IndiaPost_05-18-2012 by Ghanshyam Bisht

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VOL 17, No. 922

May 18, 2012

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Periodical Postage

INDIA RESISTS U.S. PRESSURE ON IRAN

Friend of India Richard Lugar loses election

Vishakha Desai

Asia Society's India-born Prez stepping down Details on page 7

FinMin to recover Rs 20,300cr tax from Vodafone

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India attracts highest ever FDI of $ 8.1 bn Details on page 18 Krittika Biswas

Obama hails Saund as trailblazer

Indian diplomat's daughter files lawsuit

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New Delhi offers the cheapest club sandwich

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 22-23 Classifieds ------------------------- 47 Community Post -------------- 10-17 Date Book -------------------------- 46

Details on page 9 WARM SMILES: US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on May 7

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Can India continue friendship with Iran? Last week’s result

New mobile app will expose racial profiting? YES 47%

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NEW DELHI: Resisting US pressure to further scale down oil imports from sanction-hit Iran, India has made it clear that it has to look at the issue involved beyond the energy trade as it has "vital" security stakes in the Gulf region. After talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during which she asked India to restrict its trade and energy ties with Tehran, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said, "I conveyed our vital stakes in peace and stability in

the Persian Gulf and wider West Asian region, given the six million Indians who live there and the region's importance to our economy." Clinton, who was here on her last leg of three-nation Asia tour, has been pressing India to "do more" to scale down its oil imports from Iran to keep pressure on Tehran to meet international demands on its disputed nuclear program.

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Horoscope ------------------------- 28 Immigration Post ------------- 34-36 India ---------------------------------- 37 Life Style ----------------------- 24-27 Philosophy ------------------------- 48 Publisherís Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 42-45 TechBiz Post ------------------- 18-21 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 29-31

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he relentless international pressure on Iran led by the US has added one more dilemma to the beleaguered UPA government of India. The sanctions seem to be working and bringing Iran to the negotiation table to discuss its nuclear program may be one of the foreign policy aims of President Obama in this tough election year. To that end the US is pressing all countries to stop business with Iran. That leaves India in a bind. Not keen to be seen bending to US dictates, it is privately cutting down on imports from Iran, but is still making up to Iran with deals like export of wheat and sugar in exchange for oil. During her three-day visit to India, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton increased the pressure a few more notches saying though India has reduced dependence on Iran oil, "it needs to do more" (language so far reserved for Pakistan). But Clinton also sympathized with India which had to take tough decisions at a time when it is "desperate to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and keep the lights on." To help them strategize alternative sources of oil she is sending State Department's energy expert to India. But India is in no mood to antagonize Iran either. It provides India with the only route for access to Afghanistan. This will be crucial as and when the US leaves Afghanistan leaving Pakistan with all the leverage. This crisis can be a big opportunity for India to play a bridge between the US and Iran. Clinton admitted that the US is already using the good offices of India for passing messages to Iran. India has vital stakes in peace and stability in the Middle East region given the 6 million Indian Diaspora and its economic links with them. India's proposal therefore of a peaceful diplomatic solution of the Iranian nuclear issue can be a win-win situation for all, as Iran is listening to India. I will be happy if India's balancing act could bring nearer a solution to this international dispute.

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Young oldie Younger actors in Bollywood do not want to be paired with Sonakshi Sinha for fear she would look older than them.

Cover Story: India resists India is resisting US pressure to further scale down oil imports from sanction-hit Iran citing "vital" security stakes in the Gulf.

Community: Pandits' conference Over 32 Pandits and 40 adult and youth delegates participated in the First annual Hindu Pandits' (Priest) Conference.

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Life Style: Aamir’s show Bollywood actor Aamir Khan’s TV show "Satyamev Jayate" has created a storm with its in-depth study of female feticide.

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India resists US pressure on Iran NEW DELHI: Resisting US pressure to further scale down oil imports from sanction-hit Iran, India has made it clear that it has to look at the issue involved beyond the energy trade as it has "vital" security stakes in the Gulf region. After talks with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during which she asked India to restrict its trade and energy ties with Tehran, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said, "I conveyed our vital stakes in peace and stability in the Persian Gulf and wider West Asian region, given the six million Indians who live there and the region's importance to our economy." Clinton, who was here on her last leg of three-nation Asia tour, has been pressing India to "do more" to scale down its oil imports from Iran to keep pressure on Tehran to meet international demands on its disputed nuclear program. Addressing a joint press interaction, Krishna said, "Iran is a key country for our energy needs but we have to look at the Iran issue beyond the issue of energy trade. In the first place, we have to see security and stability in the Gulf region, India has vital stakes in Gulf region.... "It is one of the critical destinations for our external trade," he said, while noting that India's exports to that region was about USD 100 billion and oil imports stood at 60 percent. India has been asking Tehran to abide by its international obligations as non-nuclear weapons

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton meets with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi

state under the Non-Proliferation Treaty but has maintained that it has a right to pursue nuclear activities for peaceful purposes. "We also discussed the impor-

Maintaining that only a "continued and relentless" pressure on Iran on its nuclear program will bring it to the "negotiating" table, Clinton said both the US and India have same goal of preventing Tehran tance of peaceful settlement of the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations, based on

the position that Iran has rights as a member of NPT, but it must also abide by its obligations as a non-nuclear weapons state under the NPT," Krishna said. The minister also noted that "the issue (Iran) was not a source of discord" between the US and India. Maintaining that only a "continued and relentless" pressure on Iran on its nuclear program will bring it to the "negotiating" table, Clinton said both the US and India have same goal of preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. "The best way to achieve this diplomatic tool, that we all seek, is for the international community to stay united and to keep the pressure that has brought Iran back to the negotiating table... till we reach a peaceful resolution," she said while noting the efforts of

Clinton lauds India for reducing dependence on Iran oil WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has lauded the steps taken by India to reduce its dependence on Iranian oil saying that New Delhi has put itself on the line to get Iran back to the negotiating table. "They have put themselves on the line to get Iran back into the P-5+1," Clinton told the National Public Radio (NPR) in an interview when asked of India's role in the Iran issue. On being asked if India has any sort of role to play in passing messages to Iran, Clinton said "Absolutely", adding New Delhi has an important role in conveying the message of the international community and its concerns to Iran. "We know they have. I mean, we've asked them to; they have

been conveying their concern about Iran's behavior," she said. "They just had Iranian agents try to kill an Israeli diplomat, kind of reminiscent of what we've discov-

weapon. So they're very much on the same page we are and they are working through this very difficult issue regarding oil. They're making progress," Clinton said.

On being asked if India has any sort of role to play in passing messages to Iran, Clinton said "Absolutely", adding New Delhi has an important role in conveying the message of the international community and its concerns to Iran ered when Iranians were trying to kill the ambassador from Saudi Arabia to Washington. So they're investigating that crime," she said. "They have made it very clear, publicly and privately, that Iran is not in any way entitled to a nuclear

Expressing satisfaction over the progress made by India on reduction of import of Iranian oil, she said India has certainly made progress in reducing their imports of crude oil from Iran. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 8

Meeting with India's Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj

P5+1 (Britain, France, Russia, China and the United States plus Germany) to engage with Iran. She also welcomed the steps taken by the Indian refineries (companies) to reduce the import of oil from Iran while asserting that US believes that any "easing or waiver" in the international pressure will fail to bring Tehran to the negotiating table. India's top oil importers have reduced Iranian oil imports by 1520 percent. Crude imports from Iran fell to 18.5 million tonnes in 2010-11 from 21.2 million tonnes

in 2009-10. Last fiscal (2011-12), Iranian oil imports dropped to less than 16 million tonnes. This year they may further come down to 14 million tonnes. India's top importers Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd (MRPL) and Essar Oil - have plans to cut Iranian oil imports this fiscal. MRPL plans to reduce Iranian oil buy to less than 100,000 barrels per day from 142,000 bpd while Essar Oil plans a 15 per cent cut to 85,000 bpd from 100,000 bpd.-PTI

India has reduced import of Iranian oil: US report WASHINGTON: In the last four years, India has significantly reduced its import of Iranian oil by volume from 16 per cent in 2008 to 10 per cent now, a US Congressional report has said. "Since 2008, India has reduced its imports of Iranian oil by volume and as a percentage of India's total oil imports. Iran now only supplies about 10 per cent of India's oil imports, down from over 16 per cent in 2008," said the latest report of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). The 80-page report by CRS an independent research wing of the US Congress - said that Indian leaders have agreed to further reduce dependence on Iranian oil. Iran is India's second-largest oil supplier. India purchases about 12 percent of its total consumption from Iran. "Publicly, Indian leaders have not pledged further significant reductions but press and industry accounts say that India plans further reductions along the lines of

those negotiated in early 2012 by Japan," the report said. "Indian officials say that more drastic reductions would require significant investment to switch over refineries that handle Iranian crude, and will take time," it said. According to the report, India has been able to use the sanctions to force concessions from Iran, including an Iranian acceptance of payment for about 45 per cent of the oil sales in rupees, Indian currency but which is not convertible. "Rupee payments will facilitate the settlement of payments for oil in the form of barter trade. Apparently in preparation for doing increased barter trade, India sent a large trade delegation to Iran (in March) to discuss increased exports to Iran of staple goods such as sugar and wheat - commodities not subject to international sanctions," it said. "Indian officials say some of their major companies, including the Tata conglomerate, have ended or reduced their business with Iran," it said. -PTI

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We want to see Hafiz Saeed India raises concern over 'protectionist' sentiment brought to justice: US WASHINGTON: The US wants to see Hafiz Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attack, brought to justice whether he is tried in a Pakistani court or in a US court or wherever, a top official has said. State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the US' desire that Pakistan secure the conviction of the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in connection with the Mumbai attack was the reason why it recently announced a reward of USD 10 million to anyone for information leading to his trial in a court of law. "We have been very clear why this program, particularly our Rewards for Justice Program, was put in place. We want to see this individual brought to justice," Toner told reporters. "As you remember at the time, there was a lot of speculation of why we did this because everyone knows he's in Pakistan. What we want to do is give the Paki-

stani authorities the judicial wherewithal to bring this guy to justice," he said. "At the time we used the phrase, and continue to use, evi-

Hafiz Saeed

dence that can withstand judicial scrutiny. Whether he is tried in a Pakistani court or in a US court or wherever, we want to see him brought to justice," Toner said. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her visit to India said the US would push Pakistan

for securing the conviction of Saeed, observing that country has not done as much as US and India wanted it to fight terrorism. Clinton said she was "well aware that there has not yet been the steps taken by the Pakistani government" that could help in securing Saeed's conviction. "We're going to be pushing that point. So it's a way of raising the visibility and pointing out to those who are associated with him that there is a cost for that," Clinton said at an interactive session in Kolkata. "You have to go after those who are trying to kill you. You have to be focused on that...We want everybody who is associated with that (Mumbai attack) brought to justice. And it may take longer than any one of us like. But we are going to be standing with you and trying to make that happen," Clinton had said. -PTI

India to scale up eco ties with Iran NEW DELHI: Notwithstanding US pressure to curtail trade with Iran, India has given a strong signal that it would rather scale up its commercial engagement with Tehran possibly through a bilateral preferential trade pact. While India conveyed its intention to step up economic ties with Iran, leader of a high-level visiting trade delegation from Tehran said the two countries should work together without bothering whether "others like or do not like... "The fact is that the economies of India and Iran should work together. Others like or do not like, we should work together and everybody should think for their interests," President of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines Yahya Al Eshagh said after meeting with Assocham here. Addressing the meeting, Joint Secretary in the Commerce Ministry Arvind Mehta said that the Indian government has commissioned a study for a preferential trading arrangement with Iran. The bilateral trade was USD 14 billion in 2010-11, of which major part is the Indian import of crude oil. In the wake of sanctions from the US and EU, Iran is looking for

increased imports from India. However, the two countries still face problems with regard to banking transactions for which Iran has sought permission to open a branch of Parsian Bank in Mumbai. The visit by the 56-member Ira-

Iran expressed the hope that bilateral trade with New Delhi will go up to USD 24 billion in the medium-term from the present USD 14 billion. "India and Iran are looking to step up annual trade to USD 24 billion in the medium-term from

President of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines, Yahya Al Eshagh, third from left, arriving with members of an Iranian delegation at a meeting in New Delhi

nian trade delegation coincided with that of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Commerce Secretary Rahul Khullar has assured the Iran business persons of resolving their problems, including setting up of Parsian Bank in India. Iran trade to touch $24 bn In Mumbai, businessmen from

USD 14 billion now that is driven by oil imports by India," said Tehran Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Mines President Yahya al Eshagh here. Eshagh, a former Commerce Minister who is visiting India as part of a business delegation, however, didn't set a time-frame for this growth.-PTI

NEW DELHI: India has raised with the US its concerns over the "protectionist" environment in that country and also the "continuing" difficulties faced by its IT professionals there. "There are issues on both

Krishna has assured that India will provide level-playing field in this sector. Noting that they had good discussion on the path to fostering commercial cooperation in civil nuclear energy, Krishna said, "I

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressing a joint press conference in New Delhi on May 8

sides. I did convey our concerns assured her of India's commitment about continuing difficulties on to provide a level playing field to mobility of professionals, espe- all US companies, within the cially for our IT companies, and framework of national law and our protectionist sentiments in the US international legal obligations. with regard to global supply chain "We were pleased that US in services industry," External Af- companies are engaged in subfairs Minister S M Krishna said stantive discussions with the Inhere. dian operator, Nuclear Power CorAddressing a joint press inter- poration of India Limited. We action after his wide- ranging hope that they will make early talks, which included civil nuclear cooperation and trade ties, with Clinton said, ‘We have to US Secretary of State continue expanding our Hillary Clinton, Krishna said they expressed the trade and investment behope that their eco- tween our countries,’ noting nomic relationship, that when she first visited which is very important to both countries, India in 1995, the trade would grow much faster figure stood at USD 9.5 and realize its enorbillion, while it was USD 100 mous potential. Underlining four key billion dollars at present with action points dis- much more potential cussed during her meeting with Krishna ahead to realize’ of Indo-US strategic dialogue next month, Clinton said, progress towards contractual "We have to continue expanding steps," he said. our trade and investment between Noting that such interactions our countries," noting that when between India and the US also unshe first visited India in 1995, the derscore the importance of regutrade figure stood at USD 9.5 bil- lar consultations between the two lion, while it was USD 100 billion governments at a time when enordollars at present with much more mous challenges and far-reaching potential to realize. changes were taking place in the "We should be working to- world, Krishna said they reviewed wards having one of the world's the entire gamut of their bilateral largest trading relationships. We relations. need to continue to reduce barri"We have an extraordinary freers and open our markets to quency and depth in our dialogue greater trade and investment. and engagement. We continue to As part of this, we discussed make tangible progress across virour landmark civil nuclear agree- tually every area of bilateral coment," she said adding that operation," he said.-PTI

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Asia Society's India-born Prez stepping down NEW YORK: Global non-profit organization Asia Society's Indiaborn head Vishakha Desai, who has advised President Barack Obama on India related issues, is stepping down as President and CEO after 22 years at the citybased leading cultural and educational body. US-educated Desai would leave her post on September 1 and join the city-based Guggenheim Foundation, a preeminent institution for the collection, preservation and research of modern and contemporary art, as Senior Advisor for Global Policy and Programs. She is also talking with several prominent universities to develop a special initiative focusing on the intersection of culture in international relations. One of America's leading experts on Asian art, Desai had joined Asia Society as its museum director in 1990, served as Senior Vice President and was appointed to lead the entire institution as

President and CEO in 2004. Desai said it was time for her to move to the next phase of her professional life, allowing more time for teaching and writing. "It has been a privilege to preside over the institution during

At present, Asia Society's global reach extends across 11 cities in Asia and the US, recent additions being multi-milliondollar centers with gallery exhibition space in Hong Kong and Houston this time of dramatic transformation. It is now the right time to close my chapter and open the way to new leadership at the Asia Society," she said in a statement.

Move to get tapped calls excluded from Gupta trial NEW YORK: With little time left for his trial on insider trading charges, former Goldman Sachs Director Rajat Gupta's lawyers are pushing to get secretly recorded phone conversations between him and convicted hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam excluded as evidence, calling them "extremely prejudicial". Gupta's lawyer Gary Naftalis submitted documents in the US District Court, Southern District of New York arguing that a July 2008 conversation between the two does not contain "direct evidence" that Gupta provided confidential information to Rajaratnam. Naftalis said in the court filings that the July 29 call is the "only recorded substantive phone conversation" between Gupta and Rajaratnam but the "problem for the government is that this call neither included a tip of material, nonpublic information nor led to any trading by Rajaratnam." During the 24-minute call, a transcript of which has been submitted in court, Rajaratnam asks Gupta whether he had "heard anything along that line" about a "rumor" that Goldman Sachs is looking to buy a commercial bank. Gupta replied, "Yeah. This was a big discussion at the board meeting." Prosecutors are seeking to use

this wiretap conversation, as well as 26 other recorded phone conversations, as evidence at the trial which will start on May 21 that Gupta engaged in insider trading.-PTI

During her tenure, Desai oversaw a major expansion of Asia Society's headquarters here with establishment of new offices in India and South Korea. At present, Asia Society's global reach extends across 11 cities in Asia and the US, recent additions being multi-million-dollar centers with gallery exhibition space in Hong Kong and Houston. Asia Society co-chairs Henrietta Fore and Ronnie Chan said Desai "brought a maturity and breadth" to the 56-year-old institution which has long been a forum for leaders and policymakers from Asia and the United States and dedicated to connecting people from the two regions. "Asia Society has been fortunate to have a leader of her caliber for so many years," Fore and Chan said. "Through her leadership our organization has been transformed. A hallmark of her presidency has been the bringing together of issues of culture and policy to deepen mutual understanding among Asians and Americans." Desai is also writing a book on the future of India's role in the world. She would serve as an advisor to the Asia Society Board to help with the transition process. The Board of Trustees has launched search for a new President and CEO. -PTI

US sending energy expert to help India WASHINGTON: The US is sending its top energy expert to India to help the country reduce dependence on Iranian oil, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said as she lauded the steps taken by New Delhi on the issue. Carlos Pascual, the State Department's Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs, will be in soon with a team of experts for talks with Indian officials on the Iranian issue. "We are working with them to help them in any way that we can offer technical assistance, and next week my energy coordina-

tor, Ambassador Carlos Pascual, will be in India with a team of experts," Clinton was quoted as saying by CNN. Clinton's comments came after her visit to India during which she asked New Delhi to restrict its trade and energy ties with Tehran to meet international demands on its disputed nuclear program. India, which imports 80 per cent of its crude oil and relies on Tehran for 12 per cent of those imports, has said it needed to continue to buy Iranian oil to meet its domestic requirements.-PTI

Visa fee hike issue not discussed WASHINGTON: The issue of US visa fee hike was not discussed during the just concluded India visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a State Department spokesperson said here. When asked if the issue was discussed during Clinton's India trip, the State Department spokesperson, Victoria Nuland said "No" at her daily news briefing.

"As the Secretary (of State) said publicly - Indians are the greatest beneficiaries in the world of both our L-1 visa program and our B-1/H-1 visa program. We understand that the demand is even greater. We're working through those issues. But we continue to fully support the admission of qualified Indians under these programs," Nuland said in response to a question. -PTI

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Amb Rao visits Delaware, New York City India Post News service

WASHINGTON DC: At the invitation of U.S. Senator Chris Coons from Delaware and Congressman Joe Crowley from New York, Ambassador Nirupama Rao visited the state of Delaware and New York City on May 1 and 2, during which she met several high-level officials, addressed public events and interacted with the Indian American community. Senator Coons is a member of the Senate India Caucus. He also serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and its Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Central Affairs, which deals with U.S. relations with India. He had invited Ambassador Rao to explore deeper trade, business, academic and people-to-people exchanges between India and the state of Delaware. The visit included a multifaceted program at the University of Delaware, Newark, where Ambassador Rao gave a keynote address on India-U.S. relations, and interacted with the faculty and students. She praised the University for its excellent research traditions and for building bridges of understanding between India and the U.S. that included more than twenty active collaborative endeavors with Indian counterparts, making a difference in the lives of

Ambassador Rao met Governor Jack Markell of Delaware in Dover on May 1. U.S. Senator from Delaware, Mr. Tom Carper also joined. Seen in picture (from left) are Delaware's Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock, Governor Markell, Ambassador Rao, Mr. Sudhakar Rao, and Senator Carper

common people through advances in areas such as agriculture, drinking water, health and clean energy. Senator Coons also introduced to Ambassador Rao a group of prominent agriculturists, poultry farmers and business representatives of Delaware, with whom she discussed opportunities to expand business linkages, including technology transfer and capacity building in agro-industry, and

poultry. Delaware is considered the cradle of poultry industry in the U.S. The interaction was attended by the U.S. Undersecretary of Agriculture, Mr. Michael Escuse, who is from Delaware and earlier served as the state's Secretary of Agriculture. Ambassador Rao was also given a tour of the Avian Biosciences Centre located in the University of Delaware. Ambassador Rao met with the

Indian diplomat's daughter files lawsuit NEW YORK: An Indian diplomat's daughter, who was jailed for a day on suspicion of sending obscene emails to her teacher, has filed a lawsuit against the city of New York and her school authorities seeking USD 1.5 million in damages for her wrongful imprisonment and suspension from school. 18-year-old Krittika Biswas, the daughter of Vice-Consul in the Consulate General of India in New York Debashish Biswas, was detained and arrested in February last year on the grounds that she had sent "offensive and sexually threatening" emails to her teachers in Queens's John Browne High School. Biswas's lawyer Ravi Batra filed the 118-page lawsuit, which has 10 federal counts and 16 New York state counts, in the US District Court Southern District of New York. The suit seeks at least USD 500,000 in compensatory and a million dollars in punitive damages, in addition to other relief. The lawsuit is against 11 parties including the city of New York,

the city's Department of Education and some of its officials, the principal and teacher concerned of Biswas's school and New York City police commissioner Raymond Kelly. "Hopefully, this lawsuit will aid

sioner Ray Kelly make NYPD even better," Batra said in an emailed statement to PTI. The case had garnered significant media attention and India had conveyed its concern to the US authorities over Biswas's arrest

Krittika Biswas

all 1.1 million students in New York City schools to avoid false criminal charges and illegal suspension by NYC Department of Education when they are actually innocent, while helping commis-

and treatment. India's then ambassador Meera Shankar had said the case had been taken up "very seriously" with the US government. PTI

Governor of Delaware, Jack Markell in the state's capital city of Dover in the afternoon of May 1. Governor Markell expressed keen interest in building a robust engagement with India and noted that he planned to lead a delegation from Delaware to India later this year. During that meeting, the senior U.S. Senator from Delaware, Senator Tom Carper and

Delaware's Secretary of State, Jeffery Bullock also joined. Senator Carper recalled his visit to India in April last year when he traveled there as part of a Congressional delegation. Secretary Bullock, who had just returned from India from an exploratory visit, exuded confidence about India-U.S. partnership, and referred to "immense potential" for cooperation derived from their shared values and interests. At New York, Ambassador Rao attended a welcome event on May 2 at Jackson Heights, Queens chaired by Congressman Joe Crowley and hosted by the local community. Congressman Crowley is the Co-chair of House India Caucus and represents the people of Queens and Bronx - districts with a large concentration of Indian American community. Ambassador Rao thanked the organizers for the welcome and praised the contribution of the Indian American community in promoting India-U.S. relations. Congressman Crowley said he believed that India-U.S. partnership was one of the most significant partnerships for the U.S. in the 21st century and expressed his commitment to work with Ambassador Rao to take it to higher levels.

