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Bay Area soaks in Holi spirit as colors run riot Details on page 16

Nizamuddin clerics return home from Pak

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ATTACKS ON INDIANS HATE CRIME: SUSHMA

NEW DELHI: The recent attacks on Indians in the US are "hate crimes" and not a simple law and order issue, the government has said with an assertion that national interest will not be compromised for the sake of Strategic Partnership with that country.

Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed confidence that the Trump Administration will not let these incidents become a trend and is keeping a close watch on it.

"We do not treat these incidents as law and order mat-

ter. It is not as simple as that. From our side, we are saying that these are 100 per cent incidents of hate crime," she said, adding that the investigation should be carried out from such a perspective.

The minister was making statement on three incidents of attacks on Indians in the US. On February 22, 32-year old Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot dead by a US national in Kansas City, while on March 2 Harnish Patel, a US national of Indian origin, was shot dead.

Details on page 5

Periodical Postage

Trump nominates Amul Thapar to top post Details on page 5

Doval to visit US, meet Defense Secy Details on page 6

Amnesty asks Adityanath to retract

Details on page 7

Indian food making way to US platters

Details on page 6

Dalai teachings making impact in China

Details on page 8

US to revoke citizenship of Pak-American

Details on page 7

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 24-25

Details on page 7

Classifieds ------------------------- 52 Community Post ----- 16-23,48-49

INDIA POST SURVEY

Date Book -------------------------- 39 Edit Page --------------------------- 54

survey@indiapost.com

HealthScience Post --------- 11-14

This week’s question

Horoscope ------------------------- 38

Can Yogi Adityanath restore law and order in UP?

Immigration Post ------------- 50-51 Life Style ----------------------- 30-33

Last week’s result

Do you favor Obamacare replacement?

YES 23%

NO 77%

Philosophy ------------------------- 53 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4

GRATITUDE: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath greeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a bouquet during their meeting in New Delhi on March 21. (Details on page 6)

Real Estate -------------------- 44-46 TechBiz Post ------------------- 34-37 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

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ome disconcerting thoughts coming in the wake of incidents involving members of the Indian American community in recent weeks.

There were of course several instances of hate crime in recent months, which continue to see a series of protests from the community, including this one last weekend outside the White House.

In a disparate incident a young Indian American woman went viral for apparently ambushing White House press secretary Sean Spicer in a store and asking him, among other things, how he felt working for a fascist.

Harking back a couple of months, I am drawn to contemplate on this strange case of Akash Dalal. Here's this young New Jerseyan who, misguided no doubt, took a karmic detour from a conventional life to land in prison where perhaps he will spend the rest of his unfortunate life.

About six years ago, Dalal, now 24, and a friend, for reasons best known to them, allegedly vandalized some Jewish synagogues in New Jersey and firebombed one of them, albeit without causing anyone physical harm or much financial loss. Although the two are convicted of several charges including that of terrorism, I am inclined to view the charges with a tinge of skepticism and a moral, if not legal misgiving, without necessarily undermining the reach of the legal system.

The reason I am trying to connect these unconnected incidents is because in all of this hate seems to assume a different context depending on which view you take. Like, the young woman was obviously upset about the 'hate' Spice purportedly represents, but her own act was no less hateful. Dalal, perhaps is experiencing more hate in his conviction by the jury than he intended against the Jews.

Contemplating thus on the current state of social affairs, I wonder sometimes if hate is the anomaly or tolerance.

Romesh K Japra

NEW DELHI Vijender P Shah Graphics

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INFO-CENTER

HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: No politics please Aamir Khan says he will never join politics as he feels he can contribute a lot more as an artist.

Cover Story: Hate crime The recent attacks on Indians in the US are "hate crimes" and not a simple law and order issue

Community: Holi spirit Newark city wore a festive look as residents and guests from Bay Area, both young and old, immersed in colors

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Life style: Sculpture award Indian artist Harsha Vardhan Durugadda beat 76 other contestants to win the $50,000 Australian sculpture award

Techbiz: Bowing to Trump The world's top economic powers dropped a pledge to oppose trade protectionism amid pushback from US.

Travel: Dalhousie Among the most sought hill stations in Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is very popular for its scenic beauty & pleasant climate.

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NEW DELHI: The recent attacks on Indians in the US are "hate crimes" and not a simple law and order issue, the government has said with an assertion that national interest will not be compromised for the sake of Strategic Partnership with that country.

Making a statement in the Rajya Sabha, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj expressed confidence that the Trump Administration will not let these incidents become a trend and is keeping a close watch on it.

"We do not treat these incidents as law and order matter. It is not as simple as that. From our side, we are saying that these are 100 per cent incidents of hate crime," she said, adding that the investigation should be carried out from such a perspective.

The minister was making statement on three incidents of attacks on Indians in the US. On Febru-

Attacks on Indians hate crime: Sushma Swaraj said.

She said the US administration is saying that the attacks were individual acts of hate crimes and no trend should be seen in these incidents.

CPI leader D Raja voiced apprehension that the Strategic Partnership could come in the way of India taking up this issue with the US. In her response, Swaraj said, "Strategic Partnership does not mean that we will compromise with our national interest...

"The government has taken up this issue with the US governments at a very high level and conveyed our deep concerns.

We have called for necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Indian Diaspora ary 22, 32-year old Srinivas Kuchibhotla was shot dead by a US national in Kansas City, while on March 2 Harnish Patel, a US national of Indian origin, was shot dead.

On March 4, Deep Rai, a US national of Indian origin, was shot by an unknown person in Kent near Seattle.

"We are taking up this matter at the highest level. We are watching if there is any trend being set,"

Do not think that we will remain silent because of Strategic Partnership. The Strategic Partnership is secondary. First comes the security and safety of our nationals."

The minister said that the manner in which the US government has responded, India hopes that these incidents would not become a trend.

"I want to assure the House that despite having a Strategic

Partnership and good relations with the US, the safety and security of Indians remains our top priority. We will never ignore that," the minister said.

She said India is in "continuous dialogue with the US government" on this issue.

Through embassy and consulates, she said, close contacts are being maintained with the local Indian community groups to address any emergent issues.

"We will remain vigilant to developments impacting the lives of Indian abroad and do everything possible to safeguard their interests and welfare," she said.

"The government has taken up this issue with the US governments at a very high level and conveyed our deep concerns. We have called for necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Indian Diaspora and expeditious investigation into these incidents," Swaraj said.

"The US authorities have responded strongly and assured us that they are working with all concerned agencies to ensure speedy justice," the External Affairs Minister added.

She said there has been widespread condemnation of these incidents by the US leadership, both in the administration and the Congress and in this context, she referred to statements made by

President Donald Trump and others.

Seeking clarifications from Swaraj on her statement, CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury asked whether the government is treating these incidents as law and order matter or growing hate atmosphere in US. He said there is a certain de-

complemented Swaraj for her efforts in this matter.

T Subbarami Reddy, who had raised this issue in the House on March 16, said this is a serious matter and asked the government to take it up at the highest level with the US President to prevent these types of incidents in the future.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj

gree of xenophobia being developed in the US and that is reflecting in this sort of hate against outsiders.

If the assessment is that it is part of growing trend, Yechury asked what would be the response of the government and foreign policy towards US. JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav

Raja said: "Ever since the change of the government in the US, the people of Indian origin, people of India living there are living with great sense of fear and insecurity."

"We have strategic partnership with the US that should not prevent us to raise our independent voice," he added. -PTI

Trump nominates Indian to top post WASHINGTON: Amul Thapar, an Indian-American legal luminary, has been nominated by US President Donald Trump to a key judicial position on the powerful US court of appeals.

Thapar, 47, who in 2007 became the first South Asian Article III judge when he was appointed as a US District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, i s

the first Indian-American to be nominated by Trump for the top judicial post.

If confirmed by the Senate, Thapar will be part of the powerful US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio and Michigan.

Thapar was among the 20 judges whose names Trump had released during his presidential campaign as shortlisted candidates for his Supreme Court nominees.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell applauded Trump for announcing his inAmul Thapar

tent to nominate Thapar to serve on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

"Throughout his already impressive career of public service, Amul has shown an incredible intellect and an unshakable dedication to the law," McConnell said.

"He has earned the respect of his colleagues, and I know that he will bring to the Sixth Circuit the same wisdom, fairness, and ability that he has shown on the District Court.

President Trump made an outstanding choice and I look forward to the Senate's confirmation of Judge Thapar," the Senate Majority leader said in a statement.

The South Asian Bar Association of North America (SABA)

which is normally critical of that his eminent qualifications Trump, lauded Trump for his in- will earn him a swift confirmatent. tion," Kumar said.

"Judge Thapar is a respected Prior to joining the bench, and thoughtful jurist who has Thapar, winner of SABA's Piolong served as role model for the neer Award, served as the US South Asian and greater legal commu"Judge Thapar is a nity," said Vichal respected and thoughtful Kumar, SABA presijurist who has long served dent.

"Despite being as role model for the South among the youngest Asian and greater legal judges in the federal judiciary, Judge community," Thapar quickly established a reputation as a top legal scholar among Attorney for the Eastern Dishis peers. His nomination furthers trict of Kentucky from 2006SABA's mission of ensuring a ju- 2007, where he was one of the diciary that reflects the diversity first American Attorneys of of our country and we anticipate South Asian descent.-PTI

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Doval to visit US, meet Defense Secy WASHINGTON: National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will visit Washington this week for highlevel talks with top Trump admin-

Ajit Doval

istration officials and discuss a wide range of bilateral security issues and push forward the defense ties.

Doval will meet US Defense

Secretary James Mattis on March The designation, according to 24, Pentagon spokesman Capt Jeff a US-India joint statement issued Davis told reporters, adding that during Carter's visit to New Delhi they are likely to discuss a wide in December, is a status unique to range of bilateral security issues India and institutionalizes the and those related to the defense progress made to facilitate derelationship. fense trade and technology-sharDoval is also expected to meet ing with India to a level at par with his American counterpart Lt Gen the US' closest allies and partners.

H R McMaster, the first between "Clearly India is a very strong the two national security advi- security partner and a force in the sors, during his stay in the US. region. We continue to have very Davis said he was not aware of the reaDoval is also expected sons for Doval's visit, but added Mattis to meet his American would meet him on the counterpart Lt Gen sidelines of an internaH R McMaster, the first tional meeting of the anti-ISIS Coalition between the two hosted by the State national security advisors Department.

The Mattis-Doval meeting would be one of the high- good relationship with India in the est-level meetings between the region," Davis said. two countries after Donald Trump The US and India last year also assumed the American presidency signed a bilateral Logistics Exon January 20. change Memorandum of AgreeIndia's ties with the US gained ment that will give the militaries momentum towards the end of the of the two countries access to previous Barack Obama adminis- each other's facilities for supplies tration. At his final Pentagon press and repairs. LEMOA is said to be briefing in January, then Defense one of the four 'foundational Secretary Ashton Carter said the agreements' that the US enters bilateral ties "were on the right into with its defense partners. path."

Earlier this month, Foreign SecLast year, the US declared In- retary S Jaishankar met McMaster dia a major defense partner. at the White House. -PTI

Amnesty asks Adityanath to retract statements NEW DELHI: Amnesty Inter- International India. national has called for public withThe five-time MP from drawal of alleged inflammatory Gorakhpur, a known Hindutva statements made in the past by hardliner, who was sworn in as BJP leader Yogi Adityanath, a day the 21st chief minister of the after he assumed charge as UP state.

Chief Minister.

"Adityanath has been one of Uttar Pradesh's most polarizing politicians, given to hateful rhetoric that incites discrimination and hostility against minority groups, particularly Muslims," alleged Aakar Patel, Executive DirecAmnesty India chiief Aakar Patel tor, Amnesty

"As Chief Minister of India's most populous state, he and his party have an obligation to ensure that his positions do not become government policy. It is therefore imperative that he retracts any statements which may provide a license for others to abuse human rights," Patel said in statement by the global NGO. The statement said Adityanath had called for India becoming a "Hindu state" and also made "polarizing" statements claiming 'love jihad'.

He faces criminal charges in multiple cases, including attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and rioting, Amnesty alleged, adding, "in 2007, he was detained for 15 days for allegedly inciting riots in Gorakhpur".

Adityanath has been also charged in the past with endangering life or personal safety of

Yogi Adityanath takes a dig at Rahul-Akhilesh NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took a dig at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav, whose alliance the BJP defeated by a handsome margin in the state assembly election.

"I'm one year younger than Rahul ji and a year older than Akhilesh ji. The fact that I could come in between their partnership may be the reason for your (SP-Congress alliance) failu r e , " Adityanath jibed.

His teasing remark, which earned a round of laughs and sent the opposition into a tizzy, was preceded by an attack on the f o r m e r Samajwadi Party government for not utilizing the funds channeled to it by the Centre.

"Over the last two and half years, the Central government allocated 2.5 lakh crore rupees to UP. But the state government utilized only Rs 78,000 crore. This was because they did not have a proper model for the state's development," he charged.

In his final address to the Lok Sabha, the newly-coronated UP chief minister hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policy of inclusive growth for turning the country's economy around, "In the last 3 years, the development schemes and programs implemented by this government are being viewed as an ideal

model in the country and the world over... PM Modi is being hailed as a global icon," Adityanath said.

Citing the rise in the country's growth rate, Adityanath also acknowledged finance minister Arun Jaitley's efforts in this regard.

"I thank the finance minister for breathing new life into our country's economy," the UP chief minister said.

Yogi Adityanath

The firebrand BJP leader, who is viewed by many as a Hindutva mascot, then touched upon the Prime Minister's 'Sabka saath, sabka vikas' motto to say the BJPled NDA government had ensured growth and development for all sections of the society.

"This government has worked for all sections of society without any discrimination," Adityanath said.

He then said that his government in Uttar Pradesh will be for everyone, and not specifically for any caste or community.

Yogi Adityanath has been a member of Lok Sabha for almost two decades, representing his constituency Gorakhpur since 1998.-Agencies

ganization which has often been accused of "instigating communal tension".

"Adityanath's toxic ideas must not become part of his governance. By deBy demonizing Muslims, monizing Muslims, he he has increased has increased relireligious divisions and put gious divisions and put ordinary people at ordinary people at risk of risk of discrimination, discrimination, hostility hostility and violence.

"As the head of the and violence Uttar Pradesh government, he must disown according to his 2014 election af- his poisonous statements, and ensure that his administration fidavit.

Adityanath is also the founder respects the rights of people of of the Hindu Yuva Vahini, an or- all faiths," Patel said. -PTI others, unlawful assembly and trespassing on burial grounds.

A murder case is going on in the court of CJM, Maharajganj,

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Dalai teachings making impact in China MATHURA, Uttar Pradesh: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama has refuted claims that his preaching has not had any impact in China and said its "mass impact" was evident from the fact that 400 million people have adopted Bud-

pact on common Chinese," the Dalai Lama told reporters at Karshni Ashram Raman Reti here.

He said the majority of people in China are using internet to access his discourse.

He also stressed the need for

"Adopting of Buddhism by 400 million in China is a witness that my preaching is making mass impact on common Chinese," the Dalai Lama told reporters at Karshni Ashram Raman Reti here dhism in that country.

"Adopting of Buddhism by 400 million in China is a witness that my preaching is making mass im-

better understanding between India and China for economic growth.

Stressing the need for propa-

gation of love, he said, "All religions have stressed the need to increase love and tolerance...Unity in the society is necessary and for this, awakening of the feelings is important."

He attributed most of the problems like global warming, terrorism, etc. to the narrow outlook of the people. "Except (the Donald) Trump administration (in the US)," he said, "almost the rest of the world is desisting from arms race after the mass devastation of the Second World War." For attaining peace, he stressed the need for reducing fear, frustration and anger as without inner peace of human being, world peace would remain a dream.

To a question, the Dalai Lama said that in the political arena of the world

Dalai Lama

there have been a lot of changes and during last two years India has emerged as a great country.

He said he failed to understand

why China objected to his visit to Arunanchal Pradesh as the purpose of his visit was spiritual preaching. -PTI

Nizamuddin clerics return US to revoke citizenship of Pak-American home from Pak NEW DELHI: The head priest of Hazrat Nizamuddin Dargah, who along with another cleric had gone missing in Pakistan for days, returned home with their disappearance still shrouded in mystery amid reports they had been

"I was sitting at the Lahore Airport, carrying my boarding pass when suddenly some people came and told me there were some details lacking in my passport.

"When the flight was about to depart, I was asked to accompany

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj with Syed Asif Nizami the head priest of Hazrat Nizamuddin Aulia Dargah and his nephew Nazim Ali Nizami who went missing in Pakistan last week

picked up by the ISI. 80-year-old Syed Asif Nizami, the chief priest of the Sufi shrine and his nephew Nazim Ali Nizami flew back by a Pakistan International Airlines flight and met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who had taken up their case with Pakistan Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.

Though the two clerics did not divulge much about what happened during this period, Asif Nizami, however said, he was blindfolded and taken to some undisclosed place.

them. I felt helpless. Soon 8-10 people surrounded me and I was taken out through another gate," he said.

Asif Nizami said they "put a cloth over my head and took us somewhere."

He, however, said the stay was "comfortable" and the room he was kept in had bed, pillows and an AC. Union Ministers of State M J Akbar and V K Singh, besides Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar were present when the clerics met Swaraj.

The two clerics briefly met re-

porters here but did not throw much light on their disappearance.

While Asif Nizami had gone missing from Karachi airport, his nephew Nazim disappeared from Lahore airport before news broke that they had been traced.

However, Sajid Nizami, son of Asif Nizami, alleged that the duo was "taken away" after a news report appeared in a Karachibased Urdu daily which claimed they had links with Indian external intelligence agency RAW. On reports that both of them could not be contacted as they were in interior Sindh where there was no communication network, Nazim Ali Nizami strongly rejected the claim.

"We did not have visa for Sindh interior region, so how could we have gone there? The reports that we could not be contacted because of network issues is totally false," Nazim told reporters.

On whether they were detained

by Pakistani authorities, Sajid said, "Yes".

When asked if ISI was involved in their disappearance and whether they were harassed, Sajid said "no force or coercion was used" against them.

After meeting Swaraj, Nazim Ali Nizami thanked the Indian government, particularly the minister, for their safe return and said they had gone to the neighboring country with a message of peace and love.

"We were not among those who were involved in any illegal activities. We had gone to Pakistan to spread the message of love and peace.� -PTI

WASHINGTON: In a rare move, the US has initiated the process to revoke the citizenship of a Pakistani-American who was involved in militancy in Kashmir and is serving a 20-year prison term on terrorism charges.

Iyman Faris, who became an American citizen in 1999, was in 2003 convicted of conspiracy to provide material support to alQaeda and sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment.

Federal prosecutors said in his naturalization application he concealed that he participated in mili-

by using another's passport, that he willfully misrepresented the circumstances under which he entered the country on subsequent applications for immigration benefits, and that he twice testified falsely to obtain immigration benefits.

"The Department's Office of Immigration Litigation will continue to pursue naturalization proceedings against known or suspected terrorists who procured their citizenship by fraud," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Chad A Readler.

US Attorney S Boyce said it was important to ensure the path to legal US Attorney S Boyce naturalization remains said it was important to secure and free of fraud. ensure the path to legal Under the Immigranaturalization remains tion and Nationality Act, a naturalized US secure and free citizen's citizenship may be revoked, and of fraud his certificate of naturalization cancelled, if tancy in Kashmir in the 80s and the naturalization was illegally was affiliated to the Harkat-ul- procured or procured by concealJihadi al-Islami. ment of a material fact or by willThe Department of Justice filed ful misrepresentation, the Departa civil action before a federal court ment of Justice said. in Chicago against Faris, urging Once Faris's citizenship is rethe judge that his citizenship be voked, he would be subject to derevoked. portation to Pakistan after he Faris, 47, was a resident of Chi- serves his sentence. cago until he was arrested.

According to court docuUnder the Trump administra- ments, Faris was born in Karachi tion, this is the first known case in 1969. In March 1994, he entered of the Department of Justice mov- the US from New York using a ing to withdrawing the citizenship passport and visa belonging to of a naturalized American. another person, Iyman al-Ibrahim The civil complaint alleges that al-Ali, whom he had previously Faris entered the US fraudulently met in Bosnia.-PTI

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Indian food making way to US platters NEW DELHI: As Indian food gradually makes its way on to the European and American platters, leading chefs say that the desi food with a minor tweak, is being "well enjoyed" by the foreign taste-buds.

Chef Sriram Aylur, who is the master chef at Quilon at Taj 51 Buckingham Gate Suites and Residences in London, says the British capital was very "open to experimentation" and hence the In-

London is very open to experimentation. And, we have received immense recognition and support from our guests for over 18 years now," says Aylur, a Michelin starred chef.

Similar challenges were faced

by Chef Srijith Gopinathan from the American kitchens of Taj Campton Place in San Francisco, who says there is still a long way to go for Indian cuisine to become "mainstream" in the Western

To introduce Indian food to the American society, Gopinathan, the only Indian-American chef to have earned two Michelin stars, indulged in "a bit of a give and take" to create a refined version of Californian-Indian cuisine dian cuisine has been embraced with extended plates.

"Initially, getting people to do away with their preconceived notions of Indian cuisine came across as an obstacle. The challenge lay in getting them to experience our ethnic Indian cuisine in a fine dining format.

"But, I have been in luck, as

world, but admitted that the US platter is experiencing a "gradual change".

To introduce Indian food to the American society, Gopinathan, the only Indian-American chef to have earned two Michelin stars, indulged in "a bit of a give and take" to create a refined version of Californian-Indian cuisine.

"It is a bit of a give and take situation here, given that Indian food is still not considered to be a mainstream one here.

"That's where I step in. We provide a good weaving of both cuisines and take full advantage of the fact that some of the best ingredients in the world lie at our disposal in California," he says.

According to him, the key lay in starting with ingredients and preparations familiar to American palate and then gradually introducing the new or uncommon ones in small quantities.

"We initially tailor and customize the food to suit their tastes, however, at the same time also ensure that we do not lose out on much of its authenticity," he told PTI. One of the most popular Indian dishes that have impressed the foreign palates is the Kerala fish curry, which, both Aylur and Gopinathan say, is extremely popular with visitors at their respective restaurants.

Unlike the food that is available

across India, Aylur says, Indian food in its authentic form is "not heavy, greasy or over-spiced" and therefore, to make it suitable for British tastes, a slight tweaking in the chili levels does the magic.

"Real Indian dishes are not heavy, greasy or over-spiced, as

alteration of the dishes," he says.

Apart from the Kerala fish curry, traditional Indian recipes like Mangalore Chicken curry, Malabar biryani, and Bibinca are also well enjoyed by the European masses.

Butter chicken is an additional

is commonly believed by people, unless these are dishes from the royal kitchen. Similarly, South Indian food also uses minimal cream, butter and spices.

"The only ingredient that normally requires tweaking is chilli, which does not result in too much

favorite in the USA. Both the chefs, who are in India to curate a signature gastronomic experience, presented their culinary skills in the form of a fourcourse meal at The Taj Mahal Palace in Mumbai and the Taj Mahal Hotel here.-PTI

Modi unveils 112 feet tall face of Adiyogi India Post News Service

COIMBATORE, Tamil Nadu, India: Mahashivarathri was celebrated with hundreds of thousands of people in attendance at the Isha Yoga Center, Coimbatore on Feb 24, as an astounding manifestation of music and meditation, beginning with the spiritual exuberance of the unveiling of the towering 112 feet face of Adiyogi the Source of Yoga - by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev.

Adiyogi, Yogeshwar Linga,

a powerful energy form and a massive stage set the mood for the multitudes, to revel in joyful anticipation of the nightlong spiritual celebration. The event was attended by the Governor of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Lt. Governor of Puducherry Kiran Bedi, Ayush Minister Shripad Yasso Naik, Sports Minister Vijay Goel, Labor Minister Bandaru Dattatreya, Road transport, Highways & Shipping minister Pon Radhakrishnan, State Bank of India Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, Prasoon Joshi, Juhi Chawla among other

the 112 ways in which one can attain to one's ultimate through the science of yoga. Addressing the gathering, PM Modi said, "Today, yoga has come a long way. There are various definitions, types, schools of yoga and ways to practice yoga that have emerged. This is the beauty of yoga. It is ancient yet modern, it is constant yet evolving. The essence of yoga has not changed.

And I say this because it is utmost importance to preserve this essence."

"Standing here before this 112ft face of Adiyogi and the Yogeshwar Linga, we are experidignitaries.

The Prime Minister also released the book on "Adiyogi" coauthored by Sadhguru & Arundhati Subramaniam and lit the sacred fire marking the beginning of a Maha Yoga Yagna, an initiative to spread yoga to 100 million people through one million Yoga Veeras in a year's time.

Adiyogi is the largest face on the planet, recognizing the first yogi's unparalleled contribution to humanity. This iconic face symbolizes liberation, representing

encing a colossal presence enveloping everyone in this space. In the times to come, the place where we have gathered is going to be a source of inspiration for all, a place to immerse oneself and discover truth," he added.

Speaking about the occasion Sadhguru, said "A time has come where we need to understand that human wellbeing can only happen from within. If you know how to take charge of this interiority, then human wellbeing is assured.

Cont’d on page 10

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63 mn do not have access to clean water KOCHI: India has the maximum number of people - 63 million -living in rural areas without access to clean water, according to a new global report released to mark World Water Day. This is almost the population of the United Kingdom, said "Wild Water", a report on the state of the world's water.

Lack of government planning, competing demands, rising population and water-draining agricultural practices are all placing increasing strain on water, said the WaterAid's report.

Without access to clean water, 63 million people are living in rural areas in India. Diseases such as cholera, blinding trachoma, malaria and dengue are expected

to become more common and malnutrition more prevalent, it said.

Indian teen arrested for killing mother WASHINGTON: A 17-year-old Indian-American boy has been arrested in North Carolina in connection with killing of his mother, which has sent "shock waves" among the community.

Arnav Uppalapati was arrested

by Cary police after more than a year for the death of his 51-yearold mother Nalini Tellaprolu who worked at Duke Medical Center.

Tellaprolu was strangled on December 17, 2015 with a plastic bag over her head.

Friends of the family were shocked when the police

back seat of a car. She may have been beaten before she was strangled, the report said, citing the autopsy report.

Uppalapati was a person of interest in the case from the outset, said Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman.

One telling clue was early reports that indicated there were no signs of a forced entry into the family's two-story, USD 450,000 home at the Upchurch Farms subdivision, Freeman said.

