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Swati Dandekar

Swati Dandekar bid for Congress gets momentum Details on page 18

Gov. Jindal out of state more than 2 months this year Details on page 6

VOL 19, No. 1000

November 15, 2013

50¢

Periodical Postage

PM RAPS CBI FOR QUESTIONING POLICY

NEW DELHI: Holding that errors of judgment should be distinguished from a criminal act, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said it would not be appropriate for a police agency to sit in judgment over policy formulation, without any evidence of malafide.

He said it would be flawed to term the decisions taken without any malafide or monetary gains as criminal misconduct.

Singh's comments came in the backdrop of cases registered by CBI in coal and other recent scams.

"While actions that prima-facie show malafide intent or pecuniary gain should certainly be questioned, pronouncing decisions taken with no ill-intention within the prevailing policy as criminal misconduct would certainly be flawed and excessive," Singh said at an international

Narendra Modi

conference organized by CBI here on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee.

Asking the agency to take great care while probing matters related to policy and administrative decisions, Singh said, "Policy-making is a multi-layered and complex process in the government and it would not be appropriate for a police agency to sit in judgment over policy formulation, without any evidence of malafide".

He said in order to insulate public servants from apprehensions of "ill-informed inquiry or investigation" and allow them to take decisions based on their judgments "lines of confidence" must be drawn between investigating agencies and honest officers.

US says ready to work with Modi if he becomes PM Details on page 7

Nirupama Rao bids farewell in Washington Details on page 8

Singh, Obama set agenda of engagement

Details on page 5 Details on page 9

US court reserves order in Punjab CM Badal case Details on page 10 Indra Nooyi

PepsiCo to invest Rs 33,000 cr in India by 2020

Probe ordered into AAP ‘foreign funding’

Details on page 12 Details on page 11

3.5% decline in Indian students studying in US

CONTENTS Bollywood ---------------------- 36-37 Classifieds ------------------------- 52

Details on page 44

Community Post -------------- 16-23 Date Book -------------------------- 48 Edit Page --------------------------- 54

INDIA POST SURVEY

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

survey@indiapost.com

Horoscope ------------------------- 51

This week’s question

Immigration Post ------------- 12-14

Has the US changed stance on visa to Modi?

Life Style ----------------------- 28-31 Philosophy ------------------------- 53

Last week’s result

Will India’s Mars Mission succeed?

YES 73%

NO 27%

Publisher’s Diary ------------------ 4

ITEM NUMBER: US First Lady Michelle Obama joins students for a Bollywood Dance Clinic in the State Dining Room of the White House, Washington on November 5 as part of Diwali celebrations. (Details on page 6)

Real Estate -------------------- 38-39 TechBiz Post ------------------- 44-47 Travel & Hospitality Post ---- 41-43

Certified by “CIRCULATION VERIFICATION COUNCIL Readership 117,765”

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rom the number of Indian Americans he has scalped, it would seem that India born Preet Bharara, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, is gunning for them. The latest to fall in his net is Indian internet analyst Sandeep Aggarwal who has pleaded guilty to insider trading charges for his involvement in sharing confidential information about technology companies Microsoft Corp and Yahoo. Preet Bharara's earlier victims include high profile executives like Indian-American former Goldman Sachs director Rajat Gupta and former billionaire hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam. Earlier this year, his office charged seven Indian-Americans with paying over $2.3 million in bribes and a medical kickback racket.

This superficial impression needs to be countered. Even as Indian Americans continue to make a mark in various fields of American life, there are some who have misused their positions to subvert the law. We regret their conduct and wish they had not brought bad name to the community. But Preet Bharara, who has led a massive government crackdown on insider trading on Wall Street, has only enhanced his reputation as the tough sheriff of banktown, committed to work without favors or prejudice to bring to justice individuals who break the law.

In a tribute to Bharara, Time magazine said, "For years, as others clamored for scalps after the global financial crisis, Preet resisted the temptation of a sloppy kill and instead waited for the facts. His 58-0 record for insider-trading cases bodes ill for the bankers whom his office has charged with reckless lending practices or inflating mortgage values."

And the list of his catches is impressive. Time says, "Without drama, his Manhattan team has battled terrorism, convicting the Times Square bomber Faisal Shahzad; crippled international criminal networks run by Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, Jamaican drug trafficker Christopher Coke and Colombian rebel group FARC; and secured a half-billion-dollar forfeiture from computer contractor SAIC in the biggest fraud ever against New York City. Those are good cases well prosecuted."

If only he had the desired funding, he would make an even better mark.

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HIGHLIGHTS Bollywood: Rivals, not friends Salman Khan’s father says his son and Shahrukh Khan are rivals and there cannot be any love between the two.

Cover Story: PM raps CBI Prime Minister Manmohan Singh says it would not be appropriate for CBI to sit in judgment over policy formulation

Community: Bid for Congress Swati Dandekar’s bid for the US Congress is gaining popular support going by the large campaign funds she could raise

30 1 18

Immigration: Fewer Indians The number of Indian students studying in the US has witnessed a 3.5 per cent decline in the 2012-13 academic year

Life Style: Item number Indian cinema needs to change the world's perception about Bollywood being an "item number", says Irrfan

Techbiz: PepsiCo in India PepsiCo will invest Rs 33,000 crore in India by 2020 to more than double its capacity of business there

Travel: Gangtok With its rich flora, the beautiful people and the serene Buddhist monasteries, Gangtok is an important tourist destination

44 28 24 40

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November 15, 2013

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PM raps CBI for questioning policy NEW DELHI: Holding that errors of judgment should be distinguished from a criminal act, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said it would not be appropriate for a police agency to sit in judgment over policy formulation, without any evidence of malafide.

He said it would be flawed to term the decisions taken without any malafide or monetary gains as criminal misconduct.

Singh's comments came in the backdrop of cases registered by CBI in coal and other recent scams.

"While actions that prima-facie show malafide intent or pecuniary gain should certainly be

police agency to sit in judgment over policy formulation, without any evidence of malafide".

He said in order to insulate public servants from apprehensions of "ill-informed inquiry or investigation" and allow them to take decisions based on their judgments "lines of confidence" must be drawn between investigating agencies and honest officers.

"It is also important that errors of judgment are distinguished from criminal acts. As I have said on earlier occasions, decision making in a world of uncertainty is a risky operation and some decisions which appear sensible ex-ante may

The Prime Minister said the fact that economic growth also implies greater opportunity for corruption is often forgotten in public debates on graft. "We can't be all the time just running down institutions of governance because there have been cases of wrong doing," questioned, pronouncing decisions taken with no ill-intention within the prevailing policy as criminal misconduct would certainly be flawed and excessive," Singh said at an international conference organized by CBI here on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee.

Asking the agency to take great care while probing matters related to policy and administrative decisions, Singh said, "Policy-making is a multi-layered and complex process in the government and it would not be appropriate for a

ex-post turn out to be faulty. Our administrative set up has to be so managed that the fear of the unknown must not lead to paralysis in decision making," he said.

PROTECTION OF THE HONEST Singh said 'the protection of the honest' is a facet of Article 14 of the Constitution of India and is an obligation chargeable on the State.

"It is with this in view that the

Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment) Bill, 2013 has been introduced in Parliament, to amend a provision which presently criminalizes, even in the absence of any reason, any action of a public servant that secures for any person a pecuniary advantage," the Prime Minister said.

Singh said charge sheets must be filed after going through rigorous scrutiny.

"A trained mind is necessary for discovering criminality.

When a charge sheet is filed, the charge sheet must go through rigorous process of scrutiny and there must be a high chance of securing conviction in that case," he said.

it would take to make our progress even faster.

"I think it needs to concentrate more on how to improve infrastructure, how to improve the delivery of services and how to build institutions. It also needs to

gitimacy of the investigation agency.

Against the backdrop of the Gauhati High Court verdict declaring the agency as "unconstitutional", Singh said, "Our Government will look into this seriously

OPPORTUNITY FOR CORRUPTION The Prime Minister said the fact that economic growth also implies greater opportunity for corruption is often forgotten in public debates on graft.

"We can't be all the time just running down institutions of governance because there have been cases of wrong doing," Singh said.

The Prime Minister said there was need to put the debates on corruption in correct perspective.

"While we must maintain utmost vigilance in preventing corruption and do our utmost in ensuring transparency, accountability and probity in public life, it is also important to ensure that the work of nation building goes on at a quick pace," Singh said.

He said public debate needs to concentrate a little more on what

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh receiving memento from CBI Director Ranjit Sinha during the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conference on ‘Evolving Common Strategies to Combat Corruption and Crime’ to mark the Golden Jubilee year of the CBI in New Delhi on November 11

concentrate more on the achievements that we can legitimately be proud of," he said.

LEGALITY OF CBI The Prime Minister said the government will look "seriously" and "promptly" into the legality of CBI in the wake of some questions being raised about the le-

and promptly. The Government will do all that is necessary to establish the need for the CBI and its legitimacy, and protect its past and future work."

The Supreme Court has stayed the High Court order, saying accused in "sensational cases" have sought halting of the criminal proceedings based on the judgment.

Chidambaram flays CBI, CAG for overstepping limits NEW DELHI: Asking CBI to respect the line that divides policy making and policing, Finance Minister P Chidambaram came down heavily on investigating agencies and CAG for "overstepping" their limits by attempting to convert bonafide executive decisions into either crimes or abuse of authority.

A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the CBI to tread cautiously in policy matters, it was the turn of the Finance Minister to dwell at length on the functioning of the agency.

"Unfortunately, there are a number of cases where investigating agencies and other authorities like Comptroller and Auditor General, have over-

stepped their limits and attempted to convert bonafide executive decisions into either crime of abuse of authority," he said delivering his key note address on "building a criminal justice system to deal with financial crime" at Golden Jubilee function of CBI. Chidambaram cautioned the agency to respect the line that divides policy-making and policing.

Referring to the role of public servants in financial crimes, the Finance Minster also said the investigating agency must confine itself to the question whether there has been a violation of laid down rule of conduct.

"It is not the business of the investigating agency to lay down a rule of conduct nor is it the business of the investigating agency

to presume a rule of conduct.

"Even where a rule has been prescribed, if there is a policy be-

“Even where a rule has been prescribed, if there is a policy behind that rule, it is not the business of the investigating agency to question the wisdom of the policy or to suggest a different policy that would be better in the view of the investigating agency,"

hind that rule, it is not the business of the investigating agency to question the wisdom of the policy or to suggest a different policy that would be better in the view of the investigating agency," Chidambaram said.

The Finance Minster said as long as there are reasons given in support of a decision, such reasons should ordinarily rule out any criminal state of mind. The Finance Minister said the investigating agencies should tread carefully before it reaches the conclusion that a business or commercial decision taken on the basis of available facts, amounts to a crime.

"This is where the state of mind comes in. In my view, it would be wholly opposed to common sense

and fair play if the investigating agency ignored the state of mind and, absent any motive or criminal intent, jumped to the conclusion that a business or a commercial decision amounted to a crime," he said.

The Comptroller and Auditor General had recently questioned the policies adapted by the Government in the allocation of spectrum and coal block allocations - both the issues are being probed by CBI. Referring to the "caged parrot" term given to CBI, Chidambaram said there are several myths about the agency ranging from the celebrated epithet "caged bird" to the abusive nomenclature "Congress Bureau of Investigation".-PTI

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Jindal out of state more than 2 months this year BATON ROUGE, La.: When Gov. Bobby Jindal was named leader of the Republican Governors Association, he said it wouldn't take his focus away from running his home state. But an Associated Press tally shows that it's definitely taken him away from home.

During his term as RGA chairman, Jindal has regularly left Louisiana this year for campaigns, fundraisers and speeches.

The AP review - based on announcements the governor's of-

Jindal said his RGA chairmanship gives him the chance to help his gubernatorial colleagues while spreading good news about education improvements and economic development in his home state.

He said it doesn't keep from attending to state business. ``I do think it's possible to chew gum and walk at the same time,'' Jindal said in an interview.

He added, ``With today's technology, certainly when I'm not in the state, it's possible to stay in contact with my staff when we make

Pinsonat said Jindal's steady out-of-state travel doesn't sit well with many Louisiana residents because the state's had so many financial problems, with steep cuts to higher education and some health care services. ``If things were better and we weren't cutting, they would give him some slack,'' Pinsonat said. fice made about his travel schedule - shows that Jindal, considered a possible presidential candidate in 2016, has traveled out of state at least 69 days this year, much of it to meet with RGA donors, fundraise for the organization and work on strategy for Republican gubernatorial races.

The governor was on the road and away from Louisiana at least 1 out of every 5 days of the year so far, AP found, using the information provided to the media by Jindal's office when he leaves the state.

decisions on important issues.''

The trips boost Jindal's political profile, keep him squarely in the mix of national discussions, and take him to locations and people that could be critical in launching a White House bid.

They also continue despite polling that suggests the hefty out-of-state travel schedule is unpopular with many folks back home - and despite criticism even from some Republicans that Jindal is more focused on national ambitions than state troubles.

``Being out of state is worth it nationally to him. I think they've been willing to take the hit on it,'' said Baton Rouge-based pollster Bernie Pinsonat.

The governor's approval ratings have sunk well below 50 percent in Louisiana, and the frequent trips away from home are among the criticisms lodged against Jindal.

Pinsonat said Jindal's steady out-of-state travel doesn't sit well with many Louisiana residents because the state's had so many financial problems, with steep cuts to higher education and some health care services. ``If things were better and we weren't cutting, they would give him some slack,'' Pinsonat said. ``Those are really tough headlines, and the natural inclination is that if the guy is not in Louisiana, then he's not doing his job.

Whether that's fair or not doesn't matter. It's perception.''

This year, Jindal drummed up contributions for the RGA in Florida, South Carolina, California and Washington. He mingled with the association's donors at an event hosted by Koch Industries, whose owners are billionaires that regularly help conservative candidates and causes. He campaigned with failed Virginia gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli.

Not all of the dozens of trips were tied to his RGA role.

The governor, who is term-limited and can't run for re-election, also spoke to Republican groups in Missouri, Mississippi, Michi-

gan and Georgia. He attended GOP fundraisers in the pivotal presidential primary states of New Hampshire and Iowa.

Last week, he headed to Arizona to speak to the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity. In August, he was in Canada to talk about his support for the Keystone XL Pipeline.

The number of trips this year has exceeded Jindal's out-of-state

talk to folks and listen to their concerns,'' he said.

Jindal's term as RGA chairman ends this month. He'll be vice chairman for a year after that, when New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie takes over the leadership spot.

Rep. Cameron Henry, RMetairie, who has clashed with Jindal on financial and education issues, said he understands the

Bobby Jindal

travel for every other year he's been in the governor's office except 2012, when he was regularly on the road for Mitt Romney in the presidential race and other GOP candidates.

Jindal said he tries to limit his trips to same-day travel or to weekends, and he noted that he's also been traveling Louisiana for several months as part of a statewide tour. ``I travel all over the state and

need for a governor to travel and promote the state. But he said Jindal's done that in ``an excessive amount.''

With the RGA chairmanship wrapping up for Jindal, Henry said, ``Hopefully he'll be able to come back to Louisiana, refocus all of his energy on solving our problems and dealing with our important issues. I would hope so, because that's why he was elected.'' -AP

Michelle leads Diwali celebrations in White House WASHINGTON: Three years after she mesmerized Indians with her rhythmic dance in Mumbai, Bollywood dance made its official White House debut when US First Lady Michelle Obama danced to the tune of peppy Hindi tracks in the East Room along with Indian-American children.

Michelle, who led Diwali celebrations at the White House for the first time, lit the 'diya' amidst chanting of Vedic mantras. In 2009, President Barack Obama had attended Diwali celebrations for the first time at the White House.

"This holiday is celebrated by members of some of the world's oldest religions not just here in America but across the globe.

Diwali is a time for celebration...

As Barack and I learned during our visit to India, it's a time to come together with friends and

family, often with dancing and good food," she said.

"Diwali is also a time for con-

ligations to our fellow human beings, particularly those who are less fortunate than we are. And

of light over darkness, of good over evil," she said before lighting the 'diya'.

Michelle was garlanded

by Mythili Bachu, the Chair for the Council of Hindu Temples of North America, amidst applause from a select Indian-American audience.

"We got to practice a little Bollywood this afternoon," she told the audience at the East Room.

Striking some of the poses from the Bollywood dances she did earlier in the day, Michelle said she danced along with the kids who were seated in the front rows of the East First lady Michelle Obama is handed a candle by Mythili Lee Bachu, temple chair of Room. the Sri Siva Vishnu temple of Lanham, Md., during the White House Diwali celebration at the White House in Washington on November 5 "We had a wonderful time. It was the first time templation and reflection. It's a as we light the diya - the lamp - we that we did Bollywood in the State time for us to think about our ob- recommit ourselves to the triumph Room here at the White House,"

she said amidst applause from the audience, which comprised the who's who of the IndianAmerican Community and those in the Obama Administration.

President Obama has the distinction of appointing the largest number of Indian-Americans in any presidential administrations yet.

Wearing a glamorous skirt, especially made for the occasion by India-born eminent designer Naeem Khan, Michelle gave a few poses from the dance number.

"Of course, as you all know, I think I can dance," she said, in an apparent reference to her dance in Mumbai three years ago when she celebrated Diwali.

"But not as good as they can dance," she said, referring to the expert dance by members of the Gold Spot Band, the New Yorkbased popular Indian-American band.

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US says ready to work with Modi if he becomes PM WASHINGTON: The US would be willing to work with BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, if the party is voted to power in the next general elections, senior Obama administration officials here have said asserting that the enduring bilateral relationship is to continue irrespective of the poll results.

"We will work with the leader of the world's largest democracy.

There is no question about that," a senior US official said when asked about the prospects of working with an Indian government led by Bharatiya Janata Party's PM nominee Narendra Modi.

Dismissing visa as a non-issue, the official said it was largely a creation of the Indian media and not at all an issue in the US government.

"Visa issue is a media creation.

He has to apply and we will review. He (Modi) has not applied (for a visa)," said the official, who spoke on the condition of ano-

nymity.

"You said you have very strong relationship with Prime Minister Singh. If Modi become the Prime Minister next year, would that be problematic for the United States?" the official was

The Administration has decided to maintain the status quo on this issue for the very reason that it might be seen as an interference in the internal domestic polity of India asked.

"I think that the United States had a very strong relationship with the previous Indian government when it was under BJP leader-

'India First' demands BJP-Cong coalition govt WASHINGTON: National in- other parties including the Conterest today demands that Con- gress party," Sinha told PTI in an gress and BJP seriously think of interview. forming a coalition government "It is time for India First and based on a common minimum pro- not party first," he asserted, addgram - after the next general elec- ing that the first option would be tions, filmstar-turned-politician to form a majority government of Shatrughan Sinha has said. the BJP at the centre.

Asserting that his vision of a But in case of a hung parliajoint BJP-Congress government ment, the two parties should give fits into the 'India First' concept a serious thought to a strong coaof his party's prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi, the BJP Recollecting the bitter MP said such a deci- experiences of the NDA and sion by the leaders of the current UPA, Sinha the two parties would result in a strong and argued that a BJP-Congress stable national govern- government is essential to ment, which is the need "end the daily political of the hour.

It would prevent any blackmailing" by smaller blackmailing tactics and regional parties from regional players and smaller parties in the event of lition government based on a a fractured mandate after next common minimum program, he year's general elections, he said. added.

On a weekend-trip to WashingRecollecting the bitter experiton, the 67-year-old BJP leader ences of the NDA and the current said he was speaking as a con- UPA, Sinha argued that a BJPscious citizen and as an artist for Congress government is essential whom the nation is first and is on to "end the daily political blacktop of all other priorities. mailing" by smaller and regional "This is certainly not my parties in the event of a hung parparty's view. But I hope, wish and liament. pray that one day it becomes my Cont’d on page 10 party's view as well as the view of

ship," the US official said.

"I think the relationship between the United States and India is an enduring one, it is a bipartisan in the United States, irrespective of who is in office. And we believe that (in a) multiparty (system) in India that it is supported by all political parties, we expect that relationship to continue," the official said.

According to another US official "there is not a lot of angst about him (Modi)" in the US government but it is believed that the Administration has decided to maintain the status quo on this issue for the very reason that it might be seen as an interference in the internal domestic polity of India.

Any change in the status quo might be used by political parties to politicize the issue ahead of the elections, sources said, adding that the US would be working with any leader who is elected as the Prime Minister of India after the general elections.-PTI

Modi given more NSG commandos; no SPG cover NEW DELHI: BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has been provided with an additional strength of NSG commandos in view of threats to him but SPG security cannot be extended to him, Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said.

In view of the evolving security requirements for the Gujarat Chief Minister, a special team for Advance Security Liaison (ASL) and an additional police component of Gujarat police are also keeping a vigil on Modi's movements across the country.

"We cannot give him SPG cover protection as there is a law for it (for being a SPG protectee). We have, however, given additional NSG personnel to him," Shinde said while interacting with journalists during his monthly press conference here.

Modi is a 'Z+' category protectee of the elite 'black cat' commandos of the National Security Guard and a first-ring of twelve commandos give him proximate security every time he moves. -PTI

US will have to grant Modi visa once he becomes PM: Sinha NEW YORK: Narendra Modi does not have any compelling reason to visit the US but once he becomes India's Prime Minister and such a need arises, America will have to grant him visa, senior BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha said here.

"Modi does not have any compelling reason to visit the US. It is

Shatrughan Sinha

person" and from his "magic wand" but stated that if BJP comes to power in next year's general election, it will begin working on providing solutions to the issues plaguing the country.

"The kind of mega scams that have hit the country, right from Coalgate to Railgate, people are wondering what is happening. No concrete action is being taken and even if some action is taken it is too little too late," he said.

Sinha, who had earlier pitched for senior BJP leader L K Advani, saying he was the best choice for party's prime ministerial candidate, denied that he has taken a U-turn by backing Modi.

Countering claims that his support for Modi now tantamounts to a "U-turn", Sinha said, "I have not taken a U-turn regarding my opinion about the Gujarat Chief Minister but have taken the right turn at the right time".

