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Hazare seeks NRI role in anticorruption stir Details on page 18

VOL 19, No. 990

September 6, 2013

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PAK MOVE AWAITED ON TALKS WITH SHARIF

NEW DELHI: India has said it will take a decision on possible talks between Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif in New York next month after assessing the steps Pakistan takes to address India's concerns on recent "unacceptable" incidents.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the government is adopting a wait and watch approach and wants Pakistan's "civilian government to take responsibility for what has happened and find a methodology to address it to our satisfaction".

He was asked if after a two-week lull on the Line of Control, the time had come for the government to announce talks between the two Prime Ministers in New York next month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting.

"No... we are keeping quite on this and watching. I realize that the time is coming for the New York visit. So, obviously call will be taken by the Prime Minister at an appropriate stage. But we will not hasten it as we do not want to jump the gun.

Details on page 5

India Festival wraps up with grand banquet Details on page 16

Slamming Modi and Amit Shah, Vanzara quits IPS Details on page 10

Microsoft, Google to sue US over data Details on page 12

Indian spices under regulatory scanner

Remittances by NRIs from Punjab grow 10 percent

Details on page 32

Analysts from India, China discuss ties

Details on page 13

9 out of 10 Indian customers face poor service

Details on page 5

Details on page 12

US should give Modi visa, says Blackwill

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 50-51

Details on page 6

Classifieds ------------------------- 52 Community Post -------------- 16-29 Date Book -------------------------- 36

INDIA POST SURVEY

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

survey@indiapost.com

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

This week’s question

Horoscope ------------------------- 47

Should we trust spiritual gurus?

Immigration Post ------------- 44-46 Philosophy ------------------------- 53

Last week’s result

Should Ami Bera visit Pakistan?

YES 17%

NO 83%

SAINT OR SINNER?: "Godman" Asaram Bapu entering the jail premises in Jodhpur and (right) being mobbed on the way.

The controversial guru was arrested on the complaint of a 16-year old girl who alleged she had been sexually assaulted by the 72-year old. (Details on page 11)

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4 Real Estate -------------------- 38-39 TechBiz Post ------------------- 12-14 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 40-43

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ast week South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley formally announced her reelection bid. Indeed, Governor Haley has much to show in terms of the State's progress, to prop her bid.

Interestingly, at a fundraiser in Maryland, friend and fellow desi Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal was there to endorse Governor Haley with glowing accounts of her many achievements in South Carolina.

Governor Haley has to her credit, the revival of South Carolina's manufacturing base, her fight to retain the Boeing plant in her State, the creation of 36,000 jobs, push for investments and so on.

Governor Jindal, in his endorsement had more to say. Governor Haley, he said, championed for tort reform, cut business taxes, and brought about Medicaid reform.

It was really interesting to see the first female Indian American Governor and the first ever Indian American Governor together, patting each other's back in mutual admiration.

Governor Haley did not let the opportunity go to remind everyone that Gov. Jindal helmed his state Louisiana through a devastating oil spill and hurricanes, and corruption and what have you…

What both also waxed forth with much eloquence was their oft repeated story of their parents' "struggles and sacrifices" in this country to give their children all the right opportunities to scale the pinnacles of success; and how they believe that they are now doing their bit to give back to this "wonderful country" through public office.

Job wise, both governors are not doing so badly: depending on who runs the poll, Jindal's approval ratings range anywhere from 35 to 50 percent, while Haley's ratings swing from 43 to 69 percent. Now don't go by these approval ratings because they will in all likelyhood change as early as tomorrow morning.

Jindal has for long been touted as a potential candidate for President. Somehow, nobody seems to have thought of this, but I say, why don't we project Governor Haley for that coveted post in the White House?

Indians in India have always welcomed the idea of women heading the government. May be it will take an Indian American woman to set that ball rolling in the American Administration.

Romesh K Japra rkjapra@indiapost.com

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Will you?

Head over heels in love, it is speculated that on his birthday September 28, Ranbir Kapoor will pop the question to Katrina

Cover Story: Pak move awaited Talks between India and Pak PMs in New York only after assessing steps Pakistan takes to address India's concerns

Community: Grand banquet FIA organized a grand banquet as part of closing ceremony of 21st Festival of India at San Jose Garden Hotel

Health Science Poverty hits brain Poverty and all the problems that accompany it can reduce a person's cognitive abilities, leaving him with little brain power

Immigration: Support for reform Prominent business leaders and Republicans held a forum in Nashville to build support for immigration reform

Techbiz: Suing US govt Technology firms Microsoft & Google are set to sue US government after failure of their talks on releasing user data.

Travel: Thekkady, Kerala A man made lake with its partially submerged trunks is synonymous with Thekkady which is rich with flora, fauna

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Pak move awaited on talks with Sharif NEW DELHI: India has said it will take a decision on possible talks between Prime Ministers Manmohan Singh and Nawaz Sharif in New York next month after assessing the steps Pakistan

ing.

"No... we are keeping quite on this and watching. I realize that the time is coming for the New York visit. So, obviously call will be taken by the Prime Minister at

their premiers on the sidelines of UN General Assembly in New York later this month.

Indian diplomatic sources told PTI that High Commissioner T C Raghavan called on Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the Pakistan Foreign Office.

They said it was a "courtesy visit".

However, state-run Radio Pakistan reported that the two officials also discussed tension on the LoC and "proposed" meeting between the Prime Ministers of the two countries.

tion comes in. We have sources through which information comes about what happens, why it happens and who is taking credit for something that we consider utterly unacceptable," he said.

cerns, Khurshid said, "What we expect is the civilian government to take responsibility for what has happened and find a methodology to address it to our satisfaction. I think I need not amplify what

ANALYZING DATA Khurshid in Delhi said a decision on the issue could be taken

an appropriate stage. But we will not hasten it as we do not want to jump the gun.

"I think when some one major significant thing goes wrong, many things still remain right but you cannot neglect the major thing that has gone wrong. Decision has to be in the interest of the nation," he told reporters here.

The External Affairs Minister said the country can "adjust and accommodate to the speed and the extent of delivery" on Indian concerns by Pakistan but it cannot adjust to its direction"

MEETING IN PAK Meanwhile, senior officials from India and Pakistan have met in Islamabad and are believed to have discussed the recent ceasefire violations along the LoC and a possible meeting between

after analyzing the data available with the Government.

"We have been watching carefully and you know that such steps that are necessary that are to be taken but let's stay low. We have to just analyze the informa-

Nawaz Sharif

takes to address India's concerns on recent "unacceptable" incidents.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the government is adopting a wait and watch approach and wants Pakistan's "civilian government to take responsibility for what has happened and find a methodology to address it to our satisfaction".

He was asked if after a twoweek lull on the Line of Control, the time had come for the government to announce talks between the two Prime Ministers in New York next month on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meet-

Manmohan Singh

There has been uncertainty over whether the two leaders will hold talks in New York after the killing of five Indian soldiers on the Line of Control in a Pakistan Army attack on August 6 and the recent spurt in ceasefire violations.

After the incident, the BJP had demanded cancellation of talks with Pakistan on which Defense Minister A K Antony had said the incident will have consequences on India's behavior and attitude on LoC and ties with Pakistan.

Asked what steps India expects Pakistan to take in the next two weeks to address its con-

needs to be done as it is clear what is to be done."

The External Affairs Minister said the country can "adjust and accommodate to the speed and the extent of delivery" on Indian concerns by Pakistan but it cannot adjust to its "direction".

"The direction is very clear is what we seek and what we deserve and what is the right thing to do," Khurshid said.

The Minister said India cannot dictate or suggest things inside their territory and "at the end of the day, we can deal with only elected civilian government there". -PTI

Analysts from India, China discuss bilateral ties BEIJING: Prominent analysts from India and China discussed a host of bilateral issues, including prevailing "undercurrent of tensions" over the border dispute, communist giant's forays into South Asia and the strategic rivalry between the two countries.

"South Asia is the region where many in India are critical of and express anxiety over China's strategy and actions.

Are the motivations and outcome of China's policy adversarial to India's interests?", Rajiv K Bhatia, Director General of Indian Council of World Affairs, asked in his opening remarks at the meeting.

A delegation of Indian strategic analysts and think tanks headed by Bhatia held talks with the officials of Chinese People's

Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) here to understand and highlight each others perceptions and concerns on the bilateral and

"Let us push for deeper cooperation on such complex issues as borders, rivers, markets, people-to-people ties, creation of understanding and trust between two societies, and their place in the world", Bhatia said. multilateral issues.

The interaction took place ahead of next month's proposed

visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Beijing.

"Let us push for deeper cooperation on such complex issues as borders, rivers, markets, peopleto-people ties, creation of understanding and trust between two societies, and their place in the world", Bhatia said.

"Relations need to be improved and expanded further through sincere and sustained endeavor.

We need to reconcile creatively our interests and our viewpoints through a constructive approach," he said.

Bhatia said that both India and China should be ready to cooperate and also allow each other to grow in their own fashion, convinced that there is ample room for both the countries on the world stage today.

"We should exchange views

candidly and cordially in order to understand each other's view points", Bhatia said.

"Central Asia, Afghanistan and

China and India are neighbors, friends and "strategic partners", but it is also true that many in the two countries and the world at large view us as competitors, rivals and even adversaries, he said Iran suggest convergence of interests between us. What is the degree of convergence and how

can we translate it into a program of cooperation?" he asked.

"Perhaps we may also need to recognize candidly that our relationship today is marked by an undercurrent of tensions," Bhatia pointed out.

China and India are neighbors, friends and "strategic partners", but it is also true that many in the two countries and the world at large view us as competitors, rivals and even adversaries, he said. "Our shared challenge is to alter this perception and to allow the relationship to assume a more positive and benign orientation", he said.

Elaborating on India's perceptions in Asia, Bhatia said India favors multi-polarity, a multi-polar Asia in a world with several pillars of power of different shapes and sizes. -PTI

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'In Delhi Metro, people speak US should give Modi 300 languages' visa: Blackwill NEW DELHI: India is four times richer than Europe, in terms of language, with Indians able to express themselves in over 850 languages as compared to Europeans who can speak only about 250 languages, according to findings of the People's Linguistic Survey of India (PLSI).

"England has not more than four or five languages of its own at the most. Out of those only two English and Welsh - are doing

identified," he says.

Jakhde points out that he did not go by conventional definitions of dialects and languages.

"In the PLSI, we decided not to stigmatize languages which communities wanted to claim as 'languages' by calling them dialects merely because they had not got into any written form. Writing and scripts are a later day acquisitions of languages," Jakhde says.

UNESCO, an organization that seeks to promote many languages, allows but five languages in its deliberations.

On the other hand Indian courts and offices allow use of 22 languages well. Meanwhile a state like Assam which is more or less the size of England has a good 52 languages," says Ganesh Devy a noted linguist and chairman of PLSI. Devy, draws a contrast with Paris headquartered UNESCO, an organization that seeks to promote many languages, which allows but five languages in its deliberations.

"On the other hand Indian courts and offices allow use of 22 languages," says the linguist who recently completed an ambitious survey in the country, which identified 860 Indian languages.

"In India we have several hundred living languages. It could be more than 850, out of which we were able to study 780 languages.

And if the benchmark is the 1961 census we have lost 250 languages in last 50 years," he says in the survey carried after over 100 years after George Abraham Grierson under British Raj undertook such an exercise in the country.

The survey was spearheaded

by Vadodara-based Bhasha Research and Publication Centre, which has already released "Maharashtratil Bhasha", a Marathi volume on languages. 49 more such volumes are scheduled to be released here on September 5.

Columnist Arun Jakhde, who published the Maharashtra volume of the survey, says the survey celebrates the diversity of the country and is not a lament on the lost languages.

"For me, 60 languages which we surveyed in Maharashtra are 60 different sounds (dhwani) through which my state should be

Pointing out that for about the first 65,000 years of the history of human languages, all languages in world remained non-written and non-scripted.

"Given these facts, I have no difficulty in minimizing the importance of the correspondence between oral languages and dialects," he says.

"You may recall the George Bernard Shaw's 'Pigmallion', or the later day Willy Russel's 'Educating Rita'. These books amply demonstrate show how unscientific the notion of dialect is. When a language gets into print, the varieties that do not get printed come to be seen as dialects," he explains.

Jakhde points out that Grierson in his "Linguistic Survey of India" had used the term dialect quite generously.

"He classified nearly three out of every four speech varieties that he examined as dialects," says

volumes and 68 books that document various languages in the country, including sign languages used by transgenders and even thieves.

Devy says "The Koti language of transgenders and the 'NarsiFarsi' code used by some denotified communities are more evolved than the telegraphy code used until recently in India and outside."

"While the Morse code used for telegrams was able to translate only words or simple sentences into simple manageable signals, the Koti code can be used to crack jokes and the Narsi Farsi is capable of creating stories. So these two are not entirely code languages in their nascent rudimentary form," Devy says.

According to the language survey PLSI found Arunachal to contain 90 languages but Goa speaks only three languages.

In metros like Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai people speak more than 300 languages, finds the survey.

"Over 400 languages are spoken by nomads and denotified communities. And many of them don't want to associate themselves with their language because they fear it can reveal their identity and may get them into trouble," Devy says.

Meanwhile, editor of the Maharashtra chapter, Jakhade says "In south Maharashtra we have met some communities who want to join the mainstream and want to forget their own language."

On the issue of scripts used in languages, Devy says no other country has ever created and used so many scripts.

"India uses 66 scripts and West Bengal takes the cake in this with

According to the language survey PLSI found Arunachal to contain 90 languages but Goa speaks only three languages.

In metros like Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai people speak more than 300 languages, finds the survey Jakhde.

A Unesco Linguapax laureate, 63-year-old Devy says, "We have prepared a baseline and it's a first survey of living languages in India. We have also collected grammars and dictionary of about 400 languages."

The survey, which began in 2010, has compiled a total of 50

9 scripts in use," he says.

The PLSI survey has recorded more number of languages that the 2001 census 2001, which has provided data of only 122 languages.

"After Bangladesh war in 1971 the government decided not to record languages which are spoken by less than 10,000 people," he points out. -PTI

AHMEDABAD: Former US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill, who met Narendra Modi in the state capital, said the US should grant visa to the Gujarat Chief Minister.

"He (Modi) is a prominent political thinker in India.

And, I don't believe United States is in a position, thousands

existing tourist/business visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which makes a foreign government official who is responsible for particularly severe violations of religious freedom ineligible for an American visa.

The denial was for Modi's alleged role in the 2002 riots.

Blackwill had a 45-minute one-

Former US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill, with Narendra Modi

of miles away, to have a magisterial opinion about what happens here in India....That's up to the Indians...," Blackwill said when asked by the reporters about US's denial of visa to Modi.

"So, my own view is that he should be issued a visa, if and when he wishes to visit United States...," Blackwill, who served as US ambassador in the country during 2001-03, said.

Blackwill is now a senior fellow of US Council on Foreign Relations and a lobbyist.

In 2005, the US denied Modi a diplomatic visa and revoked his

to-one discussion with Modi.

He is leading a US trade delegation, which also met the Chief Minister and held discussion about expanding the scope of American companies' economic-industrial partnership and investment in Gujarat, a press statement issued by the Gujarat government's information department said.

Blackwill, who has been invited to participate in the Vibrant Gujarat Agro High-tech Global Summit on September 9-10, expressed US's keenness to take part in the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors' Summit-2015. -PTI

Another case against Mumbai gangrape accused MUMBAI: Another case of sexual assault by the five accused in the Mumbai photojournalist gangrape case has come to light with a 19-year-old woman filing a complaint that she too was raped by some of the culprits in the gang at the defunct Shakti Mills compound here.

The victim lodged a complaint at Bhandup Police Station in eastern suburbs stating that she had been raped on July 31 by some those arrested in the photojournalist case, Deputy Police Commissioner Vinayak Deshmukh told PTI. According to police, the victim had gone to Mahalaxmi area for some work and was also accompanied by a male friend, when the culprits, in a similar modus operandi to the August 22 gang

rape, tricked her and took her to the dilapidated mill.

Her male friend was also tied by the accused before they raped the woman, as they did while committing the offence on the photojournalist, police said.

The case was later transferred to N M Joshi Marg police station as the mill falls under its jurisdiction.

According to police, two or three men of the gang involved in raping the photojournalist were also part of the group which sexually assaulted the 19-year-old.

"For clues on the wanted accused in the case, several persons have been rounded up for questioning and a suspect has been detained," said an official involved in the probe. -PTI

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Al-Qaeda tried to infiltrate US intelligence WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah and other hostile groups have repeatedly tried to infiltrate American intelligence agencies, forcing US authorities to reinvestigate thousands of employees every year to counter the threat, according to a classified budget document.

"The CIA found that among a subset of job seekers whose backgrounds raised questions, roughly one out of every five had significant terrorist and/or hostile intelligence connections," The Washington Post said, citing a classified budget document provided by former National Security

fied databases they do not normally use for their work, said two people familiar with the software used to monitor employee activity," the Post said.

"This shrouded, multimilliondollar hunt for insider threats has suffered from critical delays in recent years and uneven implementation across agencies, the budget records show. And the spy agencies' detection systems never noticed that Snowden was copying highly classified documents from different parts of the NSA's networks," the paper said.

Contractors like Snowden, who leaked some of America's

"The anomalous behavior that sent up red flags could include staffers downloading multiple documents or accessing classified databases they do not normally use for their work, said two people familiar with the software used to monitor employee activity," the Post said Agency contractor Edward Snowden.

The groups cited most often were Hamas, Hezbollah, and alQaeda and its affiliates, but the nature of the connections was not described in the document, the paper said.

"So sharp is the fear of threats from within that last year the NSA planned to launch at least 4,000 probes of potentially suspicious or abnormal staff activity after scrutinizing trillions of employee keystrokes at work.

"The anomalous behavior that sent up red flags could include staffers downloading multiple documents or accessing classi-

most closely guarded secrets, were not included in the plans to reinvestigate 4,000 security clearances, the paper said.

Snowden subsequently fled to Hong Kong and then Moscow, where he remains after being granted temporary asylum.

CIA officials said the number of applicants ultimately tied to terrorist networks or hostile foreign governments was 'small' but declined to provide an exact number or the reasons the broader group of applicants initially raised concerns.

The intelligence community's dramatic emphasis on insider threats came in the wake of dis-

closures by WikiLeaks in 2010.

The anti-secrecy group received hundreds of thousands of military and diplomatic documents from convicted American soldier Bradley Manning, the paper said.

Congress made security a top priority and in 2011 ordered Director of National Intelligence James R Clapper to set up "an effective automated insider threat detection program" to guard against similar security failures, the Post said.

The program was supposed to flag possible abuses, identify double agents and prevent leaks.

But the project was delayed several times because the intelligence community was preoccupied with handling the fallout from Manning's leaks, the paper said.

The newly obtained budget records also reveal what some consider a new security risk in the making.

"The NSA is creating a massive new database, code-named WILDSAGE, to facilitate the use of sensitive intelligence," the paper said.

The system "provides a mechanism for cyber security centers to share signatures at the SECRET classification level," it said.

The NSA had not fully implemented WILDSAGE. But the intelligence community also reported that it "made significant progress in FY 2011 in increasing collaboration" across cyber security centers and in creating architecture to share important information on risks, the paper said.

Such shared databases give government employees information they may need to track and disrupt terrorist or cyber plots, it added. -PTI

SC recalls own order on CIC judges NEW DELHI: Admitting that it committed a "mistake of law", the Supreme Court has recalled its own order which had directed that only sitting or retired high court chief justices or an apex court judge could head the central and state information commissions.

"It was mistake of law. We recall the directions," a bench of justices A K Patnaik and A K Sikri said while reading out the operative portion of the judgment on a petition filed by the Centre seeking review of its order of September 13, last year.

The apex court had given a slew of directions pertaining to

appointment of information commissioners in its order last year.

The Centre had sought review of the apex court's verdict, saying it is against the provisions of the transparency law.

The apex court, in its judgment last year, had said that like other quasi judicial bodies, people from judicial background be also appointed as members of the central and state information commissions and this should be done after consulting the CJI and chief justices of the respective high courts.

The court had directed the government to amend RTI Act for it. "Chief Information Commis-

sioner at the Centre or state level shall only be a person who is or has been a chief justice of the high court or a judge of the Supreme Court of India," the court had said.

The bench had passed the order on a PIL challenging section 12 and 15 of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, enumerating the qualifications needed for the appointment of members of the commissions.

The bench had, however, refused to quash the sections but asked the government to modify them so that people from judicial background are also preferred for the posts.-PTI

Pak claims robust control system for nukes ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has statement. reacted to a report on US concerns Pakistan is also fully engaged about its nuclear arsenal by say- with the world community on ing it has extensive protection nuclear safety and security ismeasures and a robust control sues. The efficacy of its strategic system for its atomic weapons export controls have been acthat are aimed at maintaining sta- knowledged by experts from inbility in South Asia. ternational export control regimes The remarks by Pakistan's For- during interactions on various eign Office came in response to a occasions, he said. report in The Washington Post The country is a party to both that said the US spends billions the Chemical Weapons Convenmonitoring adversaries like Al tion and Biological Weapons ConQaeda and Iran but has an vention and is fully implementing "equally intense focus" on its the two regimes, Chaudhry said. "purported ally" Pakistan and has ramped up surveillance of its Citing a 178-page summary nuclear arms. of the American intelligence "Pakistan is fully committed to the objec- community's "black tives of disarmament budget", The Washington and non-proliferation. Post reported the US had As a nuclear weapons state, Pakistan's policy ramped up its surveillance is characterized by re- of Pakistan's nuclear arms straint and responsibility," Foreign Office and was concerned about spokesman Aizaz its biological and Chaudhry said. chemical arms sites He further said Pakistan's "nuclear deterrence capability is aimed at Citing a 178-page summary of maintaining regional stability in the American intelligence South Asia". community's "black budget", The Islamabad has established "ex- Washington Post reported the US tensive physical protection mea- had ramped up its surveillance of sures, robust command and control Pakistan's nuclear arms and was institutions under the chairmanship concerned about its biological of the Prime Minister, comprehen- and chemical arms sites. sive and effective export control The daily said the classified regulatory regimes to ensure safety document was provided to it by and security of nuclear installations former National Security Agency and materials", he said. contractor Edward Snowden, who "We follow best international leaked some of America's most practices and standards set by the closely guarded secrets.

International Atomic Energy Pakistan is believed to have Agency," Chaudhry said in a about 120 nuclear warheads.-PTI

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Fresh murder case filed against Pervez Musharraf ISLAMABAD: Pervez Musharraf's legal woes were compounded as Pakistani police registered a murder case against the former military ruler for the death of radical cleric Abdul Rasheed Ghazi and his mother during the 2007 military siege of the Lal Masjid.

The case was filed on the directions of Justice Noorul Huque Qureshi of Islamabad High Court, who was annoyed at police's failure to comply with his earlier order in this regard.

During the hearing of a petition filed against 70-year-old Musharraf by Haroon Rasheed, the son of the cleric, Qureshi said

non-registration of the case despite his order amounted to contempt of court.

The head of Aabpara police station, Qasim Niazi, was made to sit in the courtroom till the FIR was registered.

Haroon Rasheed had asked the court to direct police to file a case against Musharraf for alleged involvement in the killing of his father and grandmother.

Reacting to the verdict, Aasia Ishaque, the spokesperson of Musharraf's All Pakistan Muslim League party, said the former President will fight to prove his innocence.

"Musharraf is not going to go away. We were expecting such a case. He will con-

tinue to fight the politically motivated case and prove his innocence," she told PTI. The military operation against extremists holed up in the radical Lal Masjid, ordered

by Musharraf's regime in July 2007, resulted in a bloody eight-day siege that killed nearly 100 people, including Pakistani troops and extremists.

The High Court summoned Niazi over his failure to comply with an court to look into whether a case could be registered against Musharraf.

On July 12, the same court had ordered police to book Musharraf and said that if the Lal Masjid operation was a cognizable

Pervez Musharraf

offence, a case should be registered against him for the death of the cleric and others.

