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Akhouri Sinha

US names mountain after Akhouri Sinha Details on page 7

West meets East: Arthur Brook & Sri Sri Ravishankar

VOL 20, No. 1033

July 4, 2014

50¢

Periodical Postage

XI FOR NEW SECURITY PLAN WITH INDIA

BEIJING: China made a strong pitch for a "new architecture" of Asia-Pacific security cooperation along with India, Myanmar and others as it targeted the US on the Iraq imbroglio, saying any attempt to oust the legitimate regime of a country through illegal means should be opposed.

Quoting Rabindranath Tagore at the 60th anniversary of Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful coexistence, in the presence of Vice President Hamid Ansari and

Myanmar President Thein Sein, Chinese President Xi Jinping said it is "unacceptable to have security just for one country or some countries while leaving the rest insecure."

Though Xi made no direct mention of the US or Iraq, his remarks came close on the heels of Chinese leaders citing Iraq as the living example of how the new interventionist policies by the West in name of curbing terrorism has sowed chaos.

Details on page 5

Details on page 17

Ayushman Khurana Grand Marshal for 2014

FIA announces 22nd India fest & Global Movies Details on page 16

France presses for Rs 60,000 cr Rafale deal Details on page 8

Obama urged to nudge India on solar panel Details on page 9

Amnesty tells Dow to appear in Bhopal court

Pattnaik wins at World Cup of sand sculpting

Details on page 7

Details on page 10

Vardhan seeks US help on cause of AES

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 30-31 Classifieds ------------------------- 48

Details on page 34

Community Post -------------- 16-24 Date Book -------------------------- 39

INDIA POST SURVEY

Edit Page --------------------------- 54

survey@indiapost.com

HealthScience Post --------- 32-35

This week’s question

Horoscope ------------------------- 38 Immigration Post ------------- 44-47

Should India trust China on new secutiry plan?

Last week’s result

Should Narendra Modi be invited to address US Congress?

YES 75%

NO 25%

Life Style ----------------------- 50-53

CONGRATULATING SPACE SCIENTISTS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi (extreme right) addressing the scientists at the Mission Control Centre after the successful launch of PSLV - C 23, at Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh on June 30. Picture on left shows India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C23) carrying five foreign satellites from France, Germany, Canada and Singapore, lifting off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota. (Details on page 6)

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Philosophy ------------------------- 49 Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 26-27 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-15 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

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July 4, 2014

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

Publisher’s Diary

L

et me start off by wishing you all a very happy Fourth of July. As many of you may be planning to attend one fireworks display or the other, or participate in one of the many Indian community conventions, or simply relax at home catching up on the World Cup football matches, I just want to bring your attention to a grassroots campaign that is picking up to get a Congressional invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address a Joint Session of Congress when he visits the United States this fall.

Spearheading the campaign is the US India Political Action Committee that is working the campaign state by state, to garner support from Congressmen. It should not be such a tall order considering the precedence where former Indian Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi, Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh were accorded the honor. But, as we all know there could be that slight hesitation in the minds of the US Congressmen what with the nearly decade-long anti-Modi campaign that many among our own community had carried on in this country.

For those of you who follow Indo-American ties closely, I need not impress upon them the importance of such an opportunity. Even for those not so politically inclined the significance of a Modi visit to the US would not be lost considering the whole embarrassing past over the issuance of a US visa to Modi prior to his becoming the Prime Minister.

It may have been gracious on part of PM Modi to have accepted President Obama's invitation, and pragmatic on part of the US to move quickly enough in reaching out to Modi, but the truth is the undeniable need the two countries have to be doing business with each other.

So, I urge you all to take a few minutes out this day to send out a letter, fax, email, or whichever form of communication you prefer to make contact with your local Congressman, so your message reaches Speaker Boehner. Do it, guys, it's good for the US, good for India and most of all good for us Indian Americans.

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: No denying Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif during shooting in South Africa stayed in a honeymoon cottage of a hotel.

Cover Story: India, China security China made a strong pitch for a "new architecture" of Asia-Pacific security cooperation along with India

Community: Festival of India FIA has announced celebration of 22nd Festival of India and Parade on August 16 and August 17 in Fremont, CA

GOP inactivity The 2014 electoral map makes it unlikely Republicans will pay an immediate price for the death of an immigration bill

Life style: Dhoom 3 in China Yash Raj Films is set to create history by releasing its film Dhoom 3 across 2,000 screens in more than 400 Chinese cities

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Rising prices With prices of essential commodities rising, Modi has asked States to remove hitches in supply chain

Panchgani Panchgani is a vibrant scenic destination and its beauty multiplies with the backdrop of hilly terrains

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Xi for new security plan with India BEIJING: China made a strong pitch for a "new architecture" of Asia-Pacific security cooperation along with India, Myanmar and others as it targeted the US on the Iraq imbroglio, saying any attempt to oust the legitimate regime of a

Though Xi made no direct mention of the US or Iraq, his remarks came close on the heels of Chinese leaders citing Iraq as the living example of how the new interventionist policies by the West in name of curbing terrorism has

Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari meeting the President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, in Beijing, China on June 30

country through illegal means should be opposed.

Quoting Rabindranath Tagore at the 60th anniversary of Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful coexistence, in the presence of Vice President Hamid Ansari and Myanmar President Thein Sein, Chinese President Xi Jinping said it is "unacceptable to have security just for one country or some countries while leaving the rest insecure."

sowed chaos.

"We should work for a new architecture of Asia-Pacific security cooperation that is open, transparent and equality- based, and bring all countries together in a common endeavor to maintain peace and security in both our region and the world," Xi said, adding that China will never seek hegemony no matter how strong it becomes.

Ansari, who was on a five-day visit to China, said India, China

and Myanmar are bound by ageold linkages and geography.

New paradigm "We need a new paradigm for global action. Our destinies are intertwined. Our quest is, should be, for a framework in which opportunities and challenges for the betterment of our societies co-exist," he said addressing a commemorative meeting of the 60th anniversary of the Panchsheel.

"In this endeavor, Panchsheel can act as a catalyst to help us better coordinate our efforts, enhance mutual understanding, share developmental experiences and tackle trans-national threats more effectively," he said.

Ansari said India and China have to narrow down differences and build on convergences by exploiting the potential of Panchsheel, propounded by the two countries along with Myanmar in 1954.

"On the way forward, we have to build on our convergences and narrow down our differences.

Panchsheel can help us exploit this potential for cooperation and come up with fresh, innovative initiatives to improve the lives of our people," Ansari said.

Myanmar President Sein said the countries have to work hand in hand and tell the world to recognize these principles.

In his address, Ansari said besides being ancient civilizations and neighbors, India and China are also strategic partners.

"The imperatives of the 21st century propel us towards a bet-

ter understanding of each other's objectives and more purposeful cooperation for mutual benefit.

Greater interaction between the people of our two countries, in all fields, is a necessary condition for stronger overall bilateral relations," he said.

Panchsheel provides the framework within which a just and equitable global order can be achieved to the satisfaction and benefit of all, he said.

Panchsheel was enunciated by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru along with his then Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai. Myanmar subsequently endorsed it.

In a hard hitting speech at the

war spring will fade away before your eyes."

On Panchsheel, Xi said it has great significance and should be carried forward.

Lacing his speech with the slogans of Panchsheel Zindabad and Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai, the slogans with which the then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai was greeted when he visited India in 1954, Xi said the five principles formed major initiative in the history of international relations.

Xi called on countries to step up cooperation at the global and regional level and jointly counter non-traditional security threats which are on the increase, fight

"We should work for a new architecture of Asia-Pacific security cooperation that is open, transparent and equality- based, and bring all countries together in a common endeavor to maintain peace and security in both our region and the world," Xi said function organized at the Great Hall of People, Xi said sovereignty is the most important feature of any independent state as well as the embodiment and safeguard of its national interests.

He said that countries should respect each other's core interests and key concerns.

At the function also attended by 700 select diplomats and officials, Xi said: "these are fundamental rules which should not be cast aside or undermined at any time."

Quoting Rabindranath Tagore poem, Xi said, "If you think that friendship can be won through

against terrorism of all forms and remove the breeding ground of terrorism.

Disputes and differences between countries should be resolved through dialogue, consultation and peaceful means, Xi said, adding that countries should increase mutual trust, and settle disputes and promote security through dialogue.

"Willful threat or use of force should be rejected," said Xi. "Flexing military muscles only reveals the lack of moral ground or vision rather than reflecting one's strength." -PTI

Ansari holds talks with Xi; India, China sign 3 MoUs BEIJING: Vice President Hamid Ansari held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and conveyed the new Indian government's interest in furthering bilateral ties, even as he flagged off India's concerns over border related issues during his parleys with the top leadership here.

Ansari's talks with Xi were significant as the Chinese President is due to hold his first meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Brazil in the coming weeks.

Arrangements were on in full swing for Xi's visit to New Delhi later this year that will highlight his interest in developing close ties with India.

Cont’d on page 8

Vice President Mohd Hamid Ansari addressing on the theme “Calibrated Futurology: India, China and the World�, at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, in Beijing, China on June 30

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Develop SAARC satellite, Modi tells scientists SRIHARIKOTA, Andhra Pradesh: In yet another milestone in space technology, India on Monday June 30 launched five foreign satellites on board an indigenous rocket, prompting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ask Indian scientists to develop a SAARC satellite which can be dedicated as a 'gift' to the neighbors.

After a perfect lift off from the First Launch Pad in Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at 9.52 AM which was witnessed by Modi, Indian Space Research Organization's workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle PSLV-C23 placed all five satellites into their intended orbits, one after the other between 17 and 19 minutes of the launch, in textbook precision.

Besides its primary payload of 714 kg French Earth Observation Satellite SPOT-7, the rocket carried and placed in orbit 14 kg AISAT of Germany, NLS7.1 (CANX4) and NLS7.2 (CAN-X5) of Canada, each weighing 15 kg, and the 7 kg VELOX-1 of Singapore.

Modi, who witnessed the launch from ISRO's Mission Control Room here, made a pitch for satellite diplomacy asking scientists to develop a SAARC satellite that could be of use to India's neighbors.

In his first official visit to this spaceport, the Prime Minister said, "Today I ask you, the space community, to take up the challenge of developing a SAARC satellite that we can dedicate to our neighborhood as a gift from India.

"Such a satellite will be helpful in SAARC nations' fight against poverty and illiteracy, the challenge to progress in scientific field, and will open up avenues to provide opportunities to the youth

telemedicine to Afghanistan and African countries. But we must do more. 'Yeh dil maange more' (the heart desires for more)," Modi said repeating a famous tagline.

The Prime Minister said the successful launch of the foreign satellites was a "global endorse-

infrastructure and upgrade to launching heavier satellites.

From the days of some rocket components transported in bicycles and India's first satellite Aryabhatta, the space program has come a long way, in the process becoming a cost-effective

Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting the scientists after the successful launch of PSLV C23, at the Mission Control Centre, at Sriharikota, in Andhra Pradesh on June 30. The ISRO Chairman, Dr. K Radhakrishnan is also seen

ment" of India's space capabilities developed by "our brilliant scientists".

Besides Modi, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan and Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu also witnessed the launch from the Sriharikota spaceport, about 100 kilometers from Chennai.

The Prime Minister had earlier arrived in Chennai en route to Sriharikota to witness the event.

French satellite SPOT 7, identical to SPOT-6, which ISRO had

A tech-savvy leader, the Prime Minister made a strong pitch for the use of space technology in daily life, making it clear that it was not confined to the elite and the laboratory achievements could be replicated into daily life applications of SAARC countries," he said.

The five satellites were launched under commercial arrangements that ANTRIX (ISRO's commercial arm) entered into with the respective foreign agencies.

India's age-old ethos of 'vasudhaiva kutumbakam' (the world is a family) spurred the need for a SAARC satellite, Modi said, adding the fruits of technological advancement must be shared with those who do not enjoy them.

"We provide benefits of

NLS 7.1 and NLS 7.2 are from the University of Toronto, Institute of Aerospace Studies/ Space Flight Laboratory in Canada. Both payloads would perform twospacecraft precision formation flying using differential GPS with centimeter-level relative position

launched in 2012, would be placed diametrically opposite to SPOT-6, forming part of the existing Earth observation satellite. European space technology company Airbus Defense and Space has built SPOT-7.

Germany's AISAT satellite would focus on the global sea-traffic monitoring system with special emphasis on high traffic zones using AIS signals. It is also Germany's first DLR satellite in the nano-satellite class.

and sub-meter level accurate position control system.

Satellite VELOX-1 from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore is a technology demonstrator for in-house design of image sensor, MEMS-based attitude determination and control system and inter-satellite RF link.

ISRO has so far launched 35 satellites from 19 countries around the globe - Algeria, Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Singapore, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey and the United Kingdom, bringing a huge sum to the country as foreign exchange.

The space program and its scientists came in for generous praise from the Prime Minister who said that this success "fills every Indian's heart with pride".

"India's advanced space program puts her in an elite global group of 5-6 countries today. This is one domain in which we are at international cutting edge, pushing beyond mediocrity to achieve excellence," Modi said and noted that the space program had made rapid strides despite resource constrains and "international hurdles".

Stating that India had the potential to be a "large service provider" in this area, Modi said efforts must be put in to achieve this which include constructing new

one, he said.

"The success has a deep historical root. Human journey started from Upanishads (Vedic texts) to upagrah (satellites)....Our ancestors conceived ideas like shunya (zero) and flying objects," he said, adding but for the idea of zero there could be no scientific progress.

Modi lauded the space community, saluting among others its founding fathers Vikram Sarabhai

and Satish Dhawan, besides ISRO for the 'perfect' placement of the satellites in intended orbit.

"Our space scientists have made us global leaders in one of the most complex areas on modern technology. This shows that we can be the best and we must feel proud of it. If we apply ourselves, we can meet the aspirations of our people," the Prime Minister said.

Modi, who stayed overnight at ISRO, said he was happy to come across four generations of scientists, including those from the days of Aryabhatta satellite and said it gave a 'family-like' environment at the spaceport.

A tech-savvy leader, the Prime Minister made a strong pitch for the use of space technology in daily life, making it clear that it was not confined to the elite and the laboratory achievements could be replicated into daily life applications.

This would transform the lives of crores of people and assured the scientists that their work will benefit the common man, he said.

He in particular cited the GIS-enabled watershed program and asked the scientists to come up with space applications for land-records and other governance issues.

"Satellite technology has made distance irrelevant. It effectively enables us to reach the unreached, helps us connect virtually where physical connection is difficult," he said.

Modi also stressed on the need for strengthening of international partnership in space technology while batting for linking more Indian universities and colleges through satellite technology. -PTI

India's Mars mission cost less than Hollywood film SRIHARIKOTA, Andhra Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the cost-effective nature of Indian space program, saying the country's Mars mission had reportedly cost less than the big budget Hollywood science fiction "Gravity".

In his address after witnessing the successful launch of the PSLV C23 rocket that injected five foreign satellites into intended orbit from here, he also traced the humble beginnings of the country's space history while pointing out the rapid strides it has made today.

He said he had seen photos of rocket cones being transported on bicycles, saying he

was surprised at such sights.

"All the credit to goes to you scientists. Even today our program stands out as most cost effective. There is this story of our Mars mission costing less than Hollywood movie Gravity.

I have heard that Mars mission's expense is lesser than Gravity.

Our scientists have shown the world a new paradigm of engineering and the power of imagination," he said.

Mangalyaan, India's interplanetary project was launched in November 2013 at an estimated cost of USD 72 million while the superhit English movie starring Sandra Bullock and George Clooney was reportedly made at an estimated USD 100 mn. -PTI

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US names mountain after Akhouri Sinha WASHINGTON: In a rare honor, the US has named a mountain in Antarctica after eminent Indian-American scientist Akhouri Sinha whose pioneering biological research expedition has provided vital data about animal populations.

Sinha, adjunct professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development at the University of Minnesota, was recognized by the US Geological Survey, which named the mountain Mt Sinha for the work he did as an explorer.

Sinha was a member of a team that catalogued population studies of seals, whales and birds in the pack ice of the Bellingshausen and Amundsen Seas using US Coast Guard Cutters Southwind and Glaciers in 1972 and 1974.

The mountain was named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) and the US Geological Survey.

Mt Sinha, a mountain (990 m) at the southeast extremity of Erickson Bluffs in the south part of McDonald Heights, overlooks

lower Kirkpatrick Glacier from the north in Marie Byrd Land.

"Anyone can see the Mt Sinha, Antarctica on Google.com or Bing.com," Sinha told PTI in an interview.

Recollecting his research experience in Antarctica, Sinha said during the fourmonth research session, he and his teammates surveyed animal populations from a Coast Guard ship "Show to the world that you are capable, don't be afraid to contact people out in the field today, and grab every opportunity," he said.

Sinha said he was invited to conduct research on reproduction of Antarctic seals by the National Science Foundation Antarctic Program.

"I went to Antarctica on two expeditions lasting for about 22 weeks on the US Coast Guard cutters, Southwind and Glacier, during 1972 and 1974, respectively," said Sinha, who has published over 100 papers and has been teaching graduate level courses for almost 25 years.

Recollecting his research experience in Antarctica, Sinha said during the four-month research session, he and his teammates surveyed animal populations from a Coast Guard ship.

"We were often dropped via helicopter atop vast sheets of pack ice to observe and capture resident fauna," he said, adding that once he was even attacked by predatory Skua birds near Palmer Station. "No guts, no glory."

Sinha rues that the ice he once traversed has begun to disappear at an alarming rate.

Records of population sizes, types and behaviors created by Sinha and his teammates have established critical baseline data that remain relevant in today's climate change debates. -PTI

Amnesty demands Dow appear in Bhopal court WASHINGTON: Amnesty International has called on the Dow Chemical Company (Dow) to appear before a Bhopal court to explain why its subsidiary Union Carbide Company repeatedly ignored summons in the 1984 gas leak case.

The industrial accident, the worst in Indian history, led to the leak of poisonous methyl isocyanate, claiming thousands of lives in the Madhya Pradesh capital.

Hundreds of thousands of others had suffered chronic health problems.

The toxic leak has led to environmental contamination at the former plant site, claim activists.

"Dow should not hide from the summons. Why is Dow afraid to face the courts in Bhopal?" asked T Kumar, International Advocacy Director at Amnesty International

USA and an expert on global human rights.

"We are closer than ever to realizing justice. It's critical that we keep public pressure on Dow to attend the July 4 court hearing to ensure meaningful corporate accountability for the victims of the Bhopal disaster and their fami-

lies," Kumar said.

As part of its ongoing efforts to ensure justice for survivors of the toxic gas disaster in Bhopal, Amnesty International organized a rally outside Dow's Washington offices to pressure the company to comply with the summons. -PTI

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France presses new govt on Rs 60,000 cr Rafale deal NEW DELHI: French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, the first top-level dignitary from France to meet the new Indian government, here pushed for early purchase of the multi-billion dollar Rafale combat aircraft during his meetings with Defense Minister Arun Jaitley and his Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.

Batting for the fighter aircraft, Fabius said France hopes that with the new government, which was keen on efficiency, the implementation of the decision will be swift and expressed confidence of a "positive outcome" to the ongoing negotiations in the deal.

Fabius on July 1 called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in key areas such as defense, trade and investment with India expressing keenness on setting up industrial bases for it to boost ties.

The visiting minister also extended his President Francois Hollande's invitation to Modi to

visit France.

Terming his meeting with Modi as "warm", Fabius said he had "positive" talks with the Prime

billion Rafale deal with Modi, the minister did not give a direct answer but said it was acknowledged that defense was a very

Indian government to discuss the details which have not yet been discussed and hopefully reach a conclusion.... For us the early the

two countries are keen on strengthening economic ties and technology sharing and during the meeting the Prime Minister

Foreign Minister of France Laurent Fabius meeting the Union Minister for Finance, Corporate Affairs and Defense Arun Jaitley, in New Delhi on June 30

Minister on issues of urban planning, tourism and low-cost defense manufacturing.

Asked if he raised the multi-

important area of cooperation in the bilateral relationship.

"The next step is for the French firm Dassault and for the

better...," the minister told a select group of news agency journalists.

The visiting minister said the

was interested in setting up "industrial bases" in the country.

Cont’d on page 9

Ansari holds talks with Xi; India, China sign 3 MoUs Cont’d from page 5

Ansari, who came to take part in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Panchsheel, the five principles of peaceful coexistence, held talks with Xi, Premier Li Keqiang and Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao.

During the talks with the top leadership here, Ansari, the senior most Indian leader to visit China since the NDA government took office, highlighted Prime Minister Modi-led government's interest in furthering ties with Beijing.

During his talks with Li Keqiang two days ago, he had raised India's concerns over China continuing to show Arunachal Pradesh in its maps and Beijing's plans to build rail links with Pakistan through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

On the issue of continued incursions by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), both sides agreed that peace and tranquility should be maintained.

Industrial parks Coinciding with his five-day visit, India and China signed three key MoUs, including one on industrial parks and flood data of Brahmaputra River.

The agreements were signed in the presence of Ansari and Li Yuanchao after they held bilat-

eral talks.

The MoU on industrial parks is aimed at attracting Chinese investments in India and provides an enabling framework for Chinese companies to invest in industrial parks and zones.

Under the MoU, the two countries have agreed to cooperate to increase mutual investment in each other's economies.

Flood data sharing The MoU on flood data sharing will provide India with 15 days more of hydrological data of river

He had raised India's concerns over China continuing to show Arunachal Pradesh in its maps and Beijing's plans to build rail links with Pakistan through Pakistanoccupied Kashmir Brahmaputra. The data helps India in flood forecasting.

India provides money for maintenance of three hydrological centers on the Chinese side. The data will be provided from May 15 to October 15 each year.

The third MoU will help the two countries establish a frame-

work for regular interactions between administrative officials to share experiences and learn from each other's best practices. Specific programs of cooperation will be worked out subsequently.

During his talks with Ansari, the Chinese Vice President spoke highly of the development momentum of China-India relations since the new Indian government took office.

China is ready to work with India to push forward the bilateral strategic partnership, Li was quoted as saying by the staterun Xinhua news agency.

Both countries are striving for national rejuvenation and facing great tasks of developing the economy and improving people's livelihoods, Li said.

He called on both sides to build a closer partnership for peaceful, cooperative and inclusive development.

Enough space Later, Ansari while delivering a speech at the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Sciences here said there is enough space in the world for the rise of India and China.

On the global stage, the two countries, that account for about 37 per cent of the world's population, are at the forefront of the emergence of a "more democratic global order" to resolve global issues in an equitable manner, he

said in his speech on 'Calibrated Futurology: India, China and the World'.

"There is enough space in the world for the development of India and China, and the world needs the common development of both countries. As two large developing countries, our common interests far outweigh our differences," Ansari said.

He said India admires China's achievements in terms of development and hopes to see the country become a developed country soon.

On her first visit to China, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman flagged India's concerns over the trade deficit which averaged over USD 35 billion He noted that it is very rare in history that two large neighbors have become rising powers at the same time.

"Our destinies are linked by geography and history. We welcome China's peaceful development and regard it as a mutually reinforcing process," Ansari said.

He said the relations between the two neighbors have transcended the bilateral scope and acquired regional, global and strategic significance.

"We both view each other as partners for mutual benefit and not as rivals or competitors. It has been customary to focus on bilateral issues although both our nations face similar global challenges today.

The inter-dependence for dealing with these issues will only grow," Ansari said.

Trade deficit The Commerce Ministers of India and China held their first meeting here after the new NDA government came to power.

On her first visit to China, Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held talks with her Chinese counterpart Gao Hucheng during which she flagged India's concerns over the trade deficit which averaged over USD 35 billion a year and sought greater access to Indian goods and services.

India and China also released the first encyclopedia on their age-old cultural contacts, tracing back their history to over 2,000 years, starting from the visit of Chinese scholar Huen Tsang to India in the 7th century to bring Buddhist scriptures to China. -PTI

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France, India sign agreements for student exchange

France hails Modi's solar energy plan

NEW DELHI: France has Apart from it, an agreement for sign agreements between the edusigned agreements with 11 Indian a dual bachelor's degree was also cational institutes of the two couneducational institutions from the signed between Pondicherry Uni- tries. field of science and technology, versity and Paris-I Pantheon He added that the cooperation law and management to facilitate Sorbonne in business administra- between the two countries in the exchange of students and faculty tion. field of education has increased members.

"Until now more than 500 agree- over the years.

The Ecolde de Formation des Barreaux institute signed agreements with Delhi's National Law School, West Bengal University of Juridical Science, Kolkata and National Law School of Indian University, Bangalore to facilitate exchange of students and faculty members.