"We're shocked as a community. This was not something we expected to hear. She focused all of her en"We're shocked as a ergy on her kids," said Padma Tummala, a community. This was not long-time friend of something we expected to Tellaprolu.

"I still don't believe hear. She focused all of her it. This is completely energy on her kids," said out of the blue," said Vijay Javvadi, another Padma Tummala family friend.

It wasn't clear how charged Uppalapati with her mur- police finally broke the case or der. what motive played a role.

"It's very devastating. There's Police said in a statement that never been an incident where a Uppalapati would be tried on a son has taken the life of his own class B1 felony charge, which is biological mother. punishable by a maximum senIt really sends shock tence of life in prison without pawaves," Satish Garimella, a role.

Morrisville town councilman of Tellaprolu's death was ruled a Indian descent, was quoted as homicide by the Medical saying by the local 'The News Examiner's Office. Her body was & Observer'. covered with bruises and Uppalapati was 16 when he re- scratches on her face, neck, ported coming home from school torso and arms. There were miand finding his mother's body in nor blunt force injuries, and the the garage with a plastic bag over cartilage in her neck was fracher head. Her feet were in the tured, the report said. -PTI

Rural communities dependent on farming to make a living will

struggle to grow food and feed livestock amid soaring tempera-

tures, and women - typically responsible for collecting water may have to walk even greater distances during prolonged dry seasons, the report forewarned.

Describing India as one of the world's fastest growing economies, it said ensuring water security for the growing population is one of the main challenges facing the country.

According to India's official Ground Water Resources Assessment, more than one-sixth of the country's groundwater supply is currently overused.

"Droughts have become almost a way of life in the Bundelkhand region of NorthCentral India. Here, three consecutive droughts have pushed millions of people into a vicious cycle of hunger and poverty," it said.

The report warns about the implications of extreme weather events and climate change for the world's poorest.

"India ranks in the top 38 per cent of countries world wide most vulnerable to climate change and least ready to adapt, according to the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index.

"With 67 per cent of the country's population living in rural areas and 7 per cent of the rural population even now living without access to clean water, India's rural poor are highly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather events and climate change," it said.

The report said today, 663 million people globally are without clean water and the vast majority of them - 522 million - live in rural areas.-PTI

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'Hindu Marriage Bill' becomes law in Pak ISLAMABAD: In a landmark development, the bill to regulate marriages of minority Hindus in Pakistan became a law here after President Mamnoon Hussain gave his approval.

With the President's nod, Pakistan's Hindus got an exclusive personal law to regulate marriages.

"On the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has assented to the 'The Hindu Marriage Bill 2017'," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said.

The law aims to protect marriages, families, mothers and their children while safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of Hindu families.

"It is a consolidated law for solemnization of marriages by Hindu families residing in Pakistan," the statement said.

Prime Minister Sharif said that his government has always focused on provision of equal rights to minority communities residing in Pakistan.

"They are as patriotic as any other community and, therefore, it is the responsibility of the state to provide equal protection to

them," he said.

The statement said the Hindu families will be able to solemnize marriages in accordance with the customary rites, rituals and ceremonies.

According to the law, the gov-

and petitions under this law shall be presented before the family courts.

The law also provides for punishments of imprisonment and fines up to Rs 100,000 or both for contraventions.

All offences under this law could be tried in the court of a first class magistrate.

It is the first law which would be applicable to entire Pakistan except Sindh province which has its own law to regulate marriages of Hindus.

The law was unanimously passed on March 10 by the National Assembly which endorsed amendments made by the Senate in February. -PTI

Indian woman being ill-treated in Pak

ernment will appoint marriage registrars in areas convenient for the Hindu population for registration of their marriages.

This law also provides for procedures relating to restitution of conjugal rights, judicial separation, void and voidable marriages,

Indian jailed for killing woman in Singapore SINGAPORE: A 32-year-old Indian-origin man has been sentenced to 10 years of jail and 12 strokes of the cane for murdering a woman 16 years ago during an attempt to rob her at knife-point in a lift.

Gunasegaran Ramasamy was sentenced to the maximum 10 years' jail and 12 strokes of the cane for robbery with hurt by a district court. The sentence was

termination of Hindu marriage, financial security of the wife and children, alternate relief in termination of marriage and termination of marriage by mutual consent.

The law provides the right to a separated person to marry again,

some instant noodles at a shop near her block at Bukit Batok Street 21 but decided he would rob someone. He armed himself with a 26cm-long kitchen knife and walked around the neighborhood in search of a victim, the Channel News Asia reported.

He spotted Soh, 28, between 8pm and 9pm near his block.

He followed her into the lift, pulled out the knife and demanded money. She refused to give it. Gunasegaran On November 17, 2013, stabbed her repeatedly having been plagued by until she collapsed guilt for 12 years, he walked onto him.

Gunasegaran fled into a police station the scene after the inand confessed cident. He spent the next decade in and out backdated to November 18, 2013. of prison for involving in many The 2001 case had remained cases, including housebreaking, unsolved for more than a decade. robbery and assault.

Gunasegaran confessed in On November 17, 2013, having 2013 to the killing of a woman Soh been plagued by guilt for 12 years, San, whose body was found he walked into a police station riddled with stab wounds. He and confessed to the murder. pleaded guilty to one count of Methamphetamine was found causing hurt while committing in urine samples collected after his robbery and one count of consum- arrest. An autopsy showed Soh ing methamphetamine. was stabbed nine times and died A district court heard that on from wounds to her chest and October 2, 2001, Gunasegaran's abdomen, the newspaper resister gave him money to buy ported.-PTI

entitlement of re-marriage for a Hindu widow at her own will and consent after stipulated time, legitimacy of child born out of void and voidable Hindu marriage.

As per the law, Hindu marriages solemnized before commencement of this law shall be deemed valid

India ranks a low 122 among the happiest UNITED NATIONS: India ranked a lowly 122 on a list of the world's happiest countries, dropping four slots from last year and coming behind China, Pakistan and Nepal.

Norway ranks as the happiest country in the world, according to The World Happiness Report 2017, which ranks 155 countries by their happiness levels. Norway jumped three spots from last year, displacing Denmark, which had held the top spot for three out of the past four years.

India comes in on the 122nd spot, down from 118 in the 2013-2015 report, which maps happiness on the parameters of GDP per capita, social support, healthy life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity and perceptions of corruption.

Nations such as China (79), Pakistan (80), Nepal (99), Bangladesh (110), Iraq (117) and Sri Lanka (120) fared better than India on the ranking.

The report was released here at an event celebrating International Day of Happiness. It is the fifth report to come out since 2012.-PTI

NEW DELHI: External Affairs "I received a Youtube mesMinister Sushma Swaraj has di- sage from Shri Mohammad rected Indian High Commission in Akbar that his daughter Islamabad to renew the passport Mohammadia Begum, an Indian and facilitate the return of an In- national, was married in Pakistan dian woman from Hyderabad who and was being ill-treated by her is stranded in Pakistan and is be- in-laws. ing allegedly harassed by her Our mission sent a Note husband.

Verbale requesting the safety, Swaraj, who was approached security and well-being of by the 44-year-old woman's father Mohammadia Begum," Swaraj to help her in returning to India, in a series of "Our High Commission tweets said she has asked the Indian High officials met Mohammadia Commission to renew Begum and she expressed the woman's Indian passport and facilitate her desire to return to her return to India.

India," she said "I have asked Indian High Commission to renew her Indian passport and facilitate her return to said.

India," Swaraj tweeted.

"Our High Commission offiMohammadia Begum from cials met Mohammadia Begum Hyderabad, who is stranded in and she expressed her desire to Pakistan, had called her father return to India," she said. saying that she was being haSwaraj had sought details rassed by her 60-year-old Paki- from India's High Commissioner stani husband in Lahore. over the matter after Amjadullah She married Muhammad Khan Khalid of Majlis Bachao Younis, who allegedly concealed Tehreek (MBT), a political party his actual nationality and in Telangana, drew her attention claimed to be from Oman, in 1996. to the plight of the woman. -PTI

Modi unveils 112 feet tall face of Adiyogi Cont’d from page 8

In this direction, Adiyogi has made an unparalleled contribution as he explored and expounded the science of yoga."

The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India has included the Consecration of this glorious face in its official Incredible India campaign as a destination.

The unveiling of Adiyogi was part of the largest Mahashivaratri celebrations in

the country which was telecast live, simultaneously in 7 languages to over 50 million people through over 23 satellite television channels and several online platforms.

An exact 21-ft replica of the face of Adiyogi has also been established by Sadhguru in the United States, within the 'Abode of Yoga' at the Isha Institute of Inner-sciences in Tennessee, a leading center for inner exploration and complete wellbeing.

Health

Line

Health bill could cost Oklahoma millions OKLAHOMA CITY: A Republican plan to overhaul the nation's health care system shows health care could become unaffordable for many poor Oklahomans and the state could be forced to subsidize health care costs for Native Americans, according to an early analysis of the plan prepared for Gov. Mary Fallin.

A document obtained by The Associated Press shows state health officials also project the proposed new law would result in the state immediately losing $9.3 million in public health funding for programs such as immunizations and chronic disease funding.

The three-page document prepared by state health officials and policy analysts in Fallin's office outlines some of the pros and cons of key provisions in the plan.

Among the top concerns is the proposal to replace income-based subsidies that help people pay for premiums with age-based tax credits.

This creates a huge subsidy cliff between Medicaid and the individual market that could cause people on Medicaid to not go to work or earn more income because the cost of insurance would be unaffordable,’’ the analysis states.

“The subsidy should be based on income and age.”

Cont’d on page 12

Health plan pressure on state governments CHERRY HILL, N.J.: The Republican health care plan means less money for states and gives them a tough choice.

They can either find cash to make up the difference or let coverage lapse for millions of lowerincome Americans.

Most states have not released estimates of the consequences for them based on the plan proposed

by Republicans in the U.S. House and supported by President Donald Trump.

A Congressional Budget Office analysis says it would lead to 24 million Americans being without health insurance over the next decade.

Washington State is one of the few to produce some firm numbers: It would have to come up with $1.5 billion a year starting in 2020 to keep coverage for 600,000 residents who are covered through expanded Medicaid.

Even some Republican governors are calling for a new approach from Congress. -AP

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Lowerincome elderly to take a hit Details on Page 13

Defiant conservatives still fighting Trump's health bill WASHINGTON: Undaunted by fellow Republicans' defiance, GOP leaders and the White House redoubled their efforts to muscle legislation overhauling America's health care system through Congress following a sobering report about millions being shoved off insurance coverage.

President Donald Trump, whose strong Election Day showing in GOP regions makes him the party's ultimate Capitol Hill vote wrangler, discussed the legislation by phone with the House's two top Republicans. He also dispatched Vice President Mike Pence and health secretary Tom Price to hear GOP senators' concerns.

With leaders hoping to move the measure through the House next week so the Senate can debate it, changes in the measure seemed all but certain. Trump's spokesman acknowledged they were open to revisions to win support. ``This has never been a take it or leave it,'' said Press Secretary Sean Spicer.

The GOP bill is the party's re-

sponse to seven years of promising to repeal President Barack Obama's 2010 health care overhaul.

It would undo that law's individual mandate, which requires most people to have coverage, by ending the tax penalty on those who

don't.

It would also provide agebased tax credits instead of the subsidies geared to income in Obama's statute, end that law's expansion of Medicaid and curb its future spending, and let insur-

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., joined by, from left, Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Majority Whip John Cornyn, RTexas, speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington. The White House and Republican leaders in Congress are scrambling to shore up support for their health care bill after findings from the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 14 million people would lose insurance coverage in the first year alone under the GOP replacement for Obamacare.

ers boost rates for seniors.

The Congressional Budget Office said the Republican legislation would reduce the ranks of the insured by 24 million in a decade, largely by cutting Medicaid recipients and people buying individual policies. That would be more than the 20 million who've gained coverage under Obama's overhaul and attach a big number to a problem haunting GOP governors and members of Congress whose states have benefited from ``Obamacare.'' ``I plan to vote NO'' on the GOP bill, Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, RFla., tweeted. ``As written the plan leaves too many from my (hash) SoFla district uninsured.''

The budget office report also said the measure would reduce federal deficits by $337 billion over the next decade, largely by cutting Medicaid, the health insurance program for the poor, and eliminating Obama's subsidies for low- and middle-income people.

Cont’d on page 13

New health policy focus on wellness NEW DELHI: The National Health Policy would aim at increasing life expectancy to 70 years from 67.5 and reduce fertility rate to 2.1 by 2025 and proposes free diagnostics and drugs at all public hospitals, Health Minister J P Nadda informed Lok Sabha here.

Making a statement in the House a day after the Union Cabinet approved the policy, he said it seeks to move health care away from sick care to wellness, with a thrust on prevention and health promotion.

Yoga would be introduced much more widely in schools and work places as part of promotion of good health, he said.

As a crucial component, the policy proposes raising public health expenditure to 2.5 per cent of the GDP in a time bound

manner from way below 2 per cent GDP expenditure on the sector at present.

Nadda said the policy aimed at reducing Under-Five Mortality to

23 by 2025 and Maternal Mortality Rate to 100 by 2020. It targets reducing infant mortality rate to 28 by 2019 and neo-natal mortality to 16 and still-birth rate to single digit

The new National Health Policy promises a bigger budget but drops plans to make health a fundamental right on the grounds that the government lacks the infrastructure to deliver.

by 2025.

The policy also seeks to achieve and maintain elimination of leprosy by 2018, kala-azar by 2017 and lymphatic filariasis in endemic pockets by 2017.

It is aimed at reaching health care in an assured manner to all, particularly the under-served and underprivileged, he said.

"The National Health Policy 2017 is a huge milestone in the history of health sector in the country. The last national policy was framed in 2002.

"This policy has come after a gap of 15 years to address the current and emerging challenges necessitated by the changing socio-economic, technological and epidemiological landscape," he said.

Cont’d on page 14

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2nd health care bill to woo the reluctant WASHINGTON: House Republicans are working on a companion to their bill replacing ``Obamacare,'' a legislative second act that would ease cross-state sale of health insurance and limit jury awards for pain and suffering in malpractice lawsuits.

The problem: the so-called ``sidecar'' bill lacks the votes in the Senate.

Skeptics abound. Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas called it ``mythical legislation'' in an interview on the Hugh Hewitt radio show. In a tweet, conservative Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., suggested ``Easter basket'' might be a better description.

Yet Speaker Paul Ryan, RWisc., has said he wants to move a companion bill through the House alongside the main GOP legislation that rolls back key parts of Barack Obama's health care law and limits federal spending on Medicaid for low-income people.

That strategy may just help Ryan put together enough votes to get through the House, but then the sidecar would probably get detached in the Senate, where 60 votes would be needed for such legislation. Republicans only have 52 senators and they would need the support of Democrats alienated by the drive to repeal ``Obamacare.'' ``Some of these ideas might take some of the edge off the (main) bill for people on the right in the Republican Party,'' said

economist Joe Antos of the business-oriented American Enterprise Institute. ``I don't know that it can possibly overcome the Senate problems.''

At a news conference, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Democrats will not support any legislation reshaping the health care law until Republi-

decisions have been made, but here's a look at some proposals that might be in the ``sidecar.''

CROSS-STATE HEALTH INSURANCE Selling insurance across state lines is a longtime GOP idea now embraced by President Donald Trump as a way to encourage com-

House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis. speaks during a news conference at the Republican National Committee Headquarters on Capitol Hill in Washington.

cans stop trying to repeal it. If Republicans desist, Democrats would be willing to talk.

Schumer later said he isn't keen on the idea of a House companion bill. ``They probably have ideas that would make it worse,'' he said.

Cutting regulations and spurring private market competition are the main goals behind the GOP's idea for a companion bill. Experts say that while some of the proposals sound appealing, they also have practical problems. No final

petition by introducing low-premium plans into high-cost areas.

Consumer advocates and state regulators warn that would set off a ``race to the bottom'' as out-ofstate insurers flood the market with skimpy plans that circumvent state requirements, for example New Jersey's mandate for autism coverage.

But the idea also gets a surprisingly cool reception from the insurance industry. Why? It turns out that the price of

Health bill could cost Oklahoma millions Cont’d from page 11

Anna Holloway, a 60-year-old Norman resident who received tax subsidies to purchase health insurance on the federal exchange, said she's fearful the new GOP plan could price her out of the market for health insurance. ``If I didn't have subsidies, I couldn't have insurance,'' said Holloway, who works part-time at a Tulsa seminary and takes medication every day because of an auto-immune disease. ``I am conscious of just how desperate this is,'' she said, fighting back tears. ``I try not to let myself feel this way, but to live this way with real terror, real fear that the universe is going to fall apart around me.''

The analysis also suggests there is no indication that the federal government intends to adhere to a previous obligation to pay for

tribal members' health care costs, ``shifting that burden to the states.''

Among the benefits cited in the report is that the age rating change should lower the cost of insurance for young people, who also could be attracted by their ability to buy catastrophic coverage.

Oklahoma has one of the highest uninsured rates in the nation, with about 14 percent of residents with no coverage, compared to the national rate of about 9 percent.

Oklahoma also is among the poorer states, with about 16 percent of residents earning below the federal poverty level of $24,250 for a family of four in 2015.

An analysis of the plan by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released this week predicts 14 million Americans would lose coverage next year under the GOP proposal, and that number would balloon to 24 million by 2026.

A separate analysis of the bill by the left-leaning Center for American Progress shows Oklahoma would experience among the highest premium increases by 2020, averaging more than $5,000 per individual. Those annual premium increases are even more dramatic for low-income residents, who would see their premiums increase by about $7,385 by 2020, and Oklahomans aged 55-64, who would see average increases of $12,032.

Fallin said in a statement she's optimistic that Republicans members of Congress are planning to repeal, replace and reform the Affordable Care Act, but described the GOP proposal as a ``first step.'' ``I look forward to seeing what will evolve from this proposal,'' she said. ``I hope the plan will offer strong flexibility to the states to reform Medicaid and the system surrounding it.'' -AP

health insurance, like real estate, reflects local markets. An insurer from Kansas selling policies in Manhattan would have to pay hospitals and doctors in New York according to local rates. Also, building networks of service providers that are attractive to consumers is no easy task for insurers.

MALPRACTICE LIMITS Republicans have long advocated capping jury awards for non-economic damages in medical malpractice cases, and $250,000 is a commonly cited limit.

The Congressional Budget Office has previously estimated such caps would reduce health care spending by limiting the practice of defensive medicine.

The $250,000 reflects a limit that California imposed in 1975.

Adjusted for inflation, that figure would now be over $1 million.

The debate pits two powerful lobbies - doctors and lawyers against each other. So far the lawyers have gotten the upper hand in Congress.

A criticism of malpractice limits is that they fall hard on those who have suffered the most egregious damage and are likely to face lifetime expenses, for example the family of a brain-damaged infant.

ASSOCIATION HEALTH PLANS Small businesses would be able to band together to arrange to buy

lower-premium plans tailored to their needs.

The debate around association health plans echoes the one over cross-state insurance policies.

Advocates say their idea would provide a way around regulations that raise the cost of health insurance. But consumer advocates and state regulators say it would undermine protections for patients and undercut state oversight of the insurance industry.

ANTI-TRUST EXEMPTION A 1940s federal law offers the insurance industry a qualified exemption from federal anti-trust laws. Proponents of repealing the exemption say it is a barrier to competition. In the past, that idea has had bipartisan support in Congress, but it's unclear what would happen now with the two political parties bitterly divided over health care.

Other ideas being discussed among Republicans may also make it into the sidecar legislation.

But they all seem headed for a roadblock in the Senate. Within the administration, Health Secretary Tom Price is working to loosen regulations. ``The chances that they are going to pass this hodgepodge in a separate bill is pretty much between slim and none,'' said Bob Laszewski, an industry consultant and blogger. ``You are not going to get Democratic support for these things.'' -AP

Minnesotans can choose health plan ST. PAUL, Minn.: A House bill moving through committee would allow Minnesota residents to choose what conditions their health insurance covers.

The bill would attempt to cut costs by giving people the freedom to drop options they are unlikely to need. Republican Rep. Steve Drazkowski of Mazeppa, the author of the bill, said Minnesotans are often stuck paying for these provisions they never need because of a number of state and federally mandated coverage areas.

He said individuals should be free to be able to choose the health plan they want, not one the government requires them to have.

Democratic opponents were fiercely opposed to the measure, saying the plan would instead drive up costs and leave many residents uninsured in vulnerable moments.

Rep. Dave Pinto, a Democrat from St. Paul, said people don't

know when an unexpected ailment will occur. He said requiring residents to pick their future coverage would be a guessing game that would end up costing taxpayers because of a law that ensures emergency medical treatment.

Current insurance plans are built upon shared risk, said Rep. Laurie Halverson, an Eagan Democrat. Shrinking the pools of people paying in will further increase costs, she said. ``This is the freedom to be sick, to be alone, to be left out, the freedom to die, the freedom to go broke,'' she said. The attempted reform was originally part of the House version of health care relief that was passed in January. It was pulled from the legislation after lawmakers decided to leave policy reform measures for later discussion.

The bill was laid aside for possible inclusion in a larger health care bill. -AP

March 24, 2017

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Lower-income elderly to take a hit LOS ANGELES: A preliminary study estimated that the Republican plan to replace the national health care overhaul would deliver a financial jolt to elderly, lower-income Californians, potentially leaving tens of thousands without coverage.

The analysis by state insurance exchange Covered California comes a day after the Congres-

aid, which covers the needy, he said.

About 90 percent of the 1.5 million new and renewing enrollees at Covered California receive subsidies.

Potential deep cuts in tax credits under the Republican-backed American Health Care Act would mean ``there are going to be fewer people covered,'' Lee said.

US President Donald J. Trump (C) delivers brief remarks before signing an executive order entitled, 'Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch', beside members of his Cabinet in the Oval Office of the White House on in Washington, DC.

sional Budget Office estimated that 14 million people would lose insurance coverage in the first year under the GOP proposal.

Overall, millions of Californians would be in danger of being pushed out of the insurance market under the plan, Peter Lee, the executive director of Covered California, told reporters. Under the Obama administration, about 5 million Californians gained coverage through the Affordable Care Act and an expansion in Medic-

The White House has disputed CBO's projections about how many Americans would lose coverage, while highlighting the agency's conclusions that the GOP bill would reduce the deficit by $337 billion over a decade. The GOP legislation would use tax credits to help consumers buy health coverage, expand health savings accounts, phase out an expansion of Medicaid and cap that program for the future, end some requirements for health

plans under Obama's law, and scrap a number of taxes.

Under current law, financial assistance is based on age, income, family size and where the consumer lives. Under the GOP plan, age would become the primary factor.

In California, its impact for those enrolled in subsidized coverage would vary widely.

The report says a 62-year-old in Los Angeles earning $30,000 a year in a lower-tier plan would see an estimated net premium increase of about $70, to $275 per month, under the proposed law.

But if that person lived in San Francisco, the premium would jump an estimated $460, to $668 per month, under the change. ``For older Californians, the effect of the proposed tax credit structure is a dramatic increase in the out-of-pocket costs for coverage, meaning they are likely to drop coverage,'' the report concluded.

Covered California was created in 2010, when the state became the first to embrace the Affordable Care Act. As a candidate, President Donald Trump promised to repeal and replace the act. House Speaker Paul Ryan has predicted the bill will pass the House next week.

Lee warned the changes could unsettle the nation's broader insurance market, beyond Medicaid and those who purchase coverage through public exchanges. ``Health care is a woven fabric that is connected,'' he said. -AP

Docs say climate change harming health WASHINGTON: From rising levels of air pollution to increased water contamination and a widening range of disease-carrying mosquitoes, climate change is making people sick, a coalition of 11 US medical groups has said.

Known as the Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health, the group represents more than half of US doctors, and aims to help policy makers understand the health dangers of global warming, and what must be done to guard against it in the coming years.

"Doctors in every part of our country see that climate change is making Americans sicker," said Mona Sarfaty, a physician and director of the new consortium.

"Physicians are on the frontlines and see the impacts in exam rooms. What's worse is that the harms are felt most by children, the elderly, Americans with low-income or chronic illnesses, and people in communities of color."

The group is releasing a report that highlights the ways climate change affects health, and calls for a speedy transition to clean renewable energy.

The report, called "Medical Alert! Climate Change is Harming Our Health," will be circulated to members of the Republican-dominated Congress.

Some of its key warnings relate to heart and breathing problems associated with increasing wildfires and air pollution, as well as injury from extreme heat events.

Infectious diseases can spread more widely as ticks carrying Lyme disease and mosquitoes with West Nile virus expand their range.

Extreme weather, such as hurricanes and droughts, may become more common, destroying not only homes and livelihoods but also wreaking havoc on people's mental health, it warned.

Most Americans are not aware that increases in asthma attacks and allergies are linked to climate change, according to the report.

A poll from 2014 suggested that only one in four Americans could name even one way in which climate change is harming our health.

People are not powerless, the group urged. They can push for a quicker transition to renewable solar and wind energy, and also

“What's worse is that the harms are felt most by children, the elderly, Americans with low-income or chronic illnesses, and people in communities of color."

do what they can to walk and bike more instead of driving.

"Here's the message from America's doctors on climate change: it's not only happening in the Arctic Circle, it's happening here," said Sarfaty.

"It's not only a problem for us in 2100, it's a problem now. And it's not only hurting polar bears, it's hurting us. -AFP

Defiant conservatives still fighting Trump's health bill Cont’d from page 11

The report said that the bill's changes would result in federal subsidies that would fall to half their current size in a decade and that older, lower-earning people would be hit especially hard.

Those findings further energized Democrats, who already were unanimously opposing the GOP repeal effort and showing no sign of relenting. ``Of course you can have savings if you cut off millions of people from access to health care,'' said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California. She said the measure's shift of billions of dollars from lowerto higher-earning families actually

would effectively transfer money from GOP to Democratic regions, and, seemingly taunting Republicans, she added, ``Explain that to your constituents.''

Pence and Price discussed the legislation over lunch with GOP senators at the Capitol. Participants said senators suggested targeting the bill's new tax credits more at lower-earning people, improving benefits for seniors and protecting the expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state program that helps lower-income people afford care.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., all but acknowledged the widespread assumption that the measure will be reshaped, saying, ``It will be open

to amendment in the Senate.''

Emerging from the senators' lunch - which included two House committee chairmen as well as Pence and Price - Sen. Pat Roberts, RKan., said, ``All four of them are open to suggestions and change.''

Even so, criticism cascaded from both ends of the GOP political continuum, suggesting leaders face a festering problem.