Police refused to register an FIR, saying they needed to consult their legal branch.PTI

IAF chief's visit to China not called off: Antony HINDON, Uttar Pradesh: Defense Minister A K Antony has made it clear that the IAF chief's planned visit to China has not been called off amid indications that the schedule is now expected to be reworked.

It is "not correct. The IAF chief is going wherever he is invited and as per his wishes.

He accepts invitations and goes... All other things are speculation.

Whenever he is invited by any friendly country and he accepts, he is free to go," he told reporters here after the formal induction of C-17 A K Antony heavy-lift transport aircraft into the IAF. The Minister was replying to question on reports that the government had cancelled Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne's proposed visit to China in September-October.

Sources said the government was earlier not planning to approve the visit of Browne to China this year but indicated that the visit schedule may now be reworked.

The trip was proposed in IAF chief's annual foreign visit schedule but the final clearance from the authorities and the Ministry concerned have not yet been given, they said.

They said it was felt that the IAF chief's trip should not be approved due to the lack of reciprocal high-level visits by the Chinese side to India. -PTI

September 6, 2013

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Embassy in Bahrain to sue firm over unpaid wages DUBAI: Claiming that they had not been paid their wages for nine months, a group of 30 Indians has approached the Indian Embassy here which has said it will file a complaint in Bahrain's Labor Court.

The Indians employed by Bramco Group, a Bahraini conglomerate with interests ranging from mining to marble supply, complained to Ambassador Mohan Kumar at an open house session at the Indian Embassy in Adliya that they had not been paid their salaries.

"The Indian Embassy will file an official complaint against the company at the Labor Court with the help of its lawyer," Kumar was quoted by the Gulf Daily News as saying.

First time in 50 years: England to host India for 5 Tests LONDON: England has agreed to host India for five Test matches, for the first time in 50 years, when the team lands here for a long series which will also include five ODIs and a Twenty20 International next year.

"India will play a five-match Test series in this country for the first time since 1959 with Trent Bridge, Lord's, The Ageas Bowl, Emirates Old Trafford and The Kia Oval all hosting Investec Test Matches," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement.

Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Middlesex will host tour matches against India who last toured England in 2011 when they were defeated 0-4 in the Test Series and 0-3 in the ODI Series with the NatWest International T20 series drawn 1-1.

"This will be the first time England has hosted India in a five Test series in more than 50 years and the length of the series reflects the iconic status which contests between these two great cricketing nations now enjoy," ECB Chief Executive David Collier said.

"We anticipate significant demand for tickets both for the Investec Test series, and for the One-Day International series which will be the first encounter between these two countries in the 50-Over format since India's triumph in the final of the ICC Champions Trophy competition at Edgbaston earlier this year.

"We thank the BCCI for their support and also our international venues who between them helped bring a record number of spectators more than 850,000 - to international cricket over the course of the season when India last toured here in 2011," he added.

The series will start with a three-day tour match against Leicestershire from June 26.

The Tests are scheduled from July 9 to August 19. The first Test will be played at Trent Bridge, while Lord's will host the second Test from July 17.

Ageas Bowl as a venue for the third Test (July 27-31) would be confirmed after a site inspection. The last two Tests will be played at Old Trafford and The Oval, from July 27 and August 7 respectively. -PTI

The workers claimed they have not been paid for up to nine months and pleaded with the envoy to end their ordeal.

They said they were speaking on behalf of over 350 employees from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and the Philippines.

The workers held a protest at their accommodation in Askar on the southeastern coast of Bahrain and threatened to go on strike if their demands are not met.

The Ambassador was informed that 53 workers had already resigned and wanted to return home.

Kumar advised the group to continue

staying at accommodation until the embassy resolves the problem.

Lawyer Bushra Mayoof, who represents the embassy, said "We will file the case against the company and the judgment could take two months."

She urged Bramco officials to find a quick solution as judges could rule against them, which could lead to the company being blacklisted for violating the Labor Law. The Gulf Daily News reported that the company's general manager Rashid Al Maloud said it had suffered losses of half a

million dinars after its workers downed tools for two days.

He denied that staff had gone without pay for nine months, but claimed that some had not been paid for four months because they had taken advance salary for that period.

There are nearly 450,000 Indians working in Bahrain, making them the biggest expatriate community in the kingdom.

Bramco is a major mining, earth moving and marble supply company established in 1977. Its annual turnover is USD 150 million and it employs over 1,000 people. -PTI

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Slamming Modi and Amit Shah, Vanzara quits IPS AHMEDABAD: Controversial IPS officer D G Vanzara, suspended and behind the bars in a string of fake encounter cases, has resigned from service accusing Narendra Modi government of having failed to protect the jailed

state in the most unequivocal words that the officers and men of Crime Branch, ATS and Border Range, during the period between 2002 to 2007, simply acted and performed their duty in compliance of the conscious pro-active

Narendra Modi and Amit Shah

police officers who fought against "Pakistan inspired terrorism".

Vanzara, a 1987 batch IPS officer considered close to Modi, has said in his resignation letter that police officers involved in alleged fake encounters "simply implemented the conscious policy" of the government whose place "should either be in Taloja central prison at Navi Mumbai or in Sabarmati Central Prison at Ahmedabad."

Vanzara, lodged in Sabarmati central jail, in a 10-page hard-hit-

policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism of this government after Godhra riots," he said.

"Gujarat CID and Central agency CBI had arrested me and my officers in different encounter cases holding us to be responsible for carrying out alleged fake encounters.

"If that is true then the CBI investigating officers have to arrest the policy formulators also as we, being field officers, have simply implemented the conscious policy of this government which was in-

"I would like to categorically state in the most unequivocal words that the officers and men of Crime Branch, ATS and Border Range, during the period between 2002 to 2007, simply acted and performed their duty in compliance of the conscious pro-active policy of zero tolerance towards terrorism of this government after Godhra riots," he said ting resignation letter to Additional Chief Secretary of the state's Home department, has accused the state government, particularly former Minister of State for Home Amit Shah of betraying him and 32 other officers, in jail in encounter killing cases being probed by the CBI. He said he used to adore Modi like God, who could not rise to the occasion under the "evil" influence of Shah, a co-accused in Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsiram Prajapati encounter cases.

Holding Narendra Modi government responsible for his and other police officers' actions, Vanzara said they had only "complied" with the policy of the Gujarat government.

"I would like to categorically

spiring, guiding and monitoring our actions from the very close quarters," Vanzara said.

"By this reasoning I am of the firm opinion that the place of this government instead of being in Gandhinagar, should either be in Taloja central prison at Navi Mumbai or in Sabarmati Central Prison at Ahmedabad," he said, in his letter dated September 1.

In his letter, which virtually acknowledges fake encounters during Modi's tenure and could create problems for the Chief Minister, also BJP's election campaign committee chief, ahead of next year's general elections, Vanzara has referred to how those killings paid "rich political dividends" to the state's BJP government.

"It is in everybody's knowl-

edge that this government has been reaping very rich political dividends since last 12 years by keeping the glow of encounter cases alive in the sky of Gujarat while otherwise remaining low profile and indifferent to the fate of jailed police officers," he said.

"With the passage of time I realized that this government is not only interested in protecting us but, it also has been clandestinely making all efforts to keep me and my officers in jail so as to save its own skin from CBI on one hand and gain political benefits on the other."

Vanzara was first arrested by Gujarat Police on April 24, 2007 in Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case and is lodged in Sabarmati Central Jail ever since.

Over the past six years he has been made prime accused in the alleged fake encounter killings of Tulsiram Prajapati, Sadik Jamal, Mumbai student Ishrat Jahan, Javed Shaikh, and two alleged Pakistani nationals Amjad Ali Rana and Zeeshan Johar.

Unlike his direct assault on Amit Shah, Vanzara refrained from attacking Modi hard, saying he used to adore the Chief Minister like God. "...I have been maintaining my graceful silence for such a long period only and only because of my supreme faith in and highest respect for Chief Minister Narendra Modi whom I used to adore like God," he said.

However, he also expressed his frustration with Modi, saying, "...but I am sorry to state that my God could not rise to the occasion under the evil influence of Amit Shah who usurped his eyes and ears and has been successfully misguiding him by converting goats into dogs and dogs into goats since last 12 years."

"Chief minister of Gujarat has very rightly been talking of repaying his debt which he owes to Mother India.

But, it would not be out of context to remind him that he, in the hurry of marching towards Delhi may kindly not forget to repay the debt which he owes to jailed police officers who endowed him with the halo of brave chief minister among the galaxy of other chief ministers who do not bare the same adjective before their names," Vanzara said.

Vanzara held Shah responsible for the transfer of Sohrabuddin Sheikh and Tulsi Prajapati encounter cases out of Gujarat.

He also accused Shah of adopting 'British policy of divide and rule' towards state police officers and for creating the crisis of confidence among senior officers.

"Instead of providing an inno-

vative and benevolent leadership for keeping the police force of the state intact, efficient and fighting machine, Amit Shah introduced a much despised British policy of divide and rule coupled with equally dirty policy of use the officers and throw them by deliberately spreading disinformation about them," he said.

"Amit Shah lost all credibility and confidence which ignited the `yadavasthali' or fratricidal police war in Gujarat which was later on exploited by CBI opening the floodgates of politico-legal problems for this government," he said.

had not been fruitfully paid attention to.

Verbal consolations given by this government, time and again, had been proved to be invariably hollow and deliberately misleading," he said.

"The crux of whole matter is that it was just to facilitate his trivial personal interest of fighting Gujarat Assembly Elections of 2012 that Amit Shah got the trial (Sohrabuddin encounter case) transferred and betrayed our trust reposed in him whereby he forced us to suffer more and more..."

Vanzara said.

D G Vanzara

"I sincerely believe and state that but for the legal and political intrigues, machinations and maneuvering of Amit Shah the trial of Sohrabuddin encounter case, followed by that of Tulsiram encounter case, would not have gone out of the state of Gujarat," he said.

At present 32 policemen, including six IPS officers from Gujarat and Rajasthan are under arrest in four encounter cases being probed by CBI and names of six more IPS officers have figured in the charge sheets filed in Tulsi Prajapati and Ishrat Jahan en-

Invoking Mahatma Gandhi he said, "I realized the truth in the statement of Mahatma Gandhi, who very rightly observed, states are soulless machines...and the governments have no conscience..."

"Accordingly, this government instead of construing my dignified silence to be a virtue worth rewarding has mistaken the same to be my weakness worth ignoring. It is most painful to state here that this government took me and my officers for granted all these years in the most arrogant man-

"Chief minister of Gujarat has very rightly been talking of repaying his debt which he owes to Mother India. But, it would not be out of context to remind him that he, in the hurry of marching towards Delhi may kindly not forget to repay the debt which he owes to jailed police officers who endowed him with the halo of brave chief minister� counter cases. Vanzara also criticized the Gujarat Government for ignoring the wellbeing and welfare of the families of jailed policemen.

"I have been making ceaseless efforts on behalf of all of them to persuade this government to be of some use and assistance which

ner," he said.

Describing the situation in the state after 2002 post-Godhra riots Vanzara claimed that, "Pakistan based terrorist outfits like LeT, JeM and Dawood Ibrahim gang under the direct supervision of ISI used this pretext to convert Gujarat into another Kashmir." -PTI

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Asaram sent to jail for sexual assault JODHPUR: Self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl at his ashram here, was behind bars after he was remanded in 14day judicial custody by a local court.

Wearing a white dhoti and kurta and a red skull cap, the controversial 72-year-old Asaram was produced amid tight security before the district and sessions court where the magistrate Manoj Kumar ordered to send him to judicial custody till September 15.

The counsel for Asaram, meanwhile, moved an application for bail. Asaram was brought to the court in a police bus escorted by a police vehicle. He was remanded in one-day police custody after being grilled for four hours.

The religious preacher remained in the court for about 15 minutes before he was taken to Central Jail of Jodhpur near Mohanpura Bridge in a convoy

Supporters of Asaram Bapu protesting against his arrest in Mumbai on September 3

of police vehicles after the court order. He was lodged in Barrack No.1.

During the hearing, defense counsel pleaded that proper medical attention and care be given for Asaram in the Jail. To

Want to land a job? Work on your sense of humor!

NEW YORK: Tickling the ing mangers and HR professionfunny bone of your interviewer als, 'Business News Daily' remay land you the job! ported.

Job candidates with a sense of One-third of the employers humor are more likely to be hired, surveyed also said they are more a new study has found. likely to promote employees who The research also found that have asked for a promotion in the when two equally qualified can- past. didates were compared, those Additionally, hiring managers who were involved in their com- said there are several ways workmunity and those who were bet- ers can hurt their chances of reter dressed were more likely to get a job.

Additionally, hiring "Employers are not only managers said they are more likely to hire a can- looking for people who are didate with whom they professionally qualified for have something in com- the position, but also mon.

Employers also said someone who is going to they are likely to hire a fit in at the office," candidate who is physically fit, on top of cur- Haefner said rent affairs, involved in social media or knowledgeable ceiving a promotion. For example, about sports, according to the 71 per cent of hiring managers said study conducted by Career workers who say "That's not my Builder. job" will not get a promotion.

"When you're looking for a job, Some other common mistakes the key is selling your personal that hurt employees' chances of a brand," said Rosemary Haefner, promotion include being late to vice president of human resources work, lying, taking credit for other at CareerBuilder. people's work and leaving work "Employers are not only look- early. ing for people who are professionMoreover, workers who gosally qualified for the position, but sip, take liberties with expenses, also someone who is going to fit don't dress professionally and in at the office," Haefner said. swear are also unlikely to receive The research was based on the a promotion, the researchers said. responses of more than 2,000 hir- -PTI

this, the prosecution assured the court that all required assistance will be given.

Police said it did not seek ex-

tension of police remand as their course of initial investigation and questioning was over.

"Our investigation was complete so we did not seek for extension of the police custody. The accused has cooperated with us," DCP Ajay Lamba told reporters after the hearing.

"Our case is very strong and we have vital evidences against the accused. We are moving in the right direction. We will file chargesheet in the case soon, he added.

After the hearing, some people who had gathered outside the court shouted slogans welcoming its order.

Asaram was arrested amid high drama on the intervening night of Saturday-Sunday in Indore and was brought here for interrogation.

Asked about reports that

Asaram was suffering from a neurological disorder, the DCP said, "It has been proved to be a lie.

His son can say what he wants to say. We can't comment on anybody's statement".

"A team of doctors said he is perfectly OK. He is mentally and physically fit," Lamba said, adding the accused is also taking food whenever served.

Asaram had cleared a potency test conducted on him at the SN Medical college here. He was also taken to his Manai Ashram, about 30 km from Jodhpur, where the girl was allegedly sexually assaulted.

Police had conducted a physical verification and tried to recreate the scene of crime.

Asaram's arrest followed an FIR filed by the girl alleging she was sexually assaulted by him at his ashram. He has denied the charges.-PTI

Tech News Facebook aping Twitter again?

F

acebook has already done a Twitter many times before trying the latest one out. This time, Facebook is on a testing spree of trending options, like the ones on Twitter.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Facebook is testing a new section on the homepage in the news feed. This section is expected to feature Hashtags as well.

An official from Facebook has confirmed the news, saying yes.

The official has said, "Right now it is only available to a small percentage of US users and it is still in the early stages of development."

Facebook has copied Twitter many times. Earlier, it introduced hashtags and last month it came up with another feature - embedded posts, like the ones on Twitter.

Tripura to export tea to Middle East and Europe AGARTALA: The orthodox tea produced in northeastern Indian state of Tripura has succeeded in capturing markets in the Middle East and Europe, following sharp fall in demands for CTC (CrushTear-Curl) tea grown in the country, official sources said.

Golakpur Tea Estate in North Tripura district has signed an agreement for exporting 10 MT of orthodox tea in the current financial year with an Iranian importer and has already exported 30,000 kg of processed tea leaves to Teheran this year, Deputy Director of Tea Development Corporation of Tripura, S Das said.

"We have already sent a consignment of 30,000 kg of orthodox tea to Iran and 12,000 kg of leaves were almost ready for export to the country," General Manager of the Tea estate, J C Das said.

Manuvalley Tea Estate of the Unakoti district had exported green tea leaves to Britain and some Asian countries like Afghanistan and Pakistan this year.

"The price of CTC tea is dwindling drastically in the auction markets after Kenya registered bumper crops recently and for that Golakpur Tea estate is focusing on production of orthodox tea instead of CTC tea," Das said.

Tripura State Industries and Commerce Minister Jiten Choudhury said Ludhua Tea Estate in South Tripura had installed a new broiler machine a few years ago for processing green tea after receiving good response from international markets. -PTI

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Nokia launches Lumia 925 & 625 in Chennai CHENNAI: Finland-based handset maker Nokia has launched its Lumia range of smartphone here with introduction of latest Lumia 925 and Lumia 625.

Popular Tamil actress Trisha launched the phones in the city.

Equipped with advanced lens technology, metal body, a PureView camera and enhanced low light imaging, Lumia 925 is priced at Rs 33,499, while Lumia 625 with a 4.7 inch super sensitive LCD screen is offered at Rs 19,999, a company statement said. -PTI

September 6, 2013

Microsoft, Google to sue US over releasing user data requests WASHINGTON: Technology firms Microsoft and Google are set to sue the US government after the failure of their talks on releasing official requests for user data.

The two technology giants filed suits in June, demanding a right to disclose more information about user data requests made under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act FISA. Their representatives met six times with US officials and agreed to extend the deadlines for the government to reply to the lawsuits, allowing time for negotiations that ended in failure, Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith said.

"We hoped that these discussions would lead to an agreement acceptable to all. While we appreciate the good faith and earnest efforts by the capable government lawyers with whom we negotiated, we are disappointed that these negotiations ended in failure," Smith said in a blog post.

"To followers of technology issues, there are many days when Microsoft and Google stand apart," Smith said.

"But today our two companies

stand together...We believe we have a clear right under the US Constitution to share more information with the public."

The issue was highlighted after Edward Snowden, a former IT

the past 12 months and do so going forward once a year, Smith said such a decision represents a good start.

The public deserves and the Constitution guarantees more

contractor at the National Security Agency (NSA), disclosed that the US were tapping into Internet user data.

Referring to the government's recent decision to begin publishing the total number of national security requests for user data for

than this first step, he added.

Smith said over the past several weeks Microsoft and Google have pursued these talks in consultation with others across the technology sector.

"With the failure of our recent negotiations, we will move for-

ward with litigation in the hope that the courts will uphold our right to speak more freely," he said.

He said with a growing discussion on Capitol Hill, Congress will continue to press for the right of technology companies to disclose relevant information in an appropriate way, adding courts and Congress will ensure that their Constitutional safeguards prevail.

Smith said he believes it is vital to publish information that clearly shows the number of national security demands for user content, such as the text of an email.

"These figures should be published in a form that is distinct from the number of demands that capture only metadata such as the subscriber information associated with a particular email address," he said.

"We believe it's possible to publish these figures in a manner that avoids putting security at risk.

And unless this type of information is made public, any discussion of government practices and service provider obligations will remain incomplete," Smith said. PTI

9 out of 10 Indian customers face poor service NEW DELHI: Around 90 per cent customers in India experienced poor post-sale service across sectors such as utilities, retail and telecom in the last six months, a survey has found.

"Consumers revealed that most have experienced poor customer service, and surprisingly, have low expectations of receiving great service," said the survey of 5,800 respondents in six countries, including India, China and Japan.

Painting a poor picture of customer service in India, nearly 90-95 per cent consumers in utilities, financial services and telecom segments have faced a service problem within the past six months, according to the sur-

vey conducted by research firm Ipsos, a release said.

Taking too long to resolve problems (21 per cent) and unknowledgeable staff that cannot help (20

per cent) were two main reasons cited for poor consumer service experience.

Also, nearly half of the Indian respondents said that customer service is more important than price for buying a product. Only 26 per cent respondents rated price higher than service for adopting a product.

Consumers in all countries, including emerging markets where there is a common 'price is king' perception, place a premium on good customer service, with only 23 per cent of consumers valuing price over service, the survey said.

The survey also found

that 57 per cent of Indian consumers share their experiences on social media, blogs and leave comments on company websites.

About 57 per cent are using social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter for sharing their experiences.

In India, more consumers expressed their desire to share positive rather than negative experiences - 43 per cent for positive experiences, compared to 41 per cent for negative experiences, the Verint-commissioned survey said.

Companies that can improve their customer experiences are well positioned in today's market to gain significant business, it said. -PTI

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Will deal with challenges one at a time: Rajan

Central Bank gets RBI Rajbhasha Shield DIANA GABRIEL

NEW DELHI: Faced with declining value of the rupee and widening CAD, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor designate Raghuram Rajan has said there is no magic wand to solve the challenges before the country overnight and he will endeavor to deal with them one at a time.

Rajan, 50, who has been in the Finance Ministry as the Chief Economic Advisor for barely a year, has replaced Duvvuri Subbarao as RBI Governor.

"We have enough ideas. It is not just the currency, it is financial inclusion, it is growth. I think there is a lot to do. There are challenges in the economy... These things are not going to be overcome overnight. There is no magic wand.

But there are undoubtedly solutions to many of the problems that the RBI can tackle and the job is to go ahead and do it.

"We will do it one step at a time.

Make sure that it progresses everyday," he told reporters on his last day of office at the Finance Ministry.

Rajan, a former IMF chief economist, was appointed as the Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry in August last year.

His appointment as the 23rd central bank chief comes at a time when the economy is battling industrial slowdown, declining rupee, rising prices and all-time high CAD. "Expectations are challenging.

I think the job is a complex one.

There are many issues including managing institution itself...

"I think in some ways there are commonalties among bureaucra-

cies but each organization has its own culture, has its own tempo... I am looking forward," he said.

Besides combating the key issues like volatile rupee and CAD, Rajan will have to take a call on continuing with RBI's practice of midquarter policy review every 45 days, which was initiated

by Subbarao.

There has been a speculation that Rajan is not in favor of mid-quarter reviews and could dispense with the practice, although the scheduled mid-quarter review due later in the month would be brought out.

As regards the Current Account Deficit (CAD), there have been some signs of improvement in the first quarter mainly on account of decline in gold imports.

However, the government and the RBI will have a difficult task of bringing CAD down to USD 70 billion in the current fiscal, from USD 88.2 billion last year. The rising cost of crude oil import will continue to put pressure on the CAD. On the positive side, the good monsoon and pick up in exports may provide some support to Rajan's efforts. However, he will face a tough time in drawing a bal-

ance between the competing needs of keeping inflation under control and promoting growth.

His biggest challenge, however, will be to neutralize the impact of tapering of US bond pur-

Raghuram Rajan

chases on which a decision would be taken by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) in its meeting on September 17-18.

Known for his frank views, Rajan was acclaimed for predicting the 2008 global financial crisis. In 2005, he had delivered a lecture critical of the financial sector, arguing that a financial disaster might be looming.

Rajan, who was an honorary economic advisor to the Prime Minister earlier, is an alumni of IIMAhmedabad and IIT-Delhi.

He had replaced Kaushik Basu as Chief Economic Advisor in the Finance Ministry last year. -PTI

Remittances by NRIs from Punjab grow 10% CHANDIGARH: With the rupee witnessing a record fall against the US dollar, the flow of remittances by NRIs from Punjab has risen by up to 10 per cent in the last three months to benefit from the higher exchange rate.

"Yes, there has been an increase in remittances by NRIs (who migrated from Punjab and Chandigarh) in the last three months in the wake of weak rupee against US dollar," Aruna Singh, handling Inward remittances at Paul Merchants Ltd, told PTI here.

Paul Merchants is a city-based company, having interests in glo-

bal money transfer and foreign exchange businesses.

She said: "On an average, there has been a growth of 5-6 per cent per month in remittances in the last three months.

And when rupee crossed the 68 mark against dollar, the flow went up by 10 per cent."

Industry insiders revealed that some of NRIs even borrowed funds at a cheap rate and sent back to India to earn more money.

