

eople will not keep their words as a result you will be forced to widen your search else where. Its's not a bad idea to take the offer made by a friend few weeks ago. Value of stocks purchased recently will appreciate all of a sudden. You will be invited to a couple of parties in close relations.

(September 23 to October 22)

Y

ou may apply for a very challenging position out side and start preparing your self by studying some useful material to update your knowledge. A close friend will invite and you may travel to a farm or area with lots of greenery around.

You may also take a chance and invest some money in stocks.

(October 23 to November 22)

S

trong Sun will cause major improvements in career.You will finish a challenging assignment well before deadline and in a better way.

You will continue to experience big change in religious beliefs, leaning to wards spirituality. A female from different faith will be helpful and become very friendly.

PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations.

He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

Y

ou will gather the necessary papers and approach the government agency for clearance. Even to your surprise the work will be done in first meeting. Your expenses towards a child will exceed your budget. A long distance trip is also in the air. You may also give final shape to some important legal documents.

(December 22 to January 19)

F

inal pressure will evaporate suddenly. Continuous positive changes will keep you cheerful this whole week. You may be taking a short trip with family to attend a social event. Clearance from a government agency or favorable decision in ongoing legal matters can come within next few weeks.

(January 20 to February 18)

S

ome of you may try hard to cut down on caffeine or nicotine. Working extra hours will be rewarding in terms of mental satisfaction and money wise too. Liability towards a child will escalate.

You may also replace some electronic gadget or some electric item in the kitchen. Spouse will give practical ideas.

(February 19 to March 20)

A

very fruitful week in every sense. Luck is definitely on your side. Most of the things you try, will happen in first shot. Change of diet and little exercise will help you shed off few pounds. Energy level will be on extremes. No harm in friendship but maintain little distance with a person who comes from totally different culture.

510-886-4370 www.parashar.com

50 India Post

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February 13, 2015

Indian musician Ricky Kej (L) and Wouter Kellerman of South Africa, winners of the Best New Age Album Award. On right is Neela Vaswani who won in the Best Children's Album category

LOS ANGELES: Bangalore-based musician Ricky Kej and activist Neela Vaswani won at the 57th Grammy awards for their work in album 'Winds of Samsara' and the documentary on Malala Yousafzai, respectively.

Kej was declared a winner for his collaborative album 'Winds of Samsara' in the New Age Album category. The artiste teamed up with South African flautist Wouter Kellerman on the album.

A self-taught musician Kej, 33, has previously composed soundtracks for Kannada films. 'Winds of Samsara' is his 14th studio album. Other albums nominated in the category were 'Bhakti' by Paul Avgerinos, 'Ritual' by Peter Kater and R Carlos Nakai, 'Symphony Live In Istanbul' by Kitaro and 'In Love And Longing' by Silvia Nakkach and David Darling.

Vaswani, who is the author of the short story collection 'Where the Long Grass Bends' and memoir 'You Have Given Me a Country', won the trophy in the Best Children's Album category for 'I Am Malala: How One Girl Stood Up For Education And Changed The World (Malala Yousafzai)'.

In the album, she had narrated the audio version of the book of the same name.

Anoushka Shankar, 33, daughter of late sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, lost in the best world music album category.

It was her third nomination in the category.

This year she was nominated for 'Traces of You', her seventh album featuring her half-sister Norah Jones on the track 'The Sun Won't Set'.

Sam Smith wins big British crooner Sam Smith bagged four gongs including song of the year and record of the year for his mega hit 'Stay With Me'.

Smith playfully thanked his ex-lover for making it all possible. "I want to thank the man who this record is about.

Thank you so much for breaking my heart 'cause you got me four Grammys," he said.

The 22-year-old singer was also a winner for best newcomer and best pop vocal album for his debut 'In the Lonely Hour' but he failed to make a hat-trick with Beck emerging as the dark horse of the Sunday night ceremony by bagging the album of the year trophy for his critically-lauded 'Morning Phase'.

Beck, 44, also a winner for best rock album, looked surprised as his name was announced but the audience was in for a bigger shock when Kanye West mock repeated his 2009 Taylor Swift stunt by trying to upstage the musician.

Cont'd on Page 52

India Post 51

February 13, 2015 www.indiapost.com

Big B encouraged me to write & act

N

ew York born Actor Prashant Gupta on how a letter from Amitabh Bachchan convinced him to take the plunge.

At the time, I was seeing a girl named Mansi, who is now my wife.