Sinha, a star campaigner of the BJP, said he was the first person to support Modi even before he was named the prime ministerial candidate.

He said that he had voiced support for Modi at a time when deliberations by the party on the prime ministerial candidate had not begun and the parliamentary board had not discussed the issue.

not necessary that every decision by every government is always correct," Sinha told PTI when asked about the issue of the US denying visa to Modi.

Modi was denied a US visa in 2005 on the ground of alleged human rights violations after the 2002 Gujarat riots and his existing tourist and business visa was revoked under the Immigration and Nationality Act, which makes a foreign government official responsible for severe violations of religious freedom ineligible for a travel document.

"America is the most powerful country in the world but with due respect we may or may not agree with all of its decisions," Sinha said, adding that given the technological advancements, Modi can adHe said that he had voiced dress his American audience any time from support for Modi at a time India and does not when deliberations by the need to visit the counparty on the prime try personally.

"If Modi becomes ministerial candidate had the Prime Minister of not begun and the the country, then if the need arises for him to parliamentary board had come to the US, America not discussed the issue will have to grant the visa. It cannot be possible that Sinha said he decided he you do not give visa to the Prime should not jump the gun since Minister of a country," Sinha, who Modi had not been projected as is here for a United Nations Gen- the prime ministerial candidate eral Assembly session, said. but now that the deliberations are Modi himself says he does not complete and Modi is the prime feel the need to come to the US, ministerial candidate of his party, Sinha pointed out. he will certainly support and pro"In a democracy, we have mote him. learnt that every opinion must be "If I do not support, project, respected even if it is not ac- protect, promote Modi, then cepted," he said. whom shall I (support). I will not Referring to Modi, Sinha said support somebody from the opit often scares him that there is position. Modi is from our party "too much expectation from one so I will support him. -PTI

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Nirupama Rao bids farewell to diplomatic career WASHINGTON: Nirupama Rao, Indian envoy to the US, bid farewell to her career of diplomacy as members of the American diplomatic corps and her counterparts from countries like China and Brazil gathered at a reception hosted in her honor by the State Department here.

"It is difficult to imagine that so much time has passed," Rao told a select audience gathered at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department, which hosted a rare farewell reception for the Indian diplomat on her last day of her assignment.

Rao, 62, in the four-decade of being a diplomat served as India's Foreign Secretary, External Affairs Ministry's spokesperson and envoy to important countries like China and Sri Lanka.

"I leave with a great sense of optimism and hope and satisfaction that I have been

Nirupama Rao

able not only to learn so much but also to help build partnerships and forge relationship between India and a number of countries around the world," said Rao. US Secretary of State John Kerry sent a special message to Rao which was read on the occasion.

He appreciated Rao's role in strengthening the important partnership between India and the US. "I wish you all the best in the day, months and years to come," Kerry said in the message.

"An honor to be hosted to farewell @StateDept today. Touched by Secretary Kerry's message and presence of so many friends and colleagues," Rao tweeted after the reception. Rao is one of the few diplomats who has over 190,000 followers on the microblogging site.

At the reception, she was described as "tireless champion" of Indo-US Strategic Partnership and that during her two-year tenure; the bilateral relationship has reached new heights.

She was accompanied by her husband and former Chief Secretary of Karnataka Sudhakar Rao. Earlier, Deputy Secretary of State William Burns hosted a luncheon for her at the State Department.

The Indian-American community and the US India Business Council also hosted receptions for her.

Rao also hosted a farewell reception at her residence which was attended by top American diplomats and members of the Indian-American community.

Among those attended the reception were US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Biswal and her predecessor Robert Blake; and US the Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy.

Rao will be succeeded by S Jaishankar, currently India's Ambassador to China.-PTI

November 15, 2013

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Singh, Obama set agenda of engagement WASHINGTON: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama have set "a robust agenda" for the next six months to keep the two nations actively engaged during elections in India and lay the foundation for take-off of bilateral ties under a new government in New Delhi.

During their White House meeting on September 27 which lasted over three hours, Obama and Singh agreed that the relationship between the two countries described by the US President as the most significant one for the 21st century - is too important to keep adrift for a period of six months as India enters a crucial election phase.

As such Obama and Singh, who share a personal affinity between themselves, laid out a robust agenda of active engagement for the next six months and prepared groundwork for what the sources familiar with the talks described as "take off" for the new Indian government formed after the general election before May next year.

As part of this active engagement, newlyappointed Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal is soon expected to visit New Delhi which would be preceded by her trip to Tokyo for a trilateral US-India-Japan talks.

Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh is also scheduled to come to Washington for a series of high-level meetings before the end of the year.

In January, US Energy Secretary Dr Ernest Moniz is scheduled to visit India and the

Ground work is also being laid out for a visit of US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to India.

It is only a question of when Hagel would go to India, highly placed sources told PTI trip is expected to pave the way for a new phase in India-US energy co-operation while planning is in works for an early visit of the new Homeland Security Secretary.

The Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh is also expected to visit the US before the end of this year which informed sources said would make it the first time that heads of all the three Indian armed forces would be visiting the US the same year.

Ground work is also being laid out for a visit of US Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to India. It is only a question of when Hagel would go to India, highly placed sources told PTI, adding that defense and energy sectors are now being billed as the "next nuclear deal moment" for the India-US relationship.

A senior administration official, when asked that the India-US relationship has "entered into a period of inactivity" as India heads towards general election in the next few months, said "I would not say that at all".

"We have a very robust agenda before us. The visit of the Prime Minister Singh was an important and consequential visit

and we have an action agenda of commitments that we made during the visit and priorities that were reiterated during the visit," another senior US official said.

"We have a robust agenda to discuss. I would not say that we are in a period of inactivity under any circumstances," the official said.

Informed sources familiar with the Obama-Singh meeting on September 27, attributed this new direction and enthusiasm, amidst the alleged plateauing of relationship as described by political analysts to the strong personal relationship between

the two leaders.

This could be gauged from the fact that two leaders did not follow the script laid out for them by their officials during their 90-minute meeting inside the Oval Office.

Obama not only inquired about his health but also wished happy birthday to the Prime Minister which on paper is on September 26.

Singh was quick to point out that this was not his real birthday and told Obama that September 26 is the date mentioned in his school record which his parents put it for him at the time of his school admission,

the sources said.

This is the kind of personal relationship the two leaders have, they said.

Given that Obama has high respect for the Prime Minister as an economist, the President sought tips from Singh on several of the national economic issues which among other things included the shutdown and national debt, the sources said.

Obama is also understood to have shown keen interest in the Indian model of raising public funds and private-public partnership for building national infrastructure, they said. -PTI

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US court reserves order in Badal case WASHINGTON: A US court has reserved its decision on whether a Sikh rights group should be given more time to serve summons to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in a case accusing him of human rights violations.

A panel of the appeals court reserved its decision on whether Sikh For Justice (SFJ) should be given additional time to conduct jurisdictional discovery to determine whether Chicago-based Surinder Pal Singh Kalra was served with summons instead of Badal, which became the basis for the dismissal of the case against Badal by a Wisconsin court.

The summons was served by SFJ to Kalra on August 9, 2012 in Oak Creek High School, instead of Badal.

The rights group's attorneys argued in the appeals court that

30 days given to plaintiffs were insufficient to complete jurisdictional discovery to find out whether it was Kalra or Badal who was served the summons and if

Some Sikh leaders from Amritsar alleged that their families are being threatened and being forced by Badal's administration to withdraw a human rights violations case against him Kalra's testimony was fabricated or influenced by agents of the Chief Minister.

According to the evidence

submitted by the Sikh group's attorneys to the appeals court, "(Badal)'s representatives arrived from India on or about February 17. Mr Kalra claims he discovered the papers in his trunk on February 18 but made no attempt to reconcile this claim with his sworn affidavit of January 29 that he had left the papers in the Oak Creek High School.

"This, together with the procurement of Kalra's affidavit and his pre-hearing sequestration at the Pfister Hotel strongly suggests that Mr Kalra's testimony may have been influenced, if not generated, by Badal's agents," the attorneys said.

In a complaint, some Sikh leaders from Amritsar alleged that their families are being threatened and being forced by Badal's administration to withdraw a human rights violations case against him. -PTI

Advani again rakes up Nehru, Patel differences NEW DELHI: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today referred to another book to support his claim that there were differences between Jawaharlal Nehru and Sardar Patel over sending the Indian army to Hyderabad when the Nizam was trying to join Pakistan at the time of partition.

In his latest blog post, Advani refers to a book by Balraj Krishna, a journalist, titled 'India's Bismarck: Sardar Va l l a b h b h a i Patel'.

"In a democratic set-up, Cabinet sanction was essential for police action.

Patel faced a formidable task in overcoming Nehru's reluctance. At one of the meetings of the defense committee, of which Nehru was the chairman, there was so much bitterness that Sardar Patel walked out," Advani said, quoting from the book.

The then Home Secretary V P

Menon later told a Rotary meeting that when he saw the Home Minister's seat vacant, he too walked out of the Cabinet meeting after five minutes, the BJP leader said, reading from the book.

"This seemed to have shaken

L K Advani

Nehru out of his complacent mood and mellowed his opposition. Later, at a meeting attended by the Governor General (Rajagopalachari), the Prime Minister, the Home Minister (Patel), and Secretary to the state's Min-

istry (Menon), it was decided to order troops into Hyderabad," he said, citing excerpts from the book.

Advani recently created a controversy when he quoted the memoirs of a 1947-batch IAS officer M K K Nair that in the Cabinet meeting, when Patel had said police action will have to be taken against Hyderabad, Nehru had called him a "total communalist". Nair's book also says that Patel had then collected his papers and walked out.

Advani further stoked the controversy in a subsequent blog when he referred to an old interview of Sam Manekshaw (then a Colonel) who had said he was present in the Cabinet meeting to explain the "military situation" in Kashmir.

"As usual, Nehru talked about the United Nations, Russia, Africa, God almighty, everybody, until Sardar Patel lost his temper. He said, 'Jawaharlal, do you want Kashmir, or do you want to give it away'. He (Nehru) said,' Of course, I want Kashmir'. Then he (Patel) said 'Please give your orders'.

"And before he could say anything, Sardar Patel turned to me and said, 'You have got your orders'," Advani had said, quoting Manekshaw from the interview.-PTI

Modi goofup: Cong says BJP trying to invent ancestry NEW DELHI: Criticizing Narendra Modi for incorrectly saying that Jana Sangh leader Shyama Prasad Mookerjee had died abroad, Congress has said BJP was trying to "invent" new ancestry.

"History of Jana Sangh by Narendra ji Modi- Shyama Prasad Mookerjee died in London in 1930. Poor Mookerjee Sahib must be turning in his grave!" Union Minister Manish Tewari said in a post on social networking site Twitter, taking a swipe at the BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate.

In another tweet, he said it is

"Intriguing - The past months BJP has been trying to deny parentage and invent a new ancestry. Are the ghosts of their past haunting them?"

Modi had said while addressing a gathering in Gujarat's Kheda district that Shyama Prasad Mookerjee was a revolutionary who had died abroad but Congress never bothered to bring back his ashes.

Mookerjee had actually passed away in the country, and as per some reports, the Gujarat Chief Minister may have intended to refer to another nationalist Shyamji Krishna Verma.-PTI

'India First' demands BJP-Cong coalition govt Cont’d from page 7

be part of the both NDA and UPA at different times, why can the BJP and Congress not work together?"

Sinha asked.

"The question is in the large national interest, functioning of the government, good governance, stable government, and of course a government of checks and balances, why can't Congress and BJP join hands together," the senior BJP leader asked, insisting that his views are purely personal and do not in any way reflect the views of his party.

"Both the Congress and the BJP have learned and intelligent people, both have popular leaders

Arguing that "No one is untouchable in Indian politics now," Sinha cited the examples of various political formations in the past at both national and state levels to buttress his point of a joint BJPCongress government, which he said is the need of the hour to have a strong and credible national government that would send a strong message to the world.

Sinha said both the Congress and the BJP have a lot in common when it comes to national interest.

This includes a similar view on foreign policy, defense issues, and economic reforms.

It is in the interest of the nation that both the It is in the interest of the Congress and BJP nation that both the Conshould keep aside their differences, come to- gress and BJP should keep gether to develop a aside their differences, common minimum procome together to develop a gram to address larger national issues like pov- common minimum program erty, corruption and and our policies are almost the transparency.

Noting that the prime minister same - economic policy, foreign should be from the party having policy, industry, defense and termaximum number of seats and on rorism," he added.

Responding to questions, Sinha a rotational basis if the two parties have equal number of seats, Sinha, said there is no time for a pre-poll however acknowledged that there alliance between the Congress and are no takers for his views inside the BJP, but in the national interest the two parties should have the party.

But he hoped that leaders from "room for flexibility" to consider a both the Congress and the BJP post-poll alliance.

"I am sure even in the Congress, would give a serious thought to it in the next six months even as they many young leaders, even senior fight it out against each other in people, who are matured and learned and even in BJP leaders the electoral battlefield.

"If DMK and Congress can join like L K Advani, Yashwant Sinha, hands together, Mulayam Singh Jaswant Singh, Murli Manohar Yadav supports Congress; Joshi, Arun Shourie, Sushma Mayawati forms government with Swaraj...there should be churning support from the BJP, Mamata can on this issue," he said. -PTI

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India calls for early resolution of crisis in Maldives MALE: India has sought a quick second round of presidential elections in the Maldives even as the outgoing President Mohammed Waheed defied international pressure and declared that he will stay on until his successor is sworn in.

As the political crisis in the Maldives deepened, the Indian High Commission said it was disappointed that the run-off for the presidential elections was not held as scheduled and hoped that a newly elected President is sworn in at the earliest, a statement released here said.

"It is also a matter concern that as the government ends its term, no interim arrangement acceptable to all stakeholders to run the country is in place," the statement said.

"It is important that all sides respect the electoral verdict and democratic aspirations of the people of Maldives.

It is our hope and expectation that the second round of Presidential elections is held as early as possible and that a newly elected President is sworn in the earliest," the news portal Sun quoted the statement as saying.

Waheed made the announcement during an address to the nation following a Supreme Court ruling preventing a last ditch at-

tempt to elect a new a president before the constitution deadline.

In his address, President Waheed said he has always carried out his responsibilities to ensure national stability and harmony. He insisted that he would remain as president until the runoff on November 16.

Meanwhile, former president

Shahid, linked to the opposition MDP, told Waheed that he had no right to govern because his time in office had lapsed under the terms of the constitution Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) had warned that the country could be heading for a constitutional crisis without a leader.

"I want President Waheed to step down and the speaker of parliament to become the head of state and conduct the run-off elections," he said.

Nasheed garnered 46.93 per-

cent of the popular vote but fell short of the 50 percent needed to win outright in November 9 revote.

The 46-year-old also came out on top on September 7 in elections that were subsequently annulled by the Supreme Court.

Parliament speaker Abdulla Shahid has informed Waheed that his mandate had expired after the country failed to hold elections on time.

Shahid, linked to the opposition MDP, told Waheed that he had no right to govern because his time in office had lapsed under the terms of the constitution.

Waheed's decision came after the Commonwealth and the United Nations had called for an interim arrangement until a new president is elected.

The Commonwealth Secretary General's Special Envoy to Maldives, Donald McKinnon expressed dismay at Waheed's decision.

"Regrettably, this decision is not unexpected, despite best efforts of the Commonwealth and the United Nations to encourage the President to stay within the constitution. I understand people's anguish, but calm must prevail in the interests of all Maldivians," he said -PTI

Probe ordered into alleged foreign funding of AAP: Shinde NEW DELHI: The government has said it has ordered a probe into alleged foreign funding of Aam Admi Party (AAP) after it received several complaints on the issue.

"Complaints have come to me.

We are probing the matter. ...From where the funds are

Shinde said the inquiry has been ordered only with regard to AAP as the complaints of alleged foreign funding were against the new party.

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had questioned the source of funding of AAP, whose main election plank is to check corrup-

coming, from which country, what is the source etc. We are trying to find out all these," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters here in response to a question on alleged foreign funding of AAP. The Home Minister, however, said such a probe takes time and indicated that the outcome of the investigation may not come before the Delhi Assembly polls scheduled for December 4.

AAP, led by activist-turnedpolitician Arvind Kejriwal, is fighting the polls.

tion.

AAP has been relentlessly attacking Dikshit and her government on the issue of corruption.

The new party has said it had collected around Rs 19 crore till November 8 as donations from 63,000 people including a host of NRIs. It has claimed to have received donations ranging from Rs 10 to several lakhs, from rickshawpullers to traders and industrialists to fight the polls and bring a "graft-free" administration.-PTI

BJP terms nod to Tata-AgustaWestland JV as shocking Indo-Canadian women face NEW DELHI: The BJP has termed as a "shocking development" the government's decision to allow a joint venture between Tata Sons and AgustaWestland, which has been issued a show cause notice by the Defense Ministry for violating contractual obligations of the VVIP chopper deal.

"In a shocking development the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in its meeting on September 19 approved the proposal of Indian Rotorcraft, a joint venture between Tata Sons (74 per cent) and AgustaWestland (26 per cent)," BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi said.

Taking strong objection to the government's move, BJP said the FIPB approval has to be seen in the light of chopper scam.

"In fact, this company should have been blacklisted and all deals be scrapped till the probe gets over, but the UPA is acting to the contrary. The TataAgustaWestland deal not only

affects the investigations but legitimizes a rogue company," Lekhi said.

BJP maintained that this decision has come when the defense ministry has issued a final show cause notice to AgustaWestland for violating the terms of the con-

tract and the pre-integrity pact for procurement of 12 VVIP choppers.

The Attorney General has also given this opinion and the chopper contract has already been frozen.

"There was no reason to approve Tata-AgustaWestland deal.

-PTI

Google India MD Rajan Anandan (R) and actress Kirron Kher presenting National Winners award of Doodle4Google 2013 Competition to Pune’s Gayatri Ketharaman in New Delhi on November 12

racism at Vancouver bar TORONTO: An Indo-Canadian woman has alleged that she and her friends faced racist slurs at a bar in the city of Vancouver in Western Canada.

Jas Dhillon and her friends - all Indo-Canadians - were celebrating her 26th birthday on October 19 at a bar in Gastown area when its manager allegedly screamed at them saying, "Surrey's that way!", the news portal Vancouver Desi reported.

Dhillon said the manager's comment was in reference to a Vancouver suburb with a large Indian population.

"To have that happen in Vancouver, in our own hometown, we were just shocked," she said.

According to Dhillon, the manager approached her and said they will be kicked out of the bar if she did not go back to her table after they tried to move to a booth following a shortage of chairs.

"That's ridiculous. To be honest, we don't think that kind of stuff still happens," Dhillon said.

Dhillon shared her story on popular travel website, Trip Advisor, and also complained to the bar's parent company, Blueprint.

"Please accept my sincere apologies for the negative experience that you and your group of friends had at the Charles Bar. We have begun looking into this matter and will be taking action to ensure that our establishments continue to remain up to our standards," a company representative responding to Dhillon's e-mail.

Unhappy with the response, Dhillon said, "(The) email was just so generic."

"It's important for people to know that these kind of things do happen, it happens all the time," said Roop Khangura, one of Dhillon's friends who was present at the party. -PTI

Tech News FM asks service tax defaulters to come clean NEW DELHI: In a stern warning to 10 lakh service tax defaulters, India's Finance Minister P Chidambaram has asked them to come clean so as to avoid punishment.

"We have reached the tipping point where we have to pause, take stock, talk to you, offer a fair and generous transition method and persuade as many of you to come over to paying taxes before the tax is enforced in a strict manner.

"VCES is just that. The one who has not paid service tax to draw a curtain on the past and move on to a new chapter in his business.

That is what VCES is," he said.

He was meeting representatives of various trade and industry associations and chambers of commerce and industry to encourage them to take advantage of the service tax amnesty scheme -- Voluntary Compliance Encouragement Scheme (VCES).

Chidambaram said that of the total 17 lakh registered service tax payers, only seven lakh of them were paying the levy.

"This scheme is aimed at 10 lakh people who either are non filer or stop filer. Many of the 10 lakh have not filed at all, or not paid service tax at all. Many have paid from certain period and then stopped paying. I don't know who is cleverer, the guy who never pays or who stops paying," he said.-PTI

India, Kuwait to 'broaden’ mutual engagement NEW DELHI: India and oil-rich Kuwait have decided to deepen their engagement in diverse sectors like energy security, petrochemicals, infrastructure development and information technology even as the two nations condemned terrorism in all "shapes and forms".

A joint statement said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jaber AlMubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah have agreed to build a forward-looking relationship by further "broadening and deepening" their mutual engagement in a range of key areas.

It said the "two Prime Ministers condemned terrorism in all shapes and forms and affirmed that it threatened all societies and was not linked to any race, color or belief".

Earlier, Singh and Sheikh Jaber had held extensive deliberations on a range of topics like cooperation in energy and the investments sector, and labor laws, following which the two sides inked five pacts. -PTI

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Eberhard Kern, MD and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India, poses with the new Edition C car at its launch in Mumbai on November 12

November 15, 2013

PepsiCo to invest Rs 33,000 cr in India by 2020 NEW DELHI: Announcing one of its single largest investments in a country, global beverages and snacks major PepsiCo has said it will invest Rs 33,000 crore in India by 2020 to more than double the capacity of the business here.

The company, which has so far invested USD 2 billion in the country since its entry in 1989, said the investment will be made to strengthen its capability in various strategic areas, including innovation, manufacturing, infrastructure and agriculture.

"The Rs 33,000 crore investment, which we are making is going to cover both food and beverages and over the next seven years we will more than double the capacity of our business," PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi told PTI in an interview.

PepsiCo's announcement comes more than a year after its arch rival Coca Cola had said it, along with partners, would invest USD 5 billion in India by 2020 on various activities, including setting up of new bottling plants.

PepsiCo has 42 plants across India, including franchises.

Apart from cold drinks like

PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi during an interview with PTI in New Delhi on October 11

Pepsi, 7UP, Mirinda and Mountain Dew, it sells snacks under Lehar, Uncle Chipps and Kurkure brands among others.

