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VOL 20, No. 1078
May 15, 2015
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U.S. DENIES ISI ROLE IN OSAMA RAID WASHINGTON: The White House has rejected a revelation by a prominent US journalist who claimed that an ISI operative revealed the hideout of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden who was later killed in a raid by American commandos. A media report quoted American investigative journalist and author Seymour M Hersh as saying that a former Pakistani intelligence officer disclosed the hideout of bin Laden to the CIA in exchange for a USD 25 million bounty on the head of the al-Qaeda chief, who was living as a
prisoner under ISI protection in the garrison town of Abbottabad. "In August 2010, a former senior Pakistani intelligence officer approached Jonathan Bank, then the CIA's station chief at the US embassy in Islamabad. He offered to tell the CIA where to find bin Laden in return for the reward that Washington had offered in 2001," Pakistani daily The Dawn reported quoting Hersh. Details on page 5
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Kerry to visit Beijing coinciding with Modi trip Details on page 7
Nepal, India hit by another powerful quake Details on page 5
Yoga Day to be celebrated in US on June 21
NOSTALGIC MOMENT: Legendary actor Shashi Kapoor poses with yesteryear actresses (from right) Neetu Singh, Supriya Pathak, Rekha, Shabana Azmi, Zeenat Aman, Asha Parekh and Waheeda Rehman, after receiving the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in Mumbai on May 10.
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Decks cleared for Jayalalithaa's return as CM Details on page 11
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ISI should itself come clear on Osama issue? Last week’s result
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CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 30-31 Classifieds ------------------------- 48 Community Post -------------- 16-22 Date Book -------------------------- 47 Edit Page --------------------------- 54 HealthScience Post --------- 36-39 Horoscope ------------------------- 35 Immigration Post ------------- 44-46 Life Style ----------------------- 50-53 Philosophy ------------------------- 49 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 32-34 TechBiz Post ------------------- 24-27 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43
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resisted watching the CNN special reports on medical marijuana because I don't want to be "convinced" one way or the other at this point. I am not making up my mind yet on its necessity. But I did read an article on the topic by Dr. Sanjay Gupta, wherein he emphatically concluded: "We should legalize medical marijuana. We should do it nationally. And, we should do it now." Wow, that's almost vehement. And aggressive, I must add. So, whenever you see and hear discussions over health related issues in the context of food or medicines reach a crescendo in the media - like beginning with an offbeat expert interview in some non-prime time show or in one of the inside pages of a newspaper to making the headlines in the evening prime time news and becoming a punch line on any and every show including daytime talk shows to, food shows to home shopping network shows, you know there's a larger agenda working behind it. Invariably, a major mass production drug is about to enter the market; a drug that is endorsed by all faithful in government agencies like the CDC and FDA, and insurance industry, and is soon to be listed on Wall Street. It's an unmistakable pattern one has been witnessing over several decades. It's like déjà vu - I am already seeing the Big pharma and the insurance industry and Wall Street perched on the ledge for the big launch of commercially manufactured, over-the-counter "medical" marijuana. If you have noticed, the topic of marijuana use is no longer really a debate on its merits or demerits or on its social impact especially in the context of kids, but rather it has simply become a speculation on when it would be federally legalized. Already, Colorado, Washington, Alaska and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use of marijuana. More states will follow, no doubt. Now, I am in the healthcare business myself and therefore am not speaking here in that capacity, but rather as a passive observer of how the system works. Brace yourself. Marijuana may soon become as common as the ubiquitous Tylenol.
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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Vidya slapped Rajkummar Rao actually hit Vidya Balan thrice while shooting a domestic violence scene in 'Hamari Adhuri Kahani'.
Cover Story: Osama raid The White House has rejected a claim that an ISI operative revealed the hideout of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden
Community: India I-Day At a 'Kick-off' event in Rosemont, the FIA announced hosting of India Independence Day celebrations in a big way.
Clinton call Hillary Clinton has injected new fire into the immigration debate with her call to allow citizenship to illegal people
Life style: Superstar in trouble From playing a lover boy to crusader, Salman Khan has charmed many but his run-in with law has raised his notoriety
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Kalimpong Enriched with lush green forests and dense plantations of tea, Kalimpong is really marvelous and awe inspiring.
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US denies ISI role in Osama raid WASHINGTON: The White House has rejected a revelation by a prominent US journalist who claimed that an ISI operative revealed the hideout of al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden who was later killed in a raid by American commandos. A media report quoted American investigative journalist and author Seymour M Hersh as saying that a former Pakistani intelligence officer disclosed the hideout of bin Laden to the CIA in exchange for a USD 25 million bounty on the head of the alQaeda chief, who was living as a prisoner under ISI protection in the garrison town of Abbottabad. "In August 2010, a former senior Pakistani intelligence officer
approached Jonathan Bank, then the CIA's station chief at the US embassy in Islamabad. He offered to tell the CIA where to find bin Laden in return for the reward that Washington had offered in 2001," Pakistani daily The Dawn reported quoting Hersh. Bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad on the night of May 2, 2011, in a secret raid by US Navy SEALs. But the US government has rejected the claim. "There are too many inaccuracies and baseless assertions in this piece to fact check each one," White House National Security Council spokesman Edward Price told reporters. "Nevertheless, the notion that the operation that killed Osama
File photo of The Situation Room: Obama (second left), Vice President Joe Biden (left) and the then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (second right) watch the raid on the compound unfold
bin Laden was anything but a unilateral US mission is patently
Nepal, India hit by another powerful quake NEW DELHI: Another powerful earthquake hit Nepal and India on May 12 killing at least 19 people in Nepal and at least five people in India, mainly Bihar. The earthquake measuring 7.3 on Richter scale with epicenter in Nepal sent ripples through large parts of east and north India, including Delhi, less than three weeks after the region was struck by a devastating temblor. The toll included five people who died in Sindhupalchowk, the district to the east of Kathmandu that reported the most deaths in the April 25 shaker, district administrator Krishna Gwayali said. He
ing rocks in Tibet. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake registered 7.4 on the Richter scale, occurred at 12.45 pm (local time). The ground shook like a wave for at least 25 seconds. The USGS said the epicenter was 22 km southeast of Zham, China. The USGS map shows the epicenter well within Nepal's border. It's now confirmed that the epicenter in Nepal was Namchebazar, gateway to Everest Base Camp. According to Nepal TV, the government has extended the closure of educational institutions by another two weeks.
scale. With the memories of the temblor still fresh, panic-stricken people rushed out of buildings in Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha and Uttar Pradesh. Schools were vacated after the tremors in many parts of the country. At least 12 students were injured in a school in Darbhanga in Bihar as children rushed out to safety from class rooms after the tremors. In Kolkata, hundreds of people ran out of their homes and offices into the streets. Similar reports came from Assam and other eastern states. The tremors were also
Employees of a highrise office building coming out on the street after earthquake in Kolkata on May 12
said the deaths were on a highway towards Tibet. Six more were killed in Dolakha district close to the epicenter, an eyewitness said, adding that rescuers were trying to reach three people trapped in a house. In Kathmandu three people died, a police official said. In India, at least five people were killed when buildings collapsed. One man was killed by fall-
The Indian Home Ministry said there was also a near simultaneous earthquake epicentred in Afghanistan which measured 6.9 on Richter scale. According to officials, one person died in Danapur area of Patna district and another person in Siwan district in wall collapse incidents in Bihar, where 58 people were killed in the April 25 quake measuring 7.9 on Richter
felt in Bhopal and as far as Chennai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and directed all authorities concerned to be on alert for rescue and relief operations as required. "PM took stock of the situation following the fresh major earthquake felt in Nepal and parts of India, at a high-level meeting," the Prime Minister's Office said.-PTI
false," he claimed. "As we said at the time, knowl-
edge of this operation was confined to a very small circle of senior US officials. "The President decided early on not to inform any other government, including the Pakistani government, which was not notified until after the raid had occurred. We had been and continue to be partners with Pakistan is in our joint effort to destroy alQaeda, but this was a US operation through and through," the spokesman said. Hersh also claimed that Dr Shakil Afridi, the physician now jailed in Peshawar for helping the CIA trace bin Laden's hideout, was a CIA asset but did not know about the raid. Afridi was used as a cover to hide the real story, Hersh said. -PTI
Indian tops Asia's wealthiest under-40 NEW YORK: Indian tech billionaire Arun Pudur has been ranked as Asia's wealthiest entrepreneur under the age of 40, according to the Wealth-X list. The global wealth intelligence and prospecting company said Pudur, the owner and president of software firm Celframe, topped the list with a personal fortune of USD 4 billion. Pudur, a 37-yearold native of Chennai, founded Celframe in 1998 after graduating from university and the software firm now produces the world's second most popular word processor after Microsoft. He also has assets tied up in diversified businesses in the fields of mining and real estate, Wealth-X said. Pudur is followed by Zhou Yahui of China at the second place with a net worth of USD 2.2 billion. The Chinese dominated the list with six entrepreneurs in the top 10, while Japan had three. Nine of the selfmade billionaires on the WealthX top 10 list amassed fortunes from the technology sector. The only exception is 35-yearold Zhang Bangxin from China, who made his wealth from tutoring services company TAL Education Group. Zhang's estimated net worth of USD 2.2 billion puts
him in the third spot on the list. The youngest entrepreneur on the list is 32-year-old Leo Chen, who is the chairman and CEO of Jumei International Holding, one of China's largest online cosmetics retailers. Chen became a billionaire after Jumei's listing at the New York Stock Exchange in May 2014, the
Arun Pudur
report said. Others on the list include Yao Jinbo of China with a fortune of USD 2.2 billion ranked 4th on the list, followed by He Zhitao (5th, net worth of USD 2 billion), Naruatsu Baba (6th, USD 1.6 billion), Kenji Kasahara (7th, USD 1.5 billion), Yusaku Maezawa (8th, USD 1.3 billion), Pang Shengdong (9th, USD 1.2 billion). -PTI
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Chinese paper accuses Modi of 'playing little tricks' BEIJING: Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here, a state-run newspaper has carried a highly critical article, accusing him of "playing little tricks" over the border dispute and security issues against China to boost his domestic prestige.
and economic development. "But his diplomatic moves last year have proven that he is a pragmatist, rather than a visionary," said the article 'Can Modi's visit upgrade Sino-Indian ties?' by Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sci-
“Modi should no longer visit the disputed border region (Arunachal Pradesh) in pursuit of his own political interests, nor should he deliver any remarks that infringe on the consensus on bilateral ties," it added "Ever since Modi assumed office, he has taken the initiative to actively develop India's relationships with Japan, the US, and European countries in no time, in order to promote the country's poor infrastructure construction
ences, published in the state-run Global Times. Observers say the article in the newspaper, a sister publication of the ruling Communist Party of China, strikes a sour note ahead of Modi's first visit here from May
14 to 16 after taking over as the Prime Minister. Citing historical feud and mutual mistrust that stems from geopolitics, the article said the two sides have never established real strategic trust. "Leaders from both China and India should not only strengthen mutual political trust, but also stick to a series of agreed principles and match their rhetoric with action," it said. "In light of this, Modi should no longer visit the disputed border region (Arunachal Pradesh) in pursuit of his own political interests, nor should he deliver any remarks that infringe on the consensus on bilateral ties," it added. "Meanwhile, the Indian government should completely stop supporting the Dalai Lama, and stop making the Tibetan issue a stumbling block to the Sino-Indian relationship."
Modi's China visit to focus on economic ties BEIJING: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit this week will focus on cementing India's relationship with China by leveraging on their growing trade and economic ties, even as the two countries grapple with contentious issues of boundary and strategic regional rivalry. Serious differences continue to prevail on the border issue even as both sides are making efforts to ensure that peace and tranquility prevails, officials said here
to suggest to Xi last year that clarification of LAC would greatly contribute in efforts to maintain peace and tranquility of the border where troops from both sides often jostle to assert their claims and counter claims. The issue was also discussed during the 18th round of the border talks held in New Delhi in February this year. External Affairs Minister of India Sushma Swaraj during her recent visit here said there is a need
China says the border dispute is confined only to 2,000 km mostly in Arunachal Pradesh whereas India asserts that the dispute covered the western side of the border spanning to about 4,000 km, especially the Aksai Chin area annexed by China in the 1962 war ahead of Modi's three-visit to China beginning on May 14. Officials say China is not keen on the clarification of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) proposed by Modi last year during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. The clarification of LAC ahead of the resolution of the boundary was expected to restrict aggressive patrolling from both sides. Two incursions by the Chinese troops in the Ladakh area during Premier Li Keqiang and Xi's visits to India in the last two years overshadowed the trips. The incidents prompted Modi
for an "out of the box" solution in order to not leave it for future generations. China says the border dispute is confined only to 2,000 km mostly in Arunachal Pradesh whereas India asserts that the dispute covered the western side of the border spanning to about 4,000 km, especially the Aksai Chin area annexed by China in the 1962 war. But despite differences, both sides are focusing on improving the relations between the border troops with operationalisation of hotlines both at the headquarter
level and the commanders level. Both sides have agreed for a fourth meeting between the commanders in Arunachal Pradesh. Sources said despite the differences, both sides are keen to push forward the relations with focus on economic and trade issues. Several agreements are expected to be signed in the meeting between Modi and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang here on May 15. Besides talks with Chinese Premier Li, Modi is set to meet top Chinese CEO including Alibaba founder Jack Ma and address India-China Business Forum at Shanghai on May 16, the last day of his visit. China has committed to invest USD 20 billion in two industrial parks in Gujarat and Maharashtra in the next five years and the money has not started flowing into India yet. Chinese officials complain of issues relating to visa access and red tape resulting in the delay of flow of investments. Besides new investments, the two countries are set to sign a number of agreements to deepen cooperation in skill development. Officials say the visit is poised for high optics in ancient Xian city where Modi will arrive for his visit. It will be the first time since Xi took over power two years ago that he will be receiving a foreign leader outside Beijing and will spend considerable time informally interacting with Modi. -PTI
advantage of the tremendous opportunities for economic development created by China" with its Silk R o a d projects, it said ahead of Modi's talks with the Chinese leadership. "Modi has also been playing little tricks over border disputes and Prime Minister Narendra Modi security issues, hop"Modi has been busy ing to boost his domestic presstrengthening India's ties with tige while increasing his leverage neighboring countries to compete in negotiations with China," it with China, while trying to take added. -PTI The paper is critical of Modi's neighborhood policy.
Vietnam wants Modi to raise maritime security issue HANOI: Vietnam has accused ONGC has been carrying out oil China of carrying out activities exploration in Vietnam waters deviolating its sovereignty in the spite resistance by China. disputed South China Sea and India had signed a deal with hoped Prime Minister Narendra Vietnam to explore for oil in South Modi would raise the issue of China Sea - a disputed area bemaritime security with China dur- tween China and Vietnam. ing his upcoming talks with the Noting that India can help VietChinese leadership. nam in a tactical manner, he said, "China has carried out activi- "India is our strategic partner. ties in Spratly which is violation We not only cooperate in the field of our sovereignty in the region," of trade and business, but also Directorate of External in defense." Information's Director General Le Nghiem said that in the deVan Nghiem told a group of visit- fense and economic sectors the ing Indian journalists. two countries have lot of scope India and Vietnam have enjoyed good relations and New Delhi India can help Vietnam in a always supported Hanoi whenever China tactical manner, he said, tried to violate Viet- "India is our strategic namese sovereignty, especially its strategic partner. We not only island, Spratly, he said. cooperate in the field of "We don't know if the issue of maritime trade and business, but security in the region also in defense." (Southeast Asia) will be raised in the meeting between Modi and his Chinese specially weapons and oil. counterpart. But if India raises its Hanoi is keen on acquiring the stand with China it could be ben- BrahMos supersonic cruise miseficial for both Vietnam and In- siles from India. When asked dia," Nghiem said when asked about the issue, he said, "Only about Modi's scheduled visit to defense ministry could comment China. on it." China claims almost all of the Vietnam hopes Prime Minister South China Sea as its part which Modi to undertake an early visit is hotly contested by Vietnam, the to Hanoi to further boost ties with Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei the strategic nation on the eastand Taiwan. ernmost Indochina Peninsula in Nghiem said India's state-run Southeast Asia.-PTI
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India to organize Yoga festival in China BEIJING: India will organize Yoga Festival in China next month to commemorate the declaration of June 21 as International Yoga Day by the UN last year, besides organizing a series of events in a number of Chinese cities. The International Yoga Festival would be organized at the pic-
turesque Chinese city of Dujiangyan, close to Chengdu from June 17-21, in which over 5000 people were expected to take part, K Nagaraj Naidu, Director, Investments of the External Affairs Ministry, said. Nineteen eminent Indian yoga teachers from Astanga, (Mysore
style), Sivananda, Kaivalyadham, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram, Isha Hatha Yoga and Indea Yoga institutions would take part, Naidu, who was earlier the Consulate General of India at Guangzhou, told a media briefing here. Indian Council of Cultural Relations will also be sending dance troupe. In all, over 20,000 Chinese were expected to take part in the yoga events being organized by the Indian Embassy here in different cities to celebrate the UN Yoga Day, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take part in the Yoga-tai Chi event along with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Beijing on May 15. Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art practiced for defense training and its health benefits. Modi is arriving on a three day visit to China on May 14 during which he will visit Xian, Beijing and Shanghai. -PTI
Yoga Day to be celebrated in US on June 21 WASHINGTON: The first International Day of Yoga would be celebrated at the historic National
message by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Singh said. Open free to the public; the Ambassador said the Indian Government is planning to celebrate the First International Day of Yoga in all countries, including the US. He was speaking at an Indian Embassy organized talk by Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev on 'Relevance of Yoga in Modern Life'. During his talk, Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, emphasized the relevance of Yoga in today's world. He said that yoga helps one to Indian envoy to the US Arun K Singh make one's indiMall here on June 21 featuring vidual life a pleasant exyoga demonstrations by experts perience. and Indian dance and music, In"While we may be dian envoy to the US Arun K Singh has said. Being organized by the Indian Embassy in the US in association with the 'Friends of Yoga', which is an association of Yoga organizations in the region, the event from 8-30 to 11 am on June 21 would feature an exclusive video
the generation that enjoys most comforts and conveniences, we are not necessarily the most joyful and peaceful generation. The dimension of transforming into joyful human beings is what yoga is all about. Yoga is a tool and technology," he said. "While we have science and technology for external comfort, we should learn to use the tool and technology of yoga for internal well-being. Today about 2 billion people of the world are doing some form of yoga, and it should grow more," he said. Indian Embassy is organizing a series of curtain raiser Yoga events during the months of May-June 2015, including at the World Bank, at Durga Temple and Rajdhani Temple in Virginia. -PTI
Kerry to visit Beijing coinciding with Modi trip WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State John Kerry would visit Beijing and Seoul later this month, coinciding with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's maiden trip to China and South Korea, the US government has said. Kerry will travel to Beijing, from May 16 to 17, State Department acting spokesperson, Marie Harf, said. Modi is traveling to China from May 14 to 16. After a daylong trip to Mongolia, Modi will travel to South Korea on May 18 and 19.
While in Beijing, Kerry will meet senior leaders of the Chinese government to advance US priorities ahead of the Strategic and Economic Dialogue this summer and the planned US visit of President Xi Jinping later this year, Harf said. Kerry will then visit Seoul from May 17 to 18. He will meet President Park Geun-hye and Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se to discuss a range of global, regional, and bilateral issues, as well as Park's upcoming visit to the US, Harf said. -PTI
Woman seeks Modi's help to trace sister in China BEIJING: Ahead of his visit to tempts to trace An. China, Prime Minister Narendra "Tragedy haunted the family Modi has received a request from all along. We wanted to trace An a lady in Chennai seeking his help so that we can have a reunion, the to trace her Chinese step sister, a best tribute we can pay to Pong," lone survivor of her father's fam- Jennifer and Balaji told PTI. They ily in the World War II. have all documents including copJennifer An, daughter of a Chi- ies of Pong's Chinese passport nese Marine Engineer An Chi number and several communicaPong, who settled in Madras (now tions from the Chinese Embassy Chennai), is currently visiting in Delhi. China to trace her step sister An Ahead of their visit, Balaji Roesai from her father's first mar- wrote a letter to Modi on May 7 riage. requesting him to help the family Her father, who hailed from trace An who, they believe, could Shanghai, landed in Mumbai af- be in the eastern metropolis ter the ship in which he was work- Shanghai. ing ran into trouble and later The story of Pong's family was shifted to Chennai where he married a local woman Irene Pereira Ahead of their visit, Balaji with whom he had four children including Jen- wrote a letter to Modi on nifer. Pong, who studied May 7 requesting him to marine engineering in help the family trace An Oxford University, remained in Chennai who, they believe, throughout his life could be in the eastern dreading to return to his homeland which was metropolis Shanghai caught in a whirlpool of turmoil including the Japanese invasion in WW-II fol- very tragic as not only he drifted lowed by the revolution headed away from the family and never by Mao Zedong and the conflict returned home, his entire family between him and Chang Kai-shek including wife and six children leading to the emergence of Tai- who were settled in the Chinese wan. city of Nanjing perished either in He died in 1982 at the age of bombing or in the massacre of ci82. vilians by Japanese troops in the Buoyed by Modi's successful city. attempt to reunite a Nepalese boy Only An Roesai survived bewith his parents during his visit cause she was with her grandto Nepal, Jennifer along with her mother in a village. She was subhusband VRS Balaji arrived here sequently traced by Pong who ahead of the Prime Minister's found her to be working with the three-day visit to China from May People's Liberation Army (PLA), 14 hoping he will help their at- Jennifer said. -PTI
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Steady progress on nuke cooperation with Russia MOSCOW: India has said there is "steady progress" on IndoRussia civil nuclear energy cooperation and the second unit of the Kudankulam project is "progressing satisfactorily" towards commissioning as the two countries aim to boost their strategic ties in spheres of space and energy. President Pranab Mukherjee, in Russia on a five-day visit, held a 45-minute meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a "wide-ranging review of our bilateral cooperation", the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. "On civil nuclear energy cooperation, there has been steady progress. The Kudankulam Nuclear Project-2 (KKNP2) is progressing satisfactorily towards commissioning. Contracts for supply of equipment for KKNP3 and 4 have been concluded," the statement quoted Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar as saying in a media briefing. "We had also in December constituted three Joint Working Groups to discuss different aspects of nuclear cooperation to take the level of cooperation to a higher plane. One of the three Joint Working Groups has already met;
two others are likely to meet very said. that were launched at the summit soon," he said. GAIL's contract for Liquefied meeting in December, 2014 when Jaishankar added that a num- Natural Gas (LNG) supply to In- Putin was last in India. ber of steps were being taken to dia has entered into force, he On defense, both the Presiboost space cooperation as well as in energy. "On space cooperation, the Heads of our two Space agencies have drawn up a concrete plan for reinvigoration of our space cooperation, including marking in a suitable manner the 40th anniversary of the launch of Aryabhatta from the then Soviet Union. "On energy cooperation it was noted that Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC)'s investment in SakhalinRussian President Vladimir Putin, right, shakes hands with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, on May 9 1 (oil field) had been very successful. Its MoU with Rosneft for added. dents noted that progress had exploration on the Arctic Shelf is During their meeting, the two been made in government-to-govbeing progressed," Jaishankar presidents focused on initiatives ernment cooperation in various
areas. "There was recognition that we had moved to an era of joint development and manufacturing. It was clear to us that the Russian defense industry was very keenly interested in pursuing projects under our 'Make in India' initiative," the Foreign Secretary said. The leaders agreed that the two countries needed to work hard to achieve targets of USD 30 billion in trade and USD 15 billion for investment. On whether the presence of both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mukherjee has led to a further strengthening of the RussiaIndia-China (RIC) block during the commemoration, Jaishankar said India's presence in Moscow should not be read in a trilateral context. "I think the reason why so many Heads of Governments and Heads of States are here, including our President, is that this is a very important day for Russians. "We are here frankly because of Russia. We are here to recognize the Russian contribution and to sort of signal to the Russian people that on this day which is so important for you we are here with you," Jaishankar said. -PTI
Prez asks Indians abroad to invest in India MOSCOW: President Pranab Mukherjee has asked the Indian community in Russia to bring in their skills and capital to support the government's initiatives to make the country a global manufacturing hub. He also asked the Indian com-
Mukherjee said India-Russia relations have now touched almost every field of human endeavor and it involves cooperation in political, security, defense, trade, science and technology, education and culture. "Having said that, there is a
between India and Russia is USD 6 billion annually which is 0.8 per cent of India's trade amounting to USD 765 billion. Since April 2000, FDI inflows into India is USD 246 billion and out of which only USD 1 billion or 0.4 per cent of the total inflows
new opportunities that are arising between the two economies. "All of you, as repositories of unique information and insights about India and Russia, have an important role to play in propelling our economic ties to a higher trajectory," he said.