Her dad worked at Air India at the time, and secured passes, so I tagged along. I was 18 and studying acting. I would freelance as a model and act in community theatre.

My father insisted I pursue a business degree in case I needed a backup plan.

I remember we were sitting in the second row at the event. When Mr Bachchan walked in, my jaw dropped. I was a huge fan like everyone else growing up in that generation. Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, Trishul and Deewaar were my favorite films.

My girlfriend was embarrassed by my behavior. When I asked to

stand in the queue separately to get an autograph so I could get some time alone with him, she was more than willing.

When I got my turn, I touched Mr Bachchan's feet and asked for his blessing. I told him that I was studying acting and enjoyed writing poetry. I had begun writing poetry in Hindi and Urdu when I was younger. His father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a celebrated poet and I admired his work. Mr Bachchan encouraged me to pursue the art.

Later that year, I self-published a book of 100 poems called Aks. I sent the manuscript to Mr Bachchan. I just wanted him to have it. I was surprised when he replied through a letter appreciating my work.

I took it as a sign. I decided that instead of going to LA, I would head to Mumbai to pursue my

This photograph was taken in 2003 when Mr Amitabh Bachchan came to New York for the launch of Khalid Mohammed's book, To Be or Not to Be Amitabh Bachchan. The title was being launched in honor of Mr Bachchan's 60th birthday.

dream of becoming an actor.

Another dream I have is to in-

vite Mr Bachchan to the launch of my next book. But I will only do it

when I have established myself as an actor. -Courtesy Sunday Mumbai Mirror

Suhaag show a hit with brides and grooms India Post News Service

TORONTO, ON: Patrons at the18th Annual Suhaag Show witnessed breathtaking wedding fashion, the hottest trends in decor, make-up and hair, photography and video, cakes and more!

The event was presented by Chevrolet in association with TD Bank. This year also saw the biggest fashion issue till date with the

launch of the 16th edition of the Suhaag magazine.

With their latest collections in bridal and party wear, leading fashion houses were at the show wooing throngs of young brides and grooms. Over 150 booths were on hand to consult with young couples who were accompanied by parents, siblings and extended families. People came in full force when doors opened at 11 am at

the Toronto Congress Centre.

Stunning decor displays from Diya DĂŠcor, Karma Design Studio, and Dream Party DĂŠcor, to name a few brought novel concepts to this show and added an element of drama!

Popular television show host (Bollywood Boulevard on CityTV and OMNI), Veronica Chail made the fashion shows fun and classy with guest emcee Rick Matharu-former grand prize winner of Food Network Canada's show Recipe to Riches for his butter chicken lasagna.

This year in addition to fabulous giveaways from the show's beauty sponsors, financial planners from associate sponsor, TD Bank were on hand to provide key tips to engaged couples embarking on their journey together; all over a cup of chai.

The first 300 brides received a free copy of the glamorous 2015 Suhaag magazine! This year's edition has the latest colour, styles and trends in fashion.

Cont'd on Page 52

52 India Post

February 13, 2015 www.indiapost.com

Indian-American's tale in Grammy Indians Ricky Kej, Vaswani UK award shortlist LONDON: US-based Indian writer Akhil Sharma's story of a family that moves to New York from New Delhi post-Emergency has been shortlisted for UK's Folio Prize.

"Family Life" is about two brothers Ajay and Birju taken by their parents to the US after the Emergency so they can have a better life.

Dark, sardonic, and written with biting wit and observation, "Family Life", published by Penguin, is a portrait of one dysfunctional family that speaks to all families.

The eight shorlisted titles are Sharma's "Family Life"; "10:04"

by Ben Lerner; "All My Puny Sorrows" by Miriam Toews; "Dept. of Speculation" by Jenny Offill; "Dust" by Yvonne Adhiambo

Akhil Sharma

Owuor; "How to Be Both" by Ali Smith; "Nora Webster" by Colm Toibin; and "Outline" by Rachel Cusk.

Sponsored by publisher The Folio Society, the 40,000 pound prize recognizes the best Englishlanguage fiction from around the world, regardless of form, genre or the author's country of origin.

The winner will be announced on March 23 here.

Announcing the shortlist, Chair of judges William Fiennes said, "The eight books we've chosen explore vast themes - time, loss, belonging, war, solitude, marriage and family, the making and the mystery of art - with amazing vitality and grace.

"They manage to be both epic and intimate - in fact, they show those dimensions to be two sides of the same coin.