While Nooyi did not elaborate on new manufacturing units that may come up, she said the investments will also cover building all

the infrastructure in the supply chain, which goes with doubling its business, including sourcing of fruits, potatoes, oats and oranges.

Stating that the firm has eight brands with over Rs 1,000 crore turnover in India, Nooyi said: "We have product portfolio and inno-

vation pipeline around the world that is fantastic in food and beverages and snacks and our goal is to put in the pipeline, put in the infrastructure, built the supply chains and we can start bringing all those products to market here."

Cont’d on page 14

US business welcomes Indian bank sec reform WASHINGTON: The US business body has welcomed the new RBI rules governing access for foreign banks operating in India, describing the move as a positive step and called for opening up of other areas in particular the insurance sector.

The central bank has permitted wholly-owned subsidiary (WOS) of foreign banks to acquire domestic private sector banks as well as set up branches anywhere in the country.

It also allowed foreign bank subsidiary to list on local stock exchanges. "I am pleased India has begun the process of liberalizing access to its banking sector for foreign institutions," Sena-

Senator Mark Warner

tor Mark Warner, Co-Chair of the Senate India caucus said.

"While I have concerns about some of the prerequisites accompanying the reforms, it is a positive first step towards boosting foreign direct investment that will be beneficial for both India and the United States," Warner said.

"I look forward to additional reforms from the Indian government and central bank in the months to come," Warner said as the new RBI regulations lift the restriction on the number of branches foreign banks can open annually in India if they set up a separately capitalized subsidiary with at least 5 billion rupees of equity.

Cont’d on page 14

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India, Australia sign pact for trade, investment MELBOURNE: Indian and Australian trade bodies have inked an agreement for acquainting the Indian Diaspora with various trade and investment opportunities in India.

The Australia-India Business Council (AIBC) signed an MoU with Overseas Indian Facilitation Centre (OIFC) to foster understanding between the two sides.

According to the Business Wire website, the announcement was made in the backdrop of the OIFC Diaspora Engagement Meet held during Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas in Sydney.

OIFC is a not-for-profit, publicprivate partnership between Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Under the memorandum of understanding, the two organizations would work towards acquainting the Indian Diaspora with various trade and investment opportunities in India, which could benefit their businesses, and at the same time improve trade and commercial ties between the two countries.

It would also seek to enhance

Indian business community in Australia lauded MELBOURNE: Lauding the remarkable contributions of the Indian business community in Australia, former Prime Minister John Howard has stressed on the importance of ties with India for the future of his country.

Speaking to a gathering of over 400 Indian business leaders here, Howard said, "I would like to thank Indian Diaspora for their remarkable contribution. You have made, will continue to make and go on making those in growth, stability and the harmony of Australia."

He stressed that the Indian Diaspora was a vital link to develop the relations between the two sides.

"You are all playing a major part in building those fundamental streaks of relationship and I am sure in years to come we would have much more to do each other than we have in the past," Howard, whose government considered opening up uranium sales to India, said.

He said both countries have reasons for better relations as there was a lot in common, including love for cricket, some history, language and both were democra-

cies.

Howard said India is an important nation to shape not only Asia's future but also of the world.

He referred to the growing young population of India and said that was an enormous advantage for

lion additional middle class in the world, 1.7 billion would be in Asia.

"By 2050 for first time in the mankind's history people over the age of 65 will exceed the total number those in the age group of 14 years, he said adding that "with

John Howard

India for future.

Citing a recent McKinsey report produced for the United Nations on India's population and its composition, Howard said the report has forecast a huge population spurt of middle class segment in Asia by 2030 and that of 2.2 bil-

India's young population which would be between 15-25 years, it was an advantage. There is an enormous opportunity for the future," Howard said.

He also made references to economic challenges faced by both countries in today's time.-PTI

Aussies keen on tech collaboration with India NEW DELHI: Stressing on innovation, Australia has invited Indian companies to enhance their competitiveness through technology driven collaborations.

Australian High Commissioner Patrick Suckling described his country as "a perfect partner" for India when it comes cutting edge technology.

Showcasing its achievements by bringing researchers from its top universities and research bodies here, Australia also announced the launch of a new multi-million dollar scholarship program "to provide the next breed of researchers and entrepreneurs academic support and supervision".

"We invite interested Indian companies to contact us to see how they can work with Australia to enhance their competitiveness through technology driven partnerships," said Nicola Watkinson, senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, South Asia, Australian Trade Commission.

The "Australia Innovation Showcase brings the largest group of Australian researchers and academics to India who will demonstrate their country's research, innovation and technical credentials to leading figures within the Indian industry.

"It will show why our country is a perfect partner for India when it

comes cutting edge technology," said Suckling during an event.

Australia also launched the "Melbourne-India Postgraduate Program (MIPP)" scholarship. A joint initiative of four institutions, the three million Australian dollars program will provide 16 PhD scholarships and support for research exchanges over the next three years.

The new program will be a valuable addition to Melbourne's already extensive scholarship offers, University of Melbourne VC Glyn Davis said, adding that the program will go a long way to support research that has global impact and benefits.-PTI

the economic engagement of the Diaspora in Australia with India.

Both AIBC and OIFC will cooperate to foster a closer networking between its members of Indian origin with people and organizations in India to expand their economic engagement with India and will facilitate visits of delegations of both organizations and support in organizing programs, meetings, and conferences.

They will also facilitate one-toone interaction between representatives of business and the two governments apart from supporting promotional activities of both organizations.

Regular dialogue on relevant issue of mutual benefit and inter-

est would be also held between the two organizations.

Sujata Sudarshan, CEO, OIFC, said, "This is indeed a very significant development towards OIFC's efforts of connecting with the Indian Diaspora. This MoU reaffirms our commitment to support the Indian Diaspora in making informed choices while deciding to initiate economic linkages with India."

Dipen Rughani, National Chair, AIBC, said, "AIBC is delighted with its association with OIFC and the opportunity to share its expertise and address the queries of the vast population of the Indian Diaspora based in Australia about investing in India." -PTI

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FIPB clears Tata, Westland proposal to assemble choppers NEW DELHI: The FIPB has approved a proposal to assemble upgraded version of a military and civil helicopter in collaboration with the Augusta Westland, a firm which is facing corruption inquiry in India.

The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in its meeting on September 19 approved the proposal of Indian Rotorcraft, which is a joint venture between Tata Sons (74 per cent) and Augusta Westland (26 per cent).

As per the proposal the Indian Rotorcraft will assemble AW119Kx helicopters, an upgraded version of AW119Ke chopper.

The company expects to commence production from March 2014.

The issue of corruption charges on Augusta Westland's parent company Finmeccanica came up during the FIPB meeting

and it was observed that "the issue which was being investigated related to helicopter model AW101 and not this proposal", sources said.

any existing or future civil or criminal proceedings against the foreign investor or its parent".

The proposal will now be placed before the Finance Minister for a

Defense Ministry that there was breach of contractual obligations and the integrity pact by the firm.

The government has already frozen the contract for supply of 12 AW-101 VVIP choppers to the IAF after allegations that Rs 360 crore was paid as bribe in which two top officials of the company were accused. -PTI

US business welcomes Indian bank sec reform Cont’d from page 12

The board, according to sources, observed in its minutes that "the law will take its own course and the current FIPB consideration is without prejudice to

final nod.

The Defense Ministry had issued a final show cause notice to Augusta Westland for violating the terms of the contract on Oc-

Iron ore to be e-auctioned in Goa: SC NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has allowed e-auctioning of nearly 11.48 million tonnes of extracted iron ore lying unused in Goa for over a year after it halted mining operations in 90 mines there.

The e-auctioning would be conducted under the supervision of a three-member committee which will have former bureaucrats U B Singh and S Naiumuddin as members. The third member will be an officer not below the rank of a joint secretary.

tober 21 and asked the Anglo Italian firm to explain why "all or any action as prescribed, including cancellation of the contract, should not be taken against them for violating the terms of the preintegrity pact and the contract for procurement of 12 VVIP choppers".

The Attorney General has already given his opinion to the

The apex court, which on October 5, last year had stopped mining, transportation and export of iron ore in Goa following a report of irregularities by the Justice M B Shah Commission, also ordered setting up of another six-member panel which would file its report

by February 15, 2014, suggesting the annual cap on volume of iron ore to be extracted.

"The state government is allowed to do the e-auctioning," a three-judge forest bench headed

by Justice A K Patnaik said, adding that the amount collected be kept as "fixed deposits till this court decides the matter."

Reading from its draft order, the bench, also comprising justices S S Nijjar and F M Ibrahim Kalifulla, said the six- member panel will have one representative each from Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) and the Department of Mining besides "an ecologist, a geologist, a mineralogist and an expert on forest." -PTI

Additionally, the Reserve Bank mandates rules governing the composition of boards of directors of the subsidiary, requiring at least one third of directors to be independent of the bank and at least half to be Indian nationals, with one third residing in India.

The liberalization applies only to banks from countries offering Indian institutions comity.

The US India Business Council (USIBC) appreciates that the reform momentum continues full speed ahead.

"With banking subsidiaries now open for investment, if only we could see the Insurance Sector lift FDI caps to at least 49 per cent, USIBC remains convinced this will bring much-needed capital to the country and help excite investor interest," USIBC presi-

dent, Ron Somers, said.

The announcement comes on the heels of a hearing Senator Warner chaired in the Senate Banking Committee entitled, "Assessing the Investment Climate and Improving Market Access in Financial Services in India," on September 25.

The hearing explored the burgeoning economic relationship between the United States and India, and opportunities for growth and investment in India's financial services sector.

Less than a month earlier, the RBI Governor, Raghuram Rajan, had alerted the Washington audience about opening of India for foreign banks.

"That is going to be a big big opening because - one could even contemplate taking over Indian banks, small Indian banks and so on," Rajan had said. -PTI

PepsiCo to invest Rs 33,000 cr in India by 2020 Cont’d from page 12

When asked about the upcoming elections in India and its implications on the investment climate in the country, she said: "We are not guided by elections. We are guided by potential of India. We

are not waiting for any election results to invest in India. We are investing in India for its economic story."

Sounding bullish on the Indian market, Nooyi said: "You got to invest against the long term fundamentals of the country. We be-

lieve that fundamental India story is still strong... I think our investment shows confidence in India."

Highlighting India's demographic advantage, she said: "If you look at the middle class which is going to be added over the next decade, it is such a staggering

number, bigger than the populations of US and France combined or some thing like that."

Stating that India will be among the top global markets for the company, she said: "...based on the population and based on the prospects it should stay in the top five

Pepsi brand more youthful, Coke for older ones: Nooyi NEW DELHI: Pepsi is a youthful brand, while Coca Cola is for 'older ones', PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi said here while bringing out the contrast in business approach and positioning with its rival in India.

"You know that they bought Thums Up and local brands and we did every thing organically," Nooyi told PTI when asked about its competition with Coca Cola.

There is a "big difference between the two companies", she

said, adding: "...in a way we came into India and invested a lot of money in India and grew it".

Commenting on the brand positioning Pepsi and Coke, she said: "If you look at all the brand equity scores, Pepsi is definitely a loved marque in India, especially (with) the young people who think Pepsi is more youthful...

"There is a great comparison which says Pepsi is a timely brand and the other brands are timeless brand. So one is for the older

people, one is for the younger people." When contacted, Coca Cola India declined to comment.

Highlighting the company's youth focus, Nooyi said the company's Mountain Dew brand has also done "phenomenally" well among the youth.

PepsiCo India sells various brands under its beverages portfolio including Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Slice and Nimbooz.

In India, Coca Cola sells carbonated and non-carbonated

drinks such as Coca Cola, Fanta, Thums Up, Sprite, Maaza, Minute Maid and Kinley.

When asked about PepsiCo's association with the controversial T20 league IPL, she said: "At this time IPL is a phenomenal marketing vehicle. It's a great sport. It brings lot of people to the stadiums and association with the IPL has built brand equity of our brands phenomenally.

So, I am going to look at the positives.-PTI

or seven markets of PepsiCo and my hope is that it moves up in the list. I think in PepsiCo, which is a USD 67 billion company, to be in the top 5 or 7 is still big."

Nooyi said PepsiCo's new investment will be for its organic growth purposes in India and it currently does not have any definite plan for acquisitions in India.

Commenting on competition in the market, specially with rival Coca Cola, she said: "You know that they (Coca Cola) bought Thums Up and local brands and we did every thing organically (and there is a) big difference between the two companies."

Spelling out the aim of PepsiCo, which among the largest food and beverage companies in India, she said the target was to grow above industry in each business segments that it is present in.

"That's really our long term plan. Any one year, there might be ups and downs but long term we want to grow ahead of the category," Nooyi said. -PTI

November 15, 2013

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Desi News First Bank gets Evanston Community Service Award STEPHANIE KULKE

EVANSTON: First Bank & Trust Managing Director Jay Lytle accepted the 2013 Community Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Evanston (NAACP) / North Shore Branch.

The award was presented recently at the NAACP 2013 Freedom Fund Banquet at the North Shore Holiday Inn in Skokie. The award recognizes noteworthy people or organizations for their efforts at enhancing the community in alignment with the NAACP mission.

NAACP / North Shore Branch President George P. Mitchell said, "First Bank & Trust's cooperative spirit in supporting our organization and others is greatly appreciated. In particular, we recognize your support of "The Public Service Challenge" and other efforts.

You are good community partners."

Details on page 20

Indian students excel in McDonald Spelling Bee ANGELA SOPARAWALA

DALLAS, TX: McDonald, the World renowned fast food chain, hosted a Free Education Workshop Seminar for South Asian Middle and High School students and parents on Saturday November 9 at Richardson Civic Center in Richardson, TX. The event was co- hosted by the Southern News Group and the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC).

Details on page 21

Why Muslims perform Umrah?

A.Q. SIDDIQUI

M

uslims perform Umrah be cause it is a direct Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. But there is more to it. All the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad are well recorded and followed by truly guided Muslims. For over 14 hundred years, scholars have studied and researched the life and practices of Prophet Muhammad and concluded there is exemplary guidance in all that he said and did in his life time.

And why did Prophet Muhammad adopted Umrah as a 'special worship' to God? The history of religion shows us that his predecessors Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus had their own methods for prayers to God. Details on page 21

COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA

Enjoy holiday favorites at Whole Foods Market Details on page 23

18 India Post

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November 15, 2013

Swati Dandekar bid for US Congress seat gets momentum RAMESH SOPARAWALA

CHICAGO: A former member of Iowa House of Representative and Iowa State Senator, Indian American Swati Dandekar of Marion has now set her sight to be a member of the US Congress seeking Democratic nomination from 1st District in Iowa.

Her bid for the US congress is gaining popular support and one of the indicators is that she could raise a much bigger campaign fund for the quarter ending September beating her near rivals quite impressively.

Indian Americans across Midwest and even in USA are keenly watching her progress and a group of Indian American supporters in Illinois have decided to rally around her candidacy by organizing a fundraiser at Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows.

Neil Khote, a community activist and front ranking supporter of Ms Dandeker said that this would be a second such effort to raise funds for her, the first being two months ago in September. He said that he has support of a large number of community leaders who have decided to co-host the Meadows Club fund raiser.

He informed that the big winner in the US House 1st District money primary in 1st District Iowa, at least for the July 1 to Sept.

30 quarter, was an Indian American Swati Dandekar of Marion, one of the five Democrats seeking the nomination in the open-seat

race. In her first fundraising quarter, Dandekar, a former member of the State Legislature and Iowa Utilities Board, reported raising $223,747.

Democrats expected Dandekar to put up impressive numbers based on her work and connections in Iowa and beyond. "I think it shows that I'm a formidable candidate,"

nod, had not made his fundraising numbers available by Tuesday, the deadline for filing with the FEC. A third GOP hopeful, Rep. Walt Rogers of Waterloo, entered the

From Left to Right: Mr and Mrs Prakash Toke, Mrs Vrushalli Panat, Milind Panat, Arvind Dandekar, US Congressional Candidate Swati Dandekar, Neil Khot and Mrs Annu Khot

That puts her in the same ballpark as Cedar Rapids City Councilwoman Monica Vernon and Rep. Pat Murphy of Dubuque, who have raised about $225,000 and $230,000, respectively, since they entered the race. Murphy raised $78,000 in the third quarter, according to his Federal Election Commission quarterly report.

Dandekar said. "I'm a serious candidate - that's the message."

On the GOP ticket, Dubuque businessman Rod Blum reported raising $60,000 in the most recent quarter. The third quarter number is down from the $103,108 Blum reported in July.

Steve Rathje, a Cedar Rapids businessman seeking the GOP

race after the third quarter ended, Swati Dandekar received her bachelor's degree in Biology & Chemistry from Nagpur University and post graduate diploma in dietetics from Bombay University.

Swati and her husband Arvind live in Marion, Iowa. Arvind is President/CEO of Fastek International, a software development firm.

Ankur Vaidya becomes FIA President PRAKASH SWAMY

EDISON, NJ: Ankur Vaidya has been elected as the President of Federation of Indian Associations (Tri-State) for the year 2014. Vaidya, 34, will be the youngest ever president to hold office of one of the largest nonprofit Indian-American organizations in the US. Vaidya with engineering and real estate background hails from Gujarat and started as a volunteer in the organization.

He has been an integral part of the FIA Executive Committee.

Along with Vaidya the 2014 Executive Committee that was elected includes: Anand Patel - Executive Vice President; Srujal

FIA President Ankur Vaidya

Parikh - Vice President; Nishil Parikh- General Secretary; Chhavi SinghJoint Secretary and Alok Kumar Treasurer.

Sanjay Amin will be immediate past president.

The new officers will take

charge from Jan 1, 2014 and will be sworn at the end of January during FIA's Republic Day Celebrations.

The 43-year-old premier Indian-American organization has been holding India Day Parade for the past 33 years in the streets of Manhattan to promote and project India in mainstream America.

Cont’d on page 19

Community Across America

November 15, 2013

India Post 19

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Jalaram Jayanti celebrated with great enthusiasm YOGESH THAKKAR & ASIAN MEDIA USA

Jalaram Bapa birthday cake

CHICAGO: Devotees from across Chicagoland and neighboring states of Wisconsin and Indiana, celebrated the 214th Birthday of Jalaram Bapa at Shree Jalaram Mandir on Saturday 9 November

full devotion starting with Puja from 9 am onwards. The program included Kalash Puja, Dhaja Puja, Maha Puja, Aarti, Mahaprasd and Sangeet Sandhya. The day started with Kalash Puja followed with

Kids and youth enjoy birthday clebration

Jalaram Bapa Aarti by devotees

in Hoffman Estate, a northwest suburb of Chicago, with lot of enthusiasm and fanfare.

The program was successful in no small measure because of the support from second generation youths - boys and girls. More than thousand people participated with

Dhwaja Puja, Maha Puja and Annakut. Bapa is deemed to be incarnation of Vishnu and has millions of followers not only in Gujarat but across the world.

The Main Yajman for the Maha Puja were Shantanu/Tanuja Govilkar, Yajman for Dhwaja Puja

were Bhupenbhai/Amyben Ray and Yajman for Kalash Puja were Rashmiben and Jitendrabhai Patel and Hasmukhbhai/Tarulataben Thakkar. Devotees in hundreds participated in Aarti and were served with Prasad. Bapa Birthday was celebrated with birthday song

Ankur Vaidya becomes FIA President Cont’d from page 18

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York Governors, US Senators and Congressmen, Indian Ambassadors patronized the parade by taking part in the previous years.

The celebrities who had led the parade in the past years include Amitabh Bachchan, Raj Kapoor, Shah Rukh Khan, Dev Anand, Rajender Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Rajesh Khanna, Saif Ali Khan, Hema Malini, Madhuri Dixit, Anna

Hazare, Sarath Kumar and Radikaa and Gen VK Singh.

Those who joined the celebrities in the past years include Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Dr. Baldwin Spencer, President of Guyana Bharat Jagdeo and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Kamla Persad-Bissessar. The New York Police Department (NYPD) estimated that 200,000 people had gathered last year on either side of the Madison Avenue and at the cultural program venue last year making it the largest ever Indepen-

dence Day event in the world.

The FIA had done fund-raising for Woodbridge apartment fire victims, Uttarakhand flash foods and helped in the conduct of Vibrant Gujarat summit.

To address the issues of Immigration Bill that may be potentially harmful to Indians, the FIA is conducting an interactive session with Chairman of the US House of Representatives Rules Committee, Congressman Pete Sessions to address the issues facing the Indian community.

and the cake was cut by kids with Birthday Song.

Flag (Dhwaja) is being kept on temple with a view to letting people see it from a distance and recognize that there is a temple.

Old flag was taken out and new flag was installed and at the top of the temple. Kalash was installed.

Rounded pinnacle at the top of the temple (Kalash) is spreading its glittering rays around like a glittering Sun. The evening program comprised music by Mayuri Patel who captivated over 700 devotees with her melodious singing of bhajans in praise of Bapa and other gods and goddesses. Bhajan Sandhya with Mayuri Patel entertained the audience with soulful music.

Shree Jalaram Mandir was inaugurated on the March 8, 2008. It was a dream of many devotees and followers of Jalaram Bapa to es-

tablish Jalaram Mandir. Pujya Jalaram Bapa was born in a village Virpur of Saurashtra, Gujarat State.

Right from birth his sacrament were such that no sadhu would go without food or empty handed from the house of his mother Rajbai or father Pradhan Thakkar. Jalaram Bapa used to absorb himself in the service of the saints.

At the age of 18 years, he established Shri Bhojalram of Fatehpur as his Spiritual Guide (Guru) and with his blessings started Sadavrat (Daily distribution of food freely to the mendicants.) His wife Virbai also joined him in this activity. Bapa died on 23rd February, 1881, yet all the activities that he nourished are still continuing without break. There are innumerable incidents of miracles attached to his name, which itself is a sign of firm respect in him by his devotees and followers.

20 India Post

Community Across America

November 15, 2013

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First Bank gets Evanston Community Service Award STEPHANIE KULKE

EVANSTON: First Bank & Trust Managing Director Jay Lytle accepted the 2013 Community Service Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Evanston (NAACP) / North Shore Branch.

The award was presented recently at the NAACP 2013 Freedom Fund Banquet at the North Shore Holiday Inn in Skokie. The award recognizes noteworthy people or organizations for their efforts at enhancing the community in alignment with the NAACP mission.