Similar agreements were also signed between Jadavpur University in Kolkata and French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on July 1 Jamia Millia University in Delhi with Universite Joseph Fourier de ments have been signed between "Fifteen years ago, France had Grenoble and Ecole normale Indian and French institutes and only 80 Indian students, but the superieure of Paris institutes re- it is not restricted to cities like figure has increased to 3000 now. spectively.

Delhi and Mumbai alone," French Students have played a major role Letters of intent were also Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in strengthening the relationship signed between IIT-Delhi and said on the sidelines of a function between the two countries," Bombay and the Thales institute. at the French embassy here to Fabius said. -PTI

NEW DELHI: France has hailed "Saffron color represents enPrime Minister Narendra Modi's ergy and we need a saffron revo"bold plan" for a "saffron revo- lution that focuses on renewable lution" aimed at making India a energy sources such as solar ensolar energy hub and offered its ergy to meet India's growing encooperation in the renewable en- ergy demand," Modi had said at ergy sector. a function last month.

"France warmly welcomes Fabius praised Modi's commitPrime Minister Modi's announce- ment to cleaning the Ganga and ment of what he calls a saffron other rivers and offered France's revolution to provide solar power cooperation in the endeavor to 400 million Indians," French through the Indo-French water Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius network which was established said here. last year.

Fabius, who is in India on a The French Foreign Minister four-day visit, said "this bold identified at least five areas of plan" embodies the solutions that France is Fabius praised Modi's promoting in the run up to the crucial UN commitment to cleaning the Climate Conference at Ganga and other rivers and the end of next year in offered France's cooperaParis.

"France welcomes tion in the endeavor through the new government's the Indo-French water netcommitment to putting sustainability at the work which was core of its planning established last year process to bring down pollution and meet the chal- "possible complete cooperation" lenges posed by climate destruc- between India and his country in tion," said the French Foreign the green sector spanning carMinister, adding that his visit to bon-free energy with a stress on India was to "deepen our dia- new technology, civilian nuclear logue regarding the climate energy, water and urban develchange" debate. opment.

After taking over as Prime France is ready to share the Minister, Modi had stressed on know-how to make existing or the need to promote renewable upcoming cities cleaner and more energy in the country. energy efficient, Fabius said.

Obama urged to nudge India on solar panel issue

France presses new govt on Rs 60,000 cr Rafale deal

WASHINGTON: Two influential American senators have sought Obama Administration's intervention over the recent Indian decision to impose anti-dumping duty on US solar panels.

Senators Sherrod Brown of the Democratic Party and Rob Portman of the Republican Party in a letter called on US Trade Representative Mike Froman to drag India to the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the Indian government chooses not to cooperate and reverse its decision.

The two senators said the Indian decision to impose antidumping (AD) duty ranging from USD0.11/watt to USD0.48/watt against US solar cell and panel products would put Ohio companies like Toledo-based First Solar at a competitive disadvantage.

This would increase the price of US exports to levels

uncompetitive in the growing but fragile Indian energy market, they said.

"We write to express serious concern about recent action taken by the Indian Government that will have harmful consequences for US solar photovoltaic (PV) manu-

not...Ohio's solar manufacturers and their supply chain partners are globally competitive and leaders in solar innovation, and it is critical that they get equal access to the Indian market," they said.

The two senators said: "We are concerned about reports that the

The two senators said: "We are concerned about reports that the Indian government's anti-dumping investigation disregarded data provided by US manufacturers, selectively relied on information to bolster the Indian industry facturing facilities and effectively close the Indian solar market to American PV companies," the senators wrote.

"We urge you to engage the Indian Government to reverse this action and to challenge their actions at the WTO if they do

Indian government's anti-dumping investigation disregarded data provided by US manufacturers, selectively relied on information to bolster the Indian industry, and otherwise conducted the investigation in a manner that violates WTO rules," -PTI

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Fabius said the biggest takeaway for him from this visit was the certainty that the new government was committed to further strengthen and expand the bilateral relationship.

Among other issues, they discussed climate change, anti- terrorism and people-to-people exchanges. Fabius said, "We discussed climate change and have been positively impressed by the approach of Prime Minister Modi and his ministers. And we have decided to prepare for the Paris conference together and it is important because India is a major player in that conference...."

Urban planning Welcoming the Minister, Modi remarked that he had an opportunity to witness the launch of the French satellite, SPOT-7, which

was placed in orbit by the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle from Sriharikota, an official release said.

Recalling the strategic and friendly ties between the two countries, the Prime Minister sought French cooperation in the field of urban planning and heritage conservation.

Observing that France had provided technical support for the Ahmedabad Heritage Project, Modi said India plans to build heritage cities and 100 new smart cities. And in this regard he noted France's expertise in the area.

Fabius expressed his country's keenness to expand the cooperation and the relationship, following the assumption of office by the new government here.

The meeting was attended by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh among others.-PTI

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Pattnaik wins at World Cup of sand sculpting WASHINGTON: Famed sand sculptor Sudarshan Pattnaik and his American teammate Mathew Roy Dieberthas have been declared winners in the double category at the just concluded World Cup of Sand Sculpting 2014.

Pattnaik and Dieberthas were declared winner in the doubles category for their sand sculpture of "Taj Mahal - Picture of Love" at the first-ever World Cup of sand sculpting held in the Atlantic City.

The duo worked in the double's category creating a sand sculpture of "Taj Mahal with Shah Jahan & Mumtaj."

Twenty World renowned sand artists participated in this World Cup.

Pattnaik, 37, also won a prize in solo category which was People's choice prize for creating sand sculpture of Save tree, Save Future. He said: "I am very delighted to win another honor in double's category with my partner Mathews."

The top prize of USD 7,000 was won by Canadian sculptors.

This year Sudarsan was awarded Padmashri for sand art. He has participated in more than 50 International championships and festivals around the World any won many prizes for India.

He is also known for creating sand sculptures on current issues and social awareness. -PTI

Sudarsan Pattnaik Won People’s Choice prize in solo category at World Cup of Sand Sculpting 2014 in Atlantic City, USA for My sand sculpture of “Save Tree, Save the Future”

Bharara demands 8 year jail for Indian American NEW YORK: An Indian-origin portfolio manager, convicted for his role as the "central figure" in one of the most lucrative insider trading schemes in US history, should be sentenced to more than eight years in prison, Manhattan's top federal prosecutor Preet Bharara has said.

Mathew Martoma, 39, was convicted in February of one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud and two counts of securities fraud.

A former portfolio manager of CR Intrinsic Investors, a division of hedge fund giant SAC Capital, Martoma will be sentenced on July 28 and faces a maximum of 20 years in prison.

Ahead of the sentencing, India-born Bharara asked the federal court here to sentence Martoma to more than eight years in prison for collecting confidential information about a high-profile drug trial and making profits and avoiding losses of USD 275 million for SAC Capital.

Martoma, a father of three, even earned a USD 9.3 million bonus for himself due to his various trades for SAC. "Martoma was the central figure in the most lucrative insider trading scheme ever charged. Over a period of approximately 18 months, the defendant cultivated and corrupted two doctors legally bound to guard confidential information concerning a highprofile drug trial, ultimately obtaining an advance preview of the highly anticipated public announcement of the results," Bharara said in the government's sentencing memorandum submitted in court.

Bharara alleged that Martoma's entire success in his four years at SAC Capital was based on illegal insider trading.

Days after beginning his employment at SAC Capital, Martoma began searching for doctors who would be willing to provide him access to confidential information about an Alzheimer's disease drug trial conducted by Elan Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth Corporation.

Bharara said Martoma caused approximately USD 750 million worth of Elan and Wyeth securities to be traded based on the illegal inside information, netting profits and avoiding losses of USD 275 million for SAC Capital.-PTI

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President receives copy of Encyclopedia of Hinduism India Post News Service

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee received a copy of the Encyclopedia of Hinduism on June 23 at a function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Auditorium.

Speaking on the occasion, the President complimented Swami Chidanand Saraswati of Parmarth Niketan - founder chairman of India Heritage Research Foundation - for undertaking the massive effort of bringing out the Encyclopedia of Hinduism.

The President said that Hindu religious philosophy identifies Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksh, as the foremost objectives of a human being.

Striking a balance in human behavior in working towards these objectives has been prescribed as a key aim of human existence.

Quoting Dr Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, he said that Hinduism is not just a faith. It is the union of reason and intuition that cannot be defined but is only to be experienced.

President Pranab Mukherjee receiving a copy of the International Edition of Encyclopedia of Hinduism from the Union Minister for Communications & Information Technology and Law & Justice Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Founder of India Heritage Research Foundation, Swami Chidanand Saraswati, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on June 23

The President stated that the basic tenet of Hinduism is happi-

Amjad Ali Khan gets back missing sarod NEW DELHI: Ustad Amjad Ali Khan's sarod, which he has been strumming for the last 45 years, was restored to the iconic musician by British Airways after it went missing on a flight while he was returning to Delhi from London.

The 68-year-old Padma Vibhushan sarod maestro took to Twitter to announce that the instrument was delivered to him by British Airways (BA), calling it an "epic reunion".

"Epic Reunion!!! BA delivers my Sarod. Thank you all for your prayers and love, especially the media for their...," Khan tweeted.

Khan had gone to London along with his wife Subhalaxmi for a performance at Dartington College to celebrate the life of Rabindranth Tagore on June 21 and returned on the night of June 28.

He and his wife were traveling first class on BA flight (BA-143) on their return journey from London.

"But when we arrived at Delhi airport on June 28, I could not find my priceless sarod. We waited there for 4-5 hours while airline people tried to trace the instrument. But they were not able to trace it, and they said most likely

it would come by the next flight," Khan told PTI. "But now its more than 48 hours and still I am waiting for some news. How can such a big airline be so irresponsible," Khan said.

Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Khan later posted on his Facebook page, "After damaging my Sarod in 1997, British Airways now misplaces my Sarod. 48 hours and I still wait anxiously for some news. Still not traced!!!

When contacted, British Airways said, "There have been intermittent problems with Heathrow Airport's baggage system in Terminal 5. We are working roundthe-clock to make sure we reunite all of our customers with their baggage as quickly as possible".-PTI

ness, health and enlightenment for everyone and suffering, pain

Poor quality of education harming S. Asia NEW DELHI: Poor quality of education is hampering economic development of South Asian Nations including India, a World Bank report said.

"Poor quality of education in South Asia, as reflected in low learning levels, traps many of its young people in poverty and prevents faster economic growth and more broadly shared prosperity," the report said.

The report presented a disappointing picture of student-learning in South Asian countries including India, saying much of what is taught is "procedural" or rote-based. The study was the first comprehensive analysis on performance of South Asian educational systems.

The report, however, noted that, governments across the region have come to realize that apart from providing education access to all, improving quality of education and learning outcome is critical for the growth of a nation.

Strongly recommending improving quality of teachers, the report cited surveys conducted in India and Pakistan, showing that teachers perform poorly in Math and language tests based on the curriculum they are supposed to teach.

"Higher and clear standards must be enforced, absenteeism curbed and non-merit-based promotions halted," it suggested.-PTI

and agony for none. He quoted Mahatma Gandhi and said "If I

were asked to define the Hindu creed, I should simply say: Search after truth through non-violent means. A man may not believe in God and still call himself a Hindu.

Hinduism is a relentless pursuit after truth‌ Hinduism is the religion of truth. Truth is God. Denial of God we have known. Denial of truth we have not known."

Among the dignitaries present on the occasion were L.K. Advani, Member of Parliament, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister, Uma Bharti, Union Minister, Dr. Karan Singh, Chairman, Auroville Foundation, Swami Chidanand Saraswati and Dr R.K. Pachauri, Director General, TERI. Among the religious leaders present on the occasion were Dr. Acharya Lokesh Muni, Father Anil Jose Tomas Couto, Archbishop of Delhi, Maulana Dr. Kable Sadiq Sahib, Vice President of Muslim Personal Law Board, Giani Gurubachan Singh, Chief Jathedar Akal Takht, Golden Temple and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati.

India liberalizes visa policy for Afghans NEW DELHI: In a relief to hundreds of visiting Afghans, India has announced a new liberal visa policy for the citizens of the warravaged country that include allowing stay up to two years and exemption from police reporting for senior citizens and children.

The new visa policy for Afghanistan nationals is being introduced on humanitarian grounds for two years, a Home Ministry spokesperson said.

As per the policy, Afghanistan nationals will be allowed to stay in India on stay visa/resident permit up to two years at a time. Exemption from police reporting will be granted for Afghans below 12 years or above 65 years.

There would be liberal provi-

sions in relation to exemption from the requirement of police reporting under various categories, including for Afghan students, medical patients, short-term visitors, businessmen, scholars, eminent persons, etc.

The amenities at Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO), Delhi, have also been upgraded for the Afghanistan nationals visiting there. "A system of biometric enrolment and photography would be introduced to ensure that such facilities are not misused by unscrupulous elements," the spokesperson said.

The new policy further streamlines procedures being implemented in the current visa policy for citizens of Afghanistan. -PTI

West Bengal Governor Narayanan resigns NEW DELHI: West Bengal Governor M K Narayanan has resigned, becoming the fourth person occupying the gubernatorial post to put in his papers since the NDA government prodded some of the Governors appointed during UPA rule to quit.

Home Ministry sources said the Governor has tendered his resignation.

80-year-old Narayanan was recently questioned by the CBI as a "witness" in the AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter deal probe.

The resignation came weeks after Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami had telephoned some of the Governors, appointed by the previous UPA regime, to step down after the Narendra Modi government assumed charge.-PTI

Tech News Philips to separate its LED parts arm AMSTERDAM: Royal Philips NV says it will separate its LED lighting components unit into a stand-alone company within Philips by 2015, preparing it for a potential spin off or sale. The subsidiary had sales of 1.4 billion euros ($1.91 billion) in 2013.

Philips, which is the world's largest maker of lights, said in a statement the new unit will include its profitable automotive lighting unit, which is a major supplier to carmakers around the globe.

Philips says it will explore ``strategic options'' to raise capital for the business, including from outside investors. Philips said it will remain a customer and shareholder of the new company. -AP

Solar-powered benches coming to Boston parks BOSTON: Boston parks are going high-tech with solar-powered benches that will allow visitors to sit down and relax while charging their cell phones at the same time. ``Soofa'' benches will be installed in green spaces in Boston, including Titus Sparrow Park in the South End, the Boston Common and the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

The benches are provided in a partnership between Boston Mayor Martin Walsh's office of New Urban Mechanics with the MIT Media Lab spin-off firm, Changing Environments.

The city is asking residents to recommend one additional park to install the Soofa. The benches can charge two phones at one time. -AP

Swedish firm acquires Enox locks & hardware MUMBAI: Swedish multinational Assa Abloy has said it has signed an agreement to acquire locks and hardware business under the Enox brand from Pooja Hardware.

"I am very pleased that the Enox brand is joining Assa Abloy Group," Assa Abloy executive vice-president and head of division Asia Pacific Magnus Kagevik said in a statement, without divulging the deal size.

The acquisition adds complimentary business channels and extensive product range to the existing business of Assa Abloy in the country, it added.-PTI

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Bollywood actress Kalki Koechlin with S K Kim (R), MD sales, Samsung India Electronics, and Asim Warsi, VP, Mobile & IT, Samsung India at the launch of Samsung Galaxy Tab S in New Delhi

Rising prices: PM steps in, states asked to take measures NEW DELHI: With prices of essential commodities rising, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stepped in and states were asked to take urgent measures to remove hitches in supply chain and ensure "uninterrupted" flow.

The Prime Minister took stock

prices of onion has been a matter of great concern with the government. Several steps have been taken recently to bring under control the rise in prices of this essential item," he wrote.

"The reported spurt in prices could considerably impact the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

of the situation on prices and directed Consumer Affairs Secretary Keshav Desiraju to write to Chief Secretaries of all states to take corrective steps, official sources said.

Soon after, Desiraju wrote to the states saying urgent measures at the state level are required to tackle the situation.

"Needless to say, the rise in

budget of ordinary public. So, urgent measures at the state level are required to tackle the situation," said his letter to Chief Secretaries.

The Center's step came as prices of essential commodities, particularly onion, increased. In the national capital, onions are retailing for Rs 25-30 a kg, while the wholesale price is about Rs 18 a

kg. increase is happening at the retail Desiraju underlined that actions level," he said. need to be taken to eliminate any To check hoarding, Desiraju hitch in the supply chain and to said three states - Chhattisgarh, ensure an uninterrupted supply of West Bengal and Delhi - have onion so that the scope for specu- sought the central government's lation is eliminated and the gen- permission to impose a stock coneral public is not subjected to any trol order on onion traders. hardship because of price rise.

"This issue is under examinaThe Union Consumer Affairs tion and very soon the order will Secretary noted that several of the be issued. However, there is nothstates have informed of the steps ing to prevent them from taking being taken to enforce the provisions of the Essential Commodities To check hoarding, Desiraju Act, 1955 and some states have sought cen- said three states tral concurrence on im- Chhattisgarh, West Bengal position of stock control and Delhi - have sought the orders on onions.

"The matter is receiv- central government's ing our urgent attenpermission to impose a tion," he wrote.

"I shall be grateful if stock control order on you could look into the matter on priority and onion traders intimate us the steps taken to ensure adequate availabil- action and seeking central governity of onions so that the prices are ment concurrence later. It is ackept under control," Desiraju told ceptable to us," he said. the Chief Secretaries.

According to sources, over The letter was shot off as the 35,000 raids have been conducted Centre noticed a huge gap be- against hoarders, mostly in Gujarat tween wholesale and retail prices. and Tamil Nadu, and 6,223 people "There is no reason for price have been arrested since January. rise because stocks are abundant.

Onion prices are on rise amid There should not be any problem the possibility of a below-normal in supply. The wholesale prices are monsoon even though supplies low," Desiraju said earlier. are sufficient in the wake of last "We are aware that onion price year's good crop. -PTI

French bank to pay $ 8.97 bln in penalties to US NEW YORK: France's largest bank BNP Paribas will pay a record USD 8.97 billion in penalties to settle charges that it "knowingly and willfully" processed transactions worth billions of dollars on behalf of Cuban, Sudanese and Iranian entities that had been blacklisted.

BNP Paribas (BNPP), the global financial institution headquartered in Paris, agreed to enter a guilty plea to conspiring to violate the International Emer-

gency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and the Trading with the Enemy Act (TWEA), the first time a global bank has agreed to plead guilty to large-scale, systematic violations of US economic sanctions.

The plea agreement, subject to approval by the court, provides that BNPP will pay total financial penalties of USD 8.97 billion, including forfeiture of USD 8.83 billion and a fine of USD 140 million.

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Govt to create conducive environment for industry NEW DELHI: With the aim of boosting development and job creation, the government has promised to create a conducive environment for the industry's

ment was the government's "prime priority" and it is committed to do so by developing labor intensive industries and imparting skill development training for the youth.

Minister for Labour & Employment, Narendra Singh Tomar launching the facility for online registration with Employees Provident Fund Organization in New Delhi on June 30

growth by removing bottlenecks while ensuring protection of labor interests.

Labor Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said generating employ-

"Our ministry wants to create an environment where the interest of both labor and industry are kept in synergy," he told reporters after meeting with employers'

associations here.

Favoring creation of a "conducive environment for industry, which would translate into better benefits for the worker", he said, "Labor welfare and industrial development cannot be pursued in isolation and only a comprehensive approach can lead us to the fulfillment of our goals."

He said his government was in favor of rapid industrialization and his ministry was working on issues where the bottleneck gets solved quickly.

Asked whether the ministry had identified any particular problems, Tomar said that many a times, certain problems like environment clearance for those setting up industry come up and the ministry had talked to the environment ministry regarding the issue.

"If anybody wants to put up an industry, getting environment and forest clearance for that...We have discussed this issue with the environment minister and I think, roads are opening up slowly," he told reporters. Tomar said that the responsibilities under his ministry will be completed quickly.

"We would be successful in fulfilling the responsibilities, undertaking modernization, if need, be in fulfilling those responsibilities, bring amendments to laws where it is necessary through tripartite dialogues," the Labor Minister said.-PTI

Swiss flag 'organized crime' link in India BERN/NEW DELHI: As Indian government steps up pressure on Switzerland to share information about alleged black money flow, a Swiss government agency has disclosed having come across suspicious money laundering activities related to cases of "organized crime" in India.

The disclosure has been made by the Money Laundering Reporting Office Switzerland (MROS), which is part of the Swiss Federal Office of Police. MROS functions as a relay and filtration point between financial intermediaries and the law enforcement agencies.

Under the Swiss Money Laundering Act, MROS receives and analyses Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) in connection with money laundering and, if necessary, forwards them to the law en-

forcement agencies.

As per MROS' latest update on developments in the fight against money laundering, organized crime

Criminal gangs from Italy were on the top, the MROS said, while adding that "further cases of organized crime involved occurrences in China, Brazil and India" and terrorist financing in Switzerland, as many as 1,411 SARs were received by this central agency during 2013, involving suspicious assets worth a record high amount

of nearly 3 billion Swiss francs (over Rs 20,000 crore).

While MROS did not disclose the specific number of India-related cases, it said the number of SARs involving 'organized crime' increased to 104 during 2013 - from 97 in the previous year.

In terms of the size of assets involved in these cases, criminal gangs from Italy were on the top, the MROS said, while adding that "further cases of organized crime involved occurrences in China, Brazil and India".

Switzerland's central money laundering prevention agency, however, did not divulge any specifics about the cases of organized crime in India. Detailed queries sent to MROS head Stiliano Ordolli remained unanswered in this regard. -PTI

Another top executive exits Infosys BANGALORE: In the first top- firm back on a high-growth trajeclevel exit at Infosys after Vishal tory at a time when peers like TCS Sikka was named as its CEO, K and HCL Tech were out-performMurali Krishna, Senior Vice Presi- ing Infosys. dent and Group Head of computKrishna joined Infosys in Deers and comcember 1984 munications and has held division, has multiple roles resigned. in project manInfosys in agement, cliresponse to a ent relationquery by PTI ship managesaid: "We can ment, and deconfirm that livery managehe has moved ment for the on to pursue US Midwest, his aspirahis profile on tions.

We the company's have identified website read. a leader to It said prior take on his reto taking on K Murali Krishna sponsibilithis role in ties," it added.

2007, Krishna This is the 13th senior level exit was Head of the Systems Integrafrom the country's second largest tion Practice, responsible for desoftware services company in the veloping and delivering end-topast one year since N R Narayana end broad-based technology soMurthy returned from retirement lutions in collaboration with allias Executive Chairman to put the ance partners worldwide. -PTI

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India Inc's biz confidence up post new govt NEW DELHI: The industry is upbeat on India's growth prospects after the new government led

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi took charge at the Centre, according to the Business Outlook Survey by CII. Indicating a sharp improvement in investors' sentiments amidst heightened expectations that the new government means business, most respondents exuded confidence about prospects related to economic growth, decline in price

rise and twin deficits - fiscal and CAD - recovery in exports, buoyant foreign capital inflows and strengthening of the rupee.

Consequently, the CII Business Confidence Index for the April-June quarter inched up to 53.7 from 49.9 in the previous quarter. The number 50 is the dividing line on the index between positive and weak

business confidence.

According to the survey, while growth is expected to pick up from 4.7 per cent in 2013-14 to between 5.5 and 6 per cent in FY15, wholesale price inflation is expected to moderate to between 5.5 and 6 per cent in the current fiscal.

"The expectation that a stable government at the Centre would bring growth back to India, along with a mild upturn in some economic indicators in form of recov-

ery in exports, decline in twin deficits, buoyant foreign capital inflows, strengthening rupee and moderating inflation has provided a big boost to business sentiments in the country".

"We expect the index to gather momentum in the coming days, riding on improved sentiments and business confidence," CII

Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said.

The survey is based on responses from over 150 industry members. Majority of the respondents (50 per cent) belong to large-scale sector, 13 per cent medium scale companies, 31 per cent small-scale and 7 per cent micro firms. Further, 54 per cent of the respondents were from the manufacturing sector while 45 per cent were from services.

The industry cited economic uncertainty, low GDP growth and high inflation as its top-most concerns, highlighting the need for stepping up efforts in the direction of improving business sentiments and removing supply bottlenecks.

"We are pleased to see that the new government is already working in this direction and it is only a matter of time when fundamentals of the economy will start falling in place," said Banerjee.

Reflecting uptick in demand, the survey found that most businesses, besides increasing new investment, have started experiencing a rise in capacity utilization, which augurs well for turnaround of the economy.

The expectation of higher economic growth during 2014-15 is rooted in optimism about the overall demand situation. As high as 56 per cent of the respondents expect their sales and new orders to increase in the first quarter of 2014-15, which is much higher than the previous quarter wherein only around 35 per cent respondents expected a rise in sales. -PTI

Snapdeal to showcase smartphone, sports cam NEW DELHI: Online marketplace Snapdeal has said it will showcase the first set of consumer-centric products, including a smartphone and a sports cam, created under its 'Launchpad' program.