"There have been cases in which some NRIs borrowed funds at a rate of 4-5 per cent in US and then deposited here in NRI ac-

count where they will get 8 per cent of return," another person dealing in inward remittances said.

The rupee has depreciated by nearly 28 per cent since April 30 (53.8) to 68.85 against the dollar on August 28.

It is estimated that NRIs of Punjab origin remit Rs 800-1,000 crore per month back home to their families.

The flow of remittances also grew from Canada, the UK, and European countries as rupee took a hit against currencies of these countries as well. -PTI

India Post News Service

MUMBAI: Central Bank of India, a premier commercial bank in India, was recently awarded with Second Prize in linguistic region 'C' and Third Prize in linguistic region 'A' by Reserve Bank of India for the best implementation of Official Language Policy of Government of

D.Subbarao conferred shields & certificates to Animesh Chouhan, Executive Director of Central Bank of India. On this occasion Dr Urjit R. Patel, Dy Governor of RBI, R. Gandhi, ED of RBI and U.S. Paliwal, PCGM of RBI were present.

Narendra Singh, General Manager (Rajbhasha), Dr Usha Gupta, Asstt. General Manager (Rajbhasha) and other officials of the Bank were present in this function.

The bank has also bagged National Award for Excellence in Cost Management 2012 under Public Service Sector (Large). The Bank was presented with the award during a grand function organized

by The Institute of Cost AcB. Mondal, Chief General Manager, Delhi countants of India recently in Zone receiving the National Award for New Delhi. The award was reExcellence in Cost Management 2012 on ceived by B Mondal, Chief behalf of the Bank.

General Manager, Delhi Zone India for the year 2011-12. The on behalf of the Bank. award was presented during a The function was well atfunction held at Reserve Bank of tended by eminent personalities India in Mumbai. besides Secretary, Additional SecIn a glittering function, Gover- retary and other bureaucrats of nor of Reserve Bank of India Dr Government of India.

Animesh Chouhan, Executive Director, CBI seen receiving RBI Rajbhasha Certificate from RBI Governor Dr D. Subbarao. Present on the occasion were Dr Urjit R. Patel, Dy. Governor of RBI, R. Gandhi, ED of RBI besides Narendra Singh General Manager (Rajbhasha), Dr Usha Gupta, Asstt. General Manager (Rajbhasha) and others

14

TechBiz Post

India Post

September 6, 2013

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IMF for better info-sharing between Indian regulators WASHINGTON: Regulation and oversight of securities markets in India can be improved further with better information sharing and policy coordination between various financial sector regulators such as Sebi and RBI, an IMF study has suggested.

The study by the International Monetary Fund, which was conducted as part of a Financial Sector Assessment Program, found that the risk management framework for securities and derivatives clearing and settlement systems in India "is prudent, the operational reliability is high and the regulation and oversight functions are effective".

At the same time, the assessment results indicated that the regulation and oversight of all systems should be improved by implementing formal arrangements for information sharing and policy coordination between the various regulators.

The IMF observed that the RBI and Sebi regularly cooperate with each other on various matters in various fora.

However, the cooperation on payment and securities clearing and settlement systems is not formalized and there were no explicit agreements in place with regard to information sharing or coordination of policy implementation.

"The overall quality of the over-

sight and supervision on payment and securities clearing and settlement systems would be enhanced if the RBI and Sebi met regularly on a technical and higher level, and had formal arrangements for information sharing and policy coordination," IMF said.

The study also suggested that

basis together with participants.

"But no system has crisis management plans in place that include detailed procedures and actions to be taken in case of a major crisis. Such crisis management plans should include the definition of a crisis management team as well as procedures to consult and in-

IMF said that the legal framework with regard to the protection of customers' assets will be strengthened by the explicit statement that the assets of a client may not be used to cover any obligations toward a third party in case of insolvency the RBI and the Sebi can be encouraged to include the commodities market regulator FMC in regular meetings.

The assessment results also indicate that the crisis management procedures can be improved further, although the operational reliability of the systems is high and Business Continuity Planning and Disaster Recovery sites are in place.

"The readiness to respond to a crisis in an orchestrated manner would, however, benefit from the establishment and regular testing of detailed crisis management. All systems test the connectivity to their back-up sites on a regular

form participants and regulators.

"Crisis management procedures should be tested regularly, for example by simulating stress scenarios that affect the financial and operational soundness of the system," the IMF said.

The assessment also found that the transparency can be improved with regard to various systems relating to the securities markets.

"In general, the securities market infrastructure in India is segmented per product type, which may raise concerns on the overall efficiency of the capital market," the IMF study said.

"A key concern is this regard is

1st US-made smartphone cheap to produce NEW YORK: Motorola's new Moto X phone doesn't cost more to make simply because it's assembled in Texas, research firm IHS has said.

The Moto X is the first smartphone to carry the ``Made in the U.S.A.'' designation. Labor costs are higher in the US compared with Asian factories where phones are typically made. But IHS said the Moto X is about 5 percent cheaper to make than Samsung Electronic Co.'s flagship Galaxy S4 phone. The firm said the Moto X's overall production cost is just 9 percent more than that of Apple's iPhone 5.

The findings come as little surprise as the labor cost of a phone is just a small part of its production cost. IHS estimates that labor and other assembly costs Motorola $12 per phone for the Moto X, bringing the production cost to $226. That compares with $207 for the iPhone 5 and $237 for the Galaxy S4. IHS said Motorola

is able to keep the cost of parts low by using standard components that don't break much new ground.

By assembling the phone in Fort Worth, Texas, Motorola is able to let customers order custom designs online for delivery within

four days. Standard black or white models are available immediately at retail stores. ``With the Moto X, Motorola is reaping the public-relations and customization upsides of producing a smartphone in the United

States, while maintaining competitive hardware costs,'' said Andrew Rassweiler, senior director for cost benchmarking services at IHS. IHS said the estimated $12 for assembly is about $3.50 to $4 more than other leading phones. ``Our initial estimate suggests the additional costs of onshoring the Moto X are relatively low,'' IHS said.

The phone went on sale starting with AT&T. It's coming to other carriers, including Verizon. The Moto X's price is about $200 with a twoyear service agreement.

The Moto X is Motorola's first phone designed from the start under its new owner, Google Inc. The Internet search company bought Motorola Mobility for $12.4 billion last year. -AP

the segregation between the government bond market and the corporate equity and derivative market," IMF said, while adding that certain systems prevent stock brokers and retail clients who trade on the stock exchanges to access the market for government bonds.

"This prevents retail investors to invest in government bonds and thus to access a full range of available investment products.

"Another drawback of the current segregation is that government bonds are not used by stock brokers and custodians to comply with the margin requirements...

The multiplicity of systems does not negatively influence the stability of the financial infrastructure," it added.

IMF said that the legal framework with regard to the protection of customers' assets will be strengthened by the explicit statement that the assets of a client may not be used to cover any obligations toward a third party in case of the insolvency of the participant of the Public Debt Office system (under RBI).

IMF has also called for better transparency with regard to the PDO system.

The assessment of securities and derivatives clearing and settlement systems in India was made as per the Recommendations of the Committee for Payment and

Settlement Systems (CPSS) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO), the global body for securities regulators from across the world.

This assessment was conducted during a field mission of the Financial Sector Assessment Program to India in September 2011.

The report was finalized after review of relevant regulations and norms prevalent in India, as also after extensive discussions were held with regulators, overseers, supervisors and operators, such as RBI, Sebi, FMC, NSE, BSE, USE, MCX, MCX-SX, NSDL and CDSL. A host of stakeholders, including primary dealers, banks and broker-dealers operating in the government securities market, the corporate securities and the derivatives markets were also consulted.

The previous FSAP assessment of the Indian securities market was conducted way back in 2001, since when there have been many changes in the regulatory framework, range of products, growth and reach of market, technology, investor participation, etc.

The current FSAP assessment recognized the significant progress made by Sebi, stock exchanges, clearing corporations, and depositories in the implementation of the IOSCO Principles since the 2001 assessment. -PTI

General Motors recalls 4,000 units of Sail model NEW DELHI: General Motors India has said it is recalling 4,000 units of the diesel variant of its Sail model to address a potential engine issue.

The recall will affect 2,910 units of the sedan version of Sail and 1,090 units of compact car variant of the model. This comes close on the heels of the company recalling 1.14 lakh units of its multi-purpose vehicle Tavera in July this year regarding emission issues.

GM India, however, said this latest issue is not related to the Tavera recall.

"Our customers are at the centre of everything we do...

Quality is our highest priority.

However, if there is an issue, we ensure that it is corrected as soon as possible as part of our complete commitment to customer satisfaction," GM India Vice President P Balendran said.

He said the recall is to rectify a problem at the crankshaft hub bolt, which has the potential to impact the performance of the 1.3-litre diesel engine.

GM India has restarted production and sales of the diesel variants of Chevrolet Sail, which were stopped on June 3 due to the engine issue, he added.

"The company is notifying customers individually how and when to bring in their vehicles for inspection. The affected vehicles will be repaired free of charge at GMI's 278 service centers across the country," Balendran added.

GM India did not specify the manufacturing dates of the Sail that will be affected by the recall.

While the Sail compact version was launched in November last year, the sedan variant was launched in February this year.

The recall is the latest in a series made by automobile manufacturers in India since industry body SIAM announced a voluntary recall based on safety last July. Over 3 lakh units of automobiles have been recalled so far by various companies, including Ford, Toyota, Mahindra & Mahindra, Nisssan, Renault and Yamaha. PTI

September 6, 2013

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India Post 15

Desi News Hazare seeks NRI role in anticorruption stir India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: During his short stay in Los Angeles on August 24, India's anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare attended a press conference at Radisson Hotel and the Meet and Greet at Torch Restaurant, both in Buena Park.

In his address to about 300 cheering NRIs and Indian Americans, Annaji announced that the movement for corruption free India will rekindle in the coming weeks. He requested NRIs to be part of the movement by providing technical support. Throughout his 40 minutes speech, Anna Hazare elegantly mixed patriotism, inspiration and humor.

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

Janmashtami celebrated in Fremont with religious fervor Details on page 18

16 India Post

www.indiapost.com

September 6, 2013

21st Festival of India wraps up with a grand banquet

Details on page 18

Association of Indians celebrates India Day SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: The Association of Indians in America (AIA), Illinois Chapter, celebrated India's Independence Day at the Daley Plaza on August 13 starting with the Flag Hoisting ceremony by the Consul General of India in Chicago, Dr Ausaf Sayeed.

He was joined by AIA office bearers including Dr Ghanshyam Pandey, National President, Naren Patel, National Vice President, Ms. Beena Patel, Illinois Chapter Vice President.

The formal program then started with the welcome from Naren Patel, who talked about AIA activities and achievements specifically mentioning that AIA promotes and provides the best wide-ranging services to the immigrant population of India. AIA represents the spirit of immigrants who strive to achieve the American dream while maintaining their cultural heritage.

Details on page 21

Entertainments galore at Global Gujarati meet

Ro Khanna addressing the gathering along with Rajesh Verma and Dr. Japra.

Pics RaajD (iMegaStarStudios.com)

ers graced the occasion. All the sponsors of 21st Festival of India and members of Japra inner circle were invited to be honored.

FREMONT, CA: 21st Festival Vama Designs, a leading of India was celebrated over four clothes and fashion design house days from August 15th through conducted a crisp, profesAugust 18th. The Festival sional and well organized fashwas marked by flag hoisting ion show to showcase their ceremonies, large scale fesupcoming designer line. Sniti tivities with packed schedule Mishra and Nisha Kataria and a grand parade with floats sang the Indian and American representing different Indian national anthems respeccultures as well as local valtively. ues. Highlights of the festival Dr Romesh Japra, Conwere a huge Gadar exhibition vener and Chairman of FIA displaying Gadar heroes, exthanked the dignitaries and hibitions honoring Swami volunteers for making the 21st Vivekananda and Bollywood Festival of India a grand succinema, a popular free health cess. He said that over 250 fair and day-long cultural provolunteers worked relentgrams. Bollywood celebrity lessly for over a month to plan, Jimmy Shergill was this year's organize and execute the Grand Marshal. Sniti Mishra, FIA Team (L to R): Sanjeev Sharma, Ritu Maheshwari, Payal Sehgal, Charu, Ashok Nisha Kataria and Prem Bhatia Kapoor, Chandru Bhabhra, Nina Kapoor, Jimmy Shergill, Jerry Ahuja, Veena Birla, Rajesh event to perfection.

Verma, Dr. Romesh Japra, Keshavji and Vijay Thapar mesmerized the audience with Cont’d on page 28 RITU MAHESHWARI

India Post News Service

their melodious singing.

On 18th August, FIA organized a grand banquet as part of closing ceremony of 21st Festival of India. Held at San Jose Garden Hotel, the banquet was overflowing

Mr. N. Parthasarathy honoring Dr. Japra with life time achievement award

with merriness, pleasantries and patriotism. Indian Consul General N. Parthasarathy was the Chief Guest for the event. Local dignitaries Ro Khanna, Ash Kalra, Ellen Corbett, Raj Salwan and many oth-

Ro on panel discusses US-China-India ties

SUDHIR VYAS

EDISON, NJ: The second edition of the 3-day Global Gujarati Conference organized by the Friends of Gujarat had all the ingredients of entertainment to enthrall the Gujarati Diaspora in New Jersey. Entertainers who flew in especially from Gujarat gave out nostalgic fare to the local population taking them down memory to lane.

Details on page 22

India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: Ro Khanna, candidate for Congress in California's 17th district, joined Cupertino Mayor Orrin Mahoney, Cupertino City Councilmember Rod Sinks, and Cupertino Planning Commission Chair Don Sun for a panel discussion on the critical relationship between the U.S., China,

and India.

The conversation covered a wide range of topics including America's manufacturing future, the need to invest in education, and working with other nations to lower our global carbon footprint, among many others.

Silicon Valley, which has a huge population of Indian and Chinese Americans, has a unique role in leading the national debate

on what foreign and economic policy approaches America should take to create a more prosperous and peaceful 21st century.

"I am very encouraged by the forward-looking ideas that came out of our second U.S.-IndiaChina panel discussion," said Khanna.

Ro Khanna

Cont’d on page 19

India Post 17

September 6, 2013 www.indiapost.com

Community Across America

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September 6, 2013

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Janmashtami celebrated in Fremont with religious fervor RITU MAHESHWARI India Post News Service

FREMONT: Janmashtami is celebrated every year to commemorate Lord Krishna's birthday.

Krishna was born on a dark, stormy night in Vrindavan, to Vasudev and Devaki, in the prison of Devaki's brother Kansa. His birth signified end to darkness that surrounded the region.

Fremont Hindu Temple celebrates the occasion every year with special puja at midnight to mark Krishna's birthday.

Janmashtami holds a very special place in Fremont Temple's history, as this was the day 30 years ago, when Dr R.K. Japra, Leela Mathur, Manorama Joshi and a few other dedicated devotees established the temple. Since then, temple has grown in stature, devotee base, services offered as well as in size.

Janmashtami celebration was graced by Juna Akhada's senior most Mahamunishwar Anandshrivibhushi Balyogi Shri Arjun Puriji Maharaj from Haridwar. Swamiji was instrumental in establishment of the temple 30 years ago, and has been associated with it ever since. Speaking on the occasion, Swamiji said "I am very attached to this temple and have been coming to visit it almost every year since its establishment. Organizers here have done a wonderful job of taking care of expanding the temple."

The celebrations started at 7pm and included Pravachans, Bhajans

Swamiji giving pravachan on occasion of Janmashtami

and Jhankis.

Dr Japra has been the leading light and guide at the forefront of

the temple's efforts to act as the center of Indian community's social and religious activities. He said

Priests performing Krishna Archana

Leela Mathur, Manorama Joshi, Swamiji, Dr R.K. Japra and Vijay Thapar

"Janmashtami marks lord Krishna's birthday as wells birth of our temple. Lot of children and youth have become part of the temple ecosystem. It has grown into not just religious, but a social and cultural center as well. It is also a center to support community members in need. Many people gain jobs here and perform many of their important and auspicious events such as marriages.

Temple acts as a unifying force for the community and works as a cultural anchor" Rajesh Verma, President and trustee of Fremont Hindu Temple said "Over past 30 years, the

temple has grown and flourished.

Many youth have joined the temple. We have also expanded lot of services. The Temple has also been expanded by installing Siddhi Vinayak, Balaji and Sai Baba. We are also working on installing Karthikey and other deities. Currently we have temple services from morning 7.30 am to 10pm in evening. We are also working to expand it to 24x7 as feasible."

With continued growth of Indian community in the neighborhood, Fremont Hindu Temple has plans to expand the services it offers to its devotees.

Hazare seeks NRI role in anti-corruption stir

Sunnyvale Temple celebrates Janmashtami VINITA DUBEY PANDE India Post News Service

SUNNYVALE, CA: Sunnyvale Temple celebrated Sri Krishna Janmashtami on August 27.

Thousands of devotees thronged to witness the birth of their beloved Nand Lala. Sri Krishna was the eighth Avatar of Vishnu, born on the eighth day of the month, Ashtami, at midnight on the Rohini nakshatra.

Gopala was the eighth child of Devaki and Vasudev.

Giridhari is known to have eight main Gopis in Vrindavan, and eight main wives. The number eight is associated with Maya Prakriti (the great illusion of creation), as mentioned in Chapter 7 of the Bhagavad Gita, "Ashtadha Prakriti".

Cont’d on page 19

Anna Hazare addressing the press conference at Radisson Hotel.

Pics Manav Shah India Post News Service

LOS ANGELES: During his short stay in Los Angeles on August 24, India's anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare attended a press conference at Radisson Hotel and the Meet and Greet at Torch Restaurant, both in Buena Park.

In his address to about 300 cheering NRIs and Indian Americans, Annaji announced that the movement for corruption free India will rekindle in the coming weeks. He requested NRIs to be part of the movement by providing technical support. Throughout his 40 minutes speech, Anna

Hazare elegantly mixed patriotism, inspiration and humor.

While the crowd was chanting Vande Mataram, Jai Hindi, Annaji Zindabad, he mentioned that he will surely live to see the Jan Lokpal bill passed in Indian Parliament.

Anna Hazare and freedom fighter Gunavanrai Naik were felicitated by various social activists.

Before the Meet and Greet, Annaji attended the press conference. Answering questions, he said the traditional political parties have failed to bring the change needed.

Cont’d on page 19

September 6, 2013

Community Across America

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Onam celebrations filled with Kerala ambience VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: Onam is the biggest and the most enchanting festival of the beautiful state of

Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthu-

siasm all over the state by people of all communities. It is celebrated to welcome the spirit of legendary King Mahabali and the festival helps to bring forth the best of Kerala art and culture.

Maithry - Bay Area Malayalee Community celebrated Onam'13

on August 31 at the Campbell Heritage Theater. The event started at 9 am with breakfast, followed by cultural program, lunch, and ended with the Maithry Social Hour at 6 pm. Malayali families in the United States have moved into Onam celebration gear, creating floral carpets and everything else associated with Onam festivities. Interestingly, members, irrespective of caste or religion, turn the festivities into gala events by their wholehearted participation.

The cultural events started at 10 am with Pushpanjali, followed by kuttipattalam, dhumthanakkadi and Bollywood dance by tiny tots of Maithry. Shingari dance academy performed their cinematic dance number. Shingari's School of Rhythm (SSR) is among the very best Indian dance schools in the

Hazare seeks NRI role in anti-corruption stir Cont’d from page 18

He cited the example how all the major political parties opposed being transparent with their funding and exempted themselves from Right To Information (RTI).

In a petition given to him, NRIs appealed to Anna Hazare the need for "Absentee voting", as it is not practical for all NRIs to travel to India to cast their votes.

Earlier Anna Hazare was warmly welcomed with flowers, patriotic songs and Indian flags by children of Rishi S'Cool and women volunteers who included Vishakha Purandare, Vijaya Kesari, Rupa ShethnaShrimankar, Archana Sudamalla, SindhuHalvi, SundariC'Ganti,

Nitya, Pallavi Adhav, Roopa Thakkar, Sapna Falak, Kiruthika Govindaraj, Tejal Pipariya and senior volunteer Kesav Patel.

In a unique gesture, Annaji fe-

Anna Hazare responding to a question

licitated the spouses of the social activists as often their sacrifices go unnoticed.

The event was organized by

NRI Samay Social Radio. NRI Samay Vice President Sreekant Kocharlakota announced a new initiative called Dollar Drive, where the participants donate one dollar per month, and the amount will go to a charitable project in India, which is selected by an independent panel.

The event was supported by several organizations, including but not limited to People For Loksatta, Life Yessence Academy (LiYA) USA, North American Telugu Society, Los Angeles Telugu Association, Sanathan Dharma Mandir, Jain Mandir, Gujarati Cultural Society, Parama Shakti Peet of America and Indo American Senior Heritage.

Sunnyvale Temple celebrates Janmashtami Cont’d from page 18

The celebrations started at 10 am with Kalasha Sthapana. At 6 pm there was a Puja. This was followed by Bhajans at 7pm. The daily Arti followed at 8pm.

Abhishekam of the Lord was done with Vedic chanting.

Singers performed Anjali with Bhajans for the rest of the night.

At midnight was the grand arrival or Bal Gopal, received with great reverence and devotion. Bal Gopal was then dressed and placed in the 'jhula' (swing). The priests performed a beautiful Aarti of the Lord that concluded the Janmashtami celebrations.

A lot of us have heard the birth

story of Sri Krishna. He was born in a prison cell where his parents Devaki and Vasudev where kept under captivity by Kamsa. When Sri Krishna was born all the prison guards fell asleep and the doors got unlocked. Vasudev then took baby Krishna across the river Yamuna to his friend Nand Baba's home in Gokul and kept him next to Yashoda.

Vasudev took the baby girl born to Yashoda back with him to the prison.

The name 'Krishna' means the most attractive, the dark one, and one who is blissful by nature.

Krishna also has a deeper meaning. The essence of Krishna is the supreme consciousness, that's in each one of us, and in all of creation. The complete manifestation

of this consciousness was the Avatar, Sri Krishna. The spiritual meaning of Avatar, the realization of this consciousness within, is the incarnation of Paramatma.

The following day, August 28th, the temple received thousands of devotees coming to get darshan. Everything was orderly and organized for the crowds to flow smoothly. Each devotee gave obeisance to Bal Gopal adorned in the 'jhula', the priests gave prasad and dinner as always was provided to all by the temple.

The temple also received three idols that have arrived from Rajasthan: Salasar ke Balaji (Hanuman), Khatu ke Shyamji, and Jhunjhunu ki Ranisati dadi.

nation, offering classes in the Houston, Dallas and Los Angeles areas.

Manoje Pandalam of Maithry says, "This is our 12th Onam celebration. In 2001, a group of friends gathered in Sunnyvale to celebrate Vishu.

This propelled our desire further and inspired them to turn it into reality, through a novel way of social life circle.It has since grown considerably from its humble beginnings and blossomed into a closely-knit family of more than 800 members."

Shruthi Arshad, a new member of Maithry, says she is thrilled and excited to celebrate Onam same as way

back in Kerala. She says Maithry is like her extended family and wishes to support the social work which the organization helps for.

The performance was followed by scrumptious "Onam Sadya".

Onasadhya is the most delicious part of the grand festival. It is considered to be the most elaborate and grand meal prepared by any civilization or cultures in the world.

Traditional Onam Sadya meal comprises different varieties of curries, pappadams, chutneys, payasams and prathamans.

Cont’d on page 20

Ro on panel discusses US-China-India ties Cont’d from page 16

"The Indian and Chinese communities here in the 17th district have made incredible contributions to our economy by creating jobs, fostering innovation and taking risks to start new companies.

It is critical that these communities become increasingly active in the national debate on economic competiveness, education, and building a more responsive and technologically savvy government."