NAACP / North Shore Branch President George P. Mitchell said, "First Bank & Trust's cooperative spirit in supporting our organization and others is greatly appreciated. In particular, we recognize your support of "The Public Service Challenge" and other efforts.

You are good community partners."

Expressing thanks while accept-

First Bank Managing Director Jay Lytle, NACCP Branch VP John Fuller, NACCP Branch secretary Judith Treadway and Gerri Sizemore NAACP Branch Director- Pic Genie Lemieux

ing the award, Jay Lytle said the First Bank & Trust was founded 18 years ago, and from day one "we have believed in putting community first. That means participating whole heartedly in the communities we serve and call home, and doing our part make it a better place through volunteering, sponsorship, and delivering the highest level of service.

Because when our community thrives, we are all better off."

First Bank & Trust is a locally owned and managed community bank founded in 1995 by Bob Yohanan, Howard Kain and Jay Lytle, with a mission to put community first, and provide personalized banking and investment services to individuals, owner-managed businesses and the not-for-profit community.

Now in its 18th year, the grown from a staff of 12 to a staff of over 100, with nine locations.

Why Muslims perform Umrah?

A.Q. SIDDIQUI

M

uslims perform Umrah because it is a direct Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. But there is more to it. All the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad are well recorded and followed by truly guided Muslims. For over 14 hundred years, scholars have studied and researched the life and practices of Prophet Muhammad and concluded there is exemplary guidance in all that he said and did in his life time.

And why did Prophet Muhammad adopted Umrah as a 'special worship' to God? The history of religion shows us that his predecessors Prophet Moses and Prophet Jesus had their own methods for prayers to God. The followers and companions of Prophet Moses would come to him and request him to plead for something to God. And the Prophet Moses was an interceder between his people and God. The people of Prophet Jesus would come and request him for the favors of God and Prophet Jesus would grant any favor asked for advising followers to believe in One God. "Believe in God and you will get the sight", he said to a blind person requesting him for sight. So Prophet Jesus was an interceder between his people and God. Prophet Muhammad was however on mission to complete the religion of One God. Everything he said or did was guidance

for the believers.

He preferred to be a Messenger rather than to be an interceder between believers and God. So he showed the best ways to make prayers directly to God. He did not want believers to come and ask him for favors from God but to make prayers directly to God for any favors in life. And he showed differ-

ent ways to do so.

He showed Umrah as a preferred form of worship seeking the favors of God. The Prophet offered Umrah four times, all of which were in the month of Thul-Qaeda, but in different years. The first was in year 6 Hijri (February AD 628).

He intended for Umrah and asked his companions to enter in

the state of consecration, or Ihram. This Umrah was considered his seeking succor of God for believers. Though Muslims were prevented from entering Makkah, the first Umrah granted greatest victory for Muslims. In history it is remembered as the truce of Al Hudaibiya. While the second was the compensatory Umrah per-

formed a year later. The third he offered at the time when Makkah fell to Islam in year 8.

And it is considered as a "thanks giving" to God for the greatest victory he achieved without bloodshed His final Umrah was the one he offered with his pilgrimage in year 10. Thus Prophet showed Umrah as a special form of worship to God wherein a believer comes into direct contact with God. Umrah, like fasting in Ramadan brings a believer closer to God. As in modern days we have faster ways to reaching someone through phone or text message or emails, Umrah is the fastest way taught by Prophet Muhammad to make prayers directly to God. So do it.

Of course there are other methods of prayers taught by Prophet Muhammad such as Night Worship in Ramadan or any time (Thajud prayers), making prayers at the time of breaking Ramadan fast or making prayers after Fajr prayer. Umrah, however remains the preferred method of worship and prayer seeking the favor of God or a "Thanks giving" and a Sunnah of Prophet. As God says in Quran, "I answer the prayer of the suppliant" (Surah II Line 186), Prophet Muhammad showed a special form of worship in Umrah seeking the bounty of God. So perform Umrah with family and seek the bounty of Al mighty.

Cont’d on page 22

November 15, 2013

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Indian students excel in McDonald Spelling Bee ANGELA SOPARAWALA

DALLAS, TX: McDonald, the World renowned fast food chain, hosted a Free Education Workshop Seminar for South Asian Middle and High School students and parents on Saturday November 9 at Richardson Civic Center in Richardson, TX. The event was co- hosted by the Southern News Group and the Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC).

This workshop was attended by

Wes Waggoner, Dean of Admission/SMU and Lana Saveda, K-12 College Board Educational Manager were Keynote Speakers. Wea H. Lee, Chairman and CEO of Southern News Group and Prasad Thotakura, Coordinator of the Indian American Friendship Council were Special Guests.

Sujana Paluri, Director of Prism Academy and Sushmi Kosuri, Director of IAFC conducted Spelling

Senior winners From (L-R): Wea H. Lee, CEO, Southern News Group, Vittal Komanduri (1st), Amy Liu (2nd), Tejasvini Tummuru (3rd), Prasad Thotakura, IAFC Coordinator and Sujana Paluri, Prism Academy Director

several Asian students and parents to know more about the educational opportunities in various Universities in Texas State. Educational counselors from the Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Austin, University of Texas at Arlington and University of Houston answered several questions fielded by students and parents relating the admission process and financial aid opportunities.

Bee competitions to Senior (4th grade to 8th grade) and Junior Students (Kindergarten - 3rd grade).

Prasad Thotakura, Wea Lee and Sujana Paluri awarded cash prizes and certificates sponsored by McDonald Company to the following winners: Junior Category winners: 1st place: Julia Duan 2nd place: Isabel Wang, 3rd place: Hrishikesh Srirangam.

Senior Category winners: 1st

Junior Winners: From (L-R) Wea H. Lee, CEO, Southern News Group, Julia Duan (1st), Isabel Wang (2nd), Hrishikesh Srirangam, Sujana Paluri, Prism Academy Director and Prasad Thotakura, IAFC Coordinator

place: Vittal Komanduri, 2nd place: Amy Liu,3rd place: Tejasvini Tummuru

Prasad Thotakura, IAFC Coordinator thanked organizers Angela Chen, Sujana Paluri, Sushmi

Kosuri, all students, parents and volunteers who helped to make the event a grand success.

Community Across America

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Monastics from around the world pay homage to Vivekananda Asian Media USA

CHICAGO, IL: Over fifty Swamis from around the world came to the Vivekananda Monastery at Ganges in Michigan on November 7 to render obeisance to their Founder-Swami on his 150th birth anniversary.

Coming from as far away as Germany, Switzerland, Moscow, Brazil, Argentina, South Asia, Japan, and Fiji, some of the monks were accompanied by foreign devotees, ill-at-ease with English, and likewise visiting Chicago or North America, for the first time.

To receive them at the gate of this expansive retreat center and accompanying them in joyous procession to the main shrine were devotees from around the Midwest, Houstan and Canada.

The monastics, counting over a dozen nuns (pravrajikas), participated in two conclaves the next day morning. After the heads of the order had deliberated on internal administrative matters, they were joined by the rest to confer on mission strategy and planning, before leaving in the early afternoon to the Lemont temple.

Resounding conches and costumed stick-dancers (Dandiya)

accompanied the procession to the entrance of the shrine, which the swamis entered alone to pay obeisance to the holy trinity of Shri Ramakrishna, Sharada Devi, and spiritual son Vivekananda, whom Chicago has long since claimed as its own.

Eager devotees communed with them before assembling for the hour-long evening offering of lamps (aarti) in the shrine room followed by spiritual songs. Dinner was preceded by fireworks, and many devotees stayed over in nearby hotels to be with them through the next day.

Swami Mahayogananda began by performing a puja followed by readings from scriptures and Suhitanandaji concluded the program by inaugurating the Shrine Trail. After the feast offered to felicitate their dedication to the spiritual life (sadhu bhandara), the monastics left for Chicago.

Ambalal Patel from Matteson, Illinois made all the banners decorating the premises. Paromita Bosu from Calgary and Betty Koshy from Michigan held the lamps for the reception while Paromita's husband Anirban sang devotional songs. Seetha and Subbi Subrahmanyam from Houston

Procession from main gate of the Vivekananda Retreat Center to the shrine room

Performing aarti at the shrine (L to R) Swami Kripamayananda, Swami Mahayogananda, and Swami Tyagananda (seen from back)

have been frequenting the retreat center for the past forty years.

With four other devotees, Shiva and Mums Moodley were from Durban: "We are visiting the US for the first time to accompany Swami Vimokshananda, President of the Ramakrishna Order in South Africa . He could not make it as he underwent bypass surgery.

"Six Japanese devotees accompanied Swami Medhasananda from Tokyo explained how deeply the Buddhist culture facilitated transmission of Vedantic teachings despite formidable language barriers. Devotees from Argentina and Chile listened intently as some of the happenings were translated into Spanish by a volunteer.

Suhitanandaji said that the fiveday celebrations of this 150th birth anniversary was the most appropriate occasion to revive, rethink, and further spread Vivekananda's legacy. Head of VVS Germany Swami Baneshananda lamented the ignorance of spiritual traditions among the Hindu Diaspora in Europe. Head of the Vedanta Center in Geneva, Switzerland, Swami Amarananda bore testimony to persisting prejudice to-

Why Muslims perform Umrah?

Cont’d from page 20

There are some wrong assumptions about performing Umrah. It is wrongly conceived that one should go to Makkah first if traveling for Umrah. It you intend to perform Umrah first, then you need to enter in the Ihram before your enter the Meeqat of Jeddah.

The Meeqat is normally an hour before landing to Jeddah airport. But it is not necessary that you must go to Makkah first for Umrah travel. In fact it is better you visit Medina first and enter in the state of Ihram from Medina as Prophet himself did for his first Umrah.

This will be easier and comfortable and following a Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad. So you can land in Jeddah without Ihram and proceed to Medina. Also you do not need a Mufti or leader for performing Umrah. Umrah is a personal worship and make as many prayers to God as you wish while making Tawaf of Kaaba (circling the House of God).

If you get a chance hold the threshold of Kaaba and ask for the forgiveness by God. That is much better than trying to scramble for kissing the Black stone of Kaaba.

Prophet Muhammad in his third Umrah only stopped and beckoned

to Black stone with his stick as he performed the Tawaf.

There are no prescribed prayers as you make seven circles to Kaabah but Prophet Muhammad was heard reading aloud "Rabanna Atina" prayer as he was completing each circle before reaching Black Stone.

So make your own prayers but say Rabanna Aatina prayer as you near the black Stone. After finishing Tawaf, Prophet performed 2 Rakas of prayers behind the Muqam-eIbrahim. Then he drank Zamzam water and proceeded for Saie.

(Seven walks between Safa and Marwah hills). Have comment?

Please email to sidakl@yahoo.com

wards alien religions despite the continuing efforts of the interfaith movement.

Swami Nirmalatmananda from Portuguese-speaking Brazil works out of Sao Paulo where there is not a single English newspaper; he spoke of the difficulties of coordi-

astery and Retreat. Swami Ishatmananda became VVS minister in charge of Chicago and Ganges in March 2013. Guests at Ganges have included ecumenical religious scholars Bede Griffiths, Houston Smith, and Joseph Campbell.

Interfaith monks and two women renunciates (sannyasini) from the adjacent Mothers Trust Ashram (MTA), the oldest convent in the direct monastic lineage of Sri Ramakrishna and Sri Sarada Ma, also joined in today's Ganges commemoration. In 1895 its then President Vandana Puri Devi came at the invitation of Bhashyananda.

In 1998, President of Sri Saradeshwarin Ashram in Kolkata Bandanda Ma inaugurated MTA with sacred Ganges water from India, amidst a five-day celebration by 300 devotees from around the world, and equated the site to

Group photo before Swami Vivekananda's statue in the shrine after the evening aarti. Seated in the center row (L to R starting from the flower pot) are senior monks Swami Chetanananda (no cap), Swami Suhitatmanandaji (General Secretary of Ramakrishna Mission), Swami Ishatmananda (Ministerin-Charge Chicago), and Swami Shantarupananda.

nating the often resource-poor VVS missions across South America.

Founded in 1847, Ganges village received its name from member of the Michigan legislature Dr Joseph Coates after the holy river in India, just as another township in southwest Michigan is named after Baroda in Gujarat. In 1967 VVS President Swami Bhashyananda purchased land and built the Vivekananda Mon-

holy Varanasi. MTA plans to create a retirement center around this complex for Hindu seniors awaiting liberation.

More than jumpstarting the ongoing fusion between the material progress of the West and the highest Indian realizations of nonduality, Swami Vivekananda, it seems, laid the groundwork 150 years ago for recreating the sacred (inner) geography of the subcontinent on American soil.

Costumed stick-dancers (Dandiya) accompanied the procession to the entrance of the shrine

November 15, 2013

Community Across America

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Enjoy holiday favorites at Whole Foods Market India Post News Service

FREMONT, CA: Whole Foods Market Fremont is welcoming people to wine and dine at the firstever Holiday Soiree. The Soiree is an evening storewide tasting that will include a sampling of a full holiday meal including all natural Diestel turkey and holiday sides.

The Soiree will be held Friday, November 15 8:30 to 10:30 p.m.

There will be more than 20 tasting stations with featured vendors including Atkins lamb and Pitman farms poultry, crab cakes, artisan cheeses, seasonal produce, a chocolate fountain and made from scratch pies. Wine, craft beers from Firestone Walker Brewing Co. and local Red Branch hard ciders will also be sampled at the in-store bar, Mission Peak Tap Alley. Live music will feature local favorite, the Canyon Band.

"The holiday season is a special time to share great-tasting food and quality ingredients with friends and families. The holiday soiree will be a fun opportunity to explore a wide variety of holiday

offerings at Whole Foods Market," said Lisa Marie Wilson, Marketing Team Leader.

Tickets cost $5 per person, or $10 with wine or beer tasting. A portion of proceeds will benefit non-profit organization, SAVE or Safe Alternatives for Violent Envi-

ronments. The first 100 people to arrive at the event will receive a free reusable gift bag and everyone attending will be entered for raffle prizes. The event is open to all ages. Must be 21 or older for the Wine or Beer tasting portion of the evening.

About Whole Foods Market Founded in 1980 in Austin, Texas, Whole Foods Market (wholefoodsmarket.com, NASDAQ: WFM), is the leading natural and organic food retailer.

As America's first national certified organic grocer, Whole Foods Market was named "America's Healthiest Grocery Store" by Health magazine. The company's motto, "Whole Foods, Whole People, Whole Planet"™ captures its mission to ensure customer satisfaction and health, Team Member excellence and happiness, enhanced shareholder value, community support and environmental improvement.

Thanks to the company's more than 69,000 Team Members, Whole Foods Market has been ranked as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in America by Fortune magazine for 15 consecutive years. In fiscal year 2011, the company had sales of more than $10 billion and currently has more than 325 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Readers Write... www.indiapost.com

Stop Israel blocking peace deal with Iran

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his recent headline - 'White House urges Jewish leaders not to lobby for new Iran sanctions', is a classic case of the tail wagging the dog. The Obama administration is investing a great deal of effort attempting to reach an accord with Iran to ease tensions between the two countries.

The American people are growing tired of Prime Minister Netanyahu's ranting and red line rhetoric.

He is doing his utmost to derail a peace agreement with Iran.

It is time for the international community to demand that Israel open its own nuclear stockpile for inspection and insist that Israel follow Iran's example of signing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

It is outrageous that France has opposed US efforts in its blatant effort to appease Saudi Arabia and thereby win lucrative

nuclear power plant contracts.

It also time we displayed a modicum of humility and contrition for our own dark deeds. In 1953 the CIA orchestrated a coup ousting the highly popular democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh and ushered in the demonic Shah of Iran whose secret police terrorized, tortured and killed thousands of innocent Iranian citizens.

During the Iraq-Iran war we supplied chemical weapons to Saddam Hussein who used them to slaughter thousands of Iranians and Kurds. We have never apologized or offered reparations to Iran for enabling war crimes to be committed.

I urge readers to contact their legislators and demand an end to Israel's interference in US efforts to reach a peace accord with Iran.

Jagjit Singh Los Altos, CA

Disclaimer :- India Post does not endorse opinions expressed in the letters.

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ABU DHABI: Indian cinema needs to speak a universal language and change the world's perception about Bollywood being an "item number", says Irrfan, who has been in the news for his work in the highly acclaimed low-budget film 'The Lunchbox'.

"We cannot continue being known as item number filmmakers. Bollywood is known as an item number, and we have

to change that. We have to connect with a universal audience in a way that they think that there is some interesting kind of cinema coming out of India," Irrfan said here in an interview.

"We need to find a universal language, which I think 'Qissa' will be able to strike a chord with, and 'The Lunchbox' has done in a big way," added the 46-year-old, who beats the Bollywood hero cliche with his talent. Indian cinema needs to speak a uni-

November 15, 2013

versal language and change the world's perception feels Irrfan.

The actor is well-versed with the language of cinema the world over. His work takes him around the globe, he works in the international arena and his movies appeal as a whiff of fresh air to an audience for whom Bollywood has only been about songs and dances.

He has delivered powerful performances in films like "The Namesake" and Oscar winning films "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Life of Pi", and at the home turf, he has amassed accolades for movies like "Maqbool" and "Paan Singh Tomar".

Irrfan-starrer "The Lunchbox", a unique, simply-told story of an exchange of notes and thoughts between a lonely man and a lovelorn lady via a lunchbox, has been appreciated in festival circuits the world over. "Qissa", screened at the seventh Abu Dhabi Film Festival (ADFF), seems to be working up the same magic.

Cont'd on Page 26

November 15, 2013

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De Niro returns with a tiger pic from India

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obert De Niro, 70, is an icon and a legend. He won his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor playing Vito Corleone in 'The Godfather Part II'.

He won his sole Academy Award as Best Actor playing the boxer Jake LaMotta in 'Raging Bull'.

While he returns to playing a boxer again in his upcoming film 'Grudge Match' after 33 years, he returned to India after 35 years.

During his trip to India, he visited Delhi, Ranthambore and Goa, but what was most touching was his spontaneous visit to his costar in 'Silver Linings Playbook', Anupam Kher, in Mumbai before flying out to the US. He spent three hours of quality time with him at his acting school.

While his oldest daughter Drena, who is 42, accompanied him

to India, he was concerned about the health of his youngest daughter Helen, who is just two years old and was keeping a little unwell.

Excerpts from a conversation with the icon: The memories of India that you are taking back with you?

I have been wanting to come earlier, but could come only after 35 years. The people here are very warm. We visited Ranthambore and were able to sight two tigers, hardly a few feet away from our jeep. I have captured them on my phone, so that I can show it back home. I did not want to go back from India and say, 'I did not see a tiger.'

How can you remain so humble?

With Amitabh Bachchan In Mumbai

You have to be real with people.

Ram & Leela smooch censored

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anveer Singh and Deepika Padukone have been going to town about their lip lock in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Ram Leela'.

Ranveer had gushed about the

kissing scene in a recent interview, saying, "I hope that there will be no objection to the kiss because it's a beautiful kiss. I hope they don't cut the duration because it's

a long kiss. It's the best kiss you'll ever see in a Hindi movie."

Now the actor's fears have come true as the CBFC (Central Board of Film Certification) has

You have to be appreciative of everything you have done in your life. This is not real. The real world is not my world. I have lived many years in the real world before I became successful, but I always tell my kids that anything we do on the luxury side of fame is not typical, not normal.

Have you watched Bollywood films?

Unfortunately, I have not. I would like to, but I just don't get enough time to watch all the films, even the English ones. I have met someone here who will be sending me eight best movies of the last 50 years that he felt I should look at and I am going to try and do that.

been asked to tame the smooch.

Bhansali has been asked to edit the steamy moment, which comes toward the film's end, by a good 50 per cent.

A source said, "Bhansali had no choice but to comply. Else he wouldn't have got a U/A certificate, which in turn would have cut down on the film's reach." A sociology professor was also summoned to attend the screening by CBFC. The film has been given 12 cuts in all and sources say that the nip and tuck could water down the passionate love story.

"Also Bhansali had some

scenes in the film where people were shown drinking alcohol in Gujarat - a state which prohibits alcohol. Some hand gestures by Ranveer in the film were also found to be offensive and vulgar and objections were also raised against cuss words in the dialogues," added the source.

Bhansali who was present at the Censor screening wasn't too happy with the outcome, but chose to accept it gracefully.

When contacted, CBFC's CEO Manish Desai said, "We had to be ery careful with Ram Leela. Yes, we have made some deletions."

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'Bhajji' receives record prices

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razing Goat Pictures' "Bhaji in Problem," has received record prices from distributors in Punjab.

The film stars Gippy Grewal and Gurpreet Ghuggi with Ragini Khanna and Om Puri as central characters. It is directed by Smeep

(L-R) Gurpreet Ghuggi, Harbhajan Singh & Gippy Grewal in Bhaji in Problem

Kang who has delivered successful hits such as "Carry on Jatta" and "Lucky Di Unlucky Story."

"Bhaji in Problem" also has cricketer Harbhajan Singh making a friendly appearance along with co-producer Akshay Kumar, a Punjabi himself, in an extended cameo.

The film is produced by Kumar and Ashvini Yardi under Grazing Goat Pictures, the same banner that has produced Bollywood hit "OMG - Oh my God!" and "72 Miles" in Marathi.

"Bhaji in Problem" has reportedly been sold in Punjab for a record price, a first for a Punjabi film. Soon after the trailer was launched, audiences were tweeting about the trailer being "hilarious" and expressing their eagerness to watch the film.

Ragini Khanna in Bhaji in Problem

SRK India's Most Attractive Personality In order to measure the 'brand attractiveness', Trust Research Advisory (TRA) recently conducted a survey across 16 cities to find out 'India's Most Attractive Personality'. While Shah Rukh Khan topped the survey, the second, third and fourth positions were taken by Big B, cricketer M.S. Dhoni and Aamir Khan respectively. Bollywood's 'it' girl Katrina Kaif beat her contemporaries to grab the sixth position in this list.