In April, Snapdeal had unveiled 'Launchpad' offering a platform for innovators and inventors across the country.

"Innovation and technology is the DNA of Snapdeal.com.

The other existing sellers on the website are selling existing brands. We launched this platform to support creativity and innovation amongst new age entrepreneurs," Snapdeal Senior Vice President (Electronics & Home) Tony Navin said in a statement.

The Click Pro (sports cam) and Alpha Feather (smartphone) are

two products which Snapdeal is introducing with this edition of Launchpad as they address unanswered consumer needs, he added.

Priced at Rs 12,999, the Alpha Feather claims to be the world's lightest 5-inch smartphone at 125 gms.

Powered by the latest Android 4.4 Kitkat operating system, the device sports a 2 GB RAM, 1.3 GHz quad core processor, 13 MP rear camera, 8 MP front camera and internal memory of 4GB (expandable up to 32GB).

"The team at Snapdeal has sup-

ported us seamlessly, they have helped us from the initial stages, reaching out to the consumers,

marketing our product and distribution and logistics services. Also the partnership makes it easy for us to solely focus on innovation," Alpha Tech co-founder Kunjan Chauhan said.-PTI

Black money: SIT asks agencies to share data NEW DELHI: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on black money has sought details of all major cases of tax evasion and criminal financial fraud being probed by various investigative agencies which are mandated to keep a check on such instances.

Sources said that the SIT headed by retired Supreme Court Justice M B Shah has asked the 11 departments on its panel to furnish fine details of these cases and the status of their probes, including any problems being faced by investigators in taking the cases forward for prosecution or penalty.

The member departments/agencies of SIT are the Department of Revenue (under the Ministry of Finance), RBI, Intelligence Bureau, Enforcement Directorate, CBI, Income Tax department, Narcotics Control Bureau, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Financial Intelligence Unit,

Research and Analysis Wing and the Foreign Tax and Tax Research wing under the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT).

The sources said the SIT has asked for the data in order to understand the trends and magnitude of the menace of black money and generation of illegal funds in the country, which is done

through a variety of ways like evasion of taxes and duties, flouting of foreign exchange laws, creation of disproportionate assets, creation of 'benami' properties within the country and outside and laundering of wealth obtained through illegal and corrupt means. -PTI

French bank to pay $ 8.97 bln in penalties to US Cont’d from page 12

"BNP Paribas went to elaborate lengths to conceal prohibited transactions, cover its tracks, and deceive US authorities. These actions represent a serious breach of US law," US Attorney General Eric Holder said.

"Sanctions are a key tool in protecting US national security interests, but they only work if they are strictly enforced. If sanctions are to have teeth, violations must be punished.

Banks thinking about conducting business in violation of US sanctions should think twice because the Justice Department will not look the other way."

Manhattan's top federal prosecutor Preet Bharara said BNPP "banked on never being held to account for its criminal support of countries and entities engaged in acts of terrorism and other atrocities."

He said the world's fourth largest bank will pay penalties for "performing the hat trick of sanctions violations, unlawfully opening the doors of the US financial markets to three sanctioned countries, Sudan, Iran and Cuba.

"For years, BNPP provided access to billions of dollars to these

sanctioned countries, as well as to individuals and groups specifically identified and designated by the US government as being subject to sanctions. The bank did so deliberately and secretly, in ways designed to evade detection by the US authorities," Bharara said.

According to documents, over the course of eight years, BNPP "knowingly and willfully" moved more than USD 8.8 billion through the US financial system on behalf of Sudanese, Iranian and Cuban sanctioned entities, in violation of US economic sanctions, including more than USD 4.3 billion in transactions involving entities on whom the US had slapped economic curbs.

The New York County District Attorney's Office also announced that BNPP pleaded guilty in New York State Supreme Court to falsifying business records and conspiring to falsify business records.

In addition, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System said the bank has agreed to a cease and desist order, take certain remedial steps to ensure its compliance with US law in its ongoing operations, and pay a civil monetary penalty of USD 508 million. -PTI

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World Cup hits online streaming record SAN FRANCISCO: Moments after Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez sunk his teeth into an opposing Italian player during a World Cup match-up, brands were using the incident to market burgers on Twitter.

Suarez's mid-game snack - and Italian forward Mario Balotelli's Twitter plea for a kiss on the cheek from Queen Elizabeth - drew massive online attention as the initial group stage matches played out.

More than 300 million tweets have been sent about the World Cup so far, and Google has logged over 1.1 billion searches related to the world's most popular sporting event.

While the tournament's June 12 kickoff game between Brazil and Croatia still drew the most tweets of any match, people paid more attention to the games, at least as measured by matches they viewed online.

Here's a look at how the World Cup fared online: STREAMING TRAFFIC SOARS The concurrent U.S. vs. Germany and Portugal vs. Ghana games hit a peak of 6.8 terabits per

second in online streaming traffic, according to Akamai Technologies Inc., which helps companies distribute online video and works with more than 50 World Cup online streaming rights holders worldwide. That rate of consumption is a new high for a livestreamed sporting event that Akamai has delivered and ``very

cutters were able watch group stage matches online, as TV providers such as Univision offered free streaming on its website and mobile apps. ESPN is also streamed the matches, but it required pay-TV credentials.

ONCE BITTEN...STILL HUNGRY? Before he bit Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, Suarez received about 100,000 mentions on Twitter, according to the short messaging service. After the bite: Two million. Brands from burger chains to candy Uruguay’s defender Martin Caceres (left) vies with bar makers used Italy’s forward Mario Balotelli during a Group D World the chomping as Cup football match between Italy and Uruguay an opportunity on June 24 to market their easily one of - if not the - largest arguably more appetizing goods. live events that's been delivered ``Chew Trident, not soccer playon the platform,'' said spokesman ers,'' read one tweet from the gum Chris Nicholson. maker. ``If only Suarez had Unlike during previous World Whataburger before the game he Cups, this year even U.S. cord- wouldn't be so hungry,'' read an-

other from the Texas-based hamburger chain.

POPULARITY CONTEST Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo is beating longtime rival Lionel Messi of Argentina - at least when it comes to Google searches of his name, according to the Internet giant. On Twitter, though, Messi kept the top spot as the most tweeted-about player, followed by Brazil's Neymar Jr. and post-bite Suarez. Ronaldo, meanwhile, came in at No. 4.

PHOTO SHOOTS On Instagram, the popular

Facebook-owned photo-sharing app, soccer fans used hashtags such as (hash)WorldCupPets, (hash)WorldCupPup and (hash)FifaCat to tag photos of their pets decked out in World Cup gear. Players, including U.S. forward Clint Dempsey, meanwhile, took part in the app's ``TBT,'' or ``Throwback Thursday'' trend, posting photos of their younger selves. Dempsey sent out a yearbook photo. A question above his smiling photo reads ``Where do you hope to be five years from now?'' Dempsey's answer reads ``Playing professional soccer in Europe.'' -AP

Toyota to donate cars to schools, museum BLUE SPRINGS, Miss.: Officials of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi say the company will donate six cars to high school career and technology centers in Lee, Pontotoc and Union counties.

The cars will be used in vehicle

technology classes.

WTVA-TV reports the company also plans to donate a car for display at the Tupelo Automobile Museum.

Toyota manufactures the Corolla model at the Blue Springs plant. -AP

Desi News Fremont Temple celebrates Ratha Yatra with fanfare VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

FREMONT: Loud chants of "Jai "Balbhadra and "Jai Jagannath" reverberated in the air as thousands of devotees danced in the Fremont Hindu temple to revel in the spiritual fervor of the annual Ratha Yatra here on Sunday June 29. Ratha Yatra or the chariot festival was celebrated at Fremont Hindu Temple, with lot of enthusiasm and fanfare.

The Snana Yatra or Deva Snana Purnima, a ceremonial public bath ceremony of the three deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra is an important event in the run-up to the Rath Yatra or the Car Festival and was celebrated on June 13 at the Fremont temple. The deities were bathed by 108 pitchers of water.

Details on page 18

Paramesweri & Anjaneya Pran Pratishtha in St Louis

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Prayer and 7 Sacraments their value today Details on page 23

July 4, 2014

FIA announces 22nd Festival of India & SF Global Movie Fest RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: The Federation of Indo Americans of Northern California has announced celebration of 22nd Festival of India and Parade on August 16 and August 17 at 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, CA. Celebrations will start with flag hoisting ceremony on 15 August.

For the past 21 years, FIA organized Festival of India has come to symbolize the unity, integrity, culture and best of the things that are hallmark of Indian com-

all over the globe.

Selected from over thousand movie entries, nominations in the categories of Narrative Short, Narrative Feature, Documentary Feature, Bay Area Film Initiative, South Asian Panorama will be screened at California theater and Towne 3 theaters, San Jose on Aug 15, 16, and 17. An accomplished jury of Bollywood and Hollywood personalities will select the winners in each category.

On August 15 there will be a press conference at 6pm followed by Red Carpet reception, standup comedy by Hol-

RAO AYYAGARI

ST LOUIS: The Hindu Temple of St. Louis also had Prana Prathista Mahotsavam for Sri Kanyaka Paramesweri and Sri Anjaneya that started on Thursday June 5 at 6 pm, with a short meditation period in the beautifully decorated Yaga Shala.

Inaugural Blessings were then given by both Swami Chetanananda of the St. Louis Vedanta Center and Swami Paripoornananda of Sri Peetham, Andhra. The temple priests then performed Ganesha Puja.

Details on page 20

Lake County Hindu Mandir celebrates grand Anniversary GEETHA PATEL

CHICAGO: A large throng of devotees of Lake County enjoyed a grand two days of seventh anniversary celebration of Hindu Mandir held on June 28.

The first day of the anniversary started with sankalpam ritual for all the temple deities followed by Kalash Sthapan. Ganapati, Sarvadeva Pujan and Homam with 108 Kalasha Yatra was performed by the temple priest Ganeshji along with sponsor devotees.

Later Balaji and Utsava Murthy Abhishekam was completed with chanting of mantras by Pt. Anil Joshiji and Pt. Ganeshji with all Vedic rituals.

Details on page 21

File picture of last year’s FIA festival

munity in Bay area. Celebrated over two days, this festival coincides with Indian Independence day celebrations and has many popular and well sought after segments such as health fair, grand parade, Bollywood celebrity as Grand Marshal, kids talent programs, cultural programs representing cross section of India and a Ayushman Khurana Mela that features best of offers for InGRAND MARSHAL 2014 dian community.

Keeping up with the You may reach out to any of the following FIA tradition, Ayushman Khurana, Bollywood star for more details: of "Vicky Donor" fame and well-known TV host President & Convener: Dr. Romesh Japra will be the Grand Marshal, Chairman & Event Coordinator: Rajesh Verma leading this year's parade.

This year's special atFor Booths and Sponsorship: traction is a star-studded Priya Nayar (510) 565-9993 Sanjeev Sharma (408) 964-0691 SF Global Movie Fest. ExSonia Sidhu (510) 938-8668 Vidya Sethuraman (408) 361-8246 panding its horizons to inFor Cultural Program: Vijaya Aasuri (510) 421-3535 clude a larger cross-section of global community, For Parade: Deepak Chhabra (510) 299-9771 FIA brings a grand movie For Media Inquiries: Ritu Maheshwari (510) 304-5619 festival featuring best of the best short films from

lywood Comedian Eddie Griffin, multicultural performances with Hollywood and Bollywood celebrities, dignitaries, ambassadors, movie actors, producers and directors.

From 9pm to11 pm there will be world premier of movie "Last Supper". Josh Meyers, Robin Bhatt, Barkha Roy, Rahat Kazmi are some of the other celebrities attending the event. On August 16, there will be world premiere of the movie "Identity Card" from 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM in towne 3 theaters in San Jose. August 17th will be award night.

More details are available at www.fiaonline.org. Tickets can be purchased at sulekha.com/FIA. Given above events, this year's Festival of India is turning out to be a global event. FIA has invited everyone to come together and make this a grand success.

There are several opportunities to get involved like Booths; Events, Floats, Show cases; Cultural programs; Sponsorships; Volunteer; Raising community awareness and participation.

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West meets East: Arthur Brook & Sri Sri Ravishankar NEELA PANDYA

WASHINGTON DC: Arthur Brooks, President of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), hosted Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, one of the few globally known and revered spiritual masters from India, recently in Washington DC and the near one hour talk centered on human happiness and well being.

Sri Sri observed that the over emphasis on human flourishing on material wealth and that stress shrouds happiness. He said that one should rather focus on boosting energy levels or reducing demand which will bring down the stress level.

He conceded that wealth is good, but pointed out that it should be accompanied by morality. Brooks summarized three lessons from the discussion: while capitalism is a beautiful blessing, humanism should come first; the secret to happiness is inside us;

misuse. Sri Sri discussed how spiritualizing politics can reduce governmental corruption AEI hosting Sri Sri was in continuation of what began when AEI invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to AEI. Art of Living Foundation has centers in 152 countries and the enlightening talk and discussion that Arthur Crook had about one of his favorite subjects: the intersection of capitalism and happiness, had evoked huge interest among elite and intelligentsia in Washington DC. The event was a sold out affair

Guruji Sri Sri Ravi Shankar with Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard from Hawaii and Bhanu Narshiman

and one's purpose should be directed by serving others and working hard to foster common brotherhood He applauded the values of capitalism and hard work, but also emphasized that capitalism without compassion cannot make a just society. Using India as an example, Sri Sri exalted the values of pluralism, arguing that a slow, messy democracy is better than a faster dictatorship. Social media plays a great role in building a free society, but he warned against its

and one AEI employee remarked that she had never seen the room so crowded US Congresswoman and the first Hindu member of the House of Representatives Ms Tulsi Gabbard sought a meet with Sri Sri and came impressed with his humility, simplicity and sincerity of purpose. Sri Sri invited Ms Tulsi to visit India and have the first hand feel of the country as well as the Art of Living complex that undertakes multifarious activities to alleviate human unhappiness.

Sri Sri Ravishankar and Arthur Brook

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Fremont Temple celebrates Ratha Yatra with fanfare VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

FREMONT: Loud chants of "Jai "Balbhadra and "Jai Jagannath" reverberated in the air as thousands of devotees danced in the Fremont Hindu temple to revel in the spiritual fervor of the annual Ratha Yatra here on Sunday June 29. Ratha Yatra or the chariot festival was celebrated at Fremont Hindu Temple, with lot of

enthusiasm and fanfare.

The Snana Yatra or Deva Snana Purnima, a ceremonial public bath ceremony of the three deities of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra is

an important event in the run-up to the Rath Yatra or the Car Festival and was celebrated on June 13 at the Fremont temple. The deities were bathed by 108 pitchers of water. After the Snana Yatra, the three deities were kept away from public view for 15 days which is called the 'Anasara' period. The popular belief is that after the ritualistic bath the deities develop fever and therefore do not return to the sanctum sanctorum.

There were over thousand devotees gathered at the temple to see and be part of the rituals and the grand ceremonial procession, known as Pahandi - carrying the deities out of the temple to the

chariots started at around 12 noon here on Sunday. This was followed

by Rath Yatra were the deities were taken around the temple in elegantly decorated chariot.

At around 1:15 pm all the three deities were taken to Gundicha Mandir. On July 7, the deities would return to their Ratna Sinhasan after the Bahuda Rath Yatra.

The program was organized by Bay area Odia community and Fremont Hindu temple.

The celebration culminated with Arthi and Preeti Bhoj sponsored by Odia community.

Rath Yatra is a great festival because of its ability to unite people in its festivity. The Rath Yatra has a great spiritual significance. As per the Katha Upanishad, the human body is like chariot which is driven by God who is the Sarathi. God takes us through a journey of material existence to that of the spiritual level.

The Gajapati King cleanses the road before the chariots with a gold-handled broom and sprinkles sandalwood water and powder

with the utmost devotion. This ritual signifies that under the lordship of Jagannath, there is no distinction between the powerful sovereign Gajapati King and the most humble devotee. Total dedication and submission to God is the only way to get out of the cycle

of birth and death.

The history of Lord Jagannath Rath Yatra in Puri is more than one thousand years old and what has not changed all these years is the religious fervor accompanying this rich tradition and, the grand celebrations.

NRIs welcome move to clean Ganga River MADHU PATEL

CHICAGO: Indian Americans across USA have hugely welcomed a move by the Indian Government to clean holy river Ganga and deem this to be a part of a broader move to improve living conditions of the people from environmental point of view in the country GYAN and Living Planet Foundation have applauded Prime M i n i s t e r Narendra Modi for launching the Clean Ganga Plan

Ganga cleaning

coinciding it with the World Environment Day. Cleaning and maintaining ecological balance in Ganga is a pioneering initiative that demonstrates the Prime Minister's resolve to save Earth's resources.

What enthuses the environmentalists here is the announcement from New Delhi that the Prime Minister has vowed to clean up pollution in India by starting from Varanasi.

It is noteworthy that Varanasi, with its historically significant past has continued to thrive till today with potential to become a model of care and respect for the environment which is a mark of India's astonishing renaissance in recent years. The symbolic value of Varanasi, world's oldest and most sacred pilgrimage city going clean and green will reflect the deep values of the world's oldest city.

This critically important action was overdue. It as an unprecedented opportunity for the people of India to reclaim the ecological vision inherent in their culture and share it with the rest of the world.

Cont’d on page 19

July 4, 2014

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Sri Ayyapa Pran Pratistha Mahotsavam in St Louis ASHWIN PATEL & RAJA RAJASEKARAN

ST LOUIS: The Hindu Temple of St. Louis celebrated Prana Prathista Mahotsavam of Sri Ayyappa, Sri Kanyaka Pramesweri and Sri Veera Anjaneya (Sri Hanumanji) from June 6 to 8.

Around 2000 devotees from the states of Missouri, Illinois, Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan and California experienced the divine energy through various spiritually related programs - Pujas, Homams, Ratha Utsavams of Kanyaka Paramesweri, Anjaneya, and Ayyappa, recital of Sunder kanda, devotional lectures, Siva-Parvathi Kalyanam, Pathinettu Padi Pooja

and finally, Irumudi submittal to entire night. On June 7, Sri Lord Ayyappa. In order to main- Ayyappa was taken out of the tain the tradition of Hindu festival, the devotees were served banthi bhojan with banana leaves.

Prana Pratishta literally means "establishing the life" within the sacred Deity. Sri Ayyappa Prana Prathista began with the formal handover of the ritualistic authority to Brahmasri Prana Pratishta literally Tantry Divakaran Namboodri by means "establishing the Hindu Temple the life" within the management. Folsacred Deity. Sri lowed by this, the Tantry performed Ayyappa Prana Prasada Shudhi, Prathista began with the rituals to puthe formal handover rify the Maha of the ritualistic author- Sannidhanam. Sri Sri Ayyappa in Raja Alankaram after Pran Pratistha idol was ity to Brahmasri Tantry Ayyappa formally handed Divakaran Namboodri over by the shilpis and the Tantry water. The Tantries prepared the performed Jaladhivasam.

Idol for the next day's Prana by the Hindu Temple Lord Ayyappa was in Prathista. Each and every ritual management Jaladhivasam (water bed) for the was performed to incorporate energy into the idol and put in a bed for rest the whole night.

On Sunday, the Tantries focused their energies on conducting poojas for the Peetam for consecrating Sri Ayyappa on the Peetam (holy seat). At that time, Kalasa and navarathna sponsors brought the holy water and navarthnas to the Maha Sannidhanam. The Tantry placed the yantra and navarathnas alcove under the Peetam.

In the meanwhile, with rituals and chenda melam around, the chief shilpi opened the eyes of Sri Ayyappa. The grand finale of the Prana Prathista was Jeeva vahana, where the Chief Tantry with the assistance from the other Tantry and Temple priests consecrated Lord Ayyappa in the Peetam. All happened in the midst of vadhiya gosha and sarana gosha of Geetha Mandalam group of Chicago and hundreds of devotees respectively that filled the air of the entire Temple.

When the Tantri removed the white cloth, Nithya Brahmachari showered his blessings to all who were waiting this to happen in St. Louis for close to ten years. It was a moment of extreme vibration and the devotees were in full throttle to realize the presence of Lord Ayyappa as if He came from Sabarimala to St. Louis to bless us.

Padi Pooja of Holy 18 Steps The Tantries did the alankarana

of Lord Ayyappa with Maharaja ornaments and turban in the head (visiri madippu) in closed doors and opened the door for devotees for mangala arathi of Alankara priyan. When the Maha Sannidhanam door was opened, the entire Mahasannidhanam was filled with sarana gosha. Devotees witnessed the Shantha swaroopa Ayyappa in raja alankaram. The Tantris also consecrated Upadevatas of Sri Ayyappa Maha Sannidhanam - Sri Kannimoola Maha Ganapathy, Sri Nagaraja and Maligapurathu Manja Matha.

On the evening of the Prana Prathista, The Tantry performed a special Padi Pooja to invoke the Padi as part of the Maha

Sannidhanam which was witnessed by hundreds of devotees.

Kids sang "deva saranam" in synchronization of the Tantry's pooja for every step. These eighteen steps signify the spiritual path to self-realization.

Sri Ayyappa Maha Sannidhanam is the second of its kind in the US with Sri Ayyappa in Shantha Swaroopa posture, the architecture of Sabarimala temple and the Sanctum Sanctorum resembling Sabarimala. The Maha Sannidhanam also serves as a spiritual center for exhibiting Ayyappa avatars (forms) from five Ayyappa temples in India Erumeli, Achankovil, Ariyankavu, Kulathupuzhai and Pandalam.

NRIs welcome move to clean Ganga River Cont’d from page 18

ping and water resources will form the core group and their resources will be pooled to achieve a successful outcome. It is particularly impressive that substantial funds are allocated for the initiative.

"While welcoming the pioneering initiative, we would suggest that other participants are encouraged to join the move and this would include local NGOs and leaders of faith-based organizations.

Making these entities players in the initiative would ensure the longterm sustainability of activities initiated during the project," said Kusum Vyas Founder of Green

We believe that it is a matter of great pride for the people of India to look to Varanasi as an example leading the faithful worldwide as pioneers in caring for creation. We believe now is the time to capture the momentum and set the ball in motion to induct Varanasi as a World Heritage city.

Any location that brings such large numbers of people to one place offers plenty of opportunity for improved environmental practices and a significant step toward global awareness and consensus on the need and potential to address climate "While welcoming the piochange issues. Ganga and Variance are no ex- neering initiative, we would ception where pilgrims suggest that other particicome from all sectors of pants are encouraged to society, from presidents to paupers and from in- join the move and this dustrialists to conserva- would include local NGOs tionists.

A variety of mea- and leaders of faith-based sures could be taken to organizations green and clean, including the reduction of exhaust emis- Kumbh Movement, GYAN/Living sions from public transport, im- Planet Foundation proving water and sanitation fa"We send our best wishes to cilities and reducing the number the Prime Minister and his team of plastic bottles by improving the and look forward to working accessibility and quality of tap closely with the Prime Minister in drinking water. Ganga and achieving the objectives of Ganga Varanasi, therefore present unique Action Plan and greening and opportunities to showcase envi- cleaning of Varanasi among other ronmentally sound technologies pilgrimage sites. The people of and practices.

India are the immediate beneficiaIt is hoped that experts will play ries. Some mandatory measures a key role ensuring that environ- are bitter pills that come with pomental issues are addressed at ev- litical risks; however this is no time ery level of policy, especially in the for political mish mash. People of context that representatives from India and the world, deserve betenvironment, power, tourism, ship- ter," she added.

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Paramesweri & Anjaneya Pran Pratishtha in St Louis RAO AYYAGARI

ST LOUIS: The Hindu Temple of St. Louis also had Prana Prathista Mahotsavam for Sri Kanyaka Paramesweri and Sri Anjaneya that started on Thursday June 5 at 6 pm, with a short meditation period in the beautifully decorated Yaga Shala.

Inaugural Blessings were then

given by both Swami Chetanananda of the St. Louis Vedanta Center and Swami Paripoornananda of Sri Peetham, Andhra. The temple priests then performed Ganesha Puja. It was followed by Punyahavachanam, Deekshadharanam and Rutvikgvarana preceded the

Sri Anjaneya

Pancha Gavya Prasana, a purification ritual of the priests with five things provided by the sacred cow - urine, dung, clarified butter-ghee, milk and yogurtdahi. Rakshogna Homam, which is the ritualistic invocation of Agni, to ward of Rakhshasa (evil) Swabhavas of all of the devotees present, ended this initial day's program.