President Pranab Mukherjee addressing the Indian Community Reception in Moscow during his state visit to Russia
munity here to contribute substantially to further enhance IndoRussia ties, especially economic ties. Addressing the Indian Community members in Russia,
need to further enhance our level of economic engagement. Trade and investments are the pillars of economic relation," he told the impressive gathering. The President said total trade
has come from Russia. "Given the size of our economies, there is huge potential to enhance commercial and investment exchanges. It is a challenge for all of us to utilize synergies and
The President said government of India has provided fresh impetus to India's economic growth and development through new initiatives like 'Make in India', ' digital India', 'smart cities', 'model
villages' and 'clean Ganga' which seek to transform India. "The Indian community abroad can contribute to these initiatives by bringing their skills and capital. New opportunities have been created specially for NRIs and PIOs to come forward and play a major role in contributing to India's success such as the NRI fund to clean and develop the Ganga River. "You can also acquaint enterprises in your adopted country of the new opportunities available in India. We need to forge partnerships in friendly nations like Russia to bring in ideas, innovations, technologies and investment. You have to facilitate the creation of such partnerships," he said. Around 15,000 Indians live in Russia of which 4,000 are students. -PTI
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Russia a dependable partner: Mukherjee ON BOARD SPECIAL AIR- partner for our energy security, Putin reiterated his strong comCRAFT: Notwithstanding both on nuclear energy and hy- mitment to further enhance ties Russia's plans to supply arms to drocarbons," he said in a state- with India, which are marked by Pakistan, President of India ment. an exceptional level of mutual Pranab Mukherjee has said RusMukherjee said his visit also trust," he said. sia is India's "dependable part- reflected the importance India Referring to the annual summit ner" in defense and energy sec- places on its strategic partnership meeting between Prime Minister tors irrespective of Moscow's with Russia and India-Russia re- Narendra Modi and Putin, held in growing ties with any other na- lations have stood the test of time. Delhi in December, Mukherjee tion. "Our relationship stands apart. Russia is and will be a dependable partner in defense matter and energy security despite the relationships with other countries developed by Russia or developed by India," President P r a n a b Mukherjee told reporters accompanying him. The President, who was Russian President Vladimir Putin, foreground center, and, from foreground left: Indian President returning home Pranab Mukherjee, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades, President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Chinesee President Xi Jinping, Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan, Kyrgyz President Almazbek after a five-day Atambayev and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, third left, background, gesture as they visit to Russia, pose for a photo after the Victory Parade marking the 70th anniversary of the defeat of the was replying a Nazis in World War II, to the Tomb of Unknown soldier, outside Kremlin wall, in Moscow, question about Russia,on May 9 whether he raised the issue of Russia's move The President said he had held said there was forward movement to supply defense equipment to a substantive bilateral meeting on defense, nuclear energy and Pakistan during his bilateral meet- with the Russian President and re- space cooperation. ing with Russian President viewed progress on bilateral issues "We have made tangible Vladimir Putin. as well as steps to further enhance progress in our economic and Russia has lifted its embargo and deepen the relationship. commercial cooperation in sectors on defense supplies to Pakistan "We also discussed the rapidly ranging from hydrocarbons, ferand the two sides are working on evolving global political, security tilizers, diamonds and agricultural ways to boost their defense ties. and economic scenario. President products," he said. -PTI Last year, the two countries signed a military cooperation agreement to deepen their ties. In a sign of increasing bonhoNEW YORK: Pakistan is far El Salvador, Niger, and Pakistan mie between the Cold War-era ahead of India in improving ac- are performing better and Subadversaries, Pakistan and Russia cess to water, sanitation and in Saharan Africa countries includhave also agreed to hold their first- eroding inequalities for its citi- ing Mali, South Africa, and Ethioever joint military exercises. zens, according to a US univer- pia are also among the top perMukherjee said irrespective of sity study. formers world-wide in spite of Russia's ties with other countries, While Pakistan was ranked five modest resources. its ties with India would continue in the new index developed by The Water Institute at the Univerto be strong. Among the most "...India-Russia relationship is sity of North Carolina at Chapel one of deep friendship and mu- Hill's Gillings School of Global populated countries tual confidence that would not be Public Health in the US, India oc- in the world, Pakiaffected by transient political cupied an unenviable 92nd posistan, China, and tion. trends. High-performing countries for "Russia has been a pillar of Nigeria were top 2015 are those that have achieved strength at difficult moments in significant improvement in recent performers (ranked India's history. India will always years compared to their peers. 5, 11, and 18 reciprocate this support. Russia Low-performing countries are is and will remain our most impor- those that showed stagnation or respectively) tant defense partner and a key decline in recent years.
Cameron gives Priti Patel Cabinet rank LONDON: Prime Minister David Cameron has promoted one of Britain's most prominent Indianorigin MPs Priti Patel by making her the new Employment Minister, as he unveiled the first all-Conservative Cabinet in nearly 20 years with his top four aides retaining their previous portfolios. The senior-most berths in the Cabinet were confirmed soon after the election results were out with Chancellor George Osborne, Home Secretary Theresa May, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond and Defence Secretary Michael Fallon being re-confirmed in their respective posts. Patel, who was reelected from Witham in Essex with a big majority in the May 7 general election, replaces another female MP in the Cabinet, Esther McVey, who lost in the polls. "A real privilege to be appointed as Minister of State for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions," the 43-year-old said in a Twitter message. While the Londonborn mother of one will not be in charge of the Department for Work and Pensions, she has been given a Cabinet rank as a promotion from her previous role as Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. It remains to be seen if she will also carry on in her honorary role as the British Prime Minister's Indian Diaspora Champion. Her appointment reflects Cameron's plans to shake up the
'Pakistan improving sanitation faster than India' "This means that even countries with limited resources can make great strides if they have the right programs in place," said coauthor of the report Jamie Bartram, director of The Water Institute at UNC. "National governments, NGOs, and aid agencies can direct their resources toward building systems and capacity for action in countries that are lagging," Bartram said. Among the most populated countries in the world, Pakistan, China, and Nigeria were top performers (ranked 5, 11, and 18 respectively). Conversely, Russia, the Philippines and India were bottom performers (ranked 72, 83, and 92), the report said.-PTI
party's old fashioned all-male image and have a significant number of women around the Cabinet table. Other women members of the new Cabinet are Amber Rudd as Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Liz Truss as Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, Anna Soubry as Minister of State (Minister for Small Business), Justine Greening as Secretary of State for International Development, Theresa Villiers as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Baroness Stowell, who has been promoted
Priti Patel
to the Cabinet as Leader of the House of Lords. Cameron had already confirmed Nicky Morgan in her previous post as Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities. Jeremy Hunt will continue as Health Secretary and Patrick McLoughlin continues as Secretary of State for Transport. Greg Clark replaces Eric Pickles as Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government. Key announcements included the son of a Pakistani bus driver, Sajid Javid, moving from Culture Secretary to Secretary of State for Business and London Mayor Boris Johnson being given a ministerial rank without a portfolio. Johnson, widely seen as a Conservative party leadership contender, will attend Political Cabinet until he completes his term as mayor in 2016 when he is expected to be given an official portfolio. Cameron said: "Boris Johnson will be attending my Political Cabinet. As promised, he will devote his attention to his final year as Mayor of London." -PTI
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Nikesh Arora named SoftBank President NEW YORK: India-born Nikesh Arora has been appointed as president of Japan's SoftBank Corp and also named as a potential successor to CEO Masayoshi Son. Arora, Google's former Chief Business Officer, had left the company to join SoftBank last year at a time when he was regarded as among the top lieutenants at the internet search giant. "Nikesh Arora assumed positions of Vice Chairman of SoftBank Corp and CEO of SB Group US, Inc in September 2014, and has been deeply involved in the development and execution of the Group's growth strategy. In pursuit of enhancement of the management structure along with further glo-
bal development, the Company has decided to appoint Arora as Representative Director, President of the Company," the company said in a statement. A report in Fortune said that Arora's elevation at SoftBank comes as the telecoms conglomerate steps up its overseas expansion. During a conference call, billionaire CEO Masayoshi Son, who is relinquishing the president's post, said Aurora was a "strong candidate" to lead the company in future, ac-
Nikesh Arora
cording to the Fortune report. "Yes. He's 10 years younger than me, and he has more abilities than me," Son told reporters, when asked if Arora was a potential candidate to succeed him. "The last nine months I have spent with him have made me sure of that, but I am not going to retire soon," Son said. Arora will assume his new role on June 19. The report in Fortune said the move comes as Son and SoftBank are battling to improve profitability at US carrier Sprint Corp, which they bought in 2013 for more than USD 20 billion. A sluggish Japanese economy has forced the company to increasingly look overseas for growth, it added. Arora, a graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology in Varanasi and Northeastern University, was hired to run a newly created unit called SoftBank Internet and Media Inc, reporting directly to Son. He was among the highest paid executives in 2012, when he made USD 51 million in cash and stock. Fortune said SoftBank has been weighed down by the costs of trying to turn around Sprint, which has been in intense competition with larger US rivals AT&T Inc and Verizon Communications Inc as well at TMobile. Apart from being the largest investor in Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, SoftBank has plans to invest USD 10 billion in India's potentially huge but underdeveloped online retail market.-PTI
Weeding out graft a big achievement: Arun Jaitley MUMBAI: With the first anniversary of the Narendra Modi government approaching, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said here weeding out corruption has been one of the biggest achievements of the BJP-led dispensation. "In the past one year, the word 'corruption' has been removed from the political dictionary," he said while launching three social sector schemes here. Jaitley said he can point out at least 100 corruption scandals under the previous Congress-led UPA Government but the Modi dispensation has been able to keep off such controversies. He specifically pointed to the policy of auctioning national resources which has helped achieve a corruption-free administration. The Government has been able to end the practice of "rent-seeking" by corporates and also visits to Ministries in North Block and South Block to get works done, he said. "Among the policies adopted by the Government in the past one year, not one has been criticized as a step in the wrong direction." Jaitley, a powerful figure in Modi Cabinet, said re- establishing the credibility of economy was the first priority in the past 12 months, after which focus was on specifics like getting capital and making it easier to do business.-PTI
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Decks cleared for Jayalalithaa's return as CM BENGALURU/CHENNAI: Decks were cleared for the return of AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister after she was acquitted in the 19year-old disproportionate assets case against her by the Karnataka High Court which said her conviction suffered from infirmity and was not sustainable in law. "...the accused are entitled to acquittal. When the principal accused (Jayalalithaa) has been acquitted, the other accused, who played a lesser role, are entitled to acquittal," Justice C R Kumaraswamy said in his 919page judgment that set aside trial court judge Michael D'cunha's order last year holding her guilty of corruption and sentencing her to four years imprisonment. The High Court verdict, that also acquitted Jayalalithaa's close aide Sasikala and two others, triggered immediate jubilation among the AIADMK ranks who celebrated the event with bursting of crackers, distribution of sweets and dancing outside her residence in Chennai and across Tamil Nadu. After she secured the clean chit, stop-gap Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and a host of party leaders trooped to her Poes Garden residence and held consultations apparently on her assuming reins of office once again. Jayalalithaa was unseated from the Chief Minister's post on September rpt September 27, last year when the trial court convicted her and she was automatically disqualified from being a member of the Assembly and contesting elections for 10 years from then. But this verdict cleared the way for her to return to power and to contest elections. There is widespread speculation that Jayalalithaa, a strong believer, is looking at an auspicious day to take the oath again, almost a year
ahead of the Assembly elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Jayalalithaa on her acquittal which she said has proved that she did no wrong.
arguments. The High Court judgment came on the appeals filed by Jayalalithaa and the other three against the special court order.
dismissed". "The consequence of this pronouncement is that she is entitled to resume the office of Chief Minister," a beaming Kumar said.
AIADMK supporters celebrating after party chief J Jayalalithaa was cleared of corruption charges by Karnataka High Court in disproportionate assets case, at her residence in Chennai on May 11
"Today's verdict gives me immense satisfaction, this has removed the slander imposed on me, this has erased the blame put on me by political enemies," she said in her first reaction hours after her acquittal. "It has confirmed that I have done no wrong, this verdict is a boon granted by God for the prayers of Tamil Nadu people after the verdict of the lower court," Jayalalithaa said. Interestingly, the Special Public Prosecutor B V Acharya, who was brought in by the Supreme Court at the eleventh hour, said the prosecution case was seriously prejudiced as Karnataka and the SPP appointed by it were denied an opportunity to convince the High Court through oral
On disproportionate assets, the judge held that "it is relatively small. In the instant case, the disproportionate asset is less than 10 per cent and it is within permissible limit." Speaking to reporters outside the court, B Kumar, senior counsel for Jayalalithaa said the prosecution case made by the "then DMK government now stands
Justice Kumaraswamy gave the verdict just a day ahead of the three-month deadline set by the Supreme Court to complete the hearing on the appeals. The 67-year old Jayalalithaa was not present in the court, as, according to the Criminal Procedure Code, the accused are required to be present only in the trial court. SPP Acharya said the state of Karnataka was the sole prosecuting agency in this case, as the Supreme Court had stated, but it had been "denied adequate opportunity before the High Court." He said the "total effect" was that the state of Karnataka and the Public Prosecutor appointed by it was denied an opportunity to convince High Court judge
through oral arguments, which had "seriously prejudiced" the case of the prosecution. Acharya said on behalf of the accused, the appellant lawyers made their arguments for about two months during which time there was no Public Prosecutor in place appointed by Karnataka government. "So the entire proceedings have gone on without a validly appointed Public Prosecutor." He noted he was appointed as SPP on April 22 after the Supreme Court order which had said SPP can file written submission within one day and there was no chance for oral arguments. The Supreme Court had quashed the appointment of Bhawani Singh as the SPP holding it was "bad in law", following which Acharya, who had earlier resigned as SPP, returned. In his written submission in the High Court, Acharya had prayed for dismissal of appeals filed by Jayalalithaa and others. In the High Court, Justice Kumaraswamy quashed the order of the trial court relating to confiscation of the properties both movable and immovable. "Taking into consideration overall circumstances and material placed on record, in my view, the judgment and finding recorded by the trial court suffers from infirmity and it is not sustainable in law," the judge said. On disproportionate assets, the judge held that "it is relatively small. In the instant case, the disproportionate asset is less than 10 per cent and it is within permissible limit." "Therefore, the accused are entitled to acquittal. When the principal accused (Jayalalithaa) has been acquitted, the other accused, who have played a lesser role, are also entitled to acquittal," the court said.-PTI
PM Modi greets Jayalalithaa on acquittal CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greeted AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa, who was acquitted in a disproportionate assets case by the Karnataka High Court. "Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Puratchi Thalaivi Amma (Revolutionary Leader-Amma) and extended his greetings," an AIADMK release said. Modi and Jayalalithaa are said to enjoy cordial relations with the former attending her swearing-in ceremony as Tamil Nadu
Chief Minister in 2011. The AIADMK supremo returned the favor by attending his swearingin ceremony as Gujarat Chief Minister the next year. Jayalalithaa was acquitted by the Karnataka High Court in the Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case, quashing a special court order convicting her to four years in prison and imposing a fine of Rs 100 crore on her in the case. Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Union Minorities Welfare Minister Najma Heptullah and Tamil Nadu Gover-
nor K Rosiah also extended their greetings to Jayalalithaa over phone, the release said. The Governor also sent in a
Modi and Jayalalithaa are said to enjoy cordial relations with the former attending her swearing-in ceremony as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister in 2011
flower bouquet to the AIADMK General Secretary, it said. Interestingly, opposition CPI and MDMK also greeted Jayalalithaa. NCP leader Sharad Pawar, CPI National Secretary Atul Kumar Ranjan, TMC leader GK Vasan, MDMK founder Vaiko, BJP's National Secretary H Raja, AIADMK allies - Indian Republic Party, AISMK, AIFB and Tamil Nadu Kongu Peravai also extended their greetings to her, the release said. Industry captains such as Venu Srinivasan of TVS Motors, Vinu Mammen of MRF Tyres, N
Srinivasan of India Cements, CMD of Apollo Hospitals Dr Prathap C Reddy, Kalyan Jewellers proprietor TS Kalynaraman and Gem Granites chief Veeramani also greeted Jayalalithaa. Further, scores of Tamil cinema industry professionals including musician Ilayaraja, actors Vijayashanthi and Prabhu and danseuse Padma Subramaniam among others extended their greetings to Jayalalithaa on being acquitted in the case, the release said.-PTI
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Modi launches 3 schemes in Mamata's company KOLKATA: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced three flagship social security schemes, including an insurance cover for less than Re 1 per day, while choosing to launch the ambitious program from a dais shared by bitter critic and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. While demanding a complete waiver of West Bengal's Rs 2.74 lakh crore debt burden, Mamata also echoed Modi's call for the Centre and the states to work together for upliftment of the poor and the development of the country. Invoking words of Rabindra Nath Tagore and Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Modi said "what Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow" and added that the process of development would be incomplete if it did not reach the poor. Banerjee, who has been very critical of Modi and BJP which has been working hard to make inroads into West Bengal, also said the downtrodden and the poor people were the backbone of the country. "We must not forget the poor because it is the government of the people, by the people and for the people," she said. At the same time, the two leaders, who shared the dais for the first time since Modi became Prime Minister, did not spare a chance to take jibes at each other. "Our government had launched the Kanyashri scheme for the uplift of the girl child. For this we have allocated Rs 1000 crore. But the similar central scheme Beti Padhao Beti Bachao has an allocation of only Rs 100 crore," Banerjee said. The chief minister said that not all the village panchayats in the state were covered by a bank and demanded that at least one bank
branch should be present in each. To this, Modi said, "This land has the blessings of both Lakhsmi and Saraswati. This land contributed a lot in manufacturing. Now she is saying that there are no bank branches in all villages. What happened in the last 60 years? The chief minister is saying this because she believes that
savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-70 years for a premium of Rs 12 per annum per subscriber. Atal Pension Yojana will focus on the unorganized sector and provide subscribers a fixed minimum pension of Rs 1,000, Rs 2,000, Rs 3,000, Rs 4,000 or Rs 5,000 per month, starting at the age of 60
launching the 'Jan Suraksha' social security schemes. Modi said that the schemes have been announced targeting 80 per cent of the people who are not covered by any social security measure. The Prime Minister also urged people to pay small premiums towards insurance schemes for their
sisted from maintaining zero balance accounts and instead deposited cash in those. "See the power of the poor. The poor should be not given alms, but rather they should be empowered. Now it is the turn to unfold more programs for the poor," he added. Banerjee said that the state already has insurance schemes for
Prime Minister Narendra Modi launching the “Pradhan Mantri Jeeven Jyoti Bima Yojana”, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana”, and “Atal Pension Yojana”, at Nazrul Manch, in Kolkata on May 9. Governor of West Bengal, Keshari Nath Tripathi, Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, Minister of State for Finance, Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Urban Development, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation, Babul Supriyo and Secretary, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance, Hasmukh Adhia are also seen
if something can be done, then it will be by me." The Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana will offer a renewable one-year life cover of Rs 2 lakh to all savings bank account holders in the age group of 18-50 years, covering death due to any reason, for a premium of Rs 330 per annum. The Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana will offer a renewable one-year accidental death-cumdisability cover of Rs 2 lakh for partial/permanent disability to all
years, depending on the contribution option exercised on entering at an age between 18 and 40 years. Listing the success of Jan Dhan scheme, Modi said that 15 crore bank accounts have been opened since August 15 last year and Rs 15,800 crore has been deposited there. "Now 95 per cent of the poor are covered under the proper banking sector," he said, adding it was the inspiration for doing more for them and therefore he was
domestic helps, drivers, and liftmen, among others. He further said it was heartening to learn that already under the program 5.5 crore enrolments were done. The schemes would come into effect from June 1, 2015. "I told the poor, this nation, this government and our banks are for you... poor do not want 'sahara'. We need to change how we think. The poor need 'shakti'," he said. Modi said the success of the Jan-Dhan scheme demonstrated the power of the poor who de-
farmers, construction and transport workers and also for unemployed youth. "These three new schemes launched today will add more." She said the problem was at the implementation level for which the benefits were not reaching to the lowest level. For this the Centre and states should work hand-in-hand to for the development of the country, Banerjee said adding this was the only way to do good for the poor.-PTI
British prof brings 18th century Indian sounds to life LONDON: An acclaimed British professor has revived, recorded and reinterpreted the traditional music of 18th century Indian musicians performed at the courts of nawabs and mansions of wealthy English merchants according to the new generation's taste. Jane Chapman, a harpsichordist or a harp-like musical instrument played by the means of a keyboard revisits traditional compositions originally staged by troupes of performers at Indian 'nautch' or dance parties held in the mansions of wealthy English merchants and at the courts of the Indian nawabs. The University of
Southampton Turner Sims Fellow explored these early musical encounters between the Indian subcontinent and the West to release a CD titled 'The Oriental Miscellany'. "The British became very interested in capturing what they had heard at colorful social gatherings, recreating performances in India, and transporting it back home to their Georgian drawing rooms," says Chapman, a professor of harpsichord at the Royal College of Music in London. "This led to some of the songs being notated and arranged for instruments they were familiar with, such as the harpsichord," she added.
The project began while Jane was an artist in residence at King's College London's Foyle Special Collections Library, working in collaboration with Katherine Butler Schofield at King's music department and with the college's India Institute.
"The British became very interested in capturing what they had heard at colorful social gatherings, recreating performances in India”
She studied 'The Oriental Miscellany' the first ever publication of Indian music written in staff notation for Western instruments, along with a collection of 77 songs compiled by 18th century harpsichordist Sophia Plowden. 'The Oriental Miscellany: Airs of Hindoostan' is a book of musical scores, published by conductor and concert promoter William Hamilton Bird in Calcutta in 1789. It is regarded by musicologists as an important historical source of Indian music. Some of the compositions it contains, along with Plowden's collection, originate from the traditional folk songs of camel drivers. "I wanted the new recording to
reach back to the roots of this kind of music and reflect how it would have sounded when first performed centuries ago," Chapman said. I collaborated with musicians from India to explore how the songs would originally have been arranged and then worked from this to develop a new interpretation," she added. Her new CD was recorded in the Music Gallery of the Horniman Museum, London, on a double manual harpsichord constructed by Jacob Kirckman in 1772 - an example of the kind of instrument that British travelers often imported for use in India. -PTI
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EIIL to sell India-made LED lights KOLKATA: Dry cell battery major Eveready Industries India Ltd (EIIL) will switch to made-in India LED lights and aiming revenues of more than Rs 700 crore from the segment in the next 2-3 years. "We will go for made-in-India LEDs by the year end. But, it is not decided whether we will have our own manufacturing or outsource from an Indian vendor," company Managing Director Amritanshu Khaitan said here. At present, the company sells LED lights which are outsourced from China. "LEDs would be the growth driver over the next few years as we see the lighting and electrical business growing by 35-40 per cent in the next 2-3 years. We expect topline from LEDs of Rs 7001,000 crore," he said. Falling prices of LED are help-
ing people to switch from CFL, but it is still an urban phenomenon. Over the next three years LED sales will take over CFL lamps, he added. There will be 25 per cent to 30 per cent decline in LED bulb prices in the next six months, Khaitan said. C u r r e n t l y, Philips India Ltd, Havells India Ltd and privately h e l d Syska LED
are the major domestic players in the segment. EIIL's lighting and electrical business, which includes LED lights, compact fluorescent lamps, rechargeable fans, portable lanterns and spike busters, reported a revenue of Rs 240 crore during 2014-15, he said. Eveready has renewed contract with Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar for another two years and is spending five per cent of its net sales towards promotion in 2014-15 and in the current fiscal. The company believes that improved credit rating will help Eveready in reducing its interest
burden. "We have able to improve credit rating and now we are exploring to tap commercial paper market. We will able to reduce rate of borrowing which is now 11-11.5 per cent," Khaitan said. He added that the company is
expecting that interest cost will come down to Rs 20-25 crore in the current fiscal from Rs 33 crore last year. The company expects to repay long-term debt of Rs 70 crore to Rs 80 crore out of total Rs 170-80 crore by 2016-17, he added. -PTI
Indian trio on London to Nashik road-trip LONDON: Three Indian professionals have embarked on a 45day cross-country road-trip from London to Nashik to promote a "world without boundaries". The group, which calls itself Globe Wheelers, plans to cover a distance of over 17,000 km across a route they claim sets a new record. They will cover this distance in their Toyota Fortuner shipped from India to London. "We have been preparing for this trip for a very long time. We have had to plan for unthinkable situations for a journey like this. We are very excited and at that same time curious and maybe even
director of the Bafna Group and Seva Group, and interior decorator Rajendra Madanlal Parekh. The road trip was flagged off from London and the group has now arrived in Berlin and is expected to arrive in Nashik next month. "The weather, the terrain will change every day. We are also very excited about the people we will meet and share a meal with, share our experiences and cultures with them," added Kataria. The route covers Britain, France, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China,
Globe Wheelers Sanjeev, Rajendra and Ashish
a little worried about what this voyage has in store for us," said Ashish Kataria, a senior professional in a Fortune 500 infrastructure development company based in India. He is joined on the road mission by friends Sanjeev Mishrilal Bafna, chairman and managing
Tibet, and the earthquake-hit regions of Nepal before arriving at the final destination in Maharashtra. The extremes of their terrain include driving at zero altitude in Riga and at over 18,000 feet in the Himalayas as well as Siberian terrain midway. -PTI
Top Stories
May 15, 2015
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PIO couple held fake weddings for visas MELBOURNE: An Indian-origin couple in Australia has been charged with arranging fraudulent marriages for Indian men to get them visas by paying the Australian brides over 4,000 dollars. Australian women were allegedly offered upfront payments of up to 4000 dollars plus an ongoing 250 dollars per week by former migration agent Chetan Mohanlal
Mashru and marriage celebrant Divya Krishne Gowda to marry Indian men whom they had never met, witnesses told the Brisbane Magistrates Court. India-born Mashru and Gowda are each charged with 17 counts of arranging sham marriages for visas. Mashru is also charged with 23 counts of influencing a public of-
Terrorism a big issue, says Pak envoy LUCKNOW: Pakistan's High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit has termed terrorism as "a big issue" and peace in "mutual interest" of the two countries that could be achieved through dialogue. He also pitched for economic ties between India and Pakistan to go beyond trade to mutual investment. "Terrorism is a big issue. We have suffered a lot in the last 35 years and lost as many as 50,000 lives. It's a common challenge," Basit said during an interactive business meeting organized by industry body FICCI. "If you have faced it in Mumbai, then we too have faced it. If you have complaints, then we too have our own," he said.
He said after Afghanistan, Pakistan had suffered the most because of terrorism. Acknowledging the "complex" relations between the two countries, he said," Peace is of mutual interest and can be achieved through dialogue... (but) there has been no dialogue for almost a year." The top Pakistani diplomat in India said political inhibitions, doubts and trade barriers had resulted in "minuscule" trade between the two neighbors. He stressed upon the need for greater "inter-dependence" for the economic ties to be sustainable. In the absence of inter-dependence, Basit said," it may continue for a while, but it will not sustain for a long period." -PTI
Dawood in Pak, asserts India minister NEW DELHI/LUCKNOW: Caught in a controversy over its statement that it had no idea where Dawood Ibrahim is, the government has now asserted that the Mumbai blast mastermind is in Pakistan and that it will not "rest" till he is brought back to the country. The assertion by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in the Lok Sabha was, however, rubbished by Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit who said Dawood is not in his country. Singh vowed to do everything to bring Dawood to justice. "Whether we have to pursue Pakistan or pressurize it, we will not rest till Dawood Ibrahim is brought back," Singh said and averred that India has maintained pressure on Pakistan at all levels over the issue. He alleged that Pakistan has "failed" to track him down despite being provided with "overwhelm-
ing evidence" about his presence there, based on "credible information". Singh's assertion came amid Opposition attack over a Home Ministry's reply to a question in Lok Sabha last week that it was not aware about the gangster's location. He had then sought to deflect the criticism, saying the stand was similar to the one taken by the UPA government in Parliament in May 2013 and signaled a rethink. In the statement, Singh said, "India has credible information about his (Dawood) presence in Pakistan... Despite overwhelming documentary and other evidence handed over to Pakistan, Pakistan has failed to locate Dawood Ibrahim and initiate legal process." India has provided Pakistan the details of his Pakistani passports and reported addresses there from time to time, asking it to locate and hand him over to it.-PTI
ficial and 19 counts of delivering false information. Immigration official Robert Ansell, who investigated the marriages, told the court that they first became aware of the scheme after a newspaper article in April 2012. Ansell said he had concerns about 40 to 50 visa applicants who had been married off by Gowda. "It appeared as though it was an organized matter and not a series of one-offs," he said.