In all, there were 25 glittering personalities from the field of cinema, sports and social-spiritual, business and music who got featured in the list. The other names from Bollywood who made it to the

list include Lata Mangeshkar, Mithun Chakraborty, Madhuri

Dixit, Salman Khan and Aishwarya Rai.

Bollywood known as 'item number' Cont'd from Page 24

It's not a light-hearted drama.

In fact, as Irrfan said, "It is meant to shake you, not please you", but the Punjabi movie has a "universal" quality which helped its multilayered messages transcend to a multi-ethnic audience at ADFF. "We need to find a way of telling stories where a universal audience finds itself engaged in the storytelling. That's one thing we need to do, and that's one thing we have not been doing," said Irrfan, who believes the onus lies on directors and producers.

"There are new directors who are trying to tackle subjects which weren't dealt with earlier.'Madras Cafe' is an example because we don't make political films, but that's a well-made movie," he added. Along with the change in the nature of subjects and storytelling, India also needs a renewed understanding of the importance of an Oscar, advised the versatile actor, whose "The

Lunchbox" was a frontrunner as the country's selection for the foreign language film category at the Academy Awards this time.

Gujarati film "The Good Road" was chosen over "The Lunchbox".

Irrfan is not complaining, but he believes a larger understanding of the ballgame needs to persist. "You can't make a film and sit in your room and watch it. You have to change the perception about Indian cinema when you go to universal audience, and what better way to say that your film is universally accepted than (be at the) Oscar?

"Even your film's business multiplies a lot. We need to go universal, and how do you do that? Not by winning some award which is happening in India...Our awards are all for TRPs. And a National Film Award doesn't carry as much weightage as here in the US," said Irrfan, who won a best actor National Award for "Paan Singh Tomar" earlier this year.

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TOP TEN HINDI FILM SONGS

1 Party All Night: Boss 2 Gulaabi: Shuddh Desi Romance 3 Main Rang Sharbaton Ka: Phata Poster Nikhla Hero 4 Boss (Title Track): Boss 5 Nagada Sang Dhol: Ram-Leela 30 India Post

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6 Hum Na Tode: Boss 7 Laal Ishq: Ram-Leela 8 Besharam ( Title Track) : Besharam 9 Ye Tune Kya Kiya: Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai Dobara

S

10 Ram Chaahe Leela: Ram-Leela

alman Khan's father Salim Khan says that his son Salman Khan and Shahrukh Khan are rivals and there cannot be any love between the two rivals.

"They are two individuals... Grown up people. I think there cannot be love between rivals. There can be courtesy.

To have love between Salman and Shah Rukh is not possible. One should not expect that if Shah Rukh's film is a success then Salman will dance and celebrate. Or if Salman's film is a hit so Shah Rukh will throw a party... It's not possible," he said at the trailer launch of 'Sholay' in 3D, here.

Salim Khan cited the example of veteran stars like Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand and Dilip Kumar were just well-mannered to each other.

"Today people are intolerant, impatient... small things hurt people, there are other people to create further problems. There should be courtesy between two rivals," Salim said. “TO HAVE LOVE BETWEEN SALMAN AND SHAH RUKH IS NOT POSSIBLE. ONE SHOULD NOT EXPECT THAT IF SHAH RUKH'S FILM IS A SUCCESS THEN SALMAN WILL DANCE AND CELEBRATE�

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aif Ali Khan-Sonakshi Sinha starrer film 'Bullet Raja' will be released in the US on November 28, a day before it opens in Indian theaters.

Though it is one of the rarest occasions that a Bollywood movie is released in the US ahead of its India release, its promoters in the US said it was being done to coincide with the Thanksgiving Day holiday Thursday, November 28 - to get maximum commercial benefit.

"I can't say it's the first as there may have been one or two in the past.

But it is definitely extremely rare for a Bollywood film to release in the US before India," one of the publicists of the movie in the US said.

W

hen Vidya Balan signed Shaadi Ke Side Effects (SKSE), little did she know that she'd find similarities between her life and the film. A source says, "During the narration, she was told that Farhan Akthar, who plays her husband in the film, was called Sid Roy. Vidya was surprised and couldn't stop laughing about it as her husband's name is Siddharth Roy Kapur. Since the script was finalized five years ago and the character names were locked then, it turned out to be a huge coincidence. Vidya found the whole thing hilarious."

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D

eepika Padukone, who will play an out-ofwork bar dancer in 'Happy New Year', says she is working hard to be a great dancer in the film.

"Farah had a list of do's for the actress. I will prepare for it like any other film. If I am required to be a great dancer in the film, I will have to work damn hard. She wants a girl who is Maharashtrian, good dancer and has a specific look," Deepika said.

Her character in the film influences the lives of her co-stars Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Vivaan Shah and Boman Irani -as all of them are dancers and Deepika will help them win a dance trophy.

Deepika is riding high on the success of her last three releases - Race 2, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Chennai Express. But the records aren't putting much pressure on Deepika.

"I take each film as it comes. I put same kind of effort for Ram-Leela as in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani and Chennai Express. I have done the film with the same kind of hard work, conviction and honesty. I hope the end result is same as my previous films," Deepika said.

O

ne of the most eligible bachelors, Sushant Singh Rajput says he is ready for marriage but fiancĂŠe Ankita Lokhande is taking her time. The happy event might takes place "may be by the end of the year or next year," he confides.

Asked if he was on a real high on having replaced Hrithik Roshan in Paani, Sushant said, "Hrithik Roshan is one of our biggest superstars, I have been his fan for over a decade.

I can't think of replacing him. I gave an audition based on which I was taken on. The film goes on floor next year and it feels great to be working with Shekhar Kapur who last worked with Heath Ledger in 'Four Feathers".

About working with Aamir Khan in Peekay, he says "I don't really have scenes with Aamir, but during the script session I found him to be really inquisitive.

He wants to learn."

As for people around him changing with his success, he says, "My family hasn't, and Ankita still thinks I'm stupid in a loving way. The only change is that people have stopped saying that TV actors can't act."

B

e it a village or a city, education is very important and it always comes into you," said Kareena while promoting Gori Tere Pyaar Mein on the sets of the seventh season of Kaun Banega Crorepati. "(Education) is one of the most important things and we should always encourage children to be educated, go to school, and go to college," she added.

Kareena entered filmdom in 2000 with Refugee when she was 20 years old. After that she got so busy with her film shoots that studies took a backseat. She studied law for some time but didn't complete the course.

"I think I couldn't study as I have always been interested in films. But today I regret that.

"It is important to be well read, at least a little bit," said the 33-year-old.

Health

Line

Premia Group forays into health care NEW DELHI: Real estate major Premia Group says it has tied up with Fortis Escorts Healthcare for operating its first pilot hospital project in Palwal, Haryana.

Premia Group has entered the health care sector and plans to scale up its operation by having a similar network of hospitals in tier2 and tier-3 cities soon, the group said in a statement.

"This endeavor is aimed at bringing the best quality healthcare services to the doorstep of those who need it the most and at a price that is quite within the reach of a common man," Tarun Shienh, Chairman and Managing Director, Premia Group said in the statement. -PTI

Ex-nursing assistant pleads not guilty of sexual assault BROOMFIELD, Colo.: A former nursing assistant accused of sexually assaulting three patients at a Broomfield nursing home where he worked has denied several charges.

The Broomfield Enterprise reports 41-year-old Antonio Nieto pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault on an at-risk adult, four counts of sexual assault and one count of unlawful sexual contact of an at-risk adult.

His trial is set to begin April 7.

Nieto is accused of sexually assaulting a 59-year-old, a 73year-old and a 93-year-old while he worked at Broomfield Skilled Nursing.-AP

Sen. Murphy praises mental health coverage parity HARTFORD, Conn.: Connecticut's U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is praising President Barack Obama's new rule that requires insurers to cover treatment for mental health and substance abuse no differently than they do for physical illnesses.

The rule puts into effect legislation signed into law five years ago. The administration says nearly 60 percent of people with mental health conditions and nearly 90 percent with substance abuse disorders don't receive the treatment they need.

Murphy describes the rule as historic, saying it is a huge achievement for millions of Americans who have been unable to receive treatment due to administrative burdens and a lack of acceptance for their illness. -AP

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State senator educates woman about fetal health Details on Page 34

New bio patch can regrow bones WASHINGTON: Indian-origin scientists have developed a revolutionary new bio patch which can regrow missing or damaged bones from within the body.

Researchers at the University of Iowa created the bio patch to regenerate bones by putting DNA into a nano-sized particle that delivers bone-producing instructions directly into cells.

The bone-regeneration kit relies on a collagen platform seeded with particles containing the genes needed for producing bone.

In experiments, the gene-encoding bio patch successfully regrew bone fully enough to cover skull wounds in test animals. It also stimulated new growth in human bone marrow stromal cells in lab experiments.

The study is novel in that the researchers directly delivered bone-producing instructions using piece of DNA that encodes for a platelet-derived growth factor called PDGF-B - to existing bone cells in vivo, allowing those cells to produce the proteins that led to more bone production.

"We delivered the DNA to the cells, so that the cells produce the protein and that's how the protein

is generated to enhance bone regeneration," said Aliasger Salem, co-corresponding author on the paper.

The researchers believe the patch could be used to rebuild bone in the gum area that serves

enough bone in the surrounding area, said Satheesh Elangovan, joint first author, as well as cocorresponding author, on the paper.

It also can be used to repair birth defects where there's miss-

plete regeneration to match the shape of what should have been there," Elangovan said.

The team loaded the bio patch with synthetically created plasmids, each of which is outfitted with the genetic instructions for producing bone.

They then inserted the scaffold on to a 5 by 2mm missing area of skull in test animals. Four weeks later, the team compared the bio patch's effectiveness to inserting a scaffold with no plasmids or taking no action at all.

The plasmid-seeded bio patch grew 44-times more bone and soft tissue in the affected area than with the scaffold alone, and was 14-fold higher than the affected area.

"The most exciting part to me is that we were able to develop an efficacious, Researchers at the University of Iowa have created a bio patch to regenerate nonviral-based gene-demissing or damaged bone. The patch has been shown to nearly fully regrow missing livery system for treating skull, seen in the image above. bone loss," said Sheetal as the concrete-like foundation for ing bone around the head or D'mello, a graduate student in dental implants. face. pharmacy and a joint first author That prospect would be a "life"We can make a scaffold in on the paper. changing experience" for patients the actual shape and size of the The study was published in who need implants and don't have defect site, and you'd get com- the journal Biomaterials. -PTI

New drug target may nip cancer in the bud SINGAPORE: Scientists have discovered a potential new drug target - an enzyme which could help weed out the progression of deadly cancer.

Although past studies have revealed that the enzyme, Wip1 phosphatase, plays a critical role in regulating the budding of tumors, scientists have for the first time unearthed a mechanism for its mode of action.

Researcher Dr Dmitry Bulavin and his team at ASTAR's Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Singapore, discovered that Wip1 phosphatase is a key factor that causes point mutations to sprout in human cancers.

These types of mutations stem from errors that are made during DNA replication in the

body, causing one base-pair in the DNA sequence to be altered.

These mutations can cause cancers to take root, or to be-

growth can be stunted and tumors can be cured without developing resistance.

This is a ground-breaking

come resilient to treatment. By using drugs to inhibit the action of Wip1 phosphatase, cancer

finding that sheds light on how mutations in cancer can potentially be wiped out with drugs,

allowing cancers to be treated and eliminated effectively, preventing relapses of tumor growth.

"Our work on Wip1 phosphatase for over a decade has now revealed several key features of this molecule. Our current findings strongly support the use of an antiWip1 drug for cancer treatment in order to reduce a high frequency of mutations in the genome, which is one of the main drivers of tumor relapses," Bulavin said.

"This discovery is monumental in providing novel understanding on the role of Wip1 in cancer at the genomic and systems levels," Prof Hong Wan Jin, Executive Director of IMCB, said.

The study was published in the journal Cancer Cell. PTI

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Cover Oregon clings to grand vision despite delays SALEM, Ore.: With a reputation as a pacesetter in health care, Oregon laid out bold plans for complying with the federal overhaul.

The state wouldn't just create a health insurance exchange, a complicated undertaking in its own right. Oregon officials set out to build one of the biggest and best in the nation - a model that other states would want to copy.

But more than a month after Cover Oregon's online enrollment was supposed to launch, reality is lagging far behind Gov. John Kitzhaber's grand ideas. The online system still doesn't work, and the exchange has yet to enroll a single person in health insurance.

Interviews with state officials and a review of public records by The Associated Press suggest Cover Oregon officials bit off more than they could chew and clung to their ambitious vision even when their risk management consultants raised alarms.

While rushing to get the exchange done, programmers and project managers also were busy with separate complex computer projects for the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services.

Cover Oregon officials say they're working hard to finish the project and insist the features they're creating will be worth the wait - even if it remains unclear when the site will go online. ``We stuck to the vision, and we're experiencing now the bumps that go along with having a grand vision that doesn't work out exactly the way you hope it will,'' said Amy Fauver, chief communications officer for Cover Oregon.

Fauver said ``we're confident that we will get the system up and running here in the near future'' and that it ``will be something we can be really proud of.''

More than $300 million has been spent on the exchange so far, but the online enrollment system is still having trouble accurately determining whether people in complex family arrangements are eligible for Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.

Cover Oregon officials say their launch has been delayed because they refuse to put out an imperfect product and fix the bugs later. And they say their whole system is more complex and has more features than most other states - but that also means more

states, people who appear to qualify for Medicaid are sent to a separate enrollment process through the state Medicaid office.

From the very beginning, Oregon promised a ``one-stop shop'' for health insurance and, for better or worse, has refused to waiver. That means the state is seeking an entirely automated process for determining Medicaid eligibility and enrolling.

Once state lawmakers approved the exchange in 2011, the first stages of development were done by the Office of Information Services for the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services. At the same time, as it was Gov. John Kitzhaber speaks during a news conference on Nov. 1 to overseeing conaddress problems with Cover Oregon. struction of the exchange's back-end things can go wrong. information technology, the information Some of the complexity they face is in- office was also working on a massive herent in Oregon's health care environment, project to modernize the internal computer which is unusually competitive. Eleven insurers are selling plans through Cover Oregon; some states have just a handful. Oregon also has complicated eligibility rules for Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program - known here as the Oregon Health Plan and Healthy Kids.

Some of the complications, though, are self-imposed, by the aspirations of the Legislature, the governor and the exchange's own leadership. When other states delayed or gave up on a concept called ``no wrong door,'' Oregon held on, and is still holding on. The goal is to give people one portal the Cover Oregon website - to sign up for insurance, whether they qualify for commercial insurance or Medicaid. In most other

UW-Madison eye center lays off entire staff of 60 MADISON, Wis.: The University of Wisconsin-Madison medical school has laid off all 60 employees from a nationally recognized eye research center that had run up a deficit of $4.6 million.

The Fundus Photograph Reading Center's staff was told of the layoffs Oct. 14, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

UW health spokeswoman Lisa Brunette said four of the 60 employees either retired or were reassigned.

For now, the center's future is uncertain. ``There are plans to establish a smaller unit to provide services in a way that can be sustained financially,'' Brunette told the newspaper in an email.

Started in 1972, the center assists in research trials of treatments for macular degeneration and other retina diseases. It's

an arm of the UW-Madison ophthalmology department, and it relied on a steady stream of research dollars from big pharmaceutical companies and government agencies doing clinical trials to test new treatments.

Medical school Dean Robert Golden apologized in an Oct. 21 meeting with laidoff Fundus employees. The State Journal obtained a video recording of the meeting showing him saying he was not aware until recently that the center's financial problems had grown to such ``epic proportions'' and that the unit was responsible for balancing its own books. ``I'm profoundly disappointed in those individuals who knew this was happening and didn't bring it to our attention sooner,'' he said. -AP

systems for the health authority and human services agency.

They were trying to use the same software to determine whether people are eligible for all public-assistance programs - not just Medicaid, but also programs like food stamps and welfare.

Carolyn Lawson, chief information officer for the health and human service agencies, said she doesn't think work on modernizing her department's own systems slowed down the architecture for Cover Oregon. ``There was always the fear that one project would overtake the other in importance, but it was two separate agencies and two separate projects,'' Lawson said. ``It was a risk, but it did not happen.''

Eventually, it might allow someone to fill out a single form and find out automatically whether they're eligible for a variety of public assistance programs.

Over the past year, Cover Oregon's risk consultant, Maximus, warned that the project was in danger of missing the Oct. 1 deadline to go live. In March, Maximus suggested that Cover Oregon re-organize its business to make individuals, small businesses and Medicaid distinct so one piece could be delayed if it was holding up the others. Cover Oregon rejected the suggestion, saying it was required to launch everything together on Oct. 1. -AP

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State senator educates woman about fetal health DES MOINES, Iowa: In the 10 years since she delivered a stillborn baby girl, state Sen. Janet Petersen has been on a mission to help other mothers try to avoid the same tragedy.

A public health campaign that she started with four other moms who suffered similar losses is now reaching women in Iowa and branching out around the country. Called Count the Kicks, the campaign educates women about how to monitor their babies' activity during the final stages of pregnancy in the hope that they may notice any potentially problematic changes.

Since the 2009 launch, the campaign has been adopted by more than 75 percent of Iowa OB/GYN clinic and birthing hospitals.

A new Count the Kicks web application was launched last month and efforts to create similar programs are underway in seven more states. Peterson said she is thrilled to see the grassroots project grow into a larger movement. ``I really can't think of anything worse than losing a child,'' said Petersen, a mother of three who represents part of northwest Des Moines. Petersen said her daughter Grace died after a knot developed in her umbilical cord, depriving the baby of oxygen. She thinks if she had known more about monitoring her movements, they might have been able to intervene. ``Our end goal is for every expectant mom to know about the importance of counting the kicks,'' Petersen said. ``Basically we'd like it to become as easy for people to remember as taking a prenatal vitamin.''

Based on a similar effort in Norway, the

Count the Kicks campaign - which has attracted more than $200,000 in donations and grant funding - advises women in the late stages of pregnancy to keep track of their

Sen. Janet Petersen

baby's movements each day. Using colorful posters and pamphlets, they suggest picking a similar time each day and counting 10 movements within a two-hour period. According to the campaign, if women

consistently do that, they should get a sense of the baby's patterns and will notice a decline in movement, which should prompt a call to a health care provider.

Just how effective kick counting is as a way to prevent stillbirth is hard to say. In their official guideline on fetal surveillance, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that it is not clear if fetal movement assessment can actually reduce stillbirth, noting a limited amount of research on the topic. But Dr. Stephen Hunter, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Iowa, said kick counting is helpful, because a decrease in movement often precedes a stillbirth. `A lot of it is just patient education,'' said Hunter, the director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and an associate director of the Iowa Statewide Perinatal Care Program, which visits all Iowa hospitals that deliver babies to review the care offered and to educate physicians and other providers. ``The nurse and I review every stillbirth in the state of Iowa.

It's sad how many of them we see where patients had decreased fetal movement for days before they came in,'' Hunter said.

Stillbirths in Iowa have declined from 231 in 2008 to 174 in 2012. There is no way to know if the campaign is a direct cause,

though Hunter said he has a ``strong suspicion'' that it may be among the contributing factors.

Petersen and her group have also pursued legislative ways to address stillbirth, successfully passing a stillbirth registry law in 2004, which has helped fund research on stillbirths in Iowa. Petersen said she continues to review legislation to protect maternal health, but has no definite plans for the 2014 legislative session.

Amanda Brezina, 32, a stay-at-home mother of four in Des Moines, recently delivered a healthy baby girl and said that closely tracking the baby's activity was important to the successful birth. Brezina went into labor at 35 weeks and noticed that the baby seemed to go limp when she stood up. She rushed to the hospital and it was later discovered that she had a hemorrhage in the base of the umbilical cord and standing was apparently having a negative impact on the baby. ``I was grateful that I knew her well enough in utero to know what she usually did,'' said Brezina, who became a volunteer for Count the Kicks after her second pregnancy in 2008, when she went to the hospital after noticing her son had stopped moving. It turned out he had had a stroke and his heart wasn't beating after delivery. But he was revived and Brezina said his development has been normal. ``There's so much to learn about pregnancy and parenthood, this isn't something that should be skipped over,'' Brezina said of counting kicks. ``It's easy to do. It's not invasive. Kids and parents can participate.''

-AP

Judge questions necessity Lincoln police deal with mental health issues more in hospital lawsuit BOISE, Idaho: A federal judge said that a lawsuit between two Idaho hospitals and the Federal Trade Commission comes down to whether St. Luke's Health System really needs to buy more physician practices to bring about promised long-term cost savings and improved care or whether the company has gone too far to curb competition.

U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill posed that question and others to attorneys involved in the case on the last day of a monthlong trial, The Idaho Statesman reported.

The lawsuit stems from St. Luke's buyout of Nampa-based Saltzer Medical Group. The FTC and Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center contend the buyout was an illegal market grab and gives St. Luke's an unfair advantage. But St. Luke's contends the acquisition will allow it to improve patient care and launch new medical plans designed to help low-income and unin-

sured patients.

Winmill called the case one of the most difficult he'd had to preside over because the stakes are high for the businesses and the communities they serve. He said he'll try to have a ruling issued within the next few weeks.

David Ettinger, an attorney representing Saint Alphonsus, sought to pierce a major St. Luke's argument - that it will take years for the positive outcomes of the Saltzer deal to surface. He called that a ``Wimpy'' defense, a reference to the Popeye character who says, ``I would gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today.''

Jack Bierig, a lawyer for St. Luke's, countered that after reviewing terabytes of documents and data, none of the plaintiffs found evidence that St. Luke's bought Saltzer so it could control the Canyon County health care market.-AP

LINCOLN, Neb.: The number of mental health issues Lincoln Police are dealing with is increasing significantly.

The Lincoln Journal Star reports the number of mental health calls police handled grew 80 percent from 1,276 in 2001 to 2,294 last year.

Lincoln Public Safety Director Tom Casady said the dramatic increase in calls, which doesn't include suicides or attempted suicides, is troubling.

Casady said he wonders if the statistics suggest mental health services in the community are failing to meet residents' needs. ``What worries me is if we have more people with mental health issues that could be managed with a fairly low level of community care. but they are not able to get it,'' Casady said. ``Maybe we're using the $10 solution to the $1 problem.''