They've surprised, moved, challenged and enchanted us. They've made us laugh. They've grown and deepened when we read them again." -PTI

Rajasthani spiced squirrel meat in UK LONDON: A popular Indian restaurant in London has added an unusual dish of Rajasthani spiced squirrel curry to its menu.

The dish has been created by Indian head chef Rakesh Nair for upmarket Cinnamon Club, frequented by Britain's parliamentarians due to its proximity to the Houses of Parliament in central London.

For the speciality dish, squirrel legs and shoulders are marinated with coriander, cloves, garlic, chilli and pineapple juice, before being cooked in a tandoor.

The belly is braised and turned into a kadhai-style stir-fry with peppers and onion.

The dish is served with pickled vegetables, coriander chutney and garlic naan and priced at 22 pounds per person at the restaurant which is housed in the historic Westminster Library building.

"We like to come up with creative and innovative dishes o surprise and excite our guests," explained Nair.

"We love cooking with game, and squirrel has got a great flavor, similar to wild rabbit, so we

thought why not experiment with it in the kitchen," he added.

The squirrel curry will coincide with the chef's appearance on a TV food show with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver later this week to talk about how squirrel is experienc-

ing a renaissance with chefs in London.

The meat was a common meat on UK menus but fell out of fashion in recent decades. It is being used again in a variety of recipes now. -PTI

among winners

Cont'd from Page 50

Beck was presented the award

by Prince, who referenced killings of black people by police with a short speech. "Like books and black lives, albums still matter," he said.

Miranda Lambert won the best country album for 'Platinum' while Glen Campbell's 'I'm Not Gonna Miss You' won best song, Carrie Underwood's 'Something in the Water' best solo performance and the Band Perry best duo or group performance for 'Gentle on My Mind'.

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga nabbed best traditional pop vocal album and St Vincent won the best alternative rock album.

The ceremony was full of 23

Three gongs The other big winners of the musical extravaganza were Beyonce and Pharrell Williams as they both scored three gongs.

Williams, who performed on 'Happy' won best music video and best pop solo performance, while his 'G I R L' won best urban contemporary album.

Beyonce, another maSam Smith jor performer of the night, took home best R&B performance and R&B song for 'Drunk in Love' and best surround sound album for self-titled 'Beyonce'.

Both Williams and Beyonce subtly referred to the Ferguson killing by including 'hands up don't shoot' gesture in their perfor- performances with AC/DC, mances.

Rihanna, West, Paul McCartney, Eminem won best rap album and Madonna, Beyonce, Williams, shared best rap/sung with Gaga, Bennett, Kisten Wiig, Katy Rihanna while Kendrick Lamar Perry turning up on the stage. took best performance and song President Barack Obama made this year for 'I' in the rap category. an appearance to condemn sexual Jack White took best perfor- violence, saying, "It's not OK - and mance for his album 'Lazaretto' and it has to stop." the comedy-rock duo Tenacious The ceremony, which awards D won for best metal performance. musicians in 83 categories, was Paramore's 'Ain't It Fun' won best hosted by rapper LL Cool, who rock song. returned for the fourth time.-PTI

Suhaag show a hit with brides and grooms Cont'd from Page 51

Rakesh Nair

The magazine also features content that appeals to a wide range of individuals including newly engaged couples, their families and friends. The magazine will be available in early March at Chapters and Indigo bookstores across the country.

Other prizes presented on stage included a 7 night stay at Bahia Principe in Mexico, Jamaica or Dominican courtesy Absolute Wedsite, Gold Coins courtesy TD Bank; complimentary hotel stay at

the Fairmount Royal York; foursome round of golf courtesy Clublink and much, much more!

The main draw prize was a car.

All those that attend the show had a chance to win a Chevrolet car.

If that was not enough, those who were present at the event also got a glimpse of this year's upcoming fashion trends by the GTA's Top 12 fashion boutiques.

The uniquely created designs displayed not only conventional outfits, but also traditional styles fused together with Canadian designs.

Philosophy

February 13, 2015

India Post 53

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis ECKHART TOLLE

C

omplaining as well as fault finding and reactivity strengthen the ego's sense of boundary and separateness on which its survival depends. But they also strengthen the ego in another way by giving it a feeling of superiority on which it thrives.

It may not be immediately apparent how complaining, say, about a traffic jam, about politicians, about the "greedy wealthy" or the "lazy unemployed," or your colleagues or ex-spouse, men or women, can give you a sense of superiority.

Here is why.

When you complain, by implication you are right and the person or situation you complain about or react against is wrong.