Clinton lauds India for reducing dependence on Iran oil Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 5

"We appreciate the steps that India has taken, and we're continuing to consult with them," Clinton told the CNN in another interview. "Their refineries are cutting back. And they share our goal. And I'm convinced that Iran never would have come to the table for the serious negotiations that we are pursuing within the P-5+1 context had it not been for the tough sanctions," she said. "We know that this is hard for India, just like it's been hard for some of the European countries that were very dependent upon Iranian oil," Clinton said. "If you're an Indian politician or an Indian business owner or an Indian citizen, who is desperate to lift hundreds of millions of people out of poverty and get them electricity and keep the lights on, this is a hard decision for them because they have been historically looking to Iran for a significant percentage of their oil," Clinton said. "So I always try to put myself in the other person's shoes and

say okay, if we don't get oil from Iran, so it's no skin off our nose as Americans," Clinton added. Clinton said that US wants everybody to come together and try to convince Iran to make the right decision. Some countries in Europe that were very dependent upon Iranian oil have found substitutes, she said. "Japan has made significant progress, and India is working toward that too, looking for affordable, reliable supplies," Clinton said. "But you have to understand where other countries are coming from, and the point that I have made, not just to the Indians but to many other countries, is the United States is leading an international effort to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon or prevent its potential nuclear weaponisation from being the cause of conflict, which would be really bad for anybody who gets any oil from the Middle East," Clinton said. "So you have to balance all of that. And it's a calculus that countries make, kind of like people," she added.-PTI

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May 18, 2012

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Obama hails Dalip Singh Saund as trailblazer WASHINGTON: Identifying first Indian-American Congressman Dalip Singh Saund as among early trailblazers for Asian-American community, President Barack

tions, Obama said treatment of Asian Americans must go beyond treating them as the "model minority" to better understand the challenges faced by many groups,

President Barack Obama

Dalip Singh Saund

Obama says the community must be treated beyond as the model minority. Reaching out to the untapped Asian American community ahead of the November presidential elec-

especially recent immigrants. Obama was addressing the annual gala of Asian Pacific American Institute for American Studies. Majority of the Asian Ameri-

cans, among the early immigrants, Obama said didn't have money. "A lot of them didn't have belongings. But what they did have was an unshakeable belief that this country - of all countries - is a place where anybody can make it if they try," he said. "Now, many of them faced hardship; many of them faced ridicule; many of them faced racism. Many were treated as second-class citizens - as people who didn't belong. But they didn't give up. They didn't make excuses. They kept forging ahead. They kept building up America," he said. "But they were trailblazers like Dalip Singh Saund - a young man from India who, in 1920, came to study agriculture, stayed to become a farmer and took on the cause of citizenship for all people of South Asian descent," "And once Dalip earned his own citizenship, he stepped up to serve the country he loved - and became the first Asian American elected to the Congress," Obama said amidst a round of applause. PTI

Obama endorses same sex marriage WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama has publicly endorsed same sex marriage, putting an end to days of speculation about his "evolving views" on the issue. In an interview to the ABC's "Good Morning America," Obama said his views on the issue have evolved now and he thinks that "same-sex couples should be able to get married." It may be termed as a historic moment in the civil rights history of America, as no other sitting President has earlier supported marriage between people of the same sex. Obama was also compelled to clear his "evolving" stand on the fiercely divisive issue in US politics after Republicans in North Carolina turned out in force on May 8 to vote to strengthen the state's gay marriage ban. "I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors, when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed monogamous relationships, same-sex relationships, who are raising kids together; when I think about those soldiers or airmen or marines or sailors who are out there fighting on my behalf and yet feel constrained, even

now that 'don't ask, don't tell' is gone, because they are not able to commit themselves in a marriage. "At a certain point I've just concluded that for me personally it is important to go ahead and affirm that I think same sex couples should be able to get married," Obama told ABC News'

Robin Roberts. At the same time, Obama clarified that this was his "personal" stand, and he still supports the concept of states' deciding the issue on their own. The First Lady, Michelle Obama, played a role in his decision making process, Obama said.-PTI

Friend of India Richard Lugar loses Senate primary WASHINGTON: Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, a known friend of India in the Congress who played a key role in passage of the civil nuclear deal during Bush Administration, has lost the primary Senate elections in his state. 80-year-old Lugar, a six-term Senator, lost to Indiana State Treasurer Richard Mourdock. His defeat brought an end to the political career of one of the longest

Richard Lugar

serving Republican Senators spanning more than three and half decades. He was the main target for national conservative groups, including the fiscally conservative Club for Growth, the National Rifle Association and the Tea Partyaffiliated FreedomWorks, who spent more than USD 3 million in advertisements against him. In a statement, US President Barack Obama said his administration's efforts to secure the world's most dangerous weap-

New Delhi offers the cheapest club sandwich in the world WASHINGTON: Relish club sandwiches? You should head for New Delhi which offers them at the cheapest rates in the world while Paris has the most expensive ones, according to a global survey by an online travel service. Paris, often thought of as the world's most romantic city, has just been deemed the most expensive city in the world to order a club sandwich at USD 33 by Hotels.com. The least expensive cities for a club sandwich from all 30 global cities surveyed are New Delhi, India and Mexico City,

Mexico, with the average price coming in at just USD 10. A standard lunch available in hotels worldwide, was used as a universal measure of affordability in the Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI). The CSI average price has been calculated by taking the real prices paid by guests for a club sandwich within 1,000 five, four and threestar hotels located in popular travel destinations across 26 countries, with 10 US cities measured. Geneva offers the second most expensive club sandwich at USD 32.56, followed by Oslo at USD 30.50. New Delhi was cheapest at

ons had been based on the work that Lugar began, "as well as the bipartisan cooperation we forged during his first overseas trip as Senator to Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan." "Senator Lugar comes from a tradition of strong, bipartisan leadership on national security that helped us prevail in the Cold War and sustain US leadership ever since," Obama said.

USD 9.57. New York's club sandwiches are at USD 16.93. This standard lunch fare is known for its popularity among hotel restaurants worldwide where it has been a staple since the 1800s, a statement by the online travel service said. Within the US, it is no surprise that New York City is home to the most expensive club sandwich prices due to the city's reputation for an expensive cost of living. In London, the top overseas destination for Americans, a club sandwich costs an average of USD 19, making the city ninth on the CSI. -PTI

Luger is the Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. As a key member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee first as its Chairman and then as its Ranking member - Lugar had played one of the most important role in passage of the India-US Civilian Nuclear Deal. He was also the architect of the Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill that assured Pakistan more than USD 7.5 billion in US aid to Pakistan in five years. -PTI

Desi News Rahat Ali wins all with masterly performance HARISH RAO & ASIA MEDIA USA

CHICAGO: It was not the first time for Shows2U (backed this time by Vibrant Media Group) to organize a successful entertainment program and it would not be the last also but the one that it hosted last week at Odium Center in Villa Park, a north side suburb of Chicago, was easily the culmination of many such all round programs that Chicagoans had the chance to witness and enjoy. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Live in Concert rocking the Center was a sold out show and there was a demand for a repeat performance. Details on page 13

Future plans discussed at Manav Seva dinner ARVIND THAKKAR

CHICAGO: The new trustee board and executive committee of Manav Seva Mandir invited all trustees, volunteers and well-wishers to an evening gathering and dinner on April 29. The purpose was to present the current activities of the mandir and explain future plans to the trustees and well-wishers. The event also served as an appreciation occasion for the volunteers who are the backbone of every activity of the mandir. The program, which began with a prayer by the Mandir priest, was very well attended.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

Akshaya Patra hosts elegant luncheon & fashion show Details on page 16

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May 18, 2012

GOPIO plans global Gadar centennial SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), in collaboration with several NRI/PIO organizations, government and international agencies, individuals and institutions, is organizing the Gadar Centennial Commemoration, the 100th anniversary of the Gadar Movement which began in 1913. The Gadar Centennial Commemoration in 2013 will pay befitting tribute to patriots and heroes of the Gadar Movement. Gadar was a nationalistic movement to liberate India with the force of arms from British colonialism. GOPIO is taking the initiative for a global commemoration in 2013 of Gadar Movement and is seeking involvement of various agencies, organizations

and institutions. The plans for the Gadar Centennial Commemoration include participation and support of office of the Prime Minister of India, Ministry of Overseas Indian

Plans include: Petition to declare 2013 as the year of Centennial Commemoration of Gadar Movement; issue suitably designed postage stamp commemorating the Gadar Movement; Pub-

Plans for Gadar Centennial Commemoration in 2013 also include a lecture series in several cities in USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, with a finale on November 1, 2013 in San Francisco Affairs; Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Culture, UNESCO, State of California, City of San Francisco, as well as Indian civic organizations, institutions, groups and individuals.

lish a historic Centennial Commemoration book about the Gadar Movement which would highlight sacrifices of the Gadar heroes; distribute their free bio-data to libraries, schools, institutions

and organizations; establish chairs in memory of the Gadar heroes in India and at least one or more in the USA. Plans for Gadar Centennial Commemoration in 2013 also include a lecture series in several cities in USA, Canada, UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, India, with a finale on November 1, 2013 in San Francisco with a fitting memorial as a lasting tribute to the Gadar heroes. The history of the Gadar movement is a testimony of the deep love that the Indian immigrants had for their motherland, India. Over 6,000 went back to India to fight for their cause; several Gadarites were imprisoned, many for life, and some were hanged to death.

First-ever Hindu Mandir Priests Conference SURI SWAMI

Details on page 14

Spectacular Spring Fest by Soham Dance Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Soham Dance Space, an Indian dance studio in Chicagoland , hosted Spring Fest, a launch pad event featuring an open house and performance at the Vittum Theater in Noble Square,, Chicago on Sunday, May 5, marking the its 5th Anniversary. The founder of Soham Dance Space, Anjal Chande is an accomplished dance artist. At the open house, attendees could register for classes, participate in interactive stations for children and adults, and contribute their ideas for the future of this organization. The performance highlighted Anjal Chande as well as other young and adult students. Details on page 15

Chief priest of the Hindu Jain Temple welcomes the swamis from Hawaii and all the priests from around the US.

PITTSUBURG: Over 32 Pandits and 40 adult and youth delegates representing more than 20 Hindu Temple and Hindu organizations, from across the county, participated in the First annual Hindu Pandits' (Priest) Conference from April 27 through 28 in Pittsburgh, PA. It was the First Hindu Mandir Priests Conferecne (HMPC) hosted by The Hindu Jain Temple (HJT) & Sri Venkateswara Temple (SVT), Pittsburgh PA and organized by World Hindu Council of America (VHPA) and Hindu institutions. Delegates ranged in ages from teenagers to those in their seventies and came from a variety of eth-

nic and career backgrounds. The theme of the conference was 'Role of Pandits in Sustaining Dharma in America'. The objective of the HMPC is

Dozens of priests inaugurate the conference in Pittsburgh's Hindu Jain Temple with a series of chants.

provided an opening for better understanding between the Hindu Pandits in North America and Hindu devotees in terms of mutual support and empowerment.

Delegates ranged in ages from teenagers to those in their seventies and came from a variety of ethnic and career backgrounds. The theme of the conference was 'Role of Pandits in Sustaining Dharma in America' sustainability and advancement of Sanatan Dharma by making the modes of worship meaningful and relevant for the younger generation of Hindus. The conference

The conference began with group-chanting of Ganesh Atharvashirsha by all the Pandits. Krishna Sharma, Chairperson of HJT and GG Hegde, Chairperson

of SVT welcomed the delegates. In his keynote address Pandit Roopnauth Sharma of Canada said, "The mandir belongs to the devotees, who come to the mandir." In keeping with the age-old Hindu tradition, he proposed to honor the Pandit, a key figure in the sustaining of spiritual and cultural element of Hindu society and providing the infrastructure and opportunities for personal development and growth within the organization and community. He stressed the role of the Pandit as a performer of religious functions, as a teacher/counselor, as a mandir executive and as a leader. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 11

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Arun Singh lauds AAHOA role in hotel industry India Post News Service

ATLANTA: Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Arun K Singh has lauded the role of the Indian American community in the success of the hotel industry in US. He was speaking as Chief Guest at the Annual Convention and Trade Show of the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) which was held at the World Congress Center, Omni Hotel in Atlanta from May 2-5. Mr Singh said that with more than 50% ownership of all hotels and motels in the United States, the Indian American community has played a commendable role in the success of the hotel industry in US through its leadership of AAHOA. He said that AAHOA represents the best in the hospitality industry and related sectors in the United States. "Hospitality and Tourism is a domain of immense potential in terms of trade and investment cooperation between India and the United States. A by-product of this cooperation would be additional strengthening of our existing robust and vibrant people to people links," he said. "Driven by its fast growing economy, and rise in per capita incomes, India is currently experiencing a boom in domestic tourism, both in terms of numbers and market size and market segments.

"Of the total market size of US$73 billion, domestic tourists in India account for about 83%. They also account for about 52% of revenue. Strong new innovative products such as wellness and cruise tourism are being created with equally strong government sponsored promotional campaigns such as "Incredible India" and "Athithi Devo Bhavah" to harness the full potential of tourism in India.

segment. "Various studies estimate a demand-supply gap of about 80,000100,000 rooms (some studies put it at 150,000) in India, especially in the mid-size and budget hotel segment. This is a clear investment opportunity for hotelier members of AAHOA, either on stand-alone basis or in partnership with Indian businesses. "Large domestic and business travel, India's growing externali-

"In addition to investment, India is also an important destination to source hotel supplies from, particularly linen and cutlery and other miscellaneous articles.â&#x20AC;? ndian exporters already have strong business connections He said, "A key pillar of the tourism sector in India is its rapidly growing hotel industry, which is estimated to have grossed over US$ 4 billion in revenue last year. The commercial opportunity for AAHOA and its membership resides in the fact that the strong growth in India's domestic and other tourism is coupled with increased government focus on developing hotel related infrastructure across all business categories including five star, four star, three star, two star, and one star segments, and in the heritage hotel

ties, and strong connectivity between the Indian population and its Diaspora overseas are all variables that create a business opportunity for the hotel industry. On its part the Government of India has put in place smooth and facilitating policy framework in which 100% FDI is allowed under the automatic route in the hotel and tourism related industry. Periodically, other incentives including on taxes have also been announced by the Government. "In addition to investment, India is also an important destina-

Deputy Chief of Mission Ambassador Arun K Singh

tion to source hotel supplies from, particularly linen and cutlery and other miscellaneous articles. Indian exporters already have strong business connections in this field in the United States. We would be happy to work with AAHOA and its membership to further strengthen our trade based cooperation in this field. "The economic and social developments in India make it a

strong business opportunity for AAHOA, both through trade and investment. AAHOA members have played a pioneering role in the development of hotel industry in the United States. They can be a strong player in the development of hotel industry in India, and thus also be an important stakeholder in fast growing India-US Strategic Partnership," he concluded.

First-ever Hindu Mandir Priests Conference Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 10

Sessions included a variety of topics relevant to the Mandirs, Pandits and Youth - tomorrow's torchbearers of Sanatan Dharma. Topics included 'Serving the Youth and Young Couples', 'Compensation, Benefits, Housing, Long-Term Service Issues'. Bhakti Mehta of Coalition of

ground. Pandit Murali Bhattar of MN demonstrated his iPad and highlighted the role of technology in Pandits' duties. In her parting thoughts Swamini Svatmavidyananda of Arshavidya Gurukul said, "Doctors and healers, for example, cannot say that they have clients, and neither can teachers. Likewise, the priests also do not have custom-

"Doctors and healers, for example, cannot say that they have clients, and neither can teachers. Likewise, the priests also do not have customersâ&#x20AC;? Hindu Youth (CHY) and Harishwer Balasubramani of SV Temple youth group jointly said, "Having a level of comfort between Pandits and youth will create a home in our mandirs." Sadasivanatha Palaniswami of Kauai's Hindu Monastery (Hinduism Today) presented the Hindu Jain Temple youth group with Rudraksha beads to plant them on temple

ers. Themselves being in service of Ishvara, they serve other devotees." She added, "In the North American context, the priests face certain unique challenges of negotiating linguistic and cultural barriers. To address these issues, my guru, Pujya Sri Swami Dayanandaji has planned a priests' training course at the

Hindu University of America in Orlando, Florida." In the concluding session of the conference, delegates agreed on two resolutions, viz., (1) Form a Hindu Mandir Pandit Sabha to enhance and facilitate communi-

cation and knowledge exchange. (2) Formulate an exchange program to observe and learn from the operation and spiritual activities of other temples. Pandit Venkatacharyulu of Sri Venkateswara Temple and

Mahendra Bhalakia of Hindu Jain Temple thanked all the delegates, volunteers and the organizers for a wonderful first ever Hindu Mandir Pandits' (Priest) Conference (HMPC) in the USA.

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Schakowki pitches for a Democratic victory HARISH RAO

ert J Nesvacil with Patrick Botterman leadership award. Patrick was a pioneer Democratic leader who put Democratic organization on firm footing in Northwest suburbs. He did lot of campaigning for Democratic candidates and encouraged people to join Democratic Party where Re-

ton DC and what to expect in coming elections. She forewarned the audience of consequences if Republicans win in coming elections. She introduced serving elected officials and candidates in the audience. The event was organized at Chevy Chase Golf Course in

Ms Schakowsky talked about the things going on in Washington DC and what to expect in coming elections. She forewarned the audience of consequences if Republicans win in coming elections

L-R: Thakar S Basati, Jan Schalowky, Shams Asghar and Valerie Hara

WHEELING: Jan Schakowsky, US Representative of 9th District that covers Devon area of Chicago

where most of Indians and Pakistani businesses are located, was the keynote speaker on Sunday

May 6 at an event hosted by Wheeling and Palatine Township Democratic Boards to honor Rob-

publicans had ruled before. He died in 2008. This year the award went to Robert J Nesvacil of Wheeling who is on board of Wheeling Township Democratic Board. Ms Schakowsky talked about the things going on in Washing-

Wheeling with Breakfast Buffet. Peter Alam and Shams Asghar represented the Pakistani community and Thakar S Basati represented the Indian Sikh community. Basati is also Executive Director of Palatine Township Democratic Board.

Global Science Fair portal for Telugu youth SURI SWAMY

DALLAS: An exclusive Global Science Fair portal for Telugu youth "www.tanaglobalsciencefair.com" was launched by TANA on May 4 in Dallas, Texas. The portal was launched by Prof. Mathukumilli Vidyasagar of the University of Texas, Dallas at Richardson, who was awarded Fellowship of Royal Society of UK for his outstanding contributions in the field of Robotics, Biology and Genetics TANA President Prasad Thotakura congratulated Rajesh Veerapaneni, Chairman of the TANA Science Global Fair and the team of volunteers for their hard work and said, "It is TANA's mis-

sion to encourage and provide a platform for Telugu youth to participate in educational competitions and excel. Interested science-talented students can upload their science projects by accessing the website. A team of international judges will evaluate these projects and select the finalists. Grand finals will be held in Dallas, TX next year. It is a great opportunity for Telugu students across the world to participate and get recognized on a mega international stage at TANA Convention to be held in Dallas from July 4-6, 2013. For example a ZP High School student from Nalgonda area can compete with a Telugu origin student from New

TANA officials and members with Prof Vidyasagar

York area without incurring any cost. Mohan Nannapaneni, Executive Vice-president, Dr. Chowdhary Jampala, Chairman, Dilip Kuchipudi, Foundation Chairman and Ram Yalamanchili, Secretary, congratulated the team and requested all Telugu students worldwide to participate and make use of this great opportunity. Speaking about the launch, Prof Vidyasagar said, "I am very happy to note that TANA (Telugu Association of North America) has announced Global Science Fair for Telugu youth. Telugu community is a pioneer in providing high quality education. With just 7% of the population of India, Telugu's every year send 25% to 30% of the successful candidates to IITs. Telugu community also accounts for more than 25% of all software

engineers. The key to sustaining this excellence is to provide an opportunity for talented students from across the Diaspora to participate, on an equal footing, with other students. This is precisely

For example a ZP High School student from Nalgonda area can compete with a Telugu origin student from New York area without incurring any cost the aim of the TANA Global Science Fair. I wish the Fair all suc-

cess." Rajesh Veerapaneni, Chairman TANA Global Science Fair, said science and technology are proven to be critical factors to Telugus' success on the world stage. "It is a known fact that even though we have a great talent in academics, we need far more scientific research talent to make a mark on the international stage. It is time for all of us to empower and encourage scientific talent of Telugu Youth." He urged all organizations, schools and teachers to be affiliated with the science fair and requested sponsors, judges and volunteers to participate and register in the portal. The launch event was attended by the TANA Global Science Fair Advisory and Core Team members and TANA Regional Representative Manjulatha Kanneganti.

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Rahat Ali wins all with masterly performance HARISH RAO & ASIA MEDIA USA

Rahat Fateh Ali singing one of his hits

CHICAGO: It was not the first time for Shows2U (backed this time by Vibrant Media Group) to organize a successful entertainment program and it would not be the last also but the one that it

sidering to have one more Rahat Concert before the fabulous singer goes back to Pakistan." His performance and all round applause that he got proved that music has no borders and no religious con-

Sen Noland honoring Rahat

the event and he did not disappoint them singing hits from various Bollywood films and his own private compositions. The audience enjoyed some of his hits such as: Bodyguard- teri

Shankar Mahadevan in the song "Aman Ki Asha." Written by Gulzar, the song seeks to promote peace between India and Pakistan. "It has a heart-to-heart appeal, sounds warm and personal, and through its simple message of brotherhood between both sides of the border, represents something that everybody would love to see happen," Khan said. Among those present in the audience were Senator Michael Noland, Schaumburg Mayor AL

in music and singing. Munir Chaudhari on behalf of the Muslim community presented a plaque and a book titled "Overview of Chicago". Comcast was the main sponsor of Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Live in Concert donating color TV for raffle winner. Consulate General of Pakistan Chicago Zaheer Pervaiz Khan drew the winner in the raffle. Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan was accompanied by many talented musicians who spiced up

More recently, Khan joined Shankar Mahadevan in the song "Aman Ki Asha." Written by Gulzar, the song seeks to promote peace between India and Pakistan. "It has a heart-to-heart appeal, sounds warm and personalâ&#x20AC;? Larson, Illinois State Representative Michelle Mussman, Consulate General of Pakistan Chicago Zaheer Pervaiz Khan and prominent leaders from Indian and Pakistani communities. Senator Michael Noland presented plaque admiring him for services rendered Community activist and former FIA office bearer Sunil Shah seen with his wife, Sen Noland and Mayor Larson

hosted last week at Odium Center in Villa Park, a north side suburb of Chicago, was easily the culmination of many such all round programs that Chicagoans had the chance to witness and enjoy. Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Live in Concert rocking the Center was a sold out show and there was a demand for a repeat performance. Syed Monty, the main organizer, told this paper that "we are con-

notations. Pakistani singer and composer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been in North America with concerts beginning April 14 in Fort Lauderdale. He will go to 15 cities in the United State and four cities in Canada. The concert in Chicago was the 8th show of his US tour and the last show is on June 9 at Las Vegas. He got standing ovation from all those who attended

meri; Mere Brother Ki Dulhanishq risk; Dabaang- tere mast mast do nain; Ishqiya- dil to bachcha hai; Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai- tum jo aaye; My Name is Khan- Sajdaa; and many more! The program stated with 'tu jane na aaspasâ&#x20AC;Ś' from the film Anjana Anjani and continued with many more making the entire audience rock with his melodious voice. More recently, Khan joined

the program further. Deepak Patel, Mukaram, Chirag Shah, Maheen, Neha Modi, Dhruv Patel, Sohail and Dinesh Patel had done an excellent job by doing overall management, making the show most organized and well disciplined.

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Future plans discussed at Manav Seva dinner ARVIND THAKKAR

members of the newly elected trustee board. He emphasized that teamwork divides the task and multiplies the success and Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM). The new president of the executive board also welcomed the guests and introduced the newly elected members of the executive board. He presented the work being done and explained the activi-

Dr. Shirish Shah discussed health related activities which include free yearly health fair, medical health clinic every third Sunday of the month and free flu shots are the backbone of every activity of the mandir. The program, which began with a prayer by the Mandir priest, was very well attended. Dr Bharat Barai, immediate past chairman, presented opening remarks as to how the Mandir had developed from a small beginning in an old church to the present day convenient facility. He introduced the incoming Chairman of the board of trustees. The new chairman, Jayram Patel, welcomed the guests and introduced the

ties planned for busy years ahead. As the program progressed, one of the two vice chairmen of the trustee board explained the vision and mission of the Mandir. The vision states that Manav Seva Mandir, a Sanatan Hindu temple is a community hub where the young and old come together, where Vedic heritage wisdom is passed on between generations and where the members of the community will connect, care for and support each other.