Casady said most of these mental health problems could be better treated by outpatient care instead of police.

Mental health advocate Dean Settle is also frustrated that so many people have to turn to police for help in these situations. ``Our state has tried to do the right thing, but the need is probably greater than the resources we have today,'' said Settle,

former director of the Community Mental Health Center in Lincoln and current owner of Metro Gallery, a downtown art shop that features work by people with mental health issues.

Kasey Moyer, associate director of the

Lincoln Public Safety Director Tom Casady

Mental Health Association of Nebraska, said there are many reasons why people don't seek help before a crisis. Lacking insurance, fear of social stigma, lacking money and trouble getting an appointment all contribute, Moyer said. -AP

November 15, 2013

Health Science Post

India Post 35

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Arizona targets lax medical New $312 million Maine hospital marijuana doctors opens in Augusta PHOENIX: Arizona health officials are ommendation from a physician and regislooking to root out physicians who are im- ter with the state, which issues identificaproperly recommending medical marijuana tion cards to qualified patients and for patients who claim to suffer from chronic caregivers.

Humble said the numbers raise concerns pain.

As part of the effort, the state Depart- that patients are seeking recommendations ment of Health Services wants to collect from what he has called ``certification mills'' more nuanced information about those pa- instead of primary-care doctors who are tients with chronic pain, The Arizona Re- generally more knowledgeable about patients' medical histories. public reported. ``It's a problem that all the states (that Patients seeking permission to use medical marijuana cited chronic The Department of Health Services issues pain as a debilitating condi- cards that allow patients to use medical tion about marijuana, grow it or both. Those cards must 26,500 times be renewed each year, and those who live from July 2012 through June within 25 miles of an operating dispensary 2013. Officials cannot, in most cases, be allowed to grow say that represents about 73 the drug. percent of Ariallow medical marijuana use) face: Just a zonans who qualified to use the drug.

In addition to gathering more informa- handful of physicians write the certification, Health Services Director Will Humble tions,'' Humble said. ``We've got to start said he wants to continue intensive train- doing a better job to broaden the base ing for doctors who recommend marijuana and I don't mean writing more certifications - but have them be written closer to the in high volumes.

A report by the health department ana- patients' medical home.''

State health officials are also considerlyzed the second year of the state's mediing changing the way they interpret rules cal marijuana program and found that a regarding the distance patients must live small number of physicians write a big share from medical marijuana dispensaries in orof the pot recommendations.

The report stated that 472 physicians der to grow their own pot.

The Department of Health Services iscertified 36,346 patients from July 2012 through June 2013. Three-quarters of pa- sues cards that allow patients to use meditient certifications were issued by naturo- cal marijuana, grow it or both. Those cards pathic physicians, who combine traditional must be renewed each year, and those who medicine and natural approaches in treat- live within 25 miles of an operating dispensary cannot, in most cases, be allowed to ing patients.

The review also found that medical doc- grow the drug.

The controversy is over how the distors certified 6,434 patients while osteopaths certified 2,587 patients. Three homeo- tance is calculated, whether it's ``as the crow flies'' or ``as the car drives.'' State health pathic physicians certified 50 patients.

Humble said he was troubled that so few officials currently interpret the rule as the physicians were writing so many marijuana area within a 25-mile radius of a dispensary.

Many patients and advocates say the recommendations. rule should be interpreted as driving disApproved by voters in 2010, Arizona's medical marijuana program allows people tance. They argue the state's interpretation with certain debilitating medical conditions unfairly covers too much ground and bans to use marijuana. They must obtain a rec- too many people from growing in their homes. -AP

Anchorage Chamber supports Medicaid expansion ANCHORAGE, Alaska: The Anchorage Chamber of Commerce has joined business and health organizations in supporting a Medicaid expansion for Alaska.

The Anchorage Daily News reports the expansion would give health care coverage to about 40,000 uninsured Alaskans.

The Anchorage business organization passed a resolution in support of expanding Medicaid. The statewide Alaska Chamber has passed a similar resolution.

Anchorage Chamber President Andrew Halcro says prevention is the key to reducing health-care costs and the Medicaid ex-

pansion would help a lot of people cover those expenses.

The federal government has promised to pay 100 percent of the cost of expansion for the first three years and 90 percent in 2020 and after.

Halcro says Alaska should support the plan as long as the federal government keeps its promises.

Gov. Sean Parnell initially rejected the expansion, but has said he will reconsider asking the Legislature for funding when he submits his next budget in December. AP

AUGUSTA, Maine: A $312 million new hospital has opened in central Maine, the first new hospital to open in the state in more than 10 years.

MaineGeneral's 640,000-square-foot Alfond Center for Health combines inpatient services of MaineGeneral Medical Center's Thayer campus in Waterville and the East Chestnut Street hospital in Augusta.

Hospital officials and staff have been busily preparing for the hospital's grand opening including practice runs for moving patients to the new location and training 1,700 employees to use the new facility. ``It's incredibly exciting now to see it all come together and see the incredible facility,'' Chuck Hayes, chief executive officer of Maine General Health told the Portland Press Herald. ``It's a dream come true.''

About 150 patients will be moved from the Thayler campus and East Chestnut street hospital to the new facility, officials said.

Construction on the new hospital began in August 2011 and it was completed seven

months earlier than projected. The project is $2 million to $4 million under budget, although there could still be more expenses, Hayes said.

Hays said the Alfond Center for Health is the first hospital to open in Maine since 2001 when the Bridgton Hospital and Mid Coast Hospital opened.

Officials have said the new facility is ex-

Alfond Center for Health

pected to have half the utility bills of the current facilities thanks to energy-saving features like efficient heating/cooling systems and low-water-flow technology. Anticipated energy costs at the new campus are projected at $3.27 per square foot, compared to $7.80 per square foot currently. -AP

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40 India Post

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ll good things in life come in small packets and Gangtok is a good illustration. Be it the rich flora, the beautiful people, or the serene Bud dhist monasteries, this small town, occupies an important position in the itinerary of tourists in search of tranquility from the humdrum of modern life.

The eastern state of Sikkim lies couched between the borders of Nepal and Bhutan. Gangtok became the capital of the state in the 19th century and lies to the south of the district of East Sikkim. It is a hilly town and spreads down the western side of a long ridge flanking the Ranipul River. The entire Kanchenjunga range can be viewed from the town and, in fact, it is worshipped as a local deity. It

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THE ENTIRE KANCHENJUNGA RANGE CAN BE VIEWED FROM THE TOWN AND, IN FACT, IT IS WORSHIPPED AS A LOCAL DEITY. IT IS AT A DISTANCE OF 721 KM FROM CALCUTTA, 584 KM FROM PATNA, 140 KM FROM DARJEELING AND 589 KM FROM GUWAHATI. THE TOWN EXPERIENCES A LOT OF RAINFALL THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND TEMPERATURES ARE MILD

November 15, 2013

is at a distance of 721 km from Calcutta, 584 km from Patna, 140 km from Darjeeling and 589 km from Guwahati.

The town experiences a lot of rainfall throughout the year and temperatures are mild.

Best time to visit is October to March TOURISTATTRACTIONS One of the oft-visited sites of Gangtok is the Namgyal Institute of Tibetology. It was built in 1958 and is a research center for Mahayana Buddhism and Tibetan culture. Besides being a museum of traditional and old artifacts, one can also buy Buddhist religious books and other objects of craft.

Cont’d on page 41

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November 15, 2013

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GANGTOK

Rich flora, beautiful people & view of Kanchenjunga

Ranka Monastery

of Gangtok is the Tsomgo or Changu Lake. Special permits are required to visit this picturesque locale.

Fairs & festivals: Several festivals are celebrated in Gangtok and its adjoining areas.

The Buddhist festival of Bumchu is held in the Tashiding Gompa during January. The festival of Chaam is held in Enchey Gompa during January-February and is marked by dancing. Kagyat Dance is a mask dance held every month at Gangtok, Pemayangtse and Phodong. Losar marks the Tibetan New Year and is celebrated during February-March at Pemayangtse and Rumtek.

Cont’d on page 42

Cont’d from page 41

Nearby is a gompa for young lamas. The Tsuk-La-Khang or Royal Chapel is the main place of worship and assembly for the Buddhists and is huge repertoire

rieties of orchids. There is a larger orchid sanctuary called Orchidarium, off the main road to Rangpo. Near White Hall, there is a Flower Exhibition Center and seasonal flowers, bonsai and orchids are a delight to the eyes. From April

Tsomgo lake

of religious relics. It is open during the Losar festival. Another important monastery is the Enchey Gompa and is worth a visit during the festival season of January to February.

Adjacent to the Namgyal Institute is the Orchid Sanctuary, which is the home of some 500 va-

to June and September to November, one can come here.

PLACES AROUND Located at a distance of 24 km from Gangtok is Rumtek Gompa, which is a rich monastery and abode of the head of the Kagyupa order of Tibetan Buddhism. It is a very famous site and devotees often flock to it throughout the year. Located at a distance of 35 km towards the northeast

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J-K Minister gets peace award by tourism body in London JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir has been honored in London for promoting peace through tourism.

The award was given by World

Travel Market Association (WTMA) to Mir for his appoint-

ment as peace ambassador of South Asia of International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT) at a function in London, a statement said here.

The travel event was attended

by Secretary General UNWTO Dr Taleb Rifai, Martin Craig, Presi-

dent of Pacific Asia Travel Association and other dignitaries.

The Tourism Minister was representing a delegation from the state in the 4-day travel event which saw the participation of 5,000 exhibitors from around the world.

SILK ROAD PROGRAM Speaking in London, Mir said, the Jammu & Kashmir government is keen to participate in UN's Silk Road program and further the cause of tourism and sustainability in the region.

"We are quite keen to be a part of UNWTO's Silk Road Program and are willing to collaborate with regional partners and further the cause of tourism and sustainability and the promotion of peace through tourism in the Great Silk Route," Mir said.

"Let's collaborate, share knowledge and best practices and work

Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Minister Ghulam Ahmed Mir

towards building bridges between cultures and nations in the region to make South Asia, India and Kashmir in particular a more vibrant and successful tourist destination in the world," he said.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization's Silk Road Program aims to enhance sustainable tourism development along the historic Silk Road route.

Mir also appealed to the people of London to tour the state and experience its natural beauty and hospitality of its people.

"Peace is a pre-requisite for flourishing tourism and our state is as safe as other places in the world," he said.

CONFERENCE IN KASHMIR Meanwhile, the International Institute of Peace through Tourism (IIPT) has accepted Mir's proposal to hold a conference on tourism in Kashmir Valley next year.

Louis D'Amore, President and Chairman of International Institute for Peace Through Promotion (IIPT) accepted the invitation and promised to hold the conference in the first half of next year, an official release of the ministry said.

"This initiative will bring international recognition and coverage on tourism and its positive impact on building bridges and its local impact on economy at large," it said. -PTI

GANGTOK Rich flora, beautiful people & view of Kanchenjunga

Cont’d from page 41

Tse Chu is a Buddhist dance held in May at Rumtek. Saga Dawa, held in Gangtok during May, and Drukpa Teshi, celebrated statewide during July, mark Buddha's first teaching. Phang Lhabsol is a mask dance celebrated statewide

during August. Dasain, celebrated statewide during September-October, is marked by gift swapping and animal sacrifice.

How to reach: Road - The busiest route in and out of Sikkim is the road between Gangtok and Siliguri, also the nearest airport and railway station.

November 15, 2013

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North, South preferred year-end tourist destinations BANGALORE: The hospitality industry in India is reporting a significant revival in occupancy rates, industry body Assocham has said.

North and South India were the most preferred tourist destination on year-end, Assocham said in a survey. "....the tourism trade is expecting over 20 lakh tourists to make voyage to renowned tourist destinations of North India, followed

by South- for Christmas & New Year celebrations," it said.

It said the preferred destinations include - Shimla, Kinnaur, Lahaul and districts of Spiti, Chamba, Kangra, Mandi , Nainital, Kullu, Manali, Mussoorie, Dalhousie, Kufri, Kashmir valley in winters with snowfall being the

tourists.

In addition, the recently concluded survey states that top destinations in south would include Udhagamandalam (Ooty), Mysore, Puducherry, Rameswaram and Goa, Mahabaleshwar in west.

The survey was conducted in ten major cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Thiruvanathpuram and Ahemdabad - by interacting with as many as 4,500 people that includes frequent travelers, professionals, travel trade and the agents booking foreign tourists.

Giving an account about the findings of the survey, ASSOCHAM said- out of 4,500 participants, 68 per cent of respondents preferred to visit parts of

Nainital

main attraction.

The survey also pointed out that Rajasthan, as always, will remain a favorite - places like Udaipur, Jaipur, Jodhpur and Bikaner will see a mix of domestic and foreign

northern India to enjoy their New Year festivities expecting mild snowfall.

While 28 per cent of them preferred to visit coastal regions like Goa, Pudducherry, Kerala,

ist industry is booming due to a rush of foreign tourists and increased travel by Indians to domestic destinations, Rawat said, "With the great potential available and the development initiatives taken by the government, Indian inbound tourism has shown a substantial growth in 2012-13."

The report was able to target corporate employees from 18 broad sectors, with maximum share contributed by employees from IT/ ITeS sector (17 per cent). Around 55 per cent of the respondents fall under the age bracket of 20-29 Shimla

Thiruvananthpuram, Rameswaram; 10 per cent desired to visit hill stations like Udhagamandalam, Mahabaleshwar, it added.

Stating that travel trade is showing signs of revival due to improvement in bookings, the survey, quoting hoteliers in the region, said, "....witnessing improvement in bookings both from domestic and overseas travelers."

Commenting on the survey ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat said, "There is steady increase in hotel occupancy mostly in North India and other traditional tourist destinations.

"Festive season and pick up in economy should be given credit for improvement in hotel occupancy and the hotels are cashing in on buoyant festive".

Kutch ideal site for Geo-tourism: Research paper AHMEDABAD: Geo-tourism in Kutch has exemplary potential and this heritage-rich district can be designated as a site for establishment of a National Geopark, according to a research paper by a student of Gujarat Energy and Research Management Institute (GERMI).

The research paper, coauthored by K Swarna of GERMI and S K Biswas of IITKanpur under the guidance of GERMI director Prof T Harinarayana, says the need for development of infrastructure for Geo-tourism is required as the rare geological heritage of Kutch region is eroding and being destroyed due to man-made activities.

The National Geographic Society defines geotourism as tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place - its

environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents.

Gujarat's largest district Kutch has spectacular geological monuments like Rapar-Chitrod road sec-

tion, Bhujia Hill, Goradongar Hill section, Lakhpat section, Khari nadi section from Laiyari to Chhasra, among others, which possess various geological importance.

Harinarayana said, "The paper will be published at the end of this month in Journal of Environmental Protection."

The paper suggests that the project of establishing the National Geopark in Kutch will be unique and it will herald the beginning of Geo-tourism industry in India.

The paper also highlights that the present Gujarat government is unaware of Kutch's rich geological heritage and its economic potential in terms of geotourism. -PTI

The survey indicated that the impact was already being seen by way of 35-40 per cent increase in tariffs for hotel accommodations, as food Kanyakumari & beverage costs are also running up by nearly 30-35 per cent from the bottom witnessed last year.

Highlighting that India's tour-

years, followed by 30-39 years (26 per cent), 40-49 years (16 per cent), 50-59 years (2 per cent) and 60-69 years (approx. 1 per cent). -PTI

Collective landing permits for tourists NEW DELHI: In a move expected to give a boost to tourism, the government has allowed collective landing permits for foreign tourists arriving in groups.

As per the latest notification issued by the Home Ministry, the facility of collective landing permit for group tourists will be available at major airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Thiruvanathapuram, Goa and Kochi.

Seaports in Marmagoa (Goa), Kochi, Calicut, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Nhava Sheva, Chennai and Kolkata will also have the facility.

"This is a tourist-friendly

move and will help in increasing the number of foreign tourists coming to the country," Indian Association of Tour Operators president Subhash Goyal told PTI. However, Goyal said the government should now allow e-visa system to facilitate tourists visiting the country.

Tourism Minister K Chiranjeevi welcomed the Home Ministry notification.

The facility of collective landing permits would be available to nationals of all countries except Afghanistan, China, Ethiopia, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and foreign nationals of Pakistani origin. -PTI

In Brief Extortion blamed for surge of refugees to Texas SAN BENITO, Texas: A South Texas immigrant shelter has seen a surge of women and children because of a wave of gang violence that has swept over Central America.

Sister Zita Telkamp is director of La Posada Providencia in San Benito, about 20 miles northwest of Brownsville. She tells the Valley Morning Star of Harlingen that more than 300 men, women and children sought shelter there over the past two months, more than in any year previously.

She says the migrants are fleeing a wave of gang-related extortion. The shelter scheduled a fundraiser to help meet the crush.

Telkamp says Central American extortionists demand money from the families and threaten to burn their homes or kill them if the demand isn't met.

Telkamp says the US government has granted the refugees documents. -AP

10 Indians arrested in UK for immigration offences LONDON: At least 10 Indians were arrested by British authorities following a dawn raid targeting suspected illegal workers at a Leicester factory.

About 20 border agency officials and police officers were involved in the operation at Spring Shades Ltd in Friday Street.

They sealed off the exits, launching their raid to coincide with the factory's shift swap.

And at the end of the threehour operation, a total of eight workers out of 40 at the factory had been arrested, The Leicester Mercury reported.

Following, the initial raid, officers carried out searches at two homes in Leicester, where two more people were arrested on suspicion of immigration offences.

Alison Spowage, assistant director for immigration enforcement in the East Midlands, said: "This was a large scale operation targeting suspected illegal working in Leicester."

"Employers who flout the law will not be tolerated.

Illegal working is unfair on honest employers and takes jobs away from those with a legal right to work."

All 10 of the men arrested were between the ages 20 and 54.

As well being suspected of working illegally in the UK, four of the 10 arrested were also being questioned on suspicion of possessing false documents. -PTI

Immigration 44 India Post

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30 women arrested at GOP immigration rally

Details on page 46

3.5 per cent decline in Indian students studying in US WASHINGTON: The number of Indian students studying in the US has witnessed a 3.5 per cent decline in the 2012-13 academic year due to the sharp devaluation in the Indian rupee.

A total of 96,754 students from India were studying in the US in 2012-13, down by 3.5 percent from the previous year, thus marking three consecutive years of decline, a report said.

India, which was the leading place of origin for international students in the US from 2001-02 through 2008-09, however, retained the top spot after China, said the Educational Exchange Data from Open Doors 2013 released by the Institute of International Education (IIE).

Students from the top three places of origin - China, India, and South Korea - now represent 49 per cent of the total number of international students in the United States, with the number from China increasing, and the numbers from India and South Korea declining.

The number of Chinese stu-

dents flocking to the US colleges and universities in the United States has however helped the country to reach a record high of 8,19,644 international students,

undergraduate level.

US students studying abroad increased by three per cent to an all-time high of more than 2,83,000.

India remains the second largest sending country to the US, with only China sending more students.

an increase of seven per cent in the 2012-13 academic year.

Chinese student enrolments increased by 21 per cent in total to almost 2,35,000 students, and increased by 26 per cent at the

"It is getting more expensive for Indian students to study outside of their own country due to decreases in the value of the Rupee. However, there is every indication that those who do study

abroad continue to see the United States as their first choice for study abroad", said Rajika Bhandari, IIE's deputy vice president for Research and Evaluation.

India remains the second largest sending country to the US, with only China sending more students, she explained.

"The United States remains the leading destination for students from India who study outside of their own country, followed by the United Kingdom and Australia. In 2012-13, about 97,000 Indian students studied in the US. The United States hosted nearly three times as many Indian students as the UK, and more than five times as many Indian students as Australia has been hosting in recent years," Bhandari said.

India is number 12 on the list of destinations for American students studying abroad, and continues to receive more US students each year, Bhandari said, adding that in the most recent data year, 2011-12, about 4,600 American students went to India.

Cont'd on Page 46

‘No House votes on immigration this year’ WASHINGTON: The thirdranking House Republican told immigration advocates that lawmakers will not vote this year on the issue, confirming what many had long assumed.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy said in a meeting with immigration proponents that there weren't enough days left for the Republican-led House to act and he was committed to addressing overhaul of the nation's immigration system next year. The congressman's office confirmed what he said.

Angelica Salas, the board chairwoman for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, described her conversation with McCarthy in a conference call with reporters and a subsequent interview with The Associated Press. ``What he said was, there's

13 days left, it's very hard to do anything in 13 days,'' Salas said of McCarthy.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy

The House returns next week after a weeklong break, but only has a few legislative days remaining.

The Senate passed a comprehensive bill in June that would provide a path to citizenship for the 11 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally and tighten border security, but piecemeal bills in the House have languished since the summer.

Salas and about a dozen women occup i e d McCarthy's California office to increase the pressure on the Republican to move ahead on immigration legislation. Around 11 p.m. that night, McCarthy and his wife, Judy, met with the group pro-

testing the delay. ``He said, `Ladies, I hear you want to talk to me. This is just not the way to do it,''' Salas recalled. She said McCarthy and the group spoke for about an hour, and the women explained that while they appreciated his support for immigration reform, it was imperative for the House to act as soon as possible. ``This is about political will to do what is right,'' Salas said. ``This is what we're challenging.''

Most House Republicans reject a comprehensive approach as well as the Senate bill, with many questioning the offer of citizenship to people who broke U.S. immigration laws to be in this country. The House Judiciary Committee has moved forward with individual, single-issue immigration bills.

Cont'd on Page 46

Immigration Post

November 15, 2013

India Post 45

www.indiapost.com

Matter of Douglas sets a precedent-II DAVID A. ISAACSON

Continued from last week

T

he BIA chose to follow Matter of Baires, rather than Jordon and Bagot, and so found Mr. Douglas to be a U.S. citizen and terminated his removal proceedings. Under Brand X, as the BIA explained, an administrative agency such as the BIA can sometimes be entitled to "Chevron deference" pursuant to

eral "last arrival" even when that last arrival followed a relatively brief trip outside the United States pursuant to advance parole granted by immigration authorities (which the Second Circuit had held would not restart the one-year clock).