Day 2, Friday, June 6, started with the mandatory Ganesha Puja, Punyahavachanam and continued with Chathusthannarchana.

Adhivasaa Homam in which the idols were purified with Bimba Suddhi was performed Swami Paripoornananda gave a lecture on Hindu Dharma before the evening rituals.

On the third day, Saturday, June 7 morning, Ganesha Puja, Punyahavachanam, Chathusthaanarchana, and then Nitya homam were performed. Shilpis followed by devotees placed Navaratna and Pancha Lohas on the holy Yantras which are placed in the pedestals of the shrines of Kanayaka Parameswari, Anjaneya and Navagraha in a ritualistic Ratnayasam. In a Maha Kumbha Pradhakshanam, Pradhana Kalasas were carried on the priests' heads Sri Kanyaka Paramesweri into the temple followed by the devotees.

Maha Kumbhabhishekam of the temple. It was witnessed by sev- Mahotsavam.

Once again, prasadam was newly installed deity in each eral hundreds of devotees who shrine was with the water were then given the traditional provided to about 2000 devotees on banana leaves in a banthi brought in the kalasa by the teertha prasadam.

On Sunday, June 8 devotees bhojanam with many specially devotees.

The grand Prana participated in special pujas of prepared food delicacies.

Prathista of Sri Kanayaka The grand Prana Prathista of Sri Kanayaka Parameswari, Anjaneya, Parameswari, Anjaneya, Navagrahas, and Durga Navagrahas, and Utsava Moorthi, concluded with a feastly Banthi Durga Utsava Moorthi, conBhojanam for about 1800 devotees served on banana cluded with a leaves by prasadam volunteers. In the afternoon, feastly Banthi Bhojanam for Sundara Kand Parayan in front of Anjaneya Shrine was about 1800 devofollowed by a wonderful Bhajan/Dance program tees served on banana leaves by Kanyaka Parameswari with the The afternoon started with prasadam volunteers.

In the afternoon, Sundara recitation of Sri Vasavi Sahasra dance program on Lord Kand Parayan in front of Namam, and Sri Veeranjaneya Ayyappa, and followed by Swami Anjaneya Shrine was followed shrine with the traditional Aaku, Paripoornananda's lecture on by a wonderful Bhajan/Dance betel leaves, and with Vada mala. caste system's origins and sigprogram on Kanyaka The morning program ended nificance. Teertha Prasadam forParameswari Devi. Swami with a Vote of Thanks, and pre- mally concluded the entire conParipoornanada lecture gave a sentation of Sambhavana, secration event. The Prana lecture on 'How to live as a Hindu shawls and temple medallions to Prathista Mahotsavama turned in modern time'. The evening's the Sthapati, shilpis, priests, do- out to be a memorable, unique, main event of Sri Siva Parvati nors, and the main volunteers in once in a lifetime 'experience the Kalyanam was performed for the the various subcommittees of divine energy' event in St. Louis Prana Prathista Missouri.

Shanti of one and all and for the the

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Lake County Hindu Mandir celebrates grand Anniversary GEETHA PATEL

CHICAGO: A large throng of devotees of Lake County enjoyed a grand two days of seventh anniversary celebration of Hindu Mandir held on June 28.

The first day of the anniversary started with sankalpam ritual for all the temple deities followed by Kalash Sthapan. Ganapati, Sarvadeva Pujan and Homam with 108 Kalasha Yatra was performed by the temple priest Ganeshji along with sponsor devotees.

Later Balaji and Utsava Kalash Yatra that started Anniversary Murthy Abhishekam celebration was completed with chanting of mantras by Pt. Anil enthusiastic participation and conJoshiji and Pt. Ganeshji with all tribution for the temple developVedic rituals. ment, volunteers and kitchen comA mela was arranged by the mittee for their valuable time and temple with all the local business support.

FCN celebrates Anniversary with Appreciation Dinner Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: It was a delightful and appreciative gathering of about 200 which responded to

north side suburb of Chicago.

It was an appreciation dinner for all the Donors and Well-Wishers of FCN. The foundation was founded by Dr Geetha Yeruva and Tom Chitta in 2002. The couple has dedicated 12 years of their lives to educate children, college students, conduct health education and mobile clinics. Mother Teresa is the inspiration of Dr Geetha who is a physician herself and provides primary health care and medicines on behalf of FCN. Teenage girls are given workshops on health, hygiene and family life and are provided with a book on "women's health."

The main focus of FCN is to give educational help through sponsorship program for school children and college students who are struggling to continue their education. They try to help those

who are neglected and have less opportunity. Today FCN is sponsoring 2200 children and college students.

Through this "FCN Day," Tom and Geetha and the Board of Directors of FCN expressed their gratitude to God, to all sponsors, donors and well-wishers who have been supporting the service of FCN. This evening was a celebration of fellowship for all FCN supporters. After dinner, there was time for fellowship, and the music of several local musicians was top of the evening.

FCN Board of Directors: Dr Geetha Yeruva President/Cofounder; Ken Overholt Chairman/ Financial Advisor; Pam Hargett Secretary; Marie McIntosh Treasurer; Tom McQuillan Director; Jo Anne Mullen-Muhr Director and Father Ed Cronin, Director.

Dr Geetha Yeruva welcoming the gathering

Anniversary Puja in progress

people. Devotees enjoyed delicious food from different Indian stalls and purchased attractive colorful Indian garments and jewelries. A three hour long melodious musical program was performed

by Rita Patel, Atul Soni, Kamalesh Desai and Puran Dada. They entertained the devotees while they were enjoying mouthwatering food. Old Bollywood songs captured the hearts and brought in the sweet memories of golden era of Indian cinema.

Next day, Pt. Anil Joshiji started Sarvadeva Homam by Vedic rituals for Sarva Devas and Devis after performing Ganesh and Sarvadeva Pujan. The Homam was performed for the blessings of Sarvadeva for the welfare of community. President Harsh Kumar led the Homam alongwith his family and sponsor families with utmost piety and devotion. Kalasha Yatra was followed by Shiva and Utsava murthi Abhishekam by Pt Ganeshji. Pandit Joshiji blessed all the devotees for their happiness, excellent health and wealth.

President Harsh Kumar thanked all the devotees for their

Foundation for Children in Need (FCN) celebrating 12th Anniversary and enjoyed an evening of Fellowship and Thanksgiving on Friday, June 27 at St. James Parish Center in Arlington Heights, a

Board of Directors FCN

Community Across America

22 India Post

July 4, 2014

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Empowerment conference features Dr Jamal Badawi India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: On Sunday, June 22, the Council on AmericanIslamic Relations, Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) organized a half-day conference and benefit dinner featuring Dr. Jamal Badawi, a leading scholar on Islam in North America, at the Islamic

nication in an effort to empower community members with effective advocacy skills.

"Our goal was to help mobilize and empower activists and volunteers with the tools to make them better and more effective advocates on behalf of the AmericanMuslim community," said Hussam Ayloush, Executive Director of

spoke to the importance of civic participation, detailing the steps members can take to make their voices heard through various civic institutions at the local and state levels. Communications Coordinator Yasmin Nouh discussed the elements of effective messaging on critical issues of concern to American Muslims and the

achieve shared goals of justice, equality, and peace.

American Muslim families of all backgrounds actively participated in the conference and shared posi-

ner in which the attendees asked Dr. Badawi questions relevant to today's Muslim communities. He addressed the social barriers that inhibit community members from

American Muslim families of all backgrounds actively participated in the conference and shared positive feedback that they were better equipped and empowered with the leadership skills tive feedback that they were better equipped and empowered with the leadership skills needed to be more effective spokespersons and activists for the American Muslim community.

Following the conference was an interactive session during din-

fully engaging in society, and reflected on the Prophetic legacy of public service and building alliances in order to achieve justice.

With Dr. Badawi's knowledgeable, eloquent, and genuine responses, the last part of the event went well into the evening.

Vatican has a portable Vishnu temple MADHU PATEL

Center of Northridge in Granada Hills.

Themed "An Alliance for Virtue," the half-day conference included various workshop sessions covering the areas of civic engagement, community organizing, and messaging and commu-

CAIR-LA. "We feel it's important to engage the San Fernando Valley community and provide them with the same tools we provide the rest of Southern California Muslim community."

Ayloush opened the conference by welcoming attendees and

broader community.

The conference concluded with a session by Dr. Jamal Badawi about our moral and spiritual obligation to play a role in advancing our society through civic participation and through forming coalitions with allies who wish to

Cricket getting popular in St Louis ASHWIN PATEL

ST LOUIS: Missouri Youth Cricket Association (MYCA), a registered non-profit organization, has done what seemed like a distant dream a few years ago.

Within two years, MYCA now has a dedicated youth cricket facility at Bales Park (St. Charles, MO) with turfed main pitch and two turfed practice pitches with nets.

Priya Singh, the main organizer, said "We have 8-9 year old kids, both girls and boys, playing proper cricket with leather ball and gearing up for a national youth tournament in Dallas on July 4. MYCA has two teams Under 12 and Under 16. All this progress within two years due to dedicated coaches at MYCA Cricket Academy."

On June 14 MYCA hosted a U13 Cricket Tournament against a youth Team from Bolingbrook. The Mayor of St.Charles, Ms. Sally

Faith visited MYCA and offered her support towards youth cricket development. It also received coverage at Fox 2 News.

MYCA has also introduced cricket in about 29 schools in Mis-

Priya Singh, the main organizer, said "We have 8-9 year old kids, both girls and boys, playing proper cricket with leather ball and gearing up for a national youth tournament souri and with the help of USYCA, MYCA provides a free cricket set to each school, which they can use to continue playing the sport in their Gym. MYCA has also worked

with St. Charles and St. Louis County parks and recreation department to make cricket as part of their youth sport program.

This does not end here. It is just the beginning to promote cricket in MO. MYCA also launched the MYCA Men's 20/20 Softball Cricket League in 2013, which is now a member of American Cricket Federation and has 12 teams playing with ICC rules.

MYCA is also working on a women's cricket development plan in Missouri. "If any woman is interested in joining MYCA cricket league then please email myca@mocricket.org," Priya Singh said.

Cricket is culture and religion among playing nations. It keeps them united. It keeps them connected. MYCA has taken cricket to the grassroots level. 'The journey has just started but the possibilities are limitless," Singh added.

CHICAGO: Indian American, Hindus and Christians, all have welcomed the news that the Vatican Museum now has a portable temple of Hindu deity Vishnu.

This colorful 18th century Vishnu temple folds and unfolds revealing many stories of Vishnu.

It is made of wood, mirror, paper, pigments and glass paste. Collections at Vatican Museum also include bronze statues of Hindu divinities dating from 8th to 14th century.

Reports from Rome indicate that the Vatican Library carries extensive collection of ancient Hindu scriptures and various other Hinduism related texts including books on Vedas, Upanishads, Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, Bhagavad-Gita, Panchatantra, Krishna, Brahma, Yoga, Shakti, Hindu theology, Hindu pantheon, etc. This Hindu collection is in various languages and some of the editions are as old as 1819.

Commending Holy See and His Holiness Pope Francis, members of the Indian community including Rajan Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, said that it was a remarkable gesture

and a step in the right direction to understand each other. Zed urged Pope Francis for a deeper study of ancient Hindu scriptures, which were very rich in philosophical thought, and offered to provide help if asked.

Over six million people visit Vatican Museums annually, which originated as a group of sculptures collected by Pope Julius II (15031513). Vatican Library (Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana), library of the

Reclining Vishnu

Holy See, whose traces go back to fourth century, has manuscripts, printed books, prints, photographs, drawings and engravings, coins and medals. It is said to hold over 180,000 manuscripts and over 1.6 million books.

Pope Francis is the ex-officio head of state of Vatican City, a sovereign city-state within the city of Rome (Italy). Pope also heads the Roman Catholic Church, which is the largest of the Christian denominations with about 1.2 billion members.

July 4, 2014

Community Across America

India Post 23

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Prayer and 7 Sacraments - their value today India Post News Service

SUNNYVALE, CA: Eminent author and social activist H.N.Verma was recently invited by Cupertino branch of India Community Center to speak on any aspect of spiritualism. He opted for and spoke on "Prayer and Sacraments." His lecture evoked lively interest among the Senior Citizens present. India Post takes pleasure in reproducing excerpts from his

thank them for inviting for talking to the members of ICC (India Community Centre.)

Why 'prayer'? The modern man sees no justification for saying a prayer before the start of a program. The Sun Deity does not respond to Omkar recitation of which is the set program at Hindu functions. As for me I like to join you in 'Om BhurbhavahSvah' for I treat it as a good Pranayam (breathing) exercise. My Christian

How do we explain inter religion clashes the Shia-Sunni conflict raging in Iraq, Pakistan and in many Islamic countries? Islam and Christianity both are aggressive and in the past vied with each other to control the world lecture: Prayer and Sacraments sound like a phoney couple and you may be curious to know why I opted for 'Prayer and Seven Sacraments' as the topic for my talk. One of the reasons was that I wanted to speak on a subject of general interest for a friendly audience and keep within the orbit of the organizer's umbrella program. I

and Muslim friends have different prayers and approaches which we all respect. After all a Christian asks for nothing more than bread, which no person of status would deny to such a submission, at least to keep up his face. And, my Muslim friend has an entire Namaz, preceded by a call in praise of Almighty God, La IlahiIllilah Mohammad RasulillahAllah. But

why bring in seven sacraments?

Is that not a fact that some numbers fascinate and catch our attention? We prefer one (1) because there is One God, 3 stands for Trimurti (Hindu concept of deities of creation, preservation, destruction) or (God, His Son and Holy Ghost) for Christians, 4 for Brahma (Chaturmukha) who is my namesake and sounds like Verma, 7 denotes SaptamSvara, Saptapadi, and 13 (symbol for extinction). Go to a hotel, you may not find a room number 13 or a number ending with 13.

It struck me that the sacraments observed by Hindus and Christians are also 7.That is why I opted for Seven (Sacraments). Religions that originated from Hinduism (Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism) mostly follow Hindu traditions.

About Jihad of Islam I have already talked earlier. For the present I will mention only that Muslims share a very painful sacrament known as 'circumcision' (aka Khutana) for babies with Jews and some Christians.

Christians observe 7 sacraments as are ordained by their holy scripture, Bible; while Muslims follow the Holy Quran. Hindus rely

on Kalpa Sutras under three heads: Shrauta (Vedic), Grahya (domestic), and Dharma (based on religion). These are exposed into Vedangas e.g. grammar (Ashtadhyayi of Panini), astronomy (of Langad), etymology (Nighantu of Yaska), phonetics and meters. In ancient India sev-

H.N.Verma

eral Dharmashastras were in vogue but now only four (smritis-traditions) are available.

The modern man, especially one with Scientific bent of mind thinks that religion is out of vogue or at best on the verge of extinc-

tion and that spiritualism may be the future way of life. Some even find religion resurfacing and say their claim is spiritual and is not for deriving any political benefits.

But what we find is quite different - there is a tussle between Christianity and Islam in the Middle East and much of Africa and parts of Asia for economic dominance. This is intra- religion.

How do we explain inter religion clashes - the ShiaSunni conflict raging in Iraq, Pakistan and in many Islamic countries? Islam and Christianity both are aggressive and in the past vied with each other to control the world. Christians argue that they left the baggage of superstitions and dogmas way back in 17th -18th century.

But truly it is not so! If feudalism was creation of both the faiths - Christianity and Islam, we can safely say that Imperialism and fascism were gifts of both the faiths which caused enormous bloodshed and destruction - revolutions and world wars.

Cont’d on page 24

24 India Post

Community Across America

July 4, 2014

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Prayer and 7 Sacraments - their value today Cont’d from page 23

Nevertheless, all faithful continue with their prayers and sacraments and say that science and modernity have reshaped their values and that sheer spiritualism cannot help mankind realize peace in the world. The opponents of Democracy are Al Qaida and ilk like Boko Haram and splinter groups. The heat of their clashes affects the entire world. Death and

destruction have no preference.

On the other hand Christians pray; Our father who art in heaven Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdom come Thy will be done on earth as in heaven Give us our daily bread Forgive us our debts As we have forgotten our debts Lead us not into temptation Deliver us from heaven. Amen!

Responding to such a prayer,

two millennia back, Christ had fed at Apostles' request a motley crowd of 5000 from a loaf of bread and fish which were distributed a piece each to the hungry crowd.

But today such a miracle would be challenged by not only the atheists but by an ordinary person who works hard during the day to share his meager supper with his family.

They say prayer is the last refuge of a weak man. When all av-

enues are closed to him, he seeks all societies. benefit from some supernatural Marriage today takes into conpower. The modern man given to sideration income, age and compatrationality thinks that control over ibility. Late marriage and children the material world can be secured born out of wedlock are not rare only through science, and not by (Karna was one.) Divorce is no the prayer of the priest who are longer rare; wedding is becoming agents of manipulation and con- an industry. There is talk of wedcoct prayers with magical ideas and ding insurance. egotistical desires. This is superMost people have personal exstition. Even so prayer for wish ful- periences. Excessively high rents are fillment remains deep in man's heart. affecting social life: male-female stuWhatever be your religion or dents share accommodation and pursuit or place of origin, you im- rent, cohabitation leads to both bibe a set pattern of life - social pleasant and unpleasant results. norm. Prayer itself is not the cause We may talk a little more about of conflicts; it is the sense of pos- Christian prayer. It may be scripsession that leads to conflicts. tural - private or public, and spiriScriptures - Bible, Quran, Veda and tual prayer may be liturgy, through epics are full of such episodes. divine words, in praise or thanks Physical needs tally with natural physical Is prayer a short cut to toil development. Men and women in all communi- and effort? God alone ties, irrespective of reli- knows. All I can say is that gion they profess, expea prayer is a communion rience physical changes between God and the finite and needs.

Child birth is an oc- agents and there is casion of gaiety for the nothing like a dynamic family. As the child grows he experiences a transforming force variety of emotions. So does the mother. Relatives gather giving, confessing of sin, and grace. to participate in customary rites for A private prayer may be personal or namkaran - the newly born gets an formal. Prayers are also said\made identity. The child goes to school - in the form of petition, intercession, this is Patti pooja. He is exposed to confession, meditation, contemplaSaraswati Vandana. tion and saint poetry.

At a mature age follows Often it is asked how is it that yajnopaveet (like baptism of the omniscient, omnipresent God, Christians.)This was followed in aware of his devotee's desires, does ancient times by his admission in not secure the devotee's motive.

Gurukul. On return after complet- And, why should not the alignment ing his composite education, he of individual destiny coalesce with would join family community's destiny? profession\business. He is now At this stage religion poses the stable and with stability comes concept of resurrection-avatar. The matrimonial alliance. resurrection of Jesus points out The marriage ceremony is col- that within the span of his earthly orful. Horse ride, walking seven existence a man could not realize steps together. Then raising his all the potentialities of his life, he own family, he is grahastha and thinks his life is not complete and goes through the pattern his father resurrection is the result. Are you had gone through. His social life not amazed at this mystery! ends in vanprastha and sanyas.

Is prayer a short cut to toil and The Myth of Yama is well known effort? God alone knows. All I can and need not be repetition. say is that a prayer is a communion Christians too observe sacra- between God and the finite agents ments: birth, baptism, matrimony, and there is nothing like a dynamic confession, reconciliation, mass transforming force. (eucharist). The last supper transH.N.Verma retired from India's forms human energy from God to Post and Telegrpahs Department soul. as director, commercial publicity.

Image and icon worship - mu- His wife, Amrit Verma, is also an sic, psalm, hymns are part of reli- author and they have co-authored gion. Homosexuality, same sex mar- some books. They live in Sunnyriage, transgender are odd devel- vale with their son and grandchilopments. Sex crimes affect the in- dren. Apart from study and redividuals as well as society. Po- search the Vermas do community lygamy and polyandry still prevail. service at the Santa Clara comIn temples, Devadasis used to en- munity centre. Verma is engaged tertain divinities. Bollywood actors in activities of the language bank. entertain the audiences more lav- If any Indian has difficulty regardishly. Living together is the latest ing language, he is referred to fad. This is like warming up for run- Verma who helps him in translatning. Rape cases are occurring in ing his thoughts.

India Post 25

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Realty Tidbits

Infopark - Brigade Group to set up hotel at campus KOCHI: Bangalore-based Brigade Group has tied up with Infopark to set up a hotel property at the latter's campus at Kakkanad near here.

A lease agreement for the same was inked between Infopark CEO Hrishikesh Nair and Vineet Varma, Executive Director (Hospitality Division) of the Brigade Group.

The hotel will come up in 97 cents of land leased for 90 years (1 acre equals 100 cents).

The IT companies operating in the park could be benefited from the project as the hotel will offer services to the clients and other top executives visiting the IT units from abroad, Nair said.

"We will zero in on an international hotel brand for the project, which is to be developed by meeting the timeline specified in the lease agreement," he added. -PTI

Sanali boosts estate value in Hyderabad HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh realtors and developers are upbeat on the future of real estate in Hyderabad. They claim that now is the best time to buy properties in Hyderabad as prices are expected to shoot up post the bifurcation of the state. Though the city has witnessed a slowdown, Hyderabad's future is bright as it is known for rebounding.

The Sanali Group, a trusted name in the real estate sector in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Cochin, is aware of the changing dynamics and is continually catering to the growing residential and commercial needs. Under the guidance and chairmanship of Mohammed Noor Haq, the real estate company has grown from strength to strength over the past few years.

Real Estate 26

India Post

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Harmony offers rebates up to $12K for new homes

July 4, 2014

Details on Page 27

Govt stability to bring in FDI boost to Realty space MUMBAI: The formation of new government at the Centre has boosted investors' sentiment, especially in the real estate sector that has been going through a tough phase with drop in sales and debt pile-up, according to a report.

Post-Lok Sabha elections, which threw up a clear mandate, foreign direct investment in the country's real estate sector is expected to get a lift, resulting in amplification of fund flows and strengthening of the battered rupee, the joint report by global real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) and top industry body CII said.

It said "with a clear majority triumph, the incumbent government will enjoy unwavering stability that will in turn improve investor sentiment for the real estate market."

According to Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) data, FDI into construction

sector - townships, housing and built-up infrastructure - declined to about USD 1.3 billion between April 2013 and February 2014.

It stood at USD 3.1 billion during April 2012-March 2013.

"This is primarily because investment sentiment in India

dropped significantly given the pre-election political uncertainty and unveiling of scams," JLL said.

The report said that investment inflows reduced in the last couple of years as the sector is battling declining sales and high

inventory along with cash crunch and mounting debt.

"Now global investors are optimistic about the Indian economy, which is expected to witness increase in foreign investment inflows via FDI and FII in FY15 from USD 29 billion during FY14," the report said.

It noted that improving transparency in the country will also act positively for foreign corporates and investors.

"The government and regulatory authorities are working to improve the investment climate through market transparency, albeit at a slow pace. The relaxation of FDI laws, an improvement in the availability of data and strengthening of regulations in the real estate sector will improve FDI in the sector in the near future," the report added. -PTI

Indiabulls buys land in London for Rs 1,550 crore MUMBAI: Indiabulls Real Estate has paid £155 million (Rs 1,550 crore) for a commercial property in London's Mayfair, marking the third significant realty investment in London by an Indian realtor since November 2013.

The Mumbai-based developer has bought a 87,444 sq ft

property, 22 Hanover Square, in an auction from the Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, which is now part of Aberdeen Asset Management. Mayfair is an up-market London neighborhood, home to the significantly wealthy.

Indiabulls is looking to finance the transaction through internal accruals, company officials said.

It plans to convert the building which is currently rented out to international property consultants, JLL - into a luxury residential property. Buyers from India could constitute a significant chunk of apartment owners, company officials said.

The conversion, including the change in end-use, could take over two years, the officials said.

Till then JLL would stay on as a tenant. Its lease on the building is till 2017.

The building was put on block in April this year with H2SO, a property consultant, that recently

become part of Colliers International advising Scottish Widows Investment Partnership on the sale. "Indiabulls Group is managing a large capital base of Rs18,000 crore and had made

safe investment," said Sameer Gehlaut, Chairman, Indiabulls Group while confirming the transaction.

Another Mumbaibased realtor, the Lodha Group, bought two

profits after taxes of over Rs 1,800 crore last year. We are now seeking to diversify our investments and profit pool across various geographies and London is a very

properties in London McDonald House in central London in November last year and a building on Carey Street in February 2014.

Real Estate Post

July 4, 2014

India Post 27

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Omaxe to raise Rs 300 Harmony offers rebates up to cr via equity dilution $12K for new homes

NEW DELHI: Real estate firm Omaxe Ltd plans to raise Rs 300 crore this fiscal through selling part of its equity to fund the ongoing as well as future projects, the company's top official said.