Freshman Rep. John Faso, RN.Y., from a closely divided district in the Catskill Mountains, said he was concerned the bill would hurt hospitals and was undecided about supporting it. He's a member of the House Budget Committee, which is expected to sign off on the bill in what Rep.

Tom Cole, R-Okla., said could be ``a bumpier ride'' than earlier approval by two other panels.

Citing the bill's projected increase in uninsured people, Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., from another close district, said he opposed the bill. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nev., said he was leaning no because of people losing coverage, saying of CBO's projections, ``If the numbers are in the ballpark, it sounds like we've gone back to where we started after seven years.''

Conservatives continued complaining the Republican measure doesn't fully repeal Obama's law, as they and Trump promised in last fall's election campaigns.

Their demands include voiding

the law's requirement that policies cover 10 specified benefits like mental health services, which they say drives up consumers' costs. ``Ultimately it will be President Trump that saves this deal,'' said Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., head of the hard-line conservative House Freedom Caucus.

No. 3 Senate leader John Thune, R-S.D., said he was working on a proposal to devote more of the GOP tax cut to lower-earning people. It would currently begin phasing out for people earning $75,000 annually. ``It'd be nice to add it to the House bill, but if necessary it'd be in the Senate,'' Thune said. AP

14 India Post

Health Science Post

March 24, 2017

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New health policy focus on wellness Cont’d from page 11

the cost of health care delivery, he said.

It also looks to empower patients by setting up tribunals where patients can seek redressal of grievances over treatment, Nadda said.

The draft policy was placed in public domain in December, 2014 and over 5000 suggestions were received, Nadda said, adding that this was followed by consulta-

Free medicines Earlier, addressing a press conference, Nadda said The National Health policy will provide free medicines and "assured" health services to all and aims to reduce out of pocket health expenditure.

He said the newly unveiled policy unlike the earlier one stresses on "preventive and

"Resources are never a problem. Its government's wish that health be given priority. Initially, budget estimates were always a larger number and later slashed leadingto the revised estimates being less. It is for last two years, the revised estimates have increased and expenditure too has been more than 95 per cent. tions with state governments and other stakeholders.

The policy aims to attain the highest possible level of health and well-being for all at all ages through a preventive and promotive health care and universal access to quality health services without anyone having to face financial hardship as a consequence, the Minister said.

This would be achieved through increasing access, improving quality and lowering

promotive" health care and also has a "target-oriented" commitment for elimination of diseases for which an implementation framework has also been envisaged.

The policy envisages the creation of National Health Care Standards Organization which will formulate guidelines and protocols for healthcare while there is a provision of establishing a separate empowered tribunal for speedy resolution of disputes and complaints, the Minister said.

"In order to provide access and financial protection at secondary and tertiary care levels, NHP 2017 proposes free drugs, free diagnostics and free emergency care services in all public hospitals," he said.

"Every one in the country will be given assured health services. Every section of the society belonging to any financial status, whosoever comes to our public health facility, will get assured services. This policy is patient centric and the patient has been empowered," Nadda told reporters.

The Health Minister said that under the policy, family health card will be made which will be connected to Public Health care facility so that a patient's history can be digitally accessed.

"There will be a periodic measurement of all the health institutions, both public and private which has been envisaged in the policy. What is their (institution's) grading, facilities provided and their quality levels will be checked," Nadda said.

"Resources are never a problem. Its government's wish that health be given priority. Initially, budget estimates were always a larger number and later slashed leading to the revised estimates being less.

"It is for last two years, the revised estimates have increased and expenditure too has been more than 95 per cent.

There is no dearth of money. Problem was of intention. Money was not a problem," he said, adding that the target of 2.5 per cent will be reached by 2025 in a phased manner.

He said that the earlier policy focused on Communicable Diseases but over the last 15 years the focus has shifted to Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) which cause 60 per cent deaths presently and leads to increase in out of pocket expenditure of people on health which is why the new policy was required.

Health Policy is futuristic: PM NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the National Health Policy as a "futuristic" document which places the interests of the citizens foremost.

"National Health Policy marks a historic moment in our Endeavour to create a healthy India where everyone has access to quality healthcare," he tweeted. "#NationalHealthPolicy2017 is comprehensive & futuristic, placing the interests of the citizens first & foremost," he added.-PTI

Unhealthy eating linked to 400,000 deaths MIAMI: Unhealthy eating habits can be blamed for more than 400,000 US deaths a year due to heart disease and related illnesses, researchers say.

The problem is twofold: Americans are eating too much salty, fatty and sugary fare, and not enough fruit, vegetables and whole grains, experts said at a meeting of the American Heart Association in Portland, Oregon.

"Low intake of healthy foods such as nuts, vegetables, whole grains and fruits combined with higher intake of unhealthy dietary components, such as salt and trans fat, is a major contributor to deaths from cardiovascular disease in the United States," said lead study author Ashkan Afshin, assistant professor of global health at the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation.

Trans fat has been largely phased out of the food supply, but can still be found in some margarines, biscuits, cookies, frosting and other processed foods.

If Americans were to alter their eating habits, many lives could be saved, Afshin said.

"Our results show that nearly half of cardiovascular disease deaths in the United States can be prevented by improving diet."

The study was based on data from a variety of sources going back to the 1990s, including the National Health

and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

More than 600,000 people die annually because of heart disease, or one in four of all US deaths.

Smoking, obesity, diet, exercise and hereditary factors can all contribute to person's likelihood of developing heart disease.

By examining data on US cardiovascular deaths in 2015, researchers found that dietary choices played a role in the deaths of an estimated 222,100 men and 193,400 women.

Experts at the American Heart Association encourage people to eat a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts, beans, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, fish and poultry.

People should avoid or limit their intake of fatty or processed red meat, sugary soft drinks, salt, saturated and trans fats. -AFP

March 24, 2017

www.indiapost.com

India Post 15

Desi News Verizon introduces prepaid FIOS India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Verizon has announced Fios Prepaid, the first-ofits-kind for Verizon Fios TV, Internet and Phone services. With no credit check, no deposit and no annual contract required, Fios Prepaid wraps 100% fiber optic network and flexibility into one package.

The difference, according to Nina Shi, a spokesperson, is that Fios Prepaid is now available payas-you-go, and removes the barriers to entry to leading fiber-based products and services. It enables a flexible lifestyle-from short term stays to better expense planning, customers can now adjust their bill month-to-month. Plus no equipment fees-all that's needed to get started is included.

Consulate pushes for effective networking ARVIND PATEL

CHICAGO: Indian Consulate in Chicago organized a special event at the Consulate premises on March 17 in order to establish an effective networking between the Chambers of Commerce functioning in the US Midwest and the Consulate as also to introduce the new CG Mrs. Neeta Bhushan to them.

The event was attended by representatives of nine Chambers of Commerce of US Midwest and about 70 business persons, entrepreneurs, representatives of schools of business, managers of different airlines and media persons.

Details on page 19

Legendary SPB meets fans in Santa Clara VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

SANTA CLARA, CA: Legendary playback singer SP Balasubramanian and his troupe on Sunday enthralled the audience of his sell-out music tour, SPB 50, in San Jose. The singer is currently touring the world along with a few other popular musicians to celebrate 50 years of playback singing.

Details on page 21

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

16 India Post

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UMAS celebrates grand Holi with seniors

March 24, 2017

Details on page 23

Bay Area soaks in Holi spirit as colors run riot India Post News Service

NEWARK, CA: Newark city wore a festive look as residents and guests from all over Bay Area, both young and old, immersed in colors, celebrated Holi on the weekend.

"Holi - the festival of colors" is one of the most fun-filled Indian festivals, which welcomes spring and celebrates the victory of good over bad. Observed annually on the last full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, the holiday entails taking to the streets early in the morning to douse strangers and friends alike, with colored powder and water. It is like a grand kaleidoscope that glorifies all the hues that tinge and renew the lives on earth.

Being organized annually since 1990 by FIA, Fremont Hindu temple, FOG and India Post newsweekly, the Indian festival of

colors was the biggest and grandest. Attended by over a few thousands, the free event was sponsored by India Post, Air India, Tea

India, PNG Jewelers and Gurus Education. Under clear skies, the crowd of thousands which assembled in the Newark Junior high school ground danced, sang and poured colored powder on each other. Attendees were also treated to Indian cuisine by Fresh Plate and Peacock, Dublin.

The festival signifies the end of winter, as well as the triumph of 'good' over 'bad'.

The event also serves to bridge social gaps, renew relationships and unite the community, said Dr

Romesh Japra, Founder and Convener of FOG. There was tremendous response to the Holi event. It seemed as if an ocean of people

had congregated to celebrate Holi.

Over five thousand people enjoyed with great enthusiasm.

March 24, 2017

Community Across America

India Post 17

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FIA hosts welcome meet for CG Bhushan HEMA SHASTRI

CHICAGO: The newly elect president of the Federation of Indian Associations Chicago says that his organization has planned a series of events this year that would cover celebrations of India Day in August besides partnering with the Indian Consulate in its Visa camp plus other activities like Senior/ Youth camps, Health fair culminating with grand Republic Day celebrations Kantibhai Patel was welcoming Indian Consul General Neeta Bhushan and other invited dignitaries to its event on March 15 at Maharaja Indian Restaurant. He took the opportunity to inform the Indian CG that his FIA is biggest of its type umbrella organization that has close to 56 associations as its members. He assured the CG that FIA and all its member organizations are committed to serve the community at large and "we

Niranjan Shah appreciated the significant role FIA played in strengthening the Chicago communities and emphasized that FIA over the last many years has strenuously strived to bring a sense of community responsibility by engaging in programs that seek to help the communities.

Smita Shah, Chair of the ChicagoDelhi Committee to the Sister Cities International, in her remarks congratulated the Consul General and expressed her active support in conjunction with her office.

Shah was honored with a flower

by Jyoteiban Patel. CG Neeta Bhushan was honored with flowers by Ushaben Patel and Pratimaji Shah. Sanhita Agnihotri presented her with shawl. Smita Shan of Chicago Delhi Sister Committee presented her with a gift. Chirayu Parikh, Secretary, was gracious as Master of Ceremony.

CG Neeta Bhusan (left) with FIA team and President Kanti Patel (right)

look forward to work with you in this direction."

Keerthi Kumar Ravoori gave a brief history of FIA and dwelt on its achievements and accomplishments. He also presented historical overview of FIA and its yeoman contribution to the Indian American community. Niranjan Shah, a front ranking community leader and the event chair, introduced CG Neeta Bhushan to the audience and hailed her as the one who comes from a family of high ranking civil service officials.

Consul General Neeta Bhushan said it is her goal to bring the community together from divisions to work towards the shared goals as she said our relationships are bound by 'khoonkarishta' as articulated by Prime Minister Modi and not by the color of our passports. She expressed delight in her posting to Chicago and said this represents great opportunity and declared that she would keep the doors of her office open for an ongoing dialogue with the community and would look forward to

CG Neeta Bhushan with invited guests

learning from the community's rich indwelling experience. She emphatically pledged that she would like to embark on doing something

meaningfully big during her tenure in Chicago and urged FIA to engage with her in communication, advice and support.

She praised Indian Americans for their contribution to the mainstream society as well India too.

She assured that she would be working with members of the Indian community and organizations like FIA to shore up IndiaUS relationship. She said her doors would be always open for anyone to come in to get redress for his grievance or resolve problems Iftekhar Shareef, Trustee, proposing vote of thanks assured Consul General that FIA stands determined to work actively with CG Office as she undertakes one of the most significant responsibilities representing India in the most important nine states in the US. He added that he will welcome the opportunity to hold closeknit planning meetings with the Consul General to help her host major events of great significance.

18 India Post

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March 24, 2017

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Raveena Tandon inaugurates PNG store in NJ India Post News Service

NEW JERSEY: PNG Jewellers, a 185 year old legacy, has further fortified its presence in US by launching its third store in New Jersey on March 17. The store was inaugurated by Bollywood diva RaveenaTandon

in the presence of Mr. Saurabh Gadgil - Chairman & Managing Director and other renowned dignitaries.

This 4000 sq. ft. spacious and elegant showroom located in the heart of the city, it is a treat for the eyes of every jewellery aficionados. The showroom showcases exquisite pieces of Minakari, Jadau, Kundan, and the classic understated patent yellow gold, diamond, contemporary and silver jewellery for the Indian expatriate customers.

They even have products that will cater to the international audience.

PNG Jewellers has two stores in US, located in Sunnyvale and Fremont. The US has a great deal of Indian and South East Asian expatriate population. It has always been a favorable place for tourists entailing high purchasing power.

Hence there is a need of a strong Indian structured retail jeweler. PNG Jewellers has received tremendous response and support from customers for the existing two stores, which led to

the cornerstone of their third store in New Jersey.

Speaking on this occasion Mr. Saurabh Gadgil - CMD, PNG Jewellers stated, "Our success in US from our stores in Sunnyvale and Fremont is evident with the positive response we have received from our customers, and we will take this opportunity to repeat the same by inaugurating our third store in New Jersey. There is strong presence of Indian community in New Jersey hence, we are committed to offer them the best Indian retail jewellery shopping expe-

rience. Our wide range of designer jewellery pieces will add value to this experience. It is our 25th store.

Raveena Tandon said, "It gives me immense pleasure to inaugurate the 25th PNG Jewellers showroom here, in New Jersey. I have always been passionate about jewellery and great craftsmanship; hence I take great pride to be associated with this glorious 185 year old brand. I would like to congratulate them on achieving this milestone and would like to wish them the very best for their future endeavours".

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ABOUT LT FOODS AMERICAS: LT Foods is one of the few global companies that oversee the harvesting, milling, processing and distribution of our foods. We take the pride to know the grain of every rice. Example, LT Foods works hand to hand with 4,500

farmers across 400 villages and 50,000 acres of land in the Madhya Pradesh region of India, employing the highest levels of quality control to ensure the best goes into our product. We have f o r g e d strong, direct ties with our farmers and strive to give back to the communities togrow our rice through a number of corporate social responsibility programs.

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ROYAL CHAKKI ATTA: Our Chakki Atta is responsibly sourced and is 100% whole grain, high in fiber and is the key ingredient for creating the most flavoured and fluffy Rotis, Chapattis and Paranthas.

Community Across America

March 24, 2017

India Post 19

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Consulate pushes for effective networking

Bay Area soaks in Holi spirit as colors run riot

ARVIND PATEL

Cont’d from page 16

CG Neeta Bhushan with a group of attendees

CHICAGO: Indian Consulate in Chicago organized a special event at the Consulate premises on March 17 in order to establish an effective networking between the Chambers of Commerce functioning in the US Midwest and the Consulate as also to introduce the new CG Mrs. Neeta Bhushan to them.

The event was attended by

the years to come.

She said that the government has made it a mission to bring a transformative shift in the way India is governed. Efforts have been made by the Government to move towards targeted delivery and to make a shift from informal economy to a formal economy. She further informed that India stands out as a bright

Consul DB Bhatti, CG Neeta Bhushan and a guest

representatives of nine Chambers of Commerce of US Midwest and about 70 business persons, entrepreneurs, representatives of schools of business, managers of different airlines and media persons. CG Neeta Bhushan in her keynote address highlighted India's growth story and its emergence as the world's fastest growing major economy with GDP growth rate expected to remain on the upper side of 7% in

spot in the world economic landscape and India's macro-economic stability continues to be the foundation of economic success.

Demonetization was part of the present Government's resolve to eliminate corruption, black money counterfeit currency and funding for terror activities.She also informed the participants about the Flagship Schemes of GOI such as 'Make in

India', 'Start-up India', 'Digital India', 'Skill Development' etc.

The event was also addressed

by Ms. Laura Ortega, Executive Director, Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Ridhika Batra, Director, FICCI-USA; Tel Ganeshan, President , Tie; Ramu Chinthala, Joint Secretary, Indianapolis Hyderabad Sister City Committee; Ajit Pant, President, US India Chamber of Commerce; Ms. Tanya Jain, Manager, US India Business Council, Chicago; Ms. Blanca Berthier, Director International Programs, Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and Ms. Nisha Vanvari, US American Chamber for US Midwest.

Laura Ortega briefed the participants about the important aspects of trade relations between India and the state of Illinois. Radhika Batra informed as to how India is developing its startup ecosystem.

Maintaining the tempo, Tel Ganeshan informed the audience of the possibilities of market opportunities being created by India startups.

While Raju Chinthala narrated the collaborations and connections between India and the state of Indiana, Ajit Pant spoke about the emerging US India trade and business relations and the challenges and the opportunities ahead.

Tanya Jain and. Blanca Berthier highlighted the engagements of their respective organizations with the Consulate and the effective promotion of business opportunities in India by the Consulate.

In order to reduce pollution, skin irritations and make the festival environment friendly, Holi featured biodegradable and skinfriendly colors. People enjoyed music and DJ so much that they were requesting for music even after the event closing time.

Newark Mayor Alan Nagy said, "We are really proud and grateful that Holi festival has come to Newark. After all Newark, is city of diversity and we want people from all the ethnicity to join in.

The event was also attended

by Newark Council member Michael Hannon and representatives from Assembly member Kansen Chu office.

"With new and bigger location, Holi was so much more enjoyable experience for the families and friends. I am so glad to see young children playing Holi and coming to know more about it. When they participate they remember it for the lifetime," said Pradeep Mittal, resident of Fremont.

As with all Indian festivals, there are numerous myths attached to the origin of Holi. The most popular one credits it to Hiranyakashipu, the king of demons, and his son Prahlada. According to the legend, the king was unhappy with his son's devotion to Lord Vishnu, the protector of humanity. When all efforts to dissuade him failed, Hiranyakashipu

turned to his sister Holika for help as she had a boon that she would not burn in fire. He ordered Holika to take his son into the fire, but she got burned and the son got saved. The truth always survives anything and goodness and good virtues like the son come out as the winners. That is why Holika Dahan (bonfire) is done on an evening prior to the color Holi.

Colors of fire and other bright hues are thrown in celebration on color Holi.

To host event of this magnitude, we need volunteers whose efforts and meticulous planning

cannot be ignored at any point, said Rajesh Verma, President, FIA. "I would like to sincerely thank Deepak Chhabra, Chair - Event, Sanjeev Sharma, and all other volunteers who helped us and made this event historic," he added.

FOG is gearing for its 25th anniversary celebrations to be held from August 10 to August 13. All ethnic communities will join. It will include Mela, Cultural and Musical Extravaganza in Fremont on August 12 and 13, Grand Parade in Fremont on August 13 and FOG Movie Fest at various theaters in San Jose during August 5-13.

Community Across America

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March 24, 2017

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Joyous celebration of womanhood by ATA SURESH BODIWALA

CHICAGO: American Telugu Association (ATA) celebrated International Women's Day (IWD) on March 19 at Royal Palace Banquets, in Chicago Ridge, a Chicago suburb, with over 250 actively participating in various activities. The theme of International Women's Day "Be Bold for Change" resonated with everyone.

ATA celebrates women's day with great dignity to celebrate the accomplishments of women in political, economic and social sectors. The event started with a prayer song and lamp lighting ceremony followed by welcome speech and history of IWD by Sunitha Reddy. In her opening remarks, Dr. Meher Medavaram stressed on the need for women to come together to work for gender parity and recognizing IWD's important agenda offering clear actions and solutions to help both individuals and organizations to create inclusive spaces for all the people all over the world.

They also had prominent phy-

Swapna Reddy, Dr. Sheela Konda - Vice chair of Radiology, Amita Healthcare and Mary Bedel, President of National Alliance were recognized by ATA

sician Dr. Sheela Konda - Vice chair of Radiology, Amita Healthcare speaking on breast cancer awareness which was very informative and educational. She made a slide

ATA Lamp Lighting ceremonty kicking off the program

presentation on facts relating to breast cancer screening and prevention. This was followed by Mary Bedel, President of National Alliance on Mental Illness from Indiana, who spoke on the importance of recognizing the signs of mental illness and how women can reach out to help themselves and their families. She shared community resources that are available for the treatment of mental illness.

Swapna Reddy an Attorney and Co-Director of ASAP at Urban Justice Center spoke on the burning issue of Immigration and her work with the refugee population.

She put to rest some of the speculations regarding the travel ban which has been imposed by the

Trump administration. Audience had a chance to ask questions about Immigration issues. The event included various games, like Jeopardy and Telugu speaking competition. Women enthusiastically participated and winners

ingly successful and memorable event made possible with active participation and help of the entire ATA Chicago team.

A delicious lunch was served and there was immense appreciation from all the women. Vendor

Swapna Reddy an Attorney and Co-Director of ASAP at Urban Justice Center spoke on the burning issue of Immigration and her work with the refugee population. were awarded prizes.

Women were entertained by Hari Madhuri with her live singing and they danced to the beats of the DJ. It was an overwhelm-

stalls provided a nice shopping experience. Women from all walks of life shared a wonderful afternoon of learning, networking and empowering themselves.

ATA celebrates grand Holi in Milpitas

India Post News Service

MILPITAS, CA: ATA (America Telugu Association) Planning Chair Raghu Reddy organized a Grand Holi festival at Dixon Landing Park, Milpitas, California on March 18 from 11.30 am to 5 pm.

A large family gathering along

with children from Milpitas, Fremont and San Jose attend this Grand annual Holi festival.

ATA organized this Holi festival for the third year in row, Raghu said. He said NATA is very active in other social and cultural activities including Diwali, New Year and Bathukamma festivals

under his leadership.

Grand Holi colors and delicious food were served on the colorful occasion along with organizing of volley ball, cricket and dance program for families.

The festival lasted till 5 pm where individuals including kids had a blast.

March 24, 2017

Community Across America

India Post 21

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SP Balasubramanian meets fans in Santa Clara VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

SANTA CLARA, CA: Legendary playback singer SP Balasubramanian and his troupe on Sunday enthralled the audience of his sell-out music tour, SPB 50, in San Jose. The singer is currently touring the world along with a few other popular musicians to celebrate 50 years of playback singing.

SP Balasubramanian is a popular Indian film playback singer who has won the Guinness World record for recording the highest number of songs. He has garnered six National awards and has recorded over 40,000 songs in various Indian languages. He is highly regarded and loved by musicians and composers for his versatility and virtuosity.

SPB is also a noted actor, music director, dubbing artist /voice

actor, film producer and television anchor. He has acted in more than 45 films in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada languages, composed music for more than 45 films,

dubbed for various artists in over 100 films, and is a television anchor for seven shows.

To celebrate this musical sojourn, Capital Film Works (CFW)

run by S. P. Charan is organizing a musical Grand World tour SPB 50 in various countries. A special meet and greet was organized on March 20 at Anjappar Chettinad restaurant located in Santa Clara. SPB, KS Chitra, SP Shailaja interacted with over 200 fans at the venue.

Chettinad cuisine is perhaps the most renowned fare in the Tamil Nadu repertoire.

From feather-light, stringy Idiyappams and fried fish to the classic chicken curry, Chettinad food is vibrant, vivid and vivacious by all means. Over 50 years ago, Anjappar which began as a local Chettinad Indian restaurant

in Chennai has grown manifold and now has over 60 restaurants worldwide.

They were the main sponsors for the SPB 50 show at national level. From Kothu Parotta to Lolly Pop Chicken and Thava Fish, they

offer the finest Chettinad food prepared with only the best ingredients combined with secret home grown recipes. Whether you are looking for a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner, you'll discover great service and a welcoming atmosphere at both their Santa Clara and Milpitas locations.

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UMAS celebrates grand Holi with seniors JYOTSNA VASUDEVA

CHICAGO: Heralding spring, Holi is a 'festival of colors' that creates an atmosphere of joy and brings people together.

More than 200 seniors and staff at Universal Metro Asian Services Adult Day Care joined in the Holi celebrations on March 10 in Schaumburg. It was a lovely setting with everyone playing Holi first with flower petals, showering on each other and exchanging wishes. It was followed by playing Holi with dry colors with seniors and staff smearing each other with colors, forgetting any resentments and simply sharing joy.

Santosh Kumar, Executive Director UMAS said, "Our Adult Day Care Centers celebrate all festivals that are important to our seniors. Not only does this help them stay connected with their culture, but it helps breathe fresh life and enthusiasm in them."

The chill in the weather didn't deter any participant from enjoying the celebrations planned. The day began with creation of 'Holika' fire right outside the center. Everyone offered their prayers along with popcorn and dates, as is the tradition, while going around the Holika fire. Many seniors had planned programs, songs and skits. The stage was decked with multi-colored, freeflowing dupattas aptly done for the festival of Holi.

Holika Dahan

UMAS seniors and members gathered to celebrate Holi

Holi Festival of color

Holi revelry

The stage saw amazing performances during celebration songs by some seniors, group dance performances and wonderful talk on Holi by a Schaumburg senior. One of the popular Holi

songs "Ang se anglaga le" was sung by a staff member and seniors that gave burst of energy to everyone dancing on the floor.

There were seniors from Orland Park, Schaumburg and

Naperville UMAS centers. Vernon Hills, Niles and Chicago centers celebrated the festival at their locations.

Universal Metro Asian Services has been providing Homecare and

Adult Day Care services in the Chicagoland area for the past 15 years. Our Homecare program helps you keep your independence from the privacy and comfort of your own home.

Telugu Association hosts Women's Day SURESH BODIWALA

CHICAGO: The Telugu Association of Greater Chicago (TAGC) hosted International Women's Day celebrations on March 12 at Atlantis Banquets, in Arlington Heights with aplomb and great success.

This Day is celebrated every year on March 8 since 1913. TAGC organized the celebration to honor women's rights and their accomplishments in political, economic and social sectors showcasing the achievements and issues facing women of their respective cultures and to come up with better solutions for a better tomorrow.

Over 250 women from all walks of life participated in this event from greater Chicago-land area. The event focused on wellness, education, empowerment of women, social responsibility and also included several fun filled events.

The event started with a prayer song by singer Madhavi Lathagaru and lighting of the inauguration lamp by. Shireesha Ade, Mamatha Lankala, Vani

Telugu women celebrating International Women's Day

Yetrintala and Haripriya.

Keynote speakers provided valuable information and great insight on each of these women-related topics.

Haripriya Medikundam educated women on "Estate and incapacity planning, estate administration." Dr. Smitha Suravaram shared her knowledge on the topic "How to read nutrition labels and lead a healthy life style.' Dr Vinitha Kunchala shared her knowledge

on "Importance of Calcium & Vitamin D for women" TAGC donated part of the participation fee and donated money at the event to Desire Society which cares for children infected & affected with HIV /AIDS. The Mission of Desire Society is to improve the lives of children struggling with the impact of HIV/AIDS by providing shelter, nutritious diet, health care, education and psychosocial support.

