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Election of AD 25 delegates celebrated Details on page 16

Sikh American Congressional Caucus launched Details on page 7

VOL 18, No. 973

May 10, 2013

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Periodical Postage

SAJJAN KUMAR FREED IN ANTI-SIKH RIOTS CASE NEW DELHI: In a major relief to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, a Delhi court has acquitted him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case while convicting five others for being a part of the mob that killed five Sikhs here. District and Sessions Judge J R Aryan acquitted Kumar while convicting five others - Balwan Khokkar, an ex-councilor, Mahender Yadav, an ex-MLA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal - for their involvement in the case.

Azam Khan sees conspiracy behind detention Details on page 6

The pronouncement of judgment witnessed a huge uproar by the protesters one of whom hurled a shoe at the judge soon after he acquitted Kumar in the case of riots that broke out 29 years ago on October 31, 1984, after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Kumar, a former Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, still faces trial in another 1984 rioting case. In a third case, Delhi Police has filed a closure report, saying there was no evidence against Kumar to implicate him. Details on page 5

Dr Kumar and team lifted AAPI to new heights Details on page 21

Sunidhi, Zafar make audience dance to tune

US eyes info on Americans' assets in India

Details on page 48 Details on page 12

Beijing says ready to resolve issue

Investor mood towards India improving

Details on page 6 Details on page 12

India, Saudi Arabia panel on labor issues

UNDER A CLOUD: Demands for the resignation of Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar have mounted after CBI Chief Ranjit Sinha admitted before the Supreme Court that the CBI draft report on coal blocks allocation was changed at the behest of the minister. Here he is seen with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he visited him during the controversy.

Details on page 7

INDIA POST SURVEY survey@indiapost.com This week’s question

Can CBI be granted autonomy? Last week’s result

Is the US targetting Indian outsourcing firms? YES 73%

NO 27%

CBI Director Ranjit Sinha

CONTENTS

Minister changed CBI draft

Bollywood ---------------------- 28-29

NEW DELHI: Under attack for sharing the CBI probe report on coal blocks allocation scam with the government, agency Director Ranjit Sinha has admitted that changes were made in the draft report and he has given full details of this to the Supreme Court. Asked by reporters about the contents of the status report submitted to the apex court, Sinha said the agency has given full details about the original draft and the "amended draft" of the status report including changes that have been brought about and on whose instructions. "Whatever Supreme Court has observed, we will reply to it in our affidavit," he said.

Date Book -------------------------- 36

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Details on page 5

Classifieds ------------------------- 51 Community Post -------------- 16-26

Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 32-35 Horoscope ------------------------- 52 Immigration Post ------------- 44-47 Life Style ----------------------- 48-50 Philosophy ------------------------- 53 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 30-31 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-14 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 39-43

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ith every terror incident, be it in any part of the United States, the threat of a backlash becomes very real for the Sikh Americans. With the latest Boston incident still fresh in the minds of Americans, Sikhs were cautioning and alerting each other to possible hate attacks, when as a ray of hope comes news of the launch of the first Sikh Congressional Caucus on Capitol Hill. It's historic significance cannot be underscored enough considering that since Dalip Singh Saund, who held the distinction of being the first Indian (Sikh) American to have become a Congressman in 1957, there hasn't been a direct voice on Capitol Hill to represent the Sikhs. The Sikh community is obviously elated. "History has been made today some 130 years after our forefathers first arrived on American shores. From today, we are hopeful that the American Sikh Caucus will ensure that Sikh voices will be heard loud and clear in Congress, so that Sikhs enjoy all the rights and freedoms promised in the American Constitution, in particular, pertaining to the Sikh identity," said Hardayal Singh, Director of United Sikhs, one of the Sikh advocacy organizations invited to play a formative role in the launch of the Caucus. Sikh Americans, to their credit, have always had friends on the Hill, no doubt. US Representatives like Rep. Joe Crowley, who is first and foremost a friend of India, have been representing Sikh interests whenever the need arose. But to have a dedicated Caucus, that too with 26 Members of the House of Representatives, is a big deal for the community. The Sikh Congressional Caucus is expected to educate and allow Congressional Members to strategize on how to support the American Sikh community and attack the many issues they face today including bullying, Armed Forces, and homeland security. While this is a heartening development, I would just add a note of caution to our Sikh brothers that in so establishing their identity, they should not forget that they are Indian Americans first. And in fighting their battles, they should not forget that they are Sikh Americans second. Romesh K Japra

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Sunny's charm Sunny Leone has replaced Mallika Sherawat to play Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor's ladylove in Jism 2.

Cover Story: Sajjan acquitted In a major relief to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, a Delhi court has acquitted him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case

Community: Community wins The Indian community created history when it helped elect most of its members as delegates for Assembly District 25

Immigration: Carjacked victim An immigrant entrepreneur from China came out with his tale of being carjacked at gunpoint by the Tsarnaev brothers

Life Style: Magic songs Sunidhi Chauhan and Ali Zafar had the large audience in LA dancing and moving to the rhythm of their music.

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Sajjan Kumar freed in anti-Sikh riots case NEW DELHI: In a major relief to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, a Delhi court has acquitted him in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case while convicting five others for being a

Captain Bhagmal - for their involvement in the case. The pronouncement of judgment witnessed a huge uproar by the protesters one of whom hurled

File picture of Sajjan Kumar

part of the mob that killed five Sikhs here. District and Sessions Judge J R Aryan acquitted Kumar while convicting five others - Balwan Khokkar, an ex-councilor, Mahender Yadav, an ex-MLA, Kishan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and

a shoe at the judge soon after he acquitted Kumar in the case of riots that broke out 29 years ago on October 31, 1984, after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Kumar, a former Lok Sabha MP from Outer Delhi, still faces trial in

another 1984 rioting case. In a third case, Delhi Police has filed a closure report, saying there was no evidence against Kumar to implicate him. Protesters in big numbers gathered at the Karkardooma district courts complex here and after Kumar's acquittal, complainant Jagdish Kaur sat on protest inside the courtroom saying she would not leave until justice is done. Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal were held guilty for the offence of murder under section 302 (murder) of the IPC which entails death penalty as maximum punishment while Mahender Yadav and Kishan Khokkar were convicted for the offence of rioting only. Balwan Khokkar, Girdhari Lal and Captain Bhagmal were ordered to be taken into judicial custody by the court. The case relates to anti-Sikh riots that had broken out after the assassination of Indira Gandhi on October 31, 1984. Gandhi was shot dead by two of her bodyguards at her residence here. The case, in which these five persons were held guilty, deals with the death of five Sikhs Kehar Singh, Gurpreet Singh, Raghuvender Singh, Narender Pal Singh and Kuldeep Singh -

who were members of the same family and were killed by the mob in Delhi Cantonment's Raj Nagar area. Deceased Kehar and Gurpreet were the husband and son respectively of complainant and eye witness Jagdish Kaur while Raghuvender, Narender and Kuldeep were the brothers of Kaur and another witness Jagsher Singh.

moting enmity between different communities), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and other provisions of the IPC. The Delhi Police had earlier probed the riots case and the investigation was handed over to CBI in 2005. CBI had told the court there was a conspiracy of "terrifying proportion" between Kumar and the police during the riots.

The Delhi Police had earlier probed the riots case and the investigation was handed over to CBI in 2005. CBI had told the court there was a conspiracy of "terrifying proportion" between Kumar and the police during the riots.The agency had said the police had kept its "eyes closed" The case against Kumar and others was registered in 2005 on a recommendation by Justice G T Nanavati Commission. CBI had filed two charge sheets against him and the other accused in January 2010. The trial court had in May 2010 framed charges against Kumar and the five others under Sections 302 (murder), 395 (dacoity), 427 (mischief to cause damage to property), 153-A (pro-

The agency had said the police had kept its "eyes closed" to the widespread violence. CBI had also alleged that in all the complaints wherever Kumar's name had cropped up, it was "immediately eliminated" from the Delhi Police records. Defense counsel had told the court there were material contradictions in statements of the witnesses, including Jagdish Kaur.PTI

CBI tells court changes made at minister's behest NEW DELHI: Under attack for sharing the CBI probe report on coal blocks allocation scam with the government, agency Director Ranjit Sinha has admitted that changes were made in the draft report and he has given full details of this to the Supreme Court. Asked by reporters about the contents of the status report sub-

Sinha said he would explain circumstances in which he went to the Law Minister's office. Earlier, the agency drew flak from the Supreme Court for sharing its status report with the Law Minister and senior officials of the PMO and the Coal ministry. The apex court said that sharing of information with the gov-

"I submit that the draft of the same (status report) was shared with Law Minister as desired by him prior to its submission before the Supreme Court. Besides the political executive, it was also shared with one joint secretary level officer each of Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Coal as desired by them" mitted to the apex court, Sinha said the agency has given full details about the original draft and the "amended draft" of the status report including changes that have been brought about and on whose instructions. "Whatever Supreme Court has observed, we will reply to it in our affidavit," he said.

ernment about the probe into the scam has "shaken the entire process" and CBI need not take instructions from "political masters" on their probe. Following the comments of the apex court, Sinha went into a huddle with his senior officers to decide the future course of action. Emerging from a 30-minute

meeting at his North Block office, Sinha said he would respond to all queries raised by the Supreme Court in his affidavit as directed. When asked whether he would demand more autonomy from Supreme Court, Sinha said, "It is a matter between government and judiciary, I cannot comment on that." He said it is for them to take a call on what type of autonomy needs to be given to the investigating agency and under what circumstances it should interact with the political masters. Sinha had, in a two-page affidavit, admitted before the SC that its status report on the coal blocks probe was shared with Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and joint secretary level officers in Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and Coal Ministry. The admission triggered an opposition attack on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demands for Law Minister's resignation. The demand was, however, rejected by Singh. "I submit that the draft of the same (status report) was shared with Law Minister as desired by him prior to its submission before

the Supreme Court. Besides the political executive, it was also shared with one joint secretary level officer each of Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Coal as desired by them," Sinha had said.

apex court that there have been "arbitrary allotments without scrutiny" in the coal blocks allocation during UPA-I tenure and the government vehemently refuting the findings saying that the "CBI is not the final word on this."

The affidavit, filed on the direction of the apex court, was contrary to submission made by Additional Solicitor General Hiren Raval before SC that the coalgate scam report was not shared with any member of the government. Earlier, the CBI and the Centre had clashed over the coalgate scam with the agency telling the

In its status report filed on March 8, the CBI had said that the coal block allocation during 2006-09 was done without verifying the credentials of companies which allegedly misrepresented facts about themselves and no rationale was given by the Coal Ministry in giving coal blocks to them.-PTI

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Azam Khan sees conspiracy behind detention in Boston NEW YORK: Uttar Pradesh Minister Azam Khan, who was briefly detained at a US airport, has accused External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid of hatching a "conspiracy" to defame him outside India. He even claimed that a call on continuation of Samajwadi Party's support to the UPA government will be taken by party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav after hearing his version and that of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on their return to India. "Our leader knows exactly what had happened and who is behind this and he will take a decision soon on the continuation of support to the UPA government," he said. Insisting that his detention should not be compared to that

land Security using his clout as an Indian Cabinet Minister. "My detention at the Boston Logan International can't be treated on par with insults heaped on either former President APJ Abdul Kalam or actor Shah Rukh Khan as I was targeted by Khurshid and his coterie who had no guts to oppose me on Indian soil," he told PTI before boarding his flight to India. "When I was in detention inside the airport, the Consulate General of India's protocol officers who had come to receive us acted like total strangers and silent spectators. I guess they must have got some instructions from their superiors to stay away," Khan alleged. Maintaining that during the 45 minutes of his detention the pro-

"My detention at the Boston Logan International can't be treated on par with insults heaped on either former President APJ Abdul Kalam or actor Shah Rukh Khan as I was targeted by Khurshid and his coterie who had no guts to oppose me on Indian soil" of former president A P J Abdul Kalam, Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, Indian Ambassador to the UN Hardeep Singh Puri or the then Indian envoy to the US Meera Shankar, Khan alleged, "It was a conspiracy because I am a powerful non-Congress Muslim leader of India and he (Khurshid) had cleverly planned with the help of the Department of Home-

tocol officials could have contacted the New York Consul General and the Consul General could have contacted Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao in Washington, Khan claimed, "Nobody spoke a single word to get me out of trouble and I had to fend for myself." "How can you expect the Government of India to protest when

Khurshid is holding the foreign ministry portfolio? If you do not know who Khurshid is, then I am very sorry... He tried to defame me in my state and failed miserably. He is unfit to be Indian Foreign Minister," he alleged. "Except the spokesman of the External Affairs Ministry who issued a routine matter-of-fact statement, did anybody holding responsible position in the central government condemn the incident? Does this sound weird? I am an Indian citizen first and a politician next. Will any other country keep quiet and act like this if their citizen or someone holding high office were insulted and humiliated," Khan asked. Giving a ball-by-ball account of the incident, he said after he checked in at one of the immigration counters, the officer who was attending to visitors took his diplomatic passport and ushered him into an ante room. The Minister said he was made to sit alone on a bench for 45 minutes in the room. "I asked why was I being singled out in the team of 12 from India but got no answer." "I asked them are you suspecting me because I am a Muslim. I was taken to the room while all others were cleared and I felt ashamed and humiliated. Only 24 hours before my departure for this country, the US Consulate issued me a multiple-entry visa for 10 years. Wouldn't have they made the necessary background checks whether I am a terrorist or not before issuing the visa? They also gave a 10-year multiple-entry vi-

Khurshid plays down Azam Khan's detention ALMATY: Downplaying the detention of UP Minister Azam Khan at a US airport, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the strict immigration procedures were one of the requirements of traveling to that country. At the same time, Khurshid said that India has always urged for greater sensitivity and courtesy in such matters and if there has been any departure from normal course, the government would take it up for every citizen and not only for someone who has any "special stature". "I am not sure about the details of what has happened. There are processes and procedures at immigration counters in the US that we have all been through. It is based largely, not on subjective choice, but it is

based on what the computers throw up by way of names, background and random checks," he said when reached for comment on the Azam Khan episode. Khan, who was part of a del-

Salman Khurshid

egation accompanying UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to Harvard University, was detained for a brief while at the Boston Air-

port. Khan took exception for the treatment. Asked about reports that a section of Samajwadi Party was blaming Khurshid for the lapse, the External Affairs Minister quipped: "That is interesting. I could not have been at the airport because I was not in the US." He said such matters would be taken up for any Indian citizen who goes through a process that we consider unacceptable or undesirable. "He was part of an important delegation visiting Harvard and led by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and therefore it would have been of concern to all of us," Khurshid said. -PTI

sas to my wife and children," he said. "After 45 minutes, the officers came to me and said, 'here is your passport and you can go'. I told them I won't leave the airport unless they tell me why they had

and pulled it out in front of other officers, I would not have had any defense. They could question me how did I get the map of The White House and jailed me for life. I had no evidence and anything could have happened in the room.

Azam Khan

detained me. Until you tell why you harassed me and caused mental agony, I won't leave the airport at any cost. They ill-treated and insulted me. If you do not know who I am you should have checked in India. I also told them that I refuse to enter the US and want to return to my motherland." Khan said then a lady officer came to him and asked him to forget the incident and pack his bags and go, but she did not either tender an apology or express regret. "No questions were asked during my entire detention and I guess they were hatching a conspiracy but could not execute their game plans. If they had put a map of The White House in my pocket

They wanted to execute some other game plan to fix me up but had no time or failed to do it," he alleged. "I suspect some kind of collusion or understanding between the two governments to defame me. It could be like a joint military exercise as Indian politicians tried their best in India to fix me but failed. Even though I am a Muslim I managed Kumbh Mela well and got international recognition and they could not stomach it." Khan said his Indian diplomatic passport did not come to his rescue and none of the Immigration officials respected it.PTI

UP CM's US trip hit by Azam Khan detention episode NEW YORK: Akhilesh Yadav's visit to the US was hampered by the brief detention of his cabinet colleague Azam Khan at the Boston airport, as it prompted the UP Chief Minister to boycott the Harvard lecture and get a reception in his honor by the Indian Consulate here cancelled. Yadav's first visit to the US as UP Chief Minister, came to an end as he left for New Delhi by a scheduled flight from John F Kennedy International Airport this morning. He was to lead a delegation during the trip to Harvard University in Boston to attend a session on Kumbh Mela which he and Khan ultimately boycotted to protest the latter's detention at the Boston airport on April 25. Earlier, newly appointed Consul General of India to New York D M Mulay called on the Chief Minister at Hotel Taj Pierre in

Manhattan before his departure. Yadav is believed to have discussed Khan's detention in detail with Mulay. Yadav was confined to his room most of the time during his stay here and had cancelled all his official engagements since his arrival to the city from Boston. The Chief Minister made a brief private visit to New Jersey to meet his relatives after getting a reception organized in his honor by the Indian Consulate here cancelled. Yadav had visited New York two years ago as part of the Indian delegation to address the UN General Assembly session in his capacity as a MP. Some of his friends and those who had met him during his last visit, called on the Chief Minister in his hotel suite.-PTI

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Sikh American Congressional Caucus launched WASHINGTON DC: History was made here on April 24 as Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) and Representative David Valadao (RCA) announced the launch of the

Valadao are the Co-Chairs of the Caucus. Already, 30 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives have joined the Caucus. The purpose of the Caucus is to educate Members of Congress

first-ever American Sikh Congressional Caucus. Representatives Chu and

and the general public about Sikh American issues. It will also allow members to strategize on how

India Post News Service

to support the Sikh American community. Addressing Sikh community leaders, Members of Congress, and journalists on Capitol Hill, Congresswoman Chu said, "Today marks the day when Sikh Americans will finally have a unified voice to advocate for them in the United States House of Representatives. This bipartisan caucus, made up of members from California to Virginia, from New Jersey to Arizona, will stand by your side, and fight for you." Chu continued, "More than a

India, Saudi Arabia set up joint group to resolve labor issues

Boston bomb contained traces of woman DNA

RIYADH: India and Saudi tation of Nitaqat program and also Arabia have agreed to set up a regularizing the status of overjoint working group to address "all staying workers and their return immediate problems" facing the to India," the statement quoted the Indian community including is- Minister as saying. sues related to overstaying Indian The Indian delegation has also workers and the Kingdom's new conveyed its concern over the labor policy. Nitaqat program. The decision to form the joint Minister of State for External working group was taken during Affairs E Ahamed and Advisor to the meeting held between the In- Prime Minister T K A Nair were dian delegation, led by Minister also part of the delegation. of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, and Saudi Arabia's Minister The 'Nitaqat' law makes it manof Labor Adel Fakieh. datory for local companies to hire The two sides agreed that the one Saudi national for every 10 first meeting of this joint group migrant workers. There has been will be held on May 1, a statement released by the Indian embassy in Over two million Indians Riyadh said. are currently working in The visit is aimed at exchanging views with Saudi Arabia. The Saudi the Saudi leadership on government was the welfare of the Indian community in the con- implementing the Nitaqat text of its Nitaqat pro- law to cut unemployment gram, the statement in the country said. The visit also aimed at briefing the Indian community widespread perception that the in Saudi Arabia on the specific new policy will lead to denial of steps that the Indian government job opportunities for a large numhas taken for the rehabilitation of ber of Indians working there. the returning Indians and adOver two million Indians are dressing their concern in this re- currently working in Saudi Arabia. gard. The Saudi government was imple"We had met the Indian com- menting the Nitaqat law to cut munity workers before my meet- unemployment in the country. ing with the Saudi authorities. The Earlier India had said that new delegation understood the issues Saudi labor policy will affect only and took it up with the Saudi lead- illegal immigrants and not genuership appropriately. ine workers employed in the King"The issues include implemen- dom.-PTI

BOSTON: Woman's DNA has been found on at least one of the explosive devices used in the Boston bombings, adding a new dimension to the probe into the terror attack that killed three people and wounded over 200 others. The findings, reported by the US media, have raised the possibility of involvement of a woman in the Boston Marathon twin blasts, which is blamed on two Chechen-origin brothers. The US authorities have arrested Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, on charges of using a weapon of mass destruction, while his elder brother Tamerlan, 26, was shot dead by police. "Investigators have found female DNA on at least one of the bombs used in the Boston Marathon attacks, though they haven't determined whose DNA it is or whether its presence means a woman helped the two brothers suspected in the bombings," The Wall Street Journal said quoting US officials. "No one should expect that the investigation is over," an investigator was quoted as saying by Fox News, according to which this raises the possibility of involvement of a woman. Meanwhile, federal investigating authorities searched the Rhode Island home of parents of Katherine Russell, the widow of Tamerlan, and the nearby family of a man identified as his mysterious mentor.-PTI

decade after 9/11, too many Sikhs September 11, Sikh Americans across America face discrimina- have experienced a sharp rise in tion, bullying, and even bias-mo- incidents of bias-motivated viotivated violence from misguided lence and bullying. The Associindividuals associating them with ated Press reported that more than the terrorist attacks." Citing the 700 such incidents took place in American founding principles of the US over the last decade. Surreligious freedom, acceptance veys have also found that up to and tolerance, Chu hoped that the three out of every four Sikh boys newly formed American Sikh Con- in the United States are bullied due gressional Caucus for Sikh Americans "will finally have a united biCiting the American foundpartisan voice in Congress." ing principles of religious Congressman Valadao noted, "The freedom, acceptance and Central Valley is home tolerance, Chu hoped that to more than 25,000 Sikhs, the largest popu- the newly formed American lation in the United Sikh Congressional Caucus States. Just in my district, California's 21st for Sikh Americans "will congressional district, there are at least seven finally have a united bipartiGurdwaras," adding, "I san voice in Congress." am excited and honored that I will be able to represent the Sikh community in to their appearance. The shootWashington and am looking for- ing at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, ward to working with my col- Wisconsin last year is a tragic exleagues to address the unique is- ample of why Congress must fosues this community faces." cus on Sikh American issues. While Sikhs have contributed The effort to create the Caugreatly to our nation's prosperity, cus was spearheaded by commuthey do face challenges to the en- nity members Harpreet Sandhu joyment of their rights. Although and Dr Pritpal Singh from CaliforSikhs have served with distinction nia. Sikh organizations Saldef, in the U.S. Armed Forces in both Sikh Coalition and United Sikhs, World Wars, Vietnam and most re- worked together to increase Concently in Afghanistan, Sikhs are gressional support for the Caucus. not presumptively permitted to Sikh Americans and Sikh organijoin the U.S. Armed Forces be- zations are hopeful that the Caucause of restrictive appearance cus will serve as a platform for regulations. better engagement with the United Similarly, in the aftermath of States Congress.

amous Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan, who had a multi-city tour of the USA, came to Chicago recently and had a stage show at Sears Center arena entertaining a large number of enthusiastic fans. Sunil Shah, a community activist in Chicagoland and his singer wife Rita Shah were part of this welcoming crowd. Sunidhi Chauhan (center) is seen here flanked by Sunil Shah, his wife Rita Shah and their two sons Swapnil and Sahaj.

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Willing to work with India to resolve differences: China BEIJING: China has taken note of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's remarks over PLA's incursion into the Depsang Valley and said that it is willing to work with New Delhi to deal with differences while maintaining peace at borders and forging strategic cooperative partnership. "We have noted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's statement," a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. "The two sides have been in communication through the working mechanism for consultation and coordination on boundary affairs, border meetings and diplomatic channels for a solution to the incident in part of the western section of the ChinaIndia border," the statement said. According to the statement, the reaction was in response to a question over Singh's remarks that Chinese troops incursion into the Depsang Valley in Ladakh can be settled through talks. Singh told media in New Delhi that India does not want to "accentuate" the situation in the wake of the recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh and is working on a plan to resolve it. "We do have a plan. We do not want to accentuate the situation. We do believe

Singh told media in New Delhi that India does not want to "accentuate" the situation in the wake of the recent Chinese incursion in Ladakh and is working on a plan to resolve it that it is possible to resolve this problem. It is a localized problem. I think the talks are going on," Singh said. China had denied that its People's Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers had pitched tents in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in Ladakh amounted to trespass and violation of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The Chinese statement said "we stand ready to work together with India to properly deal with differences and maintain peace and tranquility in the border areas in a bid to boost the healthy and stable development of China-India strategic and cooperative partnership." It said "while actively developing friendly cooperation in recent years, China and India have committed themselves to settling disputes including the boundary question through peaceful negotiation and preventing the disputes from affecting the development of bilateral relations". The two sides are currently trying to resolve the issue through border consultation mechanism inked last year even as External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid is due visit Beijing on May 9, which officials said would be followed by new Chinese Premier Li Keqiang visit to New Delhi.-PTI

Manmohan Singh

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Seniors benefited with donation from California VAIDEHI PATEL India Post News Service

BARODA: Two front ranking senior help centers in Gujarat Mangal Jivan in Sedrana Sidhpur taluka and Manav Mandir in Navsari - recently got a big boost for their humanitarian activities with a hefty donation from a California-based charitable organization. Charitable Care Foundation (CCF) set up 1991, presented total checks for Rs 750,000 to these organizations through one of its founding members and Trustees, Kantibhai Patel to help them carry out their program of providing

shelter and food to senior citizens more effectively. Kantibhai Patel in a talk to this paper said that his organization " is proud to have its mission to assist needy people become healthy, productive, and self-reliant realized through these agencies in Gujarat, Our efforts and resources are focused on local and international needs - particularly in the Bay Area of California and India," Mangal Jivan Trust, Sedrana, spread in 16 acres of land containing 4000 trees, runs Aastha for seniors and Kalrav, an orphanage for children. Kalrav provides shelter, food, clothes and fees for

Resident seniors at Mangal Jivan old age home, Sidroiva, Siddhpur, Gujarat

Kantibhai Patel, Trustee, CCF Presenting CCF donation check to Dr Devchand Yogi, Director Mangal Jivan old age home

education, offers training to children up to 18 years. It runs a house for seniors with four dormitories having 14 rooms and a library with 5000 books. Interestingly, it is also an environment protection program Manav Mandir SBG Charitable trust in Navsari operates Vridharam, providing shelter, food to inmates, library, recreation and medical facility that helps the life of seniors. Set up five years ago, it has expanded its facilities from 222 residents in 2008 increased to 360 residents with additional rooms now. It plans setting up a facility that would offer vision to blind Kantibhai, accompanied by his wife Kalaben Patel, said that his

organization has raised and distributed funds around the world.