There is nothing that strengthens the ego more than being right. Being right is identification with a mental position - a perspective, an opinion, a judgment, a story.

For you to be right, of course, you need someone else to be wrong, and so the ego loves to make wrong in order to be right. In other words: you need to make others wrong in order to get a stronger sense of who you are.

Not only a person, but also a situation can be made wrong through complaining and reactivity, which always implies that "this should not be happening."

Being right places you in a position of imagined moral superiorJ. KRISHNAMURTI

S

o if we want to enquire into that which is most holy, which is nameless, timeless, one must obviously belong to no group, no religion, have no belief, no faith, because belief and faith is accepting as true something which does not or may not exist. That is the nature of belief: taking for granted, accepting something to be true.

When your own enquiry, your own vitality, energy has not found out, you believe.

Because in belief there is some form of security, comfort. But a man who is seeking merely psychological comfort, such a man will never come upon that which is beyond time.

So there must be total freedom.

Is that possible - to be free from all our conditioning, not biological conditioning - that's natural - but the psychological conditioning: the hates, the antagonisms, the pride, all the things that bring about confusion, which is the very nature of the self which is thought?

And to find out, there must be attention, not concentration. The word meditation has been introduced into the Western world quite recently by some of those people who have accepted certain norms,

ity in relation to the person or situation that is being judged and found wanting. It is that sense of superiority the ego craves and through which it enhances itself.

Facts undoubtedly exist. If you say: "Light travels faster than sound," and someone else says the opposite is the case, you are obviously right, and he is wrong.

The simple observation that lightning precedes thunder could confirm this. So not only are you right, but you know you are right.

Is there any ego involved in this?

ready crept in. It is hiding in the little word "me." A simple statement: "Light is faster than sound," although true, is now in service of illusion, of ego. It has become contaminated with a false sense of "I"; it has become personalized, turned into a mental position.

The "I" feels diminished or offended because somebody doesn't believe what "I" said. Ego takes everything personally. Emotion arises, defensiveness, perhaps even aggression. Are you defending the truth? No, the truth, in any

how much more so the less tangible realm of opinions, viewpoints, and judgments, all of them thought forms that can easily become infused with a sense of "I." Every ego confuses opinions and viewpoints with facts.

Furthermore, it cannot tell the differences between an event and its reaction to that event. Every ego is a master of selective perception and distorted interpretation. Only through awareness - not through thinking - can you differentiate between fact and opinion.

Nothing strengthens ego more than being right

Eckhart Tolle

Being right places you in a position of imagined moral superiority in relation to the person or situation that is being judged and found wanting. It is that sense of superiority the ego craves

And The Temple; Break Everything In Sight But Do Not Break A Person's Heart, It Is There That God Resides - Bulleh Shah Patience is: When a man experiences a thing not to his liking, he does not

Possibly, but not necessarily. If you are simply stating what you know to be true, the ego is not involved at all, because there is no identification. Identification with what? With mind and a mental position.

Such identification, however, can easily creep in. If you find yourself saying, "Believe me, I know" or "Why do you never believe me?" then the ego has al-

case, needs no defense.

The light or sound does not care about what you or anybody else thinks. You are defending yourself, or rather the illusion of yourself, the mind-made substitute. It would be even more accurate to say that the illusion is defending itself.

If even the simple and straightforward realm of facts can lend itself to egoic distortion and illusion,

Only through awareness are you able to see: There is the situation and here is the anger I feel about it, and then realize there are other ways of approaching the situation, other ways of seeing it and dealing with it.

Excerpted from 'A New Earth Awakening to Your Life's Purpose'. The 67th birth anniversary of Eckhart Tolle will be observed on Feb 16

certain patterns of meditation.

There is the Zen meditation, the Tibetan form of meditation which is different from the southern form of Buddhist meditation; there is the meditation of the Hindus, with their special gurus, who again have their own forms of meditation.

Then there is the Christian form, which is contemplation. And the

that's translated into some kind of a spiritual status, and they have their meditation. And they come here and you are gullible enough to swallow all that; paying for it the more you pay, the greater the meditation.

So we ought to enquire into what is meditation - to meditate.

It's really important, because a mind

the rest of it.

Such a mind is an attentive mind, completely attentive to whatever it does, to all its actions, in its relationship, and so on. Attention is not concentration. Concentration is restricted, narrow, limited, whereas attention is limitless.

And in that attention there is that quality of silence - not the silence

To find out, there must be attention, not concentration

-Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia When I am in my ego, then You (Lord) are not with me. Now that You are with me, there is no egotism within me.