Manav Seva dinner

This vision is being translated into the mission by making Manav Seva Mandir a house of worship, promote the institution for religious, social and cultural activities, to foster the teachings of Hindu scriptures, to strive for spiritual richness and human excellence by promoting friendship and goodwill among all people. Dr. I.K. Patel talked about regular programs of group Satyanarayan Katha, Bhajans and Sunderkand Paath. A lot of emphasis was laid by Rajubhai Chauhan on the development of youth with a special mention of Bhagwad Gita

Sikh community to participate in Memorial Day THAKAR BASATI

CHICAGO: American Sikh Community has again partnered with Village of Schaumburg, Illinois to be part of Memorial Day Observance on May 28. The ceremony will be held at St.Peter' Church at 202 East Schaumburg Rd just east or Roselle Rd in Schaumburg, IL. The ceremony starts at 10:30am and continues up to 12:30pm. Sikhs participation is to recognize the sacrifices made by Sikhs in the world wars alongside Allied forces of US, Canada and United Kingdom. A 30 minute DVD will be shown in the auditorium before flag hosting that has 10 minute footage dedicated to the Sikhs from World Wars. Outside, under the trees, there will be displays showing Sikhs in uniforms with medals won during wars. According to historic records 83,005 turban wearing Sikhs died in the last two World Wars and 109,045 were wounded. It is also said that Allies were losing World War I when the British brought in Sikhs and allowed them to keep their turbans. Sikhs aren't afraid of death; they want to die an honorable death instead of death of shame. There are many stories of Sikhs' bravery in the Wars. Some are documented in books. If an American sees Karha (bracelet) on your wrist, he can narrate you some story of Sikhs he came across in Burma, Italy or Greece. The program will be followed by Hot

Dogs in picnic style. Sikhs have donated some money for the function. On May 26, American Sikhs will also participate in Chicago Memorial Day parade on Lake and State Street at noon with a float. Volunteers are needed to help in the participation. There are memorials in other countries where names of Sikh soldiers are engraved. Belgium is one of the countries where they

On May 26, American Sikhs will also participate in Chicago Memorial Day parade on Lake and State Street at noon with a float. Volunteers are needed to help in the participation place fresh flowers every day and salute the soldiers. If your elders took part in World Wars, please go out and remember them on Memorial Day. We enjoy freedom today because our ancestors made sacrifices. Coming generations need to remember what it takes to be free and be able to enjoy life.

classes on alternate Sundays. Dr. Shirish Shah discussed health related activities which include free yearly health fair, medical health clinic every third Sunday of the month and free flu shots. Arvindbhai Thakkar explained the temple's library and reading room facilities. Information about the hall rental and volunteer activities were presented by Gautambhai Gor. The new management is emphasizing on technology and Vikrambhai Shah explained the details of temple's website. Financial review was presented by controller, Bhaskarbhai

Patel. An outline about volunteer coordination was presented by Rajivbhai Desai. Engineering project of expansion was addressed by architect Himanshubhai Modi. Gautambhai Gaur conducted the detailed program very effectively and answered questions from the audience. A full dinner was served after the final vote of thanks by Naliniben Shah. Everyone present enjoyed and realized the varied, extensive and useful work being done by the boards and the volunteers of the mandir.

Kaukuna Hindu Temple goes on stream HEM VAKHARIA

KAUKUNA: A Hindu temple, the fourth one in the state of Wisconsin, is on stream now after five hours of "shuddhikaran" ceremony in a former marketing firm in Kaukauna. Known as Hindu Temple of North East Wisconsin, this ceremony included Ganapathipuja, Mandaparadham, Rudrabhisekam-AlankaramSivaastottaram- Nerajanam-MantrapuspamPradakhanam, Homa, Agnisamskaram, Ganapathihoma, Vastuhomam, Navagraha Avahana Devatahomam, Rudrahomam, Maha Sudarsana Lakhmihoam, Jayadiprayaschittahomam, Mahapurnahuthi, Agnipradakhanam, Maha Arathi Mandapavudwsanam, etc. This new temple on four acres of land has planned 17 major events for 2012 and is holding Hindi and Bharatnatyam classes. The Temple vision is to provide an identity for the Hindu community. It will provide religious, social, and cultural activities; foster the teachings of Hindu scriptures and the Vedas; conduct yoga and spiritual educational programs; provide location for satsangs, poojas, festivals, and related religious activities and to provide goodwill and friendship amongst all people. Before this temple was built, a good number of devotees had to travel to Chicago (200 miles) and Pewaukee (100 miles) for worship or religious services. It is said to

be the outcome of years of fundraising efforts by community activists. Ram Turlapati and Rashmi Patel are Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of the Temple Board while Rakesh Kaushika and Nila Vaishnav are President and Vice President respectively of the Temple Executive Committee. Other temples in Wisconsin include: Hindu Temple of Wisconsin in Pewaukee, the Hindu Temple of Madison in Sun Prairie and Hindu Temple & Cultural Center of Wisconsin in Fitchburg.

Before this temple was built, a good number of devotees had to travel to Chicago (200 miles) and Pewaukee (100 miles) Incorporated in 1885, Kaukauna, also known as "The Friendly City", has its 17 locations listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Eugene J. Rosin and Lee Meyerhofer are Mayor and Common Council President respectively of this city, which was mainly served by Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches. Notable people associated with Kaukauna include, football player Norbert Hayes, poker player Steve Badger and talk-show host Mark Belling.

Community Across America

May 18, 2012

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Hindu Temple celebrates Pranpratishta ASHWIN PATEL

Lord Shiva

ST LOUIS: Hindu Temple of St. Louis celebrated the Pranpratishta of Dakshinamurthy Utsava Vigraha from April 24 to April 26. Hundreds of devotees coming

Devotees singing devotional songs and mantra

from far away palaces came to attend this three-day event. The priests chanted mantras and conducted homams to Dakshinamurthy Utsava Vigraha.

Acharya Jayanthi was celebrated on April 26. Tyagaraja Aradhana was celebrated on April 28. Tyagraja keertans and cultural programs of dance schools fol-

Spectacular Spring Fest by Soham Dance

lowed the pooja. Two informative lectures were arranged by the temple administration. Yogacharya Srinidhi Baba gave a lecture on "Meditation in

NEVADA: Navgeet Zed was recently elected president of Student Government Association (SGA) of Truckee Meadows Community College headquartered in Reno. Securing over 63% of votes, he defeated Jessica Mahaffey, outgoing SGA Secretary; and Whip

A dance performance by local artists

Venkataswamy, Samarth Bhaskaran. They started their program with National Anthem of India and continued with beautiful songs. Soham Dance Space is a center for Indian dance in Chicago, Willowbrook, and Palos Park, offering adults and children instruction in the classical form of

Young artists at the Spring Fest

Bharatanatyam. Soham Dance Space is dedicated to promoting Arts education, innovative performances exploring contemporary applications of Bharatanatyam dance and a broadening of the audience base and community that appreciates and supports classical and contemporary.

Modern Life" on April 27. Swami Chetananda gave a lecture on "War and Peace in the Gita" on April 29.

Navgeet elected Nevada student body President India Post News Service

Asian Media USA

Priests who conducted Puja

First item on Navgeet's agenda after taking over the President's office is to increase accessibility of education for students. He is concerned about the rising tuition costs, textbook prices and financial aid problems during these tough financial times Villarreal, outgoing SGA Senator. First item on Navgeet's agenda after taking over the President's office is to increase accessibility of education for students. He is concerned about the rising tuition costs, textbook prices and financial aid problems during these tough financial times and fervently wants to address these issues to make education more "student friendly". Navgeet has held various leadership positions in the

community in the past and seems to be very serious and passionate about this new responsibility. Navgeet has been Chairperson of Reno Youth City Council, President of International Club of University of Nevada-Reno, organized Night of All Nations (biggest multicultural event of northern Nevada) raising its attendance sixfold, volunteered for many orga-

Navgeet Zed

nizations including a tenure at the area Crisis Call Center, compassionately helping people in crisis and at the brink of suicide. For his many humanitarian efforts, Navgeet was bestowed with "Nevada Peacemaker of the Year" award. TMCC, a fast growing college in northern Nevada, serves over 13,000 students in over 50 academic and occupational areas at over 40 sites. Dr. Maria Sheehan is the TMCC President.

16 India Post

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May 18, 2012

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Akshaya Patra hosts elegant luncheon & fashion show

Madhu Sridhar India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: On May 6, Akshaya Patra hosted its 2nd charity event in Southern California with an elegant luncheon and fashion show. The event, held at the Cerritos Sheraton, was organized by the Los Angeles chapter under the leadership of Vandana Tilak. 300 people came together to help raise awareness and contributions for the countless children that Akshaya Patra feeds and educates on a daily basis all over India. With the generosity of those in attendance, the sponsors and the dedication of all the volunteers, the event successfully helped raise $136,000. Madhu Sridhar, President and CEO of the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA, elaborated on how Akshaya Patra's 21 technology intensive kitchens across India prepare meals for over 1.3 million children who would other-

Top four models Pooja, Manuri, Shilpa and Rachna.

wise go hungry. Along with a freshly prepared, nutritious meal, these children also receive an education that will help break the cycle of poverty for them and their families. During her

Angeles community was evident at the luncheon event", said Sridhar. "I am touched by the response of those wishing to volunteer their time and resources to raise awareness about the organization for the Akshaya

Madhu Sridhar, President and CEO of the Akshaya Patra Foundation USA, elaborated on how Akshaya Patra's 21 technology intensive kitchens across India prepare meals for over 1.3 million children who would otherwise go hungry talk, Sridhar extended an invitation to all the attendees to visit an Akshaya Patra kitchen and experience the hope that the kitchens deliver on a daily basis across India. "The warmth and support of the Los

Patra children." The highlight of the event was a spectacular fashion show by India's renowned fashion designers, Shyamal and Bhumika. The duo created a stunning couture collec-

Main organizer Vandana Tilak

tion of outfits and sarees that were simply breathtaking. Shyamal, who visited the Akshaya Patra kitchen in February, very graciously donated his time and expertise and came to Los Angeles to participate in this event. Commenting on his kitchen visit, Shyamal remarked, "The food from the Akshaya Patra kitchen was just as tasty as what I would prepare at home"! Shyamal and Bhumika specially designed creations that premiered at the event and made for a truly memorable afternoon. Each ticket sold at the event went in support of feeding and educating a child for an entire academic year; a cost to Akshaya Patra of only $15. The Akshaya Patra Los Angeles Team thanked its supporters and all its well-wishers who through their contributions at this event, will help feed an additional 9,100 children this year.

Community/California

May 18, 2012

India Post 17

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American Heart Foundation honors Dr Sahota India Post News Service

NEWPORT BEACH, CA: The American Heart Association honored Dr H. Sahota here on May 5 for his cardiovascular science, medicine research and his significant contribution to Interventional Cardiology. An MD, FACC and FSCAI, Dr Sahota is inventor of Perfusion Balloon, FDA approved, being used all over the world. He is also instrumental in introducing the procedure of Angioplaty in many countries such as India, Mexico, Ukraine and Moscow. He is a subject of many books including the biography 'Hero of American Heart.' He has served as Chairman of Orange County Medicine Commission for several years. Over 450 business and commu-

Dr. Sahota with wife Dr. Asha Sahota

Dr. Sahota with the Master of Ceremony Mr. Brett Wall.

nity leaders came together for the American Heart Association function at Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, California. The ceremony began by introduction of Dr. Sahota by the Master of Ceremony Mr. Brett Wall. A video presentation followed where Dr. Sahota's friends, colleagues and patients talked about him. Some of them were Sir Eldon Griffiths, former MP and Cabinet Minister in UK, Dr. K.V. Srinath, partner for 31 years and Dr. Pedram Mizani, CEO Advanced Colleges. Others who spoke were Dr. Nicholas Kipshidze, Chairman, Kipshidze Heart Center, Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia. After the award presentation, Dr Sahota spoke about the good

Wth partner Dr. Srinath and his wife Swarna.

San Jose paper endorses Rose Herrera

After the award presentation, Dr Sahota spoke about the good things done at various levels by AHA. At community levels it brought awareness about heart disease and its prevention. It also teaches CPR to the public things done at various levels by AHA. At community levels it brought awareness about heart

LA County Registrar appeals for voter registration

India Post News Service

SAN JOSE: The Mercury News here has endorsed the re-election of Rose Herrera to the San Jose City Council. In its endorsement article, it writes, "All four San Jose City Council members up for re-election this year face challengers, and the dividing line is the same in each race: pension reform, Measure B, on the June ballot to reduce some employee benefits and get control of costs so that city services can be restored. The most important thing this spring is to avoid tipping the council balance away from reform. "This is particularly true of Rose Herrera, who has shown courage and character in standing up to unions and the politically powerful Cortese family. She believes that pension reform is needed and that Evergreen residents want responsible fiscal management. "Herrera has worked well with neighborhoods through the budget cuts, including helping the passionate advocates of the

LOS ANGELES: Are you a U.S. citizen? Are you a California resident? Will you be 18 years of age or older on Election Day? If you answer "yes" to all of these questions, you should register to vote. This is an urgent message from Los Angeles County Registrar - Recorder / County Clerk. In a flyer message, the County Registrar says, "In order to be an eligible voter in California, you must register to vote. As a registered voter, you will receive election information about candidates and measures appearing on your ballot and polling place information before every election. Voting is the easiest way to have a voice in our democracy. You can register to vote by completing a

Rose Herrera

Lake Cunningham Skate Park find private support and save it from the budget ax. She fought back efforts to scuttle transit plans serving the East Side and Evergreen. And in a huge victory for the district, she led the opposition to the sale of the city's Municipal Water System to a private utility that would have dramatically raised rates. She has more than earned re-election. The fiscal future of the whole city may depend on it."

disease and its prevention. It also teaches CPR to the public. It has helped educate people the use of defibrillators placed at important public venues like airports and sports arena. It keeps the doctors informed about latest developments about drugs, devices and latest procedures by holding seminars and arranging CME. To the young aspirants who want to join the medical profession, it provides guidance and opportunities to do research by way of funds which so far amount to $ 3.3 billion. The evening ended with dinner and dancing. The Indian Medical Association was represented by its President Dr. Vandana Agarwal alongwith with several of its members.

voter registration form. Registration forms are available online at lavote.net and at a number of Government offices such as your local library or DMV. Voter registration is permanent. You only re-register if your information changes. Check your voter registration status online at lavote.net. The message says, "You must re-register to vote if you move to a new address, change your name or change your political party preference. You do not have to re-register if you miss an election." Remember, the deadline to register to vote is 15 days before Election Day. To request election materials in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Hindi, Khmer or Thai call 18004818623.

Tech News Mukesh Ambani forgoes Rs 23.82 cr from pay package NEW DELHI: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani decided to forgo nearly Rs 24 crore from his annual pay last fiscal as chief of Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL), keeping his salary capped at Rs 15 crore for the fourth year in a row. However, RIL's total outgo towards remuneration to its all top management personnel, as also the sitting fees and commissions for its non-executive directors, increased during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. Ambani's salary has remained unchanged at Rs 15 crore since the fiscal 2008-09. In its latest annual report for the year 2011-12, RIL said that Ambani's total pay package stood at Rs 15 crore, as against his eligibility of Rs 38.82 crore as per the shareholders' approval.-PTI

Mittal plans may not materialize for 5 more yrs NEW DELHI: Waiting for six years to get USD 30 billion projects implemented in India, Lakshmi Mittal-promoted ArcelorMittal has said its investment may not materialize for another five years, as it recognizes that patience is required to realize mega plans in the country. "While remaining committed to its proposed investments, ArcelorMittal recognizes that patience and a significantly longer timeframe are required to realize mega projects in India. As such, we don't expect our Greenfield projects materializing in the next five years," company spokesperson said here.-PTI

Airtel launches 4G services in Bangalore BANGALORE: Expanding the 4G footprint in the country, telecom major Bharti Airtel has launched wireless broadband service here. "With the launch of 4G, India will move from being a follower in technology to matching the world in this domain," Bharti Airtel CEO for India and South Asia Sanjay Kapoor said. Airtel's 4G network in the city was launched by Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda. Bharti Airtel is the only company to start 4G data services in the country and Bangalore is second the city on its network.

TechBiz 18 India Post

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May 18, 2012

Nokia launches India mapping services

okia's mapping service NAVTEQ has steadily but quietly added powerful features like indoor mapping, natural voice guidance in regional languages, and search using points of interests that make it a valuable navigation product. Indoor maps have been around for a while with Bing and Google offering maps for malls and airports. Last year, Nokia owned mapping service NAVTEQ introduced indoor mapping called Destination Maps for navigation beyond the front door. NAVTEQ is the first major mapping service to bring indoor mapping to India. The product is being launched with indoor maps for 150 malls in 17 cities.

FinMin to recover Rs 20,300 crore tax from Vodafone NEW DELHI: A day after the approval of the Finance Bill by the Lok Sabha, the government said that it will move ahead to recover the tax and penalty from the British telecom major Vodafone which is currently estimated at Rs 20,300 crore. Finance Secretary R S Gurjal said that no new notice would be required in the Vodafone case as the Finance Bill, 2012 would validate all the notices sent earlier, even as the telecom company described the tax law amendment as "grossly unjust" and said it would take all possible steps to safeguard its shareholders' interest. "...in the Finance Bill there is a validation clause, which is that all orders and assessments which have been passed in this regard stand validated. Once that is there, assessment order of the tax as well as order pertaining to penalty (stands) validated by Parliament", he told a television channel UTV Bloomberg. Gujral further added, "It is government's job to take action to collect dues." Earlier in the day, Vodafone said in a statement, "We are naturally disappointed that, despite very widespread concern in India and internationally, the government has not seen fit to propose amendments to address the uncertainty caused by retrospective tax legis-

lation." The Lok Sabha has approved the Finance Bill, 2012 which seeks to amend the Income Tax, 1961 with retrospective effect to tax overseas deals involving domestic assets. The amendment would neutralize the victory secured by Vodafone in the Supreme Court in the Rs 11,000-crore tax dispute case. The tax pertains to purchase of Hutchison's stake in HutchisonEssar by Vodafone for USD 11.2

mand interest amount. There is no question of government sitting and negotiating on the issue." Vodafone said: "We are studying the legislation as amended, and will take all possible steps to safeguard our shareholders' interests." Gujral said, "It was always intention of Parliament that such transaction are liable to tax. Not only capital gains tax, which was liability of Hutchison, but also the liability to withhold tax which was the liability on the part of Vodafone."

"I would like to be guided either by Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) or tax. There cannot be a situation that somebody will make money on an asset located in India and will not pay tax either in India or to the country of its origin. "...because of making some arrangements through certain tax haven areas through a complicated setting up of series of subsidiaries and having huge capital gains on the assets located in India," he had said.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had asserted that Parliament reserved the right to make amendments to law to correct Supreme Court judgment and would not allow a situation where a corporate would avoid paying tax here by operating from a tax haven billion in 2007 through a deal in Cayman Islands. The tax liability of Vodafone, after taking into account the penalty and interest has been estimated at Rs 20,300 crore. According to the Finance Secretary, "as per the statute there is no question of government negotiating once Parliament has validated action which is already completed in terms of raising tax de-

Pranab's assertion While replying to a debate on Finance Bill in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had asserted that Parliament reserved the right to make amendments to law to correct Supreme Court judgment and would not allow a situation where a corporate would avoid paying tax here by operating from a tax haven.

In an hour-long speech in reply to the debate in the Lok Sabha on the Finance Bill, he said taxing Vodafone is about combating black money menace and referred to the Supreme Court judgment which had held that the British telecom major was not liable to pay tax on its acquisition of Hutchison stake in Hutchison Essar in 2007. The Bill was later passed. ContĂd on page 20

India attracts highest ever FDI of $ 8.1 bn NEW DELHI: With an eightfold increase, India attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 8.1 billion in March, the highest ever monthly inflows, despite a brouhaha over Rs 11,000 crore Vodafone tax dispute. Cumulative FDI inflows for the fiscal 2011-12 amounted to USD 36.50 billion, authoritative sources told PTI. In March 2011, the country received FDI worth USD 1.07 billion. The USD 7.2 billion Reliance Industries-British Petroleum (BP) deal, announced in Febru-

ary 2011 contributed significantly to the inflows, even though funds from the UK oil major would have come in phases, they said. The BP

year. Though the March data has been compiled by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), it is yet to be released offi-

The USD 7.2 billion Reliance Industries-British Petroleum (BP) deal, announced in February 2011 contributed significantly to the inflows, even though funds from the UK oil major would have come in phases had picked up a 30 per cent stake in Reliance Industries' 21 oil-fields. Earlier, highest FDI of USD 5.65 billion was received in June last

cially. The sectors which received large foreign FDI inflows during 2011-12 include services, pharma-

ceuticals, telecom, construction, power and metallurgical industries, a DIPP official said, adding Mauritius remained the top FDI source. The inflows had aggregated to USD 19.42 billion in 2010-11, down from USD 25.83 billion in 2009-10. The government move in the Budget for enabling it to tax Vodafone type multi-billion dollar deals had come in for criticism among some industry associations and multi-national companies. They criticized it stating it would affect FDI.-PTI

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May 18, 2012

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Telecom CEOs warn mobile tariffs may double NEW DELHI: Mobile call rates would double in some circles if the recommendations of sectoral regulator Trai on spectrum pricing are accepted, telecom CEOs who met Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal have warned. "...there will be circles which will have more than a 100 per cent price rise (in tariffs) if they were to absorb the impact of what is being recommended," Bharti Airtel CEO Sanjay Kapoor told reporters here. "In one circle, the cost of spectrum, the reserve price is Rs 7 crore and on other end, there are metros where it is Rs 717 crore, which is a 100 times differential," he said. The chiefs of Bharti Airtel,

Vodafone India, Idea Cellular, Uninor and Videocon met Sibal and Department of Telecom Secretary R Chandrashekhar to discuss the implications of Trai recommendations. Top officials of CDMA operators Sistema Shyam Teleservices, Reliance Communications, Tata Teleservices and CDMA body AUSPI also met the minister earlier in the day on the same issue. Kapoor said, "The discussion was about 2 things - one is the Trai recommendations made on the reserve price and auction, and basically (its saying) that the recommendations will have an impact of 2 paise on the industry, and the other was about refarming."

Trai has not considered the price elasticity of demand while formulating the 2 paise assumption, he said. "As the prices rise, the consumption goes down. And it has been absolutely assumed as if the consumption will remain constant which is not correct," Kapoor said, adding that there is a 30 paise per minute impact and not 2 paise as Trai has assumed. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) has suggested a base price of Rs 3,622 crore for one megahertz (MHz) for pan-India spectrum. This is around 10 times higher for pan-India operations than the price at which 2G licenses bundled

SCE celebrates business, community partnerships India Post News Service

IRWINDALE, CA: Southern California Edison (SCE) hosted its 7th annual Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebration here at the utility's Energy Education Center in Irwindale. With the theme, "Celebrating Business & Community Partnerships," SCE highlighted the company's diverse partnerships, with a focus on business customers and organizations within the Asian and Pacific Islander community who are champions of energy efficiency. "SCE is proud to work with diverse business customers and community organizations on saving money, promoting energy efficiency and the environment," said Lisa Cagnolatti, SCE's vice president, Customer Service Business Unit's Business Customer Division. "We are pleased to highlight the strong partnerships we have with our customers, business partners and community leaders from the diverse communities we serve." The Community Partnership Award was presented to the Pacific Asian Consortium in Employment (PACE), an organization with an outstanding record of providing services and training to low income and ethnic minority populations throughout Los Angeles and nearby counties. The Diverse Business Enterprise Award, which honors a business that is part of SCE's Supplier Diversity and Development Program, was given to NRG Power, Inc., a Vietnameseowned industrial electrical contracting company. Keynote speaker John Kobara,

Keynote and Guest Speaker with SCE Executives (L-R) Lynda Ziegler, Executive Vice President, Power Delivery Services, SCE; Dr. Tam Nguyen, President, Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce; John E. Kobara, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, California Community Foundation; and Ron Litzinger, President, SCE

California Community Foundation's executive vice president and chief operating officer, previously led successful startups in the education and entertainment industries. Kobara, a social

Emcee Gene Rodrigues, Director, Customer Energy Efficiency & Solar, SCE at SCE's 7th Annual AsianAmerican Pacific Islander Heritage Month Event

entrepreneur, is passionate about empowering leaders and connecting charitable investors and donors to the community's needs. "It's an honor to be sharing and celebrating Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month with

Southern California Edison," Kobara said. "It's an occasion to celebrate the great accomplishments of diverse leaders in business and non-profits serving the community in southern California." Guest speaker Dr. Tam Nguyen, the Vietnamese American Chamber of Commerce President, has been a long-time SCE partner. The Chamber of Commerce recently worked with SCE on the Edison Energy Walk in Orange County promoting energy conservation to residents, with support and involvement from SCE's local public affairs, the City of Westminster, the Westminster Chamber of Commerce and 350 small business customers. SCE began this event in 2006 to recognize the accomplishments of Asian American Pacific Islander businesses, their contributions to economic growth and commitment to being energy efficient.

with 4.4 MHz spectrum were allocated in 2008 under the then telecom minister A Raja. Kapoor said Trai has taken into consideration only 576 Mhz in the 1800 Mhz band for calculations, whereas in reality 1167.40 Mhz of

re-farming the spectrum, under which operators will be migrated to a higher frequency band, Kapoor said the industry will have to invest Rs 1,25,000 crore of capex and Rs 25,000 crore of operating cost additionally to

The Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Enterprises, Mr Rajan Bharti Mittal (second right), with the Bharti Airtel CEO, Mr Sanjay Kapoor (third right); the CEO & Director of Videocon Telecom, Mr Arvind Bali; and other telecom industry executives after a meeting with the Telecom Minister, Mr Kapil Sibal, regarding TRAIĂs 2G auction plans in New Delhi

spectrum is at play. "Now the difference between what Trai has taken is three times apart because Trai has taken Rs 93,000 crore into cognizance whereas the cost of spectrum that I just mentioned is more than Rs 2,84,000 crore," he added. Alleging that an artificial scarcity is being created, Kapoor said, "Only 20 per cent is being auctioned in the market which clearly tells you that an artificial scarcity is being created and therefore the prices will be taken up unrealistically." On Trai recommendation on

just protect the existing revenues. "This will also include writeoffs of Rs 25,000 crore worth of assets which will not be used by the industry because 900 (Mhz) will not exist," he added. Trai has proposed roadmap for spectrum re-farming under which existing player will be made to use 1800 Mhz band, compared to the lower frequency band of 900 Mhz. Telecom signals emitted using 900 Mhz frequency band cover large area and is therefore costefficient, compared to 1800 Mhz band. -PTI

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New helicopters to replace Global Vectra NEW DELHI: With the cancel- helicopters of Pawan Hans were lation of flying license to Global pushed into service to ferry pilVectra helicopters, hunt is on for grims to Vaishno Devi shrine. new operators to fill in the gap for Hundreds of passengers are fertaking part in sorties during anti- ried daily through helicopters Naxal operations besides helping which were run by Global Vectra oil companies in their off-shore and Pawan Hans. functions and also ferrying of pilState-owned ONGC and other grims. oil companies have also begun Aviation regulator DGCA sus- hunting for helicopters for their pended the operating permit of offshore operations after suspenGlobal Vectra, whose promoter Ravi Rishi is unWith a fleet of 45 helider the CBI scanner in the contro- copters, Pawan Hans is versial Tatra truck deal with the confident it will fulfill the army, following withdrawal of se- needs of oil companies curity clearance and shrines by the Union Home Ministry. Immediately after withdrawing sion of licenses to Global Vectra. the security clearance, the Minis- The PSU had leased eight helicoptry also put on hold its move to ters from Global Vectra for ferrywet lease helicopters from Global ing its employees to oil and gas Vectra for anti-Naxal operations installations off both east and west and will now have to look for other coast, while BG Group has hired private firms for hiring the chop- two choppers for supporting oppers. erations at its western offshore Public sector undertaking Panna/Mukta and Tapti oil and Pawan Hans is also gearing up to gas fields. face the challenge of catering exPawan Hans officials said that tra helicopters to various shrine it was a challenge for the governboards and make a similar offer to ment-owned company to live up Oil and Natural Gas Corporation. to the expectations of the governAt Katra in Jammu, additional ment and private players.