Omaxe, which posted over Rs 1,600 crore turnover last fiscal, will launch seven projects in the JulySeptember period, expecting that the property market will start improving from the next quarter.

"We will launch 7 projects, mostly housing, in the second quarter of this fiscal in Chandigarh, Jaipur, Indore, Bhiwadi, Rohtak, Faridabad and Vrindavan," Omaxe Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mohit Goel told PTI. Asked about investments, he said the company will invest about

diluting promoters' stake by 8-10 per cent depending on the market conditions, he said.

Promoters currently has 74.99 per cent stake in the company which has a market cap of about Rs 2,600 crore.

Goel said the company has not yet decided on the route through which it will raise money. "It's too early to say whether it will be Institutional Placement Program (IPP), Qualified Institutional Placement (QIP), Private Equity (PE) or Rights Issue".

On sales, Goel said Omaxe did not launch any project this quarter due to lack of approvals and as a result the sales bookings are expected to be lower.

However, he expected the sales

Omaxe will launch seven projects in the July-September period, expecting that the property market will start improving from the next quarter

Rs 800-900 crore in 2014-15 on construction of ongoing projects and those to be launched next quarter.

On source of funding, Goel said: "It will be largely through internal accruals. We are also looking to raise Rs 300 crore as equity during this fiscal as our debt-equity ratio is comfortable". Omaxe had a gross debt of Rs 1,049 crore with a debt-equity ratio of 0.48 as on March 31.

The funds would be raised by

to be better next quarter on new launches and likely improvement in the housing demand.

Overall, the company is targeting 20 per cent increase in the sales bookings this fiscal to over Rs 2,500 crore.

Omaxe has a land bank of about 4,400 acres in 30 cities across 9 states. The Delhi-based firm is executing 42 real estate projects that include 18 townships, 14 group housing and 10 commercial. -PTI

Architectural work begins for new veterans home LINCOLN, Neb.: Architectural work has begun on the new Central Nebraska Veterans Home in Kearney, and state officials say they expect the project to qualify for federal funding.

John Hilgert, the state veterans' homes director in the Department of Health and Human Services, says it's prudent to move ahead with the design work as part of the federal grant process.

Hilgert says starting the work will demonstrate the project's readiness to federal officials.

State officials announced

in January that they had chosen Wilkins Hinrichs Stober Architects of Kearney to be the lead architect for the new home. The new facility will replace the aging Grand Island Veterans Home.-AP

HARMONY, Minn.: The southeastern Minnesota city of Harmony really wants new residents so much that it's offering to pay up to $12,000 to families willing to build new homes there.

The community of 1,020 recently began offering rebates to counter the loss of young professionals to other communities after officials learned that younger people don't want to live in old homes that need work, the Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported. ``The younger people coming

here, they don't want to live in their grandmother's house,'' said Steve Cremer, president of Harmony Enterprises, which manufactures trash compactors and recycling equipment. Cremer estimates that 95 percent of his employees live outside of Harmony, in cities such as St. Charles, Rushford and Rochester.

So, Harmony is offering $5,000 to people who build a house worth $125,000, and up to $12,000 for a $250,000 home. The city has at least 15 lots that are shovel-ready.

Lots with dilapidated, vacant

homes can also qualify.

Existing single-family houses might cost $60,000 but then require $50,000 of work, said Christopher Skaalen, head of the Harmony Economic Development Authority.

The young professionals whom the city is seeking want move-inready homes, he said. ``We do have homes like that, but they never go on the market,'' said Skaalen, president of First Southeast Bank. Instead, they're snapped up privately, without ever being listed.-AP

India Post 29

July 4, 2014 www.indiapost.com

TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Galliyan: Ek Villain 2 Banjaara: Ek Villain 3 Saturday Saturday: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania 4 Callertune: Humshakals 30 India Post

July 4, 2014

www.indiapost.com

5 Fugly Fugly Kya Hai: Fugly 6 Aaj Phir Tumpe: Hate Story 2 7 Johnny Johnny: Its Entertainment 8 Samjhawan: Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania 9 Raat Bhar: Heropanti 10 Humdard: Ek Villain

R

anbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif recently shot in South Africa for one of their forthcoming films. Interestingly, it is learnt that during the shoot in Ficksburg, the two stayed in a honeymoon cottage of a hotel.

A source reveals, "The film was extensively shot across SA - in Cape Town, Ficksburg and Johannesburg. The cottage that Ranbir and Katrina shared in Ficksburg happened to be called 'honeymoon cottage'.

They were teased by the crew about it and the two took it sportingly."

What's more, the lovebirds also took time off from work to shop for their new home. Another source added that when Ranbir returned to Mumbai a few days ago - Kat had flown to London briefly - their 12 bags were stalled by the customs. They were returned to the actor only the next morning.

V

idya Balan's get-up as a beggar - one of her numerous disguises in Bobby Jasoos - has fooled many, including her father. And the latest person to be at the receiving end of her prank is Hrithik Roshan.

Vidya, dressed as a beggar, approached the actor while he was shooting at a suburban studio and refused to leave until she received alms from him.

Hrithik was startled and even called out to his security guards to throw the beggar out. And, when the latter refused, Duggu was even more confused.

It was only when the unit members

and the security personnel burst out laughing that Hrithik realized that he had been taken for a ride. While he couldn't believe Vidya's transformation initially, the two were seen sharing a hearty laugh over it later.

A

fter the success of his debut film, 'Heropanti', there's no stopping Tiger Shroff. The actor has been busy rehearsing for a music video. It is learnt that Tiger, with some of his friends, has remixed Whistle baja from 'Heropanti' and Billy Jean from Michael Jackson's album 'Thriller'.

The music video will be directed by one of Tiger's friends and will be released online as a tribute to the King of Pop. Tiger confirmed the news saying, "MJ is my inspiration, he's the reason I started dancing. The idea has been with me for several years but it's only now that I feel ready to go ahead with it."

Will we see him do the famous MJ moonwalk in the video? "Of course, I've practiced it enough. I can never be as good as MJ but as a mimic I think I do a pretty good job of it," he laughs.

Bollywood

July 4, 2014

India Post 31

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S

alman Khan's character in Kick may be called Devil, but his female fans definitely seem to think otherwise. They went berserk when the superstar recently invited them for the launch of the film's first song, Jumme Ki Raat.

Close to 100 girls got an opportunity to watch the chartbuster, which features Jacqueline Fernandez and the actor. The fans were thrilled to watch the video and cheered for Salman, addressing him as Jaan.

An eyewitness says, "The girls in the auditorium were cheering for him and kept on saying, 'You are our jaan.'" We guess after Bhai, Sallu now has a new moniker.

"The girls in the auditorium were cheering for him and kept on saying,

窶郎OU ARE OUR JAAN'

A

diti Rao Hydari feels there are two distinct types of career opportunities in Bollywood. One for girls from film families and another for girls who come to the industry with no connections.

When she stepped into the Hindi film industry, she was clueless about playing the game, but has now found her niche in tinsel town.

"It's all falling in place. I am happy that I have my own place now. I want to be known as an actor who is irreplaceable. What is mine must only be mine," said Aditi, who will be seen in distinctive roles in Guddu Rangeela and The Legend of Michael Mishra. It has taken Aditi a while to find her bearings in the film industry ever since she came here in 2006.

Luckily, she hasn't met the wolves of Bollywood.

"Not that anyone takes advantage of you. I firmly believe the way one is treated depends on one's conduct and intentions. Of course, men will look at you in a certain way if you are single and attractive. I believe most men behave strangely with women when their wives and girlfriends are not watching," she added.

S

oojit Sircar's 'Piku' will see a unique pairing of Deepika Padukone and Irrfan Khan. It is a beau tiful story of a father-daughter relationship and Irrfan Khan will play a pivotal role.

It stars Amitabh Bachchan in the lead role. "The charisma of Mr Bachchan, seamless acting of Deepika with the versatile flair of Irrfan Khan and the evergreen Moushumi Chaterjee will make Piku an experience for me," said Soojit Sircar, the 'Vicky Donor' director.

He added, "Piku is a character-driven fatherdaughter story. There are essentially three characters in the film of the father, daughter and another man played by Irrfan. I've Bachchan saab's dates and very frankly, all the other actors' dates would have to fall in line w i t h Bachchan Saab's schedule."

„ Health

Line

100 doctors watch hip replacement surgery JAIPUR: Doctors at a private hospital here performed three "revision hip replacement" surgeries, which was aired live for 100 orthopedic surgeons in Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

The proceeding was aired live for the orthopedic surgeons as part of a skill enhancing course.

The surgery was performed on three patients - two men aged 30

and 35 years and a 70-year-old woman, Anoop Jhurani of Fortis Hospital told reporters here.

A number of patients who had undergone hip or knee replacement surgeries in recent years and had developed infection or other post-operation now can go for "revision replacement" for their either hip or knee, Jhurani said.

"It is important to treat this problem immediately as the infection could damage the hip bone," he said. -PTI

„

Shannon named CEO of Cook County hospitals CHICAGO: A physician with 15 years' experience at Cook County's public hospital has been named CEO. Dr. John Jay Shannon has been interim CEO at Cook County Health and Hospitals System since his predecessor left in March.

Crain's Chicago Business reported that the 54-year-old Shannon has had assignments at the organization several times over the years. Most recently, he returned in 2013 after serving as chief medical officer at Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas.

He replaces Dr. Ramanathan Raju who left to take the head post at New York City Health and Hospitals Corp.

The health system includes John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, Provident Hospital and a network of clinics. It serves a large number of uninsured and low-income patients. -AP

Health Science

Indian-origin top doc warns of health crisis in UK Details on Page 34

32 India Post

www.indiapost.com

July 4, 2014

Indian govt working on world's largest health insurance scheme HOUSTON: The new Indian government is planning to bring about a "complete transformation" of the health sector and is working on the blueprint of the world's largest universal health insurance program.

This was announced by Health Minister Harsh Vardhan as he read out a speech by Prime Minister Modi to a gathering of US-based Indian medical professionals in San Antonio, Texas, underscoring the need for all citizens to involve themselves in the national endeavor for "Healthy India".

"It is my firm belief that our focus needs to go beyond health insurance. The way ahead lies in health assurance. We need to focus on preventive health care where public participation has a major role to play," the Prime Minister said in his address to delegates at the 32nd annual convention of the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) held in San Antonio.

Modi said the aim of his government is to bring about a "complete transformation" of the health sector through research, innovation and the latest technology.

The AAPI is a professional body of physicians of Indian-origin.

On medical insurance, Harsh

Vardhan said that the blueprint of the world's largest universal health insurance program is in the process of being sharpened under his personal gaze.

It is partially inspired by US President Barack Obama's grand insurance-for-all project which is

The Prime Minister's message also resonated in Harsh Vardhan's address to AAPI members.

He named specific sectors where AAPI members could contribute, like accepting teaching assignments, share knowledge on telemedicine, lend their expertise

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan shakes hands with Sylvia Mathews Burwell, US Secretary of Health in Washington

popularly known as "Obamacare", he said.

"The Prime Minister has authorized me to come up with a brand new policy soon. I need your help to write this all-important document," the Minister said.

in fighting disease, help develop model primary health centers, etc.

The Health Minister also unfurled the "Swasth India" portal which, apart from showcasing medical advancement and recommending panacea for the benefit

of Indians, would facilitate online permission for Indian American doctors to serve in the areas of their choice in India.

"Swasth India" would make it possible for any US-based Indian doctor to select the areas they wish to serve in India, seek and receive formal approval from Medical Council of India (MCI) on their qualifications, and address all other government issues within 15 days.

"Before leaving on this trip, I had written to MCI that existing bottlenecks should be eased and if permission is held up beyond 15 days, then it should be deemed automatically granted," Harsh Vardhan said.

The president of MCI, Jayashreeben Mehta, was present on the occasion.

Harsh Vardhan's theme, "2020: Vision for Healthcare in India" drew warm appreciation from the audience.

He stressed that under Modi's overarching leadership, health policy making and its implementation will not be the monopoly of the government but would be guided by the lived experience of hundreds of experts who will be urged to bring local solutions to local problems. -PTI

Vardhan seeks US help on cause of AES NEW DELHI: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has sought the help from a USbased research institution to understand the root causes (etiology) of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), which is still a mystery.

Vardhan, who is on an official tour of the US, held a fourhour long meeting with top experts at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta.

During the talks, he highlighted the annual visitation of Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) which leads to heavy loss of life in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, ac-

cording to a press release.

"Though I have personally visited the affected areas of the two states recently and overseen an immunization drive, I feel that CDC's research assistance could

go a long way in understanding the root causes (etiology) of AES which is still a mystery. So I made a request to Dr Tom Frieden, Director in this regard," the release added.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan visited the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta

Vardhan also discussed the possibility of CDC giving technical assistance for development of early warning, epidemic preparedness and response, development of field friendly rapid diagnostic kits and bilateral cooperation for development of Dengue vaccine.

The Minister and the CDC specialists exchanged views on programs for diabetes, hypertension, ending the culture of physical inactivity and on the need for strengthening global health security, the release said.

The Health Minister reiterated his intention of making health for all a social movement in India. -PTI

July 4, 2014

Health Science Post

India Post 33

www.indiapost.com

US pharma firms want Dabur to deepen focus on chemists network dialogue with India BOSTON: Top executives of American pharma companies favor "dialogue" with India and "not confrontation" to address their concerns on key issues like the protection of intellectual property (IP) and clinical trials.

Arguing that global pharma companies share the same goal of "patient first" with that of the Government of India, corporate executives attending the day-long "US-In-

MedImmune, a prominent bio-tech company, told PTI. "We want to work together with the Indian Government.

But we can't right now, go (to India) in a meaningful way if there is no IP protection," she said adding that New Delhi's compulsory licensing policies would force pharma companies to go to some other countries.

"The Government has to understand, the

"We want to work together with the Indian Government. But we can't right now, go (to India) in a meaningful way if there is no IP protection" dia BioPharma and Healthcare Summit" organized by the USA-India Chamber of Commerce said they should not be considered as adversaries by New Delhi.

While asserting there can be no compromise on IP protection issues, executives from top US pharma companies said that they are willing to work with India like "tier pricing" to come out with a solution, which is acceptable to the both the parties.

"We can sit around a table and have a dialogue. We need to move from seeing the industry as adversary to work together to help patients.

The only way we can do it is by having collaboration and actually a dialogue," Bahija Jallal, executive Vice President of

first thing that we care about is the patient.

We can have a dialogue.

Every country that we go to, we understand the different layers that exists economically," she said.

Dr Robert Langer, David J Koch Institute Professor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) argued that not protecting intellectual property would destroy innovation in the long term.

Patents system, he said, is very important for encouraging many aspects of innovation.

"Having investment capital, having laws that encourage investment into innovation is important," Langer said. -PTI

Drop of blood for quick diagnoses to astronauts LONDON: A new tester for astronauts onboard the International Space Station (ISS) that can provide medical diagnoses within a few minutes just from a pinprick of blood is being developed by ESA. The ultimate device will offer rapid health checks and results for scientific research.

The droplet is placed on a portable device built around a disc like a miniDVD. The disc is set spinning to separate the sample into plasma and serum for a whole range of simultaneous tests.

On the ground, there are already numerous applications. The automated laboratory unit covers illnesses such as heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes and liver disease.

The space device is being developed

by Irish company Radisens Diagnostic, which began working with The European Space Agency (ESA) in 2011.

Radisens Chief Executive Officer Jerry O'Brien realized "you don't need gravity for this to work - spinning it in space should work just as well."

"Our subsequent approach has been to leverage our commercial developments for use in space as well. Potentially the technology could be ready for use in orbit within this decade," said O'Brien.

The first phase of the partnership with ESA assessed its suitability for space, with this new phase intending to design practical prototypes for use on the station and other future manned space missions.

Weightless living aboard the confined quarters of the orbital outpost can lead to various negative consequences, but the day-by-day oversight by medical experts on the ground is limited. -PTI

MUMBAI: Delhi-based Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) major Dabur has said it will focus more on the chemist network to increase sales of its personal and healthcare products.

"To capture the potential of the coming times, Dabur has embarked on an initiative to strengthen its presence amongst the chemists, which we feel will be a key driver of growth for our consumer healthcare and personal care business," chairman Anand Burman said in the annual report.

"We have re-organized our sales teams specifically to cater to the demands of chemist channel and also enhance distribution of healthcare and personal products portfolio through this network. As a result, our direct chemist coverage is planned to increase from 1.72 lakh to 2.06 lakh outlets and the footprint will continue to grow particularly in the top 150 towns where this initiative has a major focus," he added.

In the first phase, Dabur plans to significantly increase its direct coverage in the chemist channel in urban markets and increase the availability of its product range in this channel.

The project is already under implementation and the company expects to derive

benefits from the increased coverage going ahead.

The company said the FCMG retail landscape in the urban markets is witnessing the emergence of chemist outlets as a key trade channel as they influence OTC (Over the Counter) sales.

"Today, the chemists play an active role in promoting OTC products with the flexibility to drive sales of particular brands and products and are fast emerging as re-

"Chemists will be a key driver of growth for our consumer healthcare and personal care business," chairman Anand Burman said in the annual report. tailers of a larger range of health and personal care products. Besides being critical retail points, chemists also act as advisors to consumers seeking solutions to treat moderate and non-critical health problems.

-PTI

Health Science Post

34 India Post

July 4, 2014

www.indiapost.com

Indian-origin top doc warns Too much TV can lead to early death of health crisis in UK LONDON: An Indian-origin head of general practitioners (GPs) has warned the British government that the country's health service is at a breaking point.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chairman of the British Medical Association's (BMA) GP committee, has warned that funding cuts and intense workload was making the work of doctors in the National Health Service (NHS) extremely difficult.

"Demand is outstripping supply. The patients we are seeing have more complex conditions and yet we still only have 10 minutes

Figures from the Royal College of GPs show that in 2005-6 it stood at 10.7 per cent of NHS spending, but by 2011-12 it had dropped to 8.4 per cent.

This amounts to a reduction of nearly 450 million pounds in funding, in real terms, over the past three years and, coupled with a 40-million-pound increase in annual demand for appointments over the past five years, has put the future of many surgeries and that of the entire NHS at risk, he said.

"We're forced into providing a conveyor belt of care at breakneck

The number of GPs as a proportion of all doctors in England has fallen from 34 per cent to 26 per cent in two decades and many existing GPs are making plans to retire early, Nagpaul warned. Junior doctors are increasingly shunning the profession for each consultation - that is woefully inadequate.

General practice is chronically under-funded and that is beginning to have an impact on the patient experience," Nagpaul said at the BMA's annual conference.

speed, up to 60 times in a day, added to by an open-ended volume of phone calls, home visits, repeat prescriptions, results, reports and hospital correspondence.

This is unmanageable, exhaust-

ing and unsustainable, and puts safety and quality at risk," Nagpaul said.

Waiting times for appointments are also getting longer as a result of increasing pressures with waits of "one or two weeks becoming the norm" for patients, he said.

The BMA is launching a campaign called "Your GP Cares" to pressure the government into providing more GPs, practice nurses and buildings.

The number of GPs as a proportion of all doctors in England has fallen from 34 per cent to 26 per cent in two decades and many existing GPs are making plans to retire early, Nagpaul warned.

Junior doctors are increasingly shunning the profession, with 451 training places unfilled last year, because of the workload and stress associated with the job.

A Department of Health spokesperson, however, stressed that the problem is not as stark, "The number of GPs has gone up by 1,000 since 2010 and we've taken tough decisions to protect the NHS budget so we can strengthen family doctoring, reform out-of-hospital care and improve GP access for 7.5 million people". -PTI

Bush's daughter leads global health group NEW HAVEN, Connecticut: vice to improve health care access. of fellows at Yale University for Barbara Bush was struck by what The knowledge and medicine more than two weeks of training. she saw when she arrived in Af- are available to prevent millions Selected from a pool of nearly rica more than a decade ago as of deaths around the world, ``and 5,000 applicants, the incoming her father, then-President George yet we aren't using it well enough class of 128 fellows - the largest W. Bush, unveiled a plan ever - is from 22 countries. to combat AIDS: HunBush said that after dreds of people were waitthat experience in Africa ing in the streets for in 2003, she became ``obantiretroviral drugs that sessed'' with global were readily available in health, taking all the the United States for years. courses she could before ``I think that enraged graduating from Yale in me,'' said Bush, a 32-year2004. She worked for Red old New York resident.

Cross Children's Hospital ``That experience really is in Cape Town, South Afwhat opened me up to conrica, and interned for sidering global health as a UNICEF in Botswana becareer path for myself.'' fore helping to create GloBush, twin sister Jenna bal Health Corps.

File photo of Barbara Bush, right, riding with her Bush Hager and four othFellows have diverse parents, U.S. President George W. Bush and first lady ers went on to create GloLaura Bush, as they tour the Mokolodi Nature Reserve backgrounds. Architects bal Health Corps in 2008. in Rwanda designed betoutside Gaborone, Botswana.

The group places young ter air flow systems at a professionals and recent college to do so,'' Bush said. health center to prevent the spread graduates in fellowships with She spoke to The Associated of tuberculosis, and now the plan health organizations in the United Press as Global Health Corps is being implemented around the States and Africa for a year of ser- planned to welcome its sixth class country, Bush said. -AP

WASHINGTON: Adults who watch TV three hours or more a day may double their risk of premature death from any cause, a new study has warned.

Researchers suggest adults should consider getting regular exercise, avoiding long sedentary periods and reducing TV viewing to one to two hours a day.

"Television viewing is a major sedentary behavior and there is an increasing trend toward all types of sedentary behaviors," said Miguel Martinez-Gonzalez,

Martinez-Gonzalez.

Researchers assessed 13,284 young and healthy Spanish university graduates (average age 37, 60 per cent women) to determine the association between three types of sedentary behaviors and risk of death from all causes: television viewing time, computer time and driving time.

The participants were followed for a median 8.2 years.

Researchers reported 97 deaths, with 19 deaths from cardiovascular causes, 46 from can-

the study's lead author and professor and chair of the Department of Public Health at the University of Navarra in Pamplona, Spain.

"Our findings are consistent with a range of previous studies where time spent watching television was linked to mortality," said

cer and 32 from other causes.

The risk of death was twofold higher for participants who reported watching three or more hours of TV a day compared to those watching one or less hours.

This twofold higher risk was also apparent after accounting for a wide array of other variables re-

Broadcaster wants injunction in health suit MOBILE, Ala.: A Catholic broadcaster is asking for a U.S. Supreme Court injunction as it pursues a lawsuit against requiring employers to include contraception in their health care coverage.

A federal judge dismissed the suit filed by the Eternal Word Television Network, which has studios in a Birmingham suburb, on June 18.

The network is planning an appeal, but says it needs a Supreme Court injunction before a July 1 deadline for complying with the national health care law. The filing states that the network would either face high fines or be forced to provide benefits that don't match its religious beliefs without an injunction.

Network chairman Michael Warsaw said the broadcaster is

also asking that the Supreme Court take up the case directly. ``We believe that the issues at stake are deserving of direct consideration by the highest court of the land,'' Warsaw said in a statement.

Dozens of church-related organizations have filed suit over the law across the country. Like those groups, EWTN contends the government is violating its rights by requiring employers to provide health care coverage that includes contraception. The broadcaster argues that medications resulting in abortion and procedures such as sterilization violate tenets of the Roman Catholic Church.

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments earlier this year in a case involving the law's contraception provisions, but has not yet ruled. -AP

July 4, 2014

Health Science Post

India Post 35

www.indiapost.com

AIIMS doctors want health Vermont Health Department urging HIV tests scheme extended NEW DELHI: Doctors and staff members of AIIMS have pitched for extending their health benefit scheme beyond the premiere institute to all other hospitals empanelled with the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS).

This will be one of the agendas to be discussed in the upcoming AIIMS' Standing Finance Committee and Governing Body meeting.

An EHS card holder of the premiere institute at present can avail regular treatment and check-ups done at AIIMS only.

He cannot go to any other hospital for treatment which is a problem, one of the faculty members said.

"Faculty of AIIMS do not have a pan India coverage of their health and thus availing treatment becomes difficult for them when they go back home to other states after retirement.

"This is a long pending demand of the staff members and faculty that they should

be able to avail the medical facilities same as their counterparts in central government services (Central Government Health Scheme) to ensure cash less and pan-India emergency and non-emergency health care coverage to the retired faculties," said AIIMS spokesperson Amit Gupta.

Even otherwise, Gupta said that AIIMS faculty members go to various other states for conferences and a health emergency can arise anytime during which they may need to seek treatment at any other hospital.

According to AIIMS Act, 1956, Regulation 35, employees of AIIMS are entitled to all allowances which are provided to the central government employees.