The proceedings underlying Matter of F-P-R-, however, appear to have taken place in the Ninth Circuit, not the Second, see 24 I&N

Believing that its interpretation in Baires was a reasonable interpretation of the statute, and that Jordon and Bagot had not interpreted the statute to be unambiguous, the BIA concluded that under Brand X it could and would follow Baires, rather that Jordon and Bagot Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., 467 U.S. 837 (1984) regarding its interpretation of a statute, even when there has been a prior court interpretation of the statute going the other way, so long as that court did not find that the statute unambiguously supported its interpretation.

Believing that its interpretation in Baires was a reasonable interpretation of the statute, and that Jordon and Bagot had not interpreted the statute to be unambiguous, the BIA concluded that under Brand X it could and would follow Baires, rather that Jordon and Bagot, even in the Third Circuit.

It appears that this may be the first time that the BIA has explicitly relied on Brand X to rule in favor of the immigrant respondent.

The BIA has, to be sure, previously rejected Court of Appeals case law that it thought to be incorrect in favor of a more immigrant-friendly approach.

In Matter of F-P-R-, 24 I&N Dec. 681 (BIA 2008), for example, the BIA declined to follow the Second Circuit's decision in JoaquinPorras v. Gonzales, 435 F.3d 172 (2d Cir 2006), and held that the one-year period in which a timely application for asylum may be made runs from the applicant's lit-

Dec. at 682 (referring to "the absence of any controlling decisions on the issue from either the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit or the Board"), and so the BIA did not have to determine whether it would follow Joaquin-Porras within the Second Circuit. Here, in contrast, the BIA held that it would not follow Jordon and Bagot even within the Circuit that had decided them.

And while there was a footnote in the BIA's acclaimed decision in Matter of Arrabally and Yerrabelly, 25 I&N Dec. 771 (BIA 2012) (regarding travel on advance parole by one who has accrued unlawful presence) that could be read as pointing in this direction, the BIA

I&N Dec. at 775 n.6. It appears that Matter of Douglas may be the first BIA decision to go flatly against a contrary Circuit precedent under Brand X and do so to the benefit of the immigrant respondent.

The possibility of using Brand X as a force for good has been raised before, notably by Gary Endelman and Cyrus D. Mehta in their articles on "The Tyranny of Priority Dates" and "Comprehensive Immigration Reform Through Executive Fiat", as well as their post on this blog which explained how the BIA's decision in Matter of Zeleniak, 26 I&N Dec. 158 (BIA 2013), implementing the Supreme Court's striking down of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act in United States v. Windsor, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), effectively overruled the Ninth Circuit's earlier decision in Adams v. Howerton, 637 F.3d 1036 (9th Cir. 1982) in regard to recognition of same-sex marriages for immigration purposes.

Like Matter of F-P-R-, however, Matter of Zeleniak had not explicitly relied on Brand X. In this regard, Matter of Douglas is a significant step forward.

Of course, Brand X is not always a force for good. Less than a year ago, for example, the BIA decided in Matter of M-H-, 26 I&N Dec. 46 (BIA 2012), that it would disregard the Third Circuit's decision in Alaka v. Att'y Gen., 456 F.3d 88 (3d Cir. 2006), and follow its own prior decision in Matter of N-A-

Now that the BIA has acknowledged in Matter of Douglas that Brand X is not a one-way ratchet and can also work in favor of immigrants, however, it is important for practitioners to keep Brand X in mind when they are faced with unfavorable Court of Appeals case law in Arrabally made much of the fact that it was addressing an aspect of the law that the petitioner in the Third Circuit's previous decision in Cheruku v. Att'y Gen., 662 F.3d 198 (3d Cir. 2011) had not challenged, see Matter of Arrabally, 25

M-, 24 I&N Dec. 336 (BIA 2007), so as to consider even some crimes that are not aggravated felonies as "particularly serious crimes" which can bar withholding of removal.

The merits of Matter of M-H-

(which this author considers dubious) are beyond the scope of this blog post, but it is only one example of the fact that the BIA can seek to rely on Brand X to strip applicants for relief of protection that a Court of Appeals has given them.

Also within the last year, the BIA invoked Brand X in Matter of Cortes Medina, 26 I&N Dec. 79 (BIA 2013), to find that violation of California Penal Code 314(1), regarding indecent exposure, was categorically a crime involving moral turpitude, despite the contrary decision of the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in Nunez v. Holder, 594 F.3d 1124 (9th Cir. 2010).

Nor are these the only examples; an exhaustive list of all instances in which Brand X has

been invoked by the BIA to the advantage of the Department of Homeland Security and the disadvantage of an immigrant would unnecessarily lengthen this blog post.

Now that the BIA has acknowledged in Matter of Douglas that Brand X is not a one-way ratchet and can also work in favor of immigrants, however, it is important for practitioners to keep Brand X in mind when they are faced with unfavorable Court of Appeals case law interpreting an ambiguous immigration statute.

Especially where existing BIA case law in other circuits is more favorable, an unfavorable Court of Appeals decision in a particular circuit need not be the last word.

Concluded

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2335 W. Devon Ave., Suite 204, Tel: 773-381-1820 Chicago, IL 60659

Immigration Post

46 India Post

November 15, 2013

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Legless cyclist rides for asylum seekers EL PASO, Texas: Carlos Gutierrez passed out as the large blade cut through his legs - punishment for his refusal to pay a Mexican gang extortion fees from his successful catering business in northern Mexico.

Four men had forced him into the back of his vehicle at a local park before slicing just under his knees. He spent two weeks in critical condition and sought asylum in Texas as soon as he was able.

Now, facing long odds on getting approval to stay in the U.S., Gutierrez has been staging an unusual demonstration to call attention to his plight and to the thousands of other Mexicans who seek asylum in the U.S. each year from drug cartel violence, with little success. Gutierrez has been riding his bicycle through Texas using his prosthetic legs, talking to everyone he meets. ``If someone from Cuba or from Venezuela can get asylum, why not someone from Mexico?'' said Gutierrez, who spent nearly two weeks on his 800-mile bicycle trek from El Paso to Central Texas.

U.S. law allows asylum for those who have credible fear of persecution based on their race, religion, national origin, political status or membership in a particular social group.

But Mexican asylum seekers

have struggled to convince U.S. courts they fit in any of these categories, with approval rates running 1 to 2 percent. By contrast, more than a fourth of immigrants

Along the way townspeople came out from shops and houses to wave and talk with him during rest stops. The 35-year-old endured rain, strong winds, flat tires and fatigue. On the fifth day, a prosthetic specialist met him to adjust his legs because he was bruising and blistering. ``There were times when we thought it'd be best to have him rest, to drive him to the next town to let his legs recover, but he'd say, `No,''' said Jaqueline Armendariz, a member of the support team for the ride to Austin. ``He has a mission.''

Gutierrez said he never considered quitting.

It doesn't matter, he Cyclist Carlos Gutierrez, a double amputee, is followed by news media as he pushes his bike said, ``how grave your during a stop, Nov, 7 in San Antonio. wound was. What matters is that you get from other Latin American coun- up. I have no legs, but I am on my tries such as Colombia and Venezu- feet.'' ela were granted asylum last year.

The U.S. Executive Office for Many can cite ethnic or political Immigration Review did not spegrounds. cifically comment on Gutierrez's Since he hopped on his bicycle case. However, immigration judges in El Paso on Oct. 28, Gutierrez has have acknowledged in court that been making his case for a change asylum cases based on fear of in the system. His journey ends in crime or violence are difficult to Austin. make.-AP

3.5 per cent decline in Indian students studying in US Cont'd from Page 44

More efforts are needed to promote India as a destination and to encourage students from a wide variety of disciplines including business, public health, science and engineering as well as from the humanities to consider study abroad and internships there, she said.

Currently, students from India make up approximately 11.8 per cent of the total foreign student population in the United States.

"The role of the US government is to serve as a catalyst for greater cooperation between US and Indian academic institutions and to encourage the private sector to provide financial support that will broaden, deepen, and diversify the pool of candidates for international educational exchange and internships,"

Bhandari said.

In 2000-01 there was a surge in enrollments from India, with an increase of 30 per cent, followed by two more years of strong

The first US-India Higher Education Dialogue took place in Washington DC in June 2012 and highlighted the existing strong exchange programs between the US and India growth (12 per cent in 2002-03 and 7 per cent in 2003-04).

The increases tapered off in 2004-05 and then decreased slightly in 2005-06, before resum-

ing much larger increases in 200607 and for the next two years. In 2009-10, the increases leveled off, and China became the top sender and remains in that position.

The first US-India Higher Education Dialogue took place in Washington DC in June 2012 and highlighted the existing strong exchange programs between the US and India and identified areas of potential growth, IIE president Allan Goodman said.

The second HED took place in June this year in New Delhi.

"New opportunities under discussion include partnerships with community colleges, building internet-based collaboration and faculty exchanges," she said, adding, initiatives to build education ties between the US and India include the Obama-Singh 21st Century Knowledge Initiative and Passport to India. -PTI

30 women arrested at GOP immigration rally BELLEVUE, Wash: In an effort The women were arrested beto keep attention on the stalled im- cause they refused to leave the ofmigration reform efforts in Con- fices of the state Republican Party gress, more than 30 women were - a charge of trespassing, said arrested at a rally inside the Wash- Bellevue Police spokeswoman ington state Republican Party headquarters in Bellevue. Among the arrested was the wife of outgoing Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, Peggy Lynch.

Dozens of demonstrators, including some elderly women on scooters, were there with guitar, banners and drums to cheer on Lynne Dodson, with the Washington State the women being arrested as they were walked from Labor Council, in scarf, is the first arrested the office building to wait- during immigration reform protest, Nov. 7, at Washington State Republican Party Headquaring Bellevue police patrol ters in Bellevue. cars and vans.

We're here to ``highlight that Carla Iafrate. women can't wait for reform,'' said The new chair the Washington Rachael DeCruz, a spokeswoman State Republican Party, Susan for the organizers. ``So we're es- Hutchison, was in Washington calating pressure and bringing the D.C., but said in a statement she pressure back home to district agrees the immigration system where it matters.'' needs to be reformed.-AP

No House votes on immigration this year, say Republicans Cont'd from Page 44

House could lose out in final negotiations.

The Senate bill, strongly backed by the White House, includes billions for border security, a reworked legal immigration system to allow tens of thousands of high- and low-skilled workers into the country and a 13-year path to citizenship for those living here illegally.

Erica Elliott, a spokeswoman for McCarthy, said that he ``supports fixing our broken immigration system. He also believes that it is incumbent upon all participants in the debate to work together to address immigration reform on an issue-by-issue basis rather than demanding that any reform only happen in the context of a mas- Although House Republican sive bill that fails leaders say they want to resolve to appropriately the issue, many rank-and-file address the underlying problems House Republicans have shown plaguing the cur- little inclination to deal with rent process.''

A l t h o u g h immigration.

House Republican leaders say The conference call was sponthey want to resolve the issue, sored by America's Voice, an adwhich has become a political drag vocacy group. for the party, many rank-and-file Details of McCarthy's converHouse Republicans have shown sation comes as the U.S. Conferlittle inclination to deal with immi- ence of Catholic Bishops stepped gration. The bitter standoff with up pressure on the House to act President Barack Obama on the on immigration legislation before budget and near default further an- the end of the year, calling the isgered House Republicans, who sue ``a matter of great moral urhave resisted any move that might gency'' that cannot wait. give Obama an immigration overCardinal Timothy Dolan, the haul, the top item on his second- archbishop of New York, said in a term domestic agenda. letter to Republican House Many House Republicans also Speaker John Boehner that he was are wary of passing any immigra- troubled by reports that immigration legislation that would set up tion reform is delayed in the House a conference with the Democratic- since lawmakers have a responsicontrolled Senate, fearing the bility to resolve the issue. -AP

Horoscope

November 15, 2013

India Post

47

www.indiapost.com

Your Weekly Future

by Pandit Parashar

NOBEMBER 15 TH - NOVEMBER 21 ST, 2013 (March 21 to April 20)

Problems will be followed by easy and excellent solutions. Strong Saturn in seventh will keep you way ahead of your competitors. There will be considerable improvement in affairs related to a child and the goal is not too far off. Some of you will be going on an interesting business trip. Meetings will take you closer to someone important.

(April 21 to May 20)

You may be entangled in cleaning up the mess created by others. If you are not careful you will be blamed for mistakes. You will continue to make progress on your effort to buy a property. New friend you make during the trip will be very helpful in the future. Spouse may buy some artistic item for the home.

(July 23 to August 22)

It will cost you dearly but at least the job will be done. Weather may have some negative effect on health. Business partners will come up with a new deal but take your time to go through it before you make the commitment. You will be in market to change an old vehicle with a newer model.

(August 23 to September 22)

Business will be slightly slow and you will be making some desperate moves to obtain new contracts. Going cheap is not the way out. Try to make good use of extra time on hand and stay in touch with friends and close relations. A child will finally make up his mind and declare the field he wants to go after graduation.

(September 23 to October 22)

(May 21 to June 20)

You may become little uncertain about a relationship started recently.

Expenses will not leave you alone and you may be charging on your cards heavily. Be very diplomatic when dealing with a close relative otherwise there will be unrest in the house. Hard work will pay off in long term and you should continue to work on this new idea.

(June 21 to July 22)

You will continue to make progress in your efforts to find a better job.

Results will come positive and will cause big excitements in the family. In laws will send some nice and expensive gifts. You will give the final touch to some important paperwork and wait few days to file them. Little exercise will bring the desired change.

Things will once again start rolling into right direction. You will overcome many hurdles and make it a very fruitful week. Some of you may get offer from a distant place. You will meet all financial commitments and still have some left. You will miss someone who was at one time very close to you in life.

(October 23 to November 22)

Do not sign any paper in a hurry and try to be little diplomatic if you want to get the job done. You will take some very courageous actions in professional life. Results will be instant and positive. There is some money coming through stocks or lottery.

(November 23 to December 22)

You will spend money on some fine quality items for personal use.

Boss may assign you additional work. You will spend more hours on computer writing mails to different people and organizations. Some of you may even decide to take a short term course to update your knowledge and improve your chances in challenging field.

(December 22 to January 19)

Your talents will be recognized and you will be surrounded by admirers at the event. Friend will call and invite you for get together. You will attend an important business meeting this week and exchange lots of information with other side. Spouse may not keep well and may need little rest. Children will be a source of happiness.

(January 20 to February 18)

You will enjoy company of a new person. Park your vehicle at proper place and avoid taking chance with law for next few weeks. You will start paying more attention to yourself and may buy new cloths also.

People looking for job will have better luck and will be called for second interview. Too many bills coming in mail.

(February 19 to March 20)

You will call a close relative who recently returned from trip overseas.

You will be working with a new colleague who is just starting his career. Irregular food habit will cause burning sensation in stomach all the times. You may start helping spouse in the house also. A child will need more attention and help with studies.

Datebook

48 India Post

November 15, 2013

www.indiapost.com

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Upcoming

ILLINOIS

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Upcoming

Sat, Nov 16 • Guldasta-E-Ghazal

Fri, Nov 15 • The World Remembers Michael Jackson

Venue: PRPAC, 36 Pine Ridge Dr, EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ Time: 4:30 pm Contact: 732-570-3332

Venue: Club Pyramid, 101 Avenue A, NEW YORK, NY Time: 8:30 pm

Sun, Nov 17

Sun, Nov 17 • Antar Yatra by Kumar Raj

• Discourses On Vedanta Venue: DISCOURSES ON VEDANTA, 4 Toboggan Ridge, Saddle River, NJ 07458 Time: 6:30 pm Contact: 732 469 0799

Sat, Nov 17 • Full length Comedy Play Venue: Montomery Upper Middle School, 375 Burnt Hill Rd, Montgomery, NJ 08558 Time: 9:00 pm Contact: 732-387-3557

Sat, Nov 16 • HTHF Diwali Cultural Program

Sat, Nov 16

• J K Yog Satsang and Bal

• GANAMALIKA - Worship Arts Festival

Venue: Clifton Middle School (AUDITORIUM on Palm Avenue), 226 S Ivy Ave, Monrovia, CA 91016 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: : (626)-808-5457

Venue: Carrington Hall, 1201 Brewster Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94062 Contact: 310-421-2222

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

Gandharva Venue: Colden Center Auditorium ( Queens College), 65-30 Kissena Blvd, , NY 11367 Time: 7:30 pm Contact: 516-413-2053

Sat, Nov 23 • Runway Princess - the Super Model pageant Venue: Manhattan Center - Grand Ballroom, 311 W 34th Street, New York, NY 10001 Time: 6:00 pm Contact: 201-610-0666

ATLANTA

Sun, Nov 17 • Cry Walk 2013 - Los

Upcoming

Angeles Venue: Santa Monica Beach, 2000-2054 N Ocean Avenue, Santa Monica, CA 90405 Time: 8:30 am

Sat, Nov 23 • Yogasanas (Hata Yoga) program Venue: The Beverly Garland / Holiday Inn, 4222 Vineland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 91602 Time: 9:00 am Contact: (323) 939-7098

Fri, Nov 22 • Comedy Show with Kashif Khan Venue: Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill Road, Lilburn, GA 30047 Time: 8:30 pm Contact: 770-633-0662

Sat, Nov 30 • UCarnival Atlanta 2013 Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Atlanta - Marietta, 2055 S Park Pl, Atlanta,

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

GA 30339

Sat, Dec 7 • Operation Gratitude Millionth Package Celebration Venue: National Guard Armory, 17330 Victory Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 91406 Time: 9:00 am

Time: 11:00 am

Mondays and Fridays

Fri, Dec 6 • Akshaya Raaga 2013

• Free ESL - English as Second Language Classes Where: Metropolitan Asian Family Services

Venue: Taste of India, 3070 Windward Plaza, Alpharetta, GA 30005 Time: 6:00 pm

Sun, Dec 8 • Chennai

Diamonds Jewellery Exhibition

Venue: Sheraton Cerritos Hotel, 12725 Center Court Drive, Cerritos, CA 90703 Time: 11:00 am Contact: 044 4210 4050

Tue, Dec 31 • Pujari Atlanta New Year Eve Venue: Ashiana banquet hall, 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd, Norcross, GA 30071 Time: 8:00 pm

Venue: 9015 N Milwaukee Ave, Niles, IL, Time: 10:30am to 12:30pm Contact: 773-465-3105

Every third Tuesday • Hindi Kavi Manch Organized by Hindi Lovers Club Venue: Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago Lemont Il...0915 Lemont Road IL Time: 6:00 to 8:30 pm

November 15, 2013

www.indiapost.com

India Post 49

„

Realty Tidbits

Parsvnath to monetize land assets in Southwest

NEW DELHI: Realty firm Parsvnath Developers says it plans to monetize non-core land parcel in South-West India either through joint ventures with local builders or outright sale of plots.

It is targeting to become a debt-free company by end of 2014-15 fiscal mainly on the back of revenues generated from two commercial projects in the national capital.

"We have some assets in Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Goa, Mysore and Palghat. We are looking to monetize these assets or form joint venture with local developer," Parsvnath Developers Chairman Pradeep Jain told reporters here.

Parsvnath has 85 acres land in Kochi, of which 50 per cent has already been notified as Special Economic Zone and process for the next half is in progress. It has 35 acres in Chennai and 75 acre in Mysore. -PTI

„ Macon church may be razed for doughnut shop MACON, Ga.: Preservationists in Macon are opposing plans to demolish a historic downtown church to make room for a doughnut shop.

The congregation of the century-old Tremont Temple Baptist Church moved out of the brick building in 2007, saying problems with leaks, mold and termites had rendered it unusable for church services and too expensive to maintain. They plan to sell the building to a developer who has filed plans with the city to build a Dunkin Donuts on the church property. ``It would be a major loss if it's torn down,'' Josh Rogers, director of the Historic Macon Foundation, told WMAZ-TV (http:// on.wmaz.com/1hpVBBE). ``Macon has too little African American architecture that has been saved. Once it's gone, it's irreplaceable.''-AP

Real Estate 50

India Post

www.indiapost.com

$4 million home sale marks Santa Fe's highest this year

November 15, 2013

Details on Page 51

5 housing trends in Fall 2013 POLYANA DA COSTA

H

ome prices won't climb as fast this fall as they had been rising. But sellers need not worry: This is still their market.

Still, this fall brings good news for homebuyers: They have been granted some extra time to grab low mortgage rates. Lenders now regard buyers as their golden customers. Even people who lost their homes to foreclosure or short sale may get a second chance to get a mortgage to buy a house again.

If you are still paying a higher interest rate on your mortgage, this is really your last chance to refinance.

For homeowners who have already refinanced but are thinking of cashing out some of that equity, think twice. But if you really want to cash out, home equity loans are making a comeback.

Here are five housing trends you should expect to see this fall.

HOME PRICES CHILL After a strong summer homebuying season, the housing market is likely to cool off in coming months.

That doesn't mean buyers will no longer face competition when bidding on homes, or that prices will drop. But the end of warm weather, coupled with higher mortgage rates, will probably slow the housing frenzy, says Robert Dorsey, chief data analytics officer for FNC, a real estate valuation company.

"Price increases, which had been really robust, seem to be slowing down a little," Dorsey says. "As we go into the fall and winter, there is a seasonal decrease in home sales.

The economy has been stagnant

and interest rates are increasing. I think there will be reduction in price increases and demand."

This is good news for homebuyers. While the inventory of homes for sale remains tight, potential homebuyers will get a bit of extra time to find the home they want without the pressure of watching home prices shoot up.

"Now that the cash cow has been milked, they have to build up their pipelines for purchases."

The average credit score for loans that closed in August has dropped to 734, according to data compiled by Ellie Mae, a mortgage technology firm. That's the lowest average score since the company started tracking the data in

Should you wait and see if prices eventually drop? No, Dorsey says.

"We may have a period of flat prices, but they will likely continue to go up," he says. "I don't think home prices in general are going to go down. Plus, you will likely get a lower interest rate today than in six months."

August 2011. About 31 percent of the mortgages closed had a score below 700. A year ago, only 15 percent of the loans fell below that threshold.