With a fleet of 45 helicopters, Pawan Hans is confident it will fulfill the needs of oil companies and shrines. About the anti-Naxal operations, the officials said that Pawan Hans was already a part of it by flying sorties for paramilitary forces in Odisha and Bihar. The DGCA suspended the flying permit of Global Vectra after

the Home Ministry withdrew its security clearance and recommended to the Civil Aviation Ministry to annul the non-scheduled operator permit (NSOP) of the company. The suspension of the NSOP would lead to grounding of the entire 23 choppers of the company which were used in onshore and offshore operations for oil companies, besides catering to tourist travels in the northeast and pilgrim destinations like Vaishno Devi and Amarnath shrine. -PTI

FinMin to recover Rs 20,300 crore tax from Vodafone ContĂd from page 18

Referring to questions as to how the Government could go against the Supreme Court judgment, Mukherjee said, "I am fully aware of my right as a legislature, law making power only vests in Parliament. "The Supreme Court may interpret law but equally Parliament has right, legislative right to express its intention by making amendment to correct the SC judgment." He said the very first amendment of the Constitution of India arose out of the judgment of Supreme Court in 1956. However, he added, that the government in the past had not amended the Constitution when the Supreme Court gave judgments in the Golaknath case or the Kesavananda Bharti case when it was held the fundamental rights cannot be abridged or the basic structure of the Constitution cannot be amended. The Minister said the Constitution has given judiciary the power to interpret, but law is to be

framed by Parliament while amending it or asserting Parliament's right is not taken away. Explaining the purpose of the amendment in the wake of the Vodafone verdict, he said, tax liability will arise retrospectively six years before the date of asset. He also reiterated his clarification that assessments which have been closed would not be reopened. British tax amendment Referring to the British tax amendment of a similar nature in 2008, which gave effect from 1987, Mukherjee asserted that "if they are entitled, then surely India is equally entitled. India is not an inferior country compared to anyone." The Finance Minister referred to high domestic savings rate and said the country was not in such a "desperate situation" to attract foreign investment. "We cannot declare India a tax haven simply to attract foreign investment. Please remember, when the investment was also not there we did not eat lizard. Till today, the investment required is substantially met by our rate of do-

mestic savings. "Therefore, we are not in that desperate a situation that a country of 120 crore people will be treated as a tax haven like Cayman Islands, Isle of Mann or Virgin Island. We cannot be equated with them. Either pay tax here or you pay tax in your own country with which we have DTAA," he said. Referring to the deferring of the General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR) by one year, the Minister said he had agreed to it not because of any fear or apprehension and was not afraid of any consequences. Responding to BJP leader L K Advani's queries on disclosing names of those who had stashed black money abroad, Mukherjee said, the government would disclose them only when prosecution is launched by tax authorities. Promising to table a White Paper on black money by the end of the current session, the Minister said, three institutions were assessing the estimates of such funds and the reports are expected by July-August. -PTI

May 18, 2012

TechBiz Post

May 18, 2012

India Post

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India eager for CEC India can become innovation agreement with Singapore hub for bio-pharma WASHINGTON: Emerging markets will drive 70 per cent of growth in the pharma industry and India will require supportive policies to leverage the BioPharma opportunity to become an innovation hub for the sector, says a BCG report. Noting that for India to become an innovation hub, supportive policies is required, the position paper on India's BioPharma sector has sought to leverage the country's unique capabilities in genomic databases, translational research and nanotechnology. A supportive environment is vital for India in particular as the commercial landscape in the country does not create enough pull to drive these opportunities by themselves, it argued. "The Indian government has declared 2010 through 2020 as the 'Decade of Innovation'. Innovation in life sciences will be essential to make this happen," said Karun Rishi, president of USA-India Chamber of Commerce, giving a preview of the report to be released later this week during the US-India BioPharma and Healthcare Summit in Boston.

The findings of the position paper, prepared by Boston Consulting Group for the chamber, are part of interviews conducted with over 50 global thought leaders drawn from the industry, academia and policy makers.

A supportive environment is vital for India in particular as the commercial landscape in the country does not create enough pull to drive these opportunities by themselves, it argued Rishi said achieving the promise of spending two per cent of GDP on R&D by 2017 will require a considerable jump from the current spend of approximately one per cent. "From in-depth interviews in oncology, three areas emerge where India can be leveraged: cap-

turing economic advantage through building and maintaining unique assets such as a genetic information database; creating process efficiencies, such as translational research hubs; and capitalizing on technological advantage to drive more applied research in emerging areas like nano-technology centers of excellence," Rishi said. The report has noted that all of this is not possible without a supportive environment, as it learnt from its clinical research deep dive. "We believe that an advocacy platform to co-ordinate efforts across stakeholders must be established and that policymakers need to focus on setting guidelines, streamlining processes, building capacity in the administration, and finally encouraging infrastructure investments," it said. According to the report, emerging markets will drive 70 per cent of the growth in the pharma industry. While there is a significant commercial opportunity, the link to R&D investments will need to be tailor-made for each country based on local capabilities present, it said. -PTI

'Indian investments won't harm Pak industry' LAHORE: Seeking to allay fears that Indian investments would harm the interests of the Pakistan industry, a member of the visiting Indian business delegation has said strengthening of economic ties would be a win-win situation for both the countries. Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry Chandrajit Banerjee told PTI that Indian businessmen were aware of the concerns of Pakistan industry. "They fear that their businesses will be closed if we invest in the local market. In fact, it will be a winwin situation for both countries," he said. Banerjee is part of the Indian business delegation which attended the two-day business conference that was addressed by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar earlier this week. Meanwhile, the Chairman of Bajaj Auto Limited, Rahul Bajaj, said trade between the two countries was moving forward at a considerable pace and this was a good sign so far as bilateral relations was concerned. "Who could think after the Mumbai attacks that we would be here in Lahore in 2012, discussing trade prospects with our Pakistani

counterparts," Bajaj said. However, Bajaj said he was unhappy there was "no progress" in trade in the automobile sector, which is protected under Pakistan's negative list regime for

be reviewed after a year or so," he said. Banerjee said Indian traders want Pakistan to remove the barriers created by the negative list. "Then see the trade between the

NEW DELHI: Seeking to further enhance trade ties, India has said it looked forward to the early conclusion of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement with Singapore. India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and his Singapore counterpart K Shanmugam discussed strengthening bilateral

mon desire to seek new areas of cooperation that would take the partnership to an even higher level, he said. Krishna recalled Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent visit to Singapore and said that he looked forward to the visit of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong here in July.

Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam shakes hands with Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna prior to a meeting in New Delhi on May 8

ties, particularly trade and defense relations, at the Second IndiaSingapore Joint Ministerial Committee Meeting here. "We look forward to an early conclusion of the 2nd Review of the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which has emerged as a cornerstone of our bilateral economic relationship since its signing in 2005," Krishna told reporters after the meeting. Both sides expressed the com-

Krishna and Shanmugam also discussed cooperation in the areas of science and technology, education including skills development and training and culture. In the field of skills education and training, the two sides said potential exists for mutually beneficial cooperation. "Our Ministry of Labor and Singapore Ministry of Education have had detailed discussions on specific areas of cooperation," Krishna said. -PTI

Drugs banned in developed world sold in India

Mr Adi Godrej, President CII moderating the Valedictory session of Indo Pakistan Economic Conference. Mia Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, Pakistan delivered the Keynote Address at this session (2nd from left). Also seen is Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII (Extreme left) and Mr Imran Aslam, President, GeoTV Networks (Extreme right) in Lahore

trade with India. "As my concern is with the automobile industry, I do not think Pakistan will soon (remove restrictions in this sector). However, if things go smoothly on the trade front, the matter may

two countries growing manifold," he said. Pakistan has said it intends to do away with the negative list by December, paving the way for giving India Most Favored Nationstatus by next year.-PTI

NEW DELHI: Pointing to a collusive nexus between drug manufacturers, officials of Drugs Control Organization and medical experts in granting approvals to new drugs, a Parliamentary Panel said drugs banned, discarded or withdrawn in developed countries are in circulation in India. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare also pointed to serious lapses and irregularities on the grant of approvals to new drugs and pointed out that 33 such drugs were approved without conducting clinical trials on Indian patients. Alarmed at concerns of safety of Indian patients using such new drugs approved by the Central

Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), the top body handling approval of drugs, the Committee held "this matter needs to be reviewed to ensure safety of patients, fair play, transparency and accountability." The Committee said scrutiny of 42 drugs picked up randomly involving grant of drug approvals in utter disregard of regulatory procedures and violation of rules and pointed out to files of approval of three controversial drugs (pefloxacin, lomefloxacin and sparfloxacin) found missing and untraceable. These drugs were either never marketed or withdrawn in the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and other countries.-PTI

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

India Post

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May 18, 2012

onakshi had recently admitted that she prefers working with older men in the industry and that she is more comfortable with them. Even since she made such a confession, younger actors in Bollywood do not want to be paired with her and the main reason is that she would look older than them. It was heard that Sonakshi wanted to pair up with Ranbir Kapoor. However, RK refused for the very fact that she would look older than him. The same applied to Shahid Kapoor. According to a source, "Sonakshi is very keen to work with Ranbir and Shahid, who are closer to her age. More so since she's also working with Imran Khan in Milan Luthria's sequel to Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai. But it seems she heard about Shahid joking that she would look older to him if they were to do a film together. That's why she's said to have declined the remake of Vettai." Interestingly all of Sonakshi's co-stars till date have been older actors. Two films with Salman Khan, three with Akshay Kumar and another with Ajay Devgn.

s â&#x20AC;&#x2122; a n i r t a K k c i k

1 Chikni Chameli: Agneepath 2 Hosanna: Ek Deewana Tha 3 Jhoom Jhoomta Hun Main : Players 4 O Saiyyan: Agneepath 5 Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu : Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu 6 Aromale: Ek Deewana Tha 7 Kal Chalna Shuru Tu : Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu 8 Zara Dil Ko Thaam Lo: Don 2 9 Dil Yeh Bekarar Kyu Hai : Players 10 Sharminda Hoon : Ek Deewana Tha

magine the dainty, pretty girl like Katrina Kaif in a fight with a baddie! Katrina will go for a complete image makeover in her film Dhoom 3, and one hears that she will kick Aamir Khan for real as they play rivals in the film. In the previous installment Dhoom 2, Aishwarya Rai locked lips with the villain Hrithik Roshan. Taking this to a different tangent, Katrina Kaif will have an elaborate fight sequence with Aamir in the third part. The scene promises to be a "critical climactic duel" between the two powerful adversaries. A source is quoted as saying, "There will be no concessions for Katrina just because she is a woman. It will be an all out fist-to-fist, man-towoman fight to the finish." Both Aamir Khan and Katrina Kaif will have to get in shape for the sequence which is going to be very stylish and sleek, something Dhoom series is famous for.

May 18, 2012

Bollywood

India Post

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SONG FOR SAIF P

arineeti Chopra of Ladies vs Ricky Bhal fame loves to sing and is a trained singer. Chances are that she might take up singing seriously in future. "I learnt music for almost six years in Ambala. I have done BA (hons) in music," Parineeti Chopra told reporters. "I don't want to sing right now. I have just started acting. I think after five to six years, when I will feel I have got grip on acting and I don't need to practice anymore, I will sing," added the actress. The actress was asked if she was seeing anyone and is in love, for which she replied that she has had more than 300 crore crushes but was never in love. However, she likes Saif Ali Khan. "No I was not in love, but I have had 300 crore crushes. I like Saif Ali Khan but please don't tell him. Whenever I meet Kareena Kapoor, I will tell her that you have competition," Parineeti Chopra said.

MIME ACT A

ctress Freida Pinto could take up mime for her next movie role. The 27-years-old says she has a top secret film project lined up for which she is studying body language rather than lines. "I have these two independent films that I'm working on at the moment. I've been prepping for one of them since December. It's not an action film, but a film of expression," showbizspy.com quoted Freida Pinto as saying. "It's not necessarily acting through dialogue, but acting through body movements dance. I really do hope it takes off," she added.

utting to rest to all rumors about he and Bipasha seeing each other, Rana Duggubati confirms, he is already in a committed relationship with someone else. "We are friends and we continue to be friends. The entire team of 'Dum Maro Dum' from Rohan to Abhishek to Bipasha all are my friends. I am seeing someone but not from here (Bollywood). It is too early to talk about it," Rana said in an interview. "I am fed up of the question (about dating Bipasha or not)…let's move on," he said. The 27-year-old actor added, "All this does not really matter much…if you focus on your work…on films. I constantly work and ensure these things do not stop me. There are other important things to focus on and move forward in life," Rana said. Rana will be seen alongside Amitabh Bachchan and Sunjay Dutt in Ram Gopal Varma s 'Department'.

SORRY BIPASHA

India Post

ajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has assured actor Aamir Khan, whose TV show " Satyamev Jayate" created a storm with its in-depth study of female feticide, that he would take up the issue of a fast track court with the state chief justice so that justice was expedited. Addressing a press conference with Aamir by his side, the chief minister said the show brought reality to the forefront. "I never heard about his show before it went on air," he said, adding that the matter had now been exposed. "We are doing a lot of work towards the issue," Gehlot said. "But to handle this problem we need the support of the state police. He has already done a lot through his show," Gehlot said. "Satyamev Jayate", which was telecast

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The star said he was hopeful that his debut TV show, telecast on Doordarshan and Star Plus, would "touch people's hearts". "Wherever

May 18, 2012 Sunday May 6, discussed female feticide through case studies of women, opinion of experts and also invited two Rajasthan-based TV journalists who had seven years ago done a sting operation. The sting by Meena Sharma and Shripal Shaktawat had covered 140 doctors involved in sex determination tests and abortions. Aamir met Gehlot to request the creation of a fast track court to decide the cases of

AAMIR SHOW WORKS WONDERS

such incidents occur, we will go," he told reporters

the doctors, none of who have been penalized. Aamir said he had made "a specific request to the chief minister that all cases related to the show" be decided at the earliest. He asked the chief minister whether a fast track court could be created so justice was expedited. Gehlot, he said, assured him that he would speak to the chief justice of Rajasthan to bring all cases under one court so the cases were heard as soon as possible. The star said he was hopeful that his debut TV show, telecast on Doordarshan and Star Plus, would "touch people's hearts". "Wherever such incidents occur, we will go," he told reporters. "I was expecting that I would be able to touch people's heart with the show and I am glad to see the effect of the show. I am happy about it," Aamir said. "I am not an activist, I am an entertainer. I only try to reach people's heart. I am not here to talk about issues seven days a week... I am an entertainer, and that is what I am passionate about. I want to touch people's emotions and know their feelings, whether it is through a film like 'Dhoom 3' or through this show. "As an entertainer, it is not necessary that I only make people laugh, it means that I should be able to evoke all emotions in them," he added.

Amisha

Bharti

Parveen Khan

May 18, 2012

India Post

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Regional cinema dominates at National Film Awards NEW DELHI: Talents from India's $2-billion Indian movie industry received from Vice President Hamid Ansari the 59th National Film Awards across various categories here. Veteran Bengali actor Soumitra Chatterjee was also honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke award, highest honor in Indian cinema at the event. Regional cinema dominated the award function, while Bollywood maintained a low key this year. Top honors, including best feature film, best direction and best actor titles, were bagged by regional talents, while Bollywood's bold and beautiful Vidya Balan kept the Hindi film industry in the reckoning by receiving the best actress trophy for 'The Dirty Picture'. Vidya came on the dais in a rose pink-colored sari with her hair neatly tied in a bun to receive the award. The ceremony, hosted by actors Vinay Pathak and Saumya Tandon, witnessed performances by Anand Bhate, who won the best playback singer (male) title for 'Balgandharva', and Roopa Ganguly, who won the same award in the female category for the Bengali film 'Abosheyshey'. Bollywood composer Amit Trivedi and lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya also took to the stage to perform 'Agar zindagi', for

The best costume designer award was shared by Niharika Khan for 'The Dirty Picture' and Neeta Lulla for Marathi film 'Balgandharva'. Another shared award was for the best child artist. It was received jointly by Partho Gupte for 'Stanley Ka Dabba' and by the gang of 10 kids for 'Chillar Party'.

The 10 child artistes from 'Chillar Party' added innocence and enthusiasm to the event and displayed respect for Ansari as most of them touched his feet before accepting the honor Vice President M Hamid Ansari presents the Best Lead Actress Award to Vidya Balan at the 59th National Film Awards 2011 function in New Delhi

which the latter won the best lyricist trophy. The song is from the movie 'I Am'. The best feature film award was shared by Marathi film 'Deool' and Kannada movie 'Byari', while the best direction award went to Gurvinder Singh for his Punjabi film 'Anhe Ghorey Da Daan', which also won the best

cinematography title. Marathi actor Girish Kulkarni came to accept his best actor trophy for his role as a good-hearted simpleton in 'Deool'. The best supporting actor and actress awards were given to Appu Kutty for Tamil film 'Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai' and Leishangthem Tonthoingambi

National award winners on high after ceremony NEW DELHI: "Excited", "proud" and "humbled" and even "amused" were the feelings the winners went through after being conferred the most prestigious film award of the country at 59th National Film Awards here. The winners couldn't hide their excitement. Vidya Balan, who got an award for best actress for 'The Dirty Picture', said: I am very happy and I feel humbled because it is the highest honor for an actor. I wish my entire team of `Dirty Picture` would have been here to share the award, but this goes out to the team. It is actually hitting me now." Girish Kulkarni, who got the best actor award for 'Deool', said: "This is a big day for me, Marathi film industry as well for the regional film industry, where a more meaningful cinema is being created. There is a whole lot of talent that is making films at par with the world cinema. I feel like a child

Best actor awar winner Girish Kulkarni

happy with gifts in my hand. No words to express the emotions." Choreographers Bosco-Ceaser, who won an award for 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara', said: "This feeling would almost be like a lifetime achievement award. We never thought we would ever get it. It is a stepping stone and motives us to keep working hard, be more creative and try our best." Ashvin Kumar, who won an award for Best Film on Social Is-

sues for 'Inshallah Football', said: "I am quite amused that the film that was banned and declared unfit for public watching is getting the national award." Filmmaker Amole Gupte, whose son Partho won the best child artiste for 'Stanley Ka Dabba' along with the cast of 'Chillar Party', said: "I feel very proud that my child gets an award from the vice president. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 27

Devi for Manipuri film 'Phijigee Mani', respectively. In the music category, composer Neel Dutt won the best songs award for Bengali rock musical 'Ranjana Ami Ar Ashbo Na'. Mayookh Bhaumik bagged the background score honor for Bengali film 'Laptop'. Hindi films, though few in the awardees list, made their prominence felt through the presence of its actors and filmmakers at the event. The team of 'I AM' Onir and Sanjay Suri came to collect the award for the film. 'I Am' was named the best Hindi film of the year. 'Chillar Party' was adjudged the best children's film, and it also received the honor for best original screenplay writer. The 10 child artistes from 'Chillar Party' added innocence and enthusiasm to the event and displayed respect for Ansari as most of them touched his feet before accepting the honor. Amitabh Bhattacharya won best lyrics for 'Agar zindagi' from 'I Am', 'RA.One' bagged the award for best special effects and the best choreography was given to Bosco-Caeser for 'Senorita' from 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'.

Vikram Gaekwad won the best make-up artist for his work in 'The Dirty Picture' as well as in 'Bal Gandharva'. All three awards in the best audiography category were picked by Hindi films. The best location sound recordist title went to Beylon Fonseca for 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara'. 'Game' was given the honors in the sound designer and re-recordist of the final mixed track categories. Kumararaja Thiagarajan won the Indira Gandhi Award for best debut film of a director for 'Aaranyakandam', while the award for the best popular film providing wholesome entertainment went to Tamil film 'Azhagarsamiyin Kuthirai'. Acclaimed filmmaker Girish Kasaravalli picked his 12th National Film Award at the event for 'Kurmavatara', adjudged the best Kannada film. Traditionally, the awards are given out by the President. But Pratibha Patil, whose term is about to end in July, is currently on vacation so Ansari filled in her boots at the Vigyan Bhawan. Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni, too was present at the occasion, which saw key members of the country's film fraternity.

26 India Post

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May 18, 2012

India Post

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National award winners on high after ceremony heart. The award is for the entire team that has worked with me on the films tirelessly."

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 25

This film was made in just one day. There are times when kids are made to shoot for hours for a film, and from this film I wanted to show that a film can be shot in just four hours too. Designer Niharika Khan, who won best costume designer for 'The Dirty Picture', said: "I am still in shock and nervous. I didn`t expect it to come my way. It is a great honor and hope I live up to it." Beylon Fonseca for who was awarded for 'Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara' and 'Game' in sound designer and re-recordist of the final mixed track categories, said: "The

Designer Niharika Khan, who won best costume designer for 'The Dirty Picture', said: "I am still in shockâ&#x20AC;? Sanjay Suri

feeling hasn`t sunk in yet. It feels awesome to have won it for two different films very close to my

Anand Bhate, who won best male playback singer, said: "It was very good specially as it was made on legendary Marathi actor Bal

Anand Bhate

Gandharva. Giving voice to the legendary character was great and being recognized at national level

is equally delighting. It is special as it was the first playback singing for me." Harry Hingorani, who won for best special effects for 'RA. One', said: "It really feels great. Thanks to everybody who were involved with "RA. One" and worked really hard on this movie. It is once in a lifetime opportunity, we might not get it again but will try our best to give the best." Actor-producer Sanjay Suri said: "I am really inspired to go on the path being chosen and this award is also a validation of faith. The award goes to all the people who helped make `I AM`."