A Bay Area resident for more than a decade, Ro returned home to Silicon Valley after spending two years in the Obama Administration, where he took a practical, handson approach to public service. As Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Ro regularly traveled around the country meeting with American manu-

facturers of all sizes to better understand their needs and the best ways for government to promote and support them.

In this role, Ro managed 108 domestic Commerce offices dedicated to helping companies in the United States innovate and increase their exports to consumers around the world.

During his tenure at Commerce, Ro also broke new ground when he organized clean technology trade missions and supported the Green Embassy program, which allows American clean technology companies to showcase their products in U.S. embassies overseas.

Ro's book on manufacturing, Entrepreneurial Nation: Why Manufacturing is Still Key to America's Future, has won widespread praise for its strategies for keeping the best companies, jobs, and opportunities in America

Community Across America

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'Tribute to Legends' brings out best of Bollywood VIDYA SETHURAMAN India Post News Service

MILPITAS, CA: Bollywood's journey of 100 years has come a long way since its first movie Raja Harish Chandra, a silent film in

Alka Bhatnagar

black and white, was released in 1913. Music and Bollywood are inseparable entwined in passion.

Bollywood has songs for all emotions, situations and occasions.

From romantic, sad, soulful numbers to ballads with Urdu couplets and trendy English lyrics; Bollywood music has changed tremendously over 100 years.

Bollywood cinema favorites were brought to life in this musical array of artists from the Bay area celebrating the variety of Hindi Cinema. The celebration "Tribute to Legends" took place at the In-

dia Community Center, Milpitas on the Friday 30 August and audiences enjoyed the essence of Bollywood music. It was a celebration showcasing the mesmerizing musical feast to give a glimpse into the evolution and glorious journey of Indian Cinema.

The principal artists were Melody Queen of Bay area Alka Bhatnagar, Seema Verma, Rohit Saini, Vikas, Jatinder Singh, Dhaval Shah, and Varun Tiwari.

They were accompanied by legendary Robin John on Live Orchestration. The concert took the audience on a joyous ride when a special piece comprising selected songs from oldest Bollywood films, to the latest ones were presented. The event was a fitting tribute to Mohammed Rafi, Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhonsle to name a few.

Alka Bhatnagar is a versatile singer known as melody queen in the Bay Area. She has sung with Bollywood top singers Kumar Sanu, Udit Narayan, Abhijeet and

Ekal Foundation appoints Executive Director India Post News Service

E

kal Vidyalaya Foundation, USA (EVF) recently con cluded its annual fund-raising through a series of 46 concerts throughout USA with grand success befitting 25 years of its operation. Every year EV', whose administrative cost is in single digit, raises millions of dollars for eradicating illiteracy in remote tribal areas of India and for creating integrated development in those villages.

This year was no exception.

As of this moment there are over 52,000 'Ekal Schools' dispensing functional literacy to nearly 1.5 million underprivileged children throughout India, including Jammu & Kashmir, irrespective of caste, creed and religion.

In last six years, Ekal has doubled the number of underdeveloped villages that it serves. Now, there are 45 EkalChapters spread all over USA, supported by over 1,000 dedicated volunteers who have devoted their time, energy and resources to this largest 'Literacy Cause' undertaken by NRIs. Considering this growth and the overwhelming response of its patrons, EVF has appointed Ranjani Saigal as its Executive Director for her sterling credentials to coordinate various aspects of its sprawling administration in USA. Ms Saigal will spearhead EVF's ambitious agenda of community

outreach programs in USA, streamline its fund-raising activities, promote Ekal's cause and interact with support system in India. A graduate of "IIT" Mumbai and University of Florida in Engineering & Computer Science, Ranjani Saigal has 25 years of experience in 'Education Technology' at 'Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( "MIT ") where she facilitated development and deployment of several teaching tools and gaining accolades along

Ranjani Saigal

the way. She is co-founder of popular e-magazine 'Lokvani.com' and serves on the board of several social enterprises.

Hailing the appointment, Subhash Gupta, Chairman of board of 'EVF', not only complimented Ms Saigal for her passion and commitment for education and mentoring of several non-profit organizations in the past, but also, expressed his trust

in her leadership.

According to Ranjani Saigal, her immediate task at EVF "will be to closely work with Ekal's Executive branch, various Chapter Presidents, and its key volunteers across USA and enhance interaction, cooperation between the 'central body and satellite chapterteams". A ceaseless bundle of energy, Ms. Saigal has already taken reins of her responsibilities and plans to unveil her vision for 'Ekal' at the national meeting in Chicago, on September 21-22.

There is special significance to this year's gathering. This year also marks the 150th Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda, the spiritual master of the modern age. It was his vision for educating the poor masses that has propelled the 'Ekal Movement' in the first place. On September 11 ("9/ 11"), 1893 in Chicago, it was Swamiji who for the first time gave a profound message of Peace, Harmony and 'Universal Brotherhood' to global humanity and took it by storm with his unique spiritual concept of inter connectivity of global souls.

Shyamji Gupta, the founding member of EVF is specially flying in from India to join Ekal's Chicago gathering not only to celebrate this all-embracing positive meaning of "9/11" , but also, to propagate the 'unopened gift' of 'Peace and Harmony' that Swami Vivekananda has left behind for all of us to follow.

Varsha Patel, Anima Desai, Dr Romesh Japra, Himanshu Desai

King of Ghazals Anup Jalota. Alka and her team performed the hit melodies and peppy numbers of Legendary actors and actresses Raj Kapoor, Madhubala, Amitabh

Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Hema Malini, Sridevi to name a few.

Events such as this are a breezy flashback and we got to enjoy the best of the era.

Onam celebrations filled with Kerala ambience Cont’d from page 19

The cultural programs resumed after the lunch break and the Maithry kids and adults per-

formed folk, semi-classical, Oppana, Vallamkali from God's own country. "New Generation", a comedy skit was presented

by Bay Area Kumarettan Theater. It was directed by Anil Nair and had cast of Umesh, Duleep, Satish, Anupama, Anil, Priya, Rajendran and Gopa Kumar.

Mohiniyattam by Reshmi Hari transported the audience back to Kerala.

Voice of a Child, Maitry's community partner was a part of this grand event. Voice of a Child (VOC) is a charity organization incorporated in California, USA. Its mission is to strategically assist indigent people, while fostering social consciousness. The vision of the organization is human dignity through opportunities in educa-

tion, says Saril.

Pazhassi Raja Tribal School is the project of Voice of a Child located at Wayanad, Kerala. It is a residential school providing food, accommodation, and medical needs as well as full education, completely free of cost to the students. The school that started with 41 students has more than 250 students now.

He said the future of this school is in the hands of each one of us now: $250 - Provides full support to one child for a year. This includes tuition, three healthy meals a day, uniform and books. $100 - Feeds three healthy meals for one day for 100 children. $50 - Vocational training for one child for a year; $25 - Provides support to one child for a month. This in-

cludes tuition and three healthy meals a day.

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September 6, 2013

India Post 21

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Association of Indians celebrates India Day SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: The Association of Indians in America (AIA), Illinois Chapter, celebrated India's Independence Day at the Daley Plaza on August 13 starting with the Flag Hoisting ceremony by the

and said that the AIA has a tradition of celebrating it with great pride and joy. "We would also like our children to know about our heritage, and the American people about our struggle for independence. We are committed and loyal to our adopted land, that is USA, but still have love and pride for our motherland from where we came," he said amidst applause India has made tremendous progress in all areas, but most importantly the image of India has changed drastically in the United States, partly due to Indian immigrants here. Americans now have a better image and perception of India.

In his remarks, the new CG Dr Ausaf Sayeed, congratulated the AIA for continuously celebrating India Day in Chicago and then talked briefly about the tremendous progress India has made in many areas since its independence. Dr Fanchion Blumenberg,

Indian CG Dr Ausaf Sayeed addresses the gathering

Consul General of India in Chicago, Dr Ausaf Sayeed.

He was joined by AIA office bearers including Dr Ghanshyam Pandey, National President, Naren Patel, National Vice President, Ms. Beena Patel, Illinois Chapter Vice President.

The formal program then started with the welcome from Naren Patel, who talked about AIA activities and achievements specifically mentioning that AIA promotes and provides the best wide-ranging services to the immigrant population of India. AIA represents the spirit of immigrants who strive to achieve the American dream while maintaining their cultural heritage.

Dr Ghanshyam Pandey in his remarks outlined the importance of India Day for the people of Indian origin in the United States

Dr G Pandey, National AIA President, addressing the gathering

who represented Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Cook County Circuit Court, said, "The celebration of

Guests and others attending the celebration

The image of India has changed drastically in the United States, partly due to Indian immigrants here. Americans now have a better image and perception of India.

India's Independence Day mirrors the United States Independence Day celebration, and we are all proud to be part of the occasion that honors liberty, supports justice, values freedom and peace in the atmosphere of tolerance."

This was followed by a cultural program. The highlight was a patriotic dance "Rang De Basanti" performed by Mohini, Amani, and Suhanee, and also a dance pro-

gram by Payalia Dance Academy, choreographed by Trupti Patel and performed by Isheeta, Priya, Keerti.

Anil Sharma sang many patriotic songs on this occasion.

Beena Patel was the Master of Ceremonies. Vote of Thanks was proposed by Anil Sharma, Member of the Board of Trustees. The celebration was attended by a large gathering at the Daley Plaza.

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Entertainments galore at Global Gujarati meet SUDHIR VYAS

EDISON, NJ: The second edition of the 3-day Global Gujarati Conference organized by the Friends of Gujarat had all the ingredients of entertainment to enthrall the Gujarati Diaspora in New Jersey. Entertainers who flew in especially from Gujarat gave out nostalgic fare to the local population taking them down memory to lane.

Dayro, folk song, folk dance, Shaurya (valor) dance, Garbas, Beda dance and Hasya Darbar from renowned performers like Praful Dave, Bhartiben Vyas, Bhikudan Gadhvi, Yogesh Gadhvi, Smriti Irani, Vatsala Patil and a host of other performers and dance groups from Ahmedabad and Vadodara including Panghat group won the heart of the Gujaratis settled in New Jersey with their spellbinding bound performances.

This is not to overlook traditional Gujarati food including Puran Polis, Undhiyu and other delicacies that people enjoyed during the event which was aptly titled `Bhavya Ane Divya Gujarat'.

For once the organizers did not resort to long tedious speeches by politicians, though not many from Gujarat made it. Some of whom who did were Smriti Irani, Jayanti Barot, Jayanti Kavadia, Dhanraj Kella, Shankarbhai Vegad, MP from Surendranagar. The elected officials and BJP MPs from Gujarat were so overwhelmed by the entertainment that they did not miss an opportunity to dance to the Gujarati folk songs rendered by the artists.

The event did not attract as

The start of the Meet

venue anything and everything was Gujarati. Be it the traditional welcome with the lighting of the Diya, the Gujarati Garba, the welcome arch, Gujarati dĂŠcor, the local dialect and not to forget the traditional food. For a moment one thought as if one was roaming in Manek Chowk.

Talking to this correspondent in an exclusive interview, Kirit Patel, president of Friends of Gujarat said the aim of organizing this event is to keep the Gujarati culture alive within the second generation of Guajaratis who have made America their new home.

"We intend to provide them the necessary platform to know what Gujarat is, how it has emerged as a land of opportunity in India and at the same time keeping the traditional Gujarati values intact", Kirit said. He added, "The conference

"We intend to provide them the necessary platform to know what Gujarat is, how it has emerged as a land of opportunity in India,, their own ideas and investment and have been successful. We want them to interact with budding Gujarati entrepreneurs and businessmen who can plan such investment back in Gujarat so as to take Gujarat to the next level of industrialization."

The conference also showcased some of the traditional items

Entertainment Gujarati style

Asked to comment on the BJP spokesperson and vice-president Smriti Irani leaving the event in a huff after she alleged that chief minister Narendra Modi was ignored at the three-day Global Gujarati Conference, Kirit defended himself saying, "if you look at the 150 feet stage there is not one poster or picture of any one leader, be it chief minister or even Mahatma Gandhi or Sardar Patel.

This event is purely for the entertainment of Gujaratis and we want to highlight Gujarat and its achievement. “The incident had nothing to do with getting any political mileage from this; nor am I aspiring for any post anywhere in Gujarat."

When asked about the total cost of the project, Kirit was hesitant in giving a specific figure but said it could anywhere from $

said, "As many 300 such children have already migrated from Jammu and Kashmir and made Gujarat their second home. They were presently housed in Kheda district. The proceeds from this event will also go towards the Swami Vivekananda Smarak being planned by Narendra Modi", he added.

Shyamaben Mehta, who once resided in Patasa Ni Pole in Ahmedabad, said, "for once I went down memory lane and visualized myself dancing during the Navratri festival. After a long time I could enjoy some real Gujarati music and dance. My heart went back to my house, which no longer exists as I have now settled here with my children and grandchildren".

Expressing similar sentiments, another lady Damyantiben Patel of Nava Wadaj said, "I enjoyed the

Gujarati artists who entertained the audiences

much audience as the organizers had anticipated. However they could cover some ground of the second and third day after a word of mouth was spread about the program that captured the heart of the audience.

At the Raritan Expo Center

proved to be the launching pad to exchange ideas of economic, business success stories between the younger generation in Gujarat and their counterpart settled in the USA. There are many young entrepreneurs who run businesses worth Rs 200 crore set up through

from Gujarat which were put up for sale at the venue. Some of the property dealers also set up their stalls to highlight their construction activities vis-Ă -vis housing projects.

Many local vendors and television channels had also put up their stalls to showcase their exhibits.

750,000 to $ 1.2 million. "We will make every effort to cut the cost so as to enable us to collect some funds and donate them for a noble cause like educating orphaned children in Jammu and Kashmir and also provide them with basic education, food and clothing. He

way Praful Dave came down from the stage and sang his heart out with the audience. Rarely do they do this during their show in Gujarat. I loved the entertainment aspect to the entire event which was the true spirit of Gujarat and Gujaratis".

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Golden Kavach ceremony turns temple into pilgrimage place RAMESH SOPARAWALA

CHICAGO: Grayslake in Lake County, some 40 miles away from Chicago Downtown, turned out to be a Teerth site (a pilgrimage place) for many an Indian living in Metro Chicago for two days in August - Friday August 23 and Saturday August 24 - as one of the most revered Indian deities Lord Balaji - was to be adorned with Golden Kavach.

Hundreds flocked to the Hindu Temple of Lake County in Grayslake for two days to participate in and witness a most elaborate ritual that would precede formalizing of placing gold plated cover on the idol of Lord Balaji.

Besides learned priests in the temple, the Mandir management

Lord Balaji Kavach Ceremony in progress

ing over two million rupees - the cost being borne by sixty plus devotee families of Lord Balaji liv-

Lord Balaji after Kavach adornation

headed by Dr Harsh Kumar had also enlisted the services of priests from New Jersey who conducted near eight hours of ceremony beginning Friday evening and virtually lasting till noon on the next day.

The gold plated cover or Kavach was specially ordered from India in eleven different parts cost-

ing in and around Grayslake. The two day program commenced with the recitation of Vishnusahastra Namam on Friday August 23 at 6 pm but the main ritual was reserved for morning next day.

Hundreds of devotees gathered at the temple much before the start of Puja around 8 am which started with Sri Venkateshaar

Subrpabhatm. This was followed with Vishwaksena Puja at 9 am and then the there was the real start of Procession with Kavach around the Temple chanting of Vedic Mantras and Lord's name. The actual adorning of the Kavach was a near two hours ceremony participated by hundreds and it was over by noon. The temple management honored those devotees who volunteered with donations and other help for Kavach and the ensuing ceremony.

All those present were served with Mahaprasadam but before that the priests conducted Pushpa Yagam.

Lord Balaji is believed to be incarnation of Lord Vishnu who descended the earth and lived at Seven hills in Tirumala after Goddess Mahalxmi left him in heaven and came to live in Kolhapur over a small misunderstanding involving a Rishi named Kashyap.

Seven Hills in Tirumala is even now a special place commemorating the union between the two. Everyday, a Kalyana Utsavam is conducted to celebrate the divine

Golden Kavach procession at Grayslake temple

union that stretches to eternity.

During the Brahmotsavam at the temple, turmeric, kumkum and a sari are sent from the temple to Alamelu Mangapuram, the abode of Padmavati.

Besides Lord Balaji, Grayslake temple houses idols of Indian deities Lord Ganesh, Lord Ram and his Parivar, Radha Krishna, Lord

The Temple conducts Yoga and Education classes. It also provides services of priests to those who need them. Pandit Anil Joshi is the lead priest, a scholar of Sanskrit and an astrologer. Pandit Ganesh Ji is the other priest well versed in Hindu scriptures. Dr Harsh Kumar in a talk to this paper said that the Mandir management has announced two

The actual adorning of the Kavach was a near two hours ceremony participated by hundreds and it was over by noon. The temple management honored those devotees who volunteered with donations and other help for Kavach Shiva , Navdurga and Jain Teerthankars. It was formally established six years ago. It is unique in more than one sense as it is patronized by Indians haling from North, South, East and West of India. It celebrates all major Indian festivals with grace and pomp.

programs for the current year - one is Navratra celebration beginning October 5 and culminating with Ravan Dahan on October 13. The other big event is Diwali-New Year that would be highlighted with reciting of Akhanda Ramayan Path starting on October 31 and ending next day November 1.

Tallest Hanuman idol at Hari Om Mandir

Devotees around Hanuman idol Asian Media USA

CHICAGO: Hari Om Mandir in Medinah, northwest suburb of

Chicago , celebrated the Sthapna of Vishal 20 feet one piece white makrana stone Hanuman ji Murti (tallest in the world) with great fer-

vor and gaiety on Tuesday, August, 27.

With everyone chanting Hanuman Chalissa continuously, Shiromani Bhagat Shri Hanuman Ji was up from laying position to standing position and on Kesari aasan laid on the ground for Puja and Havan.

Shastri Yogesh Pandya and Pt Dinesh Kumar conducted the puja and havan with great devotion.

Everyone was overjoyed to see Shiromani Bhagat Shri Hanuman Ji "sakshat" in front. Puja was followed by speeches. Chairman Ayodhia welcomed all those participants and the Chief Guest of the day Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, MLA-Halka Dera Baba Nanak, Fatehgarh Churia, Punjab with a Siropa. Randhawa came to USA on a very short notice to wit-

Puja during Hanuman idol installation ceremony

ness this historic day. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa in his address thanked Hari Om Mandir management for inviting him on such an auspicious occasion.

He said there was a flood situation in his native area and as

soon as he got this invitation and decided to come here in USA the flood ended. He believes that it's all because of Sankat Mochan Hanuman Ji. Cont’d on page 25

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Global Punjabi Milaap call for peace & unity SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Global Punjabi Milaap was held on Saturday August 24 at Holiday Inn in Mt. Prospect in an effort to bring together the Punjabi families who were separated by the partition of India and Pakistan.

Many of them live overseas and talk about their childhood memories. Milaap is an effort to connect them with some of their old friends/families who may know somebody from that area. Sajid Chaudhry, President of PHACA (Paksitan Heritage and Cultural Association) welcomed everyone for coming to the program. Thakar S Basati, community activist, introduced Prof. Jagindar Singh Ramdev, President of AASA (Asian American Seniors Association).

He revealed how Milaap was started and successful programs that have come out of Milaap. Last year the theme was Baba Bulleh

Shah and year before that was Waris Shah, the legend. This year the theme was Punjabi Boli Di Saanjh. He introduced Dr Navdeep Kaur Sandhu who was sponsor of

Deepak Kapoor on stage who traveled from Florida to be part of Milaap. His family migrated from Balochistan area. He is also founder of Maheshwar Founda-

Speakers at Punjabi Milaap

Milaap this year and many times before.

Thakar Basati invited Dr

tion, a not for profit organization that runs free medical camps in India with the help of Rotary Club

and US doctors, nurses. Sajid Chaudhry invited Janab Nematullah Chaudhary, a community activist here and in Pakistan.

Janab Salim Mukhii opened the

nization sang beautiful Punjabi ghazal. His parents hailed from Pakistan and lived in Amritsar after partition. Mustafa Anjum Sahib moved to Chicago recently. He

A section of attendees at Milaap Meet

program by reciting poetry, thanking the organizers and promised to provide more help in future.

Navraaz K Basati, owner of NKPI thanked the audience and participants. Sajid Chaudhry spoke about teachings of all religions and said, "They all preach love not hatred as we are supposed to believe. Now the time is to move on and try to mend things between two neighbors."

Rajinderbir Singh Mago shared his memory of visiting his native village in Pakistan. Prof Kulwant Singh Hundal spoke about inner spirit, how we need to control it and not let it stray. S Gursharanjit Singh reminded about his childhood memories how his parents

works for Pakistan Consul General here. S Kuldip Singh Turke said, "Punjabi is no 13th language in the world, it won't go away that easily." Bibi Surjit Kaur recited her poem.

Raja Yaqoob spoke about the need for dialogue between two countries rather than hatred. Both neighbors need to start accepting each other and need to care for its people than wasting money in wars. S Darshan, visitor from India, requested the organizers to continue arranging such functions. He sang beautiful poem about how we felt helpless at that time, but now is the time to move on.

Dr Swaranjit Singh, President

Raja Yaqoob spoke about the need for dialogue between two countries rather than hatred. Both neighbors need to start accepting each other and need to care for its people than wasting money in wars. S Darshan, visitor from India, requested the organizers to continue arranging such functions. shared stories of partition. He recited his Punjabi poem.

Nematullah Chaudhary had people laughing at his jokes.

Janab Kaiser Syed recited Urdu poetry and the message again was love and peace not war amongst neighbors. Prof. Jagindar Singh Ramdev talked about Punjabi Saanjh quoting Waris Shah, how his poetry depicted Punjabi life for all Punjabis in the world.

A play was repeated at Chicago Cultural Center thru Lahore Sister City foundation. Yasin Chohan sang Saifal Malooq, Punjabi legendary love story sung in a special way.

Tejinder Singh Minhas, ExPresident Punjabi Heritage Orga-

IFCAPS, (an organization to resolve conflict thru peace) observed that nothing really was achieved by partition thru bloodshed. Same partition could have been done in a much better human way.

Thakar Basati and Sajid Chaudhry emceed the program. Dr Kapoor invited Milaap organizers to bring next Milaap to Florida.

Basati said that invitations to host in other states like Michigan, Ohio have also been received.

Moment of silence was observed for lives lost since last Milaap. A peace candle was lit asking for peace between India and Pakistan and also in places like Egypt and Syria.

September 6, 2013

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India Post 25

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Cricket in support of women's cause in India ASHWIN PATEL

ST LOUIS: O' Felan Cricket Club in St Louis MO conducted a charity tournament on the weekend of August 17 to celebrate India's 66th Independence Day. Eight teams participated in this event and the contributions exceeded $2700. All proceeds from the event will go to an orphanage in India. With the remarkable success of the event, OFCL plans to conduct a charity tournament every year and support a great cause in India.

US wide Financials sponsored the prize money and the awards for the event. This with several other individual contributions helped raise this money in a short time.

Following are the details of the orphanage that OFCL will be supporting with the proceedings collected this year.

Sishu Griha is an orphanage

where new born abandoned babies (all girls) are brought in, nurtured for a year and then sent to other orphanages or given for adoption. In the Adivasi and other

in trash cans or even in graveyards as soon as they are born. Their crime? Being born girls.

The Government has begun to monitor this activity by forming a

Top Guns of O'Felan was winner of the cricket match

tribal communities, girl babies are murdered using crude techniques or are abandoned on the roadside,

team of Anganwadi women. These women are designated to monitor the number of women expecting

Emergency Response Program outlined in Palatine SURENDRA ULLAL

CHICAGO: Michael Masters, Cook County Homeland Security Executive Director came to Sikh Religious Society in Palatine to present a new County sponsored Community Emergency Response Program (CERP) for Sikh Society members getting involved in emergency preparedness and response training.

Thakar S. Basati, Sikh Religious Society (SRS)Independent Associate Director and Temple Board Chair, arranged the visit, which he said "is the first step in a process to help Sikh Society members get ready for emergencies." Sokhi Singh, SRS Board President, introduced Director Michael Masters.