AIIMS administration has been backing the demand and the issue was raised at AIIMS standing finance committee meeting in 2013, but it could not be approved.

AIIMS administration also plans to raise the issue with the Union Health Ministry. -PTI

UnitedHealthcare to sell insurance in NC RALEIGH, N.C.: UnitedHealthcare has become the third insurer to announce plans to sell federally subsidized health insurance in North Carolina.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reports (http://bit.ly/1odpKog) the health insurer notified the N.C. Department of Insurance

``All eyes have been on United because United can immediately provide competition with Blue Cross,'' said Adam Linker, a health policy analyst with the N.C. Justice Center. ``It could really shake up the market share of individual plans in North Carolina.'' that it intends to sell subsidized coverage in the state under the Affordable Care Act. It filed its plans just days ahead of deadline for insurers to submit plans for federal certification.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield is one of just two insurers in North Carolina that offer subsidized policies this year. The other is Coventry Health Care of the Carolinas.

Both have notified state insurance officials that they plan to participate in the federal insurance exchange in 2015.

Blue Cross said it will operate in all 100 counties in 2015. It's not clear where Coventry and United will focus.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, UnitedHealthcare currently offers subsidized individual policies in just four states. ``All eyes have been on United because United can immediately provide competition with Blue Cross,'' said Adam Linker, a health policy analyst with the N.C. Justice Center. ``It could really shake up the market share of individual plans in North Carolina.''

Blue Cross, the state's biggest health insurer with 3.8 million customers, has dominated North Carolina's market for individual policies for years. The Chapel Hill nonprofit organization sold federally subsidized policies to 232,000 people in North Carolina for 2014. -AP

BURLINGTON, Vt.: The Health Depart- People at higher risk for infection who ment is urging all Vermonters to get tested should be tested yearly include injectionfor HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, at least drug users and their sex partners, persons once in their lives and yearly for people who exchange sex for money or drugs, sex considered to be at high risk of acquiring partners of people who are HIV-infected, the virus.

June 27 was National HIV Testing Day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nationally about 16 percent of people living with the virus don't know that they have it.

It can take about 11 years from when people become infected before symptoms present The Vermont Department of Health is urging Vermonters to get themselves. tested for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS ``While there is no cure for HIV, there are medications available to treat the condition,'' and men who have sex with men or heterosaid state infectious disease epidemiolo- sexuals who have had multiple sex partners gist Patsy Kelso. ``Treatment can improve since their last HIV test. health and prolong life - and it can reduce ``Getting tested for HIV provides valuthe amount of virus in the bloodstream able information that can help stop its which can greatly reduce your chance of spread,'' said Kelso. ``When people find out spreading HIV to others.'' that they have the virus they can take acThe state recommends that most people tion to prevent passing it on to others.'' should be tested for HIV at least once. AP

36 India Post

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Horoscope

38 India Post

July 4, 2014

www.indiapost.com

Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

JULY 4TH - JULY 10TH, 2014 (March 21 to April 20)

O

pportunity you had been waiting for will come with additional benefits. Venus in second will help you lay hands on some easy money this week. You may finally locate a real nice property and start the process to buy it. Spouse may feel exhausted and need to rest. This is the right time to approach government agency and seek favor.

(September 23 to October 22)

Y

ou may not like the way things are shaping up at work and try to have a meeting with superiors. You may not receive the as surance right away but will have positive vibrations at least.

Clearance from government agency could come in mid week. Some of you may spend time on looking at few properties and make offer on one.

(October 23 to November 22)

(April 21 to May 20)

Y

ou may visit a holy place with family and participate in special prayers this week. Mind will be totally relaxed as things will continue to go as per plans. Your final product will definitely have an edge over other similar products in the market. You may buy some nice furniture item for the house. Legal matters can also resolve favorably.

O

pportunity will be better than anticipated and will have added perks and bonus. You may visit a holy place with family and receive blessings of an enlightened person. Some of you may sign up for a short term program to enhance your knowledge.

Jupiter's transit also improves your chances for an addition in the family.

(November 23 to December 22)

(May 21 to June 20)

P

lanets will help you make the intelligent decisions in life. Any investment made this week will turn profitable very soon. Busi ness will pick up all of a sudden. You may visit a nice place with family this weekend. You may be seriously exploring the possibility of buying another running business. A child may decide to move away for a good reason.

E

xalted Jupiter will help regain self confidence but your actions and decisions will reflect little uneasiness. You may half heartedly make an offer on a property. Help and leads will come from an influential person. Any trip taken this week will be rewarding in many ways. You are very close to find solution involving a child.

(June 21 to July 22)

T

hings on hold for long will finally turn into reality. You will have multiple choices but will end up taking the right decision and go for long term gains rather than going for short one. You will make drastic changes in diet and quickly notice the improvement. Have patience when talking to an important contact over the phone this week.

(December 22 to January 19)

Y

ou will continue to gain an edge over your opponents. This is the right time to appear for a highly competitive exam. Money wise you will continue to stay comfortable. You may be able to sell your idea to the person showing big interest lately and ready with money. You will plan something interesting with family this week.

(July 23 to August 22)

E

xpenses towards a child will escalate. You may finally dispose off some assets for a large profit. You will also try to cut down on hot and spicy food. You may plan an outing with some colleagues from work this weekend. You may completely ignore a business proposal in partnership. You will gain friendship of a very influential person.

(January 20 to February 18)

Y

ou may replace one of your vehicle with a newer and luxury version. Other side will finally send the proposal and you will quickly accept it. Try to look for permanent solution to health issue that keep popping up now and then. Mind will stay sharp and full of new ideas. Bachelors may also start a new relationship.

(August 23 to September 22)

J

upiter in eleventh will benefit those looking for an ideal life partner.

A close friend or relative will introduce you to one. Physical exer cises will bring health back in shape. As far as the finances are concerned, presence of Venus in house of luck will give you the Midas touch and your plans will hit the bulls eye and rewards will be huge.

PANDIT PARASHAR, CEO & COO Astro Scan USA is also available for individual consultations.

He can be reached at: parashar@parashar.com

(February 19 to March 20)

R

eply you had been waiting for will finally show up in mail. Diplomatically you will resolve many issues and change of strat egy will help you save lots of money in future. It will be better to seek opinion from a trusted friend before you accept the new offer.

You may visit an old friend or a nice spot with family this weekend.

510-886-4370 www.parashar.com

Datebook

July 4, 2014

NEW JERSEY Upcoming Sat, July 12

• Papon Featuring Bollywood Music Venue: Edward Nash Theatre, Raritan Valley Community College, 118 Lamington Rd, Branchburg, NJ 08876 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: 609-865-9698

Sun, July 20

• Padma Bhushan Dr K.J. Yesudas Venue: Raritan Valley Community College Edward Nash Auditorium, 118 Lamington Rd, Somerville, NJ 08876 Time: 4:00 pm

NEW YORK Upcoming

www.indiapost.com

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

Upcoming

ILLINOIS Upcoming

Sat, July 12 • Hema Malini as Durga

Sat, July 5 • Future Without Fear

Sat, July 12 • Dheeyan Marjanian

Venue: Colden Center Auditorium, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Time : 8:00 pm Contact : 718-639-2881

Inspirational Talk by Raj Yogi Brahma Kumar, Brother Charles Hogg

Venue: Chabot College, 25555 Hesperian

every 2nd and 4rth Sunday of

Venue: Jain Center Auditorium, 722 S. Main Street, Milpitas, CA Time: 6pm to 9pm Contact: www.bksiliconvalley.org

Blvd, Hayward, CA 94545

Month

Time: 6:30 pm

Chicago Satsang Information:

Contact: 408-507-1290

J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda

Sat, July 12 A Workshop on Ritualistic Worship

Sat, July 28 • Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty Sanskriti Music

Led by Swami Harinamananda

Venue: Amador Theater, 1155 Santa Rita

Venue: Vedanta Societies of Seattle, San Francisco and Portland Time: 4:00 to 6:00 pm Guru Purnima Puja Time: 07:30pm Contact : chicagovedanta.org

Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok

Rd, Pleasanton, CA 94566

@ 630-561-4807

Time: 05:00 pm

Website: www.jkyog.org

Sat, Aug 9 • Kumar Sanu Live In Concert Venue: Colden Center, 65-30 Kissena Blvd, Flushing, NY 11367 Time: 08:00 pm Contact : 718-639-2881

Fri, July 27

Sun, Aug 24 • Mika Singh Live In New York

Venue: Marriott Uniondale Hotel, 101 James Doolittle Blvd, Uniondale, NY 11553 Time : 06:00 pm Contact: 732-331-0255

Venue: Long Island University, 720 Northern Blvd, NY 11368 Time: 06:30 pm Contact: 347-989-6104

• Fashion Extravaganza

India Post 39

• Vivekananda Vedanta Society

Chicago

Sat, July 12 • Devi Sri Prasad Live In Concert Venue: San Jose State University Event Center, 290 South 7th Street, San Jose, CA 95192 Time: 7 pm Contact: 972-655-8849

Sun, July 13 • Bombay Jayashree And Shubha Mudgal Live In Bay Area Venue: Sunnyvale Hindu temple, 450 Persian Dr, Sunnyvale, CA 94089 Contact: 510-565-9518

July 26, 27, Aug 2, 3 • BATA-Cricbay Cup - Proceeds will go to Sankara Eye Foundation (SEF) Venue: Fremont and Sunnyvale Cricket Ground Time: 9:00 am

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal Mukund Hindi Classes are held

Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm

Contact: 408-887-5948

ATLANTA

1st and 3rd Sunday of Month • Chicago Children's

Upcoming Fri, July 11 • Tamil Mega Kondattam

Bal Mukund

Stars

Character Building Program and Hindi Literacy Classes

Venue: Ferst Center for the Arts, 349 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30313 Time: 6:30 pm

Venue: Vogelei Center, 650 W. Higgins

Tue, July 24 • Aakriti - An Evening of Indian Classical Dance

Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @

Venue: Joe Mack Wilson Auditorium,Southern Polytechnic State U, 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060 Time: 4:30 am

Sun, July 29 • Bollywood Dream Girl Hema Malini As Durga Venue: Atlanta Symphony Hall, 1280 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303 Time: 6:30pm

Road, Hoffmann Estates, IL 60192 (Next to Nissan Dealership) 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org/bal-mukund

Mondays and Fridays • Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

40 India Post

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July 4, 2014

Tableland

P

anchgani, literally meaning the place of five hills, is a renowned hill station in Maharashtra located at 1,334 mt. It is a vibrant scenic destination and its beauty multiplies with the backdrop of hilly terrains on one side and coastal plains on the other. This place had been used by the British officials as their summer resort.

Panchgani is known for its unpolluted air and it is believed that the oxygen content in atmosphere is more here compared to other regions.

Due to this many people select it for convalescing from diseases. The ambience is very cool and calm and the exquisite environment is a perfect background for rejuvenation.

Panchgani is spotted with many attractive colonial period cottages with all luxurious facili-

ties for the tourists to spend their vacation in perfect seclusion and enjoyment. This place is bestowed with buildings of British architecture, Parsi houses and the boarding schools. The town, a natural relaxation spot, adds its comforts with the soothing effect of cool breeze rustling through the thick woody regions. Panchgani has many western plant species including poinsettia and silver oaks, which are originally planted by British people.

Fresh air, unspoiled natural beauty, breathtaking panoramic views and lush greeneries make this place one of the most sought after hill stations in Maharashtra. It is also renowned for international quality education and there are at least three dozen schools offering high standard facilities for children.

Cont’d on page 42

Rajapuri Caves

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July 4, 2014

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Mobile app launched for exploring 16 cities NEW DELHI: The Ministry of Tourism has launched a mobile application to enable its users to independently travel and experience 16 cities in the country.

The self-guided tour application 'Incredible India Walking Tours' was launched by the Ministry in collaboration with Genesys International Corporation and will

India's outbound tourism sees summer rush NEW DELHI: A growing number of Indians belonging to upper middle class families are opting for foreign holidays this summer, drawn by online travel portals, social media references and wooed by aggressive marketing by tour operators, says an Assocham survey.

It is estimated that outbound

holiday destinations like Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia are wooing the well-off middle class to opt for such destinations.

The outbound tourism is expected to grow further once the economy picks up, according to the survey.

Another reason behind Indians

Thailand

tourists may increase by about 15 to 20 per cent this summer, although domestic destinations like Srinagar are also drawing a huge crowd as witnessed by full flights to and from these destinations.

Significantly, the outbound tourist rush is being witnessed even as the Indian economy is battling a slowdown.

Moreover, excessive heat in most parts of the country, coupled with attractive packages for nearby

opting for overseas holidays is the fast integration of the Indian economy with the rest of the world, courtesy which IT firms are sending lakhs of professionals on short-term assignments to work abroad.

International tourist destinations like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai, Maldives and South Africa will be Indian travelers' favorites this summer, the survey said. -PTI

Malaysia

cover 16 Indian cities including Agra, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Coastal Goa, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Patna, Pune and Surat.

The facility will be extended to

36 cities by December, 2015.

The app enables users to sightsee free of cost at their own pace and convenience, with the help of walking tours curated by travel experts.

"We are extremely excited about

this because it is the first time an app can enable users to discover India on their own. It's free, easy to use and, most importantly, comes with 360 degree street views and information put together by a panel of experts. It's like having a local take you by the hand and show you his city, at your convenience," Tourism Minister Sripad Naik said.

The application, however, is only available on Blackberry mobile handsets. It runs on all BlackBerry 10 handsets including the Z3, Z10, Z30, Q5 and Q10 phones.

An Android version of the free application is also in the works and is expected to be announced in coming weeks, said a senior Tourism Ministry official. -PTI

42

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PANCHGANI Its unpolluted air has more oxygen content Cont’d from page 40

The Mahabaleshwar Hill Station and Venna Lake are some attractions nearby.

Lord Karthikeya temple is the main attraction in these caves. The temple itself is constructed out of the sand taken from the caves. The journey to the Rajpuri caves from Panchgani through serene, greenish villages will rejuvenate the mind of the traveler.

Mahabaleshwar Temple: Mahabaleshwar Temple is one of the famous temples of the city and is devoted to Lord Shiva and holds strong religious values. It is located inside a five feet high stone wall and has a Shiva Lingam which is of black stone.

Sydney Point: Located at a distance of just 3 kms from Panchgani, Sydney Point is famous

Parsi Point: Parsi Point, a renowned picnic spot, lies on the Mahabaleshwar road in Panchgani. It offers panoramic views of picturesque Dhom Dam backwaters and the lush green Krishna valley. Sydney point is another breathtaking beautiful spot near Parsi Point.

Pratapgad Fort: A historical destination, Pratapgad Fort is located at a distance of 40 kms from Panchgani city and is believed to be one of the very popular forts in Maratha history. This fort reminds one of the ancient Maratha relics and is a wonderful destination. It was constructed by the Maratha chief Chhatrapati Shivaji in the year 1656.

for providing charming views of the Krishna Valley, Dhom Dam, Kamalgad Fort and the city of Wai. The point was named after Sir Sidney Beckwarth, Commander in Chief of the council.

Wilson Point: An astonishing viewpoint, the Wilson point is situated at a distance of 19 kms from Panchgani and is known as the Sunrise Point. This is the highest point in Mahabaleshwar and is very popular for its three watch towers.

Lord Karthikeya Temple: Located inside the Rajpuri caves, Lord Karthikeya Temple is devoted to Lord Karthikeya, son of Lord Shiva. The Thaipooyam festival is

Kamalgad Fort

ATTRACTIONS Kamalgad Fort: A wonderful tourist destination, Kamalgad Fort is located just 69 kms from the city and provides an exquisite view of verdant green vegetation, dense woods and Dhom backwaters. The fort is situated at an altitude of 4522 ft and is worth visiting.

Rajpuri Cave: The Rajpuri Caves in Panchgani is a religiously important tourist spot. These ancient caves are surrounded by many water kunds (ponds). Devotees believe that taking bath in these holy kunds will provide relief from all kinds of diseases and evils. Legends claim that the holy Ganges also flows into these kunds.

the main attraction of this temple which is celebrated in the months of January and February and attracts a large number of tourists every year.

Tableland: Tableland has been credited with the privilege of being Asia's second longest mountain Plateau. This is a wide expanse of laterite rock and this place offers the grandeur view of Panchgani hill station itself. One can get breathtaking views of Rajpuri caves and the place known as "Devil's Kitchen from here.

Tableland provides a natural protection for Panchgani from strong winds, heavy rains and it helps Panchgani to keep its ambience enjoyable for tourists. Tableland serves as a great sports and games place for children and young.

BEST TIME TO VISIT Panchgani has a moderate cli-

mate all through the year. But the best time to visit is from September to May. June to September there occurs medium level rainfall. The place is not crowded and monsoon lovers as well as peace seekers are sure to enjoy their visits.

HOW TO REACH

By Train: Pune Railway station, about 95 km away, is the major railway station near Panchagani. Pune is well connected to all cities in India by rail.

By Air: Pune, which is 95 km away from Panchgani, is the nearest airport. Pune is connected to Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore by air.

By Bus: Panchagani is well connected by state road transport public bus services. Regular bus services are available from Pune to Panchagani. Super fast and Deluxe A/C buses are also available in this route.

July 4, 2014

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India may relax entry to restricted areas for tourism BANGKOK: India may relax stricted zone. rules in the restrictive areas of Arunachal Pradesh, Leh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir to promote tourism in these picturesque regions without compromising security, a seIndo-China War Memorial , Tawang nior Minister has said.

The People Area Permit (PAP) and Restricted Area Permit (RAP) from certain pockets of Arunachal Pradesh, Leh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir will be relaxed to promote tourism, Minister of State for home Kiren Rijiju said here.

Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, said tourists including foreigners, were keen to visit places like Buddhist shrines, and some of these were inside the re-

India expects 400 mn air passengers by 2020 JAIPUR: India has witnessed a the state. growth in number of air travelers On the suggestion of Chief due to liberal aviation policy and Minister Vasundhara Raje, the entry of small air carriers, and is Civil Aviation Minister agreed to likely to touch 400 million mark by form a joint committee of the state 2020, Union Civil Aviation Minis- and central government's aviation ter P Ashok Gajapathi Raju has officers to formulate a policy to said. expand air connectivity in "With the entry of small carriers the number of middle class passengers and the aviation income enabled by liberal policy was increased. In 2013-14, the number of passengers recorded was 169 million, which showed six per cent growth in comparison to 2012-13," the Minister said.

This growth is expected to rise above 400 million passengers by the year 2020, the Union Minister said.

Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Today, India's aviaGajapathi Raju tion was the fastest growing market in the world, being the 10th largest, he Rajasthan. said, adding it would be expected Speaking on the occasion, Raje to be the second Indian domestic said Rajasthan needed smaller airtravel market in the world with an craft with capacity of 30 to 70 pasimmense potential in maintenance, sengers so that the state could be repair, ground handling and capac- connected by air from different ity building in aviation sector. parts of the state and also to adRaju said air connectivity to joining states Madhya Pradesh, Bikaner was bound to increase Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, and tourism in the sandy desert part of Haryana.-PTI

"If you restrict a region it will never open up. Link will always be restrictive. We are not lifting all restrictions.

We want to open up for foreigners partially, with less restriction, to all visitors", Rijiju said.

He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 6th Asian Ministerial Conference

Leh and Ladakh

CM seeks global hotel brands in Himachal SHIMLA: Stressing on the need for harnessing the tourism potential of Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh has said that setting up hotels by global brands could be a "game changer" for tourism sector in the state.

Presiding over sixth meeting of HP Tourism Development Board here, Singh said that tourism industry contributes 9.75 per cent to the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) and setting up hotels by international brands could be a "game changer" for the sector.

The chief minister said that the state government can facilitate big hoteliers by either providing them land on lease or by identifying suitable land for them to construct hotels.

Singh also expressed happiness over UNESCO heritage status for Great Himalayan National Park in Kullu district and said it would certainly go a long way in promoting tourism in the state.

"Seminars in association with FICCI, ASSOCHAM or CII should be held in the near future as these hoteliers were also members of such associations and could be urged to invest in the state in interest of tourism industry," Singh said.

"Such steps would give fillip to the tourism industry and Himachal would emerge as leading global tourism destination by 2029," the Chief Minister said.-PTI

on Disaster Risk Reduction, where he was leading an Indian delegation.

The minister who has been given the charge of the northeast region emphasized the need to open these areas to domestic and foreign tourists with less restriction and develop infrastructure in the bordering areas.

"We don't want to lift RAP and PAP. We want to relax to extent that it does not pose security risk," the minister said.

He said, if a region was restricted and made inaccessible to tourists it would never develop.

"We are not lifting all restrictions, but would like to open these areas to domestic and foreign tourists with less restriction and develop infrastructure in the bordering areas to make it easily accessible to all visitors," he said.

India's look east can be substan-

tiated only through north east India, Rijiju said.

The northeast can be a hub of tourism, culture and trade, he said adding that it was also important strategically.

The minister said that with the tripartite agreement on road link connecting South East Asia to India through the north east, the country could benefit immensely in trade and integration.

"Without northeast, India would largely be South Asia.

Northeast has forest land, water, oil, gas, coal reserves. So blessed, so strategic we need to understand our own importance," the minister said.

"I am excited being a minister where Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said the north east will be interconnected within the north east too," he added referring to development of infrastructure.-PTI

In Brief Hundreds rally for immigration reform in NYC NEW YORK: Hundreds of immigration activists have protested at the federal building in lower Manhattan to demand immigration reform.

The protesters circled 26 Federal Plaza while chanting and carrying signs.

Steve Choi of the New York Immigration Coalition said activists are tired of waiting for Congress to act.

Protester Ali Najmi said deportations are breaking up families and children are losing their parents.

Also, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi visited the U.S.Mexico border and said she holds little hope that Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform this year.

Pelosi visited a Border Patrol facility in Brownsville, Texas where unaccompanied children are being held.

More than 52,000 unaccompanied children, most from Central America, have been apprehended entering the U.S. illegally since October. -AP

„ India for careful handling of Bangla migrants issue DHAKA: Describing illegal immigration from Bangladesh as a "sensitive issue", External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has underlined the need for consultations with all stakeholders to carefully handle the problem along India's nearly 4,000-km porous border with its eastern neighbor.

The new Indian government wants to take Indo-Bangladesh relations to a new high, Swaraj said in an interview to a leading Bangla daily, during her first stand-alone visit as foreign minister.

"We not only want to maintain the relationship both countries enjoyed during the previous regime, but also want to take it to a new height," she told Prothom Alo daily.

"The illegal migrants issue is a sensitive subject in any country and needs careful handling," said Swaraj.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his election campaign had threatened to deport all "illegal migrants from Bangladesh", especially when he campaigned in West Bengal and the states of the northeast.

"We want to address the issue through consultations with all stakeholders... The issue is also important for both the countries on security front..." she said. -PTI

Immigration

Rare certification on questions of state law

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Details on page 46

Immigration overhaul death may hurt Colorado GOP DENVER: The 2014 electoral map makes it unlikely Republicans will pay an immediate political price for the recent death of an immigration overhaul bill, except in one key, perennial swing state: Colorado.

The state is home to a marquee Senate contest, a sharply competitive House race and one of the largest Hispanic populations in the nation, a group that comprises 14 percent of the state's voters.

The GOP-controlled House of Representatives declined to take any action on immigration despite a shift in fast-growing, immigrantheavy voting blocs away from Republicans and a bipartisan Senate bill that would step up border security and provide a route to citizenship for many of the 11 million people here illegally.

The inactivity angered immigration rights supporters, but outside of Colorado the GOP faces little threat from potential backlash over the issue in the November elections.

Most Republican representatives are in districts with very small minority populations, and they had more to worry about from potential primary challengers coming from their right to oppose any action on the failed immigration

proposal. Most Senate races this year are in states with small Hispanic populations, as well.

Analysts expect the GOP to pay a price in 2016, when Republicans will need to capture states such

their inaction on immigration. ``The national focus of the immigration reform community is on Colorado,'' said Patty Kupfer, managing director of the immigrant rights group America's

Candidate for U.S. Congress Andrew Romanoff, middle, hosts several undocumented students who came to the US as children, to discuss the impact that passing immigration reform legislation would have on them and their families, at Romanoff's campaign office Friday June 27 in Aurora, Colo.

as Nevada, Colorado and Florida to win the White House, but that's a lifetime away, politically.

Democrats and immigrant rights groups are targeting Colorado as the one place where they can make Republicans suffer for

Voice. ``This is where we're throwing down.''

They'll focus their efforts on the Senate battle between Republican U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner and Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Udall and the congressional race,

Dallas County to house up to 2,000 immigrant kids DALLAS: A judge says as many as 2,000 unaccompanied immigrant children could be transported from the TexasMexico border to three temporary housing facilities in Dallas County by the end of next month.

Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins said youngsters would move from facilities in McAllen to his county. The plan is to have each spend about three weeks there, before being placed with relatives around the U.S. Jenkins said the first county temporary housing facility is al-

Clay Jenkins

ready being prepared, and that officials are working with federal authorities to find two more by late July.

A surge of immigrant families, mostly from Central America, has overwhelmed federal authorities.

Jenkins said immigration politics aside, Dallas County wants to help children who are ``scared and trapped in not good conditions on the border.'' -AP

one of the most competitive in the nation, pitting Republican incumbent Rep. Mike Coffman against former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a Democrat.

Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a prominent Democratic congressman from Illinois who is active on immigration issues, appeared at a press conference in Denver with Colorado's two Democratic senators to mark the one-year anniversary of the failed Senate bill.

He castigated House Republicans for their inaction and did not spare Udall's challenger, Gardner. ``It's not enough for you to simply say the right thing,'' Gutierrez said of Gardner. ``You have to do the right thing.''

He was referencing Gardner's statements in support of the idea of an immigration overhaul, including granting citizenship for people brought here illegally as children who serve in the military. Immigrant rights advocates note that Gardner has stopped short of supporting the Senate bill or other methods of extending citizenship and voted for legislation to repeal President Barack Obama's executive action

Most Republican representatives are in districts with very small minority populations, and they had more to worry about from potential primary challengers coming from their right that allows people brought here illegally as children to work legally in the U.S. Immigrant rights groups and the Udall campaign have hammered Gardner almost daily. Activists even held a sit-in in Gardner's district office for several hours.

Gardner spokesman Alex Siciliano noted that Gardner has testified about the importance of an immigration overhaul while sitting next to Gutierrez at the House Judicial Committee.-AP

Immigration Post

July 4, 2014

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Obama to seek $2 billion for border control BROWNSVILLE, Texas: President Barack Obama will seek more than $2 billion to respond to the flood of immigrants illegally entering the U.S. through the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas and ask for new powers to deal with returning immigrant children apprehended while traveling without their parents, a White House official said.

With Obama looking to Congress for help with what he has called an ``urgent humanitarian situation,'' House of Representatives Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi visited a Border Patrol facility in Texas that held unaccompanied children. More than 52,000 unaccompanied children, most from Central America, have been apprehended entering the U.S. illegally since October. ``The fact is these are children - children and families,'' Pelosi said. ``We have a moral responsibility to address this in a dignified way.''

Obama plans to make the requests of Congress in a letter, the White House official said. Details of the emergency appropriation, including the exact amount and how it will be spent, will come after lawmakers return from their holiday recess on July 7, said the official, who was not authorized to speak by name and discussed the requests on condition of anonymity.

Obama will also ask that the Department of Homeland Security

quests were first reported by The New York Times.

Pelosi said she holds little hope that Congress will pass comprehensive immigration reform this

Some of a dozen women and children from Honduras are apprehended by Border Patrol near the Anzalduas International Bridge not far from the border with Mexico at the Rio Grande river in Mission, Tex

WASHINGTON: US President Barack Obama warned that "battlehardened" Europeans who embrace jihad in Syria and Iraq threaten the United States because their passports mean they can enter the country without a visa.

Nearly 800 French citizens have spent time fighting in Syria's civil war, according to latest estimates, and Belgium says 200 of its people have done the same. Britain puts its number at 400.

Those holding French, Belgian and British passports - along with a host of other European countries - do not need visas to visit the United States, meaning they can potentially avoid scrutiny.

"We have seen Europeans sympathetic to their (militants')

cause traveling into Syria and may now travel into Iraq, getting battle-hardened. Then they come back," Obama warned in an interview that aired on the US broadcaster ABC. These combatants "have a European passport. They don't need visas to get into the United States," he told "This Week."

"Now, we are spending a lot of time, and we have been for years, making sure we are improving intelligence to respond to that.

"We have to improve our surveillance, reconnaissance, intelligence there. Special forces are going to have a role.

And there are going to be times where we take strikes against organizations that could do us harm."" -AFP

PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law

Former Assistant StateÂ’s Attorney

year but that politics should be set aside.

She did not elaborate on what had dampened her optimism in this midterm election year. Speaker of the House John Boehner's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Border Patrol in south Texas has been overwhelmed for several months by an influx of

The administration has worked to send a clear message in recent weeks that new arrivals will be targeted for deportation. But immigrants arriving from those countries say they are fleeing pervasive gang violence and crushing poverty. be granted the authority to apply ``fast track'' procedures to the screening and deportation of all immigrant children traveling without their parents and that stricter penalties be applied to those who smuggle children across the border, the official said. Obama's re-

The U.S. had only one family detention center in Pennsylvania, so most adults traveling with young children were released and told to check in with the local im-

Obama: European jihadists threaten US

unaccompanied children and parents traveling with young children from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador. Unlike Mexican immigrants arrested after entering the U.S. illegally, those from Central America cannot be as easily returned to their countries.

migration office when they arrived at their destination. A new facility for families is being prepared in New Mexico.

Children who traveled alone are handled differently. By law, they must be transferred to the custody of the Health and Human Services Department within 72 hours of their arrest. From there, they are sent into a network of shelters until they can be reunited with family members while awaiting their day in immigration court.

Republicans have criticized Obama's immigration policies, arguing they've left the impression that women and children from Central America will be allowed to stay in the United States. The administration has worked to send a clear message in recent weeks that new arrivals will be targeted for deportation. But immigrants arriving from those countries say they are fleeing pervasive gang violence and crushing poverty.

The situation is drawing attention and politicians from both political parties. -AP

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Immigration Post

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July 4, 2014

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Crisis highlights US immigration reform failure WASHINGTON: One year into congressional efforts to overhaul US immigration reform, the nation's 11 million undocumented migrants are no closer to legal status, with a swelling humanitarian border crisis only highlighting the system's dysfunction.

Reform efforts are dead in gridlocked Washington, and fingers of blame are pointing every which way.

Republican opponents of President Barack Obama say his administration has failed to seal the porous US-Mexico border.

Democrats accuse House Republicans of sabotaging the US Senate's bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill, which passed with great fanfare one year ago.

That first serious attempt at immigration reform since 1986 imposed a series of tough conditions, including a quasi-

militarisation of the border and a boost in quotas for skilled-worker visas.

But Republicans who control

the House of Representatives ultimately shelved the proposal, spooked at the thought of offending their conservative constitu-

A police officer watches members of United We Dream outside the office of Representattive and Democratic National Committee chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz on Capitol Hill during a protest in Washington

ents by legalising millions of immigrants, especially after Hispanic-Americans voted for Obama in droves in 2008 and 2012.

Now, the steady increase of minors, illicitly smuggled from Central America and across Mexico into the United States, has further inflamed an already fiery debate.

Democrats have warned that lawmakers have until their August recess to work out a legislative solution, or the White House will begin to act on its own.

"We're at the end of the line," said Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez, an architect of last year's bill.

Caught in the middle of the row is House Speaker John Boehner, who has voiced his desire for an overhaul but has appeared straightjacketed by the conservative wing of his party.

"I hope that Speaker Boehner will speak up today," said Senator Dick Durbin.

"And if he does not, the president will borrow the power that is needed to solve the problems of immigration."

Obama could suspend the deportations of thousands of undocumented migrants who can meet certain criteria.

He took a similar step in 2012, just before the presidential election, granting temporary residence permits to youths who arrived before their 16th birthday. He renewed the program, known as DACA, this year for two more years.

Parents of US-born children, or those receiving DACA relief, for example, could get temporary authorisation to stay this summer, according to Marc Rosenblum of the Migration Policy Institute in Washington. -AFP

Rare certification on questions of state law DAVID A. ISAACSON

I

n both February and May of this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit did something that it appears not to have done in an immigration case in more than fifteen years, and that is rare for other courts to do in such cases as well.

In Nguyen v. Holder, on February 14, 2014, and Efstathiadis v.

Holder, on May 20, 2014, the Second Circuit chose to certify questions of state law about which it was uncertain, to the highest court of the relevant state - New York in Nguyen, and Connecticut in

mitted to the United States in 2000 as a conditional permanent resident based on her marriage to Vu Truong, a U.S. citizen. Her joint I751 petition to remove those conditions, filed in 2002, was ultimately denied by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in 2007 because she was the halfniece of her husband - that is, her grandmother was also her husband's mother.

USCIS concluded that this marriage was incestuous and void, and an Immigration Judge (IJ) reached a similar conclusion in re-

An Immigration Judge (IJ) reached a similar conclusion in removal proceedings, holding that a New York statute which voids a marriage between "an uncle and a niece" also applies to a marriage between a half-uncle and a half-niece.

Efstathiadis - rather than seeking to answer those questions itself.

This is at least a notable coincidence given the historical rarity of such certification in immigration cases, and merits watching to see if it is the beginning of a broader trend.

The issue in Nguyen involved the validity, under New York law, of a marriage between an uncle and his half-niece. The petitioner, Huyen V. Nguyen, had been ad-

moval proceedings, holding that a New York statute which voids a marriage between "an uncle and a niece" also applies to a marriage between a half-uncle and a halfniece. On appeal, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) affirmed the IJ's conclusion that "a marriage between a niece and a half-uncle is invalid under New York law."

Nguyen, slip op. at 4.

The Second Circuit, however, was not sure that the BIA and IJ

were correct. The relevant New York statute, N.Y. Domestic Relations Law ยง5, voids as incestuous a marriage between 1. An ancestor and a descendant; 2. A brother and sister of either the whole or the half blood; 3. An uncle and niece or an aunt and a nephew.

N.Y. Dom. Rel. Law ยง5, quoted in Nguyen, slip op. at 6. Subsection 2 of the statute, regarding siblings, specifically includes relationships "of either the whole or the half blood", but subsection 3 does not. As the Second Circuit noted, "two cases from New York's intermediate appellate courts," that is, Audley v. Audley, 187 N.Y.S. 652 (N.Y. App. Div. 1921), and In re May's Estate, 117 N.Y.S.2d 345 (N.Y. App. Div. 1952), aff'd, 305 N.Y. 486 (1953), "hold that marriages between half-nieces and halfuncles are void for incest notwithstanding the omission of the 'whole or the half blood' language from subsection (3) of the statute."

Nguyen, slip op at 6. However, this holding is drawn into question by dicta in In re Simms' Estate, 26 N.Y.2d 163 (1970), a decision of the New York Court of Appeals, New York's highest court. As the Second Circuit explained: In Simms, the Court of Appeals did not decide the question of statutory interpretation that is before us here, see id. at 167, but it

nevertheless cast doubt upon the analysis given by the Appellate Division in Audley.

The Simms opinion observed that the omission of the phrase "whole or half blood" from the applicable statutory language was troublesome given the inclusion of that language in the statute's immediately preceding interdiction of marriages between brothers and sisters, and further noted that "it seems reasonable to think that if the Legislature intended to prohibit marriages between uncles, nieces, aunts and nephews whose parents were related to the con-

brothers and sisters suggests it may not have intended to carry the interdiction this far.

Id. While the Court of Appeals's analysis in Simms can fairly be called dicta, it nonetheless gives us pause in considering the continued vitality of Audley's interpretation of subsection (3). Nguyen, slip op. at 8-9.

If, as Simms suggested, marriages between a half-uncle and a half-niece are actually permitted under New York law, then Huyen Nguyen's marriage would have been valid and the removal proceedings against her would need

If, as Simms suggested, marriages between a half-uncle and a half-niece are actually permitted under New York law, then Huyen Nguyen's marriage would have been valid and the removal proceedings against her would need to be terminated. tracting party only by the half blood, it would have used similar language." Id. at 166. The Court of Appeals further opined that [i]f the Legislature had intended that its interdiction on this type of marriage should extend down to the rather more remote relationship of half blood between uncle and niece, it could have made suitable provision. Its failure to do so in the light of its explicit language relating to

to be terminated.

Rather than attempting to predict how the New York Court of Appeals would decide this outcome-determinative issue of New York law, the Second Circuit decided to certify the question to the New York Court of Appeals, allowing that court to provide the answer. As the Second Circuit explained, there are criteria established in case law for such certification: Cont'd on Page 47

Immigration Post

July 4, 2014

India Post 47

www.indiapost.com

Rare certification on questions of state law Cont'd from Page 46

Before exercising our discretion to certify the question before us to the New York Court of Appeals, we must satisfy ourselves that the question meets the following criteria: 1) it must be determinative of this petition; 2) it must not have been squarely addressed by the New York Court of Appeals and the decisions of other New York courts must leave us unable to predict how the Court of Appeals would rule; and 3) the question must be important to the state and its resolution must requirealueladen judgments or public policy

§237(a)(2)(A)(ii), 8 U.S.C. §1227(a)(2)(A)(ii), on the basis that each of his convictions was for a crime involving moral turpitude (CIMT), and that they did not arise out of a single scheme of criminal misconduct.

In attempting to determine whether a conviction for sexual assault in the fourth degree under CGS §53a-73a (a) (2) was indeed a CIMT so as to support Mr. Efstathiadis's removal, the Second Circuit found itself stymied by uncertainty regarding the mens rea, that is, "the degree of mental culpability with which a defendant committed the acts

In attempting to determine whether a conviction for sexual assault in the fourth degree under CGS §53a-73a (a) (2) was indeed a CIMT so as to support Mr. Efstathiadis's removal, the Second Circuit found itself stymied by uncertainty regarding the mens rea. choices.

Nguyen, slip op. at 10. The Second Circuit determined in Nguyen that these criteria were met. The New York State Court of Appeals appears to agree, as it has already accepted the certification in Nguyen and included it on its list of certified questions pending before that court, by an order reported at 22 N.Y.3d 1150 (2014).

Once the New York Court of Appeals answers the certified question, the Nguyen case will return to the Second Circuit for a final ruling.

In Efstathiadis, decided three months after Nguyen, the issue was not one of state family law, as in Nguyen, but one of state criminal law. Petitioner Charalambos Efstathiadis was a lawful permanent resident of the United States, having immigrated to the US in 1967. In 2005, he pled guilty to four counts of sexual assault in the fourth degree under Connecticut General Statute (CGS) §53a-73a(a)(2), which criminalizes subjecting "another person to sexual contact without such other person's consent."

Under the related definitional provision at CGS §53a-65(3), "sexual contact" is defined as contact "with the intimate parts of a person not married to the actor for the purpose of sexual gratification of the actor or for the purpose of degrading or humiliating such person."

Efstathiadis, slip op. at 3. Mr. Efstathiadis was placed in removal proceedings and ultimately found deportable under INA

underlying a conviction," that was required under the Connecticut statute with regard to the element of lack of consent of the victim. Efstathiadis, slip op. at 11.

Based on the text of the statute, some case law applying the statute as written, and the model jury instructions, it appeared that there might be no mens rea requirement at all-that with respect to lack of consent, the crime might be a strict-liability offense, where it was not necessary for the government to prove any particular mental state of the defendant.

However, the decision of the Connecticut Supreme Court in State v. Smith, 554 A.2d 713 (Conn. 1989), addressing a different provision of law relating to sexual assault in the first rather than fourth degree, could potentially be read to imply that a reasonable mistake of fact as to consent was a valid defense, meaning that some culpable mens rea would effectively be required for a conviction.

The question of what if any mens rea or "evil intent" was required for a conviction was potentially key to the determination whether the crime was a CIMT, since a CIMT has been variously described as requiring "a vicious motive or corrupt mind," or "[a]n evil or malicious intent," and Second Circuit case law has indicated that "corrupt scienter is the touchstone of moral turpitude" and that "it is in the intent that moral turpitude inheres."

Michel v. I.N.S., 206 F.3d 253,

263 (2d Cir. 2000) (internal quotation marks omitted), quoted in Efstathiadis, slip op. at 14. Moreover, as the Second Circuit pointed out, while the statute at issue in Efstathiadis does at least have some mens rea requirement insofar as the sexual contact must be committed "for the purpose of sexual gratification of the actor or for the purpose of degrading or humiliating [the victim]," this is not necessarily dispositive, because "the intent to receive sexual gratification, standing alone, is not evil."

Efstathiadis, slip op. at 14.

Thus, the mens rea requirement, or lack thereof, with respect to the lack of consent element was significant. But the Second Circuit could not definitively determine whether such a mens rea requirement existed, and if so, what it was.

In Efstathiadis as in Nguyen, the Second Circuit therefore decided to certify the question that was puzzling it to the highest court of the relevant state. In addition to being potentially dispositive, the Second Circuit said, the question of the mens rea requirement with regard to lack of consent in a sexual assault case had significant policy implications, since "[w]hether or not Connecticut imposes strict liability for intentional sexual touching without consent implicates important policy concerns," Efstathiadis, slip op. at 21.

The Second Circuit therefore certified the following two questions to the Connecticut Supreme Court: (1) Is C.G.S. § 53a-73a (a) (2) a strict liability offense with respect to the lack of consent element?

(2) If C.G.S. § 53a-73a(a)(2) is not a strict liability offense with respect to the lack of consent element, what level of mens rea vis-à-vis that ele-

In Efstathiadis as in Nguyen, the Second Circuit therefore decided to certify the question that was puzzling it to the highest court of the relevant state. ment is required to support a conviction?

Id. at 22. It does not appear that the Connecticut Supreme Court has yet decided whether to accept or reject the certification in Efstathiadis.

The certification of two questions of state law in immigration cases by the Second Circuit in a

single year (a year that is not yet half over) is noteworthy, given the historical rarity of such certifications. Before 2014, the last time the Second Circuit appears to have sought to certify a question of state law in an immigration case was in 1998.

In Yesil v. Reno and Mojica v.

Reno, two of the consolidated cases addressed in Henderson v.

INS, 157 F.3d 106 (2d Cir. 1998), the Second Circuit attempted to certify a question relating to the existence of jurisdiction over a non-NewYork District Director of the thenImmigration and Naturalization Service under the New York "long arm"

illegal as a matter of state law.

Earlier, the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska had attempted to certify a somewhat similar question regarding the powers of a local government body in the Keller v. City of Fremont litigation, regarding a local anti-immigrant ordinance somewhat similar to that struck down by the Third Circuit in Lozano v.

City of Hazleton.

However, in November 2010 the Supreme Court of Nebraska declined the certified question in Keller, just as the Court of Appeals of New York had done years earlier in Yesil and Mojica. The

There is also the Supreme Court's 1978 decision in Elkins v. Moreno, 435 U.S. 647, which certified to the Maryland Court of Appeals the question whether Maryland state law prevented G-4 nonimmigrants from acquiring domicile in that state statute. The New York Court of Appeals respectfully declined the certified questions, Yesil v. Reno, 705 N.E.2d 655 (N.Y. 1998), and the appeals were subsequently withdrawn after the parties settled, as explained in Yesil v. Reno, 175 F.3d 287 (2d Cir. 1999).

Yesil and Mojica appear to be the only immigration cases, before this year, in which the Second Circuit attempted certification of questions of state law. Historically, the Second Circuit has more commonly utilized certification of questions of state law in other legal settings, but not in the immigration context. Nor is the technique especially common among other courts in the immigration context, although it is not entirely unheard of.

In 2011, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, in the case of Renteria-Villegas v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, certified to the Supreme Court of Tennessee an issue relating to the powers of the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County under state law. That lawsuit was filed by a U.S. citizen who had twice allegedly been subjected to an investigation of his immigration status following his arrest, pursuant to an October 2009 Memorandum of Agreement between Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Metropolitan Government which he believed to be illegal. The Supreme Court of Tennessee accepted the certified question, and ruled in an October 4, 2012, decision that the agreement was not

Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ultimately upheld that Fremont ordinance as a matter of federal law, and the U.S. Supreme Court recently denied certiorari in the case, allowing the Eighth Circuit's decision to stand.

Going back further into U.S. legal history, there is also the Supreme Court's 1978 decision in Elkins v. Moreno, 435 U.S. 647, which certified to the Maryland Court of Appeals the question whether Maryland state law prevented G-4 nonimmigrants from acquiring domicile in that state.

But overall, certification of questions of state law has been fairly rare in the immigration context, not only in the Second Circuit but elsewhere, at least until this year.

It is possible that the reappearance of certification in two unrelated Second Circuit immigration cases this year is merely a coincidence, but the possible trend merits further observation. Certification can be, in many areas of the law, a valuable tool for determining the proper answer to a question of state law rather than leaving that question to speculation by a federal court. If the increased use of certification in immigration cases is indeed a trend in the Second Circuit, it is a potentially promising one for some immigrants whose cases may turn on questions of state law, and for their attorneys. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

48

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Philosophy

July 04, 2014

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W

e see love everywhere in nature. Whatever in society is good and great and sublime is the working out of that love; whatever in society is very bad, nay diabolical, is also the ill-directed working out of the same emotion of love. It is this same emotion that gives us the pure and holy conjugal love between husband and wife as well as the sort of love which goes to satisfy the lowest forms of animal passion.

The emotion is the same, but its manifestation is different in different cases. It is the same feeling of love, well or ill directed, that impels one man to do good and to give all he has to the poor, while it makes another man cut the throats of his brethren and take away all their possessions.

The former loves others as much as the latter loves himself.

The direction of the love is bad in the case of the latter, but it is right and proper in the other case.

The same fire that cooks a meal for us may burn a child, and it is no fault of the fire if it does so; the difference lies in the way in which it is used. Therefore love, the intense longing for association, the strong desire on the part of two to become one - and it may be, after all, of all to beRam Dass

R

egarding the question of whether you need a guru: there are stages in your development where you need a guru.

However, you've got to understand what a guru is. A guru is not a teacher. The relation between the guru and chela is not interpersonal, it's intrapersonal.

That is, that element of my guru which is a little old man in a blanket over in India is just a little old man in a blanket over in India. He knows everything in my head. He is everything in my head, and he's as much here as he is there.

If he isn't as much here as he is there, he's a hype, and I shouldn't be thinking of him as a guru, anyway. So therefore the whole idea that I would go anywhere to see the guru must obviously be a fallacy, right? That's the first part of it.

So then I realize that each person finds his guru as soon as he's ready to find his guru. That is, as soon as your head is open enough, he's available to you, because there's only one of them, in the purest sense, since it's not connected with ego in that sense, right? So "I'm looking for a guru" is obviously a trip like any other trip.

come merged in one - is being manifested everywhere in higher or lower forms as the case may be.

Bhakti-Yoga is the science of higher love.

It shows us how to direct it; it shows us how to control it, how to manage it, how to use it, how to give it a new aim, as it were, and from it obtain the highest and most glorious results, that

moon? It is only the partial apprehension of the real all-embracing Divine Beauty.

"He shining, everything shines. It is through His light that all things shine." Take this high position of Bhakti which makes you forget at once all your little personalities. Do not look upon humanity as the centre of all your human and higher interests.

aside, and freely let these frictions come.

You feel the frictions only when you are in the current of the world, but when you are outside of it simply as a witness and as a student, you will be able to see that there are millions and millions of channels in which God is manifesting Himself as Love.

Even in lowest attraction there is germ of divine love It is the same feeling of love, well or ill directed, that impels one man to do good and to give all he has to the poor, while it makes another man cut the throats of his brethren Swami Vivekananda

is, how to make it lead us to spiritual blessedness. Bhakti-Yoga does not say, "Give up"; it only says, "Love; love the Highest !" and everything low naturally falls off from him, the object of whose love is the Highest.

What is after all really required of us in this Yoga is that our thirst after the beautiful should be directed to God. What is the beauty in the human face, in the sky, in the stars, and in the

Stand as a witness, as a student, and observe the phenomena of nature. Have the feeling of personal non-attachment with regard to man, and see how this mighty feeling of love is working itself out in the world.

Sometimes a little friction is produced, but that is only in the course of the struggle to attain the higher real love. Sometimes there is a little fight or a little fall; but it is all only by the way. Stand

"Wherever there is any bliss, even though in the most sensual of things, there is a spark of that Eternal Bliss which is the Lord Himself." Even in the lowest kinds of attraction there is the germ of divine love.

Excerpted from 'Para Bhakti or Supreme Devotion' at http:// www.vivekananda.net. The 112th death anniversary of Swami Vivekananda will be observed on July 4

We'll call it Looking for the Guru, which is the thing you do before you despair of finding the guru, which is the prerequisite to opening your head to finding the guru.

Despair is the necessary prerequisite for the next degree of consciousness. That's absolutely a prerequisite.

So a lot of what we see in our society as a malaise that we call

to adapt to what we have, it would be better to honor the despair and allow a person to be in that despair until he comes through it, hopefully coming through it in a more evolved fashion, if he's got support for it.