Horoscope

28 India Post

May 18, 2012

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Your Weekly Future by Pandit Parashar MAY 18 TH - MAY 24TH (November 23 to December 22)

(March 21 to April 20)

omeone in immediate family will need extra care. Stocks you buy now could turn profitable in few weeks. You will be on your feet most of the time but the results will be good. You will be travelling to a nice area with family to meet an old friend. You will be excited about an upcoming trip. You will feel relieved after making a big payment.

trong planets in the third will fill you with energy. Not everyone will like your plans, but you should still go ahead. Trip will take you closer to someone you care a lot. You will spend money on some fine and expensive items. Your expertise will help and change people's life. You will attend an interesting party and make some useful friends.

(April 21 to May 20)

(December 22 to January 19)

ou will be looking in all directions for fresh leads. Results will come but slowly. Bank balance will take a sharp dip. Planets will make you more energetic and you will finish lots of pending work. You will spend some time on phone and save money. Opponents and competition will be strong but cannot hurt. You will become much focused.

xpect some dramatic improvement in career related efforts. You may be offered a dream come true opportunity. Concentration of Sun and Mercury in fifth will make you very diplomatic and provide the ability to solve even the toughest situation. Money will come in plenty but will be well spent on buying gifts for others.

(May 21 to June 20)

(January 20 to February 18)

ou will be buying something very expensive for someone you love dearly. Strong Venus will take you closer to few good opportunities but the deal may not close right away. Serious help from an experienced person will be kind of bonus this week. You will start making preparation for an upcoming short vacation with family and friends.

eople in business will be paying large advertising bills. Money will go towards health care too. You may put some money away for rainy days also. Some uncertainty about career will fade away bringing big relief in mind. You may distance yourself from an ungrateful person without telling anybody the reason. Visit to a coastal area will bring prosperity.

(February 19 to March 20)

(June 21 to July 22)

our ability to think outside the box will make you a serious contender for advancement in the professional world. You will go out of your way to entertain friends and yourself. Watch out for the person trying to flirt with you. favorable planets will get you closer to an influential person who can really help you in future.

oney will go towards repairs or purchase of another car. There will be lots of confusion in mind but will be cleared with the help of an experienced person. You will continue to make place in social circle and will be invited to an important gathering. Planets assures a better time financially. You will be signing a new contract.

(July 23 to August 22)

ou will receive several weak offers. Business will be lot better than past some time. You may get rid of old associates and find alternative quickly. Timely action and quick thinking will save you from many troubles this week. You will meet an interesting person and become friendly. You will start to monitor bank balance regularly. (August 23 to September 22)

usiness will improve unexpectedly. Running around and meetings will not go waste at all. You will make few new and useful friends and receive practical tips from them. Reunion will be good and you will get to spend quality time with children. Do not few adversities slow you down as major changes just around the corner. (September 23 to October 22)

eek full of few pleasant surprises. Offer will be huge and hard to turn down. Big contract is being drawn by the other side. You may show that you care in creative way and not expensive to people you love. You may pay a visit to an old friend with family. You will be making frequent calls overseas. Money should not be a problem from now and on. (October 23 to November 22)

ou will be charging heavily on cards and may also borrow money against credit lines to meet temporary commitments. You will also need to deal with a government agency to resolve a headache. Some of you will finalize plan to move in early next month. It will be difficult to find right associates in a hurry. You will work extra hours.

2012 will be a memorable year for Ranbir Kapoor

anbir is a Libran and his ruling number is 1. His lucky days are Sun days, Mondays and Thursdays. The sun governs this number and those who are born under it are active, original, artistic and brilliant. The ruling planet in Libra is Venus and is associated with beauty, love and desire. He certainly lives up to the qualities associated with the sign of scales with a combination of striking good looks, charm and intelligence. 2012 will be a memorable year for this young star. He will sail through problems and difficulties. The beginning of the year is indicated to be very hectic and he will hardly have time to pay attention to his personal life. The audience will be highly impressed with his performances and new projects will keep him extremely busy. His popularity is indicated to rise up by a few notches and he will remain in the news for all the right reasons. When he first appeared on the silver screen with just a towel wrapped around his chiseled torso, he had the entire female population of the country swooning for him. And the moment he dropped that

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

Ranbir Kapoor

towel, he just took their breath away! Ranbir Kapoor had signaled his arrival in Bollywood with his famous towel-dropping act in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya. Although the film bombed at the box-office, Ranbir had ensured that he is bookmarked in the memory of at least the female population of the country, if not all, for the rest of their lives, much like his father did a few decades ago. A 'star' was born!

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Jaipur, the City of Victory, is chaotic and congested, though it still has a habit of tickling travelers pink. Stunning hilltop forts and glorious palaces fit like footprints from a rich royal past, candyfloss-bright turbans blaze a trail through brilliant bargain-filled bazaars, and fluttering saris catch the eye like butterflies.

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May 18, 2012

s the gateway to the desert state of Rajasthan, however, it's also a city permanently under siege. Package tourists are captivated by (and offloaded on) the bustling bazaars, world-class hotels and clammy sophistication, while camel carts and cows waddle through diesel-soaked streets, rampaging rickshaw drivers hustle and burn past businessmen and tourists, and scores of street children beg outside huge jewellery shops and palatial hotels. Jaipur beams boldest at dusk - when it's well worth walking to Amber - and, much like its founder, Jai Singh II, the Pink City is both proud and resilient. TOURISTATTRACTIONS: Hawa Mahal: Hawa Mahal of Jaipur is an example of the architectural magnificence prevalent in that period. Hawa Mahal is the signature building of Jaipur. A must in any Jaipur sightseeing trip. Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d on page 30

India Post

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May 18, 2012

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Jaipur: Stunning hilltop forts & glorious palaces

Amber Palace

Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 29

City Palace of Jaipur: City Palace of Jaipur is a combination of Rajasthani and Mughal architecture. It is spread into a vast area and holds many palaces, gardens, forts, museums and temples in it. Jantar Mantar: Jantar Mantar was conceived as a quest for discovering the cosmos. The aim was to verify astronomical observations and to generate interest among public about astronomy. Amber Palace: Amber Palace is a magnificent building built to rival the Mughal grandeur. It is a significant symbol of the rich Rajput architecture. FAIRS AND FESTIVALS: Jaipur is the land of fairs and festivals. The Pink City remains soaked with the splendor of colors. Every fair and festival has its own significance. Teej festival: Teej festival is well known across the world and is an icon of Jaipur tourism. It is celebrated to welcome the monsoon during Shraavan month (July-August) as per Hindu calendar. Millions of devotees participate in the auspicious rally of Teej Mata, said to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. This two-day long festival is celebrated on the 3rd and 4th day of Shukla Paksha (bright fortnight) of Shravan month. Bright fortnight symbolizes "growth" hence the women of Rajasthan keep fast for the long life of their husbands while the men offer prayers to Teej Mata for

good rain and crop. Hindu mythological significance of this festival is that after a long separation, Goddess Parvati reunited with her husband Lord Shiva. She gave a boon to this day that whoever does worship of Goddess Parvati on this day, she fulfills his/her wishes. Parents of married women send "Sinjara" to their daughters on the

joy Teej fair with her husband, inlaws and relatives. In Teej fair, an auspicious rally of Teej Mata starts from Tripolia Gate of Jaipur which passes through various main markets and ends at Chaugan Stadium. Members of royal family decorate the idol of Teej Mata for this auspicious rally. Accouterment

ing moon) of Chaitra month (March-April) and ends on Tritiya tithi (3rd day) of Shukla paksha (waxing moon) of Chaitra month. Hence, Gangaur festival is celebrated in Jaipur for 16 days. "Gangaur" is the combination of two words "Gana" and "Gaur". "Gana" stands for Lord Shiva, and "Gaur" is the synonym of goddess

Jantar Mantar

day before Teej. Sinjara is a gift package which includes make-up stuff symbolizing her Suhaag (coverture), i.e. bindi, vermilion, mehendi or henna, bangles; Ghevar (a special disc shaped sweet), and Lahariya (a multi-color sari with zigzag pattern). After receiving those gifts from the parents home, a married lady decorates herself with henna, various ornaments, wears Lahariya sari and en-

(Lawajma) of decorated elephants, horses and camels walk before Teej Mata's Palki (palanquin) which is made of gold and silver. Various folk dances and folk arts are performed during this rally. Gangaur Festival: Gangaur festival starts in Jaipur on Tritiya tithi (3rd day) of Krishna paksha (wan-

Hawa Mahal

"Gauri" or "Parvati". In Rajasthan, married women worship goddess Gauri for long life and good health for their husbands while unmarried women worship her for being blessed good husband. Married women and unmarried girls collect water everyday from different sacred places or temples to offer ablution to Gangaur. They decorate their Kalash (water pots) with traditional Rajasthani Maandna (special

type of painting done by lime water). They also collect grass leaves and flowers for worship of Gangaur. During water collection and flower collection, they sing Rajasthani folk songs related to Gangaur festival. One of the most popular songs is "Bazaraan mein jaata hi Isar ramad gayo, mhaane melo to dikha de gangaur Isar Choto So..." It means that young Isar presses Gauri in the market to see the Fair (Mela) and wants lot of articles purchased for him. Though Gangaur festival is observed in many parts of Rajasthan, the Jaipur Gangaur festival is world famous. After collecting water, grass leaves and flowers; they worship Gangaur with grass leaves and sing a specific Rajasthani folk song "Gaur Gaur Ganpati, Isar Pooje Parvati" which means goddess Parvati worships Lord Shiva (Isar) to marry him. HOW TO REACH: Air: Indian Airlines connects Jaipur with Delhi, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Aurangabad, Bombay, Varanasi, Calcutta, Ahmedabad. Rail: Jaipur is connected by rail with Delhi, Agra, Ahmedabad, Ajmer, Abu Road (Mount Abu), Udaipur, Bombay and Sawai Madhopur. Road: Good motorable roads connect Jaipur with Delhi 258 km, Agra 236 km, Bikaner 321 km, Udaipur 405 km, Ajmer 131 km, Jodhpur 316 km, Bharatpur 176 km, Jaisalmer 638 km and Bombay 1202 km Bus: Regular buses ply from Jaipur to the above places and Alwar, Kota, Sariska, Mathura, Indore, Chittorgarh and Barmer.

May 18, 2012

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

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Panel pulls up ministry for low tourist traffic NEW DELHI: Observing that lack of cleanliness could be a reason for lower tourist traffic, a Parliamentary panel has pulled up the Tourism Ministry, saying the country's global tourism share of 0.6 per cent is "unacceptable" as it has a wide variety of tourist attractions. In its report tabled in Parliament, the Standing Committee on Tourism and Culture reprimanded the Ministry for spending Rs 194 crore on overseas promotion saying the expenditure was not commensurate with foreign tourist arrivals. The Sitaram Yechury-led Committee also pointed out that tourism potential in Indian islands was more than that in popular destinations such as Thailand and Singapore but insufficient facilities have marred the tourism scope of these places. "Even though India has vast variety of tourist attractions from ancient to modern, the global tour-

ism share is less than 0.6 per cent annually in terms of world arrivals. The Committee feels that this percentage is just unacceptable, and what we are aiming at is to achieve 1 per cent during the 12th Plan," it said. On the overseas tourism promotion, the Committee said Rs 194 crore were spent on this activity up to February 2012 which was not commensurate with the return in the form of number of foreign tourist arrivals. "The Committee is surprised

that with so many attractions - religious, tourist, health, why we have not been able to attract enough tourists to India," it said. The Committee said it has "doubts" about the overseas promotion campaigns and asked the Government to have a relook into the necessity of various tourist promotion offices abroad and the efficacy of various officials under Overseas Promotion and Publicity. Analyzing the low footfall of foreign tourists, the Committee said one of the reasons for this could be lack of cleanliness.

Tourists to get insight into Srinagar's heritage SRINAGAR: The cruise on River Jhelum started by the Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Department as part of heritage tourism gives an insight into Srinagar city, its history and glimpses of its monuments and shrines along with the ravages of militancy. The cruise is for the younger generation to acquaint themselves with the history of Srinagar and appreciate the beauty of the historic houses, shrines, temples and mosques dotting the landscape along the banks of Jhelum, the lifeline of Kashmir. The temples and mosques next to each other at many places bearing testimony to the coexistence of communities in Kashmir and the traditional amity between them can be experienced by the passengers of the cruise launched recently. The Hanuman Mandir, Vishnu Temple, Shiv Temple, Raghunath

Mandir, Ganpatyar Temple and the Roopa Temple are interspersed by the shrines of Shah-i-Hamdan and Syed Sahib, the tomb of Kashmiri king Zainul Abidin Budshah and the grave of Rinchin Shah. Earlier due to eruption of militancy, many of these historic sites were vandalized or just deterio-

rated due to lack of care. The dilapidated wood-andbrick houses with gables literally hanging over the river are a reminder of the good times Srinagar witnessed before turmoil gripped the city in 1990. Most of these

houses belong to Kashmiri Pandits who migrated from the Valley in 1990. In between one can, however, see new concrete buildings erected with scant respect for the heritage of the city. For Zia-ur-Rehman, the first of the passengers with his children in the inaugural cruise by water taxis, it was a walk down memory lane. "I have been on such a cruise earlier in 1980 in a shikara with my parents when I was in primary school. The beginning has been good but it has to be a sustained effort", Rehman said after the ride. Moaning the condition of the river and its banks today as "pathetic", he was, however, appreciative of the efforts made by the government in restoring the river and allowing the younger generation of the valley to acquaint themselves with their history.-PTI

"The Committee notes that only Rs ten crore have been made available under this head for Clean India campaign. The Committee is of the view that substantial funds should be allocated under this head as foreign tourists will come only when our tourist places are clean and well maintained," it said. It said that number of Indians

going abroad for tourism has been on the rise with 17.4 per cent in 2010 thereby indicating that even domestic tourists are not being attracted. "The Committee is of the view that we should try to further increase domestic tourists' movements in the country as well," the report stated. The Committee pointed out that pollution caused by plastic products needs to be taken as a serious threat to the environment and locals and tourists should be made aware of the hazards it may cause in the region. "The Committee recommends that for tourists, carry bags from local handicrafts should be made available with slogans on environment and tourism," it said. -PTI

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In Brief Court affirms illegal immigrants can't have guns DENVER: A federal appeals court has rejected an illegal immigrant's claim that the Second Amendment guarantees him the right to bear firearms. Emmanuel Huitron-Guizar of Gillette, Wyo., had argued that illegal aliens are guaranteed certain other rights by the U.S. Constitution, such as the right to due process. The Second Amendment provides that ``the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed,'' and Huitron-Guizar argued he was part of ``the people.'' But the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled that Huitron-Guizar fell under the Gun Control Act of 1968, which forbids gun possession by nine classes of individuals, including illegal aliens. -AP

Ecuadorean facing deportation OK'd to stay in NYC NEW YORK: An Ecuadorian woman facing deportation won a victory under guidelines from President Barack Obama's administration that give immigrants some leeway: She can stay, along with her 6-year-old daughter, who was born in the United States. Sara Martinez, a 47-year-old domestic worker, was in tears as she told reporters that she's been living in fear since she was taken off a bus near Buffalo and arrested last year. Her daughter, then 5, ``was watching, terrified and crying,'' said Martinez, adding that the child lost weight and is still in therapy from the trauma, ``and she is always asking me if the police are going to take me far away from her.'' -AP

NH measure supports Arizona immigration law CONCORD, N.H.: The New Hampshire Senate is considering a resolution in support of the tough Arizona law that requires police to check the immigration status of people they want to stop for any reason. The Internal Affairs Committee voted 2-1 to recommend that the Senate kill the resolution. The sponsor of the House-passed resolution did not show up at the hearing and all the witnesses testified against it. They said it would encourage racial profiling. The resolution says illegal immigration is costing billions of dollars in welfare, health care, education and prison costs. -AP

Immigration

Conn. taps into immigrant past to promote tourism Details on page 36

India Post

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May 18, 2012

New Alabama law driving away Hispanic students MONTGOMERY, Ala.: The U.S. Justice Department says Alabama's immigration law is having a significant impact on the state's Hispanic students, according to a letter sent to state Superintendent Tommy Bice. The letter from the department's Civil Rights Division says that a study of state data has concluded that the immigration law has caused Hispanic students to drop out or skip school in larger numbers than before the law's passage. ``Our investigation suggests that the legislation overall has had continuing and lasting consequences in the education context,'' wrote Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez. In a statement, Bice wrote that provisions of the immigration law that caused the increase in absenteeism and withdrawal has been put on hold by the court. That provision required students to present a birth certificate or other form of identification in order to enroll. ``Any negative effect on student attendance or withdrawal was minimized by applying this process to all students and only those enrolling after Sept. 1, 2011, which was several weeks after the official beginning of the school year,'' Bice wrote in an emailed statement. The letter states that many His-

Tom Perez, assistant attorney general for the civil rights division of the US Department of Justice, addresses a crowd at Glen Iris Elementary

A bill currently before the state Legislature would make changes to the immigration law - including preventing school officials from asking children about their parents' place of birth or immigration status panic students interviewed by the Justice Department reported staying home or dropping out of school out of fear they would be questioned about the immigration status of themselves or their families. The letter goes on to state that the immigration law has diminished the quality of education for

Alabama's Hispanic children. ``(The law has) resulted in missed school days, chilled or prevented participation of parents in their children's education and transformed the climates of some schools into less safe and welcoming spaces for Hispanic students.'' The Southern Poverty Law Center released a statement prais-

ing the Justice Department's investigation. ``We are disappointed, but not surprised, that the Alabama Department of Education's own data shows the civil rights of many children in our state are being violated, and we are thankful the federal Civil Rights Division is continuing its investigation,'' said Mary Bauer, legal director for the SPLC. ``Even current legislation, the so-called reform bills, fails to make enough substantive changes to the law and these students' access to school will continue to be chilled.'' A bill currently before the state Legislature would make changes to the immigration law including preventing school officials from asking children about their parents' place of birth or immigration status. Gov. Robert Bentley's spokeswoman, Jennifer Ardis, wrote in an email that Bentley supports those changes and is committed to upholding the essence of the immigration law. ``However, the governor does not believe that teachers or school administrators should be acting as immigration enforcement officers, and the revised version of HB 56 (the bill that carried the immigration law) that the governor supports would clarify that point,'' she wrote. AP

FY 2013 H-1B petitions coming in fast CYRUS D. MEHTA

ccording to U.S. Citizen ship and Immigration Ser vices, over 25,000 capsubject H-1B petitions have been filed as of April 20, 2012. If this keeps up, the H-1B cap could be reached quickly. We recommend that employers file early and allow time for the labor condition application process. Please contact us for guidance and help with the process. India, China EB-2 category retrogresses dramatically As predicted for May, the India and China EB-2 priority dates

have retrogressed dramatically, from May 1, 2010, to August 15, 2007. Priority dates for those countries are not expected to advance again until October 1, 2012, at the earliest, when the new federal fiscal year begins. If an I-485 Application for Adjustment of Status was filed while the person's priority date was current, it will remain pending until the priority date is current again. Because the I-485 will remain pending, the applicant can continue to apply for interim benefits, such as work authorization and advance

parole, while the priority date is retrogressed. The May bulletin from the Department of State's Visa Office is available at http:// www.travel.state.gov/visa/bulletin/bulletin_5692.html. Contact CDMA for assistance. Office of Foreign Labor Certification issues new FAQ on H1B, H-1B1, and E-3 programs The Department of Labor's Office of Foreign Labor Certification issued a new frequently asked questions (FAQ) document on March 27, 2012. The FAQ answers

the following questions: • Is there a fee to file a Labor Condition Application (LCA) with the Department of Labor for the H-1B, H-1B1, or E-3 programs? • How do I change my iCERT System account access information? • How do I enter an untitled custom survey on the LCA? • Where can I obtain a list of acceptable prevailing wage source surveys for Section G of the ETA Form 9035/9035E? Cont’d on page 36

Immigration Post

May 18, 2012

India Post

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US revamps student work-visa program after abuses JACKSON, Miss.: The State Department has announced major changes to one of its premier cultural-exchange programs following an investigation by The Associated Press that found widespread abuses. The agency issued new rules for the J-1 Summer Work and Travel Program, which brings more than 100,000 foreign college students to the United States each year. The changes are the latest in a series of steps the State Department has taken to fix the program since the 2010 AP investigation. The investigation found that some participants were working in strip clubs, not always willingly, while others were put in living and working conditions they compared to indentured servitude. The J-1 Summer Work and Travel Program, created under the Fulbright-Hays Act of 1961, allows foreign college students to spend up to four months living and working in the United States. It was meant to foster cultural understanding, but has become a booming, multimillion-dollar international business. ``In recent years, the work component has too often overshadowed the core cultural component necessary for the Summer Work

Travel Program to be consistent with the intent of the FulbrightHays Act,'' the State Department said in announcing the new rules. ``Also, the Department learned that criminal organizations were involving participants in incidents relating to the illegal transfer of cash, the creation of fraudulent businesses, and violations of immigration law.'' The new rules are meant to ensure that students are treated properly and that they get jobs where there will be interaction with Americans and exposure to U.S. culture. Some of the rules are effective immediately, while others will take effect in November, including a significant one that would prohibit participants from working in ``goods-producing'' industries such as manufacturing, construction and agriculture. The rules also ban participants from working in jobs in which the primary hours are between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. ``The new reforms for the Summer Work Travel program focus on strengthening protections for the health, safety and welfare of the participants, and on bringing the program back to its primary purpose, which is to provide a cultural experience for international students,'' Robin Lerner, a deputy assistant secretary for the State

Department, said in a statement. ``This is a valuable people-topeople diplomacy program and the changes allow us to improve the unique qualities of the program by providing clarity for participants, their sponsors and employers on what is and is not appropriate.''

The new rules are meant to ensure that students are treated properly and that they get jobs where there will be interaction with Americans and exposure to US culture George Collins, an inspector with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department in the Florida Panhandle who has investigated abuses in the program for nearly a decade, said he is pleased with the changes. ``While I might have preferred stronger requirements here or there, I think the new regulations go a long way to help protect workers from the kinds of abuse

Feds to launch Secure Communities program in Mass. BOSTON: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has notified state officials that despite the objections of Gov. Deval Patrick and immigration activists, they plan to launch a federal program aimed at identifying illegal immigrants arrested for crimes. Massachusetts Public Safety Secretary Mary Beth Heffernan described the Secure Communities program as an information sharing program between federal agencies that can only be implemented by the federal government. Heffernan said the program will have no practical effect on how Massachusetts handles fingerprints and information sharing. “We already send all fingerprints to the federal government and have been doing so for years,” Heffernan said. “That practice will continue so we can protect public safety and meet our local law enforcement needs.” Patrick said last year that Massachusetts wouldn’t participate in the federal program, which checks the immigration status of people who are arrested. “I’m persuaded that here in the commonwealth, we will give up more than we get,” the Democratic

governor said at the time. “We run a serious risk of ethnic profiling and frankly fracturing incredibly important relationships in communities that are necessary for law enforcement.” Supporters of Secure Communities, including Republican U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, say the program

The fingerprints will be compared to biometric information in the department’s immigration databases is important to help identify illegal immigrants arrested for crimes in Massachusetts. Brown applauded the move, calling it “an important tool in keeping our citizens safe and giving our law enforcement officials, especially the sheriffs, the tools and resources they need to do their jobs.” “The people of Massachusetts will finally have the protection they deserve from violent criminals who

have entered our country illegally,” Brown said. Federal officials said the activation of Secure Communities doesn’t change a local jurisdiction’s existing law enforcement or fingerprinting policies or practices. The only new development is that once the FBI receives the fingerprints, they will send them to the Department of Homeland Security. The fingerprints will be compared to biometric information in the department’s immigration databases. When there is a match, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent will determine whether immigration enforcement action would be appropriate. -AP

we have seen routinely,'' Collins said. ``We intend to check implementation in the field, and will notify the State Department of any activities we believe violate these rules.'' The visa program is aimed at allowing students of modest means to work in seasonal or temporary jobs as a way of offsetting the costs of their travel to the U.S. More than 1 million students have participated in a variety of jobs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Most participants enjoy their time in the U.S., establishing lifelong memories and friendships. For some, the program is a frightening experience that leaves them with a bad impression of the country. In one of the worst cases of abuse, a woman told the AP she was beaten, raped and forced to work as a stripper in Detroit after being promised a job as a waitress in Virginia. A federal indictment last year in New York charged that members of the Gambino and Bonnano mafia families and the Russian mob were using fraudulent job offers to help Eastern European women come to the U.S. to work in strip clubs. More common than sex-trade abuses have been reports of shabby housing, scarce work

hours and paltry pay, alleged conditions that led workers to protest last year at a candy factory that packs Hershey chocolates in Hershey, Pa. Those workers complained of hard physical labor and pay deductions for rent that often left them with little money. The company that sponsored those students lost its State Department certification. Saket Soni, executive director of the National Guestworker Alliance, a workers advocacy group, said the changes vindicate the 400 students who protested against conditions at the candy factory and the changes are a step in the right direction. ``Businesses have grown used to a profit formula based on shifting the nature of work in the U.S. from permanent to temporary, from stable to precarious. Increasingly, they do that by eroding wages and conditions for U.S. workers, and treating guest workers, including cultural exchange students, as the ultimate source of cheap, exploitable labor,'' Soni said. Some of the new rules are aimed at the 49 companies the State Department designates as official ``sponsors,'' whose job is to help the students obtain visas and other documents, find jobs and housing, and make sure the participants are treated properly. -AP

Immigration Post

India Post

May 18, 2012

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Conn. taps into immigrant past to promote tourism

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HARTFORD, Conn.: More than a century after waves of Europe's working class left for jobs in New England mills and other prospects in the U.S., their homes, communities and traditions are providing fresh opportunities to promote tourism in Connecticut. Irish, Italian, Lithuanian, French Canadian, Polish and other immigrants labored in factories that made silk in Manchester, thread in Willimantic, hats in Danbury and numerous other Connecticut mill towns in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Economic development officials now want to tell the immigrants' stories to draw tourists. Initially costing $100,000, the project stems from an emerging marketing strategy known as cultural or ethnic tourism. With more than 100 heritage or cultural organizations, Connecticut has a strong base of support to launch a cultural tourism initiative, said Kip Bergstrom, deputy economic development commissioner. Bergstrom said other Northeast states can similarly boast a history of ethnic and national groups, but Connecticut's small size gives visitors the chance to see much in a compact state. ``We have the whole world represented in Connecticut,'' he said As states compete fiercely for tourist dollars, marketing officials are looking for any angle to promote their communities. In Connecticut, tourism generates about

$11.5 billion in spending, $1.15 billion in state and local tax revenue and employs nearly 111,000 workers, according to 2011 statistics, the most recent. Two phases are planned for Connecticut's project. The first, which will extend through midJune 2013, will document the historical links between people of various ethnic communities and their neighborhoods, buildings, shops and other sites.