Several fun filled activities were meticulously planned and executed to create joyful atmosphere in the event that were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. The winners from the activities were presented by Shireesha Ade with exciting gifts (thread bangles) from India.

The members enjoyed the sumptuous snacks and dinner sponsored by the renowned restaurant, Cool Mirchi Roselle, IL.

TAGC President, Board & Executive Committee Women's Day committee chair Vani thanked registration committee , Treasurer Venkat Gunuganti for registration with help of youth volunteers; decoration committee for beautiful front entrance & stage decoration; Cool Mirchi owner Aruna Gudur for sponsoring the food for the event and coordinating with Desire Society.

Cont’d on page 23

March 24, 2017

Community Across America

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Hola Mohalla marked ATS, IALI celebrate Women's Day with festive sprit PM SWAMY

NEW YORK: America Tamil Sangam in association with Indian Association of Long Island (IALI) celebrated International Day of the Women in Queens here on Sun-

India Post News Service

SAN JOSE, CA: Thousands of people converged at San Jose gurudwara on Sunday to be part of the Hola Mohalla festival. It was a virtual sea of humanity of men, women and children near the main shrine. Hola Mohalla is a one-day Sikh festival which takes place on the second day of the lunar month of Chett. Hola Mahalla is a big festive event for Sikhs around the world and also marks the beginning of Sikh New Year.

Anandpur Sahib on Feb 22, 1701.

During the event, Sikhs gathered for military exercises and mock

battles to remind people of courage and defense preparedness.

The Guru was at that time defending Sikhs from the attacks of the Mughal Empire and the hill chiefs.

Mohalla, a procession to symbolize liberty, freedom, bravery and wisdom was also shown during the event. The crowd was treated to traditional sumptuous food ranging from chaat, sugarcane juice, chole bhatura, snack and corn.

Activities for kids such as running, volley ball match and horse race were part of the grand event.

The event was organized by San Jose gurudwara and the committee thanked hundreds of volunteers for their efforts and time, said Khushvinder Singh. This is the sixth year that San Jose gurudwara is organizing the event. The whole point of Hola Mohalla is to learn and experience our rich Sikh warrior tradition and to learn more about Gurmat and Rehat, said a volunteer.

This festival was started by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh and was first held at

Scholarships for Asian-Indian students

ter of Super Star Rajinikanth, one of the highest- paid movie stars in the world and a mass leader; and wife of National-award winning actor Dhanush.

Bina Sabapathy presenting the Nassau County proclamation to Aishwaryaa, flanked by office bearers and members of IALI

day. UN Women Ambassador for Aishwaryaa in her reply highGender Equality, Filmmaker and lighted the struggle of women all author Aishwaryaa Dhanush over the world and the role of UN Rajinikanth was the guest of Women in mitigating their probhonor. lems.

Bina Sabapathy, President of John Joseph, Chairman of IALI, highlighted the role of America Tamil Sangam, presided women in India and their struggle over the meeting and Soumya Rao, and sacrifices for equality and na- Secretary welcomed the guests tion-building. She presented a that included a large number of proclamation issued by Ed Mangano, Executive of Nassau County to Dr Rajeevi Madan Raj, Long Aishwaryaa Dhanush for her stellar role as UN Island physician, presented Women Ambassador Aishwaryaa with and for promoting gender equality and pride America Tamil Sangam's of place for women in the society.

Excellence Award.

Dr Rajeevi Madan Raj, Long Island physician, presented Aishwaryaa with America Tamil community leaders, office bearers Sangam's Excellence Award. of IALI and prominent Tamils of Aishwaryaa is the elder daugh- the tri-state area.

ASHOK EASWARAN

CHICAGO: The City of Aurora's Indian American Community Outreach Advisory Board (IACOAB) has announced the "Swami Vivekananda Scholarship Fund" for college bound high-school seniors pledging $1000 each to five students.

IACOAB identified a need within the Asian-Indian community in Aurora, a southwest suburb of Chicago to support students, who have demonstrated exemplary community service, with financial assistance to further their education in a field of their choice. As a result, the IACOAB created the Swami Vivekananda Scholarship Fund.

The selection of scholarship recipients will be handled by "Community Foundation of the

Fox River Valley", an independent non-profit organization. A web page has been created to accept corporate & individual donations.

"We are very excited to make a positive impact in our community and feel that this is just a start. We are approaching corporate sponsors and individual donors h t t p s : / / www.communityfoundationfrv.org/ profile/vivekananda-scholarship Swami Vivekananda (1863-1902)

was a Hindu monk who played a key role in the introduction of Indian yoga and Vedanta philosophy to the West. He taught a philosophy of traditional meditation & selfless service (karma yoga).

He was considered an important figurehead of India's growing selfconfidence during its independence movement. Indian nationalist leaders often cite Swami Vivekananda's teachings and personality as their inspiration for community service.

"We are very excited to make a positive impact in our community and feel that this is just a start. As we approach corporate sponsors and individual donors, we expect this scholarship fund to grow significantly" observed Gautam Bhatia, Chairman (IACOAB)

Telugu Association hosts Women's Day Cont’d from page 22

Game winners were awarded with beautiful thread bangles specially brought it from India for the event. Vandana Reddy was thanked for getting support from DJ Sahil and coordinating. Special thanks were given to youth com-

mittee member Smrithi Bheeram who helped at the event.

TAGC president Ramachandra R. Ade thanked all the donors who gave the donations for a great cause "Caring for Children Infected & Affected with HIV / AIDS" by Desire Society and also all media partners.

More Community stories on pages 48-49

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

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"As an artist, a creative person, there's a lot I can contribute to society, to the nation. I would like to do that from where I am, I don't want to change that,"

A

amir Khan says he will never join politics but will always be vocal about important issues. The 'Dangal' star says he has never given an opinion carelessly and will continue to speak his heart out but in a careful manner.

Speaking at a special press conference on his birthday, Aamir said he will never venture into politics as he feels he can contribute a lot more within his space of being an artist.

"No, politics is not for me. I feel there's a lot I can contribute, staying in the creative field that I am in," the actor said when asked if he will join politics.

"As an artist, a creative person, there's a lot I can contribute to society, to the nation. I would like to do that from where I am, I don't want to change that," he said.

1 Tamma Tamma: Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya 2 Zaalima: Raees 3 Badri Ki Dulhania: Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya 4 Enna Sona: OK Jaanu 5 Laila: Raees 6 The Humma Song: OK Jaanu 7 Bawara Mann: Jolly LLB 2 8 Humsafar : Badrinath Ki Dulhaniya 9 Kaabil Hoon: Kaabil 10 Dum Dum: Phillauri

J

acqueline Fernandez , who already owns a restaurant back home in Colombo, is all set to start one in Mumbai now. Back in her hometown, the 31-yearold actress has teamed up with chef Dharshan Munidasa with her fine-dining restaurant, Kaema Sutra, which opened on July 14, 2014.

The furniture is colonial Lankan, its focal point is the authentic Sri Lankan Miris Gala or Grinding Stone, with the carefully designed Open Kitchen. The cuisine draws inspiration from traditional local cuisine.

In Maximum City, she will be partnering with her bestie, Mishali Sanghani, who owns the popular Pali Village Cafe. The new restaurant will be located in Bandra where the actress resides.

Being a fitness freak, the menu has been planned accordingly. In the midst of a hectic shoot, she's taking time out to personally oversee the menu and dĂŠcor.

Malavika is the daughter of celebrated cinematographer KU Mohanan who has worked on Bollywood films like 'Raees', 'Don', 'Talaash' and 'Fukrey'

M

alavika Mohanan has outwitted Bollywood's leading ladies like Kangana Ranaut and Deepika Padukone to bag the role of the female protagonist in Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi's next venture 'Beyond the Clouds'.

Malavika is the daughter of celebrated cinematographer KU Mohanan who has worked on Bollywood films like 'Raees', 'Don', 'Talaash' and 'Fukrey'. She made her cinematic debut in 2013 opposite Dulquer Salman in a Malayalam film titled 'Pattam Pole.'

Malavika was born in Kannur District, but has lived in Mumbai her entire life. She completed her graduation in Mass Media from Mumbai's Wilson College where she was part of a very renowned campaign against eve teasing called 'Chappal Maarungi.'

This gorgeous girl has her own fashion blog called 'The Scarlet Window.'

Bollywood

March 24,3,2017 February 2017

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D

iana Penty is the leading lady of Nikkhil Advani's next production, 'Lucknow Central', which marks the directorial debut of Ranjit Tiwari, with Farhan Akhtar in the lead.

The film is inspired by a true story of convicts sentenced to life imprisonment in the Lucknow Central Jail, who start a band and discover pride, self confidence and a reason to wake up every morning. Diana Penty plays the NGO worker who puts the prisoners on the path of reform.

Diana, who made her Bollywood debut in Homi Adajania's 'Cocktail', says, "It all happened within three days of my meeting with Nikkhil and him briefly telling me about the film. Once I heard it, I knew this was a story I wanted to be part of. We did a reading and before I knew it, I had landed the role and was shooting for the look test," recalls the actress, who will be seen in salwar-kameez, long skirts and cotton trousers.

A

fter a series of successful films, Govinda moved away from the spotlight for 14 years. He dabbled in politics and became an MP. But when he realized that his heart lies in showbiz, the actor quit netagiri and returned to the movies with 'Bhagam Bhag' and 'Partner'.

In 2014, Govinda, was seen in 'Kill Dil' and 'Happy Ending' which his fans loved, and which encouraged him to return to the big screen as a hero with 'Aa Gaya Hero', directed by Dipankar Senapati.

The film, produced by Mangal Tara TV and Films, is dedicated to Govinda's fans and is close to his heart. The actor is nervous yet excited to know what the audience thinks of his performance.

Packed with energetic and fun songs and an underlying message for the youth, the film also stars Ashutosh Rana, Murali Sharma, Chandrachur Singh, Makarand Deshpande, Harish Kumar and Richa Chadha.

N

imrat Kaur doesn't believe in having a 'big PR machinery' behind her, and she lets her work do the talking. The actress says she likes to be a 'little conservative' in professional matters.

She feels too much publicity sometimes backfires, and so she prefers to abstain from it.

"I just love to do my job and then look at what I am doing next. If I get publicity by the virtue of my work, fantastic, great and if not then work keeps happening on its own anyway," Nimrat says.

She added: "I also feel sometimes too much PR or publicity around something can be counterproductive, so I like to take a little conservative take on this in my professional matters."

The actress likes to keep a 'little bit of a balance'.

She said: "I find it exhausting to constantly have to be in too many different places to attend different things at one time. I am little bit of a onething-at-onetime kind of person."

March 24, 2017

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Some of the other sculptures on the sea

30 India Post

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March 24, 2017

PREETI VERMA LAL

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ew Delhi-based artist Harsha Vardhan Durugadda recently out did 76 other contestants from around the world to win the prestigious $50,000 Rio Tinto Sculpture by the Sea Award, the most generous award in Western Australia. Durugadda's winning entry Column of Sound is an 8-ft tall marble and mild steel sculpture that depicts sound as marble slices stored between two steel hemispheres. The sculpture will be on permanent display in a public space in Western Australia.

Chris Salisbury, chief executive of Rio Tinto's Iron Ore group said, "Rio Tinto is pleased to continue our support of Sculpture by the Sea in 2017, a partnership we embarked on last year, in our 50th anniversary year of shipping iron ore from the Pilbara.

Such events like Sculpture by the Sea play an important role in creating a sense of place and encouraging social participation.

Congratulations to Harsha Vardhan Durugadda for receiving the Rio Tinto Sculpture Award for your thought-provoking sculpture Column of Sound."

Founding Director of Sculpture by the Sea, David Handley, AM, said, "This is a wonderful work by a fabulous and imaginative artist. It is exceptionally hard and adventurous for an artist to exhibit from overseas, with the added costs and logistics, so I am delighted for Harsha and look forward to him exhibiting many times in the future. He is also a very nice bloke and this award will be a major step in what I believe will be a great career."

Durugadda says of his work, "'Column of Sound' is based on the visual dynamics of an audio wave. Sound - temporal and

ephemeral - translated to tactile and eternal. A paradigm shift of our sensory experience."

This is Durugadda's first Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe exhibition, having received the Andrea Stretton Memorial Invitation from Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi 2016.

The Rio Tinto Sculpture Award was selected by a judging panel of leading figures in the visual arts: • Dr. Stefano Carboni - Director, Art Gallery of Western Australia; • Geoffrey Edwards - Former Director, Geelong Gallery, Victoria and former Senior Curator of Sculpture, National Gallery of Victoria; and • Dr. Nien Schwarz - Artist & Senior Lecturer, School of Communications and Arts, Edith Cowan University.

Durugadda was born in Andhra Pradesh, India and lives in New Delhi.

Sculpture by the Sea is exhibited on the Bondi Beach to Tamarama Beach coastal walk. The coastal walk is transformed into a 2km long temporary sculpture park featuring over 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world.

Durugadda's winning entry Column of Sound is an 8-ft tall marble and mild steel sculpture that depicts sound as marble slices stored between two steel hemispheres. The sculpture will be on permanent display in a public space in Western Australia.

March 24, 2017

India Post 31

Yes, ghosts do exist: Anushka Sharma

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nushka Sharma's latest Snapchat obsession is her upcoming film 'Phillauri' where she plays a friendly ghost, and her extremely shy and immensely popular coactor Diljit Dosanjh. Excerpts from an interview Do you believe in ghosts?

I believe in conspiracy theories and yes, I do believe that ghosts also exist. I was having this conversation with Rajkumar Hirani trying to tell him this, and he was like, "No, they don't exist". I went on talking about frequencies and how beyond a certain frequency, there must be something.

As kids, we've all heard stories about ghosts from friends. Did you believe in any of those? Were you scared of ghosts?

Of course, I was afraid of ghosts! If I am afraid, that means I believe it, right?

You are going absolutely crazy on Snapchat, you seem to be having a ball out there...

I downloaded the app because I thought that Snapchat camera was really good. And then, it was just there in my phone for a while.

One day, I was just not being able to sleep. I had done everything possible on other social media platforms, so I was like, 'What should I do now?' That's when I started playing with it. I'm not a very so-

cial media savvy person. However, I feel Snapchat is an extension of my personality. I think I am such a random human being with such random thoughts and Snapchat is a great outlet for people like me.

People are watching it, they are getting entertained, and that's a plus point, which in turn is selfentertainment.

Is this a phase?

It could be. My manager tells me it's a phase. She thinks I am Snapchatting too much and I am going to burn out in ten days. Let's see.

'Phillauri' is your second production. What's the one big challenge that you face as a film producer?

It's an ongoing thing. Every day there will be a different challenge, every day there is something you have to deal with because it's a collaborative effort. You are working with many people, so there's always going to be difference of opinion. Then the idea should be to get everyone on the same page.

That's especially true of us since we make films that are off-centre but yet in that commercial zone.

Since you are a busy actor yourself, at what stage do you get involved on a film project in your production house?

From the beginning! I might not be available physically all the time or I might not be present for some meetings as I could be busy with

my acting commitments, but I always know what's going on with regard to my production house.

That is one of the main reasons why I am doing this with my brother. It really helps because we are on the same page, we have the same vision for our company Clean Slate Films. Things are always shared and decisions are always taken together. I know what is going on. Just because I am an actor doesn't mean that I only deal with the creative side of it.

Every banner makes a certain kind of films. What kind of films does your production house want

Cold weather kills many cherry blossoms in DC WASHINGTON: Cold weather has killed half of the blossoms on Washington's famous cherry trees just as they were reaching peak bloom, park service officials said.

The blooming of the trees is a big tourist draw and is closely watched as a sign of spring in the nation's capital - so much so that National Park Service officials held a news conference to discuss the weather's impact.

Gay Vietzke, superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks said there will still be a ``brilliant display of the white and pink blooms,'' and that the Yoshino cherry trees will be just as ``spectacular as ever.''

That said, visitors who come every year will notice a slight difference after the ``wild weather roller coaster'' of the past few weeks, which delivered snow after several warm days, Vietzke said. ``We do anticipate that there

will be some fewer blossoms than normal and the color, therefore, may not be quite as dense as we've seen in past years around the Tidal Basin,'' Vietzke said, describing the area where the Yoshino cherry trees are clustered.

It wasn't the snow that really impacted the trees, but the cold.

Park Service spokesman Mike Litterst had previously said that if the temperature got down to 24 de-

grees there could be a 90 percent loss of the blossoms that were expected to be at their peak between March 19 and 22.

Peak bloom is defined as the day when 70 percent of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin are blossoming. But that won't happen this year because half of those blossoms are already gone as a result of the cold.

The cold weather did not do any long-term damage to the Yoshino trees, but Litterst said that it killed blooms at the fifth of six stages of blooming - the so-called ``puffy white'' stage. Blooms in earlier stages survived, Litterst said, and should soon reach their own more modest peak.-AP

to make?

We want to make all kinds of films because ultimately you want to tell stories and you want differ-

ent stories. As a storyteller, you want to push unique and different ideas. We also want to work with fresh talent; that's the vision. 'NH10' was a very different film and then suddenly, we changed track to something as different as 'Phillauri'.

Both your productions so far have featured you in the lead. Will all of Clean Slate productions feature Anushka Sharma?

Not at all! It's not about that and that wouldn't be very intelligent also. I can't possibly be doing all films and we plan on making more films, say two a year. If I fit the part, then why not? But at the same time, we are also pitching films to other actors where I don't fit in. I want to clarify this fact - it's not that I've turned producer so that I can act in all my films. If I was making films for myself, then I would probably call my production house something else.

It's called 'Clean Slate Films' be-

cause it's an ideology. 'Clean Slate' means to start anew without any prejudices or any so-called baggage of a hit. Right now, we are early players; we are like a startup. So maybe it's easier to make films starring me at the moment. But when people will gain more confidence in us as a company, I am sure we will work with more and more actors.

These days, the first trailer is a make-or-break factor for a film.

How much goes into making the first trailer?

We were sure from the beginning that we have to crack the trailer of our films. The trailer of 'NH10' was smashing, if I can say so myself. But we wanted to crack the trailer because that is the communication that works the most for a film. People go by the trailer and decide if they want to watch a film or not. So we worked really hard for 'Phillauri' trailer. We tried all sorts of things to finally get the trailer which we have today. It's a very difficult film to be able to express in just one trailer, because there's so much in the film and at the same time, you have to maintain that intrigue value.

You recently answered a reporter's phone at a press conference and spoke to her mother.

Everyone found that funny but we couldn't make out what your coactor Diljit Dosanjh was thinking, sitting right next to you.

What is he like? He is quite a mystery...

Diljit is very quiet, very shy and keeps to himself. But when he is in an environment where he feels comfortable, he is dramatically different. I think he is a Snapchat personality then. So I keep telling him that if I can ever haunt somebody, I'll haunt him so that I can actually know his real side. Now, he has opened up a little to me, so I see that side sometimes. He's very funny but otherwise he keeps to himself.

-Courtesy TOI

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March 24, 2017 www.indiapost.com

New minister Sidhu will continue with TV show CHANDIGARH: A day after being sworn in as minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu has said if the Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had asked him to serve as an MLA, he would have done so.

Allotted portfolios of Local

from this," he told reporters after assuming office.

On speculation about him being made the Deputy Chief Minister, Sidhu said, "Had the Captain (Amarinder) asked me to serve by being an MLA, I would

Government and Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Archives and Museums, the cricketer-turnedpolitician also said he will continue doing his television show.

"There were a lot of discussions on Sidhu will become this and that... I am thankful to the people for their wishes and intentions. But I always kept away

have done that too."

"I am happy with anything and everything that Captain Sahib, Rahul ji and Priyanka ji think and deem fit for me. I have come to put the state on the right track and not fulfill any private interest," he asserted.

Speculation was rife that Sidhu would be made Deputy

Chief Minister in the present dispensation. However, he featured second on the list of nine ministers who were sworn in.

The former BJP MP said he had been offered by the BJP to contest elections from Kurukshetra, Chandigarh and West Delhi in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, but a Rajya Sabha seat did not matter to him as it forced him to stay away from his roots.

On whether he will continue with his appearance in the television program, Sidhu said he can discharge his duties as a minister even doing the show.

"I won six elections in the last 12 years... if the public has no objection (over his TV show) then why are you (the media) objecting to it," he asked.

Sidhu said, "For the television show, I will leave at three in the evening and reach there by five.

Then I will shoot for the show for the whole night. I will take a flight at three in the morning and will reach here at 5 AM, and go to office at 7 AM."-PTI

Vidya Balan lashes out at male fan

V

idya Balan has been show ered with praises for her feisty performance as a madam of a brothel, in the trailer of her upcoming film 'Begum Jaan'.

The actress along with the film's director Srijit Mukherji and producer were recently spotted at the Kolkata airport, going about their professional commitments, when a male fan approached the star for a selfie. Being the fan-friendly celebrity she is, Vidya reportedly obliged the fan's request and agreed to pose with him, however, things took an ugly turn when he got too close for comfort.

According to online reports, the male fan put his arm around Vidya without even asking for her consent. Feeling uncomfortable with the overly friendly gesture,

Vidya warned the fan not to do that and the same was also conveyed by her manager. However, during a second attempt at clicking a picture, the man once again put his arm around her to which Vidya hit back asking him what he was doing saying "this is wrong".

Pointing out that he couldn't behave himself, Vidya refused to take a picture and walked off.

Speaking about the same to an online portal, the star explained that one tends to get uncomfortable when a man or woman intrudes into one's personal space. According to the report, Vidya admitted that she is a 'public figure', but also pointed out that she is "not public property".

Kapil denies fighting with Sunil Grover MUMBAI: Stand-up comedian and actor Kapil Sharma has put all rumors of his feud with Sunil Grover to rest by saying he loves his co-star as an artist and considers him as his elder brother.

The 35-year-old host of "The Kapil Sharma Show" took to Facebook to dismiss reports of the duo involved in a tussle while travelling together in a flight. "(I) was celebrating my best time and suddenly I heard news about me and Sunil paji fighting first of all, see where it is coming from, what are the intentions behind this. If I fought with him in the flight then who saw it and informed you... Is he trustworthy?

"Some people enjoy these kinds of stuff, we eat together, we travel together. I meet my brother once in a year and spending almost everyday with my team especially Sunil... I love him... I respect him," wrote Kapil.

He further admitted to have had an argument with Grover but said they fought like normal people and that all is well between them.

"Yes I had an argument with him. But are we not normal people? I shouted at him first time in five years... 'itna to chalta hai

bhai' (that much is ok). We will sit and talk that where is the problem. I love him as an artist as a human being.

He is like my elder brother.

"Why so much negativity all the time? I respect our media.

There are some other serious issues which we need to focus. Is me and Sunil's issue is so impor-

tant and related with the security of my country?" he added.

Kapil added that they spend a lot of time together than they do with their families and sometimes such fights are normal.

"It's our family matter... we will sort this out... 'zyada maze mat liya karo' (don't put a spin on things)," he added.

Shreya Ghoshal's statue for Madame Tussauds

P

opular singer Shreya Ghoshal's wax statue will be unveiled at India's first Madame Tussauds Museum, which is to open here in June and the 'Halka Halka' singer is excited.

She said, "I am thrilled to be a part of history here at Madame Tussauds, and it is an honor to be featured among such talented stars, artists, historians and renowned celebrities," Shreya said in a statement.

Her statue will be alongside those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Bollywood's Shahenshah, Amitabh Bachchan and American pop star Lady Gaga.

"To be immortalized forever is a fabulous feeling. With its brilliant concept, Madame Tussauds has always been famous for bringing joy all across the world," added Shreya, known for songs like 'Teri Meri', 'Dola Re Dola', 'Deewani

Mastani, 'Agar Tum Mil Jao', 'Sunn Raha Hai', 'Saans' and 'Piya O Re Piya'. The singer celebrated her birthday recently on March 12.

The wax attraction, which will open its doors to the public in June, will exhibit over 50 figures from diverse leagues such as history, sport, music, films and TV. "We are pleased to unveil Shreya's figure in the Delhi attraction. She is one of the most loved singers of today's generation. We are excited to see our visitors sing along with her. She was one of the most requested figures for us to include in the attraction, and we are delighted to be able to honor those fans with this wax figure," said Anshul Jain, General Manager and Director, Merlin Entertainments India Pvt Ltd. This is the 23rd branch of Madame Tussauds across the world.

March 24, 2017

India Post 33 www.indiapost.com

Ways to use healing power of the forest EAGLE RIVER, Alaska: Mother Nature's medicine cabinet is wide open you just have to know where to look.

Ute Olsson knows. As a naturalist at the Eagle River Nature Center, Olsson might be the best person to describe the plants, trees, shrubs, ferns, berries and other flora growing in the Eagle River Valley. ``I just love plants and I love to find out how to use them,'' Olsson said.

Olsson recently gave an hourlong talk at center describing the many plants in the area that can be used for their natural healing powers. During a slideshow, Olsson took guests to the center through a litany of plants that can be used as medicines - and ones to avoid. ``Just because they are natural doesn't mean they are safe,'' Olsson cautioned at the start of her program. ``Some of them are poisonous.''

For people just starting in the world of edible and medicinal plants, Olsson suggested getting a dichotomous key in order to properly identify plants in the wild, as well as consulting the Internet as well as making sure certain types of plants agree with your stomach.

Never eat anything you're not sure about, as some plants look

quite similar but have very different properties, she said. ``That's why it's really good to know the plants,'' she said.

After her disclaimer, Olsson ran through a list of more than 20 plants that grow locally and can be used for everything from head-

wood, willow, aspen and poplar.

The inner bark of willow contains salicylic acid, which can be used to make aspirin. Olsson said the bark can be used to make a tea or salve. In an emergency, someone could even chew on a willow branch to take advantage of the

Eagle River Nature Center naturalist Ute Olsson points to edible plants during a discussion about the healing properties of plants at the center in Eagle River, Alaska. For people just starting in the world of edible and medicinal plants, Olsson suggested getting a dichotomous key in order to properly identify plants in the wild, as well as consulting the Internet as well as making sure certain types of plants agree with your stomach.

aches to menstrual cramps to dressing wounds.

Olsson began her talk by talking about the pain-killing properties in the bark of several woody plants and trees, including cotton-

plant's pain-killing properties. She said moose are frequently seen eating willow after childbirth, which could be the animals' way of using the natural remedy. ``Maybe moose always have a

Zakir Hussain to present documentary at IFFLA India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES, CA: The Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA) has announced additional programming and events for its 15th annual festival.