Funds so distributed are used for medical, surgical and emergency services, eye camps, educational and hospital building, housing for senior citizens, food package distribution during flood and cyclone disasters, thanks giving dinners, tsunami and earthquake victims. CCF has been organizing Raas-Garba, film and folk dance competition. It's last such competition was participated by more than 560 performers and 40 choreographers. "By doing this yearly fundraising event, CCF has increased community awareness in helping needy, deserving poor, sick, and hungry around the world," it says.

Manav Mandir: Navsari old age home. Kantibhai, Trustee of CCF with residents of Manav Mandir old age home

India-born UK nurse blamed Fiji Indian gets life term for slaughtering family Aus DJs in suicide note LONDON: The India-born nurse found hanged in London, days after a prank radio call by two Australian DJs to a UK hospital treating a pregnant Kate Middleton, has directly blamed them for her death in a suicide note. Jacintha Saldanha, 46, who was on the hospital switchboard where Kate was being treated for morning sickness last December and forwarded the hoax call to the Duchess of Cambridge's ward, has asked her bosses in the handwritten note to make the presenters pay her mortgage, according to a report in 'The Sunday Times'. In one of three letters she left behind, the mother of two from Bristol reportedly exonerates the King Edward VII's Hospital in London. "Please accept my apologies. I am truly sorry. Thank you for all your support. I hold the Radio Australians Mel Greig and Michael Christian responsible for this act. Please make them pay my mortgage. I am sorry. Jacintha,"

the newspaper quotes one of her notes, addressed to her managers at the hospital. Saldanha had been found hanged with a scarf from her wardrobe in staff accommodation near

Saldanha had accepted the hoax call from the DJs pretending to be Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William's father Prince Charles, before passing it on to a colleague who divulged details of Kate's

Michael Christian and Mel Greig

the hospital, three days after the hoax call in December 2012. She also had marks on her wrist and an initial inquest hearing had found no suspicious circumstances into her death.

morning sickness. The broadcast of the call caused international outrage and Saldanha's subsequent death triggered a major backlash against the radio network and the hosts. -PTI

MELBOURNE: An Indian-ori- Bimlesh murdered his wife and gin man, convicted of murdering children. However, defense counhis wife and two minor daughters, sel Irshad Samad claimed that it has been sentenced to life impris- was Ranjani who had murdered onment by a court in Fiji. their young daughters before 33-year-old Bimlesh Dayal was trying to attack Bimlesh. But the sentenced by the high court in investigator's reports did not Suva, the capital of the island na- support this argument, the report tion of Fiji, for murdering his wife Ranjini Rekha Singh and two Bimlesh will have to serve at daughters, Amisha and least 20 years in jail for three Anisha, on October 28, 2011, at their family counts of murder before he home in Vatuwaqa, the 'Fiji Times' reported. He becomes eligible for parole, later tried to commit Justice Paul Madigan ruled suicide. Bimlesh will have to serve at least 20 years in jail for said. three counts of murder before he Defense had then argued that becomes eligible for parole, Jus- Bimlesh struck his wife only once tice Paul Madigan ruled. with the chopper in self defense, The incident had sent ripples but post-mortem report said that through the Indian origin com- there were multiple deep wounds munity in Fiji, which forms almost on Ranjini's neck. 40 per cent of the total populaBimlesh had claimed that his tion of 827,900. wife had an affair with their The State had argued that landlord's son. -PTI

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Musharraf barred from contesting polls for life ISLAMABAD: In a severe jolt to former Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf's plans to stage a political comeback, a court has banned him from contesting elections for the rest of his life for abrogating constitution twice and detaining judges during the emergency in 2007. A four-judge bench of the Peshawar High Court headed by Chief Justice Dost Muhammad Khan imposed the ban while dismissing Musharraf's appeal challenging the rejection of his nomination papers for May 11 general election. The lifetime ban was imposed because Musharraf had abrogated the Constitution twice and detained judges during the 2007

emergency, the bench said. Musharraf was barred from contesting polls to the national and provincial assemblies and the Senate, it said. One of Musharraf's lawyers, Saad Shibli, says he would challenge the ruling in the Supreme Court. Election authorities had earlier rejected Musharraf's nomination papers for four parliamentary seats in Islamabad, Punjab, Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa because of his actions while in power. Musharraf's lawyers had filed an appeal in the Peshawar High Court against the rejection of nomination papers for a parliamentary seat in Chitral region of Khyber-

Pakhtunkhwa province. The 69-year-old former President is currently being held at his farmhouse on the

He has been accused of providing inadequate security to Bhutto after she returned to Pakistan from self-exile in 2007.

Investigators to quiz Rehman Malik in Bhutto case ISLAMABAD: Pakistani investigators probing the 2007 assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto have decided to quiz Rehman Malik after being told by Pervez Musharraf that the former interior minister had decided details of her security on the day she was killed. Malik was head of Bhutto's security when she returned to Pakistan from selfexile in late 2007. Federal Investigation Agency officials

Musharraf reportedly made the revelation when he was questioned. The FIA worked under Malik during his stint as Interior Minister in the Pakistan People's Party-led government. It was during Malik's tenure that the FIA was tasked with investigating the assassination. The joint investigation team for the probe was constituted by Malik and it never examined him in connection with the assassination. Musharraf said it was Malik's responsibility to persuade Bhutto not to come out of her bulletproof vehicle because police could not force her to remain inside, the report said. He further claimed that Malik was a mediator between his regime and the PPP and he negotiated with police for security arrangements at the election meeting at Liaquat Bagh, where Bhutto and 23 others were killed in a terrorist attack. The joint investigation team decided to record Malik's statement to fulfill a legal requirement mandatory in such Rehman Malik investigations, especially after the revelations by Musharraf, the sources were quoted as Musharraf denied his involvement saying. in the killing and said Bhutto was The investigators will issue a notice to Malik and then killed because of a security breach record his statement. for which Malik was responsible, Salman Safdar, the counsel the Dawn newspaper quoted its for Musharraf, confirmed that the former President had asked sources in the FIA as saying. why Malik had not been examMusharraf reportedly made the ined so far by the FIA. revelation when he was questioned Safdar said the arrangements made by Malik for who questioned the former president after Bhutto's rally were known only to him. his arrest over the assassination were told "Why there was such a major security that Malik decided details of security for breach which facilitated the attack is also a the December 27, 2007 public meeting in guarded secret and only Mr Malik can anRawalpindi where she was killed. swer. The former Interior Minister should Musharraf denied his involvement in the also explain why the FIA took control of killing and said Bhutto was killed because the case when the then Punjab governof a security breach for which Malik was ment had already constituted a joint inresponsible, the Dawn newspaper quoted vestigation team to investigate the matits sources in the FIA as saying. ter," he said.-PTI

Pervez Musharraf

outskirts of Islamabad, which has been declared a sub-jail, after he was arrested over the sacking of judges during the 2007 emergency and the assassination of former premier Benazir Bhutto. An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi meanwhile remanded Musharraf to judicial custody for a fortnight over the Bhutto assassination case.

Musharraf, who heads the All Pakistan Muslim League, returned to Pakistan last month after nearly four years in self-exile to make a political comeback but he has been dragged to court over several issues, including the imposition of emergency rule in 2007 and the death of Baloch leader Akbar Bugti in a 2006 military operation.PTI

Tech News No contempt made out against us: Sahara to SC NEW DELHI: The Sahara group and its promoter Subrata Roy has told the Supreme Court that no case of contempt is made out against them as they have complied with its directions on the issue of supplying documents to SEBI and has started refunding Rs 24,000 crore to its investors. The Sahara group mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice K S Radhakrishnan and said they have filed affidavits relating to the contempt notice and need more time to file a response in relation to the application by the stock market regulator seeking civil arrest or detention of Roy and other directors. Sahara's plea was mentioned by senior advocate Ram Jethmalani and advocate Keshav Mohan. Sahara and its promoters filed around 10 affidavits and two additional affidavits are likely to be filed soon. The counsel said there was no case of willful disobedience of the apex court order as the documents have been supplied to SEBI and on December 5, 2012, the issue of depositing money was also considered by the court. -PTI

H&M seeks to invest euro 100mn on single brand stores NEW DELHI: Swedish fashion retail giant Hennes & Mauritz (H&M) has sought government permission to enter the singlebrand retail segment in India with a proposed investment of 100 million euros (around Rs 700 crore). According to official sources, the company has applied for 100 per cent foreign direct investment to the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion for opening 50 stores over a period of time. "The investment proposed in the application is 100 million euros," a source said. The timeline of the investment, however, could not be ascertained. When contacted a spokesperson of H&M in Stockholm confirmed that the company has sought permission to enter the Indian market. "It is correct that H&M has filed for single brand retail entry into India, but there are no concrete plans today when we would be opening our first stores, or how many stores that we would be opening in the future," the spokesperson said in an e-mailed response. -PTI

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NEC India appoints Partho Dasgupta as MD MUMBAI: IT firm NEC India said it has appointed Partho Dasgupta as its Managing Director. Dasgupta is the first Indian to be appointed in this role and will undertake the leadership of NEC's business operations in the local market, NEC India said in a statement. He will report to Toshiya Matsuki, regional CEO at NEC Asia Pacific, it added. Dasgupta replaces Koji Oda, who will return to Japan to assume position as Executive Expert at the Global Business Unit of NEC Corporation, it said. -PTI

US eyes FATCA pact for info on Americans' assets in India NEW DELHI: US tax authorities may soon get access to all significant assets and accounts held by American citizens and companies with banks and other financial sector entities in India, and a draft inter-government agreement in this regard is currently being vetted by the Sebi. The proposed agreement is part of the US administration's efforts to combat any possible tax evasion by its residents through foreign accounts in India and other countries. The US is signing these agreements with different countries under a three-year-old law, known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), which is aimed at combating tax evasion by US persons and companies holding accounts and other financial assets abroad. According to a senior official, a draft Inter-Government Agreement (IGA) is currently under consideration of India's capital markets regulator Sebi, which oversees a major part of the financial services sector. The Finance Ministry has already asked banking regulator RBI for its views and suggestions on the proposed IGA. A final IGA would be prepared by the Finance Ministry after taking into account the views and

suggestions of Sebi, RBI and other stakeholders and the FATCA agreement should be implemented by the deadline of January 1, 2014, he said. Once implemented, the agreement would provide the US tax department, the Internal Revenue

countries, while talks are on with over 50 jurisdictions, including India. The US was earlier expecting to sign an IGA with India under FATCA by the end of 2012 itself, but the matter has got delayed due to the significant implications its

The foreign financial institutions would be required to charge a withholding tax on their complaints that are in default of the FATCA Act in the US and submit the same to the IRS Service (IRS), an access to details of all offshore accounts and assets beyond a threshold limit held by Americans here, while a reciprocal arrangement could be offered for the Indian authorities as well. Starting from USD 50,000, the threshold limits would vary for different classes of entities. The US has already signed similar bilateral agreements with the UK, Switzerland and a few more

implementation and compliance might have for banks and other financial sector entities here. The US has proposed two model IGAs under the FATCA law -- the one provides for the financial institutions directly reporting the required details to the IRS and the other involves the details being shared through the government of the concerned jurisdiction.

However, certain types of assets, accounts and entities could be exempted from the compliance to the provisions of FATCA pact, including those related to retirement funds, certain insurance funds and the government agencies. It is also being considered whether the accounts and certain assets of the NRIs, who might be US citizens, should be exempted. Once the FATCA pact is implemented, the non-compliant entities and persons would be subject to heavy penalties. Besides, the foreign financial institutions would be required to charge a withholding tax on their complaints that are in default of the FATCA Act in the US and submit the same to the IRS. Sources said that implementation of any of the two IGA models would involve major changes in the way banks and other financial sector entities maintain their client and business data, as the current practices do not necessarily involve capturing of separate data for the US clients. In the capital markets, the brokerages and other entities would need to implement systems that could provide for automatic collection of data related to their US clients with assets or account balances beyond specified threshold limits. -PTI

Investor sentiment towards India improving: Citigroup NEW DELHI: Investor sentiments towards India is improving due to falling commodity prices, expansionary global liquidity conditions and prospects of a good monsoon, says a report. However, political uncertainty and progress on implementation of reforms remain a cause of concern, Citigroup said in a report. The consensus view of about 40 institutional investors in Europe across Indian asset classes - equities, rates and forex - was "positive", the report added. Investor feedback confirms

Political uncertainty and risk of an early election could offset the positive impact of lower commodity prices, it saidadding, commodity prices remaining at current levels are "key" that sentiment towards India is improving, with the key driver being comfort on the Current Account Deficit; falling inflation levels and on expectation that fiscal targets are more likely to be met, which bodes well for India's sovereign rating outlook, Citigroup said. "The delta change on the out-

look for all asset classes is positive but political/policy risks and possibility of a re-bound in gold remain concerns," Citigroup said. The report further noted that given the drop in commodity prices, sentiment towards all Indian assets is undoubtedly positive, however, this doesn't remove

fundamental challenges and recovery in growth is likely to be modest. Moreover, political uncertainty and risk of an early election could offset the positive impact of lower commodity prices, it said, adding, commodity prices remaining at current levels are "key". With regards to equities, investors referred to India as a "Tease" market, on the radar once again thanks to lower commodity prices, coupled with expansionary global monetary conditions.-PTI

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Airlines can charge for preferred Direct cash through Aadhaar to save 0.5pc of GDP seats, check-in bags: Govt NEW DELHI: In a move that would raise the cost of air travel, the government has said it has allowed airlines to charge passengers for preferred seats on a flight, check-in baggages and meals, among other things. "Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has decided to permit

necessary aspect of exercising more control over operational costs and running a successful airline". "The objective of the decision is to facilitate airlines to offer low base fare for price sensitive travelers, while at the same time offer choice to service seekers at a

The airlines which decide to levy charges on these services would have to file details of services to be unbundled and the fees to be charged for them to the aviation regulator Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). "DGCA may not fix fee for unbundled services but shall have

scheduled airlines to unbundle certain services and to charge fees for these services separately," an official release said. The services for which the airlines would be free to charge passengers include preferential seating, meals, snacks, drinks (barring drinking water), check-in baggages, use of airline lounges, carriage of sports equipment and musical instruments and valuable baggages which have higher carrier liability. The practice was launched in 2008 by some US carriers which were facing financial crunch. Their decision to charge for even the first checked baggage had then received flak from air travelers, but the practice still continues with the airlines generating revenue worth millions of dollars. The release said the Minister's decision was based on recommendations of an independent consultant, which said, "Unbundling of services ... has become a

price," it said. The decision would "allow the passengers to benefit from lower base fares and to customize the product to better suit their requirements and budget while allowing airlines to develop more sustainable operations in an environment of wafer-thin margins," the release said.

the right to intervene and stop charging if regulatory principles are violated by the airlines," the release said. It said the airlines would have to maintain transparency and inform the traveling public and agents what fee was being charged for which of the 'unbundled services'. The charges for would be a fixed amount and announced well in advance by the airlines "which shall not vary with the base fare for a particular flight". The customers should be given the opportunity by the airlines to pick and choose which amenities they want to receive and pay for, the release said. Observing that the airlines would be free to levy fees for these services, travel industry sources said there would now on be no difference between a no-frill and a full service carrier, once these charges on meals and preferred seats are implemented. -PTI

It said the airlines would have to maintain transparency and inform the traveling public and agents what fee was being charged for which of the 'unbundled services'.The charges for would be a fixed amount and announced well in advance

India's GDP likely to improve to 5.7 pc: IMF WASHINGTON: Indicating that India's declining growth has bottomed out, International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the country's GDP is likely to improve to 5.7 per cent in 2013 and further to 6.2 per cent a year after. For Asia as a whole the economic growth is likely to be 5.7 per cent this calendar and 6 per cent in 2013, IMF said in its 'Regional Economic Outlook: Asia and Pacific' report. As per IMF's projections, India's real economic growth was 11.2 per cent in 2010, 7.7 per cent in 2011 and 4 per cent in the last calendar. It further said that in South Asia, "notwithstanding a modest growth recovery in India on a

more favorable external demand environment, deep-rooted structural challenges are expected to exert a substantial drag on potential growth while keeping inflation at elevated levels by regional standards". The Washington headquartered multilateral agency said medium-term growth prospects for China, India, and other emerging Asia economies have recently become focus of economic debates in the region. "Indeed, growth in both China and India has declined since the global financial crisis," it said. On inflation, IMF said that across much of Asia, headline inflation slowed markedly through 2012, and in many cases by some

2 percentage points. "...the notable exceptions were India, Indonesia, and, to a lesser extent, Thailand," it added. The report said, for countries where inflationary pressures have been elevated, vigilance on inflation will pay dividends for longterm growth. "For example, in India, monetary policy can best support growth by putting inflation on a clear downward trend," it said. As per the report, a drop in private investment over rising policy uncertainty exacerbated supply bottlenecks in India, which contributed to headline inflation that was high compared to most other Asian economies in 2012. -PTI

WASHINGTON: Integration of direct cash transfer with Aadhaar will take time but the scheme will help Indian government save 0.5 per cent of the GDP, International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said. "... the total savings could be substantial: if the combination of direct cash transfer and Aadhaar eliminates the estimated 15 per cent leakage cited above for the programs being integrated, savings could total 0.5 per cent of GDP in addition to the gains from the better targeting of spending on the poor," the IMF said in a report. Direct cash transfers, which entail direct payments from the government to recipients, can bring down costs and diversion by phasing out middlemen and complex bureaucracies, it added. The 'Regional Economic Outlook: Asia and Pacific' report further said the integration of these two programs - Aadhaar and direct cash transfers promises further savings. "...but will involve many challenges: the timeframe for bringing India's population of 1.2 billion into the Aadhaar program could extend beyond 2014, and integrating this database with information on individuals eligible for subsidized fuel will take time," it added. As per the Unique Identification Authority of India, (UIDAI) which issues the Aadhaar numbers, about 320 million such cards have been issued so far. UIDAI has plans to issue 600 million Aadhaar cards by 2014. India has initiated a wide-ranging project to shift many subsidy programs toward direct cash transfers. The Indian government has started transferring cash directly

into the bank accounts of beneficiaries of selected schemes using the Aadhaar payment gateway in a phased manner. The first phase started in January covering 43 districts and 78 more would be brought covered from July 1.

Currently, India maintains large subsidy programs for food, fertilizer and fuels. Subsidized food and kerosene are available from government-owned stores at belowmarket prices for eligible residents. While all fertilizer sales are at subsidized prices, LPG cylinders are distributed directly, with a limit on each household's subsidized purchase. Referring to kerosene, IMF said given that the fuel is consumed by the poorest in the Indian population, "replacing the current system on a broad basis will have to be done with care". Pilot programs delivering subsidized kerosene using Aadhaarbased identification have been set up in North Indian state of Rajasthan. A pilot scheme replacing subsidized LPG with direct cash transfers was also launched in Mysore of South Indian state of Karnataka. -PTI

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'MNCs parking profits in tax havens challenge for IT' NAGPUR: The practice of multi-national companies parking their profits in tax havens to evade or avoid taxes is a challenge for

of taxation is low to evade or avoid tax, he said. "Transfer pricing is one of the most complicated task which you (I-T officers) shall have to discharge and I have no doubt you will render excellent services to your motherland," Mukherjee said as he complimented 115 passing out officers of the 65th batch of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). The batch President Pranab Mukherjee had joined the the I-T department and it should portals of the National Academy positively tackle these issues, of Direct Taxes (NADT) here, the President Pranab Mukherjee said alma mater of IRS (I-T) officers, in here. 2011 after clearing the civil ser"More than three-fourth of vices exam. business transactions of the multiMukherjee's statement asnational companies is being done sumes relevance as India, along through their various units," he with a host of emerging economies said. of the world, is working towards a The basic objective of such streamlined tax regime where the units is to locate places where rate due revenue of a country is col-

lected at the appropriate jurisdiction and the relevance of tax haven jurisdictions is negated to the least. India is an active member of top economic bodies like the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to realize these objectives. The President said India has inked a number of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) and Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) which has made it easier to obtain banking information from a foreign country in cases of cross-border tax evasion. "Some of the recalcitrant countries are now compelled to divulge information about tax avoidance and evasion, he said. The President said while tax collections have increased phenomenally, the revenue collection is still below the expected target and the tax officials should put in sincere and honest efforts to achieve them. "Tax collection is neither a simple or a popular task ...but you (officers) have to discharge your duty and be sensitive to right and privileges of citizens.

Kodak deal with creditor paves bankruptcy exit NEW YORK: Eastman Kodak "This clears the path for our has announced a deal to hand emergence from bankruptcy," he over film and printing businesses said in a statement. to its British pension fund, clearFollowing the reorganization, ing a key lender's claims that will the slimmed-down Kodak plans to allow it to exit bankruptcy reorga- sell large commercial-scaled diginization. tal printers and printing plates. Kodak said it was selling its Kodak will also continue to sell personalized and document imaging businesses to the Following the reorganization, UK Kodak Pension the slimmed-down Kodak Plan, its largest plans to sell large commercreditor, for USD 650 million and the cial-scaled digital printers and settlement of USD printing plates. 2.8 billion of claims against the photog- Kodak will also continue to sell raphy pioneer. film for movie productions The units to be divested include Kodak's retail film products, its film for movie productions. photography paper products and The divested businesses 105,000 kiosks worldwide where would be placed "with a new customers can take film to be de- owner that recognizes their value veloped. and is focused on their growth and The deal resolves all potential success," Perez said. claims against Kodak, while proSteven Ross, chairman of the viding the company the liquidity pension fund, said in the stateit needs to exit the Chapter 11 ment that the deal "provides sebankruptcy process, said Antonio curity for and delivers the greatPerez, Kodak chairman and chief est value to the KPP members." executive. Kodak said it would file the plan

with the Bankruptcy Court on April 30. The process will take "a period of some months," Kodak spokesman Christopher Veronda said. Kodak will then be a "smaller company focused on business-tobusiness" transactions, he added.

Kodak filed for bankruptcy protection from its creditors in January 2012, after 131 years in business, as the company fell behind rivals in digital photography. The Rochester, New York-based company, started in 1892, led the way in popularizing the cameras, film, slide projectors and home videos that preserved the memories of generations of Americans and others around the world. -AP

"One of the most important ingredient of your duty would be your behavior to the taxpayer. He or she is a partner for you and you have to also ensure that the revenue target is reached," he said. The Indian economy has seen a sea change over the years and it is now rated as the third largest economy of the world, he said. The President also said the modernization of tax laws was very critical and that direct tax laws are anti-inflatory in nature as compared to customs duty and federal excise. He said the department has ini-

said that when someone in power has a doubt about the decisions he or she has to take, the person should ask if the step one is contemplating will be of any help to the weakest of the society and then take a decision. Mukherjee also noted his old association with the NADT, when he used to visit the institution as the Union Finance Minister. The young officers should render their duties without "any fear or favor," Mukherjee said while also asking them to be ethical and moral. Union Minister of State for Fi-

The President said India has inked a number of Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements (DTAAs) and Tax Information Exchange Agreement (TIEA) which has made it easier to obtain banking information from a foreign country in cases of cross-border tax evasion. tiated a number of taxpayer friendly steps like simplified I-T return forms and many major complaints have been dealt with in the Direct Taxes Code. He recalled the famous talisman of Mahatma Gandhi where he had

nance Namo Narain Meena, Union Revenue Secretary Sumit Bose, CBDT Member (Personnel and Vigilance) Deepa Krishan and NADT Director General Ujjwal Chowdhary were present during the event. -PTI

Pharma cos should have clear rules for biz: Germany NEW DELHI: Noting that inno- health sector. We have got some vation needs to be "acknowl- explanations and the Indian govedged", Germany has expressed ernment feels Novartis case is not hope that pharma firms would the same as the Bayer case. There have clear rules to rely on for busi- have been many reactions among ness in India following the Su- pharma companies globally. preme Court's judgment in the "A feeling of uncertainty has Novartis patent-related case. been there due to this judgment. But "Innovation has to be acknowl- strategic decisions are to be reinedged. Innovation does need a fair price," German Health Minister "Pharmaceuticals can be Daniel Bahr said while provided at affordable stressing on the need for innovation by prices. Innovation should be pharma companies to invent new improved promoted, but patent prodrugs. tection is required to pro"Pharmaceuticals can be provided at af- mote innovation," fordable prices. Innovation should be promoted, but patent protection is vented and the pre-condition is that required to promote innovation," there should be clear rules for Bahr said, adding that Germany pharma companies to rely on. We wants to make innovations avail- hope to make good progress on the able to everyone and this has to issue and German pharma compabe affordable. nies can hope for a fair dialogue," He said his country was taking the German Health Minister said. a close look at the Novartis judgBahr advocating stronger coment, and hoped that it would not operation between Indian and Geraffect ties. many in the health sector, espe"I don't believe the Novartis cially in training and immigration case can affect cooperation be- of medical and nursing professiontween India and Germany in the als.-PTI

May 10, 2013

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Desi News Dr Kumar and team lifted AAPI to new heights RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

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Variety of paths accommodate variegated natures

May 10, 2013

Details on page 20

AD 25 Democratic delegates spur awakening in Indian community

Details on page 21

Hindi poets from India enthrall with comedy & satire

Ro Khanna addressing the gathering as Dr. Japra and Rahul Roy look on

RAMESH SOPARAWALA

RITU MAHESHWARI

India Post News Service

FREMONT: The Indian community created history when it helped elect most of its community members as delegates for Assembly District 25 on March 10. An appreciation dinner was held on April 27 to acknowledge this feat and plan on harnessing the strength of community to give it a representation in the nation's political landscape. Dinner was attended by many of the local community and political leaders. Addressing the gathering, Dr Romesh Japra, Chairman and Convener of Federation of Indo Americans Northern California (FIA) said that while the Indian community has shown great results and contributions in all walks of American life, we have not been able to make much inroads into the political field as we were not united.