Bergstrom said other Northeast states can similarly boast a history of ethnic and national groups, but Connecticut's small size gives visitors the chance to see much in a compact state The second phase will use the stories that have been developed to market communities in materials ranging from brochures to smartphone apps. Mary Donohue, executive director of the Manchester Historical Society, said historic preservationists in Connecticut have worked with scholars to identify African-American historic sites and partnered with the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford

to identify historic synagogues, provide tours and highlight Jewish-owned farms and resorts. European immigrants who arrived during the Industrial Revolution will not be the only focus of cultural tourism. Indian sites dating back centuries or more recently established Latino communities also will be included in efforts promoting Connecticut. And New Canaan's Modern Homes designed by famed architects such as Philip Johnson are marketed with state money linked to cultural tourism, said Janet Lindstrom, executive director of the New Canaan Historical Society. In Manchester, where former silk mills have been redeveloped into apartments and are part of a historic district intended to draw visitors interested in New England's industrial past, can be a ``gold mine'' for tourist-related activities, Donohue said. ``Our job is to heighten our profile and promote it,'' she said. Donohue said Manchester's historic sites or New Britain's Polish churches benefit from a proximity to stores and restaurants. ``If you can find someplace to shop, you're good to go,'' she said. Mary Dunne, an architectural historian at the state Historic Preservation Office, said history can be interpreted in many ways beyond the factories of Connecticut's manufacturing rust belt. -AP

FY 2013 H-1B petitions coming in fast Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 34

CBP proposed rule allows more U.S. returning residents to file single customs declaration for members of family U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a proposed rule to expand the definition of "members of a family residing in one household" to allow more U.S. returning residents to file a family customs declaration for articles acquired abroad. CBP said it anticipates that this proposed change will reduce the amount of paperwork required during inspection and therefore facilitate passenger processing. CBP believes that this proposed change also will more accurately reflect relationships between members of the public who are traveling together as a family. CBP proposes to include foster children, stepchildren, halfsiblings, legal wards, other de-

pendents, and individuals with an in loco parentis or guardianship relationship within the definition of "members of a family residing in one household." CBP also proposes that the definition include

The proposed term "domestic relationship'' would not extend to roommates or other cohabitants not otherwise meeting the above definition two adult individuals in a committed relationship wherein the partners share financial assets and obligations, and are not married to or a partner of anyone else, including but not limited to long-

time companions and couples in civil unions or domestic partnerships. CBP proposes to add these relationships to the definition and refer to them as "domestic relationships.'' The proposed term "domestic relationship'' would not extend to roommates or other cohabitants not otherwise meeting the above definition. Additionally, the proposed changes would not alter the requirements that, to file a family declaration, members of a family residing in one household must live together in one household at their last permanent residence and intend to live together in one household after their arrival in the United States. Written comments must be submitted by May 29, 2012.

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

Briefs

Chidambaram hits out at opposition on mercy petitions NEW DELHI: Home Minister P Chidambaram hit out at the opposition on the issue of mercy petitions, saying while 16 cases had been decided by the President during his tenure, not even a single plea was cleared during the NDA rule when L K Advani was heading the ministry. "L K Advani referred 14 cases of mercy petitions to the President in his six years as Home Minister. Not one was decided. It was zero out of 14 in six years," Chidambaram told PTI outside Parliament House. He maintained that Advani's successor Shivraj Patil referred back those 14 cases and another 14 mercy petitions during his tenure. "Out of these 28 mercy petitions sent by Shivraj Patil, then President A P J Abdul Kalam decided on two cases," Chidambaram said. Referring to his own record, the Home Minister said he referred back the remaining 26 mercy petitions and another five to the President. "Of these 31 cases, President Pratibha Patil has taken decisions on 16 mercy petitions in just three-and-a-half years," Chidambaram said, adding that the allegation against the UPA sitting on mercy petitions was not based on facts. As per the rules, the President is guided by the advice of the government of the day while taking a call on mercy petitions. Chidambaram parried questions on Afzal Guru, who was given death sentence in 2004 by the Supreme Court in the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack case. His mercy petition is pending. -PTI

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Pilgrimage tourism in Bihar to be given a boost India Post News Service

NEW DELHI: The state of Bihar, which has lured tourists for centuries for its historical and religious relevance, has stood out as one of India's leading tourist destinations with over 13 lakh domestic and international tourists recorded in 2011, out of which 9,42,000 were foreign tourists. Encouraging the demand for pilgrimage tourism, the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry organised the seminar - 'Journey through Religious Bihar - a 'Curtain Raiser' in the presence of Mr. AK Singh, PS to Sultan Ahmed, Minister of State for Tourism, Government of India and Mr. D.K Srivastav, Director Cum Special Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Bihar. Bihar has completed 100 years of history and glory. With Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism being globally known and practiced, Bihar has for many years attracted tourists following these religions and philosophies. Bihar State Government's aim is to take the State from a devel-

Jharkhand CM Munda injured in copter crash RANCHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda suffered injuries in a helicopter accident at the Birsa Munda Airport here. "The chief minister suffered injuries when the helicopter met with an accident while landing," Ranchi Superintendent of Police Ranji Kumar said. The chief minister was admitted to a hospital, he said.

May 18, 2012

Minister for Foreign Affairs & Minister for Law of the Republic of Singapore, K. Shanmugam calling on the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, in New Delhi on May 10

The helicopter was returning to Birsa Munda Airport around noon after it could not land at Kuchai in Sareikela-Kharsawan district, about 100 kms from here. "The helicopter fell from a height apparently due to a technical problem while landing," a close aide of the Chief Minister said. The chopper suffered damage in the mishap, he said. Jharkhand DGP G S Rath said, "The Chief Minister was accompanied in the helicopter by his wife, an MLA and a security officer." He said the helicopter made a "force landing" and in the process the chief minister and others got "some injuries but were safe." -PTI

Capt Krishan Sharma addressing the seminar on ëJourney through Religious Bihar - a ëCurtain Raiserí at PHD Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi on May 4. Also seen (L-R): Ajit Kumar, Tenzin Sherab, K K Muhammad, DK Srivastav, M D Kapoor, Prof Manjula Chaudhary and Gautam Agarwal

oping tourism state to a developed tourism state. In this regard, the Department of Tourism, Bihar continues promotional efforts in domestic markets with emphasis on social awareness through sensitizing the masses and stakeholders towards the importance of tourism in the state. The department's budget and expenditure has increased fourfold from around Rs. 7.43 crore in 2005-06 to Rs. 29.78 crore in 201011. The Government has undertaken many projects, some of which include building five - star hotels, beautification of tourist hot spots, building roads and other infrastructure. Detailing out PHD Chamber's aim for the curtain raiser, Secretary General, Ms. Susmita Shekhar said, "We are here to create a platform to bring together all the relevant stakeholders including travel agents, the hotel Industry, airlines and corporate groups who can and want to invest in infrastructure and development of religious sites and centres in Bihar, to put forward different perspectives on tourism related issues and bring to light the different innovative ideas to promote religious tourism in Bihar." The technical session had a very eminent panel of speakers such as Mr K.K Muhammed, Regional Director, Archaeological Survey of India; Capt Krishan Sharma, Chairman Vision of India

(NGO) and M.D. India Post Newsweekly (USA), Mr. Tenzin Sherab, Deputy Director, Tibet House; Mr. Ajit Kumar, General Secretary, Bihar Foundation; Mr. M.D Kapoor, Secretary General, FHRAI and others whose inputs made the deliberations very interesting. Some of the opportunities that the seminar highlighted included • For the hospitality industry:

European tourists want to visit Bihar specifically for the Buddhist circuit, as per the interest gathered over the recent past. The seminar concluded with the Ministry of Tourism's positive remarks of receiving proposals to build and upgrade the religious sites in Bihar by making maximum use of funds from the Union Ministry of Tourism. A serious contemplation for creating Bihar Tourism's awareness across the globe is

Capt Krishan Sharma receiving a plaque from Secretary General, Ms. Susmita Shekhar of PHD

a variety of options in construction inclusive of hotels are available; • Religious tourism is easier to sustain in comparison to conventional tourism with regards to the pull factors that bring the pilgrimage tourists to Bihar; • Not only SE Asia but even

possible by creating a knowledge partnership arrangement between PHD Chamber and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of Bihar. Such a proposal may be approved in the near future by the Bihar Tourism Ministry which would subsequently place Bihar very prominently on the Tourism Globe.

Â&#x201E; Health

Line

Minn. test of medicines delivery in emergency MINNEAPOLIS: Officials are pleased with a Twin Cities test of postal workers delivering medication during an emergency. But a spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Health says it will take time to assess the exercise. "Operation Medicine Delivery'' was the first full-scale test of a strategy for distributing medicine in the event of an epidemic or largescale anthrax attack. About 300 mail carriers last Sunday delivered an empty pill bottle to 37,000 homes in parts of St. Paul, north Minneapolis, Robbinsdale, Crystal and Golden Valley. State Health Department spokesman Buddy Ferguson says officials are pleased with how the field portion of the test went. But he tells the Star Tribune a complete assessment will take days or weeks. -AP

Â&#x201E; Study says less access to health care in RI PROVIDENCE, R.I.: A national study on health care access says fewer Rhode Islanders are getting the care they need. A report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that in 2010, 16 percent of Rhode Island adults had unmet medical needs and cited the cost of care as the reason. That's up nearly 7 percentage points since 2000. The study also reports small declines in the number of Rhode Islanders receiving a regular check-up or dental visit within the previous year. The study reveals similar falloffs in health care access in virtually every state. -AP

Â&#x201E; Legislature passes bill barring abortion coverage MONTGOMERY, Ala.: The Alabama House has given final passage to a bill that will allow the state to opt out from providing insurance coverage for abortions under the new federal health care program. The House voted 67-16 for the Senate passed bill, which now goes to Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley for his review. Another bill aimed at making it harder to access abortions is on the House calendar. That bill establishes new rules for abortion clinics and requires that doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges at a hospital near the clinic.-AP

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May 18, 2012

Fed court reverses order for VA system overhaul SAN FRANCISCO: A federal appeals court has reversed its demand that the Veterans Affairs Department dramatically overhaul its mental health care system. A special 11-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals said that any such overhaul needs to be ordered by Congress or the president. The 10-1 ruling reversed an earlier decision by a three-judge panel of the same court. The May 2011 ruling had ordered the VA to ensure that suicidal vets are seen immediately, among other changes. It found the VA's ``unchecked incompetence'' in handling the flood of post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health claims was unconstitutional. The new decision said courts are powerless to implement the fixes sought by two veterans groups that filed the lawsuit against the VA in 2007. The court

said veterans are free to file individual legal claims, but that courts had no business ordering systemic overhauls. ``There can be no doubt that securing exemplary care for our nation's veterans is a moral imperative,'' Judge Jay Bybee wrote for

VA to change a system they view to be fatally flawed and ``condemning veterans to suffer intolerable delays inherent in the VA system.'' The veterans lawyer Gordon P. Erspamer said he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

"There can be no doubt that securing exemplary care for our nation's veterans is a moral imperative,'' Judge Jay Bybee wrote for the majority. "But Congress and the President are in far better position'' to decide the majority. ``But Congress and the President are in far better position'' to decide whether and what changes need to be done. Judge Mary Schroeder dissented, writing that the ruling put veterans into a classic Catch-22 conundrum. Schroeder says the ruling essentially leaves the veterans without recourse to force the

``If the courts don't have jurisdiction, then the veteran is left without a remedy,'' Erspamer said. In the strongly-worded ruling in May written by Judge Stephen Reinhardt and joined by Procter Hug Jr., the 9th Circuit said it takes the department an average of four years to fully provide the mental health benefits owed veterans.

The court also said it often takes weeks for a suicidal vet to get a first appointment. Neither judge was on the bigger panel. Chief Judge Alex Kozinski dissented from that ruling, writing that the ruling trampled congressional limits on judicial review of VA decisions. Kozinski joined the majority ruling. Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth filed the lawsuit in San Francisco federal court in 2007. After a twoweek trial in 2008, U.S. District Judge Samuel Conti said he was powerless to act because Congress narrowly limited the authority courts have in reviewing VA benefit decisions. Conti didn't find a system-wide crisis in which health care is not being provided within a reasonable time to the roughly 5 million veterans enrolled in the VA's health care system, which includes 153 hospitals and 800 clinics. -AP

Save lives: Clean your hands India Post News Service

NEW DELHI: The World Health Organization has raised an alarm about the large number of healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) acquired during medical or surgical procedures. These infections can result in prolonged hospital stay, long-term disability, increased resistance to antibiotics and sometimes, death. They substantially increase the financial burden on the patient and health systems. HCAI can be prevented and the burden reduced by as much as 50% or more through good hand hygiene. On 5 May, WHO's initiative, "Save lives: Clean Your Hands", focused on the importance of hand hygiene in hospitals and health care facilities to reduce healthcare-associated infections. "There is clear evidence that hundreds of millions of patients are infected every year worldwide by healthcare-associated infections. Low and middle-income countries bear a huge burden of

these infections" said Dr. Samlee Plianbangchang, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia. "There is an urgent need to establish reliable systems for surveillance of such infections to assess the actual burden. This must be treated as a priority patient safety issue" he added. The risk of HCAI is universal

than seven days; placement of a central venous catheter, indwelling urinary catheter, or an endotracheal tube and undergoing surgery. Low and middle-income countries bear an additional burden due to poverty, lack of basic hygiene, limited resources, malnutrition, patient age under 1 year and low birth weight. General bar-

and pervades most healthcare facilities worldwide, but the true burden remains unknown particularly in developing countries. Risk factors for HCAI vary according to the type of healthcare facility and to the care area where the patient is admitted. The most common factors associated with HCAI are: patients aged over 65 years; admission as an emergency and to the intensive care unit (ICU); hospital stay longer

riers to infection control practices are lack of financial support, inadequate numbers of trained personnel working in infection control, understaffed hospital units, and insufficient equipment and supplies. Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most surveyed and most frequent type of infection in low and middle-income countries with incidence rates ranging from 1.2 to 23.6 per 100 surgical procedures.

By contrast, SSI rates vary between 1.2% and 5.2% in developed countries. The risk of acquiring HCAI is significantly higher in intensive care units (ICUs). The incidence of ICU-acquired infection among adult patients in low and middleincome countries ranged from 4.4% up to 88.9% and averaged at 42.7 episodes per 1000 patientdays. High frequency of infection is associated with the use of invasive devices, in particular central-lines (CL), urinary catheters, and ventilators. Newborns are also a highrisk population in developing countries and neonatal infection rates are three to 20 times higher than in industrialized countries. Evaluation of the key determinants of HCAI is an important step to identify strategies and measures for improvement. Recommendations by national and international organizations need to be implemented and accompanied by performance monitoring in countries in South-East Asia.

May 18, 2012

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Ohio merging mental health, drug abuse agencies COLUMBUS, Ohio: State agencies providing mental-health and substance-abuse services in Ohio will be merged pending legislative approval into a single agency with a combined 2,500 employees and a budget in excess of $650 million. The administration of Gov. John Kasich said the merger will reduce bureaucratic

shrink with attrition. Mental Health Department Director Tracy J. Plouck will lead the new agency and alcohol and drug agency Director Orman Hall will continue in a cabinet-level position, reporting to Gov. John Kasich. ``It's going to be a brand-new department that balances the mental-health and addic-

Terry Russell, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Ohio, said he thinks, ``overall, anytime you can make government smaller so that more money goes for services, we're supportive. Tracy Plouck and the governor appear to understand mental health better than anyone in the recent past'' clutter. The move involves the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. They will be merged July 1 pending legislative approval. State officials tell The Columbus Dispatch that layoffs are not expected, although the combined work force may

tion interests in a way I think is going to be very productive,'' Hall said. A union official said employees were caught off-guard by the announcement. ``We are just now hearing about this,'' said Sally Meckling of the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association, which represents many employees in both agencies. ``Obviously, it's better when those who do

the work are involved in the discussions.'' Meckling said she is concerned that the focus on drug and gambling addiction will lessen in the combined agency. ``This strikes us as doing less with less.'' Shortly after he took office last year, Kasich created the Office of Health Transformation to overhaul the $15.4 billion Medicaid program and to recommend a new organizational structure for the state's health and human-service agencies. Six departments overlap many services and functions. ``As we were trying to integrate, the separation of these two agencies was something that started getting in the way,'' said Greg Moody, director of the office. Terry Russell, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness in Ohio, said he thinks, ``overall, anytime you can make government smaller so that more money goes for services, we're supportive. Tracy Plouck and the governor appear to understand mental health better than anyone in the recent past.'' The merger will affect an array of local agencies, programs and services, including 50 county boards of alcohol and drug addiction and mental health, and about 300 addiction-treatment agencies and 400 mental-health agencies. -AP

TIP OF THE WEEK

Prevent digestive upsets with pineapple

ot gas? One cup of fresh pineapple daily can cut painful bloating within 72 hours, say researchers at California 's Stanford University . That's because pineapple is natually packed with proteolytic enzymes, digestive aids that help speed the breakdown of pain-causing proteins in the stomach and small intestine, say USDA researchers.

India Post

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May 18, 2012

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NY medical schools chart progress with stem cells ALBANY, N.Y.: Almost halfway through a $600 million state program supporting stem cell research, eight medical schools around New York are reporting progress on projects such as replicating liver cells and eradicating leukemia cells. A new report from Associated Medical Schools of New York updates work at the institutions where hundreds of researchers are starting to unravel causes and potential treatments for conditions ranging from autism to heart disease and cancer. Stem cells are selfrenewing and have the ability to develop into other types of cells. The Mount Sinai School of Medicine reported finding a method to transform human skin cells into stem cells and turned differentiated human stem cells into heart cells. Those findings are expected to result in better understanding of how

heart disease develops and allow initial testing of new treatments on stem cells before they are used on human subjects. Dr. Ihor Lemischka, director of the Black Family Stem Cell Institute at Mount Sinai, said recreating heart cells in a dish from a patient with LEOPARD Syndrome, a disease caused by a genetic mutation, has opened ongoing avenues for researching the disease and screening potential drugs. ``It was a major achievement,'' Lemischka said. The initial work was reported in June 2010 in the journal Nature. The shared research facility at Mount Sinai supports the work at 80 different labs, Lemischka said. The Empire State Stem Cell Program was intended to fund projects in early stages, including those that initially have been unable to get federal or private

funding. Grants have also been used for capital projects like renovating labs and establishing new stem cell centers.

The Rochester medical school, with research programs into neurological diseases, cancer, bone repair and musculoskeletal diseases, has been awarded more than $18 million The Albert Einstein College of Medicine reported replicating liver cells that could help reduce the need for liver transplants using live donors and cadavers.

Dr. Allan Spiegel said 12 new researchers have been hired with state funding at the Bronx school, which also lists anemia, brain disorders, heart disease and obesity among its stem cell research subjects. ``It offers tremendous potential for understanding the causes of and developing better treatments for diseases like cancer, type 1 diabetes and Parkinson's,'' he said. Einstein scientists also report advanced work on blood stem cell function. The school has opened a new $25 million research institute funded through private philanthropy. The report said state money has been used by the schools to leverage both federal and private grants. The 11-year program has awarded nearly $223 million in research grants since 2008, with medical schools awarded $137.5

million. This year's state budget includes $44.8 million, the same as last year and down from the $50 million originally planned. According to the report, the funding has supported about 400 research and related positions from New York City to Buffalo and Rochester. The Rochester medical school, with research programs into neurological diseases, cancer, bone repair and musculoskeletal diseases, has been awarded more than $18 million. In one project, researchers said they developed a novel method to target and eradicate leukemia stem cells. ``This research has the potential to have significant impact on the treatment of patients with specific types of leukemia and will be useful in treating lymphoma and multiple myeloma,'' the report said. -AP

Officials unsure why flu season was mild Program rehabs houses for Mo. families in need

OKLAHOMA CITY: The 2012 flu season is ending in Oklahoma with fewer than one-half the number of confirmed cases and nearly two-thirds fewer deaths than in 2011. State health officials say the reasons for the decline from 872 hospitalizations and 26 deaths in 2011 to 316 hospitalizations and nine deaths in 2011 are difficult to pinpoint.

The flu season typically runs September to May, but started in January for unknown reasons, said Dr. Kristy Bradley, the state epidemiologist. ``That's just the fascinating aspect of influenza surveillance, no two seasons are ever exactly alike, and what the next year's season will look like is totally unpredictable,'' Bradley said. A possible explanation is that the three strains circulating this year, Type-A, Type-B and the H1N1 virus, have also appeared

in Oklahoma since 2009. ``Many people already had immunity, either through immunization with the seasonal flu vaccine or from prior illness and recovery,'' from those strains, Bradley said. An increase in the number of people receiving flu shots, a statistic not specifically tracked by the department, appeared unlikely. The department provided

about 90,000 doses of flu vaccine to county health departments statewide for the 2012 season, down from about 155,000 last year, according to department spokeswoman Leslea Bennett-Webb. Pharmacist Lee Gile said she did not see an increase in the number of flu shots provided at her Hospital Discount Pharmacy in Edmond. ``I think the flu maybe wasn't as bad this year because it was the same strains,'' Gile said. ``We probably have coverage from last

year's flu shot. My theory.'' Oklahoma City resident Kanda Ramos said flu shots for her and her family are something she started taking seriously when she began working for a health-related business about seven years ago. ``My insurance pays for it, I mean seriously,'' Ramos said regarding the $25 to $35 cost of a flu shot. ``Plus, I didn't see the need for it.''