The immigration official, during investigation, approached the young women suspected of getting married for money and asked them to provide induced statements, the ABC online reported. Three women gave evidence about their marriages. During the hearing, a Queensland woman named Tahnee Edser admitted to entering an arranged marriage with an Indian man for cash, but said that
she did not realize the extent to which she was breaking the law. Another witness, Cortez Rudolph, 22, said she learned of the alleged scam via a friend who had herself participated in an arranged marriage. "She asked if I was interested and at that particular time in my life, I know it doesn't sound very smart now, but I didn't think that I had any other option," she said.PTI
Desi News SEF presents Shaan concert with Lil Champs India Post News Service
CUPERTINO, CA: Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) has organized a Live in Concert by the spectacular singing star Shaan with Lil Champs and Ambili Menon on Friday May 22 at Flint Center, Cupertino, CA. SEF is known for bringing power packed concerts and with these magnificent singers the Shaan Concert will be a sold-out show and definitely be the talk of the town. Don't miss out! Get your tickets today at www.giftofvision.org. Shantanu Mukherjee, famously known as Shaan has created his name in the music world with his versatile singing style. He is also known as an anchor on many shows such as ZeeTV's "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa".
COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA May 15, 2015
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16 India Post
ABDUL SIDAKI & ASIAN MEDIA
CHICAGO: One of the oldest ethnic Indian organizations, Federation of Indian AssociationsChicago [FIA] gave a big kick off to its 'Kick-off' event on Sunday,
wishes to FIA board for its well chalked out program and joined in lighting the lamp. FIA Trustee and Board members got off to a start with the light-
Best of Indian art at 'Eye on India' Festival STEPHANIE KULKE
Details on page 18
Telugu Association of St.Louis celebrates Ugadi ASHWIN PATEL
ST LOUIS: Telugu Association of St. Louis (TAS), Missouri celebrated Manmadha Naama Ugadi Vedukalu on April 26 in a spectacular way at Logan College, Chesterfield, MO. More than 1200 people attended the event. There was a wide range of classical programs performed by local talent and also singers and artists from Tollywood. Dressed in attires reflecting Telugu culture and tradition, local talent presented singing and dancing programs which drew huge applause from the audience. Details on page 20
Details on page 22
FIA adds spice to plans for grand India Day celebrations
Details on page 21
CHICAGO: Eye on India and Teamwork Arts has slated its 5th annual Eye on India Festival May 28 through June 28. From cinema, photography and music, to fashion, dance and yoga, Eye on India showcases the best of contemporary and traditional Indian art in a variety of locations across the city. More than 12 events are planned, and each will be co-presented by arts, business, and community partner organizations throughout Chicago.
Colors for your home as per Vastu Shastra
FIA President Dr Indrajit Patel addressing the FIA Meet
May 3 at Maharaja Restaurant in Rosemont to announce hosting of India Independence Day celebrations coming August in a big way. A number of Indian community leaders were present enjoying the company of a glamorous Bollywood star Hrishita Bhatt. It was for the first time that the FIA Trustees headed by Iftekhar Shareef thought of adding some spice to an otherwise just informative event. Indian Consul O.P. Meena was the guest of honor. He extended warm greetings and best
ing of traditional ceremonial lamp and immediately there after Dr Indrajit Patel , FIA Chief, announced hosting of a series of grand events heightening Indian Independence celebrations encompassing four major events (1) Parade, (2) Mela, (3)Banquet and (4) Flaghoisting ceremony. He then solemnly pledged that "this year will mark a new chapter in the history of FIA as we will attempt to showcase the grand cultural
traditions of India that would get colorfully reflected in the India Day events." FIA will host Grand India Day Parade on Saturday August 15 preceded by Gala Banquet on August 14 at Meadows Club. There will be a Flag-hoisting ceremony on August 15 morning at Daley Plaza in downtown at 9.30 am, hosted jointly with the Indian Consulate in Chicago. FIA under the event chair Trustee Iftekhar Shareef will conclude the festivities with a wholesome family-oriented Colorful Mela replete with music, dances, singing and free samplings of Indian food on Devon Avenue after the Parade. Nepal and victims of unprecedented earthquake in that country and part of India too got attention of Dr Indrajit and the FIA Officials. After observing a one-
FIA guests - Hrishita Bhatt and OP Meena - with FIA President Dr Patel, Truseee chair Iftekhar Shareef and former FIA president Hina Trivedi
minute prayerful silence for the victims of Nepal earthquake, emotionally charged Dr Indrajit Patel fervently appealed to community organizations to mobilize resources to help the victims of the Nepal Earthquake. Guest of honor Bollywood star and model Hrishita Bhatt expressed gratitude to FIA for the opportunity accorded to her in helping kick-off the celebrations. She said that she would return to Chicago to grace the India Day Parade and the banquet. FIA team and guests
Cont’d on page 19
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India Post 17
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AIPHA holds holiday banquet & business expo Asian Media USA
CHICAGO: Association of Indian Pharmacists in America (AIPHA) hosted its Annual Holiday Banquet and Business Expo on Saturday, May 2 in the Meadows Club, Rolling Meadows, a northwest suburb of Chicago, with over 600 members and guests in attendance. The Banquet was attended by dignitaries including Consul General of Chicago Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Air India chief Nakul Chand, J. Stewart from Department of Prof Regulation, Dr Yash Amin, Director of Drug Compliance, L T. Gov Brian Colgan,, Hanover Park Mayor Rodney Craig Chief of Staff of Lieutenant Governor, Brian Colgan, Nimesh Jani, Elected Trustee of Schaumburg Township,Hardik Bhatt, Chief Information Officer of the State of Illinois and State Representatives Marcus Evans, Michelle Mussman, Tom Morrison. Snehal Bhavsar, AIPHA Board of Director, invited all dignitaries on stage for lamp
lighting. This was followed by Chief Guest Speech by Consulate General of India Dr Ausaf Sayeed and Keynote Speech by Jay Stewart.
Shirish Sanghavi of Indian Groceries & Spices passes away RAMESH SOPARAWALA
CHICAGO: Shirish Sanghavi, a promiFounder, Owner and President of IGS, nent Indian American businessman and a Inc. Shirish Sanghavi catered to the increaspioneer in Indian grocery business, died on ing appetite of the growing Indian populaApril 29 at the age of 70 from a massive tion in the United States. Apart from the heart attack. He was playing his favorite warehouse and office in Skokie, IL IGS has racquet ball game with offices in New Jersey, his friends when he comHouston, Los Angeles, plained of chest pain. He Milwaukee and Toronto, was rushed to the Canada. Lutheran General HospiDue to its excellent tal in Park Ridge, IL quality, NIRAV the brand where he breathed his name for most IGS prodlast. ucts, is a household and Sanghavi is survived trusted brand in the comby wife Premila, two sons munity. Sanghavi was Nilesh and Nirav, and also active in charitable Nirav's wife, Bibhuti. works and loved games From a young age, and sports. Sanghavi, an engineer, Services were held was always a high-enSaturday May the 2nd Shirish Sanghavi ergy person who loved between 9 and 11 am at to start his own busiCountryside Funeral ness. His entrepreneurial instinct and busi- Home, 950 South Bartlett Road (at Stearns ness skills enabled him to establish Indian Rd.), Bartlett, IL 60103. A large number of Groceries and Spices out of its Skokie, IL well wishers, friends, business associates location. He was the foremost wholesale and members of Chicago community at large trader in Indian spices and grocery items gathered at the venue to pay their last refor over 40 years. spects to the departed soul.
Bollywood actress Hrishita Bhatt, known for her roles in Asoka, Haasil, and many other movies, performed a dance number. The audience response was loud and enthusiastic. Hrishita's dance was the entertainment hit of the evening. Snehal Bhavsar, AIPHA Board of Director, invited President Harish Bhatt on stage. Harish Bhat said, "I want to recognize and congratulate all the pharmacists present tonight." He underlined problems faced by independent pharmacists with the changing landscape and the conversion of Illinois citizens from the Medicaid and Medicare programs to managed care organizations.
There is such a disparity in payment systems. The State of Illinois says the Medicaid budget is going up every year, and since it cannot control the drug cost, the first thing that is done is to cut Independent pharmacists fees. Independent pharmacists get near zero fees, but chains get paid up to $8 to fill a prescription, he observed. Despite the hard times faced by pharmacists, the attendance was up. " This year the turnout is more than before because people enjoy networking and being involved," said Bharat Mehta, accountant for AIPHA. Cont’d on page 19
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Best of Indian art at 'Eye on India' Festival STEPHANIE KULKE
CHICAGO: Eye on India and Teamwork Arts has slated its 5th annual Eye on India Festival May 28 through June 28. From cinema, photography and music, to fashion, dance and yoga, Eye on India showcases
Eye on India Festival President and Chicagoan Anuradha Behari created the festival after attending the Jaipur Literature Festival, one of the largest of its kind in the world. She planned replicating this spirit of collabo-
Celebrated film actor Om Puri
Reddy Set Yoga! founder Shruthi Reddy
the best of contemporary and traditional Indian art in a variety of locations across the city. More than 12 events are planned, and each will be co-presented by arts, business, and community partner organizations throughout Chicago.
ration and discovery, and share the depth and breadth of modern India in her hometown. "Professionally I have witnessed a keen interest from U.S. business leaders to better understand India, and there is a mutual desire to build and
strengthen relationships. There is also a growing curiosity in the general population about contemporary Indian culture that is not being fulfilled. Since Chicago is already known for its world-class festivals, the time
ter It will preview highlights of the upcoming festival, including acclaimed Photographer Rohit Chawla's Wanderlust exhibition, and the "Zero Waste Sari Project" created by fashion students of Columbia College Chi-
Swaminathan from the band ARKA
was felt right to establish a new festival that is providing an opportunity to foster dialogue and build cultural ties between India and the US, Behari observed. The Opening Night Gala is slated for Thursday, May 28 at 6:30 pm at Bridgeport Arts Cen-
cago. The evening also includes dinner and musical entertainment by Sara Ranganathan and the Chicago Children's Choir. In addition, Eye on India will honor an outstanding ambassador of Indian and American cultural exchange.
Festival Events: May 28 - Opening Gala June 3 - Rohit Chawla: Wanderlust Opening Reception June 4 - Om Puri - In Conversation June 5 - Om Puri screening TBD June 9 - Om Puri cinematography
Fareed Haque
workshop June 20 - ARKA in Concert June 21 - Fareed Haque, George Brooks, and ARKA in Concert June 21 - International Yoga Day Celebration June 22-28 Indian Raga Labs June 25 - Indian Raga Performance
Play to raise funds for poor kids in India HIMANSHU PATEL
Akshay kids sharing food and happiness
CHICAGO: Art, Entertainment and Charity will pull together in Naperville on June 5 for a noble cause - render help to the disadvantaged children in India. The Chicago Chapter of Akshaya Patra is sponsoring the performance of very popular and critically acclaimed Gujarati play Welcome Zindagi. All proceeds net of expenses and all contributions raised will go to Akshaya Patra USA. The performance will
be at 8 pm at Christian Community Church located in Naperville. Akshaya Patra's mission is to fight hunger and malnutrition in India, with a focus on children. In partnership with the Central and State governments, it provides freshly prepared, nutritious and hygienically sound mid-day meals to 1.4 million children in ten States. This includes 400,000 children in Gujarat. Midday meal program was
started by Akshaya Patra Foundation in June 2000 with the vision that "no child in India will be deprived of education because of hunger". It started with serving mid day meals to 1500 children in Bangalore in 2000 and has grown to feeding 1.4 million children in almost 11000 schools in 10 states. Akshaya Patra USA raised $3,6 million in 2014 and its fund raising and management cost was 11%. Akshaya Patra India's fund rais-
ing and overhead cost is only 4% of the money raised. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Akshaya Patra is focus on use of technology and modern management principles. It has won several awards for Operational Excellence from Lean Six Sigma and Kaizen Institute in India. Akshaya Patra also stands out for transparency in financial reporting. It has received Gold
Shield Award for "Excellence in Financial Reporting" from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for five years in a row. It is one of only three organizations, and only non- profit organization to be inducted by ICAI into the Hall of Fame for "Excellence in Financial Reporting". "Welcome Zindagi" is written and directed by Saumya Joshi from Ahmedabad, hailed as a trailblazer in Gujarati theatre.
May 15, 2015
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Shobana's Krishna a true visual-audio treat VIJAYALAKSHMI HARISH & VINOD MENON
ST LOUIS: The halls of the CVPA (Central Visual and Performing Arts) Theatre in St Louis resonated with music and dance on the evening of May 3 with Shobana's
Louis Hindu Malayalis) and Tamil Sangam of Missouri. Conceived and created by acclaimed actress and Padmashri recipient, Shobana, the dance
famed battle at Kurukshetra. Shobana donned the garb, presence of mind, strategies, and charm of Krishna. True to character, Krishna was mischievous
Murugan, and use of interesting props and sound mixing by Oscar awardee Resul Pookutty, transported the audience to Gokul, Vrindavan, Mathura and
Krishna with Pandavas & Kauravas
"Krishna", a musical dance drama in English, enthralling 500 plus viewers of all ages. It was organized locally by non profits Ohmkaram (organization of St.
drama with 16 performers took the audience on a journey through the life of one of Mahabharata's most beloved characters Krishna; from his birth, to the
and humorous at times. It was an inspiring musical drama, where the stage, sets, lights and costumes danced in tune with the performers, a true visual-audio treat. Spectacular lighting effects by
FIA adds spice to plans for grand India Day celebrations Cont’d from page 16
In his opening remarks, Iftekhar Shareef while welcoming the guests extensively spoke about the significant role FIA proactively plays in demonstrating the sense of patriotism towards the motherland year after year by hosting exciting series of memorable events that, he said, this year will surpass all expectations. Referring to Nepal Earthquake, Iftekhar Shareef acknowledged Nepali American Sanjay Yadav and assured him that FIA would raise funds to help support the victims of Nepal earthquake adding that rehabilitation of Nepal victims was not a short-term goal but a longterm mission. Hina Trivedi, former FIA President, in her short speech exhorted all those gathered to make extra efforts to help Nepal victims financially and otherwise. She said that Nepal tragedy is our tragedy as well and assured Nepali Americans that they can count on FIA support in their efforts to rebuild Nepal villages. Hina is co-chairing Flag hoisting committee and she strongly pitched for all Indians in
Chicagoland to actively participate in all FIA India Day programs Iftekhar Shareef reminded the community not to get confused by two individuals who are misleading the community by using the FIA- Chicago name and col-
Iftekhar Shareef reminded the community not to get confused by two individuals who are misleading the community by using the FIA- Chicago name and collecting funds lecting funds . FIA is a brand from last 30 years and these people are playing with community sentiments. FIA members and Trustees took strong exception to mischievous actions of the group by using FIA Chicago name. Keerthi Ravoori, former president, said FIA is the only Midwest commu-
nity umbrella organization that has the tremendous potential to draw scores of Indian Americans together. Dr Indrajit Patel announced the following chairmanships: Smita Shah to head as the Parade Chair, Raj/Neal Patel to head the Gala Banquet Chair, Ajai Agnihotri as Mela Chair and Ajeeth Singh as co-chair, Iftekhar Shareef as Finance Chair, Kanti Patel as Parade Management/Floats Chair, Keerthi Ravoori as Media/Public Relations/Souvenir Committee chair with Harish Kolasani and Kanti N. Patel serving as Co-Chairs; Babu Patel, Chair & Shabbir Patel, CoChair for Security arrangements. Kanti Patel conducted the kickoff ceremonies as the master of ceremonies. Dr Bharat Barai addressed the guests outlining the plans for hosting a painting exhibition at the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago which he added could potentially bring Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Chicago. Nimesh Jani, Schaumburg Township Trustee offered greetings on the occasion and pledged to rope in IL Governor Rauner at the Parade.
Kurukshetra sets of a different era. Prominent actors like Surya, Konkona Sen, Shabana Azmi, Andrea Jeremiah, Sukumari, Milind Soman, Nandita Das, Prabhu and Radha, lent their voices to the characters, bringing them to life. Mix of dance forms and use of folk music and popular film kept the audience entertained. The English lyrics set to Carnatic tunes in some instances were also a unique feature. "Krishna" took an unconventional route in the story of the Great Hero, relinquishing the traditional sequential narration from birth to death in favor of relying
on flashbacks and fast forwards. Beginning with Kamsa's invitation to Krishna to come to Mathura, the story flashed back a couple of years to the amusing antics of a little Krishna in Gokul, played by Shobana's d a u g h t e r Narayani. It ended with the mourning of Krishna's death, which then flashed back to the scene from the Kurukshetra in which Krishna imparts the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna. From his love for Radha, to his fight for Dharma; his marriage to Rukmini to his eventual death as a result of a curse of Gandhari, every aspect of Krishna's life was recreated by Shobana and her troupe of 16 artists. A slideshow in between also explored Krishna as a historical figure. The show ended on a high note with the scene of Krishna's Vishwaroopam. After the program, Shobana graciously thanked the organizers, sponsors and the audience and also posed for photographs and autographed DVDs of Maaya Raavan which were sold during the interval. Cont’d on page 20
AIPHA holds holiday banquet & business expo Cont’d from page 17
Awards were given to Vitthal Patel for lifetime contribution; Ilesh Shah Ambassador Award for service, dedication and inspiration; Jivan Vachhani Ambassador Award for service, dedication and inspiration. The following are the Executive Board members of AIPHA: Harish Bhatt (President), Rajesh Chotalia (Vice President), Jitesh Patel (Secretary), Haresh Khakhkar (Joint Secretary), Vitthal Patel (Treasurer), Jignesh Gandhi (Joint Treasurer). The Board of Directors
include Tushar Mehta, Snehal Bhavsar, Jyotin Parikh, Gajanan Trivedi, Manu Patel, Shital Manek, Kishore Chugh, Mahendra R.
Patel, Ambalal S. Patel and Ambalal H. Patel.
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Telugu Association of St.Louis celebrates Ugadi ASHWIN PATEL
Kids greeting each other and enjoying being part of the celebration
ST LOUIS: Telugu Association of St. Louis (TAS), Missouri celebrated Manmadha Naama Ugadi Vedukalu on April 26 in a spectacular way at Logan College, Chesterfield, MO. More than 1200 people attended the event. There was a wide range of classical programs performed by local talent and also singers and artists from Tollywood. Dressed in attires reflecting Telugu culture and tradition, local talent presented singing and dancing programs which drew huge
Dressed in attires reflecting Telugu culture and tradition, local talent presented singing and dancing programs which drew huge applause from the audience.
applause from the audience. Stage decoration, audio visuals and great theme to reflect Hindu mythology were the highlights of the event. Huge cut outs of Lord Ganesh, Hindu Temple and mango twigs and birds on the stage created Ugadi festive mood for the audience. There was a thirty-minute cultural program by local talent which was followed by Tollywood singers Hemachandra and Shravana Bhargavi. Very energetic dance performances by Bhavana and
Shobana's Krishna a true visual-audio treat
Telugu priests conducting Ugadi celebrations
Aadarsh from Tollywood entertained the audience. President Muralikrishna Puttagunta reminded everyone of the marvelous successes of the past TAS events and laid out TAS's future plans to get Telugu community involved in social service programs, especially to engage youth in the social activities. Vice-President Ravindranath Karnati and Secretary Raviraj
Kolakaleti played a key role in conducting the event successfully. Treasurer Subha Kalyan Vuyyuru managed member enrollments and reception area while Cultural Secretary Srilahari Dasyam coordinated the cultural events. The participants were awarded TAS trophies. Authentic South Indian dinner left the taste buds of everyone satisfied.
Playing with gopis & Radha. -Pics Anand Muthukrishnan Cont’d from page 19
The show is on a 19-city tour, with St. Louis being the ninth stop. "Krishna" has performed to rave reviews in all venues so far. The event was sponsored locally by US Wide Financial, Seema Enter-
prises, Vintech, Sangeetha, Abhinaya and Kumon, along with other local non profit organizations, businesses and volunteers. Earlier, Ohmkaram and Tamil Sangam pledged to join hands with the Hindu Temple of St. Louis, in fundraising efforts benefiting the
Greater St Louis Nepali Chautari and the recent Nepal tragedy at large. "Amidst this entertaining evening, on a more somber note, we wish to extend our sincerest condolences and prayers to our brothers and sisters in Nepal," said a spokesperson.
Young artists performing an eye catching dance
Community Across America
May 15, 2015
India Post 21
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SEF presents Shaan concert with Lil Champs India Post News Service
CUPERTINO, CA: Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) has organized a Live in Concert by the spectacular singing star Shaan with Lil Champs and Ambili Menon on Friday May 22 at Flint Center, Cupertino, CA. SEF is known for bringing power packed concerts and with these magnificent singers the Shaan Concert will be a sold-out show and definitely be the talk of the town. Don't miss out! Get your tickets today at www.giftofvision.org. Shantanu Mukherjee, famously known as Shaan has created his name in the music world with his versatile singing style. He is also known as an anchor on many shows such as ZeeTV's "Sa
MKCA Annual Picnic in July SURENDRA ULLAL
CHICAGO: The Mangalorean Konkan Christian Association has scheduled its Annual Picnic on July 25 at Tennis Court Shelter in Vernonr Hill. The association has invited members to participate in this joyful and fun-filled event free of cost! "Come along with your friends and family and enjoy this summer day with your Mangalorean friends," said Stany D'Souza, MKCA Picnic Chairperson. For more information visit www.mkcausa.org Participants in last year's picnic
Tribute to Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha planned HARISH RAO
CHICAGO: Members of the American Sikh Community of Chicago will pay tribute to, "Bhai Kahan Singh Nabha" on Sunday May 31from 1 pm to 4 pm at Palatine Public Library located in Palatine, a northwest suburb of Chicago. Bhai Sahib is known for the compilation of Mahan Kosh, Encyclopedia of Sikh Literature Mahan Kosh penned by Bhai Kahan and will be remembered for generations to come. It dreds of people to complete it. took him 13 years and team of hun- Mahan Kosh has been translated
into other languages. People involved in translating it into English told me that sometimes to translate one Punjabi word from Mahan Kosh takes days to find the right word. He wrote many other books. Not only Sikhs but members of Indian community at large would do well to recognize Bhai Sahib's contribution to the nation's literature and culture. His sacrifice in freedom movement of India also deserves to be recognized. Light snacks will be served at the function. Those who would like to participate in any way in this event , contact before May 24 Professor (Retd) Jagindar Singh Ramdev or Thakar Singh Basati at 847-736-6092.
Re Ga Ma Pa". He hails from a musically talented family and it is no surprise that he is a lyricist, music composer and has judged many reality-singing competitions. Some of Shaan's popular songs include Jabh Se Tere Naina (Saawariya), Daastan-e (Om Shanti Om), Shikhdum (Dhoom), Hey Shona (Ta Ra Rum Pum), Mein Hoon Don (Don), Chand Sifarish (Fanah) and many others. Ambili Menon is an upcoming singer who has already created a buzz in Bollywood's music indus-
try when she won "Sunsilk Gang of Wars" singing competition. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa's Lil Champs on Zee TV, Gagan Gaonkar and Arunita Kanjilal have left us speechless with their multitude of talents. Now for the first time you can experience their live performances on stage for yourself. Established in the Bay Area, SEF, USA is a non-profit organization that has been driven by a truly inspirational mission of "Vision 20/20 by the year 2020". In partnership with SEF, India, it has been working towards eradicating curable blindness throughout India. By far the most unique and remarkable characteristic of SEF is that it provides free eye care for those unable to afford it - the rural poor. Today, SEF is the largest free eye care provider in the world with nine community hospitals as well as two city hospitals performing over 150,000 free eye surgeries each year. The tireless efforts by the Sankara team since inception has enabled over 1.2 million eyes to receive the gift of vision, utterly free of cost. SEF will focus its fundraising activities for two new projects, Focus Madhya Pradesh and Focus Telangana. Become a Founding Donor and leave a legacy get your name on the Wall of Founders. For details visit website www.giftofvision.org.
Vaishnav Samaj Health Fair at Midwest Temple JAYANTI THAKKAR
CHICAGO: A free Health Fair has been arranged at Vaishnav Samaj of Midwest Temple in Addison, a northwest suburb of Chicago, on Sunday, June 7 between 8:15 am and 1 pm. The Health Fair is one of the temple's regular annual programs. Along with Vaishnav Samaj of Midwest Temple, Indian American Medical Association of Illinois is also co-sponsoring this event. The fair is open to all in need of medical checkup and health related problems. Pre-registration is not required. Registration will start at the temple at 8 am and close at 11 am. Everyone is requested to register before 11:00 am. The check up will include testing of blood pressure, blood testing, blood sugar, EKG, urine analysis, eye screening,
bone density tests, ENT exam, Chiropractic consultation, physical therapy, dental examination, hearing test and physical examination. Information about social services and benefits will also be provided. Also arranged is a diabetic education program. The participants should bring the list of medicines they are taking, so that the doctor can review it. Approximately 25 volunteer doctors and 75 health care professionals will provide their volunteer services for the event. Patients requiring blood testing are requested to observe fasting for 12 hours before the test. Please do not take food or drinks after 8pm from the previous night (Saturday night). Please encourage everyone to take the benefit of this free and useful event.