CERP provides free training for society members interested in learning skills training in fire safety, first aid, search and rescue, and other skills to assist in emergency situations. As part of the program, Sikh Society members would receive training and instruction to operate as a team that would respond to emergencies in facilities

babies, monitor their due dates and check if the babies are safe and healthy after birth. Also, due to the counseling and opening up of Sishu Griha centers, the girl ba-

bies are now being left in cradles that are placed outside the orphanages. Most abandoned babies are very undernourished and sick.

Sishu Griha centers have been opened all across the state of

Tallest Hanuman idol at Hari Om Mandir Cont’d from page 23

Michael Masters of Homeland Security with Sikh Society members

or assist other areas of the County during disasters.

The tragedy of Oak Creek is a reminder that emergencies and disasters can strike at any time, and with little or no warning. Events such as flooding, tornadoes, power outages and winter storms also serve as a reminder that the community should be prepared for any situation.

Director Michael Masters spoke to a large group in attendance at the Sunday services, and emphasized the importance of a "whole community" approach to preparing all citizens. He thanked Society leaders for their interest and participation in CERP, and pledged his continued support for Sikh community public safety efforts.

Cont’d on page 26

Andhra Pradesh, but the most affected areas are the ones that have a heavy tribal population.

While these centers are run by the government, they receive so meager a grant that there is not enough food or a place to sleep or clothes for these babies. With help from several generous and kind hearted people, things are improving Statistics for the Centers OFCL supports: Number of Cradles: Devarkonda Center: 10 cradles Nalgonda Center: 15 cradles and 60 orphan kids If more kids are brought in, these babies are turned away due to regulations from the government. OFCL is working with the government to increase the limitation, since the babies being turned away are in danger.

Grant from the Government is inadequate and support from NGOs and individuals has become a necessity.

Randhawa gave siropa to Bhajan Singh Bagri, Surinder Kalsi, Harpreet Kalsi, Ravi Sharma and Yogesh Sharma to recognize their work. Thanking all, President Brij Sharma said that the engineers and the Mandir expert's team would begin lifting Shiromani Bhagat Shri Hanuman Ji to place him on the final installation point on the center of the Lotus base.

Another breathtaking moment - everyone chanted Hanuman Ashtak (Sankat mochan) until Shiromani Bhagat Shri Hanuman Ji finally took his place on the Lotus base. He thanked all the expert team members and Moorti makers - Ravi and Yogesh Sharma - from India, Jaipur Moorti Museum and all the volunteers who worked hard to make this day successful.

Finally Shiromani Bhagat Shri

Hanuman Ji is standing upright in the premises of Hari Om Mandir and blessing everyone. The HOM management announced Grand Celebration and invited all the devotees from USA and around the world from 14 to 20 October.

Hari Om Mandir conducts every Sunday a Havan and general congregation followed by Aarti and Bhojan Prasad. On every first Saturday of the month, it has Devi Jagran from 7 to 10pm. Every Monday there is Shiv Puja and every Tuesday, there is Hanuman Challisa Path.

The Mandir Executive Board consists of Brij Lal Sharma; President, Indrajit Sarkar; Vice President, Sneh Chaudhary; Secretary, Vikas Choudhary; Treasurer, Jeetu Patel; Special Events, Sham Taxali; Property Management, Ramesh Bhardwaj; Publication & Parking, Anshu Paul; Education, Usha Verma; Food & Prasad.

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Seniors celebrate India Day in Addison JAYANTI OJHA

CHICAGO: The Bharatiya Senior Citizens of Chicago celebrated 67th Independence Day of India at Shri Nathji Haveli in Addison, a northwest Chicago suburb.

More than 275 members and guests participated in the celebration that lasted over three hours.

Kathleen Willis (Representative of Illinois from District 77), Chintal Mehta (President), Dipal Mehta (CCP Supervisor) from Care for Soul, were among the guests.

The program began with Ganesh Vanadna by Joint Secretary Rakshikaben Anjaria and welcome address by BSC Secretary Pursottam Pandya. Rakshikaben and Rajendra Ajaria gave brief information about Independence of India, Janmashtami and Raksha Bandhan.

President of BSC Haribhai Patel offered India Day greetings to all members. One of the highlights was a play where Shivabhai

India Day play by members: Jawaharlal Nehru (Rajendra Anjaria), Gandhiji (Shivabhai Patel), Kastur Ba (Shantaben Patel), Veer Bhagat Singh (Ramsingh Parmar), Dr Rajendra Prasad (Thakorbhai Patel)

Patel performed as Mahatma Gandhi, Shantaben as Kastur Ba, Ramsingh Parmar as Veer Bhagat Singh, Rajendra Anjaria as Pandit Nehru and Thakorbhai Patel as Dr Rajendra Prasad.

Janmashtami play was per-

formed by committee member Ramsing Parmar.

Two small girls performed Radha song from Hindi movie Student of the Year. Urja Patel performed dance Ala Ripu.

Members also celebrated

Krishna Janma (Janmashtami) Ramsingh Parmar as Vasudev

Raksha Bandhan. Vandna Jhingan, often called Jhansi Ki Rani of Chicagoland, tied Rakhi to all members.

Kathleen Willis gave information about Seniors program, Home health Program, Medicaid and

Social Security. BSC President Haribhai Patel announced names of members whose birthday fell in July and August. They were presented with flowers.

Shivabhai Patel, Vice President of BSC, proposed a vote of thanks.

New Board for Hindi Lovers Club SEETA BHATT

CHICAGO: Hindi Lovers Club Board meeting on 5th August called for reconstitution of the Board committee. Following people were nominated on the Board and were approved unanimously by all those present: Founder/CEO: Gurbachan Kaur Neelam; President/Secretary: Vinita Gulabani; Joint Secretary: Beena Patel; Treasurer: Praful

Rami; Editorial Committee: Jodh Singh Rawat, Kamal Gupta, Rajeev, Kusum. Public Relations: Pratik Tanna, Ambika Jamula. Chief Advisory Board: Sohan Joshi, Vandana Jhingan. Advisory Board: Sudaksha Kapoor, Rohit Joshi, Dr Oranga, Rita Sunil Shah, Santosh Kumar, Naren Patel, Kamal Gupta, Subhash Pandey, Manmohan Sharma, Srikant Modi,

Emergency Response Program outlined in Palatine Cont’d from page 25

The CERP team was taken on a tour of the Palatine Society Temple, and also met with many individual members to discuss the CERP program. CERP team members were available to take surveys from interested Sikh Society members. The surveys will help guide the CERP on how to design programs that meet the needs of the

Sikh Society members.

The CERP will offer free resources, including organized training activities and volunteer instruction courses. The next step in the process is to establish a Sikh Society team. After the team is established, Cook County CERP will conduct a workshop to provide additional detailed information about the program and membership training requirements.

Dhiren Shah, Jia Jassi Parmar and Renu Sood.

Media partners: T.V. Asia, Desi junction, Suresh Bodiwala, Murad Studio, India Post.

Some of the new Board Members: Vinita Gulbani President/Secretary, Praful Rami. Treasurer, Jodh Singh Rawat of Editorial Committee and Gurbachan Kaur, Founder/CEO

Dialogue between Hindu & Christian priests India Post News Service

NEVADA: In a remarkable interfaith gesture, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, head of worldwide Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and youngest Roman Catholic Cardinal, and Hindu activist Rajan Zed met in Reno (Nevada, USA) on September 1 for an interfaith dialogue for peace around world.

In this meeting, held at St Rose of Lima Catholic Church Reno, Cardinal Cleemis and Zed, President of Universal Society of Hinduism, talked on issues of common interest and efforts for world peace thru interfaith understanding.

Rajan Zed pointed out that serious and honest interfaith dia-

L-R: Roman Catholic Diocese of Reno Judicial Vicar Father Joseph C. Abraham, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Hindu activist Rajan Zed and St Rose of Lima Catholic Church Reno Pastor Father Larry Morrison.

logue is the need of the hour. Religion is the most powerful, complex and far-reaching force in our society, so we must take it seriously.

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, whose foundation goes back to St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, has about half-a-million members.

India Post 27

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21st Festival of India wraps up with a grand banquet

Council member Dr. Raj Salwan addressing the gathering

Sniti Mishra, Jimmy Shergill and Mr. N. Parthasarathy

Major Singh, Jimmy Shergill and Amit Kumar

Nisha Kataria, Rahul Roy, Sunny, Rajesh Verma and Ritu Maheshwari stand as Vande Mataram is being played

Vijay Thapar, Nisha Kataria, Jimmy Shergill and Mr. N Parthasarathy

Vama Design fashion show team

(L to R) Manorama Joshi, Rajesh Verma, Sunita Japra, Mr. N. Parthasarthy, Jimmy Shergill, Dr. Romesh Japra and Vijay Thapar

Jimmy Shergill, Prem Bhatia and Mr. N. Parthasarath

Council Member Ash Kalra addressing the gathering

Sunita Japra, Jimmy Shergill and Dr. Romesh Japra

Master Deepak, Vijay Thapar and Jimmy Shergill

Altu Phaltu Bak Bak and team from KLOK 1170 AM and Mahima Creations receiving media partner award

India Post getting media partner award (L to R): Vidya Sethuraman, Ritu Maheshwari, Priya Nayar, Jimmy Shergill and Vijay Thapar

Deepak Chhabra, Jimmy Shergill and Mrs. Chhabra

Jasvinder Saini, Jimmy Shergill and Dr. Daljeet Saini

September 6, 2013

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21st Festival of India wraps up with a grand banquet

Poonam Bajaj from Sitaarre TV receiving Media Partner award

Nurture Kids getting award of participation

Ro Khanna and Mahesh Pakala stand during Vande Matram song

Ravi and Deepti from Diya TV receiving media partner award

Vijaya Aasuri from Virajallu receiving media Partner award

WomenNow receiving media partner award

Reena Rao of TV Asia receiving media partner award

Shreeja (KLOK1170AM-RJ), Ritu Maheshwari (FIA - Media chair) and Mona Shah (India Currents)

Fashion Show models with Anima Desai and Charuji

Veena Birla and Jimmy Shergill

Mr. Dharam Salwan, Dr. Raj Salwan, Ellen Corbett, Leela Mathur stand while Vande Matram is being played

Fashion Show models with Balbir Bhatia

Kaiser Permanente getting award of participation

Sudesh Kumari and family at the banquet

Jimmy Shergill and Mr. Joe Johal

30 India Post

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„ Health

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Measles cases put Texas church under scrutiny NEWARK, Texas: The teachings of televangelist Kenneth Copeland and his family are under scrutiny after a measles outbreak linked to their North Texas church revealed that many of their congregants had not been vaccinated for the highly contagious virus.

Officials at the 1,500-member church were quick to act after the outbreak was discovered, including hosting four vaccination clinics where 220 people received immunization shots.

But people familiar with the ministry say there's a pervasive culture of a reliance on God, not modern medicine, to keep one well.

The outbreak includes 21 cases of measles and was started when a person who contracted the virus overseas visited Eagle Mountain International Church in Newark, located north of Fort Worth on the vast grounds of Kenneth Copeland Ministries. -AP

„ WPI gets $3M grant to test brain tumor treatment WORCESTER, Mass.: A team of researchers led by a Worcester Polytechnic Institute professor has received a five-year, $3 million award from the National Institutes of Health to test a minimally invasive way of treating brain tumors.

The team is led by Gregory Fischer, assistant professor of mechanical engineering and robotics engineering who is also director of WPI's Automation and Interventional Medicine Laboratory.

The system uses a robotic manipulator and real-time MRI images to guide a probe through a small opening in the cranium to the tumor. The probe would destroy the tumor by heating it with a high-intensity ultrasound.

The Telegram & Gazette reports that Fischer's lab will develop the robotic manipulator for the probe, and Reinhold Ludwig, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at WPI, will create specially designed MRI coils for the system. -AP

Gregory Fischer

Health Science 'Smart' socks that let parents track baby's health 32

India Post

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September 6, 2013

Details on Page 34

Poverty reduces brain power: India-US study WASHINGTON: Poverty and all the problems that accompany it can reduce a person's cognitive abilities, leaving him with little brain power to devote to other areas of life, a new study conducted in India and US has found.

This mental strain could be costing poor people up to 13 IQ (intelligence quotient) points, researchers said.

As a result, people of limited means are more likely to make mistakes and bad decisions that may be amplified by - and perpetuate - their financial woes, according to an International team of researchers.

The researchers suggest that being poor may keep a person from concentrating on the very avenues that would lead them out of poverty.

A person's cognitive function is diminished by the constant and all-consuming effort of coping with the immediate effects of having little money, such as scrounging to pay bills and cut costs, researchers said.

A person is left with fewer

"mental resources" to focus on complicated, indirectly related matters such as education, job training and even managing their time, they said.

Researchers found that press-

When their concerns were benign, low-income individuals performed competently, at a similar level to people who were well off, said corresponding author Jiaying Zhao, who conducted the study

ing financial concerns had an immediate impact on the ability of low-income individuals to perform on common cognitive and logic tests.

On average, a person pre-occupied with money problems exhibited a drop in cognitive function similar to a 13-point dip in IQ, or the loss of an entire night's sleep.

in the lab of co-author Eldar Shafir from Princeton University, US. "These pressures create a salient concern in the mind and draw mental resources to the problem itself. That means we are unable to focus on other things in life that need our attention," said Zhao, a University of British Columbia professor.

"We're arguing that the lack of

financial resources itself can lead to impaired cognitive function.

The very condition of not having enough can actually be a cause of poverty," said Zhao in the study published in journal Science.

The mental tax that poverty can put on the brain is distinct from stress, Shafir said.

The first set of experiments took place in a New Jersey mall between 2010 and 2011 with roughly 400 subjects chosen at random.

To better gauge the influence of poverty in natural contexts, between 2010 and 2011 the researchers also tested 464 sugarcane farmers in India who rely on the annual harvest for at least 60 per cent of their income.

Because sugarcane harvests occur once a year, these are farmers who find themselves rich after harvest and poor before it. Each farmer was given the same tests before and after the harvest, and performed better on both tests post-harvest compared to pre-harvest, researchers said. -PTI

Indian spices under regulatory scanner WASHINGTON: Many spices from India, the largest exporter of these cooking ingredients to the US, have come under scanner of the health watchdog FDA for being susceptible to Salmonella bacteria contamination.

Salmonella germs are said to have been behind many food poisoning outbreaks in the US, while the food products that can get such contaminations include spices, fish, beef, poultry, milk, eggs and vegetables.

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) has put nearly 200 India-based firms on its 'red list' due to presence of Salmonella bacteria in the spices and other food products exported by them to the US between 2009 and 2013.

The products being brought into the US by the companies

on the FDA's red-list can face "detention without physical examination".

According to the FDA red-list import alert, the contaminated

spices include capsicum, cumin, ground coriander, turmeric, celery, basil and pepper.

Amid growing concerns about

Salmonella, the FDA initiated a research to characterize the prevalence of Salmonella in imported spices.

The study, whose findings are yet to be made public in full, focused on over 20,000 food shipments that arrived in the US between 2007 and 2009 and found that around 7 per cent of spices were contaminated with salmonella.

Spices from India were found to be the secondmost contaminated after Mexico in this study, based on which the FDA is likely to soon initiate the necessary remedial and precautionary actions.

According to available results of the study, a larger proportion of shipments of spices derived from fruit/seeds or leaves of

plants were contaminated than those derived from the bark/ flower of spice plants.

Besides, Salmonella prevalence was larger for shipments of ground/cracked capsicum and coriander than for shipments of their whole spice counterparts.

Over one million people annually in the US are affected by salmonella, a common cause of food-borne sickness. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.

India exported nearly 7 lakh tonnes of spices and spice products valued at over Rs 11,100 crore in FY'13 against 5.75 lakh tonnes valued at over Rs 9,700 crore in FY'12, however the share of the US in total exports could not be ascertained. -PTI

September 6, 2013

Health Science Post

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Medicaid debate turns to when expansion occurs LANSING, Mich.: The Michigan Senate's intense, months-long debate over Medicaid expansion and the federal health care law is not over, even after the Republicancontrolled chamber's milestone vote to provide health insurance to hundreds of thousands of low-income residents.

While the Senate passed the bill 20-18 in dramatic fashion, it fell two votes short of the 26 needed for immediate effect.

For an estimated 320,000 newly eligible adults counting on the medical coverage next year, it means waiting until late March or early April instead of qualifying as early as Jan. 1. It also could cost the state - which is taking the U.S. government's offer to pay the entire cost of expansion for the first three years - $64 million in savings primarily associated with paying mental health and substance abuse treatment costs with federal dollars.

Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, for whom Medicaid expansion is a major legislative priority, said he hopes that when the ``dust all settles'' after vote, more Republicans will agree to let the bill go into effect in January even if they voted against the measure itself.

Four Republicans of the 18 voting ``no'' did that. ``Should we make people wait three more months for the opportunity to get this coverage? I'm not sure the benefit of the threemonth wait,'' Snyder said.

Since winning a supermajority in 2010, Senate Republicans typically have been united in letting proposed laws have effect immediately when such votes are held. The votes are seen as ``procedural'' and a chance to stick together when passing bills along party lines over Democrats' objections.

Every GOP senator agreed in December to put contentious emergency manager legislation into law immediately even though some Republicans voted against the bill.

The law ultimately took effect in March

reers. Challengers can try to portray lawmakers' procedural vote as voting for or against the issue. ``We believe it's such an onerous law that we need to fight it every step of the way.

The instinct of those senators that didn't vote for immediate effect was the correct one. We'd urge those 14 to continue to stand strong,'' said Scott Hagerstrom, state director for the conservative group Americans for Prosperity.

Even if lawmakers decide the expansion should go on the Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, center, joins Beaumont Health System President books right away, and CEO Gene Michalski, left, and Dr. Jeffrey Ditkoff at Beaumont Hospital Michigan's ability in Royal Oak, Mich. to extend coverbecause the House did not grant it immedi- age on day one may still be in doubt. ate effect.

Michigan's approach is different than But implementing a key component of many other states accepting the Medicaid ``Obamacare'' - even after various GOP pro- expansion made optional by a Supreme visions were attached that, in Snyder's Court ruling. It includes Republican requirewords, make Michigan's plan ``not generic ments that nondisabled enrollees making Medicaid expansion'' - is a different animal.

It is staunchly opposed by most Senate Republicans, some in shock that the bill won passage in a GOP-dominated chamber.

By taking any action seen as aiding implementation of the Affordable Care Act, they could face repercussions in 2014 primary elections or later in their political ca-

Women who drink at greater risk of breast cancer WASHINGTON: The more alcohol a young woman drinks before motherhood, the greater her risk of future breast cancer, a new study has warned.

If a female averages a drink per day between her first period and her first full-term pregnancy, she increases her risk of breast cancer by 13 per cent, according to a new study from Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis.

This is the first study to link increased breast cancer risk to drinking between early adolescence and first full-term pregnancy.

Previous studies have looked at breast cancer risk and alcohol consumption later in life or at the effect of adolescent drinking on noncancerous breast disease.

"More and more heavy drinking is occurring on college campuses and during adolescence, and not enough people are considering future risk," said study co-author Graham Colditz, associate director for cancer prevention and control at Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine.

"But, according to our research, the lesson is clear: If a female averages a drink per

day between her first period and her first full-term pregnancy, she increases her risk of breast cancer by 13 per cent," Colditz said.

The researchers also found that for every bottle of beer, glass of wine or shot of liquor consumed daily, a young woman increases her risk of proliferative benign breast disease by 15 per cent.

Although such lesions are noncancerous, their presence increases breast cancer risk by as much as 500 per cent, said first author of the study, Ying Liu, a School of Medicine instructor in the Division of Public Health Sciences.

The findings are based on a review of the health histories of 91,005 mothers enrolled in the Nurses' Health Study II from 1989 to 2009.

Researchers didn't consider the effects of adolescent and early adulthood drinking on women who didn't have a full-term pregnancy because not enough were represented among those studied, Liu said.

Breast tissue cells are particularly susceptible to cancer-causing substances as they undergo rapid proliferation during adolescence and later.-PTI

between 100 and 133 percent of the poverty line pay up to 5 percent of their income on medical expenses after six months. They would have to contribute up to 7 percent after getting Medicaid for four years or shop for insurance from a new marketplace where they could qualify for federal tax credits.

The initial cost-sharing provisions along with financial incentives to lead healthy lifestyles and a plan to create individual health savings accounts - need federal approval more quickly. Snyder stopped short of saying he had received assurances that the Obama administration will OK Michigan's plan, but said his administration was open with federal officials about the bill and received ``positive feedback.''

If low-income adults find themselves without coverage Jan. 1, they will not have to worry about incurring tax penalties for going without insurance. The federal government has decided to not penalize residents in states that decline to expand Medicaid, so Michigan residents should not be fined for a delay out of their control.

Democrats, frustrated that Medicaid expansion was not OK'd earlier in the year, say further delays would be politically motivated and entirely unnecessary. ``A half million people's lives hang in the balance,'' said Senate Democratic Leader Gretchen Whitmer, D-East Lansing. -AP

34 India Post

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'Smart' socks that let parents Old cancer drug may help transplant patients track baby's health WASHINGTON: Now you can monitor your baby's heart rate and oxygen from your smartphone!

A US baby product company claims to have created the world's first 'smart sock' that lets parents monitor their baby's vital signs through a smartphone while he sleeps.

The sock transmits a child's heart rate, oxygen levels, skin temperature, sleep quality, and sleep

whether your child is breathing," said Jacob Colvin, founder of the company.

Currently there is nothing on the consumer market that can show parents their child's heart rate and oxygen levels.

"A hospital pulse oximeter costs parents around a thousand dollars. We are so excited that we can offer peace of mind to parents at a financially feasible price," said

position (rollover alerts) to a parent's smartphone or other internet-based device, the company said.

"Every parent knows what it's like to lay in bed and stress about

Kurt Workman Owlet Founder/ CEO of Owlet Baby Care Home.

Workman first had the idea when caring for his twin cousins who were born prematurely.

However, the Owlet Vitals

Monitor is not a medical device, neither should it be used for diagnostic purposes, the company said.

The monitor is also the first "wearable technology" in the infant space and is especially unique because it applies a safe, proven hospital technology in a new way: utilizing multiple sensors, so it can grow with your child.

The monitor continues to work as long as it fits the child's foot, and it has been beta tested on infants up to two years old.

Heart rate and oxygen levels are found using an innovative foursensor pulse oximeter.

"Having four sensors allows for nine different reading combinations. Hospital pulse oximeters only allow for one combination of light and sensor, making Owlet's monitor a vast improvement over current technology. The new design allows the Owlet monitor to automatically adjust data read for foot growth, movement, and various levels of ambient light," said Zack Bombsta, Chief Engineering Officer.

Additional features include Rollover Alerts, skin temperature, and sleep-quality tracking. -PTI

Ohio family speaks of botched transplant COLUMBUS, Ohio: An Ohio family is speaking out about a botched kidney transplant in which a nurse threw out a man's kidney just before it was to be given to his sister.

Sarah Fudacz of Toledo was to receive her brother's kidney at the University of Toledo Medical

Center last August but awoke without having undergone surgery because a nurse had accidentally thrown it out.

Her brother, Paul, tells The Blade of Toledo he was thrilled to sacrifice his kidney but felt disrespected after undergoing surgery for nothing.

The pair's parents say they thought Sarah was dead for about 20 minutes because they were told she was out of surgery before her brother.

The family is suing the hospital, which denies medical negligence.

The woman later received a different kidney. -AP

Well-being not a priority for workaholics MANHATTAN, Kan.: A Kansas State University researcher says working overtime may cost people their health.

Sarah Asebedo and her colleagues found a preliminary link between being a workaholic and reduced physical and mental wellbeing.

Workaholics were defined as those working more than 50 hours per week. They were found to be more likely to have reduced physi-

cal well-being, measured by skipped meals. Researchers also found that being a workaholic was associated with reduced mental well-being as measured by self-

reported depression.