- Saint Ravidass I searched for my Self until I grew weary; but no one, I know now, reaches the hidden knowledge by means of effort. Then, abI found the place of Wine.

There all the jars are filled, but no one is left to drink.

- Lal Ded And I will show that nothing can happen more

J. Krishnamurti

that's merely mechanistic, as thought is, can never come upon that which is totally, supreme order, and therefore a complete freedom. Like the universe is in total order: it's only the human mind that is in disorder. And so one has to have an extraordinarily orderly mind, a mind that has understood disorder and is free completely from disorder, which is contradiction, imitation, conformity, and all

complain

sorbed in "Thou art This,"

The universe is in total order: it's only the human mind that is in disorder. And so one has to have an extraordinarily orderly mind, a mind that has understood disorder and is free meaning of that word, meditation, implies, the meaning of that word is 'to ponder over, to think over'.

And also, a meditative mind must be free of measurement.

So all those people who have brought this word - with their systems, methods and practices, are again put together by careful thought. Perhaps one guru or two - those Asiatic birds - have some kind of experience; immediately

Tear Down The Mosque

invented by thought, not the silence that comes about after noise, not the silence of one thought waiting for another thought. There must be that silence which is not put together by desire, by will, by thought. And in that meditation there is no controller.

Excerpted from an address in Australia. The 29th death anniversary of J. Krishnamurti will be observed on Feb 17.

beautiful than death.

-Walt Whitman Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

sure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

-Robert Frost

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Insurgency in Northeast India: The Chinese Link

E

WASBIR HUSSAIN

xternal Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has just ended a four-day visit to China where she discussed "bilateral, regional and global issues of concern" for both countries. The range of discussions with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, that stretched to over two hours, were rather extensive: finalizing the transit issue for Indian pilgrims to Kailash Manasarovar through Sikkim to the border question, to defense contacts between the two neighbors, trade and commerce, and possibly river waters, in view of the concerns in India over the massive damming of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra).

What is not known, however, is whether Sushma Swaraj or the

action to neutralize trigger-happy rebels.

The approach seems to have yielded good results because from 23 December 2014 to 31 January 31, 2015, security forces engaged in stepped-up counter-insurgency operations against the NDFB (Songbijit) have arrested nearly 140 cadres, killed a top commander, and recovered nearly two dozen rifles, including sophisticated German HK 33 and US-make M 16 rifles and a range of AK series ones, most likely made in China.

Close to 2,000 rounds of ammunition have been seized.

There is every reason to believe that unless the flow of small arms to the region is checked, insurgency cannot be eliminated or controlled in Northeast India. Any

new Foreign Secretary, S Jaishankar, an expert China hand who spent four years in Beijing as India's Ambassador there, raised the issue of official Chinese arms manufacturing companies regularly selling small arms (man-portable lethal weapons like AK series rifles, light and sub-machine guns, grenades etc) to insurgents in Northeast India.

China, in fact, holds the key to the availability of weapons and ammunition among the terror groups in Northeast India that is actually keeping insurgency alive in this far-eastern frontier.

One has heard the Modi Government at the Centre talking of a 'zero tolerance policy' on terror, something that has not been clearly articulated as yet. Going by New Delhi's diktat to the security establishment in Assam to go all out against the insurgents indulging in violence, in the wake of the 23 December 2014 massacre of around 80 Adivasis in the state by rebels of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Songbijit faction), one can assume that the Centre now is in favor of tough

new anti-terror policy that New Delhi may formulate in the coming days would have to take this fact into consideration. It is here that the China factor will come into play, something that the Modi Government will have to confront.

In fact, if one looks at the charge-sheet filed by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) on 26 March 2011 against Anthony Shimray, chief arms procurer of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), it becomes clear that the insurgent group was actively buying weapons from Chinese companies.

The FIR lists out the plan in detail and specifically says that Shimray, accompanied by a representative of another rebel group, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), visited the Norinco headquarters in Beijing.

Norinco or the China North Industries Corporation, is one of China's largest State-owned weapons manufacturers.

Bangkok-based NSCN-IM rebels paid USD 500,000 to Norinco and bought 1,800 weap-

ons that landed at Bangladesh's Cox Bazar in 1996 and were transported onwards to Northeast India, to NSCN-IM and NDFB camps.

Half of these weapons, of course, were seized by Bangladeshi security forces while being off-loaded.

Around 2007, NSCN-IM faced desertion from its ranks with people going away with weapons.