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Colors for your home as per Vastu Shastra
C
olors affect various domains of our life - world, food, clothing, the living place, transportation, education and recreation. Colors also can harmonize and balance our energy and thus improve our life and destiny. Out of the balance and harmonizing of positive and negative forces arises energy; the most essential feature of life and human energy is greatly affected by color. Colors play a vital role in influencing Vastu Shastra to a greater extent. The article is about how colors influence Vastu, which bring bal-
tools to study Vastu subject. Our Planets, 'Kundalini Chakras' shows these seven colors. These seven rays are primeval formative forces of Nature. Their presence and their combination indicate tangible information. A home that is built and decorated as per Vastu brings prosperity, happiness and wealth. On what basis are colors decided? Colors are nothing but lights of different frequencies and wavelengths. Every color is a kind of radiation and so, colors used for walls do have a profound influence on people living in the space. Im-
ZODIAC SIGN Aries Taurus Gemini Cancer Leo Virgo Libra Scorpio Sagittarius Capricorn Aquarius Pisces
COLORS SUGGESTED Coral Red Milky White Green Rose Red, Pearl Ruby Red, Soft White Emerald Green Cement Color, Milky White Pink, Coral Red Golden Yellow Soft Red Pink, Blue Yellow, Pure White
DIRECTION East (Sun) West (Saturn) North (Mercury) South (Mars) North-East (Jupiter) South-West ('Rahu') South-East (Venus) North-West (Moon)
COLOR SUGGESTED Shining White Blue All Greens Pink, Coral Red Golden Red All Greens Silver White White
ance to our minds and bodies and stimulate our energy that is a colorful change, which gives zest. In Nature, we see the following colors, namely Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red ('VIBGYOR'), which are important
portant aspects such as decisionmaking, cheerfulness, calmness and vibrancy can be achieved by the right use of colors. Vastu, which is based on principles of energies and radiations, gives precise guidelines about use of col-
ors depending on the directional aspect and usage pattern of the room. Colors as per Directions Colors can also be used based on directions. For instance, North-
Rewa Kumar
West rooms can be white, North rooms can be in light hues of Green, West rooms can be grays, South-East rooms can be varied colors, North-East rooms can be in shades and tones of Yellow like cream etc. and South rooms can be in shades and hues of Red. Colors can be used in a variety of ways. We can paint our walls with a range of colors. We can wear clothes with colors of our preference; we can drink 'solarized' water in colored glasses. We can use curtains, carpets and furniture with different colors of our liking. Study rooms can be Green, kitchen and dining rooms can be Orange, meditation and prayer rooms can be white, living and conference rooms can be cream and hues of Yellow, and bedrooms can be Blue. Parents may perhaps, find rooms colored Blue for their children who tend to be aggressive. According to Vastu Shastra, white is a good color to be used in the East and North-West. Towards the West, Blue is beneficial. Green is recommended for North, pink and coral Red for South, different shades of Green for North-East, different shades of brown for South-West and silver white is good for SouthEast. These colors bode well with the energy and radiations which flow in from the respective directions and hence, play a crucial role in enhancing harmony and positivity at home. Similarly, if a room has poor daylight, it should be painted in light color and if a room gets good amount of natural light through-
out the day, it can be painted in picious rendering, is good for some deep color. If a room has only Pooja rooms. This color depicts a North window, which admits cold wisdom. However, ensure that light, we should not use Blue on Yellow is avoided on walls, which the walls. If a room gets much di- receive direct sunlight. Orange, in rect sunlight, it is not advisable to different shades, is used majorly paint the walls Yellow or peach. It as per Vastu planning because this is nearly better to have ceilings color brings health, happiness and white and the ceiling temperature is a color of optimism. It can be should be less than the human used anywhere. Black is not a body temperature. Some scholars good color according to Vastu suggest different color to the di- principles because it brings negarection the building faces. They tivity and so, is not used for inteare really the colors of the planets riors. governing these directions. According to some Vastu exColors as per Rooms perts, the color schemes should Pink is said to bring calmness conform to the 'Raashi' (Consteland a dash of romance, which is lation/Zodiac Sign) of the owner great for a couple's bedroom. The to bring good luck and happiness. color is pleasing to the eye. The One must always bear in mind color is recommended for use in that no individual is completely master bedrooms as per Vastu White ('good') or Black ('bad'), but Shastra as well as other similar is an amalgam of the two, i.e. Grey. sciences such as Feng Shui. A sensible good blending can creChildren's bedrooms can be ate a forceful creation. A particupainted in Yellows and Greens. lar color can activate or can conGreen is said to enhance concentration and is good for study rooms as According to some Vastu exwell. Different shades of perts, the color schemes Yellow bring cheer and match the moods of chil- should conform to the 'Raashi' dren. The best way to (Constellation/Zodiac Sign) of decorate children's room is to combine Yel- the owner to bring good luck low and Green. and happiness. Blue is a soothing color and is perfect for drawing and living rooms where trol human glands by different people like to entertain or relax. bodily functions. Such as for good This color also symbolizes fresh appetizer or to give excitement for beginnings and is considered to the low blood pressure patient, a be the color of spring as per Vastu. light limited soothing color atmoGreen is another color, which is sphere is recommended. suitable for these rooms. Adding Similarly, Blue color is to cut a dash of pink or Red balances the down the overeating habits. For a ambiance and stimulates conver- high blood pressure patient, a light sation as well. Avoid using too limited soothing color atmosphere much Red because it encourages is recommended. For quicker healaggression. Tone down the vi- ing, Green color is generally used brancy of this color by using it in hospitals. For a good healthy, only for highlights while keeping tasty food, Golden Yellow or tinted
the major color scheme in Blue and Green. Vastu Shastra for home suggests use of Blue for meditation rooms. Yellow, because of its aus-
Brown color is recommended. This collectible article on Vastu Shastra is provided by Rewa Kumar of Divine Vastu Consultations & Research Center.
May 15, 2015
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Tech News Export of buffalo meat to Russia commences MOSCOW: The export of buffalo meat from India to Russia has commenced while export of other milk products is expected to begin soon, the government has said. The issue was discussed during the bilateral meeting between President Pranab Mukherjee and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar said. "Bovine meat export to Russia has commenced while export of milk products from India will begin soon," he said at a press conference here. The decision to export buffalo meat to Russia bears significance as cow slaughter is banned in Maharashtra but there is no restriction on export of buffalo meat. Indian Ambassador to Russia P S Raghavan said that Russia essentially approved certain Indian companies to export buffalo meat to Russia and this was part of the broader agreement for export of agri products from India. Mukherjee, who is in Russia on a five-day visit, also discussed entire areas of bilateral relations, including defense cooperation, civil nuclear cooperation, trade and investment. The Foreign Secretary said that Russian defense companies have shown interests in investing in India under the 'Make in India' program. He said during the bilateral meeting, the two leaders discussed about the Russian built Kudankulam nuclear project, where "progress is satisfactory" -PTI
German cos to help renewable energy sector CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Germany are all set to join hands for creating 'Renewable Energy Equipment Hub' in the state. Punjab has also sought help from Germany to harness the huge potential available in rooftop solar and biomass power, an official spokesman said here. Indo German Energy Program has proposed to facilitate linkage between Punjab and German Renewable energy sector. A delegation of Indo German Energy Program, led by its Director Winfried Damm, called on Bikram Singh Majithia, Punjab's New and Renewable Energy Minister and apprised him about the efforts being put in for facilitating technology transfer as well as investment by German companies in the renewable Energy (RE) sector to India, the spokesman said. -PTI
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Agrarian crisis: Jaitley offers support MUMBAI: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has hinted at more sops for the troubled farmers, saying the unseasonal rains in March have resulted in an "agrarian crisis". Jaitley asserted that the government is committed to allocate more resources to the farm sector, which he identified as the biggest challenge for high growth. "Agriculture is the biggest challenge and the unseasonal rains have resulted in an agrarian crisis," Jaitley said here at an event to launch three new social security schemes. "Once the resources with the government grow, the biggest component of the resources will be allocated for agriculture and irrigation to meet the challenge," he said without revealing how much will be quantum of the support. -PTI
IoT, cloud tech to bring next phase of growth for Indian BPO NEW DELHI: Business process management firm WNS sees more business opportunities in evolving technologies like Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud computing, saying these would bring next phase of growth for Indian BPO sector. "If you look at where business is today, I think there is a very dramatic shift taking place, which is very exciting for us. It is going to create the next phase of growth of BPO or BPM as we like to call it," WNS CEO Keshav Murugesh told PTI in an interview. IoT and disruptive technologies such as mobility, cloud, 3D printing and autonomous cars are bringing in the next phase of growth for India's BPO sector, which is worth around USD 25 billion, he said. Clients need to be serviced in their traditional, transitional as well as in their innovative thinking businesses and firms such as WNS with their models can help them achieve this transition, he added. "Look at the kind of change that is taking place. If you look at what is happening in banking. Brick and
mortar models are giving way to mobile wallets, digital models. Branch networks have shrunk by half," he said.
are coming down and digital models are being introduced. The number of transactions and the number of customers with the
Murugesh, who heads the NYSE-listed firm said, "If you look at Europe many large banks...many of their branch networks have actually shrunk by half." Explaining reasons behind the shift, he said that branch networks
banks have doubled. "This is a huge opportunity for companies like us because one, the end customer needs to be serviced and second we heard about this IoT, 3D printing," he said. "Two years back we all laughed at this, but now some of the big-
gest airline companies are saying that parts of some of their aircrafts are being printed. That has become a reality," he added. What WNS is bullish on is that these technologies will expand end-customers for the clients and they will have to be serviced by somebody, he said. "They will be serviced by superior providers who understand business domains very well, who understand technology interfaces very well and who have a culture of innovation. And as you see all of this has resulted in more business as opposed to less," Murugesh noted. According to research firm IDC, the explosive growth in cloud and number of Internet-connected devices is expected to propel the IoT market globally to USD 3.04 trillion by 2020. Eyeing the growth in machineto-machine interactions and the need for a stronger back end support system for firms across the world, India's IT-ITeS industry body Nasscom has formed a council to help the country's BPM industry deliver USD 50 billion in revenues by 2020. -PTI
Sanjay Gupta to be dean of Michigan varsity WASHINGTON: An Indianorigin expert in accountancy has been recommended to become the new dean of the business school of a leading US university after a national search. Sanjay Gupta is set to become the dean of the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University from June 17, an official release said. Gupta would become the 11th dean in the history of the college, which was founded in 1944 as the School of Business and Public Service. Gupta currently serves as acting dean of the business college and is also the Russell E Palmer Endowed Professor in Accounting.
"The positive direction, growth and momentum the col-
Sanjay Gupta
lege has experienced under Sanjay's leadership as acting dean signal a bright future for the college in the coming years," said MSU Provost June Pierce Youatt. The college now has 120 fulltime faculty members in five departments - Accounting and Information Systems; Finance; Management; Marketing; and Supply Chain Management - and the School of Hospitality Business.
Gupta received a doctorate degree in philosophy from MSU in 1990. For the next 17 years he held several faculty positions at Arizona State University including the first Henry & Horne Professorship in Accountancy. An expert on corporate and individual tax policy, Gupta has consulted for Fortune 500 companies, the US government, major public accounting firms and international consulting firms. He has a master's degree in accounting from Bowling Green State University, a bachelor's degree of laws from Calcutta University and a bachelor's in commerce from the University of Mumbai. -PTI
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ONGC to explore Mahanadi basin for oil BHUBANESWAR: As part of its efforts to ensure energy security, the Centre has decided to undertake fresh appraisal over 40,000 line km including East Indian state Odisha's Mahanadi basin to find out oil and natural gas reserves. "As the NDA government has decided to take the country towards energy security, we need to go for fresh exploration of the reserves. Therefore, ONGC will undertake new appraisal over 40,000 line km," Union Minister of State (Independent charge) for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters here in the sideline of the inauguration of the ONGC office here. Stating that though there are 26 sedimentary basins in the country, Pradhan pointed out that assessment has been done in only 15 sediments. "Since we want to increase production of oil and gas in the coun-
try, there is a need to explore and assess 11 remaining sediments," Pradhan said adding that some regions from the 15 sedimentary basis also require further exploration and assessments.
While justifying necessity of massive explorations in the country, Pradhan said India imports 77 per cent of its hydrocarbon needs from foreign countries. The ONGC would carry out 2D
Mahanadi basin
China's military budget over 3 times that of India WASHINGTON: China has significantly increased its defense budget which is now more than three times that of India, the Pentagon has said. China's official defense budget last year was USD 136.3 billion while that of India was USD 38.2 billion, the Pentagon said in its annual report to the Congress based on its assessment of military and security developments
Having established a modern defense industry, China is exporting arms to Pakistan, which is its top importer. "Pakistan remains China's primary customer for conventional weapons," the Pentagon said. Russia's national defense budget the same year was USD 76.3 million and that of Japan was USD 47.6 billion, whereas South Korea's annual defense budget last year
involving the Communist giant. China has significantly increased its defense budget over the past several decades and now has reached a position to pose threat to the American national security interest in the region, the report said.
was USD 33.4 billion and Taiwan's was USD 10.3 billion, it said. From 2009 to 2013, China signed about USD 14 billion in arms export agreements for conventional weapons systems worldwide, ranging from general purpose materiel to major weapons systems.
China engages in both arms sales and defense industrial cooperation with Islamabad, including F-22P frigates with helicopters, K8 jet trainers, F-7 fighter aircraft, early warning and control aircraft, main battle tank production, airto-air missiles, and anti-ship cruise missiles, it said. "In June 2014, Pakistan started co-producing the first two of fifty Block 2 JF-17s, which is an upgraded version of the Block I JF17," it said. In 2014 and the coming years, China's arms exports will likely to increase modestly as China's domestic defense industry improves. Chinese defense firms are marketing and selling arms throughout the world with the bulk of their sales to the Asia-Pacific and SubSaharan African regions. China is the largest supplier of arms to the Sub-Saharan Africa region, which was China's second highest sales region between 2009-2013 with about USD 4 billion in sales, it said. Sub-Saharan African countries view China as a provider of lowcost weapons with generally fewer end-use monitoring conditions relative to other arms suppliers. China tends to be relatively flexible with regard to payment arrangements. China's top customers in this region are South Sudan, Sudan and Ethiopia, it added. -PTI
and 3D survey across the Exploration Licensing Policy) reMahanadi basin, the minister said gime in 1999. ONGC, an official release said, adding that the state government has already been given required made the first hydrocarbon dispermission for beginning explora- covery in the Mahanadi Basin in the well MDW - 2A (water depth: tion in the Mahanadi basin. Claiming that Odisha would 987 m) in its NELP-II block, MNsoon emerge as the Eastern India's OSN-2000/2 in the year 2006 and, Hydro-Carbon hub, the minister thereafter, in the well MDW-10 in said that new technologies need the same block in 2010. ONGC to be implemented in order to make made another discovery 2007 in the the gas and oil commercially vi- NELP-I block, MN-DWN-98/3. So far in totality, ONGC has able. Though the ONGC had drilled 26 wells in the deep-water launched exploration activities in and three wells in the shallow waMahanadi basin area decades ter in the Mahanadi offshore area. "ONGC is in the process of back, it abandoned the effort after finding that the discoveries of oil identifying the technology-path and gas may not be commercially viable. "Now, the ONGC will So far in totality, ONGC has further explore the Mahanadi basin," drilled 26 wells in the deepPradhan said. "However, as per water and three wells in the preliminary estimates, shallow water in the Odisha has significant hydrocarbon resources, Mahanadi offshore area. especially gas reserves in the off shore area. ONGC is soon going to do onshore which will enable exploiting the es2D seismic survey which will es- tablished reserve economically," tablish the potential of resources said A K Dwivedi, director explofor the nation's energy security," ration. About the new office set-up at said ONGC, CMD D K Sarraf. ONGC, has been engaged in Bhubaneswar, Dwivedi said it has exploration in Mahanadi offshore been established with the aim of area - both shallow and deep wa- further boosting the exploratory ter area in the coast of the state activities in the Mahanadi offshore since the inception of NELP (New area. -PTI
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China cuts interest rates to revive economy BEIJING: In the latest effort to revive its sluggish economy, China has cut interest rates by 25 basis points, the third intervention by its central bank in six months amid a slowdown in the world's second largest economy. The People's Bank of China (PBoC) announced it will cut the benchmark deposit and loan interest rates by 25 basis points (bps) starting May 11. After the cut, the one-year deposit rate will stand at 2.25 per cent, and one-year lending rate at 5.1 per cent, according to the bank. This is the third round of rate cuts by the PBoC since November, and the latest effort by policy makers to tackle the increasing "downward pressure" on the economy. The rate cut was widely expected following subdued consumer inflation data and a fall in exports, analysts say. The move was in line with market expectation of pro-growth monetary measures after a string of indicators, including manufacturing activity and foreign trade, suggested the economy confronted a rocky ride on its reform drive. The cuts will lower funding costs to facilitate healthy development of the real economy and ensure a modest monetary envi-
ronment amid the ongoing strategy of national economic restructuring, the bank said. While economic reform accelerates, China still faces a relatively high "downward pressure" as external demand continues to fluctuate, the PBoC said. The economy expanded 7 per cent in the first quarter this year, the lowest quarterly reading since
and deflationary risks, the cut responds to economic circumstance and will serve as a boon to lowering financing costs, said Qu Hongbin, chief economist for China at HSBC, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The central bank said it would continue to implement prudent monetary policy and make moderate adjustments based on
Life in the slow lane - China cuts interest rates to boost growth
the 2008 financial crisis. The central bank had slashed the reserve requirement ratio in February and again in April to alleviate the burden on enterprises and bolster the economy. China's low inflationary level and high real interest rates provide ample room to adopt such tools, the PBoC said. Given the downward pressure
changes in liquidity, inflation and economic situation, striking a policy balance between economic restructuring and growth. It also decided to adjust the upper limit of the floating band of deposit rates to 1.5 times the benchmark from the previous 1.3 times, another step toward liberalizing the interest rates mechanism. -PTI
Manmohan Singh speaks for RBI's autonomy NEW DELHI: The RBI and the Finance Ministry need to work in harmony, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said here, even as he stressed on the need to keep the central bank's autonomy intact. The comments from Singh, who has served as RBI Governor as also as Finance Minister in the past, assume significance as they come against the backdrop of reports about differences between RBI and Finance Ministry on multiple issues, including on interest rates and on the proposed shifting of some powers away from the central bank. "I would like the two institutions to work in harmony," Singh said. He had served as RBI Governor from September 16, 1982 to January 14, 1985, and then as Finance Minister from 1991 to 1996, before becoming Prime Minister for two consecutive terms during the 2004-2014 UPA rule. "I've served in RBI. So, I know the importance of RBI. Its autonomy should be kept intact,"
Singh told reporters on the side- of government bonds from RBI to lines of an award function here. market regulator Securities and "I've been Finance Minister Exchange Board of India (SEBI). also. Since I have served as both The proposal generated a lot of RBI Governor and as Finance controversy, with the RBI raising Minister, I would like to see the two institutions work in harmony," he added. "RBI is a great institution ... Finance Minister (Arun Jaitley) has already said that there is no disconnect between the two," Singh said. There have been reports about differFormer prime minister Manmohan Singh also says the GST bill, which was approved by Lok Sabha, ences between RBI should be sent to a select committee as a number and Finance Minisof changes have been brought in the new bill. try over the structure of a new agency that was to manage public debt, among concerns and questioning the timother issues, including setting of ing of the move. policy rates. However, the government has In his first full-year Budget in now deferred the PDMA plan and February, Jaitley had proposed to dropped the proposal from the Fiset up Public Debt Management nance Bill, 2015, passed by ParliaAgency and shift the regulation ment.-PTI
EMC to invest heavily in India: COO LAS VEGAS: To tap huge growth opportunities available in India, US-based technology giant EMC is looking to invest heavily in the country, which is also its fastest growing market. "Because of the huge opportunities in India, we will be investing heavily there. We have spent a lot of time and resources there to tap its huge potential," EMC's Chief Operating Officer and Vice President, Speciality Sales, Asia Pacific and Japan, Dmitri Chen told PTI here. He said India is a strong thinkpad for the company where it has created so many centers of excellence. "India is a very unique opportunity in my opinion. India from our worldwide standpoint is the fastest growing market. It will accelerate and the opportunity in IT is accelerating," Chen added. Lauding Narendra Modi-led government's announcements on Digital India and smart cities, Chen said these offer huge investment opportunities for the company. "The things that India does today will truly affect where India will be on the world map 50 years from now. Good news for it is a lot of infrastructure can be modernized faster and it can be done in a very efficient way," he added. Chen said the company's latest products like hybrid cloud can be customized as per the government's needs as EMC can become a catalyst in India's growth story. The government sector contributes about 20-25 per cent of the storage solution provider's revenue in India. "A lot of infrastructure is still evolving in India. There is intense focus on software for India," he said adding,
EMC is eyeing huge opportunity in building sound IT foundation for next generation. He added that even B2B space is massive in India and from software development point of view too and India offers great opportunities. "The world of big data today is about USD 21 billion and is growing at a compound rate of 26 per cent YoY which makes it USD 43 billion in three years. Fifty one per cent of that is infrastructure and the opportunity is massive," he added.
Lauding Narendra Modi-led government's announcements on Digital India and smart cities, Chen said these offer huge investment opportunities for the company. Chen said infrastructure is critical to India and the government has an agenda to make investments in this space. The US-based firm registered revenues of USD 24.4 billion in 2014. It employs about 60,000 people worldwide. EMC started operations in India in October 2000 and has since scaled up its presence. For FY 2012-13 EMC India revenue stood at Rs 1,847 crore as per DQ Top 20 and is ranked 49th in the top 100 IT companies in India. The company has so far invested USD 2 billion in India in the past five years mainly on expansion and marketing. -PTI
AI may tie up with SBI, Citibank to raise funds NEW DELHI: National carrier Air India is likely to tie up with Citibank and public sector lender State Bank of India to raise USD 300 million from overseas market via External Commercial Borrowing (ECB) route, sources said. Air India is mopping up these funds from the foreign market to meet its working capital requirements. ECB is a fund raising instrument which allows firms to access overseas money. "Air India has received proposals from several interested
banks and financial institutions. We are evaluating them but at this stage offer from Citibank-SBI looks quite attractive and we may tie-up with them," sources said here. The sources said that Citibank and SBI had jointly participated in Air India's invitation for offer to raise up to USD 300 million through the ECB window last month. The last date for submission for offer, which was initially April 27, has been extended to May 4. -PTI
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Education tech start-ups gaining investor attention MUMBAI: Education technology startups are seeing a spate of investor activities over the past few months with top venture capital firms validating their growth potential. Since April, at least five start-ups in the education technology space have raised close to USD 40 million in initial funding. Recently, Fidelity, SAIF and Helion pumped USD 10 million into the online test preparation platform Toppr, while Accel and Tiger Global invested USD 5 million in online tutoring platform Vedantu. In April, three other firms in the education technology space, including Simplilearn, Purple Squirrel and Nayi Disha raised significant amounts from investors. Mayfield along with Kalaari Capital and Helion Venture Partners invested USD 15 million in online certification courses platform Simplilearn, while Matrix pumped in an undisclosed sum into Purple Squirrel that organizes industrial visits for college students. Nayi Disha, which offers engaging learning modules for preschoolers, raised USD 2 million in seed funding. In the education technology arena, online test preparation is among the fastest growing segment, and has been getting substantial venture capital interest. "The online test preparation market for students up to Class XII is valued at USD 8 billion and is growing as much as 20 percent a year, Zishaan Hayath, chief executive, and co-founder of Toppr said.
'Indian publishing generates more jobs than films' NEW DELHI: With 90,000 titles every year, the publishing industry in India generates more business and jobs than Bollywood, former Union Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari has said. Speaking at the launch of senior journalist Dilip Bobb's "The Best of TEL" here, the Congress leader said the Indian publishing industry was poised to become the world's largest. Availability of highly skilled technical manpower and a rapidly growing book market have greatly contributed to the upturn in the publishing industry. "The Best of TEL" is a collection of essays by eminent writers from diverse fields first published in the magazine "The Equator Line". Bobb has edited the volume published by Palimpsest. "He has carefully gone through every essay, discovered its subtext and put it in perspective," Palimpsest CEO Bhaskar Roy said. Among the contributors to the volume are eminent psychiatrist Sanjay Chugh, sociologist Shiv Visvanathan, Swiss writer Robert Hutchison, Australian film critic John W.Hood, former Doordarshan news anchor Neethi Ravindran, British scholar Danielle Hall and veteran columnist Sunanda K. Datta-Ray. -PTI
"K12 education, which is into primary and secondary education system, is a large
space but served by individual teachers," Rahul Chowdhri of Helion Ventures, that has backed Toppr, said. "That is a hard model to scale and one needs a player who can democratize education in this country," he added. In March, Toppr expanded its network by acquiring competitor Easyprep. The Mumbaibased Embibe, which
had raised USD4 million last year from Kalaari Capital and Lightbox Ventures, too recently expanded its reach by acquiring competitor 100Marks. "Embibe offers customized modules to students that aim at addressing specific weaknesses based on analytics. We aim to capture through technology what coaching classes can miss out on," said Embibe founder and chief executive Aditi Avasthi. Further, online test preparation platforms cost a third of the offline coaching class fee, making it a far affordable alternative, she said. -PTI
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May 15, 2015 www.indiapost.com
TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS
1 Jeena Jeena : Badlapur 2 Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan : Roy 3 Jee Karda: Badlapur 4 Khamoshiyan : Khamoshiyan 5 Sooraj Dooba Hai : Roy www.indiapost.com
30 India Post
May 15, 2015
6 Tu Hai Ki Nahi : Roy 7 Judai : Badlapur
Audiences might have seen slapping sequences very often in Bollywood but Vidya Balan and Rajkummar Rao's slap was bit different, considering the fact that Rajkummar Rao actually hit Vidya thrice while shooting the sequence in 'Hamari Adhuri Kahani'. The scene was about domestic violence and Rajkummar needs to slap Vidya, w h o played his wife in the film.
8 Tu Har Lamha : Khamoshiyan 9 Chhil Gaye Naina : NH10 10 Dard Karaara : Dum Laga Ke Haisha
R
The actor ended up slapping Vidya thrice. The scene reportedly required three retakes and hence he slapped the National Award winning actress thrice! Apparently, Director Mohit Suri too did not expect that Rao would do this. "I actually jumped out of my seat, but then I realized that Vidya was holding the scene well. That's when it dawned on me that both the actors had planned this in advance to make the scene look authentic," Mohit Suri said in a statement.