There will be a special evening with legendary tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, joined by the Symphony Orchestra of India's Associate Music Director Zane Dalal on April 6. The event will begin with a screening of the documentary An Indian Accent, directed by Sumantra Ghosal, which chronicles Hussain and Dalal's collaboration on Hussain's original concerto piece Peshkar. The two will then participate in an extended discussion about the film and their impressive body of work. The event takes place as Hussain prepares to launch a spring tour of the U.S. on April 9.

IFFLA will host the North

American premiere of Trapped, helmed by celebrated filmmaker and IFFLA alum Vikramaditya Motwane (Udaan, Lootera). The film stars Rajkummar Rao in a cap-

tivating performance as a man who becomes locked inside an apartment in an empty Mumbai high-rise without food, water or electricity and must desperately figure out a way to survive.

Returning to the Festival this year is the popular Filmmaker Roundtable hosted by Sundance senior programmer John Nein. Nein will lead ten of the festival's attending feature directors in a lively discussion about the state of the Indian film industry.

"IFFLA is proud to add these exciting new events to our already stellar 2017 lineup," said Mike Dougherty, Director of Programming. "The prestige that Vikram Motwane, Zakir Hussain, Zane Dalal and John Nein represent will no doubt contribute to an unforgettable 15th anniversary for our festival."

lot of headaches,'' she joked. ``They're always eating willow.''

Other natural remedies that can be easily found in this area include things like usnea or ``old man's beard,'' a type of lichen that grows on older trees. The fuzzy looking substance can be used as an antibiotic or to help with sore throats in tea.

Many of the substances that can be used naturally can be brewed into teas or preserved in alcohol or in oil extracts. Olsson said medicines that are dried or preserved will last much longer than those that still contain water.

Among the best ways to make medicines from plants is to make salves or creams that can be applied topically. In addition to protecting from infection, these can help ease pain naturally.

Other useful plants with good medicinal properties include juniper berries (good for arthritis and as an appetite suppressant), spruce (can be used to make pitch for patching wounds), highbush cranberries (good for cramps), rose petals (a good source of vitamin C) and plantains (good for bee stings).

There are many more, Olsson said. In her native Germany, Olsson said mothers would give pineapple weed (wild chamomile) tea to calm fussy infants. ``We'd give this to babies to

settle them down,'' she said.

Some plants require more care and caution than others. The roots of cow parsnip, for example, can be used to treat heartburn. However, the plant is also toxic when it comes into contact with the skin and can cause a painful rash when exposed to sunlight.

And some things growing in the forest should be avoided entirely, said Olsson, who concluded her slideshow with a photo of the highly toxic fly agaric mushroom. ``Stay away from these,'' she said.

Despite the need for an abundance of caution, Olsson said the forest is full of useful plants - many of which can be easily found and used. The best way to start using natural remedies, she said, is to simply start researching different properties and getting out into nature to try different ways of making teas, salves and other useful medicines.

One last thing to keep in mind, she said, is that many natural plants used for natural remedies don't always taste great. Chewing on a willow stick, for example, isn't terribly pleasant. However, there's a well-known trick people can use when making teas or other cures from plants found in the wild. ``A spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down,'' she said.AP

Birders flocking to glimpse great gray owl NEWPORT, NH: Birders have been flocking to a New Hampshire town to get a view of a great gray owl that's normally seen in Canada.

The owl was first seen in Newport on Feb. 25. It's also found in Alaska and the northwest United States.

New Hampshire Audubon senior biologist Pamela Hunt told the Concord Monitor the owls sometimes head south because they don't have enough food, or too much food, leading to an overpopulation of owls.

They eat mostly rodents.

The owl seems to be near the Newport Airport.

The owl landed on Marsha Richelli's head once. Richelli, of Ports-

mouth, said she stood very still and wasn't hurt. She said she assumed her head was just a launching point for the owl before it went to hunt in a field. -AP

Tech News Facebook forbids use of data for surveillance

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here there's data, there's the chance to snoop-though maybe not when it comes to Facebook. Civil Liberties advocates are more concerned than ever about the warrantless collection of Americans' communications, and representatives of the British governm e n t h a v e warned that widespread use of big data is putting public privacy at risk. So a glimmer of good news from Facebook, which has finally announced that data about its users must no longer be used by developers to produce systems that can provide surveillance capabilities.

-MIT Technology Review

Doc app could amplify health anxieties

O

n-demand digital consultations with doctors are convenient, but they could prove problematic. Technology is changing medicine, and new apps that provide a short video consult with a doctor for a small upfront fee are helping people save time by avoiding a trip to the surgery.

But the app makers are observing that they're proving popular with people who suffer from health anxieties. That raises ethical concerns: in many settings, such people would be so-called super-users who drive revenue, but here it may be more appropriate to suggest that they seek mental help.

TechBiz 34 India Post

www.indiapost.com

Quantum computing for chemists

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hen quantum computers come, chemists will be first in line.

With IBM and Google announcing plans to ready the first commercial quantum devices in the next few years, the computing systems are about to become a practical reality.

But before they're used to power unbreakable encryption or build new AIs, chemists will make use of their powers. Tom Simonite explains that quantum devices are naturally suited to modeling complex behaviors of atoms and electrons in order to simulate molecules and reactions, which could yield advances in batteries, electronics, and materials.

-MIT Technology Review

March 24, 2017

Top economies yield to US, drop no-protectionism pledge BADEN-BADEN, Germany: The world's top economic powers dropped a pledge to oppose trade protectionism amid pushback from the Trump administration, which wants trade to more clearly benefit American companies and workers.

Finance ministers from the Group of 20 countries meeting in the southern German town of Baden-Baden issued a statement that said only that countries "are working to strengthen the contribution of trade" to their economies.

By comparison, last year's meeting called on them to resist "all forms" of protectionism, which can include border tariffs and rules that keep out imports to shield domestic companies from competition.

The statement from the G20 finance ministers and central bankers helps set the tone for further global economic cooperation.

US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, taking part in his first international meeting since being sworn in, sought to downplay the wording issue. He said that the statement needed to reflect the

discussion at the current summit.

"The historical language was not really relevant," he said.

"We believe in free trade: we are one of the largest markets in

we want to re-examine certain agreements... And to the extent that agreements are old agreements and need to be renegotiated we'll consider that as well."

President of the German Central Bank Jens Weidmann, center, talks to US' Federal Reserve Board President Janet Yellen, left, and U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin during the G20 finance ministers meeting in Baden-Baden, southern Germany on March 17

the world, we are one of the largest trading partners in the world," Mnuchin said. "Having said that,

He said trade deals need to offer a "win-win situation."

Mnuchin said the administration

would be looking at relationships where the US was buying more than it could sell to its partner, and would be more aggressive in seeking enforcement of existing rules that would benefit U.S. workers through the Geneva-based World Trade Organization. The WTO operates a system of negotiated trade rules and serves as a forum for resolving disputes.

China and European countries had pushed for a stronger affirmation of cross-border trade without tariffs or barriers.

Ironically, China and some European states tend to intervene more often in private sector business than the US government.

Canada took a middle approach in the talks, urging a statement supporting free trade but not taking a position on specific wording.

Host Germany dropped the noprotectionism pledge in the early drafting process ahead of the meeting, in apparent hope of not antagonizing the US and then finding a substitute that would also uphold free trade. But attempts to include such language did not find agreement. -AP

-MIT Technology Review

The friendly face of ride-hailing

I

n Austin, Texas, you can't hail an Uber or Lyft. Almost a year ago, the city insisted that ride-hailers must comply with security laws imposed on regular taxi drivers-regulations that the two companies said would be unsustainable to operate under given their lean business models. The upshot: a new kind of small, home-grown ride-hailer has begun to emerge, perhaps the most innovative of which is RideAustin-a nonprofit that pays riders well, hands profits to charities, and is growing fast.

Uber could learn a lot from it.

-MIT Technology Review

11 Indians win 'Women Icon' awards SINGAPORE: Eleven Indian women are among the 25 Asian ladies who have won the 'Women Icons' award in Singapore for dedicating their lives to social work.

Women empowerment and childcare remains on the minds of these women, who came from a number of fields for the award organized by Business Excellence & Research Group Pte Ltd and supported by Nanyang Technological University of Singapore.

Among the award winners was Vandana Sharma, who served for a decade in the Indian Armed Forces, broke several stereotypes around 'Women

Among the award winners was Vandana Sharma, who served for a decade in the Indian Armed Forces, broke several stereotypes around 'Women in Uniform' and ventured into the corporate world in Uniform' and ventured into the corporate world.

Speaking after the awards, Sharma said she mentors a lot of young start-up founders on building effective organizations.

The aim is to drive a more productive environment and culture within constraint environments at startups, said Sharma, who is cur-

rently the chief people officer at HolidayIQ and comes from a family of officers in the Indian Armed Forces.

Sharma's contribution during the 1999 Kargil War has been recorded and commended in the Military History of Army Ordnance Corps.

Keeping with her 'Women Em-

powerment' campaign is Revathi Siddharthe Roy, who holds a Masters in Economics degree but drove taxi for 10 months in Mumbai to support her family after her husband died in 2007.

Roy now runs a training school, Zaffiro Learning, for women to learn to ride twowheelers and serve as "last mile" delivery person for e-commerce companies.

Roy said Zaffiro Learning will put 10,000 women on twowheelers under 'HeyDeedee' brand in Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Nagpur, Nasik Chennai and Kolkotta by the end of this year.

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Telecom policy tilts in favor of industry NEW YORK: Trumpism is slowly taking hold on your phone and computer, as newly installed federal regulators begin chipping away at hard-fought protections on privacy and competition.

These protections, put in place during the Obama administration, had upset the phone and cable industries. The new regime at the Federal Communications Commission says consumers win if businesses face less regulation and have more incentives to invest.

But consumer advocates worry these changes give broadband providers that own media businesses more power to favor their own services, among other things.

The changes are small and easily overlooked. But they're the first shots in what could turn into a fullfledged war over Obama-era ``net neutrality'' rules, which were designed to keep phone and cable giants from favoring their own internet services and apps. Overturning these rules would also likely reverse a privacy measure meant to keep broadband providers from using and selling customer data without permission. ``Death by a thousand cuts is a constantly overused cliche, but that's sort of what they're aiming for right now,'' said Matt Wood, the policy director of consumer group Free Press, referring to the Republicans now in power at the FCC. The agency has five commissioners appointed by the president and oversees internet services and the broadcast industry.

DEATH TO NET NEUTRALITY It's no secret President Donald

structure. His goal is to expand internet access, especially in rural areas where choices are limited.

But an aggressive overhaul of net neutrality could be politically and legally difficult. For a telecom policy, net neutrality is popular with consumers, drawing attention

``Death by a thousand cuts is a constantly overused cliche, but that's sort of what they're aiming for right now,'' said Matt Wood, the policy director of consumer group Free Press from comedian John Oliver and spurring people to flood the FCC with roughly 4 million comments (not all in support, of course). A federal appeals court upheld the rules in June.

This may explain why the FCC has so far opted for a piecemeal attack - an approach that may continue for a while.

NIBBLING AROUND THE EDGES A broad attack on the landmark 2015 net neutrality rules is expected. But under Pai, the FCC has made only some tweaks to the agency's approach. These rules have barred broadband providers from blocking and slowing some websites and creating faster ac-

Pai says he wants to work with the Federal Trade Commission, another D.C. regulator, to come up with broadband privacy rules that are more in line with the laxer standards for internet companies.

Trump's hand-picked FCC chief, Ajit Pai, wants to cut regulations that he believes are holding back faster, cheaper internet.

Pai takes special aim at net neutrality rules, which regulate broadband as a utility and bar providers from playing favorites by offering speedier access to, say, their own streaming-video services. Pai considers these rules a mistake that slows investment in internet infra-

cess for their own services. But the rules also gave the FCC broader powers to stop telecom companies from hurting competition and consumers in other ways that weren't spelled out.

When Barack Obama was president, the FCC used those broader powers to go after ``zero-rating'' plans, which give subscribers free data so long as they stick with their carrier's own streaming-TV ser-

vice, like AT&T's DirecTV Now .

Zero rating may be popular with consumers - hey, free data! - but the FCC under Obama had argued that letting internet providers play favorites undermines streamingvideo competition and ultimately leaves consumers worse off. After Pai took office, the FCC reversed that stance and gave a thumbs-up to AT&T and other carriers with zero-rating policies.

The agency also exempted additional smaller broadband providers from a net neutrality regulation that required companies to spell out their pricing, such as specifying how long promotional rates last and whether services capped monthly data usage.

Until the FCC or Congress goes full-bore on net neutrality, the agency will likely ``stand down'' from enforcing it unless there's a ``really extreme'' violation, said Marc Martin, technology and telecom attorney with Perkins Coie.

ONLINE PRIVACY REDO The agency has also blocked part of a broadband privacy measure that requires companies like Comcast and Verizon to take ``reasonable measures'' to secure customer information like financial data or web browsing histories.

The remaining privacy rules, which aren't in effect yet, are now under threat. Under these rules, phone and cable companies must ask permission before using or selling your data.

Phone and cable companies have complained that these rules are tougher than what internetadvertising behemoths like Google and Facebook face. Pai says he wants to work with the Federal Trade Commission, another D.C. regulator, to come up with broadband privacy rules that are more in line with the laxer standards for internet companies.

Republican lawmakers have proposed spiking them completely. Democrats say that would leave consumers vulnerable and allow companies like Verizon or AT&T able to sell consumer information to advertisers. There are vaguer privacy requirements that still apply under the net neutrality rules, but the agency may be loath to enforce them, Martin said. And the net neutrality rules are expected to be undone in any case.

Cont’d on page 37

Indian-American among overpaid CEOs HOUSTON: An Indian-American CEO of a Chicago-based property firm has been ranked fourth on a list of top 25 overpaid CEOs in the US, according to a new report.

Sandeep Matharani, CEO of General Growth Properties, has been listed fourth on the list of top 25 overpaid CEOs in America, according to the report from the nonprofit 'As You Sow'.

The non-profit organization promotes environmental and social corporate responsibility and takes a close look at CEO pay.

Matharani, with a total compensation of USD 39.2 million in 2016, is overpaid by USD 26 million, according to the report.

Using a regression analysis that ties CEO pay to performance and other indicators such as the portion of pay that is offered in options and returns on corporate capital, 'As You Sow' has determined which CEOs are paid above and beyond their performance.

So the gap between CEO's performance to his pay is the criteria for the rankings.

The report cites Leslie Moonves, CEO of CBS, as the most overpaid chief executive in the country. Moonves earned compensation worth USD 56.7 million in 2016.

Marc Benioff of Salesforce ranks second on the list with a total compensation of USD 33.4 million. Discovery Communication's David Zaslav comes in third with

a compensation of USD 32.4 million.

Not only are many of the CEOs on the list overpaid, but the report argues that their companies underperformed on the S&P 500 last year, so they may also be a drag on shareholder returns.

Among the top 25 overpaid CEOs on the list, 15 were appearing on it for a second time and 10 of them have been on the list three

Sandeep Matharani

times.

Mathrani joined General Growth Properties as the company was emerging from bankruptcy in 2010 and refocused the mall owner to high-end shopping centers.

His name has been mentioned several times as a potential candidate for a position in the Trump administration.

The company operates approximately 126 retail properties in 40 states. Headquartered in Chicago, General Growth Properties Inc has 1,800 employees. -PTI

11 Indians win 'Women Icon' awards She has already put 120 women with two-wheelers for making deliveries for e-commerce companies in Mumbai and Bangalore in the past six months. "I only work for 'Women Empowerment'. My life is all about transforming women's life," said the social entrepreneur and a winner of NITI Aayog's Women Transforming India 2016 award.

Joining in the awards was Dr Srimathy Kesan, who motivates children into Aerospace and Aeronautics subjects at her Chennaibased company, Space Kidz India.

Kesan draws children to science with the aim of building a pool of scientists in the coming year, saying India's pool of scientists was depleting as more and more students were opting for engineering or medical studies.

"I want to encourage and motivate them to do much more in science," said Dr Kesan who aims to have an aerospace research park in India, building on her working relationship with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the US and the Russian Space Agencies.

Kesan said her students have built and shipped to NASA a cube satellite which will be launched on a US rocket.

Other winners were: Dr Aparna Hegde of ARMMAN, Deepshikha Kumar of SpeakIn, Kanika Gupta Shori of Square Global, Minal D'Rozario of Ideosphere, Mini Dwivedi Gopinathan of PlayStreet Specially Abled Educare Trust, Saloni Mardia Kothari of Mtlexs Online, Sonia Kulkarni of Ketchum Sampark PR, and Swati Nathani of Team Pumpkin. -PTI

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Indian-American to lead Houston dept HOUSTON: Indian-American engineer Karun Sreerama has been named to head Houston's Department of Public Works and Engineering by the city's Mayor Sylvester Turner.

53-year-old Sreerama, a consistent local political donor, would replace retiring director Dale Rudick as chief of Houston's USD

Hyderabad native would start work on April 3 and would also become Houston's first Asian department director in the process.

Sreerama is a highly respected engineer with 28 years of experience managing multi-million dollar capital projects across the US and abroad. He is a registered professional engineer and holds a

Sreerama is a highly respected engineer with 28 years of experience managing multi-million dollar capital projects across the US and abroad. He is a registered professional engineer and holds a doctorate in civil engineering 2 billion and 4,000-plus-employee operation.

If confirmed by council, the

doctorate in civil engineering as well as a Master's degree in business administration.

Sreerama said the organization - for decades viewed as rigid and allergic to feedback - must improve its outreach and develop a "servant" mentality.

"We can be more inclusive of the people who are actually going to use Public Works' products and treat them as customers, treat them as the people that we work for," Sreerama said.

"We can't sit there as engineers and plan things and then give it to them. We need to talk to them, ask them what their ideas are. I'll never start an answer with, 'You don't understand.' We are a service organization," he added.

Sreerama said he plans to meet with all Public Works staff about his vision for the department as part of a broader, communicationsdriven plan for his first 100 days.

"Karun has developed an im-

Idea approves merger with Vodafone NEW DELHI: Idea Cellular has approved its amalgamation with Vodafone India and Vodafone Mobile Services, a move that will create the country's biggest telecom services provider with a customer base of over 394 million.

The board of directors of Idea Cellular at its meeting approved the "scheme of amalgamation of Vodafone India Limited (VIL) and its wholly owned subsidiary Vodafone Mobile Services Limited (VMSL) with the company", Idea said in a regulatory filing.

The transaction is subject to necessary approvals from concerned authorities, including SEBI, Department of Telecom, RBI etc.

"Upon the amalgamation becoming effective, the entire business of VIL and VMSL, excluding VIL's investment in Indus Towers Limited, its international network assets and information technology platforms, will vest in the company," the filing said.

The turnover of Vodafone India is INR 5,025 crore and of VMSL is 40,378 crore. Idea Cellular's turnover is INR 36,000 crore.

The net worth of VIL is 12,855 crore, VMSL's 3,737 crore and of Idea Cellular is INR 24,296 crore, as per the filing.

Vodafone's market share was 18.16 per cent with 204.68 million mobile customers and that of Idea was 16.9 per cent with 190.51 million at the end of December 2016, as per the Trai data.

At present, Airtel with a market share of 23.58 per cent and a customer base of 265.85 million is the country's largest telecom player.

"The implied enterprise value is INR 828 billion (USD 12.4 billion) for Vodafone India and INR 722 billion (USD 10.8 billion) for Idea," the filing said.

Idea and Vodafone in a joint statement said that merged entity

The merger will result in substantial cost and capex synergies with an estimated net present value of approximately USD 10 billion after integration costs and spectrum liberalization payments will be jointly controlled by Vodafone and Aditya Birla group as per shareholders agreement.

Vodafone will own 45.1 per cent of the combined company after

transferring a stake of 4.9 per cent to the Aditya Birla group for INR 3,900 crore in cash concurrent with completion of the merger, the filing said.

Idea will hold 26 per cent of the combined entity while the rest will be owned by public shareholders.

The Aditya Birla Group will have the right to acquire more shares from Vodafone under an agreed mechanism with a view to equalizing the shareholdings over time, the joint statement said.

The merger will result in substantial cost and capex synergies with an estimated net present value of approximately USD 10 billion after integration costs and spectrum liberalization payments, with estimated run-rate savings of USD 2.1 billion on an annual basis by the fourth full year post completion, the statement said.

Vodafone India will be deconsolidated by Vodafone on announcement and reported as a joint venture post-closing, reducing Vodafone Group net debt by approximately USD 8.2 billion.

The transaction is expected to close during calendar year 2018, subject to customary approvals.

The statement said that if Vodafone and the Aditya Birla Group's shareholdings in the combined company are not equal after four years, Vodafone will sell down shares in the combined company to equalize its shareholding to that of the Aditya Birla Group over the following five-year period.-PTI

pressive 100-day transition plan," Mayor Turner said, adding that he will be able to build upon the ex-

Karun Sreerama

cellent progress made during Dale Rudick's tenure.

Sreerama holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering from Osmania University and a master's in earthquake engineering from the University of Roorkee. He received another master's degree in engineering from Cambridge University.

After moving to the US, Sreerama earned his Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla, followed by an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sreerama comes to the city from ESPA Corporation where he served as president and CEO.-PTI

Google to flag 'upsettingoffensive' content NEW YORK: Google is trying to improve the quality of its search results by directing review teams to flag content that might come across as upsetting or offensive.

With the change, content with racial slurs could now get flagged under a new category called ``upsetting-offensive.'' So could content that promotes hate or violence against a specific group of people based on gender, race or other criteria.

While flagging something

Search Engine Land and elsewhere.

The guidelines, which run 160 pages, are an interesting look into how Google ranks the quality of its search results. For instance, it gives examples of ``high-quality'' pages, such as the home page of a newspaper that has ``won seven Pulitzer Prize awards,'' and ``lowquality'' pages, such as an article that includes ``manyรกgrammar andรกpunctuation errors.''

The guidelines cite an example

doesn't directly affect the search results themselves, it's used to tweak the company's software so that better content ranks higher.

This approach might, for instance, push down content that is inaccurate or has other questionable attributes, thereby giving prominence to trustworthy sources.

The review teams - comprising contractors known as ``quality raters'' - already comb through websites and other content to flag questionable items such as pornography. Google added ``upsetting-offensive'' in its latest guidelines for quality raters. Google declined to comment on the changes, which were reported in the blog

of ``Holocaust history'' as a search query. A resulting website listing ``Top 10 reasons why the holocaust didn't happen'' would get flagged.

The new ``upsetting-offensive'' flag instructs quality raters to ``flag to all web results that contain upsetting or offensive content from the perspective of users in your locale, even if the result satisfies the user intent.'' So even if the results are what the person searched for, such as white supremacist websites, they could still get flagged. But it doesn't mean the results won't show up at all when someone searches for them.

-AP

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PM wants India to be diamond trading hub MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has exhorted the Indian diamond industry to aim at becoming an international trading centre and "preferred destination for manufacturing" rather than only a cutting and polishing hub.

"Our aim is to make India a preferred destination for (diamond) manufacturing. We are already a cutting and polishing hub. My intention is to make India an international diamond trading hub," Modi said, addressing golden jubilee celebration of Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council here through video-conference.

India has made rapid strides to become the world's largest manufacturer and exporter of cut and polished diamonds, the PM noted.

"From just USD 28 million in 1966-67, it has now reached USD 40 billion. Our aim is to transform India in one generation... Our aim is to make India a preferred destination for manufacturing," he said.

In the past 50 years, the Prime

Adani to start Aussie mine project by Aug MUMBAI: Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani is optimistic of starting his USD 22 billion Carmichael coal mine and portcum-railhead projects at Queensland in Australia, facing some opposition there, by August this year.

"We expect the final federal approvals by May or June. We need just about three months from thereon to actually begin the work on the mine. It means we can kickstart work from August this year," Adani told PTI in an interview.

He was accompanied by Queensland premier Anastasia Palaszczuk, who was in town leading a 25-member delegation of mayors and state officials after visiting the Mundra port and solar power farms of the Adanis in Gujarat.

Adani said he expects his coal mining in Australia to start by 2020.

The company has nearly halved the first phase of the mining project to 25 mt per annum from the original plan of 40 mt, he said.

The Adani group entered Australia in 2010 after purchasing the greenfield Carmichael coal mine in the Galilee Basin in the central Queensland and the Abbot Point port near Bowen in the north.-PTI

Minister said, the gems and jewellery sector has accounted for USD 475 billion of exports despite not having domestic production of either gold or diamond. By giving employment to over 4.6 million people, the industry is a major contributor to the government's

and polishing. We have a lot of unexplored potential," he said.

The Prime Minister said the industry needs to understand its market and work towards becoming a leader globally.

"Indian exports are importerled. The specification and designs are based on the specifications given by importers.

T h i s means that India is a follower of global fashion rather than a leader of global taste.

This does not do justice to our Prime Minister Narendra Modi rich experience and designs. To inskill India initiative, Modi said. fluence the global taste, our manu"Skill India initiative seeks to facturers need to have a thorough make sure that new attempts are knowledge of the market. The inmade to ensure that the workforce dustry needs to collectively study has the necessary skills to con- and understand the end user and tribute to the economy of the 21st what they want," he said. century. The gems and jewellery "E-commerce makes it easier to sector employs 4.6 million people, establish direct contact with endout of this, 1 million are in the dia- users. This is a golden opportumond industry alone. Thus the nity for our industry as it can think gems and jewellery sector is a of encouraging its start-ups by prime example of the potential of young entrepreneurs who can creMake-in-India and Skill India," ate a growing market from madeModi said. to order gems and jewellery," Modi "This sector has come a long said. way from where it was.

Assuring complete support to However, it is still far, far be- the industry regarding its grievhind where it should be. Our stron- ances, the Prime Minister said, gest area is diamond cutting and "My government will certainly polishing. In terms of the global consider any plan if the industry value, our market share is much gives specific and practical suglower than it should be. Our fu- gestions which are in the interest ture is much bigger than cutting of the country." -PTI

Telecom policy tilts in favor of industry Cont’d from page 35

BROADBAND ACCESS AND PRISON PHONE RATES Other efforts that were intended to address inequities, like the high cost of prison phone calls and broadband for lower-income people, are seen as endangered.

The agency refused to defend in court an FCC rule that capped rates for in-state calls made to

people in prison. And it has limited the availability of governmentsubsidized internet service for poorer Americans by pulling nine providers from a program called Lifeline.