That was the time the outfit again decided to buy 1,000 weapons, mainly AK series rifles, light machine guns, sub-machine guns, pistols, rocket-propelled grenades etc. NSCN-IM approached another Chinese arms manufacturing company, TCL, and paid USD 1,00,000. The money was paid through a Thai arms dealer Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich alias Willy. The deal did not materialize due to the 'disturbed situation' in Bangladesh where the consignment was meant to be delivered. The NIA has electronic receipt of the payment.

Reports attributed to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said that a definite money trail exists as payment to the Chinese firm was made through normal banking channels via a leading private bank's branch in an African country.

NSCN (I-M), according to the MHA, has parked its funds in bank accounts across several African nations.

The NIA is bent on pursuing the Anthony Shimray arms procurement case to its logical end and has received a shot in the arm with the arrest in 2013 of Wuthikorn Naruenartwanich.

His extradition to India was cleared by a criminal court in Thailand but Willy has since moved a higher court there and is awaiting its verdict on the matter of his extradition. What is clear is the Chinese link in weapons supply to rebels in Northeast India.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have been the key transit routes through which small arms made in China reach the Northeast.

A security situation in the Northeast that remains under control is vital to the pursuance of India's Look East Policy.

Therefore, New Delhi will have to devise a strategy to neutralize insurgency in the Northeast, and that strategy will have to factor in the flow of small arms to these groups. The ability to chock this flow right at the source of its origin could well hold the key.

The writer is Executive Director, CDPS, Guwahati, and Visiting Fellow, IPCS

India Post Stunning victory

A

rvind Kejriwal has caused a revolution in Indian politics with his mind-boggling sweep in Delhi elections bagging all but three seats out of the 70 available for contesting. By grudgingly giving them three seats, the Delhi voter seems to be equating the BJP with the Congress (which scored a zero) as votaries of old style politics. Fresh air seems to be blowing in polluted Delhi with the expectations of the youth enhanced by the clean and honest campaign of AAP. They see new hope that in a Delhi where you have to bribe your way for every simple facility the AAP government might change all that. Last time Kejriwal was chief minister for 49 days, corruption in police had nearly come to zero.

Small traders were delighted to be able to conduct their business without harassment. Even the babus in government offices had started attending to their work. That little trailer has inspired people of Delhi to give a second chance to Kejriwal who is also now mellowed down having learnt a lesson from his "dharna" politics of last time which turned many middle class people away from him.

It was a huge mistake of the BJP in having given Kejriwal and his party a long time to recover. It is well known among Delhiites that municipal corporations are controlled by the BJP and there is maximum corruption in their corridors. Roads and crumbling infrastructure are not attended to. Even though Delhi was under Central rule and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi was dominated by BJP, it did nothing regarding the many civic issues Delhi faces, particularly those related to the lower middle class that AAP targets. Instead of going to the people and trying to solve their problems the BJP leaders remained complacent that having won all the seven seats in the Lok Sabha elections, getting majority in Delhi assembly would be easy. Coming late to attend to Delhi's affairs, BJP chief Amit Shah found that there was hardly a credible leader in Delhi who could take the party to victory. There was Harsh Vardhan last time but he was inducted as Health Minister in the national government by Modi. When he was taken off Health Ministry and given a lighter portfolio it was thought he was being prepared to take over in Delhi in the event of elections there. But instead, a bombshell awaited the BJP workers when outsider Kiran Bedi was parachuted down and imposed on Delhi's party. Although no open defiance was visible, the move was not taken to kindly and factionalism only increased in Delhi. If earlier the few BJP leaders were fighting to grab the CM chair in Delhi new all of them were united in denying it to outsider Bedi.

The electorate also did not accept Bedi and showed its displeasure by defeating her in a constituency considered a BJP stronghold.

So overwhelming, in fact stunning, has been the victory of the Aam Admi Party in Delhi that its creator Arvind Kejriwal himself described it as a "wonder" and even "scary." It demonstrates the amount of faith the electorate has put on him. The mistakes of last time have been forgiven and he has been given a second chance.

Correctly gauging that the Congress and the BJP were defeated because of their arrogance, he warned his party men to avoid this disease. Indeed the lesson to be learnt from the Delhi outcome is never to become arrogant and take the electorate for granted.

It has to be conceded that as against the BJP, AAP led a very positive campaign focusing on development and governance. The BJP never came with any agenda on what they can do for Delhi.

Kejriwal should now concentrate on Delhi and try to make it a model of development instead of frittering away energy in enlarging the role of his party in rest of the country.

February 13, 2015

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