Details on page 22

Holi-Baisakhi at Indo American Center SURESH SHAH

CHICAGO: The Indo American Center (IAC) lived up to its reputation as a premiere organization for seniors with a colorful celebration of Indian festivals of Holi and Baisakhi on April 8 at its premises on California Avenue in Chicago. The event attended by a large number of seniors from all walks of life and professing different religions was a treat to watch. It commenced at 11-30 a.m. and lasted for about four hours ending around 3 p.m. Details on page 23

"A few of the members who tried for political office faced tough challenges as they could

L-R: Vijay Thapar, Veeru Vuppala, Dr Japra, Rahul Roy, Rajesh Verma, Ro Khanna, Inder Dosanjh, Anil Yadav, Joe Johal, Dharminder Deewan and Rishi Kumar

in the political arena. One of key steps would be to support Ro Khanna for the Congressman

Guests listen to dignitaries with rapt attention

not muster lot of endorsements as they are key to winning popular support and thus elections." Dr Japra said it is imperative for the community to come together and work towards getting a voice

Ritu Maheshwari, Dharminder Diwan, Rajesh Verma, Ro Khanna, Dr. Japra, Sunita Japra, Kamal Nair and Jenny Feng

elections in 2014 from AD 25, he asserted. Ro Khanna is lecturer at Stanford University and has been US Department of Commerce Deputy Assistant Secre-

tary in the Obama administration. Dr Japra said this is a country where everyone can be whatever he or she wants to be. No race, ethnicity or other considerations can deter anyone from realizing their "American Dream". He encouraged the community to come together and support his bid for Congress in 2014 from Assembly District 25. Rahul Roy, entrepreneur, said that this is an awakening call for the community. That means the community should realize that individually we always have done well as engineers, doctors, attorneys, businessmen, accountants or any other profession and are very successful. But we have never made any impression politically because when we are divided, selfish and narrow minded, it is easy to be sidelined. We need to wake up and plan for the next generation. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 19

Vijay Thapar, Dr Romesh Japra, Ro Khanna, Rahul Roy, Rajesh Verma, Inder Dosanjh , Anil Yadav, Joe Johal, Dharminder Diwan, guest, Rishi Kumar, Jay Shree and Yogi Chug

Community Across America

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Divine music as tribute to Swami Vivekananda RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

CUPERTINO, CA: Over 1700 music lovers witnessed a divinely memorable evening in connection with the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Swami Vivekananda at the Flint Center in Cupertino on Saturday, April 20.

of human unity and equality, tolerance and love, the tune of the divine in the heart of man." The swami added that Swami Vivekananda was an extraordinary musician, both vocally, having been trained in classical Hindustani music from one of the greatest ustads of that period, as well as being an accomplished in-

Swami Prasannatmananda honoring Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia

Celebrations started at the First Unitarian Church of Oakland on January 12 this year, which was the 150th birthday of Swami Vivekananda. The spectacular April 20 music program began with traditional Vedic chanting in front of an arresting backdrop depicting Swami Vivekananda reclining in a relaxed mood, as if he were enjoying the music being offered to him. Swami

strumentalist. His specialty was pakhwaj. Swami Vivekananda believed that, "The greatest aid to the practice of keeping God in one's memory is, perhaps, music." Padma Vibhushan Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, the renowned bansuri (flute) player, accompanied by Pt. Subhankar Banerjee on tabla set the tone of the evening with raga Madhubanti. For an hour and a

Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia mesmerized the listeners

Prasannatmananda, the assistant swami of the Vedanta Society of Berkeley, then addressed the gathering. Quoting from Nobel Laureate Romain Rolland, he said: "Swami Vivekananda's words are great music. He set to music the tune that was haunting the ears of millions in the modern world, the tune

half, the maestros enthralled the audience with their brilliant performance, especially with their rendition of the Jugalbandi, a musical dialogue. They seemed to have united with the listeners, lifting them to an ethereal level. Padma Vibhushan Pt. Jasraj, one of the greatest Indian classical vocalists of Mewati Gharana

Pt. Jasraj rendering Swami Vivekandnda's favorite song

of Hindustani Classical Music, was accompanied by tabla virtuoso Pt. Swapan Chaudhuri along with Suman Ghosh (harmonium) and Tripti Banerjee (vocal). The strength, power, and extraordinary skill required for the performance of this music was masterfully demonstrated by Pt. Jasraj's exquisite rendering of a song composed by Swami Vivekananda, "Hara Hara Bhutanatha," which emphasized

the Swami's divine feelings expressed so beautifully in the song. Another significant offering to the Swami was Pt. Jasraj's soul-stirring performance of "Nirvanashatakam," or "Six Stanzas on Nirvana." Panditji's two hour outstanding presentation swept the audience into a higher dimension of human consciousness and will reverberate in their hearts forever. The program was conducted by Vijaya Asuri.

The yearlong celebrations of Swami Vivekananda's 150th BirthAnniversary will continue with the following events: Vivekananda Pilgrimage in July-Aug 2013 - A bus tour in the Bay Area where Swami Vivekananda lived, lectured and traveled during his stay in 1900.Academic Session in Oct-Nov 2013 - Panel Discussions at UC, Berkeley Campus, with eminent scholars and academicians from different Universities. Concluding program on January 12, 2014.

Community Across America

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What are the criteria of health? CHITRA THAKUR

he WHO (World Health Organization) defines healthiness as "State of complete physical, mental and social well being encompassing the ability to achieve full potential, deal with crises and meet environmental challenges and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." Although there are many definitions of healthiness, such as freedom from physical disease and pain, or the condition of an organism or one of its parts in which it performs its vital functions normally or properly, the ultimate should be the condition of being sound in body, mind and spirit. These three fundamental links of healthy life are based on eating habits, body composition and behavior. The transitions in them at an appropriate level lead to optimal health. Our eating habits include what we eat, when we eat and why we eat, and how much we eat. Our metabolism? (Choose MyPlate.gov) Our body composition depends upon how much water we drink, how much exercise we do,

whether our exercise is focused to a realistic target and whether we watch the results. Our behavior depends upon how we adapt to physical and int e r n a l stress; whether we breath enough; how much we try to keep ourselves happy; how well do we communicate. Are we healthy? Apparently, if we look good or feel good, have no disease and pain, look slim, BMI is normal; we may say that we are healthy. It is not always true. If one identifies how much fat our body has to keep the body functions to carry on, we get an indication about the present and

future state of healthiness. American Council of Exercise suggests the acceptable range of body fat % for men is 21-25, women-25-31. International Dia-

betic Federation suggests that waist size for men to be less than 38 inches, and for women to be less than 32 inches. However these pointer reference standards do not mean healthy, as they are rising drastically. Therefore these

markers of healthiness should be critically followed to have healthy, vibrant, active, and satisfied life or optimal health. Ask yourselves if you are in reactive care. That is, are you treated for low energy, headaches, anxiety, skin problems (acne, eczema, psoriasis), puffy eyelids, difficulty sleeping, hangover feeling in the morning, persistent sinus problems? If so, something is wrong with fundamentals of health and basic health. To change these symptoms, following are the fundamentals.1) Adequate sleep (8-10 hours) During sleep Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is released that stimulates growth and cell production, promotes muscle building by burning fat, helps keeping skin

young, promotes strong bones. Leptin, an appetite suppressant is produced which stimulates growth and cell production, helps control hunger pangs, helps control carbohydrate craving. 2) Adequate Exercise: An exercise burns calories, builds lean muscles (HGH increased), slows the aging process, de-stresses body and works great to reduce mood swings and adapt better. The deep breathing, stretching, visualization, meditation are other modes to de-stress the body and mind. 3) Drinking water: Water is the main component of our body. About 84% of the body is fluid. It suppresses water pangs, enhances metabolism, reduces water retention, enhances muscle stimulation, cleanses the system, lubricates joints, and hydrates cells. Hence the rule of thumb is to have 8-10 glasses of pure water per day in BPA free containers. 4) Detoxification: The system cleansing either by veggie detoxifies or by detoxification modules, is very important. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 19

Community Across America

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CSI throws a 'Fabulous Las Vegas' party RAS H. SIDDIQUI

SAN FRANCISCO: Computers and Structures Inc. (CSI) held its 38th Annual Party on Saturday, April 6 at the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda to the delight of the few hundred lucky guests from all over the northern California business community including a select group of South-Asians. The company founded in 1975, is globally the go to place for software tools related to structural and earthquake engineering, software which has been used by engineering firms in over 160 countries for designing major projects including high-rise buildings such as the Taipei 101 Tower in Taiwan and the One World Trade Center in New York and other structures such as the 2008 Olympics Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing, and the Centenario Bridge over the Panama Canal.

Ashraf Habibullah

A company as globally recognized as CSI had to have at least three key ingredients for its success. 1) Cutting edge technology based on a thorough understanding of structural and earthquake engineering. 2) A strong business model and 3) A creative and determined leadership team which successfully tapped into the civil-structural engineering expertise originally available in the San Francisco Bay area and later globally. And that brings our focus towards the man at the helm of company affairs Ashraf Habibullah, President and CEO of CSI. Ashraf is one of the

most visible and illustrious graduates of NED Engineering College (now University) in Karachi, Pakistan. Besides being one of the few Americans of South-Asian descent (this scribe is yet to meet another) in northern California who really knows how to throw a party, Ashraf has

Chopra. And now on to the party, the theme of which this year was "Fabulous Las Vegas". Complete with Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Cher and Michael Jackson impersonators amongst others, and many showgirls, this red carpet affair with fine food and mu-

played many positive roles in the area around U.C. Berkeley and across the Bay promoting the arts. He has an avid interest in photography, has been a cofounder of a ballet company and continues to promote the Urdu language locally via sponsorship of events put together by area luminary Mrs. Hamida

sic captivated both young and old alike. Ashraf was a most gracious and illuminating host (as well as the most illuminated, making quite a fashion statement once again!). All in all it was an evening full of fun for just about everyone which unfortunately ended too early for us who had to drive back to Sacramento.

AD 25 Democratic delegates spur awakening in Indian community Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 16

We should encourage our kids to choose politics besides other professions as politics is lot better in America. We need a cohesive and integrated community. Yogi Chugh, Dharminder Diwan and Rajesh Verma also stressed the need for the community to stand together as one to make progress in political field. Indian National Overseas Congress Head and Vice President Gurwant Singh Pannu, Purshottam Bajaj, Dr Narendra Singh Karir and Vjay Thapar were instrumental in organizing the grassroot support for the delegate elections that resulted in a surge in Indian community representation among the delegates. One of the elected delegates, Dharminder Diwan said that we have taken the first step towards political relevance and need to continue this path of being active and staying active at the grass root level, so that we are not taken for granted. Being citizens of this country we are contributing to the financial strength but need to increase contribution towards the political strength of the Democratic Party. This is a new beginning and our goal is to continue to awaken the "sleeping giant", our community, by getting them continuously motivated, energized and involved in the local Democratic party and clubs and help elect qualified candidates at

Dr. Japra, Anu Natarajan, Raj Salwan, Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison and Ashok Kapoor

every level of govt. Bay Area Indian American Democratic Club (BAIADC) president Rishi Kumar urged the Indian community to come forward and become part of the BAIADC to support Indian candidates in the political field. This event was also

an opportunity for attending Democrats to register their support for the delegates club. This marked the launch of a membership drive to eventually make community get a say in the region and the country's political process.

Dr Romesh Japra, Guruwant Singh Pannu, Vijay Thapar, Purshottam Bajaj and Dr Narendra Singh Karir

What are the criteria of health? Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 18

It cleans the liver, blood, lymphatic and circulatory systems, removes waste, toxins, oxidants from the circulation and supports all different systems working in the body. The goal of cleansing is to prevent auto toxification. (Autotoxins are the toxic chemicals produced by colon bacteria. They diffuse into the colon wall and eventually into the blood stream and damage the colon wall and other key systems and distant sites in the body. 5) Balanced Diet Low glycemic good Carbohydrates for main source of energy50-60% of the diet is obtained from legumes, grains, vegetables, fruits. Good fat for the main reserves of energy and cell and tissue for-

mation from nuts, fish, seeds. (moderate amounts) Lean Proteins to produce enzymes, hormones, cells etc from legumes, poultry, seafood, meat, dairy products, nuts and seeds.(46-56 gms per day) Fiber to keep digested foods in liquid form. Oats, dried beans and some fruits, such as apples and oranges (soluble fiber) from vegetables, wheat bran and other whole grains (insoluble fiber) (women-21-25 gm, men 30-35 gm per day) Water- to hydrate the body Spices: cynne, ginger, turmeric, garlic, cilantro, cinnamon , pepper etc. Nutrition Supplements: High quality, high delivery, Isotonix calcium, multivitamin multimineral, Antioxidant (OPC) and Omega # fish oil (Heart health Epa: Dha- 6;9)

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Variety of paths accommodate variegated natures

odern day world is considered to be at the pinnacle of technological advancement and the ever changing society today has evolved into what is popularly called the knowledge society. At all times, from ancient history to recent past, different societies have transformed with numerous inventions and explorations. Regardless of these changes, ignorance invariably prevails in man's heart. Einstein once quoted, "It is easier to denature plutonium than to denature the evil spirit of man." Our ignorance is the cause of all misery, and no advancement in physical science can rid us of this ignorance. The scriptures call this material world as ocean of nescience and its material energy is giving us innumerable miseries - adyatmik (due to body and mind), adidaivik (due to environmental reasons), adibhautik (due to other living beings).The Bhagavad Gita, however gives us the process for obtaining release from this never ending anguish: Mamevayehprapadyanteâ&#x20AC;Ś Shree Krishna says: "If you surrender to Me, you will cross over the ocean of Maya". Yet the aim of our life should not be to attain moksha (liberation from Maya). Rather, our goal should be God Realization, and moksha will happen automatically. This is just as someone makes removal of poverty as his goal. The other person makes accumulation of wealth as the goal, and poverty is automatically removed when wealth is obtained. Similarly, the intelligent person endeavors not for liberation from Maya, but for God-realization. Ancient Vedic scriptures and Saints have extensively described the Science of God-realization, mainly through three different paths of karm, gyan and bhakti. These three paths are discussed here drawing attention to the sweetest path, filled with nectar of selfless love for God, called bhakti. Question: Why did Hinduism describe so many different approaches to God-realization, and not one approach like all other religions? SM: Variety is an inseparable part of God's creation. No two leaves of a tree are alike. No two human beings have exactly the same finger prints. Similarly, everybody has different nature too. The variety of paths mentioned in the scriptures accommodate peoples' variegated natures. As knowledge becomes subtler and more elevated, its branches increase. In Grade Five, students are taught General Science as one

SWAMI MUKUNDANANDA

subject. But when they reach Grade Seven, Science is divided into three branches - Physics, Chemistry and Biology. When they reach college, it is further divided into hundreds of branches. And in Graduate School, there are

and gyani also need to do bhakti for success in their sadhana. Alongside bhakti, you may keep any other sadhana. If you do karm and bhakti, it will become karmyog; if you do gyan and bhakti, it will become gyanyog;

come closer to God, or has established a relationship with God. Also, if the Kundalini is awakened without spiritual maturity, it leads to pride, which obstructs the spiritual progress of person. The Kundalini is an immense power,

Swami Mukundananda

literally thousands of subjects within Science. Similarly, the Vedas take spiritual knowledge to sublime heights, and hence the variety of paths and spiritual aspirants gets reflected and addressed. This variety is a blessing. In the world, if five people go to purchase a cloth, all have their own choice of color and style. Similarly, in the case of Godrealization, if there were only one path, people whose sanskars were different would not have been attracted to it. The variety of paths serves a wider spectrum of people

and bhakti by itself is bhakti yog, but without bhakti no sadhana will result in God-realization. Our link with God will be established through bhakti alone. Q: What is "Kundalini," how is it awakened, and what are the benefits of awakening it? SM: The material energy, Maya, has innumerable astounding powers and secrets within it. The inventions of modern day world are only the tip of the iceberg of what exists within the womb of Mother Nature. The human body, made from Maya, also has many secrets

No two leaves of a tree are alike. No two human beings have exactly the same finger prints. Similarly, everybody has different nature too. The variety of paths mentioned in the scriptures accommodate peoples' variegated natures with varying natures and sanskars. Q: Why do scriptures state that bhakti is essential even in the path of karm and gyan? SM: God is divine, while our instruments of sadhana - the senses, mind and intellect - are material. Whatever path we may follow, by our own sadhana, we can never reach the Supreme Lord. But when God bestows His grace, by His divine energy He makes our senses, mind and intellect divine. And then we are able to see Him, hear Him, know Him, realize Him and attain Him. Thus, it is only by God's grace that He is attained. This grace of God requires that we please Him through Bhakti. Hence, the karmi

and hidden potentials. Amongst these is the Kundalini. Kundalini is a power that lies dormant at the base of the spinal column. Those who practice the sadhana of hatha yog, endeavor to awaken it by various means, and make it rise upwards through the spine. As the power ascends through the various chakras (circular regions) in the spine, it results in many siddhis (mystic abilities). However, we must bear in mind that the Kundalini is a material power, and not a spiritual power. The mystic abilities attained through it are purely material. If one's Kundalini is awakened, it does not mean that the person has

and if not controlled properly, it can result in very deleterious sideeffects. Very often, people who awaken it without sufficient bodily and mental preparation are unable to handle it, and suffer serious consequences. In some cases, the body gets ruined, and in other cases, the mind.

It is far safer not to go in that direction and instead strive to establish one's connection with God through devotion. Then by the Grace of the Lord, if we get any siddhis, we will also receive the power to protect ourselves from their pitfalls. The important thing is not the awakening of the Kundalini, but the development of an intense longing for God. Q: How does meditating on the charkas help in God-realization? SM: There are seven main chakras in the body, along the spinal column. Meditating upon them leads to siddhis, or mystic powers, and also induces the upward movement of the Kundalini power. Chakra meditation is recommended for people who have less faith in God and have not yet understood the concept of the relationship of the soul with the Almighty. This chakra meditation does not develop our love for God, or help us realize our eternal position as His servant. Hence, those who have faith in God, and have understood from the scriptures that we have an eternal relationship with Him, should not go for chakra meditation. Instead, they should try to meditate upon God, and his names, forms, virtues, pastimes, abodes and saints. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 23

Palo Alto startup offering internships India Post News Service

PALO ALTO: OpenStudy, a Palo Alto startup, is offering internships to high school and college students for summer of 2013. OpenStudy offers a global learning community with over half a million users, who connect with one another, ask for study help, provide help, and study together. OpenStudy offers a vibrant, fun and social environment to learn together. It is looking for talented interns to take the company to its first million users. Interns will work on these three areas: 1. Community Management: Interns will learn to manage and monitor the OpenStudy community, respond to user prompts, deal with community issues, develop and run new loyalty and engagement programs like the Ambassador program. 2. Analytics: Interns will learn to use the latest social media analytics tools like Google Analytics, MixPanel etc and also

work with OpenStudy's database. 3. Social media: Interns will use social media tools like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin for marketing, retention and user growth. Experience: Applicants must have an OpenStudy SmartScore of 30 to apply. Hours: Needed a commitment of at least 10 hours a week, for at least a month. Attitude: More than experience, OpenStudy is looking for interns who have demonstrated ability to work with people cross culturally, who have an interest in social networks, who have demonstrated leadership and are ready to challenge themselves. It is looking for friendly outgoing people with an interest in entrepreneurship and who can communicate well across ages and cultures. This internship provides no salary. Forms can be filled up online at http://bit.ly/Z6iNeF. Dr Ashwin Ram, owner of the company, is grandson of Sir Ganga Ram.

May 10, 2013

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India Post 21

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Dr Kumar and team lifted AAPI as premiere most ethnic body RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: With a widening base of membership and a hefty change for the better in its financial position through concerted team efforts, the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) has emerged once again as the premier most ethnic organization in the country. It is now set to meet new challenges and play its role more effectively in promoting health care here and back home in India. The inspiring leadership of Dr Narendra Kumar at the top was a key factor, many a member opine, but the AAPI chief credits his entire team - Drs Jayesh Shah, Ravi Jahagirdar, A Lodha, Sanjeevani Jain, Shivangi, Hemant Dhingra and many a silent worker - for this face lift. The leadership qualities of Dr Kumar received formal recognition from none other than the Indian government when it decided to bestow on him Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in January this year. He was given the award for "global leadership, achievements in the field of medicine, community service, and contributions to building bridges between India and the United States." In a talk to this paper, Dr Kumar said that two factors play a key role helping any organization meeting its goals - membership and financial health. "We decided to act positively for bettering our position in both these areas. We have expanded our membership

AAPI President Dr Narendra Kumar

ter in coming years. Our membership now is 20,000 including 12,000 life members," he said

Dr Kumar receiving Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award

The Summit, which is a publicprivate initiative between the Government of India and AAPI, according to Dr. Kumar, "is all about dedication and commit-

AAPI members meet US legislators

The AAPI finances were in a mess in the sense that they fell short of what was needed for meeting its normal obligations - close to half a million dollars a year.

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard receiving "Friends of AAPI" award during AAPI Legislative Day

base by inducting more member associations and inducing more and more second generation Indian physicians to join us. We achieved a measure of success and we hope to do much bet-

AAPI city chapters. When others were hesitant to commit almost a million dollars towards Shreya Ghoshal Musical Concert, he took the initiative and with the help of Committee members and nine City Regional Chapters, had a nation wide multi- city tour with a hefty success netting in $1.25 million. "This was shared in part with the regional chapters but that this also brought the national and regional chapters much closer impacting favorably on the membership area," he said. The collective efforts, he added, also "helped us together to raise over a million dollars from pharmaceutical companies in the past 10 months and we were able to run AAPI of-

There was hundreds of thousand dollars of debt from the preceding years and a borrowing from Trustees fund. Dr Kumar took initiative and hosted a nationwide fundraiser actively involving nine

fice and its functions without major financial strain and improve substantially our financial health." Yet another remarkable achievement during Dr Kumar's reign was the hosting of the first ever Global Healthcare Summit in India. AAPI had health care annual meets earlier too but this time it was participated by physicians of Indian origin from across the world. Over 1,250 delegates from around the world had descended upon the city of Kochi, India to participate in the summit highlighted by presence of top ranking Federal and government officials, a variety of seminars and workshops culminating in gala entertainment. Various topics discussed at the GHS 2013 held at the international convention center at Le MĂŠridien in Kochi, the commercial capital of Kerala, explored the possibilities for greater collaboration and cooperation between the physicians and health care providers in India with those of Indian origin and major healthcare providers abroad.

ment of Indian-American physicians to improving healthcare in India." AAPI would not be worth its name if it does not make concerted efforts to bring the problems faced by its members before the US lawmakers to have them addressed and resolved. The growing clout of the physicians of Indian origin in the country came into display on April 11 at Capitol Building Capi-

tol Hill, Washington, DC as about 40 US Senators and Congressmen lined up to address the over 150 AAPI members, who had gathered to express their voice in support of their unified agenda, seeking their rights to practice their profession in a dignified manner and continue to provide quality healthcare in a cost effective manner. The topics discussed were many, ranging from capping malpractice insurance premium, providing a permanent fix to the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, helping raise the size of medical school admissions and seats, increasing residency slots by 15,000 positions a year, overhauling immigration reforms that would include international medical graduates along with international students graduating with degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) being fast-tracked for Green Cards, making J1 Visa Waiver a permanent feature among other areas of concerns. The legislative meet was a huge success and all those attending returned highly satisfied. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 22

Global Health Summit in India, Lamp Lighting Ceremony - Federal Minister Vyalar Ravi, Dr Narendra Kumar and IMA President Dr Narender Saini

22 India Post

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Hindi poets from India enthrall with comedy & satire RAMESH SOPARAWALA India Post News Service

CHICAGO: It was a sight to see a cross section of the Indian community - people from UP, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and other parts - flocking to the Hinsdale Community Center to attend a Hindi Kavi Sammelan hosted by the UP Association of Greater Chicago. With their presence, they showed their love not only for national language Hindi but also their liking for Hindi poetry. Organizing Hasya Ras Kavi Sammelan is a regular annual event for the Association for the past twenty years and judging from the attendance this year, it would not be an exaggeration to say there was a dimming of interest or enthusiasm in the community for this type of program. It could be easily the best of all programs that the Association holds year in and year out. The Hindi poets from India

Indian poets and UP Association officials at Kavi Sammelan (from left to right): Dr Subhash Pandey, past President and Board of Trustees (BOT); Dr PK Seth, Director, Biotech Park, Lucknow, Dr Ghanshyam Pandey, founding President and Chair, BOT; Poets from India Deepak Gupta, Dr Kunwar Bechain, Dr Suresh Awasthi and Mrs Rani Trivedi, VP, UP Association. Pics Asian Media USA

were Kunwar Bechain, Suresh Awasthi and Deepak Gupta. They lived up to their reputation as among the best in Hindi literary world now. The way they presented their poems, ghazals and the Hasya (comedy) Vyang (satire) items one after other, they enthralled the audience with no dull moment any time during the three-

Dr. Ghanshyam Pandey, Chair, Board of Trustees, greeting Dr Kunwar Bechain, poet from India. Standing in the middle Dr Subhash Pandey, past President

hour recitals. There were loud cheers and thunderous claps for each and every poet and for their presentations which reflected parody, satire, patriotism and micro-level observation of the society around. The start was with Dr Ghanshyam Pandey, Chairman, Board of Trustees and Founder President briefly recounting the history and activities of Association established in 1991 while Ravi Arora, the president, welcomed the guests and the poets quite gracefully. Introduction of Hindi poets was left to a former president and

-executing the job wonderfully well. Bechain Kunwar with MA, M.Com and Ph.D degrees under his belt, heads the Hindi department of MMH post graduate College in Ghaziabad. Suresh Awasthi hailing from Kanpur is a very well known Hassya Kavi. A Hindi professor and journalist, he is a prolific writer having penned 11 books. Deepak Gupta is a young poet known for his Hasya Ras creations is from Haryana. Recipient of Sanjay Gandhi Rashtriya Yuva Kavi award, he is also an acclaimed writer with many books. The near three hours program

Members of the audience enjoying the Kavi Sammelan

the current Trustee Dr Subhash Pandey and he did not disappoint

Ravi Arora, President, UP Association and (right) the poets from India

ended with the Association Vice President, Mrs Rani Trivedi, presenting a vote of thanks acknowledging the help from the sponsors and the volunteers for making this event a great success, including Dr. Chandrakant Modi, Editor from Asian Media USA. The Uttar Pradesh Association of Greater Chicago seeks to promote Indian music, art and culture, and of course Hindi language.