Asebedo says the link between being a workaholic and personal well-being has been assumed for years.

But the doctoral student in personal financial planning and conflict resolution says there was a lack of research supporting the link until now. The study will appear in Financial Services Review, a journal of individual financial management. -AP

LONDON: Scientists have dis- producing insulin - from healthy covered that an old cancer drug rats from another kind of rat into can be used to prevent rejection those with diabetes. of transplanted tissue.

The diabetic rats were divided Researchers at Lund Univer- into two groups; one group were sity believe their discovery could treated with Zebularine and the lead to new treatments for both other, the control group, did not transplant pareceive any tients and those treatment. The with autoimmune "It turned out that diabetic rats diseases. that were Zebularine has the "Our group treated with was studying ability to subdue the Zebularine surthe effects of the reaction of the body's vived for a sigold tumor drug immune system. This nificantly longer Zebularine, deperiod than the veloped in the could be important in untreated rats.

US in the 1960s, situations where tissue "It is very inand by chance teresting that or organs are transwe discovered we only treated that it had com- planted.,, them with pletely unexZebularine for pected effects on the immune sys- two weeks, but the effects of the tem," said Leif Salford, Senior Pro- treatment could be observed fessor of Neurosurgery at the throughout the 90-day follow-up Rausing Laboratory, Lund Univer- period," Nittby said. sity.

"The findings are very exciting "It turned out that Zebularine and are a sign that the immune has the ability to subdue the re- system was not just generally action of the body's immune sys- suppressed, but that the treatment tem. This could be important in was more targeted. Neither did we situations where tissue or organs see any signs of side-effects," are transplanted.

Nittby added.

"We also think it could be used The researchers are now workto curb the body's attacks on its ing intensively to further refine own tissue in autoimmune dis- the treatment. The next step is to eases, for instance type 1 diabe- teach certain cells in the immune tes or rheumatoid arthritis," said system -the dendritic cells - to researcher Dr Henrietta Nittby. accept certain specific proteins In studies on animals, the re- using the Zebularine treatment. searchers used rats that were This would mean that the treatmade diabetic. The researchers ment could be targeted even more. transplanted the islets of LangerThe study was published in hans - cell groups in the pancreas the journal PLOS ONE. -PTI

US clinic to offer 'Breaking Bad' free rehab ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico: An Albuquerque mental health clinic is using the hit cable TV show ``Breaking Bad'' and its methamphetamine trafficking theme to help fight addiction.

KRQE-TV reports that Sage Neuroscience Center has partnered with HealthShire.com to give away two addiction-treatment scholarships at the end of the AMC television series.

The ``Breaking Addiction'' awards are open to residents in the Albuquerque area over 18 who cannot afford treatment for their addictions.

Applicants have to submit their story of addiction, which will be compiled into

a collection for addiction awareness and posted online. ``Breaking Bad,'' which was filmed largely in Albuquerque, follows former high school teacher Walter White, played by Bryan Cranston, who produces and sells methamphetamine with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, played by Aaron Paul.

The show is airing its final season. -AP

September 6, 2013

Health Science Post

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Why our partner's voice is easy to identify decoded TORONTO: The voice of your partner is tening to their spouse's voice. so distinctive that it is easier to hear - and "The benefit of familiarity is very large. easier to ignore, a new study has found.

It's on the order of the benefit you see when The research suggests that the familiar trying to perceptually distinguish two voice of a spouse stands out against other sounds that come from different locations voices, helping to sharpen auditory per- compared to sounds that come from the ception and making it easier to focus on same location," Johnsrude noted. one voice at a time.

But when participants were asked to re"Familiar voices appear to influence the port the unfamiliar voice, age-related difway an auditory 'scene' is perceptually or- ferences emerged. ganized," said lead researcher Ingrid Middle-aged adults seemed to be relaJohnsrude of Queen's University, Canada. tively adept at following the unfamiliar Johnsrude and her colleagues asked voice, especially when it was masked by married couples, ages 4479, to record themselves reading scripted instruc"The middle-aged adults were able to tions out loud.

Later, each participant use what they knew about the familput on a pair of headphones and listened to the iar voice to perceptually separate recording of his or her and ignore it, so as to hear the unfaspouse as it played simultaneously with a record- miliar voice better" ing of an unfamiliar voice.

On some trials, participants were told to report what their spouse their spouse's voice - that is, they were said; on other trials, they were supposed better at understanding the unfamiliar voice to report what the unfamiliar voice said. when it was masked by their spouse's voice The researchers wanted to see whether compared to when it was masked by anfamiliarity would make a difference in how other unfamiliar voice. well the participants understood what the "The middle-aged adults were able to target voice was saying. use what they knew about the familiar voice The results, published in the journal to perceptually separate and ignore it, so Psychological Science, show a clear ben- as to hear the unfamiliar voice better," efit of listening to the familiar voice.

Johnsrude said.

Participants tended to be much more But performance on these trials declined accurate on the task when they had to lis- as the participants went up in age - the older ten to their spouse's voice compared to an the participant was, the less able he or she unfamiliar voice matched on both age and was to report correctly what the unfamiliar sex - they perceived their spouse's voice voice was saying. more clearly.

"Middle-age people can ignore their Furthermore, accuracy didn't change as spouse - older people aren't able to as participants got older when they were lis- much," Johnsrude said. -PTI

Rochester wins annual 'Drinking Water Test' SYRACUSE, N.Y.: Rochester has won the annual New York State Drinking Water Taste Test.

The state health department says about 250 people at the State Fair in Syracuse participated in the contest. They selected Rochester's water as the tastiest among 10 water systems chosen in regional competitions.

The Mohawk Valley village of Fort Plain came in second.

Rochester draws an average of 21.1 million gallons of water daily from Hemlock and Canadice Lakes.

The other finalists were the Wyoming County village of Arcade; the village of Barneveld in Oneida County; the Bolton Point Water System in Tompkins

County; the Broome County town of Conklin; the town of Guilderland in Albany County; the village of Hoosick Falls in Rensselaer County; the village of Mount Vernon in Westchester County; and New York City. -AP

Docs to explain why they referred patients CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government has made it mandatory for its doctors to clearly mention the reason if they decide to refer the medical cases, including the medico-legal ones, to other health institutions.

"From now, doctors will have to write clearly on the refer slip, as to why the patient is being referred to the higher centers," an official spokesperson said.

He said it had been noticed that various

medico-legal or other cases were referred to higher centers without mentioning on the refer slip or the hospital register, the details of examinations conducted earlier.

The principal medical officer, medical superintendent or the senior medical officer of the respective institution will analyze the cases as to why such patients were being referred to higher centers, and also specify if it was because of the non-availability of the specialist or facilities. -PTI

Vt. Health Dept. unveils 'tick-tracker' website BURLINGTON, Vt.: The Vermont Health Department is offering the public a new way to find out where ticks are being discovered across the state.

Anyone can contribute to the Tick Tracker map by going to the Health Department website.

The site also has information about tickborne diseases and how to prevent tick bites. ``Once you report ticks in your area, it shows up on a map so that everyone can know where they might want to take extra precautions when spending time outdoors,'' said the Health Department's Erica Berl, an infectious disease epidemiologist. ``It's not

too late to report - adult ticks are most active in the spring and fall.''

The deer tick, the species responsible for transmitting Lyme disease, has become the most frequently found tick in Vermont.

In 2011 Lyme disease reached an all-time high in Vermont with more than 500 reports of people who were likely exposed in the state. In 2012, there were 367 reported cases with likely exposure.

The Health Department is working to raise awareness about Lyme disease. A deer tick must be attached to a human host for about 36 hours before the Lyme disease bacteria can be transmitted. -AP

Datebook

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September 6, 2013

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NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat, Sep 7

Sat, Sep 7

• SEWA - Volleyball Tournament

• K. S. Chitra and M. G. Sreekumar With Symphony

Venue: Gateway Little League Field, 43 Merseles St, Jersey City, NJ 07302 Time: 08:00 pm Contact: 646-494-7392

Venue: Colden Center , 65-30 Kissena Blvd, , NY 11367 Time: 9:00 pm Contact: 914-720-7891

Sun , Sep 8

Fri, Sep 13

• "ORE SWARAM"

• DJ Aqeel Live - The Official Black Out Party

Venue: Felician College Auditorium, 262 S Main St, Lodi, NJ 07644 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 888-584-1666

Sat, Sep 14 • Hariharan Live In Concert In NJ Venue: Ritz Theater, 1148 East Jersey Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07201 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 732-277-6687

Venue: Pranna - NYC, 79 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016 Time: 10:00 pm Contact: 201-696-7222

Sun, Sep 15 • India Fest Utsav 2013 Venue: Hyatt Regency Long Island, 1717 Motor Pkwy, Hauppauge, NY 11788 Time: 11:00 am Contact: 516-849-5330

Sat, Sep 7 • Udit Narayan - Alka Yagnik

Tue-Sat, Sep 5 to 7

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal

• Pop! Goes The Mashup

Live In Concert

Smith Center Season of the Arts 2013-2014 Venue: Smith Center Outdoor Amphitheatre Under the stars at Ohlone College 43600 Mission Blvd, Fremont Time: 8:00 pm Contact: (510) 659-6031

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

Venue: Anaheim Arena, 800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802 Time: 7:30 am Contact: 310-753-8990

Tue, Sep 10 • Bollywood Pop Dance

Sat, Sep 8

Classes by Project Pulse

• Gayatri Pariwar - Yug Niram

Venue: Ektaa Center, 2692 Richter Ave, Irvine, CA 92606 Time: 8:30 pm Contact: 949-572-4500

Venue: Gayatri Pariwar – Yug Nirman, 22116 Pioneer Blvd, Hawaiian Gardens, CA 90716 Time: 10:00 am Contact: 562-924-3921

Sun, Sep 14 • A Classical Concert by

Tue, Sep 10

Kaushiki Chakrabarty

• Bollywood Pop Dance Classe

Venue: Duarte Performing Arts Center, 1401 Highland Ave, Duarte, CA 91010 Time: 7:00 pm Contact: 626-840-7898

Venue: Ektaa Center, 2692 Richter Ave, Irvine, CA 92606 Time: 8:30 am Contact: 949-572-4500

Chicago Satsang Information: J K Yog, Chicago - Swami Mukundananda Venue: Clarion Inn/Waterford Banquets, Board Room, 933 South Riverside Drive, Elmhurst, IL 60126 Time: 3:30pm-5:30pm Contact: Ajay & Arti Chandhok @ 630-561-4807 Website: www.jkyog.org

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

Sat, Sep 14 Sat, Sep 14 • Pratham Dandiya Charity

• "Pratham Dandiya Charity Event"

Event

Venue: Kellogg Gym, 3801 W Temple Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 Time: 8:00 am Contact: 714-267-0076

Venue: Kellogg Gym, 3801 W Temple Ave, Pomona, CA 91768 Time: 8:00 pm Contact: 714-267-0076

Fri, Sep 27 • Lata's Voice Klose To My Soul - A Musical Evening Venue: Haveli Indian Cuisine, 17221 Pioneer Blvd, Artesia, CA 90701 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 562-869-9009

ATLANTA Upcoming Sat, Sep 21 • Guest House ,Gujarati Natak Venue: Gujarati Samaj of Atlanta, at Sardar Patel Bhavan, 5331 Royal Woods Pkwy, Tucker, GA 30084 Time: 8:30 pm / Contact: 404-401-4404

Fri, Sep 6 • Soordas An Inspiring Musical Play Venue: Glenbard East High School Auditorium, 1041 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148 Time: 8:00pm Contact: 630-964-6061

Fri, Sep 20 • Tribute to First Super Star Rajesh Khaana Venue: Des Plaines Theater, 1476 Miner St, Des Plaines, IL 60016 Time: 5:30 pm Contact: 630-913-6660

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Realty Tidbits

Property prices up by 15 per cent in Delhi-NCR

Real Estate

N

EW DELHI: Property prices have increased by an average 15 per cent in the Delhi-NCR during Apri-June quarter of this fiscal against the year-ago period, according to a report.

In Delhi-NCR, Gurgaon Sector54 saw the highest appreciation in property prices of about 87 per cent during April-June 2013 over April-June 2012, the company said in a statement.

"Delhi-NCR region continues to witness an increase in property prices with 15 per cent year-onyear property appreciation seen in Q2-13 when compared to Q2-12," it said.

The appreciation is however lower than the previous quarter, which saw 20 per cent rise in property prices.

Housing rentals in the DelhiNCR region have also gone up by an average of 5 per cent in AprilJune period of 2013 when compared to the same period a year ago. -Courtesy ET

„ Developers now eying north Chennai

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he north Chennai skyline is beginning to change with a number of large-scale properties setting up base there.

As a result, areas such as Kolathur and Madhavaram are witnessing a boom in the housing sector.

With opportunities to develop property and construct multistorey buildings getting fast exhausted in south and central Chennai, major industry players are now eyeing north and northwest parts of the city.

Congested areas such as Tondiarpet and Korrukupet are home to high-rise apartments that dot the skyline.

Until three years ago, largescale construction in north Chennai accounted for 20 per cent of building activity in the city. Courtesy The Hindu

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September 6, 2013

City to give away land for affordable housing CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.: The city of Chattanooga has begun a pilot program in which the city will give land to private developers if they agree to build affordable, quality housing.

Mayor Andy Berke says the Affordable Housing Program Pilot will focus on properties that belong to the city because of tax claims but aren't currently being used.

He says many properties are vacant or contain dilapidated homes. -AP

Half of home sales are all-cash JUDY MARTEL

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ising mortgage rates aren't deterring a majority of homebuyers in the marketplace. According to an analysis by Goldman Sachs Group, more than half the homes sold last year and so far this year have been all-cash transactions.

According to the analysis, published in The Wall Street Journal, an estimated 20 percent of homes sold before the housing market collapse were all-cash sales. But over the past seven years, that share of sales has been increasing.

Many of the buyers are investors taking advantage of the stilllow home prices with the goal of unloading the property quickly as the market improves. "Given the low interest rate environment that has many investors sitting on cash that is literally earning next

to nothing, the prospect of parlaying that cash to scoop up real estate at bargain prices -- while avoiding the mortgage process --

as credit standards loosen up, buyers with an appetite for investment properties and vacation homes will begin financing again.

is pretty attractive," says Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.

McBride adds that over time,

Borrowers are borrowing less, too Currently, buyers who obtain a mortgage are financing less of the

sale price of the home than they did before the housing crash. The report by Goldman Sachs estimates that for every $1 of a home's sale price, 44 cents is financed, compared with 67 cents of every $1 before the crash.

Buyers who finance can still take advantage of the mortgage tax deduction, but McBride says whether Congress will eventually eliminate or reduce the deduction is a "wild card" in assessing the future mortgage maarket.

"The mortgage tax deduction further reduces the net borrowing cost, making a mortgage an attractive alternative to liquidating other assets," he says. "But should the mortgage tax deduction be limited or go away entirely, this will alter the appeal of mortgage financing for buyers that can otherwise pay cash."

Buy home with yard made soggy by neighbor?

STEVE MCLINDEN

Dear Real Estate Adviser, During all three of my visits to a property, one side of the yard was always very moist and soft. Not only does all of the home's rain runoff apparently settle there, the next-door neighbor's roof gutters are directed there as well. What's more, the neighbor's concrete backyard, which has a large pool, also slopes toward this soggy area. Is it legal for the neighbor to blatantly run all his rainwater there, and should I reconsider purchasing this home as a result?

- Dan T.

Dear Dan, Sorry, Danno, but that marshy area on the side of your dream house is now part of a newly created, federally protected wetland.

So hands off - and boots on!

Forgive the levity; that pooling water on the side of your prospective residence is unamusing, I'm sure. Firstly, kudos for doing the kind of detective work so many buyers fail to do. Secondly, I'm curious what the sellers and their agent have told you about the issue because it's really up to that party to address the soggy situation - and disclose it on the contract as a water-infiltration problem. If they aren't disclosing this, you should be wondering what else they aren't divulging.

Whether the neighbor's apparent water-diversion strategy is legal is subject to debate. The laws on this, like that yard, are a little muddy. Sometimes it takes a city inspector's assessment or a threat of a lawsuit (or both) to get things moving in the proper direction. As a rule of thumb, though, neighbors aren't liable for harm caused by the naturally occurring lay of their land. But if they alter their property in a way that intentionally

forces water onto the next-door neighbor's property, the court might find them in violation of the socalled reasonableness rule, which is defined on a case-by-case basis.

In your case, for example, if the neighbor changed the drainage flow with new gutters and had his contractor design the poolside deck to drain toward your prospec-

is. If there's some question, you may need to call a seasoned landscaper out to look at the problem and recommend remedial measures. It might be that a berm, gravel area (French drain), catch basin or retaining wall can be installed to mitigate the flow and help direct it to a natural drainage easement that will send

It might be that a berm, gravel area (French drain), catch basin or retaining wall can be installed to mitigate the flow and help direct it to a natural drainage easement that will send the water to a public area. tive home's yard, a court may find that the resultant flooding was foreseeable. However, the complainant in most jurisdictions typically has to prove both damage and nuisance. In your case, don't hold your breath waiting for the soonto-move seller to take legal action.

If the sellers won't rectify the situation but you're still enamored by the place and want to buy it anyway, make sure your home inspector carefully assesses just how serious the drainage problem

the water to a public area. It also might be that a there's a natural spring under the property that's exacerbating the situation.

Regardless, get some cost estimates, and don't hesitate to ask for a credit from the sellers to help with all or part of this.

Of course, the sellers may just opt to sell to a less picky (read "less discriminating") buyer, especially if they're selling as is and have other buyers on the hook.

September 6, 2013

Real Estate Post www.indiapost.com

Court ends villages' 100-year wait

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t a time when the Delhi government has granted legal status to 1,600 unauthorized colonies in the capital city, a cluster of villages in West Delhi, whose residents paid what was called 'chullah' tax for more than six decades to live there, still cannot claim ownership to the land though steps to grant them that right were initiated soon after Independence. In the absence of ownership rights, the residents say they cannot even avail bank loans.

And now 66 years after Independence, the Delhi High Court has offered hope to these urban villages. In an order dated May 6, 2013, the court asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to consider the application of the petitioners for grant of leasehold rights.

When the capital of India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the British decided not to acquire the land of certain villages and let the residents continue to live there.

In return, they collected the 'chullah' tax once a month. Depending on the number of 'chullahs' in a household, every family paid one anna per 'chullah'.

But long after Independence, the villagers of Todapur, Dasghara, Arakpur Bagh Mochi, Jhilmil and Nangli Razapur

When the capital of India was shifted from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911, the British decided not to acquire the land of certain villages and let the residents continue to live there. In return, they collected the 'chullah' tax once a month. in West Delhi continued to pay 'chullah' tax to the government. Residents claim their forefathers paid the tax till 1975.

Though steps to grant them land ownership rights were initiated soon after Independence, it was only in 1983 that the government decided to grant the villagers land lease rights under certain conditions. One condition was that a family may be allotted land leasehold rights to plots not bigger than 167 sq.m.

More than 20 years after that notification, the DDA came out with a public notice in 2005, inviting applications under the scheme. At least 188 people came forward. But, all were apparently found ineligible.

"Desh ko azadi mile 66 years hoone wale hain par hum aaj tak apne haq ke liye lad rahe hain (It's going to be 66 years since our country became Independent but we are still fighting for our rights)," says Mahesh Yadav of Todapur village.

After several surveys since the 80s, the DDA is still trying to decide on the eligible families. "The problem is that while the number of claimants in past records were only in hundreds, that number has grown to thousands now. We are now examining the matter. Large-scale encroachment has taken place over the years," one DDA official said.

One of the criteria set by the DDA is for the families to show 'chullah' tax receipts of their forefathers. Residents claim they have preserved the receipts. "We have records to prove that we are the original settlers. Obviously, the number of claimants will increase over the span of a 100 years," says Naresh Kumar of Dasghara.-Courtesy Indian Express

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40 India Post

September 6, 2013

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THE VARIOUS TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN THEKKADY ARE PERIYAR NATIONAL PARK AND TIGER RESERVE, KUMILY, MURIKKADY, PANDIKUZHI, MANGALA DEVI TEMPLE, CHELLARKOVIL, VANDIPERIYAR, VANDANMEDU AND PULLUMEDU

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ocated in the Idukki district of Kerala, Thekkady is an important tourist destination in India. It is located about 160 miles from Thiruvananthapuram and is well known for wildlife preservation.

Unlike other wildlife sanctuaries, Thekkady is unique and abundantly rich with flora, fauna and a wide range of birds. Here, you can get a glimpse of wildlife at a close range, and one can also have an opportunity to see and film the wildlife while they are in their natural habitat.

Thekkady is a paradise with its natural scenic beauty, clear waters and the serene atmosphere literally captivates the visitors.

The man made Lake with its partially submerged trunks is synonymous with Thekkady. Situated about 4000 ft above sea level, the place is a perfect holiday destination with its unique chill weather, endless scenic beauties, aroma of spice plantations and friendly people. The destination has various other opportunities for adventure tourism such as trekking, wildlife train, bamboo raft-

ing, border hiking and rock climbing.

Well linked with both Kerala and Tamil Nadu through roadways, one can easily get a bus from Madurai, Kumbam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram and various other locations to reach Thekkady. Government agencies such as TDC, KTDC and TTDC arrange package tours to Thekkady on regular basis. There are a number of hotels and lodges located at Kumuli and Thekkady providing good accommodation facilities.

Both local as well continental food varieties are served at many restaurants in Thekkady.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve is situated within the confines of the Western Ghats in Kerala. This park is one of the most captivating wildlife parks in the world and also one of the largest and finest wildlife re-

serves in India. This national park is known for its geomorphology, diversity of wildlife and scenic beauty and attracts visitors from all over the world. The major wildlife attractions in the Periyar National Park are the wild elephants, Tigers and Nilgiri Tahrs. Besides these animals various other animals, birds, snakes and frogs are also found in this park. The best time to visit the park is from October to June.

Kumily Kumily is the plantation town closely associated with Thekkady. This plantation town is located about 4 kms from Thekkady and offers excellent experiences of the spice scented plantation towns. Kumily is situated on the outskirts of Periyar national park. Shopping centre, spice trade centre, the main bus stand and most of the medium range accommodation are situated in Kumily.

Cont’d on page 42

September 6, 2013

Travel & Hospitality Post

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Tourism Australia eyes Indian market MELBOURNE: Buoyed by the rising number of Indian travelers to the country, Australia has decided to enhance its 10-year marketing plan to tap a 2.3 billion dollar Indian tourism market.

Indian travelers to Australia rose to nearly 8 per cent last year, contributing 804 million Australian dollars to its economy, Tourism Australia said.

The agency has decided to use a new research that would provide some really valuable learnings into the Indian consumer, their purchasing intentions and desire for experiencing travel, managing director Andrew McEvoy said.

"India is already Australia's tenth largest source market and has the potential to grow strongly in coming years if we get the marketing, product, distribu-

tion and aviation access right," he said.

McEvoy said insights from the research would support efforts to lure travelers from India where leisure spending has increased by more than 25 per cent since the launch of Tourism Australia's India 2020 Strategic Plan a year ago.

"India is one of the world's fastest growing outbound travel markets, with the World Tourism Organization predicting 50 million outbound travelers by 2020," McEvoy said.

He said the findings would inform the agency's own marketing efforts in India.

The research was based on a targeted sample of 2,054 Indian leisure travelers and included interviews with travel sellers in India. -PTI

Ambassador ranked best taxi in the world

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n a show, which is being aired on the BBC, Top Gear's execu tive director Richard Hammond organized a world taxi shootout in which Ambassador emerged a winner, beating competitors from all New Delhi: It may have lost out to

the more modern competitors from Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Toyota and Honda but the good old Ambassador car, that once ruled the roost in India, has just been voted as the world's best taxi by global automotive program Top Gear.