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anbir Kapoor may come from a family of acting greats but the Bollywood star says he seldom discusses his work with his father, veteran actor Rishi Kapoor. Ranbir and Rishi have different sensibilities when it comes to movies but the 32-year-old actor says he looks up a lot to his father. "My father says it as it is. He is not a hypocrite. When he saw 'Barfi!', he told me acting is good but don't do arty films. His cinema is very different and he sometimes expects me to follow it," said the actor during an interview. For Ranbir, his father's honest views matter a lot and he is happy that Rishi liked his work in upcoming film "Bombay Velvet". "I am lucky to have that in my life. It gives me a reality check. His are the opinions that I look up to. It may take 1 5 - 2 0 years but I will keep trying to make him happy. He is happy with my work in 'Bombay Velvet', it is an incentive to w o r k harder," he added.
I am lucky to have that in my life. It gives me a reality check. His are the opinions that I look up to
Bollywood
May 15, 2015
India Post 31
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mitabh Bachchan and Moushumi Chatterjee unite on screen after 36 years in Shoojit Sircar's 'Piku', a family comedy entertainer. The veteran actors were romantically paired in the past in 'Benaam' (1974) and 'Manzil' (1979), which is best remembered for the song 'Rim Jhim Gire Saawan'. However, in 'Piku', the actress plays Big B's sister-in-law. The duo engages in a light-hearted banter. Talking about his association with Moushumi, Amitabh had recently remarked that she has not changed a bit. 'She's still a live wire; when she comes on the set, everyone comes to know', he'd said. Moushumi, who returns to Hindi films after almost a decade, found herself more free and relaxed working with Big B. "Perhaps, it has got to do with age and also because we are at different stages of our lives. But otherwise, I didn't find Amit any different. He is the same professional, polite and affectionate, with his sense of humor intact." She further adds, "As soon as Amit saw me, he exclaimed, 'Oh, she's my leading lady, our song still plays'; it was such a sweet gesture."
Moushumi, who returns to Hindi films after almost a decade, found herself more free and relaxed working with Big B
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arun Dhawan and Kriti Sanon will be paired in the adaptation of Chetan Bhagat's 'Half Girlfriend' to be directed by Mohit Suri. Alia Bhatt has been roped in as the second female lead. The story revolves around a small town boy out to woo a city girl. A source informs, "Ekta has already bought the rights of Chetan's book and made up her mind about casting Varun in the film." About selecting Kriti Sanon, a source says, "Ekta feels that Kriti is one of the most promising newcomers around and fits the character well. And while there is buzz that Alia Bhatt was approached for the role, all speculation went out of the window when she broke up with Varun. She has decided to cast Kriti Sanon instead." 'Half Girlfriend' will go on floor next year. Varun and Kriti will also be seen in Rohit Shetty's upcoming movie 'Dilwale', starring Shahrukh Khan and Kajol.
Ekta feels that Kriti is one of the most promising newcomers around and fits the character well
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akistani singing sensation Atif Aslam will soon make Bollywood debut. "I am getting offers from the past couple of years and probably you will be finding me in something by the end of this year or beginning of next year," Atif told PTI when asked about his Bollywood plan. Aslam debuted in Pakistani film with 'Bol' in 2011 and since then he has been flooded with many Bollywood offers. Although Atif Aslam's concert in Pune got cancelled due to Shiv Sena protest recently, the Pakistani star is not heartbroken and he is mesmerized with hospitality, culture and the love of the Indian people. "It is very overwhelming to find that you are loved by people belonging to different provinces and cultures. They give me the energy. I learn from my fans on how to behave and how to enjoy music. I have been doing this for 11 years now," Aslam said.
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Realty Tidbits
New hotel, highrises proposed for Greenville GREENVILLE, S.C.: Proposed new developments in Greenville could add a seven-story hotel and several multi-purpose high-rise buildings to the downtown area. The Greenville News reports Greenville-based JHM Hotels plans to build an AC Hotels by Marriot on Main Street. The AC Greenville Hotel would be part of a larger, previously announced development at The Greenville News property, which is under contract to be sold. The Camperdown development would include three other highrise buildings, including two office buildings and an apartment complex organized around a center plaza. Condominiums, a dine-in movie theater, fitness center and restaurants and retails spaces are also part of the planned new developments. The city's Design Review Board would have to sign off on both developments. -AP
„ Kauai residents get $500K in dust lawsuit HONOLULU: A federal court jury has awarded more than $500,000 to 15 Kauai residents who say they can't enjoy their homes because of red dust from test fields operated by DuPont Pioneer. The seven-member jury awarded $191,315 for property damage and $315,775 for loss of use and enjoyment of property, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported. The Waimea residents filed lawsuits in 2011 and 2012 against the seed company formerly called Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. They said red dust from the company's Waimea Research Center field caused extensive damage to their properties. Company officials are disappointed in the verdict and plan to evaluate their options in coming days, DuPont Pioneer spokeswoman Laurie Yoshida said. The residents' attorney, Patrick Kyle Smith, said he was elated for his clients. ``We hope it makes things better in Waimea,'' said Smith outside the courtroom. The verdict said DuPont Pioneer failed to follow generally accepted agricultural and management practices from Dec. 13, 2009, to Dec. 31, 2011. The jurors found the ``seriousness of the harm to each plaintiff outweighs the public benefit of Pioneer's farming operation.''-AP
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May 15, 2015
Campaign to help consumers pick safe blinds, shades WASHINGTON: Trying to figure out which window blinds or shades are safe to buy for homes with young children? The industry has launched a campaign that encourages companies to send their products to a third-party testing facility to determine whether they should be used in homes with little ones. If so, they would get a ``Certified Best For Kids'' label - a move that was welcomed by Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Elliot Kaye.-AP
Buying a home? Look past the staging
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uying a home? Then you've likely come across a staged home. Home sellers rearrange furniture to make rooms look bigger and bake cookies to fill the air with a homey aroma. But you, smart homebuyer, should look beyond the stagecraft. "While not all staging is trickery, because the basic premise of staging is to make the home look presentable, buyers need to look past it and get serious," says Karlton Utter, director of learning technologies and solutions for Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. He and other real estate experts describe how a buyer can toss the seller's script and perceive the real house under the staging. Check the floor plan Utter says the buyer should consider whether the home's layout appeals. "Buyers should be careful to look at what they cannot change in a home or what would be very expensive to change," says Brandon Green, a broker and president of the Brandon Green Cos., an affiliate of Keller Williams Realty in Washington, D.C. "For example, a great kitchen is always appealing, but if it is located in the center of the home and the buyers prefer a front kitchen, that would be almost impossible to change. Another concern would be if the buyers have young children and want them nearby, but the third bedroom is in the basement." Jonna Morton, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Rockwall, east of Dallas, says some buyers fixate on the
MICHELE LERNER
idea that they need a big home with large rooms without considering how they will fill them. "You can't furnish a big house as easily as a small house," Morton says. "Buyers also need to think about the cost of utilities and maintenance on a larger home,
sessions to see if they will fit in the home. Evaluate the condition Green says buyers should look beyond new paint. "If the air filter is a disaster, that could be an indicator that the owners have deferred maintenance on
especially one with extensive land." Staging techniques that sway buyers Green says buyers need to be aware of the gap between how you sell a home and how you live in a home. "Stagers and builders often remove interior doors to make the home seem airy and open," Green says. "When you put them back on, the rooms can seem smaller and closed off." Green says stagers often use undersized furniture to make rooms seem bigger while sellers store belongings offsite. Buyers need to know the size of their furniture and the volume of their pos-
the property," Green says. "Buyers should check under the sinks to look for water marks from old leaks and make a list of things to have a home inspector check out more thoroughly."
built home will need more work," Morton says. Check the lighting "Come back to the property at different times of day and evening to see how it looks," Green says. "You may not notice that a house doesn't have any overhead lighting until you see it at night." Utter says b u y e r s should open and close every window to be sure they work, and check on the view and the size of the window. Home stagers sometimes place larger curtains over a small basement window to make buyers assume that the window is bigger. Try the sniff test Green says a musty smell in the home could mean there are issues with moisture, but even good
Utter says buyers should open and close every window to be sure they work, and check on the view and the size of the window. Home stagers sometimes place larger curtains over a small basement window to make buyers assume that the window is bigger. Utter says buyers should not be shy about moving boxes or checking under an area rug for floor damage or water stains. Look for quality Green says buyers should look for solid doors and pay attention to the corners of ceramic tile flooring to see that they have been installed carefully. "This is especially important with a recently renovated home, because if the place has been fixed up on the cheap there could be problems that crop up later," Green says. Morton says buyers should look at the quality of the kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and wood trim. "A home that has been solidly built may be a better buy even if it is older, because a cheaply
scents can indicate a problem. "The overuse of air fresheners can mean that the owners are covering up a bad smell from a damp basement or a dirty fireplace," Green says. Arrive prepared Green suggests that buyers take a notebook, tape measure, flashlight and camera on their house-hunting trips. "Think about where you will keep your suitcases if you travel a lot, where you will store your bike or your kid's sports equipment," Green says. Green reminds buyers that they don't have to do any of this unless they really like a house and are seriously considering making an offer.
May 15, 2015
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Real Estate Post
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Naidu holds meeting on approval procedures NEW DELHI: To fast track the approval process for real estate projects, Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Minister M Venkaiah Naidu has urged all ministries concerned to make concerted efforts to facilitate ease of doing business in India. Naidu was presiding over a consultative meeting held by HUPA Ministry on fast tracking of approval procedures for real estate projects and in particular affordable housing projects with officials of Ministries of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Culture, Civil Aviation, Defense, Consumer Affairs and Urban Development. At the meeting, the ministries updated about the actions taken by them in the last three months, according to a senior HUPA Ministry official. The official said that the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change informed that environmental guidelines have been formulated, and are under approval. "Once approved, they will need to be incorporated in the municipal byelaws across the states," he
said. It was also informed that local/regional offices of statutory bodies such as central/state pollution control boards might be in a position to accord approvals at local level, the official added. The Ministry of Culture said the process of mapping the national monuments in 33 cities with million-plus population is underway and will be completed within three months.
M Venkaiah Naidu
The National Monument Authority is also preparing a classification/typology document for monuments with varying importance, the official said. The Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already prepared
color-coded zoning maps (CCZM), earmarking no-flying zones, air funnel and flight paths and height restrictions for cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Navi Mumbai. It was advised to complete the preparation of CCZMs for all the active 60-70 airports in the country on priority, the official said. With regard to the notified restricted areas, it was decided that the Ministry of Defense will send instructions to the local military authorities requesting them to share the information with the local authorities in the states to expedite the process while keeping the HUPA ministry informed. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs said that the National Building Code, 2005 is being updated and will be finalized soon, the official said. The Ministry of Urban Development said that based on inputs received from various ministries and departments, the model building bye-laws will be finalized and circulated to the states and urban local bodies for adoption, he added.-PTI
Bengaluru top real estate destination; NCR cities at bottom NEW DELHI: Bengaluru is at the top position in the list of 14 best real estate destinations in the country for housing segment while the cities in the national capital region are at the bottom, a study has said. PropEquity, an online subscription based real estate data and analytics platform, said the rankings are based on various parameters like price appreciation, supply, sales, unsold inventories, delays in project completion and
a statement. Pune is at the second place in the list, followed by Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. Mumbai, which ranked first five years ago, has now slipped to the 8th position. "Surprisingly, Gurgaon has dropped to 10th position as the region is marred by project delays, expensive properties and a demand-supply mismatch," it added. The report highlighted that all the NCR cities occupy the bottom
size of the market, among others. "Bengaluru has emerged as the number one destination in most of the parameters evaluated for studying India's top real estate destinations," PropEquity said in
rankings, depicting the weakness in the region. Noida, Ghaziabad, Greater Noida and Faridabad are at 11th, 12th, 13th and 14th positions, respectively, in the list. "The primary reason why NCR has suffered the most is because there has been a flight of investors. Over 50 per cent of the sales in NCR have been investor driven since last 5-7 years," PropEquity CEO and founder Samir Jasuja said. Huge delay in completion of projects, high property prices and oversupply also contributed in making NCR unattractive as a real estate destination as compared with other cities in southern and western regions, he said, adding that the sales dropped by 53 per cent in NCR during 2014 over the previous year. PropEquity report also revealed that about 7.6 lakh housing units are unsold in these 14 cities, of which Mumbai Metropolitan Region, NCR and Bengaluru together account for more than twothird. The prices of the newly launched units continued to rise by 5-16 per cent in last four years despite slowdown in the property market, it added. However, Jasuja said that the rates have declined by 20-35 per cent in the secondary markets, forcing the developers to offer discounts to buyers in the form of freebies. -PTI
Housing price inflation declines to 4-year low: RBI NEW DELHI: Housing price inflation has slipped to nearly fouryear low to below 4 per cent, a survey by the Reserve Bank says. It said that housing prices rose by 61 per cent during the last four and half years, with Jaipur recording the highest growth of 78 per cent. These findings are based on a RBI survey covering transaction level data on housing loans disbursed across select 13 cities, from select 35 scheduled commercial banks/ housing finance companies. "The housing market witnessed an upward trend in prices during the past four and half years, as evident from the steady rise in RPPI (Residential Property Price Index) from 107 in first quarter of 2010-11 to 172 in third quarter of 2014-15, an increase of almost 61 per cent," RBI said in a statement. The highest growth in the index was in Jaipur at around 78 per cent, whereas the lowest growth was recorded in Greater Chandigarh and Hyderabad at around 40 per cent, it added. "House price inflation, as mea-
sured by annual growth in RPPI, witnessed its peak during 2012-13 and has declined in the recent period," it said. The survey revealed that house price inflation increased gradually from about 4 per cent in first quarter of 2011-12 to almost 28 per cent
Index has been fairly similar in the last seven quarters, the central bank said. "It is observed that during FY13, house prices had been growing at a higher rate than that of housing rent. However, in the subsequent quarters, house price inflation and
in third quarter of 2012-13. "However, the trend reversed thereafter and it slid below 4 per cent in third quarter of 2014-15," the statement said. The annual growth in housing price index and CPI-Housing Rent
housing rent inflation moved handin-hand," the release said. The survey also observed a decreasing trend in median LTV (Loan-to-Value) over the quarters, indicating increased cautiousness of banks in sanctioning housing
loans. Loan-to-value ratio is one of the macro-prudential tools used by banks to control their exposure to decline in house prices. The RBI has prescribed an upper limit of 80 per cent on LTV for housing loans above Rs 20 lakh and 90 per cent for housing loans up to Rs 20 lakh, respectively, with effect from December 23, 2010. "Movements in median EMI-toIncome ratio, median House Priceto-Income ratio and median Loanto-Income ratio, did not indicate any notable variation in housing affordability over the quarters," the survey said. The EMI-to-Income ratio measures the affordability of housing loan to the borrower. It is the portion of gross monthly income of the borrower used to pay monthly EMI. RBI had initiated an information system on housing prices through this survey. The property price data used in analysis is the valuation price of the property as appraised by the concerned bank/housing finance company (HFC).-PTI
Horoscope
May 15, 2015
India Post
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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar May 15th - May 21st 2015 (March 21 to April 20)
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ews you had been waiting for could come during the week. Boss may put you on an important assignment. Some of you will be taking a short trip for business purpose this week. It will be better to do complete investigation before making any big financial commitment. You will spend good time with some politicians.
(April 21 to May 20)
I
t is a favorable week for job seekers. Of fer will not be as great but will be reasonable. Some of you may try to cut down on nicotine or caffeine intake. You will dispose off something not being used and even make some money from the sale. You may be in touch with a learned person for some clarifications and advice.
(May 21 to June 20)
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rip will be useful. Phone calls you make will get the job done quickly. You will be working extra hours but will enjoy doing it. Boss will be happy with your performance. Some of you may also change one of your cars with newer model. Relationship will take some more time to become permanent. Stocks will give you the extra cash.
(June 21 to July 22)
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trong Mars in eleventh will bring some fortunate changes in career. New assignment or job could require frequent traveling also. You will make few important contacts at the get together. Money will go on buying some fine quality items for the house. Jupiter in first house will help everything get done in first shot.
(July 23 to August 22)
(November 23 to December 22)
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ou will regain controls over things getting out of your hands. Mars in tenth will bring energy back and financial relief too. Property deal can also close this week. You may also resolve a pending issue with a government agency. You may be slowing getting ready for an upcoming trip. Few close relative will call this week.
(August 23 to September 22)
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hances of making money through stocks very high. Planets will help you in all financial deals. Just handle all tools with extra care. You will be calling siblings more frequently this week. Advice from a learned person will clear some confusions. You will buy some nice cloths or jewelry item for yourself or family member.
(September 23 to October 22)
Y
ou will start some kind of loan process. Planets will bring hidden talent on surface and you will be admired by many this week. Mind will stay cheerful as most of the things you plan will come through easily. It will be a very favorable week for people working in high tech industry. You may be thinking of traveling overseas.
(October 23 to November 22)
Y
ou are really going to enjoy with family and friends. Watch out for some one who was too close at one time and still trying to comeback in life. Gambling and speculation will be profitable. You may finally succeed in disposing of a property too. You will make big change in diet and will be successful in loosing few pounds.
PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations. He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com
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eek good to make all important financial decisions. Planets in eleventh will help you lay hands on some real easy money. You may dispose off money making stocks too. Things will get more relaxing at work. An old friend will call to seek your advice. You may also hear some good or encouraging news from overseas.
(December 22 to January 19)
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evelopments at work will be interesting and benefit you soon. Money can pour in from various directions. Some one close will need your help and you will go out of your way. Money can come through a property deal too. It will be very good week for people in food or grocery business. You will visit a close relative also.
(January 20 to February 18)
Y
ou will be tempted to grab the offer and join the band wagon with some successful people. You will attend a social event and make friends with some politicians. Money may go towards replacing an old car or buying some nice furniture items for the house. You may be suggested minor surgery to overcome some health issue.
(February 19 to March 20)
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ecision will be tough but you will make the correct choice. Loan application will go through without any difficulty. You will have the chance to express your concerns to the boss. Your search for an ideal place to move will continue. Money from insurance may come during the week. You will visit an old friend.
510-886-4370 www.parashar.com
„ Health
Line
Montana Gov signs Medicaid expansion into law HELENA, Mont.: The governor has signed a bill to expand Medicaid eligibility to thousands of low-income Montanans. Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock signed the Montana Health and Economic Livelihood Partnership
Steve Bullock
(HELP) Act into law in the Capitol rotunda as hundreds of people cheered. The bill was introduced by Republican Sen. Ed Buttrey of Great Falls after lawmakers defeated the governor's expansion proposal. Buttrey calls the plan the most conservative in the nation due to copays, premiums and other provisions. Because of those items, the state must seek a waiver from the federal government to put the program in place. The new law accepts federal funds to expand Medicaid eligibility to people with incomes at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level - or about $16,200 per year for an individual and $33,460 for a family of four. -AP
„ Hotel offers 'crying rooms' for women LONDON: In a bizarre offer, a hotel in Tokyo has launched special "crying rooms" for women that are equipped with a selection of tear-jerking movies, eye masks and luxury tissues to allow female guests to cry heartily. The Mitsui Garden Yotsuya hotel said it is providing the rooms to help women de-stress and overcome emotional problems, and that it hopes the rooms would allow women to cry 'heartily' and in private. At USD 83 a night, the rooms are equipped with a selection of tear-jerking aides, 'metro.co.uk' reported. These include movies such as Forest Gump and A Tale Of Mari And Three Puppies (a 2007 Japanese film about the true story of a dog and her puppies who survived the 2004 Chuetsu earthquake). The rooms also have sad manga comics for those who would prefer to read and shed tears. -PTI
Health Science
New test detects more cases of ovarian cancer
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Details on Page 38
AIIMS docs devise new surgical technique to treat epilepsy NEW DELHI: Doctors at the country's premier health institute AIIMS have devised a new minimally invasive surgical technique for treating a severe form of epilepsy, especially in children. The procedure involves a complete unilateral hemispheric disconnection of the brain through minimally invasive endoscopyassisted approach. The technique, developed by Dr P Sarat Chandra, Professor of Neurosurgery at All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi has been published in reputed journals and presented at multiple international and national meetings. "Conventionally, hemispherotomy is a very complex surgical procedure, which involves a large cranial incision, followed by a major surgery where an entire affected hemisphere is either removed or disconnected from the healthier opposite side. "This technique allows the entire procedure to be performed with the use of an endoscope through an incision just of size 4X3 cm. In addition, the entire surgery is performed using neuronavigation, a
sophisticated computer aided device along with the use of brain suite, where MRI is performed immediately after surgery to confirm complete disconnection," explained Dr Chandra. This technique, Dr Chandra said, is usually performed on young children who find it difficult to tolerate large openings and
Chandra said. Prof. Manjari Tripathi of neurology, who identifies these patients by pre-operative work-up, said, "If we look at the anatomy of the brain, it has two hemispheres connected by bridge of tissue called corpus callosum. In most of the cases, where we perform surgery for epilepsy, the fo-
blood loss. "Furthermore, the children on whom these procedures are performed are very sick, sometimes having several hundred seizures a day. This is because a whole hemisphere is diseased and is generating severe epilepsy," Dr
cus is just a few centimeters large." "In these cases, one whole hemisphere is affected, diseased and performs no other function apart from just throwing seizures. Most of the normal functions of that hemisphere has been shifted to the opposite side by a phenom-
enon called brain plasticity. Thus the patient is actually functioning on just one hemisphere," he said. "We have been performing hemispheric disconnection surgeries for over more than a decade now. We would expect that these patients would be severely crippled. But surprisingly, these children improve very well. In fact one of our oldest patients is around 18 years now and lives a very normal and healthy life except for a mild weakness on one side," Tripathi said. Professor B S Sharma, Head of Department of Neurosurgery, said that this procedure was initially performed on five children, which was published in the reputed journal 'Neurosurgery'. "Now we have over 15 cases, where this procedure has been performed with very good results. Epilepsy affects approximately ten million people in India, approximately 1 to 2 million of these people will have drug resistant epilepsy which means they will not respond to medicines," he said. -PTI
8-9 lakh people die due to tobacco use NEW DELHI: Nearly 8-9 lakh people die every year due to diseases related to tobacco use, the government said while assuring the Rajya Sabha that a number of multipronged initiatives to reduce its consumption in the country has been undertaken. "As per the report of Tobacco Control in India (2004), each year 89 lakh deaths in India can be attributed to tobacco use," Health Minister J P Nadda said in a reply. He said that as per the findings of the study "Economic
Burden of Tobacco related Diseases in India" (2014), commissioned by the Health Ministry, the
Health Minister J P Nadda
total economic costs attributable to tobacco use from all diseases in India in 2011 for persons aged 35-69 accounted for Rs 1,04,500
crore. Replying to another question, he said that the government had notified a few new rules on October 15, 2014 as per which, health warnings shall cover at least 85 per cent of the principal display area on both sides of the tobacco products. "The committee on Subordinate Legislations, 16th Lok Sabha is currently examining the rules. The committee submitted its interim report in Lok Sabha on March 18, 2015 recommending to keep in abeyance the implementation of the rules till the committee finalizes the examina-
tion of the subject and arrive at appropriate conclusions and present an objective report in the House.
"Considering that the report of the committee is interim in nature, the Ministry decided to keep the notification in abeyance. Cont'd on Page 39
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Health panel advances Iowa Senate approves health bills restricting abortions services budget MONTGOMERY, Ala.: The House Health Committee has advanced a series of restrictions that opponents say would ban most abortions in the state. The committee passed three separate pieces of legislation, including one that would prohibit providers from performing an abortion if a fetal heartbeat is detected. A federal judge last year ruled a similar North Dakota law unconstitutional, but the Alabama bill's sponsor, Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, said a federal court in Alabama might rule differently. ``It's just such a common-sense bill, in my opinion, if we determine someone is no longer alive if we can't find the heartbeat,'' Collins said after the committee vote. ``What a great determinant for when life starts, because you don't get into the weeds of contraception or the terminology of personhood.'' The Alabama House of Representatives approved similar legislation last year, but the bill did not get a vote in the state Senate. Prospects for passage this year are uncertain. The American Civil Liberties Union of Alabama opposes the legislation. Susan Watson, the organization's executive director, said backers of bills restricting abortions ``write them broadly and talk about them narrowly.'' ``I think they all put stumbling blocks in front of women to prevent her from obtaining a constitutionally protected pro-
cedure,'' she said. Another bill would allow health care providers to decline to participate in any procedure that violates their conscience. Cheryl Ciamarra, legislative director for Alabama Citizens for Life, an organiza-
`I think it's an important principle that the government cannot make you go against your conscience for fear of losing your job when it comes to life-terminating procedures,'' she said. tion that supports the legislation, said the bill allowing health care workers to decline to participate is more of a religious freedom bill than it is an anti-abortion bill. ``I think it's an important principle that the government cannot make you go against your conscience for fear of losing your job when it comes to life-terminating procedures,'' she said. A third bill would ban abortion clinics or reproductive health centers within 2,000 feet of a public school. All three bills move to the full House next. -AP
Montana Developmental Center to close HELENA, Mont.: Gov. Steve Bullock has signed a bill to close the Montana Developmental Center and move most of the 53 people with severe intellectual disabilities, mental health issues and personality disorders to community-based settings in the next two years. The Democratic governor said in a letter that he has concerns about the bill's approach to closure but he decided to defer to the Legislature's decision. ``After years of challenges at MDC and extensive debate, a bipartisan majority of the Legislature has overwhelmingly supported SB 411,'' he said. ``I am committed to ensuring that the population served at MDC has access to the safest and most effective treatment possible.'' Additionally, Bullock said although the bill calls for closure, he believes the state will still need a facility for those not ready for community-based care, a sentiment that could calm some opponents who feared at least a handful of clients would be left with nowhere to go. ``I also firmly believe that we will continue to need a state-run facility or facilities for those who are not ready for less restrictive, community-based placements,''
he said, adding that nothing in the bill precludes the possibility. Under the bill, people who are not ready for community settings can remain at MDC through the 2017 legislative session. Bullock said a plan must be in place by that time for ongoing secure facilities, whether in Boulder or elsewhere. Proponents say years of assault and neglect have left the state with no other option than to close the Boulder facility, which employs more than 200 people. Those opposing the closure say it's premature and that the bill was hustled through the Legislature. Lawmakers struggled with the decision to close the facility but eventually passed the bill sponsored by Democratic Sen. Mary Caferro, of Helena. Eric Feaver, president of the MEA-MFT union that represents some MDC employees, said that he's disappointed, sad and even angry about the closure. ``I think it's a primary government responsibility (to care for this population), and to simply ship it off to the private sector is irresponsible and naive,'' Feaver said. ``Meanwhile, union jobs go down the tubes.' -AP
DES MOINES, Iowa: The Democratic-led Iowa Senate approved a $1.9 billion spending plan for state health and human services departments, which includes an oversight committee to watchdog the governor's plan to privatize Medicaid. The budget was approved in a 26-22 vote. It provides slightly less overall funding than sought by Gov. Terry Branstad, but more than the proposal from the Republican-controlled House. The plan, which is the largest general fund budget bill, includes funding for Medicaid, public health programs and veterans. Sen. Amanda Ragan, a Mason City Democrat, said the bill would include funding to help provide child care assistance to more families and create an oversight committee to supervise the governor's plan to privatize Medicaid services. The legislation also includes money to keep two mental health institutions open that Branstad has slated for closure, with most coming from federal grant funding. The oversight efforts, Ragan said, were key to protecting patients as Iowa transitions Medicaid administration to two or more managed care organizations, to which Iowa will pay a fixed amount per enrollee to provide health coverage. The Senate bill projects the state will save money with such a transition, though they want to impose
some rules about how the organizations can use Medicaid funding and how much profit they can realize. ``I'm an optimist. And I can see that managed care has some potential positive impacts to our healthcare system. But I'm also a realist. And we all know rushing to force such a large transition will have potentially severe negative consequences, often on vulnerable Iowans,'' Ragan said.