The agency cited concerns about fraud and waste. The FCC says Lifeline still had dozens of companies offering discounted broadband as of December. The FCC may be open to reconsidering its decision. -AP

Tech Briefs Water's getting warmer than we thought W arming seas may be a bigger problem than suspected. A new study has refined the techniques used to estimate historical temperature trends of the oceans and the results make uncomfortable reading: warming is about 13 percent faster than previously thought, and has accelerated dramatically, al-

most doubling from 1960 to 1992.

Elsewhere, researchers are speculating that Arctic sea ice could disappear in the summer even if we manage to meet the Paris climate agreement aim of limiting warming to just 2 °C. If that happens, the results may be deeply troubling.

Increasing yields when sunshine fades

F

eeding 9 billion people is daunting-so what's the best way to continue raising crop yields? A new study shows that over a quarter of the increase in yields in the U.S. corn belt since the 1930s was down to solar brightening, a potentially pollution-driven phenomenon in which increased solar radiation

reaches the ground. Researchers warn that the effect could disappear with little notice, though, and a new UN report also argues that negative repercussions of widespread pesticide use aren't outweighed by benefits to food production.

GM plants may have to take up the baton.

Machines that learn to speak robot

L

eave machines to them selves, and they develop their own language. That's according to research by Igor Mordatch, from machine learning lab OpenAI, who has built a virtual world in which bots can learn how to communicate from scratch in order to perform tasks. Using a machine learn-

ing technique known as reinforcement learning, the bots use their language, along with trial and error, to achieve their goals, receiving rewards if they're correct. It's not the first time a bot-y language has evolved, but the phenomenon could help solve one of AI's big problems.

Stem cell treatment to cure sight

A

woman has become the first person successfully treated with induced pluripotent stem cells. Researchers took cells from her skin, turned them into stem cells, then coaxed them into becoming retinal cells, which were used to replace tissue damaged by age-related macular degeneration.

The treatment didn't improve her vision, but did stop the condition from deteriorating. It's a milestone for the technique, but reservations remain about stem cell treatments: they're expensive, may introduce cancercausing mutations, and are plagued by clinics offering unproven therapies

-MIT Technology Review

Horoscope

38 India Post

March 24, 2017

www.indiapost.com

The stationary transit of Rahu and Ketu is in effect till April 2017, Sudden setbacks, obstructions are likely.

Drive safely.

Be patience.

March 24th - March 30th 2017 Please send your birthday, place of birth and time, so I can give you your zodiac sign, according to Vedic astrology. Send to Jaysastrology@gmail.com

T

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he professional matters look better. Some of you may have to move in connection with the job. The due promotion/recognition may be delayed. Some additional income is likely. Take care of the health of your family, get regular check up. It is better to avoid haste and conflicts. Avoid unnecessary driving. Patience is the Mantra for you up to October 2017.

he professional matters look better. Some of you may get promotion/recognition. Some additional income is likely. Relationship matters is up and down. Can invest in real estate spend time and have fun with siblings. Highly placed friends can help in your status. Can start new business or romance venture.

Can even have short travel.

Some may travel to religious place.

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he concerns continue in job/profession. Time continues to be difficult. Take due care. Handle relationship matters with patience.Child needs extra care and help. Emotional stress is likely. It is better to avoid unnecessary driving. Take care of your health. Romance wise is ok go with the flow. Avoid new ventures put them on hold.

Setback in income is seen.

rofessional matters look good. Work hard you will get noticed. Incidence of conflicts due to your aggressive behaviour., causing disagreement in relationship.

Manage conflicts with patience. Silence is golden.

Handle relationship matters with patience. Avoid new ventures and manipulations.

Child may need help. Some disputes may arise in inheritance matters.

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he professional matters need care, focus on your job. The promotion is likely to be delayed. Some additional expenses are likely.

Take care of your health if physical check is due get it done. Do not breed disputes.Those who are looking for marriage may get some proposal. Explore them with patience.It is better to avoid new ventures upto October, 2017.

he professional matters need care. You have to be careful in the matter of status, driving and relationships.

New opportunities should be put on hold as sudden setback and delays are there.

Some may travel to foreign land for status but take care.

Take care of health of father.

Increase in spending in real estate may benefit in long run. Stay calm and patience with spouse.

he profession and relationships matters may develop concerns. Excercise patience in dealing with obstructions. Put new ventures and new relationships on hold.

Some income is likely. The chances of success also become doubtful. Strengthen your birth planets through a Special Power Kavach as transit weakness of planets can bring sudden mishaps. Avoid color white and grey.

he professional matters look ok. Do not be aggressive. It is better to stay away from conflicts. Child may need help, focus on them. Some additional expenses are likely.The prolonged transit planetary influences caused by Rahu/Ketu are difficult for those whose ascending degree is around 9 or some planet is around 9 degree in odd signs up to 15th of April, 2017.

T

T

T

T

T

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he professional matters look better.Some easy gains are likely. Work with patience and caution. Avoid manipulations and avoid conflicts at all levels.The new ventures should be kept pending.

The health of family may cause concerns, get regular physical check up. The week may involve some additional expenses.Avoid haste, conflicts, unnecessary expenses and driving/travel.

he professional matters need careful handling, Problems at work please no conflicts Some additional income is likely. Friends may be helpful. Some new opportunities may also come up.

Avoid speculation, don't gamble or play stock market. Always invest in safe assets. The child may bring some good news, praise them. Chances for romantic activity.

he professional matters need care. Handle relationship matters with care.

Obstructions are likely in the sources of income. Manage obstructions with patience.

Avoid manipulations and driving. You are vulnerable to health problems please see doctor and get check if required. Strengthen your birth planets through a Special Power Kavach as transit weakness of planets.

he professional matters need care, focus on your work and avoid conflicts.

Some unexpected gains are likely. Avoid unnecessary journey. Some additional expenses and health concerns are likely. Manage things with patience and avoid conflicts in job. Take care of your health and get regular check up. Avoid conflicts unnecessary spending.Can face litigation problems.

This weekly horoscope is more focused and accurate as these are based on ascending signs. The ascending sign is worked out on the basis of your date, time and place of birth. You will find the predictions at other places based on your Sun sign or Moon sign. The Sun remains in one sign of zodiac for one month whereas the Moon remains in one sign for about 54 hours. It is the ascending sign, which changes every couple of hours." That is how this site offers you more focused predictions.

JATIN P - ACHARYA MIHIR • JAYSASTROLOGY@GMAIL.COM • 630-675-7148

Datebook

March 24, 2017

India Post 39

www.indiapost.com

NEW JERSEY Upcoming

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Fri, Mar 24 • Jayanthi Raman presents “Duality – A Dance Drama”

Sat, Apr 01 • Movie On Stage – The Magic Of Flavors

Venue: Santa Clara Convention Center,

Venue: Santa Clara Convention Center

5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara,

Theater, 5001 Great America Parkway,

Fri, Mar 24 • Mardi Gras With Tanushree Dutta In New Jersey

Fri, Mar 31 • Testing Additonal Options(% of order value)

Venue: Royal Alberts Palace, 1050 King Georges Post Road, Edison, NJ 08837 Time: 07:30 pm

Venue: Tester Venue, 123 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036 Time : 01:00 pm

Sat, Apr 01 • IndiaFair - Nj Convention & Expo Center Venue: NJ Convention & Expo Center, 97,Sunfield Ave, Raritan Center, NJ 08837 Time: 11:00 am

CA 95054

Sat, Apr 08 • Swayamvar- Indian & South Asians Singles Event

Time: 08:00 pm

Venue: Nirvana, 346 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Time : 05:00 pm

Sat, Mar 25 • Saratoga Hindu

Contact: 4085799426

Venue: Saratoga Community Center, 19655

Sat, Apr 08 • Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Remembering Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

Sun, Apr 09 • Gujarati Comedy Play "The Waiting Room"

Allendale Ave, Saratoga, CA 95070

Venue: New Jersey Performing Arts Center, 1 Center Street, Newark, NJ 07102 Time: 07:30 pm

Venue: North Brunswick High School, 98 Raider Road, North Brunswick, NJ 08902 Time : 05:00 pm

Sat, Apr 01 • SIFA Presents Music Maestro Vidwan T.M.Krishna

Time: 06:00 pm

Venue: Carrington Hall, Sequoia high school, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062 Time: 03:30 pm

Sat, Apr 08 • Katha Kacheri Smt. Suchitra Balasubramanian

CHICAGO

Santa Clara, CA 95054 Time: 1:00 pm

Sat, Apr 08 • Devotional Songs Nada Sudha School of Music Venue: CET Auditorium, 701, Vine Street, San Jose, CA 95110 Time: 08:15 pm

ATLANTA Upcoming Sat, Mar 25 • Bollywood Beats 2017 Venue: North Gwinnett High School Auditorium, 20 Level Creek Road, Suwanee, GA 30024 Time: 04:30 pm

Venue: CET Auditorium, 701, Vine Street,

Fri, Apr 07 • Arijit Singh Live Concert Atlanta GA - First Time Ever!

San Jose, CA 95110

Venue: Infinite Energy Arena, 6400

Time: 11:00 am

Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, GA 30097 Time: 09:00 pm

Sun, Apr 08 • Bollywood Euphoria Glow Party Venue: Miami Beach Nightclub, 417 South 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113 Time: 10:30 pm

Sat, Apr 08 • Radha Mangeshkar Hrishikesh Ranade Venue: Berkmar High School Auditorium, 405 Pleasant Hill Road, Lilburn, GA Time: 07:00 pm

ILLINOIS Upcoming 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: 773-465-3105

Swami Ishatmananda • Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662

• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822

40 India Post

O

ne among the most demanded hill stations in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Dalhousie is very popular for its scenic beauty and pleasant climate.

This fast emerging hilly destination offers a pleasant holiday amidst calm and serene surroundings. A popular sanatorium during the time of British rule, this hill station owes much to its founder Lord Dalhousie for its fame and glory. Nestled in the lap of the Himalayan mountain range, this hill station is placed at an average height of 8000 feet.

www.indiapost.com

An astounding hill station, Dalhousie is abuzz with its old charm and embraces enduring ricochets of the 'British Raj'. One among the favorite places of the British, this hilly terrain houses a large number of Victorian style mansions, which proudly testi-

March 24, 2017

fies its former grandeur.

Spread over an area of 14 sq km, Dalhousie is built on five hills, which offers a pleasant trekking experience to beginners as well as serious trekkers. This picturesque spot is a tiny hospice, which lies at the base of the Dhauladhar mountain range. The sce-

nic valley offers impressive views of hills ending in the flurry of mountains and verdant valleys. Its majestic rivers that twirl and spin amidst the lush dense woods of the plains makes for a picturesque sight.

When in Dalhousie, tourists should also include Manali in the tour package.

Apart from being an alluring picnic spot, Dalhousie provides excellent shopping delights at the Mall Road where all the activities of the town are centered. A shoppers delight, it offers a great time for the shopping buffs. Apart from these, the interlacing lanes of this magnificent hill resort are a perfect location for promenades and sight seeing.

Cont’d on page 42

March 24, 2017

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post 41

www.indiapost.com

US govt says new travel ban 'different' SEATTLE: President Donald Trump's revised travel ban is ``substantially different'' from the original and a judge shouldn't apply a previous restraining order to the new version, federal lawyers said in a court filing.

Justice Department lawyers filed the documents in U.S. District Court in Seattle, two days be-

fore the executive order is set to go into effect.

Washington and several other states are trying to block the revised ban that affects six mostly Muslim nations, saying it's unconstitutional.

Government lawyers say the new version removed provisions that ``purportedly drew religious

President Donald Trump’s revised travel ban is “substantially different” from the original and a judge shouldn’t apply a previous restraining order to the new version, federal lawyers said in a court filing.

distinctions - erasing any doubt that national security, not religion, is the focus.''

They made their filings with Judge James Robart, who blocked the original ban last month. Washington State wants him to apply that decision to the new order.

Trump's revised ban applies to Somalia, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Yemen and temporarily shuts down the U.S. refugee program.

Unlike the original order, it says people with visas won't be affected and removes language that would have given priority to religious minorities for entry to the U.S. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, joined in his lawsuit by heavily Democratic California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Oregon, said the revised ban is still flawed and harms residents, universities and businesses, especially tech companies such as Washington statebased Microsoft and Amazon that rely on foreign workers.

Lawyers for New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities filed documents with the court supporting Washington State's lawsuit. AP

AirAsia announces discount on travel NEW DELHI: Malaysian nofrills carrier AirAsia has announced discounted fares, starting as low as Rs 899 for travel within India and Rs 4,999 for international flights for a limited period.

The special low fare offer is applicable for all the flights operated by AirAsia, including AirAsia India, AirAsia Berhad, Thai AirAsia and AirAsia X. The tickets under the offer can be booked from March 13 to March 19, for travel between September 1, 2017 and June 5, 2018, the AirAsia said in a release.

The promotional all-inclusive fares start from Rs 899 on domestic destinations such as

Bengaluru, Kochi, Goa, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Pune, New Delhi, Guwahati, Imphal, Vizag, Hyderabad, Srinagar and Bagdogra connected by AirAsia India, it said.

For international travel, custom-

ers can choose from destinations such as Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore, Bali, Melbourne and many more for an

all-in return fare starting at as low as Rs 4,999, the airline said.

The recently launched Bhubaneswar-Kuala Lumpur route, which is being operated by AirAsia Berhad, is also a part of the sale offer, the release said.

AirAsia group's services network connects over 120 destinations across Asia and Australia, the release said. -PTI

Travel ban is against welcoming spirit: Hawaii HONOLULU: Hawaii's white sand beaches, towering volcanoes and relaxing tropical vistas attract millions of visitors annually from around the globe.

But the announcement of

ber of visitors coming to the state.

He says there are already reports of people canceling travel to the U.S. due to the ban.

Some tourism experts say the

people relax on the beach in Waikiki in Honolulu. Hawaii has filed a lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's revised travel ban, saying the executive order could harm the state's strong tourist economy

President Donald Trump's second travel ban has stoked fears that tourism, the state's main economic driver, could take a hit.

In a lawsuit Hawaii filed against the ban, state Attorney General Doug Chin said the ban would harm Hawaii by reducing the num-

impact will be minimal, because few people travel from the countries impacted by the travel ban to Hawaii.

Others say the ban goes against the state's welcoming aloha spirit and could lead people to stay away. -AP

15 lakh visited India on e-tourist visa NEW DELHI: More than 15 lakh tourists have visited the country

sight-seeing, casual visits to meet friends or relatives and attending short-term yoga programs.

The facility is available for 161 countries, he said.

The visa policy is reviewed from time to time to facilitate legitimate foreign travelers, subject to underlying considerations of reciprocity, security and national interest, the minister added. -PTI

so far availing the popular e-tourist visa, the Rajya Sabha was informed.

Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju told the Upper House that more than 15 lakh e-tourist visas have been issued till 2016 since the introduction of the policy in November 2014.

He said the government had introduced the e-tourist visa policy to foreign nationals to underMinister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju take recreation,

42 India Post

Travel & Hospitality Post

March 24, 2017

www.indiapost.com

Cont’d from page 40

A charming location at a height of 9000 feet, Dalhousie is blessed with outstanding attractions and its salubrious weather with moderate accommodation facilities makes it a thriving tourist center of modern times.

Tourist Attractions

Bhuri Singh Museum: Officially started in 1908, the Bhuri Singh Museum at Chamba is named after the illustrious King Raja Bhuri, who donated his family compilation of paintings to the museum. The inscription in Sarda scripts that are exhibited in the museum give vital information on the medieval times of Chamba.

Rang Mahal: Located in Surara Mohalla, Rang Mahal was founded by Raja Umed Singh.

Once the abode of a division of the ruling reign this wonderful palace displays a perfect mixture of British and Mughal style architecture. The walls of this 18th century monument are wizened with fine exemplars of Punjab hill style wall paintings, which portray the life of Lord Krishna.

Subhash Baoli: Subhash Baoli is a perennial spring, named after the famous freedom fighter Subhash Chandra Bose, who came

here to regain his failing health in the year 1937. He is said to have lived in Dalhousie for 7 months and was rejuvenated by the medicated water of this spring.

Central Park: One among the imperative attractions of Chamba is the magnificent Central Park which provides panoramic views of the entire hill station. A verdant field, which is the jamboree of all

the activities in the town, Central Park is the largest crowd puller in the city in recent years. This fabulous spot, on the banks of River Ravi is also known as Chaugan.

The most remarkable construction in this place is the Gandhi gate that

immortalizes Lord Curzon's visit to Chamba.

Dainkund Peak: Situated at an altitude of 2755 meters and 10 km from Dalhousie, Dainkund is the highest mountain in Dalhousie providing perfect scenery of the whole valley. Trekking is the most common way to reach the peak and is an amazing experience, with great views and fresh mountain air.

Khajjiar Lake: The Khajjiar Lake is one of the prime attractions of Khajjiar, located around 20 kms from Dalhousie.

This perennial lake is fed by small streams and is panoramically situated amidst the cedar forests and hills.

The lake is located at a height of 1950 mt above sea level and is ideal for picnicking.

Panch Pulla: Literally meaning five bridges, Panch Pula, is a scenic place with pictorial beauty. Located 2 km from Dalhousie, it can be easily reached on foot. Famed for its gushing streams, it is the main source of potable water to the nearby towns. The brook bounces from Dain Kund and falls down into a quaint abyss and then finally reaches the waterworks of

Panch Pulla.

Satdhara Falls: Satdhara in Dalhousie is an offbeat tourist spot amidst enthralling scenery and a refreshing stream of rivu-

rides can only be enjoyed during the summer season. This is the best way to explore the scenic environs around the lake.

lets. Stationed on the way to Panch Pulla, it is a spectacular tourist destination with lush green sur-

Best time to visit Dalhousie has pleasant climate making it tourist friendl through-

rounding and pleasing climatic conditions.

Kalatop Wildlife Sanctuary: A tiny city renowned for its wildlife sanctuary, Kalatop is blessed with natural flora and fauna. Dense woody Deodar forest houses a natural habitat for many estranged species of the animal kingdom. The dense forests make the sighting of animals quite rare. Apart from the wide range of fauna, this sanctuary also has a large flock of birds, which make it a delight for ornithologists.

Horse Riding: Horse riding is one of the most common means of travel in Khajjiar. Pony and horse

out the year.

How to reach

By Train: Nearest railhead is Pathankot (80 km) which is well connected to various cities in India, including Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar.

By Air: Nearest airports are Pathankot (80 km) and Jammu (180 km). Pathankot is connected to Delhi only, while Jammu has more frequent air services to Delhi and other destinations in North India.

By Bus: Bus services by public transport system are available connecting the towns in and around Dalhousie.

March 24, 2017

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

43

www.indiapost.com

Miami beach strip gets glamorous makeover MIAMI BEACH, Fla.: The beachfront Faena Hotel has a lobby lavish enough to greet a pharaoh, with blinding sunlight bouncing off oversized gilded columns. In the distance, a golden sculpture of a mammoth's skeleton is framed by palm trees, the aqua blue sky and gleaming Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel is the centerpiece of Faena District, a once-neglected strip of Miami Beach where decaying structures and empty lots have given way to opulent hotels, condos and a performing arts center.

The $1 billion project, which began in 2013, was developed by Argentine hotel magnate Alan Faena in partnership with billionaire Len Blavatnik. The cluster of buildings is located 2 miles north of South Beach, on a narrow strip of land between a waterway and the ocean.

The 169-room Faena Hotel maintains the Art Deco structure of the original Saxony Hotel, built on the site in 1947, but Faena's over-thetop renovation combines Belle Epoque splendor with tropical flair.

Faena hired everyone from a Hol-

lywood director to a Mexican shaman to contribute to the hotel's ambience. Elements include tiger sculptures, golden palm tree lamps and red roses.

Faena assigned the hotel's interior decor to Baz Luhrmann, director of ``Moulin Rouge'' and ``The Great Gatsby,'' and costume designer Catherine Martin. ``For me, this is like cinema. Here I come to offer my heart and tell my story,'' said Faena, a former fashion designer, in an interview from his trailer studio.

He tapped the Argentine painter Juan Gatti to fill the hotel with mosaics of marine life and exuberant murals with flamingos, peacocks and tigers. The artwork is intended to depict the impressions of the first explorers to reach Florida.

And he wanted the spa to be a Latin American experience, so he recruited a Mexican shaman for rituals, and imported indigenous ingredients from the Amazon for treatments. ``The architecture, design, art, culture it all allows me to have this place to raise people up, so that

serving the name of the site's original hotel, which had fallen in disrepair. ``I like places that are forgotten because you can listen to them and listen to what they have to tell you,'' Faena says.

It's not the first time abandoned sites have inspired Faena.

He started his partnership with Blavatnik developing an abandoned pier in Buenos Aires and turning old mills and warehouses into skyscrapers and luxury hotels and apartments. In Argentina's Puerto Madero, away from the historic center, the construction straddled seven city blocks and has become a cultural hub in the capital city.

A unicorn sculpture by artist Damien Hirst is displayed in the Pao by Paul Qui restaurant in In Miami Beach, Faena the Faena Hotel in Miami Beach, Fla. Forum, the events venue, at Casa Faena, a Spanish beach opened in time for the prestigious guesthouse with 50 rooms, tall ceil- Art Basel last November. The ings, skylights and stained glass white building is a 43,000-squarewindows. The name Claridge can foot structure of an asymmetrical be seen in the casa's facade, pre- cube embracing a cylinder, inspired by Rome's Pantheon. The center features a dome with an oculus and an amphitheater of pink marble expected to house concerts and seminars.

Charles Bohl, head of University of Miami's graduate program people come here and feel somehow happier,'' Faena said.

Rooms start at $745. Less expensive lodging is offered nearby

Macao sees healthy growth in Indian tourists MACAO: Having hosted nearly two lakh Indian visitors last year, Macao is expected to see a continued growth in tourism from the subcontinent over the next year.

An autonomous region located on the south coast of China, Macao is best known for its entertaining night life, besides its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which offers a rich mix of

Chinese and European architecture and culture.

"We expect the year to be positive for the Indian market. The effect of demonetization is already settling in and we expect the summer season to pick up for the travel

industry and for Macao," Arzan Kharbanda, Head of Macao Government Tourism Office in India, told PTI here.

In 2016, Macao hosted 1,65,280 Indian visitors.

Arzan said the region which is known as the Las Vegas of Asia owing to its flourishing gambling industry, is being promoted as an all year round destination for lei-

sure, family and entertainment.

"As a destination, Macao promises various offerings right from sightseeing, shows and entertainment, festivities to shopping all year round," he said.

According to him, a growing

affluent population in India makes it one of the potential international markets of Macao tourism, which currently receives the maximum number of foreign tourists from China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan because of the proximity.

"Besides the big cities, we also see a huge potential in the smaller cities in India. In 2016, we penetrated into the tier II cities as part of our strategy by participating in exhibitions and sales visits.

"Indians love exploring the history and culture of Macao and its rich heritage including temples, gardens, fortresses and museums, are a major source of attraction for them," he said.

Museums like Natural and Agrarian Museum, Grand Prix Museum, Museum of Sacred Art and Crypt, Museum of Taipa and Coloane History, Macao Wine Museum, Macao Science Centre among others are extremely popular with Indian tourists, Arzan said.

"Best known as the city of blended cultures, Macao is a mecca of leisure and glitz. It also has cultural attractions like A-Ma Temple, Moorish Barracks, Ruins of St Pauls, The Friendship Bridge and Macao tower," he said. -PTI

in real estate development and urbanism, says he'd like to see more done to make the area pedestrianfriendly. But Bohl said the district contributes greatly to developing arts and culture in Miami Beach, which attracts most of the 15 million tourists Miami sees every year. ``The developers brought a vision that has created a unique environment,'' Bohl said. ``It's one of the places everyone wants to hold events in.''

It has attracted celebrity visitors such as Madonna, Leonardo DiCaprio and Ariana Grande.

On a recent evening, visitors lined up outside restaurants while others sipped martinis and wine on a deck cooled by the ocean breeze.

At the hotel theater, the cabaret-style show ``C'est Rouge'' drew an audience of couples and friends, some dressed in shimmering cocktail gowns. They watched acrobats and trapeze artists, followed by musicians doing numbers like Gloria Estefan's ``Conga'' and the Spanish version of ``Love Me With All of Your Heart.''

One spectator, Alexandria Corral, an event planner, brought two friends from out of town to celebrate her 25th birthday. ``Of everything else I've seen, this would be the fanciest place.

It tops everything else that Miami Beach has to offer,'' she said.

-AP

Big rise in visitors to Saratoga Park STILLWATER, N.Y.: The Saratoga National Historical Park saw a nearly 60-percent increase in the number of visitors last year.

Officials at the park in Stillwater say more than 102,000 people vis-

in people turning out for various programs, living history events, hiking and cycling, and tours of the property's historic sites.

The park is located where the Revolutionary War's Battles of

Park Ranger Joe Craig, in Colonial garb, drills Broadalbin-Perth fourth graders in "musket" handling during their field trip to Saratoga National Historical Park on in Stillwater, N.Y.

ited the park during 2016, the National Park Service's 100th anniversary year. That's a 58-percent increase in visitors during 2015.

The park, also known as the Saratoga Battlefield, saw a boost

Saratoga were fought during September and October 1777. The American victory over the British at Saratoga is considered by many historians to be the major turning point of the war. -AP

Realty Tidbits

Gurgaon corpn takes over 142-acre land GURGAON: Days after the Haryana government said the alleged transfer of 464 acres land in Gwal Pahari village here will be probed into, Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon has taken possession of 142-acre land in the village.

The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) team also installed boards indicating possession at 34 sites, an official spokesman said, adding the drive was carried out peacefully.

Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Sohna, Satish Yadav, had been appointed as the Overall Duty Magistrate of the drive, he said.

He said the team of corporation officials and 300 police personnel, under the supervision of Corporation Joint Commissioner Y S Gupta carried out the drive in Gwal Pahari village from 10.30 AM to 6.30 PM. As many as 10 earth moving machines, four drill machines, two fire tenders and two ambulances were pressed into service during the drive.

Cont’d on page 46

Sioux Falls group to revitalize homes SIOUX FALLS, SD: Homes in Sioux Falls' oldest neighborhoods are getting a face-lift thanks to growing commitments from City Hall and a local nonprofit builder.

The Argus Leader reports Affordable Housing Solutions plans to rebuild 10 homes this construction season, many of which are located along the blocks surrounding downtown.

It's a more ambitious target than ever before for the organization, which takes problem properties and injects them with new life, selling a newly built house to low-income families. ``You're able to leverage both neighborhood revitalization dollars and affordable housing dollars,'' said Wayne Wagner, housing development director for Affordable Housing Solutions.