Dr Kumar and team lifted AAPI as premiere most ethnic body Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 21

Dr Kumar said that AAPI made some positive changes under the leadership of Dr Jayesh Shah and his Bylaws committee. Efforts were made to build partnership with component chapters for mutual benefit through multi-city educational programs and AAPI accredited CME activities which brought some of the sub-specialty chapters even closer by providing value added benefits. In the field of sport, AAPI organized National Golf tournament quite successfully in Orlando. He however added that AAPI faced some turbulence from time to time and "we have overcome those and have come out stronger. I am confident and have high hopes in the future of AAPI and in the incoming leadership. My sincere congratulations and best wishes to our incoming President Dr Jayesh Shah and all the newly elected leaders for a very successful and pro-

AAPI Teamster Convention Committee

ductive year," he acknowledged with lot of humility. . An accomplished physician and surgeon specializing in Oto-

laryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Dr Kumar had his medical degree from Trivandrum Medical College, Kerala and post-graduate

residency from Banaras Hindu University and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. Dr Kumar has been involved in

social, professional and political arenas and has taken active leadership roles in various medical organizations both in USA and abroad. Under his effective leadership, AAPI has become a force to reckon with. AAPI's stellar role has come in for appreciation with the political leaders both in India and the United States. AAPI Convention AAPI is holding its annual 31st Convention in Chicago during Memorial Day week end. A crowded program is chalked out for four days beginning Thursday May 23. The Chicago Convention Committee 2013 is Convention Chairman: Birinder Marwah; Convener: Prem Rupani, MD; Co-Chair: Umang Patel; Treasurer: Amarjit Singh; Convention Advisory Council Chair: Satya Ahuja; Co-Chair: Jayesh B Shah, MD; Co-Chair: Ashok Jain; Co-Chair: Deepak Mittal; Advisor: Durgesh Mankikar; Host Chapter President: Raj Arora.

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BAPS celebrates Swaminarayan Jayanti & Ram Navmi ARVIND PATEL

CHICAGO: Bochasanwasi Akshar Purshottm Swaminarayan (BAPS) Mandir in Bartlett, a north west suburb of Chicago, celebrated the 232nd birth anniversary of Bhagwan Swaminarayan, also known as Swaminarayan Jayanti, on April 21. The day is also auspiciously known as Ram Navmi for the celebration of the birth of Shri Ram. This year's program included the re-enactment of Yash Gatha, a musical narration of the journey led by Bhagwan Swaminarayan and a depiction of his countless spiritual endeavors. The youth of BAPS brought to life the story through the singing of the Yash Gatha. With each stanza, a part of the journey was depicted, accompanied by dances, speeches, and dramas inter-

spersed throughout the performance. Bhagwan Swaminarayan's teachings were further shared through the stories narrated about Lord Ram, who sacrificed everything to be the ideal son while

SURESH SHAH

votion: understanding the true nature of God, seeking his refuge, and molding our lives according to his wishes. The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), a worldwide socio-spiritual organization, is

Cultural presentations by BAPS young artists

maintaining his dharma, or codes of behavior. A special ladies program was held on April 14 to explore his relationship with devotees. The theme was centered around three crucial ways a devotee interacts with God as a way of offering de-

Holi-Baisakhi at Indo American Center

dedicated to community service, peace and harmony. Under the guidance and leadership of His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, BAPS aspires to build a community that is morally, ethically and spiritually pure, and free of addictions.

Baisakhi dance at IAC

number of seniors from all walks of life and professing different religions was a treat to watch. It commenced at 11-30 a.m. and lasted for about four hours ending around 3 p.m. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 25

Variety of paths accommodate variegated natures Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 20

Q: Vedic knowledge is the knowledge of God, and is therefore infallible. Yet it describes the caste system, which has plagued our society and seems incongruous in modern context. Please explain its relevance in Hinduism? SM: The Vedas define duties at two levels: 1. Spiritual duties. These are our duties towards God, who is our eternal Father, Mother, Friend and Well-wisher. Performing these is called bhakti, or devotion, and it results in the purification of the mind and the attainment of God. The spiritual duties, or bhakti, are the eternal principles that always remain the same. They are also called Para Dharma, or the spiritual aspect of religion. 2. Social duties. When we think of ourselves to be the body, we have duties towards our parents, friends and relatives, the society we live in, the nation of which we are citizens, etc. These do not result in God-realization. However, fulfilling these duties ensures that we act in a responsible manner, and contribute towards the well being and harmony of society. These duties have been described in the

Vedas, and are also called karm or karm dharma. They are also called Varnashram dharma. In this Varnashram system, the duties were defined according to a person's nature and occupation. However, with the passage of time, the system got degraded and the classifications became based on birth. This social practice was a wrong interpretation of what was mentioned in the Vedas. But when the British ruled India, they highlighted the social practice, and called it "Caste system". They publicized it so much that even today in USA, if the discussion of Hinduism comes up, the only thing many people know about it is the caste system. They are not aware of the sublime knowledge of the science of Godrealization that exists in Hinduism, which has no comparison anywhere in the world. It is thus necessary to clarify that the Varnashram system was not a part of the spiritual principles of Hinduism. It was a set of social duties described in Hinduism thousands of years ago, when civilization in the western world had not even begun. Secondly, if it got distorted with time, that was a social defect, and Hinduism can-

not be blamed for it. This is just as slavery existed in the western world until two hundred years ago. In fact, even until the 1960s discrimination on the

They publicized it so much that even today in USA, if the discussion of Hinduism comes up, the only thing many people know about it is the caste system. They are not aware of the sublime knowledge of the science of God-realization that exists in Hinduism, which has no comparison basis of skin color existed in USA. This was a social ill but we do not hold any religion in USA responsible for it. Similarly, the Varnashram system got distorted as a social ill in India, but it is wrong to blame Hinduism for it.

Q: Is it not sinful to renounce the world or become a Karm Sanyasi to perform our duty to God and forfeit all other duties? SM: In the answer to the previous question, it has been mentioned that we have social duties towards society and spiritual duties towards God. If one gives up social duties due to irresponsibility, laziness, frivolity, etc. it is definitely a sin; but if one renounces the social duties to embrace spiritual duties, it is not considered a sin. When we surrender to God, we are automatically taking care of all duties, just as when we water the root of a tree, the water automatically reaches all the branches, fruits and flowers of the tree. For example, we do have duties towards the biological parents. But God is our spiritual Father and Mother. We have a duty towards Him as well, and that duty is even more important than the worldly duties. Even in the world, if someone joins the army to discharge his duty to the nation, he is forsaking his duty to his parents. He could be killed on the battlefield, leaving the old parents without a support. But his joining the army is not considered dishonorable; rather it is an act of bravery. This is be-

cause that person is giving up a lower duty to take up a higher one. Similarly, the karm sanyasi does forsake the worldly duties to parents etc, but he accepts the higher duty towards God, and so he is not committing a sin. However, the path of karm sanyas should only be chosen under the guidance of a Guru. For the majority of the people, the path of karmyog is more suitable. Swami Mukundananda is a world renowned spiritual teacher from India, and is the senior disciple of Jagadguru Shree Kripaluji Maharaj and founder of JK Yog. He has received his degrees in engineering from world renowned institutes in India, IIT and IIM. He has inspired people all over the world on the path of spirituality, holistic health, yoga, meditation, service to society and God realization. This year, Swamiji will be conducting weeklong programs in 30+ cities of USA from April onwards. For more information visit: http:// www.jkyog.org/ or contact: secretary@jkyog.org To attend Swamiji's Yoga, Meditation and Spiritual Discourses in USA, see the schedule for your city:www.jkyog.org/2013

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Enthralling concert by Priya sisters RAGHU BADDI

CHICAGO: Priya sisters Shanmukha Priya and Hari Priya gave a stellar performance to a packed hall at Sama Rathi auditorium HTGC Lemont, on the occasion of Rama Navmi. The concert

was jointly sponsored by the Hindu Temple, RR International and Raja Veena Foundation. The event started off by an introduction by Usha Pariti, the chair for the temple's fine arts committee Priya sisters presenting Carnatic music concert

and a short welcoming speech by the temple president Tilak Marwaha. Later Supriya Rao introduced the artists to the audience. The concert came to a conclusion with a vote of thanks by Bhima Reddy, the temple's vice-president. All the artists were honored with silk shawls. "Saami ninne nammi naa pai", a stately Adi Tala varnam in Pantuvarali marked the beginning of the evening, sung in two speeds. A brisk "Gananaayakam" in Poornashadjam followed suit with quick kalpanaswaras in the pattern of 'gmnns-npmgrs', which is characteristic of the raga. A moving "Marugelara" in Jayanthashri later, the sisters took up Purvikalyani for a detailed delineation of the raga. Despite minor audio issues and voice not cooperating at times, the sisters gave a wonderful treatment to Thyagaraja's krithi "Gyana Mosaga Radha". Kalpanaswaras seemed to flow effortlessly for the aptly chosen line "paripurna nishkalanka" from the charanam. There were some delightful moments during the Anupallavi and Charanam when Violin Parur M A Krishnaswamy and Mridangam Neyveli Skandasubramanian added embellishment and color through scholarly phrases and enjoyable rhythm. Taking daivatham as the landing point for the swaras in Purvikalyani, was different from the usual and Mridangam accompanying some of the sarvalaghu phrases added sweetness to the delivery. Arunachala Kavi's Arivaar Yaar Unnai in Mukhaari set to Mishra Chaapu taalam was steeped in devotion. The central attraction of the evening was the portrayal of Madhyamavathi - the transition from Mukhari to Madhyamavathi could have been clearer at the start of the raga. However Haripriya did more than compensate with excellent traditional 'pidis' and pleasing 'brigas'. Violin M A Krishnaswami at this point rendered a bhavam-soaked Madhyamavathi with flourishes on all the three octaves - the lower octave (mandra shthayi) prayogas were especially deep and elegant. Very aptly chosen for Rama Navami, was Thyagaraja's krithi "Rama Katha Sudharasa Paanamu". Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 25

May 10, 2013

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Grand eleven day celebration of Rama Navmi ARVIND PATEL

CHICAGO: Celebration of Rama Navmi at Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago (HTGC) was a grand eleven days affair as per tradition. It started on the day of Ugadi with the narration of Sundarakanda Parayanam and culminating on Sunday April 21 with Sri Rama Pattabhishekam and Rajata Hanuman Seva. Sri Rama Navmi day activities began Friday, April 19 and during

the Alankaram, "Gaana Sudha" group of temple devotees chanted Vishnu Sahasranamam and offered Sri Rama Bhajans. Later in the evening Choornothsavam was celebrated where Sumangalis crushed fresh turmeric. In preparation for the Kalyanothsavam on the next day Sri Rama was decorated with the freshly crushed turmeric and Tulsi. The day's events concluded with garland exchange

between Sri Rama and Sri Sita Devi. Priya Sisters' concert in the evening was enjoyed by over 450 music lovers. Also, live Nadaswaram by P. Sithiravel and Shanmugha Sundaram from Friday to Sunday gave the Ramanavami celebrations a classical ceremonial touch. The packed events of Saturday started early with Sri Rama Suprabhatam. After Vishnu

Basati honored by Legal Shield

Legal Shield recognition: L to R Hemant Bhalla, Executive Director, Thakar S Basati, S Amarjit SIngh Jolly, Mrs. Ginny Jolly, ( Award recipients) Toni Petrillo, Vice President and Sam Dawood, Executive Director India Post News Service

OKLAHOMA: For the first time in the 43 year history of Legal Shield, it recently honored two Sikhs from Chicagoland during Legal Shield in International Convention in Oklahoma, USA. Legal Shield seeks to provide

legal protection at reasonable cost. S. Thakar Singh Basati and his teammate Mrs Rajwant (Ginny) Kaur Jolly and her husband S Amarjit Singh Jolly were recognized on stage for their production in February and March. They were also invited by the CEO Rip

Mason for coffee for their production in Business coverage. Legal Shield used to be Pre-Paid Legal until about two years ago when Mid Ocean Partners, an Investment Firm bought them. Legal Shield provides unlimited access to its clients for any trivial to traumatic events for a monthly premium. It also provides Identity Theft protection thru Kroll Advisory Systems which not only monitors but also restores if identity is compromised. The company hires best lawyers in the state and is responsible to provide lawyers on all branches of law. Coverage is available throughout America and four provinces of Canada. It also has specialized coverage for CDLP, teachers and law officers. Legal Shield is the only company that has produced 169 millionaires during its existence and they all came from different parts of life, some don't even have GED some are MDs and PhDs.

Devotees and priests celebrating Rama Janma Mahotsav at Hindu Temple

Saharanama and Stotras chanting by Bhajan group, the large group of followers were treated to a melodious rendition of Sri Rama Krithis by Shankar Jagadeesa Iyer, Sahana Iyer, Anjana Narasimhan (violin) and Vishwak

Kumaran (mridangam). The grand three hour Kalyanam thrilled over 1,500 devotees. Kalyanothsava Nrityopacharam was offered by Amuktha Samudrala and Parvati Achari. Cont’d on page 26

Holi-Baisakhi at Indo American Center

Holi gathering at Indo American Center

Enthralling concert by Priya sisters

Cont’d from page 23

The Seniors Program coordinator Gita Chawla organized this event with thoughtful planning and in collaboration with a number of other volunteers. Seniors attending the program shared their thoughts with each other about the significance of Holi and the reasons to celebrate it, played with

colors, sang special songs befitting occasion and danced. On Baisakhi day, all seniors came in traditional Punjabi dress and sang special Punjabi songs and performed Bhangra. They had special food cooked by Baljeet Kaur and Kamlesh Kaur. All the decoration and sitting arrangements were made by Kemal Huric with help from volunteer Jhansi Rayapuram.

Audience at the concert Cont’d from page 24

The song extols the greatness and healing power of Rama's story, the underlying emotion being 'Bhakti'. It did seem like the sisters had this in mind when they chose the lines "Bhama mani janaki saumitri" for Neraval. The

pace for the krithi was in tune with the deep devotional meandering during Neraval: a gradual progression to the madhyama kala swaras made for a delectable experience. The sisters chose Bindumalini for Ragam Tanam Pallavi which was a wonderful exercise in cre-

ativity and deliberation. After the enjoyable tani avarthanam, the sisters concluded the evening with some of their popular devotional numbers and Sai Bhajans. The concert was very well attended on a Friday evening despite the inclement weather.

Kitchen volunteers readying to serve food

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Seniors celebrate Ram Navmi & Hanuman Jayanti ARVIND PATEL

CHICAGO: Bhartiya Senior Citizens (BSC) of Chicago held a combined celebration on April 20 at Shri Nathji Temple on Fullerton Ave in Addison suburb of IL to mark Ram Navmi and Hanuman Jayanti. More then 275 seniors attended the event that started with welcome address by BSC Secretary Purshottam Pandya. BSC President Haribhai Patel welcomed Tracy Runte, Principal of Harbor Advantage. Wisconsin Chair of BSC Batukbhai Shukla introduced Tracy Runte. Rajendra Anjaria talked about Ram Navmi and its importance while Gopal Patel touched upon the significance of Hanuman

Jayanti. Bhajans on Ram-Janma were sung by BSC member Rameshbhai Patel. Bhartiben Shukla transliterated in Gujarati a speech by Yoga Guru Pujya Ravishankar given last month Tracy Runte of Harbor Advantage then gave video presentation on why we need will, funeral Insurance. Praful Rami, an activist in the insurance field, was part of this Insurance presentation. He also distributed flyers to BSC members. Willow Pharmacy & Home Life Health Care o w n e r Prashantbhai Patel and his

distributed New ID cards and thanked committee member and photographer Jyanti Ojha for having worked hard to prepare ID cards for BSC members. Event President Madhubhai Patel offered good wishes to seniors. Those born in April were presented flowers. The event ended with dinner. BSC members watching video presentation about will & funeral Insurance by Tracy Runte

SURENDRA ULLAL

Prashantbhai Patel & Wilo Pharmacy team checking blood sugar & blood pressure of seniors

Event president Madhubhai Patel presenting flowers and birthday wishes to seniors

Punjabi Sahit Sabha launched in Chicago

team checked blood sugar, blood pressure on premises for senior members. All BSC members congratulated new elected Trustee of Schaumburg township, Nimesh Jani. BSC President Haribhai Patel

Jain Society celebrates Mahavir Jayanti

CHICAGO: A meeting was held in Palatine Public Library to launch Punjabi Sahit Sabha in Chicago with a view to promoting Punjabi literature among Midwestern States of USA. An ad hoc committee was formed. Prof. Jagindar Singh Ramdev was nominated President, S Gursharan Singh aka Gur Singh Bhaiya was nominated Executive Secretary, S Mat Singh Dhillon was nominated as Treasurer and S Thakar Singh Basati as Coordinator. All nominations were unanimous and will work until a formal board is elected. It was recommended that board members should not be members of any other cultural organization to avoid conflict of interest. Purpose of starting the Sabha is to

promote Punjabi reading, Punjabi speaking. The Sabha will discuss release of Punjabi books and promote Punjabi poetry. Sabha will also host programs for visiting Punjabi writers. The Sabha will encourage Punjabi writing and recitation. Constructive criticism will follow after recital and participants are requested to cooperate. Punjabi youth will also be invited to participate even if they write/recite in other languages as long as they come from Punjabi families. S Gur Singh recited his poem about demise of his mother and S Mat Singh recited about the contribution of Punjabi wife. The monthly meeting is scheduled at Palatine Public Library, Palatine on May 19 from 1pm to 3pm.

PIYUSH GANDHI

BARTLETT, IL: The Jain Society of Metropolitan Chicago (JSMC) temple here held a weeklong festivity on the occasion of birth anniversary of Bhagwan Mahavir. This year JSMC is celebrating its Twentieth Anniversary. The celebration started with spiritual discourses by Shri Shrenikbhai Shah from Mumbai. It being the first major event of the year, the Chairman of JSMC, Arvind Shah and Board of Trustees, presented important information on the current and future initiatives and briefed about its financial position The entire Jain community of Chicago land area, Indiana, and Wisconsin came to the Bartlett Jain Temple which was beautifully decorated befitting the event. This is also an auspicious time of Ayambil Oli. Ayambil is a penance where the observer eats only once a day where a completely boiled Jain Vegan menu is served. The Ayambil Oli is observed over a course of nine days and this year it coincided with Mahavir Jayanti celebrations. 65 members observed penance for the entire nine days and many more did it for a day or two.

On Saturday April 20, a grand poojan of Sri Panch Parmesthi was organized in the main Prayer Hall. 50 families simultaneously performed the poojan. In the temple facility various booths were set up for Membership drive, Fund raising drive, Food drive, etc. In the evening a grand cultural program was attended by more

The entire Jain community of Chicago land area, Indiana, and Wisconsin came to the Bartlett Jain Temple which was beautifully decorated befitting the event than 1,500 people. over 250 kids and youths participated in this cultural show and presented a variety of artistic dance, Garba, classical, Bharatnatyam, skit, etc. The morning of Sunday April 21 started in a very spiritual way. A Digambar Mahavir Janma Jayanti Pooja was organized. The

Digambar Pooja was performed by 30 families and around 100 people attended the poojan. In the afternoon the 15th annual declamation contest for various age groups was organized. over 72 students and members participated. Group1, Age 8 to 9, topic: "My favorite Moral Story", winners are 1) Labdhi Jain, 2) Om Gandhi & 3) Riya Jain. Group 2, Age 10 to 13, topic: "If you were granted three boons, what would you ask for", winners 1) Siddhi Jain, 2) Sneha Shah & 3) Priya Shah. Group 3, Age 14 to 18, topic: "Practicing Jainism- Cultural and Generation Gap", winners 1) Vinita Choradia, 2) Anand Shah & 3) Satej Shah. Group 4, Age 19 and above, topic: "Anekantvad in daily life", 1) Sejal Jain, 2) Navita Choradia & 3) Vaishali Jain. Bhagwan Mahavir was a great teacher, his philosophies and teachings taught mankind the true path of happiness. His teachings on non-violence and importance of austerity have shown us the path to achieve salvation and spirituality.

Grand eleven day celebration of Rama Navmi

Drum playing at HTGC during Ram Janma celebrations Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 25

Nrityopacharam was also performed by dance teachers Srivani Vokkarane, Pragnya Yogesh, Vidya Pandikaran and their students in Kuchupudi and Bharatnatyam styles. The events were concluded by beautiful special Ekantha Seva by young artistic students of Natya Dance Theater. Sunday's Suprabhatam was followed by Sudarshana Homam for the good and well-being of the community. The two hour long

Homam was witnessed by over 200 devotees who were very happy to receive Samprokshanam of the sanctified water and Yagna Raksha. The temple president acknowledged the selfless efforts of hundreds of volunteers that contributed to the execution of this eleven day Uthsavam at HTGC. All the devotees after the delicious Pattabhisheka Bhojan returned for Rajata Hanuman Vaahana Seva and the concluding Aarati.

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Sapna Mera Toota: Nautanki Saala 2 Mera Mann Kehne Laga: Nautanki Saala 3 Taki Taki: Himmatwala 4 Aaja Meri Jaan: I Love NY 5 Judaai Unplugged: I Love NY 28 India Post

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unny Leone's growing popularity has grabbed her another promising project. The porn star turned Bollywood ac tress with Pooja Bhatt's 'Jism 2' has replaced Mallika Sherawat to play Nana Patekar and Anil Kapoor's 'ladylove. The makers had the feeling that Mallika is no longer hot product of

Bollywood and she has lost her popularity while Sunny's charm has left everyone speechless. "Mallika is busy doing her television show, and besides, the filmmakers felt that she isn't as popular as she was during the making of Welcome. Sunny's growing popularity on the other hand, works very well for the film," says a source. Sunny's Laila item number from 'Shootout At Wadala' has made guys fall head over heels and the makers of 'Welcome 2' did not want to burn their hand by casting Mallika Sherawat. Sunny is currently shooting Ekta Kapoor's 'Ragini MMS'. Mallika has recently posted few picture of her on social networking site which clearly show that she has lost her glamour. The makers have retained the original star cast with few major changes. John Abraham has replaced Akshay Kumar to play the lead male role.

ctor-director Pooja Bhatt recently made headlines by stating that she would love to remake the 1991 hit, Dil Hai Ke Manta Nahi, with sister Alia reprising her role from the original. However, Alia feels that Pooja should refrain from remaking the iconic rom-com. "Pooja has merely mentioned that if she ever wanted to remake Dil Hai Ki Manta Nahi, which I think she shouldn't, she would want me in it. But nothing of that sort is happening, so it (talks about the remake) has no weight yet. I personally reckon that the film is simply untouchable. I am a great fan of that movie," says Alia. The Student of the Year (2012) actor, meanwhile, has very happily just wrapped up the first schedule of Imtiaz Ali's next, Highway. "Although I was aware that it was going to be an intense shoot, it turned out to be even more hardcore, in every possible way." she says. Alia also reveals that she took father Mahesh Bhatt's guidance before going for the month-long schedule. "I asked my dad for help in some scenes. But I generally try to learn things by myself," says the 20-year-old, adding, "I want to make my own mistakes, fall down and get up on my own, so that tomorrow, I have no one but myself to blame," says Alia

May 10, 2013 6 Aake Tere Kareeb: Ammaa Ki Boli 7 Kaali Kaali: Aake Tere Kareeb 8 Meethi Boliyaan: Kai Po Che! 9 Yaaram: Ek Thi Daayan 10 Manjha: Kai Po Che!

ndia's presence at the 66th Cannes Film Festival will be the highest this year. The festival, which opens on May 15, plans to hold special events to mark 100 years of Indian cinema. The fest opens with Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby which marks Amitabh Bachchan's Hollywood debut. Bachchan and his daughter-inlaw Aishwarya will attend the film's special screening. Actress Nandita Das in on the jury of Cine Foundation and short film sections while Vidya Balan will join the ninemember jury that includes filmmakers Ang Lee and Steven Spielberg. Dabba and Monsoon Shortcut, co-produced by Anurag Kashyap, have been selected for the Cannes Critics Week and midnight screening sections. Kashyap will also screen his Ugly in the Directors' Fortnight.

May 10, 2013

Bollywood

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HINDI IS EASY K

ristina Akheeva will soon be seen in Yamla Pagla Deewana2 and the Russian model turned actress had to brush her Hindi skills for her Bollywood debut. But learning Hindi was not as tough as Kristina thought. "It was easier than what I imagined. I would memorize the lines on sets and the writer made sure I understood everything. The good thing for me was that I could easily learn the language and remember well", says Kristina. Adding, "I did not have the time to learn Hindi. Initially, I had a teacher during the filming as I got the film very quickly. But now that I've entered Bollywood, I will hire a tuition teacher to improve on my Hindi and take dance lessons too".

ollywood's golden beauty Katrina Kaif who has given out some hit item numbers like Sheila Ki Jawani and Chikni Chameli is now refusing to do item numbers. According to reports, Katrina has been approached by three filmmakers to do an item song in their film. But Katrina has turned down the offers due to her busy schedule. Apparently Katrina loves to dance and doesn't mind doing item numbers but her busy schedule is not letting her accept the offers. According to reports, Filmmakers also consider Katrina as their lucky charm and think that her presence in the song is like a guarantee of super hit songs.

yushmann Khurrana, who has made a mark for himself with Vicky Donor and Nautanki Saala in Bollywood claims that people take me more seriously after success in B'wood. On being asked about his career post Bollywood, Ayushmann at his honest best claimed that life has changed for him. "The perception of people and industry has changed a lot towards me. I used to do TV, radio and anchoring, but till the time you don't do good in cinema people don't take you seriously. After Vicky Donor people take me seriously and success in Bollywood has changed people's perception about me," said Ayushmann. "I think cricket and cinema are major fields in India and I think we start getting different respect if you do well in Bollywood," he says.

Realty Tidbits

Shillong residents duped with plot promise KOLKATA: They had a penchant for returning to their roots. For that, more than 100 residents in Shillong had invested in land in the early Nineties to settle in the city. Barring one - retired Indian Audit & Accounts Service officer Samaresh Roy Choudhury - none of them has got back their dues. Neither has anyone got a plot in Pailan to build his house. These duped Shillong residents had planned to stay in the new township in Pailan after their retirement and had paid to Ram Thakur Abasan for their plots. But they soon came to know that Sudipta Sen of Saradha group had taken over the land. In 2001, Sen had gone to Shillong to hold a meeting with these investors. During the meeting, he had even promised to the plot owners to build houses and had taken advances from them. But 12 years on, the plot owners are yet to get possession of their plots. Roy Choudhury was one who had initially paid Rs 45,000 for the land and again paid Rs 1,10,000 to Sen in 2001. Roy Choudhury did not get hold of the land even after repeated requests to Sen.