In the show, Top Gear's executive director Richard Hammond organized a world taxi shootout in which Ambassador emerged a winner, beating competitors from all over the globe.

'The winner was India's virtually indestructible Hindustan Ambassador,' UK-based motor museum Beaulieu, where the 'World of Top Gear' featuring vehicles from some of the most ambitious challenges are also showcased, said in a statement.

This particular example proved just how enduring the Ambassador really is when it saw off rivals from Britain, America, Germany, South Africa, Mexico and Russia to be named the world's best taxi, it added.

Better amenities at railway stations NEW DELHI: Indian Railways has decided to improve passenger amenities at 24 stations in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Rajya Sabha was informed.

Minister of Railways, Mallikarjun Kharge while replying to a question said that the upgradation of these stations will be done on a 50:50 cost sharing basis.

"The priority of work for improvement of amenities has been jointly decided by ministry of Railways and ministry of Tourism," said Kharge.

The stations identified are

Hyderabad and Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh, Hospet in Karnataka,

Agra Cantt, Rai Bareli and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, Safdarjung in Delhi, Kamakhya and Guwahati in

Assam, Haridwar in Uttarakhand, Kurukshetra in Haryana, Gaya in Bihar, Madurai and Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, Tarapith, Tarekeswhar and New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerela, Amritsar in Punjab, Aurangabad and Nanded in Maharashtra, Puri in Odisha and Jaipur and Ajmer in Rajasthan.

The Railway Minister said that in the first phase, seven stations have been jointly inspected by the nominated officers from both the ministries to identify amenities needed there. -PTI

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THEKKADY, KERALA Paradise with natural beauty, flora & fauna Cont’d from page 40

Murikkady Murikkady is situated about 5 kms from Thekkady. Washed in fresh spice scented air, Murikkady is a panorama of cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations.

Vandiperiyar The river Periyar flows through the centre of Vandiperiyar and nourishes its vast tea, coffee and pepper plantations. Vandiperiyar is a major trade centre and also home to a number of tea factories. The Government Agriculture Farm and Flower Garden have a delightful array of rose plants, orchids and anthurium at this place.

Pullumedu Pullumedu is a famous hill town in Thekkady, located about 43 kms from Thekkady. The winding journey to this hill town, along the Periyar River, offers a stunning view of the rolling hills draped in lush greenery. Velvet lawns, rare flora and fauna add to the beauty of Pullumedu which can be accessed only by jeep. The famous Sree Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala and the Makara Jyothi illuminations at the shrine are visible from here. Since it is part of the restricted forest zone, special permission to visit Pullumedu has to be obtained from the Wildlife Preservation Offer or the Range Officer.

Mangala Devi Temple Mangala Devi Temple is hidden in the dense woods at the top of a peak 1337 m above sea level. The ancient temple is built in the tradi-

tional Kerala style of architecture.

Visitors are allowed only on the Chithra Pournami festival day. The peak commands a panoramic view of the eastern slopes of the ghats and some hill villages of Tamil Nadu.

Chellarkovil Chellarkovil, about 15 kms from Kumily is a sleepy village. This little village offers breathtaking view of the plains and cascading

waterfalls. The village slopes down to the famous coconut groves of Cumbum in neighboring Tamil Nadu.

Pandikuzhi Pandikuzhi, about 5 kms from Kumily is cradled between Chellarkovil and the Tamil Nadu border. It is a popular picnic spot

and offers great opportunities for trekking and is a photographer's delight. This picturesque region is famous for its exotic flora, fauna and gurgling streams.

Vandanmedu Vandanmedu, about 25 kms from Kumily is one of the world's largest auction centers for Cardamom.

A walk through the sprawling cardamom plantations of Vandanmedu is a heady experience.

HOW TO REACH

By Train: Nearest railhead is at Kottayam, which is at a distance of 114 km from Thekkady.

By Bus: KSRTC public transport buses connect Thekkady with other nearby cities. Super fast buses are regularly available from Kottayam, Kochi and Trivandrum.

By Air: Nearest airport to Thekkady is Madurai, which is located 136 km away from Thekkady.

Madurai is air connected to Chennai and Coimbatore. Nearest major international airport is Nedumbassery airport in Kochi, at a distance of 165 km.

September 6, 2013

Travel & Hospitality Post

India Post

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MoU to promote film tourism in India

NEW DELHI: With the aim of promoting local destinations for domestic and foreign films and facilitating international film shooting, Tourism Ministry has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Rajya Sabha was told.

"The objectives of the MoU was to promote India as a filming destination, both for international and domestic film producers and also to frame policies and guidelines for facilitating shooting of international films in India among others," said Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi in a writ-

ten answer in the House.

As per the MoU, there will be constitution of a national-level committee for coordination with various stakeholders for promotion of India as a film and tourism destination and for facilitating visas for film units from overseas.

Bar made out of ice opens at Boston's Faneuil Hall

BOSTON: The drinks are always cold at Boston's first ice bar.

The Frost Ice Bar, constructed and furnished entirely with blocks of ice kept at a chilly 21 degrees, opened at Faneuil Hall.

It is New England's first permanent, year-round, indoor ice bar.

Visitors don insulated capes and gloves to keep warm while enjoying alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, in a unique interior that features an elaborately carved bar, chandelier, sculptures, seating and even paintings, all made of ice. The bar also features

sculptures Boston landmarks and historical figures, such the Swan Boats, The Zakim Memorial Bridge and Paul Revere.

Even the drinks are served in ice glasses. Don't worry about frostbite. Visitors are limited to 45minutes per visit. -AP

J-K govt to raise new battalion of tourist police SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir government is contemplating to raise a new battalion of tourist police to deal in a "humane way" with the visitors to the state who are growing in number.

"We have less tourist police officers to deal with the visitors and we contemplate to raise a new battalion to deal with the tourists more humanely," Minister for Tourism, Ghulam Ahmad Mir told PTI.

Mir said the department of Tourism has written to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to either allow direct recruitment by the department or train the regular policemen for the job. -PTI

Further, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has constituted an inter-ministerial committee for promotion and facilitation of film production with the objective of facilitating shooting permission in India.

It also entails participation in various international and domes-

tic film festivals, markets and events.

Since signing of the MoU, the Ministry has jointly participated with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in many international film festivals to create film tourism as a sub-brand of Incredible India campaign. -PTI

Global tourist traffic grew by 5 percent DUBAI: Global tourist traffic grew by 5 per cent, reaching almost 500 million, with Asia-Pacific region registering the highest growth during the first half of 2013 from the same period last year, the World Tourism Organization has said.

Destinations around the world witnessed an estimated 494 million visitors in the first six months of 2013, representing an increase of 5 per cent or an additional 25 million international tourists compared to the same period of 2012, the UN agency said.

Asia-Pacific region witnessed the highest growth of 6.0 per cent, boosted by the increase in arrivals to South-East Asia, up by 12 per cent, followed by Europe at 5.0 per cent despite the lingering economic difficulties.

Africa saw 4.0 per cent growth while the results were weaker than anticipated in the Americas where the arrivals grew by 2 per cent, as South America and the Caribbean lagged behind.

UNWTO Secretary-General,

Taleb Rifai, said the growth in arrivals reflects growing importance of tourism sector.

"This underlines the need to rightly place tourism as one of the key pillars of socio-economic development, being a leading contributor to economic growth, exports and jobs," Rifai said.

Emerging economy destinations saw stronger growth of 6 per cent, 2 per cent more than that by

advanced economies, a trend which has marked the sector for many years now, it said.

The agency said that in a still uneven global economic environment, results were positive in all regions and sub regions, though the overall picture was mixed. The Middle East rebounded after two years of negative growth with an estimated increase in international arrivals of 13 per cent.-PTI

In Brief Indian American attorney Sheila Murthy honored WASHINGTON: Indian-American attorney Sheela Murthy has been recognized as one of the world's top international corporate immigration lawyers in the 2013 edition of Corporate Immigration, a prestigious directory of leading advocates in her field.

The directory is published by Law Business Research, Londonbased strategic research partner of the American Bar Association's Section of International Law, and the official research partner of the International Bar Association.

Murthy serves on boards for a number of organizations, including the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Eastern Region in Philadelphia, Stevenson University, The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) DC and as the vice chairwoman for the Maryland State Chamber of Commerce.

She previously was chairwoman of the United Way Worldwide's Leadership Council of India. Also on the Board of the United Way of Central Maryland, she was recognized her as the 2009 Philanthropist of the Year.

Murthy helps lead the MurthyNayak Foundation, a nonprofit nongovernmental organization that seeks to help with women's basic needs and protection from abuse, children's education, support programs that assist immigrants, and causes that help to educate and advocate for immigrants in the US. -PTI

Evangelical group backing Bachus on immigration MONTGOMERY, Ala.: A national coalition of evangelicals who support a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who entered the country illegally is airing radio ads in the Birmingham-area district of Rep. Spencer Bachus as part of a national campaign in 14 states.

The Montgomery Advertiser reports that leaders of the Evangelical Immigration Table are spending $400,000 on radio ads on Christian and talk radio stations in 56 congressional districts to support legislation that backers say would provide more border security and offer a route to citizenship for those who entered the U.S. illegally. ``They will return to Washington knowing they have support at home for taking action on reform,'' said Barrett Duke, vice president for public policy and research with the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.-AP

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September 6, 2013

Groups help immigrants through shared experiences

Details on page 46

Business leaders make case for immigration reform NASHVILLE, Tenn.: Prominent business leaders and Republicans held a forum in Nashville to build support for immigration reform among the public and members of Congress.

The Senate passed a far-reaching immigration measure in June that includes border security, workplace enforcement and a path to citizenship. But the majority of House Republicans remain opposed to any path to citizenship, creating concerns that legislators will be unable to craft a compromise bill.

Part of the idea of the forum was to keep momentum for reform going during the congressional recess.

Speaking to an audience that included representatives from the offices of U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn and U.S. Sens. Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker, all Republicans, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President Randy Johnson rejected the idea that immigration reform is destined to fail once again.

Johnson said there has been a ``seismic shift'' on the issue in recent years, with many people now agreeing that immigrants need some sort of legal status. ``Things have changed,'' he said. ``Six years ago, people were

still talking about anything but deportation as amnesty.''

Johnson also noted that while many conservative Christians were against immigration reform the last time it came up before Congress, this time a coalition of evangelical Christians has begun actively pro-

was living in the U.S. illegally.

When the husband applied for a visa, he was required to return to Mexico for a year and a half before he could come back. During that time, the wife was working two jobs and taking care of her son and her disabled father.

There is no financial advantage to hiring foreign workers, because companies are required to pay the prevailing wage.

It's just that there are not enough skilled American workers U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn

moting the reform effort. ``They have been very helpful in reaching out to Republicans,'' he said.

The panel included Pastor Eddie Poole, of the Life Church of Mt. Juliet, who said he probably was one of those evangelicals who were against immigration reform last time around. Since then, however, a young woman at his church fell in love with and married a man who

The husband ``kind of got lost in the system, we felt like,'' Poole said.

Another panelist, Bob Pitts, senior adviser to the Associated Builders and Contractors of Middle Tennessee, said the businesses he works with that employ immigrants want to obey the law, but they need the regulations to be simple and clear.

Both Pitts and Wes Blumenshine,

general counsel for Caterpillar, Inc., said businesses need more highly skilled workers.

Blumenshine said there is no financial advantage to hiring foreign workers, because companies are required to pay the prevailing wage.

It's just that there are not enough skilled American workers to fill the need, he said. ``Jobs go unfilled and our competitiveness is hurt. ... This is not hypothetical. The facts bear it out.''

Lacy Upchurch, president of the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation, said farmers also are not looking to foreign workers for inexpensive labor. They are willing to pay unskilled workers well, but need a dependable labor force. ``For farmers all across the state of Tennessee, the number one issue is the uncertainty of labor. ...We need an adequate supply of farm labor for the success of Tennessee agriculture and U.S. agriculture.''

Upchurch said he believes the current situation is one of de facto amnesty for the estimated 11 million people in the country illegally.

Former U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said he would like for everyone in the country to be here under some kind of legal status. -AP

Couples split by border hope reform brings relief EL PASO, Texas: Edgar Falcon and Maricruz Valtierra exchanged vows at the Santa Fe border bridge in El Paso standing on the dividing line between the U.S. and Mexico.

Falcon, a U.S. citizen, now faces the choice of staying in Texas and living apart from his wife, a Mexico citizen, or relocating to Ciudad Juarez, a city with about 1,500 murders last year.

Falcon says Valtierra can't enter the U.S. because when she was 16 years old, her sister tried to bring her to the United States using someone else's birth certificate. They didn't find out Valtierra had been declared inadmissible until they were apply-

ing for her visa as a fiancee of a U.S. citizen. ``The only option I have is exile, to choose between the love of my wife and the love for my coun-

who have a lifetime ban from the United States, hopes legislation to be introduced by Texas freshman U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke will provide relief from their situation.

try,'' Falcon said.

Falcon, like others who married or are closely related to people

The bill is aimed at providing discretionary authority to judges and Department of Homeland Se-

curity officials when the person who is in deportation, ineligibility or inadmissibility proceedings is an immediate family member of a U.S. citizen.

O'Rourke said he will introduce it once Congress returns Sept. 9.

The bill also would remove the requirement that U.S. citizens have to demonstrate ``extreme hardship'' in order to apply for a waiver for their relative or spouse. Therefore, if they can demonstrate the removal or inadmissibility would create a hardship for the U.S. citizen, the judge or DHS official would have to rule in favor of the family.-AP

Immigration Post

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Muslims still targeted under secret immigration program CYRUS D. MEHTA

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fter the 9/11 attacks, any thing and everything concerning immigration has been viewed through the prism of national security. Even a straightforward bona fide marriage between a US citizen and foreign national spouse will only be approved after every aspect of the spouse's information is extensively checked against humongous and error-prone national data bases. In the immediate aftermath of 9/11, immigrants

for reasons other than merit. Immigration attorneys have always suspected this all along, but thanks to the ACLU, there is now a damming report that has unearthed the workings of CARRP, which according to the ACLU is code for "Muslims Need Not Apply."

CAARP essentially discourages the granting of an application, whether it is for citizenship or for another immigration benefit, to anyone who presents a na-

Although they were detained because of immigration violations, it was under the pretext of investigating them for suspected links to terrorism. In the end, the 1000+ immigrants who were detained and deported in secret were not charged or convicted of terrorism. from mainly Muslim countries were detained and deported in secret.

Although they were detained because of immigration violations, it was under the pretext of investigating them for suspected links to terrorism. In the end, the 1000+ immigrants who were detained and deported in secret were not charged or convicted of terrorism.

The Bush Administration in 2003 implemented Special Registration, which applied to males from 26 countries, 25 of which had significant Islamic populations.

Dutifully, 85,000 people lined up to register, thinking that they should cooperate with the government.

13,000 men who were found to have immigration violations, many of whom may have been on the path to getting green cards, were placed in deportation proceedings. Those who failed to register during the filing window continue to be affected even today, and may be unable to apply for an immigration benefit even through marriage to a US citizen.

One would like to think that in 2013, this wholesale profiling against people because of their nationality or religion would have stopped, but a little known program known as Controlled Application Review and Resolution Program or CARRP since 2008 has been targeting some applicants who are Muslim or perceived as Muslim for immigration benefits from Arab, Middle Eastern, Muslim and South Asian communities, resulting in their applications languishing in limbo or being denied

tional security concern. CAARP, an unusual acronym in its own right has engendered other peculiar acronyms and terms, many with devastating consequences for the applicant. An applicant may be identified as a national security concern if she is a Known or Suspected Terrorist (KST) or a Non-Known or Suspected Terrorist (Non-KST). A KST is someone whose name has been thrown into the over-inclusive Terrorist Watch List. One need not be suspected of terrorist activity for one's name to be included in the Terrorist Watch List.

If the person is not a KST, then CARRP directs immigration officers to look to any other relevant sources to find whether an applicant is a national security concern, and thus a Non-KST. First, CAARP directs officers to examine the security and terrorism grounds of inadmissibility and deportability under INA Sections 212(a)(3)(A), (B), (F) and 237(a)(4)(A) and (B) to determine whether the applicant's association with any persons or associations can render him a Non-KST. Second, CAARP instructs that the assessment under these overbroad INA provisions do not need to satisfy the legal standard for determining admissibility or removability in order to designate an applicant as a national security concern.

As a result of this directive, many Muslim applicants who may have given donations to charitable organizations that have later been designated as terrorist organizations have become na-

tional security concerns even though they did not know of the designation. Such a person cannot have provided "material support" to a terrorist organization if he or she "did not know or should not have reasonably known" of it and cannot be found inadmissible or removable.

Still, CAARP allows officers to implicate applicants under these provisions as national security concerns even though they are not technically admissible or removable.

CAARP allows officers to even look beyond the parameters of these provisions through "other suspicious activities" such as unusual travel patterns, large scale transfers or receipt of funds, or membership or participation in organizations outlined in sections 212(a)(3)(A), (B), or (F), or 237(a)(4)(A) or (B) of the INA. Finally CAARP allows officers to wander much further to look at whether the applicant has a family member or "close associate" who is a national security concern. Such a "close associate" could be a roommate, co-worker, employee, owner, partner, affiliate or friend.

Once an applicant is designated as a national security concern, CAARP introduces another strange term, but again with adverse consequences for the applicant, called "Deconfliction."

Deconfliction means coordination between USCIS and any in-

It is also incumbent to advise the client on how to answer the overbroad question regarding his or her membership in associations or organizations on the Form N-400 vestigative agency, which is the owner of the national security information "to ensure that planned adjudicative activities (e.g. interview, request for evidence, site visit, decision to grant or deny a benefit or timing of the decision) do not compromise or impede an ongoing investigation."

This subjects the application to even more mind boggling bureaucratic procedures reflective of a post 9/11 paranoid national security apparatus such as internal vetting/eligibility assessment, external vetting and adjudication (aka denial).

It is not difficult to imagine that

"Deconfliction" allows another agency such as the FBI to control the adjudicative process, resulting in the pretextual denial of the immigration benefit if the national security concern is not resolved.

Attorneys have seen denials of naturalization applications, especially involving Muslims, where the applicant has not listed "membership" or "association" with every organization or group.

The overbroad question on

prior to the denial or for not being given the opportunity to contest a CARRP determination. Finally, an applicant subject to CAARP will not only face a denial, but the government may also find a way to place her in removal proceedings or even initiate a criminal prosecution.

It is important to protect the client by being familiar with her history, and to pay attention to irregularities, which even if minor and may be overlooked for oth-

The overbroad question on the Form N-400 asks -"Have you ever been a member of or associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation, party, club, society or similar group in the United States or in any other place?" It is likely that a Muslim applicant could get denied the Form N-400 asks -"Have you ever been a member of or associated with any organization, association, fund, foundation, party, club, society or similar group in the United States or in any other place?"

It is likely that a Muslim applicant could get denied for inadvertently failing to list his association with a religious group, but a Christian applicant may not face a similar denial for failing to list her church.

With the revelation of CAARP, attorneys can explain to clients why applications have been delayed for so long, as well as take steps to protect their clients from pretextual denials if they have been designated as national security concerns. It would be worthwhile to accompany all clients for interviews who could be potentially CAARPed as well as insist that the USCIS video tape their interviews.

It is also incumbent to advise the client on how to answer the overbroad question regarding his or her membership in associations or organizations on the Form N-400 or other applications, and it is best to err on the side of caution and interpret this question broadly to also include organizations to which the applicant may have made a charitable contribution.

If the client forgets to provide information at the interview, it is important to provide that information as soon as possible in order to avoid a denial based on a misrepresentation to obtain benefits.

An attorney can also challenge a denial if the client was not provided adverse information

ers, could result in the institution of removal proceedings or criminal proceedings.

While there are still legitimate concerns regarding national security, our government should not be encouraged to use secret programs like CAARP to deny the legitimate and meritorious applications of certain people applying for citizenship, green cards and other benefits for which they are legally eligible.

If there is truly a national security concern, the non-citizen should be charged with removability or inadmissibility under Sections 212(a) (3) (A), (B), and (F), and 237(a) (4) (A) and (B) of the INA. Moreover, it the government has evidence, it also has the tools to criminally prosecute an individual.

The reason for not doing so is that the government does not have sufficient evidence, and instead, delays or denies the application for an immigration benefit.

Such policies do not in any way prevent terrorism; rather they alienate communities and people who are aspiring to become Americans.

Just like Special Registration turned out to be a colossal failure and waste of government money, CAARP too is heading that way.

The USCIS should cancel this program and ensure that all applications be adjudicated in conformance with existing immigration law, as well as adhere to basic standards of fairness and due process. * Cyrus D Mehta, may be contacted at 212-425-0555 or info@cyrusmehta.com

Immigration Post

46 India Post

September 6, 2013

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Groups help immigrants through shared experiences GARDEN CITY, Kan.: Sharing the challenges and obstacles each has faced in being an immigrant in the United States, Armando Minjarez and Emira Palacios are on a mission to empower immigrants and to unify communities across Kansas.

On a recent weekend, the duo presented their stories and their mission in southwest Kansas. ``We're starting with our southwest Kansas initiative. Given the high number of immigrants that live in this part of the state, it just makes sense for us to start here,'' Minjarez said. ``Plus, I went to high school in Ulysses and I graduated from Garden City Community College, so I have a personal connection to the area.''

The weekend saw Minjarez, Palacios and Laura Dungan, all cofounders of The Seed House (tilde) La Casa de La Semillon, a nonprofit organization based in Wichita, begin their tour of southwest Kansas at the Finney County Public Library, where Minjarez and Palacios shared their immigration stories in order to illustrate to the public what they are trying to accomplish.

Minjarez immigrated to Ulysses in 2001, when he was 15. He began working almost immediately as a dishwasher at a Ulysses restaurant, where he learned English

Architects, and then I realized I couldn't go to college because I wasn't documented. Because of my status, I was considered an international student, which meant

I received several scholarships to attend, including one from the American Institute of Architects, and then I realized I couldn't go to college because I wasn't documented. Because of my status, I was considered an international student, which meant my tuition basically tripled' fairly quickly.

By the time he was a senior in high school, Minjarez had mastered the language, was at the top of his class and was the vice president of his class' student government association.

After high school, however, his plans to attend college appeared to be dashed. ``I was accepted at the K-State architectural department. I enrolled in school, I received several scholarships to attend, including one from the American Institute of

my tuition basically tripled,'' he said. ``So that was pretty heartbreaking for me. It was devastating to know all the hard work I had done basically wasn't worth anything.''

After attending GCCC for two years, state legislation was passed in 2004 allowing international students to pay in-state tuition, once again opening the door for him to attend Kansas State, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in art in 2012. Minjarez is currently a legal, permanent resident

and became eligible for citizenship in March. He currently is in the process of becoming a citizen, which he said will take eight to 12 months.

Palacios immigrated to Wichita when she was 20, with the goal of making and saving money for a year so that she could go back to Mexico and start her own business. ``Well, I'm still here - 28 years later,'' she said.

She said that the cost for Mexicans to immigrate to the U.S. legally is out of reach for many, given the low wages paid in the country. ``I often say that I did come to this country undocumented, and the reason I did that is because the people with little resources like me could never afford to come the legal way,'' she said.

Palacios legalized her status several years ago, but said she spent $30,000 doing so.

She also has testified to both the Kansas Legislature and in Washington, D.C., in the hopes that future immigrants will encounter fewer obstacles in their pursuit of opportunities in America. ``We need to fix a broken system and stop criminalizing immigrants so they can be fully integrated and contribute to the U.S. society,'' she said.

Minjarez said he will begin collecting stories and interviewing immigrants after the organization raises enough funds to purchase what is to be called the Traveling Seed Pod, a teardrop-shaped trailer that will be equipped with a projector, video, audio and recording technologies. -AP

PRADEEP ROY-SINGH B.A. LL.B. M.B.A. J.D. Attorney-at-Law

Former Assistant StateÂ’s Attorney

Civil & Criminal Litigation Felonies, Misdemeanors, Inc DUI 1 Personal Injury, Business, Divorce etc.