Branstad spokesman Jimmy Centers said the Senate's proposed restrictions could delay the proposal process for managed care companies, which has already started. The Senate legislation does not include language requiring Branstad to sign off on payments for Medicaid-funded abortions. That policy, developed in a compromise health care deal by lawmakers two years ago, effectively halted Medicaid payments for abortion in Iowa because medical providers simply stopped submitting claims. -AP
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New test detects more Thermometer device to cases of ovarian cancer diagnose heart attacks LONDON: A new screening test can detect twice as many women with ovarian cancer as conventional strategies, scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have found in the largest trial of its kind. The new method uses a statistical calculation to interpret changing levels in women's blood of a protein called CA125, which is linked to ovarian cancer. This gives a more accurate prediction of a woman's individual risk of developing cancer, compared to the conventional screening method which uses a fixed 'cut-off' point for CA125. The new method detected cancer in 86 per cent of women with invasive epithelial ovarian cancer while earlier techniques detected just 41 per cent. The trial results come from analysis of one arm of the UK Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS), the world's largest ovarian cancer screening trial, led by University College London (UCL). The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology,
evaluated 46,237 women for a 14year period who continued to attend annual screening following their first screen. Their blood was tested once a year for CA125 levels and then a computer algorithm was used to interpret their risk of ovarian cancer based on factors including the
woman's age, the original levels of CA125 and how that level changed over time. The serial pattern was compared with known cases of cancer and controls to estimate the risk of having ovarian cancer. University of New South Wales Vice-Chancellor Ian Jacobs, who co-developed the test, said the CA125 snapshot has been called
into question as a reliable biological marker for ovarian cancer but the new findings indicate that "this can be an accurate and sensitive screening tool when used in the context of a woman's pattern of CA125 over time." He hopes that the new approach will prove capable of detecting ovarian cancer early enough to save lives. "There is currently no national screening program for ovarian cancer, as research to date has been unable to provide enough evidence that any one method would improve early detection of tumors," Professor Usha Menon, the co-principal investigator and trial co-ordinator at UCL was quoted as saying by 'The Guardian'. "These results are therefore very encouraging. They show that use of an early detection strategy based on an individual's CA125 profile significantly improved cancer detection compared to what we've seen in previous screening trials," she said. -PTI
Scientists discover reset 'button' for body clock TORONTO: Scientists have found a molecular reset button for our internal body clock, a discovery that may allow for new treatments of sleep disorders and cognitive and metabolic abnormalities, commonly associated with jet lag and shift work. According to the study led by researchers at McGill and Concordia universities in Montreal, the body's clock is reset when a phosphate combines with a key protein in the brain. This process, known as phosphorylation, is triggered by light. In effect, light stimulates the synthesis of specific proteins called Period proteins that play a pivotal role in clock resetting, thereby synchronizing the clock's rhythm with daily environmental cycles. "This study is the first to reveal a mechanism that explains
how light regulates protein synthesis in the brain, and how this affects the function of the circadian clock," said senior author Nahum Sonenberg, a professor in
According to the study, the body's clock is reset when a phosphate combines with a key protein in the brain. McGill's Department of Biochemistry. In order to study the brain clock's mechanism, the researchers mutated the protein known as eIF4E in the brain of a lab mouse so that it could not be phospho-
rylated. Since all mammals have similar brain clocks, experiments with the mice give an idea of what would happen if the function of this protein were blocked in humans. The mice were housed in cages equipped with running wheels. By recording and analyzing the animals' running activity, the scientists were able to study the rhythms of the circadian clock in the mutant mice. The clock of mutant mice responded less efficiently than normal mice to the resetting effect of light. The mutants were unable to synchronise their body clocks to a series of challenging light/dark cycles - for example, 10.5 hours of light followed by 10.5 hours of dark, instead of the 12-hour cycles to which laboratory mice are usually exposed.-PTI
SEOUL: A simple, thermometerlike device that could make diagnosing heart attacks easier in remote or low-income locations has been developed. Diagnosing a heart attack can require multiple tests using expensive equipment. But not everyone has access to such techniques, especially in remote or low-income areas. Now scientists have developed a simple, thermometer-like device that could help doctors diagnose heart attacks with minimal materials and cost. Sangmin Jeon from the Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea and colleagues note that one way to tell whether someone has had a heart attack involves measuring the level of a protein called troponin in the person's blood. T h e protein's concentration rises when blood is cut off from the heart, and the muscle is damaged. Today, detecting troponin requires bulky, expensive instruments and is often not practical for point-of-care use or in low-in-
come areas. Yet three-quarters of the deaths related to cardiovascular disease occur in low- and middleincome countries, researchers said. Early diagnosis could help curb these numbers, so Jeon's team set out to make a sensitive, more accessible test. Inspired by the simplicity of alcohol and mercury thermometers, the researchers created a similarly straightforward way to detect troponin. It involves a few easy steps, a glass vial, specialized nanoparticles, a drop of ink and a skinny tube. When human serum with troponin - even at a minute concentration - is mixed with the nanoparticles and put in the vial, the ink climbs up a protruding tube and can be read with the naked eye, just like a thermometer. The research appears in the ACS journal Analytical Chemistry. -PTI
New smartphone app to help people cut diabetes risk NEW YORK: A new smartphone app aims to tackle type 2 diabetes by allowing users to track their exercise and eating habits to curb the risk of developing the disease. The app, called Noom, developed by a New York City tech startup, will administer a 16-week diabetes education program developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to its educational software, Noom provides users with health coaches who answer questions and let them know when they could use some exercise - and when to lay off the ice cream, 'New York Post' reported.
Noom's app is an alternative to the CDC's traditional in-person classes, in which attendees typically keep pen-and-paper journals for their diet and exercise. The app will be distributed to at-risk patients by CityMD Urgent Care, which operates 40 clinics in the greater New York City area, including Long I s l a n d , We s t c h e s t e r and Rockland County. "It's one thing to know that you have to make lifestyle changes to improve your health, it's another thing to actually do it," said Noom CEO Saeiu Jeong. "Having the guidance and motivation right in your pocket makes it easier than ever to follow through," Jeong said. -PTI
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J&J seeks bioethics advice on drugs use WASHINGTON: Dying patients sometimes seek emergency access to experimental medicines, desperate for a last-chance treatment even if there's little proof it could help. Now drug giant Johnson & Johnson is taking an unusual step, turning to independent bioethicists for advice on when to say yes or no. J&J's Janssen Pharmaceutical Cos. is beginning a pilot program with New York University's medical ethics division to review requests the company receives for socalled compassionate use of certain experimental drugs. Under the plan, NYU medical ethics chief Arthur Caplan will establish a committee to evaluate such cases and advise Janssen, which makes the final decision. The program initially will be for one medication, yet to be named, but the company said it could expand if deemed successful. Caplan said the pilot program could help create a model for industry in using ethical principles to guide compassionate use, so that everyone has a fair chance. He said Janssen would pay NYU's medical school a standard fee for the committee members' work; Caplan won't be paid. Usually, patients gain access to experi-
mental drugs by enrolling in clinical trials. Some companies also develop ``expanded access programs'' for promising drugs that have finished major studies and are undergoing Food and Drug Administration review. When patients don't qualify for those routes, their doctors sometimes request compassionate use of a particular experimental drug. The FDA seldom blocks legitimate requests, but drug companies aren't required to participate. They may not have enough doses available or consider the patient a good match, or fear that a bad
reaction could derail the drug's eventual approval. Compassionate use made headlines last year when the parents of a Virginia boy sparked a social media protest to persuade a different company, Chimerix, to provide an experimental drug that saved the youngster from a viral infection. -AP
8-9 lakh people die due to tobacco use Cont'd from Page 36
Accordingly a corrigendum was issued on March 26, 2015 suspending the date of implementation and stating that the rules shall come into force on such date as the central government may by notification in official gazette appoint," the Minister said.
A number of initiatives have been taken to reduce tobacco consumption including enactment of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act 2003. Replying to another question, Nadda said that a number of initiatives have been taken to reduce tobacco consumption including enactment of Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 2003. Other initiatives include ratification of WHO framework convention on tobacco
control, launch of national tobacco control program, launch of pilot project titled 'Alternative crops for bidi and chewing tobacco in different agro- ecological sub-regions' and notification of rules to regulate depiction of tobacco products of their use in films and television programs. "The government is not under any pressure from the tobacco lobby," Nadda said. Replying to another question, Nadda said the government has constituted an inter-ministerial committee of secretaries under the chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to review and develop a comprehensive policy on tobacco and related issues. He said the government got an external evaluation done of the National Tobacco Control Program through Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). "Recommendations of this evaluation have been suitably incorporated in the 12th Five Year Plan for national tobacco control program to make the outcomes more effective," Nadda said. When asked whether the government has stakes in cigarette manufacturing companies in the country, he said information is being collected and will be laid on the table of the House. -PTI
Polygamy increases risk of heart disease four-fold JEDDAH: Polygamy can increase the risk of heart disease by more than four-fold in men, a new study conducted in Saudi Arabia and UAE has found. The prospective multicentre observational study examined the relationship between the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and number of wives. "Men who practice polygamy have up to four concurrent wives who can reside in the same or different regions but do not normally reside in the same house," said Dr Amin Daoulah, a cardiologist at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The study included patients referred for coronary angiography at 5 hospitals in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. CAD was defined as more than 70 per cent narrowing in a major epicardial blood vessel or more than 50 per cent in the left main artery (called left main disease, LMD). Multivessel disease (MVD) was defined as more than one diseased vessel. The 687 married men in the study had an average age of 59 years and 56 per cent had diabetes, 57 per cent had hypertension and 45 per cent had a past history of CAD.
Around two-thirds of the men had one wife (68 per cent) while 19 per cent had 2 wives, 10 per cent had 3 wives and 3 per cent had 4 wives. Men with more than one wife were more likely to be older, live in a rural area, have a higher income and have a history of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). "Polygamy may be more frequent in rural areas because it is more culturally acceptable and getting married at a young age is more common," said Daoulah. "Also, in the regions that we studied, there was a higher percentage of national citizens residing in rural areas compared to urban areas. "Men with multiple wives have to be well supported financially, and although Saudis and Emirati people are supported by their governments, polygamists may need more than one income. They may therefore take on extra employment or have the added pressure of traveling daily to urban areas for higher paid work," said Daoulah. The researchers found a significant association between number of wives and the presence of CAD, LMD and MVD. Risk increased with the number of wives. -PTI
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alimpong, a pristine hill station in West Bengal, is located about 50 km east of the famous tourist destination Darjeeling. This hill town, overlooking the beautiful Teesta valley, is at an altitude of 1250 m above the sea level and is vibrant with bustling activities. Kalimpong is located at the foothills of majestic Shiwalik ranges in Lower Himalayas. It is believed that until the 19th century the area was ruled by Bhutanese kings and was a forward post of the Bhutanese Army. Enshrined with ancient Buddhist monasteries, centuries old churches and exquisite revered temples, Kalimpong was earlier a part of Bhutan until it was wrested by British rulers and joined to Indian territory. The populace in Kalimpong is mostly of Nepali origin. These people migrated to this area in search of job opportunities. Enriched with lush green forests and dense plantations of tea, Kalimpong is really marvelous and awe inspiring. Kalimpong is renowned for many high quality educational Institutions. Students throng to this town from the
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entire North Eastern region of India and also from neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Burma and Bhutan for higher studies. This town is bustling with flower markets, a major source of orchid flowers in the north east. One can enjoy the view of attractive flowers placed on the sideways of the street and the fragrances of the flowers make you feel you are in an eternal destination. Kalimpong is a breathtaking picnic spot and one can
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view the panoramic picture of the down valley known as Teesta Ranjit Valley from the spot known as 7th Mile View Point. This town is great for shopping. One can get items like Tibetan Jewelry, artifacts, copperware, handicraft items and many varieties of dress material. TOURISTATTRACTIONS Crockety, Kalimpong: Crockety is a bungalow built by the British wool traders in 18th century and is one of the many bungalows in the region constructed during the British Regime. The uniqueness of this bungalow is the exquisite architectural design and the breathtaking surroundings. This old fashioned and charming house stands in Kalimpong as reminiscent of the British period. Galingka, Kalimpong: Galingka is a bungalow built during the British regime located at the majestic backdrop of the Kanchenjunga peak, the second highest peak in the Himalayan ranges. Cont’d on page 42
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India moves up on global travel, tourism list GENEVA: India has moved up 13 notches to 52nd position on a global list of countries in terms of their travel and tourism competitiveness, but ranks worse than its emerging market peers like China, Brazil, Russia and South Africa. While India fares much better as a business destination, the infrastructure gaps, concerns on health, hygiene and environment sustainability, and its "unsettling" safety and security situation has dragged down the overall ranking. The list has been topped by Spain, which is followed by France, Germany, US, UK, Switzerland, Australia, Italy, Japan and Canada in the top ten. Of the large emerging markets, China (17th) and Brazil (28th) made it into the top 30, whereas Russia, South Africa and India ranked 45th, 48th and 52nd, respectively. Releasing the biennial list, the World Economic Forum (WEF) said India's relevance as business travel destination is in-
creasing along with its economic growth and it remains a highly price-competitive destination (with 8th position globally on this parameter) and recent changes in its visa regime have the potential to boost the
14 separate dimensions, revealing how well countries could deliver sustainable economic and societal benefits through their travel and tourism sector. Long-standing infrastructure gaps re-
impact of crime and violence (97th), and India ranks only 139th for environmental sustainability. "The diversity in the top 30 shows that a country does not have to be wealthy to have
international arrivals. In the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) 2013 India was ranked 65th out of 140 countries covered in its study. The 2015 report ranks 141 countries across
main, especially in tourism-specific infrastructure (where India is ranked 109th) and the quality of roads. India also lags on health and hygiene (106th) and Information, Communications and Technology readiness (114th). The safety and security situation is unsettling, with a perceived increase in the
a flourishing tourism sector," World Economic Forum Economist Roberto Crotti said. Crotti added: "Many countries should still do more to tackle travel and tourism challenges, including visa policies, better promotion of cultural heritage, environmental protection and ICT readiness." -PTI
Air travel in India sees 17.9 pc rise NEW DELHI: Air travel demand in India rose by nearly 18 per cent in March, more than-two fold of the global average, on account of improved economy and market stimulation by way of heavy discounts offered by the Indian airlines during the period, the IATA has said. Domestic air travel rose by 8 per cent in
with seat occupancy in the passenger planes increasing 1.2 percentage points to 78.9 per cent. All regions recorded year-over increases in demand except for Africa, the IATA said. "March traffic continues the trend of healthy demand for travel. We may, however, see a softening of demand in the second quarter. There are signs that regional trade activity in AsiaPacific may be slowing and Eurozone economic weakness continues to disappoint," IATA's Director General and Chief Executive Tony Tyler said. According to report, Asia-Pacific airlines recorded an 11.1 per cent increase in China logged the highest growth in domes- demand compared to March 2014, tic traffic worldwide at robust 22 per cent strongest among during the reporting month, it said, adding, the regions. March international passenger traffic rose The timing of the Lunar New seven per cent Year in mid-FebruMarch year-on-year, driven by growth in ary contributed to the robust performance China and India, the International Air Trans- as holiday-related travel continued into port Association (IATA) said in its monthly early March, he said. global traffic data report. "The devastating earthquake in Nepal China logged the highest growth in do- has gripped the world's attention. It also mestic traffic worldwide at robust 22 per cent has highlighted aviation's vital role. Airlines during the reporting month, it said, adding, help transport the responders who perform March international passenger traffic rose their heroic efforts in bringing food, mediseven per cent compared to the year-ago cal supplies and equipment to those in period while capacity surged by 5.4 per cent need," Tyler added. -PTI
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Like Crockety, this bungalow was also built by British wool traders for their use during their trade travel. The exquisite architectural style and the picturesque surroundings make this bungalow a picnic spot for the tourists. Morgan House, Kalimpong: Morgan house, presently a tourist lodge run by the department of tourism of Government of India, is an erstwhile bungalow built in the British Period. This was the favorite home of a wealthy Jute merchant from England. This is one of the many British bungalows
rivers. Durpin, meaning "binoculars" in Nepali is a great spot that offers a clear view of the majestic Kanchenjunga mountains. Flower Nurseries: Kalimpong is a place with lots of flower nurseries, which specialize in cultivation of exotic beautiful flowers. The largest number of commercial flower nurseries are found in Kalimpong. These flower nurseries export beautiful exotic flowers to different parts of the country. You can always visit some of the nurseries across the town and look for your collection of flowers, orchids and cacti, which are available in abundance. Saramsa Garden: Saramsa Garden is a
Nature Interpretation Centre
in Kalimpong. The western architectural style dominates in the appearance of the building. Nature Interpretation Centre: Nature Interpretation Centre in Kalimpong, a great idea on work, provides information on effect of human activities in the Earth's environment. This centre was established and
popular tourist spot in Kalimpong. It was constituted in year 1922 by the forest department of India. It is the home to numerous species of exotic orchids and other uncommon tropical plants of Sikkim. The garden also comprises many orchids and fruit trees. Neora National Park: Neora National
Crockety, Kalimpong
is managed by forest department. This centre carries out information collecting and research on flora and fauna in the hilly forests of Kalimpong and also watches human interaction with these natural gifts. It highlights the need for soil conservation, dwindling of forest wealth and saving animals and birds from extinction. Durpin Dara Hill: Durpin Dara hill, located at a height of 1402 m, is a vantage point that gives a bird's-eye-view of the spectacular serene mountains, plains and
Park, spread over an expanse of about 88 square km, is located in a woody forest area near Lava in the majestic foothills of the Himalayan Ranges in Kalimpong. It was established in 1986 and is maintained by the forest department. Bhutan and the lush green forests of Sikkim border this National Park. Catholic Church: The Catholic Church, the largest church in Kalimpong area, is a revered religious attraction. The church, built during the British rule in 1890, was constructed under the supervision of Brit-
ish architect Hardy from Edinburgh. This church was open to public for offering prayers in November 1891 after a religious consecration. The architectural style of the church follows the western style. Jang Dong Palriffo Brang (Monastery): Dalai Lama consecrated Jang Dong Palriffo Brang Gompa, also known as Durpin Monastery, in 1976 after six years of establishing it. The importance of this monastery lies with the sacred Kunguyar kept here. It contains all 108 volumes carried by Dalai Lama in his exile. Hiking: Kalimpong is a nice spot for hiking. It offers mild to medium challenges as the altitude is only about 1500 m. Sightseeing and rafting are two important activities which can be associated with hiking. The hiking can start at the down valley and many experienced guides can offer the tourists effective tips for hiking. Rafting: River water rafting in the famous Teesta River is a major attraction in Kalimpong. The popular rafting activities
are a major attraction for adventurous tourists. Teesta River with its alpine surrounding is an ideal choice for rafting. Teesta Bazaar: Teesta Bazaar, also known as tenth mile among local people, is the main bazaar area in Kalimpong and is named after the lifeline Teesta River of Kalimpong. The market places thrive with many handicraft items and artifacts. One can shop for all kinds of commodities in this splendid market. The worthy and costly crafted items are the main attractions in this bazaar. Best time to visit: Kalimpong is a nice place to visit any time of the year. But the best time is from March to May and September to December.
Neora National Park
How to reach By Train: The nearest rail is New Jalpaiguri, which is nearly 67 km away from Kalimpong. By Air: The nearest airport is Bagdogra near Siliguri, which is at a distance of 79 km from Kalimpong. By Bus: The Kalimpong city is well connected to other cities in Sikkim and the neighboring states by bus services.
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Kerala woos tourists at Dubai travel fair THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala found a prominent space at the India Pavilion during a travel fair at the Dubai World Trade Center, where the state's tourism department showcased features such as monsoon, Ayurveda and greenery to attract Arab travelers. The Arabian Travel Market is a leading travel fair held annually in Dubai, and it provides a great opportunity to network with tourism trade in the Middle East. Ambassador of India to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), T P Seetharam, inaugurated the 310 square metre India Pavilion at the
fair, in which Kerala Tourism finds a prominent space, an official release said here. A delegation, led by Kerala Tourism Director P I Sheik Pareeth and Kerala Tourism Development Corporation Managing Director
Ali Asgar Pasha, represented the state in four-day fair. "Considering tourist arrivals to Kerala from the Middle East, Saudi Arabia is the main market followed by the UAE, Oman and Kuwait," said Kerala Tourism
Germany woos Indian middle class tourists NEW DELHI: Seeking to hardsell the country as a travel destination to India's "emerging economy", Germany launched a campaign directed specifically at the middle class segment with a view to boosting tourism in the ongoing year. At a joint press conference, German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner and the Director of the German National Tourist
Office, Romit Theophlus, listed the measures being taken by the country in this regard. The duo spoke of "affordable hotel rates" and the vibrant cultural and social milieu of Germany as they emphasized on the country's tourist-friendly attributes. Citing a survey, they said that Germany had the world's largest number of "livable" cities which offer an "unmatched" quality of life. "We are going to promote our tradition, modernity as well as technology. The lesser known but equally fascinating multicultural cities, which makes the country
more diverse, would also be promoted," Steiner said. Giving his overview of the major cities, which he said captured the variety of the country, Steiner observed, "While Berlin is vibrant and Hamburg is open, Munich is more settled than the rest." He said that since 2007, the number of "overnight stays" by Indians had seen a jump of over 72 per cent. "We are expecting a 6
to 7 per cent growth from the visitor segments from India." Romit said the theme of the campaign would be, 'GermanyTraditions and Customs', and the social media would be used to strengthen the country's image as a traditional and cultural destination, highlighting its culinary delights and art and crafts. "We aim to attract the middle class in the emerging Indian economy," he added. Meanwhile, talking about the video in which he has teamed up with his wife Eliese and Congress leader Salman Khurshid as the trio act out a song from the Bollywood blockbuster 'Kal Ho na Ho' movie, Steiner said it was a conscious diplomatic move. "The intention was to show that we are not all that serious. It was to show that modern diplomacy is more than just ties between governments. It's also about people to people relations and diplomacy has to open itself up to things that interest people," he said. -PTI
Minister A P Anil Kumar. "In 2014, there were 48,346 tourists from Saudi Arabia, 17,475 from the UAE and 17,239 from Oman, who visited the state. From the Middle East alone, we have more than one lakh visitors," he
Global architecture & culinary specialties at Milan Expo
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he Milan world's fair, which opened May 1 for a sixmonth run, delights with an urban mishmash of global architecture and culinary specialties as organizers seek to advance a universal conversation on how to guarantee food for all while protecting the environment. One of the fair's chief appeals is the tight urban interplay of representational architectural styles that surprise more than command: Nepalese stupa, Kuwaiti sails, Tajik tiles, Thai bamboo pillars, a Moroccan mud-brick structure, the United Kingdom's enchanting fairy-lit honeycomb and vertical gardens cultivated on the walls of the U.S. and Israeli pavilions. ``I did not know what to expect from an Expo,'' said German visitor Gabriele Kumlin, who spent 12 hours roaming the Expo grounds. ``I was really surprised how beautiful these pavilions were. I loved the whole setting.'' The Expo has an ambitious
SIA offers special fares for Indian travelers NEW DELHI: Singapore Airlines is offering special fares to customers from India with an allinclusive rates starting at Rs 22,000 for a limited period to commemorate the Golden Jubilee of its diplomatic relations with India. The bookings under the special fares offer have already commenced from May 5 for one-month period for travel between June 1 and August 10, 2015, Singapore Airlines said in a release. Besides special fares, Singapore Tourism Board has ex-
tended complementary experiences for the Indian travelers, availing this offer, the release said. "Along with admission to eight tourist attractions, the experiences also include - one day pass to Universal Studios Singapore, Singapore Flyer Moet and
added. "The Middle East is like a second home to many Malayalees and there is a great opportunity to network with tourism trade here," said Kerala Tourism Secretary G Kamala Vardhana Rao. Sheik informed that the trade networking department is planning to conduct a massive destination promotional campaign targeting the promising Middle East market and Arab travelers. The ATM will also serve as a venue for the 'Visit Kerala campaign' in the Middle East, based on monsoon, Ayurveda and greenery. -PTI
Chandon Champagne Flight or executive lunch set at Punjab Grill restaurant, Marina Bay Sands," it said. Entry passes and vouchers for the chosen experiences, which is worth Rs 4,500 can be collected at the airport check-in desks, the airline said.-PTI
agenda beyond being a global street fair, with the Italian government backing a process to create a document aimed at creating food security, fighting waste, combating hunger and guaranteeing good nutrition. Visitors, businesses and civil society are invited to sign the
so-called Milan Charter, which is to be presented to U.N. Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon when the fair ends. Some pavilions are more on message than others, taking to heart Expo's mission to contemplate the planet's dwindling natural resources and stimulate action. Others are more pointed at promoting tourism to off-the-beaten path destinations. There's an interesting mix of hands-on experience and technology to involve visitors in the discussion - with the analog experience winning out in many cases, perhaps due to the nature of the topic of food and agriculture. Water is the focus of many desert nations. Kuwait greets visitors to its pavilion with a curtain of water that spells out ``Water is the element for survival'' in English, then Italian then Arabic.-AP
In Brief Conservatives threaten defense bill over immigration WASHINGTON: Two dozen House conservatives are threatening to oppose a sweeping defense policy bill over a nonbinding provision aimed at allowing immigrants brought illegally to this country as children to serve in the military. Their move could provoke a clash on a perennially volatile topic that's become a major issue in the presidential campaign. In a letter to the chairman of the House Rules Committee, the lawmakers led by Rep. Mo Brooks, RAla., argued that the House had already voted three times to declare the Obama administration acted unconstitutionally when it granted deportation relief to immigrants brought here illegally as children. They said that the amendment by Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., ``contradicts the House's previous position and is a severe threat to passage'' of the $612 billion defense policy bill. ``Especially in this time of increased terrorism, our national security should not be threatened by allowing such controversial language on a program we have rejected three times as unconstitutional,'' they wrote. Details on page 45
„ H1B visa lowers wages, negligible impact on patents WASHINGTON: Contrary to popular perception, H-1B visas have insignificant impact on new patents in the short term and also results in lower wages, according to a study. "We demonstrate that H-1Bs given to a firm on average do not raise the firm's patenting and/or other employment, contrary to firms' frequent claims," the three authors of the study 'The Effects of High-Skilled Immigration on Firms: Evidence from H-1B Visa Lotteries,' write. "Overall our results are more consistent with the second [ie, the critics'] narrative, in which H-1Bs replace other workers to some extent, are paid less than alternative workers, and increase the firm's profits (despite little, if any, effect on firm patenting)," the authors write. They argue that new H-1Bs cause no significant increase in firm employment. "New H-1Bs substantially and statistically significantly crowd out median employment of other workers," they said. Details on page 46
Immigration
Colleges expand services for immigrant students
44 India Post
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May 15, 2015
Details on page 46
Clinton challenges Bush on immigration as Republicans shift WASHINGTON: Hillary Rodham Clinton has injected new fire into the immigration debate with her call to allow people in the U.S. illegally to gain citizenship, challenging a centerpiece of Republican presidential prospect Jeb Bush's likely candidacy. The elevated focus on immigration shines new light on the growing willingness of Republican presidential contenders - including past opponents of an immigration overhaul in Congress - to let such immigrants stay in the U.S. Such a position is regarded as ``amnesty'' by the Republicans' conservative tea party wing, yet it is quietly becoming the majority view in a 2016 Republican presidential class eager to attract Hispanic voters. Clinton is just as eager to protect the Democrats' advantage with that key voting bloc. ``This will be a defining issue in the elec-
tion,'' Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook told CNBC. The day before, Clinton drew a sharp distinction between herself
and the Republicans, like Bush, who support a pathway to legal status that stops short of citizenship.