Cong demands CBI probe in Noida land allotment LUCKNOW: Alleging irregularity in allotment of group housing land in Noida, Uttar Pradesh Congress has demanded a CBI inquiry into it. In a letter to Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Congress MLA Akhilesh Pratap Singh claimed 1,33,750 metre land was allotted to a company under group housing scheme in 2007 but the firm failed to deposit 30 per cent amount within the stipulated time frame even after five years. He said when SP came to power in March 2012, the company deposited 30 per cent and got the land allotted in its favor which was not legal and caused a loss of hundreds of crore rupees to the authority. Singh said an inquiry was conducted on the order of the CM in which several irregularities were detected. The probe panel committee recommended FIR and departmental action against the officials concerned. He demanded that the inquiry should be handed over to CBI, which was already probing Noida allotment case, and fresh bid should be held. -PTI

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May 10, 2013

LIC Housing plans to increase NIM MUMBAI: LIC Housing Finance is planning to reduce its cost of borrowing by around 25 basis points by diversifying its borrowing basket, a top company official said. "In the current financial year, our focus will be on net interest margin which we want to increase to 2.5 per cent. For this, we aim to reduce the cost of borrowing by 25 basis points through diversifying our borrowing basket," said Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of LIC Housing Finance, V K Sharma.-PTI

Get the most from your home repair dollars MARCIE GEFFNER

or newer homeowners who aren't familiar with their home's maintenance needs, home maintenance chores can be daunting. When the list of home repair chores, from inspecting the roof to regrouting the bathtub, grows overwhelming the question naturally arises: What's most important? The answer: Maintenance chores that involve safety or water intrusion should be top priority, according to David Tamny, American Society of Home Inspectors inspector and owner of Professional Property Inspection in Columbus, Ohio. "One of the most important elements of homeowner maintenance is anything that has to do with drainage or water flow. Gutters or problems with grading and drainage around the structure that can contribute to foundation problems are probably things you don't want to defer," he says. Stop water intrusion, fix safety hazards In the safety category, homeowners should prioritize: • Inspecting and repairing broken hand railings or walkway cracks that could lead to a slip-

• Recaulking showers, bathtubs, sinks and toilets to keep water out of the walls and floors. • Repairing and sealing window leaks, which can cause mold and damage the structure of the home. • Cutting back plants that have grown too close to the foundation. "Vegetation should be trimmed back so rain is running away from the house," Gifford says. and-fall injury. • Pushing the "test" buttons on electrical outlets to make sure the ground-fault circuits are working.

spectors at Amerispec of Northeast Florida, according to Charles Gifford, owner of the home inspection company in Jacksonville. In the water category,

Gutters or problems with grading and drainage around the structure that can contribute to foundation problems are probably things you don't want to defer, • Installing and testing smoke detectors in sleeping areas and hallways that lead into bedrooms. Water is so insidious that it's the No. 1 concern of home in-

homeowners should prioritize: • Cleaning out rain gutters and downspouts. • Repairing stucco cracks. • Using good-quality exterior paints.

Head's up for a roof inspection A periodic roof inspection is also a must because undetected leaks can cause myriad costly home repairs. How often a roof should be professionally inspected depends on the age and type of roof and local weather conditions. An older roof exposed to severe weather should be inspected more often than a newer roof in a mild climate. In any case, homeowners shouldn't wait until they see telltale stains on the ceilings to get the roof checked out. Instead, a roof inspection should be part of the regular home repair routine. Cont’d on page 31

What are the options besides walking away? STEVE MCLINDEN

Dear Real Estate Adviser, We bought at the height of the market in 2006. We have an interest-only loan and our payments are affordable for now, but we desperately need a bigger place for our three boys. The problem is that new homes similar to ours are selling for $30,000 to $40,000 less than what we still owe. Should we tough it out, attempt a short sale or simply walk away? -Carmen M. Dear Carmen, There's nothing to be gained

by just walking away. After the foreclosure action that would follow such a move, you'd have to wait two to three years (or more) before you could buy a home again conventionally, depending on the lender and many other factors. In the meantime, your credit would take a pummeling, and that might affect your family adversely in other ways. As for the "tough it out" option, that apparently won't address your growing space needs. But if you are considering staying, you could try talking with your lender

about the prospects for either a loan modification or refinancing.

If you are considering staying, you could try talking with your lender about the prospects for either a loan modification or refinancing Ask specifically about the Home

Affordable Refinance Program, or HARP; the Home Affordable Modification Program, or HAMP; and the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program, or HAFA. With your interest-only loan structure, you may not have enough equity to refinance or modify. The short option A short sale, though, in which the mortgage lender agrees to accept a payoff for less than the balance of the loan, might be a way out. Cont’d on page 31

Real Estate Post

May 10, 2013

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18 realty firms under scanner Get the most from your home repair dollars for forgeries NEW DELHI: The Government says complaints were received against 27 real estate firms across the country for alleged forgeries and dubious investment schemes, out of which 18 are being probed by different regulatory and en-

forcement agencies for further action. Giving a list of these 27 entities, the Finance Ministry said that complaints against seven of them are being examined by Sebi, while the markets regulator has prima facie found two other firms to be running Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) and suitable actions are being taken against them. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Ministry also said that an examination by Sebi did not find any CIS violations at nine entities. Besides, action has already been initiated by different agencies against another eight companies - namely Alchemist Infra Reality Ltd, PACL Ltd, KBCL India Ltd, SGS Agro Farm Ltd, RBN Real Estate and Allied India, Maitreya Plotters and Structurals Pvt Ltd, Megacity Bangalore Developers and Builders Pvt Ltd and Sai

Prasad Properties Ltd. In one case, complaint has been taken with the company (Jain Housing and Constructions Hyderabad Ltd) and the reply is awaited. Those having been found by

Sebi to be running CIS scheme without approval include Ecogreen Real Estate India Ltd and Ken Infratech Ltd. Besides, Sebi is still examining complaints against Nicer Green Housing, Imbowers Housing and Infrastructure Ltd, IHI Developers India Ltd, Servehit Housing and Infrastructure Ltd, Taneja Developers and Infrastructure (Panipat) Ltd, Royal Infra Towers Ltd and Maxworth Buildtech Ltd. Providing the details, Minister of State in the Finance Ministry, Namo Narain Meena, also said that the government is considering a bill for setting up of a Real Estate Regulatory Authority and a Real Estate Appellate Tribunal in each state with powers to ensure transparency and quick redressal of grievances and disputes. Huge public protests are being witnessed for many days now in

West Bengal after Kolkata-based Saradha group was found to be running illicit collective investment schemes and is said to have defrauded lakhs of investors. Earlier, Sebi ordered one of the group firms, Saradha Realty India Ltd, to wind up all its collective investment schemes and refund the investors' money within three months. Meena informed the House that the entities that were not found by Sebi to be running any CIS scheme are Unitech Agro Hi-Tech Township, Landmark Apartments, Vatika, Habitech Ltd, Earth Infrastructure (two cases), Pawan Chawla, Assotech Reality, Wave Group and Cosmic Structures. In cases where actions have been already taken or initiated, the Finance Ministry had ordered an investigation in a matter relating to Alchemist Infra Reality Ltd and the Delhi High Court has granted an interim stay, the Ministry said. In the matter relating to PACL Ltd, Registrar of Companies Rajasthan was asked to conduct a

Sebi ordered one of the group firms, Saradha Realty India Ltd, to wind up all its collective investment schemes 'technical scrutiny' of the company's balance sheets on the basis of a complaint from a former employee. -PTI

What are the options besides walking away? Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 30

But you should know that the approval of a short sale typically hinges on the lender's belief that the borrower will soon be unable to make mortgage payments. Since you're not having trouble with payments, your lender might have less motivation to go along. Some banks, though, are amenable to "strategic short sales," where a seller can afford to make mortgage payments, at least for the time being, but chooses not to. This tack is more apt to be approved by a lender if the seller is experiencing a different form of hardship, such

as unemployment or underemployment, medical problems, job transfer, unanticipated repairs, or other increasing debts or expenses. If you have balloon payments coming up, which are inevitable with many interest-only loans, that alone could place you in the "hardship" category.A short sale, though, in which the mortgage lender agrees to accept a payoff for less than the balance of the loan, might be a way out. But you should know that the approval of a short sale typically hinges on the lender's belief that the borrower will soon be unable to make

mortgage payments. Since you're not having trouble with payments, your lender might have less motivation to go along. Some banks, though, are amenable to "strategic short sales," where a seller can afford to make mortgage payments, at least for the time being, but chooses not to. This tack is more apt to be approved by a lender if the seller is experiencing a different form of hardship, such as unemployment or underemployment, medical problems, job transfer, unanticipated repairs, or other increasing debts or expenses. -Courtesy Bankrate.com

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 30

"When you start having damage due to water in the interior (of the home), that's going to devalue the property, and the worse that it gets, the more expensive and tough it will be to fix," Tamny says. Cool it now: your HVAC system Next on the to-do list should

ing or have broken slates often can be repaired. But if those signs of neglect are ignored, the fence will experience a "catastrophic failure" and need to be entirely rebuilt, he says. Do it yourself or hire a pro? Whether the do-it-yourself option is a viable alternative for home maintenance depends largely on the homeowner's situ-

Most homeowners shouldn't attempt electrical repairs due to the risk of electrocution. (Trimming trees near high-powered electrical lines is also extremely dangerous.) Projects that require special equipment such as cleaning air ducts are also ill-suited for the do-it-yourself approach be the home's heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system, known in the trade by the abbreviation "HVAC," whether that means a furnace, air-conditioning unit, heat pump or other components. These systems should be serviced at least once or twice a year because, again, poor maintenance practices can lead to much more costly repairs. "A dirty filter can lead to all kinds of problems," Gifford says. A proactive approach to home maintenance, rather than the more common I'll-fix-it-when-it-breaks mentality, can help homeowners save money on repair costs. The hard truth is that just about everything in a home requires some sort of maintenance, and it usually makes sense to stay ahead of the inevitable deterioration. "Your house starts aging from the second the last nail is put in," Tamny says. "It keeps running down and eventually the systems become obsolete and need repair or replacement." Gifford cites the backyard fence as a classic example of illadvised deferred maintenance. Fences that are sagging or lean-

ation. For instance, older homeowners may not be spry enough to climb on the roof and clean out the rain gutters, while younger homeowners may be disinclined to take time away from their careers or family commitments, Tamny says. For those determined to DIY, simple tasks such as painting a fence or clearing overgrown brush are a good place to start. Most homeowners shouldn't attempt electrical repairs due to the risk of electrocution. (Trimming trees near high-powered electrical lines is also extremely dangerous.) Projects that require special equipment such as cleaning air ducts are also ill-suited for the do-ityourself approach. One more tip: Few people enjoy house cleaning, but cleanliness can offer important home maintenance benefits, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Removing dirt and dust can prolong the lifespan of major appliances, window treatments, floors, carpets, sinks, bathtubs, cabinets and many other components of a typical home. -Courtesy Bankrate.com

Â&#x201E; Health

Line

Aurobindo Pharma gets USFDA nod for Cefadroxil NEW DELHI: : Drug firm Aurobindo Pharma has said it has received final approval from the US health regulator to manufacture and market generic Cefadroxil oral suspension used for treating bacterial infections in the US market. The company has received final approval from the US Food & Drug Administration (USFDA) to manufacture and market Cefadroxil for oral suspension USP in the strengths of 250mg/5mL and 500mg/5mL, Aurobindo Pharma said in a statement. The product is the generic equivalent of Warner Chilcott Company Inc's Duricef for oral suspension in the same strengths, it added. Cefadroxil oral suspension has been approved out of the company's cephalosporin formulations manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, Aurobindo Pharma said. The company now has a total of 187 abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) approvals (160 final approvals including 4 from Aurolife Pharma LLC and 27 tentative approvals) from USFDA, it added.-PTI

Â&#x201E; Victims of unlicensed dentist come forward SANTA FE, N.M.: Santa Fe police say more victims of a man who calls himself ``El Dentista'' have come forward. Eliver Kestler, also known as Eliver Lopez, is facing charges after police say the unlicensed tooth doctor was found operating as a ``mobile dentist'' out of a sedan around town. The 36-year-old Kestler was arrested April 20 following a tip from a former customer. Investigators discovered Kestler with a portable drill machine and other dental equipment in a small, red sedan. Authorities say Kestler told police he had a dentistry license in Mexico but no license in the U.S. Police said they have received several calls about the mobile dentist. One woman told investigators she allegedly had teeth removed by Kestler but he didn't come through with replacements. She says about 20 people in her neighborhood received similar services. -AP

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May 10, 2013

Panel flays Ministry's 'inaction' on clinical trials Details on Page 34

Boston bombing victims face huge bills; donations pour in

ost of amputating a leg? At least $20,000. Cost of an artificial leg? More than $50,000 for the most high-tech models. Cost of an amputee's rehab? Often tens of thousands of dollars more. These are just a fraction of the medical expenses victims of the Boston Marathon bombing will face. The mammoth price tag is probably not what patients are focusing on as they begin the long healing process. But friends and strangers are already setting up fundraisers and online crowdfunding sites, and a huge Boston city fund has already collected more than $23 million in individual and corporate donations. No one knows yet if those donations - plus health insurance, hospital charity funds and other sources - will be enough to cover the bills. Few will even hazard a guess as to what the total medical bill will be for a tragedy that killed three people and wounded more than 260. At least 15 people lost limbs, and other wounds include head injuries and tissue torn apart by shrapnel. Health insurance, as practically anyone who has ever gotten hurt or sick knows, does not always

cover all costs. In the case of arti-

ample of the red tape some bomb-

ficial limbs, for example, some insurance companies pay for a basic model but not a computerized one with sophisticated, lifelike joints. Rose Bissonnette, founder of the New England Amputee Association, said that the moment she heard about the bombings, she knew immediately that her organization's services would be needed. The advocacy group helps amputees navigate things such as insurance coverage for artificial limbs. Bissonnette shared one group member's struggle to get coverage for artificial arms as an ex-

ing victims could face. The woman ``got a call from the insurance company and the person on the other end said, `How long are you going to need the pros-

left her with injuries similar to those facing the Boston victims. Her mangled lower left leg had to be amputated and her right ankle was partially severed. Her fivemonth hospital stay cost more than $250,000. Health insurance covered all her treatment, rehab and her prosthesis. Health economist Ted Miller noted that treating just one traumatic brain injury can cost millions of dollars, and at least one survivor has that kind of injury. He also pointed out that the medical costs will include treating anxiety and post-traumatic stress - ``an issue for a whole lot more people than just people who suffered physical injuries,'' he said. Adding to the tragedy's toll will be lost wages for those unable to work, including two Mas-

Health economist Ted Miller noted that treating just one traumatic brain injury can cost millions of dollars, and at least one survivor has that kind of injury thetic hands?''' Bissonnette recalled. Bissonnette herself was in a horrific car crash 16 years ago that

sachusetts brothers who each lost a leg, Miller said. They had been roofers but may have to find a new line of work. Cont'd on Page 35

Women becoming taller and slimmer LONDON: Women are becoming taller and slimmer as they are living longer and are having fewer kids due to improved healthcare and nutrition, a new study claims. A Durham University study of people living in rural Gambia shows that the modern-day "demographic transition" towards living longer and having fewer children may also lead women to be taller and slimmer. The findings, published in the journal Current Biology, may have relevance around the globe. Researchers show that changes in mortality and fertility rates in Gambia, likely related to improvements in medical care

since a clinic opened there in 1974, have changed the way that natural selection acts on body size. For the study, data was collected over a 55-year period (19562010) by the UK Medical Re-

tality and fertility rates to rapidly declining ones. The researchers also had thorough data on the height and weight of the women. Their analysis shows that the demographic transition influenced

"Our results are important because the majority of human populations have either recently undergone, or are currently undergoing, a demographic transition, search Council on thousands of women from two rural villages in he West Kiang district of Gambia. Over the time period, those comunities experienced significant demographic shifts from high mor-

directional selection on women's height and body mass index (BMI). Selection initially favored short women with high BMI values but shifted over time to favor tall women with low BMI values.

"This is a reminder that declines in mortality rates do not necessarily mean that evolution stops, but that it changes," Dr Ian Rickard, Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology said. "Our results are important because the majority of human populations have either recently undergone, or are currently undergoing, a demographic transition from high to low fertility and mortality rates. "Therefore the temporal dynamics of the evolutionary processes revealed here may reflect the shifts in evolutionary pressures being experienced by human societies generally," Rickard said.. -PTI

May 10, 2013

Health Science Post

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Columbus students choosing healthy offerings COLUMBUS, Neb.: Fourth-grader Keagan Reeves and a group of his Shell Creek Elementary School classmates were eager to discuss their lunches. There were no complaints about the main meals from those seated in the cafeteria, but the excitement was generated by a new addition that gives the students more variety and more say in what ends up on their trays. And it's healthy, too. The Columbus Telegram reports that about two weeks ago, Lakeview Community Schools added salad bars at Shell Creek

``Everybody is pretty excited about it,'' said Mlinar, adding that most students there prefer the fresh selections over canned items and Platte Center elementary schools. The buffets - called fruit and vegetable bars because of the offerings - are stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables that can be selected by students to go along with the main meal. Eight different items accompanied the regular lunch of rotini and meat sauce, sliced peaches and breadsticks. ``It's really good,'' Reeves said of the salad bar, where he selected a broccoli salad

and apple. Across the table, fourth-grader Cassie Rathbone had applesauce and carrot sticks with her meal. She said getting to choose her own fruits and vegetables is the best part of the salad bar. Allowing students to pick foods they enjoy - instead of taking the only fruit or vegetable offered - was part of the reason the school district added the buffets, according to Food Services Manager Jenny Sloup. Sloup said the district has reduced the amount of wasted food since the salad bars were introduced. ``It's been a really positive thing for us,'' she said. Plus, the equipment itself came at no cost to the district. Lakeview was the first Nebraska school district to apply for a grant through the Let's Move! Salad Bars 2 Schools initiative, Sloup said. The grants, supported by donations from companies and organizations, are awarded as part of First Lady Michelle Obama's ongoing effort to raise healthier children. Sloup said the salad bars also help Lakeview meet stricter U.S. Department of Agriculture requirements for school lunches. The district has offered a salad bar for students and staff at the junior/senior high school for about two years, when the meal program was overhauled following a period of diner dissatisfaction. Principal John Mlinar believes the addition at Shell Creek has been a success

Gurdwaras can help battle mental health issues WASHINGTON: Prominent Sikh mental health professionals have called upon Gurdwaras to engage themselves in helping community members come out and seek help for psychological ailments. The issue came up for discussion during a recently concluded conference call on mental health of the community, organized by the Sikh Council on Religion and Education (SCORE) in association with the Office of the US Vice President. "There is such a hunger for mentors and education and we need to fill in that gap. Once people see our compassion, they will feel comfortable to reaching out to us for help," said trauma counselor Jasvir Kaur. The need for such initiative, the experts argued, has increased particularly since Sikhs have had to deal with hate crimes post 9/11 as well as shooting incidents like the one at a Gurdwara in Oak Creek last year. Kaur, who counseled families of the victims of Oak Creek and also helped a family in Atlanta handle the loss of a family member due to mental illness related causes, added: "Right now, no one feels comfortable because they feel judged...but every step helps us get there." During the discussion, Leena Singh Bedi said that "the secret for keeping a healthy community lies in the help from within the

community itself." "While having access to the correct resources is a huge step forward, it will not make a difference if people are too hesitant to ask for help," she said. "Sikh patients are not fond of psychotherapy and rely more on medications when it comes to treatment (because of the stigma and shame that comes from opening up to someone)," Bedi added. According to Dr. Neena Gurpal Singh, Gurdwaras can take a step in the right direction by allowing people to "have (access) to the respective Gurdwaras resources for help in times of need which should include mental health professionals and also means of accessing health care and medication for those who have no insurance." Stefanie Feldman, Policy Analyst at the Office of Vice President Biden said the sense of shame associated with mental illness prevents too many people from seeking help. "That's why, this past January, the President Obama directed Cabinet Secretaries Sebelius and Duncan to launch a national dialogue about mental illness with young people who have experienced mental illness, members of the faith community, foundations and schools," Feldman said. -AP

so far. ``Everybody is pretty excited about it,'' said Mlinar, adding that most students there prefer the fresh selections over canned items. The same is true at Platte Center Elementary School. Principal Daryl Schrunk has been surprised to see students there eating cucumbers, tomatoes, cauliflower and other fresh vegetables. ``They seem to be cleaning their plates better since they are choosing what they wish to eat,'' said Schrunk, who believes the change will lead to more staff members eating the district-prepared meals as well. The cost of stocking the salad bars will come from the district's food budget, something the board of education has been monitoring closely over the past couple of years as it strives to keep the lunch program financially self-supporting. Lunch prices increased by 25 cents over the previous two school years to cover the rising cost of food, support the improved lunch program and meet the

Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. Currently, student lunches cost $2.25 at the elementary schools and $2.35 at the junior/senior high school.

It may be too early to determine the financial effects of the new salad bars, but one Shell Creek student considers the current price to be a better deal since the addition. ``We get more food on the plate, and we get to eat more vegetables and fruits,'' said fourth-grader John Phelps. -AP

Health Science Post

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May 10, 2013

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Panel flays Ministry's 'inaction' on clinical trials NEW DELHI: A Parliamentary panel has criticized the Union Health Ministry for its "inaction" on certain alleged irregularities in clinical trials of drugs before their introduction in the country. It also charged the officials involved in granting approval to drugs with violation of law and "with an intention to save the guilty". "The Committee is shocked to note this dilly-dallying by the Ministry on the matter, which could be affecting lives of lakhs of people in the country, who are consuming these drugs. "The Ministry agrees with the Committee's viewpoint about review of approvals to ensure safety of patients, fair play, transparency and accountability but instead of taking strict and immediate action in all proven cases of delinquency and omission and commission, it still continues to be in a state of profound procrastination," Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare said in its 66th report. On grant of approvals to 33 new drugs between January 2008 and October 2010 without conducting clinical trials on Indian patients, the panel said "this is yet another

instance where the Ministry, in spite of appreciating the serious problem the continued marketing of these 33 drugs may pose to Indian patients, has chosen to take

referring it to yet another committee". "These tactics have been, as stated at several places in this report, resorted to by the govern-

no action to resolve it." The Committee, headed by Brajesh Pathak, said that even after a lapse of more than seven months the three-member expert panel looking into this contentious matter has come out with "virtually nothing concrete" and observed that the government "intends to delay a decision by

ment to delay indefinitely the decisions and consequent actions that would be required to be taken against several officials and nonofficials who have indulged in rampant acts of omission and commission while approving these drugs in gross violation of the law of the land." The Committee has taken

Prosecutors: Official lied about tainted water CHICAGO: A prosecutor told jurors before they began deliberations that a one-time suburban Chicago water official lied about drawing village water from a well tainted with a cancer-causing chemical, while her attorney declared her a scapegoat of an inner circle of powerful men. Former water department supervisor Theresa Neubauer, 55, has pleaded not guilty to lying to authorities about how Crestwood pumped in the polluted water,

scandal that infuriated residents and left many fearing for their health. Only two officials were charged, the other being co-defendant Frank Scaccia, Crestwood's certified water operator. He changed his plea to guilty earlier this month. Taking the floor first during closings, prosecutor Tim Chapman told jurors that Neubauer helped conceal the practice. He displayed disclosure forms over decades where she indicated no well water

Defense attorney Thomas Breen portrayed Neubauer as nothing more than a glorified clerk who took orders from Crestwood officials higher up the chain of command which they allegedly did in order to boast to voters in the 11,000resident village about keeping water rates low. The competing claims about Neubauer came during closing arguments at a federal trial in Chicago. It is the only trial to date in a

was drawn. ``She told lie after lie, month after month, year after year,'' he said. He went on to say she was a member of the village's ``inner circle.'' But later, defense attorney Thomas Breen portrayed Neubauer as nothing more than a glorified clerk who took orders

from Crestwood officials higher up the chain of command. He then pointed to her in court and apologized for what he was about to say. ``You served cake and coffee,'' he said, looking at Neubauer. ``That's how close you got to the inner circle.'' During closings, Neubauer displayed no expression but fidgeted constantly with a pen, rolling it over her fingertips. Several Crestwood residents looked on from courtroom benches. Raising his voice, Breen told jurors that those truly responsible for the decisions to draw the contaminated water were, in his words, letting Neubauer ``wear the jacket'' for their misdeeds. ``It's about a bunch of men who, when push comes to shove, are cowards. Cowards!'' he shouted. He questioned how she could have possibly known the water was poisoned when she herself took showers in and drank the same water, and when she made oatmeal she gave to her own children with the water.-AP

strong objections to these "dilatory tactics" and recommended immediate decision on these "proven gross violations lest the health of the people is compromised irrevocably." While the Health Ministry agreed with the Committee's earlier recommendations regarding review of approvals to ensure safety of patients, fair play transparency and accountability, it said "the continued inaction on the part of the Ministry on this serious matter almost borders on collusion with an intention to save the guilty". The Par panel said "Committees after committees are being constituted to postpone the day of reckoning of the guilty people. On another place this inaction

matter of public health needs to be deprecated in strongest terms." It further said the Health Ministry should come out of its "contemplation mode" and take action as recommended by the Committee in the context of these three drugs without any loss of time. The panel also took strong note of the Health Ministry uploading information about banned and discontinued drugs on its website and called for their immediate removal from the CDSCO website which may prove life threatening. The Parliamentary Committee also called for effectively implementing all strong mechanisms in approval of new drugs and appreciated the steps taken in this regard. It also called for adoption of

It said "the continued inaction on the part of the Ministry on this serious matter almost borders on collusion with an intention to save the guilty". which has led to unhindered marketing of these drugs with unknown and unspecified risks to the unsuspecting people who are consuming them amounts to a serious violation of human rights of the hapless patients." On the issue files going untraceable in case of approvals granted to three drugs, the Committee said "the continued inaction of the government on this vital

best global practice in drug regulation, especially with regard to two burning cases of Analgin and Buclizine. In the case of irregularities in fixed dose combinations (FDCs), the report has sought curtailing the timeframe from 18 months to nine months to the state drug authorities in proving the efficacy and safety of drugs before the CDSCO. -PTI

Medical board backs prescription drug reforms LOS ANGELES: The Medical Board of California is backing measures to combat prescription drug abuse in the wake of a report that found a link between physician-prescribed narcotics and overdose deaths. The board, meeting in Los Angeles, voted to support legislation requiring coroners to report prescription drug overdose deaths to the board and to give the panel new power to halt a doctor's prescribing in some cases, the Los Angeles Times reported. The board also voted to create a task force to develop guidelines for prescribing painkillers. The medical board is charged with overseeing more than 100,000 physicians in California, but its president said last month that it lacks the power to identify those who might be overprescribing.