Oklahoma City resident Kanda Ramos said flu shots for her and her family are something she started taking seriously when she began working for a health-related business about seven years ago. "My insurance pays for it, I mean seriously'' Bradley said that even though the flu season is ending in Oklahoma and the United States, there are still those at risk. ``Persons lucky enough to be planning cruises or other travels in the southern hemisphere should remember that the influenza season will just be starting there, so these travelers should consider getting a flu vaccination at least 2 weeks prior to beginning their travels south of the equator.'' -AP

INDEPENDENCE, Mo.: After four years of nearly constant health and financial problems, all Kristie Smith wants to do is sit down and relax. That simple dream came closer to reality when Smith showed off the results of an extensive renovation on her new home in Independence. It was all thanks to Jackson County's Constructing Futures program, which County Executive Mike Sanders started in 2008 to help rehabilitate structurally sound homes for needy families. The program also provides job skills training for the unemployed, underemployed and previously incarcerated, The Kansas City Star reported. Smith's home is the first in Independence to be rehabilitated through the program, which also has renovated two homes in midtown Kansas City. The Smiths' saga began in 2008, when Smith's husband, Don, died of lymphoma. In 2009, Smith underwent brain surgery and was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. And in December 2010, doctors diagnosed her daughter, Katrena, with leukemia. After Katrena underwent a bone marrow transplant, she could no longer live at the Smiths' former residence, which was infested with mold. ``The doctors told us the mold would have killed her,'' Smith said. They lived in a recreational vehicle before moving into the basement of her mother's home. The Independence School

District, where Katrena attends Bridger Middle School, and Maywood Baptist Church, to which the Smith family belongs, offered help. The church contributed $16,000 to pay medical bills. Then workers with the Constructing Futures program arrived. ``Lightning now has struck again, only this time in a good way,'' Sanders told the Smiths. Besides the home renovations, about $30,000 in job training was financed through the county's COMBAT anti-drug program. The home project included about

"The doctors told us the mold would have killed her,'' Smith said. They lived in a recreational vehicle before moving into the basement of her mother's home $20,000 in donated materials and about $35,000 from the county's Housing Resources Commission. ``The commission is concerned with homelessness or nearhomelessness,'' said James Tindall, county legislator and commission chairman. The Smiths no longer belong to either category. Katrena, whose leukemia is in remission, is scheduled to start at Truman High School in the fall. -AP

May 18, 2012

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Savings and risks in health insurance trend WASHINGTON: It's the hottest trend in job-based health insurance: plans that give you a personal savings account for medical bills but also require you to pay a hefty share of costs before coverage kicks in. Such ``consumer-directed'' plans could save billions for employers, providing relief from high health care costs, a study concludes. But there's a warning flag, a risk that workers will forgo needed care, even preventive services covered at no extra cost to them. Some consumers were apparently unsure that prevention was covered. Compared with traditional insurance, consumer-directed plans charge significantly lower premiums. But deductibles, the annual amount you pay before insurance starts covering, can be twice as high or more. To overcome consumers' unease about greater financial exposure, the plans are packaged with tax-advantaged medical accounts to which employers can contribute. ``There is reason to be concerned that this potential solution to our rising health care cost problem comes with risks,'' said Amelia Haviland, a statistician at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, who led the study. ``The immediate risks are carried by employees and their families. If they get less healthy, the cost implications could affect the whole system.'' Consumer-directed plans are not new. Former President George W. Bush called them health savings accounts and promoted them as a way to get Americans personally invested in cutting costs, as pro-

ponents say, by having more ``skin in the game.'' What's new is that the plans are gaining traction in the workplace enrolling nearly 1 in 6 workers. Although President Barack Obama took a very different approach from Bush to the nation's health care problems, the study concludes that Obama's overhaul will encourage more employers to adopt consumer-directed plans, accelerating a trend

Compared with traditional insurance, consumer-directed plans charge significantly lower premiums. But deductibles, the annual amount you pay before insurance starts covering, can be twice as high or more. To overcome consumers' unease about greater financial exposure, the plans are packaged with tax-advantaged medical accounts to which employers can contribute Bush helped to start. Obama's law, if it survives Supreme Court scrutiny, would create economic incentives that boost low-cost plans in two ways. First, the plans provide an option for medium and large employers who don't currently provide coverage to avoid federal penalties that loom in a couple of years. And they could also help some employers escape a new tax on high-cost ``Cadillac'' health insurance. For consumers, there are other considerations: Premiums for traditional insurance could rise if the new plans lure away people in good health. Also, workers with chronic conditions may find that high-deductible

Retired couples may need $240,000 for health care BOSTON: Couples retiring this year can expect their medical bills throughout retirement to cost 4 percent more than those who retired a year ago, according to an annual projection by Fidelity Investments. The estimated $240,000 that a newly retired couple will need to cover health care expenses reflects the typical pattern of projected annual increases. The Boston-based company cut the estimate for the first time last year, citing President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. Medicare changes resulting from that plan are expected to gradually reduce many seniors' out-of-pocket expenses for prescription drugs. But Fidelity says overall health care cost trends are on the rise again, so it's raising its cost estimate from last year's $230,000 figure. ``As long as health care cost trends exceed personal income growth and economic growth, health care will still be a growing burden for the country as a whole and for individuals,'' says Sunit Patel, a senior vice president for benefits consulting at Fidelity, and an actuary who helped calculate the estimate. However, this year's 4 percent rise is relatively modest. Annual increases have

plans put more strain on family budgets. Published in the journal Health Affairs, the study analyzed medical claims data from 59 large U.S. employers, most of which offered the choice of a consumer-directed plan. Crunching that information, researchers estimated that employers overall could reduce their health care costs by 7 percent if half of American workers were to enroll in the plans. National savings would total $57 billion

averaged 6 percent since Fidelity made its initial $160,000 calculation in 2002. The projections are part of Fidelity's benefits consulting business. The study is based on projections for a 65-year-old couple retiring this year with Medicare coverage. The estimate factors in the federal program's premiums, co-payments and deductibles, as well as out-of-pocket prescription costs. The study assumes the couple does not have insurance from their

The study is based on projections for a 65-year-old couple retiring this year with Medicare coverage former employers, and a life expectancy of 85 for women and 82 for men. The estimate doesn't factor in most dental services, or long-term care, such as the cost of living in a nursing home. This year's estimate could change significantly. Next month, the U.S. Supreme Court will decide whether to strike down part or all of the 2010 health care law, including its centerpiece requirement that nearly all Americans carry insurance or pay a penalty. -AP

annually, potentially allowing employers to pay higher wages or hire more workers. Two-thirds of the savings in the study came from people using less medical care. The remaining one-third came from frugal behavior such as opting for generic drugs or seeing specialists less often. The study raised concerns about prevention. It looked at six types of recommended preventive services, from cervical cancer screening to hemoglobin A1c tests for diabetics, and found less use of all of them among

employees in consumer-directed plans. Many of those services had been covered at no cost to the patients in the study, and the health care law makes free preventive care a requirement for most insurance plans. But some consumers apparently may not understand that they are covered for prevention. ``The big risk is that people understand `I have a big deductible,' and they are going to cut everything they can think of to cut,'' said Haviland. Meanwhile, consumer-directed plans have clearly moved from a niche to the mainstream. The study found that workplace enrollment jumped from 4 percent of workers in 2006 to 13 percent in 2010. The trend continued last year, reaching 17 percent, says the Kaiser Family Foundation. Next year, 70 percent of large employers plan to offer a consumer-directed plan, in most cases as one of several options, says the benefits consulting firm Towers Watson. But it's unclear if or when such plans will dominate the market. Many employers are experimenting, and large firms seem to want keep offering employees a choice, said Tom Billet, a senior benefits consultant with Towers Watson. Yet a transition could be under way. ``The likelihood of getting to a 50-percent share of the market in the next two to three years is very small,'' said Billet, referring to consumer-directed plans. ``Five to seven years out, is it possible? Yes.'' -AP

Realty Tidbits

Black money: 'Real estate top violator' NEW DELHI: Economic intelligence agencies have informed the Finance Ministry that a major chunk of illegal funds and black money is being generated and routed in the real estate sector of the country. Special departments like the Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB), Income Tax (Intelligence) and the Directorate General of Excise Intelligence have alerted enforcement agencies like the Enforcement Directorate and I-T (Investigations) to conduct special operations and keep a tight vigil on the funds moving in this sector.

Cont’d on page 43

Power of attorney blow: Real estate deals hit NEW DELHI: Real estate transactions in the secondary market in Delhi could see a 30-40% drop over the next few months with the government banning sale of property through transfer of general power of attorney. The state government has notified an October 2011 Supreme Court order with retrospective effect, which would impact hundreds of buyers who had bought properties since October last year through this route. For them, it would mean going back to the sellers to get the correct and complete documentation and then get a fresh registration done. Power of attorney is used in the city to sell properties that are leasehold in nature and properties that lack clarity of title.

Mumbai building transparency plan hits a wall MUMBAI: The move to bring in more transparency in the civic body by putting up all building plans it has approved for public access on the BMC website has hit a hurdle and is getting a rethink. Some legal and technical challenges have cropped up, civic officials say. Top officials in the development plan department of the BMC feel it will not be feasible for the civic body to put up each and every building plan on the website stating that architects are likely to raise copyright issues. Besides, the plans are too heavy to be all on website, they said.

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Santracruz-Chembur Road design changed again

fter asking for four design changes in the past six years, the Central Railway (CR) has asked the agency implementing Santacruz-Chembur Link Road (SCLR) for a fresh design before it can grant permission to take the road over railway tracks. The clearance from CR is, by and large, the only major hurdle left for the SCLR, which has been under construction for nine years and is regarded as one of the most delayed projects. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will submit a fresh design for the fifth time for scrutiny by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

Government rolls back 1% TDS on property sales NEW DELHI: The government has rolled back the proposed one percent tax deduction at source (TDS) on transfer of immovable property. Initiating the debate on the Finance Bill for 2012-13 in the Lok Sabha, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the government had decided to roll back the levy after receiving various representations. "The Finance Bill proposes that every transferee of immovable property (other than agricultural land), at the time of making payment for transfer of the property, shall deduct tax at the rate of 1 percent of such sum," Mukherjee said. "I have received a number of representations pointing out the additional compliance burden this measure would impose. I, therefore, propose to withdraw this pro-

vision for levy of TDS on transfer of immovable property," he added. In the budget for financial year 2012-13 presented March 16, the finance minister had proposed to levy TDS on transfer of immovable property, in a bid to tighten screw on corruption and black money in the property markets. Bowing to pressure, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced a slew of measures to provide relief to the jewellery sector and postponed implementation of the general antiavoidance rules (GAAR) by one year, but offered no concessions to Vodafone involved in tax dispute. Moving the Finance Bill, 2012 for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha, Mukherjee halved

the capital gains tax for private equity investors to 10 per cent and relaxed the norms for arrest of persons involved in violation of Customs Act. "The government has decided to withdraw the levy (one per cent excise duty) on all precious metal jewellery, branded or unbranded,

with effect from March 17, 2012," he announced, bowing to demand within and outside the House. He said the threshold limit for TCS (tax collection at source) on cash purchase of jewellery will be raised to Rs 5 lakh from the present Rs 2 lakh. However, the Minister said, the threshold limit for cash purchase on bullion will be retained at Rs 2 lakh. Bullion will not include any coin or other article weighing 10 gm or less, he added, setting the tone for the debate on the crucial bill.

Land Bill will hurt industries: Pawar U

nion Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar has expressed reservations about the new Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2011, saying it would in particular pose hurdles in setting up industries and creating new dams. The Bill was cleared by the Union cabinet in September and has now been sent to the joint legislative committee. Quoting provisions of the Bill, such as the promise to pay five times the market price of land acquired, returning 20 per cent developed land to the owner and job guarantee for next 20 years, Pawar said that the Bill would hamper development work in the country and state. The Bill also provides that there should be 70 per cent consent of land owners for the acquisition and the state can step in for the remaining 30 percent. Pawar, who had earlier pointed out lacunae in the Food Security bill proposed by the UPA government, said, "New projects contribute to state development.

If the new land acquisition bill is passed, it will not let any industry or dams come up. I was the only one who opposed the Bill and I

spoke on a range of issues including coalition politics, the need to set aside growing regionalism, state of food production in the country

Sharad Pawar

know that it will be passed in the Parliament as well. No new projects will come up," said Pawar. He said that he was worried about the slowdown in development due to this Bill and had expressed his opinion in the cabinet. He was speaking at a special seminar at the state legislature. He

and the need for Mumbai's growth. Pawar said that coalition politics was here to stay and there was no wishing it away. He said that running a coalition government is an "art" and regional and political aspirations should not hurt government. "Regional division needs to be curtailed. When I go to

Sangola to study the drought situation, people from Amravati call and complain that I'm paying attention to only one region," said Pawar. He said that during the eight years in the Manmohan Singhled UPA government, he had not had a single point of disagreement with the PM. "We work by taking everyone into confidence. If I take a different stand, like about cotton exports, onion, sugar, it is respected and addressed. We had a meeting on these issues and the issues were resolved in one hour," said Pawar. Pawar said migrants have contributed to the state's growth and development. "We also need to remember that Maharashtrians are living in other parts of the country," he said. He added that a new green revolution was being seen in the eastern part of the country through paddy cultivation but Maharashtra has to worry as it was not producing enough grain even to meet its own needs.

Real Estate Post

May 18, 2012

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Singapore's Andover to build 7 aquariums NEW DELHI: Singapore-based private equity firm Andover is planning to construct over seven largesized public aquariums across India in association with Bhasin Group over the next five years. Both companies have formed an equal joint venture and are gearing up to open one such aquarium by the end of this year in Greater Noida. Bhasin Group Managing Director S S Bhasin said it will start exploring new cities for building aquariums once the first project is thrown open to public. "We are investing USD 9 million with our partner in this aquarium in Greater Noida. This will be ready for public by the end of this year," he added.

"In a big country like India, strangely, there is not a single aquarium. We are planning to open such important tourist des-

tination here. We could open twothree aquariums in every 18 months for the next five years," Andover Group President Sindu Zhang Huihan told PTI. Andover, which has interests

in real estate, manufacturing sector and leisure industry, will develop all these aquariums in association with its partner Bhasin Group. Huihan, however, declined to share any investment amount that is likely to be put in by the two entities. The Noida aquarium will be a part of a Rs 750-crore real estate project, comprising a five-star hotel, a shopping mall and an office complex. Elaborating on the upcoming aquarium, Huihan said it likely to house 12,000-13,000 different types of fishes. "We will acquire different species of fishes from various places like Australia and South Africa. The one lakh sq ft area aquarium will have about 35 per cent of fishes from abroad," he added. -PTI

Noida properties to become free-hold

here is good news over property ownership. If the new ownership policy recently announced by the government of Uttar Pradesh is implemented, the properties at Noida, Greater Noida, and even Yamuna Expressway, will become freehold. Currently, land is allotted on lease for 90 years in Noida-Greater Noida. The authorities have formulated different slabs for the annual lease and charge 10% for residential property and 27.5% for institutional, industrial and commercial establishments, of the total value of the property. With the implementation of the new ownership policy, when land will be allotted on free-hold, those who have bought or are planning to buy flats or plots from builders or the authority could actually become the owners. According to urban land policy (being followed by the Delhi Development Authority), land ownership is of two types: free-hold or lease-hold. In free-hold, ownership is for the perpetuity while in leasehold, it is for specified time, which can vary between 30 years and 100 years, in general. In Delhi, up to 2008, of the 82,948.84 acres of acquired land, 75,609.84 acres has been allocated for residential, commercial, institutional, industrial, green areas

and infrastructure projects like roads. Initially, the whole of the land was given to end users on lease, with the authorities being paid ground rent; but slowly, all these are being converted into free-hold property, as the authorities are facing an uphill task in realizing

Ghaziabad will also convert the ownership policy from lease-hold to free-hold. Impact of the proposed landownership policy: In Noida-Greater Noida, individual buyers, even builders, are not the actual owners of the property on which they have invested

the dues with thousands of cases pending in the government departments. Therefore, the DDA decided that most of the land should be free-hold except institutional and commercial. The UP government has taken a leaf out of this experience and has decided to follow suit. It is highly likely that the other NCR cities like Gurgaon, Faridabad and

a huge sum of money in constructing buildings and developing physical infrastructure like roads and sewerage. According to the existing lease policy, flats and plots are subleased by the authorities to users. From the records provided by development authorities in Noida, of a total of 20,316 hectares, around 10,000 hectares has already been developed.

White House 'could fetch up to US dollars 115 million' WASHINGTON: White House is priceless and, of course, not for sale. But, the mansion, which has housed US presidents and their families since 1800, could fetch up to US dollars 115 million in the open market, a realtor has claimed. "This would be an extreme luxury home. It would probably be US dollars 100 or US dollars 115 (million)," the 'New York Daily

in McLean, Va, has an estimated value of US dollars 45.5 million. The 55,000-square-foot sixlevel White House at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has 132 rooms, 35 baths, 28 fireplaces and three elevators. Amenities include a basketball court, tennis court, movie theatre, bowling alley, swimming pool and jogging track for the American President and his fam-

News' online quoted Jason Koitz, a strategist with The Koitz Group, as telling real estate website 'Movoto'. Koitz said the White House would sell for between US dollars 75 million and US dollars 80 million, or between US dollars 1,364 and US dollars 1,455 a square foot. The realtor, based in Washington DC, said his estimate reflects comparable sales in the Washington area, where the most expensive home, a 21,000-square-foot mansion

ily members. The house has been renovated nine times in its 212-year history, which includes President Harry S Truman's overseeing a complete reconstruction of the building between 1948 and 1952. However, Koitz said the White House could sell for as much as a billion dollars, after factoring in the dwelling's historical value. The process "to see what it could potentially fetch, would be astounding", he added. -PTI

Black money: 'Real estate top violator' Contâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d from page 42

At a meeting of the Economic Intelligence Council (EIC) chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee some time back, the CEIB reported that during the year 2011, the maximum percentage of undisclosed income (40 per cent) was detected in the real estate sector, followed by the manufacturing sector (27 per cent). The concealed incomes were detected by the investigation units of the I-T department and the total undisclosed income in the real

estate and construction sector was more than Rs 1,400 crore, while the manufacturing sector reported more than Rs 1,100 crore of stashed funds during the calendar year. The CEIB is the nodal body for collection and dissemination of economic intelligence data. It coordinates with all the concerned agencies in the area of economic offences like the I-T, ED, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Customs and other agencies like the Narcotics Control Bureau, CBI and the IB.

Real Estate Post

44 India Post

May 18, 2012

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Pune airport spells gold for land investors PUNE: Though the government has not announced the final site, land prices in villages nearby have gone up; middlemen have mushroomed. In the 11-km stretch between Koye-Pait-Kadus, about 48 km from the city ahead of Chakan, everyone knows that the patch of land on the left of the winding road is the 'likely-to-be-proposed' site for the Pune International Airport. While the officials concerned continue to offer 'no comments' to keep the location a secret, rising land prices in the fringe villages tell a different tale. Post March 27, after the State Finance Minister allocated Rs 438 crore for five airports in Maharashtra, land prices in the belt have witnessed 40-60 per cent increase. While investors are lining up to buy plots, farmers, who hold 90 per cent of the land, are refraining from selling them, hoping that prices might go up further. Agents are cropping up, and villagers are holding meetings to oppose the airport - all this, when the government has not called the site a proposed airport location. What forms part of the discussion in village panchayat at Koye is the story of how a 5.5-acre plot was sold for Rs 1.18 crore (Rs 21.5 lakh per acre) in April in Dhamne. "This was the only transaction in the recent past. People are not selling their lands because the rates

can go up further after the official announcement of the proposed location," said S M Waghole, talathi of Koye village. "The prices started increasing when the earlier site - Shiroli-Chandus - was cancelled and the discussions of this site started doing the rounds. From Rs 7 lakh then, the prices today are over Rs 20 lakh per acre

Six km ahead of Koye is Pait. In a village of 4,500, there are 15 middlemen. Besides, 20-22 middlemen flock into three hotels in Pait to settle deals. Narayan Aherkar, a middleman, agrees that he makes more money than the farmers who sell the plots for plots along the road." Six km ahead of Koye is Pait. In a village of 4,500, there are 15 middlemen. Besides, 20-22 middlemen flock into three hotels in Pait to settle deals. Narayan Aherkar, a middleman, agrees that he makes more money than the farmers who sell the plots. "The farmers are

happy if they get 'a particular' price for their land. We know what the land is worth, now that the airport is likely to be proposed. We approach investors with the actual worth, which is way above what the farmers expect. Middlemen bag more than the actual land price," says Aherkar. According to Aherkar, roadside land rates have gone up from Rs 7-8 lakh per acre to Rs 12-15 lakh per acre in January-February. In April, following the budget announcement, the rates rose to Rs 18- 20 lakh per acre. In the surrounding wadis - Tekawadi, Palu, Waghu, Hedrus - the rates for roadside lands reached Rs 12-15 lakh from Rs 8 lakh in January-February. A guntha is no less than Rs 2 lakh if located along the road. Compare this with the government rate of land, which is Rs 1.251.5 lakh per acre. Clueless about the acquisition process but aware of the earlier protests, the villagers are thinking of protesting against the proposed location. Koye has already witnessed threefour meetings with a majority voting against the airport. Why oppose? No one knows. "The other villages protested. There must be some reason. Why shouldn't we," asks Deepak Rale, villager. "The protests won't last longer this time as NCP dominates most of the gram panchayats here," says Hari Roundhal, villager, Pait.

MHADA lottery: 3,526 applications for 867 houses

ithin days of starting the online application process for its affordable houses, the Mumbai Board of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has received four times as many applications as the number of houses available in Mumbai. The housing board started its annual lottery process whereby prospective home buyers can apply through the MHADA website. Despite a major snag which rendered the website inaccessible most of the time initially, the Mumbai Board has so far already received 7,831 applications for its 867 houses across the city. In comparison, MHADA's Konkan Board, which has released 1,726 homes in Mira road, has received only 2,453 forms till date. "There was a glitch in the website set up for the lottery process due to which we had to shift operations to our website www.mhada.org. Due to the snag on the first day, we received only 86 and 26 applications for Mumbai and Mira Road respectively," a MHADA official said. The numbers are expected to increase as the online submission process will go on till May 24. The lowest range of MHADA houses starts from Rs 15 lakh in Kurla and 19 lakh in Malad for 200 sq ft plus apartments meant for the low income groups.

Even the most expensive 700 sq ft plus two bedroom apartments for high income groups costs Rs 55 lakh in Powai and Rs 57 lakh in Borivli, which is far below the market price of such houses. In comparison, data of under-construction and ready-to-move-in houses by private developers in Mumbai shows that the least expensive house in Mumbai costs Rs 60 lakh

Officials say that there seems to be no decrease in the number of applications this year despite the fact that the number of houses released by the Mumbai Board are only a fourth of the usual numbers while the price of an average house is as high as Rs 2.18 crore. Officials say that there seems to be no decrease in the number of applications this year despite the fact that the number of houses released by the Mumbai Board are only a fourth of the usual numbers. Last year, 4,034 MHADA houses had over 1.30 lakh applicants vying for it while the year before 3.28 lakh applicants had applied for the 3,449 houses on sale.

SC breather to Lanco Infra Rs500cr housing project for Gurgaon on township project HYDERABAD: In a major relief to the infrastructure firm Lanco Infratech, the Supreme Court has stayed orders of Andhra Pradesh High Court issued last month that prohibited the company from continuing construction activities at its major township project in Hyderabad. The high court had on 3 April observed that the land on which Lanco is building its integrated township project belong the Wakf Board and stayed construction activities on the disputed land till further orders. In 2005, Lanco had obtained around 100 acres of land through international competitive bidding organized by the AP government at Rs 4.27 crore an acre for its Rs 5,000 crore township project. According to Lanco Hills chief operating officer S. Pochender, the company has so far spent over Rs 2,600 crore to complete a part of

the project. Other corporates that secured the said land both through auction and allotments from the AP government include Microsoft, Infosys, Polaris, Indian School of Business and Emaar among others. In all, the state government had allotted 1,654 acres of land at Manikonda in the Hyderabad outskirts to various entities. Two years after AP government allotted the land to several corporates and institutions, the Wakf Board claimed ownership over the land in 2007 contesting the government's decision to hand over the prime Wakf property in favor of corporates and institutions. The Board urged the Wakf Tribunal to restrain Lanco from selling the property to third parties in the township project and obtained favorable directives. Contesting this, Lanco moved high court but in vain.