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton arrives at Rancho High School in Las Vegas. Hillary Rodham Clinton's challenge to the GOP on immigration is an early counter to Jeb Bush and other Republican White House contenders seeking Hispanic voters.
``When they talk about legal status, that is code for secondclass status,'' Clinton charged. It's unclear how much the distinction between citizenship and legal status matters to Hispanic voters, a growing slice of the electorate nationally and an important factor in presidential swing states such as Florida, Colorado and Nevada. For many, the priority is simply to avoid deportation. All of the Republicans are eager to avoid the fate of 2012 presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, who earned just 27 percent of the Hispanic vote after endorsing ``self-deportation'' as a viable policy. The rhetoric of the Republicans candidates reflects broad support for allowing such immigrants to stay, but only Bush has made that point a focus of his message to voters. Cont'd on Page 46
Immigration progress 'not always a straight line' WASHINGTON: During a festive Cinco de Mayo celebration at the White House, President Barack Obama couldn't help but reflect on the swings that have confronted his attempts to tackle immigration reform. ``I just want to remind everybody that progress is not always a straight line,'' he said. It has been more than a year since he was first denounced as ``deporter in chief'' and he now was clearly savoring a friendlier atmosphere. But few domestic policies have presented Obama with as many policy and political challenges as immigration. Buffeted by failed legislation, activist criticism, election year sensitivities and now judicial review of his latest executive actions, Obama has found that his self-described goal of fixing a broken immigration system is still not fully in his grasp. ``Sometimes you have to take this turn and that turn, go over this mountain and that valley,'' he told guests invited to the White House to observe the Mexican
holiday. At last year's Cinco de Mayo observance, Obama still held out hope that House Republicans would follow the Senate and pass a broad overhaul of immigration laws. It didn't happen and Obama
Putting off his action until after the November election, Obama made his move Nov. 20 with some of the most sweeping changes to immigration laws, taking executive action to spare up to 5 million people, mostly parents and the
President Barack Obama speaks during a Cinco de Mayo reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington
faced a backlash from pro-immigrant groups who demanded he act on his own. Youth activists were calling on him to order a halt to most deportations of people living in the U.S. illegally. Protesters interrupted his speeches. Demonstrators gathered outside the White House gates.
young, from deportations. The administration also set new enforcement priorities that could make it easier for many more people in the U.S. illegally to stay in the country. Marielena Hincape, the executive director of the National Immigration Law Center, said Obama's
executive actions amounted to ``one of the most significant immigration policy changes in the last decade.'' But the breadth of Obama's actions has raised constitutional questions. The main beneficiaries of Obama's actions are immigrants who have been in the U.S. illegally for more than five years but whose children are citizens or lawful permanent residents. Several states have challenged the actions and a federal judge has halted their implementation as the case wends its way through the courts. Republican lawmakers have unsuccessfully sought to halt funding for the program as well, calling it a vast overreach of Obama's authority. ``The immigrant community is hopeful that the implementation of those executive actions is inevitable, but the delay hurts,'' Hincapie said. ``Every day that we continue without those executive actions being implemented means another day with injustices happening in our community.'' -AP
Immigration Post
May 15, 2015
India Post 45
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Petition to cut waiting time for EB2, EB3 Visas India Post News Service
SAN FRANCISCO, CA: The Shah Peerally Law Group, a leading full-service immigration law firm headquartered in Newark, California is spearheading a petition, asking the US House of Representatives, President Barack Obama, Congress, Department of Homeland Security and United States Department of State to reduce the waiting time for Indian and Chinese visa holders in the immigration EB2 and EB3 Categories. Shah Peerally, Owner and President of the California-based law firm started the petition to support the rights of EB2 and EB3 visa holders working in the United States. Thousands of people from India and China are waiting for their permanent residence based on employment categories 2 (EB 2) and (EB3). Visa Holders waiting for permanent residency from India are especially backlogged and have the longest waiting time of
any other country. In the petition, Peerally addresses critical points including the fact that most employees waiting for their Green Cards work
Visa Holders waiting for permanent residency from India are especially backlogged and have the longest waiting time of any other country. under Science, Technology, Mathematics and Engineering, which are crucial fields that contribute immensely to the US economy. He mentions other benefits of reducing the waiting time to include preventing employee abuses and more job creation from entrepreneurs interested in in-
vesting in the United States. Peerally states that the current process and waiting period is unfair to workers and against principles of equality dictated by the U.S. Constitution. The firm is asking for support in signing the petition to help change these unfair practices. Shah Peerally Law Group has represented clients all over the United States constantly dealing with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and CBP (Customs Border Patrol (CBP) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This department was formerly known as the Immigration and Nationality Services (INS). To learn more about the petition and show your support, visit https://www.change.org/p/reduce-the-waiting-time-on-indiaimmigration-eb2-and-eb3-categories. If you are seeking legal representation or advice call their office at 510-742-5887 or email info@peerallylaw.com.
Conservatives threaten defense bill over immigration WASHINGTON: Two dozen House conservatives are threatening to oppose a sweeping defense policy bill over a nonbinding provision aimed at allowing immigrants brought illegally to this country as children to serve in the military. Their move could provoke a clash on a perennially volatile topic that's become a major issue in the presidential campaign. In a letter to the chairman of the House Rules Committee, the lawmakers led by Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., argued that the House had already voted three times to declare the Obama administration acted unconstitutionally when it granted deportation relief to immigrants brought here illegally as children. They said that the amendment by Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., ``contradicts the House's previous position and is a severe threat to passage'' of the $612 billion defense policy bill. ``Especially in this time of in-
creased terrorism, our national security should not be threatened by allowing such controversial language on a program we have rejected three times as unconstitutional,'' they wrote. Gallego's amendment was included on the defense bill during
Mo Brooks
committee consideration, winning support from six committee Republicans. It expresses the sense of the House that the Pentagon should review the law on who can serve in the military, in order to
determine whether it should include immigrants who've gotten work permits and deportation relief under the Obama administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Brooks and the 24 other lawmakers who signed the letter said that they would offer an amendment to strike Gallego's language. A spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner declined comment. But the annual defense policy bill typically passes with broad bipartisan support, so that opposition from Brooks and his allies would not likely be sufficient to prevent its passage. In the Senate, Armed Services Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., rejected the idea of including a similar provision in his version of the bill, which is expected to be approved by his committee later this month. He said that ``we have too full a plate'' with issues related specifically to defense. ``Let's have a debate on it, let's have a discussion, let's have it stand alone, rather than trying to put it in the defense authorization bill which could kill the bill,'' McCain said. -AP
Obama used all executive powers for reform: WH WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama used his executive powers as much as he could to fix the broken immigration system in the country, the White House has said. "The President was determined to use as much of his authority as he could to try to bring some much-needed accountability to our broken immigration system, and that was reflected in the announcement that he made back in November on this," White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said. At the same time, there are limitations to presidential executive powers as the Republican-controlled Congress is blocking a comprehensive immigration reform, Earnest said. The White House response came a day after Hillary Clinton, a Democratic presidential aspirant, called for a comprehensive immigration reform, saying this would be part of her four big fight issues during her election campaign. Earnest said that the Obama administration continues to be extremely confident with the legal position and its legal arguments, and that's working its way through
that process in Texas. There are other elements of these reforms, however, that are moving forward, which the White House is implementing, he said. "The most prominent of those is some of the discretion that our law enforcement officers are exercising when it comes to prioritizing the cases of those individuals
who pose a genuine threat to the community. Those are the individuals that we're seeking to protect broader communities from," Earnest said. "We did take the extraordinary step of releasing the Office of Legal Counsel opinion, where we talked about the limits of executive authority when it comes to taking steps to reform our broken immigration system," Earnest said. -PTI
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Immigration Post
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May 15, 2015
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Colleges expand services for immigrant students DAVIS, Calif.: Miguel Davila had reasons to be skeptical when the University of California, Davis dedicated a bright, clearly marked space on campus for students who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Being unauthorized to live and work in the country he has called home since he was 9, had forced the native of Peru to twice turn down admissions offers from other schools because he couldn't afford to go. He changed the subject when friends asked why he didn't apply for financial aid. Relief has replaced whatever doubts the 21-year-old Davila held about the resource center that opened last fall and serves an estimated 200 Davis students lacking lawful immigration status. Located in the heart of campus in a building that also houses programs for American Indian, black, Latino, Southwest Asian and LGBT students, it's become his go-to place to hang out between classes. With immigration reform stalled in Congress, a small but growing number of colleges are rolling out their own welcome mats for young people residing in the country illegally or, like Davila, under temporary deportation reprieves.
Schools in California, Illinois and other states with large immigrant populations are offering inhouse grants, scholarships from private donors, law clinics and additional support for such students. In the seven months since the UC Davis center opened with a
and telling me I'm doing good and I'm here for a reason and I can do anything,'' he said. St. Peter's University in New Jersey announced in November that it was creating a center like the one at UC Davis. Emory University in Atlanta, New York University and Tufts University out-
University of California, Berkeley students walk through Sather Gate on the Berkeley, Calif., campus
$500,000 budget and a full-time director, Davila has received legal advice on studying abroad, career and mental health counseling - and a sense of belonging. ``It's been really empowering for me to have people outside my immediate family encouraging me
side Boston plan to start allowing immigrant students enrolled this fall to compete with U.S. citizens for need-based financial aid. ``The things we do for our undocumented students are no different than what we should do for all of our students, which is help
H1B visa lowers wages, negligible impact on patents WASHINGTON: Contrary to popular perception, H-1B visas have insignificant impact on new patents in the short term and also results in lower wages, according to a study. "We demonstrate that H-1Bs given to a firm on average do not raise the firm's patenting and/or other employment, contrary to firms' frequent claims," the three authors of the study 'The Effects
1Bs replace other workers to some extent, are paid less than alternative workers, and increase the firm's profits (despite little, if any, effect on firm patenting)," the authors write. They argue that new H-1Bs cause no significant increase in firm employment. "New H-1Bs substantially and statistically significantly crowd out median employment of other
The study by major US IT firms, briefed to Congressional staffers last month, states that every foreign- born worker in the US with a US STEM degree creates 2.62 jobs for US-born workers. It also said that every H1B visa holder creates 1.83 jobs in the US. of High-Skilled Immigration on Firms: Evidence from H-1B Visa Lotteries,' write. "Overall our results are more consistent with the second [ie, the critics'] narrative, in which H-
workers," they said. The new study is quite contrary to the widely believed fact that foreign workers create American jobs. "Our results are consistent
with the possibility that H-1B and non-H-1B workers are perfect substitutes. This is notable in light of frequent claims that H1Bs have unique skills that cannot easily be obtained elsewhere," they said. However, the study by major US IT firms, briefed to Congressional staffers last month, states that every foreign- born worker in the US with a US STEM degree creates 2.62 jobs for USborn workers. It also said that every H-1B visa holder creates 1.83 jobs in the US. H-1B visas awarded between 2010 and 2013 will create more than 700,000 jobs for US-born workers by 2020. The study was undertaken by three economist authors - Kirk Doran of the University of Notre Dame in Indiana, Alexander Gelber of the University of California, Berkeley, and Adam Isen of the Office of Tax Analysis at the US Department of the Treasury. -PTI
them succeed,'' said Daniel Lopez, associate vice president for student affairs at Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, which has assigned an adviser and trained faculty to work with about 265 Eastern European, Korean and Latin American students. The efforts build on the passage in at least 21 states of laws or policies allowing unauthorized immigrants to pay resident tuition rates at public institutions. Those immigrants are often referred to as ``Dreamers'' after the long-delayed federal DREAM Act that would create a path to citizenship for some immigrant U.S. high school graduates. The trend has not been without controversy. After California State University, Long Beach created a staffed meeting place for its estimated 650 Dreamers in March, members of the College Republicans chapter at the school asked the system's governing board to intervene. So far, the Board of Trustees has declined. ``We just think the university is doing special treatment to this one group of students instead of spending the $96,000 that went to
the center in a way that would benefit everybody, including undocumented students,'' said Nestor Moto Jr., the chapter's chairman. Immigrant youth in California have found an unexpected ally in Napolitano, a former Homeland Security secretary. The state is one of five where students who are ineligible for federal aid and loans because of their immigration status can apply for state financial aid. Undocumented students and supporters previously argued that Napolitano had overseen a record number of deportations as head of the federal agency, and they were the most vocal critics of her 2013 appointment to lead the 10campus UC system. After assuming the post, Napolitano pledged $5 million to support UC's unauthorized immigrant students, estimated at about 2,000 this year. Money has been directed to financial aid and to fund the Davis student center and related offices at six other campuses. Two lawmakers have proposed expanding to the rest of the state's public universities and 112 community colleges. -AP
Hillary Clinton challenges Bush on immigration Cont'd from Page 44
As he does in most public appearances, Bush cited ``11 million people that should come out from the shadows and receive earned legal status'' at his speech to the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference. Such immigrants, he said, should be required to pay taxes, work and not receive government benefits. Bush's aides view Clinton's comments as a direct criticism and a sign that Democrats are worried about losing Hispanic votes to him. Bush is fluent in Spanish and uses it in his campaign. His wife is from Mexico, and he has lived in Venezuela and Puerto Rico. Bush wrote in his 2013 book ``Immigration Wars'' that withholding citizenship would be a suitable penalty for people who have entered the U.S. illegally. But Clint Bolick, his co-author and an adviser, said Bush would sign legislation that confers citizenship as long as he found other parts of the bill acceptable. On that point, ``he's open to compromise,'' Bolick told The Associated Press recently. Bush aides said Bolick's comments accurately reflect Bush's position.
Meanwhile Bush's Republican rival Marco Rubio has emphasized his own Cuban-American heritage and his family's humble roots. After failing to win support for his own legislation, which would have offered citizenship to immigrants in the country illegally if they met certain conditions, the Florida senator still supports giving them the opportunity to apply for permanent residency as long as they have not broken other laws. Sen. Rand Paul voted against Rubio's bill but says the millions of people in the country illegally cannot all be sent home. Even Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a conservative favorite who has been relatively consistent in opposing what he calls ``amnesty,'' does not close the door on a pathway to legal status. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who had endorsed citizenship but changed his mind in March, privately told Republicans in early voting states that he still supports a process to allow legal status. Walker recently tweeted that Clinton's ``full embrace of amnesty is unfair to hardworking Americans and immigrants who followed the law to achieve these rights.'' -AP
Datebook
May 15, 2015
NEW JERSEY Upcoming
NEW YORK Upcoming
Sun, May 17
Sat, May 23
Venue: Yvonne Theater, Rider University, 2083 Lawrence Rd, Lawrence Township, NJ 08648 Time : 3:00 pm Contact: 609-912-0951
Venue: Hunter College, 69th St. between Park and Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10065 Time : 7:30 pm
• Prayaanam - A Journey (An Indian classical dance event)
Sun, May 24 • 1st South Asian Festival 2015
• Demonstrators condemn attacks on immigrants
Sat, May 23 • An Unique South Indian Carnatic Duo Violin Concert
Venue: Garden State Exhibit Center, 50 Atrium Dr, Franklin Township, NJ 08873 Time: 10:00 am Contact: 732-910-6227
Venue: Hunter College, 69th St. between Park and Lexington Ave., New York, NY 10065 Time : 7:30 pm
Fri, May 29
Fri, May 29
• A Night of Chicks and Cheers
• A Night of Chicks and Cheers
Venue: Jewel of India (Hotel 999), 999 U.S. 1, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 732-822-6163
Venue: Jewel of India (Hotel 999), 999 U.S. 1, North Brunswick Township, NJ 08902 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 732-822-6163
India Post 47
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NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
CHICAGO
Upcoming
Upcoming
Sat, May 16 • Vaisakhi Mela 2015 Venue: Hansen Dam Soccer Field, 11770 Foothill Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91342 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 818-835-3374
Sun, May 17 • Hasya Kavi Sammelan
Sat, May 16 • Isayum Thendral - The Healing Breeze Venue: Marsee Performing Center, 16007 Crenshaw Blvd, Torrance, CA 90506 Time: 5:00 pm Contact: 2132191970
Campus Drive, Arcadia (Los Angeles), CA
Sun, May 17 • Rahet Fateh Ali Khan live in Los Angeles
91007
Venue: Pasadena Civic Auditorium, 300
Time: 4:00 pm
Green St, Pasadena, CA 91101
Contact: (626) 445-8233
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Arcadia Community Center Hall, 365
Contact: 213-422-2475
Sun, May 24 • Shaan And Little Champs Live In Los Angeles Venue: The Terrace Theatre, 300 East Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802 Time: 06:00 pm
Sat Jun 6 • Vocab Bee 2015 in Sherman Oaks Venue: ALOHA Mind Math | Reading | Writing - Sherman Oaks, 12501 Chandler Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91607 Time: 11:30 am Contact: 747-300-1015
Wed, Jun 10 • Jbl Presents A.R.Rahman The Intimate Concert Venue: Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE, 777 Chick Hearn Ct, Los Angeles, CA 90015 Time: 8:00 am Contact: 207-401-9800
ATLANTA Upcoming Sun, May 17 • Paracha Entertainment Shaan Live In Concert Venue: The Fabulous Fox Theater, 660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30375 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 404-576-8909
Sat, May 30 • Amjad Sabri Live In Concert Venue: 5th Avenue Event Hall, 2720 Mall of GA Blvd, Buford, GA 30519 Time: 8:30 pm
Mon, Aug 31 • MITHAS 2014 Membership Venue: Wong Auditorium, MIT, 70 Memorial Dr, Cambridge, MA 02142 Time: 07:00 pm Contact: 857-205-9731
ILLINOIS Upcoming 1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's Bal Mukund Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807
Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105
Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105
Swami Ishatmananda • Bhagavad Gita: Philosophy of life Venue: Public Library-95th Street 3015 Cedar Glade Rd Naperville IL 60564 Time: 1st friday of every month 7-8 pm Contact: 630-637-0662
• India Eternal: From the Vedic Age to the Present Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago 10915 N. Main Street Glendale Heights, IL 60139 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 630-655-8822
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Philosophy
May 15, 2015
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I
n answer to the question, "I don't see why knowledge is time," J. Krishnamurti said: I don't know how to ride a bicycle but it will take time to learn it. I don't know how to speak Russian, it will take time to learn it learn the language with all its knowledge will take time. Time to cover from here to there. And I require knowledge to go from here to there. So all knowledge, obviously, there is no question about this, all knowledge is time. And all knowledge is the past. No? Q: You don't need time at all, you can use knowledge now. K: Having accumulated knowledge as time you can use it in the present. Is that it? Yes? Now listen to that: having accumulated knowledge, which is, I have learnt English and I use that language, that knowledge in the present. Right? Which is obvious, I am doing it. I have in my relationship with you built knowledge about you. Right? And that has taken time and I use that knowledge in my relationship with you in the present. So I use the past to look at you in my relationship. I use the image which I have about you in my relationship, the image functions. So that image, which is the past, divides you and me. RABINDRANATH TAGORE
D
ear Mahatmaji. Power in all its forms is irrational, - it is like the horse that drags the carriage blindfolded. The moral element in it is only represented in the man who drives the horse. Passive resistance is a force which is not necessarily moral in itself; it can be used against truth as well as for it. The danger inherent in all force grows stronger when it is likely to gain success, for then it becomes temptation. I know your teaching is to fight against evil by the help of the good. But such a fight is for heroes and not for men led by impulses of the moment. Evil on one side naturally begets evil on the other, injustice leading to violence and insult to vengefulness. Unfortunately such a force has already been started, and either though panic or through wrath our authorities have shown us their claws whose sure effect is to drive some of us into the secret path of resentment and others into utter demoralization. In this crisis you, as a great leader of men, have stood among us to proclaim your faith in the ideal which you know to be that of India, - the ideal which is both against the cowardliness of hid-
Q: What if you are looking at an individual who is in himself the result of the past, then to see him mustn't you look also at the past because he is it? K: Of course. To look at myself, which is the past, do I use the eyes of the past to look at myself? Then there is no looking at myself. Q: They are my only eyes. K: Wait. I do not look at myself. I can only look at myself with eyes which are not of the past. It is obvious. Q: How can I change my mind instantly?
Right? Not instantly - I don't know if you see the point. I say, in all humility, that it can, otherwise I wouldn't be talking about it. I would be a hypocrite if I talked about it, then I would be indulging in ideas, which is stupid. You know sir, this whole problem of what place has knowledge is extraordinarily intricate, subtle, because you see on one side you need to have knowledge. I have to have knowledge to go from here to the place I live at, to drive a car, to speak this language, to recognize you, to play golf, tennis, to
say, 'Well it has a place', or 'It has no place' - that has no meaning. But to see the whole field of knowledge, and to see the whole field and where the knowledge is necessary, where it becomes a destructive thing, requires great intelligence. So is intelligence the product of time? Do listen to it. Don't agree or disagree. Is intelligence personal, yours or mine? Or is intelligence the seeing of this whole movement of knowledge? And to see it you must be highly sensitive, attentive, care, affection, love,
I can't look at myself with eyes of past I use the past to look at you in my relationship. I use the image which I have about you in my relationship, the image functions. So that image, which J. Krishnamurti
is the past, divides you and me.
K: Can the mind change instantly? That is, can the mind, which is of time, put together by time, put together by knowledge, put together by experience, can that whole mind - the mind being heart, the whole works - can that change radically outside of time?
go to the factory, to do anything, I must have knowledge. And yet I see knowledge has no place - or has it a place in human change? You are following all this? So it requires enormous wide and swift perception of this. Not a conclusion. I can conclude and
you must have, otherwise you can't see the beauty, the swiftness of intelligence. Excerpted from First Public Talk in Saanen, July 1973. The 111th birth anniversary of J. Krishnamurti was observed on May 11.
den revenge and the cowed submissiveness of the terror-stricken. You have said, as Lord Buddha did in his time - 'Conquer anger by the power of non-anger and evil by the power of good.' This power of good must prove its truth and strength by its fearlessness, by its refusal to accept any imposition which depends for its success upon its power to produce frightfulness and is not ashamed to use its machines of destruction to terrorize a popula-
whelming material power behind it is victory itself; - it is the victory of the active faith in the ideal in the teeth of evident defeat. I have always felt, and said accordingly, that the great gift of freedom can never come to a people through charity. We must win it before we can own it. And India's opportunity for winning it will come to her when she can prove that she is morally superior to the people who rule her by their right of conquest.
pose when it struts in the borrowed feathers of diplomatic dishonesty. This is why I pray most fervently that nothing that tends to weaken our spiritual freedom may intrude into your marching line, that martyrdom for the cause of truth may never degenerate into fanaticism for mere verbal forms, descending into the self-deception that hides itself behind sacred names. Excerpted from a 1919 letter
Passive resistance is not necessarily moral material power behind it is victory itself; - it is the
And you have come to your motherland in the time of her need to remind her of her mission, to lead her in the true path of conquest, to purge her present day politics of its feebleness which imagines that it has gained its pur-
ou can search through out the entire universe for someone who is more deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe deserve your love and affection.
W
hatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear them and be influenced by them for good or ill.