Sharon Levine told a joint legislative committee that the board lacks the authority to use the state's tracking system, the Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System, to identify doctors who may be purposely overprescribing unless it is acting in response to a specific complaint. A Times investigation last year found that between 2006 and 2011, doctor-prescribed drugs caused or contributed to nearly half the accidental deaths involving prescription drugs in four Southern California counties. In its review, the Times reported that at least 30 Southern California patients died while their doctors were under investigation. While the board sanctioned all but one of those 12 doctors, in most cases, doctors are allowed to continue writing prescriptions after they are sanctioned. -AP

May 10, 2013

Health Science Post

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Yoga makes its way into Coffee may boost efficiency of breast cancer drug Chinese prisons

BEIJING: The popularity of Yoga seems to be growing in China and has now percolated to prisons with a women's detention centre recently introducing the ancient Indian discipline to its inmates. A women's detention house in Wuyi County in east China's Zhejiang province has been holding regular Yoga sessions for its inmates to help them "fight stress and find serenity". "The inmates are organized to do their favorite exercise - Yoga - every night. Their instructor Tang Junhui believes Yoga can

help these women inmates to fight stress and find serenity," a photo feature carried by the state run People's Daily Online said. According to a brief write up, the detention house introduced Yoga to reduce the inmates' stress as most of them found it difficult to communicate and had mental pressures. "It worked well after Yoga courses were introduced in the detention house. Now the inmates enjoy doing Yoga, and they have become more cheerful and outgoing," it said. Yoga has become immensely popular in China in recent years with millions of Chinese of all age groups taking it through well established institutes. Yin Yan, former Editor-in-Chief of the Chinese edition of the ELLE international fashion magazine, who married Yoga exponent, Manmohan Singh Bhandari from Rishikesh, has established a wide network of her "Yoga Yogi" centers with a turnover of over USD eight million a year. She even started a college for Yoga last year. Noted Yoga guru B K S Iyengar is widely revered in China. Hundreds of followers attended his meetings when he visited the country for the first time in 2010. -PTI

Boston bombing victims face huge bills; donations pour in Cont'd from Page 32

Many survivors will also need help with expenses beyond immediate health care, including things like modifying cars for those who lost limbs or remodeling homes to accommodate wheelchairs. Many survivors live in Massachusetts, a state that requires residents to have health insurance, ``which should cover most of their required treatment,'' said Amie Breton, spokeswoman for Massachusetts' con-

Legs need to be replaced every few years, or more often for very active users or those who gain or lose weight. Limb sockets need to be replaced even more often sumer affairs office. ``The total cost of that treatment is impossible to calculate at this early stage.'' Amputees may face the steepest costs, and artificial legs are the costliest. They range from about $7,200 for a basic belowthe-knee model to as much as $90,000 for a high-tech microprocessor-controlled full leg, said Dr. Terrence Sheehan, chief medical officer for Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital in Rockville, Md., and medical director of the Amputee Coalition, a national advocacy

group. Legs need to be replaced every few years, or more often for very active users or those who gain or lose weight. Limb sockets need to be replaced even more often and also cost thousands of dollars each, Sheehan said. Massachusetts is among about 20 states that require health insurers to pay for prosthetic limbs, but many plans don't cover 100 percent of those costs, Sheehan said. ``Most are skimpy beyond basic prosthetics and they have not caught up with current available technology,'' he said. ``The insurer will use terminology such as `not medically necessary''' to deny computerized feet or knees that can often make the patient better able to function and more comfortable and safe, Sheehan said. Some insurers may be willing to make exceptions for the Boston blast survivors. ``We will work to ensure that financial issues/hardship will not pose a barrier to the care that affected members' need,'' said Sharon Torgerson, spokeswoman for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, one of the state's largest health insurers. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, another big insurer, is changing its policy and will pay for some of the more expensive bionic limbs when there is a demonstrated need, said Dr. Michael Sherman, chief medical officer. He said that 15 blast survivors admitted to hospitals are Harvard Pilgrim customers and that the insurance company is discussing ``whether we might absorb some of the copays and deductibles.''-AP

LONDON: Drinking coffee could decrease the risk of recurrence of breast can-

cer in patients taking a widely used drug for the disease, a new study has found. Scientists at Lund University in Sweden found patients who took Tamoxifen, along with two or more cups of coffee daily, reported less than half the rate of cancer recurrence, compared with their Tamoxifentaking counterparts who drank one cup or less. The team followed over 600 breast can-

cer patients from southern Sweden for an average of five years. Approximately 300 took Tamoxifen. The drug, a common hormone therapy after breast cancer surgery, reduces the risk of new tumors by blocking oestrogen receptors. How coffee interacts with the treatment, however, isn't immediately known. "One theory we are working with is that coffee 'activates' Tamoxifen and makes it more efficient," said Maria Simonsson, doctoral student in Oncology at Lund University. The Lund University researchers have previously linked coffee consumption to a decreased risk of developing certain types of breast cancer. Caffeine has also been shown to hamper the growth of cancer cells. The latest observational study involving coffee's role in cancer prevention and treatment underlines the need for more research, according to the team. "We would like to know more about how lifestyle can interact with breast cancer treatment," said Helena Jernstrom, Associate Professor of Experimental Oncology at Lund University. -PTI

Datebook

36 India Post

May 10, 2013

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NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Fri, May 10

Fri May 10

• Dr. Kumar Vishwas - "Koi Deewana Kehta Hai"

• Soorya Festival New York

Venue: Hilton, 120 Wood Ave S, Iselin, NJ 08830 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 732-277-6687

Venue: Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: 832 643 9131

Sun May 12

Sat, May 18

• Paresh Rawal is Back in HINDI - DEAR FATHER

• EKAL 2013 Annual Fundraising with Sanjivini

Venue: Ritz Theater, 1148 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 732-921-7350

Sun May 19 • Soorya Festival Sangamam Venue: Woodbridge High School, 750 St Georges Ave, Woodbridge Township, NJ 07095 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: (800)-213-7080

Venue: Westover Magnet School , 412 Stillwater Ave, Stamford, CT 06902 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 203-354-2742

Fri Jun 7 • An Evening Of Indian Classical Music Indradeep Ghosh Venue: Tibet House, 22 W 15th St, NY 10011 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 917-626-1470

May 4th to May 10 • Discourses by Swami Mukundananda Bhagavad Geeta for Everyday Living

• Essence of Spirituality Venue: Fremont Hindu Temple, 3676 Delaware Drive, Fremont, CA 94538 Time: Sat: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Sun: 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, Tue: 8:15 pm to 9:15 pm Prasadam: Prasadam will be served after the program May 4th (Sat) to May 10

• Regular

On-going Bal-mukund Class Venue: 3839, Heriatage Terrace #232, Fremont, CA Contact: 510-794-3368, • Regular On-going Satsang: Contact: 408-594-8197 Email: lisamousum@gmail.com, 510-573-2288 Email: karuna101_sharma@yahoo.com

Wed, May 8 • Ohlone Community Band and

Sat, May 11

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal

• Vaanga Pazhagalaam

Mukund Hindi Classes are held every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of Month

Venue: Hoover School Auditorium, 3501 Country Club Dr, Lakewood, CA 90712 Time: 3:00 pm Contact: 310-213-7342

Sun, May 12 • Mother’s Day Champagne Brunch with live music Venue: Tanzore Restaurant, 50 North La Cienega Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90211 Time: 11:30 am Contact: 310-652-3894

Sat May 18 • Antakshari Venue: Haveli Cuisine Of India, 17221 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701 Time: 3:00 pm Contact: 818-749-6360

ATLANTA Upcoming

Ohlone Tuba Ensemble Pops Concert Directed by Tony Clements Venue: Smith Center at Ohlone College 43600 Mission Blvd., Fremont Time: 7:30 pm Contact: (510) 659-6031 Website: www.smithcenter.com

Sun, May 12

May 2nd - 25th • "UnderCurrents and

Sun, May 12

the Quest for Space," Venue: SOMArts Cultural Center, 934 Brannan Street San Francisco, CA 94103 Time: 5pm - 8pm

May 12th through June 9th • Salma Arastu's Spiritual paintings Venue: CSE Gallery (in the Compassion Building, first floor) 1146 University Avenue San Jose, CA 95126

• Mother's Day Extravaganza Venue: Corner of Santa Fe Mall, 3750 Venture Dr, Duluth, GA 30096 Time: 2:00PM Contact: 404-806-1429

• Dr.Kumar Vishvas Live in Concert Venue: Corner of Santa Fe Mall, 3750 Venture Dr, Duluth, GA 30096 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 404-806-1429

Sat Jun 14 • Singing Sensation Venue: Impact Conference Center, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 2:00 pm Contact: 678-463-6613

Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-5614807 -Website: www.jkyog.org

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org/bal-mukund

Sun, May 19 • Hindi Play "Dear Father" Starring Paresh Rawal Venue: Jain Center, Bartlett, IL

May 24-26 • Sri Ramakrishna's Teachings in Eight Aphorisms A Week-end Retreat with Swami Brahmarupananda Venue: Vivekananda Monastery & Retreat 6723 122nd Ave., Ganges, MI 49408 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: (269) 543-4545

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he beautiful lake resort nestles amidst seven hills in a lush valley at an altitude of 1938 meters. In 1841, the British first discovered Nainital as a holi day resort. Today, the town has emerged as one of the most important hill resorts of India Nainital is a modern hill resort of northern India (336 kms from Delhi) connected by best-aligned and maintained roads from the railhead of Kathgodam. A railway line was laid up to

May 10, 2013

Kathgodam in 1882. The road passes through forests where occasionally wild animals can also be seen. The name "Naini" is derived from the temple of goddess Naini which was built on the bank of the lake but later got destroyed due to landslides in the year 1880. The place is mentioned in Skand Puran as 'Trishul Sarover'. Tri Rishi (three sages Atri, Pulastiya and Pulha) had come there for pilgrimage while they were at Gagar range (now

called China Peak). They felt thirsty and could not find any water. They thought of Mansarover and dug a hole which at once got filled with water. The lake then formed was called Tri-Rishi Tal (The lake of three sages). Today it has an impressive lake surrounded by the hills from three sides with highest peak Cheena (2610 m) and the valley in between running from east to west. The lake is a little more than 3 kms in circumference. Nainital remains packed from April to November with tourists for sight seeing as well as for seeking escape from the heat of the plains. Naini Lake has facilities for boating and yachting. Facilities for horse riding, skating, golf and rock climbing are also available. Fishing can be done with permission of local authorities. Talli Tal and Malli Tal are the two main trading centers at Nainital. With increasing number of tourists visiting the hill station every year, Nainital has evolved into a tourists' paradise. The best way to get around Nainital is on foot. Moreover the important tourist hubs like The Mall are shut for vehicles in the evenings. Therefore, exploring Nainital on foot is the best option for tourists. Also, in areas like the Barra Bazaar, tourists can shop for local handicrafts, shawls, woolens, fresh produce like fruits and jams. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 42

Travel & Hospitality Post

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May 10, 2013

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Gulf evolving as global centre of air transport industry DUBAI: The global air travel map is being redrawn as growth rates slow in traditional markets and surge in evolving economies

after the recent announcement by Etihad Airways of a 24 per cent strategic equity investment in Jet Airways, the second largest airline

James Hogan

including India, Africa and Latin America, President and CEO of Etihad Airways James Hogan has said. Hogan's comments have come

in India. Delivering the fifth annual Airneth Lecture to aviation industry executives, policymakers and researchers in Amsterdam, Hogan

said the major shift occurring in the global economy is impacting significantly the air transport industry, requiring airlines to reshape their networks and enter new partnerships in order to remain competitive. He said markets which would benefit most from the continued growth in air transport would be those in 'aviation-friendly jurisdictions' in which governments recognized the economic contributions of airlines and the technological advances and capabilities of aircraft. "Legacy markets are growing, but at a slower pace. Emerging markets are surging. Traffic patterns and demographics are changing. Traditional air transport hubs are declining in prominence, with growth constrained by inadequate infrastructure and ingrained political resistance to change. "The Arabian Gulf the geographic centre of the world is now

evolving as the global centre of the air transport industry, with the number of passengers passing through Gulf hubs outstripping industry growth rates," said Hogan. IATA figures shows that in

Hogan also said a new hybrid business model is emerging, in which minority equity alliances are bridging the gap between full mergers and legacy alliances February, 2013, Middle East hub traffic was up by 10.6 per cent over February, 2012, compared with the global growth rate of 3.7 per cent. Hogan said the airline industry is entering a new phase of consolidation, as no single carrier could satisfy the global growth in passenger traffic. In addition to its new investment in Jet Airways, Etihad Air-

ways has acquired stakes in airberlin (just under 30 per cent), Air Seychelles (40 per cent), Virgin Australia (8.56 per cent) and Aer Lingus (just under 3 per cent), and continues to explore opportunities where they make financial and strategic sense. Hogan also said a new hybrid business model is emerging, in which minority equity alliances are bridging the gap between full mergers and legacy alliances. "The new business model delivers benefits which previously were available only through full mergers or acquisitions," he said. These benefits include joint procurement, cross-utilization of aircraft, joint training of pilots and cabin crew, shared sales forces in common destinations and dual focus on revenue growth and cost reduction. He said growth also would be maximized in markets like Abu Dhabi where governments embraced and implemented open skies policies, and planned airports, infrastructure, airspace corridors and operational regulations to support the industry and its customers. -PTI

Assocham survey on foreign tourists incorrect: Chiranjeevi NEW DELHI: There has been a growth of 2.3 per cent in foreign tourist arrivals in January-March this year over corresponding pe-

riod last year, Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi has said, while rejecting an industry survey which said there was a decrease of 25 per cent due to safety issues. The conclusions of the quick random survey undertaken by Assocham Social Development Foundation are incorrect, Chiranjeevi said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha. The survey has concluded that there has been a decrease of 25 per cent in foreign tourist inflow and a decrease of 35 per cent in women foreign tourist inflow in India since December 2012. The reasons for the drop in for-

eign tourist inflows, according to the survey, are safety and security issues and the global economic slowdown. The Minister said as per the available data the number of Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during January, February and March 2013 have registered 2.3 per cent growth over the corresponding period last year. He said there were total 20.27 lakh foreign tourists who visited India during January-March as against 19.81 lakh for the same period last year, registering 2.3 per cent growth. He said Travel Advisories are issued by various countries from time to time, advising their citizens to avoid travel or to take precautions while traveling to other countries/ certain areas in other countries for various reasons. Tourism Ministry has already posted its advisory on the website www.incredibleindia.org indicating that India remains a safe destination for international visitors including women tourists. -PTI

May 10, 2013

Travel & Hospitality Post

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Enormous potential of adventure tourism in India India Post News Service

NEW DELHI: While addressing CII Roundtable on Adventure Tourism here, Akshay Kumar, President, Adventure Tour Operators, Association of India, CEO, Mercury Himalayan Explorations Ltd. highlighted the enormous potential of adventure tourism, and said that over a period of time, focus has shifted from hard-core to soft-core / multi-activity based adventure tourism. It is interesting to note that revenue from domestic tourists is much more in comparison to inbound tourists. Further, he emphasized upon safety and quality issues, and suggested to encourage usage of satellite phones. Since 70% of Himalayan range is in India, and Incredible India Himalayan campaign is in place, industry should strategize to encourage adventure tourism activities during off-season and cater to tourists all round

Akshay Kumar

the year. Pointing out the benefits of adventure tourism over conventional tourism, Arjun Sharma, Co-Chairman, CII National Committee on Tourism, & MD, Le Passage to India, said that "With the help of

Foreign tourists to get tax refund in Goa PANAJI: The Goa government will refund Value Added Tax (VAT) to foreign tourists on goods bought in the state while they return to the airport, from November this year onwards, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said here. Parrikar-led cabinet cleared the amendment to the Goa Value Added Act, 2005, giving rights to

session. The chief minister said that the scheme aims to develop Goa as a shopping destination. The state government intends to refund VAT only on high-value goods and not on small ones, purchased in the state. Parrikar said the facility will attract brands of high value to hold exhibitions in the state. The chief minister said the state government is formulating the exact s c h e m e which will refund the money to the tourists only when they present valid tax invoice at Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar Goa airport. the government to formulate a Under the same scheme, the scheme to provide VAT refunds to Goa government is working out foreign tourists visiting the state. modalities to refund VAT on aviaParrikar told reporters that from tion turbine fuel (ATF), subject to November this year onwards, the a minimum VAT of 0.5 per cent, on facility would also be available to the basis of a progressive increase foreign tourists and later it could of passengers by airline carriers in be extended to domestic tourists, a year. once it is tried and tested with for"This scheme will also be impleeign guests. mented from October onwards, The state cabinet passed the which is tourist season," he said, amendments which would be adding that such a step would tabled before the state legislative help increase flights landing in the assembly during the ongoing state. -PTI

adventure tourism, we can showcase varied aspects of Indian cul-

ture as inbound tourists get an opportunity to closely engage with society". According to him, there is need to devise ways to create more synergies for this sector, and for addressing the prevailing bottlenecks. Ajeet Bajaj, Managing Director, Snow Leopard Adventures Pvt. Ltd., said that nearly 90% of adventure tourism is concentrated in soft adventure tourism and recommended that multipronged approach to be adopted to promote and harness potential in a safe and sustainable manner. With a view to making optimal utilization of airstrips, he suggested that the defense airstrips be allowed to be used for commercial operations. In his opinion, emphasis should be placed on insurance aspect and opening up

new institutions promoting multiple adventures sports besides mountaineering like rafting, canoeing, skiing, etc. Lauding government's efforts in promoting adventure tourism, Mr. Subhash Goyal, President IATO, Chairman Stic Travels, said that all the tour operators should gear up to take advantage of Rs 3 crore which has been allocated for Incredible India Himalayan campaign. Also, he suggested to create a helpline in multiple languages exclusively for this industry. Earlier, Amita Sarkar, Senior Director, CII, said that adventure tourism is a playing a crucial role in not only driving inclusive growth but also for generating employment opportunities and hence its potential can not be ignored.

Travel & Hospitality Post

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May 10, 2013

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Beautiful lake resort amidst seven hills Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 39

Tourists can avail Nainital holiday packages to explore the hill station, both in winters and summers. What to see around Hanumangarhi: (1, 951 m) 3 km. A popular place for worship in the temple of Lord Hanuman and its sun-set view. Khurpatal: (1,635 m) 5 to 10 kms. This is an angler's paradise on Nainital-Kaladhungi-Ramnagar Road. It is here that the conifers

Kilbury: (2,194 m) 10 kms. A wooded spot, connected by road, ideal for a quiet and peaceful holiday. Lariakanta: (2, 481 m) 6 kms. This is the second highest peak of Nainital and commands a glorious view of the lake region. Land's End: (2,1l8 m) 4.08 kms. One can have magnificent view of Khurpatal and the terraced fields on the hill side. Naini Peak or Cheena Peak: (2,611 m) 6 kms. Most favored pic-

Bhimtal

belt merges and gives way to the Sal trees. Fishing permits are available from Deputy Commissioner, Nainital.

nic spot of the town. One can view the distant plains and snow clad Himalayas from the peak. A bird's eye view of the lake is also visible

from here. One can either trek or go on horse back up to Naini Peak. Snow-View: (2270 m). 3 km. This is the nearest easily accessible peak on Sher-kaDanda hill connected by Ropeway. A powerful telescope is fixed here which enables one to view the Himalayan ranges. Nainital Ropeway: Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam has since installed the most sophisticated ropeway at Nainital which is the first of its kind in India. The ropeway covers a distance of 705 meters with an altitude gain of 300 meters. Carrying a maximum load of 825 kgs or 12 persons in each of its two cars, the ropeway travels at a maximum speed of 6 mts/ sec. Bhimtal: (1,371 m) 22 kms away from Nainital. Bhimtal is named after Bhim, one of the five Pandavas of 'Mahabharata'. The lake at Bhim Tal is larger than Naini Lake at Nainital. Boating, swimming and fishing are the main attractions. An island in the centre of the lake is an excellent spot for picnic. Fishing permits can be obtained from the fishing Inspector of Bhim Tal. Tour-

ist bungalow and private lodges are available here. Naukuchia Tal: (1,219 m) 27 kms. This is a lake known for its nine corners. Area around the lake is an ideal place for bird watching. Fishing permits can be obtained. Sat Tal: (1371 m) 21 kms. away from Nainital. This is a charming spot and the venue of the famous Kohinoor Camp in summer. There is an Ashram run by Dr. E. Stanley Jones of United States Missionaries, where religious, educational and social youth camps are held every year. Nearby, there are several small lakes, numbering seven,

from where the name Sat Tal is derived. The lakes include Panna, Nal Damyanti and Sita. Sukha Tal is located in the middle of thick pine and oak trees. There are excellent facilities for swimming, boating and fishing. A small World Life sanctuary is another spot of tourist attraction. How to Reach Air: Nearest airport is at Pantnagar (71 kms), connected by air service with New Delhi. Rail: The nearest railway station is Kathgodam (35 kms). Road: Nainital is well connected with all major cities in northern India.

Ayurveda helps Kerala emerge as tourism hub THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The centuries-old tradition of ancient Indian Ayurveda is fast turning Kerala into a global medical tourism destination, attracting holidayers as well as International celebrities to the state. When British super model Naomi Campbell landed in Kerala last year for an Ayurvedic massage session at Leela Kovalam Beach hotel, she was only affirming the efficacy of the Indian healing system with God's Own Country as its torch-bearer in modern times. According to sources in Kerala Tourism department, those who visited the state in recent times in-

cluded Italian film director Bernardo Bertolucci, known for his global hits like Last Tango in Paris and The Last Emperor, who came to the state for Ayurvedic treatment for a nagging ailment. German TV and film actress Ingeborg Schoener (77) has been trooping into the state for the last eight years for Ayurveda treatment. Completely cured of her painful knee problem, she thanked the tourism officials and said she had stopped allopathic treatments. "Thanks to Ayurveda, I feel fantastic. I make ghee at home and have stopped using oil to fry food.

I do my yoga, drink a glass of hot water first thing in the morning and buy one-year worth of Ay u r v e d i c medicines," a spokesperson for the department quoted her as saying. Pop star Madonna, Hollywood actress Demi Moore and Cherie Blair, wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, have also used

Ayurveda for their well-being. Back home, former Prime Minister A B Vajpayee is an ardent believer in the healing properties of Ayurveda's Panchakarma therapy. After his visit to Kumarakom lake-side resort, from where he famously "mused" on the state of the affair of the nation in 2000, Vajpayee told people around him that he felt very relaxed after Ayurveda therapy in Kerala. The list of celebrities from the showbiz world, sports and politics, fascinated by Ayurvedas power to rejuvenate, detoxify and cure, is a never ending one. Former President Pratibha Patil,

spouse of Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Kerala Governor Nikhil Kumar, German soccer legend Gerd Muellers' parents, Union Ministers Shashi Tharoor and A K Antony, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Tata Motors MD Karl Slym have all experienced the curative and wellness power of Ayurveda. "Ayurveda, practiced in Kerala in its traditional and authentic form, has been a major attraction for tourists. We are now planning to leverage its healing and curative aspects, along with its wellness system, to woo tourists during the monsoon season", Kerala Tourism Secretary Suman Billa told PTI. "It can help Kerala become a 365-day destination and ensure repeat visits by overcoming the element of seasonality," Billa said. Binod Sydney, Chief Physician at Travancore Heritage, said the Malayalam month of "Karkitakam" (roughly July during the monsoon season) is important because the body absorbs more medical effects of Ayurvedic treatment.

May 10, 2013

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Indians looking at budget travel, adventure NEW DELHI: With the mercury taking an upward swing, an increasing number of Indians are looking to travel domestic places offering great experience in a limited budget, search engine Google has said. Besides, adventure tourism is among the most sought after activities with Indians searching for snorkeling and scuba diving at places like Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Goa, according to the top travel trends for this summer. Google India announced its top travel trends for this summer based on searches conducted in India. "Indians love to travel and Google search trends highlight that an increasing number of Indians are looking to travel closer home, with the top searched-for travel destinations being some of the domestic locations," Google Country Head (Products) Lalitesh Katragadda said.

Indians are not only looking at travel destinations closer home, but are also looking for a great travel experience in a limited budget, Google said. This can also be linked to the growing trend of budget travel

where people are continuously looking for a great experience in a limited budget, Katragadda added. When it comes to international travel, Indians love to chase the Sun in Maldives and go for shopping in Singapore. Paris, New York, Seychelles and Bahamas are the other popular destinations, he said.

Among the top destinations for travel during the summers in the country, Andaman & Nicobar Islands was the most preferred search choice followed by Uttarakhand, Coorg and Goa, the trend report revealed.