The nonprofit revitalized three homes when Wagner first started in 2014 and has since steadily increased its yearly workload. This summer, Affordable Housing Solutions is tearing down old homes and putting in newly built replacements in the Pettigrew Heights, Cathedral and Whittier neighborhoods.

The group acts as a good neighbor, and plays an important role in addressing some of the blighted properties in the area, said Lura Roti, who lives in the Cathedral Historic District.

Cont’d on page 46

Real Estate 44 India Post

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March 24, 2017

ED attaches Rs 64 cr assets in Delhi hotel NEW DELHI: The ED has attached assets worth Rs 64.70 crore, invested in a luxury hotel based here, in connection with its money laundering probe against a real estate firm and others.

The agency, in a statement, said it has provisionally attached "holding of Ms Divine Infracon Private Limited to the extent of Rs 64.70 crore in a hotel property... managed by Radisson Blu. Cont’d on page 45

Luxury flats debut at Trestle at Wallis Ranch as models open for touring India Post News Service

DUBLIN, CA: On Saturday March 25 at Trestle at Wallis Ranch, Warmington Residential will introduce three brand new model homes, marking a milestone within this award-winning master planned community in Dublin. According to a Press release by Warmington Residential, this is the eighth, and final, new neighborhood to debut in Wallis Ranch. The first to offer a collection of attached luxury flats and courtyard-style attached homes for attainable prices that begin from the low $800,000's.

The press release says that to celebrate the model grand opening and much-anticipated introduction of Trestle, Warmington is hosting light refreshments from Panera Bread from 10 a.m. to noon, or while the goodies last. The first 50 visitors who register at the sales office will be entered to win a $100 Pottery Barn gift card.

"We are celebrating because the introduction of Trestle is a big deal for prospective new buyers in the Tri-Valley looking for an entry-level home in Wallis Ranch," said Ann Marie Olson, a Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Warmington Residential. "There is nothing quite like it in Wallis Ranch

among the seven existing neighborhoods. For that reason, we are confident in saying that if you haven't seen Trestle, you haven't see Wallis Ranch! You've got to see these homes."

Trestle's collection of luxury flats and courtyard style homes offer spacious living areas that span 1,852 to 2,206 square feet with 3 and 4 bedrooms, up to 3.5 bath-

All plans are very well appointed and include many highend standard features like stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, oversized tile floors with Craftsman-style baseboards in kitchen, entryways, bathrooms, and laundry room. They also include the Nexia™ Home Intelligence system that allows you to control and monitor your home

rooms and attached two-space garages. These homes incorporate beautiful private courtyards and relaxing indoor/outdoor spaces like decks and porches, per plan.

The luxury flat-style plan lives as a single story home with all main living areas on one level including a loft; the courtyard style homes live as a traditional twostory residences and include a private side courtyard.

and its systems from your phone or tablet.

The press release said that Trestle has the advantage of being conveniently located just steps from Kindred House, the heart of the community and its recreational hub. Here, residents enjoy year-round access to the pool and spa, fitness center, covered dining area and kitchen, community gardens, playground, fire pits

and yoga lawn.

Wallis Ranch, is a resort- and recreation-oriented masterplanned community with welcoming entry gates that is surrounded by rolling hillsides and two public parks that are planned for just outside its gates. Since celebrating its grand opening about a year ago, it has already won several awards including "2017 Community of the Year" by the National Association of Home Builders.

It says, "This family-friendly community is surrounded by natural elements, recreational opportunities and excellent schools within the Dublin Unified School District.

Dublin is a convenient home base because commuting from here to the greater Bay Area is easy via with BART and the ACE Train.

They both have stations just minutes away and a bus stop that goes to the Dublin-Pleasanton BART station set just outside the entrance to Wallis Ranch."

To view floorplans and photos, visit homesbywarmington.com/ trestle. The sales office is open daily until 6 p.m. For assistance call (925) 560-8595.

Wallis Ranch is located off of Tassajara Rd., approximately 2 miles from 580 at 4199 Wallis Ranch Drive, Dublin, CA 94568.

Parliament passes Enemy Property Bill NEW DELHI: Successors of those who migrated to Pakistan and China during partition will have no claim over the properties left behind in India, with Parliament passing a bill to amend a 49-year-old law.

The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, which amends the Enemy Property Act, 1968, was passed by voice vote in the Lok Sabha, incorporating the amendments made by the Rajya Sabha last week.

The Lok Sabha had passed the bill earlier but certain amendments were introduced to it in the Rajya Sabha, on the recommendations of a Select Committee.

Those amendments had to be approved by the Lower House, which has now been done.

RSP member N K Premachandran had moved a statutory amendment seeking to introduce clarity with regard to those properties which had already been acquired by the heirs of the 'enemy' property owners, a reference to nationals of Pakistan and China.

According to the bill, "Enemy property" refers to any property

belonging to, held or managed on behalf of an enemy, an enemy subject or an enemy firm.

The government has vested these properties in the Custodian of Enemy Property for India, an office instituted under the central government.

After the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965, the Enemy Property Act was enacted in 1968, which regulates such properties and lists the Custodian's powers.

"The purpose of bill is to clarify the 1968 Act.

Inheritance law will not be applicable on Enemy Property...This will put an end to the long pending issue which should have ideally happened in 2010 when the Bill was introduced," Home Minister Rajnath Singh said while replying to a brief debate on the bill.

The government brought the amendment bill in the wake of a claim laid by the heirs of Raja Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan, known as Raja of Mahmudabad, on his properties spread across Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The matter is before the Supreme Court.

Cont’d on page 45

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March 24, 2017

India Post 45

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Parliament passes Enemy Property Bill Cont’d from page 44

Justifying the move to amend the Act, Singh rejected the contention of some MPs that it was against the principle of natural justice and amounted to human rights violations.

"I wonder how it is against the principle of natural justice. Pakistan has seized the properties of Indian citizens... It will be natural justice if their property (of those who migrated to Pakistan) is not returned," he said.

The Minister assured the House that there will be no human rights violations following the amendments as the rights if Indian citizens are not being taken away.

"The law only applies on heirs of enemy property... The tenants of those properties will be governed by the Tenancy Act," he said. .

The amendments will be effective retrospectively. Some members expressed concern over this provision, saying there could be litigations.

"Parliament and state legislatures have the power to formulate law... I do not see any adverse impact of retrospective amendment.

As and when the situation arises, we will deal with it," the Home Minister said.

He also cited various Supreme Court rulings to allay concerns on this aspect.

An Ordinance to amend the law

was promulgated for the fifth time on December 22 last year and it was due to lapse. An ordinance lapses after 42 days from the day a session begins unless a bill to replace it is approved by Parliament.

Singh said the bill could not be taken up for consideration in the first phase of the Budget session between January 31 and February

be identified, those will also be identified...It is a continuous process," he added.

He underlined that a tenant will be unaffected by the new law even though Tenancy laws will apply.

On the claim laid on Raja Mahmudabad's properties by his heirs, Singh said they have no claim. He said the Standing Committee of Parliament had strongly

"I wonder how it is against the principle of natural justice. Pakistan has seized the properties of Indian citizens... It will be natural justice if their property (of those who migrated to Pakistan) is not returned," he said.

9 and it was necessary that it was passed.

"Our government is not in favor of bringing an ordinance again and again. It was in public interest that the President had to promulgate the ordinance for the fifth time," he said.

The ordinance was for the first time promulgated on January 7, 2016. It was passed by Lok Sabha on March 9, 2016, but was subsequently referred to Rajya Sabha Select Committee.

The Home Minister said the 'enemy' properties are worth thousands of crores of Rupees and that all such assets have been identified. "If any properties remain to

felt that 'enemy property' should not go to those who have migrated to Pakistan.

Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury opposed the provision to implement the legislation with retrospective effect and wondered what would be its ramifications.

While observing that new definitions of patriotism are coming up which is a "sad thing", he claimed that the bill would have adverse financial impact on the people, especially Muslims.

He urged the government to dispel the concerns regarding the bill.

He remarked that it was unprec-

ED attaches Rs 64 cr assets in Delhi hotel Cont’d from page 44

“It added that "Sant Lal Aggarwal and Satish Kumar Pawa are the key persons and main beneficiaries of money laundering amounting Rs 64.70 crore."

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a criminal case last month under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on a charge sheet filed by

through mediators and converting the same into share premium transactions in the beneficiary company".

The agency said its "investigations conducted so far have revealed that Jain brothers, Surendra Kumar Jain and Virendra Kumar Jain besides others laundered unaccounted money of Ms Jagat Projects Private Limited amounting to Rs 64.70 crore.

They provided "accommodation entries by accepting funds from their beneficiaries through mediators and converting the same into share premium transactions in the beneficiary company.” the Serious Fraud Investigation Office against certain individuals and firms "for providing accommodation entries by accepting funds from their beneficiaries

"They with the help of mediators laundered the unaccounted money through the process of placement of funds, layering of transactions and the final integra-

tion of laundering money into the banking channel camouflaged as legitimate share premium transactions," it said.

It said they provided "accommodation entries by accepting funds from their beneficiaries through mediators and converting the same into share premium transactions in the beneficiary company.

"In this process, Jain brothers earned commission as a certain percentage of the unaccounted money converted into share premium. This laundered money was invested in the above hotel (Radisson Blu), which was constructed by Ms Divine Infracon Private Limited, a sister concern of Ms Jagat Project Limited."

An attachment under PMLA is aimed to deprive the accused from obtaining benefits of their ill-gotten wealth and such an order can be appealed before the adjudicating authority of the said Act within 180 days.-PTI

edented that a government had promulgated five ordinances for a bill.

Taking a dig at the government for bringing five ordinances, TMC member Saugata Roy said, "if this is not ordinance raj, then I don't know what ordinance raj is".

There are many properties in Lucknow which were owned by the Raja of Mahmudabad, who after partition moved to Pakistan, he said, adding "If there is an eviction from such properties, then there would be a tremendous civil turmoil in Lucknow."

He also expressed concern that Lok Sabha members were deprived of their chance to give their input on the bill as he noted that it had earlier been referred to the Rajya Sabha Select Committee.

No ordinance has been promulgated five times on a bill and such moves reflect bad governance, N K Premachandran (RSP) said, adding that ordinances are brought only in compelling circumstances.

On the provision to implement the law retrospectively, he asked the government how it can take away the rights accrued by people since 1968, when the original law was brought into force.

The government has made structural change in the definition of "enemy" under the Bill, he added.

BJP member insisted that the bill was in the nation's interest and said it would help in saving such

properties from the land mafia.

Enemy properties are estimated to be worth over Rs 1 lakh crore and if this legislation is not brought, then those would be lost, he noted.

Mohammed Salim (CPM) said the provision in the bill whereby people cannot go to lower courts would impact the poor as going to High Court would be expensive.

With these kinds of properties, there would have been corruption and loot. The government should look into it, he added.

Shiv Sena member Arvind Sawant said the bill would help plug the legal loopholes.

However, Sawant, whose party is an ally of the ruling BJP, sounded skeptical about the government issuing ordinances on the matter, saying that even the President of India had expressed reservations on ordinances.

Welcoming the bill, Rajmohan Reddy (YSR Congress) said the proceeds from enemy property, estimated to be worth over Rs 1 lakh crore, should be used for welfare activities.

Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) said more discussions were needed on certain provisions of the bill and added that people should get natural justice.

Thota Narasimham (TDP), Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and Kaushalendra Kumar (JD-U) also spoke. -PTI

Jammu, Faridabad stations to be redeveloped NEW DELHI: Seven major real estate players have shown keen interest in developing Jammu and Faridabad railway stations as iconic landmarks with world class facilities for passengers.

Construction of hotels, eateries, parking lots are part of the redevelopment plan for Jammu station while opening of malls, restaurants, and multiplex are being considered at Faridabad station.

Jammu has great potential for more hotel rooms to cater to the growing demand of ever increasing pilgrims coming to visit Vaishno Devi shrine.

According to the plan, the selected developers are expected to pay railways about Rs 75 crore for Jammu and Rs 70 crore for Faridabad.

Railways has offered 23 stations including Jammu and Faridabad stations to be redeveloped with private participation in the first phase.

There are a total of 407 stations

on offer for private players in the mega redevelopment plan.

Habibagunj and Gandhinagar stations have already been handed over for redevelopment.

"Representatives of seven developers participated in the pre-

Jammu has great potential for more hotel rooms to cater to the growing demand of ever increasing pilgrims coming to visit Vaishno Devi shrine. bid conference here. They had some queries which was addressed in the meeting," said a senior Northern Railway official.

Bids for the two stations will open on May 17 this year. The selected developers will get lease of stations for 45 years after bagging the contract.-PTI

Real Estate Post

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Spring has sprungin nation's housing market JONATHAN SMOKE

M

uch of the country is looking at one more very big bite of winter before spring officially begins, but for the residential real estate market, spring is already underway-and new home buyers are sprouting everywhere.

Job creation so far this year is 30% stronger than in the same period last year. Unemployment is close to a low of more than nine years. Wages and income are also starting to pick up to growth levels we haven't seen since 2009.

And with more money in their bank accounts, consumers are feel-

ing a boost in confidence that leads to big purchases ‌ like homes!

This year's economic growth gives them another reason to buy sooner rather than later, because stronger economic growth also means higher interest rates.

January and February saw rates in line with what we saw at the end of 2016. But in the last two weeks, we've seen the average rate for a 30-year conforming mortgage increase by almost a quarter of a point. That's because the market is expecting the Federal Reserve to raise short-term rates when the board of governors meets this

week.

Mortgage rates will likely stay close to this level until we hear more about additional rate increases later this year. The expectation is for three increases this year. If economic data continue to show growth in inflation and wages, those three increases could actually become four.

This means that rates will continue to rise-we're more likely to see movement of 10-25 basis points in one- to two-week spurts, as new data and new comments from the Fed indicate rate policy changes are imminent.

Home buyers' group to map delayed projects NEW DELHI: The flat buyers' association, which played a key role in pushing the real estate regulation law has now started a new exercise to map and prepare a list of delayed projects across the country. After one of the major real estate bodies, CREDAI, raised the demand for excluding ongoing projects from the ambit of regulation, the flat buyers' body is now compiling the number of housing projects that have been delayed by years.

"Our aim is to bust two myths the real estate lobbies are selling.

First they maintain that only a few fly-by-night players are bringing bad name to the industry and most of their members adhere to the norms. Most of them claim their buyers are happy. Second, only new projects should be covered under new regulation to start enforcement of law without getting into legacy.

We will expose them on both these fronts with data and will present them to the government," said

Sioux Falls group to revitalize homes Cont’d from page 44

``This is a great place to live,'' Roti said. ``If there's a home that's condemned and it's beyond reproach, that's when I feel Wayne's organization fills a void.'' Roti is a freelancer for Argus Leader Media.

The homes AHS revitalizes are sold to families earning less than 80 percent of the median income.

Buyers can often be dual-income, with parents who are busy working and trying to provide for their children. Sometimes, it's still a struggle for them to afford an appropriate amount of space, Wagner said. ``We really see single family houses being workforce housing,'' Wagner said.

By revitalizing homes in the core, Wagner believes his group is setting an example for other private builders, who might be in-

spired to help spruce up the same neighborhoods.

It happened last year after his organization rebuilt two homes near the intersection of 16th Street and Spring Avenue. A private developer came in later and fixed up four houses on the same block, Wagner said. ``That's when you have momentum,'' Wagner said.

John Koch builds and revitalizes properties in some of the same neighborhoods as Affordable Housing Solutions. The owner of John Koch Construction does his best to honor the designs of the original building, fixing them up in a way that fits the neighborhood.

Revitalization is helping to draw more interest from young people who want to be close to the center of the city but don't have the income to pay rising rent costs downtown, Koch said. -AP

Abhay Upadhyay , national convenor of Fight For RERA. Upadhyay said they were surprised to get details from flat buyers how housing projects are delayed inordinately in relatively smaller cities such as Puri, Thane and Belgaum. "We have already got over 350 response and we are reaching out to more flat buyers across the country so that we have a bigger data to counter the lobbying that is being done by the real estate developers at central and state levels. The problem is acute not just in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore but almost in every part on India, "he added.

At present, there is no national level data on how many projects are delayed and for how long, which has helped the builders to pass the blame on to unidentified flyby-night operators. Early this month CREDAI had demanded keeping all ongoing (incomplete) real estate projects out of the ambit of real estate regulation law and said it should cover only new launches. Responding to this, housing minister M Venkaiah Naidu had said, "With regard to ongoing projects also...I wish I could transfer all my emails to CREDAI and let there be some committee address those issues...Address those issues, take corrective actions and then I can tell them prospective and not retrospective."

Naidu had also said the government was not asking developers to do anything more than what they have promised to people.

"What you have promised on the paper, simply complete that, we will stand by you. Simply adhere to the advertisement, "he had said.

-ET Realty

Those spurts will likely be followed by weeks with little change in rates.

The upside of higher rates is that it is getting easier to get a mortgage. The most widely fol-

over last year.

Low inventory and strong supply is leading to inventory moving faster and faster as measured by median days on market. The median number of days

lowed measure of mortgage credit access from the Mortgage Bankers Association indicates that access has expanded 6.5% since September.

Arguably the biggest challenge to buyers this spring will be simply finding a home to buy and getting it successfully under contract. That's because the supply of homes for sale is at an all-time low, and yet demand is strong and getting stronger.

We started the year with the lowest inventory of homes available for sale that we've ever seen on realtor.com. While we did see inventory grow 2% in February, total inventory was down 11%

on market in February was 90 days, six days less than last year.

We also saw 27% of all listings selling in less than 30 days. Last year, we saw that happen in midto late March, so this year's timetable is about three weeks ahead.

The early birds who decided to buy in the winter faced less competition and enjoyed lower rates than we are seeing now. It gets more expensive and more competitive going forward, but the early(ish) buyer, at this point, is still likely to come out on top, when you consider that prices and rates are likely to be much higher later in the year.

-Courtesy realtor.com

Gurgaon corpn takes over 142-acre land Cont’d from page 44

The spokesman said while heavy police force was deployed to tackle any untoward incident, the team did not face any opposition.

On the directions of Municipal Commissioner V Umashankar, plan was prepared to take possession of 39 sites.

"However, five persons produced stay orders issued by the court, so boards of possession were installed on the remaining 34 sites and roads. In case any person damages these boards, FIR would be registered against the violator," he said.

On March 10, both the Congress and the INLD raised the Gwal Pahari land issue in Haryana Assembly and accused the BJPled government of transferring the land belonging to the municipal corporation to private parties.

However, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had denied any wrongdoing and said the land is public property and will not be allowed to be transferred to private parties.

He told the House that all land issues in Gurugram, Faridabad and Nuh districts will be inquired into.

BJP MLA from Gurugram, Umesh Aggarwal, had recently attacked the state government by raising questions about the ownership of the land and had written a letter to the Chief Minister in this regard.

Congress Legislature Party leader Kiran Choudhary alleged the land of the Municipal Corporation had been given to private persons and is a "Rs 4,000 crore land scam". Both Congress and main opposition while describing it as a serious issue, had sought CBI probe into it.-PTI

March 24, 2017

India Post 47 www.indiapost.com

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Community Across America

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March 24, 2017

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Holi celebrated at Shiv Durga Temple

India Post News Service

SUNNYVALE, CA: Color festival Holi was celebrated at Shiv Durga Temple Sunnyvale on March 12 where more than 4000 people attended. It was free entry for all and food was sponsored by Bombay to Goa Restaurant Sunnyvale and well known CPA of Bay Area, Sanjeev Gupta and State Bank of India. Raveendra Kumar, Branch Manager of SBI Fremont

Diwali Now holiday in NY's school district NEELA PANDYA

NEW YORK: Diwali, one of the most popular of Indian festivals, has been declared as a holiday by East Williston Union Free School District (EWUFSD) in New York State on its School Calendar for 2017-2018.

Nearby Syosset Central School District, East Meadow School District and Half Hollow Hills Central School District recently announced Diwali as an official holiday, while Mineola Union Free School District announced that no home work or examinations would be given on Diwali, reports suggest.

Indian Americans described this as a step in the right direction and urged all other public school districts and private-charter-independent schools in New York State to do the same.

Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that if schools had declared other religious holidays, why not

Diwali. Holidays of all major religions should be honored and no one should be penalized for practicing their religion, he added Awareness about other religions created by such holidays like Diwali would make New York

State students well-nurtured, wellbalanced, and enlightened citizens of tomorrow.

Zed urged New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, New York State Education Department Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa and New York State Commissioner of Education Mary Ellen

Elia; to work towards adding Diwali as an official holiday in all the 728 school districts, and persuading the private-charter-independent schools to follow.

He thanked EWUFSD Board of Education President Mark Kamberg and other Board members for supporting Diwali holiday.

EWUFSD, headquartered in Old Westbury of New York; reportedly serves East Williston and parts of Albertson, Mineola, Old Westbury, and Roslyn Heights in Nassau County. It claims to gear its educational program "to encourage critical thinking and a love of learning". Its Mission includes: "to nurture the best in each child morally, intellectually, socially, artistically, emotionally and physically". Dr. Elaine Kanas is Superintendent.

was an honored guest. The event was covered by TV Asia under the guidance of Reena Rao. On 11th March in the evening at 7 pm Holika Dahan was organized and around 700 devotees attended the event. Founder and president of the temple Acharya

Pandit Krishna Kumar Pandey explained the religious logic and meaning of Holika Dahan.

Acharya Ji was recently honored with Bharatiya Ratna Puraskar by the Government of Uttar Pradesh at an NRI event in Lucknow.

Exhibition shows Lord Krishna smoking meth MADHU PATEL

CHICAGO: Indians are highly perturbed at a Sydney exhibition that showcases Lord Krishna in a despicable style - brandishing a meth pipe. They are demanding an explanation and apology from organizers of the exhibition that was held from at a gallery of Sydney suburb Darlinghurst.

"Krishna in Erskineville" at ESD Gallery, described as "A series of embroidered works by Leon Fernandes that cheekily represent some of the issues around ethnicity, religion, sexuality and drug use", was running till March 20.

Led by Rajan Zed, they have stressed that this exhibition trivialized highly revered deity Lord Krishna and reimagined other highly revered deities Lord Ganesh and goddess Durga.

It is pointed out that reimaging deities for commercial or other agenda was not okay as it hurt the feelings of devotees. Lord Krishna, Lord Ganesh, goddess Durga and other Hindu deities were meant to be worshipped in temples and home shrines and not to be thrown around loosely in reimagined versions.

The Australian Hindi Indian Association's Tilak Kalra argued there are dangers in causing of-

fense over religion, though. He said, "Art is different from religion, generally, but, still, you don't try to offend any religion. That's the basic principle."

Leon Fernandes, the artist, responded saying he is happy to engage with the Hindu community about their concerns."If someone feels deeply offended by my work, I encourage them to come and talk to me, and come and teach me the things that I don't understand

yet," he said.

This Gallery is part of East Sydney Doctors, which, opened in 1984, includes 17 doctors (including a University of Sydney professor), besides psychologists, nurses, allied health practitioners and an international medical research team. They provide patient-care and medical-education and contribute to medical-research. Heather Farlow is the Practice Manager, while Gordon R. Carmichael is gallery curator.

March 24, 2017

Community Across America

India Post 49

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Remembering martyrdom of Bhagat Singh GEETHA PATIL

BOSTON: The Coalition for a Democratic India (CDI) organized a seminar on the topic, "Data Democracy: Finance, Information and Power" at the St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Cambridge, MA on Saturday March 18.

It was part of an event to celebrate the struggles of all people on the occasion of 86th anniversary of the martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev. The seminar focused on the impact of India's demonetization.

Jaspal Singh, the Advisory Board Member of the CDI, welcomed the audience and speakers of the seminar and provided a brief description of the seminar topic and the struggle of all the heroes of India's Independence and made

A section of the audience

longed cash shortages in the weeks that followed-created significant disruption throughout the economy. He said that this seminar was organized to learn from the personal experiences and public data whether demonetiNeela J., an activist and zation move was poorly social worker talked about planned and unfair to the public and other inthe ground perspectives of stitutions in the society and also to propose rural women and their unpleasant experiences due some suggestions to plan properly the future to demonetization economic reformations in India.

Ajinkya Deshmukh, a the audience to remember these HealthCare Technology Consultfreedom fighters: Bhagat Singh, ant and Socio-political Volunteer Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram spoke about his personal urban Rajguru who were the great sons experiences due to demonetization of India and breathed their last as program with special reference to 'martyrs'.

Nagpur city in Maharashtra. Neela Arif Hussain, the Director of the J., an activist and social worker CDI, gave an overview of CDI and talked about the ground perspecthe purpose of the seminar: The tives of rural women and their unsudden nature of the demonetiza- pleasant experiences due to detion announcement-and the pro- monetization program with refer-

(L-R) Adi Nochur, Arif Hussein, Jaspal Singh, Manoj, Sarah Hussein, Neela J

ence to their savings and getting their wages from the bank under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural

Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) through street plays.

Pratyush Bharati, a teacher and

human rights, justice and peace activist described 'Rhetoric and Reality'of demonetization with public economic data. Rajesh Kasturirangan talked about 'Information Control vs. Democracy,' He also said that money is becoming more and more like information and data. The recent push for demonetization and a cashless economy is a masterstroke in the evolution of information and power.He described the way the "information ideology" works and colonizes our minds in this new era.

The seminar was followed by delicious dinner and lovely cultural program with patriotic poetry recitations and singing songs by local singers and writers such as Manoj, Neena Wahi, Jay J, Aditya Nochur, Pankaj, Maitreya, Jaspal Singh, Kshama Ananthapura, Arun Chaudhari, Abha Chaudhari.

The Master of Ceremony of this event was Sarah Figge Hussain who put together this event meticulously.

Maryland temple plans $20 mn expansion India Post News Service

mer cultural camps; holds bhajans every second Saturday and concerts every first Saturday of the month; and offers classes in Bharatnatyam, slokas, Ramayanam, Srimad Bhagavatham, Bhagavad-Gita, yoga, etc.

It plans to launch some Indian music-dance-languages classes. It also serves as gathering place for the community; besides participat-

IJAMSVILLE, MD: Sri Bhaktha Anjaneya Temple (SBAT) in Ijamsville (Maryland) reportedly has plans for second phase $20 million expansion including another about 51,000 square-foot temple with 36 foot Lord Hanuman statue.

According to reports, designs have been finalized for the second phase, It plans to launch some which has already been Indian music-dance-lanapproved, and funds are being raised for it. guages classes. It also The existing about 5,000 serves as gathering place square-foot Temple, launched in 2015, cost for the community about $8 million.