D
o not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
W
e are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.
o keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
stand against wrong which has overwhelming
tion completely disarmed. We must know that moral conquest does not consist in success, that failure does not deprive it of its dignity and worth. Those who believe in spiritual life know that to stand against wrong which has over-
Y
T
Those who believe in spiritual life know that to
victory of the active faith in the ideal
GAUTAM BUDDHA
Rabindranath Tagore
to Mahatma Gandhi contained in 'The English Writings of Rabindranath Tagore: A Miscellany', published by Sahitya Akademi, 1996. The 154th birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore was observed on May 8
T
housands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.
sure yourself FIRST. Call Sahanis, (Arish, Priya or Shiv) for your Insurance needs 718- 271- 0453. Serving for last 35 yrs
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B
orn with a silver spoon in his mouth, mind sharing screen space with other leading Salman Khan, 49, the eldest son of actors of his era - Sanjay Dutt in "Saajan" (1991), writer Salim Khan, has had an easy Aamir Khan in "Andaz Apna Apna" (1994) - a ride into Bollywood. box office failure, which years later became a cult Though he made his acting debut as a sup- film for its humorous dialogues - and Shah Rukh porting actor in the 1988 film "Biwi Ho To Aisi", it was his charming boyish The Bollywood sweetheart has got looks in the 1989 film "Maine Pyar Kiya" that helped catapult him to fame bail after having been sentenced to at the age of 25, and give him a strong five years in prison by a sessions female fan base. From playing a lover boy to crusader court in Mumbai. The 2002 accident for justice, the superstar has charmed had resulted in the death of one many and hit the jackpot numerous times with films like "Kick", "Dabangg" person and injury to four others and "Ek Tha Tiger" in his almost threedecade-long career. The fact that his brothers produced some of his films helped. Khan in "Karan Arjun" (1995). But it was his run-in with the law that raised The stepson of yesteryear's dancing diva his notoriety quotient. Helen, Salman featured in his star brothers Sohail The Bollywood sweetheart has got bail after and Arbaaz's film productions like "Pyaar Kiya having been sentenced to five years in prison To Darna Kya", "Main Aurr Mrs Khanna" and by a sessions court in Mumbai. The 2002 acci- "Dabangg". dent had resulted in the death of one person The "Biwi No. 1" star might have commenced his acting journey as a man all women would love to be with, but in recent years he started creating a name for himself in the action genre by starring in movies like "Wanted", "Ready", "Bodyguard" and "Kick". He even entertained the masses as a host of TV shows like "Bigg Boss" and "10 Ka Dum". Though the and injury to four others. latter didn't click with the audience, "Bigg Boss" The actor is also facing trial for hunting a - a controversial reality show that has completed black buck, a protected species, during the eight seasons - has been one of the reasons why shooting of "Hum Saath Saath Hain" in 1998. even non-couch potatoes chose to stick to the Two parallel cases are running against him - one small screen. under the Wildlife Act and the other under the Fondly called "Sallu bhai" by many, he is also Arms Act. known for launching the careers of actresses like Even as the actor landed in legal trouble, he Daisy Shah, Sneha Ullal and Zarine Khan and comwas busy giving box office hits. posers such as Himesh Reshammiya and SajidEarlier, on his way to superstardom, he didn't Wajid. A lot of actors have also gone on record to say they are indebted to Salman. He has been an inspiration to many, especially when it comes to
TWO VIEWS: Page 51 imitating his 'six-pack abs', including actors like Hrithik Roshan and Arjun Kapoor, who did away with their weighty issues, thanks to Salman. In fact, Arjun also featured in the popular song "Superman...Salman ka fan" from "Tevar" film. Salman also runs a Being Human Foundation, which supports underprivileged people in India. Started in 2007 in partnership with various companies, the foundation takes initiatives in the field of education and healthcare. With over Rs.200 crore riding on him, his diehard fans across the globe may only be eagerly waiting for his films - "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" and "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo" - to hit the screens. The infamy associated with his sentencing may even add to the popularity of the films.-PTI
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Give him 'Dushman' like punishment A.Q. SIDDIQUI
P
erhaps no other court case has attracted as much me dia attention as Salman Khan's Hit & Run case in recent times. For over two weeks social, electronics and print media have been focusing on Salman Khan hit & run case. The news matters, but here comments on social media were more interesting than the news itself. Someone commented that why people should sleep on streets. Soon he was prompted by many to withdraw his comment as it went against the privilege of many pavement dwellers! Most interesting was the comment in a newspaper that suggested Salman Khan should be punished same way as a judge awards punishment to Rajesh Khanna in Bollywood movie Dushman. It is an interesting coincidence that Salman Khan's hit and run case is similar to the story of 70's famous movie Dushman. In Dushman, the judge asks him to take care of deceased family and tells local police to ensure that convict remains within the village. The Indian TV news media have repeatedly shown the family of
Abdul Siddiqui
victim Nurullah who died in Salman Khan's car crash case. News anchors interviewed the victim's widow and mother and showed the family living in pathetic conditions with no one to support them. Why the public prosecutor has not demanded ransom and support from Salman Khan for the
widow of victim Nurullah who died in the crash? Did the sessions court judge ask Salman Khan if he intends to support the family of deceased and others who were
family of victims. Why no editorial is written by major newspapers urging sessions court to include the victim's family for justice. Now the case is under Mumbai
injured? In an earlier NDTV interview Salman Khan had himself commented that a Dabang judge is needed to close the pending court cases against him. In reality, the sessions court and public prosecutor should have focused for more justice for the victims rather than punishment for Salman Khan. Salman Khan gets punishment, he goes to jail and law meets its end but what about the victims? Who is going to take care of them? The victim's widow and mother spoke to several TV news cameras that having no earning person in family it is hard for them to get daily meals. Will someone heed to that? The media is also silent, except few news channels showing the
High court review. Let there be a social media campaign for justice to victims. The High court must weigh compensation to victims in ratio for punishment to Salman Khan. The more he needs freedom, the more he should pay to victims. Personally, I feel a Dabang judge should ask Salman Khan to take the victim's widow and mother to his house and treat them as his own family. That would be a justice meeting both ends. It is the responsibility of Salman Khan to support the family of the victim who died in the crash and also help others who were seriously injured and incapacitated. Have comment? Please email sidakl@yahoo.com.
'Shame on you, Salman'
J
SREEMOYEE PIU KUNDU
ust when you are impressed with justice in this country, you are bound to be disappointed. Shame on you, Salman Khan. For all your Being Human bhaigiri and your adopted sister, you are just a miserable drunk, animal hunting, woman beating, drugged out, intellectually depraved, law abusing son of a rich and famous father who cheated on his wife and now lives with his wife, and mistress. Lacking the basic moral courage to call his spoilt son a criminal. A bunch of failed siblings all living off Salman's reflected glory. And for the stars, socialites and fans supporting this giant asshole who should get nothing less than his full term of ten years in jail, if not more, you deserve this shithole of a nation scams, crooks and corruption at every level. Shame on you Harsh Salve. Selling your soul time and again, to callous celebs who wield political power and huge monetary influence, instead of using your fancy legal degree to help those in need - yes, I mean men and women and children living on the streets. For defending another crook who for the last 12 years has bastardized the system, being arrogant enough to miss most of his hearings, trying to use false witnesses and involve his poor driver Ashok Singh, buying out his loyalty. Shame on you prosecution and Mumbai police - for not dragging back singer Kamal Khan, another giant loser with an accent, who was sitting behind Khan when he drove over the innocent pavement dwell-
ers. How is he even allowed to leave this country when he's a key material witness? Shame on you Bollywood producers and directors, lining up outside the Khan residence as if there is a condolence meeting in session, ass-licking an aging star who will help you get rid of your ill begotten wealth and substandard scripts - catering to a bunch of losers who watch this trash, year, after year, after year. Earning you another 100 crores of black money borrowed from Dawood, or some other Bhai, based in Dubai, in all probability. Shame India. These are your Heroes. This is your judiciary. This is your real face. And do yourselves a favor,
Sreemoyee Piu Kundu
screw the charity theory. The he's got a heart of gold. The million examples of how Salman Khan helps people in need. It doesn't count when you drive drunk. Shoot a black buck. Bash up and abuse the women you love. And bribe your way to freedom after killing a man. Feeling sorry doesn't justify what you did, or make your guilt any less. You don't know Salman Khan personally, you just watch his films!" Delhi-based author Sreemoyee Piu Kundu (originally from Calcutta), wrote this open letter of sorts on her FB page.
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Fashion throwback to the 1970s this summer NEW DELHI: Soft tinted pastels and nature inspired neutral shades teamed with comfy silhouettes are the trends in fashion and make up for this summer season, a throwback to the style of the 1970s, say industry experts. "Box type tees and tops in women's western wear are trending this season. In ethnic wear flax fabric in white and light colors, indigo collection, leggings in bamboo fabric are hotshots. Neon color lingerie is trending. For men it is Linen and Oxford shirts," says Seema Varma, Creative-Vice President at fashion portal Fashionara.com. From military or khaki to oversized, from romantic lace to gingham checks and sultry sheers lengthens the legs and evens out midsections while seamlessly taking one into the scorching season. "Fashion has come to a full circle this summer with trends of the 1970s making a big comeback on the runway. Boyfriend denims, fringe, suede, crop t o p s , polo necks, chokers, palazzos, jumpsuits, midi-lengths, tote bags, moccasins, platform heels are all in," Praveen Sinha, MD and founder of Jabong told PTI.
The bohemian trend which has a carefree and romantic aura with flowy, dreamy, soft silhouettes, pretty prints and small detailing, is back. Tassels which are known for adding movement and richness are making a comeback with simple fabrics to laid-back outfits. Cooler and softer side of the color spectrum with an eclectic mix of understated brights, pale pastels and nature-like neutrals also take centre stage this season. A lot of retro delights, folkloric and floral art and tropical landscapes restore a sense of well-being. "The new ethnic collection comprises of comfortable fit garments with conventional weave, pastel colors, graphic designs and color blocks for daily routine and outings. "Western wear has lot of floral prints and summer colors. Digital prints are hot in swimwear collection! Solids and yarn dyed checks casual shirts, printed T Shirts and denims are trending in men's fashion," says Varma. J a b o n g launched its Spring/Summer collection recently with brands like Tom Tailor and Miss Bennett London. The summer designs of Tom Tailor get their inspiration from very different places around the world. The collection of Miss
Bennett London has an underlying music-festival vibe and has a mix of ensembles like crop tops,
mini dresses enhanced with floral, marble and graphic prints mixed with elements like track pants and sneakers. "This fresh and new SpringSummer line is based on palette of grey, charcoal, black, white, cobalt, royal blue, wine red, pink, neon and shades of blush," says Sinha. Think fresh faces and statement lips with unkempt bold brows and the no makeup trend continues to reign this season also but with a lot of textures and matte finishes and pastel shades like lavender, lilac, aubergine and the season's new Marsala. "Marsala is a matte deep brick red color which is lighter than red but darker than pink. It is the best
suited color for Indian skin. The make-up this season is more about balancing with dark eye-shadow nude lips are in style and with loud lips no eye-shadow is in vogue," says Taneja, a Guinness World record holder and expert on beauty. With the mercury rising, the day-to-day beauty routine too requires modification. With all the heat and sweat, the last thing one needs is to worry, says Taneja, is about blotchy makeup and smudged kajal, which accentuates dark circles and that makes the eyes look tired. "Graphic eyeliners are hot sellers of the season and was quite visible at the recent fashion weeks both nationally and internationally. You can wear it anywhere from college to office to party to weddings. Cobalt blues, emerald greens and other such colors give nice shape to eyes and makes them bold," says Taneja. Delhi-based makeup artist Shweta Sachani whose make-up style has gained popularity among in the fashion industry emphasizes the importance of taking care of one's skin during summer. "It is very important to take care of your skin during summer months. There is no doubt we need to use SPF. When you remove makeup - use good oil based
makeup remover to cleanse your skin and use a non alcohol toner. This will keep your skin balanced," says Sachani. The make up artist has given the lips an instead update by going for the ombre technique which entails starting off with a light hand and applying a dark color in the centre and gradually going lighter moving out to the corners. "The ombre technique helps accentuate or give a pout look to the lips and is usually done with dark color shades. Celebrities like Madonna, Beyonce have set the ball rolling for this season's trendy lips," says Taneja. Similarly, structured dos and
ponytails that were a rage in the 1970s are back in fashion. "Braided ponytails are back in fashion. Fusion braids, twisted or just simple ponytails have been seen on the runway this season," says Taneja. -PTI
Woman turns to power lifting after heart attack RAPID CITY, S.D.: Two years ago, Kat Colson, then 63, went for a hike that turned out to be more than a few hours on the trail, but rather the beginning of a new and totally unexpected journey in her life. ``My arms got kind of heavy, which alarmed me, and it turned out that I had suffered a mild heart attack,'' Colson, of Rapid City, said. ``It wasn't that severe, I guess, just a blocked artery requiring a stent, but nonetheless, the occurrence came as a complete surprise to me. I had always eaten healthily and thought I was relatively fit, though apparently my arteries weren't, so yeah, it scared me quite a bit.'' Just two years after that heart attack, and less than a year after she started serious weight train-
ing, she competed in an American Powerlifting Federation meet in Omaha, Nebraska, on April 11 and set national records for her age
Rapid City Journal reported. About a year after recovering from the heart attack, she went to Hurricane Fitness to work out with
Kat Colson
group. She got into weightlifting more by happenstance than design, the
a personal trainer to get her fitness level up. ``And about three or four
months into the fitness training,'' Colson said, ``Will Hayford, my trainer at Hurricane Fitness, introduced me to weightlifting. I fell in love with the sport, and last September I started training for power lifting.'' After watching Hayford perform in a power lifting meet, Colson took the leap into competition on her 65th birthday at the meet in Omaha. She set three American power lifting records in her age group in the squat (188 pounds), bench (99), and dead lift (232). ``I did it just to do it, I guess, and really didn't know what to expect, though I knew what the records were and hoped that I would break them,'' said Colson, a Douglas High School graduate, former law enforcement officer in
California, and current investigator with the South Dakota Department of Social Services. She beat the records by between 10 and 58 pounds. What she did after just six months of training amazed her coach. ``Definitely a unique accomplishment,'' Hayford said. ``Kat has been with us less than a year, but she has great will and determination and always makes her sessions and always pushes hard and works out to the extent of her abilities. Actually, sometimes, we have to pull the reins back and slow her down a bit.'' Hayford emphasized that Colson's gains in physical strength have come because of her own will and determination. Cont'd on Page 53
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Lisa Haydon to judge 'India's Next Top Model'
A
fter receiving accolades and applauds for her performance in films like Queen and The Shaukeens, Lisa Haydon is all set to try her hands on a reality show. No, she won't be a contes tant on any of them but will turn judge for MTV's India's Next Top Model. The actress who has been a successful model for many years, has decided to be a part of this show, which goes on floor in July. Excited about this, Lisa mentioned that she decided to sign on the dotted line since the show was designed on the lines of its international
'Rape' book author gets applause & heckling MISSOULA, Mont.: A Missoula audience gave the bestselling author of a book about the city's mishandling of rape cases a standing ovation and then booed a heckler who had elbowed his way to the stage and called Jon Krakauer a liar. Krakauer is the author of the new book ``Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town,'' which is No. 4 on
“The actress has a fair idea of the kind of model she is looking for and has decided to have an open mind as a judge of the show� counterpart (America's Next Top Model). She also added that she has been approached by the makers many number of times and hence she wanted to give it a try. The actress has a fair idea of the kind of model she is looking for and has decided to have an open mind as a judge of the show. Speculation is on the rise that Deepika Padukone and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan have been approached for the show. However, Lisa Haydon maintains that she is not aware of any details about her co-judges.
College fashion students prepare for industry success COLUMBIA, Mo.: After a week of handling merchandise worth millions at the 2012 PGA Championship, Stephens College graduate Caroline Sheridan decided that fashion goes beyond designer clothes or labels. ``From a sporting side,'' Sheridan told the Columbia Missourian, I mean, it's huge.'' During a sevenweek internship with the PGA, Sheridan worked with 34 vendors, meshing her studies in fashion marketing and management with her passion for golf. ``It was just like a dream come true,'' she said. ``To be able to blend the two together and find something that really was a great fit.'' After graduating two years ago, Sheridan continued to work in the sports fashion industry. She's now full time with the PGA in its merchandising and membership offices, dealing with big-name wholesalers such as Nike and Under Armour on a regular basis. ``I felt very prepared from what
I learned at Stephens,'' Sheridan said. ``It really teaches and leads us to a path of what we will be doing for the next four years.'' Sheridan and others in the School of Design at Stephens say the collaborative, trade-based
courses led by a staff of industry professionals prepare them well for the rapidly changing fashion business. In December, the program was ranked among some of the top 50 fashion schools in the world. Students can choose to specialize in fashion communication, marketing and management, or
design and product development. In each, students learn a variety of skills, from writing business plans to making shoes. These skills prepare students for jobs as technical or associate designers with brands such as Rebecca Taylor, or to develop their own companies and labels. Some venture into media or public relations professions as event planners, staff writers and graphic designers. Others serve the business side of fashion as brand and customer service analysts or merchandisers. As a member merchandising account executive for PGA, Sheridan said one of her most useful classes was a retail math course that taught her how to negotiate and talk business with clients. ``I am constantly speaking with wholesalers on a national and global level,'' Sheridan said. ``It has given me the foundation for everything that I do from a day-today basis.'' Beyond the core classes, students can refine a career path with electives such as ``Crafting Sustainable Community.'' Each year, students in this course use materials, from plastic bags to takeout boxes, to create dresses that promote breast cancer awareness.-AP
Jon Krakauer
the New York Times' hardcover nonfiction best-seller list. The book uses the stories of several women from the University of Montana to illustrate the problems faced by rape victims nationwide in persuading police and prosecutors to pursue their cases. Krakauer previously said he wasn't planning a tour or any other public appearances to promote the book, but he wanted to give critics in Missoula the chance to confront him. Instead, he received an enthusiastic welcome and applause throughout his interview
with University of Montana Journalism School Dean Larry Abramson before a standing-room only crowd of more than 550 people. That warmth was shattered when a man who identified himself as Missoula attorney Thomas Dove made his way to the front of the room just as the interview ended, called Krakauer a liar, accused him of bias and of breaking the law by citing confidential documents in his book. The crowd tried to shout down Dove, while a few others disappointed that Krakauer did not take questions from the audience demanded that Dove have his say. Krakauer started to answer Dove's questions, but eventually became exasperated and walked out of the room as the crowd became more hostile toward Dove. Dove and another man continued shouting after Krakauer as the crowd dispersed. Earlier, the best-selling author of ``Into the Wild'' and ``Into Thin Air'' said rape is a serious crime that is not taken seriously, and he called on universities to step up their pursuit of rapists on campus. The criminal justice system has a high legal burden to convict a rapist, and as a result, many offenders end up walking away, he said. Universities have a lower legal threshold to discipline sexual offenders, but they don't do enough to hold rapists accountable, he said.-AP
Woman turns to power lifting after heart attack Cont'd from Page 52
``One of the cool things about power lifting is you are really competing against yourself,'' Hayford said. ``And Kat did that constantly, competing against herself, and in the process ended up better than other ladies her age have ever been.'' As for her quick journey to the top of the power lifting record books, Colson credits good luck, an excellent trainer and workout environment at Hurricane Fitness. She also acknowledges a certain restlessness in her personality may have made a difference. ``I work out three days a week, (and) actually I'm going to start going on Sundays, too,'' Colson said. ``... I can't sit still, and I have to do something. And so I will con-
tinue to lift and hopefully be able to improve and beat my own records.'' In her rehab program after her heart attack, she had done some lifting and liked it. ``I liked the feeling of the power and the feeling of getting my strength back and keeping my bone density up, which is very important for women as they get older,'' Colson said. While setting national records might not be in reach of everyone, Colson doesn't see age as an obstacle. She is a strong believer that health benefits abound for those willing to push themselves and a little iron. ``And I'm 100 percent behind lifting, especially for women,'' she said. ``What can I say?'' she added. ``It's fun, too.'' -AP
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China's grand strategy to change global status-quo India Post
VICE ADMIRAL (RETD) VIJAY SHANKAR
C
hina has historically held that a state's comprehensive national power (CNP) is the index of its sway in the global order. Amongst the various attributes that in aggregate make for the CNP, it considers military and economic power to be pivotal. Given the nature of its political dispensation, the weightage between the two elements becomes clear when we hark back to Mao's very pithy maxim that "political power grows out of the barrel of a gun." In this frame of reference, a long-term strategic approach to force planning and development of power structures is intrinsic to Chinese thought. Also emerging is that the primary aim of China's grand strategy is to bring about a transformation in the existing global power status-quo. Significantly, in globalization and the multi polar dynamics that the end of the cold war heralded, China has sensed a strategic opportunity to alter and redefine the existing state of international affairs. Its dazzling economic rise has been accompanied by unparalleled military growth and ambitions of leadership on its terms. The surge from out of its de-
politics of competitive resource access, maritime territorial acquisitiveness and provocative strategies such as the "anti-access area denial" strategy that it has launched. Unfortunately, within this strategic milieu, the content of Kamlesh Agnihotri's book does not quite do justice to its pur-
BOOK REVIEW Title: Strategic Direction of the PLA Navy: Capability and Intent Assessment Author: Kamlesh K Agnihotri Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt Ltd New Delhi (2015) ported central theme of "Strategic Direction" of the Chinese Navy, as it remains, for most part, rooted to the operational canvas. The book addresses three main issues: firstly, a very brief maritime overview touching the history of the PLAN, maritime missions and organizational structures; secondly, status of the PLAN (75 of 149 pages, it forms the bulk of the book and is concerned more with inventory,
China’s aircraft carrier Liaoning
fensive maritime perimeters into the Indian Ocean, the Arctic and Antarctic is one manifestation; while grandiose schemes such as the maritime silk road, which when shorn of all commercial hype, bares a proprietary set of sea lines of communication which will accelerate its drive to draw Africa and the Indian Ocean littorals into its resource access network, is another manifestation. Gone is the power bashfulness of the Deng era; and in its place is the conviction that the worldneeds-China-more-than-Chinathe-world. Against this backdrop is the
strategic theory of a nation's maritime power development is primarily to engender amongst its populace a maritime temper and then put in place policies that define control, security and use of oceanic spaces on the one hand, while generating matching forces and infrastructure that enable these policies on the other.
modernization and build programs) leaving the reader groping for the larger purpose that would explicate the growth of China's Navy; and lastly, in a quick sweep, 10 pages are devoted to making an assessment of the impact of the PLAN in the Indian Ocean Region from the operational perspective. The author concludes with a cryptic "mind it" moment declaring that "[t]hus, maintaining a clear perspective on holistic Chinese maritime endeavors will well serve interests of larger global community including those of India." The principal demand of the
To remain consistent with such a strategic theory, the aspiring nation (China in this case) must attain a strategic posture that firstly inspires a maritime outlook within and then field forces that would permit control, security and unimpeded use of the seas of interest. An oceanic outlook, ability to control sea spaces, security of control and exploitation of the seas is the relationship that strategically makes for maritime power. The question then arises, has China arrived? Not quite, must be the answer. Will it ever arrive? Quite clearly, unless it adopts a cooperative construct that abhors re-writing rule books, there is no way that her hegemonic maritime aspirations can be fulfilled. To the book's merit is the exhaustive research the author has brought to bear, in order to come up with this coherent operational study of the PLAN. Maritime force analysts, planners and students will find this book not just timely but essential reading to glean deeper understanding of what makes the PLAN tick. Given the nature of the subject and the sparse availability of authentic information on this theme, the book is an insightful and compelling read. It must be seen as a major contribution to our knowledge of China's Navy. The writer is former Commander-in-Chief, Strategic Forces Command of India and Distinguished Fellow IPCS
Judiciary in dock
T
he Indian government has passed a law in Parliament which abolishes the earlier system of appointment of judges by the judges community itself, which was called the Collegium. The appointment of judges will now be made by the National judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) which comprises the Chief Justice of India (Chairperson); two other senior judges of the Supreme Court next to the Chief Justice of India; the Union Minister of Law and Justice; two eminent persons to be nominated by a committee consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Prime Minister of India and the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. This new law has been challenged in the Supreme Court with the judges asking the Attorney General to provide "one" instance where the Collegium had erred in appointments of judges. The Attorney General cited the case of how a 59-year-old woman lawyer, who happened to be a close relative of the then Chief Justice of India, was appointed as a judge in the Calcutta High Court. He went on to provide more such instances of nepotism and motivated appointments. The judges went on the defensive after this. There was a time during UPA rule when the judiciary had been overreaching itself to take to task the executive for its acts of omission and commission. The executive and the media called it judicial activism which refers to judicial rulings suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than on existing law. It is sometimes used as an antonym of judicial restraint. The time now is to look at the conduct of the judiciary itself particularly with a spate of current judgments where the rich, high and mighty have been acquitted or let off lightly. Among the glaring cases are the acquittal of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa in the Rs 66.6 crore disproportionate assets case; the bail granted to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan after his conviction in a hit-and-run case and the bail granted to Satyam scam convict B. Rajmalinga Raju and the suspension of his seven year rigorous imprisonment sentence. What is common in these cases is that all of them are the rich and mighty - a dominating politician; a Bollywood superstar and a top businessman. According to a report in Times of India, for the majority of ordinary undertrials in the country it takes a minimum of over three months to get bail. According to government data, over 60% of undertrials spend more than three months in jail before they can secure release. The prolonged incarceration is due to the inability of these undertrials to get bail. But for people like Salman Khan, in whose case the people are convinced that he was guilty; the bail was obtained within three hours of application. Also glaring in these cases is the time that has taken for the courts to arrive at their verdicts: 19 years in the case of Jayalalithaa; 13 years in the case of Salman Khan and six years in the case of B. Rajmalinga Raju. There can be a deliberate ploy of the guilty rich to prolong and delay their trial and the judiciary gives them enough scope to do this. But the long delay in cases of ordinary people is an indictment of the judiciary. In the absence of a verdict the poor continue to languish in jail for years even when they may not be guilty. Ordinary people have already lost faith in the politicians in power and bureaucracy. But they had faith in the judiciary as the ultimate conscience keeper of the country. When judiciary gives judgments with so much of contradiction between one judge and the other and providing bail and relief to the convicted actor and politicians with great speed, and with many judges in India already having been accused of corrupt practices in the past, people are beginning to have doubts about judiciary also.
May 15, 2015
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