1 Property Tax for Commercial Properties 1

Indian American admits role in student visa fraud WASHINGTON: An Indian American has admitted his role in widespread foreign student visa fraud that took place in New Jersey, the US Department of Justice said.

Manamadurai Somalingam, 64, from New York pleaded guilty before US District Judge Freda Wolfson in Trenton Federal Court in New Jersey to information

charging him with one count of conspiring to commit visa fraud and one count of conspiring to conceal and harbor illegal aliens for private financial gain.

He now faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a fine of USD 250,000.

The sentencing is scheduled for December 5.

According to court documents, Somalingam admitted that from March 2011 through May 2012, while he was the owner of a school called PC Tech Learning with campuses in Iselin and Jersey City, he engaged

in a conspiracy to obtain student visas for foreign citizens who were not eligible for such visas.

Somalingam admitted that he falsely certified that a woman he hired to work for him at the Jersey City campus of PC Tech was eligible for a student visa even though he knew that she would be working full-time and was not eligible.

Besides, Somalingam admitted he never terminated a foreign citizen's student status as long as that individual paid his tuition fees, even though Somalingam, as the primary designated school official for PC Tech, was required to terminate any student who failed to make proper progress in his studies, the Department of Justice said.

-PTI

1

http://www.proy-singh.com

2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 204, Tel: 773-381-1820 Chicago, IL 60659

Horoscope

September 6, 2013

India Post

47

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Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

AUGUST 7TH - SEPTEMBER 13TH , 2013 (March 21 to April 20)

Y

ou have some easy money coming your way. Business trips will be fruitful. Divine protection will help overcome a major difficult situation in career. Mind will be full of bright ideas and you will be working on several things at the same time. Other side will present some strong evidence in ongoing litigation.

(July 23 to August 22)

Y

ou will be going on an interesting short trip. Money will become available on time for your projects. A very promising week for people in retail business. Spouse will seek your permission before buying an expensive item for the house. You are in line for a quick promotion or moving to a prestigious position with power.

(April 21 to May 20)

A

ll journeys in direction East will be beneficial. Working conditions will get little tough and you may bring some work at home also. You may suffer with little back pain. Venture started in partnerships will be lucky and go long way. You may take family out to a nice place for dinner. A very profitable week for all brokers.

(August 23 to September 22)

Y

ou have lots of easy money coming in next few weeks. Offer will come but require you to relocate. There will be major changes in career soon to your advantage. You may shut down an overseas project not working out so well lately. You will enjoy many favorite dish at home and receive many valuable gifts this week.

(May 21 to June 20)

E

xtra hours spent at work will bring in rich rewards. Boss will be on your side openly and forward your name this week. People will benefit from your knowledge and experience. You will be full of energy and take a big courageous move. Some money will go towards repairs also. A long distance trip is also in the air soon.

(September 23 to October 22)

I

t will be another expensive week. You will gain friendship of an influential person. Reply from a government agency could also come during the week and in positive only. You will stay cheerful and enjoy with family and friends. Some extra expense towards insurance of vehicles or property also possible this week.

(June 21 to July 22)

Y

ou will take some bold steps in career. Gamble will pay off in rich rewards soon. Blessings and guidance from a learned person will steer you in right direction. Mind will be at ease. A relationship is about to become permanent. You may invite few friends at your place for dinner. Bank balance will keep increasing.

(October 23 to November 22)

Y

ou will enjoy the company of a new friend. Money wise looks like a promising week. All financial deals will go through and you will make money through stocks also. Boss will quickly agree to your ideas and promise the assignment. Pending issue with a government agency will be finally settled in your favor.

(November 23 to December 22)

Y

ou will not have to struggle even to achieve difficult goals. Sun is shining in your house of luck. A close family member will surprise you with a good news. You will make good use of time on hands and clean up the things gathering dust in the house. You will analyze your competitor and change your strategy.

(December 22 to January 19)

T

here will be some interesting developments at work but things will stay little unclear for few more days. People in business will be successful in recovering an old and big payment. You will take time out of a busy schedule and make plans with children. Watch out for someone who is trying to make a comeback in life.

(January 20 to February 18)

M

oney will come but will not stay. Do not make any hasty decisions about career at this point. This is the right time to change that trouble making vehicle. Party will be entertaining and you will make very good friends. People involved in research program will make good progress. Take care of your health.

(February 19 to March 20)

O

pponents will try their best but will fail. Some one in family may travel this week. You will overcome any health issues very quickly.

Some one who promised to help will finally call and start the process. You will receive a gift in mail. Some of you will getting ready for an exciting assignment in near future.

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

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

48 India Post

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September 6, 2013

September 6, 2013

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Get On The Dance Floor: Chennai Express 2 Titli: Chennai Express 3 Zulmi-Zulmi: Grand Masti 4 Ye Tune Kya Kiya: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara 50 India Post

September 06, 2013

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5 Lungi Dance: Chennai Express 6 Sun Le Re: Madras Cafe 7 Tere Mere Beech Mein: Shuddh Desi Romance 8 Main Rang Sharbaton Ka : Phata Poster Nikla Hero 9 Shuddh Desi Romance: Shuddh Desi Romance 10 Zinda: Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

R

anbir Kapoor is head over heels in love with Katrina Kaif and now it's time to propose. It is heard that on September 28, Ranbir will get down on his knees and pop the question to the actress.

September 28th is Ranbir Kapoor's birthday and it is assumed that the heartthrob of Bollywood would propose to Katrina with an expensive gift. Recently, the 'Barfi!' actor gifted Katrina a pair of exquisite earrings.

Says a source, "A lot of hearts are set to break on Ranbir's birthday. But looks like the man has made up his mind."

Katrina Kaif is also the choice of Ranbir's parents. Neetu liked Katrina a lot and she even met with her parents when she was in London with her son.

Katrina's spokesperson rubbishes the buzz and states, "This is not possible because on Ranbir's birthday, he is going to be promoting his film Besharam and so he will be traveling."

I

n Jackpot: Full Jhol, Sunny Leone will speak her own Hindi lines. A full fledged Hindi-Urdu tutor has been deployed for the purpose.

Director Kaizad Gustad smiles at memories of another firangi actress in his debut film In Boom. Kaizad had introduced Katrina Kaif. Her Hindi was non-existent. And her dialogues had to be dubbed. Now Kaizad gets Sunny Leone to be one-up on Katrina in Jackpot.

Says the director, "Sunny is the only female character in Jackpot. She is really one of the hardest-working actresses. Just like Katrina. When Katrina came to Mumbai she didn't know a word of Hindi."

Sunny Leone seems mighty charged with the challenge of mastering the rashtra-bhasha.

"I am extremely competitive so when someone tells me I can't do something like act, dance, express emotions on screen, or speak Hindi, all it makes me do is work harder to prove all those negative people wrong."

I

n Prakash Jha's Satyagraha there is a very romantic erotic love song 'Ras se bhare tore nain saawariya'. It's the song where Ajay Devgn and Kareena Kapoor Khan (yes, that's how she is billed for the first time in the credit titles of Satyagraha) get intimate.

The sequence required Kareena and Devgn to kiss and make love.

However Kareena, otherwise a very dedicated artiste on location in Bhopal, flatly refused to do the intimate scene.

In Vishal Bhardwaj's Omkara, Kareena had done some very intimate scenes with Devgn. But that came before her marriage.

Says a source from the Satyagraha location, "Prakashji wanted at least a brush-on-the-lips since this was a very passionate moment between the lead pair. But now after marriage, Kareena won't do any intimate scenes with any of her co-stars. Not even her husband Saif. There is a certain code of conduct that Kareena must follow as a Pataudi bahu. Also, Kareena would do nothing to hurt her mother-in-law (Sharmila Tagore) whom she loves dearly."

Bollywood

September 6, 2013

India Post 51

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D

eepika Padukone is currently enjoying a much-needed holiday abroad. But the actress willbe back within a fortnight to promote her next film, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Ram Leela'.

"As soon as Chennai Express was declared a blockbuster, Deepika packed her bags and went for a month long holiday. Ever since, she has been traveling to various exotic locations and spending some quality time with her family. She is aware of the grueling promotional schedule that awaits her here. She will join the Ram Leela team as soon as she comes back," a source said.

But as of now, the actress is making the most of her much-needed break.

Thankfully, Deepika hasn't been asked to cut short her holiday and she would be coming back rejuvenated to step back into the arena where she has already enjoyed a hat trick of mega successes of Chennai Express, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, and Race 2. Now, with Ram Leela releasing this November, it is to be seen if she can continue with her winning streak.

A

diti Rao Hydari has joined the bikini brigade. She dons a two piece in Akshay Kumar starrer, 'Boss'. After doing some bold scenes in 'Murder 3', Aditi is all set to heat up the silver screen. She has undergone rigorous training to get a perfect bikini body. Aditi worked on her curves and she confidently carries off a pink bikini in the scene.

While talking to a tabloid, the actress was rather clueless about the bikini grapevine. "Really! But I have no complaints about buzz like this! Honestly, it's great when people are excited about a film, give you compliments and look forward to watching you," Aditi is quoted as saying.

Directed by Anthony D'Souza, 'Boss' will see Aditi and her co-star Shiv Pandit going steamy.

B

ollywood's pioneering beefcake Salman Khan is just a couple of years shy of his big milestone anniversary, the golden jubilee. And after his bloated appearances over the past few months, fat watchers had gleefully pointed out that even the macho man had fallen pray to the curse of the middle-age spread.

But Sallu has triumphed again. At a recent appearance on a television show, Salman looked trim as ever. The actor has shed 7-8 kilos with a rigorous regime. After a health scare at the beginning of the year, doctors had advised Salman to go slow on the heavy weights. Coupled with his decision to quit smoking this resulted in a very evident bloat, which was also commented upon by good friend Aamir Khan.

Salman soon chalked out a plan with strenuous gym sessions and a strict diet. "He planned his work out sessions divided into cardio sessions and weight training.

He goes for cycling or jogging for an hour, dead lifts to improve leg and back muscles. His push up count can go up to 1000 and up to 500 crunches," added the source.

52

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September 6, 2013

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Philosophy

September 6, 2013

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F

or a beginner in the spiritual path, a Guru is necessary. To light a candle, you need a burning candle. Even an illumined soul alone can enlighten another soul.

Some do meditation for some years independently. Later, they actually feel the necessity of a Guru. They come across some obstacles in the way. They are unable to know how to obviate these impediments or stumbling blocks. Then they begin to search for a Master.

Only the man who has already been to Badrinath will be able to tell you the road. In the case of the spiritual path, it is still more difficult to find your way. The mind will mislead you very often.

The Guru will be able to remove pitfalls and obstacles, and lead you along the right path. He will tell you: "This road leads you to Moksha (liberation); this one leads to bondage". Without this guidance, you might want to go to Badrinath, but find yourself in Delhi!

The scriptures are like a forest.

There are ambiguous passages.

There are passages which are apparently contradictory. There are passages which have esoteric meanings, diverse significance, and hidden explanations. There are cross-references. You are in need of a Guru or Preceptor who JEFF WARREN

T

his is going to sound hyperbolic but I really believe we're at the dawn of a new age of scientific exploration. The external world is mapped; now the explorers are turning inward. The galleons have left port. They're approaching a huge mysterious continent.

They won't be the first to arrive.

There are paths already cut in the forest, where shamans and monks and others have set up outposts and launched their own expeditions into the interior.

It's a thrilling story, a lurid epic in the making, and yet almost no one has any idea it's happening.

As far as our misconceptions about sleep, I would say the biggest one is this idea that we lose consciousness when the lights go out.

This couldn't be further from the truth. At night consciousness just turns inside out. Instead of moving through a world constructed from sensory input, we move through a world constructed from memory and imagination.

We do lose certain self-reflective properties, and - critically - our short-term memories are compromised so we don't remember many of our experiences. But when you wake people up in the night most

will explain to you the right meaning, who will remove doubts and ambiguities, who will place before you the essence of the teachings.

A Guru is absolutely necessary for every aspirant in the spiritual path. It is only the Guru who will find out your defects. The nature of egoism is such that you will not be able to find out your own defects. Just as a man cannot see his back, so also he cannot see his own errors. He must live under a

of a Guru; for, such great men are the anomalies of spiritual life, and not the common normality. They come into existence as spiritual masters as a result of the intense service, study, and meditation practiced in previous births.

They had already studied under the Guru. The present birth is only its continuative spiritual effect. Hence, the importance of the Guru is not lessened thereby.

Some teachers mislead their as-

nature of Truth from Uddalaka, Maitreyi from Yajnavalkya, Bhrigu from Varuna, Narada from Sanatkumara, Nachiketas from Yama, Indra from Prajapati; and several others humbly went to wise ones, observed strict Brahmacharya, practised rigorous discipline, and learnt Brahma-vidya (the science of God) from them.

Lord Krishna sat at the feet of His Guru Sandeepani. Lord Rama had Guru Vasishtha who gave Him

Guru protects you from being led astray When one says, "Do not follow any Guru!", he intends to be the listeners' Guru himself.

Do not approach such pseudo-Gurus. Do not hear their lectures.

Swami Sivananda

Guru for the eradication of his evil qualities and defects.

The aspirant who is under the guidance of a Master or Guru is safe from being led astray.

Satsanga or association with the Guru is an amour and fortress to guard you against all temptations and unfavorable forces of the material world.

Cases of those who had attained perfection without study under any Guru should not be cited as authority against the necessity

pirants. They say unto all: "Think for yourself. Do not surrender yourself to any Guru". When one says, "Do not follow any Guru!", he intends to be the listeners' Guru himself. Do not approach such pseudo-Gurus. Do not hear their lectures.

All great ones had their teachers. All the sages, saints, prophets, world-teachers, incarnations, great men, have had their own Gurus, however great they might have been. Svetaketu learnt the

Upadesha (spiritual advice). Lord Jesus sought John to be baptized by him on the banks of the river Jordan. Even Devas (celestial beings) have Brihaspati as their Guru.

Even the greatest among the divine beings sat at the feet of Guru Dakshinamurti.

A neophyte must have a personal Guru first. He cannot have God as Guru to begin with.

The 126th birth anniversary of Swami Sivananda will be celebrated on Sept 8

of them report some kind of mental activity - either the strange snapshot narratives of sleep onset, the fully immersive dreams of REM, or the low-level "mentation" of deep sleep. Even in the emptiest blisssaturated realms of slow wave sleep the experiencing self remains.

Consciousness is 24-hours.

Were there any cherished beliefs about brains (your brain) that you had to relinquish?

I guess my world-weary evolutionary psychology outlook about the hardwired inevitability of our modular mental inheritances - that pretty much got blown out of the water while researching the book. Now I think the sociobiologists are the cavemen. More interesting than the evolutionary story, to me, is the fresher and more nu-

day-to-day consciousness. It's the difference between the big budget Hollywood blockbuster and the art house Henry James adaptation.

Drug-induced alterations of consciousness have great CGI which is fine, I mean who doesn't appreciate form constant explosions and DMT Machine Elves? the problem is, character development sucks, or rather, the characters - and by characters I mean the objects of consciousness - tend to

What surprised you the most about brains (or about your brain)?

It's mind I find most surprising.

Scientific exploration is now turning inwards I think the sociobiologists are the cavemen.

More interesting than the evolutionary story, to me, is the fresher and more nuanced story of how our neuro-plastic brains interact with our mongrel-fantastic culture.

RE: brains, I would say the most surprising thing I learned was about the role expectations - a big mind culprit - play not just in shaping experience but in actually provoking specific brain activity. This gets into the whole placebo thing which is also mind-boggling and revolutionary. My guess is placebo will be another big theme in the New World explorations.

anced story of how our neuro-plastic brains interact with our mongrel-fantastic culture.

You largely avoid the question of drugs and altered consciousness I'm interested in drug-induced alternations of consciousness, but my feeling is they're the really obvious shit. Too many "investigators of consciousness" overlook the fine-grained shifting texture of

Know your self as the seeing, not the seer, and you will find yourself everywhere.

-Rupert Spira Man suffers only because he takes seriously what the gods made for fun.

-Alan Watts Tear down the imagination that there is some "thing" called self and there is some "thing" called Supreme Self.

-Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.

-ThĂ­ch Nhat Hanh The truth knocks on the door and you say, "Go away, I'm looking for the truth," and so it goes away. Puzzling.

-Robert M. Pirsig Only the hand that erases can write the true thing.

-Meister Eckhart

Jeff Warren

be cartoons. They're exaggerated, that's what psychedelics do "non-specific amplifiers" Stanislav Grof calls them. They expand the whole topography of the mind. It's possible more than this is going on but that's another story.

Jeff Warren is the author of 'The Head Trip: Adventures on the Wheel of Consciousness.' This excerpt is taken from an interview with website Bookslut.

When you've understood this scripture, throw it away. If you can't understand this scripture, throw it away. I insist on your freedom.

-Jack Kerouac

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Indian Mujahideen after Yasin Bhatkal's arrest

India Post

N MANOHARAN

W

hen Yasin Bhatkal, cofounder of Indian Mujahideen (IM) was arrested on 29 August at India-Nepal border, there was more of disbelief than relief. The incredulity was because he operated with different aliases - Ahmed Siddibappa, Imran, Asif, and Shahrukh - at different places across India.

He was also careful not to overly use mobile phones or emails for communication; did not stay in a particular place in India for more than a couple of weeks; even so, he preferred outskirts of towns or rural areas that are Muslimdominated.

Though wanted by counter-terrorism units of 12 states of India Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal - Yasin Bhatkal evaded them for several years.

In fact, he was lucky at least three times from being caught by the police. He was once arrested in Kolkatta, but was given bail because the West Bengal police did not realize he was the IM kingpin Yasin Bhatkal. Yasin later managed to successfully plant bombs in Delhi, Pune, Bangalore, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Surat, Jaipur, Hyderabad and Varanasi.

No wonder, he has been dubbed as "the ghost who bombs". He is so hardened that his remark on bomb blasts was without any remorse: "these things (bomb blasts) happen; there is nothing new about them." The present arrest was possible only after a solid and continuous trail for over six months.

Now, the crucial question is: what is the significance of Yasin's arrest from India's counter-terrorism point of view? The importance of the arrest should be seen from the role and importance of Yasin to the Indian Mujahideen's objectives and functions. He has been the terror group's chief recruiter and bomb-maker for quite some time.

He personally built a network of sleeper cells and modules in places like Aurangabad, Jalna, Beed, Nagpur, Pune, Hyderabad and later at Darbhanga in Bihar.

These places were preferred for indoctrinating Muslim youth due

to the high density of Muslim population; and, in the case of Darbhanga, its proximity to the porous Indo-Nepal border. Minus Yasin, sustenance of present modules is in big question; also new ones are bound to suffer.

Having liaised with actors based in Pakistan, Yasin should be

Yasin Bhatkal

in a position to explain in detail the extent of Pakistan's involvement in terror attacks in India, especially the role of Pakistan's intelligence agency, ISI. He could help find answers to the many unanswered questions.

Are the Pakistani claims that it really is not in a position to control anti-Indian militant groups based in its soil, valid? Or, is Pakistan controlling all activities, from planning to execution of terror at-

ules and 'sleeper cells' in India, process of selection of targets, plans for future attacks, and extent of their connections with Indian terror groups such as SIMI and IM. Not to mention, the IM leader's interrogation would throw a deep insight into the working of the IM: its leadership, organizational structure, recruitment pattern, funding sources and network, existing modules and sleeper cells, their future targets, local and external accomplices and so on.

Most importantly, Yasin Bhatkal's case would help the Indian authorities to understand the various causes for radicalization of Indian Muslim youth; the groups involved in radicalizing them, on how the youth graduate to indulge in terror attacks against their own people, and, in the process, how they get their lives and ambitions trapped and finally destroyed.

From the prosecution point of view, Yasin Bhatkal could clear air in few cases like the Mumbai train blasts case of 2007 and the German Bakery blast case of 2010 where there is some confusion as to the real perpetrators. From law enforcement point of view, information from the IM leader would help the internal security mechanism to review the present counter-terrorism strategy and

Yasin may have information about the various Pakistan-based militant groups that are linked to IM: their leadership, motivations, funding, recruitment, training, bases (both political and military), logistical support tacks against India? Are other IM leaders - Iqbal and Riaz Bhatkal hiding in Pakistan? If so, where are they? Who have been helping them? What are their plans for the future?

Also Yasin may have information about the various Pakistanbased militant groups that are linked to IM: their leadership, motivations, funding, recruitment, training, bases (both political and military), logistical support, their linkages with state and non-state actors in Pakistan, other internal and external networks, their mod-

plug loopholes.

Two lessons come out clearly in Yasin Bhatkal's case. One is the absence of a national database on criminals or terror suspects and network of all police stations. Such a database would have nailed Yasin long back. The second lesson is lack of coordination between central and state agencies and among various state police forces. Such deficiencies helped Yasin to stay free for long.

The writer is with Vivekananda International Foundation. Courtesy IPCS

Sex & godmen

C

ommenting on the Delhi gangrape last December, "godman" Asaram Bapu had held the victim of the sexual assault equally responsible for the crime and said the girl could have called her assailants brothers and begged them to stop. Himself arrested recently for sexual assault on a 16-year old, does he blame the girl for inviting this assault? And did he wait for her to say bro‌er father or grandfather, please stop!

People trust godmen as having a solution to all their problems.

But, like politicians, they seldom practice what they preach. Sex is one passion which the mightiest of spiritual leaders have failed to master. Over the years, many of them have been found out but many such crimes by alleged godmen have never come to light.

There are some who impress with their teachings but when discovered with their pants down, one wonders what to make of their teachings. Do the teachings remain unaffected by their misdoings?

A promising young Swami Nithyananda of Bengaluru was named

by Watkins' Mind Body Spirit magazine as one of the 100 most spiritually influential living people in the world. Last year a videotape exposed him in compromising position with an actress. Police sought him but he disappeared and was tracked down after a few months hiding in Himachal Pradesh. Under investigation he confessed to having sex with his disciples, but with consent. He said sometimes he chose female devotees to have sex with, and sometimes they were already willing to do so themselves. So it was not rape always.

Swami Ram of the Himalayas had to shell out a hefty sum to settle a case in the US in which a young Indian-origin woman had accused him of rape. It is alleged in 'The Secret Life of Swami Muktananda' by William Rodarmor that the Swami of Ganeshpuri, who displayed great spiritual powers, was in later life found to be having frequent sex with disciples. Radha Rajagopal in her book 'Lives in the Shadow with J. Krishnamurti' has revealed the long extramarital affair the philosopher had with Radha's mother, Rosalind Rajagopal. Ramesh Balsekar, the favored disciple of Nisargadatta Maharaj and a spiritual teacher in his own right, was in later life confronted by some women protesting his having sex with some disciples. Balsekar's reply was unusual: "If you come and embrace me, what do you expect me to do? In any case I am not responsible for what goes on.

It is the reaction of this body-mind combination."

Was Osho Rajneesh then right in allowing a free-for-all in his ashrams? Kind of democracy, allowing indulgence for everyone.

Was it then the kind of approach advocated by the explicit sex scenes of Khajuraho sculptures, which were supposed to help exhaust your baser instincts before you entered the portals of the temples?

Can the conduct of a "godman" and the worth of his teachings be kept in separate compartments? Do such indulgences affect the spiritual powers of these worthies? There may be saints and masters who may not have indulged the normal human passions. Do their teachings have a better value and their experience more valid than the ones who have been found cheating?

Can we consider these as moments of weakness out of which these "godmen" may or may not emerge but their teachings belong to a different level of understanding?

Sex as such is not a crime. These days consensual sex even out of marriage is not considered a crime. It is normal within the confines of a householder's life. The problem arises when those who preach to us to rise above the famous five passions, are themselves found indulging in them. There are those like the young and handsome Nithyananda to whom the women were attracted and gave themselves up to him. But what to make of the grandpa forcing himself on a 16-year old in the name of exorcism? This is a crime crying for punishment.

September 6, 2013

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