NEW DELHI: Real estate company Assotech and private equity firm Sun-Apollo have announced the development of a housing project in Gurgaon at an investment of about Rs 500 crore over the next three years. Sun-Apollo Real Estate Advisors has invested Rs 75 crore to pick up nearly 50 per cent stake in Assotech's subsidiary firm which would develop this project. Assotech has infused Rs 76 crore for nearly 51 per cent stake in the subsidiary. "We are entering into the Gurgaon market by launching a 12acre housing project in partnership with Sun-Apollo. This is our first project to receive private equity investment," Assotech Managing Director Sanjeev Srivastava told reporters. The project, which is located on Dwarka Expressway, has been launched at a price of about Rs 5,000 per square feet. He said the company has bought the licensed land where it

would develop about 580 apartments, 23 villas and 102 flats for economically weaker section. "The total investment in this project 'Assotech Blith' would be about Rs 500 crore including the land cost over a period of the next

Sun-Apollo Principal Alok Aggarwal

are committed to invest more if required for construction activities". The private equity firm has also invested in real estate projects of Parsvnath Developers and Godrej Properties in north India. "We will do more projects with Assotech

"We are entering into the Gurgaon market by launching a 12-acre housing project in partnership with Sun-Apollo. This is our first project to receive private equity investment"

three years," Srivastava said. The investment would be met through equity contributions from both the partners, bank loans and advances from customers against sales, he added. Sun-Apollo Principal Alok Aggarwal said: "The two partners

in future if there is good opportunity," Aggarwal said. Assotech is currently developing many housing and hotel projects in the National Capital Region (NCR), Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar. -PTI

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May 18, 2012

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Godrej keen on redevelopment projects MUMBAI: With redevelopment becoming the in thing in the real estate sector, realty player Godrej Properties (GPL) plans to expand its project portfolio in this segment, a top company official said. "Mumbai requires a large number of redevelopment projects especially for increasing the availability of housing in the city. Recently, we signed a few deals for redevelopment projects. We will continue to look to extend the redevelopment model in our project portfolio," GPL Managing Director and CEO Pirjsha Godrej said. The city-based firm's subsidiary Godrej Projects Development (GPDPL) recently entered into an agreement with Kamla Landmarc Property Leasing and Finance to redevelop 18 residential buildings in Chembur, Mumbai. GPL also sold 49 per cent stake in the project to ASK Property Investment Advisors. GPDPL also entered into a development

management agreement (DMA) with RR Builders to redevelop a MHADA property in Byculla, under which, the former will be responsible for conceptualization, design, sales, and marketing of the project, while the latter will bear entire costs for construc-

keting of all future development on the G&B-owned Vikhroli land. "Redevelopment and development management models allow us to do a lot of development without needing to buy the land. They also both leverage to a great extent

GPL plans to launch 15 projects in the fiscal, he said, adding, "It will include phases of existing projects, new projects, which may include redevelopment projects as well. The new projects will be launched in cities where we already have presence" tion and development. Besides, the company has also entered into an agreement with Godrej & Boyce (G&B), where GPL will act as development manager and will be responsible for the conceptualization, design, sales, and mar-

the strength of Godrej brand in attracting partners to work with us even without deploying capital. "I think they make a lot of strategic and financial sense to the company and these are models we will continue to look to ex-

APG to acquire stake in Lemon Tree Hotels NEW DELHI: Lemon Tree Hotels has said Dutch pension fund manager APG will acquire a strategic stake in the hospitality chain and two entities will also set up a Rs 2,000 crore joint venture company for building new hotels in the country. As part of the deal, APG 'combined investment in the joint venture and the stake in Lemon Tree Hotels is worth Rs 650 crore, the Indian Hospitality chain said in a statement. However, the break-up of the deal was not announced. Besides, Lemon Tree Hotels and APG would set up a joint venture (JV) company Fleur Hotels. The new entity would invest Rs 2,000 crore by the end of 2016 to develop 4,500 rooms in the country making Lemon Tree Hotels one of the largest hotel owners in India with a total of 8,000 rooms, it said. All hotels will be branded as Lemon Tree Hotels, Lemon Tree Premier or Red Fox Hotels, the company said. "...We are delighted to partner with APG in this endeavor to significantly increase the supply of mid-market rooms in India, which has huge unmet demand for this category of hotels," Lemon Tree Hotels Chairman and Managing Director Patu Keswani said. "On completion of these proposed hotels by 2016-17, Lemon Trees will co-own and operate over 8,000 rooms, making it one of the largest hotel owners in India and the dominant player in the midmarket hotel segment," he added. Lemon Tree Hotels, started by

Patu Keswani, currently owns and manages 18 hotels under Lemon Tree Premier, Lemon Tree and Red Fox brands with an inventory of 2,000 rooms while APG manages pension assets totaling about 299 billion euros on behalf of Dutch pension funds. Keswani and US-based private equity firm Warburg Pincus are the two largest shareholders of Lemon

Tree Hotels. APG Head of Non-listed Real Estate Daan Van Aert said," We view China and India as the major growth engines of the global economy and will expand our foot print further in these markets. India's consumption led economy provides incremental diversification benefits to our portfolio." -PTI

tend this year," he said. Godrej further said these two business models will give the company an opportunity to grow its business in the period of weakness in the market. "This period of weakness is the time of opportunity for the company to get new projects into our portfolio at attractive valuation. With these two models, we will be able to enhance our operational performance further," he said. GPL plans to launch 15 projects in the fiscal, he said, adding, "It will include phases of existing projects, new projects, which may include redevelopment projects as well. The new projects will be launched in cities where we already have presence." The company has a presence in 12 cities, including Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, Mangalore, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi and Kolkata. -PTI

UP govt scraps Jewar airport project; new site near Agra planned LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party government headed by Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh has decided to scrap the ambitious Greenfield international airport at Jewar. A crucial part of former chief minister Mayawati's dream project, the airport has been dumped as a result of the Center's unwillingness ''to give clearances to the project." Now, the SP government is planning to develop a new international airport between Agra and Mathura. As per the rules, no airport can be constructed within 150 km of an existing airport. Jewar, however, was less than 100 km away from New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport. Although the BSP government had repeatedly requested the Centre to clear the airport project, it could never materialize. Confirming the decision to scrap the Jewar airport, infrastructure and industrial development commissioner Anil Kumar Gupta said: Central clearance for Jewar airport was pending for seven years. In the absence of this approval, UP government was left with no alternative. As a result, a decision was taken to scrap the project.'' The decision, however, does not mean the end of the road for the international airport project in the state. Following the scrapping orders for Jewar, the state government has also issued instructions for identifying a new site for an international airport, conforming to the 150-km distance ruling. District magistrates of Agra and Mathura have been instructed to identify sites that are at least 150 km from the IGI airport. The new airport will, tentatively, will come up between Agra and Mathura.

The search for the new site will begin soon,'' Gupta said. Setting up an airport at the new site, however, might also not be easy. Among the first bottlenecks that the state government could face in this regard is related to land acquisition. With UP having witnessed large-scale farmer unrest only one year ago in the same region, at Bhatta and Parsaul villages of Western UP, it is not certain how the farming community might react to fresh acquisition bids this time. In addition, obtaining environmental clearances from the

Central clearance for Jewar airport was pending for seven years. In the absence of this approval, UP government was left with no alternative. As a result, a decision was taken to scrap the project state and centre could also involve inordinate delays in the implementation of the project. The SP government, however, will hope that its manifesto promise of paying six times the market rate to farmers for acquiring their land will make the process smoother. Reportedly, however, different departments of the state government have opposed this decision saying that it will be impossible for the state government to bear the cost burden of such a decision.

Datebook

India Post

May 18, 2012

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NEW YORK

NEW JERSEY

Upcoming

Fri May 18

Fri May 19

• Ustad Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in NY

• Dr. Kumar Vishwas Live an Iconic Poet

Venue: Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, 65 St. Columbus Ave, New York Time: 8:30pm Contact: 516-692-8690

Fri May 25 • DJ Suketuís Official White Party Venue: Pranna, 79 Madison Avenue, NY Time: 10pm Contact: 646-452-3424

Thurs May 31 • Desi Speed Dating NYC Venue: Pranna NYC, 79 Madison Ave No 2, New York Time: 7:15pm Contact: 732-444-8781

Venue: Edison Hotel, 3050 Woodbridge Ave, New Jersey, NJ Time: 7:30pm Contact: 732-277-6687

ILLINOIS

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Sun May 20 • An Evening in Bollywood Venue: Metea Velley High School Auditorium, 1801 North Ela Road, Aurora, IL Time: 2pm Contact: 630-357-9293

Sat May 19

Sat May 26

• Baisakhi Celebration by GSCA

• Kailash Kher with His Band Kailasa

Venue: South Brunswick Senior Citizen Center, 540 Ridge Rd, Monmouth Juction, NJ Time: 712:30pm Contact: 908-583-0422

Venue: Copernicus Theater, 5216, West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago, IL Time: 8:30pm Contact: 847-230-7977

Sun May 20 • Bridal Insider Seminar

Sun June 3

Venue: The Villa At mountain Lakes, 90 Route 46 East Mountain Lakes, New Jersey Time: 12pm Contact: 609-933-8502

• Yaadon ki Baarat

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Upcoming Sat May 19

Sat May 19 • Argentine Tango: At The Fremont Main Library Venue: Argentine Tango, Fremont Main Library, 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont, CA Time: 2pm to 4pm Contact: (510) 745-1467

Sun May 20 • Yatra- The Journey Venue: Santa Clara Convention Center Theater, 5001 great American Pkwy, CA Time: 3:30pm Contact: 408-246-3005

Wed May 23

• Crazy Mohanís Chocolate Krishnaí in Aid of Akshaya, Madurai Venue: David Starr Jordan High School, 6500 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA Time: 5:30pmpm

Thurs May 24 • The Exhibition of Salma Arastuís Paintings Venue: Unitarian Universal Church at San Fransisco. Contact: 415-776-4580 Highlights: Paintings Titled “We Were together in Primodial Time.

Sun June 10 • Songs & Dances from Vibrant Gujarat

Sat May 19

Sun May 27

Venue: Palace Theater, Stamford Time: 8pm Contact: 203-322-9862 Highlights: Gujarat, the Land the Legends: Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Vikram Sarabhai, Jamshedji Tata and visionary Dhirubhi Ambani go down in history. But, Gujarat also stands for its literary tradition in the form of folk songs, narratives and theater.

• Hindu Heritage Day

• Crazy Mohanís ìChocolate Krishnaî

Sun June 17

Venue: Hamilton Fine Arts Center, W220 N 6151, Town Line Road, Sussex, IL Time: 6:30pm Contact: 414-476-5936

WASHINGTON DC Venue: Marlborough Middle School, 26 Union Street, Marlborough, MA Time: 3pm Contact: 508-789-3548

Sun May 20 • Hindu Wedding Workshop Venue: Sandcastle Resort on Cape Cod Bay, Route 6A, Prvincetown, MA Time: 9am Contact: 860-633-0045

• Indian Sitar Maestro Ashwin Batish and Family Venue: North Court 200 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA Time: 12pm Contact: 415-581-3500

Venue: Dougherty Valley High School, 10550 Albion Road, San Ramon, CA Time: 4pm Contact: 925-202-1176

Wed May 30

• First unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco Venue: 1187 Franklin Street at Geary San Fransisco, CA 94109 Time: 2:00pm Contact: 415-776-4580

• New Balaji Temple Maha Kumbhabhishekam

Thurs Sept 27 • Ballet Folklorico De Mexico

Venue: Balaji, 5004 N 1st Street, Alviso, CA Time: 9pm Contact: 408-203-1036

• Chinmaya Mission Twin Cities presents Talks on Glory of Ganesha

Venue: Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-325-4466

Sat July 14

Venue: Chinmaya Ganapati 12575 County Road 43, Chaska MN 55318 Time: 6:30pm-Bhajans & 7pm to 8:30pm Discourse on Ganapati Atharvashirsha Contact: 860-633-0045

Venue: Lake Elizabeth Park, 4000 Paseo Padre Pkwy, Fremont, CA Time: 10am Contact: 510-713-2686

Fri Oct 19 • Royal Drummers and Dancers of Burundi

Mon May 28 to Wed May 30

ï Summer Picnic

Venue: Palace Theater, 61 Atlantic St. Stamford, CT 06901 Time: 8pm Contact: 203-325-4466

May 18, 2012

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Notice is hereby given that sealed competitive bids will be accepted in the office of the GSA-Purchasing Department, County of Alameda, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Suite 907, Oakland, CA 94612 NETWORKING BIDDERS CONFERENCES for RFP #900934 WorkerĂs Compensation Third Party Administration Services South County Wednesday, May 30, 2012, 2:00 p.m. at Social Services Agency, Shooting Star B, #638, 24100 Amador Street, Hayward, CA and North County Thursday, May 31, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at General Services Agency, Room 228, 2nd Floor, 1401 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA Responses Due by 2:00 pm on June 29, 2012 County Contact: Jeannise Gonzalez (510) 208-9612 or via email: jeannise.gonzalez@acgov.org Attendance at Networking Conference is Non-mandatory. Specifications regarding the above may be obtained at the Alameda County GSA Current Contracting Opportunities Internet website at www.acgov.org. 5/18/12 CNS-2311762#

Philosophy

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May 18, 2012

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he civilization of ancient Greece was nurtured within citywalls. In fact, all the modern civilizations have their cradles of brick and mortar. These walls leave their mark deep in the minds of men. They set up a principle of "divide and rule" in our mental outlook, which begets in us a habit of securing all our conquests by fortifying them and separating them from one another. We divide nation and nation, knowledge and knowledge, man and nature. It breeds in us a strong suspicion of whatever is beyond the barriers we have built, and everything has to fight hard for its entrance into our recognition. When the first Aryan invaders appeared in India it was a vast land of forests, and the newcomers rapidly took advantage of them. These forests afforded them shelter from the fierce heat of the sun and the ravages of tropical storms, pastures for cattle, fuel for sacrificial fire, and materials for building cottages. And the different Aryan clans with their patriarchal heads settled in the different forest tracts which had some special advantage of natural protection, and ood and water in plenty. Thus in India it was in the forests that our civilization had its birth, and it took a distinct char-

RAMESH BALSEKAR

or the average person, love is a manifestation of the vio lent, possessive doership of the ego. Whereas for the spiritual person, it is not a sentiment at all, but a state of mind in which love exists to the degree in which the selfish element is transcended. According to the average person, the desire for possession is the criterion, the touchstone of sincerity or reality by which love is to be judged. Even the mother is accused of not loving her child if she is not particularly possessive towards her baby. Love - the sentiment, and love - the non-affective state of mind, where a subject-object relationship does not exist, are infused by the same force. Though basically not different, one is steeped in egoistic involvement, the other unaffected and pure. The former is exemplified by the love of a man for a woman, the latter, sometimes called divine love or caritas, is a luminous pool of light and not a beam focused on one object at a time. All-embracing, bathing all alike in its radiance. It must, however, be recognized that the discrimination be-

acter from this origin and environment. It was surrounded by the vast life of nature, was fed and clothed by her, and had the closest and most constant intercourse with her varying aspects. Such a life, it may be thought, tends to have the effect of dulling human intelligence and dwarfing the incentives to progress by lowering the standards of existence. But in ancient India we find that

into his surroundings. He felt that truth is all-comprehensive, that there is no such thing as absolute isolation in existence, and the only way of attaining truth is through the interpenetration of our being into all objects. To realize this great harmony between man's spirit and the spirit of the world was the endeavor of the forest-dwelling sages of ancient India. In later days there came a time

inspiration from the wisdom stored there. The west seems to take a pride in thinking that it is subduing nature; as if we are living in a hostile world where we have to wrest everything we want from an unwilling and alien arrangement of things. This sentiment is the product of the city-wall habit and training of mind. For in the city life man naturally directs the concentrated light

Harmony between spirit of man & world There is no such thing as absolute isolation in existence, and the only way of attaining truth is through the interpenetration of our being into all objects

Rabindranath Tagore

the circumstances of forest life did not overcome man's mind, and did not enfeeble the current of his energies, but only gave to it a particular direction. Having been in constant contact with the living growth of nature, his mind was free from the desire to extend his dominion by erecting boundary walls around his acquisitions. His aim was not to acquire but to realize, to enlarge his consciousness by growing with and growing tween spiritual and romantic love is illusory because both are aspects of the same reality. Physical expression of love cannot be excluded because the relationship is on the plane of phenomenality. In a few rare cases, even the sense of doership and possession will not exist. Recently, I came across an in-

when these primeval forests gave way to cultivated fields, and wealthy cities sprang up on all sides. Mighty kingdoms were es tablished, which had communications with all the great powers of the world. But even in the heyday of its material prosperity the heart of India ever looked back with adoration upon the early ideal of strenuous self-realization, and the dignity of the simple life of the forest hermitage, and drew its best of memory she no longer knew who he was, nor had she recognized him in five years. I was surprised and asked him: 'And you still go every morning?' I had to hold back tears when he smiled, patted my hand and said: 'She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is.' I realized that true love is neither physical nor romantic.

of his mental vision upon his own life and works, and this creates an artificial dissociation between himself and the Universal Nature within whose bosom he lies. But in India the point of view was different; it included the world with the man as one great truth. India put all her emphasis on the harmony that exists between the individual and the universal. The 151st birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore was celebrated on May 8 Further, our subject-object relationship with the world changes to one of witnessing. Witnessing eventually leads to the state of 'I am', where we are able to know ourselves without any attribute, save the one truth that we exist. Good things happen through Mother Teresa and bad things

Spiritual & romantic love are aspects of same reality

Ramesh Balsekar

Good things happen through Mother Teresa and bad things through a psychopath, because that is how their body-mind organisms have been programmed. Neither had any choice

stance where the personal element was not excluded from true love. A nurse recounted: "While taking care of my patient's wound, we began talking, and he told me that he needed to visit the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. She had been there for a while, a victim of Alzheimer's disease. I asked him if his wife would be worried if he was a bit late, whereupon he replied that due to her loss

True love is an acceptance of all that is, that has been, that will or even will not be." Surrendering to Divine Will eliminates all sense of personal doership, of pride in success, of guilt or shame in failure, or enmity at another's actions. All action is an expression of Totality, and has nothing to do with us. Free of worry or remorse, we experience freedom.

through a psychopath, because that is how their body-mind organisms have been programmed. Neither had any choice. All thoughts, feelings and desires are reactions of the brain to outside stimuli. Therefore, it is erroneous to attribute ownership to any of them. The 95th birth anniversary of Ramesh Balsekar will be observed on May 25

Form is emptiness; emptiness is form. Form is not other than emptiness. Emptiness is not other than form. -The Heart Sutra There is no relationship between that which is not and that which is. The activity of resisting and seeking that is sometimes called the 'ego' appears to veil the non-dual nature but in fact does not. Therefore, the ego is only real from the point of view of the imaginary ego -Rupert Spira You can never find the actual object "self" or "ego." You only find the movement that seems to refer to an ego. -Scott Kiloby Words do not contain the truth, they only point us to it. -Nirmala Do notice that everything has changed and nothing has changed, since it's what you have always already been. -Gary Crowley Appearance is essence, essence is appearance. Not-two. -Randall Friend Form and emptiness are inseparable. You never have one without the other. -Greg Goode

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May 18, 2012

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US-Afghan strategic agreement: Nothing more than symbolic ARYAMAN BHATNAGAR

arack Obama's recent surprise visit to Kabul was marked by the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) between the US and Afghanistan. The pact commits the US to provide long-term assistance - military and financial to Afghanistan, even after the bulk of the coalition forces withdraw from the country in 2014. Shaida M Abdali, the Deputy National Security Advisor to President Hamid Karzai, in an article for Foreign Policy, claimed that Afghanistan could now realistically expect to achieve stability in the region based on 'credible, long-term international commitments'. However, the optimism surrounding the pact may be slightly premature as a number of crucial details have either not been finalized or been kept out of the purview of the pact. For starters, the 'commitment' of the US has not been specified. The pact requires the US to provide assistance in developing the Afghan economy and public institutions for another decade without committing to specific funding levels. But, at the same time, it would be wrong to assume that the US is capable of maintaining high levels of financial assistance to Afghanistan for another decade. The increasing unpopularity of the war in the US - as indicated by recent surveys - and the growing financial crisis may not hinder American resolve to stay on in Afghanistan, but it is likely to undermine the magnitude of support that the US can provide to Afghanistan. Moreover, the fact that the US Congress is required to annually authorize the funding, it essentially holds funding hostage to public opinion and domestic politics as opposed to need and strategic necessity. Evidence of substantial curtailment of US spending in Afghanistan in the long-run - for both development and security is already noticeable. For instance, the budget for the development agency USAid has already been slashed by half as compared to its budget in 2010 and is likely to face further tightening by Congress. Similarly, the NATO budget for funding Afghan security forces has also been reduced by about two thirds. From a budget of USD 11.2 billion for 2012, it was recently announced that post-2014, the US and its allies would be able to pay only USD 4.1 billion annually.

Such budgetary constraints are likely to have an impact on the plans to develop both civil society and governmental capacities to fill the vacuum post2014 and ultimately enable Afghanistan to achieve self-sufficiency. Similarly, it would also impact the quality and quantity of military training the US is required to provide. It may end up imposing significant quantitative and qualitative restrictions on the size and equipment of Afghan National

agreements. However, it is unlikely that US troops would play a significant role in counter-insurgency operations. They have already ceded operational command of night raids - considered an extremely effective counter-insurgency tool by the US - and the Bagram prison to the ANSF. These were significant concessions by the US against the backdrop of rising anti-Americanism, which had tilted the balance at the negotiating table in favor of

Obama and Karzai signed a deal in the presidential palace that sets a framework for the long-term relationship between the two nations after 2014.

Security Forces (ANSF) while saddling them with vastly greater responsibilities. Apart from problems with the financial clauses, the pact does not commit the US to any specific troop levels either. More im-

It is unlikely that US troops would play a significant role in counter-insurgency operations. They have already ceded operational command of night raids considered an extremely effective counter-insurgency tool by the US - and the Bagram prison to the ANSF portantly, aside from providing training to the ANSF, the role US troops would play in counter-insurgency operations post-2014 has been kept out of the purview of the pact. This is to be decided at a later date through separate

Karzai. It is thus possible that the US may be forced to make further concessions, which along with the shortcomings of the ANSF and their inability to manage on their own, may undermine the tactical integrity of future counterinsurgency efforts. The SPA's significance, for now, lies more in its symbolic value. It can dispel the concerns of Afghans who feared abandonment from the US come 2014, and restore their faith in the endurance of USAfghan relations. However, the pact, at present, is even more important for President Obama. Given the accusations of lack of clarity and direction in his Afghan policy, Obama would want to head into the US Presidential elections in November having quelled the notion that he is bungling America's future role in Afghanistan. The timing of the pact certainly seems to indicate that this was a significant motivating factor. Signed just days before the kick-off his re-election campaign and on the eve of the first death anniversary of Osama bin Laden, President Obama would like to send out a strong message as to how the West is 'winning' the war on terror. The writer is Research Officer, IPCS

India Post Pak olive branch

magine Indian forces killing 139 Pakistani soldiers in a Siachin battle. All hell would have broken loose and Pakistan would be ready to launch one of its hundred nuclear missiles at India. But since these 139 men on duty in the inhospitable climate of Siachin were engulfed by Nature, everybody in Pakistan is in a chastened mood. The most powerful man in that country, army chief General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani made statements on that high mountain which were a steep climbdown from his original confrontationist stance of, "Yes, we are India-centric." Abandoning Pakistan's usual insistence on Kashmir first, the General urged the Indian leadership to discuss demilitarizing of the Siachin glacier. He also expressed a surprising concern for the "welfare" of the Pakistani people and for the first time suggested that the country spend less on defense because, "ultimately security does not only mean secure borders but welfare of the people." Analysts feels the recent run of misfortunes, starting with the taking out of Osama bin Laden by US Navy seals from a Pakistani safe house in Abbotabad, could have forced the Army Chief's hand. Many of Kayani's retired predecessors have called for a unilateral withdrawal from Siachin by Pakistan. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has also demanded withdrawing Pakistan troops to save them from disasters like Gayari. Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari during his recent visit to New Delhi requested India for mutual withdrawal of troops from the Siachen area. The foreign minister of Pakistan Hina Rabbani Khar has urged India to take a "bold initiative" to resolve the Siachen dispute "that has been lingering for 23 years on the world's highest battleground." This request posture from Pakistan is indeed intriguing and India would be in no hurry to respond as the issue is whether one can trust Pakistan. After eight years as ruler of Pakistan, Musharraf had come close to negotiating peace with India, including a resolution of Kashmir dispute. But his successor disowned all the previous gains at peace, including back channel efforts and preferred to start anew on a confrontationist posture with India. It has taken him a few years and hard knocks from the US and in Afghanistan to realize what Musharraf had come to learn after setbacks in Kargil and other areas. If the situation with the US and Afghanistan changes tomorrow, can we trust Pakistan would continue the present efforts at bon homie with India? Or if the present army chief is succeeded by another hawk, where would be Pakistan's policies? Combined with the military setbacks and natural disasters, the grave economic crisis in Pakistan is forcing it to swallow its pride and plead with India for concessions. What should be India's response? Indeed India is not overly enthused by these gestures from Pakistan. The Defense Minister of India, AK Antony, already under attack for his neglect of the army and its point of view, is unlikely to take a decision which doesn't have the approval of the Army. Although defense secretaries of the two countries are going to meet in June to discuss Siachin, the minister cautioned against expecting any "dramatic" result from talks on the vexed issue. He reiterated India's position that it would insist on proper authentication by Pakistan of the troop positions in Siachen before any disengagement is undertaken. Speaking in parliament he drew attention to the last round of talks where Pakistan had refused to authenticate the troop positions of the two countries but India insisted on it. Thus India's stand on Siachin will continue to remain frozen unless Pakistan relents.

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