Besides worship services and Vedic rituals, SBAT, ing in various community welfare which opens 365-days a year at activities, like cooking food for the 06-30 am; organizes Sanskrit work- homeless, donating to area food shops, cultural events, children's banks, providing support in disasactivities, poojas, festivals, sum- ter relief, etc.

Meanwhile, Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism has in a statement in Nevada commended efforts of temple leaders and area community towards realizing this Hindu temple and planning a grand expansion.

Rajan Zed said that it was important to pass on Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions to coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society and hoped that this temple would help in this direction.

Mission of SBAT, which is open to all, includes to "Promote Hindu traditions, values, culture and heritage including music, dance, slokas and Sanskrit". Freefood is available at the temple during its opening hours. It reportedly has ten priests and two shilpis and Bragadeesh Balasubramanian is temple manager.

Suggested donation at SBAT for "Life time pooja for all Deities"

is $6,001, "Paaravana Shraadham" pooja is $575 and for "Vehicle Pooja" is $51. Its policies include using dairy products made from the milk of its own cows only, and it strictly discourages "short, revealing, knee-high attire".

Lord Hanuman is known for incredible strength and was a perfect grammarian. Hinduism, oldest and third largest religion of the world, has about one billion adherents. There are about three million Hindus in USA.

MKCA plans Easter celebrations in Chicago BABU TANGEWALA

CHICAGO: The Mangalorean Konkan Christians Association of Chicago (MKCA) USA will celebrates Easter on Saturday April 15 at 5:30 p.m. at the Courtland Square Club House, in Des Plaines, a north side suburb of Chicago.

There will be an Easter Vigil celebrated by Fr. Henry Sequeira

with the blessing of fire and water. After Mass there will be a cultural program for young adults with Easter Bunny entertainment. MKCA will provide an open bar with soft and hot drinks. MKCA will also have appetizers and dinner with dukramaas and sonnam.

In Brief Vermont immigration bill gets approval MONTPELIER, Vt.: The Vermont Legislature has given final approval to a bill that will give the governor greater control over how and when the state's police forces are used by the federal government in the wake of President Donald Trump's immigration policies.

The Senate passed the bill last month.

Rebecca Kelley, a spokeswoman for Republican Gov. Phil Scott, says the governor will sign the bill next week.

The measure would empower the governor to approve agreements between police and federal agents who want to identify and remove immigrants. It also would bar police in some instances from providing information on residents to federal agents.

The legislation was proposed

by Scott and Democratic Attorney General T.J. Donovan, who helped craft it. -AP

„ Senators for keeping doctor pipeline open BANGOR, Maine: A group of senators is calling on U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to keep a pipeline of foreign doctors open to benefit rural communities.

The senators want premium processing to continue for doctors participating in the Conrad 30 waiver program, which makes it easier for foreign doctors to come to underserved parts of the U.S. to work.

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, Minnesota Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar and North Dakota Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp are making the push.

They say a recently announced suspension of premium processing for H1-B visa petitions would make physician shortages worse in rural areas.

The same three senators have previously tried to make the Conrad 30 program permanent.

They say it would boost the number of doctors who are able to work in the U.S. -AP

Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins

Immigration

US judge blocks Trump's revised travel ban

50 India Post

www.indiapost.com

March 24, 2017

Details on page 51

Travel ban rulings highlight trouble posed by Trump record SEATTLE: Federal law gives the president broad authority over immigration. Jimmy Carter used it to deny some Iranians entry to the U.S. during the hostage crisis, Ronald Reagan to bar Cubans who didn't already have relatives here and President Obama to keep out North Korean officials.

So why does President Donald Trump keep running into legal trouble with his efforts to freeze immigration by refugees and citizens of some predominantly Muslim nations?

When federal courts in Hawaii and Maryland blocked Trump's revised travel ban from taking effect, the judges spelled out their major concern: the unusual record of statements by the president and his advisers suggesting the executive order's real purpose was to discriminate against Muslims, in violation of the Constitution's ban on officially favoring or disfavoring any religion.

As the legal fight moves into the appeals courts, two key issues will be the extent of the president's broad immigration powers - and whether Trump's own record stymies his plans.

THE RULINGS Neither U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang in Maryland nor Judge Derrick Watson bought the administration's reasoning that the travel ban is about national security. ``The history of public statements continues to provide a con-

wrote.

Watson criticized what he called the ``illogic'' of the government's arguments and cited ``significant and unrebutted evidence of religious animus'' behind the travel ban. He also noted that while courts should not examine the ``veiled psyche'' and ``secret mo-

U.S. District Judge Derrick Watson in Honolulu. Hours before it was to take effect, President Donald Trump's revised travel ban was put on hold by Watson, a federal judge in Hawaii who questioned whether the administration was motivated by national security concerns.

vincing case that the purpose of the second executive order remains the realization of the longenvisioned Muslim ban,'' Chuang

tives'' of government decisionmakers, ``the remarkable facts at issue here require no such impermissible inquiry.''

``For instance, there is nothing `veiled' about this press release: `Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States,''' he wrote, referring to a statement Trump issued as a candidate.

But the scope of the rulings differed. In a challenge brought by Hawaii, Watson blocked the federal government from enforcing its ban on travel from six mostly Muslim countries and its suspension of the nation's refugee program.

Chuang only blocked the six-nation travel ban, saying it wasn't clear that the suspension of the refugee program was similarly motivated by religious bias.

A federal judge in Seattle ruled that his order blocking Trump's original travel ban does not apply to the revised executive order because there are enough differences between the two.

Judge James Robart noted that Washington and several other states have also asked him to block the revised ban.

He said he would rule on that request at a later date.

Cont'd on Page 51

H1-B applications to be accepted from April 3 WASHINGTON: The US will start accepting applications for H-1B work visas for the fiscal 2018 from April 3 amid the uncertainties surrounding the visa program, the most sought after by Indian IT firms and professionals.

Unlike previous years, the official announcement by US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) did not say till when it would continue accepting the H-1B petitions.

The department normally has been accepting the application for the first five business days.

In the last few years, the department has received enough petitions to fill in the Congressional mandated 85,000 H-1B visas.

The Congressional mandated

limit on H-1B visas include 65,000 in the general category and another 20,000 for those foreign students who have masters or higher degree from a US academic insti-

tution.

Those coming to the US on H1B visas in certain categories for

research and scientific institutions are exempted from this limit, but their visa processing is handicapped this year as the premium processing has been suspended

by USCIS for six months.

USCIS's announcement also reflects that there are no changes in H-1B visas this year as was being anticipated in view of some media leaks of a proposed executive order on this work visa.

White House says it is working on a comprehensive immigration reform.

In its statement, USCIS said it

begin accepting H-1B petitions subject to the fiscal year 2018 cap on April 3.

"All cap-subject H-1B petitions filed before April 3, for the FY 2018 cap will be rejected," it said.

Fiscal year 2018 begins on October 1, 2017.

USCIS said H-1B program allows companies in the US to temporarily employ foreign workers in occupations that require the application of a body of highly specialized knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent.

H-1B specialty occupations may include fields such as science, engineering and information technology. -PTI

Immigration Post

March 24, 2017

India Post 51

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Travel ban rulings highlight trouble 'H-1B premium suspended to handle huge rush' posed by Trump record Cont'd from Page 50

APPEALS COMING Speaking at a rally in Nashville, Tennessee, Trump called the ruling in Hawaii an example of ``unprecedented judicial overreach'' and said his administration would appeal it to the U.S. Supreme Court. He also called his new travel ban a watered-down version of the first one, which he said he wished he could implement. ``We're going to win. We're going to keep our citizens safe,'' the president said. ``The danger is clear. The law is clear. The need

hold by a Seattle Judge last month.

Despite the legal victories for critics of the ban, it's far from clear that they will continue to win. A different panel of judges in the 9th Circuit will probably hear the appeal of Hawaii's case. Also, five judges signed a dissent criticizing the court's decision not to reconsider and throw out the panel's ruling on the original travel ban. ``Whatever we, as individuals, may feel about the president or the executive order, the president's decision was well within the powers of the presidency,'' Judge Jay Bybee wrote

Citing a report that reviewed White House administrations going back to Reagan, Chuang noted in his ruling that no president has issued a ban on the entry ``of all citizens from more than one country at the same time, much less six nations all at once.'' for my executive order is clear.''

White House spokesman Sean Spicer said that the Justice Department was exploring its options, but that it expected to file an appeal of the Maryland ruling with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and to seek clarification of the Hawaii order before appealing to the 9th Circuit. That circuit is where a three-judge panel unanimously declined to reinstate Trump's original travel ban when it was put on

for the five.

THE PRESIDENT'S AUTHORITY In 1952, with the nation fearful of communist infiltration, Congress gave the president the authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act to take action: ``Whenever the president finds that the entry of any aliens or of any class of aliens into the United States would be detrimental to the

interests of the United States, he may ... suspend the entry of all aliens or any class of aliens as immigrants or non-immigrants, or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions he may deem to be appropriate,'' the law says.

That power has been invoked dozens of times. But legal experts say those examples were more limited than what Trump has sought.

Citing a report that reviewed White House administrations going back to Reagan, Chuang noted in his ruling that no president has issued a ban on the entry ``of all citizens from more than one country at the same time, much less six nations all at once.''

Chuang found that the travel ban likely violated another aspect of federal immigration law, barring discrimination on the basis of nationality in the issuance of immigrant visas. That law was passed in 1965 as part of an effort to end longstanding immigration quotas that had been criticized as racist.

Ultimately, the cases will come down to the ways in which that law and the Constitution constrain the president's authority. ``That's the tug of war that is going to play out and, I suspect, go before the Supreme Court,'' said Ted Ruthizer, a former president of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. ``I think it will be a very seminal decision as to what are the limitations on the executive's powers.''-AP

US judge blocks Trump's revised travel ban WASHINGTON: A US judge has halted Donald Trump's revised travel ban on citizens of six Muslim-majority nations, hours before it was due to take effect, dealing a blow to the US President who described it as an "unprecedented judicial overreach" and vowed to challenge the order.

The order by the federal judge in Hawaii comes after the state sued the Trump administration over the revised travel ban issued last week. Hawaii argued that the revised travel ban was still unconstitutional.

The revised travel ban on people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 day was scheduled to come into effect midnight of March 15.

"The illogic of the government's contentions is palpable. The notion that one can demonstrate animus toward any group of people

only by targeting all of them at once is fundamentally flawed," Judge Derrick Watson wrote in his 43-page court order.

"It is undisputed, using the primary source upon which the government itself relies, that these six countries have overwhelmingly Muslim populations that range from 90.7 per cent to 99.8 per cent.

It would therefore be no paradigmatic leap to conclude that targeting these countries likewise targets Islam. Certainly, it would be inappropriate to conclude, as the government does, that it does not," Watson said.

"Any reasonable, objective observer would conclude, as does the Court for purposes of the instant Motion for TRO (Temporary Restraining Order), that the stated secular purpose of the Executive Order is, at the very least, 'secondary to a religious objective' of tem-

porarily suspending the entry of Muslims," the judge said.

Trump said the ruling "makes us look weak" and vowed to challenge the order in the Supreme Court.

"We're going to take our case as far as it needs to go, including all the way up to the Supreme Court," Trump said as his supporters booed the Hawaii federal judge.

Appearing in a combative mood, Trump alleged that the decision of the Ninth Circuit court was an example of "unprecedented judicial overreach".

In an echo of his attack on the judge who struck down the first travel ban, Trump sarcastically suggested that Watson might have acted for political reasons.

"You don't think this was done by a judge for political reasons?" he asked. -PTI

WASHINGTON: The US has said the premium processing of H1B visas, which are popular among Indian IT firms and professionals, has been suspended temporarily to handle the huge rush of applications for the work visas in the first week of April.

"The (H-1) program is not suspended. We suspend premium processing, which means we would have to process the application in 15 days," Lori Scialabba, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) acting director, told members of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Oversight and Management efficiency.

The US will start accepting applications for H-1B work visas from April 3 for the fiscal 2018.

Responding to questions from lawmakers, Scialabba said in the first week of April USCIS receives 200,000 or more H-1B applications.

"We're unable to process those

process them, we organise them and then when we're ready, we let people file for the premium processing if they think that that's what they need.

"But the visas aren't available until October in any event, so it's really not delaying anybody from getting their visa when they're ready to pick up the visa," she said.

Suspension of the premium processing was being done in previous years too.

"What happens in April is that we open a window, where people file -- and usually it's only for a week, because we get so many applications in that time period.

We usually get in between 200,000, 240,000 applications in one weeks time," Scialabba said.

"Just getting the data entered into our systems and getting those processed so that they're ready for adjudication takes some time.

That's why when we are

premium processing, we can't process cases in 15 days when we get 200,000 in a week.

It's only suspended temporarily," she said.

"Once we lift the suspension, people are able to file for premium processing and we will process their application within 15 days," she said.

"I think the other thing to keep in mind is that these visas that they're applying for in April are not available until October. So what we do is we take them in, we

unable...the only thing we're suspending is the premium processing. We're not promising to do anybody's visa, anybody's petition, in 15 days," she noted.

"Once we get all that data into the system, once we're ready to turn it back on, we put premium processing back in play and people can then file if they want, to have their adjudication done within 15 days, as opposed to 30, 60, 90, whatever our processing time is at the time," the USCOS official said. -PTI

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Philosophy

March 24, 2017

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A

t a gathering, Amma is asked about wars, how in human they are.

Q: Amma, do you think there will be more wars? Do you foresee many changes in the future of the world?

Amma: Nothing has reached a crescendo. Let us wait and see.

Q: So you think there will be wars?

A: A war need not necessarily be between two countries. There is a war in every heart, in every house, at every juncture, amongst all brothers. Only we give different names to this. If a man kills another man, we call it a murder. If members of a group quarrel and kill each other, we call it a fight. On a larger scale, if one nation fights with another, we call it a war. The names given are different. The underlying feeling of hatred is the same. There is an incessant, unpleasant conflict all the time.

Q: Will this change?

A: Yes, the last three decades have witnessed lots of changes.

Attitudes are more positive. Politics has taken a turn for the better.

People have become more inquisitive.

Q: Do you think there is an increase of love or hatred?

A: No doubt hatred is on the increase, but love is also abundant - growing proportionately. Devotion and spiritualism are taking deeper SOFIA MARBACH

H

ere are 7 Teachings from ThĂ­ch Nhat Hanh: 1. "We are here to awaken from the illusion of our separateness."

Human beings are not separate from each other or Nature. We are totally interrelated and our actions have consequences to all. What we do to others we do to ourselves.

What we do to the Earth we do to ourselves.

2. "People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar."

Rather than being with our suffering, many of us prefer to run from or bury what we have decided to be unpleasant. We can fall into patterns of suffering and the comfort of denial. The lotus flower, he says, cannot bloom from anywhere but the mud. If we do not know how to handle suffering, we cannot begin to handle happiness.

Taking a deep look into the nature of suffering inside ourselves can help us understand the interrelated suffering of others and the suffering of the Earth.

3. "Through my love for you, I want to express my love for the whole cosmos, the whole of humanity, and all beings. By living with you, I want to learn to love

roots. There is a quest, a thirst to know the unknowable. There is a noticeable vibration - a chetana - in every heart. We do realize that there is an internal war, a conflict that must end sooner or later.

Desire & discontent Once Amma said desire and discontent are the two sides of the same coin called life. They complement each other and form the basis of human nature.

not fulfill all your desires. No one should suffer from scarcity of anything .All should have plenty, should feel contented - this is my dream.

Q: Will this dream ever come true? It will, if you so desire. It is in your hands.

A: If this dream materializes what else do I desire? Probably it will happen on the day that I don't desire anything, any longer.

Q: When will that be?

A: When the creation ceases.

Q: But every one is magnetized by you. What do they see in you?

A: You must ask them since it is they who see something in me and they are drawn to me. According to me it is nothing but their Faith that draws them to me, faith absolute that transcends all definitions. It is this faith that exists and grows at the root of everything. It is God. It may manifest itself as blind surrender that surpasses all logic and reasoning; or

There is a war in every heart, every house No doubt hatred is on the increase, but love is also abundant - growing proportionately. Devotion and spiritualism are taking deeper roots. There Jillelamudi Amma

is a quest, a thirst to know the unknowable.

Q: Do you experience these desires and discontents as we do?

A: Since my life is entwined with all your lives, I do.

Q: But what desires can you have, you - who are above all desire?

How can you experience discontent?

A: To take you all into my fold, to create the bond of oneness, the bond of togetherness is my desire.

I experience discontent when I can-

Extraordinary powers Q: When did you acquire these powers, Amma?

A: Powers! I am what I have always been with the same powers that I always had. There is no change in me. But people see in me what they want to see. A yard contains inches, not vice versa.

Every one measures me with his yard stick.

it may manifest itself as boundless knowledge that tries to unravel the secrets of creation. When you are devoid of these two, you stumble at every step. You doubt, you have your own misgivings. If you are fortunate to be blessed with any one of them, it propels you to God. Excerpted from motherofall.org. The 94th birth anniversary of Jillelamudi Amma will be celebrated on March 28.

everyone and all species. If I succeed in loving you, I will be able to love everyone and all species on Earth‌ This is the real message of love."

We need the human and natural communities that sustain us. We are each other. To acknowledge the illusion of separation and let go of self is to inter-be.

know how to transform one kind of energy into another."

The energy of anger can be transformed into the energy of understanding. Hold your anger like a mother embraces her child.

It can be nourished, like a flower, with the light of mindfulness to open itself into something new.

We can interpret this teaching in

6. "Compassion is a verb."

The practice of compassion is an action. Merriam-Webster defines compassion as "sympathetic consciousness of others' distress, together with a desire to alleviate it." These two parts are interdependent, they cannot be approached separately or passively. Actively listening and feel-

The energy of anger can be transformed into the energy of understanding. Hold your anger like a mother embraces her child. It can be nourished, like a flower ThĂ­ch Nhat Hanh

a dual physical way, becoming more mindful of the physical law of conservation of energy, the idea that energy can be neither created nor destroyed. Meditating on this teaching can help us increase awareness of the food waste in landfills that could be reenergizing the earth as compost, or the energy we release as heat when we drive gas-burning vehicles.

Death is one of two things...Either it is annihilation, and the dead have no consciousness of anything; or, as we are told, it is really a change: a migration of the soul from one place to another.

-Socrates

Death - the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening.

-Walter Scott

Death is nothing else but going home to God, the bond of love will be unbroken for all eternity.

- Mother Teresa

The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.

- Mark Twain

Human beings & Nature totally interrelated

4. "For things to reveal themselves to us, we need to be ready to abandon our views about them."

Wrong perception is always possible. In order to truly see something, we must shed our own bias and acknowledge the shifting nature of Truth. If we think we know something already, we undermine our own ability to learn.

5. "We do not need to throw away anything; we need only to

Human beings are made of body, mind and spirit. Of these, spirit is primary, for it connects us to the source of everything, the eternal field of consciousness.

-Deepak Chopra

ing deeply can incite powerful, meaningful action.

7. "Our own life has to be our message."

Thay teaches the insight of impermanence, and the importance of its nourishment in our daily life.

Acknowledging the fleeting nature of ourselves and all things can foster a deep grounding in the present moment and value for our place in a bigger picture.

The only thing that burns in hell is the part of you that won't let go of your life: your memories, your attachments. They burn them all away, but they're not punishing you, they're freeing your soul.

-Meister Eckhart

When the heart weeps for what it has lost, the soul laughs for what it has found.

-Sufi aphorism

Insure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs

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Manohar Parrikar's positive record as Defense Minister GURMEET KANWAL

D

uring his two and a half years as India's Defense Minister, Manohar Parrikar came across as a sincere and perceptive leader and an accomplished manager. He gave a free hand to the army to act proactively on the LoC. He got the prime minister to approve surgical strikes across the LoC in September 2016 - operations that changed the paradigm of India's response to Pakistani provocations.

Parrikar worked closely with the leadership of the armed forces and the bureaucracy to put the stalled process of military modernization back on the rails. And, he put his management skills and experience to good use to review policies and procedures for the efficient functioning of the Ministry of Defense (MoD) and the armed forces.

Under Parrikar's leadership, the NDA government began the long process of addressing the "critical hollowness" plaguing defense preparedness - a term used by General VK Singh as the army chief. Besides major operational voids in the war establishment of the three services, there were large-scale deficiencies in the holding of important items of equipment, ammunition and spares that had an adverse impact on combat readiness.

According to a CAG report, the army's depots have stocks of some key varieties of ammunition - for example for some tanks and artillery guns - for barely ten days of conflict. It has been estimated that it would cost over INR 20,000 crore to replenish stocks and increase holdings to the required levels.

Under Parrikar's guidance, the MoD invoked the government's emergency financial powers to sign contracts with Russian manufacturers to procure ammunition and spares worth INR 5,800 crore for the army and INR 9,200 crore

Readers Write... www.indiapost.com

I

do not know who this Reza Aslan is but his kind of people turn the so- called "Religion of Peace" into religion of hate. Half knowledge is more dangerous than full knowledge.

Wahabism does not accept Shias, Sunnies, Ahmedias or even Sufis and hate them also.

Why? In the desire of 72 virgin 'hoors' they brainwash even their

for the air force. Similar deals are being negotiated with French and Israeli companies. However, the serviceability state of warfighting equipment still needs substantial improvement.

Modernization of the armed forces had been stagnating during UPA rule due to inadequacy of funds, rigid procurement procedures, frequent changes in the qualitative requirements, the black-listing of several defense manufacturers and bureaucratic red tape. Parrikar took it as a personal challenge to give a fillip to modernization.

He appointed a committee to review the Defense Procurement Procedure (DPP) and lost no time in studying and approving its recommendations. Several pragmatic amendments were approved by the Defense Minister and DPP 2016 was issued in April 2016, including an emphasis on 'make in India', raising of FDI in defense to 49 per cent, tweaking of the policy on offsets and permitting defense exports.

On the negative side, on Parrikar's watch, the defense budget for FY 2017-18 has dipped to 1.62 per cent of the country's GDP - the lowest level since the disastrous 1962 border war with China.

It is grossly inadequate to build the defense capabilities required to meet future threats and challenges and discharge its growing

responsibilities as a regional power. A portion of the budgetary allocations on the capital account for the modernization of the armed forces still continues to be surrendered unspent.

Not much has been done to streamline the nearly defunct longterm defense planning process.

The 12th Defense Plan that will end on 31 March 2017 was not accorded formal approval by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). The CCS has also not formally approved the tri-service long-term integrated perspective plan (LTIPP 2007-22).

The defense minister was widely expected to initiate long-pending structural reforms to improve national security decision-making and synergize combat capabilities.

These reforms were thought to include the appointment of a chief of defense staff (CDS) and new triservice special forces, aerospace and cyber commands.

On other fronts, the recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission have still not been implemented for the armed forces. The agitation for One Rank One Pension (OROP) launched by veterans was allowed to linger on for an embarrassingly long period of time, with many anomalies remaining unresolved. Also, there has been no progress on the establishment of the national defense university and the construction of a national war memorial-cum-military museum.

Overall, the achievements of Manohar Parrikar as India's Defense Minister far outweigh the disappointments. He deserves compliments for his untiring efforts to enhance India's combat capabilities.

The writer is Distinguished Fellow, Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses (IDSA), New Delhi

Keeping a secret

A

fter Demonetization, the Narendra Modi government has demonstrated for the second time, in the case of Uttar Pradesh, its ability to successfully keep a secret. The choice of Yogi Adityanath as Chief Minister of the crucial state came as a surprise to even the top media pundits. Unlike US President Donald Trump, who likes to confront the media and keep fighting it, the Modi government has devised a clever strategy to deal with it. Both governments hate the media but Narendra Modi has contempt for it. He just ignores it as an agent of the elite and chooses to engage with the people through social media and his monthly radio broadcasts called "Man Ki Baat." He doesn't give interviews but manages to stay on the front page through his comments which the lazy media eagerly pounces on. In the case of Uttar Pradesh, Modi and BJP president Amit Shah fooled the media by floating the name of a junior Union minister, Manoj Sinha, as the likely choice for UP Chief Minister. The media went to town publishing biographies of Sinha and even seeking his interviews.

The said gentleman denied any such possibility or even being approached for such a position, but the media thought this was just a trick to keep them off his trail.

Earlier, the media had failed to even correctly surmise the scale of the BJP victory in Uttar Pradesh.

However in the case of Uttar Pradesh, the Modi government has not only fooled the media, it has fooled the people also. Yogi Adityanath did not fight the elections. He is known to possess extremist Hindutva views and his comments against minorities amount to stoking communal feelings. Would the scale of BJP victory had been the same had he been announced the CM candidate before the elections? Fooling the media is one thing but fooling the people is something more serious. It can have implications for a future election.

Yogi Adityanath is a popular leader of eastern UP in his own right. As the Head Priest of the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, Adityanath has great clout. He had also formed the Hindu Yuva Vahini which even took to violence in support of his views. It was speculated in the media that the Yogi was threatening to leave the BJP and form his own party so as to implement his own views. So perhaps it was to appease him that he has been put on the top position of leading Uttar Pradesh as its chief.

What kind of chief minister he will prove to be only time will tell.

But if he is in sync with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of "sabka saath, sabka vikas" then he can do some good to Uttar Pradesh because he is known to be an incorruptible man of action who would be able to maintain law and order.

CNN should beware of Aghoris like Reza Aslan kids to become hate mongers and butchers; instead of cultivating and educating them. Wahabis are real hate mongers who are not only turning the world against them but good Muslims also are quitting Islam once they try to use their own brain logically.

There are always two sides of a coin and "My Way or Highway" is only for the dummies; as unfortunately their low capacity hard

drive jams unless they upgrade or change it.

On the other hand, there are many cunning Shakunis also in the world, whose mission is to destroy even their own kids, relatives for some kind of selfish reason, greed or injustice happened to them. Without understanding what the ultimate result could be including their own destruction.

These days controversy brings

more fame than hard work in right direction.

Hinduism (Sanatan Dharma) is a like Banyan tree. All the religions of the world are like various branches of it spread in all directions just as Sanskrit is the mother of all languages of the world. "Sanatan Dharma" called "Hinduism" is like the university of all faculties of knowledge.

Today's latest and most aggres-

Disclaimer :- India Post does not endorse opinions expressed in the letters.

sive dominant so called religions, though inspired by Sanatan Dharma, are Abrahmanic religions. Inspired

by Lakshmi's benefits, they sidelined Vishnu.

CNN CEO should be awakened from Aghori Reza Aslan before he eats them also.

Madhu Patel Chicago, IL

March 24, 2017

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