For international destinations, Maldives was the top searched options followed by Singapore, Paris and New York, it added. Explaining the trend Katragadda said the most searched for activities and sights included scuba diving in Andamans, Jim Corbett Park in Uttarakhand and not to forget the beaches in Goa.-PTI

Kerala to host meet on travel technology THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: India's first International event on travel technologies will be held in June in Kerala with the objective of helping the travel and tourism industry leverage the massive marketing potential of the internet and social media. The International Conference on Travel Technology (ICTT) India from June 7-9, here will bring together subject experts from India and abroad, tour operators, hotel and resort owners, tourism marketing professionals, academicians, researchers and think tanks to discuss evolving technologies and the opportunities they present for the tourism industry, a release from Tourism Department said here. ICTT India is being organized by the Association of Travel Trade Organizations, India (ATTOI) a not-for-profit body working to pro-

mote responsible travel and sustainable tourism with the support of Kerala's Department of Tourism. "From researching destinations to planning their travel, tourism consumers today are heavily influenced by the social media and

other online resources in making their decisions. Businesses here need to understand the web space and knowhow to make technology work for them, which is what we hope to achieve with ICTT India," said

Anish Kumar P K., Secretary, ATTOI and Organizing Secretary, ICTT. ICTT India will also be a platform for Travel Technology companies to showcase their newly developed software and mobile applications and discuss improvements & innovations. "The internet has become the first point of reference, and social media a primary channel for information," said Tourism Secretary Suman Billa. An exhibition will be organized on the sidelines of the conference to provide an opportunity for travel and tourism businesses to showcase their products and services. -PTI

Disney's oldest cruise ship Magic gets a makeover NEW YORK: Disney Cruise Line's oldest ship, the Magic, is getting a makeover, including the addition of a children's area themed on Marvel Comics superheroes and a three-story water slide, the company announced. The Magic launched in 1998. Other updates when the ship goes i n t o drydock in Spain for a month this fall include updating audio technology and lighting, a n d retheming decor, motifs and layout in cabins, dining rooms, play spaces, and adult areas like bars and clubs. The new Magic ride, called AquaDunk, is a waterslide three decks high that sends riders on a near-vertical drop through a translucent tube extending 20 feet over the side of the ship. The ship will

also get a water playground and pool called AquaLab, as well as a splash zone for infants and toddlers, using Donald Duck's mischievous nephews as a character theme. The Magic's new Marvel's Avengers Academy will use characters from the Marvel brand,

which Disney acquired in 2009. It will feature games, programming, and equipment consisting of reproductions of props from superhero films. It's designed to appeal to both boys and girls, inspiring them to become superhero ``recruits'' for missions from the academy. -AP

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In Brief GOP rep weighs asylum review in immigration bill WASHINGTON: The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee has said that the way the U.S. grants asylum to immigrants may need to be addressed after the Boston Marathon bombing. Accused Boston Marathon bombers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev are ethnic Chechen brothers from Russia who came to the United States about a decade ago with their parents. The family was granted asylum. ``People getting asylum because they are in the minority, but engaging in aggressive tactics in their home country that may cause them to be susceptible to doing the same thing elsewhere, that obviously ought to be a part of our consideration in granting political asylum to avoid situations like Boston,'' said Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., who's working to develop a series of bills to fix problems with the country's immigration system. Goodlatte didn't specify what might need to be changed in the asylum process, only saying it's something that bears examination in the wake of the Boston bombings. So do with other aspects of the U.S. immigration system, including the naturalization process by which immigrants become U.S. citizens, Goodlatte said. Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is a U.S. citizen while Tamerlan Tsarnaev had sought citizenship but had not had his application granted.-AP

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May 10, 2013

Manipulating immigration system to settle personal disputes

Details on page 47

Boston bombing carjack victim recalls his night of terror WASHINGTON: An immigrant entrepreneur from China came out of the shadows with his harrowing tale of being carjacked at gunpoint by the Tsarnaev brothers after the Boston Marathon attacks. Identified only as Danny, 26, his story - worthy of a Hollywood thriller -filled in some of the details between the killing of an MIT campus police officer and a nocturnal shootout in which Tamerlan Tsarnaev was killed. In an exclusive interview, Danny told the Boston Globe newspaper how the elder Tsarnaev, brandishing a handgun, knocked on the window of his Mercedes ML 350 luxury SUV late on the night of April 18. "Don't be stupid," said Tsarnaev, also 26, who then asked Danny if he was keeping up with developments in the double bomb attack at the marathon finish line

in which three people were killed and 264 injured. "I did that," Tsarnaev told his captive behind the wheel, "and I just killed a policeman in Cambridge." Fearing for his life, Danny drove Tsarnaev through the sub-

dent in engineering at Northeastern University, and returned to the Boston area two months ago from China to launch a startup. In a side street, the two cars stopped. The elder Tsarnaev ordered Danny onto the passenger side. The two brothers then

"If you say a single word in Chinese, I will kill you right now," the older Tsarnaev said. Danny complied, telling his Mandarin-speaking friend in English: "I'm sleeping at my friend's home tonight. I have to go." urban Boston night, twisting and turning through the dark streets, followed by a sedan driven by younger brother Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19. Danny first came to the United States in 2009 as a graduate stu-

shifted what appeared to Danny to be luggage into the back of the Mercedes. Off went the brothers and their captive, together in the leased USD 50,000 SUV, with Tamerlan Tsarnaev now driving and Danny

thinking up an escape plan. With the gas tank nearly empty, they returned to the abandoned sedan, from which the brothers took a few more things. Shortly after, Danny's iPhone received first a text, then a phone call - a friend asking where he was. "If you say a single word in Chinese, I will kill you right now," the older Tsarnaev said. Danny complied, telling his Mandarin-speaking friend in English: "I'm sleeping at my friend's home tonight. I have to go." Danny's chance for escape came at a Shell gas station which, at that late hour of night, took cash only. When the younger Tsarnaev went inside to pay with a USD 50 bank note, and the older one shoved his handgun in a door pocket to fiddle with a GPS device, Danny seized the moment. AFP

Jailed pair shocked by Boston bomb claims Canada terror plot raises deportation questions TORONTO: Canada's immigration minister says he is reviewing the country's deportation policies following revelations that a court decided nine years ago against deporting a man who was arrested recently on terror charges. Raed Jaser came to Canada with his family as a teenager in 1993. Court records indicate he was unable to obtain Canadian citizenship because of criminal convictions including acts of fraud in 1997. Federal authorities tried to deport him in 2004. But a court decided Jaser should be allowed to stay because he was stateless Palestinian and there was nowhere to send him. Federal Immigration Minister Jason Kenney said he'll get a briefing on the issue. Jaser, 35, and Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, have been charged with plotting to derail a train. -AP

BOSTON: Two university friends of Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev who were jailed by immigration authorities the day after his capture had nothing to do with the deadly attack and had seen no hints that he harbored any violent thoughts or terrorist sympathies, a lawyer for one of them said. Azamat Tazhayakov and Dias Kadyrbayev, who are from Kazakhstan, were classmates with Tsarnaev at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. They appeared alongside him in a recent photograph of a group of young men visiting New York City's Times Square. They were detained April 20 after being questioned in connection with the bombing, which had killed three people and injured more than 260 others a few days earlier. ``These kids are just as shocked and horrified about what happened as everyone else,'' Kadyrbayev's lawyer, Rob-

ert Stahl, said in a phone interview. ``They can't even fathom something like this from a kid who seemed to be a typical young col-

operated fully, said Stahl, a former federal prosecutor. They are not suspects but are being held for violating their student visas by

This undated photo found on the VK page of Dias Kadyrbayev shows Kadyrbayev, left, with Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, at an unknown location

lege student.'' Tazhayakov and Kadyrbayev have been interviewed at length, twice, by FBI agents and have co-

not regularly attending classes, Stahl said. They are being detained at a county jail in Boston. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry

said that U.S. authorities came across the two while searching for ``possible links and contacts'' to Tsarnaev, a sophomore at the university. U.S. immigration officials have declined to discuss the reasons why the men were detained. John Hoey, an assistant chancellor at UMass Dartmouth, said Kadyrbayev is no longer enrolled; he was last a student in the fall. Tazhayakov is enrolled. The pair had lived at an offcampus apartment in New Bedford, about 60 miles (100 kilometers) south of Boston, and got around in a car registered to Kadyrbayev with a souvenir plate that says ``Terrorista (hash)1.'' The car was pictured on Tsarnaev's Twitter feed in March. That plate was just a joke gift from some of Kadyrbayev's friends, meant to invoke his penchant for late-night partying rather than his political sentiments, Stahl said. -AP

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May 10, 2013

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Colo. immigrant reporting requirement repealed DENVER: Colorado sheriffs and police will no longer be required to notify federal authorities when they arrest someone suspected of living illegally in the U.S., ending a policy passed seven years ago when Democrats and Republicans unified on strict immigration laws. Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill that repeals the 2006 law, long decried by immigrant rights advocates who came to characterize the policy as a precursor to more controversial measures later adopted in Arizona and Alabama. The repeal is among bills proposed by Democrats this year that highlight a major shift on how they view immigration policy in the state. Along with the reporting law, in 2006 Democrats also joined Republicans in passing a bill that barred those in the country illegally from receiving any public benefits, except for emergency services.

This year, Democrats are advancing a proposal that would allow driver's licenses for immigrants in the country illegally. And students who graduated from Colorado high schools, but who don't have legal status in the U.S., will also be eligible for in-state tu-

director with the Colorado Progressive Coalition, said in a statement. Those who wanted the reporting law repealed argued it made immigrants afraid of police and hesitant to come forward about crimes. They also argued that the

It made immigrants afraid of police and hesitant to come forward about crimes. They also argued that the law has become duplicative because a federal program known as ``Secure Communities'' now checks fingerprints during arrests to check immigration status ition under a bill expected to be signed. ``As immigrants become more and more involved in our civic life, they are having a greater impact on elections and legislation and they are voting for politicians that support issues that are important to them,'' Miriam Pena, executive

law has become duplicative because a federal program known as ``Secure Communities'' now checks fingerprints during arrests to check immigration status. Rep. Ted Harvey, R-Highlands Ranch, sponsored the 2006 reporting law. He agreed that the federal fingerprinting initiative has dealt

Calif. bill would let non-citizens serve on juries SACRAMENTO, California: The California Assembly has passed a bill that would make the state the first in the nation to allow noncitizens who are in the country legally to serve on jury duty. Assemblyman Bob Wieckowski, D-Fremont, said his bill, AB1401, would help California widen the pool of prospective jurors and help integrate immigrants into the community. It does not change other criteria for being eligible to serve on a jury, such as being at least 18, living in the county that is making the summons, and being proficient in English.

The bill passed 45-25 largely on a party-line vote in the Democraticcontrolled Assembly and will

Bob Wieckowski

move on to the Senate. One Democrat - Assemblyman Adam Gray, of Merced - voted no, while some

other Democrats did not vote. Democratic lawmakers who voted for the bill said there is no correlation between being a citizen and a juror, and they noted that there is no citizenship requirement to be an attorney or a judge. Republican lawmakers who opposed Wieckowski's bill called it misguided and premature. Assemblywoman Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, said there is no shortage of jurors. ``Jury selection is not the problem. The problem is trial court funding,'' Harkey said before the vote. ``I hope we can focus on that. Let's not break something; it's not broken now. Let's not whittle away at what is reserved for U.S. citizens. There's a reason for it.'' Cont'd on Page 46

with the reporting aspect he wanted to address. But he said he doesn't like that, in repealing everything in the reporting law, lawmakers also struck portions that forbid municipalities from passing ordinances that limited or prohibited law enforcement cooperation with immigration officials. Harvey said he doesn't think public opinion on immigration enforcement has changed since 2006. ``I guarantee you it's not public opinion,'' he said. ``It's a shift in the numbers in the Legislature.'' In 2006, Democrats controlled both legislative chambers, but a Republican governor was in office. This session, Democrats are in complete power. After two years of split legislative control, with Hickenlooper in office, Democrats

regained the House and retained the Senate in November. ``Elections have consequences,'' Harvey continued. ``Those that want to encourage more illegal behavior and encourage more illegal immigrants to come to Colorado have the power to pass legislation down here because of the numbers in the Legislature.'' Colorado sheriffs and police chiefs supported the repeal of the reporting law, and a handful of Republican lawmakers voted in favor of the repeal. ``Colorado has taken an important step toward restoring trust and dignity,'' said Julien Ross, executive director of the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, which had for years advocated for the law's repeal. -AP

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Immigration reform will boost US economy: Senators WASHINGTON: Key authors of the comprehensive US immigration reform bill have reached out to the American businesses on their path-breaking legislative venture, saying that the bill addresses their concerns on skill shortage and would boost the country's economic growth. Listing out the key-business friendly provisions of the immigration bill, the Senators told the corporate sector that this not only increases the number of H1B visas, but also retains and attracts talents from across the

world, which the US needs the most. Addressing members of the powerful US Chambers of Commerce, Senator John McCain urged the business community to lobby and support the bill, which was introduced in the US Senate by the bipartisan group of eight Senator dubbed as the Gang of Eight, of which he is a key member. "High tech companies will be able to bring in and keep more highly skilled workers through the H-1B visa program. The bill would

raise the cap on H-1Bs to 110,000 a year with an absolute ceiling of 180,000. American workers will always be given the first opportunity for a job," McCain said.

The White House said President Barack Obama has made it clear for quite some time that the US needs to reform its immigration system in a comprehensive way, and that includes enhanced border enforcement

Some say immigration bill is bad deal for the GOP WASHINGTON: Some feisty Republicans are challenging a claim widely held among GOP leaders that the party must support more liberal immigration laws if it's to be more competitive in presidential elections. These doubters say the Republican establishment has the political calculation backward. Immigration ``reform,'' they say, will mean millions of new Democratic-leaning voters by granting citizenship to large numbers of Hispanic immigrants now living illegally in the United States. The argument is dividing the party as it tries to reposition itself after losing the popular vote in five of the past six presidential elections. It also could endanger President Barack Obama's bid for a legacy-building rewrite of the nation's problematic immigration laws. Many conservatives `àre scared to death'' that the Republican Party `ìs committing suicide, that we're going to end up legalizing 9 million automatic Democrat voters,'' radio host Rush Limbaugh recently told Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a leader of the bipartisan team pushing an immigration overhaul. Strategists in both parties say several factors, including income levels, would make many, and probably most, newly enfranchised immigrants pro-Democratic, at least for a time. Rubio says the risk is worth taking. `Èvery political movement, conservatism included, depends on the ability to convince people that do not agree with you now to agree with you in the future,'' he told Limbaugh. Politically, Republicans face two bad options. They can try to improve relations with existing Latino voters

by backing a plan that seems likely to add many Democratic-leaning voters in the years ahead. Or they can stick with a status quo in which their presidential nominees are losing badly among the electorate's fastest-growing segment. In 2012, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who suggested that vanishing job opportunities would prompt immigrants to ``self deport,'' carried only 27 percent of the Hispanic

GOP-dominated House. Many House Republicans dislike the idea of ``amnesty'' for those who crossed the border illegally, and some say it's foolish to enfranchise likely Democratic voters. Obama embraces the Rubio plan, and it won crucial praise from House Speaker John Boehner, ROhio, and Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., last year's vice presidential nominee. Rubio and his allies challenge the notion that creating a way to

``Not all 11 million illegal immigrants here today will qualify to become citizens, and not all of the 11 million illegal immigrants are Hispanic,'' according to Rubio's ``Myth vs. Fact'' website. The site says many immigrants will not choose to become citizens, and many new citizens, like many current ones, will not bother to vote. vote. A Republican Party study of that election concluded, among other things, that the GOP must appeal to more Hispanics, and to do so it must ``embrace and champion comprehensive immigration reform.'' Party leaders say the harsh language that some Republicans use when discussing illegal immigration has angered many Americans with Hispanic heritages. Rubio's bipartisan group has proposed legislation to strengthen border security, allow tens of thousands of new high- and low-skilled workers into the country, require all employers to check their workers' legal status, and provide an eventual path to citizenship for some 11 million immigrants now in the country illegally. Even if the bill survives the Democratic-controlled Senate, stiff resistance is expected in the

Under the new bill, he said, if a student graduates from a US college with a science technology engineering math degree and has an offer of employment that would

citizenship for millions of people here illegally will dramatically increase Democratic turnout in future elections. ``Not all 11 million illegal immigrants here today will qualify to become citizens, and not all of the 11 million illegal immigrants are Hispanic,'' according to Rubio's ``Myth vs. Fact'' website. The site says many immigrants will not choose to become citizens, and many new citizens, like many current ones, will not bother to vote. Some Republican campaign strategists, however, say the political damage would be worse than party leaders acknowledge. Republican consultant and pollster Mike McKenna said one of his surveys shows that most Americans favor ``immigration reform'' and they believe it will benefit Democrats more than Republicans.-AP

be eligible to receive a green card to stay in this country. "I'm sure you are aware that over half of the students in the USA, that are receiving advanced degrees, are not citizens of the USA. If they want to stay in this country and they have a job, then we should be able to accommodate for that, it's obviously important for our economy," the top Republican Senator said. Senator Lindsay Graham, another important member of the Gang of Eight, told the US business community that family based immigration is going to be replaced by merit based immigration like those in Western European countries or those in countries like Canada and Australia. "Their kind of system, like Canada has, you earn points towards citizenship. To me that is a stunning achievement that will break chain migration and will allow us to be competitive," he

said. We're going to free 138,000 visas, every year, coming soon, that would've gone to family members. There was a family component of merit based immigration but, all of these visas that would've gone to second and third level effect of families will go into the pot for merit based immigration purposes so they can be hired by our economy," he said. Meanwhile, the White House said President Barack Obama has made it clear for quite some time that the US needs to reform its immigration system in a comprehensive way, and that includes enhanced border enforcement. "It includes improving our legal immigration system. It includes holding businesses accountable. And it includes a clear path to citizenship. Those are sort of the four corners of what a comprehensive immigration reform bill would look like," the White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters. Addressing the same conference, Congressman Ted Poe said that fixing the immigration system across the board, will help the American economy, if done the right way. "Jobs will be filled that aren't being filled. Businesses will have access to talented workers in a streamlined system. Immigration businesses will also flourish, and we'll keep the best and brightest here. And more people will pay taxes," he said. -PTI

Calif. bill would let non-citizens serve on juries Cont'd from Page 45

Wieckowski's office said the bill is the first of its kind in the nation and suggested that courts regularly struggle to find enough prospective jurors because jury duty is often seen as an inconvenience, if not a burden. His office did not cite any statistics but pointed to a 2003 legislative report that said numerous articles have noted high rates of non-participation. A 2007 survey by the Center for Jury Studies said 20 percent of courts across the country reported a failure to respond or failure to appear rate of 15 percent or higher. The center is run by the National Center for State Courts, a Virginiabased nonprofit dedicated to improving court systems. It's not clear, however, if that rate translates to a shortage of jurors in California. Noting that women were once

kept off juries, Assembly Speaker John Perez, D-Los Angeles, said the judicial system should be changed to allow a person to be judged by their peers. ``This isn't about affording someone who would come in as a juror something,'' Perez said. ``But rather understanding that the importance of the jury selection process of affording justice to the person in that courtroom.'' An estimated 10 million Californians are summoned for jury duty each year and about 4 million are eligible and available to serve, according to the Judicial Council, which administers the state's court system. About 3.2 million complete the service, meaning they waited in a courthouse assembly room or were placed on call. In 2010-2011, the most recent year available, only about 165,000 people were sworn in as jurors. AP

Immigration Post

May 10, 2013

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Manipulating immigration system to settle personal disputes CYRUS D. MEHTA

hen two parties are in a personal dispute, and one of them is not a US citizen, it is often tempting to use the immigration system to seek a remedy. For instance, the desire to see someone you are feuding with get deported from the United States may be tempting. However, the immigration system may not be the best forum to settle personal scores. If two spouses are in marital discord, the spouse who wishes to seek a remedy can resort to a family court to seek a separation rather than manipulate the immigration system to dump the foreign national spouse. The complaining spouse may also press criminal charges against the other spouse in the event that there are allegations of physical abuse. But relying on the immigration system, when there are clearly other avenues to seek redress, may likely backfire, especially if the claim is not found to be credible, and the non-citizen you wish to see deported may still end up with a green card. This is what happened in a case our firm handled on behalf of a foreign national spouse who was in removal proceedings. The unpublished decision of Immigration Judge McManus in New York Immigration Court where he was ultimately vindicated and victorious, Matter of X (November 2012), can be found on LexisNexis Immigration Communities. The foreign national spouse, the Respondent in the removal

by the CBP for one day in the airport, he was denied admission as a lawful permanent resident and further paroled into the country for deferred inspection. Three days later, his spouse withdrew the I-130 petition she had filed on behalf of the respondent. After over two years, Respondent was served with a Notice to Appear in 2009 charging him with removability under INA § 212(a) (7) (A) (I) (i) as an alien not in possession of a valid entry document. The first issue in this case was whether the Respondent who was issued an immigrant visa could be admitted even though his US citizen spouse indicated at the airport that she wished to withdraw the I-130 petition, which she did three days later. Alternatively, could the Respondent be eligible for a waiver under INA section 212(k)? With respect to the first issue, the IJ denied our motion to terminate removal proceedings. Even though former INA § 205 required the revocation of the petition to be communicated to the beneficiary before he commenced his journey to the US, it was amended in 2004, and new §205 did not contain this limitation. Under new § INA 205, an I-130 petition can be revoked at any time for good and sufficient cause, and the revocation shall be effective as of the date of the approval of the petition. While we were aware of the change in the statute, we pointed

If two spouses are in marital discord, the spouse who wishes to seek a remedy can resort to a family court to seek a separation rather than manipulate the immigration system to dump the foreign national spouse. The complaining spouse may also press criminal charges against the other spouse proceeding, had married a US citizen in India through an arranged marriage in late 2006, which based on the record and voluminous evidence was undoubtedly bona fide and celebrated with much pomp. After the Respondent received an immigrant visa at the US Embassy, based on the US citizen spouse filing an I-130 petition, they traveled back to the United States in July 2007. The Respondent was refused admission at the airport when his wife alerted Customs and Border Protection officials that he married her solely for the green card, and that he had physically abused her. After being detained

out that the government had not amended the regulation at 8 CFR § 205.1, which still contained the limiting language of the old statute. We argued that by not rescinding the regulation, the government still intended to interpret new § 205 in accordance with the way it was interpreted prior to the amendment. The Court held that when there is a conflict between a statute and a regulation, the amended statute trumps the regulation by citing K Mart Corp v. Cartier, Inc., 486 U.S. 281, 291 (1988). The Court also rejected our related argument that the Respondent should have been found to be admissible, not-

withstanding the withdrawal of the I-130 petition, as he still had a valid immigrant visa issued by the State Department, which had not been revoked. With respect to seeking a waiver under INA §212(k), the IJ found the Respondent to be eligible for the waiver as he was un-

The first issue in this case was whether the Respondent who was issued an immigrant visa could be admitted even though his US citizen spouse indicated at the airport that she wished to withdraw the I-130 petition, which she did three days later. aware of the ground of inadmissibility before he embarked upon his journey to the US. INA §212(k) provides, as follows: Attorney General's discretion to admit otherwise inadmissible aliens who possess immigrant visas: "Any alien, inadmissible from the United States under paragraph (5)(A) or (&)(A)(i) of subsection (a), who is in possession of an immigrant visa may, if otherwise admissible, be admitted in the discretion of the Attorney General if the Attorney General is satisfied that inadmissibility was not known to, and could not have been ascertained by the exercise of reasonable diligence by, the immigrant before the time of departure of the vessel or aircraft from the last port outside the United States and outside foreign contiguous territory or, in the case of an immigrant coming from foreign contiguous territory, before the time of the immigrant's application for admission." This case should be contrasted with Matter of Aurelio, 19 I&N Dec. 458 (BIA 1987), which is controlling. In Aurelio, the petitioner's death resulting in the revocation of the I-130 petition did not entitle the respondent in that case to a 212(k) waiver as the respondent should have known about the inadmissibility arising out of the death of her father one year prior to her departure. The IJ found in this case, unlike in Aurelio, that Respondent could not have possibly known that his spouse would revoke the I-130 petition three days after his arrival in the US. Respondent was

eager to embark on a new life in the US with his spouse and could not have known of the steps she was planning to take to withdraw the I-130 petition. Although the DHS attorney vigorously sought to pretermit Respondent's motion to seek a 212(k) waiver on the ground that he was not in possession of an immigrant visa, the IJ agreed with our contention that "the invalidity of the visa...is the reason a waiver is required, not a reason the waiver cannot be granted." See also Kyong Ho Shin v. Holder, 607 F.3d 1213 (9th Cir. 2010) ("By definition, §212(k) refers to visas that are invalid in nature - otherwise, the applicant would not be seeking a waiver of inadmissibility in the first place"). The IJ also soundly rejected the government's claim that Respondent ought to have foreseen his potential inadmissibility as he was experiencing difficulties in the marriage and could have expected his wife to level allegations against him upon his arrival in the US. The Court held, "[S]imply because there were some problems in the marriage, which is typical of most couples, does not mean that Respondent should have known that his wife would withdraw her support for Respondent's visa application immediately upon arrival in the United States." Moreover, Respondent also merited a favorable exercise of discretion as the IJ credited

We provided evidence of how in a post September 11 world, such incidents could not possibly go unnoticed. Another allegation that Respondent was carrying drugs on his person while entering the country was also proved to be false as there was no indication, especially since he had been searched by the CBP, upon his arrival in the country. The allegation that the wife was kept captive in India was also disproved with credible accounts that she went out to Bollywood movies, visited relatives (including relatives in other Indian cities), and religious places on a regular basis. The decision concludes as follows, "While the Court cannot know why Ms. [redacted] took such dramatic steps to withdraw the I-130 petition that she filed on Respondent's behalf, the Court is troubled by the seemingly false statements made by Ms. [redacted] to various immigration officials, and agrees with Respondent's counsel that it was improper for her to attempt to manipulate the immigration process in the manner that she did." The government doggedly pursued the case for over five years. Respondent was denied admission in 2007 upon his arrival in the US and paroled for two years. After unsuccessfully convincing the government to admit him, in 2009, the government instead initiated removal proceedings against Respondent, and the case dragged on for another three

The government doggedly pursued the case for over five years. Respondent was denied admission in 2007 upon his arrival in the US and paroled for two years. After unsuccessfully convincing the government to admit him, in 2009, the government instead initiated removal proceedings against Respondent Respondent's detailed testimony, along with the testimony of his sister and uncle, that he did not abuse his spouse in India, and agreed that several allegations made against Respondent at the airport and elsewhere may not have been truthful. For instance, one of the allegations by the spouse was that Respondent beat her up on the plane, which the Court thought found "unlikely that such a physical altercation would have gone unnoticed, especially in light of evidence in the record indicating that such behavior is taken extremely seriously by airlines."

and a half years in Immigration Court, which included several hearings and motions. After the IJ issued the decision granting the Respondent a waiver under §212(k) and admitting him as a lawful permanent resident in late November 2012, the government did not appeal the decision within the 30 day period. To top up the hard fought victory in Immigration Court, Respondent very recently received his actual green card in the mail!

* Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

48 India Post

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RAVI TRIVEDI

LOS ANGELES: On the night of April 20, Sunidhi Chauhan and Ali Zafar put on a spectacular performance in the Nokia Theater to celebrate the achievements of Sankara Eye Foundation. The Foundation has reached a grand milestone of the 1 million free eye surgeries and expansion of multiple hospitals in the US and India. The 'Krazy2' superstars had the large audience dancing and moving to the rhythm of various genres of music. During the break of the performance, a presentation about the Foundation's initiative and goals to save brothers and sisters from going blind were brought to the attention of every person's heart. The audience focused their deepest concerns on the issue at hand. The audience's wholeheartedness was vividly shown when a big round-of-applause was given to the presenter, Chairman of the Foundation, Murali Krishnamurthy. Rakesh Maini, a finalist in the Indian Idol reality show, spoke about his background in music and introduced the two main artists in a bold and playful manner, which set the tone for the electrifying evening. As Sunidhi Chauhan made a grand entrance singing "Aisa Jadoo" along with the bright lights accentuating her outfit, people's eyes and ears fixated to her awestruck presence. She had an uncanny ability to move seamlessly from a variety of genres includ-

ing a trendy Bollywood Punjabi song to the famous American hit song, Christina Aguilera's "I am beautiful". Throughout the night, she continued to impress the audience as she sung, with her room-filling vocals, "My Name is Sheela" and "Beedi Jalaile Jigar Se". Although Ali Zafar came on to the stage with laid-back attire and seemly mellow demeanor, he rapidly brought out the excitement from the audience by performing favored hits such as "Who Dekhneymein" and "Ajaa Ajaa Mai Hoon Pyar Tera". Zafar expressed his charm as he moved his way off the stage into the vicinity of the large crowd, allowing the audience to feed off of his energy. Not only did he sing his heart out, he also came back to the stage to dance to the ever-so-popular Nache Re Nache Madhubala. As the event came to an end, Krishnamurthy and the National promoters of Balaji Entertainment Inc. were invited on stage by the two artists. Krishnamurthy showed his gratitude by explaining the benefits received from the show and how it had shined a greater light on issues of blindness suffered by the under-privileged. Krishnamurthy exclaimed that through events like this, the foundation should be able to run a minimum of twenty hospitals all over India by the year 2020. Currently, Kanpur Hospital construction is about to start and the Guntur Hospital is ready for further expansion.

May 10, 2013

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India experience 'even better than U.S.'

he has been the point of discussions across India, has swept Bollywood with her presence and taken the glam quotient a notch up with her super bold avatar. Bollywood's hottest newbie star Sunny Leone was in Ahmedabad for the first time to promote her upcoming film Shootout At Wadala. Dressed in a beautiful black saree she gleefully accepted, "I had saved this saree especially for Ahmedabad. I am really looking forward to meeting my fans here." Excerpts from a chat: You seem to be everywhere, in the

who doesn't like attention? But frankly speaking I am not the kind of person people assume me to be. They think I must be doing all crazy things all the time. But in real life I am quite the opposite. I am an easy going person. And in between all the attention and acceptance by the audience, there has been a lot of criticism as well. How do you tackle that? Well, I can't stop people saying what they have to, they are entitled to have their opinion. One thing I know for sure, you will always be judged in whatever you do, and it happens everywhere. I

â&#x20AC;&#x153;It has been an amazing ride till now for me. The last two years that I have been in India, I have done things I never thought I'd do in my life. Dancing to Bollywood songs, doing item numbers, acting in films, going around for promotions, dressing up in sarees et al. It has all been like a dreamâ&#x20AC;? newspapers, talk shows, magazines and even in item numbers. Are you enjoying all the attention? It has been an amazing ride till now for me. The last two years that I have been in India, I have done things I never thought I'd do in my life. Dancing to Bollywood songs, doing item numbers, acting in films, going around for promotions, dressing up in sarees et al. It has all been like a dream. And

look at the brighter side. And I can say that in a country of more than a billion, the number of people who like me are far more than who criticize me. So, why should I bother? Do you think the criticism is harsher because of your background? I can't escape my background. And I don't want to. In fact, people in India have accepted me in spite of my background,

which is a great thing. That wouldn't happen even in the US. Not that I don't like America, but here it has been far more enjoyable than I thought it would be. Recently, the Supreme Court accepted a PIL to make watching porn a non-bailable offense as it increases crime against women. Please comment. It's rubbish. Porn has been there for a long time, such crimes never used to happen on such scale and intensity. I don't want to make political statements, but the fact is that if you want to do something concrete about crime against women then pornography is not the issue one should be directing the efforts and energy on. There are more serious issues that need attention. You seem to be invariably getting into controversies regarding such issues. Your latest comment on the Delhi rape case attracted a lot of attention and so did your war of words with Kamaal R Khan. Why is that? I can't keep quite on such issues. I might not have been in such a situation personally, but I can imagine the plight of the victim. I was threatened to be kicked out of my home when the KRK incident happened. I was petrified. I am not as street smart as most Indians are where you can just answer back strongly if someone bothers you as I was brought up in a different environment. So these issues are close to me since I have faced the wrath.

Sunny Leone

State 'imposing happiness' is futile

hutan's unique formula of using happiness to measure the development index may have captured the imagination of many countries but the government's priority should be to create basic conditions for experiencing happiness, says a leading scholar on Bhutan. "Despite attempts to make Gross National Happiness (GNH) philosophically and econometrically tenable, the initiative is not without problems and criticisms. Most people argue that happiness is a state of the mind and an internal subjective experience," writes Karma Phuntsho's in his new book "The

History of Bhutan", published by Random House India. "What triggers the experience of happiness differs from person to person depending on their cultural background, individual interest and often on the point of comparison. Any attempt on the part of a state or government to provide, let alone impose, a uniform value or definition of happiness is futile," Phuntsho, who teaches Buddhism and Bhutan Studies in the Himalayan country and abroad, says. The idea of happiness and wellbeing as key points of development has been a part of

Bhutan's political psyche. It was pursued as a deliberate policy goal when former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck introduced GNH to define the official development paradigm for the country. Apart from the objectives of

Book Review development that seek to increase GDP on a national level and incomes at the household level, development in Bhutan encompasses the achievement of less quantifiable but highly qualita-

tive objectives. GNH is centered on the belief that happiness is the ultimate desire of every individual, and by extension, the responsibility and purpose of the state is to create the necessary conditions that enable citizens to lead a good life. Phuntsho argues that the state must create conducive conditions required for the experience of happiness. "While many agree that GNH is a useful framework for guiding development and giving it a sense of direction, they argue that for a developing country like Bhutan, the government's priority must be in improving the basic conditions

for happiness rather than excessively talking about happiness itself "These critics point out that even today over 20 per cent of the population live under the national poverty line, governance and public services are far from efficient, youth delinquency and crimes are rising while the cultural heritage is eroding and the economy is ever more precarious with too much dependence on imported goods. At such times, GNH dangerously veers to the point of being an ideological distraction from the real issues and problems."-PTI

50 India Post

May 10, 2013 www.indiapost.com

CELEBRITY KIDS Aaradhya is quite a fashionista like mom

ids of celebrity couples have often got more attention than mom and dad combined. Suri Cruise and Harper Beckham are famous examples from Hollywood. The same tendency has now caught on suc-

cessfully in Bollywood where Aaradhya Bachchan was spotted with mom Aishwarya Rai Bachchan at the airport, dressed to the nines and ready to give her parents a run for their money. The outfit of the most watched for baby in Bollywood included

leopard pink leggings with matching pink sweat shirt, pink hair clip and brown Uggs. Pink is probably her favorite color as she is seen in it often. It seems Ash and Abhi are at last relaxing their guards and the first pics of Beti B were

snapped at the airport with her mom. They were accompanied by Vrinda Rai, Aishwarya's mother and Aaradhya was in a great mood as she smiled happily for the cameras. Babies are cute. That's a known fact. But, in her super cool

ensemble, one year old Aaradhya has joined the ranks of the celebrated babies of Hollywood. "It's cute to see that the parents are having fun with the baby's look and they are experimenting, it really sends out a cool message," commented designer Anupama Dayal. Rahul Mishra, the designer based in Mumbai adds, "Aishwarya is one of the biggest icons when it comes to global style. And, Big B is known to conduct himself flawlessly. The kid anyway looks so sweet, and being from the family, she is bound to look good always." The fashion funda of Beti B does not end here. According to sources, Abu Jaani and Sandeep Khosla who are the favorite designers of the Bachchan family, always design matching dresses for mom and daughter. So, do not be surprised if we see Aishwarya and Aaradhya appear in matching anarkalis or floor length suits in near future. Since her birth in November 2011, Aaradhya has been kept under close watch away from the paparazzi. Celebrity mom Aishwarya has set aside definite time for her baby during which she cannot be disturbed for anything. She has not yet decided to come back to any film though report has it that she has been approached by both Karan Johar and Mani Ratnam with offers. She is bent on being a full time mom for now and the result is that Aaradhya turned up dressed to the nines at the airport where she smiled at the camera but refused to let go of mommy.

SINGING SON

onu Nigam's five years old son Nevaan is a pintsized singer himself. Recently he was spotted with his dad at an award function on stage. Nevaan had sung the children's 'milk' version of Kolaveri Di.

HELLO THERE

his one should be framed. 11 months old Viaan Kundra posed with his mother, actress Shilpa Shetty for the cover of 'Hello' magazine. The mother-son duo wore white and looked like a happy pair. Shilpa, after losing 20 kgs, looked gorgeous in a white top and pants while Viaan wore a white blazer and blue jeans.

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ASSISTANT FINANCE MANAGER IS HIGHLY WANTED REQUIREMENTS: GOOD TYPING AND COMPUTER SKILLS MUST BE ACCURATE AND HAVE A FOCUS OF IMPROVING THE COMPANY. JOB EXPERIENCE DOESNT MATTER AS ANY JOB EXPERIENCE CAN APPLY .

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Horoscope

52 India Post

May 10, 2013

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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar

MAY 10 TH - MAY 16 TH 2013 (March 21 to April 20)

o for the opportunity that offers more money. Business trip will go very well and you will get instant confirmation. You may take family out to a nice place for dinner and enjoy your favorite food. Mind will be full of a great idea and you will start looking for ideal partners to implement it. A big refund can also come during the week.

(July 23 to August 22)

eal could finalize during the week. Do not hesitate to grab the new offer. Some of you may start working on paper work to buy another business in partnership with an old friend. If were looking for one, you may find a nice partner for your marriageable child. You may need to replace some electric item in the kitchen this week.

(April 21 to May 20)

ou will have more than one reason to celebrate life with family and friends. Offer will come with a raise and additional perks. People working as brokers will also benefit from favorable planets. You will finish an important project well before deadline and will earn appreciation from boss. Do not hesitate to invest few dollars in lottery.

(August 23 to September 22)

ou may start looking for another property to buy for your self. You may also get rid of lots of stuff gathering dust in the storage. An old friend will call to invite you to a small get together. Money wise you will continue to better as expenses will stay under control. Boss will call and discuss an important project for you.

(May 21 to June 20)

hanges could make you nervous but if you stick to your guns,absolutely you will hit the jackpot. There is no harm in enjoying the company of a new friend but stay within legal parameters. People in business will be spending more and add few new attractive items. Idea of taking a short trip overseas will continue to occupy your mind.

(September 23 to October 22)

here is no harm in helping others but if you get the feeling that they are taking for a ride, just say no, no matter how close that person is. You will feel relieved after making final payment on something big you charged on your card. Maintain a stand and soon other side will agree to all your terms and conditions.

(June 21 to July 22)

ou still have good chances of hitting it big time in lottery or through stocks. Luck continues to be on your side and as a result most of your attempts will get the desired results. Old friends especially a female will help you a lot and get you more business. Another person lot older and with grey hair will give some very useful tips.

(October 23 to November 22)

ew relationship will cause lots of excitement in life and you will receive approval from family. You may dispose off some stocks for a small profit in order to meet some immediate financial commitment. You may be studying to appear for a short test to acquire certification that can open new doors of revenue or additional income. (November 23 to December 22)

our plans and idea is superb, all you need is right team or partners. Money will be hard to recover but at least the legal case will be decided in your favor. Some of you will continue to negotiate with a well known company for a better job. You may also give final shape to a trip overseas with family this coming summer. (December 22 to January 19)

hances of addition of another member in the family improves with the presence of Venus in fifth. Some electric item in the house may need minor repairs. You will make good use of extra time on hands and help spouse clean up the house and get rid of many items. Be careful when you make any promise to spouse this week. (January 20 to February 18)

ou may be getting ready to travel to East to attend an important meeting and start collecting the necessary paper work. Mars and Sun in third will help you take some bold initiatives in life. Results will be instant and positive only. Just handle tolls with care when fixing things. Some thing good coming via mail this week. (February 19 to March 20)

unning around will increase but will be fruitful. Some of you may find another part time assignment. A child will need extra attention and your guidance about educational goals. You may call few old friends and discuss about getting together. Your efforts and new strategy will help you gain edge over opponents.

Pandit Parashar, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

510-886-4370 website: www.parashar.com

Philosophy

May 10, 2013

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he way of Life and Salvation preached by Shri Vallabhacharya is known as Pushti Marga. This is the most original part of his teaching, showing his religious genius at its best. It differs, however, in some important respects from the teaching of the preceding Acharyas, and has several distinguishing features of its own. The word Pusti, which means fatness or strength, is derived from the word poshana i.e. Nourishment, used first by the Bhagavata with reference to God's grace. The idea underlying it is that the soul of man has become weak and lean owing to sin, and consequently it is in dire need of God's grace which alone can give it life and growth. It emphasizes thus the grace of God even more than Bhakti, which after all has its source in the heart of man. According to Vallabha, the origin, development and perfection of Bhakti, are dependent almost wholly, if not altogether, on God. The Pusti-Marga of Vallabha is, thus, based on the absolute dependence on the part of man on God and His grace. Faith in God and in His Dispensation, full trust in Him accompanied by total surrender and dedication to Him - these are essential for progress in this Way of Grace.

SWAMI CHINMAYANANDA

hy is it that every human intellect in every part of the world during all periods of history, was always asking - What is the cause of every effect? They started a deep and exhaustive study of causeeffect relationship. As a result of this investigation and study, they reduced their entire data into three laws of causation. The three laws they deduced from their entire study, and Number One Law is - 'An effect can never be without a cause.' The waves cannot be without ocean. Ornaments cannot be made without gold. Pots can never be made without clay. An effect is not possible without the cause. Law Number Two - 'Effects are plural.' Nothing but the cause itself in different forms. The big wave, medium wave, the small wave, ripple, foam, bubble, and the lather are all different forms of the ocean The Cause. The jug, the cup, the saucer, the plates, the flower vase, are all different shapes and different names for what? - the clay in different forms. The bangles and the rings and the chains and the earrings are all different names, different shapes,

This means the extinction of the self as an entity independent of God with all its selfishness manifested in its I-ness and mine-ness, and the substitution of God in the place of the little self. The self then remains only as the servant of God whose sole pleasure in everything it does is to do the will of God or to give Him joy. As a result of this, its intellect, senses, body and everything else

fers to God is no longer of the kind which seeks its fulfillment in something else at some future date. It is real Seva, service of God, which is the means as well as the end in itself. It has no other aim but to give pleasure to God in the present moment. It is Siddha-Bhakti, Bhakti which is an end in itself, as contrasted with Sadhna-Bhakti which is a means to an end.

Jnana, is, according to Vallabha, the way of Pusti-Maryada, a path wherein both Grace and Law are conjoined together. Even Jnana, knowledge, spoken of so highly by some of the scriptures, is after all an outward thing in comparison with this Seva, immediate service of God. It is true that often the souls which begin their spiritual life with Sadhana Bhakti may come in the

Grace of god even more important than Bhakti Shri Vallabhacharya

Even Jnana, knowledge, spoken of so highly by some of the scriptures, is after all an outward thing in comparison with this Seva, immediate service of God

become consecrated. Even one's relations and property are dedicated to God, or they are looked upon as belonging to God without the soul having any proprietary rights over them. When such a state is realized the soul becomes free from the Samsara, the world of its own creation, a kind of Maya, and sees Jagat in its true character as but a manifestation of God. Such a soul is freed from Avidya or nescience. The Bhakti that such a soul of-

In the Pusti-Marga, the soul enters the inner world of God, seeing Him face to face and serving Him in very possible manner, which alone is its true heaven. It has nothing to do with social conventions or scriptural injunctions, which belong to a world, which has reality only so long as the soul is not ushered into the immediate presence of God. The Bhakti-Marga of some of the preceding Acharyas, wherein room is found for both karma and

end to attain the pure Pusti or Shuddha Pusti, provided they persevere on the path and go on surrendering themselves more and more to God. The truest type of Bhakti, in Valabha's opinion, is the one which has love for its chief characteristic. Excerpted from 'Shri Vallabhacharya - Life, Teachings and Movement (A Religion of Grace) 1943'.The 534th birth anniversary of Shri Vallabhacharya was observed on May 5

and different uses. But all of them are gold in different forms. And Law Number Three: 'From the effect if the cause is removed, nothing remains'. If a wave is transferred to the hill, there will be no waves. From clay pot, all the clay is removed, no pot. From the gold chain, all the gold is removed, nothing there remains. Since the effect is nothing but the

verse religion calls as 'God', philosophy calls it as reality or truth. We have heard there is a God and God created the world. But what our doubt is, Who is god'? Where is god? What is god? Is he man or a woman? All sorts of worries and anxieties. And why did he create? Where did he create? When did he create? And thousand ques-

cause itself in different forms. Therefore our assumption that, God is above clouds, he is like a manufacturer, manufacturing things and pushing it in to the world is absurd, illogical, is false, is a superstition. The effect cannot be separate from the cause and therefore the Lord, the God - One without a second, when he created the world,

The effect is nothing but the cause in different form Effect cannot be without a cause - must have a cause. That cause of universe religion calls as 'God', philosophy calls it as reality or truth Swami Chinmayananda

cause itself in different forms, from the effect if the cause is removed, nothing remains. When they got these three laws, they had the scientists to apply it to the world. Here is the universe that you and I are seeing and experiencing. It cannot be without a cause, why? The first law. Effect cannot be without a cause - must have a cause. That cause of uni-

tions. These students of the Vedic period asked these questions to the teacher. The teacher only cried out, Shanthi! Shanthi! Shanthi!!. Peace be, Peace be, Peace be. Why? Unless the mind is peaceful, you cannot rationally think. Excited mind has no capacity to logically think. They said - let us apply the 2nd law. Effects are nothing but

He must have created forms from Himself - the entire universe. Names and forms, the mineral world, plants and animals and human everything we are seeing here are all nothing but Him - He in different forms. Excerpted from 'Logic Of Spirituality.' The 97th birth anniversary of Swami Chinmayananda will be observed on May 8

"In any endeavor, it is the sentiment (bhava) behind it that is the sole determinant. A man embraces his wife with one feeling, and his mother with another." - Skanda Purana

The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong. -Mahatma Gandhi

What matters is to live in the present, live now, for every moment is now. It is your thoughts and acts of the moment that create your future. The outline of your future path already exists, for you created its pattern by your past. -Sai Baba

The ignorant mind, with its infinite afflictions, passions, and evils, is rooted in the three poisons. Greed, anger, and delusion. -Bodhidharma

To the mind, God is a perfect criminal. He has done such a perfect crime by creating this world that mind cannot trace how He did it. That is why the mind always freaks out about God. -Prem Rawat

God is in all men, but all men are not in God; that is why we suffer. -Ramakrishna

You Insure all your Valuables, all are replaceable except YOU! So 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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China's Intrusion in Ladakh has a specific motive JAYADEVA RANADE

he 19-kilometres deep in- tional interests, China's top ech- try briefing in Beijing on April 26, trusion by an armed patrol elon leaders strongly apprehend she repeatedly, and for the first of China's People's Libera- that the US is putting together an time publicly, referred to the tion Army (PLA) into the strategi- alliance comprising India, Japan, Diaoyu Islands as a matter of "core cally sensitive area around Daulet Vietnam, the Philippines and Aus- interest" for China. The statement Beg Oldi in the Aksai Chin region, tralia to contain China's rise. Ar- raises the level of the dispute sigand detected on 16 April, has been ticles in China's official media, in- nificantly and clarifies that Beijing unprovoked. cluding signed articles by Minis- does not consider the matter open It is necessary at the outset to ter-level Chinese Communist Party for negotiation. dispel any notions that the ongo- (CCP) cadres, have candidly There have been warning indiing stand-off between armed pa- stated this. cators earlier that Beijing views the trols of the PLA and the Indian China's latest Defense White growing warmth in relations beArmy in the tween India and US and between barren, but India and Japan with suspicion. In strategically the days following the largest ever important, area US-ROK joint military exercises in around Daulet July 2010, a Hong Kong-based proBeg Oldi Beijing newspaper observed: "the (DBO) is an issue of China's territorial disputes isolated or unwith neighboring countries will igplanned incinite the flames of war sooner or later. dent. Similar If a country must be chosen for incidents of sacrifice, India will be the first armed eyeballchoice…India's long term occupato-eyeball tion of southern Tibet is indeed confrontation worrying…If armed force is used have occurred to resolve border disputes, China Chinese troops tent in Ladakh with increased must pick a country to target first, frequency, esand it will definitely pick a big counpecially since 2008, along the en- Paper released on 16 April, in a try, which means choosing between tire length of our 4,057 kilometers thinly veiled comment declared Japan and India…". border. that "Some country has strengthOther references stated that On this occasion, Beijing seems ened its Asia-Pacific military alli- China's relationship with India and to have a specific motive. Inter- ances, expanded its military pres- Japan had limits imposed by history. estingly, the intrusion coincided ence in the region, and frequently With this Beijing dragged India into with the release of China's latest makes the situation there tenser." the South China Sea dispute. Defense White Paper and PLA The reference to the US is implicit. China's latest action needs to be Navy Day. Tension between China and viewed in the backdrop of the The attributes of this stand-off, Japan over the Senkaku (Diaoyu) People's Republic of China's readiwhich has dragged on in the full Islands has risen since 2010. China ness to employ military force on glare of India's print and visual has been adamant in asserting its issues of national interest relating media for over days, are different. maritime territorial claims over the to its security, sovereignty and terPertinent is that Beijing remains Senkakus (Diaoyu). Two specific ritorial integrity. Beijing is adept at transparently unmoved by the developments highlight the extent using a blend of threats and promadverse media publicity and dam- of this tension and Beijing's de- ise of military retaliation to deter an age it has caused to India-China relations. It has neither moved to If a country must be chosen for sacrifice, resolve the situation despite three flag meetings at the level of local India will be the first choice…India's long army commanders and communiterm occupation of southern Tibet is indeed cations from New Delhi requesting resolution. worrying…If armed force is used to resolve Beijing has thus made it abunborder disputes, China must pick a country to dantly clear that it will defuse the target first, and it will definitely pick a big situation only at a time of its choosing. Beijing's stance concountry, which means choosing between firms too that the stand-off is not Japan and India…". a local incident provoked by the action of a local commander, but one initiated with the full knowl- termination not to yield conces- adversary from taking actions conedge of China's senior leadership. sions. The Defense White Paper trary to Beijing's interests. The timing of this intrusion released on April 16, specifically India needs to calibrate and time points to a specific motive. It named Japan as one among "some its response. For a start it could comes just weeks before Prime neighboring countries" that are withhold reiteration during ChiMinister Manmohan Singh's visit taking actions to exacerbate the nese Premier Li Keqiang's upcomto Japan and is a warning against situation. It accused Japan of "making visit of the formulation that the India expressing support to Japan. ing trouble over the issue of the Tibet Autonomous Region is a The backdrop is the steadily es- Diaoyu islands". part of China. calating tension between China More significant is the stateThe writer is Member of the and Japan over the Senkaku ment of China's Ministry of For- National Security Advisory Board (Diaoyu) Islands. eign Affairs spokesperson. Speak- (NSAB) & Distinguished Fellow, In the context of China's na- ing at the regular Foreign Minis- IPCS.

Learning process

he Constitution has provided India's investigation agency, the CBI, with independence in its operations. But it has been widely known that it functions as a handmaiden of the government in power. It protects the ruling politicians and goes after their adversaries. This could never be proved as long as a single party, the Congress, was ruling at the Center. There has been a litany of complaints against coalition governments that they are dysfunctional and hardly ever useful decisions are taken. Let us appreciate the virtues of a coalition government where, unlike in the past, a single party cannot dominate and remain unquestioned. Its wrongdoings were never allowed to come out in the open. If skeletons are falling like nine pins from the cupboards of the Congress today it is because it is no longer in a position to block inquiries. Still the habit has not left it and its attempts to block, bypass or dilute inquiries are being exposed daily, the latest being Law Minister Ashwani Kumar found vetting the CBI inquiry report on irregularities in coal block allocations. The Congress party is unable to face the realty that it is not the sole ruling party and at best a minority government being shored up as a strategy by the two Uttar Pradesh parties, the SP and BSP who do not want to destabilize it for fear of an alternative BJP led government. On its part, the BJP has not exactly endeared itself to voters by blocking the functioning of Parliament. As a party in waiting to form the next government at the Center, it should have shown responsibility and taken on the government in a debate in the House. But every day it is harming its chances by its disruptive tactics as if it has nothing positive to say on its own behalf. It should have taken a leaf out of the book of PML (N) chief Nawaz Sharif in Pakistan where as Opposition leader he refused to join efforts to topple the discredited PPP government of Asif Ali Zardari. The PPP government failed to enact economic reforms and left urban voters fuming over power cuts, rising prices and worsening violence. But Sharif let the government fumble and quietly waited for his time, which now seems to have come. But here in India, the BJP is so stricken with its few years in power that it totally failed to function as a responsible opposition thus eroding its image of an alternative to the Congress. Indeed if Pakistan seems to be succeeding in remaining a democracy for the foreseeable future, it owes much to the example of Indian democracy next door. And the few positives it has garnered can be educative for Indian democracy also like the conduct of Nawaz Sharif as a responsible opposition leader. It is interesting to note some other straws in the wind. Nitish Kumar, the bete noir of Narendra Modi, seems to have toned down his rhetoric. He lately announced that his coalition with the BJP in Bihar is functioning well. Purno Sangma, former Speaker of Lok Sabha and former chief minister of Meghalaya thinks Narendra Modi is PM material and that he is not against minorities. A senior journalist Vinod Mehta had his book on Sanjay Gandhi, the extra constitutional authority during the prime ministership of Indira Gandhi republished. The idea was to compare the misuse of authority by Sanjay Gandhi to the possibility of Narendra Modi doing the same, or worse, if he is chosen Prime Minister of the country. He also seems to have changed his mind a little noting that urban India is hell bent on choosing a strong leader like Modi after being frustrated with the performance of two weak leaders of the Congress at the helm. In his latest column in Times of India he seems to accept that Modi could be the next prime minister but cautions civil society, the media, the courts to remain vigilant and alert "so that the strong leader does his job within the statute of democratic India."

May 10, 2013

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