As far as teachers are concerned, a teacher is wherever you are when you're ready for that teacher. That is, if you hear enough

to calm their minds down, that until then you've passed by and never even noticed existed, because you've been so busy thinking of them as kooks, nuts, cranks, or people who do those things; but they're nice guys, anyway. Suddenly that's the thing about them that you want to know, you see.

And so you begin to find out

Your teachers are often people right around you what we have, it would be better to honor the despair and allow a person to be in that despair until he comes through it, hopefully com-

deep despair and depression is in fact this consciousness transformation that's occurring, this absolutely necessary prerequisite before we can start to hear the next level, which is a very deep despair and a depression about everything we have going.

Rather than teaching each other

to ask the question, "How am I going to get on with my work?" and you'd say, "Well, how do I calm my mind down?"

Now asking that question sensitizes you to see a lot of beings around you who have been busy calming their minds down, or teaching people how

He who offers to me with devotion only a leaf, or even a little water, this I accept from that yearning soul, because with a pure heart it was offered with love - Bhagavad Gita Have only love in your heart for others. The more you see the good in them, the more you will establish good in yourself.

- Paramahansa Yogananda Life is a flow of love only your participation is requested.

- Yogi Bhajan With every breath I plant the seeds of devotion. I am a farmer of the heart.

- Rumi Wisdom is knowing that I am nothing, Love is knowing that I am everything, and between the two my life moves.

- Nisargadatta Maharaj

Rather than teaching each other to adapt to

ing through it in a more evolved fashion

When I am searching for the ways to stay in love, I hear Maharajji saying, "Feed people, serve people, love everybody, tell the truth.

- Ram Dass

Ram Dass

that your teachers are often people who have been right around you. They're called Upa Gurus, as opposed to Sat Gurus.

The Sat Guru is somebody who beckons from beyond. He's somebody who's all finished.

Excerpted from http:// www.ramdass.org

Your heart and my heart are very, very old friends.

- Hafiz Music is yoga, a way to reach God; through music you can give more love to this world.

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50 India Post

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ollywood is ready to take China by storm. Yash Raj Films is set to create history by releasing its film Dhoom 3 across 2,000 screens in more than 400 Chinese cities. The film will be dubbed in Mandarin and released on July 25.

This will be the biggest release of a film from India in the international market. Films such as Krrish 3 and Chennai Express were released at 700 to 750 screens across global markets. They were released at 300350 screens in the US alone.

Yash Raj Films has tied up with HGC Entertainment, a Chinese distribution company specializing in bringing foreign film content to China and distributing it.

It brings two to three foreign films to China a year.

The Chinese market is not an easy one to crack for global film-makers. The China

"These non-traditional markets only take on a film when you can convince your local partner there that it could be mutually worthwhile." He agrees that marketing and advertising spends are always an issue when one covers such a large country.

Bollywood content has not been able to breach the Great Wall and enter Chinese cinemas very often. In the 1950s, Raj Kapoor's Aawara caught the fancy of Chinese movie-goers, but in the ensuing years, the country's stringent measures restricted any more cinematic exports.

In the past 10-12 years, however, some films have had a peek at the China market.

Starting with Lagaan, released in China in 2002, Bollywood entertained Chinese audiences with films such as 3 Idiots, My Name is Khan, Chennai Express and Krrish 3. However, the scale of these movies was

State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (the body that governs the entertainment industry) has capped the number of overseas releases in the country at 34 a year so that local films are encouraged. Of these, almost 90 per cent are Hollywood films. Indian films find it difficult to make a dent in this market.

Avtar Panesar, who heads international distribution for Yash Raj Films, says,

modest - playing at a small number of screens across 12-15 cities.

Bollywood is slowly breaking into non-traditional markets. Lunch Box, which did not set the domestic box office on fire, made more money abroad in new markets France, Germany and Belgium apart from Japan. It surprised trade analysts that the film made box office collections of Rs 27.22 crore in France alone -

July 4, 2014

as much as its gross collection in the domestic market.

Taran Adarsh, film critic and box office analyst, says, "This is a massive leap for taking Indian film content overseas. China is a very difficult market to crack and Yash Raj has managed a feat. If the content clicks, it will open many doors for Indian cinema. In fact, this scale is comparable to that of some of the Hollywood films

that release there."

Dhoom 3 hit cinemas on December 20 last year and took the box office by storm, garnering Rs 100 crore in the opening weekend. It entered the Rs 200-crore club within three weeks. Internationally, too, the film broke records by collecting Rs 61 crore in its first weekend. It made a total collection of Rs 165 crore in overseas markets.-Courtesy Business Standard

July 4, 2014

India Post 51 www.indiapost.com

Indian singles look for personality in partner NEW DELHI: Smart love is the new mantra for young Indian singles who no longer want to play by the rules of religion, caste and ethnicity, according to a recent survey by a modern matchmaking service.

The survey 'How Indian singles are chasing smart love and reason to find a partner' conducted on 520 singles across the country by online matchmaking website TrulyMadly.com throws light on

the expectations of young singles.

More Indian singles are leaving behind their parents' pigeonhole of religion, caste and ethnicity and progressing to find 'smart love', the survey found.

"I want someone with whom I can be myself. I want my partner to be an honest, passionate and realistic person," says Sonal, 28 years old, lecturer.

The survey kept parents and

Aamir meets Modi to discuss social issues

I

t is said that time heals every thing. Aamir Khan once faced protests in Narendra Modi led Gujarat for his opposition to the Gujarat government's decision to increase the height of the Narmada dam. There was even a partial ban on his film 'Fanaa'. But all of that seemed a thing of the past when Aamir Khan met Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister's office in South Block at Raisina Hills. The PMO later described the meeting as a courtesy call.

As per sources, Aamir discussed several social issues with the PM and he also carried a DVD box-set of his reality show 'Satyamev Jayate' which he gifted to the PM. While Narendra Modi shared photos of the meeting on social networking sites, Aamir described the meeting in a series of posts on Twitter. The actor said that the Prime Minister has assured him to look into the matters raised by him.

Aamir said, "Just came out of my meeting with Honorable Prime Minister of India Shree Narendra Modiji. Was very kind of him to spare his valuable time." Later in a series of tweets the actor said, "Shared with him the overwhelming support that we got from people across the country through 'Vote for Change' campaign on

SMJ (Satyamev Jayate) on the various issues that we tackled in our show. He has assured me that he will look into all the matters."

Before the elections Bollywood was seemingly divided in proModi and anti-Modi voices. However, at that time Aamir kept quiet as he was asked by the Election Commission to spread awareness about voting. Recently on June 16 at a program in Bhopal, Aamir gave his views for the first time since the elections.

He said, "Modi Saheb has talked of benefiting people, especially the poor and bringing hap-

piness to their lives. We should cooperate with him so that he achieves his goal. People and I have great expectation from Modi Saheb." Very few top Bollywood stars are as active as Aamir on the social front.

Before the Lok Sabha elections Aamir also held a special episode on his show 'Satyamev Jayate'.

The 'Vote for Change' episode, talked about the issue of criminalization of politics in India.

With this episode, the voters were asked to cast their votes thoughtfully so that a difference can be made.-Agencies

Aamir Khan with Narendra Modi

other society out of the picture to put forth "what independent singles feel is important for a stable relationship and marriage."

Saurabh Mittal, 33, who works as a delivery manager at a computer technology company says, "I am looking for someone with whom I can connect on common grounds and not what our parents think will matter.

"If that person is not able to understand my preferences but is ideal from my parents' point of view just because she matches my height and caste, then I don't think it will work out between us," Mittal says.

The survey bases criteria on education, income, health and fitness, personality, occupation, religion, caste, ethnicity and even Manglik.

Individuals within the age group of 22 to 35 years in tier-1 cities namely Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai answered a set of questions online.

"Our team of psychologists devised a set of questions which were distributed to both singles and couples and we even got relationship counselor and focus group data to build a compatibility tool to capture the attributes young singles are looking for in their partners," says Rahul Kumar, Co-founder of TrulyMadly.com.

Personality (96 per cent) tops the chart when it comes to choosing a partner with big bucks, good looks and education - all taking a backseat.

For 25 year old Art Director, Abhishek Sharma "a person with a positive attitude in life and a pleasing personality" is the right match for him.

"Someone who cares for me and understands me and my feelings are the key criteria for me to look for a partner. A pleasing personality is an added criterion for me," says Sharma.

Another essential quality preferred for life partners is education with 95 per cent of participants both men and women surveyed stating that it is essential that their respective partners should be well educated.

"My partner has to be well educated, as that forms the key foundation to having a stable career. I don't want him to be dependent on anyone else. Moreover, his educational background will also imply if our thinking is at the same level," says Ishita a 28-year-old lawyer.

Also, health and fitness soar above income, religion and ethnicity. Apparently no one wants to tango with someone with a cholesterol or liver problems. The young singles do not have a fixed perception about the jobs their

“Health and fitness soar above income, religion and ethnicity.

Apparently no one wants to tango with someone with a cholesterol or liver problems.� partners do, 88 per cent feel that "jobs matter but not entirely".

Cont'd on Page 53

52 India Post

July 4, 2014 www.indiapost.com

Miss India-Canada to drive off in Chevrolet Spark!

India Post News Service

TORONTO: Once again, this year's Miss India-Canada will win a brand new 2014 Chevrolet Spark.

The Chevrolet Spark is a globetrotting mini car that packs a mighty punch! With a surprising amount of passenger and cargo room, you never have to leave friends or excitement behind! The peppy engine makes getting around town fun and efficient while the compact size makes parallel parking a breeze!

When you drive a Chevrolet Spark, you have integrated technology at your fingertips, including available Siri Eyes-Free, an USB port, and Bluetooth wireless technology. And you can scoot around town with confidence and never spend an extra moment thinking about safety. The Spark offers the ideal combination of safety and technology with features like stability control and 10 standard air bags. The Chevrolet Spark is the ultimate mini car for the city!

Other prizes include: $1,000 Cash Scholarship, Round Trip Ticket to India, Hotel Accommo-

dation, Cell Phone, Laptop and many more prizes. Several prizes will also be presented to runnersup. Moreover, all applicants this year will have a chance to win the opportunity to be in the next Suhaag Show.

Last year's Miss India-Canada 2013, Harleen Malhans, took the keys to a brand new 2013 Chevrolet Spark at Courtesy Chevrolet in Etobicoke. Harleen

called winning the car "a blessing" and that it was her "perfect first car".

With over two decades of glamour, the Miss India-Canada organization has continued to transform the annual Gala into a unique evening that allows an affluent South Asian community to come together to celebrate their incredible talent and heritage of this vibrant community.

Harleen Malhans won Chevrolet Spark

Four arrested for JadooTV signal piracy HYDERABAD: Hyderabad police have arrested four people for piracy of cable TV signals.

Acting on a complaint by Maa Television Network, a team of Cyber Crime wing conducted a raid in Thirumalgery in

tive Officer (CEO) of the company, is absconding and the police have seized his two bank accounts.

The arrested include an engineer, a tele-caller and a web designer, said police.

The accused were allegedly illegally tapping cable TV signals and converting it into Internet signals and streaming to Jadoo TV, a US-based company. By purchasing Jadoo TV set top box and without any monthly subscription fee, the customers could view about 115 channels. This was causing losses to paid channels.

Secunderabad and arrested the four linked to a company called Pearl Technology.

Sumit Ahuja, the Chief Execu-

The accused were allegedly illegally tapping cable TV signals and converting it into Internet signals and streaming to

Jadoo TV, a US-based company.

By purchasing Jadoo TV set top box and without any monthly subscription fee, the customers could view about 115 channels.

This was causing losses to paid channels.

Each Jadoo TV box was priced between $250 and $300. These boxes are being used by customers in the US, Australia, Singapore and 15 other countries.

So far two lakh such boxes had been sold in these countries. The Jadoo TV boxes and other equipment required for converting the video signal into Internet signal were imported from China.

Hyderabad police believe this signal piracy has been going on in India for six to seven years.

The accused were changing the set-up to different cities to fool the authorities.-Courtesy NDTV.com

Learn fitness from Mahatma Gandhi NEW DELHI: Fitness Guru Mickey Mehta is launching a new film, with mantras culled from the lifestyle of Mahatma Gandhi, set for October 2 release this year.

"There is plenty of material on Mahatma Gandhi but not much is available about his contribution to

ture. He used to say eat raw, eat small quantities, keep stomach clean. Looking at him it is amazing he possessed so much power and resilience," says Mehta.

"We went berserk shooting. It is going to be a big budget film.

We had great fun shooting in the mildew in Kerala and along the beaches there are some great yoga shots," says Mehta.

Mehta, who has coached leading industrialists and Bollywood personalities has brought out several fitness do along videos.

"The new Fitness Guru Mickey Mehta film puts emphasis on healwellness. Very little is known about ing yourself through natural ways. that side of the man, so I thought I think Gandhiji was a hero. Stars I should do something about it," fade out but the heroes are eternal says Mehta. and he is the hero of my film too," The 52-year-old holistic health says the fitness guru. guru says he was smitten ever since Mahatma Gandhi, says Mehta, he watched the multiple Academy practiced calmness, observed award winning film "Gandhi" by Ri- fasts, led a vegetarian life and rechard Attenborough during his col- spected nature. lege days.

"I was very impressed after watching that film and have looked up to him as an ideal person. I started researching for the film a year ago and first put together a document. I also spoke to many Gandhi scholars to validate the research," says Mehta.

The two-part 90 minute plus film titled "Gandhi- The Mahatma Gandhi Healer", says Mehta been has shot across seven He was renowned for various locations including Mumbai, naturopathic healing techniques Kerala, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Ban- using food and exercise. galore etc "The last 5 per cent shooting Supported by Aditya Birla and remains. The last leg of the shootBharat Parekh of the Eternal ing has been scheduled to be in Gandhi Foundation, the documen- Delhi and I hope to wrap it up soon tary features interviews by and begin post production prorenowned people such as cess," says Mehta.

Shyam Benegal as well as various The film once completed would yoga experts and other "authori- also be shown at various national ties on Gandhi." and international film festivals and "Gandhiji was a great propo- places across the world, says the nent of living by principles of na- fitness guru. -PTI

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Tiger leaps onto boat, snatches Lacey Sanchez crowned man in Sunderbans Miss Louisiana KOLKATA, India: A Bengal tiger snatched a man off a fishing boat in eastern India, dragging him away into a mangrove swamp as his children looked on in horror, the man's son said.

The attack happened on June 26 as Sushil Manjhi and his son and daughter were crab fishing in a stream in the Sunderbans National Park. The tiger leaped aboard the boat and clamped its

leap before disappearing into the forest,'' Jyotish said by telephone from his village of Lahiripur in West Bengal state. He said he and his sister tried to beat the animal with sticks and a knife, but the thrashing had no effect. His father was dragged away and was presumed dead.

The attack underlines the difficult existence of millions of poor Indians who make a living by scav-

jaws on Manjhi's neck, said Sushil's son, Jyotish.

The tiger ``quickly flung my father on his back and gave a giant

enging in forests and rivers, often at risk from wild predators. Many villagers fish for crabs in the Sunderbans - even though it's il-

Indian singles look for personality in partner Cont'd from Page 51

"I am not typically looking for a doctor or an engineer, he should be happy in whatever he does and should have a stable job and should be independent. Yes, good health is a key attribute that I look for. After all, the way one thinks, the way one behaves and the way a person eats, influences one's life in later years," says Harsha, a 26 year old, Management Professional.

Shape of the eyes, color of the skin etc does not seem to matter as those survey pegged ethnicity as just mere 36 per cent.

The survey made it clear that single women or gentlemen definitely did not want to follow a tradition of marrying a tree before tying the knot to ward off the "Mangalik" factor in their horoscope.

"I want a partner who values my personality and my interests and not be more interested in how stars and planets affect my life. I will respect a person who overlooks these orthodox theories and likes me for who I am," says Bikram Ahuja, a 29-year-old, Business Development Executive.

Only 39 per cent of those surveyed felt that it is important to choose a partner from the same religion.

"And as it turns out, tall, fair Brahmin girl for successful, Oxford educated Brahmin boy, has become overrated. Caste has become the least important criteria and has been reduced to a mere 35 per cent," said survey results.

"Individual matters more than caste or religion, which do not

I am not typically looking for a doctor or an engineer, he should be happy in whatever he does and should have a stable job and should be independent. define a person's temperament.

Whatever the caste or religion, a person should be able to respect others and not have a closed frame of mind, says Shalini Roy, a 27year-old media professional. -PTI

legal in the protected reserve because they fetch a good price at markets in nearby towns.

The national park is one of the largest reserves for the royal Bengal tiger. The attack on June 26 was the fourth deadly assault by a tiger this year in the Sunderbans, wildlife officials said.

India has more than half of the 3,200 tigers believed to be left in the wild in the world. But as the country undergoes breakneck development to accommodate the growth of its 1.2 billion people, tiger habitats have been shrinking.

The big cat's numbers have also dwindled because of rampant poaching to feed a flourishing market for tiger organs and bones in China. -AP

MONROE, La.: Lacey Sanchez has been crowned Miss Louisiana and will represent the state at the Miss America Pageant.

Sanchez won a $10,000 scholarship in Monroe. The News-Star reports that the 23-year-old LSU student from Baton Rouge was chosen from a field of 32 contestants.

Sanchez was preliminary lifestyle and fitness swimsuit winner. Her platform is ``Designed to Move.''

Miss Spirit of the Ouachita Amy Matherne was first runner-up.

Miss Monroe Kelly Bernard was named second runner-up. Miss Heart of Pilot Chelsi Hefner, and Miss Holiday in Dixie Tori Thompson were named third and fourth

runners-up.

Miss Louisiana Watermelon Festival Shannon Byrd was voted Miss Congeniality by her fellow contestants. Miss Northwestern Lady of the Bracelet Taylor Layman won the healthy living award.

-AP

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India-Bangladesh: Hope for a new beginning

T

he 38-hour trip of Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Dhaka from 25 June was remarkable for various reasons.

First, it demonstrated the priority the Narendra Modi government places on India's relations with Bangladesh. Second, Swaraj promised to remove the obstacles in order to strengthen relations with Bangladesh - irrespective of the party in power in the country; and emphasized on people-topeople relations.

Bangladesh - similar to what Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, did during her New Delhi visit in January 2010.

The Hasina government had cooperated in removing the threat of insurgency to India's northeastern states by expelling the insurgents who operated out of sanctuaries in Bangladesh. She had allowed, without a transit agreement, transit facility to the India's northeastern states - including the transportation of heavy duty equipment for ONGC Tripura

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj calling on Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh in Dhaka, Bangladesh June 26

Third, Swaraj stated that the Indian government would work with the Sheikh Hasina government in Bangladesh to further strengthen relations and at the same time by meeting with the Chairperson, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the largest opposition party outside the parliament, she showed her prudence and sense of pragmatism. Fourth, she was found straightforward, plain-speaking, pleasant, and indeed a very likeable person.

The people of Bangladesh did not expect the first foreign visit by Swaraj to resolve pending issues with India; but they are the respective citizens' issues because these issues - such as the Teesta Water Sharing Agreement and the Land Boundary Agreement - directly affect the people on the ground.

Her telephone call to the Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee before the visit reflected the Modi government's keen desire to reach a consensus with the various stakeholders in India to resolve the issues.

The people of Bangladesh believe that the Modi government has an excellent opportunity to build a new era of relationship with

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HARUN UR RASHID

Power Company's 727 MW gasbased project located at Palatana, and the transportation of 10,000 tons of food grains for Tripura through its territory.

However, in return, Bangladesh did not get what India has promised and this has been a severe disappointment for Bangladeshi citizens. The trust-deficit with India remains high in Bangladesh and it needs to be removed to usher in a new invigorated bilateral relationship.

The Minister laid bare some of the policies in a speech at the Bangladesh International Institute of Strategic Studies on 26 June.

She expressed gratitude for the cooperation her country received from Bangladesh in combating trans-boundary crime, insurgency and terrorism.

The Minister reportedly said democracy needed strong institutions and a culture of tolerance, inclusion and respect for differences. She used the weighty words which have enough food for thought and meaning for all about the need of observance of democratic norms in a country.

Observers say that this statement appears to have been made

in the context of non-inclusive 5 January parliamentary elections which returned the Hasina government in power for the third time.

Many observers say that the statement is a stark contrast to the view held by the former Congressled government in New Delhi regarding the 5 January elections.

On a major irritant in relations such as the killing/abduction of Bangladeshi civilians at the IndoBangladesh border - she stated that India's objective must not only be to reduce incidents along the border but also enhance peace, stability and goodwill.

Bangladesh was looking forward to the Minister's endorsement for the proposed new economic corridor among Bangladesh-China-IndiaMyanmar (BCIM) in her speech but the visiting Indian Minister did not mention it. Does that mean the Modi government has lost interest in the BCIM corridor?

Swaraj said India's development could not be complete and sustainable unless they successfully partnered with their immediate neighbors. It is noted that the 2011 Indo-Bangladesh Framework Agreement on Cooperation and Development opened up possibilities in cooperation on bilateral, sub-regional and regional level on areas such as, water, energy, food security and environmental safety.

Furthermore, the Modi government may take initiative in constituting a sub-regional unit comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and the northeastern states of India. If their economy is integrated to the region, it could turn into hub of economic activities and when people have money into their pockets, they are happy and are not lured towards militancy or insurgency.

Bangladeshi people are hopeful that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation to the SAARC leaders for his swearingin ceremony in New Delhi, on 26 May, will generate productive spirit of regional cooperation in which South Asia can be an economic powerhouse.

The 21st century has been described as "Asian century" because both economic and strategic weights are shifting toward Asia; and South Asia, under the new strong and imaginative leadership of India, could contribute to translating that into reality, and Bangladesh will fully cooperate with India to this end.

The writer is former Ambassador of Bangladesh to the UN, Geneva

SAARC champion

I

nviting leaders of neighboring countries for his swearing in was not just an isolated gesture of Narendra Modi. He has carried on this theme of having the best of relations with the adjoining South Asian countries by making significant moves to include them in India's mission for progress and development.

After witnessing the perfect launch of India's satellite carrying loads from five nations recently, Modi was inspired by the scientists' success to exhort them to develop "a SAARC satellite that we can dedicate to our neighborhood as a gift from India." He felt that such a satellite would be helpful in SAARC nations' fight against poverty and illiteracy.

This was truly a magnanimous gesture and will certainly raise the profile of India among its neighbors, impressing them that India, their giant neighbor, really cares for them.

Modi emphasized his priority for improving the neighboring environment by choosing Bhutan as his first foreign trip after taking over as Prime Minister. And then he sent Sushma Swaraj to Bangladesh as her first port of call as foreign minister where she succeeding in convincing the Bangladesh government of India's endeavor to fulfill all promises made to that country.

It is not as if this is being a one-sided gesture from India. Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was impressed by the sincerity of Narendra Modi and felt that under him the two countries could make progress in resolving many contentious issues.

Modi's wooing of neighbors has already opened up channels for fruitful co-operation. Notice one unexpected gain. Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was informed by Modi during his interaction with him that Pakistanis were misusing Lanka's 'visa on arrival' facility to travel to India for terrorist activities. On going back Rajapaksa ordered an investigation and discovered that India's allegation was true. The Pakistani accused of Chennai train blast had traveled to India via Colombo. Rajapaksa has now withdrawn the 'visa on arrival' facility to all Pakistanis.

Before this injection of life into it, SAARC had almost become a defunct organization. Modi sees this available tool as the best means to enhance regional co-operation in South Asia.

A major flaw in SAARC composition is the clause that no bilateral disputes can be discussed in it. This renders it useless as a means of communication if you cannot discuss your major problems with each other. Speaking at a function in China, BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy advocated removing this negative clause in the charter of SAARC. He felt that it should become a vehicle of fruitful discussion between the neighboring countries. A Pakistani journalist expectedly asked if the Kashmir issue could also be discussed. Swamy made it clear that yes, it could be discussed provided Pakistan promises not to raise this issue at any other forum. If it does so, then there is no point in discussing it at SAARC. Even as Modi provides dynamism to the administration, the criticism against him in the media continues unabated. On completing one month in office, Modi recorded that he has not been permitted a honeymoon period and is being judged already. This is because he has made tall promises. It will be difficult to tell particularly the middle class, that initially they too will have to tighten their belts to face some tough decisions.

It is good that Modi has chosen to communicate directly with the people. Among the elite class, who dominate media and those who have been opposing Modi from the beginning somehow feel they can and should bring him down, in spite of the refreshing approach he has introduced in administration. Even today they refuse to believe that he has been voted in by a majority in India and have focused on a few negatives like the manner of rail fare increase in his one month tenure. It is therefore important to list the positives so as to emphasize the departure from the dithering previous UPA administration.

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