But it remains to be seen how much the standards will be loosened, given the new mortgage regulations that go into effect next year.

STANDARDS LOOSEN UP FOR BUYERS As mortgage rates rise, lenders will no longer see homeowners lining up to refinance their mortgages. Their golden customers now are homebuyers, and they will do whatever it takes to attract as much business from homebuyers as possible.

Expect underwriting standards to loosen up in coming months as lenders turn their attention to buyers, says Anthony Sanders, professor of real estate and finance at George Mason University. Lenders also are likely to offer incentives and reduce loan fees to entice more buyers, Sanders adds.

"I think banks have gotten crushed because of the decline in refinancing," Sanders says.

DISTRESSED BUYERS GO AFTER A SECOND CHANCE A lot of people lost their homes to foreclosure or short sale in the last few years. If these people can

show that a job loss, or reduction in income, was responsible for losing the home, they can apply sooner for an FHA-insured mortgage.

The FHA previously required a three-year wait after the foreclosure to apply for a new loan. The FHA now makes exceptions, shortening the wait time to one year for borrowers who lost their jobs or income, and whose credit was tainted as a result.

"It's not one of those programs where everyone qualifies, but it's a really good program for people who lost their jobs because of the economy," says Scott Schang, manager for Broadview Mortgage Katella in Orange, Calif.

To qualify for the program, borrowers must present documentation showing they lost at least 20 percent of their income for six months and that they were able to get back on their feet and pay their bills on time for at least one year, he says.

"You absolutely have to have all your documentation, including unemployment benefit documents (and) bank statements showing the income loss," he says.

There's no shortage of buyers interested in the program, but they should make sure they really are financially prepared to own a home again before applying for the loan, says Ed Conarchy, mortgage planner for Cherry Creek Mortgage in Gurnee, Ill. "Just because you can do something, it doesn't mean you should," he says.

Real Estate Post

November 15, 2013

India Post 51

www.indiapost.com

$4 million home sale marks Santa Fe's highest this year SANTA FE, N.M.: Brian Tercero grew up in a home built by his father on family property in the historic Village of Agua Fria, a long way from Santa Fe's pricey east-side neighborhoods.

But Tercero, an agent at Keller Williams Realty, was one of the real estate agents involved in the highest-priced residential property sale so far in 2013 - a $4 million, 5,200square-foot home at 1260 Upper Canyon Road.

Tercero represented the buyers, who lived outside the United States and shopped for properties with him over the Internet. The listing agent for the home was Paige Maxwell of Sotheby's International Real Estate, who said the sale was also her biggest ever and a sign that the luxury market in Santa Fe is healthy. ``We've had an abundance of inventory in that market, but starting in October, the luxury market has really seen an increase in sales and showings,'' she said.

Tercero agreed, saying the allcash sale was watched by other agents and builders as an indication that homes on the historic east side are still appealing. ``There are a lot of prominent high-end builders watching this deal. It will impact the market sig-

nificantly,'' Tercero said.

With more than 8,000 Twitter followers and a knack for Internet marketing, Tercero said the sale means much more to him: that a

High School, Tercero went on to earn a bachelor's degree in information technology at the University of New Mexico. He worked as the Web developer for Prudential

The 5,200-square-foot home at 1260 Upper Canyon Road sold for $4 million in the city’s highest-priced residential property sale this year.

Santa Fe local can deliver high-end buyers and succeed in real estate without leaving his hometown. ``We just didn't want to leave Santa Fe,'' said the fifth-generation resident who married his high school sweetheart. ``There are ways to stay here if you want to, and real estate has done that for me.''

After graduating from Capital

Real Estate for nine years. During that time, he saw the business change - and witnessed how the reach of the Internet and search analytics transformed the way homes were marketed. In 2010, he took classes and got a real estate license. ``I never had a sales job. I never sold a home in my life,'' he said.

Tercero did, however, grow up

US seeks $864M from BofA over loans NEW YORK: Federal prosecutors want Bank of America Corp. to pay about USD 864 million over losses incurred by the government after it bought thousands of home loans made by Countrywide Financial during the housing boom.

US attorney Preet Bharara made the request in documents filed with

The panel also returned the verdict against Countrywide and a former executive, Rebecca Mairone.

The trial related to mortgages the government said were sold at break-neck speed without regard to quality as the economy headed into a tailspin.

the US District Court in Manhattan.

A jury last month found Bank of America Corp., which acquired Countrywide in 2008, liable for knowingly selling thousands of bad home loans to the government-run mortgage buyers, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, between August 2007 and May 2008.

The government had accused the financial institutions of urging workers to churn out loans, accept fudged applications and hide ballooning defaults through a loan program called the Hustle, shorthand for high-speed swim lane, which operated under the motto, "Loans Move Forward, Never Backward."

Bank of America, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, denied there was fraud.

Thousands of loans made through the Hustle program were sold to Fannie and Freddie, which packaged loans into securities and sold them to investors. The companies were effectively nationalized in 2008 when they nearly collapsed from mortgage losses.

In the filing, Bharara asked the court to make the penalty on BofA equal to the maximum losses racked up from the Hustle program by Fannie and Freddie.

Bank of America spokesman Lawrence Grayson said that the lender plans to respond to the government's penalty filing before a November 20 deadline.

"We believe the filing overstates the volume of loans and the appropriate measure of damages arising from one narrow Countrywide program that lasted several months and ended before Bank of America acquired the company," he said.

Bharara also wants the court to impose a penalty on Mairone, who prosecutors say was the driving force behind the Hustle program, that is in line with her ability to pay. -AP

with an entrepreneurial spirit he got in part from his grandfather, Amarante Romero, a lifelong Agua Fria resident who died Aug. 31.

Romero was dubbed the unofficial mayor of the village and operated a small gas station and grocery store that became the center of chatter and politics in the community. The store was attached to the family home, and Tercero, as well as other family members, helped around the business.

So it didn't seem like a leap when Tercero decided to join Keller Williams Realty in Santa Fe and partner with Dale Heinemann, a veteran agent who specializes in ranch properties and shares Tercero's philosophy about the use of video, the Internet and technology.

Tercero signed an agreement not to disclose the names of the buyers on the $4 million sale. But he said they found him through his website in January. Tercero kept in contact through email for several months - sending them information about properties and using his iPhone to shoot video of homes. The buyers had lived in Santa Fe part time and were looking to relocate here full time, so they were familiar with the city and even had a builder, Nick Ritter, with

whom Tercero consulted about property choices.

He first took a video of the Upper Canyon Road property in May and sent it to the buyers via email.

The couple liked the home and location, but they thought it was too pricey.

A $1 million price cut in early September got their attention.

They came to see the home for the first time at an open house a few weeks later and things moved quickly after that.

Since New Mexico is a nondisclosure state for real estate transactions and sale prices are not public record, there is no definitive source on what homes sell for, except those included in the MLS database by the Santa Fe Association of Realtors. And not all sales are included, especially those on the high end, where both buyers and sellers might want privacy.

Longtime real estate agents believe the most expensive residential property (excluding ranches) ever sold in Santa Fe was the 20-acre Sol y Sombra property that once was owned by Georgia O'Keeffe and sold to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2000. The asking price was $12.2 million.-AP

Bama Greeks in $202 million building boom TUSCALOOSA, Ala.: New multimillion-dollar mansions with white columns, wide balconies and grand foyers line the streets at the University of Alabama, and more are under construction to accommodate the school's booming en-

massive expansion serves only to consolidate their power.

Records provided to The Associated Press by the university show that Alabama's Greek-letter social groups have undergone a $202 million building boom over the past decade that's left the school with what one study say is the nation's largest Greek system.

Construction or expansion of about 30 houses is being financed by using public debt to provide Guests and residents of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity loans that are gather on the lawn prior to an NCAA college football game repaid by priin Tuscaloosa, Ala. New fraternity and sorority houses vate groups, with white columns, wide balconies and grand foyers line university offistreets around the University of Alabama, and still more of cials say. the multimillion-dollar mansions are under construction.

The result is a public univerrollment and record membership in sity campus dotted with palatial Greek-letter groups. homes that provide desperately But with the powerful Greek needed housing for thousands of system embroiled in controversy students on a campus that's spillover claims of racism and election- ing over its historic boundaries.eering, some wonder whether the AP

52

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Notice is hereby given that sealed competitive bids will be accepted at the Alameda County Social Service Agency, Finance Dept - Contracts Office, 2000 San Pablo Ave., 4th Floor Oakland, CA 94612 NON-MANDATORY NETWORKING BIDDERS CONFERENCES for RFP #SWEP 20132014, Subsidized Wage Employment Program South County: Monday, November 18, 2013 at 10:00 AM, REACH Ashland Youth Center, Ashland Community Room, 16335 E. 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94578 North County: Tuesday, November 19, 2013 at 10:00 AM, Alameda County Social Services, Oakland Room, 2000 San Pablo Ave, 2nd floor, Oakland, CA 94612 Response Due by 2:00 pm on December 16, 2013 County Contact: Naima Jameson at (510) 267-8632 or via email: njameso@acgov.org Attendance at Bidders Conference is not required. The RFP is available via the GSA website— www.acgov.org under Current Contracting Opportunities 11/15/13 CNS-2553520#

Philosophy

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Page Sponsored by Sahanis STEVEN HARRISON

I

f you look at the structures out of which we're functioning and habitually moving, as if there's just me and everything I collect around me for my particular enhancement, you see that, collectively and socially, the structures are tired out.

They're not working. Look at the world and the way it's configuring itself. It's consuming itself in the individual search for security.

That is expressing itself in the form of thought arising all the time, trying to collect security for each individual as if each individual can have security when the person next to them doesn't.

On whatever level you want to view it, what's happening is the exhaustion of the manifest form that we've collectively and individually taken on.

If that's exhausting itself and fear arises - if terror arises - I say that energy is the creativity we're looking for. But what we call creativity is often a code word for feeling good - feeling the flow, or feeling like I'm doing something that's valued by myself or society.

I'm saying creativity is everything that expresses itself, not just what feels good. When fear and terror starts coming up, that's it too. It means you're touching into the space that we're trying to exDALAI LAMA

A

s long as we live in this world we are bound to encounter problems. If, at such times, we lose hope and become discouraged, we diminish our ability to face difficulties.

If, on the other hand, we remember that it is not just ourselves but every one who has to undergo suffering, this more realistic perspective will increase our determination and capacity to overcome troubles. Indeed, with this attitude, each new obstacle can be seen as yet another valuable opportunity to improve our mind!

Thus we can strive gradually to become more compassionate, that is we can develop both genuine sympathy for others' suffering and the will to help remove their pain. As a result, our own serenity and inner strength will increase.

Ultimately, the reason why love and compassion bring the greatest happiness is simply that our nature cherishes them above all else. The need for love lies at the very foundation of human existence. It results from the profound interdependence we all share with one another. However capable and skillful an individual may be,

plore and we can actually begin to explore it. We have all heard the advice on what to do with fear breathe into it and so on. I have no idea what to do with it. I know what the habit is: pull back from fear and try to protect myself. But what I'm protecting myself from is energy, the creative force.

The exformation is always going to be overwhelming. It's always going to be experienced by

they've become experiences that we practice. The nature of life is that it breaks down all experience, because experience is always inaccurate.

The crush of exformation is always pushing in against the information, and that's transformation. That's how change happens.

Otherwise we would just have our information, it would repeat itself endlessly, and that would be that.

or external push, whether I'm manifesting that push and it's irritating you because you don't like to be pushed, or you are irritating me because I don't like someone telling me that I'm pushing them. It's all the agitation of change.

It's destroying something and creating something. I have to make myself available to that even if it means that my persona - welldeveloped and well-positioned as

Fear is energy of creativity that we're looking for

Steven Harrison

I'm saying creativity is everything that expresses itself, not just what feels good.

When fear and terror starts coming up, that's it too. It means you're touching into the space that we're trying to explore

this information as fear, because it's always going to be vastly greater than the information.

We could say that fear is a portal to the exformation, the vastness, which is washing downriver and pushing. And what we tend to do, what the thought structure does, is try to cover our heads and hold back the flow. We've all gotten quite enamored of energetically cool spaces. We've become very comfortable in awareness and silence.

But they've become spaces;

It would be a static universe. But obviously it's a dynamic universe and change is occurring.

How does change occur? Well originally we were in agitated states and we found peace. Okay, that's a change. Now that we've found peace and it's really nice, we can sit around and talk about it and know what we're talking about.

We can create it, and special people have it - everything we call spirituality follows from that.

What we feel as a push is agitation, whether we call it an internal

it is - will be destroyed. Because the hunger is for the creative movement that comes through that destruction; and it's not two things, it's really one.

Can we destroy ourselves and create ourselves? Are we here for that movement? And can we live like that? Maybe a better question is, will we live like that?

Steven Harrison is a US author and international speaker on consciousness, relationships and alternative education. Excerpted from the 'The Love of Uncertainty.'

left alone, he or she will not survive. However vigorous and independent one may feel during the most prosperous periods of life, when one is sick or very young or very old, one must depend on the support of others.

Inter-dependence, of course, is a fundamental law of nature. Not only higher forms of life but also

of energy. Without their proper interaction, they dissolve and decay.

It is because our own human existence is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence.

Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of

consider our origins and nature to discover what we require.

Recently I met a group of scientists in America who said that the rate of mental illness in their country was quite high-around twelve percent of the population.

It became clear during our discussion that the main cause of depression was not a lack of mate-

Need for love is the foundation of human existence It is because our own human existence is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence. Therefore we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others. many of the smallest insects are social beings who, without any religion, law or education, survive by mutual cooperation based on an innate recognition of their interconnectedness.

The most subtle level of material phenomena is also governed by interdependence. All phenomena from the planet we inhabit to the oceans, clouds, forests and flowers that surround us, arise in dependence upon subtle patterns

others.

We have to consider what we human beings really are. We are not like machine-made objects. If we are merely mechanical entities, then machines themselves could alleviate all of our sufferings and fulfill our needs.

However, since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. Instead, we should

Dalai Lama

rial necessities but a deprivation of the affection of the others.

So, whether or not we are consciously aware of it, from the day we are born, the need for human affection is in our very blood.

Even if the affection comes from an animal or someone we would normally consider an enemy, both children and adults will naturally gravitate towards it.

Excerpted from website dalailama.com

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.

-Buddha Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.

-Khalil Gibran Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light.

-Helen Keller We are what our thoughts have made us; so take care about what you think. Words are secondary. Thoughts live; they travel far.

-Swami Vivekananda I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

-Maya Angelou Experience is not what happens to you; it's what you do with what happens to you.

-Aldous Huxley Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Is Pakistan's Hatf-9 test inherently destabilizing?

GURMEET KANWAL

O

n 5 November, Pakistan's Strategic Forces Command once again tested the 60-km range Hatf-9 (Nasr) shortrange ballistic missile (SRBM).

Salvoes of four missiles were fired from multi-tube launchers. According to the ISPR, the nuclear-tipped Nasr missile has in-flight maneuver capability. The missile was first tested in April 2011 and then again in May 2012 and in February 2013.

It is reported to be a replica of the Chinese M-20 missile.

Dr Shireen Mazari, Chief Executive Officer, Strategic Technology Resources, has said that the Nasr missile is a technology demonstrator and has not yet been inducted into the nuclear arsenal. "We are signaling our acquisition of tactical missile capability and miniaturization technology. This will allow

would run the risk of their premature and even unauthorized use Kissinger's 'mad major syndrome'.

Thirdly, since the launchers must move frequently to avoid being targeted, dispersed storage and frequent transportation of TNWs under field conditions increases the risk of accidents.

Lastly, the employment of conventional artillery and air-to-ground precision weapons by the enemy may damage or destroy stored nuclear warheads.

It was for many good reasons that the US and its NATO allies and the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact forces developed, produced, stockpiled in large numbers and planned to use tactical nuclear weapons as weapons of war. Even the mini-nukes and the so-called 'clean' enhanced radiation neutron bombs would have, if used in sub-

our already developed cruise missiles - the Hatf-VIII (Ra'ad), which is an air-launched cruise missile (ALCM) and Hatf-VII (Babur), which is a ground-launched cruise missile (GLCM) - to be miniaturized for sea-launched submarine capability in order to move on to a second-strike capability."

Tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs) like the Nasr are inherently destabilizing and there are several compelling reasons for leaving these out of the nuclear arsenal. Firstly, these are extremely complex weapons (particularly sub-kiloton mini-nukes, because of the precision required in engineering) and are difficult and expensive to manufacture and support technically. Inducting them into service even in small numbers would considerably raise the budget of the strategic forces.

Secondly, the command and control of TNWs needs to be decentralized at some point during war to enable their timely employment. Extremely tight control would make their possession redundant and degrade their deterrence value. Decentralized control

stantial numbers in a European war, afflicted a few hundred million civilians, including future generations, with long-term radiation sickness of incalculable magnitude.

The professed military utility of blunting a major armored offensive is debatable as the attacker would ensure that he does not present a concentrated target before the bulk of tactical nuclear weapons, or at least their delivery systems, have been destroyed in an initial phase that itself would turn out to be apocalyptic.

Even then, the attacker would concentrate rapidly for short durations only at the point of decision and then disperse quickly. In the well-developed, semi-urban terrain of Punjab on both the sides of the Indo-Pak boundary, collateral damage would be unavoidable.

Hundreds of thousands of civilian casualties would be politically unacceptable and unmanageable for an army fighting a war.

Political and diplomatic reasons also militate against the use of tactical nuclear weapons. A nuclear posture with a first use option NATO's in Europe and Pakistan's

current nuclear policy - is both repugnant and dangerous. It is also destabilizing and naturally escalatory in nature.

With the ongoing mega media revolution, public opinion is bound to undermine the credibility of the use of tactical nuclear weapons, and as deterrence is more than anything else a mind game, the lack of credibility does nothing for enhancing deterrence.

Rather it creates new dangers.

The command and control of tactical nuclear weapons has naturally to be decentralized during war to enable their timely employment.

Extremely tight control would make their possession redundant and degrade their deterrence value by several orders of magnitude.

Decentralized control would run the risk of their premature and even unauthorized use based on the discretion of field commanders, however discerning and conscientious they may be.

Dispersed storage and frequent transportation under field conditions, since the launchers must move from hide to hide to avoid being easily targeted by the enemy, increases the risk of accidents as well as complicate nuclear security.

The employment of conventional artillery and air-to-ground precision weapons by the enemy may damage or destroy forward stored nuclear warheads and, though the probability is low, may even set off a nuclear explosion.

Also, widely dispersed nuclear warheads are difficult to guard effectively and may fall into Jihadi hands - a fear that cannot be taken lightly in the epicenter of Islamist fundamentalist terrorism.

Even though Pakistan has chosen to acquire these dangerous weapons, India has wisely opted not to go down the TNW route.

The Nasr missile is said to be Pakistan's answer to India's Cold Start doctrine.

The Pakistan army proposes to use the Nasr missile to drop a lowyield nuclear warhe ad on Indian mechanized forces that have entered Pakistani territory with a view to stopping the Indian offensive in its tracks.

It is a patently flawed approach as, in response to a nuclear attack on its forces, India will execute its nuclear doctrine of massive retaliation and Pakistan will cease to exist as a functional nation state.

Surely, that is not the end state that the Pakistan army is prepared to accept.

The writer is Strategic Analyst, Delhi

India Post Forgotten leaders

S

tepping out in the national arena, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has used some acerbic language about the grand old party of the Congress and its unabashed worship of the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty.

His sharp comments have left the veterans as well as others in the party squirming. Though the words that Modi uses sometimes are objectionable but the facts about the Congress that he is revealing were known but no one has dared to expose them at such high level.

In their long rule of the country, the Congress has not only overlooked the contribution of other significant past leaders of the party, it has even deleted reference to them in its records.

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel was a great leader of the Congress who was almost forgotten until Modi broached the topic. A man of iron will and absolute fearlessness, Patel united 550 State territories and principalities in such a strategic manner that left even his wildest critics in complete amazement. But the Congress party in its worship of Sonia, Rahul and the Nehru dynasty had almost disowned Patel. Modi went on to claim, in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that had Sardar Patel been the first Prime Minister, "the country's fate and face would have been completely different." Referring to Manmohan Singh's claim that "Sardar Patel was totally secular," Modi said "We need Sardar Sahab's secularism, not vote-bank secularism." Modi also accused the Congress of not celebrating Patel's birth anniversary even as it claimed ownership of Patel.

Another great Congressman that the Congress has failed to recognize is Maulana Abul Kalam Azad who as the first education minister laid the foundations of world-class technological education in India by setting up the Indian Institutes of Technology, whose graduates are making waves around the world.

Rafi Ahmed Kidwai was independent India's first communications minister. Nehru had such confidence in him that later he entrusted him with the food and agriculture portfolio when the country faced a serious food crisis. He proved so successful that the Indian Council of Agricultural Research instituted an award in his memory to honor scientists for outstanding contributions to research in agriculture.

Instead of honoring these great nationalist Muslim leaders, the Congress continues to woo the narrow minded, self-serving and intolerant clerics and their hangers on.

The memory of former Prime Minister Narasimha Rao is also not respected by the present day Congress and its partymen. Probably the most under-rated leader, P.V.Narasimha Rao can be considered as one of the makers of modern India. If India has managed to shed its image of snake charmers and turned into a major IT hub and a promising economic superpower in the making, a significant part of the credit for this transformation must go to PV due to his bold economic reforms.

In fact, despite being a former AICC president and a prime minister, Narasimha Rao was not just excluded from the Congress Working Committee since the current heir to the Nehru dynasty took charge of the party in 1998, he was not even allowed to become one of the numerous 'special invitees', most of whom get selected for their cheerleader skills rather than any other contribution.

It is a pity that both the national parties are taking resort to low level campaigning in the run up to the election. The Congress has approached the Election Commission (EC) seeking "stern action" against Modi for referring to Congress poll symbol as 'khooni panja' at an election rally. Earlier, the BJP had approached the EC protesting against Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's allegation that the BJP was pitting Hindus and Muslims against each other for electoral benefit. The EC found that Rahul Gandhi's remarks were in violation of the code. There will be more to come as there are still six months to go for the election and the dirty war has just begun.

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